LXI. The Archbishop gave another commission to Maurice, CHAP. bishop of Rochester, dated May the 24th, to confer orders, as well in his diocese, as elsewhere in other dioceses of his Anno 1558. province. Commission for orders. The Cardinal, as he was Archbishop of Canterbury, had conferring a power of visiting All-Souls college, Oxon. And on July Commis20, signed a commission to Dr. Henry Cole, his vicar ge- sion for Allneral, to visit the said college. Souls col lege. sions to But the said Dr. Cole, whether by resignation, or other-453 wise under some cloud with the Cardinal, was this year di- Commisvested of the spiritual offices conferred on him the last. For Harpsfield. I find a commission, dated October 28, from the Cardinal, to Nic. Harpsfield, to be his official; and another of the same date to be dean of the Arches. And yet a third, two days after, authorizing him to visit All-Souls college abovesaid. dinal. There were letters dated November 5, in the fifth and Divers adsixth year of the King and Queen, whereby were granted to Cardinal Pole and his successors, archbishops of Canter- the Carbury, the perpetual advowsons of divers vicarages, recto-Regist. ries, and churches, in the county of Kent, and within the Card. Poli. diocese of Canterbury; viz. Hernehil, Folkeston, Reynham, Bredgar, Selling, Merden, Graveney, Sittingborn, Lydd, Tilmanston, Kennington, Maydston, Monnington, Godneston, Asse, Whitstable, Leed, and Salmiston, cum Dean. These letters patents were pursuant of an act of Parliament, as is mentioned in the said letters; which Parliament was held on the 21st of October, the 2d and 3d of the King and Queen: importing, "that whereas di"vers rectories and benefices impropriate, glebe-lands, "tithes, oblations, pensions, portions, profits, and emolu"ments ecclesiastical and spiritual, which from the twen"tieth year of King Henry came into the hands of the "said King, and at his death into the hands of King Ed"ward, and after into the Queen's hands and possession, "should be disposed, ordered, and applied, and converted "by the most reverend father, Cardinal Pole, then legate a latere, and now archbishop of Canterbury, for these 66 LXI. СНАР. 66 uses; ad inaugmentationem et incrementum victuum in"cumbent. prædict. aut aliarum curarum et beneficiorum Anno 1558," indigent. Vel aliter in prædiatorum, [prædicatorum,] "sustentationem, aut scholarium sustentationem:" that is, "for the augmentation and increase of living for the fore"said incumbencies, or other poor cures and benefices; or "else for the sustaining of poor preachers, or the mainte"nance of poor scholars within the kingdom, and being "denizens of England, according as should seem best to "the wisdom of the said Cardinal; the patronages of which "benefices, rectories, and vicarages were then in the Queen. "And when she was given to understand that many of "the rectories and vicarages were then void and destitute "of curates; and likewise that such a want was throughout "all the dioceses of her kingdom, partly through the death "of the incumbents, but chiefly because the rents and re"venues of the said livings were so small and strait, that "they sufficed not for the sustaining of able and learned "curates; by the defect of which it was come to pass, that "the people were not instructed in the sincere and Catholic "doctrine and religion; nor were the sacraments and sacra"mentals administered to them; not without the anger and indignation of Almighty God, and the great danger and "hazard of many Christians; the burden and care of all "which did especially and properly belong to the ordina"ries of such dioceses: to which if the distribution of the "patronages of all and singular the benefices were com"mitted, they would be so much the more obliged to pro❝vide and collate fit and able persons for those places: We 454" therefore, as the letters proceed, desiring to be disbur"dened altogether of this care, and in consideration of the "sum of 70007. of lawful money of England, by the said "most reverend Cardinal offered to us; together with the "consent of the rest of the prelates of this kingdom, of "their mere and free will unasked, out of the rents, reve"nues, and profits of the said benefices, and delivered into "our hands, for the sustentation and better supportation of "our great burdens in defence of our kingdoms and sub LXI. "jects; have granted to the said Cardinal and his succes- CHAP. sors, the archbishops, all the patronages, advowsons, do"nations, and free dispositions and rights of patronage of Anno 1558. "the churches aforesaid." The procuring this to the archbishopric must be recorded for one of the good deserts of this Cardinal to his see. five of his This last year of the Cardinal's life he foully polluted The Carhis hands in blood, which he seemed hitherto to be shy of dinal burns doing; and this as the effect of his late commission against diocese. heretics. For he issued out an instrument, called a significavit, dated from Lambeth, July the 7th, to the King and Queen, against certain heretics in his diocese. These were, John Cornford of Wrotham, Christopher Brown of Maidston, John Hurst of