word. And this deed you shall hear of at the great day, when all things shall be opened and made manifest. For our Saviour Christ saith in the said Gospel, that whosoever shrinketh from him and his word, and is abashed to profess and set it forth before men in this world, He will refuse him at that day and contrary, whosoever constantly doth profess Him and his word, and studieth to set that forward in this world, Christ will declare the same at the last day before his Father and all his angels, and take upon Him the defence of those men. : These shall be farther to advertise your lordship, that since my last coming from London into Kent *, I have found the people of my diocese very obstinately given to observe and keep with solemnity the holidays lately abrogated 1. Whereupon I have punished divers of the offenders; and to divers I have given gentle monitions to amend. But inasmuch as by examination I have perceived that the people were partly animated thereto by their curates, I have given straight commandment and injunction unto all the parsons and vicars within my diocese, upon pain of deprivation of their benefices, that they shall not only, on their behalf, cause the said holidays so abrogated from time to time, not to be observed within their cures ; but also shall from henceforth present to me such persons of their parishes, as will practise in word or deed contrary to that ordinance or any other, which is, or hereafter shall be set forth by the King's Grace's authority, for the redress or ordering of the doctrine or ceremonies of this Church of England. So that now I suppose, through this means, all disobedience and contempt of the King's Grace's said acts and ordinances in this behalf, shall be clearly avoided in my diocese hereafter: k [He was now engaged in that Visitation, for which he requested a license from Crumwell in Letter CLXXXIV.] 1 [See the Act of Convocation by which they were abrogated, and Hen. VIII.'s Letter to the bishops for enforcing its observance, in Wilkins, Concilia, vol. iii. p. 823. See also, in the Appendix, a mandate issued by Cranmer, by the King's direction, on the 19th of April 1537, for celebrating the feast of St. Mark, notwithstanding the above named not doubting also, but if every bishop in this realm had commandment to do the same in their dioceses, it would avoid both much disobedience and contention in this said realm. I would fain that all the enmity and grudge of the people in this matter should be put from the King and his Council; and that we, who be Ordinaries, should take it upon us: or else I fear lest a grudge against the Prince and his Council, in such causes of religion, should gender in many of the people's hearts a faint subjection and obedi ence. m But, my lord, if in the Court you do keep such holidays and fasting days as be abrogated, when shall we persuade the people to cease from keeping of them? For the King's own house shall be an example unto all the realm to break his own ordinances. Over this, whereas your lordship hath twice written for this poor man, William Gronnowen, the bearer hereof, to my Lord Deputy of Calice, for him to be restored to his room; as far as I understand, it prevailed nothing at all; for so he can get none answer of my Lord Deputy : SO that the poor man despaireth that your request shall do him any good. If your lordship would be so good to him, as to obtain a bill, signed by the King's Grace, to the treasurers and controllers of Calice for the time being, commanding them to pay to the said W. Gronnowe his accustomed wages yearly, and to none other, your lordship should not only not further trouble my Lord Deputy any more, but also do a right meritorious deed. For if the poor man be put thus from his living, he were but utterly undone. Thus, my lord, right heartily fare you well. At Ford, the xxviii. day of August. [1537.] m Your Lordship's own ever, T. Cantuariens. [This paragraph is inserted by the Archbishop's own hand in the lower margin; the rest of the Letter being written by his secretary.] n [See Letter cc.] CXCIII. TO CRUMWELL. ster; Corres My very special good Lord, in my right hearty wise I MSS. commend me unto you. Likewise thanking you for your House, Chapter loving and kind answer which you sent me by my servant WestminNevell, and especially for your good mind towards me con- Cru cerning my debts to the King's Highness, which of all other well's things lieth most nigh unto my stomach; trusting for the pondence. declaration of this your gentle heart towards me, not