[[ i. e. Cranmer, Latimer, and Shaxton.] [t “Grafton was a member of the Grocer’s Company in London.”]]
shall have a perpetual laud and memory of all them that be now, or hereafter shall be, God’s faithful people and the favourers of his word. And this deed you shall hear of at j the great day, when all things shall be opened and made manifest. For our Saviour Christ saith in the said gospel, that whosoever shrinketh from him and his word, and is abashed to profess and set it forth before men in this world, he will refuse him at that f day; and contrary, whosoever constantly doth profess him and his word, and studieth to set that forward in this world, Christ will declare the same at the last day before his Father and all his angels, and take upon him the defence of those men.
These shall be farther to advertise your lordship, that since my last coming from London into Kent, I have found the people of my diocese very obstinately given to observe and keep with solemnity the holidays lately abrogated. Whereupon I have punished divers of the offenders; and to divers I have given gentle monition to amend. But inasmuch as by examination I have perceived that the people were partly animated thereunto by their curates, I have given strait commandment and injunction unto all the parsons and vicars within my diocese, upon pain of deprivation of their benefices, that they shall not only, on their behalf, cause the said holidays so abrogated from time to time not to be observed within their cures; but also shall from henceforth present to me such persons of their parishes, as will practise in word or deed contrary to that ordinance or any other, which is or hereafter shall be set forth by the king’s grace’s authority, for the redress or ordering of the doctrine or ceremony of this church of England. So that now I suppose, through this means, all disobedience and contempt of the king’s grace’s sald acts? and ordinances in this behalf shall be clearly avoided in my diocese hereafter: not doubting also, but if every bishop in this realm had commandment to do the same in their dioceses, it would avoid both much disobedience and contention in this sald realm. I would fain that all the envy and grudge of the people in this matter should be put from the king and his council; and that we, which be ordinaries, should take it upon us: or else I fear lest a grudge against the prince and his council, in such causes of religion, should gender in many of the people’s hearts a faint subjection and obedience.
But, my lord, if in the court you do keep such holidays and fasting days as be abrogated, when shall we persuade the people to cease from keeping of them? For the king’s own house shall be an example unto all the realm to break his own ordinances.
Over this, whereas your lordship hath twice written for this poor man, William Gron-nowe?, the bearer hereof, to my lord deputy of Calice, for him to be restored to his room; as far as I understand, it prevailed nothing at all; for so he can get none answer of my lord deputy: so that the poor man despaireth that your request shall do him any good. If your lordship would be so good to him, as to obtain a bill, signed by the king’s grace, to the treasurers and controllers of Calice for the time being, commanding them to pay to the said W. Gronnowe his accustomed wages yearly, and to none other, your lordship should not only not further trouble my lord deputy any more, but also do a right meritorious deed. For if the poor man be put thus from his living, he were but utterly undone. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the xxviii. day of ’ August. [1537.]
Your lordship’s own everT. Cantuariens
[[^ Shall be to advertise. Strype.] [7 King’s grace’s acts. Strype.]]
[5 The holidays were abrogated by an act of [8 This [viz. the whole paragraph was writ with]
[convocation. Vid. Letter of Hen. VIII. to the the archbishop’s own hand. All the rest of the let-]
[bishops; Wilkins’ Concilia, Vol. III. p. 823. Vid. ter was his secretaries’. Strype.]]
[also Mandatum Archiepisc. Cantuar. de non cele- [? Vid. Letter CCVI. p. 356. ]]
[brandis Festis diebus, in Appendix. ]]
CXCIX. To Crumwell
My very special good lord, in my right hearty wise I commend me unto you. Like-viso thanking you for your loving and kind answer which you sent me by my servant Hen. Nevell, and especially for your good mind towards me concerning my debts’ to the Tea king’s highness, which of all other things lieth most nigh unto my stomach; trusting, for the declaration of this your gentle heart towards me, not to be forgotten on my behalf hereafter, as it shall lie in my power. And as concerning such lands of mine as the king’s highness is minded to have by exchange at Maidestone and Otford?; forsomuch as I am the man that hath small experience in such causes, and have no mistrust at all in my prince in that behalf, I wholly commit unto you to do therein for me as by you shall be thought expedient, not doubting but that you foresee as much for my commodity, as you would that I should do for you in such a like matter.
As touching the prior of the black Friars in Canterbury?, I have written nothing to you of him but that I will justify. And whereas I understand, that the Custos Rotu-lorum within Nottinghamshire is depart this miserable life, this shall be to desire and pray you, that you will write your favourable letters unto my lord chancellor for the preferment of a friend of mine there, named Antony Nevell who is a man of right good wisdom, experience, and discretion, and useth himself very indifferently^ in the country.
Over this you shall understand that I have received from the king’s highness three letters concerning the collection of the subsidy; one for Canterbury, and one for the shire, and the third for Rochester; with the which I have received but one commission, which is alonely for Canterbury town. Wherefore I pray you that the other two commissions may be sent, or else to signify unto me to whom they are delivered. I have sent unto my commissary” at Calice to withdraw his process against Mr Cham-berleyn, and therefore he not to doubt in that matter. “Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the xxxi. day of August. [1537.]
Your own ever assured, Cantuarien
To my very singular good lord, my,
lord privy seal. To Potkyns?
[[’ Vid Letters LXXVIII CXC. pp. 270, 338.] shall live at Otford.” And so by this means both [? The indenture for effecting the exchange bears those houses were delivered up to the king’s hands.”]
[date Nov 30, 29 Hen. VIII. i.e. 1537. Hasted’s Strype’s Mem. of Abp. Cranmer, Vol. II. p. 625,]
[Hist. of Kent, Vol. I. p. 322. Ed. Cant. 1742 —99. Ed. Oxon. 1840.]]
[A full account of the archbishop’s houses at Maid- [35 Vid. Letter CLXXV. p. 326.]]
[stone, Otford, and Knoll, will be found, Ib. Vol. [ indifferently, i. e. fairly, justly.]]
[I pp 323, 338, and Vol III p. 624. My lord, [^ Vid. Letters CXXXIX. CLXXXVII. pp.]
[minded to have retained Knol unto himself, said, 301,336, m. 1-]]
[‘That it was too small a house for his majesty.’ [5 John Butler.]]
[Marry,’ said the king, I had rather have it than [7 The archbishop’s register. ]]
[this house,” meaning Otford, for it standeth on a [ Dr Jenkyns thinks this letter belongs to A. p.]
[better soil. “This house standeth low and is rheu- 1536, and has reference to the king’s letter, (vid.]
[matic, like unto Croydon, where I could never be Letter CXCVIII: p. 347, n. 6), the date of which]
[without sickness. And as for Knol, it standeth on he assigns as being probably Aug. 11, 1536. The]
[a sound, perfect, wholesome ground: and if I should supposed date of the letter fixed by Wilkins is here]
[make abode here, as I do surely mind to do now followed, as it also is in Dr Jenkyns, Vol. I. p.]
[and then, I will live at Knol, and most of my house 202.]]
peculiars, to the intent that the said act of convocation may from henceforth be put in due exercise, according to the purport and effect of the same. Thus fare you well. At Ford, the 16th day of September. [1537.]
