bishop of Dover, whom Cranmer, hastening to refute the charges against himself, pronounces "a false, flattering, lying monk." The archbishop with a "boldness that does honour to his courage," but, "betrays by its asperity the bitterness of his feelings," as Dr. Lingard describes it, drew up a declaration, with a view to public use, in defence of the Reformation as well as himself. And who wonders at the "bitterness of his feelings," when he is unjustly charged with restoring what had cost him the labour of many years to abolish; and when he, whom he had trusted as his own familiar friend, (for Thornden had lived with him,) had dared to give occasion for the charge. This paper Cranmer submitted first to Scory, now deprived of the bishopric of Chichester, for the advantage of his private and friendly consideration. Scory indiscreetly gave copies of it, while as yet it was considered by Cranmer incomplete. Of these, one was read in Cheapside, and others were dispersed, but without the knowledge or consent, on the contrary, to the great mortification, of the archbishop. Some of these copies were brought to the lords of the Council, by whom, when he was asked if he was the author of the declaration, he answered,1 that certainly he was; but that he was very sorry to

It has been supposed by some, that, "the intemperance of the style bespeaks the hand of Peter Martyr, rather than of Cranmer himself." Martyr, who was now resident with the

find the paper had gone from him in such a manner, as he had resolved to enlarge it in many respects, and to affix it, with his hand and seal to it, to the doors of the churches in London. As it was, the following copy has been preserved.

1

"1A Declaration of the reverend father in God, Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, condemning the untrue and slanderous report of some which have reported, that he should set up the mass at Canterbury, at the first coming of the queen to her reign, 1553.

"As the devil, Christ's ancient adversary, is a liar, and the father of lying; even so hath he stirred his servants and members to persecute Christ, and his true word and religion: which he ceaseth not to do most earnestly at this present. For whereas the most noble prince of famous memory, king Henry VIII. seeing the great abuses of the Latin masses, reformed something herein in his time; and also our late sovereign lord king Edward VI., took the same whole away for the manifold errors and abuses thereof, and restored in the place thereof Christ's Holy Supper, according to Christ's own institution, and as the apostles in the Primitive Church used the same

archbishop, at Lambeth, prompted him, most probably, to this kind of defence. But we are to remember, not only the manners of the times, but also that some of the strong terms, which here are used, are taken from the Scriptures.

1 Foxe. Burnet. Strype.

in the beginning. The devil goeth about by lying to overthrow the Lord's Holy Supper, and to restore the Latin satisfactory masses, a thing of his own invention and device. And to bring the same more easily to pass, some have abused the name of me, Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, bruiting abroad, that I have set up the mass at Canterbury, and that I offered to say mass before the queen's Highness, and at Paul's church, and I wot not where. I have been well exercised these twenty years, to suffer and bear evil reports and lies; and have not been much grieved thereat, and have borne all things quietly. Yet when untrue reports and lies turn to the hindrance of God's truth, they be in no wise to be tolerated and suffered. Wherefore these be to signify to the world, that it was not I that did set up the mass at Canterbury, but it was a false, flattering, lying, and dissembling monk which caused the mass to be set up there, without my advice or counsel.

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And as for offering myself to say mass before the queen's Highness, or in any other place, I never did, as her Grace knoweth well. But if her Grace will give me leave, I shall be ready to prove against all that will say the contrary; and that the Communion-Book, set forth by the most innocent and godly prince, king Edward VI., in his high court of parliament, is conformable to the order which our Saviour Christ did both observe and command to be observed, and which

his Apostles and Primitive Church used many years. Whereas the mass, in many things, not only hath no foundation of Christ, his Apostles, nor the Primitive Church, but also is manifestly contrary to the same; and containeth many horrible blasphemies in it. And although many, either unlearned, or maliciously, do report, that Mr. Peter Martyr is unlearned; yet if the queen's Highness will grant thereunto, I, with the said Mr. Peter Martyr, and other four or five which I shall choose, will, by God's grace, 2 take upon us to defend, that not only our Common Prayers of the churches, ministration of the sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies, but also that all the doctrine and religion, by our said sovereign lord king Edward VI., is more pure, and according to God's Word, than any that hath been used in England these thousand years; so that God's Word may be the judge, and that the reason and proofs may be set out in writing. To the intent as well all the world may examine and judge them, as that no man shall start back from their writing. And what faith hath been in the Church these fifteen hundred years, we will join with them in this point; and that the doctrine and usage is to be followed, which was in

1 See Cranmer's defence of Martyr's learning before, p. 213. * Hammond notices, with approbation, this challenge in defence of our excellent liturgy. Works, vol. i. 366.

the Church fifteen hundred years past. And we shall prove, that the Order of the Church, set out at this present in this Church of England by Act of parliament, is the same that was used in the Church fifteen hundred years past. And so shall they never be able to prove theirs."

While this manifesto was in circulation, Cranmer was summoned to appear before the queen's commissioners, and to bring with him an inventory of his goods. He had already appeared before the Council. On both occasions his share in the usurpation of the lady Jane was the 'cause. The first was at the beginning of August, when he was ordered not to depart from his palace, and to be forth-coming when called. To Cecil, who was also a partner in the usurpation, but was at liberty, he now wrote, requesting from him a visit to Lambeth, that he might converse with him upon a subject of such deep concern to his friends, as well as himself.

"After my very hearty recommendations; yesternight I heard reported, that Mr. Cheke is indicted. I pray you heartily, if you know any thing thereof, to send me knowledge, and where

1 Strype supposes that the commissioners intended now" to lay to his charge heresy and his marriage." It was too early, Henry Wharton rightly observes, to object to him either.

2 Strype, Append. No. 109.