Original letters, illustrative of English history : including numerous royal letters : from autographs in the British museum, the State paper office, and one or two other collections Volume 1

t

t i'

Presented
to
the Centre for
REFORMATION
and
RENAISSANCE
STUDIES

VICTORIA
UNIVERSITY

by Millar MacLure

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

ENGLISH HISTORY.

THIRD SERIES.

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

ILLUSTRATIVF- OF

ENGLISH

HISTORY.

INCLUDING

NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS"

FROM AUTOGRAPHS
IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, TIIE STATE PAPER OFFICE,
AND ONE OR TIVO OTHER COLLECTIONS.

WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS

BY
SIR HENRY ELLIS, K.H.F.R.S. SEC. S. A.
PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN OF THE BRITISH ]IUSEU]I.

THIRD SERIES.
VOL. I.

LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,

MDCCCXLVI.

El:. & REI.

LONDON i
Printed by . & .. BiITLEY VILSO and
Bangor House Shoe Lnc.

Vlll PREFACE.

in the Correspondence of Peter de Blois. Matthew
Paris's " Historia Major" is full of such Letters,
and none can perhaps be found in his History more
graphic in description than that from a Knight in
the Army of Henry the Third, in 125, which de-
tails the particulars of a conflict with the Welsh.
A few Letters partly selected from the sources
here referred to, with others from their Autographs,
are given in the opening of the plesent Volume ; not
as a Collection, but as specimens of a mass of Cor-
respondence, reaching back to the time of William
the First, which has been little, if at all, either
known or consulted by the English Historians.
The late Mr. Petrie once intended to give an
Assemblage of such Letters as an Appendage to
his proposed " Corpus Historiarum." What pro-
gress he had made in the Collection the present
Writer is unable to say; but the publication of
such Correspondence in a collected form, accom-
panied by illustrations and explanatory notes, would
prove an useful accession to the present stores of
our History. Baronius says "Epistolaris Historia
est optima Historia."
Letter-writing was resorted to in early times only
on oeeasions of moment; even letters of familiarity
frequently took the shape of legal instruments. Till
a eomparatively late period, too, vellum vas the sub-

xii PREFACE.

Among the Additional Manuscripts in the British
Musemn flere is another Volume, No. 8167, which
gives not only the Forms, but exact instructions for
the writing of Latin Letters. This Manuscript like-
wise contains the Frames of Application and Answer
for every class and condition of society. Atter enu-
merating the several gradations, it directs that a supe-
rior writing to an inferior person is always to put his
own name at fle head in the nominative case, followed
by the inferior's in the dative case : and that the infe-
rior writing to the superior, is always to prefix the
superior's name in the dative case, followed by his
own in the nominative. If the correspondents were
"par pari," equal in rank, as a Knight to a Knight,
or a Burgess to a Bm'gess, they might do either, as
politeness, or regard for each other might dictate.
In Letters of petition for favors, however, it is di-
rected that the name of the person written to, should
always stand first in the dative case, and that he
should be designated " pluraliter."

the Visitors of Religious Houses, to Secretary Cromwell, relating to
the Monastery of Laycock in Wiltshire. He says, "So it is that
we found no notable compertes at Laycock. The House is very
clene, well repaired, and well ordered; and one thing I observed
worthy th'advertisement there. The Ladies ha e their Rule, th'In-
stitutes of their Religion, and ceremonies of the same, written in the
Frenche tongue, which they understand well, and are very perfitt in
the same. Albeit that it varieth from the vulgar Frenche that is
now used, and is moche like the Frenche that the Common Lawe is
written in." Stat. Pap. Off. Misc. Corresp. xxxv. 55.

PREFACE, xiii

The Editor has now little more to do than to ex-
press his gratitude to those by vhom the present
Series has been aided. First and foremost he
thanks Sir James Graham, by whose kind per-
mission, through the intervention of S. hi:. Phil-
lipps, Esq., he has been admitted to the free use of
the numerous Letters to Wolsey and Lord Cromwell,
preserved in the State Paper Office. A selection
from which forms no uninteresting portion of the
present \Vork.
To his Grace the Duke of Northumberland he
yields his most especial thanks for the permission to
engrave the memorable double Portrait of Charles
the First and the Duke of Gloucester, by Sir Peter
Lely, at Sion House; which was allowed to be
brought to town for the convenience of the Artist.
To the President and Council of the Society of
Antiquaries he returns his thanks for their permis-
sion to engrave the Portraits of Edward the Fourth
and Richard the Third, bequeathed to them by the
late Rev. Thomas Kerrich: and to the Governors
of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, for similar permis-
sion to engrave the Portrait of King Henr the
Eighth preserved in their Court Room.

CONTENTS.

VOL. I.

LETTER
I.

II.

III.

IV.
V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

Xo

PAGE
Archbishop Lanfranc to Roger Earl of Hereford,
when his fidelity to the Conqueror became sus-
pected ................................................ 3
Lanfranc's second Letter of exhortation to Earl
Roger ................................................ 6
Lanfl'anc announces to Earl Roger that he is placed
under an Ecclesiastical interdict .................. 7
Lanfranc to the King.--Ralph Guader defeated... 
Archbishop Lanfi'anc's second Letter to the King.
-The Castle of Norwich surrendered.---The
Rebellion at an end ................................. 9
Lanfranc to Walcher, Bishop of Durham, an-
nouncing that the Kingdom was restored to
tranquillity .......................................... ! 0
Archbishop Lanfranc to Remigius Bishop of Dor-
chester: that the King heeds not the detractors
of the Bishop ....................................... 12
Lanfranc to Pope Gregory. He_gives due, but
not unlimited obedience to the See of Rome.
The King, as well by wocd of mouth to the
Pope's Legate, as by his letters will answer the
Pope's remonstrance ................................. 13
William the Conqueror to Pope Gregory the Se-
venth, who had claimed him as a feudatory of
the Papal See ....................................... 15
Lanfranc to Odo Bishop of Baieux, excusing" the
attendance of Abbot Baldwin at a plea, which
as the King's Justiciary the Bishop was about
to hold ................................................ 16

xvi

LETTER
XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XVo

XII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

CONTENTS.

PAG E
King Henry the First to Archbishop Anselm then
abroad, upon his accession to the throne, and on
the unwillingness with which he had been con-
secrated King by other hands than those of the
Primate. A.D. 1100 .............................. 18
Henry Bishop of Winchester to the Prior and
and Convent of Worcester, threatening them, in
the absence of the Bishop, with an interdict,
unless the tax of the Peter-pence for the church
and diocese of Worcester be paid within fifteen
days ................................................... 22
Archbishop Becket to Ala Countess of Warren,
upon the detention from the Monks of Lewes of
rite tithes arising from the lands of her do,aer... 23
William de Avrenches and Cecily his mother to
William Earl of Warren, William de Albini
Earl of Sussex, and G ilbert de Aquila, to be wit-
nesses to a deed ................................... 25
William de Potern to the Prior of Bath, with an
Extract from the Domesday Surwey ............ 26
King Edward the First to the Prior and Prioress
of Alvingham in Lincolnshire, to admit one or
more of the children of Llewellin ap Griftith
late Prince of Wales, or of his brother David,
into their house ................................... 27
Letter on the Preparations made by France in fa-
vour of David Bruce, A.D. 1336 .................. 29
Letter presenting a Journal of Edward the Third's
last expedition against the Scots, A.D. ] 336 ...... 33
The Magistrates of Florence to Edward III., inter-
ceding for the "Societas Bardorum," who had
been ruined by the advances of money they had
made to him to support his wars .................. 39
Galeazzo Visconti of Milan to King Edward the
Third, with the promise of a Falcon: circa
An. 1370 ............................................. 43
John Lord Welles to Mons r John Helyng to accom-
pany him in the vars of Edward III ............. 45

XVlll

CONTENTS.

LETTER
XXXII.

XXXIII.

XXXIV.

XXXV.

XXXVI.

XXX II.

XXXXlll.

XXXIX.

XL.

XLI.

XLII.

PAGE
King Henry the Fifth to the Bishop of Durham,
respecting his Uncle of Exeter, and directing
certain preferments ................................. 74
King Henry the Sixth to the Abbot of St. Edmunds-
bury, for the immediate payment of a benevo-
lence ................................................... 75
King Henry the Sixth to the Abbot of St. Edmunds-
bury, for the loan of a hundred marks prepara-
tory to his marriage. A.D. 1443 .................. 78
The King to the Abbot of Bury, for horses against
the Queen's arrival. A.I. 1443 .................. bl
Richard Earl of Wmwdck, captain of Calais, Ed-
ward Earl of March, t{ichard Earl of Salisbury,
and William Nevil Lord Fauconbridge, to the
Bishop of Teramo, the papal Legate, prior to
their entering upon the Expedition which de-
throned King Henry the Sixth. A.I. 1-160 ...... 82
Francesco Coppini, the papal Legate, to King
Henry the Sixth, offering his mediation between
the King and the Lords from Calais. A.D. 1-160. 88
The Chancellor and University of Oxford to Sir
John Say, to repay a hundred Shillings which
they had advanced to his brother when Proctor
of the University, for a purpose not performed... 9b
John De la Pole Duke of Suffolk, to his Bailiff
of his manor of Mandevilles ........................ 99
King t{ichard the Third's Privy Seal, granting to
Ralph Banastre the manor of Yalding in Kent,
late belonging to the Duke of Buckingham, in re-
,yard for bringing the Duke into the King's hands 100
Louis the Eleventh of France to King Richard the
Third, thanking him for News, apparently his
Accession to the Throne ........................... 103
tiichard the Third to the Keeper of the Privy Seal,
to prepare Letters of Commission for the altera-
tion of the Coin of Ireland, and settling the places
of Mintage : the Irish money having been circu-
lated in England, to the damage and inconveni-
ence of the English subjects ........................ 103

LETTER
XLIII.

XLIV.

XLV.

XLVI.

XLVIIo

XLVIll.
XLIX.
L.
LI.

LII.

LIII.

LIV.

LVo

LVI.
LVII.

CONTENTS. XiX

PAGE
The King to Sir John Hussey Knt., Chief Justice
of the King's Bench, granting to him the ward
and marriage of the daughter of Sir John Sal-
vayn, Knt .............................................. 106
James the Third of Scotland to King Richard the
Third desiring a safe-conduct for certain Lords
of his realm to come in embassy to conclude a
Peace ................................................ 10O
King Richard the Third's answer to the King of
Scots concerning the safe-conduct which he
granted ; but staying the Abstinence fi'om War
desired in the same Letter, till the arrival of the
Scots Embassy .......................................
Richard the Third to the Authorities of the Town
of Gloucester, with permission to wear his Li-
very ................................................... 113
King Henry the Seventh to the Prior and Convent
of Christ-Church, Canterbury, nominating War-
ham Bishop of London to the Metropolitan
See ................................................... 115
The Earl of Suffolk to Thomas Killing'worth ...... 117
The Earl of Suflblk to the same ..................... 124
The Earl of Suflblk to his "Steward" ............... 125
The Earl of Suffolk to some one whom he calls his
Cousin; probably the Lord Chevers, or the
Lord Vele ............................................. 127
Richard de la Pole to his brother the Earl of Suffolk,
in poverty and distress .............................. 129
The Earl of Suffolk to one whom he adch'esses as
Don Peter ; one of his Agents .....................
The Earl of Suffolk to John Grower, one of his
agents, or ser) ants ................................. 132
The Earl of Suffolk to Thomas Killingworth : ap-
parently after the death of his aunt, the Duchess
of Burgundy .......................................... 134
The Earl of Suffolk to Gilkyn ........................ 137
The Earl of Suffolk to the Bastard van Oyskerke ;
complaining of the usage he receives ............ 137

xx

CONTENTS.

LETTER
LVIII.

LIX.
LX.

LXI.

LXII.

LXIII.

LXIV.

LXV.

LXVI.

LXVII.

LXVIII.

LXIX.

LXX.
LXXI.

LXXII.

PAGE
The Earl of Suffolk to .... ; apparently in Janu-
ary 1506-7, immediately before he calne prisoner
to England .......................................... 140
Richard de la Pole to Erhard Bishop of Liege ... 141
Sir Edward Howard, Lord Admiral, to Cardinal
Wolsey, shewing the ill-victualling of the Navy 145
Queen Katherine to Master Almoner. The coming
hither of the Duke de Longueville ............... 152
Thomas Lord Howard, eldest son of the Duke of
Norfolk, and Lord Admiral, to Wolsey ; written
immediately after succeeding to his brother's
command in that office .............................. 154
Thomas Lord Howard to Wolsey. The difficulties
which he has to encounter as Lord Admiral ... 157
Edmund Hoxvard, third son of Thomas second
Duke of Norfolk, to Cardinal Wolsey; over-
whelmed in debt, and entreating for employment
in the King's serx ice ................................. 160
Another Account of the Battle of Floddon, A.D.
1513, in a Letter from Dr. William Knight, the
English Minister at the Court of Margaret
Duchess of Burgundy, to Cardinal Bainbridge
at Rome ............................................. 163
King Henry the Eighth to Pope Leo the Tenth, in
favour of the Observant Friars ..................... 165
The University of Cambridge to Wolsey, recently
made Bishop of Lincoln, pressing him to accept
their Chancellorship ................................. 168
Wolsey's reply to the University of Cambridge,
declining the honour offered to him ............... 170
Richard Pace to Wolsey. The Cost of the Cardi-
nal's Bulls ........................................... 172
Pace to Wolsey in continuation of the former Letter 176
Richard Pace recommending Wolsey to seek the
Cardinalate .......................................... 177
Nicholas West, Bishop of Ely, to Cardinal Wolsey,
on the dilapidated state in which he found his
Cathedral at his Visitation. State of the Fen
at Wisbeach .......................................... 180

CONTENTS.

LETTER
LXXIII.

LXXIV.

LXXV.

LXXVI.

LXXVII.

LXX III.

LXXIX.

LXXX.

LXXXI.

LXXXII.

LXXXIII.

LXXXIV.

LXXXV.

PAGE
Richard Pace to Wolsey. The King determined
not to have the Prior of St. Bartholomew's made
Bishop of St. Asaph ................................. IS!
Pace to Wolsey. The King himself reads all the
contents of Wolsey's pacquets. Appoints Dr.
Standish Bishop of St. Asaph ..................... I87
Dean Colet to Cardinal Wolsey for the promotion
of the Under-Master of his Sclool to some Ec-
clesiastical preferment .............................. 190
Extract of an imperfect Letter from Sir John Stile
to King Henry VIII. from Valladolid, 11 Feb.
1518 ................................................... 191
Richard Pace to Cardinal Wolsey. The King has
ordered Letters to be written to the Bishop of
London, for Pace to be preferred to the Arch-
deaconry of Colchester .............................. 193
Richard Pace to my Lord Legates. His interview
with the King at Penshurst, whom he found
playing with the French hostages. The King's
intention to remove to Otford ..................... 194
Richard Pace to my Lord Legate. The Hostages
conveyed to Sir Thomas Lovel's house at Enfield 197
Richard Pace to Wolsey. The King has received
Letters from my Lady Margaret. Dean Colet
"in extremis" ....................................... 198
Pace to Wolsey. The King hath good pastime by
the new player on the Clavicordes ............... 199
The Duke of Suffolk to Cardinal Wolsey, in favor
of the Abbot of St. Benet of Hulme ............... 200
The Earl of IVorcester to Cardinal Wolsey, re-
specting a proposed enterprise against Richard
De la Pole .......................................... 202
Edward Duke of Buckingham to Sir Edward
Chamberleyn respecting the latter's claim to the
Manor of Penshurst in Kent ..................... 213
The Duke of Buckingham to Cardinal Wolsey, en-
treating his interference with the King to allow
him to be a Challenger, not an Answerer, at the
Justs which the King had ordered to he held.

CONTENTS. xxiii

LETTER

XCV,

XCVI.

XCVII.

XCVIII.

XCIX.

CI.

CII.

CIII.

CIV.

PAGE
returning in ten days to Lambeth, and will then
confer with Wolsey upon them ..................... 245
John Longland, Bishop of Lincoln, to Cardinal Wol-
sey, in relation to a Monk of St. Edmundsbury
who had preached at St. Peter's in the East at
Oxford ................................................. 247
John de 5Iaiano, a sculptor, to Cardinal Wolsey,
requesting payment for works done at Hampton
Court ................................................... 249
John Longland, Bishop of Lincoln, to Wolsey.
Alarmed at the ha oc made by the Plague, and
by the Sweating sickness. Promises a pilgrim-
age to our Lady of Walsingham. Has two Lu-
therans in his house. Proposes riding to Oxford
" for the ordering thereof" .......................... 251
John Clerk to my Lord Cardinal from Rome. Has
a day promised him by the Pope for the pre-
sentation of the King's Book against Luther in
the "open Consistory". ............................. 254
John Clerk to Cardinal Wolsey; Copies of the
King's Book against Luther presented to the
Pope at a private Audience ........................ 256
Clerk to Wolsey. The Public delivery of the pre-
sentation Copy of the King's Book to the Pope
in the Consistory ..................................... 262
Cuthbert Tunstal to Cardinal Wolsey. Intrigues
against the ministers of the King Catholick sus-
pected. Invents a Cypher which he forwards,
as no trust is to be put in the Posts ............... 271
Richard Pace to Wolsey, detailing the Interview
between Henry the Eighth and a deputation of
the Monks of St. Albans at Windsor Castle, upon
the death of their Abbot, petitioning for licence
to choose a new Abbot .............................. 274
John Clerk to Cardinal Wolsey, announcing the
death of Pope Leo the Tenth ....................... 278
Cardinal Wolsey, on his return from Bruges, to
Clerk, after the King's Book had been presented
in the Consistory. The King had given him the

CONTENTS. XXV

LETTER

CX.

CXV I.

CXVII.

CXVIli,

CXIX,

CXX.

CXX[.

CXXI1,
C.LXI l I,

CXX!V,

CXXV.

CXXVI.

CXXVII.

VOL. I.

PAGE
Indentures for keeping the Marches towards
Scotland ............................................... .319
Richard Pace to Cardinal Wolsey, enclosing the
transcript of a Paper shewing that the Duke of
Albany and Richard de la Pole were come into
Scotland to invade England ........................ 3"21
Sir William Bulmer to the Lord Treasurer, to ap-
prize him of the Duke" of Albany's march
wards England. lct. -92, 1523 ................... 326
Charles Duke of Suffolk to Cardinal Wolsey, in
favour of the Priory of Coniugshead in Lanca-
shire .................................................... 330
Edxard Baxter to Master Thomas Cromxvcll,
negotiate for some Ecclesiastical promotion for
one of his sons, at present abroad ..................
Richard Croke, the Duke of Richmond's school-
master, to Cardinal Wolsey, respecting the ar-
rangements for his pupil's education .............. 333
Gregory Cromwell to his Father, Mr. Thomas
Cromxvell .............................................. 33s
Gregory Cromwell to his Father. A second Letter
of duty ................................................ 339
Gregory Cromwell, again to his Father .............. 340
Henry Dowes Gregory Cromwell's preceptor, to
Secretary Cromwell. Details Gregory's advances
in education ........................................... 3-11
Henry Dowes to Secretary Cromwell, with further
details .................................................. 3-13
Stevyn Gardyner to Card. Wolsey. The King de-
clines going to the More upon the Cardinal's in-
 itation, the "Swet" having lately prevailed in
its neighbourhood ; but it the stead will go to
Tittenhanger, another of the Cardinal's seats ....
Dr. Sampson to Cardinal Wolsey, from Madrid,
chiefly relating to Wolsey's opening Charles the
Filth's Ambassador's Letters, previous to the
battle of Pavia ........................................ 317
Archbishop Warham to Sir Thomas Boleyn and Sir
Henry Guldeford, respecting the Contribution
b

xxi

CONTENTS.

I ETTER

CXXVIII.

('XXIX.

PAGE
demanded fi'om the People of Kent to enable the
King to go upon his expedition to France ........ 359
Archbishop Warham to Cardinal Wolsey. The
state of Kent in regard to the "Amicable
Grant " denmnded by the King's Commission-
vrs, preparatory to the same intended Voyage...
The Duke of Norfolk to Cardinal Wolsey. Visits
Norwich as Chief Commissioner fir the "Anti-
cable Grant". ......................................... 376

SPECIMENS

OF

EARLY CORRESPONDENCE

IN ENGLAND

PRIOR TO THE TIME WHEN THE

ENGLISH LANGUAGE WAS USED FOR THAT PURPOSE:

COMPRISING THE PERIOD

FROM

WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR TO KING HENRY V

VOL. I. ]3

AJoc the Epistolary Documents which throw light upon the
Iteiga of WILLIAM the CONQUEIOI, such Letters of Archbi-
shop Lanfranc as relate to his time in Englaud must not go unno-
ticed. Several of them were printed in D'Achery's Collection of
Lanfranc's Works, folio, Paris, 1648 ; but two or three are yet ine-
dited, with one Letter, of no inelegant character in its composition,
from the Conqueror himself to the Pope.
Lanfranc was born at Pavia in 1005 : accident caused his admis-
sion into the Monastery of Bec ; whence, in 1062, Willia.m Duke
of Normandy drew him to preside over his recently founded Abbey
of St. Stephen at Caen. The Conquest of England was achieved
a few years after ; and in 1070 on the deposition of Stigand Wil-
lia.m who had formed a just estimate of Lanfranc's talents, called
him to the See of Canterbury.
In leu-ning, few of the age in which he lived came near him ; a
treatise on the Real P'esence, against Berenger, spread his fame
through Europe. To the See of Canterbury he was an especial
benefactor: he asserted its right to the primacy of England suc-
cessfully ; recovered many of the possessions of which it had been
disseised ; and rebuilt its cathedral. It was not with the Con-
queror only that he was in favour. He retaied the direction of
affairs in Church and State in this country to the latest period of
his life. It ended May 23rd, 1089.
The manuscript from which the following Letters of Lanfranc
ha'e been transcribed is a small quarto, written in a hand of the
early part of the twelfth century : not far from Lanfranc's time.

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

ETC.

LETTER I.

etrchbishop Lanfrac to Roger Earl of Ih, re.ford,
when his fdelitff to the Conyueror became suspected.

COTTON. BRIT, IIUS NERO A, VIIo fol. 25.]

*** This is the first Letter which Lanfranc wrote, after he had
received intelligence that Earl Roger had engaged in Guader's re-
bellion. The Saxon Chronicle places this event in 1074, and gies
the following statement of the facts.
The Conqueror had given the daughter of William Fitz Osburne
in marriage to Earl Ralph. Ralph was a Breton on his mother's
side; but his father, whose name was also Ralph, was English,
born in Norfolk. It was on this account that the King gave lhe
son the Earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk ; and Ralph took his vife
to Norwich, where the bridal feast became a source of mischief.
Earl Roger and Earl Waltheof attended it, with bishops and ab-
bots, and there they laid their plot to force the King from his
throne. This, in short time, was reported to the King in Nor-
mand3. He was told that Earl Roger and Earl Ralph were the
heads of the conspiracy, that they had enticed a body of Bretons to
their side, and had sent to Denmark for a fleet to assist them. Earl
Roger departed westward to his earldom, and gathered his people,
to the King's annoyance as he thought, but it was to his own; he
was checked in his attempt. Earl Ralph also, being in his earl-
dom, would have marched forth with his people ; but the men of

8

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

patre spirituali et amico sincero acciperes, atque a
stulto proposito quod conceperas consilio meliore
desisteres. Tu vero id facere recusasti; Canonica
igitur auctoritate, te et omnes adjutores tuos male-
dixi et excommunicavi; atque a liminis sancte Ec-
clesim et consortio fidelium separavi, et per totam
Anglicam ten'am hoc idem pastorali auctoritate fieri
imperavi. Ab hoc vinculo anathematis absolvere
non possum nisi misericordiam domini mei Regis re-
quiras, sibique et aliis quorum res injuste predatus
es justiciam facias. Mandasti quod ad me venire
velles. Hoc ego libentissime vellem, nisi regalem
iram pro hac re me incursurum metuerem. Sed le-
gato et litteris poenitudinem tuam et humilitatem et
preces ei intinabo, et te, salva ejus fidelitate prout
melius potero, adjuvabo. Interim rogo et moneo ut
quiescas, nec aliquid coneris facere unde majorem
ejus iram incurras.

LETTER IV.
Lanfranc to tle King.2allt Guader defeated.
[MS. COTTON. NERO A. VII. fol. 26 b.]
%* In this Letter Lanfranc tells his Sovereign he need not
hasten to return. Guader had been defeated; his army was in
flight ; and the King's troops following up their success.

DOIIINO suo Anglorum regi Wil. fidelis suus L.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

et terras in Anglica terra habebant, concessa eis vita
cure membris. J, uraverunt quod infra quadraginta dies
de regno vestro exirent, et amplius sine vestra licentia
in illud non introirent. Qui vero Rodulfo traditori
et sociis ejus sine terra pro solidis servierunt, ad hoc
faciendum unius mensis spacium multis precibus im-
petraverunt. In ipso castro remanserunt Episcopus
Gausfridus, V. de Varenna, Robertus Malet, et tre-
centi loricati cum eis, cure balistariis et artificibus
machinarmn nmltis. Onmis strepitus bellorum, mi-
serante Deo, in Anglica terra quievit. Olnnipotens
Dominus vos benedicat.

LETTER VI.

Lafrac to tYalcher lishop of Durham, amoucing
that the Iigdom was restored to traquillity.
[MS. COTTON. NERO A. VII. fo1.
*** Walcher, or Walcherus, Bishop of Durham, consecrated in
1072, was a native of Lorraine, and a ga-eat favourite ith the Con-
queror, who, after the execution of Waltheof, gave him tle Earldom
of Northumberland in addition to his bishoprick. He is supposed to
ha e been the first who, either by grant or tacit permission, assumed
the Palatine powers of the See. The insecurity, of the _Northern pro-
vince and the vicinity of Scotland were sufficient motives both for
delegating and continuing so extensive a pri ilege. Walcher was
slain at Gateshead, at a Council, in the month of May 1080, by the
Northumbrians, at the instigation of that memorable piece of ad-
vice :
"Short rede, good rede, slay ye the Bishop."
William the Conqueror, in revenging his death spared neither age
nor sex.

ORIGINAL LETTERS, l l
LANFRANCUS peccator et indignus antistes venera-
bill fratri et co-episcopo Va]chero salutem. Letatus
sum in his que dicta sunt mihi a vobis. Pacem vos
vestris litteris habere didicimus quam procul a nobis
esse multis multorum relationibus territi credeba-
mus. Nos vero expulsis Britonibus, et sedatis om-
nibus bellis, in tanta tranquillitate vivimus, ut pos-
quam ]ex mare transiit tranqui]lius nos vixisse ne-
quaquam meminerimus. Res domini nostri Regis in
summa prosperitate esse, et eum ad presens ad nos
transire ccrtissime sciatis. Dani ut ]{ex nobis man-
day-it revera veniunt. Castrum itaque vestrum, et
hominibus, et armis, et alimentis vigi]anti cura mu-
niri facite. Omnipotens autem Dominus ab olnni
ma]o vos defendat.

From this, as well as from one of the preceding Letters to Earl
Roger, it is e ident that the Conqueror relied mainly on the strength
of his castles for the preservation of his power in England. It was
the want of such places that had facilitated his success, and the
multiplication of them ga,,e him the strongest assurance that he
would be able permanently to overawe his English subjects ;
" Castrum itaque vestrum, et hominibus, et armis, et alimentis
vigilanti cura muniri facite :" and in the first Letter to Eaa-I Roger,
"Mandat (Rex) ut quantum possimus curare habeamus de Castellis
suis, ne quod Deus avertat inimicis suis tradantur."
The castles of the Conqueror's own time v, ere those of Canter-
bury, Tunbridge, and Rochester, in Kent ; Hastings, Arundel,
Brembre, and Lewes, in Sussex; (Pevensey had been erected in
the Roman times;) in Hampshire, Carisbrooke in the Isle of
Wight; Walingford and Windsor, in Berkshire ; Wareham, in Dor-
setshire ; Exeter and Okehampton, in Devonshire ; Dunhe et and
Trematon in Cornwall ; Gloucester and Berkeley in Gloucester-

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

shire ; Chepstow, in Monmouthshire ; Dudley, in Worcestershire ;
in Herefordshire, lVigmore, Clifford, and Ewias ; the castles of
Cambridge, Huntingdon, and Lincoln ; Rockingham, in Northamp-
tonshire; Warwick; Tutbury, in Staffordshire; Shrewsbury and
Montgomery castles, in Shropshire ; Ruthlan, in Flintshire; Pen-
ardant, between the Ribble and the Mersey ; the Peak castle in
Derbyshire ; two castles at York ; Pomfret and Richmond castles ;
Clitheroe ; Raleygh, in Essex ; Norwich castle ; and Eye, in Suf-
folk.
()f these, nearly the whole of which are mentioned in the Domes-
day Surey, eight are known, either on the authority, of that record
or of our old historians, to have been built by the Conqueror him-
self; ten are entered as erected by greater barons, and one by an
under-tenant. Eleven more of whose builders we hae no parti-
cular account, are noticed in the Surey either expressly or by in-
ference, as nezv.
It is singular that the ruins which are now remaining of almost
all these castles have preserved one feature of unifolanity. They
are each distinguished by a mount and keep, marking the peculiar
style of architecture introduced into our castellated fortifications by
the Conqueror and his adherents.
The castles of Dovor, Nottingham, and Durham, known to have
been built by the Conqueror, with the White Tower in the Tower of
London, are unnoticed in the Domesday Surey.

LETTER VII.
_/lrchbishop Zanfrac to lemigius Bishop of Dorches-
the Iing heeds ot the detractors of the

ter : that
Bishop.

[MS. COTTON. NERO A. VII. fo1. 27.J
a Reinigius de Fescamp was the last Bishop of Dorchester,
and the translator of that See to Lincoln. He succeeded Wlfin,  ho
died in 1067. The removal to Lincoln met with much obstruction,
and was not effected earlier than the year 1085. The building of
the cathedral was not completed till 1092 ; and Remigius died a
few days before its consecration. He was one of the Conqueror's

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 13

Commissioners for the formation of the Domesday Surey. To
what particular circumstances the following Letter relates, the Editor
has not discovered; but it is clear that the Bishol) had busy
enemies.
Matthew Paris says, " Erat quidem Renfigius statura parxus,
sed animo magnus, colore fuscus, seal non operibus, de Regia quo-
que proditioue aliquaudo accusatus, sed famulus suus iguiti judicio
ferri dominum purgans, regio amori restituit, et maculam dedecoris
pontificalis detersit. Hoc autem authore, hoc tempore, et his de
causis incepta est Ecclesia moderna Lincolniensis."

Lcs gratia Dei archiepiscopus dilccto fra-
tri et amico Remigio salutem. Cure multi de te
nulta perversa dicant, et perpauci sint qui verba
detrahentium ingenita liberalitate contradicant, scias
tamen dominum nostrum Regem nullius detrahentis
contra te verba reclpere, sed potius contra omnes
maledicos regali te auctoritate defendere. Itaque
expedit ei si prope es et licitum babes quatinus ad
me venias, et ea qum pro sui prolixitate breviter
scribi non possunt, ore ad os audias.

LETTER VIII.

Lanfranc to Pope Gregory. He gives due, but not
unlimited, obedience to the See of Rome. The King,
as well by word of mouth to the Pole's Legate, as by
his letters, will answer the Pope's remonstrance.

[MS. COTTON. NERO A. VII. fo1. 27 b.]

REVREtqDO sanctm universalis Ecclesie smmno

l ORIGINAL LETTERS.
pastori Gregorio, peccator et indignus antistes L.
seritium cure debita subjectione. Litteras Ex-
cellentise vestrse per Hubertum sacri palatii vestri
subdiaconum porrectas, qua decuit hunfilitate, sus-
cepi. In quarum fere omni contextu paterna me
dulcedine reprehendere studuistis, quod in Episco-
pali honore positus sanctam lomanam tcclesiam,
vosque ob ejus reverentiam, minus diligam quam
ante ipsius honoris susceptionem diligere quondam
solebam, presertim cure apostolicse sedis auctoritate
ad ipsius apicem honoris me pervenisse non dubitem,
nee quenquam dubitare existimo. Et quidem vene-
rande pater, verbis tuis calumniam ingerere nee volo
nee debeo, tgo tamen teste conscientia mea in me-
metipso intelligere non possum quod vel corporalis
absentia vel locorum tanta intercapedo aut ipsa qua-
lisctmque honorum sullimitas in hac parte indicare
sibi quicquam prevaleat; quin mens mea preceptis
vestris in omnibus et per onmia secundum Canonum
precepta subjaceat, et si prsestante Deo presens pre-
senti loqui quandoque valeren me amando erevisse.
Vos veto quod pace vestra dictum sit a pristino
amore nonnulla ex parte defecisse, non tam verbis
quam rebus ipsis ostenderem. Verba legationis ves-
trm cure prefato legato vestro prout melius potui do-
mino meo ]egi suggessi, suasi, sed non persuasi.
Cur autem voluntati vestrse omnifariam non assense-
rit, ipsemet vobis tam verbis quam litteris innotescit.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

giose pater ad me veniens ex tua parte me admonuit
quatinus tibi et sueeessoribus tuis fidelitatem face-
rein, et de peeunia quam anteeessores mei ad Roma-
nmn Ecelesiam mittere solebant melius eogitarem.
Unum admisi, altermn non admisi ; fidelitatmn faeere
nolui nee volo, quia nee ego promisi nee anteeessores
meos anteeessoribus tuis id feeisse eomperio. Peeu-
nia tribus fenne annis, in Galliis me agente, negli-
genter eolleeta est, nune vero divina miserieordia, me
in regnum meum reverso, quod eolleetum est per
prefatum legatum mittitur, et quod reliquum est per
legatos Lanfranei arehiepiseopi, fidelis nostri, cure
opportunum fuerit transmittetur. Orate pro nobis
et pro statu regni nostri quia anteeessores vestros
dileximus, et vos pre omnibus sincere diligere et
obedienter audire desideramus.

LETTER X.

Lmranc to Odo Bishop of Baieux, excusing the at-
tendance of Ylbbot Baldwin at a_plea, which, as the
It'ing's Justiciary, the Bishop was about to hold.

[MS. COTTON. NERO A. VII. fo1. 30.]

*** Baldwin, Abbot of St. Edmundsbury, the chief subject of
this Letter, was a person held no less in estimation by the Con-
queror than by Edward the Confessor. He was originally a monk
of the Abbey of St. Denis neat" Paris, whence he was sent for to
England in 1056 to preside oer the Priory of Deerhurst in Glou--

ORIGINAL LETTERS, 17

cestershire, which Edvard the Confessor had just refounded, and
made a cell to the foreign monastery. In I065 he was chosen Abbot
of St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk, where, beside the general care
which he took of the monaster3", he vas pre-eminent for his skill in
medicine. The Annals of St. Edmundsbury (Harl. 51S. 4-t7) style
him "5Iedieus Edwardi Regis ;" and the present Letter shews,
that in the same capacity his skill ras relied upon by the Con-
queror. The King advised Lanfranc in his sickness to go to Faken-
ham to be near the Abbot, and personally enjoined the latter to
exert his skill in effeeting Lanfi-anc's cure. Abbot Baldxin died
in I097, above eighty years of age. This Letter must have been
written before 1084, as after that time Odo, to whom it is addressed,
was no longer the King's Justieiary.

LANFRANCUS indignus antistes, O. digno antistiti
salutem cure orationibus. Ad Frachenam villain nos-
trmn qum Ccenobio Saneti Edmundi proxima est
veni, in qua, Rege preeipiente et eorporis mei in-
firmitate urgente, aliquam accipere Medicinam dis-
posui ; pro qua re Abbatem Baldvinum detineo, eui
Rex era'andre hujus egritudinis curare suo ore in-
junxit, qui eontra Ricardum ad hune eonventum de
quibusdam qu.erelis plaeitum aecepit. Sed abbate
apud vos et apud eum de hoe Itinere exeusato,
eausam ipsam dilatmn esse volo et rogo quoad usque
alio tempore in unum eonvenianus, et pari studio et
pariter ipsum negotimn sine aliquo partium favore
definiamus. Omnipotens Dominus vos benedieat, et
in onmibus vestris negotiis promptus vobis auxiliator
assistat.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 19

Saxon Chronicle, "the statesmen who were nigh at hand chose his
brother King; and on the Sunday following, before the altar at
Westminster, he promised God and the people to annul all the un-
righteous acts which had taken place in his brother's time, and to
maintain the best laws which had stood in any King's day before
him. And after this, Maurice Bishop of London consecrated him
King; and all in the land submitted to him, and took their oaths,
and became his men. Then, before Michaelmas, came the Archbishop
Anselm of Canterbury hither, King Henry, by the advice of his mi-
nisters, hating sent after him ; for he had gone away on account of
the great wrongs that had been done unto him by King William."
The Letter before the reader was that vhich was sent to Ansehn.
Henry would gladly have been consecrated by him, but feared to
wait. He pleads the necessity which existed for proceeding quickly
to the coronation. "Necessitas fuit talis quia inimici insurgere
volebant contra me et populum quantum habeo ad gubernandum ;
et ideo barones meiet idem populus noluerunt amplius earn prote-
lari." 5Ialmesbury assures us that dissensions had arisen among
the nobility. It is remarkable that no allusion should hae been
made in this Letter either to the manner or to the suddenness of
Rufus's death.

HENRICUS Dei gratia Rex Anglorurn piissimo
patri suo spirituali, Anselmo Cantuariensi Archiepi-
scopo, salutmn et omnis amitie  exhibitionem. Scias
pater karissime quod frater meus rex Guillermus
Inortuus est, et ego nutu Dei a elero et a populo
Anglia electus, et qua,nvis invitus, propter absen-
tiara tui, Rex jam consecratus, requiro te sicut pa-
trem cure omni populo Anglim quatinus mihi filio
tuo et eidem populo, eujus tibi animarum cura com-
missa est, quan citius poteris venias ad consulendum.
2vleipsum quidem ac totius regni Anglim populurn
tuo eorumque consilio qui tecum mihi eonsulere de-
 c. amicitia.

O0 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
bent committo. Et precor ne tibi displiceat quod
regiam benedictionem absque te suscepi, de quo si
fieri posset libentius earn susciperem quam de alio
aliquo. Sed necessitas fuit talis quia inimici insur-
gere volebant contra me et populum quantum habeo
ad gubernandum, et ideo Barones mei et ideIn po-
pulus noluerunt amplius protelari. Hac itaque oc-
casione a tuis vicariis illam accepi. Misissem qui-
dem ad tea meo latere aliquos, per quos tibi de mea
pecunia destinassem, sed pro morte fratris mei circa
regnum Anglim ita totus orbis concussus est, ut nul-
latenus ad te salubriter pervenire potuissent. Laudo
el"go et mando ne per lormanniam venias, sed per
Witsand, et ego apud Doveram obviam habebo tibi
barones meos, et pecuniam ad te recipiendum, et ino
venies Deo juvante unde bene 1)ersolvere poteris quic-
quid mutuo accepisti. Festina igitur Pater venire,
ne mater nostra Cantuariensis Ecclesia diu fluctuans
et desolata, causa tui amplius animarum sustineat
detrimenta. Teste Girardo episcopo, et Guillermo
Wintoniensi episcopo electo, et Guillermo de Warel-
wast, et Comite Hemico, et Roberto filio Haimonis,
et Hamone Dapifero, et aliis tam Episcopis quam
Baronibus reels. Valete.

