1 Cranmer, with his usual meekness, replied, that he had not with him the book, which at once would prove or deny the charge. After the disputation one of his academical auditors, however, incensed at the malicious proceeding, carried to him in the prison " a book to shew that he was right concerning the aforesaid matter." The generous student was seized by the bailiffs, carried to the prolocutor and his colleagues, and for his pains was himself imprisoned. Yet once more: Bishop Jewell, who had been one of the notaries on the present occasion, in his controversy afterwards with Hardinge, reminds him of Cranmer then citing an authority from Theodoret, which, because it was decisive against his opponents, was utterly refused. Was such a man likely to be overcome in discussions, of which the Fathers were the topic? Let Cranmer himself tell us how he was used, and we shall then better judge of the controversy and its issue. Thus he wrote to the lords of the Council. "In right humble wise sheweth unto your I A. Wood relates the whole of this anecdote respecting the student. Ann. Univ. Ox. under the year 1554. through many pages the disputation in English. Foxe details versity Library at Cambridge, are preserved copies of it in Latin. 2 * Jewell's Reply to Hardinge, 1564. p. 429. Foxe. Strype. honourable lordships, Thomas Cranmer, late archbishop of Canterbury, beseeching the same to be a means for me unto the queen's Highness for her mercy and pardon. Some of you know by what means I was brought and trained unto the will of our late sovereign lord, king Edward VI. and what I spake against the same; wherein I refer me to the reports of your honours and worships. Furthermore, this is to signify to your lordships, that upon Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday last past, were open disputations here in Oxford, against me, Mr. Ridley, and Mr. Latimer, in three matters concerning the sacrament. First, of the real presence. Secondly, of transubstantiation. And, thirdly, of the sacrifice of the mass. Upon Monday against me; upon Tuesday against Dr. Ridley; and upon Wednesday against Mr. Latimer. How the other two were ordered I know not; for we were separated: so that none of us knoweth what the other said; nor how they were ordered. But as concerning myself I can report. Dr. Chedsey was appointed to dispute against me. But the disputation was so confused, that I never knew the like: every man bringing forth what he liked, without order: and such haste was made, that no answer could be suffered to be taken fully to any argument, before another brought a new argument. And in such weighty matters, the disputation must needs be ended in one day, which can scantly be ended in three months. And when we had answered them, they would not appoint us one day to bring forth our proofs, that they might answer us; being required by me thereunto. Whereas I myself have more to say, than can be well discussed, as I suppose, in twenty days. The means to resolve the truth had been to have suffered us to answer fully to all that they could say; and then they again to answer us fully to all that we can say. But why they would not answer us, what other cause can there be, but that either they feared their matter, or that they were not able to answer us? Or else for some consideration they made such haste, not to seek the truth, but to condemn us: that it must be done in post haste, before the matters could be thoroughly heard. For in all haste we were all three condemned of heresy. Thus much I thought good to signify to your lordships, that you may you may know the indifferent handling of matters: leaving the judgment thereof unto your wisdoms. And I beseech your lordships to remember me, a poor prisoner, unto the queen's Majesty; and I shall pray, as I do daily, unto God, for the long preservation of your good lordships in all godliness and felicity. April 23, [1554.]" CHAPTER III. 1554. Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, condemned as heretics-Furt her remarks of Cranmer on the Oxford disputation—Disputation at Cambridge intended-Hesitation of the Council as to further proceedings with the three prisoners-The treatment of the prisoners-The marriage of Philip and Mary-The consequence of it to Protestantism-Remarks upon it-Anecdote relating to Elizabeth, by one of the remarkers-Persecution of the Reformers. THE preceding letter of Cranmer to the lords of the Council, had been entrusted by him to the prolocutor Weston, who was immediately proceeding to London. On his journey, Weston was base enough to open it; and, careless of shame, as he had been also in the disputation, returned it to the archbishop. By 'other means, no doubt, it was afterwards conveyed to the Council. Among the Letters of the Martyrs in Emanuel College, Cambridge, it is still preserved. 1 By the carrier perhaps; as he speaks of such conveyance in another letter, at the same time, to Martin and Story, the proctors at his trial. Foxe. It had been on the 20th of April, that Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, "were condemned of heresy." It was then, that Weston contemptuously said to Cranmer, he had been overcome in disputation. Not so, replied the archbishop, 1for I was not suffered to oppose as I would, nor could answer as I required, unless with four or five at once continually interrupting me I would, like them, have " brawled." The sentence of condemnation was now read. From this judgment Cranmer 2 then appealed to the Almighty Power only we shall presently find him appealing also to an earthly one. To the Bocardo prison he was immediately re-conducted, while Latimer and Ridley were consigned, at present, to the houses of Oxford 3 citizens. On the following day, the mass with a general procession was celebrated. Cranmer, from the darker abode of his prison, was insultingly summoned to behold it; and from the house in which he was lodged, in like manner, was brought the venerable Latimer, who supposing that to the stake he was now to be led, but finding that he was only to witness a ceremony that he abhorred, hid his face from the passing pomp. 4 5 The Oxford disputations had no sooner closed, than similar proceedings at Cambridge were meditated. With the ignorance and ridiculous con 1 Foxe. • Ibid. VOL. II. 2 Ibid. D d 3 Ibid. |