Mary. Dr. Brooks' bishop of Gloucester, with others, and what were their A.D. words, their objections, their orations there used; and what again were 1555. the answers of these men to the same, as in the process here followeth to be seen. of the sion sent down to THE ORDER AND MANNER OF THE EXAMINATION OF DOCTOR RIDLEY AND MASTER LATIMER, HAD THE 30TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1555, BEFORE THE QUEEN'S COMMISSIONERS. First, after the appearing of Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, before the pope's delegate and the queen's commissioners, in St. Mary's church at Oxford, about the 12th day of September, whereof more shall be said (by the Lord's grace) when we come to the death of the said archbishop; shortly after, upon the 28th of the said month of September, was sent down to Oxford another commisThe effect sion from cardinal Pole, legate à latere, to John White bishop of cardinal's Lincoln, to Dr. Brooks bishop of Gloucester, and to Dr. Holyman commis- bishop of Bristol. The contents and virtue of which commission were, that the said John of Lincoln, James of Gloucester, and John of Oxford. Bristol, they, or two of them, should have full power and authority, to ascite, examine, and judge master Hugh Latimer, and master Dr. Ridley, pretensed bishops of Worcester and London, for divers and sundry erroneous opinions, which the said Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley did hold and maintain in open disputations had in Oxford, in the months of May, June, and July, in the year of our Lord 1554, as long before, in the time of perdition, and since. The which opinions if the named persons would now recant, giving and yielding themselves to the determination of the universal and catholic church, planted by Peter in the blessed see of Rome, that then they the deputed judges, by the said authority of their commission, should have power to receive the said penitent persons, and forthwith minister unto them the reconciliation of the holy father the pope. But if the said Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley would stoutly and stubbornly defend and maintain these their erroneous opinions and assertions; that then the said lords by their commission should proceed in form of judgment, according to the law of heretics, that is, degrading them from their promotion and dignity of bishops, priests, and all other ecclesiastical orders, should pronounce them as heretics; and therefore clean cut them off from the church, and so yield them to receive punishment due to all such heresy and schism. Ridley and Lati Wherefore, the last of September, the said two persons, Nicholas mer cited Ridley and Hugh Latimer, were ascited to appear before the said to appear. lords, in the divinity school at Oxford, at eight of the clock. At what time thither repaired the lords, placing themselves in the high seat, made for public lectures and disputations, according to the usage of that school, being then fair set, and trimmed with cloth of tissue, and cushions of velvet. And after the said lords were placed and set, the said Latimer and Ridley were sent for; and first appeared (1) Brooks is highly spoken of in a small volume (to be referred to more fully hereafter), entitled "Historia de Vitâ, etc. Buceri et Fagii" (fol. 197), which makes us regret his present situation: "Erat in Broko literatura non vulgaris, eloquentia non contemnenda, ingenium acutum, morum felicitas satis amabilis, si illorum temporum iniquitas, et malorum hominum consuetudo, naturam ejus non immutassent."-ED. A. D. master Dr. Ridley, and anon master Latimer. But because it seemed Mary. good severally to examine them, master Latimer was kept back until Dr. Ridley was throughly examined. Therefore, soon after the 1555. coming of Dr. Ridley into the school, the commission was published by an appointed notary, and openly read. But Dr. Ridley, standing bareheaded, humbly expecting the cause of that his appearance, eftsoons as he had heard the cardinal named, and the pope's holiness, put on his cap. Wherefore, after the commission was published in form and sense above specified, the bishop of Lincoln spake in sense following: words of for not Lincoln :—“ Master Ridley, although neither I, neither my lords here, in respect of our own persons do look for cap or knee, yet because we bear and represent such persons as we do, that is my lord cardinal's grace, legate à latere to the pope's holiness, as well in that he is of a noble parentage [and therewith The master Ridley moved his cap with lowly obeisance] descending from the regal the bishop blood, as in that he is a man worthy to be reverenced with all humility, for his of Lincolu great knowledge and learning, noble virtues, and godly life, and especially in to him, that he is here in England deputy to the pope's holiness, it should have becomed putting you at this name to have discovered your head. Wherefore, except you will of off his your ownself take the pains to put your hand to your head, and at the nomina- cap. tion, as well of the said cardinal, as of the pope's holiness, uncover the same, lest that this your contumacy, exhibited now before us, should be prejudicial to the said most reverend persons (which thing we may in no case suffer), you shall cause us to take the pain, to cause some man to pluck off your cap from you." him. eth the person of not his reverence To whom master Ridley making his petition for licence, answered: Ridley:-" As touching that you said, my lord, that you of your own persons Answer of desire ne cap ne knee, but only require the same, in consideration that you Ridley to represent the cardinal grace's person, I do you to wit, and thereupon make my protestation, that I did put on my cap at the naming of the cardinal's grace, neither