CHAP Reformation of the Church of England into its destruction. III A.D. 1530 These no real im It is of very little importance to us, historically or otherwise, what were the opinions or alleged opinions of these foreign universities as to marriage with a brother's widow. Had they been given unaopinions of nimously and without pressure we should have portance scarcely any means of judging of their value, because we know so little as to the character of the bodies by which they were given. But they were in reality given under the influence of circumstances which make them utterly worthless. Fear, faction, and bribery, were the controlling powers by which these opinions were extracted; and sometimes, as in the Sorbonne, the best men declined to have anything to do with the question, while a small majority was secured after several days' discussion by the use of strong external pressure on the part of the crown. Universi ties Opinions It appears much more reasonable that Henry of English should have sent to Oxford and Cambridge to ask their opinions on the subject; but in both universities the same kind of manipulation was used as had been used abroad, and with very similar consequences. Cambridge managed Cambridge was the first to yield under the preseasily sure from above, its grace being passed on March 9, 1530. But Cambridge gave little trouble, having been treated to the process of manipulation for some time previously, and having not a few within its colleges who had begun to take a side in respect to the new learning, and looked to the King's new favourite as its future patroness. Latimer was the leader of the latter party, and Cranmer was associated with Gardiner and Fox in bringing the Univer into notice sity round to the desired opinion. In the previous CHAP year Cranmer had, by some means, been introduced to the King's notice, and had been commissioned to A.D. 1530 write an argument in favour of the divorce, which he did in the house of Lord Wiltshire, the father of Cranmer the lady who was to profit by it.3 "And when Dr. coming Cranmer had accomplished the King's request in this behalf, he, with the secretary and almoner, and other learned men, had in commission to dispute that cause in question at both the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford; which being first attempted at Cambridge, Dr. Cranmer by his authority and persuasion brought six or seven learned men in one day of the contrary part and opinion on his part." Such is the account given by Morice, Archbishop Cranmer's secretary in later days. Another contemporary biographer also mentions the same fact, and states that his zeal in thus converting Cam- Brought bridge doctors brought him under Gardiner's notice, Gardiner and that he was then introduced by Gardiner to the King.5 "4 It was a soil thus prepared beforehand that Gardiner and Fox had to cultivate further for the 2 The groundlessness of the usual story has been shown before, at page 129. 3 A letter is extant from Cranmer to the Earl of Wiltshire, in which he gives the latter a summary of Pole's book against the divorce. See Jenkyns' Cranmer, i. 1. His book on the divorce is entitled by Bale "De non ducende Fratrici," and the substance of it is supposed to form the introduction to the book of the Determinations of the Universities. Some have identified it with the article "Gravissimæ ... censuræ," at forward by CHAP production of an actual grace of the senate. It so happens that an interesting letter has been preA.D. 1530 served which tells us exactly how they went to work; and puts into our possession a life-like picture of the Cambridge Senate on a Sunday and Monday in February 1529-30. The letter was written to the King, and is as follows: Gardiner "Pleaseth it your Highness to be advertised, That arriving and Fox at here at Cambridge upon Saturday last past at noon, that same Cambridge night, and Sunday in the morning, we devised with the Vice Chancellor, and such other as favoureth your Grace's cause, how and in what sort to compass and attain your Grace's purpose and intent: wherein we assure your Grace, we found much towardness, good will, and diligence, in the Vice-Chancellor and Dr. Edmunds, being as studious to serve your Grace as we could wish or desire: Nevertheless there was not so much care, labour, study, and diligence employed on our party, by them, ourself, and other, for attaining your Grace's purpose, but there was as much done by others for the lett and empeachment of the same; and as we assembled, they assembled, as we made friends they made friends, to lett that nothing should pass as in the Universities name; wherein the first day they were superiors, for they had put in the ears of them, by whose voices such things do pass, multas fabulas, too tedious to write unto your Grace. Upon Sunday at afternoon were assembled, after the manner of the University, all the Doctors, Bachelors of Divinity, and Masters of Arts, being in number almost two hundred: In that congregation we delivered your Question Grace's Letters, which were read openly by the Vice-Chancellor. And for answer to be made unto them, first the Vice-Chancellor calling apart the doctors, asked their advice and opinion; whereunto