Henry enjoins Anselm not to come through No'mandy but to
pass by WSSaT, and he would himself be ready to receive him at
Do er.
In early times the passage frorr I)over to France seems always

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

to have been made by this port. The Annals of St. Edmundsbury
already quoted, speaking of Eustace Earl of Boulogne, in the time
of Edward the Confessor, say, 't Eustachius ergo transfretato marl
de lVitsmtd in Doveram, regem Edwardum, nescio qua de causa,
adiit." The Saxon Chronicle, under the year 1095, says "In this
year was the King William the first four days of Christmas at
Whitsand and after the fourth day came hither and landed at
Dover." (edit. Ingr. p. 310.) Simeon of Durham, when Henry. lhe
First married his daughter Matilda to Henry the Emperor, A.D.
1110 says " 5Iisit earn a Dovere usque ad Witsand in initio Qua-
dragesimm quod fuit iiij. idus Aprilis." (Sim. Dunelm. Script.
Twysd. x. col. 232.) Matthew Paris in the ' Tabula itineraria
ab urbe Londinum ad Neapoli% et extremitatem Apulea," prefixed
to the manuscript copies of his History, draws it out in the illu-
minations as the then regular point of transit. In his History
also, under the year 1251 he says, " diebus insuper sub eisdem,
Comes Legrim Symon cure uxore ejus, adducens secure Guidonem
de Lizinnum Comitem, domini Regis fratrem uterinum tertium
navem ascendit apud IVitsaad ut in Angliam transfretaret. Et
cum prospere x elificans, fere portum attigisset, mutato ento in
contrarium cure magno periculo repulsus, apud Witsand est appul-
sus." (Mat. Paris. edit. 1684 p. 714.) Simon de hIontefort also trans-
ported horses and arms by way of lVitsand, when he gathered
forces to oppose Henry III. in England, in 1260. (R)m. Foed.
new ed. i. 396.) In the Wardrobe Account, 2Sth Edw. I. p. 56, a
pa)ment is set down to Rey-nold Arnaldi going to the Earl of
Savoy on the King's business " Et custuma soluta per eandem tam
apud Dovorr quam apud lVhitsand, eundo et redeundo sicut patet
per particulos" &c. The Patent 17 Edw. II. p. 2. m. 29, entitled
' Confirmatio Concordim factm inter Barones de Dovorr pro pro-
ficuo passagii inter Dovorr et IVitsnd capiendo," is the settlement
of the Constable of Dover Castle and the co-Barons of Doxer as to
the port-dries to be paid by the vessels called ' Passagers," in
crossing to and from Witsand. They were evidently'the ordinary
vessels of passage from the one port to the other, and from one
paragraph in the instrument, seem usually to hax e carried not more
than twelve persons at a time. As late as the 5th of Edw. III. we
find lVitsand mentioned as the place of disembarkation in the Com-
potus Egidii de Ispana. (Archaolog. vol. xxvii, p. 288.)
When Calais tell into the hands of the English, and Edward the

O ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Third made that place an integral part of his dominions, by an in-
strument dated 4th April, 1348, he changed the route, and made
the passage to Picardy by way of Calais imperative. (Rym. Feed.
iii. p. 158.)
Blount in his Tenures, last edit. p. 76, says, "Solomon de Cam-
pis holds certain lands called Coperland and Atterton, in the county
of Kent, of our Lord the King in capite, by the se:ieanty and ser-
vice of holding the head of our said Lord the King between Dover
and IVitsand, as often as he should happen to pass over sea be-
tween those ports." This-was in the time of Edward the First.
(Plae. Coron. 21 Edw. I. rot. 45. Kant.)
There can be little doubt but that Wissant was the Portus Iceius
of Cesar, and thai, from his time to the capture of Calais, it was
the only regular port of approach from Dover.

LETTER XII.

Henry Bishop of ll'inchester to the Prior and Con-
vent of ltorcester, threatening them, in the absece
of the Bishop, with an iterdict, uMess the tax of
the Peter-pence for the church and diocese of lt'or-
cester be paid withinj-Tfteen days.
[s. COtTOn. VeSVAS. . V. fo1. 2O3 b.]
*** Henry Bishop of Winchester, half-brother of Stephen, be-
came Papal Legate in 1136: about, or socn after which this letter
must be dated. He died August the 6th, 1171.

HENRICUS Dei gn'atia Vrintonensis Episcopus et
apostolica Sedis Legatus Priori et Conventui Sancta
Maria Wigornensis Ecclesim salutem. Mh'arnur
multum quod denarimn Sancti Petri de Ecclesia et
Parrochia Ecclesim vestrm nondmn reddistis, cure ab

ORIGINAL LETTERS. O3

omnibus Episcopis secundum condictum eis termi-
hum jam eum receperimus. Unde mandamus vobis
et apostoliea auetoritate precipitous ut, visis Litteris
istis, infra xv. dies eundem beati Petri denarium Win-
tonim mittatis, aut ne exinde in Ecclesia vel Parro-
chia vestra divinum fiat offlcium interdieimus, ex-
cepto viatieo et baptisterio. Episeopo enim vestro
et Archidiacono absentibus non habemus nisi vos
quibus de hac re seribere debeamus. Valete.

LETTER XIII.

Zlrchbishop Becket to 211a Cotess of Ifrarre,
the defecation from the ][oks of Lewes of the tithes
arising from the lairds of her dower.

COTTON. VESPAS. F. XIII. fo1. 3. Orig. oa vellum.]

 Ala Countess of Warren, daughter of the Earl of Belesme,
was wife of William the third Earl of IVarren of the name, who
died in the Holy Land on the ides of Jamary, 1148, leaving an in-
fant daughter his heiress.
The Priory of Lewes was of the foundation of the Earls of Var-
ten, who for three generations had confirmed to the Monks of that
house the tithes of their lands in Sussex generally. AIa, after her
husband's death, refused the payment of those which arose from the
lands of her dower. The Monks, after long remonstrance, made an
appeal to Becket, who addressed the following Letter of admonio
tion to her. Cruel indeed, and next to sacrilege would it be, he
says, if that which has been once offered on the altar is to be re-
claimed and turned to secular use.

THOMAS Dei gratia Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus,

 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
Anglormn prhnas et apostolice sedis Legatus, dilec-
te fi]ie Aide Comitisse Varenne sa|utem. Pervenit
ad aures nostras rc]igiosormn fratrum Lcwensis
c]csie Monachorum stupenda queremonia, quod cure
ipsi ex antiqua donatione Comitmn Warenne, vide-
licet avi et patris Willehni viri tui, et sui ipsius,
etiam antequam dotem tuam consecuta fuisses, de
omnibus dominiis Confitis decimationem dcnariorum
semper inconcusse, tanquam Ecclesie sure dotem
possedcrint, Tu post perceptam doffs tue investi-
turanl eisdem fratribus decimationem qum ad dotem
tuam spectabat subtraxeris. Quod, si ita est vehe-
reenter admiranmr, cmn eorunl qua Deo et tcclesia
sum in elemosinam collata esse noscuntur nihil I)oti
turn vendicare debeas nee possis. Crude]e enim est
et sacrilegio proximum quod super divinum Altare
semel devote oblatum est iterum repetere et ad secu-
laria transferre. Perinde tibi salubriter consulimps,
et in Domino admonemus, quatinus sicut vis jus
tumn tibia Deo libel'e conservari, ita jus suum cure
integritate Monachis relinquas, et nullatenus datam

eis denariorum decimatiouem
alioquin eis in justitia deesse
debitores omnibus existimus."

dotis turn retineas-
non t)oterimus, cujus
Valete.

*** Becket became Archbishop in 1162, between which year and
117-1 this Letter must have been written. In all probability the
Countess was unmoved by it to the restoration of the tithes. The
Monks of Lewes were minute in chronicling the charters of their

Sic in orig.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

benefactors ; and no deed of gift or privilege hatever from the
Countess Ala is recorded in tile Register of the Prior 3. The only
notice of her states simply who she was ; that she died on the 4th of
the ides of December 1174, twenty-six years after her husband, and
that it was not known where she was interred, a

LETTER XIV.
tVilliam de lvreches and Cecily his
liam Earl of ll'arren, ll71liam de Albiui Earl
Sussex, and Gilbert de zlquila , to be witnesses to
deed.
[FROM THE ORIGINAL.. IN THE POSSESSION OF T. D. HARDY ESO.]
*** The following short Letter, of the reign of John, is interest-
ing, as illustrative of the mode by which the names of witnesses
were sometimes obtained to be affixed to deeds.
William de Abrillcis, or A erenches, one of the rebellious Barons
became a prisoner, in the 17th year of John, in Rochester Castle,
whence lie was conveyed to Corfe Castle in Dorsetshire. The
King subsequently gave him his liberty upon condition of paying a
ransom ; to raise money in part of payment of which, he and his
mother Cecily sold the manor of Sutton in Sussex near Seaford,
to the Abbot and Monks of lobel'tsbridge. Preious to the deed of
transfer being drawn up, they affixed their seals to this Letter, in
which they entreat William Earl of arren, Xlilliam de Albini
Earl of Sussex, and Gilbert de Aquila, as those persons could not
be present at the publication of the deed, to allow their names to
stand as witnesses to it. William de Avrenches' seal, and his lno-
ther's, of green wax are appended to the original.

9nother to lt'il-

KARISSIMIS Dominis suis, domino XVillehno Comiti
Warenni, domino Villehno de Aubeneio Comiti Sus-

 "Domina Ala Comitissa Surregie, filia Comitis de Belesme et uxor Vrillielmi
tertii. Obiit quarto Idus Decembris Anno gratie Millesimo clxxiiij, et anno xxvito
post virum suum. Ubi sepulta est nescitur." Reg. Priorat. Lewes. fol. 107 b.

VOL. I. C

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

sexie, domino Gileberto de Aquila, Willelmus de
Averenchis et Cecilia mater ejusdem, salutem. Ou.a
ad Cartas faciendas inter nos et Abbatem et Mona-
chos de Ponte Roberti, super Manerio de Suttona
juxta Sefordiam, presentiam restrain haLere non po-
tuimus, precanur et obnixe roganms ut de Cartis
nostris in quibus ob securitatem obtinendam testes
estis ascripti, testes esse velitis. Valete.

LETTER XV.

l[3lliam de Potern to the Prior of Bath, with an zEx-
tract from the Domesdaj Survej.
[s. llZ, lS. BIIT. 6 C. X.]
%* William de Potern probably had the custody of, or at all
events was solicited by the Prior of Bath to exanaine the Record of
Domesday, to ascertain the terms in which the Town of Bath was
described. Robert, the Prior to whom this Letter is addressed,
held that office from the year 1198 to the year 1223. The manu-
script, on a leaf at the end of which it occurs, is preserved in the
old Royal Collection at the Museum, and is an ancient volume of
St. Jerome's and St. Austin's Letters. Potern's Letter itself is in
a hand of the early part of the thirteenth century. It adds another
to the various proofs already adduced, that Latin was the chief
language in which letters of business of every kind were at that
time most usually endited.

KARISSIMO Domino R. Priori Bath. Will. de Po-
terna salutem. Inveni in Libro de Domesdai quod
Villa de Bath cum Estona solebat geldare cure Sira
de Sumersett pro xx. hidis. Sunt etiam in eadem

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

villa xL. mesuagia qum reddunt per annum iiij. libr.
Sunt ibiden vH. domus vaeum et una domus quam
quidam interpres tenet pro duobus solidis. Barones
etiam Provineia habent in eadem Villa L. sol. Va-
lete.

LETTER XVI.
King JEdward the First to the Prior and Prioress qf
_/llvingham in Zincol,nshire, to admit one or more
of the children of JLleu,ellin ap GriTth late Prince
of tVales, or of his brother David, ito their House.
[FROM THE REGISTER OF ALVINGHAM PRIORY, MS. BIBL. BODL.]
*.* The Monastery of Alvingham was of the Sempringhan or
Gilbertine Order: many of the houses of which were founded for
Religious of both sexes ; who, though they lived under one roof, had
no ordinary communication with each other. Alxingham was one
of these.
In the following Letter of privy-seal, the King sends to the Prior
and Prioress greeting. He states that, although in looking back to
times past and closely into the merits of individuals, he did not
feel bound to do much for the children of Llewellin ap Griflith and
of his brother David (the treachery of both of whom was fi'esh in
all men's recollection) ; yet, having the fear of God before him, and
pitying their age and sex, lest the innocent should seem to suffer
punishment for the crimes of the wicked, for charity's sake he in-
tends to provide for them advantageously. Whence, trusting in the
devotion of the joint Convent, and looking to the conversation of their
Order, he with earnest prayers desires them to admit into it and to
the Habit of their house one or more of the sons of the said Llewel-
lin or of David his brother, whom or whichever he might think fit
to be named to them ; requesting that they will write back before
the ensuing feast of the Nativity, or at least on that day, to sa)
what further shall be done. Dated at Ludlow in the eleventh year
of his reign .). 123.

c2

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

has hitherto been unknown, the journal of his march and ravages.
Both are evidently addressed to the same person, and both are in the
same hand-writing ; but neither the name of the writer, nor that of
the person to whom they were addressed, are apparent in the let-
ters. Ed ard file Third, at this time, had two chief ministers; John
Sin-afford, archbishop of Canterbury, his chancellor, and John Bour-
chief, bishop of Lincoln, his treasurer. WMsingham, at the close
of the events of 1335, tells us that the King kept the archbishop of
Canterbury constantl) near him. a The treasurer, who was at a dis-
tance, was in all probability the person to whom they were addressed.
The opening of the second Letter,"Reverendissime Pater, et Domine
peramande," shews at all events that that Letter was addressed to a
churchman. Both are dated from York ; one, June 19th, the other
the 3d of August, 1336. The second Letter contains the detail of
the King's exploits as it had come to the Queen at Pontefi'act on
the day preceding.
The opening of the present Letter refers to the inter-iew between
Philip de Valois and Pope Benedict XII. at Avignon, when they
at least pretended to project a crusade against the Turk.

REX Francize fuit in Curia in medio Quadragesi-
rnze, et continuit ita secrete cure Papa quod nullus
percipere potuit eorum consilium ; sed ad instantiam
Regis Papa concessit gratiam omnibus tune in Curia
existentibus. Et postea, in Pascha, Rex stetit Lug-
duni, et ibidem habuit tractatum cure Scoffs, et pro-
nfisit eis totum posse suum ad conducendum David
de ]3ruys in Scotia; ita quod nautarum dicunt strut
apud Harttour et Lure in Normannia ij , et ccc.
naves in quarum quibuslibet secundum majus et mi-
nus eontinetur hominum armatorum xj =. Et sunt
xxx. Galeze ferreze roboratze, ita quod nulla naris

 "Rex autem non permisit Joarmem archiepiscopum Cantuariensem ab ipso
longe distaff." Walsingh. list, p. i19.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

81

possit eis resistere. Insuper apud Lure peritius rue-
runt composita balista, et scutellata ad cooperien-
dum tres armatos, et sunt Balistarii circa x. millia, et
Bombatia alia cure platis ferreis circa xiiij . que
vix penetrari possint per sagittas, lanceas, vel alias
armaturas. Insuper, die annunciationis beata lIaria
Virginis, naves plene armatttris ducta fuermt in
Normannia ij cc, et v. dolia quarelloruln. F.t sunt
conductores Regis Francia ordinati domino Consta-
bulario Francize, videlicet donfinus Mathaus de Try,
dominus Thomas de Bertram, ductores in mari, et
Johannes le Mir' de Haukeneys Hereuanie. Cives
Parisienses proponunt quod una pars exercitus arri-
pier iter versus Portsmouth, et alia pars versus Sco-
fiam, applicando in loco ubi Balliolf applicuit. Duc-
totes de Scotia versus Angliam sunt dominus Alex-
ander de Seton, Magister Thomas de Twynam cleri-
cus, Johannes de Swecia arlniger. _A_ssignati sunt
dies arripiendi a die Sancte Crucis in Mayo proxime
transacto.
Insuper omnes cissores subtiles Parisienses stete-
rmt apud Lur' per xv. septimanas et sex dies ad
faciendum vexilla, tam Anglicana quam Gallicana,
et multi eorum fuerunt _A_nglici, I-Iibernici, et Gal-
liei, quantum explorari poterint vel dixerint. In-
super multi velermt de Almanniis, Brabancis,'Fran-
danciis, et soldarii ad Regem Francia. _A_ssignatus
fuit dies et locus ubi exercitus Scotorum obviaret

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

exercitum Regis Francie, et sunt ut estlmatur cum
convenerint xl. rail. armatorum ; et die Sancti Martin
venerunt rumores Parisienses cure luctu quod Rex
Francim fuit in mensa cure Duce de Burgundia in
quodam Castro Burgundim. Supervenerunt de im-
peratore de partibus Alemannim quidam Exercitus
magnus et combusserunt civitates et villas : Preterea,
iis auditis a Rege Francim, ipse una cure Duce
fugit ad castrum quod Marcio vocatur et [vexit] ci-
baria vasa et utensilia. Persecutores Regis Francim
sunt principales Dux Austrim, Dux Bavarim, Comes
Galatia,, dominus de Falcamod et de Calofiis, Com.
de Julers, et multi alii, in numero Mil. lij. magnates.
Insuper die Sanctorum Apostolorum Philippi et
Jacobi commissure fuit bellum inter Regem Bemire
et magnates quosdam de Ahnania, et optinuerunt
Almanii victoriam, et ceciderunt de exercitu Regis
Bemire xxxIx. Mil. Treugm inter Regem Hispanim
et Regem ]3avarice in festo Sancti Johannis expirant.
Gallici indagati quantmn possunt quomodo Rex eo-
rum sic in brigatur nee scire certmn possunt, et nisi
Rex Francim sic impeditus ftfisset multa fortunia
Anglim evenissent.
Nova de Scotia sunt hmc; quod nostrates statim
post recessum de Berwico se in duos exercitus divi-
serant, unus per forestas et montana transiens ubi
Willehnus Duglas et sui fuerunt cure eo dimicando,
ipsmn fugando, suos prosternendo, et victualia plura

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 35
quod dominus noster Rex Anglia? die Veneris proxi-
mo post festum translationis Sancti Thoma? Martyris
de villa Sancti Johannis ad distantiam octo leucarum
se movit tam subito quod nulli quousque se arma-
ret innotuit; habens secure iiij c. homines ad arma
et tot hobelarios et sagittarios in campis eadem nocte
tentoria sua figendo. Dieque Sabbati ad mane ad
castrum de Blar', ad distantiam xx. leucarum equi-
tavit. Die vero Dominico sequente, per medium ma-
jorum fortitudinum l)asceles montes Scotia? in altiori"
et fortiori b Scotia? pertransiens et equitans illo die
fere ad xxx. leucas apud Fythawyn in Badenaw per-
noctavit. Die Luna? sequente, ad mane, audiens quod
obsidium Scottorum, inter quos erat donfinus A_ndr.
de Muref ad numerum xx M. coram Castro Loghen-
dorm ubi domina Comitissa Dasceles morabatur,
fuit congregatio ad Ecclesiam de Kynkardyn in
Badenau ad distantiam xvj. leucarmn super freno
equitavit, et cariagium suurn ibidem dirnittens usque
ad duas leucas citra Loghendorm est progressus et
vidit eorum tentoria qui dictum Castrum obsidebant,
et cmn eorum discoopertores nostrates idissent, et
inde premuniti fuissent, usque in Rosse, totaliter se
posuerunt in fugam. Idemque dominus noster iter
suum directe tenuit ad Castrum supradictum, et
erectis et visis nostratumn vexillis, ex tune in castro
existentes de adventu dicti domini nostri primo nova
a sc. altiora.  fortiora.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

From this period the Liberate Rolls cease to afford continuous
evidence respecting the loans with which Edward the Third was
supplied by these adxenturous foreiguers. But matters had now
reached an extremity with tile most wealthy of the Italian compa-
nies, who had hitherto proved a sheet-anchor to the governm.nt in
its exigencies, and had advanced so much tile commerce of the king-
dom, where they had maintained themselves by the experienced be-
nefit of their power and intelligence. Edward's successes came too
late to compensate the losses of the long and doubtful x ar by which
they were preceded : and the circumstances in which he was still
engaged, far from enabling him to clear himself of the debts xxith
which he was encumbered, obliged him largely to augment them.
The Bardi and Peruzzi, xvho had assisted him to the full extent of
their capital, nov found the payment of thcir demands constantly
deferred ; and, no longer able to support their commercial engage-
ments, they finally became bankrupts.
The story of their ruin is thus told by Giovanni Villani, a con-
temporary writer :
"At the period of the war between the Kings of France and
England, the companies of the Bardi and Peruzzi of Florence were
the King of England's merchants. All his revenues and wools
came into their hands, and they furnished from them all his ex-
penses. But the expenses so much exceeded the revenues, that
the King of England, when he returned home from the war, found
himself indebted, for principal, assignments, and rewards, to the
Bardi more than 180,000 marks sterling, and to the Peruzzi more
than 135,000 marks. Of these sums a considerable portion consist-
ed in assignments which the King had made to them in times
passed : but they were rash enough, whether from covet of gain, or
led on by the hope of recovering the entire debt, to give them up,
and entrust all their own property, and that of others in their keep-
ing, to this one Prince. And observ% that a large part of the
money they had lent was not their own capital, but had been bor-
rowed by them, or received on trust from fellow-citizens and stran-
gers. And great danger thence accrued, both to them and to the
city of Florence. For, not being able to answer the calls of their
creditors in England and Florence, and elsewhere, where they
trafficked they lost their credit on all sides, and became bankrupts ;
and especially the Peruzzi. Yet they avoided complete ruin by
their possessions in the city and territory of Florence and by the

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

great power and rank which they held in the Republic. This
failure, and the expenses of the State of Lombardy, greatly reduced
the wealth and condition of the merchants and traders of Florence,
and of the whole community. For the Bardi and Peruzzi had held
so large a share of the commerce of Christendom, that upon their
fall every other merchant was suspected and distrusted. Our city
of Florence, in consequence, received a shock such as had not been
experienced before for many years."
Hence the following Letter from the Magistrates of Florence to
King Edward the Third.

REGUM Gloriosissime et Domine. Quia tronus re-
gius clementia roboratur perinde confidentius ad
j estatis vestrae diaderna sublime recurrimus in favorern
Sociorum hactenus Societatis Bardormn de Florentia.
Ipsi eninl socii et successores eorurn occasione disso-
lutae Societatis predictae facti sunt de locupleetibus
pauperes et egeni, in tanturn quod gravati filiis fa-
Iniliae vix sufficiunt ad substentamen eorum ; et hoc
evenit eis propter copiosa servitia quae dicti olim
Socii contulertmt vestrae Majestati, ponentes fere to-
turn hes a eorurn in servitium Majestatis affatae tern-
pore guerree, precipue quo tempore vestra serenitas
pecunioso suffragio indigere dicebatur ; dictorum igi-
tur dudmn Sociorum filios et suceessores creditores
vestlae celsitudhfis quantum efficacius possumus et
humilius vestro culmini regio comlnendalnus, suppli-
eantes Majestati prefatee quatinus h eos munificen-
tim vestrae dexterarn extendentes dionernini rniseri-
corditer agere cure eisdem et de errario  regio vel
a $, a rro,

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

43

aliter subvenientes eisdem liberalitate regia quam
decet erga servitores suos fore propiciam et clemen-
tern, ut qui maxinam quantitatem pectmia in obse-
quiis regiis effuderunt, restitutionis ejusdem vel
salteln subventionis pro manutentione status ipsorum
sub Majestatis vestra trono non fiant expertes. Pre-
dicta quippe honorem sublinitatis regim cernunt, ip-
sique et nos nostraque communitas perinde erimus
ad fidelia obsequia et mandata dispositi regim volun-
tatis quam sospitem conserver 0nmipotens regno suo.
Data Florentim die xxx. Januarii x a Indict.
Devotissinfi Majestatis vestra [servitores]
Priores _A_rtium et ]Populi et Colnmunis
Vexillani j ustitim f Florentim.
Serenissimo ac Gloriosissimo Principi
et Domino domino Heduardo Dei
gratia Anglim et Francorum Regi.

LETTER XX.

Galeazzo Yisconti of 2llilan to King Edward the Third,
with the promise of a Falcon : circa An. I370.

[3IS. COTTON. NERO B. VIIo fol. 3. Orig.]

*** The partiality of our early monarchs to the sports of the
field cannot but be known to every reader : as well as that, from the
Heptarchy to the time of Charles the Second, Hawking was the
most favourite sport. A person of rank scarcely stirred out without
a hawk upon his hand, which, in old illuminations, and upon an.
cient seals, is the criterion of nobility. We have here a Letter

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

money to pay his expenses before he set out, and this and the
succeeding Letter solicit repayment fl'om Henry the Fourth who
had now mounted the throne, and in whose hands the profits and
revenues of De Mowbray's estates were placed, the same having
been stayed at the time of his sentence, till such sums had been
received as De Mowbray had taken up of the King's treasurer " for
wages of the garrison of Calais, hich were still unpaid." De
iMowbray according to the second Letter, had acknoledged the
debt to Bembo in the will lie made at Venice, and had given it a
preference of payment. Henry also appears to have already given
directions for tile payment of it out of certain customs of wool ; but
the order had been neglected. Dugdale says De Mowbray died
upon file Monday before tile feast of St. Michael the Archangel, in
the 1st Hen. IV.

SERENISSIME et excellentissime Rex et domine,
domine mi singularissime, humillima et devota recom-
mendatione premissa. Alias per plures et plures
litteras meas serenissime Regime Majestati vestre
significavi qualiter dum magnificus dominus dominus
I)ux Norfolchie disposuisset SepuIchrum domini-
cure visitare, quesiit a me domestice et caritative
I)ucatos septingentos et quinquaginta amicitim causa
et muti et perfecti amoris, ham tunc indigentia eum
cogebat, et ego dulciter et ob reverentiam sacre
Regim Majestatis motus volui prefato illustri et mag-
nifico domino Duci in non lnodico conamodo meo
protinus complacere, sperans omnino sectmdum pro-
missionem michi per eundem factam prestissime re-
stitutioneln habere, quod nfinime factum fuit. Unde
cure transacti sunt jam anni quinque et ego steterim
in dilatione continue contra omnenl humanitatem de-

ORIGINAL LETTERS, 51
vit quod de costumis mercatorum qum de regno
vestro jamdicto cives nostri vel eorum commissarii
cxtrahere velent eisdem dcberet fieri satisfactio de-
biti suprascl'ii)ti ; de quo mandato plenissime confi-
dentes dicti commissarii certas lanas et alias mercan-
tias emerunt cure proposito illas sine solutione cos-
tumi extl"ahendi, sed in eo quod habere debcbat
secundum mandatum regium defalcandi, quod man-
datum et propositum regimn dcfectu officialium
quorum intererat executioui missum non extitit, in
non par um dammm nostrorum civium predictorum.
Quapropter cure Jus et Equitas nos moneat, ut civi-
bus nostris in tam rationabilibus causis nostros favores
propitios iml)endamus , Celsitudincm restrain quam a
certo scimus justitiam colere et diligere equitatem
affectuose precamur quatinus llaceat et digetur
efi'ectualiter ordinare, aut quod mandatum vestrum
regium alias superinde factum executioni mittatur
omnino aut in bonis quondam prefati domini ducis
Nobiles nostri lredicti qui in indigentia ejusdem
tam liberaliter et coltfidenter serviverunt eidem et
servirent semt)er quibuslibet subditis vestree Regime
M:ajestatis satisfactionem suam habere valeant ut est
justum et de M:ajestate vestra speramus. Insuper
nobis exposuerunt quod magnificus dominus Thomas
de Sornibor lro dicto mutuo extitit fidejussor a quo
vel a princilali suprascripto placeat mandate et or-
dinare cives nostros predictos solutionem et satisfac-
D2

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 57

ter habetis in votis ut 1V[ercatores regnoruln nostro-
rum hint inde valeant in temporibus nostris quem-
admodum nostrorum vestrorumque predecessormn
temporibus consueverant invicem pacifice conve-
hire. Pro quibus omlfibus magnifice Princeps ami-
eitise vestrse referimus . . . gratiarum eandem ex
corde rogantes de vestra penes nos et nostros con-
tinuanda benivolentia, et ut nostri mercatores ad
vestra domilfia de beneplacito vestro personaliter ac-
cedere valeant prout nobis complacet ut et vestri
mercatores ad nostra donfinia poterint se conterre.
Intelleximus etiam ex dictarum contilwntia litte-
rarum qualiter ad partes Thmcise noviter accedentes
nostrum vestrumque veterem Inimicum Baazitam
scilicet et totam ipsius patriam infl'a modici temporis
spatiurn suffragante I)omino conculcastis. Unde
spiritum consolationis et gaudii suscepimus vehe-
reenter. Sibi proinde gratias humiles exsolventes per
quem Reges regnant, victores existunt, et potentia
Principmn augmentatur, cujus nomini studeatis de
tanta victoria celitus vobis dicta, f
Ceterum Princeps magnifice scire velitis nos vestra
dilectionis et honoris obtentu prefatum Archiepisco-

f Here the following sentence succeeds, but obliterated by a line drawn entirely
through it. "Et utinam Princeps magnifice talis nobis dies arrideat in qua celsitudo
vestra Dominum nostrum Ihesum Christum pro nobis nature morti traditum, ac die
tertia resurgentem, necnon et religionem fidei orthodoxa corde spontaneo professura,
velut princeps catholicus ac ecclesia Christiana procurator intentus, adversus cru-
cis hostes se potenter exponet immensum exinde premium in conspectu Altissimi
reportando."

135

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

pure per nos benigne reeeptum non tam benivole
quam favorabiliter tractavisse. Et idcirco rnagnifi-
centiam vestram petimus ex affeetu quatinus eundem
Archiepiscopum ad vestra Majestatis presentiam
revertentem qui vos de statu et gestis nostris regiis
noverit plenius informare suscipere velitis nostra
considcrationis intuitu specialissime ecommissum
sibi % in suis ex parte nostra vestra celsitudini refe-
rendis aurem credulam adhibere. Magnifice Princeps
mnice in Deo dilecte, &e. (t in aliis literis.)

:** The Hadeian MS. 431. fol. 10 preserves a contemporary
copy of a Letter from John Paleologus to Henry the Fourth, dated
from Constantinople, 1st June, 1402, in which the services of cer-
tain English x arriors in the then recent repulse of the Turks from
before the City are most gratefully acknowledged.
This was not John Paleologus II. who succeeded Manuel in
1425 hut Jonn the repltew of ]tlunuel, son of Andronicus III., whom
in 1399 Manuel associated with himself in the imperial power. He
calls himself" Johannes i, Christo Deo fidelis Imperator et Mode-
rator Romeorum Paleologus."

LETTERS

FROM

THE REIGN ()F

HENRY THE FIFTI!

TO

THE REIGN (}F

HENRY THE SEVENTH.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

These entries, at first sight, tally but lttle with the long time
which this Letter speaks of, as to Hull being in Spain ; but, even at
a later period, two years was considered a very long time for a Spa-
nish Embassy. In the minute of a Letter from Sir Thomas Cha-
loner to Secretary Cecil, 5th March, 1562, his xvords of Spain are :
" It is too much of very pittie and conscience in this villainous
Countrie to keep onie poore .subjects more than txo yeares. A
liberall prison in England were to be preferred. ''c

WORSCHIPFUL fader in God, right trusty and wel-
beloved, ffor as moche as our welbeloved squier John
Hull haath long tyine be in our ambassiat and seruice
in the parties of Spaigne, for the whiche, as he haath
complcincd to us, lie is endaungerd gretly, and certein
goodys of his leyd to vedde, Wherfor we wol that
yc see that thicr be taaken dewe accomptes of the
said John, hov many dayes he haath stande in oure
said Ambassiat and seruice, and therupon that he
be contented and agreed in the best wyse as longeth
via to hym in this cas. Yeuen vnder ouer Silet in
ourc hoost beside ourc toun of Faloise the x. day of
iTeu'er.

LETTER XXVIII.

Hugh Staff'ord to the Earl of 3Iarch and Uh'ter.
tgeports his having executed his orders, and desires
his cousin Clgsff'ord may be sent over to him.
[MS. COTTON. CALIG. Do III, fol. 155. Orig'.]
. Ed]nund Earl of March and Ulster, to whom this Letter is

" MS. Cotton. Vespas. c. vii. fol. 265 b.

6t3 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

ouzt of Mayn. Herkenyng vn... and thos that
ouzte to be the kyngys lithe men the vhich schulden
fetayle vs here, they hau y fetaylid hym well and
lmthyng vs, the which Soudyours of this place weren
ouzt a Cristemasse euyn, and brouzt horn a dosyn
hors lodys of bred with heln the which was ordeynyd
for hym. I can lm more at this but that God have
zow ever more in hys kepyng. I writyn at Danfl'ount
the xxvii, day of Decembr'.
Zoure seruaunt

To my worschipful lord Erl
of the March and of Vlstre
lieutenaunt of Normandye.

ItUGH STAFFORD.

LETTER XXIX.

The Her George and Dr. John Stokes to King Henry
the t;ifth; fro,,, Ifeidelberg, after the T,'ea( of
1t0.
[MS. COTTON. APPEND. XXIX. Orig.]

*** This Letter is valuable as a specimen of Language. Of Dr.
John Stokes the actual writer, a short notice has been already given
in the Second Series, vol. i. p. 80. Who the Her George was, the
Editor is not aware.
The Treaty of Peace" bet een Henry the Fifth on the one party,
and his father of France and the Duke of Burgundy on the other;'
sufficiently points to 1420 as the date of this Letter. Hem'y made
his final treaty with Chm'les the Sixth in that year, taking Kathe-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 67

rine the daughter of Charles in marriage and agreeing to call the
French King his father.
" The Duke your brothcr" spoken of in the opening of the Let-
ter was Louis III. Count Palatin% surnamed the Bcarded who
succeeded to the Palatinate in 1410. He married to his first wife
in 1402, Blanche the eldest daughter of Henry the Fourth. She
died in 1406 in child-bed. Louis's second wife was Matilda
daughter of Amadeus of Savoy. He died at Heidelberg Dec. 29
1436.

OWRE most souerain most myghty and most dred
lord, We zowr seruitours and bedc men, and I zowr
humble lyge rccSmcndc vs wito zowr most hcygh
grace as mekcly and as lowly as we can or may.
And gyf it lyke vn to zow for to have in kuowlache
aftir the tyme that we departede from zowr most
heygh and moste excellent presence qwat by lande
and qwat by water we came vu to Hadelbcrg the
xiiij, day of Juny, qwer vp on the next day folwyng
we presentede zowr graciows lettres vn to the I)uk
zowr brother; and aftirward with a solelnpue propo-
sicion dennouncede vn to hym thys Pes the qwyche
is acorded and concluded by thwen zow vp on the
on 1)artie and zow fadir of ffraunce and the Duk of
Burgoyn vp on the tother syde : the qwych pes as I
declarede is myghty and vertuows, it is fair and
graciows, and it is swete and amorows, with all othere
circumstancez and allegeafices that owte for to be
naad and alleggyd and acordyng ther to. And aftir
all other thyngs declarede vn to hym as weel of hys

68 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
comynge vn to zow as of othere aftir the tenur of
owr instruction vp on the beste wyse that we cowde
deuyse aftir owr simple ententes.
Zowr forsayde brother the Duk was of thys for-
saide pees as glad, ioyful, and merie as eny erthely
man owte for to be; and declarede hys entent how
that he wele be cSmprehendyd ther in as zowr allye,
and haue it and halde it ferme and stable, and ob-
serve it and make it for to be observed by hym, hys
heires, vasalles, and subgees  purpetuelly, and at all
tnes as mochyl as in hym is to execute it a zens all
thoo that wele werch the contrarie, other on ony
wyse wolde lette the entent other the grete gode of
the same pees, as hym self schall doo and perfourme
swyche tyme as he speketh with zow in hys ownne
persone.
More overe and it lyke vn to zoa" most heygh and
most graciows lordschipe as towchyng hys coyng
vn to zow ward he declarede vn to vs how vp on the
v. day by fore owr cofiiyng vn to hym he hadde sent
forth Mayster Jon Lobaim vn to zow by the nexte
wey, for to declar vn to zow the tyme of hys comyng,
and the weyes also the qwych he wele holde; that
is for to were vp on Marie Magdaleyns day next
comyng he wele by gynne take hys ioulme and passe
forth by the teritories of the Erchebyschop of Trere,
and so forth by the I)uche of Lucelburgh, and with
a subjects.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 69

the grace of God vp oll the vii. day aftir he wele be
in the bourdures of Fraunce in a ton callyd Ifais a
lege fi'om the toun of Mosmi, and fro thens in thre
days he may be at Parys. By these weyes for to
come he hath take hys purpos and concluded it by
hys counceill and hys puple that schall goo wyth
hym, the qwych purpos he wele nowgt chaunge but
zyf Maister Jon Lobaim brynge hym other word fro
zow, and with owte ayle he scall come and with iiij c
other v c gode hors.
Also and it lyke wa to zowr moste heygh and be-
nygne grace for owr moste redy spede vn to the
tmperowr zowr brother, We sende zowr graciows
lettres wa to the rchebyschopys of Mayns, Trere,
and of Coloyrte by Hans Pruce zowr chivauchier, suf-
ficeatly instruct and enfourmed of all thyngs that
schall by seyd by mowth. And more ouer for as
mochill as the laste tyme qwan I was vp on zowr mes-
sage with the Erchebischop of Coleine he declar'de
vn to me, and hys conceill also, how that he wolde
come to zow and alwey schulde be redy to come to
do zow seruise vp on hys owne cost, so that he myghte
have sure passage as I wrot vn to zow and in my
comSrge declarede by mowthe. Qwerfore zyf it be
plesyng vn to zow I of myn owale heuesde have wryte
vn to hym a lettre rehersyng hys promyse and hys
byhest, and sterede hym by swych menes in the same
lettre for to come, that trewly zyf he come nowt but

70 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

zyf sekenesse excuse hym ze scha!l mowe resonably
seye how that he dooth nowgt hys devoure.
More ouere as we be enfourmed the Emperour is
in Berne by syde Prage at Berne, and zyt he hath
gret rebellion and disobeisance of the Lollardes, and
so mochyl] a doo vp on euery syde that we can
nowght make zow sure nother of hys coyng in his
owne persone nother of sendyng by othere, for as
towchyng hys ordinaunce of sendynge, the qvych was
by gmme by the Erchebischop of Tr're aftir that he

hadde made relacion vn to
matier hath by layd a slepe
ther to.

the F, mperour azen, the
and no thyng more doo

Other tydynges we can nowght, and it like vn to
zow at thys tyme, but that of the grete manhode
myght3esse and puissaunce that Ahnighty God
blessyd by his name hath seet and put in zowr chose
persone, zowre victoriowse fame floreseth and regn-
eth, and zowr gloriowse name is enhaunsed, magni-
fied, and dred aboue all erthely Princeps thorw all
the word  Cristene and Hethene. Most souerayn,
most myghty, and most dred lord the Holy Trinite
saue zow, kepe, and mayntene euere more -n to a
gloriowse victorie of all zowre enemyes. Vryten in
Hadelberge the xvij. day of the monieth of Juny.
Zowr seruitours an Bedemen,
HER GEORGE and JON STOKES zowr lyge.
To the Kynge.
b world.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 71

LETTER XXX.

Kin 9 Henry the Fifth to the Bishop of Durham, to 2ro-
vide the Queen's lohysician with some benefce.

[FROM THE Orig. AMONG THE RECORDS IN THE TOWER.]

*** The King was before Meaux, whence this Letter is dated, in
1421. Meaux surrendered to him May 2nd, 1422.

BY THE KING.
WORSHIPFUL fader ill God oure right trusty and
welbeloved. Forasmuche as we have understande
by yom'e lettres late sent unto us yat otu'e Wyf
ye Quene hath spoken unto yow and desireth yat
hir Plsieien myght have sum benefice wiyowte cure,

of otu-e eollaeion, in ye whiche
to have knowlege of oure wil ve
yat hit is wel oure entent whanne

matere ye desire
signiffie unto yov
any sucche bene-

flee voydeth of oure yifte yat ye make collation to
him yof, and after certitfieth us what hit is yat he
hay. Yeven under oure signet in oure Oost beside
Meaulx ye xxix. day of Octobre.
CHIVYNGHAM.

