III. In lib. de Nobilitat. P. 253. BOOK of the universities, and yearly stipends settled on them. Of those that were most forward and exemplary in these Christian offices, Dr. Laurence Humfrey (one who lived in those times, and was well acquainted with these matters) names King Edward in the first place: who, as he asserts of his own knowledge, was extraordinarily bountiful to them, both in London, and in the universities. Among the noblemen he mentions Henry earl of Dorset and Duke of Suffolk : and among the bishops, Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, of whom he bestowed this character; "that "he was worthy to succeed William Warham in his see, "whom he so well imitated, both in courteous behaviour "and hospitality." The Archbishop's favour to And as he was in King Edward's days of such an hospitable disposition towards strangers, so he was noted for it foreigners. in the reign of his father King Henry, being wont then to shew himself very kind and humane to such as travelled into these parts for learning, as well as for shelter. Gualter, the great divine of Zurick, being but a young man, came into England about the year 1537; and was so affected with the civilities he received here, that he let it stand upon record, in the Preface to his Homilies upon the first epistle to the Corinthians, how humanely he was received at Oxford, not only by the students, but by the public professors, and by divers at court. But among them he particularly mentioned "how Archbishop Cranmer, whom he styled The immortal Glory of England, received him, though a young man then, and a stranger, and had no experience of things, "nor any mark or excellency to recommend him." 450 Unjustly charged with covet ousness. His words to Cecyl upon this charge. 66 And as he was compassionate and hospitable, so he was of a free and liberal disposition; and, as became a Christian bishop, and an English peer, kept great hospitality. Yet however he could not escape the imputation of niggardice and closeness. He had been once accused of it to his master King Henry, but came off with honour, the King himself clearing him of that injurious scandal, and giving him a character of a quite contrary nature. And again in King Edward's reign, in the year 1552, some taking the advantage of his absence from the court, slandered him as though he were covetous. Which coming to his ear, by the cordial friendship of Cecyl, the King's se- CHAP. cretary, he wrote that courtier a letter in vindication of XXXIV. himself; professing, "that he was not so doted to set his "mind upon things here, which neither he could carry 66 away with him, nor tarry long with them. And that he "took not half so much care for his living when he was "a scholar at Cambridge, as he did at that present, when he "was Archbishop of Canterbury; for as he had now much more revenue than he had then, so he had much more to "do withal. And, that he rather feared stark beggary at "last." 66 This, and other things to the same purpose, he signified in that letter; that Cecyl thereby might the better understand his condition, and know how and what to plead at court in his behalf, as occasion served, as hath been more at large related before. he feared, his death. By the way, I cannot but reflect upon one of the Arch- Reduced, as bishop's expressions, which seemed to have been uttered to stark begprophetically; so exactly did the event answer to his words: gary before for to stark beggary he was indeed at last reduced: when, in his imprisonment at Oxon, he had not a penny in his purse. And, which was more, his enemies were so barbarously severe, that it would not be allowed any well-disposed person to relieve his necessity, nor to give him an alms; a privilege allowed any beggar beside. And when a gentleman of Gloucestershire, sensible of the Archbishop's need, and withal knowing how dangerous it was to give the poor Archbishop any money, had conveyed somewhat to the bailiffs, to be by their hands bestowed on him, Boner and Thirleby, the two bishops that degraded him, staid this gentleman, intending to send him up to the council, had he not gotten off by the intercession of some friends. BOOK Some ac count of his ing. CHAP. XXXV. Some Account of Archbishop Cranmer's Housekeeping. BUT the more fully to confute this calumny, it will not be housekeep- amiss to look more narrowly into his housekeeping. His daily custom at Lambeth was, to dine in a room above, where all noblemen, and persons of better quality, that came to dine with him, were entertained. Here he was very honourably served, both with dishes and attendants. In the hall the table was every day very plentifully furnished, both for household servants and strangers, with three or four principal head-messes of officers: besides the relief of the poor at his gates. And, which is a very observable charity, as well as hospitality, he appropriated his mansion-house at Bekesborn in Kent, and his parsonage-barn, for harbour and lodgings for the poor, sick, and maimed soldiers, that came from the wars of Bulloign, and other parts beyond seas. For these he also appointed an almoner, a physician, and a chirurgeon, to