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1549.

Edward superior power, the devotion of his ceremonies is made naught by his disobed VI. ence so that which else (so long as the law did so stand) might be good, by A.D. pride and disobedience now is made naught; as Saul's sacrifice, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and Aaron's two children were. But whoso joineth to devotion, obedience, he winneth the garland. For else it is a zeal, sed non secundum scientiam;' a will, desire, zeal, and devotion, but not after wisdom; that is, a foolish devotion, which can require no thanks or praise. And yet again, where ye obey, ye must have devotion, for God requireth the heart more than devotion. the outward doings; and, therefore, he that taketh the communion, or saith or heareth the service appointed by the king's majesty, must bring devotion and true de inward prayers with him, or else his prayers are but vain, lacking that which God requireth, that is, the heart and mind to pray to him.

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votion.

Bonner's preaching much looked

3. Further, ye shall, for example, on Sunday come seventh night, after the aforesaid date, celebrate the communion at Paul's church.

4. Ye shall also set forth in your sermon, that our authority of royal power is (as of truth it is) of no less authority and force in this our young age, than is or was that of any our predecessors, though the same were much older, as may appear by example of Josias, and other young kings, in Scripture; and therefore all our subjects to be no less bound to the obedience of our precepts, laws, and statutes, than if we were of thirty or forty years of age.

The delivery of these injunctions and articles unto the bishop (with the time of his appointed preaching), was soon after known abroad for of the among the citizens, and other the commons within the city of Lonpeople. don, so that every man expected the time thereof, wishing to hear the same; which time being once come, the bishop, according to the tenor of the injunctions, publicly preached at the cross of Paul's the first day of September. Howbeit, as hypocrisy never lurketh so secretly in the hearts of the wicked, but that at one time or other, God, in his most righteous judgment, maketh it open unto the world; so, at this present, was that long, coloured, perverse obstinacy, and the infestered hatred of this double-faced dissembler against the king's godly proceedings, most plainly manifested by his disobedient demeanour in this his sermon. For, whereas he was commanded to treat only upon such special points as were mentioned in his articles, he yet, both besides the council's commandment, and to the withdrawing of the minds of the common people, as much as in him lay, from the right and true understanding of the holy sacrament, ministered in the holy communion then set forth by the authority of the king's majesty (according to the true sense of the holy Scripture), did spend most Disobedi- part of his sermon about the gross, carnal, and papistical presence of bornness Christ's body and blood in the sacrament of the altar; and also, conin his ser- trary thereunto, did not only slenderly touch the rest of his articles,

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of Bonner

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Latimer and

Bonner.

but, of a rebellious and wilful carelessness, did utterly leave out unspoken the whole last article, concerning the as effectual and as lawful authority of the king's highness during his young age, as if he were thirty or forty years old; notwithstanding the same (because it was the traitorous opinion of the popish rebels) was, by special commandment, chiefly appointed him to treat upon.

This contemptuous and disobedient dealing, as it greatly offended Hooper most of the king's faithful and loving subjects there present, so did it against much mislike the minds, and was far from the good expectation, as well of that faithful and godly preacher Master John Hooper, afterwards bishop of Worcester and Gloucester, and lastly, a most constant martyr for the gospel of Christ, and also of Master Hugh Latimer, bachelor of divinity: and therefore they, well weighing the foulness

VI.

of the fact, and their bounden allegiances unto their prince, did there- Edward upon exhibit unto the king's highness, under both their names, a bill of complaint or denunciation against the said bishop, in form fol- A. D. lowing:

The Denunciation of John Hooper and Hugh Latimer, against Bonner, to the King's Majesty, for leaving undone the points beforementioned, which Bonner was charged to preach upon.

