I beseech your grace to pardon me of my long and tedious writing; for I could not otherwise set the matter forth plain. And I most heartily thank your grace for the stag which your grace sent unto me from Windsor forest: which, if your grace knew for how many causes it was welcome unto me, and how many ways it did me service, I am sure you would think it much the better bestowed. Thus our Lord have your highness always in his preservation and governance. From Ford, the xxvi. day of August, [1536.]
Your graces most humble chaplain and beadsman, Cantuarien. CLXXVIII. To Crumwell
My very singular good lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me to your lordship?. And whereas your lordship writeth to me in the favour of this bearer, Massey, an old servant to the king’s highness, that, being contracted to his sister’s daughter of his late wife deceased, he might enjoy the benefit of a dispensation in Abp- that behalf; specially, considering it is none of the cases of prohibition contained in vp. the statute; surely, my lord, I would gladly accomplish your request herein, if the 1840.
[^ Any such error, Strype.] blishment of the succession of the imperial crown {2 Dr Jenkyns supposes that this change may of this realm.” It was passed a few months before, have arisen from the execution of Anne Boleynin on the king’s marriage to Jane Seymour. The the preceding May, which tended greatly to raise, prohibited degrees were expressed in it in nearly the spirits of the popish party. It would seem how- the same terms as in the former act of succession,
[ever from Letter CLXVIII, (Letter CLXXII. p. 25 Hen. VIII. c. 22, but were extended to cases of]
[322 of thisedition,)thatthey had been gaining ground carnal knowledge.” Jenkyns’ Remains of Abp.]
[before that event.” Remains of Abp. Cranmer, Cranmer, Vol. I. p. 173, n. ism Indeed in these]
[Vol. 1. pp. 171, 2. n. p.] times there were great irregularities about marriage [? Unto your lordship, Strype.] in the realm, many being incestuous and unlawful; [ Stat. 28 Hen. VIII. cap. 7, For the esta- which caused the parliament, two or three years]
word of God would permit the same. And where you require me, that if I think this licence may not be granted by the law of God, then I should write unto you the reasons and authorities that move me so to think; that upon the declaration unto the king’s highness, you may confer thereupon with some other learned men, and so advertise me of the king’s farther resolution? in the same accordingly; for shortness of time, I shall shew you one reason, “which is this: by the law of God many persons be prohibited, which be not expressed, but be understand by like prohibitions in equal degree. As St Ambrose saith’, that the niece is forbid by the law of God, although it be not expressed in Leviticus that the uncle shall not marry his niece. But where the nephew is forbid there, that he shall not marry his aunt, by the same is understand that the niece shall not be married unto her uncle. Likewise, as the daughter is not there plainly expressed, yet where the same is forbid to marry his mother, it is understand tlíat the daughter may not be married to her father, by cause they be of like degree. Even so it is in this case and many other; for where it is there expressed that the nephew shall not marry his uncle’s wife, it must needs be understand that the niece shall not be married unto the aunt’s husband, by cause that all is one equality of degree. And although I could allege many reasons and authorities mo for this purpose, yet I trust this one reason shall satisfy all that be learned and of judgment.
And as touching the act of parliament concerning the degrees prohibited by God’s law, they be not so plainly set forth as I would they were. Wherein I somewhat spake my mind at the making of the βαιά“, but it was not then accepted. I required then, that there might be expressed mother, and mother-in-law, daughter, and daughter-in-law; and so in further degrees directly upward and downward, in linea recta; also sister and sister-in-law, aunt and aunt-in-law, niece and niece-in-law. And this limitation, in my judgment, should have contained all the degrees’ prohibited by God’s law, expressed and not expressed: and should have satisfied this man, and such other, which would marry their nieces-in-law.
My lord”, I have no news to send you from these parties, but I much long to hear such news as be occurrent with you”. And therefore, if you have any good news, I pray you to send me some. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the viith day of September. [1536.]