A. D. Mary. appellation, by the way of disannulling abuse, inequality, and unrighteousness, or otherwise as I shall be better able: choice and liberty reserved to me, to put to, diminish, change, correct, and interpret my sayings, and to reform all things 1556. after a better fashion, saving always to me every other benefit of the law, and to them that either be, or will be, on my part. Defence of his doctrine. Cranmer tic, and And touching my doctrine of the sacrament, and other my doctrine, of what kind soever it be, I protest that it was never my mind to write, speak, or understand any thing contrary to the most holy word of God, or else against the holy catholic church of Christ, but purely and simply to imitate and teach those things only, which I had learned of the sacred Scripture, and of the holy catholic church of Christ from the beginning, and also according to the exposition of the most holy and learned fathers and martyrs of the church. And if any thing hath peradventure chanced otherwise than I thought; I no here may err, but heretic I cannot be, forasmuch as I am ready in all things to follow the judgment of the most sacred word of God, and of the holy catholic church; desiring none other thing than meekly and gently to be taught, if any where (which God forbid) I have swerved from the truth. why. He professeth himself tholic. New terms of the sacra And I protest and openly confess, that in all my doctrine and preaching, both of the sacrament, and of other my doctrine whatsoever it be, not only I mean and to be ca- judge those things, as the catholic church, and the most holy fathers of old with one accord have meant and judged; but also I would gladly use the same words that they used, and not use any other words, but to set my hand to all and singular their speeches, phrases, ways, and forms of speech, which they do ment use in their treatises upon the sacrament, and to keep still their interpretation. brought in But in this thing I only am accused for a heretic, because I allow not the doc trine lately brought in of the sacrament, and because I consent not to words known in not accustomed in Scripture, and unknown to the ancient fathers, but newly the Scrip- invented and brought in by men, and belonging to the destruction of souls, and doctors. overthrowing of the pure and old religion.—Given, &c. by the pope, un ture and Talk between Thirleby 66 This appeal being put up to Thirleby the bishop of Ely, he said, My lord, our commission is to proceed against you, 'omni appellatione remotâ,' and therefore we cannot admit it." Why," quoth he, "then you do me the more wrong; for my case is not as every private man's case. The matter is between the and Cran- pope and me immediatè, and none otherwise: and I think no man ought to be a judge in his own cause." mer about the ap peal. weepeth 66 Well," quoth Ely, "if it may be admitted, it shall," and so received it of him. And then began he to persuade earnestly with the archbishop to consider his state, and to weigh it well, while there was time to do him good, promising to become a suitor to the king and queen for him: and so protested his great love and friendship that Thirleby had been between them, heartily weeping, so that for a time he could for him. not go on with his tale. After going forward, he earnestly affirmed, that if it had not been the king and queen's commandment, whom he could not deny, else no worldly commodity should have made him to have done it; concluding that, to be one of the sorrowfullest things that ever happened unto him. The archbishop gently seeming to comfort him, said, he was very well content withal. And so proceeded they to his degradation; whereof partly we have made some small description already, yet here now followeth a full and perfect description of all and singular the rites and ceremonies thereunto pertaining, taken out of the pope's book called "Pontificale;" for the reader to see and understand the manner of degrading all orders and degrees, as well archbishops as others, priests, deacons, subdeacons, etc. (1) All the process, though with some slight variation, will be found, accompanied by illustrative annotation, in the "Pontificale Romanum; nunc primum commentariis illustratum, auct. Jos. Catalano (Romæ, 1740)," vol. iii. pp. 146-164. Among other Editions one was printed at Venice in 1520, and another at Rome in 1595; these two have afforded the means of correcting a few trifling errors in the Forms of Degradation following.