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460 CRANMER GRANTOR OF SOLI caused him to add a postscript to the effect that he was persuaded of the queen's guilt. After the trial and condemnation of Anne she was taken to Lambeth, where Oranmer, sitting in judgment, pronounced her marriage null and void from the first. The archbishop had his share in the persecutions that were carried on by Henry, and in some instances took part in sending to death persons who believed what he himself soon afterward came to profess. When the power of all the prelates in the kingdom was suspended by Thomas Cromwell in his capacity of vicar general, Cranmer set the example of submission, having previously contended that the king alone had the power of appointing spiritual officers. The suppres- sion of the monasteries was supported by him, but he was desirous that some of the property seized should be used for the purposes of re- ligion and education. In 1534 he carried through the convocation a resolution that the Bible should be translated, and the volume appeared in 1540, Oranmer's portrait being conspicuous in the frontispiece. Through his influence the creed, the Lord's prayer, and the commandments were taught in English. In 1539 the famous " six articles " were adopted, in opposition to Oranmer's advice and exer- tions. He was married, and the third article declared that it was not permitted to priests to marry and have wives after ordination. On this point Cranmer contended strongly, but Henry would not abandon his purpose. Cran- mer submitted, and sent his wife and children to Germany. Anne Boleyn was executed May 19, 1536, and the next day Henry was married to Jane Seymour, who died soon after; and in January, 1540, the king married Anne of Cleves. Cranmer favored the latter marriage, received Anne upon her arrival in England, and six months afterward declared the mar- riage invalid. It was Cranmer who in 1541 informed Henry of the alleged criminality of his fifth queen, Catharine Howard. When Henry died, in 1547, Cranmer was by the royal will appointed a member of the council of regency which was to rule during the minority of Edward VI., who was only nine years old. During the " boy king's " life Cranmer's influ- ence was great, and was directed to the es- tablishment of that ecclesiastical polity which has ever since endured in England, with the brief interval of Mary's reign. He bore a prominent part in the legal murder of Lofd Seymour of Sudely, at the instigation of that lord's brother, the protector Somerset. In the harsh treatment of the Catholic prelates he was the principal agent. When it was found neces- sary to overcome Edward's repugnance to the burning of heretics, Cranmer was employed to satisfy his scruples. He sentenced persons to the stake for the very opposite belief to that for which he had taken part in condemning others in the reign of Henry. When Edward resolved to leave the crown to Jane Grey, Cranmer was reluctantly induced to sanction the act. He adhered faithfully to her, and fell with her. He had nothing to hope from Mary, and his last official act was to serve at the fune- ral of Edward. The next day, Aug. 9, 1553, he was ordered to confine himself to his palace at Lambeth. Having some time later written a declaration against the mass, he was summon- ed before the council, and committed to the tower, on the charges of treason and sedition. He was attainted by parliament,' but it was re- solved to proceed against him for heresy alone, and he was sent down to Oxford with Latiraer and Ridley, to go through the form of disputing with Catholics on the contested points of re- ligion. All were condemned, though the Prot- estants were not so much as heard. To the de- mand of the commissioners before whom they were then taken, whether they would return to the old faith, they answered in the negative. Cranmer was then cited to appear at Rome with- in 80 days, and as he could not do so, he was con- demned as contumacious. At first he was firm, but the fear of death overcame him, and he recanted over and over again, without avail. Mary hated him because of what he had done against her mother and herself, and Gardiner and Bonner hated him because of the personal oppression they had suffered at his hands. Both queen and bishops were resolved upon his degradation, and equally that it should not save his life. He was ordered to prepare for death ; whereupon he declared that his recan- tation had been freely made, and begged for a short delay in order to give further proof of his repentance. This granted, he made his last confession, in which he declared that he had been the greatest of persecutors, compared himself to the penitent thief, and concluded by humbly begging pardon; but on March 21, 1556, he was directed to prepare himself for the stake. A paper consisting of an abstract of his recantations was given him, which he was to read at the stake. He transcribed and signed it, and kept a copy, which he altered, and made a disavowal of all his recantations. After listening to a sermon he avowed himself a Protestant, saying he died in his former faith, believing neither in the papal supremacy nor transubstantiation ; and declared that the hand which had signed his recantations should first burn. He was burned opposite Balliol college, and when the flames were rising around him he thrust his right hand into them, and is said to have held it there until it was consumed, crying aloud : " This hand hath offended this unworthy right hand." He died repeating the words, " Lord Jesns, receive my spirit ! " The principal authorities for the career of Cranmer are Strype's "Memorials," the "Lives" by Todd and Le Bas, and the historical works of Burnet, Lingard, Turner, Hallam, Macauiay, and Froude. CRANTOR OF SOLI, an academic philosopher and the first commentator on Plato, flourished at the close of the 4th century B. C. He studied under Xenocrates, and was the author of sev-