The destructiou of the greater abbeys was now rapidly proceeding; and the fluids which arose from them were lavished by Henry upon unworthy favourites, until Crammer, who had hoped to apply them to the promotiou of religiou cud education, remonstrated against their improper application. A sum of money was obtained for the founda tion of some now bishoprics, hut the king's prodigality could be checked no further. In the autumn of 1533 the primate came to Leaden to meet an embassy of German Protestant divines, for whom he strove to procure a conference with the English ecclesiastics. To the great disappointment both of the ambassadors and the reformers, the king opposed their wishes, and directed Tonatal, a bishop opposed to the ' now learning,' to draw up an answer to the dissertation which had been compiled by the German divinea.
On the 5th of May 1533, Cranmer and others were appointed com misaionera "to inquire" (Le Bats. vol. i. 201) "into the debated doc trines, and to prepare such articles as would pacify the spirit of controversy." At the end of eleven daps the labours of the commie eioncra coming to no result, the Duke of Norfolk offered six articles (Burnet, voL i.) for the consideraCon of the House of Lords. Crate tner's opinion agreed only with one of these articles. Being desired by the king to explain himself in writing, he composed a treatise upon the case, which, with his secretary, to whom it was iutrusted, ' became the subject of a singular adventure. (Burnet, vol. i.) lti parliament he argued for three days with considerable learning and until the king, who favoured tho articles, angrily desired him not to appear again in that house until they became law. Cran mer, obedient to Henry in moat points, in this respectfully resisted the king's commands; hut although he continued present, he was unable either to throw out the Duke of Norfolk's measure or to alter the sanguinary penalties which it contained. As soon as this act was passed, Latimer and Shaxton resigned their bishoprics, an example which, contrary to expectation, the archbishop did not think it his to fellow. lie retained his see, and lived in retirement with his wife, who however was soon compelled to retreat to Germany.
In July 1540 the primate presided at the convocation which pro flounced the unjustifiable sentence of dissolution of the marriage which had been solemnised between Henry and Anne of Cleves. This ceremony was quickly followed by the execution of Cromwell. The misconduct of Catherine Howard, whom Henry had married as soon as he had put away his former queen, coming to the knowledge of the archbishop, ho undertook to report her profligacy to the king (1541). After an investigation, the proofs of her crimes were held to
he conclusive : she was ceudeinned, and after n delay of some weeks, during which time Henry, through a message, of which Crammer was the bearer, promised to spare her life, she was executed.
The maintenance of the ground that the Reformation had gained, and the extension of it where possible, now (1542) became the solo occupation of Crammer, who had transferred to the universities the Mak of mule? a new edition of the Bible published the year before. This revision it had been proposed to apportion among the bishops, requiring an English vet-Bien of a part from each, whatever might be his opinions. This was considered a step gained, as it certainly was the preferable method ; and notwithstanding the reformers did not in all things prevail (for a prohibition against Tyndale's Bible was secured by their opponents), they had still further success In procuring an order that the scriptures should be read io English by the ministers' In the church eervice. In n minor degree Cranraer's attention was occupied iu reproving the excesses of luxury In which some ecclesias tical establishments as well as the bishops hid indulged.
In May 1543 appeared the 'King's Book,' which was in fact little more than a new edition of the ' Institution,' altered in somo points by the papal party : it received its name from the preface, which was written in henry's name. The clergy being hostile to this book, Crnnmer, at a visitation of his diocese, in submission to the king'a supremacy, forbade them from preaching against any portions of it, however they or ho himself might dissent from them. The exertions which he had used for the correction of his diocese, in which religions variance was at a great height, were watched and examined by his political adversaries, who hoped to found on them such accusations as would ensure his ruin. The prebendaries of Canterbury and coma magistrates in Kent, encouraged by Gardiner, after holding a sue cesaion of meetings, finally drew up articles accusing Creamer of abusing his power. These charges were submitted by the prebendaries to the council, and by the council to the king. Henry immediately caused the accusation to be sifted by a commission, who declared them to be unfounded; and the authors of the conspiracy afterwards sub mitted themselves to Cranmer, who refrained from bringing them to punishment.