The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Part 2, Book 2 · Biography 4
T. CROMWELL
The Life of Thomas Cromwel Earl of Essex, who dyed, Anno Christi, 1541.
THomas Cromwel was born at Putney in Surrey; his Father was a Smith, and therefore could bestow no great cost in his education, so that his poverty was a great hinderance at first to his vertue; yet such was the activity, and forward ripeness of nature in him: his wit so pregnant: his judgement so sound: his tongue so eloquent: his service so faithful: His stomack so couragious, & his Pen so active, that he could not be long concealed, nor hindred from favour, & friends to imploy him: Nothing was so difficult which his wit & industry would not compass, he had also a very firm memory in retaining whatsoever he had once gotten, insomuch as in a journy to, and from Rome he learned the whole New Testament translated by Erasmus, Scriptures studied.without book: As he grew towards ripeness of years, he had a great minde to travel into forraign Countries to see the world, and learn experience, and so passing over the sea, he went into France, from thence into Italy, at last he came back to Antwerp, where he was entertained by the English Merchants to be their Secretary: It hapned about the same time, that the Inhabitants of Boston in Lincolnshire, were minded to send to Rome for the renewing of their two Pardons, which, though it would cost them great expenses, yet they found such gain by that Roman Merchandise, that they chose one Jeffery Chambers, and another, whom they furnished with Writings, and good store of money, and so sent them to Rome to dispatch that business: By the way when they came to Antwerp, Chambers suspecting his own weakness for so weighty a work, conferred, and prevailed with Thomas Cromwell to assist him therein: Cromwell, though he knew the difficulty of the enterprise, and what it was to have to deal with such greedy Cormorants, as the Pope, and his Cardinals were, yet having some skill in the Italian tongue, and as yet being ungrounded in the true Religion, he consented to go along with them. Coming to Rome, The sensuallity of the Pope.he gat Information, that the Popes holy Tooth greatly delighted in new fangled dishes, and strange delicates, whereupon he prepared certain fine dishes of jelly, made after the best English fashion, but never before seen at Rome: And taking his time with his two companions, when the Pope was newly come from Hunting, and gone into his Pavilion, they brought their English Presents in with a three mans Song (as it was then called) The Pope marvelling at the strangeness of the Song, and understanding that they were English men, and came not empty handed, he willed them to be called in: Cromwell doing his obeysance, offered him his jolly-junkets, telling him, that they were such as none but Kings, and Princes in England used to feed upon: Desiring him to accept of the Present which he, and his Companions, that were poor suiters to his Holiness, had presented as novelties for his recreation, &c. The Pope seeing the strangeness of the Dishes, bad one of his Cardinals to tast of it, who liked it so well, that he commended it to the Pope: The Pope also was so well pleased with it, that he asked them what their suits were, and commanding them to teach his Cook the making of that meat, he incontinently confirmed both their Pardons according to their requests: All this while Cromwell had no sound tast of Religion, and himself would often after tell Doctor Cranmer what a Ruffian he was in his young dayes: How he was in the wars with the Duke of Burbon in the fiege of Rome: As also how he assisted Chambers in publishing, and setting forth the Pardon of Boston every where in Churches as he went, and so he The means of his Conversion.continued, till at last, learning the New Testament by heart, it pleased God to begin to touch, and affect his heart with the knowledge, and savor of the Truth: In the mean time, Cardinal Woolsey began to rule all under the King, or rather with the King in England; so that men of the best wits, and ablest parts, sought to get into his service: amongst whom Thomas Cromwell also gat preferment under him, and having faithfully served him divers years, the Cardinal at last preferred him to be his Solicitour: About which time Woolsey was building his stately Colledge in Oxford [now Christ-Church] for the furtherance whereof, he pulled down some small Monasteries, and Priories in divers parts of the Realm, the charge whereof he committed to Cromwell, wherein he was so industrious, that he gat him much hatred amongst many superstitious persons, and with some of He is hated by the Papists.the Nobility that were about the King.
