A Meeting at Waltham--Youth of Thomas Cranmer--His early Education-- Studies Scripture for Three Years--His functions as Examiner--The Supper at Waltham--New View of the Divorce--Fox communicates it to Henry--Cranmer's Vexation--Conference with the King--Cranmer at the Boleyns, page 407 CHAPTER XIII. Wolsey in the Court of Chancery--Accused by the Dukes--Refuses to give up the Great Seal--His Despair--He gives up the Seal--Order to depart--His Inventory--Alarm--The Scene of Departure--Favourable Message from the King--Wolsey's Joy--His Fool--Arrival at Esher, page 412 CHAPTER XIV. Thomas More elected Chancellor--A lay Government one of the great Facts of the Reformation--Wolsey accused of subordinating England to the Pope--He implores the King's Clemency--His Condemnation--Cromwell at Esher--His Character--He sets out for London--Sir Christopher Hales recommends him to the King--Cromwell's Interview with Henry in the Park--A new Theory--Cromwell elected Member of Parliament-- Opened by Sir Thomas More--Attack on ecclesiastical Abuses--Reforms pronounced by the Convocation--Three Bills--Rochester attacks them--Resistance of the House of Commons--Struggles--Henry sanctions the three Bills--Alarm of the Clergy and Disturbances, page 418 CHAPTER XV. The last hour--More's Fanaticism--Debates in Convocation--Royal Proclamation--The Bishop of Norwich--Sentences condemned--Latimer's Opposition--The New Testament burnt--The Persecution begins--Hitton-- Bayfield--Tonstall and Packington--Bayfield arrested--The Rector Patmore--Lollards' Tower--Tyndale and Patmore--a Musician--Freese the Painter--Placards and Martyrdom of Bennet--Thomas More and John Petit--Bilney, page 426 CHAPTER XVI. Wolsey's Terror--Impeachment by the Peers--Cromwell saves him--The Cardinal's Illness--Ambition returns to him--His Practices in Yorkshire--He is arrested by Northumberland--His departure--Arrival of the Constable of the Tower--Wolsey at Leicester Abbey--Persecuting Language--He dies--Three Movements: Supremacy, Scripture, and Faith, page 438 HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION. BOOK XVII. ENGLAND BEFORE THE REFORMATION. CHAPTER I.