Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 22
❧The life, state, and storie of the Reuerend Pastour and Prelate, Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Caunterburie, Martyr, burned at Oxforde, for the Confession of Christes true Doctrine, vnderunder Queene Marie. An. 1556. March. 21.
AS concerning the life and estate of that moste reuerend father in God, and woorthy Prelate of godlye memorie,March, 21. Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury and Martyr. Thomas Cranmer late Archbishop of Canterburie, and of the originall cause and occasion of his preferment vntounto hys Archiepiscopall dignitie, who of many hath bene thought to hauehave procured the same by friendshippe onelye, and of some other esteemed vnwoorthy of so high a vocation: It is first therefore to be noted and considered, that the same Thomas Cranmer comming of an ancient Parentage, from the conquest to be deducted, and continuing sithens in the name and familie of a Gentleman,Thomas Cranmer a gentleman borne. was borne in a Uillage called Arselacton in Notingham shire. Of whose saide name and family there remaineth at these daies one Manour and mansion house in Lincolne shire, called Cranmer Hall. &c. Some times of heritage of the saide stocke and familie. Who being from his infancie kept at schoole, and brought vp not without much good ciuilitie,… came in processe of time vntounto the Uniuersitye of Cambridge, & there prospering in right good knowledge amongst the better sort of students, was chosen fellow of Iesus Colledge in Cambridge. And so being maister of Arte,… and fellow of the same Colledge, it chaunced him to marrye a Gentlemans daughter: by meanes whereof he lost and gaue ouer his fellowship there, and became the reader in Buckingham Colledge: and for that hee woulde with more diligence apply that his office of reading, placed his sayd w…te in an Inne, called the Dolphin in Cambridge, the wife of the house being of affinitie vntounto her. By reason wherof, and for that his often resorte vntounto his wife, in that Inne he was muche marked of some Popish marchaunts: whereupon rose the slaunderous noyse and report against him, after he was preferred to the Archbyshopricke of Canterb. raised vp by the malicious disdaine of certaine malignant aduersaries to Christ and his truth, bruting abroad eueryevery where, that he was but an Hostler, and therfore without all good learning. Of whose malicious reportes, one of their practises in that behalfe shall heereafter be declared, as place and time shall serue.
But in the meane time to retourne to the matter present. Whilest this saide M. Cranmer continued as reader in Buckingham Colledge, his wife died in childebed. After whose death, the maisters and fellowes of Iesus Colledge desirous againe of their old companion, namely for his towardnes in learning, chose him againe fellow of the same Colledge. Where he remaining at his studie, became in fewe yeares after, the reader of Diuinitie lecture in the same Colledge, and in such special estimation and reputation with the whole vniuersit…e, that being Doctor of diuinitie, hee was commonly appoynted one of the heades (which are two or three of the chiefest learned men) to examine suche as yearely professe in commencement, eyther Bachelers, or Doctors of Diuinitie, by whose approbation the whole vniuersitie licenceth them to proceede vntounto their degree: and againe by whose disallowance the Uniuersitie also reiecteth them for a time to proceede, vntill they be better furnished with more knowledge.
…Nowe, Doctour Cranmer euer muche fauouringe the knowledge of the Scripture, would neuer admitte any to proceede in Diuinitie, vnlesse they were substantially sene in the storie of the Bible: by meanes where of certayne friers and other religious persons, who were principally brought vp in the studie of schoole autho…s wythout regard had to the aucthoritie of scriptures, were commonly reiected by him, so that hee was greatly for that his seuere examination of the religious sort, much hated, and had in great indignation: and yet it came to passe in the end, that diuers of them being thus compelled to study the Scriptures, became afterwardes very wel learned and wel …, in so much, that when they proceeded Doctours of diuinitie, could not ouermuch extol and commend master Doc. Cranmers goodnesse towardes them, who had for a time put them backe, to aspire vntounto better knowledge and perfection. Among whom D. Barret a white Frier, who afterwardes dwelt at Norwich, was after that sort hādled, geuing him no lesse commendation for his happye reiecting of him for a better amendement. Thus muche I repeat that our …pish and popish sort of ignorant priestes may well vnderstande that this his exercise, kinde of life, and vocation was not altogether Hostlerlike.
