nion would (specially in this corrupt world) be no good precedent in setting forth of the truth. I therefore pray you to continue good master unto him as you have hitherto done, wherein you shall do a charitable deed worthy to be rewarded of God; who preserve you in long health. At Dover, the 27 day of October. Your assured ever, To the Right Worshipful and my sin gular good friend Mr. Secretary. T. Cantuarien. MSS. ster; Crum CLX. To CRUMWELL. After most hearty commendations: this shall be to advertise you, that lately I received a letter from you, whereWestmin- by I understand that you have been advertised, that I, prewell's Cor- tending title to certain woods in Okenfold and to certain respond-lands in Denham lately belonging to the house of 8 Davyngginal. ton, and h brother in like manner to the benefice somemy time impropried to the same, have lately by our friends and servants stayed the verdict that should have been given by the inquest charged for the King upon the same. ence. Ori First as touching my brother; of whomsoever you had the same information, it is utterly untrue; for he stayed no verdict that shouldi [have been] given for the King by the inquest, nor yet made [claim] unto any tithes to the inquest; but he said to Antony Ager your servant privately, that he thought it was his right to have the tithes, and desired him to inform you of the truth. Never 8 [Davington or Daunton, a Benedictine nunnery near Feversham, was deserted from the poverty of the house, and escheated to the crown "tanquam locus profanus et dissolutus," 27 Hen. VIII. i. e. between April 1535 and April 1536. This Letter therefore was written in Nov. 1535. The priory with its property was granted 35 Hen. VIII. to Sir Thomas Cheney. Hasted, History of Kent, vol. ii. p. 726. See Letter CLVII.] h [Edmund Cranmer, Archdeacon of Canterbury and Provost of Wingham. Strype, Cranmer, p. 24.] [This and some other parts of the Letter are torn.] theless, Antony Ager carried the tithes away, without any let or interruption on my brother's behalf. Notwithstanding, my brother trusteth that you will be so good unto him as to suffer him to have the tithes, if it be his right, according to the tenor of your letter. And as touching mine own self, I never went about to stay the verdict, but would have been as glad that the quest should have passed according to their consciences, as they would themselves. Only, being informed by every man that I heard speak, which were of learning and experience, that I had a just title, I made my claim, and caused the quest to be informed of my title, neither staying the true verdict, (as you were informed,) nor by any means procuring that the quest should otherwise do than their consciences should judge right. And where you do write unto me very friendly, that you would be sorry it should come to the King's Highness's knowledge that I should weigh in any matter against him, I would you saw the very bottom of my heart herein; for I trust that I have so conceived justice into my heart, that I shall not for so small a matter, nor yet for any other worldly thing, be it never so great, weigh in any wise contrary to right against the poorest subject within the King's Highness's realm. And I am assured the King's Grace's mind is, not to do wrong unto any subject he hath; and if I knew that it were his Grace's pleasure to have my title in the said lands, I would be more desirous to give it unto his Highness, than he can be to have it. But for so much as I know not but his Grace would that I should have it, if my title be good, I must needs make my claim and declare my title; else I must lose it, be it never so just. The Bishop of Worcester lately wrote unto me in your name, that I looked upon the King's business through my fingers, doing nothing in that matter wherefore we were sent for unto k Winchester; and I marvel not that you do so [Hugh Latymer, consecrated in Sept. 1535.] k"The King resolving to vindicate his own right of supremacy "against the encroachments of popes in his dominions, (especially now think, which knoweth not what I have done. For first, the day before we took our leave of the King's Highness to depart home, I drew certain articles touching the Bishop of Rome, to give only occasion unto preachers that had no great exercise in that matter, what they might say, and what titles they might study for to declare. They that have excellent learning cannot lack matter abundant of their own inventions; but such as be of mean learning, have need of some matter to be ministered unto them, whereof they may take occasion to search their books. There is not one article of those which I have drawn [but would supp]editate sufficient occasion for a whole sermon, and some of them.... will minister matter sufficient for four or five sermons, if that [they] be searched to the bottom. Moreover at the same day I wrote certain doubts to be moved in the Council; and because the Council sat no more before our departure, my labour therein came to none effect, saving that I delivered a copy of my articles to certain of the bishops that were then present, thinking it good that they should procure them to be preached within their dioceses; which I, with all my