"•w ■ Jj )) /ft //ft >> (c It ( ^ . ltjJT&\ (/. ■^m k JOHN SPARROW \ **Z k A* jr*i "'"L. THE LIFE O F THOMAS CRANMER, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. THE LIFE O F THOMAS CRANMER, ARCHBISHOP O F CANTERBURY. By WILLIAM GILPIN, M. A. PREBENDARY OF SALISBURY; AND VICAR OF BOLDRE, IN NEW-FOREST, NEAR LYMINGTON, LONDON: PRINTED FOR R. BLAMIRE, IN THE STRAND. M.DCC.LXXXIV. PREFACE. I "M3E character of archbifhop Cran- mer hath been equally the fubjecl: of exaggerated praife ; and of un- deferved cenfure. The proteftant is as little inclined to acknowledge, that he had any failing; as the papift is to allow him any virtue. The hiftorian therefore, who means to be impartial, will often of courfe, give offence to the warmer advocates of both fides. At the hazard however of this I have endeavoured to do juftice as well to the failings, as virtues of this celebrated re- A 3 former. ii PREFACE. former. Every caufe, in which truth is concerned, is the better, I ihould think, for having all things but truth fifted from it. And in difcriminating the lights and {hades of a character, the greater the cha- racter is, the nicer fhould be the difcri- mination : for the very foibles of an ami- able man are fafcinating. Queen Eliza- beth ufed to tell the artifts, who drew her picture, that fhe did not like /hade : it was a mere accident. — It may be fo : but, it is fuch an accident, that the truth of portrait cannot be had without it. Befides, by impartial treatment, you add refpecl: to the character you re- prefent. General applaufe is always fu~ fpected: while juft cenfure gives weight to praife. But the queftion recurs, Is your cenfure juft? In cenfuring fome parts of the arch- bifhop's conduct, particularly his intole- rant principles, I have little doubt of having PREFACE. iii having the general fenfe of good men on my fide. As to the indelicacies, and improprie- ties of his behaviour, I can only appeal to my own feelings. What I fhould not wifli to approve in myfelf, I cannot but cenfure in another. I always however give my reafons; and if they have no weight, they muft be difmifled. Arch- bifhop Cranmer certainly filled one of the moft difficult ftations, confidering all its circumftances, in which a man could be placed ; and the only matter of furprize is, that the falfe fteps he made were fo few. One thing more let me add, we (hall not eafily find a character, that can al- low deductions fo well. His virtues fo far outweigh his failings; that, on the whole, we may efteem him one of the firft perfons of the age, in which he lived. His public life contains an im- portant part of ecclefiaftical hiftory ; and his private life, an admirable leffon of A 4 clerical iv PREFACE. clerical inftrudion. — To this let the mi- nifters of the gofpel chiefly attend; and inftead of thinking too harfhly of his failings; let us endeavour to bring as much ferioufnefs, and real concern for chriftianity, as he did, into all the duties, and offices of religion. In compofing the following work, I claim little merit, but that of digefting, and reducing within a narrower compafs, the labours of others. I have had little affiftance except from common printed accounts. The works of Mr. Strype, an hiftorian of great integrity, have been my principal guide: whofe authority, in doubtful points, I have generally pre- ferred. In gratitude alfo I muft acknowledge particular obligation to the late Mr. Jones of Welwin ; the learned friend, and, (I believe,) the executor, of the celebrated author of the Night-thoughts. — But I never PREFACE, v never was perfonally acquainted with him. This gentleman had once entertained the defign of writing the life of arch- bifhop Cranmerj and with this inten- tion had made confiderable collections : but laying his defign afide, he was fo obliging as to put his papers, near twenty years ago, into my hands. We had both, I found, drawn from the fame authorities ; only I had the mortification to obferve, that he had been much the more induftrious compiler. He had alfo, through the means of feveral of his learned friends at Cambridge, par- ticularly the late Dr. Baker, gained ac- cefs to many fources of information, lefs obvious to common inquirers. Our plans too rather differed. His was chiefly to explain the opinions of the archbifhop : mine attempts rather to il- luftrate his character. Notwithstanding how- VI PREFACE. however this difference, Mr. Jones's pa- pers were of confiderable ufe to me. I have now depofited them, agreeably to his laft will, in the library of Dn Williams in Red-crofs ftreet, London, CONTENTS. SECT. L CIRCUMSTANCES of archbifhop Cranmer's birth, and early youth— — -fhort view of the progrefs of the reformation— — — comparifon between Luther, and Erafmus—— -Cranmer's mode of ftudy, and academical life. SECT. II. p. 12. King Henry's divorce— —Cranmer's opinion of the proper way of managing it the confequences, and fuccefs of that opinion remarks on Cranmer's beha- viour in this matter t he becomes more convinced of the neceffity of a reformation. SECT. III. p. 24. He is promoted to the fee of Canterbury finilhes the bufinefs of the divorce. SECT. IV. p. 30. Unfuccefsful endeavours of Francis I. to bring about a reconciliation between England and Rome— efforts of the popifh party in England. SECT, CONTENTS. SECT. V. p. 37. of fupremacy — —death of More and Fifher— he queen the archbifhop's conduct in this .ulured. SECT. VI. p. 46. Has no afTociates in his fchemes of reformation the difficulties he met with— — the firfb fteps he took— the deplorable ftate of preaching. SECT. VII. p. 57. Progrefs of the reformation Lambert's difputation —the bible tranflated— the archbifhop oppofes the king in the affair of monafteries. SECT. VIII. p. 66. Prevalence of the popifh party— character of the bifhop of Wincheiler acl: of the fix articles the archbifhop's oppofition to it— extraordinary vifit paid him at Larnbeth— fends the arguments, he ufed againfl the fix articles, to the king„ SECT. IX. p. 76. Death of the earl of Effex— ftory of a country prieft the archbifhop, unfupported, oppofes the popifh party. SECT*. CONTENTS. SECT. X. p. 84. Difcovery of the queen's incontinence— vifitation of All-fouls college the archbifhop's connexion with the earl of Caflilis. SECT. XI. p. 91. Attempts of his enemies againft him treachery of Thorndon, and Barbar bifhop of Winchefler's letter to him death of Charles Brandon new attempts to commit the archbifhop to the Tower. SECT. XII. p. 103. Sir Thomas Seymour's calumny the archbifhop's letter to Sir William Cecil the king gives him threa pelicans for his arms duke of Norfolk's attainder death of Henry VIII. SECT. XIII. p. 112. Steps towards a reformation ^application of the commons bifhop of Winchefler's cppofition^ and im- prifonment. SECT. XIV. p. 122. Farther progrefs of reformation the archbifhop op- pofes the meafures of the court interefls hirrielf in favour of the univerfities. SECT. CONTENTS, SECT. XV. p. 130. Death of Bocher, and Paris the arehbifhop's con- dud in that affair* greatly cenfured his friendfhip, and generoiity to oppreHed reformers. SECT. XVI. p. 138. Infurre&ion in Devonmire — — the archbifhop anfwers the petition of the infurgents relating to religion. SECT. XVII. p. 146. He attempts to unite the proteftant churches— but in vain. SECT. XVIII. p. 151. Frames articles of religion to reftrain the clergy explanation of the 17th and 18th articles. SECT. XIX. p. 160. His exemplary conduct in his epifcopal chara&er, SECT. XX. p. 166. Intrigues of the duke of Northumberland—- death of the protector the archbilhop lofes all his intereft at court— •exclufion of the princefs Mary— death of Edward VI. SECT„ CONTENTS. SECT. XXI. p. 173. The archbifhop's declaration againfl the mafs his imprifonment refufes to efcape— temper of the go- vernment—death of Northumberland, and of Sir Tho- mas Palmer. SECT. XXII. p. 180. Convocation meets the archbifhop removed to Ox- ford— difputation there— Taylor's letter ftate of religious affairs. SECT. XXIII. p. 191. t Account of an extraordinary difpute among the pro- teftant prifoners— - condition of the Englifh exiles. SECT. XXIV. p. 196. Death of the bifhops of London, and Worcefter . The archbifhop condemned degraded his letter to the queen artifices of the papifts— his recantation. SECT. XXV. p. 204. His great contrition the circumftances of his death. SECT. XXVI. p. 215. His induftry— — learning and habits of life ac- count of his MSS. SECT. CONTENTS. SECT. XXVII. p. 222.' His qualifications as a reformer— —-companion between him and archbilhop Laud. SECT. XXVIII. p. 227. His character in private life — —his regulations to reftrain the expences of the clergy objections of the papifts— his family. THE LIFE O F Archbishop CRANMER. SECT. I. THOMAS CRANMER was born at Afla&on in Nottinghamfhire, on the fecond of July 1489. His father was a gentleman of fmall fortune; but the head of a family, which had long lived in reputation in thofe parts. He was a lover of country diverfions ; and feems to have given his fon an early tafte for them. The circumftances indeed of Mr. Cran- iner's youth were not fuch, as ufually ufher B in 2 THE LIFE OF in the life of a fcholar. No man could manage a pack of hounds better; or handle the long-bow with more dexterity ; or with the crofs-bow take a furer aim. In horfemanfhip he fo excelled, that after he was an arch-biihop, he fcrupled not to ride the rougheft horie in his {tables. But amufements with him were only- relaxations. He gave himfelf up to fiudy with equal eagernefs ; and his proficiency in country-diverfions fhewed merely the verfatility of his genius. — The experi- ment, however, is dangerous ; and the example not to be followed by thofe, who are not well allured they have his ftrength of parts, and fteadinefs of temper to fecure them from an extreme. At the ufual age Mr. Cranmer was fent to Cambridge ; which was not then the feat of the mufes. Schoolmen were the claffics of that age ; and nothing was heard from the chairs either of fcience, or reli- gion, but what would have infpired an improved mind with difguft. This folemn trifling, which was then called learning, engaged Mr. Cranmer at leafl ten years. About ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. About the year 1520 Martin Luther began firft to draw the attention of man- kind. Many reformers, before his day, particularly Wicliff, Hufs, and Jerome of Prague, at different periods, had feen, and expofed, with great acutenefs, and ftrength of argument, the corruptions of the church of Rome. But it pleafed God to ufe thefe inquifitive minds only as the dawning of that day> which He intended gradually to open. The corruptions of the church therefore having not yet re- ceived any effectual check, continued to fpread; and, in the days of Luther, had grown to an enormous height. Venality, and rapacity were the reigning charadter- iftics of the fovereign pontiff; and of that band of ecclefiaftics, who retained under him. The very idea of religion was loft ; except where it was neceflary to uphold fome parading ceremonies of the church; which were all the remains now left of Chriftianity. Morals were never thought of; and fo far were the ruling powers from being hurt by the fcandalous lives B 2 of 4 THE. LIFE OF of the clergy, thac they invented every method to exempt them from the juris- diction of all courts, except their own. In them, every trefpais found the gentleil treatment. An eafy fine would fatisfy even for murder. Nor is it furprizing, that the inferior clergy fhould lay afide all decency of man- ners, when they looked up to fuch pon- tiffs, as had long rilled St. Peter's chair; particularly Alexander VI, and Julius II. Even Leo X, flattered by the wits of the age, as the revivor, and patron of arts, and letters, tho an elegant prince, was a deteflable ecclefiaflic*. We need not wonder therefore, if fo complex a fyftem of corruption, as the Roman hierarchy appears to have been, at that time, needed little developing. Lu- ther's doctrines fpread rapidly through Ger- many : and tho it was the fingle corruption of indulgences, which gave the firft im- * They who wifh to fee the caufes, which advanced the reformation, drawn cut at length, may find them detailed with great perfpicuity, and elegance in the life of Charles V. by Dr. Robertfon. Vol. II. page 147, oft. ed, pulfe ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 5 pulfe to this difguft; yet from one error the minds of men prefently paffed to ano- ther; and the tenets of Luther were eager- ly embraced, not only by the lower clafles of people ; but even by fome of the princes of the empire; particularly by the eleclor of Saxony, one of the beft, and by his fufferings mewn to be, one of the mod magnanimous, princes of his time. But tho the ardent, and intrepid fpirit of Luther had thus awakened a great part of Germany from its lethargy; yet his opinions found their way but leifurely into other parts of Europe. In England they were received with great caution. Serious men began to fee the corruptions of the clergy; but they were afraid to queftion the infallibility of the pope. They were convinced of the propriety of feeking truth in the bible : but examined with great timidity the doctrines it contained. Indeed, as far as appears, the writings of Erafmus introduced the firft idea of fyl- tematic reformation in England. This reformer was a man of a very different temper from Luther : and yet in his way perhaps he contributed as much to dif- B 3 coun- 6 THE LIFE OF countenance the corruptions of the Romifl> church. Luther, fearlefs in the path of truth, was animated, rather than daunted, by oppofition. Erafmus, cautious, and refpectful to authority, fhrank from dan- ger; and fought truth only in the regions, of tranquillity. Luther, in vehement lan- guage, talked of extirpating error, root* and branch. Erafmus wifhed only tq open the eyes of men ; and to leave them by degrees to reform themfelves : he fatisfied himfelf with expoiing what was wrong; but did not prefume to point out what was right, Luther's oppofition ran ever in the form of fierce invedtive, or ferious argument, Erafmus, tho always in earned:, chofe commonly to cloath his fentiments in ridicule. Luther was re- markable for the boldnefs of his mea- fures ; and a courfe of intrepid a&ion : while Erafmus, trufting to his pen, never ventured abroad as the champion of reli- gion ; but defended it from his clofet : and the art of printing getting then into ufe, his opinions foon made their way into the different parts of Europe. Thus it happened, through the provi- dence of God, that thefe two men, tho in ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 7 in different ways, were equally adapted to the work of reformation. If Luther were the more fpirited reformer on the fpot; Erafmus was better qualified to make pro- felytes at a diftance. If Luther's rough, and popular addrefs were better fuited to the multitude; the polifhed ftyle, and elegant compofition of Erafmus, found readier accefs to the gentleman, and the fcholar. The works of this celebrated writer be- gan to be received in England at the time, when Mr. Cranmer was a ftudent at Cam- bridge ; and all men, who pretended to genius, learning, or liberality of fenti- ment, read them with avidity. To the general fcholar, they opened a new idea — that of thinking for himfelf ; and to the ftudent in divinity, they pointed out the fcriptures as the only fource of religious truth. The fophiftry of the fchools be- gan apace to lofe credit -, and the univer- fities foon produced ingenious men, who thought they could not employ their time B 4 better,, 8 TH E LIFE O F better, than in ftudying the naked text of the fcriptures, which at length drew on a freedom of inquiry. Thefe ftudents were commonly known by the name of Scrip- turifts. Mr. Cranmer ranked himfelf very early in this clafs of men; and with great aft;- duity applied to the ftudy of the fcrip- tures. The more he ftudied, the more inlightened he grew: he daily faw more reafon for rejecting the falfe aids, m which he confided ; and b^gan to entertain many doubts, and fufpicions, which he yet kept to himfelf. His mode of ftudy was calculated for improvement, rather than for orientation. He read few books ; but made himfelf a thorough mafter of thofe, he did read. A general fcholar he thought another name for a fuperficial one. His character as a ftudent, is thus marked by one of his biographers. " In percurrendis, confe- rendifque fcriptorum judkiis, tardus qui- dem lector, fed vehemens erat obfervator. Sine calamo nunquam ad fcriptoris cujus- cmam librum acceffit: ita tamen ut mc- moriam ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 9 moriam interim, haud minus quam cala- mum, exerceret*." An imprudent marriage, at this early period of his life, interrupted his ftudies ; and threw him out of his preferment in Jeius college ; of which he had been elected a fellow. He was now reduced to difficult circumftances. The (lender income of a lecturefhip, which he obtain- ed in Magdalen college, feems to have been the whole of what he now enjoyed. But tho it produced him little emolu- ment, it tended greatly to • increafe his reputation. His lectures, which were confidered as ingenious, and learned com- pofitions, were always attended by a nu- merous academical audience of every de- icription, They were chiefly directed againft the Romifh fuperftitions. " He rubbed the galled backs, fays Fuller, and curried the lazy hides of many an idle, aftd ignorant frier." I know not that thefe expreffions give us a juft idea of * Melch. Adam vitae Theol. Mr. io THE LIFE OF Mr. Cranmer's talents. They imply a iarcaftic manner, which was not his, Strong fenfe, and argument were the only weapons he employed. He had fcarce been married a year, when his wife died : and fuch was his reputation in the univerfity, and particu- larly in his own college, that, on this event, he was re-elected into his former ilation. He had foon an opportunity of fhewing his gratitude. Some agents of cardinal Woolfey being employed to draw together a body of learned men from both the uni- verfities to fill the college of Chrifl-church in Oxford, which that prelate had juft founded ; Mr. Cranmer, among others, was applied to; but he did not care to leave his old friends, to whom he had been lately fo much obliged ; tho a better income was offered, and a more promifing road to preferment. In the year 1526 * he took the degree of doctor in divinity. The fcripturifts, it is evident, had great influence in the * Strype is miflaken in fixing it in 1523. uni- ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. n univerfity at this time; as we find Dr. Cranmer appointed one of the examiners in theology. In this fituation he did very eminent fervice to religion by allowing no ftudent to proceed to his degree, who did not ap- pear to be well acquainted with the fcrip- tures. His ftrictnefs however was tem- pered with fo much gentlenefs, and be- nignity; that the difappointed candidate, unlefs a very difingenuous man, plainly faw, that the examiner's confcience drew from him a reluctant fe verity. The univerfity