CCLXXX. To the Chapter of Canterbury
ArrER my hearty commendations: whereas I am informed that you be in doubt, whether any prebendary of that my church may exchange his house or garden with another prebend of the same church living, and that you be moved by this statute so to think, which here followeth; Statuimus ut canonicus de novo electus et demissus in demortui aut resignantis aut quovis modo cedentis edes succedat:” these be to signify unto you, that neither this statute, nor any other reason that I know, maketh any thing against the exchange between two prebends living, but that they may change house, orchard, or garden during their life, this statute or any other reason contrary notwithstanding. And whereas you have appointed your preachers at your last chapter their chambers and commodities, I require you that they may be indelayedly admitted thereunto, according to that your order. Thus fare you well. From my manor of Croydon, the 12th of December, 1546.
T. Cantuarien
To my loving friends, the vice-dean and
prebendaries of my chureh in Canter-
bury.
CCLXXXI. To Boner
Tur is to advertise your lordship, that my lord protectors grace, with advice of others the king’s majesty’s council, for certain considerations them thereunto moving, hath fully resolved, that no candles should be boren upon Candlemas-day, nor also from henceforth ashes or palms used any longer. Wherefore I beseech your lordship to cause admonition thereof to be given in all parish churches throughout your diocese with all celerity; and likewise unto all other bishops that be hereabouts, that they may do the semblable in their dioceses before Candlemas-day. And as for other bishops that cannot have knowledge so soon, you may give them knowledge hereof at more leisure, so that it be done before Ash-Wednesday. Thus fare your lordship well. Lambeth, Jan. 27, 1547. [1548.]
Your loving friend, Cantuar. CCLXXXII. To the Dean and Chapter of St Pauls
AFTER our right hearty commendations: whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to send the king’s majesty such victory against the Scots’, as was almost above the expectation of man, and such as hath not been heard of in any part of Christendom this many years: in which victory above the number of fifteen thousand Scots be slain, two thousand taken prisoners; and among them many noblemen and others of good reputation; all their ordnance and baggage of their camp also won from them: the king’s majesty, with [! Viz. At the battle of Pinkey, in which the Scots were defeated, Sept. 10, A. p. 1547.]
[ecnANMER 11 1 27
advice of his highness’ privy council, presently attending upon his majesty’s most royal person, well knowing this, as all other goodness, to be the gifts of God, hath and so doth account it; and therefore rendereth unto him the only glory and praise for the same: and so hath willed me, not only in his majesty’s cathedral church, and other churches of my diocese, to give thanks to Almighty God, but also to require in his name all other bishops of the province of Canterbury to do or cause to be done semblably in their cures’. Which his majesty’s pleasure I have thought good to signify unto you: requiring you, not only to cause a sermon to be made in your cathedral church the next holy-day after receipt thereof, declaring the goodness of God, and exhorting the people to faith and amendment of life; and to give thanks to God for this victory; but also at the same time, immediately after the sermon, and in presence of the mayor, aldermen, and other the citizens of London, to cause the procession in English, and 77 Deum to be openly and devoutly sung. And that you do also cause the like order to be given in every parish church of your diocese, upon some holy-day, when the parishioners shall be there present, with as much speed as you may; not failing, as you tender his majesty’s pleasure. Thus fare you heartily well. From Otelands, the 18th day of December? the year of our Lord God 1547
Your loving friend, Cantuarien
The council’s pleasure is, you shall see this executed on Tuesday next.
To the dean and chapter of St Paul’s, in
London, this be given in haste’.
CCLXXXIII. To Matthew Parker
I coMMEND me unto you; signifying, that the lord protector, conceiving good opinion p. 8. of your wisdom, learning, and earnest zeal which you bear to the setting forth of God’s word among the people, hath, by the advice of the council, appointed you to preach one sermon at Pauls cross in London on Sunday, being the 22. day of July next; not doubting but that you will purely and sincerely set out the holy scriptures, so as God’s glory may be advanced, and the people with wholesome doctrine edified. These therefore shall be to require you to prepare yourself ready in the mean season to supply the day, time, and place to you appointed accordingly; foreseeing that you present yourself unto the dean of Paul’s, resiant at his house in Paul’s church-yard, or unto his deputy there, the Saturday before noon that you shall preach, or at the least to signify then unto him by your letters, or some sure messenger, that you will not fail to preach the Sunday; because the cross must in no wise be disappointed or destitute of a preacher. Thus heartily fare you well. From my manor at Lambith, the 5. day of May. [1548.]
Your loving friend, Cantuarien. CCLXXXIV. To King Edward
To the most excellent prince Edward VI., by the grace of God king of England, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and in earth of the church of England and Ireland immediately under God supreme head, your graces humble subject and chaplain Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, wisheth abundance of all grace and godliness with a long and prosperous reign.
Ir is not unknown unto the whole world, most excellent prince, that your grace’s father, a king of most famous memory, of a fervent and earnest godly disposition and
Eet
[᾿ In their course. Strype.] p. 47. Ed. Lond. 1670.]
[? Itshould be September, I suppose.” Strype. [? Expressions in the letter itself prove that it which in all probability is a mistake for Septem- Remains of Abp. Cranmer, Vol. I. p 324 n r] It is, however, December” in Cranmer’s register, was addressed to the bishop of London” Jenkyns,
[ber Vid. Heylyn’s Eccles. Restaur. Edw. VI.]
tender zeal towards the setting forth of God’s glory, most diligently travailed for a true and a right reformation and a quiet concord in Christ’s religion throughout all his dominions; wherein undoubtedly he brought many things to a godly purpose and effect, and did abolish and take away much blindness and ignorance of God, many great errors, fond and pernicious superstitions and abuses, that had crept into this church of England and Ireland a long time. And I, perceiving that your majesty, by the advice of your most dear uncle my lord protector, and the rest of your grace’s most honourable council, is most desirous perfectly to finish and bring to pass that your father did most godly begin, do think that there is nothing more necessary for the furtherance hereof, then that it might be foreseen how the youth and tender age of your loving subjects may be brought up and traded in the truth of God’s holy word.
For it is thought, not to me only but to many others, that neither your grace’s father should have been inforced in his time to have taken so great pains for the reformation of Christ’s religion, neither yet your highness in this your time should need with such great difficulty go about to further God’s cause and his true service with so many laws, injunctions, and proclamations, if so great negligence of the education of the youth had not been so much suffered, and the necessary points and articles of our religion and profession omitted, of those whose office and bounden duty was to have most diligently instructed the youth in the same; or if the ancient and laudable ceremony of confirmation had continued in the old state, and been duly used of the ministers in time convenient, where an exact and strait examination was had of all such as were of full age, both of their profession that they made in baptism touching their belief and keeping of God’s commandments, with a general solemn rehearsal of the said commandments and of all the articles of their faith.
Surely there can be no greater hope of any kind of persons, either to be brought to all honest conversation of living, or to be more apt to set forth and maintain all godliness and true religion, than of such as have been from childhood nourished and fed with the sweet milk, and as it were the pap, of God’s holy word, and bridled and kept in awe with his holy commandments. For commonly as we are in youth brought up, so we continue in age, and savour longest of that thing that we first receive and taste of. And as a fair table finely polished, though it be never so apt to receive either pictures or writings, yct it doth neither delight any men’s eyes, neither yet profit any thing, except the painter take his pencil, set to his hand, and with labour and cunning replenish it with scriptures or figures as appertaineth to his science; even so the tender wits of young children, being yet naked and bare of all knowledge, through the grace of God, be apt to receive God’s gifts, if they be applied and instructed by such schoolmasters as have knowledge to bring them up and lead them forward therein. And what can be more apt to be grown or painted in the tender hearts of youth, than God’s holy word? What can lead them a righter way to God, to the obedience of their prince, and all virtue and honesty of life, than the sincere understanding of God’s word, which alone sheweth the way how to know him, to love him, and to serve him? What can better keep and stay them, that they do not suddenly and lightly fall again from their faith? What can cause them more constantly to withstand the assaults of the devil, the world, and the flesh, and manfully to bear the cross of Christ, than to learn in their youth to practise the same? And verily it seemeth no new thing, that the children of them that be godly should be thus instructed in the faith and commandments of God even from their infancy. For doth not God command his people to teach his law unto their children and childer’s children? Hath not this knowledge continued from time to time amongst them, to whom God promised to be their God, and they his people? Doth it not appear by plain expressed words of Paul, that Timothy was brought up even from a child in holy scriptures? Hath not the commandments of Almighty God, the articles of the christian faith, and the Lord’s prayer, been ever necessarily, since Christ’s time, required of all, both young and old, that professed Christ’s name, yea, though they were not learned to read? For doubtless in these three points is shortly and plainly included the necessary knowledge of the whole sum of Christ’s religion, and of all things appertaining unto everlasting life.
