Mentz, by letters to Cranmer, in- Respecting this martyrdom of terceded for the safety of his kins- George Van Parris, the following man. His wife also, (he means I record is in Fabian's Chronicle. apprehend the wife of the prison. "1551. This year was a Dutcher,) implored his life. Herum man brent in Smithfield for hold. habebat Moguntinum quemdam, ing the opinion of the Arians." virum nobilem, qui scriptis ad Stow in his Annals, (p. 605)

Cant. literis in Angliam magno. gives this notice, "An Arian pere pro illius salute deprecatus burnt, 1551, the 24th April. est. Idem et ab uxore etiam illius George of Paris, a Dutchman, factitatum, si precibus impetrari was burnt in Smithfield for Arian. vita potuisset. No interference isme." could avail; for George Van Par- Burnett, (ii. 106.) after men. ris was burnt in Smithfield, April tioning the case of Joan Bocher, 24th, 1551, Fox, attached to adds, "To end all this matter at the character of Cranmer, and once: two years after this one writing just after his friend's mar. George Van Pare, a Dutchman, tyrdom, endeavours to charge being accused for saying that God upon the imperious influence of the Father was only God, and Northumberland cruelties, so in- that Christ was not very God, he consistent with the natural mild- was dealt with long to abjure, but ness of the archbishop. Fox's would not. So on the sixth of words are these: Sed ingenio mi. April, 1551, he was condemned tissimus Cant. qui et ipse, ut post in the same manner that Joan of dicemus, exustus est, non tam in Kent was; and on the 25th of eo naturam suam, quam ducis Nor- April was burnt in Smithfield. thumbriæ imperium secutus diceba- He suffered with great constancy tur. I must leave this conjec- of mind, and kissed the stake and ture as I found it, not having met faggots that were to burn him. Of with a confirmation of the rumour this Pure I find a popish writer in any other writer. The Duke saying, that he was a man of most of Northumberland was a wily, wonderful strict life; that he used though at length an outwitted po- not to eat above once in two days; litician, whose religious professiou and before he did eat would lie was at the command of his ambis some time in his devotion pros tion. Such a man might have trate on the ground. All this they served some interest, or perhaps made use of to lessen the credit of covered some other design by per- those who had suffered formerly; secuting a small minority of dis- for it was said they saw now that sidents from the church now estab- men of harmless lives might be lished. Yet, as to Cranmer and put to death for heresy, by the Ridley, however amiable they confession of the reformers them. might be as men, as theologians selves. And in all the books pub it will scarcely be disputed lished in Queen Mary's days, that they were genuine persecu- justifying her severity against the tors, and, without any foreign in. Protestants, these instances were fluence, capable of any severities always made use of; and no part connected with that character. of Cranmer's life exposed him

fiscation of goods, or in plain language, the beggary of a surviving family. Such were the tender mercies of English Protestant persecution, and thus rapidly had Cranmer proceeded to make havoc of those whom he deemed heretics, during his short career of power. Nor was Ridley, at this time,

more than this did. It was said the Christian religion were deemed he had consented both to Lam- synonimous. To the penalty of bert's and Anne Askew's death, of Death was now added the conin the former reign, who both suffered for opinions, which he himself held now: and he had now procured the death of these two persons; and when he was brought to suffer himself, afterwards, it was called a just retaliation on him. One thing was certain, that what he did in this matter, flowed from no cruelty of inactive. I find him now again, temper in him, no man being fur- especially preparing to worry the ther from that black disposition of obnoxious Anabaptists. In Concil. mind; but it was truly the effect Mag. Brit. (iv. 61.) are preserved of those principles by which he the Bishop of London's "Articles governed himself." of Enquiry for his Diocese, the 6th year of Edward." 1552. Among the articles are the the following:

Such were the life and death of George Van Parris, according to Fox, the second and last martyr, sacrificed at the stake, to the misguided zeal of Cranmer and his associates. Should Fox be here correct, the passage I formerly quoted from Latimer (p. 305.) must refer to executions, during the reign of Henry.

The next year, 1552, gave completion to a learned work, called, according to Burnett, (ii. 186.) A Reformation of the Ecclesiastical Laws. Several eminent church. men were appointed to this service, though "Cranmer did the whole work almost himself." It "was di. gested, and cast into 51 titles," and "prepared by February this year." Burnett gives a large ac. count of this work, upon which he bestows unqualified approbation. Yet he calmly tells us, "the first title was of the Trinity and the Catholic Faith; in which those who denied the Christian religion were to suffer death and the loss of their goods." This is rather obscure, though I apprehend the Trinity, the Catholic faith, and

66 Whether any of the Anabaptist sect, or other, use notoriously any unlawful or private conventicles, wherein they do use doctrine or administration of sacraments, separating themselves from the rest of the parish.

