I.

BOOK was alive, three quarters of a year before ever Cranmer had the archbishopric of Canterbury, as he also added in that audience.

Anno 1532.

A reflection upon a

passage relating to Cranmer in Harpsfield's history. Antiq. of Cant.

Cranmer tries to

archbi

shopric.

So that, these things considered, we may conclude, that Warham did think that none would be so fit to come after him as Cranmer, a learned and diligent man, to carry on this cause, which he, before him, had begun: and so might speak of him as the properest person to be advanced to this see.

To this I will add the sense of an ingenious and learned friend of mine concerning this passage in Harpsfield's history; which the author also of the Athena Oxonienses hath made use of to the good Archbishop's discredit: and which Somner also had unluckily selected, though without design, to hurt his good name, and is all he writes of him. But may it not be considered, saith he, that the pretended martyr Thomas Becket, though he died in vindication of the privileges of the church, yet he was the first betrayer of the rights of his see? He made the greatest breach upon the authority of the primacy of Canterbury, by resigning the archbishopric into the Pope's hands, and receiving it again from him, as the Pope's donation. But it is the honour of the blessed martyr, Thomas Cranmer, that he was the first who began to claim the primacy, and retrieve the rights of his see from being slavishly subjected to the Roman power. Indeed, little credit is to be given to the author who first published this story; considering what a violent man he was, and how much prejudiced against Cranmer, and interested in the popish cause; and coming into the archdeaconry of Canterbury by the deprivation of the Archbishop's brother.

Cranmer Noluit episcopari, had no mind to be Archbievade the shop. He loved his studies, and affected retirement, and well knew the dangers and temptations of a public station. But especially he could not induce his mind to take his office from the Pope, and to swear fidelity to him as well as to the King: whereby he should ensnare himself in two contrary oaths. Wherefore, when the King sent for him home from his embassy in Germany, with a design to lay that honourable burden upon him, he, guessing the reason, first endeavoured to delay his coming, by signifying to the King some matters of importance that would require his tarrying there

IV.

somewhat longer for the King's service: hoping in that CHAP. while the King might have bestowed the place upon some other. In fine, our historians say, he stayed abroad one half Anno 1532. year longer. But I find him in England in the month of November, which was not much more than a quarter of a year after Warham's death. Then the King was married to the Marchioness of Pembroke, and Cranmer was present. So that the King must have sent for him home in June, two or three months before the Archbishop's death: probably while he was in a declining dying condition. But after, when that which Cranmer seemed to suspect of certain emergencies in those parts, wherein the English state might be concerned, fell not out; the King again commanded his return home. Now more perfectly knowing, by some of his friends, the King's intentions to make him Archbishop, he made means, by divers of his friends, to shift it off, desiring rather some smaller living.

At length the King brake his mind to him, that it was his Declares full purpose to bestow that dignity upon him for his service, the reason therefo and for the good opinion he conceived of him. But his long the King. disabling himself nothing dissuaded the King, till at last he humbly craved the King's pardon for that he should declare to him, and that was, "That if he should accept it, "he must receive it at the Pope's hand, which he neither "would nor could do: for that his Highness was the only

supreme governor of the Church of England, as well in "causes ecclesiastical as temporal; and that the full right of "donation of all manner of benefices and bishoprics, as well "as any other temporal dignities and promotions, apper"tained to him, and not to any other foreign authority. "And therefore if he might serve God, him, and his country, "in that vocation, he would accept it of his Majesty, and of "no stranger, who had no authority within this realm." Whereat the King made a pause; and then asked him how he was able to prove it. At which time he alleged several texts out of Scripture, and the Fathers, proving the supreme authority of Kings in their own realms and dominions: and withal shewing the intolerable usurpations of the Bishops of Rome. Of this the King talked several times with him; and perceiving that he could not be brought to acknowledge the

I.

BOOK Pope's authority, the King called one Dr. Oliver, an eminent lawyer, and other civilians, and devised with them how he Anno 1532. might bestow the archbishopric upon him, salving his conscience. They said, he might do it by way of protestation: and so one to be sent to Rome to take the oath, and do every thing in his name. Cranmer said to this, it should be super animam suam ; and seemed to be satisfied in what the lawyers told him. And accordingly, when he was consecrated, made his protestation, "That he did not admit the Pope's "authority any further than it agreed with the express "word of God: and that it might be lawful for him at all "times to speak against him, and to impugn his errors, "when there should be occasion." And so he did.

The Arch

bishop's

made

Archdea

terbury.

Somner,

Hist. of Cant. p.

Eccles.

Cant.

Whether Warham, the Archdeacon, had conceived any brother is prejudice against our new Archbishop, by some warning given him by the former Archbishop, as was hinted above; con of Can- or whether he was willing to give place upon Cranmer's entreaty, that he might provide for his brother: so it was, that Edmund Cranmer, brother to the Archbishop, succeeded Warham in the archdeaconry of Canterbury, and the provost322. ex lib. ship of Wingham: who parted with both these dignities by cession: and, by the privity and consent of the Archbishop, he had a stipend or pension of sixty pounds per annum allowed him, during his life, out of the archdeaconry; and twenty pounds per annum out of Wingham, by his successor aforesaid: who continued archdeacon until Queen Mary's days, and was then deprived; and his prebend, and his parsonage of Ickham, all taken from him in the year 1554, for being a married clerk. The first was given to Nicholas Harpsfield; the second to Robert Collins, bachelor of law, and commissary of Canterbury; and the third to Robert Marsh.

