finding that nothing went so near the King's Heart Edward VI as the ruin of Religion which he apprehended would follow upon his Death when his Sister Mary should come to the Crown upon that he and his party took advantage to propose to him to settle the Crown by his Letters Patents on the Lady Jane Grey then newly married to Guilford Dudley Northumberlands fourth Son how they prevailed with him to pass by his Sister Elisabeth who had been always much in his Favour I do not so well understand But the King being wrought over to this on the 11th of June Mountague Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Baker and Bromly two Judges with the King's Attorney and Solicitor were commanded to come to Council There they found the King with some Privy-Councellors about him The King told them he did now apprehend the danger the Kingdom might be in by the Succession of his Sister Mary So he ordered some Articles to be read to them of the way in which he would have the Crown to descend They objected that an Act of Parliament could not be taken away by any such Device yet the King required them to take the Articles and draw a Book according to them They asked a little time to consider of it So having examined the Statute of the first year of his Reign they found that it was Treason not only after the King's Death but in his life time to change the Succession Secretary Petre in the mean time pressed them to make haste When they came again to the Council they declared they could not do any such thing for it was Treason And all the Lords should be Guilty of Treason if they went on in it Upon which the Duke of Northumberland who was not then in the Council Chamber being advertised of this came in great Fury calling Mountague a Traitor But the Judges stood to their Opinion They were again sent for and came on the 15th of June The King was present and somewhat sharply asked them why they had not prepared the Book as he had ordered them They answered that whatever they did would be of no force without a Parliament But the King said he would have it first done and then ratified in Parliament and therefore required them on their Allegiance to go about it and some Councellors told them if they refused to Obey that they were Traytors This put them in a great Consternation and Old Mountague thinking it could not be Treason whatever they did in this matter while the King lived and at worst that a Pardon under the great Seal would secure him consented to set about it if he might have a Commission requiring him to do it and a Pardon when it was done both these being granted him he was satisfyed The other Judges being asked if they would concur did all agree being overcome with fear except Hales But Cranmer still refused to do it after they had all signed it and said he would never consent to the Disinheriting of the Daughters of his late Master Many Consultations were had to perswade him to it but he could not be prevailed on till the King himself set on him who used many Arguments from the danger Religion would otherwise be in together with other Perswasions so that by his Reasons or rather Importunities at last he brought him to it NOTE The Doctors excuse for this unjust Act of Cranmers importunity the same that naughty Women are said to pretend for their Incontinency If he did this only as submitting to his Princes importunity how came he after King Edward 's Death to Subscribe the aforesaid Letter And to do both after he had said he he would never consent to the disinheriting of King Henry 's Children The Reader may now understand the reason why he answered little or nothing to the Treason objected to him by the Bishop of Glocester because there was too much Truth in it And methinks this excuse which Burnet makes for him does him no service namely that he stood off a good while but at last with much a do was perswaded into this Conspiracy against K. Henry 's Children How does this answer the Character which Fox gives of him in causes pertaining to God and his Prince no Man more stout no Man more constant then he But whether he was in reality so unwilling to this Action is a question which the indifferent Reader may easily resolve Since he could not but apprehend that Queen Mary would call him to an account for the troubles he had brought upon her Mother and indeed upon the whole Church and Kingdom of England For amongst all the English Bishops anno 1533. King Henry could not find such another Person as Burnet confesses to serve him in the See of Canterbury Now as for Mountague Chief Justice of the Common Plea's and the rest of the Judges who at last consented to the advancement of Lady Jane Grey you may observe them scrupling the matter not out of Conscience but apprehension of the Law. All that they desired was to be indemnified from the danger of Law. A. Now go on to relate how he acquitted himself of the other particulars laid to his Charge Heresie Perjury Incontinency B. Although he answered nothing to the Bishop of Glocester concerning the point of Treason yet I remember somewhat in Fox which he reply'd to Doctor Martyn the Queen's Proctor viz. I protest before God I was no Traytor but indeed I confessed more at my Arraignment than was true Martyn returns that is not to be reasoned at this present you know you were condemned for a Traytor Fox page 653. 