MarginaliaAnno, 1556. Marche.preaching a great part of this hartburnyng of the Papistes toke his first kyndlyng agaynst the Archbishop.MarginaliaPapistes set against the Archbishop by occasiō of Turners preachyng.Touchyng the description of whiche storie, because by me nothing shalbe sayd either more or lesse, then is the truth, ye shall heare the very certeinty thereof truely compiled in a letter sent the same tyme to Doct. Buttes and Sir Anth. Deny, to be shewed vnto the kyng, and so it was, written by the foresaid M. Moryce Secretary thē to the Archbishop farmour of the same benefice of Chartham, and patrone  

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This is the same Ralph Morrice whose autobiographical sketch of Cranmer was the source for much of Foxe's account of Cranmer. For background on Turner's relationship with both Morrice and Cranmer see MacCulloch, Cranmer, pp. 302-03.

¶ A letter or Apologie of M. Moryce, sent to Syr W. Buttes, and Syr Anth. Deny, defendyng the cause of M. Rich. Turner preacher, agaynst the Papistes.  

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Actually the letter dates from 1543; see MacCulloch, Cranmer, pp. 302-04.

THe letter first beginning in these wordes: I am certeine right worshipfull, that it is not vnknowen to your discret wisedomes. &c. And after a fewe lynes, comming to the matter, thus the sayd letter procedeth:

MarginaliaThe troubles of Richarde Turner minister at Charthā.As your worships well knowe, It was my chaunce to be brought vp vnder my Lord of Canterbury my master, in writing of the Ecclesiasticall affaires of this realme, aswell touching the reformation of corrupt religion, as concerning the aduauncement of that pure & sincere religion receiued by the doctrine of the Gospell, which I take to be so substantially handled and builded vpō the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles, that hell gates shall neuer preuaile against it. The consideration wherof compelled me, being a Farmour of the Parsonage of Chartham in Kent, to reteine with me one named M. Richard Turner, a man not onely learned in the scriptures of God, but also in conuersation of life towardes the world, irreprehensible, whom for discharging of my cōscience I placed at Chartham aforesayd to bee Curate there.MarginaliaM. Raph Morrice Patrone of Richard Turner preacher.This man because he was a straunger in the countrey there, and so thereby voide of grudge or displeasure of any old rancour in the coūtrey, I thought it had bene a meane to haue gotten him the better credite in his doctrine: but where malice once taketh fire against truth, no policie I see is able to quench it. Well, thys man as he knew what appertayned vnto his office, so he spared not weekely both Sundayes and holydaies to open the Gospell and Epistell vnto his audience, after suche a sort (when occasion serued) that aswell by hys vehement inueying against the Bishop of Romes vsurped power and authoritie, as in the earnest setting forthe and aduaūcing of the kinges Maiesties supremacie, innumerable of the people of the coūtrey resorting vnto his sermons, chaunged their opinions, and fauoured effectually the religion receiued. MarginaliaThe great concurse of people to M. Turners preachyng.The confluence of the people so dayly encreased that the church beyng a fayre, ample, & large church, was not now and then able to receyue the number. The fame of this new instruction of the people was so blasted abroad, that the popish Priestes were wonderfully amased and displeased, to see their Pope so to be defaced, & their Prince so highly aduaunced.

Now thought they, it is hygh tyme for vs to worke, or els all wil here be vtterly lost by this mans preaching Some then went with Capons, some with Hens, some with Chickens, some with one thing, some with an other vnto the Iustices, such as then fauoured their cause and faction, and such as are no small fooles, MarginaliaSir Iohn Baker, sir Christopher Hales, sir Thomas Moile Iustices, with the Prebendaries of Canterburie, persecuters of Goddes people.as Syr Iohn Baker, Syr Christofer Hales, Syr Thomas Moyle Knightes, with other Iustices. The Prebendaries of CHRISTES Church in Canterbury were made priuy hereof, gyuing their succour and ayd thereunto: So that in conclusion poore Turner and other Preachers were greuously complayned of vnto the kings Maiesty. Whereupon my L. of Canterbury and certaine other Commissioners were appoynted at Lambeth to sit vppon the examination of these seditious Preachers. Howbeit before Turner went vp to hys examination, I obtayned of Syr Tho. Moyle that hee in Easter weeke was content to heare Turner preach a rehearsall sermon in hys parish church at Westwell, MarginaliaSir Thomas Moile hearyng Turner, could finde no faulte with his doctrine.of all the doctrine of his Sermons preached at his cure in Chartham, whiche hee most gently graunting, heard Turner both before noone & after noone on the Wedensday in Easter weeke last past, and (as it seemed) tooke all thinges in good part, remitting Turner home to his sayd cure with gentle and fauorable wordes. I supposed by this meanes to haue stayed Maister Turner at home from farther examination, hoping that Syr Thomas Moyle would haue aunswered for hym at Lambeth before the Commissioners. Notwithstanding, after Maister Moyles comming to London, such information was

layd in against Turner, that he was sent for to make aunswere him selfe before the sayd Commissioners, MarginaliaM. Turner appearyng before the Commissioners at Lambeth, was discharged, and sent home.and there appearyng before them, he made such an honest, perfite, and learned aunswer vnto the Articles obiected, that he was with a good exhortation discharged home againe, without any maner of recantation or other iniunction.

