MarginaliaAn. 1556. March.late sent to the Fleete home agayne, who vnhonestly railed of you and called you an hostler.

In deede I haue so done (sayd he agayne) for that in his absence the people of his cure wanted their diuine seruice. It is very deuout diuine seruice that he sayth, quoth þ^e lord Cromwell: It were more mete for hym to be an hostler then a Curate, who sticked not to cal you an hostler. But I thought so much what you would do,and therfore I would not tell you of his knauery when I sent hym to prison. Howbeit henceforth they shall cut your throte, before I say any thyng more to them on your behalf. Why? what would you haue done with him, quoth the Archbyshop? there was nothyng layde to his charge, other then wordes spoken agaynst me: MarginaliaThe Archbishop defendeth his enemy that before railed vpon him.and now the man is repentaunt and well reconciled, and hath bene at great charges in prison: it is tyme therfore that he were rid of his trouble. Well, sayd my Lord Cromwell, I ment þ^t he should haue preached at Paules Crosse a recātation before he had gone home. That had ben well done, quoth the other: for then you would haue had all the world aswell to wonder at me as at hym. Well, well, sayd the Lord Cromwell: we shall so long beare with these Popish knaues, that at length they will bryng vs in deede to bee wondered at of the whole world.

This example among other, serueth to declare that there remained small desire of reuengyng in the sayd Archbyshop. But what should I say more? His quietnes and mortification this way was such, that it is reported of all that knew him, that he neuer raged so far with any of his houshold seruauntes, MarginaliaThe Archb. Cranmer was neuer heard to call any of his house once varlet, or knaue.as once to call the meanest of them verlet or knaue in anger, much lesse to reproue a straunger with any reprochfull wordes: Much vnlike in this part to the propertie (as it semeth) to some other inferiour Byshops of this Realme,  

Commentary     Close

This is a pointed reference to Bishop Bonner of London whom Foxe would describe as plucking the beards of Thomas Tompkins and Thomas Whittle, burning the hand of Tompkins, and having numerous protestants beaten.

No striker, nor fighter.

No striker, nor fighter: From which kynd of vice the nature of this Archbyshop was so farre of, as was hys doctrine which he professed, and death which he suffered farre of from all condition & example of blynd Popery. After the prohibition of these foresayd vices, succedeth the mother of all good vertues necessarily required of all true Christians, but chiefly of a spirituall Prelate, which is.

Not giuen to filthy luker, but harberous.

MarginaliaNot geuen to filthy luker, but harberous.Not geuen to filthy luker, but harberous. &c. The contrary whereof was so odious vnto S. Paul, that he estemed the same no lesse then a kynde of Idolatry in that it maketh men to forget their dutie to God so farre, and in stede of him to worshyp their treasure. How litle this Prelate we speake of, was infected with this vice, and how hee was no nyggard, all kynd of people that knew him, aswell learned beyond the Seas and on this side, MarginaliaThe liberall doinges of this Archbishop.to whom yearly he gaue in exhibition no smal sūmes of money, as other, both Gētlemen, meane men, and poore men, who had in their necessitie that which he could cōueniently spare, lende, or make, cā well testifie. And albeit such was his liberalitie to all sortes of men, that no man did lacke whom he could do for, either in giuyng or lendyng: yet neuertheles such was agayne his circūspection, that when he was apprehended and committed by Q. Mary to þ^e Tower, he ought no man liuyng a peny that coulde or woulde demaūde any duty of him, but satisfied euery man to the vttermost: where els no

small summes of money were owyng to hym of diuers persons, which by breakyng their billes & obligatiōs he freely forgaue and suppressed before his attainder.: MarginaliaThe Archbishop cleering all his debtes before his attainder.In somuch that when he perceiued the fatall end of kyng Edward should worke to him no good successe touchyng his body and goodes, he incontinenly called for his Officers, his Steward & other, commaundyng them in any wise to pay where any peny was owyng, which was out of hand dispatched. And then he sayd: Now I thanke God I am myne owne man & in conscience with Gods helpe hable els to aunswere all the world and worldly aduersities, which some men supposeth he might also haue auoided if he would haue bene counselled by some of hys frendes. It followeth moreouer.

Harberous.

And as touchyng this word Harberous, whereby is ment þ^e good mayntenaunce of hospitalitie, so litle was this propertie lacking in him, that some men misliking the same, thought it rather a house of ouermuch lauishing and vnprofitable expense. But as nothyng can be so wel done, which by some or other shall not be maligned and detracted: MarginaliaThe large expenses of Doctour Cranmer.so neither did this man lacke his cauillers: some findyng fault with his ouermuch prodigallitie: some on the contrary part repynyng and complaynyng of his spare house and strait order, much vnder the state of his reuenues and callyng: of which two, þ^e first sort must cōsider the causes which moued him to that liberall & large kynd of expenses. Wherin here cōmeth to be cōsidered the time wherin he serued: which was when reformation of religion first began to bee adaunced: in which tyme the whole weight and care of the same most chiefly depended vppon his hand. Duryng which season almost for the space of xvj. yeares together, his house was neuer lightly vnfurnished of a nūber, both of learned men & Cōmissioners frō time to time appoynted for decyding of Ecclesiasticall affaires.

And thus as he seemed to some ouer large & lauishing more then needed in hospitalitie: so on the other side there wanted not some, of whom he was much noted and accused agayne, yea and also complained of to kyng Henry viij. for to slender and nyggardly housekepyng, as not worthy to be accompted the hospitalitie of a meane Gentleman: as here folowyng shall appeare.

After that the ample and great possessiōs, reuenewes, iuelles, rich ornamentes and other treasures of the Abbeys were dissolued & brought into the kynges handes, in the dissoluyng whereof many Cormorantes were fedde and satisfied, and yet not so fully satisified, but that within a few yeares they began to wax hungry agayn: and for somuch as no more could be scraped now out of the Abbeys: they begā to seeke, how by some other pray to satisfie their appetites, which was to tickle þ^e kyngs eares with the rich reuenew of the Byshops landes.MarginaliaThe Bishops lāds sought. And to bryng this deuise to passe, they procured Syr Tho. Seymour Knight, of þ^e priuy Chāber, to be a promoter of the matter, who not in all pointes much fauouryng the Archbishop, hauing tyme and a conuenient occasion, declared to the kyng, MarginaliaVntroth told to the King of the Archbishop of Canterburyes housekeping.that my Lord of Canterbury did nothyng els, but sell hys woods and let hys leases by great and many fines, makyng hauocke of all the royalties of the Archbyshoprike, and that onely to the intent to gather vp treasure for hys wife and hys children, kepyng no maner of hospitalitie in respect of so great a reuenew: aduertising the kyng further that it was the opiniō of many wise men, that it were more meete for the Byshops to haue a sufficient yearely stipend in money out of the Exchequer, then to be cōbered with those tēporall affaires of their royalties, being impedimentes vnto their study and pastorall charge, & his highnes to haue their lādes & royalties conuerted to his proper vse, which besides their honest stipendes would be vnto his Maiesty no small commoditie and profite.