1FAAFGGC:\WORD\STANDARD.DFVGRAMSCIH@PsBAF|The_Innsbruck_Corpus_of_English_Letters |(prepared_by_ICAMET,_i.e._THE_INNSBRUCK_COMPUTER_ARCHIVE_OF MACHINE_READABLE_ENGLISH_TEXTS,_1994) |Part_2:_The_16th_Century_(68_letters) |(for_details,_see_"letters16.hlp") |1.__John_Flamank_(1503),_pp._231-238. |[MS._in_Record_Office] |[A.D._1503?] To the Kynges Most Noble Grace. About the last day of Septembre last past, being in a secrett counter within your deputie is place at Calis, he, Sir Hughe Conway, your treserer ther, and Sir Sampson Norton, master porter of that your sayd toune, clad to them my brodre William Nanfan and me. Then said my master your depute to us, "Sirs, we must comyn here now of many great matres touchyng the kyngis grace and the surtie of this hys toune of Calis. Therfore by cause ye be next unto me, I must somtyme put you in tryst more then other. Ye shall hyre here thees matrys that we intend to comyn of; but first ye shall be bothe sworen upon a boke that ye shall never utter nothyng that is now here spoken, without it be to the kyngis grace yf nede shall require, or els to non lyvyng creature." Then after many matris spoken by my master your depute and resonned to the same by your treserer and porter, wiche matres and wherof they were I ame and shalbe [ready] to shew to your hygnes at suche tyme or tymes that best shall plese your grace that I so do. Then seid Sir Hyghe Conwaye, "Master depute, yf ye knew as moche as I do, ye wolde saye that ye hade asgrett cause to take kepe to your sylfe as ony lyvyng creature; and therto ye be asmuche bownden to thank God for that ye have askaped heherto as ye have, for I know thoos persons that have be sett to murdre you, and by whoos cause and menys they so dyde." Mi master askyd hym what they were he wold then shew hym, but seid that he wold shew hym more of that mater at a nodre tyme when we shall have more layser. So for what he said now ame I and master porter asfyr into the daunce as ye be, for I promyse you of my faythe that all thoos that be and were profferred hydre into ther romes by my Lord Chamber_layn shall never love non of us, and specially thoos that were his houssold servauntis tofore. The cause whij they soo do I cannot tell, but for that we folow the kyngis plesure and so wildo. Therfor good yt is that we see to our owne surtie, aswell as for the surtie of this the kyngis toune, that yt may be sure to hym and his, wat world so ever shall hapen to fall here after, to have in remembrans that the gretter and more partie of thoos that be in the kyngis retenu here be of my lordis prefferment. Also loke hoo stronge he is in the kyngis courte of his houshold servauntis for the more partie of his garde be of thoos that were my Lord Chamberlayn servauntis tofore. and hard hyt is to know mennys myndis yf God should send a soden change, as he hayth here tofore. Then said my master, your depute, that "I darst reseve the sacrament that my lord is as true to the kyngis grace as ony man lyvyng," and in lyke wyse seid master porter. Item, My master your depute, said, "My lord Chamber_layn was very shlake in oone jorny, wherwith I knowell that the kinigis grace was discontent; for and he had done his parte welle, the Cornyshe men hade never made the kynge feld at Blake hethe, but had all ben distroyed longe before ther comyng thedre, that I knowell the kyngis grace hade lever hade be done then xx=ml= for his honour. Item, after many wordes spoken, Sir Hughe Conwey seid, "Mastres, I hanot spoken theys wordis for no untrothe that I do thynk be now in my lord Cham_berlayn, for I dar say now as ye do that he lovyth the kynge aswell as any man cando lyvyng; but yt hath be sene in tymys past that chaynge of worldis hayth caused chaynge of mynd." Item, the same Sir Hughe said, that "we be here, now togedres the kyngis true servauntis to lyve and dy, and also to spend all that we have in the world to do his grace servis. Therfore watt so ever we speke or comyn for his surtie, and for the surtie of this his toune, canbe no tresone; so good yt is that we loke and speke of thyngis to come as well as thoos present. I do speke this for a cause that is good that we loke sadly to, for the kyngis grace is but a weke man and syklow, not lykly to be no longe lyvis man. Yt ys not longe sithens his hygnes was syke and lay then in his maner in Wangsted. Hyt hapned the same tyme me to be emonges many grett personages, the whiche fele in communicacion of the kyngis grace and of the world that shouldbe after hym yf hys grace hapned to depart." Then he said that some of them spake of my lorde of Buckyngham, sayng that he was a noble man and woldbe a ryall ruler. Other ther were that spake, he said, in lykewyse of your troytor Edmond De la Pole, but none of them, he said, that spake of my lord prynce. Then said master porter to hym, "Have ye never broken to the kyngis grace of this mater?" Then said Sir Hughe Conway to hym agayn, "I pray you souffer me to tell forthe my talle, for I amnot yet athe ynd. Ye have in mynde wat that I have shewed you touchyng this matris. Of my fayth, in lyke wyse sythens my comyng I have shewed the same to Sir Nycholas Voux, lieutenant of Gysnes, and to Sir Antony Broune, lieutenant of the castell here, and they answeryd me both this, that they had to good holdes to resorte unto, the whiche thay seid sholdbe sure to make their paxce, ho so ever the worlde tourne." Then my master youre depute, and master porter, boyth said to hym that he could no lase doo but shew thes matres unto youre hyghnes. He said that, "Hyt ware good that the kyngis grace knew thees sayyngis, but asyet I have not shewed hym no part heroff, nother never I wildo." Then said master porter to hym angrely, and sware by Godis precious soule he be the more to blame to kepe suche matris from his hygnes; and in lyke wyse said my master your depute, and all we beyyng there. Item, after many wordis spoken touchyng the same, Sir Hughe Conway said, "Yf ye knew kynge Harry oure master as I doo, ye woldbe ware how that ye brake to hym in ony suche matres, for he wold take yt to be said but of envy, yll wille and malis. Then should anion have blame and no thanke for his trouth and good mynd; and that have I welle proved here to fore in lyke causes, for that tyme that the lord Lovell lay in Colchester a trysty frend of myn came to me and shewed me in councell the day and tyme of hys departyng, and of alle hys purpos. I was sworen to hym that I should never utter thys to man lyvyng to hys hurte; butt yet forthwith after wardis, by cause of my alegens, I came to Sir Raynold Bray and shewed hym all as is abovwe, and forthwith he said that Master Bray shewed the same unto the kyngis. Wheruppon I was brought byfore hys hygnes and I affirmed all to be true as my seid frend hade shewed; and the kynge said that hyt could not be so, and resoned with me alwayes to the contrary of my said sayynges. At last he asked what he was that told me thus tale of hys departyng. I prayed hys hygnes to pardon me, for I said that I was sworen to hym that I should never utter hym, to be drawen with wyld horsses; wherewith the kynge was angry and displesed with me for my good wille. I shall no more tempt hym wile I lyve in suche causes." Then said master porter, "I thynk that ye drast never speke thees wordes to the kyngis grace as ye have rehersed them now here," and he sware my grett othes that he dyde. Item, my master youre deputie said that "I knowell that the kyngis hyghnes is harde of credens in suche matres; and that knowe ye," he said, "master porter, aswell as I, for how longe was yt er hys grace and hys councell wold belyve ony thyng of untrothe to be in Sir Jame Tyrell; and some said I dyd seke to do hym hurte for malis." "Item, a nodre tyme I dyd wryt unto hys hygnes that oone hade shewed me that Sir Robert Clyfford should say here in his toune to a lady that Perken Warbeke was kynge Edwardes sone. Never wordes went coldre to my hart then they dyd. Hys hygnes sent me sharpe wrytyng agay that he wold have the prouffe of this matier. I hade no wittnes then, but my sylfe; but as hyt hapned afterwardes I caused hym by good crafte to confesse the same he had said to me be fore hym that was marshell here at that tyme, and els I hade lykly to be putt to a grett plonge for my trothe. At the last al thought that hit was not to shewe this to youre grace without better proffe; yet master porter said yt was grett pitty that the kinge dyd not tryst hys true knyghtes better, and to geve them credens in suche thynges as they should shew for hys surtie, for grett hurt may come by that mene." Item, after this the treserer said, "Master depute and master porter, what daunger be we in now, remem_bryng all thynges welle, for we have no suche holdes, to resort unto as thees other men have, consydryng also oure many enymies that we have in this toune and els where that wilbe glade to distroy and murdre us all yf other should come to the kyngis grace then wele. And for trothe I knowell that he cannot longe con_tynu for hyt is wryten of hym that he shall no longer raygne then dyd kynge Edward, wiche", he said, "was byt xxij=te= yere and lytle more." Then said my master youre depute, "I by sherwe hys hart that so dyde wryte, and also I pray god send all them that thynk the same tobe true a shorte shamfull dethe." The treserer said agayn, "We may not be angry in this matris when we shall comyn for the surtie of our sylfes aswell as of this the kyngis toune, for I thynk not veryly thus to be all true that I have said, but I knowell that every man ys mortall and must dij, and that that I have said I shall shew you my boke that shall declare you the same playnly to be as I have said and spoken." Master porter said, "Then I pray you, master tresere, brene that boke, and a vayngens take the first wryter." Item, then said my master youre depute to master Convaye, "I pray you leve thys profyciyng of the kynge, for ye speke of thynges that I never kepe never hire nor see, and that my prayer is that I never leve day nother oure longer then the kyngis grace and hys chyldre shall have and inyoye the realme of Inglond." And likevise spake master porter and we all beyng there. Item, then said master Conway, "All this that I have spoken is to thentent to have all thynges to be made sure for the kynge and hys chyldre, and specially this hys toune of Calis; and that cane never be done without good and wyse comunycacion had of the same byfore; for I tell you for surtie that that shall never be aslonge as the lady Luse shalbe in the castell, that we cane sure the kynge of thys hys toune, for the castell is the kay of this toune; he that is therin beyng of a contray mynd may lett men inow in oone nyght to distrij us alle wyle we shalbe in oure beddes sleepyng. I knowe, masters," he said, "wat longeth to suche matres better then ye do; therfore I pray you seuffer me for to speke. Lett not us thynk the contrarij but and the kyngis were ons departyd, she beyng in the castell here and Edmond De la Pole hire cosen at hys lyberte, but that she wolde helpe hym in hys causes with all hire poure and to lett hym come into this toune by the postren of the castell to the distruccion of us alle. Remenbre welle how ny that Kent is hydre, wat a lyans thay be of there." He spake of Sir Edward Poy_nynges, Syr Rychard Gylforth, Sir Thomas Bouchir. Wat he said of her demener, master porte, yf youre grace exammen hym cane shew youre hygnes better then I can do. Also he said, "Remenbre all the company of this the kynges retenu here, wat ille mynde they bere unto us that wilbe all redy then to folow hyre mynd as they doo now, and to doo us the most myschyffe thay cando," and named Rychard Wod_house and John Clynton speris. Item, Raynold of the Chambre, a constable of the retenu, with other. "Thees men," he said, "never lovyd the kyngis grace, nor never woldo, with many mo of the same mynd within this toune. Now I have shewed all the wyrst. This be a sherwde company sett in yll mynde. Dout ye not but this will falle in dede but good provysion be made for the remedy in tyme." Item, then said my master your depute, "Yf suche thyng shall happen, as I pray God that I never leve to se, the kyngis grace to departe byfore me, but and yt please God that he shall so do, to be for the surte and use of my lorde prynce and for all my mastris childre to have this toune alle tymes at ther owne wille and rule; and rather then yt shouldbe otherwyse I hade lever souffer dethe. And we do wysly, I doutnot but by good counsell we shalbe able by good police to distrii all the captayns and ryng_ledres that be of yll and contrarij mynde; that done, the other wilbe good to rule. So I tryst that we shall alwayes kepe the toune and marches to the kyngis use and hys." More of this touchyng this last artycle was spoken, whiche is not now perfetly in my remenbrans; but well I remenbre that every_man named oone to ryde the wrold of, yf suche daunger should come to pase, as I tryst never to se by Godis grace, whoo ever preserve youre hygnes. Item, by the fayth that I bere unto my Savyour Cryst Jhesu and to youre hygnes, thys byfore rehersed was the sayyng of every of them as nyghe as I kan call now to my remenbrans. ... |{2_pages_left_out} Youre most lauly sugett and servaunt, JOHN FLAMANK. |2.__Agnes_Plumpton_(1502),_pp._167-69. To the worshipful Sir Robart Plompton, kt. be thes delivered in hast. Sir, in the most hartiest wyse I recommennd me unto you, de_siring to heare of your prosperitie and welfaire, and of your good spede in your matters; certyfiing you that I, and my sone Wil_liam, 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 Mar_tingmas of his tenaunts, or els cast them forth and prayse ther goods; and so my sone hath done with some of them. And here are the names of them that hath payd me; Robert Wood, Peter Cott, John Gloster, Robart Taler, William Bentham. Sir it ys let us to understand that thers other tenaunts, that are cast forth, 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 Knares_brough, and Harrygate, and Spofforth, to set pryse on ther comon and cattell after ther conscience; 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 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 (16 Nov. 1502.) AGNES PLOMPTON. |3.__Agnes_Plumpton_(1502),_p._170. 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 under_stand 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 sche_reffe, 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. Be your wiffe, dame (27 Nov. 1502.) AGNES PLOMPTON. |4.__Agnes_Plumpton_(1502),_p._171. To the worshipfull Sir 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 (21 Dec. 1502.) AGNES PLOMPTON. |5.__Agnes_Plumpton_(1502),_p._172. To master Thomas Everingam, be this delivered in hast. Cousin Thomas Everyngham, I recomennd me unto you, thanking you of your good mynd and will at all tymes; praying you, that ye will take the labor and payne upon you to come and speake with me betwyxt this and tewsday next, as my speciall trust is in you; and that ye faylle not therof, as I may dow for you as much in tyme to come. No more at this tyme, but the Trenyte kepe you. From Plompton in hast, this Sant Maury day. By yours at my power (15 Jan. 1502-3.) / Dame AGNES PLOMPTON. |6.__Agnes_Plumpton_(1503),_p._184-85. 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 well-faire, 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 shift of, at your comminge. And I pray you that ye be not miscon_tent 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. No more at this time, but the Trinity keep you. From Plumpton in hast, the xix=th= day of March. By your wife, (19 March 1503-4.) Dame AGNES PLOMPTON. |7.__Agnes_Plumpton_(1504),_p._186-87. To the worshipfull Robart Plompton, knight, be these delivered in hast. Right worshipfull Sir, in my most hartiest wyse I recommend 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 for_ward, and they underworketh falsly; and it is sene and known by them, for they thinke to drive that they may take the Whit_sonday ferme: and so it is sayd all the country about. Sir, I be_sech 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 the shalbe cagid; and also willing none of your servants shall not pas the dowers, but they mon be tro_bled. 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 comand_ment to the Scherefe that the prosses may be stoped. Also, Sir, I send you the copy of the letter that came from the Undershe_refe, and the copy of the causes, and the letter that come from William Ellison; the which I had mynd in for loyssing of Ed_mund 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 dely_gently 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 comaunde_ment, 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, (12 April 1504.) Dame AGNES PLOMPTON. |8.__Agnes_Plumpton_(1504),_p._187. To Sir Richard Plompton be thes byl delivered in hast. Sir Richard Plompton, I recomend me unto you, dessiring and prayng you that ye will se some remydy for thes prosses, that they may be stopped; and that ye will goe to my lord Dayrsse, and make on letter for me in my name, and shew him how they delt with my housband tenaunts and servants, and ye thinke it be to dowe. And I pray you that ye will se that nether thes, nor none other prosses, pas, but be stoppyd, as my speciall trust is in you. For I have sent up the copy of the capias, with one letter from William Elesson and one other from Under Sherife, that ye may, after the scest of them, labor as ye thinke best by your mynd. Also, Sir Richard, I pray you to remember my other [order]; for thomas stabill hath taken the west rod and the est rod, and hath mayd the fenses, and so she hath no gresse to hir cattel; and also they sow hir land, and will not let hir occupy nothing as yet, and that discomfortheth them much. No more, but the Trinete kepe you. From Plompton in hast, the xiii day of Aprill. (13 April 1504.) By me Dame AGNES PLOMPTON. |9.__Agnes_Plumpton_(1504),_p._188. 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 bless_inge; and all your servants is in good health and is right glad to here of your welfare. Sir, on the eving after the making of this letter, your servant Edmund Robyson come home, and so I un_derstond by your letter, that you wold understand if sir John Ro_clife 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 Rich_ard Clapame, and the aches to the towards there about. And also at Idell, they have sold holyn to James Formes and to Tho_mas 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, (26 April 1504.) Dame AGNES PLOMPTON. |10.__Mary,_Queen_of_France_(1514),_pp._174-176. Mary Queen of France to her Brother, Henry VIII. A.D. 1514. My most kind and loving brother, I heartily recommend me unto you. Pleaseth it your grace to understand that my lord the king hath instantly desired me to write unto you, that it would please you, for his sake and mine, to send unto my lord Darcy, to deliver Francois Descars, upon a reasonable ransom, unto you; and that it would please your grace to pay his ransom for the time, and that he might be delivered unto your grace, you shortly to have the money again, after that word is of his deliverance, or else he not to return as hither. Furthermore, the duke of Bretagne, otherwise called the dauphin, hath divers seasons moved me to write to your grace for the said Francois, forasmuch as he is one of his servants; the which to do I made him promise, and to the duke of Longuevilee also: for I assure your grace they made me and the noblemen of my company great cheer, from Bologne forth; as the duke of Norfolk, the lord marquis, with other noble men, can inform your grace. These premises considered, I beseech your grace to desire the lord Darcy to deliver, upon as little a ransom as reasonably may be, his said prisoner; for, as I am credibly informed here, he is but a poor gentleman. Now somewhat I would that my lord the king, (and) the both dukes to whom I am much bound, should think he should be the more favoured for my sake. When this man is de_livered, I beseech you to send word by the bringer of this, or some other, what his ransom is, which I pray God may be reasonable and little, who preserve your grace. Amen. From Abbeville, the 18th day of October, by your very loving sister, MARY QUEEN OF FRANCE. To my most kind and loving brother the king's grace of England. |11.__Mary,_Queen_of_France_(1514),_p._181. Mary Queen of France to her Brother, King Henry VIII. A.D. 1514. My most kind and loving brother, I recommend me unto your grace as heartily as I can, and I thank your grace for your kind letters, and for your good counsel,the which I trust to our Lord God I shall follow every day more and more. How lovingly the king my husband dealeth with me, the lord chamberlain, with other of your ambas_sadors, can clearly inform your grace, whom I beseech your grace heartily to thank for their great labours and pains that they have taken as here for me; for I trust they have made a substantial and a perfect end. As touching mine almoner, I thank your grace for him, Of his demeanour here your grace shall be informed better than I can write; as knoweth our Lord Jesu, who preserve your grace. Amen. From Paris, the 15th day of November, by your loving sister, Mary. To the King my brother. |12.__Mary_of_France_(1515),_pp._185-187. Mary Queen-Dowager of France to her Brother, Henry VIII. A.D. 1515. Mine own good and most kind brother, I recommend me unto your grace, and thank you for the good and kind letters that you have sent me, the which has been the greatest comfort might be unto me in this world, desiring your grace so for to continue, for there is nothing so great a store [to] me as for to see you, the which I would very fain have the time for to come,as I trust it shall be, or else I would be very sorry, for I think every day a thousand till I may see you. Sire, whereas your grace sends me word that I will not give no credence [to the]m for no suit, nor for no other words that shall be given me; sire, I prosmise your grace that I never made them no promise, nor no other fo[r the]m, nor never will [until] that I know your [grace's mind] for nobody alive; for [your grace] is all the comfort t[hat I have] in this world; [and I trust] your grace w[ill not] fail, for I have noth[ing in this] world that I care for but to have the good and [kind] mind that your grace had ever toward me, [which] I beseech your grace to continue, for therein is my trust that I have in this world. Sire, as for the letter that your grace did send me by [Master] Clinton, whereas you send m[e word] that I should provide myself [and make] me ready for to come to your grace; sire, an it were to-morrow I would be ready: and, as for my lord of Suffolk, and Sir Richard [Wingfield], and Doctor West, there be two or [three th]at came from the k[ing m]y son for to have [brought the]m to him by the w[ay as they] came hitherward, [and so hindere]d them coming [hithe]rward that th * * * * * * * as I trust shall c[onclude in] a day or two, and then [let me] know your mind, for an when I do, I will do therafter. Sire, I beseech your grace for to be good lord to Mr. John, your surgeon, for my sake, and that you will not be miscontented with him for his long tarrying here with me, for I bore him an [ha]nd that your grace were contented that he should be here with me awhile; and so I pray your grace to give him leave for to tarry here awhile with me, for because I am very ill-diseased with the toothache, and the mother withal, that some times I wot not what for to do; but [an I] might see your grace I were healed. No more to you at this [time], but I pray God [to send] your grace good [life and long]. By your loving [sister], MARY. To the king's grace my brother this be delivered. |13.