It is first therefore to be noted and considered, that the same Thomas Cranmer coming of ancient parentage,1 from the Conquest to be deducted, and continuing sithens in the name & family of a Gentleman, was borne in a Village called Arselacton in Nottingham shire. Of whose said name and family there remaineth at these days one Manor and mansion house in Lincoln shire called Cranmer Hall &c. some times of heritage of the said stock and family. Who being from his infancy kept at School, and brought up not without much good civility, came in process of time unto the University of Cambridge,2 and there prospering in right good knowledge amongest the better sort of Students, was chosen fellow of Jesus College in Cambridge.3 And so being Master of Art, and fellow of the same College, it chanced him to marry a Gentleman's daughter: by means whereof he lost and gave over his fellowship there, and became the Reader in Buckingham College: and for that he would with more diligence apply that his office of Reading, placed his said wife in an Inn called the Dolphin in Cambridge, the wife of the house being of affinity unto her. By means of whose abode in that Inn, & his often repair unto her, arose a certain slanderous report, after he was preferred to be Archbishop of Canterbury, bruited abroad by the malicious disdain of certain Sycophantical Papists that he was but an Hosteler, and altogether devoid of learning, which how falsely was forged upon him, may easily appear hereby: That the Masters & Fellows of Jesus College noting the virtuous disposition of the man,4 & the great travail he took, notwithstanding his marriage, whiles he continued Reader in Buckingham College, immediately upon the death of his wife (who not long, after their enter marriage was in Childbed surprised by death) refined him into their Fellowship again: where he so behaved him self that in few years, after he became the Reader of the Divinity Lecture in the same College, and in such special estimation & reputation with the whole University, that being Doctor of Divinity he was commonly appointed one of the heads (which are two or three of the chiefest learned men) to examine such as yearly profess in Commencement, either Bachelors, or Doctors of Divinity, by whose approbation the whole University licenceth them to proceed unto their degree:
It is first therfore to be noted and considered, that the same Thomas Cranmer comming of auncient parentage,1 from the Conquest to be deducted, and continuyng sithens in the name & familie of a Gentleman, was borne in a Uillage called Arselacton in Notynghā shyre. Of whose sayd name and familie there remaineth at these dayes one Manour and mansion house in Lincolne shyre called Cranmer Hall &c. some tymes of heritage of the sayd stocke and familie. Who beyng from his infancie kept at Schoole, and brought vp not without much good ciuilitie, came in processe of tyme vnto the Uniuersitie of Cambridge,2 and there prospering in right good knowledge amōgest the better sort of Studētes, was chosen fellow of Iesus Colledge in Cambridge.3 And so beyng Maister of Arte, and fellow of the same Colledge, it chaūced him to mary a Gentlemans daughter: by meanes wherof he lost and gaue ouer his fellowship there, and became the Reader in Buckingham Colledge: and for that he would with more diligence apply that his office of Reading, placed his sayd wife in an Inne called the Dolphin in Cambridge, the wife of the house beyng of affinitie vnto her. By meanes of whose abode in that Inne, & his often repayre vnto her, arose a certaine slaūderous report, after he was preferred to be Archbyshop of Caunterbury, bruted abroad by the malicious disdaine of certaine Sycophanticall Papistes that he was but an Hosteler, and altogether deuoyde of learning, which how falsly was forged vpō him, may easely appeare hereby: That the Maisters & Fellowes of Iesus Colledge notyng the vertuous disposition of the man,4 & the great trauaile he tooke, notwithstādyng his mariage, whiles he cōtinued Reader in Buckinghā Colledge, immediatly vpon the death of his wife (who not long, after their enter mariage was in Childbed surprised by death) refin•ed him into their Fellowship agayne: where he so behaued him selfe that in few yeares, after he became the Reader of the Diuinitie Lecture in the same Colledge, and in such speciall estimatiō & reputatiō with the whole Uniuersitie, that beyng Doctour of Diuinitie he was commōly appointed one of the heades (which are two or thrée of the chiefest learned men) to examine such as yearely professe in Commencemēt, either Bachelers, or Doctours of Diuinitie, by whose approbation the whole Uniuersitie licēceth them to procéede vnto their degrée:
- 1Thomas Cranmer a Gentleman borne.
- 2Thom. Cranmer first coming to Cambridge•Thom. Crāmer first commyng to Cambridge•
- 3Thomas Cranmer fellow of Jesus college.Thomas Cranmer fellow of Iesus colledge.
- 4Thom. Cranmer after the decease of his wife, chosen again fellow into Jesus College.Thom. Crāmer after ye decease of his wife, chosen agayne fellow into Iesus Colledge.
