clearing him of that injurious scandal, and giving him a character of a quite contrary nature.1

And again in King Edward's reign, in the year 1552, some taking the advantage of his absence from the court, slandered him as though he were covetous. Which coming to his ear, by the cordial friendship of Cecil, the king's secretary, he wrote that courtier a letter in vindication of himself; professing "that he was not so doted to set his mind upon things here, which neither he could carry away with him, nor tarry long with them. And that he took not half so much care for his living when he was a scholar at Cambridge, as he did at that present, when he was archbishop of Canterbury; for as he had now much more revenue than he had then, so he had much more to do withal. And that he rather feared stark beggary at last."2

This, and other things to the same purpose, he signified in that letter, that Cecil thereby might the better understand his condition, and know how and what to plead at court in his behalf, as occasion served, as hath been more at large related before.

By the way, I cannot but reflect upon one of the archbishop's expressions, which seemed to have been uttered prophetically, so exactly did the event answer to his words: for to stark beggary he was indeed at last reduced, when, in his imprisonment at Oxon, he had not a penny in his purse. And, which was more, his enemies were so barbarously severe, that it would not be allowed any well-disposed person to relieve his necessity, nor to give him an alms, a privilege allowed any beggar beside. And when a gentleman of Gloucestershire, sensible of the archbishop's need, and withal knowing how dangerous it was to give the poor archbishop any money, had conveyed somewhat to the bailiffs, to be by their hands bestowed on him, Bonner and Thirlby, the two bishops that degraded him, stayed this gentleman, intending to send him up to the Council, had he not gotten off by the intercession of some friends.

1 [See Fox's Acts and Monuments, vol. viii. pp. 20-22.]
2 [Appendix, No. LXVII.]

CHAPTER XXXV.

Some Account of Archbishop Cranmer's Housekeeping.

BUT the more fully to confute this calumny, it will not be amiss to look more narrowly into his housekeeping. His daily custom at Lambeth was, to dine in a room above, where all noblemen, and persons of better quality, that came to dine with him, were entertained. Here he was very honourably served, both with dishes and attendants. In the hall the table was every day very plentifully furnished, both for household servants and strangers, with three or four principal head-messes of officers, besides the relief of the poor at his gates. And, which is a very observable charity, as well as hospitality, he appropriated his mansion-house at Beakesbourne, in Kent, and his parsonage-barn, for harbour and lodgings for the poor, sick, and maimed soldiers that came from the wars of Boulogne, and other parts beyond For these he also appointed an almoner, a physician, and a surgeon, to attend on them, and to dress and administer physic to such of them as were not able to resort to their own countries, having also daily from his kitchen hot broth and meat, besides the common alms of his household, that were bestowed upon the poor people of the country. And when any of these were recovered, and were able to travel, they had money given them to bear their charges, according to the number of miles they were to pass before they got home.

seas.

I do not know whether some might have taken advantage thus to slander him, from a laudable endeavour of his to reduce within some bounds the provisions of clergymen's tables, which in the latter times of King Henry VIII. grew to great excess and extravagancy, so unbecoming spiritual men. For in the year 1541 the archbishop, with the consent of the other archbishop, and most of the bishops, and divers other deans and archdeacons, made a constitution for moderating the fare of their tables, viz.

"That archbishops should not exceed six divers kinds of

વે

flesh, or as many dishes of fish on fish-days. A bishop not above five. A dean or archdeacon, four; and all under that degree, three. But an archbishop was allowed at second course to have four dishes, a bishop three, and all others two; as custards, tarts, fritters, cheese, apples, pears, &c. But if any of the inferior clergy should entertain any archbishop, bishop, dean, or archdeacon, or any of the laity of like degree, as duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron, lord, knight, they might have such provision as were meet for their degree; nor was their diet to be limited when they should receive an ambassador, [to recommend, I suppose, to foreigners the English hospitality."] It was ordered also "That of the greater fish or fowl, as cranes, swans, turkeys, haddocks, pike, tench, there should be but one in a dish; of lesser sorts than they, as capons, pheasants, conies, woodcocks, but two; of less sorts still, as of partridges, an archbishop, three; a bishop, and other degrees under him, two; The number of the blackbirds were also stinted to six at, an archbishop's table, and to four for a bishop. And of little birds, as larks, snites, &c., the number was not to exceed twelve."1

But so strongly bent were the clergy in those days to this sort of sensuality, that these injunctions of our archbishop were observed but two or three months; and so they returned to their old superfluity again.

