Page images
PDF
EPUB

II.

tory of Sandon, and other premises in Sandon; to be holden SECT. as of the manor of Greenwich by fealty only, paying yearly to the King for the manor of Stoke 41. 17s. 7d.

SECT. II.

Cheke inquisitive after Dr. Redman's declaration concerning religion at his death.

Anno 1551.

ter to Cheke

NOTHING of moment passed at Cambridge, or relating Yong's letto the members of it; but Sir John Cheke was inquisitive concerning about it. Dr. Redman, Master of Trinity college, some Redman. time fellow collegian with Cheke, one of the learnedest and gravest men in that University, in the month of November, anno 1551, departed this life. A man he was of such great esteem for his deep knowledge in divinity, and acquaintance with the ecclesiastical fathers and writers, and skill in the Scriptures, that his words bore a very great weight and authority. This Doctor was reckoned rather of the Popish side, than that of the Protestants. He owned outwardly transubstantiation and justification by works; though in other matters he was more loose from the corruptions and superstitions of the Roman Church. But coming to lie on his deathbed at Westminster, the learneder sort attended him, and prayed him, as a dying man, (since the world had such a deference for his learning,) to declare impartially his thoughts of several matters then controverted in the Church, which he promised he would do most sincerely. His answers were all in favour of the Reformation, and particularly he shewed the rottenness of those distinguishing Papal doctrines before mentioned, which he seemed outwardly to have adhered to. There were then present Wilks, Master of Christ's college, Cambridge; Alexander Nowell, Master of the King's school at Westminster, and divers others; and particularly Mr. Yong, B.D. of Trinity college, none of the most earnest favourers of religion, and a great opposer of Martin Bucer, but a learned man. Cheke, desirous to know the truth of these things, sent to the said Yong, praying him

edit. p. 870.

CHAP. for a just account of the declaration that grave and reveIV. rend man had made. In answer to which he sent him a Anno 1551. large letter, the original whereof fell into the hands of John Fox, first Fox, the Martyrologist; and he printed it in his first edition of his Acts and Monuments. The translation whereof into English remaineth in the after editions. It began, Etsi animus mihi non mediocri dolore perculsus est, vir amplissime, propter immaturam (nisi ita Deo visum) et flebilem sanctissimi et eruditissimi viri D. Redmanni mortem; adeo ut luctu et mærore multum stupefactus, vix tandem semet aut ad agendum aut ad cogitandum expediat; tamen cum id tuam amplitudinem me facere velle intelligam, libenter me ipse colligo, atque quæ ab ipso pio et docto Redmanno bonæ memoriæ viro, dum adhuc diuturna infirmitate contabescens certam mortem expectaret, de religionis controversiis, quíbus hodie Christi sponsa Ecclesia misere divexatur, pronuntiata audiverim, fideliter et vere hisce meis literis enarrare instituo: i. e. “ Al"though, worthy Sir, I am struck with no small grief "at the untimely (had it not so pleased God) and deplo"rable death of Dr. Redman, that most holy and ex66 cellently learned man, so that much overcome with "mourning and sorrow, I scarce can recover myself freely "to do or think any thing; yet since I understand it is your pleasure I should do it, I willingly recollect myself, ❝ and do resolve faithfully and truly to declare in this my "letter, what I heard the pious and learned Redman of good memory speak, while he was wasting with sick"ness, and expected certain death, concerning the con"troversies of religion, with which the Church, Christ's spouse, is miserably vexed." Then he shewed Cheke how Mr. Alexander Nowell, one that was always a lover and valuer of him, accosted him once, being near his end, to shew his mind concerning certain points to him and the rest present; and what they should look upon, as though it were an oracle from heaven. The points were these concerning his judgment of the Bishop and see of Rome; concerning purgatory; whether the wicked eat the

66

66

66

II.