__Mary_of_France_(1515),_pp._193-195. Mary Queen-Dowager of France to Archbishop Wolsey. A.D. 1515. Most reverend father in God, I recommend me unto you heartily, and I thank you for the great kindness that I have evermore found in you. My lord, I thank you also for your loving letters which you have sent me as hither, to my great comfort, and in especial for them which you have sent me now of late. My lord, you remember, I doubt not, that, at my last being at Guildford, you desired the king my brother to give unto my trusty and well-beloved almoner, doctor Denton, the prebend in St Stephens, which as then the dean of his chapel, and now bishop of Lincoln, had in possession, as then the king's grace shewed me in your presence that he should have it, and also you promised me the same, and to solicit the king my brother for the performance of his promise. Nevertheless, I am credibly informed that my almoner is disappointed of the said prebend, and that your chaplain hath it, of the which I marvel greatly; forasmuch as my said almoner hath done me good service in this country, to the great honour of the king my brother, and mine also, and that the promise was made undesired of my behalf, for you were the person that only moved the king to give it unto my almmoner, and I am assured that his grace would not have varied without he had been persuaded to the contrary. My lord, forasmuch as I see you benevolent unto me in all my matters, and ever hath been since our first acquaintance, and now especially, I pray you, therefore, to do so much at mine instance and request to desire your chaplain to resign the said prebend to the behoof and use of my said almoner; and I promise you that I will not cease unto (until) I have gotten some promotion of the king my brother, or else of some other person, for your said chaplain, which I trust shall be worth do[uble] the value of Saint Stephen's; and, besides that, I shall help that he may have the next prebend hereafter in Saint Stephen's. I pray you, my lord, send me word of your mind, and that [there be] none excuse made; for I assure you, my lord, [my promise] shall be without any excuse if God send me life; I [will not] say that word that I would not wilfully per[form, as] knoweth his grace. Amen. From Paris, the 18th d[ay of February,] By your loving friend, MARY QUEEN OF FRANCE. To the most reverend father in God the Archbishop of York. |14.__Mary_of_France_(1515),_p._198. Mary Queen-Dowager of France to Wolsey. A.D. 1515. My very good lord, In my most hearty manner I recommend me unto you, letting you the same to understand that my lord of Suffolk hath sent me your letters which lately he received by Cooke, by which I perceive the faithful good mind which you do bear unto us both, and how that you be determined not to leave us in our extreme trouble; for the which your most fast (faithful) and loving dealing I most entirely thank you, requiring you to continue towards us as you have been which shall never be forgotten in any of our behalfs, but to the uttermost of our power we shall be always ready to shew [you all] faithfull kindness; [as knowe]th our Lord, who [send you long] life. Written [this ... day o]f M[arc]h. My lord, I require you that I may have so com_fortable letters from the king my brother and from you, for I trow there was never woman that had more need. By your loving friend, MARY QUEEN OF FRANCE. To my lord of York. |15.__Mary_of_France_(1515),_pp._199-200. Mary Queen-Dowager of France to her Brother, King Henry VIII. A.D. 1515. Pleaseth it your grace, to my greatest discomfort, sorrow, and disconsolation, but lately I have been advertised of the great and high displeasure which your highness beareth unto me and my lord of Suffolk for the marriage between us. Sire, I will not in any wise deny but that I have offended your grace, for the which I do put myself most humbly in your clemency and mercy. Nevertheless, to the intent that your highness should not think that I had simply, carnally, or of any sensual appetite done the same, I having no re[gar]d to fall in your grace's displeasure, I assure your grace that I had never done [against your] ordinance and consent, but by the r[eason of the grea]t despair w[herein I was put] by the two fr[iars ......] which hath certifi[ed me] in case I come [to] En[gland] your council would never consent to the marriage between the said lord and me, with [ma]ny other sayings con_cerni[ng] the same promise, so that I verily [thought] that the said friar[s] would never have offered to have made me like ove[rture] unless they might have had charge from some of your council, the which put me in such consternation, fear, and doubt of the obtaining of the thing which I desired most in this world, that I rather chose to put me in your mercy accomplishing the marriage than to put me in the order of your council [knowing the]m to be other_ways [minded]. Whereupon, sire, I put [my lord of Su]ffolk in choice w[hether he woul]d accomplish th[e marriag]e within f[our days, or else that he should never have] enjoyed me; whereby I know well that I constrained him to break such promises as he made your grace, as well for fear of losing of me as also that I ascertained him that by their consent I would never come into England. And now that your grace knoweth the both offences, of the which I have been the only occasion, I most humbly and as your most [sorrow]ful sister requiring you to have compassion upon us both and to pardon our offences, and that it will please your grace to write to me and to my lord of Suffolk some [comfor]table words, for it sh[ould be] greatest comfort for u[s both]. By your loving and most humble sister, MARY. To the King's grace. |16.__Mary_of_France_(1515),_p._202. Mary Queen-Dowager of France to Wolsey. A.D. 1515. My very good lord, With all my heart I commend me unto you. I understand that it hath pleased the king my brother to promote doctor West, being here one of his ambassadors, to the bishoprick of Ely, whereof I am right glad. By reason of which promotion he must depart with divers of his benefices, among which he hath two, one called Egglesfield, in the bishopric of Durham, and the other the archdaeconry of Derby, which (as I am informed) be of no great value. Beseeching you, my lord, at mine instance, and for my sake, to be so good lord unto my ser_vant John Palgrave, master of art, which hath done unto me right good and acceptable service, to his and his friends' great charge, and on my part as yet hitherto unremembered, as by your good wisdom and provision to find the means that he may have one of the said benefices. Heartily praying you and trusting that you will do it with effect, and to re_scribe unto me your good will done therein. And thus the Holy Ghost preserve you. From Paris, the third day of April. MARY QUEEN OF FRANCE. To my lord of York. |17.__Wolsey_to_More_(1525),_pp._321/22. |[c._October_1525] |[Brit._Mus._MS._Titus_B.1._fol._78] Master Moore, I commende me hartely vnto you, and right ioiesly and glad I am to vnderstonde, howe most consolingely, and with what reuerence, humilite and devocion the Kingis High_nes receyved the holy Jubile, to the gret merite, as I trust in God, of his Grace, and to the most holy, religiouse and honorable ex_ample, comfort and reioyse aswel of al those that wer present at the beholding and doing therof, as to al other his subgettis. And semblably glad I am that his Grace, like a most kind and gracious prince and master, tendering moore the helth of his seruauntis, officers and ministres thenne his owne priuate and particuler profit, is contented by your good meditation, to adiourne the terme, which vndowtedly is not oonly to the comfort of al such as shuld attende therat, but also the Kingis Grace haue goten therby many prayers, gret and most humble thankis [for] the same. And ther shal noo losse nor hindraunce to his affayres ensue therby. Ye shal also aduertise the Kingis Grace, howe Monsieur John Joachim hath been with me, and communicate such newes as be wryten vnto the President and him in cyphres sent owt of Fraunce, wherby doth appere that, by reason of th'Emperors high demaundis, the French Kingis deliueraunce is not like to be soo sone as the President reported vnto the King at his being here, for nowe th'Emperor, perceyving that the French King is owt of parel of deth, and perfitely recouered requireth the hol Duchie of Burgon, the same to be holden of th'Empire, all Picardye, and other placis on this side the water of Somme, with discharge. |18.__Wolsey_to_More_(1526),_pp._365-368. MASTER MORE. Albeit I am very joieuslx that my procedingis, devises and conferencis with the Ambassadeurs, haue been to the Kingis contentacion, [with th'Ambassadors] in putting ouer, without discoraging of the confederatis, his Gracis entre in to the liege; yet nowe I am in noo smal perplexite howe the same may be continued, forasmoch as commissions and auctorites, aswel from the Popes Holynes, as from the Seniory of Venise, be arrived here, and howerly the Ambassador of Fraunce lokith for the semblable from his master. For nowe, if vpon the exhibition of the said commissions, I shuld not fal in treaty with them, vpon the kingis said entree, there might therby be goven vnto them vehement cause of suspition; which, percase, might dryve them the rather in to th'Emperors deuotion, and the lesse herafter to esteme the Kingis Highnes. Wherfor I purpose, if it shal soo stand with the Kingis pleasure, wherof I pray you I may be aduertysed by your next lettres, after the French Kingis commission shalbe here arryuyd, if they vehe_mently presse me, to begyne to commone with them vpon the Kingis said entre, for the avoyding of the said suspition. Howbeit, aswel for the ordering of matiers bitwen vs and Fraunce, as for the assuraunce of the Kingis pention, with other thingis that I shal reasonably laye in the waye,I dowte not soo to entrete the articules of this newe treatie, that the tyme of doing any thing this yere shalbe wel passed, or any conclusion may be taken therin in the same. And in my poore opinion, it shal more stande with the Kingis honnor and reputacion thus to procede with the said Ambassadors thenne not to treate with them; considering they be furnished with such commissions, as was or is devised and desired by the Kingis Highnes. Better it shalbe thus to passe the tyme, and dalye with them, thenne nowe to make any expresse refusal, eyther of the Kingis said entre, or else to delay to commone and treate vpon the same; nam inter tractandum varia occurrere et incidere possint, que rem, vt tua prudentia facile perspicit, citra suspitionem, differe et pro_telare queant. It is sumwhat to my marvel, that the Kingis Hihgnes, as I haue by myn other lettres signified vnto you, makith difficulte for the lending of the Peter Pumgarnet to the Ambassador of Fraunce, considering the manifold good desertis of the said Ambassador, and the gret profit and commodite that shal arrise vnto his Grace therby. And in my jugement, it is not to be suspected or feared that she shall or may be used by the said Ambassador against the Kingis Highnes, in any hostilite, considering that the suerties shalbe bounde aswel for that point, as for her rediliuerey at the yeres ende; and then there is more lightlynes of strayter collection with Fraunce, thenne of any brech. And where as your lettres purpor_tith, that the Kingis Highnes may haue fyve hundred markis for the loone of the said ship, besides the advauntage of his custumes of his owne subgettis; and thereunto it is to be considered, that the custumes of the straungers amountith far aboue the custumes of his owne subgettis. Wherfor for oon hundred pownde payde by the Englishemen, the straungers payith nyne hyndred. Besides this, I suppose if the King haue, for the loone of her, fyve hundred markis, his Grace must newe rigge, trymme and tacle her at his owne coste and charge, which percase wol surmounte the somme of the said fyve hundred markis; wher as the Ambassadour offrith to doo the same at his owne proper exspress cost and charge. Moore thenne this I cannot saye, remitting al to the Kingis noble pleasour and gratitude; most humbly beseching his grace to haue consideration of such good office, as the said ambassador hath, and dayly may doo, for the advauncement of his present affayres. I sende unto the Kingis Highnes by my Lord of Exceter, berer herof, certain of the Crownes of the Roose as be newly stryken and coyned in the Kingis Mynte; which be of like fynesse and poise as the Crowne Soleil, and as ye doo knowe, the same be proclamed to be curraunt after the rate of iiii s. vi d. apece. I trust the facion of them shal please the Kingis Highnes. You may shewe vnto his Grace, that I wold suffre noon of them to passe out of his Mynte, and be curraunt, vnto such tyme as his Grace had seene the prynte and facion of the same, and his pleasor noti_fied vnto me therupon, accordingly. And where as you haue notified vnto me, that the Kingis pleasor is, that his Gracis aunswer to Luthers lettre shold be immediately sent forth to the princes of Almayne, without abidiging or tarying for the copie therof, I thinke therin that meseemeth it is not convenient that this shuld be doon, in my poore opinion; aswel for that Luther, who is ful of sutelte and craft, herafter might percase denye that any such lettre hath been sent by hym vnto the Kingis Highnes, as that the said answer, not having the said copy adioyned therunto, shuld be, for want therof, to the reders and herers therof, sumwhat diminute and obscure and not perfitely perceyved by them that shal rede the same. |19.__Thomas_More_to_Wolsey_(1523),_pp._275-278. |[Brit._Mus._MS._Titus_B.1,_fol._329.] Easthamstead 26 August |[1523] Hit may lyke your good Grace to be aduertised, that the King[is] Highnes yisterday received a lettre from his Vicead_mira[ll], dated on the see the xiiiith day of August; which lettre your G[race] shall receive with these presentis. And forasmych as the val[iaunt] acquitaill of Mr. Fittzwilliam and his cumpany singularly well conte[nteth] the Kingis Highnes, as a thing mich redounding to thonor of h[is] Grace and his realme, with high reproch and rebuke of his enem[yes] he re_quireth your Grace therfore, that as well his Viceadm[irall], as other gentilmen of his cumpany, such as your grace shall thi[nk] convenient, may haue sent vn to theym lettres of thank[is], by which they may to theyre cumfort and ferther corage vnderstand how acceptable theire good service is vn to h[is] Highnes. Ferthermore as towching the twoo shippis which your Grace hath devised to be sent vn to Sir Anthony Pointtz, albe[it] that Mr Viceadmirall, as your Grace may perceive by his lettre, moveth iii thingis which he thinketh wolde [be] considered therin, yit sith your Grace hath had a politique foresight to the provision of the vitail, which is the grettest thing that his Grace regardeth, his pleasure is according to your moost prudent advice that for to put the mater in the more surtie, the said twoo sh[ip]pis shall in eny wise goo forth and that they shall there continue till halfe the moneth of Septembre be passed, after which tyme his Grace thinketh hit good that Sir Anthony Pointtz and his cumpany, shold be discharged, ffor after that tyme his Grace beleveth that the Duke of Albany either shall not goo in to Scotland, or ellis shall goo to late to do either them good or vs hurt, and therfore hit semeth to his Grace good that he shold after the myddis of this next moneth discharge hym selfe of that coste. In the mean while his Highnes requireth your Grace that those shippis may be so spedily and sufficiently vitailled for the hole tyme of theyre abode vppon theyre entreprise there, as he dowteth not but your Grace hath and will provide therfore, that no lacke of vitaile hyndre or empech theire purpose. Hit may ferther lyke your good Grace to vnderstand that the Kingis Grace mych alloweth your prudent answere made vn to th'Emperors Embassiator vppon the saufconduicte. For his Grace thinketh it a great hinderaunce to the co[m]en affeires that th'Em_peror shold graunt eny such saufconduicte, wherby there shold be eny mutuall entrecors bitwen his subgiettis and theyre comen enemyes, and the commoditees of Fraunce having vent and vtter_aunce, thenemy therby the bettre furnyshed of mony, shold be the more able the lenger to mayntayn the warre. And so shall hit be the lenger ere he shall incline to eny resonable conditions of peace. Wherfore his Grace for his part according to your Gracis politique advice is as yit in mynd neither to ratifie that saufcon_duicte, nor to graunt eny lyke, and is glad that your Grace so shewed vn to th'Emperors embassiator. Hit may ferther lyke your good Grace to be aduertised that one Thomas Murner, a Frere of Saynt Francisce o[rder], which wrote a boke agaynst Luther in defence of the Kingis boke, was owte of Almaigne sent in to England by the meane of a simple person, an Almaigne namyng hym selfe seruant un to the Kingis Grace and affermyng vn to murner that the King had gevyn hym in charge to desire Murner to cum over to hym into En[gland], and by thoccasion therof, he is cummen over and hath n[ow] bene here a good while. Wherfore the Kingis Grace pitiyng that he was so deceived and having tendre respecte to the good zele that he bereth toward the Feith and his good hart and mynd toward his Highne[s], requyreth your Grace that it may lyke you to caus[e] hym haue in reward one hundred pownde, a[nd] that he may retourne home wher his presence is ve[ry] necessary, ffor he is one of the chiefe stays agaynst t[he] faction of Luther in that parties, agaynst whom he hath wrytten many bokis in the Al_mayng tong and now sith his cummyng hither he hath translated in to Latyn the boke that he byfore made in Almaigne in defence of the Kingis boke. He is Doctor of Divinite and of bothe Lawis and a man for wryting and preching of great estimation in his cuntre. Hit may lyke your Grace ferther to wite that the same simple person which caused Murner to cum in to Englan[d] is now cum_men to the Cort and hath brought with hym a barons son of Almaygne, to whom he hath also persua[ded] that the Kingis Grace wold be glad to haue hym in his service. He hath also brought lettres from Duke Ferdinand vn to the Kingis Grace, which lettres I send vn to your Grace, wherin he desireth the Kingis Highnes to take in to his service and to reteyne with some convenient yerely pention Ducem Mechelburgensem, of which request the Kingis Grace greatly merveileth and veryly thinketh that this simple felow which brought the lettres, lykewise as he caused Murner to cum hither and persuaded the barons sone that the King wold be glad to haue his service, so hath, by some simple ways brought the Duke of Mechelborough in the mynd that the Kingis Grace wold at the comtemplatio[ne] of Duke Ferdinandis lettres be content to reteign the Du[ke] of Mechelborough with a verly pention. The felow hath brou[ght] also fro the Duke of Mechelborough lettres of credence written in the Duche tong. He bare hym selfe in Alma[ygne] for the Kingis seruant and bosted that he had a yerely pent[ion] of his Grace of fiftie markis and that the King had sent h[ym] thither to take vpp seruantz for hym. And now he saith he is servaunt vn to th'Emperors Mageste and is going in to Spaigne with lettres to hym and in dede he hath diverse lettres to his Magestie, and so was it easie f[or] hym to gete, if he entend to deceive and mocke, as t[he] Kingis Grace thinketh that he doth. For his Grace neve[r] saw hym byfore, but he vnderstandeth now that byfo[re] this tym he was in England whan th'Emperor was h[ere] and slew a man and escaped his way. Wherfor h[is] Grace requyreth yours to geve hym your prudent advic[e] as well in a convenient answere to be made both to D[uke] Ferdinand and the Duke of Mechelborough as also in wh[at] wise hit shalbe convenient to ordre this simple fellow, that so hath deceived menne in the Kingis name. Ferthermore hit may lyke your good Grace to vnderstand that at the contemplation of your Gracis lettres, the Kingis Highnes is graciously content that byside the c li for my fe, for thoffice of the Speker of his Parleament, to be taken at the receipte of his Ex_chequer, I shall haue one other hundred poundis owt of his cofres, by thandis of the Tresorer of his Chambre, wherfor in moost humble wise I besech your good Grace that as your graciouse favor hath obteigned hit for me so it may lyke the same to write to Mr. Wiatt that he may deliver hit to such as I shall send for hit, wherby I and all myne, as the manyfold goodnes of your Grace hath all redy bound vs, shalbe dayly more and more boun_den to pray for your Grace, whom our Lord longe preserve in honour and helth. At Esthamstede the xxvith day of August. Your humble orator and moost bounden beedman Thomas More. To my Lord Legatis good Grace, |20.__Thomas_More_to_Wolsey_(1523),_pp._278/279. |[Brit._Mus._MS._Vesp._F._XIII._fol._243.] Woking 1 September [1523] Hit may lyke your good Grace to be aduertised that according to your Gracis commaundement, geven me by your lettres dated the xxxth day of Auguste, I haue shewed vn to the Kingis Grace the byll devised for Sir Richard Wyngfeld, sub_scribed by your Grace, and the old bill, also aduertisyng his Grace of such thingis as your Grace in the new bill caused to be lefte owte for thadvantage of his Highnes, which pointis I shewed his Grace cancelled in the old bill and omitted in the new, ffor which his Highnes, with hartie thankis to your Grace for your labor taken therin, hath signed the new, which I haue delivered to hym of whom I received hit. And thus our Lord long preserve your good Grace in honour and helth. At Okyng the ffyrst day of Septembre. Your humble orator and moost bounden bedeman [Thomas More] |21.__Thomas_More_to Wolsey_(1523),_pp._279-282. |[Brit._Mus._MS._Calig._B._I,_fol._319.] Woking 1 September [1523] Hit may lyke your good Grace to be aduertised that I haue received your Gracis lettres directed to my selfe dated the last day of Auguste with the lettres of my Lord Admirall to your Grace sent in post and copies of lettres sent bytwene the Quene of Scottis and his Lordishipp concernyng the maters and affeires of Scotland with the prudent answeris of your Grace as well to my said Lord in your awne name as in the name of the Kingis High_nes to the said Quene of Scottis. All which lettres and copies I haue distinctely redde vn to his Grace. Who hath in the reding therof substancially considered as well the Quene his sisters lettre with the lettres agaynward devised and sent by my Lord Admirall to her and his lettres of aduertisement to your Grace as your moost politique devises and answeres vn to all the same among which the lettre which your Grace devised in the name of his Highnes to the Quene his sister his Grace so well lyked that I never saw hym lyke thing bettre, and as helpe me God in my pore fantasie not causeles, ffor hit is for the quantite one of the best made lettres for wordis, mater, sentence and cowching that ever I redde in my life. His Highnes in your Gracis lettre directed to my Lord Admirall marked and well lyked that your Grace twoched my said Lord and my Lord Dacres in that that theire opinions had bene to the lett of the great roode, which if hit had bene ere this tyme made in to Scotland, as by your prudent advice hit had, if theyre opinions with other had not bene4s to the contrarie, hit shold as by the Quenys lettre appereth haue bene thoccasion of some great and good effecte. His Highnes also well allowed that your Grace noteth not onely remisse dealing but also some suspitione, in that the Lord Dacres so litle estemede the mynde and opinion of the Kingis sister wherof he had by his seruant so perfait knowledge. Finally his Highnes is of the mynde of your Grace and singularly commendeth your policie in that your Grace determineth for a finall way that my Lord Admirall shall sett forth his entreprises without eny lenger tracte of tyme not ceacing to preace theym with all the annoyaunce possible till they fall ernestely and effectually to some bettre trayne and conformite. And veryly his Highnes thinketh as your Grace writeth that for eny lakke of those thingis, which as he wryteth are not yit cummen to hym, he shold not haue neded to forbere to haue done theym with smaller roodis at the leste way some annoyauns in the meane season. I redde also to his Highnes the lettre of Mr. Doctor Knyght written vn to your Grace, with your Gracis lettre written to my selfe, by the tenor wherof his Grace well perceiveth your moost prudent answere devised and made, as well to his said Embassiator as to th'Embassiator of th'Emperor, concernyng the disbursyng of such money as his Highnes shold lay owte for thentretenement of the XMC lance knight[s], wherin [hi]s Grace highly well ap_proveth as well your moost politique foresigh[t] so wisely dowting leste this delay of the declaration myght happen to be a device, wherby th'Emperor myght spare his awne charge and entreteigne th'Almaignes with thonly coste of the Kingis Grace, as also your moost prudent ordre taken therin by which his Highnes shalbe bounden to no charge excepte the duke ffirste passe the articles sent by Sir John Russell and that the XM Almayns be levied and ioyned with the Duke and he declared enemy to the French King. I red, also, to his Highnes the copie of your Gracis lettre devised to Mr Doctor Sampson and Mr Jernyngham; wherin his Highnes well perceived and marked what labor and payn[e] your Grace had taken as well in substantiall aduertising his said Embassiators at length of all occurrauntis here, with the goodly rehersall of the valiaunt acquitall of his army on the see not onely there done but also descending on the land with all his preparations and armyes sett forth and ffurnyshed as well toward France as Scotland as also in your good and substantiall instructions geven vn to theym for the semblable avauncing of th'Emperors army and actuall invasion to be made on that side for his part. His Highnes hath also seen and signed the lettres by your Grace devised in his name as well to Don Ferdinando and to the Duke of Mechelberge in answere of their late lettres sent vn to his Grace as also to the Duke of Ferare in commendation of the Kingis orators in case the Duke accepte the Ordre. In the reding and advising of all which thingis his Highnes saied that he perceived well, what labor, studie, payn[e] and travaile your Grace had taken in the device and pennyng of so many, so great thyngis, so high, well dispached in so briefe tyme, whan the onely redyng therof held hym aboue twoo howris; his Highnes, therfore, commaunded me to write vn to your Grace that for your labor, travaile, study, payne and diligens, he geveth your Grace his moost harty and not more harty than highly well_deserved thankis. And thus our Lord long preserve your good Grace in honor and helth. At Okyng the first day of Septembre. Your humble Orator and moost bounden beedman [Thomas More.] Mr. Th. More prima Septembris. To my Lord Legatis good Grace. |22.