3 Vol. A. Is there no more in Fox as to that point B. Not a word more that I can find A. Then proceed as to the particular of Heresie B. John Foxes words are these As for the matter of Heresie and Schism wherewith he was charged he protested and called God to witness that he knew none that he maintained But if that were an Heresie to deny the Popes Authority and the Religion which the See of Rome hath published to the World these later years then the Apostles and Christ himself taught Heresie and he desired all then present to bear him witness that he took the Traditions and Religion of that usurping Prelate to be most false erroneous and against the Doctrine of the whole Scripture That he is the very Antichrist so often preached of by the Apostles and Prophets For it was most evident that he had advanced himself above all Emperors and Kings of the World whom he affirmeth to hold their Estates and Empires of him as their Chief and to be deposed at his good Will and Pleasure That he hath brought in Gods of his own Framing and invented a new Religion full of Gain and Lucre. This Enemy of God and of our Redemption is so evidently painted out in the Scriptures by such manifest Signs and Tokens that except a man will shut up his Eyes and Heart against the
pains was taken to instruct her better but she refused to enter into any Reasonings and claimed the Promise that was said to be made to the Emperor But it was told her that it was but temporary and conditional Whereupon the last Summer anno 1550. she was designing to fly out of England The Emperors Ambassador solicited for her violently and said he would presently take leave and protest that they had broken their Faith to his Master who would resent the Usage of the Lady Mary as highly as if it were done immediately to himself The Privy Counsellors having no mind to draw a new War on their Heads especially from so victorious a Prince were all inclined to let the matter fall There was also a Years Cloth lately sent over to Antwerp and 1500 Quintals of Powder with a great deal of Armour bought there for the King's use was not come over So it was thought by no means advisable to provoke the Emperor while they had such effects in his Ports Nor were they very willing to give higher Provocations to the next Heir of the Crown Therefore they all advised the King not to do more in that matter at present but to leave the Lady Mary to her Discretion who would certainly be made more Cautious by what she had met with and would give as little scandal as was possible by her Mass But King Edward could not be induced to give way to it for he thought the Mass was Impious and Idolatrous as Cranmer and the rest of his Tutors had instructed him so he would not consent to the continuance of such a Sin. Upon this the Council ordered Cranmer Ridley and Poinet the new Bishops of Winchester to discourse with him about it They told him it was always a Sin in a Prince to permit any Sin but to give a Connivance that is not to Punish was not always a Sin. Since sometimes a lesser Evil connived at might prevent a greater He was overcome by this yet not so easily but that he burst forth into Tears lamenting his Sisters obstinacy and that he must suffer her to continue in so abominable a way of Worship as he esteemed the Mass Burnet ibid. Reader Observe here the Casuistry of these new Apostles Cranmer Ridley and Poinet c. governing the Conscience of this young King. At his Fathers death they all went to Mass King Henry was no sooner dead but they represent it to King Edward as the most impious and detestable Idolatry not to be tolerated by any Christian King He understood not their Knavery being then anno 1546. a Child of nine years old but verily thought them what they pretended to be the most sincere Christians After four or five years he is amazed to find the Spirt of Reformation appearing with a Cloven foot and distinguishing betwixt Permitting and Conniving at the impiety of the Mass for interests sake He burst our into Tears at the Counsel of these new Evangelists thus mingling earthly Policy with Religion But mark what follows Burnet informs you that King Edward's Council being now less in fear of the Emperor In July anno 1551 sent for Inglefield Walgrave and Rochester three of the Lady Marys chief Officers and gave them Instructions to signifie unto her the Kings Pleasure to have the new Service in her Family these are Burnets words and to return with an Answer In August they came back and said she received the Message very grievously and that she would obey the King in all things except where her Conscience was touched Upon this they were sent to the Tower. Then the Lord Chancellor Sir Authony Wingfield and Sir William Petre were sent unto her with a Letter from the King and Instructions from the Council They came to her House at Copthall in Essex The Lord Chancellor gave her the Kings Letter which she received on her knees and said she paid that respect to the Kings Hand and not to the Matter of the Letter which she knew proceeded from the Council And when she read it she said Ah! Mr. Cecil took much pains here he was then Secretary of State so she turned to the Counsellors and bid them deliver their Message to her wishing them to be short for she was not well at ease The Lord Chancellor told her that all the Council were of one mind that she must be no longer suffered to have private Mass or a Form of Religion different from what was established by Law. He went to read the Names of those that were of that mind but she desired him to spare his pains she knew they were all of a sort They next told her they had Order to require her Chaplains to use no other Service than what was