Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 22 · Letter 1
¶A Letter or Apologie of M. Morice, sent to Sir Will. Buttes, and Sir Anthony Denny, defending the cause of M. Richard Turner preacher, agaynst the Papistes.
THe letter first beginnyng in these wordes: I am certain right worshipfull, that it is not vnknown to your discrete wisdoms, &c. And after a few lynes, commyng to the matter, thus the said letter proceedeth.
As your worships wel know,The trouble… of Richard Turner minister at Cartham. It was my chance to be broght vp vnderunder my L. of Caunterbury my maister, in writyng of the ecclesiasticall affaires of this Realme, as well touchyng reformation of corrupt religion, as concernyng the aduauncement of that pure and sincere religion receyued by the doctrine of the Gospel which I take to be so substantially handled and builded vponupon the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles, that hell gates shal neuer preuaile agaynst it. The consideration whereof compelled me, being a Farmer of the personage of Chartham in Kent, to retaine with me one named M Richard Turner, a man not onelyonly learned in the scriptures of God, but also in conuersation of lyfe towards the world, irreprehensible, whome for discharging of my conscience I placed at Chartham aforesayd to be Curate there This mā because he was a stranger in the countrey there, and so thereby voyd of grudge or displeasure of any old rancor in the country,M. Raphe Morice▪ patrone of Richard Turner Preacher. I thought it had bene a meane to hauehave gotten hym the better credite in his doctrine: but where malice once taketh fire agaynst truth, no pollicie I see is able to quench it. Well, this man as hee knew what appertained vntounto his office, so he spared not weekely both Sundayes and holydayes to open the Gospell and Epistle vntounto his audience after such a sort (when occasion serued) that as well by his vehement inueying against the bishop of Romes vsurped power and authoritie,The great concourse of people to M. Turner… Preaching. as in the earnest settyng forth and aduauncing of the kyngs Maiesties supremacie, innumerable of the people of the countrey resortyng vntounto his sermons, changed their opinions, and fauoured effectually the religion receyued. The confluence of the people so daily encreased, that the church beyng a faire, ample, and large church, was not now and then able to receyue the number. The fame of this new instruction of the people was so blasted abroade, that the popishe priestes were wonderfully amased and displeased, to see their Pope so to bee defaced, & their prince so highly aduanced.
Now thought they it is high tyme for vsus to worke, or els all will here be vtterly lost by this mans preaching. Some thē went with capons,Syr Iohn Baker, Syr Christopher Hales, Syr Tho. Moile, Iustices, with the Prebendaryes of Canterbury, persecuters of Gods people. some with hennes, some with chickens, some with one thyng, some with another, vntounto the Iustices, such as then fauoured their cause and faction, and such as are no small fooles, as sir Iohn Baker, sir Christofer Hales, sir Tho. Moyle Knightes, with other Iustices. The Prebendaries of Christes Church in Cā terbury were made priuy hereof, geuyng their succour and ayd thereunto: So that in conclusion poore Turner and other preachers were grieuously complained of vntounto the Kynges maiestie. Whereupon my Lord of Caunterbury and certaine other commissioners were appoynted at Lambheth to sit vppon the examination of these seditious preachers. Howbeit, before Turner went vp to hys examination, I obtayned of sir Thomas Moyle that he in Easter weeke was content to heare Turner preache a rehearsall Sermon in hys parish Church at Westwell, of all the doctrine of hys Sermons preached at hys Cure in Charteham,Syr Thomas Moile hearing Turner, could finde no fault with his doctrine. whiche hee moste gently grauntyng, heard Turner both before noone and after noone on the Wednesday in Easter weeke laste past, and (as it seemed) tooke all thynges in good part, remittyng Turner home to his sayd Cure with gentle and fauourable wordes. I supposed by this meanes to hauehave stayed Maister Turner at home from further examination, hopyng that sir Thomas Moyle would hauehave aunswered for hym at Lambheth before the Commissioners.M. Turner appearing before the Commissioners at Lambeth, was discharged, and sent home. Notwithstandyng, after Maister Moyles commyng to London, suche information was layed in agaynst Turner, that he was sent for to make aunswere hymselfe before the sayd Commissioners, and there appearyng before them, he made such an honest, perfect, and learned aunswere vntounto the Articles obiected, that he was with a good exhortation discharged home agayne, without anye manner of recantation or other Iniunction.