To ye worshipful in God oure right trusty and
welbeloved ye Bisshop of Duresme oure
Chauceller of England.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 75

Maistre John Copthorne to come to us, and anoy r
to ye Bysshop of Lincoln for Maistre Thomas
Brounce in ye same wise, the wlfiche lettres we pray
you yat yey be redely send forye and yat in al
haast as we trust to yow. And ye Holy Trinite have
yow ahvey in his kepyng. Wreten under our Signet
atte owr Towne of Caen ye xxv. day of Septembre.
Ferymore we wol yat to ye Chirche of Hambury yat
is voide by Maistre rilliam Corff yat is passed to
God, as hit is saide, and longey to owr yifte ye pre-
sented in owr name John Woborne oon of ye Prestes
of owr Chapelle yat sojourneth at SVyndesore by
lettres therof to be maad in due forme. Also yat ye
do make lettres patents unto Maistre Richard Hohne
to be Maistre of o- College of Cambrig as Maistre
Richard Derham was. Also we have yeven to Vil-
liam Hayton yempension of Sar. yat whan tyme is
ye do him have suche lettres yrupon as ye cas
asketh.
Au reverend Pere en Dieu Levesque de
Duresme nostre Chanceller Dengleterre.

LETTER XXXIII.
Kig Henri] the Sixtl,. to the Abbot of St. Ed,,nds-
bury, for the immediate payment of a benevolence.
[REGIST. MON. S. EDM. DE BURG. BIS. ADDIT. BRIT. BIUS. 7096. fol.
99 b.]
* * This Letter was written in 14-12, and shews the straits to
which Henry the Sixth was even then reduced. The paragraph de.
e2

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

any interupcion. And as yit oure said Aduersaire
with his saide puissance is in oure saide Duchie, and
hath geten oure Cifie and Castel of Ax, and hath
laid siege to Baioii and dooth that that he can to
subdue al our said I)uchie, and is fully avised to ley
siege to oure good Citie of Burdeaux, the xvhiche
thing doing is and shuld be to grete an hurte, and to
shameful a thing vnto vs and vnto alle oure welle
willing louers and subgitts ; and also of lyklyhode to
be destruccion of the Navie of this oure lande; and
cause of ninny othir inconuenientes and hurtes that
myght falle to this oure Reaume, lordships, and sub-
gittz, that God forbede : and on lesse than hasty pur-
ueance and remedie to resiste rheim by puissance be
made in this behalf, to grete a losse and shameful a
thing vnto us and this our Reaume that God ne
wolde ne ye as We truste. The whiche purveance
cannot soo hastely be made as the necessite asketh
with oute the helpe of you and othir oure well will-
ing lowers and subgittz. And theffore considered
that that is aboue saide, and what losse, hurt, and
greuance the seid I)uchie and strengthes therof being
in oure saide Aduersaries handes shulde be vn to vs,
and also what reproche, shame, and vilanie shulde
be caste thorugh the worlde vpon vs and this our
Reaume, lordshipps, and subgittz if it were not con-
venably resisted to the malice of oure saide Aduer-
saire. What inconuenients also myght falle vnto
oure said I)uchie and subgittz therin if it were not

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 79

the same MS. fol. 107 b.) Demur, in acceding to the first request,
probably occasioned the second application.

BY THE KYNG.
RIGHT dere in God we grete you wele, and holde
for certain that it is not unknowen wl to you now
late a goo we sent ore" right trusty and right wclbe-
louyd Cousin Therl of Surf', our right welbelouyd
clerk mais Adam Moleyns doctour of Lawe, Dean
of Salesbury keper of our priue seel, and other wifl
theim to our Reaume of Fraunce for diu's matiers
touching the prosperite worship and welfare of vs
and of our landes and subgetts, by whos notable and
aduisy labours and diligences it hath liked our Lord
to shewe vs his grete fauour and graces in dius
maniers, and in especial to prouide vs of a Ouene of
heigh and noble birthe enduyd with yiftys of grace
and nature, So as it is supposid that We and all our
trewe subgietts and welwillers haue and shal haue
cause to thanke our Lord therfor. And for as moche
as it is not acording to our Worship nor to oure
hertis ease that the comyng of hir in to this our
Reaume be long taried or delaied, ve purpose with
the grace of our Lord to dispose and ordeigne that
she shal be conduted vnto vs in all haste goodly po-
sible in suche wise as it shal be accordyng to th'estate
and worship of vs, of hir, and of this our Reaume :
and that done to purveye for the solempnite of hir
Coronacion in maner and fourme accustumed. Over

80 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

this for yottr especial reioising and confort We late
you wite that We stande in right good truste and
hope of a pees finalle to be concluded and had be-
twixe vs and our Oncle of Fraunce, for the laisir and
oportunite of appointing of whiche ther is taken by-
twix vs and oure Onele a trewes for a eertain tyme
vndir the whiehe the seid pees shall mowe behoue-
fully be treted to a good conclusion and ende. And
for asmuehe as the things abouesaid may not be exe-
euted and fulfilled vith oute ful grete and notable
sommes of good and dispenses, aud that the grete and
importable charges that We of longe tyxne haue born,
namely for the Wen'es and defense of this our Reaume,
haue bared vs gretely of tresore and redy good, We
write vu to you and pray you right hertely and as ye
loue and tendre the vorship and welfare of vs and in
especial of tlfis our lZeaume, ye shewe us in this our
neeessite and good wille, easing vs by wey of apprest
of the summe of c. marks, and that ye wol sende it in
to the Reeeipte of our Esehequer in alle goodly haste
after the sighte of thees, and at the ferreste be the
feste of the Natiuite of our Lady next eomyng, there
for to be delivered to the Tresorer and Chamberleins
of our Esehequer or ellys to suehe a persone or per-
sones there as beth deputed and assigned to reeeive
it; lating you vite that at the tyme of the deliverance
therof ther shall be anade and delivered vn to the
bringer therof for you and in your name suffieient as-

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

et gerimus fideliter serviendo, parati personas nostras
exponere, ad conquistandum jura et terras pcrtinen-
tia juri regio Angliw, dummodo habeamus Classem
maritimaln Regis eum nostra, et exereitum eompe-
tentem cure sustentatione debita. Et ne in istam
Expeditionem, adimpletis supradietis quando place-
bit Regiee Majestati, speramus enin ita et taliter
operari quod honeste onmes potcrunt satis habere et
contentari. Et alia etiam sumus parati facere, quze
Reverendze Dominationi vestra? videbuntur honesta,
considerata qualitate temporis et personarum, et veri-
tate justitia et bonae intentionis nostra? in effeetu
quam querimus, et parati sumus opere demonstrare,
sieur ex prwmissis, de quibus pauea dieimus quia
Dominatio vestra reverenda fuit ha Anglia et in Ca-
lesio, et omnia vidit et eognovit ; et speramus in jus-
titia et bona fauna vestra. Alias si ista non eoneeden-
tur nobis, vel non fiat honesta eoneordia, sieut vestra
Dolninatio reverendissima bene videt, nos sumus
parati, et habemus favores, et neeessitas nos impellit
experiri arma et fortunam nostram, et speramus in
Domino quia habemus justitiam, et non ineedimus
aontra honorem vel statmn Regis et Regni, set pro
honore et gloria utriusque, et pro bono reipublieae,
et pro nostra justitia laboramus, quia omnia alia
nobis remedia sunt denegata. SEt ut non perdamus
tempus nostrum, intendimus habere responsum eum
festinantia. Itaque Dominatio vestra provideat quod

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 87

non teneamur in verbis, quia non expectabimus diu,
quam res nostrm et eausa nostra non patiuntur. Pro-
mittimus autem Deo onmipotenti, et reverende Pa-
ternitati vestrm talnquam veto Legato Apostolieo,
quod servata fidelitate Serenissilno Regi nostro eri-
mus fideles et devoti ae obedientes Sanetissimo Patti
et Sedi Apostoliee in omnibus lieitis et honestis, et
maxime lro eausa Fidei, et auxilio Christianormu
eontra Turehos, et omnibus aliis eoneernentibus ho-
norem et statuln Sanete Matris Eeelesie et Sanetm
Sedis Apostoliee, ae reverendissimm paternitati ves-
trm perpetuo Caritatis vineulo erilnus astrieti, et ira
verbo et opere, j uxta posse nostrum eonabimur demon-
strafe : ira nos Deus juvet et saneta Dei Evangelia,
per qum juramus in manibus ejusdem Paternitatis
vestra reverendissimm. Rogalnus auteln P. vestram
reverendissimam quod dignetur pertransire mare, et
nos lrovidebimus de bono passagio, et ire cure festi-
nantia ad Regiam Majestatem, quam scimus esse
Paternitati vestrm bene affectam, et significare inten-
tionem nostram bonam el, eidem hIajestati nos com-
mendare, et operari pro bono publico justitie. Et
in fidem premissorum omnium Nos Ricardus Nevill
Warvici capitaneus Vil]e Calesim, Edvardus Comes
Marchiarum, Ricardus Nevill Comes Saresberie et
"Willelmus Nevill Dominus de Fauconberge .sigil-
lavimus propriis sigillis et signis nostris manualibus
signavimus, promittentes etiam facere et curare cure

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 89

Yorkists. The King had gone northward. The battle of Vake-
field was fought on Dec. 30th.
Edward the Fourth, when the Pope's recall came, gave Coppini
such support as he could probably in the hope to break his fall, by
appointing hin to be his proctor at Rome for ecclesiastical causes
and promotions, by Patent dated 20th of Nov. 1461, three days
only before the other Patent already mentioned was granted of a
conditional annuity and an heraldic distinction.

SERENISSIME Princeps et excellentissime Rex,
post humillimam commendationem. E.: Brugiis et
ex Calesio jam multis diebus scripsi Serenitati vestre
quomodo isti Domiafi de Calesio, servitores vestre
]Viajestatis, me vocaverant rogantes et supplicantes ut
partes meas interponerem ad tractandam et conjicien-
dam pacem, et tollendas civiles discordias in regno
vestro, postquam a Sede Apostolica ita intellexerant
mihi esse commissmn et mandatum, afilrmantes mihi
per suas litteras, quarum copiam tunc Majestati ves-
tre transmisi, et similiter reverendissimo D. Cant. ut
per illum ceeteris omnibus dominis innotescerent,
qui erant dispositi ad tales conditiones pacis, quod
sine dubio sperabant, me interveniente, Majestati
vestre placituras. Et scripsi eidem Majestaii, quod
hac honesta petitione constrictus ibam ad eos audi-
turus conditiones pacis, ut illas postea Majestati V.
vel per me ipsum referrem, vel per litteras nuntiarem.
Supplicabam finaliter E. Majestati vestre, quod
super istis dignaretur pia meditatione pensare, ut ad-
veniente tempore, de salutari conclusione, auctore

Q0 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Domino, provideri posset. Postea vero Se. Princeps
veniens Calesiam ex novo casu, et nova accidentia,
inveni quasi onmia in turbine, et illos dominos jam
paratos ad transitum in Angliam propter causas emer-
genres non posse. t nihilominus post aliquam eom-
munieafionem cure eis habitam, et exhortationes
meas ad bonum pacis et obedientie, de quibus per
literas mihi fidem dederant, inveni eos dispositos et
ad devotionem et ad obedientiam Majestatis vestra,
et ad illius honorem, et sui regni bonum publicum
quantum in eis esset conservandum et augendum : sed
tamen desidermtes ad 1. Majestatem vestram venire
et recipi in gratiam et stature pristinum, a cluibus
asserebant se expulsos et exclusos per inidJam emu-
lorum, et post multa finaliter rogantes .et supplicates
ut transire cure mare vellem et meas partes interpo-
hereto ad ista componenda ut sanguis effusio itare-
tur, et oflerentes mihi ea omnia facere et acceptare
qum honesta et justa essent, et mihi viderentur pro
honore et statu Celsitudinis vestra, et bono publieo
sui Regni, et specialiter qumdam in seriptis sub sigil-
lis propriis ac j uramentis tradiderunt et promiserunt,
que postquam fuerunt visa per Se. V. quieto et
libero animo, credo flrmissime placitura 1. Majestati
quum sunt ad gratiam et lonorem Coronm vestry,
et exaltationem publicam Regni, et honorem ac com-
modum Principum ae Dominorum. Et itermn re-
plico si daretm" locus et securitas quieto animo corn-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 91

municandi sperabam pro certo ista onmia scandalosa
qum futura tunc videbam, et postea jam in promptu
parata esse videmus posse componi, ac cessare cum
laude Dei et gloria vestrm Majestatis et bono pub-
lico totius Regni. Hac igitur spe ductus, cmn vide-
rem periculum in mora, transivi cum eis, cum alium
modum, aut aliam viam non haberem : fuit tamen res
eorum, et ipsorum adventus atque cursus magis velox
ac repentinus, quam ab initio etiam ipsi crederent
vel sperarent propter concursum populorum, qui mi-
rabili quodam desiderio illorum adventum et reinte-
grationem et unionem totius Regni desiderate viden-
tur: Propter quas causas nec ego potui accelerare
magis iter meum ut ad Se. V. transirem, deficiente
mihi spatio temporis, et etiam impedientibus pericu-
lis viarum 9ropter concursum variarmn gentium.
Isti enim die Jovis transiverunt mare, et, continuatis
semper itineribus suis, pervenerunt Londonias, ex
quo loco cure vellem ire ad llajestatem vestram, ut
officium lastoris etiam fidelis ac devoti nuntii et me-
diatoris implerem, inveni multas difficultates et multa
pericula qum saluti mere imminent in via, et maxime
propter latratum et murmurationem, atque insidias
quorumdam qui asserunt se devotos Majestatis ves-
trm et non sunt, qui multis modis contra Deum
et veHtatem, et contra bonum status vestri oblo-
quuntur, volentes et culpare partes meas et opera-
tiones meas sanctas et pias, et hoc faciunt quia

9 o

OR1GINAL LETTERS.

sunt inimiei paeis; sed adjuvante Domino spero
quod in brevi Se. Vestra eognoseet et experietur ve-
ritatem, fidelitatem, et devotionem meam sineeram et
puram, et laudabit Dominum in operibus meis quart-
do videbit stature suum restauratum, et oeulos suos
jam apertos, ut fugatis tenebris mendaeii videat veri-
tatem. Ita operante I)eo propter puram et sanctam
intentionem vestram, et fidem meam, ae piam et
sanetam dispositionem Romani Pontifieis ad honorem
Dei, et stature vestrum ; clue eum ira sint Se. Prin-
ceps, et cure ego personaliter jam venire non possim
propter manifesta perieula salutis mere ae meorum,
pro debito offieii et devotionis mea seribo istas literas
Celsitudini vestra, et supplieo pro amore Dei et pro
devotione quam Se. vestra semper habuit, et quantun
in se fuit servavit ad res pias et sanetas, et proprietate
et eompassione, cluas debet habere ad populum suum
et elves suos, et pro debito ad cluod tenetur de obvi-
ando tanta effusioni sanguinis jam parata, eui potest
providere si velit, et non povidendo esset rea in eon-
speetu Dei in tremendo illo judieio in cluo ego quo-
ClUe stabo, et reCluiretur de manu vestra sanguinem
Anglieanum si effundatur, ut velit Serenitas vestra
eeleriter providere, Cluod priusquam veniatur ad arma
possim secure eommunieare vobiseum super modis et
eonditionibus tenendis pro istis malis evitandis, ut
unione eomponenda, qum pro eerto non est impossi-
bills, nee etiam multum diffleilis si Serenitas vestra

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 93

cure suo libero animo ac judicio promittat se exorari
et informari, nec attendat Majestas vestra si quis
diceret, quod habetis justam causam pugnandi contra
suos qui veniunt, et quum potestis sine pugna si vul-
tisolnnia facere justa et honesta qum cure pugna et
victoria faceretis; qum tamen Victoria semper est
periculosa, dubia in bello ut sepissime docet experi-
entia, et cure sit in sola manu Dei non debet Se. V.
sperare illam si contra suum mandatum pugnare ele-
gerit ; contra suum mandatum est pugnare cure aliter
possimus vincere. Isti enim, Serenissime Pri..ceps,
offerunt obedientiam et fidelitatem Iajestati vestre,
dum tamen causam eorum exponere possint tute et
secure, et hoc dicunt non posse facere nisi manu forti
veniant, sicut notorium est; tamen ab exercitio
armorum volunt absistere si debitus et secm-us audi-
entire modus concedatur; ham Scripturm sententia
est tunc necesse fore ad arma concurrere cum justitia
apud adversarios aliter locum habere non potest.
Inveniatur ergo Serenissime Princeps modus tutus
ut Serenitas vestra audire, et communicare possit
cure his, qui non sunt partiales aut suspecti super
veritate cause et justitim, et non dubito quod omnia
reparabuntur, et cum salute omnium dominorum.
Et si post istam experientiam non videat M. V. sic
esse, tunc poterit juste arma exercere, qum ante hanc
experientiam sic oblatam, et maxime per medium
Legati et Nuntii Alostolici essent nefaria, impia, et

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 95

cium veri Apostoli et boni lnediatoris et veri Prelati,
et ero immunis a culpa quicquid cmteri faciant, vel
operentur. Serenitas vestra me diu vidit, et cogno-
vit progressus tacos, et requiro conscientiam restrain
in testimonium si fui verus, fidelis, planus, et devotus.
Et licet aliqui maledicti detrahentes, quod ftti in
Calesia et communicavi cure istis, et quod ideo sum
suspectus, et reliqua etiam mala cumulant, Serenitas
vestra bene novit quod l(mgiori tempore per annum
et quasi semis fui cure Screnitate vestra, et in vestro
Regno continue conversando, tractando opera Dei et
Christianm Religionis ex commissione sedis Aposto-
licm cure intep'itate et puritate fidei, et cure illis
non tiff nisi modicum, et tamen novit, quod est
cium meum necessarium communicare cure ambabus
pea'tibus ad tractandam concordiam, et ira est in man-
datum a sede Apostolica. Ita ham requiret et aliter
fieri non potest. Et debet S erenitas vestra aperire bene
oculos sum menfis quod isti tales obloquentes sunt
secretarii et ministri diaboli, qui non volunt pacem,
non vohmt unionem, non volunt bonuln, et integrita-
tern Regni vestri. I)ixi et scripsi, smpeque Majes-
taft vestrm commemoravi verba ]vangelica, ' legnum
in se divismn desolabitur ;' annuntiavi verbo et lit-
teris, et fl'equenter idem fecit S. d. n. Papa pericu-
lure et ruinam status Regni vestri, nisi aliter ad
])emn, et suas pias causas convertantur; quomodo
illud factum sit, Majestas vestra bene novit. Ecce

96

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Deus agcllat cos, pcrcutit eos ut resurgant, ut rcsi-
piscant, ut convcrtantur et vivant. Se(l si obdurave-
tint aures suas sicut surdi! Ve illis, vc ctiam
jestati vestre, quod dolcnter dico, nisi provideat cure
pace quando potest. Potest autcm nunc si mc au-
diat, si me intcllgat, qui sum Nuntius Dei, Nuntius
Apostolicus, non qumrens qum inca sunt vos vidistis.
Satis estis experti quia sic est si me etiam nunc
audire volueritis. Exeuso me coram Deo omnipo-
tenti, et exeusabo eoram Sancta Sede Apostoliea, et
mittam Copiam presentium litterarum, et in tremen-
do illo judieio surgam eontra omnes qui paeem et re-
parationem istorum malorum impediverint. Et ideo
dignetur Majestas vestra bene advertere, et eavere
debet ut non sit in illo nmnero, quia prineipaliter de
manu vestra requiretur sanguis Anglieanus si effun-
datur. Expeeto responsmn, quid sit intentionis
vestrm, et quid ego sim factm'us, quod cure celeri-
tate est fiendum, quia causa dilationem non patitur.
Datmn Londoniis die iij. Julij 5ccccLx.
Commendo me Celsitudini vestre, quam Deus be-
nedicere dignetur, et ad pacem illuminate et accen-
dere, ut tantis malls et periculis obvietur, et ut hec
impia arma contra inimicos Crucis convertantur ; om-
nipotens Deus per suam misericordiam illuminare
dignetur oculos vestrte mentis, et suorum ut ad se
convertantur, et sint memores htereditatis nobis re-
]icte a Domino et Salvatore nostro Jesu Christo di-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 97

cente in suo transitu ex hoe mundo ad Pattern,
" Pacem meam do vobis, pacem meam relinquo vo-
his," et det vobis gratiam ut hereditatem ipsam per
ingratitudinem non perdatis, levertatur ergo
.jestas vestra ad suam primam naturam, bonitatem, et
mansuetudinem, et secundum illam solam per se ip-
sam, remotis arbitris, aut cure solis mediatoribus non
suspectis eligat et judicet viam bonam: ham ]van-
gelicam, honestam, et salutarem. Si cupit non argui
a Domino in illo horribili et tremendo Judicio in quo
stabimus omnes ante tribtmal Christi reddituri ra-
tionem de singu]is, przecipue de tanto sanguiis
glicani diluvio quantum paratum esse ante oculos
videmus et providere possumus si Majestas V. vo-
luerit, sicut ego supra retuli et obtuli. Dixi. Ego
enim me excusabo testimonio przesentium litterarum,
quas per fidelem et juratum Nuntium de familia V.
Cel. transmisi et etiam ad cautelam in generali con-
vocatione et C]eri et Populi London publicari feci,
ut ad vestrm Majestatis notitiam pervenirent. Et
expecto responsmn celeriter per latorem prmsenfium,
quia materia non patitur dilationem. Ex London.
Die iij. Julij .cccc.Lx.
E. M 'i. V. rrAcsc:s Episcopus Interamnensis
Apostolica Sedis Legatus.

VOL. I. F

100

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

me and my heyrys, lVryttyn at Westorp iiij th day
off Octob in the xxij. yet off Kyng Edward the
iiij% stvrOLK.

LETTER XL.

Kin 9 Richard the Third's Privy Seal: grantin 9 to
Ralph Banastre the manor of Yaldboq in Kent, late
belongb 9 to the Duke of luckinoqham , in reward for
bringin 9 the Duke into the King's hands.
[HARL. MS. -133. fol. 133.]
%* Hall's account of ganastre is not entirely to be relied upon.
His first mistake is in the name : he calls him Humfrey, and not
Iaiph lIanastre. Haxing enumerated the precautions which Ri-
chard the Third took that the Duke of Buckingham, after the failure
of his plot, should not escape apprehension, Hall says,
"He made Proclamation that what person could shew and re-
veal where the Duke of Buckingham was, should be highly re-
warded : if he were a bondman, he should be enfranchised and set
at liberty ; if he were of free blood, he should hae a general par-
don, and be remunerate with a thousand pounds." He then adds
" hile this busy search was diligently applied and put in execu-
tion, Homfrey Banaster (were it more for fear of loss of life and
goods, or attracted and provoked by the avaricious desire of the
thousand pounds) he bewrayed his guest and master to John Mit-
ton, then sherif of Shropshire, which suddenly with a strong power
of men in harness apprehended the Duke in a little grove adjoining
to the mansion of Homfrey Banaster, and in great haste and eil
speed conveyed him, apparelled in a pilled black cloak, to the city
of Salisbury, where King Richard then kept his household.
" Whether this Banast bewraid the Duke more for fear thma
covetous, many men do doubt : but sure it is that shortly after he
had betraid the Duke his master, his son and heir waxed mad, and
so died in a boa:s stye ; his eldest daughter of excellent beautie,

ORIGINAL LETTERS. I01

was suddainly stricken with a foul lepry; his second son, very mar-
vellously deformed of his limbs, and made decrepit ; his younger
son, in a small puddle was strangled and drowned ; and he, being of
extreme age, arraigned and found gilty of a murder, and by his
clerg.w saved. And as for his thousand pound, King ltichard gaxe
him not one farthing, saying that he which would be untrue to so good
a master would be false to all other. Hovbeit, some say that he bad
a small office or a farm to stop his mouth vithal."
In this Letter, however, the King speaks of" the good and faith-
ful service of his well-beloved servant Rauff Banastre, Esquire;'
and gives him the revenues of the lordship of Yalding, with three
months' retrospective profits.
Banastre had but a short enjoyment of his reward. Henry the
Seventh soon after his accession restored Edward tafford to his
father's lands and honours, and amongst the former to the lordship
of Yalding. What afterwards became of Banastre is not recorded,
except in the passage above quoted from Hall.

RICHARD, &C. To all and singler Thofficers, ffer-
mors and Tenaunts of the h[anor and Lordship of
Ealding, with th'appurtenances in our Countie of
Kent, late belonging our gret rebell and traitor the
Duc of Buckingham, and by reason of his rebellion
now in our yeft and disposicion, and to all other our
subgietts thise presents, for to se or here, greting.
Wit ye that in consideracion of the true and feitlffull
service which our welbeloved servaunt lauff Banas-
tre squier now late hath done unto us for and about
the taking and bringing of our said rebell iuto our
hands, We have yeven unto the said Rauff and his
heh'es masles for ever the said rnaner and lordship
with th'appertenaunces; he and his said heires yeld-

10 o

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

i,,g and paieng aswele the rents, services, and dueties
goyng out of the same Manet with th'appertenaunces,
as unto Thomas Jebbe yerely iiij. u for tenne of his
lyff, according to our lettres patents to him made;
and after the decesse of the said Thomas, the said
Rauff and his said heires to pay unto us and our
heires for ever the said iiij. i for Castell warde unto
our Castell of Rouchestre ; and have comaunded the
said tlauff to entre into the same manet and lordslfip,
and the revenues of the same, growen and to growe,
sethens lIichihnesse last past, to receive and take to
his owi, us. Wherfore we woll and charge you'that
unto him in executing theffect of this our said gift
and graunt ye be obeieng, ading, auswering, and as-
sisting, as ye and every of you woll advoide our gre-
rouse pleasur at your perills. Yeven under our sig-
net at our Cite of London the xiij. day of Decelnbre
the first 3'ere of our tleigne.

%* The manor of Yalding was of the oldest patrimony of the
Duke of Buckingham, having descended to him from Ralph de
Stafford, one of the first Knights of the Garter, whom Edward the
Third had created Earl of Stafford.
Hall relates a short anecdote, which may be worth recording
here. "Very true it is that the Duke of Buckingham was an high-
minded man, and evil could bear the glory of another : so that I
have heard of some that saw it, that he at such time as the crown
was set upon the Protector's head, his eye could never abide the
sight thereof, but wryed his head another way."

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

and woll and charge you that under oure Priue Scale
being in your warde ye make our Lettres in forme
tbllowing, l'orsonmche as We doubt not but afore
this tyine ye have herd and understande of the gret
clamor grugge and complainte which our liege peo-
ple of this our loy me have made of and upon the
coigne of silve made in our lande of Irland for dis-
coording both in weight, allay, and in forme the
coigne of sylver of tlfis our loy m. _And the which
for lak of expresse difference that shuld have be
graved upon the same hath be ignorantly received
here within this our loy e in stede of suche substan-
ciall coigne as is by good auctorite coigned within
the same to -he universall losse and hurt of all thoo
to whose hands it hath coin in vey of payment.
Which inconvenience by subtill and crafty meanes of
coveties persones aswele bringeng out of this our
Ioy m sylver bullion in gTet quantete to otu- Mynte
of Irland as ther forging and streng the same unto
the sam deceavable prynte daily encreseth more and
more and is like to bring this our loy m by processe
of tyme to extreme poverte and desolacion, enlesse
that then other due provision be had therupon in all
hast. We therfore wo]l and charge you and everie
of you as to him it shall or may apperteigne in the
straytest wise that incontynent upon the rescept of
thise our lettres ye see and provide that on either
side of every pece of sylver to be coigned herafter

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

105

within our said land of Irland ther be prynted and
set in the mydill therof a clere and expresse differ-
enee fro that sylver that is coigned here within this
our Royalme, that is to say on the one side the
Armes of England and on the other side iij. Crownes ;
dmnnyng and utterly distroying all the stamps and
Irons as touching the graving that is in them wher-
with the sylver Coignes of that our lande hath hider-
to be made and stryken at any place or tyme, Re-
voking also and utterly setting aside all naner power
of Coyning in any place Mthin the same our land,
except our Cite of Dyvelyn and our Cite of gater-
forde upon payne of forfaitur of all that shall happen
to be eoigned elleswhere within our said land or
otherwise then is afore expressed unto the t)me We
have otherwise ordeigned in this behalue. And that
ye eertifie us and our Counsaill by n'iting from you
in all spede possible how ye shall have put 3ou in
devor touching the premisses. Not failling herin
as ye love and tendre the honnor wele and profite of
us and of all our subgetts. Youen the xviij tu day of
Juyll the first yere of our Reigne.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 107

fees, and other appurtenances and escheats. Lord Lttelton con-
sidered this sum equivalent to a payment of above a hundred thou-
sand pounds into the exchequer in his time.
The guaa'dian, says Hargrave (Co. Litt. 88. n. 11), was not ac-
countable for the profits made of the infant's land during the ward-
ship, but received them for his own priate emolument, subject
only to the bare maintenance of the infant. And this guardianship,
being deemed more an interest for the profit of a guardian than a
trust for the benefit of the ward, was saleable and transferable, like
the ordinary subjects of property, to the best bidder; and, if not
disposed of, was transmissible to the lord's personal representatives.
Thus the custody of the infant's person, as well as the care of his
estate, might devolve on the most perfect stranger to the infant ; one
prompted by every pecuniary motive to abuse the delicate and im-
portant trust of education, vithout any ties of blood, or regard, to
counteract the temptations of interest, or any sufficient authority to
restrain him from yielding to their influence.
By Statute 3 Hen. Vl[I. c. 46, a Court of Wards and Liveries
was established to superintend the inquests under which vard-
ships were obtained.
That the abuses of wardship were neither removed nor amelio-
rated in the time of Cueen Elizabeth will be seen from the intro-
duction to Sir Humphrey Gilbert's plan for "The Erection of an
Academy in London for education of Her Majestie's Wardes, and
others the Youth of Nobility and Gentlemen." It is as follows :
"Forasmuch as (most excellent Soveraigne) the moste parte of
Noblemen and Gentlemen that happen to be your Majestie's Wardes,
the custody of their bodies being of bounty graunted to some in re-
ward of service or otherwise, not without your honorable confidence
of their good education, yet nevertheless most commonly by such to
whom they are committed, or by those to whom such Committees
have sold them, being either of evil religion or insufficient qualities,
are through the defaults of their guardians for the most part
brought up, to no small grief of their friends, in idleness and lasci-
vious pastimes ; estranged from all serviceable vertues to their
Prince and Country ; obscurely drowned in education for sparing
charges, of purpose to abuse their minds, least, being better quali-
fied, they should disdain to stoop to the marriage of their purchasers"
daughters: as also for that the greatest number of Young Gentle-
men within this Realme aa'e most conversant about London, where

108 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

your. lajestte s Courte haflt most ordinarie residence yt v, ere good
(as I think)under your Highness's most gracious correction that
for their better educations there should be an Academy erected in
sort as followeth." It was to be called " Queen Elizabeth's
Academy," and the Master of the Court of Wards from time to
tim% was to be its chiefest Got eruor, a
X hat reception this scheme met with, we are not told ; but the
granting of wardships went on till finally abolished in the first
parliament of Charles the Second (12 Cha. II. c. 24) : the preamble
to the Act which then passed states that it had been intermitted
since Febr,Jary 24) 1645 ; meaning that at that date a similar act
had been passed by the Lords and Commons only.
Sir William Hussey to xhom the present Letter is addressed
subsequently maa'ried William Husseyhis second son, to his ward. b

RICtIArtD by the Grace of God, &c. To all our
subgetts greting. Knowe ye that We for the surnme
of x'. marcs of lawfull money of England have solde
the keping and mariage of Anne Salveyn doughter
and heir of Sir John Salvayn Knight to our trusty
and welbeloved William Husse Knight our chief
Justice of our Benche to have the said keping and
mariage of the said Anne to she come to the age of
xvj. yeres: of which summe of t . marcs the said
William hath paled to us the Day of making of thise
presents viij c. and 1. marcs so that the said William
awefl to us of the said summe of i . marcs but only
c i. Of wlrich summe of viij c. and 1. naarcs we con-
fesse us the sd King to be paled and the said Wil-
liana therof agayns us to be discharged by thise pre-
sents. And over this we promitte and graunt the
 MS. Lansd. Brit. lIus. V. art. 30.  Harl. MS. 437, fol. 5.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

109

said William by thise presents that We shall war-
taunt and discharge the said William his executors
and assignes agayns all men that herafter shall pre-
tende any title accion or demaunde for the said
Custodie and Mariage agains the said William, his
executors or assignes in any maner forme. And also
we graunt to the said William that if the said Anne
dye or she eo,ne to age of xvj. yeres and be not
maried by the said William his Executors nor As-
signes nor by noon of them sold, that then we shall
repay and content the said William the somme of
vj c. mares of lawfidl money of England. In wit-
hesse wherof to these presents We have put to our
signet and subscribed them with our hand. Yeven
and written at our Citee of York the viii% day of
Septembre the first yere of our Reigne.

LETTER XLIV.
dames the Third of Scotland to King _Richard the
Third, desiring a safe-conduct for certain Lords of
his realm to come in embassy to conclude a tYaee.
[HAIL. lUS, 433. fo1. 248 b.]
THE KING OF SCOTTS' LETTKE SENT UNTO THE KING.
RIGHT excellent hie and mighti Prince and right
trusty and welbeloved Cousin We commennde us
right hartlie unto you, and we have ressavit yo  ho-
norable lettres written at your Citye of York the
xvij. day of Septembre present vnto vs by our Pur-

ll0 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
sewant Dingwe]] and understande the contynue of the
same. Aud we, remayning and abiding in the good
purpos and intension till observe peax amite and con-
corde with all Cristen nations and in spal with your
Serenite to the emples r of God and the enschewin of
the gret dampnage folowin on the Verr to the ac-
complesiament of the good of Peax aboue expremit
whilk shuld be envait be all Cristen princes, desiris
that your saufconduit for certain Lords spirituale
and temporale of our II.ealme tocum in our Aanbas-
sait and Legacionne within your leahne to cgmone
avis and conclude the appointements of luf amite
concorde and peax betwixt your leahne and oures
and the leigis and subditis of the same :. lIarveland
in a part that it liked not your Cousinage to sende
your saufconduit with our said Pursewant. How be
it he haid in Writ the names of the Lords and per-
sonnes whilk we desired to be put in your saufcon-
duit to thentent abouewritten. And that it wald
emples r. your Cousinage that certaine spialte and ab-
stinence of Werr war taken betuix your tl.ealme and
oures by land and see to the xv. day of the moneth
of Marche next tocum; that in the mesne tyme amite
concorde and peax may be avisit appointit and con-
eluded betwixt your Commissioners and oures in your
presence to the emplesur of God and the good public
of bath the Iealmes. And we have ge3rn to ore-
Pursevaunt Dyngwell the names of the Lords and

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 1 1 1

persons with uthers whilk we desire your saufeon-
duit to be gevin to, to thexpedieion of the good of
peax aboue expremit.
Right excellent hie and mighti Prince the blessed
Trinite have you in keping. Written under our
Signet at Edenburgh the sixt day of Nouembre.
JA,IYS R.

LETTER XLV.
King Richard the Third's answer to the I(i 9 of Scots
concerning the Safe-Coduct which he granted ; but
stajing the zlbstietwe from War desired in the same
Zetter, till the arrival of thO Scots Embassy.
RmnT high and mighti Prince right honourable
and welbeloved Cousiu we recomaunde vs vnto you
and whet it hath pleased your Cousinage to addresse
unto us your honorable lettres written at Edinburgh
Ne xj. day of Nouembr conteynyng the good pro-
pose that ye here to the weele of peas betwene thies
both loyaulmes and that for the more spedy achiev-
ing of the same entent ye have desired a safe eonduyt
by vs to be made and graunted to certain noble and
discrete persones spirituell mad temporell of your
loyaume to be sent lfider in ambassiade, whos names
have be deliuered vaato vs and our Counsaill by your
servaunt and perseuant Dyngwell. Aad ouer this
that ve wold assent vnto a certain abstinence

114

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

teyndors, and receiving and wering of ly-eres of
clothing, baieux, b and of signes contraric to theffect
of the statutes by our noble progenitors heretofore
ordeyned and stablished in that behalve, gret and
many divisions and inconvenientes have risen and
growen in diverse places withiu this our royme, to
the gret troubles and noyaunee of our subgiettes of
the same; and speeiali now of late amongst you
within our said Towne, by evyll disposed Gentihnen,
Jamys Gyse, John Burdet, Edward Brigge, and other
in making assault upon our Officers ; a Constable of
our said Towne not only betyn and grevosux maym-
ed but also therby in dispare of his lyff, as it is to us
showed to our full gret displeasur. XVherfore we
voll and charge you that if ye have committed theim
or any of theim to prisoun ye do suerly kepe theim
their without baille or maynprise, to suehe tyme as
ye shall understande of our ferther pleasure in that
behalve ; and if noe, to endevoir you therunto ; and
over this that ye in no wise from hensfurth surf_re
any person dwelling amonges you in ore- said Towne
or Fraunehises, for to use or were lyverey of cloth-
ing, bagien, b signe, or other eofisaunce of the yefte
of any manet persone, of what estate degre or eon-
dieion soever lie be, but onely oures ; and that upon
the payne of forture of your liberties and fraun-
ehises. And if ye shall knowe any presumyng or
b badges.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

117

and to the wele and honor of theseid Churche, but
also, besides that, to do unto us and our reahne
goode and acceptable service, have oft revolvide
this lnater in our mynde, and rype remembraunce ;
and by good leysure and deliberacion, beholdyng in-
wardly, amongs all other, the profound cmmyng,
vertuous conversae'dn, and th'approuyd greate wis-
dom whiche the right reuerend ffaflmr in God our
right trusty Counceller, the bysshop of London, ex-
perimentally is knowen to be of, have therfore and
for other his manyfold vertuusues and merits, named
hym as a person mete in our opynyon unto the
foreseid dignite: Wyllyng you therfore to procede
in your elecc'6n of theseid reverend ffather accordyng
to this our nomination. Vherunto we licence you
by this presents; not dowtyng but that ye shall
haue in hym suche a spirytuall pastor and gouerner,
as by his demeanure God shalbe singulerly pleased;
We and our reahne well seruyd; and )'our seid
Churche hououryd and avaunced. Yeven vnder our
Signet at our Castell of Notyngham the xv. day
of August. BY THE KYIG.

LETTER XLVIII.
The Earl of Suffolk to Thomas I(illingworth.
[STAT. PAP. OFF. MISC. CORRESP. 3 Set. vol. vi. 25. Orig.]
*** A few Letters are now to be laid before the reader from Ed-
mund and lichard de la Pole in their exile. Of lichard de la Pole

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 1 19

The subsequent and less fortunate part of his history is thus re-
lated by Hall.
"A few months before the marriage of Prince Arthur, Edmond
Poole, Earl of Suffolk, ,v ,v ,v ,v  being stout and bold of courage,
and of wit rash and heady, was endited of honricide and murder,
for slaying of a mean person in his rage and fury. And although
the King pardoned him whom he might justly hae condemned for
that offence, yet because he was brought to the King's bench barr
and arraigned, (which fact he reputed to be a great rnain and ble-
mish to his honour,) took it seriously, and shortly after, for this dis-
pleasure, fled to Flanders, without any lycence or safe-conduct
given him of the King, to the Lady Margareb his aunt on the mo-
ther's side. Nevertheless, whether he was stirred by his privy
friends, thereunto moved by the Kiug, or whether he, trusting on
Iris uuviolated truth, feared no daner nor penalty, he returned
again and excused hinself so to the King that he was thought to
be gilt-less and inculpable in any crime that could be objected to
him ; and therefore he was permitted to go frankly at his liberty
and pleasure.
" But when this marriage of Prince Arthur was kept at London
with great pompe and solemnity, add that all the nobility were set
on pleasure and solace, and the King himself was principally given
to joy and rejoicing, this Edmond, either for that he had been at
gn-eat and excessive charges at the same triumph and solemnity, and
by reason thereof sore charged with debt ; either solicited, allured,
and provoked by that old x enomous serpent the Duchess of Bur-
goyne, eer being the sower of sedition and beginner of rebellion
against the King of England; or else stimulate and pricked with
envy, which could not patiently with open eyes see and behold King
Henry, being of the adverse line to his lineage, so long to reign in
wealth and felicity; in conclusion, with his brother Richard, fled
again into Flanders.
% % % %
"When the King understood certainly that this Earl was depart-
ed and returned again, he was not a little vexed and unquieted, mis-
trusting that some new tumultuous business should be begun again;
and chiefly therefore blamed himself of foolish folly that he had
given him his pan'don for his oftnce, lately committed. Although
it was manifest enough that he did it for this purpose, that he might
dissemble and wink at the matter so long until such time he had

lq0 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

be the wheehe I have no comfort, and here I ly in
gret peyne and pouerte for your Grace, and no
manet of comfiort I have of your Grace, nor ofi non
other, nor non ys comyng as ffere as I can see.
Wherfor I pray God sone to send me owte of thys
worde. 
Sir as for the mater thatt I sent yow worde of, ye
sent me worde ye cowde do nothyng therin for be

eawse ye were in the Kyng of Castells handys, and
the salne answere I have made, and as sone as I haue
any worde of hyt I shall in fiorme your Grace ther
of. Sir I have put a wey all my ffolkys, and the
brynger here of can shew you in what danger I am
in. Sir be nay trowfla ye dele fiery hardly with
me, I beyng your brother, in many thyngs. I
knowe not what the menyng ys as God knowyth,
who preserve your Grace. At Akon the iiij day of
Jenefi Be your louyng brother

To my lorde my Brother
be thys delyuered.