for any contumacy that I bear towards your own persons, neither for any derogation of honour to the lord cardinal's grace: for I know him to be a man Ridley worthy of all humility, reverence, and honour, in that he came of the most regal reverencblood, and in that he is a man endued with manifold graces of learning and virtue. And as touching these virtues and points, I, with all humility [therewith he put the caroff his cap, and bowed his knee] and obeisance that I may, will reverence and dinal, but honour his grace: but, in that he is legate to the bishop of Rome [and there- legacy. with put on his cap] whose usurped supremacy, and abused authority, I utterly refuse and renounce, I may in no wise give any obeisance or honour unto him, lest that my so doing and behaviour might be prejudicial to mine oath, and a derogation to the verity of God's word. And therefore, that I might not only Ridley by confession profess the verity in not reverencing the renounced authority, doeth not contrary to God's word, but also in gesture, in behaviour, and all my doings, express the same, I have put on my cap; and for this consideration only, and not for any contumacy to your lordships, neither contempt of this worshipful audience, neither derogation of any honour due to the cardinal his grace, both for his noble parentage, and also his excellent qualities, I have kept on my cap." Lincoln::-" Master Ridley, you excuse yourself of that with the which we White pressed you not, in that you protest you keep on your cap, neither for any con- bishop of tumacy towards us (which look for no such honour of you), neither for any contempt of this audience, which, although justly they may, yet (as I suppose) in this case do not require any such obeisance of you; neither in derogation of any honour due to my lord cardinal's grace, for his regal descent [at which word master Ridley moved his cap] and excellent qualities; for although in all the premises honour be due, yet in these respects we require none of you, but only in that my lord cardinal's grace is, here in England, deputy of the pope's holiness [at which word the lords and others put off their caps, and master Putting Ridley put on his]; and therefore we say unto you the second time, that except off caps at you take the pains yourself to put your hand to your head, and put off your cap, ing of the you shall put us to the pain, to cause some man to take it from you, except you pope. to the pope. Lincoln replieth the nam Mary allege some infirmity and sickness, or other more reasonable cause, upon the consideration whereof we may do as we think good." A. D. 1555. Ridley:-"The premises I said only for this end, that it might as well appear to your lordships, as to this worshipful audience, why and for what consideration I used such kind of behaviour, in not humbling myself to your lordships with cap and knee and as for my sickness, I thank my Lord God, that I am as well at ease, as I was this long season; and therefore I do not pretend that usurped which is not, but only this, that it might appear by this my behaviour, that I supre- acknowledge in no point that usurped supremacy of Rome, and therefore conRome de- temn and utterly despise all authority coming from him. In taking off my cap, do as it shall please your lordships, and I shall be content." The macy of fied. Ridley's cappluck force. Then the bishop of Lincoln, after the third admonition, commanded edo one of the beadles (that is an officer of the University) to pluck his cap from his head. Master Ridley, bowing his head to the officer, gently permitted him to take away his cap. After this the bishop of Lincoln in a long oration exhorted master Ridley to recant, and sub- | mit himself to the universal faith of Christ in this manner : Though try of Rome be not strange, yet the doctrine Lincoln:-" Master Ridley, I am sure you have sufficiently pondered with yourself the effect of this our commission with good advisement, considering both points thereof, how that authority is given to us, if you shall receive the true doctrine of the church (which first was founded by Peter' at Rome immediately after the death of Christ, and from him by lineal succession hath been brought to this our time), if you will be content to renounce your former errors, recant your heretical and seditious opinions, content to yield yourself to the undoubted faith and truth of the gospel, received and always taught of the catholic and apostolic church, the which the king and queen, all the nobles of this realm, and commons of the same, all christian people have and do confess, you only standing alone by yourself: you understand and perceive, I am sure, that authority is given us to receive you, to reconcile you, and upon due penance to adjoin and associate you again into the number of the catholics and Christ's church, from the which you have so long strayed, without the which no man can be saved, the which thing I and my lords here, yea and all, as well nobles as commons of this realm, most heartily desire, and I for my part [wherewith he put off his cap] most earnestly exhort you to do." "Remember, master Ridley, it is no strange country whither I exhort you the coun- to return. You were once one of us; you have taken degrees in the school. You were made a priest, and became a preacher, setting forth the same doctrine which we do now. You were made bishop according to our laws; and, to be short, it is not so long agone, since you separated yourself from us, and in the time of heresy became a setter-forth of that devilish and seditious doctrine which of Rome in these latter days was preached amongst us. For at what time the new docis strange. trine of only faith began to spring,' the council willing to win my lord chancellor, sent you to him (I then