In consideration whereof, in this time of your gracious reformation of all ungodliness, and the setting forth of God’s true glory, I, knowing myself as a subject greatly bounden, 27—29
and much the more by reason of my vocation, to set forward the same, am persuaded that this my small travail in this behalf taken shall not a little help the sooner to bring to pass your godly purpose. For by this little treatise not only the youth of your grace’s realm may learn to know God, and how they may most purely and sincerely honour, glorify, and serve him, and may also learn their office and duty how they ought to behave themselves, first toward God, secondly towards your majesty, and so towards all ministers under the same, towards their fathers and mothers, and all other persons, of what sort or degree soever they be: but also many of the older sort, such as love God and have a zeal to his honour and glory, and yet in their youth, through negligence, were brought up in ignorance, may, by hearing of their children, learn in their age that which passed them in their youth.
And as mine intent and endeavour is to profit both, and according to mine office to bring both to the right knowledge of God, so my most earnest and humble prayer unto God continually shall be that my good mind and desire may have good success, and take effect according to mine expectation. Which thing I assuredly hope shall come to pass, if it would please your highness to suffer this little book, by me offered unto your majesty, to be read, taught, and learned of the children of your most loving subjects, in whom is great hope of all grace, godliness, and virtue.
Your grace’s humble subject and chaplain
ΤΉΟΜΑΒ, archbishop of Canterbury.
Cclxxxyv. To John a Lasco
ADYXENTUM tuum ad nos alterius cujusdam negotii subito interventu impeditum esse aror… E “” doleo: non enim dubito, quin de tua vocatione facile tibi satisfecissem, si coram tecum
9. mihi potestas colloquendi fuisset. Sed quia hoc tempore venire non potuisti, scribis
[[! Viz. the translation of the Catechism of Jus- contemptible to those of the Roman communion,]
[tus Jonas.] which caused no small grief to the heart of this [? For an account of John a Lasco, who was a good man, nearly touched for the honour of Christ]
[Polish reformer, vid. Gerde’s Hist. Reformat. Vol. his master, and his true church, which suffered]
[III. p. 145; and Gerde’s Scrin. Antiq. Tom. II.] hereby; and, like a person of a truly public and]
[[? From the following passage in Gerdes’ Scrin. large spirit, as his function was, seriously debated]
[Antiq. Tom. II. p. 635, Dr Jenkyns thinks (Re- and deliberated with himself for the remedying this]
[mains of Abp. Cranmer, Vol. I. p. 329. n. x.) that evil. This made him judge it very advisable to]
[John a Lasco had been invited to England in the procure such a confession. And in order to this, he]
[preceding year: Nuntium mittimus Witebergam thought it necessary for the chief and most learned]
[ad Philippum [Melancthonem], aut ubi is sit, scri- divines of the several churches to meet together, and]
[bimusque ad illum de vocatione in Angliam, de qua with all freedom and friendliness to debate the]
[hodie ad te scripsi,” Letter from John a Lasco to points of controversy according to the rule of the]
[Albert Hardenberg, Embd. 11 Oct. 1547.] scripture; and after mature deliberation, by agree- [^ “In the year 1548 Cranmer propounded a ment of all parties, to draw up a book of articles]
[great and weighty business to Melancthon; and a and heads of christian faith and practice, which]
[matter that was likely to prove highly useful to all would serve for the standing doctrine of the pro-]
[the churches of the evangelic profession. It was testants, &c. But the troubles at home and]
[this: Thearchbishop was now driving on a design abroad frustrated this excellent purpose, which for]
[for the better uniting of all protestant churches; two years he had been labouring to bring to]
[viz. by having one common confession and har- some good issue.” Strype’s Mem. of Abp.]
[mony of faith and doctrine drawn up out of the Cranmer, pp. 584, 588. Ed. Oxon. 1840. Vid.]
[pure word of God, which they might own and agree Letters CCLXXXVI. CCLXXXIX. CCXCVI.]
[in. He had observed what differences there arose CCXCVII. CCXCVIII. pp. 422, 425, 430, 43],]
[among protestants in the doctrine of the sacrament, 433; Strype’s Eccl. Mem. Vol. II. p. 87. Ed. Oxon.]
[in the divine decrees, in the government of the 1822; and Latimer’s 3rd Sermon, preached before]
[church, and some other things. “These disagree- Edward VI. Vol. I. p. 141. Park. Soc. Ed.]]
[ments had rendered the professors of the gospel]
illustre testimonium de doctrina nostra, gravi doctorum et piorum auctoritate traditum, et universa posteritas normam habeat quam sequatur. Ad perficiendam rem tantam eruditorum hominum przesentia nobis opus esse judicavimus, qui, collatis nobiscum judiciis, doctrinz controversias tollant, et integrum corpus vera doctrine extruant. — Accersivimus igitur et te et alios quosdam doctos viros^; qui cum non gravatim ad nos venerint, ita ut nullum fere ex iis preter te et Melancthonem desideremus, summopere te rogamus, ut et ipse ad nos venias, et Melancthonem, si ullo modo fieri poterit, tecum adducas. “Tertiam nunc epistolam ad Melancthonem mitto, qua eum hortor, ut ad nos veniat; quibus meis epistolis si tue adhortationes accesserint, non diffido eum persuaderi posse, ut toties iteratam vocationem sequatur’. Nullas, ut arbitror, insidias hostium, nulla itinerum pericula pertimescit, que, si qua sunt, minora tamen sunt iis, quibus nunc est^. Adde, quod exigui temporis molestiis multorum annorum quietem sibi, reipub. vero utilitatem adferet ternam. Quod si ei commigrationem ad nos aut inutilem aut injucundam fore prospicerem, nemo certe me dissuaderet vehementius. Nunc vero, cum videam nihil ab eo aut ipsi aut reipub. posse fieri utilius, quam ut hoc tempore ad nos veniat, insto vehementius, teque hortor, ut omnem curam cogitationemque tuam in hoc unice convertas, ut Philippum nostrum plane nostrum facias. Qualis et tua et ipsius futura sit conditio, paulo ante ostendi. Ita tamen ostendi, ut experientia vestra potius quam pradicatione mea Angliam vobis placere cupiam. Bene et feliciter vale. — Londini, die iv. Julii, wpxrvir.
Tus presenti cupidiss. Cantuariensis
Illustri Viro D. Joanni a Lasco, amico
suo carissuno, S.d.p. [translation.]
I AM sorry that your coming to us has been prevented by the unlooked-for intervention of some other engagement; for I have no doubt but that I should easily have satisfied you as to your invitation, if I had an opportunity of conversing with you upon the subject. But as you are not able to come at present, but write word that you intend to come at some future time, if you shall have previously been informed by a letter from me as to the nature of your vocation amongst us; I will converse with you by letter, and briefly
[5 July 9, A.D. 1548. John a Lasco wrote as a second time requested. Ego,’ he remarks in a]
[follows to Albert Hardenberg: Contentio sacra- letter to J. Camerarius, rursus in Angliam vocor.”]
[mentaria ceepit illic exagitari per quosdam, estque Epist. Lib. 1v. 780. May 17, 1550. And lastly,]
[instituta ea de re publica disputatio, ad quam mag- again before the death of that much-lamented]
[nis multorum precibus vocor. Bucerus exspectatur. prince: Regiis literis vocor in Angliam, qua]
[Franciscus noster Dryander jam adest. Et de Cal- scripte sunt mense Maio. Postea secuta est mors]
[vino mussatur, nisi quod Gallus est,” Gerdes’Scrin. nobilissimi adolescentis.’ Epist. Lib. 1v. 813. A.D.]
