BOOK yielded her pardon to so many of the former King's council, that were so deep and so forward in this business, but would Anno 1553. not grant it him; (who could not obtain it till after much and long suit :) and that it should be put into two acts of her parliament (to make him infamous for a traitor to posterity) that he and the Duke of Northumberland were the devisers of this succession, to deprive Queen Mary of her right: which was so palpably false and untrue on the Archbishop's part. But this was, no question, Winchester's doing; through whose hands, being now Lord Chancellor, all these acts of parliament passed, and the wording of them. Finally, I have only one thing more to add concerning this matter: which is, that, besides the instrument of successwear to the sion, drawn up by the King's council learned in the law, cession. signed by himself and thirty-two counsellors, and dated Vol. ii. p. June 21, according to the History of the Reformation, there The council sub scribe and limited suc 223. 297 was another writing, which was also signed by twenty-four of the council. And to this I find our Archbishop's name. Herein they promised by their oaths and honours (being commanded so to do by the King) to observe all and every article contained in a writing of the King's own hand, touching the said succession, and after copied out and delivered to certain judges and learned men to be written in order. This writing thus signed, with the other writing of the King, being his devise for the succession, may be seen Num in the Appendix, as I drew them out of an original. LXVII I. dies. CHAP. XXXV. The King dies. The King THE good King made his most christian departure July the 6th, to the ineffable loss of religion and the kingdom; being in all likelihood, by his early beginnings, to prove an incomparable Prince to the English nation. It was more than whispered that he died by poison: and, however secretly this was managed, it was was very remarkable, that this 66 Chron. racter. his Pref. to rumour ran not only after his death, but, even a month or CHAP. two before it, reports spread that he was dead. For which, XXXV. as being rash speeches against the King, they studiously took Anno 1553. up many people, and punished them. Before his father Cooper's King Henry had him, his only son lawfully begotten, it was twenty-eight years from his first entrance upon his kingdom. And this heir made amends for the nation's so long expectation of a Prince: "His singular excellency in all His cha"kind of princely towardliness (to use the words of one "who lived in those times) was such, that no place, no Nic. Udal time, no cause, no book, no person, either in public au- Erasm. Padience, or else in private company, made any mention of raphrase. "him, but thought himself even of very conscience bound "to powdre the same with manifold praises of his incomparable vertues and gifts of grace." happy are we Englishmen of such a "hood appeareth as perfect grace, vertue, godly zeal, desire "of literature, gravity, prudence, justice, and magnanimity, "as hath heretofore been found in Kings of most mature 66 age, of full discretion, of antient fame, and of passing high "estimation." And again; "That God hath of singular "favour and mercy towards this realm of England sent your Grace to reign over us, the thing itself, by the whole 66 process, doth declare." 66 66 66 And again; The Archbishop his godfather took exceeding compla- The Archbishop decency in a Prince of such hopes, and would often congratu- lights in late Sir John Cheke his schoolmaster having such a scholar, this Prince's proficiency. even with tears. His instructors would sometimes give account to the Archbishop of his proficiency in his studies, a thing that they knew would be acceptable to him. Thus did Dr. Cox his tutor in a letter acquaint the Archbishop "of the Prince's towardliness, godliness, gentleness, and all "honest qualities: and that both the Archbishop, and all "the realm, ought to take him for a singular gift sent of "God. That he read Cato, Vives his Satellitium, Esop's "Fables, and made Latin, besides things of the Bible; and "that he conned pleasantly and perfectly." The Archbishop, out of his dear love to him, and to encourage him, would sometimes himself write in Latin to him and one 298 of his letters to him is yet extant in Fox. King Ed ings. His great parts might be seen by his letters, journals, meward's writ-morials, discourses, and writings; which were many: divers lost, but of those that are yet extant, these are the most: A letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, his godfather, from Ampthil, in Latin, being then but about seven years old. Fox. Fox. Mr. Petyt's Sir W. H. Sir W. H. Sir W. H. MSS. Ibid. Full, Ch. Full, Ch. Ibid. Mr. Petyt's Cotton Lib. Trinity Col. Cott. librar. Cott. libr. Sir W. H. Sir W. H. Another in Latin to the Archbishop from Hartford : which was an answer to one from the Archbishop. A letter in French to his sister, the Lady Elizabeth, writ December 18, 1546. A letter to his uncle, the Duke of Somerset, after his success against the Scots, 1547. To Queen Katharine Par, after her marriage with the Lord Admiral his uncle. Another letter to her. A letter to the Earl of Hartford, his cousin, in