RYCHARD SUFFOLK.

LETTER LIII.
Tle arl of S,ffollc to oe whom ]e addresses as ])on
Peter; one of ]ds Igents. *
[IBID. vi. 24. Orig.]
DON PETER, yt ys SO I vas gon hovt of Vaggene,
as ys thaken 'a gane as hare of rend kane chove  yov.
k world. * she'a

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 181
I prae yov go to the baster b and chov yt hem and
chore hem as I choved yov thovcheng the K. of
Chaste]s. I void be at the K. comanhnent yet
so meyer I be came. And also I ded vryt so to the
stoverd c to cheve the K yn leeke voes. d As for
thest kaves I came hovt the drovset e bade comande-
ment from the dovke of gelders that I chovd chepe 
my logen and goe to the chevrs, g and corn to my
logen a gane, wches conlandnlent the lrovset e vele
nat tele me And I theke yt Also I hade varneng
that the K and the dowke of gelders stravee yn ther
vryteng. And of the pes wyches the K sade yt
vas after hone vae, and the Dowke of gelders sade
a noder vae, and hone grevffone a sarvant of the K
vas come to the Dowke of Gelders to .comand the
Dowke to corn to the K as he hade promest, and
ale thest ded the drovsseet e tele me vane I came a
gane to the ton wches a vold nat tele me before.
Also the Dowk of gelders has thaken I men mot
yn to the ton of Waggone mot thane ther vas, bovt
the le be the ferre as yov go to Nemeygger yard.
And also I bade hone come stresP' fle same dae
fi'ome the Douk and he sede planle that ale the
Dowk of gelders sarvantes sad planle he vold nat
comtotheK. As long as theKof romesys ther,
v t gret verdes, i J-ld thest mend) nat vele for me,
' Bastard. e teward. a in like way.
 Dro88aard, the sheriff or governor : the name in the Lowlands for a magistrate.
t keep. g the Lord CheTes.  .traight.  words. . meant.

134 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
that the Dowke of Gelder had comandet hem that
chovld nat goe hovt of my ]ogen and to the chovrs
so I se vele yn vat choks I stand yn a pone the K.
of Chastle promes and ys conchele, e
Also I have sent the stover to the K. to chove
the K. ef yt so happned that I rare hovt of the
Dowks of Gelders hamtd vor so meyer I ver I vele
be at ys corn mand ment remember thest vele.
And also I proe yov speke to 'ovenker flovrems and
sa I strest he vele remember me as my strovst ys
yn hym. John treste it ys
EDMUND SUFFOLK.

LETTER LV.
lhe Earl of Stolk to Thomas Killingworth : appa-
rentlg after the death of his aunt, the Duchess of
Burgundy.
[11311), iv. 22. Orig.]
ToAs Kvw I have reseved yow letter
and ao v flovrens, do your best to be cover of that
mony of my lade my nantes  and also make as et
laber as yov kane to my lord de Fienneove wches
ys nay lades detter for the CCC. floxwens, and make
yov yowe cheelf hone of the ymevercete of Lowen b
and wtyn cortespas  yov chale chore more of me
 cocil.  5Igaret Duchess of Burndy ed at Ies  1503.
b lake you yos one of the University of Louva.  short space.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 189

nectlegens that brovt me vers fl'ome the K, that I
chovld pevte no dovt yn hem, he vas my govd lord as
vold do for me manne thengges, bovt I kane not
parsevffi-e yt, bovt I be her to my pane and chame,
as also spent vat I kane get of nay frendes, as I have
notheng bovt fret vogaler, vet be e I hame as a mane
hondone be y'oms ......
And also my broder leeke to be de leveurd to K. H.
or elses be dreevffen be forens to for chake me, or
els to be clame yn the tone of Acern be the berges,
and ale be the resone of my be yng her yn presone,
vet I mae nat goe to my fl'endes to fend the remede,
nedder for my broder note for mychelt; vet for my
thenke and ef the K rare a vatted of me and my
broder, heve ve stond and ale be the reson that I be
her at commandment. I port nodovt ys gras vele have
some regard vat danger my broder ys yaa, for my
cheelef e I deser nat so gret hast, bowt after that
manet as I sente the K. vord be roderekee de lae
lane g and also be the baster and be the stowerd, vet
of I prae yev to thake gevd regard. And chore my
lord Fennes and nay lord Vele as the be noboule
mene, to remember ther promes vches the made me
for the K. as the rare nobovle men. Yryten the
xxvij dae of November. ED3IUND SUFFOLK.
To the basterd Os kerc
and tomas kelle grac.
 whereby, f self.  Roderic de la Lane.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 141
meet vehes of yovr sarvants that yov vele have mae
come at yovr plsser. And wtyn xv daes yov sale
her better tedeng. EDblUND SUFFOLK.

LETTER LIX.

Riclmrd de la Pole to Erhard Bislop of Liege.

IBID. vi. 18. Orig.]

*** Erhard de la Marck, Bishop of Liege, was afterwards Car-
dinal and Archbishop of Valencia. He was the friend and corre-
spondent of Erasmus, and in great favour with Charles the Fifth.
He died in 1o538. His life was written by John Chapevill, a canon
of his Cathedral of Liege. See also Ciaconii Vitae et Res gesta
Pontif. Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalium ; fol. Rom. 1677, tom.
iii. p. 421.

DIGNISSIME Presul Princepsque illustrissime Ego
tota cordis affectione dignitati vestr me recoffendo
plurimas benignitati v. referendo gratias propter
illum amorem, benevolentiam favoremque quos ill m.
v. gratirt cum Domini fl'atris mei .... humanis-
sime ampliavit. At michi reverrt incertum non est,
quod et nonnu|la alia beneficia ob nostri intuitum
et amorem D. v. II1% in eo largissime operatrt est,
pro quibus onmibus Immortales paternitati v. gratias
sumus habittu'i. Et sicuti per v. gratiam cure eo
honorabilissime inceptum est, ita (ut res expostulet)
perseverare dignetur humillime queso. Et hoe unum
pro firmo sciat amplissima v. gratia quod et domino
meo fratri michique profecto (durante nobis vita)

LETTERS

OF

THE REIGN OF

HENRY THE EIGHTH.

146 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

ships; of which 52 were to be captains, 5171 soldiers 50 masters,
4015 mariners, and 440 gunners. The Admiral bound himself to
do such service on the sea as the King's commission should enjoin
and limit, during the King's pleasure. To have for his wages, diets,
and rewards, 10s. per day; his captains, 18d.; every nmriner and
gunner, 5s. per month, without any other demand for wages, saving
certain dead shares, as they were called, and rexx ards to the gunners
for every particular ship. The King promised to victual the whole
b) a rate agreed upcn under his own hand. This victual was to be
by Indenture delivered in each instance to the captain of the  essel,
and it was to be distributed to the King's best profit, and not
wasted. Of all which wages, &c., the Admiral was to hae tile
pay, with a month's advancement, by the hands of Sir Thomas
Windham, treasurer for tile wars for that service, and so from
month to month. The ships were to be fitted out as the King and
Council should think best. Inasmuch as that the King victualled
the army, the Admiral was to answer him half of all manner of
gains that he or his retinue should make by land or water; with
all prisoners being Christians ; one ship of two hundred tons, fur-
nished and rigged ; and all artillery in any other ship taken.

IAISTER AMNER in my hartiest wise I ca I
recoifaende me unto you, certifiing to you that I am
now at the wx'ityng of this nay Lettre in Plimowthe
rode, with all the Kyngs fleet savyng the shippes
that be at Hampton, wich I loke for this yght, for
when I can open of the Wighth I wolde nat goo in
but sent a shippe of Comptons to cause them to
con-e in all hast, and the wynde hath byn ever syns
as good as was possible.
And as for our Spanyards that shuld come oute
of Themys I here no worde of them, Godde sende
us good tydyngs of them.
Sir I thynke our besynes wilbe tried wyn v. or .

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

147

days at the furriest, for an hulke that cam streight
from Brest shewith for a certente that ther be red)
coiyng forward a c. shippes of warre, besids the
galeis, and be prest uppo the first wynde" and sais
that they be very well trymmed and will not faill to
cone owte and fight with us.
Sir thies be the gladdest tydyngs to me and all
my capitayns and all the residew of the Army that
ever cam to us. And I trust on Godde and saynt
George that we shall have a fair day on them, and I
pray Godde that we 1jogger no lenger, for I assure
you was never army so falselie itailled; they that
receued ther proportion for ij. monthes flcsche can
not bryng aboute for v. weks, for the barells be full
of salt. And when the peecis kepith the nowmbre,
whet they shulde be peny peces, they be scante
halfepeny peces. And wher ij. peces shulde make a
messe, iij. will do but serve. Also many cure owte
of Temys but with a monthes here, trustyng that
the Vittelers shulde bryng the rest; and here
coiYyth none. I send you word for a sewrty here
is not in this Army one with another past xv.
dais.
Sir the Kateryn Fortileza hath troubled me be
yonde reson, she browght owte of Themys but for
xiiij, dais vitaill, and no vitelar is cone to helpe
her. And so have I vitailled her, with beere, ever
sens. And so bryngs my vitallyng bak, for it is no
2

ORIGINAL LETTERS, 149

in her and left unstopte, that the water cam in as it
wet ill a sere. Sir this day I have all the ealkers
of tharmy on beer, I trust by to morow she shall be
more stanche.
Sir wher ye write to me that ye send hois to take
our pipes, Sir thei ar such men that they wolde
throv them that ye sent with the vitaill ouer boorde.
And when the Pipes hath been brought and they
goon from us they throw them over horde, and goth
ill to Flawnderes. Sir I know no malmyS propor-
tion but myn awne, nor one Capitayn knowith what
his purser hath receued, for we lafte all our pursers
at London to hast furth our vitall, and nother here
we of our pursaris nor our vitaillis. And well I
vote that I have geven such ordre in dispendyng of
our vitaill that ther was never Army so straited, nat
by one ch-ynkyng ill a day, with I knov well hath
byn a grete spmjng, but for all this we be att issew
that I shewed you befor.
And wher as ye write that it were no reason that
the Kyng shulde pay for his awne good, Sir I am of
the same opinion, but Sir or ever I had knowlage of
any man, the delyverars of vitell had receued dyvers
foists of diverse Shippes, and geven the stewards
iiij a for every toon drawyng, with I thought a pa-
relouse example. Howbeit one that Atclif sent for
the sealyng of eertayn Commissions for the takyng
and preservyng of the foists showed me that maister

150 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
Atclif had coifiaunded thegn to pay every mon iiij d.
for the drawyng of a ton. And Sir, if that had nat
byn I shulde have seen all delyvered withoute any
peny takyng; but Sir never mea complayned to me
of any such thyng. Sir, all the vitaill that shall
coine to us let it come to Dartmouth, for ther it may
lie redy for us ; and sewre inough Sir therys moche
vitall at Sandwich, and they have no vessels to bryng
it to us. Fill some of yo r Spa3yards shippes ther
belies full, iij or iiij of them will cary moch, and
spare not to spende vitaill apon us this yere; for
with Godds grace the fleete of Fraunce shall never
do us hurte after this yere. And if they be so redy
as the Hulke hath showed us for a certente, I trust
to Oodde and seynt George that ye shall shortlie
here good tydyngs. And how so ever the mater
gooth I will make a fray with them if wynde and
wedor will serve, or x. days to an ende; therfor I
pray you recoifiende me to the Kyngs noble Grace,
and show hym that he trust no tydyngs till here
worde from me: for I shalbe the first that shall
know it if I leue, b and I shalbe the first that shall
sende hym word. Sir I pray you recoende me to
the Qwene's noble Grace. Ad I know well I nede
nat to pray her to pray for our good spede and to
all good ladies and gentlewomen, ad to my felawes
Sir Charles and Sir Henry Oilforde, and Sir spe-
b live.

156 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
be off trewth I shall ponyshe them that all other
shall take ensample, t assevryng you that I see
veray few or none, grete nor small, that vith their
wills vold go agayne to the trade. What the cause
is as yet I can not say, but shortly I trust to se
the danger be so grete as I am enformed off.
sechyng you that the Kyngs Grace take no dis-
plesure with me that I tary here so long, for I as-
sewre you no nan is so very theroff as I: and before
Thursday it shall not be possible for us to depart.
What for takyng in off vitell, wherof a grete part as
yet is un come, and also I fete we shall have moche
a do to get our Sou]diors a horde. Also, the Anne
Galaunt is in suche case that she shall not be able to
go to the See this yere. She lieth here on dry
grownde, and in her stede I have takyn another. I
vold wright to you off many other causys, but that
I woll not tary the post no longer: and iff the
Kynges lettres come to Plymouth when I am gone,
I shall leve one to bryng them after, vith Godds
grace, who kepe you. Scrybeled in gret hast in the
]Iary Rose at Plymouth half o r after xj. at night
the vii. day off hIay. YC owe

To Master Awhnosner w t
the Kyngs Grace.

THOMAS HOWARD.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 157

LETTER LXIII.

Thomas Lord Howard to lYolsej. The dijficullies
which he has to encoutter as Lord 4dmiral.

[IBID. vi. 158. Orig.]

[ASTER ALMONER with all my hert I recomande
me unto you. Gode Master Almoner I have fownd
you so kynd unto me that me thynk I can do no les
then to wright unto you fro tyme to tyme of all my
eausis. So it is, thogh I be unable flerfor, it hath
plesed the.Kyngs Grace to yeve this grete rome a.nd
auctorite more mete for a wise expert man then me.
But sith it hath plesed his Grace to admytt me
thereunto, as fer as my pore wit can extende, I shall
endeuor my selff fl'o tyme to tyme to do all maner
of seruyce wher I shall thynk to deserve his most
desired favor. And gode master Almoner as my
most synguler trust is in you, sind me both now and
at all other tymes your gode advyse and consell, as-
sewring you that never pore jantihnan was in gretter
fere to take rebuke and ill report then I am of suche
as know t not what may be done, with generally be
the grettest nombre, and for many causis, of wich I
shall reherse a part. 'urst I well perceyve what
reports both this yere and the last was made off my
brother, whom Jhesu pardon, because ther was none
other servyce done consyder'yng what grete charges

158 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
the Kyng was at in kepyng so grete a navye on the
See. And I well know that I, nor no man hath
better will nor more hardely durst serve his master
then he, as the proffe hath shewed; and as for expe-
rience I am yet fer fl'o that he had, and yet his for-
tewne was not to have at all t)mes the best report;
many men puttyng fete what he durst do, with
opynions the day off his deth he well proved untrew.
Alas Master Almoner I se not now how I shall
eskape such reports, for I can not se how I may do
any plesant servyce to my Master: ffor I see hoe
ways but one of the too. The one is that at my
goinge to Brytaynge my fortewne myght have be so
gode that either I myght have brenned the shippes
at ]3rest castell, or els to have dystroyed the havyn
there with drownyng of shippes as I have before
wryten unto you. Vich enterprises beyng debated
before His Grace, and such dangers as I thoght
myght therof ensew by me declared before His
Grace, I shewde his Grace I durst not enterprise
the seid feats onles that His Grace wold discharge
me iff any mysfortewne fell by the same: and then
hys Grace bad me not spare to adventure the same,
and to go with his Armye in to the grete water of
Brest. And now sith his departure hens my Lord of
,Vynchester and my Lord Lizle hath deuysed upon
the seid enterprises, and yesterday called me unto
them and coiaunded me in the Kyngs name not to

enter the vater
Kyngs plesure,

ORIGINAL
of Brest
for grote

LETTERS, 159
till I knew further of the
causis wich they wold ad-

vertise the Kyng and his consell off: and so this
matier takyng none effect, I se no way how I shall
deserve thank oneles the Skotts and Danys joyne
vith the Frenchmen, without whom I never thynk
we shall fynd the Frenchmen a brode : and therfor I
beseche God that shortly they may joyn, wich onely
may be the savegarde of my gode name. And gode
Master Ahnoner iffye se sewerly that the Skotts and
Danys come not, let me have licence to discharge all
this armye, save only the Kyngs shippes, with whom
the Navie of France wol not fyght this yere. And as
for the Spanyards here, I assewre you [they] wold fayne
be at home ever sith they here of the trewes. And
thus most hertly I beseche you, iff my mysfortewne
shalbe to do no acceptable servyce, to be menys for
me to the Kyng and his consell to consider that never
man endured more payne then I shall do, to se all
other wher they may do gode seruyce if they woll;
and I can do none but his enemyes woll adventure
as well as I. And for Godds sake let lfis Grace and
his consell coffiande me to some herd enterprise to
se if I woll folow the same, being in dispah-e, save
onely off the Skotts and Danys coyng.
Master Ahnoner all the premisses and all other my
causis I renfit to your wisdome, ffully trustyng that
ye woll not onely fro tyme to tyme yeve me yo r gode

160

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

advyse and consell, but also with yo r frendly words
withstonde all ill reports undeserved made of me,
as my synguler trust is in you: and thus o r Lord

liave you in his tuicion.
v. day off Juny.

To Master Almoner
xvith the Kyngs Grace.

Scribled at Hampton the
Yo"asseuredly
THOMAS HOWARD.

LETTER LXIV.
Edmund Howard, third son of Thomas second Duke
of Vorfolk, to Cardinal lYolse!/; overwhelmed in
debt, and entreatin 9 for employment in the -ing's
service.
[IBig. ft. 160. Orig.]
My duty remembryd, hmnebly I beseche yoe
Grace to be my good Lorde, for with owt youre
aceus helppe I am uttyrly ondone. Syr so yt is
that I am so far in danger off the Kyngs lawys by
reasone offdet that I am in, that I dare not go a
brode, nor cume at myn owne howsse, and am fayne
to absent me frome my wyffe and my poore chyl-
derne, ther ys sotche wryts off excecuseons oxvt
ayenst ; and also sotche as be my suretes ar
dayle estyd, and put to gret troble, whytche is to
my gret shame and rebewke. S ther ys no helpe
but throwgh your Grace and your good medeane
to the Kyngs Grace, in the whytche ys my synguler

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

IGl

trust: and your graceus favowre showyd onto me,
in the opptaynyng of thys byll that I now doo labyr
for, shall not only be merytoryus but shalbe the save
garde of my lyff and releffe off my poorc wyff and
owre x. chylderne, and set me owt of det. And
humebly I beseche your Grace for sotche poore
servysse as I have done the Kyngs Grace, and trust
for to doo, that I be not cast awaye; and if the Kyngs
Grace or your Grace showlde coiYaunde me to doo
ey servysse I wolde trust to doo exceptable servysse;
and levyr I had to be in his Grace' servysse at the
farthyst end of Krystendolne then to 1,eyff thus
wretchydly, and dy with thowght sorowe and care.
I lnaye repent that evyr I was noble roans sone
borne, ledyug the sorafull lyffe that I leyff, and if I
were a poore roans sone I myght dyg and delve for
my levyng and my chylderne and my wyffys, for
whome I take more thowght then for my selff: and
so maye.1 not doo nove but to gret reproche and
shame to me and all my blood. Syr yff there be
eny creature levyng that can laye to me other trea-
sone, murdyr, ffellony, rappe, extorseop, brybre, or
in mayntenyng or supportyng of eny of thes, and to
be approvyd on me, then let me have the extremety
of the Kyngs lawys; and I trust ther shall none
laye ayenst me eny thyng to be approvyd to my
reprotche but onely det. Syr I am enformyd ther
shalbe a vyage made in to an newfounde land with

162

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

dyvyrs shypps and cappetayns and sogears in them ;
and I am informyd the vyage shalbe honerable and
profytable to the Kyngs Grace and all hys reame.
Syr if your Grace thynk my poore karkes eny thyng
meet to serve the Kyngs Grace in the sayde vyage,
for the byttyr passeon of Kxyst be youe my good
lorde ther in, for now I doo leyff as wretchyd a lyffe
as ever dyd jentyhnan beyng a tru man, and nothyng
I have to leyff on, nor to fynd me my wyffe and my
chylderne met or drynke; and glad I wolde be to
ventyr my lyffe to doo the Kyng servysse, and if I
be put ther onto I dowt not but I shall doo sotche
servysse as shalbe exceptable and redownd to hys
Grace honowre. And Syr I have nothyng to losse
but nay lyff, and that I wolde gladly adventyr in his
servysse trustyng therby to wyn sume honeste, and
to get sumewhat toward nay levyng; and if yt shall
pleace the Kyngs Grace to have my body doo hym
servysse in the sayd vyage, humebly I beseche your
Grace that I maye know your pleasure therin. Syr
I ensure you ther shall noth3nag nor nother fl'end
nor kyn let me, but with a wyllyg heft I w3Tll go,
so yt shall stand with the Kyngs pleasure and yours.
The Kyngs Grace beyng so good lorde to me
throwghe your good medeacne as to yeve and as-
syne my byll the whytche I now doo sew for, or to
set me owt off det sume othyr ways. S)" I beseche
your Grace to pardon me that I came not to your

166

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

sumus, nonnullis jam nostris litteris, vestre Sane-
titati signifieare peculiarem nostram devotionem, ac
ferventissimum studium m-ga Sanctam Familiam
Fratrum Iinorum de Observantia; sed eerte af-
fectum nostrum reete exprimere non valuimus, qui
lieet tantus sit quantus esse potest, minor tamen
nobis videtur dicte falniliw meritis, in qua Chris-
tiane paupertatis, synceritatis, et charitatis exem-
plum nostra sententia maxime elucet hme nostra
sacra Fmnilia a divitiarum spinis, que multos fru-
giferos olim agros jam totos obsident ; adhuc munda
jejuniis, orationibus, saerificiis, hymnis, summa vitw
puritate, sunnna pietate, summis quoque laboribus
diebus ae noetibus est oecupata, Deoque peeca-
toribus placando ac reeonciliando intenta. Porro
adversus vitia, nulla alia religiosa Familia tantopere
tamque assidue preliatur; nulla ad Dominici ovilis
custodia tam multos anilnososque eatulos produeit:
quare ean omni favore eomplectendam, juvandam,
ampliandam, honestandam, et quasi virtutum plan-
tarium deffundendam esse censemus. Cui rei nos
pro virili nostra omnem operam damus, et quanto
possumus patrocinio dicte Familiw semper prmsto
sulnus; ideoque nuper intelligentes earn ejusdem
quidem nominis, sed minime ejusdem observationis,
qui Conventuales appellantur, eontinenter vexari
precipue super nonnullis Conventibus in Provineia

OIIGINAL LETTERS.

171

THOMAS LINCOLN. EPISCOPUS VENERABILI C(ETUI
ET CONGREGATIONI REGENTIUM ET 1NION-REGEN-
TIUM UNIVERSITATIS CANTABRIGIENSIS, S.P.
PtEDDITE mihi fuerunt Litera vestra a Viris
prmstantissimis, qui, ut intelligo, Remp. vestri
Gymnasii hoe anno curant administrantque, quibus
nihil gratius,-nihil jucundius esse debuit: utpote
prm se ferentes summam erga me Benevolentiam
atque Amorem. Detulistis enim mihi ultro eos
Honores, qui apud vos sunt suprcmi et houorificen-
tissimi: cure nondum quicquam tale de vestra Uni-
versitate meruerim. Studebo igitur, non solum Gra-
tias quas possum maximas vestris Humanitatibus
agere, sed etiam dabo operam, ut quam sapissime
(si quibus in rebus possum) non tam vobis pro mea
virili gratificari, quam de omnibus et singulis ves-
tre Universitatis (ubi locus et tempus erunt) bene
mereri. 5lulto plura ad vos scribenda decreveram,
si non meum anhnum multa, et magna negotia
Regni et Regis occuparent, quo minus id facere im-
presentiarum ]iceat. Quamobrem reliqua in man-
datis, vestris Magistratibus, horum latoribus, dedi,
vobis exponenda. Quibus earn fidem habere ro-
gamus, perinde ac si coram ]oqueremur. Valete.

Totus ad Vota,
T. LINCOLN.

Ex adibus nostris
Londini 2 Jun 0, 1514.

I2

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXIX.
Richard Pace to Ilrolsej. The Cost of the Cardinal's
Bulls.
[STAT, PAP, OFF. WOLSEY'S CORRESPo IX. 93. Orig'.]
MOST reverende fadre in Godde aftre most hum-
ble commendacions I have recevide your Graces
letters datide at London the xxv. daye off August,
conteignynge your Graces des)we enempst the pay-
ment off oon Mh.ccLx li, for th'expedition off your
savde graces Bullis. My lorde yffe I were no more
favthefid and lox3nge unto your Grace than thoos
were that didde signifie unto you that I schulde have
that summe off mony in nay handis off my late
Lordis gooddis, your Grace schulde be greatly dis-
sevidde and hyndrydde in th'expedition of your sayde
Bullis: for upon my faythe and conscience at the
receptt off your Graces lettres i hadde not oon duc'
off my late lordis in my hands, nodre the banke off
Grimaldis, nodre none odre hadde ony mony off my
sayde lordis: and all the stuffe that was lefte in my
handis at the departer off Mr. Burbanke bi inventari,
accomptyng desperate detts, doithe not amounte to
the summe off me askydde as itt doithe evidently
appere bi the aceompts; because that i can not sett
sum thyngis as they be estemidde, as is cloithe sent
owte off Englande, nothynge set by here because the
colors off them be not goodde ; yett not wythestond-

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

173

ynge all thies difficulties I, beynge most desirose to
accomplysche your Graces desyre and connnaund-
ment, have made suche schyfte bi the helpe off my
frendis that I have payede unto the Banke off Gri-
maldis iiij . due' off golde for the sayde expedition
off your Graces Bullis. And because ther doithe
lake sum money off the summe desiridde bi your
Grace, I wull kepe for the same certayne ryche vesti-
ments and an altare cloithe off golde whyche stuffe
didde cost my late Lorde v c. due' off golde. Farther-
more I do vryte at thys tyme unto M r. Burbanke
for to presente unto your Grace oon odre ryche
cloithe off arrace and sum odre thyngis wurthy to be
gevyn unto your Grace. So that bi the sayde
smnme off mony bi me payede, and thys forsayde
stuffe, your Graces desyre schal be undoubtidly ful-
fyllidde or verraye litle lake, vhich I have wretyn
to M r. Wythers for to supplie.
And as touchynge your Grace's desyre that goodde
respecte and consideration schulde be hadde unto
your places hyche be fallen into great decaye, thys
your Grace's petition is undoubtidly veraye reason-
able. For he that doithe occupie and exspende the
gooddis off the Churche schulde off dewtie and con-
science see diligently that the byldynges apperteign-
ynge unto the same schulde be conveniently re-
parydde and upholden. I do wryte at thys tyme
unto M . Wethers off this matier, and as principal

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

executor namidde in my late Lordis testamente, do
consent fully that goodde respecte and consideration
be hadde hereunto, not oonly for the contentation
off your Grace's mynde, but also for the welthe off my
late Lordis sowle. As for M r. Burbank I doubt not
but he wull consent to all thynge determinidde bi me.
hly Lorde your Grace schall undrestonde that I
have to the uttermust off my pover accomplyschydde
your desyre, for the love oonly and faythefulnesse
that I do owe unto your Grace, and not inducydde
therunto bi ony mannys crafty wrytynge or promise
made unto yov: for hi r. SVethers hadde none au-
toritie for to make ony pronfise for ony mony to be
payde off my late lordis gooddis beyng in Itali,
for he is not executor for the administration off the
gooddis lefte bi my sayde late Lorde in Itali ; but I
alone and Mq Bm-banke : and all thre in Englande :
and as for me I am nodre bunde to geve hym
compte nor none odre off the gooddis lefte here.
Albeitt to thintent that yore- Grace maye evidently
see boithe my faythe and substantial dealynge, I
wull that yow be pryvey to every thynge lefte here:
and as touchyng mony, whatt was lefte, itt doithe
appere bi the lettres testimonial of the bancar in
whoos handis itt laye, whyche lettres your Grace
schall receve wythe thies: and also oon odre ]ettre
frome my lorde the Cardinal Surrentineii to whome
my Lorde in hys dethe bedde didde confesse whatt

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

175

sunme of mony he hadde in Itali : and as for thex-
pences funeral and odre necessari thyngis afire my
lordis dethe, secundum ritum ]omace Curice itt
schall appere bi suche substantial acconpts as M .
Burbanke haithe home wythe hym.
]kIy lorde, for as touche as i have here nothynge
in naner lefte, and have hadde greate labors and
paynes wythe in perdie off my lyffe synst the dethe
off my late lorde (whoos gooddis diverse fals men
doithe aske off me wrongefully, bryngynge in fals
wyttnesse lyke them sells) I must most hmnbly de-
syre your Grace to be goodde lorde unto me in com-
maund:oge M . Wethers to see to me accordyngly
boothe for the goodde and faytheful service I didde
many dayes unto my late lorde; and also for the
fayth he hadde in me and th'auctoritie that he didde
put me in in hys last wylle, so that I have not
fumum tantummodo nagni nominis, sine .fructu et
utilitate by reason off myne absenee.
As touehynge your Graees most kynde wrytynge
in ofiryng unto me promotion, and wyllynge to ad-
mitre me unto your serviee, I trust to be as hable as
ony odre belongynge to my late lorde to do unto
your Graee aeeeptable serviee, odre vythein the
realme off Englande or wythe owte itt. I ean no
lesse do but reeommende most lowly unto your
Graee any late lordis bredren, kynnesmen, and vomen,
vythe all odre hys servants, to thintent they be not

176 ORIGINAl', LETTERS,
deprividde off suche legaces as my late lorde didde
bequest unto them. For i hadde rather have no
parte off hys goodds, that evyr itt schulde be sayde
bi ony mau that i for myn owne private profecte
wolde hyndre ony kynnesman or servaunte to my
late maister off the value off an halle peny. As
knowithe all myghty Godde whoo preserve your
goode Grace in longe helthe and continual prosperitie.
Frome Rome the x off Septembre .D.XHH. By
your Graces humble servaunte and headman.
Post scripta. Aftre the wrytynge off my forsayde
Lettre I founde the means to paye for th'expedition
off your Graces bullis oon M li RICItARDE PACE.
Thys post departide so hastyly and so unwarly
that I couithe not have the Cardinal of Surrentes
lettres afore namide, nodre thoos off the banke of
Saules. ]3i the nexte post your Grace schall not
fayle to have them.
Reveren. in Xpo patri ac Domino D. Thomse
Lincolinen. Episcopo et Electo et Domino
suo colendissimo.

LETTER LXX.
Pace to ll'olsey in continuation of the former Letter.
[IBID. IX. 92. Orig.]
MY Lorde I hadde forgoten to wryte i nay longer
Lettre that the Popis Holines doethe owe nnto rae
vii c. duc' off g olde for so touche plate hadde off me,

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

177

whyche mony I have desiridde for thexpedition off
your Gracis Bullis ; but I can gete no peny theroffe.
Wherfore thoos flat didde wryte unto me that nay
late Lordis gooddis schulde be sequestrate yffe I
didde not content your Grace I volde they schulde
cause the sayde vii c. duc' to be sequestrate. They
neadide not to fere me vythe no suche vurdis ; for
I was more redy to accomplysche your Graces de-
syre than they, as all honest Englyschemen in Rome
can testifie. As for the poysonynge off my late
Lorde Cardinal itt haithe bene in the handis off
the gretest lernidde men in Rome, and determi-
nidde bi the most parte off them that my sayde
Lorde vas poysonydde in suche manet as is com-
prisidde in the commission of hym that didde itt,
sende by me unto the Kyngis Grace. I maye not
wryte herin that I do knowe. The Bishoppe off
Worcestre haifle marvalose grete favor ad occul-
tandam z'eritatem. Sed immortalis Deus tam hor-
rendum seelus eidetur odisse. Die xi. Septembris.

LETTER LXXI.
Richard Pace recommending Wolsey to seek the Car-
dinalte.
[IBID. IX, 87, Orig.]
*** It might be supposed from this Letter that Wolsey's applica-
tion to be made a Cardinal originated in Pace's suggestion ; but
5

180

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

and to take flere waye towardes Lorene. And the
Frenchmen bi there lies haith confirmidde the same.
And thoghe that I am well assurydde that thys is
but a faynydde matier and especially touchynge the
sayde archiars, as I have sufficiently dcclarydde, yitt
thys nation is verraye e71 contentidde wyth the
herynge theroff. And theye be wurse contentidde
wyth thys, viz that the Frenche Kynge haith wretyn
hydre, flat I am hcre othcr for to make hym Era-
pcror, or els the Kynge my mastre for to let the
Kynge off Arragon off his intent and purpose. Your
Grace maye knowe herby in what case I do stonde.
I have no neade off thys frenche troble, for I have
to touche besidis that, wyth lytle bodyly helth, bi
the reason off most feruent heats whyche we have
now here. Iterum valeat D. V. R m.

To my Lord Cardinal's Grace.

LETTER LXXII.

.'5"cholas West Bishop of Ely to Cardinal IVolsey,
on the dilapidated state in which he found his Ca-
his I'isitation. State of the Fen at

thedral at
tl3sbeach.

[IBID. xvi. 8-1. Orig.]
*** Nicholas West reeeised the temporalities of the See of EI
May 18 1515. He died April 28, 1533. Notxxithstanding the pro-
speet of poverty held out in this Letter, he is recorded to has e lix ed
both at Ely and elsewhere in the greatest splendor of any prelate of
his time : entertaining in his thmily constantly a hundred domestics

18 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

versally drownyd and under water: in somuche that
he that in a lytell tyme past myght spend a hundreth
poundes by yere, may nott art thys day spend xx u.
as the Inhabitauntes ther credably hathe informyd
me. Wherfore I purpose by the grace of God and

the Kyngs Highnes flavor and yours, to spend
touche parte of thys summer for the remedy and
help of the same by the advyse ad cownsayle of

the wysest, the ayde and the assystance of the re-
manent of the inhabytauntes ther of the Cowntreth,
ffor yf yt be nott helpyd thys Soier I ffere me, and
so the conqon opynyon ys, that yt wyll never be re-
coverd; wherby the See of Ely schold lose yerely
art the least ffyve hundreth marcke, besyde the
great and importable losse of many other gentylmen
and coYoners whyche surmowntythe the fforsayde
son-ie of v c. marke. And allbeyt the charge wyll
draw abo'e a M . mark, and that I art this owre owe
the soiree of xiii i. c & 1 i. and have not in my handes,
as God be ny juge, ffully the sonde of c . Yet for
the Coition welth, trustyng upon your flavor, and
the goode help of the Countreth, I wyll enterpryse
the matter thowgh I shold sell all the Plate I have,
and nyght and day putt all my study and dylygence
for the attaynyng of my purpose ; ffor yf I be nott
present my syllfe, thei have so many froward heddys,
and wyth that thei loke so touche upon their singular
proffetts, and be of so dyverse opynyons, that yt wy]l
never take eflecte. Wherfor I eftsones hartely be-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 183
seche your Grace to be goode Lord to me and the
Countreth in thys behallff; and that I may for thys
pyteous cawse a whyle tarry emongyst them for the
spedy remedying of the same : Moreover your Grace
knowythe that by your comawndement I made an
ende wyth Syr John Stanley for myn implements
and dylapydacyon, in the whyche ende we concluded
that Tyllesley the other Executor scholde gyve me
CC li. and Syr John Standley ys bownden to nle in
an Obligacyon of a Thowsand marcke for to ayde
and assyste me for the recovery of the same. And
my Lorde I have now before you in the Chauneery
the sayde Tyllesley in seute for the same SUl-i-m.
Wherfore I hartely beseche you to be my goode
Lorde and consydering my povertye, great charge
and dett that hangys upon nay hand, ffavorably to
help me to recover my sayde Dett, ffor on nay con-
scyence a thoxvsand poundes over and above that I
have receyved and schall rece)we wyll nott repayre
and make up the decayes of nay Manoers and ffermys,
besydes the mtreasonable spoyle that hathe ben
made by the Executors in the sayde Manoers. And
thys att the reverence of God, and I wyll dayly as I
am bownden be your trexve bedeman by the help of
Jhu who have you in hys tuycSn, ffrom Wysbyche
the iiij t day of Aprill.
Y chapelayn and bedman NI. ELIEN.
To my syngular goode Lorde my Lorde
Cardynall Chaunceler of Inglond.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXXIII.

Richard Pace to ll olse . The King determined not
to ] ave l] e Prior (f St. Bart] olomew's made Bishop
of St.
[,to. ix. 7. Orig.]
%* A part of this Letter will bring to the reader's mind the short
Inscription which William of Wykeham Bishop of Winchester
placed upon several parts of i indsor Castle when he reinstated
that fortress fir Edward the Third. ' Hoc fecit Wykeham."
Wolsey was correct in stating to his master that Hem'y's predeces-
sors had often rewarded their clerks of theworks ith bishopricks;
but Henry's reply that such rewards were given uot for their skill in
building only, but "for some other great qualities (as profound learn-
ing) annexed unto the same," had more  it of sound remark. " Ne-
err etess, says Pac% ' His Grace saith that he is content to re-
member the said Prior's labours with some other smaller promotions
than bishopricks."
The Prior of St. lIartholomew's whom Wolsey would have pre-
ferred on this occasion, was William Bolton, who came to that oce
in the 21st of Hem-y VII a.o. 1505. Wee,er, in his Funeral
nents, p. 434 says, " He was a great builder and repairer of
the Priory and the Pm'ish Church, and of divers Lodgings belong-
ing to the same : as also of new he builded the Manor of Con-
bury (now called Canbury) at Islington, which belonged to the
C, anons of this house. This Bolton, and the rest of his brethren," he
adds, ' were portraied upon a Table sometimes hanging in this
Church ; now it is in Sir Robert Cotton's Library ; holdg up their
hands to a crucifix, under whom these erses were depensiled.
Guclmo Bolton precibus succuite yes,is
Qualis erat pater hic, 9omus hc, et ctera monstrant."
The only preferment subsequently acquired by Bolton was the Rec-
tory of Ham'ow in Middlesex, to which he was instituted in 1522.
Here also he is said to have exercised his skill in building, and, ac-
cording to Hall, suhiected himself to popular ridicule.
"In thisyere" (says Hall, 15th Hen. VIII. n.9. 1521,) "Through
Books of Ephimedes and Pronostications made and calculate by

186

OIIGINAL LETTERS.

your Graces lettres he was myndydde to geve the
sayde bushoprycke to a freer, and doith still per-
severe in the same mynde sayynge that your Grace
doith knowe the sayde freer to be a grete lernydde
man and an honest man: and that bi thiese ij. qua-
lities he must have bctter knowliege off the cure off
sowle than the sayde Prior, in whom he doith not
knowe suche lernynge. And where as yore" Grace
doith make mention in your lettres off diverse pre-
sidents off the Kyngis predecessors declarynge howe
theye dydde promote unto lyke dignities the Maistres
off" there werks: hys Grace sayeth that itt is not
lykely that they so dydde for thys qualitie oonly that
they couith goodde skele in byldyngs, but for sum
other greate qualities (as profounde lern:0age) an-
nexidde unto the same. Nethelesse hys Grace say-
eth that he is content to remenbre the sayde Priors
labors wyth sum other smaller promotions than
bushoprychis. Hys Grace wolde not name the sayde
freer unto me, but itt is suerly Standyche : to my
greate discomforte in so touche that I dydde neuyr
wryte Lettres in my lyffe more to my displeasor than
thiese : parte for your Graces causes, and parte for
the sayde Priors, whoo is more wurthy to have
greter promotion than thys, than is the other to be
in lyffe. Sed Priciptm ,oltntatibus arduum est
refragari. Your Grace schall reeeve agayne suche
wrytyngis as ye desyrydde to be remyttidde. Valeat

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 187
felicissime Rma. D. 1 . C,ti .me htmil. Commen. et
trado. Ex Abendon xiiij. Aprilis.
E. D. V. 1 me. fidelissinlus Servus
RI. PACEUS.
To my Lord Cardinall's Grace.

