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CHAP. X.

Archbishop Cranmer disputes at Oxon.

334

Cranmer at

Oxford.

A CONVOCATION of the clergy now met in St. Paul's, Anno 1554. but was adjourned, the prolocutor Dr. Weston, Dean of A convoWestminster, and some other of the members, being sent to point a disOxon (and it was generally thought the parliament would pute with remove thither too) to dispute certain points of religion in controversy with three of the heads of the protestant party, Archbishop Cranmer, Bishop Ridley, and old father Latimer, now all prisoners: who, for that purpose, in the month of April, were removed from the Tower, by the Queen's warrant to the Lieutenant, towards Windsor, and there taken into custody of Sir John (afterwards Lord) Williams, who conveyed them to Oxford, there to remain in order to a disputation. The convocation, while they sat at London, agreed upon the questions to be disputed; and they resolved, that these three pious men should be baited by both the universities; and therefore that they of Cambridge should be excited to repair to Oxford, and engage in this disputation also. The questions were these:

I. In sacramento altaris virtute verbi divini a sacerdote The quesprolati, præsens est realiter, sub speciebus panis et vini; natu- tions. rale corpus Christi, conceptum de Virgine Maria: item naturalis ejus sanguis.

II. Post consecrationem non remanet substantia panis et vini, neque alia ulla substantia, nisi substantia Christi, Dei et hominis.

III. In Missa est vivificum ecclesiæ sacrificium pro peccatis, tam vivorum, quam mortuorum, propitiabile.

These questions the convocation sent to the University of Sent to Cambridge, requiring them seriously to weigh and deliberate Cambridge. upon them, and, if they contained true doctrine, then to approve of them. Accordingly the senate of that University met, and, after due deliberation, found them agreeable in all things to the catholick church, and the Scripture, and the ancient doctrine taught by the Fathers: and so did confirm

III.

BOOK and ratify them in their said senate. And because Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, the heads of the hereticks that held Anno 1554. contrary to these articles, were formerly members of their University, and being to be disputed withal at Oxford concerning these points, they decreed, in the name of all the University, to send seven of their learned doctors to Oxford, to take their parts in disputing with them, and to use all ways possible to reclaim them to the orthodox doctrine again. And accordingly the said senate, April 10, made a public instrument to authorize them, in their names, to go to Oxford and dispute: which instrument may be seen in Num. the Appendix. They also wrote a letter, the same date, to the University of Oxford, to signify that they had appointed those persons to repair unto them, not so much to dispute points so professedly orthodox, and agreeable to the Fathers and general Councils, and the Word of God, as to defend those truths in their names, and reduce those patrons of false and corrupt doctrine, if possible, unto a sound mind. Num. This letter is also in the Appendix. So that this coming of the Cambridge divines to Oxford was to seem a voluntary thing, to shew their zeal for popery, and vindication of their University against liking or approbation of Cranmer and his two fellow-prisoners. So roundly was the University already come about to the old forsaken religion.

LXXVII.

LXXVIII.

335

The dispu

Oxford and

This Oxford disputation was after this manner: Hugh tants of Weston, S. T. P. Prolocutor of the lower House of ConCambridge. vocation; Owin Oglethorp, John Seton, W. Chedsey, S. Th. PP.; Hen. Cole, Will. Geffrey, LL. PP.; William Pye, Joh. Feckenham, Joh. Harpsfield, S. T. BB. representing the whole lower House of Convocation, went down to Oxford. To them were joined, by commission, the Chancellor of the University, the Vicechancellor, the professors and doctors, &c. as namely, Holyman, Tresham, Ri. Marshal, Morwent, Smith, S. T. PP. of Oxford: and John Young, William Glyn, Ri. Atkinson, Tho. Watson, Cutbert Scot, Alban Langdale, Tho. Sedgwick, S. Th. PP. of Cambridge; in the name of the whole University. All these being met at St. Mary's, there were read the letters commissional to them, sealed with the Bishop of London's seal, and the subscription besides of the Bishops of Winton, Durham, Wi

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gorn, Chichester, Lincoln, Bath, Ross, Hereford, St. David's, CHAP. Glocester, and Oxon. And with these letters were con- X. veyed certain articles, which had been lately by the upper Anno 1554. House resolved upon; which articles were, of the Sacrament of the Altar, of Transubstantiation, and of the Adoration of the Eucharist, and the Reservation of the Sacrament of the Church, and of its institution, and by whom, and for whom, and to whom, it is to be offered. The contents of the letter were, to summon before them Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, and to propound those articles to them to dispute on publicly. The sum of which, it seems, were contracted into the three questions above said. Then they provided themselves three public notaries. Next, they celebrated and sung the mass of the Holy Ghost. Then they went a procession according to the custom of the University. This formal pageantry being finished, and the commissioners returned to St. Mary's, and being come into the choir, to the number of three and thirty, seated themselves before the altar. And then sent to the Mayor and Bailiffs to bring Dr. Cranmer before them, by virtue of the Queen's letters to them: who within a while was brought, guarded with bill-men.