__Thomas_More_to_Thomas_Cromwell_(1534),_pp._180-182. To maister Thomas Cromwell, one of his Maiesties priuie Counsell, Sir Thomas More, Knight. Right worshipfull, after hartie commendations, so it is y=t= I am informed that there is a bill put vp against me into the higher howse before the Lordes, concerning my communication with the Nunne of Canturburie, and my writing vnto her; whereof I not a litle meruaile, the truth of the matter being such as Grace and I knowe, and as I haue plainely declared vnto you by my former letteres, wherein I founde you then so good that I am now bold, vpon the same goodnes, to desire you to shewe me the fauoure that I might, by your meanes, haue a copie of my bill; which seene, if I finde any vntrue surmise therein, I may make my humble sute vnto the kinges good Grace to declare the truth, either to his Grace or by his Graces commaundement to anie when he shall please; for I am so clere herin that I nothing mis_trust his Graces favoure towardes me, nor the iudg_ment of any honest man. Never shall there any losse in this matter greve me, being my selfe so innocent as Grace and I knowe, by the grace of Al_mightie God, who both bodily and ghostly preserve you. At Chelsey, Anno 1533, March. By the hand [of] hartelie all your owne, Thomas More, knight. |23.__Thomas_More_to_the_king_(1534),_pp._182-187. It may like your highnes to call to your gratious remembrance, [that] at such tyme as [of] your great weightie roome of Chauncellourshipp (vnto the which, farr aboue my merites, your highnes of your incomparable goodnes exalted me vnto) you were so good and gratious vnto me [as], at my humble suite, to disburden me (giuing me licence, with your gratious favoure, to bestow the residue of my life to come about the prouision of my soule in the seruice of god). It pleased your highnes further [to say vnto me] that, for the seruice I had done, that in any suite I should haue hereafter to your Grace that either should concerne myne honure or appertaine to my profitt (for these verie wordes it liked your high_nes to vse to me) I should find your highnes my good and gratious Lord. So it is now, gratious Soueraigne, that worldlie honoure is the thing whereof I haue resigned both the possession and the desire, in the surrender of your honorable office; and as for worldlie profitt, I trust experience proveth, and daylie more and more shall proue, that I was never verie greedie thereof. But now is my most humble suite to your excellent Highnes, to beseech it somewhat to tender my poore honestie; howbeit, principalllie, that of your accustomed goodnes, no sinister information can otherwise moue your noble Grace to haue any mistrust of my troth and devotion towardes your maiestie then I haue or shall giue iust cause, which I hope there is none. For in this matter of the Nunne of Canturburie I haue vnto your trustie Counsellour, maister Thomas Cromewell, by my writing as plainely declared the truth as * I possiblelie * can; which my declaration, * as I vnderstand, * is made knowne to your noble Grace. Of all my dealing[e] with the Nunne, whether any other man may paraduenture put any doubt, or moue any scruple of any other meaning than I had, that can I neither tell, nor lieth in my hand to lett, but vnto my selfe it is not possible anie part of my demeanour to seem euell; And this the clereness of my conscience testifying that in that matter, my mynde, intent and proceeding was lawfull and good. Wherfor, most gratious Soueraigne, I neither will, nor yet can [it] well become me, with your Highnes to reason or argue the matter; but in most humble manner, prostrate at your Graces feet, I beseech your Maiestie, with your owne high prudence and accustomed goodnes, consider and weigh the matter. And if that in your so doing, your owne verteous minde shall giue you, that notwith_standinge your manifold goodnes that your Highnes hath vsed towardes me, that I haue most vnnaturallie and vngratefullie digressed from my bounden dewtie of allegeance towardes your Maiestie, then desire I no further fauour at your Graces handes then the losse of all I may. Let me loose goodes, landes, libertie, & finallie my life. Howbeit, if in the considering of my cause your high wisdome and gratious goodnes shall perceaue that I haue not otherwise demeaned my selfe then may well stand with my bounden dewtie and faith_fullnes towardes your Royall Maiestie, then in most humble manner I beseech your noble Grace that the knowledge of your true gratious persuasion in that behalfe may releeue the torment of my present heavines, conceaued of the dread and feare (by that I heare a gre_vous bill put vp by your learned Counsell vnto your high Court of Parliament against me) lest your Grace might by some sinister information be moued to thincke the contrarie. Which, if your highnes doe not (as I trust in god and your great goodnes, the matter by your wisdome well examined, you will not) then in most humble manner I beseech your highnes furthur, sith your highnes hath here before of your meere abundant goodnes heaped on me both worship and honoure, and sith now I haue left of all such things, and nothinge seeke or desire but the life to come, [and] to pray for your Grace [the] while, that it may like your Highnes of your accustomed benignitie somwhat to tender my poor honestie, and neuer to suffer any man by meane of such a bill, to take occasion against the truthe to slaunder me; although this by the perill of their owne soules would doe them more hurt then me, for I sett[le] my hart to depend vpon the comfort of the truth and the hope of heauen, and not vpon the fallible opinion of some changeable persons. And th[u]s, most dread and deare soueraigne Lord, I beseeche the blessed Trinitie * preserue your noble Grace, both bodie and soule, and all that are your well willers, and amend the contrarie; emong whome, if euer I be, or ever haue bene one, then I pray god that he may with my open shame and destruction declare it. |24.__Thomas_More_to_his_daughter_margaret_(1535),_pp._213-217. Our Lord blesse you. My dearely beloved Daughter, I doubt not but by reason of the kinges Councellours resorting hither in this tyme in which the fathers of the Charter house and some others be iudged to death for treason, may hap to put you in some feare [for me], especiallie for that it is not vnlikely but that you haue hard that I also was brought before them, I thought [it] necessarie to adver_tise you, to the end that you should not conceave more hope then the matter giveth, or more greife then the present occasion ministreth. Therefore shall you vnder_stand that on frydaie last, the 30th of Aprill, in the afternoone, maister Lievtenant shewed me that Maister Secretarie would speake with me. Wherevpon I went out with hym into the gallerye, where his maistership sat with maister Attourney, * maister Solicitour, [and] diuers others. I was offered to sitt downe with them, but in no wise I would. Maister Secreatrie told me that he nothing doubted but that I had seene the new statutes made the last sitting of the Parliament. I aunswered, yea, verilie howbeit for as much as I, being here, and not minding to medle with Those matters any more, I thought it litle nede for me to bestow much tyme vpon them. He asked me whether I had red the first statute of the kings being heade of the Church. I aunswered, Yea. Then his maisterhip declared vnto me that sith it was now by act of Parliament ordeined that his Highnes and his heires is, and was, and perpetuallie should be, supreame head in earth of the Church of England, immediatelie vnder Christ, the kings pleasure was that these here of his Counsell assembled should demaund my opinion therein. Whervnto I aunswered that in good faith I had well trusted that his Highnes would never haue commaunded any such question to be asked of me, considering that I ever from the beginning well and trulie declared my minde to his Maiestie, and also vnto your Maistership, both by mouth and writing; and now I haue discharged my mynde [of] all such matters, meaning not hereafter to dispute kinges or Popes titles. I am the kings faithfull subiect, and wilbe, and daylie pray for hym and all his Realme, and otherwise then this I intend not to medle. Whervnto maister Secretarie aunswered that he thought y=t= this manner of aunswere would not satisfie the kings highnes; for y=t= his Grace expected a more full aunswere, and that to the purpose. And he added that the king was a Prince not of rigour but of mercie and pittie, and thoughe he had found obstinacie in any of his Subiectes at some tyme, yet if they submitted themselves, his Grace would shewe mercie. And for you, maister More, I knowe so much that his Grace would be glad to see you take such con_formable waies that you might be abroade againe, with a great creadit and worship as ever you were. Where_vnto I aunswered I would not medle in the world againe, to have all the world given me, as in effect I aunswered before. "Then was I commaunded to goe forth awhile, and presently called in againe. Then said maister Secretarie vnto me, Though you are a prisoner condemned to perpetuall imprisonment, yet thereby I was not discharged of my alleageance to his Highnes, & wherupon he de_maunded whither I thought his Highnes might not exact a direct aunswere of me, of such thinges as might be demaunded, as of any other, I aunswered that I thought his Highnes might. Then, said he, that like as his Highnes would be gratious to them that he found conformable, so his Grace fullie determined to followe the course of the lawe towardes such as shall showe themselves wilfull and obstinate; & your demeanure in this matter, maister More, hath made many so stife therein as they be. Whervnto I aunswered that I gaue no man occasion, neither by worde nor writing, to hold on the one side or the other. And for conclusion I would goe no furhter, whatsoever paine should me befall. For I am the kinges true faithfull subiect and beadsman. I doe no bodie any harme, I say no harme, I thincke no harme, I wish everie bodie well, I pray for them. And if this be not enoughe to keep me alive, in good faith I desire not to liue. I am at the kinges pleasure. I would to god my death would doe hym good. Well, maister More, quoth maister Secretarie, report shalbe made to his Highnes, and his gratious pleasure knowne, you shall heare further. So he bade me farewell. And so to my Chamber by maister Liefteante I was brought againe. |25.__John_Palsgrave_to_Thomas_More_(1529),_pp._403-405. Devised to bee sente vnto Maister More. After my most humble recommendations, Where as I vnderstand by the raport off diuers syc as be my freendis, that you be towerdis me nowe, as you haue bene euer, my especiall good master, I do therefore most humbly thanke you, beseching you off your good continuaunce, and where as I, for your sondrye benefites used vnto me, esteme my ssellff more bownden to you than to any oone man lyving, whyche hytherto I haue hadde neuer other habilite to recompense, but oonly by my word to declare yt, where I haue sene tyme and place conuenient. I beseche you off your goodnesse, for your accustumyd goodnesse to continu vnttyll syche tyme that I may oones trede vnder fote thys horrible monster pouerty, whyche hytherto hath benne so homely wyth me, that sche hath made me aschamyd off my sellff, and many a hunderd tymes to forbere to do my dutye to you by cause I was lothe to cum to your howse with empty handis. I vnderstande by Sir Wylliam a Parre, that the Kyngis Grace demanded off you and Doctor Stevyns, whyther you thowght yt conuenient that the Duc off Richemont schould lerne Greke and Latyne both at oones, and that bothe you and the saide Doctor duly approue myne opinion in that behalff. Wherefore I do most humbly thanke you, assuring you that for my discharge in that behallff, I haue not oonly demanded the opinions off Horman, Gonnell, Ryghtwyse and all suche as I thowght cowld any thyng instruct me, howe I schould best acquite me in the charge com_myttyd vnto me, but I haue all so diligently redde Quintiliane, Maphes Vegius, Otho Moguntinus, Baptista Guarinus, and espe_cially Herasmus, whyche all, as you knowe, agree in that thing. But I remember that you schewyd me oones how a lytyll Latine schould serue so the saide Duc myght haue Frenshe, and to be playne with you, me thynkyth that our schavyn folk wold in no wyse he schoulde be lernyd. Whyche I assure you were a great pytye, for on my faithe I knewe neuer a more singular wytt, nother ryche nor power, than he hathe, and all be hyt that he hathe all redye and euery day schall haue more and more sondry callers vpon hym to bring hys mynde from learning, som to here a crye at a hare, somm to kyll a bucke with hys bow, somtyme with grayhowndes and somtyme with buckehowdes, and that yt ys not lefull to depart tyll he haue takyn the same, somm to se a flyght with a hawke, somm to ryde a hors, whyche yett he ys not gretly combryd with by cause off hys youthe, bysydes many other diuises fownde within the howse, whan he can not goo abrode, yet I trust, so you be especciall good master to me, to bring hym to that lernyng that you schalbe contentyd worthely to approue, but I beseche you, yff any that ys lernyd schall fortune to cum hyther, by whome you may sufficiently be instructed whyther my raport of hym be trewe or not, that you wyll than after your best maner conferme the Kyngis Grace in the good opinion that he hath all redye to haue hym lernyd. And to make the chylde loue lernyng, I neuer put in fere off any maner correction, nor neuer suffer hym to continu at any tyme tyll he schould be weryed, but diuise all the wayes I can possible to make lernyng playsant to hym, in so myche that many tymes hys officers wott not whyther I lerne hym or playe with hym, and yett haue I all redye browght hym to haue a ryght good vnderstanding in the principles off the grammars bothe off Greke and Latine and I haue redde hym an egloga (the fyrst) of Virgile and ii of the fyrst scenes off Adelphorum, whyche he can pronownce ryght pretyly, but I fynde Quintiliane and Heras_mus trewe, for the barbarus tong off hym that tawght hym hys mattens ys and hath bene a great hindrance to me. I do therfore most instantly require you, that whan you schall se your tymes conuenient, you wyll nyt saff to move the Kingis Grace, that the saide my Lorde of Rychemont may be browght vppe in lernyng, assuring you that Godd hath gevyn hym a great apptnesse bothe to lernyng and all maner suche qua[lities] as schould becum suche noble parson to haue, whych in my mynde were great pitye but that yt schould be employed to the best effect, where in I schall euer do my best according as for hys aage schalbe requisit, and albe hyt that som here whych be hyghe schavyn mur_mur agaynst yt, and after putyng off many parellys, lett not to saye that lernyng ys a great hyndrance and displeasur to a nobyll man, I here theym wyth Vlixes eere[s], praying you as tyme schall seme to you conuenient to tell a nother tale to the Kingis Grace and my Lord Cardinall, thynkyng veryly that you schall ther in do a greater good ded than you wene off, beseching Godde to send you good lyff and long, and whan your dowghters disputyd in philosophie afore the Kyngis Grace, I wold yt hadde bene my fortune to be present. |26.__Thomas_Starkey_to_Thomas_Cromewell_(1534),_pp._IX-X. |[Harl._283,_leaf_129] Syr, the grete gentylnes of you so manyfestely schowyd toward me, wythe the contynuance of such a beneuolent mynd in settyng forward my purpos, gyuyth me yet a lytyl more boldnes to trowbul you wyth the redyng of thys scrole, besechyng you of your patyence therin, whyle I a lytyl more at large schow to you my mynd & purpos, the wyche I had thought to have downe thes days past presently before you, yf I myght have found you at a conuenyent leysor to the heryng of the same, for gladly I wold that you schold a lytyl more playnly know wyth what hart & mynd I wold serue the kyng wythal. And fyrst, for as much that you may perauenture juge, that I, mouyd only by the hygh authoryte wherin hyt hathe plesyd the kyngys hyghnes most worthyly to set you, so much desyre by your specyal preferment to be set forward to the kyngys seruyce now at thys tyme, I schal besech you of your gentylnes not to take me so, for, albe-hyt that by your authoryte I wyl not deny I am somewhat moyd in dede, yet certaynly thys to you I wyl affyrme, yf ther were not other causys joynyd therto wych more scharpely styr and pryke my mynd then dothe that, I, beying to you so vnknowen as I am, wold neuer haue temptyd nor enterprysyd such a purpos wyth you: for yf I had not found at such tyme as I fyrst salutyd you at home, a synguler humanyte & gentylnes in you and yf I had not much herd of your gudnes in settyng forward at honest purposys, ye and yf I had not seen & perceyuyd your excellent wysedome & your other vertues, most worthy of al hygh authoryte, I thynke I had neuer conceyuyd thys purpos, I thynke I had neuer set my selfe in thys case, wherein my specyal trust ys more to be to you bounden than in the rest of my lyfe wyth any seruyce I can deserue; for of thys I assure you I am not of so vyle & base of stomake as for to optayne and benefyte worldly, to desyre to be bounden to any man whome I can not wyth hart and mynd reuer_ently both honoure & loue. Wherfor of thys I schal besech you to be persuadyd euer surely to haue in me such a hart and stomake as ys conuenyent to be in hym, who to you of al other schal be most bounden. And now, Syr, to the intent that you may somewhat per_ceyue such pore qualytes as be in me, and so therapon wyth your beneuolent mynd you may set forward somewhat better my purpos, I schal breuely schowe vnto you the ordur, processe, & end of al my studys. Fyrst, here in oxforth a grete parte of my youthe I occupyd my selfe in the study of phylosophy, joynyng therto the knolege of both tongys bothe latyn & greke, and so aftur passyd ouer in to Italy, whereas I so delytyd in the contemplacyon of natural knolege -- wherin the most parte of men lettryd ther occupye themselfys -- that many tymys I was purposyd to have spend the rest of my lyfe holly therin, tyl at the last, mouyd by chrystyan charyte, phylosopy set apart, I applyd my selfe to the redyng of holy scrypture, jugyng al other secrete knolege not applyd to some vse & profyt of other to be but as a vanyte. wherfor in the study of holy letturys ceertayn yerys I spent, aftur the wyche, by-cause my purpos then was to lyue in a polytyke lyfe, I set my selfe now thes last yerys past to the knolege of the cyuyle Law, that I myght therby make a more stabyl and sure jugement of the polytyke ordur & custumys usyd amonge vs here in our countrey. aftur thys maner in dyuerse kyndys of studys I haue occupyd my selfe, euer hauying in mynd thys end & purpos at the last here in thys commynalty where I am brought forth & borne to employ them to some vse; and though in them I haue not most profytyd, yet dylygence & wyl hathe not lakkyd therto: but what so euer hyt ys that I haue by the gudenes of god attavnyd vn-to I schal most gladly, aftur your jugement & aduyse, apply hyt to the seruyce of our prynce, and therby rekun my selfe to attayne a grete parte of my felycyte. Wherfor I besech you, syr, as you of your only gudnes haue begun, so at your plesure & conuenyent leser to helpe forward thus my purpos, and then schal I be to you more bounden then I am yet to any mortal man lyuyng. Your assuryd seruant Thomas Starkey. Endorsed to Mr Secretary Cromwell touching the course of hys Lyffe, studyes and Travilles. |[End_of_1534.] |27.