to be Original. forgotten on my behalf hereafter, as it shall lie in my power. And as concerning such lands of mine as the King's Highness is minded to have by exchange at Maydestone and Otteforde P; forsomuch as I am the man that hath small experience in such causes, and have no mistrust at all in my prince in that behalf, I wholly commit unto you to do therein for me as by you shall be thought expedient, not doubting but that you foresee as much for my commodity, as you would that I should do for you in such a like matter. As touching the Prior of the Black Friars in Canterbury 9, I have written nothing to you of him but that I will justify. And whereas I understand, that the Custos Rotulorum within Nottynghamshire is depart this miserable life, this shall • See Letters LXXIX. CLXXXIV. 6 P[The indenture by which this exchange was made, is dated the 30th of Nov. 29 Hen. VIII. i. e. 1537. Hasted, Hist. of Kent, vol. i. p. 322. Morice, the Archbishop's secretary, who was present at the conversation, gives a curious account of the failure of Cranmer's attempt to preserve Knoll, which was included in the same exchange. "My lord, minded "to have retained Knole unto himself, said, That it was too small a "house for his Majesty.' Marry,' said the King, I had rather have it "than this house,' meaning Otford, 'for it standeth on a better soil. "This house standeth low and is rheumatic, like unto Croydon, where "I could never be without sickness. And as for Knole, it standeth 66 6 on a sound, perfect, wholesome ground: and if I should make "abode here, as I do surely mind to do now and then, I will live at "Knole and most of my house shall live at Otford.' And so by this "means both those houses were delivered up to the King's hands." Strype, Cranmer, p. 436. For a history and description of the Archiepiscopal residences at these places and at Ford, see Hasted, Hist. of Kent, vol. i. pp. 323. 338. and vol. iii. p. 624.] 9 [See Letter CLXXI.] be to desire and pray you, Over this you shall understand that I have received from S Your own ever assured, T. Cantuarien. To my very singular good lord, my Lord Privy Seal. Wilkins, CXCIV. To РOTKYNS. I commend me unto you. And whereas I have received the King's most honourable letterst concerning the speedy declaration of his Grace's pleasure, for the abolishing of certain holidays named in the late Act of Convocation, whereof the transumpt I send you here withal; my mind is thereConvocat. fore, that you cause, with all expedition, the King's pleasure from Heylyn, Excerpt. Actor. [See Letters CXLI. CLXXXI.] SJohn Butler.] This Letter has been inserted here on the authority of Wilkins but it seems rather to belong to the preceding year; for the King's letter, which gave occasion to it, is probably that of the 11th of August, 1536. See Letter cxc. p. 201; Wilkins, Concilia, vol. iii. p. 824.] : in this behalf to be published unto all the clergy within the T. Cantuarien. CXCV. To CRUMWELL. House, ster; pondence. Original. My very singular and especial good Lord, in my most Mss. hearty wise I commend me to your lordship. These shall be Chapter to give to your lordship right hearty thanks for this bearer, WestminThomas Wakefeld my servant, for as I understand, you Crumwell's have been many ways his special good lord, beseeching Corresyou of continuance towards him. And albeit your lordship wrote unto me of late to stay such suit as should be made to me concerning the institution of the parsonage of St. Quintyne of Spellacke" within the marches of Calice, which I have hitherto accomplished accordingly, yet I shall nevertheless beseech your lordship, forsomuch as I perceive that this my said servant is, by virtue of the King's advowson, presented thereunto, to be no less his good lord in this his suit than you have hitherto been, and that the rather at this mine instant request; so that having right thereunto, he may enjoy the same with your favour: and that upon your lordship's pleasure known in this behalf, he may have a token from you unto my Chancellor for his institution*; for the which you shall bind him to do unto your lordship his both daily prayer and service, and me to requite the same if it lie in my power. Thus, my lord, u [See Letter CLXXXIX.] * [The institution of Wakefeld seems not to have taken place, for on the 2nd of October 1537, the Archbishop admitted Robert Palmere to the church of the parish Sti. Quintini de Spellache within the marches of Calais, vacant by the death of Jolin Hayburne. Cranmer's Register, fol. 362, b.] |