<P_2.2,17>

<heading:edcomment:LETTER_CARDINAL_WOLSEY_TO_KING_HENRY_THE_EIGHTH
_CHIEFLY_THE_DISCONTENT_EXPRESSED_AT_THE_MANNER_OF_SUPPRESSING_THE
_SMALL_WITH_WHICH_HIS_COLLEGE_AT_OXFORD_WAS_TO_BE_ENDOWED>_ @

To the King's Most noble Grace , Defensor of the Faith .
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,17.3)

S=r= . After my most humble & lowly recommendations , it may like your
Highness to understand that it hath been & is much to my rejoyce &
comfort , to perceive by the relation of S=r=. Tho. More how the
discourses & communications which I have had with the <P_2.2,18>
Chancellor of Alanson sent from my Lady the Fr. King's mother for
treaty of peace with your Highness , have been to your contentation &
pleasure ; wherein S=r=. as in all other your affairs , I have not , ne
shall pretermit any labor , diligence , study , or travail , which may
be to the conducing of the same to such end as shall be to your
Highness honor , exaltation , & benefit . (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,18.4)

And where it hath pleased your Highness of your excellent goodness &
gracious favour , to advertise me by the said S=r=. Tho. More of such
reports as have ben made unto your Highness , consisting in two things
, the one concerning the office of Clerk of the Market within the
liberties of the Monastery of St. Albans , & the other my officers in
the Suppression of certain exile & small Monasteries , wherein neither
God is served , ne religion kept , which , with your gracious ayde &
assistance , converting the same to a far better use , I purpose to
annex unto your intended College of Oxford , for the encrease of good
Letters & virtue . (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,18.5)

I most humbly thank your Highness for that it hath pleased the same ,
so like a good & gracious Master , to give unto me knowledge &
admonition therof , ascertaining your Grace , that as to the office of
Clerk of the Market within the liberties of the said Monastery , I
never was minded either to extend or to diminish , but in such manner
to use the same as I found the said Monastery possessed aforetime ;
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,18.6)

for at your last being there , the <P_2.2,19> Graunts made by your
noble Progenitors , confirmed also by the late King of famous memory ,
your noble father , whose soule Jesus pardon , & also by your Highness
, were show'd unto your Councell , whereby they evidently perceived ,
that neither the Marshall of England , ne the Steward of your most
hon=ble=. Household , ne also the office of Clerk of the Markets ,
shall be exercised with the said liberties , by other then the officers
of the said Monastery , as by the Graunts & Confirmations , ready at
your good pleasure to be eftsone showed , doth right largely appear .
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,19.7)

Nevertheless , whereas the inquest & officers there , have not justly ,
discreetly , & indifferently assessed & taxed the prices of the Market
, as to right , equity , & the good commodity of your Grace's servants
hath appertayned ; I who knew nothing thereof , am not only
discontented with them , for their misdemeanor in that behalf ,
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,19.8)

& shall with God's grace , see them ordered accordingly ,
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,19.9)

but also have no small cause most humbly to thank your Highness , whome
it hath pleased to see the said prices reformed , unto the due order &
direct course . (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,19.10)

And God forbid that I should , or suffer any man to , encroach upon any
part of your jurisdiction royall , trusting verily , in consideration
of my poor service , that your Highness will be as good a Lord to that
your Monastery , as your noble Progenitors have been , as I most humbly
, on my knees , beseech your Highness to be . (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,19.11)

And albeit S=r=. some folks , which be always more <P_2.2,20> prone to
speak evil & report the worst without knowledge of the truth , have
percase informed your Highness of some disorder that should be used by
my Commissaries in suppressing of the said Monasteries , yet most
humbly I shall beseech your Highness , after your noble & accustomed
manner , to give no credence unto them unto such time as your Grace may
hear my declaration in that behalf . (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,20.12)

For S=r=. Allmighty God I take to my record , I have not meant ,
intended , or gone about , ne also have willed mine Officers , to do
any thing concerning the said Suppressions , but under such forme &
manner , as is & hath largely been to the full satisfaction ,
recompence , & joyous contentation of any person which hath had , or
could pretend to have right or interest in the same , in such wise ,
that many of them giving thanks & laude to God , for the good chance
succeeded unto them would for nothing , if they might , return or be
restored , & put again into their former State , as your Highness shall
abundantly & largly perceive , at my next repair unto the same .
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,20.13)

Verily S=r=. I would be loath to be noted , that I should intend such a
vertuous foundation for the encrease of your Highnesses merit , profit
of your subjects , the advancement of good learning , & for the weale
of my poore soule , to be established or adquired ex rapinis .
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,20.14)

But , God willing , shall in such wise proceed to the perfection
thereof , with prejudice or derogation of any man's right or interest ,
that it shall appear to all the <P_2.2,21> world , that I am minded to
sett forth that act sincerely , purely , & without injury , wrong , or
damage to any person . (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,21.15)

Howbeit , S=r=. I account myself most bounden unto your Highness , in
that it hath pleased the same so favourably & benignly to advertise me
, of the reports contrived in that behalf , which I trust in such wise
to avoyd , that your Highness shall not only be therwith contented ,
but also they shall peradventure be the more circumspect , to make any
such like reports hereafter . (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,21.16)

Finally , S=r= , I send herewith unto your Highness , a Copy of certain
Articles & Clauses excerpted & taken out of the Popes Letters now sent
unto his Oratour here resident , declaring in what terms he doth stand
with the French King , alledging that he hath nothing done , nor
intendeth to do , to the prejudice of your Highness & the Emperour .
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,21.17)

And albeit his Holynesses demeanor in that behalf , is not so laudable
, ne of such sort , as I would it were , yet it is not so evill as it
hath ben bruted & reported , trusting that after the arrivall of my
last Letters , wherein I have ben rounde & plain , his said Holyness
shall alter his copie , & percase shew himself according to such
expectation as your Highness & I have had of him .
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,21.18)

And thus Jesus preserve your most noble & royall estate .
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,21.19)

At my Howse besides Westminster (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,21.20)

y=e= 5=th=. day of Febr. (WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,21.21)

by your most humble Chapleyn , T. Card=lis=. Ebor.
(WOLSEY-E1-H,2.2,21.22)