MarginaliaAnno. 1556. March.passe, and so he did: and how the Kyng afterward sente all the Lordes of the Parlament, vnto the Archbishop to Lambeth, to cheare his mynde againe, that he might not be discouraged: all whiche appereth in the page aboue expressed 1111.MarginaliaRead before pag. 1111.And this was doen duryng yet the state and tyme of the lorde Cromwels authoritie. And now that it maie appeare likewise, that after the decaie of the Lorde Cromwell, yet his constancie in Christes cause did not decay, you shal heare what folowed after.

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For after the apprehension of the lorde Cromwell, when the aduersaries of the Gospell thought all thynges sure now on their side, it was so appointed amongest them, that. x. or xij. Bishops, and other learned men ioyned together in commission, came to the saied Archbishop of Canterburie, for the establishyng of certaine Articles of our Religion, whiche the Papistes then thought to win to their purpose against the said Archbishop. For hauyng now the lorde Cromwell faste and sure, they thought all had been safe, and sure for euer: as in deede to all mennes reasonable cōsideration, that tyme appeared so daungerous, that there was no maner hope that Religion reformed, should any one weke longer stande, suche account was then made of the kynges vntowardnesse thereunto: In so muche that of all those Commissioners, there was not one left to stay on the Archbishops parte, MarginaliaThe Archbyshop alone stādeth in defense of the truth.but he alone against them all, stoode in defence of the truthe,  

and those that he moste trusted to, MarginaliaB. Heth and B. Skippe forsake the Archbyshop in the plaine fielde.namely bishop Heath, and bishop Skip left hym in the plain field: who then so turned against hym, that thei toke vpon them to perswade him to their purpose: and hauyng hym doune from the rest of the Commissioners, into his garden at Lambeth, MarginaliaThe Archbyshop incensed by B. Heath and Skippe to geue ouer the defense of the Gospell.there by al maner of effectuall perswasions, entreated hym to leaue of his ouermuche constancie, and to encline vnto the kynges intent, who was fully set to haue it otherwise then he then had penned, or ment to haue set abroad. When those twoo his familiars, with one or twoo others his frendes, had vsed all their eloquence, and policie, he little regardyng their inconstancie, and remisnes in gods cause or quarell, saied vnto them right notably:

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MarginaliaThe aunswere of the Archbyshop to D. Heath, and Skippe.You make muche adoo to haue me come to your purpose, alledgyng that it is the Kynges 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 be bent that waie, you thinke it a cōuenient thing to apply vnto his highnesse minde. You bee my frendes bothe, especially the one of you I did putte to his Maiestie as of trust. Beware I saie, what you doe. There is but one truthe in our Articles to be concluded vpon, whiche if you doe hide from his highnesse by consentyng vnto a contrary doctrine, and then after in processe of tyme, when the truth cannot be hidden from hym, his highnes shall perceiue how that you haue dealte colourably with hym, I knowe his graces nature so well (quod the Archbishop) that he wil neuer after trust and credite you, or put any good confidence in you. And as you are bothe my frendes, so therefore, I will you to beware thereof in tyme, and discharge your consciences in mainteinaunce of the truth. But all this would not serue, for thei still swarued: and in the ende by dischargyng of his conscience, & declaryng the truth vnto the Kyng, God so wrought with the Kyng, that his highnesse ioyned with hym against the rest, so that the booke of Articles passyng on his side, he wanne the Gole from them all, contrary to all their expectations, when many wagers would haue been laied in London, that he should haue been laied vp with Cromwell at that tyme in the Tower, for his stiffe standyng to his tackle. After that daie there could neither Counseller, Bishop, or Papist win hym out of the Kynges fauour.

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Notwithstanding, not long after that,  

certain of the Counsaile, 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 secte, MarginaliaThe Papistes busy to bring the Archbyshop out of credit with the King.attempted the Kyng againste hym, declaryng plainely, that the realme was so infected with heresies and heretickes, that it was daungerous for his highnesse, farther to permit it vnreformed, lest peraduenture by long sufferyng, suche cōtention should arise, and ensue in the realme among his subiectes, that thereby might spryng horrible commotions, and vprores, like as in some partes of Germanie, it did not longe agoe: MarginaliaThe Archbyshop agayne accused to the King.the enormitie whereof they could not impute to any so muche, as to the Archbishop of Canterburie, who by his own preachyng, and his Chapleins, had filled the whole realme full of diuers pernicious heresies. The Kyng would

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needes knowe his accusers. Thei aunswered, that forasmuche as he was a Counseller, no man durst take vpon hym to accuse him: but if it would please his highnesse, to committe hym to the Tower for a tyme, there would bee accusations, and proofes enough againste him, for otherwise iuste testimonie, and witnesse against hym would not appeere, and therefore your highnesse (saied they) muste needes giue vs the Counsaill libertie, and leaue to commit hym to duraunce.

