<B CEPRIV1>
<Q E1 XX CORP EBEAUM>
<N LET TO HUSBAND>
<A BEAUMONT ELIZABETH>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X FEMALE>
<Y X>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^SAMPLE 1:

BEAUMONT, ELIZABETH.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
BEAUMONT PAPERS. LETTERS RELATING TO
THE FAMILY OF BEAUMONT, OF WHITLEY,
YORKSHIRE, FROM THE FIFTEENTH TO
THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES.
ED. W. D. MACRAY.
LONDON: NICHOLS AND SONS, 1884. 
PP. 2.24 - 3.28 (EBEAUM)

SAMPLE 2:

PLUMPTON, AGNES.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
PLUMPTON CORRESPONDENCE. A SERIES
OF LETTERS, CHIEFLY DOMESTICK,
WRITTEN IN THE REIGNS OF EDWARD IV.
RICHARD III. HENRY VII. AND HENRY VIII.
CAMDEN SOCIETY, IV.
ED. T. STAPLETON. 
LONDON, 1839.
PP. 167.17 - 169.4  (133) (APLUMPT)
PP. 170.7  - 171.23 (135-136) 
PP. 184.13 - 185.4  (149)
PP. 186.1  - 187.9  (151)
P.  188.9  - 188.33 (153)

PLUMPTON, ISABEL.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
Idem.
PP. 198.12 - 199.10 (162) (IPLUMPT)

PLUMPTON, WILLIAM.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
Idem.
PP. 176.7  - 177.10 (142) (WPLUMPT)
PP. 220.26 - 221.15 (180)
PP. 234.17 - 235.21 (12)

PLUMPTON, DOROTHY.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
Idem.
PP. 202.1 - 203.5 (165) (DPLUMPT)

PLUMPTON, ROBERT.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
Idem.
PP. 231.20 - 233.5 (10) (RPLUMPT)

SAMPLE 3:

MORE, THOMAS.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
THE CORRESPONDENCE OF SIR THOMAS MORE.
ED. E. F. ROGERS.
PRINCETON: PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1947.
PP. 422.16 - 423.60  (174) (MORELET)
PP. 501.1  - 507.159 (200)
PP. 508.1  - 509.51  (202)
PP. 544.1  - 547.106 (211)
PP. 563.1  - 565.4   (218)

ROPER, MARGARET.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
Idem.
PP. 510.1 - 511.35 (203) (MROPER)
PP. 538.1 - 539.38 (209)

SAMPLE 4:

CROMWELL, GREGORY.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
ORIGINAL LETTERS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH
HISTORY; INCLUDING NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS.
THIRD SERIES, VOL. I.
ED. H. ELLIS.
LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, 1846.
PP. 338.1 - 340.25 (120-122) (GCROMW)

SAMPLE 5:

CUMBERLAND, ELEANOR.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
CLIFFORD LETTERS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
SURTEES SOCIETY, CLXXII.
ED. A. G. DICKENS.
DURHAM AND LONDON, 1962. 
PP. 125.3 - 126.26 (44) (ECUMBERL)

SCROPE, KATHERINE.
TEXT:  LETTER(S).
Idem.
PP. 111.19 - 112.35 (35) (KSCROPE)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 2>
[} [\MRS ELIZ. BEAUMONT TO HER HUSBAND.\] }]

Right wyrschipfull Ser,
   In my best maner that I cane I recomend me to you, desyryng
hertly to here of your welefar. Ser, I hafe resayvyd your       #
wrytyngs,
and persayvys ham verey wele; and also I send George of Mytton
to the person on the Thurseday afor All Halo day, and ther the
<P 3>
person hase grauntyd that I sall hafe a [{porcion both Eytys{]  #
and
the rentall of Hornby. Also he has poyntyd me that I sall not
com to hym or the morue after Martynmes day, and I cowde not
cause hym to poynt no soner, for he sayd he cowde not geyt hyt  #
or
then, and I sall kepe that day with the grace of God and geyt   #
of
hym all that I cane. Ser, I wold avyse you, and my cosyn John
Herryngton man be in no ruporte of sekenes, to geyt all the
evydens of hym that ze cane or Ser James com up, for he is      #
purpast
to com hastly. Also Ser James and the Person of Sladeborne
thynk that my cosyn John was puseynd, and that his servant was
hyryd to do hit by my broder Sir Edward, and yf it so be then   #
he
forfets all. More over I send Netylton for Ser James to mete me
and speke with me, and he said that he wold com home to me, and
yf he so do os we leyfe ze sal hafe woord. And as for John      #
Heton
and Roger Leyner they come not here, zet I send ham a letter by
Thomas Orscha and I had no word. Agayn also, Ser, ze wryte to
me for mone, and ze knawe that I cane make no schift or         #
Candylmes,
bot yf ze think I sall go boro hit of my lord Archbyschop,
and yf ze will that I so do, send me a byll by the next that    #
ze cane.
Ser, I sall send Netylton to zou als hastly os I cane. Also,    #
Ser,
on the Frydday after ze departyd come John Sayville and Ser 
[{Edward{] Thirrell ... ... and Ser William Wilkynson, Ser
Robert Audley, and Ric. Gledylle with Ric ... and ... hafe
dyscharge hym, and he wold take none ... hym. Also, Ser, I
pray zou to kepe zou out of all jopertese, and to make myche of
zour selfe, and the Holy Trenete hafe zou in hys blysyd         #
kepeyng.

Your wyfe,
Elezabeth Beaumount.


<S SAMPLE 2>

<Q E1 XX CORP APLUMPT>
<N LET TO HUSBAND>
<A PLUMPTON AGNES>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X FEMALE>
<Y 40-60>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 167>
[} [\LETTER CXXXIII.\] }]

To the worshipful Sir Robart Plompton, kt. be thes delivered    
in hast. 

   Sir, in my most hartiest wyse I recommennd me unto you,      #
desiring 
to heare of your prosperitie and welfaire, and of your good
spede in your matters; certyfiing you that I, and my sone       #
William,
with all your children, are in good health (blessed be          #
(^Jesu^) )
with all your servants. Sir, ye, and I, and my sone, was        #
content
at your departing, that my sone should take the farmes at       #
Martingmas
of his tenaunts, or els cast them forth and prayse ther
goods; and so my sone hath done with sone of them. And here
are the names of them that hath payd me; Robart Wood, Peter
Cott, John Gloster, Robart Taler, William Bentham. Sir, it ys
let us to understand that thers other tenaunts, that are cast   #
forth,
<P 168>
hath bene at Cothorpe, and made one ragman to compleane on
my sone and you, that ye take ther goods from them. And that
is not soe, for my sone hath sent for the neighbours of         #
Knaresbrough, 
and Harrygate, and Spofforth, to set pryse on ther comon
and cattell after ther consience; and my sone hath set to       #
streys
some in ther layes, for ther is some that will not apply to his
mynd. And they purpose to get on discharg for my sone, that
they may be set in agayn, and he not to occupie; therfore I     #
pray
you to take good heed therupon. And they have set there names
in the ragman that hath payd my sone; that they know not of,
nor will not be conselled therto. Also, Sir Richard Goldsbrough
hath taken an ox of William Bentham, that was dryven over the
water with ther cattell of the towne of Plompton that he caused
to be put over, for the sayfgard of ther cattell. And when he   #
came
for his ox, he answered him and sayd; Sir John Roclife had
wrytten for certayne tenaunts to be so taryed by him, and       #
spirred
him, whose tenaunt he was, and he shewed him whos he was.
And he will not let him have them without a replevie, and I     #
trow
he will dye in the fold; for I sent William Skirgell and        #
William
Croft, and they cannot get him without a replevie. And therfore
if ye can find any remedie, I pray you for; and also I pray     #
you to 
send me some word, as sone as ye may, of your good speed. No
<P 169>
more at this tyme, but I betake you to the keping of the        #
Trenetie.
From Plompton in hast, the xvi day Novembris.

