than all the Apostles had, of whom have come all these glorious titles, styles, and pomps into the Church. But I would, that I, and all my brethren the bishops, would leave all our styles, and write the style of our offices, calling ourselves "apostolos Jesu Christi:" so that we took not upon us the name vainly, but were so even in deed; so that we might order our diocese in such sort, that neither paper, parchment, lead, nor wax, but the very Christian conversation of the people might be the letters and seals of our offices, as the Corinthians were unto Paul, to whom he said, Literæ nostræ et signa apostolatûs nostri vos estis. Now for the second. Where the Bishop of Winchester allegeth the visitation of my predecessor, and the tenth part now to be paid to the King; truth it is, that my predecessor visited the diocese of Winchester after the decease of my lord Cardinal, as he did all other dioceses (sede vacante); but else I think it was not visited by none of my predecessors this forty years. And notwithstanding that, he himself, not considering their charges at that time, charged them with a new visitation within less than half a year after; and that against all right, as Doctor Incent hath reported to my Chancellor; the clergy at that time1 paying to the King half of their benefices in five years, which is the tenth part every year, as they paid before, and have paid since, and shall pay still for ever by the last Act. But I am very glad that he hath now some compassion of his diocese, although at that time he had very small, when he did visit them the same year that my predecessor did visit. And also other bishops, whose course is to visit this year, keep their visitation, (where I did visit the last year,) notwithstanding the tenth part to be paid to the King's Grace. Howbeit I do not so in Wynchester diocese; for it is now the third year since that diocese was visited by any man, so that he hath the least cause to com [The Convocation of 1523 granted to the King, mediam partem "valoris omnium fructuum, &c. . . . . . intra quinque annos levandam." But the Act contained a protestation, that this grant was new and unusual, occasioned by their special regard for his Majesty, and not to be drawn into a precedent. Wilkins, Concilia, vol. iii. p. 699.] plain of any bishop, for it is longer since his diocese was visited than the other. Therefore where he layeth to aggravate the matter, the charges of the late Act granted, it is no more against me, than against all other bishops that do visit this year, nor maketh no more against me this year, than it made against me the last year, and shall do every year hereafter. For if they were true men, in accompting and paying the King's subsidy, they are no more charged by this new Act than they were for the space of ten years past, and shall be charged ever hereafter. And thus to conclude; if my said Lord of Wynchester's objections should be allowed this year, he might by such arguments both disallow all manner visitations that hath be done these ten years past, and that ever shall be done hereafter. Now I pray you, good Master Secretary, of your advice, whether I shall need to write unto the King's Highness herein. And thus our Lord have you ever in his preservation. At Otteforde, the xii. day of May. [1535.] Your own ever assured, Thomas Cantuar. CXLVIII. TO CRUMWell. Chapter well's Cor Master Secretary, in most hearty wise I commend me unto MSS. you: and so send unto you here enclosed such thing as were House, noticed unto me this present Tuesday m, which I cannot, ob- Westminserving my fidelity, keep undisclosed. Wherefore I require ster; Crumyou to open the same unto the King's Highness, to the in- respondtent his Grace's pleasure may be known herein. And as ginal. touching Sir John", the parish priest of Wytesham, he is in prison at Maidston, until such time as I shall hear word from you what shall be done in this behalf. Thus our Lord m [The 25th of May 1535, fell on a Tuesday, and thus determines the date of this Letter.] n [John Hastings was Parson of Wyttrisham near Tenterden in 1535. ence. Ori preserve you in prosperity. At Otteforde, the xxv. day of May. [1535.] Your assured ever, Thomas Cantuar. To the Right Worshipful and my cretary. MSS. House, ster; Crumwell's CXLIX. TO CRUMWELL. Right Worshipful, in my most hearty wise I commend Chapter me unto you. And whereas this bearer, Mr. Roode of Westmin- Grayes Inn, hath a certain suit for title of land depending in the Chancery, wherein he hath divers that beareth against Corres- him, I desire you to be so good and favourable unto him at pondence. Original. this my request and