chaplains, be doing here in my diocese with all diligence: a copy of the which, as well articles as doubts, I have herewith sent unto you, to the intent that if you think it good, you may add other and take away what you please, or else make other articles all new, so that when they shall be devised exactly and with all diligence, you may cause them to be sent into every diocese, to be preached throughout all the whole realm. And when the articles shall be with all deliberation absolved, if they were then read once or more every quarter in every parish church throughout the realm by the bishop's authority, I think it should do as much good to persuade the people as many sermons. "the Parliament had restored it to him,) being at Winchester, sent for "his bishops thither about Michaelmas, ordering them to go down to "their respective dioceses, and there in their own persons to preach 66 up the regal authority, and to explain to the people the reason of ex"cluding the Pope from all jurisdiction in these realms." Strype, Cranmer, p. 30. Cranmer gives an account of his own preaching on this subject, in Letter CLXXI.] Thus fare you well, good Mr. Secretary; and where at our last being together you willed me to prove your friendship towards me, which I never doubted of, yet I heartily pray you to declare part of it in my friend Hutton, for whon. whatsoever you shall do, I shall impute it done unto myself. I would no more desire, but that he were so well acquainted with you as he is with me, and that you knew him as I do. Again fare you well, and Almighty God long preserve you to his gospel, and the wealth of our prince and his realm. At Ford, the 2d day of November. [1535.] Your own ever assured, Read further. T. Cantuarien. m I thank you heartily for that you be so good master unto "Dr. Peter, as I am informed that you be. I was fully minded that he should have been the Dean of mine Arches, which yet he shall have, if you think it good, and that he may therewith serve you in that room whereunto you have appointed him. Herein I pray you that I may be advertised of your mind by this bearer; for if it be your pleasure, I shall make him Dean before the next term. man so meet for it. To the Right Worshipful and my singular friend Master Secretary. I know no CLXI. To CRUMWELL. Chapter Right Worshipful, in my most hearty wise I commend MSS. me unto you. And albeit, that And albeit, that many times heretofore I House, have been fully purposed and minded, most effectually and Westminearnestly to write unto you in the favour of this bearer, my m [This postscript is in Cranmer's own handwriting.] n [Dr. afterwards Sir William Petre, who managed to continue in power under Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, was appointed by Crumwell one of the visitors of monasteries in Oct. 1535. Strype, Cranmer; Holinshed. See Letter well's Cor ence. Original. ster; Crum-friend Sir John Markeham, touching his business and suits respond- now depending before my Lord Chancellor; yet inasmuch as he hath always testified unto me that you were much better unto him than he could wish or desire, I have deferred the same hitherto, right heartily desiring and praying you, as you have always been his special good master and friend, so you will, the rather at this my request, continue, and specially now touching this his suit before my Lord Chancellor, so that by your favourable word he may be the more indifferently heard, and have the sooner an end in the same; for I assure you he is the gentleman, whom, amongs all other, I never knew none that hath ordered himself so uprightly in quietness amongs his neighbours within his country, as he hath ever done, or that is universally better beloved, saving that he is only hated of him whom no man can favour or love. I therefore eftsoons beseech you to help that he be discharged of this his unquiet vexation and trouble, none other ways but as it shall seem to you just so to do; wherein you shall not alonely show unto me no small pleasure, but also be sure to do for a right honest gentleman. Thus our Lord preserve you. At Forde, the iii. day of November. 。 I have known the good conversation and indifferency of Sir John Markam in his country above 30 years, and that causeth me the bolder to write in his favour, for else I love not to intermeddle myself in other men's causes. Also Sir William Merynge hath desired me to write unto you in his favour, whose letter? I have sent unto you, commending his [This postscript was written by Cranmer himself.] PSir W. Merynge's letter is subjoined. "Most Reverend and Honourable Father in God and my most sin"gular good Lord, in my most humble and lowliest manner I recom"mend me unto your good lordship: most humbly beseeching your "Grace to be good and gracious lord to me now; for so it is, that my "lord the Bishop of Lincoln [John Longland] and his ungracious ser"vant Foster, his baily of Newarke, hath delivered me a subpœna, to appear in the Chancery quindena Michelis next coming, upon pain of "an cli.; and God knoweth, if I should lose all the land and goods that "I have in the world, I may neither ride nor go but with two staves "like two crutches; and farther do I not labour, but in my poor house |