Now when the Pope catholicke Clergy of Kent vnderstoode of his commyng home without controllement, so that hee preached as freely as he did before,New matter made agaynst Richard Turner. agaynst their blynde and dumme ceremonies, straightway by the helpe of the B. of Winchester Steuen Gardiner, they found a new meanes to put hym to an vtter confusion, deuising that he came home from examination in such glorious pompe by the hyewayes side in the woods adjoynyng,The practise of of Papistes to hold vp their kingdome with lyes. that 500. persones met hym then with bankettyng dishes to welcome hym home, stirryng the people rather to an vprore and a commotion, then to keepe them in any quiet obedience: when in very deed contrary to this surmise (as God would) on this side Rochester a myle or two▪ for auoyding all such lyght & glorious talke with any of hys familiars or acquaintaunce, he of purpose left the hye way, and came through the woods all alone aboue 18. myles together on foote, so weried and megered for want of sustenance, that when he came into my house at Chartham, he was not well able to stand or speake for fayntnesse and thurst.
The king deceiu…d by sinister information.This malicious tale beyng reported vntounto the Kinges hyghnesse, his Maiestie was so sore agrieued therewith, that hee sente for the Archb. of Caunterbury, willyng hym to cause Turner to be whipt out of the countrey. By meanes whereof, the Archbishop of Caunterbury sent agayne for Turner. I hearyng thereof, made incontinently report by my letters, with suche vehemencie proouyng it meere malice, that the Archb. vnderstāding the truth, pacified agayne the kings maiesties wrath. Home commeth Turner once agayne to his Cure without blotte. Which so wroong the Papistes, in that they could not preuayle, that they thought it all in vayne any further to attempt against hym concernyng any accusation for matters in Kent, the Archb. of Canterbury beyng his Ordinarie.New matter made agaynst Richard Turner. Well, yet woulde they not thus leaue him vndiscredited. Then was there other new matter deuised, howe that he had preached erroneous doctrine in other countries before he came into Kent, laying to his charge, that he had both translated the Masse into English, and said, or ministred the same, and that he had preached agaynst Purgatory, Pilgrimages, and praying for the dead, &c. By meanes whereof, he was now conuented before the whole counsaile by the B. of Wint. Who sent Siriacke Petite Gentleman for hym, whiche brought hym vp to London bound (as I heard say) and beyng examined before the sayd Bish. of Winchester and other, was committed to warde for a season.
In the which meane tyme the Archbishop of Caunterbury, beyng in Kent about the triall of conspiracie purposed agaynst hymselfe by the Iustices of the Shiere,Conspiracye against the Archb…op Cranmer by the Iustices of Kent. and the Prebendaries of Christes church. Turner is now sent downe to the Archbishop, to the entent he should recant that doctrine which long agoe he in other places out of Kent had preached, to the vtter subuersion and defacyng of all that he had most godly and earnestly here in Kent taught, both to the glory of God, and the furtheraunce and settyng foorth of the Kinges highnesse proceedynges. If hys Maiestie wyll thus permit learned honest men thus dayly to bee ouercrowed and troden vnderunder foote with a sort of tyrannous or rather trayterous Papists (who cannot abide to heare his Maiesties supremacy aduaunced, nor the sincere worde of God preached) it were better for men to dwell amongest the Infidels and miscreaunts, then in England.
