His only friends were the Protestants, and their friendship was more fatal than the hatred of his foes.

But he showed no signs of fear or of halting in the course he had entered on.

So long as Henry supported him, however reluctant his support might be, he was more than a match for his foes.

He was strong enough to expel his chief opponent, Bishop Gardiner of Winchester, from the royal Council.

He met the hostility of the nobles with a threat which marked his power.