VI. Edward his obedience unto the king's majesty for the repressing and discouraging of rebellion and rebels, and also for the advancement of A.D. the verity of Christ's true body and his presence in the sacrament of 1549. the altar, for which only the malicious denouncers with their complices had studied to molest and trouble him, he then cometh to answering the articles, and saith, that to the first, second, and fourth, he hath Bonner already, in the former answers to the denunciation, sufficiently eth to the answered, and therefore was not bound by law to answer any further. articles. As to the third and fifth, he said to this effect: answer that were young, and yet sufficient. That he began to write his sermon, but being soon weary, he did only make certain notes thereof, without help of any other, saving that he showed them to his chaplains, requiring them to put him in remembrance thereof. Amongst the which, for the better setting forth of the king's majesty's power and authority in his minority, he had collected as well out of histories, as also out of the Scriptures, the names of divers young kings, who, notwithstanding their minority, were faithfully and obediently honoured, and reputed for very true Examples and lawful kings: as Henry III., being but nine years old; Edward III., being of kings but thirteen years; Richard II., being but eleven years; Henry VI., being not fully one year; Edward V., being but eleven years; Henry VIII., being but eighteen years of age. And out of the Old Testament, Osias and Achas, who were but sixteen years old; Solomon and Manasseh, being but twelve years; Josias, Joachim, and Joash, being but eight years of age when they entered their reigns. All which notes, with many others, he had purposed to declare, excuseth if they had come into his memory,' as indeed they did not, because the same was disturbed, partly for lack of use of preaching, and partly by reason of a bill that was delivered to him from the king's council, to declare the victory then had against the rebels in Norfolk and Devonshire, which being of some good length, confounded his memory; and partly also for that his book in his His book sermon time fell away from him, wherein were divers of his notes which he had of notes, collected for that purpose; so that he could not remember what he would, but him at his yet, in generality, he persuaded the people to obedience to the king's majesty, whose minority was manifestly known to them and to all others. Bonner his ob livion. fell from sermon. Then, as to the sixth (he said), he knew not the rebels' opinion,2 and therefore could not answer thereunto. And as for answer to the seventh, eighth, ninth, and eleventh articles, which touched his pastoral office, he said that notwithstanding his manifold and great troubles, as well by his own business and his family's sickness, as also by uncharitable informations made against him, yet he hath not failed to give order unto his officers straitly to look unto such matters; and such as he hath known, which were very few or none, he caused to be punished according to the laws. All which answers, with others written with his own hand hereunder follow. The Answers of Bonner unto the Articles objected to him by the I, Edmund, bishop of London, under protestation heretofore by me made, (1) A good prelate, that had lost his memory for lack of preaching. VI. A. D. 1549.1 and interrogatories so ministered unto me: lamenting not a little, that one of Edward my vocation, at the malicious denunciation of vile, heretical, and detestable persons,1 should be used after this strange sort; having done the best I could to declare mine obedience unto the king's most excellent majesty, for the repressing and discouraging of rebellion and rebellious persons, and for the advancement of the verity of Christ's true body and his presence in the most blessed sacrament of the altar: for which only the malicious denunciators with their complices have studied to molest and trouble me; although colourably they would be seen to pretend other causes, especially the good and tranquillity of this realm, which our Lord God knoweth they care nothing for, but contrariwise do let and impeach the same; corrupting and infecting with their poisoned and false doctrine, and teaching the king's subjects in this realm, to the great peril and danger thereof many ways: do answer unto certain pretensed articles and interrogatories ministered by you indeed unto me the said bishop, the 13th day of September, 1549, as followeth :2 To the first article objected against me, beginning thus: First it is reported,' &c., and ending thus, to observe and follow the same,' I do say, and for answer do refer me unto my former answers heretofore, that is to wit, the 13th of September, made and exhibited by me before you unto the said pretensed denunciation, touching this matter: alleging withal, that a report of things doth not absolutely prove, nor necessarily infer things to be in very deed true after such a sort, fashion, manner, and form as sometimes they be reported and rehearsed. To the second, beginning thus: Item, whether that you,' &c., and ending thus as they were put unto you;' I do answer and say, that this article doth depend on the first article next before, which, after such sort, fashion, manner, and form as it is deduced, was justly by me, in my answer made unto the same, denied; and I therefore now am not bounden by the law eftsoons to make other answer thereunto. 