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 "1 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

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."

2 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.

❝ 1 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.

66

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,

66

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

66

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 whole convocation-house had

1 Acts and Mon. 1449.

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.

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

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

66

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 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 of it. Whether, by the death of Henry, or some other cause, the plan in his time had been

year

1 See vol. i. p. 104.

2

2 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.

rendered abortive, is uncertain. That by the death of Edward it now was, is the frequent assertion of historical writers. Some, however, have thought that the severity of the code would never have been endured in this country, and that this is the true reason why it was laid aside. Others, 2 that in that age of licentiousness, which ill could brook restraint, some art was employed to prevent the confirmation of it. The observation of Cox, who was one of the eight commissioners chosen to finish it for publication, has been cited in aid of this opinion. Only a few days before the meeting, for the accomplishment of what had so often been talked of, and of which the substance must have been generally known, he wrote to Bullinger, at Zurich, telling him that the liturgy had been revised, " but we hate," said he, "the bitter institutions of Christian discipline;" and he therefore entreated Bullinger to exert his interest with the nobility, and other distinguished persons, in behalf of spiritual jurisdiction; considering it, no doubt, when "" aided by the civil power, as the best safeguard of a

Hallam, Constit. Hist. of Eng. 2d edit. i. 139.

4

Bullinger was much attached to England. See before, p. 223. To our Universities he sent several of his young countrymen. By our Reformers he was greatly regarded.

5 Hallam, ut supr.