LETTER LXXIV.
Pace to IYolsey. The Iig himself reads all the
contents of lYolsey's pacqtets. tppoiMs Dr. Sta,d-
ish Bishop of St. _/Isaph.
[IBID. ol. ix. 6. Orig.]
. What Pace conjectured only in the preceding Letter is an-
nounced from autlority in this. Henry Standish was selected by
the King himself, in opposition to $I olsey's wishes, for the bishop-
rick of St. Asaph. He was of the eacient family of Standish still
flourishing in Lancashire ; became a Franciscan or Gre) Friar at an
early age ; and studied in the ('on ent of his Order at Oxford. He
afterwards became Warden of the Grey Friars in London, and sub-
sequently Provincial of the Friars Minors. He was also, at one
time a suffragan bishop, under the title of" Camarensis."
Anthony a Wood and Bishop Tanner are both at fault in their
dates of Standish's preferment. He was appointed to the see of St.
Asaph, not in 1519, but in the middle of April, 1518 ;a and conse-
crated, not as Wood supposes, at Oxford, in the Church of the 3Ii-
norite Friars, but by Archbishop Warham at Otford ii Kent, on
July llth following.
Wood ascribes a several Sermons" to hiin "preached to the peo-
ple ;" and a Treatise against " Erasmus's Translation of the Nexv
Testament." No Sermons, howeser, by Standish are to be found in
the libraries in England, nor any such Treatise as Wood attributes
to him, against Erasmus.
The reader is, doubtless, aware that Erasmus had the distin-
guished honour of gising to the world the first edition of the New
 MS. Lansd. 979- fol. 141.

190 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXXV.
Dean Colet to Cardinal lVolsey for the promotion of
the Under-3laster of his School to some Ecclesias-
tical pre.ferment.
[IBID. iii. 59. Orig.]
%* The person for whom Dean Colet here solicits was John
Right,vise, a native of Sale in Norfolk, who married Dionsia,
William Lilly's daughter: and who succeeded Lilly in the Head-
nastership of St. Paul's School in 1522. Hatcher, in his History of
King's College, sa) s, '" He made the Tragedy of Dido out of Virgil,
and acted lhe same, with his scholars, before Cardinal $I olsey with
great applause." He .died in 1532.
Rightise xas eminent as a grammarian. He revised, corrected,
and made sone useful additions to his father-in-law's Latin Gram-
mar ; adding to it the portions known as the "Propria quw maribus"
and " As in prsenti." Lille's Grammar, so improved, came out
at Antwerp in ]533, the )ear after Rightwise's death. " Guilielmi
Lilii granmmtici et poete eximii, Pauline Scholae olim Moderatoris,
de Generibus Nominum ac Verborum Preteritis et Supinis Regulae
Pueris apprime utiles. Opus recognitum et adauctum cum Nomi-
num ac Verborum Interpretamentis, per Joannem Rightuissum
Schole Pauline Preeceptorem. Antverpie apud Michaelem Hille-
nimn, An. 1533" 12too.
No date is given to this Letter : but it could not hax e been later
than 1519, as Dean Colet died in that )ear.

Rme. pr. Is a quo accepisti has literas est hypo-
didascalus et submagister Schole nostra owamrna-
rices, Vit bona litteraturee et proculdubio eximie
honestatis. Is habet quod agat cum R m" P. tua.
Egit mecum ut ad tuam presentiam aliquem aditum
habeat per meas literas. Pro tua bonitate dignare
admittere homhaem facile ad conspectum tuum, vti

192

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

the pillor of Cristendome, I vold that your highnes
had the connyng'est men in )-our royal service that
eoude be tbunde in any parties ; for as your highnes
best knoweth oon comyng man is worthe many
other, for the whiche and it please your grace I have
had nowe of late comuuicacion with the said master
George gonner, and for the slak payments of wages
that is alwais here, he wol not in no wise serve any
lenger here, and he is right wel mynded for to be
again in your most royal service. And also a son in
lawe of his a Spanyard born, Micht is a good artiller
and also conyng in orgons and diverse instrmnentes
of nmsike ; and in case your highnes shal please for
to take the said 3I  George and his son in lawe into
your royal service, and your highnes geving to the
said master George for himself a noble by the day
during his life, and twenty pence sterling by the day
to his said son in lawe, they therin knowing the
pleasure of yore Grace wol repaire to your royal
presence, and  il bring their wives and children with
them into your Realme of Englande, notwithstand-
ing that they have land and housing in these parties
and do dwel in the toun of Medyna de Roy-secko
where as the almyrant of Casti[le] dwelleth and
there is holden two fayres in the yere, to the whiche
some of your subgettes of London do repaire. And
it please your Grace the said master George de-
sireth for to have the knowlege of the pleasur of

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

193

your highnes in that behalf by the fifteenth day of
the month of may next eomyng, for otherwise he
wol go to serve the King of Portugale, who by his
letter whiche, and it please your Grace, gretely de-
sireth the said master George for to eolne to hym.

LETTER LXXVII.

_Richard Pace to Cardinal lYolsey. The King has
ordered Letters to be written to the Bishop of Lon-
don, for Pace to be preferred to the Arehdeaeonrj
of Colchester.
[sA. eAe, ovv. wo.sv's coaase, ix. 68. Orig'.]
PLEAS itt your Grace vhen the Kyngis Highness
hadde harde me saye that your Grace was so dis-
seasydde wyth the Murre that ye eouith not holde
uppe your hedde his Grace answerydde formally
thiese wurdis folowynge, viz ' Alas, I am sory ther-
fore, and I wolde be gladde to see hymn,' whyehe I
sayde sehulde be assone as your Grace myght go
owte off your dores.
My Lorde Marquys made thys daye sute unto the
Kynges Grace for to obteigne hys lettres to my
Lorde off London for the preferment of hys broder
to the Arehdiaeom'y off Colehestre, and the Kynge
askydde hym the value theroff, and he answerydde
that itt was wurth yerly an C. marks: then the
VOL, I. K

19 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Kyngis grace sayde (as he hyln selfe reporteth) that
itt xvad more meate for hys a Secretary, than for hys
brodre ; and that he wolde wryte for me therin- and
immediatly comaundyde 5I r More to provide that
hys lettres lnyght be wretyn and sent to my sayde
Lorde off London, vythowte ony nay intercession or
knowlicdge; wheroff I thoght itt convenient to cer-
title your Grace, and most humbly to desyre the
same to be my goodde Lorde therin. And thus
Jesu preserve your Grace in longe helth and con-
tinuall prosperitie. Wretyn at Grenwiche thys xiij
off Fe. By your Graces most humble and faythfull
servant RI. PACE.

To my Lorde Legats Grace.

LETTER LXXVIII.

Richard Pace to my Lord Legate. His interview
with the }ig at Penshurst, whom he found play-
ing with the French hostages. The I-ing's intention
to remove to Otford.
[IBID. ix. 12. Orig.]
*** In the 10th and llth of Henry the Eighth certain hostages
were left in England for the payment of the sums of money agreed
upon for the delivery of Tournay to the French ; "whose names,"
says Hall," were Mounsire Memorancy, Mounsire Monpesart, Moun-
sire Moy, Mounsire Morret. Of the which four, the two first named
were of noble blood ; but the two last were but of meane houses.

The King's. -

196

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

As touchynge the Popis holynesse, I schewede
unto hys Grace that off iij. hys orators ij. undoubt-
edly were corruptidde bi the 'renche Kyng, express-
ynge the reasons and evident causis whye. Whet-
unto his Grace sayde thies wurdis formally interra-
gotivc, " Bi the masse!" Yeuynge firme credence
unto the same: so that I trust verray]y that all that
matier schalbe layede unto the sayde orators, and
not to the Pope.
At'tre thys communication, his Grace sportidde
wyth me meryly off my jorneye in most lovynge and
fanfiliare maner, and that doon, went to sopar, and
spake off me many better wurdis than I have or can
deserve. Other thynge have I none to advertise
your Grace off, but that the Duke of Bukkyngham
makyth unto the Kynge here excellent chere. Thys
nyght the Kynge schall lye at Otforde. Your Grace
shall receve wyth theise My Lorde Stewardis byll
signydde. And thus Jesu preserve your Grace in
longe helth and continuall prosperitie. Vretyn at
Penshurste thys xi. off Auguste. By your Graces
most humble and faythfull servant

To my Lorde Legats Grace.

RI. PACE.

198 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
off the plage. The sayde %Vhytynge
thcm answere that S. Kateryns was no

made unto
meate place

for them to dwell in. And he also causydde cerche
to be made by a Physitian whider the sayde ser-
vante were syke off the sayd plage or nott And itt
was founde that he hadde no such syknesse. And
the Kynge havynge knowliege off thys there sus-
piciose dealynge, causydde them to be conveyede by
Sir John Dauncy to tim house affore namydde under
the color off eschewynge off the greate syknesse, by
themselves devisydde. And thus theye be there,
wythoute suspicion, well and honorably interteignydde,
and secure espiall is layde in places meate for there
suet kepy3ge. And thus Jesu preserve your Grace.
"Vretyn at Gylforde thys xxviij off Aug. By your
Graces most humble and faythfull servant
RI. PACE.
To my Lorde Legats Grace.

LETTER LXXX.
Richard Pace to lYolsey. The Iig has received
Letters from, my Lady ]Iargaret. Dean Colet " in
extremis."
[IBID. ix. 66. Orig.]
PLEAS itt your Grace M. Hesdyn desirydde me
thys daye to advertise your Grace that he haith re-
cevidde lettres from nay Lady Margarete conteygn-
ynge that the French Kynge makyth extreme labor

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

199

that the Kynge off Romaynes schulde passe bi hys
reahne in to Ahnayne, and offrith for the suertie
off hys parson to yeve hostagis the Qwean hys wyffe
and all hys chyldren. And the sayde M. Hesdyn
thynkyth that itt is necessari for thys respecte, that
the bushoppe of Elua, arrividde howe at Grauishende,
be well enterteignydde here at hys furst cmynge, to
thintent he schall have none occasion to wryte othre-
wys than well.
M . Dea off Paulis haith lyen continually synst
Thursdaye in extremis and is not yitt dedde. 
Thus Jesu preserve your Grace in long helthe
and continuall prosperitie. Wretyn at Londbn thys
xj off Septem. By your Graces most hulnble and
faythfull servand ri : PnCE.
To my Lorde Legats Grace.

LETTER LXXXI.
Pace to IVolsey. Tlte King ]tat] good -pastime by
new _player on the Claricordes.
[). ix. art. 60. Orig.]
PLnAS itt your Grace in a Pacquett off Lettres
directidde to my selfe owte off Itali and comyn to
my handis thys mornynge, I founde ij. Lettres di-
rectidde to your Grace, whyche I sende unto the
same herwyth.
a He died of the sweating sickness, Sept. 16, 1519.

ZOO ORIGINAL LETTERS,

The Kynge haith noxve goode passe tyme bi the
newe player uppon the Clavicordes b that M. Roch
porte haith broght wyth hym (whoo playith excel-
lently) and like wyse bi the gentilman off Ahnayne
whoo was wyth hys Grace at Vudstoke, and haith
howe broght hydre a newe goodde and goodly in-
strument, and playeth ryght well uppon the same.
1,7em .faciam it istrumentis 'lIsicis, qMa aliud nihil
scribedum it 2)resenlia habeo. And thus Jesu pre-
serve your Grace in longe helth and continuall pros-
pcritic. Wretyn at Wyndesore thys iiij off Octo.
By your Graces most humble and faythfull servant
RI : PACE.
To my Lord Legate's Grace.

LETTER LXXXII.

T],e i)uke of S,ffolk to Cardinal lYolseff, in far'or of
the Abbot of St. lenet of Hulme.
[BD. vol. xi. pt. i. fol. 232. Orig.]
*** The Abbot of St. P, enet of Huhne, to whom this Letter re-
lates, must have been JOHr IlEDYE, who was made abbot in 1510.
He occurs in 1518, and again in 1522. We hae no mention of his
deprivation : so that it seems more than probable that he was not
deprived. His successor was William lleppes, alias Rugge, D.D.
who received the temporalities of the Monastery July 14th, 1530.
Six years after which, being promoted to the See of Norwich by
virtue of a private act of parliament, he parted with the lands of his
bishoprick to the King, in exchange for the revenues belonging to
the Abbey of Hulme and the Priory of Hickling.

b See the Second Series of these Letters, vol. i. p. 272 ; and the Privy Purse
Expenses of Elizabeth of York, Index and Notes, p. 187.

O0 ORIGINAL LETTERS,
and loving tovards the Quene and me in thies
parties. YVherein, my lord, I assure you, in my
mynd ye shall do a gracious dede, and bynd him to
pray for you his lyf enduring. And thus our Lord
haue you my very good lord in his blessid tuycion.
Ffrom Norwich the vij day of January
by yovres assurd
CHARLYS SUFFOLKE.
To my Lorde Cardinall.

LETTER LXXXIII.
IYte Earl of lYorcester to Cardiltal IYolsey, respectig
a proposed enterprise against Richard De la Pole.
[l|S. COTTON. BRIT. MUS. CALIG. D VII. fo1. . Orig.]
*** From the moment that Henry the Eighth had executed the
Earl of Suffolk, he spared no pains to get Richard de la Pole into
his power. De la Pole had entered the ser ice of Louis the Twelfth,
and, the French historians assure us, took part in the battle of
Guinegate against the English. According to Du Bellay he had the
command of six thousand Lansquenets. a
Previous to this, however Henry's desire to obtain the surren-
der of him was well known. The Cottonian MS. Calig. B. vI. pre-
serves a Letter from Lord Thomas Dacre to King Henry, dated
Carlisle July 20, 1512, in which he acquaints the King that James
the Fourth was desirous of peace and had written to him to that
effect, "Amonge which I perceyve;' lie says, "by his seid writing
to me send, that if he may knowe it wer your mynde and pleasor
that further laubor be by hym made, he wold send up the Bishop of
Murray to your Grace, and soo further as well to the Frenshe Kyng,
for the delyvere of Richarde de la Pole your rebel and traitor, as to
laubor the Popes holinesse and the Frenshe King with other
Princes for oon universall peace. ''b It is followed by another Let-
a Du Bellay, Memoires, fol. Par. 1588, p. 6. A.D. MDXII.
b Cott. MS. Calig. B. w. fol. 32.

206 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

was in conmunycacions with the gowerneurs. Apon what materre
he cannot tell.
" Item by cause comonnely the inhabytans of Metz been Bor-
gognons, and that they see him to be intertenned and favored by the
Frenche King and all his frendis there, many saythe that oone day
tile) shall so fire therby.
" Item that being Yakes with oone borne in Luxemborg of his
aqueinlance, the whiche serveth here to fore Rychard de la Poola,
they mete with soom of his lmwse, and talking tog)dre Jakes hyerd
like wordis as the poste shewyd towching the French King mynde
to warde the sayd Rychard, and how of late he hade receyved trye
towsand crown) s of golde oute of France.
" Item that the sayd Richard ha)the with him xvij or xviij
personnes.
"' Item that dayly he maketh banketts unto the prinsypals of the
town.
" Item that his serventz sowght to bye smalz horsis.
" Item that haythe contynualy soom body going to and fro.
" All the premyssis I have caused Yakes to reherse in the pre-
sence of the M r of the Roll) s, who taketh him for a discrete man
of his degrey. At Bruxells the xxiij th day of Yune
by me THOIIAS SPINNELLY. '
"Sens the servant of the 5I r of the Posts that went to Metz hath
ben with me offring to intercepte the lettres that cumme from the
French King unto Rychard de la Poole, upon a condicion that he
shall ha e in handes C. gowldin g)ldins, and CC. when he delyuere
the sa) d lettres to me. If tile King mi Master is pleasid with the
bargeyn% upon knowlage therof I shall agrey with the said Yekes
" Your humble servant
THOIIMAS SPINNELLY. '
Spinelly to Wolsey 5 .lulylS16. COTT. MS. Galba B. IV. fol. 96.
" Yesterday Hans Nagle shewyd me that John Dyrike van Ret
broder -ueth him knowlege that Rychard de la Poola is gon in to
France again. Wherfor I haue caused the servant of the 5I r of the
Posts dwelling in ...... in Lorryne and bryng to me the cer-
teynte therof.
" Also the sayd Hans saythe that Sir Georgy Nevel is desyred
to go to France and by reason of his poerte, and that he can not
opteyn his pardon frome the King, he wol go shortly.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

said Marques .... cosyn. And the said King promyside vnto
h) m . . wolde soo doo.
" He saith also that itt is determyn)de by the ...... foure
parsons shalbe sentt secretlie into England ..... re by crafty
and cautelous meanes ithin the . . . his grace shalbe abiding, to
thextent ( hich God ...... distroy his most noble person, and
all odr thcr beinge . . . the said persons for this their execrable
factt shuld . . . of the said Ric. foure thousande frankes. Inter-
roatus conatusficiendi et interponendi. He saith when the ....
more shorter. Aud the primysses he saith that he know3th . . .
that is nmste secret about the saide Iicharde and the Kings trew
and faithfull loer, who hath promysed fro . . to advertise his Grace
by sore means and specially this she . . . secret intencons of the
said Ric. a3 ansthe his said Grace."
Whatcer might be lichard de la Pole's intentions, those of
Henr3's emissaries were not far behind, as the Earl of Worcester's
Letter,  hich follows, will shew.
Mr., afterwards Sir .lohn, subsequently Lord lussell, was, at the
time of the riting of this Letter the deputy-go,,ernor of Tournay.
He journeyed with a 3I. Thubiam ille to Lorraine to receive the pro-
position of a Scheme for taking De la Pole, alie or dead ; a scheme
which probably could not have been kept secret had it been plotted
within the walls of the city.

lish myles out
gentihnan that
them, and from
Burgoyne nigh
woll tarye till

h'YNE especiall gode Lorde in my most humble
wise I recomaund me unto your Lordship. This
day is Tybanvi]le and Russell come home, and have
ben in Lorayne at Saint Nicholas wiche is iijC. Eng-
of this towne as they sale, wher the
shuld do the entreprise mett with
thens is gone to his owen hows in
one honderd lnyles biyond, wher he
he have aunswer of that he bathe
shewid to them soo that he may have it within this
moneth. Of his mynde, and howe he will take this

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

proposed to be carried into execution. The intention was to seize
lichard de la Pole when he went into the field to hunt the hares or
to see his lmrses : and as he usuall had one or two of the chief per-
sons of Metz, and sexen or eight attendants with him, it would be
necessar) to lmst spies in cq)nceaimenl to obserxe hint. Some delay
it is stated, might be occasioned by tile weather, as De la Pole went
into tile fichls only xhen it was fine or fi'osty. De 51atte was to
make tile attempt at the first opportunity. The captain of the
guard ill the txn was in concert xith him, and should any alarm
reach lhc autlmrities, anti they ordered the captain to go after the
I)erl)etrat,,rs , he wouhl set the pursuers on a a'ong track. If I am
unable to take him xx ilh ease, he adds I will send fir trusty agents
fi-om lIurgnn(ly to aid me to make. an end of lhe matter by force.
The third division states that Russell and Thubianville promised
l)e Malte lhe go.d x ill of the Chamberlain to let hint live in Bur-
gundy, and also lettcl'S of tile ('lmmberlain, of the Sieur de Pouignes,
and their wn. Adding that as for news on theirjourne) they stop-
ped at Pont a Mousson, fiur leagues fi'om N ancy, where the Grand
Commander of the Hospital of St. Antlmine sent to enquire who they
were. They sent word they xere on a pilgrimage to St. Nicholas.
He invited them to sli l) at his house ; and after supper, among other
things, he obserx ed that there was an English Prince in those parts
whom he greatly pitied, and to whom he had been of service. That
he (Richard de la Pole) had obtained, by the interest 0f a certain
Count of [ erman), pensions fi'om the King of France and tile Duke
of Lorraine, and also enjoyed am)ther from the King of Hungary.
But that the said Count claimed half of all these pensions on the
ground of a promise front De la Pole, for the use of his iuterest ; and
that he, the Commandant, had adjusted a disagreement between them
on this account. He told them, too, on enquiry, that Richard de la
Pole was entertained by the King of France and the Duke of Lor-
raine, that they might obtain front him early advertisement of any
design on the part of the King of England of an inxasion of France.
The pay proposed for this enterprise was so enormous, and the
probability of its failure so ex ident, that there can be little doubt but
that it x as immediately abandoned. Richard de la Pole fell a few
years after at the battle of Pavia. fighting for France ; his death
relieved Henry from fear, and was perhaps the only consolation af-
forded to hint front a Victory which at once destroyed the proper
balance of the States of Europe.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 213

LETTER LXXXIV.

Edward Duke of Buckingham to Sir Edward Cham-
beriejn respeetin 9 the latter's claim to the J]fanor
of Penshurst in. Kent.

[MS. EERTON. BRIT. IIUS. 1049. fo1. 1. Orig.]

* * The name of Chamberlain as connected vith the manor of
.
Penshurst by an intermarriage, in the time of Henry the Fourth, is
incidentally mentioned by Hasted in his History of Kent, vol. i. p.
409 ; but no fitrther clue is given to the claim on the part of Sir Ed-
ward Chamberlain, which is here acknov, ledged, but, as far as the
editor can learn, is no where else alluded to.

RIGHT welbiloved we recommend us unto you.
And touching youre clayme to the Manor of Pens-
burst, and other owre londes in Kent, to the which
ye require to be restored as youre heritage, We do
you to wite that according to owre premise made at
Woodstock, we have caused youre hole tytle to be
examyned by our Councell; by whos advise we ar
content to allowe you a covenable recompence, which
we do not somuch for doubte of youre title, as for

that we sett more by a frende then enny profitt or
comoditie. In regard wherof, we have appointed
Sir Thomas Eude our Surveyor to comon with you
both for recompence of your title, and also for the
assurance to be made on either pattie; to vhom
you may geve full credite in our behalve. From

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 217
wher I offerd his Grace at my departyng, bifore you
my Lorde, that I wolde be redy at all tymes to serue
his Grace aswell byyonde the see as athisside, with
as goode wille and herte as any subiecte or seruaunt
withyn his Reahne to nay power; and bieause his
Grace shulde thynk that I intend to performe my
seide promys, I haue therfor written vnto his High-
ness and haue offerd myself to his Grace by the
same to performe his pleasure, and soo to cure vp to
London to prepare me thereunto, though the tyme
be short, vppon answere had from his seide Highnes.
Sithens it is his pleasor to haue me oone of them,
which savyng to fulfyll his Graces eoiaandement I
haue not byn many a day mynded wato, that it may
please his Highnes to appoynt me as oone of his
seide Scholers to ren on his parte, bicause it is longe
tyme sith I exercised any fete therof, and specially
for that in nay mynde I haue avowed neuer to ren
agaynst his noble persone, if I may, ootherwise
do)nge, avoyd his displeasur. Vherfor my lorde
though it bethe matter that I am lothe and darr not
be bolde to troble you withall, yut I shall hartyly
desire youre goode lordsship as nay speciall trust ys
in you that it 1nay please you, nay Lord, to take the
pa)nae at suche convenient leysir as ye may haue,
sumwhat to move the Kyngs Grace that he woulbe
contentid accordyng to my humble desire as ys
aforeseid. And if his Grace in nowise woull chaunge
VOL. I. L

Ooo
,.,...,., ORIGINAL LETTERS.

wyth the wordet, of the best and newest facconne wyth my lord
Cardinalls badgeys, to the valew of xxx i. wyth the facconne and all
for his newyers gyft [and the same to be presented to hym by our
trusty councelour John Scot and yf the same John Scot be seke or
otherwyse letted that he kanne not present the same than] we wall that
Maystcr Thomas W.lloghby present the same and )ff John Scot be
seke [that he] or otherwise letted that he kanne not present the sayd
[cup] goblyt of gohl to the Kyngs hyghnes and the powmaunder to
the Quenes grace ; than we wall that ye order the sayd Thomas
ltylloghby to doo the same ; and yf ye kanne not ha e h)m to per-
forme the premisses as ys afore sayd then we wall ye order [John
Borrell] Thomas W) lloghby to present the new yer gyfts to the Kyng
and the quene and Thomas Barnwell to my lord Cardinal.
" Item that ye herkynge who wall make the beste offer for our
vode at Agmondeshame [and] forasmoche as we wol have wade sold
there to the valw off a c ti. [and] and above, alwey reservynge the fayre
tymber to our aware use, and that ye have Thomas Bynks the car-
pentor of London to come thyther wyth you to helpe to dryve the
moste to our proffyte.
"Item that ye delyver our letters of credence to my Lord Pricey
Seele, the Abhot off Westminster, and S r Thomas Lovell, and to de-
syre them to forbere theyre many to crystemas comme twelvmonth ;
and yf the Abbot of Westm)nster shall desyre further surtys, ve
wall that ye promyse hym to fynde hym more suerty in the b)gyn-
n) nge of the next terme ; and at that tyme we wall ye desyre our
custumers ther to be bound to h)m yf he shall than so desyre.
" Item that ye knaw of my lord Barnnes or in hys absence of
Umptone how moche of the xii C. xx i. ys unpeyde, for as moche as
) t ys  i. yers paste and more syns the Indenture was made.
"Item that ye nmke payment to Robert Amadas for the ports made
for crystyn)nge of my lord of Aburgayven)se chyld, and to brynge
the same w-v. th you, and that ye boroo of the same Amadas for us
agenste c3"stenmas basyns vi., and ewers vi., potts iij. payre,
standynge cuppes ",i., and goblytts xi.
" Item that ye cause our brode Seale to be new made, for the An-
tilops in our brode seale shuld have the cronetts abowt theyre nekks,
and a chene hang)nge by the same, and a rynge atte ende atte same
chone.C
b In the margin, "The worde in Frensh on the cup of gold ' u'yth good ert.' '
 "3Iemorandum for the print in wax."

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

2 o3

"Item that ye ryde by Oxford and there make and cause to be
made there inquire for somme sufficient Prest to be mayster of our
workes, and that ye speke wyth mayster Bentley for the sam% and
to shew hym how my lord Cardinall hath handlede us, wyth all the
circumstance ; and what he hath doone for us ; and how Margarete
Geddynge hath appon her othe declared here sylff, and  hat she
sa) th of Charles Knyvet.
" Item that ye speke wyth my lord Broke yf he be at London, and
to knaw of hym whether the benyfice of our gyft in Calilond be vo)d,
and also that ye have communicatione wyth h)ln for the change off
our lordshype [land in] off Calilond for hys lordshype in W) ltesh) re
called Wardere, acord) nge as we wrote to hym whot grete offers we
have for the same, wh)che we have as yet forborne because of hys
suet made unto us.
" Item that ye speke wyth my lord Ferys for hys furre of sables,
and that )e cause Auchet or Sk)anes to see yt, and that ye dr)ve
the lowest price theroff, and to certyf)e us of the same, and that ye
make serche for blak genytts, and to take the ad))-se of diverse
brokers for the same, and to reteyne therlto put you in knawlege of
suche things as shall comme to theyre hands and that shalbe meete
for our use.
" [Item that ye convey wyth you to Loudone the two knoppes of our
two cuppes of gold, and canse whyt borders to be made aboute the armes
of England in the same.
" Item that ye make payment to Robert Amadas for the ports made
for crytennynge of my lord of Burgayvenyse child and to brynge the
same wyth you, and to boroo for us of the same Amadas.
" Item that ye bowroe of Robert Amadas two payre of candelstyhks
two basyns, two imageys of silver, and a grete crosse for our chapell to
serve us at Crystemas next.]
"Item that ye speke wbth my lord of Burgaxeny and to desyre h)m
[to be] that he woll hae communicacione x ) th Thomas Lewkener to
serve us, and to take charge of our sonne the lord Stafford, and of
suche payments as shalbe made for h)an and to offer hym x ij . oh'
by the day and x li. of tee, and hys wyfe to be in our howse at mete
and drynke, and wageys yf he and she shall so be contented.
" Item that ye require S r John Koke late our Chaplene in our
chapell, and to cause hym to be arested for departynge frome us con-
trary to his oth, and for other h)-s mysdemeanors in our howse.
" Item that ye require lykewyse for Gamme late of our chappell

ORIGINAL LETTERS ....

"Item that ye lede James Owtred whych kept our parke of Pos-
terne .to come to us and kepe our new pa'ke of Thornbury.
" [Item to send oonfro London to serve us to make wafers and to make
wax and to serve us in our ewry.
"Item that ye call appon the Duc of Su2folks counsele for our obli,a-
clone of D. marks reymaynynge wyth to be deliverd to you for that we
payd hyme the same us appereth by hys acquietance remaynynge with
" Item that ye speke with Mayster Lyttester, and where he
shewde us of iij. gentylwomen that be the Kyngs wards and that he
wold acerteyne us whan eny suche wards fell, we woll ye shew h m
that we desyre hym soo to doo, and also to shew you of them for
that we wold bhy iij. or iiij. suche, and that he woibe lovynge to
Pudsay grome of tile Kynges Chamber that he may have oone for
hymsylff.
"Item that ye speke wyth sir Thomas Lovell to be favorable to us
in the same.
"Item that ye delyver our letter of credence to sir William Comp-
ton and to shew h)m that we woll send hys evidence to hym after
Crystenmas, and to desyre that yf he kanne agre wyth the partyse
that the castell of Beverstone and the parke of Wever and the manor
of Tokynone come to hys hands that we may have them of hym in
exchaunge.
"Item that ye delyvere our letter of credence to Mayster C.oun-
troller of the Kyngs howshold, and to shew hym that we be sory
that the kepynge of our parke of Northle shalbe no more proffitable
to hym, and to desyre to send us suche newse as he hath of the
Frensh Kynge and the emproure.
"Item that ye delyver our letter of credence to sir Edward Nevell
and to desyre hym to inquire for some honest man that wolbe our
baylyff of Thonebryge and wolbe bound [tofyn]with sufficient suertys
wyth hyme for the dw excersysynge of tile same office acordynge to
the copye of the bonnd reymeynynge wyth my lord of Burgayveny
and to shew hym that he shal ha,e instructions frome us, and a war-
rant for tymber where he thynketh yt may be best had for the
palynge of the north lanndso
" Item to speke with oon John Clement of London for makynge of
knotts a and devyses in selynge.

The Stafford knots. Eg.

.* ORIGINAL LETTERS.
who eucr preserue yo r Grace. ffrome London this
}Vednesday in Witson Weke.
Your humble seruante
AN DRE'V WYNDESORE.
To my Lo,'de Cardynall Grace
be thys delyuercd.

LETTER LXXXVIII.
.lrchbishop H'arham to Cardinal H'olsey remonstrat-
i 9 against an alleged command from the King's
Council, to have stabling for his Graee's horses to
be kept at livery within the 21lonaster] of Christ
Ch ureh Can terbury.
[IBID. IIlSe. CORRESPo xvi. Supplem. 31. Orig.]
*** From the mention of "the King's Grace and th'Emperors
late being at Canterbury;' in this Letter, the date must be placed in
or about 1.520.
Stowe, in his Summarie of the Chronicles of England, 24mo.
Lond. 1598, under 1520, says," As King Henry was at Canterburie
with the Queene in readines to have passed the sea, hee heard of
the Emperour Charles eomming, with whom he met at Dover, and
accompanied him to Canterburie, where, after the Emperour had
saluted the Queene, his aunt, hee tooke shipping into Flaunders."

PLEASE it yo  moost honorable Grace to under-
stand that I heresay by reaport that a servaunt of
the Kings Grace is come to Canturbery at the cofi]-
aundement of the Kings Counsell (as he saith) to
have stabilling for the Kings horses to be kept at
lyvery within the Monastery of nay Churche of Can-
terbery; shewing no letters of the Kings Grace or

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

o9

other writings: declaring thesaid cofiiaundement.
Suet I am that the Kings Hieglmes and your Grace,
well enformed of the great charges that the said
Monastery hath ben and moost daily be put unto,
wolbe well contented to spar the same frome any suehe
maner extraordinary charges; ffor the said Monas-
tery hath been so burdend with reeeyving and inter-
taynyng bothe of the Kings Graces moost noble am-
basitors and other princes, and of other honorable
personages passing by that way, beside the Kings
Grace and themperors late being ther, besyde also
fynding of men to war, above gret subsidies and
great loneys, that if suehe charges or other lyke
shuld eontynue, thesame mought after be utterly
decayed; whiehe I wold be very lothe to see in my
tyme. And I trust veryly that your Grace for the
gret devotion that your Graee oweth to Christs
Churehe, and to the blessed Martir Sainet Thomas
wolbe contented of your goodnes to putt some
remedy that noo suche newe charges be endueed,
but wolbe so gratious to yo" reliouse bedemen
there as to discharge thayme therof, specially when
the said Monastery standyth far of frome the Kings
Grace contynuall abode, to kepe any lyvery of horse
eofiiodyousely for the Kings Graces use. And also
bieause it was never seen hertofor that any suche
lyvery hathe been kept in thesaid Monastery by the
Kings Graces dayes, or any of his noble progenitors.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

the nobles of A_lmayne be lnynded concernyng the
affaicrs of the Empier; and yet he shulde put the
King to no charge, for he shall have mete and drynke
with me. Wherein I beseche your Grace to knowe
the Kings picas r, for one leshe have coaundement
from the Kings IIighncss, or ells your Grace, neither
he will tary nor I will kepe hym here longer. ,Vher-
for I beseche your Grace, by the next post, in this
small matier to knowe the Kings pleas' and yo .
Other newes then suche as I have written to the
Kyng at this tyme there be not, whiche I shall not
nede to rcpete, forasmoche as the Kings lettres shall
come to the handcs of your Grace. Vhiche Al-
mighty .lliu preserve to his pleas r and yo '. ffrom
Lukc the xij '' daye of Octobre.
By your Gracys most humble
bedelnan CUTHBERT TUNSTAL,

*** This Letter must have been written in October, 1520. Tun-
stal returned from his Embassy to the Emperor in April, 1521.

LETTER XC.
Sir Richard Gresham to Cardinal lIolsej. Under-
takes to procure haffiffs for the Rooms at llampton
Court.
[srr. Pe. orr. wosr's COaaSeODECE, V. 1 10. Orig.]
*** Sir Richard, the father of Sir Thomas Gresham, was born at
Holt in Norfolk, but brought up in London, where he was appren-
ticed to an eminent mercer, who was also a merchant of the Staple

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

sented to Cardinal Wolsey by the Emperor Charles the Fifth. Such
costliness of material would accord well with the splendour of a po-
tentate who swayed not only the destinies of Geanany and the Low
Countries, but of the Gold Provinces of South America. There is
much in the style of Raphael in the treatment of the subjects. One
boy, in particular, appears to have stepped from the Cartoon of the
Beautiful Gate."
This fairy dream, however, is dissolved in few words by this,
and by the next letter but one, from Sir Richard Gresham. Sir
Richard had taken tile measure of eighteen chambers. The price of
tile Hangings would be a thousand marks, or more : and it was ne-
cessary that an imprest of money should be advanced to the weavers.
"The makers of them be but poor men, and must have money to
fore-hand, fi, r provision of their stuff."
In Letter XCI. we hae a Postscript," Your Grace spoke unto
me fi,r certain cloths of gold for to hang your closet at Hampton
Court. I have now some eight pieces, which I shall bring to your
Grace next Week."
Such were the Tapestries of Hampton Court, neither interchang-
ed between Henry the Eighth and Francis the First at the Field of
Cloth of Gold, nor presented to Wolsey by Charles the Fifth ; but
ordered by the Cardinal of the makers, and paid for like his other
furniture.
llY LORDE Jhus.
Yt may pleasse your Grace to wette I have takyn
the messures of xviij. Chambres at Hamton Cortte
and have made a Boke of them that your Grace shulld
sette your hande. And wher as your Grace fade
shuche bessynes that I cowde nott speke with your
Grace, and for the cawsse the Iartte ys alle moste
endyd, I can nott tarre no longer. Your Grace shale
undyrstond that I am departyd toward the parties of
beyonde the See, and at my comynge thedyr God
wyllynge I shale cawse the sayd Hangg3aas to be
made with deligense a cordyngly. And whet as the

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER XCII.
Sir Richard Gresham to Cardinal lFolsej, respecting
the seizure of a Cargo of IF]teat, which, he was
intendig to bri W to ngland, by order of the
Irchdchess Margaret. Has obtained Hagings
qf Cloth, of Gold for the Cardinal's own Closet at
ttaml)ton Court.
[IID. V. 115. Orig.]
PLEASETH yt your Grace to be advertyssed that
aboute the terme of iij. lnonethes passyd, considerynge
grette scarssitie of Vhete to be lyke]y iu this Reame,
I made provisyon and bought in the partyes of
Brabaut ilij M n quarters: whet of I charged liij.
shyppes of the stone uudyr congee grauntyd by the
Lady Margrett Duchesse of Savoy and the Lords

of the Couceyle ther, and payd
with tolles, custmus, and other
wyehe shyppys so beyng charged

the charges therof,
costs accordyngly ;
departyd fi'om the

porte of Andewerpe wher they receyvyd in the sayd
'hete in to Zelland, abydynge ther aftyr the Wynde.
Then cam contrary commandement downe in the
nalne of the sayde Lady Margaret. Soo that in noon
veysse the same Shyppes myght nott departe, but wer
eonstrayned to retorne baeke a yen to the sayd towne
of Andewerpe, and ther to dyseharge in garuetts the
same vhette at my grette eoste and charges: and
compelled me further to paye the whole freyght that

46 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
meam Cant.' lnissum et ibidem decenter ac honori-
flee oblatum attinet: tam loiam tamque sanctam
ejusdem R mac Do iS. V. in olotimmn maximumque
Deum ac gloriosum ejus martirem divum Thomam
in hac parte devotionem nemo profecto est qui non
plurima laude prosequatur atque vehementer extol]at.
Pro quo quidem tanto tamque munifico munere
])reciosissimoque thesauro, in dubie sperandum est
ab ipso omnipotenti Deo lorafatoque ejus martire
(quod omncm terrenam retributionem exuloerat )
vestra R nae Do TM. copiosissime retribuendum fore.
Ego veto et confratres mei Prior et Commonachi
Ecelesim mee po vra R n pa te ob singularem ejus-
dem in hac re benevolentiam summamque liberali-
tateln continuas perloetuasque aloud Altissimum preces
effundemus.
" Quod enim ad ipsa Lutherana damnatissima
oloera attinet, accepi per dictmn D. doctorem quos.-
dana libellos quos diligentissime et legere et notare
curabo ; et ut diligentius id fiat, me quam primum ad
Otfordiam conferam, ubi quosdam Codices Joannis
Wycliffe, non minoris malitie ac heresis quam Luo
therana hereses sint, examinare sedulo studebo : quo
facto ad Lamehitham erga decimum diem instantis
Mensls me recipiam, et sequenti die restrain R n'
D. (uti debeo)visitabo. Et quicquid in iis rebus
mea oloera efficere possit vestra D. R . Ine paratissi-
mmn habebit. Non mediocriter profecto A nglis

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

Quadragesimce att S t. Peters in Oxon. the mooste
seditious Sermoiie that ye have herd of, in raylyng
azenste your Grace and Byshopes for this sequestra-
tion of cvyll prechers, maynteynyng cert.ayn opyn-
yons of Luther, comfortyng erronyous persones in
ther ol)ynyons , sayng Nolite timere eos qd occidunt
co?pus, &c. Applying itt to bold them in the same,
with many other inconvenycnt and unfyttying words
in his said Sennone, whiche I feare me hath and will
doo mochc hurte. ]Vhose Sermone I send hOWe
unto your Grace: itt is that that is wrytcn in Eng-
lishe. Albeytt he didde spek emany moo evill things
then be ther wrytcn, as the best of the Universite
will prove. And they have bound hym by oothe to
drawe his said Sermone, as nighe as he can, as he
spake itt, and bryng itt in by a day. Howebeytt I
feare he will nott a hyde the Aunsvere butt will
rather flee his way. Wherfore your Grace shuld doo
a mervylous good deade straight to send for him to
Bury, that he may be forth comyng to his aunswere
when your Grace shall coaund. Thus I encombre
you with long mater, saving itt toucheth on the cause
of Chrystes chirche, wherein we have oonly you to be
our refuge and comforte. Thus the blessyd Trynyte
preserve ).our noble Grace in long prosperouse helth
and welfare. Writen in Holbor the day of Apryll.
Yo * moste humble bedisman

JOHN LINCOLN.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. O9

LETTER XCVI.

