Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 4.djvu/326

306 was in the Fleet, but Gardiner was an exception, and persecution as such was to be at an end.

'The King,' nevertheless, 'desired unity and concord in religion;' and although 'he wished the same to be brought to pass with all clemency and mercy, and although he wished that his loving subjects should study rather for love than for fear to do their duties to Almighty God;'—there were yet profanities which could not wholly be tolerated, and those who spoke irreverently and profanely of the Eucharist might be punished with fine and imprisonment. The concluding clause of this statute enjoined communion in both kinds on laity as well as clergy; and in jealousy of the abused power of excommunication, the parish priest was