What reason is this that Turner should recant here in Kent the doctrine which in other Countreys he hath taught, to the woundyng and ouerthrowyng most desperately of fiue hundred mens consciences and aboue, (I dare say) who lately by hys sincere preachyng hauehave embraced a right good opinion both of the Kyngs supremacy, and also of the reformed religion receyued. All good subiectes may well lament the kynges Maiesties estate in this behalfe, that no man may dare to be so bold to aduaunce hys highnesse title, but that eueryevery ignoraunt and malicious Papist shall spurne against hym, seekyng his vtter vndoyng, and that by the ayde of papisticall Iustices set in authoritie, I beseech your worships to pardon me of my rude & homely termes. They herein deserue worse, if worse may bee deuised. For what honest man can beare with this, that so noble a Princes eares, shall be thus impudently abused with manifest lyes and fables, as this one is of Turners commyng home in such a triumph as they craftily and falsely had deuised? It is easilye to bee espied what they meane and goe about, that the Prince beyng alyue, dare take in hand so vncurteously to abuse both the gentle nature of the Prince, and his godly preacher, the aduancer and extoller of hys iust authoritie.
What thinke your worships they would attempt if hys Maiestie were at Gods mercy (as God forefend that euer any of vsus should see that day, without better reformation) that can thus dally with hys highnesse, blindyng hys eyes with mistes, whylest he lyueth and raigneth amongest vsus in most prosperitie? As for my Lord of Cant. dare nothyng doe for the poore mans deliuerie, he hath done so much for hym already. And hys grace hath told me playnely, that it is put into the Kyngs head, that he is the mainteiner and supporter of all the heretikes within the realme, nor will not permit me nor my neighboures to resort vntounto the Counsaile for his purgation whilest he was at Chartham, sauyng onelyonly I hauehave obtained this at his hand, that I may become a suter in writyng to my friends and good Maisters in the court for hys deliuerie.
And therefore it is (right worshipfull) that I hauehave nowe taken penne in hand, thus to discourse and open our miserie vntounto you concernyng the extreme handling of this honest poore man Maister Turner, that if it may possibly be broght to passe by your godly wisedome, that the poore man may bee released and discharged of hys recantation, you cannot doe to God and your prince a more acceptable seruice in my poore opinion. For otherwyse if he should be driuen to recant (as I am sure he wyll sooner dye) both Gods cause and the kyngs shall suffer no small detriment amongst hys poore louyng subiects here. For if there be no better stay for the maintenaunce of these godly preachers, the Kyngs authoritie concernyng his supremacy, shall lye poste alone hidden in the Acte of Parliament, and not in the hartes of his subiectes.
If they can bryng to passe that Turner may recant to the defacyng of his good doctrine preached here, then hauehave they that for which they hauehave thus long trauailed. And yet in effect shall not Turner recant, but king Henry the 8. in Turners person shal most odiously recant, to the woundyng of all mens consciences here. If the kynges Maiestie do not esteeme his authoritie geuen to his highnesse by Gods word and his Parliament, it were wel done, that the preachers had good warnyng to talke no more to the people thereof, then thus to be tossed and turmoiled for doyng their duties by the members of Antichrist.
And now to the entent that they might effectually for euer slander Turners doctrine here, they hauehave indited hym for offending agaynst the vj. Articles, this last Sessions,Sander▪ and Browne, 2. per…ecuting Papistes. by the witnesse of two Papists of the parish of Chartham his vtter enemies, Sander and Browne by name, for a Sermon preached at Chartham or Passion Sunday, which chanced on S. Gregories euen, they both beyng absent that day at Wye faire, as it is well prooued, namely, for that he preached against the Masse, saying, that our Sauiour Christ was the onelyonly soule Priest which song Masse on the aultar of the Crosse, there sacrifising for the sinnes of the worlde once for euer, and that all other Masses were but remembraunces and thankesgeuing for that one sacrifice, or such wordes in effect.