[Antiq. Tom. II. p.644. “1 find divers outlandish 1553. Had not the king died so soon, the mode-]
[learned and godly men this year [A. n. 1547] at rate, learned, and wise Melancthon would have]
[Canterbury: among the rest was John Utenhovius, come into England, and been placed in the Uni-]
[a person of honourable rank and quality, afterwards versity of Cambridge. ” Strype’s Eccl. Mem. Vol.]
[elder and assistant to John a Lasco’s church in II. Part rr. p. 76. Vid. Laurence’s Bampton Lect.]
[London. Here was also Valerandus Pollanus, and pp. 186, 227. Ed. Oxon. 1805. These invitations]
[one Franciscus; and the year after Bucer was here. were sent subsequently to that upon which this and]
[Now, I conjecture, were the beginnings of the the following letter treat.]]
[foreigners’ church planted in Canterbury, by the [7 The archbishop’s letter to Melancthon was]
[countenance and influence of archbishop Cranmer. sent by John a Lasco through the hands of /Epinus,]
[There was a loving correspondence held between as appears from a letter to Hardenberg, July 28,]
[the said Utenhovius here, and Peter Martyr now A.D. 1548. Te rogo ut ad illum [i. e. Melanctho-]
[at Lambeth.” Strype’s Eccl. Mem. Vol. II. p. nem] per occasionem scribas, num literas Cantua-]
[123 A further account of the attention of the rienses a me ad se per /Epinum transmissas acce-]
[archbishop to the foreign divines may be seen in perit, et ut respondeat.” Gerdes’ Scrin. Antiq. Tom.]
[Abp. Parker’s Antiq. Brit. Eccl. p. 508. Ed. Lond. II. p. 646.]]
[1729. ] [? The archbishop here evidently refers to the [ὁ During the short reign of Edward, solicita- attempts which were made by Charles V. A.D.]
[tions of a similar nature appear to have been fre- 1548, to force the Interim upon the German pro-]
[quent. Latimer, in a sermon preached before the testants; for an account of which, vid. Sleidan, de]
[King, March 22, 4. n. 1549, thus alludes to areport Statu Religionis et Reipub. (A.D. 1548.) Lib. xx.]
[of the time: I heard say, Master Melancthon, that xxr. Ed. Francof. 1568. Mosheim’s Eccl. Hist.]
[great clerk, should come hither. I would wish Book rv. 88 3, 4, Vol. III. pp. 152, 3. Ed. Lond.]
[him, and such as he is, to have £200 a year. The 1845; Burnet’s Hist. of Reformat. Vol. III. p. ii.]
[king should never want it in his coffers at the year’s Book. 1v. No. 3, pp. 264, 5. Ed. Oxon. 1829.]]
[end.” In the subsequent year his presence here was]
explain in writing, what I should perhaps have stated somewhat more copiously to you in person. We are desirous of setting forth in our churches the true doctrine of God, and have no wish to be shifting and unstable, or to deal in ambiguities; but, laying aside all carnal considerations, to transmit to posterity a true and explicit form of doctrine agreeable to the rule of the sacred writings; so that there may not only be set forth among all nations an illustrious testimony respecting our doctrine, delivered by the grave authority of learned and godly men, but that all posterity may have a pattern to imitate. For the purpose of carrying this important design into execution we have thought it necessary to have the assistance of learned men, who, having compared their opinions together with us, may do away with doctrinal controversies, and build up an entire system of true doctrine. We have therefore invited both yourself and some other learned men; and as they have come over to us without any reluctance, so that we scarcely have to regret the absence of any of them, with the exception of yourself and Melancthon, we earnestly request you, both to come yourself, and, if possible, to bring Melanethon with you, I am now sending a third letter to Melancthon, in which I exhort him to come to us: and if your exhortation be added to my letter, I have no doubt but that he will be persuaded to accept an invitation so often repeated. He need not, I think, be under any fear of the attacks of enemies, or the dangers of the journey, which, if they exist at all, are however far less than where henow is. You may add too, that by undergoing a little inconvenience for a short time he will procure to himself ease for many years, and to the state everlasting benefit. If I anticipated that his visit to us would be either useless or unpleasant, no one would dissuade him from it more earnestly than myself. But now, when I perceive that he can in no wise act more advantageously either for himself or for the state, than by coming over to us at this juncture, I am the more urgent upon the subject, and exhort you to exert all your diligence and consideration to this one end, namely, to make our friend Philip ours in reality. I explained to you, a short time since, what will be the situation of you both; but I so explained it, as desiring that you should learn to be pleased with England from your own experience rather than by my commendation of it. Farewell and happily. London, July 4, 1548.
Exceedingly desirous of your presence. Cantuar. CCLXXXVI. To Albert Hardenberg
[[! Albert Hardenberg, the friend and corre- to Embden; where he died in 1574.” His character]
[spondent of John a Lasco, was educated at the uni- isthus given by Gerdes, Hist. Evang. Renov. Vol.]
[versity of Louvain. He commenced his ministerial III. p. 158. Erat theologus insignis, atque tum]
[labours at a monastery in Groningen; from whence doctrina excellebat, tum facundia praestabat, et]
[he moved to Cologne, on theinvitation of archbishop recte de religione sentiebat; preterea, prudentia,]
[Herman. At the date of this letter he was at the moderatione animi, morum commoditate valebat, et]
[head of the reformed church at Bremen, over which has dotes singulari pietate ornabat.” ^ Jenkyns’]
[he presided from 1547 to 1561. He then retired, to Remains of Abp. Cranmer, Vol. 1. pp. 331, 2,]
[avoid the troubles of the Ubiquitarian controversy, n.d.)]
hanc negligere possit, presertim cum nullam pene certam se vocationem illic habere. videat, quam huie merito opponere queat. Si in simili vocatione deesse noluit sanctissimo illi seni Electori Coloniensi, sane ne nunc quidem illi licebit in causa multo graviore et magis etiam necessaria. Inviti fortasse sui illum dimittent, et ipse quoque invitus suos dimittet, hoc potissimum tempore; sed interim metuo, ne illum omnes istic pro eo ac vellemus audiant, et ut audiant, non scio an tanto cum fructu illic nunc esse possit, quantum ex sua presentia in Anglia nostra nunc haberi possit; qui tamen negligendus nobis non est, siquidem nobis Christi Domini gloriam vere et ex animo quarendam esse putamus. Utinam semel aliquid statuat, et nos de animo suo certiores faciat, aut ipse mox accurrat, omnesque nuntios pravertat. De sumptu prospiciemus, vel apud te, vel alibi, modo sciamus, quantum et quo loco curari velit. Cantabrigize, 28 Julii, 1548.
. [Translation.]
. We are dedirous of setting forth in our churches the true doctrine of God, neither have we any wish to be shifting and unstable, or to deal in ambiguities: but, laying aside all carnal considerations, to transmit to posterity a true and explicit form of doctrine agreeable to the rule of the scriptures; so that there may be set forth among all nations a testimony respecting our doctrine, delivered by the grave authority of learned and pious men; and that all posterity may have a pattern which they may imitate. For the purpose of carrying this important design into effect we have thought it necessary to have the assistance of learned men, who, having compared their opinions together with us, may do away with doctrinal controversies, and establish an entire system of true doctrine. We have therefore sent for many pious and learned men, some of whom we have already with us, and others we are expecting will arrive shortly. But respecting Philip Melancthon we have as yet no certain intelligence. For which cause we most earnestly entreat you, if by any means you can accomplish it, that you will endeavour to induce him to undertake the journey hither. I have already sent a third letter to him, in which I entreat him to come to us; to which letters if you will add your entreaties, I have no doubt but that he may be persuaded to accept an invitation which has so frequently been repeated. 1 do not think that he need be under any apprehension of the treachery of enemies, nor of the dangers of the journey; which if there were any, are much less than those are where he now is. You may also add, that by his undergoing a little present inconvenience he will secure quiet to himself for many years to come, and unending benefit to the state. If 1 could foresee that this journey hither would be either useless or disagreeable to himself, truly none would more earnestly dissuade him from undertaking it than I would; but since I perceive that nothing can be more useful both to himself and the state than that he should come over to us at this juncture, I desire it the more earnestly, and beg of you, that you will exert all your diligence and consideration to this end, that you may make our friend Philip ours in reality. I have already explained what his future situation will be here; but I so explained it, as desiring that you should learn to be pleased with our England from your own experience, rather than by my report of it. But if our friend Philip will consider for what purpose he is invited, and also by what persons, those, assuredly, who are most friendly both to himself and to true religion; and also with how great anxiety he is both invited and expected; truly I do not see, and I know not whether he can neglect this summons, especially as he must perceive that he has no certain vocation yonder which he can properly place in opposition to it. If he felt unwilling to refuse the venerable elector of Cologne upon a like invitation, he cannot certainly decline the present one, upon an occasion of much greater importance and necessity. His friends perhaps will be unwilling to let him go, and he too will be unwilling to part with them at this particular juncture: but I fear in the mean time that all parties yonder do not attend to him from such motives as we could wish; and even if they do, I know not whether he can now remain there with as much advantage as can be derived from his presence in our England, and which nevertheless ought not to be disregarded by us, inasmuch as we think it our duty to seek truly and heartily the glory of Christ our Lord. I wish he would at once make up his mind, and acquaint us with his intention, or that he would come over to us immediately, and anticipate every messenger. We will provide for the expense, either through you, or elsewhere, as soon as we know to what extent, and in what place, he wishes provision to be made. Cambridge, July 28, 1548.
