And here he further said thus: Edward VI. still to the sacra Because he saw the people slack in coming to the communion and divine service, set forth by the king's majesty, and to the intent he would make them A.D. have a better opinion of the sacrament than he thought they had, he then faith-_1549. fully did declare his belief therein. Wherewith his denouncers being offended, they uncharitably and untruly deduced, in their pretensed denunciation, that in his sermon he did treat of such things as most should stir up unto dissension and tumult; whereby it appeared unto him, that his denouncers either took his catholic assertion of the verity of Christ's body and blood in the sacrament of Bonner the altar, or else his faithful declaration made of the obedience of subjects unto flieth the king's majesty their supreme and sovereign lord, with the peril and danger of rebellion committed against him, to be the cause of disorder and dissension; ment of for that (saith he) of these two points he chiefly spake, and especially of obedi- the altar. ence to the king, whose minority was more than manifestly known, as well amongst the people of this realm, as elsewhere, throughout the world besides: which he would not have done except he had believed that both all his subjects purgation were bounden to obey him, even as he then was and should be during his life; of himand also that the rebellion of late committed against him was detestable, and condemned by God's word: and therefore he wished that his two denouncers, with all the rest of the new preachers, did mean as faithfully, obediently, and catholicly, towards the king's honour, royal power, and surety of person, as he did; and had not more moved the people to tumults and disobedience by their erroneous doctrine and teaching, than he had at any time given any occasion thereunto. Then finally he concluded and said thus: That whereas his aforesaid denouncers surmise, that it was of no light ground looked for, as it appeared in their judgments, that he should more apertly have declared the contents of the injunctions and articles than he did, that their judgments were in that behalf corrupted, and set to slander and picking of quarrels; for he was well assured, and credibly informed, that all his honest and catholic audience were fully satisfied, both touching their obedience to the king's majesty in his tender age, and also concerning the great penalty and peril that the late rebels incurred by their disobedience. And besides that, when he was before the lord protector and the rest of the council, after he had made his excuse, and alleged many impediments for his not preaching at the cross, he did not then further promise but to do the best he could; which he hath of his fidelity and conscience accomplished, not omitting any thing of purpose or evil will, that might satisfy the people in any point concerning the premises. Bonner's self. bishop replieth, Bonner, Whilst he was thus reading these answers, objecting against his The archdenouncers such causes and quarrels as he before alleged, for which he would have earnestly had the denouncers to be repelled of the against commissioners, the archbishop of Canterbury replied, that if there were any such law, he thought it not to be a good or godly law, but a law of the bishop of Rome. "For," said he, "if my matter and cause be good, what should I care who accuse me, yea although he were the devil of hell ?" "No, sir," said the bishop of London, "it is the king's law used in the realm ?" 66 Well, my lord," said the archbishop, "ye be too full of your law: I would wish you had less knowledge in that law, and more knowledge in God's law, and of your duty." "Well," answered the bishop again, "seeing your grace falleth to Bonner. wishing, I can also wish many things to be in your person." Then spake secretary Peter to the bishop, as touching these denouncers: We e are not so straited in this matter, but that we may 66 (1) As justly they might; the same being heretical and blasphemous against the humanity of Christ. Edward proceed against you, either at their promotion or without them, at our pleasure." VI. A.D. 1549. "A God's name, then," said Bonner, "put them by, and then do as your pleasure shall be, so you do me right, for I ask but right." "Nay," said secretary Smith, "you ask you wot not what you would have us follow your mind in these quiddities and quirks; and all is nothing else but to delay justice. And you do herein as thieves, murderers, and traitors, not to have the truth known." "Say you so to me," quoth the bishop? "I thank you. Well, I could say somewhat to you also, were ye not in the place ye be, but let it pass. As for my matter, I fear it not, it is not so evil as you make it; for I have your own hand-writing for my discharge, which when I shall see time, I shall show forth." 66 My hand," quoth the secretary. "Let me see it, and let it be read openly." "So it shall," said the bishop, "when I shall see time." Then said Master Smith, "You do use us thus, to be seen a cunning lawyer." 66 Indeed," quoth the bishop, "I knew the law, ere you could read it." With that, secretary Peter willed the bishop to proceed in reading of his answers; who so did, and when he had finished, Latimer delivered up a writing in paper unto the archbishop and the rest of the commissioners; who then said unto the bishop of London, "Here be certain articles which we intend to minister unto you." The bishop therewith said, "Do you minister them of your office, or at the promotion of these men (pointing to Latimer and Hooper), for I perceive they gave them unto you?" "Nay," said secretary Peter, "we will minister them unto you, ex officio mero.'" *The copy of which articles here followeth : Articles ministered to Bonner bishop of London the first time, for him jointly and severally to answer unto. I. It is reported that you have received from the king's majesty, by the hands of my lord protector's grace, sitting in the council chamber