MarginaliaAnno. 1556. Ianuary.des. And to bryng this deuise to passe, thei procured sir Thomas Seimour Knight, of the priuie Chamber, to bee a promoter of the matter, who not in all pointes muche fauouryng the Archbishoppe, hauyng tyme and a conueniente occasion, declared to the Kyng, MarginaliaVntroth told to the King of the Archbishop of Canterburyes house keping.that my lorde of Canterburie did nothing els, but sel his wooddes, and lette his Leases by greate and many fines, makyng hauocke of all the roialties of the Archebishopricke, and that not onely to the intent to gather vp treasure for his wife and his children, keepyng no maner of hospitalitie, in respecte of so greate a reuenewe: aduertisyng the Kyng further, that it was the opinion of many wise men, that it were more meete for the Bishoppes, to haue a sufficiente yerely stipende in money out of the Exchequer, then to bee combered with those temporall affaires of their roialties, beyng impedimētes vnto their studie, and pastorall charge, & his highnes to haue their landes and roialties conuerted to his proper vse, which besides their honest stipendes, would be vnto his Maiestie no small commoditie and profite.

When the Kyng had heard this faire tale, he saied little thereunto, other then this: Well (quod he) wee will talke more of this matter an other tyme. MarginaliaThe Kinges aunswere to the complayner of the Archbishop.Now, within a fortnight after, or thereabout (whether by chaunce, or of sette purpose, it is not knowen) it came to passe, that one daie when his highnesse goyng to dinner had washed, sir Thomas Seimour then holdyng the Ewer, he saied to the saied sir Thomas: Goe you out of hande to Lābeth vnto my Lorde of Canterburie, and bidde him to bee with me at twoo of the Clocke at after noone, and faile not. Sir Thomas straight waies went to Lambeth, and as he came to the gate, the porter beyng in the lodge, came out, and conueighed hym to the hall, which was throughly furnished and sette, bothe with the housholde seruauntes, and straungers, with fower principall head messes of Officers, as daiely it was accustomed to bee.MarginaliaThe Archbishop of Canterburyes house keping. When sir Thomas Seimour sawe that stately large Halle so well sette and furnished, beeyng therewith abashed, and somewhat giltie of an vntruth tolde to the Kyng before, he retired backe, and would needes haue gone to the Archbishoppe of Canterburie by the Chappell, and not through the Halle. Richarde Neuell gentleman, then Stewarde of the houshoulde, perceiuyng his retire, came by and by vnto hym, and after gentle intertainmente, demaunded of hym, whether he would speake with my Lorde or no. Sir Thomas saied, that he muste needes doe so from the Kynges highnesse, saiyng to hym: and this waie I am goyng to my Lordes grace. Sir, saied the Steward, you can not goe that waie, for the doore is fast shutte, in the Dinner tyme: and so by gentle meanes brought hym vp to my Lordes chamber, through the Hall, who then was at Dinner: with whom he dined, after he had dooen his message: whose ordinarie fare might alwaies well bee seme a right honourable personage. When Dinner was scarse doen, sir Thomas toke his leaue of my Lorde, and went againe to the courte.

So sone as the kynges highnesse sawe hym, he said to hym: haue you been with my Lorde of Canterburie? Sir Thomas aunswered: that I haue, if it please your Maiestie, and he will bee with your highnesse straight waies. Dined you not with hym, saied the kyng? Yes sir (said he) that I haue doen. And with that worde, whether he espied by the kynges coūtenance, or by his wordes any thyng tendyng to displeasure, he straight waie without delaie, kneled doune vpon his knee, and said: MarginaliaThe complayner asketh pardon of the king for his vntrue report.I beseche your maiestie to pardon me: I doe now well remember and vnderstande, that of late I tolde your highnesse a greate vntruthe, concernyng my Lorde of Canterburies house kepyng: but from henceforthe I entende neuer to beleue that persone, whiche did putte that vaine tale into my heade: For I assure your highnesse, that I neuer sawe so honourable a Halle sette in this Realme, besides your Maiesties Halle, in all my life, with better order, and so well furnished in eche degree. If I had not seen it my self, I could neuer haue beleued it: and hym self also so honourably serued.

