accomplish justice, and also avoid thereby farther inconvenience that may ensue on your behalf, if he, in attempting the law against you, do attain unto the same; whereunto you shall enforce him, if you persist in denying his just claim thereunto. And where also the said Thomas Broune bequeathed xx towards the marriage of a certain maid named Ales B., as likewise amonges the legacies of the said testament more evidently it doth appear, which sum of money the said David Hutton delivered unto you, to the intent that you should in the mean season have the occupying of the same; so it is, as I am informed, that ye be not now willing to depart from it, and in a manner denieth the receipt thereof. Therefore eftsoons I desire you, to the intent so charitable a deed be not hindered, nor the young woman defrauded of her right, that the said xx. may be delivered unto the said David Hutton, that thereby he, according both to his office, trust, and fidelity to him committed, may as well foresee the performance of the said legacy, as also provide for the safe custody of the same sum against such time it may be due to be paid. Chapter LXXXIX. To CRUMWELL k. In my right hearty manner I commend me unto you: cerWestmin- tifying you, that to accomplish the King's commandment I ster; Corres k Crumwell's [Mr. Todd considers this Letter to refer to an embassy from England to the German princes assembled at Smalcald in Dec. 1535, in pondence. which Hethe was associated with Fox, Bishop of Hereford, and Dr. Original. Barnes. (Life of Cranmer, vol. i. p. 147.) But the object of that mission was the formation of a Protestant league against the Pope, rather than the defence of the King's marriage to Anne Boleyn; which was manifestly the "great cause" now to be maintained. The Letter seems also to have been addressed to Crumwell before he was Secretary of State; and if so, must have been written in January 1534. (See State Papers, vol. i. p. 425, note.) And it is clear from the language of Letter CLII, that Hethe filled some diplomatic situation on the continent before June 1585. He may perhaps have succeeded Archdeacon Hawkyns at the Court of the Emperor Charles V. early in 1534; or he may have been sent to a meeting of the German reformers held at Nuremberg in May of the same year; (when, according to Seckendorf, an attempt was made on the part of Hen. VIII. to obtain their approbation of his divorce ;) or he may have been employed on both these services. mer, vol. i. 148. shall send unto you Mr. Heth1 to-morrow, which for his Todd, Life learning, wisdom, discretion, and sincere mind toward his of Cranprince, I know no man in my judgment more meet to serve p. the King's Highness' purpose; yet for many other considerations I know no man more unable to appoint himself to the King's honour than he; for he lacketh apparel, horses, plate, money, and all things convenient for such a journey; he hath also no benefice, nor no promotion towards the bearing of his charges. And as you know I am in great necessity, and not able to help him, in all these things I know no remedy, unless it please the King's Highness to furnish him of all things necessary to his voyage, and more Upon the whole, the most probable date of the Letter appears to be 1534. See Letter XIV. note (d). Seckendorf, Comment. de Lutheran. lib. iii. §. xxvi. (8.) and §. xxxix. Add. (d) and (e)]. 6 1 [Nicholas Hethe, afterwards a distinguished ornament of the Church of Rome, was at this time a zealous reformer. He seems indeed, from his conversation with Cranmer in the preceding year, to have been inclined to depart farther from the received doctrines than most of his brethren. "When," says Foxe, " they had finished the examination of "Frith, (see Letter xiv. p. 31.) the Archbishop conferring with Dr. Hethe "privately between themselves said; This man hath wonderfully tra"vailed in this matter, and yet in mine opinion he taketh the doctors "amiss.' 'Well my lord,' should Dr. Hethe say, there was no man "that could avoid his authorities of St. Augustine.' 'Wherein?' said 66 my lord. Then Dr. Hethe began to repeat the said authorities of "St. Augustine again, inferring and applying them so straitly against my lord of Canterbury, that my lord was driven to his shot anchor, " and said: 'I see by it,' quoth he to Hethe, that you with a little more "study will be easily brought to Frith's opinion,' or such like words in "effect. And some chaplains there were of my lord of Canterbury's, "which openly reported, that Dr. Hethe was as able to defend Frith's "assertions in the sacrament as Frith was himself." Foxe, Acts, &c. vol. iii. p. 991. Under Henry VIII. Hethe was successively Bishop of Rochester and Worcester; under Edward VI. he was deprived; under Mary he became Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor, and in the latter capacity signed the writ for Cranmer's execution; and under Elizabeth," he lived after a little trouble, quietly and nobly in his own Lord"ship of Chobham, situate in Surrey. He was always honourably es"teemed by the Queen, and sometimes had the honour to be visited by "her Majesty." Strype, Annals, vol. i. p. 142. But it was not the least of his honours to have deserved the praise of Melancthon. This learned reformer, who became acquainted with him at the conferences at Smalcald, has thus contrasted him with his colleagues Fox and Barnes; "Unus Nicolaus Hethus Archidiaconus humanitate et literis excellit “ inter hospites nostros. Cæteri άγευστοι ἡμετέρας φιλοσοφίας καὶ γλυκύτητος, ❝ideo conversationem eorum fugio quantum possum." Seckendorf, Comm. de Luth. lib. iii. §. xxxix. Add.