your Henry VIII. promise to set forth the much hinder it, but I will as much further it; and I will have of Bibles set up in the church of Paul's, at least in sundry places six of them; and I will pay you honestly for them, and give hearty thanks." A. D. These words he then spake in the hearing of divers credible persons, 1540. as Edmund Stile, grocer, and others. "But now, Master Grafton, Bonner's at this time I have specially called you to be a witness with me, that upon this translation of bishops' sees, I must, according to the statute, Scripture take an oath unto the king's majesty, acknowledging his supremacy, in nglish. which, before God, I take with my heart, and so think him to be; Sweareth and beseech Almighty God to save him, and long to prosper heartily his to the grace. "Hold the book, sirrah! and read you the oath," said he king's su to one of his chaplains; and he laid his hand on the book, and so he took his oath and after this he showed great friendship to the said Grafton, and to his partner Edward Whitchurch; but especially to Miles Coverdale, who was the corrector of the great Bible. premacy. printing at Paris the Bibles Now after that the aforesaid letters were delivered, the French king gave very good words, and was well contented to permit the doing thereof; and so the printer went forward, and printed forth the book, even to the last part; and then was the quarrel picked with the printer, and he was sent for to the inquisitors of the faith, and there charged with certain articles of heresy. Then were sent for the Englishmen that The were at the cost and charge thereof, and also such as had the correc- of the Bition of the same, who was Miles Coverdale: but having some warnble stayed ing what would follow, the said Englishmen posted away as fast as through they could, to save themselves, leaving behind them all their Bibles, English which were to the number of two thousand five hundred (called the bishops. Bible of the great Volume), and never recovered any of them, saving that the lieutenant-criminal, having them delivered unto him to burn English in a place of Paris (like Smithfield), called Maulbert Place, was some- burnt at what moved with covetousness, and sold four great dry-fats of them Paris. to a haberdasher, to lap caps in, and those were bought again; but the rest were burned, to the great and importunate loss of those that bare the charge of them. But notwithstanding the said loss, after How they had recovered some part of the aforesaid books, and were com- and Whitforted and encouraged by the lord Cromwell, the said Englishmen church went again to Paris, and there got the presses, letters, and servants printers, of the aforesaid printer, and brought them to London; and there they became printers themselves (which before they never intended), and printed out the said Bible in London, and, after that, printed sundry impressions of them but yet not without great trouble and loss, for the hatred of the bishops, namely Stephen Gardiner and his fellows, who mightily did stomach and malign the printing thereof. Here, by the way, for the more direction to the story, thou hast, loving reader, to note and understand, that in those days there were two sundry Bibles in English, printed and set forth, bearing divers titles, and printed in divers places: the first was called Thomas Matthewe's Bible,' printed at Hamburgh, about A.D. 1537; the corrector of which print was then John Rogers, of whom ye shall hear more, Christ willing, hereafter. The printers were Richard Grafton, and Whitchurch. In the translation of this Bible, the greatest doer was indeed William Tyndale, who, with the help of Miles Coverdale, had translated all the books thereof, except only the Apocrypha, and Grafton became Mat thew's whom and how. Henry certain notes in the margin, which were added after. But, because the VIII said William Tyndale, in the mean time, was apprehended, before A. D. this Bible was fully perfected, it was thought good to them that had 1540. the doing thereof, to change the name of William Tyndale, because that name then was odious, and to father it by a strange name of Bible, by Thomas Matthewe; John Rogers, at the same time, being corrector to the print, who had then translated the residue of the Apocrypha, and added also certain notes thereto in the margin: and thereof came it to be called Thomas Matthewe's Bible. Which Bible of Thomas The Bible Matthewe, after it was imprinted and presented to the lord Cromwell, and to the lord Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, who