Memorials of the Most Reverend Father in God, Thomas Cranmer sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury wherein the history of the Church, and the reformation of it, during the primacy of the said archbishop, are greatly illustrated : and many singular matters relating thereunto : now first published in three books : collected chiefly from records, registers, authentick letters, and other original manuscripts / by John Strype ...

CHAP. XXI. He Recants, Repents, and is burnt.

HAving brought the Arch-bishop unto his Degradation and Ap∣peal, wherein he shewed so much Christian Courage,* 1.1 Wisdom and Fortitude, I must now represent him making a great Trip and a sad Fall; and mention one of the greatest Blemishes of his Life. For now the Popish Party, thinking what a piece of Glory it would be, to gain this great Man to their Church, used all Means, all Arts, as well as Arguments, to bring him to recant. They set the Doctors of the University upon him. He was entertained at the Dean of Christs-Church his Lodging: There they treated him with good Fare. They got him to Bowls with them. They let him have his Pleasure in taking the Air. Sometimes they accosted him with Arguments and Disputations: Sometimes by Flatteries, Promises and Threat∣nings. They told him,

The Noble-men bare him good Will: that his Return would be highly acceptable to the King and Queen. That he should enjoy his former Dignity in the Church; or if it liked him better, he should lead a quiet Life in more privacy▪ And that it was but setting his Name in two Words in a piece of Paper. They told him, the Queen was resolved to have Cranmer a Catholick, or no Cranmer at all. That he was still lusty and strong, and might live many a Year more, if he would not wil∣lingly cut off his own Life by the terrible Death of Burning.

He rejected these Temptations a long while, but at last was overcome and yielded. The Recantation I shall not repeat, it being to be seen at large in Fox. It was signed by his Hand. The Witnesses there∣unto were two or three, who had been exceedingly busy in tam∣pering with him: One Sydal, (a great Professor in the last Reign) and Iohn and Richard two Spanish Friars.

The Doctors and Prelats caused this Recantation speedily to be printed and dispersed. When the Queen saw his Subscription,* 1.2 she was glad of it, but would not alter her Determination to have him burned, by the instigation, as I suppose, of Pole the Legat. The Writ for which was sent down by Hethe, Lord Chancellor, in the latter end of February, under the Broad Seal. It was charged upon his Converters, that they were negligent in procuring his Life from the Queen: But the true Reason was, the Queen was resolved not to grant it. She privately gave Instruction to Cole, to prepare a Sermon to preach at his Burning: And several Lords, and other Ju∣stices of the Peace in those Parts, were ordered to attend there, with their Servants and Retinue, to keep Peace, and to see him Executed. Cole coming with his Errand to Oxon, visited him in the Prison, and asked him if he stood firm to what he had subscribed? This was the Day before his Execution, but saying nothing to him of his deter∣mined Death. The next Day, being the Day he was to be bur∣ned, viz. March 21. he came again, and asked him if he had any Money? And having none, he gave him certain Crowns to bestow to what Poor he would; and so departed, exhorting him to Con-Constancy.

But the disconsolate Arch-bishop perceived to what this tended: and being by and by to be brought to S. Mary's, (where Cole was to preach) there openly to confess what he had more privately subscribed, he resolved with himself to disburden his Conscience, and to revoke his Recantation. And he prepared a Prayer, and a Declaration of his Faith, which he drew up in writing, and carried it privately along with him, to make use of it when he saw his Oc∣casion. The manner how he behaved himself after Cole's Sermon, and how he delivered his last Mind, and with what Bitterness and Tears he did it; and how he was pulled down by the Scholars, Priests and Friars, with the greatest Indignation at this their Disappointment; and how he was led out of the Church forthwith to the Place of Burning, over against Baliol College: and how he there first put his right Hand into the Flames to be consumed, for that base Subscription that it made; and how his Heart was found whole and unconsumed in the Ashes, after he was burnt; These, and the rest of the Particulars of his Martyrdom, I might leave to Fox, and other Historians from him, to relate.