1549.

do not

of succes

In most humble wise show unto your majesty 'Hugh Latimer and John Hooper, that whereas of late, as we be certainly informed from your majesty, by the hand of the right high and noble prince Edward duke of Somerset, governor of your royal person, and protector of all your highness's realms, dominions, and subjects, and the rest of your privy council, there were certain injunction given to the bishop of London that now is, with articles to be insinuated and preached unto your subjects at a certain day limited, the which injunction and articles did only tend to the honour of God, and the better instructions of your highness's people to obedience, and hatred of rebellion and mutiny, wherewith of late this your majesty's realm hath been marvellously vexed, to the danger of your highness's person, and the state of the whole realm; and, therefore, a thing at this time most necessary to be taught unto the people, that they might know their duty unto your majesty, and unto Almighty God; and especially to acknowledge your majesty in these years and age to be a perfect high and sovereign lord and king, and supreme head, whose laws, proclamations, and commandments we are bound to obey, as well as any prince's subjects are bound to obey the laws, proclamations, and commandments of their natural and sovereign lord, notwithstanding that nature hath not yet given unto your person such age as, we trust, she shall, nor so many years, which we wish to be so many as any prince ever had, the which years do not make you king or prince, but the right of your birth, and lawful succession whatsoever it be, so that we all must as well acknowledge your majesty to be Years our king and prince, at these years, as if you were at the age of thirty or forty and age years, and your laws and statutes no less to be feared and obeyed, than if your make a highness were fifty or a hundred years old (the which thing not only is most king, but certainly true, but also at this time most necessarily to be taught, especially the right when divers rebels have openly declared, that they would not obey your high- sion. ness's laws, nor acknowledge the statutes made by your majesty to be available, till you come to the age of twenty years) and this not only being so, but the same thing being commanded by your said majesty, amongst other injunctions and articles given in writing to the said Edmund Bonner, to be preached in his last sermon, as by the same injunctions may appear, of the which the true copy we have, when need is, to be showed: yet all this notwithstanding, the said Bonner, of what zeal or mind we cannot tell, whether favouring the opinion of Bonner the said rebels, or contemning your highness's commandment declared unto left out of him, hath not only left out to declare the said article, which we most and chiefly mon the expected and looked for, but also, in all the rest of his sermon, did not so fully article of and apertly declare the said injunctions and articles, as to our judgment did ap- authority. pear they ought to have been declared, and was of no light ground looked for, entreating of others far distant and diverse from the articles upon the which he was commanded to entreat, and such as most should move and stir up the people to disorder and dissension; willingly leaving out those things which should have made quiet and obedience. Wherefore, not moved of any malice, grudge, envy, or evil will to the person of the bishop, but constrained by the love and zeal which we bear towards your highness, and of our duty and allegiance to your majesty, whose honour and safety, with tranquillity, quietness, and good governance of this your realm, we do most desire, and for the discharge of our most bounden duties, to avoid all the dangers that might ensue of the concealment thereof, we most humbly do denounce and declare the same to your highness, to the intent that your majesty, by the advice aforesaid, may, if it please your highness, at this our humble denunciation, call the said bishop to answer to the premises, the which we are ready to avow and prove; and then your highness may take further order herein, as to your princely wisdom

his ser

the king's

Edward shall seem most convenient, whose long life and most prosperous government God Almighty long continue, for the which we shall pray during our lives.

VI.

A. D. 1549.

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the king

The king's majesty having thus, by the information of these two credible persons, perfect intelligence of the contemptuous and perverse negligence of this bishop, in not accomplishing his highness's commandment given him by injunction, thought it most necessary, with all convenient speed (for the avoiding of further inconveniences), to look more severely unto the due punishment of such dangerous rebellious obstinacy; and, therefore, by the advice of the lord protector, and the rest of his honourable council, immediately he directed Commis- forth his commission under his broad seal unto the archbishop of Canrected by terbury, the bishop of Rochester, and to other grave and trusty personages and councillors, appointing and authorizing all them, or Bonner. certain of them, by virtue of the same, to call before them, as well the bishop of London, as also the aforesaid denouncers, and upon due examination and proof of the premises, or any other matter otherwise to be objected, further to proceed against him summarily “et de plano," according to law and justice, either to suspension, excommunication, committing to prison, or deprivation (if the quality of the offence so required): or otherwise, to use any other censure ecclesiastical, which, for the better hearing and determining of that cause, might to their wisdoms seem more pertinent, as appeareth more amply by the tenor of the commission here ensuing.

