BONNER, EDMUND, bishop of London, of infamous memory, was born at Hanley in Worcestershire, and generally supposed to be the natural son of one Savage a priest; and that priest was the natural son of Sir John Savage of Clifton in the same county. Strype, however, says, he was positively assured that Bonner was the legitimate offspring of a poor man, who lived in a cottage known to this day by the name of Bonner's place. About the year 1512, he entered student of Broadgate Hall in Oxford. In 1519, he was admitted bachelor of the canon and civil law. About the same
Bonner, same time he took orders, and obtained some prefer-
Bonnestable. ment in the diocese of Worcester. In 1525, he was
ble. created doctor of canon law. Having now acquired
the reputation of a shrewd politician and civilian, he
was soon distinguished by Cardinal Wolsey, who made
him his commissary for the faculties, and heaped upon
him a variety of church preferments. He possessed at
the same time the livings of Blaydon and Cherry-Bur-
ton in Yorkshire, Ripple in Worcestershire, East Der-
cham in Norfolk, the prebend of St Paul's, and arch-
deaconry of Leicester. Bonner was with the cardinal
at Caw-wood, when he was arrested for high treason.
After the death of that minister, he soon found means
to insinuate himself into the favour of Henry VIII.
who made him one of his chaplains, and employed him
in several embassies abroad, particularly to the pope.
In 1532, he was sent to Rome, with Sir Edward Kame,
to answer for the king, whom his holiness had cited to
appear in person or by proxy. In 1533, he was again
despatched to Pope Clement VII. at Marseilles, upon
the excommunication of King Henry on account of his
divorce. On this occasion he threatened the pope with
so much resolution, that his holiness talked of burning
him alive, or throwing him into a caldron of melted
lead; upon which Bonner thought fit to decamp. His
infallibility did not foresee that the man whom he thus
threatened was predestined to burn heretics in England.
In 1538, being then ambassador at the court of France,
he was nominated bishop of Hereford; but, before
consecration, was translated to the see of London, and
enthroned in April 1540. Henry VIII. died in 1547,
at which time Bonner was ambassador with the em-
peror Charles V. During this reign he was constantly
zealous in his opposition to the pope; and, in com-
pliance with the king, favoured the reformation. Hen-
ry VIII. was not to be trifled with; but on the ac-
cession of young Edward, Bonner refused the oath of
supremacy, and was committed to the Fleet; however,
he soon thought fit to promise obedience to the laws,
and was accordingly released. He continued to com-
ply with reformation; but with such manifest neglect
and reluctance, that he was twice reprimanded by the
privy council, and in 1549, after a long trial, was com-
mitted to the Marshalsea, and deprived of his bishopric.
The succeeding reign gave him ample opportunity of
revenge. Mary was scarce seated on the throne before
Bonner was restored to his bishopric; and soon after
appointed viceroy and president of the convocation.
From this time he became the chief instrument of papal
cruelty: he is said to have condemned no less than 200
Protestants to the flames in the space of three years.
Nor was this monster of a priest more remarkable for
his cruelty than his impudence. When Queen Eliza-
beth came to the crown, he had the insolence to meet
her, with the rest of the bishops, at Highgate. In
the second year of her reign, refusing to take the oath
of allegiance and supremacy, he was again deprived,
and committed to the Marshalsea; where he died in
1569, after ten years confinement. There cannot be
a stronger instance of the comparative lenity of the Pro-
testant church, than its suffering this miscreant to die a
natural death. Several pieces were published under his
name.