T. Cantuarien
CCI. To Crumwell
My very singular and especial good lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me to your lordship. These shall be to give to your lordship right hearty thanks for this tters. bearer, Thomas Wakefeld, my servant; for, as I understand, you have been many ways his special good lord; beseeching you of continuance towards him. And albeit your lordship wrote unto me of late to stay such suit? as should be made to me concerning the institution of the parsonage of St Quintyne of Spellacke” within the marches of Calice, which I have hitherto accomplished accordingly; yet I shall nevertheless beseech your lordship, forsomuch as I perceive that this my said servant is, by virtue of the king’s advowson, presented thereunto, to be no less his good lord in this his suit than you have hitherto been, and that the rather at this mine instant request, so that having right thereunto, he may enjoy the same with your favour: and that upon your lordship’s pleasure known in this behalf, he may have a token from you unto my chancellor for his institution; for the which you shall bind him to do unto your lordship his both daily prayer and service, and me to requite the same if it lie in my power. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the xx. day of September. [1537.]
Your own assured, Cantuarien
To the right honourable and my singular
good lord, my lord privy seal.
Ggil to a Justice”
IN my right hearty wise I commend me to you. And whereas divers times heretofore, of mere love and favour, which in my heart I bear to you unfeignedly, I have moved, exhorted, and in as much as in me was, allured you to alter your judgment, minding to bring you to favour the word of God and the knowledge thereof, to the intent that by your good ensample the king’s subjects within my diocese might the rather be obedient and willing to conceive and apply themselves to the observation of such ordinances, as by the king’s majesty and his learned counsel in the laws of God should from time to time be set forth and published, concerning as well the abolishment and extirpation of superstition, as also of the bishop of Rome’s erroneous doctrine, which in many points within this realm still sticketh in men’s hearts; this notwithstanding, (as far as I many ways perceive,) my said exhortation and good intent towards you taketh little effect; which thing I assure you is no little grief to me. But inasmuch
[[? Vid. Letter CXCV. p. 345.] Also by a later hand, I thinke this was betwixt [10 Cranmer admitted Robert Palmere to the Cranmer and Fissher.” Fisher was, however, ex-]
[church of the parish Sti. Quintini de Spellache ecuted June 22, A.p. 1535. In Morice’s Letter]
[within the marches of Calais, vacant by the death sent to sir Wm. Butts, and sir Anthony Deny,]
[of John Hayburne, Oct. 2, 1537. Vid. Cranmer’s defending the cause of M. Rich. Turner, preacher,]
[Register, fol. 362, b.] against the papists,” he makes mention of sir John Theletters between Cranmer and the Kentish Baker, sir Christopher Hales, and sir Thomas Moile,]
[Justice are in the hand of a secretary, and Dr Jen- knights, as Kentish “ju: tices, such as then favoured]
[kyns conjectures that they were prepared for the their cause and faction, [i.e. the papists’,] and such]
[information of Crumwell. Remains of Abp. Cran- as are no small fools.” Foxe’s Acts and Monu-]
[mer, Vol. I. p. 201, n. y. They bear the following ments, p. 1869. Ed. Lond. 1683. If the name of]
[endorsements: The copie l’re of exhortacon, wt, Fisher be incorrect in the endorsement, it is diffi-]
[alsoo an answer to the same, from Rayneham,” cult to discover who might have been intended.]]
as it is better for me in time, after a friendly fashion, to be plain with you, than so long to forbear that both you and I may repent our dallying, if the king (or rather God) shall by opportunity see just cause to punish our overmuch untowardness; I will at this time open fully my mind to you, and eftsoons exhort you either to be in such opinion and faith as is by the word of God and the king’s ordinances prescribed and set forth to his people without colour; or else I cannot see the contrary but of necessity I must be constrained to complain to the king’s majesty of you in that behalf, which I were very loth to do, and it is contrary to my mind and usage hitherto; nevertheless, if you overmuch constrain me, I will not fail to do it.
For I am fully persuaded that it will little avail me, either by myself or by such as I shall substitute, to preach within my diocese the word of God or the king’s ordinance, you and yours being reputed and known, both of the commons and gentlemen of the shire, of a contrary opinion to me. In something myself (besides the common fame that I hear of you) I have experience of your judgment, that you take not indifferently such things as of late years hath been set forth by the authority of the word of God: and besides this, it is known to many, that you let, in as much as in you is, the people in my diocese to exercise themselves in the knowledge of God’s laws; but that from time to time you promote them to all trouble and vexation’, without any discerning good knowledge from manifest error, so that (as it is thought) you rather thereby intend to extinguish the whole knowledge of God, than to have him by his word known and glorified. I pray you, what other ways was there at any time invented better to maintain, continue, or uphold the bishop of Rome’s usurped authority and other superstitiousness, than to banish and suppress the word of God and the knowledge thereof specially from the simple and common people, and to restrain the same to the knowledge of a certain few persons? yea, this thing hath been universally the only decay of our faith. And why then may not men think of you to be a special favourer covertly of his authority, when you bear the people such a hatred for favouring of God’s word, which word hath uttered unto all the world his crafty inventions?
Surely you so handle yourself in this thing, that it is not only known to the people that you hate God’s word, but also that you cannot abide any reformation or alteration of abuses in the church, or amongst the people; uttering your words and communication in such wise, that every thing that is set forth contrary to the late custom used by the authority of Rome must seem to you and yours new learning and erroneous. And again, if any ceremony or ordinance of the church be but brought to his first sense and meaning, and cut away from superstition, by and by it is blasted abroad under your authority and by such as appertaineth to you, that all old fashions are restored again, spite of this new doctrine and new preachers; and so declared and communed of, that the people daily conceiveth great murmuration both against the ordinances, against the king’s majesty, his council, and against me and all other that by our preaching declareth such abuses and superstition as hath been hitherto brought from Rome, which would restore God his honour, obedience to the prince, and peace and tranquillity to the realm.
And to the intent that you shall perceive that these things be not feigned ne imagined without cause, you shall understand, that (besides the common and vulgar fame touching the premises) certain of your servants and family lately, since this new book of the clergy’s determination came forth by the king’s grace’s commandment?, hath not only misreported the said book in divers and many things, (as I am informed,) but also hath spoken such words or like in effect as hereafter ensueth, that is to say to move divers by these words, “I am sorry for you, and I can do no less than shew unto you that thing that I know to be true, and that the king’s book willeth; for of truth it alloweth all the old fashion, and putteth all the knaves of the new learning to silence, so that now they dare not speak one word,”—willing them to leave the teachers of the New Testament, for they be but knaves, cobblers, and
[1 Vid. Letter CCXXI1II. p. 367.] (2 i.e. The Institution of a Christian Man. Vid. Letter CXC. p. 337.]]
Such other abominable heretics; further saying, that “my master and divers other could have favoured you much better, saving that you smelled of the new learning.” If these, and such like words, be not both contentious and seditious, I know not what may be cause of sedition in this matter. For surely I think that those which begun the rebellion in Lincolnshire? had no better occasion to turn the people’s hearts against their prince, than such manner of communication as is used here by your maintenance, or at the least trusting to your defence. Which thing much grieveth me, yea, it pitieth me not a little, to think that you, having so kind and loving a sovereign lord as the king’s grace is to you, of whom you have received no small benefits, but over that of his great goodness hath called you to so high estimation as to be reputed one of his council, should thus slenderly regard his godly intent in the reformation of doctrine within this his realm, that by your comfort the vulgar people conceiveth hatred towards such things as by the princes commandment are set forth. It is every where within Kent spoken and murmured, that the people dare not apply themselves to read God’s word, for fear of your threats at sizes and sessions.
