The Henson Journals

[49]

Tuesday, February 17th, 1920.

"Neither Cranmer nor Laud were men (was a man) without great virtues or grave faults. But whilst Cranmer's face had been turned steadily forward towards the future, Laud's gaze was fixed in contemplation of a bygone, and, to some extent, an imaginary past.

S. R. Gardiner. History viii. 128.

Gardiner's analysis of Laud's policy, and the reasons of its failure is more just & illuminating v.ch.LXXVIII. 'The Metropolitical Visitation' (vol viii p. 106ff).

I wasted my morning in miscellaneous reading: lunched early: attended a meeting of the Union–of–Benefices Committee: motored to Bridstow and had tea with K: did the letters with Wynne–Willson.

Cruikshank sends me an account or the proceedings in Durham Cathedral on Sunday. He does not seem very cheerful about it:–

"I fear that things are not yet ripe for reunion even on these modest lines, until the great 'Purge' has been affected. Four Canons were there with Budworth, Poole & the boys. The Archdeacon stayed away: he had promised in November to support the Dean loyally though he did not like the thing: about a fortnight ago he wrote a long letter to the Bishop protesting against it, & asking leave to publish. But fortunately it has not appeared. It was full of the most greasy & nauseous unction. He probably felt that he had scored sufficiently when the Bishop backed out of his voluntary offer to come and give the blessing."

Monk certainly acted in a very despicable fashion.

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