Shortly after the Cardinal grew into disgrace with the King, and fell into a Premunire: So that his houshold being dissolved, Thomas Cromwell amongst others, sought to get into the Kings Service: And Sir Christopher Hales, Master of the Rolls (though a great Papist) yet liked Cromwell so well, that he commended him to the King, as a man most fit for his purpose, having then to do against the Pope. But the King having had former complaint made to him against Cromwell, for his homely dealing with the Monasteries, Images, Altars, &c. he detested his very name, and some that stood by also, with railing, and reviling words, sought more to inflame the Kings hatred against him: But there being present at the same time, the Lord Russell, Earl of Bedford, with a vehement boldness he stood forth, Gods providence.and took upon him the defence of Cromwell, uttering much in his commendation before the King; and withall, telling him, that when himself was at Bononia, about the Kings affairs, he was in extream perill of his life, had not Cromwell by his singular device and policy freed him from the same: Adding, that forasmuch as his Majesty had now to do with the Pope, there was in all England none so fit for the Kings purpose, which could say or do He is sent for to the King.more in that matter then he: The King hearing this, was content to see, and speak with him, and to hear what he could say: Cromwell having private notice that he should be sent for to the King, provided himself before hand, and gat in a readiness the Copy of the Bishops oath, which they used to make to the Pope at their consecration, and so being called for, he was brought to the King in his garden at Westminster, Anno Christi 1530. the King propounding sundry questions to him, He answered him very satisfactorily, and withall shewed him how his Princely authority was abused within his own Realm by the Pope, and his Clergy, who being sworn to him, were afterwards dispensed with, and sworn anew unto the Pope, so that he was but an half King, &c. He also shewed him how he might accumulate to himself whatsoever the Clergy in England was worth, if he pleased to take the occasion now offered unto him: The King giving good ear to this, and liking his advise, asked him, if he would stand by what he had told him: Yea said he, I can avouch it to be certain, and therewith he shewed the Bishops oath unto the King: Hereupon the King presently admitted him into his service, and taking his Ring off his finger, he sent him therewith into Admitted into the Kings, service.the Convocation house amongst the Bishops: Cromwell coming boldly into the house, placed himself amongst the Bishops, where he made an Oration, and declared unto them the authority of a King, and the office of subjects, especially of Bishops and Churchmen under the publike Laws, which Laws (saith he) you have all transgressed, & highly offended by derogating from the Kings Roiall estate, falling under a Premunire, by consenting to the power Legantine of the Cardinal, as also by being sworn to the Pope, contrary to your fealty to the King, to whom therefore you have forfeited all your Goods, Chattels, Lands, Possessions, Proves the Clergy to be in a Premunire.and whatsoever Livings you have: The Bishops hearing this, were much amazed, beginning to excuse, and deny the fact: But Cromwell shewing to them the very Copy of the oath given to the Pope at their consecration, they could deny the matter no longer, but fell to intreaty: And after a short debate amongst themselves were content to give to the King 101884. li. to free them from the Premunire: After this Cromwell growing His preferments:into great favour with the King, he first Knighted him: then made him Master of his Jewel-house: then one of the privy councell: then Master of the Rolls: then Knight of the Garter: And lastly, Earl of Essex: Great Chamberlain of England, and the Kings vicegerent to represent his own person: Which office is seldome conferred upon any subject in England, and was never better discharged then by this Lord. Neither did his honours make him grow proud, or remiss in his duty, but he was rather quickened thereby to work more abundantly Industry.for the good both of Church, & State: and above all his other vertues, he is chiefly to be commended for his singular zeal, and laborious Zeal.travell bestowed for the restoring of the truth, and demolishing the Synagogues of Antichrist, the Abbies, and Religious houses: For it pleased Almighty Abbles demolished.God to make him an instrument to perswade the King to suppress, first the Chauntries, then the smaller Monasteries, and at length all the Abbies in England, both great, and less: And though the buildings might have been converted to Schools, and houses of learning: the goods, and possessions might have been bestowed to much better, and more godly use, viz. to the relief of the poor, and to many publike uses of piety, and charity: yet herein the secret judgement of God is to be admired, and adored, in that those houses that were so full of all manner of abominations Gods just judgement on Monasteries.(as appeared to the Kings Commissioners upon examination, and remains upon Record) so horrible to be heard, so incredible to be believed, so stinking before the face of God and man, that no marvel it is, if Gods vengeance from heaven, so highly provoked thereby, would not suffer any monument of these Houses to be unplucked up: The Doctrines, Laws, & Traditions also of such as inhabited them, was rebellion against Christ, derogatory to his Glory, pernicious to mans salvations, full of much blasphemy, and damnable Idolatry: So that of both we may say with Matthew Paris: Cujus faetor usque ad nubes fumum teterrimum exhallabat. i. e. whose filthy stink did breathe up a most pestiferous fume even to the clouds of heaven, and with Sodoms sins cried loud for vengeance, &c.