Yet because it is not convenient so briefly to pass over such a re∣markable Scene of his Life,* 1.3 being his last appearance upon the Stage of this World, I shall represent it in the Words of a certain grave Person unknown, but a Papist, who was an Eye and Ear-Witness, and related these Matters, as it seems, very justly, in a Letter from Oxon to his Friend. Which is as followeth.

But that I know for our great Friendship, and long-continued Love,* 1.4 you look even of Duty, that I should signify to you of the Truth of such things as here chanceth among us: I would not at this time have written to you the unfortunate End, and doubtful Tragedy of T. C. late Bishop of Canterbury: Because I little plea∣sure take in beholding of such heavy Sights. And when they are once overpassed, I like not to reherse them again; being but a re∣newing of my Wo, and doubling my Grief. For although his former Life, and wretched End, deserves a greater Misery (if any greater might have chanced, than chanced unto him) yet set∣ting aside his Offences to God and his Country, and beholding the Man without his Faults, I think there was none that pitied not his Case, and bewailed his Fortune, and feared not his own Chance, to see so noble a Prelat, so grave a Counsellor, of so long-continued Honour, after so many Dignities, in his old Years to be deprived of his Estate, adjudged to die, and in so painful a Death to end his Life. I have no delight to increase it. Alas, it is too much of it self, that ever so heavy a Case should betide to Man, and Man to deserve it.

But to come to the matter: On Saturday last, being the 21th of March was his Day appointed to die.* 1.5 And because the Mor∣ning was much Rainy, the Sermon appointed by Mr. Dr. Cole to be made at the Stake, was made in S. Mary's Church. Whither Dr. Cranmer was brought by the Mayor and Aldermen, and my Lord Williams. With whom came divers Gentlemen of the Shire, Sir T. A Bridges, Sir Iohn Browne, and others. Where was prepa∣red,

over against the Pulpit, an high Place for him, that all the People might see him. And when he had ascended it, he kneeled down and prayed, weeping tenderly: which moved a great num∣ber to Tears, that had conceived an assured hope of his Conversion and Repentance.

Then Mr. Cole began his Sermon. The sum whereof was this.* 1.6 First, He declared Causes, why it was expedient, that he should suffer, notwithstanding his Reconciliation. The chief are these. One was, for that he had been a great cause of all this Alteration in this Realm of England. And when the Matter of the Divorce, between King Henry VIII. and Queen Katharine, was commenced in the Court of Rome, he having nothing to do with it, set upon it, as Judg, which was the entry to all the Inconveniences that fol∣lowed. Yet in that he excused him, that he thought he did it not of Malice, but by the Perswasions and Advice of certain Learned Men. Another was, that he had been the great setter forth of all this Heresy received into the Church in this last Time; had written in it, had disputed, had continued it, even to the last Hour: and that it had never been seen in this Realm, (but in the time of Schism) that any Man continuing so long, hath been par∣doned: and that it was not to be remitted for Ensamples-sake. Other Causes he alledged, but these were the chief, why it was not thought good to pardon him. Other Causes beside, he said, moved the Queen, and the Council thereto, which were not meet and convenient for every one to understand them.

The second Part touched the Audience, how they should con∣sider this thing: That they should hereby take example to fear God: and that there was no Power against the Lord: having be∣fore their Eyes a Man of so high Degree, sometime one of the chiefest Prelates of the Church, an Arch-bishop, the chief of the Council, the second Peer in the Realm of long time: a Man, as might be thought, in greatest assurance, a King of his side; not∣withstanding all his Authority and Defence to be debased from an high Estate to a low Degree; of a Counsellor to be a Caitiff; and to be set in so wretched Estate, that the poorest Wretch would not change Conditions with him.

