VIII. 1540. honest without them, and without burning, or not? If you be not Henry able, why then marry you not? why take you not the remedy appointed of God? why make you those vows, which you cannot A.D. perform? or why do you not break them being made, falling thereby in danger of breaking God's commandment, for keeping your own? If you be able, and so do intend, to continue an honest and a continent conversation without wives, then shall I ask of you according as Dr. Turner gravely and truly layeth to your charge: "Why do Turner you so carefully provide a remedy by your laws beforehand, for a the mischief to come, which you may avoid if you list? unless either mish fox. listed not to stand, though you might; or else saw your own infirmity, that you could not, though ye would: and therefore, fearing your own weak fragility, you provide wisely for yourselves aforehand, that, where others shall suffer pains of death at the first for well doing, you may fall thrice in abominable adultery, and yet, by the law, have your lives pardoned." ye hunting papists hypo And here cometh out your own hypocrisy, by yourselves bewrayed; The for whereas you all confess, that you are able to live chaste if ye will, peray without wives, this moderation of the law, provided before against their your adulterous incontinency, plainly declareth that either ye pur- crisy. pose willingly to fall, or, at least, ye fear and stand in doubt not to be able to stand. And why then do you so confidently take such vows upon you, standing in such doubt and fear for the performance thereof? piety of excusa And be it to you admitted, that all do not fall, but that some keep their vow, though some viciously run to other men's wives and daughters: then herein again I ask you, seeing these vicious whorehunters and adulterous persons among you do live viciously (as you cannot deny), and may do otherwise, if they list, as you confess: what punishment then are they worthy to have, who may live continent, and will not, neither yet will take the remedy provided by God, but refuse it? Which being so, then what iniquity is this in The im you, or, rather, impiety inexcusable against God and man, to procure the pa a moderation of laws for such, and to show such compassion and pists inclemency to these so heinous adulterers, whore-hunters, and beastly ble. fornicators, that, if they adulterate other men's wives ever so oft, yet there is no death for them; and to show no compassion at all, nor to find out any moderation for such, but at the very first to kill them as felons and heretics, who honestly do marry in the fear of God, or once say, that a priest may marry? How can ye here be excused, O you children of iniquity? What reason is in your doing, or what truth in your doctrine, or what fear of God in your hearts? You that neither are able to avoid burning and pollution without wedlock, nor yet will receive that remedy that the Lord hath given you, how will you stand in his face, when he shall reveal your operations and cogitations to your perpetual confusion, unless by time ye convert and repent? And thus, being ashamed of your execrable doings, I cease to defile my pen any further in this so stinking matter of yours, leaving you to the Lord. It was declared before, that what time these six articles were in Read behand in the parliament house, Cranmer, then being archbishop of Cran Henry Canterbury only, withstood the same, disputing three days against Vill. them; whose reasons and arguments I wish were extant and remainA.D. ing. After these articles were thus passed and concluded, the king, 1540. who always bare especial favour unto Cranmer, perceiving him to be not a little discomforted therewith, sent all the lords of the parliament, and with them the lord Cromwell, to dine with him at Lambeth (as is before declared); and, within few days also upon the same, required that he would give a note of all his doings and reasonings in the said parliament: which the said Cranmer eftsoons accomplished articles accordingly, drawing out his reasons and allegations; the copy whereof, written being fair written out by his secretary, was sent and delivered unto the king, and there remained. mer's reasons and alle gations against the six to the king. A. D. to 1540. Now, after these things thus discussed, as touching the six wicked articles, it followeth next, in returning to the order of our story again, to declare those things which, after the setting out of these articles, ensued, *which' otherwise for the wicked cruelty thereof, are called the whip with six strings, set forth after the death of queen Anne and of good John Lambert, devised by the cruelty of the bishops, but specially by the bishop of Winchester, and at length also subscribed by king Henry. But therein, as in many other things, the crafty policy of Winchester appeared, who if he had not watched his time, and taken the king, coming out where it did, it is thought he had not got the matter so easily to be subscribed.* We come now to the time and story of the lord Cromwell, a man whose worthy fame and deeds are worthy to live renowned in perpetual memory. The History concerning the Life, Acts, and Death of the famous and worthy Councillor, Lord Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Esser. Thomas Cromwell although born of a simple parentage, and house 1525 obscure, through the singular excellency of wisdom, and dexterity of wit wrought in him by God, coupled with like industry of mind, and deserts of life, rose to high preferment and authority; insomuch that by steps and stairs of office and honour, he ascended at length to that, that not only he was made earl of Essex, but also most secret and dear councillor to king Henry, and vicegerent unto his person; which office hath not commonly been supplied, at least not so fruitfully discharged within this realm. Commen First, as touching his birth, he was born at Putney or thereabouts, being a smith's son, whose mother married afterwards to a shearman.2 In the simple estate and rude beginnings of this man, as of divers others before him, we may see and learn, that the excellency of noble virtues and heroical prowesses which advance to fame and honour, stand not only upon birth and blood, as privileges only entailed and appropriate to noble houses; but are disposed indifferently, and proceed of the gift of God, who raiseth up the poor abject many times out of the dunghill, and matcheth him in throne with peers and princes.3 As touching the order and manner of his coming up, it would be dation of superfluous to discourse what may be said at large; only, by way of story, it may suffice to give a touch of certain particulars, and so Crom well. (1) See Edition, 1563, p. 589.