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II.

I could not do this service altogether with empty hands. BOOK
For I must seek some that look not for me, and keep com-
pany with the rest as fall out, for that purpose: not doubt-
ing, but I shall endeavour my self, so as should well merit
my reward. Or for default thereof, I shall be content to
loose life and all, my duty not supplied. And by my death
shall be but presented the example of all evil members.
And so shall dy with me all the light and evidence before
spoken. For if I do suffer the extremity of the law, it will
be too late for me to shew this my well affected service.
Neither am I in that mind, by death to do it. But if I go
thereto, I am fully determined, that every man shall bear
his own sins; praying to God for their amendment. And
for my own part, my perfect hope is to be saved at the
Almighty God's hand unto whose high mercy I commit
my self. And so I end; praying to the Lord for the long
life, health, and happy days of your honour to endure.

Your honours humble and poor captive,
Edward Phaer.

Number XII.

George Buchanan to Mr. Randolph, concerning publishing his history: and his distemper.

dolph.

MAISTER, I hauf resavit divers letters from you, and Epist. Ranyet I hauf aunswered to naine of them. Of the quhyllz Foxi MSS. albeyt I hauf mony excusis, as age, forgetfulness, and disease; yet I will use naine now, eccept my sweitness and your gentleness. And geif ye think none of thoise sufficient, content you with ane confession of the falt without fear of punition to follow on my own peculiar kindness.

As for the present, I am occupiit in writing of our his- 116 tory; beying assurit to content few, and to displeasure mony tharthrow. As to the end of it, if ye get it not or this winter be past, cippin [look] not for it, nor none other writing from me. The rest of my occupation is with the gout, quhyllz haldys me besy both day and nyt. And quhair yee say, ye haif not lang to lyif, I trust to God to

was master

BOOK go before you; albeyt I be one fut [foot] and ye ryd the II. post a. Praying you als not to dispost the post at Newerke Randolph tone of Kelsterne. This I pray you partly for the awne of the posts. quhame I thought ane gud fallow, and partly at request of lyk, as I dare not refuse. And thus I take my leave shortly at you now, and my lang leif quhen God pleasis: committing you to the protection of the Almighty. At Sterling the 25th of August, 1577.

Yours to commaund with service,

G. Buchanan.

MSS. Burg.

Number XIII.

Sandys, archbishop of York, to the lord treasurer: concerning his enquiry into the holy orders of Whittingham, dean of Durham. For which some complaint was made of him at court.

MY very good lord; I have great cause to thank you for your most friendly answer for me. You shall never receive dishonour by me. For my doings tryed, shall ever be found sincere, and not in right to be blamed. Neither shall there any man be more ready to charge me, than I to answer it, if I may be called and admitted to it. Verily, my lord, I receive great wrong. My faithful and upright service is ill requited. I have given no occasion of offence in word or in fact. Whosoever shall charge me with either shall greatly wrong me.

This Durham matter breedeth a great broyl. The dean hath gotten mo friends than the matter deserveth. The discredit of the church of Geneva is hotly alledged. Verily, my lord, that church is not touched. For he hath not received his ministry in that church, or by any authority or order from that church, so far as yet can appear. Neither was there any English church in Germany that attempted the like, neither needed they to have done; having among themselves sufficient ministers to supply the rowne. But yf his ministry without authority of God or man; without law, order, or example of any church, may be current, take

II.

heed to the sequel. Who seeth not what is intended? BOOK God deliver his church from it. I will never be guilty of it. And yet I trust that I shall never swerve from the truth of God, nor shrink in matter of religion. But I shall ever mislike of confusion. If her majesty had liking of it, or yf the lords had called me, I would have attended after Easter. But seeing that no such order is taken, I dare not leave my charge. Neither have I further to deal in Durham matter. For I trust the lords will not make me a party. Yet yf I shall be burthened with matter worthy to be answered, yf the lords call me thereunto, I will readily and gladly come. But to intrude my self into the action, I mind not. I shall humbly pray, that I may be clearly acquitted of it.

It hath created me much displeasure, as I hear. But I bear it more quietly, having the testimony of my conscience, that I have dealt uprightly, and have given no just offence to any man. I have written to the lords somewhat more at large to the like effect. I would wish your lordship should be at the board, when those letters shall be read. Thus acknowledging, how much I am bound unto you, for your honorable constant favour towards me, I humbly re- 117 commend your good lordship to the good direction of God's holy Spirit. Bushopthorp, this 4th Aprilis, 1579.

Your lordships most assured,

E. Ebor.

Number XIV.

