phens, and chief furthereis of the doctor Foxe, vorce. phens, doctor chanced that the king's harbingers lodged, doctor Stephens', secretary, and doctor Doctor SteFoxe, almoner, (who were the chief furtherers, preferrers, and defenders of the foresaid cause in the king's behalf,) in the house of the said M. Cressey, where doctor ng di Cranmer was also resident as before. When supper-time came, and all three doc- Doctor Stetors met together, being of old acquaintance, they entertained each other familiarly: Foxe, doctor and the said doctor Stephens and doctor Foxe, taking occasion of their happy meet- ferring toge ing together, began to confer with doctor Cranmer concerning the king's cause, requesting him to declare his opinion therein. Cranmer con ther of the king's cause. mer's answer tion of the divorce. Whereunto doctor Cranmer answered, that he could say little in the matter, for that he had not studied nor looked for it. Notwithstanding he said to them, that, in his opinion, they made more ado in prosecuting the laws ecclesiastical than needed. Doctor Cran"It were better, as I suppose," quoth doctor Cranmer, "that the question, whether a in the quesman may marry his brother's wife or no, were decided and discussed by the divines king's and by the authority of the word of God, whereby the conscience of the prince might be better satisfied and quieted, than thus, from year to year, by frustatory delays to prolong the time, leaving the very truth of the matter unboulted out by the word of God. There is but one truth in it, which the scripture will soon declare, make open and manifest, being by learned men well handled; and that may be as well done in England, in the universities here, as at Rome, or elsewhere in any foreign nation, the authority whereof will compel any judge soon to come to a definitive sentence; and therefore, as I take it, you might this way have made an end of this matter long sithens." When doctor Cranmer had thus ended his tale, the Doctor Cranother two well liked of his device, and wished that they had so proceeded afore- well liked of. time; and thereupon conceived some matter of that device to instruct the king withal, who then was minded to send to Rome again for a new commission. mer's device troubled cause of his divorce. Now the next day, when the king removed to Greenwich, like as he took himself not well handled by the cardinals in thus deferring his cause, so his mind The king being unquieted and desirous of an end of his long and tedious suit, he called to about the him this his two principal doers of his said cause, namely, the said doctor Stephens and doctor Foxe, saying unto them: "What now, my masters," 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 have an end, God knoweth, and not I." When the king had said somewhat his mind herein, the almoner, doctor Foxe, said unto the king again: "We trust that there shall be better ways devised for your majesty, than to make travel so far to Rome' any more in your highness' cause, which by chance was put into our heads this other night, being at Waltham :" and so discovered to the king their meeting and conference with doctor Cranmer at M. Cressey's house. mer sent for in post. the king and "Had doctor Cran Whereupon doctor Cranmer was sent for in post, being as then removed from Doctor CranWaltham towards his friends in Lincolnshire, and so brought to the court to the to the king king. Whom the noble prince benignly accepting, demanded his name, and said unto him: "Were you not at Waltham such a time, in the company of my secretary Talk between and my almoner?" Doctor Cranmer affirming the same, the king said again: you not conference with them concerning our matter of divorce now in question after this sort?"-repeating the manner and order thereof. "That is right true, if it please your highness," quoth doctor Cranmer. "Well," said the king, "I well perceive You must understand," quoth the king, that you have the right scope of this matter. [i.e. Doctor Stephen Gardiner, sometime bishop of Winchester.] [3 So far as to Rome, Foxe. Ed. 1583.] mer. The king troubled in conscience. Doctor Cranmer excusing himself to the king. mer assigned to search the the cause of his divorce. "that I have been long troubled in conscience; and now I perceive that by this means I might have been long ago relieved one way or other from the same, if we had this way proceeded. And therefore, master doctor, I pray you, and nevertheless, because you are a subject, I charge and command you, (all your other business and affairs set apart,) to take some pains to see this my cause to be furthered according to your device, as much as it may lie in you," with many other words in commendation of the queen's majesty. Doctor Cranmer, much disabling himself to meddle in so weighty a matter, beand disabling sought the king's highness to commit the trial and examining of this matter, by the word of God, unto the best learned men of both his universities, Cambridge and Oxford. "You say well," said the king, "and I am content therewith. But yet, nevertheless, I will have you specially to write your mind therein." And so, calling the Doctor Cran- earl of Wiltshire to him, said: "I pray you, my lord, let doctor Cranmer have enterby the king tainment in your house at Durham place for a time, to the intent he may be there scriptures in