The last and End appertained unto him.* 1.7 Whom he comforted and encouraged to take his Death well, by many places of Scripture. And with these, and such, bidding him nothing mistrust but he should incontinently receive that the Thief did: To whom Christ said, Hodiè mecum eris in Paradiso. And out of S. Paul armed him against the Terrors of the Fire, by this; Dominus fidelis est: Non sinet nos tentari ultra quam ferre potestis: By the Example of the three Children; to whom God made the Flame seem like a plea∣sant Dew. He added hereunto the Rejoicing of S. Andrew in his Cross; the Patience of S. Laurence on the Fire: Ascertaining him, that God, if he called on him, and to such as die in his Faith, either will abate the fury of the Flame, or give him Strength to abide it. He glorified God much in his Conversion; because it appeared to be only his Work: Declaring what Travel and Con∣ference had been used with him to convert him, and all prevailed

not, till it pleased God of his Mercy to reclaim him, and call him Home. In discouring of which place, he much commended Cran∣mer, and qualified his former Doing.

And I had almost forgotten to tell you, that Mr. Cole promised him, that he should be prayed for in every Church in Oxford, and should have Mass and Dirige Sung for him; and spake to all the Priests present to say Mass for his Soul.

When he had ended his Sermon, he desired all the People to pray for him:* 1.8 Mr. Cranmer kneeling down with them, and pray∣ing for himself. I think there was never such a number so earnest∣ly praying together. For they, that hated him before, now loved him for his Conversion, and hope of Continuance. They that loved him before could not sodenly hate him, having hope of his Confession again of his Fall. So Love and Hope encreased Devo∣tion on every side.

* 1.9I shall not need, for the time of Sermon, to describe his Behavi∣our, his Sorrowful Countenance, his heavy Chear, his Face be∣dewed with Tears; sometime lifting his Eyes to Heaven in Hope, sometime casting them down to the Earth for Shame; To be brief, an Image of Sorrow: the Dolor of his Heart bursting out at his Eyes in plenty of Tears: Retaining ever a quiet and grave Behaviour. Which encreased the Pity in Mens Hearts, that they unfeignedly loved him, hoping it had been his Repentance for his Transgression and Error. I shall not need, I say, to point it out unto you; you can much better imagine it your self.

* 1.10When Praying was done, he stood up, and having leave to speak, said, Good People, I had intended indeed to desire you to pray for me; which because Mr. Doctor hath desired, and you have done already, I thank you most heartily for it. And now will I pray for my self, as I could best devise for mine own com∣fort, and say the Prayer, word for word, as I have here written it. And he read it standing: and after kneeled down, and said the Lord's Prayer; and all the People on their Knees devoutly praying with him.

His Prayer was thus:

* 2.1O Father of Heaven; O Son of God, Redeemer of the World; O Holy Ghost, proceeding from them both, Three Persons and one God, have Mercy upon me most wretched Caitiff, and miserable Sinner. I who have offended both Heaven and Earth, and more grievously than any Tongue can express, whither then may I go, or whither should I fly for succor? To Heaven I may be ashamed to lift up mine Eyes; and in Earth I find no refuge. What shall I then do? shall I despair? God forbid. O good God, thou art Merciful, and refusest none that come unto thee for Suc∣cour. To thee therefore do I run. To thee do I humble my self: saying, O Lord God, my Sins be great, but yet have Mercy upon me for thy great Mercy. O God the Son, thou wast not made Man, this great Mystery was not wrought, for few or small Of∣fences. Nor thou didst not give thy Son unto Death, O God the Father, for our little and small Sins only, but for all the greatest Sins of the World: so that the Sinner return unto thee with a pe∣nitent

Heart; as I do here at this present. Wherefore have Mer∣cy upon me, O Lord, whose Property is always to have Mercy. For although my Sins be great, yet thy Mercy is greater. I crave nothing, O Lord, for mine own Merits, but for thy Name's Sake, that it may be glorified thereby: and for thy dear Son Jesus Christ's Sake. And now therefore, Our Father, which art in Heaven, &c.

Then rising, he said, Every Man desireth, good People,* 2.2 at the time of their Deaths, to give some good Exhortation, that other may remember after their Deaths, and be the better thereby. So I beseech God grant me Grace, that I may speak something at this my departing, whereby God may be glorified, and you edified.

