take it so? Always since I lived hitherto, their hands. This Mr. Ely was a student I have been a hater of falsehood, and a in divinity, and lately made a priest, being lover of simplicity, and never before this then one of the fellows in Brazen-nose coltime have I dissembled;" and in saying lege.

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this, all the tears that remained in his body Then was an iron chain tied about Cranappeared in his eyes. And when he began mer, and they commanded the fire to be set to speak more of the sacrament and of the unto him. papacy, some of them began to cry out, And when the wood was kindled, and yelp, and bawl, and especially Cole cried the fire began to burn near him, he stretchout upon him, "Stop the heretic's mouth, ed forth his right hand, which had signed and take him away." his recantation, into the flames, and there And then Cranmer being pulled down held it so sted fast that all the people might from the stage, was led to the fire, accom- see it burnt to a coal before his body was panied with those friars, vexing, troubling, touched. In short, he was so patient and and threatening him most cruelly. "What constant in the midst of these extreme tormadness," say they, "hath brought thee tures, that he seemed to move no more than again into this error, by which thou wilt the stake to which he was bound; his eyes draw innumerable souls with thee into were lifted up to heaven, and often he rehell?" To whom he answered nothing, peated, "this unworthy right hand," so but directed all his talk to the people, sav- long as his voice would suffer him; and as ing that to one troubling him in the way, often using the words of the blessed martyr he spake, and exhorted him to get him St. Stephen, "Lord Jesus, receive my home to his study, and apply to his book spirit," till the fury of the flames putting diligently; saying, if he did diligently call him to silence, he gave up the ghost. upon God, by reading more he should get knowledge.

But the other Spanish barker, raging and foaming, was almost out of his wits, always having this in his mouth, Non fecisti? Didst thou it not?"

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This fortitude of mind, which perchance is rare and not found among the Spaniards, when friar John saw, thinking it came not of fortitude, but of desperation, although such manner of examples which are of like constancy, have been common But when he came to the place where here in England, he ran to the lord Wilthe holy bishops and martyrs of God, bishop liams of Tame, crying that the archbishop Latimer and bishop Ridley, were burnt be- was vexed in mind, and died in great des fore him for the confession of the truth, peration. But he, who was not ignorant kneeling down he prayed to God, and not of the archbishop's constancy, being unlong tarrying in his prayers, putting off his known to the Spaniards, smited only, and garment to his shirt, he prepared himself as it were by silence rebuked the friar's for death. His shirt was made long, down folly. And this was the end of this learned to his feet. His feet were bare; likewise archbishop, whom, lest by evil subscribing his head, when both his caps were off, was he should have perished, by well recanting, so bare that one hair could not be seen God preserved and lest he should have upon it. His beard was so long and thick, lived longer with shame and reproof, it that it covered his face with marvellous pleased God rather to take him away, to gravity; and his reverend countenance the glory of his name and profit of his moved the hearts both of his friends and church. So good was the Lord both to his enemies. church, in fortifying the same with the tesThen the Spanish friars, John and Rich-timony and blood of such a martyr; and so ard, of whom mention was made before, good also to the man with this cross of began to exhort him, and play their parts tribulation, to purge his offences in this with him afresh, but with vain and lost la- world, not only of his recantation, but also bor. Cranmer with stedfast purpose abiding of his standing against John Lambert and in the profession of his doctrine, gave his Mr. Allen, or if there were any other, with hand to certain old men, and others that whose burning or blood his hand had been stood by, bidding them farewell. any thing before polluted. But especially And when he had thought to have done he had to rejoice, that dying in such a so likewise to Mr. Ely, the said Ely drew cause, he was numbered amongst the mar back his hand and refused, saying, it was tyrs of Christ, and much more worthy of not lawful to salute heretics, and especially the name of St. Thomas of Canterbury. L such a one as falsely returned unto the than he whom the pope falsely before did opinions that he had forsworn. And if he canonize. had known before that he would have done so, he would never have used his company Thus died Thomas Cranmer, in the 67th so familiarly, and chid those serjeants and year of his age. He was a man of great citizens, who had not refused to give him candor, and a firm friend, which appeared

PLATE XLII.