CCLXXXVII. To Martin Bucer
[[ Herman, archbishop of Cologne, whose invi- attempts at effecting reformation being unsuccessful,]
[tation Melancthon accepted, April, 1543, and re- he resigned his see, A.D. 1547. He died, August,]
[mained with him at Bonn till the month of Au- 4.p. 1532. Strype’s Mem. of Cranmer, Vol. I. pp.]
[gust in the same year. Vid. some account of the 410, 11; Sleidan, De Statu Religionis et Reipub.]
[Simple and religious consultation,” &c. which (A.D. 1552.) Lib. xx1v. p. 572. Ed. Francof. 1568.]]
[he and Bucer then compiled, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. [> For an account of the first occasion of]
[Vol. II. pp. 41, 42, and of the use made of it in Bucer’s call into England,” vid. Strype’s Mem. of]
[drawing up the English Book of Common Prayer, Abp. Cranmer, Vol. I. pp. 280, 81. Ed. Oxon.]
[Laurence’s Bampton Lectures, p. 439. Hermau’s 1840.]]
NR diutius preesse posse scribis. Gemens igitur prophet illud exclamavi, Mirifica miseeu ^… ” ”. » ricordias tuas, qui salvos facis sperantes in te a resistentibus dexter tum.” Nec dubito pp LI… K ρ 14 quin Deus hoc et similes piorum gemitus exauditurus sit; et veram doctrinam, qua LJ. “.Ψ LI LI hactenus in vestris ecclesiis sincere propagata est, et conservaturus et defensurus sit adversus omnes diaboli et mundi furores, Interim swvientibus fluctuum procellis, in portus confugiendum est iis, qui vela in altum tendere non possunt. Tibi igitur, mi Bucere, portus longe tutissimus erit nostrum regnum, in quo, Dei beneficio, semina vera doctrinze feliciter spargi cceperunt. Veni igitur ad nos; et te nobis operarium presta in messe Domini. Non minus proderis catholice Dei ecclesi: cum apud nos fueris, quam si pristinas sedes retineres. Adde, quod adflictze patrie vulnera absens melius sanare poteris, quam nunc possis presens. Omni igitur semota cunctatione, quamprimum ad nos venias. Ostendemus nobis presentia Buceri nihil gratius aut jucundius esse posse. Sed cave ne quid ex itinere incommodi accipias. Nosti quos habeas vite insectatores: eorum manibus ne te commiseris. Est istic mercator quidam Anglus Richardus Hils!, vir pius et summa fidelitate praeditus, cum quo de tota itineris ratione te conferre velim. Prseterea, Deum ternum Patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi toto pectore oro, ut in ira misericordie recordetur, et afflictee ecclesie calamitates respiciat, et lucem vera doctrinze apud nos magis magisque accendat; apud vos vero jam multos annos przclare lucentem non extingui patiatur. Is te quoque, mi Bucere, regat et servet, et incolumem ad nos traducat. Bene et feliciter vale. Londini, 2 Octob. Anno 1548.
Tui nos accessus cupientissimus
TuowAs CrANMERUS, Archie. Cantu.
[translation.]
Tn grace and peace of God in Christ. I have read your letter to John Hales,? in which you relate the miserable condition of Germany,? and inform us that you can scarcely preside in the ministry of the word in your city. With groanings therefore I call out with the prophet, Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness,
7. Ὁ thou that savest them which trust in thee from those that rise up against thy right hand.” Nor do I doubt but that God will regard both this and the like lamentations of godly men, and that he will preserve and defend the true doctrine, which has hitherto been sincerely set forth in your churches, against all the rage of the devil and of the world. Those, in the mean time, who are unable amidst the raging storm to launch out into the deep, must take refuge in harbour. To you, therefore, my Bucer, our kingdom will be a most safe harbour, in which, by the blessing of God, the seeds of true doctrine have happily begun to be sown. Come over therefore to us, and become a labourer with us in the harvest of the Lord. You will not be of less benefit to the universal church of God while you are with us, than if you retain your former position. In addition to this, you will be better able to heal the wounds of your distressed country in your absence, than you are now able to do in person. Laying aside therefore all delay, come over to us as soon as possible. We will make it manifest that nothing can be more gratifying or agreeable to us than the presence of Bucer. But take care that you suffer no inconvenience from the journey. You are aware of those who pursue your life: do not therefore commit yourself into their hands. There is an English merchant yonder, Richard Hilles, a godly and most trustworthy man, with whom I would have you confer respecting all the arrangements for your journey. Moreover, I pray God, the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with my whole heart, that in the midst of wrath he may remember mercy, and look upon the calamities of his afflicted church, and kindle the light of true doctrine increasingly among us, and not suffer it to be extinguished, after having now shone with so much splendour for many years, among yourselves. May he likewise, my Bucer, guide and preserve you, and bring you over to us in safety. Farewell and happily. London, Oct. 2, 1548.
Most anxious for your arrival
Tuomas CRANMER, archbishop of Canterbury.
[[’ Among the papers that were sent me from [? John Hales, a learned and good man, clerk]
[Zurich, there is a long and particular account of of the hanaper.”” Strype’s Eccl. Mem. Vol. I. Part]
[many passages in this matter, (i.e. Henry VIIIth’s 1. p. 47. Vid. Bp. Keith’s Affairs of Church and]
[marriage with Ann of Cleves,) writ by one Richard State in Scotland, Vol. II. pp. 226, 7. Spottis-]
[Hill, who writes very piously and sensibly,” ἄς. wode Soc. Ed. The names of John and Christopher]
[Burnet’s Hist of Reformat. Vol. III. pp. 275, 6, Hales are inserted amongst the chief of the exiles at]
[282 84. See also Original Letters relative to the Frankfort, 4. D. 1555. ib. Vol. III. Part 1. pp.]
[English Reformation (Parker Society), First Por- 404, 5. Ed. Oxon. 1822.]]
[tion, Letter CV] [? Vid. Letter CCLXXXVT. p. 422.]]
CCLXXXVIII. To Matthew Parker
I coxwEND me heartily unto you; signifying, that my lord protector’s grace, having good opinion of your learned knowledge and godly zeal in the advancement of God’s word, hath, by the advice of the. council, specially appointed you to preach one sermon before the king’s majesty’s person the third Sunday of Lent, now coming. Wherefore I pray you in the mean season to prepare yourself in a readiness for the purpose, and to repair unto the court against the day appointed, to satisfy the office whereunto you are called accordingly. Thus heartily fare ye well. From my manor at Lambhith, the 17th of Februarii, anno 1548. [1549.]
