Annales of England Containing the reignes of Henry the Eighth. Edward the Sixt. Queene Mary. Written in Latin by the Right Honorable and Right Reverend Father in God, Francis Lord Bishop of Hereford. Thus Englished, corrected and inlarged with the author's consent, by Morgan Godwyn.

Anno Dom. 1532. Reg. 24.

ON the three and twentieth of August died WILLIAM WARHAM Archbishop of Can∣terbury, to whom THOMAS CRANMER at that time in Germany about the Kings affaires, was ap∣pointed Successor. He was not so ambitious as to as∣pire to such a dignity; and some reasons made him vnwilling to accept it being offred. He knew before he could be consecrated he must sweare obedience to the Pope, which with a safe conscience he could not.

He feared what would be the issue of this abrupt se∣peration from the Sea of Rome. Hee knew the King's disposition to be violent, such sudaine changes to be full of danger, and the Court (although hee had not yet purchased the acquaintance of it) to be a meere schoole of fraud and dissembling. The Kings pleasure must necessarily be obeyed, and if he slipped neuer so little, enuy the mischievous attendant of great fe∣licity would helpe him forward to a breake-necke. CRANMER also having long since lost his Wife whom he had married in his youth, had taken a liking to a certaine maide neipce to OSIANDERS wife, whom he intended to make his second wife: yet hee knew that the Canon Law permitted not Priests to marry, and made them vncapable of holy Orders, who had beene twice married. These considerations made him linger in Germany six whole moneths after the dispatch of his businesle, hoping that his absence might afford meanes to some other to worke a way to the Archbi••hopricke. But the times were such, that they to whom desert might give greatest hopes of at∣taining it, did abhorre this still ••ottering and slippery dignity: and even they who were already advanced to the like, indeavoured to betake themselves to the safe∣ty of meaner fortune; As did Sir THOMAS MORE the Lord Chancellour, who by his continuall ernest petitions obtained leave of the King on the fifteene of May to resigne his place; and Sir THOMAS AWD∣LEY on the fourth of Iune was in his steed made Lord Keeper. CRANMER having privately mar∣ried his wife at Norimberg, at length returned into England, where the Kings importunity prevailing be∣yond all scrupulous difficulties, CRANMER is (though much against his will made Archbishop of Canter∣bury, the Pope also by his Bull confirming the Electi∣on. He refusing the Arbishopricke, because hee must

take an oath to the Pope, delivered the Bull to the King, protesting that hee would never accept of any Bishopricke in England, but from the King, who was Supreme Head of the Church of England; and that he would not take any oath that should any way de∣rogate from the King's Authoritie▪ At length the subtle heads of the Lawiers found out a quirke wher∣by to salue all: He must first by a praevious Protesta∣tion except against this Oath (which was to be taken pro formd) that it should not hereafter be any way preiudiciall to him. Thus ascended CRANMER to the Archiepiscopall Sea, where hee sate neere about twenty yeares, vntill Queene MARY the Daughter of repudiated CATHARINE not only thrust this most innocent, grave, learned man out of his Bishopricke, but with a barbarous cruelty condemned him to the fire, as hereafter in its place we shall declare.

For the Treatise of a more strict League betweene the two Kings of England and France, an interview is appointed betweene them. To this end on the ele∣venth of October the King with a mightie traine pas∣sed to Calais. The tenth day after going to Boloigne he was met halfe way by the French King & his Sons, and conducted to Boloigne, where the two Kings di∣vided the Abbey betweene them. HENRY staied there foure dayes, and then brought FRANCIS (in whose company were the King of Navarre, some Dukes, and Cardinals, a great number of Noblemen, and of others at least twelve hundred) to Calais. At Saint Ioquebert the Duke of Richmond (who was not at Boloigne with the King his Father) received them. Af∣ter much solemne entertainment, and the enter∣changeable favours from each King to the Princes of each others company, from HENRY to the King of Navarre (or as the French write, to MONT MOREN∣CY) and CHABOT the Admirall by the Order of

the Garter; From FRANCIS to the Dukes of Nor∣folke and Suffolke by that of Saint MICHAEL, these great Monarchs parted.

