hear and perceive, did wonder at me. And here shall be an BOOK end for this time of this fable.

All the world almost crieth out of Cambridge for this act, and specially on me, but I must bear it as well as I may. I have lost a benefice by it, which I should have had within these ten dayes. For there hath one falne in Mr. Throckmorton's gift, which he hath faithfully promised unto me many a time, but now his mind is turned and alienate from me. If ye go to the court at after Ester, I pray you have me in remembrance there, as ye shall think best. But of this no more Mr. Latymer preacheth still, Quod æmuli ejus graviter ferunt. I am informed, that Oxford hath now elected certain persons to determine the king's question. I hear say also, that Mr. Provost was there in great jeopardy. Other tidings I have none at this time, but that all the company be in good health, and heartily saluteth you. And thus fare you heartily well. At Cambridge, in crastino Dominic. Palmarum.

Your own to his power,

William Buckmaster.

The king willed me to send unto you, and to give you word of his plea

sure in the said question.

MS. C. C. C. Miscellan. P.

II.

Number 17.

Three letters written by K. Henry to the university of Oxford, for their opinion in the cause of his marriage.

Letter I. By the king.

TRUSTY and well beloved subjects we greet you well. Ex MS. D. And whereas we have for an high and weighty cause of Kennet. ours, not only consulted many and substantial well learn'd men within our realm and without, for certaine considerations our conscience moving, we think it also very convenient to feel the minds of you amongst you in our university

III.

your

PART of Oxenford, which be erudite in the faculty of divinity, to the intent we may perceive of what conformity ye be with the others, which marvelously both wisely and substantially have declared to us their intent and mind: not doubting but that ye for the allegiance and fidelity that ye are bound unto us in, will as sincerely and truly without any abuse declare minds and conscience in this behalf, as any of the other have done. Wherefore we will and command you, that ye not leaning to wilfull and sinister opinions of your own several minds, not giving credence to misreports and sinister opinions or perswasions, considering we be your soveraigne leige lord, totally giving your true mind and affection to the true overture of divine learning in this behalf, do shew and declare your true and just learning in the said cause, like as ye will abide by; wherin ye shall not only please Almighty God, but also us your leige lord. And we for your so doing shall be to you and our university there so good and gracious a soveraigne lord for the same, as ye shall perceive it well imploï'd to your well fortune to come; in case you do not uprightly according to divine learning hand your selves herein, ye may be assured, that we not without great cause, shall so quickly and sharply look to your unnaturall misdemeanour herein, that it shall not be to your quietness and ease hereafter. Wherefore we heartily pray you, that according both to duty to God and your prince, you sett apart all untrue and sinister informations, and accommodate your selves to the meer truth as it becommeth true subjects to do; assuring you that those that do, shall be esteemed and set forth, and the contrary neglected and little set by trusting that now you know our mind and pleasure, we shall see such conformitie among you, that we shall hereof take great consolation and comfort, to the great allegement of our conscience; willing and commanding you among you to give perfect credence to my lord of Lincolne our confessour in this behalfe and matter: and in all things which he shall declare unto you or cause to be declared in our behalfe, to make unto us either by him or the authen

II.

tick letters full answere and resolution, which your duty's BOOK well remembred, we doubt not but that it shall be our high contentation and pleasure. Given under, &c.

Letter II. By the king.