Your loving friend, Cant. CCLXXXIX. To Melancthon
VznissrMA esse experimur, Melancthon doctissime, qua Dominus noster Jesus Christus de cruce ecclesize sus predixit; “sed fidelis est Deus, qui non patietur suos tentari supra id quod possunt, sed faciet una cum tentatione proventum ut possimus sustinere.” Etsi enim odio Fili Dei diabolus horribilem tyrannidem exercet in membra Christi, tamen promisit Deus ecclesiam suam non interituram esse. Imo de ultimis temporibus diserte inquit: “Ego senescentem gestabo: ego feram: ego salvabo?.” Et semper Deus aliquas politias voluit esse hospitia ecclesiarum, et aliquot gubernatores fovere studiosos doctrinz coelestis, ut Abdias pavit auditores Heli, quos reges Israel undique pellebant. Quamobrem tibi, eterne Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, ingentes ago gratias, quod insulam nostram non aliter quam arcam Noa e fluctibus eripuisti, nobisque tales dederis gubernatores, qui tui gloriam querunt, et suas sedes ditionesque ecclesie et studiis patere cupiunt, ut olim viduz: Sareptana casa praebebat hospitium Heli». Oroque Deum, ut nos regat, et colligat sibi inter nos perpetuam ecclesiam, non solum ex nostratibus, sed etiam ex peregrinis; id quod facere pro sua immensa misericordia jam incepit.
Multi enim pii doctique viri^, partim ex Italia, partim ex Germania, ad nos convenerunt, et plures quotidie exspectamus, cujus ecclesize chorum si ipse tua prasentia ornare et augere non gravaberis, haud scio qua ratione gloriam Dei magis illustrare poteris. Scio te szpius optasse?, ut pii et sapientes viri, communicato consilio et collatis sententiis, gravi auctoritate opus aliquod conderent, quod praecipuas materias ecclesiasticae doctrina complecteretur, et.veritatem ad posteros incorruptam transmitteret. lloc nos sedulo pro virili conamur. Quare te rogamus, ut presens cum presentibus sententiam tuam et consilium communices, et ne animum ita obfirmes, ut tuis ipsius votis deesse, aut tam manifeste Dei vocationi repugnare videaris. Plurima hoc loco recensere poteram, qua te in nostram sententiam flecterent; sed ea omnia non capit epistola brevitas. Proinde ex hoc tabellario, D. Joanne a Lasco, viro optimo, ea te cognoscere malim. Is enim mecum hosce aliquot menses conjunctissime et amantissime vixit, cui in his, quz: tibi meo nomine narrabit, fidem adhibeas oro. Dominus noster Jesus Christus, custos ecclesi», qui dixit, Nemo rapiet oves meas de manibus meis,” servet et defendat ministerium evangelii sui, et te ad ecclesi; nostre hospitium tuto deducat. Vale. Londini, 10. Feb-ruarii, 1549.
Tui nos accessus avidissimus
Thomas CANTUARIENSIS.
Viro tum eruditione tum pietate clarissimo D. Philippo
Melancthoni dentur he littera
Nostri Germani, qui nobiscum sunt, rogant, ut adducas tecum Doctorem Albertum Hardenbergium, ut Jonas” referet tibi nostro nomine.
[[ “In Lent, archbishop Cranmer writ to him sum pie doctrine constitui in iis ecclesiis omnibus,]
[(i.e. Parker)to preach before the king; advising him, que Romani episcopi tyrannidem et impietatem]
[that it was the lord protector’s order for him so to damnant.” Letter of Melancthon to Henry VIIT.,]
[do, on a certain Sunday in the Lent season, by him dated March 26, 4. n. 1539. (Cott. MSS. Vid. x. v.]
[appointed,” Strype’s Life of Abp. Parker, Vol.I. f. 239. British Museum. Original holograph. Vide]
[pp. 49, 90. Ed. Oxon. 1821. ] also Strype’s Eccl. Mem. Vol. I. Part 11. App. No. [^ Vid. Isaiah xlvi. 4.] 101, pp. 393, 4.] [ Vid. Letters CCLXXXV., CCLXXNVI., [8 Letter CCLXXXVI. p. 422.]
[pp. 420, 422.] [? ““The son of the great German divine of the [7 Opto autem, ut antea sepe scripsi, consen- same name,”. who fcame over with letters com-]
[translation.]
We are experiencing, most learned Melancthon, the truth of all that our Lord Jesus Christ has foretold respecting the trials of his church. “But God is faithful, who will not suffer his people to be tempted above that they are able, but will also with the temptation make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it.” For though from his hatred to the Son of God the devil exercises a horrible tyranny over the members of Christ, yet God has promised that his church shall never perish; nay, of these last times he expressly declares, “To hoar hairs will I carry her: 1 will bear, I will deliver her.” And God has always willed some civil societies to be the refuge of his churches, and that their rulers should support the friends of heavenly doctrine; just as Obadiah befriended the hearers of Elias, whom the kings of Israel were persecuting on every side. Wherefore, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I give thee thanks for having rescued our island from the waves, like the ark of Noah, and for having granted us such rulers as seek thy glory, and who devote their houses and possessions to the church and its service, as in old time the cottage of the widow of Sarepta afforded a home to Elias. And pray God to direct us, and to gather unto himself a perpetual church amongst us, not only out of our own countrymen, but also from among those of foreign nations, as according to his infinite mercy he has already begun to do. For many pious and learned men have come over to us, some from Italy, some from Germany, and we are daily expecting more; which society of the church if you will vouchsafe to increase and adorn with your presence, I know not by what means you will be able more effectually to set forth the glory of God.
I am aware that you have often desired that wise and godly men should take counsel together, and, having compared their opinions, send forth under the sanction of their authority some work, that should embrace the chief subjects of ecclesiastical doctrine, and transmit the truth uncorrupted to posterity. This object we are anxiously endeavouring to accomplish to the utmost of our power. We therefore request you to communicate your counsel and opinions with us in person, and not so to shut up your mind as to seem wanting even to your own wishes, or acting in opposition to so manifest a calling of God. I could relate many things upon this subject, which would bring you over to our opinion; but the brevity of a letter will not contain them all. I would rather, therefore, that you should learn them from the bearer, John a Lasco, a most excellent man. For he has resided with me upon the most intimate and friendly terms for some months past; and I pray you to give credit to whatever he may relate to you in my name. May our Lord Jesus Christ, the guardian of his church, who has said, None shall pluck my sheep out of my hands,” preserve and defend the ministry of his gospel, and bring you in safety to the harbour of our church! Farewell. London, Feb. 10, 1549.
Most anxious for your arrival
TuoMas CANTUAR.
Our German friends who are with us, request you to bring with you doctor Albert Hardenberg, as Jonas will tell you in my name. To that most illustrious man, as well for his
learning as his piety, D. Philip Melancthon,
these letters are to be given.
CCXC. To Martin Bucer
[mendatory from Melancthon.”. This man the [! The death of Fagius, who had been professor]
[archbishop was very kind to, gave him harbour, and of Hebrew and rabbinical learning in the university]
[admitted him freely into his society and converse: of Cambridge, occurred Nov. 15, A. Ὁ. 1549, at that]
[insomuch that Justus Jonas the father entreated place, where he had arrived on the 5th of the same]
[Melancthon, that he would take particular notice to month. Strype mentions that the archbishop wrote]
[the archbishop of his great favour shewed to his the above letter to Bucer, Nov. 30, A.D. 1549.]
[son.” Strype’s Mem. of Cranmer, Vol. II. p. 581.] ^ Mem. of Abp. Cranmer, Vol. I. p. 282]
culo nobiscum versari potuisset. Sed quum benignissimo Patri nostro visum sit, eum in aliam meliorem et eruditiorem scholam evocare, debemus ei gratulari, quod Paulus Fagius ad Christi et Divi Pauli consuetudinem, et ad sanctissimum collegium angelorum, prophetarum, et apostolorum evocatus sit.
His aliisque rationibus ego animum jacentem excito, inducoque in spem cogitationemque meliorem. Kas autem ad te scribens commemoro, non quod tibi his opus sit, sed potius, ut his similibusque fomentis dolores foeminz optimz uxoris Fagii nostri lenias et mitiges. Et ne angoribus se dedat ut horteris, magnopere a te peto quesoque.