By your wife, Dame
Agnes Plompton.

[\(16 Nov. 1502.)\]

<P 170>
[} [\LETTER CXXXV.\] }]

To the worshipfull Sir Robart Plompton, kt. be thes delivered 
in hast.

   Right worshipful Sir, in my most harty wise I recommend me
unto you, desiring to witt your prosperytie and wellfayre;      #
letting
you understand that I and all your children is in good health
(blessed be (^Jesu^) ) with all your servants. Lettyng you to   #
understand 
that my Lord Archbishop sent one servant of his unto my
son William, chardging him in the Kyngs name to sette in the
tenaunts agayne; and if he wold not, he wold send to the        #
schereffe,
and cause him to poynt them in agayne. And so I sent one
servant to the schereffe, and the schereffe shewed my servant   #
that
my Lord had wrytten unto him for to poynt them on agayne.
But my sone kepes them forth as yet, and therfor I trow my lord
Archbishop will compleane of my son and you; and sath, that he
will indyte them that was at castyng out of tham. And, Sir, I
pray you that you be not myscontent, that I sent not to you,    #
for
indeed I make the labor that is possible for me to make, and as
yet I cannot speed; but as shortly as I can, I shall spede the
matter. No more at this tyme, but the Trenytie have you in his 
keeping. Scribled in hast, at Plompton, this sunday next after  #
St.
Kateryne day.

By your wiffe, dame
Agnes Plompton.

[\(27 Nov. 1502.)\]

<P 171>
[} [\LETTER CXXXVI.\] }]

To the worshipfull Robart Plompton, knight, be thes byll        #
delivered
in hast. 

   Right worshipful Sir, in my most harte wyse I recommend me
unto you, desiring to here of your welfare and good speed in
your matters. I and all your children is in good health         #
(blessed
be (^Jesu^) ). And, Sir, so it is, as God knowes, that I have   #
mayd as
great labor as was possible for me to make, to content your     #
mynd
in all causes; and now I have mayd the usance of xx=li=, and    #
sent
you with Thomas Bekerdike to content where ye know. And
I pray you to send some wrytting to Thomas Meryng for the
repayment of the money and your discharg. Sir, it is so that
my lord Archbishop hath indytt my sone William and xvi of his
servants, on tewsday was a senit. But Anthony Cliforth gave
in the bill of dytement against my sone and his servants, but   #
the
quest would not endyte them. But my lord Archbishop caused
them; or els he bad them tell who wold not, and he should
ponishe them, that all oder should take insample. And I cannot
get the copie of the indytement, for my Lord hath it in his
hands. No more at this tyme. The Lord preserve you. From
Plompton in hast, this St. Thomas day.

By your wife, dame
Agnes Plompton.

[\(21 Dec. 1502.)\]

<P 184>
[} [\LETTER CXLIX.\] }]

To the worshipfull Robart Plompton, knight, be this byll        #
delivered
in hast. 

   Right worshipfull Sir, in my most hartie wyse I recomend me
unto you, evermore desiring to here of your prosperytie and     #
wellfaire,
and good sped in your matters, shewyng you that I and all
your children is in good health (blessed be (^Jesu^) ) and      #
prays you for
your blessing. Sir, it is so now that I have made you thewsans
of the money, that ye sent to me for, and I have sent it you    #
with
John Walker at this tyme; the which I shall shew you how I mayd
schift of, at your comminge. And I pray you that ye be not      #
miscontent
that I sent it no sooner, for I have made the hast that I could
that was possible for me to do. And also, Sir, I will not lett  #
Tho:
Croft wife plow nor occupie her fermeald, but saith she shall   #
not
occupy without yer life. And also I pray you to send me word
how you speed in your matters againe, as soon as ye may; and
also to send me word where ye will your horses to come to you.
<P 185>
No more at this time, but the Trinity keep you. From Plumpton
in hast, the xix=th= day of March.

By your wife,
Dame Agnes Plompton.

[\(19 March 1503-4.)\]

<P 186>
[} [\LETTER CLI.\] }]
 
To the worshipfull Robart Plompton, knight, be these delivered  #
in 
hast.       

   Right worshipfull Sir, in my most hartiest wyse I recomend   #
me
unto you, desiring to here of your prosperytie and welfare, and
good spede in your matters, the which I marvell greatly that
I have no word from you. Sir, I marvell greatly that ye let
the matter rest so long, and labors no better for your selfe,   #
and
ye wold labor it deligently. But it is sayd that ye be lesse    #
forward,
and they underworketh falsly; and it is sene and known
by them, for they thinke to drive it that they may take the     #
Whitsonday
ferme: and so it is sayd all the country about. Sir, I besech
you to remember your great cost and charges, and myne, and
labor the matter that it myght have an end, for they have       #
taken 
on (^capias^) and delivered for certayne of your tenants. And   #
so they
have taken Edmund Ward at Knarsbrough and arrest him; the
which is a great nossen in the country, that they shall get     #
such
prosses, and ye dow none to them, but lett them have there
mynd fullfilled in every case. And the other tenaunts cannot
pays ther housses, but they shalbe cagid; and also willing none
of your servants shall not pas the dowers, but they mon be      #
trobled. 
And also they have stopped the country, that ther will no
man deale with any of your servants, nether to bye wod, no nor
nothing els. Therfore, I pray you that ye will get some         #
comandment
to the Scherefe that the prosses may be stoped. Also, Sir,
I send you the copy of the letter that came from the            #
Undersherefe,
and the copy of the causes, and the letter that come from
William Elison; the which I had mynd in for loyssing of Edmund
Ward, for I have gotten him forth by the wayes of William
Ellyson. And also, Sir, I am in good health, and all the        #
children
(blessed be (^Jesu^) ), and all your children prayes you for    #
your daly
blessing. And all your servants is in good health, and prays    #
delygently
<P 187>
for your good speed in your matters. And also it is sayd,
that they have cagments for them that hath bought the wood,     #
that
they dare not deale therwith. For without ye get some           #
comaundement,
I wott not how your house shalbe kept, for I know not
wherof to levy one penyworth. No more at this tyme, but the
Trenietie keepe you. From Plompton in hast, the xii day of
Aprill.

By your wyfe,
Dame Agnes Plompton.

[\(12 April 1504.)\]

<P 188>
[} [\LETTER CLIII.\] }]

To the worshipfull Robart Plompton, kt. be thes byll delivered 
in hast. 

   Right worshipfull, I in most hartee wyse recomennd me unto
you, desiring to heare of your wellfaire and good speed in your
matters, letting you understand that I am in good helth, with   #
all
your children (blessed be (^Jesu^) ), and pray you of your      #
daly blessinge;
and all your servants is in good health and is right glad to
here of your welfare. Sir, one the eving after the making of    #
this
letter, your servant Edmund Robyson come home, and so I         #
understond
by your letter, that you wold understand if Sir John Roclife
servants have received any ferme in Yorkshire, but therof I
can get no knowledg as yet. But they have sold oke wood at
Nesfeld, and lettes them stand to the tyme of the yere, one oke
that is worth xl=d= for xij=d=; and also they have sold aches   #
at the
same place: and the okes are sold to William Clapame and        #
Richard
Clapame, and the aches to the towards there about. And
also at Idell, they have sold holyn to James Formes and to      #
Thomas
Quentin and William Aches, and herof I can geet no more
certaintie as yet. And also there is no mo of your tenaunts to  #
get
as yet, nor your servants nether, at this tyme; but the         #
Trenitie
have you in his blessed keepinge Scrybbled in hast, the fryday
next after St. Marke day.

By your wyffe,
Dame Agnes Plompton.

[\(26 April 1504.)\]

<Q E1 XX CORP IPLUMPT>
<N LET TO HUSBAND>
<A PLUMPTON ISABEL>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X FEMALE>
<Y X>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 198>
[} [\LETTER CLXII.\] }]

To Sir Robart Plompton, kt. be thes letter delivered.   

