CHAPTER IV.

1533.

The archbishop pronounces the divorce of Henry from Catharine-Crowns Anne Boleyn-Describes the coronation— Denies being at her marriage with the king-Mentions the case of Frith, the martyr-Visits his diocese-Restrains improper preaching-Detects the imposture of the Nun of Kent--Is opposed to the Romish tenet of miracles-Gives an account of the Nun's practices—Mentions the birth of Elizabeth, afterwards queen of England-Prayer at her birth by Anne Boleyn-The archbishop godfather to Elizabeth-Appeals to a General Council against the popeWrites to the king about Pole, who is invited to the Council -Borrows money-His appeal, and that of the king, disregarded.

THE king had now resolved, without the permission of the pontiff, to accomplish his marriage with Anne Boleyn. With this measure Cranmer was unacquainted till at least a fortnight after the accomplishment of it. He was not long a offence which it oc

stranger, however, to the casioned. Nor had the subject of the divorce yet

1 As he presently informs us in his letter to archdeacon Hawkins.

ceased to be a matter of judicial inquiry. The members of convocation, assembled only a few days before the consecration of the archbishop, again debated what had been submitted to the Universities, to the legates, and to various individuals. Their determination in favour of the king was given on the third day after the consecration, and in the presence of the new primate. Fortified, therefore, with this solemn decision, believing the nation exposed to the evils of a disputed succession, and not regardless of the rumours against the union which his sovereign had formed, he suggested to Henry, in the following letter, that the formality of a judicial sentence for the divorce ought not to be delayed.

"Please it your Highness, that where your Grace's great cause of matrimony is (as it is thought) through all Christianity divulgated, and in the mouths of the rude and ignorant common people of this your Grace's realm so talked of, that few of them do fear to report and say, that thereof is likelihood hereafter to ensue great inconvenience, danger, and peril, to this your Grace's realm, and much incertainty of succession; by which things the said ignorant people be not a little offended: And forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, and your Grace of your

1

Original, State-Paper Office. In Cranmer's own handwriting.

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abundant kindness to me shewed, to call me (albeit a poor wretch and much unworthy) unto the high and chargeable office of primate and archbishop in this your Grace's realm, wherein I beseech Almighty God to grant me His grace so to use and demean myself, as may be standing with His pleasure and the discharge of my conscience, and to the weal of this your Grace's said realm; and considering also the obloquy, and bruit, which daily doth spring and increase of the clergy of this realm, and specially of the heads and presidents of the same, because they in this behalf do not foresee, and provide," convenient remedies as might expel and put out of doubt all such inconveniences, perils, and dangers, as the said rude and ignorant people do speak, and talk to be imminent ;' I, your most humble orator and beadsman, am, in consideration of the premises, urgently constrained at this time most humbly to beseech your Grace, that where my office, and duty, is by you and your predecessors' sufferance and grants to direct and order causes spiritual, in this your Grace's realm, according to the laws of God and holy church; and for relief of all manner [of] griefs and infirmities of the people, God's subjects and your's, happening in the same spiritual causes, to provide such remedy as shall be thought most convenient for their help and relief in that behalf; and because I would be right loth, and also it shall not become me (forasmuch as your Grace is

my prince and, sovereign) to enterprise any part of my office in the said weighty cause, without your Grace's favour obtained and pleasure therein first known; it may please the same to ascertain me of your Grace's pleasure in the premises, to the intent that, the same known, I may proceed to my discharge, afore God, to the execution of my said office and duty, according to His calling and your's: beseeching your Highness most humbly upon my knees to pardon me of these my bold and rude letters, and the same to accept and take in good sense and part. From my Manor at Lambeth, the xith day of April in the first year of my consecration, [1533.] qz deur 21, 20bouto }rvzfff} Your Highness's most humble

"beadsman and chaplain, ficTHOMAS CANTUAR.”

„Idmund te om 100.

The answer of the king was, in perfect, accordance with the primate's suggestion; in, which he forgot not to maintain the supremacy he had lately recovered, saying, that "being your king and sovereign we do recognize no superior in earth, but only God, not being subject to the laws of any other earthly creature; yet, because you be under us, by God's calling and our's, the most principal minister of our spiritual jurisdiction within this our realm, we will not therefore refuse your humble

The king's answer is given entire by Collier, Ecc. Hist. Records, ii. 15.

request." Some little delay ensued. In vain had the dignified Catharine been entreated to acquiesce in the opinions that had been pronounced against her, and to resign the rank to which she had been raised. The process was removed to Dunstable, the residence of Catharine being at Ampthill, in the neighbourhood of it. Both Henry and Catharine were now cited to appear before the archbishop and other commissioners. The king appeared by proxy; the queen not at all. She was then recorded as contumacious, and on the 23d of May the sentence of divorce was pronounced. The archbishop immediately informed his sovereign of this close to the process; and at the same time referred to the marriage of Anne Boleyn, as requiring, he seems to think, a public confirmation; which indeed a few days after, on his return to London, was made by his judicial authority, but with no reason assigned in his sentence. The letter to Henry was as follows.

"Please it your Highness to be advertised, that this xxiii. day of this present month of May I have given sentence in your Grace's great and weighty cause, the copy whereof I have sent unto your Highness by this bearer, Richard Watkyns. And when I was by the letters of Thirlby, your Grace's chaplain, advertised of your Grace's pleasure that I should cause your Grace's counsel to

1

Orig. State-Paper Office. In Cranmer's own hand-writing.