against

The Copy of the King's Commission sent down upon the Denunciation aforesaid, for the Examination of Bonner, bishop of London.' Edward the Sixth, &c. To the most reverend father in God, Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, metropolitan and primate of England, the right reverend father in God, Nicholas bishop of Rochester, our trusty and right well-beloved councillors, sir William Peter and sir Thomas Smith, knights, our two principal secretaries, and William May, doctor of the law civil, and dean of Paul's, greeting: It is come to our knowledge, that where we, by the advice of our most entirely beloved uncle Edward, duke of Somerset, governor of our person, and protector of all our realms, dominions, and subjects, and the rest of our privy council, did give to the right reverend father in God Edmund, bishop of London, upon certain complaints before made unto us, and other great considerations, certain injunctions to be followed, done, and executed; and, in a sermon appointed to him to preach by us with certain articles, and for the more sure knowledge, keeping, and observing, did exhibit the same in writing unto him by the hands of our said uncle, in the fulfilling of our counsel: all this notwithstanding, the said bishop hath, in contempt of us (as it may appear), overslipped and not observed certain of the said things so by us enjoined, and others so perversely and negligently done, that the things minded of us to reformation, and for a good quiet of our subjects and our whole realm, be converted, by the wilful negligence or perversity of him, to a great occasion of slander, tumult, and grudge amongst our people, as it hath been denounced to us in writing by certain honest and discreet persons, and otherwise called. The which things if they be so, we, tendering the health, quietness, good order, and government of our people, have not thought convenient to be let past unpunished and unreformed, and therefore, by the advice aforesaid, have appointed you five, four, or three, upon whose fidelities, wisdoms, dexterities, and circumspections, we have full confidence, to call before you as well the denouncers of the said faults, as also the said bishop; and, with due examinations and process, according to the law and justice, to hear the said matter, and all other matters, of what kind, nature, or condition soever they shall be, objected against the (1) See the Records of the Tower, Patent 3. Edward VI. p. 11. m. 3. dor.-ED.

VI.

said bishop, summarily, 'et de plano' or otherwise, as to your discretions shall Edward
be thought most meet, with full power and authority to suspend, excommuni-
cate, commit to prison, or deprive the said bishop, if the offence shall so appear A. D.
to merit, or to use any other censure ecclesiastical, which, for the better hearing
and determining of the cause shall be requisite and appertain: any law, statute,
or act to the contrary notwithstanding. In witness whereof we have caused
these our letters to be made patents.

Witness ourself at Westminster, the eighth of September, in the third
year of our reign. [A.D. 1549.]

1549.

mission

The commission, being scaled with the king's broad seal, was by The comhis highness's council forthwith delivered at the court unto Thomas delivered. Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, and the rest of the commissioners mentioned in the same, being there all together, present; who, upon the receipt thereof, determined, by virtue of the same, to sit at the archbishop's house at Lambeth, the Wednesday then next ensuing, which was the tenth day of that present month of September, and therefore appointed the bishop of London to be summoned to appear before them, as at that time and place. The manner of whose behaviour at his appearance, because it both declareth the froward nature and stubborn condition of the person, and also what estimation and authority he thought the commissioners to be of, I thought it not unmeet first, before I enter into the process, somewhat to note and describe unto you.

