The principal tenets and practices of the Romish church were now abolished ; but the doctrine of the real presence was still pertinaciously retained by many of the people, and zealously inculcated by the Catholic preach ers. For this offence, Bishop Bonner was deprived of his see, and committed to custody. Gardiner, also, hav ing declined to give proper satisfaction on this point, was sent to the Tower, and threatened with farther effects of the council's displeasure. A commission was granted to the primate and others, to reclaim or to punish all heretics and contemners of the book of common prayer; and several unhappy persons were committed to the flames. By these rigorous proceedings, the whole na tion was brought to an apparent conformity with the Pro testant doctrine and reformed liturgy; but the Princess Mary' still persisted in adhering to the mass, and reject ing the new modes of worship ; and, by the influence of the Emperor Charles V. a temporary connivance was procured from the council.
Great discontents began to appear among the people ; not indeed on account of these reformations in religion, but in consequence of various grievances to which they were subjected by the internal changes in the state of the country, which partly arose from the new system.
The church lands, which were formerly let at low rents, or left to be cultivated by the poor, having now passed into the hands of the nobility, were granted to the tenants on harder terms, or inclosed for the pur poses of pleasure and magnificence. The manufactur ing arts, also, having advanced more rapidly than the practice of agriculture, and a great demand having arisen for wool, both abroad and at home, the country was in closed for pasturage in preference to tillage, the tenants expelled from their habitations, and the cottagers de prived of their commons. Destitute also of that relief in seasons of necessity, which the hospitality and chari ty of the convents used to afford, the populace, in many places, were reduced to the greatest misery ; and were still farther irritated by a severe act of parliament, which was intended to excite them to more industrious habits. The protector, who was both from principle and inte rest the friend of the people, did every thing in his pow er to redress their grievances; and even appointed com missioners to hear all causes concerning inclosures and cottages. But the commonalty, impatient for immediate redress, had recourse to arms; and, as if an universal conspiracy had been formed, rose at once in several parts of the kingdom. It was only in Devonshire and Norfolk that they assumed the appearance of a regular army, and became formidable by their numbers. In the farmer county, one thousand rebels were cut to pieces by Lord Russel, alhd two thousand in the latter by the Earl of Warwick. Their leaders were tried and exe cuted at London, and many of the inferior class put to death by martial law. Those that escaped, threw down their arms upon the offer of pardon; and a general in demnity was soon after published by the protector.
But while these tumultuary insurgents were thus quickly subdued, the factions in the council, under the artful management of Warwick, became daily more for midable to the protector. Somerset, elated with his high dignity, had paid too little attention to the opinions of the other executors and counsellors, and discovered a disposition to govern every thing according to his own views. The nobility and gentry were in general dis pleased with the preference which he seemed, in the late commotions, to have given to the claims of the people. The people themselves, being much influenced by the Catholic party, and ascribing many of their dis tresses to the Reformation, of which he was the open patron, were not heartily affected to his authority. His interest being at length overpowered by the increasing party of his rival, he was obliged to resign the protec torship, and to submit to the most humiliating condi tions. Warwick, the new protector, having made peace with Scotland and France, gave full scope to his aspir ing and avaricious disposition. Finding that the princi ples of the Reformation had sunk too deep into the mind of Edward to be easily eradicated, he resolved to com ply with the prince's inclinations, and pushed the cause of the Protestants with more zeal and violence than had ever been done by his predecessor. Many of the bishops, who favoured the Catholic tenets, were treated with great severity ; several of them deprived of their sees, and others obliged to secure protection, by sacrificing the most considerable part of their revenues. An order was issued by the council for purging the libraries at Westminster and Oxford of all superstitious volumes ; and much useless devastation was committed in the exe cution of these instructions. The council, however, were not inattentive to the interests of the public ; and, by their wise regulations, excited a spirit of industry and com merce, hitherto unknown in England. But the ungo vernable ambition of Warwick again involved the king dom in domestic troubles. He procured for himself the title and ample possessions of the Duke of Northum berland. He found means to accomplish the condem nation and death of Somerset, and many of his friends, as the chief obstacles in his career. He summoned a new parliament, and took care, by the most arbitrary interference, to have such members returned as were obsequious to his will. He brought about a marriage between Lady Jane Gray and his fourth son, Lord Guil ford Dudley ; and, at the same time, fortified his family by other powerful alliances. He then proceeded, with his last project, to prevail with the young king, whose health was declining fast, to make such a change in the succession as would have brought forward his own daughter-in-law, Lady Jane, as next heir to the crown. The prince, accustomed to submit to his views, and anxious to secure a Protestant successor, agreed to refer the matter to the council; and at length, after many ob jections, the intrigues and menaces of Northumberland prevailed.