TRUSTY and well-beloved, we greet you well. And of late being informed, to our no little marvell and discontentation, that a great part of the youth of that our university with contentious factions and manner, daily combineing together, neither regarding their duty to us their soveraigne lord, nor yet conforming themselves to the opinions and orders of the vertuous, wise, sage, and profound learned men of that university, wilfully to stick upon the opinion to have a great number of regents and non-regents to be associate unto the doctors, proctors, and batchelors of divinity, for the determination of our question; which we believe hath not been often seen, that such a number of right small learning in regard to the other, should be join'd with so famous a sort, or in a manner stay their seniors in so weighty a cause: which as we think should be no small dishonour to our university there, but most especially to you the seniors and rulers of the same, assureing you that this their unnatural and unkind demeanour is not only right much to our displeasure, but much to be marvelled of, upon what ground and occasion they being our meere subjects, should shewe themselves more unkind and wilfull in this matter, than all other universities, both in this and all other regions do. Finally, we trusting in the dexterity and wisdome of you and other the said discreet and substantial learned men of that university, be in perfect hope, that ye will conduce and frame the said young persons unto good order and conformity, as it becommeth you to do. Wherefore we be desirous to hear with incontinent diligence, and doubt you not we shall regard the demeanour of every one of the university, according to their merits and deserts. And if the youth of the university will play masteries, as they begin to do, we doubt not but that they shall well

PART perceive, that non est bonum irritare crabrones. Given

under, &c.

Letter III.

To our trusty and well-beloved, the commissary-regents, and non-regents of our university of Oxon.

TRUSTY and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas by sundry our letters, sent and delivered at sundry times by the hands of our counsellors unto you, with credence declared unto you by the same, we have only required and made instance unto you, for the obtaining of that, which at the least desire of any Christian man ye be bound and oblig'd to do; that is to say, to declare and shew your opinions and sentence in such a doubt, as upon the dissolution and determination whereof, dependeth the tranquility, repose, and quiet of our conscience, we cannot a litle marvell that you neither having respect to our estate, being your prince and soveraigne lord; nor yet remembring such gratuites and benefits as we have always shew'd unto you, as well to the particular wealth of diverse as to the common body of that our university, without any correspondency shew'd on their behalfe againe, have hitherto delay'd and deferr'd not only to send us your determination and resolution to our demand and question, but also refused to take order, or enter into any way or meane, whereby you might declare or shew unto us, that ye be of mind and determination to endeavour your selfe for an accomplishment of our desire in that behalfe. And so much the more marvell we at this your manner of delayes, that our university of Cambridge hath within far shorter time not only agreed upon the fashion and manner to make answere unto us effectually, and with diligence following the same; but hath also 8 days since sent unto us their answere under common seale, plainly determining, Prohibitionem esse divini et naturalis juris, nè frater uxorem fratris etiam mortui sine liberis ducat uxorem. For the searching

of the truth in which matter, if

ye

had before this time con

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descended upon the manner and fashion convenient in that BOOK behalf, we could then have taken any delay afterward, upon any other cold pretence made, but in good part: whereas now the refuseing to agree upon any such order, and denying to do that which should be but the entrie into the matter for declaration of your forwardness, good will and diligence: we can't otherwise think of you, but that you neither behave your selves towards us, as our merits towards you have deserved, as good subjects to a kind prince and sovereigne lord; as by the learning ye professe, ye be obliged and bound. Wherefore revolving this in our mind, and yet nevertheless considering you to be there by our authority and grant, as a body politique, in the ruleing whereof in things to be done in the name of the whole, the number of the private suffrages doth prevaile, and being loth to shewe our displeasure, whereof we have so great cause ministred unto us, unto the whole in general; whereas the fault perchance consisteth and remaineth but in light and willfull heads; for the tender consideration we bear to learned men, and the great desire we have to nourish, maintaine, and favour those that are good; have thought convenient to send unto you these letters by our trusty and right well-beloved clarke and counseller, Mr. Edwarde Fox, trusting verily that ye which be heads and rulers there, well considering and weighing your dutyes in the accomplishment of our request, for the searching the truth in such a cause, as touching your prince and soveraigne lord, our soul, and the wealth of this our realme: and your great lack and blame with just cause of high displeasure to be worthily conceiv'd by us in the denyall and slack doing thereof, will so order and accomodate the fashion, and passing such things as should proceed from that university in this case, as the number of the private suffrages given without reason, prevaile not against the heads, rulers, said sage fathers, to the detriment, hindrance, and inconvenience of the whole. But so to examine, try, and weigh the opinions and minds of the multitude, as the importance of the matter doth require: wherein we doubt not but your body