your Grace's commandment, incontinent upon my return from Wynchester, (knowing that all the country about Otford and Knol, where my most abode was, were sufficiently instructed in those matters already,) came up into these parts of East Kent, only by preaching to persuade the people in the said two articles: and in mine own church at Canterbury, because I was informed that that town in those two points was least persuaded of all my diocese, I preached there two sermons myself; and as it then chanced, Dr. Leighton was present at my first sermon, being then your Grace's visitor". Of whom if it so please your Grace you may hear the report what I preached.

The scope and effect of both my sermons stood in three things. First, I declared that the Bishop of Rome was not God's vicar in earth, as he was taken. And although it is so taught these three or four hundred years, yet it is done by means of the Bishop of Rome, who compelled men by oaths so to teach, to the maintenance of his authority, contrary to God's word. And here I declared by what means and craft the Bishops of Rome obtained such usurped authority.

Second, Because the see of Rome was called "Sancta "Sedes Romana," and the Bishop was called "Sanctissi"mus Papa;" and men's consciences peradventure could not be quiet to be separated from so holy a place, and from God's most holy vicar; I showed the people, that this thing ought nothing to move them, for it was but a holiness in name; for indeed there was no such holiness at Rome. And hereupon I took occasion to declare his glory, and the pomp of Rome, the covetousness, the unchaste living, and the maintenance of all vices.

Third, I spake against the Bishop of Rome his laws; which he calleth "Divinas Leges" and "Sacros Canones," and makes them equal with God's law. And here I declared that many of the laws were very contrary; and some of

n

[This again confirms the dates given above; for it was in Oct. 1535, that Leighton was first employed as visitor of monasteries. Burnet, Ref. vol. i. p. 369.]

them which were good and laudable, yet they were not of such holiness as he would make them; that is, to be taken as God's laws, or to have remission of sins by observing them. And here I said, that so many of his laws as were good, men ought not to contemn or despise them, and wilfully to break them; for those that be good your Grace had received as laws of your realm, until such time as others should be made. And therefore as laws of your realm they must be observed, and not contemned.

And here I spake as well of the ceremonies of the Church as of the foresaid laws; that they ought neither to be rejected or despised, nor yet to be observed with this opinion, that they of themselves make men holy, or that they remit sins. For seeing that our sins be remitted by the death of our Saviour Christ Jesus, I said it was too much injury to Christ, to impute the remission of our sins to any laws or ceremonies of man's making. Nor the laws and ceremonies of the Church at their first making were ordained for that intent. But as the common laws of your Grace's realm be not made to remit sins, nor no man doth observe them for that intent, but for a common commodity, and for a good order and quietness to be observed among your subjects; even so were the laws and ceremonies first instituted in the Church for a good order, and for remembrances of many good things, but not for remission of our sins. And though it be good to observe them well for that intent they were first ordained; yet it is not good, but a contumely unto Christ, to observe them with this opinion, that they remit sins; or that the very bare observation of them in itself is a holiness before God: although they be remembrances of many holy things, or a disposition unto goodness. And even so do the laws of your Grace's realm dispose men unto justice, unto peace, and other true and perfect holiness. Wherefore I did conclude for a general rule, that the people ought to observe them, as they do the laws of your Grace's realm, and with no more opinion of holiness, or remission of sin, than the other common laws of your Grace's realm. Though my two sermons were long, yet I have written

briefly unto your Highness the sum of them both. And I was informed by sundry reports, that the people were glad that they heard so much as they did; until such time as the Prior of the Black Friars at Canterbury preached a sermon, as it was thought and reported, clean contrary unto all the three things which I had preached before.

For as touching the first part, which I had preached against the erroneous doctrine of the Bishop of Rome his power; which error was, that by God's law he should be God's vicar here in earth; the Prior would not name the Bishop of Rome, but under colour spake generally, that the Church of Christ never erred.

