XXIII. To Harl. MSS. 26. b. In my right hearty wise I commend me unto you. And 6148. fol. where I understand, that through the virtue of a certain commission to you directed, you have liberty and authority to examine and finish a matter in controversy of land between one A. B. of the one party, and my loving friend C. D. of the other, father unto my trusty and wellbeloved servant this bearer: in consideration thereof, and forasmuch as this said variance hath so long depended undetermined, not without great damage, and vexation of the said A. B; I heartily desire you, that at this mine instance, if you can conveniently at this time use such expedition herein, that thereby he may know now to what determination he shall stand unto, which, after so many delays past, should now be unto him singular pleasure to know: exhorting you furthermore to show unto him your lawful favour in his right, and, so doing, I will be as ready at all times, &c. Harl. MSS. 6148. fol. 77. ს. XXIV. WARRANT FOR VENISON. We will and command you to bring, or cause to be brought, into our larder, to the use of our household within our manor of Otteforde, against the xxiiti day of this present month, one buck of season, to be taken out of our parks of Slyndon within your office, any restraint or commandment had or made to the contrary heretofore thereof in any wise notwithstanding, and that you fail not as ye tender our favour. And these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf. Yeven under our signet at our manor of Oteforde, the xviiiti day of the month of July, in the xxv. year of the reign of, &c. and the first year of our consecration. [1533.] XXV. To KYNGESTON. 27. Cousin Kyngeston P, in my right hearty wise I commend Harl. MSS. me to you: doing you to understand that I have received 6148. fol. your letters, and do perceive the contents of the same. And where ye write, that your son Antoney had small speed afore me, marvelling why I did use the old process, whereby you do think that the whole matter is frustrate and destroyed, and your son also: ye may be well assured, that I did peruse the said old process for none other intent, than for the information of my conscience only. And albeit I did thus use it, yet I was never minded to reduce the same in my sentence. And as I did therein, so would or should every good judge have done, if he would do his office and duty with equity. Ye do know well, that at the first beginning I sent for the same, and used it for my information. If I had not, or would not so have done, I might right well have been noted negligent, as not willing to know the truth. And I should have done otherwise than ever any judge did hitherto, or ever will do hereafter. And it is pity that ever I had been judge, if I would not have sought all means to be right informed. And when I took new depositions of other witness, I did it for none other intent but upon your son's words; supposing and trusting that he could have brought such witness as may have countervailed the first sixteen witness brought by you, which cometh now to none effect; nor as all the learned men in the law that were then present with me at that time, as well the Dean of the Arches as also both his counsel and her's, did then plainly say, it is not possible to bring any witness that should countervail P [This may have been Sir William Kingston, commander of the guard sent to conduct Wolsey to the King, and constable of the Tower at the time of Anne Boleyn's imprisonment there. See Ellis, Original Letters, 1st ser. vol. ii. p. 53. And Anthony his son may be the Sir Anthony Kingston, who, as Provost-marshal of the western army in 1549, was more distinguished for the readiness of his wit than for his humanity. See an instance of his cruelty, vol. ii. p. 244. In 1551, he became one of Edward VI's Council for Wales, was afterwards a partisan of Queen Jane, and was committed to the Tower by Queen Mary in 1555. See Holinshed, vol. iii. p. 1006; Strype, Memorials, vol. ii. p. 458; iii. pp. 10, 284.] the first sixteen witness, unless the said sixteen could be rejected as not honest men, and not indifferent to depose in the cause; which thing, although Dorothy Harp do say that she can do, nevertheless I do not think it. And to be plain with you, as far as I do see yet in the matter, I am at my wits' end to give you counsel in it, for by my faith, if I could imagine any good counsel in the same, I would be no less glad to give it you, than you would be to take it. But in my judgment, all the learned men of Englande cannot give you counsel, except you take the other way of your son's impotency; and yet I think that will not serve neither. And where you write, that the setting forth of the first process and witness was only your act for three causes special in your letters expressed: I do think verily, that if those witness examined, knowing the truth do conceal the truth, and depose otherwise than truth, surely they be much to be blamed and worthy great punishment; and then they, and you