So that there can be little room for doubt that to the extent just indicated Mr. Pocock is probably right. At the same time, it must be observed that in the charges of insincerity which he is constantly hurling at Cranmer and his abettors, he appears to make no account of the rapid growth and development of views and opinions which always takes place during periods of great and sudden change. At such times, when a man has once chosen his side or his party, his opinions, which have vacillated before, will often progress even to extremes in a very short time, and harden and stiffen in them. No better instance of this kind of development in the time with which we are now dealing can be found than that of Gardiner himself. When Gardiner exchanged the service of Wolsey for that of his master, and for some years after, he appeared to be as facile a tool in the hands of Henry VIII. as any other of his ministers or courtiers. When he was ambassador to the Pope, it is probable that what he saw in Rome had the same effect on his mind as it had on those of others, and he was ready to go all lengths with the King. After his return, his early impressions became gradually less intense, the evil side of the Reformation presented itself with more and more insistance to his mind, and he became gradually more and more conservative in his tone. Nevertheless, so long as Henry lived, Gardiner supported and defended all or most of his ecclesiastical measures, and remained in the main subservient to his will. On Edward's accession, he first openly attempted to stem the tide of change, assuming—probably for the purpose of gaining time—the indefensible position, that he had been willing to yield to the supremacy of the late King, and would be equally willing to do so to the new one, but protesting against the exercise of that supremacy by the