however foon felt the good effects of Dr. Cranmer's attention. The young divines caught a new object of purfuit ; and intirely changed their mode of ftudy. He would often afterwards fay, that in the courfe of his life, he had met with many eminent fcholars, who had told him with great ingenuity, how much they thought themfelves obliged to him for the check he had formerly given them at Cambridge, " Had it not been for that, they would add, we might have perfifted, all our lives, in our early prejudices. " i SECT. 12 THE LIFE OF SECT. II. While Dr. Cranmer was thus em- ployed, about the year 1529, an epi- demical diftemper, attended with many fymptoms like the plague, broke out at Cambridge. A great alarm was fpread ; the fchools were fliut up, and every man endeavoured to provide for his own fafety by flight. Dr. Cranmer retired into Eflex, to the houfe of Mr. C reify, a gentle- man of fortune at Waltham ; whofe fons had been his pupils at Cambridge; and whofe education he ftill continued to fu- perintend. Thefe circumftances were the foundation of all his future fortunes. That great ecclefiaftical caufe, king Henry's divorce, was at this time in agi- tation. The legatine court, which mould have decided that bufinefs, was juft dif- folved, ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 13 folved, and had left the affair in its old uncertainty. Henry's devotion to the See of Rome had made him thus far fubmit with pa- tience to its delays. But his eyes were now in a great meafure opened. He be- gan to fee that Clement, whofe character was a compound of difilmulation and ti- midity, had been acting a double part; and that while he openly pretended every thing in favour of the divorce, he was in fact no other than the dupe of the emperor* With this clue the Englifh miniftry was able to unravel the mazes of the pope's duplicity : and this laft affair, the diffolu- tion of the legatine court, and the avocation of the caufe to Rome, after fo many af- fected delays, at length convinced even Henry himfelf, that the pope meant no- thing in earneft. While the monarch, vexed at this new difappointment, was revolving in his mind the indignities he had fuffered, he relaxed himfelf with a fhort journey, or progre/s (as thefe journeys were then called) through fome of the fouthern counties. On his return, he fpent a night at Wahham ; where t4 THE LIFE OF where his retinue, as was ufual on fucri occafions, were lodged among the neigh-, bouring gentlemen. Fox, provoft of King's college in Cambridge, and Gardiner, af- terwards the celebrated bifhop of Whi- chever, then attended the king; and were invited, with fome others, to the houfe of Mr. CrefTy, where they paffed the even- ing with Dr. Cranmer. The converfation turned on the only topic, which was then difcuffed among courtiers, the unhand- lome behaviour of the court of Rome : and on all fides, the pope's diffimulation, and the king's forbearance, were fpoken of, with acrimony, and admiration. Dr. Cranmer, who feemed to have di- gefted the whole bufinefs in his mind, faid, he thought a method might be pur- fued, which would tend to bring the matter to a happy ifTue. When all with great eagernefs delired to know, what he meant, he told them, his idea was, to col- led: the opinions of all the univerfities in Europe on this fimple queftion, Whether it was lawful to marry a brother's wife ? Their approbation of the marriage, he faid, WQuld fatisfy the king's fcruples ; or their ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. i$ their difapprobation of it would bring the pope to a decifion. Dr. Cranmer's opinion feemed very plauiible both to Fox, and Gardiner; who failed not, the next morning, to mention it to the king. It ftruck Henry at once; who with that indelicacy which was na- tural to him, cried out with an oath, that " Cranmer had gotten the right fow by the ear." He was immediately fent for ; and had a long conference with the king; which ended in Henry's commands to put his ientiments in writing, both with regard to the divorce itfelf ; and the manner in which he propofed to conduct it. The great merit of Dr. Cranmer's pro- pofal, which is not immediately evident, ieems to confifh not fo much in changing 9 o o the judges, as in narrowing the queftion. Inftead of inquiring, whether the pope's difpenfation gave legality to Henry's mar- riage with his brother's wife ? he wifhed to inquire fimply, Whether fuch a mar- riage was not contradictory to the divine commands ? If the univerfities deter- mined, that it was not fo, the king mud then give up hie fcruples, and keep his wife. 16 THE LIFE OF Wife. Of this however he was under no apprehenfion. Bat if the univerfities de- termined, that fuch a marriage was un- lawful ; the king might then, if the pope were refractory, do without him $ faying, the marriage was in itfelf null. Henry therefore being refolved to adopt this new plan, began next to adjuft the proper mode of executing it. He read Dr. Cranmer's papers with great atten- tion ; and was perfuaded, that he, who had ifliewn himfelf fo much a mafter of the cafe, was the only perfon* in whofe management of it, he could thoroughly confide. At the fame time he thought an obfcure ecclefiaftic had not dignity of cha- racter enough to reprefent his perfon abroad. He joined therefore in com- miffion with him the earl of Wiltfhire, and the bimop of London ; recommend- ing him, in a particular manner, to the friendfhip of the former. The earl of Wiltfhire, with whom Dr. Cranmer ever afterwards maintained a Ariel: friendlhip, was one of the greatefl ornaments of the Engliftt court. In a public character he had appeared to ad- vantage., ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 17 Vantage, once in Spain, and a fecond time in Germany. At home he had borne with equal credit, the offices of treafurer of the houfe-hold, and lord privy feal. In private life, his manners were very amiable. He was one of the moil: learned men of his age ; and one of the beft phi- lofophers : and tho a courtier, and a ftatefman, had employed much of his time in the ftudy of the fcriptures, which he made the rule of his life. To his re- quest it was owing* that Erafmus com- pofed his valuable treatife on a preparation for death. But what ftill made this ex- cellent man more celebrated than all his virtues, was his being the father of Ann Bolleyn; who was, at this time, well known to be the intended confort of Henry. In the year 1530 the three commif- fioners fet out on this extraordinary occa- fion ; bending their courfe firft to Italy, where they found fuccefs in fome of the univerfities, which were even dependent C on i8 THE LIFE OF on the pope. Dr. Cranmer offered to difpute the matter fairly in the Rota. The pope, at fir ft, was very angry; declaring: to thofe about him, that he would not fuffer his power to be difcuffed by friers ; alluding probably to the un- dignified character of Dr. Cranmer. But finding afterwards of what confe- quence he was, he became very defirous of attaching him to his intereft ; and with this view conferred on him the office of penitentiary-general of England, with full powers to bind and loofe. Dr. Cran- mer could not avoid accepting the pope's favour; but as it was a power he never meant to ufe, he confidered it as a very infignificant fine-cure. At the end of the firft year, the three delegates having traverfed the univerfities of Italy, the commiffion was diiiblved; and a new one made out, directed folely to Dr. Cranmer, who was ftiled Confili- arius regis, et ad Caefarem orator. It bears date January 24, 1 53 1 . No difguft feems to have been taken at the other commifiioners ; but as Dr. Cranmer was the perfon, on whom the king chiefly relied, ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. ig relied* it is probable he had from the firft, determined to intruft the matter folely to him, as foon as his character had acquired a little confequence. Very great fuccefs attended his com- miffion. Few fcruples were railed; and he had little more to do, than to colled: the hands and feals of fuch univeriities, as favoured the king's intentions ; which were, on the matter, almofl all he ap- plied to. This expedition fo readily projeded, and fo chearfully undertaken, does not perhaps place Dr. Cranmer in the mofl advantageous point of light. There were good political reafons, no doubt, to in- duce the king to wifh for a divorce. His marriage with Catharine was by no means generally approved, either at home, or abroad : the legitimacy of Mary, in trea- ties of marriage with neighbouring princes, had been queftioned ; and the terrible effeds of the late civil wars in England, occafioned by diiputed titles, were wounds not yet intirely healed. Male iilue to the C 2 ting, 20 THELIFEOF king, which might prevent fuch conse- quences, was therefore very defireable to all men. But reafons of ftate, however admiffible in a cabinet, mould never be fuppofed to influence a churchman. We allow, that Dr. Cranmer might think the marriage wrong : but tho it poffibly might be a point of confcience with the king, it could however be none with him ; and there was manifeftly a difference between ad- vifing not to do a thing ; and advifing to undo it, when already done ; at leaft in a matter of fo difputable a nature. He knew, that, in the old teftament, the marriage of a fifter was allowed -, and among the patriarchs often praclifed : and that the marriage of a brother's wife was, in fome cafes, enjoined. The new tefta- ment was filent on the Subject. There could therefore be no moral turpitude in it : nor any thing but the common law, and ufage of nations to reftrain it. On the other hand, the bafenefs, and ungenerous behaviour, which followed the contrary part, were evident at fight. To repudiate a woman, with whom the king had ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 21 had cohabited near twenty years as his wife; and to illegitimate a daughter, bred up in the higheft expectations, and now marriagable, were ads of fuch cruelty, that it feems to indicate a want of feeling to be in any degree acceflbry to them. To this may be added, that the notoriety of the king's paflion for Ann Bolleyn, which all men believed to be — if not the firft mover, at leaft the principal fpring of his pretended fcruples, threw a very indelicate imputation on all who had any concern in the affair. No ferious churchman, one would imagine, could be fond of the idea of adminiftring to the king's paffions. It is with concern there- fore that we fee a man of Dr. Cranmer's integrity and fimplicity of manners, act- ing fo much out of character, as to com- pound an affair of this kind, if not with his confcience, at leaft with all delicacy of fentiment; and to parade through Europe, in the quality of an ambaflador, defending every where the king's pious in- tentions. But the caufe animated him. With the illegality of the king's marriage, he en- C 3 dea- 22 THELIFEOF deavoured virtually to eftablifh the infuf- ficiency of the pope's difpenfation ; and the latter was an argument fo near his heart, that it feems to have added merit to the former. We cannot indeed ac- count for his embarking fo zealoufly in this buiinefs, without fuppoiing his prin- cipal motive was to free his country from the tyranny of Rome, to which this flep very evidently led. So defireable an end would, in fome degree, he might ima- gine, fan&ify the means. This was not the only foreign bufinefs in which Dr. Cranmer was employed. He was intrufled with many private dis- patches from the king. He had matters of trade alfo to negotiate for the mer- chants of England. Once he was obliged to furniih himfelf with camp-equipage, and attend the emperor, who had taken the field againfl: the Turks. In every em- ployment he fhewed himfelf to be a man, whofe knowledge was by no means totally confined to his profeffion ; but was of a more ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 23 more general cart, than the fimplicity of his character led men to fuppofe. If Dr. Cranmer began to think favour- ably of the reformation before he left Eng- land, he became during his flay abroad, an intire convert. That freedom, with which men difcuffed religious opinions in Germany, was very agreeable to a man of his liberal turn ; and he felt himfelf every day fitting loofer to thofe prejudices, which had hitherto involved him. Ofi- ander, whom he found at Nuremburgh, contributed, among others, very much to inlighten his mind. The unreftrained converfation of this reformer appeared to him, at firft, as a kind of libertinifm : it founded hardily in his ear ; and he would afk, if fuch an opinion were falfe, how it could poffibly poffefs itfelf of the minds of the greater!:, and moft learned men of all ages, through fuch a trarice of the commodity however wjts greatly fallen. The popes formerly ex- acted more than a thoufand pounds of our money, for their bulls of confecration ; but the new archbifhop, or rather the king, who feems to have managed the matter, contrived to procure them for lefs than half that fum. With regard to the oath of fidelity to the pope, which the archbifhop was obliged to take at his confecration, he protefled, that he took it in no fenfe, but fuch as was wholly confident with the laws of God — the king's prerogative — and the ftatutes of the realm — that he did not bind himfelf from fpeaking his mind freely in matters of religion — the govern- ment of the church ; and the rights of the crown — and that he meant, on all occafions, to oppofe the pope's illegal authority; and condemn his errors. This ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 27 This oath, taken in a fenfe fo very oppofite to its real intention, has often been alledged agajnft the archbifhop ; and indeed it feems rather to injure the feel- ings of a delicate mind. His friends however fuppofe they fufficiently apolo- gize for his behaviour, by obferving, that he made his exceptions in an open man- ner, without any mental reservation; and that he fully fatisfied thofe, who were impowered to administer the oath. Thus was a private churchman raifed, at one Step, to the firft dignity of his pro- feflion ; and tho the truth of hiflory hath obliged us to confe fs, that he took fome fteps, not quite fo direct, as might be wifhed, in this hafty advancement; yet we cannot, by any means, confider him as a man, who had formed any fettled plans of ambition, which he was refolved at all hazards to fupport; but that, in what he did amifs, he was rather vio- lently borne down by the king's autho- rity. His mildnefs and Simplicity were unequally matched with the impetuofity of Henry; who having no fcruples of his own, confidered little the fcruples of others. 28 THELIFEOF others. To this may be added, that the primate thought himfelf ftrongly attached by gratitude to his prince. And indeed the errors of this excellent perfon, as we fhall have other occaiions to obferve, were lefs owing to the temptations of vice, than to the weaknefs of fome unguarded vir- es tue. Thus much at leaft may be faid in apology for thofe parts of his conduct, at this time, which feem rather to require one. As to the king, his placing fo good a man at the head of the church, deferves little praife. If we may judge from the general tenor of his characljr, which was throughout unprincipled, and inconfiftent, he meant nothing more than to advance a man, who had fhewn himfelf fo ready a cafuift; and was able to take fo vigorous a part againft the church of Rome, which Henry was at this time determined to op«» pofe. Very foon after his confecration, the primate was called on to finifh the great caufe of the divorce by paffing a final fen- tence. The ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 29 The queen had retired to Ampthill, a royal maniion near St. Albans ; where (he lived with great difcretion ; and drew the pity and refpect of the whole nation by the decency, and dignity of her fufferings. The town of Dunftable, which lay almoft in fight of her windows, was appointed by Henry, with his ufual indelicacy, as the place, where the archbifhop and his aflbciates, were to fit in confiftory. As Henry well knew the queen would not anfwer the fummons ; the vicinity of the place, being of no confequence, had the appearance of an additional affront. The queen treated the fummons me re- ceived, with that indignation which was expected 5 and being pronounced contu- macious, a final fentence of divorce was pan^d. There was fomething alfo very indeli- cate in placing the primate at the head of this court, as he had already taken fo prin- cipal a part in the caufe. It gave great offence to the queen, and fhocked the archbifhop himfelf : but Henry, who had no idea of decencv, would Irear no reafon ao-ainft it. Within 5 o THE LIFE OP Within a few weeks after the divorce* on the 7th of September 1533, the prin- cefs Elizabeth was born; and the king ordered the archbifhop to be her godfa- ther. SECT. IV. The definitive fentence which had paired in England, it may eafily be fup- pofed, occafioned much clamour at Rome, where menaces of excommunication, in a very lofty tone, were thrown out. In re- turn, the king and the primate joined in an appeal to a general council ; a theme, then very popular ; both among protef- tants, and papifls. This appeal they notified to the pope, who was then at Marfeilles. It was intrufted to the care of Bonner, afterwards the celebrated biihop of London ; who executed his commiffion with his ufual vehemence. The incenfed pope, ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 31 pope, on the other hand, equally impetu- ous, talked of throwing the minifter head- long into a cauldron of molten lead: on which Bonner, alarmed at the idea, pre- cipitately retired. Francis I was, at this time, joined in bonds of ftridteft amity with England. The part which Henry had taken in the affairs of Europe, after the^fatal battle of Pavia, had rivetted the generous heart of the French monarch to hitn with more than political friendship. Francis had feen, with real concern, the progrefs of the breach between Henry and the See of Rome; and had refolved to take this op- portunity of an interview with the pope, to endeavour to repay his obligations to the king of England, by bringing his difagreeable difference with the pontiff, if poffible, to an accommodation. He made the attempt : but found the pope full of refentment; and it was with the ut- moft difficulty, that he at length pre- vailed on him to promife, that Henry might ftill expect a favourable fcntence from the conclave, if he would make his fubmiffion before a fhort day, which \ ap- 32 THE LIFE O F appointed. But this was only half the obftacle. Henry was as lofty as the pope; and could as ill brook fubmiffion, as the other could bear controul. There happened to be in the French king's retinue at Marfeilles, a churchman cf very eminent abilities, Bellay bifhop of Bayonne. An accidental circumftance had juft throv/n the eyes of all men Upon him. The night before the pope made his public entrance, it was difcovered, that the prefident of the parliament, who had been appointed to receive him with a Latin oration, had unluckily chofen a fubjeft, which would certainly give the pontiff offence : and yet there was no time for a new compofition. In this ar- ticle of extremity, when the whole bufi- nefs of the ceremonial was deranged, Bellay offered his fervice to fpeak extem- pore; and did it with fuch uncommon propriety and elegance, that he was marked, from that time, as a man of the firft genius in France. This perfon the French king made choice of to perfuade Henry into the agreement, he had juft made with the- pope. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 33 pope. The bi(hop knew mankind, and could adapt himfelf to their foibles. Henry was well tinctured with the eru- dition of thofe times ; and affected greatly the character of being a patron of learning. Bellay knew him thoroughly ; and draw- ing the difcourfe from bufinefs to letters, would often put him in mind of the great reputation he had in Europe for learning; and how much the whole catholic caufe was indebted to his pen. By artfully infinuating thefe topics, he at length en- gaged Henry to accept the accommoda- tion, which Francis had made for him; and to fend a courier with his fubmiffion to Rome. This treaty with the pope was not tranfacted fo fecretly, but in part it tran- fpired, and gave the firft alarm to the protectant party; whom it intirely con- vinced of the ficklenefs of the king's temper, and of the flender grounds they had for the certainty even of a bare tole- ration. None was more diftrefied than the archbiihop : but with his ufual calm- nefs, and caution he held his peace; and trufted for the protection of religion to D that 34 THE LIFE OF that Almighty Hand, which had begun the reformation of it. In this fufpence the minds of men re- mained many weeks; and they whofe principles waited on every change, began already to waver; and to talk publicly of the precipitancy of the late innovations, which ran the rifk of throwing the king- dom into fuch a ferment, as could not eafily be allayed* At length the long expe&ed courier ar- rived from Rome; and produced a new agitation in the minds of men. All was now declared to be over; and fuch a breach made with the pope, as could never again be healed. The account of the matter was this. Contrary winds had detained the courier, it feems, beyond his day. The biihop of Bayonne, (who, after all his fervices in England, had himfelf undertaken a voyage to Rome to negotiate with the pope) prefled his holinefs to make fome allow- ance for the uncertainty and danger of winds, and feas; efpecially as it was then in ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 35 in the depth of winter : and to fufpend a definitive fentence for one week only. But the emperor's influence, and the pope's own irafcible temper prevailed for haftier meafures. Nay even the ufual forms of bufinefs were accelerated; and after a fhorter hearing than, in fuch a cafe, was commonly allowed, a definitive fentence was pafled, confirming the king's marriage with Catharine; and declaring him excommunicated, if he did not put away his prefent queen. Two days after the definitive fentence had pafled, the king's fubmifiion arrived. The pope flood aghaft : but it was now too late : the fentence could not be re- viewed ; the cardinals of the oppofition holding firm to the eftablifhed rules of the conclave. — If any event could au- thorize man to point out the immediate finger of God, this certainly might. Many hiftorians have entertained doubts of the king's fincerity in this bufinefs : and it is certain the parliament, at this time, was beginning to take meafures not very agreeable to the popifh intereft. But however this may be reconciled, it D 2 is 36 THE LIFE OF is difficult to fay, what Henry's meaning could be, if it was not pure. He had already felt his own ftrength ; and was under no neceffity either to amufe, or temporize : nor was duplicity, among thofe faults, which are commonly laid to his charge. While affairs with the court of Rome were thus depending, the emiffaries of the popifh party allowed themfelves unbridled licence in England. We are amazed that fuch a prince as Henry could bear to be told in his own chapel, That unlefs he rejlored religion, dogs Jhould lick his blood, as they had licked the blood of Ahab. But there was a groffnefs in the manners of thofe times, which we muft carry along with us in all our inquiries into them. The actions of men were perhaps more reftrained, than they are now : their tongues were certainly more licentious ; and Henry, who had no idea of delicacy him- felf, was lefs offended, than might be imagined, at the grofs indelicacy of others. But ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 37 But of all the efforts of the popifh clergy, at this time, the delufions of the maid of Kent were the moft extraordinary. This enthufiaft, falling into artful hands, was managed in fuch a way, as to draw the attention of the whole kingdom. Her prophecies were uttered in very free language; and me poured the vengeance of heaven, with a very liberal hand, on the king, and his abettors. Her impof- tures were at length detedted ; and fhe fuffered death, with her accomplices. SECT. V. The parliament, in the mean time, took vigorous meafures in fupport of religious liberty. Such a fpirit was raifed in the commons, that they debated freely on the great queftion of the fupre- macy of the pope — a queftion, which, if ever moved before, had been always treated with the utmoft diftance, and ti- midity. It was carried however now D 3 againft 3 3 THE LIFE OF againft the fee of Rome with a very high hand. In elder times, when parliaments queftioned only fome exorbitant claim of the pope — his power to raife money in England, or to confer benefices on fo- reigners; however fpirited fuch inquiries appeared at the time, pofterity faw they had been carried on without forefight. A few branches might be lopped off: but as the trunk itfelf was left ftanding, it was able, at the returning feafon, to (hoot as vigoroufly as before. One would have imagined, that an acl fo deftructive of popery, as the acl: of fupremacy, would, at leaft, have been retarded by fome diiTenting voices, among fo many, who were friends to the fee of Rome in their hearts. But tho it met with oppofition, yet it was much lefs oppofed than could have been imagined; and by few perfons of confequence. Lee of York, Tunftal of Durham, and Stokefly of London, all papifts, and two of them bigoted, acceded to it. Gar- diner was even ftrenuous in its fupport. * c The realm and the church, (faid he, with ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 39 with that fubtilty, which was character- istic in him) confift of the fame people. And as the king is head of the realm: he mull therefore be head of the church" This act was obtained chiefly by the abilities of the primate, who difcovered fuch a fund of learning, and good fenfe on the queftion - y and delivered his fenti- ments in fuch a flow of natural and eafy eloquence, that he filenced oppofition, and gave his caufe all the luftre, which reafon and argument could give. When the prejudices of men began to cool ; and the confequences of this very important act were ferioufly confidered, all fober men of every denomination acknowledged the utility of it. They hoped a more orderly clergy would now fucceed ; whofe manners might be more eafily infpected ; and whofe conduct would be amenable to civil authority. They hoped an end w T ould now be put to thofe contefts between the civil and ecclefiaf- tical powers, which had often coft the nation fo dear. They faw a way opened for the redrefs of many grievances, which could not eafily approach the court of D 4 Rome 4 o THELIFEOF Rome at fo remote a diftance, and fo in- trenched in forms. In fhort, they fore- faw a variety of advantages from the sim- plicity of the government, as it was now eftablifhed ; and from the abolition of that grofs abfurdity in every political iyftem, an imperium in imperio. The proteflants had ftill farther caufe for rejoicing. They confidered this act, as the only thing, which could open a way to reformation. For tho in itfelf it had no immediate connection either with doctrine, or difcipline ; yet without it, no ftep could be taken towards the refor- mation of either. Befides, they thought the abrogation of the decretals was a great ftep towards the introduction of the bible ; and imagined, they mould be able, through fo wide a breach, to pu(h out every error, and every corruption of the church. When this celebrated act pa/Ted; ano- ther, as a kind of appendage to it, paffed alfo — the act of fucceffion ; which fettled the crown on the children of the prefent queen ; ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 4 t queen ; declaring Mary, the daughter of Catharine, in effect illegitimate. This act involved in ruin two excellent men, Fifher bifhop of Rochefter, and Sir Thomas More.- The parliament had de- clared the denial of the king's fupremacy to be high treaibn : and impofed a teft- oath to be taken by all people in office; and indeed univerfally, if required. Fifher refufed it; and More, when qucftioned, talked in very ambiguous language. He might as well have fpoken plainly. Henry, impatient of controul, confidered his ambiguity as guilt. The primate laboured with every application of his intereft, and talents, to preferve thefe victims of lawlefs power. With More he had lived on terms of great fa- miliarity ; and was prompted to employ even cafuiftry to fave him. " On one hand, faid he, you are doubtful as to the point in queftion. On the other, you are certain, you ought to obey your prince. Let doubt then give way to certainty ." More fmiled, and laid his head upon the block. This > 42 THE LIFE OF This was not the only innocent blood which was Hied at this time. That queen, for whofe fake Henry had put away a wife, with whom he had lived twenty years, was herfelf in little more than three, become the object of his averfion ; and was condemned to death on the mereft furmife. A few unguarded expreffions were the utmoft, that could be proved againfl her. She was a lady of a gay and lively temper; and in fuch dif- pofitions, little, verbal levities are not only confident with the pureft manners ; but even fometimes perhaps indicative of them. Henry however wiihed not to find her innocent; and indifcretion had the force of crime. Among the many fufpicious circum- itances, which attended this very myile- rious affair, it was not one of the leaft, that during the difcufiion of it, the arch- bifhop was directed, by an order from the king, to keep his houfe at Lambeth. The popifh party were univerfally bent againfl the queen ; and, it was fuppofed, were ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 4J were afraid of the primate's interpofition, and influence. Henry however, when it ferved his purpofe, introduced him as an actor in the affair. The life of the queen was not all the king aimed at. Her daughter, the lady Elizabeth, muft alio be declared illegitimate, to make way for the pofterity of his future confort. To this end, he refolved, on the ftrength of fome furmife of a precontract, to be divorced from her, before he put her to death. But tho the earl of Northumberland, who was fup- pofed to be the other party, made the moft folemn allegations, that no fuch contract had ever exifted, yet the king was determined fhe fhould be found guilty; and the archbifhop was to be his inflrument. To him, it is faid, the queen made a private confeffion of her crimes; and the comment of hiftory on her confeffion is, that having been fen- tenced to be burnt, or beheaded, as the king pleafed, (he was terrified into a con- feffion to avoid the more rigorous part of the fentence. On the ftrength however of 44 THE LIFE OF of this confefiion, the archbifhop paiTed a fentence of divorce. Immediately after this fentence, me was beheaded; and the king ? void of every idea, not only of feeling, but of decency, the very next day married Jane Seymour. By this precipitancy however he made a better apology for the unfortu- nate Ann Bolleyn, than the moft zealous of her advocates could have done. When we confider the whole of this black affair — the want of legal evidence to prove any crime — yet a fentence of death paifed in confequence of that in- fufficient proof — a precontract fuppofed, which was to void the marriage — and yet the crime of adultery ftill charged — the terrifying mode of the fentence — and above all the king's known attachment to an- other lady — we are furprized to find a man of the archbifhop's character fub- mitting, in any fhape, to be an actor in ib complicated a fcene of barbarifm, cruelty, abfurdity, and injuftice. The confeffion had certainly all the appearance of being extorted — by both parties the contract was denied on oath — and if both parties ARCHBISHOP CRANxMER. 45 parties had even confeffed it, it is proba- ble, that the archbilhop might have found ftrong arguments to prove, in any- other inftance, that a confummated mar- riage was a more inviolable bond, than a precontract ; and ftill more fo, if the parties firfl contracting had given up their mutual vows. The whole, in fhort, has the appearance of a difhoneft fubmiffion to a tyrant's paffions ; and we can apolo- gize for it only as we have done for fome other of this prelate's compliances, by fuppofing that his meeknefs was violently borne down by the king's impetuofity. Indeed the plenitude of a king's power was never fo thoroughly impreiTed on the minds of men, as in this reign; tho it took in future reigns, as far as fuch jargon can do, a more fyftemized form. The Vox Dei, which was afterwards too freely fuppofed to irTue from the people, was however now fuppofed to iffue folely from the throne. When therefore we find thefe great condefcenfions to a prince in men of eminent characters, we muft not meafure them by the liberal notions of later times; but mult make fome allow- ances TH E LIFE OF ances for thofe high ideas of kingly power* which prevailed in thofe periods, in which they lived. It is true, we are told* the primate made a fpirited application to the king in the queen's favour : but on this apology, it is probable, none of his advocates will be very forward to expatiate, „ The more innocent he thought her, the more guilty he muft think himfelf. How far his acling ex officio was an apology, let thofe define, who think themfelves obliged to perform the func- tions of an office, which requires unlaw- ful deeds* SECT. VI. Queen Ann's death was confidered by the popifh party as the fignal of vic- tory. They had little conception, that the proteftants could unite under any other leader, who could have intereft with the king. But they formed a wrong judg- ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 47 judgment; and had the mortification to fee the primate's influence in no degree diminished. All therefore, who wifhed well to a reformation, looked up to him, as the only perfon, who was capable of conducting it. And indeed he was every- way qualified to anfwer their willies. By prudent caution, difcrete forbearance, and pure fimplicity of manners, he was able to oppofe and counter-act the defigns of fome of the mod artful men of his time. For there are feafons, when fim- plicity will have the advantage of art ; and will miflead even the defigning man ; who judging from his own feelings, confiders a plain, and open behaviour as a mafk. It was very necefiary indeed that the proteftant caufe mould have at leaft one able leader : for except the archbifhop himfelf, there was not a man who fa- voured it, and had the power to conduct it. The earl of EfTex, it is true, who was then fecretary of ftate, v/as a man of great ability. No one had taken a jufter meafure of the times; or understood with more exactnefs, that difficult part of the mini- 48 THE LIFE OF minifterial office, the management of parties. But Effex fat at another helm, which called for all his addrefs ; and he could rarely aflift the archbishop* however well-inclined, except when the affairs of the church coincided with the bufinefs of the ftate : nor was he enough acquainted with theological matters to give a confe* quential opinion in any of the intended alterations of religion. Among the biihops of thofe times, who favoured the reformation, were, Latimer bifliop of Worcefterj Shaxton of Salilbury, and Barlow of St. David's. Thefe were the primate's natural coadjutors ; but none of them was able to give him any material affi fiance. Latimer pofTefTed every virtue that could adorn a Chriftian prelate. No man oppofed vice more fuccefsfully ; or kept the clergy of his diocefe in better order. But in traverfing the arts of party, he had no addrefs. Perfectly fincere him- felf, he had little comprehenfion of the A duplicity of others ; and feemed to think, that nothing was requilite to give either a party, or an individual, a proper direc- tion, ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 49 tion, but a genuine difplay of truth. He confidered only what was right to be done ; not what the times could bear. Shaxton had lived more in the world than Latimer; but was ftill a worfe ailbciate to the archbifhop. He had an unaccommodating fournefs about him ; which was continually taking, or giving offence. His morofenefs was marked flrongly in the lines of his vifage ; which almoft prejudiced men at fight againft every propofal he could make. Nor was he without a tincture of pride, and felf importance; which are bad in any man, worfe in a churchman, and worft of all in a reformer. Barlow was as little depended on by the archbifhop as either of the other. He was a man of fenfe and learning; but was fo indifcrete, fo totally unguarded, and his converfation fo full of leyity, that the primate was always afraid of any com- munication with him on matters of buii- nefs : and would fometimes fay, on coming to the conclufion of a long debate ; u This is all very true; but my brother E Barlow, 50 THE LIFE OF Barlow, in half an hour, will teach the world to believe it is but a jell." Perhaps indeed it was not to be re- gretted, that the primate had no affo- ciate. Under the wife councils of one prudent man the arduous bulinefs of re- formation probably profpered better, than it could have done in the hands of many. In the whole fyftem of human affairs, it is certainly the niceft peint to conduct the religious opinions of the public. The more quietly, and gently every change is introduced, the better. Altercation is fatal to the attempt 5 and altercation is generally found in a multi- plicity of voices. A multiplicity of opi- nions fucceeds a multiplicity of voices. The paflions armed with religious zeal foon enter the lifts ; and all is prefently confufion. The wifdom, and decifive judgment of a iingle leader prevented this. By attend- ing carefully to times, and feafons, and throwing out only fuch innovations as he found men were able to bear, the prudent archbifhop introduced imperceptibly the mod confequential changes. His ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 51 His difficulties however were very- great. To form a religious eftablifh merit out