-ED. Mary. THE FORM OF DEGRADING AN ARCHBISHOP. Imprimis, In publico extra ecclesiam paretur aliquis eminens locus congruentis spatii, pro degradatione fiendâ. Item, Supra eundem ordinetur una credentia simplici tobalea cooperta. Item, Bacile cum baculo et mantili. Item, Unum candelabrum cum candela extincta Item, Claves, forfices, cultellus seu petia vitri.1 Paramenta pro Degradando. Superpellicium, sandalia cum caligis, amictus, alba, cingulum, manipulus, tunicella, stola, dalmatica, chirothecæ, alia stola, planeta, mitra, annulus pontificialis, pallium, baculus pastoralis, et aliqua vestis habitûs secularis. Item, Paretur faldistorium pro pontifice degradatore. Item, Sedilia pro officialibus. Item, Adsint ministri pontificis. Item, Judex secularis, cui degradatus committatur. Item, Notarius qui processum degradationis legat, si opus erit, vel episcopo degradatori placuerit. Item, Barbitonsor. Item, Horâ convenienti degradandus, habitu suo quotidiano indutus, super dictum locum adducatur, et à clericis induatur omnibus paramentis sui ordinis. Item, Eo sic induto, pontifex degradator indutus amictu, albâ, cingulo, stolâ, et pluviali rubeis, ac mitrâ simplici, baculum pastoralem in sinistrâ manu tenens ascendet ad locum prædictum, et ibidem sedebit in faldistorio, in convenienti loco sibi parato, versus ad populum, astante sibi judice seculari. Tunc degradandus omnibus sui ordinis vestibus sacris indutus et singulis ornamentis ornatus, habens in manibus ornamentum ad ordinem suum spectans, ac si deberet in suo officio ministrare, adducitur ante pontificem, coram quo genu flectit. Tunc pontifex degradator (sedens ut supra) populo in vulgari notificat degradationis hujusmodi causam. Deinde contra degradandum sententiam fert in hæc verba, si hujusmodi sententia lata non sit. "In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritûs Sancti, Amen. Quia nos N. Dei et Apostolicæ sedis gratiâ Episcopus," etc. Degradatio ab Ordine Archiepiscopali. A. D. 1556. Primo, Pallium degradator aufert a degradando, dicendo: Prærogativâ Degradapontificalis dignitatis, quæ in pallio designatur, te eximimus, quia male usus tion from es eâ." the order of arch Secundo, Mitram aufert à degradando, dicendo: "Mitrâ, pontificalis digni- bishop. tatis, videlicet ornatu, quia eam male præsidendo fœdâsti, tuum caput denudamus." Tertio, Librum evangeliorum à degradandi manibus aufert, dicendo: "Redde evangelium, quia prædicandi officio, quo, spreto Dei gratiâ, te indignum fecisti, te justè privamus." Quarto, Annulum aufert de digito degradandi, dicendo: "Annulum, fidei scilicet signaculum, tibi dignè subtrahimus, quia ipsam sponsam Dei ecclesiam temerè violâsti." Quinto, Baculo pastorali per unum de ministris in manus degradandi tradito, illum aufert degradator, dicendo: "Auferimus à te baculum pastoralem, ut perinde correctionis officium, quod turbâsti, non valeas exercere.' Sexto, Chirothecis per ministros extractis degradator abradit degradandi pollices et manus levitur cum cultello aut vitro, dicendo: "Sic spiritualis benedictionis, et delibutionis mysticæ gratiâ, quantum in nobis est, te privamus, ut sanctificandi et benedicendi perdas officium et effectum." (1) "Cultellus, aut vitrum," is the reading in the Edition of 1595.-ED. Mary. Septimo, Caput degradandi cum eodem cultello aut vitro abradit degradator leniter, dicendo: "Consecrationem et benedictionem ac unctionem tibi traditam A. D. radendo delemus, et te ab ordine pontificali, cui inhabilis es redditus, abdi 1556. camus. Degrada the order Tum degradandi per ministros extrahuntur sandalia. Degradatio ab Ordine Presbyteratûs. Calice cum vino et aquâ et patinâ et hostiâ per ministros in manus degration from dandi traditis, degradator aufert potestatem celebrandi, dicens: "Amovemus à te, quin potiùs amotam esse ostendimus, potestatem offerendi Deo sacrificium, missamque celebrandi, tam pro vivis quam pro defunctis.” of priest hood. Degrada Pollices et manus abraduntur sub hâc formâ: " Potestatem sacrificandi et benedicendi, quam in unctione manuum et pollicum recepisti, tibi tollimus hâc rasurâ." Casulam sivè planetam per posteriorem partem captivi accipit degradator, et degradandum exuit, dicens: Veste sacerdotali charitatem signante te meritò expoliamus, quia ipsum et omnem innocentiam exuisti." Quarto, stolam aufert, dicens: "Signum Domini per hanc stolam signatum turpiter abjecisti: ideoque ipsam à te amovemus, quem inhabilem reddimus ad omne sacerdotale officium exercendum." Degradatio ab Ordine Diaconatûs. 1. Libro evangeliorum degradandi in manus per ministros tradito, degradator tion from aufert librum, dicens: "Amovemus à te potestatem legendi evangelium in ecclesiâ Dei, quia id non competit, nisi dignis." the order of dea conship. Degrada 2. Dalmaticam aufert dicens: "Levitico ordine te privamus, quia tuum in eo ministerium non implevisti." 3. Stolam auferens de humeris degradandi degradator projicit eam post tergum, dicens: "Stolam candidam, quam acceperas immaculatam in conspectu Domini perferendam, quia non sic cognito mysterio exemplum conversationis tuæ fidelibus præbuisti, ut plebs dicata Christi nomini possit exinde imitationem acquirere, justè à te amovemus, omne diaconatûs officium tibi prohibentes." Degradatio ab Ordine Subdiaconatus. 