Well, to goe forwardes: Like as hee was neyther in fame vnknowen, nor in knowledge obscure, so was hee greatly solicited by Doct. Capon, to hauehave beene one of the felowes in the foundation of Cardinal Wolseis Colledge in Oxforde (which he vtterly refused, not without danger of indignation. Notwithstanding foreseeing that whyche after chaunced, to the vtter confusion of many wel affected learned men there without consideration (because mans glory was there more sought for, then Gods) hee stoode to the danger of the sayd indignation, whych chaunced more prosperously vntounto him within fewe yeares after, then hee looked for. For whiles hee thus continued in Cambridge. The great and weighty cause of king Henry the viij. hys diuorce with the Lady Katherine Dowager of Spayne, came into question, which being many waies by the space of ij. or iij. yeares amongst the Canonists, Ciuilians, and other learned men diuersly disputed and debated, it came to passe that this sayde Doct. Cranmer, by reason that the plague was in Cambridge, resorted to Waltham Abbey, to one M. Cresses house there, whose wife was of kinne to the sayde M. Cranmer. And for that he had ij. sonnes of the said Cressey with him at Cambridge as his pupulles, he rested at Waltham crosse, at the house of the sayd master Cressey, with the sayde ij. children, during that somer time whiles the plague reigned.
In this somer time Cardinall Campeius and Cardinall Wolsey, being in commission from the Pope,Of this Campeius and discourse of his legacy read before pag. 1049. to here and determine that greate cause in controuersie betweene the K. & the Queene his pretended wife, dalyed and delaied all the sommer time vntill the monethmonth of Aug. came in, hearing the said cause in controuersie debated. When August was come, the sayd Cardinals little minding to procede to sentence geuing, tooke occasion to finish their commission, and not further to determine therein, pretending not to be permitted by the lawes to kepe courts of Ecclesiasticall matters in haruest time, which sodeine stay & geuing ouer of the said commissiō by both the cardinals, being vnknowen to the king, it so much mooued him that he taking it as a mocke at the cardinals hands, commanded the dukes of Northfolke and Suffolke to dispatch forthwt cardinal Campeius home againe to Rome, and so in hast remooued him selfe from London to Waltham, for a night or twaine whiles his houshold remooued to Grenewich: by meanes wherof it chanced that the harbengers lodged D. Stephens Secretarie, and D. Foxe Almosiner (who were the chief furtherers,Stephen Gardiner & Doct. Foxe, chiefe stirrers of the kinges diuorce. preferrers and defendors on the kings behalfe of the said cause) in the house of the sayd M. Cressey, where the sayd doctor Cranmer was also lodged and resident. When supper time came, they all iij. Doctors met together, Doctor Stephens and Doctor Foxe, muche marueiling of Doctor Cranmers being there.D. Stephens, D. Foxe, D. Cranmer, conferring together in the kinges cause. Who declared to them the cause of his there being, namely, for that the plague was in Cambridge. And as they were of olde acquaintance, so the Secretarie and the Almosiner right wel entertained Doctor Cranmer, minding to vnderstād part of his opinion touching their great busines they had in hād. And so as good occasion serued, whiles they were at supper, they conferred wyth Doctor Cranmer concerning the kings cause, requesting him of his opinion what he thought therein.
Whereto D. Cranmer answered, that he could say little to the matter, for yt he had not studied nor looked for it. Notwtstanding he sayde to them, that in hys opinion they made more ado in prosecuting the law Ecclesiastical, then needed. It were better as I suppose (quod D. Cranmer) that the question,D. Cranmers aunswere in the question of the kinges diuorce. whether a mā may marry his brothers wife or no, were decided and discussed by the diuines, and by the authority of the woord of God, whereby the conscience of the Prince might be better satisfied & quieted, then thus from yeare to yere by frustratorie delaies to prolong the time, leauing the very truthe of the matter vnboulted out by the woorde of God. There is but one trueth in it, which the Scripture will soone declare, make open & manifest, being by learned men wel handled, and that may be aswell done in Englande in the Uniuersities heere, as at Rome or els where in any forraine nation, the aucthority whereof will compell any Iudge soone to come to a definitiue sentence: and therfore as I take it, you might thys way hauehave made an end of this matter long sithens.D. Cranmers deuise well liked of. When D. Cranmer had thus ended hys tale, the other two well liked of his deuise, and wished that they had so proceeded afore time, and thereupon conceiued some matter of that deuise to instruct the king withall, who then was minded to send to Rome againe for a new Commission.
