again very earnestly objected, that he marvelled that the bishop, in Mary. matter touching the king's majesty, their master, would use the aid or A.D. means of Granuella, a foreign prince's minister, to make him privy of 1555. their question. But say and do what he could, he would never come to the speech of Ludovico any more ever after. Whereupon there rose great and long controversies between them (both writing letters unto the king about that matter), until at last the king's majesty, perceiving his affairs otherwise to slack thereby, wrote unto them both, that they should lay all those things under foot, and join together in his service as before; which they did accordingly. But howsoever this matter was afterward salved here with the king's majesty, as either by the death of sir Henry Knivet (which I think was not long after), or by other friends the bishop had here at home, I know not yet Wolfe, who within two months after died of a long cough of the lungs, upon his death-bed did again affirm the premises to be most true; and therefore, in the presence of sir Henry Knivet, and divers other of his servants, he protested, that he had not invented, sought, or procured this at Ludovico's hands, for any malice or displeasure borne to the bishop, but only for discharge of his faith. and duty unto the king's majesty, desiring that the same his protestation might be inserted in the end of his last will and testament, which was then presently done; and thereunto he set his hand.' Now, whether this was the matter that the king moved so often master secretary Paget (being after lord-keeper) to keep safe as sore matter against the bishop, I know not; but yet it appears by some depositions of the nobility, and others, in the process against him had in king Edward's days, that the king's majesty, Henry the Eighth, had this matter ever in his mind; for in every general pardon that he granted by parliament after this practice, he did still except all treasons committed beyond the seas: meaning thereby, as it was supposed, that the bishop should not take any benefit by any general pardon, if at any time his majesty would call him to account. And therefore all things well weighed, he had small cause to vaunt of his great favour he had with king Henry his master. Howbeit, it seemeth he was brought into this fool's paradise by the lord Paget; who (as he himself reporteth in his depositions), in his messages from the king to the said bishop, deluded him, telling him much otherwise than the king had spoken, and concealing always the king's hard speeches against him, which thing puffed up this vain-glorious Thraso not a little. All which premises appear more at large by the depositions of the nobles and others, examined in the long process against him in king Edward's reign, as appears in our first edition of Acts and Monuments, from page 804 unto the end of that process, in that book at large mentioned.2 especially the But whatsoever he was, seeing he is now gone, I refer him to his Gardiner judge, to whom he shall stand or fall. As concerning his death, and hunted manner thereof, I would they which were present thereat would testify for of the to us what they saw. This we have all to think, that his death hap- lady Elipened so opportunely, that England hath a mighty cause to give thanks to the Lord there-for: not so much for the great hurt he had done in times past in perverting his princes, in bringing in the Six (1) See vol. vi. p. 168.-ED. (2) See also vol. vi. pp. 143 to 264 zabeth. Mary. Articles, in murdering God's saints, in defacing Christ's sincere A. D. religion, etc., also as, especially, for that he had thought to have 1555. brought to pass, in murdering also our noble queen that now is. For Master whatsoever danger it was of death that she was in, it did, no doubt, proceed from that bloody bishop, who was the cause thereof. And if it be certain which we have heard, that her highness being in the Tower, a writ came down from certain of the council for her execution, it is out of controversy, that wily Winchester was the only Dædalus and framer of that engine, who (no doubt) in that one leuter day had brought this whole realm into woful ruin, had not the the tower, Lord's most gracious counsel, through master Bridges, then the lieuorgan in tenant, coming in haste to the queen, certified her of the matter, and prevented Achitophel's bloody devices; for the which, thanks be to the same our Lord and Saviour, in the congregation of all English churches. Amen. the Lord's saving the lady Elizabeth's life. Of things uncertain, I must