III. four hole monethes by land or by sea; and that it shall be BOOK at his graces choyse to have horsemen, or shipps, and that such as his grace shall chuse shall be sent to him within a month after the requisition thereof. Second, That besides the same, that they shall reteyn at his majesties costs and chardges, such number of horsemen and footmen, as his highnes shall require; so that the horsemen passe not the number of two thousand, and the footmen the number of five thousand; or for the said footmen, 12 ships in good order furnished with men, harneys, ordynances, victuells, and other things necessarie; and that the kings majestie maye hyre them, reteyne at his wages as long ́as it shall please his grace; and it shall be as his majesties choyse to have the said 12 ships, or the said number of horsemen and footmen, and that such as his majestie shall choyse, maye be redye within two moneths after his requisi tion. Thirde, That the sayd confederats woll take upon them in all conciles herafter, and every where ells to promote and defend the opinion of the reverend fathers, Dr. Martin, Justus Jonas, Cruciger, Pomeran, and Melanchton, in the cause of his graces marriage. Number 47. A letter writ to the king by the princes of the Smalcaldick league. An original. p. 283. SERENISSIME rex, postquam Romanus pontifex, Paulus Cotton lib. Cleop. E. 6. Tertius, generalem synodum Mantuæ celebrandam, et inchoandam die vicessimo tertio Maii, indixit, misit ad nos invictissimus imperator Carolus Quintus clementissimus dominus noster, oratorem suum, ut ad indictionem illam concilii ipsi veniamus, vel procuratores nostros mittamus. Etsi autem nos ex animo semper optavimus, ut synodus, rebus deliberatis, emendationem abusuum atque errorum, qui diu jam in ecclesia hærent, institueret, etiam adversus illos ipsos pontifices et prælatos, quorum partim negligentia, partim cupiditatibus, vitia illa in ecclesiam irrepserunt: tamen III. PART bulla, in qua Paulus pontifex concilium indicit, non obscurè testatur, pontificem (cum suis conjunctis) nequaquam passurum esse; ut in synodo, de restituenda vera doctrina, et corrigendis abusibus atq; erroribus, agatur. Sed quemadmodum ab ipso, et quibusdam suis antecessoribus doctrina, quam confessi sumus, sine ulla cognitione, aut examinatione generalis, liberæ, et Christianæ synodi, temerè, et cum contumelia evangelii, damnata est; ita ostendit se Paulus pontifex, hæc prejudicia, prætextu synodi confirmaturum esse: et conatur sibi ipsa receptione bullæ, obligare omnes reges et potentatos, ut ipsi quoque assentiantur illis prejudiciis, et omissa cognitione, se ad piam et catholicam doctrinam, et in evangelio clarè traditam, quam profitemur extirpandam, et armis delendam conjungant. In hanc indictionem si consensissemus, visi essemus hæc prejudicia confirmare et doctrinam ecclesiæ Romanæ et doctrinam nostrorum testimonio nostro condemnare. Itaque oratori Cæsariæ majestatis, verè, et bona fide commemoravimus, quare nobis illa indictio concilii, iniqua, et perniciosa ecclesiæ videatur; ac petivimus, ut Cæsariæ majestati, excusationem nostram justam, et consentaneam, juri scripto et naturali, quare in illam indictionem non consenserimus, exponat. Non dubitabamus, aut quin Romanus pontifex, et hi quos habet conjunctos, se excusaturi essent apud regiam dign. V. tanquam pontifex fecerit suum officium, ac ostenderit se voluisse recte consulere ecclesiæ; nos vero oneraturi invidia, quasi communi utilitati deesse velimus. Quare necessarium nobis visum est, causas, propter quas indictionem illam iniquissimam, et insidiarum ac periculi plenam recusavimus, regiæ dignitati vestræ, et cæteris regibus et principibus significare, ut adversariorum calumniis, et aliorum suspicionibus occurreremus. Itaque, ut regia dignitas vestra causas illas verè et integrè intelligere possit, rogamus, propter gloriam Christi, ut regia dignitas V. nostram excusationem, quam publicatam his literis adjecimus, perlegat. qua in re non solum periculo moveatur multorum in Germania populorum, quib. regiam dignitatem V. optimè velle speramus, sed etiam cogitet, III. hanc nostram causam ad communem salutem ecclesiæ perti- BOOK nere, in qua cum disciplinam multis in rebus collapsam esse constet, et paulatim receptos esse abusus non dissimulandos, diu multi, magni, et præstantes viri, emendationem optaverunt et flagitarunt. Non dubitamus, aut quin regia dignitas V. etiam ex alio cupiat ecclesiæ Christi quemadmodum Deus hoc officium, præcipuè à summis principibus requirit, omni ope, et omnibus viribus consulere. Proinde