(e.) See also Wood, Athen. Oxon. vol. i. p. 704. Fuller, Church Hist. book viii. sect. ii. §. 19. over to allow him such a diet, whereof alone he may maintain his room and office to the King's honour. Wherein I beseech you to persuade the King's Highness in my name, adding thereunto all the help that you may do also. And as for his acquaintance with the King's great cause, I know no man in England can defend it better than he. Nevertheless I pray you send him again to me, that we may confer it together once again, before he depart hence. Thus our Lord have you in his preservation. From my manor at Otteforde the 5th day of January. Your own assured To mine especial and singular good friend Master Cromewell. Chapter Westmin XC. TO CRUMWELL. Right Worshipful Master Crumwell, in my hearty manner I commend me to you. So it is that at my late being ster; Crum-at Forde, it was brought to my notice and knowledge, that respond- the Monk Dering m hath lately compiled and made (sithens ence. Ori- the first time that Mr. Henry Golden came to be examined well's Cor ginal. before me) a certain treaty de Duplice Spiritu, in which mention is made, as well for the defence of the Nun's revelations, as for the soluting of my reasons made unto the said Golde. Whereupon I have diligently examined the said Dering, which hath confessed that he hath made such a book, but he will in no wise be known where it is, saying that he hath burned the same. That notwithstanding, I have caused him to write the whole effect (as he saith it is) of the same book, the copy whereof I have sent unto you sealed, which is a very minute thing, in respect of the same m [See Letters LXXXII-LXXXIV.] n ["Henry Golde took upon him to be interpreter between Eliza"beth Barton, and one of the Pope's orators, named Anthonye Pul"lyon."..." And the said Henry Gold over this, actually travelled and "made relation thereof to the Lady Katharyne, Princess Dowager, to "animate her to make commotion in this realm against our Sovereign "Lord." Stat. 25 Hen. VIII. cap. 12.] book which was first made, as it is thought. And therefore I pray you to take the pains to examine the said Golde, and such other of his adherents, as ye shall think most meet to be examined in this matter; whether he or they, or any of them do know of any such book, or have seen or heard of any such or not, and at your convenient leisure to ascertain me of his and their sayings in this behalf, and of all such other comperts as you shall by the same your examination try and search out. For the person, by whom I came to the knowledge hereof, hath informed me, that the book was delivered unto the said Golde, and that he thinketh that Golde hath it still in his custody; wherefore I do think it very expedient that some good and politic mean be made for the trial and search of the verity in the premises betimes, without tract or delay, praying you that it may be so. From Ottforde, the 6th day of January. [1534.] Your own assured ever To the Right Worshipful and his very XCI. To JOHN BUTLER°. 6148. fol. 18. I commend me to you: willing you that ye shall nothing Harl. MSS. do touching my visitation in those parties at Calice, until ye shall farther know of my mind therein; but such diligent inquisition as shall lie in you to make for the trial and truth of the matrimony between Fraunceis Hastynges and his pretended wife, I will that ye shall use and make; and especially to learn and know, how and for what cause the first matrimony between Davison and the said pretended wife of Hastynges was dissolved, and of the premises to ascertain me, with as good speed as ye may therein conveniently use. "[See Letters LXXXVI. CCXXV.] This done, ye shall afterwards know farther of my mind To Master Butler, my Commissary Harl. MSS. 6148. fol. 42. XCII. TO THE RECTOR OF PETWORTH. In my right hearty wise I commend me unto you. So it is, as I am informed, that one John Bower P, now farmer of your parsonage of Petewourth, doth therein enjoy a lease of yours, which by reason when it shall happen to be expired, the same much doubteth, lest that at the end and term of the same he be clearly avoided thereof, by some other suit, to his no little both damage and hinderance, being now so P [In the Valor Ecclesiasticus, 1535, John Bowyar is stated to be Seneschal of the rectory lands of Petworth, and Thomas Maundvyld to be Rector.] |