of the general confufion, in which all things were now involved, appeared a work of infinite perplexity. That flux of opinions, which the reformation occa- sioned, was an endlefs fource of difcord : and the more men receded from that cen- tral point of authority, which had drawn them together; the wider they fpread from each other. Every man had his fa- vourite tenet, in which he thought' the fum of chriftianity confuted • little feels began to form themfelves; and the pri- mate foon found, how impoffible it was to imprefs the large idea of religion upon the narrow mind of party. The fame diverfity of opinion which diftradted the people, was found among the leaders. Every one had his own creed; and the mifchief was, that no man thought it a hardihip to impofe his own creed on others. Some thought the ceremonies only of the Romifh church were antichriftian ; and adhered with firmnefs to its doctrines. Others rejected the doctrines; but were dazzled with the E 2 fplendor 52 THELIFEOF fplendor of its ceremonies. Some agairt thought it prudent, as a conciliating mea- fure, to retain every thing that co^ld ;be retained v/ith innocence: while others cried out loudly for utter extirpation; and thought the farther they got from popery, the nearer they advanced to truth. The difficulties, in the way of refor- mation, which arofe thus from the dif- ferent opinions of protectants, were flill greatly increafed by the oppofition of papifts. This large body of men, it may eafily be imagined, were more than ordi- narily inflamed by the turn, which affairs were likely to take againft them. If they were before formidable for their numbers, they now became more fo, when em- bodied in a fuffering caufe, fupporting one common end, and availing themfelves of all thofe arts, which are generally made ufe of by the inftruments of de- clining party. Among thefe arts, the moft obvious, and the moil: effectual, was, to foment jealoufy, and difcord among the various fe&aries of the new religion; ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 53 religion ; to which of themfelves they were fufficiently inclined. But the difficulties, which arofe from the popiih party, would have been more eafily furmounted, if the king had not been at its head. The fame, which Henry had acquired, as defender of the faith, had invariably attached his haughty mind to the doctrines of popery. The fupremacy indeed flattered his ambition; and he was glad, as far as that was an object, to coincide with the circum- ftances of the times : but he was careful to have it believed, that he was no con- vert to the opinions of the new faith ; and that his heart had not received the lean; impreffion againft the religion of his fore- fathers. Whatever advantage therefore the proteflants gained during this reign, they were intirely indebted for it, either to the pride, the caprice, or the interefl of the king. Amidft all thefe difficulties, the arch- biffiop endeavoured gradually to mature in his own breaft every part of the great E 3 fcheme 54 THE LIFE OF fcheme he had in view, before he ven- tured to bring it forward. He began, in the fpirit of equity, with redreffins: the abufes of his own courts ; tho together with thefe abufes, he retrenched his own fees, and thofe of his officers. This gave the public an early and favourable impreffion of his defigns. The great number of idle holidays, with which the calendar was charged, became the next object of his cenfure. The archbimop himfelf, to the aftonifh- ment of thofe around him, fat down to a hot fupper on the eve of St. Thomas of Canterbury. As thefe holidays interfered with feed time and harveft, it was gene- rally not unpopular to abolifh them. It was popular alfo, as well as highly neceffary, to regulate the public dif- courfes of the clergy. The pulpit elo- quence indeed of that time w r as little more than a grofs attempt to exalt the power of the church. The good arch- bimop faw its abufe ; and endeavoured to make it the vehicle of inftruction. But the regulations he yet made were few. With ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 55 With his ufual caution he felt his ground, as he proceeded ; and it was not till long afterwards, that he compleated his inten- tion on this head, by the publication of the homilies. How exceedingly a reformation in preaching was wanted, we may judge from the following extracts from fermons, which we may fuppofe were, the beft the times produced, as they were thought worthy of being made public. In one of thefe fermons, the priefr. inveighing againft irreverence to the minifters of re- ligion, tells the following ftory : " St. Auftin," fiiys he, " fiiw two women prating together in the pope's chapel, and the fiend fitting in their necks, writing a long roll of what the women faid. Prefently letting it fall, St. Auflin took it up; and alking the women, what they had faid, they anfwered, Only a few pater-nofters. Then St. Auflin read the bill, and there was never a good word in it." In another fermon we are told, *' that, four men had ftolen an abbot's ox. The abbot did a fentence, and curfed them. Three of them were fh riven, and afked E 4 mercy. 56 THE LIFE OF mercy. The fourth died, without being abfolved. So when he was dead, his fpirit walked by night, and feared all who ftirred from their houfes after fun fet. It happened that once, as a priefl went in the night, with God's body, to a fick man, the fpirit met him, and told him who he was, and why he walked ; and prayed the prieft to tell his wife to make amends to the abbot, that he might abfolve him ; for he could have no reft till then. So this was done, and the poor foul at length went to reft." In a fermon upon the mafs, the people are told, that, among the benefits arifing from it, " On the day they hear it, all idle oaths, and forgotten fins mall be forgiven. On that day they mall not lofe their fight; nor die a fudden death ; nor wax aged : and every ftep thitherward, and homeward, an angel mail reckon/' — The immediate tendency of fuch difcourfes was obvious. SECT. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. S7 SECT. VII. Thus far the primate, however cautious, ventured with lefs hefitation. What he had yet done was little more, than fell under his own proper authority. But it required more addrefs to ftrip the popular opinions of the times of that error, and abfurdity, which adhered to them. Some fteps however were taken, which at leaft narrowed a few of the groffeft of the popifh doctrines. Tradition was not expreffly difavowed ; but the bible, and creeds were made the rule of faith. —Images were not for- bidden ; but the people were inftructed to confider them only as incentives of devo- tion. Prayers to faints were allowed; but Chrift's fole mediation with the Father was infilled on. Sprinkling holy water, fcattering afhes, and creeping to the crofs, were tolerated; but the people were allured, they made no atonement for fin. 58 THE LIFE OF fin. The exiftence of purgatory was not difputed ; but all indulgences, and mercenary pardons were declared invalid. How far indeed the archbifhop himfelf was inlightened, cannot eafily be known at this day: but it is probable, that whatever had been his own private opi- nions, he would not have ventured far- ther in public, than he now did. The doctrine of tranfubftantiation was left precifely as it flood. Our ecclefi- aftical writers all agree, that the primate himfelf held that opinion, till within a few years of his death j which is the more furprizing, as Wicliff, near two centuries before, had faid much to bring it into difcredit. How firmly attached the primate was to it, at this time, ap- peared on the following occafion. John Lambert, a man of eminent piety, having denied the real prefence, was cited before the archbifhop ; who with a mix- ture of mildnefs and gravity, expoflulated with him, on his maintaining fo unfcrip- tural an error. Lambert retired modeflly; but it appearing afterwards, that he was not converted, the affair was carried before the ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 59 the king. The king, refolving himfelf to confute fo notorious a heretic, cited him to enter into free debate on the fubjecl:. The royal pedant entered the place of com- bat, furrounded by his bifhops, and nobles. The archbifhop fat at his right hand, and affifted at this very extraordinary difputa- tion. Lambert being confounded with an affembly fo little fuited to the freedom of debate, yielded an eafy victory to the king; who triumphing over him in the true fpi- rit of a polemic; condemned him to the flake. We do not find that the archbifhop took any part in his death; it were to be wifhed he had rid his hands of the difpu- tation likewife. The primate mewed the fame attachment to the doctrine of tranfubflantiation on another occafion. Vadian, a learned fo- reigner, having written a treatife againfl the corporeal prefence, thought it a proper work for the archbifhop of Canterbury to patronize, and prefented it to him ; con- cluding that his grace's opinions on that fubjecl:, were as liberal as his own. But the archbifhop was not a little difpleafed. He informed Vadian, that his book had not 60 THE LIFE OF not made a convert of him ; and that he was hurt with the idea cf beine thought the patron of fuch unfcriptural opinions. In the year 1538, the archbifhop ftnifhed a great work, which he had long had in hand, the printing of an E??g//JJj bible. WiclifF was the firft Englifhman, who undertook to render the holy fcriptures into his native tongue. But WiclifFs tranfla- tion was now obfolete; and to be found only as a matter of curiofity in a few libra- ries. In the year 1526 Tindal tranilated and printed the new teftament in the low countries. But his tranflation, which was rather a hafty performance, was very incorrect ; and nobody was more fenfible of its deficiences than Tindal himfelf. He was public fpirited enough to have amended the faults of it, by a new edition : but his finances were too fcanty for fuch an undertaking. The zeal of Tunflal bi- iTiop of Durham, furnifhed him the means. Tunflal, tho a papift, was the mod mo- derate of men -, and being delirous of re- moving a {tumbling block as quietly as poffi- ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 61 pofiible, he privately bought up the whole impreffion at his own expence, and burnt it*. This money being returned into Tindal's hands, enabled him to republish his work in a more correct form. By the great induftry however of the popifh party this edition alfo was in a good meafure fuppreffed : and indeed it was at belt an inaccurate tranflation ; being the per- formance only of a (ingle man, who la- boured alfo under many di fad vantages. This verfion however, inaccurate as it was, the archbiuhop made the bafis of the work, he now intended; and the method he took, was to fend portions of it to be corrected by the bifhops, and other learned divines ; referving to himfelf the revifal of the whole. * A copy of this imprefiion, fuppofed to be the only copy remaining, was picked up by one of the late lord Oxford's collectors ; and was eitcemed fo valuable a pur- chafe by his lordfhip, that it is faid he fettled 20^. a year for life on the perfon who procured it. Lord Oxford's library being afterwards purchafed by Ofuorn, at Grey's. Inn gate, this curious book was marked by the undifcern- ing bookfeller at fifteen millings only ; at which price Mr. Ames bought it. When Mr. Ames's books were offered to the public by Mr. Langford, in May 1760, this book was fold by auction for fourteen guineas and a half. In whofe hands it is now, I have not heard. Stoketley 62 THE LIFE OF Stokefley, biihop of London, was the only prelate, who refufed his contribution. •< It is no wonder," ((aid one of thearch- bifhop's chaplains, w r ith more humour, than charity) " that my lord of London refufes to have any hand in this bufinefs : it is a teftament, in which he knows well he hath no legacy/' This bible, through the means of the lord EfTex, was licenfed by the king ; and fixed to a defk in all pa- rochial churches. The ardour, with which, we are infor- med, men flocked to read it, is incredible. They, who could, purchafed it ; and they who could not, crouded to read it, or to hear it read, in churches ; where it was common to fee little affemblies of mecha- nics meeting together for that purpofe after the labour of the day. Many even learned to read in their old age, that they might have the pleafure of inftrucling themfelves from the fcriptures. Mr. Fox mentions two apprentices, who joined, each his little flock, and bought a bible, which at every interval of leifure, they read; but being afraid of their mafter, who was a zealous papift, they kept it under the ftraw ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 6 J 3 ftraw of their bed. Such was the extafy of joy, with which this bleffing was received at that time — when it was uncommon. Soon afterwards, under the authority of convocation, the archbimop took a farther ftep. The creed, the Lord's prayer, and the ten commandments were allowed to be taught in Englim. A plain expofition aifo of the more obvious points of faith, and practice, was published in a treatife, which was generally called the bifoofts book, from the hands, through which it went : its real title was, T/jeinJli- t lit ion of a Chriflian man. It was afterwards enlarged, and published under the royal licence; and then became the kings book. Thefe were the principal fteps, which the archbifhop took in the bufinefs of reformation — all taken between the years 1533 and 1538. His difficult circum- ftances allowed no more. It is wonderful indeed he did fo much : for except in the matters of fupremacy, and tranfubftantia- tion, the king, and he had very different fentiments on every topic of religion : and the 64 THE LIFE OF the paflions of Henry, thofe gufts of whirlwind, made it dangerous for any- one to oppofe him. But the archbimop, tho he tried this hardy experiment of- tener than once, never loft his favour. In the bufinefs of monafteries he rifked it moft. Henry had already laid his rapacious hands on fome of the fmaller houfes ; and finding the prey alluring, he determined to make a fecond, and more darine at- tempt. The larger houfes afforded his avarice a more ample range. The affair was brought into parliament; and men feemed to think, they were at liberty to fpeak their opinions freely. They agreed, that the wealth of the church was a dead weight on the nation — that it debauched the clergy; and drained the people — and that it was juft, and right, to lay public hands on this ufelefs mafs of treafure. — At the fame time having been (hocked at feeing the king appropriate to himfelf, as he had lately done, the piety of ages ; or lavifn it in wanton donations on the avarice of his courtiers ; they cri- ed, " Let us ftrip the clergy of their wealth ; ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 65 wealth; but let us pafs a law, that it may be employed in fome national fervice." Of the party, which held this language, the archbifhop was at the head. With great earneftnefs he fpoke in this caufe ; and propofed various fchemes for throwing this mafs of facred treafure into fome ufeful channel. He mentioned the en- dowment of fchools ; the maintenance of fcholars at the universities ; the foundation of hofpitals, and alms-houfes : " Nay, rather, faid he, than fuller it to be con- fumed in private channels, let us expend it on high roads." One of his fchemes was new; and feems to have been happily conceived. He propofed to inftitute colleges of priefts in every cathedral, compofed of ftudents, juft removed, and well recommended, from the universities. Here they were to apply themfelves to divinity under the eye of the bifhopsj who being thus ac- quainted with their worth and abilities, might collate them from thefe feminaries to parochial charges. But this, and all his other beneficial fchemes were overruled* The king was F deter- 66 THE LIFE OF determined to apply this wealth to other ufes ; and hinted his intentions to the houfe in a very intelligible manner. The royal hint gave a fudden change to the deliberations of parliament. Every man trembled at the idea of oppoiition. Simple terror effected then, what venality hath fince effected. Effex immediately gave way. The boldeft fpeakers were filent- The primate's was the la ft mouth, which opened in this caufe. — His honeft zeal fhewed the goodnefs of his heart; and that was the reward of his labour. SECT. VIII. The oppoiition, 'which the king met with in this bufinefs from the pro- teftant party, is thought by many hifto- rians to have leffened the archbifhop's in- fluence; and to have thrown weight, at this' time, into the oppofite fcale. It is certain, the bifliop of Winchefter, and other leaders of the popifh party, iegan ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 67 began now to aflume unufual fpirits, and to appear with more importance at court. The bifhop of Wirichefter was one of thofe motley ministers, half ftatefman, and half ecclefiattic, which were common in thofe needy times* when the revenues of the church were neceflary to fupport the fervants of the crown. It was an in- vidious fupport; and often fattened the odium of an indecorum on the king's minifters; who had, as minifters always have, oppofition enough to parry in the common courfe of bufinefs : and it is very probable, that Gardiner, on this very ground, hath met with harder meafure in hiftory, than he might otherwife have done. He is reprefented as having nothing of a churchman about him, but the name of a bifhop. He had been bred to bufinefs from his earlieft youth ; and was tho- roughly verfed in all the wiles of men, confidered either as individuals, or, em- bodied in parties. He knew all the modes of accefs to every foible of the human heart ; his own in the mean time, F 2 dark, 68 THE LIFE Or dark, and impenetrable. He was a mail; " who, as Lloyd quaintly lays, was to be traced like the fox; and like the Hebrew, to be read backwards :" and tho the in- fidious caft of his eve indicated, that he was always lying in wait: yet his ftrong fenfe, and perfuafive manner, * inclined men to believe he was always fincere ; as better reafons could hardly be given, than he had ready on every occafion. He was as little troubled with fcruples, as any man, w T ho thought it not proper intirely to throw off decency. What moral vir- tues, and what natural feelings he had, were all under the influence of ambition ; and were accompanied by a happy lubri- city of confcience, which ran glibly over every obftacle.