Protestantism in England From the Times of Henry VIII - James Aitken Wylie

and carried down to Oxford, there to be "baited," as
one has said, by the members of both universities,
for Cambridge was also summoned to bear its part
in defense of the "the Sacrament of the altar."
The opening services--which were of more than
usual splendor--being ended, the commissioners, to
the number of thirty-three, took their seats before
the altar, and then in a little while Cranmer was
brought in, guarded by bill-men" He. gave them,"
says Strype, "great reverence, and stood with his
staff in his hand. They offered him a stool to sit,
but he refused."
Weston, the prolocutor, said that the
commission had no desire save that of reclaiming
the archbishop from his heresy, and handing him a
copy of the articles to be debated, requested his
opinion upon them. The archbishop, having read
them, briefly characterized them as opposed to the
truth of Scripture, but promised to give his opinion
in writing next day. "His behavior all this while,"
says Strype, "was so grave and modest that many
Masters of Art who were not of his mind could not
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