XXIV. Martyr's munion January, (as the former was in September before,) related CHAP. to the Book of Common Prayer. For the correction of which the Archbishop, the Bishop of Ely, and the other Anno 1550. bishops were, by the King's command, met together in con- judgment sultation. And that this work might be the more effectually of the Comperformed, the Archbishop thought good to have the judg- Book. ment herein of both the public professors, Bucer and Martyr. Accordingly Bucer wrote his Censure, and Martyr his Annotations, as was said before; a copy of which Censure Pag. 301. Bucer had communicated to Martyr: who in this letter declared his consent and approbation thereunto. As to his own annotations, Cheke's Latin version, which he used, was so brief and defective, that for that reason many things were omitted by him, which he would have noted, had he seen the book complete. But after he had sent in those his annotations to the Archbishop, who earnestly required them, he saw Bucer's Censure, whereby he perceived divers other things called for correction, than he had taken notice of. So he reduced whatsoever was wanting in his annotations into certain brief articles, and acquainted the Archbishop therewith; and that in them all he did freely agree with Bucer, that it were fit they should be altered. But Martyr's annotations did fully accord with Bucer's animadversions, though they were at a distance, and consulted not at all with one another before they wrote their judgments. But one thing was passed over by Bucer, which Martyr wondered at it was in the office for the communion of the sick. Where it was ordered, "That if this private communion "happened to be on the same Sunday when there should "be a public one, then the priest was to take along with "him some of the consecrated elements, and with them to "administer the sacrament in the house of the sick. Where"in this offended Martyr, as he said, that the office that "belonged to the communion should not be repeated before "the sick man, and the rest that communicated with him, "since the words of the supper do rather belong to the men, "than to the bread and wine. And his advice was, that all "that was necessarily required to the Lord's Supper should "be said and done whensoever it was privately, as well as publicly, celebrated." He subscribed to Bucer's Censure in BOOK every thing; and he thanked God, that had administered an II. occasion, that the bishops should by them be admonished of Anno 1550. those matters. So that it was concluded by the bishops, at their conference about the communion-book, that much should be changed therein, as the Archbishop told Martyr, then at his house: and if they would not do it, the King was resolved to do it by himself and his parliament, without hem. In this letter he speaks something concerning Hoper, whose behaviour he disliked; and concerning Dr. Smith, who had lately written against the Archbishop's book of the Sacrament, and against himself concerning monastic vows. Both these letters, as well worthy the sight and perusal of the reader, I have reposited in the Appendix. Num. LX. LXI. 253 Bucer's great dangers. Thus this reverend and learned foreigner, after many great difficulties passed through for the cause of religion, flying from one place to another, came at last to a natural death and a quiet end in this land. For his fame and wisdom he was called by the Electors Palatine and of Brandenburgh, with the Emperor's permission, to temper the Emperor's rescript about religion, which was to be published, that so it might please both parties. But he thought he could not do it with any honesty; and, rather than meddle with it, he fled to Strasburgh with his wife and children: hereby he fell under the displeasure of those Princes, as well as before he had done under that of the Emperor for the reformation of Colen; the envy of which Melancthon escaped, but it fell on poor Bucer. Being at Strasburgh, he also contracted much ill-will by means of the Anabaptists and others, whom he opposed, and who, by their pretended sanctimony, had a great party there. His friends apprehended him on these accounts in great danger; but he thought of no removal to any other place, patron, or church, trusting himself in God's hands, till Sturmius and some others advised him by all means to depart into England. Which he at length yielding to, the said Sturmius admonished him, for his safer travel, to take a more uncommon way, through Lorain and Rhemes, and some other parts of France, to Calais, and there to cross over the sea. Which he did, and was very hospitably here entertained, as was said before. Bishops consecrated. CHAP. XXIV. June 29, John Ponet, or Poynet, D.D. Chaplain to the Archbishop, was consecrated Bishop of Rochester at Lam- Anno 1550. beth chapel by the Archbishop of Canterbury; assisted by Ponet. Nicolas Bishop of London, and Arthur Bishop of Bangor. This consecration was performed with all the usual ceremonies and habits, probably for this reason, to give as little occasion of offence to Papists as might be, and to keep close to the old usages, avoiding superstition: therefore it was set down in the register at large in what formalities all was now done. The Archbishop is described, Usitatis insigniis Cranm. redimitus, et uno epitogio, sive capa, indutus, oratorium Regist. suum prædictum honeste et decenter ornatum ingressus, &c. 66 66 66 Having on his mitre and cope, usual in such cases, went "into his chapel, handsomely and decently adorned, to "celebrate the Lord's Supper according to the custom, and by prescript of the book, intituled, The Book of