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 A HISTORY OF LONDON Lady Day ; "' and on Easter Day a priest who was administering the Sacrament in the church of St. Margaret Westminster was attacked and severely wounded in the head and hand."* His assailant, an ex-monk who had married, had his hand struck off and was afterwards burnt as a heretic."^ In May Bishop Bonner was urged to deal severely with heretics who refused to recant after due instruction,"* and a month later a proclamation was issued forbidding the importation of books written by the foreign reformers."^ In July a London apprentice and John Bradford, a preacher, were burnt at Smithfield."' Ridley, late Bishop of London, was burnt at Oxford on i6 October 1555.^" Shortly before his death he wrote a farewell letter ""' in which he bitterly upbraided the citizens of London for having relapsed into ' idolatry.' The pope's bull of plenary indulgence to all who were penitent was read in Latin and in English at Paul's Cross on Sunday, 15 September 1555.°^ In November Bishop Gardiner died of gout at Whitehall. His bowels were buried before the high altar in the church of St. Mary Overy Southwark, and dirge and requiem mass were said for him in every parish church in London.'"' There seems to have been some fear on the part of the authorities lest the frequent executions of heretics should rouse the citizens to opposition ; for in January 1555—6 the Council charged the lord mayor to see that the victims were well guarded, and to punish any who should ' misuse themselves either by comforting, aiding or praising the offenders.' "'^ On the occasion of the burning of seven persons at Smithfield on 27 January an order was issued overnight that no young person should be present. An immense crowd witnessed the scene, and doubtless there was thought to be danger of an uproar on the part of the apprentices.'"'^ Before the death of Archbishop Cranmer copies of his recantation were printed in London ; but the Council promptly put a stop to their circulation, binding over the publishers to give them up to Mr. Cawood, the queen's printer.'"* Cardinal Pole was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury on Sunday, 22 March 1555—6, and on the following Wednesday he received the pall in the church of St. Mary le Bow, which was hung with cloth of gold and rich arras for the occasion.'" At Eastertide the church of St. Bartholomew the Great was ' set up with black friars. Friar Penryn being head thereof,' '°* and soon afterwards the hospital of the Savoy was re- established. •°' The persecution of heretics was carried on with great vigour during the spring of 1556.'" It appears to have had the natural effect of alienating the '" Monum. Franc, ii, 257 ; Sharpe, op. cit. i, 473 ; Machyn, Diary, 87. Machyn says a man 'hanged two puddings ' about the priest. "^ Machyn, Diary, 85 ; Monum. Franc, ii, 257. '" Wriothesley, Chron. ii, 127-8 ; Jets ofP.C. v, 1 15, 1 18. "* Lend. Epis. Reg. Bonner, fol. 363. "' Cardwell, Doc. Annals, i, 175 ; Corp. Rec. Journ. xvi, fol. 338. '" Machyn, Diary, 90 ; Wriothesley, Chron. ii, 1 29 ; Stow, Annab. "" Machyn, Diary, 96. "" Reprinted from Coverdale in Ridley's Works (Parker Soc), 395 et seq. "" Lond. Epis. Reg. Bonner, fol. 396^, 398, 399 ; Machyn, Diary, 94 ; Wriothesley, Chron. ii, 130. "" Machyn, Diary, 99-100 ; Wriothesley, Chron. ii, I 32. '« Acts ofP.C. V, 248. "'Machyn, Diary, 102 ; Wriothesley, Chron. ii, 134. ""Wriothesley, loc. cit. "» S.P. Dom. Mary, ix, 8. "° Michyn, Diary, 104-5, 108 ; Wriothesley, Ciron. ii, 134-5 ; Stow, Annab. 302
 * °' Machyn, Diary, 96-7 ; Stow, Annals. '" Acts ofP.C. v, '224.