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PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY

PURCHASED BY THE

MRS. ROBERT LENOX KENNEDY

CHURCH HISTORY FUND

BR 756 .C58 v. 6: 1

The church historians of England

THE CHUECH HISTOEIANS OE ENGLAND.

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL, LONDON.

F^P 10 1915

THE CHUECH HISTORIANS OF ENGLAND.

REFORMATION PERIOD.

THE ACTS AND MONUMENTS OF JOHN FOXE.

CAREFULLY REVISED, WITH NOTES AND APPENDICES.

VOL. VI. -PART I.

HANOVER STREET, HANOVER SQUARE. MDCCCLVIII.

■IIIK CRUtI, HANDLING OI" Willi \M (; A 1MM NKK, IN POKTUGAI..

ACTS AND MONUMENTS.

VOL. VI.

VOL. VI.

ACTS AND MONUMENTS.

CONTINUATION OF BOOK IX;

PROCEEDING WITH

THE ACTS AND THINGS DONE FN THE REIGN OF KING EDWARD THE SIXTH.

2Boofi.^ in tijc Satin ^eriiice abon.^"f)cti.

It followctli now in the story, that certain of the vulgar multitude, Edward hearing of the apprehension of the lord protector, and supposing the ^^' alteration of the public service into English, and administration of A. D. the sacrament and other rites lately appointed in the church, had '^^^^- been the act, chiefly or only, of the said lord protector, began upon evu dis- the same to noise and bruit abroad, that they should now have their people old Latin Service, with holy bread and holy water, and their other i^avy^the like superstitious ceremonies again : whereupon the king, with the Latin body and state of the privy-council then being, directed out his letters again? of request and strait commandment to the bishops, in their dioceses, touching the same, in form and manner as foUoweth.

*A^ certain Precept or Decree of King Edward, directed to the ^ _^^ Bishops in their dioceses, for the Abolishing of Books of the Latin Service, and of certain other Ceremonies.

Right reverend father in God, right trusty and well-beloved, we greet you pooks of well. And whereas the book, entitled The Book of Common Prayers and Ad- the Latin ministi-ation of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, ^gfi^'^jn. after the use of the Church of England, was agreed upon and set forth by act of parliament, and by the same act commanded to be used of all persons within this our realm, yet, nevertheless, we are informed that divers unquiet and evil-disposed persons, since the apprehension of the duke of Somerset, have noised and bruited abroad, that they should have again their old Latin service, their conjured bread and water, with such like vain and superstitious ceremonies, as though the setting-forth of the said book, had been

(1) See the Latin Edition, Basle, 1559, p. 200. Ed. 1563, p. 726. Ed. 1570, p. 1519. Ed. 1576, p. 1288. Ed. 1583, p. 1330. Ed. 1597, p. 1211. Ed. 1684, vol. ii. book ix. p. 46.— Ed.

(2) See Edition 1563, p. 726.— Ed

B 2

THE TAKING DOWN OF ALTARS.

Edward VI.

A.D.

1519.

Latin set- vico is but a pre- ferring: of ignorance before know- ledge.

the only act of the aforenamed duke : We, therefore, by the advice of the body and state of our Privy Council, not only considering the said book to be our own act, and the act of the whole state of our reahn assembled together in parliament, but also the same to be grounded upon holy Scripture, agreeable to the order of tlie primitive church, and much to the edifying of our subjects, — to put away all such vain expectation of having the public service, the admini- stration of the sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies, again in the Latin tongue (which were but a preferring of ignorance to knowledge, and darkness to light, and a preparation to bring in papistry and superstition again) — have thought good, by the advice aforesaid, to require and nevertheless straitly command and charge you, that ye, immediately upon the receipt hereof, do command the dean and prebendaries of your cathedral church, the parson, vicar, or curate, and churchwardens of every parish within your diocese, to bring and deliver to you, or your deputy, every of them, for their church and parish, at such convenient place as ye shall appoint, all antiphoners, missals, grails, processionals, manuals, legends, pies, portuasses, journals, and ordinals, after the use of Sarum, Lincoln, York, Bangor, Hereford, or any other private use ; and all other books of service, the keeping whereof should be a let to the using of the said Book of Common Prayers ; and that ye take the same books into your hands, or into the hands of your deputy, and them so deface and abolish, that they never after may serve, either to any such use as they were first provided for, or be at any time a let to that godly and uniform order, which, by a common consent, is now set forth. And if ye shall find any person stubborn or disobedient in not bringing in the said books, according to the tenor of these our letters, that then you commit the same person to ward, to such time as ye have certified usof his misbehaviour : and we will and command you, that ye also search, or cause search to be made, from time to time, whether any books be withdrawn or hid, contrary to the tenor of these our letters ; and the same books to receive into your hands, and to use, as in these our letters we have appointed.

