XXX. "consumed and spread abroad; and for that there CHAP. "remained no more exercise to set on work, or no officers "but surveyors, auditors, and receivers; it was high time "to shew an example of liberal hospitality. For although "these said workmen, only brought up and practised in "subverting of monastical possessions, had brought that "kind of hospitality unto utter confusion, yet ceased they "not to undermine the Prince, by divers persuasions, for "him also to overthrow the honourable state of the clergy. 66 66 ،، cused of ill bouse "And, because they would lay a sure foundation to build Falsely ac66 their purpose upon, they found the means to put into the King's head, that the Archbishop of Canterbury kept no keeping. hospitality, or house, correspondent unto his revenues and dignity; but sold his woods, and, by great incomes and "fines, made money, to purchase lands for his wife and "children. And to the intent that the King should with "the more facility believe this information, Sir Thomas "Seymor, the Duke of Somerset's brother, being one of the "privy-chamber, was procured to take this matter in hand. "And, before he informed the King thereof, he blasted it "abroad in the court. Insomuch that the gentlemen and “ he fell out for the same : they declare, that his report was "manifestly false, as well for the keeping of his house, as "for the purchasing lands for his wife and children. This notwithstanding, Mr. Seymor went through with his information, and declared unto the King, as is before "declared. The King, hearing this tale with the sequel, (that was, That it was meet for the bishops not to be "troubled, ne vexed with temporal affairs, in ruling their honours, lordships, and manors; but rather, they having "an honest pension of money yearly allowed unto them. "for their hospitality, should surrender unto the King's Majesty all their royalties and temporalties,) said, I do "marvel that it is said my Lord of Canterbury should keep no good hospitality; for I have heard the contrary. And so, with a few more commendations of my Lord, as one “ that little regarded the suit; but yet, as it appeared "afterward, something smelling what they went about, "left off any further to talk of that matter, and converted "his communication to another purpose. 66 66 66 66 66 BOOK III. "Notwithstanding, within a month after, whether it was "of chance, or of purpose, it is unknown; the King, 433" going to dinner, called Mr. Seymour unto him, and said, "Go ye straightways unto Lambeth, and bid my Lord of "Canterbury come and speak with me at two of the clock "at afternoon. Incontinently Mr. Seymor came to Lam"beth, and, being brought into the hall by the porter, it "chanced the hall was set to dinner. And when he was at "the skreen, and perceived the hall furnished with three principal messes, beside the rest of the tables thorowly "set, having a guilty conscience of his untrue report made "to the King, recoiled back, and would have gone in to my "Lord by the chapel-way. Mr. Nevyl, being steward, per"ceiving that, rose up and went after him, and declared "unto him, that he could not go that way; and so brought "him back unto my Lord through the hall. And when he 66 66 66 66 came to my Lord, and had done his message, my Lord "caused him to sit down and dine with him. But making "a short dinner, because he would bring the King word again of his message, he departed and came to the King, "before he was risen from the table. When he came to "the King's presence, said the King, Will my Lord of "Canterbury come to us? He will wait on your Majesty, "said Mr. Seymor, at two of the clock. Then said the King, Had my Lord dined before you came? No forsooth, "said Mr. Seymor, for I found him at dinner. Well, said "the King, what cheer made he you? With these words "Mr. Seymor kneeled down, and besought the King's Majesty of pardon. What is the matter? said the King. "I do remember, said Mr. Seymor, that I told your Highness that my Lord of Canterbury kept no hospitality "correspondent unto his dignity: and now I perceive that "I did abuse your Highness with an untruth. For, besides your Grace's house, I think he be not in the realm, of none estate or degree, that hath such a hall furnished, or that fareth more honourably at his own table. Ah, said "the King, have you spied your own fault now? I assure 66 66 66 66 your Highness, said Mr. Seymor, it is not so much my "fault as other men's; who seemed to be honest men, "that informed me hereof. But I shall henceforth the XXX. "worse trust them while they live. Then said the King, CHAP. "I knew your purpose well enough; you have had among "you the commodities of the abbeys, which you have con"sumed: some with superfluous apparel, some at dice and "cards, and other ungracious rule. And now you would "have the bishops' lands and revenues to abuse likewise. If 66 my Lord of Canterbury keep such a hall as you say, being "neither term nor parliament, he is metely well visited at “those times, I warrant you. And if the other bishops kept "the like for their degree, they had not need to have any "thing taken from them, but rather to be added and holpen. And therefore set your hearts at rest; there shall no such alteration be made while I live, said the King. "So that in very deed, where some had penned certain "books for the altering that state in the next parliament, they durst never bring them forth to be read. Where 66 66 upon it also came to pass, that, when the King understood, "that, contrary unto the report, my Lord of Canterbury "had