Latin. A letter to Barnaby Fitz-Patrick, concerning the Duke of Somerset's arraignment. Another to B. Fitz-Patrick, consisting of instructions to him when he went into France. Another to Fitz-Patrick, giving him an account of his progress, in August 1552. Orders concerning the habits and apparel of his subjects, according to their degrees and qualities. Mention is also made in the History of the Reformation of letters in Latin to King Henry his father, at eight years old, and to Queen Katharine Par. His journal, writ all with his own hand, from the beginning of his reign 1547, until the 28th of November 1552. A collection of passages of Scripture against idolatry, in French; dedicated to the Protector. A discourse about the reformation of many abuses both ecclesiastical and temporal. A reformation of the Order of the Garter; translated out of English into Latin by King Edward. These four last are published in the History of the Reformation, volume ii. among the Collections. A book, written in French by him at twelve years of age, against the Pope, entitled, A Tencontre les abus du Monde. A memorial, February 1551. Another memorial, dated October 13, 1552. Another memorial. His prayer a little before his death. I shall rehearse none of these writings, but only one of the memorials; because it bordereth so near upon our present History, and shews so much this young prince's care of religion, and for the good estate of the church, animated, admonished, counselled, and directed in these matters by the Archbishop. For Religion. October 13, 1552. Sir W. H. MSS. Ibid. Fox. 299 I. A catechism to be set forth, for to be taught in all The King's grammar-schools. II. An uniformity of doctrine; to which all preachers should set their hands. III. Commissions to be granted to those bishops that be grave, learned, wise, sober, and of good religion, for the executing of discipline. IV. To find fault with the slightfulness of the pastors, and to deliver them articles of visitation, willing and commanding them to be more diligent in their office, and to keep more preachers. V. The abrogating of the old canon-law, and establishment of a new. VI. The dividing of the bishoprick of Durham into two; and placing of men in them. VII. The placing of Harley into the bishoprick of Hereford. VIII. The making of more homilies. IX. The making of more injunctions. X. The placing of one in a bishoprick in Ireland, which Turner of Canterbury hath refused. Some of these things were already done, and some in hand. Hereby we may see what further steps in the reformation would have been made, had the good King lived. So that, in this King's reign, religion made a good progress, and superstition and idolatry was in a good manner purged out of the church. Which was the more to be wondered at, considering the minority of the King, the grievous factions at court, and the too common practice then of scoffing memorial for religion. II. BOOK and buffooning religion, and the more conscientious professors of it. For of this sort of men, ruffians and dissolute Anno 1553. livers, there were many followed the court, and were favourites to the leading men there; I mean, the two Dukes: and proved after base time-servers and flatterers in the reign of Queen Mary. The Archbishop frequent at council. His presence in council in the year 1550. During this reign Archbishop Cranmer was a very active man, and great deference seemed to be given to his judgment, by the King and council, in the matters that were. then transacting; especially as concerning the reformation of religion. For I find him very frequently at the councilboard, and often sent for thither, or sent unto when absent. And here I will not think much to set down all the particular days when, and places where, he was present in person with the privy-counsellors; from the year 1550 beginning, unto the middle of the year 1553, near the time of the King's death; as it was extracted carefully out of a CouncilBook, that commenceth at the above-said year. Anno 1550. April 19, he was present at the council then at Greenwich. This month one Putto, who had been put to silence for his lewd preaching, [that is, against the steps made in the Reformation,] and did now nevertheless, of his own head, preach as lewdly as he had done before, was referred to the Archbishop, and the Bishop of Ely, to be corrected, April 28. The Archbishop present at council, May 300 2, 4, 7, II, (on this day the Duke of Somerset was called again to council,) and 15. At the Star-chamber, May 16. At Westminster, May 28, June 5. At Greenwich, June 8, 11, 13, 20, 22. At Westminster, June 28, 29, 30. and July 1 : about which time the Archbishop seemed to depart into his diocese, and there to remain that summer. October II. there was an order of council for a letter to be writ to him, in answer to his of complaint against the Vicar of Dertford, to imprison him for his disobedience unto him; and in prison to endure, until the said Archbishop should come to court. October 18. was another order of council for three letters to be writ: the one to the Archbishop of Canterbury, another to the Bishop of Ely, and another to the Bishop of Lincoln. "Because (as the words run) the parliament "draweth near: before which time his Majesty thinketh it |