speak uncertainly, for lack of fuller information, or else peradventure they be in the realm that can say more than here I have expressed. For as Bonner, Story, Thornton, Harpsfield, Dunning, with others, were occupied in putting the poor branches of God's saints to death: so this bishop, for his part, bent all his devices, and had spent all his powder, in assailing the root, and in casting such a platform (as he himself in words at his death is said to confess) to build his popery upon, as he thought should have stood for ever and a day. But, as I said before, of things uncertain I can speak but uncertainly. Wherefore as touching the manner and order of his death, how rich he died, what words he spake, what little repentance he showed; whether he died with his tongue swollen Arundel, and out of his mouth, as did Thomas Arundel, archbishop of Canbishop of terbury, or whether he stank before he died, as cardinal Wolsey did; arch Canter bury. See Appendix. or whether he died in despair, as Latomus and others did, etc.: all this I refer either to their reports of whom I heard it, or leave it to the knowledge of them which know it better. Notwithstanding, here by the way, touching the death of this foresaid bishop, I thought not to overpass a certain hearsay, which not long since came to me by information of a certain worthy and credible gentlewoman, and another gentleman of the same name and kindred, which Mrs. Munday,' being the wife of one master Munday, secretary sometime to the old lord Thomas, duke of Norfolk, a present witness of this that is testified, thus openly reported in the house of a worshipful citizen, bearing yet office in this city, in words and effect as followeth : "The same day, when bishop Ridley and master Latimer suffered at Oxford (being about the 16th day of October), there came into the house of Stephen Gardiner the old duke of Norfolk,' with the foresaid master Munday his secretary above named, reporter hereof. The old aged duke, there waiting and tarrying for his dinner, the bishop, being not yet disposed to dine, deferred the time to three or four of the clock at afternoon. At length, about four of the clock, cometh his servant, posting in all possible speed from Oxford, bringing intelligence to the bishop what he had heard and seen: of (1) Foxe is incautious in relating this from mere "hearsay;" as the incident could not have occurred to the old duke of Norfolk, who died on the 25th of August, 1554.-ED. whom the said bishop diligently inquiring the truth of the matter, Mary. and hearing by his man, that fire most certainly was set unto them, A.D. cometh out rejoicing to the duke, "Now," saith he, "let us go to 1555. dinner." Whereupon, they being set down, meat immediately was brought, and the bishop began merrily to eat. But what followed? The bloody tyrant had not eaten a few bits, but the sudden stroke of God's terrible hand fell upon him in such sort, as immediately he was taken from the table, and so brought to his bed; where he continued the space of fifteen days in such intolerable anguish and torments, that all that meanwhile, during those fifteen days, he could not avoid, by urine or otherwise, anything that he received: whereby his body being miserably inflamed within (who had inflamed so many good martyrs before), was brought to a wretched end. And thereof, no doubt, as most like it is, came the thrusting out of his tongue from his mouth so swollen and black, with the inflammation of his body. A spectacle worthy to be noted and beholden of all such bloody burning perse cutors. But to proceed farther in the sequel of our story: I could name the man (but I abstain from names), who, being then present, and a great doer about the said Winchester, reported to us concerning the said bishop, that when Dr. Day, bishop of Chichester, came to him, and began to comfort him with words of God's promise, and with the free justification in the blood of Christ our Saviour, repeating the Scriptures to him, Winchester hearing that, "What, my lord," quoth he, "will you open that gap now? then farewell altogether. To me, and such others in my case, you may speak it; but open this window to the people, then farewell altogether!" See Moreover, what Dr. Bonner then saw in him, or what he heard of him, and what words passed between them about the time of his extremity;-betwixt Gardiner and him be it. If Bonner did there behold anything which might turn to his good example, I exhort hin to take it, and to beware in time, as I pray God he may. Here I could bring in the frivolous epitaph which was made of his