quiet to accomplish my request, and let him lack neither books nor anything requisite for his study." And thus, after the king's departure, doctor Cranmer went with my lord of Wiltshire unto his house, where he, incontinent, wrote his mind concernThe king first ing the king's question, adding to the same besides the authorities of scriptures', of derstand that general councils, and of ancient writers; also his opinion, which was this: that the no authority bishop of Rome had no such authority, as whereby he might dispense with the word with the word of God and the scriptures. When doctor Cranmer had made this book, and committed it to the king, the king said to him: "Will you abide by this, that you have here written, before the bishop of Rome?" "That will I do, by God's grace," quoth doctor Cranmer, "if your majesty do send me thither." "Marry," quoth the king, "I will send you even to him in a sure embassage." given to un the pope hath to dispense of God. The king's matter re And thus, by means of doctor Cranmer's handling of this matter with the king, moved from not only certain learned men were sent abroad to the most part of the universities the pope's canon law to the trial of the scriptures. The king's marriage found by God's word unlawful. Doctor Cranmer, with others, sent to Rome am bassador to the pope. Arguing to the pope's trary to the he had no power to dispense. in Christendom to dispute the question, but also the same being, by commission, disputed by the divines in both the universities of Cambridge and Oxford, it was there concluded that no such matrimony was by the word of God lawful. Whereupon a solemn embassage was prepared and sent to the bishop of Rome, then being at Bonony, wherein went the earl of Wiltshire, doctor Cranmer, doctor Stokesly, doctor Carne, doctor Benet, and divers other learned men and gentlemen. And when the time came that they should come before the bishop of Rome to declare the cause of their embassage, the bishop, sitting on high in his cloth of estate, and in his rich apparel, with his sandals on his feet, offering, as it were, his foot to be kissed of the ambassadors; the earl of Wiltshire with the rest of the ambassadors, disdaining thereat, stood still, and made no countenance thereunto, and kept themselves from that idolatry. In fine, the pontifical bishop seeing their constancy, without any farther ceremony, gave ear to the ambassadors. Who entering there before the bishop, offered, on the king's behalf, to be defended, face that con- that no man, jure divino, could or ought to marry his brother's wife, and that the word of God bishop of Rome by no means ought to dispense to the contrary. Divers promises were made, and sundry days appointed, wherein the question should have been disputed: and when our part was ready to answer, no man there appeared to dispute in that behalf. So in the end, the bishop making to our ambassadors good counteDoctor Cran- nance, and gratifying doctor Cranmer with the office of the penitentiaryship, disthe pope's missed them undisputed withal. mer made penitentiary. [Of the scriptures, Foxe. Ed. 1583.] [2 The scripture, ibid.] mer ambas emperor. between Whereupon the earl of Wiltshire and other commissioners, saving doctor Cranmer, Doctor Cranreturned home again into England. And forthwith doctor Cranmer went to the sador to the emperor, being in his journey towards Vienna, in expedition against the Turk, there to answer such learned men of the emperor's council, as would or could say anything to the contrary part. Where amongst the rest, at the same time, was Cor- Conference nelius Agrippa, an high officer in the emperor's court; who, having private confer- bishop Cranence with doctor Cranmer in the question, was so fully resolved and satisfied in the Agrippa. matter, that afterwards there was never disputation openly offered to doctor Cranmer in that behalf. For through the persuasion of Agrippa all other learned men there were much discouraged. mer and Cornelius mer made Canterbury. This matter thus prospering on doctor Cranmer's behalf, as well touching the king's question, as concerning the invalidity of the bishop of Rome's authority, bishop Warham, then archbishop of Canterbury, departed this transitory life; whereby that Doctor Crandignity then being in the king's gift and disposition, was immediately given to doc- archbishop of tor Cranmer, as worthy for his travail of such a promotion. Thus much touching the preferment of doctor Cranmer unto his dignity, and by what means he achieved unto the same: not by flattery, nor by bribes, nor by none other unlawful means: which thing I have more at large discoursed, to stop the railing mouths of such, who, being themselves obscure and unlearned, shame not to detract a learned man most ignominiously with the surname of an hosteler, whom, for his godly zeal unto sincere religion, they ought with much humility to have had in regard and reputation. : Tit. i. doctor Cran Now as concerning his behaviour and trade of life towards God and the world, being entered into his said dignity. True it is, that he was so throughly furnished with all properties, qualities, and conditions belonging to a true bishop, as that it shall be very hard in these strange days to find many that so nearly resemble that lively exemplar, described by St Paul the apostle in his several