Wherefore, to conclude (right worshipfull) knowyng your godly zeales, as well towardes the preferment of sincere Religion, as your no lesse affection towardes the Kyng hys Maiesties persone and his godly proceedinges, I most humbly beseeche you in the bowels of our Sauiour Christ, so to ponder the weightye consideration of the premisses, as by your trauailes vntounto the Kinges Maiestie, or to the honourable Counsaile, we here in Kent that hauehave now of late our heartes bent towardes the obseruation of the lawe of God and the Prince, thorough Turners godlye perswasions, may receyue from your worships some comfortable worde of his deliueraunce, or els certaynely many an honest and simple man lately embracing the trueth, may perhaps fall away desperately from the same, not without danger of their soules In accomplishing whereof your worships shall not onelyonly do vntounto almighty God and the Prince most true and acceptable seruice, but also binde the sayd M. Turner, with all other to whom this cause doth apperteine, both dayly to pray for your prosperities, and also to bee at your commaundementes during theyr lyues. From Caunterbury the second day of Nouember.
Your worships euermore at commaundement. R. M.
And thus much conteineth the letter sent (as is sayd) by M. Morice to Doctor Buttes and Syr Anthony Denye. Now, what successe and speede this letter had, it foloweth to be declared. For Doctour Buttes the kinges Phisition aforesayd, after the receipte of these letters, considering the weighty contentes of the same, as he was euer a forwarde friend in the Gospels cause, so he thought not to fors…acke this matter to the vttermost of his diligence, and so spying his time, whē the king was in trimming and in washing (as his maner was at certayne times to call for his Barbar) Doctour Buttes (whose manner was at such times euer to be present,… and with some pleasaunt conceites to refresh and solace the kinges minde) brought with hym in his hand this Letter. The king asking what newes, Doctour Buttes pleasantly and merely beginneth to insinuate vntounto the king the effect of the matter, and so at the kinges commaundement read out the letter: which when the king had heard, and paused a little with himselfe vponupon the same, commaunded agayne the letter to be read vntounto him. The hearing and consideration wherof so altered the kinges minde, that wheras before he commaunded the sayde Turner to be whipped out of the countrey, he now commaunded him to be reteined as a faythfull Subiect. And here of that matter an end. Let vsus now returne to the Archbishop agayne.
Who although he was compassed about (as is sayde) with mighty enemies, and by many crafty traynes impugned, yet through Gods more mighty prouidēce, working in the kinges hart so to fauor him, he rubbed out all Kyng Henryes time without blemishe or foyle by meanes of the kinges supportation, who not onelyonly defended the sayd archbishop agaynst all his conspired aduersaryes,This Archbi…hop maryed his second wyfe at Noremberge. but also extended such speciall fauour vntounto him in such sort, that he being not ignorant of hys wife, whō he had maryed before at Noremberge (being Niece to the wife of Osiander) keping her also all the sixe Articles time contrary to the law, notwithstanding he both permitted the same, and kept his counsell.
Then after the death of Kyng Henry, immediatelye succeeded his sonne K. Edwarde, vnderunder whose gouernement and protection the state of this Archbishoppe, beyng his Godfather, was nothing appayred, but rather more aduaunced.
During all this meane time of king Henry aforesayd, vntill the entring of king Edward, it seemeth that Cranmer was scarsly yet throughly persuaded in ye right knowledge of the Sacrament, or at least, was not yet fully rypened in the same: wherin shortly after he being more groūdly confirmed by conferēce with Bishop Ridley, in processe of time did so profite in more ryper knowledge, that at last he tooke vponupon him the defence of that whole doctrine, that is, to refute and throw downe first the corporall presence: secondly the phantasticall Transubstantiation:The true & … of the …acrament … ▪ bookes … forth by … Archb. … Cant. Thirdly the Idolatrous adoration: Fourthlye the false errour of the Papistes, that wicked menne doe eate the naturall body of Christ: and lastly the blasphemous sacrifice of the Masse. Whereupon in conclusion he wrote fiue bookes for the publicke instruction of the Church of England, which instruction yet to this day standeth and is receiued in this Church of England.
Agaynste these fiue bookes of the Archbishop, Steuen Gardiner, the archenemy to Christ and his Gospell, being then in the Tower, slubbereth vp a certayne answere such as it was, which he in open Court exhibited vp at Lambeth being there examined by the Archbishop aforesayd & other the kinges Cōmissioners in king Edwardes dayes,… which booke was intituled: An Explication and assertion of the true Catholick fayth, touching the blessed Sacramēt of the aultar, with a confutation of a booke written against the same.