Now, the next day when ye king remooued to Grenewich, like as he tooke himselfe not wel handled by the cardinals in thus deferring his cause, so his mind being vnquieted,The king troubled about the diuorce. and desirous of an end of his long & tedious sute he called to him these his two principall doers of his saide cause, namely the saide D. Stephens and D. Foxe, saying vntounto them: What now my maisters (quoth the king) shall we do in this infinite cause of mine? I see by it there must be a new commission procured from Rome, and when we shall hauehave an ende, God knoweth and not I. When the king had said somewhat his minde heerein, the Almosiner D. Foxe said vntounto the king again: We trust that there shal be better wayes deuised for your Maiestie, then to make trauaile so farre as to Rome anye more in your highnesse cause, which by chance was put into our heads this other night being at Waltham. The King being very desirous to vnderstand his meaning, said: Who hath …aken in hand to instruct you by any better or shorter way to proceede in our sayd cause? Then sayd Doctor Foxe: It chaunced vsus to be lodged at Waltham in M. Cresseis house this other night, your highnesse being there, where we mette wyth an olde acquaintaunce of ours, named Doctor Cranmer, with whom hauing conference concerning your highnes cause, he thought that the next way were, first to instructe and quiet your maiesties conscience by trying your highnesse question out by the authoritye of the woorde of God, & therupon to procede to a final sentence. With this report the Secretary was not content wt the Almosiner,D. Cranmers deuise reported to the king. for yt hee did not vtter this deuise as of their owne inuention. And when the Secretarie woulde hauehave seemed by colourable woordes to make it appeare to the king, that they of them selues had deuised that meanes: the king then said, where is that Doctour Cranmer? is he still at Waltham? They aunsweared that they left him there. Mary, said the king, I will surely speake with hym,Note the glorious head of D. Stephens. and therefore lette hym bee sent for out of hande. I perceyue quoth the Kynge, that that man hathe the sowe by the righte eare. And if I had knowen this deuise but two yeare agoe, it had beene in my way a great peece of money, and had also ridde mee out of much disquietnesse.
D. Cranmer sent for to the K…ng.Whereupon Doctor Cranmer was sent for, and being remooued from Waltham to Cambridge, and so towards his friendes in Notingham shire, a Poste went for hym. But when he came to London, he began to quarell wyth these two his acquaintaunces,D. Cranmer seeketh excuses both to come vntounto the kinges presence. that hee by theyr meanes was thus troubled and brought thither to be combred in a matter wherein hee had nothing at all trauailed in studie, and therefore most instantly intreated them, that they would make his excuse in such sorte, that he might be dispatched away from comming in the kings presence. They promised and tooke the matter vppon them so to doe, if by any meanes they might compasse it. But al was in vaine, for the more they began to excuse Doctour Cranmers absence, the more the King chid with them, for yt they brought him not out of hande to his presence, so that no excuse seruing, hee was faine vndelaiedly to come to the Courte vntounto the king,D. Cranmer brought to the king. Talke betweene the king and D. Cranmer. whome the gentle Prince benignely accepting, demaunded his name, and sayd vntounto him: Were you not at Waltham suche a time, in the companye of my Secretarie and my Almosiner? Doctour Cranmer affirming the same, the king sayd againe: had you not cōference with them concerning our matter of diuorce nowe in question after this sorte, repeating the manner and order thereof? That is right true, if it please your highnesse quod Doctor Cranmer. Well sayde the king, I well perceiue that you hauehave the right scope of this matter. You must vnderstand (quoth the King,The king troubled in conscience. that I hauehave bene long troubled in conscience, and now I perceiue that by this meanes I might hauehave beene long agoe relieued one way or other from the same, if we had this way proceeded. And therefore maister Doctour I pray you, and neuerthelesse because you are a subiecte, I charge and commaund you (al your other businesse and affaires sette aparte) to take some paines to see this my cause to be furthered according to your deuise, asmuche as it may lie in you,Marke this you Papistes, which so rashly iudge the kinges diuorce, and the Popes ouerthrowe to hauehave sprong of light causes. so that I may shortly vnderstand whereunto I may trust. For this I protest before God and the world, that I seeke not to be deuorced from the Queene, if by any meanes I were iustly perswaded that our matrimonie were inuiolable, and not against the lawes of God: for otherwise there was neuer cause to mooue me to seeke any such extremitie. Neither there was euer Prince had a more gentler, a more obedient and louing companion and wife then the Queene is, nor I neuer fansied woman in all respectes better, if thys doubte had not risen: assuring you that for the singulare vertues wherewith she is indued, besides the consideration of her noble stocke, I could be right wel contented stil to remain with her, if so it would stand with the will and pleasure of almighty God. And thus greatly commending her many and singular qualities, the King sayde: I therefore praye you with an indifferent eye, and with asmuch dexterity as lieth in you, that you for your part doe handle the matter for the discharging of both our consciences.
