The pulpit of St. Paul's rang Sunday after Sunday
with the polemics of the divorce; and if "the holy water of the court" made
the higher clergy cringing and cowardly, the rank and file, even in London
itself, showed a bold English front, and spoke out their thoughts with
entire recklessness. Among the preachers on Catherine's side, Father
Forest, famous afterward in Catholic martyrologies, began to distinguish
himself. Forest was warden of a convent of Observants at Greenwich attached
to the royal chapel, and having been Catherine's confessor, remained, with
the majority of the friars, faithful to her interests, and fearless in the
assertion of them. From their connection with the palace, the intercourse
of these monks with the royal household was considerable; their position
gave them influence, and Anne Boleyn tried the power of her charms, if
possible, to gain them over. She had succeeded with a few of the weaker
brothers, but she was unable (and her inability speaks remarkably for
Henry's endurance of opposition through the early stages of the
controversy) to protect those whose services she had won from the anger of
their superiors. One monk in whom she was interested the warden
imprisoned,[368] another there was an effort to expel,[369] because he was
ready to preach on her side; and Forest himself preached a violent sermon
at Paul's Cross, attacking Cromwell and indirectly the king.[370] He was
sent for to the court, and the persecuted brothers expected their triumph;
but he returned, as one of them wrote bitterly to Cromwell, having been
received with respect and favour, as if, after all, the enmity of a brave
man found more honour at the court than the complacency of cowardice.
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