Agaynste this Explication, or rather a cauilling Sophistication of Steuen Gardiner Doctour of law, ye Archbishop of Caunterbury learnedlye and copiously replying againe, maketh aunswere, which also he published abroad to the eies and iudgementes of all men in print. All which writinges and bookes,The aunswere of D. Cranmer Archb. of C…nterbury agaynst Stephen Gardiner. as well of the one part as of the other, our present story woulde require here to be inferred: but because to prosecute the whole matter at length wyll not be comprehended in a small roome, and maye make to long taryaunce in our story, it shall therfore be best to put of the same vntounto the place of the Apendix folowing, wherin (the Lord willing) we intend to close vp both these, and other diuers treatises of these learned Martyrs, as to this our story shall apperteine.
The vnquiet spirite of Stephen Gardiner beyng not yet contented, after all this thrusteth out an other booke in Latine of the like Popishe Argument,Marcus Anthonius written by Stephen Gardiner. but after an other title, named Marcus Anthonius Constantius. Whereunto first the Archbishoppe agayne intending a full confutation, had already absolued three partes of his aunsweare lying in prison. Of the which partes,Archbshop of Cant. about an aunswere to Marcus Anthonius. two perished in Oxforde: the other yet remayneth in my handes ready to bee seene and set forth, as the Lord shall see good. Also Bishop Ridley lying likewise the same time in prison, hauing ther the sayd booke of Marcus Antonius, for lack of penne and paper, with a lead of a window in the margent of the booke wrote annotations,Notes of D. Ridley agaynst Marcus Anthonius. as strayghtnesse of time would serue him, in refutation of the same booke. And finally because those worthy Martyrs had neither libertye nor leysure to go through with that trauaile, that which lacked in them, for accomplishment of that behalfe, was supplied shortlye after by Peter Martyr, Peter Martyrs booke of defēce agaynst Marcus Anthonius.who aboundantly and substantially hath ouerthrowne that booke in his learned Desension of the trueth, agaynst the false Sophistication of Marcus Antonius aforesayd.
Besides these bookes aboue recited, of this archbishop diuers other thinges there were also of his doing, as the booke of the reformation, the Catechisme, with the booke of Homelies, whereof part was by him contriued, parte by his procurement approued and published. Whereunto also may be adioyned an other writing or confutation of his agaynst 88. Articles by the conuocation deuised and propounded, but yet not ratified nor receiued, in the reigne & time of king Henry the eight.
And thus much hetherto concerning the doynges and trauelles of this Archbishop of Caunterbury duringe the lyues both of kynge Henrye, and of kinge Edwarde hys sonne. Which two kinges so long as they continued, this Archbishop lacked no staye of maynteinaunce agaynst all his maligners.
Afterward this king Edward Prince of most worthy towardnesse falling sicke, when hee perceyued that hys death was at hande, and the force of his paynefull disease woulde not suffer him to liue longer, and knowing that his sister Mary was wholy wedded to popish Religion, bequeathed the succession of this Realm to the Lady Iane (a Ladye of greate byrthe, but of greater learning, being Neece to king Henry the eight by his sister) by consent of all the Councell and lawers of this realme.Lady Iane. To this testament of the kinges, when all the Nobles of the Realme, states and Iudges had subscribed: they sent for the Archbishop, and required him that he also would subscribe. But he excusing himselfe on this maner, sayd:Cranmer refuseth to sweare to Lady Iane. that it was other wise in the testament of king Hēry his father, and that he had sworn to the successiō of Mary as then the next heire, by which oth he was so bound, that without manifest periury he could not go from it. The Councell answered, that they were not ignoraunt of that, and that they had consciences as well as he, and moreouer that they were sworne to that testament, and therfore he should not thinke there was any daunger therein, or that he should be in no more perill of periury then the rest.
