"This deponent [the Lord Chancellor Riche] hath heard say (of whom he remembereth not) that the said bishop did set forth a book in maintenance of supremacy to be in the king that dead is, his heirs and successors. And otherwise he cannot depose," p. 175.

The Earl of Warwick passed the matter by, without mention, p. 177.

“Touching the book made by the said bishop and his disputations at Louvain, they are unknown to his lordship," [the Earl of Bedford,] p. 180.

"What book or work the said bishop hath set forth against the usurped power of the bishop of Rome, or defence he made in the university of Louvain, this examinate [Sir William Harbert] knoweth not," p. 182.

Sir John Baker passed over the matter of the book entirely; and, indeed, he could say but little about the bishop's opinions on any subject, "for he never heard him preach but one sermon, the which was at St. Mary Overys before the house was suppressed. And whether he treated of such matter, yea or no, he doth not remember," p. 184.

"He [Sir Edward Carne] heard say, that the said bishop did make a book for the king's supremacy, and against the bishop of Rome's authority. And further this deponent saith, that he, being ambassador in Flanders, heard say that the said bishop of Winchester, going in an ambassade to the emperor of Germany through Louvain, communing with certain learned men, there offered to dispute openly touching the defence of the said book, upon occasion ministered by the said learned men against the said bishop, touching the said book. And otherwise he cannot depose;" though he added, when examined upon the Interrogatories, that "he heard a talk at the time the said bishop of Winchester made the book afore deposed of, that he was loth to write against the said bishop of Rome; but, whether the talk was true he cannot tell."-p. 185.

It could not be denied, even by Gardiner's bitterest and least scrupulous enemies, that there was a sort of hearsay— a blind rumour-abroad, that Bishop Gardiner had once written some book, about something, though they did not know what. How strange that a work by such a person, on such a subject, at such a time, should have fallen still-born from the press of the king's printer-to say nothing of its being (if it was) caught up and puffed and prefaced by the zealous Bonner, and reprinted at Hamburgh and at Strasburgh! How very odd that so many and such persons should have known so little about it! One might almost imagine that the whole thing was an imposture, if we had not Bishop Gardiner's own acknowledgment, and the testimony of credible witnesses to support it. For some of those who were examined knew, or professed to know, more about it than the Lord Protector and his friends. "Cuthbert

[Tonstal] Bishop of Durham, one of the king's most honourable privy council, of the age of 76," deposed that

"In the king's time that dead is, the said bishop, as one of the Council, did set forth for his part all such articles, statutes, injunctions, and proclamations, as were then decreed and determined; and did set forth at all times the same accordingly. And deposeth further, that the said bishop did make a book against the usurped power of the bishop of Rome, and setting forth the king's supremacy; which book this deponent hath seen; and all the premises before deposed, he saith, are true, notorious, and manifest to them that were of the Council at that time."—p. 189.

We may presume that the Bishop of Durham was not aware of some of the declarations which have just been quoted from the examinations of deponents who "were of the Council at that time," and who were "of the Council ” at this time also, as they meant to show.

"Thomas [Thirlby] Bishop of Norwich, of the age of 47 or thereabouts," deposed that

"Although the said Bishop of Winchester (very loth to condescend to any innovations) was earnest against alterations, as well concerning the bishop of Rome as other orders in Religion, yet after those matters were established and set forth, by the acts, statutes, and laws of this realm, and the king's majesty's injunctions and proclamations, this deponent hath known and heard the bishop of Winchester publish, declare, and set forth, as well the supremacy or supreme authority of the king's majesty's father of famous memory, as the abolishing of the usurped power of the bishop of Rome, accordingly as he was bound: and did set forth a book concerning the same, as by the contents thereof may appear, which this deponent hath heard. But how the said bishop of Winchester and his Chancellor (whom this deponent hath of long time known to be wise and learned) have executed in his diocese, the king's majesty's injunctions and proclamations, he knoweth not; for he hath not been conversant there. Which things, before by this deponent deposed, be true, notorious, manifest, public, and famous. And as touching the defence of the bishop's book at Louvain, he hath heard reported, that he offered to defend the said book then and there; and before certain of the doctors, did defend the same, as he heard say."-p. 190.

"John Pottinger of Winchester, gentleman, where he hath continued these ten years, of the age of 36; sworn and examined," deposed

"That the said bishop hath set forth a book in Latin, many years since, entituled 'De Vera Obedientia,' wherein the said bishop set forth the king's supremacy, as he remembereth; and treated against the usurped power of the bishop of Rome, and of obedience of the subjects to their prince, as supreme head, very earnestly, to this deponent's remembrance. For this deponent hath seen and read the

book, and in the same did read of the premises. And, examined whether he understandeth the Latin tongue, he saith, yea; and that once he was fellow of New College in Oxford, and hath the same book at this present in his study."-Fox, vol. vi. p. 217.

"Master John White, Warden of the college of Winchester, of the age of 40," being sworn and examined, among other things "deposeth as followeth: "

"All the contents of this article, touching as well the bishop as his chancellor, are true, to this deponent's certain knowledge, saving the defence of the said bishop's book at Louvain; which book the said bishop (as this deponent hath heard say of certain learned men being then with the bishop) did defend against the rector and certain divines of the university of Louvain; which book that he so defended (as it was said) was the book made by the bishop 'De Vera Obedientia,' and that book this deponent hath seen and read, which entreateth of the king's supremacy, and the abolishment of the bishop of Rome's authority. And saith, that all the premises, saving the defence of the said book, are notorious, manifest, and famous, within the diocese of Winchester, to this deponent's certain hearing and knowledge.

"And for further declaration, this deponent saith, that about twelve years ago, or thereabouts, as he doth remember, this deponent (then being schoolmaster of the college of Winton) did by the commandment of the bishop of Winchester, make certain verses extolling the king's supremacy, and against the usurped power of the bishop of Rome; which said verses this deponent caused his scholars to learn, and to practise them in making of verses to the like argument; the said bishop encouraging this deponent so to do."-Fox, vol. vi. p. 223.

One would be glad to have a fuller account of Bishop Gardiner's proceedings at Louvain in reference to his book; and no doubt materials are in existence, though I have it not in my power at present to avail myself of them. I know of only two other documents, preserved in Fox's Martyrology, which tend to throw light on the matter. They add indeed very little to our knowledge, though they are not without interest in several points of view. The first is the deposition of "Master William Medowe, clerk, chaplain to the 'bishop of Winchester, and master of the hospital of Holy 'Crosses, beside Winchester; of the age of 60 years," which begins in the following manner :—

"To the first article of the matter this deponent saith, that the space of this twenty years he hath been with the said bishop of Winchester, and is his chaplain, and all the said space, he saith, that the said bishop, to this deponent's sight and knowledge, hath always set forth, to the uttermost of his power, the king's supremacy, and the abolishment of the bishop of Rome's authority. And saith, that at five several times he hath attended upon the said bishop,