BOOK "nostro vel successoribus predict. pro posse persequar et

66

impugnabo.

"Vocatus ad synodum veniam, nisi præpeditus fuero ca"nonica præpeditione. Apostolorum limina singulis annis “Romana curia existente citra Alpes: ultra vero montes 66 singulis bienniis per meipsum visitabo, aut per me, aut per meum nuntium, nisi aplica. absolvat licentia. [Et si post primam visitationem personaliter factam, aliquo legitimo impedimento præpeditus personaliter visitare non "potero, per aliquem fidum nuntium de gremio mea Maionen, ecclesiæ bene instructum: qui vice mea aplico. conThis is not "spectui se præsentare, et de legitimo impedimento hu"moi saltem per juramentum legitimum fidem facere te"neatur; id adimplebo.]

in Cran

mer's oath.

66

66

"Possessiones vero ad mensam meam pertinentes nec "vendam, nec donabo, neque impignorabo, neque de novo "infeudabo, vel aliquo modo alienabo, inconsulto Romano Left out in "pontifice, etiam cum consensu capituli mei. Sic me Deus adjuvet, et hæc Dei sancta evangelia."

Cranmer's

oath.

66

In quorum omnium singulorum fidem et testimonium præmissorum præsentes literas fieri, et per magistrum ceremoniarum aplicarum. infra scriptum ibid. ex officio suo præsentem et intervenientem subscribi, nostrique soliti sigilli appensione muniri fecimus. Datum Romæ, ut supra, sub anno a nativitate Dni. millesimo quingentesimo septua55 gesimo quarto, indictione 2da, die vero 12ma mensis Martii, pontificatus prælibati sanctiss. in Christo patris et domini nostri, domini Gregorii divina providentia papæ 13ii anno. præsentib. ibidem reverend. dominis. fratre Guglielmo Macarmuit, fratre Joanne Hoargo de Hybernia; et reverendo domino Joanne Callanario abbate de Portu patrum, Anachduanen, canonico regulari in Hybernia; testib. ad præmissa vocatis atque rogatis.

Ego Lodovicus Branca de Jermanis, ceremoniarum aplicarum. Magister, ex officio ceremoniarum prædictar. premissis interfui, et de juramento rogatus subscripsi.

Mr. Dering's answer to certain articles of matters that he had spoken at some public dinner: presented to the lords of the Star-chamber.

MOST humbly I beseech your honours to consider, that MSS. Burghlian. in matters of accusation, not only words, but also the manner of speaking, must be witness of the truth. Else our Saviour Christ lost the innocency of his cause: who was charged but with the words of his own mouth. Matth. xxvi. 62. Job ii. 19. And indeed the most perfect words, as they be spoken in their order, may have a very ill sound, if you will draw them apart. When Christ said, he that will be his disciple, must hate his father and his mother: if you change his purpose and maner of speaking, you shall open wide the mouth of the slanderer unto much bitterness. This example of our Saviour Christ, it is precious and dear unto your honours. So that you will never receive a report of words, but in good warrant of the manner of speaking.

And, my very good lords, the more plentifully you have received grace, and a spirit of government, fear the more, lest the accuser should here deceive you. Constantinus, that excellent emperor, manitimes justified Athanasius against his accusers: yet at the last he was overcome; and believing the evil report, banished an excellent bishop. Theodosius, a singular man, and of a meek spirit; yet he was caried away, and decreed against Cyril, a singular bishop. David, a man according to the heart of God, believed a false accusation against Mephibosheth; and did his faithful and good servant wrong. These examples make me sometimes fear. And therefore I beseech your honours pardon me, tho' I were bold to alledge them. And for all the things, whereof I am accused, first, I beseech God revele the truth; and then, before God, I profess unto you to write the truth of that I know I have spoken.

Against godfathers and godmothers, saving only the name, I spake nothing. I know they are used in reformed

BOOK churches: and I confess the use is good. And they that I. speak against them, I think, they are worthy to be pu

nished. Of the charge given to them, to se the children brought up; to exhort them to hear sermons, &c. and thereof to make progress in the church of God; which yet they did not keep; I said, it was very ill, and perhaps I added, one of the worst things in the book of service. Wherein I also blamed the French book; not only our

own.