-ED. (2) Shireman.' Edit. 1570.-ED. (3) Psalm cxiii. 7, 8. VIII. to 1540. to proceed. Although the humble condition and poverty of this Henry man was at the beginning (as it is to many others) a great let and hinderance for virtue to show herself; yet, such was the activity and A.D. forward ripeness of nature in him, so pregnant in wit, and so ready 1525 he was, in judgment discrete, in tongue eloquent, in service faithful, in stomach courageous, in his pen active, that being conversant in the sight of men, he could not be long unespied, nor yet unprovided of favour and help of friends to set him forward in place and office; neither was any place or office put unto him, whereunto he was not apt and fit. Nothing Nothing was so hard which with wit and industry he Cromwell could not compass: neither was his capacity so good, but his memory the New was as great in retaining whatsoever he had attained. This well Testaappeared in canning the text of the whole New Testament of Erasmus' Latin translation without book, in his journey going and coming from Rome, book. whereof ye shall hear anon. Thus, in his growing years, as he shot up in age and ripeness, a great delight came in his mind to stray into foreign countries, to see the world abroad, and to learn experience; whereby he learned such tongues and languages as might better serve for his use hereafter. And thus, passing over his youth, being at Antwerp he was there retained of the English merchants to be their clerk or secretary, or in some such like condition placed, pertaining to their affairs. learned ment in without pope's dise dear ware. It happened, the same time, that the town of Boston thought good The to send up to Rome, for renewing of their two pardons, one called merchanthe greater pardon, the other the lesser pardon. Which thing although it should stand them in great expenses of money (for the pope's merchandise is always dear ware), yet notwithstanding, such sweetness they had felt thereof, and such gain to come to their town by that Romish merchandise (as all superstition is commonly gainful), that they, like good catholic merchants, and the pope's good customers, thought to spare for no cost, to have their leases again of their pardons His leases renewed, whatsoever they paid for the fine. And yet was all this dons. good religion then, such was the lamentable blindness of that time. of par This then being so determined and decreed among my countrymen of Boston, to have their pardons' needs repaired and renewed from Rome, one Geffery Chambers, and another companion, were sent as the messengers, with writings and money no small quantity, well furnished, and with all other things appointed, necessary for so chargeable and costly an exploit. Chambers, coming in his journey to Antwerp, and misdoubting himself to be too weak for the compassing of such a weighty piece of work, conferred and persuaded with Thomas Cromwell to associate him in that legacy, and to assist him in the contriving thereof. Cromwell, although perceiving the enterprise to be of no small difficulty, to traverse the pope's court, for the unreasonable expenses amongst those greedy cormorants, yet, having some skill of the Italian tongue, and as yet not grounded in judgment of religion in those his youthful days, was at length obtained and content to give the adventure, and so took his journey towards Rome. Cromwell, loth to spend much time, and more loth Cromwell to spend his money; and again, perceiving that the pope's greedy Rome. humour must needs be served with some present or other (for without rewards there is no doing at Rome), began to cast with himself, goeth to Henry what thing best to devise, wherein he might best serve the pope's VIII. 1525 to devotion. A.D. At length, having knowledge how that the pope's holy tooth greatly delighted in new-fangled strange delicates, and dainty dishes, it came into his mind to prepare certain fine dishes of jelly, after the best fashion, made after our country manner here in England; which, to them of Rome, was not known nor seen before. 1540. This done, Cromwell, observing his time accordingly, as the pope was newly come from hunting into his pavilion, he, with his companions, approached with his English presents, brought in with 'a three man's song' (as we call it) in the English tongue, and all after the English fashion. The pope, suddenly marvelling at the strangeness of the song, and understanding that they were Englishmen, and that they came not empty handed, willed them to be called in. Presents Cromwell there, showing his obedience, and offering his jolly junkets, such as kings and princes only," said he, "in the realm of England use to feed upon," desired the same to be accepted in benepardons. volent part, which he and his companions, as poor suitors unto his holiness, had there brought and presented, as novelties meet for his recreation, &c. to the pope. for Boston Boston pardous 66 Pope Julius, seeing the strangeness of the dishes, commanded by and by his cardinal to take the assay; who, in tasting thereof, liked it so well, and so likewise the pope after him, that knowing of them what their suits were, and requiring them to make known the making of that meat, he, incontinent, without any more ado, stamped both their pardons, as well the greater as the lesser. And thus were the jolly pardons of the town of Boston obtained, obtained as you have heard, for the maintenance of