And whereas your servants report that all things are restored by this new book to their old use, both of ceremonies, pilgrimages, purgatory, and such other, calling those that of late hath preached of the abuses of them, false knaves and men worthy of no credence: truly you and your servants be so blinded, that you call old that is new, and new that is old; and of malice, as it appeareth, you will not learn of them that can tell you, what is new and what is old. But in very deed the people be restored by this book to their old good usages, although they be not restored to their late abused usages; for the old usage was in the primitive church, and nigh thereunto when the church was most purest, nothing less so to phantasy of ceremonies, pilgrimage, purgatory, saints, images, works, and such like, as hath these three or four hundred years been corruptly taught. And if men will indifferently read these late declarations, they shall well perceive, that purgatory, pilgrimages, praying to saints, images, holy bread, holy water, holy days, merits, works, ceremony, and such other, be not restored to their late accustomed abuses; but shall evidently perceive that the word of God hath gotten the upper hand of them all, and hath set them in their right use and estimation; although it be otherwise reported by them that would fain have the people maintained in sedition, and continue in blindness and in disobedience.
Wherefore in mine opinion, if you mind and intend that the hearts of the people should be given to the law of God and their prince, it appertaineth as well to you as to me to open to the people, in time and place convenient, how much they are bound to give God eternal thanks, laud, and praise, that in their time it hath pleased his goodness thus manifestly to shew himself by his word to them, whereby they may perceive in what error, superstition, and blindness they were led in of late years; and that they have no less cause to give him thanks, in that he hath sent us so good and virtuous a prince, as to cause these things to be made open to them both by his word, and otherwise by declaration of learned men: and not thus to bear in hand and glory, that in all things the people must do as they did before, and whatsoever hath been preached by these new preachers are mere heresies: so that in thus reporting bringeth in a grudge and hatred no small number of people one against another.
And surely if it were not for the favour I bear to you, T would call before me such of your servants and other that appertain to you, and proceed against them as against heretics, if they will maintain either pilgrimage, purgatory, images, or saints, merits or works, as they have been heretofore by many both taught and used, by the space of two or three hundred years, for all their brag; and therefore let them look more wisely upon this new book than so to report of it. Howbeit, I trust your wisdom and discretion is such, that you will see your family and retinue so ordered,
[[? The first rising was in Lincolnshire, in the net’s Hist. of Reformat. Vol. I. p. 456. Ed. Oxon.]
[beginning of October,” (a.p. 1536.) Vid. Bur- 1829. ]]
that they may be agreeable to such things as are truly set forth for the preservation of the common opinion and religion within this realm. And trusting also, that both on your part, and on theirs likewise, quietness amongst the people may be observed, and love towards our prince engendered; to the furtherance whereof every man in his state is bound both of duty and of conscience.
Cchi. A Justice to Cranmer
[Public Re- In right humble manner I recommend me unto your lordship: ascertaining you, that yesterday I received]
[curd Ove your letters at Mynster in the Isle of Thanet, written at Ford the 2nd day of this month, thinking continu-]
[Theol et jr, ally before my receipt thereof, that your lordship had been much more my good lord than I may well now]
[pp. 174—176. perceive that ye be. And even as, before your lordship knew me or any part of my conversation, ye judged]
[ils. me to be a man that favoured not the word of God; so, notwithstanding your often favourable acceptation]
[of me into your presence heretofore, and hearing of mine answer thereunto directly made unto you, your]
[lordship, without cause, persevereth in that opinion, (in manner) as if ye had so tried me; and for answer]
[hereto I pray you, my lord, pardon me of my plainness ensuing. I let you know reverently, that I love God and his most blessed word, believe in him, dread him, confess]
[him, and am as obedient to him and to his laws as ye be, and as a true Christian oweth to be. Wherefore,]
[as in that point, your judgment doth me wrong. Also, my lord, I trust verily in God, and doubt it no-]
[thing, but that if ye do your duty to God as a good christian prelate, (which I pray God give you grace to]
[do,) and also your duty to the king’s majesty on your behalf as appertaineth to your honour, as I have ever]
[intended to do, have done, and will do continually to my feeble power, neither of us shall have cause to]
[repent our dealing, neither rebukeful untowardness shall be seen to be in either of us. And, my lord, I]
[have not used to colour or dissemble, to advance or extol any thing which the king’s highness hath set forth]
[to his people; and if ye know that I have, do your duty by complaint, as ye threat me by your letters: and —]
[I trust that little honour shall ensue to you by your complaint, being grounded upon so little truth. And as touching the preaching of your lordship and of your substitutes, ye cannot truly accuse me to]
[have impugned against the same. And as for the experience which your lordship hath of my judgment,]
[that I take not indifferently such things as of late hath been set forth by the authority of the word of God,]
[I am ready to answer to your knowledge and experience therein, whensoever I shall be called. Also 1 say]
[expressly, that neither ye nor any other knoweth, nor can prove, that I have let any people of your diocese]
[to exercise themselves in the knowledge of God’s laws, neither hath promoted any such to trouble or]
[vexation. And I dare well say, that none honest man thinketh, that I rather intend to extinguish the whole]
[or any part of the knowledge of God, than to have him by his word known and glorified. But your lord-]
[ship, being prone to hear the tongues of false liars your explorators, thus listeth by their false reports to]
[touch me with your letters. And as to the false traitors in Lincolnshire, which ye ascribe to be adherents to the bishop of Rome, and]
[subsequently ye parify me unto them; my lord, I think ye shew thereby your good will and charity toward]
[me to be but little: for I let your lordship know, that I am as true a subject to the king as ye be, and no]
[papist, nor set any more by the bishop of Rome, or his traditions or usurpations, than I think he setteth by]
[you. And untruly ye conclude thereupon, that I bear the people hatred for favouring of God’s word,]
[affirming that I so handle myself that it is not unknown to the people, that I hate God’s word; and also that]
[I cannot abide any reformation or alteration of abuses in the church or among the people: which matter it]
[seemeth, by your letters, that your lordship hath gathered by my words and communications brought unto]
[you by the false tongues before rehearsed; and yet ye give faith and credit unto them as though ye had]
[heard or seen me to shew myself. I marvel much of that your light credence therein, not hearing me which]
[am a party to be called thereunto: which lightness of credence doth not well in so great a prelate as your]
[lordship is. After this your lordship imputeth much default in me, that by mine authority and by such as]
[appertain to me, ceremonies or ordinances of the church cut away from superstition is blasted to be restitu-]
[tion of all old fashions, spite of this new doctrine and new preachers; whereupon your lordship, by your]
[letters, doth express specially many great offences committed against the ordinances to the king’s majesty,]
[his council, and yourself; and for approbation thereof ye rehearse divers misdemeanours committed by]
[certain of my servants, sythe that the book, which ye call the clergy’s determinations, hath come forth by the]
[king’s commandment. My lord, I have none authority but of the king’s majesty, and I trust I know how to]
[use that according to his grace’s pleasure and laws, and will not let so to do, how many soever espies ye set to]
[look upon me. And of the said book I have spoken openly in the last sessions, at Canterbury and elsewhere,]
[so that my words were manifest, and I will abide by them; and let my servants answer to theirs: for, my]
[lord, ye shall find me to be no seditious nor contentious person, nor ye can prove me to be a maintainer of]
[communication sounding or extending to any such abominable effect as ye write of, nor that any person hath]
[had or conceived any occasion to trust to any defence in such wicked matter. And it is not honourable to]
[you so to write, unless that ye can prove it, (as I am sure ye cannot.)]