they answered severally, as their affections led them, et res erat in multa confusione. Tandem they were content Answer should be made to the questions by indifferent men: But then they came to Exceptions against the Abbot of St. Benets, who seemed to come for that purpose; and likewise against Dr. Reppes, and Dr. Crome; and also generally put before the Senate III next day against all such as had allowed Dr. Cranmer's book, inasmuch CHAP as already they had declared their opinion. We said thereunto, That by that reason they might except against all; for A.D. 1530 it was lightly, that in a question so notable as this is, every man learned hath said to his friend as he thinketh in it for the time; but we ought not to judge of any man, that he setteth more to defend that which he hath once said, than truth afterward known. Finally the Vice-Chancellor, because the day was much spent in those altercations, commanding every man to resort to his seat apart, as the manner is in those assemblies, willed every man's mind to be known secretly, whether they would be content with such an Order as he had conceived for answer to be made by the University to your Grace's Letters; whereunto that night they would in no wise agree. And forasmuch as it was then dark night, the Vice- Senate adChancellor continued the Congregation till the next day at journed till one of the clock; at which time the Vice-Chancellor proponed a Grace after the form herein closed; and, it was first denied: When it was asked again, it was even on both parties, to be denied or granted; and at last, by labour of friends to cause some to depart the house which were against it, it was obtained in such form as the Schedule herein enclosed purporteth; wherein be two points which we would have left out; but considering by putting in of them, we allured many, and that indeed they shall not hurt the Determination for your Grace's part, we were finally content therewith. The one point is that where it was first, that quicquid major pars of them that be named decreverit, should be taken for the Determination of the University. Now it referred ad duas partes, wherein we suppose shall be no difficulty. The other point A disputa is, That your Grace's question shall be openly disputed, which we think to be very honourable; and it is agreed amongst us, That in that disputation shall answer the Abbot of St. Benet's, Dr. Reppes, and I, and Mr. Fox, to all such as will object any thing or reason against the conclusion to be sustained for your Grace's part. And because Mr. Doctor Clyffe hath said that he has somewhat to say concerning the Canon Law, I, your Secretary, shall be adjoined unto them for answer to be made therein. tion to be held CHAP III A. D. 1530 A majority secured "In the schedule which we send unto your Grace herewith, containing the names of those who shall determine your Grace's question, all marked with A. be already of your Grace's opinion; by which we trust, and with other good. means, to induce and attain a great part of the rest. Thus we beseech Almighty God to preserve your most noble and royal estate. From Cambridge, the day of February.— Your Highness' most humble subjects and servants, "STEPHEN GARDINER, "EDWARD FOXE." The result of this good management was, that in about a fortnight the delegates came to an agreement, or as many of them as were sufficient to make the necessary two-thirds,-and passed "determination," which was sent to the King by Dr. Buckmaster, the vice-chancellor, in the name of the whole University. The learned man went prepared with Burnet, iv. 132, Pocock's Ed. The grace obtained for these delegates is given thus by Gardiner :-" Placet vobis ut [A] Vicecancellarius; Doctores, [A] Salcot, the Abbot of St. Benet's, Watson, [A] Reps, Tomson, Venetus, de isto bene speratur; [A] Edmunds, Downes, [A] Crome, [A] Wygan, [A] Boston. Magistri in Theologia, Myddelton, [A] Heynes, Mylsent, de isto bene speratur; [A] Shaxton, [A] Latimer, [A] Simion, Longford, de isto bene speratur; Thyxtel, Nicols, Hutton, [A] Skip, [A] Goodrich, [A] Heth, Hadwey, de isto bene speratur; Dey, Bayne, [AA] Duo Procuratores. "Habeant plenam facultatem et Auctoritatem, nomine totius Universitatis, respondendi Literis Regiæ Majestatis in hac Congregatione lectis, ac nomine totius Universitatis definiendi et determinandi quæstionem in dictis literis propositam: ita quod quicquid duse partes eorum præsentium inter se decreverint, respondendi dictis literis, et definierint ac determinaverint super quæstione proposita, in iisdem habeatur, et reputetur pro responsione, definitione et determinatione totius Universitatis, et quod liceat Vicecancellario, Procuratoribus et Scrutatoribus, literis super dictarum duarum partium definitione et determinatione concipienda sigillum commune Universitatis apponere: sic quod disputetur quæstio publice et antea legatur coram Universitate absque ulteriori gratia desuper petenda aut obtinenda. "Your Highness may perceive by the notes, that we be already sure of as many as be requisite, wanting only three; and we have good hope of four; of which four if we get two, and obtain of another to be absent, it is sufficient for our purpose." 7 The "determination" of Cam |