On the 6th of July, 1546, the king issued his proclamation, in which, after reciting that the king, "understanding how, under the pretence of expound"ing and declaring the truth of God's scripture, divers "lewd and evill disposed persons had taken upon "them to utter and sowe abroad, by bookes imprinted "in the English tongue, sundrie pernicious and de"testable errours and heresies; not onely contrary to "the laws of this realm, but also repugnant to the "true sense of God's Law and his Word: by reason "whereof certaine men of late, to the destruction of "their owne bodies and soules, and to the evill example "of others, had attempted arrogantly and maliciously "to impugne the Truth, and therewith trouble the "sober, quiet, and godly Religion, united and estab"lished under the King's majestie in this his Realme:" It was commanded, that no one should import, buy, sell, or keep the text of the New Testament of Tyndal's or Coverdale's translation in English, nor any other than was permitted by act of parliament, made in the 34th and 35th years of his Majesty's reign; nor should import, buy, &c. "any manner of books English tongue, which 66 printed or written in the "were or should be set forth in the names of Frith, 66 Tyndal, Wicliff, Joy, Roy, Basil, Bale, Coverdale, "Turner, Tracy, or any of them, or any other "book or books, containing matter contrarie to the 9 Fox's Acts and Monuments, vol. ii. p. 587.-Wilk. Conc. M. B. vol. iv. p. 1.-See also the title of this proclamation in the account of Berthelet's Works, in Dibd. Typ. Ant. vol. iii. "said Act made in the yere 34 or 35;" but should deliver up the same; and no officer should inquire who it was that delivered them up, but only burn them directly. The penalty for any one acting in contravention to the above proclamation, was, to suffer imprisonment and punishment of his body at his Majesty's will and pleasure, and likewise such fine and imprisonment, as his Majesty or four of his council should determine. And furthermore it was strictly forbidden on the pains aforesaid, that any one should bring in English books, concerning any matter of Christian religion, from abroad, without his Majesty's license. It would appear that some men considered, or feigned to consider, this proclamation as not extending to prohibit the Bible, or the Old Testament, or parts of it translated by the above-named reformers, but literally only the New Testament. For instance, the author of "the Supplication of the Poor Commons," says concerning this proclamation, speaking of the bishops; "But when the king had devised a procla"mation for the burning of certain translations of "the New Testament, they were so bold as to burn "the whole Bible, because it was of those men's "translations."" Thus may we see how the reformed religion towards the latter end of Henry's reign, gradually lost the ground which it had before gained; as far, we mean, as the permission to publish matters of religion went. Fox's Acts and Monuments, quoted in Lewis's Trans. Bible, p. 143, The Romanists at length acquired an undisputed ascendancy in the councils of the king. Working on the easy temper of Henry, by continual solicitations and artful persuasions, they prevailed on that monarch to have the Bible prohibited to all the common people, that is to say, to the nation at large; and not content with that, they procured all the translations, that were within the means of ordinary persons, to be called in and forbidden, and also all religious books of what kind soever, on pain of an indefinite punishment. The grand motive that seems to have actuated Henry, on all occasions, with respect to the publication of the Bible, was a jealousy of his own power being interfered with. It was only necessary to suggest to that irritable monarch that the people by reading the Bible would be led to religious disputes, and from thence to a defiance of the temporal authorities; and to instance the disturbances that had taken place in Germany on that account, as what were likely to be the consequences of a similar indulgence in England; and he was willing at once to put a stop to the reading of the Bible. Then came the opposite party, and assured him that these were interested suggestions on the part of the Romanists, who were aware that if the people once got the Bible to read, they would no longer pay that unlimited obedience which they had hitherto done, to the ecclesiastical power (sometimes even in opposition to the temporal); but they would pay it where they would find by the scripture that alone it was due, namely, to their sovereign lord and king: and he was then as willing to set it forth. This is the only true reason for that vacillating conduct which characterised Henry's reign in this respect. If we are to look at his own prepossessions on one side or the other, it seems not improbable that he was rather favourable to its publication than otherwise. Towards the latter part of his reign, the Romanists, however, got the ascendancy; and they had not much difficulty in gaining their object with a king, who, as he approached his grave, was more excitable and more violent than ever. It is very likely that the Bibles were removed from most of the churches; for as the common people might not read them, and the better classes were supposed to be able to have them of their own, there was no longer any use for them: and this seems the more probable, inasmuch as the first act of Edward's government on his accession, was to order that a Bible of the largest volume should be set up in every church; which, it is almost unnecessary to observe, would hardly have been done, had they been already there: although it is true that it might only have reference to a few churches, which perhaps had not complied with the former injunctions in the preceding reign. But although the Romanists did at last procure the Bible to be prohibited to the lower classes, they could not prevent what had already been done: the people had read it, and the subsequent prohibitions, even in all their severity, could not hinder some from still keeping copies of it. They had, therefore, only covered over the fire, which would break forth with redoubled strength, the moment an opening presented itself. CHAPTER X. ACCESSION OF EDWARD THE SIXTH. FAVOURABLE ΤΟ RE FORMED DOCTRINES. COVERDALE, WHO HAD RESIDED IN ON king Henry's death, it was very soon evident what accession of strength, the reformers had gained by that event. Somerset, who in contravention to the king's will had assumed the office of protector, much favoured the new opinions in religion; and he took care that all those who were employed in the instruction, and about the person of the young king, should be of the same way of thinking as himself. The young prince showed a great disposition for learning, particularly |