XIII.

them by Christ, and used in the primitive church. For CHAP. "it is, say they, out of all doubt, that Christ's faith was "then most firm and pure, and the scriptures of God were Anno 1537. "then best understood, and virtue did then most abound "and excel. And therefore the customs and ordinances "then used and made, must needs be more conform and "agreeable unto the true doctrine of Christ, and more conducing to the edifying and benefit of the church of Christ, "than any custom or laws used or made since that time, "This he collected out of their exposition of the sacrament "of orders."

66

The said learned author observed, that this doctrine was set forth by the whole authority of the bishops in those days, presented by the subscription of all their names. And since the time of their presenting thereof, by the space almost of twenty years, (that is, to the middle of Queen Mary,) never revoked, but continually from time to time taught by this book, and by such other declarations.

posers.

And that one more particular relating to this book may Names of be known, namely, who the bishops and other divines were the comthat composed it, and that were commissioned so to do, I shall record their names, as they were found writ by the hand of Dr. Sam. Ward, in his own book, now in the possession of N. B. a reverend friend of mine; who hath well deserved of this history.

Thomas Cant. Jo. Lond. Steph. Winton. Jo. Exon. Jo. Lincoln. Jo. Bathon. Roland. Coven. et Lich. Tho. Elien. Nic. Sarum. Jo. Bang. Edward Heref. Hugo. Wigorn. Jo. Roffen. Ric. Cicestr. Guilielm. Norv. Guilielm. Menevens. Rob. Assav. Rob. Landav. Edoard Ebor. Cuthb. Dunelm. Rob. Carliolen.

Richard. Wolman, Archidiac. Sudbur. Guil. Knight, Archid. Richmon. Jo. Bell, Archid. Gloc. Edmund. Bonner, Archid. Leicestr. John Skip, Archid. Dorset. Nic. Hethe, Archid. Stafford. Cuthb. Marshal, Archid. Nottingham. Rich. Curren, Archid. Oxon.

Gulielm. Cliff, Galfridus Downes, Robertus Oking, Radul. Bradford, Richardus Smith, Simon Matthew, Joannes Pryn, Guliel. Buckmaster, Guliel. May, Nic. Wotton, Ric. Coxe, Joannes Edmunds, Thomas Robertson, Joannes Baker,

BOOK Thomas Barret, Joannes Hase, Joannes Tyson, sacræ theologiæ, juris ecclesiastici et civilis professores.

1.

Anno 1537.

In the year 1543, the same book was printed again, amended much both in sense and language: yet not having any step in the progress of the reformation more than the former, each edition expressing positively the corporal pre

sence in the sacrament. But in this is much added about free-will, which it asserts, and good works. In 1544, the same was printed again at London in Latin, intituled, Pia et Catholica Christiani Hominis Institutio.

into his diocese.

55

CHAP. XIV.

The Archbishop visits his Diocese.

Goes down As soon as this business was over with the Archbishop and Bishops at Lambeth, no parliament sitting this year, and a plague being in London and Westminster, he went down, as was said before, into his diocese. But before he went, he expressed a great desire to wait upon the King, being then, I suppose, at Hampton Court, or Windsor; but he feared he should not be permitted, coming out of the smoky air, as he wrote to the Lord Crumwel, in that time of infection. Yet he desired to know the King's pleasure by him. He had a mind indeed to leave some good impressions upon the King's mind in the behalf of the book, that he and the rest had taken such pains about, and but newly made an end of. But whether he saw the King now or no, he had his commission, and took it down with him. Which he advisedly did, the better to warrant and bear him out in what he intended to do in his diocese, which he purposed to visit.

Gets a license to visit.

This was a year of visitation. For there was a new visitation now again appointed throughout all England; to see how the people stood affected to the King, to discover cheats and impostures, either in images, relics, or such like. The Archbishop also thinking good now to visit his diocese, procured the license of the vicegerent, Lord Crumwel, so to do:

XIV.

because, I suppose, all other visitations were to cease, to give CHAP. way to the King's visitation. And to render his power of visiting the more unquestionable, and void of scruple, he de- Anno 1537. sired the Vicegerent, that, in drawing up of his commission, his license to visit might be put into it by Dr. Peter; who was then, if I mistake not, master of the faculties to the said Vicegerent, and afterwards secretary of state. And because he would not do any thing without the counsel and allowance of the Vicegerent, he asked his advice, how he should order in his visitation such persons as had transgressed the King's injunctions. Which came out the year before under Crumwel's name: whereof some were for the restraint of the number of holy-days, a great cause of superstition, and of the continuance of it. And afterwards other injunctions came out whereof the first was, that in all parishes, once every Sunday, for a quarter of a year together, the supremacy should be taught, and the laws to that intent read. These injunctions were in number eleven, as they are set down in the Lord Herbert's history.

