BOOK been, because they doubted of the title of their settlement I. by King Henry; the Bishop of the diocese, who was the Anno 1547. founder of the priory in succession, not having given his

The Lord Admiral gratifies Cheke.

consent to the translation of the said priory into a dean and chapter. Which flaw afterwards caused great trouble to this church under queen Elizabeth.

78 At Christmas I find the King's uncle, Sir Thomas Seimour, Lord Admiral, the Queen Katharin Par being at Enfield, gratified Mr. Cheke, the King's careful instructor, with a gratuity of twenty pounds, giving him also twenty more for the King, to dispose among his servants that good time. Though Cheke, knowing probably the ambitious and designing nature of the Admiral, was very loath to take his gift, but he pressed it upon him.

The King

gives 201.

The Lent following, Latimer preached before the King, to Latimer, and his Majesty, being minded to bestow some royal gift upon the preacher, sent to his said uncle for money, and for his direction what he should give him. Whereupon he sent the King forty pounds, with advice to bestow half thereof upon Latimer, and the other half as gratuities among his servants.

Treaty con

cluded with

That which was done abroad this year was the securing France; of a good understanding with the King's neighbours. Thus a treaty was entered between King Edward and King Francis of France, for taking away all occasions of strife and contention about the limits of the new conquests of Boloign and Boloignois. Which treaty was agreed, sealed, and delivered by the commissioners on both sides. And immediately after, that King died. And Henry II. his son, succeeded; who soon violated that treaty; as shall be seen hereafter.

And the
Emperor.

The King's gift this

first year.

There was also a treaty of peace, sealed Jan. ult. between King Edward and Charles V. Emperor of Rome: to whose care and friendship King Henry his father, on his deathbed, recommended his son, the said King Edward.

In this first year of the King, the courtiers got away from him a great number of fair lordships and manors, on pretence either of services, or for making good King Henry

Sales.

X.

his father's last will, or by way of purchase for dispropor- CHAP. tionable sums of money, made in consideration of former services, and in compliment of the deceased King's will. Anno 1547. These lands thus given and granted were for the most part such as had belonged to monasteries and religious foundations, or bishoprics. In this manner were these persons fol- Book of lowing gratified; Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Warwick, the Lord Rich, Marquis of Northampton, Earl of Southampton, Lord St. John, Lord Russel, Lord Clynton and Say, the Lord Seimour, Gertrude Lady Courtney, Sir William Paget, Sir William Herbert, Sir Thomas Pope, Sir John Bridges, Sir Rafe Sadleir, Sir Thomas Cawarden, Sir John Gates, Sir Richard Lee, Sir Rafe Fane, Sir Richard Mannours, Sir Thomas Palmer, Sir Francis Brian, Sir Anthony Denny, Sir Anthony Brown, Sir Philip Hoby, Knights; Thomas Denton, John Harrington, Richard Cotton, Edward Waldgrave, Tho. Paston, Henry Thompson, Ger. Harmond, Richard Cecyl, Esquires, and others. It would be too long to set down what lands and estates were passed over to each of them particularly. Which otherwise might be done.

strangers'

Canterbury.

I find divers outlandish learned and godly men this year The beginat Canterbury: among the rest there was John Utenho-ning of the vius, a person of honourable rank and quality, afterwards church at elder and assistant to John a Lasco's church in London. Here was also Valerandus Pollanus, and one Franciscus; and the year after, Bucer was here. Now, I conjecture, were the beginnings of the foreigners' church planted in Canterbury, by the countenance and influence of Arch-79 bishop Cranmer. There was a loving correspondence held between the said Utenhovius here, and P. Martyr now at Lambeth. In one of his letters wrote to him this year, he E Biblioth. Eccl. Belg. had desired Martyr to let him know the state of religion, Lond. how it stood at that time in the land; about which, in the winter of the year 1547, there being then a Parliament and a Convocation, both were mainly employed. Martyr wrote him an answer, by a letter dated Jan. 15, and superscribed Nobili Viro D. Utenhovio; "That as yet he knew nothing

.I.

BOOK "determined, but that all the most knowing men bid us be "of good heart, and give hopes that the matter will sucAnno 1547,"ceed very well. God grant, added he, that it may so "happen speedily and quietly. Reverendissimus noster et "strenuè et maxima cum laude bonorum, pugnat;" that is, "Our most reverend friend and father the Archbishop " contends for it strenuously, and with the greatest praise "of good men." And whereas Utenhovius had writ to Martyr, that they had at Canterbury conciones intra parietés, et conventus pios; i. e. "sermons and godly meet"ings within their own walls;" Martyr makes only this remark thereupon, that he doubted not, the Devil envied these beginnings.