6 To the third, being an interrogatory, and beginning thus: Item, whether,' &c., and ending, thus ye did preach;' I do answer and say, that I began to write a piece of my sermon, and being soon weary thereof, I did leave off, and did make only certain notes of my said sermon, and put the same notes in writing of mine own hand, without help or counsel of any other; and the same notes did show unto my chaplains Master Gilbert Bourn and Master John Harpsfield, both before and also since my said sermon, only desiring them to put me in remembrance of my said notes and process to be made thereupon, and also to search out for me the names of such kings as were in their minority when they began to reign. To the fourth article, beginning thus: Item, that ye have not declared,' &c., and ending thus, as it is in your article;' I do answer and say, that this article doth depend upon the first and second articles here before denied, deduced in such sort, manner, and form as is expressed in the same; and moreover I say, that already answer is made hereunto by me, in my former answers made to the said pretensed denunciation. To the fifth article, beginning thus: Item, that ye have not,' &c., and ending thus, declared it;' I do answer and say, that this article also doth depend upon the first and second articles; and that answer is made thereunto by me already in my former answers made unto the said pretensed denunciation. And moreover I do say, that for the better advancement and setting forth of the king's majesty's royal power and authority, even in his minority, and for the due obedience of his majesty's subjects unto his highness, even during the said minority, I had collected together, as well out of histories as also out of the scripture of the Old Testament, the names of divers kings being in minority, who, notwithstanding their said minority, were faithfully, duly, and reverently obeyed, honoured, served, taken, and reputed, for very true and lawful kings, as Henry III., being but nine years old when he entered to reign and govern as king; Edward III., being but thirteen years of age; Richard II., being but eleven years old; Henry VI., being not fully one year of age; Edward V., being but eleven years old; Henry VIII., being about eighteen years old; and (1) He meaneth the bishop of Canterbury. (2) After his long period well blown up with much waste wind of words, at length he beginneth to answer to the articles before objected. VI. pleadeth Edward so all these kings, being in their minority as the king's majesty that now is, and yet having authority and power regal, as appertaineth; and in the Old TestaA. D. ment, Osias and Achaz were very true kings in their minority, being but 1549. sixteen years of age; Solomon and Manasses being but twelve years of age; Josias and Joachim being but eight years of age; and Joash being but eight years old: all which things, I say, I had collected in notes, communicating the same with my said two chaplains; and praying them to put me in remembrance, if in numbering of them, or in setting forth in my other notes, at the time of my sermon, I did fail, or have default of memory in any wise. And all these Bonner things I would have specially set forth in my said sermon, if they had come to oblivion. my memory, as indeed they did not, partly for disturbance of my memory not accustomed to preach in that place, partly also by reason of a certain writing that was sent to me from the king's majesty's privy council, being of good length, to declare unto the people touching the victory against the rebels, especially in Norfolk, Devonshire, and Cornwall; confounding my memory in things which before I had set in good order; and partly also for the falling away of my book in the time of my said sermon, in which were contained divers of my said notes touching the king's majesty's minority, as is aforesaid, having yet nevertheless otherwise, in generality and speciality, persuaded the people to obedience unto the king's said majesty, whose minority to them and all others is notoriously and manifestly known; and his majesty, saving of these late rebels, faithfully, truly, and reverently obeyed of all the rest of his subjects. To the sixth, which beginneth, 'Whether ye will,' &c., and ending thus, the opinion or no ;' I do answer and say, that not knowing certainly of which rebels the article meaneth, nor yet what their opinion is indeed, I ought not to be driven to make answer hereunto, nor yet can make good and perfect answer therein though I would. To the seventh article, beginning thus: Item, that ye know,' &c., and ending thus, the king's