The Bishop of Romes power being thus abolished out of England, there were yet divers Popish His zeal for the Truth.Bishops, his creatures, which privily watched all opportunities to restore it again: But Cromwell (as a mighty wall, and defence of the Church) resisted it continually, and so frustrated all their expectations, and endeavors: About this time some tumults Tumults about Religion.began to arise about Religion: Whereupon the King Summoned, and Assembled most of his Bishops, and Learned men to meet, and treat soberly, and modestly about most of the controversal points: To this Convocation, Cromwel went, and accidentally by the way he met with Alexander Alesius, a Scotchman, whom he took along with him: And having taking his place as the Kings Anno 1537.Vicegerent, at the upper end of the Table, he made A Convocation.an Oration to them, wherein in the Kings name he thanked them for their ready, and cheerful meeting together, told them that the King desired that they should debate about the present controversies of Religion, for that he would suffer no alteration but by the advice, and consent of them, and his Parliament: Therefore (saith he) he desires you for Christs sake, that all malice, obstinacy, and carnal respects being set apart, you will friendly and lovingly dispute amongst your selves of the controversies moved in the Church, and that you will conclude all Scriptures to be the supream Judge.things by the Word of God: Neither will his Majesty suffer the Scriptures to be wrested by any false Glosses, Papisticall Laws, or by any authority of Doctors, or Counsels, much less will he admit any Articles, or Doctrine not contained in the Scripture, but onelyonly founded upon continuance of time, and old Customs, or by unwritten verities, as ye were wont to do, &c. The onelyonly way to unity is to determine all things by the Rule of Gods Word, as himself requireth, &c. In this Convocation many points were debated, wherein Alesius, being a godly, and learned man, did the Church good service, and so through Cromwels industry, though Religion could not be wholly reformed, yet the Reformation of it was well begun at that time through all England. And this His zeal.good Lord was alwayes very studious how to advance the Cause of Christ: His whole life was nothing else but a continual care and travel to further the true knowledge of the Gospel, and to reform the House of God: He caused all the people through the Kingdom to be instructed in the Lords Prayer, and Creed, in English: Then he procured Scriptures translated.the Scriptures to be translated, and published for every English man to understand: Then he rescued the vulgar sort from damnable Idolatry, causing many of their grossest Pilgrimages to be destroyed: He procured, that divers idle Holydayes should be abolished: That Liberty should be given to eat Eggs, and white-meats in Lent: By him it was provided, that for the better instruction of the people, Beneficed men should be resident on their Cures to teach, and keep hospitality. Infinite almost were the private benefits which he did in helping poor godly men, and Mercy to the persecuted.women out of trouble, and great distresses: Yea, his whole life was full of such examples, being a man ordained of God to do many good, especially to deliver such as were in danger of persecution for Religion sake. Some examples are set down by Master Fox in his Book of Martyrs, Vol. 2. Pag. 507. &c.
Usually men advanced from mean and base degree, Humility: Rare examples of it.to high and ample dignities, grow proud and insolent, forgetting what they were, and from whence they came, and so casting off their old friends that were formerly beneficial unto them; but it was far otherways with this courteous and Christian Earl, as may appear by these examples: On a time he was riding in his Coach with Archbishop Cranmer through Cheapside, where spying a poor woman of Hounsloe, to whom he was indebted for certain old reckonings, to the value of forty shillings, he caused her to be called unto him, where questioning▪ with her what was her name, and where she lived; withall he asked her whether he was not somewhat indebted unto her, she said yea, but she durst never call upon him for it, though now she stood in great need of it: He therefore presently sent her to his House with one of his men, and when he came from the Court, he did not onelyonly discharge his debt, but gave her an yearly Pension of four pound, and a Livery every year so long as she lived after.
