XIX. of Somerset, the Earls of Wiltshire and Bedford, and Sir CHAP. Edward North: wherein they denied any such matter; saying, "that the Bishop defended his cause with untruths, and Anno 1550. "that, upon their fidelities and honours, his tale was false "and untrue; for that their coming to him in the Tower 66 66 was to do their endeavour to reclaim him. And they prayed the commissioners, that, for their vindication, they "would cause this their letter to be publicly read." Which was accordingly done; though the Bishop, thinking how this would reflect upon him under his former protestation, laboured hard that he might first be heard, and that he had something to propose why it should not be read. notwithstanding they would not grant. Which January 19. The council sitting at Greenwich, the Bishop's servants came and desired, that certain of them might be sworn upon certain articles for witness on his behalf. And if they might not be sworn, that upon their honours, as they would answer before God, they would witness truly according to their conscience, and as effectually as if they were sworn upon a book. And they were allowed. offers his book a Cranmer sioners. The Bishop, to make his cause the more plausible, as Gardiner though he were the public defender of the Roman catholic church in England at this time, laboured to make it believed, gainst that he fell into all this trouble for the defence of the real to the presence in the sacrament, and for maintaining the catholic commisdoctrine in a sermon before the King; and that he made his book to vindicate himself therein. And therefore, in one of his appearances before the commissioners, openly in the court delivered them his book against Archbishop Cranmer, printed in France: and, to make it suit the better, he had altered some lines in the beginning of his book, so as to make it to relate to his present case. But in truth Gardiner had wrote and finished his book before. This Cranmer un- Page 2. veiled in his answer to this book of Gardiner's saying there, "that he made his book before he was called before "the commissioners, as he could prove by a book under "his own hand-writing; and that he was called before the commissioners by his own suit and procurement, and as it "were enforcing the matter. But indeed the true cause was, that he was called to justice for his manifest con 66 BOOK Anno 1550. 225 He is deprived. The council's order for his strait confinement. Council- "tempt and continual disobedience from time to time, or "rather rebellion against the King's Majesty; and was deprived of his state for the same. 66 In short, after a great deal of pains and patience, the Bishop was by the Archbishop and the rest of the commissioners deprived, after no less than two and twenty sessions, held at divers places, that is, from the 15th of December to the 14th of February: though Stow falsely nameth but seven. The Bishop, when he saw the sentence definitive ready to be pronounced, made an appeal from them to the King: for his doing which he produced these reasons. For that these his pretended judges were not indifferent, but prejudiced against him. That my Lord of Canterbury had caused him to be sent to prison, (whereas the Archbishop was only present at the council when he was by them ordered to the Tower:) and so had Hales, Goodrick, and Gosnold counselled to send him thither. Also, that the Archbishop, and the Bishops of London and Lincoln, did contrary to the laws ecclesiastical, and taught and set forth manifest condemned errors against the presence in the sacrament. And because the Bishop, as well in his writings, as otherwise, did set forth the catholic faith of the very presence of Christ's body and blood: therefore they shewed themselves unduly affected towards him. That Sir William Petre decreed the fruits of his bishoprick to be sequestered de facto, sed non de jure, and now was judge in his own cause. notwithstanding this appeal, the Archbishop with the rest of the commissioners pronounced him deprived, and his bishoprick void. After this was done, the Bishop appealed again to the King, instantly, more instantly, most instantly, from their sentence as injust, and of no effect in law; and asked of them letters dimissory to be granted to him, and a copy of the judgment. But the judges declared they would first know the pleasure of the King and his council therein. And so this last session brake up. But The day after, being the 15th of February, the council sitting at Westminster, upon debating the Bishop of Winton's case; "Forasmuch as it appeared he had at all times, be"fore the judges of his cause, used himself unreverently to "the King's Majesty, and slanderfully towards his council; 66 " and especially yesterday, being the day of his judgment CHAP. given against him, he called his judges heretics and sa- XIX. cramentaries, they being there the King's commissioners, Anno 1550. "and of his Highness's council; it was therefore concluded 66 66 by the whole board, that he should be removed from the "lodging he hath now in the Tower to a meaner lodging, "and none to wait upon him but one, by the Lieutenant's appointment, in such sort as by the resort of any man to "him, he have not the liberty to send out to any man, or "to hear from any man. And likewise that his books and papers be taken from him, and seen; and that from "henceforth he have neither pen, ink, nor paper to write "his detestable purposes, but be sequestered from all con"ferences, and from all means that may serve him to prac"tise any way." 66 made Bi March 8, at Westminster. This day, by the King's Ma- Poynet jesty's own appointment, Dr. Poynet, Bishop of Rochester, shop of was chosen Bishop of Winchester. And the Archbishop of Winton. Canterbury had given him 266l. 138. 