First, It is an heavy case to see, that many Folks be so much doted upon the Love of this false World, and so careful for it, that or the Love of God, or the Love of the World to come, they seem to care very little or nothing therefore. This shall be my first Ex∣hortation. That you set not over-much by this false glosing World, but upon God and the World to come. And learn to know what this Lesson meaneth, which S. Iohn teacheth, That the Love of this World is Hatred against God.

The Second Exhortation is, That next unto God, you obey your King and Queen, willingly and gladly, without murmur or grudg∣ing: And not for fear of them only, but much more for the Fear of God: Knowing, that they be God's Ministers, appointed by God to Rule and Govern you. And therefore whoso resisteth them, resisteth God's Ordinance.

The third Exhortation is, That you Love all together like Bre∣thren, and Sistern. For alas! pity it is to see, what Contention and Hatred one Christian-Man hath to another: Not taking each other, as Sisters and Brothers; but rather as Strangers and mortal Enemies. But I pray you learn and bear well away this one Les∣son, To do good to all Men as much as in you lieth, and to hurt no Man, no more than you would hurt your own natural and lo∣ving Brother or Sister. For this you may be sure of, that whoso∣ever hateth any Person, and goeth about maliciously to hinder or hurt him, surely, and without all doubt, God is not with that Man, although he think himself never so much in God's Favour.

The fourth Exhortation shall be to them that have great Sub∣stance and Riches of this World, That they will well consider and weigh those Sayings of the Scripture.* 2.3 One is of our Saviour Christ himself, who saith, It is hard for a Rich Man to enter into Heaven: A sore saying, and yet spoke by him, that knew the Truth. The second is of S. Iohn, whose saying is this, He that hath the Substance of this World, and seeth his Brother in Necessity, and shutteth up his Mercy from him, how can he say, he loveth God? Much more might I speak of every part; but Time sufficeth not. I do but put you in remembrance of things. Let all them that be Rich, ponder well those Sentences: For if ever they had any Occasion to shew their Charity, they have now at this present,

the poor People being so many, and Victuals so dear. For though I have been long in Prison, yet I have heard of the great Penury of the Poor. Consider, that that which is given to the Poor, is given to God. Whom we have not otherwise present corporally with us, but in the Poor.

And now for so much as I am come to the last End of my Life, whereupon hangeth all my Life passed, and my Life to come, either to live with my Saviour Christ in Heaven, in Joy, or else to be in Pain ever with wicked Devils in Hell; and I see before mine Eyes presently either Heaven ready to receive me, or Hell ready to swallow me up; I shall therefore declare unto you my very Faith, how I believe, without Colour or Dissimulation. For now is no time to dissemble, whatsoever I have written in Times past.

First, I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, &c. and every Article of the Catholick Faith, every Word and Sentence taught by our Saviour Christ, his Apostles and Prophets, in the Old and New Testament.

* 2.4And now I come to the great Thing that troubleth my Consci∣ence more than any other thing that ever I said or did in my Life: and that is, the setting abroad of Writings contrary to the Truth. Which here now I renounce, and refuse, as things written with my Hand, contrary to the Truth, which I thought in my Heart, and writ for fear of Death, and to save my Life, if it might be: and that is, all such Bills, which I have written or signed with mine own Hand, since my Degradation: wherein I have written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my Hand offended in writing contrary to my Heart, therefore my Hand shall first be punished. For if I may come to the Fire, it shall be first burned. And as for the Pope, I refuse him, as Christ's Enemy and Antichrist, with all his false Doctrine.

And here being admonished of his Recantation, and Dissem∣bling, he said, Alas, my Lord, I have been a Man, that all my Life loved Plainness, and never dissembled till now against the Truth; which I am most sorry for. He added hereunto, That for the Sacrament, he believed as he had taught in his Book against the Bishop of Winchester. And here he was suffered to speak no more.