Ploratur lacrymis amissa pecunia veris,”
dixit poeta quidam. Quare ut hac in parte ego illam aliquo pacto recrearem, mitto ad eam per hunc tabellarium viginti septem libras moneta nostratis. Quam quidem summam etsi adhuc a questore regis pro stipendio Pauli Fagi non acceperim, brevi tamen me accepturum spero. Interim, ut vidus dolorem aliquo modo levarem, de meo hane pecuniam numerare visum est. Debebantur quidem illius marito pro stipendio quinquaginta libre, sed tres decedunt a summa pro impensis in regia diplomata, &c., viginti autem a me numerate sunt. Quod tu adhuc literas a regia majestate commendatitias ad academiam Cantabrigiensem, et stipendium tuum in presentia non acceperis,, imputabis non negligentiz mez, sed consiliariorum et questorum fere omnium occupationibus, quos hoc comitiorum? tempore publica negotia sic distrahunt, ut privatas causas tractare non vacet. Interim tamen si quid desideres, significes oro, et ego omni cum diligentia illud ad te mitti curabo. Vale. Lambethi, ultimo Novembris. [1549.]
Tus paternitatis amantissimus, Cant. [translation.]
Most learned Bucer, it is not now my intention to tell you how deep a wound of sorrow has been caused to my feelings by the death of our friend Fagius, lest I should seem to irritate your wound, which, as I suppose, has been healed by the aid of your theology, as well as also in some sense by the lapse of time. But rather for the present I have determined to communicate to you the thoughts by which I myself gained consolation; not that, prudent as you are, you stand in need of consolations which I can give (for I know the moderation and reasonableness of your mind), but that by frequent repetition arid consideration in my own mind I might by some means shake off this grief. In the first place, my thoughts took this turn, that it was in accordance with our nature to sympathise, condole, and weep with our friend, while he was for so long a time very grievously suffering from that painful disease: but now after that he has been freed from all sufferings, and has been translated from warfare to peace, from troublous waves to a haven the most still, from toils to endless felicity, it would be the act of an enemy, not of a friend, to bewail his state. For the souls of the righteous are in the Lord’s hand.” And the Psalmist saith: “Right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Since therefore our friend worshipped God with true piety, and gave his attention and labour to the extension of the study of learning, there is no reason why we should not hope that, by the mercy of the Judge, he hath obtained that eternal life which he here commenced with such diligence. 1 could indeed wish, if so it had pleased God, that he might have sojourned with us for a longer period in the course of this life; but since it hath seemed good to our most merciful Father to call him away to a better and more learned school, we ought to congratulate him that Paul Fagius hath been summoned to the company of Christ and St Paul, and to the most holy college of angels, prophets, and apostles.
By these and other means I uplift my prostrate mind, and produce better hopes and thoughts. By my letter I put you in mind of these, not because they are needful for you, but rather that by these and similar consolations you may soften and assuage the grief of that excellent woman, the wife of our friend Fagius. And I earnestly beg and entreat of you to exhort her not to give up herself to sorrow.
A. certain poet hath written,
With sincerity of grief the loss of money is lamented;”
and therefore that in this respect I may in some way recover her, by this messenger I send to her twenty-seven pounds of our money; which sum although as yet I have not received it from the king’s treasurer for Fagius’ salary, yet I expect soon to receive it. Meanwhile that in some way I might alleviate the widow’s grief, I think it better to pay this money from my own resources. There was indeed due to her husband for salary fifty pounds, but three are to be deducted from the total amount, for expenses on royal diploma, &e., and twenty I have paid. That you have not up to this time received letters recommendatory from the king’s majesty to the university of Cambridge, and your salary for the present, you must not impute to negligence on my part, but to the occupation of the members of council, and generally all the officers, who are so distracted by public business in the sitting of parliament, that they
The parliament assembled November 4, 4. 1549.]
have no leisure to treat of private matters. Meanwhile, if you are in want of anything, I beg you to declare it, and with all diligence I will take care that it be sent to you. Farewell. Lambeth, the last day of November. [1549.]
Your reverence’s most affectionate
T. CaNT.
CCXCI. To Voysey, Bishop of Exeter
ArrER my hearty commendations; the king’s majesty’s pleasure and high commandment to me is, that I shall will and charge you to ascertain me the names of all such benefices within your diocese, as at any time have been or yet be impropried, in whose Mite hands and possession the same been, either in his majesty or any his graces subjects, II. with your true certificate also of all vicarages endowed within your said diocese, and of all other churches impropried, having no vicarages endowed, being either served by a manual priest, or destitute of a curate, with the several values of such vicarages and benefices, as nigh as you may: fail you not this to do with all celerity, as you tender the accomplishment of his graces pleasure. Fare you well From my manor of Lambehith, this xx. of April, anno 1550.
Your loving brother
T. CaNr.
CCXCII. To Martin Bucer’
Life AFTER my hearty salutations, right well beloved master Bucer; I have read that t. book which you have sent to doctor Peter Alexander concerning the controversy betwixt qu master Hooper and the bishop of London; in which book many things are learnedly me. declared, and largely handled: wherefore now I pray you that you would send unto me your judgment of these questions, expressed with as short brevity of words as you can. Whether, without the offence of God, it may be lawful to the ministers of the church of England to use those vestures which at these days they wear, and are so prescribed of the magistrate?
Whether he that shall affrm that it is unlawful, or shall refuse to wear this Um apparel, offendeth against God, for that he sayeth that thing to be unclean that God ^ hath sanctified; and offendeth against the magistrate, for that he disturbeth the politic order?
To these questions, if you will make most brief answer? and send unto me your judgment as soon as you may possibly, you shall do me great pleasure. God be with you! From Lambeth, the second of December. [1550.]
[! The original Latin copy of this letter, and of [? Bucer, in his reply, says: which the above is a translation, could not be dis- 1. “Qui jam ecclesiarum Anglicarum ministri covered by Dr Jenkyns, neither has a further search hujusmodi sunt, eos sentio posse vestibus illis, quabeen successful for this edition.] rum hodie usus est, uti cum gratia Dei.-—De altera [? For an account of the controversy with bishop quzstione mea est sententia, hausta, ut credo, ex Hooper about the ecclesiastical habits, vid. Strype’s divinis literis: eos, qui dicunt vestibus de quibus Eccl. Mem. Vol. II. Part 1. pp. 350 et seq. Mem. agitur quovis modo uti, etiam eo quem descripsi, of Abp. Cranmer, Vol. I. pp. 302 et seq. Burnet’s nefas esse, ad minimum errare; et hoc eo, quod Hist. of Reformat. Vol. II. pp. 314—318. Todd’s negant sanctificatis esse sancta omnia. Idem affir-
[Life of Cranmer, Vol. II. pp. 226 et seq. —Bishop mo de iis, qui ex eadem causa vestibus illis nolunt]
[Ridley’s answer to Hooper’s objections to the uti.”—< Cum constet hodie, vestes has esse occa-]
[Romish habits of the prelates, quoted by Arch- sioni aliis ad superstitionem, aliis ad perniciosam]
[bishop Whitgift in his controversy with Cartwright, contentionem; prestare eas tollere.” Vid. Bucer’s]
[was long supposed to be lost: but it has lately been Scripta Anglicana, p. 681, and Bucer’s Letter to]
[discovered among the large and valuable collection Hooper, ibid. p. 705. Ed. Basil. 1577.]]
[of MSS. belonging to Sir Thomas Phillipps.]]
CCXCIII. To Matthew Parker
I commenD me heartily unto you; and whereas the king’s majesty, by the advice of his most honourable council, hath appointed you to preach one sermon before his highness’ person at the court, upon Sunday the 22” of March next coming, being the sixth Sunday in Lent, and hath commanded me to signify unto you his grace’s pleasure in this behalf; these therefore shall be to require you to put yourself in a readiness in the meantime to satisfy the day and place to you appointed, according to the king’s majesty’s expectation, and not to fail in any wise. Thus heartily fare ye wel. From my manor at Lambeth, the xiith of February, 1550. [1551.]
Your loving friend, Cant
To my loving friend, Mr. doctor Parker.
CCXCIV. To Cecil
ArrER my very hearty commendations. Whereas the bearer hereof, Mr Coverdale, bishop elect of Exeter, is now through in all matters to the consecration, save only in doing his homage and in the dispatch of his first-fruits’: these shall be heartily to desire, that, in consideration of his long attendance and of the great lack that the West parts have of him, you will shew him your accustomable favour and help at this present: that by your procurement he may the sooner take his oath, and have your gentle assistance for the obtaining of his suit concerning the first-fruits. For I mind, by God’s grace, the 30th day of this month to accomplish the king’s majesty’s mandate concerning the consecration of him and of the bishop of Rochester. And thus I bid you most heartily well to fare. From my manor at Croydon, the 23rd of August, 15526, [1551.7
Your loving friend, Cant
To the right worshipful and my very good friend, Mr William Cecil, one of the king’s majesty’s two principal secretaries.