liked very king by well of it, the said Cromwell presented it to the king, and obtained well. that the same might freely pass to be read of his subjects with his put forth grace's license: so that there was printed upon the same book, one with the line in red letters, with these words, "Set forth with the king's most privilege. gracious license." presented to the Crom The Bible king's Another the great vel printed at Paris. The setting forth of this book did not a little offend the clergy, namely the bishops aforesaid, both for the prologues, and, especially, because in the same book was one special table collected of the common places in the Bible, and the Scriptures for the approbation of the same; and chiefly about the supper of the Lord, and marriage of priests, and the mass, which there was said not to be found in the Scripture. Furthermore, after the restraint of this aforesaid Bible of Thomas Matthewe, another Bible began to be printed at Paris, A.D. 1540; which was called the Bible of the large Volume. The printers thereof were the aforesaid Richard Grafton, and Whitchurch, who bare the charges. A great helper thereto, was the lord Cromwell. The chiefest overseer was Miles Coverdale, who, taking the translation of Tyndale, conferred the same with the Hebrew, and amended many things. *The' King's Brief, for setting up the Bible of the Greater Volume in English. Henry, by the grace of God, king of England and of France, defender of the faith, lord of Ireland, and, in earth, supreme head of the church of England; to the reverend father in Christ, Edmund bishop of London, or, in his absence, to his vicar-general, health. We command you, that immediately upon the receipt of these presents, in every cathedral, collegiate, and other parish churches and chapels, you cause, on our behalf, to be solemnly published and read, a certain decree made by us, by the advice of our council, which we have sent you by the bringer, imprinted in certain schedules annexed to this brief: charging you moreover, that immediately upon the publishing of the said decree so by you made, you cause the said decree to be set up upon every church door through your diocese, that it may more largely appear unto our subjects and liege people; and that with all diligence you perform the same, as you will answer us for the contrary. Witness myself, at Westminster, the seventh day of May, in the thirtysecond year of our reign. Here also we have thought good to infer a letter which Edmund Bonner, bishop of London, wrote, and sent unto the archdeacon of London, for the execution of the king's writ, which we have here also put in Latin, for this only cause, to manifest his own words unto the people, and to show how that which he himself was once a setter(1) For this and the succeeding documents see Edition 1563, pp. 620, 621.-Ed. VIII. forth of, he afterwards became the chief putter-down again of the Henry same; and made the reading of the Bible to be a trap or snare to entangle many good men, and to bring them to ruin and destruction. The copy of which letter here ensueth. A Letter of Edmund Bonner, Bishop of London, for the execution of the King's Writ. Edmundus, permissione divina Londinensis. Episcopus, dilecto nobis in Christo archidiacono nostro Londinensis, ejusve officiali, salutem gratiam et benedictionem. Litteras sive breve regium potentissimi et illustrissimi in Christo principis et domini nostri Henrici Octavi, Dei gratia Angliæ et Franciæ regis, fidei defensoris, domini Hiberniæ, et sub Christo in terra supremi capitis ecclesiæ Anglicana, noveritis nos cum ea qua decuit reverentia nuper recepisse exequendum, verborum sequentium sub tenore, Henricus Octavus, &c. ut supra in brevi regio proximè prescripto. Vobis igitur ex parte dicti illustrissimi domini nostri regis conjunctim et divisim committimus ac firmiter injungendo mandamus, quod immediate post receptionem presentium in omnibus et singulis ecclesiis collegiatis et parochiis capellisque ac aliis quibuscunque infra dictum archidiaconatum Londinensem et jurisdictionem ejusdem decretum illud, de quo in preinserto brevi regio fit mentio, publicari et solemniter denunciari, quodque immediate post publicationem et pronunciationem dicti decreti per vos sic factas illud super ostium cujuslibet ecclesiæ et capellæ predictæ poni et affigi faciatis, juxta formam et tenorem brevis hujusmodi; vobis etiam ut supra mandantes, quatenus nos vel vicarium nostrum in spiritualibus generalem de omni eo quod in premissis et circa executionem earundem feceritis, citra