And furthermore, whereas it is come to our knowledge, that divers froward and obstinate persons do refuse to pay toward the finding of bread and wine for the Holy Communion, according to the order prescribed in the said book, by reason whereof the holy communion is many times omitted upon the Sunday : these are to will and command you, to convent such obstinate persons before you, and them to admonish and command to keep the order prescribed in the said book ; and if any shall refuse so to do, to punish them by suspension, excom- munication, or other censures of the church. Fail ye not thus to do, as ye will avoid our displeasure.

Given under our signet, at our palace of Westminster, the 25th of December, the third year of our reign.

T. Cant. .T. Russell,

R. Rich, Cancel. H. Dorset, W. Saint John, W. Northt'.*

br^e"™""* Whereby it may appear to us now, that no wafer-cakes, but corn- used in rnon bread Avas then, by the king's appointment, ordinarily received and used in churches. This was about the latter end of December,

the holy commu-

A.D,

1549.

TAKING DOWN OF ALTARS, AND SETTING UP THE TABLE IN- STEAD THEREOF.

Furthermore, in the year next following (1550), other letters, likewise, were sent for the taking down of altars in churches, and set- ting up the table instead of the same, unto Nicholas Ridley, who, being bishop of Rocliester before, was then made bishop of London, in Bonner's place. The copy and contents of the king's letters are these, as follow.

THE king's letter TO BISHOP RIDLEY. 5

The ' King's Letter to Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, &c. F.dwara

Right reverend father in God, right trusty and well-beloved, we greet you . pj well. And whereas it is come to our knowledge, that being the altars within the i ct,)'

more part of the churches of this our realm [are] already upon good and godly '-

considerations taken down, there doth yet remain altars standing in divers other Literic churches, by occasion whereof much variance and contention ariseth aniongs Ji'irup-''™ sundry of our subjects, which, if good foresight were not had, might perchance tioneal- engender great hurt and inconvenience; we let you wit, that, minding to have e^'ies^-'" all occasions of contention taken away, which many times grow by those and et erec-

such like diversities, and considering that amongs other things belonging to *'''"^ '*• 1 iM J J » ii ^ ,. ^ 1. ^ • . • ,1 bularum

our royal oince and cure, we do account the greatest to be, to mauitain the sive men- common quiet of our realm ; we have thought good, by the advice of our sarum council, to require you, and nevertheless specially to charge and command J.'^dem you, for the avoiding of all matters of further contention and strife about the standing or taking away of the said altars, to give substantial order throughout all your diocese, that with all diligence all the altars in every church or chapel, as well in places exempted as not exempted, within your said diocese, be taken Altars down; and in the Heu of them a table set up in some convenient part of the do'xvn and chancel, within every such church or chapel, to serve for the ministration of the destroyed, blessed communion. And, to the intent the same may be done without the offence of such our loving subjects as be not yet so well persuaded in that behalf as we would wish, we send unto you herewith certain considerations Consider- gathered and collected, that make for the purpose; the which, and such others ^^'"5"^!° as you shall think meet to be set forth to persuade the weak to embrace our the peo- proceedings in this part, we pray you cause to be declared to the people by Ple. some discreet preachers, in such places as you shall think meet, before the taking-down of the said altars ; so as both the weak consciences of others may be instructed and satisfied as much as may be, and this our pleasure the more quietly executed. For the better doing whereof, we require you to open the foresaid considerations in that our cathedral church in your own person, if you conveniently may, or otherwise by your chancellor, or some other grave preacher, both there and in such other market towns, and most notable places of your diocese, as you may think most requisite.

Given under our signet, at our palace of Westminster, the 23d day of November, the fourth year of our reign.

E. Somerset, J. Warwick, E. Clinton,

Thomas Cant. John Bedford, H. Wentworth,

W. Wiltshire, W. Northt'. T. Ely.

Reasons why the Lord's Board should rather be after the form of a considcr- Table, than of an Altar. f^^^Z^

nientio-

*2«< I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God unto p^oxime salvation, to every one that believeth." [Rom. i. 16.] prcscrip-

Certain reasons why the reverend father, Nicholas, bishop of London, "* literis. amonges other his Injunctions given in his late visitation, did exhort those churches in his diocese, where the altars as then did remain, to conform them- selves unto those other churches which had taken them down, and had set up in the stead of the multitude of their altars one decent table in every church : And that herein he did not only any thing contrary unto the Book of Common Prayer, or to the king's majesty's proceedings, but that he was induced to do the same partly moved by his office and duty, wherewith he is charged in the same book, and partly for the advancement and sincere setting forward of God's holy word, and the king's majesty's most godly proceedings.^

0) See the Appendix.— Ed. (2) See Edition 1563, p. 727.— Ed.

b REASONS FOR ALTERING THE FORM OF THE TABLE.