Nowe, when the Popecatholicke Clergy of Kent vnderstode of his comming home without controlemēt, so that he preached as freely as he did before, agaynst their blind and dumme ceremonies, straight way by the helpe of the Bishop of Winchester Steuen Gardiner,MarginaliaNewe matter made againste Richard Turner.they found a new meanes to put him to an vtter confusion, deuising that hee came home from examination in such glorious Pompe by the hyewayes side in the woodes adioyning, MarginaliaThe practise of Papistes to holde vp their kyngdom with lyes.that v. C. persons met hym then with banketting dishes to welcome him home, stirring the people rather to an vprore and a commotion, thē to kepe them in any quiet obedience: when in very deede, contrary to this surmyse (as God would) on this syde Rochester a mile or twoo, for auoyding all such light and glorious talke with any of his familiars or acquaintaunce, he of purpose left the hye way, and came through the woodes all alone aboue xviij. myles together on fote, so weried and megered for want of sustinance, that when he came into my house at Chartham, hee was not well able to stand or speake for fayntnes and thurst.

MarginaliaThe Kyng deceiued by sinister informatiō.This malicious tale being reported vnto the kinges hyghnes, his Maiestie was so sore agreeued therewith, that he sent for the Archb. of Caunterbury, willing him to cause Turner to be whipt out of the countrey. By meanes wherof the Archbyshop of Caunterbury sent agayne for Turner. I hearing thereof, made incontinently report by my letters, with suche vehemencie prouyng it mere malyce, that the Archbyshop vnderstanding the truth, pacified agayne the kings Maiesties wrath. Home commeth Turner once agayne to his Cure without blot. Which so wroong the Papistes, in that they could not preuayle, that they thought it all in vayne any farther to attempt agaynst him concerning any accusatiō for matters in Kent, the Archb. of Caunterbury beyng his Ordinarie. Well, yet would they not thus leaue hym vndiscredited. MarginaliaNewe matter made against Rich. Turner.Then was there other new matter deuised, howe that he had preached erroneous doctrine in other countreyes before he came into Kēt, laying to his charge that he had both translated the Masse in to Englishe, and sayd or ministred the same, and that he had preached agaynst Purgatory, Pilgrimages, and praying for the dead. &c. By meanes whereof he was nowe conuented before the whole Counsayle by the Byshop of Winchester. Who sent Siriacke Petite Gentleman for hym, which brought hym vp to London bound (as I heard say) and being examined before the sayd Byshop of Winchester and other, was committed to ward for a season.

MarginaliaConspiracie against þ^e Archebishop Crāmer, by the Iustices of Kent.In the whiche meane tyme the Archbyshop of Caunterbury being in Kent, abut the tryall of conspiracy purposed agaynst himselfe by the Iustices of the sheare, and the Prebendaries of Christes Church, Turner is now sent downe to the Archbyshop to the intent hee should recant that doctrine which long ago he in other places out of Kent had preached, to the vtter subuersion and defacing of all that he had most godly & earnestly here in Kent taught both to the glory of God, and the furtheraunce and setting forth of the kinges highnes proceedinges. If his maiesty will thus permit learned honest men thus dayly to bee ouercrowed and troden vnder foote with a sort of tyrannous, or rather trayterous Papists (who can not abide to heare his Maiestes supremacie aduaunced, nor the sincere woorde of God preached) it were better for men to dwell amongst the Infidels and miscreants then in England. What reason is this that Turner should recant here in Kent, the doctrine which in other Countreyes he hath taught, to the wounding and ouerthrowing most desperatly of fiue hundred mens consciences, and aboue (I dare say) who lately by his sincere preachyng haue embraced a ryght good opinion both of the Kinges supremacy, and also of the reformed religion receiued. All good subiectes may well lament the kinges Maiesties estate in this behalfe, that no man may dare to be so bold to aduaunce his highnes title, but that euery ignorant and malicious Papist shall spurne agaynst him, seekyng his vtter vndoyng, and that by the ayde of papisticall Iustices set in authoritie. I beseche your worships to pardon me of my rude & homely termes. They herein deserue worse, if worse maye be deuised. For what honest man can beare with this, that so noble a Princes eares shall be thus impudently abused