With the said Doctor Thurlby, Bishop of Ely, was also
assigned in the same Commission Doctor Boner, Bishop of
London; which two coming to Oxford upon St. Valentine’s
day, as the Pope’s Delegates, with a new Commission from
Rome, by the virtue thereof commanded the Archbishop
aforesaid to come before them, in the choir of Christ
Church, before the high altar; where they sitting, accord-
ing to their manner, in their pontificalibus, first began, as
the fashion is, to read their Commission; wherein was con-
tained, how that in the Court of Rome all things being in-
differently examined, both the articles laid to his charge,
with the answers made unto them; and witnesses examined
on both parts, and counsel heard, as well on the King and
Queen’s behalf, his accusers, as on the behalf of Thomas
Cranmer, the party guilty; so that he wanted nothing ap-

4 [Cranmer received a citation on the 7th of September, 1555, to ap-
pear at Rome within eighty days. Such appearance was of course
impossible, as he was closely imprisoned at Oxford. But the cause
proceeded, as if his absence had been voluntary. Being pronounced
contumacious, he was sentenced by the Pope, to be degraded and de-
livered over to the secular magistrate. This is the definitive sentence


of which Foxe speaks. It may be seen at length in his Acts and Monu-
ments, vol. ill. p. 997.]


APPEAL AT HIS DEGRADATION. 119


pertaining to his necessary defence, ἕο. Which foresaid —
Commission, as it was in reading, Oh, Lord, said the Arch- The Pope’s
bishop, what lies be these, that I, being continually in pri- one
son, and never could be suffered to have counsel or advo- grounded
cate at home, should produce witness and appoint my coun- aaa
sel at Rome! God must needs punish this open and shame-
less lying. They read on the Commission which came from
the Pope, plenitudine potestatis, supplying all manner of
defects in law or process, committed in dealing with the
Archbishop, and giving them full authority to proceed to
deprivation and degradation of him, and so upon excom-
munication to deliver him up to the secular power, omni
appellatione remota.