John de Iaia zo, a scalptor, to Cardi tal IVolsey, re-
q testi 9 pa, tdme t for works at ILtmptou Court.
[IB,. viii. Pt. i. 22. Orig.J
*** The origin of the Sculpture at Hampton Court has not been
less misrepresented than that of the Tapestry.
"It is well known," says Mr. Jess% " that Leo the Tenth sent
Cardinal Wolsey terra-cotta Busts of the twelve Roman Emperors,
to decorate his Palace." a
Unfortunately no proof whatever exists that Leo the Tenth pre-
sented Works of Art to Wolsey at any time. But, as regards the
Busts at Hampton Court, the following Letter settles that question.
John de Maiano, a sculptor, writes to Wolsey that, agreeable to
the Cardinal's order, he had made and set up eight terra-cotta
images in circles, at his Palace, painted and gilt, at the price of
21. 6s. Sd. each ; that he had also completed in the same manner
three stories of Hercules, at the price of 41. each ; and that he had
expended more than twenty shillings in setting up his sculptures
making a total amount of 31/. I3s. 4d.; in part of payment of which
he had received ten pounds. Compelled by necessity alone, he
seeches the Cardinal to give orders for the remaining 2t/. 13s. 4d.
to be paid to him. The Letter is dated in 152I.
Of John de Maio the writers on the Arts of the middle Age say
nothing. He was evidently unknown to them. But there were
two brothers of the name; Giuliano and Benedeo Maiano, vho
lived half a century before ; who were well known as sculptors and
architects, and who left throughout Lower Italy, from Florence to
Naples, many splendid monuments of their genius. John de
Maiano was probably a son of one of these Florentines.
Giulio Maiano was employed by Alphonso of Naples, and also
by Paul II. in 1471. b

a Gent. lIag. Dec. 1845.
h Compare, Vasari, Vite de' piu excellenti Pittori, Scultori, et Architetti. edit.
Rom. 4to. 1759-60, tom. i. pp. 300, 450. Cicognara, Storia della Scultura dal suo ri-
sorgimento in Italia sino al Secolo di Napoleone, foL Ven. 1813--1818. tom. ii. pp.
116, 117.

M5

O50 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
R me in X6 pr' &c. Cure ex mandato vestra gratia
fecerim et in vestro Palatio apud Anton Cort colloca-
verim octo rotundas imagines, exterra depictas et
deauratas, pro pretio librarum duarum solidorum vj.
et denariorum octo quamlibet earum; ac similiter
tres historias Herculis, ad rationem librarum quatuor
pro unaquaque: et pro dictis operibus in ipsa domo
situandis etiam expenderiln solidos xx. et ultra:
Qum SUlnlna in totum est librm xxxj. solidi xiij. et
denarii iiij. Ex quibus habui libras decem: nunc
sola necessitate coactus ad vestram R mare DO. conl'u-
gio, rogans earn et obsecrans ut dignetur jubere resi-
duum dicte pecunie mihi solvi: scilicet libras xxj.
solidos xiij. et denarios iiij. prefat. mae Do.V. humi-
liter me commendans; cujus jussis ero semper obse-
quentissimus servus et fidelissimus.
JOANNES DE MAIANO Sculptor.
xviij, die Junij 5.). xxj.
pmo. D. Car li. et supp. pro
Jo. de Maiano sculptore.

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

your good Grace. Pleasith itt the same to undre-
stand I was att Courte accordyng to your mooste
honorable advertyse on Trynyte Sonday, Corpus
Christi Eve, and the Corpus Christi day, whiche

Even the Kyng his Grace vas shryven ; on the morowe
shrevyn and houseled. I mynystred as my veykenes

wold serve, in pontificalibus.
thanke your good Grace, I
good lord to me many vays.

And I mooste hulnbly
founde hyln especiall
_And further itt may

please you to be advertysed that att my beyng att
London I lay there this daungerous tyme of swet-
ing where many dyyde on every side of me, and yett
I taryed tyll itt came in to my house whiche forced
me to flee: and durste nott for that I came oute of
that eorrupte aier presume to come in your presence.
And, when I came to my house att Vooborn poorely
as I might labor in a litter, and some tyme on a horse,
then dyverse were lately dede of the plage, and iiij.
seeke, and this day oon sweting in my house, where
I dare nott tary because of my servaunts and ny self
both. In eonsideraeoii wherof, and for helth of my
body, I wolde mooste humbly beseke your Grace to
lyeenee me to goo to Buckeden. I have also promysed
Pilgremage to our blessyd Lady of Walsinghame as
sone as my strengthe will serve me, where I shalnott
fayle butt say ]lasse for the Kyng and you.
I have twoo Lutheranes in my house, the oon is
the Preste that wrotte the letter which I delyvered

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

your Grace, the other is he that he wrotte itt unto.
The preste is a very heretyke as appearith by his con-
fessions, and hath as he durste doon hurte in my
dioces: the other is yll butt nott soo yll. The preste
hath maade answer to all the poynts of his lettre
whiche 1 delyvered unto your Grace with moche
more, a right lardge confession. I purpose unless
your Grace coffmund contrary, to abjure them bothe,
and putt them to open penaiice, and afterward to re-
mayne in twoo Monasterys in penaunce tvll your
pleas r be klowen. And in the honor of God bcseche
your honorable Grace emongs all your godly labours
and paynes ye take for the conune welth, to remem-

bre the infecte persones
and punysshement to be
sherpenes be nott now in

in Oxenforde, some ordre
taken with them: for if
this land many oon shalbe

right bold to doo yll. And noo doubte ther arre moo
in Oxenford as apperith by suche famous lybells and
bills as be sett uppe in night tymes upon Chirche
doores. I have twoo of them, and delyvered the
third to my Lord of London. I truste your Grace
hath seen itt, whereby ye may perceyve the corrupt
mynds, and if itt may stand with your pleaser for
asmoche as they at-re in this case de grege meo and I
have chardge of ther soules, I shall assone as my
strenghe will serve me (whiche I thinke wilbe Mighel-
mas or itt will come eny thing) I shalbe gladde having
your instruccohs. .nd knowing your pleaser in that

'25

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

behalf, to ride to Oxenford myself for the ordering
thereof, if itt so shall stand with yo r honorable pleaser.
And shall dayly pray to our Lord God for the long
preservation of your noble astate long to endure.
Wryten att Wooborn  fle xxvj day of Junij.
Yo r most humble bedisman
JOHN LINCOLN.
To my Lorde Legate his Grace.

LETTER XCVIII.

John Clerk to y Lord Cardinal, fi'om lome. Has
a day promised him by the Poise for the presentation
of the King's Book against Luther in the " open
Consistory."
[D. iii. 51. Orig.]
%. The writer of this and one or two succeeding letters en-
acted so prominent a part in the business they refer to, that the
reader may very naturally ask who he was ?
.Iohn Clerk was one of Wolsey's chaplains, and afterwards the
Cardinal's proctor and the King's envoy at Rome. His earliest
preferment was the church of Porteshede, in the diocese of Wells, to
which he was presented by the Lord Latimer in 1513. In 1519,
upon the resignation of Pace, several of whose letters the reader has
been already made acquainted with, he was collated to the arch-
deaconry of Colchester, and in the same year was installed Dean of
Windsor. In 1551, he began his career as an ambassador by the
presentation to the Pope of a Book which Henry the Eighth had
written against Luther ; and he solicited and obtained the Bull by
which the Pontiff designated Henry as "Defender of the Faith."
 This was Vooburn in Buckinghamshire. a short distance from Maidenhead,
where the Bishops of Lincoln had a palace. This residence of theirs was alienated
from the See of Lincoln by Bishop Longland's successor ; and finally pulled do,xn
in 1750. In ancient time it was surrounded with a moat.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

55

In 1522 he was made Master of the Rolls, and in 1523 rewarded
with the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells. Nevertheless, fl'om 1521
to 1526 we find him employed entirely at Rome. In 1526, his ne-
gotiations were transferred to France; whence, in 1528, when Car-
dinal Campeggio lSassed through that country, Clerk accompanied
him to England. He now engaged on the King's side in the busi-
ness of the divorce, and served the citation upon Queen Katherine
to come to her sentence. His last embassy was to the Duke of
Cleve in 15-10, to explain, or rather to declare the King's reason for
divorcing himself from the Duke's sister. In his return he fell ill
at Dunkirk ; as some thought, not without suspicion of poison. He
died, after a lingering illness, Jan. 3rd, 1541. In his will, which
he made whilst laying sick at Dunkirk, he bequeathed his body to
be buried in the great church of the town of Calais, and gave a short
Latin Inscription which he ordered to be placed above his grave.
The . ill was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbur), Jan.
17th in the same year ; but we have no record of the interment
having taken place at Calais. Wee er and Strype both give an In-

scription for him in similar words to that
remaining in their time in the old church
Strype supposes it to have been removed

directed in his will, as
of St. Botolph Aldgate.
fi'om the Church of the

Minoresses in the same neighbourhood, the site of  hose house was
granted in the 31st Hen. VIII. to Clerk and his successors, Bishops
of Bath and Wells, in exchange for the old town residence of their
see, called " Baths Inn," without Temple Bar. Clerk is said to
have taken up his residence in the new abode, and, after all, possi-
bly died there. "John Clerk, priest," was his ordinary signature
to his letters even after he became a bishop. He very rarely signed
" Bathon." His Letters in the Cottonian Collection are numerous ;
many of them in cypher.

THE Popis Holynes saith : that I shall haue a day
thig next Weke to present the Kyng's booke in opyn
Consistory; against the whiche day I trust to be
redy with myn Oracion: wherof I shold now haue
sent your Grace a copye by this corrar had he nott a
departyd on day rather than he was appoynted. This

260 oRmAL LETTERS,

nes that percase this boke after dewe examinacion
did please his Holynes your Grace thowght it shold
be greatly for the Kyngs honor that I the Kyngs
Orator heer, nyght present the sayd boke to his
Holynes in publique Consistory, and that his Ho-
lynes ther de .... the said boke by decree eon-
sistoriall the said boke . . . nyd to be sent owt with
his bullys vnder led, amao ..... all Cristen Prynees
and all Vniuersities. Shewyng . . . Kyngs Grace
had now sent soehe a nomber off . . . bokys signyd
with his awn hand as shold surf .... pro-pose. I
shewyd his Holynes, that part off the said bokys war
riehely, and in no wors maner eoveryd and claspyd
then thos was whiche all redy I had delyverd vnto his
Holynes. And herin the Popis Holynes comendyd
your Grace is aduyse very well, and said that I shold
present the sayd boke in the Consistory whon I wold;
for he dowtyd nott but that the boke was to be ap-
provyd notwithstondyng, seeyng that I had mo bokys.
His Holynes wyllyd me to send hym v or j mor, to
the intent he myght delyver theym to sundry Cardy-
nalls lernyd, saying that it shold be for the Kyngs
honor that they myght say their opynions whiche
they shold the bettar do hauyng a sight theryn befor.
_An as towchyng the approvyng off the sayd Boke by
decre consistoriall, and the sendyng forthe to Cristen
Pryncys off the sayd bokys so approuyd, His Holynes
thynkyth this your Grace is request nott only honor-

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

961

abyll to the Kyng's Grace butt also to all cristen pe-
pyll most fructfull and profitabyll. As towchyng the
Kyngs Grace is new Tityll, his Holynes was very glad
when I shewyd hym that ye had chosyn that lykyd.
I shewid his Holynes furthermor that albe it your
Grace ............ gev)q .... thankys
for yowr ........ facultees as be conteynyd in
the same, yett ..... coandyd me to gift like
thankys by mowthe. A . . . I thankyd his Holy-
nes nott only in 3our Grace is name, also in myn own-
sheTng that I so ded, partly to fulfill your eoiand-
merit, partly by cause all benef . . . employd aport
your Grace, I yowr Grace is creature most of dewty
take as thaukfully as thowh they war employd aport
my self. His Holynes sayd thes words ' Nos be,
locauimus huius odi beeficium, et apud qai potest
obis prestare et prestitit lone najora. SVher as it
lykyth your Grace of your infynyte goodnes geff
vnto me yowr most vnworthie and most . . . den
servant so large thankys for doyng my dew . . . in
the enlargyng of your said legacion : reputyng . . .
selff in my dett vntyll suche tyme as by some ....
ye haue acquytyd the same. Alas my good lorde if
I shold spend my hart blod in your Grace is servyce
shold I nott deserve that that your Grace hath d . .
me all redy" butt the more that I am behyn ....
....... that my servitude ...... the more
doth it apper of yowr infinit bonte that in so small a

262

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

matter wyll make so large a knowledge. And to
retorne to my porpose, vhen the Popis Holynes
lokyd apon thes bokys, now in the on, now in the
other, nov shett, nov open, beer on chapitre and
ther a nother, as nen that be lothe to departe do
often take ther left. And when hys Holynes had
greatly comendyd and praysid the Kyngs vytt, lern-
yng, and wysdome, and also yowr Grace, whom his
Hol)nms reputyth to have been a diligent comfortm"
and sterrar, that the Kyngs Grace shold this employe
his tyme, and who is also penne and consail, his
Holynes supposid ded now and then in the said boke
ioyne vith the Kyngs Grace is. After all this [his]
Holynes demandyd of me what other tydyngs I had
circa publica Principum negocia. And then accord-
ing to your Grace is instructions.,

LETTER C.
Clerk to tl%lsey. The Public deliz'ery of t/;e pre-
sentation CoTy of the King's Book to the Pope in
the Consistory.
[MS. COTTON. VITELL B. IV. fo1. 165. Orig.]
PLEASFrH your Grace to vnders ....... I
was with the Popis Holynes, and shevyd hy . . .
. . redye with myn Oracion : and desirid his Holy-
nes t ....... me a day to present the Kyngs
Boke in the Consistory. After comendacions of the

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

265

shold kneel apon lily knees all tile tyme of myn
0racion. \Vherat I was sonlwhat abashyd, for my
thowght I shold nott have nay harte ne my spiritis
so moche att lny libertye. I fearyd greatly lest they
shold nott serve me so well kneelyng as they wold
stondyng. Hov be it ther was no remedy and
nedys I most do as the 5[aster of the ceremonyes
dyd tell me: and so folowyng hynl I entred the
place of th... wher the Popis Holyues sat in his
Maiestie, apon a .... iij. steppis fl'onl the grownd
vnder neth a clothe . . . a for hym in a large qua-
drant apon stolys sat the ..... in ther consistorial
habitts to the nolnber of xx ......... woyd
directly befor the Popis Holynes whiche the Master
of the cerelnonyes remouyd, and brought lne thorow
the Cardynals with iij. obeysances vnto the Popis
Holynes, and causyd me to kyse his foott, and att
myn vprising when I was tornyng to nay place agayn,
his Holynes toke me by the sholders, and causid me
to kisse, first the on cheke and then the other; that
done, after a loowe obeisaunce I went to the voyd
place off the quadrant : whet as I cain in amongst the
Cardynals, and ther hauyng the stoole be for me,
knelyng apon lny knees I anad myn oration, whiche
I do nowhe send vnto yowr Grace. In my most
humbyll wyse besech)mg the same, thowhe it be
veray rude and simplyll to take it a worthe: fir
my witt and lernyng wythowt more warnyng wold
VOL. I. N

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

o67

your Grace shold haue the mor certayn knowlege, I
noted as precislye as I cowde, and causid ij or iij
of my servants to do the same, by cawse I wold
be sure. I may well .... from the wordis, butt I
assure yowr Grace this was . . . and his answer was
not moche lengar. After .... and made myn
obeysance, and departyd. And apon Saterday, the
whiche was the v. day of this monyth, I went vnto
his Holynes agayn, and it lyked his Holynes att my
fyrst comyng to vse veray good wordis vnto me
concernyng myn Oracion, and the pronunciacion
therof, and I thankyd his Holynes for his benygne
and grate audience, shewyng that it shold be veray
pleasant and confortabyll to the Kyngs Highnes when
he shall vnderstond how honorably and thankfully it
hath lykyd his Holyne's to accepte his Booke, and
how that dowghtles he wold thynke his labors very
well enployd; how be it I said I stood in dowght
lest yowr Grace is mynd sholld not be in all partys
satisfyed, who as a membyr of this See, and a speciall
servant of his Hol)nes, wrott hether as a Consaillor,
that per case this booke war thowght worthye, his
Holynes shold witsaff to confyrme it by decre in the
Consistory expresslye, wherby nott only all good
pull myght fle more a regardyd it, but also the Kyngs
Highnes and other men shold a ben the bettar entire-
raged to attemptyd like thyngs heraffer. His Holy-
nes answerd me that this See shold do as moche for

68 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
the eonfirmaeion of this booke as ever was done for
the workys of S. Augustyn or S. fferome, and bad me
bryng vnto hyme soche bokys as I hadde to be sent
forthe and the ........ bullys annexid sub plumbo,
as on your Grace is behalf . . . his Holynes befor.
And after great comendacions of the Booke his Ho-
lyrics said that Ecclesia Gallicana in condemp .....
Leutherum et dogmata ipsius, in ac sua condempna-
tione qate nuper emana.vit, ex studio Parisiensi z, ide-
tur ta . . . approbasse multas opiniones ipsius Zuteri
contra Romanam Ecclesiam. Hov be it I ded nott
])erceyve that his Holynes ment any lyke thyng to be
in the Kyngs booke, nor I can nott see whye he
shold. In the next Consistorye the Kynges High-
nes shall haue his titil gevyn him, and apon th . . .
the bullys speed, and brilqiS off thankis as mot at
large I shall wryght vnto yo r Grace by the next.
There is tydyngs come of certaynte that the Turke
who ..... a go enterd Hungary with on hunderd
thowsand men hath taken and destroyd ther the cas-
tell of Belgrado, whiche is a very strong town, and
the key of all that realme. In so much that men
fear beer wors tydyngs shortly, for the Kynge of
Hungary is veray yong, and as it is said his Consail
are in dissencion. How be it the said Kyng is in
fyld with .... puysance, wherof great helpe is corn
vnto hym .......... It is all so reaportyd that
the said Kynge off Hungarye intendith to make a

ORIGINAL LETTERS. O75
perished. The real dates of Abbot I{amrige's deatl b and of Wol-
sey's accession to the Abbey, are fixed by the present Letter.

PLEAS it yo r Grace the berar heroff wyth [other]
sadde religiose men off fle Monastery off St. Albonys
were here yisterdaye wyth the Kynge for to certifie
hys Grace off the decesse off there late Abbate, and
to demaunde hys licence to create anothre in lays
place : and they desyridde also hys fauorable Letters
unto your Grace for th'expedicion of hys Hynesses
Lettres patents uppon the sayde licence. And hys
Grace vas contentidde to graunte lmto thmn there
Petition, and cmaundydde me to vryte these any
Lettres unto your Grace for the sayde expedition.

Itt wolde have bene
and comforte to have
mocion geuyn by the
sayde religiose men.

to your Graces grete rejoyse
harde the princely and godly
Kynge hymselfe., ly to the
Hys wordys formally were

thiese viz. ' We undrestonde that yo r late Abbate is
' dedd, and that ye are cfimyn to us for to demaunde
' our licence to create an other, whyche licence we ar
'contentidde to graunte yow, coi-fiaundyng yow to
' electe none at the sute of any telnporall or spirituall
' mama, but suche on as ye schall jugge in your con-
' sciences most apte and meate to occupy the rome
' for hys vertue and lernynge. Ye must also have
' respecte that he maye have sum politike wisedome,
' to th'intent that he flmrby anaye repayre the decaye

o78

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

I have declarydde unto your Grace the circumstances
of thys matier, and acc[ompli]chede your desyre to
the best off my power I wyll make an ende with
prosit vobis, prayinge Godde ye may longe enjoye
thys and all other promotions ye have.
I declarydde to the Kynge as your Grace w[illed]
me to do in )'our former lettres your opinion in...
publication off the bull off hys new Ti[tle] thorouge
thys reahne at suche tyme as itt schal be by your
Grace sent hydre ; [and] hys Hyghnesse is welle con-
tentedde itt s[cholde] so be orderydde.

LETTER CIII.
,lohn Clerk to Cardinal lYolsey, announcing tle death
of Pope Leo the Tenth.

[STAT. PAP. OFF. WOLSEY'S CORRESP. iii. 40. Orig.]

*** This is a Letter which the Historian will consider of some
importance. It is dated on the second of December, 1521, the da)
on which Leo the Tenth is most generally represented to have died ;
but it acquaints Wolsey, on the authority of Cardinal Campegius,
that Leo had been dead eight days. The death was so announced
to Clerk from Campegius on the morning of the second of December.
It is presumed that it will not be uninteresting to prefix to thi-
Letter Roscoe's Narrative of the Mystery in which Pope Leo's
death was wrapped.
" When the intelligence arrived of the capture of Milan, and the
recover5  of Parma and Piacenza, Leo was passing his time at his
villa of Malliana. He immediately returned to Rome, where he ar-
rived on Sunday the 24th day of November, for the purpose of gi-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. O79

ing the necessary directions to his commanders and partaking in
the public rejoicings on this important victory. It was at first
rumoured that the Cardinal de Medici had prevailed upon Fran-
cesco Sforza to cede to him the sovereignty of Milan ; in considera-
tion of which he had agreed to surrender to the Duke his Cardinal's
hat, with the office of chancelh)r of the holy see, and all his bene-
fices, amounting to the annual sun.. of fifty thousand ducats ; and it
was supposed to be on this account that the Pope expressed such
symptoms of joy and satisfaction as he had on no other occasion
evinced, and gave orders that the rejoicings should be continued in
the city during three days. On being asked by his master of the
Ceremonies whether it vould not also be proper to return solemn
thanks to God on such an occasion, he desired to be inCormed of the
opinion of this officer. The master of the Ceremonies told the Pope
that when there was a war between any of the Christian princes, it
was not usual for the Church to rejoice upon any victory, unless the
Holy See derived some benefit from it; that if the Pope therefore
thought that he had obtained any great advantages, he should mani-
fest his joy by returning thanks to God ; to which the Pope smiling-
ly replied, that he had indeed obtained a great prize.' He then
ga,e directions that a Consistory should be held on Wednesday the
"Tth day of November; and finding himself somevhat indisposed,
he retired to his chamber, where he took a few hours' rest.
" The indisposition of the pontiff excited at first but little alarm,
and was attributed by his physicians to a cold caught at his )ilia.
The Consistory was not, however, held; and on the morning of
Sunday, the first day of December, the Pope suddenly died. This
event was so unexpected that he is said to have expired without
those ceremonies which are considered of such essential importance
by the Roman Church. Paullus Joius relates, that a short time
before his death, he returned thanks to God with his hands clasped
together, and his eyes raised to heaven; and expressed his readi-
ness to submit to his approaching fate, after having lived to see the
cities of Parma and Piacenza restored to the Church, and the French
effectually humbled ; but this narrative deserves little further credit
than such as it derives from the mere probability of such a circum-
stance. In truth, the circumstances attending the death of the pon-
tiff are involved in mysterious and total obscurity ; and the accounts
given of this event by Varillas and similar writers, in subsequent
times are the spurious offspring of their own imagination. Some

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

lent lawde honor and . . . his Grace hathe ad quired
aswel of the Poope as of al the Cardynals and also
of al other, for the compiling and making of the said
Boke. I pereeyve also the .. and honorable circum-
stance whiehe was by the Poopes Holynes taken for
the presenting of the said Boke in open Consistorye
with your commendable demeanor and eloquente
Oraeion made at the same tyme, and the Poopes good
and compendious .... therunto ; and last of al the
honorable title geven to his Highnes in publique Con-
sistorye for a memory of his notable acts and merits
towards Cristes Church. A1 which matiers I haue
from tyme to tyme signyfied at good length unto the
Kyngs Grace, who for your discrete, substantial, and
prudent endevor and ..... herin geueth vnto
you his hetty thanks, like as I do the semblable. Ye
may be sure his Grace wol haue in his remembraunce.
In sin . . haue cause to thinke your service right
wel bestowed and emp ........ put any helpe
and furtherance, as ........ aduertising you that
necessary it is ye diligently procure and solicite that
not ovnely suche ample and sufficient bulles and
loing brieves as shal be requisite for the said Title be
incontinently sped, and with celerite sent ]to the
Kings Grace, if it be not alredy don bifore this tyme,
but that also al the Boks with you remayning may
be by the Poopes Holynes sent to the Regions, Uni-
versities, and Countries as they wer to you addressed

8 ORIGINAL LETTERS,
and ordred, with the Poopes bull of aprobacion of the
same. Whiche thing I pray you to remembre and
regarde with al effect, so that the comming of the
said Boke abrode vnto light and knowlege through al
Cristendome, may be with suche auctorite and honor-
able reputacion as the Kings notable and excellent
merits have wel and most largely deserued, l,emyt-
tyng therfore the spedy and substancial doing of the
premysses wto your wisedom and discrecion accord-
ingly.
Over this ye shal shewe vnto the Poopes Holynes
that suche matiers as at my being with th'emperor
wet concluded, and by his Majeste and me sub-
scribed, concernyng the Treaties betwixt the Poope,
themperor, and the Kings Grace be now lately here
at Calais ingroced, sealed, and passed on al ....
wherin lakketh nothing but the Poopes ratificacion,
and a newe sucient to ..... be sent hither for
the purpose whiche ye shal move his Holynes ......
orator here resident with delegence for the assm'ed
and ....... as shal apertein .......
Ffynally I signifie wto you that in the tyme of
this my ...... here, the late abbot of Saint A_lbans
is deceased. And the Kings Grace of ..... mere
mocion regarding aswell . . . paynes, studies, labors,
and travailes taken and susteyned here, as excessive
charges and sumptuous expences, hathe without my
knowlege or desire, for the better mayntenaunce of

286 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
advertyse me from tyme to tyme, as ye haue right
thankefnlly don, as my special trust is in you.
Ye shal furthermore shewe nto the Poopes Holy-
les that my long demore here hathe ben onely to see
the successes and exploits of his and themperors
Armyes beyonde and on tiffs side the mountayns ; and
thereafter, as shulde be thought more beneficial to
his Holynes and the said Emperor, to solicite and
take abstinence of warr for a certain tyme. Neuer-
theles forasmoche as 'ounteraby is surprised by the
Frenchemen,  and yet it is not knowen certainly howe
the Spanyards do take the same, ne yet what they in-
tende to do for the recouery therof. The said Em-
peror, my consent and avice concur . . . thereunto
hathe thought that it shulde be moche to his preju-
dice to accept . . trews til he -er aduertised of the
mynds and consents of the said Spanyards, wherfor
I putting over this Diet, intende shortly to transport
myself into England, and by sending to the Kings
Grace aswel fl'om fle said Emperor as from the
French King ........ the said Abstinence by
the Kings Grace the ....

Taken by admiral Bonnevet Oct. 18th, 1521.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 291
of Skyll ye xiij. day of December. Subscriuit with
my hand. Zouris, with his lauthfull seruice,
ARCHB&LD ERL OF ANGUS.
To my Lord Cardinallis grace of Iaglaund.

LETTER CVII.

Lord
him that

Thomas Dacre to Cardinal lrolsey,
the Bishop of D,o, keld is summoed to

[tl3ID. fol. 215. Orig.]

Lord, pleas it yo r Grace the busshop of Dun-

keld is somnoned to the Court of Rome by the
meanes of the Duke of Albany, who is right glad
therof, one way seing that his quarrell is so good,

and moost speciall that he may lawbor to the Kings
Highnes and yo r Grace to let the Duke of Albany in
the acheing of his dampnable mynd and entreprise,
for the suyrtie of the King his Souerain, whiche is in
good beleue that with the help of the Kings Highnes
and yo  Grace shall corn out of the dangeor of the
said Duke and his dampnable purpose, without which
it is past remedie, but onely in the mercie of God.
And if it can be thought good for that purpose, that
the said Busshop remane still and send his proctor to
Rome with his answer, with sore favorable lettre in
his favor fro yo  Grace to the Kings Orator at Rome,
o2

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

furth onto ye Kyngs Hyenes, and I salbe verre glad to
awayt apon zo r coihand. And gif it had not bein for
this he lest of Crysts natyvyte, and als yt I mn sum-
part accrasyt by ye way, I suld hal cimyn stretht to
zo r Grace, besek)ag in lyke wys the samyn to pardon
this my barely wrytyn, and to send ansver therof at
zo r plas r. And ye blyssyt Lord preserue zo* Grace
in lang and eternall prosperite. At Waltam Cros this
Crystmes evyn By the hand of
Zo r chaplan wy t his lawfull seruyce
GnwvN bischop of Dunkeld, &c.
To my Lorde Cardinalis Grace.

LETTER CIX.
Gawin Douglas , bishop of Dunkeld, to Cardinal ll'ol-
sey, eautionin 9 him against Gauthier the Duke of
lbanl's Seeretar].
[hiS. COTTON. CALIG. B. VI. fo1. 213. Orig'.]
PLEIS zoure Graice my chaiplane, quhilk was zis-
terday at zoure presence, schew me yat Galtere this
secretar of the duke of Albanyis has said to zoure
grace that I promyst not to cure within this Realme,
and y'for of his maisteris behalf.., zo r grace to
withald me heyre, and lat me pass na farthir.
Lord I beleyf zo r bye Visdome will not geif credence
sa lightlye agains me, and specialie to the Duke of
Albany or ony of his seruandis, quhilkis is eapitalle

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

295

and dedelie inimye to me and all my houss. And
thairfor it is na wounder albeyt he say sik thingis for
my harme, quhilk divers tymez, and zite daylie,
baith sayis and dois, all that he may or can ymagyn
to my distruccionn, and exterminacionn of all my
kyn. And as I sall ansuer to God and zo r Gracie the
contrar of it he sayis, is playn verite. For baith be
messurger and write I declarit him playnlie I wald
pass thro t this Ieahne, and na vther way, and gart
schew him quhat day I was appoyntit to enfir in ye
gronde of Ingland the quhilk I kepit trewlye. And
thus zome gracie may consider quhat fauor he beris
to me, or how I suld be intretit if I war in Scotland
vnder his subieccion, or zite gif I pass to France or
ony vther part quhair he mort sollist ony thing, quhen
he is sa bald within this Reahne quhairin I traist he
has lytell credence as for to sollist zo r grace in my
contrar. Albeyt ze hail grantit me the Kings
Hienes saufconduct, the quhilk I traist I hail not
forfalt, nor zite zoure Grace will suffer be brokin.
And beside this the mater is petious gif ony Kirk
man suld be ..... gangand to Rome for his lauthfull
defence, and sfimond thiddir, and neththeless zoure
Grace knawis full wele I may be lichtlie intretit to
remane here hot na wayis at his cmande or desgre
and full w  wayt zo  k . . . wisdolne quhat is to be
done or considerit . . . sik ane peticionn mekle
better gar I and many sik can ymagyn. Albeyt gif

96 oRm AL LETTERS.
it mycht stand with zo r pless r I wald besyk zo r Grace
to ansuer to this Galter that gif ye Duke hes Mais-
tere wilbe content my accion and mater be remittit
furth of Rome to zo* Grace, and bei'or zo* Auditor,
qhar of I wald be glayd, zoure Gracie suld caus me
remane. And ellis quhy or how suld ze hald me fra
my lauthfull defence, quhilk is of the law of nature,_
specealie I havand the Kings saufconduct to pass, as
said is. This is my litill arise vnder correccionn of
zoure Grace, quhom I beseyk to perdone this my sa
hayndye wryting. And the haly Trinite haf zoure
grace in his blissit and eternall keping. At Lundone
this New yetis day. Subscriuit with the hand of
zo r humble servytor and
CHAFLEIN OF DUNKELD.
To the maist Reuerend fader in God and his maist
ingular gude Lorde and Maistcr my Lord Car-
dinallis gTacie of Zorke Legate de Latere and
Chauncellar of Ingland, &c.

LETTER CX.
The Bishop of Dunkeld to Cardinal IYoisey, caulio-
ing ]tim against John ])tncanson and Evangilista
sent by Albany and the Archbishop of Glasgow.
[IBID. fol. -124. Orig.]
PLCYT ZO  Grace ze had zistyrday syh byssynes
yt I myt not schew zo r grace quhat I tho t tazchyng
ye cummyng of this Scotts prest S  John Duncanson

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

297

quha zistyrday presentyt ,Vrytyngs to the Kyngs
hyenes and zo r Grace for an salue conduyt, and is
cummyn furth of Scotland wy t gret dylligens apon
vij days, and is ry t famylyar wy tye Duk of Albanye
and speciall seruand of a lang tyme to ye archbischop
of Glasgw ; and has bro t vyt hym wrytyngs and dy-
rectyones fra thaim bayth, to be sped in Frans,
Flanch-s, and Rome, as I know by his words. Als
thar is cununyng wy t hym an Italian callyt Evangi-
lista, the maner of a Lombard in Scotland, to convoy
hym at Merchants hands heyr and in Flandrs. Gyf
zo r Grace hed seyn yr lettre and dyrectyones I trast
ze suld knaw mony things tharby, and gif zo r hye
prudens thynks spedfull at salue conduct be sped her
at ye instance and subscriptyon of ye said Duk, I
report me to zo  gret wysdom, or zit that ye said bis-
chop of Glasgwys materrs and promoSon for Sanct-
andrs suld prosper, consyddyryng he is ye mast
spyciall nan yt manteinys and all ways hes nanteinyt
y said Duk. I dreyd alsso this Duncanson is dyrek-
kyt in my contrary, and to do me hurt, and beseks zo 
Grace to provyd ye rathar sum remedy tharfor, and
gif it myt stand wy t zo r pless  that he had na passage
for ye causyt forsaids onto ye tyme zo  Grace knew
tour fully his dyrecyons, and gyf zo r hye prudens plesys
so do. I wold nan knew this cam by my desyr be-
cause he fenzeis hym famyliar wy t me, quharby pera-
uentur I sall knaw sumpert mayr of his mynd, albeyt
05

300 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

auento r cum in zoure presence, quhilk causis m thus
vryte to zoure nobill Gracie, beseking the samyn of
zoure grete goodnes to haif companenee of me deso-
latt and wofull wyght. Albeyt I grant I half de-
seruyt punycioun, and am vnder the Kyngis mercy
and zouris, not for ony falt or demeritt of my avne,
but by raisoun of thair vntreuth that causit me labor
for the wele of thair Prince, and thair securite, quhilk
now has wrotht thair avne confusioun and perpetuall
sehawne; and has servit me as zo r Graeie may eon-
siddyr, that sollistit the Kingis Hyenes and zoure
Graee to wrytt and doo for thame so often tymez
and so largely in diuers sortis, as wele to thair sup-
port and eomfort, quhairof as now I most nedis w-
derly zoure mercy. Albeyt I dowte not bot zo  hye
prudence eonsideris profoundly my part thairof, and
my hole treu ln)nde all tyme but ony dissimulance,
that in goode fayth am forthir dissavit in this mater
then ony vtheris, by raisoun quharof I am so full of
sorowe and displesh  that I am wery of my avne lyfe ;
and promittis to God and zoure noble Graiee, as zo 
humle seruand and ane trew Cristin preist, that I sall
neuir have nor tak way with the Duke of Albany,
the vnworthy erl of Anguse, nor na vtheris that as-
sistis to the said Duke, but zo * express eommande
and arise; nor neuer sall pas in Scotland, but at zo *
pless , so lang as this wikkyt Duke is thairin, or has
rewle thairof; and I trast lny brothre and vther my

ORIGINAL LETTEKS.

frendis will vse my consale. Albeyt ZOll zoung
wytles fwyll has runnyn apoun his avne myseheyf be
eontinewall persuasioune "of wylye subtile men, and
for lak of goode eounsale shewing to him; I dowte
not mony fenzeit Lrz and wounderfull terrors that
the Lord Hane and vtheris wald pass in and lefe him
allane. And that I wald be takin and haldin heyr,
and that Galter the Dukis seeretar had appoyntit
with the Kingis Hienes for his distrueeion, and the
Duke to mary the Qwene. I dowte not sik thingis,
and mekle mayr has bene sayd. And with this the
wrytings at yo  Graeie eausid me send furth of
Hamtoun eourte on Saner Thomas daye tome not to
him, quhill the xiiij day of Januar, and so he has re-
manyt eomfortless in the menetne quhill the tother
subtile folkis had eonvoyit thair mater. Wald God
I had send ane servaund of my ovne w t tha wa'itings
or past nay self with thame. In eais I had lyin vij
zeris eftir in preson, for I fynd absence ane sehrew,
and deligenee with expedieioun myeht half done
grett goode. Albeit of verite thair may be nofe
raisionable nor honest exeuse that suld eaus ony erea-
ture brek his lawte ge promytt. And I beseyk God
that I may see him really punyst for his demerritis
and promys brokyn made to the Kingis Hienes and
me his Vnele, and salbe glayd to sollist the Kings
Hienes and zo  Grace to this effeete at all nay povere.
Noththeless I beseke zo * graeie to remembre the

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

welefare and seruice of the Kingis grace of Scot-
laund my Souerane lord and maister and so sollist
the Kyngis Hyethnes to that effect, for his Grace has
maid no falt but is alut'ly Innocent. This is and
was my principall direccioun and caus of my hyddyr
CUlnyng as your Gracie full wele vnderstandis : albeit
[ wald haif procurit as I cmvth the welfayr of nay
self and frendis, besyde gif thai had not wrocht in
the contrar to thair awae distruccioun and myne safer b
as in thame lyis. And gif I durst be so bald as too
sollist zoure Gracie and schew quhat wayis war best
for the weylfare of the zoung Kingis grace my Sou-
verane I wald be glayd to endeuor nay self thairto at-
the coiaande of zoure Grace. In cais nov I dar not
auentor to propose na sik thingis, by raisoun that I
am dissauit be nay most tendyr fi-endis in my fyrst
Interprys, in contrar to all goode lyklyhod or na-
turall equite. Besekyng zom'e Gracie of youre gra-
cious ansuer and quhat ze will coffand me to doo,
and to be my goode Lorde, and to let me knaw gif it
be zo  pless  that I awayt apon yo  seruice and doo
my devitee as I aucht of dett, and wald be glayd so to
doo. For furth of this lealme will I not depart so
lang as I may remane thairin with the Kingis pless 
and zouris, quhat penurie and distres so euir I sus-
tene. And zoure gracious ansuer her apoun in
vourde be message or writing I humily beseyke. Or
b so far.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

gif it pleis yo" Gracie I cure my self to zoure nobill
presence thairfor. And God allmyghty preserue yo r
Gracie eternalye. At the In of Carlile the last day
of Januar. Subscriuit with the hand of
zo r humble seruytor and dolorus
CHAPLAN OF DUNKELD.
To my Lorde Cardinallus good Gracie.