To this the Archbishop answered, that he was iudge of no mans conscience but his owne: and therefore as hee would not be preiudiciall to others, so he would not commit his conscience vntounto other mens factes, or cast himselfe to daunger, seing that eueryevery man shoulde geue account of his owne conscience and not of other mens. And as concerning subscription, before he had spoken with the kynge himselfe, he vtterly refused to do it.
The king therefore being demaunded of the Archbyshop concerning this matter, sayde: that the Nobles and Lawyers of the Realme counselled him vntounto it, and perswaded him that the bond of the first testament coulde nothing let, but that this Lady Iane might succeede hym as heyre,Cranmer thorough the perswasion of the Counsell, the king, and lawyers subscribed to K. Edwardes Testament. and the people without daunger acknowledge her as theyr Queene. Who then demaūding leaue of the king, that he might first talke with certayne Lawye…s that were in the Court, when they all agreed that by law of the realme it might be so, returning to the king, with much ado, he subscribed.
Well, not long after this, king Edwarde dyed, beyng almost sixtene yeares olde, to the great sorowe, but greater calamity of the whole Realme. After whose decease immediatelye it was commaunded that the Ladye Iane which was vnwilling thereunto, shoulde be proclaymed Queene. Which thing much misliked the common people: not that they did so much fauor Mary, before whom they saw the Lady Iane preferred, as for the hatred conceiued agaynst some, whom they could not fauor. Besides this, other causes there happened also of discord betwene the nobles and the commons the same time, for what iniuryes of commons and enclosures wrongfully holden, wyth other inordinate polinges & vncharitable dealing betwene the landlordes and tenauntes, I cannot tell. But in fyne, thus the matter fell out, that Mary hearing of the death of her brother, and shifting for her selfe, was so assisted by the Commons, that eftsoones shee preuayled. Who being established in the possession of the realme, not long after came to London, and after she had caused first the two Fathers, the Duke of Northumberland and the Duke of Suffolke to be executed (as is aboue remembred) likewise she caused the Lady Iane being both in age tender and innocent frō this crime, after she coulde by no meanes be turned frō the constancy of her fayth, together with her husband to be beheaded.
The rest of the nobles paying fines, were forgeuen, the Archbishop of Cant. onelyonly excepted.Manet alta mente repostū Iudicium paridis, …pretaeque iniuria matris. Virgil. Aeneid. 1. Who though he desired pardon by meanes of frendes, could obteine none: in so much that the Queene would not once vouchsafe to see him: For as yet the olde grudges agaynst the Archbishop for the deuorcemēt of her mother, remayned hid in the bottome of her hart. Besides this diuorce, she remembred the state of religion chaunged: all whiche was reputed to the Archbishop, as the chiefe cause therof.
While these thinges were in doing, a rumor was in all mens mouthes, that the Archbishop, to curry fauour with the Queene, had promised to say a Dirige Masse after ye old custome, for the funeral of king Edward her brother. Neither wanted there some which reported that he had already sayd Masse at Caunterbury: which Masse in deed was sayd by D. Thornton.This Doctour Thornton was after the Bishop of Douer, a cruell and wicked persecuter. This rumour Cranmer thynkyng speedely to stay, gaue forth a writing in his purgation: the tenour whereof being before expressed, I need not here agayne to recite.
This bill being thus written, and lying openlye in a window in his chamber, commeth in by chaunce M. Scory, Bishop then of Rochester, who after he had read & pervsed the same, required of the Archbishop to hauehave a Copy of the bill. The Archbishop when he had graūted and permitted the same to M. Scory, by the occasion thereof M. Scory lending it to some frēd of his, there were diuers copyes taken out thereof, and the thing published abroad among the cōmon people: in so much that eueryevery scriueners shop almost, was occupied in writing and copying out the same, and so at length some of these copies comming to the Bishops handes, and so brought to the Counsel, and they sending it to the Commissioners, the matter was known, and so he commaunded to appeare.