__Thomas_Starkey_to_Cardinal_Pole(1534),_pp._Xiii-XVii. Syr, I most hertely commend me vn to you, and where as I haue byn somewhat sloo in wrytyng syne I arryuyd hyther to our cuntrey, (where as I bere the ayre bettur then I dyd wyth you in Italy) I wyl now my slaknes therin by the lenghthe of thys in some parte recom_pense the wych I trvst schal no thyng offend you but bryng to you grete plesure & comfort. Syr, as you know syth our fyrst acquynt_ance & famylyaryte many letturys ther hath byn at sundry tymys betwyx vs wryten, and much commvnycacyon ther hath byn also con_cernyng the Instytution of our lyfys, wyth such fydelyte mynystryd apon both partys as was conuenyent to the syncerenes of our hartys & myndys, but yf euer any of thes you haue jugyd to be worthy of remembrance, or yet dow styke in your memory & mynd, I besech you let thes few wordys wych I now to you wryte be put in the nombur of them, wyth gud aduertysement and consyderacyon of the same, for the[y] concerne the hole ordur of your lyfe here aftur to be lade in thys our cuntrey among your natural louerys & frendys. Syr, I was but Late by the synguler gentylnes of Maystur Secretary, wos gudnes bothe toward me & also to you ys so sonke in to my brest, that duryng my lyfe I schal euer reken my selfe next to our prynce aboue al other most faythfully to hym bovnden, for in the court to the kyngys seruyce and by hys most louyng commendacyonys so gracyovsly of hys hyghnes acceptyd & admyttyd that schortly aftur hyt plesyd the same to cal me to hys presence, and ther of you, of your studys, and of your sentence & opynyon in hys gracys most weyghty causys here late defynyd, most louyngly many thyngys to demande; to the wych I made such answere, as euer I haue jugyd conuenyent to be made before the maiesty of a prynce; that ys, such thyngys as I knowe manyfest & true playnly to affyrme, and such wherof I stond in dowte by coniecture only to reherce: and so your mynd, hart & desyre to dow hys grace true & faythful seruyce, wych I know no other wyse then I know myn owne, I boldly dyd affyrme, but as touchyng your opynyon in hys gracys late defynyd causys, one of the matrymony, the other concernyng the authoryte of the pope, for as much as you euer haue vsyd thys prudent sylence neuer to dysclose your sentence & mynd but in tyme & place, I coude not of your opynyon any thyng therin playnly affyrme, but yet thys to hys hyghnes I sayd & suerly I thought, that as fer as your lernyng & jugement, wych I estymyd by tyme & dylygent study somewhat was alteryd & incresyd, also touchyng the dycernyng betwyx goddys law & mannys wold streche & extend, al your powar & al such knolege & lernyng as by the gudnes of god & hys gracys lyberalyte you had obtaynyd & got, to the mayntenyng of such thyngys as hys gracys wysedome by court of parlyament therin had decred, you wold gladly confer to the honowre of hys hyghnes & welth of hys reame. thys much I sayd, thys fer I went, but hys grace not satysfyd therwyth, desyryng to haue your sentence therin playnly declaryd, commandyd me thys now to wryte to you, that hys plesure was that you schold lyke a lernyd man, al assertyon by any cause rysyng set asyde, in thos ij causys pondur and wey the nature of the thyngys as they be in them selfe, and puttyng a-parte al sucessys & dangerovse effectys wych of them may insue, leuying al such thyngys to hys gracys wysedome & hys pollycy, declare your sentence truly & playn wythout coloure or cloke of dyssymulatyon, (wych hys grace most pryncely abhorryth), not wyllyng you of thes thyngys to make any grete volume or boke but breuely to geddur the most effectual resonys wych in your stomake be of most weyght, & them to set forth aftur your playn fascyon & maner of wrytyng thys was hys gracys plesure & commandement that I schold to you wryte, wych I haue as nere as my memory wold serue me therin truly & faythfylly now to you exerc[y]syd. now, syr, considur and prudently wey how pryncely a request thys ys of oure prynce, and then I am sure you wyl imploy your selfe wyth al dylygence & study to satisfye hys nobul desyre, to the wych also mastur Secretary, (whose most louyng gudnes toward you gyuyth place to no man) mostly gentyly doth exhort you, wyllyng you also in any case, what so euer your sentence in thes causys schal be, to vse your wont & custumyd playnes wyth prudent symplycyte, and me apon hys behalfe thys to certyfye you, that in case be your lernyng & jugement in thes materys of weyght wold strech & extend to the satysfying of the kyngys desyre & mynd, that then your retorne hither to your cvntrey schold be gretely to the kyngys plesure, to your owne comfort, & much profyt to the rest of your frendys; ye and yet ferther, yf so be that your knolege & lernyng wold not serue you to thys purpos & request of the kyng, yet notwythstondyng wold he aduyse you, of a tendur & louyng mynd, to prepare yourselfe at your conuenyent leser toward your cuntrey, dowtyng no thyng but [th]at the kyngys hyghnes in other hys causys & hys affayrys schal vse your seruyce & most louyng & seruysabul mynd. for sory he ys that ther among stravngerys wythout profyt to your cuntrey your vertues schold be so utturly drownyd & lyke as in a dreme vanysch away. wherby, syr, you may playnly perceyue the gentilnes of hys stomake & synguler gudnes to al men of honesty, wych to you almost vnacquaynted & of smal famylyaryte beryth suche mynd, mouyd only by the opynyon of vertue, wych to hym fame hath reportyd, in so much that thys he wyllyd me now by my letturys of hys gudnes and beneuolent mynd, so to assure you, that in al such thyngys as myght touche your preferment to my lady your mother & my lord your brother whome nature so straytly byndyth only he wold gyue place: wherin he schowyth so gentyl a stomake that I dare thys boldly now say that yf euer hereaftur hyt schalbe your chaunce presently here of thys mynd in hym experyence to take, you schal as I dow for hys vertues & not only for hys authoryte haue hym in stabyl & reuerent loue, such ys hys wysedome & in materys of state hys hygh pollycy. and thvs now you haue hard the most prudent aduyse & synguler beneuolence of mastur Secretary, to the wych I dowte not but that wyth grete gladnes you wyl apply yourselfe, wyllyng therby to satysfye our pryncys plesure & desyre. And now, syr, for by-cause syth our last departure out of our cuntrey lytlyl commvnycacyon concern_yng thes materys hathe byn betwyx vs had, I wyl now adioyne thes few wordys vn to you. (6) Pondur you wel thys leuytycal law & how hyt ys rotyd in the law of nature, and how by general conseyl hyt hath byn many tymys delcaryd & authorysyd therby, and forther how apon the other syde the sklendurnes of thys long vsurpyd & abvsyd authoryte of the pope, wych by pacyence of pryncys, simplycyte of the pepul, & ambycyovse auaryce of hys predecessorys, in processe of tyme by lytyl & lytyl ys growen to thys intollerabul iniquyte, and then I thynk that you schal see in thes cavsys the jugyd truth & playn equyte. But al thys I leue to your owne consyderacyon & jugement, praying to hym, of whome to al men cumyth al lyght, that by hys lyght & grace you may see the truth, & so then to set hyt forth that hyt may be comfort to our prynce, plesure to your selfe and to al other here your louarys & frendys. And thys now, syr, I wyl make an end, fynychyng my letturys wyth comfortabul newys that al such rumor & fame wych by men of corrupt jugement not hauyng dyscretyon to juge & dyscerne betwyx veray and true relygyon & lyght & false superstycyon syth was in Italy you dyuulgyd, ys vtterly false & ful of vanyte. For of this dowte you nothyng, that albehyt apon many resonabul & ivste causys our most nobul prynce hathe wyth_drawen hymselfe from the popys authoryte, yet from the certayn & sure groundys of scrypture hys grace in no poynt ys slyde, no nor yet from the lawys nor ceremonys of the church, the wych yet stond in ful strenghth & authoryte; and so the[y] schal boldly I dare affyrme, vntyl such tyme that to hys hyghnes & to hys most wyse conseyl hyt schal appere expedyent them to abrogate & other to substytute by commyn assent more agreabul to thys tyme and to the nature of our men, & also to our hole cuntry more conuenyent. here ys no thyng downe wythout due ordur & resonabul mean; here ys touchyng relygyon nothyng almost alteryd at al but that wych was of al other most necessary, wych ys, as I trust, & schalbe a veray ground & a foundatyon to cyuyle ordur & a true & ryght pollycy. thys ys the state here, and of thys one thyng I dow you assure, yf I had found truth in dede thes thyngys wych by mysreport ther wyth you were commynly sayd, as that our prynce schold be slypt also from the groundys of scrypture, from the honowre of the sacramentys, & from al the commyn Lawys & holsome ceremonys of the church wythout ordur, I wold neuer haue byn so wythout sense or stomake of an honest man, as at thys tyme to haue sought to entur to hys seruyce; for the desyre wych I haue long nuryschyd in my brest to serue thys our mastur & prynce ys in thys stabyl, & I trust euer schalbe, in hys seruyce to serue god & my cuntrey, to the wych purpos the rest of my lyfe I wyl now dedycate to hys grace & wyth such hart & mynd serue hym wythal as ys conuenyent to a true faythful & chrystyan subiect toward hys most nobul & catholyke prynce: thys ys my mynd & I am sure the same ys yourys, the wych I trvst in factys you schal haue place schortly to declare & thys I commyt you to god. At London the xv of February, By yourys assuryd, Thomas Starkey. Endorsed, Thomas Starkey to his frend in Italy wishing him to geve his opinyone to the kinges grace touching his oppiniyone for the Altering of Relygeon and the Abolishing of the popes Authoritye. |28.__Thomas_Starkey_To_Cardinal_Pole_(1535),_pp._XXViii-XXXi. (1) Syr. You wrote before in our pryncys cause of your owne mecyon: wherin you schowyd louyngly the daungerys that myght of hys cause folow, but the mater hyt selfe as hyt ys here by the kyng most scharply jugyd you dyd not almost touche. Wherfor now the kyng, as I haue wryt, requyryth your lernyd Iugement: & that you schold leue your prudent and wytty pollycy tyl you be requyryd. The poyntes be thes, wych though you ryght wel of your selfe know yet I wyl put them a lytyl aftur my mynd before your yes. (2) An matrimonium cum relicta fratris, ab eo cognita, sit iure divino licitum. In thys and the rest also, though the kyngys plesure be you schold gyue place to no mannys persuasyon nor authoryte, as I am sure you wyl not; yet for the loye that I bere vn-to you & for the desyre that I haue that you schold se the Iugyd truth, I wyl note certayn placys of weyght aftur myn opynyon in thes thyngys to be consyderyd, euer leuyng your owne jugement fre. (3) And fyrst, for thys poynt consydur how thys law ys rotyd in nature: pondur hyt by thys rule yf hyt seme to you gu[de]: al thyng wych byndyth man to the obseruatyon therof: al law wryten put asy[de] for the conseruatyon of the cyuyle polytyke lyfe vnyuer_sally conuenyent to the dygyte of the nature of man: al such I thynke ys rotyd in the law of nature. Apply thy[s] rule wythout affectyon & wyth a ryght ye examine hyt in thys case. And then for the second poynt, an lyceat dispensare, esy I thynke hyt scha[l] be to fynd the popys powar extendyth not therto. And though hyt were expedyent for the wordly pollycy for to haue dis_pensatyon, as hyt was perauenture in the kyngys ca[use], yet hyt ys not expedyent any one man to haue such powar to breke such Law so rotyd in nature, and apon thys ground hyt apperyth to me fer[ther] tha[t] the pope schold not haue powar not only to dyspense wyth any law so rotyd in nature, but also that he hath not powar (nor conuenyent hy[t] ys that he schold haue): ye though he were made hede of the churc[h] powar to dyspense wyth lawys made in general conseyl, catholike lawys, & vnyuersal groundys, ordeyned for the conseruacyon of chrystyan lyfe in al chrystys churche, and though he hathe vsyd the contrary, hyt was, I thynke, a mysvse & vsurpyd by the reson wherof now hyt ys spyd, now hyt doth fal, now hyt ys plukkyd iustely away. Loke also & pondur thys whether euer the hole authoryte of makyng, of abrogatyng, of dyspensyng wyth catholyke lawys & vniuersal groundys of chrystian lyuyng, were euer gyuen & trans_latyd to the pope by any law wryten in general conseyl, wych were necessary to fynd yf we schold attrybute such authoryte. as to the emperourys we fynd legem regiam qua potestas senatus & populi erat in principem collata. (4) The second pryncypal mater: - an superioritas quam multis in seculis romanus pontifex sibi vindicauit sit ex iure diuino. Here you must way the placys of the gospel & scripture, wherin I thynke you schal fynd non manyfestly prouyng that; the commyn placys you know how y=t= they are vnderstood contrary therby dyuerse & many, as when the dyscypelys of chryste contendyd for superiorite you know what chryst sayd; you know how poule confessyth [he] knoyeth only christ for heed, cyuyle & polytyke hedys he confessyd many, sed iure diuino nullum. Ferther loke to the begynnyng of the church when the truth therof was bettur knowen than hyt ys nowe. In the actys of the apostylys you schal fynd no such thyng, and aftur the apostylys days the iiij patriarchys of Jerusalem, of Antioch, of Constanti_[nople], of rome had among them no superiorite. (5) Loke ferther how the grekys fele from the church catholyke as we cal now, chefely for bycause the byschope of rome wold be chefe hede; you know what ys to be gyuen to the jugement of the grekys in the interpretatyon of scripture bettur than I dow. The contentyon betwyx Petur & Poule takyth away such superi_oryte as ys gyuen to the successorys of Petur. Pondur why more from the byschope of Antyoche than of Rome such superiorite ys taken a way seyng Petur was byschope of bothe. (6) Thes certayn poyntys I now wryte to you, non quia preiudicium aliquod afferrent: the kyngys plesure ys that you schold, wythout any preiudicial affectyon taken of any man apon one parte or other, wyth a sincere mynd & wyth that lyght that god hath gyuen you in scripturys & lernyng gyue your sentence. And as touchyng the pollycy of bothe the materys & of bryngyn them to effecte, wych hys grace hathe now dowen whether hyt be wel dowen or yf he requyryth no jugement of you, as of one that in such thyngys hath no grete expery_ence as yet. As whether hyt be conueny[ent] that ther schold be one hed in the church & that to be the byschope of rome, set thys asyde, & in hys cause of matrimony, whether the pollycy that he hath vsyd therin be profytabul to hys reame or no, leue that asyde; only schow you whether, yf the fyrst matrymony were to make, whether you wold approue that then or no, and the cause why you wold not, & thus wey the thyng in hyt selfe as hyt ys in hys owne nature & put a parte feare of al daungerys, hope of al gud wych schold succede & hangyth apon worldy pollycy, and so clerely wythout affectyon other of kyng or quene breuely gyue your sentence. And thus you schal fyrst honoure god & truth; & second also satysfye the kyng, wych sayd to me thes wordys, that rather he had you were beryed ther then you schold for any wordly promotyon & profyt to your selfe dyssymbul wyth hym in thes grete and weyghty causys. Thus you haue my mynd and the kyngys plesure withal, and yf case be that you reche to the jugyd truth, you nede not to feare, aftur my mynd, that men schold lay to you lyghtnes of mynd & chaungyng of sentence, for as fer as I can coniecture you dyd affyrme noathyng in the cause * as was convenyent for arrogancye hyt |[?] any thyng affyrme but only that wych by the word of god we haue declaryd to vs, wherfore you dyd * only put before hys yes the daungerys wych hangyd apon wordly pollycy. Yf I remembyr thys you dow, I can not wel tel for I neuer see nor red your boke but onys as you know wel, at the wych tyme hyt semyd to me you wrote so pro_bably that hyt put me in a feare of daungerys to co[me], but I trust the gudnes of god & prouydence of our most wyse prynce schal auerte & turne al suche calamyte by mannys coniecture forseyn from thys our cuntrey. Dyrecte your knolege yf you see nede by mastur gaspero, the byschope of chete, wyth other such men of hye lernyng and iugem[ent]. |29.__Andrew_Boorde_to_Thomas_Cromewell_(1535),_p._53. |[Letter_II,_from_Bordeaux,_20_June,_1535.] After humly salutacyon, Acordyng to my dewte coactyd, I am (causeys consideryd) to geue to yow notycyon of certyn synystrall matters contrary to our realme of ynglond, specyally agenst our most armipotentt, perpondentt, cricumspecte, dyscrete, & gracyose soue_reyng lord the Kynge; for, sens my departyng from yow, I haue per_lustratyd normandy, frawnce, gascony, & Byon; e regyons also of castyle, byscay, spayne, paarte of portyngale, & returned thorow Arogon, Nauerne, & now am att burdyose. In the whych partyes, I hard of dyuerse credyble persons of e sayd countryes, & also of rome, ytale, & almen, at the pope, e emprowre, & all other crystyn kyngis, with er peple (e french kyng except) be sett agenst our souereyne lord e kynge: apon the which, in all the nacyons at I haue trauellyd, a greatt army & navey ys preparyd: and few frendys ynglond hath in theys partes of Europe, as Iesus your louer knowyth, who euer haue your master & yow, with e hole realme, vnder hys vynges of tuyssyon! from burdyose, the xx day of Iune, by e hond of your sa[r]uantt & bedman Andrew Boord. I humyly & precordyally desyre your mastershepp to be good master (as yow euer haue byn) to your faythfull bedmen, master prior of the cherter howse of london, & to Master docter Horde, prior of Hynton. |[directed_on_back] To hys vererable master, Master Thomas Cromwell, secretory to our souereyngne lord th kyng, be is byll directyd. |30.__Andrew_Boorde_to_Thomas_Cromwell_(1535),_pp._55/56. |{Third_letter_to_Cromwell} |[after_2_July,_1535.] "Honerable syr, after huymily salutacyon, I certyffy yow at sens I wrott to your mastershepp from burdyuse by e seruantt off Sir Iohan Arundell in cor[n]wall, I haue byn in dyuerce regyons & unyversytes for lernyng, and I assewre yow e vnyuersytes off orlyance, pyctauensis, Tolosa, mowntpyller, & e reuerend faer off e hed charterhowse, a famuse clark, & partt off e vnyuersyte off parys, doth hold with our soveryne lord e kyng, in his actes, at in so much att e vysytacyon off our lady last past in tolosa, in e cheff skole, callyd petragorysensis, e Kyng of Nauerre and his qwene beyng presentt, e gretyst articles at any cowld lay a-genst our nobyll kyng wer disputyd & dyffynyd to e honer of our nobyll kyng, as I shall shew yow att my comyng to yow. I was in cathalonya when e emprowe tok sheppyng in-to barbary, e which emprow, with all oer kynges in e courtes of whom I haue byn, be our re_doubtyd kynges frendes & louers; incypyentt persons doth spek after er lernyng & wytt. certyffyng your mastershepp after my laboure, I am syk, or els I wold haue come to yow & putt my selff fully in-to your ordynance; as sone as I am any thyng recoueryd I shall be att your commaundmentt in all causis, good succuryng, who euer kepp yow in helth & honer, By your bedman Andrew Bord, prest. I haue sentt to your mastershepp e sedes off reuberbe, e which come owtt off barbary. in es partes ytt ys had for a grett tresure. The seedes be sowne in March, thyn; & when ey be rootyd, ey must be taken vpp, & sett euery one off em a foote or more from a noer, and well watred, &c. |[directed_on_back] To the ryght honerable Esquyre Master Thomas Cromell, hygh secretory to our wouereyne lord e kyng & master of Rolls, be this lettres dyrectyd. |31.__Andrew_Boorde_to Cromwell_(1535),_p._57. |{Fourth_letter_to_Cromwell} After precordyall recommendacyon, dere belouyd father in god, e reuerend faer off e hed cha[r]terhowse, doth salute yow in e blessyng off Iesu chryst aduertysyng yow at yow loue god, & at in any vyse yow obay our souereyng lord e kyng, he beyng very sory to here tell any wylfull or sturdy opynyons to be amonges yow in tymes past to e contrary/. he desye[r]yth nothyng off yow but only as I haue rehersyd, at yow be obedyent to our kyng & at yow maak labore to your frendes at yff any off your frendes deye, or at any off er frendes dey, at e obytt off em may bytwyxt yow be sent at e order off charyte be not lost, pro defunctis exorare. e sayd reuer[en]d faer hath sentt to yow e obytt off hys pre_dycessor / oer letters he wyll nott wrytt, nor he wold nott at yow to hym shold wrett / lest e kynges hyhnes shold be dysplesyd. as for me, yow know at I had lycence byfore recorde to departt from yow / ett nott withstondyng my conscyence myth not be so satysfyd, at I thowt to vysett e sayd reuerend faer, to know e trewth whetter faer Iohan batmanson dyd impetratt for me of e generall chapytter e lycence at dane george hath. e trewth ys, at when dane george was dyspensyd with e relygyon, I and anoer was dys_pensyd with all / consydering I can [not], nor neuer cowld, lyue soly_tary / & I amonges yow intrusyd in a close ayre / myth neuer haue my helth. also I was receuyd amonges yow vnder age, contrary to your statutes / wherfor now I am clerly dischargyd; not hauyng e byshopp of Romes dispensacyon; but yow at receuyd me to e relygyon, for lefull & lawfull causes consyderyd / haue dyspensyd with me. In wytnes at I do not fable with yow, specyally at yow be in all causis obedyentt to your kyng. e afforesayd reuerend faer hath maad e ryth honerable esquyre master Cromell, & my lord of chester, broer off all e hole relygyon / praying yow at yow do no thyng with outt theyr counsell, as Iesus your louer knowth, who euer keppe yow! wretyn in hast in e cell of e reuerend faer callyd Johan, & with hys counsyll, e ij day of August, by e hand off your bedman Andrew Bord, prest. |32.__Andrew_Boorde_(1536),_p._58. |{Fifth_letter_to_Cromwell.} |[?_before_1_April,_1536.] After humyle salutacyon with dew reuerence. Accordyng to my promyse, by my letters maade at burdyose, and also att london, is presentt month dyrectyd to your mastershepp, I, Andrew Boorde, somtyme monk of e charterhowse of london, am come to your mastershepp, commyntyng me fully in to goddis handes & yours, to do with me whatt yow wyll. As I wrott to your mastershepp, I browth letters from by-end see, but I haue nott, nor wyll nott, delyuer them, vnto the tyme yow haue seen them, & knowyng e ouerplus of my mynd. I haue suffycyentt record that e prior off chartterhowse off london last beyng, of hys owne meere mocyon, gaue me lycence to departe frome e relygyon: wheruppon I wentt ouer see to skole; & now I dyd come home by e grawnte charter_howse, wher y was dyspensyd of e relygyon in the prior batman_sons days. att e sayd howse, in e renewyng at lycence, I browth a letter, yow to do with me and ytt what yow wyll, for I wyll hyd no thyng from yow, be ytt with me or agenst me. I was also xv. eres passyd, dyspensyd with e relygyon by the byshopp of Romes bulles, to be suffrygan off chycester, e whych I neuer dyd execute e auctore; ett all is nott-withstondyng, I submytt my-selff to yow; & yff yow wyll haue me to at relygyon, I shall do as well as [I] can, god succuryng, who euer keppe your masterhepp in prosperuse helth and honer! By your be[d]man, e sayd andrew prenomynatyd. |[directed_on_back]_{in_Latin} |33.__Andrew_Boorde_to_Cromwell_(1536),_pp._59-61. |{Sixth_Letter_to_Cromwell.} |[Leith,_1_April,_1536.] After humly salutacyon, with dew reuerence, I certyffy your masterhepp at I am now in skotlond, in a lytle vnyuersyte or study namyd Glasco, wher I study & practyce physyk, as I haue done in dyuerce regyons & prouynces, for e sustentacyon off my lyuyng; assewryng yow at in the partes at I am yn, e kynges grace hath many, e, (& in maner) all maner of persons (exceppt some skolasty_call men) at be hys aduersarys, & spekyth parlyus wordes. I resortt to e skotysh kynges howse, & to e erle of Aryn, namyd Hamylton, & to e lord evyndale, namyd stuerd, & to many lordes & lardes, as well spyrytuall as temporall, & truly I know er myndes, for ei takyth me for a skotysh manes sone. for I name my selff Karre, & so e Karres kallyth me cosyn, thorow e which I am in the more fauer. shortly to conclude, trust yow no skott, for they wyll yowse flatteryng wordes, & al ys fal[s]holde. I suppose, veryly, at yow haue in ynglond, by-end x thowsand skottes, & innumerable oer alyons, which doth (specyally e skottes) much harme to the kynges leege men thorowh er ewyll wordes. for as I wentt thorow ynglond, I mett, & was in company off, many rurall felows, englich men, at loue nott our gracyose kyng. wold to Iesu, at some wer ponyshyd, to geue oer example! wolde to Iesu, at yow hade neuer an alyon in your realme, specyally skottes, for I neuer knew alyon goode to ynglonde, exceppt ei knew profytt & lucre shold com to them, &c. In all e partes off crystyndom at I haue trawyllyd in, I know nott v englysh men inhabyours, exceppt only skolers for lernyng. I pray to Iesu at alyons in ynglond do no more harme to ynglonde! yff I myght do ynglond any seruyce, specy_ally to my soueryn lorde e kyng, & to yow, I wold do ytt, to spend & putt my lyff in danger & Iuberdy as far as any man, god be my Iuge. Yow haue my hartt, & shalbe sure of me to e vttermust off my poer power, for I am neuer able to mak yow amendes; for wher I was in greatt thraldom, both bodyly and goostly, yow of your gen_tylnes sett me att liberte & clernes off conscyence. Also I thank your mastershepp for your grett kyndnes, at yow sheude me att bysheppes waltam, & at yow gaue me lycence to come to yow ons in a qwartter. as sone as I come home, I pretende to come to yow, to submytt my selff to yow, to do with me what yow wyll. for, for lak of wytt, paraduentter I may in is wrettyng say at shall nott contentt yow; but gode be my Iudge, I mene trewly, both to my souerrynge lord e kyng & to yow. when I was keppt in thrawldom in e charterhowse, & knew noer e kynges noble actes, nor yow; then stultycyusly thorow synystrall wordes, I dyd as many of at order doth; butt after at I was att lyberte, manyfestly I aperseuyde e yngnorance & blyndnes at they & I war yn: for I could neuer know no thyng of no maner off matter, butt only by them, & they wolde cause me wrett full incypyently to e prior of london, when he was in e tower, before he was putt to exicucyon; for e which I trust your mastershepp hath pardoned me; for god knowth I was keppt in person straytly, & glad I was to wrett att theyr request; but I wrott nothyng at I thowgt shold be a-genst my prince, nor yow, nor no oer man. I pray god at yow may prouyde a goode prior for at place of london; for truly er be many wylfull & obstynatt yowng men at stondyth to much in ther owne consaytt, & wyll not be reformyd, butt playth e chyldryn; & a good prior wold to serue them lyk chyldryn. News I haue to wrett to yow, butt I pretende to be with yow shortly; for I am halff very off e baryn contry, as Iesu cryst knowth, who euer keppe yow in helth & honer. ffrom leth, a myle from Edynborowh, e fyrst day off Apryll, by the hand off your Poer skoler & seruantt [directed on back] Andrew Boorde, Preest. To the right honerable esquire, Master Thomas Cromwell, hygh secretary to e Kynges grace. |34.