Asheton, Katharine Knight of Thornham, and Alice Suoth, or Snoth, of Biddenden. Of whose heresy his commissioners, Harpsfeld, Collins, and the rest, had informed him. The Cardinal therefore, in the said instrument, prayed the King and Queen, that they might be cast out of the fold, as diseased sheep, lest they might infect others. Cum igitur sancta mater Ecclesia non habeat quod ulterius facere, et exequi debeat, in hac parte vestris regiis Sublimitatibus, et brachio vestro seculari, dictos hæreticos et relapsos, relinquimus, condigna animadversione plectendos. "When therefore," as the instrument proceeded, "holy mo"ther Church hath not any thing further that she ought "to do in this behalf, we leave the said heretics and re"lapsed persons to your royal Highness, and your secular "arm, to receive condign punishment." And a warrant, I suppose, hereupon, being sent down for their execution, they were all burnt alive at Canterbury, November 10, being but seven days before the Queen's death and his, and the last that were burnt in that reign. We have seen what commissions went forth from the Cardinal this year 1558, and what his commissions were for the other two years past, as I carefully took them out of the register. By which we may perceive, that the Cardinal never did, in his own person, ordain, or consecrate, or visit, but did all by others. Whether it were his exalted station, CHAP. or his constant employment about the Queen in matters of state, or his infirmities, that made him neglect the offices of LXI. Anno 1558. his function, I leave to others to determine. 455 to think of check reli gion. CHAP. LXII. Proceedings with the heretics. Commissions for inquiry after such in Essex. A loan. The statute for burning heretics examined. They begin WE are now in the last year of Queen Mary; and the other persecution still held; which though sharper, yet was less courses to dreaded: insomuch that the Papists, seeing how little all their endeavours had prevailed, began now to think of some other ways to suppress the religion. There was one Dale, a promoter, who told Mr. Living, a minister, and in bonds for religion: "You care not for burning; by God's blood, 66 (as he swore,) there must be some other means found for you." Such was the courage of good people in those days. And so far were the persecutors from obtaining their ends, (viz. that by burning some, the terror thereof might reduce the rest to submit to the old superstitions,) that it had a quite contrary effect. They were encouraged and made more strong and resolute to persist in their principles, by the many examples of constancy they had so often before their eyes. Songs made against the mass. Some of these vented their resentments of the cruelty of this time, by making songs against the government, and against the barbarous usage exercised to the Queen's poor quiet subjects. There was one Cornet, a minstrel's boy, suffered for it. As at a wedding near Colchester, being bid to sing some song out of the Scripture, he sung a song called News out of London; which was against the mass and the Queen's proceedings. For which he was complained of, and committed to custody, and brought before the Earl of Oxford, and was whipped for his pains. In the beginning of this year, in the month of April, by ter. LXII. virtue of a commission from Boner the bishop, and some CHAP. warrants also from the Council, Dr. Chedsey and Thomas Mowrton, the Bishop's chaplains, and John Boswel, his se- Anno 1558. cretary, went down to Colchester and Harwich, to examine sioners sent the heretics in those parts of Essex, and to condemn them to Colchesto be burnt. For though they had burnt so many, yet many more remained here. Bonner gave them a letter to the Lord Darcy, to countenance and further them in this business. And the officers and under-sheriff were zealous to serve them. Upon their first coming down, they examined six in one day, and condemned them the next. And so were making quick work with many more. Some whereof had been not long before spared and sent home by means of Abbot Feckenham, who grew weary, as it seems, of these butcheries. But by the providence of God, or some secret friends at Court, while these bloody men were very earnest at this their cruel business, the Council sent for the chief of them up to Court immediately, viz. Chedsey, to confer with him upon certain matters. The letter ran thus: called by a "After our hartie commendations, having certain mat-456 ters, wherein we would furder talk with you, we have Chedsey re"thought good to will and require you in the King and letter from Queen's Majesty's names, to make your indelayed repair "unto us. At which your comyng, you shall furder under- Foxii MSS. "stand the cause of your sending for. Whereof we require 66 66 you not to fayle, as you tender their Majesties favour. "From Grenewych, the 20th of April, 1558. "Your loving frends, the Coun taken off. This was a mighty surprise to the Bishop's commis- Loath to be sioners; for they were very loath to be taken off. 66 "Be cause," as they said, "there were so many obstinate he"retics, Anabaptists, and other unruly persons then in |