ceive the same in your name. I am informed that the incumbent is very sick, and in great danger and peril of life, which thing moveth me to be the more importune in calling upon you in the premises, praying you to continue your good mind and favour in this and in all other my suits unto you hereafter, for which, and all other your kindness heretofore showed, ye shall have me your own assured always during my life. At Lamhith, the 21 day of April. Your own assured, To the Right Worshipful and my very Thomas Cantuar. Harl. MSS. 6148. f. 22. VI. TO THE ABBOT OF ST. AUGUSTIN'S, CANTERBURY". To my brother Abbot of St. Augstyn's, Harl. MSS. 6148. f. 22. VII. TO THE ABBOT OF WESTMINSTER . In my right hearty wise I commend me unto you, &c. And where it is so, as I am credibly informed, that at this n [John Sturvey, alias Essex, was Abbot of St. Augustin's, Canterbury, from 1523 to the dissolution. Willis, Hist. of Abbeys, vol. i. p. 45.] 9 [William Boston according to his oath in Rymer, or Benson according to his will, was the last Abbot, and the first Dean of Westminster. season there is a place or room of a vicar void within the College P of St. Marteyns, in the city of London, by the death of one Master Framton, late incumbent there, (where also you are Dean,) and as I understand as yet not appointed or named to any person: in consideration whereof, and forasmuch as now it lieth in you by reason of your deanery to do pleasure therein; I heartily require you to show your lawful favour herein in preferment of this said room, unto this bearer Sir John Smythe, one of the same College; that forasmuch as he being both of honest conversation and good name, thereby may have the more furtherance in this behalf before another stranger, not being your friend and acquaintance, and in thus so doing you shall deserve of me like commodity. And thus fare you well. From our manor of Mortelacke, the ivth day of May. VIII. TO CRUMWELL. Right Worshipful Mr. Crumwell, in my right hearty Chapter House, manner I commend me to you: advertising you that I have Westminreceived your letters, by which ye write that the Prior of St. ster; CrumGregorie's in Canterbery is willing to resign his room and respond 66 well's Cor ence. Ori Some estimate may be formed of his character from his memorable ar- ginal. P [The College of St. Martin le Grand, within Aldersgate, maintained a dean and several secular canons till 1502, when it was granted by Henry VII. to the Abbot and Convent of Westminster. Several churches in London were in its patronage. In 34 Hen. VIII, it was transferred with other possessions of the monastery to the new chapter. Newcourt, Repertorium, vol. i. p. 424. office there; wherefore your desire is, that I shall take and accept such a person to the same room as ye shall name unto me, promising to provide one, that not only for his discretion, good learning, and religious life, but also for many other his commendable merits and qualities shall be right apt and meet to supply the said room. Master Crumwell, as touching this behalf or any other thing wherein I may lawfully show you any pleasure, ye shall be as well assured of the same, as ye would be willing to desire it of me. But the truth is, that in my mind I am entirely resolved to prefer to the same office, and all such other when the same shall be void, some such one person as was professed in the same house, et sic de eodem gremio, if any such shall be found apt and meet in the same house for it; for as long as there may be had some one meet for that room in the same house, I do think it much inconvenient for many considerations to provide a stranger to be head and ruler there. If there be none so apt and meet in the said house for the said office as the law will require, then I will be glad to provide the most meetest that can be found in any other place, of the same rule, habit, and religion, of whose sufficiency and ability I ought, if I do my office and duty, to have good experience and knowledge myself, afore that I will admit or prefer him; and forasmuch as I do not know the person whom ye would prefer to this office, and to the intent also that I may inquire of his learning, living, and of other his good qualities, I pray you that I may be ascertained of his name, and of the place where he doth demore; and that done, I will hereafter in this behalf make you such further answer as I trust ye shall be pleased withal albeit the bringer of your letters and bearer hereof showed me, that ye did write your said letters for him and in his favour, which thing, I assure you, moveth me to take