John Fox,the Martyrologist.
[The Ecclesiastical History, containing theActs and Monuments, &c.2nd Ed., II.,pp. 1355-6, 1570.]
How the LordCromwellhelped ArchbishopCranmer's Secretary.
[July 1539.]
MEntionwas made before how KingHenry, in the 31st year [1539-1540] ofThe ArchbishopCranmerdisputeth three days in Parliament against theSix Articles.his reign, caused theSix Articles[31.Hen. VIII., c. 14.An Act abolishing diversity in opinions] to pass [in June 1539]; much against the mind, and contrary to the consent of the Archbishop ofCanterbury, Thomas Cranmer: who had disputed three days against the same in the Parliament House, with great reasons and authorities. WhichArticles, after they were granted and passed by the Parliament, the King, for the singular favour which he ever bare toCranmerand reverence to his learning (being desirous to know what he had said and objected in the Parliament against theseArticles; or what could be alleged by Learning against the same) required a Note of the Archbishop's doings, what he had said and opposed in the Parliament touching that matter. And this word was sent to him from the King byCromwelland other Lords of the Parliament, whom the King then sent to dine with him at Lambeth: somewhat to comfort again his grieved mind and troubled spirits: as hath been above recited at page 1,298.
[The passage referred to runs thus:
After the Parliament was finished and that matter concluded; the King (considering the constant zeal of the Archbishop in defence of his cause; and partly also weighing the many authorities and reasons whereby he had substantially confirmed the same) sent [in July 1539] the LordCromwell(which within a few days after [or rather on 10th June 1540] was apprehended), the two Dukes ofNorfolkandSuffolk, and all the Lords of the Parliament, to dine with him at Lambeth: where they signified to him, That it was the King's pleasure that they all should, in His Highness's behalf, cherish comfort and animate him as one that, for his travail in that Parliament, had declared himself both greatly learned, and also a man discreet and wise: and therefore they willed him not to be discouraged in anything that was passed in that Parliament contrary to his allegations.He most humbly thanked, first the King's Highness of his singular good affection towards him; and them, for all their pains: adding moreover that he so hoped in GOD that hereafter his allegations and authorities should take place, to the glory of GOD and commodity of the realm.]
After the Parliament was finished and that matter concluded; the King (considering the constant zeal of the Archbishop in defence of his cause; and partly also weighing the many authorities and reasons whereby he had substantially confirmed the same) sent [in July 1539] the LordCromwell(which within a few days after [or rather on 10th June 1540] was apprehended), the two Dukes ofNorfolkandSuffolk, and all the Lords of the Parliament, to dine with him at Lambeth: where they signified to him, That it was the King's pleasure that they all should, in His Highness's behalf, cherish comfort and animate him as one that, for his travail in that Parliament, had declared himself both greatly learned, and also a man discreet and wise: and therefore they willed him not to be discouraged in anything that was passed in that Parliament contrary to his allegations.
He most humbly thanked, first the King's Highness of his singular good affection towards him; and them, for all their pains: adding moreover that he so hoped in GOD that hereafter his allegations and authorities should take place, to the glory of GOD and commodity of the realm.]
Whereupon, when this dinner was finished [in July 1539], the next day after the Archbishop (collecting both his arguments, authorities of Scripture, and Doctors [i.e. the Fathers of the Church] together)The name of this Secretary was MasterRalph Morice, being yet alive [i.e., in 1570].caused his Secretary to write a fair Book thereof for the King, after this order:
First, the Scriptures were alleged.
Then, the Doctors.
Thirdly, followed the arguments deduced from those Authorities.
This book was written in his Secretary's Chamber [at Lambeth Palace]; where, in a by-chamber, lay the Archbishop's Almoner.
When this Book was fair written, and while the Secretary was gone to deliver the same unto the Archbishop his Master, who was, as it chanced, ridden to Croydon; returning back to his chamber, he found his door shut, and the key carried away to London by the Almoner.