their decayed port. The at Rome. copy of these pardons (which I have in my hands), briefly comprehended, cometh to this effect: Their contents. THE EFFECT AND CONTENTS OF THE BOSTON PARDONS. That all the brethren and sisters of the Guild of Our Lady in St. Botolph's effect and church at Boston, should have free license to choose for their confessor or ghostly father whom they would, either secular priest or religious person, to assoil them plenarily from all their sins, except only in cases reserved to the pope. Pardon for visit ing Our Lady's Also, should have license to carry about with them an altar-stone, whereby they might have a priest to say them mass, or other divine service where they would, without prejudice of any other church or chapel, though it were also before day, yea and at three o'clock after midnight in the summer time. Furthermore, that all such brethren and sisters of the said guild, who should resort to the chapel of Our Lady in St. Botolph's church, at the feast of Easter, Whitsuntide, Corpus Christi, the Nativity, or the Assumption of Our Lady, chapel in or in the octaves of them, the feast of St. Michael, and the first Sunday in Boston. Lent, should have pardon no less than if they themselves personally had visited Price of Boston pardons. the stations of Rome. Provided that every such person, man or woman, entering into the same guild, at his first entrance should give to the finding of seven priests, twelve horisters, and thirteen beadsmen, and to the lights of the same brotherhood and a grammar school, six shillings and eight pence; and for every year after. twelve pence. And these premises, being before granted by pope Innocent and pope Julius II., this pope Clement also confirmed; granting moreover, that whatsoever brother or sister of the same guild, through poverty, sickness, or any other let, could not resort personally to the said chapel, notwithstanding, he should be dispensed withal, as well for that, as for all other vows, irregularities, censures canonical whatsoever; only the vow of going the stations of Rome, and going to St. James of Compostella excepted, &c. He also granted unto them power to receive full remission, 'a pœna et culpa,' once in their life, or in the hour of death. Ítem, that having their altar-stone, they might have mass said in any place, though it were unhallowed. Also in the time of interdict, to have mass or any sacrament ministered; and also, being departed, that they might be buried in christian burial, notwithstanding the interdict. Henry VIII. A. D. 1525 to 1540. The cha pel of Extending, moreover, his grant, that all such brethren and sisters, in resorting to the aforesaid chapel of Our Lady upon the Nativity, or upon the Assumption of Our Lady, giving supportation to the aforesaid chapel, at every such festival day should have full remission of all their sins. Or if they, for any impediment, could not be present at the chapel aforesaid, yet, if they came unto Scala their own parish church, and there said one Pater-Noster, and Ave-Maria, they Cali should enjoy the same remission above specified; or whosoever came every Rome. Friday to the same chapel, should have as much remission, as if he went to the chapel of Our Lady called 'Scala Cœli.' Furthermore, that whatsoever christian people, of what estate or condition soever, either spiritual or temporal, would aid and support the chamberlains or substitutes of the aforesaid guild, should have five hundred years of pardon. about The pope Item, to all brothers and sisters of the same guild was granted free liberty to selleth eat in time of Lent, or other fasting days, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, and also eggs, butflesh, by the counsel of their ghostly father and physician, without any scruple cheese. of conscience. ter, and Item, that all partakers of the same guild, and being supporters thereof, who, once a quarter, or every Friday or Saturday, either in the said chapel in St. Botolph's church, or any other chapel, of their devotion, shall say a PaterNoster, Ave-Maria, and Creed, or shall say, or cause to be said, masses for Pardon souls departed in pains of purgatory, shall not only have the full remission due for souls to them that visit the chapel of Scala Coeli, or of St. John Lateran, but also, in purgathe souls in purgatory shall enjoy full remission, and be released of all their pains. Item, that all the souls departed of the brothers and sisters of the said guild, also the souls of their fathers and mothers, shall be partakers of all the prayers, suffrages, almoses, fastings, masses, and matins, pilgrimages, and all other good deeds of all the holy church militant for ever, &c. These indulgencies, pardons, grants, and relaxations, were given and granted by pope Nicholas V., pope Pius II., pope Sixtus IV., and pope Julius II., of which pope Julius it seemeth that Cromwell obtained this pardon aforesaid about the year of our Lord 1510 · which pardon again afterwards, through the request of king Henry, A.D. 1526, was confirmed by pope Clement VII. And thus much concerning the pardons of Boston, renewed by means of Thomas Cromwell, of pope Julius II.2 tory. Cromwell was in of the All this while it appeareth that Cromwell had yet no sound taste nor judgment of religion, but was wild and youthful, without sense or regard of God and his word, as he himself was wont ofttimes to declare unto Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury; showing what a ruffian he was in his young days, and how he was in the wars of the duke of Bourbon at the siege of Rome; also what a great doer he the wars was with Geffery Chambers in publishing and setting forth the duke of pardons of Boston everywhere in churches as he went; and so con- besieging tinued, till, at length, by learning without book the text of the New Rome. Testament of Erasmus's translation, in his going and coming from Rome (as is aforesaid), he began to be touched, and called to better understanding. (1) Good stuff, I trow. (2) Ex literis para Clementis VII. ad Guliel, Warramum. archiep. Bourbon |