were provided for this progress by means of money coined on purpose'. While his royal master was thus pleasantly engaged in travelling, Archbishop Cranmer resided at Croydon. He there received a letter of no gratifying import from Sir William Cecil, Secretary of State, who was then with the King. In the first year of Edward's reign, the Archbishop had obtained from the crown, for a valuable consideration, certain manorial, landed, and tythe properties in the counties of York and Nottingham, formerly parcels of the endowments attached to the monasteries of Arthington, Kirkstall, and Welbeck. Of these estates, the parsonages of Whatton and Aslacton appear to have passed, almost immediately after the acquisition, to Thomas Cranmer, the purchaser's nephew, and the head of his family: for that gentleman died in possession of them before the end of this reign. The other property was intended probably, by the Archbishop as a provision for his own family; and in that point of view, it seems to have been nothing more than justice absolutely required. Upon the known fact that Cranmer had made this acquisition, some envious and rapacious followers of the court appear to have indulged, during the royal progress, in reflections upon the wealth and avarice of the episcopal order, especially of the Primate. Cecil, grieved to hear such representations, wrote privately to Cranmer, in Hayward, 323. forming him of the unpleasant topics of discourse which found their way to the King's ears, and admonishing him as a friend to keep clear of affording any colour for these imputations. "Let me remind you," said the Secretary, " of St. Paul's words, They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare "." Thus wrote the calumniated prelate in reply. "As for your admonition, I take it most thankfully, having ever been most glad to be admonished by my friends, and esteeming no man so foolish as he that will not hear friendly admonishers. But as to the text from St. Paul, I fear it not half so much as I do stark beggary. For I took not half so much care of my living, when I was a scholar of Cambridge, as I do at this present. For although I have now much more revenue, yet have I much more to do withal; and have more care to live now as an Archbishop, than I had at that time to live like a scholar. I have not so much as I had within ten years past by one hundred and fifty pounds of certain rent, besides casualities. I pay double for every thing that I buy. If a good auditor were to examine my accounts, he would find no great surplusage to wax rich upon. And if I knew any bishop that were covetous, I would surely admonish him. But I know no one. They are all beggars, except it be one'; and yet I dare well say, he is not very rich. If you know any, " 1 Tim. vi. 9. "He probably was Holgate, Archbishop of York." Strype, Mem. Craum. 402. Note. I beseech you to advertise me, for peradventure, I may admonish him better than you. To be short, I am not so doted to set my mind upon things here, which I can neither carry away with me, nor tarry long with them "."" A similar attack was made upon Cranmer's reputation during King Henry's reign. Sir Thomas Seymour, then one of the gentlemen of the privy chamber, stood foremost in the work of mischief. His first measure was to circulate a whisper about the court, that the Archbishop of Canterbury, although selling woods and taking fines to an unusual extent, had greatly departed from the hospitality of his predecessors, being intent only upon realising a fortune for his family. These reports were so notoriously false, that some members of the royal household quarrelled with Seymour for spreading them abroad. The Knight, however, persisted in his tales, and one day he contrived to make the King `acquainted with them. Henry observed, "I do marvel, that it is said my Lord of Canterbury doth keep no good hospitality: for I have heard the contrary." Then uttering some high commendations of the Archbishop, he abruptly broke off the discourse. Within a month afterwards, as the King was dressing for dinner, he said to Sir Thomas, then attending with the ewer: "Go ye straightways The Archbishop of Canterbury to Sir William Cecil, dated from Croydon, July 21. Ibid. Appendix, 908. The same that was executed in King Edward's reign, being then a peer, Lord Admiral, and brother to the Protector. unto Lambeth, and bid my Lord of Canterbury come and speak to me at two o'clock in the afternoon." The messenger immediately crossed the water, and enquiring for the Archbishop, was led by the porter towards the hall. No sooner had he reached the skreen, than stricken by the manifest falsehood of the tales to which he had lent himself, he started back. Within the spacious room were ranged three principal tables handsomely provided, besides inferior ones liberally supplied. "Cannot I go to my Lord's apartment through the chapel?" asked the Knight. "That way, Sir," said Mr. Neville, the Archbishop's steward, who now came forward, "is not open at dinner-time, the door being locked. You must, therefore, let me lead you into his Grace's presence, through the hall." On hearing this, Seymour followed his conductor, and soon found himself in an apartment where the Archbishop was dining in a manner suited to his station. The King's message being delivered, Cranmer insisted that his visitor should share his repast. Sir Thomas remained but a short time at table; being anxious, as he said, to return, and wait upon his Majesty. He reached the royal • Cranmer's" daily custom at Lambeth was to dine in a room above, where all noblemen and persons of better quality that came to dine with him were entertained. Here he was very honourably served, both with dishes and attendants. In the hall, the table was every day very plentifully furnished, both for household servants and strangers, with three or four principal head-messes of officers: besides the relief of the poor at his gates." Strype, Mem. Cranm. 648. presence before dinner was removed, and Henry said immediately: "Will my Lord of Canterbury come to us?" The reply was, "He will wait upon your Majesty at two o'clock." The King asked again: "Had my Lord dined before you came?" "No, forsooth: I found him at dinner :" answered Seymour. "Well," rejoined the King, "what cheer made he you?" Sir Thomas then fell upon his knees, and said, "I hope that your Majesty will pardon me." "Why, what is the matter?" asked Henry. "I do remember," replied the supplicant, "having told your Highness, that my Lord of Canterbury kept no hospitality correspondent unto his dignity. I now perceive that I did abuse your Highness with an untruth. For besides your Grace's house, I think, he be not in the realm, of none estate or degree, that hath such a hall furnished, or that fareth more honourably at his own table." The King then said: “Ah, have you spied your own fault now? I knew your purpose well enough. You have had among you the commodities of the abbeys, which you have consumed: some with superfluous apparel, some at dice and cards, and other ungracious rule. And now you would have the bishops' lands and revenues to abuse likewise. If my Lord of Canterbury keep such a hall as you say, being neither term nor Parliament, he is metely well visited at those times, I warrant you. And if the other bishops kept the like for their degree, they had not need to have any thing taken from them, but rather to be added-to and |