Another Example was this: At what time Thomas An excellent example of gratitude.Cromwel went with the French Army into Italy, the Army being overthrown, he fell into much want, and being in the City of Florence, he met a rich Merchant, called Francis Frescobalds, and asked of him an Alms for Gods sake; the Merchant under his tottered attire, seeing an ingenuous countenance, moved with pitty, demanded of what Countrey he was, &c. To whom he answered, I am Sir of England, my name is Thomas Cromwel, my Father was a sheerer of cloth, and I straying from mine own Country, came with the French Army into Italy, by whose overthrow I am faln into this want: The Merchant considering the state of the young man, and loving the English Nation, amongst whom he had formerly lived, and from whom he had received many courtesies, took him into his house, entertained him kindely, and when he was desirous to return into his own Countrey, he gave him an horse, a new sute of apparrel, and other necessaries, and sixteen Ducats of gold to bear the charges of his journey. It so fell out after, that at what time the Lord Cromwel was so highly in favour with his Prince, and advanced to so many dignities, that this Francis Frescobald, was by many great losses that befell him in his Marchandizing, become very poor, yet remembring that in England some Merchants owed him fifteen thousand Ducats, he purposed, if he could get that mony, to content himself to live upon it, and to give over trading, and for this end he came into England; and it fell out that whilst he was here, endeavouring to get in his debts, he met with the Lord Cromwel, whom he had forgotten, as also the kindness which he had shewed him: The Lord Cromwel, as he was riding to the Court, espied him in the street, and eying him well, he remembred him, and alighting from his horse (to the admiration of his followers) he went, and in a most kinde manner embraced him, and scarcely refraining from tears, he asked him whether he was not Francis Frescobald the Florentine: Yea Sir, said he, and your humble servant: My servant (quoth Cromwel) no, as you have not formerly been my servant, so will I not now account you other then my special friend, assuring you, that I have cause to be sorry, that you knowing what I am (or at least should be) would not make known your arrival to me, that I might have paid part of that debt that I confess I ow you: But being now upon urgent affairs for my Prince, I must intreat you to excuse my leaving of you, desiring you with the faithful mind of a friend, that you come this day to my house to dinner, and so remounting, he went to the Court: Francis wondering with himself who this Lord should be, at last, called to mind, that it was the same man, whom he had formerly relieved at Florence, for which he was wondrous joyfull, hoping that by his Authority he should the sooner recover his debts: about Dinner time he repaired to the L. Cromwels house, & there walking in the Court, he attended his coming: the Lord shortly returning, he no sooner dismounted, but he again embraced this Gentleman with so friendly a countenance, that the Lord Admiral, and the other Lords that were with him, marvelled at it, which he perceiving, turning towards them, and holding Frescobald by the hand, he said, My Lords, marvel not that I am so glad to see this man, for by his means I have attained to this present dignity, and that you may not be ignorant of his courtesie to me, I will relate it to you, & so he told them every thing in order, as is before recited: & so, stil holding him by the hand, he had him into his Dining-Room, and placed him next to himself at the Table: when Dinner was ended, and the Lords departed, he would needs know of him what occasion had brought him to London: Francis related his great losses to him, and told him that all that remained was this mony that he come to sue for: Cromwel having comforted him against his afflictions, and told him that he sympathized with him in the same, said further, you shall receive in this your distress some consolation for your old courtesies that you shewed me in times past, and I further profess in the word of a true friend, that during this life, and state of mine, I will never be wanting to do for you, wherein my authority may prevail to supply your lack and necessity: and so taking him by the hand, he led him into his Chamber, and commanding all to depart, he opened a Chest, and first gave him sixteen Ducats which he had given him in mony, then ten Ducats that he disbursed on his apparrel, and ten other that he paid for his horse: and further, said he, for the interest of your mony, take these four bags, in each of which is four hundred Ducats, these you shall receive from the hand of your assured friend: Frescobald, though brought to a low ebb, yet expressing the vertue of a modest mind, would have refused the kindness offered, but that the other enforced him against his will to receive it. Then he caused him to give him a note of the names of his debtors, which he gave to one of his servants, charging him diligently to inquire out the men, & then to require them to make payment of those debts within fifteen days, or to abide the hazard of his displeasure: the servant so carefully performed his Lords command, that in a short time he procured Frescobald all his debts: who willingly forgave the interest: And all