Common"Service. Before the people there assembled, the holy suffrages first began, and were publickly recited, and the Epistle and Gospel read in the vulgar tongue, Nicolas "Bishop of London, and Arthur Bishop of Bangor, assisting; and, having their surplices and copes on, and their pastoral staves in their hands, led Dr. John Ponet, "endued with the like habits, in the middle of them, "unto the most reverend father; and presented him unto 66 66 66 66 him, sitting in a decent chair; and used these words; "Most reverend father in God, we present unto you this godly and well-learned man to be consecrated bishop. "The bishop elect forthwith produced the King's letters "patents before the Archbishop: which, by command of "the said Archbishop, being read by Dr. Glyn, the said 254 "Ponet took the oath of renouncing the Bishop of Rome, "and then the oath of canonical obedience to the Archbishop. These things being thus dispatched, the Arch"bishop exhorted the people to prayer and supplication "to the Most High, according to the order prescribed "in the Book of Ordination, set forth in the month of "March 1549. According to which order he was elected "and consecrated, and endued with the episcopal ornaments, the Bishop of London first having read the third 66 66 BOOK II. "chapter of the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy, in 66 manner of a sermon. These things being done, and the Anno 1550. “sacrament of the Lord's Supper celebrated upon a table, "covered with a white linen cloth by the Archbishop and "the two assisting bishops, the same Archbishop decreed to "write to the Archdeacon of Canterbury for the investiture, "installation, and inthronization of the said bishop of Rochester, as it was customary. Present, Anthony Huse, principal Register of the Archbishop; Peter Lilly, John "Lewis, John Incent, public notaries; and many others, 66 as well clerks as laicks." Hoper. 66 March 8, John Hoper was consecrated Bishop of Glocester, just after the same manner, by the Archbishop; Nicholas Bishop of London, and John Bishop of Rochester, assisting, clothed (say the words of the register) in linen surplices and copes, and John elect of Glocester in the like habit. CHAP. XXV. The Archbishop publisheth his Book against Gardiner. Anno 1551. THIS year our Archbishop published his elaborate book publisheth of the sacrament, confuting the gross and carnal presence of his book of Christ there, in vindication of a former book of his, wrote Cranmer the sacra ment. His first book. against by Bishop Gardiner and Dr. Smith. For, to give the reader some distinct account of this matter, in the year 1550, Cranmer printed a book in English in quarto with this title; A Defence of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ; with a Confutation of sundry Errors concerning the same: grounded and established upon God's Holy Word, and approved by the consent of the most ancient Doctors of the Church. The great reason that moved him to write this book was, that he might the more effectually purge the church of popery; esteeming transubstantiation, and the mass, to be the very roots of it. "The taking away of beads, pilgrimages, pardons, "and such-like popery, was (as he wrote in his Preface) "but the lopping off a few branches; which would soon XXV. "spring up again, unless the roots of the tree, which were CHAP. "transubstantiation, and the sacrifice of the mass, were "pulled up. Therefore, out of a sincere zeal to the honour Anno 1551. "of God, he would labour," he said, "in his vineyard to "cut down that tree of error, root and branch." By this book very many were enlightened to perceive the errors of the popish doctrines of the sacrament. This treatise he divided into five books or points. I. Of the true and catholic doctrine and use of the sacrament of the body and 255 blood of Christ. II. Against the error of transubstantiation. III. The manner how Christ is present in the sa crament. IV. Of the eating and drinking of the body and blood of Christ. V. Of the oblation and sacrifice of our Saviour Christ. In the third part he made mention of the Bishop of Winchester, in these words: “As many "of them [i. e. of the Papist writers] as I have read, '(the Bishop of Winchester only excepted,) do say, that "Christ called not the bread his body." This Bishop was much offended that he was named in the book, and pretended this to be one reason why he did write against it, to vindicate himself, as well as the papal church, hereby so dangerously struck at. This book of Cranmer's was turned into Latin by John Yong; who complied afterwards with the old religion under Queen Mary, and was Master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. Gardiner At this book the defenders of Popery were so nettled, Wrote that, in the same year 1550, Winchester then in the Tower, against by and fickle Dr. Smith then at Lovain, printed answers. Of and Smith. Smith's book I shall only note by the way, that, March 8, 1550, there was an order of council to examine the bringer over of his book against Cranmer: such a countenance did the state give to the Archbishop and his book. Gardiner's book made the greatest noise: which was printed in France, and intituled, An Explication and Assertion of the true Catholic Faith touching the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar, with the Confutation of a Book written against the same. In the beginning of his book he wrote, "that his sermon before the King, [on "St. Peter's day,] touching the sacrament of the altar, gave " occasion to the Archbishop's book against it; and that he was called before the King's commissioners at Lambeth |