   Sir, in the most hartyest wyse that I can, I recomend me     #
unto
you. Sir, I have sent to Wright of Idell for the money that he  #
promyst
you, and he saith he hath it not to len, and makes choses
[\excuses\] and so I can get none nowhere. And as for wood,     #
ther
is none that will bey, for they know ye want money, and without
they myght have it halfe for nought, they will bey none; for    #
your
son, William Plompton, and Thomas Bickerdyke hath bene every
day at wood sence ye went, and they can get no money for        #
nothing, 
- for tha will bey none without they have tymmer tres, and
will give nothinge for them: and so shall your wood be          #
distroyed
and get nought for it. Sir, I told you this or ye went, but ye
wold not beleve me. Sir, I have taken of your tymmer as
much as I can get of, or Whitsonday farme forehand; and
that is but litle to do you any good, for ther is but some      #
that will
len so long afor the tyme. And your Lenten stoufe is to bey,    #
and 
I wote not what to do, God wote, for I am ever left of thes 
fachion. Sir, ther is land in Rybston feild, that Christofer    #
Chambers
wold bey, if ye will sel it; but I am not in a suerty what he 
<P 199>
will give for it. But if ye will sel it, send word to your son  #
what
ye will doe, for I know nothing els wherwith to help you with.
Sir, for God sake take an end, for we are brought to begger     #
staffe,
for ye have not to defend them withall. Sir, I send you my      #
mare, 
and iij=s= iiij=d= by the bearer herof, and I pray you send me  #
word as
sone as ye may. No more at this tyme, but the Holy Trenyttie
send you good speed in all your matters, and send you sone      #
home.
Sir, remember your chillder bookes.

Be your bedfellow,
Isabell Plompton.

<Q E1 XX CORP WPLUMPT>
<N LET TO FATHER>
<A PLUMPTON WILLIAM>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y -20>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 176>
[} [\LETTER CXLII.\] }]

To the worshipfull Sir Robart Plompton, knyght, be thes         #
delivered
in hast.  

   Right worshipfull father and mother, I recomend me unto you,
praying you of your dayly blessing; and all my brethern and     #
sisters
is in good health (blessed be (^Jesu^) ) and prays you of your  #
dayly
blessing, and my lady mother also. Sir, I marvell greatly that  #
I        
have no word from you (and my cousin Gascoyne also) under what
condition I shall behave me and my servants. Sir, it is sayd
that Sir John Roclife will ploue, but we are not certayne; and  #
if
that they come, my cousin Gascoyn saith well therin, for he     #
will
se them on that mannor that they will not like: and bytts me    #
and
my servants keep house, and he will send us x bowes, and us     #
ned.
Sir, your frinds trowes ye beleve fayr words and fayr           #
heightes, and
labors not your matters; for they trow that ys not the Kings
mynd, nor knowes not of ther dealing, that they indyte you, and
me, and your servants, as ye may se by the Judgment herof. Sir,
I have sent you ij letters, derected from my lord Archbishop;   #
the
which I have answered him, that I will keepe the Kings peace.
And also I meane sent him word, whether the tenants should      #
occupy
<P 177>
or no. And it is my cousin Gascoyns mynd, that they shall       #
occupy
for the tyme; and therfor I besech you send me word, how I
shold do in every cause, and my servants also. Sir, your frinds
thinkes that thes indytements ar for you, and it be shewed to   #
the
King or his Counsell. Both my cousin Gascon, and my brother
Elson, as your counsell, gives you so to do. And also I besech
you send me word, as shortly as ye may possibly. No more at
this tyme, but the Trenietie kepe you. From Plompton, on saint
Benedic day.

By your son,
William Plompton, Esquier.

[\(21 Mar. 1502-3.)\]

<Q E1 XX CORP WPLUMPT>
<N LET TO FATHER>
<A PLUMPTON WILLIAM>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 20-40>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 220>
[} [\LETTER CLXXX.\] }]

To my right worshipfull and my especiall good father Sir Robart
Plompton, kt. be thes delivered.

   Right worshipfull Sir, after dew recomendations had, I homly
recomend me unto you and to my lady and mother-in-law,          #
beseching
you for your dayly blessing. Sir, I have bene dyverse
tymes before the judges for my matters, but I can have none end
<P 221>
as yet, except my cousin Babthorp myght have all the lands in
Hemyngbrough .... and I to have Waton, Northcayffe, Medelton,
Wystou, and lands in Beverley to the valow of XL=s=, and forest
land in Selby to the valow of XX=s=, and iij=li= land more, or  #
lx=li= in
money; and to give answer the first day of the next tearme.
Wherfore, Sir, I besech you of your best counsell therin by     #
this
bearer. And as for your owne matter before Master Dance, Olever
hath wrytten to you the scertayntie therof; and as for Mr.
Woyd, I had money so much to do as to stope the outlawery this
terme. Wherfore, Sir, I besech you to make some search          #
therfore,
for yt is a great danger, as the world is at this day, as       #
(^Jesu^)
knowes, who preserve you in health. Wrytten at Sacum, the x
day of June. Sir, I besech you give credence to this bearer.

By your owne son to his litle power,
William Plompton.

<Q E1 XX CORP WPLUMPT>
<N LET TO SON>
<A PLUMPTON WILLIAM>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 40-60>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT DOWN>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 234>
[} [\LETTER XII.\] }]

To my welbeloved son Robart Plompton at the Iner Temple in
London be this.  

   Son Robart Plompton, I hertely recommend me to you, and
sending you and your brother God blesing and mine. The
cause of my writing to you now; that I wold you should helpe
this bearrer, yong Letham, in such buisenes as he hath in the
Court of Augmentation, for certaine power for yong children of
one Berkine, deceased, as conserning one farme hold, late       #
belonging
to the hold of St. Robarts, which you know I did speake to 
the Ansurer for the use of the said children, and he permised   #
not
to suit them. That notwithstanding, John Benson would have      #
entred;
<P 235>
and now made many great riots upon the said children,
and therfore he is indited with divers persons with him. And
now forther, he hath brought a preve seale against old Leathom
and yong Leathom, and also the eldest child; and for
that divers and many of ther frinds hath moved me to wryte to
you to help them in the said matter. And if it be that you can
make any frinds, to shew Mr. Chaunceler the planer and through
in every thing (and this bearrer can instruct you), and then,   #
I pray
you, do the best for them. And also I would have you to speak
with Mr. Latham, the goldsmith, Lanlord to Robart Oliver, and
shew him how that he will not make his diches and fences        #
belonging
to his farme, but that my corne and gras is spoyled at          #
Watterton
by that meaner. And if he will not seake remedy therof,
let Mr. Fox enter a action of trespas against the said Robart
Oliver for dispoyling my gras at Watterton to the valew of five
mark. And as far as I fele, Mr. Norton comith not up. I shall
make your rents to be gathered, and send it to you as shortly   #
as
I can. And thus hartely far you well. From Plompton, this       #
14=th=
day of November.

By your loving father,
William Plompton.

<Q E1 XX CORP DPLUMPT>
<N LET TO FATHER>
<A PLUMPTON DOROTHY>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X FEMALE>
<Y -20>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 202>
[} [\LETTER CLXV.\] }]

To the right worshipfull and my most entyerly beloved, good,    #
kind
father, Sir Robart Plompton, knyght, lying at Plompton in       #
Yorkshire,
be thes delivered in hast.

