CLI. To
I couwEND me unto you, &c. These be to certify you of the king’s pleasure, how Mu that his grace is contented that ye shall be admitted to preach on all the Wednesdays of this next Lent before him. Whereupon I thought it very expedient, for divers considerations reasonably me moving thereto, to admonish you of certain things in no wise to be neglect and omitted on your behalf in time of your preaching; which to observe and follow according to mine advice hereafter to you prescribed, shall at the length redound to your no little laud and praise.
First, therefore, take this order, (if ye will,) reading over the book ye take for your purpose some processes of scripture, the gospel, pistill, or any other part of scripture in the bible, and the same to expound and declare according to the pure sense and meaning thereof: wherein, above all things, it will be most convenient, that ye do not at all persuade for the defence of your own causes and matters lately in controversy; but that ye rather do seem utterly [to pass over] those your accusations, than now in that place any sparkle or suspicion of grudge should appear to remain in you for the same. This done, that likewise ye be very circumspect to overpass and omit all manner speech, either apertly or suspiciously sounding against any special man’s facts, acts, manners, or sayings, to the intent your audience have none occasion thereby namely to slander your adversaries; which would seem to many that you were void of charity, and so much the more unworthy to occupy that room. Nevertheless, if such occasion be given by the word of God, let none offence or superstition be unreprehended, specially if it be generally spoken, without affection.
Furthermore, I would ye should so study to comprehend your matters, that in any condition you stand no longer in the pulpit than an hour, or an hour and an half at the most; for by long expense of time the king and the queen shall peradventure wax so weary at the beginning, that they shall have small delight to continue throughout with you to the end. “Therefore let the effect of the premises take no place in your mind, specially before this circumspect audience, to the intent that you in so doing need not to have any other declaration hereafter against the misreports of your adversaries. And for your further instruction in this behalf, I would ye should the sooner come up to London, here to prepare all things in a readiness, according to such expectation as is had in you.
To the same.
[[! This letter has no address affixed, but as but the mayor (permitting laymen to preach) caused]
[it follows in the MSS. the letter to Latimer, divers priests to be apprehended and cast into New-]
[CX XVII. p. 296, it was most probably addressed gate, with bolts upon them, and divers other ran]
[to him.] away and lost their livings, rather than come to the]
[[? “During this parliament [A.D. 1534], every mayor’s handling.” Stow’s Annals, p. 570, Ed.]
[Sunday at Paul’s Cross preached a bishop, de- Lond. 1615. Vid. Strype’s Eccl. Mem. Vol. I. p.]
[claring the pope not to be supreme head of the 245, Ed. Oxon. 1822, who places these events as]
[church. Also in other places of the realm great occurring A.D. 1533; also Letters of Latimer.]
[troubles were raised about preaching, namely at Foxe’s Acts and Monuments, p. 1741, Ed. 1583.]
[Bristow, where master Latimer preached, and there Also Wilkins’ Concilia, Vol. IIl. p. 760, for]
[preached against him one Hobberton and Dr Powell, Stokesley’s inhibition of master Hugh Latymer]
[so that there was great part-takings on both sides: from preaching within the diocese of London, dated]
[insomuch that divers priests and other set up bills the 2nd of October, 1533.”]]
[against the mayor, and against master Latimer;]
CLII. To the Dean of the Chapel Royal
MasTER dean, in my right hearty wise I commend me unto you. And whereas master Latymer, a man of singular learning, virtuous example of living, and sincere preaching the word of God, hath lately been endangered, and suffered great obloquy; and also I myself, for justly licensing him to preach within the precincts and limits of my province, have been likewise misreported; I intending evermore the furtherance of the truth and the pure dispensation of the word of God, in consideration of my discharge, declaration of master Latymer, and satisfaction of such misreporters, have most humbly desired and sued unto the king’s highness, to grant unto the said master Latymer licence to preach before his grace all the Wednesdays of this next Lent ensuing. Therefore these shall be to desire and require you, upon the king’s pleasure thus known, for to discharge the assignment already appointed, or hereafter to be, to any person in that behalf, and require him (if any such be) to be contented with the same; for I, upon the king’s pleasure thus willing, have already admonished the said master Latymer to provide therefore.
Furthermore, these shall be heartily to desire you also, that my old acquainted friend, master Shaxton’, the queen’s grace’s almoner, may be assigned likewise to preach the third Sunday in Lent before the king’s grace; and that you will forthwith, upon the sight hereof, ascertain me in your letters by this bearer, accordingly to the king’s grace’s said pleasure and my request. For thus doing you shall have me ready to accomplish condignly your requests, and shew unto you like pleasure from time to time. At Otford, the ixth day of July”.