II. BOOK high providence and politick means of his Grace nevertheless preserved, defended, and maintained, from all these inconveniences and dangers; and such provisions taken, by one way or other, so as reasonable commodity was always given unto them to exercise their Traffiques of Merchandise, and other their Crafts, Mysteries, and Occupations for their living; which could not possibly have been brought about, unless then the King's Highness, with continual studies, travels, and pains, and with his infinite Charges and Expences, had converted the peril and danger of the Enterprises and Exploits, set forth for the reduction of the Enemies unto Peace, from his own Subjects unto Strangers: Whereof finally such Fruit and Effect is ensued, as by the King's policy, puissance, and means, general and universal Peace is established amongst all Christian Princes; and this Realm now, thanked be God, constitute in free, better, and more assured and profitable Amity with all outward Parties, than hath been at any time whereof is memory or remembrance. Considering furthermore, That his Highness, in and about the Premisses, hath been fain to imploy, not only such sums of Mony as hath risen and grown by any manner of contribution made unto his Grace by his said loving Subjects; but also over and above the same, sundry other notable and excellent Summs of his own Treasure, and yearly Revenues, which else his Grace might have kept and reserved to his own use; amongst which manifold great Summs so employed, his Highness also, as is notoriously known, and as doth evidently appear by the accompts of the same, hath to that use and none other, converted all such Money, as by any his Subjects and People Spiritual and Temporal, hath been advanced unto his Grace by way of Prest and Loan, either particularly, or by any Taxation made of the same, being a thing so well collocate and bestowed, seeing the said high and great Fruits and effects thereof ensued, to the honour, surety, well, perfect commodity, and perpetual tranquillity of this said Realm, as nothing could better nor more to the comfort of his said Subjects be desired, studied, or imagined; Of one mind, consent and assent, and by Authority of this present Parliament, do for themselves, and all the whole body of the Realm whom they do II. represent, freely, liberally, and absolutely, give and grant unto BOOK the King's Highness, by Authority of this present Parliament, all and every Sum and Sums of Money, which to them, and every of them, is, ought, or might be due, by reason of any Money, or any other thing, to his Grace at any time heretofore advanced, or payed, by way of Prest or Loan, either upon any Letter or Letters under the King's Privy Seal, general or particular, Letter Missive, Promise, Bond, or Obligation of payment, or by any Taxation, or other assessing, by vertue of any Commission or Commissions, or by any other mean or means whatsoever it be heretofore passed for that purpose, and utterly, frankly, liberally, and most willingly and benevolently, for them, their Heirs, Executors, and Successors, do remit, release, and quit claim, unto his Highness, his Heirs, and Successors for ever, all and every the same Sums of Money, and every parcel thereof, and all and singular Suits, Petitions, and demands, which they, or any of them, their Heirs, Successors, or Executors, or the Heirs, Executors or successors of any of them, have, had, or may have for the same, or any parcel thereof; most humbly and lovingly beseeching his Highness, for the more clear discharge for the same, that it may be ordained and enacted by the King, our said Sovereign Lord, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons of this present Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, that all Promises, Bonds, Writings, Obligatory Letters, under the King's Privy Seal, Signet, Sign Manual, or Great Seal passed, and other Bonds or Promises, whatsoever they be, had, made, to any Person or Persons, Spiritual or Temporal, Shire, City, Burrough, Waxentale, Tranship, Hamlet, Village, Monastery, Church, Cathedral, or Collegiate, or to any Guild, Fraternity, or Body Corporate, Fellowship, or Company, or other whatsoever, having capacity to take any Bond especially and generally, jointly or severally, touching or concerning the same Prest or Loan, or every of them, or the repayment of any Sum or Sums of Mony for the same, be from henceforth void and of none effect. Cui quidem billæ probe et ad plenum intellectæ per dictum Dominum Regem ex assensu et Authoritate Parliamenti prædicti taliter est responsum. Le Roy remercie les Seigneurs et ses com II. BOOK munes de leur bonne cœurs en faisant cest graunt, et icelle sa Majeste accepte et tout le contenu, et cest escriture