according to Law. She answered she was the Kings most obedient Subject and Sister and would obey him in every thing but where her Conscience held her and would willingly suffer Death to do him Service but she would lay her Head on a Block rather than use any other Form of Service than what had been at her Fathers Death only she thought observe this she was not worthy to suffer Death upon so good an account When the King came to be of Age so that he could order these things himself she would obey his Commands in Religion For although he Good Sweet King these were her words had more Knowledge than any of his years yet he was not a fit Judge in these matters For if a Ship were to be set to Sea or any matter of Policy to be determined they would not think him fit for it much less could he be able to resolve Points of Divinity I have transcribed this passage at large out of Burnet pag. 173 174. 2. vol. for two reasons 1. To acquaint the Reader how these Reformers steered their course according to their Interest For in July 1551. being now in less fear of the Emperor says Burnet they sent 3 Messengers to her to signifie the Kings Pleasure that she must be no longer suffered to have Mass in her Family 2. To entertain you with this passage of the Christian and Noble Behaviour of the Lady Mary confessed by Burnet himself And more of it you shall hear anon A. You promised another passage out of Burnet B. 'T is this On the 12th of April 1549. the third year of Edward VI a Complaint was brought to the Council that with the Strangers that were come into England some Anabaptists had come over and were disseminating their Errors and making Proselites so a Commission was ordered for the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Ely Wircester Westminster Chichester Lincoln and Rochester c. and some others three of them being a Quorum to examine and search after all Anabaptists Heretiques or Contemners of the Common Prayer They were to endeavour to reclaim them to enjoyn them Penance and give them Absolution or if they were obstinate to excommunicate and imprison them and to deliver them over to the secular Power to
great Dignities and high Truâ—…s yet he had now by a great number of Witnesses persons of Honour found him to be the most corrupt Traitor and Deceiver of the King and the Crown that had ever been known in his whole Reign That he had received several Bribes and for them granted Licenses to carry Mony Corn Horses and other things out of the Kingdom contrary to the King's Proclamations that he being also an Heretick had dispersed many Erroneous Books among the King's Subjects particularly some that were contrary to the belief of the Sacrament and when some had informed him of this and had shewed him these Heresies in Books printed in England he said they were good and that he found no fault in them and said it was as lawful for every Christian Man to be a Minister of the Sacrament as a Priest And whereas the King had constituted him Vice Gerent for the spiritual affairs of the Church he had under the Seal of that Office Licensed many that were suspected of Heresie to Preach over the Kingdom And had both by Word and Writing suggested to several Sheriffs that it was the King's pleasure they should discharge many Prisoners of whom some were indicted others apprehended for Heresie And when many particular Complaints were brought to him of detestable Heresies with the names of the Offenders he not onely defended the Hereticks but severely checkt the Informers And vexed some of them by Imprisonment and otherways And he having entertained many of the King's Subjects about himself whom he had infected with Heresie and imagining he was by force able to defend his Treasons and Heresies on the last of March in the 30th year of the King's Reign in the Parish of St. Peters in London when some of them complained to him of the new Preachers such as Barnes and others he said their Preaching was good and said also among other things that if the King would turn from it yet he would not turn And if the King did turn and all his People with him he would fight in the field in his own Person with his Sword in his Hand against him and all others And then he pulled out his Dagger and held it up and said or else this Dagger thrust Me to the Heart if I would not dye in that quarrel against them all And I trust if I live one year or two it shall not be in the King's power to resist or let it if he would And Swearing a great Oath said I would do so Indeed He had also by Oppression and Bribery made a great Estate to himself and extorted much Money from the King's Subjects and being greatly enriched had treated the Nobility with much Contempt For all which Treasons and Heresies he was attainted to suffer the pains of Death as should please the King and to forfeit all his Estate and Goods to the King's use These are the Words of the Act. Burnet page 278. 