you shall know at your coming home who shall be. The parliament is not holden this term, but is prorogued to the xv. day of January. The queen's grace was brought [to bed] about the xiii. or xiv. day of September of a princess. I myself was godfather, the old duchess of Norfolk and my lady marquess Dorset were godmothers. The duke of Richmond hath married my lady Mary, the duke of Norfolk's daughter. From Lamethe, the xx. day of December, Ao. xxv. Reg. [1533.]—[Abp. Cranmer's Works, vol. II. letter lxxxiii. pp. 272-274. Park. Soc. ed.] NUMBER IX. P BISHOP FISHER TO SECRETARY CRUMWEL, DECLARING HIS 13 Libr.Cleop. AFTER my most humble commendations. Whereas ye Cotton be content that I should write unto the king's highness, E. 6. p. 172. in good faith I dread me, that I cannot be so spect in my writing, but that some word shall escape me, circum wherewith his grace shall be moved to some further displeasure against me, whereof I would be very sorry: for as I will answer before God, I would not in any manner of point offend his grace, my duty saved unto God, whom I must in every thing prefer. And for this consideration I am full loath, and full of fear to write unto his highness in this matter. Nevertheless sithen I conceive that it is your mind that I shall so do, I will endeavour me to the best I can. But first here I must beseech you, good master secretary, to call to your remembrance, that at my last being before you and the other commissioners, for [Bishop of Rochester. See above, p. 55.] P [No. viii. will be found in this edition to follow No. xxv.*, where it should have been originally placed by the author. See above, p. 155.] CRANMER, VOL. I. r [See above, p. 57-] [British Museum. Original & holograph.] taking of the oath concerning the king's most noble succession, I was content to be sworn unto that parcel concerning the succession: and there I did rehearse this reason which I said moved me. I doubted not but that the prince of any realm, with the assent of his nobles and commons, might appoint for his succession royal such an order as was seen unto his wisdom most according. And for this reason I said that I was content to be sworn unto that part of the oath as concerning the succession: this is a very truth, as God help my soul at my most need; albeit I refused to swear to some other parcels, because that my conscience would not serve me so to do. [&c.] Cott. Libr. Cleop. E. 6. NUMBER X. [ROWLAND] LEE BISHOP ELECT OF LICHFIELD AND COVENTRY TO SECRETARY CRUMWEL CONCERNING BISHOP FISHER. PLEASETH you to be adverteds, that I have been with p.165. [Bri- my lord of Rochester, who is as you left him; that is to um. Origin. say, ready to take his oath for the succession, and to swear al and holo- never to meddle more in disputation of the validity of the graph.] tish Muse matrimony, or invalidity with the lady dowager", but that utterly to refuse. For as for the case of the prohibition Levitical, his conscience is so knit, that he cannot send it off from him whatsoever betide him. And yet he will and doth professy his allegiance to our sovereign lord the king during his life. Truly the man is nigh going and s["To be advertised." Cott. MSS.] t["To make his oath." Cott. MSS.] u [i. e. Queen Katherine.] * ["But as for the case." Cott. MSS.] y["Doth formally profess." Cott. MSS.] doubtless cannot continue, unless the king and his council be merciful unto him; for the body cannot bear the clothes on his back, as knoweth God. Who preserve you. In haste scribbled by your own most bounden Roland Co. et Litch. electus et confirmatus. NUMBER XI. THE ARCHBISHOP TO SECRETARY CRUMWEL, IN BEHALF OF Right worshipful Master Crumwel, 14 [British amble to formation, 145. AFTER most hearty commendations, &c. I doubt not Cotton Libr. Cleop. but you do right well remember, that my lord of Rochester E. 6. p. 181. and master More were contented to be sworn to the act Museum. of the king's succession, but not to the preamble of the Original & holograph.] same. What was the cause of their refusal thereof, I am The preuncertain, and they would by no means express the same. this act may Nevertheless it must needs be, either the diminution be read in the History of the authority of the bishop of Rome, or else the repro- of the Rebation of the king's first pretensed matrimony. But if part i. p. they do obstinately persist in their opinions of the preamble, yet, meseemeth, it should not be refused, if they will be sworn to the very act of succession: so that they will be sworn to maintain the same against all powers and potentates. For hereby shall be a great occasion to satisfy the princess dowager and the lady Mary, which do think they should damn their souls, if they should abandon and relinquish their estates. And not only it should stop the mouths of them, but also of the emperor, and other their friends, if they give as much credence to my lord of Rochester and master More speaking and doing against them, as a [See Burnet's Hist. of Reformat. vol. i. pp. 294–297. ed. Oxon. 1829, and above, pp. 53, 4, n. v.] they hitherto have done, and thought that all other should have done, when they spake and did with them. And peradventure it should be a good quietation to many other within this realm, if such men should say, that the succession comprised within the said act is good and according to God's laws. For then I think there is not one within this realm, that would once reclaim against it. And whereas divers persons, either of a wilfulness will not, or of an indurate and invertible conscience cannot, alter from their opinions of the king's first pretensed marriage, (wherein they have once said their minds, and percase have a persuasion in their heads, that if they should now vary therefrom, their fame and estimation were distained for ever), or else of the authority of the bishop of Rome: yet if all the realm with one accord would apprehend the said succession, in my judgment it is a thing to be amplected and embraced. Which thing, although I trust surely in God that it shall be brought to pass, yet hereunto might not a little avail the consent and oaths of these two persons, the bishop of Rochester and master More, with their adherents, or rather confederates. And if the king's pleasure so were, their said oaths might be suppressed, but when and where his highness might take some commodity by the publishing of the same. Thus our Lord have you ever in his conservation. From my manor at Croydon the xvii day of April, [1534.] Your own assured ever, THOMAS CANTUAR. British AFTER most humble recommendations, I do your grace [Cotton MSS.] to understand, that I am accumbered with such as keepeth Cleop. E. 5, and readeth these erroneous books in English, and believe [fol. 360.* and give credence to the same, and teacheth others that Museum. Original.] they should so do. My lord, I have done that lieth in me for the suppression of such persons; but it passeth my power, or any spiritual man for to do it. For divers saith openly in my diocese, that the king's grace would that they should have the said erroneous books, and so maintaineth themselves of the king. Whereupon I desired my lord abbot of Hydeb to shew this to the king's grace, beseeching him to send his honourable letters, under his seal, down to whom he please in my diocese. That they may shew and publish, that it is not his pleasure that such books should be had or read; and also punish such as saith so. I trust, before this letter shall come unto you, my said lord abbot hath done so. That said abbot hath the names of some, that craketh in the king's name that their false opinions should go forth, and will die in the quarrel that their ungracious opinions be true, and trusteth by Michaelmas-day there shall be more that shall believe of their opinion than they that believeth the contrary. If I had known that your grace had been at London, I would have commanded the said abbot to have spoken with you. But your grace may send for him when you please, and he shall shew you my whole mind in that matter; and how I thought best for the suppression b [i. e. John Salcot, alias Capon, elected bishop of Bangor A.D. 1533, and consecrated April 19, A.D. 1534. See above, pp. 62. 336.] |