Hitherto there had been little check to the career of Cromwell's prosperity : his favour at Court had always been sufficient to stifle any popular complaints, but he now became aware that bath Cranmer and himself were declining iu the royal estimation. Gardiner (bishop of Winchester) and his party had gained some ascendancy over the king, and in proportion as the power of these advocates of the Roman Catholic faith increased, the influence of the reformers declined, and both they and their doctrines became unacceptable at court. Iu order to regain his former ground, or at least to intrench himself firmly in the powerful position which he still retained, Cromwell lost no opportunity dr promoting Henry's marriage with Anne of Cleves, taking care to set before the king, as often as circumstances permitted, the many advantages which would arise from such a union. The cause of Cromwell'e great zeal was this : Anne and all her friends were Lutherans, and Cromwell counted upou great support from a queen of his own choice, whoso religious opinions were iu direct oppo sition to the Roman Catholics. The complete failure of this scheme became the ruin of its contriver. An aversion to the promoter of the marriage quickly followed the king's disgust and disappointment at his ugly bride, and Henry now willingly opened his cars to the flood of complaints which were poured into them from every quarter To the laity Cromwell was hateful, on account of the oppressive subsidies that ho had raised notwithstanding the large rums which had accrued from the dissolution of the nionneteries; to the nrAillity he was still more odious, on account of the titles and power that he had obtained notwithstanding the meanness of his birth ; and to the Roman Catholics he was an o'sject of aversion and horror, on account of the Protestant doctrines that he held and promulgated. As soon then as it was apparent that the capricious king, who had elevated bins from an humble Individual to be the most powerful subject in the realm, was no longer willing to support him, hie downfal was certain. The numerous important acts of his edministratiou supplied his enemies with abundant proofs of malversation and treason. Ile was arrested on the 10th of June 1540, and committed to prison. The lettere that he wrote to the king praying for mercy were diens goriest, though the king read them thrice over : he was accused on the 17th of June in the (louse of Lords, which sent the bill of attainder down to the House of Commons on the 19th. Hero some objections were raised against the bill; but after a delay of ten days a now bill was framed by the Commons. which the herds afterwards passed. This bill contained twelve articles of impeachment, accusing him, among other crimes, of being " the most false and corrupt traitor and deceiver that had been known in that reign," "of being it detestable heretic," and "of having acquired intmmerable sums of money and treasure by oppression, bribery, and extortion." To these accusations
he was not allowed to answer in court, for fear, na it may be supposed, that he would prove the king's orders, directions, or consent for doing many things of which he was accused. He was kept in close custody for six weeks, when any hope that he might have entertained of a reprieve was put an end to; the charms of Catherine Howard and the endeavours of the Duke of Not folk and the Bishop of Winchester prevailed, and the king signed a warrant for his execution, which took place on Tower Hill on the 28th of July 1540. Thus fell this greet minister, of whom, as indeed of moat of his contemporaries, very opposite characters have been handed down to us by historians. His virtues are greatly magnified by the advocates of the Reforma tion, his vices by its opponents. It. appears doubtful, from a speech that lie made at his death, in which religion ho died; but it is very probable that he was a Lutheran, and that ha used the term Catholic Faith (which some have held was intentionally ambiguous in his speech and eftenvarde in Cransuces) iu the Lutheran meaning of the torn]. Cromwell was no patriot : his own interest, elevation, and aggrandisement seem always to have been uppermost in his thoughts. Ile was ambitious, unscrupulous, rapacious, hypocritical, and sus picious. To counterbalaace these evil qualities he had few virtues. He is said to have shown cruelty in the condemnation and execution of se me heretics, but he could scarce have been without benevolence, for About 200 persons (Stows 'Survey') were fed twice a day at his gate. Ho had a powerful understanding; a clear inei;ht into political affairs; it very retentive memory; and his attention to business wan frequent end assiduous. He was the promoter of many ue.efel altera tions in the laws, and especially in those respecting the church. These were his chief merits. In passing judgment upon him, the remembrenco of the reckless tyrannical caprice of his master, of the rapidity of his own advancement, together with the licentiousness of the times, should enhance the value of his merits, and temper our condemnation of his crimes.
(Foxe, Acts and Monuments ; Stow, Annals ; Strypo, Memorials ; Lori Herbert, and other Histories of England; Burnet, Reform. ; Collier, Ecclesias. (list. ; everything which can be alleged or suggested unfavourable to Cromwell will be fount in Liugard.)