*** Vexation now preyd upon the Bishop of Dunkeld. The
plague was making its ravages in London at this time, and Gawin
Douglas became one of its ictims. Polydore Vergil, who had but
recently made his acquaintance, writes, " Verum non licui! diu uti
frui anfico, qui eo ipso anno, qui fuit salutis humanm, Loxxb c Lon-
dini, pestilentia absumptus est." a
He was buried in the Church of the Savoy, where Veexer saxv
the following Inscription, partly for him, and paa'tly for Bishop
Halsal.
" Hicjacet Trio. HALSAL Leighnieng'. Episcopus, in Basilica Sancti
Petri Romw Nationis Anglicorum Penitenciarius, summw probitatis
vir, qui hoc solum post se reliquit : Vixit dum rixit bene. Cui lerus
conditur GOANS DOUGLAS, Scotus, Dunkelheng. Presul, patriw suw
exul. 1522." e
Erasmus, in his Adagm, has given his character in few words.
"Erat ea corporis specie, ut vel procul Regem posses aguoscere ;
ingeni vis mira; incredibilis omnium return cognitio."
The Cottonian MS. Calig. B. m. fol. 09, contains a very long
Memorandum of treasons why Albany should not be governor of
Scotland, evidently drawn up by Gawin Douglas.

a Polyd. Verg. Hist. edit. Bas. 1556. p. 53.
e x.Veev. Fun. Mon. p. 446.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

05

abasshed and very evill contented in there mind; in
so moche that when the Cardinalls crime oute of the
Conclave the common people here (savyng your
honor) wh.. lid at theym as they ctme by. The
manet of the Election as I vnderstand, was this.
They entred the Conclave divided principally in to
two factions, Ilnperiall and Frenche. The parte Im-
periall was divided in two parts, one parte of theym
precisely for Medicis, the other parte precisely against
Medicis. With the parte that was against Medicis, in
that they so were joyned to . . . french parte, which
tvo parties so joyned to gider werre farre stronger
than was the parte of Iedicis. Moche a doo there
was, and many practises to Medicis is parte. How-
beit they were sc knytte to gither by promisse and
by oth, that it wolde not be. Whervpon Medicis
lefte the labors for hym self, and proponed of his
nere and speciall friends one or tvayne with vhome
he myght haue disposed at his pleasur'. And they
were in the same predicament that he vas hym self.
For they were as loth to haue any man that Medicis
myght rule, as to haue Medicis hym self. And no
lesse contradiction was there in the one then in the
other. Then were there proponed men some what
called indifferent. Howbeit rather friendely to Me-
dicis than elles; and amongs other the Cardinall of
Valle, and the Cardinall Fernesio, both lZomans
borne. In thies Elections men may in i19sa Electione

306

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

after that they haue gyuen their voyc s varye. AJd
where as they haue gyuen their voic s to one, they
may ehaunge, et accedere alteri habenti alia Yota, et
ira creseet humerus _per accessum. It happened so
that this Cardinall Farnesio after dyuerse debatyngs
and practises, had in one scrutynye xviij or xix
voyc s, and had so many _per aecessum that he lacked
but iij. or fowre voyc  to be Pope. Aad the Cardi-
hall of Sanctorum quatuor, who is one of the Farnesos
is chief friends, to the intente he wolde animate softie
of the rest partely for feare to take the same awey
when he sawe that the Cardinal had so many voic s
all redy, said, alia voce, " Papam habemus." And
that in the next serutynie he was assm'id of asmany
moo voye  as shulde sufflee and with that he and vj or
vii moo went vnto the Cardinall Farnesio, and did
adhoure and worship hym as Pope, and many mo
folowid and did as they did, as the manet is, when
they be assured that it is like to goo that ways. The
Cardinal Columpna who is a stoute man, a Roman
born, et eontrarie faetio,is to the said Cardinall Far-
nesio spake, alta voee vnto theym and bade they...
their vole  better, and that he eoude east aeeompte as
well as they, and that he had in dede east it, and
was well assurid they had taken their matier amysse.
And other said that it shulde bee seen in the next
scrutinye and so at that tyme they stayed. After that
there . . serutynie made day by day, two or thre

808 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
withoute omittyng any parte therof. Assuryng me,
if the Kyngs pleasm" had been knowen, and that
your Grace wo]de haue accepted the said rowme, the
matier shulde haue taken effecte. For the avaunce-
ment wherof I did not gretely labor bifor their entre
into the Conclaue, by cause your Grace at my de-
partyng shewed me precisely that ye wolde neuer
medle thervitli. And on my faith ware not the
Kyngs persuasions I shulde stande yet in greate
doubte whither your Grace wollde accepte it or no if
it ware offred you. The thing is in such disorder,
ruyne, and decay, and euery day shalbe mot' and mor',
excepte God helpe, and Cristen Princes sette their
hands. It shulde be to longe to write vnto your Grace
of the reaported chidyng, brawlyng, and scoldyng be-
twene thies Cardinalles, and of their greate scisme, dis-
cention, their malicious, vnfaithfull, and x'ncharitable
demeanor, one of theym against the other, which
every day increased while they were in the Conclave.
If it had not chaunced at this last season, it was not
likely that we shulde haue had any Pope of a greate
season, for ther was a sorte that intended to do
no thing but to distroy and to lette. At this laste
scrutinye a greate parte of the Cardinall de Medicis
bande, and also some of the other, named this man
that nowe is Pope, so that he had xv. voices, which
once knowen, ther came to the same parte per acces-
sum iij ......... said Cardinall de Medicis bande

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 309
which had gyv .... to other men. Then was there
other which had gyuen voices also to other men, per-
ceyvyng that this man had s .... aboue that that
the said Cardinall de M:edicis bande coude.., vnto.
And supposyng (Vam dabantur vota secrete quo ad
n.. dantium) that ther myght be moore behynde of
the Cardinall de hIedicis bande, and of other that had
gyven thir voices to other, and that they wolde
swarve in like manet and fall to the.., ways. They
to gete thanks by ther tymely coffyng made like
accesse, so that he had xxij. voices shortely. And
then they cryed Papam ]abemus, for that was the
nombre requisite of xxxviijti; the reste, that were
Gallice et contrarie factum remayned scorned, and
vist not what to sey. Howbeit at the last (as I
vndirstande) they perceyvyng that their contra . .
coude not availe did fall to the same wais. This is
the . . . of this election as it hath been reaported
vnto me by dyvers persons . The Cardinall de hle-
dicis and all that bande s... nowe that ibis election
was studiously made apon this . . . but and it like
yore" Grace they may say what they woll... I am
credibly informed when this last scrutinye began it
was no more thought that it shulde a taken any ....
for this man then for me. Howbeit consider)nag the
g .... amytie and aliaunce which is contracted and
establissed betwixte the Kyngs Highnes and th'em-
peror I do fermely beleve that this man is as propice

310

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

and as mete for b .... their purposes as any man
ellis shulde haue been. I haue been with the Cardi-
nail de Medicis and shewed hym howe the Kyngs
Highnes hath sent his secretary by the posts with
lettres to the College, and dyuerse other Cardinals,
for his preferrement to this dignitie, and howe the
Secretary beyng let by the way, and throwe febiines
not hable to .... has sent vnto me hither the said
lettres, and there vpon . . delyuerd vnto hym the
Kyngs ]ettres and shewed hym such Lettres as were
written in his commendacion. And I assure your
Grace he moost hartely and in right humble maner
thanked the Kyngs Highnes and also your Grace,
and rekenned h)-aa self moche bounden vnto you
both, as well for other greate benefits as also for that
ye did thinke hym worthy to so greate a thinge. He
said the Kyn Highnes lettres if they had cme in
season shulde haue been of no smale momente. Not
withstandyng he said ther' was such obstinacy and
malice in a greate meyny of thies Cardinals, that it
shulde haue been very harde to haue broughte theym
to haue consented in hym. And after that shewed
vnto me dyuerse things donne in the Conclave aswell
concernyng your personne as his awne, moche after
that that all redy I haue shewed your Grace. I
thanked hym hartely for that he had don for your
Grace in this matier, and said that I wolde write vnto
your Grace therof. He said he was right sory that

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 311
that he did for you coude take no better effecte.
Finally he said your Grace muste take patience, for
your tyme was not coifie. And as for hym self he
had no greate hope therof afor', and from hens for-
wards he wolde haue lesse. He gaue this man
that is now chosen greate commendations, and
demaunded of me whither your Grace knewe hym
or not; and I said I coude not tell. He shewed
me that Francisco Maria Duke of Vrbyn, and the
rebelles of Pervse and dyuerse other Cities which be
nowe reentred did make preparation towards the Citie
of Sena. And that they wolde so to Fflorence. And
shewed me that he had spoken with thambassador of
Spayne to kepe the lands of the Church, for the im-
peror's affaires and the churchis were uowe so joyned
togider that the one coude not myscary but the other
shulde smart ....... thervpon he advised the
said Ambassador to lay out now xx  thousand ducats.
And that he wolde cause the florentynes to lay oute
the reste, so that they myght togider make a puys-
saunce to resiste thies Rebelles. He said th'ambas-
sador awnswered hym that he had no more nor durst
not medill, for he had no coi-flision. I haue spoken
with the Cardynall Sedunefi both afor' the entre into
the Concla'e and sens, and moche of lfis coffmni-
cation was howe he shulde set the crowne of Fraunce
vpon the Kyngs Highnes hed, and this papall diademe
vpon your Graces hed. Assuryng your Grace that

31 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
for your advauncement therunto I vnderstande he did
parte therin mervelously well. He shewed me also
that the Bastard of Savoy was with the Swices and
had obteyned there xMt men. But he saith there is
such distention, discorde, and actuall warre between
the Cantons there, that he supposith that the bastard
shall departe thens re infecta. There be deputed
for gouernators here, for this first moneth of the
Popis absence, the Cardinall Sanct Crucis _primus
Episcolus Cardinalis, The Cardinall Sedunen. lori-
mts Presbgter Cardinalis, The Cardinall of Cornato
primers Diaconus Cardinalis. There be tltree other
Cardinallis deputed Legati to the Pope, viz. the Car-
dinall of Columpna, the Cardinall de Vrsinis, and the
Cardinall de Cesarinis, the which shall present vnto
his Holynes this Election, and so conducte him to
Rome. They shall departe shortely, but there is yet
no certeyntie when, in which weys, for by Fraunce
they dare not adventm'e skant with safeconducte, the
Sees be so longe and jeobardous, not onely by cause
of the tyme of yere nowe in ]Vynter, but also bycause
of pirats, Mores, and other infidels, which hath doon
moche myschief lately.
As touching the Popis comyng to l%ome, men sup-
pose heer that it must be necessarily with all possible
celerite, not onely for the mayntenyng of thEmperors
affaires heer in Lumbardy and Naples but also for the
preseruation of the Lands of the Churche which

ORIGINA LETTEItS. 13

hourely be invaded. This Courte also is vtterly
vndon but if he coiiie the sonner ; for there can no ex-
pedicions be made vntell such tyme as he be crowned.
And the fructs that doth aryse of offices and other expe-
ditions here in the Courte be howe all moste the onely
thing that he hath to maynteyne this hie and chargeable
dignite withall. Men thinke that assone as the election
shalbe presented vnto hym, he wolbe crowned with-
oute any solempnitie, and kepe his solempne corona-
cion tyll he c6me to lome. And after he hath taken
his Crowne without solempnite, he may depute a Le-
gate here in lolne, vnder whome expedicions and ma-
tiers both of Justice and of Grace shall passe after the
order accustumed. It is trouth that he may kepe the
See apostolique elliswher if he will, and as in tymes
paste it hath been kepte in Avignon and in Fflorence,
and in many other places, so likewise nove, if the
Pope vill, he may kepe it in Spayne, or in Almayn,
wherin and also percase he vill c6me to Rome.
When that shalbe, and what wey he shall take, men

suppose heer that the Kyngs Highnes shall haue
a greate stroke with themperor. In the orderyng of
all thies matiers, and perease that the Pope shall

come thorowe the French Kyngs dominion, (which is
the moost expedite, sure, and shortest vay) men sup-
pose that the Kyngs Highnes and your Grace of all
men lyvyng are the ..... Intermediators in bryng-
yaag that to passe that ........ suretie and honor
VOL. I. P

314.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

may so do. At my last beyng with the Cardinall de
Medicis, I desired hym that such boks as... Kyngs
Highnes had sent hither to be sent vnto other p...
and had been by the Popis Holynes delyuerd to that
intente vnto John Iatheo, secretary vnto the said
Cardinall, and chief medillar in all affaires her' aboute
the Pope (and were not as yet sent oute acordyngly)
myght be sente fro'the or delyuerd vnto the Ambas-
sadors here with there Bulles of confonnacion an-
nexed, that they myght sende theyn vnto their
Maisters. Apon the whiche requeste the said Cardi-
hall sent immediately for John Matheo, and axed
what he had doon with those boks. And he said
that true it was that the Popis Holynes causid those
Boks to be delyured vnto hym, and did coffmunde
two Bulles to be made, the one of the Kyngs title,
the other for the confirmacion of the said Kyngs
boke. The bull of the Kyngs title was made up sub
plumbo bifore the Popis deth; the other bicause the
Pope liked not the mynute therof, caused it to be
staled, and an other minute to be made which was
not sped bifor his death. I said vnto John Matheo
that the Pope had shewed me hym self x days bifor
his deth that euery thing was redy; and that John
Matheo hym self both afor' the Popis death md
synnes, at such sundry tymes as I both went and sent
vnto hym to solicite the sendyng furth of the said
bulles, he awnswered me that I shulde not care for

16 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Pope Leo. And the said Cardinall offred hymself in
this and in all other the Kyngs affaires and yours, to
do, speke, and procur' asmoche as in hym shulde lie,
knowlegyng hym self with very large words most
bounde so to do of very dutie.

LETTER CXIII.
Dr. lllliam Knight to Cardinal lYolsed, ,entionin 9
the kindness of the Archduchess of Savoy towards
him ; and the seizure of an nglish $1 d of Richard
de la Pole.
[,s. COON. m,. . vtt. fol. 28. Orig.]
PLEASE it your Grace to understond that yestreday
nay lady Margarete dyd send for me and shewed that
she had reeeved letters from the Emperors ambassador
resident in Englond, wherebi she was eatformed of the
good woordes that your Grace had unto hym, of her
and of Monsieur de Hoogstrate, and in this she hath
taken grete pleasure, and ys veari glad, saiyng that as
she hath bene allwaiys utterly enelyned and deter-
mynd to studye for the enerease of honor weale and
suerte of the Kinges Highnesse so she will eont3mue
her lyre durvng. And towardes your Grace she will
nevyr ehaunge, but shew effeetuelly that she ys and
shalbe as a moste lovyng modre shuld be unto her
most dere sonne; and in eonfirmaeion of the premis-
ses, and that your Grace shall pereeyve that she ten-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 17

dreth the Kinges and yours honor, weale, and suerte
as moche as the Emperors and her owen. She hath
discovred unto me that a gentleman of the cumpanie
of Ionsieur le marquise de _A_rescot hath lateli taken
upon the frontiers of Valentiens an Englishman be-
yng espye for lichart de la Pole, which espye pur-
posed towardes Englond, but he beyng taken and ex-
amynd, was put in torture because he varied; whose
confession in Frenshe and a grete parte like but not
so ample confession writen in Englishe of his owen
hand, my lady cawsed to be delivred unto me.
Which bothe aswell of Frenche as of Englishe I send
unto your grace with this present. Moreo-fr she
off`red unto me that whatsoevyr I wolde have doone
with the saide prisonere for the kinges suerte and
yours shuld be cloone. Whereupon I desyred her
that he might be sent in all haste possible as secretly
and closeli as it might be doone unto ]3urborowz
besides Gravelinges. Whereunto she hath condes-
cended, and both she and I have writen unto [on-
sieur le marquise d'_A_rescot that the same gentleman
that toke hym may convaye hym to the forsaide place
wher he shall faule to be upon monday next. I have
also writen unto Sir lobert Vyngfelde to be at the
saide place upon monday to receipve hym, convaiyng
hym secretlie, to kepe hym till such tyme as he shall
know further of your graces pleasure. Furthermore
I have promysed unto the gentleman that toke the

818 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

spye, which shall suyrli convaye hym unto Burbo-
rowz that the paynes and charges shalbe sene unto;
wherein it may please your grace to have sum respect
with such reward as ye shall think good, of parte of
such money as restith her in William Lylgraves
handes, for so doyng the gentlemen belonging unto
Monsieur le marquise which lyeth upon the frontiers
of the Cmnbrisise will make such quete that lyke
espyes shall not lighth passe withowte daunger.
Moreovyr it may like your grace to know that the
duke of Holesteen late elect king of Denmarke hath
sent into thiese partes two persons the one called
doctor Brent, and the other Dyrick van Reight, which
was sum tyme servant in the highe partes unto Ed-
mund de la Pole, and thei have sent hither a messen-
ger with a letter directed unto the Kinges Highnesse
from the saide Duke, desyring a sauf conduyct to
passe into the reame, wher thei wolde treate upon
certaine charges that thei have to be comuned with
your Grace. I have answered this messenger, and
sayde that sithyns the Emperor and the Kinges High-
hesse hath joynctly sent thair ambassadors unto the
dyet at ttamborowh I cowde not suppose that, the
saide dyet contynnyng, the king or yow wolde gyve
audience unto the saide dukes ambassadors but rather
remyt theym unto the Dyet. Nevyrthelesse at his
desir, and inasmoche as it was thowht good by my
Lady that I shuld so doo, I was content to advertise

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 319

your Grace for knovlege of your pleasure, for which

the saide messenger abideth here.
goste preserve your good grace.
xiijth day of April.

Thus the Holi-
At Antwerp, this

Your moost humble bedesman

WILLIAM KNIGHTE.

LETTER CXIV.

ttichard Fox, bishop of IVinchester, to Wolsey, in an-
swer to inquiries concerning Ordinances of
ntade bff Henr FII%, when going against the Scots;
and as to the form and nature of the Indentures for
keeTin 9 the Marches towards Scotland.
[MS. COTTON. CALIG. B. Vl. fol. 249. Or.]
*** Bishop Fox enjoyed the unlimited confidence of Hen the
Seventh, and was at the head of affairs in the beginning of the reign
of Henry the Eighth ; but in 1515, disgusted with the arrogance of
Wolsey whom he had helped to raise, he resied his office of
keeper of the pri-seM, d retired from CouP. On taking leave
of t King, Fox pressed to caution him "not to make any of his
subjects greater than himself :" to which Hen sternly replied,
that" he knew how to keep all his subjects in subjection." Wolsey
however, never failed to resort to Fox's experience ; d Fox, with
that mfless of character which marked his life, was ever ready to
give advice with opeess and candour.
Fox's last appearance  Parlient was  1523. He had then
been nearly five years deprived of his sight. His laer days were
spent in prayer and meditation, which at length became almost un-
interpted both day d night. He died Sept. 14, 1528.
In the present Letter, Fox speaks of his former residence in Nor-
ham Castle. This was as Bishop of Durham, when he defended
that foess in person, against the Scots in 1497.

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

He also speaks of" the Insurrection that began in Cornwall and
Devonshire by reason of the P, lacksmith." The Legend of Michael
Joseph will be found in the Mirror for Magistrates, "The Wilfull
Fall of the Blacksmith, and the foolish end of the Lord Awdeley in
June, Anno Dora. 1496."

My most s3ngular good Lord in my right humble
wyse I recommend me to your Grace, please it the
same t'ondrestoud that this evynnyng after vii th of the
clock I receyved your lettre by this berer, by the
whiche your Grace willeth and desyreth me to shewe
you the knowledge that I have in twoo matiers;
wherof the furst is vhether the Kyng that dede is
(whose soule God pardone)made any entrepryse or
ordynances for the subduyng of the Scottes when the
werre was betwixt hym and theme; and yf he any
suche made, and that I have any n'ytyng therof, I
shuld then sende it to your Grace; or yf I noone
suche have, that then I shuld shewe you yf I have
any knowlege of the said entreprise or ordynances,
and what that shuld be.
My most s3ngular good Lord, for myne answere in
this byhalf yt is of very trawthe that when the werre
was bytwixt the Kyng that dede is and the said
Scottes, I was duryng the said werre, that is to say
byfore the begynnyng therof and at the begynnyng
thereof, and soo contynewally to thende therof was
made by a treaty of peaxe, lyeng and abydyng in the
Bisshopricke of Durysne, Northumberland, and Bet-

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

wick, and some tyme with my lord of Northfolke in
the Caste]] of Alnewick, and for a great parte with
my housolde in the Castell of _Norhm . And thus
my lord, duryng the said werre, I cam not, nor was
with the Kyng that dede is; and as towchyng the
said Entrepryse or Ordynances, I neyther have nor
never see any vryting therof. But soo it is, that the
said Kyng that dede is dide ordeyn that my lord
Dawbney, which was then his chambrelayn, shulde
have come with a great puyssance unto Northumbre-
land and soo to have invaded Scotland, and for the
furnysshyng of the same hoste with vitale, the towne
of Berwick was sufficiently providede with all thinges
necessary in that byhalf; as William l:'awne can more
specially shewe you then I; and the said entreprise
was broken by thinsurrexion that began in Cornwell
and Devonshire by reason of the black smyth; and ot
this entrepryse I doubt not my lord Chambrelayn
and M r. Love]], and suche other as howe be lyvyng
and were then attendyng uppon the Kyng that dede
is, can perfytly enf'orme your Grace. And this is all
that I knowe towching the said entreprise, or any
ordinances made for the same.
The seconde matier wherof your Grace desyreth
me to put you in knowlege, concerneth Indentures
made for the keping of the marches of this Realme
in the tyme of xverre ayenst Scotland.
My most syngular good Lord, as in this matier I

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

knowe not that in the werre that was bytwixt the
King that dede is and Scotland there were any suche
indentures made, or that any person indented for the
keping of the hIarehes for the said tyme of werre:
and to my knowlege noo persone indented for this
matier sens the deth of Th'erle of Northumbreland,
father'to Th'erle of Nothumberland that now ys ; the
which indented with the Kyng that dede is, in the
furste yere of his reigne, byfore that I kept the
pryvye sall ; and the said Erle indented not only for
the kepyng of the said marches but also for the
keping of the towne of Berwiek at his hole eostes
and ehargies ; and as I remembre he had for the sup-
portaeion of the said ehargeis three thowsand markes,
or three thowsand powndes, I remembre not well
whether; wherof the said King being wery, toke
Berwiek into his ome handes, and made Si William
Tyler Capitaigne thereof. And sens that tyme I
trowe noo man indented for the keping of the said
Borders for the tyme of werre.
I doubt not my lord it shalbe right necessary that
the Kynges Grace make a warden for the Este
and mydle marches, for it shalbe to touche for
any oon persone to here the burdeyn of all three
marches in the tyme of werre; and it shalbe right
expedient that he be a very hable man that
shalbe wardeyn of the said Este and mydle marches
in the tyme of werre : for uppon the Este marches

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

3'23

shalbe the moste busynesse of the werre; savyng
that if my lord Dacre wold leve his sone and
his brother uppon the weste marches, wherby the
Scottes have not touche with a great army invaded
those partyes, and lodge hym self in the Este marches,
in myne op)aayon, for the great experyence, acquaynt-
ance, and landes which he hath in Northumbreland,
he shuld be right melt to kepe the said Este and
mydle marches; and whoo soo ever shalbe nmv war-
den of them, he owght not to looke to have the fees
that the said Erle of Northumbreland had; seyng
that he had the said fees, as above is said, not only
for the keping of the said Este and mydle marches,
but also for the keping of the said towne of Benvick,
which towne is howe in the Kinges handes and at his
propre costes and chargies ; and in my pouer opynyon
the fees that the said warden shall have owght, of
reason, to be cessed much aftur the nowmbre of the
Souldyers whiche he will bynde hym to have con-
tynually attendante and servinge in the werre uppon
the said borders.
Jhd this is the knowelege that I have of the
said entrepryse and indentures, with my pouer
opynyon concernyng the Fees for the said warden
in the tyme of verre; wherwith I beseche your
grace to be contented, assuryng the same that yf I
had any wryting concernyng the said entrepryse or
Indentures for the werre, yf ye cowde noone other-

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

wyse have them, I wold rather bryng you them uppon
my fore then ye shulde fayll of theme; as knowith
our Lord whoo send your Grace as good prosperite
and spede in all your causes as your own good harte
wold wisshe. At Wynchestre this Thursday after
ix u' of the clock in the nyght.
Your humble preste and bedeman
R. WYNTON.
To my most syngular good lord, my lord Cardinall
of Yorke, Chauncellor of England and Legate
of the same.

LETTER CXV.
ichard Pace to Cardinal tVolsey, enclosing the tran-
script of a PaTer shewing that the Duke of llbany
atd tichard de la Pole were come into Scotland to
invade England.
[B). fol. 221. Orig.]
PLEASITT your Grace thys same houre arriuydde "
here a messenger off the Kyngis cmyne owte off
Lincolnssclfire, and haith broght wyth hym a byll,
intendynge to delivre the same vnto the Kynge
assone as he conueniently maye. And because
the Kyngis Grace was takynge hys rest at the
cmynge off the sayde messanger hydre, he schewede
vnto me the sayde byll, whyche conteignyth strange
newes: and no parte (as I do iugge) trewe off the

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

same, as your Grace schall perceve bi the copy off the
sayde byll herinclosydde more at large.
The sayde messenger, namydde Wylliam gentilman,
demaundydde bi Me, off whome he hadde the sayde
byll, answerde, that itt was deliurydde vnto hym at
Thorneton Abbaye in Lyncolne schire bi the cellarer
off the place there, namydde Hutte, and thys sayde
Hutte hadde the sayde byll off oon namydde Mun-
forde, who tidies abowte the cuntreye namynge
him selfe oon off the Kyngis messangers, and berith
hys Grac's armis, and is no messanger in deade: as
the sayde Vylliam gentihnan reaportith, whoo haith
also schewede vto me, that at hys late beynge in
Yorke schire, wythin thiese x. dayes, he harde there
nother brute nor wurde off ony suche matiers as be
comprisydde in the sayde byll. The King intendith
to be at Wyndesore uppon Mundaye nexte ensuynge,
Godde wyllynge, whoo preserve your Grace in longe

helth and continuall
thys Myghelmas daye.
and faythfull seruant.
The Copy of the
placs.
There be cfimyn in to
and they be in Dunbarre :

prosperitie. Frome Redyng,
By your Grac's most humble
RI, PACE.
Byll corruptly wrety in sum

Scotlande iii i. grete men,
the oon is namydde the

Duke of Albanye, and the othre Richarde de la Pole,
the thyrde is the Duke off Albanys brothre, the iiij.
is Sir Mowncery Mowe, wyth whome ther is cfimyn

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 37

with a Scotishman that is verrey preve with the Duk
of Albany, in so moche he hath thorderyng of the
Comission made betwen the ffrenshe King and the
Duk, which resiteth the Duk to be bounden to invaid
the Realme of Englande vpon Tewisday next at the
ferrest. And forther that Richerde Delapooll, callede
in the same the Duk of Suffolk, shall invaid in lik
manet with a certeyn hombre by the Duk of Albany
his aduice. And notwithstanding if the said Richerd
Dalapooll fortune to dye or be seke that he may not,
yit the said Duk of Albany shall invaid. The said
Sir %qlliam sawe the said Comission.
The said Scotishman hath promysed hym that from
tyme to tyme, of the Duks provision and purpose
he shal be acertayned, for the which he hath geven
hym a large rewarde : and hath promysed hym more.
Vherfor he wold knawe your lordship pleaser,
whether he shall in suche causes medle with hym or
no, for except it stands with your lordship pleaser he
woll not: and that he may have warrant from your
lordship for the same.
The said Scot woll acerten hym, as he sath of
every thing, when non other espiall canne, for he sath
ther is no Scotishman shall haue any knawlege of the
Duks purpos afore hym.
l:y lorde the said Six" William trusts, if it be your
pleas r to get you a sight of the said Comission, or ells
a copie of it ; or if it pleas youe to haue spech with

3_08

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

the said Scotishman, to come to your self. He sath
as yit the Duk is uncoiyn forth of Edinburgh.
Albeit he thinks the Lorde Homylton and the lords
kept their lnusters-.
Suchc newis as I haue by myn .espiall, I send
theym to your Lordship. I thot theym of so small
effecte that I wold not post theym unto your Lord-
slfip afore this tyme. My Lord I haue thre espialles
at Edinburgh, bot as yit I haue no woorde from
theym this thre days. I am affraed the chef of theym
be either hanged, or sore myschef fallen vpon hym:
for he corn to me when the water was byg, and left
his hors on the Scotishsyde; and ther come Scots
and took his hors, and had hym away. I sent hym
ageyn, and gaf hym money to by hym ane other hors :
bot sen I can not here or" hym. Also as yet I here
no thing nether of the Priores, Pete Sinkler, nor
Sandy Trotter, and therfor I think thei have no
tlfing to come withall bot as your lordship hath hard
heretofor.
My Lorde, even in the tyme that I was writing
this Lettre come to me one of myn Espiall wiles, and
shewed me that lair husband was suspecte, so that he
durst not come hymself. And she sayth playtly that
the Duk and the lords is togethers and comyth forth
of Edinburgh this same day. And that the Lorde
Hoome is charged to kepe the Bordors for Espialls
that non shall pass. Also she saith that the ffoote-

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

men and ordenance is comyn before: also he sent me
woorde that the Lorde Bortik, whom he is kynsman
to, shew it hym that the Duk wold begin eyther at
Wark or Norham. Also the said Espiall sent me
woorde that th'erl of Angueshe is comyn home, and
that Davy Hoome is goon to the Duk ; which neither
of both I can belave : bot I acertain your Lordship
as I here. I thhk the wedder hath been so that it
wold suffre no man to passe by the See. Also he sent
me woorde that the Duk hath apoynted the Lorde of
Swynton to be Calten of Wark, and ane other to be
Capten of Norham, bot she forgote the nayme of
hym or she come to me : and purloses his self to be
twenty days in Englande, and to plenneshe such
holdes as he may get. My Lorde I think no noble-
man wold speke suche ffoolish voords, and therfor I
think it be not trewe. Also the said Espiall sath
that the Lorde Bortek sent worde to George Vrde to
put his cattell away, for thei ierlosed to ryn small
forreys. My Lorde all that this Espiall hath, he
hath it of the lorde Bortek, who hath comaunded
hym to abide with hym and he shall put hym forth
at ane ende of the host, with certen knawlege of
euery thing.
My Lord, trewth it is Davy Home is gon to the
Duk: for this night come Thom Nesbet to the
water side and so shewid me : and said the Duk set
forward from Edinburgh this day. And saith the

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

881

PLEAS it your Grace, so it is as I am enformed,
vpon malice it is mocioned wto your Grace to take
into the Kingis handes amongs other for the good
entended purpose the Pryory of Conyssed in the
Countie of Lancasff, where I vnderstonde is not
oonly good hospitalite kept and mayntened to the
greate weale and comfourt of the countrey ther, but
also the king is subgietts passing to and from thoes
parties wher the House is situated, which is nigh
vnto the wasshes, are greatly relevid and socored by
the same by constituc"6n and ordynance of the said
House, which the now Prior there doith right amply
observe and accomplisshe, who is also of a good reli-
giouse maner and of good and vertuous disposic%n
and lyving. And for asmuch as I know this is pre-
ferrid and shewid vnto your Grace expressely vpon
malice, I am the more bolde to write vnto your
Grace herin, beseching the same to be good lorde
and to extende your Graces auour vnto the said
Priour herin, the better at this myn intercession, as
my speciall trust and confidence is in your Grace.
And that I may be aduertissed of your Grac's plea-
sure herin by the bringere. And thus o r Lorde
haue your Grace in his blissid tuic6n. Ffrom myn
honor of Eye the ,-ij% day of Aprill.
by your owne assured to my poer,
CHARLYS SUFFOLKE.

To my lorde Cardynal is Grace.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

335

and daylie bedeman Richard Croke scole master to
the Duke of Richmonde, that yt wolde please your
Grace of your most habundant goodnes to directe yo r
most gracius lettres of comaundment unto my Lord
of Richemonds Counsell comprysing these Articles
followinge.
Ffirst the quantytie of tyme which I shall dayle
occupie with my Lorde iI lerenynge by your Grace
appoyntid, the said Councell parmyt and suffer me to
have accesse unto hym ooe hower before masse
and brekefast accordynge to your Grace's former
comaundemente. The rest of the tyme of ynstruc-
cyon of my saide Lorde to be taken at my discression,
and as I shall parceyve most convenyent; and my
saide Lorde moste apte to Lerne. Provided that no
more tyme by me be occupied in oone daye then be
your Grace shalbe appoyntid. Ne that I so remytt
eny parte of the same, that thereby my Lordes lern-
ynge may decay.
Secode that where as my said Lorde is forced to
wryte of his owen hande to abbotts and meane par-
sons contrary to your Grace's comaundement; and
that ymedyatly after his dynner and repast taken; to
the grete dullynge of his wytts sprytes and memory,
and no litell hurte of his hed, stomak, and body;
and that yt were very necessary in my pore judge-
ment my said Lorde shuld wryte noo thyng of his
owen hande but in Latten specially to the Kyngs

336

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Highnes and your moste noble Grace, to thentent he
myght more fermely imprynte in his mynde both
wordes and phrases of the Latten tonge, and the soner
frame hym to some good stile in wrytinge whereunto
he is now very type; yt wolde please your Grace
therefore to determyn and appoynte both certayne
persons, and also certayne tylnes in the weke, to
whome only, and when, my said Lorde shall wryte
either in Englishe or in the Latten tonge, as your
high wisdom shall thinke moste eonvenyente. Pro-
vided the said exersise of his hande and stile in
both the tonges be commytted oonly to the dis-
cression and ordre of me his scole master" and that
no man may force hym to wryte oonles I be there
presente, to dyrecte and forme his said hande and
stile.
Thirdely that where as by example of good edu-
cation, as well in noryture as good lernyng, of suche
yonge gentilmen as by your Graces comamdement
be attendant upon lny said Lorde, the same myght
more facyly be induced to profit in his lerenynge, yt
wolde please your Grace to gyve comaundemente
that the Instruction of the said gentihnen be at the
only order and disposicion of the scole master, so that
they be streytely comaundid to applye their lernynge
at such tymes as I shall thinke conuenient without
mayntenaunce of eny man to the contrary. And also
that none of them ne any other be sufferid to con-

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

337

tynue in my lordes chamber durynge the tyme of his
lernynge, but such only as the said scole master shall
thinke mete for the furtherance of the same.
Ffourthly, yt wolde please your Grace in likewise
to comande that the tyme of my lordes lernynge by
yo r Grace appoyntid be not interupted for euery
tryefull, or reasorte of euery stranger, but only
strangers of honor, to whome also if my said lorde
myght by the advise of his Scolemaster exhibit and
make sore shew of his lernyng, like as he was wont
and doth of his other pastymes, it shulde greately
encourage hym to his lernyng; to the which, bycause
it is moste laborious and tedyous to chikh'en, his
Grace shulde be moste specially anymated and en-
coraged.
Ffynally, that no wayes, color, ne crafte be taken
to discorage, alyenate, or averte my said lordss mynde
from ]ernyng, or to extyncte the love of lernynge in
his estymacion, but that he be induced most highly
to esteme his boke of all his other studies. The
which thing with other the premisses obteyned, I
dare be bolde to assure your Grace that his lernyng
at the sight of your Grace shall with no litel tyme,
and much pleasure of hymselff, farr surrmounte and
passe the knowledge of his yeres, tyme, and age,
noone excepte.

To my Lorde Legats good Grace.

VOL, I. Q

338

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER CXX.
Gregory Cromwell to his father, Ir. Thomas Cromwell.
[STAT. PAP. OFF. lIISC. CORRESP. 2 SEt. vii. 16S. Orig.]
*** Two or three Letters are now presented to the reader from
Gregory, afterwards Lord Cromwell, to his father. These, with
two Letters from Henry Dowes, his latest preceptor, which follow,
explain the system of education pursued at that time for boys in
better life.
The date of Gregory Cromwell's birth is not recorded; but it
could hardly have been earlier than 1520. For his infant training
he was placed under tle care of the Prioress of Little Marlow, in
Buckinghamshire.
Dowes's Letters, being addressed to Cromwell as Secretary, must
be placed in or about 1533 or 1534. They are put here, premature-
ly as to date, that they may accompany the Letters from Gregory
Cromwell.
MOST dere father, I humbly recomend me unto
you, and hertily beseche you of yowr dayly blessyng,
naturally bownden thayreunto; for the wiche, and
other yowr manifowld benefittes to me colatyt, I am
and schalbe yowr daly bednlan, interely desyryng the
contineweans of the same; trustyng soo to accom-
plysse and fulfyll yowr parentall coi-fiandments in the
passage of myne erudicion, that yow, my good father,
schall tharewith be ryght welcontentyd by Gods
helpe, the wiche with hys grace bee send hus. Amen.
Frome the howse of yowr bedman Mr. Doctor Lee
thys Ester day in the mornyng.
By yowr vigelante sone
GREGORI CROME'WELL.
To hys Right worschipfull father M r Thomas
Cromewel at London.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER CXXIII.

Henry Dowes, Gregory Cromwell's preceptor, to Secre-
tary Cromwell. Details Gregory's adraces ia
educatio.

[IBID. ix. 390. Orig.]
PLEASITH it your Maistershipp to be advertised
that M  Gregory with all his companie here ar
(thankes be to God) in healthe; daylie occupied and
embusied in the treyne and exercice of lerninge ; un-
der such maner and forme as there is no small hope
the successe therof to be suche as shall contente and
satisfie your good truste and expectation, beinge
moche more lykelehodde of proffecte and encrease
then att any tyme hertofore, partely for cause he is
now brought sumewhat in an awe and dreade redy to
gyve himself to studie when he shalbe therunto
requyred, and partelie sithens thinges whiche herto--
fore have alienated and detracted hys mynde from
labours to be taken for th'attaignement of good
lettres are now subdued and withdrawne, wherunto
(as a thinge nott of leaste momente and regarde) may
be addyde the ripenes and maturitie of his wytte;
whiche nott beinge of that hasty sorte that by and by
do bringe forth theire frute, doth dailie growe to a
more docilitie and apte redines to receyve that that
shalbe shewyd him by his teachers. The order of

ORIGINAL LETTERS, 343

pons, and all other theire exercises, so that if continu-
ance in this bihalf may take place, whereas the laste
Diana, this shall (I truste) be consecrated to Apollo
and the Muses, to theire no small profecte and your
good contentation and pleasure. _A_nd thus I beseche
the Lord to have you in his moste gratious tuition.
At Reisinge in Norff the last dale of Aprill.
Your faithfull and most bounden servaunte
HENRY DOVESo
To his right honorable maister M r Thomas Crumwell
chief Secretary vnto the King's Maiestie.