a graunt et aprove avecques tous les articles en ceste escripture specifies. XXXII. A Letter from Gardiner and Fox, about their Proceedings at Feb. 1530. from Cambridg by Stephen Gardiner. To the King's Highness. Cotton Lib. PLEASETH it your Highness to be advertised, That arriving Vitell. B. 13. Fol. 51. here at Cambridge upon Saturday last past at noon, that same night, and Sunday in the Morning, we devised with the Vice Chancellor, and such other as favoureth your Grace's Cause, how and in what sort to compass and attain your Grace's Purpose and `Intent; wherein we assure your Grace, we found much towardness, good will, and diligence, in the Vice-Chancellour and Dr. Edmunds, being as studious to serve your Grace as we could wish or desire: Nevertheless there was not so much care, labour, study, and diligence imployed on our Party, by them, our self, and other, for attaining your Graces Purpose, but there was as much done by others for the lett and empeachment of the same; and as we assembled, they assembled, as we made Friends they made Friends, to lett that nothing should pass as in the Universities Name; wherein the first day they were Superiors, for they had put in the ears of them, by whose Voices such things do pass, multas fabulas, too tedious to write unto your Grace. Upon Sunday at afternoon were assembled, after the manner of the University, all the Doctors, Batchellors of Divinity, and Masters of Art, being in number almost two hundred: In that Congregation we delivered your Grace's Letters, which were read openly by the Vice-Chancellor. And for answer to be made unto them, first the Vice-Chancellor calling apart the Doctors, asked their Advice and Opinion; whereunto they answered severally, as their II. Affections led them, et res erat in multa confusione. Tandem BOOK they were content Answer should be made to the Questions by indifferent Men: But then they came to Exceptions against the Abbot of St. Benets, who seemed to come for that purpose; and likewise against Dr. Reppes, and Dr. a Crome; and also generally against all such as had allowed Dr. Cranmer's Book, inasmuch as balready they had declared their Opinion. We said thereunto, That by that reason they might except against all; for it was lightly, that in a Question so notable as this is, every Man Learned hath said to his Friend as he thinketh in it for the time; but we ought not to judge of any Man, that he setteth more to defend that which he hath once said, than Truth afterward known. Finally, The Vice-Chancellor, because the day was much spent in those altercations, commanding every Man to resort to his Seat apart, as the manner is in those Assemblies, willed every Man's mind to be known secretly, whether they would be content with such an Order as he had conceived for answer to be made by the University to your Grace's Letters; whereunto that night they would in no wise agree. And forasmuch as it was then dark night, the Vice-Chancellor continued the Congregation till the next day at one of the Clock; at which time the Vice-Chancellor proponed a Grace after the form herein inclosed; and, it was first denied: When it was asked again, it was even on both Parties, to be denied or granted; and at the last, by labour of Friends to cause some to depart the House which were against it, it was obtained in such form as the Schedule herein enclosed purporteth; wherein be two Points which we would have left out; but considering by putting in of them, we allured many, and that indeed they shall not hurt the Determination for your Grace's part, we were finally content therewith. The one Point is that where it was first, that quicquid major pars of them that be named decreverit, should be taken for the Determination of the University. Now it referred ad duas partes, wherein we suppose shall be no difficulty. The other Point is, That your Grace's Question shall be openly disputed, which we think to BOOK be very honourable; and it is agreed amongst us, That in that Disputation, shall answer, the Abbot of St. Benets, Dr. Reppes, and I and Mr. Fox, to all such as will object any thing or reason against the conclusion to be sustained for your Grace's part. And because Mr. Doctor Clyffs hath said, That he hath somewhat to say concerning the Canon-Law; I your Secretary shall be adjoyned unto them for answer to be made therein. In the Schedule which we send unto your Grace herewith, containing the Names of those who shall determine your Grace's Question, all marked with [the Letter] A. be already of your Grace's Opinion; by which we trust, and with other good means, to induce and attain a great part of the rest. Thus We beseech Almighty God to preserve your most Noble and Royal Estate. From Cambridge the day of February. e |