epistles to Titus and 1 Tim. iii. Timothy so far he swerved from the common course of common bishops in his time. But because the same is very well deciphered in the story at large, it shall not be so needful to discourse all the parts thereof in this place. Yet may not this be forgotten that, notwithstanding the great charge now committed unto him, the The order of worthy prelate gave himself evermore to continual study, not breaking the order that mer's study. he used commonly in the university. To wit, by five of the clock in the morning in his study, and so until nine, continuing in prayer and study. From thence, until dinner time, to hear suitors (if the prince's affairs did not call him away), committing his temporal affairs, as well of household as other foreign business, to his officers. For the most part, he would occupy himself in reformation of corrupt religion, and setting forth true and sincere doctrine; wherein he would associate himself always with learned men, for the sifting and boulting out one matter or other, for the commodity and profit of the church of England. After dinner, if any suitors were, he would diligently hear them and dispatch them, in such sort as every man commended his lenity and gentleness. That done, to his ordinary study again until five of the clock, which hour he bestowed in hearing common prayer. After supper he would consume an hour at the least in some godly conference, and then again, until nine of the clock, at one kind of study or other. So that no hour of the day was spent in vain, but was bestowed as tended to God's glory, the service of his prince, or the commodity of the church. nature of As touching his affability and easiness to be entreated, it was such as that in The gentle all honest causes, wherein his letter, counsel, or speech, might gratify either nobleman, doctor Cran mer. [ Being now entered, Foxe. Ed. 1583.] [4 See Foxe. Ed. 1583, p. 1862–1865.] mer stout and constant in God's cause. mer a stout enemy against the gentleman, mean man, or poor man, no man could be more tractable, or sooner won Doctor Cran- to yield. Only in causes appertaining to God and his prince, no man more stout, more constant, or more hard to be won: as in that part his earnest defence in the parliament-house, above three days together, in disputing against the six articles of Gardiner's device, can testify. And though the king would needs have them upon some politic consideration to go forward, yet he so handled himself, as well in the parliament-house, as afterwards by writing so obediently and with such humble behaviour in words towards his prince, protesting the cause not to be his, but Almighty Doctor Cran- God's who was the author of all truth, that the king did not only well like his defence, willing him to depart out of the parliament-house into the council chamber, six articles. whilst the act should pass and be granted, for safeguard of his conscience, which he with humble protestation refused, hoping that his majesty in process of time would revoke them again; but also, after the parliament was finished, the king perceiving the zealous affection that the archbishop bare towards the defence of his cause, which many ways by scriptures and manifold authorities and reasons he had substantially confirmed and defended, sent the lord Cromwell, then vicegerent, with the two dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, and all the lords of the parliament, to dine with him at and the two Lambeth: where it was declared by the vicegerent and the two dukes, that it was archbishop. the king's pleasure, that they all should, in his highness' behalf, cherish, comfort, and animate him, as one that for his travail in that parliament had shewed himself both greatly learned, and also discreet and wise, and therefore they willed him not to be discouraged for anything that was passed contrary to his allegations. He most humbly thanked the king's majesty of his great goodness towards him, and them all for their pains, saying: "I hope in God, that hereafter my allegations and authorities shall take place to the glory of God and the commodity of the realm; in the mean time I will satisfy myself with the honourable consent of your honours and the whole parliament." Of this coming of the lord Cromwell, dukes to the ecclesiastical pastors. Here is to be noted, that this man's stout and godly defence of the truth herein so bound the prince's conscience, that he would not permit the truth in that man to be clean overthrown with authority and power; and therefore this way God working in the prince's mind, a plain token was declared hereby, that all things were not so sincerely handled in the confirmation of the said six articles as it ought to have been, for else the prince might have had just cause to have borne his great indignaExample for tion towards the archbishop. Let us pray that both the like stoutness may be perceived in all ecclesiastical and learned men, where the truth ought to be defended, and also the like relenting and flexibility may take place in princes and noblemen, when they shall have occasion offered them to maintain the same, so that they utterly overwhelm not the truth by self-will, power, and authority. Now in the end this archbishop's constancy was such towards God's cause, that he confirmed all his doings by bitter death in the