   Ryght worshipfull father, in the most humble manner that I   #
can
I recommend me to you, and to my lady my mother, and to all
my brethren and sistren, whom I besech almyghtie God to         #
mayntayne
and preserve in prosperus health and encrese of worship,
entyerly requiering you of your daly blessing; letting you wyt
that I send to you mesuage, be Wryghame of Knarsbrugh, of my
mynd, and how that he should desire you in my name to send
for me to come home to you, and as yet I had no answere agane,
the which desire my lady hath gotten knowledg. Wherfore, she is
to me more better lady then ever she was before, insomuch that
she hath promysed me hir good ladyship as long as ever she
shall lyve; and if she or ye can fynd athing meyter for me in   #
this
parties or any other, she will helpe to promoote me to the      #
uttermost
of her puyssaunce. Wherfore, I humbly besech you to be
so good and kind father unto me as to let me know your          #
pleasure,
how that ye will have me ordred, as shortly as it shall like    #
you.
And wryt to my lady, thanking hir good ladyship of hir so       #
loving
and tender kyndnesse shewed unto me, beseching hir ladyship of
good contynewance therof. And therfore, I besech you to send a
servant of yours to my lady and to me, and shew now by your
fatherly kyndnesse that I am your child; for I have sent you
dyverse messuages and wryttings, and I had never answere        #
againe.
Wherfore, yt is thought in this parties, by those persones      #
that list
better to say ill than good, that ye have litle favor unto me;  #
the
which error ye may now quench, yf yt will like you to be so
good and kynd father unto me. Also I besech you to send me a 
fine hatt and some good cloth to make me some kevercheffes.
<P 203>
And thus I besech (^Jesu^) to have you in his blessed keeping   #
to his
pleasure, and your harts desire and comforth. Wryten at the
Hirste, the xviii day of Maye.
  
By your loving daughter,
Dorythe Plompton.

<Q E1 XX CORP RPLUMPT>
<N LET TO MOTHER>
<A PLUMPTON ROBERT>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 20-40>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 231>
[} [\LETTER X.\] }]

To his mother at Plompton be this letter delivered.   

   Right worshipful mother, I humbly recommend mee unto you,
desiring you of your dayly blessing, praing (^Jesu^) long to    #
continew
your helth to his pleasur. Mother, I thanke you for the .....   #
you
send mee, for yf you were not, I were not able to live; for     #
this
same Christmasse hath cost mee as much as you send mee.         #
Wherfore,
I am afraid I shal not have money to serve mee to Easter.
Also I wold desire you to send mee word of the letter that I    #
wrote
to my father and you, for to moove my Lady Gascoin to write to
<P 232>
my lord, her brother, not to bee only his servant, but of his   #
houshold
and attending unto him; for els he wold do as other lords do,
knowes not half their servants. Wherfor, I desire you that you
wil moove my lady Gascoin to write so to my lord, that I may    #
bee
his houshold servant. Also, mother, I wold desire you to mark
wel my letter, that I sent you by Mr. Oughtred; and here I send
you a godly New Testament by this bearer. And yf the prologue
bee so small that ye cannot wel reade them, ther is my fathers
book, and they are bothe one, and my fathers book hath the      #
prologue
printed in bigger letters. Yf it wil please you to read the
introducement, ye shal see marvelous things hyd in it. And as
for the understanding of it, dout not; for God wil give         #
knowledge
to whom he will give knowledg of the Scriptures, as soon to a
shepperd as to a priest, yf he ask knowledg of God faithfully.
Wherfor, pray to God, and desire Jesus Christ to pray for you
and with you. No more to you at this tyme, but God fill you 
<P 233>
with al spiritual knowledge, to the glory of God, the helth of  #
your
soule, and the profit of your poor nieghbor. Written at the     #
Temple,
the 12 day of ianuary.

By your sonn,
Robert Plompton.

[\ (\Anno circa 1536.\) \]


<S SAMPLE 3>

<Q E1 XX CORP MORELET>
<N LET TO WIFE>
<A MORE THOMAS>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 40-60>
<H HIGH PROF>
<U X>
<E INT DOWN>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 422>
[} [\174. TO LADY MORE.\] }]

Maystres Alyce, in my moste hartie wyse I recommende
me to yo[{u{] .

   And where as I am enformed by my sone Heron of 
the losse of our barns and our neighbours also with all the     #
corne
that was therin, albeit (savyng Goddis pleasuer) it wer greate
pytie of so mych[{e{] good corne loste yet sythe it hathe lyked
hym to sende vs suche a chaunce, we muste and ar bounden not
onely to be content but also to be glade of his visitacion. He
sent vs all that we haue loste and sythe he hathe by syche a
chaunce taken yt away ageyne his pleasuer be fulfylled; let vs
never gruge therat but take in good worth and hartely thanke
hym as well for aduersytie as for prosperytie and peraduenture
<P 423>
we haue more cause to thanke hym for our losse then for our
wynnyng, for his wysedome better seethe what ys good for vs
then we do ourselves. Therfore I pray you be of good chere and
take all the howshold with you to chyrche and ther thanke God
bothe for that he hathe geven vs and for that he hathe taken    #
from
vs and for that he hathe lefte vs, which yf yt please hym he    #
can
[{in{]crease when he wyll and yf it please hym to leve vs yet   #
lesse,
at his pleasuer be yt.
   I pray you to make some good enserche what my poore          #
neyghebors
haue loste and byd them take no thought therfore, for and I
shuld not leve my selff a spone there shall no poore neghebore
of myne berre no losse by eny chaunce hapned in my howse. I
pray you be wyth my children and your howsholde mery in God
and devyse somewhat wythe your frendys what way were best to
take for provysyon to [{be{] made for corne for our houshold    #
and
for seede thys yere commyng, [{yff ye{] thyncke yt good that we
kepe the grounde stylle [{in our ha{]ndys, and whether ye       #
thyncke
yt good that we so [{shall{] do or not, yet I thyncke it were   #
not
best sodenly [{thus{] to leve yt all vp and to put away our     #
folke
of our ferm, [{till{] we haue somewhat aduysed vs theron, how   #
be
yt yff we haue more now then ye shall nede and which can gett
them other maysters ye may then dyscharge vs of them but I
wolde not that eny man were sodenly sent away he wote nere
whyther. At my commyng hether I perceved none other but
that I shulde tary styll with the Kyngis Grace but now I        #
shall, I
thynke, by cause of thys chaunce gete leve this next weke to    #
come
home and se you, an then shall we ferther devyse together vpon
all thyngis what order shall be best to take.
   And thus as hartely fare you well wythe all our chyldren as  #
ye
can wyshe, at Woodestokke the iii=de= daye of September by the 
hand of 

Your lovyng husbond,
Thomas More Kg.

<Q E1 XX CORP MORELET>
<N LET TO DAUGHTER>
<A MORE THOMAS>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 40-60>
<H HIGH PROF>
<U X>
<E INT DOWN>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 501>
[} [\200. TO MARGARET ROPER.\] }]
 