- — —Such is the portrait, which hiftorians have given us of this man ; and tho the colouring may be more heightened in fome, than in others ; yet the fame turn of feature is found in all. This prelate being at the head of the popifh party, and aided by the duke of Norfolk's influence, thought he had now an opportunity to ftrike a blow, which might be fatal to the proteftant caufe. The ARCHBISHOP CRANMER, 69 The times favouring him, he infinuated to the king, that the meafures he was now purfuing had placed him in a very precarious fituation with regard to foreign powers— that the German proteftants would in all probability be crufhed — and that if this mould be the cafe, it was very likely from the temper and fituation of men and things, that his majefty would fee a very formidable league excited againft him by the popiih princes — that it was prudent at lead to guard againft fuch •an event — and that it might eafily be done by enacting fome laws in favour of the old religion, which might mew Chriftendom, that he had not let his face againft the church ; but only againft the fupremacy of the pope. This language in a prudential light, was more than plaufible; and it had its full effect on Henry; efpecially as it co- incided with his own apprehen lions. For the enterprizing fpirit of Charles V, then in league with the pope, feemed to be carrying every thing with a full tide of fuccefs in Germany ; and to have nothing {9 much in contemplation as to re-efta- F 3 bliih, 70 THE LIFE OF bliih, through Europe, the fpiritual do«* minion of the pope. An alteration in the public faith, was then a matter of eafy decifion. The king's inclination alone was furiicient to inforce it. The duke of Norfolk there- fore, as had been agreed, informed the houfe of the king's wiiTi to (hew his re- gard to the old religion ; and as it would be agreeable to his majefty to have every body think as he did, the duke prefumed, that nobody wifhed to think otherwife. The king's ideas were received with re- verence, and the whole houfe became immediately zealous papifls ; and paffed an act, which had been framed by Gardi- ner, in favour of fome of the more pe- culiar doctrines of the Roman church— tranfubftantiation— communion in one kind — vows of chaflity, — the celibacy of the clergy — private mafTes — and auricular confeffion. This act, which palled in the year 1539, is known by the name of the act of the Jix articles, and was guarded according to the fuppofed degrees of guilt, by fines, forfeitures, imprifonment, and death. The ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. ?l The good archbifhop never appeared in a more truly Chriftian light, than on this occafion. In the midfh of fo general a defection, (for there were numbers in the houfe, who had hitherto fhewn great for- wardnefs in reformation), he alone made a ftand. Three days he maintained his ground; and bafHed the arguments of all oppofers. But argument was not their weapon ; and the archbifhop faw himfelf obliged to fink under fuperior power. Henry ordered him to leave the houfe. The primate refufed : "It was God's caufe, he faid, and not man's." And when he could do no more, he boldly entered his proteff.. Such an inflance of fortitude is fufficient to wipe off many of thofe courtly frains, which have fattened on his memory. As the primate himfelf was a married man, it hath been faid, he was particularly interefted in this oppolition : and it is cer- tain, that as foon as the act palled, he fent his wife, who was a niece of Ofiander's, into Germany. But Mr. Strype gives us good reafon to believe, that his chief ob- jection to any of thefe articles, was the F 4 cruelty 72 THE LIFE OF cruelty of the penalties, with which they were guarded ; fo alien, he thought, to the fpirit of Chriftianity. It is amazing that the very extraordi- nary freedom, which the archbifhop took on this occalion, did not entirely ruin him in the king's favour. Indeed all men exoedted to have ken him fent immedi- ately to the tower. But Henry's regard for him was fo far from being leffened, that he ordered the duke of Norfolk, with the earl of Effex, and others, to dine with him the next day at Lambeth; and comfort him, as the king phrafed it, under his difappointment. — " My Lord archbifhop, faid Effex, you were born in a happy hour. You can do nothing amifs. Were I to do half of what you have done, my head muft anfwer it :" — A prophetic fpeech, as it afterwards appeared ! This lingular vifit, at Lambeth, tho fo well intended by the king, was the fource of great mortification to all. The con- verfation, after dinner, falling on the late miniftry, and Woolfey's name being men- tioned, Effex could not forbear drawing a parallel between the archbifhop and the cardinal. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 73 cardinal. The cardinal, faid he, through the violence of his temper in managing a a debate, would often change his friends into enemies : whereas the mildnefs of the archbifhop often makes his enemies, his friends. The duke of Norfolk adopted the remark; and Surely, (faid he with a iarcaftic fneer,) nobody knew the cardinal better, than my lord Effex, who was once his menial. ErTex anfwered with fome warmth, that he was not the only per- fon in company, who had ferved the car- dinal; at leafl, who had fhewn an in- clination to ferve him : for if fame fpoke truth, the great duke of Norfolk himfelf had offered to be the .cardinal's admiral, if ever he fhould attain the papacy. The duke of Norfolk firing at this, ftarted up, and with a vehement oath, cried out, he lyed. EfTex preparing to refent the affront, the archbifhop got up, and with the reft of the company interfering, com- pofed the quarrel at that time : but the duke laid it up in one of thofe fecret chambers of his memory, where thofe affronts are regiftered, which nothing but blood can expiate. The 74 THE LIFE OF The arguments, which the arch bi {hop had ufed in parliament againft the aft of the fix articles, had been reprefented to the king in fo ftrong a light, that he ex- prefied a great defire to fee them ; and the archbifhop accordingly had them fairly copied out for his infpeftion. The late of the volume, in which they were con- tained, occafioned fome perplexity. Among the amufements of the Eng- lifli monarchs of thofe times, that of bear-baiting on the river Thames was in high efteem. In this diverfion Henry happened to be engaged, when the arch- bifhop's fecretary took boat at Lambeth, charged with his mailer's book to Weft- minfter. The waterman had orders to keep as far as poflible from the tumult; but whether led by curiofity to fee the paftime, or through fome unavoidable ac- cident, he found himfelf prefently in the midft of the croud; and by a mifchance flill greater, the bear making direftly to his boat; climbed up the fide, and over- fet it. The fecretary was foon taken up ; but recovering from his furprize, he found he ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 75 he had loft his book. He hoped it mi^ht have funk to the bottom; but he dis- covered afterwards, that it had fallen into the hands of fome ignorant perfons, who had conveyed it to a popifh prieft. The prieft, conceiving it to be a fatire on the fix articles, determined to carry it to the council. The fecretary, in the mean time, fufpedling what might happen, ap- plied to lord Effex, as his matter's friend. He had fcarce told his ftory, when the prieft appeared, at the door of the coun- cil-chamber, with the book under his arm. Lord EiTex addreffing him in an angry tone, and telling him that the book belonged to a privy-counfellor ; the prieft delivered it up, with many humble gefticulations - x and was glad to get off without farther queftion. SECT. 76 THE LIFE OF SECT. IX. The ad: of the fix articles, was a fignal to the whole popifh party. They now plainly faw their power ; and had only to exert it properly. The parlia- ment, and convocation were the fcenes of action. Here the primate almoft fingle oppofed them. A few of the bifhops lent him aid; but it was feeble. They v/ere either uninterefted in the caufe ; or men of no abilities in bufincfs. One or two of them, from whom he expected affi fiance, defer ted him. But the fevereft lofs he felt, at this time, was that of his great friend, the earl of Efiex. The intereft of that eminent ftatefman declined with that of the proteftants ;' and he paid at the block, the penalty of his matter's offences. The diflblution of monafteries had given general difgufi. The alms, and hofpitality of the monks, indifcriminately adminiftered, had through a courfe Archbishop cranmer. 77 a courfe of ages, invited floth ; and thefe channels of ready fupply being now flop- ped, the neceffitous found it irkfome to exchange a life of idlenefs for a life of induflry. A general difcontent foon finds a mouth to exprefs it. Clamour grew loud; and the king's government, uneafy. Something muft neceffarily be done. Among all the arts of expediency laid up in the cabinets of princes, the readieft is to facrifice a minifter. The death of Cromwel was reprefented to the king as the beft mean of compofing the people. But tho prudential reafons may neceffitate a prince to difcard a minifter, yet guilt only, and that nicely examined, can au- thorize an act of blood. The hand of a tyrant however generally throws afide the balance. It is a nice machine; and re- quires pains, and temper to adjuft it. The fword is an inftrument more deci- fivej and of eafier difpatch. Henry's was always flamed with blood — often with innocent blood — but never with blood more innocent than that of E flex. Among the many friends of this great man, feveral of whom had tailed largely of 73 THE LIFE OF of his bounty, not a fmgle perfon en- deavoured to avert his ruin, but the pri- mate. He with generous friendfhio wrote to the king; united himfelf with the falling minifter; and endeavoured, at the hazard of his own fafety, to infpire his royal mafter with ideas of juftice. But the fate of EiTe'x was decreed; and fo light a thing* as a whifper from the ftill voice of juftice, could not avert it. ■ Hiilory unites in marking the duke of Norfolk, and the bi/hop of Winches- ter, as the fecret contrivers of this bafe affair. The primate and Effex had ever main- tained a uniform friendfhip for each other, through every period of their power. It was a friendship pure from jealoufy on both fides. Amidft all the jarrings of court faction, nothing ever diilurbed it. Each knew the integrity of the other's intentions ; and each fupported the other's fchemes with an exertion of all his in- tereft. In fome things perhaps the zeal of EfTex for his friend was apt to carry him too far; and the primate had oftener than once occafion to reprefs it. A prieft ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 79 A prieft near Scarborough, fitting amon^ his companions, over his beer, at the door of a country ale-houfe; and fome- body happening to mention the arch- bishop 5 " That man, faid the prieft, as great as he is now, was once but an oft- ler; and has no more learning, than the goilings yonder on the green." Effex, who had his fpies in every quarter, was in- formed of what the prieft had faid. A meffenger was immediately difpatched for him ; and he was lodged in the Fleet. Some months elapfed, when the arch- bifhop, who was intirely ignorant of the afrair, received a petition from the poor prieft, full of penitence for his impru- dence, and of fupplication for mercy. The primate having inquired into the bufinefs fent for him. " I hear, faid he, you have accufed me of many things ; and among others, of my being a very ignorant man. You have now an oppor- tunity of fetting your neighbours right in this matter j and may examine me, if you pleafe." The prieft, in great confufion, befought his grace to pardon him : he never would offend in the fime way again. « Well 80 THE LIFE OF " Well then, fays the archbifhop, fined you will not examine me, let me examine you. The prieft was thunderftruck ; making many excufes; and owning he was not much learned in book-matters. The archbifhop told him, he fhould not then go very deep; and afked him two or three of the plaineft queftions in the bible; Who was David's father ? and who was Solomon's ? The prieft, confufed at his own igno- rance, flood fpeechlefs. " You fee, faid the archbifhop how your accufation of me, rifes againft your- felf. You are an admirable judge of learning and learned men. Well, my friend, I had no hand in bringing you here, and have no defire to keep you. Get home; and if you are an ignorant man, learn at leaft to be an honefl one." Soon after, the earl of Effex came to the primate; and with fome warmth told him, he might for the future fight his own battles — that he had intended to to have made the prieft do penance at Paul's ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 81 Paul's crofs ; but his grace's misjudged lenity had prevented him. u My good lord, faid the primate, taking him by the hand, be not offended. I have examined the man myfelf; and be affured from me, he is neither worth your notice, nor mine." ' Notwithstanding however the lofs of his great aifociate, the archbifliop did not defpair. An attempt was made in con- vocation to revive fome popifli cere- monies. A fort of ritual was produced, which confifted of ninety articles. The archbifhop unaided went through the whole: and reafoned with fuch ftrength of argument, as brought over many to his opinion. Whom he could not convince, he filenced. The next field, in which he appeared, was the houfe of lords, where he himfelf made the attack, by bringing in a bill to mitigate the penalties of the fix articles. This was a bold attempt, and drew on him the whole force of oppofition. The bifhops of Rochefter and Hereford, who G had 82 THE LIFE OF -had promifed to affift him, gave way, as the debate grew warm ; and begged the archbiihop to follow their example. It was in vain, they told him, to perfift : He could not benefit his caufe ; but he might ruin himfelf. The archbifhop, with that fpirit which he always exerted, where re- ligion was concerned, declared himfelf carelefs of any confequence. His perfeverance had an effect, which he durft not have hoped for. The laity were intirely exempted from the penalties of the act ; and the clergy were in no dan- ger, till after the third convi&ion. The primate obtained alfo that no offences mould be cognizable, after they had lain dormant a year. It is not improbable, that he was indebted for this victory to the book, which he had fent to the king; the rigour of whofe opinions it might, in fome degree, have qualified. In another effort alfo the primate ob- tained an advantage. He prevailed with the king to allow the ufe of a few prayers in the Englifh tongue; which was the firft attempt of the kind, that had been made. On ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 83 On the other hand, he had the mortifi- cation to fee the ufe of the bible taken away. Winchefter brought the affair into convocation. In the debate, which enfued, the tranflation was chiefly ob- jected to, " Let the people have their " bible, laid Winchefter, but let it be a < { correct one; and let not error and " herefy be fpread by authority. " He propofed therefore to have the bible care- fully examined; and with this view to iiave it put into the hands of the biihopsj where he doubted not he had influence to fufpend it, as long as he pleafed. The primate faw his policy* and with all his weight oppofed him. He wimed to preferve the prefent tranflation, even with all its inaccuracies; which he thought better than to run the rifk of a new one. But he could not prevail. One point however he gained. Inftead of putting the bible into the hands of the bifhops; he got it put into the hands of the two univerfities, which he fuppofed would be lefs fubjedr. to popim influence. He was right in his conjecture; for the univerfities were very fpeedy in their re- G 2 vifion. 84 THE LIFE OF vifion. But the primate had the old battle to fight again. Tho a more correct bible was produced, yet the fame oppofi- tion was ftill made to its publication ; and new topics of argument were introduced. The archbifhop however had now en- couraged a confiderable party to fecond him j and the affair was combated with great vigour. But the oppofition of the popifh party became fo formidable, that the archbifhop was again intirely de- ferted. Single however, as he had done before, he ftill bore up againft his adver- fariesj and perfevered, till by dint of perfeverance he obtained a limited ufe of the bible, tho it was never publicly al- lowed during the remainder of Henry's reign. S E C T. X. While the primate was afting this great and noble part in parliament, an un- expected ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 85 expected event placed him in a very deli- cate and dangerous fituation. At an early hour, in the morning, an unknown perfon, of the name of Laf- celles, defired a fecret admittance to him ; and with much hesitation opened an affair, which the archbifhop would often fay, gave his fpirits a greater agitation, than he ever felt before, or after. The affair was no lefs, than the difcovery of the queen's incontinence. The primate with his ufual caution weighed the information ; and the proof, on which it refted ; and he had the more time for deliberation, as the king was then on a progrefs. If the information were juftly founded, it was both wrong, and dangerous, to conceal it — if unjuftly, it was equally fo to divulge it. The di- lemma was difficult. The bufinefs was perplexed alfo by a circumstance of peculiar delicacy. The queen was niece to the duke of Norfolk, who was at the head of the popi/h party; and the good primate, who had feen with what finifter arts that clafs of men had carried on their fchemes, was apprehen- G 3 five, 86 THE LIFE OF five, that fuch a (lory as this, might have too much the air of retaliation, and the malignity of party; and if it mould prove falfe, would fix an imputation on his character, which he had ever been careful to avoid. His enemies, he knew, were always on the watch againit him; and might, for ought he knew, have taken this very method of doing him an injury. Thus diftracted by a view of the affair in every light, he went at laft to the lord chancellor, and the earl of Hertford, whom the king had left with a com- miflion of regency, during his abfence j and to them he unbofomed his diftrefs. After the firft impreffion of terror was over, with which the privacy of fuch an affair naturally ftruck every one, who was connected with the tyrant, the chancellor, and lord Hertford were both of opinion, that as the affair relied on fuch undoubted evidence, it was lefs hazardous to divulge, than to conceal it. This point being fettled, the more arduous one ftill re- mained of informing the king. The pri- mate thought it beft, that all three mould join in the information -, and give it that weight, ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 87 weight, which no fingle perfon could give. The two lords, on the other hand, were of a different opinion. As the in- telligence, they faid, had been given to the primate, and they had only been con- fulted, the information would come mbft naturally from him. Befides, they re- marked, it was more refpectful to keep a matter of fo delicate a nature in a fingle hand ; and if fo, the primate's ecclefiafli- cal character, and well-known judgment made him the propereft meffenger of bad news ; as when he had given the wound, he could pour in balm to heal it. r-In conclufion, the meeknefs of the arch- bifhop gave way; and he took upon him- felf alone the tafk of