The Coun

cil to the Archbi

shop, for taking away images.

In the year after this, viz. 1548, P. Martyr wrote another letter, dated Sept. 21, from Oxford to Utenhovius at Canterbury, with the Archbishop there, removed thither for the plague that then was in or about London. In this letter there was not much besides a friendly correspondence, and the signification that he had wrote a letter to Dr. Ponet, the Archbishop's chaplain, about the business Utenhovius had desired him. With this letter Martyr told him he had sent three French crowns in gold borrowed of him: (which, I suppose, he did upon his first coming to Canterbury after his arrival in England.) And concluded, wishing him, and all the holy brethren with him, health and welfare in the Lord.

Images in churches had been so grossly abused, and such idolatry and superstition committed by the means of them, that it was in the King's Injunctions commanded to the visitors to remove them every where, wheresoever they had been abused by pilgrimages, censings, and offerings. Which was yet not so fully done, but that still they remained in many places, there being great strife and contention about them. For the old priests were loath to part with these their figures painted and dressed: and many were desirous to retain all, how grossly soever they had been abused. In some places where they were taken down, they were set up again, after the visitors were gone away. The

X.

great pretence of those that were so tender of these images CHAP. was, that some of them had not been abused, and that such and such had not been offered unto nor censed. And such Anno 1547. stir was made about them, that tumults were likely to arise. And it was observed, where images were left, there was most contest, and most peace where they were all sheer pulled down, as they were in some places. Therefore in the month of February the Council wrote to the Archbishop, "that the lively images of Christ might not contend "for dead images, which were things not necessary, and "without which the Church of Christ continued most "godly many years." Therefore they signified to him, that it was the King's pleasure, with the consent and advice of his Council, that all images should be removed out of churches and chapels in his diocese; and that he should 80 signify the same to be done, unto all the Bishops within his province. This was dated from Somerset place, and signed by the Lord Protector, the Lord Russel, the Lord Arundel, Sir Thomas Seimour, Sir Anthony Wyngfeld, and Sir William Paget. And accordingly the Archbishop (who no question moved for it) sent a copy of this letter, with his own command thereupon, speedily issued out, to Edmund Bishop of London. I do not here transcribe the Council's letter, as it is in Cranmer's register, because it is done already in Bishop Burnet's History.

CHAP. XI.

Sundry wholesome orders of the King for religion. For the Communion. For Lent. Innovation forbid. The Book of Common Prayer drawn up: enacted. The Psalms in metre. The good progress of the Reformation. The revenues of the Church struck at.

We shall now shew some farther cares of the young King Anno 1548.

and his uncle, the Protector, for the good estate of religion,

and for keeping the heady people of both persuasions from running into exorbitances.

BOOK

talk and

ment for

bid.

There were not a few, who, towards the declining of I. this year, did, more openly and commonly than before, Anno 1548. speak of the holy Sacrament with much contempt. Which, Unseemly to speak the truth, the former idolatrous and superstitious dispute of doctrines thereof had given great occasion to: so that men the Sacra- condemned in their hearts and speech the whole thing, and reasoned unreverently of that high mystery: and in their sermons, or readings, or communication, called it by vile and unseemly terms. They made rhymes, and plays, and jests of it. And this occasioned chiefly by the misuse of it: as it is expressed in the act of Parliament of the first of Edward VI. cap. 1. Therefore was that act of Parliament made, being the very first act of this King. And to back this act, especially when these contemptuous dealings with the Sacrament continued still, and ceased not, the King sent forth a severe proclamation, December 27, against these irreverent talkers of the Sacrament. Which I believe Archbishop Cranmer and Dr. Ridley between them were the composers of. This proclamation mentions the foresaid act, calling it a good and godly act, and that it most prudently declared, by the words and terms of Scripture, what is to be believed and spoken of the said Sacrament. With which words and phrases of Scripture the King required all his subjects to acquiesce. And to put a stop to those frequent and common disputes and wranglings concerning the manner, nature, or ways, the possibility or im81 possibility of those matters, and those superfluous questions and inquiries that many made; as, "Whether the body and blood of Christ was there really or figuratively, locally or circumscriptly, and having quantity and great"ness, or but substantial and by substance only, or else but " in a figure and manner of speaking? Whether his blessed "body be there, head, legs, arms, toes, nails, or in any "other shape or manner, naked or clothed? Whether he be "broken or chewed, or he be always whole? Whether the "bread be there, as we see, or how it departeth? Whether "the flesh be there alone and the blood, or part, or each "in other, or in the one both, in the other but only blood;

66