Editing Myles Coverdale (section)

==Return to England, 1548==
[[File:Myles_Coverdale_-_West_Window,_Exeter_Cathedral.jpg|thumb|right|[[Exeter Cathedral]] - West Window ]]
[[Edward VI]] (1547–53) was only 9 years old<ref name="OxDicHist">{{cite book|last1=Cannon|first1=John|title=A Dictionary of British History|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199550371.001.0001/acref-9780199550371|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780191726514|date=2009}} (entry Edward VI).</ref> when he succeeded his father on 28 January 1547. For most of his reign he was being educated, whilst his uncle, [[Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset|Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford]], acted as [[Lord Protector|Lord Protector of the Realm]] and Governor of the King's Person. Immediately upon receiving these appointments he became [[Duke of Somerset]].

Coverdale did not immediately return to England, although the prospects looked better for him. Religious policy followed that of the chief ministers and during Edward's reign this moved towards Protestantism. However in March 1548 he wrote to [[John Calvin]] that he was now returning, after eight years of exile for his faith. He was well received at the court of the new monarch. He became a royal chaplain in Windsor, and was appointed almoner to the queen dowager, [[Catherine Parr]]. At Parr's funeral in September 1548, Coverdale delivered what would later be said to have been his "1st Protestant sermon".<ref>{{cite book |last=Murray |first=John |date=1872 |title=A Handbook for Travellers in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLaMuyFN-bQC&q=sudeley+castle+chapel&pg=PA162 |location=Gloucestershire |publisher=J Murray |pages=162–163 |isbn= |author-link= }}</ref>

On 10 June 1549, the [[Prayer Book Rebellion]] broke out in Devon and Cornwall. There, Coverdale was directly involved in preaching and pacification attempts.<ref name="ONDB"/> Recognising the continuing unpopularity of the [[Book of Common Prayer]] in such areas, the [[Act of Uniformity 1549|Act of Uniformity]] had been introduced, making the [[Latin liturgical rites]] unlawful from [[Whitsun]]day 1549 onward. The west-country rebels, many of whom spoke Cornish but not English, complained that the new English liturgy was "but lyke a Christmas game" – men and women should form separate files to receive communion, reminding them of country dancing.<ref>[[Eamon Duffy]], ''The voices of Morebath: reformation and rebellion in an English village'', New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, p. 133.</ref> 

The direct spark of rebellion occurred at [[Sampford Courtenay]] where, in attempting to enforce the orders, an altercation led to a death, with a proponent of the changes being run through with a pitchfork.<ref name="Church of England - Sampford Courtenay">{{cite web|last1=The Church of England – A Christian presence in every community|title=A Church Near You|url=http://www.achurchnearyou.com/sampford-courtenay-st-andrew/|website=St Andrew, Sampford Courtenay|publisher=© 2015 Archbishops' Council|access-date=7 May 2015}}</ref>
Unrest was said also to have been fuelled by several years of increasing social dissatisfaction.<ref>Somerset to Sir Philip Hobby, 24 August 1549. In: [[Gilbert Burnet]], ''The history of the Reformation of the Church of England'', ed. [[Nicholas Pocock]], Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1865, vol. V., pp. 250–151. Cited in: Roger B. Manning, "Violence and social conflict in mid-Tudor rebellions," ''Journal of British Studies'', vol. 16, 1977, pp. 18–40 (here p. 28)</ref> Lord [[John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford]] was sent by the Lord Protector to put down the rapidly spreading rebellion and Coverdale accompanied him as chaplain.<ref group=note>A later writer recalled that ‘none of the clergy were ready to risk life with Russell's expedition but old Father Coverdale’ (A Brieff Discours, cited by Daniell, p. 232). On the field at Woodbury Windmill, Coverdale ‘caused general thanksgiving to be made unto God’ (Mozley – see Daniell, 15).</ref> The [[Battle of Sampford Courtenay]] effectively ended the rebellion by the end of August, at a loss of over 1,200 Catholic rebel lives,<ref>[[Philip Payton]]. (1996). ''Cornwall''. Fowey: Alexander Associates</ref> and several thousands more in previous battles and massacres.  

However Coverdale remained in Devon for several more months, helping to pacify the people and doing the work that properly belonged to the Bishop of Exeter. The incumbent, [[John Vesey]], was eighty-six, and had not stirred from [[Sutton Coldfield]] in [[Warwickshire]], his birthplace and long-term residence.