* 2.5So that his Speech contained chiefly three points, Love to God, Love to the King, and Love to the Neighbour. In the which talk he held Men very suspense, which all depended upon the Con∣clusion. Where he so far deceived all Mens Expectations, that at the hearing thereat, they were much amazed; and let him go on a while, till my Lord Williams bad him play the Christen Man, and remember himself. To whom he answered, That he so did: For now he spake Truth.

* 2.6Then he was carried away; and a great number, that did Run to see him go so wickedly to his Death, ran after him, exhorting him, while Time was, to remember himself. And one Friar Iohn, a godly and well-learned Man, all the way travelled with him to reduce him. But it would not be. What they said in particular I

cannot tell, but the Effect appeared in the End. For at the Stake he professed, that he died in all such Opinions as he had taught, and oft repented him of his Recantation.

Coming to the Stake with a chearful Countenance,* 2.7 and willing Mind, he put off his Garments with haste, and stood upright in his Shirt: And a Batcheler of Divinity, named Elye, of Brazen-nose-College, laboured to convert him to his former Recantation, with the two Spanish Friars. But when the Friars saw his Constan∣cy, they said in Latin one to another, Let us go from him; We ought not to be nigh him: For the Devil is with him. But the Batcheler in Divinity was more earnest with him. Unto whom he answered, That as concerning his Recantation, he repented it right sore, because he knew it was against the Truth; with other words more. Whereupon the Lord Williams cryed, Make short, Make short. Then the Bishop took certain of his Friends by the Hand. But the Bachelor of Divinity refused to take him by the Hand, and blamed all others that so did, and said, He was sorry that ever he came in his Company. And yet again he required him to agree to his former Recantation. And the Bishop answered, (shewing his Hand) This is the Hand that wrote it, and there∣fore shall it suffer first Punishment.

Fire being now put to him, he stretched out his right Hand,* 2.8 and thrust it into the Flame, and held it there a good space, before the Fire came to any other Part of his Body; where his Hand was seen of every Man sensibly burning, crying with a loud Voice, This Hand hath offended. As soon as the Fire got up, he was very soon Dead, never stirring or crying all the while.

His Patience in the Torment, his Courage in dying, if it had been taken either for the Glory of God, the Wealth of his Country, or the Testimony of Truth, as it was for a pernicious Error, and subversion of true Religion, I could worthily have commended the Example, and matched it with the Fame of any Father of antient Time: but seeing that not the Death, but the Cause and Quarrel thereof, commendeth the Sufferer, I cannot but much dispraise his obstinate stubbornness and sturdiness in dying, and specially in so evil a Cause. Surely his Death much grieved every Man; but not after one sort. Some pitied to see his Body so tormented with the Fire raging upon the silly Carcass, that counted not of the Folly. Other that passed not much of the Body, lamented to see him spill his Soul, wretchedly, without Redemption, to be plagued for ever. His Friends sorrowed for Love: his Enemies for Pity: Strangers for a common kind of Humanity, whereby we are bound one to another. Thus I have enforced my self, for your sake, to discourse this heavy Narration, contrary to my Mind: and being more than half weary, I make a short End, wishing you a quieter Life, with less Honour; and easier Death, with more Praise. The 23d of March.

Yours I. A.

All this is the Testimony of an Adversary, and therefore we must allow for some of his Words; but may be the more certain of the Arch-bishop's brave Courage, Constancy, Patience, Christian and Holy Behaviour, being related by one so affected.

* 2.9In regard of this Holy Prelat's Life taken away by Martyrdom, I cannot but take notice here of two t••••ngs, as tho God had given him some intimation thereof long before it happened. The one is, that whereas his paternal Coat of Arms was three Cranes, (alluding to his Name) K. Henry appointed him to bear in the room thereof three Pelicans, feeding their Young with their own Blood. The like Coat of Arms, or much resembling it, I find several of Q. Elizabeth's first Bishops took, whether to imitate Cranmer, or to signify their Zeal to the Gospel, and their readiness to suffer for it, I do not determine. The other Remark I make is, what his Friend Andreas Osiander in an Epistle to him in the Year 1537,* 2.10 told him: Which was, that he had Animum vel Martyrio parem; A Mind fit, or ready, for Martyrdom. And so took occasion to exhort him at large, to bear the Afflictions that were to attend him: as though God had inspired that great German Divine with a prophetick Spirit, to acquaint this his faithful Servant by what Death he should glorify God, and what Sufferings he must undergo for his sake. He urged him,