longer respite in this behalf. Ye do know what ambition and desire of promotion is in men of the Church, and what indirect means they do use and have used to obtain their purpose; which their unreasonable desires and appetites, I do trust that ye will be more ready to oppress and extinguish, : than to favour or further the same; and I remit to your wisdom and judgment, what an unreasonable thing it is for a man to labour for his own promotion spiritual. At Mortelake, the vith day of May. Your own assured, To the Right Worshipful and my very loving friend Master Crumwell, of the King's Grace's most honourable Council. Thomas Cantuar. IX. TO KING HENRY VIII. part ii. from the troduction mer's De Please it your Highness, that where your Grace's great State Pucause of matrimony is, as it is thought, through all Chris-pers, vol. 1. tianity divulgated, and in the mouths of the rude and igno- Lett. vi. rant common people of this your Grace's realm so talked of, Original. that few of them do fear to report and say, that thereof is Harl. MSS. likelihood hereafter to ensue great inconvenience, danger, 6148. f. 2. and peril to this your Grace's realm, and much uncertainty Todd, Inof succession; by which things the said ignorant people be to Crannot a little offended: and forasmuch as it hath pleased fener, Almighty God, and your Grace of your abundant goodness p. xlvi. to me showed, to call me, albeit a poor wretch and much unworthy, unto this high and chargeable office of Primate and Archbishop in this your Grace's realm, wherein I beseech Almighty God to grant me his grace so to use and demean myself, as may be standing with his pleasure and the discharge of my conscience, and to the weal of this your Grace's realm and considering also, the obloquy and bruit, which daily doth spring and increase of the clergy of this realm, and specially of the heads and presidents of the same, because they in this behalf do not foresee and provide such convenient remedies, as might expel and put out of doubt all such inconveniences, perils, and dangers, as the said rude and ignorant people do speak and talk to be imminent I, your most humble orator and beadman, am, ir. consideration of the premises, urgently constrained at th time, most humbly to beseech your most noble Grace, that where the office and duty of the Archbishop of Canterbury, by your and your progenitors' sufferance and grants, is to direct, order, judge, and determine causes spiritual in this your Grace's realm; and because I would be right loth, and also it shall not become me, forasmuch as your Grace is my Prince and Sovereign, to enterprise any part of my office in the said weighty cause touching your Highness, without your Grace's favour and license obtained in that behalf it may please, therefore, your most excellent Majesty (considerations had to the premises, and to my most bounden duty towards your Highness, your realm, succession, and posterity, and for the exoneration of my conscience towards Almighty God) to license me, according to mine office and duty, to proceed to the examination, final determination, and judgment in the said great cause touching your Highness. Eftsoons, as prostrate at the feet of your Majesty, beseeching the same to pardon me of these my bold and rude letters, and the same to accept and take in good sense and part as I do mean; which, calling our Lord to record, is only for the zeal that I have to the causes aforesaid, and for none other intent and purpose. From my manor at Lamhith, the 11th day of April9, in the first year of my consecration . [1533.] Your Highness' most humble To the King's Highness. Thomas Cantuar. 9 [There has been a slight departure here from the chronological order for the sake of keeping together the letters relating to Hen. VIII's divorce.] ["This letter is wholly in the Archbishop's hand writing, and it is "not a little singular, that another letter of the same date, and nearly "of the same tenor, likewise written by the Archbishop himself, is pre"served in the State Paper Office. They both bear the marks of having been folded and sealed, and of having been received by the "King. It is so difficult to conjecture why they were both written, and "why they differed from each other, that the second is subjoined." Note to State Papers, vol. i. p. 391. 66 "Please it your Highness, that where your Grace's great cause of matrimony is, as it is thought, through all Christianity divulgated, and in "the mouths of the rude and ignorant common people of this your Grace's "realm so talked of, that few of them do fear to report and say, that |