this while he lodged in the L. Cromwels house, who gave him noble entertainment, & proffered, that if he would continue in England, and make his bank here, he would lend him 60000 Ducats for four years gratis: But Frescobald, desirous to return into his own Country, and to live a private life, with many thanks for his extraordinary favours, he took his leave, and went to Florence, where he dyed the year following: Also at another time, being with other Lords at the Monastery of Sheen, examining some Monks that denied the Kings Supremacy, as he sate at Dinner, he spied afar off a certain poor man, Another example of gratitude.that used to sweep their Cels and Cloisters, and to ring the Bell, &c. whom when the Lord Cromwel had well noted, he called him to him, and before all the Table, took him by the hand, asked him kindly how he did, and turning to the Lords, said; My Lords, See you this poor man, this mans Father was a great friend to me in my necessity, and hath given me many a meals meat. Then said he to the poor man, Come unto me, and I will so provide for thee, that thou shalt not lack whilest I live: Thus this Worthy and Noble Lord excelled in divers eminent vertues, especially in a flourishing authority, excellent wisdom, and fervent zeal to Christ, and his Gospel: His great care was to preserve, and nourish peace abroad in forreign Realms. In all neighbouring Princes Courts he kept speciall intelligence, that nothing was there done, or intended, whereof he had not notice: nor was any spark of mischief kindling against our King, or Kingdom, which he A great preserver of peace.by Wit, and Policy did not quench, and keep down: and if policy prevailed not, he would purchase peace by mony, so that during the time of his advancement the King never had War with any forreign Nation, though many great Princes were much incensed against him: He imploied his authority no l…ss also in keeping all things in good order at home: hampering the Popish Prelates, and disapointing their subtile devises: then in bridling other unruly persons, forcing them to subjection by the Laws: He was a succour, and refuge to all godly persons: a terrour to evill doers, so that the very report that Cromwell was coming, He was a terrour to the wicked.quieted many fraies, and much evill rule: A company of Ruffians appointing to fight in Pater Noster row, and having blocked up the ends of the street with Cars, that none should intertupt them, Cromwell hearing of it, in the heat of the fight came down Pannier Alley towards them, but so soon as the report of Cromwels coming was heard, the Cars could not keep them in, but thy ran away, and so the fray was ended.
Also there was a Ruffianly serving man, who to put himself into the gallanter Garb, as he conceived, nourished his hair till it hung down upon his shoulders: on a time the Lord Cromwell met Long hair punished.this fellow as he walked in the streets, who seeing his disguised habit, which he judged might be of bad example unto others, he called him to him, and enquired whose man he was, and with all asking him whether his Master, or any of his fellows wore their hair so long, or no: he answered no, but to excuse himself, he pleaded that he had made a vow not to cut his hair for such a time: to whom the Lord Cromwell answered, that since he had made himself a Votary, he would not force him to break his vow, but yet he would lay him in prison till the time was expired, and so presently sent him to the Marshal-sey, till his Master having perswaded him to cut his hair, petitioned for his release, and so being brought before the Lord Cromwell with his short hair, he dismissed him: Also a Frier wearing his Cowle after the dissolution of Monasteries, Cromwell meeting him in Pauls Churchyard, said to him, will not this Coule of yours be left off yet: If I do not hear by one a clock that this apparrell of thine is changed, thou shalt be hanged immediately for example to all others, and so he durst never wear his Coule after: Innumerable were the benefits which this worthy Lord did, by his prudent Policy, grave authority, and godly zeal for the good both of the Church, and State: what good orders he established, what wickedness he suppressed, what corruptions he reformed, what abuses he discovered, what crafty juglings, and superstitious delusions he detected, and abolished Idolatrous juglings detected, and destroyed.out of the Church: as the Roode of Grace, wherein a man stood inclosed with an hundred wyers, wherewith he made the Image roll his eies, nod his head, hang the lip, move, and shake his jaws, according as the value of the gift offered, pleased, or displeased the Priest: if it were a small piece of silver, he would hang the lip, if it were a good piece of gold, his chaps should go merrily, &c. But Cromwell discovering this forgery, caused the Image, with all his engines to be openly shewed at Pauls Cross, and there to be torn in pieces by the people: Also the blood of Hales he caused to be brought to the same place, where it was proved to be the blood of a Duck: He also proved the holy maid of Kent to be a notorious whore: Also the Roode of Chester, of Thomas Becket, our Lady of Walsingam, with many more cursed monuments of Idolatry, this good man, stirred up by the providence of God, removed out of the peoples way, that they might walk more safely in the service of Almighty God.