1. Epistolarum libro degradandi in manum tradito, degradator eundem aufert, tion from dicens:" Auferimus tibi potestatem legendi epistolam in ecclesiâ Dei, quia hoc of a sub- ministerio indignus es redditus." the order deacon. Degrada 2. Tunicella aufertur, dicendo: "Tunicâ subdiaconali te exuimus, cujus cor et corpus timor Domini castus et sanctus in æternum permanens non constrinxit." 3. Manipulum aufert, dicendo, "Depone manipulum, quia per fructus bonorum operum, quos designat, non expugnâsti spiritualis insidias inimici." 4. Amictus aufertur sub hâc formâ: "Quia vocem tuam non castigâsti, ideo amictum à te auferimus." 5. Urceolis cum vino et aquâ et bacili cum manutergio degradando traditis, ea aufert archidiaconus. [Et nihil dicit.] 6. Calicem vacuum cum patinâ traditum in manus degradandi aufert degradator, dicendo: Potestatem introeundi sacrarium, tangendi pallas vasa et alia indumenta sacra, omneque subdiaconatûs ministerium exercendi à te amovemus." Deinde ministri exuunt degradando cingulum, albam, et amictam : Degradatio ab Ordine Acolytatûs. Urceolum vacuum in manus degradandi traditum aufert degradator, dicens: tion from "Immunde, vinum et aquam ad eucharistiam de cætero non ministres." the order of Benet and Col let. Degrada tion from the order Candelabrum cum cereo extincto degradator accipit de manibus degradandi, dicens: "Dimitte præferendi visibile lumen officium, qui præbere spirituale moribus neglexisti, ac universum Acolytatûs officium hic depone." Degradatio ab Ordine Exorcistatûs. Librum exorcismorum aufert pontifex degradator, dicens: "Privamus te of exor potestate imponendi manum super energumenos, et dæmones de obsessis corporibus expellendi, omni tibi exorcistatûs officio interdicto." Degradatio ab Ordine Lectoratûs. Librum lectionum aufert pontifex degradator, dicens: "In ecclesiâ Dei non legas ulteriùs, neque cantes, neque panes, aut fructus novos ullatenùs benedicas, quia tuum officium non implevisti fideliter et devotè." Degradatio ab Ordine Ostiaratûs. Mary. A. D. 1556. Degradation from the order Claves ecclesiæ aufert pontifex degradator, dicens: “Quia in clavibus errasti, of readership. claves dimitte, et quia ostia cordis tui male dæmonibus obserâsti, amovemus à Degradate officium ostiarii, ut non percutias cymbalum, non aperias ecclesiam, non tion from sacrarium, non librum ampliùs prædicanti." Degradatio à Primâ Tonsurâ. the order of door keeper ship or Superpellicium degradando extrahit pontifex degradator, dicens: "Autoritate sextonDei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, ac quà fungimur in hâc ship. parte, tibi auferimus habitum clericalem, et nudamus te religionis ornatu, atque deponimus, degradamus, spoliamus et exuimus te omni ordine, beneficio, et privilegio clericali, et velut clericalis professionis indignum rediginus te in servitutem et ignominiam habitûs secularis ac status."1 Tum [cum] forficibus tondere incipiat pontifex degradator, et per barbitonsorem ibidem præsentem totaliter tonderi faciat caput degradandi, dicens: “Te velut ingratum filium à sorte Domini, ad quam vocatus fueras abjicimus, et coronam tui capitis (regale quidem signum sacerdotii) de tuo capite amovemus, propter tui regiminis pravitatem." Deinde, si velit pontifex, dicat: "Quod ore cantâsti, corde non credidisti, nec opere implevisti, ideò cantandi officium in ecclesià Dei à te amovemus." Tum ministri pontificis exuunt degradatum veste, et habitu clericali, et ipsum induunt habitum secularem. Si degradatus tradi debeat curiæ seculari. Pontifex degradator degradatum ampliùs non tangit, sed in hunc modum [contra ipsum] pronunciat, dicens: "Pronunciamus, ut hunc exutum omni ordine, ac privilegio clericali curia secularis in suum forum recipiat." Rogat judicem secularem ut citra mortis periculum, etc.: Domine judex, rogamus vos cum omni affectu quo possumus, ut amore Dei, pietatis, et misericordiæ intuitu, et nostrorum interventu precaminum, miserrimo huic nullum mortis vel mutilationis periculum inferatis.' Here then to be short, when they came to take off his pall (which is a solemn vesture of an archbishop), then said he, "Which of you hath a pall, to take off my pall;" which imported as much as they, being his inferiors, could not degrade him. Whereunto one of them said, in that they were but bishops, they were his inferiors, and not competent judges; but being the pope's delegates, they might take his pall. And so they did, and so proceeding took every thing in order from him, as it was put on. Then a barber clipped his hair round about, and the bishop scraped the tops of his fingers where he had been anointed, wherein bishop Bonner behaved himself as roughly and unmannerly, as the other bishop was to him soft and gentle. Whilst they were thus doing, "All this," quoth the archbishop, "needed not; I had myself done with this gear long ago." Last of all they stripped him out of his gown into his