et communem ecclesiæ causam, et nos ipsos diligenter commendamus regiæ dignitati V. et nostra officia, cum summa observantia, reg. dignitati vestræ deferimus. Bene et feliciter valeat regia dignitas vestra. Datæ vii. calend. April. anno Domini M.D.XXXVII. Dei beneficio, Joannes Fredericus dux Et Philippus lantgravius Hassiæ, comes Serenissimo principi, domino Henrico ejus Number 48. Cranmer's letter to Cromwell, complaining of the ill treatment of the ambassadors from Germany. My very singuler good lorde, in my most hertie wise I Cotton lib. Cleop. E. 5. recommend me unto your lordeship. And where that the P. 212. oratours of Germany, when thei granted to tary one moneth, III. PART required that we should go furth in their booke, and entreate of the abuses, so that the same myght be set furth in wryting as the other articles arr: I have syns effectuously moved the bishops therto, but they have made me this answer; that thei knowe, that the king's grace hath taken apon hymself to answer the said oratours in that behalf, and therof a book is alredie divised by the king's majestie; and therfore they will not meddell with the abuses, leste thei should write therin contrarye to that the king shall write. Wherfore thei have required me to entreate now of the sacraments of matrimony, orders, confirmation, and extreme unction; wherin thei knowe certeynly that the Germanes will not agree with us, excepte it be in matrymoney onlye. So that I perceyve, that the bishops seek only an occasion to breke the concorde; assuring your lordship, that nothing shall be done, unles the king's grace speciall commandmente be unto us therin directed. For they manifestly see, that they cannot defend the abuses, and yet they wold in no wise grant unto them. Farther, as concernyng the oratours of Garmanye, I am advertised, that thei are very evill lodged where thei be: for besides the multitude of ratts, daily and nyghtly runnyng in thair chambers, which is no small disquietnes; the kechyn standeth directly against their parlar, where they dayly dine and supp; and by reason therof, the house savereth so yll, that it offendeth all men that come into it. Therefore, if your lordship do but offer them a more commodious house to demore in, I doubt not, but that they will accept that offer most thankefully, albeit I am suer that they will not remove for this tyme. And wheras of late I did put your lordship in remembrance, for the suppression of the abbey of Tudberye; now I beseech your lordship, not only that commissionours may be sent unto that house, but also in likewise unto the abbey of Rocester, or Crockesdon; beseeching your lordship to be good lorde unto this berer Frances Basset, my servant, for his preferment unto a leace of one of the said houses; not doubting but you shall prefer a right honest man, who at all tymes shall be able to do the king's grace right good III. service in those partes, and also be at your lordship's com- BOOK mandment during his life. Thus Almightie God have your good lordship in his blessed tuition. At Lambeth, the xxiiid daye of Auguste. Your own ever assured T. Cantuarien'. Number 49. The earl of Northumberland's letter to Cromwell, denying any contract, or promise of marriage, between queen Anne and himself. An original. Otho. C. 10. MR. Secretary, This shall be to signifie unto you, that I Cotton lib. perceyve by sir Raynold Carnaby, that there is supposed a precontract between the queen and me; wherupon I was not only heretofore examined upon my oath before the archbishopps of Canterbury and York, but also received the blessed sacrament upon the same before the duke of Norfolk, and other the king's highnes council learned in the spirituall law; assuring you, Mr. Secretary, by the said oath, and blessed body which affore I received, and hereafter intend to receive, that the same may be to my damnation, if ever there were any contracte, or promise of marriage between her and me. At Newyngton-Green, the xiiith day of Maye, in the 28th year of the reigne of our soveraigne lord king Henry the VIIIth. Your assured, Northumberland. Number 50. A letter, giving Pace an account of propositions made to king Henry by Charles the Vth. Office. TRUSTY and right wel-beloved, we grete you well, lating Paperyou wit, that on Tuesday last passed, repaired to our maner of Greenwiche unto us, the emperors ambassador here resident, and on his masters behalf, pretending a desire to renew the old amytie that hath been between us, testified nevertheles by letters of credence sent from the said em |