1

Christ the hanging up, I think, began of late time.

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The Order of the Communion, in March, 1547-8, now appeared with the royal proclamation, stating the consent of the lords and commons assembled in parliament, that, agreeably to Christ's holy institution, the most blessed sacrament of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ should thenceforth be commonly delivered and ministered unto all persons within our realm of England and Ireland, and other our dominions, under both kinds." The office opened with an exhortation to be read by the minister on the Sunday or holiday preceding the administration of the sacrament; and it required those, who might still make choice of auricular confession to the priest, not to censure such as thought a general confession to God sufficient, and those, who confessed only to God, not to be offended with such as applied to auricular confession. The minister, having himself received the sacrament, was directed

1

Meaning the pix, or little box, in which the consecrated host was kept, and which was then accustomed to be hung up above the altar. But see Cranmer's own remarks on this subject in his answer to the fourth article of the Devonshire rebels, which will presently be before us. Strype tells of a youth of St. John's College, Cambridge, who, about this time, was reported as an offender to the archbishop (by whom however no punishment appears to have been directed) for having secretly in hatred to the mass, cut the string by which the box was suspended. Life of Cranm. B. 2. ch. 6.

2

then to address the people in the 'form which is still retained (though not in the same part of the office) in our present communion service; after which the impenitent were entreated by him to withdraw, the penitent to draw near; and then the general confession, as it now stands, followed, together with the general absolution preceded by a declaration, which in the entire liturgy that soon was formed is omitted, of the power of the Church to absolve penitent sinners. Burnet has contradicted himself, and misled later ecclesiastical historians, in saying that the Order was received, throughout the kingdom, without any opposition. He had, just before, more correctly stated, that they who were for the old superstition were much troubled to find private confession thus left indifferent; that a general confession also of sins was to be used, with which they apprehended that most would content themselves, and that the accustomed absolution and indulgences would be laid aside; as indeed they soon were. The new office was therefore not received with general approbation. There were 'prelates too that strengthened, by their equivocal conduct in respect to it, the aversion of the Romanists; and there were some of the parochial clergy who hoped to ex

4

3

1 66

Dearly beloved in the Lord, ye that mind to come," &c. 2 Hist. Ref. Part II. B. i.

Heylin, Hist. Ref. 59. Gardiner of Winchester, Bonner of

London, Veysie of Exeter, and Sampson of Chichester.

1

cite, by their account of it, disaffection to the government. To restrain the folly of such preachers, to allow none indeed now to preach who were not licenced by the lord protector, or the archbishop, a proclamation was immediately issued.

1 Heylin, 60.

CHAPTER II.

1547 to 1548.

Proceedings of the convocation-Marriages of priests-Of divorces-Cranmer officiates at the obsequy for the French king-Directs a thanksgiving on account of the battle of Pinkey-Acts repealed-Bishops appointed by the king's letters patent-Chantries given to the king-State of the Universities-Cranmer's care of his diocese-His kindness to papists-His visitation.

THE session of the convocation in 1547 did not close without an 'address to the archbishop, requesting from him a determinate answer as to the indemnity and impunity the members might have, if they treated, in cases forbidden by the statutes of the realm to be discussed, of matters of religion. The entire repeal of the Six Articles accordingly gave them the freedom that was wished. To a proposition that all the canons and laws, which had hitherto forbidden priests to marry, or had proscribed such as were already married, should cease and be utterly void, assent was now

2

1 December 9.

2 December 17.

also immediately given by a large majority, of whom, it is curious to relate, 'many were then single, and never afterwards availed themselves of the right to wed, while several of the opponents to the propositions hastened to enter into the conjugal state. But the parliamentary concurrence in this proceeding was not obtained before February 1548-9; nor then without opposition. The preamble to the Act, however, thus justified the triumphant measure: "Great filthiness of living, with other inconveniences," it stated, "had followed on the laws that compelled chastity, and prohibited marriage; so that it was better that the clergy should be suffered to marry, than to be so restrained. Therefore all laws and canons that had been made against it, being made only by human authority, are repealed; so that all spiritual persons, of what degree soever, might lawfully marry, if they married according to the order of the Church." A proviso was added, that because many divorces of priests had been made after the Six Articles were enacted, and that consequently the women might have married again, all these divorces should be confirmed. This concession, however, was censured by the violent of the Romish party; but was defended, with great learning, in books that were written by

1

2

Strype, from Ponet's Defence of the Marriages of Priests, p. 268.

2 Burnet.