attend on them, and to dress and administer physic to such of them as were not able to resort to their own countries; having also daily from his kitchen hot broth and meat besides the common alms of his household, that were bestowed upon the poor people of the country. And when any of these were recovered, and were able to travel, they had money given them to bear their charges, according to the number of miles they were to pass before they got home. Retrenches I do not know whether some might have taken advantage the clergy's superfluous thus to slander him, from a laudable endeavour of his to housekeep- reduce within some bounds the provisions of clergymen's ing. tables, which in the latter times of King Henry the Eighth grew to great excess and extravagancy, so unbecoming spiritual men. For in the year 1541 the Archbishop, with the consent of the other Archbishop, and most of the bishops, and divers other deans and archdeacons, made a constitution for moderating the fare of their tables; viz. "That archbishops should not exceed six divers kinds of 66 66 flesh, or as many dishes of fish on fish-days. A bishop not CHAP. "above five. A dean or archdeacon, four; and all under XXXV. "that degree, three. But an archbishop was allowed at "second course to have four dishes, a bishop three, and all "others two; as custards, tarts, fritters, cheese, apples, pears, &c. But if any of the inferior clergy should enter"tain any archbishop, bishop, dean, or archdeacon, or any of "the laity of like degree, as duke, marquis, earl, viscount, “baron, lord, knight, they might have such provision as were meet for their degree: nor was their diet to be "limited when they should receive an ambassador, [to recommend, I suppose, to foreigners the English hospi- 452 "tality."] It was ordered also, "That of the greater fish "or fowl, as cranes, swans, turkeys, haddocks, pike, tench, "there should be but one in a dish: of lesser sorts than they, as capons, pheasants, conies, woodcocks, but two of less "sorts still, as of partridges, an archbishop, three; a bishop, "and other degrees under him, two. The number of the "black-birds were also stinted to six at an archbishop's table, and to four for a bishop. And of little birds, as "larks, snytes, &c. the number was not to exceed twelve." But so strongly bent were the clergy in those days to this sort of sensuality, that these injunctions of our Archbishop were observed but two or three months, and so they returned to their old superfluity again. 66 66 design The Archbishop's pious design hereby was only to curb His pious intemperance and unnecessary prodigality in such, upon therein. whose office those vices cast such just reflections: but it could not reasonably argue any covetous temper in him; for, that the poor might not fare the worse for this intrenchment of exorbitant hospitality, but rather the better, the Archbishop in these aforesaid orders provided, "That "whatsoever was spared out of the old housekeeping, "should not be pocketed up, but laid out and spent in "plain meats for the relief of poor people." And that this charge may still appear to be nothing but Others charged a mere detraction, proceeding from envy, or some other ill him with principle, others there were that would blame him for prodigality. the contrary vice, of too much lavishing and unprofitable BOOK expence. So hard a matter is it for the best men to escape III. the spiteful and venomous insinuations of the world. But he patiently and with an even mind bore all. 453 Humble and condescending. CHAP. XXXVI. Archbishop Cranmer humble; peaceable; bold in a good cause. FOR, which is another thing to be remarked in him, he was very humble and condescending, and did not only bear to be reproved, but was thankful for it; and that even when the reproof was undeserved: which was the more to be valued in him, considering the height and dignity of his calling. To give an instance or two of this. When, in the year 1552, Cecyl had charged him with the imputation of covetousness, as a report that went of him in the court, and which himself seemed partly to believe, begging withal pardon of his Grace for his freedom with him our Archbishop told him, "That as for the "admonition, he took it very thankfully; and that he had ever been most glad to be admonished by his friends; "accounting no man so foolish, as he that would not hear 66 66 friendly admonishment." And when, at another time, the same Cecyl (who would always take the liberty to speak his mind to his friends, whensoever he thought they wanted counsel) had signified to him the hazard he incurred in not shewing more compliance towards the Duke of Northumberland, who now swayed all; and then apologizing for his boldness; Cranmer was so far from taking this ill, that "he returned him his very hearty thanks for his friendly "letter and advertisements; desiring him to be assured "that he took the same in such good part, and to proceed "of such a friendly mind, as he ever looked for at his hands, and whereof he would not be unmindful, if "occasion hereafter served, to requite the same." 66 And this good temper led him also to gentleness and |