accomplished, as farther shall appear unto your lordship by 66 Cardinal Pole, who wished him to settle at Rome. He declined this proposal, and was on his return to England, when he was induced by some reformers to stay for a certain space at Calais. There "he "preached very godly, learnedly, and plainly, mightily inveighing against all papistry, and confuting the same, but especially those two "most pernicious errors or heresies, transubstantiation, and the pesti"lent propitiatory sacrifice of the Romish mass." He also incurred the mortal hatred of the friars by assisting in the exposure of a pretended instance of visible transubstantiation. It was alleged, in proof of the bread being really changed into flesh, that three hosts might be seen lying on a marble stone, besprinkled with blood: but on a search by commission from the King, there were found" instead of three hosts, "three plain white counters which they had painted like unto hosts, "and a bone that is in the tip of a sheep's tail. All which trumpery "Damplip showed unto the people the next day following, which was "Sunday, out of the pulpit." His chief opponents at Calais were John Dove, Prior of the White Friars, and George Buttoll, chaplain to Lord Lisle the Deputy. In consequence of their representations," he was sent for to appear before the Bishop of Canterbury, with whom 66 was assistant Steven Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, Dr. Sampson, "Bishop of Chichester, and divers others, before whom he most con"stantly affirmed and defended the doctrine which he had taught, in such "sort answering, confuting, and soluting the objections, as his adversa"ries, yea, even among the other, the learned, godly, and blessed martyr "Cranmer, then yet but a Lutheran, marvelled at it, and said plainly, that "the Scripture knew no such term of transubstantiation. Then began "the other bishops to threaten him, shortly to confute him with their "accustomed arguments, I mean fire and fagot, if he would still stand "to the defence of that he had spoken. Whereunto he constantly an“swered, that he would the next day deliver unto them fully so much in "writing as he had said, whereunto also he would stand; and so was "dismissed. The next day at the hour appointed to appear, when they "looked surely to have apprehended him, in the mean season he had "secret intimation from the Bishop of Canterbury, that if he did any "more personally appear, he should be committed unto ward, not likely "to escape cruel death. Whereupon he had him commended unto "them, and sent them four sheets of paper learnedly written in the "Latin tongue." ..."Which done, he having a little money given "him by his friends, stepped aside and went into the West Country." He there employed himself for some time in keeping a school; but was apprehended under the Act of the Six Articles in 1539, and lay in prison for several years. As far however as related to his heresy, he was included in a general pardon by Act of Parliament; but he was at last condemned for treason, because he had accepted money from Cardinal Pole towards the expenses of his journey to England, and was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Calais about 1544. This account is from Foxe, Acts, &c. vol. ii. p. 556. It will be observed that it does not perfectly agree with Cranmer's Letters; nor is the Martyrologist correct in stating that Damplip's heresies were covered by the general pardon: for not only were the Sacramentaries, (of whom Damplip was considered one,) excluded from the benefit of that statute, but Damplip himself was excepted by name. See Stat. 32 Hen. VIII. cap. 49; Letters CCXXVIII. CCXXIX; Strype, Cranm. pp. 68. 88; Todd, Life of his letter herein inclosed, I right heartily desire you, my lord, so to tender the said requests, that this said bearer Cranmer, vol. i. p. 175; Part of a Letter from the Deputy of Calais and others, touching Damplip and Stevens. Ano. 30 Hen. VIII. in Harl. MSS. 283. p. 89.] i [This Letter is subjoined. John Butler, the writer of it, had been the Archbishop's Commissary at Calais for several years; and in 1534 he had been employed to take down the Pope's excommunication of Hen. VIII. from the church door at Dunkirk. Now however he shared in the persecution which followed Damplip's preaching. He was charged before the Privy Council in the Star Chamber, with having countenanced Damplip, and with having said that "if the sacrament of "the altar be flesh, blood, and bone, then there is good Aqua vitæ at "John Spicer's;" where, as Strype gravely suggests, there was probably very bad. After long attendance he was discharged, but lost his office. Foxe, Acts, &c. vol. ii. pp. 334. 560; Strype, Cranm. p. 88. An expression in his letter is of great use in fixing the date of these proceedings, respecting which there is much confusion in Foxe and Strype. He speaks of Sunday the 21st of July. He wrote therefore in 1538, for in that year the 21st of July fell on a Sunday. 66 John Butler, Commissary at Calais, to Cranmer. MSS. "In most humble wise please it your Grace to be advertised, that Chapter "Adam Damlippe, bearer hereof, is purposely come over to declare his House, "mind unto your Grace. For it is perceived, that certain which favour Westmin- nothing the truth, would gladly hinder him, if it were in their power, "that he should neither teach nor preach the word of God; as in their Crumwell's" large writing, not only against him, but also against other persons; Corres- "which their writing will not be justified no more than was their false pondence. "suggestion, saying, that there was in Cales which openly and maniOriginal. " festly did deny Christ. Their saying is now, that here are certain ster; "which deny Christ to be put in the sacrament of the altar. I trust "they shall take little honour of their so writing. This bearer will "declare more unto your Grace. I will not write what I have seen, "but I marvel that men will write of malice; saving that they utter "what they are from within forth. God send them a better spirit. Humbly requiring your Grace to be good and gracious lord unto this "bearer, Adam Damplippe, and that he may shortly return to Cales again with your Grace's favourable letters, and my Lord Privy Seal's, "if it be possible they may be obtained of his lordship, to be Curate of "our Lady's church in Cales; and that the Council