[And as touching the benefits by me received by the king’s highness, your lordship needeth not to put me]
[in remembrance of them; for I should shew too much ingrate and unnatural disposition in me, if I should]
[not recognise that I have received of his grace’s benignity and liberality an hundred-fold more good and]
[goodness than ever I shall be able to deserve or recompense unto his grace, as your lordship and many other]
[have done semblably, which I perfectly and well knew before that I knew your lordship; and therefore have]
[alway considered that my duty is to pray to Almighty God daily for preservation of his most royal estate,]
[and with my body and all that I have to serve him unto my life’s end.]
— And as for my threats at assizes and sessions, ego palam locutus sum; and am sure that I neither offended God, my sovereign lord, nor my own conscience therein, in such wise as ye write. And as to my blindness in reading the said new book, of truth I am so blind, that when I read in it, it seemeth to me that it is so full and perfect of itself, that there needeth none other doctor or clerk to be expositor thereof: wherefore I and all other the king’s true and unlearned subjects be much bound to pray for his grace, that hath set forth among us such a noble and comfortable work for the advancement of christian faith and true doctrine.
And, my lord, if ye have matter or cause sufücient to convent before you any of my servants, or other that appertain to me, and to proceed against them as against hereties, I pray you let not the favour or love that ye pretend to bear to me be the let thereof; for your lordship giveth me now little cause to trust unto it; and therefore I may think mine own poor heart being set in affection toward you, next unto my sovereign lord, to have had a weary journey. God preserve your lordship! Written at Sandwich this Wednesday morning, the 3rd day of October, an». 29. [1537.]
CCIV. To a Justice
ArrER hearty commendations; these shall be to signify unto you, that I have
received your letters dated at Sandwich the third day of this present month of October,
which I perceive that you cannot well bear the exhortation of your friend in such things as of duty appertaineth one to admonish another; as specially it becometh every man without respect to do, when the thing toucheth God’s quarrel and the prince’s: for you make an answer unto my said letters with such comparisons, and so clearly avoiding yourself from every conjecture and reason objected, that you would seem to be out of suspicion of all together: which thing if you could persuade unto me to be true, I would gladly abide both reproach for writing so unadvisedly, and also make you a large amends, so that the most part of my diocese could likewise believe the same as well as 1. Howbeit I am twice sorry to find you in this taking; once, by cause you set so light by your friend’s honest admonition; again, by cause you be of that courage, rather to be content to be evil spoken of by many that dare not once tell you a word to your face, but in murmuration all behind your back, than to abide your friend’s plain, simple, and loving monition, which telleth you what other men heareth, talketh, and judgeth of you. And now to come somewhat to touch your letter particularly, you shall right well understand that you are much deceived, to think that I withdraw my good mind, or that at any time, either now or heretofore, I have not loved you in my heart, but (as it were) dissembled with you all this while. And inasmuch as you say that I judged you, before I knew you, not to be a favourer of God’s word, and so doth persist in that opinion, in manner as if I had so tried you: in that you may perceive that there was a fame of you in this behalf before I knew you; which declareth that neither I nor none of mine hath invented any such things against you of late; and therefore, the fame not yet quenched made me to write my mind so plainly to you as I did. As for the profession of your religion, that you love God and his most blessed word, believe in him, dread him, &cI did never doubt in that behalf at all, but that you had a fervent zeal to him, saving that it may be doubtful whether that zeal were according to knowledge, or no: specially considering that in your sessions and elsewhere you be not so diligent nor circumspect to open and set forth things requisite of necessity to our salvation, (as the point of our justification by Christ’s passion only, the difference between faith and works, works of mercy to be done before voluntary works, the obedience towards our prince by the authority of the word of God, and such other concerning the stiff opinion of the people in alteration of ordinances and laws in the church, as holidays, fasting days, &c.,) as you be in the declaration and setting forth of mere voluntary things, of the which we have uo ground ne foundation of scripture. The abuses of which voluntary things have been so nourished in the church, that the estimation of them hath put out of place, or at the least greatly obscured and hindered, the very articles of our faith, and such things as of necessity and upon pain of damnation we are bound both to believe and do; yet notwithstanding must they be at sessions and elsewhere in letes restored to their old use,
[[’ This word, “letes,” i. e. court leets,” is omitted by Dr Jenkyns.] 23 [crRANMER, 11.]]
without any mention made of the abuses, and without any word mentioned of things necessary for our salvation. Methink God and the king hath wrong, in thus declaring the worst, and speaking never a word of the best: God first, by cause his commandment is not preferred; and then the king, by cause [he] hath caused great labours and pains to be taken to discern the one from the other; the best to be worthiest esteemed, and the other to have their degree and right use, the abuses cut away. And yet the matter is so handled, and every thing restored to his old use by your declaration, as I am credibly informed, that no abuse is found, and that it seemeth that the king and his council are worthy of no laud and praise at all for their great pains, expenses, and labours; and the people nevertheless led in blindness.
Surely therefore I do not impute this to you, as doing it of malice or of purpose, but rather for lack of some knowledge, in not discerning sincerely things commanded by God and by his word from things ordained by man and grounded upon mere devotion, without any foundation and ground of the word of God: which manner of discerning these two things, no doubt, these many years hath not been greatly regarded, pondered, ne weighed, but rather wittingly let slip, by cause that without controlment of the word of God men might build whatsoever they list for their own glory, commodity, advantage, and lucre. These things shall you evidently espy, if you advisedly ponder these late and last determinations of the clergy’: and I marvel that you do not perceive this in reading the same, seeing that, as you say, they be so plain they need no declaration.
As touching that you lay to my charge in sundry places of your letters, that I am light of credence and prone to hear false liars my explorators, thinking that I go about to set spies for you; I trust in your conscience you do not think so as you have written, for hitherto I have not so handled myself, neither to you ne to none other; at the least I dare say that I am out of common fame thereof. If you have of me no better estimation for my friendly admonition, I may think that you have borne little good mind to me hitherto, thus suddenly to lay to my charge that [of ] which no man living (besides you) can accuse me of suspicion, much less of proof. And do you think that I am so ready, at the informations of light persons, to write so earnestly to such a one as you be, both of experience and wisdom in no small estimation, not having both manifest conjectures, proofs some, and vulgar fame sufficient, to inform me thereunto? Surely, notwithstanding your imagination in this behalf, I may not wink at such things as be by common fame and great likelihood opened to me, specially when the matter tendeth to disquietness, murmur, or disobedience. For if I had intended so to undermine you, (as you pretend I do,) you may trust me, surely, that I would never have opened so plainly to you my mind as I have done, but have declared and proved my grief so to the king’s grace and his council, not doubting but that I should rather have thereby had laud and praise than any dishonour, mine intent thoroughly known to the king’s majesty in that behalf.
And where you say, that I parify you to the false traitors in Lincolnshire, thinking thereby to shew my good-will and charity towards you to be but little, and so thereupon you declare your true obedience to the king’s majesty; sir, although you have uncharitably received my letter, and gathered upon me in this point more than can be proved justly, yet did I not intend herein to break charity with you, or to bear you any worse will, in declaring mine opinion, what I thought your servants’ words and such other might prove to, leaving for example that such like words was the ground and foundation of the rebellion lately conceived in Lincolnshire. And to be plain with you, I am sorry to perceive how ready you be to ascribe that to yourself, which was only laid to your servants, for such words as I suppose I can justly prove against them. And therefore when I write this parification (as you call it) of the rebels of Lincolnshire, I nothing thought less than to compare any man hereabout to them: only I shewed what seditious words might do here, as it did there; for I think that if such monitions had been in time there sent to wise men, it would never have come to so great a ruffle as it did. And I do assure you, (by cause the pacifying of seditiousness as much appertaineth to you as to me,) I had
The Institution of a Christian Man. Vid. Letters CXC. CCII. pp. 337, 350.
thought when I wrote that my said letter to you, you would rather have required of me the names of your servants, the time and place, and to whom those words were spoken, than thus, by taking to yourself the defence of your said servants, impute that the matter was specially rehearsed against you.