carrying the unwel- come truth to the king. It was indeed an unwelcome truth. The king at this time, had fo little con- ception of the queen's difhonefty, and loved her with fuch entire affection, that he had lately given public thanks for the happinefs he enjoyed with her. The method which the primate took, was, to draw up the whole affair on pa- per, with all the evidence, on which it G 4 refted, 88 THE LIFE OF refted, and prefent it to the king in pri- vate. Henry took the information, as we may fuppofe he would. His fury broke out in vehement execrations, and threats againfl: thofe, who had been the Contri- te * vers of fuch villainy. And yet even in his rage he feems to have fpared the arch- bishop, as a man who might be impofed on ; but could not intend deceit. By degrees however, as his royal fury fub- fided, and he examined the evidence cool- ly, it made a deep impreffion on him ; and paffions of another kind began to rife. In fhort, the queen and her accomplices w r ere tried, condemned, and executed. A little before her death fhe confefled her guilt to the archbimop ; and the full voice of hiftory bears teftimony to the juflice of her fentence. About the time, in which the arch- bifhop was concerned in this affair, hs was engaged in another, almoft equally invidious -, the vifitation of All-fouls-col- lege in Oxford. That fociety was in much ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 8 9 much diforder. Their diffentions gave great offence ; and the irregularity of their manners, frill greater. They are taxed, in the language of thofe times, with their fcandalous compotations, comme [fat ions, and ingurgitations. The archbifhop, as vifi- tor, was called in by one of the contend- ing parties j and he found it no eafy matter to compofe their heats, and reftore good manners. With his ufual vigour he went through the difagreeable tafk; and having mixed as much lenity as poflible, with his cenfures, he reviewed their fta- tutes; and made fuch additions, as he hoped would prevent any mifbehaviour for the future. In the year 1542, which was the year after thefe troublefome affairs, happened the battle of Solway-mofs ; where the Scotifh army received a total defeat. Many of their nobility being taken prifoners, were fent to London, and committed to the care of the moft confiderable perfons about the court. The earl of Caflilis, was fent to Lambeth. Here he found himfelf go THE LIFE OF himfelf in a fchool of philofophy, and religion ; where every thing great, and noble, and liberal abounded. Caffilis himfelf had a turn for literature j and foon became enamoured with this amiable fociety. The gentlenefs, and benevolence of the archbifhop in particular attracted his efteem ; and brought him to think more favourably of the reformers ; to whofe opinions he foon became a tho- rough convert. Scotland had not yet re- ceived the tenets of the reformation : and the archbifhop would often fay, " That when it fhould pleafe God to inlighten that country, he hoped the intimacy, which had fubfifted between him and the earl of Caffilis, might not wholly be without erfed." And in fact it proved fo : for fome years afterwards, when the reformed opinions got footing in Scot- land, nobody contributed fo much to eftablifh them, as that nobleman. SECT. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 91 SECT. XL Tho it might be fuppofed, that the queen's death would have weakened the popifh caufe, yet we do not find, that it produced any fuch effecl:. Many re- marked, that after the firft heat of the rupture with Rome, the king had been gradually returning towards it; and that, with regard to all the doctrines of popery, he was, at this time, more zealous, than he had ever been : and they accounted for it very plaufibly by obferving, that as his paffions began to cool, the religious fear took more pofleflion of him. The popifh party, it is certain, at this period aflumedunufual fpiritsj and thought they had influence enough to obtain any point. One morning the primate was furprized with a melTage from the king, who lay off Lambeth in his barge, and wifhed imme- diately 92 THELIFEOF diately to fpeak with him. As he came on board, the king called out, " I can now inform you, who is the greater! heretic in Kent :" and ordering the barge to row gently up the river, he feated the archbi- fhop by him, and produced a large book, which, he faid, contained an accufation of feveral of the Kentifh minifters againft their diocefan. The archbimop, who was not very pre- fent in the article of furprize, gazed fir ft at the king, and then at the book, and could not, in fome minutes, coiled: an anfwer. The king bad him not be diftref- fed : " I confider the affair, faid he, merely as a combination of your enemies j and as fuch I mail treat it." Commiffioners were foon after appoint- ed to examine the evidence againft the primate ; and at the head of the board the king, with his ufual indelicacy, placed the primate himfelf. The archbifhop was ihocked at this defignation ; and could barely be prevailed on to appear once at the opening of the commifiion. It fuf- ficiently ihewed however, how the king ftood affe&ed $ and faved the archbifhop^ ad- ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 93 advocates the trouble of any laboured de- fence. Each of the accufers endeavoured with what art he was able, to withdraw himfelf from a bufinefs, which was likely to bring him fo ungrateful a return. The chief contriver of this whole affair was the bifhop of Winchefter, who with great affiduity, had collected a variety of paflages from fermons, and other difcourfes in which it was fuppofed, the archbifliop had mevvn more regard to the new learning (as proteftantifm was called) and the pro- feflbrs of it, than the laws then in force allowed. Among other agents whom Winchefter employed, he drew over by his insinuating arts, two perfons, who were very nearly connected with the archbifliop himfelf; Dr. Thorndon, fuffragan of Dover, and Dr. Barber, a civilian. Each of them had been promoted by the archbifhop, and held an office under him ; and both had been always treated by him on the footing of intimate friends. Barber even lived in his houfe ; and had a penfion fettled on him, that he might be ready with his ad- vice on every occafion. When the proofs there- 94 THE LIFE OF therefore of this confederacy were put into the primate's hands, we may fuppofe his aftonifhment on finding a letter from each of thefe perfons, containing a variety of matter againft him, which his familia- rity, and unreferved freedom with them, had eafily furnifhed. Soon afterwards, when thefe two per- fons happened both to be with the archbi- fliop, at his houfe at Beckefburne ; cc Come your ways with me, faid he, leading them into his ftudy - y I muft have your advice in a certain matter." When he had carried them to a retired window in the room, " You twain, he refumed, be men, in whom I have had much trufl; and you mufl now give me fome council. I have been fhamefully abufed by one or twain, to whom I have mewed all my fecrets, And the matter is fo fallen out, that they have not only difclofed my fecrets ; but alfo have taken upon them to accufe me of herefy ; and are become witneiTes againft me. I require you therefore to advife me, how I fhall behave myfelf to them. You are both my friends; what lay you to the matter ?" Whe- ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 9S Whether they had any fufpicion of the archbifhop's meaning, does not appear: As the queftion however was put, they could not avoid pronouncing with great feverity againfl fuch villany. The pri- mate then drawing the letters from his bofom, " Know you, faid he, thefe papers, my matters ? You have con- demned yourfelves. God make you both good men. I never deferved this at your hands. If fuch men as you, are not to be trufted, there is no fidelity to be found. I fear my left hand will accufe my right/' Having faid this, he added, after a paufe, that they might reft affured, he would take no fteps to punifh their bafenefs'j but he thought it fit to difcharge them from his fervice. The king however treated the arch- bifhop's accufers with more feverity j and threw many of them into prifon. This alarming Gardiner, he wrote a letter to the primate in the following abject flyle. " Gentle father, I have not borne fo * c tender a heart towards you, as a true €C child ought to bear; tho you never ** gave me occaiion otherwife; but rather " by 96 THE LIFE OF * c by benefits provoked me to the con- " trary. I afk mercy of you with as " contrite a heart, as ever David aiked of f* God. — I defire you to remember the ff prodigal child. I am full forry for my " fault ; heartily confeffing my rafhnefs, " and indeliberate doings. Forgive me *' this fault ; and you mail never hereafter " perceive, but that at all times I mail *f be as obedient, as ever was child to his " natural father. I am your's, and (hall " be your's; and that truly while I live. " Good father, I have given myfelf unto *« you, heart, body, and fervice. And " now remember that I am your true ** fervant." This better, tho it appears from Win- chefter's future life, to have been a mere artifice, fo wrought on the gentle nature of the primate, that hearing the king was refolved to lay Winchefter's letters before the houfe of lords, he went to him, and at length prevailed on him, not to give the bifhop any further trouble ; but to let the matter drop. The ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 97 The event of this accufation checked the ardour of the archbifhop's enemies for fome time ; but it revived again in about two years, on the death of Charles Bran- don duke of Suffolk. With this nobleman the king had pre- ferved, through life, a friendship, of which it was not thought his heart was fufceptible ; and on hearing of his death, he pronounced a fhort eulogy on his me- mory, which was beyond the moil la- boured panegyric. The news was brought to him in council : M God reft his foul ! (faid the king, with much emotion:) he was an honeft man. I have known him long ; and never knew him fpeak a bad word behind the back of any man." Then turning round the board, with a farcaftic air, " Of which of you, my lords, added he, can I fay as much ?" The duke's amiable manners had long engaged the efteem of the archbifhop ; whofe virtues, in return, were equally admired by the duke, A very fincere friendihip fubfifted between them ; and it H was THE LIFE OF was thought the perfuafive arguments of the primate had drawn the duke to think favourably of the reformers, whofe friend and patron, he was generally eiieemed. Tho the duke had ever been a cautious man; and interfered little in public affairs ; yet confidering his favour with the king, the popim party thought his death of great advantage to their caufe. They conceived, that it might both weaken the proteftant intereft; and tend alfo to leffen the king's regard for the primate. Elated with thefe hopes, the bifhop of Winchefter, and his emiflaries, befet the king, now yielding to age and infirmity; and endeavoured to awaken his religious fears. €t In vain might wife laws ftruggle " with herefies, if the patrons of thofe " herefies were above law. Of his ma- " jetty alone redrefs could be had. He **■ was God's vicegerent to redlify the " abufes of the times ; and might be " aflured, the fword was not put into his " hands in vain: he was accountable for " the truft. ,, From hints they proceeded to plainer language ; and at length, in direcl words, informed ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 99 informed the king, that while the arch- bifhop fat in council, nothing effectual could be confulted about religion. They prayed his majefty therefore to give leave for the primate to be fent to the Tower; and it would then be feen, how ample a charge againft him would appear. The king pondered, and confented. That very evening, as it grew dark, Henry fent for the archbifhop to White- hall. He was walking penfively in a long gallery, when the archbifhop entered. " My lord of Canterbury, faid the king, I have given permiffion to have you fent to the Tower. Some lords of council have dealt with me to that purpofe. They have grievous things to lay to your charge, which they dare not utter, while you jgave free admiffion to the board. " The archbifhop expreffed his readinefs to have his conduct: inquired into, in whatever manner the king thought fit : and offered to go, with great alacrity, to the Tower, till he had fully anfwered the accufations of his adverfaries. The king interrupting him, as his manner was, with a buril of vociferation, H 2 ex- loo THE LIFE OF expreffed his furprize at the primate's fimplicity: but immediately foftening his voice, told him, that it was much ea- fier to keep him from the Tower; than to deliver him out of it. u You will be cc fent for, faid he, in the morning, by *' the council; and dealt with haughtily. *.* If the lords talk of committing you, " delire you may firft hear your accufers. " If they deny this, appeal to me ; and " take this ring; which you may fhew " them as a token." At eight the next morning, the arch- bifhop was accordingly called before the council ; and was kept fome time, Hand- ing at the door. Being admitted, he punctually followed the king's directions; and when the lords infilled on fending him to the Tower, he appealed to the king, who had taken the affair, he told them, into his own hands. As he faid this, he produced the ring, which was a token very well known. Every one prefent was confounded ; and the lord Ruflel ftarting up, cried out, with an oath, " I told you, my lords, " how it would be; and that the king "would ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 101 *' would never fuffer him to be com- " mitted." When the affair was brought before the king, he made a fhort builnefs of it. Striding haughtily round the room, and throwing an eye of indignation firft on one, and then on another; " I thought, faid he, I had a difcreet council ; but I fee I am deceived. How have ye handled here my lord of Canterbury ? What made ye of him? a Have; fhutting him out of the council chamber among ferving men. 1 would have you to underftand, by the faith I owe to God, (laying his hand folemnly on his bread:) that if a prince can be beholden to a fubjecl, I am to my lord of Canterbury ; whom I ac- count as faithful a man towards his prince, as ever was prelate in this realm : and one to whom I am fundry ways beholden : and therefore he that loveth me, will regard him." Having faid this he ftrode out; and left the lords endeavouring which (hould apologize to the primate in the highefl ftrain of compliment. The next day the king fent feveral of them, as was cuflom- II 3 ary 102 THE LIFE OF ary with him after fuch diffentions, to dine with the archbifhop at Lambeth. There is fomething Angular in this whole affair. It is difficult to fay, whe- ther Henry was at firft in earned:, and afterwards changed his refolution ; or whether he took this method to check the forwardnefs of the archbifhop's enemies. While this fcene was acting in the council, a part of the fame plan was pre- paring in parliament. There Sir John Gofwick, in a ftudied harangue, ace u fed the archbifhop of being an upholder of heretical opinions; with which he had greatly infected the county of Kent. Henry being informed of this motion, called a gentleman in waiting, and fent Sir John this meffage : " Tell that varlet " Gofwick, that if he do not prefently €t reconcile himfelf to my lord of Canter- " bury, I will punifh him for the ex- " ample of others. What knows he of " my lord's preaching in Kent ? Was not " he, at that time, in Bedfordshire ?" - The meffage was very intelligible; and had its full effect. SECT. ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 103 SECT. XII. But it was not only in matters of religion that every advantage was taken againft the archbifhop; the moft trivial cavils were often made. He had enemies ready for any fpecies of calumny; and Sir Thomas Seymour, who had abilities to objed: to nothing elfe, was able to objed: to the meannefs of his houfe-keeping. On this head, he threw out infinuations to the king. Henry heard him with ap- parent indifference; and carelefly an- fwered; " Ay! Seymour! and does my lord of Canterbury keep as little hofpita- lity, as you fay ? In good faith, I thought the contrary." The king faid no more, but took an early opportunity to fend Sir Thomas, on fome frivolous meflage, to Lambeth, about dinner time. When he came there, he was carried through the great hall, where a bountiful table was fpread, tho H 4 only io 4 THE LIFE OF only in its ordinary manner. From thence he was conducted up flairs to the archbifhop, where he found a large com- pany ju ft fitting down to dinner -, among whom the archbimop, in his ufual hearty manner, infilled, that Sir Thomas mould take a place. The next time the king faw him, " Well, faid he, Seymour, what cheer had you at Lambeth ? for I fuppofe my lord would keep you to dijie." The poor man, confounded at the queftion; and feeing plainly the king's meaning, threw himfelf at his feet, and begged his Majefty to pardon the foul flander, with which he had afperfed the archbimop. He then frankly mentioned all he had feen ; and concluded with fay- ing, he believed nobody in the realm, except his highnefs himfelf, kept fuch a table. " Ah ! good man! faid the king; all he hath, he fpendeth in houfe-keeping : and if he now keep fuch a table, as you fay, it being neither term, nor parlia- ment, he is meetly vifited, at thofe times, I warrant you." " But, added the king, ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 105 king, afiuming a feverer tone, I know the bottom of all thefe fallities. You want to have a finger in church matters, do you ? But you may fet your heart at reft : while I am king, there (hall be no fuch doings. " Thefe inlinuations with regard to the archbifhop's great ceconomy, feem in fome degree to have been credited by Sir Wil- liam Cecil ; 'who in a letter, told the pri- mate freely, what was current at court- that he, and all the bifhops were im- mensely rich — and that they had nothing in view, but railing princely fortunes for their families. The archbifhop's an- fwer to Cecil is fo ingenuous ; and bears fo ftrong a ftamp of honefty, that it is well worth tranfcribing. ie After my hearty commendations, and u thanks, as well for your gentle letter, " as for the copy of the pacification ; and " for your good remembrance of the two " matters, which I defired you not to u forget; the one concerning the bifhop " of Cologn's letters; and the other con- " cerning Mr. Mowfe; for whom I give '* you my mod: hearty thanks. " As 1 06 THE LIFE OF " As for your admonition, I take it *t moft thankfully ; as I have ever been gi moil glad to be admonimed by all my " friends; accounting no man fo foolifh, " as he that will not bear friendly admo- " nition. For mvfelf, I fear not that " faying of St. Paul, which you quote " againft me, half fo much as I do ft ark " beggary. I took not fo much care I* about my living, when I was a fch'olar •! at Cambridge, as at