being in my lord's house, unknown as I suppose to you), and after you had talked with my lord secretly, and were departed, immediately my lord declared certain points of your talk, and means of your persuasion; and amongst others this was one, that you should say, "Tush, my ford, this matter of justification is but a trifle, let us not stick to condescend herein to them; but for God's love, my lord, stand stoutly in the verity of the sacrament: for I see they will assault that also."3 If this be true (as my lord is a man credible enough in such a matter), hereby it is declared of what mind you were then, as touching the truth of the most blessed sacrament. The persuad "Also in a sermon of yours at Paul's Cross, you as effectually and as cathobishop of licly spake of that blessed sacrament, as any man might have done; whereby Lincoln it appeareth that it is no strange thing, nor unknown place, whereunto I exhort eth Rid- you. I wish you to return thither from whence you came; that is, together with us to acknowledge the church of God, wherein no man may err, to acknowthe pope's ledge the supremacy of our most reverend father in God the pope's holiness, which (as I said) lineally taketh his descent from Peter, upon whom Christ ley to return to church. (1) Nay the faith of Christ may be proved to have been at Rome in Tiberius's time, before Peter came there. (2) Another untruth in bishop White, for "only faith" is no new doctrine. A.D. 1555. promised before his death, to build his church; the which supremacy or prero- Mary. gative, the most ancient fathers in all ages, in all times did acknowledge [and here he brought a place or two out of the doctors, but especially stayed upon a saying of St. Augustine,' who writeth in this manner:" "All the christian countries beyond the sea are subject to the church of Rome."] Here you see, master Ridley, that all Christendom is subject to the church of Rome. What should stay you therefore to confess the same with St. Augustine and the other fathers?" Then master Ridley desired his patience, to suffer him to speak somewhat of the premises, lest the multitude of things might confound his memory; and having grant thereunto, he said in this manner: Ridley:-") :-"My lord, I most heartily thank your lordship, as well for your Answer of gentleness, as also for your sobriety in talk, and for your good and favourable Ridley. zeal in this learned exhortation, in the which I have marked especially three points which you used, to persuade me to leave my doctrine and religion, which Three I perfectly know and am thoroughly persuaded to be grounded not upon man's noted in points imagination and decrees, but upon the infallible truth of Christ's gospel, and the bishop not to look back, and to return to the Romish see, contrary to mine oath, con- of Lintrary to the prerogative and crown of this realm, and especially (which moveth oration. me most) contrary to the expressed word of God. coln's Rome First, The first point is this, that the see of Rome taking its beginning from The see of Peter, upon whom you say Christ hath builded his church, hath in all ages founded lineally, from bishop to bishop, been brought to this time. upon "Secondly, That even the holy fathers from time to time have in their writ- Peter. ings confessed the same. 66 Thirdly, That in that I was once of the same opinion, and together with you, I did acknowledge the same. Confirmed by old doctors. the same church "First, as touching the saying of Christ, from whence your lordship gathereth Ridley the foundation of the church upon Peter, truly the place is not so to be under- once of stand as you take it, as the circumstance of the place will declare. For after see. that Christ had asked his disciples whom men judged him to be, and they had answered, that some had said he was a prophet, some Elias, some one thing, some another, then he said, 'Whom say ye that I am?' Then Peter said, 'I say That thou art Christ, the Son of God.' To whom Christ answered, 'Í The say, thou art Peter, and upon this stone I will build my church;' that is to say, not buildupon this stone-not meaning Peter himself, as though he would have con- ed upon stituted a mortal man, so frail and brickle a foundation of his stable and infal- Peter. lible church; but upon this rock-stone-that is, this confession of thine, that I The am the Son of God, I will build my church. For this is the foundation and builded beginning of all Christianity, with word, heart, and mind, to confess that upon Christ is the Son of God. Whosoever believeth not this, Christ is not in him; faith, not and he cannot have the mark of Christ printed on his forehead, which confesseth person. not that Christ is the Son of God. Therefore Christ said unto Peter, that upon The this rock, that is, upon this his confession, that he was Christ the Son of God, words of he would build his church; to declare, that without this faith no man can come Peter exto Christ: so that this belief, that Christ is the Son of God, is the foundation of pounded. our Christianity, and the foundation of our church. Here you see upon what Faith the foundation Christ's church is built, not upon the frailty of man, but upon the tion of the stable and infallible word of God. "Now as touching the lineal descent of the bishops in the see of Rome, true it is, that the patriarch of Rome in the apostles' time, and long after, was a great maintainer and setter-forth of Christ's glory, in the which above all other countries and regions there especially was preached the true gospel, the (1) "Dubitatur utrum forma verborum hæc sit Augustini." [Some doubt may well be expressed, as the tendency of the language contradicts the 22d canon of the Council of Milevis, to which Augustine had himself subscribed: "Ad transmarina autem qui putaverit appellandum, a nullo intra Africam in communionem suscipiatur." See Concilia, Studio Labbei, tom. ii. col. 1543; but the passage intended for citation is, no doubt, that in Augustine's treatise "Contra Epist. Parmen." lib. i. cap. 3, § 5, and its application to the bishop of Rome is here aided by the addition of Romana Ecclesia.