CRANMER

Summary

Thomas Cranmer was born at Aiselacton, Aslacton or Alacton, in Notts. July 2, 1489. The family traced its descent from the Conquest. When he was very young his father died, and his mother sent him to Cambridge at the age of 14. After taking the first degree, he became Fellow of Jesus College about 1520. About a year afterwards he married one whom his enemies have called “Black Joan, or Brown Joan, living at the Dolphin”; his friends say she was a “gentleman's daughter”: probably the true condition of the lady lay between these two descriptions. Fuller in mentioning the circumstance says, “this gave occasion to that impudent lie of the ignorant Papists, that he was an ostler”, but he adds, taking advantage of the term in his usual happy manner, “indeed he with his learned labours rubbed the galled backs, and curryed the lazy hides of many an idle and ignorant friar.” In the MS. Chronology in Jesus College is this notice: “A Papistis dictus per ludibrium stabalarius, quòd ænopolæ neptem uxorem duxerat. Qui quæso vocarent Christum natum in stabulo.” Being compelled “valedicere Collegio”, says the old MS.,–“being outed of his fellowship” says Fuller, he obtained the place of Divinity reader in Buckingham Hostel, as Magdalene was then called. ‘Brown Joan’ however died at the end of the year.