that died for the Church, so there should be one
that should make even with Fisher, Bishop of
Rochester; and because that Ridley, Hooper, and
Ferrars were not able to make even with that man,
it seemed that Cranmer should be joined with them
to fill up their part of equality."--Foxe, vol.
viii. p. 85. Jenkins, vol. iv. p. 133.]

The explanations being finished, the preacher exhorted his audience to
take example from the spectacle before them, to fear God, and to learn
that there was no power against the Lord. There, in their presence,
stood a man, once "of so high degree--sometime one of the chief
prelates of the church--an archbishop, the chief of the council, the
second person of the realm: of long time, it might be thought, in
great assurance, a king on his side;" {p.254} and now, "notwithstanding
all his authority and defence, debased from a high estate unto a low
degree--of a councillor become a caitiff, and set in so wretched
estate that the poorest wretch would not change conditions with him."

Turning, in conclusion, to Cranmer himself, Cole then "comforted and
encouraged him to take his death well by many places in Scripture;
bidding him nothing mistrust but that he should incontinently receive
that the thief did, to whom Christ said, To-day shalt thou be with me
in Paradise. Out of Paul he armed him against the terrors of fire, by
the words, The Lord is faithful, and will not suffer you to be tempted
beyond that which you are able to bear; by the example of the three
Children, to whom God made the flame seem like a pleasant joy; by the
rejoicing of St. Andrew on his cross; by the patience of St. Lawrence
on the fire." He dwelt upon his conversion, which, he said, was the
special work of God, because so many efforts had been made by men to
work upon him, and had been made in vain. God, in his own time, had
reclaimed him, and brought him home.

A dirge, the preacher said, should be sung for him in every church in
Oxford; he charged all the priests to say each a mass for the repose
of his soul; and finally, he desired the congregation present to kneel
where they were, and pray for him.

The whole crowd fell on their knees, the archbishop with them; and "I
think," says the eye-witness,[545] "that there was never such a number
so earnestly praying together; for they that hated him before, now