   When I was before the Lordes at Lambeth, I was the
first that was called in, all beit, Maister Doctour the Vicar   #
of
<P 502>
Croydon was come before me, and diuers other. After the cause
of my sendinge for, declared vnto me (wherof I some what
merueyled in my minde, consideringe that they sent for no mo
temporall men but me) I desired the sight of the othe, which    #
they
shewed me vnder the great seale. Than desired I the sight of    #
the
Acte of the Succession, which was deliuered me in a printed     #
roll.
After which redde secretely by my self, and the othe considered
with the acte, I shewed vnto them, that my purpose was not
to put any faulte eyther in the acte or any man that made it,
or in the othe or any man that sware it, nor to condempne the
conscience of any other man. But as for my self in good faith
my conscience so moued me in the matter, that though I wolde
not denie to swere to the succession, yet vnto the othe that    #
there
was offred me I coulde not sware, without the iubardinge of my
soule to perpetuall dampnacion. And that if they doubted        #
whither
I did refuse the othe only for the grudge of my conscience, or  #
for
<P 503>
any other fantasy, I was ready therin to satisfie them by mine
othe. Which if they trusted not, what shoulde they be the       #
better
to giue me any othe? And if they trusted that I wolde therin
swere true, than trusted I that of their goodnes they woulde    #
not 
moue me to swere the oth that they offred me, perceiuing that
for to swere it was against my conscience. 
   Vnto this my Lorde Chauncellor said, that thei all were      #
sorie
to here me say thus, and see me thus refuse the oth. And they   #
saide
all that on their faith I was the very first that euer refused  #
it;
which wolde cause the Kynges Highnes to conceiue great          #
suspicion
of me and great indignacion towarde me. And therwith
they shewed me the roll, and let me se the names of the lordes
and the comons which had sworne, and subscribed their names
allredy. Which notwithstanding when they saw that I refused
to swere the same my self, not blaming any other man that had
sworne, I was in conclusion commanded to goe downe in to the
gardein, and there vpon I taried in the olde burned chamber,
that loketh in to the gardein and wolde not go downe because
of the heate. In that time saw I Maister Doctour Lattemer come
in to the gardein, and ther walked he with diuers other         #
doctours
and chapleins of my Lorde of Caunterbury, and very mery I saw
hym, for he laughed, and toke one or tweyne aboute the necke so
handsomely, that if they had been women, I wolde haue went
he had ben waxen wanton. After that came Master Doctour Wilson
forth from the lordes and was with two gentilmen brought
<P 504>
by me, and gentilmanly sent straight vnto the Towre. What time
my Lorde of Rochester was called in before them, that can not I
tell. But at night I herd that he had ben before them, but      #
where
he remayned that night, and so forth till he was sent hither, I
neuer harde. I hard also that Maister Vicare of Croydon, and    #
all
the remenaunt of the priestes of London that were sent for, wer
sworne, and that they had such fauour at the counsels hande,
that they wer not lingered nor made to daunce any longe         #
attendaunce 
to their trauaile and cost, as sutours were somtime
wont to be, but were spedde apace to their great comforte, so   #
farre
forth that Maister Vicare of Croydon, either for gladnes or for
drines, or els that it might be sene ( (\quod ille notus erat   #
pontifici\) )
went to my Lordes buttry barre, and called for drinke, and      #
dranke
( (\valde familiariter\) ).
   Whan they had played their pageant and were gone out of the
place, than was I called in again. And than was it declared     #
vnto
me, what a nomber had sworne, euen since I went aside, gladly,
without any styckinge. Wherin I laid no blame in no man, but
for mine owne self answered as before. Now as well before as    #
than,
they somewhat laide vnto me for obstinacye, that where as       #
before,
sith I refused to swere, I wolde not declare any speciall       #
parte of that
othe that grudged my conscience, and open the cause wherfore.
For therunto I had said to them, that I ferid lest the Kinges   #
Highnes
wolde as they saide take displeasure inough towarde me for
the only refusal of the othe. And that if I should open and     #
disclose 
the causes why, I shoulde therwith but further exasperate his
<P 505>
Highnes, which I wolde in no wise do, but rather wolde I abide
al the daunger and harme that might come towarde me, than giue
his Highnes any occasion of further displeasure, than the       #
offringe
of the oth vnto me of pure necessite constrained me. Howbeit    #
when
they diuers times imputed this to me for stubbernes and         #
obstinacie
that I wolde neither swere the oth, nor yet declare the causes  #
why,
I declined thus farre toward them, that rather than I wolde be
accompted for obstinate, I wolde vpon the Kynges gracious       #
licence
or rather his such commaundement had, as might be my sufficient
warraunt, that my declaracion shoulde not offend his Highnes,
nor put me in the daunger of any of his statutes, I wolde be    #
content
to declare the causes in writing; and ouer that to giue an oth
in ye beginninge, that if I might find those causes by any man  #
in
such wyse answered, as I might thinke mine owne conscience      #
satisfied,
I wolde after that with all mine hart swere the principall oth,
to.
   To this I was answered, that though the Kynge wolde giue me
licence vnder his letters patent, yet wolde it not serue        #
against the
statute. Wherto I said, that yet if I had them, I wolde stande  #
vnto
the trust of his honour at my parell for the remenaunt. But     #
yet it
thinketh me, loe, that if I may not declare the causes without
perill, than to leaue them vndeclared is no obstinacy.
   My Lord of Canterbury takinge hold vpon that that I saide,   #
that
I condempned not the conscience of them that sware, saide vnto
me that it apered well, that I did not take it for a very sure  #
thinge
and a certaine, that I might not lawfully swere it, but rather  #
as a
thinge vncertain and doubtfull. But than (said my Lord) you
knowe for a certenty and a thinge without doubt, that you be
bownden to obey your souerain lorde your Kyng. And therfore
are ye bounden to leaue of the doute of your vnsure conscience
in refusinge the othe, and take the sure way in obeying of your
prince, and swere it. Now al was it so, that in mine owne minde
me thought my self not concluded, yet this argument semed me
sodenly so suttle and namely with such authorite comminge out
of so noble a prelate's mouth, that I coulde againe answere     #
nothinge
therto but only that I thought my self I might not well do so,
because that in my conscience this was one of the cases, in     #
which
I was bounden that I shoulde not obey my prince, sith that what
so euer other folke thought in the matter, (whose conscience    #
and
learninge I wolde not condempe nor take vpon me to iudge) yet
in my conscience the trouth semed on the tother side. Wherin I
<P 506>
had not enformed my conscience neither sodeinly nor sleightley,
but by longe laysure and diligent serche for the matter. And of
trouth if that reason may conclude, than haue we a redy way to
avoyde all perplexities. For in what so euer matters the        #
doctours
stande in great doubt, the Kynges commaundement giuen vpon
whither side he list soyleth all the doutes.
   Than said my Lorde of Westminster to me, that how so euer
the matter semed vnto mine owne minde, I had cause to feare
that mine owne minde was erronious, when I see the great        #
counsail
of the realme determine of my mynde the contrary, and that      #
therfore
I ought to chaunge my conscience. To that I answered, that
if there were no mo but my self vpon my side, and the whole
Parlement vpon the tother, I wolde be sore afraide to lene to   #
mine
owne mynde only against so many. But on the other side, if it
so be, that in some thinges for which I refuse the oth, I haue  #
(as
I thinke I haue) vpon my parte as great a counsail and a        #
greater
to, I am not than bounden to change my conscience, and conferme
it to the counsail of one realme, against the generall          #
counsail of
Christendome. Vpon this Maister Secretary (as he that tenderly
fauoreth me), saide and sware a gret oth, that he had leuer     #
that
his owne only sonne (which is of trouth a goodly yonge          #
gentilman,
and shall I trust come to much worship) had lost his hedde,     #
than
that I shoulde thus haue refused the oth. For surely the Kynges
Highnes wolde now conceiue a great suspicion against me, and
thinke that the matter of the nonne of Canterbury was all       #
contriued
by my drift. To which I saide that the contrary was true
and well knowen, and what so euer shoulde mishap me, it laye
not in my powre to helpe it without perill of my soule. Than    #
did
my Lorde Chaunceller repete before me my refusell vnto Mister
Secretary, as to hym that was going vnto the Kynges Grace. And
in the rehearsing, his Lordship repeted again, that I denied    #
not
but was content to sware to the succession. Wherunto I said,    #
that
as for that poynt, I wolde be content, so that I might se my    #
oth
in that poynt so framed in such a maner as might stande with
my conscience.
   Than said my Lorde: 'Mary, Maister Secretary marke that to,
that he will not sware that neither, but vnder some certaine    #
maner.'
'Verily no, my Lorde,' quoth I, 'but that I will see it made    #
in such
<P 507>
wise first, as I shall my self se, that I shall neither be      #
forsworne nor
swere against my conscience. Surely as to swere to the          #
succession
I see no perill, but I thought and thinke it reason, that to    #
mine
owne othe I loke well my self, and be of counsaile also in the
fashion, and neuer entended to swere for a pece, and set my     #
hande
to the whole othe. How be it (as helpe me God), as touchinge    #
the
whole othe, I neuer withdrewe any man from it, nor neuer        #
aduised
any to refuse it, nor neuer put, nor will, any scruple in any
mannes hedde, but leaue euery man to his owne conscience. And
me thinketh in good faith, that so were it good reason that     #
euery
man shoulde leaue me to myne.'

