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 TO RE FORMED DOCTRINES. COVERDALE, WHO HAD RESIDED IN TO THE DOWAGER QUEEN. ACCOMPANIES LORD RUSSELL IN HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST THE REBELS, AND PREACHES 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 in all theological matters, and he was soon imbued deeply with the new religious principles. The lord chancellor, Wriothesly, afterwards earl of Southampton, was the only one in the council of ability or inclination to oppose Somerset; but an imprudent step that he made, shortly gave Somerset the mastery over him. Somerset was besides supported by Cranmer; and as all the measures he took were with the latter's advice and council, he was the less likely by any precipitate or ill-timed proceeding to hurt the cause; since the prudence and moderation of that excellent prelate made him averse to any thing of violent change, well judging that such would never be so lasting, as one that should be brought about gradually, and be moderate in its provisions. The consequence was, that one by one, the different points were settled and ascertained; and the reformation, such as it is enjoyed at present, was almost entirely completed in England." And though Somerset was afterwards attainted and disgraced, to the great joy of the enemies of the new tenets, they gained little by the change; as Warwick, who led the council in his place, not having any great leaning either way, was determined to follow whichever was most to his interest: and finding that the young king was deeply impressed with a conviction of the truth of the new doctrines, he soon manifested his intention of countenancing them. He accordingly put such slight upon the earl of Southampton, who had assisted him in the overthrow of Somerset, that the latter retired in disgust from the council; and Warwick, unopposed, proceeded in the same line of conduct, as far as religion was concerned, which Somerset had pursued. But now to return to Coverdale. When the progress of the Bible was stopped at Paris, he went into Germany, and for some time resided at Tubingen, which university conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity." He had of course no settled means of support, but what his own exertions could procure and we are told that he subsisted, partly, by the money he received for his labours in translating and correcting the Scripture; partly, by teaching young children; and partly, by the liberality of one who, as long as he lived, was always his good friend, the Lord Cromwell. We may reasonably suppose that he had now obtained some fame abroad, among the Protestant princes, for his zeal in the study of the holy writings through so many difficuland that many befriended a man so learned and so pious. ties; d C He understood perfectly well, we are told, the Dutch tongue; and the duke of Deux-Ponts, therefore, presented him to the benefice of Bergzabern, a town in his duchy, three leagues south-west of Lan Godwin, de Præsul. p. 476. ed. 1616. c Hoker. Catal. Bps. Exon. The writers of that period by this term, sometimes meant the High Dutch, or German, and sometimes the Low Dutch, or what we now exclusively term Dutch. e dau. There he continued, till the death of Henry the Eighth, and the accession of Edward the Sixth, gave those of the reformed religion once more the ascendancy in the government. 66 While he was abroad at this time, but at what exact period has not been ascertained, he married one of two sisters, of which his friend, Macchabæus Alpinus, a Scotchman by birth, but filling a high station in Denmark, married the other." Her Christian name alone is known, Elizabeth. She was, says a contemporary of his," "a most sober, chast, and godlie matrone." Whether he had ever any children by her, how long she lived, and when she died, are questions that cannot be answered. She was alive during the time of his filling the see of Exeter, but after that time no further mention is made of her. Strype says that "she was born in those parts, speaking of Germany and Denmark; but on what authority, except that of probability, this assertion is grounded, we have not been able to discover. It may not be amiss to observe in what sort of estimation Coverdale was held at this time. Bale, who frequented the Sophisters' school at Cambridge, in company with Barnes, has given us an account of Coverdale, in his lives of illustrious writers, which may well be regarded as a faithful one, coming as it Hoker. Catal. Bps. Exon. See also a letter from Martyr to Bullinger, printed in Burnet's Hist. of Reform. This name unlatinized, we conjecture would be M'Alpine. Eccl. Mem. vol. ii. p. 464. |