66 66 present state of the as to their libro 2. well he wished it for the sake of religion, acquainted him CHAP. with the state of the university about the beginning of King VI. Edward's reign, and the course of the studies that were then Anno 1547. used. "That there were very many began to affect the study "of divinity." [A new study, it seems, then; the Pope's university, laws and the schoolmen having before employed the heads studies. of almost all.] "That the doctrines of original sin and Epistol. "predestination were much canvassed: but many went "rather according to Pighius, highly applauding him, than according to St. Augustin, though he exceeded all others "that either went before, or followed after him, for the excellency of his wit and learning, and the greatness of "his industry and opportunities. That others among them "made the reading of God's word their daily exercise: and "for the helping their understandings in the sense of it, "they made use of, and adhered to, the judgment of St. Augustin chiefly; and studied hard the tongues. The knowledge of languages began to be affected: and such as studied them were reckoned the best masters; as qualifying them best for teaching of others, or understanding "themselves. That for oratory, they plied Plato and Ari"stotle; from whose fountains among the Greeks, loquens "illa prudentia, (as he styled oratory,) that speaking prudence "might be fetched. And to these among the Latins they "added Cicero. They conversed also in Herodotus, Thu 66 66 66 cydides, and Xenophon, the three lights of chronology, ' truth, and Greek eloquence; and which brought a great "lustre to their other studies. The Greek poets, which they took delight in, were Homer, Sophocles, and Euripi- 170 "des; the one the fountain, the two others the streams, “of all eloquence and learned poetry: which, they were "of opinion, did more largely water their other studies "than Terence or Virgil; which in some former years "were chiefly read." Thus was the method of university studies altered (so much for the better) from reading the schoolmen, and metaphysical niceties, the Pope's canons and decretals, to converse in politer and more manly learning, which tended so much to solid knowledge, and preparation of men's minds to the entertainment of the Gospel. BOOK Sir John Cheke, the Archbishop's dear friend, the prime in strument of 66 The great setter on foot of this ingenuous learning in the university was Sir John Cheke, of St. John's College, now Anno 1547. preferred to be the King's tutor; a person for whom the Archbishop had a very tender love and affectionate kindness. For so Ascham writ to him in his former letter: "That many had addicted themselves to this course of study by "the aid and conduct, example and counsel, of that excellent man and that they bore the better his going from "them to the court, who had brought them on in so good "a course, because they knew their disprofit was abundantly recompensed by the profit and safety that would "accrue to the whole commonwealth by him." Applying that of Plato to him, Plurimum reipublicæ interesse, ut unus aliquis existat semper præstans excellensque vir, ad cujus virtutis imitationem, cæteri voluntate, industria, studio, et spe erecti, totos sese effingant et accommodent. politer studies there. The im 66 Afterwards he acquainted the most reverend person, to pediments whom he wrote, with those things which proved great versity's hinderances to the flourishing estate of the university; that flourishing state laid by his counsel and authority, if possible, they might be rebefore him. dressed. And they were two. "The one was, that they "wanted elderly men, very few such remaining among "them, by whose example the younger sort might be ex"cited to study, and by whose authority the manners of "the rest might be rightly formed and fashioned. The "other impediment was occasioned by such as were ad"mitted: who were for the most part only the sons of rich men, and such as never intended to pursue their studies to "that degree as to arrive at any eminent proficiency and 66 perfection in learning, but only the better to qualify "themselves for some places in the state, by a slighter and more superficial knowledge. The injury accruing thence "to the university was double; both because, by this means, "all hope of ripe and completed learning was immaturely "cut off in the very bud; and also all the expectations of "the poorer sort, whose whole time was spent in good studies, was eluded by these drones occupying those places "and preferments which more properly belonged unto "them for parts, learning, poverty, and election, were of 66 no strength at home, where favour and countenance, and CHAP. "the letters of noblemen, and such-like extraordinary and illegal courses from abroad, bore all the sway." VI. Anno 1547. AND CHAP. VII. Dr. Smith and others recant. now, before I conclude this year, let me pass from more public matters, and present the reader with two or three passages, wherein the Archbishop had to do with private men. 171 recants at May the 15th, Richard Smith, D. D. Master of Whit-Dr. Smith tington College, and reader of divinity in Oxford, a hot Paul's turbulent man, made his recantation at Paul's Cross, con- Cross. vinced and moved thereunto by the pains of the Archbishop. What his errors were, that he had publicly vented in the university, and in his writings, may be known by the words of his recantation, which were these: "I do confess and acknowledge, that the authority, as "well of the Bishop of Rome, whose authority is justly and "lawfully abolished