body of Christ; whether Christ be present in the Sacra- SECT. ment, and be to be worshipped there; concerning the carrying about of the Sacrament in solemn pomps and pro- Anno 1551. cessions; concerning commemoration of the dead, justification by faith, and the merit of good works. To all which, that reverend man gave his resolution the Protestant way, as Yong shewed Cheke at large in his letter, which he thus concluded: Atque hæc quidem sunt, quæ ego ad questiones sibi propositas, eum respondisse audivi. Nec vero usquam (quod memini) ab ea quam ab ipso enuntiatam audivi sententia deflexi. D. noster Jesus Christus has turbulentas, quibus Ecclesia jactatur, tempestates compescere dignetur, miserumque suum ovile miserabiliter jam dissipatum et dispersum propitius intueatur et aspiciat, propter nomen sanctum suum. Amen. Ipse tuam amplitudinem gubernare dignetur et servet. Londini, 3 Novembr. &c. i. e. "And these are the things "which I heard him answer to the questions to him pro66 pounded. Nor have I ever myself (as far as I remem"ber) wandered from that opinion which I heard declared "by him. Our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafe to allay these "stormy tempests, with which the Church is tossed, and regard and look in mercy upon his poor sheepfold, mi66 serably dispersed and scattered for his holy name sake. "Amen. May he vouchsafe to rule and keep you. Lon"don, the 3d of November, &c."

66

SECT. III.

Cheke's disputations concerning the Sacrament.

of the con

others,

ABOUT this time Cheke, with some others, was en- A relation gaged in two disputations, or rather friendly conferences, ferences of privately with Feckenham, (who was afterwards Dean of Cheke and St. Paul's and Abbot of Westminster,) and one or two about the more of his party, in the great controversy of the real Sacrament. presence in the Sacrament. The first was held at Secretary Cecil's house, and the latter at Sir Richard Morison's. The auditors were but six, viz. the Lord Russel, Sir Tho

IV.

CHAP. mas Wroth of the Bedchamber; Sir Anthony Cooke, one of the King's instructors; Throgmorton, Chamberlain of the Anno 1551. Exchequer; Mr. Knolles and Mr. Harrington; with whom were joined the Marquis of Northampton and the Earl of Rutland in the second conference. The disputants were Sir John Cheke, and with him Sir William Cecil, Secretary of State; Horn, Dean of Durham; Whitehead and Grindal; who were against the real presence: Feckenham, Yong, and, at the second disputation, Watson; who were for it. Some account of these disputations are still extant in Latin, in the MS. library of Bene't college in Cambridge. And to preserve what remainders we can of Cheke's, and likewise to satisfy any that are desirous to look into the Church history of England in those days, I have translated them into English, and exemplified them here only first premising, that I suppose this confer

in the

ence might be occasioned from an appearance of the said Feckenham Feckenham before Cheke by public order, to be examined Tower, by him; when Cheke entered into discourse with him brought be- about points of religion, and endeavoured to bring him from his Popish principles, but could not prevail, which might provoke to a more particular disputation between them upon the great master-controversy of transubstantiation.

fore Cheke.

The sum of a conference held Nov. 25, an. Dom. 1551, in the house of Cecil, the King's Secretary, concerning the Sacrament.

[blocks in formation]

III.

Mr. Cheke began to propound; but first Mr. Cecil SECT. made a protestation, that it should be free for any one to produce his sentence or opinion, and that whatsoever in Anno 1551. this discourse should be spoken, should redound to no E Biblioth. man's harm or prejudice.

The question. What was the true and genuine sense of the words of the Supper, This is my body; whether that which the words taken in the grammatical sense hold forth, or some other.

Feckenham. All the words of Christ are either ostensive or effective: ostensive, as, I am the good shepherd, &c.; effective, as to the leper, Be clean: Ephphata, Be opened, &c. But in effective speeches, the Lord doth those things which the words sound, and that by reason of his omnipotency. Since therefore these words are effective, it followeth, &c.

Cheke to this answered; Admitting that division, it may be answered, The Lord hath done that which he would, if the speech be effective. But he would here institute a sacrament; to the institution of which it is not necessarily required, that the words should be understood in a grammatical sense.

Feckenham. The Lord would not institute a sacrament only, but also give his body in the sacrament, according to his promise in these words, This is my body; and according to that, John vi. The bread which I will give is my flesh, which I will give, &c. There is I will give twice; once in the Supper, and again in the cross.

C.C.C.C.

Cheke. That we may therefore come, said he, briefly Questio. to what we would have, I demand, whether the Lord would institute here a sacrament, or not?

Feckenham answered he would; but not only a bare figure, but a sacrament, and the matter of a sacra

ment.

Cheke. I ask, therefore, whether this is the true sense of the word, This is my body, that is, my natural body; or this rather, This is the sacrament of my body?

« PreviousContinue »