CHAPTER XX. BISHOP HETHE AND BISHOP DAY, THEIR DEPRIVATIONS. : shops dealt with. WHILE the aforesaid bishop lay under sequestration in Other pothe Tower, two other bishops, that were wayward to the pish bi king's proceedings in the reformation of the church, (viz. of Worcester and Chichester), came under the hands of the privy-council, resolving to make them comply, or deprive them that others, more willing and better affected to reformation, might succeed and do service in the church; and that the archbishop might go forward with less stop and impediment in the good work he had dedicated himself unto. Both of them were of the archbishop's raising, and seemed very compliant with the archbishop during king Henry's reign. But now both hung off from him, seeming much offended with him for his relinquishing the doctrine of the corporeal presence, and for writing a book against it: whereof they made mention, with dislike, in their depositions in the bishop of Winchester's trial before the commissioners". • [The articles, to which bishops Heathe and Day were sworn, were the IVth and VIth of these, which Gardiner, in addition to those he had previously presented, exhibited at the ninth session upon his cause, held in the house of Cuthbert Tonstal, bishop of Durham, before Thomas Goodrich, and Henry Holbeach, bishops of Ely and Lincoln, with the other commissioners, judically sitting, Wednesday, January 21st, 1551; they were to the following effect: (IV.) "That in the months November Bishop In the last year, the year 1549, twelve learned divines, troubles. bishops and others, were appointed by the council to prepare a new book for the ordination of ministers, purged of the superstitions of the old ordinal. Hethe bishop of Worcester was nominated for one of these: but he, not liking the thing, would not agree to what the others did, and blood in the sacrament of the that there were divers other sacramentaries, which, besides these that be named in the article particularly, did impugn the said truth. And to the next part of the article, this deponent saith, that the impugning thereof is manifest error. And to the last, so beginning, ‘And in England,' etc., this deponent saith, that he hath been in prison a long season; and what hath been defended or maintained since his coming to prison, he is not able to declare, but he judgeth, that whosoever defendeth that error, he is not sufficiently in that matter learned. And otherwise he cannot depose." 66 George, bishop of Chichester, of the age of forty-nine, or thereabout; sworn and examined upon the IVth and VIth articles of the positions additional. To the IVth he saith, that the contents of the article are true: saving, (he saith), that himself is none of the most ancient bishops of the realm, nor taketh himself to be one of the best learned bishops. To the VIth article, unto this place, And Carolostadius,' he saith, that in foreign realms and countries, he knoweth not that any famous clerk, or named nor subscribe the book when made". For which, in March, he was committed to the Fleet; where he lay under easy confinement all the next year, the year 1550; during which time 1 find him once produced as a witness on bishop Gardiner's behalf. : before the Book. But in the year 1551, the court being at Chelsey, and Sent for the council sitting September 22, by virtue "of the king's council. express commandment, Nicolas bishop of Worcester was Councilsent for, and came before the lords and others to whom was repeated the cause of his imprisonment to be, for that he refused to subscribe the book devised for the form of making archbishops, bishops, priests, and deacons, being authorized by parliament. At the time of which refusal, being not only gently and reasonably required to subscribe it, but also being manifestly taught by divers other learned men, that all things contained in that book were learned man in our time, hath impugned the truth of Christ's most precious body and blood in the sacrament of the altar, but such as be named in the said article; saving that he knoweth that Bullingerus and Musculus have written against the truth of Christ's body and blood in the sacrament: and though he taketh these for learned men, yet he doth not asssent to their doctrine in this matter of the sacrament. And to this part of the article, "The impugning whereof is manifest error,' he saith, it is true. And to the last part, he saith, that at the time the bishop of Winton preached on St. Peter's day, he knoweth not any learned man, within this realm, did impugn the verity of Christ's body and blood good and true, and that the book was expedient and allowable, the said bishop declared himself to be a very obstinate man. And for that his doing, it was now shewed to him, that he deserved longer imprisonment. Nevertheless the king's majesty's clemency was such, that now if he had, or would reconcile himself, and obey his majesty in this former commandment, he should recover the king's 227 majesty's favour. For which cause it was told to him, that he was then presently sent for, and willed now to subscribe the same. Whereunto he answered, [confessing] that he took the cause of his imprisonment to be as was alleged, and that also he was very gently used, rather like a son than a subject. Nevertheless, he said, he remained in the same mind, not willing to subscribe it, although he would not disobey it. And although he was reasoned withal by every of the said council in disproving his manner of answer, that he would not subscribe it, being every thing in the said book, true and good; and being devised by eleven other learned men, to [the] which he was joined as the twelfth, and received of all the whole estate of the realm, agreeing also that he would obey it, but not subscribe it, which contained a contradiction in reason: yet he still, as a man not removeable from his own conceit, refused to subscribe it. Whereupon, to prove all manner of ways for the winning of him to his duty, he was offered to have conference with learned men, and to have time to consider the matter better. Whereunto he said, that he could have no better conference than he had heretofore: and well might he have time, but of other mind he thought never to be: adding, that there be many other things whereunto he would not consent, if he were demanded, as to take down altars and set up tables. And in this sort, seeing him obstinately settled in mind (not) to be conformable, he was in the king's majesty's name expressly commanded and charged to subscribe the same [book] before Thursday next following, being the 24th hereof, upon pain of deprivation of his bishopric, to all and singular effects which might follow thereof. And hearing that commandment, he resolutely answered, he could not find in his conscience to do it, and should be well content to abide such end, either by deprivation or otherwise, as pleased the king's majesty. And so, as a man incorrigible, he was returned to the FleetP." This order was subscribed by these of the privy-council; W. Wiltshr, J. Warwick, W. Herbert, W. Cecyl, Jo. Masone. chester, bles. Book. That which gave the council the first occasion against Bp. of ChiDay bishop of Chichester was, partly his refusal of comply- his trouing with the order of changing the altars in his diocese into tables; and partly going down into his diocese, and Councilthere preaching against it, and other matters of that nature then in agitation, to the raising of dangerous tumults and discontents among the people. This came to the council's ears; and October 7, this year, Dr. Cox, the king's almoner, was ordered "to repair into Sussex to appease the people by his good doctrine, which were now troubled through the seditious preaching of the bishop of Chichester and others"," November 8. The said bishop "appeared before the council to answer" such "things as should be objected against him for preaching. And because he denied the words of his accusations, therefore he was commanded within two days to bring in writing what he preached." |