fire, without respect of any worldly treasure or pleasure. And as touching his stoutness in his prince's cause, the contrary resistance of the duke of Northumberland against him proved right well his good mind that way: Archbishop which chanced by reason that he would not consent to the dissolving of chanteries displeasure until the king came of age, to the intent that they might then better serve to furemploying of nish his royal estate, than to have so great treasure consumed in his nonage: which Cranmer in about the chantry lands. his stoutness, joined with such simplicity, surely was thought to divers of the council a thing incredible, specially in such sort to contend with him who was so ac counted in this realm, as few or none would or durst gainstand him. So dear was to him the cause of God and of his prince, that for the one he would not keep his conscience clogged, nor for the other lurk or hide his head. Otherwise, as patience of bishop. it is said, his very enemies might easily entreat him in any cause reasonable: and such things as he granted, he did without any suspicion of rebraiding or meed therefore. So that he was altogether void of the vice of the stubbornness, and rather culpable of overmuch facility and gentleness. Surely if overmuch patience may be a vice, this man may seem peradventure to offend rather on this part than on the contrary. Albeit for all his The singular doings I cannot say for the most part, such was his mortification that way, that few this archwe shall find in whom the saying of our Saviour Christ so much prevailed as with him, who would not only have a man to forgive his enemies, but also to pray for them: that lesson never went out of his memory. For it was known that he had many cruel enemies, not for his own deserts, but only for his religion's sake: and yet, whatsoever he was that either sought his hindrance, either in goods, estimation, or life, and upon conference would seem never so slenderly anything to relent or excuse himself, he would both forget the offence committed, and also evermore afterwards friendly entertain him, and shew such pleasure to him, as by any means possible he might perform or declare. Insomuch that it came into a common proverb: "Do unto my lord of Canterbury displeasure or a shrewd turn, and then you may be sure to have him your friend whiles he liveth." Of which his gentle disposition in abstaining from revengement, amongst many examples thereof, I will repeat here one. tween the Canterbury priest his Dr Cranmer. It chanced an ignorant priest and parson in the north parts, the town is not now a story bein remembrance, but he was kinsman of one Chersey a grocer, dwelling within London, archbishop of (being one of those priests that use more to study at the alehouse than in his chamber and a popish or in his study,) to sit on a time with his honest neighbours at the alehouse within his enemy. own parish, where was communication ministered in commendation of my lord Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury. This said parson, envying his name only for religion's sake, said to his neighbours: "What make you of him?" quoth he, "he was but an hosteler, The railing of a popish and hath no more learning than the goslings that goeth yonder on the green," with such priest against like slanderous and uncomely words. These honest neighbours of his, not well bearing those his unseemly words, articled against him, and sent their complaint unto the lord Cromwell, then vicegerent in causes ecclesiastical; who sent for the priest and committed him to the Fleet, minding to have had him recant those his slanderous words at Paul's Cross. Howbeit the lord Cromwell, having great affairs of the prince then in hand, forgat his prisoner in the Fleet. So that this Chersey the grocer, understanding that his kinsman was in durance in the Fleet, only for speaking words against my lord of Canterbury, consulted with the priest, and between them devised to make suit rather unto the archbishop for his deliverance, than to the lord Cromwell, before whom he was accused; understanding right well that there was great diversity of natures between those two estates, the one gentle and full of clemency, and the other severe and somewhat intractable, namely against a papist. So that Chersey took upon him first to try my lord of Canterbury's benignity, namely for that his cousin's accusation touched only the offence against him and none other. Whereupon the said Chersey came to one of the archbishop's gentlemen, (whose father bought yearly all his spices and fruit of the said Chersey, and so thereby of familiar acquaintance with the gentleman,) who, opening to him the trouble wherein his kinsman was, requested that he would be a means to my lord his master to hear his suit in the behalf of his kinsman. The matter was moved. The archbishop, like as he was of nature gentle, and of much clemency, so would he never shew himself strange unto suitors, but incontinently sent for the said Chersey. When he came before him, Chersey declared, "that there was a kinsman of his in the Fleet, a priest of the north country, and as I may tell your grace the truth," quoth Chersey, "a man of small civility and of less learning. yet he hath a parsonage there, which now (by reason that my lord Cromwell And Chersey suing hath man to the for his kins archbishop. |