I. BOOK ing, upon their oaths, what they had indeed done, and was proved manifestly to their faces. Hereupon they were adAnno 1543. judged perjured persons, and appointed to ride through Windsor, Reading, and Newbery, where they had done most mischief, with their faces towards the horse-tail, and a paper upon their heads, declaring their crime; and to stand upon the pillory in each of those towns. And that punishment they underwent, and then were sent to the Fleet. London not long after died there, probably out of shame and sorrow: this was the end of one of these conspirators. German Gardiner was a year after hanged, drawn, and quartered, as a traitor, for denying the King's supremacy. And the Bishop of Winchester after this never had favour or regard of the King more. And Heywood, another of the crew of the informers and witnesses, was condemned for treason with Gardiner; but making a recantation, his life was spared. The Arch bishop ac fore the Parliament. CHAP. XXVIII. The Archbishop falls into more Troubles. AFTER this, the Archbishop received two terrible shocks more, if I am right in the placing them, as I think I am, though I leave Fox to follow Morice, the Archbishop's secretary, in his manuscript declaration of the said Archbishop. The former was a complaint that was made openly against him in parliament; and the latter, when the lords of the privy-council accused him unto the King, and required that he should be sent to the Tower. Sir John Gostwick, a knight for Bedfordshire, a man of cused be- great service in his time, but papistical, stood up in the house, and laid to his charge his sermons and lectures, both MS. Deca- at Sandwich and Canterbury, containing, as he said, maniration of fest heresy against the sacrament of the altar. Though it was much they should accuse him in that point, seeing he then held a corporal presence; but it displeased them that it was after the Lutheran way, rather than after theirs of transubstantiation. But the King perceived easily this pro Archbishop Cranmer. ceeded of malice, for that he was a stranger in Kent, and CHAP. had neither heard the Archbishop preach nor read there. XXVIII. Knowing thereby that he was set on, and made an instru- Anno 1543. ment to serve other men's purposes; the King marvellously stormed at the matter, calling Gostwick openly carlet, and said, "That he had played a villainous part, to abuse in open parliament the Primate of the realm, especially "being in favour with his Prince as he was. What will they "do with him," said he, "if I were gone?" Whereupon the King sent word unto Gostwick, by one of his privychamber, after this sort; "Tell the varlet Gostwick, that "if he do not acknowledge his fault unto my Lord of "Canterbury, and so reconcile himself towards him that he may become his good lord, I will soon both make him a "poor Gostwick, and otherwise punish him, to the example " of others. He wondered," he said, "he could hear my "Lord of Canterbury preaching out of Kent: and that if 124 "he had been a Kentish-man, he might have had some 66 more shadow to put up an accusation against him." Now Gostwick, hearing of this grievous threat, came with all possible speed unto Lambeth, and there submitted himself in such sorrowful case, that my Lord out of hand not only forgave all his offences, but also went directly unto the King for the obtaining of the King's favour; which he obtained very hardly, and upon condition that the King might hear no more of his meddling that way. This happened, I suppose, in the parliament that began in January, and continued till March 29, 1544. The Archbishop's The palace palace at Canterbury was this year burnt, and therein his brother-in-law, and other men, according to Stow. I find no bishops consecrated in this year. of Canterbury burnt. The coun cil accuse At length the confederacy of the papists in the privy- Anno 1544. council (whereof I suspect the Duke of Norfolk to be one, a great friend of Winchester's, by whose instigation this de- the Archbishop. sign was set on foot) came and accused him most grievously unto the King; "That he, with his learned men, had so "infected the whole realm with their unsavoury doctrine, "that three parts of the land were become abominable "heretics: and that it might prove dangerous to the King, BOOK 66 "being like to produce such commotions and uproars as "were sprung up in Germany. And therefore they desired, Anno 1544. “ that the Archbishop might be committed unto the Tower, " until he might be examined." The King was very strait in granting this. They told him, "That the Archbishop being one of the privy-council, no man dared to object "matter against him, unless he were first committed to "durance which being done, men would be bold to tell "the truth, and say their consciences." Upon this persuasion of theirs, the King granted unto them that they should call him the next day before them, and, as they saw cause, so to commit him to the Tower. The King sends pri vately for the Arch. bishop. At midnight, about eleven of the clock, before the day he should appear before the council, the King sent Mr. Denny to my Lord at Lambeth, willing him incontinently to come over to Westminster to him. The Archbishop was in bed, but rose straightway and repaired to the King, whom he found in the gallery at Whitehall. Being come, the King declared unto him what he had done, in giving liberty to the council to commit him to prison: for that they bare him in hand, that he and his learned men had sown such doctrine in the realm, that all