About this time Edmond Bonner was a Lutheran, Bonner an hypocrite.and a great Professor of the Gospell, whom therefore the Lord Cromwell much favoured, and procured for him the Bishoprick of Hereford: Then obtained of the King that he should be sent over as Ambassadour into France, and sent over by him a letter which he procured of our King to the King of France, wherein he desired him to license a subject of his to print a large Bible in English at Paris, because paper was easilier to be had there then in England: As also because they had more store of good workmen to dispatch the same. Bonner much bestirred himself in this business, and outwardly shewed great friendship to the Merchants that had The Bible Printed.undertaken this work, entertaining them often at his table, and so rejoyced in the printing of those Bibles, that himself would oft oversee the Press: yea he was so zealous, that he caused them to print a New Testament in English, and Latine, and himself took off many of them, and gave them to his friends: then did the Lord Cromwell procure his advancement to the Boshiprick of London, and Bonner took the oath of Supremacy before these English men that printed the Bible, and before Master Coverdale, who was the over-seer of the Press: to whom he promised, that when the Bible was printed, he would have at least six of them to set up in severall places in Pauls Church: Afterwards by the procurement of Cromwell, the Bible of Tindals translation was printed at London, one of which he presented to King Henry, and obtained that the same might be freely read of all his Subjects: But the setting forth hereof did exceedingly incense the Popish Bishops, especially because of the Prologues to the books, and a large table in the end of it, wherein were set down texts about the Lords supper, and to prove the lawfulness of Ministers mariage, and against the Mass: But whilst Cromwell was thus labouring for the publick good, and endeavouring to deliver the poor Saints out of their troubles, the malice of these Popish Bishops encreased so against Popish malice.him, that they continually laboured by false traines, and crafty surmises to cast him out of the Kings favour: About this time, there was one Iohn Lambert, a godly, and learned Minister, called in question for his Religion, the King himself sat amongst the Bishops, whilst he was examined, and after a long disputation betwixt the Bishops, and him, in the close of the day, the King said to him: what saist thou now after all this pains that hath been taken with thee, wilt thou live or dy? Thou hast yet free choise: To whom Lambert answered, I wholly submit my self to the will of your Maty: the King replied, if you submit your self to me, you must dy, for I will be no patrone to Hereticks; and so (by the secret, and crafty counsell of Stephen Gardiner) turning himself to the Lord Cromwell, he said, Cromwell, read the Humane infirmity.Sentence of Condemnation against him; which through humane frailty, and being surprised on the sudden, he did read.
But when the day came wherein Lambert was Repentance.to be burned, Cromwell sent for him into his house, and taking him into his secret Chamber, he asked him forgiveness for that which he had done. The subtile malicious Prelates ceased not, by themselves, and their agents about the King, to calumniate, and traduce him, insomuch that a Parliament being summoned, Anno 1541. Cromwell being in the Councell-Chamber, was suddenly apprehended, and committed prisoner to the Tower, which was much lamented by all good men, who praied heartily for him: but the Popish party much rejoyced, especially the Clergy, whom he could not abide for their Popery, and masked hypocrisie: Shortly after he was attainted by Parliament: the crimes which they laid to his Charge were these: First he was accused of Grievous crimes laid to his charge.Heresie, and for a supporter of such persons, as Barns, Clark, and many others, whom by his Authority, and Letters written to the Sheriffs, and Justices in divers Shires, he had rescued out of the hands of their adversaries, and discharged out of Prison: Then, that he had dispersed amongst the Kings Subjects many Books, containing much heresie in them: Then that he had caused to be translated into English many Books, comprising matter against the Sacrament of the Altar, & that he had commended it as good and Christian Doctrine; then they pretended that about two years before he had spoken some words against the King, but the witnesses to prove this did not agree False witnesses.amongst themselves. But the truth was, the King was a weary of his Queen, the Lady Anne Bullen, a vertuous and religious woman, to whom he had been married but a few months, and cast his wanton affections upon the Lady Katherine Howard, which Cromwel laboured to disswade him from, and therefore he must be taken out of the way. This Storm Cromwel did foresee at least two years before, considering the variable affections His prudent circumspection.of the King, and the subtile malice of Stephen Gardiner, and his associates; and thereupon he called together his servants, and shewed them in what a slippery state he stood, & therfore required them to look diligently to their order and doings, least through their default any occasion might arise against him: also he took such order for them, that most of them, especially his Gentlemen that were younger brethren, which had little but his service to take to, he well provided for, by leaving mony in the hands of their friends for them: Charity.and having twelve boys that were his Musitians, he gave them twenty pound apeece, and so returned them to their friends: and as his great prosperity had not puffed him up with pride, so neither was he at all dejected in his adversity, but bore it Christian Courage.with admirable constancy, and Christian fortitude, and patience: Some Commissioners coming to examine him whilest he was in the Tower, he carried himself so gravely, and patienly, and answered them so discreetly, that they could put no Interogatories to him, either concerning Ecclesiasticall, or Civil affairs, wherein he was not exceeding ripe, and well furnished with an answer. Amongst the Commissioners, there was one whom the L. Cromwel desired to carry from him a Letter to the King, which he refused; saying, that he would carry no Letter to the King from a Traitor: then he desired him at least to carry a Message from him to the King, which request he assented to, so it were not against his Allegiance; then the Lord Cromwel taking witness of the other Lords what he had promised: you shall (said he) commend me to the King, and tell him; By that he hath so well tryed and proved you, as I have done, he shall find you as false a man as ever came about him: His enemies durst not bring him to his Answer, nor try him by his Peers, but procured an Act of Attaindure, whereby he was condemned before he was heard: yet the King not long after his death repented this hast, wishing that he had his Cromwel alive again: When he came upon the Scaffold on Tower-hill, he spake thus unto the people.
