Secondly, there were the pope's followers, still strong in numbers especially among the clergy and in the north.

Their leaders were among the most high-minded of the nation, but were also the first to be smitten by the king's wrath which, as his satellites were always repeating in Latin proverb, meant death.

Such men were More and Fisher and the London Carthusians executed in 1535 for refusing the oath of supremacy.

Third, there were the Lutherans, an active and intelligent minority of city merchants and artisans, led by men of conspicuous talents and generally of high character, like Coverdale, Kidley, and Latimer.

With these leaders were a few opportunists like Cranmer and a few Machiavellians like Cromwell.