Wherupon D. Cranmer at his day prefixed, appeared before the sayd Commissioners, bringing a true Inuentory,This Bishoppe was D. Heath, Bishop after of Yorke. as he was commaunded, of all his goodes. That done, a Bishop of the Queenes priuy counsell, being one of ye sayd Commissioners, after the Inuentory was receiued, bringing in mention of the bill: My Lord (sayd he) there is a bil put forth in your name, wherein you seeme to be agreeued with setting vp the Masse agayne: we doubt not but you are sory that it is gone abroad.
To whome the Archbishop aunswered agayn, saying: as I do not deny my selfe to be the very author of that bill or letter, so much I confesse here vntounto you, concerning the same bill, that I am sory that the said bill went from me in such sort as it did. For when I had written it, M. Scorye got the copy of me, and is now come abroad, and as I vnderstand, the City is full of it. For which I am sory, that it so passed my hands: for I had intended otherwise to hauehave made it in a more large and ample maner, and minded to hauehave set it on Paules Church doore, and on the doores of al the Churches in London, which mine owne seale ioyned thereto.
At which wordes when they sawe the constantnesse of the man, they dismissed him, affirming they had no more at that present to say vntounto him, but that shortly he shoulde heare further. The sayd Bishop declared afterward to one of Doctour Cranmers frendes, that notwithstanding his atteinder of treason, the Queenes determination at that tyme was, that Cranmer shoulde onelyonly hauehave bene depriued of his Archbishopricke, and hauehave had a sufficient lyuing assigned hym, vponupon his exhibiting of a true Inuentory, with commaundement to keepe his house withoute medling in matters of Religion. But how that was true, I hauehave not to say. This is certaine, that not lōg after this,Cranmer condem… of treaso… ▪ he was sent vntounto the Tower, and soone after condemned of Treason. Notwithstanding, the Queene when shee coulde not honestly denye him his pardon, seeyng all the rest were discharged, and specially seeing he last of all other subscribed to Kyng Edwardes request, and that agaynst his owne will,Cranmer released treason, … accused … heresie. released to him his action of Treason, and accused him onelyonly of heresy: which liked the Archbishop right well, and came to passe as he wished, because the cause was not nowe his owne, but Christes, not the Queenes, but the churches. Thus stood the cause of Cranmer, till at length it was determined by the Queene and the Councell, that he should be remoued from the Tower where he was prisoner, to Oxforde, there to dispute wyth the Doctours and Diuines. And priuily word was sent before to them of Oxford to prepare themselues, and make them ready to dispute. And although the Queene and the bishops had concluded before what should become of him, yet it pleased them that the matter should be debated with argumentes, that vnderunder some honest shew of disputation, the murther of the man might bee couered. Neither coulde theyr hasty speed of reuengemēt abide any long delay:Cranmer had to Oxford. and therfore in all hast he was caried to Oxford.
What this disputation was, and how it was handled, what were the questions, and reasons on both sides, and also touching his condemnation by the Uniuersitye and the Prolocutour, because sufficiently it hath bene declared we minde nowe therefore to proceede to his finall iudgement and order of condemnation, which was the xij. day of September an. 1556. and seauen dayes before the condemnation of Bishoppe Ridley and Mayster Latimer, as is aboue foretouched. The storye whereof here followeth, faythfullye collected by the reporte and narration (commyng by chaunce to our handes) of one who being both present thereat, and also a deuoute Fauourer of the Sea and faction of Rome canne lacke no credite (I trowe) with suche, which seeke what they can to discredite what so euer maketh not with theyr phantasied Religion of Rome.