LETTER CXXIV.
Henry Dowes to Secretary Cromwell, with fartlter de-
tails.
[IBID. fol. 40. Orig.]
AFTER that it pleased your Maistershipp to give
me in charge not onlie to give diligent attendaunce
uppon Maister Gregory, but also to instructe hime
vith good lettres, honeste maners, pastymes of in-
strmnentes, and suche other qualities as sholde be for
hime mete and conveniente, pleasith it you to under-
stande that for the accomplishement therof I have
indevoured myself by all veys possible to invent and
excogitatc how'e I might moste profett hime, in
vhiche bihalf thorowgh his diligence the successe is
suche as I truste shalbe to your good contentation
and pleasure, and his no smale profecte. But forcause

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

somer was spente in the servyce of the wylde goddes
it is so moche to be regarded after what fashion yeouth
is educate and browght upp, in whiche tyme that
that is lerned (for the moste parte) will nott all
holelie be forgotten in the older yeres, I thinke it
my dutie to asserteyne yo" [aistershippe how he
spendith his tyme, so that if there be any thinge con-
trary your good pleasure, after advertisment receyved
in that bihalf it may be amended. And firste, after
he hath herde Masse he taketh a lecture of a Diologe
of Erasmus Colloquium, called Pietas puerilis, where-
inne is described a veray picture of oone that sholde
be vertuouselie brought upp, and forcause it is so
necessary for hime I do not onelie cause him to rede
it over, but also to practise the preceptes of the same,
and I have also translated it into Englishe, so that he
may conferre theime both to githers, wherof (as
lerned men affirme) cometh no smalle profecte ; whiche
translation pleasith it you to receyve by the bringer
herof, that ye may judge howe moche profitable it is
to be lerned: after that, he exerciseth his hande in
writing one or two houres, and redith uppon 'a-
bian's Chronicle as longe ; the residue of the day he
doth spende uppon tim lute and virginalls. When
he rideth (as he doth very ofte) I tell hime by the way
some historie of the Romanes or the Greekes, whiche
I cause him to reherse agayn in a tale. For his recrea-
tion he useth to hawke md hunte, and shote in his

346 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
ceyving your lettres ycster night late I shewed the
contenue of them and also red the same vnto the
Kings Highnes this mornyng, saving the latter parte
concernyn ff the lettrcs of the King of Dcnmarke.
And where as your Grace in the secoand parte of
your lettre vrote howe glad yc wolde be to receyve
the Kings Highnes at the More, at that point his
Hilmes said that synnes his determination to goo
thither hc was aduertised howe at ]ikemansworth
and other townes aboute the More, certain this yere,
and of late, have had the Swet; the oonly name and
voyce wherof is soo terrible and fearfid in his Highnes
ceres that he dare in noowisc approch vnto the place
where it is noysed to have been, and that therfor his
Higlmcs will not goo thither, but in the stede of that
oo to Titcnnehanger, and take such chere of your
Grace there as he shuldc have had at the More;
mynding according to his former gifts to departe from
Barnct on Satcrday cue sevenniht, and after dyner
to goo that night to Titenhanger, and there to be
Sondaye al daye, and Monday after brckfast to dc-
parte. I said I thought Tytenhanger to lytc to re-
ceyve his Highnes. Wherunto his Highnes answerd
that your Grace as he doubted not ye wolde removing
for the tyme with your company to Saint Albons,
it shulde serve of the while he wolde tarye there.
Which resolution his Grace willed me to signifie
vnto yo.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 347
Your Grace's lettres to Master Strangwish wcr
very well and thankefully accepted of al parties.
Other lettres or newes here be noone, but that the
Kings Highnes is mery, thanked be God, who pre-
serve your Grace.
At Waltham the iiij day of August.
Your Grac's most humble and dayly bedeman
STEVEN GARDYNER.
To my lorde Legates good Grace.

LETTER CXXVI.

Dr. Sampsot to Cardinal Wolsey, from 3ladrid,
chiefly relating to lVolsey's opening Charles the
teifth's tmbassador's Letters, previous to the battle
of Pavia.
[,s. coo, vv.sPns, c. m. fol. 129. Orig.]
PLEAS it your Grace, the twenty second day off
Marche in the morning arryvid here Rogier Basing
the Kinges servant with letters fi'om his Highnesse
off his own hande to thEmperors maiestie, and lyke-
wyse from your Grace to the sam, with your Graces
lettirs allso to me off the twenty-first day of February.
I received allso thEmperors othir letth's from tham-
bassador there, to my Lady Margarete, and othir; a
copie off your Graces lettirs to my Lord of Bathe;
copies, to M . Secretarie, and from him to the Kinges
Highnesse and your Grace; to Sir John Russell, off

348 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
instructions gevyn to Sir Gregorie Cassalls ; off newis
off Fraunce, off thaffayres off Italie sent to Joachin.
The twenty fourth day I was with his Majestie;
for the twenty-third his Maiestie was all the day in
recreations now aftir his syknesse. I delyveryd the
KAnges lettris with recommendations according, and
in lyke maner your Graces ; and after that his Males-
tie had redde them both, according to your Graces
lettris, I schewid his Maiestie off the interception off
his Ambassadors lettres there, declaring all the manet
at lenth, assuring his Maiestie flat othir maner was
not prepensyd in no manet off wyse. And because
it schuld the more clerely apeare, I gave his Maiestie
translatyd in to Latin the maner of the interception,
that it might be torned into Frenche, for his Maies-
ties more perfyct undyrstonding, with daungiers allso
that might chaunce be such an Ambassador, and
so much as I thought was sufficient with your Graces
lettris and othir declaration that I made be mowithe.
The copie off the writting, I send here enclosyd to
your Grace. Themperor aunsword no more, but
that he was very gladde to know from the King his
brodyr, and was sory that his Ambassador had not be-
havyd hym otherwyse; he was allso right sory that
his lettris ware so interceptid, and was glad that the
interception was noon othirwyse. Notwithstonding
aftir this interception be such a chaunce, he mar-
veylid that his othir gevyn to the Fulkars ware

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

restreyafid be evident force, syns that the takers off
the first lettris, how so evyr it was, ware right worthy
punisment. To that I aunsword that your Grace
now be this chaunce perceyving the sinistre mynde
off thambassador, thowght that the othir lettris ware
no bettir. Wherfor onlesse that the reporte off thos
lettris might percase doo sore great hurte in the mean
tyme for the feithfull service that your Grace at all
tymes hath owght to his Maiestie and his atlhyres,
and with all your power to interteyne to entiere love
that is betwix his Maiestie and the King my mastre,
thowght it best to stoppe allso thos lettris tyll that
his Maiestie ware advertysid be the King my mastre
and your Grace of these demeanors and daungiers.
His Maiestie seyd, that rathir he wold have thowght
it more convenient to send his fyrst lettris so takyn
to his Ambassador ageyne. Nor lfis Ambassadors
words what so evyr they schuld be coude cause hym
to have any maner off suspition, espetially agenst the
King his brodyr; nor yet agenst your Grace; as
dyvers tyros els his Maiestie had seyd to me. And
be the withholding off" his Ambassadors lettris, he is
not oonly ignorant off thaffayres off` Englond but off
dyvers other advertisements that he schuld have be
his seyd Ambassadors lettris.
In this matir he wold speke with his counseill, and
so gyve aunswor. I schewid his Maiestie allso, thow
it ware now past be the othir newis off the victorie,

350 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

that the Chauncelier off lonsieur de Alanson, was
corn well instructyd, and as. it semyd with convenient
offres for the fyrst schew wold have entred well and
roundly. His 5[aiestie seyd that before iff he vare
so myndyd to doo, now he wold much more as he
hath cause.
The twenty fifth day off Marche arryved here the
gentylhnan that brought the newis to the Kinges
Highnesse and your Grace off this dctorie, be whom
I received lettris gratulatorie both from the Kinges
Highnesse and your Grace to his Iaiestie.
The which lettris the same aftir noon I delyveryd
with as good wordes as I might. His laiestie was
right gladde of the lettris, for he was desyros to know
from the Kinges Highnesse aftir the reporte of this
victorie. And was very glad allso that the Kinges
Highnesse wold in bryi'e send an especiall personage
for fle sam, for twyse he rehersyd flere before certeine
off his counseill flat schortly he schuld have an honor-
able person off Englond especially sent. I schewid his
Maiestie allso that be the seyd personage his Maies-
tie schuld know more off the King my mastya's in-
tent off all thinges at leinth. But yn the mean tyro
the King my mastre was most desyros to hmw his
Iaiesties forther pleasor what he schtfld think best
to be doon forthermore yn thes matirs, for the King
my mastre preparyd to be in a redynesse, what wey
so evyr his Iaiestie wold folow, wherfor most humbly

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 351

I besowght the sam that 1 might know his pleasour
with diligenee to advertyse the Kinges Highnesse
and your Grace off the sam. His Maiestie seyd that
he wold commune thes matirs nov vith his eounseyll
and sehortly gyve aunswer. I put ageyne in remem-
branee the matir off[ his Ambassador there, most
humbly beseehing his Maiestie well to eonsydre his
demeanour not oonly, for the tyro past, but allso what
daungier may ensue off sueh a personage, with his
sinistre myaade and interpretations, yff that he sehall
eontynu his Ambassador there, and on the othir syde,
to have in remembrance what desyros mynde your
Graee hath had at all tyms to doo his Maiestie the
most honorable service that you might. And now
what so evyr hath beyn els reportyd, his Maiestie
sehulde well pereeyve be sueh eopies off" lettris off I
wold gyve to his Maiestie that your Graee hath usyd
as mueh diligenee and means for the sueeurring and
mainteyning off his affayres at this tyro in Italia as
might be studied or devysid.
His Maiestie seyd that he nevyr had ony manet of
suspition agenst the King his brodyr, or evya-wold
have, for wordes or reportes off ony persons lyving
tyll that he schall perceyve the thing evidentlye, the
which he nevyr trusteflt to doo nor yet hath suspectid
it more or lesse. For he belevith hym to vertuose in
any manet off` wyse to change his lnynde aft`tit such
entiere amitie and love as hath passyd betwix them

352 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

too! with such causys as they have allso to knette
them to gethirs and so to continw. I addyd that his
Maiestie might trust no lesse good mynde in your
Grace towardes hym and his affayres, and to doo his
Maiestie all the service that you might, as to the
King my mastre, knowing them so joynd with entiere
love, and matirs off necessarie concurrence, and off
this your good mynde both now at this tyro, and all
othir, your Grace hafl gevyn large experience. His
Maiestie seyd that agenst your Grace he nevyr hath
had suspicion, thow that sore thinges hath ben doon
there much to the hynderance off his affayres, not-
withstmding wordes that your Grace hath spokyn
many tyros hath not sowndyd best, the which hath
allso causyd his Ambassador both to writ and sus-
pecte the more largely. Yet neverthelesse he accep-
tith your Grace for his very frende, syns that you are
so feithffull a servant to the King his brod)n'; for he
that is feithffull to the oon, cannot be othirwise to the
othir, ther amitie and affayres being both as oon.
Notwithstanding he seyd that he perce)with nothing
in his lettirs interceptid, the which I had before de-
lyveryd to his Majestic, that schuld move your Grace
so much, owth" agenst his Ambassador or to cause
his othir lettirs to be revokyd and restreynd. And
he dowtith not but iff flat he wold so intercept Am-
bassadors lettirs, many tyros he schuld fynde wors
wordes. And whatsoevyr that he wrot to othir men,

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

your Grace may be vell assuryd, that his Maiestie
intendith not to revenge ony thing upon your Grace,
but to do you all the pleasour that he may.
I schewid his Maiestie allso off the four principall
poinctis of the charge of Monsieur de Bevers and his
companie, whereoff his Maiestie was well advertysid
before. And aunsword to no mo then the last.
That his brodyr was desyryd in hostage with certeine
towns, for delyverance off my Lady Princes. And
that his brodyr was emancipate, so that now he had
no such power in him to gyve -hym in hostage. As
towching the Towns, thambassadors seyd, they had
no such commission, nor for that tym coude speke in
it more. To this, Sir, I seyd off myn own mynde that
sche is the oonly childe and heyre off tim reaulme;
and that this was not demaundyd for ony mystruste
off his Maiestie but his Maiestie was mortale, God
Tve hym long lyfe, and iff any thing schuld fortune
to hym before the mariage as sche is yet yong, the
King and his counseyll wold have hyrre suyrly re-
storyd. And thus I departid.
Monsieur de le Schaulx is now from hens ambas-
sadour in to Portugale, as it is seyd to bring fl'om
thens the Ouenes dowtyr, the which at hyrre depart-
ing sche lefft there.
At the commyng of thes newis throw France off
the victorie, the Frenche Kinges modyr wrot both to
th'emperor, Monsieur de Massan, and le Schaulx,

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 355

pecially content with the sam, graunting that it was
a very loving and feithffull demeanor; and off the
lettris concerning the Pope they knew before that it
was an espetiall helpe, for before the Pope was in
dispeyre off the King and all Englond, and the Vene-
tians allso, And for ther bettir knowleg, I gave
them the ehyffe off your Graces lettirs translatid as I
might in hast, the eopie wheroff I send here enelosyd
to your Grace, And as concerning the interception
off the lettirs they esteme it, Sir, for a very grevos
matir, as well for the deade off the sellff, as the ru-
mor that schuld aryse off the stun to the enemies, and
all othir places. And allso they sey assurydly that
the currier with thes lettirs being an Ynglis man, was
takyn be M. More's servantes, and so both he and
the lettirs elosse ware browght be M. More to your
Grace. This the felow sworne uppon a boke, hath
eonfessyd before three honest persons. The which
causith them assurydly to eonjeetour that a pakett of
lettirs delyveryd to IV[. Tuke for nay lady Margarete,
was first takyn and redde and upon suspition had be
thos lettirs, thes othir to thEmperor, de Industria
ware thus intereeptid. This is reportid and belevid
here for trieMth. Notwithstonding, Sir, that I have
usyd all the means possible, to induce the triewith
that your Grace wrot to me into there myndes.
And, sir, othir aunswer or writting is not made in
this matir as I may perceyve, but be such lettirs as

356 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
themperor writtith now off his own hande, to the
Kinges Highnesse and your Grace. With credence
gevyn to the sam gentylhnan that browght the newis
ill to Englond, who now is sent ageyne, as I may un-
derstonde with a charge fyrst to repare to the Kinges
Highnesse and what his instructions be forther, I am
not sure nor pryvie, but as it semith thEmperor re-
mittith all the hole nmtir to the Kinges Highnesse
and his judgement.
Wherfor, Sir, I have gevyn charge to this bearare
the Kinges servante, to prevente h)m in England,
that your Grace might be first advertisyd. And they
confesse here that there was much indiscrenesse in
th'ambassador so to writ. And that he is worthy
much blame. But for this tyro in no manet of 'yse
they wyll here of Iris removing froln thens. But oon
that owith his service to your Grace schevid me, that
iff your Grace wold dissimule the nlatir for three or
four nonithis, means might be fownde to change
hym. For they sey now to change hym, coude not
sownde but to thEnperors dishonour, much and great
schame to his Ambassador. But so he schalbe ad-
monischid that froln hensforth he nowthir schalbe so
light off suspitions with thEmperors most espetiall
frendes, nor yet so indiscrete off his wordes. Othir
remedie, sir, I perceyve not for this tyro in no maner
of wyse.
Themperor is very desiros off the personage that

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

57

schuld .corn now. And before his commyng and
knowleg of his charge, thElnperor wyll not declare
his farther mynde. Notwithstonding I seyd, that iff
it might pleas his Maiestie to advertise to the King
my mastre off his farther purpos and intente, the
matirs might be set forth in convenient tyme or els
the tyro of this personages commyng hithir, and re-
tome from hens ageyne into Englond sehuld passe
ovyr the best of the yere. Neverthelesse I knew
that the King my mastyr, preparyd every thing to be
in a rydinesse. It was answorde, that ther sehuld
remayne tyro sufficient to make such an entree, that
th'armies before the hard tyro of the yere might
wynne loginges in the enemies grownde; and in
this mean tyro, the myndes off thein off Fraunee
sehalbe knowne how they sehalbe inclyned, and ther-
after, thEmperour and the King may ordre there
affayres ; oon thing, Sir, I allso pereeyve that wher as
the Kinges Highnesse desirith to have t-he eyde
theroff three thousand horsemen, and eerteine fote-
men as they have schewed me, and to have for the
enterteynanee off them from hens oon hundxed or
fifty thousand Dueates ther is no maner of trust now
to opte)ae it nor yet to have the ordinate garnitions
there, except it be for the joyning off a batayle, iff
they be there where they may be had in tyro for they
think that the Kinges Highnesse sehuld make the
reste off any eonqueste with his own charge, having

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

359

LETTER CXXVII.

Archbishop tVarham to Sir Thomas Boleyn and Sir
Henry GMdeford, respecting the Contribution de-
manded from the People of Kent to enable the King
to go upon his expedition to France.
[MS. COTTON. CLEOP. F. VL fol. 317. Orig.J

I COMMEND me hartely to you. So it is that
such persons as ye and others the Inges Graces
Commissioners deputed to enduce the Kings Graces
loving subjecties of Kent to graunte contribution to
the Kinges Highnes passing with a noble armey into
Fraunce, hath been before me at diverse tymes, ac-
cording to suche commaundment as ye and they gave
to theyme. To whome at ther commyng I shewed
that the common reaporte was, that they hadd
bannded and promised emonges thaymeselfes, that
noone of thayme should pay any loving contribution
to the Kinges Grace, the whiche thay have utterly
denyed ; to whom I shewed that in caas thay hadd so
promised or banded, and at any tyme herafter it
might so be proved before the Kinges moost noble
Grace or his honorable Counsell they might be right
well assured it shuld cooste thayme thaire lives.
And they aunswred me that they wet right well
contented so to be ordred, if any such demeanour
shall herafter be proved ayenst theym.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 361
other Princes thinkithe verely nowe that the Kinges
Grace will use this oportunitie of tyme, and if his
subjectes shuld now as far as in theym is in not ad-
vauncyng suche sommes as be demaunded, ]ett his
Grace not to use this oportunytie which belike shall
never be seen agayne, they shuld be occasion of
loosing of Fraunce and causors of moo inconveni-
ences then theire wittes can perceive. And in deny-
ing of the said contribution they deserveth to fall
in the Kinges Graces perpetua]l displeasure, whiche
wer to hevy for thayme to beare. Whereunto they
aunswered that they have as good and loving myndes
as any subjectes shuld have to thaire Prince. And
if their goodes wer according to thair good willes,
they would never denye to pay the demaund, and
many of thayme have declared how they wet decayed
with weping tearys in theire yeis. To whom I said
that they bear not to the Kinges Hieghnes suche love
according to thair allegaunce as they spoke of" for
if they loved their Prince, they wold not sticke at
this demaund. Their deydes should prove ther love ;
but whet be noo deydes of kindnes, ther is noo
love.
I sayd also that seing they will not be enduced by
gentylnes of the Kynges Graces Commissioners dwell-
ing amonges thayme, neither by me theire ordinary,
neither for the duetie which they owe to thaire
naturall Prince to graunte this demaund, I marvel
VOL. I, R

362

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

they wer not ashamed to say they loveth their Prince,
whet they will nothing do for hym, specially in suche
oportunytie of tyme as this is.
Over this I shewed unto theym that I muste
remytt theym accordiug to the Kinges Graces in-
structions to the Kinges Hieghnes and his honorable
Counsaile. A_ad in going fi'ome thaire habitations and
dwelling places thither, in geving attendaunce thair,
and in returning home agayne, they shuld spend as
moche money as their contributions shuld amounte
unto; wherby it appered, that they lacked witt,
kindnes, or grace. But theis meanes and many
other cold not enduce thayme to graunt suche sommes
as wer demaunded.
Ther wet many before me whiche I thought that
other for love or feare they wold be enduced by
me; but they regarded my saying nothing: whome
herafter if they have neyde of me I shall in lykewise
regard theym, and so I shewed thaym. Albeit many
of theym alleging greate povertie and decaye in their
gooddes, wet contented to make lesse graunte then
was demaunded ; saying, if they might have reason-
able dayes they will contribute according to ther
value that they be nowe; but what trust is to be
geven to their sayinges I cannot tell. To whome I
shewed that I hadd noo auctotie to accept it.
And whet they excused thaymeselves by povertie
that they were not able to pay according to the said

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 363
demaund, I shewed theym that if at any tyme her-
after it may appere that they, or any of theyme, in
tyme of this contribution wer able to pay the said
demaund, that then considering their untreuth to-
wardes ther Prince, their bodies shuld be commytted
to prison and their gooddes forfecteid to the King ;
wherwith they said they wet contented if it mought
be so proved. And to th'entent they shuld not varye
frome their sayinges concerning ther poverties, I
caused ther sayinges to be writen and subscribed
wythe ther handes, which shall bynd theym her-
after.
In good faith I thinke ther is a great povertie
in Kent and lacke of money, as batb been seen many
yeres, or els theis men be too untrewe. For they
allegid before me (as I thinke they have don befor
you) many mervelous decayes as well in gooddes as
in catalles; and some in brennyng of their barnes
and other howses with stuff therin; and some by
shrowd debtors be defrauded bi reason of protec-
tions; and some saith that in paying this demaund,
they should not be able to fynde thair wifes and
childre, but shuld be dreven to send theym a begging,
and so to geve up their fermes. To whom I said that
though they alleged suche poverties befor me, I hadd
no auctoritie by the Kinges Graces instructions to
allow it, but only to enduce theym to be conformable
to this demaund.

q64 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
Item I shewed to theym, that in caas the Kinges
Hieghness wold not at this tyme passe into Fraunce,
or els by any meanes mought be browght abowte
an 3" wey of honorable peace, his Grace entendith to
conserve and save the said demaund to be restored
unto theym agayn. And they aunswerd, that I and
other the Kinges Graces Commissioners, promised
that they shuld be repayed long or this tyme of the
first Loone, and that be shewed theym that we hadd
suche enstructions of the Kinges Grace so to
promesse, md as yet they have receyved nothing of
the said Lone. And though we promise the)n in
lykewise at thys tyme, yet they saithe they thinke
verely they shall have no more relaayd of this,
then is rcpayed of the Lone. To whome I shewed,
that though laayment be differred, bi reason of the
great charges which the Kinges Grace bathe sus-
teyned, yet it is not to be thought or doubted but
his Grace will make laayment longingly with thankes
to theym for the forbearing of the same.
Item I have vriten to diverse the Kinges Graces
Commissioners, that they shuld endevor the3nselfes
secretely to make espialles whether any persons in
those partes nake any Conventicles or Assembles;
specially this holydayes and this whote wether;
which thorow idlenes and lightnes of ther wittes
mought make busynes. And in caas they shall see any
suspicion therof that they do the best they can to

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

represse it, and to ponishe the chief assemblers ot
theym, and to advertise me therof furthwith, to th'eu-
tent I may helpe to the same, and if neyde require
to advertise the Kinges Hieghnes and his honorable
Counsell thereof. And I have writen also if the
spyalles be not secrete, and this matier verey secretly
handled, ther might folowe therby more harme then
good.
Item I have been in this Shire twentie yeres and
above, and as yet I have not seen men but wold be
conformable to reason, and wold be enduced to good
ordre, tyll this tyme. 2uad what shuld cause theym
now to fall into this vilfull and indiscrete wey I can-
not tell, excepte povertie and decaye of substaunce
bee cause of it. For povertie causeth moche mys-
chefe, some to robbe, some to murdre, some to op-
presse other; and hard it is to enduce a wilfull and
indiscrete multitude to any reason, which will folowe
their wittes, and no wisedome ne yet good coun-
sell.
I have now writen unto you bothe the exhortations
which I used unto theyme, and their demeaner and
aunsvers to the same; whiche ye may shewe unto

the Kinges Grace and his
shall thinke it requisite.
Kinges Graces pleasure,
mynde, whether it shalbe
the

honorable Counsell, if ye
Praying you to knowe the
and my Lord Cardinalles
their pleasures that any of
said untoward persones shall appear before the

,66 OIIGINAL LETTEIS.
Kinges l;oble Grace and his honorable Counsell, ac-
cording to the Instructions, and at what day, at what
place, and in what nomber.
If of every hundred wet sent some of the chief
wringleathars to be enduced by the Kinges Hiegh-
nes and his honorable Counsell, I thinke other per-
sons which shall make ther demote at home will the
soner be enduced. And to procede to examine
theyme that shall paye of that landes or moveables
fl'ome twenty pounds doweward, tyll thoes that be
now examined wilbe enduced and agreable to this
demaund, I thinke it shuld not be profitable. For
alwayes enducyng and examining, and litle or nothing
availing, is but losse of tyme. For suche povertie,
people that be of litle substaunce, and have but litle
to loose, carith litle what busynes fley make; and
wolbe more ready to do myscheif than they that hath
somewhat. For many of theyme be as desperates,
and more wrecched then they be howe they cannot
lyeghtly bee. Therefore they care not to seke fur-
ther fortune and chaunce.
Seing men grudgeth to be towardes in graunting,
it is to be feared they will make more murmur and
busynes in the t3"me of payment.
At the commyng of other persons appoincted by
the Kinges Graces Commissioners to be afore me
this nexte weike, which as I understand is a great
multitude, if I can any thing perceive of theyme

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

367

vorthy vriting, I shall send you word therof furth-
with ; and in all thinges that I may know the Kinges
Graces pleasure, I shalbe gladd to accomplishe the
same to the best of my power as God knoweth. At
Otford the xv th day of Aprile.
VILLM. CANTUAR.
To my loving frendes Sir Thomas Boleyne
Knight Thesaurer of the Kinges Graces
most honorable Howshold and Sir
Henry Guldeford Knight Comptroller
of the same and to every of theym.

LETTER CXXVIII.

Archbishop lVarham to Cardinal Wolsey. The state of
Kent in 'egard to the "Amicable Grant" demanded
by the King's Commissioners, preparatory to the
same intended Voyage.

[COTTON 1I$. CLEOPATRA, Fo VI. fo1. 339. Orig.]

*** Hall in the 16th of Henry the Eighth 1525, gives a long ac-
count of the Comnfissions which were sent into every shire to raise
money against the time the King should pass the sea; and " the
tenor was thls he says, "that the sixth part of every man's sub-
stance should, without delay be paid in money or plate to the Kyng
for the furniture of his war."
The Cardinal as chief commissioner for London, undertook to
carry on the negotiation for this proposed " AmCAL AND LOVN(;
GRAN%" for so it was ealled  with the Mayor and Commonalty of

a When money was to be obtained, $Volsey usual!y found some name which was
thought appropriate to the demand. In the 15th of Henry the Eighth, Hall says,
" XVhile the Duke of Suffolk was in France, and the Earl of Surrey in the lIarches

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3G9

body of Lawstobe made in Latin," BIS. Reg. Brit. Blus. 18 A. Ix.,
the writer says, "For the Victorye that God gaxe to your most
valiaunt predecessour King Henry the Fifte, -vith so little a nom-
ber of our contreye men ayenst so g-rear a multitude of the Frenshe-
men at the batell of Azyncourte your retynwe at your noble towne
of Caleys, and others there, ones yearly, make a solempne try-
umphe, goyng in procession, laudyng God, shotyng gonnes, with
the noyse and melodye oftrumpetts and other instruments, to the
great rejoysing of your subjectes being aged ; the comforte of them
that be able men ; the encouragyng of young children."

PLEACE it Your Grace to haue in remembraunce
that at my late being with you, your Grace willed
me to write vnto you diligently of thinggs occurraunt
here.
So it was, at the meting and sitting of the Kings
Graces Commissioners here at Otford the xxx i day
of the laste moneth, at which tyme feve of the Com-
missioners wet absent, we found good tovardness
in diuerse to make contribution to the Kings Grace
Voiage in to Fraunce according to the Instructions,
and found in diuerse other greate vntowardnes and
difficultie so to doe. But, after long communications
and the best persuasions that we thovght most meytt
to induce thayme therunto, they all hold themselves
contented, or at the leste noone of theyme said nay
therunto ; albeyt this byll of thayr names ande softies
here enclosed was twyse red vnto thayme, and they
wet required to speke if any of thayme wold dissent.
Neuerthelesse I fear, that ther was not so greate

370 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
difflcultie to haue it graunted il mailer forsaid, as it
wolbe to haue it lieved nowe shortely ; specially whet
other graunts of the Parliament bee nowe payable;
and whet a good nonebre of thaym aflrned assured-
lye that they be not able to make so moche as the
sol-es by the Parliament graunted, onles they shuld
sell thaire lands or moueables. _And in that caas
they thought they shuld fide but fewe that wold by
theyme, excepte they shuld sell far vndre the price.
Ad some of thayme said that albeit it shuld be to
thair greate payne to pay the said graunt, yet it
shuld be moche nore payne vnto thayme to practise
with the people for thesane to be graunted, consider-
ing ther pouertye and streictnes of the Instructions,
takig euery man after th'abilitie that he was of at
the Lone, without ay renlyssion of that they bee
sithens decayed.
Over this, inasmoch as I promised your Grace to
write vnto you suche thigs as I shuld here and
knowe in theis parteis, I thilke I can do no lesse but
utter vnto your Grace such reaports as my frends
abrode in the countrey haue made vnto me secretely,
of the talking of the people vpon the jfirst rumor
that suche payments shuld be required on the liings
Grace behalfe : to whome I have feighfully promised
lot to vtter the same to their hurte: which I entier-
lye beseche your Grace to kepe to yourselfe, that no
manet knowlege be hadd that I vttered any suche

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

371

thing vnto your Grace. For if it shuld, many move-
merits might ensue: besids that I shuld neuer be
made privye in any lyke tlfing, what so euer secrete
mischefe shuld fortune to be entended, as God for-
bede any suche thing shulde.
It hathe been shewed me in secrete manet of my
frends, that the people sore grudgethe and nmr-
mureth, and spekith cursidly emong theymselues as
far as they dare; seying that they shall neuer haue
rest of payments as long as some levithe, and that the
hadd lever die than to be thus contynually handled;
rekonyng themselues, theyr childrene, and wyfes, as
desperats, and not greately caring what they doo, or
what become of thayme.
Item it bathe ben shewed me, that some of the
Commissioners feting the malice of the people, en-
tendith to shewe vnto thayme the Kings Grac's
commaundment, but playnely vithout any great fur-
theraunce; and in caas they finde any maner of
sticking or difficultie in thayme, not to wade verey
far to persuade thayme, but to remytt the hole Hun-
dreds to me. In which caas I desier your Grace to
send me your counsell in writing what shalbe best for
me to do, for if they woll not bee persuaded by me,
I thinke it not beste to send a multytude to the
Kings Grace according to the Instructions.
Also it hath been shewed me to my face, that by
touche medling and persuading this matier to come

,7 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
to efi'ccte, I shall lose the fauor ol  the hole countrey;
which notwithstanding I shall contynually do the
best I can possible for the furtheraunce of the Kings

pleasure in that behalfe, what so euer daunger or
displeasur therof ensue vnto me.
Fferther I am enformed, that ther is a grudge

newely nowe resuscitat and reviued in the mynds of
the ieople, for that the Lone is not repayed to thayme
vppon the first receipte of the graunte of Parliament;
as it was promised thayme by the Comnfissioners,
shewing thayme the Kings Graces instructions con-
teynyng thesame, signed with his Graces own had:
in somoche that they fete not to speke, that they be
contynually begyled, and no promise is kepte vnto
thayme; and theruppon some of theyme presuppose
that this giffe and graunte be ons received, albeyt
the Kings Grace go not beyond the See, yet nothing
shalbe restored agayne, albeyt they be shewed the
contrarye.
It is me enformed that it is a common voice emong
thayme that if they must neds give the Kings Grace
as moche as is howe required, they will neuer other-
wise consent therunto but that the Loone shalbe
parte of thesame.
And generally it is reaported vnto me, that for the
most parte euery man sayeth he wolbe contented that
the Kings Grace haue as moche as he may spare, but
verely many say they be not able to do as they be re-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 878

quered. And many denieth nott but they will give
the Kings Grace according to thaire powres, but they
woll in nowise geve at other mennys appointement
whiche knowith not thaire neds.
Item some say that if suche as haue money wold
lend vnto thayme that lakkith money, yet all the
money in England besids that which is receivyd for
the Kings vse alredy, shall not be sufficient to per-
forme the graunts of the larliament not yet paide;
and this money now required, so moche is sent and
spent out of this l%eahne already, with conveyaunce of
Englishe gold in to Flaunders by Englishe merchaunts
to thaire singuler advauntaige, by force wherof some
say the Kings Grace must coyaae copper and brasse
for gold and siluer, as spent and gone, which shuld
be to the great reproche of this reahne.
Also it is spoken abrode, as I vnderstand by rela-
tion, that it shalbe the vttermust empoverisshing and
vndoing of this l%eahne, and the greatest enriching
of the Realme of Fraunce, if the Kings Grace shuld
have all this money that is required and shuld spend
it out of this leahne in :Fraunce, wher is Grace must
continually make his abode a long season and kepe
it, if it fortune hyme to wyne it, or else it shall be
sone lost agayaae. Whiche the Kings Grace long
contynuaunce ther wolbe to the greate decaying and
desolation of this Realme; wheras also the moost
parte of the nobles of this Reahne must give attend-

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

aunce vppon his Grace ther, and thair spend their
revenues of thair lands.
I haue hard say more ouer that whet the people be
commaunded to make fyers and tokens of joye for
the taking of the Frenche Kinge, diuerse of thayme
haue spoken that they haue more cause to wepe than
to rejoyse therat. And diuerse (as it hath been
shewed me secretely) haue wisshed openly that the
Frenche King wer at his libertie agayne, so as ther
wet a good peace, and the Kings Grace shuld not at-
tempte to wyue Fraunce. The vynnyng wherof
shuld be more chargefull to England than profitable:
and the keping therof moche more chargefull than
the wymlyng.
Also it hath been told me secretely that diuerse
haue recomptid and repetid what infinite sommes of
money the Kings Grace hath spent alredy inuading
Fraunce; ons in his own Roiall person ; and two other
sundry tymes by his seuerall noble Capitains; and
little or nothing in comparation of his costes hath
preuailed: in somoche that the Kings Grace at this
hower hath not on fote of land more in Fraunce than
his most noble father hadd, which lakked no riches
or wisdom to wyne the kingdome of Fraunce if he
hadd thought it expedient.
Thes which I haue rehersed be the lieght and idle
voices of the people, now at the first rumor and brute
of this matier, which on nay faith hath ben shewed me

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 375
so secretely by my frends, and vnder such condition,
that I wold not haue thaym farthur vttred but to your
Grace for moche good ; for such causes as I woll shewe
your Grace when I shall nexte come wto the same.
I trust that wher it is a pl"ouerbe that a wondre
dureth but ix dayes, this babling woll shortely (after
that men haue remembred and well aduised them-
selues) cesse and wax more cahne ; orels I woll fynd
the best meane that I can to represse it to the 1)aynes
of thayme that clatereth so folisshely, if I may knowe
ther persons and communications by other wayes
then by way of secretie. I wold that the tyme wold
haue suffered that this practising with the people for
soe greate sommes might haue been spared tyll the
Cockowe tyme, and the hoote wether (at which tyme
madd braynes be wont to be most busye) had ben
ouer passed, but whet the necessitie othervise re-
quireth I woll for my parte do the best I can.
Lord, though I wr)'te vnto your Grace herin some
things whiche be not of verey greate importaunce,
yet I do it to th'entent that nothing shalbe said or
done her in theis parteis which shuld be hidd frome
your Grace. At Otford the v t day of Aprile.
At )'our Graces commaundment
W'ILLM. CANTUAR'.
To the moost reverende fadre in God and my
verey singuler good Lord my Lord Cardinall
of Yorke Legate de latere, his good Grace.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. o i
of the moste wysiste of the Shire, and of those
whiche I supposed I moght doo moste with, and
brake the matire vnto theim to condiscende vnto the
same- and in the morenyng I sent for vj. or vij.
others, and soo brought theim therevnto; and than
sent for the rest: and fynally all they subscribed
a bill whiche they haue signed with theire owne
handis, and with the rats that they shall paye accord-
ing to the rats expressed in the Instruccions, and
than delyuered theim the books of the firste Loone by
Indentures, and devyded theim into dyuers Hun-
drids, and also appoyntid ffiers to bee made in euery
Towne in the Shire on Sonday night; and in euery
towne discrete persons to declare to the people the
greate overthrowe of the Frenche King, and to doo
the moste they can to incorage theim to this Inva-
sion this Somer; and upon Tuisday next all those
that were rated in the laste Loone frome lli. vpwarde-
shalbee a fore the Commissioners.
And but for that I had knowlege out of Suffolke
that noo Sessing shalbee there vnto th'ending of the
next Weke at the soneste, this matire shuld haue
been practised frome xx ti. q3warde before Thuresday
at night ; but fearing whether they wold condiscende
to the graunte or not, I haue deferred the same vnto
the tyme I may suerly knowe what day shalbee ap-
poyntid in Suffolk; and soo t'appoynt this Shire on
the same day to th'entente that if it shall chaunce

78 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
any to make denyali, th'others shalhaue noo knowlege
of the same to take any evill ensample therby.
I have soren  all the Commissioners not to disclose
any parte thereof to any other creature; and in lyke
wyse they shall swere all those that shall come before
theim vpon Tuisday.
After this, yesterday, I called before me the Maire
of Norwyche, and all those whose names be specified
in a bill herein closed, whome I had put into the
Commission in the voyde place that was lefte for that
purpose, and with the beste wordis I could devyee to
speke.
Ffirste declareing to theim the prosperous successe
in Italye, with all other persuasions that I could to
encorage theim to this matire; and than redd the
lettre to rheim direetid, the Commission, and In-
structions, and desired theire consent to this graunte,
as the gentihnen had doon before theim, which I
shewed theim wrytten with theh'e owne hands.
Vherevpon they desired to speke together, and than
to make me answer, whiche I was contentid they
shuld doo after I had taken there othes as I had
doon of the gentihnen.
After dyner they retom'ned to me and said that
they considred well that the t3ane was veary com-
modious nove for the Kings Highnes to invade
Fraunce, and that noo subgetts in this Reame nor in
the Vorlde wold bee more desirous than they to
a sworn.

380 ORIGINAL LETTERS.
Ffirste I shelved theim that I was veary ioyfull to
see rheim handle themselfs thus lovingly nto the
Kings Highnes. Notwithstanding forasmoche as I
had noo more auctoritie in this Conmfission then all
they had, and that noo power was geven to 's to take
plate for a lesse valewe than it was worthe, I durste
not take theire hands to bee sett to the booke after
those pryces. _Notwithstanding I wold not refuse
theire offre, but wold aduertise the Kings Highnes
and youre Grace with the beste words I could vse to
cause theim to have thanks for the saane; and after
knowlege had thereof to resorte eftesones to theim
and to declare the Kings pleasure vnto rheim.
Than all they desired me to bee a meane to his
Highnes and youre Grace, that onles the other good
Cities of the Reahne did graunte to theis rats aswell
as they, that they shuld not bee charged therevith-
and of trothe the gentilmen of the Shire desired
me the same for theire parts: wherein I promised
theim to doo my beste ; beseching youre Grace that
with all convenyente diligence I may knowe the
Kings pleasure mid yowrs, what I shall doo concern-
yng th'offre made of the said Plate.
_And vnder your Grate's correcc"6n me thinke if
the losse shuld not extende to noo greate valewe, it
shuld bee well doon to take plate of all that wold
offre the same, whiche shuld alure mens hefts with
the bettur will to condiscende to the graunt: and

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 881
than suche a Coyne might be devised as were the
dandipratts at the King of ded is going ouer to
Bullen :a wherewith the Kings Highnes mought re-
compens his losse and yet the same good inough to
bee spent in Fraunce.
Assuring youre Grace that notwithstanding that
the Commissioners haue grauntid, yet I feare moche
hove th'others shalbe brought therevnto; for those
that haue moste aduaunced this matire with me doo
sheve vnto me that they beleve that there is skant
somoche money within the Shire as the rats shall
extende vnto. Notwithstanding, assured youre Grace
may bee, that I and others with me shall doo the beste
we can possible: and I pray God that all the Com-
missioners of the Reame be aswell myndid to serue
the Kings purpose as these bee here vith me, and
that London and all other Cities doo noo worse than
Nor?ch hathe begon. Vriten at Kenynghale the
furst day of Aprill.
Yours most bownden

To my Lorde Legats good Grace.

T. IIORFFOLK.

a Camden, in his " Remains," edit. 1674, p. 244, says " Henry the Seventh
stamped a small coin called Dandyprats." Sherwood in his Diction. Angl. & Fran-
cois, fol. Lond. 1650, also notices this coin, but says it had long been out of use. It
is at present, certainly by this name, unknown to the Collectors of English Coins.

EID OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

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