an assumption, which archbishop Parker would hardly have allowed, if they had not possessed the authority which their title records. But this authority has been rendered questionable by what Foxe relates of Cranmer in his disputation at Oxford, when a prisoner, with Dr. Weston.

"1 Weston. You have set forth a Catechism in the name of the synod of London, and yet there be fifty, which, witnessing that they were of the number of the convocation, never heard one word of this Catechism.

"Cranmer. I was ignorant of the setting to of that title; and, as soon as I had knowledge thereof, I did not like it. Therefore when I complained thereof to the Council, it was answered me by them, that the book was so entitled, because it was set forth in the time of the convocation."

This answer elicits from Collins the remark, that "out of respect to the excellent martyr," he copies it, as" clearly shewing his honesty and integrity in the whole affair." Neal, in his History of the Puritans, also quotes it; and bishop Maddox, in answer to him, 2 considers the Catechism only, and not the Articles, as intended by the archbishop; there not being indeed annexed to the Catechism that assertion of convocational

1 Foxe, Acts and Mon. 1440.

2 Vindication of the Ch. of Eng. 1733, p. 309.

approbation which accompanied the Articles, though both were sometimes printed together, and both were sanctioned by royal authority. The Articles are, however, included under the appellation of the Catechism in Cranmer's own admission before his enemies, when he said "that he gave his advice as to the setting forth the Catechism and the Articles with it, that he compelled none of the clergy to subscribe them, but that many in the province of Canterbury had voluntarily subscribed." At this final and elaborate examination of him, no charge is adduced of a false statement in the title of the Articles by any of the witnesses against him; one of whom, when Ridley at Oxford disputed immediately after Cranmer, appears at once to allow the synodical authority so repeatedly assumed for the Articles, whose words Foxe has recorded without any remark, notwithstanding what he had just before related, as seeming to impugn that authority. 2 Ward, the opponent to Ridley, was the bitter and ungenerous enemy of Cranmer; but he brings

1 Process. Lambeth MSS. No. 1136. "Quod attinet ad Catechismum, &c." See before, p. 62, note 2. Dr. Smith, one of the witnesses against Cranmer, describes the union of the Catechism and Articles thus, "Quod attinet ad Catechismum et Articulos annexos, &c."

* See what is said of him in the present vol. p. 47, note 2, and p. 61, note 3.

no accusation against him, as Weston is said to have done, on the present point. He thus addresses Ridley also without such censure.

"Ward. You, being brought into the briars, seemed to doubt of Christ's presence on the earth: to the proof of which matter I will bring nothing else than that which was agreed upon in the Catechism of the synod of London, set out not long ago by you.

Ridley. Sir, I give you to wit, before you go any further, that I did set out no Catechism. "Weston. Yes, you made me subscribe to it, when you were a bishop in your ruff,

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Ridley. I compelled no man to subscribe. "Ward. Yes, by the rood, you are the very author of that heresy.

Ridley. I put forth no Catechism.

"Cole. Did you never consent to the setting out of those things which you allowed?

"Ridley. I grant that I saw the book; but I deny that I wrote it. I perused it after it was made, and I noted many things for it so I consented to the book: I was not the author of it.

"The Judges. The Catechism is so set forth, as though the 2 whole convocation-house had

I Acts and Mon. 1449.

2 The Articles certainly have not the title worded in such terms of extent and comprehension, as these judges pretend. They profess only to have been agreed upon in the synod by the bishops and certain other learned men; whence it seems pro

324 THE LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP CRANMER.

agreed to it. Cranmer said yesterday that you made it.

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Ridley. I think surely that he would not say so.

"Ward. The Catechism hath this clause: Si visibiliter, et in terra, etc.

"Ridley. I answer, that those Articles were set out, I both willing and consenting to them. Mine own hand will testify the same; and M. Cranmer put his hand to them likewise, and gave them to others afterwards."

Whatever, lastly, may be thought of the synodical authority of these our first Articles, it cannot be denied, that to almost every decision or regulation of Cranmer, to his learning, his zeal, and his discretion, it is still that unfeigned assent is the indispensable condition of qualifying for their ministry, and their preferment, the clergy of the Church of England.

bable, as I have observed, that the Articles might be passed by a committee. See before, p. 290, and Collier, ii. 325. Strype, Ecc. Mem. ii. 368.

CHAPTER XIII.

1552 to 1553.

The Reformation of Ecclesiastical Laws.

THE Liturgy was under revision, and the Articles were in preparation, when the attention of Cranmer was also again employed upon the design of establishing a code of canon law, which appears to have been 'first proposed, immediately after the abolition of the papal power in this country. Towards the close of Henry's days a a 2 scheme of it was drawn up. In the present reign, the subject had been revived at the beginning of it, and the promulgation of the code was expected in the last year of it. Whether, by the death of Henry, or some other cause, the plan in his time had been

1 See vol. i. P. 104.

> The book itself was required to be seen by Henry, and Cranmer promised it should be immediately sent. See before, vol. i. pp. 359, 360. See also Strype's Life of Cranmer. B.. i. ch. 30.