MarginaliaThe King speaketh in defence of þ^e Archbishop of Canterbury.Ah sir, quod the Kyngs highnesse? Haue you now espied the truthe? I thought that you would tell me an other tale, whē you had been there. He was a very varlet (quod the King) that tolde you that tale: for he spendeth (ah good man saied the Kyng) all that he hath in houskeepyng. But now I perceiue whiche waie the winde bloweth. There are a sorte of you, to whom I haue liberally giuen of the possessions and reuenewes of the suppressed Monastaries, whiche like as you haue ligh-

ly gotten, so haue you more vnthriftely spente, some at Dice, other some in gaie apparell, and other waies worse, I feare me: and nowe as all is gone, you would faine haue me make an other cheuaunce with the Bishops landes, to accomplishe your greedie appetites. But let no other Bishoppes bestowe their reuenewes worse then my lorde of Cāterburie doeth, then shal you haue no cause to complaine of their kepyng of house.

And thus the tale beeyng shut vp, and ended by the Kynges highnesse, neither sir Thomas Seimour, nor none els on his behalfe euer after durst renewe, or reuiue that sute any more in Kyng Henries daies: so that it maie be euident to all indifferent men, the liberalitie of the Archbishop in housekepyng what it was, whiche beeyng defended, and commended by the Prince hym selfe, rather maie giue a good example to his posteritie to followe, then was then to bee depraued of any priuate subiecte, suche as knewe hym not.

In which Archbishop this moreouer is to be noted, with a memorandum, touchyng the relief of the poore, impotente, sicke, and suche as then came from the warres at Bullein, and other partes beyonde the Seas, lame, wounded, and destitute, MarginaliaThe almes of the Archbishop towardes the poore.for whom he prouided, besides his mansion house at Beckisborne in Kent, the Parsonage barne well furnished with certain lodgynges, for the sicke and maimed soldiours. To whō were also appointed the Almosiner, a Phisition, and Surgion, to attend vpon them, and to dresse, and cure suche as were not able to resort to their Countries, hauyng daiely from the Bishoppes Kitchin hotte brothe and meate, for otherwise the common almes of the houshold was bestowed vpon the poore neighbours of the shire. And when any of the impotente did recouer, and were able to trauaile, they had conuenient money deliuered to beare their charges, accordyng to the number of miles from that place distaunt. And this good example of mercy, and liberall benignitie, I thought here good not in silence to be suppressed, wherby other maie be moued accordyng to their vocation, to walke in the steppes of no lesse liberalitie, then in him in this behalf appeered.

One that loueth goodnesse, sober mynded, righteous, holie, and temperate.

Now followeth together these vertues: One that loueth goodnesse, sober minded, righteous, holie, and temperate. As concernyng these qualities, the trade of his life before ioyned, with his benigne and gentle disposition, doe testifie that he could not be voide of these good vertues raignyng in hym, whiche was so aboundantly adorned with the other, whiche aboue we haue declared.

MarginaliaTo cleaue fast to the word of doctrine: able to exhorte in holsome learning, and to reproue the gaynsayer. Titus. 1.To cleaue fast vnto the true worde of doctrine, that he maie bee able to exhort with wholsome learnyng, and to improue that saie against it.

Then concludeth saincte Paule, with the moste excellent vertue of all other, to bee wished in a Prelate of the Churche. For if this constauncie bee not in hym to this ende, that is: To cleaue faste vnto the true worde of doctrine, that he maie be able to exhort with wholsome learnyng, and to improue that saie against it: If he bee voide (I saie) of these giftes and graces, he is worthie of no commendation, but shall seme an Idol, and a deceiuer of the worlde. Neither shall he deserue the name of a Bishoppe, if either for dread or meede, affection or fauour, he doe at any tyme, or in any point swarue frō the truthe. MarginaliaArchbyshop Cranmer euer constant in defence of Christes truth and Gospell.As in this behalf the worthie constancie of this said Archbishop neuer, for the moste part, shronke for no maner of storme: but was so many waies tried, that neither fauour of his Prince, nor feare of the indignatiō of the same, nor any other worldly respect could alienate or chaunge his purpose, grounded vpon that infallible doctrine of the Gospell. Notwithstandyng, his constante defence of Gods truthe, was euer ioyned with suche meekenesse toward the Kyng, that he neuer tooke occasion of offence against hym.

At the tyme of settyng forthe the sixe Articles, mention was made before, in the storie of Kyng Henry the viij. pag. 1110. col. 2.MarginaliaRead before pag. 1110. col. 2. how aduēturously this Archbishop Thomas Cranmer did oppose hymself,  

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See MacCulloch, Cranmer, pp. 237-60 for a more balanced assessment ofthis.