As touching many other things at large in your letter, of your hatred towards the 4 people for favouring of the word of God, of your interpreting new and old fashions, of your open speaking at sessions, or elsewhere, both of the new book and of other things, and of your threats there; forsomuch as you allege this text, λίγο palam. locutus sum, I think in very deed that your open speaking hath engendered much grudge amongst the people, and also putteth your own servants in this courage and comfort, thus without discretion to babble and talk such slanderous and seditious words as they do.
And therefore, to make an end, I require you not to take my monition to the worst, but as you would accept the monition of him that loveth you better than he that dare not tell you his mind according to his conscience. And as for that that I have done hitherto by my letters, you have no cause why yon should take it but after a charitable manner, considering that it is our private and secret communication. And if you cannot thus take it, then I remit the judgment of my letters to the king and his council, and to the report of such as shall be called before them for the same. And now, where upon occasion of my other letter you wish to me that God should give me grace to do my office, truly I can no less do than thank you therefore, requiring you (as you shall from time to time see cause why) that you will both earnestly and plainly admonish me of such things as you shall think in your conscience worthy of reformation. And I trust I shall not only better accept your admonitions than you have done mine, but shall in my heart also yield unto you condign thanks for the same.
CCV. A Justice to Cranmer
AFTER due reverence as appertaineth to your lordship remembered; it may please you to know that yesterday before noon I received your second letters, whereby I perceive that your lordship calleth your former letters to me directed, which I received at Mynster in Thanett, a friendly exhortation.” And ye allege that I cannot bear the same: which allegation it seemeth ye make because of certain comparisons comprised in mine answer to your lordship thereunto made. My lord, ye may be assured that your said former letters distempered not me in such wise, that I forgat wherein I made my comparison; for they be such as I may well make, and eftsoons hereby I affirm them. And as to your lordship’s friendly exhortation, albeit that ye be an high prelate and percase deeply seen in divinity, and I a man but meanly learned in morality, I despair not so much in myself as to think, that I cannot discern between a friendly exhortation or admonition, and a captious impetition or dangerous commination. And where your lordship offereth to abide reproach, or to make me amends, in case that I could persuade unto you mine irreite? to be true, as I have heretofore written, I will not desire any of those to be had; but I will make recompence to myself by being ware of your lordship hereafter. And, my lord, I know well that honest men of this shire be not in such fear of me, as to forbear to speak to me presently as they think, nor use to detract me, as ye write.
And where your lordship, touching the particulars of mine answer to your said former letters, writeth, that your judgment conceived of me before ye knew me, in that I favoured not the word of God, and your perseverance in the same argueth that there was a fame of me in that behalf before ye knew me; it seemeth to be but a weak argument, and thereto I say and I think verily, that ye never knew nor heard of any such fame, but that ye invented that objection against me for another cause, which I well remember. For when I came first to your presence, which was at Otford, and moved you therein, ye justified not that your judgment by any fame thereof being upon me, but advised me to apply study of scripture; which hitherto I durst never enterprise, for doubt that I should, with little learning and less discretion, take upon me high knowledge, as I see many do now-a-days.
And such things as ye impute default in me for matters not set forth in sessions, which be requisite for our salvation; those things be more pertinent to the office and part of a standing preacher in a pulpit, than to a sitting justiciar in a temporal session of peace: and what your lordship meaneth by voluntary things set forth in sessions, which ye allege have greatly obscured our faith and such things as we be bound to believe and do upon pain of damnation, I know not; and I never heard the king’s courts of sessions so defamed as your lordship doth with your pen, writing that the worst been there declared, and of the best never a word spoken. ‘Thus your lordship taketh opinion by the reports of the tongues of such false persons as I have written of to your lordship before; and in the process of this matter it may be reasonably
[[ This word is omitted by Dr Jenkyns. It is either a mistake, or «t least the meaning of it is]
[here printed as it stands in the MS.; but it is doubtful.] 23—2]
gathered upon the writing to me, that a session of the king’s laws cannot be laudably kept, unless there be in manner a sermon of divinity clerkly made therein. Whereunto ye add great lack of discretion in men between things commanded by God and by his word, and things ordained by man and grounded of mere devotion, without any foundation or ground of the word of God. I suppose that few men have so little discretion as to think, that liberal things proceeding but of devotion be to be done or practised, and the commandment of God to be omitted: albeit I doubt not but that Almighty God accepteth to his pleasure good things done which proceed of mere devotion, though that the thing be not expressly commanded to be done by the word of God; or else all foundations of ecclesiastical things and other like perpetuities be of little reputation.
Also your lordship marvelleth that I do not perceive things which ye write of, in reading the last determinations of the clergy, because I say they be so plain that they need no declaration; and I marvel more that ye so marvel, ere that ye know or hear mine intelligence in them. And most heartily I beseech your lordship to let me know your manifest conjectures, proofs, and vulgar fame which ye write of; whereupon ye have grounded, or reasonably may ground yourself to impeach me by your former letters as ye have done; for till your lordship so letteth me know by some reasonable mean, I cannot think but that ye have dealt hardly with me and uncharitably. And let the openers to you of those things, and such other as ye may not wink at, be known; and I doubt not but that they shall be seen to be such persons as I have written of, and thereby also ye shall know me better than ye do. And hithereto, I am sure, that I have been as vigilant to things tending to disquietness, murmur, or disobedience, as any poor man of my degree in this shire, and have detested them as much: and because that it seemeth that divers of my servants offended your lordship in speaking of some words, I pray you send for them, and upon due proof thereof made, use them according to their demerits.
And where I have written, ego palam locutus sum, let the hearers testify, and I am ready to make answer; and beseech Almighty God to grant me grace never to have more dangerous matter to answer unto than that: and I doubt not but that I have so borne myself hitherto, and trust in God to do hereafter, that I shall not need to dread the complaint of your lordship nor of any other; and so finally I intend truly to serve God and the king during my poor life, as well as God will give me grace, and so to live in good tranquillity and little care of evil tongues, what ears or eyes soever be bent against me. And so also I pray God your lordship may do. Written at Raynham, the first Sunday of this month of October. [Oct. 7, 4.0. 1597.]
CCVI. To Crumwell
And albeit that I have written to your lordship so many times in the favour of that poor man, William Gronnowe, to be restored unto his room at Calice, that I am at my wit’s end farther how to behave myself to do him good by my suit, considering that your letters, three times already directed in his favour, prevaileth nothing at all; yet once again, having in respect both his importune suit, and also his extreme poverty, or rather undoing, I shall beseech your lordship, (inasmuch as you have thus far attempted in his behalf) that you will not now leave off your good intent towards him; for if you do, surely I do not only count the man undone, but also take that this his extreme handling shall be a great hinderance to the advancement of God’s word: and I beseech you procure, that there may be one of the council of Caleis that earnestly favoureth the furtherance thereof. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the 9th day of October. [1537.7]
Your own assured evr, Cantuarien
To the right honourable and my singular
good lord, my lord privy seal.
[[! Vid. Letters LXXXVIII. CL. pp. 276, 307. 16. Ixvi. Add. (b) p. 180. Ed. Francof. et Lips.]