Edward The First Reason.

- — First, the form of a table shall more move the simple from the superstitious

A.D. opinions of the popish mass, unto the right use of the Lord's Supper. For

^^^'^' the use of an altar is to make sacrifice upon it ; the use of a table is to serve

for men to cat upon. Now, when we come unto the Lord's board, what do we

Sf^ come for? to sacrifice Christ up again, and to crucify him again ? or to feed upon

Apirndtx. j^jj^^ jj^,^j. ^y^g ^j^^g pj^jy crucified and offered up for us? If we come to feed

upon him, spiritually to eat his body, and spiritually to drink his blood (which

is the true use of the Lord's Supper), then *seeing* no man can deny but *ihe

form of a table is more meet to feed upon than the form of an altar, it must

also follow that* the form of a table is more meet for the Lord's board, than

the form of an altar.

The Second Reason. Answer Item, whereas it is said, ' The Book of Common Prayer maketh mention of an cavillers altar; wherefore, it is not lawful to abolish that which that book alloweth:' to this who take is thus answered : The Book of Common Prayer calleth the thing whereupon the the term Lord's Supper is ministered, indifferently a table, an altar, or the Lord's board ; ' altar' in without prescription of any form thereof, either of a table or of an altar : so I^^_^, that whether the Lord's board have the form of an altar, or of a table, the book. Book of Common Prayer calleth it both an altar and a table. For, as it calleth How the an altar (whereupon the Lord's Supper is ministered) a table, and the Lord's table may board, SO it calleth the table, where the holy communion is distributed with an altar. I'luds and thanksgiving unto the Lord, an altar, for that there is offered the same sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. And thus it appeareth, that here is nothing neither said nor meant contrary to the Book of Common Prayer.

The Third Reason. Thirdly, the popish opinion of mass was, that it might not be celebrated but upon an altar, or at the least upon a super-altar, to supply the defoult of the altar, which must have had his printes and charactes ; or else it was thought that the thing was not lawfully done. But this superstitious opinion is more holden in the minds of the simple and ignorant by the form of an altar, than of a table ; wherefore it is more meet, for the abolishment of this superstitious opinion, to have the Lord's board after the form of a table, than of an altar, '

The Fourth Reason. The name Fourthly, the form of an altar was ordained for the sacrifices of the law, and of anal- t^ierefore the altar in Greek is called ^vo-taoTT^pioj', 'quasi sacrificii locus.' derived. But now both the law and the sacrifices thereof do cease : wherefore the form of the altar used in the law ought to cease withal.

The Fifth Reason. Christ Fifthly, Christ did institute the sacrament of his body and blood at his last

Th\ ^nd supper at a table, and not at an altar ; as it appeareth manifestly by the three ifot an Evangelists. And St. Paid calleth the coming unto the holy communion, the altar. coming unto the Lord's Supper. And also it is not read, that any of the apostles nevef ^'^ or the primitive church did ever use any altar in the ministration of the holy used communion. Wherefore, seeing the form of a table is more agreeable with

amongthe cin-jst's institution, and with the usage of the apostles and of the primitive apos es. ^^jyj.^,jj^ ^Ijjjj^ jj^g fQj.jj^ ^f ^,^ altar, therefore the form of a table is rather to be used, than the form of an altar, in the administration of the holy communion.

The Sixth Reason. Finally, it is said in the Preface of the Book of Common Prayer, that if any doubt do arise in the use and practising of the same book ; to appease all such diversity, the matter shall be referred unto the bishop of the diocese, who, by his discretion, shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same, so that the same order be not contrary unto any thing contained in that book.

(1) This reason for taking away the superstitious opinion, serveth also as wen for aboUshing other things besides altars, etc.