CCXCV. To Cecil, or Cheke
AFTER my very hearty commendations; these be to signify unto you, that Raymer Wolf, at my desire, hath fully finished the printing of my book7, for answer to the late bishop of Winchester’s, written against mine of the doctrine of the sacrament. And forasmuch as both printing and selling of any matters in the English tongue is prohibited by
[4 A.D. 1551. Coverdale had previously been of Abp. Cranmer, Vol. I. pp. 383, 389. ]]
[coadjutor with Voisey, bishop of Exeter, who [5 The date stands thus in Strype’s MSS., which]
[greatly spoiled the bishoprick of its revenues: he is evidently an error, as the events referred to oc-]
[resigned this year, and Coverdale was appointed to curred A.D. 1551.]]
[succeed him; but being a poor man” he was [7 i.e. “An answer by the Right Rev. Father in]
[discharged of the payment of this year’s tenths, God, Thomas, Abp. of Canterbury, unto a crafty]
[viz £50, and all arrearages of the old bishop’s time. and sophistical cavillation, devised by Stephen]
[He was discharged from the payments of first-fruits Gardiner, doctor of law, late bishop of Winchester,]
[on account of his poverty. Strype’s Mem. of Abp. against the true and godly doctrine of the most holy]
[Cranmer, Vol. I. pp. 382, 3; Eccl. Mem. Vol. IT. sacrament of the body and blood of our Saviour]
[Part 11 pp. 265, 6.] Jesus Christ;” contained in Vol. I. Park. Soc. Ed. [^ And also—he (Cranmer) was minded, on 1844.]]
[the 30th of August, to consecrate him (Coverdale) [5 The date of Gardiner’s deprivation was Feb.]
[and the bishop of Rochester (Scory), according to 14, A.D. 1551. Vid. Foxe’s Acts and Monuments,]
[the king’s mandate.” He was consecrated with p. 1539, 40. Ed. 1583.]]
[Coverdale at Croydon on that day. Strype’s Mem,]
a proclamation set forth, unless the same matter be first allowed by the king’s majesty, or six of his majesty’s privy council, as you shall more plainly perceive by the proclamation, which herewith I send unto you; therefore I heartily pray you to be a suitor to the king’s majesty, or to the privy council, that Mr Rayner may have licence for the printing and selling of my said book accordingly; and the same so obtained to send me with convenient speed. For in the beginning of the term I think it were very necessary to be set forth, for the contentation of many which have had long expectation of the same. As soon as I shall receive advertisement, when the king’s majesty will be at Hampton Court, I will come thither to sce his grace, and do my duty towards the same. Thus fare ye heartily well. From my manor at Croydon, the xxix. of September, 1551.
Your loving friend, Cant
To my very loving friends, Mr Cecil, one of the kings majesty two principal secretaries. Or to Mr Cheek.
CCXCVI. To Bullinger
S. P. Quvop ad litteras tuas Tiguri datas 24 Februari post annum respondeo, imputabis partim occupationibus meis, partim indilgentie cuidam mes in hoc officii genere, quam in me herere ingenue confiteor. Sed quia prestat sero quam nunquam officium facere, nunc ad omnia accipies [ responsum ].
Duas apud me causas agis, publicam et privatam. Quod ad publicam attinet 3 nempe ut consultor esse velim, ne regia majestas legatum ad concilium Tridentinum mitteret, non fuit opus me consultore ad dissuadendum ab eo, quod nunquam illi in mentem venit: sed potius consiium dandum esse duxi, ut quemadmodum adversarii nostri nunc Tridenti habent sua concilia ad errores confirmandos, ita ejus pietas auxilium suum prebere dignaretur, ut in Anglia, aut alibi, doctissimorum et optimorum virorum synodus convocaretur, in qua de puritate ecclesiasticze doctrina et precipue de consensu controversiz sacramentarie tractaretur. Ad quod institutum (quia reipubliee Christiana utilissimum esse judicavit) animum majestatis illius admodum propensum esse sensi. Quare non est nobis committendum, ut ecclesie Dei in re tam ardua deesse velimus. Scripsi hac de re ad D. Philippum et ad D. Calvinum?, oroque ut consultetis, qua ratione synodus hac aut in Anglia aut alibi congregari commodissime possit.
Privata causa, de qua ad me scripsisti, fuit, ut controversiam inter D. Londinensem et D. Hoperum Gloucestrensem componerem, de qua nunc nimis serum est respondere. Nam diu abhinc audisse te sat scio controversiam illam compositam et penitus sublatam fuisse. Et D. Hoperus ea est apud nos estimation, ut Wigorniensis episcopus jam sit designatus; et hoc tempore, quo comitia apud nos Londini congregantur, in zdibus
[[! Strype gives the substance of a letter written Bumet’s Hist. of Reformat. Vol. II. pp. 386 et]
[by Bullinger to Henry Grey, marquis of Dorset, on seq. Ed. Oxon. 1829.]]
[this subject, March, A.D». 1551. Strype’s Eccl. [? Vid. the next and two following letters.]]
[Mem. Vol. II. pp. 397—99. Ed. Oxon. 1822.] [^ Hooper himself informed Bullinger of this [3 The eleventh session of the council of Trent, settlement of the differences between himself, Cran-]
[and the first under pope Julius III., was held May. mer, and others, by a letter dated August 1, A. p.]
[1 A. D. 1551. The protestants were induced to 1551, which is printed in the first Portion of Ori-]
[think of attending the council, and to prepare ac- ginal Letters relative to the English Reformation,]
[cordingly; but they desired a safe conduct in the p. 91. Park. Soc. Ed. 1846. Peter Martyr also]
[name, not of the emperor, but of the council; for signified the same news in a letter to Gualter.]
[they remembered the council of Constance, and the Hooper was consecrated bishop of Gloucester,]
[fate of Huss.” Mendham’s Memoirs of the Coun- March, A. n. 1551, and the diocese of Worcester]
[cil of Trent, p. 141. Ed. London. 1834. Canon. et becoming void by the deprivation of Heath in Oc-]
[Decret. Concil. Trident. pp.56 etseq. Ed. Lips.1842. tober, (A.D.) 1551,.it was given to Hooper to]
[An account of the proceedings of this session, which hold in commendam.” Vid. Strype’s Mem. of Abp.]
[was adjourned to the 1st of the following September, Cranmer, Vol. I. pp. 309, 312. Ed. Oxon. 1840.]]
[and from that day to Oct. 11th, will be found in]
meis mecum eonjunctissime vivit. Dominus Jesus Spiritu suo sancto te gubernet ct tueatur. Vale. Lambethi, 20 Martii, 1552.
Tua paternitatis studiosissimus
Tromas CANTUARIENSIS. Ewimio Viro D. Heinricho Bullingero,
Tigurine ecclesia? ministro fidelissimo,
dentur ho litter.
[translation.]
Mvcn health.,That I reply, after a year’s interval, to your letter dated at Zurich on the 24th of February, you must impute partly to my want of leisure, and partly to a kind of dislike to a duty of this nature, and which I must candidly admit myself to entertain. But as it is better to perform a duty tardily than not at all, you shall now receive a reply to the whole of your letter.
You write to me upon two subjects, one of a public, the other of a private nature. With respect to that which is publie, namely, that I would advise the king’s majesty not to send any delegate to the council of Trent, there was no need of any advice of mine to dissuade him from a measure which never came into his mind: but I considered it better, forasmuch as our adversaries are now holding their councils at Trent to confirm their errors, to recommend his majesty to grant his assistance, that in England, or elsewhere, there might be convoked a synod of the most learned and excellent persons, in which provision might be made for the purity of ecclesiastical doctrine, and especially for an agreement upon the sacramentarian controversy. To which plan (as considering it most useful to the christian commonwealth) I perceived that the mind of his majesty was very favourably disposed. We must not therefore suffer ourselves to be wanting to the church of God in a matter of such importance. I have written upon the subject to masters Philip [Melancthon] and Calvin; and I pray you to devise the means by which this synod may be assembled with the greatest convenience, either in England or elsewhere.