festum Ascensionis Domini proximè jam futurum, bene te certificare curetis literis vestris patentibus, harum et seriem in se continentibus, auctentice sigillatis. Datum in palatio nostro Londinensi, sub sigillo officialis communis nostri episcopalis Londinensis quo utimur in hac parte xi. die Maii, anno Domini 1541; et nostræ translationis anno secundo. In this Bible, although the former notes of Thomas Matthewe were omitted, yet sundry marks and hands were annexed on the sides, which meant that in those places should be made certain notes, wherewith also the clergy were offended, though the notes were not made. A.D. 1540. bishops Bible in stayed by through bishops' means. After this the bishops, bringing their purpose to pass, brought the The lord Cromwell out of favour, and shortly to his death; and, not long offended after, great complaint was made to the king of the translation of the at the Bible, and of the preface of the same; and then was the sale of the English. Bible commanded to be stayed, the bishops promising to amend and Its sale correct it, but never performing the same. Then Grafton was called, the king and first charged with the printing of Matthewe's Bible, but he, being the fearful of trouble, made excuses for himself in all things. Then was he examined of the great Bible, and what notes he was purposed to make to which he answered, that he knew none. For his purpose was, to have retained learned men to have made the notes; but when he perceived the king's majesty and his clergy not willing to have Grafton any, he proceeded no further. But for all these excuses, Grafton imprisonwas sent to the Fleet, and there remained six weeks, and before he printing came out, was bound, in three hundred pounds, that he should neither sell, nor imprint, nor cause to be imprinted, any more Bibles, until the king and the clergy should agree upon a translation. And thus was the Bible from that time stayed, during the reign of king Henry VIII. But yet one thing more is to be noted, that after the imprinters had lost their Bibles, they continued suitors to Bonner, as is aforesaid, to be a mean to obtain of the French king their books again: but so long they continued suitors, and Bonner ever fed them with ed for the Bible. Bonner a great friend to Cromwell all the time of his pro and Bon Bonner ship and Henry fair words, promising them much, but did nothing for them, till, at last, Bonner was discharged of his ambassade, and returned home, where A. D. he was right joyfully welcomed home by the lord Cromwell, who loved 1540. him dearly, and had a marvellous good opinion of him. And so long as Cromwell remained in authority, so long was Bonner at his beck, and friend to his friends, and enemy to his enemies; as namely, at that time to Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, who never favoured Cromwell, and therefore Bonner could not favour him, but he and sperity. Winchester were the greatest enemies that might be. But, so soon Gardiner as Cromwell fell, immediately Bonner and Winchester pretended to ner made be the greatest men that lived; and no good word could Bonner friends. speak of Cromwell, but the lewdest, vilest, and bitterest that he could altereth speak, calling him the rankest heretic that ever lived. And then, his friend such as the said Bonner knew to be in good favour with Cromwell, religion. he could never abide their sight: insomuch that the next day after that Cromwell was apprehended, the above-named Grafton, who before had been very familiar with Bonner, met with the said Bonner suddenly, and said unto him, that he was sorry to hear of the news that then were abroad. "What are they?" said he. "Of the appreBonner hension of the lord Cromwell," said Grafton. "Are ye sorry for that?" said he. "It had been good that he had been dispatched long ago." With that Grafton looked upon him, and knew not what to say, but came no more to Bonner. Howbeit afterwards, the said Grafton, being charged for the imprinting of a ballad made in favour of Cromwell, was called before the council, where Bonner was present; and there Bonner charged him with the words that he spake to him of Cromwell, and told out a great long tale. But the lord Audley, who then was lord Chancellor, right discreetly and honourably cut off the matter, and entered into other talk. against Cromwell. The History of Robert Barnes, Thomas Garret, and William Like as in foreign battles the chief point of victory consisteth in the safety of the general or captain, even so, when the valiant standardbearer and