<P 508>
[} [\202. TO MARGARET ROPER.\] }]

Our Lord blisse you all.

   If I had not ben, my derely beloued doughter, at a
firme and fast point, (I trust in God's great mercie) this      #
good great
while before, your lamentable letter had not a litle abashed    #
me,
surely farre aboue all other thynges, of which I here diuers    #
times
not a fewe terrible towarde me. But surely they all towched me
neuer so nere, nor were so greuous vnto me, as to se you, my    #
welbeloued
childe, in such vehement piteous maner labour to perswade
vnto me, that thinge wherin I haue of pure necessite for
respect vnto myne owne soule, so often gyuen you so precise
answere before. Wherin as towchinge the pointes of your letter,
I can make none answere, for I doubt not but you well remembre,
that the matters which moue my conscience (without declaracion
wherof I can nothinge touche the poyntes) I haue sondry tymes
<P 509>
shewed you that I will disclose them to no man. And therfore
doughter Margaret, I can in this thynge no further, but lyke as
you labour me againe to folowe your minde to desire and praye
you both againe to leaue of such labour, and with my former     #
answeres 
to holde your self content.
   A deadly grief vnto me, and moch more deadly than to here
of mine owne death, (for the feare therof, I thanke our Lorde,  #
the
feare of hel, the hope of heauen and the passion of Christ      #
daily
more and more aswage), is that I perceiue my good sonne your
husband, and you my good doughter, and my good wife, and mine
other good children and innocent frendes, in great displeasure
and daunger of great harme therby. The let wherof, while it     #
lieth
not in my hand, I can no further but commit all vnto God.       #
( (\Nam
in manu Dei\) ) saith the scripture ( (\cor regis est, et sicut #
diuisiones
aquarum quocunque voluerit, impellit illud\) ) whose highe      #
goodnes
I most humbly besech to encline the noble harte of the Kynges
Highnes to the tender fauor of you all, and to fauour me no     #
better
than God and my self knowe that my faithfull hart toward hym
and my dayly prayour for hym, do deserue. For surely if his     #
Highnes
might inwardlie see my true minde such as God knoweth it
is, it wolde (I trust) sone aswage his high displeasure. Which
while I can in this worlde neuer in such wise shewe, but that   #
his
Grace may be perswaded to beleue the contrary of me, I can no
further go, but put all in the handes of hym, for feare of      #
whose   
displeasure for the saue garde of my soule stirred by mine owne
conscience (without insectacion or reproch laieng to any other
mans) I suffre and endure this trouble. Out of which I besech
hym to bringe me, when his will shall be, in to his endelesse   #
blisse
of heauen, and in the meane while, gyue me grace and you both
in all our agonies and troubles, deuoutly ro resort prostrate   #
vnto
the remembraunce of that bitter agony, which our Sauiour        #
suffred
before his passion at the Mount. And if we diligently so do, I
verily trust we shall find therin great comfort and             #
consolacion.
And thus my deare doughter the blessed spiritt of Christ for    #
his
tender mercy gouerne and guide you all, to his pleasure and     #
your
weale and comfortes both body and soule.

Your tender louynge father,
Thomas More, Knight.

<P 544>
[} [\211. TO MARGARET ROPER.\] }]

The Holy Spirite of God be with you.

   Your doughterly louyng letter, my derely beloued
childe was and is, I faithfully assure you, much more inward
comfort vnto me, then my penne can wel expresse you, for
diuers thinges that I marked therin but of all thinges most     #
especially,
for that God of his high goodnes geueth you the grace to
consider the incomparable difference, betwene the wretched      #
estate
of this present lyfe, and the welthy state of the lyfe to       #
come, for
them that dye in God, and to praye God in such a good Christen
fashion, that it may please hym (it doth me good here to        #
rehearse
your owne wordes) 'of his tender pitie so firmely to rest our   #
loue
in hym, with litle regard of this worlde, and so to fle sinne   #
and 
embrace vertue, that we may say with S. Paule, (\Mihi viuere    #
Christus
est et mori luchrum. Et illud, Cupio dissolui et esse cum       #
Christo\) .'
<P 545>
I besech our Lord, my dearly beloued daughter, that holesome
prayer that he hath put in your mynde, it may like hym to giue
your father the grace, daylie to remember and praye, and your
self as you haue written it, euen so dayly deuoutly to knele    #
and
praye it. For surely if God geue vs that, he geueth vs and will
geue vs therwith, all that euer we can well wishe. And therfore
good Marget, when you praye it, praye it for vs both: and I     #
shall
on my parte the lyke, in such maner as it shall lyke our Lorde
to geue me poore wretch the grace, that lykewise as in this
wretched worlde I haue been very gladde of your company and
you of mine, and yet wolde if it might be (as naturall charitie
bindeth the father and the childe) so we may reioyce and enioy
ech others company, with our other kynsefolke, alies and        #
frendes
euerlastingly in the glorious blysse of heauen: and in the      #
menetyme,
with good counsaile and prayer ech help other thitherwarde.
   And where you write these wordes of your selfe, 'But good
father, I wretch am farre, farre, farthest of all other from    #
such
poynt of perfection, our Lorde send me the grace to amende my
lyfe, and continually to haue an eie to mine ende, without      #
grudge
of death, which to them that dye in God, is the gate of a       #
welthy
lyfe to which God of his infinite mercie bringe vs all. Amen.   #
Good
Father strenght my frayltie with your deuoute prayers.' The
father of heauen mote strenght thy frailtie, my good daughter   #
and
the frayltie of thy fraile father too. And let vs not doute     #
but he
so will, if we wyll not be slacke in calling vpon hym therfor.  #
Of
my poore prayers such as they be ye may be bold to reken. For
Christen charitie and naturall loue and your verie doughterly
dealing ( (\funiculo triplici, (vt ait scriptura) difficile     #
rumpitur\) )
both binde me and straine me therto. And of yours I put as      #
litle
doubte.
   That you feare your owne frailtie Marget, nothinge mislyketh
me. God geue vs both twaine the grace, to dispayre of our owne
self, and whole to depende and hange vpon the hope and strenght
of God. The blessed apostle S. Paule founde such lacke of       #
strength
in himself, that in his owne temptacion he was fain thrise to
call and cry out vnto God, to take that temptacion from hym.    #
And
yet sped he not of his prayer, in the maner that he required.   #
For
God of his high wisdome, seing that it was (as him self saith)
<P 546>
necessarie for hym to kepe hym from pryde, that els he might    #
peraduenture
haue fallen in, wolde not at his thrise praying, by and
by take it from hym, but suffred hym to be panged in the payne
and feare therof, geuing hym yet at the last this comfort       #
against
his feare of falling ( (\Sufficit tibi gratia mea\) ). By       #
which wordes it
well semeth, that the temptacion was so stronge (what so euer
kind of temptacion it was) that he was very fearde of falling,
throwgh the feblenesse of resisting that he began to feele in   #
hym
self. Wherfore for his comfort God answered ( (\Sufficit tibi   #
gratia
mea\) ) puttinge hym in suretie, that were he of hym selfe      #
neuer
so feble and faint, nor neuer so lykely to fall, yet the grace  #
of God
was sufficient to kepe hym vp and make him stand. And our Lord
sayd ferther, ( (\Virtus in infirmitate proficitur\) ). The     #
more weke
that man is, the more is the strenght of God in his saueguard
declared. And so S. Paule saith ( (\Omnia possum in eo qui me 
confortat\) ).
   Surely Megge a fainter hearte than thy fraile father hath,   #
canst
you not haue. And yet I verely trust in the great mercye of     #
God,
that he shall of his goodnesse so staye me with his holy hand,
that he shall not finally suffer me to fall wretchedlie from    #
his
fauour. And the lyke trust (deare doughter) in his high goodnes
I verely conceue of you. And so much the more, in that there is
neither of vs both, but that if we call his benefites to        #
minde, and
geue hym oft thankes for them, we may finde tokens many, to
geue vs good hope for all our manifold offences toward hym,     #
that
his great mercye, when we wyll hartely call therfore, shall     #
not be
withdrawen from vs. And verely, my deare daughter, in this is
my great comfort, that albeit, I am of nature so shrinking from
paine, that I am allmost afeard of a philip, yet in all the     #
agonies
that I haue had, wherof before my coming hether (as I haue
shewed you ere this) I haue had neither small nor few, with
heauy fearfull heart, forecasting all such peryls and paynfull
deathes, as by any maner of possibilitie might after fall vnto  #
me,
and in such thought lyen longe restles and wakyng, while my
wyfe had went I had slept, yet in anye such feare and heauy     #
pensifenes
(I thanke the mightie mercie of God) I neuer in my 
minde entended to consent, that I woulde for the enduring of    #
the
<P 547>
vttermost, doe any such thinge as I shoulde in mine owne        #
conscience 
(for with other mens I am not a man mete to take vpon
me to medle) thinke to be to my self, such as shoulde dampnably
cast me in the displeasure of God. And this is the lest poynt   #
that
any man may with his saluacion come to, as farre as I can see,
and is bounden if he see peryll to examine his conscience       #
surely by
learning and by good counsaile and be sure that his conscience  #
be
such as it may stande with his saluacion, or els reforme it.    #
And if
the matter be such, as both the parties may stande with         #
saluacyon,
then on whither side his conscience fall, he is safe ynough     #
before
God. But that mine owne may stand with my own saluacion, therof
I thanke our Lorde I am very sure. I besech our Lord bring all
partes to his blisse.
   It is now, my good doughter, late. And therfore thus I       #
commend
you to the holy Trinitie, to gyde you, coumfort you and
direct you with his Holy Spirite, and all yours and my wyfe     #
with
all my children and all our other frendes. 

