III. PART poses, not only these laste, but all synyth my departing from the realme, whether he could be content (the king's pleasure first knowen) to acquiet the king's mynde in this behalfe, by going to his grace, and enforming him of the hole; wherein, afore God, he shuld do a dede most charitable. Wherin also I did allege unto him, for to bind him withall; bycause after such demonstracyon of the kyng's mynde made unto me, few men wold be content to practyse wyth his grace, in any thing belonging unto me. For this cause, I did rehearse the more thyngs to enduce him hereunto: and amongst other, this chieflye, the purpose of his comyng with me, which (afore God) was this: that the pope, entending by all meanes of benignitie to practise with the king, haveng the Frenche kyng so joined in amytie with the kyng, and with his sanctitie also; devyseng for a mete instrument betwene bothe. Yf any personne, for this degree newlye taken, were not accepted, the bishop of Verona was thought moste meetest, being for his old deserts to both princes, as long as he was in that place where he might do them serviceable pleasure, as it was to be thought grateful to them both, and counted (for his goodness) the best bishop of Italye. So that all thynges consydered, in mattiers of the church to entreate with these princes, none was thought like: wherupon the pope bounde him to take thys jornaye with me, for this purpose. And this bond, amongst other I reheased unto him, when I moved him to go unto the kinge. To the which he made answer; yf there were none other bond nor respect in this mattier but of God, knowing my mattiers as he doth, and seing what inconvenients might followe, if they were not at laste well accepted, besyde the servyce he hath ever owed to the kinge, and love toward me, knowing what comfort that might be to all partys, if my trewe and faythfull dealings were well intimate to the king, he wold be content at all tymes the waye onys founde afore, howe with commodytie he might come to the king's presence, to take this charge upon hym. Thys, my lorde, you may nowe perceive, that if I had any part that mynde, that the kyng's procurenge against me doth showe to be persuaded III. I have, yt could not be possible I could have any confidence BOOK to attempt any medlyng wythe his grace under suche maner: but because nor my confydence, nor affecyonate mynde, yt is not taken awaye, therefore this I do declare unto you by these letters, to the intente you maye intimate the same to hys grace. And now you see by a great proffe what my mynde is, you may also see how all suspytion may not alonlye be clearyd, many things apeacyd that peradventure might torne to greater trouble, but also many things be brought to light, to the kyng's more assuryd honour and wealthe, than any thing is I thinke thought of hitherto make for the same. For all this I dare promisse to follow, if the bishop be herd with that mynde, as he is sent, and content for to go. Other declaration of my mynde by letters I entende not to make, than my letters agreyng with my acts sent afore do make testimonye; and that the bishope, which is prevye to all, may better declare presentlye. But this I will saye, if I bare in any parte that mynde, the kyng's acte agaynst me doth show, his grace is persuaded I shold have, suerlye I wold never adone as I have done, in all my acts and processes by letters, made the kyng and you prevye unto them. Thys I dyd at my furst commyng to Rome, and the cause of my legacy nowe, and the cause of my comyng to these parts. Such advises rebels be not wont to give unto those, from whome they rebel, but specially at Rome, being there when the tyme was troubleous for the kyng in his realme; lettyng them the sending furthe of the censures, which myght a caused more trouble; and sending at that tyme my servant purposelye, to offer my service, to procure by all meanes his honour, welth, quietness; animating besyde, those that were cheffe of my nerest kynne, to be constaunt in his servyce. Thys rebells be not wont to do. And I know, at Rome, if any man had been premyate to do hym servyce, none could have done more; insomuch that men judged me half a rebell to God and my contrye, because I wold not assent to divers thyngs, that had made little to the kyng's quietness: but specially, having in my hand those wrytings, that put forthe peradventure, might a VOL. III. P. 3. N III. PART caused most trouble of all. These instauntly being desired of those, which had in a manner authorytie to commande, and yet ever finding meanes that they never came into their sight nor hands, and to this hower suppressing the same lykewise. If one that had mynd of rebellion wold do the same, be thinke you well: but, as I say, my purpose is not to justifie my mynde, by these letters, at this time, in more acts than one, which is of this present time. Nor if it be not justified of such a one as the bishops, that knoweth them assuredly, I do nother entend hereafter to labour any more herein afore God, and all men, that will be indifferent judges of the truthe, I will not doubt, at all times to justifie my self toward the king, I wold to God I could so well justifie my self afore God and the catholick church, for negligent service in this