__Andrew_Boorde_to_Cromwell_(1537),_p._62. |{Seventh_Letter_to_Crommwell} |[Cambridge,_13_August_[1537].] Reuerently salutyd with loue and fere. I desyre your lord_shepp to contynew my good lorde, as euer yow haue byn: for, god be my iudge, yff I know what I myght do at myght be acceptable to yow, I wold do ytt; for er ys no creature lyuyng at y do loue and fere so much as yow, and I haue nott in is world no refuge butt only to yow. when I cam to london owtt of skotlond, and at yt plesyd yow to call me to yow, as yow cam rydyng from west_mestre, I had ij horsys stolyn frome me, & I can tell the persons at hath bowght them, butt I can nott recouer my horse[s] althowh they at bowght em dyd neuer toll for them, nor neuer bowth em in no markett, butt priuetly. Also er be yn london certyn persons thatt owth me in mony and stuff .liij=li=., e which my frendes gaue me. I do aske my dewty off em; & they callyth me 'apostata, & all to nowght', & sayth ey wyll troble me, & doth slawnder me by-hynd my bak off thynges at I shold do xx=ti= ers agone; & trewly they can nott proue ytt, nor I neuer dyd ytt; e matter ys, at I shold be conuersantt with women: oer matteres ey lay nott to my charge. I desyer yow to be good lord to me, for I wyll neuer comlayne forther then to yow. I thank Iesu cryst, I can lyue, althowh I neuer haue peny off ytt; but I wold be sory at they at hath my good, shod haue ytt: yff any off your seruanttes cowld gett ytt, I wold geue ytt to them. your fayghtfull seruantt, master watter thomas, dwellyng in wrettyll, knowth all e hoole matter, and so doth hys son, dwellyng in e temple. I commytt all to yow, to do with me & ytt what ytt shall plese yow; desyeryng yow to spare my rude wrettyng, for I do presume to wrett to yow upon your gentylnes, as god knowth, who euer kepp yow in helth and honer! ffrome cambrydg, e xiij day off August, by the hond off your bed_man, & seruantt to e vttermust off my poor power. Andrew Boorde, prest. |[directed_on_the_back] To the ryght honerable lorde the lord of the pryue seale be thy byll dyrectyd. |35.__Cromwell_(1540),_p._246. |To_Lord_Lisle. Jan. 26, 1540. After my right herty and most affectuouse commendations to your Lordship Thies shalbe to signifie vnto thesame the receipte of sundry your letteres and therwith the boke of muni_cions and furnytures And also suche newes as ye have writen vnto me, Whereof I have aduertised the Kinges Maieste whose graciouse pleasure is that with all celerite ther shalbe prouision of wood sent from hens thither for the whiche propose and to have the oversight and expedition thereof if ye will sende some acteve person of his graces Retynue there he shall see afor his departure suche store thereof to be transported as shalbe requisite And his highnes willeth that ye and all other there euery man for his office Rowme and part, shalbe so vigilant and also in so good ordre as it apperteyneth and as the statutes of the same do Require. And albeit his Maieste perceyveth no present nor Imminent Danger to that Town, and thinketh that no prince wold break the treaties so ferre as to Invade or attempt in dede anything agenst the same, yet nevertheles forasmoche as it is better to prevente then to be prevented and to forsee that the worst may be provided for his graces pleasure is that it shalbe diligently forseen ther, Not onely that vnder the colour and habite of paysantes and market folkes ther entre not in that Town by litel and litel a multitude of men of werre desguysed for to surprise the same, but also that in the cartes and carres comyng into the same ladyn with hey strawe wood or suche other there be not brought in weapen or other thinges conveyed in secretely hydd in the same to the disavantage of the Town My Lord seen that your lordship hath the chief charge and is put in the highest trust there above all other, ye ought likewise to be the more vigilant and activ and tymely to forsee and cause that such prouisions of wyn and other as may be gotten there withoute bruyt or Rumour as therby your good prouision and Industrie the Towne may be so furnished and in that good suretie that his Maiesties good expectacion of you doth loke for, And of suche prouision that is within the pale and marches of thesaid Town it wer well done ye shuld cause withoute any Rumour or bruyt asmoch thereof as wer mete to be brought into the town for the savegarde thereof and the better furnishement of thesame. Thus fare ye right hertely well From London this xxvj=th= of January. Your lordshippis assuryd THOMAS CRUMWELL Add. To my very good lorde the visconte lisle deputie of the kingis Towne and marches of Calais. |36.__Cromwell_(1540),_p._248. |To_Lord_Hungerford. |Feb._9_[1540]. Thies be for asmoche as the Kinges Majestie hathe ben enformed that certaine lycences foundacions and other wry_tynges belongyng unto the late priory of Charterhous Henton and graunted by Thomas Horton Clothier and other hathe ben ymbeysted and conveyd away by certaine persons. The Kinges Majesties pleasure is that ye calling Dame Mary Horton Wydow, Thomas Horton, William Byrde clerke Richard Davis and Sir William Furber clerke before you shall examine therin and every of theym by vertue of an othe to be admynestred to theym by you of and uppon the premysses with the circumstaunces therof by all the wayes and meanes ye can or may excogitate and device and to advertise me of that ye shall fynd and knowe therin with all convenyent spede to thentent I may cause suche order and direction to be had and taken in that behalfe as the case shall requyre. Faile ye not thus to do as the Kinges trust and expectations ys in you. London, 9 Feb. |[Signed._Add.] |37.__Cromwell_(1540),_p._249. |To_Lord_Stourton. |Feb._23_[1540]. Aftre my right hartie commendacion to your Lordshyp Whereas I am informed that one John Compton of Yewill haith in comparcenere with you a mylne and there of takyth the moitie of the profetes and commodities to the same belongyng and for as moche as the said john is dwelling and abidyng nyghe vnto the same myll and your Lordshyp fer from the vse and commoditie there of, contentid to receue the rent of the one halfe, I shall desyer you at the contemplacion of these my letters to grant vnto the said John Compton thoccupacion of your moietie of the said myll by Leasse for terme of XL yeres, or so many as ye can fynd in your hart to bestow of hym conueniently at this my request paying there_fore yerly so moche as heretofore it hathe been accustomed by other your lordshypis tenantes And thus ye shall so do vnto me thankfull plesure & in any your lordshypis lawfull persutes ye shall requyer the same accordyngly. and thus Fayr you right hartely well. From westmynstre thys xxiii of February. Your Lordshippis assuryd Thomas Crumwell. |Add. To my very good lord my Lord Sturton this be delivered |38.__Cromwell_(1540),_pp._249/50. |{To_an_unnamed_Lord.} |[Feb._15,_1540.] Aftre my right hartie comendacions vnto your lordship wheras I am enformed that sir Richard Smithe parson of Langom in the contie of Pembroke is accused and laid in prison by the bailif ther for certain wordes spokyn sounding to be treson against the Kinges maiestie These shalbe to require you with convenient celeritie [to] send as well for the said parson as other his accusors and vpon examinacion hade and due proves and the said Smithe found gyltye therin he to remain in prison to suche tyme as the kinges further plesor shalbe known therin, and in the case his said accusors can make no dew prove of the same that then he finding sufficiente sureties per bondes for his apperance at all tyms when he shalbe called for by the kinges highnes or any of his honour_able consill you suffre him to go at libertie |39.__Cromwell_(1540),_p._253. |To_Wallop. |Mar._12,_[1540]. Mr. Wallop after my right hartie commendations where the Kinges Maiestie hath receyved certain aduertisementes from a very good place which his Maieste thinketh dothe muche touche his good brother the Frenche King. And that it were very expedyent he had knowlege of the same. His hieghnes hathe thought conuenyent to write the same vnto you to thintent you maye declare them to the quene of Navarre which his hieghnes wold you shuld doo at your first opor_tunyte. The particulers be thesse. First his Maieste ys aduised that the Constable and Cardinal of Lorrien shal at their cummyng in to Flaunders rather be entretayned with chere to shewe an apparaunce of amyte thenne growe to any conclusion of thinges according to the french kinges desier. Second yt is aduertised howe the legate for Farneze by his Gouernor Marsselles dyd move the Frenche King lately by the bishop of Romez commaundement to mak difficulte a while in his conclusion betwene him and the Emperour, Saying that the necessite of Themperour shuld thereby cause him to haue what he wold desier, Whereunto the Frenche King shuld aunswere that if Themperour wold lyve as he dothe in peace and friendshipp he wold doo his best allwaye to shewe lyk correspondence. But if he wold treate any further thing It must be for all dependauntes or elles nothing. The latter ende of his saying, that is to saye, The Frenche Kinges aunswere onely was secretly reaported to Themperour. And whenne the Reaporter sayd that all dependauntes included manny thinges aswel Burgoyn Navarre treaties of Madril as Millan and Pyemount, Themperour aunswered that of throuthe the thinges were mervelously intricate, Adding that at the treating at Perpynyon he being thenne at Bersolona, he thought it not best to come to any particulers And Euen soo wolde be lothe yet to com to them For quoth he there is daunger of vnhonest condicions or of discontentement at departing. And therefore it is thought and sayd that to wynne a further delaye The King of Romaynez shal also goo to vysyt the Frenche King and by these meanes shal Themperour thus wynne tyme and tak his aduantage in other parties having as the Kinges Maieste ys aduised a secret fantazie in his hed That being the Frenche King sickly and diseased (which is muche to the kinges hieghnes regrete) he deuiseth howe by meanes to protract and wynne Loking for that which his grace trusteth he shal not see and thinking if he were ones passed he shuld easly ynough Frame al his purposes after Euen as he himself wold wyshe and desier. Nowe you may require Madame de Navarre to consider what these thinges doo saver and in case she shal think that the knowlege of them maiye anything conferre to the Frenche Kinges Benefyt She may open the same at her pleasure and by oone point she may presently Knowe whether any of the rest be lyk to be true that is by the woordes spoken by the Frenche King himself touching thek dependauntes wherein you may presse her to tak som pains to knowe the certaynte as a meane to waye the better the residue Albeyt his Maieste doubteth not but in case the constable do not growe to a thorow agrement But shalbe put of by delayes newe Inven_cions and deuises. His good Brother the frenche king shal easly by the same conuert Themperours mynd and purpose. And what aunswere she shal presentely or vppon deliberacion and inquerye make vnto you, His Maiestes pleasure is you shal aduertise with conuenyent diligence Joynyng to your aduertisementes suche other occurrauntes as you shal there lerne from time to tyme worthie his graces knowlege. You may also shewe to the quene of Navarre That in lyk maner from a good place his Maieste ys aduertised that in Spayn they beginne to Murmur for that Themperour shuld practise the Maryeng for himself & his children without theyr con_sentes, Saying they will kepe a parlyament vppon that and such other maters Whereuppon it is thought he woll send thither the Duke of Alva to doo what he canne tappease and quiet them Whereby it appereth that were it not onely for thestimacion that he hath by the Frenche King he were lyk shortely to haue busynes ynough to turn him to. Thus ad_uising you that the Kinges hieghnes ys in good helth with all your frendes here I byd you hertely well to Fare from London the xij=th= of march |Endd. To Mr. Wallop xij marcij |40.__Henry_Savill_(1543),_p._246. To my cosen Plompton of Plompton, this deliver with spede. Cossin Plomton, in as harty manner as I can think I recomend me to you. First, all your frinds ar in good health heare. I have bene very sick since ye went, but I am well now, I thank God. I have vewed Christall; the rent of it, as it is now letted, x=s= iiij=d= score, xv=li= viii=s=; and Arthington is above xx=li= at the end of xvi yeares; the will be iij score pownd above the rent. And the woods, my man sayes, he dar give a thowsand marke for them, but he thinks without dowt he will make a thowsand =li=. I have written to my Cossin, Henry Savill of Lapset, to go thorowgh with my Lord of Canterbury for it. Acording to the comunication, and ye and my Cossen, John Gascoyne, shall have a part, if ye will wryte to me that ye will stike to it; and Robart Savill and Henry Savill of Lapsit will stand to tow parts. I think the woods will give us our money and more; and the lease cleare to be gotten, for laying out of the money till we can make it againe of the woods. I have sent you a rental of it, what it is, every cloase. I pray you let my Cossen, John Gascoyne, se this letter and the rentall. Kepe it secret from all other. I pray God send us merry meting. All written in my ship, at Timmoth. Your asured kinsman, Henry Savill. Cussin Gascoyne, your children ar mery. |[Anno_circa_1543] |41.__Henry_Savill_(1544),_pp._247/48. To my Cossin Plompton of Plomptom, this be delivered. Cossen Plompton, I recomend me to you, and as I perceive by my son Robart servant, ye say ye will come over and hunt with me; and it please you so to do, ye shal be as hertyly welcome as any man that cam heare of a good space. Ye shall se your arrow fly and your grayhound run, and all thos that comes with you, winter and somer, when it please you to come; as long as I live. As for the other matter, I pas not a litle of it; I have yet waide it with my councill; and as ye shall know at our meting, as I am informed, and as I take it, thear ar many dowts by yt. When I speak with you, I will hide nothing from you in this then in no other cause. When ye intend to come, let me know what time, or els ye may hape neither to have me then nor my son at home; but my wife ye shal be sur to find, and she will send som with you that shall let you se both rid and fallow, if ye will take the paine. I have killed a hind or tow of late, and they ar very fatt this yeare, both in the woods at Tankersley and in my gardin at Thornehill. I thinke ye weare never yet in no grownd of mine, and I never say no man naye. Therfore, the faut is in you and not in me; ye may amend the faut when it please you. The cause of my sending of my servant at this time, is this; he rmes me that in your countrie thear is a man that can kill otters very well; wherfor, I have sent him to git him to me for a weke. I asure you, they do me exceding much harme at divers places, and especiall at Woodkirk and Thornhill, and lyes in small becks. My folks se them daly, and I can not kill them; my hownds be not used to them. From Sothill, the 8 of November. By your asured kinsman, Henry Savill, knt. After the making herof, or it was sealed, cam my son home from London. Of Wedsday came my Lord of Norfock to the Court. The Spanish Duke is gon; the earle of Hertfort, the Bishop of Winchester, with the French Imbasodor, is gon to the Emporor; the Duke of Sufolk with other remaines at Calisse. The French_ men that wear of sea ar gon to Depe haven, and the Inglish men ar of the sea, but the cold weather will sufer no man long to con_tinue of the water. As conserning news of Scotland, give cre_dence to this bearrer. This is my owne hand. |[8 Nov. 1544.] |42.__Henry_Savill_(1544),_pp._248/49. To my right worshipfull Coussin, Mr. William Plompton of Plomp_ton, esquire, this deliver. Cossin Plompton, I hartely recommend me unto you, thankyng you for all your goodnes at all times. I have received your letter by Roger Brindell, and wheare that ye wryte there is no dowghts if the matter had come to comunication; ye ar the man that I trust, and by you I wold have bene ordered: and if ye had so thought, I wold have confeined myselfe to you: But I perceive the parte is not minded to commone with him; his wife thinks him to light. And I think, consider his Qualeties, his living, his posabilete, and confer al toghether, I think as good chepe as this I shall git a living for him, both as good and as fare. And I am sur ther haith bene comredis won with other far wars then he, excep one faute. And as for that, ther is and haith bene many good men with that faut; it is the thing that he cannot amend. It lets him not to eat, drink, slepe; he can live as well of it I have given him, as though it had descendit to him. And if his bro_ther dy without isew, in all by gift he shall have v hundreth mark land, (and if he wear but inhiretable by the law, he shold be heir to him, but for defaut of heireship, I thinke he will not change his estate in this case;) and for defaute of heires of my body lawfuly be_gotten, he shall inhirit all that I have. But in the meane onely, his fault so shall not hirt him in no profets. Let this matter pas: He is much bownd to you, and if ever he be able, to do you plea_sure. I trust ye shull se him git a living, ere the yeare is past. At York, if ye will come and kill a hind, ye shall be hertyly welcom. Wryten at Sothill, the xxviii of November. Anno 1544; 36 H. 8. Your asured frind, Henry Savill, knt. |[28_Nov._1544.] |43._Henry_Savill_(1545),_p._250. To his right worshipful Coussin, William Plompton, esquire, this deliver. Cossin Plompton, after my hartie recommendations; your servant sheweth me ye were and have bene very sick, wherof I am very sory. And if your sicknes continue, wheare the commaundment comes forth, send forth your servants and tennants, and send forth your excuse to my Lord Lieutennant, with a letter of the trough of your sicknes, and of the time of the continuance therof; and being advertised of the truth, he will excep of your lawfull and reasonable excuse. And thus hertely far you well. From York, the xxviij of May, Anno 1545, 37 H. 8. Your asurred kinsman, Henry Savill. |[27_May_1545.] |44.__Henry_Savill_(1546),_pp._250/51. To my Cossin Plompton this be delivered. Cossin Plompton, I hartely recommend me unto you. The cause of my wryting to you is for that Roger Ramy said to me, he thought ye would aboute Low sonday be at Thornhill. Ye shall come to a old howse cleane downe, and as yet litle amended. but ye shall be welcome, as I can think. I wold be sory that ye shoold take paine, and I not at home when ye come. To_morrow begging thursday, I must of force ride to Tankerslay, viij miles hence, and mete my Lord of Shrewsburry, who will be thear tomorrow by ij of the clock, and se a showt at a stage, as my keper hath sent me wourd. And of monday, tewsday, and wed_sday, theare is apoynted a great number of gentlemen to mette at cocxs at Sheifeild, whear I intend, God willing, to be, and every night will ly at Tankerxlay; soe it will be friday or I come to Thornhill, which is the xviij (xiiij) of May. Wherfore, I desire you either put of your comming to that day, or take so much paine to come the viij myles to Tankerxlay, whear I have no lodging, but you shall have the best bed the keper haith; and ye shall se a polard or tow, both rid and falow, and se all our good coxs fight, if it plese you, and se the maner of our cocking. Ther will be Lanckeshire of one parte, and Derbeshire of another parte, and Hallomshire of the third parte. I per_ceive your cocking varieth from ours, for ye lay but the battell; and if our battell be but x=li= to v=li=, thear wilbe x=li= to one laye, or the battell be ended. And whensoever ye come, I require you take time to hunt with me for one weke; bring bowes and gray hounds, and at the time of the year, hownds. A polard is swet now, and I love it best now at this season; and by Whytsonday this year I shall have fatt bucks. And or any red deare be fatt, it will be July, as far as my experience serves. Com when ye will, and such as I have, ye shall se, and bring good stufe, for I warne you they ar wild about Tankerxlay and ill to cach: and if all fale, I have that ar tame enough. I make all these brages to cause you to com, for I never yet did se you in thease parts; and ye shall come no time wrong, fence-time then other. I have tame plenty lyeth out; I can make you game at rid and falow, and stir no rascall. I besich Jesus send us mery meting. Thus hertyly far ye well. This Wendsday at Thornhill, the v=th= of May, Anno 1546: 38 H.8. Your asured frind Henry Savill, kn=t=. |[5_May_1546.] |45.__Sir_Philip_Sidney_(1569),_pp._76/77. |To_Sir_William_Cecil Righte honorable: I am forced for better expedition to use an unaccustomed manner of writinge unto yowe the cause pro_ceedinge frome a reporte of sum whome neither can I judge frendlie to my selfe nor yet indifferente towardes him, from whome they seke by malise to prwente and detaine his woorthie praifermente sued for and obtained by his honorable benefactors, I meane, my singular good Lorde my Lorde of Lecestre and especiallie your selfe, by whose favor (attained by the requeste of my frendes, and his deserte towardes me, assisted by the woorthines of his lyfe and learninge) M=r= Thorneton my reder hathe unto him graunted the nexte prfermente of a cannonrie in this colleage of Christechurche. And sithence it hathe pleased God, (as I gave yow humblie to undrestande in my laste lettres) to call unto his mercie one Thomas Daie by meane whereof it restethe in your honorable favor to prsente (accordinge to your former pretence) him, aswell for whose cause as divers others I do accounte my selfe no lesse bound then I oughte. For that it is verie constantlie reported that M=r= Tobie Matthews frendes, shoulde use in his behaulfe some earneste sute, unwoorthie their callinges (because it was moved before the deathe of the incum_bente, by the which it shoulde seeme they soughte rather by spite to prvente the one then honestlie to preferre the other) these are therefore moste humblie to reQueste suche your wonted favor as neither your honorable benefitte may be revoked, my humble and earneste sute prvented neither the person him selfe so discredited, but that he maye withe your favor enjoye his advowson, by yowr meanes obtained, and your selfe promised. Thus humblie commendinge my dutie unto your good opinion, my selfe preste at your commaundemente I humblie ende. Frome Oxforde this xxvi=the= of Februarie A=o= 1569[-70] Yours in as humble sorte as your owne Philip Sidney. To the righte honorable Sir William Cecill Knighte her Majesties principall Secretarie &c Yeve these withe speede |46.__Sir_Philip_Sidney_(1573),_pp._77/78. |To_the_Earl_of_Leicester: Ryghte honorable and my singular good Lorde and Unkle, this beare havinge showed me the woorkes he dothe cary into Englande gave me ocasion humble to sende these few woordes unto yowr Lordeshippe, thoughe my wrytynge at this presente unto yow by an Englisshe gentleman that dothe now returne, take away any other cause of Englarginge the same. This bearer hathe promised me to lett no man see that whiche he cariethe untill he have showed them unto yowr Lordeshipp. If they may seeme unto yowr Lordeshippe unworthie of which I shoolde wryte unto yow, I do most humblie beseche yow to condemne therein nothinge but my ignorance, whiche bendinge it selfe wholie to content yow, if it do erre, I hope yowr goodness will suffer the dutifull mynde, to recompence the wante of judge_ment, whiche beinge all that I have at this tyme to trooble yow witheall, I will most lowlie committ yow to the Eternalls pro_tection. Frome Francforde this 18=th= of Marche A=o= 1572[-3] Yowr moste humble and moste obediente nephew Philip Sidney. To the ryghte honorable and my singular unkle, the Earle of Lecestre. |47.__Sir_Philip_Sidney_(1573),_pp._78/79. |To_the_Earl_of_Leicester There beinge nothinge of whiche I am so desyrouse (ryghte honorable and my singular good Lorde and Unckle) as to have continuall and certaine knowledge what your pleasure is, by whiche I may governe my little actions: I cannot be witheowt some grief, that never since I came into Jermanie I coolde by anie means understande it. Wherefore I have moste humbli to beseche your Lordeshippe that if in any of my proceedinges I have erred, you will vouchesafe to impute that to the not knowinge youre Lordeshippes and their pleasure, by whose commaunde_ment I am lykewyse to be directid. I was uppon Thursdaie laste withe Counte Lodovik the prince of Oronges seconde brother, whose honorable usage was suche towardes me, and suche good_will he seemes to beare unto your Lordeshippe, that for wante of furdre habilitie, I can but wishe him, a prosperouse success to suche noble entreprises, as I dowte not he will shortely (with the helpe of God) put in execution. I founde one Shambourg an Allmaine withe him, a gentleman whome I knew in the cowrte of Fraunce, allways very affectionnate to the kinges service, I dowte not but that he assaiethe to drawei the Cownte to serve the kinge, but I hope he laboureth in vaine. All mens eyes are so bente to the affaires of Fraunce and Flaundres, that there is no talke here of any other contrey. I have an humble requeste unto your Lordeshipp, whiche is that it will please you to thanke maister Culverwell the bearer hereof, for the courteisie he shewed unto me, in employnge his creditt for me, beinge drivne into some necessitie. Thus cravinge pardon for the continewance of my wonted manner, in vainely trobling yowr Lordeshippe I will most lowlie leave yow in his garde who ever preserve yow. Frome Francfort, this 23=th= of Marche 1572[-3] Yowr moste humble and most obedient nephew Philipp Sidney. To the ryghte honorable and my singular good Lorde and unkle the Earle of Lecestre etc. |48.