death, devised of a papist for a popish bishop, but I pretermit it, and instead Appendix thereof I have here inferred certain gatherings out of his sermons, words, and writings; wherein may appear first, what an earnest and vehement enemy he was to the pope, if he would have been constant in himself; then how inconstantly he varied from himself; and thirdly, how he, standing upon a singularity of his own wit, varied also from other papists in certain points. In the gathering whereof although there be some pains, and tediousness also in reading; yet I thought not to pretermit the same, upon certain considerations, namely, for that so many yet to this day there be, which stick so much to Gardiner's wit, learning, and religion, taking him for such a doughty pillar of the pope's church. To the intent therefore, that such as hitherto have been deceived by him, may not longer be abused therein, if they will either credit his own works, words, sermons, writings, disputations; or else will be judged by his own witnesses of his own party produced, we have here collected such manifest probations, which may notoriously declare how effectually first he withstood the pope's supremacy and likewise afterwards may declare manifest contrariety and repugnancy of the said Gardiner, first with agreeing to reform religion, and wherein. Mary. other writers, and lastly with himself: first beginning with his sermon A.D. preached before king Edward, the sum and effect of which sermon, 1555. briefly collected by master Udall, is before to be seen; and having Gardiner comprised the sum and chief purpose of his sermon, with other such matter above storied (wherein may appear the double-faced doings of ation of this bishop in matters of religion), now, for the more fortification of how far, that which hath been said, if any shall deny this foresaid sermon, or any part thereof to be true, to confirm therefore the same, we will here adjoin certain brief notes and specialties in manner of a summary table, collected as well out of the testimonies and depositions of his own friends and servants, and others who were sworn truly to declare their knowledge in this behalf, as also out of his own writings and works agreeing with the same. In all which foresaid allegations it may remain notorious and famous to all men, how, in what points, and how far, the said bishop of Winchester agreed with the reformation of religion received, not only in king Henry's, but also in king Edward's days. And because it would be long, and a double labour to repeat all the words and testimonial sayings of every witness particularly, the same being expressed sufficiently in our first impression before, it shall therefore suffice, by quotations, briefly to assign the place to the reader, where he may find all those points of reformation, whereunto the said bishop Gardiner fully agreed with the doctrine. now received; and, first, notwithstanding the pope's supremacy, as is hereunder noted. THE POPE'S SUPREMACY IMPUGNED BY BISHOP GARDINER IN First, as touching the confession and judgment of Stephen Gardiner against the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, read in his book "De verâ Obedientiâ," folio 6. Item, Concerning the disputations and defensions of bishop Gardiner at Louvain, against the pope's supremacy, read in our first impression, page 802;2 also in these present volumes. Item, How the said bishop Gardiner taught, in his sermons and preachings; as where he expoundeth the place "Tu es Petrus," nothing at all to make for the authority of the Romish bishop, marvelling how (1) For this sermon, reprinted from the First Edition, see vol. vi. pp. 87–93. A few of the sidenotes which Foxe added in the later editions, are here preserved. At page 89, line 6, Gardiner had said, "But we must confess and believe him thoroughly, I say; for as he was our bishop then, so is it he, that still keepeth us in favour with God. And like as his sacrifice, then made, was sufficient for us, to deliver us from our sins, and to bring us in favour with God, so, to continue us in the same favour of God, he ordained a perpetual remembrance of himself." To this Foxe says, "Note here Winchester: the sacrament was ordained to keep us in the perpetual favour of God." At page 89, line 18, Gardiner had said, "And this daily sacrifice he instituted to be continued amongst christian men, not for need of another redemption or satisfaction for the sins of the world (for that was sufficiently performed by his sacrifice of his body and blood, done upon the cross), neither that he be now our bishop, for need of