purchased no lands, his Highness was content upon "the only motion of Dr. Butts, without my Lord Cranmer's 434 "knowledge, that he should have the abbey in Notting"hamshire; which his wife now enjoyeth. "Thus much I have declared concerning Mr. Seymor's "practice, to the intent men may understand that my "Lord Cranmer's hospitality was a mean to stay the "estate of the clergy in their possessions." CHAP. XXXI. Archbishop Cranmer preserved the Revenues of his See. owing to the Arch AND here I must answer for my Lord Cranmer against The pre"certain objections, which are in divers men's heads, that serving the bishops' "by his means all the preferments, offices, and farms, are revenues so given and let out, that his successors have nothing to give or bestow upon their friends and servants; nor that bishop. "such hospitality can be kept by reason of his fault, in "letting go such things as should have maintained provi 66 66 BOOK III. The Arch bishop vindicated about his leases. "sions of household. But to answer this in a few words, "before I descend to any particular declaration. It is most "true, that, if he had not well behaved himself towards his "Prince and the world, his successors should not been "cumbered with any piece of temporal revenues; either lands, woods, or other revenues. And I pray God they "may maintain, in this mild and quiet time, that which he "in a most dangerous world did uphold, and left to his "successors. Yet for better declaration, in answering to "those objections, it is to be considered, that, when he "entered upon his dignity, every man about the King made means to get some reversion of farms, or of other office "of him. Insomuch that the King himself made means to "him for one or two things, before he was consecrated: as "for the farm of Wingham-Barton. Which was granted "unto Sir Edward Bainton, Kt. for fourscore and nineteen "years. When my Lord perceived, that, in such suits as he granted to the King and Queen, men would needs have "an hundred years save one, he wrote to the Chapter of Christ-Church, and willed them, in any condition, not to "confirm any more of his grants of leases, which were "above one and twenty years. By this means much suit 66 66 66 was stopped. So that in very deed he gave out his leases "but for one and twenty years. Which would not satisfy "the greedy appetites of some men and therefore they "found a provision for it. For when my Lord had let out "certain goodly farms at Pinner, Heyes, Harrow on the 66 Hill, Mortlake, &c. to the number of ten or twelve farms, "for one and twenty years, taking no manner of fine for "them; all these farms by and by were put into an 66 66 exchange for the King. And the King had them not in possession six days, but they were my Lord North's and "other men's. And they were not past one year in "their possessions, but that the reversion of every of them was sold for more years: some for an hundred pounds, 435" and some for more, and some for less, making sweepstakes "of altogethers. And so was my Lord used in all things "almost that he did let out for one and twenty years. By long leases he saved the revenues. "By means whereof Justice Hales, and other of his counsel, learned in the laws, advised him to let out his farms XXXI. "for many years, which might be a mean that they should CHAP. "not be so much desired in exchanges as they were: for "those farms, which came to my Lord, came with years 66 66 66 enough upon their backs. And so, upon this conclusion, my Lord was fain to alter his purpose in letting of his "farms. Whereupon he did let St. Gregory's in Canterbury to Mr. Nevyl, the priory of Dover, Chislet-Park, "and Curleswood-Park, with others, for so many years as " he did, on purpose to stay them; or else he had gone with❝out them one time or other. And, as I heard say, since 66 your Grace was elect, Curleswood-Park was in exchange, "and the rent thereof paid for one half year unto the Queen's use: but, so soon as they understood there were "so many years to come, it was reversed to the archbishoprick again. So that hereby partly may be perceived "in what state my Lord Cranmer stood with his lands. from dimi "And as touching the diminishing of his rents, houses, Justified "and other commodities, for the provision of his hospita"lity; if all things be well pondered, he had left the same rents of the "in better state than he found it. For, as touching his ex changes, men ought to consider with whom he had to do: especially with such a Prince as would not be bridled nor be gainsaid in any of his requests, unless men would see. danger altogethers. I was by when Otford and Knol Otford and were given him. My Lord, minded to have retained Knol "unto himself, said, That it was too small an house for his 66 Majesty. Marry, said the King, I had rather have it than "this house, meaning Otford; for it standeth on a better "soil. This house standeth low, and is rheumatick, like "unto Croiden, where I could never be without sickness. "And as for Knol, it standeth on a sound, perfect, whole"some ground and if I should make abode here, as I do 66 surely mind to do now and then, I will live at Knol, and "most of my house shall live at Otford. And so by this " means both those houses were delivered up into the King's "hands. And as for Otford, it is a notable great and ample "house: whose reparations yearly cost my Lord more than "men would think. And so likewise did Maidstone, which "had no manner of commodity to belong unto it. And I am sure, that after certain exchanges passed between the Knol. |