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 whom 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 At Ford, the 2d day of November. [1535.]

his realm.

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.

House,

Right Worshipful, in my most hearty wise I commend MSS. me unto you. And albeit, that many times heretofore I Chapter 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

ster; Crum-friend Sir John Markeham, touching his business and suits respond- now depending before my Lord Chancellor; yet inasmuch ence. Ori- as he hath always testified unto me that you were much

well's Cor

ginal.

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.]

P[Sir 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 subpoena, to 66 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

cause also unto you, for I know his impotency this five or six years. Meseemeth it is a strange thing that the King's justices of peace should be handled as the adversaries of these men pretend, unless some manifest and evident cause were against them. I am informed that the baily of Newarke boasteth, that Sir John Markam shall be committed unto ward before he make his answer.

To mine especial good friend Master
Secretary this be delivered.

Your assured ever,

T. Cantuarien.

CLXII. To CRUMWELL.

Chapter

Right Worshipful, in my most hearty wise I commend me MSS. unto you. These shall be to signify unto you, that at my House, being at Christ's Church in Canterbury this last week, I Westmin

66

ster; "to my chapel and to my garden; and when I go in my waggon to Crumwell's "Newarke to do my duty in serving the King's Most Noble Grace at Corres"his Sessions there; and God He knoweth what pain that is to me. I pondence. suppose, of my conscience, no poor wretch in this world doth labour Original. "with such pain as I do; and now to have a subpoena, to answer unto "such matters as I never offended in, nor never gave cause unto the "Bishop of Lincoln, nor unto Foster his baily, nor never did them any manner of displeasure, but that I did my duty in serving the King's "Most Noble Grace at his Sessions, without that ever I did or caused “thing to be done there contrary to the King's laws; and that if I "should die this hour, I would take it death as I would answer before "God. Thus my own most singular good lord, I beseech your lord"ship to be good and gracious lord to me, and to show my Lord Chan"cellor and Master Secretary what case I am in, and to require them to "be good lord and master to me, and to the poor town of Newarke, "which without your and their good lordships and mastership the 66 poor town of Newarke is and shall be utterly destroyed and undone "for ever; for such bribery and such polling as is there, is not within any 66 town in England this day. And if they can prove that ever I did to "Foster, or caused to be done, contrary to the King's laws, then let me "be punished to the example of all others. Thus I can no more, but my little power I am and ever shall be during my life natural your 66 true beadman, as knoweth the Holy Trinity, who ever preserve your "good lordship. From Morynge, the 6th day of October, by the hand "of your old beadman, William Morynge.

"to

my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury's good