behalf, because I would not offend the kinge. Now I will say no more, but pray unto Almighty God, to put that in the kyng's mynde that may be most to his honour and wealthe, with grace to follow the same; and to take from all other such occasyon, why they shuld thynk, if they serve the kyng according to their conscience, they shulde be constrayned to offend the kyng, and so herebye to separate the one from the other; which suerlye to no man shuld be more greffe than to me. But Goddes pleasure be fulfylled above all, to whome nowe I commit you. Written at Cambray, the second day of Maye. Your lovyng friend R. Card. legat. Cotton lib. P. 228. Number 54. A letter of the abbess of Godstow, complaining of Dr. London. PLEASITH hit your honor, with my moste humble dowCleop. E. 4. tye, to be advertised, that where it hath pleasyd your lordship to be the verie meane to the king's majestie, for my preferment, most unworthie to be abbes of this the king's monasterie of Godystowe; in the which offyce, I truste I have done the best in my power to the mayntenance of God's trewe honour, with all treuth and obedience to the king's majestie; and was never moved nor desired by any creature III. in the king's behalfe, or in your lordship's name, to surren- BOOK der and give upe the house; nor was never mynded nor intended so to do, otherwise than at the king's gracious commandement, or yours. To the which I do, and have ever done, and will submit my self most humblie and obedientlie. And I truste to God, that I have never offendyd God's laws, neither the king's, wherebie that this poore monasterie ought to be suppressed. And this notwithstanding, my good lorde, so it is, that doctor London, whiche (as your lordeship doth well know) was agaynst my promotion, and hathe ever sence borne me great malys and grudge, like my mortal enemye, is sodenlie cummyd unto me, with a great rowte with him; and here dothe threten me and my sisters, sayeng, that he hath the king's commission to suppress the house, spyte of my tethe. And when he sawe that I was contente that he shulde do all things according to his commission; and shewyd him playne, that I wolde never surrender to his hande, being my awncyent enemye; now he begins to intreat me, and to invegle my sisters, one by one, otherwise than ever I harde tell that any of the kyng's subjects hathe been handelyd: and here tarieth and contynueth, to my great coste and charges; and will not take my answere, that I will not surrender, till I know the king's gracious commandement, or your good lordeship's. Therefore I do moste humblie beseche you, to contynewe my good lorde, as you ever have bene; and to directe your honorable letters to remove him hens. And whensoever the kyng's gracious commandement, or yours, shall come unto me, you shall find me most reddie and obedyant to folloe the same. And notwithstand that doctor London, like an untrew man, hath informed your lordship, that I am a spoiler and a waster, your good lordship shall knowe that the contrary is trewe. For I have not alienatyd one halporthe of goods of his monasterie, movable, or unmovable, but have rather increasyd the same. Nor never made lease of any farme, or peece of grownde belongyng to this house; or then hath bene in tymes paste allwaies set under covent seal for the wealthe of the house. And therefore my verie truste is, III. PART that I shall fynd the kynge as gracious lorde unto me, as he is to all other his subjects. Seyng I have not offendyd. And am and will be moste obedyent to his most gracious commandment at all tymes. With the grace of Allmighty Jesus, who ever preserve you in honour longe to indure to his pleasure. Amen. Godiston the vth daie of November. Your moste bownden beds woman At Zurich. Katharine Bulkeley, abbes there. Number 55. A letter to Bullinger from one of Maidstone, giving an account of an image, which seems to be the rood of Boxley in Kent. Johannes Hokerus Maydstanenses. RUIT hic passim Azzotinus Dagon, Bel ille Babylonicus jam dudum confractus est. Repertus est nuper Cantianorum deus ligneus, pensilis Christus, qui cum ipso Protheo concertare potuisset. Nam et capite nutare, innuere oculis, barbam convertere, incurvare corpus, adeuntium aversari et recipere preces scitissimè noverat. Hic cum monachi sua causa caderent, repertus est in eorum templo, plurimo cinctus anathemate, linteis, cereis agricis.....exterisque ditatus muneribus. Subodoratus est fucum cordatus vir, Nicolai Patrigii nostri frater, affixum contra parietem è vestigio solvit, apparent artes, apparent imposturæ, mirus ac Polypeus præstigiator deprehenditur. Erant foraminoso corpori oculta passim fistulæ, in quibus ductile per rimulas, ferrum à mystagogo trahebatur, laminis nihilominus artificiose celantibus. Hinc factum est ut populum Cantianum, imò Angliam totam jam seculis aliquot magno cum quæstu dementarit. Patefactus Meydstanuensibus meis spectaculum primitus dedit, ex summo se culmine confertissimo se ostentans populo, aliis ex animo, aliis Ajacem risu simulantibus. Delatus hinc circulator Londinum est. Invisit aulam regis, regem ipsum, novus hospes : nemo salutat verè. Conglomerant ipsum risu aulico, barones, duces, marchiones, comites. Adsunt è longinquo, circumstand', intuend' et vi |