Doctour Cranmer much disabling himselfe to meddle in so weighty a matter,D. Cranmer excusing and disabling himself to the king. besoughte the kings highnesse to commit the trial and examining of this matter by ye word of God, vntounto the best learned men of bothe his Uniuersities, Cambridge and Oxforde. You say wel, said the king, and I am content therewith. But yet neuerthelesse, I wil hauehave you specially to wryte your minde therein. And so calling the Earle of Wiltshiere to him, sayde: I praye you my Lorde, let Doctour Cranmer hauehave intertainement in your house at Durham place for a time,D. Cranmer assigned by the king to search the Scriptures in the cause of his diuorce. to the intent hee may be there quiet to accomplish my request, and let him lacke neither bookes, ne any thing requisite for his studie. And thus after the kinges departure, Doctour Cranmer went with my Lorde of Wiltshiere vntounto his house, where hee incontinent wrote hys minde concerning the kinges question: adding to the same besides the authorities of the Scriptures: of generall Councels, and of auncient wryters: also his opinion which was this: that the Bishop of Rome had no suche authoritie,The king first geuen to vnderstand that the Pope hath no authority to dispence with the word of God. as whereby hee myghte dispence wyth the woorde of God and ye Scripture. When Doctour Cranmer had made this Booke, and committed it to the king, the king sayd to him: wil you abide by this, that you hauehave heere wrytten before the Bishop of Rome: That will I do, by Gods grace, quoth Doctor Cranmer, if your Maiestie doe sende me thether. Marye quoth the king, I will send you euen to him in a sure Ambassage.The kinges … the Pope… Canō … to the … of the … tures.
And thus by meanes of doctour Cranmers handling of this matter with the King, not onelyonly certaine learned men were sent abroad to the most part of the vniuersities in Christendome, to dispute the question, but also the same being by Commission disputed by the diuines in both the Uniuersities of Cambridge and Oxforde, it was there concluded that no suche matrimonie was by the woorde of God lawfull.The kinges mariage found by Gods word vnlawfull. Whereuppon a solemne ambassage was then prepared and sent to the Bishop of Rome, then being at Bononie, wherein went the Earle of Wiltshire, D. Cranmer, D. Stokesley, D. Carne, D. Benet, and diuers other learned men and Gentlemen. And when the time came that they shoulde come before the Byshoppe of Rome to declare the cause of their ambassage,Doctor Cranmer with other sent to Rome Ambassadour to the Pope. the Bishop sitting on high in his cloth of estate, and in his rich apparell, with his sandales on his feete, offring as it were, hys foote to be kissed of the Ambassadours, the Earle of Wiltshiere disdaining thereat, stoode still, and made no countenaunce thereunto, so that al the rest kept themselues from that Idolatrie.
How be it, one thing is not heere to be omitted,The English Ambassadours not hasty to kisse the Popes foote. as a prognosticate of our separation from the Sea of Rome, which then chaunced by a Spaniell of the Earle of Wiltshiere. For he hauing there a great Spaniel whiche came out of Englande with him, stoode directly betweene the Earle and the Bishoppe of Rome. When the sayd bishop had aduaunced foorth his foote to be kissed, nowe whether the Spaniell perceiued the Bishops foote of an other nature then it ought to be, and so taking it to be some kinde of repast, or whether it was the will of God to shew some token by the dogge vntounto the Bishoppe of hys inordinate pride, that his feete were more meete to be bitten of dogs,The vnmanerly nature of a Dogge presuming to kisse the Popes foote. then kissed of Christian men: the Spaniell (I say) when the Bishoppe extended his foote to be kist, no man regarding the same, straight way (as thoughe hee had beene of purpose appoynted thereunto) went directly to the popes feet, & not onelyonly kissed the same vnmanerlye, but as some plainly reported & affirmed, tooke fast with his mouth the great Toe of the Pope, so that in haste hee pulled in hys glorious feete from the Spaniell. Whereat our men smiling in their sleeues, what they thought, God knoweth. But in fine, the Pontificall bishoppe after that sought no more at that present for kissing his feete, but without any further ceremonie gaue eare to the Ambassadoures what they had to say.
