Simultaneously, Protestants were persecuted wherever they could be detected and seized.  “Little” Bilney, or “Saint” Bilney, a distinguished Cambridge student, was burnt as a heretic at the stake, as were James Bainham, a barrister of the Middle Temple, and several other members of the “association.”  These were the first paladins of the reformation, and the struggle went bravely forward.  They were the knights who slew the dragons and made the earth habitable for common flesh and blood.

As yet but two men of the highest order of power were on the side of Protestantism—­Latimer and Cromwell.  These were now to come forward, pressed by circumstances which could no longer dispense with them.  When the breach with the pope was made irreparable, and the papal party at home had assumed an attitude of suspended insurrection, the fortunes of the Protestants entered into a new phase.  The persecution ceased, and those who were but lately its likely victims, hiding for their lives, passed at once by a sudden alternation into the sunshine of political favour.

Cromwell and Latimer together caught the moment as it went by, and before it was over a work had been done in England which, when it was accomplished once, was accomplished for ever.  The conservative party recovered their power, and abused it as before; but the chains of the nation were broken, and no craft of kings or priests or statesmen could weld the magic links again, Latimer became famous as a preacher at Cambridge, and was heard of by Henry, who sent for him and appointed him one of the royal chaplains.  He was accused by the bishops of heresy, but was on trial absolved and sent back to his parish.  Soon after the tide turned, and the reformation entered into a new phase.

Thomas Cromwell, like Latimer of humble origin, was the “malleus monachorum.”  Wolsey discovered his merit, and employed him in breaking up the small monasteries, which the pope had granted for the foundation of the new colleges.  Cromwell remained with the great cardinal till his fall.  It was then that the truly noble nature which was in him showed itself.  The lords had passed a bill of impeachment against Wolsey—­violent, vindictive, and malevolent.  It was to be submitted to the commons.  Cromwell prepared an opposition, and conducted the defence from his place in parliament so skilfully that he threw out the bill, saved Wolsey, and gained such a reputation that he became Henry’s secretary, representing the government in the House of Commons, and was on the highroad to power.

The reformation was blotted with a black and frightful stain.  Towards the end of April, 1536, certain members of the Privy Council were engaged in secretly collecting evidence which implicated the queen in adultery.  In connection with the terrible charge, as her accomplices five gentlemen were arrested—­Sir William Brereton, Mark Smeton, a court musician, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, and, the accusation in his case being the most shocking, Lord Rochford, the queen’s brother.  The trial was hastily pushed forward, and all were executed.  The queen, who vehemently and piteously appealed to Henry, passionately protesting that she was absolutely innocent, was also condemned, and was beheaded in public on Tower Hill.