To contemn all Dangers in asserting and preserving the sincere Doctrine of Christ, since as S. Paul testified, That all that would live godly in Christ Iesus, must suffer Persecution. How much, said he, ought we to reckon, that you are to receive the various Assaults of Satan, see∣ing you are thus good for the Good of many. But, Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito. Yield not to these Evils, but go on the more boldly. And seeing you must bear Adversity, remember that we are baptized into the Death of Christ, and buried together with him, that we may be once made partakers of his Resurrection and eternal Happiness.

* 2.11I do not find, who were the Queen's great Instigators (now Win∣chester was dead) stirring her up not to spare this Prelat, but by any means to put him to Death, and that even after his Subscription; nor for what Reason of State this Resolution was taken at Court, notwithstanding his former good Merits towards the Queen, who therefore certainly must have felt great Strugglings before She could yield to have him die. But I am apt to suspect the Cardinal (who now governed the Queen) had no small Hand in it, to shew his Zeal for the Papacy, and to revenge the Injuries done it in K. Henry's Reign, as well as to succeed in his Place. For his Latin Letter to the Arch-bishop mentioned above, savoured of a great deal of Malice and mortal Hatred towards him. In this Letter it appears the Car∣dinal looked upon our Arch-bishop as a mere Infidel and Apostate from Christianity, and so to be treated. For in the very beginning he makes it a Matter of Conscience to write to him,

It being in effect as much as receiving him into his House: Against which S. Iohn gave a charge, speaking of Christians turned Heathens, That they should not be received into our Houses,* 2.12 nor bid God speed. And therefore, he wrote, he was once in his Mind not to speak

at all to him, but to God rather concerning him, to send Fire from Heaven and consume him. And asketh the Question [as though it could not be reasonably gain-said] whether he should not do justly in this Imprecation upon him, who had before cast out the King out of the House of God, that is, the Church. He meant, as he explained himself, casting him out, as Satan cast out Man from Paradise; not by force, but by deceivable Counsels. That him the Arch-bishop had followed, and by his impious Advice forced the King to disjoin himself from the Communion of the Church, and his Country together with himself; And wickedly betrayed the Church, the Mother of us all; to the opposing whereof, he gave Satan all advantages, to the destruction as well of Souls as Bodies. That he was the worst of all others. For they, being beset on all sides with divers Temptations, a great while resisted, and at last indeed gave way; But he, the Arch-bi∣shop, of his own free accord, walked in the Counsel of the Un∣godly; and not only so, but stood in it, and in the Way of Sin∣ners, and confirmed the King therein: And moreover sat in the Seat of the Scornful. That when he came first to the Episcopal Chair, he was called to it to cheat both God and Man: and that he began his Actions with putting a Cheat upon the King, and to∣gether with him upon the Church, and his Country.

This and a great deal more to the same purpose he tells the Arch-bishop plainly and expresly, though under a shew of great Sanctity. Which shews with what an implacable Mind he stood affected towards him.

And thus we have brought this excellent Prelate unto his End,* 2.13 after two Years and an half's hard Imprisonment. His Body was not carried to the Grave in State, nor buried, as many of his Prede∣cessors were, in his own Cathedral Church, nor enclosed in a Mo∣nument of Marble or Touchstone. Nor had he any Inscription to set forth his Praises to Posterity: No Shrine to be visited by devout Pil∣grims, as his Predecessors S. Dunstane, and S. Thomas had. Shall we therefore say, as the Poet doth;

Marmoreo Licinus tumulo jacet, at Cato parvo, Pompeius nullo. Quis putet esse Deos?