THE LADY MARY S LETTER TO THE COUNCIL. 7

*Now* it is most certain and evident, that of the form of the Lord's board Edward there arose great diversity, some using it after the form of a table, and some of ^^^ an altar. Wherein wlien the said reverend father was required to say (as the . bishop of the diocese) what was most meet, he could do no less of his bounden , c ^ duty, for to appease all such diversity and to procure one godly uniformity, than to exhort all his diocese unto that which he thought did best agree with Scrip- ,?. ture, the usage of the apostles and of the primitive church, and to that which is not only not contrary unto any thing contained in the said Book of Connnon Prayer (as is here-before proved), but also shall highly further the king's most godly proceedings in abolishing of divers vain and superstitious opinions of the popish mass out "of the hearts of the simple, and to bring them to the right use appointed taught by holy Scripture of the Lord's Supper. The which as every good man, in insdio- no doubt, will desire of God, that it may be restored again unto Christ's ''?f^ '''^ church, so is it not to be doubted, but that every godly wise man (considering of'a table, the just and reasonable cause thereof) cannot but allow and commend the said i'''e wall reverend father's doings in this behalf.*- hLh'altar

And so appointed he the form of a right table to be used in his Paul's diocese, and in the church of Paul brake down the wall standing ^o^n "y then by the high altar's side. Ridley.

Now we will ent^r (God willing) into those matters which happened between king Edward and his sister Mary, as by their letters here following are to be seen.

A Letter of the Lady Mary to the Council, June 22, 1549. To my Lord Protector, and the rest of the King's Majesty's Council : My lord, I perceive by the letters which I late received from you, and other of the king's majesty's council, that ye be all sorry to find so little conformity in me touching the observation of his majesty's laws; who am well assured, that I have ott'ended no law, unless it be a late law of your own making, for the altering of matters in religion, which, in my conscience, is not worthy to have the name of a law, both for the king's honour's sake, the wealth of the realm, and giving an occasion of an evil bruit through all Christendon), besides the partiality used in the same, and (as my said conscience is very well per- suaded) the offending of God, which passeth all the rest : but 1 am well assured that the king.his-father's laws were all allowed and consented to without com- pulsion by the whole realm, both spiritual and temporal, and all ye executors sworn upon a book to fulfil the same, so that it was an authorized law ; and that I have obeyed, and will do, with the grace of God, till the king's majesty my brother shall have sufficient years to be a judge in these matters himself; wherein, my lord, I was plain with you at my last being in the coiu't, declaring imto you, at that time, whereunto I would stand; and now do assure you all, that the only occasion of my stay from altering mine opinion, is for two causes : one principally for my conscience' sake ; the other, that the king my brother shall not hereafter charge me to be one of those that were agreeable to such alterations in his tender years. And what fruits daily grow by such changes, since the death of the king my father, to every indifferent person it well appeareth, both to the displeasure of God, and unquietness of the realm. Not- withstanding, I assure you all, I would be as loth to see his highness take hurt, or that any evil shouldcome to this his realm, as the best of you all ; and none of you have the like cause, considering how I am compelled by nature, being his majesty's poor and humble sister, most tenderly to love and ])ray for him, and unto this his realm (being born within the same) wish all wealth and pro- sperity, to God's honour. And if any judge of me the contrary for mine opinion's sake (as I trust none doth), I doubt not in the end, with God's help, to prove

(1) See Ridley Reg. fol. 288, and Foxe, Edition 1563, p. 728. Also see Appendix.— Ed.

(2) King Edward's Letter to bishop Ridley, and the si.x reasons above specified, with these last observations, were republished in London in 1041. — Ed.

8 DOCTOR HOPTOX INSTRUCTED

Edward niysulf as true a natural and lumiUe sister, as they of tlie contrary opinion.

f'^ with all their devices and altering of laws, shall prove themselves true subjects;

■ praying you my lord, and the rest of the council, no more to trouble and

y^'z: unquiet ine with matters touching my conscience, wherein I am at a full point,

with God's help, whatsoever shall happen to me; intending, with His grace, to

*° trouble you little with any worldly suits, but to bestow the short time 1 think

^1550^ to live, in quietness, and pray for the king's majesty and all you ; heartily wisli-

ino-, that your proceedings maybe to God's honour, the safeguard of the king's

person, and quietness to the whole realm.

Moreover, whereas your desire is, that I should send my comptroller and Dr. Hopton unto you, by whom you would signify your minds more amply, to my contentation and honour ; it is not unknown to you all, that the chief charge of my house resteth only upon the travails of my said comptroller, who hath not been absent from my house three whole days since the setting-up of the same, unless it were for my letters patent : so that if it were not for his continual diligence, I think my little portion would not have stretched so far. And my chaplain, by occasion of sickness, hath been long absent, and is not yet able to ride. Therefore, like as I cannot forbear my comptroller, and my priest is not able to journey, so shall I desire you my lord, and all the rest of the council, that, having any thing to be declared to me, except matters of religion, ye will either write your minds, or send some trusty person, with whom I shall be contented to talk, and make answer as the case shall require : assuring you, that if any servant of mine, either man or woman, or chaplain, should move me to the contrary of my conscience, I would not give ear to them, nor suffer the like to ,be used within my house. And thus, my lord, with my hearty commendations, I wish unto you and the rest as well to do as myself.