any further sacrifice to be made for sin, but to continue us in the remembrance of his passion suffered for us," etc. To this Foxe says, "Note here Winchester, contrary to himself; for before, he had said, 'the sacrament was ordained to keep us in the favour of God;' and now he saith 'it is to keep us in remembrance of his passion."" At page 89, line 58, Gardiner had said, "If chantries were abused by applying the mass for the satisfaction of sin, or to bring men to heaven, or to take away sin, or to make men, if wicked, just, I like the act well, and they might well be dissolved: for the mass was not instituted for any such purpose." To this Foxe says, "Note, Winchester doth not allow mass for satisfaction to bring men to heaven, to take away sin, or to make men just," etc. And Gardiner having subsequently said of chantries, "If there were any such abuse in them concerning the mass, it is no matter if they be taken away:" Foxe adds, "as there were indeed masses of scala cœli." Foxe presently after has this remark, "Winchester craftily speaketh against the abuse of the mass, not against the mass."-Ed. (2) "Our First Impression," called also "the Old Book," that is, The First Edition of the Acts and Monuments; page 802 of which corresponds with Vol. VI. page 138 of this Edition.-ED. A. D. 1555. the pope could usurp so much to take up that place to build upon, Mary. when Christ had taken it up before to build his church, read in the places in the old book; and in the depositions of Dr. Redman.2 Item, How the confession of Peter was the confession of all the apostles, like as the blessing given to Peter pertained as well to all the apostles as to Peter." Item, That the place, "Pasce oves meas," was not special to Peter alone, but general to all the apostles. Also that the Greek church did never receive the said bishop of Rome for their universal head, read in the same book.4 Item, That the authority of the bishop of Rome was not received of the most part of christian princes, read the depositions of sir Thomas Smith." Item, How the said bishop Gardiner would not grant that the said authority was received generally. Item, That the church was builded upon Christ's faith, and not upon Peter, read the depositions of Robert Willanton." headman of in And that though Peter was called "princeps apostolorum," that The was nothing else, but like as it is in an inquest, where the foreman or headman is not so called because he is best or chiefest of that company, quest. but because he speaketh first, read in the deposition of master Basset. 66 Item, That when the keys were given, they were given generally to all the apostles, read the depositions of Robert Willanton." Item, How the said bishop taketh away all such scriptures which are thought to serve for the pope's supremacy, as super hanc petram," "pasce oves meas," "princeps apostolorum," etc., proving that they serve nothing for his authority, read likewise in the same book in the depositions of master Basset, his own servant.1o Item, How the said bishop in his book "De verâ Obedientiâ," did not only write against the pope's supremacy, but also did defend the same at Louvain." And moreover, in his sermons did allege and preach the same, and that also vehemently, 12 pithily, 13 earnestly, 14 very earnestly,15 very forwardly.16 against And he not only did so vehemently, pithily, earnestly, and for- Verses wardly preach himself against the pope's supremacy, but also did cause written master White (then schoolmaster, afterward bishop of Winchester) the pope. to make certain verses extolling the king's supremacy against the usurped power of the pope, encouraging also his scholars to do the like. Read the depositions of John White, schoolmaster of Winchester.17 chester Item, How he, for the space of fourteen years together, preached Winagainst the pope's supremacy in divers sermons, and especially in one against sermon before king Henry, read the depositions of John Potinger.18 the pope's PLACES NOTED, WHEREIN BISHOP GARDINER IMPUGNED CERE MONIES, MONKERY, IMAGES, CHANTRIES, ETC. Item, For ceremonies and images which were abused, to be taken away by public authority, he did well allow it, as a child to have his (1) See this Edition, vol. vi. pp. 222, 223, 225.—ED. (3) Ibid. p. 225.-ED. (6) Ibid. p. 187.-ED. (9) Ibid. p. 204.-ED. (12) Ibid. p. 232.-ED. (4) Ibid. pp. 225, 204.-ED. (10) Ibid. p. 232.-Ed. (7) Ibid. p. 204.-ED. (13) Ibid. p. 223.-ED. (2) Ibid. p. 237:-ED. (5) Ibid. p. 186.-ED. (15) Ibid. p. 217.-ED. (16) Ibid. p. 186.-ED. (17) Ibid. p. 223.-ED. (18) Ibid. p. 217.-ED. authority. |