Thomas More, Knyght.

<P 563>
[} [\218. TO MARGARET ROPER.\] }]

   Owr Lorde blisse you goode dowghter and your goode
husbande and your litle boye and all yours and all my children
and all my godchildren and all owr freindis. Recommende me
<P 564>
whan you maye to my goode doughter Cecilye, whom I beseche
owr Lorde to comforte, and I sende her my blessinge and to all
her children and pray her to praye for me. I sende her an       #
handekercher
and God comforte my goode sonne her husbande. My
goode dowghter Daunce hath the picture in parchemente that
yow deliuered me from my Ladie Coniars, her name is on the
backe side. Shewe her that I hertely pray her that you maye     #
sende
it in my name to her agayne for a token from me to praye for    #
me.
   I like speciall well  Dorithe Coly, I praye you be good      #
vnto her.
I woulde wytte whether this be she that yow wrote me of. If not
I praye yow be goode to the tother, as yow maye in her          #
affliction
and to my good doughter Jone Aleyne to giue her I pray yow
some kynde aunswere, for she sued hither to me this daye to     #
pray
you be goode to her.
   I cumber you goode Margaret muche, but I woulde be sorye, if
it shoulde be any lenger than to morrowe, for it is S. Thomas
evin, and the vtas of Sainte Peter and therefore to morowe      #
longe
I to goe to God, it were a daye very meete and conveniente for
me. I neuer liked your maner towarde me better then when you
kissed me laste for I loue when doughterly loue and deere       #
charitie
hathe no laisor to looke to worldely curtesye.
   Fare well my deere childe and praye for me, and I shall for
you and all your freindes that we maie merily meete in heauen.
I thanke you for your greate coaste.
   I sende nowe vnto my goode dowghter Clemente her algorisme
stone and I sende her and my goode sonne and all hers Goddes
blissinge and myne.
   I praye yow at tyme conveniente recommende me to my goode
sonne Johan More. I liked well his naturall fashion. Owr Lorde
blisse him and his goode wife my louinge doughter, to whom I
<P 565>
praye him be goode, as he hathe greate cause, and that if the
lande of myne come to his hande, he breake not my will          #
concerninge
his sister Daunce. And our Lorde blisse Thomas and Austen
and all that thei shall haue.

<Q E1 XX CORP MROPER>
<N LET TO FATHER>
<A ROPER MARGARET>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X FEMALE>
<Y 20-40>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 510>
[} [\203. FROM MARGARET ROPER.\] }]

Myne owne good Father.

   It is to me no litle comfort, sith I can not talke with
you by such meanes as I wolde, at the lest way to delite my     #
self
amonge in this bitter tyme of your absens, by such meanes as I
maye, by as often writinge to you, as shall be expedient and by
readinge againe and againe your most fruteful and delectable
letter, the faithfull messenger of your very vertuous and       #
gostly
minde, rid from all corrupt loue of worldly thinges, and fast   #
knitt
only in the loue of God, and desire of heauen, as becommeth a   #
very
true worshipper and a faithful seruaunt of God, which I doubt   #
not,
good father, holdeth his holy hand ouer you and shall (as he
hath) preserue you both body and soule ( (\vt sit mens sana in  #
corpore
sano\) ) and namely, now when you haue abiected all erthly
consolacions and resyned yourself willingly, gladly and fully   #
for
his loue to his holy protection.
   Father, what thinke you hath ben our comfort sins your       #
departinge
from vs? Surely the experiens we haue had of your lyfe past
and godly conuersacion, and wholesome counsaile, and verteous
example, and a suretie not only of the continuaunce of the      #
same,
but also a great encrese by the goodnes of our Lorde to the     #
great
rest and gladnes of your hart deuoyd of all earthly dregges,    #
and
garnished with the noble vesture of heauenly vertues, a         #
pleasant
pallais for the Holy Spirite of God to rest in, who defend you
(as I doubt not, good father, but of his goodnes he wyll) from
all trouble of minde and of body, and gyue me your most louinge
obedient dowghter and handmaide, and all vs your children and
frendes, to folow that that we prayse in you, and to our onely
comfort remembre and comin together of you, that we may in
<P 511>
conclusion mete with you, mine owne dere father, in the blisse
of heauen to which our most mercifull Lord hath bought vs
with his precious blood.
   Your owne most louing obedient doughter and bedeswoman,
Margaret Roper, which desireth aboue all worldly thinges to be
in John Woodes stede to do you some seruice. But we lyue in     #
hope 
that we shall shortly receiue you againe, I pray God hartely we
may, if it be his holy wyll.

<P 538>
[} [\209. FROM MARGARET ROPER.\] }]

Myne owne most entierelie beloued Father.

   I thinke my self neuer able to geue you sufficient
thankes, for the inestimable coumforte my poore heart receyued
<P 539>
in the reading of your most louinge and godly letter,           #
representing
to me the cleare shynynge brightenesse of your soule, the pure
temple of the Holy Spirite of God, which I doubte not shall     #
perpetually
rest in you and you in hym. Father, if all the worlde had
be geuen to me, as I be saued it hadde ben a small pleasure, in
comparison of the pleasure I conceyued of the treasure of your
letter, which though it were writen with a cole, is worthy in   #
mine
opinion to be written in letters of golde.
   Father, what moued them to shitte you vp againe, we can      #
nothing
heare. But surelie I coniecture that when they considered that
you wer of so temperate minde, that you wer contended to abide
there all your lyfe with such libertie, they thought it wer     #
neuer
possible to encline you to their will, except it were by        #
restrayning
you fro the Church, and the company of my good mother your
deare wyfe and vs your childern and bedesfolke. But Father this
chaunce was not straunge to you. For I shall not forgeat how    #
you
tolde vs when we were with you in the gardeine, that these      #
thinges
were lyke ynoughe to chaunce shortly after. Father, I haue many
tymes rehearsed to mine owne coumfort and diuers others, your
fashyon and wordes ye had to vs when we wer last with you: for
which I trust by the grace of God to be the better while I      #
lyue, and
when I am departed out of this fraile lyfe, which, I praye      #
God, I
may passe and ende in his true obedient seruice, after the      #
wholsome
counsaile and fruitfull example of liuing I haue had (good
Father) of you, whom I praye God geue me grace to folowe: which
I shall the better thorowe the assistens of your deuoute        #
praiers,
the speciall staye of my frayltie. Father, I am sory I haue no  #
lenger
laysure at this time to talke with you, the chief comforte of   #
my
lyfe, I trust to haue occasion to write again shortly. I        #
trust I haue
your dayly prayer and blessing.
   Your most louing obedient daughter and bedeswoman Margaret
Roper, which dayly and howrelie is bounden to pray for you, for
whome she prayeth in this wise that our Lorde of his infinite
mercye geue you of his heauenly comfort, and so to assist you   #
with
his speciall grace that ye neuer in any thinge decline from his
blessed will, but liue and dye his true obedient seruaunt.      #
Amen.