More than this, on my part, was never thought. And therefore I am sure not spoken by me. Where it was further objected against me, that I said,

The statute for the provision for the poor was no competent way devised for it; or any such words. In which I might seem to blame either the act of parlament, or the makers of it. I utterly deny it, as a most impudent report: and such as it grieveth me once to remember it. I thank God I have better learned than in dishes and cups to blame so proudly the state of a kingdom. I allowed of the order already taken. I commended it. I said, it wanteth only the good will of men to execute it. Where it is further objected,

56 That I could provide for the poor two ways. The one was, I could commit them to the rich to be kept; to some two, to some three, &c. Another way was, to what purpose is this superfluity? Or, what do we with so much plate? These all I utterly deny, as the words which I never spake, and the thoughts which were never yet in my heart. And if I should have spoken the one or the other, I had spoken wickedly, and deserved punishment accordingly. And thus much I profess and protest, upon the warrant of a Christian man's words before the seat of justice; where I dare not lye. And to prove my saying true, I have brought the hand of those that were present. If contrary witnesses come against me, as I understand Mr. Toy, Mr. Willet, and Mr. D. Chaderton will do, I beseech your lordships, give me leave to except against their testimony: and you shall hear more plainly what I have to say. Only this now shall be

1.

sufficient: Mr. Toy confessed before Mr. Killegrew and BOOK Mr. D. Fulke, he heard me speak nothing of plate, nothing of that book, nothing of committing the poor to the rich. Only he remembred, I said at dinner, To what purpose is this superfluity? And of the charge of godfathers, who did very ill, that they looked no better to it. Mr. Willet said to Mr. Fulke, he would he had not been there: for indeed my words, except they were strangely construed against me, might be well taken. Mr. Chaderton praised me much at the table, and said, he was sure the university would willingly give me again my grace, to commence this next year: and after dinner, privately to Mr. Hodgson, he used much fair speech of me. And since he accused me, he wrote his letters to me, that he had spoken nothing, but as occasion was offered; and he meant no ill in his words toward me: and it must needs be thought somewhat strange, that so special words, so full of offence, so boldly reported by Mr. Chaderton, should be remembred by none but by the two brothers.

Last of all, I beseech your honours, if occasion shall so serve; enquire of mine accusers, what chapter I read after dinner; and the words I used of the mutual duty of poor and rich; of private men and of them in authority. Which if they will remember, they cannot construe my first words so strangely, to devise any evil meaning of them.

Now because in report of my words there is great suspicion, lest I should secretly fancy a community of things, I testify it before God and his angels, that this I know, such a community is but a common confusion; tending to the spoil of God's people, and utter shame of all his saints. For seeing the heart of man is full of corruption, which encreaseth more by all unbridled liberty, what resting place should be for the godly, which must render again good for evil? except community could place out of our nature envy, malice, covetousness, strife, concupiscence, &c. How miserable were the church of Christ, that must needs be subject to so cruel a multitude! He that teacheth this doctrine, let him be cut off, whosoever he be.

BOOK

I.

For our part, we have not so learned Christ. But we say with St. Paul, Let every man abide in that calling in which he is called; whether he be bond or free. That he may be taught by the grace of God, how to abound, and how to want; how to be rich, and how to be poor. And blessed be the Lord of Israel, that hath established for his people (not of transitory things) so great a warrant of faith. For in all poverty, sorrow, care, affliction, what comfort do I feel, when I can say with the prophet David, I hold my peace, O Lord, because thou hast done it! How happily do I see the troubles to come, when God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes! And again, in all abundance of riches, honour, favour, authority, what witnesses are they unto me of God's goodness! when I can say in the midst of them, Vanity of vanity; and all is vanity: when I faithfully dispense that is committed unto me: when I truly believe, that my treasure is not earthly: when I look through honour, and see in spirit, that to fear God and keep his commandments, this is all the happiness under the sun. It is a cursed community that taketh this blessing from us. And Satan turneth himself into an angel of light, when he maketh such entrance into the pathways of love.

57 God hath given to every man goods to dispense; to some

more, to some less, even as he would: and unto all a property in the things they have. Which truth shall stand, when heaven and earth shall pass. For it hath the strength of the law of the Lord, Thou shalt not steal. And upont it Christ will build up the inheritance of his saints for ever, when he shall say unto them on his right hand, When I was hungry, you gave me meat, &c. As likewise with it he shall condemn his enemies, and make it known, he gave unto every one a property in his goods, when fear and terror shall teach them his judgments; and in his wrath he shall speak, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and for his angels. When I was hungry, yee gave me not meat, &c. Then this is it I do believe, and this I do teach, there is no such community in the church of God; nor ought to be; nor ever was since God first