men almost were infected with heresy; and that no man durst bring matter against him, being at liberty, and one of the council. And therefore I have granted to their request, said the King; but whether I have done well or no, what say you, my Lord? The Archbishop first humbly thanked the King that it had pleased him to give him that warning beforehand and that he was very well content to be committed to the Tower for the trial of his doctrine, so that he might be indifferently heard; as he doubted not but that his Majesty would see him so to be used. Whereat the King cried out, "O Lord "God, what fond simplicity have you, so to permit yourself 125" to be imprisoned, that every enemy of yours may take "advantage against you! Do not you know, that when they have you once in prison, three or four false knaves "will soon be procured to witness against you, and con"demn you; which else, now being at liberty, dare not "once open their lips, or appear before your face? No, not so, my Lord," said the King, "I have better regard unto you than to permit your enemies so to overthrow you: CHAP. "and therefore I will have you to-morrow come to the XXVIII. council, which no doubt will send for you: and, when Anno 1544. "they break this matter unto you, require them, that, being 66 one of them, you may have so much favour as they would "have themselves; that is, to have your accusers brought "before you. And if they stand with you, without regard "of your allegations, and will in no condition condescend "unto your request, but will needs commit you to the Tower, then appeal you from them to our person, and give to them this my ring; (which he then delivered unto "the Archbishop; (by the which," said the King, "they shall “well understand that I have taken your cause into my "hand from them. Which ring they well know, that I use "it for no other purpose, but to call matters from the coun"cil into mine own hands, to be ordered and determined." And with this good advice Cranmer, after most humble thanks, departed from the King's Majesty. The matter seemed strange fore the The next morning, according to the King's monition, and Comes behis own expectation, the council sent for him by eight of council. the clock in the morning. And when he came to the council-chamber-door, he was not permitted to enter into the council-chamber, but stood without among serving-men and lacquies above three quarters of an hour; many counsellors and others going in and out. unto his secretary, who then attended upon him; which made him slip away to Dr. Butts, to whom he related the manner of the thing: who by and by came, and kept my Lord company. And yet, ere he was called into the council, Dr. Butts went to the King, and told him, that he had seen a strange sight. What is that? said the King. Marry, said he, my Lord of Canterbury is become a lacquey, or a serving-man: for to my knowledge he hath stood among them this hour almost at the council-chamber-door. Have they served my Lord so? "It is well enough," said the King; "I shall talk with them by and by." Anon, Cranmer was called into the council; there it was declared unto him, that a great complaint was made of him, both to the King and to them, That he, and others by his permission, had infected the whole realm with heresy: and therefore it was the I. Anno 1544. BOOK King's pleasure that they should commit him to the Tower, and there for his trial, to be examined. Cranmer required, as is before declared, with many, both reasons and persuasions, that he might have his accusers come there before them, before they used any further extremity against him. In fine, there was no entreaty could serve, but that he must needs depart to the Tower. "I am sorry, my Lords,” said Cranmer," that you drive me unto this exigent, to appeal "from you to the King's Majesty; who by this token hath "resumed this matter into his own hand, and dischargeth you thereof:" and so delivered the King's ring unto them. By and by the Lord Russel swore a great oath, and said, "Did not I tell you, my Lords, what would come of "this matter? I know right well that the King would 126" The King rebukes the Cranmer. 66 never permit my Lord of Canterbury to have such a "blemish as to be imprisoned, unless it were for high"treason." And so, as the manner was, when they had once received that ring, they left off their matter, and went all unto the King's person, both with his token and the cause. When they came unto his Highness, the King said unto council for them, "Ah, my Lords, I thought that I had had a discreet " and wise council; but now I perceive that I am deceived. "How have you handled here my Lord of Canterbury? "What make ye of him? A slave? shutting him out of "the council-chamber among serving-men. Would ye be "so handled yourselves?" And after such taunting words as these spoken, the King added, "I would you should well "understand, that I account my Lord of Canterbury as "faithful a man towards me as ever was prelate in this "realm, and one to whom I am many ways beholden, by "the faith I owe unto God;" and so laid his hand upon his breast. "And therefore who loveth me," said he, "will 66 upon that account regard him." And with these words all, and especially my Lord of Norfolk, answered and said, "We meant no manner of hurt unto my Lord of Canter"bury, that we requested to have him in durance: which 66 66 we only did, because he might, after his trial, be set at liberty to his greater glory." "Well," said the King, " I "pray you use not my friends so. I perceive now well |