After the disputations done and finished in Oxford betwene the Doctors of both Uniuersityes & the three worthy Bishops D. Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, he heard then howe sentence condemnatory immediatlye vponupon the same was ministred agaynst them by D. Weston & other of the Uniuersitye: whereby they were iudged to be heretickes, & so committed to the Maior and Sheriffes of Oxford. But forasmuch as the sentence geuē them, was voyd in law (for at that time the authority of the Pope was not yet receiued into the land) therfore was a new commission sent from Rome, and a new processe framed for the cōuiction of these reuerend and godly learned mē aforesayd. In which commission first was Doct. Iames Brookes Bishop of Glocester the Popes Subdelegate,D. Brookes, D. Martyn, D. Storye. Commissioners agaynst the Archb. D. Martyn not so bitter in this persecution, as other Cō missioners were. wt D. Martin and D. Story Commissioners in the king & queenes behalfe, for the execution of the same. Of the which 3 Cōmissioners aboue named, as touching D. Martin, this by the way is to be vnderstand, that although he was vsed for an instrument of the Popes side, to serue a turne (whose book also is extant agaynst the lawfull mariage of Priestes) yet notwithstāding neither was he so bitter an enemy in this persecution, as other Commissioners were, and also in this time of Queene Elizabeth, were diuers other Doctors of the Arches refused to be sworne agaynst the Pope, he denied not the othe: and yet notwithstanding not a together here to be excused. But to the purpose of this story. Wherof first it shall be requisite to declare the circumstaunce, and the whole state of the matter, as in a generall description, before we come to theyr Orations, according as in a percell of a certain letter touching the same, it came to our handes.
In primis, here is to be vnderstande, that the commyng downe of the foresayde Commissioners, which was vponupon Thursday, the xij. of September, an. 1555. in the church of S. Mary,The order of … & placing … Commi…oners. and in the East end of the sayd church at the hie aultar, was erected a solemne Scaffold for bishop Brokes aforesayde, representing the Popes person, ten foote high. The seat was made that he might sit vnderunder the Sacramēt of the aultar. And on the righte hand of the Popes Delegate beneath him sate Doctour Martin, and on the lefte hand sate Doctour Story the kynge and Queenes Commissioners, which were both Doctours of the Ciuill law, and vnderneth them other Doctours, Scribes and Phariseis also, with the Popes Collectour and a rablement of such other like.
And thus these Byshops being placed in theyr Pontificalibus, ye B. of Canterbury was sent for to come before thē. He hauing intelligence of them that were there, thus ordered himselfe. He came forth of the prison to the church of S. Mary, set forth with billes and gleues for feare least he shoulde starte awaye, being cloathed in a fayre blacke gowne, with his hoode on both shoulders, suche as Doctors of Diuinity in the Uniuersity vse to weare.The appe…ng of the Archb. of Canterbury before the Commissioners. Who after he was come into the Church, and did see them sitte in theyr Pontificalibus, he did not put of his cappe to none of them, but stood still till that he was called. And anon one of the Proctors for the Pope, or els his Doctour, called Thomas Archbishop of Caunterbury, appeare here and make aunswere to that shall be layd to thy charge: that is to say, for blasphemy, incontinency, and heresy: and make answere here to the Bishop of Glocester representing the Popes person.
Upon this he being brought more neare vntounto the scaffold, where the foresayd Bishops sate, he first well viewed the place of iudgemēt, & spying where the king & queenes maiesties Proctors were, putting of his cap, he first humbly bowing his knee to the ground, made reuerence to the one, and after to the other.
That done, beholding the bishop in the face, he put on his bonet agayne,The Archb. goeth reuerence to the Quenes C…mm…ners. D. Cranmer … reuere…ce to …. making no maner of token of obedience towardes him at all. Whereat the Bishop being offended, sayd vntounto him, that it might beseeme him right well, weying the authority he did represēt, to do his duety vntounto him. Wherunto Doctor Cranmer aunswered and sayd, that he had once taken a solemne othe, neuer to consent to the admitting of the bishop of Romes authority into this realm of England agayne, and that he had done it aduisedly, and meant by Gods grace to keepe it, and therefore would cō mit nothing either by signe or token, which might argue his consent to the receiuing of the same, and so he desired the sayd Bishop to iudge of him, and that he did it not for any contempt to his person, which he could hauehave bene cō tent to hauehave honored as well as any of the other, if his cō mission had come from as good authority as theyrs. Thys answered he both modestly, wisely, and paciētly, with his cappe on hys head, not once bowing or making anye reuerence to hym that represented the Popes person, whiche was wonderouslye of the people marked, that was there present and saw it, and marked it as nye as could be possible.