loved him for his conversion, and hopes of continuance: they that
loved him before could not suddenly hate him, having hope of his
confession; so love and hope increased devotion on every side."

[Footnote 545: _MS. Harleian_, 422.]

"I shall not need," says the same writer, "to describe his behaviour
for the time of sermon, his sorrowful countenance, his heavy cheer,
his face bedewed with tears; sometimes lifting his eyes to heaven in
hope, sometimes casting them down to the earth for shame--to be brief,
an image of sorrow, the dolour of his heart bursting out of his eyes,
retaining ever a quiet and grave behaviour, which increased the pity
in men's hearts."

His own turn to speak was now come. When the prayer was finished, the
preacher said, "Lest any man should doubt the sincerity of this man's
repentance, you shall hear him speak before you. I pray you, Master
Cranmer," he added, turning to him, "that you will now perform that
you promised not long {p.255} ago; that you would openly express the
true and undoubted profession of your faith."

"I will do it," the archbishop answered.

"Good Christian people," he began, "my dear, beloved brethren and
sisters in Christ, I beseech you most heartily to pray for me to
Almighty God, that he will forgive me all my sins and offences, which
be many and without number, and great above measure; one thing
grieveth my conscience more than all the rest, whereof, God willing, I
shall speak more; but how many or how great soever they be, I beseech
you to pray God of his mercy to pardon and forgive them all."

Falling again on his knees:--

"O Father of heaven," he prayed, "O Son of God, Redeemer of the world,
O Holy Ghost, three Persons and one God, have mercy upon me, most
wretched caitiff and miserable sinner. I have offended both heaven and
earth more than my tongue can express; whither then may I go, or
whither should I flee for succour? To heaven I am ashamed to lift up
mine eyes, and in earth I find no succour nor refuge. What shall I do?
Shall I despair? God forbid! Oh, good God, thou art merciful, and
refusest none that come to thee for succour. To thee, therefore, do I
come; to thee do I humble myself, saying, O Lord, my sins be great,
yet have mercy on me for thy great mercy. The mystery was not wrought
that God became man, for few or little offences. Thou didst not give
thy Son, O Father, for small sins only, but for all and the greatest
in the