279. A. How does the Doctor excuse him B. Most of these things relate to Orders and Directions he had given for which it is very probable he had the King's Warrant And for the matter of Heresie it has appeared how far the King had proceeded towards a Reformation so that what he did that way was most likely done by the King's Orders But the King now falling from these things it was thought they intended to stifle him by such an Attainder that he might not discover the secret Orders or Directions given him for his own justification page 279. NOTE It is very probable it was most likely it was thought is all the Defence which the Doctor makes for him Who having seen all his Papers found it seems none of those Orders or Directions How far the King had proceeded towards a Reformation was then apparent by the Statute of Six Articles made purposely against the insolence of the new Preachers anno 1539. And the King's aversion to Heresie no Man understood better than Cromwell For in his Heart he continued as is confessed by the Doctor addicted to some of the most extravagant Opinions of the Roman Church as Transubstantiation c. so that he was to his Lives end more Papist than Protestant so the Doctor is pleased to express himself Pref. to 1 Vol. A. What Religion did Cromwell dye of B. When he was brought to the Scaffold he acknowledged his Sins against God and his Offences against his Prince who had raised him from a base degree he declared that he dyed in the Catholick Faith not doubting of any Article of Faith or of any Sacrament of the Church he denyed that he had been a Supporter of those who delivered ill Opinions He confessed he had been seduced mark this but now dyed in the Catholick Faith. Burnet page 284. By what he spoke at his Death he lest it much doubted of what Religion he dyed But it is certain he was a Lutheran says Burnet page 285. The term Catholick Faith used by him in his last Speech seemed to make it doubtful but that was then used in England in its true Sence in opposition to the Novelties of the See of Rome page 285. ibid. So that his Profession of the Catholick Faith was strangely perverted says Burnet when some from thence concluded that he dyed in the Communion of the Church of Rome ibid. NOTE He dyed a Lutheran equivocating with the words Catholique Faith he knew Lutheranism was not allowed for Catholique Faith in England King Henry and his Bishops being more Papists than Lutherans He promoted the Reformation vigorously saith the Doctor so that if the truth were known he dyed of Ann Bolens Church and that was a Church yet unborn for in King Henrys time as Burnet observes the English Reformation was rather conceived than brought forth Verily the Reformation seems to me a Riddle from first to last If Cromwell was a Lutheran he was at the same time both Vicar General and Heretique to King Henrys Church as you may find in the Act of Attainder compared with the Statute of Six Articles A. Did he at his Death express any Remorse for destroying the Religious Houses and alienating the Estates of the Church B. Not a word of that I verily believe he thought he did God good Service and perhaps had done himself some Service out of those Estates A What reason have you for that B. It is not unlike says the Doctor that some Presents to the Commissioners or to Cromwell made those Houses outlive this ruin he means some few Houses which K Henry had restor'd to the Monks for I find great trading in Bribes at this time which is not to be wondred at when there was so much to be shared p 224. 1. vol. And the Act of Attainder says that he had by Oppression and Bribery made a great Estate to himself and extorted much Mony from the Kings Subjects and being greatly enriched had treated the Nobility with much Contempt But the Doctor excuses him pag. 279. For
his Consecration what was the first Service he did for the King B. The Parliament then sitting anno 1533. he came and sat in the upper House of Convocation Burnet p. 129. and there says Heylin he propounds two Questions to be disputed and considered by the Bishops and Clergy concerning the Kings Marriage with Queen Katherine both which Questions were answer'd as the King would have have it though not without some opposition in either House especially the upper It was concluded thereupon in the Convocation and not long after in the Parliament also that the King might lawfully proceed to another Marriage But NOTE The King was then privately married to Ann Bolen Heylin proceeds These Preparations being made and the Marriage with Queen Katherine precondemned by Convocation The new Archbishop upon his own desire and motion contained in his Letters of the 11th of April is authorized by the King under his Sign Manual to proceed definitively in the Cause mark the Authority upon which Cranmer proceeds to divorce Queen Katherine who thereupon accompanied by the Bishops of London Winchester Wells and Lincoln and divers other persons to serve as Officers in that Court repaired to Dunstable in the beginning of May and having a convenient place prepared in form of a Consistory they sent a Citation to the Princess Dowager meaning Q Katherine who was then at Ampthill a Mannor House of the Kings about six miles off requiring her to appear before them at the day appointed which day being come and no appearance by her made either in person or by proxy as they knew there would not she is called peremptorily every day fifteen days together and every day there was great posting betwixt them and the Court to certifie the King and Cromwell a principal Stickler in this business how all matters went in one of which from the new Archbishop extant in the Cottonian Library a resolution is signified to Cromwell for coming to a final Sentence on Friday the 18th of that Month but with a vehement Conjuration both to him and the King not to divulge so great a Secret for fear Queen Katherine on the hearing of it either before or on the day of passing Sentence should make her appearance in the Court. For saith he if the Noble Lady Katherine should upon the bruit of this matter either in the mouths of the inhabitants