Cox, bishop of Ely, to the queen. His letter congratulatory to her, now in her progress; and excusing himself for not waiting upon her.

R. Richar.

episc. Elien.

INDIGNUM facinus me admisisse arbitrabuntur inter- Int. epist. pretes parum æqui, augustissima regina, quòd in hac tua peregrinatione, obsequium tuæ majestati non præbeam. Verum modo nec Deo, nec tuæ sublimitati ulla detur offensa, aliorum judicium susque deque fero. Si autem intelligerem

BOOK meam operam ulla in re serenitati tuæ usui esse posse, in II. genua provolutus reperem potius ad sublimitatem tuam,

quàm officio meo deessem. Spero equidem majestatem tuam ætatis meæ rationem habere, et virium mearum imbecillitatem perpendere. Senio confectus sum. Quod ex se morbus est. Unde rude donari, et alteri lampada tradere, id est, valentiori viribus, ingenio, eruditione, et acerrimo legis Dei propugnatori, humiliter ab æquitate tua petebam paucis retro annis. Quando majestas tua benignissime respondit: Nondum hoc fiet.

Moses senescens Josua successorem instituit: Augustinus senescens Alipium sibi succedere curavit. Tuæ fidei tradita est a Deo Anglicana ecclesia, quæ regnum Dei est: in quo patefactus est Christus Jesus in salutem nostram. Hujus tu es gubernatrix, defensatrix. Hinc igitur inutiles sacerdotes, ambitiosi, avari, et simoniaci, ab ecclesia tua pellantur, explodantur, exibilentur. Christus ipse e templo flagellis talia monstra exturbavit. Interim qui pii sunt ecclesiarum pastores, zelo veræ religionis accensi, foveantur, animentur, duplici honore digni habeantur: non contemnantur, non conculcentur, non ostentui habeantur. Grave illud, Qui vos spernit, me spernit. Hæc aperta via est ad Papismum, ad Turcismum, denique ad omnia scelera et iniquitates.

Verum longe alio tendit tuus pientissimus zelus, qui hactenus per gratiam Dei constantissime et dexterrime veram Christi religionem per annos viginti, invito Diabolo, et hostibus tuis universis, conservasti, defendisti. Neque tuæ ecclesiæ nævos abscindere et sanare contaris, verum etiam catholicæ ecclesiæ atque vicinarum ecclesiarum solicitudine tangeris. Nam nuper didici, huc pietatem tuam tendere, ut viros ex tuis mittas ad sedandas contentiones in ecclesiis Germanicis. O! reginam, O! fæminam vere piam, quæ ad Constantini Magni exemplum tam prope accedas.

Præterea, mirifice benedicit conatibus tuis Dominus Deus noster; ut per te regnum tuum (quoad fieri potest) in pietate et tranquillitate degit. Ad hæc, frementibus undique bellis, tu interim prudentissime procuras, ut pax domi, et

II.

foris, sarta tecta conservetur. Denique non possum non BOOK ingentissimas gratias agere eximiæ tuæ pietati, quod controversiam meam ab implicatis legum tricis benigne exemeris; et cancellariæ, quæ est æqui et boni curia, reddideris. Quæ res tamen non sine magna difficultate obtenta est.

Dominus Jesus Christus celsitudinem tuam servet, de fide in fidem augescentem, et multos annos incolumem, felicique regno beatum, ut tandem cum Christo in celesti paradiso vita fruaris æterna. Ex ædibus meis in insula Eliensi. Episcopus tuus humillimus,

Richardus Elien.

Number XV.

Gilbert, bishop of Bath and Wells, to the lord treasurer: to hinder a design to impropriate a benefice; or to get a lease of it for 500 years.

118

les, penes

MAY it please your lordship to be advertised, that the Epist. Ep'alord Thomas Powlet, dwelling within the county of Somer-me. set, patron of a parsonage called West Moncton, hath been (as I am informed) minded to make the said parsonage an impropriation to him and his heirs for ever. But being doubtful he should bring that to pass, he hath changed his mind, and hath gotten the consent of him that is now incumbent to have a lease of the said parsonage for 500 years to come; allowing the incumbent that shall be 301. by year. And the said incumbent to stand to all maner of charges ordinary and extraordinary whatsoever. The said benefice is worth an 1007. by year. So the said lord doth give unto him that is now incumbent, during his life, 807. yearly, charges born. And hath moved me divers times that I would give my assent thereto as ordinary. Which thing I have refused to do; considering the example thereof is like to follow to the great decay of the clergy. For if this precedent should be brought into a custome, there are few benefices, but they should be brought to little or nothing. By such alteration the queen shall loose that is due unto her

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