Ielousie of the Emperours still increasing power had now vnited these Princes, and their naturall dis∣positions wonderfull agreeable had made them al∣wayes prone to a mutuall love, which by this inter∣view tooke such deepe root, that even in their owne opinions they rested assured of each other. And in∣deed had they beene private persons, their friendship in all likelihood had continued inviolable. But Prin∣ces are not so much to be swayed by their owne Af∣fections, as the consideration of the publique Vtilitie. The effect of this interview was an agreement to re∣presse the Turke about that time wasting Hungary, to which end they should assemble together by their ioint forces an Army of fourescore thousand men, whereof there should be ten thousand horse with ar∣tillery requisite for the said Campe: A specious pre∣text: For they both knew, that the Turke had already retreated. But in private they treated of other mat∣ters. They had both many causes of discontent. FRAN∣CIS not without cause was displeased with the Pope, and HENRY thinking it best to strike while the iron was hot, indevoured an vtter alienation betweene them. HENRY complaines first of the wrong the Court of Rome did him touching the matter of his Divorce, in the suite whereof full six yeares were now spent: and yet at length after all their deceits & moc∣keries, they seeke to force him, either to goe in per∣sen to Rome, or in a matter of so great importance to send Deputies, who should in the Kings behalfe fol∣low the suite. An insolent proceeding, and iniury without example, which did concerne the French and all other Princes of Christendome. For in like cases hapning among Soveraigne Princes, especially tou∣ching

the conscience so neere it, was the vsuall cu∣stome of other Popes to send Iudges to the place, it being reasonable that the Persons should speake per∣sonally, and not by their Attorneyes and very vnr••a∣sonable, that a Soveraigne Prince leaving the rule and governement of his Estates should go and plead his cause at Rome. Moreover hee did complaine of the intolerable exactions of the Church of Rome over the Clergy and people of England; where by the yoke, be∣fore too heavy, was now become insupportable: nei∣ther did he doubt, but the same courses were taken in France. Germany had begun the way of freedome to the rest of Christendome: why should not other Princes follow their example? To conclude hee did instantly require, that they two should send their Embassadours iointly together to the Pope to sum∣mon him to appeare at the next generall Councell, there to answere his extortions, and by the authority and iudgement of the Councell to force him to a re∣information: affirming, that there was no Nation in Christendome, which did not desire, ••hat the in••olen∣cies of the Romanists should be repressed. ••o this the French answered, that hee acknowledged these things to be true, but it was not in his power to yeild to the Kings request, yet for the b••o••herly love which hee did beare vnto him, and the chari••able reguard of his owne Country, he professed himselfe ready to vnder∣go all difficulties. Hee wanted not sufficient iniuries whereof to complaine, considering that he having so well deserved of the Apostolique Sea▪ but more espe∣cially of this Pope, yet he certainly found, that CLE∣MENI, all this notwithstanding, was not well affe∣cted towards him. CLEMENT had very lately suf∣fered his reputation to be violated in his presence, and by the Bishop of Ʋerulo had secretly endevoured to alienate the Suisses his allies from him. France

groaned vnder the burthen of the new and vndutifull exactions of the Popes Officers, by meanes whereof all the treasure was carried out of the Kingdome, to the preiudice of his subiects (the Clergy especially) who grew poore, the Churches were vnrepaired, and the poore neither clothed nor fed: and if he himselfe levied any great summe of money, the tributes are longer comming in then vsually they were wont. But he thought it best, before they proceeded to that harsh course, to vse some milder meanes, whereto there was a faire occasion offred, the Pope having by the Cardinall of Grandmont made him a promise of an interview at Nice or Avtgnon: where if hee could not obtaine reason of him in the behalfe of both, hee would indevour to prevaile by force where he could not by iust intreaties: In the meane time he desired him to attend the issue of their parley.

But FRANCIS concealed the true cause of this intended interview for feare least our HENRY not approving it, should seeke to dissuade him from it. The French was implacable towards the Emperour, against whom to strengthen himselfe, hee meanes to win the Pope by the marriage of his younger Sonne HENRY Duke of Orleans (who after raigned) with CATHARINE de MEDICES Duchesse of Vrbin the Popes Niece. The Pope could not at first believe this potent Prince intended him so much honour: but perceiving the French to be reall, he most eagerly far∣thered it, appointing time and place for the consum∣mation of it, which was after done at Marseilles by CLEMENT himselfe in the presence of the French King.

Notes

• The death of William Warham Archbishop of Canter∣bury. Cranmer (though much a∣gainst his will) succee∣doth him.
• Sir Thomas More re∣signes the place of Lord▪ Chan∣ce••lour.
• An enter∣view be∣tweene the Kings of England and France.
• Catharina de Medices married to the Duke of Orleans.