that brought them forth, have lost your son, and not I. And contrariwise, if they knowing the truth have deposed nothing but truth, and as they do know, then the matter must stand as it may stand with equity, and ye to be contented therewith. Wherein you shall be well assured to have me upright and just, without any manner of inclination to any party otherwise than justice will suffer; but so far as equity and justice will permit, I shall be glad to incline to your desire, and specially seeing that it is the desire of the other party also. But me seemeth for this time, that if your son and his wife would both set apart their wilful minds, and agree together as man and wife, it should be great comfort to them and all their friends, and to the pleasure of God. And if they will continue in their folly still, except I can see some better cause why they should not be man and wife than I do see yet, I shall never consent, that he shall live in adultery with another woman, and she with another man. For if he were my son, I had rather that he begged all his life than to live in adultery; and so I think you had also. And thus our Lord preserve you. From my manor of Oteforde the xix. day of July. XXVI. To CERTAIN CURATES. 6148. fol. 28. Forasmuch as I am credibly informed by the church- Harl. MSS. wardens of the parish of Mallyng, how that their church is so far in decay, that the said parish of itself is not able to repair the same again without great help of their well-disposed neighbours, by reason whereof they have instantly desired of me [to] write to your parish in their behalf: I will therefore, that ye at a convenient time exhort and move your parishioners to give their aid and help unto them therein; inasmuch as in so doing it will be both a right charitable deed, and also a very good occasion whereby your said parish may require of them such like commodity when you shall need (as they do) likewise the same. Willing you also to desire two of the most honest men of your said parish, to take the pains in gathering and preserving of that which shall be given in this behalf. And thus fare you well. From my manor of Ottforde, the xix. day of July. To certain Curates. XXVII. TO THE ABBOT OF WESTMINSTER 9. Brother Abbot, in my right hearty wise I commend me Harl. MSS. 6148. fol. unto you, &c. And forasmuch as ye were contented to 28. promise unto me the next room that should chance hereafter to be void, among the beadmen in the foundation' of that noble prince of perpetual memory, King Henry the VIIth, for one John Fyssher, whom I do much tender in that behalf; I heartily desire you therefore not to forget your said promise, but that ye will remember the same, even as you would be remembered of me at such time as it lieth in me to show you any pleasure hereafter. And thus fare you well. From my manor of Ottforde, the xix. day of July. r To my brother Abbot of Westminster. 4 [See Letter VII.] [Respecting this foundation see the oath of William Boston, Abbot of Westminster, in Rymer, vol. xiv. p. 459.] Harl. MSS. 6148. fol. 28. XXVIII. TO HIS CHANCEllor. Mr. Chancellor, I greet you well. I will that you send unto me all the process of the judges delegatory, with the depositions of such witness as I wrote of late to you of to be examined concerning the matter of variance of matrimony between Thomas Perrys and Jane Benbowe, which if have accordingly done, then to warn the parties to appear before me on Monday next coming. And thus fare you well, &c. you Harl. MSS. 28. XXIX. To CRUMWELL. In my right hearty wise I commend me unto you. And 6148. fol. where the Prior of the friar preachers of Bristoll sueth unto me for a license to preach, yet am I loth to grant the same, unless I might have some sure information by one of the Council how he is discharged of his business before them: in consideration hereof I heartily desire you to advertise me by this bearer, in what case he standeth, and whether he be after such a sort and manner discharged, so that it be meet for me to give him my said license to preach through my province. And thus fare ye well. From my manor of Otteforde the xix. day of July. Over this, I most heartily desire you at this mine instance to further all that in you is this said bearer my servants, touching his preferment to the room of the Esquire Bedell of Arts at Oxford, which is now in the King's Grace's hands to give to whom he will at his pleasure, forasmuch as the said University hath without his Grace's assent and license admitted one by way of resignation to the said room, (theiru $ [See Letters XXII. XXXIII.] [See Letter XVIII.] This is illustrated by the following extract from Wood, Annals, A. D. 1532. "After these troubles followed others of greater moment "between the University and Town, concerning divers liberties and pri"vileges, the report of which coming to the King's hearing, instructions "were sent down from him to make a surrender of their liberties." In pursuance of these instructions the University surrendered their privi |