Royal MS 7 B XI-XII

CONTROVERSIAL THEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS, temp. Hen. VIII, chiefly in Latin. The two volumes are traditionally known as Archbishop Cranmer's commonplace-books, and, although neither the archbishop's own hand nor that of Ralph Morice, his principal secretary, occurs in them, a comparison with Cranmer's copies of some of the works quoted (e. g. Ricardus de Media Villa super Sententias, now in the Museum, cf. 7 B. XII, f. 222 b) confirms the connexion. With small exceptions (7 B. XI, ff. 56-77, 7 B. XII, ff. 36, 37) they, are all in one hand, but internal evidence and a difference of water-mark discriminate three separate collections. The table of contents (f. 4) includes artt. 1, 2, but omits art.3. A full list of the subject-headings is printed in Cranmer's works, ed. Cox, Parker Soc., ii, p. 7. It has been shown (Church Quarterly Review, Jan. 1891, p. 419) that the quotations, which occur in all three parts, from 'Capitulum Coloniense' refer to the 1544 edition of the Antididagma (copy at Lambeth). It is possible, however, that in art. 2 these references, which occur always at the end of the heading, may be additions, and no other work later than 1538 seems to be quoted. Art. 3 contains a quotation from a homily of S. Chrysostom first edited by Sir John Cheke in Aug. 1543.

1. Excerpts and arguments against the authority of the Church apart from the Scriptures. The first part of this collection forms the basis of A Confutation of Unwrittten Verities . . . made by Thomas Cranmer . . . translated and set forth by E. P., published first in the time of Mary. In this book the contents are rearranged and the arguments recast, evidently not by Cranmer but by the translator, with special view to a tract (A brief treatyse, &c., 1547) of Dr. Richard Smith. The latter portion, which is partly in English, includes the quotation from Capit. Colon. It is not used by E. P. as above. 7 B. xi, ff. 6-49.

2. Collections relating mainly to the Sacraments. There are many excerpts from 'Liber Regis', i. e. the Assertio Septem Sacramentorum, and from Calvin's Institutio, ed. 1536, &c. 7 B. XI, ff. 50-end; 7 B. xii, ff. 3-81, 298-end.

3. Collections relating to justification, Purgatory, &c. The reference to 'Master Chek' occurs at f. 197 b. At f. 149 is mention of Agnes Barton and Wentworth (sic, for Elizabeth Barton and Anne Wentworth). 7 B. xii, ff. 82-297. The following papers are inserted in the volumes: (a) Engraved portrait of Cranmer, cut out of Thoroton's Nottinghamshire, ed. 1677, p. 139. 7 B. XI, f. 1 b;-(b) Correspondence of Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, relating to the recovery of these two volumes from Dr. [Stephen] Nevynson, in whose hands they then were, viz. an autograph letter of William Cecil [afterwards Baron Burghley] to Parker, 25 Aug. 1563 (printed in Parker Corresp@ence, Parker Society, 1853, p. 187), replying to Parker's original application [dated 22 Aug., see Lansd. MS. 6, f. 170, Strype's Cranmer, p. 988], endorsed with autogr. draft (printed ib. p. 191) of Parker's repty, 7 Sept. 1563, f. 3, and original letter of the Privy Council to Parker, 23 Sept. 1563 (ib, p. 195). f. 2;-

(c) 'A trewe note of certen articles confessed and allowed 'by Mr. D. Feckname', &c.: examination of John Feckenham, last Abbot of Westminster, before [Richard Cox] Bishop of Ely, Andrew Pearne or Perne, Dean of Ely, and others-, signed by Pearne and three others, 2 Feb. 1578[9]. 7 B. XII, f. 2. Paper; ff. 237, 321. Folio. 121/4 in. x 81/2 in. Circ. 1538-1544. From Archbishop Parker's library at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (see Roy. App. 66, f. 70), the MS. perhaps passed to Andrew Perne, whose name, with date 1575, occurs on the last folio; afterwards it belonged to John Theyer (whose note, with date 4 Sept, 1659, is on f. 1). Theyer sale-cat. no. 39 ; not in CMA.