The archbishop's pious design hereby was only to curb intemperance and unnecessary prodigality in such, upon whose office those vices cast such just reflections; but it could not reasonably argue any covetous temper in him; for, that the poor might not fare the worse for this intrenchment of exorbitant hospitality, but rather the better, the archbishop in these aforesaid orders, provided, "That whatsoever was spared out of the old housekeeping, should not be pocketed up, but laid out and spent in plain meats for the relief of poor people."2

And that this charge may still appear to be nothing but

[For this document, reprinted from Wilkins' Concilia, vol. iii. p. 862, ex MSS. C.C.C.C. Misc. Papers, p. 630, see Parker Society's edition of Abp. Cranmer's Works, vol. ii. p. 491.]

2 [Id. ibid.]

a mere detraction, proceeding from envy, or some other ill principle, others there were that would blame him for the contrary vice, of too much lavishing and unprofitable expense. So hard a matter is it for the best men to escape the spiteful and venomous insinuations of the world. But he patiently and with an even mind bore all.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Archbishop Cranmer humble, peaceable, bold in a good cause.

FOR, which is another thing to be remarked in him, he was very humble and condescending, and did not only bear to be reproved, but was thankful for it; and that even when the reproof was undeserved, which was the more to be valued in him, considering the height and dignity of his calling. To give an instance or two of this.

When, in the year 1552, Cecil had charged him with the imputation of covetousness, as a report that went of him in the court, and which himself seemed partly to believe, begging withal pardon of his grace for his freedom with him; our archbishop told him, "That as for the admonition, he took it very thankfully; and that he had ever been most glad to be admonished by his friends; accounting no man so foolish as he that would not hear friendly admonishment.”1 And when, at another time, the same Cecil, (who would always take the liberty to speak his mind to his friends, whensoever he thought they wanted counsel), had signified to him the hazard he incurred in not showing more compliance towards the duke of Northumberland, who now swayed all, and then apologizing for his boldness; Cranmer was so far from taking this ill, that he returned him his very hearty thanks for his friendly letter and advertisements; desiring him to be assured that he took the same in such good part, and to proceed of such a friendly mind, as he ever looked for at his hands, and whereof he would not be unmindful, if occasion hereafter served, to requite the same.2

1

[Appendix, No. LXVII.]

2 [Appendix, No. CVII.]

And this good temper led him also to gentleness and lenity. He was no huffer nor contender, but of an exceeding peaceable and amicable spirit. Whereunto he was moved by the reason of policy as well as religion, because he well saw how a contentious quarrelsome disposition in great men would be apt to give an ill example unto inferiors. There happened once, in the year 1552, a contest between him and the lord warden of the Cinque-Ports, who lived not far from him; and so probably it might be about some worldly matters. It was Sir Thomas Cheyny, who, in the year 1549, was one of those that met with Warwick in London, and published a proclamation against the archbishop's friend, the duke of Somerset, as a traitor, which might be an occasion that the archbishop did not much affect Cheyny, nor Cheyny the archbishop. Concerning this difference between them, which it seems was taken notice of at court, when his true friend Cecil had wrote to him, advising a reconciliation, he gave this Christian and meek answer from his house at Ford: "That there was no man more loth to be in contention with any man than he was, especially with him who was his near neighbour, dwelling both in one county, and whose familiar and entire friendship he most desired, and that for the quietness of the whole county." Adding, "that the examples of the rulers and heads would the people and members follow."1

His peaceableness also appeared in his hearty desires of the public peace, as well as private. When, upon occasion of hearing of the wars that were about the year 1552, eagerly followed both in Christendom and out of it, he used these words: "The Sophy and the Turk, the emperor and the French king, not much better in religion than they," [such it seems was his censure of them, by reason of the cruelty and persecution they exercised, and the disturbances they made in the world], "rolling the stone, or turning the wheel of fortune up and down; I pray God send us peace and quietness with all realms, as well as among ourselves." 2

But though he were of so quiet and mild a spirit, yet, being a plain downright man, he would never learn the arts of flattery and base compliances with them that were upper1 [Appendix, No. CVIII.] 2 [Appendix, No. CVII.]