No; we are better Christians, I trust, than so, who are taught▪ That the Rewards of God's Elect are not Temporal, but Eternal. And Cranmer's Martyrdom is his Monument, and his Name will out∣last an Epitaph, or a Shrine. But methinks it is pity, that his Heart, that remained found in the Fire,* 2.14 and was sound unconsumed in his Ashes, was not preserved in some Urn. Which when the better Times of Q. Elizabeth came, might, in Memory of this truly great and good Thomas of Canterbury, have been placed among his Predecessors in his Church there, as one of the truest Glories of that See.

Though these three Martyrs, Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer,* 2.15 were parted asunder, and placed in separate Lodgings that they might not confer together; yet they were suffered sometimes to eat together in the Prison of Bocardo. I have seen a Book of their Diet every

Dinner and Supper, and the Charge thereof. Which was at the Ex∣pence of Winkle and Wells, Bailiffs of the City at that time; un∣der whose Custody they were.* 2.16 As for example in this Method:

The first of October Dinner.

Bread and Ale

ii d.

Item, Oisters

i d.

Item, Butter

ii d.

Item, Eggs

ii d.

Item, Lyng

viii d.

Item, A piece of fresh Salmon

x d.

Wine

iii d.

Cheese and Pears

ii d.

 

ii s. vi d.

From this Book of their Expences, give me leave to make these few Observations. They ate constantly Suppers as well as Dinners. Their Meals amounted to about three or four Shillings; seldom ex∣ceeding four. Their Bread and Ale commonly came to two pence or three pence. They had constantly Cheese and Pears for their last Dish, both at Dinner and Supper; and always Wine; the price whereof was ever three Pence, and no more. The Prizes of their Provisions (it being now an extraordinary dear time) were as follow. A Goose 14 d. A Pig 12 or 13 d. A Cony 6 d. A Woodcock 3 d. and some∣times 5 d. A couple of Chickens 6 d. Three Plovers 10 d. Half a dozen Larks 3 d. A dozen of Larks and two Plovers, 10 d. A Brest of Veal 11 d. A Shoulder of Mutton 10 d. Rost Beef 12 d.

The last Disbursements (which have Melancholy in the reading) were these.

	s.	d.
For three Loads of Wood-Fagots to burn Ridley and Latimer,	12	0
Item, One Load of Furs-Fagots,	3	4
For the carriage of these four Loads.	2	0
Item, A Post	1	4
Item, Two Chains	3	4
Item, Two Staples	0	6
Item, Four Labourers	2	8

Then follow the Charges for burning Cranmer.

	s.	d.
For an 100 of Wood-Fagots	06	0
For an 100 and half of Furs-Fagots.	03	4
For the carriage of them	0	8
To two Labourers	1	4

* 2.17It seems the Superiors in those Days were more zealous to send these three good Men to Oxon, and there to serve their Ends upon them, and afterwards to burn them, than they were careful honestly to pay the Charges thereof. For Winkle and Wells, notwithstand∣ing all their Endeavours to get themselves reimbursed of what they had laid out, which came to sixty three Pounds, ten Shillings and two Pence, could never get but twenty Pounds. Which

they received by the means of Sir William Petre, Secretary of State. In so much that in the Year 1566, they put up a Petition to Arch-bishop Parker and the other Bishops; That they would among themselves raise and repay that Sum, which the said Bailiffs were out of Purse in feeding of these three Reverend Fathers. In which Petition they set forth,

That in the second and third Years of King Philip and Queen Mary, Arch-bishop Cranmer, Bishop Latimer, and Bishop Ridley, were by order of Council committed to the Custody of them, and so continued a certain Time; and for them they disbursed the Sum of 63 l. 10 s. 2 d. Whereof but 20 l. was paid to them. Therefore they pray his Grace, and the rest of the Bishops, to be a means among themselves, that the remaining Sum may be paid to them, being 43 l. 10 s. 2 d. Or some part thereof. Otherwise they, and their poor Wives and Children should be utterly undone.