of the Country or by her Friends or Council hearing of it be counselled or perswaded to appear before me at the time or before the time of Sentence I should be thereby greatly staid let in the Process and the Kings Graces Council there present shall be much uncertain what to do therein For a great bruit and voice of the people in this behall might perchance move her to do the thing which peradventure she would not if she hear little of it and therefore I pray you to speak as little of this matter as you may and to move the Kings Highness so to do for consideration above recited Heylin Histor Reform pag. 177 178. NOTE Burnet commends Cranmer for his native Simplicity joyned with Prudence but what sort of Prudence this was let any man judge Thus Heylin sets down the naked truth of this matter which Burnet colours with all his Art not mentioning this Letter to Cromwell p. 130. 1. vol. He proceeds ibid. But so it happened to their wish that the Queen persisting constant in her resolution of standing to the Judgment of no other Court than that of Rome vouchsafed not to take any notice of their proceeding in the Cause and thereupon she was pronounced to be Contumax for defect of Appearance and by the general Consent of all the learned men then present the Sentence of Divorce was passed and her Marriage with the King declared void and of no effect Heylin page 178. Of this more anon A. But if you please I would know of what Church or Religion was Cranmer at the time of his Consecration and afterwards and likewise what were the Words of his Mission and Consecration both as Bishop and Priest B. First as to his Religion I will tell you my own opinion A Papist he could not be at that time because he denied the Popes Supremacy and other Doctrines of the Church of Rome Of the present Church of England he could not be because he went to Mass then and 14 years after so that he must be of King Henry's Church or of none at all In the year 1538. he was says Burnet of Luthers Opinion which he had drunk in from his Friend Osiander pag. 252. 1. vol. And sate upon the Tryal and Condemnation of John Lambert one of the new Preachers for denying the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament After the Death of K. Henry of whom he stood in aw he tackt about with the next wind of Doctrine which was Zuinglianism and joyning with King Edwards privy Counsellors he reformed that is subverted the established Religion of the Nation Yet in the first year of King Edward Heylin tells you that he with eight other Bishops all in their rich Mitres and other Pontificals sang a Mass of Requiem for the Soul of Francis the French King then lately deceased History Reform page 40. Notwithstanding that he with the rest of the Privy-Council had a good while before sent out their Injunctions and Commissioners into all parts of the Nation and Preachers to attend them which Preachers were particularly instructed to disswade the people from praying for the Dead from Diriges and Masses c. Heylin p. 34. yet Burnet would perswade you he was a Person of a native simplicity and not for Court Policies vide p. 302. A. And besides all this did he not hold some strange Opinions B. Yes Doctor Burnet says he had some particular Conceits of his own or singular Opinions which he delivered with all possible Modesty page 289. 1 Vol. A. What were those Opinions B. You shall hear them together with the excuse which the Doctor makes for him First That Bishops and Priests were at one time and were not two things but one Office in the beginning of Christs Religion In which Opinion all the Bishops and Clergy of England except two Bishops and two Doctors were against him Burnet Collection Records page 223. 2. A Bishop may make a Priest and so may Princes and Governours also and that by the Authority of God committed to them and the People by their Election For as we read that Bishops have done it so Christian Emperors and Princes usually have done it and the People before Christian Princes were commonly did Elect their Bishops and Priests But all the rest of the Bishops and Clergy except the Bishop of Saint Davids and two or three Doctors said positively that they found no example either in Scripture or the ancient Doctors that any Man beside a Bishop hath Authority to make Priests 3. In the New Testament he that is appointed to be a Bishop or a Priest
Humour drew hatred on him Barlow was not very discreet Burnet pag. 255. 1. vol. And then it follows Many of the Preachers whom they cherished meaning the new Preachers whether out of an unbridled forwardness of Temper or true Zeal that would not be managed and governed by politick and prudent measures note this were flying at many things not yet abolished See the rest Burnet ibid. This was in the year 1538. A. Give me leave to ask you one Question B. What 's that A. What is your meaning by all this History of Cranmer and his Associates B. Nothing but to shew the unwarrantableness of all the Changes they made in Religion having neither extraordinary nor ordinary Mission to recommend them nor yet the major Vote of the Convocation Ordinary Mission they had none but what you have heard out of the Roman Pontifical Extraordinary things they never pretended to besides what I have told you out of Burnet and Fox Now Reader remember that wonderful Answer of Mas William Kings page 18. viz. Although therefore the first Reformers had their Orders from Bishops in Communion with the Church of Rome Yet it was as Christian Bishops they ordained