"Whether any speaketh against baptism of infants."

Strype (p. 365.) mentions, during this year, 1552, a commission to Cranmer, for enquiring after Anabaptists and Arians, in Kent. Probably, this was the same transaction which he describes in his Mem. Cranm. (p. 291.) Sep. 27, as "a Letter from the Council to Cranmer, to examine a sect newly sprung up in Kent." Strype had just before quoted the following passage, from a Preface to the Jewel of Joy, by Thomas Becon, Cranmer's chaplain.

"What wicked and ungodly opinions are there sown now adays, of the Anabaptists, Davideans, Libertines, and such other pestilent sects in the hearts of the people, unto the great disquietness

of Christ's Church, moving rather unto sedition than unto pure religion, unto heresy than unto things godly."

sitoribus exagitatus, in publico ju. dicio jam condemnandi quum essent, dixisse fertur: age, inquit, ó reverende, statuas in nos licebit in præsentia, quod libet. Id autem ne dicas tibi non prædictum, denuncio tuas dehinc vices fore prox

cos enim post dies consequta regis Edouardi mors, ipsis quidem è carcere demissionem, episcopis verò vincula ac carceres conciliavit. (Com. p. 202.)

Among these reputed heretics was, probably, Humphrey Middleton, whom I mentioned at the beginning of this letter. His imas. Nec fefellit eventus. Paustory will form an interesting conclusion to this period of English Protestant persecution, and is the last of my obligations to the Commentarii of Fox. After describing the intercourse between Rogers and his friend, quoted (p. 365.) the historian adds the following Commissioners passage, according to Mr. Peirce's translation. As it is short I shall subjoin the original.

were

Mr. Peirce evidently supposes that Cranmer and his associate prevented only by the sudden extinction of their power, from procuring the death of Middleton and his fellow "Much such another instance prisoners, who had probably been is reported concerning one Hum- now, for three years, suffering unphrey Middleton, (who was after. der ecclesiastical persecution. Nor wards burnt in Queen Mary's is the supposition unfounded. There days) that when he, with some others, had been kept prisoners, in the last year of King Edward, by the archbishop, and had been dreadfully teazed by him, and the rest in commission with him, and were now just upon being condemned in open court, he said to him: Well, reverend Sir, pass what sentence you think fit upon us; but that you may not say you was not forewarned, I testify that your own turn will be next.' And accordingly, it came to pass; for a little while after, King Edward died; upon which they were set at liberty, and the bishops cast into prison."- Peirce's Vindic. (p. 35.)

is no trace, during this reign, of any alternative, in the case of heresy, but recantation or the stake; exactly after the manner of Pagan persecution, which enjoined incense on the established altar, or to the lions. Thus drove on these misguided Reformers, while their influence was rapidly declining with the decaying health of Edward. English Protestant persecution may be not unaptly compared to the devil of the Revelation, who is described as having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Edward died, July 6th, 1553, in his sixteenth year. Considering how the ignorant spirit of his age, Nec absimile quiddam de Hun- might have tempted him to stain frido Mideltuno, qui postea sub a longer reign with a large effusion Maria exustus est narratur, qui of Christian blood, we may suitcum aliis quibusdam concaptivis, ably apply to his short, but exanno regis Edouardi ultimo, in emplary life, the language of an carcere retentus à Cantuariensi, eastern sage. "He pleased God graviterque ab eo cæterisque disqui and was beloved of him, so that

speedily was he taken away, lest plicated, I know not. I cannot, that wickedness should alter his however, close this letter, without understanding, or deceit beguile noticing an assertion, from no inhis soul."

considerable authority, which, if Humphrey Middleton, whom historically correct, would render Fox described as narrowly escap- nugatory every document I have ing this Protestant persecution, was produced in these letters, or could burnt at Canterbury about 1555, bring forward in a continuation of the second year of Mary. (Clarke's them, and the fairest conclusions Martyr. p. 145.) His persecutors drawn from such premises. I rewere brought to the stake, the same fer to a passage in the Archbishop year; not unjustly, admitting the of Canterbury's speech, on Lord principle, which in the exercise of Sidmouth's Bill, as I have it before power they had unhappily estab. me, among papers lately circulished. Suffering was then dealt lated, on Religious Toleration. out to the reformers according to The Archbishop, to several just the measure by which they had and highly liberal remarks, is remeted to others, though, consider- ported to have added, Coercion ing their numbers, and some cruel has never been the practice of the aggravations, it may be said, in English established Church, nor their case, to have been "pressed do I believe it ever will*. down, shaken together and running over."

