MarginaliaAn. 1556. March.in so much that the kyng, when neyther hee could myslyke hys reasons, and yet would needes haue these articles to passe, requyred hym to absent hym selfe for the tyme out of the chamber, whyle the Acte should passe, and so he did: and how the king afterward sent all the Lordes of the Parlament vnto the Archbishop to Lambeth, to cheere hys mynde agayne that hee might not be discouraged: all which appeareth in the page aboue expressed. 1297.MarginaliaRead before pag. 1297. And this was done duryng yet the state and tyme of the Lord Cromwels authoritie. And now that it may appeare lykewyse that after the decay of the Lord Cromwell, yet hys constancie in CHRISTES cause dyd not decay, you shall heare what followed after.

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For after the apprehension of the Lord Cromwell, when the aduersaries of the Gospell thought al things sure now on their syde, it was so appoynted amongest thē, that. x. or xij. Bishops & other learned mē ioyned together in cōmission, came to þ^e said Archb. of Canterbury for the establishing of certayne articles of our religion, which the Papistes then thought to wynne to their purpose agaynst the sayd Archb. For hauing nowe the Lord Cromwel fast and sure, they thought all had bene safe and sure for euer: As in deede to all mens reasonable consideration, that tyme appeared so daungerous, that there was no maner hope that religion reformed should any one weeke longer stand, such accōpt was thē made of þ^e kings vntowardnes therunto: in so much that of al those Cōmissioners, there was not one left to stay on þ^e Archbishops part, MarginaliaThe Archbishop alone standeth in defense of the truth.but he alone agaynst them all stood in defence of the truth,  

and those that he most trusted to, MarginaliaB. Heth and B. Skippe forsake the Archbishop in the plaine field.namely bishop Heath, and B. Skyppe left hym in the playne field: who then so turned against him, that they toke vpon them to perswade him to their purpose: and hauing him downe from the rest of the Commissioners into hys garden at Lambeth, MarginaliaThe Archbishop incensed by B. Heath and Skippe to geue ouer the defense of the Gospell.there by all maner of effectuall perswasions entreated hym to leaue of hys ouermuch constancie, and to encline vnto the kyngs entent, who was fully set to haue it otherwyse then he then had penned or ment to haue set abroad. When those two hys familiars, with one or. ij. others hys frendes, had vsed al their eloquence and policy, he litle regarding their inconstancie and remisnes in Gods cause or quarel, said vnto them right notably:

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MarginaliaThe answere of the Archbishop to D. Heath, and Skippe.You make much ado to haue me come to your purpose, alledging that it is the kings pleasure to haue the Articles in that sort you haue deuised them to procede, and now that you doe perceiue his highnes by sinister information to bee bent that way, you thinke it a conuenient thyng to apply vnto hys hyghnes mynde. You be my frendes both, especially the one of you I did put to his Maiesty as of trust. Beware I say, what you do. There is but one truth in our Articles to be concluded vpon, which if you doe hyde from hys hyghnes by consenting vnto a contrary doctrine, and then after in processe of tyme whē the truth cannot be hidden frō hym, hys hyghnes shall perceiue how that you haue dealt colourably wyth hym, I know hys Graces nature so well (quoth the Archbishop) that he wyll neuer after trust and credite you, or put any good confidence in you. And as you are both my frendes, so therfore I wyll you to beware thereof in tyme, & discharge your consciences in mainteinaunce of the truth. But all this would not serue, for they styll swarued: and in the end by discharging of his conscience, and declaring the truth vnto the king, God so wrought with þ^e kyng, that his highnes ioyned with hym agaynst the rest, so that the booke of Articles passyng on hys side, he wan the gole from them all, contrary to al their expectatiōs, when many wagers would haue bene layd in London that he should haue bene layde vp with Cromwel at that tyme in the Tower, for hys styffe standing to hys tackle. After that day there could neither Counseller, Bishop, or Papist win hym out of the kings fauour.