and as English Bishops that they admitted the first Reformers to their Charges But suppose they the first Reformers had no other Orders but what they received from the Bishop of Rome himself all that can be concluded from thence is that we are obliged to own that the Orders of Priest and Bishop given by Roman Catholicks are valid and capacitate a Man to perform all the Duties belonging to those Offices in a Christian Church which we readily acknowledge observe that and charge the Popish Priests and Bishops not with want of Orders but with abusing the Orders they have to ill intents and purposes by whose Authority do you pass this Censure The Roman Catholick Bishops do not confer Orders as Roman but as Christian Bishops their Orders are Christian Orders Mark Reader what he says Roman Catholick Bishops are Christian Bishops and their Orders Christian Orders why then did the first Reformers so notoriously transgress them And those we hold sufficient to all intents and purposes of the Reformation and must do so till Mr. Manby or some body else prove them insufficient In short a Man is ordained neither a Protestant nor a Papist but a Christian Bishop his Mission is a Christian Mission page 19. Now Roman Catholicks will be apt to ask what needs any more to recommend their Doctrine then Christian Bishops and a Christian Mission Mr. King allows their Mission and denyes their Doctrine They deny both his Mission and his Doctrine When Doctrines are disputed and Scriptures alledged by both Parties how shall a Church prove the verity of her Doctrine but by the certainty of her Mission Did not our blessed Saviour answer that question of the Jews by what Authority doest thou these thing by appealing to the Evidence of his Mission The works that I do testifie of me that I am sent from God A. But Mr. King's meaning is this that Roman Catholicks have exceeded their Commission by teaching false Doctrine B. But I would fain know of him who shall be Judge of that he knows very well that 's as easily deny'd as 't is affirm'd And I appeal to the indifferent Reader which of the two Parties have been the greatest Transgressors of those Orders now mentioned A. But don't you observe one admirable passage in him B. What is that A. Why that Mr. M. proceeds on an ignorant supposition that every Man is ordained to preach the Tenets of his Ordainers Whereas the ordained are no more accountable to their Ordainers upon the account of being ordained by them then a Man is accountable to a Lord Chancellor for the use of his power because he set the Seal to his Patent by which he claims his power page 19. B. Very good then if Mr. King were ordained by the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin or of Tuam he is not accountable to them for his Doctrine because the Ordainers are only instruments but his Power is from Christ A. Mark what he says he is not accountable to his Ordainers upon the account of being ordained by them page 19. What can be the meaning of this but that Ministers are not bound to preach the Tenets or Doctrines of those that sent them although Our Saviour himself says my Doctrine is not mine but his that fent me John 7.16 B. I observe he may prove a shew'd Man if he lives and set up for a new Reformer and then justifie it by saying It s an ignorant supposition to think every man is ordained to preach the Tenets of his Ordainers or else must have no Mission The Ordainers being only instruments but the Power from Christ page 19. Reader May not a Man receive Orders from the Church of England and afterwards make a step to New England and there preach against Common Prayer by vertue of this assertion A. But what say you to that scurrility and uncleanliness of Language wherewith he treats Mr. M. from one end of his Answer to the other B. You must Pardon him he had many Reasons for that first to shew a good example to his Flock 2. To prove himself a Gentleman and a well bred Scholar 3. To entertain his Friends with whom that sort of Language may be more taking perhaps then the most modest Expressions 4. To shew his Zeal for the Church and how much better a Dutiful Child may love a good Foster Mother the Church of Ireland then his own natural Mother the Church of Scotland c. A. Let us adjourn this Discourse till to Morrow And Conclude this first Dialogue with Burnet's Character of those two worthy Persons that dyed for the Catholick Religion under Henry VIII Sir Thomas More and the Bishop of Rochester On the first of July anno 1535. Sir Thomas More was brought to his Tryal The special matter of his Indictment was that on the 7th of May preceding before Cromwell Bedyll and some others that were pressing him concerning the Kings Supremacy he said he would not meddle with any such matter And was fully resolved to serve God and think upon his Passion and his own passage out of this World. That he had also sent divers Messages by one George Gold to Bishop Fisher to encourage him in his obstinacy and said the Act of Supremacy is like a Sword with two Edges for if a man answer one way it will confound his Soul and if he answer another way it will confound his Body That he had said the same thing on the third of June in the hearing of the Lord Chancellor the Duke of Norfolk and others And that he would not be the occasion of the shortening his own Life This and other particulars which passed betwixt him and Rich the Kings Sollicitor were laid together and judged to amount to a Denyal of the Kings Supremacy Judge Spelman writes that More being on