instance, that he may have right with expedition; wherein you shall do a right good deed, and have my hearty thanks for the same. Thus our Lord preserve [you]. At Otteforde, the xxvii. day of May. Your own assured ever, To my singular and especial friend Mr. Secretary. Thomas Cantuar. Cott. MSS. Cleop. E. VI. CL. TO CRUMWELLP. Right Worshipful Master Secretary, in my right hearty wise I commend me to you. These shall be to advertise fol. 233. b. you, that this fourth day of June I have received the King's Original. Grace's most honourable letters, bearing date from Grenewiche, the third of the same, concerning such effects as be [If this Letter is rightly placed in 1535, Crumwell was now Master of the Rolls, having succeeded Dr. Taylor in that office in Oct. 1534. He resigned it on being appointed Lord Privy Seal, the 2nd of July 1536.] P [This appears to be the Letter referred to by Strype, Memorials, vol. i. p. 186.] therein expressed, touching the speedy and diligent declaration and setting forth of the King's Grace's title and style of Supreme Head in earth, immediately under God, of the Church of England, at such times and in all such places, as be in the same the King's most honourable letters at length limited and assigned. Wherein I intend (God willing) to satisfy the King's Grace's express commandment in every point to the most of my power, according to my bounden duty, as speedily as I may, praying you to advertise me by this bearer, or otherwise as you shall think good, of your mind and resolution touching such doubts, as the same shall open unto you on my behalf, concerning some of the contents of the King's Grace's said letters. Thus our Lord have you in his tuition. At Lambeth, the ivth day of June. [1535.] Your assured ever, Thomas Cantuarien. CLI. TO CRUMWELL. ster; Right Worshipful, in my right hearty wise I commend MSS. Chapter me to you. And so here send unto you as well the priest, House, which in reading of the Act concerning the tenth part of Westminthe spiritualty, bid avengeance on the King and all those Crumwell's that assented to the making of that Act; as also the woman Correswhich said, that since this new Queen was made, there was Original. never so much pilling and polling in this realm, asking avengeance also upon her. Thus fare you well. At Lambeth, the 7th day of June. Your own assured ever, To the Right Worshipful and my very singular and especial friend Mas ter Secretary. Thomas Cantuar. [The Act meant seems to be Stat. 26. Hen. VIII. c. 3. for giving the first fruits and tenths to the King, which was passed in the Session beginning the 3rd of Nov. 1534. If so, this Letter must have been written in 1535, and not as Mr. Todd places it, in 1534. Todd, Life of Cranmer, vol. i. p. 109.] pondence. MSS. House, CLII. To CRUMWELL. Right Worshipful Master Secretary, in my most hearty Chapter wise I commend me unto you. And where I have sued Westmin- unto the King's Highness, and obtained of the same his Crumwell's Grace's letters unto the Mayor of London, in the favour of Corres- a servant of mine named James Arnold, for his preferment pondence. Original. unto the room of the swordbearership of London, when it ster; shall happen next to be vacant; I most heartily desire you, (insomuch as my said servant hath in the parties beyond the seas, taken great pains, both with me, Mr. Aliote', and with Master Hethes in the King's service) that you will not alonely be good master unto him, in the despatching of the King's Grace's said letters, but also at this my request and instance, to write your favourable letters unto my said Lord Mayor of London', for the better furtherance of his suit. Wherein ye shall not alonely show unto me singular pleasure, but also bind my said servant thereby, to be both at your commandment, and also to pray for your long prosperity. Thus our Lord have you in his preservation. At Otteforde, the last day of June. [1535.] г Your own assured, To the Right Worshipful and my singular good friend Master Se- Thomas Cantuar. [Probably the excellent and learned Sir Thomas Elyot, who was one of the ambassadors to the Pope in 1532. See Letter CLXXV; Strype, Memorials, vol. i. p. 222, &c.] S [See Letter LXXXIX.] [See Letter CLXXV; from which it appears that the person applied to was Sir John Champneis, Lord Mayor A. D. 1534. Nothing seems to be recorded of him, excepting that "he builded in his house an high "tower of brick, the first that ever I heard of in any private man's "house, to overlook his neighbours in this city. But this delight of his eye was punished with blindness some years before his death." Stow, Survey of London, pp. 137. 581.] |