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Notwithstanding not long after that,  

certayn of the

Counsayl, whose names neede not to bee repeated, by the entisement and prouocation of his auncient enemy the bishop of Winchester and other of the same sect, MarginaliaThe Papists busy to bring þ^e Archbishop out of credit with the king.attempted the kyng agaynst hym, declaryng plainly, that the realme was so infected with heresies and hereticks, that it was daungerous for his hyghnes farther to permyt it vnreformed, lest peraduenture by long sufferyng, such contention should aryse and ensue in the realme among hys subiectes, that thereby might spring horrible commotions and vprores, lyke as in some partes of Germany it dyd not long ago: MarginaliaThe Archbishop agayne accused to the king.the enormity whereof they could not impute to any so much, as to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who by hys own preachyng and hys Chapleins, had filled the whole Realme full of diuers pernitious heresies. The kyng woulde needes know hys accusers. They aunswered, that forasmuch as he was a Counseller, no man durst take vp on hym to accuse hym: but if it would please his hyghnes to commit hym to the Tower for a tyme, there would be accusatiōs and proufes inough against him, for otherwyse iust testimonye and wytnes agaynst hym would not appeare, and therefore your highnes (sayd they) must needes geue vs the Counsail libertie and leaue to commit hym to durance.

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The king perceyuing their importune sute against the Archbishop (but yet meaning not to haue hym wronged and vtterly geuen ouer vnto their handes) graunted to them, that they should the next day cōmit hym to the Tower for his tryall. MarginaliaThe king sent Syr Antony Deny at midnight for the Archbishop.When night came, the king sent sir Antony Deny about midnight to Lābeth to the Archbishop, willing him forthwith to resort vnto hym at the Court. The message done, the Archbishop speedely addressed hymselfe to the Court, and commyng into the Galery where the king walked and taryed for him, his hyghnes sayd: Ah my Lorde of Caunterbury? I can tell you Newes.MarginaliaThe kinges wordes of aduise for the supportation of the Archbishop. For dyuers waighty considerations it is determined by mee and the Counsaile, that you to morrow at. ix. of the clocke shal be committed to the Tower, for that you and your Chaplaynes (as information is geuen vs) haue taught and preached, and thereby sowen within the Realme, such a number of execrable heresies, that it is feared, the whole Realme being infected with them, no small contentions and cōmotions will ryse thereby amongst my subiectes, as of late dayes the lyke was in diuers partes of Germany: and therefore the Counsail haue requested me for the trial of this matter, to suffer them to commit you to the Tower, or els no man dare come forth as witnes in these matters, you being a Counsellour.

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When the king had sayd his mynd, the Archbishop kneeled downe, and sayd: MarginaliaThe Archbishops answere to the king.I am content if it please your grace, with all my hart, to go thether at your hyghnes commaundement, and I most humbly thanke your maiesty, that I may come to my triall, for there bee that haue many wayes sclaundered me, and now this way I hope to try my selfe not worthy of such a report.

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The king perceyuing the mans vprightnes, ioyned with such simplicity, sayd: Oh Lord, what maner a man be you? what simplicity is in you? I had thought that you would rather haue sued to vs to haue taken the paynes to haue heard you and your accusers together for your triall without any such indurance. Do not you know what state you be in with þ^e whole world, & how many great enemies you haue? Do you not consider what an easye thing it is to procure three or foure false knaues to wytnes against you? Thinke you to haue better lucke that way, then your master CHRIST had? I see by it, you wyll runne headlong to your vndoing, if I would suffer you. MarginaliaThe kinges fauourable care and consideration toward the Archbishop of Canterbury.Your enemies shal not so preuayle agaynst you, for I haue otherwyse deuised with my selfe to keepe you out of their handes. Yet notwithstanding, to morrow when the Counsaile shall sit and send for you, resorte vnto them, and if in charging you with this matter, they do commit you to the

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