this prefent : and if €t a good auditor had my accounts, he *' would find no great furplufage to grow " rich on. " As to the reft of the bifhops, they ** are all beggars, except one man ; and I ** dare well fay, he is not very rich. If I 4( knew any bifliop that were covetous, I " would furely admoniili him. ** To be fhort, I am not fo doted, as " to fet my mind upon things here; " which I can neither tarry long with, " nor carry away with me. If time " would have ferved, I would have written €S longer; but your fervant, making hafte, €C compelleth me to leave off; befeeching " almighty God to preferve the king, and "all ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 107 €t all his council ; and fend him well from " his progrefs. " Your own ever, " T. Cantuar." Thefe invidious reports with regard to the avarice of the bifhops, are commonly afcribed to the avarice of the courtiers ; who were delirous of adding the revenues of the bifhopricks to the fpoils of the monafteries. The wealth of the bifhops therefore was the fafhionable court-topic of that day : and every patriot declaimed on the expediency of ftripping them of their temporalities, and fettling penfions on them ; that they might not be in- cumbered with fecular affairs. Henry knew well the meaning of this language ; and alluded to it, when he told Sir Thomas Seymour, he wanted to have a finger in church matters. But tho Henry would not allow his courtiers to (trip the clergy of their pof- feffions, he was very well inclined to do it himfelf. His method was, to oblige the bifhops to make difadvantageous exchanges with crown lands. In this way he flap- ped the fee of Canterbury, during arch- bifhop io8 THE LIFE OF bifhop Cranmer's time, of 150^. of an- nual rent; and the archbifhop would often hint, that if he were lefs hofpitable, than his predeceflbrs, a reafon might be given. During the fhort remainder of Henry's reign, the archbifhop met with no farther difturbance of any kind ; his enemies being now convinced of the king's refolu- tion to ikreen him from all attacks. In- deed the protection, which Henry at all times afforded him, in oppofition to his own irritable and implacable temper, the genius of his religion, and the bias of bigotry, makes one of thofe ftrange con- tradictions, which we fometimes meet with, but cannot account for, in the cha- racters of men. It is fomewhat fingular, that Henry, on one of thefe late attacks, obferving the mildnefs of the primate's temper, the acrimony of his adverfaries, and the danger he muft neceffarily run, when de- prived of the protection of his prince, gave him for his arms, as if in the fpirit of ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 109 of forefight, three pelicans feeding their young with their own blood : and added, in an odd jumble of coarfe metaphor, " That he was likely to be tailed, if he " flood to his tackling." The laft a<£t of this reign was an act of blood ; and gave the archbifhop a noble opportunity of fhewing how well he had learned that great Christian leffon of for- giving an enemy. Almoft without the fhadow of juflice, Henry had given directions to have the duke of Norfolk attainted by an act of parliament. The king's mandate flood in lieu of guilt; and the bill paffed the houfe with great eafe. No man, except the bifliop of Win- chefter, had been fo great an enemy to the archbifhop, as the duke of Norfolk. He had always thwarted the primate's meafures ; and oftener than once had practifed againfl his life. How many would have feen with fecret pleafure the workings of Providence again ft fo ran- corous an enemy; fatisfied in having them- no THE LIFE OF themfelves no hand in his unjuft fate! But the archbifhop faw the affair in another light : he faw it with horror ; and altho the king had in a particular man- ner interefted himfelf in this bufinefs, the primate oppofed the bill with all his might; and when his oppofition was vain, he left the houfe with indignation ; and retired to Croydon. While the king was pufhing on the attainder of the duke of Norfolk, with fuch unjuft, and cruel precipitancy, he was bimfelf haftening apace to the grave. He had long been an object of difguft, and terror. His body was become a mafs of fetid humours ; and his temper was fo brutal, that if he had not been diverted by a ftratagem, he would have put his queen to death, only for differing from him on a point of theology — a queen too, whofe daily employment it was, to lit for hours on her knees before him, drefling the offenfive ulcers of his legs. His attendants approached him with trem- bling. One or two of them ran the rifk of ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. m of lofing their heads, only for intimating their fears about his health. It was prognosticating his death ; and amounted nearly to high-treafon. Difeafe at length fubdued this brutal fpirit. When he was now almoft in the article of death, Sir Anthony Denny ventured to hint, with great delicacy, that his phyficians thought his majefty's life in fome danger, Henry took the admonition patiently, for he felt nature fpeafcing a lefs ceremonious language within. He was juft able to order the archbifliop to be called. When the primate came, he found the king fpeechlefs, extended on a couch, his eyes glazed, and motionlefs. His attendants had ventured now to throw off all difguife ; and the real fentiments of the heart, on this great occafion, were vifible on every inlightened countenance. The archbifhop's fenfations were very different. His were the painful feelings, which arife from pity mingled with a high fenfe of gratitude, where there could be no real efleem ; and where, in an hour of the greatefl diftrefs, there was no pciiibi- lity ii2 TH E LI FE OF lity of being of fervice. With an eye melting in tendernefs, he leaned over the dying king; and fympathized with every pang. Henry did not yet feem entirely deprived of intellect. The primate begged him to give fome fign of his dying in the faith of Chrifh Henry made an effort to grafp his hand, and expired. SECT. XIII. The death of Henry, which hap* pened in the year 1547, opened a new fcene. On producing his will, it ap- peared, that iixteen of the leading men of the kingdom were appointed regents. They were reftrained by many limitations; but under thefe, a majority were allowed, to govern the kingdom as they thought fit. This happy claufe overturned all the reft. Henry had compofed the regents, as equally as he could, of both parties in religion ; and hoped, that by keeping things, during his fon's minority, in the fame ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. uj fame hefitating fituation, in which he had left them, he might prevent their running into extremes. But it happened otherwife. A majority plainly inclined to the proteftant caufe, either from confcience, orintereft; and they thought thcmfelves fully authorized by the pre- cept of the will, to govern the king- dom as they thought Jit. The earl of Hertford, the king's uncle, was created duke of Somerfet, and chofen protector. The other regents immediately became cyphers. The archbifhop, tho placed at the head of the regency, rarely interfered with ftate affairs ; and gave little interruption to the ambition of his compeers. In ecclefi- aftical matters he took the lead: and every thing, that was done, in this de- partment, during Edward's reign, may be confidered as done by his authority. But it would interfere too much with the nature of fuch a work as this, to enter into a minute detail of all the changes, which were made in religion. I Such 114 THE LIFE OF Such a detail appears more properly in works appropriated to thefe inquiries*. Here it is propofcd only to illuftrate the chara&er of this excellent prelate; and it will be enough to touch fo far on the changes he made, as to throw a proper light on his wifdom, prudence, learning, moderation, and firmnefs. The firft ftep he took, regarded the fettlement of the fupremacy; a point, which he had exceedingly at heart, as the foundation of every thing elfe. He formally therefore petitioned the young king, that as he had exercifed the office of archbifhop under his father, he might be permitted to exercife it under him : and he would perform no epifcopal duty, till his new licence was made out. This example, he propofed fhould be inforced on the clergy. Thus authorized he proceeded to the affairs of religion. But before any thing was done, he thought it right to fhew the * See Jewel's apology, Burnet's hift. of the reform. Heylin's ecclef. hift. &c. neceffity ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. MJ neceflity of doing fomething: and to this purpofe a genera] vifitation was made. Abufes of all kinds were inquired into . corrupt do&rines; corrupt practices; fu- perftitious ceremonies 5 the lives of the clergy; and the manners of the laity. The vifitors had authority to proceed a ftep farther. In flagrant cafes a few cen- fures were paffed ; and a few injunctions, given. The idea was to reftrain, rather than to abolifh, the old fyflem. Among other things it was thought expedieat to fufpend preaching. Amidft the licence of the times, no fpecies of it deferved more reproof, than that which had gotten poiFeffion of the pulpit. Many of the monks had been fecularized; and bringing with them into their churches their old monaftic ideas, the popular divinity of thofe times was,, if poffible, more oppofite to fcripture, and more offenfive to common fenfe, than it had ever been in the darkeft reign of po- pery. In the room of preaching, a book of homilies was publiihed, and ordered to be read in churches. The ufe of fcripture alfo was allowed ; and that the people I 2 might n6 THE LIFE O F might have an explanation of it at hand, the commentary of Erafmus was autho- rized. Thefe changes had great effi- cacy ; moderate as they appeared, and aiming rather to undermine the founda- tions of popery, than to overturn them by any open affault. The minds of the people indeed were, in a good degree, prepared for them ; and it is faid, nothing contributed more to loofen their prejudices, than a popular paper, which was publifhed, about the clofe of the late reign, intitled, The fup- plication of the poor commons to the king. It was levelled chiefly at the ignorance, and immorality of the Romifli clergy; and being written in a mafterly manner; and interfperfed with a variety of lively anecdotes, it was much read ; and tended greatly to give the people jufl ideas of the clerical office. Among other flories the following very curious one is related. " A certain court-chaplain, who had " great preferment, obferved, as he was " travelling, a church upon a fair hill, « befet ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. u 7 " befet with groves, and fields, the green " meadows lying beneath on the banks " of a river, garnifhed with willows, " poplars, and alders. He was mightily •'« taken with the place, and calling out *• to his fervant, Robin, faid he, this added he, " my Lord will cer- *' tainly do you fome fhrewd turn." Rigorous however 3s Mary was in the affairs of religion, in flate matters (he was lenient enough. No blood was fhed, but of thofe, whole offences placed them clearly beyond mercy. The duke of Northumberland was the firfl victim ; than whom no man ever fuffered more unlamented. The archbimop had the fatisfaition to hear that his friend Sir Thomas Palmer, died in the proteftant faith ; tho he had been perfuaded, with other ftate-prifoaers, to hear mafs. Palmer was one of the bed bred men of the age, in which he lived. To his ac- complifliments, both natural and acquired, he had added the advantages of foreign travel; which was rare in thofe days. His youth had been fpent with too much licence; and he had been greatly milled by the infidious arts of Northumberland : but in other refpefts he was well eftcemed ; ]sj 2 and 180 THE LIFE OP and in his latter life efpecially feems to have added the virtues of a chriftian to the accomplifhments of a gentleman. " I " have learned more (faid he, as he flood ** on the fcaffold) in a dark corner of the €e Tower, than in travelling round Eu- " rope." Then walking up to the ax, flained with the blood of Northumberland, who had juft furTered, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, fhould enter the lifts with a felect body of popifli dis- putants. Thefe fellow-fufferers were all at that time, confined together in a fmall apart- ment in the Tower. Their ftraitencd accommodations however were amply made up to them by the comfort of each other's company. They carried their bibles with them ; ■ and 011 thefe they em- ployed their prifon hours ; fortifying their faith, and extracting topics of confolation. Thefe are the fcenes, in which we are to look for the triumphs of religion. Where its great principles are firmly rooted in the heart, human joys, and human griefs, and human fears, are trivial things. N 7 The 182 THE LIFE OP The convocation had been adjourned to the end of the year 1553 : but the fe- veral members of it did not meet at Ox- ford, till the following April. There alfo, at the fame time, the three bifhops were carried by the lord Williams of Thame. From their treatment, on this occa- sion, it was eafy to forefee, what mea- fures, they were likely to expedt. They had hitherto been confined, it is true, in a very narrow compafs ; but as the Tower was then crouded with prifoners, better accommodations could not well be allow- ed. In other refpedts however they had received marks of attention. What they wanted, had been readily furnifhedj and their own fervants were fufFered to attend them. But as foon as this new meafure took place, they experienced a different treat- ment. The little baggage they had, was flopped : their fervants were difcharged : they were conducted to Oxford with ig- nominy 5 ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 183 nominy; and were thrown into the com- mon jail. The time appointed for the grand dif- putation at length arrived. Delegates from both univerfities joined the mem- bers of convocation ; and the whole body, to the number of thirty-three, affembled at St. Mary's church. There being dreffed in their academical robes, they feated themfelves in great ftate, around the high altar, and the archbifhop was fent for. He was brought into the church by the mayor, and bailiffs, under the guard of a company of bill men. They who had known him in his better days, faw him now greatly changed. Initead of that T glow of health upon his cheek ; that brilk, and active ftep, which fliewed the vigour of his constitution 5 he was now become, through ill-ufage, and confinement, a pale, infcebled old man. Clad in a plain habit, with a ftaff in his hand; he came forward through an open- ing in the croud, paying the prolocutor, N 4 and x84 THE LIFE OF and his affeffors, great refpecl:. They offered him a feat : but he declined it. The prolocutor then addreffed him, on the happinefs of religious unity; and told him, the intention of the prefent meeting was to draw him if poffible, again to the church. " Thefe articles, (faid he, hold- " ing out a paper), were agreed on by con- " vocation, which, we hope, you will On ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 1S9 On the nth of November following, a new parliament met; which the prote- ctants of thofe times fuppofed, was made pliant by Spaniuh gold. But there is no occafion for the furmife ; parliaments in thofe days had little idea of oppofing the inclinations of the court. By this parliament the pope's legate was invited into England : and on his ar- rival, the nation was reconciled in form to the holy fee; the legate abfolving all the perjuries, fcifms, and herelies, of which the parliament, and the convocation had been guilty. After this, religious affairs were mo- delled. The latin fervice was reftored ; » the ufe of the fcriptures abrogated ; and popifh priefts appeared in public with that confequence, which the government al- lowed. Bifhop Ridley, characterizing the times, fays Papifmus apud ?ios ubiq-, in flenofuo antiquo robore regnat. Among other inftances of popifli zeal, the archbifhop was informed, that his book on the facrament had been publicly burnt. " Ah ! laid he, they have ho- " noured it more than it deferved : I h " they i 9 o T H E L I F E F ** they burnt it with the new teftament." And indeed this was the fact: for they burnt at the fame time, the late tranflation of the teftament ; on the pretence that it was fourious. The convocation in the mean time pe- titioned for a revival of the fanguinary laws. They had already been anticipated* and feveral proteftants had been put to death, without any colour of juflice ; and when a member of the convocation, with more candour than his brethren, obferved, that the proceedings againft thefe people could not be juftified, " Why then, faid ** the prolocutor tauntingly, let their " friends fue for redrefs." This par- liament however put things on a different eflablifhment -> and the favourers of per- fection were now allowed legally to fol- low their inclinations. SECT, ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 191 SECT. XXIII. While the protcftant fuffcrcrs were lingering in various prifons, a very unfea- fonable difpute got footing among fame of the warmeff. of them, on the arduous fubjecl: of free-will, and predeftination. It was carried on with fuch animofitv, that confefiions were drawn up on both fides ; and figned by numbers, who were at that time even under fentence of death. Each party clamoured loud, that their antagonifts were likely to do more harm in the chriftian world, than the papi themfelves ; in as much as their opinions were as bad, and their example much better. Nay to fuch a height of phrer. did their contentions run, that the keep of the Marfhalfea was often obliged to feparate them. During the courfe of this ill-ti: controverfy, the archbifhop was applied to, for his countenance, by the predei : i 292 THE LIFE OF narians, to whofe tenets he was thought moft inclined. But the prudent primate difcountenanced both parties, as much as he could ; confidering, no doubt, fuch controveriies to be efpecially ill-judged among dying men. Nor were the endeavours of others wanting to calm the rage of this ofFenfive zeal. Many of their more moderate bre- thren endeavoured to fet before them the impropriety of their behaviour : and one of them put the matter in a very ftrong light : " There mould be no more bitter- " nefs, faid he, in a chrittian contro- c< verfy, than in a love letter.'' Philpot> afterwards an eminent martyr, wrote a very pathetic diflualive to them on this fubject ; exhorting them " to meet each " other with the kifs of charity — to reach " out chearfully the hand of peace — to " take up their crofs together, and afcend «• mount Calvary with hearts full of be- " nevolence." I give a detail of this ftrange difpute, both as a curious anecdote of human na- ture, and as a very inftructive leffbn. If a fpeculative opinion could fatten with fo much ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. i 93 much violence, and produce io much animofity, in the minds of pious men, fuffering