And to give the better coun∣tenance to these Men, that were going to carry up their Petition, Laurence Humfrey, President of Magdalen College, and the Queen's Professor, wrote this Letter on their behalf to Arch-bishop Parker.

IEH.

MY humble Commendations presupposed in the Lord.* 3.1 To be a Suitor in another Man's Case, it seemeth Boldness; and in a Matter of Money, to write to your Grace, is more than Sauciness: Yet Charity, Operiens multitudinem peccatorum,* 3.2 doth move me, and will perswade you to hear him. A Debt is due unto him for the Table of Mr. Dr. Cranmer, by the Queen's Ma∣jesties Appointment. And Mr. Secretary in Oxford, wished him at that time of Business in Progress, to make some Motion to the Bishops for some Relief. The Case is miserable. The Debt is just. His Charges in the Suit have been great. His Honesty, I assure your Grace, deserves pitiful Consideration. And for that my Lord of Sarum writeth to me, as here, in Oxford, he pro∣mised, That his part shall not be behind, what Order soever it please my Lords to take, for the dispatch of the same. I request your Grace, as Successor to that right Reverend Father, and chief Patron of such poor Suitors, to make by your good▪ Means some Collection for him, among the rest of my Lords, the Bishops; that his good Will, shewed to that worthy Martyr, may of you be considered. And so he bound to your Goodness, of his part altogether undeserved. Thus recommending the Common Cause of Reformation to you; and my self, and this poor Man to your good remembrance, I leave to trouble you. Requesting you once again to hear him, and tender his Cause even of Charity for God his Sake. To whose Protection I commend your Grace. From Oxon, November 22, Anno 1566.

Your Grace's humble Orator, Laur. Humfrey.

Though I cannot trace this any further, yet I make no doubt this Petition was favourably received with the Arch-bishop and Bishops.

It seems in Cranmer's Life-time, Money was sent to Oxford for the sustentation of these Prisoners of Christ, but embezzelled. For one W. Pantry of Oxford received forty Pounds at Mr. Stonelye's Hand, for my Lord Cranmer, and the other two in like Case. This was de∣clared by the Bailiffs, to Thomas Doyley Esquire, Steward to Arch-bishop Parker.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He Recants.
• * 1.2

  Notwithstand∣ing his Burning is ordered.
• * 1.3

  A Letter from Oxford con∣cerning Cran∣mer's Death.
• * 1.4

  Inter Foxii MSS.
• * 1.5

  Cranmer brought to S. Maries.
• * 1.6

  Cole's Sermon.
• * 1.7

  Turns his Speech to Cranmer••
• * 1.8

  After Sermon all pray for him.
• * 1.9

  His penitent behaviour.
• * 1.10

  Speaks to the Auditory.
• * 2.1

  He prayeth.
• * 2.2

  His Words be∣fore his Death.
• * 2.3

  He quoted also a third place out of Iames against cove∣tous rich Men; Weep and howl for the Miseries that shall come upon you; your Riches doth rot, your Clothes be Moth-eaten, your Gold and Silver is cankered, &c▪
• * 2.4

  Consesseth his dissembling.
• * 2.5

  His Reply to my L. Williams.
• * 2.6

  Goes to the place of his Burning.
• * 2.7

  His Talk and Behaviour at the Stake.
• * 2.8

  He burneth his right Hand.
• * 2.9

  Two Remarks upon his Mar∣tyrdom.
• * 2.10

  Ep. Dedicat. antè Harmon. Evan.
• * 2.11

  Who instiga∣ted the Queen to put him to death.
• * 2.12

  Ep. John 2.10.
• * 2.13

  No Monumen•• for him, but his Martyrdom.
• * 2.14

  His Heart un∣consumed.
• * 2.15

  The Bailiffa Expences a∣bout these three Martyrs.
• * 2.16

  MSS. C.C.C.C.
• * 2.17

  The Bailiffs not repaid.
• * 3.1

  Humfrey to ABp Parker in their behalf.
• * 3.2

  Ex Biblioth▪ C.C.C.C.