Pag. 472.

The Vicar of Croydon, under the Archbishop's nose, had The Vicar been guilty of certain misdemeanours: which, I suppose, of Croydon. were speaking or preaching to the disparagement of the King's supremacy, and in favour of the Pope. Now before he went into the country, and having as yet divers bishops and learned men with him at Lambeth, he thought it advisable to call this man before them at this time. But before he would do it, he thought it best to consult with Crumwel, and take his advice, whether he should now do it, and before these bishops or not: so ticklish a thing then 56 was it for the bishops to do any things of themselves without the privity and order of this great Vicegerent. Cranmer was aware of it, and therefore required direction from him in every thing.

visits

But whatsoever was done with this Vicar, the Archbi- The Archbishop shop was soon down in his diocese; and, having taken an his account of the people and clergy, what conformity they diocese. bare to the King's laws and injunctions; he found them superstitiously set upon the observation of their old holydays. Some whereof he punished, and others he admonished, according to the degree of their crimes. And he

I.

BOOK discovered the chief cause to lie in the curates and priests, who did animate the people to what they did indeed their Anno 1537. interest and gain was concerned. The great inconvenience of these holy-days lay partly in the numerousness of them: so that the attendance upon them hindered dispatching, and doing justice in Westminster Hall in the terms, and the gathering in harvest in the country: partly in the superstitions that these holy-days maintained, in the idolatrous worship of supposed saints; and partly in the riot, debauchery, and drunkenness, that these times were celebrated with among the common people; and lastly, the poverty it brought upon the meaner sort, being detained from going about their ordinary labours and callings, to provide for themselves and families.

What

took for the

For the prevention of these superstitions for the future, course he and to make the people more obedient to the King's laws, preventing he gave out strict orders to all parsons of parishes, upon of supersti- pain of deprivation, that they should cause the abrogated

tion.

holy-days not to be observed for the future; and to present to the Archbishop all persons in their respective parishes, as should do contrary to any of the King's ordinances already set forth, or that should be hereafter by his authority, relating to the doctrine and ceremonies of the church. And this course he conceived so good an expedient, that he counselled the Lord Vicegerent, that all bishops in their several dioceses might be commanded to do the same, for the avoiding of disobedience and contention in the realm. By which means, he said, "the evil-will of the people "might be conveyed from the King and his council, upon "the ordinaries: and so the love and obedience of the

people better secured to their sovereign." Such was his care of his prince, to preserve him in the affections of his people, that he was willing to take upon himself their enmity, that it might not light upon the King. But Cranmer had observed these holy-days were kept by many, even in the court under the King's eye; which he well knew was an example and encouragement to the whole nation. And therefore he signified to the Lord Crumwel, that they could never persuade the people to cease from keeping them, when the King's own household were an example unto

the rest to break his own ordinances. See his letter to CHAP. Crumwel in the Appendix.

XIV.

Anno 1537.
No. XIX.

CHAP. XV.

57

The Bible printed.

the pub

Bible.

He was now at Ford; and it was in the month of August, His joy at when something fell out that gave the good Archbishop as lishing the much joy as ever happened to him in all the time of his English prelacy. It was the printing of the Holy Bible in the English tongue in the great volume: which was now finished, by the great pains and charges of Richard Grafton the printer. Osiander, who knew the Archbishop well when he was the King's ambassador in Germany, saith of him, that he was sacrarum literarum studiosissimum. Indeed he always had a great value for the Scriptures, because they were the word of God: and extraordinary desirous he was, from the very first entrance upon his bishopric, that the people might have the liberty of reading it; and, for that purpose, to have it interpreted into the vulgar language. And so, by Crumwel's means, he got leave from the King that it might be translated and printed. The care of the translation lay wholly upon him; assigning little portions of this holy book to divers bishops and learned men to do; and, being dispatched, to be sent back to him. But he could not see his desire effected by these men, till it was happily done by other hands: and, to his inexpressible satisfaction, he saw the work finished in this year, about July or August.

As soon as some of the copies came to his hand, one he Presents one by sent to Crumwel, entreating him that he would present it Crumwel from him to the King, (and no question he thought it the to the King. noblest present that ever he made him ;) and withal to intercede with his Majesty, that the said book might by his authority be both bought and used by all indifferently. Both which Crumwel did. For which the Archbishop was full of gladness and gratitude; and wrote two letters to him

VOL. I.