The King linked Cranmer

with him in all his

The King had before linked him into his great business about Queen Katharine and the Lady Ann. So now, when he had nominated him for Archbishop, he made him a party proceedings and an actor in every step almost which he took in that about Q. affair. For to fetch the matter a little backward; not long before the archiepiscopal see was devolved upon Cranmer, the King had created the Lady Ann Marchioness of Pembroke, and taken her along with him in great state into France; when, by their mutual consent, there was an interview

Katharine.

IV.

appointed between the two Kings. At Calais King Henry CHAP permitted Francis the French King to take a view of this lady, who then made both Kings a curious and rich mask, Anno 1532. where both honoured her by dancing: this was in the month of October. In the month before, I find a parcel of Sept. 21. very rich jewels were sent from Greenwich to HamptonCourt by Mr. Norrys; probably he who was Groom of the Stole, and executed upon Queen Ann's business afterwards. Which jewels, as some of them might be for the King's own wearing, now he was going into France; so in all probability others were either lent or given to the Marchioness to adorn and make her fine, when she should appear and give her entertainment to the French King. For the sake of such as be curious, I have set down, in the Appendix, a particular Appendix, of these most splendid and royal jewels, from an original signed with the King's own hand in token of his receipt of them.

No. III.

Annam

Cranmero

sacra mi

urorem

Immediately after the King's and the Marchioness's return from France, he married her. At which wedding, though very private, the Archbishop was one that assisted, according to the Lord Herbert; but, according to the author of the Rex D. Britannic Antiquities, did the sacred office. When she was Bullenam, crowned Queen, which was Whitsuntide following, the Thoma Archbishop performed the ceremonies. When, after that, the King had a daughter by her, he would have the Archbishop nistrante, assist at the christening, and be her godfather. And before duxit. this, when Queen Katharine was to be divorced from the King, and the Pope's dispensation of that marriage declared null, our Archbishop pronounced the sentence, and made the declaration solemnly and publicly at Dunstable Priory. Thus the King dipped and engaged Cranmer with himself in all his proceeding in this cause. Now as all these doings had danger in them, so especially this last highly provoked the Pope for doing this without his leave and authority, as being a presumptuous encroachment upon his prerogative. Insomuch that a public act was made at Rome, that unless the King undid all that he had done, and restored all things in integrum, leaving them to his decision, he would excommunicate him. And this sentence was affixed and set up publicly at Dunkirk. Which put the King upon an appeal

.I.

Anno 1532.

The King and the

appeal from

council.

BOOK from the Pope to the next general council, lawfully called. The Archbishop also, foreseeing the Pope's threatening hovering likewise over his head, by the King's advice, made his appeal by the English ambassador there. I have seen the Archbishop King's original letter to Dr. Bonner, ordering him to signify the Pope to to the Pope, in order and form of law, his appeal, sending a general him also the instrument of his appeal, with the proxy devised The King for that purpose. This bare date August 18th from his castle at Windsor. I have reposited it in the Appendix. Which in that be- order of the King Bonner did accordingly discharge at an audience he got of the Pope at Marseilles, November 7. And that letter which the Lord Herbert saith he saw of Bonner to the King, wherein he signified as much, must be his answer to this of the King to him.

writes to

Dr. Bonner

half.

No. IV.

Anno 1533.

Dr. Cranmer having now yielded to the King to accept The Arch- the archbishopric, it was in the beginning of the next year, bishop is consecrat- viz. 1533, March 30, and in the 24th of King Henry, that

ed.

The Pope's bulls.

he received his consecration: but that ushered in with abundance of bulls, some dated in February, and some in March, from Pope Clement, to the number of eleven: as may be seen at length in the beginning of this Archbishop's register.

The first was to King Henry, upon his nomination of Cranmer to him to be Archbishop. The Pope alloweth and promoteth him accordingly. The second was a bull to Cranmer himself, signifying the same. The third bull absolved him from any sentences of excommunication, suspension, interdiction, &c. It was written from the Pope to him, under the title of Archdeacon of Taunton in the Church of Wells, and Master in Theology; and ran thus:

Nos ne forsan aliquibus sententiis, censuris et pœnis Ecclesiasticis, ligatus sis, &c. Volentes te a quibusvis excommunicationis, suspensionis, et interdicti, aliisque Ecclesiasticis sententiis, censuris, et pænis, a jure vel ab homine, quavis occasione vel causa latis, &c. Authoritate prædicta, tenore præsentium, absolvimus, et absolutum fore nuntiamus, non obstantibus constitutionibus, et ordinationibus Apostolicis, &c. One might think that this bull was drawn up peculiarly for Cranmer's case: who, by reason he might have been suspected as infected with Lutheranism, or had meddled too much in the King's