At this season also [it] chanced the father of the said Secretary to come to the city; by whose occasion it so fell out, that he [Ralph Morice] must needs go to London. The Book he could not lay in his chamber, neither durst he commit it to any other person to keep; being straitly charged, in any condition, by the Archbishop his master, to be circumspect thereof: so he determined to go to his father, and to keep the Book about him.
And so, thrusting the Book under his girdle, he went over [the Thames] unto Westminster Bridge, with a sculler; where he entered into a wherry that went to London: wherein were four of the Guard, who meant to land at Paul's Wharf; and to pass by the King's Highness who was then in his barge, with a great number of barges and boats about him, then baiting of bears in the water, over against the Bank [Side in Southwark].
The aforesaid Yeomen of the Guard, when they came against the King's barge, they durst not pass by towards Paul's Wharf, lest they should be espied: and therefore entreated the Secretary to go with them to the Bearbaiting; and they would find the means, being of the Guard, to make room and to see all the pastime.
The Secretary perceiving no other remedy, assented thereto.
When the wherry came nigh the multitude of boats; they with poleaxes got the wherry so far that, being encompassed with many other wherries and boats, there was no refuge if the bear should break loose and come upon them: as, in very deed, within onePaternosterwhile, the bear brake loose; and came into the boat where the Yeomen of the Guard were, and the said Secretary.
Tall Yeomen, but ill Keepers.
The Guard forsook the wherry, and went into another barge; one or two of them leaping short, so fell into the water.
A Bearbaiting upon [the] Thames before the King.
The bear and the dogs so shaked the wherry wherein the Secretary was, that the boat being full of water sank to the ground; and being also, as it chanced, an ebbing tide, he sat there in the end of the wherry up to the middle in water. To whom came the bear and all the dogs. The bear, seeking as it were aid and succour of him, came back with his hinder partsThe Book of DrCranmeragainst theSix Articleslost in the Thames.upon him; and so, rushing upon him, the Book was loosed from the Secretary's girdle, and so fell into the Thames out of his reach.
The flying of the people, after that the bear was loose, from one boat to another, was so cumbrous that divers persons were thrown into the Thames: the King commanding certain men, that could swim, to strip themselves naked; and to help to save them that were in danger.
This pastime so displeased the King, that he bade, "Away, away with the bear! and let us go all hence!"
The Secretary, perceiving his Book to fleet away in the Thames, called to the Bearward to take up the Book.
This Bearward was PrincessElizabeth's servant.
DrCranmer's Book against theSix Articlesdelivered to a Popish Priest.
When the Bearward had the Book in his custody, being an arrant Papist, far from the religion of his Mistress (for he was the LadyElizabeth's Bearward, now the Queen's Majesty), ere that the Secretary could come to land, he had delivered the Book to a Priest of his own affinity in religion standing on the bank: who, reading in the Book, and perceiving that it was a manifest Refutation of theSix Articles, made much ado; and told the Bearward that whosoever claimed the Book, should surely be hanged.
Anon, the Secretary came to the Bearward for his Book.
"What," quoth the Bearward, "dare you challenge this Book? Whose servant be you?"
"I am servant to one of the [Privy] Council," said the Secretary, "and my Lord ofCanterburyis my master."
"Yea, marry," quoth the Bearward, "I thought as much. You be like, I trust, to be both hanged for this Book."
"Well," said he "it is not so evil as you take it: and, I warrant you, my Lord will avouch the book to the King's Majesty. But I pray you let me have my Book, and I will give you a crown [6s., or in present value about £2] to drink."
"If you will give me 500 crowns, you shall not have it," quoth the Bearward.
With that the Secretary departed from him: and, understanding the malicious forwardness of the Bearward, he learned thatBlagethe Grocer in Cheapside might do much with him. To whom the Secretary brake this matter,requiring him to send for the Bearward to supper; and he would pay for the whole charge thereof: and besides that, rather than he would forego his Book after this sort, the Bearward should have 20s. [in present value about £6] to drink.
The supper was prepared. The Bearward was sent for, and came. After supper, the matter was intreated; and 20s. offered for the Book.