Who entring there before the Byshoppe, offred on the kings behalfe to bee defended, that no manne Iure diuino, Arguing to the Popes face, that contrary to the word of God he had no power to dispense▪ Doctor Cranmer made the Popes Penitenciary. Doctor Cranmer Ambassadour to the Emperour.coulde or ought to marrie his brothers wife, and that the Bishoppe of Rome by no meanes oughte to dispence to the contrary. Diuers promises were made, and sundrye dayes appoynted, wherein the question should hauehave bene disputed, and when our parte was readye to aunsweare, no manne there appeared to dispute in that behalfe. So in the ende the Bishoppe making to our Ambassadoures good countenaunce, and gratifying D. Cranmer with the office of the Penitenciarshippe, dismissed them vndisputed withall.
Whereuppon the Earle of Wiltshire and other Commissioners, sauing Doctour Cranmer, retourned home againe into England. And foorthwith Doctour Cranmer went to the Emperour being in hys iourney towardes Uienna, in expedition againste the Turke, there to aunswere suche learned men of the Emperours counsaile, as woulde or coulde say anye thinge to the contrarye parte.Conference betwene B. Cranmer & Cornelius Agrippa▪ Where amongest the rest, at the same time was Cornelius Agrippa, an highe Officer in the Emperours Courte, who hauing priuate conference with Doctoure Cranmer in the question, was so fully resolued and satisfied in the matter, that afterwardes there was neuer disputation openly offered to Doctoure Cranmer in that behalfe. For thorowe the perswasion of Agrippa, al other learned men there were muche discouraged: In so much that after D. Cranmer was retourned into Englande, Agrippa fel into suche displeasure wyth the Emperour, as some men thoughte, that because of the hindering and discouraging so muche the contrary part, he was committed to prisone, where hee for sorrowe ended his life, as it was reported. In the meane space while the Emperour returned home from Uienna throughe Germanie, Doctour Cranmer in that voyage had conference with diuers learned menne of Germanie concerning the sayde question, who very ambiguously heeretofore conceiuing the cause, were fully resolued and satisfied by him.
This matter thus prospering on Doctor Cranmers behalfe, aswell touchinge the kinges question, as concerning the inualiditie of the Bishop of Romes authoritye, Bishop Warrham then Archbishop of Canterburie, departed this transitory life, wherby that dignity then bring in the kings gift and disposition, was immediately geuen to D. Cranmer as worthy for his trauail, of such a promotion. Thus much touching the preferment of D. Cranmer vntounto his dignity,… and by what meanes he atchieued vntounto the same: not by flattery, not by bribes, nor by none other vnlawfull meanes: which thing I hauehave more at large discoursed, to stoppe the railing mouthes of such, who being themselues obscure & vnlearned, shame not so to detracte a learned man moste ignominiously with the surname of an Hos…ler, whome for his godly zeale vntounto sincere religion, they ought with muche humilitye to hauehave had in regarde and reputation.
Nowe, as concerning his behauiour and trade of life towardes God and the world, being now entred into his sayd dignity, and for so much as the Apostle s. Paul wryting to two Bishops,… Timothie and Titus, setteth oute vntounto vsus a perfecte description of a true Bishop, wyth all the properties and conditions belonging to the same, vntounto the which exemplare it shall be harde in these straunge daies to finde the image of any Bishop correspondent: yet for example sake let vsus take thys Archbishop of Canterburie, and trie him by the rule thereof, to see either howe neere hee commeth to the description of S. Paule, or els howe farre off he swarueth from the common course of other in his time,… of his calling. The rule of S. Paule is to be found, first, 1. Timothie 3. also in his Epistle to Titus, chap. 1. in these woordes.