[Seckendorf, Comment. Hist. Apol. de Lutheran. 1692.]]
[Lib. 111. Sect. 13. $ xxxix. Add. p. 111, and Sect. [2 Vid. Letter CXCVIII. p. 347.]]
CCVII. To Dr Snede, Vicar of Rye
I commEND me unto you. And whereas I understand that (by reason of bloodshed lately committed within your church by William Guston upon one Robert a Wood) you be in doubt whether that you may lawfully celebrate divine service there: I do signify unto you that, upon due examination of the manner and circumstance thereof, I do find therein no lawful impediment whereby you may have cause to abstain from your said divine service, but that you may exercise the same as it hath been heretofore accustomed; which I will and command you to do, this said chance notwithstanding. Thus fare you well. At Ford, the 11 day of November. [1537.]
T. Cantuarien’
To my wellbéloved doctor Snede, vicar of Rye,
and in his absence to the curate there.
Ccvhi. To Crumwell
My singular good lord, I heartily commend me unto you. And whereas my trusty servant master Towker, my physician, being a man of good learning and conversation, hath exercised the office of a physician of long continuance with the prior and convent of Christ’s church, in Canterbury, and had the fees, profits, and commodities belonging to the same; the which said office, by the custom of the house, hath always been esteemed a perpetuity, and the prior promised me at Christmas last, that my said servant should have a patent thereof during his life; the which his former promise the prior nothing regarding sithen that time will now in no wise condescend that my sald servant shall have any patent of the said office: wherefore, in consideration of the good service he hath done to the said prior and convent at all times, I beseech your good lordship to direct your letters to the said prior and convent, requiring them without further delay to seal and deliver the said letters patents; whereby ye shall not only do a very good deed, but also bind my said servant to be your daily beadman, and with his poor service to be at all times at your lordship’s commandment. And thus heartily fare you well. From Lamehithe, the xith day of this month of November. [1537.7]
Your own assured everT. Cantuarien
To the right honourable and my singular
good lord, my lord privy seal.
CCIX. To Crumwell
My very singular good lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me unto your lordship. And where I have written unto the wardens of the goldsmiths, requiring them to take a view of the pix belonging unto the mint at Canterbury, as well for my discharge as to the intent the king’s highness may be the more substantially served in his coins there; the said wardens hath sent me word, that they would gladly take pains in that behalf, so that they may have commandment from one of the council besides me; for so in times past they have accomplished my predecessors’ request herein, and not else, (as they say:) these shall be therefore to beseech your lordship to assign this bill herein inclosed, to the intent that the master and con-
[[? This letter has not been printed in any former collection of the archbishop’s letters.] [^ Vid. Letter CXXIII. p. 295, n. 1.]]
troller of the said mint, being now in the town at my commandment, may the sooner have expedition in the premises. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Lambeth, the ivth day of December. [1537.7]
Your own assured everT. Cantuarien
To my very singular good lord,
my lord privy seal.
CCX. To Crumwell
My very singular good lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me unto your Jordship. These shall be to signify unto the same, that at my late being at the court, forsomuch as I failed of you there, I attempted alone to be a suitor unto the king’s majesty for my loving friend sir John Markham’, knight, declaring unto his grace not only the old and continual service which the said sir John Markeham did first unto his grace’s grandame, and since to his said grace ever since his coronation, being in all the wars which the king hath had since his most gracious reign, except he had wars in divers places at one time, and then he was ever in one of them, which from time to time hath been great charge unto him: moreover I declared unto his highness, how the said sir John, of long season, hath unfeignedly favoured the truth of God’s word; and so upon these my persuasions I besought his grace to be good in a suit which your lordship and I should make for the said sir John, whereof I referred the relation unto your lordship: and I found the king’s grace very well minded towards the said sir John; wherefore I nothing doubt, but if it will please your lordship this present time earnestly to set forward the said suit, the king’s grace is well inclined to hear it; so that I trust you shall easily obtain the same, which I beseech you to do at this my request, and this gentleman shall be ever bound to do you service. And yet one thing I did forget to say unto his highness, which is this, that the said sir John Markham hath been no great craver unto his grace; for this is the first thing that ever he asked of his grace. Wherefore, my lord, considering the matter is thus far opened and wholly committed unto you, I shall desire you to promote the same with expedition, and that the rather at this mine instant request: wherein surely you shall not only do for the preferment of a faithful and honest gentleman, but thereby bind me to be at your lordships commandment. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Lambeth, the vith day of December. [1537.]
Your lordship’s own everT. Cantuarien
To my very singular good lord, my
lord pry seal. CCXI. To Crumwell
Mv very singular good lord, after most hearty commendations; this shall be to — sionify unto your lordship, that I have received both your letters, and the book also. S e.. Part lately by us devised, and now overseen and corrected by the king’s majesty; which book, according to his grace’s pleasure, (all other business laid apart, I shall with all possible expedition peruse and oversee within this sevennight, or fortnight at the
A Ean i
[! Vid. Letter CLXI. p. 315.] sir John Markham, 29 Hen. VIII. Tanner’s Notitia [? The lady Margaret, countess of Richmond] Monast. Lincoln. lv. Neubo. Ed. Camb. 1787.]
[[? The site of the Premonstratensian Abbey of [ i.e. The Institution of a Christian Man. Vid.]
[Neubo or Newboth, in Lincolnshire, was granted to Letters CXC. CCII. CCXIL pp. 337, 350, 359.]
uttermost, and thereof advertise his majesty, by your lordship, of my judgment and opinion in such places as are in the same book by his grace corrected.
And as touching your farther advertisement of the king’s most gracious pleasure to be resolved in the case of matrimony between the late duke of Richmond and my lord of Norfolk’s daughter, wherein his highness willeth me to call my doctors unto me, and to propone the same case amongst them, whether such marriage be matrimony or no; I assure your lordship, that, without farther convocation of doctors, I am fully persuaded that such marriages as be in lawful age contracted per verba de presenti are matrimony before God. And the same case is (as I remember) plainly opened and declared in the king’s grace’s book of his own cause of matrimony. Howbeit, I shall eftsoons consult herein with such learned men as at this time be with me present, and send unto your lordship our resolution in the same. And if his grace will have me further to consult therein, then I must send for other learned men, or else come to London myself. Thus Almighty God have your lordship “in his tuition! At Ford, the 14th day of January. [1538.]
Your own ever assured, Cantuarien
To my very singular good lord, my
lord privy seal. Ccxh. To Crumwell”
My very singular good lord, after most hearty commendations unto your lordship;.. these shall be to advertise the same, that as concerning the book lately devised by ᾽:..’ me and other bishops of this realm, which you sent unto me corrected by the king’s highness, your lordship shall receive the same again by this bearer the pursuivant, with certain annotations of mine own concerning the same: wherein I trust the king’s highness will pardon my presumption, that I have been so scrupulous, and as it were a picker of quarrels to his grace’s book, making a great matter of every light fault, or rather where no fault is at all; which I do only for this intent, that because the book now shall be set forth by his grace’s censure and judgment, I would have nothing therein that Momus could reprehend: and yet I refer all mine annotations again to his grace’s most exact judgment; and I have ordered my annotations so by numbers, that his grace may readily turn to every place, and in the lower margin of this book, next to the binding, he may find the numbers which shall direct him to the words whereupon I make the annotations: and all those his grace’s castigations which I have made none annotation upon, I like them very well; and in divers places also
^ Vid. Letter LXXXIII. p. 273, n. 6. Henry Reformat. Vol. I. pp. 195, etsqq. Ed. Oxon. 1829.
