Lappeal at his Degradation
Foxe’s Acts BEFORE DOCTOR THURLBY AND DOCTOR BONER COMING WITH ments pp: COMMISSION Fa. Lond. THE l4ru DAY OF FEBRUARY 3.]
The tenor of the Appeal of the archbishop of Canterbury from the Pope to the next
General Council
Challenge or IN the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Apol of (ne First, my plain protestation made, that I intend to speak nothing against one holy, Popetoa catholic, and apostolical church, or the authority thereof, (the which authority I have in func. great reverence, and to whom my mind is in all things to obey,) and if any thing peradventure, either by slipperiness of tongue, or by indignation of abuses, or else by the
[[! Vid. Strype’s Mem. of Abp. Cranmer, Vol. I. tary. Being pronounced contumacious, he was senp.24. Ed. Oxon. 1840.] tenced by the pope to be degraded and delivered [? “Cranmer received a citation on the 7th of over to the secular magistrate.” Jenkyns. ] September, 1555, to appear at Rome within eighty [3 Dr Jenkyns suggests that Cranmer was prodays. Such appearance was of course impossible, bably assisted by a lawyer in drawing up this apas he was closely imprisoned at Oxford. But the peal. Vol. IV. p. 121, See also the Letter to a cause proceeded, as if his absence had been volun- Lawyer.)]
provocation of mine adversaries, be spoken or done otherwise than well, or not with such reverence as becometh me, I am most ready to amend it.
Although the bishop of Rome (whom they call pope) beareth the room of Christ in earth, and hath authority of God, yet by that power or authority he is not become unsinnable, neither hath he received that power to destroy, but to edify the congregation. The pope Therefore, if he shall command any thing that is not right to be done, he ought to take it oh patiently and in good part, in case he be not therein obeyed. And he must not be inks obeyed, if he command any thing against the precepts of God: no, rather he may lawfully reo be resisted, even as Paul withstood Peter. And if he be aided by help of princes, deceived perchance by false suggestion, or with evil counsel, cannot be resisted, but the remedies of withstanding him be taken away; there is nevertheless one remedy of Remedy appealing, (which no prince can take away,) uttered by the very law of nature: forso- appe ne much as it is a certain defence, which is meet for every body by the law of God, of Gonand nature, and of nan. RATS And whereas the laws do permit a man to appeal, not only from the griefs and injuries done, but also from such as shall be done hereafter, or threatened to be done, insomuch that the inferior cannot make laws of not appealing to a superior power; The inferior. iE.. cannot forbid and since it is openly enough confessed, that a holy general council, lawfully gathered to appeal together in the Holy Ghost, and representing the holy catholic church, is above the alui pope, especially in matters concerning faith, that he cannot make decrees that men tune shall not appeal from him to a general council: therefore I, Thomas Cranmer, the rope archbishop of Canterbury, or in time past ruler of the metropolitical church? of Canterbury, doctor in divinity, do say and publish before you, the public notary and witnesses here present, with mind and intent to challenge and appeal from the persons and griefs underneath written, and to proffer myself in place and time convenient and meet, to prove the articles that follow. And I openly confess, that I would lawfully have published them before this day, if I might have had either liberty to come abroad myself, or licence of a notary and witnesses. But further than I am able to do, I know well, is not required of the laws.
1. First, I say and publish, that James, by the mercy of God priest, called car- T Si dinal of the pit’, and of the title of our lady in the way of the church of Rome, appeal. judge and commissary specially deputed of our most holy lord the pope, (as he affirmed,) que Erst caused me to be cited to Rome, there to appear eighty days? after the citation served To m on me, to make answer to certain articles touching the peril of my state and life. {arrears And whereas I was kept in prison with most strait ward, so that I could in no wise Pea fast be suffered to go to Rome, nor to come out of prison, and in so grievous causes con- he could cerning state and life no man is bound to send a proctor; and, though I would never so fain send my proctor, yet by reason of poverty I am not able, (for all that ever I had, wherewith I should bear my proctors costs and charges, is quite taken from me;) nevertheless the most reverend cardinal aforesaid doth sore threaten me, that Note with whether I shall appear or not, he will nevertheless yet proceed in judgment against S id me. Wherein I feel myself so grieved, that nothing can be imagined more mischievous PEU or further from reason. proceed 2. Secondly, the reverend father James Brokes, by the mercy of God bishop The second of Gloucester, judge and under-deputy (as he affirmed) of the most reverend cardinal, ^ — caused me to be cited at Oxford, (where I was then kept in prison,) to answer to certain articles concerning the danger of my state and life. And when I, being un- The archlearned and ignorant in the laws, desired counsel of the learned in the law, that ig τος thing was most unrighteously denied me, contrary to the equity of all laws both of nd God and man. Wherein again I feel me most wrongfully grieved.