here may assist ❝ him in reading and preaching the true word of God; for by his long "absence the poor commonalty, which is very desirous to hear him, "shall have great hinderance. "Your Grace might do a right meritorious deed to aid the Prior of "the Friars hence; for I assure your Grace he doth much harm here, "and that secretly. God send him grace to turn unto the truth, as he "promised to do in Lent last past, knowledging himself to be in the wrong; saying to be sorry that he had so long erred from the truth. "Further to advertise your Grace, that I have declared to the Prior "that his third article is not lowable; and he answered me again, that “whosoever did say the contrary of his third article is an heretic, and 66 may return again thither, and there to proceed with quietness as he hath begun; assuring your lordship, that he is of right good knowledge and judgment as far as I can perceive by him; and therefore, if it would please your lordship to direct your favourable letters unto the Council there in his behalf, you should do a right meritorious deed; and surely I will myself write to like effect, but I know your letters shall be much more esteemed and accepted than mine. In accomplishing whereof you shall deserve of Almighty God condign thanks for the same. Thus our Lord have your good lordship in his blessed tuition. At Lambeth, the 24th day of July. [1538.] Your own ever assured, To the Right Honourable and my singular good lord, my Lord Privy Seal. T. Cantuarien. CCXXVI. To CRUMWELL. Chapter ster; My very singular good Lord, in my most hearty wise I MSS. commend me unto your lordship. And whereas I wrote House, unto you about this time twelvemonth of one Robert WestminAntony, subcellerar of Christ's Church in Canterbury, de- Crumwell's claring how that he was run away, and had left a very Corressuspicious letter in his chamber unto the Prior of the house, Original. the copy of which letter I sent at that time unto you, if your lordship can call it unto your remembrance: so it is, "will so prove him. Those words spake he to me upon Sunday, the "21st of this month, in the presence of one Richard Bennet, Alderman "of Cales. And as touching the other two articles, the said Adam and "the Prior do agree in their sayings. God send light where darkness "is. Thus Jesus preserve your Grace in health. From Cales, the "22nd day of July. [1538.] "Your humble servant, "To my Lord of Canterbury's good Grace." k [See Letters CLXXVII. CLXXVIII.] pondence. that the said Robert Anthony, being all this year forth out of this realm without the King's Grace's license, and as I am informed, at Rome, is now come home unto Christ's Church again; and since his coming, as I hear say by such persons as both favoureth God's word and the King's Majesty there, the Prior hath called a chapter, and hath admitted him again into the Convent, as he was before; which in mine opinion is not well done, unless he had been first examined by some of the Council, where he hath been, and upon what occasion he so departed. Therefore, as a thing appertaining unto my duty towards my sovereign lord, I thought it expedient to advertise you thereof, to the intent his Highness may have knowledge of the same: and of this I am sure, that I had letters from a scholar beyond the seas, which met him in a company going to Romeward; but whether he hath been there or no I am not sure. Besides this, my lord, I beseech you to be good lord unto my servant Nevell, this bearer, concerning his suit unto you for his farm at Bowghton under the Blayne, which he had of the Abbot and Convent of Feversham1. The truth is, that at the feast of Easter last past, or thereabout, he was a suitor for the same unto the Abbot and his Convent: notwithstanding, they could not agree, for certain considerations which he can declare unto your lordship; insomuch that tendering his preferment to the same, I both spake to your lordship, and obtained your favourable letters unto the said Abbot and Convent in that behalf, by means only whereof he had a lease of the same under the Convent seal for term of fifty-one years; and so since the feast of Saint John Baptiste m last past, he hath occupied and been in possession thereof, until now, as I am [The Abbey of Feversham was surrendered to Hen. VIII. on the 8th of July 1538, and was granted by him to Sir Thomas Cheyney on the 16th of March 1540. Lewis, Hist. of Feversham Abbey. As this Letter was evidently written soon after the Abbey came into the King's possession, 1538 may be assumed to be its date, and this will authorize the placing of Letters CLXXVII, CLXXVIII. to which it refers, under 1537.] "[The 24th of June.] m informed, that by information of such as of late were the King's Commissioners, the King's Grace's commandment by you is, that he should be dispossessed, unto such time as his Grace's farther pleasure be known; which will be no little to his loss and hinderance, except your goodness be extended unto him in this behalf, assuring your lordship, beside his hinderance herein, it is a great disquietness unto me to perceive my servant and officer, (which hath not only done me good service in my household, but also [hath been] very towards and ready at all times to apply such business as hath been committed unto me by the King's Majesty, as in the last commotion and otherways,) should thus suddenly be expelled for so small advantage. Howbeit, considering that he obtained this thing only by your lordship's letters and favour, I trust you will be no less good lord unto him now, than you have been heretofore; and if by your wisdom and discretion it shall be thought good to reform any thing in his said lease, I doubt not but that he will abide your lordship's direction in that behalf. But to have him clearly excluded, it were too much extremity, considering that he came to the same by his open and honest suit. Thus, my lord, as well in this suit as in all other, both for myself and mine, I have no refuge but only unto your lordship, which to recompense I shall never be able as my mind would give me; beseeching your lordship in this suit that you will be so good lord unto him, as to maintain him in this his just cause. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Lambeth, the iiid day of August. [1538.] Your own ever assured, To the Right Honourable and my very special good lord, my Lord Privy Seal. |