stay of the church of England, Thomas Cromwell I mean, was made away, pity it is to behold what miserable slaughter of good men and good women ensued thereupon, whereof we have now (Christ willing) to entreat. For Winchester, having now gotten his full purpose, and free swing to exercise his cruelty, wonder it was to see that aper Calydonius, or, as the Scripture speaketh,' that 'ferus singularis,' what troubles he raised in the Lord's vineyard. And lest, by delays, he might lose the occasion presently offered, he straightways made his first assaults upon Robert Barnes, Thomas Garret, and William Jerome, whom, in the very same month, within two days after Cromwell's death, he caused to be put to execution; whose histories severally to comprehend, first of all we will somewhat speak of Barnes, doctor of divinity, whose particular story here followeth. This Barnes, after he came from the university of Louvain, went to Cambridge, where he was made prior and master of the house of (1) Psalm lxxx. 13. Henry VIII. 1540. prior of of Augus bridge. er, scho Barnes. the Augustines. At that time the knowledge of good letters was scarcely entered into the university, all things being full of rudeness and barbarity, saving in very few, who were privy and secret: where- A.D. upon Barnes, having some feeling of better learning and authors, began in his house to read Terence, Plautus, and Cicero; so that Barnes what with his industry, pains, and labour, and with the help of Thomas the house Parnell, his scholar, whom he brought from Louvain with him, reading "copia verborum et rerum," he caused the house shortly to flourish Camwith good letters, and made a great part of the house learned (who Parnell a before were drowned in barbarous rudeness), as Master Cambridge, LondonMaster Field, Master Coleman, Master Burley, Master Coverdale, lar to with divers others of the university, that sojourned there for learning's sake. After these foundations laid, then did he read openly in the house Paul's Epistles, and put by Duns and Dorbel; and yet he was a questionary himself: and only because he would have Christ there taught, and his holy word, he turned their unsavoury problems and fruitless disputations to other better matter of the holy Scripture; and thereby, in short space, he made divers good divines. The same order of disputation which he kept in his house, he observed likewise in the university abroad, when he should dispute with any man in the common schools. And the first man that answered Dr. Barnes in the Scriptures, was Master Stafford, for his form to be bachelor of divinity, which disputation was marvellous in the sight of the great blind doctors, and joyful to the godly spirited. Thus Barnes, what with his reading, disputation, and preaching, became famous and mighty in the Scriptures, preaching ever against bish ops and hypocrites; and yet did not see his inward and outward idolatry, which he both taught and maintained, till that good Master Bilney with others (as is aforesaid, in the life of Master Bilney) converted him wholly unto Christ. sermon preached of the The first sermon that ever he preached of this truth, was the Sunday The first before Christmas-day, at St. Edward's church, belonging to Trinity that Hall in Cambridge, by the Peas-market, whose theme was the epistle Barnes of the same Sunday, 'Gaudete in Domino,' &c.; and so postilled the in defence whole epistle, following the Scripture and Luther's Postil: and for truth. that sermon he was immediately accused of heresy by two fellows of the King's Hall. Then the godly learned in Christ both of Pembrokehall, St. John's, Peter-house, Queen's college, the King's college, Gunwell-hall, and Benet college, showed themselves, and flocked together in open sight, both in the schools, and at open sermons at St. Mary's, and at the Augustines, and at other disputations; and then they conferred continually together. The house that they resorted most commonly unto, was the White Horse, which, for despite of them, to bring God's word into contempt, was called Germany. This house especially was chosen because many of them of St. John's, the King's college, and the Queen's college, came in on the back side. At this time much trouble began to ensue. The adversaries of Dr. Barnes accused him, in the Regent-house, before the vice-chancellor, where his articles were presented with him and received, he promising to make answer at the next convocation; and so it was done. Then Dr. Nottoris, a rank enemy to Christ, moved Dr. Barnes to recant; but he refused |