__Sir_Philip_Sidney_(1574),_pp._98-100. |To_the_Earl_of_Leicester |{The_gaps_in_the_text_are_in_the_edition.} Righte honorable and my singular good Lorde and unkle. Allthoughe I have at this presente little matter worthy the writinge unto yowr Lordeshippe, yet beinge newlie returned frome my poli[sh] journei, I woolde not omitt anie ocasion of humbly perfoorminge this dutie. Wherefore I hum[bly] beseeche yowr Lordeshippe to take these few lines in good parte, whiche I wryte rather to continew this I ow unto yow then for any other thinge they may conteine in them. The Emperour as I wrate laste unto yowr Lordeshippe hathe these two yeeres continually pretended a journey to Prage, w[hiche] it is thoughte shall in deede be perfoormed, to the greate contentacion of that kingedome, w[hiche] otherwise seemed to bende to disobedience. There it is thoughte his son shall very shortlie be kinge, whome likewise the Emperour seekes by all meanes possible to advance to the kinged[ome] of the Romaines, and for that purpose desyres to call an imperiall diett in Francfort, th[e] appointed for the elections, but it is thoughte the Electours will rather chose an other for this nexte ensuinge diett whiche is saide shall be sommer followinge at the fur[dest] and then there is no hope of election. Not beinge at Francfort, it is likely it sha[l] at Regenspurg, where I beleve the Emperour will demaunde fur greater summes of mo[ney] then will be grawnted unto him. Thoughe the peace betwixte the Turke and him, as yet as fur as it is knowne perfittlie con_cluded, yet it is thoughte the Turke will rat[her] proceede by sea then this waie, and as the frenche embassadour hathe writtne, mean[ethe to] visite the Popes territorie, perchaunce his conscience moveth him, to seeke the benefitt of Jubile. I hope as the Spanierdes allreddy begin to speake lower, so the Popes holiness[e] will have lesse leasure to ministre such wicked and detestable cownceills to the christ[ian] Princes as hetherto he dothe. Owt of Frawnce yowr Lordeshippe hathe the advertisements fu the Prince of Conde is retired to Basill where he livethe in companie withe the Ad[mirals] children, beinge frustrate of a greate hope he had conceaved of suckowr owt of Jerm[any] wherein many and wise men do impute greate faulte to the Prince Casimire the Cou[nte] Palatines seconde son, in so muche that to write to yowr Lordeshippe plainely, he is heavilie s[uspected] to be corrupted by the Frenche. His father certainely is as vertuous a Prince as livethe, he sufferethe him selfe to muche to be governed by that son. This I thoughte my dut[ie to] write as havinge hearde it in very good place and muche affected to the tr[ew] cawse. The Polakes hartily repente their so fur fetcht election, beinge now in suche case neither they have the kinge, nor any thinge the kinge withe so many othes had promised besides that their is lately sturred up a very dangerous Sedition, for the same c[awse] that hathe bredde suche lamentable ruines in France and Flandres. Now the is reasonably wel appeased, but it is thoughte it will remaine so but a while. I have no other thinge worthy the writinge at this presente to yowr Lordeshippe wherefore I humbly ceasse withe my dailie and most boundne praier, that it please the Eternall, to continew and encreace yow in all prosperitie. Frome Vienne. This 27. of Novembre. 1574. Your Lordeshippes moste...... Philippe Sidney. [To] the ryghte honorable and my singular [good Lorde and] unkle the Earle of [Leicester]. |49.__Sir_Philip_Sidney_(1574),_pp._100-102. To Lord Burghley: Righte honorable and my singular good Lorde. Since the laste I wrate unto yowr Lordeshippe, I have not had anie conveniente meanes of sending my scribbles, which humble office I desire to continew, rather to obay therein yowr com_maundemente then for any thinge worthe to be advertised, they may happne to conteine in them. Now havinge opor_tunitie by a frende of mine, who presentlie sendes his lettres into Englande, I woolde not omitt this ocasion, beseechinge yowr Lordeshippe rather to respecte the hartie desire to please yow, then the simplenes of the contentes, better then whiche yowr Lordeshippe oughte not to expecte of me. Beinge re_turned owt of Italie and detained for some time withe sicknesse in this cittie, yet coolde I not commaund my desire of seeinge Polande whiche time notwithestandinge, I mighte perchaunce have emploied in more proffitable, at leaste more pleasante voiages, frome thence being of late come hether, not in very good estate of boddie, I finde the affaires of this cowrte as fur as I can learne to passe in ordre. The Emperour hathe at lengthe obtained his longe desired truice of the greate Turke for 8 yeeres, the grawnte of whiche he hathe undrestoode by a courrier sente by his legier embassadowr, called Charles Rym, who is now in his returne not fur hence and in his roome there is allreddie at Constantinople David Ungnad. The conditions of the peace are not as yet knowne, but the emperowr is resolute to refuse no burdne, rather than enter in warr. He dothe expecte very shortly the Turkishe embassadowr, for the confirmation of the peace, who is by nation a dutche man, borne in Bavier, the Turkes principall interpretour, named amonge them Mehemet Beck. This Cowrrier hathe broughte news from Constantinople that the Turkes navie is safe re_turned, which he will encreace the nexte yeere withe a hundred gallies for to invade Sicill. By the way Petro Portocarrero Capteine of the Gollett is deceassed. Serbellone builder and capteine but evill defendour of the new fort is come alive to a miserable captivitie. He saiethe likewise that there came to Constantinople adver_tisemente that the Belierbei of Egipte hathe latlie overthrowne in a very greate batteil, the Abissines subjectes to Pretre Jhon as we call him. In my simple opinion they have bene provoked by the Portugese to take this matter fur above their forces uppon them, for that the Turke by the redde sea dothe greatlie encroche uppon their Indian traffick. The expectation of these embassadowrs will cawse the Emperowr to delay his journey to Bohemia whiche notwithestandinge he muste necessarily ere it be longe performe they beinge very evill contente, of his so longe absence, in so muche that this yeere they have plainely refused to give certaine greate summes of money, whiche heretofore they had not denied. Besides that he muste please them for to gett his son the crowne for althoughe he do pretende hereditary succession thetyseeme they will not grawnte it any other waie but in manner of election. In this meane time he hathe sente the Lorde of Rosemberg a principall nobleman of Bohemia to the electours of Sax and Brandenbourg, and the Lord of Arach to the other 4 electours, of the Rhine, to consulte of an Imperiall diett, which it is not unlikely shall be thissommer followinge, wherein if it be possible, he will perswade the election of his son to the kingedome of the Romaines as the tearme it. The Polakes havinge appeased a greate sedition in Crackow for the religion, have since deffaited twelve thowsande Tartars among whiche there were 3000 Turkes, whose returne with fur greater force they do daily loke for. It is thoughte they will chose an other kinge in May, allthoughe the Lithuaniens be holy againste it. They have made truice with the Moscovit, who bendes his forces as they say againste the kinge of Sueden for havinge burnte a toune of his called Narva. Thus yowr Lordeshippe may see how bolde I am uppon yowr commandement to troble yow from yowr weightie affaires, for whiche cravinge pardon and good acceptacion I humblie ceasse, beseechinge the Eternall to grawnte yow in healthe encreace of all honowr. Frome Wien this 17=th= of December 1574. Yowr Lordeshippes to commaunde. Philippe Sidney. To the ryghte honorable and my singular [good Lord]e the Lorde hyghe Treasurer. |50.__Edmund_Spenser_(1579),_pp._5-7. To the Worshipful his very sin_gular good friend, Maister G.H. Fellow of Trinitie Hall in Cambridge. | GOod Master G. I perceiue by your most curteous and frendly Letters your good will to be no lesse in deed, than I alwayes esteemed. In recompence wherof, think I beseech you, that I wil spare neither speech, nor wryting, nor aught else, whensoeuer, and wheresoeuer occasion shal be offred me: yea, I will not stay, till it be offred, but will seeke it, in al that possibly I may. And that you may perceiue how much your Counsel in al things preuaileth with me, and how altogither I am ruled and ouer-ruled thereby: I am now determined to alter mine owne former purpose, and to subscribe to your aduizement: beinge notwithstanding resolued stil, to abide your farther resolution. My principal doubts are these. First, I was minded for a while to haue inter_mitted the vttering of my writings: leaste by ouer-much cloying their noble eares, I should gather a contempt of my self, or else seeme rather for gaine and commoditie to doe it, for some sweetnesse that I haue already tasted. Then also me seemeth the work too base for his excellent Lord_ship, being made in Honour of a priuate Personage unknowne, which of some yl-willers might be vpbraided, not to be so worthie, as you knowe she is: or the matter not so weightie, that it should be offred to so weightie a Personage: or the like. The selfe former Title stil liketh me well ynough, and your fine Addition no lesse. if these, and the like doubtes, maye be of importaunce in your seeming, to frustrate anyparte of your aduice, I beseeche you, without the leaste selfe loue of your own purpose, coun_cell me for the beste: and the rather doe it faithfullye, and carefully, for that, in all things I attribute so much to your iudgement, that I am euer_more content to adnihilate mine own determinations, in respecte thereof. And indeede for your selfe to, it sitteth with you now, to call your wits and senses togither, (which are alwaies at call) when occasion is so fairely offered of Estimation and Preferment. For, whiles the yron is hote, it is good striking, and minds of Nobles varie, as their Estates. Verum ne quid durins. I pray you bethinke you well hereof, good Maister G. and fortwith write me those two or three special points and caueats for the nonce, De quibus in superioribus illis mellitissimis, longissimisque Litteris tuis. Your desire to heare of my late beeing with hir Maiestie, muste dye in it selfe. As for the twoo worthy Gentlemen, Master Sidney, and Master Dyer, they haue me, I thanke them, in some vse of familiarity: of whom, and to whome, what speache passeth for youre credite and Estimation, I leaue your selfe to conceiue, hauing alwayes so well conceiued of my vnfained affection, and zeale towardes you. And nowe they haue pro_claimed in their Title, a generall surceasing and silence of balde Rymers, and also of the verie beste to: in steade whereof, they haue by authoritie of their whole Senate, prescribed certaine Lawes and rules of Quantities of English Sillables, for English Verse: hauing had thereof already greate practise, and drawen mee to their faction. Newe Bookes I heare of none, but only of one, that writing a certaine Booke, called The Schoole of Abuse, and dedicating it to Maister Sidney, was for hys labor scorned: if at leaste it be in the goodnesse of that nature to scorne. Suche follie is it, not to regarde aforehande the inclination and qualitie of him, to whome wee dedicate our Bookes. suche mighte I happily incurre, entituling My Slomber, and the other Pamphlets, vnto his honor. I meant them rather to Maister Dyer. But I am, of late, more in loue wyth my Englishe Versifying, than with ryming: whyche I should haue done long since, if I would then haue followed your councell. Sed te solum iam tum suspicabur cum Aschamo sapere: nunc Aulam video egre_gios alere Poetas Anglicos. Maister E.K. hartily desireth to be com_mended vnto your Worshippe: of whome, what accompte he maketh, youre selfe shall hereafter perceiue, by hys paynefull and dutifull Verses of your selfe. Thus muche was written at Westminster yesternight: but comming this morning, beeyng the sixteenth of October, to Mystresse Kerkes, to haue it deliuered to the Carrier, I receyued youre letter, sente me the laste weeke: whereby I perceiue you otherwhiles continue your old exercise of Versifying in English: whych glorie I had now thought should haue bene onely ours heere at London, and the Court. Truste me, your Verses I like passingly well, and enuye your hidden paines in this kinde, or rather maligne, and grudge at your selfe, that woulde not once imparte so muche to me. But once, or twice, you make a breache in Maister Drants Rules: quod tamen condonabimus tanto Poetae, tuaeque ipsius maximae in his rebus autoritati. You shall see when we meete in London, (whiche, when it shall be, certifye vs) howe fast I haue followed after you, in that Course: beware, leste in time I ouertake you. Verutamen te solu`m sequar, (vt saepenumero` sum pro_fessus,) nunquam sane` assequar, dum viuam. And nowe requite I you with the like, not with the verye beste, but with the verye shortest, namely with a few Iambickes: I dare warrant, they be precisely perfect for the feete (as you can easily iudge) and varie not one inch from the Rule. I will imparte yours to Maister Sidney, and Maister Dyer, at my nexte going to the Courte. I praye you, keepe mine close to your selfe, or your verie entire friendes, Maister Preston, Maister still, and the reste. Iambicum trimetrum VNhappie Verse, the witnesse of my vnhappie state, Make thy selfe fluttering wings of thy fast flying Thought, and fly forth vnto my Loue, whersoeuer she be: Whether lying reastlesse in heauy bedde, or else Sitting so cheerelesse at the cheerfull boorde, or else Playing alone carelesse on hir heauenlie Virginals. If in Bed, tell hir, that my eyes can take no reste: If at Boorde, tell hir, that my mouth can eate no meate: If at hir Virginals, tel hir, I can heare no mirth. Asked why? say: Waking Loue suffereth no sleepe: Plura vellem per Charites, sed non licet per Musas. Vale, Vale plurimum, Mi amabilissime Harueie, meo cordi, meorum omnium longe charissime. I was minded also to haue sent you some English Verses: or Rymes, for a farewell: but by my Troth, I have no spare time in the world, to thinke on such Toyes, that you knowe will demaind a freer head, than mine is presently. I beseeche you by all your Curtesies, and Graces, let me be answered, ere I goe: which will be, (I hope I feare, I thinke) the nexte weeke, if I can be dispatched of my Lorde. I goe thither, as sent by him, and maintained most what of him: and there am to employ my time, my body, my minde, to his Honours seruice. Thus with many superhartie Commendations, and Recommendations to your selfe, and all my friendes with you, I ende my last Farewell, not thinking any more to write vnto you, before I goe: and withall committing to your faithfull Credence the eternall Memorie of our euerlasting friendship, the inuiolable Memorie of our vnspotted friendshippe, the sacred Memorie of our vowed friend_ship : which I beseech you Continue with vsuall writings, as you may, and of all things let me heare some Newes from you. As gentle M. Sidney, I thanke his good Worship, hath required of me, and so promised to doe againe. Qui monet, vt facias, quod iam facis, you knowe the rest. You may alwayes send them most safely to me by Mistresse Kerke, and by none other. So once againe, and yet once more, Farewell most hartily, mine owne good Master H. and loue me, as I loue you, and thinke vpon poore Immerito, as he thinketh vppon you. Leycester House. This .5. of October .1579. Per mare, per terras, Viuus, mortuusque, Tuus Immerito. |51.__Edmund_Spenser_(1580),_pp._15-17. To my long approued and singular good frende, Master G.H. | Good Master H. I doubt not but you haue some great important matter in hande, which al this while restraineth youre Penne, and wonted readinesse in prouoking me vnto that, wherein your selfe nowe faulte. If there bee any such thing in hatching, I pray you hartily, lette vs knowe, before al the worlde see it. But if happly you dwell altogither in Iustinians Courte, and giue your selfe to be deuoured of secreate Studies, as of all likelyhood you doe: yet at least imparte some your olde, or newe, Latine, or Englishe, Eloquent and Gallant Poesies to vs, from whose eyes, you saye you keepe in a manner nothing hidden. Little newes is here stirred: but that olde greate matter still depending. His Honoure neuer better. I thinke the Earthquake was also there wyth you (which I would gladly learne) as it was here with vs: ouerthrowing diuers old buildings, and peeces of Churches. Sure verye straunge to be hearde of in these Countries, and yet I heare some saye (I know not howe truely) that they haue knowne the like before in their dayes. Sed quid vobis videtur magnis Philosophis? I like your late Englishe Hexameters so exceedingly well, that I also enure my Penne sometime in that kinde: whyche I fynd indeede, as I haue heard you often defende in worde, neither so harde, nor so harshe, that it will easily and fairely, yeelde it selfe to oure Moother tongue. For the onely, or chiefest hardnesse, whych seemeth, is in the Accente: whyche sometime gapeth, and as it were yawneth ilfauouredly, comming shorte of that it should, and sometime exceeding the measure of the Number, as in Carpenter, the middle sillable being vsed shorte in speache, when it shall be read long in Verse, seemeth like a lame Gosling, that draweth one legge after hir: and Heauen, beeing vsed shorte as one sillable, when it is in Verse, stretched out with a Diastole, is like a lame Dogge that holdes up one legge. But it is to be wonne with Custome, and rough words must be subdued with Vse. For, why a Gods name may not we, as else the Greekes, haue the kingdome of oure owne Language, and measure our Accentes, by the sounde, reseruing the Quantitie to the Verse? Loe here I let you see my old vse of toying in rymes, turned into your artificial straightnesse of Verse, by this Tetrasticon. I beseech you tell me your fancie, without parcialitie. See yee the blindefoulded pretie God, that feathered Archer, Of Louers Miseries which maketh his bloodie Game? Wote ye why, his Moother with a Veale hath coouered his Face? Trust me, least he my Looue happely chaunce to beholde. Seeme they comparable to those two, which I translated you ex tempore in bed, the last time we lay togither in Westminster? That which I eate, did I ioy, and that which I greedily gorged, As for those many goodly matters leaft I for others. I would hartily wish, you would either send me the Rules and Precepts of Arte, which you obserue in Quantities, or else followe mine, that M. Philip Sidney gaue me, being the very same which M. Drant deuised, but enlarged with M. Sidneys own iudgement, and augmented with my Obseruations, that we might both accorde and agree in one: leaste we ouerthrowe one an other, and be ouerthrown of the rest. Truste me, you will hardly beleeue what greate good liking and estimation Maister Dyer had of youre Satyricall Verses, and I, since the viewe thereof, hauing before of my selfe had speciall liking of Englishe Versifying, am euen nowe aboute to giue you some token, what, and howe well therein I am able to doe: for to tell you trueth, I minde shortely at conuenient leysure, to sette forth a Booke in this kinde, whyche I entitle, Epithalamion Thamesis, whyche Booke I dare vndertake wil be very profitable for the knowledge, and rare for the Inuention, and manner of handling. For in setting forth the marriage of the Thames: I shewe his first beginning, and offspring, and all the Countrey, that he passeth thorough, and also describe all the Riuers throughout Englande, whyche came to this Wed_ding, and their righte names, and right passage, etc. A worke beleeue me, of much labour, wherein notwithstanding Master Holinshed hath muche furthered and aduantaged me, who therein hath bestowed singular paines, in searching oute their firste heades, and sourses: and also in tracing, and dogging oute all their Course, til they fall into the Sea. O Tite, siquid, ego, Ecquid erit pretij? But of that more hereafter. Nowe, my Dreames, and dying Pellicane, being fully finished (as I partelye signified in my laste Letters) and pre_sentlye to bee imprinted, I wil in hand forthwith with my Faery Queene, whyche I praye you hartily send me with al expedition: and your frendly Letters, and long expected Iudgement wythal, whyche let not be shorte, but in all pointes suche, as you ordinarilye vse, and I extraordinarily desire. Multum vale. Westminster. Quarto Nonas Aprilis 1580. Sed, amab te, Meum Corculum tibi se ex animo commendat plurimm: iamdiu mirata, te nihil ad literas suas responsi dedisse. Vide quaeso, ne id tibi Capitale sit: Mihi cert qidem erit, nwque tibi hercle impun, vt opinor, Iterum vale, et qum voles saep. Yours alwayes to commaunde IMMERITO. |52.__The_Earl_of_Leycester_to_Mr._Secretary_Walsyngham |(1585),_pp._5-7. |27th_September,_1585. Sir, I have this night, at j a clok, received your letter, which doth signyfie that her majesties pleasure ys, I shuld stey my prepera_tions untyll I doe speake with her. I wyll lett you knowe how farr I have gonne, and than I shall obey hir majesties command_ment, being knowen from you, for stey of the rest, and to undoe of that ys donn, as hir wyll shalbe. First; uppon hir first order geven, both from hir self and also confirmyd further by your letters by hir majesties comandment, I dyspached, betwene Thursday night and yesternight iiij a cloke, above ij=c= lettres to my servaunts, and sondry my frends, to prepare themselves, according to the order I had my self, with all the spede the could possible, to serve hir majestie, under me, in the Low Countreys. I am sure there be a c of these alredy delyvered, and the rest wylbe before I can revoke them; having apointed the xviij. and xx. of the next month for ther repayr hether with all ther furnyture. I have since, and before I cam my self to the Tower, taken upp both armours and stele saddelles, as many as must cost me a good pece of money. I have sett in hand sondry furnytures also for my self. I have taken upp ij or iij vessells to carry away presently certen provissions, as bear and other neces_saryes, which must be ther before me. And, lastly, that I am most sorry for, the states that were at court cam hether to me this morning by ix a cloke, and spent ij owres with me, touching my dyspach, in so much as they werr reddy to knele to me for to make what hast for my none arryvall on the other syde that I could possibly, yea by all perswasions pressing me that I wold not stey tyll my full preparations werr made, and my companyes, but to be knowen once to be aryved at Mydelborow, or Flushing, with such as may sonest be reddy, for by that meanes I shuld be the cause of stey of greter matters than wold be wyshed thorow longer delay, for they said, it was very long alredy. They offerd me with all, that many things shuld be ther made reddy to receave me, even so sone as yf I went within vj days I shuld be prepared for. I did, hereuppon, tell them what streyt comandment I had received from hir majestie to hast me over, and what good wyll they shuld now fynd in me to performe the same. We agreed that I shuld send som servant of myne to have ther lettres over to se all things made ther reddy for me, yf I shuld followe within 14 or 15 days; I dyd so, and sent D. Doyly, whome ye know, who hath ther lettres, and, except my messenger find him, he ys gonn this morning tyde before iij a cloke; yet have I, uppon the sight of your lettre, sent one to seke him and to stey him. This farr alredy have I proceded. I told the states, also, that I steyd here_about tyll I shuld prepare for my owne speedyer dyspach. Whereuppon this sudden change doth groe, M=r= secretary, I can not imagin, nether wyll I meddell withall, but must obey her majesties pleasure yf she have determyned any alteration, which I desyer to hear from you, for yf I com to the court yt must more easyly breake out, as yt wyll notwithstanding, and I can but greve at the myserable estate of the pore aflycted; as for my owne, hit must be as the potters vessell, &c. For that I know this forenoon some of the estates wyll com ageyn to me about this cause, I wylbe absent somwhear tyll after none, by which tyme I wyll hope to receive further dyrectyon from you, which God grant to be best for her majesties own servyce and hir realme, by whose wysdom and government we are all lyke ether to stand or faule. Thus in much hast, praing you to excuse the imperfectyon of yt, being scrybled in my bed this Mon_day morning almost ij a clok. Your assured frend, R. Leycester. Addressed. To the right honourable M=r= secreatary Walsingham, hast, hast, hast. |53.