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At his first entry into the place within the archbishop's house at Stubborn Lambeth, where the archbishop and others of the commissioners sat, of Bonner he passed forth directly by them with his cap upon his head (making commisas though he saw them not), until one plucked him by the sleeve, sioners. willing him to do reverence unto the commissioners: whereat he laughingly turned himself, and spake unto the archbishop on this wise: 66 What, my lord! are you here? by my troth I saw you not." "No," said the archbishop, "you would not see." Well," quoth he, " you sent for me: have you any thing to say to me ?" " said the commissioners, "we have here authority from the king's highness to call you to account for your sermon you made lately at Paul's Cross, for that you did not there publish to the people the article which you were commanded then to preach upon.' At which words the bishop, either for that he did not greatly delight to hear of this matter, or else because he would make his friends believe that he was called to account only for his opinion in religion (as afterwards in the sequel of this process it more plainly appeareth), began to turn his talk unto other matters, and said unto the archbishop, “In He speakgood faith, my lord, I would one thing were had in more reve- the fuss. rence than it is." "What is it?" said the archbishop. "The blessed mass," quoth he, "you have written very well of the sacrament: I marvel you do no more honour it." The archbishop of Canterbury, therewith perceiving his subtlety, and seeing his gross blindness, to commend that which was utterly contrary to his opinion, said unto him again: "If you think it well, it is because you understand it not." The other then, adding unto his former gross ignorance an obstinate impudency, answered, "I think I understand it better than you that wrote it." Unto which words the archbishop replied, "Truly I will easily make a child that is but ten years old to understand therein as much as you. But what is this to the matter ?"

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VI.

Moreover, at what time as they began to enter the judicial prosecuting of their commission, and had called forth the denouncers to A.D. propound such matter as they had to object against him, he, hearing 1549. them speak, fell to scorning and taunting of them, saying to the one, He falleth that he spake like a goose and to the other, that he spake like a ing and woodcock, utterly denying their accusations to be true. Whereupon hinting the archbishop seeing his peevish malice against the denouncers, nouncers. asked him, if he would not believe them, whether he would credit the

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people there present? and therewithal (because many of them were also at the bishop's sermon at Paul's) he stood up and read the article of the king's authority during his young age; saying unto Bonner's them, "How say you, my masters! did my lord of London preach judgment this article ?" whereunto they answered, "No, no." At which words the bishop turning himself about, deriding said, “Will you believe this fond people ?"

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Besides this, at all his appearings he used many irreverend, uncomely, obstinate, and froward words and behaviours towards the commissioners and others (in defacing their authority with the terms of pretensed commissioners, pretensed witnesses, and unjust, unlawFull of ful, and pretensed proceedings, with recusation of some, and terming others daws, woodcocks, fools, and such like), which I will here omit, for they do more manifestly appear in the sequel of the story in the time and place as they happened; adding yet this much by the way, such like, that although such stoutness of heart and will, if it had been in a cause true and rightful, might have perchance seemed, in some men's judgment, to be somewhat sufferable, yet, to say the truth, in what case soever it be, being immoderate, as this shall appear, it beseemed no wise man, and therefore much less one of his calling. For, if his cause had been good, why did he not take the wrong patiently and meekly, as the true canon law of the gospel doth teach him? If it were (as it was indeed) naught and wrong, whereto served so bold meet for sturdy stoutness, but to show the impudency of the person, and to his birth. make the case worse, which was bad enough before? But belike he His frivo- was disposed to declare, if need were, what he was able to do in the law, in shifting off the matter by subtle dilatories, and frivolous cavilling about the law. And if that would not help, yet with facing and bracing, and railing upon the denouncers with furious words, and irreverent behaviour toward the king's commissioners, he thought to countenance out the matter before the people, that something might seem yet to be in him, whatsoever was in the cause. For to conclude, for all his crafty cautels and tergiversations alleged out of the law, yet neither his cause could be so defended, nor his behaviour so excused, but that he was therefore both justly imprisoned, and also, in the end, most lawfully deprived; as by the sequel of this process may well appear, the manner whereof is as followeth.

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THE FIRST ACTION OR SESSION AGAINST BONNER, BEFORE THE
KING'S COMMISSIONERS.

Upon Wednesday, the 10th day of September, in the year of our
Lord 1549, and in the third year of the reign of king Edward VI.,
Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, metropolitan and pri-

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