jacket, and put upon him a poor yeoman-beadle's gown, full bare and nearly worn, and as evil favouredly made, as one might lightly see, and a townsman's cap on his head; and so delivered him to the secular power. Bonner After this pageant of degradation, and all was finished, then spake unlordeth lord Bonner, saying to him, "Now are you no lord any more." And bishop. (1) The secular state is ignominious, and disdained by the proud clergy! (2) The introductory sentences throughout are abridged by Foxe; but the following is too characteristic to be so dismissed. "Tum pontifex degradator efficaciter, et ex corde, omni instantiâ, pro miserrimo illo derelicto intercedit apud judicem sæcularem, ut citra mortis periculum vel mutilationis contra degradatum sententiam moderetur, dicens: 'Domine judex,'" etc. Pontificali. Ven. 1520, p. 203.-ED. Lord the arch Mary. so whensoever he spake to the people of him (as he was continually A. D. barking against him), ever he used this term, "This gentleman here," 1556. etc. And thus, with great compassion and pity of every man, in this evil favoured gown was he carried to prison; whom there followed a gentleman of Gloucestershire with the archbishop's own gown, who, standing by, and being thought to be toward one of the bishops, had it delivered unto him, who by the way talking with him, said, the bishop of Ely protested his friendship with tears. "Yet," said he, "he might have used a great deal more friendship towards me, and never have been the worse thought on, for I have well deserved it." And going into the prison up with him, asked him if he would drink ; who answered him, saying, if he had a piece of salt fish, that he had better will to eat; for he had been that day somewhat troubled with this matter, and had eaten little: "but now that it is past, my heart," Courtesy said he, "is well quieted." Whereupon the gentleman said, he would the arch- give him money with all his heart, for he was able to do it. But, he, by a gen- being one toward the law, and fearing master Farmer's case,2 durst therefore give him nothing, but gave money to the bailiffs that stood by, and said, that if they were good men, they would bestow it on him, "for my lord of Canterbury had not one penny in his purse to help him," and so left him; my lord bidding him earnestly farewell, comThe gen- mending himself to his prayers and all his friends. That night this danger gentleman was stayed by Bonner and Ely, for giving him this money, for reliev and but for the help of friends, he had been sent up to the council. Such was the cruelty and iniquity of the time, that men could not do good without punishment. showed to bishop tleman. tleman in ing the archbishop. Persua sions of the pa recant. In this mean time, while the archbishop was thus remaining in durance (whom they had kept now in prison almost the space of three pists to years), the doctors and divines of Oxford busied themselves all that bishop to ever they could about master Cranmer, to have him recant, essaying by all crafty practices and allurements they might devise, how to bring their purpose to pass. And to the intent they might win him easily, they had him to the dean's house of Christ's Church in the said university, where he lacked no delicate fare, played at the bowls, had his pleasure for walking, and all other things that might bring him from Christ. Over and besides all this, secretly and sleightly they suborned certain men, which when they could not expugn him by arguments and disputation, should by entreaty and fair promises, or any other means, allure him to recantation; perceiving otherwise what a great wound they should receive, if the archbishop had stood steadfast in his sentence: and again on the other side, how great profit they should get, if he, as the principal standard-bearer, should be overthrown. By reason whereof the wily papists flocked about him, with threatening, flattering, entreating, and promising, and all other means; specially Henry Sydal, and friar John, a Spaniard de Villa Garcia, to the end to drive him, to the uttermost of their possibility, from his former sentence to recantation. 3 (1) It is happy this bishop had so much manners yet, to call him gentleman. (2) This Farmer had lost all his lands for receiving a priest in the Tower in king Henry's time. (3) John de Villa Garcia was a Dominican, a pupil of Carranza, and his companion during his travels in Germany, England, and Flanders. He was one of the greatest theologians of his age, according to Llorente; and so remarkable were his powers, and the successful exercise of them in the confutation of heresy, during his stay in England, that, according to another authority, the Protestants, "ad incitas redacti, insidias ejus vitæ sæpius struxerint, et ne in apertam vim prorumperent, nonnisi stipatoribus regiis comitatus prodibat in lucem,"-a very likely circumstance. |