majesty's book;' I do answer and say, that albeit I have by the space of these five weeks last past and more, been in manner continually in business and trouble, as well in providing for my said sermon, as otherwise, specially by reason of my family, much vexed with sickness, to my great disquietness and charge, and also by reason that I have been so much troubled and cumbered by informations and complaints unjustly and uncharitably made against me, over and besides the having of divers and sundry persons, which daily resort and come unto me for their suits and business, both in matters of justice and otherwise, yet I have not omitted to send forth to my archdeacons and other my officers, to inquire and search diligently in this behalf, and to certify me accordingly; and yet I cannot hear certainly of any that have heard, been at, or celebrated masses or evensongs in the Latin tongue, after the old rite and manner, except it be in the house of my Lady Mary's grace, or in the houses of the ambassadors, nor yet there, nor in any of them, but by flying and not assured report; and without knowing the names and persons that so have heard, been at, or celebrate the same and in this behalf how far I can and ought to proceed, and after what sort, I do refer me unto the statute late made in that behalf. The eighth article, beginning thus: 'Item, that ye have,' &c., and ending thus, punishment unto them; I do answer and say, that this article doth depend on the next article going before; and so consequently answer is already thereunto made. To the ninth article, beginning thus: "Item, that ye know,' &c., and ending thus, nor see them punished; I do answer and say, that touching such as either have been denounced or detected for such criminous and culpable persons to me or my officers, there hath been process already made before my said officers, as it appeareth in my register, and the acts of my court; and moreover, I have given express commandment to my said officers, to inquire and search for more such offenders, and to certify me thereof, that I may proceed against them accordingly. 6 To the tenth article, beginning thus: Item, ye were,' &c., and ending thus, the king's majesty's authority in his minority;' I do answer and say, that as touching the time mentioned in the article, and the declaration to be made by Dr. Cox, I do not well remember either the same time, or yet the VI. special points and substance of the said Dr. Cox's declaration. Truth it is, I Edward was at a sermon made at Paul's cross by the said Dr. Cox, wherein he inveighed against my lord of Winchester; and, as far as I can now call to my remembrance, it was touching disobedience wherewith my lord of Winchester by the said Dr. Cox seemed to be charged; and for a sermon also that my lord of Winchester was seeming to have made before the king's majesty in the court of Winchester. To the eleventh article, being by itself delivered unto me the 14th of this present September, 1549, in the night, at my house of London, beginning thus, Item, that the rites,' &c., and ending thus, the misuses thereof;' I do answer and say, that I have already given commandment to my officers to make diligent search and inquire herein, and do certify accordingly, to the intent I may proceed therein as appertaineth; and would before this time myself have also inquired and proceeded, had I not so been of all sides oppressed and pestered with multitude of other necessary business, as I have been, to my great disquietness and trouble. A. D. 1549. article ans wered When he had ended the reading of these answers, the commission- The fifth ers said unto him that he had in the same very obscurely answered insufliunto the fifth article, ministered the 13th of September; wherefore ciently they willed him there expressly to answer by mouth, whether he had, according to the injunctions delivered unto him, declared the article beginning thus: "You shall also set forth in your sermon that our authority," &c. whereunto he again answered, that he had already made as full and sufficient an answer in writing, as he was bound to make by law. obscure answer. The judges then replied, that the answers already made in that Bonner's part were obscure and insufficient, so that it appeared not certainly whether he had preached indeed according to the same injunction or not; and therefore they eftsoons willed him, as before, directly to answer whether he had so accordingly preached or no, the bishop still answering as before. ward contumacy. The judges again demanded of him, whether he would otherwise His froanswer or no? To the which he said, No, unless the law should compel him. Then they asked him whether he thought the law did compel him to answer more fully or no? He answered, No; adding further, that he was not bound to make answer to such positions. The commissioners then, seeing his froward contumacy, told him plainly, that if he persisted thus in his frowardness, and would not otherwise answer, they would, according to law, take him pro confesso,' and, ex