I am come hither to die, and not to purge my self, as some perhaps may expect that I should, and will: For His confession.if I should so do, I were a very wretch: I am by the Law condemned to die, and I thank my Lord God that hath appointed me this death for mine offence, for I have always lived a sinner, and offended my Lord God, for which I ask him hearty forgiveness. Its not unknown to many of you, that I was a great Traveller, and being but of mean Parentage, was called to high estate, and now I have offended my Prince, for which I heartily ask him forgiveness, beseeching you to pray with me to Almighty God, that he will forgive me, &c.
And once again I desire you to pray for me, that so He begs Prayers.long as life remaineth in this flesh, I may waver nothing in my Faith: then kneeling down on his knees he spake these words: O Lord Jesus, which art the only health of all men living, and the everlasting life His Prayer at his death.of them which die in thee: I wretched sinner do submit my self wholly to thy blessed will, and being sure that that thing cannot perish which is commitied to thy mercy; willingly now I leave this frail, and wicked flesh, insure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it unto me again at the last day, in the resurrection of the just: I beseech thee most mercifull Lord Jesus Christ, that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soul against all temptations, and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all the assaults of the Devil. I see, and know that there is in my self no hope of salvation, but all my confidence, hope, and trust is in thy most mercifull goodness; I have no merits, nor good works that I may alledge before thee: Of sins, and evil works (alass) I see a great heap, but yet through thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sins, but wilt take, and accept me for righteous and just, and make me an Inheritor of thine everlasting Kingdom. Thou mercifull Lord wast born for my sake, didst suffer hunger and thirst for my sake, didst teach, pray, and fast for my sake: all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake: thou sufferedst most grievous pains, and torments for my sake: Finally, thou gavest thy most precious bloud to be shed upon the Cross for my sake: Now most mercifull Saviour let all these things profit me, that thou hast freely done for me, which hast also given thy self for me: Let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the spots and foulness of my sins: let thy righteousness hide and cover my unrighteousness: let the merits of thy passion and bloud-shedding be satisfactory for my sins: give me Lord thy grace, that my Faith waver not, but be from, and constant to the end: that my hope in thy mercy, and life everlasting may not decay, that love wax not cold in me: Finally, that the weakness of my flesh be not overcome with the fear of death: Grant O most mercifull Father, that when death shal shut up the eyes of my body, yet the eyes of my soul may still behold and look upon thee, and when death hath taken away the use of my tongue, yet my heart may crie, and say unto thee, Lord into thy hands I commend my soul, Lord Jesus receive my soul, Amen. Having ended his Prayer, he made a godly exhortation to those that were about him on the Scaffold, and so quietly commended his spirit into the hands of God, Anno Christi, 1541. Saunders, that English runnagate, His Martirdom.that never speaks well of any godly man, or zealous professor, or of the truth, will have him to Popish lyes.die for the breach of a Law made by himself, viz. That one appeached of Treason, should not come into the Kings presence till he had proved himself not guilty: but this is but a Popish lye, for neither did he ever prefer such an Act, neither was any such thing charged upon him in his Attaindure.
Collected out of the Book of Martyrs, and Speeds Chronicle.