at council with the rest of the lords of the council, the eleventh of August, certain injunctions to be done and followed by you, and articles to be preached there by you; that you did there and then accept the said injunctions, and promise to observe and follow the same. II. Item, That you have not truly, sincerely, and wholly, declared all the articles enjoined to you, in your last sermon, as they were put unto you. III. Item, Whether ye have written your sermon or no? and if ye have written it, whether of your own counsel only, or by whose help; and who hath seen the same written before and since ye did preach it? IV. Item, That ye have not declared in your sermon, that the old rite of prayers, as matins and mass, said after that sort in this realm, by reason of disobedience is naught, although a man have devotion unto it; according as it is in your articles. V. Item, That you have not, in your sermon, declared the articles of the king's majesty's power in his minority, as it was commanded you, to the refutation of the evil opinion and error of the rebels; and, if you have declared it, how and after what sort ye have declared it? (1) Well cracked, Master Bonner. (2) These articles are introduced from the first Edition, 1563, pp. 703, 704.—ED. VI. Item, Whether ye will take upon you to defend the said rebels' opinion Edward or no? VII. Item, That ye know, or have heard say, that certain persons within your diocese, since the time that the said injunctions were given unto you, have heard, been at, or celebrated, mass or evensong in the Latin tongue, and after the old rite and manner, other than according to the king's majesty's book. VIII. Item, That ye have not convented them before you, nor inflicted nishment unto them. pu IX. Item, That ye know or have heard say, that there be notable adulterers, fornicators, or incestuous parsons in your diocese; and you cited none of them, or have seen them punished. X. Item, That ye were at Master Dr. Cox's the king's almoner's sermon at Paul's cross, about Midsummer was twelve months, wherein he declared the great contempt of the bishop of Winchester in not observing the injunction given unto him. And, especially, in that he did not treat as he ought to have done, and was commanded, of the king's majesty's authority in his minority, additionally. XI. Item, That the rites of the common service of the church, now set forth, be, in some parts of your diocese, diversely used; and you, knowing or hearing of the same, have not called any ministers of the service before you for a redress of such diversity, nor corrected the misusers thereof.* VI. A. D. 1549. requireth Hereupon, after an oath given unto the bishop "de fideliter respon- Bonner dendo," he desired a copy of the articles, requiring also a competent respite to time to be given unto him to make answer thereunto. To whom secretary Peter replied, saying, "My lord, here be certain of the articles touching your own fact, which you may answer unto forthwith; as whether you wrote your sermon or not before you preached it." Whereunto the bishop answered, that he wrote it not, but he drew certain notes of it. "Then whose counsel," said he, "and advice, used you in making your sermon ?" To which he also answered, that he had therein used his own counsel and books; "and yet my chaplains," quoth he, "be much suspected for my doings in many things, and sometimes I for theirs, when there is no cause why." These words ended, the commissioners assigned him Monday, the 16th of September then next following, to appear before them, and to make his full answers unto all the articles ministered unto him by them this day; the contents whereof are as followeth. THE FORM AND TENOR OF THE ARTICLES MINISTERED UNTO AT THE THIRD SESSION. Monday, the 16th of September, the archbishop, associated with the bishop of Rochester, secretary Smith, and Dr. May, dean of Paul's, sat judicially within his chapel at Lambeth; before whom there and then appeared the bishop of London, according as he was assigned in the last session; at which time he exhibited unto the commissioners in writing his answers unto the last former articles. But before the same were there read, the archbishop said unto him, that his late answer, made the 13th of September, unto the denunciation, was very obscure, and therewith also contained much matter answer. Edward of slander against Latimer and Hooper, and much untruth; and VI. therefore they desired there to purge themselves. A. D. Latimer, first obtaining leave to speak, said to this effect: 1549. Hooper mer de Whereupon "That the bishop of London had most falsely, untruly, and uncharitably and Lati- accused him, laying to his charge many feigned and untrue matters in his former answers to the denunciation, and such as he should never be able to sire to purge prove. For whereas in his said answer he alleged, that Hugh Latimer and themJohn Hooper, with other heretics conspiring against him, did the first day of selves against September, after the bishop's sermon, assemble themselves together unlawfully Bonner's against the said bishop, that saying of his was most untrue. For neither that slanders. day, nor yet before that day, nor until certain days after, he ever knew or spake Bonner with Hooper. And as touching his own preaching there, openly accused by reproved the bishop, he said, he never held, taught, or preached any thing concerning truth. the blessed sacrament, otherwise than he ought to do, nor otherwise than Latimer according to the Scriptures, and true catholic faith of Christ's church; and therefore offered himself to be tried by the archbishop, or other such learned men as it should please the king's majesty, or the said commissioners to appoint; and further to suffer, to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, if the bishop could justly prove true the things that he had there shamefully laid to his charge.' of un purgeth himself. Hooper himself Then Master Hooper, upon like license