<S SAMPLE 4>

<Q E1 XX CORP GCROMW>
<N LET TO FATHER>
<A CROMWELL GREGORY>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y -20>
<H HIGH PROF>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P I,338>
[} [\LETTER CXX.\] }]
[} [\GREGORY CROMWELL TO HIS FATHER, MR. THOMAS 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 bedman, interely desyryng the
contineweans of the same; trustyng soo to accomplysse
and fulfyll yowr parentall com~andments in the
passage of myne erudicion, that yow, my good father,
schall tharewith be ryght welcontentyd by Gods
helpe, the wiche with hys grace hee send hus. Amen.
Frome the howse of yowr bedman Mr. Doctor Lee
thys Ester day in the mornyng.

By yowr vigelante sone
Gregori Cromewell.

<P I,339>
[} [\LETTER CXXI.\] }]
[} [\GREGORY CROMWELL TO HIS FATHER. A SECOND LETTER OF 
DUTY.\] }]

   Right worschypfull father, I co~mend me un to
you, desyryng you of youre dayly blessyng, sartyfying
you that I am in good helth, wyth my cosens
Bersfourd and Wellyfyd, thanks be unto God omnipotente,
and apply owre boks dylygently, as shall
appere I trust to youre worschyp and owre proffyts.
Father, I besetch you whan ye mett wyth the ryght
honorable lorde of Oxforth, to geue thanks un to hys
Lorchyp, for whan he came to a towne callyd Yeldam,
to the parsons there of to hunte the foxe, he
sente for me and my cossyns, and mad us good
schere; and lett us see schuch game and plesure as I 
never saye in my lyfe; more over father, I besetch
you to geve thanks to the for sayde parson of Yeldam,
which sens I came in to the cuntry hath dyvers tymys
sente for me and for my cossyns and mad us hygh
schere, and schewyd us gret plesure. For all other
thyngs consarnyng my rayment, I beseche you geve
credens to my synguler good frende Mayster Doctor
Lee. Thus Jhesu have you in hys kepyng. From
Topsfyld the xvii day of October. By your lowly sone

Gregory Crumwell.

<P I,340>
[} [\LETTER CXXII.\] }]
[} [\GREGORY CROMWELL, AGAIN TO HIS FATHER.\] }]

   Ryght worshypfulle father, as harte canne thynke
or tong canne tell, I hartely co~mende me vn to you,
beyng always desyrus to here of your prosperus helth
and welfare, whych I pray Jhsu long contynwe to his
pleasure, and to your moste gentillyste hartis desyre,
&c. The cause of my wrytynge vn to you at thys
tyme ys, to desyre you to send me your blessyng,
which ys more treasure unto me then all the abundance 
of worldly goods; sertyfyinge you that I was
in good helth at the makynge of thys letter, thankyd
be God omnipotent, and doo apply my boke deligently,
as I truste in God shall in process of tyme
apere to my proffyte, and to your contentacion and
worship. I have recevid the tokyne that you sent
by Master doctor Bekynsall, unto whome I pray you
gyve thanks, for at his beyng now at Topsfylde bothe
mad me gret cheare and all my fellos, and gave me a
crone to spende. Wherfore, I beseche you father,
have hym in your remembrance. Thus Jhesu preserve
you in his goodnes. Frome Topsfylde the xxv day
of October.

By your lowly sone
Gregori Crumwell.


<S SAMPLE 5>

<Q E1 XX CORP ECUMBERL>
<N LET TO HUSBAND>
<A CUMBERLAND ELEANOR>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X FEMALE>
<Y 20-40>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 125>
[} [\44\] }]
[} [\ELEANOR, COUNTESS OF CUMBERLAND, TO THE SECOND EARL OF     #
CUMBERLAND
14 FEBRUARY (1543-1547)\] }]
<P 126>
Jhesus

   Dere hart, after my moste hartye commendatyons, thys shalbe  #
to
sertify yow that sense yowr departure frome me, I have byn very
seke & att thys present my watter ys very redd, wherby I        #
suppos I have
the jaundes & the aygew both, for I have none abyde to meate &  #
I
have suche payns in my syde & towardes my bak as I had att
Brauham, wher ytt be gane with me furst. Wher for I desyre yow
to help me to a physyssyon & that thys berer may brynge hym     #
with
hym, for now in the begynning I trust I may have gud remedy, &
the longer ytt ys delayed the worse ytt wylbe. Also my sister   #
Powys
ys comyd to me & ys very desyrous to se yow, whiche I trust     #
shalbe
the sooner at this tyme & thus Jhesu send hus both healthe.     #
Att my
lodge of Carleton, the xiiij=th= day of February.
   And, dere hart, I pray yow send for Doctor Stephyns, for he  #
knowyth
best my complexon for such cawsys.

By yowr assuryd loufyng wyff,
Elenor Cumbarland.

<Q E1 XX CORP KSCROPE>
<N LET TO FATHER>
<A SCROPE KATHERINE>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T LET PRIV>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X FEMALE>
<Y 20-40>
<H HIGH>
<U X>
<E INT UP>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>

<P 111>
[} [\35\] }]
[} [\LADY KATHERINE SCROPE TO THE FIRST EARL OF CUMBERLAND,
14 OCTOBER (1536)\] }]
<P 112>
   My dewty promysed unto your Lordship in my most humbliest    #
maner;
advertysyng the same that yesterday the commons off             #
Richmontshir
did meat at Richmond, wher undoubtedly they dewydet them in     #
thre
partyes, wheroff one company there was commandet to come this   #
day
for my Lord my bedfelowe ore his litell boy & myn, Sir James    #
Metcalff
ore his sone Cristofer, & Richard Sigiswik, and to brynge them  #
with
them or elles to pull downe their housses and spoill them off   #
their
goodes. A nother company goth fore my Lord Latymer ore his      #
sone,
Mr. Danby, with other in thosse quarters. And the third company
goth to Barnard Castell to bryng to them my cousyn George Bowes
& his two uncles. My Lord my bedfelow is this nyght at Helbek   #
Hall
& wulbe with your Lordshipe at Skypton in as convenyent spead   #
as
he can maik, to tak suche parte as your Lordshipe dothe. And I  #
wull
come this mornyng towardes Katelwell & tary there off my        #
bedfelowe,
and wold come with hym to Skipton, iff ye thynk it good. And    #
this
nyght I have sent my litell boy with his nursse unto one poore  #
mans
housse, to be kept privy there to we knowe forther. And what    #
your
Lordshipes mynd is in the premysses I wull hertly besuche you   #
to
send it to Catelwell with this berere. Thus tholy Gost          #
preserve youre
good Lordship with my Lady my mother & all youres in comfort.   #
At
Bolton, this Setterday before day,

Your humbliest doughter,
Kateryn Scrope.