-ED.] (2) "Totus orbis Christianus in transmarinis et longe remotis terris Romanæ Ecclesiæ subjectus est." (3) Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram ædificabo ecclesiam meam.' church upon any Christ to founda church. Lineal descent of the bishop of Rome. Mary. A. D. 1555. Rome sacraments were most duly ministered; and as before Christ's coming it was a city so valiant in prowess and martial affairs, that all the world was in a manner subject to it; and after Christ's passion, divers of the apostles there suffered persecution for the gospel's sake: so, after that the emperors, their hearts being Why the illuminated, received the gospel, and became Christians, the gospel there, as bishops of well for the great power and dominion, as for the fame of the place, flourished have been most, whereby the bishops of that place were had in more reverence and honour, most esteemed in all councils and assemblies, not because they acknowledged them to be their head, but because the place was most reverenced and spoken of, for the great power and strength of the same. As now here in England, the bishop of Lincoln in sessions and sittings hath the pre-eminence of the The pre- other bishops, not in that he is the head and ruler of them; but for the dignity of the bishopric. [And therewith the people smiled]. Wherefore the doctors in their writings have spoken most reverently of this see of Rome, and in their writings preferred it; and this is the prerogative which your lordship did rehearse the ancient doctors to give to the see of Rome. more esteemed than other bishops. rogative that the doctors give to the see of Rome. So long as it continued in sound doctrine, it was worthy to be reve renced. The bishop of Rome "Semblably, I cannot, nor dare not but commend, reverence, and honour the see of Rome, as long as it continued in the promotion and setting-forth of God's glory, and in due preaching of the gospel, as it did many years after Christ. But, after that the bishops of that see, seeking their own pride, and not God's honour, began to set themselves above kings and emperors, challenging to them the title of God's vicars, the dominion and supremacy over all the world, I cannot but with St. Gregory, a bishop of Rome also, confess that the bishop of that place is the very true Antichrist, whereof St. John speaketh by the name of the whore of Babylon, and say with the said St. Gregory, He that maketh himself a bishop over all the world, is worse than Antichrist.' "Now whereas you say St. Augustine should seem not only to give such a The place prerogative, but also supremacy to the see of Rome, in that he saith, All the of Augus- christian world is subject to the church of Rome, and therefore should give to swered. that see a certain kind of subjection, I am sure that your lordship knoweth, Four that in St. Augustine's time there were four patriarchs, of Alexandria, Constanpatriarchs tinople, Antioch, and Rome, which patriarchs had under them certain counchurch in tries; as in England the archbishop of Canterbury hath under him divers his time. bishoprics in England and Wales, to whom he may be said to be their patriarch. proved to be Anti christ. tine an in the Also your lordship knoweth right well, that at what time St. Augustine wrote this book, he was then bishop in Africa. Further, you are not ignorant, that between Europe and Africa lieth the sea called Mare Mediterraneum, so that all the countries in Europe to him which is in Africa may be called transmarine, countries beyond the sea. Hereof St. Augustine saith, All the countries christian countries beyond the seas and far regions, are subject to the see of Rome." If I should say all countries beyond the sea, I do except England, were sub- which to me now, being in England, is not beyond the sea. In this sense St. How beyond the sea ject to Rome. Rome may be mother of Augustine saith, 'All the countries beyond the sea are subject to the see of Rome;' declaring thereby that Rome was one of the sees of the four patriarchs, and under it Europe. By what subjection, I pray you? only for a pre-eminence, as we here in England say, that all the bishoprics in England are subject to the archbishoprics of Canterbury and York. For this pre-eminence, also, the other doctors (as you recited) say, that Rome is the mother of churche., churches, as the bishopric of Lincoln is mother to the bishopric of Oxford, because the and yet bishopric of Oxford came from the bishopric of Lincoln, and they were both not su- once one; and so is the archbishopric of Canterbury mother to the other head of bishoprics which are in her province. In like sort the archbishopric of York is churches. mother to the north bishoprics; and yet no man will say, that Lincoln, Can preme terbury, or York, is supreme head to other bishoprics; neither then ought we to confess the see of Rome to be supreme head, because the doctors in their writings confess the see of Rome to be mother of churches. "Now whereas you say, I was once of the same religion which you are of, the truth is, I cannot but confess the same. Yet so was St. Paul a persecutor of Christ. But to that you say, that I was one of you not long agone, in that I, doing my message to my lord of Winchester, should desire him to stand stout in that gross opinion of the supper of the Lord; in very deed I was sent (as (1) "Totus orbis christianus in transmarinis et longe remotis terris ecclesiæ Romanæ subjectus est." |