CHAPTER VII. LATIMER AT COURT. (JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1530.) Latimer tempted by the Court; fortified by Study—Christian Individuality—Latimer desires to convert the King—Desires for the Church, Poverty, the Cross, and the Bible—He prays the King to save his own Soul—Latimer’s Preaching—No Intermingling of the two Powers—Latimer’s Boldness in the Cause of Morality—Priests denounce him to the King—Noble Character of the Reformers 45 CHAPTER VIII. THE KING SEEKS AFTER TYNDALE. (JANUARY TO MAY 1531.) The Ivy and the Tree, or the Practice of Popery—Vaughan looks for the invisible Tyndale—Vaughan visited by a Stranger—Interview between Vaughan and Tyndale in a Field—Tyndale mistrusts the Clergy—The King’s Indignation—Tyndale is touched by the royal Compassion—The King wishes to gain Fryth—Faith first, and then the Church—Henry threatens the Evangelicals with War 52 CHAPTER IX. THE KING OF ENGLAND RECOGNIZED AS HEAD OF THE CHURCH. (JANUARY TO MARCH 1531.) Supremacy of the Pope injurious to the State—All the Clergy declared guilty—Challenged to recognize the royal Supremacy—Anguish of the Clergy—They negotiate and submit—Discussions in the Convocation of York—Danger of the royal Supremacy 60 CHAPTER X. SEPARATION OF THE KING AND QUEEN. (MARCH TO JUNE 1531.) The Divorce Question agitates the Country—A Case of Poisoning—Reginald Pole—Pole’s Discontent—The King’s Favors—Pole’s Frankness and Henry’s Anger—Bids Henry submit to the Pope—Queen Catherine leaves the Palace 66 CHAPTER XI. THE BISHOPS PLUNDER THE CLERGY AND PERSECUTE THE PROTESTANTS. (SEPTEMBER 1531 TO 1532.) Stokesley proposes that the inferior Clergy shall Pay—Riot among the Priests—The Bishop’s Speech—A Battle—To conciliate the Clergy, Henry allows them to persecute the Protestants 72 CHAPTER XII. THE MARTYRS. (1531.) The repentant Bilney preaches in the Fields—His Enemies and his Friends—Bilney put into Prison, where he meets Petit—Disputation and Trial—Bilney condemned to die—The parting Visit of his Friends—He is led out to Punishment—His last Words—His Death—Imprisonment and Martyrdom of Bayfield—Tewkesbury bound to the Tree of Truth—His Death—Numerous Martyrs 77 CHAPTER XIII. THE KING DESPOILS THE POPE AND THE CLERGY. (MARCH TO MAY 1532.) Character of Thomas Cromwell—Abolition of First-Fruits—The Clergy bend before the King—Two contradictory Oaths—Priestly Rumors—Sir Thomas More resigns—The two Evils of a regal Reform 86 CHAPTER XIV. LIBERTY OF INQUIRY AND PREACHING IN THE 16TH CENTURY. (1532.) The Perils of a prosperous Nation—Lambert and free Inquiry—Luther’s Principles—Images or the Word of God—Freedom of Preaching—St. Paul burnt by the Bishop—Latimer disgusted with the Court—More Thieves than Shepherds—A Don Quixote of Catholicism—Latimer summoned before the Primate—His Firmness—Attempt to entrap Him—His Refusal to recant—Excommunicated—Expedient of the Bishops—Latimer saved by his Conformity with Luther 91 CHAPTER XV.