Coming before them, he gave them great reverence, and Cranmer brought bestood with his staff in his hand. They offered him a stool fore them. to sit, but he refused. Then Weston the prolocutor began a speech, wherein "he commended unity in the church of "Christ and withal, turning to the Archbishop, told him, "how he had been a catholick man once, and in the same "unity; but that he had separated himself from it by "teaching and setting forth erroneous doctrine, making every year a new faith. And therefore that it had pleased "the Queen to send them to him to recover him again, if it "might be, to that unity." And then shewed him the articles to be disputed on, causing them to be read to him, and requiring his answer and opinion thereupon. Then the Archbishop answered extempore, that, as for unity, he was very glad of it; and said, that it was a preserver of all commonwealths, as well heathen as Christian: and illustrated the matter by some stories out of the Roman history. And added, 336 that he should be very glad to come to an unity, so it were in

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III.

BOOK Christ, and according to the church of God. Then he read over the articles three or four times: and, being asked Anno 1554. whether he would subscribe to them, he answered, That in the form of words in which they were conceived, they were all false and against God's word; and therefore that he would not agree in that unity with them. Nevertheless, he said, if they would give him a copy of the articles, and time to consider of them, he would by to-morrow send them an answer. Which was granted him, the Prolocutor bidding him write his mind of them that night. It was moreover agreed between them, that, in whatsoever he dissented from them, they would proceed to public disputation thereupon, in the public schools, by scholastical arguments in Latin. And lastly, they told him, he should have what books he would ask for. And so Weston gave the Mayor charge of him, to be had to Bocardo, where he was before.

His behaviour.

Ridley

His behaviour all this while was so grave and modest, that many masters of art, who were not of his mind, could not forbear weeping. This was the work of Saturday. On Sunday Cranmer sent in what he had writ upon the articles to the Prolocutor to Lincoln College, where he lay.

After Cranmer was carried back, the Mayor and Bailiffs brought, brought Bishop Ridley. And when the same articles were read to him, he said, that they were not true: but desired a copy of them, and he would draw up in writing his answer, and soon transmit it to them. And did offer to dispute, as Cranmer had done before.

And Lati

mer.

Lastly, Latimer was brought, to whom the Prolocutor said as he had to the two former. Latimer confessed, that in the sacrament of the altar there was a certain presence, but not such an one as they would have and he also promised to send them his answer shortly to these articles, requiring a copy. But, by reason of his old age, his infirmities, and the weakness of his memory, he said, he could not bear a dispute; but that he could and would declare his mind of the said articles. All this that I have above said concerning the managery of this affair, I do for the most part extract out of a letter of Weston's, writ unto the Bishop of London, from Oxon. I cannot here omit old

X.

father Latimer's habit at this his appearing before the CHAP. commissioners, which was also his habit while he remained a prisoner in Oxford. He held his hat in his hand; he had Anno 1554. a kerchief on his head, and upon it a night-cap or two, and a great cap such as townsmen used, with two broad flaps, to button under his chin: an old threadbare Bristow freez gown, girded to his body with a penny leather girdle, at which hanged, by a long string of leather, his Testament ; and his spectacles, without case, hanging about his neck upon his breast. This was the work of Saturday.

his dispu

On Monday Cranmer was brought into the respondents' Cranmer place in the Divinity-Schools, the Mayor and Aldermen brought to sitting by him. In the midst of the disputation, because what tation. he was to answer was more than he could well remember extempore, he gave in to Dr. Weston his opinion, written at 337 large, in answer to each proposition; and desired Weston, who sat on high, to read it. These writings are preserved in Fox's Monuments, and may there be seen. This disputation began at eight in the morning, and lasted till two. The Beadle had provided drink, and offered the Archbishop thereof sometimes, but he refused; nor did he stir all the while out of his place, though the Prolocutor had granted him leave to retire for a while, if he had any occasion. And, after having learnedly and boldly maintained the truth against a great many clamorous opponents, he was carried back by the Mayor to prison. And then, the two next days, Ridley and Latimer took their courses.

taries.

Cranmer had cautiously provided two notaries to take His nonotes of what he said, lest he might be misrepresented. And they were Jewel, afterward Bishop of Sarum, and one Gilbert Mounson: who also at Ridley's request, were granted him.

demands.

Cranmer required, at the commissioners' hands, more Cranmer's time to have these weighty matters more diligently scanned and examined: urging, that he had so much to speak, that it would take up many days, that he might fully answer to all that they could say. He required also, that he and his fellows might oppose, as well as respond that they might produce their proofs before the popish doctors, and be answered fully to all that they could say. But neither

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