impressed upon the imagination of the people that there was no longer any law in England higher than loyalty. And that he had not visited Italy in vain is proved by a very characteristic letter[1] written in August 1537 to Michael Throgrnorfcon, once a spy of his own, now a follower of Cardinal Pole s, in which, after hinting that both master and servant may yet obtain mercy by submission, he breaks into a threat" There may be found ways enough in Italy to rid a traitorous subject. Surely let him not think but, when justice can take no place by process of Jaw at home, sometimes she may be enforced to take new means abroad." In private matters Cromwell s temper was equally arbitrary. Stowe s father, for instance, as the chronicler himself narrates, had his house removed upon rollers, without his consent or even knowledge, to make room for Cromwell s buildings in Throgmorton Street, London ; and Foxe,
partisan as he was, gives other instances.Such a career could not fail to surround Cromwell with numerous and implacable enemies, and to afford many real grounds of accusation. His private expenditure had been splendid ; he was fond of adding house to house ; and two hundred poor persons were daily fed at his door. The cost of the system by which he supported his power had been enormous. Presents had been freely lavished upon men of influence, and an army of spies and agents had been maintained and generously rewarded. Such expenses his private fortune and the grants he had received from the king were quite inadequate to support ; and it was easy to prove, not only that he had been in the regular habit of receiving giffcs from suitors and others who desired his favour, but that much of the public money had been used by him without passing through the public treasury. Ho was the patron of heretics. His promises of a, full treasury and relieved taxation had not been fulfilled ; taxation, indeed, had been increased ; and, for that and many other reasons, his government was now extremely un popular. The nobles, almost to a man, and most of the clergy, were his foes ; but perhaps his deadliest enemy was his old companion in the service of Wolsey, Stephen Gardyner, bishop of Winchester,, whom he had in vain attempted to crush under the Act of Supremacy. That part of his policy of which the accomplishment was desired by Henry was completely achieved, and Henry had no longer any interest in supporting him. He had, besides, committed a fatal mistake. His enemies had potent means in their possession for kindling against him all the fury of which Henry s nature was capable. It could be proved, beyond the possibility of doubt, that he had been long engaged in negotiations with the German Protestant princes without the knowledge of the king, whom, besides, to further his plans, he had involved in the hateful marriage with Anne of Cleves. His danger had not been unforeseen ; and two years before his fall he is said to have arranged his affairs, so that his family, and his servants, to whom he was always a thoughtful and generous master, should not be left unprovided for. But the blow fell unexpectedly. On the 10th of June 1540 at the council table, the duke of Norfolk rose and accused him of high treason. Witnesses were present to swear that he had declared that he would fight in support of his opinions, " sword in hand, against the king and all others," and that in a year or two he would have so far carried out his policy that the king .should no longer be able to resist it. In vain he passionately exclaimed against the absurdity of charging him with treason. His enemies had attained their revenge. In rude triumph the duke of Suffolk stripped him of his George ; the earl of Southampton tore the Garter from his knee. He was immediately removed to the Tower. That night in the city the bells of the churches rang out peals of joy, bonfires blazed, and many of the citizens held exultant revel. His friend Cranmer alone uttered a word in his favour. A bill of attainder, accusing him of pecula tion, extortion, bribery, contempt for the nobility, heresy, and treason, was passed with acclamation. Twice in vain he appealed to the king for mercy in terms of the most pitiful entreaty. Having drawn up a statement concerning Henry s relations with Anne of Cleves, adapted to facilitate her divorce, he took the opportunity to protest against the in justice and illegality of condemning him unheard, and con cluded with a pitiful cry for " Mercy ! mercy ! mercy !" And again, in a letter which he contrived to convey to the king by the hands of his old servant, Sir Ralph Sadler, he attempted to defend himself, especially against the charge which he well knew would be one of the most fatal brought against him of having divulged certain of the royal secrets, and once more, in humble but passionate language, besought pardon. Henry was moved, but remained inexor able ; and, on the 28th July 1540, Thomas Cromwell was beheaded.
Original information concerning the career of Thomas Crom well is to be found in Brewer, Calendar of State Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII.; Sir Henry Ellis, Original Letters; Reginald Pole, Apologia ad Carolum V. ; and Strype, Ecclesiastical Memorials, and Memorials of Abp. Cranmer. Foxe and Burnet, on one side, and L:ngard, on the other, are partisans ; and even their statements of fact are most inaccurate.
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Environs of St Petersburg, showing position of Cronstadt.
port town of Russia and the great naval station of the Russian fleet in the northern seas, the seat of the Russian admiralty and of a military governor, is situated on the island of Kotlin, near the head of the Gulf of Finland, twenty miles west of St Petersburg, of which it is the chief port, in 59 59 30" N. lat., and 29 46 30" E. long. The island of Kotlin, or Kettle (Finn., lietusari, or Rat Island) is of calcareous formation, and in general outline forms an elongated triangle, seven miles in length by about one in breadth, with its base towards St Petersburg and the mouths of the Neva, and its apex extending obliquely seawards. The eastern or broad end is occupied by the town of Cronstadt, and shoals extend for a niile and a half from the western point of the island to the rock on which the Tolbaaken lighthouse is built. The island thus divides the approach by sea to St Petersburg into two channels ; that on the northern side is obstructed by shoals which extend across it from Kotlin to Lisi-ness on the mainland, and is only passable by vessels drawing less than
15 feet; the southern channel, the highway to the capital,
- ↑ Fronde, History, vol. iii. p. 44-48.