[Fitzroy, duke of Richmond, died July 22, A.D. [^ Dr Jenkyns(Remains of Abp. Cranmer, Vol.]
[1536, when about seventeen years of age. Stow’s I. p. 227,) fixes the date of this and the pre-]
[Annals, p. 572. Ed. Lond. 1615. Note to State ceding letter, A.D. 1538, because Cranmer, with]
[Papers, Vol. I. p. 321.] the other bishops had almost completed in July, [? This was probably the determinations of the 1537, their determinations “upon the preparation]
[moste famous and mooste excellent Universities of of the Institution of a Christian Man,” (Vid.]
[Italy and Fraunce, that it is so unlefule for a man Letter CXC. p. 337.) which is spoken of in this]
[to marie his brother’s wyfe, that the pope hath no letter as the book lately devised,” which could]
[power to dispence therewith;” published by Ber- scarcely place the letter earlier than A.D. 1538.]
[thelet, Nov. A.D. 1530; Ames’ Typ. Antiq. Vol. III. The allusion to the duke of Richmond’s marriage]
[p. 275. Ed. Lond. 1810—19. Strype’s Mem. of Abp. in the former letter leads to the inference, that it]
[Cranmer, Vol. I. p. 74. Ed. Oxon. 1840. Ofthebooks was written soon after his death, which took place]
[written for the king’s cause Burnet says: “But all July 22, A.D. 1536, and would scarcely make it later]
[these, and many more, were summed up inashort thanthat year. Todd and Strype, however, fix the]
[book, and printed first in Latin, then in English, date as A.D. 1537. Vid. ‘l’odd’s Life of Abp. Cran-]
[with the determination of the universities before it,” mer, Vol. I. pp. 184, 5; Strype’s Mem. of Abp.]
[of which he also gives an abstract. Vid. Hist. of Cranmer, Vol. I. pp. 73, et sqq. Ed. Oxon. 1840.]]
I have made annotations, which places nevertheless I mislike not, as it shall appear by the same annotations’.
And as touching the punishment of those evil persons, which have in these parties set forth seditious bruits of the king’s majesty, one of them upon Wednesday last was ordered at Canterbury according to the king’s grace’s commandment, and another shall suffer the same to-morrow at Sandwich, and the other shall be served accordingly.
And as for the case of marriage wherein your lordship first required to know, whether marriage contracted and solemmisated in lawful age, “per verba de praesenti,” and without carnal copulation, be matrimony before God or no; and now you require farther to know, whether such matrimony be consummate or no; and what the woman may theréupon demand by the law civil after the death of her husband: to the first part I answer, that I and my doctors that are now with me are of this opinion, that this matrimony contracted, per verba de presenti,” is perfect matrimony before God, but not utterly consummated (as this term is commonly used amongst the school divines and lawyers) but by carnal copulation. And as for the demand of the woman by the law civil, I will therein profess mine ignorance; and I have no learned men here with me in the said civil law, but only doctor Barbare, who in this matter saith he cannot pronounce his mind, except he had books here, and the company of learned men of the said faculty to consult withal. And I marvel that the votes of the civil lawyers be required herein, seeing that all manner of causes of dower be judged within this realm by the common laws of the same; and there be plenty of well learned men in the civil law at London, which undoubtedly can certify the king’s majesty of the truth herein, as much as appertaineth unto that law?. “Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the xxvth day of January. [1538.]
Your lordships own assured, Cantuarien
[[! Vid. Corrections of The Institution of a your grace to give me leave to come up and sue]
[Christian Man,” by Henry VIII. and Abp. Cran- mine own cause, being no wise too good to be in]
[mer’s Annotations, p. 83, &c. supra.] person an humble suitor to his majesty; 1 do not [? Vid. Strype’s Mem. of Abp. Cranmer, p. 90.] doubt but upon the sight thereof his highness [? The words after the death of her husband” should be moved to have compassion on me, con-]
[are inserted in the archbishop’s hand. sidering that he himself alone made the marriage, [^ Dr John Barber was the archbishop’s “official and to think that it shall be much his majesty’s]
[of his court of Canterbury,” whom he “retained honour to grant me that that his laws give me to]
[with him in his household for expedition of matters maintain me with, the desolate widow of his late son,]
[in suit before him, being his officer, and as a coun- in the degree that his majesty hath called me to;]
[sellor to him in the law when need required.” He yet nevertheless putting my whole matter into your]
[was, however, discovered by the archbishop to have grace’s hands and my lord privy seal’s, who (as ye]
[acted treacherously during the conspiracies of the write) hath promised to be good lord therein, most]
[bishop of Winchester and others against him, A.D. humbly desiring your blessing I bid your grace]
[1543. Strype’s Mem. of Abp. Cranmer, pp. 131, farewell, from Kengygael this Wednesday.]
[173 Ed. Oxon. 1540. By your humble dowther, [5 The following letter was written by Mary, Many RICHMOND.]
[widow of Henry, duke of Richmond, to the duke of To my very good lord and]
[Norfolk, her father, respecting her suit to the king father the duke of Norfolk,]
[for her maintenance. this be delivered.”]
[Cotton MSS. “And though I am in doubt how your grace This letter has also been printed in Ellis” Ori-]
[Y A shall take it, that I should thus daily trouble you ginal Letters, 2nd Series, Letter CXX. Vol. II.]
[British Mu- with my own letters, yet I trust your grace will con- pp. 03—95; State Papers, Vol. I. pp. 576-578.]
[Oreipa, sider how this matter troubleth me most of any In a letter by Sadleyr to Crumwell, dated July]
[yi other, and mine is the part both to speak and sue, if 14, [1538,] preserved in the State Paper Office,]
[I had not such a good intercessor to the king’s (Miscell. Letters, Temp. Hen. VIII. 2nd Series,]
[majesty in my behalf as your grace is, whereof as Vol. XXXVII.) he says: ’ These shall be to adver-]
[yet provideth no effect but words, which maketh me tise you, that the king’s highness hath commanded]
[think the king’s highness is not ascertained of my me to signify unto you, on his grace’s behalf, that]
[whole widowful and right therein; for if he were, my lord of Norfolk, taking an opportunity to meet]
[he is so just a prince, so gracious, and of such equity, with his highness, the same day that his grace]
[that I am sure he would never suffer the justice of removed from Westminster to Hampton Court,]
[his laws to be denied to me the unworthy desolate amongst other, thanked most humbly his majesty]
[widow of his late son, that never yet was denied to for his daughter, the duchess of Richmond, and so]
[the poorest gentlewoman in this realm. And if it not only made a suit and motion unto his majesty]
[would please ye, as ofttimes I have humbly desired touching his said daughter’s jointure, as your lord-]
CCXIII. To Crumwell
My very singular good lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me to your lordship. And whereas this last year I became a suitor for this bearer, John Culpeper, unto the king’s majesty, requiring his grace to accept into his service the said Cul-peper, and farther, to be so gracious lord unto him, as in time convenient to make him one of the grooms of his privy chamber; his grace most benignly tendering my suit and request at that time not only accepted him into the room of a gentleman waiter, but thereunto also said, that he would see for him upon convenient opportunity: now my lord, these shall be most heartily to desire and pray you to be so good lord unto the said John Culpeper, as to renew my suit unto the king’s majesty for him at such time as any alteration shall be made within the king’s grace’s privy chamber, not doubting at all, but that he shall not only do unto the king’s highness his most true and faithful service, but also be at your lerdship’s commandment during his life. Thus our Lord have your good lordship in his most blessed tuition! At Ford, the xxviiith day of January. [1538.]