obtained, said to this effect: "This ungodly man,' pointing to the bishop, hath most uncharitably and cleareth ungodly accused me before your grace and this audience, and hath laid to my against charge, that I am a heretic: whereas, I take God to record, I never spake, Bonner. read, taught, or preached any heresy, but only the most true and pure word of God. And whereas he saith, I frequent the company of heretics, I do much marvel of his so saying; for it hath pleased my lord protector's grace, my singular good lord and master, and my lady's grace, to have me with them, and I have preached before them, and much used their company, with divers other worshipful persons; and therefore I suppose this man meaneth them. And further, whereas he saith that I have made heretical books against the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, calling it mathematical,1 I perceive that this man knoweth not what this word 'mathematical' there meaneth, and therefore understandeth not my book, which, I take God to be my judge, I have made truly and sincerely, and according to his holy word; and by the same his holy word and scriptures, I am always (and shall be) ready to submit myself to your grace's judgment and the superior powers, to be tried.' Bonner Hooper of Which ended, with many such more words of like importance, the archbishop, to shorten this matter, asked the bishop how he could prove that Hooper and Latimer assembled together against him the first of September, as he had alleged, seeing they now denied it; and therefore willed him to answer forthwith thereunto. The bishop then answered that he would duly prove it, so that he might be admitted to do it according to law: and with that he pulled out of his sleeve certain books, saying, "I have this varlet's books charger which he made against the blessed sacrament, which you shall hear." heresy. Then, as he was turning certain leaves thereof, Hooper began again to speak; but the bishop turning himself towards him, tauntingly said, “Put up your pipes; you have spoken for your part; I will meddle no more with you:" and therewith read a certain sentence upon the book. This done, he said, "Lo! here you may see his opinion, and what it is." At which words the people standing (1) This term 'mathematical,' is referred of Master Hooper not to the substance of Christ's body upon the cross, but to the papistical accidents, without substance upon the altar. VI. behind, and seeing his irreverent and unseemly demeanour and rail- Edward ing, fell suddenly into great laughing; whereat the bishop being moved, and not perceiving the cause wherefore they did laugh, turned A.D. him towards them in a great rage, saying, "Ah woodcocks! woodcocks!" 1549. The peo ple laugh scorn. Then said one of the commissioners, "Why say you so, my lord?" Bonner to "Marry," quoth he, "I may well call them woodcocks, that thus will laugh, and know not whereat; nor yet heard what I said or read." 66 words of Well, my lord of London," said the archbishop, "then I perceive you would persuade this audience, that you were called hither for preaching of your belief in the sacrament of the altar, and therefore you lay to these men's charge [meaning Hooper and Latimer], that they have accused you of that: howbeit, there was no such thing laid to your charge; and therefore this audience shall hear openly read the denunciation that is put up against you, to the intent they may the better perceive your dealing herein." And therewithal he said The unto the people, "My lord of London would make you believe, that the archhe is called hither for declaring and preaching his opinion touching bishop to the sacrament of the altar: but, to the intent you may perceive how ple. he goeth about to deceive you, you shall hear the denunciation that is laid in against him read unto you:" and thereupon he delivered sir John the denunciation unto sir John Mason, knight, who there read it readeth openly. This done, the archbishop said again unto the audience, the de "Lo here you hear how the bishop of London is called for no such tion. matter as he would persuade you." the peo Mason nuncia a rage. suf fered to With this the bishop, being in a raging heat, as one clean void of Bonner in all humanity, turned himself about unto the people, saying, “Well, now hear what the bishop of London saith for his part." But the Not su commissioners, seeing his inordinate contumacy, denied him to speak speak to any more, saying, that he used himself very disobediently; with ple. more like words of reproach. the peo eth the Notwithstanding he, still persisting in his unreverent manner of He chargdealing with the commissioners, pulled out of his sleeve another archbook, and then said unto the archbishop, "My lord of Canterbury, bishop I have here a note out of your books that you made touching the trariety.. blessed sacrament, wherein you do affirm the verity of the body and blood of Christ to be in the sacrament, and I have another book also of yours of the contrary opinion; which is a marvellous matter." purgeth To this the archbishop answered, that he made no books contrary The archone to another, and that he would defend his books, howbeit he bishop, thought the bishop understood them not: "For I promise you," himself quoth he, "I will find a boy of ten years old, that shall be more apt books. to understand that matter than you my lord of London be." and his com to answer to the Thus, after much multiplying of like words, the commissioners, Fonner thinking not good to spend any more waste time with him, willed manded him to show forth his answers unto the articles objected the last day against him whereupon he, having them ready, did read the same articles. openly to them; wherein, after many words of his former protestation recited, with a marvellous lamentation to see that one of his vocation, at the malicious denunciation of vile heretics, should be used after such strange sort, having nevertheless done the best he could to declare |