Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
believing firmly the fidelity and assertions of innocence of the accused prelate, he caused the
matter to be deeply investigated, and Winchester and Dr. Lenden, with Thornton and Barber,
of the bishop's household, were found by the papers to be the real conspirators. The mild,
forgiving Cranmer would have interceded for all remission of publishment, had not Henry,
pleased with the subsidy voted by parliament, let them be discharged. These nefarious men,
however, again renewing their plots against Cranmer, fell victims to Henry's resentment, and
Gardiner forever lost his confidence. Sir G. Gostwick soon after laid charges against the
archbishop, which Henry quashed, and the primate was willing to forgive.
In 1544, the archbishop's palace at Canterbury was burnt, and his brother-in-law with
others perished in it. These various afflictions may serve to reconcile us to a humble state; for
of what happiness could this great and good man boast, since his life was constantly harassed
either by political, religious, or natural crosses? Again the inveterate Gardfiner laid high
charges against the meek archbishop and would have sent him to the Tower; but the king was
his friend, gave him his signet that he might defend him, and in the Council not only declared
the bishop one of the best affected men in his realm, but sharpoly rebuked his accusers for
their calumny.
A peace having been made, Henry, and the French king, Henry the Great, were unanimous
to have the Mass abolished in their kingdom, and Cranmer set about this great work; but the
death of the English monarch, in 1546, suspended the precedure, and King Edwarrd his
successor continued Cranmer in the same functions, upon whose coronation he delivered a
charge that will ever honor his memory, for its purity, freedom, and truth. During this reign
he prosecuted the glorious Reformation with unabated zeal, even in the year 1552, when he
was seized with a severe ague, from which it pleased God to restore him that he might testify
by his death the truth of that seed he had diligently sown.
The death of Edward, in 1553, exposed Cranmer to all the rage of his enemies. Though
the archbishop was among those who supported Mary's accession, he was attainted at the
meeting of parliament, and in November adjudged guilty of high treason at Guildhall, and
degraded from his dignities. He sent a humble letter to Mary, explaining the cause of his
signing the will in favour of Edward, and in 1554 he wrote to the Council, whom he pressed
to obtain a pardon from the queen, by a letter delivered to Dr. Weston, but which the letter
opened, and on seeing its contents, basely returned.
Treason was a charge quite inapplicable to Cranmer, who supported the queen's right;
while others, who had favoured Lady Jane were dismissed upon paying a small fine. A
calumny was now spread against Cranmer that he complied with some of the popish
ceremonies to ingratiate himself with the queen, which he dared publicly to disavow, and
justified his articles of faith. The active part which the prelate had taken in the divorce of
Mary's mother had ever rankled deeply in the heart of the queen, and revenge formed a
prominent feature in the death of Cranmer.
We have in this work noticed the public disputations at Oxford, in which the talents of
Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer shone so conspicuously, and tended to their condemnation. The
first sentence was illegal, inasmuch as the usurped power of the pope had not yet been reestablished
by law.
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