Martyrdom of Archbishop Cranmer, at Oxford, March 21, 1556.-See page 374:

signally in the misfortunes of Anne Boleyn, strange land, the like whereof (I think) Cromwell, and the duke of Somerset. In was never seen. I would have wished to his writings he rather excelled in great in- have had some meaner adversaries: and, 1 dustry and good judgment, than in a quick-think, that death shall not grieve me much ness of apprehension, or a closeness of style. more, than to have my most dread and most He employed his revenues on pious and gracious sovereign lord and lady, to whom, charitable uses; and in his table he was under God, I do own all obedience, to be truly hospitable, for hé entertained great mine accusers in judgment within their numbers of his poor neighbors often at it. own realm, before any stranger and outThe gentleness and humility of his deport- ward power. But forasmuch as in the time ment were very remarkable. His last fall of the prince of most famous memory, king was the greatest blemish of his life, yet Henry the Eighth, your grace's father, I that was expiated by a sincere repentance; was sworn never to consent, that the bishop and while we drop a tear over this melan- of Rome should have or exercise any aucholy instance of human frailty, we must thority or jurisdiction in this realm of Engacknowledge with praise the interposition land, therefore lest I should allow his auof Divine Providence in his return to the thority, contrary to mine own oath, I retruth. And it seemed necessary that the fused to make answer to the bishop of reformation of the church, being the restor- Gloucester sitting here in judgment by the ing of the primitive and apostolical doc- pope's authority, lest I should run into pertrine, should have been chiefly carried on jury. by a man thus eminent for primitive and apostolical virtues.

Another cause why I refused the pope's authority, is this; that his authority, as he claimeth it, is repugnant to the crown imperial of this realm, and to the laws of the same: which every true subject is bound to defend. First, for that the pope, saith, that all manner of power, as well temporal

That the Christian reader may judge how little this noble martyr regarded human greatness, or his own interest, when truth was concerned, we present him with the following celebrated letter written by the archbishop to Queen Mary, which, though as spiritual, is given first to him of God; rather long, we doubt not will be perused with interest, when the writer, and the subject, are considered.

and that the temporal power he giveth unto emperors and kings, to use it under him, but so as to be always at his commandment and beck.

MAY it please your majesty to pardon my But contrary to this claim, the imperial presumption that I dare be so bold to write crown and jurisdiction temporal of this to your highness. But very necessity con- realm is taken immediately from God, to be straineth me, that your majesty may know used under him only, and is subject to none my mind, rather by mine own writing but God alone.

than by other men's reports. So it is, that Moreover, to the imperial laws and cusupon Wednesday, being the 12th day of toms of this realm, the king in his coronathis month, I was cited to appear at Rome tion, and all justices when they receive the eightieth day after, there to make an- their offices, be sworn, and all the whole swer to such matters as should be objected realm is bound to defend and maintain. against me upon the behalf of the king and But contrary hereunto, the pope by his auyour most excellent majesty, which matters thority maketh void, and commandeth to blot the Thursday following were objected out of our books, all laws and customs being against me by Dr. Martin and Dr. Story, repugnant to his laws, and declareth acyour majesty's proctors before the bishop of cursed all rulers and governors, all the Gloucester, sitting in judgment by com- makers, writers, and executors of all such mission from Rome.

laws or customs, as it appeareth by many But (alas!) it cannot but grieve the heart of the pope's laws, whereof one or two I of a natural subject to be accused of the shall rehearse. In the decrees, Dict. 10., king and queen of his own realm; and es- it is written thus, "The constitution or pecially before an outward judge, or by au- statutes enacted against the canons and dethority coming from any person out of this crees of the bishops of Rome, or their good realm: where the king and queen, as if customs, are of none effect." Also, "We they were subjects within their own realm, excommunicate all heretics of both sexes, shall complain and require justice at a what name soever. they be called by, and stranger's hands against their own subject, their favorers, receptors, and defenders; and being already condemned to death by their also them that shall hereafter cause to be own laws. As though the king and queen observed the statutes and customs made could not do or have justice within their against the liberty of the church, except own realms against their own subjects; but they cause the same to be put out of their they must seck it at strangers' hands in a records and chapters within two months