Your own ever assured
Tomas CANTUARIEN.
To the right honourable and my singular
good lord, my lord privy seal.
CCXIV. To Crumwell
Mv very singular good lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me unto your lordship. And where of late^ I wrote unto you, how that one of those seditions persons which here spread false bruits of the king’s highness, was punished at Canterbury: this shall be to certify your lordship, that another of them was likewise punished at Sandwich, as this bearer Sir Edward Ryngisley?, knight, can more at large inform your lordship of the manner thereof; for he was present at Sandwich to see all things executed according to the king’s commandment: and he was also very diligent always in examination of divers persons to see the matters tried out, so that no man could be more willing and ready to satisfy the king’s commandment. To whom I beseech your lordship for his pains taken in this behalf to give unto him your hearty thanks, which will be unto him (I dare well say) no small courage and pleasure: and as for the priest not yet punished, this day, with the assistance of Mr Sheriff and this said bearer, we have appointed him to be punished at Asheforth the next market-day. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the 29th day of January. [1538.]
Your own assured evr, Cantuarien
To my very singular good lord, my
lord privy seal”.
CCXV. To Crumwell
Mv very singular good lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me to your lordship. And whereas the benefice of Sutton Magna, within the county of Essex, of the ship hath since had knowledge from his grace by mour, who afterwards married queen Catherine Parr. Mr Wryothesley, but also made a further over- The name of the other was forgotten by the king: ture for the marriage of his said daughter.” “This but the duke does not appear to have succeeded in named two persons to the king, whom he approved, State Papers, Vol. I. Part 11. pp. 576-578. letter goes on to state that the duke of Norfolk uniting his daughter to either of these persons.
[as husbands for his daughter, « to whom his heart [ Vid. Letter CCXTII. p. 360.]]
[most inclined;"" one of whom was sir Thomas Sey- [^ Vid. Letter CXCVI. p. 345.]]
patronage of Margaret Wyate, widow, and George Coverte, alternis vicibus, being void this last year, came in controversy of the law, which of them should present the incumbent, so that either of them presented one to the said benefice; the said Margaret Wyate presenting sir John Gylderde of Rayley, in the county of Essex, a man, as I am credibly informed, both for his literature, good judgment, and honest conversation, worthy of commendation and preferment; and the said George Coverte presenting one sir Heugh Payne’, late observant, whom I knew neither to be of good learning nor judgment, but a seditious person, and I suppose your lordship knew the same: of the which two persons so presented, the bishop of London, notwithstanding that the matter was then in controversy, and not favouring so much the learning and judgment of the said sir John of Rayly as he did sir Heugh Payne’s, gave the institution unto the said sir Heugh Payne, leaving the patroness in suit at the common law for the same; which said suit hath ever since continued, until now that at this time the said sir Heugh Payne, being in the Marshalsea for his demerits, is departed: and now, forasmuch as the said Margery Wyate, pretending the maintenance not only of her just title unto ihe said benefice, but also the discharging of her conscience in the same, hath once again presented the said sir John of Rayley, being very loth that the benefice should be bestowed upon such as afore time have been drowned in superstitious religion, as partly she feareth that one Roche, late observant, will promote himself thereunto as much as in him lieth: these shall be therefore to beseech your lordship, in consideration of her godly mind in this behalf, and to the intent that the said bishop of London may with better will accept the said sir John of Rayley, to direct your letters in his favour unto the said bishop of London, requiring him to induct the said sir John without farther interruption; forasmuch as the said Coverte can claim no more at the most, but to present once against the said Mistress Wyate twice; and therefore it seemeth to me, that he can have no colour of interest in the said benefice at this time, sir Heugh Payne dying in possession, who was by him last presented. And in thus doing your lordship shall do for the advancement of God’s word, which I think is but easily set forward in Essex. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the viith day of February, [1538.]
Your own assured everT. Cantuarien
To the right honourable and my singular
good lord, my lord privy seal.
CCXVI. To Crumwll
My very singular good lord, in my most hearty wise I commend me unto your lordship. And whereas divers times I have been desirous and minded to sue unto the Gran king’s majesty for some preferment for John Wakefelde, gentleman, controller of my ΠΤ household, a man of good judgment and affection towards God’s word, which I have known him for the space of these twelve years always ready to promote in his country, not rashly nor seditiously, but gently and soberly, so that his own country could neither greatly hate him nor love him; they could not hate him for his kindness and gentleness, being ready to do every man good as much as in his power was; and yet they could not heartily love him, by cause he ever commended the knowledge of God’s word, studied in himself diligently, and exhorted them unto the same, and spake many times against the abusions of the clergy, for which he had all the hate that most of the clergy could procure against him: and partly for his sincere mind which he beareth
[[} Vid. Letter CLXXXIII. p. 333.] Repertorium, Vol. HI. p. 567. Ed. Lond. 1708-10.] [? Stokesley.] [^ It appears that notwithstanding Cranmer’s [? Hugh Payne was appointed to the rectory of efforts Covert appointed Thomas Roche to the]
[Sutton Magna, Nov. 23, A.D. 1536. Newcourt’s living, Feb. 10, 1538.]]
towards God’s word, partly for his true and faithful heart which he hath borne towards his prince and such things as from time to time his highness hath set forth, and specially in this last commotion in the north parties, forsomuch as he so unfeignedly declared his true and faithful allegiance unto the king’s highness, refusing the confederacy of the lord Darcy and other being gathered together unto the castle of Pomfrete, which lord Darcy had trained him thither, (as further your lordship shall perceive by the said lord Darcy’s letters herein inclosed,) and yet that notwithstanding, after that my said controller by communication had with the said lord Darcy had perceived that there was no towardness of fidelity in him, he withdrew himself out of the said castle, to his great jeopardy and loss of all his goods, which at that time were specially spoiled, because he was so unobedient unto their minds; for the which spoil of his goods he hath been partly recompensed by my lord of Norfolk, but not in comparison to his loss: I say therefore, for this cause of this vexation and other the premises, I was many times minded to sue for his preferment, saving that hitherto I saw nothing meet for his commodity. And now forasmuch as I am informed that the priory of Pomfrete shall be surrendered unto the king’s grace’s hands, and that both the situation and the demesne lands of that house lieth very commodiously for him, specially in the town where he dwelleth: these shall be to beseech your lordship to be so good lord unto him, as to be a mean unto the king’s majesty that he may have the preferment of the said priory with the demesnes in farm, doing in that behalf as any other will do for the king’s grace’s advantage. It is for no man so meet as for him, and I think there will be but small suit for it, by reason that the lands are valued to the uttermost, and not only lieth in tillage, saving certain pasture for the maintenance of the tilth, but also no common pasture ne woods belonging to the same; for the which cause also my said controller would not sue, saving that it lieth so nigh unto him: beseeching your lordship, that if hereafter he espy any better thing in the country, that he may have your favour therein; and I doubt not in this his small preferment but that his neighbours shall perceive, that the king’s majesty doth not forget those that bear his grace their true hearts and fidelity. If your lordship would be so good as to shew these my letters unto the king’s majesty, declaring the considerations thereof, I trust his highness will tender my suit, if it were a greater matter: for his highness will gladly help his faithful subjects, if his grace have information of them; and except his grace be informed of them, he cannot help the trusty subjects he hath. Thus, my lord, most heartily fare you well. At Ford, the 28th of February. [1538.]
Your own ever to command, Cantuarien
To the right honourable and my singular
good lord, my lord privy seal.
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