__The_Earl_of_Leicester_to_Lord_Burghley_(1585),_pp._21-24. |5th_December_1585. My very good lord, I am sorry I could not take my leave of you before my departure, but I hard, which I am sorry for, that your lordships paines encreaced after my going from the court, and dyd lett your intended coming to London; but seing that oportunyty taken away, I have thought yt my parte to byd your lordship fare well by these few lynes, whearin I shall wyshe your lordship perfect health, and many yeares to serve hir majesty, comending you for the same to the mightye protectyon of the Lord. My good lord, I may not, having this occasion, be unmyndfull of these thinges also, which I did think at my leave taking to have remembred to your lordship, albeyt I know the care you always have of hir majesties good servyces. Your lordship can not but remember the cause for which hit hath pleased hir majesty to send me into the Low Countreyes. Hit was not only by your lordshp, but by the hole nombre of councellors agreed uppon, how mete and necessary hit was for hir highnes to yeld ayd and assistance for the relyfe of those aflicted countreys, her neghbours and most auncyent frendes: hit hath grown synce to nerer termes and resolucyons, aswell by hir majesties own wordes of comfort to them, as by contractes sett down betwen hir and them, by hir majesties comyssioners apointed for the purpose. I trust, my good lord, now that I have taken this voyage uppon me to serve hir majestie as she hath commanded, your lordship will be myndfull of me, poore man, but of the cause comytted now to my delinge chifely. Albeyt I have no mystrust but in so great absence, and such a servyce, I might greatly relye uppon your partyculer good wyll and regard of my self, but in this case I desier no respect nor regard of me, but of the cause, wich I besech you, my lord, I may at this farewell recomend to your wysdome and great care. Hit cannott be but whatsoever lack shall happen to me in this servyce, but the want must turn to hir majestie; and, as ther can no good, or honor, fall to this actyon, but yt must be wholy to the prayse and honour of hir majestie, so whatsoever disgrace or dyshonor shall happen (growing for lacke of our good main_tenaunce ) but yt wyll redownde to hir majestie also. Hir majestie, I se, my Lord, often tymes doth fall into myslyke of this cause, and sondrye opinions yt may brede in hir with all, but I trust in the Lord, seing hir highnes hath thus farr resolvyd and groen also to this farr executyon as she hath, and that myne and other mennes pore lyves and substances are adventured for hir sake, and by hir comaundement, that she wyll fortefie and mainteyn hir owen actyon to the full performance of that she hath agreed on. Than shall ther be no dowbt, but assured hope, of all good success, to the glorye of God and perpetuall honour to hir maj_estie. My good lord, you may conceave my meaning without more wordes used to you, and the rather for that I desiered Mr. secre_tary to imparte a lettre to yow I wrote to him. I besech your lordship have this cause even to your hart, as yt doth appear yow have donn by consentynge to the adventure of your eldeth sonne in this servyce; for this I must say to you, yf hir majesty fayle with such suplye and maintenance as shalbe fytt, all she hath donn hetherto wylbe utterly lost and cast away, and wee hir pore subiectes no better than abiectes. And, good my Lord, for my last, have me only thus farr in your care, that in these thinges which hir Majesty and yow all have agreed and confirmed for me to doe, that I be not made a metamorphocys, that I shall not know what to doe. And so the Lord have you in his keping, preserve hir majestie for ever, and send me good spede in this servyce. in som hast this 5th of December, on my way to the sey syde; by your lordships assured frend, R Leycester. My lord, no man feleth comfort but they that have cause of grefe, and no men have so much nede of relyfe and comfort as those that goe in these dowbtfull servyces. I pray you, my lord, help us to be kept in comfort, for we wyll hazard our lyves for yt. Addressed. To the right honourable my very good lord, the lord Burley, lord treasurer of England. |54.__The_Earl_of_Leicester_to_Mr._Secretary_Walsyngham. |(1585),_pp._46-49. |31st_December,_1585. Mr secretary, I cam hether to the Hay, uppon Monday last, whear I was very honorably receaved, all the states being assem_bled together for that purpose, to make as much shew as they could devyse of their good wylles to hir majesty, as in many ora_tions, pagentes, and such lyke, was expressed, besyde the people with great joye cryed, " God save the quene, God save the quene," in every place of the stretes as I passed. The next day all the hole states generall cam to me, and ther openly ageyn ther chauncelor Leonius (some call him Longonius) made a longe oratyon in thankes and prayses to the quenes ma_jesty for hir great clemency, bounty, and goodnes, shewyd to these porre aflycted countreys; attrybuting all their good and hap_pines, under God, to hir majesty only. As sone as he had donn than cam comyssioners from partyculer provinces, as from Utrycht, Geldars, and Fresland, besides sondry spetyall towens, as Anster_dam, Leydon, Auchuson, and others, all which must nedes use ther gratulacion, with oratyons, as the other dede, and much to the same effect all with thankes and prayse to hir majesty. At all this cerymony-doing was ther a French secretary, sent hether v or vj [days] before with lettres from the king. He sayd yt was about merchantes matters, but in dede contrary, only to have impeached, yf he could, this bynding themselves to hir majesty as they doe. But the states gave him no audyence all the while, alleaging they were occupied about the servyce of the quene of Englond, which they wold dyspach before all princes in the world. This fellow, being present at all this solemne dealing with me, tooke yt in such snuffe as he came prowdly to the states, and offred his letters, saing: "Now I trust you have donn all your sacrafyces to the quene of Englond, and may yeld me some ley_sure to rede my masters letters." They so shooke him upp, and with such termes, naming hir majesty in skorn, as they tooke yt, as they hurld him his letters, and bidd him content himself, they wold first dischardge all the least dewtyes whatsoever to hir majesty before they wold hear him. So they have every day synce sett about the contract with hir majesty, spetyally how to gyve me answere for hir full satysfaction touching ther abyllytye to maynteyn ther warrs, whearin I hear credybly hir majesty shalbe well satysfied, and further then any of us looked for. And both roundlye and frankley they goe to worke, that ye shall se they wyll doe indede more than ever they promysed, considering her majesties denyall [of] the souerauntye and name of protector. For they meane, and must doe it, for the hole people wyll have yt, that hir majesty shall have in hir handes the hole bestowing aswell of ther money and contrybucions as of ther men of warr; and the desire no longer hir good favour to them than they shall deall in all sincerytye with hir. Wherein yt apperes that all the comyssioners have wonderfully sett fourth her majesty to them all here, and Paull Buys hath donn his parte thorowly, so hath Walk also. And all thinges alredy [are carried on] with the most unyversall obedyence of hir majestys name that ever I sawe. And flatly yt apperes now, they wyll no other authorytye but under hir majesty, nor that heir treasure nor lyves shalbe at the dys_posing of any but hir majesty, which, yf you saw that we se here, ye would wonder at [what] these people doe, and ar able to doe, and yf god had not moved hir majesty to send when she dyd, the prince of Parma had byn by this tyme in the best and greatest tounes they have; but ye sahll hear others in this and not me. And as I wrote before how hir majestyes dealinges here ar alredy blowen into Germany, so this day the elector brought me letters agayn newly com there, whereby they wryte most honor_ably of hir majesty, and the duke of Sax geues much better eye than he did, synce his wyfes death, and lyke to marry ageyn with the hows of Hanalt, a great protestant and a great howse. He hath sent to speak with Seiguro, and very lyke to joyn with the other princes, who ar agreed, not only to send a messenger to the French king, but to lett him now, that they will com to the ayd of the king of Navare, who ys most iniuiously delt withall by the practyce of the pope and king of Spayn. The ellector vowede to me that they have donn more in these causes within this xx dayes, synce they understood of her majesties resolucyon agaynst the king of Spayn, aswell by Sir Francis Drakes going into the indyes as her sending into these countreys, than they have don this x yeres, or wold have don this twelmonths yet. God send hir majesty to think of his mercyfull dealinges accordingly. The king of Denmark also hath joyned and encouraged greatly these princes. Hit ys told me by the elector that dyvers of them meane to send hether to me, to contragulate hir majestyes gra_cious doings toward his countrey. I have no other nuesytull these states have fully ended ther consultacions, which wylbe to morrow, as I hear, and wholy, with_out contradyctyon, to be at the devotyon and dispocyon of hir majesty absolutly. Of this ye shall hear as sone as I shall know ther further answere. Two of our men of warr of Flushing hath taken ij Dunkirk men; one sonk and drouned all the souldyers and maryners. Thus fare ye well, sir, this last of December. Your assured frend, R. Leycester. Hit ys sayd that the princes ar resolvyd to entreate Cassymere to be generall, and shall have xxv=m= men levyed by the princes to goe with him into France. |55.__The_Earl_of_Leicester_to_Mr._Secretary_Walsyngham. |(1586),_pp._64/65. |15th_January_1585-6. Mr secretary, as you shall shortly hear of our hole proceedinges by Mr. Davyson, so must I entreat you most ernestly, even as the well doing of my poore servyce here may be tendred, but spetyally for the honor and servyce of hir majestie, that you wyll be meanes that there may be a good quantytye of money sent over, as ther ys behind of the hole some her majestie dyd sett done, as I take yt, above lxx=m= li. So you wyll procure, as much as in [you] may lye, that the most parte may be sent over. Hit shalbe the worst, and the most, she shalbe charged with, but, at the beginning, xx=m= li. shall stand in more stead than xl=m=li. iiij monthys hence, and I am well perswaded, as you shall see at Mr Davysons coming, that they here have good meanes to maynteyn ther warrs, and when we make reconing at home of a defencyble warr, hit must be so de_fencyble, as we must be able to have always vj or vij=m= men, horse and footemen, to frunt the enymye, who, all this hard wether, hath gon from place to place with iiij=m= footemen and xv=c= horse, and at this day he kepes the fyld, and hath putt in danger iij or iiij townes of great importance, as Brabee, Wenloe, Vianna, and Bomeley, as also now he ys come uppon Zeland syde, and wyll doe what he can to Lylle and Lyskinshook, whear ther hath byn much decay of soldyer, but ther ys doing all that ys possible for defence, for otherwyse we ar no way able to resist them, which they know, and doth make them presume the more at this tyme. But the states have agreed, and doe find ther ys no remedy, but we must erect a camp to brydell this lyberty of the enymye, or ells he wyll kepe a warr this xx yere, and make us all wery, and, this way being taken, I warrant ye we wyll shortly wery him as well, and yet never hazard any battell, which he wyll be as loth to come to as we. I am in hope of an enterpryse to tak place shortly which ye wylbe gladd to hear of. God send yt to fall out as I looke for, and that ye may provyde us spedyly with a good some of money, being all one to hir majestie, and I wyll undertake she shall com to no furder chardge whatsoever. I wyll help to ease hir, before the end, of a good parte of this, yf she doe but contynew hir fa_vour and good countenaunce to this cause only, as I trust she wyll, or elles she knoweth not the lacke she wyll fynd of the frendshipp of these countreys. As, uppon my honour and truth to you, they were almost utterly gonn yf I had not aryved when I dyd. Thus, referring ye for the rest to Mr. Davyson at his coming, I wyll take my leave, protestyng my hole care and endeavour his to doe hir majestie acceptable servyce, or elles God not to lett me lyve, yf otherwyse yt shuld be. In much hast this xv. of Januery, Your assured frend, R. Leycester. |Addressed. To my very honorable good frend sir Francis Walsingham knight, principall secretrye to her majesty. |56.__Howard_to_Burghley_(1587),_pp._23/24. |December_22. My very good Lord: -- I now remain aboard the Bear; and as yet the provisions for the ships could not be taken all in by reason of the weather, which hath been so tempestuous as that no boats could lie aboard them to put in the same; yet I hope that within two or three days all things will be in a readiness. Here is a very sufficient and able company of sailors as ever were seen; and because their long journeys out of all places of this realm, and this bad season, makes them unprovided of apparel and such necessaries, it were good for their relief to pay them one month's wages before hand. Many great charges extraordinary hath grown this quarter, which I could hardly have believed unless with mine own eyes and good examination I had seen. Wherefore in respect of those causes, and for the furtherance of service, I am to entreat your good Lordship to give order that the rest of the warrant lately granted for the whole navy may be paid to Mr Hawkyns, and 2.000l. more upon the old warrant of 29.000l. for the furnishing of those extra_ordinary charges, wherein your Lordship shall further a good service. We have entered into sea victuals this day, being the 22nd of this instant December, and not before, for the preserving of the six weeks' victuals. And Mr. Quarles hath sent down divers supplies more than allowance--for the numbers were great before we entered into the six weeks' victuals. Wherefore I pray your Lordship that he may be paid the rest of his allowed warrant, and that consideration for the rest which I spake to your Lordship for heretofore. And so I bid your good lordship most heartily fare_well. From aboard the Bear, the 22d of December, 1587. Your Lordship's most assured loving friend to command, C. Howard. |57.__Howard_to_Burghley_(1587),_pp._25/26. |December_24. My honourable good Lord: -- I do understand by Mr. Csar how much I am bound unto your Lord_ship for your honourable favour. I have no ways to recompense it but with my love and service, which your Lordship shall be most assured ever of. It may be there hath been some report made to your lorship of some chance that happened here, before my coming down, by fire in one of the ships; and because I do understand that it is reported that it should be done by Ascott, I do assure your Lord_ship it was after this manner. There were two poor knaves that came from Westchester that strived for a place to hang up their netting for to lie in, and the one of them had a piece of a candle in his hand, and in strving, the candle fell down where there lay some oakum. It might have bred some mischief, but it was quickly put out. It was in the Elizabeth Bonaventure; but I hope to make them a warning to otheres to beware. I am bold to send you by this bearer, my man, the copy of a proclamation which I have drawn and proclaimed in my own ship, and shall be this day and to-morrow proclaimed in the rest. I am but a bad drawer of a proclamation, but it shall serve, I hope for to prevent some ill that might happen. My good Lord, this bearer, my man, shall always attend at the court, and shall attend on your Lord_ship always to know your pleasure, if you will com_mand him anything unto me. And so, resting always most beholden unto your Lordship and most ready to do your Lordship any service, I humbly take my leave. Aboard her Majesty's good ship the White Bear, the 24th of December 1587. Your Lordship's most assured to command C. Howard. |58.__Howard_to_Burghley (1587),_pp._45/46. |January_23. My honourable and good Lord: -- I have received your Lordship's favourable letter, and am much bound unto your Lordship for your Lordship's favours. I would to God your Lordship's health and strength were answerable to your mind; then I am sure this company here with me should be happy to see your Lordship here. My Lord, on Wednesday last I went to Harwich to see the town and the haven, which I had not seen this 27 years. My Lord, it is a place to be made much of, for the haven hath not his fellow in all respects not in this realm, and specially as long as we have such enemies so near us as they be in the Low Countries, and not more assured than we are of Scotland. My Lord, we can bring all the ships that her Majesty hath, aground there in 3 springs. I know not that we can do so in any place else but here at Chatham. That which is a-doing above the town will be to very good purpose for any sudden [attack], and for my part I wish it were as strong as Flushing. I received a letter from my Lord Cobham, of an enterprise that is sent down to burn all such ships of her Majesty's as shall ride before the Rammekens or thereabouts. I received this letter as I was half the way comng homewards from Harwich. I presently sent away a pinnace, with John Wynter in her, your Lordship's servant, and did send the advertisement unto Sir William Russell, with a letter of my own; and likewise I did write unto the captains of her Majesty's ships, with certain in_structions, which, if the device be attempted, I believe you shall hear they shall smart for their device. There is two ships and a pinnace: their victuals cometh out about an eight days hence, so that then they will come away. In the meantime, if nothing be done already, I doubt not but they shall safely come away. My good Lord, God send you ever well to do: and so I bid your Lordship most heartily farewell. From aboard the Bear, the 23rd of January, 1587. Your Lordship's most assured always to command, C. Howard. |59.__Howard_to_Walsyngham_(1587),_pp._46-48. |January_24. Sir:--I most humbly thank you for your letters. I cannot tell what to think of my brother Stafford's advertisement; for if it be true that the King of Spain's forces be dissolved, I would not wish the Queen's Majesty to be at this charges that she is at; but if it be but a device, knowing that a little thing maketh us too careless, then I know not what may come of it. But this I am sure of ; if her Majesty would have spent but a 1,000 crowns to have had some intelligence, it would have saved her twenty times as much. Assure yourself he knoweth what we do here; and if the army be or do dissolve, it is the preparation that her Majesty hath made that is the cause; for he cannot abide this heat that is provided for him. He did never think that he would thus have provided for his coming, but that the number of false alarums that he hath given her Majesty would have made her to have taken no alarum, and so to have had the vantage; and the chopping up of his friends here I am sure he doth not like; and if they be up, I wish they should continue so till there be a good peace, which I pray to God to send us. Sir, if your next advertisements do assure the dissolving of the army in Spain, then it were good we did so here; yet if the Duke of Parma continue his, and that there be any doubt of anything intended for Scotland, put but three or four more ships to them in the Narrow Seas and I dare assure you it shall beat any power he shall be able to make, and impeach him of any attempt in Scotland; and I will take upon me the service myself; for I assure you it doth grieve me to see her majesty at more charges than is needful, and this charge will not be great. I would fain keep the Narrow Seas three or four months; I persuade myself I shall do some service. Upon your next advertisement, as the cause upon that shall require, I will write to you, Sir, my good friend, my opinion, and then you may use it as you shall think best. And so I pray you to write me frankly; for I do assure you I will take it kindly and friendly at your hands, and think myself much beholden unto you for it; for I may sometimes, upon a good conceit in my opinion, make such a journey as I did now to Harwich; and yet it may not be so well taken there; but I know no cause why it should be but well taken. I do assure you, on my honour, it cost not the Queen's Majesty one halfpenny, nor shall not, when I make any such journey. I will rather spend myself one hundred pounds than to spend her one penny. Thus, good Mr. Secretary I am bold with you, as my special good friend; and so bid you most heartily farewell, and God send you health and strength. From the Bear, the 24th of January. Your assured loving friend to use, C. Howard. |60.__Howard_to_Walsyngham_(1587),_pp._48-50. |January_27. Sir: I most heartily thank you for your letter and for your advertisements. If it were not for you I should live in a dead place for hearing of any_thing. Touching Sir Francis Drake, I have likewise received a letter from him with the like advertise_ment. There happened a mischance in one of his ships at Portsmouth, that a piece broke and killed a man, with some other hurt. If you would write a word or two unto him to spare his powder, it would do well. Sir, I send you herewith enclosed all the copies of the letters from my Lord Chamberlain again, which I most heartily thank you for, and I pray to God the Scottish King do deceive me, but I am afeared he will not. For my own part, I have made of the French King, the Scottish King, and the King of spain, a Trinity that I mean never to trust to be saved by; and I would others were, in that, of my opinion. Sir, there was never, since England was England, such a stratagem and mask made to deceive Eng_land withal as this is of the treaty of peace. I pray God we have not cause to remember one thing that was made of the Scots by the Englishmen; that we do not curse for this a long grey beard with a white head, witless, that will make all the world think us heartless. You know whom I mean. I have received a letter from Sir Henry Palmer, that there is at Dunkirk divers hoys and lighters, that be filled with ballast and great stones, surely [means] for the stopping of some haven. I will have a watch on them. I pray you, Sir, send me word when you think the Commissioners will be sent over, that I may have all things ready for them; and I pray you let me know if any go in Sir Amyas Poulet's place; for if he be able to go himself, if I may know of it, I will have especial care of him, that he may go at ease. Sir, if there be at any time any matter of importance wherein I may do any service there with you, I can be quickly there and here again. I pray you, Sir, let it be thought on, as you see cause upon your advertisements, it will ask a good time to furnish our fleet again with men as they were. I do not look to see it ever bettered. I pray God it be as well when there shall be cause. And so giving you most hearty thanks for your most friendly dealing with me in all causes, and your friendly remembrance, I bid you most heartily farewell. From aboard her Majesty's good ship the White Bear, the 27th of January, 1587. Your assured loving friend, C. HOWARD. |61.