In the midst of these researches the attention of Dr. Cranmer was suddenly recalled to other objects. He received a message, informing him, that the king intended to reward his services by bestowing on him the see of Canterbury, then vacant by the death of Dr. Warham.

Whatever exalted ideas Dr. Cranmer might entertain from the king's favour, it is very certain he was both surprized, and perplexed at this message. Two things especially occurred to him as matter of great difficulty. The first was the oath, he was obliged to take to the pope, which appeared to him as an insuperable obstacle. The other was a more private concern. He had engaged abroad in a second marriage; and however liberal his own sentiments might be on that subject, he knew the prejudices of the world ran strongly against him. I call them prejudices only, because, I think, it does not appear, that the secular clergy, at that time, were absolutely required to take the vow of celibacy.

Whether he urged his scruples to the king (who in a matrimonial business could not surely be a rigid casuist) does not appear. It is certain however that the affair of the marriage was made easy to him; and that the king's message brought him immediately to England. History does not fix the time of his return with any precision. Lord Herbert says, he was present at the king's marriage with Ann Bolleyn; which the latest accounts celebrate on the 25th of January, 1533. Archbishop Parker says, he actually performed the ceremony. Fox says, it was impossible, for he was certainly then in Germany. The controversy is scarce worth deciding.

In however contemptible a light the pope's authority was, at this time, considered, the new archbishop, it seems, could not legally be consecrated without bulls from Rome. Henry, it may be imagined, might have dispensed with this form; but to get rid of forms is often the last work of reformation. The price of the commodity however was greatly fallen. The popes formerly exacted more than a thousand pounds of our money, for their bulls of consecration; but the new archbishop, or rather the king, who seems to have managed the matter, contrived to procure them for less than half that sum.

With regard to the oath of fidelity to the pope, which the archbishop was obliged to take at his consecration, he protested, that he took it in no sense, but such as was wholly consistent with the laws of God—the king's prerogative—and the statutes of the realm—that he did not bind himself from speaking his mind freely in matters of religion—the government of the church; and the rights of the crown—and that he meant, on all occasions, to oppose the pope's illegal authority; and condemn his errors.

This oath, taken in a sense so very opposite to its real intention, has often been alledged against the archbishop; and indeed it seems rather to injure the feelings of a delicate mind. His friends however suppose they sufficiently apologize for his behaviour, by observing, that he made his exceptions in an open manner, without any mental reservation; and that he fully satisfied those, who were impowered to administer the oath.

Thus was a private churchman raised, at one step, to the first dignity of his profession; and tho the truth of history hath obliged us to confess, that he took some steps, not quite so direct, as might be wished, in this hasty advancement; yet we cannot, by any means, consider him as a man, who had formed any settled plans of ambition, which he was resolved at all hazards to support; but that, in what he did amiss, he was rather violently borne down by the king's authority. His mildness and simplicity were unequally matched with the impetuosity of Henry; who having no scruples of his own, considered little the scruples of others. To this may be added, that the primate thought himself strongly attached by gratitude to his prince. And indeed the errors of this excellent person, as we shall have other occasions to observe, were less owing to the temptations of vice, than to the weakness of some unguarded virtue.—Thus much at least may be said in apology for those parts of his conduct, at this time, which seem rather to require one.

As to the king, his placing so good a man at the head of the church, deserves little praise. If we may judge from the general tenor of his character, which was throughout unprincipled, and inconsistent, he meant nothing more than to advance a man, who had shewn himself so ready a casuist; and was able to take so vigorous a part against the church of Rome, which Henry was at this time determined to oppose.

Very soon after his consecration, the primate was called on to finish the great cause of the divorce by passing a final sentence.

The queen had retired to Ampthill, a royal mansion near St. Albans; where she lived with great discretion; and drew the pity and respect of the whole nation by the decency, and dignity of her sufferings. The town of Dunstable, which lay almost in sight of her windows, was appointed by Henry, with his usual indelicacy, as the place, where the archbishop and his associates, were to sit in consistory. As Henry well knew the queen would not answer the summons; the vicinity of the place, being of no consequence, had the appearance of an additional affront.

The queen treated the summons she received, with that indignation which was expected; and being pronounced contumacious, a final sentence of divorce was passed.

There was something also very indelicate in placing the primate at the head of this court, as he had already taken so principal a part in the cause. It gave great offence to the queen, and shocked the archbishop himself: but Henry, who had no idea of decency, would hear no reason against it.

Within a few weeks after the divorce, on the 7th of September 1533, the princess Elizabeth was born; and the king ordered the archbishop to be her godfather.