after the publication thereof. Also we ex-stand excommunicate, and shall do, until communicate the statute-makers and wri- we leave the execution of our own laws and ters of those statutes, and all the potentates, customs. Thus we be well reconciled to powers, consuls, governors, and counsellors Rome, allowing such authority, whereby of places, where such statutes or customs the realm standeth accursed before God, if shall be made or kept; and also that shall the pope have any such authority. presume to give judginent according to These things (as I suppose) were not them, or shall notify in public form the fully opened in the parliament-house when matter so adjudged." the pope's authority was received again Now by these laws, if the bishop of within this realm; for if they had, I de Rome's authority which he claimeth by not believe that either the king or queen's God, be lawful, all your grace's laws and majesty, or the nobles of this realm, or the customs of your realm, being contrary to commons of the same, would ever have the pope's laws, be naught, and as well consented to receive again such a foreign your majesty, as your judges, justices, and authority, so injurious, hurtful, and prejuall other executors of the same, stand ac- dicial, as well to the crown as to the laws cursed amongst heretics, which God forbid. and customs and state of this realm, as And yet this curse, can never be avoided whereby they must needs acknowledge (if the pope hath such power as he claim- themselves to be accursed. But none could eth) until such times as the laws and cus- open this matter well but the clergy, and toms of this realm (being contrary to his such of them as had read the pope's laws. laws) be taken away and blotted out of the whereby the pope had made himself, as it law-books. And although there be many were, a god. These seek to maintain the laws of this realm contrary to the laws of pope, whom they desired to have their Rome, yet I name but a few; as to convict chief head, to the intent they might have, a clerk before any temporal judge of this as it were, a kingdom and laws within realm for debt, felony, murder, or for any themselves, distinct from the laws of the other crime; which clerks by the pope's crown, and wherewith the crown may not laws are so exempt from the king's laws, meddle; and so being exempted from the that they can be nowhere sued, but before laws of the realm, might live in this realm their ordinary.

Also the pope by his laws may give all bishoprics and benefices spiritual; which by the laws of this realm can be given but only by the king and other patrons of the same, except they fall into lapse.

By the pope's laws, jus patronatus shall be sued only before the ecclesiastical judge; but by the laws of the realm it shall be sued before the temporal judge.

like lords and kings, without damage fear of any man, so that they please ther high and supreme head at Rome. For this consideration, (I think) some that knew the truth held their peace in the parliament whereas if they had done their duties to the crown and whole realm, they should have opened their mouths, declared the truth, and showed the perils and dangers that might ensue to the crown and realm.

And to be short, the laws of this realm And if I should agree to allow such at do agree with the pope's like fire and water, thority within this realm, whereby I must And yet the kings of this realm have pro- needs confess, that your most gracious high vided for their laws by the pramunire; ness, and also your realm, should ever com so that if any man have let the execution tinue accursed, until ye shall cease from of the laws of this realm by any authority the execution of your own laws and cus from the see of Rome, he falleth into the toms of your realm; I could not think my præmunire. self true either to your highness, or to th

But to meet with this, the popes have my natural country, knowing that I do kno provided for their laws by cursing.' For Ignorance, I know, may excuse other mes whosoever hindereth the pope's laws to but he that knoweth how prejudicial and have full course within this realm, by the injurious the power and authority which pope's power standeth accursed: so that challengeth everywhere, is to the crow the pope's power treadeth all the laws and laws and customs of this realm, and ye customs of this realm under his feet, curs will allow the same, I cannot see in ar ing all that execute them, until such time wise how he can keep his due allegianc as they do give place unto his laws. fidelity, and truth to the crown and state

But it may be said, that notwithstanding of this realm. all the pope's decrees, yet we do still exe- Another cause I alleged, why I could no cute the laws and customs of this realm. allow the authority of the pope, which Nay, not all quietly, without interruption this: That by his authority he subverts of the pope. And where we do execute not only the laws of this realm. but al them, yet we do it unjustly, if the pope's the laws of God: so that whosoever power be of force, and for the same under his authority, he suffereth them not