together in one common caufe, and even in the article, as it were, of death — how cautious ought they to be on polemical fubjedts, who have perhaps lefs piety, who live at their eafe, and are not tied by any of thefe ftrong obligations to forbearance. While the Englifh proteftants were thus fuffering at home, fuch of them as had the good fortune to efcape abroad, enjoyed more repofe. Among the Lu- therans indeed they met with fome unkind treatment. Their liberal tenets, with regard to the Lord's fupper, were very difgufting to thofe reformers, who itili maintained the doctrine of tranfubftantia- tion. The leaders however of the Lu- theran churches, particularly Melanclhon, who was a man of candour and modera- tion, brought their hearers to a better temper; and inftructed the populace at Wefel, and Francford, where this inhoi- pitable difpofition chiefly appeared, that O altho i 9 4 THE LIFE OF altho the EngliQi exiles might differ from them in a few points ; they were however embarked with them in the fame common caufe of religious liberty $ and ought cer- tainly to be treated as brethren. At Bafil, John Fox defigned, and al- moft finifhed his Atis and 7nonuments of the church. The induftry of this man is aftonifhing. He was principal corrector to one of the greateft printing houfes in Europe; that of Operin at Bafil. But notwithstanding his daily employment, he found leifure to carry on this vaft work : and what is flill more, tho he was not able to keep a fervant to do his menial offices* the whole was tranfcribed with his own hand. From a work of this kind, we are not led to expect any elegance : yet they who have examined this writer with moft accuracy, have ac- knowledged, that altho his zeal may have led him into fome exaggerated accounts, where he relies only on hearfay ; yet in all matters, where he appeals to authority, or record, he may be fully depended on. At Strafourgh, bifhop Jewel laid the plan of his excellent Apology for the church of ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. i 95 of England ; tho he did not finifh it till happier times a work, in which its many admirers found it hard to fay, whether candour, and humanity; or fenfe, learning, and a well-tempered zeal for religion, were more confpicuous. Here too William Turner, phyfician to the protector Somerfet, pubifhed a work, in titled, A difpenfatory of fpiritual phyjic* It was levelled againit the papifts ; and was written with a farcaftic vein of hu- mour. Such fallies of wit and ridicule, tho rather below the dignity of fufFcring religion, ferved however to divert the univerfal melancholy, which reigned at that time. Turner publifhed alfo another work of the fame kind, which he called, The bunting of the RomiJJifox. The celebrated Scotch reformer, John Knox, publifhed alfo, at this time, an exhortation to the people of England, fuited to their calamitous ftate. It abounds more with enthufiafm, than manly fenfe. Knox had thus early put in his pretenfions to a prophetic fpirit, which flowed afterwards in more plentiful effufions from him. O 2 SECT. 196 THE LIFE OF SECT. XXIV. A full year had now elapfed, lince the archbifhop's difputation at Oxford, and condemnation for herefy. During this interval the Spirit of perfecution, with a fiery fword in one hand, and a crofs in the other, was let loofe in all its terrors. The progrefs however of this violent reign marks only the Almigh- ty's ordinary mode of providence. When the chriftian religion was firft preached, the malice of its enemies immediately arofe, as if to try, and prove it; and fea! its truth by the blood of its martyrs. And now when religion was reftored, after fo long an age of darknefs, the pro- vidence of God feemed to direcl: in the fame manner that it fhould be purified and proved by perfecution. Among the numbers, at this time, who died for their religion, were the bifhops of London and Worcefter ; who were ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 197 v.\re delivered over to the fecular arm under a commiflion from Pole the cardi- nal-legate. As they were carried to the flake, they pafled under the window of the prifon, in which the archbifhop was confined ; and looked up for a parting view. The archbifhop was engaged at that time, in a conference with a Spanifh friar ; but hearing a tumult in the ftreet, he came to the window. They were not yet out of fight. He jufl lifted up his eyes and hands, and fent after the venerable fuf- ferers, a fervent ejaculation for God's afliftancein this laft great trial. More ceremony however was thought neceflary in the primate's cafe, than had been ufed in theirs. Pole's authority was not fufficient. A commiflion there- fore was fent for to Rome. In virtue of this commiflion, the arch- bifhop was convened before the bifhop of Gloucefler, to whom it was delegated, on the 1 2th of September, 1555. His books, and opinions; his marriage, and O3 in- 198 ' THE LIFE OF invafion of the privileges of the fove- reign pontiff, were all fummarily recapi- tulated ; and he was cited to appear at Rome in eighty days, and anfwer for himfelf. As he did not appear in that time, he was declared contumacious; and a commiffion was difpatched to Eng- land, to degrade, and deliver him over to the fecular arm. Many of our hiftorians exclaim loudly at the abfurdity of declaring him con- tumacious for not appearing at Rome; when it was well known, that, during the whole time, he was detained a prifoner at Oxford. And, no doubf, the thing bears the face of abfurdity. But it would be endlefs to cenfure, and deride, all the formalities of law, which are pertinaci- oufly retained in every country, after the real ufe hath expired. The ceremony of his degradation was performed by Thirlby bifhop of Ely. Thirlby, in Cranmer's better days, had been honoured with his particular friendship, and owed him many obliga- tions. Befides thofe of greater value, in the way of preferment, " there was no- " thing ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 199 and opened the dciigns of the clergy, who had introduced, he told her, this flavery again, with the fole view of eflabliming themfelves in their ancient independent flate. He put her in mind alfo of the oath me had taken to her own kingdom; and of the oath which lhe had taken to the pope ; and begged her to confider, whether there was not fome contradiction between them. — lie con- cluded with telling her, that he thought it his duty to enter his proteft againft the deftru&ive meafures, which her govern- ment was then purfuing. This letter was carried to the queen by the bailiffs of Oxford. She immediately put it into the hands of cardinal Pole; with whom me feems, on all occalions, to have left the difpolal of her confeience. Pole in a letter, dated from St. James's, Nov. 202 THE LIFE OF Nov. 6, 1555, anfwered it at full length. His very elaborate difcourfe on this occa- fion makes the 89th article of Mr. Strype's appendix. From the time of Cranmer's degrada- tion, the behaviour of the popifli party towards him, was totally changed. Every one, who now approached him, put on an air of civility, and refpect. Elegant entertainments were made for him. He was invited frequently by the dean of Chrift- church to parties at bowls ; an exercife, of which he had always been fond : and no liberty, or indulgence, which he could defire, was denied. In the midft of thefe amufements, he was given to underftand, that the queen was greatly difpofed to fave him : but that fhe had often been heard to fay, ihe would either have Cranmer a catholic, or no Cranmer at all — that, in fliort, they were authorized in alluring him, that if he would only conform to the prefent changes in religion, he might, if he pleafed, affume his former dignity— or, if ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 203 if he declined that, he might enjoy a liberal penfion in retirement. Among all the inftances of diabolical cruelty we fcarce find a greater than this. The whole rage of the popifh party fcemed to be centered againft this upright man. His foul they had damned : his body they were determined to burn ; and to coin- pleat their triumph, they wanted only to blaft his reputation. With this view, thefe wicked arts were put in practice againfl: him ; which fucceeded, alas! too well. Cranmer, who was fufficiently armed again ft the utmoft rage and malice of his open enemies, was drawn aiide by the delufions of his falfe friends. After the confinement of a full year within the melancholy walls of a gloomy prifon, this fudden return into focial commerce diffipated the firm refolves of his foul. A love of life, which he had now well maftered, began infenfibly to grow upon him. A paper was offered him, import- ing his affent to the tenets of popery; and in an evil hour his better relolutions giving way, he figned the fatal fnare. SECT. 2o 4 THE LIFE OF SECT. XXV. Cranmer's recantation was received by the popifh party with joy beyond e;;~ preffion. It was immediately printed and published ; and their cruel work wanting now only its laft fmifhing ftroke, a war- rant was expedited for his execution, as foon as poffible : while he himfelf was yet kept ignorant of their purpofe. Some writers fay, that the recantation was publifhed unfairly; and a modern attempt has been made to invalidate that re- cantation, which the papifls fent abroad*. But even on a fuppofition this had been the cafe, as, in fome degree, it probably might, yet a very poor defence can be eilablifhed, on this ground. Cranmer certainly fubfcribed his aflent to the tenets of popery in general terms : and unlefs the zeal of his friends could rid his memory of that ilain, it is of little con- * See Whifton's enquiry into the evidence of arch- bifhop Cranmer's recantation. fequence ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 205 fequence to fay, he did not fubfcribe them in the detail. A much better apology may be grounded on the weak- nefs of human nature. They, who look into themfelves, mud pity him; and wifh to throw over him the lkirts of that tender veil, with which the great Friend of mankind once fkreened the infirmities of the well-intentioned : the fpirit was willing, but the jlefo was weak. But no apology could vindicate him to himfelf. In his own judgment, he was fully convicted. Inflead of that joy, which gives ferenity to the dying martyr; his breaft was a devoted prey to contri- tion and woe. A refcued life afforded him no comfort. He had never till now- felt the power of his enemies. Stung with remorfe and horror at what he had done, he confumed his days, and nig in anguifh. " I have denied the faith : I " have pierced my f elf through with many tc for rows -f were the melancholy no: which took poffeffion of his mind \ and rane in his cars a conftant alarm. Then would recur, in a full tide of compunc- tion, the aggravating thoughts — that lie, who 2o6 THE LIFE OF who had been chiefly inftrumental ih bringing in the true faith, fhould be among thofe, who had deferted it — -that he, who had been fo long the leader of others, fliould now fet them fo dreadful an example— and that he, who had always been looked up to with refpeft, fhould at length be loft, and abandoned among the herd of apoftates ! Overwhelmed with grief, and per- plexity, whichever way he turned his eyes, he faw no ray of comfort left. To perfevere in his recantation, was an in- fupportable thought : to retrad: it> was fcarce poffible. His paper was abroad in the world $ and he himfelf was in the hands of men, who could eafily prevent his publifhing, or fpeaking, any thing counter to it; if they fhould fufpedt he had fuch an intention. He had yet received no intimation of his death -, tho it was now the 20th of March ; and by the purport of the war- rant* he was to be executed the next day. That ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 207 That evening Dr. Cole, one of the heads of the popifh party, came to him ; and from the infidious, and ambiguous difcourfe of this perfon, he had the firft intimation, tho yet no direcl; one, of what his enemies intended. After Cole had left him, he fpent the re- maining part of the evening in drawing up a repentant fpeech, together with a full confeffion of his apoftacy $ refolving to take the beft opportunity to fpeak or publifh it; which he fuppofed indeed the flake would firft give him. But, beyond his expectation, a better was afforded. It was intended, that he mould be carried immediately from prifon to the ftake; where a fermon was to be preached. But the morning of the appointed day being wet, and ftormy, the ceremony was performed under cover. About nine o'clock the lord Williams of Thame, attended by the magiftrates of Oxford, received him at the prifon-gatc; and conveyed him to St. Mary's church ; where he found a crouded audience wait- ing 2o8 THE LIFE OF ing for him. -He was conducted to an elevated place, in public view, oppofite to the pulpit. He had fcarce time to reflect a moment on the dreadful fcene, which he faw pre- paring for him, when the vice-chancellor* and heads of houfes, with a numerous train of doctors, and profeffors* entered the church. Among them was Dr. Cole, who paying his refpects to the vice-chan- cellor, afcended the pulpit. Cole was a man of abilities ; and was confidered, according to the mode of thofe times, as an elegant fcholar. His difcourfe indeed feems to have been an excellent piece of oratory. After a proper preface* he fhewed the reafons, why it was thought neceffary to put the unhappy perfcn before them to death, notwithftanding his recantation. On this head he dwelt largely, and faid full as much, as fo bad a caufe could be fuppofed to bear. Then turning to his audience, he very pathetically exhorted them to fear God, and tremble; taking occaiion from the example before their eyes, to remind them of the inftability of all ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 209 all human things ; and of the great duty of holding f aft their prof "effion without wavering. This venerable man, faid he, once a peer, aprivy-counfellor, an archbifhop, and the fecond perfon in the realm, renounced his faith, and is now fallen below the lowefl. He addreiled himfelf lad to the degraded primate himfelf. He condoled with him in his prefent calamitous circumftances ; and exhorted him to fupport with forti- tude his laft worldly trial. Cranmer's behaviour, during this dif- courfe, cannot be better defcribed, than in the words of a perfon prefent; who, tho a papift, feems to have been a very impartial fpectator*. " It is doleful, fays he, to defcribe his " behaviour; his forrowful countenance; " his heavy cheer; his face bedewed with " tears; fometimes lifting up his eyes to " heaven in hope; fometimes carting " them down to the earth for fhame. " To be brief, he was an image of for- " row. The dolor of his heart burft out * The letter, from which moft of the following ac- count is taken, was found among Fox's MS5. and is taken notice of by Strvpe. p. " con- 2io THE LIFE O F cc continually at his eyes in gu flies of *■* tears : yet he retained ever a quiet, and " grave behaviour; which increased the " pity in men's hearts, who unfeignedly " loved him, hoping it had been his re- *■'• pentance for his tranfgreffions." The preacher having concluded his fermon, turned round to the whole au- dience 3 and, with an air of great dignity, defired all, who were prefent, to join with him in filent prayers for the un- happy man before them. A folemn ilillnefs enfued. Every eye, and every hand were inflantly lifted up to heaven. Some minutes having been fpent in this affecting manner, the degraded pri- mate, who had fallen alfo on his knees, arofe in all the dignity of forrow ; and thus addreffed his audience. " I had myfelf intended to have defired ee your prayers. My defires have been " anticipated; and I return you, all that " a dying man can give, my fincereft " thanks. To your prayers for me, " let me add my own." He ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 211 He then, with great fervour of devo- tion, broke out into this pathetic excla- mation. " O Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, have talibus Jemper patere vo/uit, quoad fixity aut po- tuit , homo (Maohenos nee minus £ lefs kinds, as capons, phea- " iants, wood-cocks, but two. Of the « mil ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 233 u ftill lefs fowls, an archbifhop might " have three; all under him only two." Among other inflances of the arch- bifhop's charity, we have one recorded, which was truly noble. After the de- ftruction of monafteries, and before hof- pitals were erected, the nation faw no fpecies of greater mifery, than that of wounded, and difbanded foldiers. For the ufe of fuch miferable objects, as were landed on the fouthern coafts of the ifland, the archbifhop fitted up his manor-houfe of Beckefburn in Kent. He formed it indeed into a compleat hofpital; appoint- ing a phyfician, a furgeon, nurfes ; and every thing proper, as well for food, as phyfic. Nor did his charity flop here. Each man, on his recovery, was furnifhed with money to carry him home, in pro- portion to the diflance of his abode. To obviate all the cavils of the papifts againfl archbifhop Cranmer, would be to enter into the general argument againft them. His apoftacy, his marriage, and his opinions, are queftions all of common R con- 234 THE LIFE OF controverfy. On the particular miscar- riages of his life I have every where touched as they occurred ; and have by no means fpared them, when they ap- peared to deferve cenfure. The general objection, which feems to bear the hea- vier!: upon him, is founded on the pliancy of his temper. Saunders, one of the bittereft of his enemies, farcaftically calls him Henricianus •, and his friends indeed find it no eafy matter to wipe off thefe courtly ftains. Without queftion, many inftances of great condefcenfion in his character ftrike us ; but a blind fubmiflion to the will of princes was probably con- fidered among the chriflian virtues of thofe days. On the other hand, when we fee him fingly, and frequently, oppofe the fury of an inflamed tyrant — when we fee him make that noble fland againft bigotry in the affair of the fix articles — or when we fee him the only perfon, who durfl inform a paffionate, and jealous prince of the in^ fidelity of a favourite wife, we cannot but allow, there was great firmnefs in his character; and muft fuppofe, that he drew ARCHBISHOP CRANMER. 235 drew a line in his own confidence to direct him, in what matters he ought, and in what matters he ought not, to comply with his prince's will. He left behind him a widow and children; but as ho always kept his fa- mily in obfcurity, for prudential reafons, we know little about them. They had been kindly provided for, by Henry the eighth, who without any follicitation from the primate himfelf, gave him a confi- derable grant from the abbey of Welbeck in Nottinghamihire ; which his family enjoyed after his deceafe. King Edward made foroe addition to his private fortune : and his heirs were reftored in blood by an act of parliament, in the reign of Eliza- beth. THE END. XII ftire *&^ r *S $* ' ' m