A01115:2283
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thomas Cranmer 1was first of Jesus College in Cambridge, a Master of Arts and fellow of the College: afterward he married and gave over his fellowship, and became reader in Buckingham College. Whiles he was reader in that College, his wife dyed, & he was received again to be fellow of Jesus College: where he grew in knowledge in such sort, that he became Doctor of Divinity, and was appointed one of the heads, to examine such as yearly were to commence Bachelors, or Doctors of Divinity. Who never would admit any to proceed in Divinity, unless they were substantially seen in the story of the Bible: whereby diverse Fryers and other religious persons were rejected of him. He was greatly solicited by Doctor Capon to be one of the fellows in the foundation of Cardinal Wolsey's College in Oxford, but could not be drawn thereunto. Whiles he continued in Cambridge, the matter of the kings divorce with the Lady Catherine was in question now two or three years among the Canonists: who could not resolve upon the matter. Now by reason the plague was in Cambridge, Doctor Cranmer removed to Waltham cross with two of his pupils to M. Cressey's house, where Doctor Stevens secretary, and Doctor Fox Almoner finding him, conferred with him about that matter of the kings divorce. He gave them counsel rather to cause it to be discussed among the Divines,2 whether by the word of God a man may marry his brothers wife or not, for the satisfying of the Kings conscience: and that done, to refer it to judgement how lawful the divorce might be, &c. This discourse ⟨p. 193⟩they declared unto the king, who caused Cranmer immediately to be sent for:3 and after talk with him concerning the matter, he appointed him to be chief doer in the dispute, and conference: and commanded him to set down his mind fully in the case, and willed the Earle of Wiltshire to give him entertainment in Duresme house, and to furnish him with Books, and necessaries meet for the business: who provided for him accordingly. So doctor Cranmer wrote his mind concerning the kings question, adding to the same, besides the authority of Scripture, of general counsels, and ancient fathers, also his own opinion, that the Pope could not dispense with the word of God. Whereupon the king sent certain learned men abroad to the most part of the Universities in Christendom to dispute the question: