34. Mel. Epist. versed with; and particularly to John Cæsar, to whom printed at in a letter he gave a particular account of this affair. Leyden, 1647. pag. And it is to be noted by the way, that the said book, according to which the reformation was to be modelled, contained only, as Melancthon in his letter suggested, a necessary instruction for all children, and the sum of the Christian doctrine: and the appointments for the colleges and ecclesiastical hierarchy were very moderate; the form of the ecclesiastical polity being to remain as it was, and so were the colleges, with their dignities, wealth, degrees, ornaments thereunto belonging; only great su"Nec aliam perstitions should be taken away. Which the wise Melancthon aforesaid did so approve of, that he professed ut retineant he had often propounded it in diets of the German nation, episcopi et collegia suæ as the best way to peace. And this I add, that it might ἀξιώματα, video, nisi hanc unam, ["Clarissim. et doctissimo horridioribus prudentiam et in disputando eruditionem. Tribuit quinque diebus matutinas horas quinas huic auscultationi, adhibitis coadjutore, comite Stolbergio, Husmanno, Jenipio, Buchelo, et me. Attentissime audivit legi integrum opus. Quoties occurrit locus in quo aliquid desideravit, re disputata, accurate dixit quid sibi videretur, et auditis aliorum sententiis, vel mutari, vel illustrari eam partem jussit, quædam ipse suo judicio recte emendavit. Multas controversias dogmatum ita dextre dijudicavit, ut animadverterem res tantas ei diu cogitatas esse, et integram ecclesiæ doctrinam recte ab eo intelligi. Scio paucos hac judicii dexteritate præditos esse, quæ * [Hermannus archiepiscopus Coloniensis, comes à Wied.] et recipiant be observed how archbishop Cranmer went by the same et suas opes, measures in the reformation of the church of England; doctrinam maintaining the hierarchy, and the revenues, dignities, certa. Suntque adjuncti duo Gropperus et Hieronymus. Sed Tрwrауwviσrns est Gropperus. Is hactenus variis artificiis pugnavit, ut impediatur ecclesiarum emendatio. Liber profecto tantum necessariam omnibus pueris κατήxnow continet et summam Christianæ doctrinæ. De collegiis et iepapxía ecclesiastica, ut vocant, moderatissimæ sunt sententiæ, ut maneat forma politiæ ecclesiasticæ, maneant collegia et ἀξιώματα iepatikà, opes, gradus, ornamenta; sed superstitiones graves tollantur. Sæpe in conventibus Germanicæ nationis hanc pacis viam proposui. Nec aliam video, nisi hanc unam, ut retineant episcopi et collegia sua ἀξιώματα, et suas opes, et recipiant doctrinam piam. Quod cogitari æquius potest? Si hanc moderationem Gropperus non probat, sed prius nos interfici cupit, nec ecclesiæ nec patriæ bene consulit. Sed Deo hæc commendo. Habes historiam conventus inchoatam tantum. Nam ante finem plura nunc quidem scribere non poteram. Deum æternum patrem liberatoris nostri Jesu Christi oro, ut te diu servet incolumem, meque tibi ut parenti commendo. Bene vale, die Jacobi 24. Bonnæ, anno 1543."Melancthon. Epist. pp. 34-37. ed. Lugd. Bat. 1647.] quidem et ingenii vim significat, sed habent, ut solet fieri, mandata D d piam." Ubi supra. and customs of it, against many in those times that were for the utter abolishing them, as relics of popery. Such 288 a correspondence there was between our archbishop and the wisest, moderatest, and most learned divines of Germany. But let us look nearer home. CHAPTER XXXII. TROUBLES OF BISHOP TONSTAL. bles of As the last year we heard of the deprivation of two The troupopish bishops, so this year another underwent the like bishop censure; I mean Tonstal, bishop of Durham: whose Tonstal. business I shall the rather relate, because our archbishop old Council had some concern in it. September 21, "A commission MS. of an was issued out to the lord chief justice and his colleagues, Book. to examine and determine the cause of Tonstal, bishop of Durham, and eight writings touching the same; which he is willed to consider, and to proceed to the hearing and ordering of the matter, as soon as he may get the rest of his colleagues to himy." It was not long after, viz. about the midst of October, that this bishop by these commissioners, (whose names, besides the chief justice, do not occur), was deprived, and his estate confiscated. "October ult. sir John Mason was ordered by the council to deliver, to the use of Dr. Tonstal," (so he is now styled), "remaining prisoner in the Tower, such money as should serve for his necessities, until such time as further order shall be taken touching the goods and money, lately appertaining [un] to him2. December 6, "it was agreed" by the council, that Dr. Tonstal, late bishop of Durham, should [henceforth] have the liberty of the Tower, [until the king's majesty's further pleasure shall be therein known]a" where he continued till the time of queen Mary. But we will look back to learn for what cause this The cause of this bisevere punishment was inflicted upon this reverend grave shop's pu y [MSS. Council Book. Privy Council Office. A.D. 1550-1553. fol. 608.] z [MSS. Council Book, A. D. 1550-1553. fol. 631.] a [MSS. Council Book, A. D. 1550-1553. fol. 656.] nishment. bishop; and the rather, because the bishop of Sarum could not find, as he writes, what the particulars wered. In the year 1550, a conspiracy was hatching in the north, to which the bishop was privy at least, if not an abettor : and he wrote to one Menvile in those parts relating to the same. This Menvilee himself related unto the council, and produced the bishop's letter; which was afterwards, by the duke of Somerset, withdrawn and concealed, as it seems out of kindness to Tonstal. But upon the duke's troubles, when his cabinet was searched, this letter was found: upon which they proceeded against Tonstal. This is the sum of what is found in the Council Book: viz. "May 20, 1551, the bishop of Durham is commanded to keep his house'. Aug. 2, he had license to walk in the fields. December 20. "Whereas the bishop of Durham, about July [in anno] 1550, was charged by Vivian Menvile to have consented [and been agreeable] to a conspiracy in the north, for the making a rebellion;" and whereas, "for want of a letter written by the said bishop to the said Menvile, (whereupon depended a great trial of this matter), the" final "determination" of the matter could not be proceeded unto, "and the bishop" (was) "only commanded to keep his house; the same letter hath of late been "found in a casket of the duke of Somerset's after his last apprehension." The said bishop was [now] sent for, and this day "appeared before the council," 289 and was charged with the letter, "which he could not deny but to be [of] his own handwriting:" and, having little to say for himself, he was then sent to the Tower, d [See Burnet's Hist. of Reformat. vol. ii. p. 401. ed. Oxon. 1829.] e [See Strype's Eccl. Mem. vol. ii. pt. ii. pp. 21, 22. ed. Oxon. 1822.] f[MSS. Council Book, A.D. 1550-1553. fol. 297.] 8 [MSS. Council Book, A.D. 1550-1553. fol. 356.] |