and to trayne þe kyng to their own purpose. Now what occasion this wylye Winchester founde out to worke vpon, ye shall heare in order as foloweth.
MarginaliaThe occasions which Winchester dyd worke vp.It happened the same tyme, that the Lord Cromwell for þe better establishyng of syncere religion in this Realme, deuised a mariage
Henry VIII's fourth and shortest marriage, to Anne of Cleves, remains a opaque episode. The fullest recent discussion - Retha M. Warnicke, The Marrying of Anne of Cleves (Cambridge, 2000) - provides useful detail, but the explanation of the marriage's failure which Warnicke advances has not proved persuasive. McEntegart, Henry VIII, the League of Schmalkalden and the English Reformation is invaluable on the diplomatic context. There is no serious case for believing Foxe's claim that Gardiner alienated the King from the marriage.
[Back to Top]Thus wily Winchester with his crafty fetches partly vpon this occasion aforesaid, and partly also by other pestilent persuasions crepyng into the kynges eares, ceased not to seeke all meanes how to worke his feate & to ouerthrow Religion, MarginaliaThe king brought out of credit with the doctrine of the Germayne Princes.first brynging him in hatred with the Germane Princes, thē puttyng him in feare, of þe Emperour, of þe French kyng, of þe Pope, of þe king of Scottes, & other foreine powers to rise agaynst him, MarginaliaThe wicked counsell of St. Gardiner, & other about the kyng.but especially of Ciuill tumultes and cōmotions here within this realme (which aboue all thinges hee moste dreaded) by reasō of innouatiō of religiō & dissoluing of Abbeys, and for abolishing of rites, & other customes of the Church, sticking so fast in þe mindes of þe people, þt it was to be feared, lest their hartes were or woulde bee shortly styrred vp agaynst him, vnlesse some spedye remedy were to þe contrary prouided: declaryng moreouer, what a daungerous matter in a common wealth it is to attempt new alterations of any thyng, but especially of Religion. Which beyng so, he exhorted þe king, for his own safegard and publicke quiet and tranquilitie of his Realme, to see betime howe and by what policie these so manifold mischiefes might be preuented. Agaynst whiche no other way nor shifte coulde better be deuised, then if he would shew him selfe sharpe and seuere agaynst these new Sectaries, Anabaptistes, and Sacramentaries
The pairing of Anabaptists and 'sacramentaries' (ie. those who denied the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, a group which included Reformed Protestants and most Lollards, but not Lutherans) is a typical Henrician touch: Henry VIII repeatedly bracketed these two groups together as those who profaned the two holiest Christian sacraments. The Act of Six Articles was indeed aimed principally at sacramentaries, who were then a minority amongst English evangelicals. See Ryrie, The Gospel and Henry VIII, pp. 34-6, 38-9, 138-43.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe king abused by wicked counsell.By these, and such lyke crafty suggestions, the kyng being to much seduced and abused, began to withdraw his defense from the reformation of true Religion, supposing therby to procure to him selfe more safetie both in his owne realme, and also to auoyde such daungers, whiche otherwise might happē by other Princes, especially seyng of late he had refused to come to þe generall Councel at Vincence,
Vicenza. In 1537, Pope Paul III's plan for a General Council at Mantua having failed, he translated the Council to Vicenza, intending it to open on 1 May 1538. This plan too failed, and after a series of further delays the Council finally assembled at Trent in 1545.
See 1563, pp. 527-569; 1570, pp. 1255-85.
1539.
MarginaliaThe vj. articles.In which Parlament, Synode or conuocation, certein Articles, matters, and questions, touching Religion, were decreed by certein Prelates, to þe nomber especially of. vj. comonly called the. vj. Articles (or the whyp with vj. strynges) to be had and receyued emonge the kynges subiectes, in pretense of vnitye. But what vnitye therof folowed, the groning hartes of a great number, and also the cruel death of diuers, both in the dayes of Kyng Henry, & of Queene Mary,
The mention of Mary is strictly inaccurate, for the Act was repealed in 1547 and never reenacted, but it demonstrates how the Act became a symbol of persecution of heresy more generally.
The doctrine of these wycked Articles in þe bloudye Acte conteyned, although it be worthye of no memorye amongest Christen men, but rather deserueth to bee buried in perpetuall obliuion, yet for that the office of historye compelleth vs therunto, for the more lyght of posterytye to come: faythfully, and truelye to comprise thinges done in the Church, as wel one as an other, this shalbe briefly to recapitulate the summe and effecte of the forsayd vj. Articles, in order as they were geuen out, and here vnder do folowe:
[Back to Top]The text of the articles is taken verbatim from the statute 31 Henry VIII c. 14 (Statutes of the Realm, vol. 3 (London 1817), pp. 739-40).
MarginaliaThe 1. article. Foxe notes quite correctly that this first article defends the full doctrine of transubstantiation. However, although the word itself had appeared in early drafts of the bill, it was deliberately omitted from the final Act. See Ryrie, The Gospel and Henry VIII, p. 36.
Transubstātiation.
MarginaliaThe 2. article.
The Sacrament in both kindes excluded.Secondly, that the communion in both kinds, is not necessary ad salutem, by the law of God to all persons: and that it is to be beleued and not doubted of, but that in the flesh, vnder fourme of bread, is the very bloud, and with the bloud, vnder fourme of wine, is the very flesh, as well apart, as they were both together.
MarginaliaThe third article.Thirdly, that Priests, after the order of priesthoode receued, as afore, may not mary by the lawe of God.
MarginaliaThe fourth article.Fourthly, that vowes of chastity or widowhead, by mā or woman made to God aduisedly, MarginaliaAduisedly, that is, made aboue the age of xxj. yeares, priestes onely excepted.ought to be obserued by the lawe of God: and that it exempteth them frō other liberties of Christen people, which without that, they might enioye.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe v. article.Fiftely, that it is mete and necessary, that priuate Masses bee continued and admitted in this Englishe Church and congregation, as wherby good Christen people, ordering them selfes accordingly, do receyue both godly and goodly consolations and benefites: MarginaliaBy these benefites of priuate masses, is ment, the helpyng of soules in Purgatorye.And it is agreable also to Gods lawe.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe vj. article.Sixtly, that auricular confessiō is expedient & necessarye to be reteyned, and continued, vsed and frequented in the Church of God.
After these Articles were thus concluded and consented vpō, the Prelates of the Realme craftilie perceyuyng that such a foule and violent acte coulde not take place or preuaill, vnlesse strait & bloudy penalties were set vpon them, they caused through theire accustomed