The private affair upon which you wrote to me, was, that I should put an end to the controversy between the bishop of London and Hooper, bishop of Gloucester, respecting which it is now too late to reply. For I am aware that you have been informed long since that this controversy has been entirely settled. And master Hooper is in such great esteem among us, that he is now appointed bishop of Worcester; and he is at this time living in my house upon the most intimate terms, during the sitting of parliament. May the Lord Jesus guide and defend you by his holy Spirit! Farewell. Lambeth, March 20, 1552.
Your reverence’s most attached
Tnoxas CANTUAR. To that excellent man, Mr Henry Bullinger, a most
Jaithful minister of the church at Zurich, these
letters be given.
CCXCVII. To Calvin
[5 The thirteenth session of the council of Trent, the eucharist was determined. Vid. Can. et Decret.]
[and the third under pope Julius III. was held, Concil. Trident. pp. 58—65. Mendham’s Memoirs]
[Oct. 11, A.D. 1551, at which the decree concerning of the Council of Trent, pp. 145, 6.]]
votum, de quo etiam scripsi ad D. Philippum et ad D. Bullingerum, oroque ut vos inter vos deliberetis, qua ratione synodus hzc congregari commodissime possit’. Vale. Lambethi, 20 Mart. 1552.
Frater tuus in Christo carissimus, Cantuariensis
Th. Cranmerus Calvino.
[translation.]
Much health. As nothing tends more injuriously to the separation of the churches than heresies and «disputes respecting the doctrines of religion; so nothing tends more effectually to unite the churches of God, and more powerfully to defend the fold of Christ, than the pure teaching of the gospel, and harmony of doctrine. Wherefore I have often wished, and still continue to do so, that learned and godly men, who are eminent for erudition and judgment, might meet together in some place of safety, where by taking counsel together, and comparing their respective opinions, they might handle all the heads of ecclesiastical doctrine, and hand down to posterity, under the weight of their authority, some work not only upon the subjects themselves, but upon the forms of expressing them. Our adversaries are now holding their councils at ‘Trent for the establishment of their errors; and shall we neglect to call together a godly synod, for the refutation of error, and for restoring and propagating the truth? They are, as I am informed, making decrees respecting the worship of the host: wherefore we ought to leave no stone unturned, not only that we may guard others against this idolatry, but also that we may ourselves come to an agreement upon the
[[^ The following from Calvin to Abp. Cranmer nunquam nimiasit aut supervacua. Deinde scio non]
[is in all probability the answer to the above letter. ita unius Anglia haberi abs te rationem, quin orbi f: vns simul universo consulas. Regis quoque serenissimi]
[Calvinus Cranmero Archiep Cantuariensi S D non modo generosa indoles, sed rara etiam pietas Tu quidem, illustrissime Domine, vere et pru- merito exosculanda, quod sanctum consilium de]
[denter in hoc tam confuso ecclesiz statu nullum habendo ejusmodi conventu favore suo prosequitur,]
[aptius afferri posse remedium judicas, quam si inter et locum in regno suo offert. Atque utinam impe-]
[se conveniant pii, cordati, et in Dei schola probe trari posset, ut in locum aliquem docti et graves viri]
[exercitati homines, qui suum in pietatis doctrina ex pracipuis ecclesiis coirent, ac singulis fidei capi-]
[consensum profiteantur. Videmus enim quam variis tibus diligenter excussis, de communi omnium sen-]
[artibus Satan evangelii lucem, qua mirabili Dei tentia certam posteris traderent scriptura doctrinam.]
[bonitate nobis exorta passim refulget, conetur ob- Ceterum in maximis seculi nostri malis hoc quoque]
[ruere. Conductitii papa canes latrare non desinunt, numerandum est, quod ita alie ab aliis distract]
[ne purus Christi sermo exaudiatur. Tanta licentia sunt ecclesie, ut vix humana jam inter nos vigeat]
[passim ebullit et grassatur impietas, ut parum a societas, nedum emineat sancta membrorum Christi]
[manifestis ludibriis absit religio. Qui professi non communicatio, quam ore profitentur omnes, pauci]
[sunt veritatis hostes, ea tamen protervia lasciviunt, reipsa sincere colunt. Quod si frigidius, quam par]
[qua brevi, nisi obviam eatur, feedam nobis confu- esset, se gerunt doctores, gravissima penes ipsos]
[sionem pariet. Neque solum in hominum vulgo principes est culpa, qui vel, profanis suis negotiis]
[regnat hic tum stulte curiositatis, tum intempe- impliciti, ecclesiz salutem et totam pietatem negli-]
[rantis audaciz morbus: sed, quod magis pudendum gunt; vel singuli privata pace contenti, aliorum]
[est, in ordine quoque pastorum nimis jam grassatur. cura non tanguntur. Ita fit, ut membris dissipatis]
[Quibus deliriis seipsum deludat et quosdam alios lacerum jaceat ecclesia corpus. Quantum ad me]
[fascinet Osiander, plus satis notum est. Et Domi- attinet, si quis mei usus fore videbitur, ne decem]
[nus quidem, ut ab initio usque mundi solitus est, quidem maria, si opus sit, ob eam rem trajicere]
[sincere fidei veritatem, ne laceretur hominum dis- pigeat. Si de juvando tantum Angliz regno agere-]
[sidiis, mirabiliter, et modo nobis incognito, servare tur, jam mihi ea satis legitima ratio foret. Nunc]
[poterit. Quos tamen ipse in excubiis locavit, mini- cum quzratur gravis et ad scripturze normam probe]
[me torpere vult: quando et eosdem sibi destinavit compositus doctorum hominum consensus, qua ec-]
[ministros, quorum opera sanam in ecclesia doctri- clesiz procul alioqui dissite inter se coalescant;]
[nam ab omnibus corruptelis purget, ac incolumem nullis vel laboribus vel molestiis parcere fas mihi]
[ad posteros transmittat. Tibi presertim, ornatissime esse arbitror. Verum tenuitatem meam facturam]
[Prasul, quo altiore in specula sedes, in hanc curam, spero, ut mihi parcatur. Si votis prosequar quod ab]
[ut facis, incumbere necesse est. Quod non ideo aliis susceptum erit, partibus meis defunctus ero. D.]
[dico, quasi tibi addendum esse novum calcar exist- Philippus [i. e. Melancthon] longius abest, quam ut]
[mem; qui non modo sponte pracurris, sed aliis ultro citroque commeare brevi tempore litere que-]
[quoque instas voluntarius hortator; verum ut te in ant. D. Bullingerus tibi forte jam rescripsit. Mihi]
[tam fausto praclaroque studio, mea gratulatione utinam par studii ardori suppeteret facultas! Porro]
[confirme. Letum quidem esse in Anglia evan- quod me facturum principio negavi, ipsa rei quam]
[gelii successum audimus. Sed istic quoque usu sentis difficultas tentare me cogit: non ut te horter]
[venire, quod suo tempore expertus est Paulus, non modo, sed etiam obtester ad pergendum, donec ali-]
[dubito: ut ostio ad recipiendam puram doctrinam quid saltem effectum fuerit, si non omnia ex voto]
[aperto, multi repente adversarii contra insurgant. succedant. Vale, ornatissime Preasul, et mihi ex]
[Etsi vero me non latet, quam multi sint vobis ad animo reverende. Dominus te Spiritu suo regere,]
[manum idonei ad refellenda Satan mendacia vin- sanctosque tuos conatus benedicere pergat. Gene-]
[dices: facit tamen eorum improbitas, qui ad tur- va.” Calvini Op. Epist. col. 134, 5. Ed. Genev.]
[bandum satagunt, ut bonorum sedulitas hac in parte 1617.]]
doctrine of this sacrament. It cannot escape your prudence, how exceedingly the church of God has been injured by dissensions and varieties of opinion respecting this sacrament of unity; and though they are now in some measure removed, yet I could wish for an agreement in this doctrine, not only as regards the subject itself, but also with respect to the words and forms of expression. You have now my wish, about which I have also written to masters Philip [Melancthon] and Bullinger; and I pray you to deliberate among yourselves as to the means by which this synod can be assembled with the greatest convenience. Farewell. Lambeth, March 20, 1552.
You very dear brother in Christ
Tromas CANTUAR.
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