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The kyng perceiuyng their importune sute against the Archebishoppe (but yet meanyng not to haue hym wronged, and vtterly giuen ouer vnto their handes) graunted to them, that they should the nexte daie, committe hym to the Tower for his triall. MarginaliaThe King sent Syr Antony Deny at midnight for the Archbyshop.When Nighte came, the Kyng sent sir Anthonie Denie aboute Midnight, to Lābeth to the Archbishop, willyng hym forthwith to resorte vnto hym at the Courte. The message doen, the Archbishop speedily addressed hym self to the Court, and commyng into the Galerie where the kyng walked, and taried for hym, his highnesse saied: Ah my Lorde of Canterburie? I can tell you newes.MarginaliaThe Kinges wordes and aduise for the supportation of the Archbyshop. For diuers waightie considerations it is determined by me, and the Counsaile, that you to morrowe at nine of the clocke shall bee committed to the Tower, for that you and your Chaplains (as information is giuen vs) haue taught & preached, and therby sowen within the realme suche a number of execrable heresies, that it is feared, the whole realme beyng infected with thē no small contention, and commotions will rise thereby amōgest my subiectes, as of late daies the like was in diuers parts of Germanie: and therfore the Coūsail haue requested me, for the triall of this matter, to suffer thē to commit you to the Tower, or els no man dare come forthe, as witnesse in these matters, you beyng a Counsellour.

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When the king had said his minde, the Archbishop kneeled doune, and saied: MarginaliaThe Archbyshops answere to the King.I am content if it please your grace, with all my harte, to go thether at your highnes commaundemente, and I moste humbly thanke your Maiestie, that I maie come to my triall, for there bee that haue many waies sclaundered me, and nowe this waie I hope to trie my self, not worthy of suche report.

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The Kyng perceiuyng the mannes vprightnesse, ioyned with suche simplicitie, saied: Oh Lorde, what maner a man be you? What simplicitie is in you? I had thought that you would rather haue sued to vs, to haue taken the paines to haue heard you, and your accusers together for your triall, without any suche indurance. Doe not you knowe, what state you bee in with the whole worlde, and how many greate enemies you haue? Doe you not consider, what an easie thyng it is, to procure three or fower false knaues to witnesse againste you? Thinke you to haue better lucke that waie, then your Maister Christe had? I see by it, you will runne headlonge to your vndoyng, if I would suffer you. MarginaliaThe kinges fauorable care & consideration toward þ^e Archbyshop of Canterbury.Your enemies shall not so preuaile against you, for I haue otherwise deuised with my selfe, to keepe you out of their handes, Yet notwithstanding, to morrowe whē the Counsaile shall sitte, and sende for you, resort vnto them, and if in chargyng you with this matter, they doe commit you to the Tower: require of them, because you are one of them a Counseller, that you maie haue your accusers brought before them, and that you maie aunswere their accusations before them, without any further induraunce, and vse for your self as good perswasions that waie, as you maie deuise, and if no intreatie or reasonable request will serue, then deliuer vnto thē this my ryng MarginaliaThe King sendeth his signet in the behalfe of the Archbishop of Canterbury.(whiche then; the Kyng deliuered vnto the Archbishoppe) and saie vnto them, if there be no remedie my Lordes, but that I must needes goe to the Tower, then I reuoke my cause from you, and appeale to the Kynges owne persone, by this his token vnto you all, for (saied the Kyng then vnto the Archbishoppe) so sone as thei shall see this my ryng, thei knowe it so wel, that they shall vnderstande, that I haue resumed the whole cause into myne owne handes, and determination, and that I haue discharged them thereof.

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The Archebishoppe perceiuyng the kynges benignitie so muche to him wardes, had muche adoe to forbeare teares. Well, saied the kyng, goe your waies my Lorde, and doe as I haue bidden you. My Lorde humblyng hym self with thankes, tooke his leaue of the kynges highnesse for that night.

On the morowe about ix, of the clock before noone: the Counsaile sent a gentleman Husher for the Archebishop, who when he came to the Counsail chāber dore, could not bee let in,MarginaliaThe Archbyshop being one of the Counsel, made to stand at the Counsail chamber dore wayting. but of purpose (as it seemed) was

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