But do what could be done; neither friendship, acquaintance, nor yet reward of money, could obtain the Book out of his hands: but that the same should be delivered unto some of the [Privy] Council, that would not so slightly look on so weighty a matter as to have it redeemed for a supper, or a piece of money. The honest man, MasterBlage, with many good reasons would have persuaded him not to be stiff in his own conceit: declaring that in the end he should nothing at all prevail of his purpose, but be laughed to scorn; getting neither penny nor praise for his travail. He, hearing that, rushed suddenly out of the doors from his friend MasterBlage; without any manner of thanksgiving for his supper: more like a Bearward than like an honest man.
When the Secretary saw the matter so extremely to be used against him; he then thought it expedient to fall from any farther practising of entreaty with the Bearward, as with him that seemed rather to be a bear himself than master of the beast: determining the next morning to make the LordCromwellprivy of the chance that happened.
So, on the next day, as the LordCromwellwent to the Court, the Secretary declared the whole matter unto him; and how he had offered the Bearward 20s. for the finding thereof.
"Where is the fellow?" quoth the LordCromwell.
"I suppose," said the Secretary, "that he is now in the Court, attending to deliver the book unto some of the Council."
"Well," said the LordCromwell, "it maketh no matter. Go with me thither, and I shall get you your book again!"
The Bearward waiting to giveCranmer's Book to the Council.
When the Lord Cromwell came into the Hall of the Court, there stood the Bearward with the Book in his hand; waiting to have delivered the same unto SirAnthony Browneor unto [Stephen Gardiner] the Bishop ofWinchester, as it was reported.
The LordCromwellgetteth the Book from the Bearward.
To whom the LordCromwellsaid, "Come hither, fellow! What Book hast thou there in thy hand?" and with that snatched the Book out of his hand: and looking in the Book, said, "I know this hand well enough. This is your hand," said he to the Secretary.
"But where hadst thou this Book?" quoth the LordCromwellto the Bearward.
"This Gentleman lost it two days ago in the Thames," said the Bearward.
"Dost thou know whose servant he is?" said the LordCromwell.
"He saith," quoth the Bearward, "that he is my Lord ofCanterbury's servant."
"Why then didst thou not deliver to him the Book when he required it?" said the LordCromwell. "Who made thee so bold as to detain or withhold any Book or writing from a Councillor's servant, especially being his Secretary? It is more meet for thee to meddle with thy bears, than with such writing: and were it not for thy Mistress's sake, I would set thee fast by the feet, to teach such malapert knaves to meddle with Councillors' matters. Had not money been well bestowed upon such a good fellow as this is, that knoweth not a Councillor's man from a cobbler's man!"
And with those words, the LordCromwellwent up into the King's Chamber of Presence, and the Archbishop's Secretary with him: where he found, in the Chamber, the Lord ofCanterbury.
The words of the LordCromwellto the ArchbishopCranmer.
To whom he said, "My Lord, I have here found good stuff for you," showing to him the paper book that he had in his hand, "ready to bring both you, and this good fellow your man, to the halter: namely [especially] if the knave Bearward, now in the Hall, might have well compassed it."
At these words, the Archbishop smiled, and said, "He that lost the Book is like[ly] to have the worst bargain: for, besides that he was well washed in the Thames, he must write the Book fair again."
And, at these words, the LordCromwellcast the Book unto the Secretary, saying, "I pray thee,Morice, go in hand therewith, by and bye, with all expedition: for it must serve a turn."
"Surely, my Lord, it somewhat rejoiceth me," quoth the LordCromwell, "that the varlet might have had of your man 20s. for the Book: and now I have discharged the matter with never a penny; and shaken him well up for his overmuch malapertness."
"I know the fellow well enough," quoth the Archbishop, "there is not a ranker Papist within this realm than he is; most unworthy to be a servant unto so noble a Princess."
And so, after humble thanks given to the LordCromwell, the saidMoricedeparted with his Book: which, when he again had fair written it, was delivered to the King's Majesty by the said LordCromwell, within four days after.