And as touching the second part, where I spake of the vices of the Bishops of Rome; and thereto the Prior said that he would not slander the Bishops of Rome. And he said openly to me in a good audience, that he knew no vices by none of the Bishops of Rome. And he said also openly, that I preached uncharitably, when I said that these many years I had daily prayed unto God that I might see the power of Rome destroyed; and that I thanked God that I had now seen it in this realm. And yet in my sermon I declared the cause wherefore I so prayed. For I said, that I perceived the see of Rome work so many things contrary to God's honour and the wealth of this realm, and I saw no hope of amendment so long as that see reigned over us; and for this cause only I had prayed unto God continually, that we might be separated from that see; and for no private malice or displeasure that I had either to the Bishop or see of Rome. But this seemed an uncharitable prayer to the Prior, that the power of Rome should be destroyed.

And as for the third part, where I preached against the laws of the Bishop of Rome; that they ought not to be taken as God's laws, nor to be esteemed so highly as he

[They were called "Dominican, Black, and Preaching Friars : "Preaching, because they were the only preachers of all the friars: “Black, because of their habit, which was a black cope and cowl "over a white coat: Dominican, because St. Dominic was their "founder." Somner, Antiq. of Cant.]

would have them; the Prior, craftily leaving out the name of the Bishop of Rome, preached, that the laws of the Church be equal with God's laws. These things he preached, as it is proved both by sufficient witness and also by his own confession.

I leave the judgment hereof unto your Grace and to your Council, whether this were a defence of the Bishop of Rome, or not. And I only, according to my bounden duty, have reported the truth of the fact. But in mine opinion, if he had spoken nothing else, yet whosoever sayeth, that the Church never erred, maintaineth the Bishop of Rome his power. For if that were not erroneous that was taught of his power, That he is Christ's vicar in earth, and by God's law head of all the world, spiritual and temporal; and that all people must believe that de necessitate salutis; and that whosoever doeth any thing against the see of Rome is an heretic; and that he hath authority also in purgatory; with such other many false things, which were taught in times past to be articles of our faith: if these things were not erroneous, yea, and errors in the faith, then must needs your Grace's laws be erroneous, that pronounce the Bishop of Rome to be of no more power by God's law than other bishops; and them to be traitors that defend the contrary. This is certain, that whosoever saith that the Church never erred, must either deny that the Church ever taught any such errors of the Bishop of Rome his power, and then they speak against that which all the world knoweth, and all books written of that matter these three or four hundred years do testify; or else they must say, that the said errors be none errors, but truths. And then it is both treason and heresy.

At my first examination of him, which was before Christmas, he said, that he preached not against me, nor that I had preached any thing amiss. But now he saith, that I preached amiss in very many things, and that he purposely preached against me P; and this he reporteth openly: by

P [This change may have arisen from the execution of Anne Boleyn in the preceding May, which tended greatly to raise the spirits of the

which words I am marvellously slandered in these parts. And for this cause I beseech your Grace, that I may not have the judgment of the cause, for so much as he taketh me for a party; but that your Grace would commit the hearing thereof unto my Lord Privy Seal, or else to associate unto me some other persons at your Grace's pleasure, that we may hear the case jointly together.

If this man, who hath so highly offended your Grace, and preached against me openly, being Ordinary and Metropolitan of this province; and that in such matters as concern the misliving and the laws of the Bishop of Rome; and that also within mine own church; if he, I say, be not looked upon, I leave unto your Grace's prudence to expend what example this may be unto others with like colour to maintain the Bishop of Rome his authority; and also of what estimation I shall be reputed hereafter, and what credence shall be given unto my preaching, whatsoever I shall say hereafter.

if

I beseech your Grace to pardon me of my long and tedious writing; for I could not otherwise set the matter forth plain. And I most heartily thank your Grace for the stag which your Grace sent unto me from Wyndsor forest: which, your Grace knew for how many causes it was welcome unto me, and how many ways it did me service, I am sure you would think it much the better bestowed. Thus our Lord have your Highness always in his preservation and governance. From Forde, the xxvi. day of August. [1536.] Your Grace's most humble chaplain

and beadsman,

T. Cantuarien.

Cotton
MSS.

Cleop.

CLXXII. TO CRUMWELL.

My very singular good Lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me unto your good lordship. And whereas your E. v. p. 102. popish party. It would seem however from Letter CLXVIII. that they Original. had been gaining ground before that event.]

q [Crumwell, appointed Lord Privy Seal the second of July, 1536.]