__Howard_to Walsyngham_(1587),_pp._50-52. |January_28. Sir: -- I had forgotten in my last letter to answer the matter you did write in touching Captain Morgan, my man. If he had been here I would have sent him unto you; but he is extreme sick at London, and, as I do understand, in some danger; which I am very sorry for, for he is a tall gentle_man. He hath the charge of all my soldiers in my ship, and hath done his duty very well. I hope he will answer all honestly and well. Sir, if the Commissioners be once gone over and that there be a surcease of arms, it shall be but folly and to no purpose for me to lie here. I think both I and the noblemen, leaving sufficient lieu_tenants in our ships, and the officers, as Sir W. Wynter, Mr. Hawkyns and Mr. Borough, remain here with the navy will be sufficient; for before these ships can have their full number of men again it will be a month to gather them, do what we can. And I pray to God we have them when we shall need; for many are gone abroad, and specially the chiefest men; God send me to see such a company together again when need is. I protest it before God I write not this to you because I am weary with being here; for if it were not for her Majesty's presence I had rather live in the company of these noble ships than in any place. And yet would I be glad that there were something to do. I am more sorrier for the noblemen than any ways for myself; for I would have them save, to spend when need shall be. I do assure you they live here bountifully, and it will be hard finding of such noblemen as these be, so well affected to this service and that will love the sea so well as they do. Sir, if you think that my continuing here with the navy serve to good purpose, I shall like well of it; but methinks if there be a surcease of arms, then my lying here will make a jest to many, and they have reason. I think it will be a most fittest time to ground our ships in, for now, at our coming out, it was you know on such a sudden as we could not ground but two or three of the middle sort, so as the great ships were not grounded. I have, with the advice of the officers and masters, thought good to begin with some the next spring, and so in a three springs dispatch them all, and have them all in most excellent order by the midst of March, all save the men; and I doubt not but the ships shall prove some notable liars, and if cause fall out, do a better day of service for England than ever ships did for it yet. But this assure yourself if the forces of Spain do come before the midst of April, there will be as much ado to have men to furnish us, as ever was; but men must have, or else the ships will do no good. God knows it is but a bare sight to see us now to that it was, and I would not wish any to take the pains to come to see us till we are newly sup_plied, when cause shall be. Sir, God send you well to do, and continuance of your health, and so I bid you most heartily farewell. From aboard her Majesty's good ship the Bear, the 28th of January. Your assured loving friend, C. HOWARD. |62.__Howard_to_Burghley_(1587),_pp._79/80. |February_21. My honourable and good Lord: -- I have received your letter even as I was weighing to go out; and for the first part, I am most heartily to give your Lordship thanks for your honourable favour. I will acknowledge it with all my love, and ready to do you any service. For Mr. Hawkyns' bargain: he is presently to repair to the Court, where he shall be best able to answer in his own defence; but this much I will say to your Lordship: I have been aboard of every ship that goeth out with me, and in every place where any may creep, and I do thank God that they be in the estate they be in; and there is never a one of them that knows what a leak means. I have known when an Admiral of England hath gone out, and two ships in fleet could not say so. There is none that goeth out now but I durst go to the Rio de la Plata in her; and yet the Mary Rose and the Swallow be with me, who were ships in the King's Majesty's her father's time. And therefore I dare presume greatly that those that have been made in her Majesty's time be very good and serviceable, and shall prove them arrant liars that have reported the contrary. And I thank God her Majesty, I hope, may be well assured of their goodness; yet every_thing hath his time, and must be helped as need requireth. My Lord, I had no meaning to carry away all the officers. I have none with me but Sir W. Wynter. I leave Mr. Hawkyns and Mr. Borough behind to wait on your Lordship, and to put the four great ships in readiness, which we shall greatly need if the Spanish forces come out. And so, my Lord, having no more leisure to write at large, being under sail, I bid your Lordship most heartily farewell. the 21st of February, at 12 o'clock the afternoon. Your Lordship's most assured to command, C. HOWARD. |63.__Sir_F._Drake_to_the_Queen_(1588),_p._68. |August_8. The absence of my Lord Admiral, most gracious Sovereign, hath emboldened me to put my pen to the paper. On Friday last, upon good consideration, we left the army of Spain so far to the northwards as they could neither recover England nor Scotland. And within three days after, we were entertained with a great storm, considering the time of the year; the which storm, in many of your judgments, hath not a little annoyed the enemy's army. If the wind hinder it not, I think they are forced to Denmark; and that for divers causes. Certain it is that many of their people were sick, and not a few killed. Their ships, sails, ropes, and masts needeth great reparations, for that they had all felt of your Majesty's force. If your Majesty thought it meet, it [would not be] amiss you sent presently to Den_mark to understand the truth, and to deal with their King according to your Majesty's great wisdom. I have not written this whereby your Majesty should diminish any of your forces. Your Highness's enemies are many; yet God hath and will hear your Majesty's prayers, putting your hand to the plough for the defence of his truth, as your Majesty hath begun. God, for his christ's sake, bless your sacred Majesty, now and ever. Written aboard your Majesty's very good ship the Revenge, this 8th of August, 1588. Your Majesty's faithful vassal, FRA. DRAKE. |64.__Drake_to_Walsyngham_(1588b),_pp._97-100. |August_10. Most Honourable: -- The army of Spain I think certainly to be put either with Norway or Denmark. There are divers causes which moveth me so to think. The first, we understand by divers prisoners which we have taken, that generally, through all their whole fleet, there was no one ship free of sick people. Secondly, their ships, masts, sails and ropes were very much decayed and spoiled by our great shot. Thirdly, at Calais, by fire, we forced them to cut many of their cables, whereby they lost many of their anchors, which of necessity they must seek to supply. Further, if they had had none of these former great causes of distress, yet the winds and storm, with the wind westerly, as it was, hath forced them thither. And I assure myself that whensoever her Majesty shall hear of their arrival in any of these coasts, that her Highness shall be advertised both of their great distress and of no small loss amongst them; for I assure your Honour, her Majesty's good ships felt much of that storm, and lost many of their boats and pinnaces, with some anchors and cables; yet were we fair by our own shore and the wind right off the land. Some amongst us will not let to say that they are in Scotland. I cannot think so, for that we had no wind whereby they were able to recover any place of the mainland of Scotland; without it were some of the out isles, which are no meet places to relieve their so many great wants. Norway, or the out isles of Scotland, can relieve them but with water and a few cows, or bad beef, and some small quantity of goats and hens, which is to them as nothing. And yet these bad reliefs are to be had but in few places, and their roads dangerous. The only thing which is to be looked for is, that if they should go to the King of Denmark, and there have his friendship and help for all their re_liefs, none can better help their wants in all these parts than he; for that he is a Prince of great shipping, and can best supply his wants which now the Duke of Medina the Sidonia standeth in need of, as great anchors, cables, masts, ropes and victuals; and what the King of Spain's hot crowns will do in cold countries for mariners and men, I leave to your good Lordship, which can best judge thereof. We left a pinnace of her Majesty's, the Advice, and a fine caravel of my own to attend the fleet of Spain, when we left them; but what is become of them [in] that great storm, or whether they may be stayed in any other country, as they may, I know not. My poor opinion is, that it were most meet to send a good ship and some fine bark, with some very sufficient person, to deal effectually from her Majesty with the King of Denmark, as he shall find the cause to require; and to send the true report back with all speed possible, that they may be the better prevented; for no doubt but that which they are able to do they will presently put it in execution. The winter will overtake them else in those parts. If they stay in the sound this winter, I hope many of the Spaniards will seek Spain by land. The Prince of Parma, I take him to be as a bear robbed of her whelps; and no doubt but, being so great a soldier as he is, that he will presently, if he may, undertake some great matter; for his rest will stand now thereupon. It is for certain that the Duke of sidonia standeth somewhat jealous of him, and the Spaniards begin to hate him, their honour being touched so near; many of their lives spent--I assure your Honour not so little as five thousand men less than when first we saw them near Ply_mouth --divers of their ships sunk and taken; and they have nothing to say for themselves in excuse, but that they came to the place appointed, which was at Calais, and there stayed the Duke of Parma's coming above 24 hours, yea, and until they were fired thence. So this is my poor conclusion. If we may re_cover near Dunkirk this night or to-morrow morn_ing, so as their power may see us returned from the chase, and ready to encounter them if they once sally, that the next news you shall hear will be the one to mutiny against the other; which when that shall come to pass, or whether they mutiny or no, let us all, with one consent, both high and low, magnify and praise our most gracious and merciful God for his infinite and unspeakable goodness to_wards us; which I protest to your good Lordships that my belief is that our most gracious Sovereign, her poor subjects, and the Church of God hath opened the heavens in divers places, and pierced the ears of our most merciful father, unto whom, in Christ Jesu, be all honour and glory. so be it; Amen, Amen. Written with much haste, for that we are ready to set sail to prevent the Duke of Parma this southerly wind, if it please God; for truly my poor opinion is that we should have a great eye unto him. From her Majesty's very good ship the Revenge, this 10th of August, 1588. Your Honour's faithfully to be commanded always, FRA. DRAKE. For that we were very near to set sail, I most humbly beseech your Honour to pardon my pen, for that I am forced to write the very copy of that letter which I have sent to my Lord Chancellor. Since the writing hereof, I have spoken with an English_man which came from Dunkirk yesterday, who saith upon his life there is no fear of the fleet. Yet would I willingly see it. Your Honour's ever, FRA. DRAKE. |65.__Drake_to_Walsyngham_(1588),_p._101. |August_11. Most Honourable: -- The sudden sending for of my very good Lord, my Lord Admiral, hath caused me to scribble these few lines. First most humbly beseeching your Honour to deliver this letter unto her Majesty as a testification of my Lord Amiral's most honourable using of me in this action, where it hath pleased his good Lordship to accept of that which I have sometimes spoken, and commended that little service which I was able, much better than in either of them both I was able to deserve. Wherein, if I have not performed as much as was looked for, yet I persuade myself his good Lordship will confess I have been dutiful. Touching any other causes that either hath been done or is to be done, let me pray pardon of your Honour, for I assure your Honour that my Lord Admiral hath so sufficiently instructed himself daily, as I faithfully believe his good Lordship will thoroughly satisfy her Majesty and your Honours what is now best to be done. Thus humbly taking my leave, I beseech God to bless the work of her Majesty's hands always. Written aboard her Majesty's good ship the Revenge, at midnight, this 11th of August, 1588. Your Honour's faithfully to be commanded, FRA. DRAKE. |66.__Drake_to_Walsyngham_(1588),_pp._146-149. |August_23. Right Honourable: -- The uncertainty of the reports which daily come unto us out of Calais, Dunkirk, Ostend, Flushing, from my Lord of Hun_tingdon, Scotland, and such ships and pinnaces which have been sent out for discovery by my Lord Admiral, make me rather to rest upon mine own conjecture than upon any of them, they disagreeing so much as they do; the one affirming that the Duke of Sidonia, with his fleet, is coming back again, that the Duke of Parma is marching presently to embark to be conducted by him; the other affirm_ing that it is for certain that the fleet of Spain is past without Scotland for their way homewards. Which reports are quite contrary. My poor opinion is, that if their fleet chance to return, it is altogether for that the wind will not permit them good passage to go about the other way at this time of the year, because it is most subject to westerly winds. This wind that now bloweth, if it be not more easterly there than it is here, could hardly permit such a fleet, for that they shall feel a great wind, for to set sail to pass on the back side [of] Scotland and Ireland, which may be the cause that of necessity they must be forced this way for Spain. Farther, my judgment [is] that the Duke of Sidonia, [with] his fleet, shall [needs] jump with fair weather, the highest of a spring, [with] good wind, and the Duke of Parma embarKing all in one day. This were very meet for them; for if any one of these fail them, they shall never perform as much as they have promised to the King, their master. My reason is this. The most part of the ships of the Duke of Parma are small, and, being pestered with men of war, must of necessity have fair weather; and -- as I am credibly given to understand -- they must have a spring to bring their shipping both out of Dunkirk, Nieuport, and Sluys. Now, for the Duke of medina his fleet, there is [no] harbour for them upon that coast, so that to stir it requireth fair weather; which, when it happen that we should find there, he is like, God will_ing, to have unquiet rest. And yet, with my consent, we ought much more to have regard unto the Duke of Parma and his soldiers than to the Duke of Sidonia and his ships, for that our sands will take a strong party with us against his great ships, under water. My poor opinion is that the Duke of Parma should be vigilantly looked upon for these 20 days, although the army of Spain return not this way; for of them I have no great doubt, although there be great cause for us all to watch carefully and defend mightily those many and proud enemies which seek to supplant the most honourable crown of England from our most gracious Sovereign, whom God de_fend, as he hath most graciously done for his great mercy's sake. I would advertise your Honour of some defects in her Majesty's army, but that my very good Lord, the Lord Admiral, hath written unto your Honour thereof at large. This is my poor opinion of her Majesty's [army], that the [threatening] of the enemy will put a great part of [their] weakness from her Majesty's good subjects, and no doubt but they will fight valiantly. although I [find] my Lord Admiral well affected, when fair weather [is], to go for the coast of Flanders, yet I would your Honour should animate us for_ward; for there are many causes that might move us to be there more than we are, and much better for us, and better service. Thus humbly taking my leave of your Honour, I rest desiring God to give us all grace to live in his fear, so shall we not need greatly to fear the enemy. From aboard her Majesty's very good ship the Revenge, this 23rd of August, 1588. Your Honour's most willing to be commanded, FRA. DRAKE. I have sent to your Honour a copy, Englished, out of a letter sent from Don Pedro de Valdes to the [King his master], which doth deliver the time of their victualling, and of some discontentment which was between the Duke and him. Let me humbly beseech your Honour that we may be put in mind here that it were good we saw the coast of Flanders as often as we might. I think it one of the best services we can have in hand. It must be known I have written thus much to your Honour. God bless us all, and give us grace to fear his justice. I crave pardon. I have no time to read that which I have caused to be written. Your Honour's faithfully, FRA. DRAKE. |67.__Greene_(1592),_pp._59-62. To those Gentlemen his quondam acquaintance, that spend their wits in making playes, R. G. wisheth a better exercise, and wisedome to preuent his extremities. If wofull experience may mooue you, gentlemen, to beware, or vnheard-of wretchednes intreat you to take heed, I doubt not but you will look backe with sorrow on your time past, and endeuour with repentance to spend that which is to come. Wonder not (for with thee will I first beginne), thou famous gracer of tragedians, that Green who hath said with thee, like the foole in his heart, "There is no God", should now giue glorie vnto his greatnesse; for penetrating in his power, his hand lyes haeuy vpon me, he hath spoken vnto me with a voyce of thunder,and I haue felt he is a God that can punish enemies. Why should thy excellent wit, his gift, be so blinded that thou shouldest giue no glory to the giuer? Is it pestilent Machiuilian policie that thou hast studied; O peevish follie! what are his rules but meere confused mockeries, able to extirpate in small time the generation of mankinde? for if sic volo, sic iubeo, holde in those that are able to commaund, and if it be lawfull fas et nefas, to doo any thing that is beneficiall, onely turants should possesse the earth, and they, striuing to exceed in tiranny, should ech to other be a slaughterman, till, the mightyest out-liuing all, one stroke were left for Death, that in one age mans life should end. The broacher of this dyabolicall atheisme is dead, and in his life had neuer the felicitie he aymed at, but, as he beganne in craft, liued in feare, and ended in dispaire. Quam inscrutabilia sunt Dei iudicia! This murderer of many brethren had his conscience seared like Cayne; this betrayer of him that gaue his life for him inherited the portion of Judas; this apostata perished as ill as Julian: and wilt thou, my friend, be his disciple; Looke vnto mee, by him perswaded to that libertie, and thou shalt finde it an infernall bondage. I know the least of my demerits merit this miserable death; but wilfull striuing against knowne truth exceedeth all the terrors of my soule. Deferre not, with mee, till this last point of extremitie; for little knowest thou how in the end thou shalt be visited. With thee I ioyne young Juuenall, that byting satyrist, that lastly with mee together writ a comedie. Sweet boy, might I aduise thee, be aduised, and get not many enemies by bitter words: inueigh against vaine men, for thou canst doo it, no man better, no man so well; thou hast a libertie to reprooue all and name none: for one being spoken to, all are offended, - none being blamed, no man is iniuried. Stop shallow water still running, it will rage; tread on a worme, and it will turne; then blame not schollers who are vexed with sharpe and bitter lines, if they reprooue thy too much liberty of reproofe. And thou no lesse deseruing then the other two, in some things rarer, in nothing inferiour, driuen, as myselfe, to extreame shifts, a little haue I to say to thee; and, were it not an idolatrous oath, I would sweare by sweet S. George, thou art vnworthy better hap, sith thou dependest on so meane a stay. Base-minded men all three of you, if by my misery yee bee not warned; for vnto none of you, like me, sought those burs to cleaue; those puppits, I meane, that speake from our mouths, those anticks garnisht in our colours. Is it not strange that I to whome they all haue bin beholding, is it not like that you to whom they all haue bin beholding, shall, were yee in that case that I am now, be both of them at once forsaken? Yes, trust them not; for there is an vpstart crow  beautified with our feathers, that, with his Tygres heart wrapt in a players hyde, supposes hee is as well able to bombast out a blanke-verse as the best of you; and beeing an absolute Iohannes-fac-totum, is in his owne conceyt the onely Shake-scene in a countrey. Oh, that I might intreat your rare wittes to bee imployed in more profitable courses, and let these apes imitate your past excellence, and neuer more acquaynte them with your admyred inuentions! I knowe the best husband of you all will neuer prooue an usurer, and the kindest of them all will neuer prooue a kinde nurse: yet, whilst you may, seeke your better maisters; for it is pitty men of such rare wits should bee subiect to the pleasures of such rude groomes. In this I might insert two more that both haue writte against these buckram gentlemen: but let their owne worke serue to witnesse against theyr owne wicked_nesse, if they perseuer to maintaine any more such peasants. For other new commers, I leaue them to the mercie of these painted monsters, who, I doubt not, will driue the best-minded to despise them: for the rest, it skills not though they make a ieast at them. But now returne I again to you three, knowing my miserie is to you no newes; and let me heartilie intreate you to be warned by my harmes. Delight not, as I haue done, in irreligious oaths, for from the blasphemers house a curse shall not depart. Despise drunkennes, which wasteth the wit, and maketh men all equall vnto beasts. Flie lust, as the deathsman of the soule, and defile not the temple of the Holy Ghost. Abhorre those epicures whose loose life hath made religion loath_some to your eares; and when they sooth you with tearms of mastership, remember Robert Greene, whome they haue often so flattered, perishes now for want of comfort. Remember, gentlemen, your liues are like so many light tapers, that are with care deliuered to all of you to maintaine: these with wind-puft wrath may be ex_tinguished_, with drunkennesse put out, with negligence let fall; for mans time of itselfe is not so short but it is more shortened by sinne. The fire of my life is now at the last snuffe, and the want of wherewith to sustaine it, there is no substance for life to feed on. Trust not, then, I beseech yee, left to such weake stayes; for they are as changeable in minde as in many attires. Well, my hand is tyred, and I am forst to leaue where I would beginne; for a whole booke cannot contain their wrongs, which I am forst to knit up in some few lines of wordes. Desirous that you should liue, though himselfe be dying, ROBERT GREEENE. |68.__Greene_to_his_wife_(1592),_pp._62/63. A Letter written to his wife, found with this booke after his death. The remembrance of many wrongs offered thee, and thy vnreprooued vertues, adde greater sorrow to my miserable state then I can vtter or thou conceiue. Neyther is it lessened by consideration of thy absence (though shame would let mee hardly behold thy face), but exceedingly aggrauated for that I cannot (as I ought) to thy owne selfe reconcile myselfe, that thou mightest witnesse my inward woe at this instant, that haue made thee a wofull wife fo so long a time. But equal haeuen hath denied that comfort, giuing, at my last neede, like succour as I haue sought all my life: being in this extremitie as voyde of helpe as thou has beene of hope. Reason would that, after so long waste, I should not send thee a childe to bring thee greater charge: but consider hee is the fruite of thy wombe, in whose face regard not the fathers so much as thy owne perfections. Hee is yet Greene, and may grow strait, if he be carefully tended: otherwise apt enough (I feare me) to follow his fathers folly. That I haue offended thee highly, I know; that thou canst forgette my iniuries, I hardly beleeue: yet perswade I my selfe, if thou saw my wretched estate, thou couldest not but lament it; nay, certainely I know thou wouldest. All my wrongs muster themselues about me; euery euill at once plagues me. For my contempt of God I am contemned of men; for my swearing and forswearing no man will beleeue me; for my gluttony I suffer hunger; for my drunkennes, thirst; for my adulterie, vlcerous sores. Thus God hath cast mee downe, that I might bee humbled, and punished me for example of others sinne; and although he suffers me in this world to perish without succour, yet trust I in the world to come to find mercy, by the merits of my Sauiour, to whom I commend thee and commit my soule. 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