abundanti,' receive witness against him; and therewithal did recite again to him six of the first and principal articles, demanding his final answer thereunto: who said, as before, that he had already fully answered them by writing; but whereas they requested to have his notes, which he said he had made of his sermon, they should have them if they would send for them. And whereas in his answer to the sixth article, he doubted what the opinion of the rebels was, the judges declared unto him that their opinion was, "that the king's majesty, before his grace came to the age of one and The twenty years, had not so full authority to make laws and statutes, as rebels' when he came to further years; and that his subjects were not bound opinions to obey the laws and statutes made in his young age." Whereunto touching the bishop answered, that he was not of the opinion of the rebels power in mentioned in that article, as did well appear by his answers, as well unto rity. the denunciation, as also unto the fifth article objected against him. traitorous the king's his mino Edward Witnesses against Which ended, they, perceiving his scornful carelessness, presently did admit for witness, upon the articles objected against him, Master A. D. John Cheek, Henry Markham, John Joseph, John Douglas, and 1549. Richard Chambers, whom also they onerated with a corporal oath upon the holy evangelists, truly to answer and depose upon the same articles in the presence of the bishop, who, under his former protestaBonner. tion, like a wily lawyer, protested of the nullity of the receiving, admitting, and swearing of those witnesses, with protestation also to Protesta object against the persons and sayings of the witnesses in time and Bonner place convenient; demanding also a competent and lawful time to against minister interrogatories against them, with a copy of all the acts to that day: wherewith the delegates were well pleased, and assigned him to minister his interrogatories against Master Cheek on that present day, and against the rest, on the next day before noon. tion of the wit nesses. Bonner's tories concern ing the first article. All which interrogatories whoso listeth to peruse, may hereunder read the same, the bishop protesting, "de nimia brevitate et angustia temporis et de gravamine sibi in ea parte et aliter per hunc processum illato :" Certain Interrogatories exhibited by Bonner to be ministered against the aforesaid Witnesses, upon the articles above-mentioned, the eighteenth of September. I Edmund, bishop of London, under my protestations heretofore made before you, do minister these interrogatories ensuing, against all and singular the pretensed witnesses already received and sworn, as hereafter to be received and sworn against me the said bishop in this matter; requiring and desiring under the said protestation, that all and singular the said pretensed witnesses may be examined in virtue of their oath upon the said interrogatories, and every part and parcel of them. First, That all and singular the said witnesses, in virtue of their oath, be examined generally and specially of all and singular the interrogatories commonly used and accustomed to be made in such matters; especially touching their age, their condition, their dwelling-place, now and heretofore, by the space of these twelve years last past; with whom all this time they have also dwelled, and been familiar or conversant; with the names and the places and persons and other circumstances expedient in this behalf; and by whom they have been found and maintained, and for what purpose. Et interrogetur conjunctim, divisim, et de quolibet. II. Item, Touching the pretensed articles made in this behalf, and injunctions mentioned in the same, that they and every of them, in virtue of the said oath, may be examined whether they know their said articles and injunctions to be true in all parts; how they know them to be true; by whom, when, and in what place: deposing the formal words of the said pretensed articles and injunctions in especial, as they are deduced. The first article: And therein let them depose how he or they know the said interroga- articles and injunctions to be received from the king's majesty: how also he or they know that I, the said bishop, received the said injunctions at the hands of the lord protector's grace: how also they were sitting in the council chamber: moreover who were the rest of the council then sitting, specifying their names and surnames, or titles: also, whether the tenth of August this present year, or of the last year. Moreover whether the articles or injunctions were joined together, or apart: whether the tenor thereof, and the form and manner of the doing and following, touching me the said bishop, and also touching the preaching thereunto, was as is deduced in the first article: declaring moreover, when, where, and how, I, the said bishop, accepted the said injunctions, or promised to observe and follow the same, and by what express words. Et interrogetur ut supra. (1) See Edition 1563, page 707.-ED. |