I know not how to account for this unfounded assertion, but by Here I am glad to relieve you, supposing that the speaker, full of Mr. Editor, your readers, and my- his own ideas of what a church self, by closing this first period of ought to be, entirely forgot what English Protestant persecution, the his own church had proved heronly period during which it ap- self, at least through several ages. pears in its genuine form. I am It is indeed far better for the public ready to believe that the Protes- interest, that a primate, whose tant church-governors in Edward's office arms him with so much reign, like many of the Papal, in vexatious power, should thus conthe reign of Mary, and probably that queen herself, verily thought with Paul, that they ought to do many things against those who would not conform to their faith. I trust, that acting thus ignorantly, like him, they obtained mercy. When the Protestant church was again established, on the death of Mary, the spirit of persecution, under Elizabeth and her succes. sors, became gradually blended with state-craft and church-craft, the jealousy of politicians and the ambition of priests.

Whether I may have leisure or resolution, to attempt the disen. "tanglement of a subject so com.

sign to oblivion, the deeds of too many of his Protestant predecessors, some of them perpetrated in his own palace, than that he should, by recognizing them, be inclined to imitate, in any degree, such evil R. G. S. examples.

Further Remarks on the Calvinistic Doctrine of Atonement. July 6, 1812.

SIR,

It seems necessary for me to take some notice of the animad. versions of your correspondents, Vicinus and A Calvinist, (see

* See our last No. p. 379.-ED.

pages 297 and 299) on my ac- my statement with falsehood, to count of a conversation on Catho- make good the charge, even so far lic emancipation. They charge as themselves and their own im me with misrepresenting the Cal. proved views of the system are convinistic doctrine. If I have done cerned, they are required to give this, it has been unintentionally; a direct answer to the following but I am not yet convinced that questions. 1. Do they admit or my statement of it is erroneous. deny that sinners are pardoned, Your correspondents take for and freed from all the penal con granted that I intended my remark sequences of sin, on the ground of as applicable to the whole body what Christ did and suffered for of Calvinists; but I only stated it them, independently of their be as applicable to the person I was coming virtuous characters? It is conversing with at the time. Vici- granted, they suppose, they will nus acknowledges there may be become virtuous as a necessary some who reason in the manner I consequence of their justification; have described; and though he but that is not the point now in will not admit them to be proper question. 2. Do they assert or Calvinists, but calls them Antino deny that the sinner is made righmians, they certainly think and teous, stands righteous in the call themselves Calvinists, yea, sight of God, and is placed in the only proper Calvinists; and a safe state, on the ground of the many, who are not of their party, righteousness of another being im. think them the most consistent puted to him, prior to his becom. Calvinists. It might be well for ing personally righteous, and that your correspondent to inform the his personal righteousness is enworld what proper Calvinism is. tirely consequent upon the for. As he will not admit the state- mer? 3. Do they maintain or ment given of it by Gill and Brine, deny, that the sinner, simply by is there not reason to think he will believing that Christ made atoneobject to it as stated by Calvin ment for his sins, and was rightehimself, and its most distinguished ous in his stead, or by the belief advocates, until the modern refi- of either of these points singly, is ners of it began to reduce it to freed from guilt and the fear of a new form and, retaining the punishment, so as to feel himself name, and, nominally, all the old in a safe state in the sight of God? doctrines, to present it to the It alters not these positions, how. world in an altered and improved ever much it may guard them edition? It is pleasing to observe from abuse, to say that personal that persons of learning and liber- righteousness will naturally and ality, while they professedly retain necessarily follow, as the effect of the old creed, are, by their new true faith, and that unless good definitions and explanations of it, works follow, the faith is not gen. perhaps unintentionally and im- uine but useless. A pious Cal perceptibly to themselves, under- vinist could not retain the doc. mining its most offensive articles, trine he believes, unless he thought and preparing the way for more it to have a good moral tendency: rational and liberal sentiments. nor could a pious Catholic re As your correspondents charge tain the doctrines of his church,