Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 5.djvu/40

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
20
REIGN OF EDWARD THE SIXTH.
[ch. 28.

established by law, and none other; while Edward undertook to write to his sister with his own hand. The Flemish ambassador was informed at the same time, that the terms of his own residence in England must be identical with those granted to Sir Thomas Chamberlain. He should use the mass on condition only that Chamberlain might use the communion.[1] The Duke of Somerset only defended Mary's interests. His name was attached with the rest to the resolutions of the council;[2] but as to him the Princess had been indebted for her first license 'to keep her sacrificing knaves about her,'[3] so he endeavoured to prevent the withdrawal of it; and partly, perhaps, from good feeling, partly from opposition to Warwick, he had begun to advocate a general toleration.[4] Somerset, in fact, was growing weary of Protestantism, seeing what Protestantism had become. He preferred the company of his architects and masons to attendance at chapel and sermons;[5] and Burgoyne, writing to Calvin, said that he had become so lukewarm in the service of Christ, as scarcely to have anything less at heart than religion.[6]

No cause, however, at that time, could be benefited

  1. Council Records, MS.
  2. Ibid.
  3. John ab Ulmis to Bullinger: Zurich Letters.
  4. Charges against the Duke of Somerset: Infra.
  5. Master Bradford spared not the proudest, and among many others, will't them to tak example be the lait Duck of Somerset, who became so cald in hering God's word, that the yeir before his last apprehension hee wald gae visit his masonis, and wald not dingye himself to gae from his gallerie to his hall for hearing of a sermon.—Letter of John Knox to the Faithful in London.
  6. Burgoyne to Calvin: Zurich Letters.