in this realm, as of other bishops, and "others called the ministers of the church, consisteth in "the dispensation and ministration of God's word, and not " in making laws, ordinances, and decrees over the people, "besides God's word, without the consent and authority of "the prince and people. I say and affirm, that within this realm of England, and other the King's dominions, there "is no law, decree, ordinance, or constitution ecclesiastical, “in force, and available by any man's authority, but only "by the King's Majesty's authority, or of his parliament." This man had wrote two books in favour of popish doc- His books. trine; and those he also now disclaimed, viz. A book of traditions, and another of the sacrifice of the mass. In the former of which he maintained, "That Christ and his Apostles taught and left to the church many things with"out writing; which," he asserted, "were stedfastly to be believed, and obediently fulfilled, under pain of damna II. BOOK "tion." In the other book he maintained, "that Christ "was not a priest after the order of Melchizedeck, when he Anno 1547. « offered himself upon the cross fr our sins, but after Num. "the order of Aaron: and that when Christ did offer his 66 body to his Father, after the order of Melchizedek, to ap"pease his wrath, it was to be understood not of the sacri"fice of the cross, but of the sacrifice that he made at his maundy, in form of bread and wine." In which book were other errors. He that is minded to see his recantation of these his books, may have it in the Appendix, as I XXXIX. transcribed it out of an old book made by Becon, intituled, Reports of certain Men. This recantation he not long after made at Oxon, viz. in August following: where he also protested openly, "That he would abide in the sincere and "pure doctrine of Christ's Gospel, all human trifling tradi"tions set apart, even unto death, though it should cost "him his life." And this recantation he also printed, for further satisfaction to the world. Gardiner offended with this recantation. 11. 66 66 He Bishop Gardiner, who was now at Winchester, was very uneasy at the news of this recantation, which some took care to bring down to him. He signified to the Protector, "That Smith was a man with whom he had no familiarity, 172" nor cared for his acquaintance: that he had not seen “him in three years, nor talked with him in seven. Psal. cxvi. was greatly displeased with the first words of his recantation, (which yet were but the words of Scripture,) "Omnis homo mendax: making all the doctors in the church "(as he inferred) to be liars with himself: how it argued "his pride; for he that sought for such company in lying, “had small humility; and that he would hide himself by that "number: that his depraving of man's nature in that sort "was not the setting out of the authority of Scripture." He said, "he neither liked his tractation, nor yet his retrac"tation. That he was mad to say in his book of Un"written Verities, that bishops in this realm could make Other uni- "laws, wherein," he said, " he lied loudly." About this time Chadsey, Standish, Yong, Oglethorp, and divers others, recanted, (whose recantations Fox had by him to shew,) as well as Smith, whom we have now before us. versity-men recant. After this recantation he carried not himself according to VII. Smith Arch bishop. it; but favoured the old errors: and in the year 1549, CHAP. offered some affront unto Archbishop Cranmer, opposing him in the doctrine of the lawfulness of priests' marriage, Anno 1547. and endeavoured to make a rout in Oxford, to the endan- affronts the gering Peter Martyr's life and printed a book the same year against him, De Votis Monasticis. Whereupon incurring, as he apprehended, some danger, he fled into Scotland. But weary of being there, and willing to have his peace made in England, he wrote two letters to the Archbishop from thence; professing that he would out of hand, by open writing in the Latin tongue, revoke all that erroneous doctrine which he had before taught and published, and set forth the pure doctrine of Christ: and, for a proof hereof, he would straight after his return into England set forth a book in Latin, in defence of the most lawful marriage of priests. In the year 1550, he wrote certain treatises against Peter Martyr, printed at Lovain: and the same year came out his book against the Archbishop's treatise of the sacrament. This man was of a most inconstant, as well as turbulent His inconspirit for in the reign of Queen Mary he turned to the stancy. religion then professed; and was great with Bishop Boner in those times, but greatly despised for his fickleness. He once attempted to discourse with Hawks in Boner's house in London; Hawks threw in his dish his recantation. To which when he said it was no recantation, but a declaration, the other gave him this rub: "To be short, I will know, 66 whether you will recant any more ere ever I talk with "you, or believe you?" and so departed from him. shall hear of him again in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when he again complied, and submitted himself to Archbishop Parker: and last of all returned to his old opinions, and fled to Lovain. monition to Pass we from this man to another of the same strain, with The Archwhom the Archbishop had to do. As the popish clergy in bishop's adthe former King's reign had made all the rudest and eagerest the Vicar of opposition they dared against the steps that were then made Stepney. towards a reformation, so they ceased not to do in this King's; nay, and more, hoping to shelter themselves under a |