4d. (i.e. 400 marks) for his pains and charges about the Bishop of Winchester. And thus I have, from very authentic authority, gathered 226 together these memorials of this turbulent haughty man; who was now so seasonably laid aside in this King's reign, till we hear of him loudly in the next; when he sufficiently wracked his revenge against our good Archbishop and the true religion. СНАР. ХX. Bishop Hethe and Bishop Day, their Deprivations. WHILE the aforesaid Bishop lay under sequestration in Other po pish Bi shops dealt the Tower, two other Bishops, that were wayward to the King's proceedings in the reformation of the church, (viz. with. of Worcester and Chichester,) came under the hands of the privy-council, resolving to make them comply, or deprive them that others, more willing and better affected to reformation, might succeed and do service in the church; and II. BOOK that the Archbishop might go forward with less stop and impediment in the good work he had dedicated himself Anno 1550. unto. Both of them were of the Archbishop's raising, and seemed very compliant with the Archbishop during King Henry's reign. But now both hung off from him, seeming much offended with him for his relinquishing the doctrine of the corporeal presence, and for writing a book against it: whereof they made mention, with dislike, in their depositions in the Bishop of Winchester's trial before the commissioners. Bishop Hethe's troubles. Sent for council. Council Book. In the last year, the year 1549, twelve learned divines, bishops and others, were appointed by the council to prepare a new book for the ordination of ministers, purged of the superstitions of the old ordinal. Hethe Bishop of Worcester was nominated for one of these: but he, not liking the thing, would not agree to what the others did, nor subscribe the book when made. For which, in March, he was committed to the Fleet; where he lay under easy confinement all the next year, the year 1550; during which time I find him once produced as a witness on Bishop Gardiner's behalf. But in the year 1551, the court being at Chelsey, and the before the council sitting September 22, by virtue of the King's express commandment, Nicolas Bishop of Worcester was sent for, and came before the Lords and others: to whom was repeated the cause of his imprisonment to be, for that he refused to subscribe the book devised for the form of making archbishops, bishops, priests, and deacons, being authorized by parliament. At the time of which refusal, being not only gently and reasonably required to subscribe it, but also being manifestly taught by divers other learned men, that all things contained in the book were good and true, and that the book was expedient and allowable, the said Bishop declared himself to be a very obstinate man. And for this his doing, it was now shewed unto him, that he deserved longer imprisonment. Nevertheless the King's Majesty's clemency was such, that now if he had, or would reconcile himself to obey his Majesty in this former commandment, he should 227 recover the King's Majesty's favour. For which cause it was told him, that he was then presently sent for, and willed now to subscribe the same. Whereunto he answered, CHAP. 66 XX. alleged, and that also he was very gently used, rather Anno 1550. "like a son than a subject. Nevertheless," he said, “he re"mained still in the same mind, not willing to subscribe it, "although he would not disobey it." And although he was reasoned withal by every of the said council in disproving his manner of answer, that he would not subscribe it, being every thing in the said book, true and good; and being devised by eleven other learned men, to which he was joined as the twelfth, and received of all the whole estate of the realm; agreeing also that he would obey it, not subscribe it, which contained a contradiction in reason: yet he still, as a man not removeable from his own conceit, refused to subscribe it. Whereupon, to prove all manner of ways for the winning of him to his duty, he was offered to have conference with learned men, and to have time to consider the matter better. Whereunto he said, "That he could not have "better conference than he had heretofore: and well might "he have time, but of other mind he thought never to be: "adding, that there were many other things whereunto he "would never consent, if he were demanded, as to take "down the altars and set up tables." And in this sort, seeing him obstinately settled in mind not to be conformable, he was in the King's Majesty's name expressly commanded and charged to subscribe the same book before Thursday next following, being the 24th hereof, upon pain of deprivation of his bishoprick, to all and singular effects which might follow thereof. And hearing the commandment, he resolutely answered, "He could not find in his conscience to "do it, and should be well content to abide such end, either by deprivation or otherwise, as pleased the King's Ma"jesty." And so, as a man incorrigible, he was returned to the fleet. This order was subscribed by these of the privycouncil; W. Wilts, J. Warwyck, W. Herbert, W. Cecyl, Jo. Mason. 66 Chichester That which gave the council the first occasion against Day Bishop of Bishop of Chichester was, partly his refusal of complying his trouwith the order of changing the altars in his diocese into bles. tables; and partly going down into his diocese, and there Council Book. |