From my house at Kenninghall, the 22d of June, 1549.

Your assured friend to my power.

Mar)-.

A Remembrance of certain Matters appointed by the Council to be declared by Dr. Hopton to the Lady Mary"'s Grace, for Answer to her former Letter ; which said Hopton was, after she came to her reign, Bishop of Norwich.

Her grace writeth, ' that the law made by parliament is not worthy the name of law;' meaning the statute for the communion, etc.

You shall say thereto : — ' The fault is great in any subject to disallow a law of the king, a law of the realm ; by long study, free disputation, and uniform determination of the whole clergy, consulted, debated, and concluded : but the greater fault is in her grace, being next of any subject in blood and estate to the king's majesty her brother and good lord, to give example of disobedience, being a subject, or of unnaturalness, being his majesty's sister, or of neglecting the power of the crown, she being by limitation of law next to the same. The example of disobedience is most perilous in this time, as she can well under- stand : her unkindness resteth in the king's own acceptation : the neglecting of the power, before God is answerable, and in the world touchcth her honour.

' The executors,' she saith, ' were sworn to King Henry the Eighth's laws.'

You shall say : — ' It is true, they were sworn to him, his laws, his heirs, and successors ; which oath they duly observe, and should offend if they should break any one jot of the king's laws now being, without a dispensation by a law. And herein her grace shall luiderstand, that it is no law, which is dis- solved by a law : neither may her grace do that injury to the king's majesty her brother, to diminish his authority so far, that he may not, by the free con- sent of a parliament, amend and alter unprofitable laws, for the number of inconveniences which hereof might follow; as her grace with consideration may well perceive.'

' Offence taken by the sending for her oflicers.' You bhall say: — ' If her grace consider the fiist letters of that puiiioso.

TO ANSWER THE T-ADY MARY. 9

tliey will declare our good meaning to her, and her gentle usage, requiring the Edward presence of her trusty servant, because she might give more trust to our ^^■ message.'

' Her house is her flock.' 1549

You shall say : — ' It is well liked, her grace should have her house or flock, to but not exempt from the king's orders : neither may there be a flock of the ^^''O- king's subjects, but such as will hear and follow the voice of the king their shepherd. God disalloweth it; law and reason forbiddeth it; policy abhorreth it ; and her honour may not require it'

' Her grace deferreth her obedience to the king's laws, until Ids majesty be of sufficient years.'

You shall say : — ' She could in no one saying more disallow the authority of the king, the majesty of his crown, and the state of the realm. For herein she suspendeth his kingdom, and esteemeth his authority by his age, not by his right and title. Her grace must understand, he is a king by the ordinance of God, by descent of royal blood, not by the numbering of his years.'

' As a creature subject to mortality, he hath youth: and, by God's grace, shall have age ; but, as a king, he hath no difference by days and years. The Scripture plainly declareth it, not only young children to have been kings by God's special ordinance, but also (which is to be noted) to have had best suc- cess in their reign, and the favour of God in their proceedings : yea, in their first years have they most purely reformed the church and state of religion. Therefore her grace hath no cause thus to diminish his majesty's power, and to make him, as it were, no king until she think him of sufficient years. Wherein how much his majesty may be justly offended, they be sorry to think,'

She saith, ' she is subject to none of the council.'

You shall say : — ' If her gi'ace understandeth it of us in that acceptation as we be private men, and not councillors sworn to the king's majesty, we acknowledge us not to be superiors ; but, if she understand her writing of us as councillors and magistrates ordained by his majesty, her grace nuist be contented to think us of authority sufficient, by the reason of our office, to challenge a superiority ; not to rule by private affection, but by God's pro- vidence ; not to our estimation, but to the king's honour ; and, finally, to increase the king's estate with our counsel, our dignity, and vocation. And we think her grace will not forget the saymg of Solomon, in the sixth chapter of the Book of Wisdom, to move a king to rule by counsel and wisdom, and to build his estate upon them. Wherefore her grace must be rememored, the kino-'s majesty's politic body is not made only of his own royal material body, but^of a council, by whom his majesty ruleth, directeth, and governeth his realm : in the place of which council her grace is not ignorant that we be set and placed. Wherefore the reputation she shall give us, she shall give it to the king's honour ; and that which she shall take from us, she shall take from his majesty, whose majesty, we think, if it might take increase or honour, as God giveth a daily abundance, it should receive rather increase from her, bemg his majesty's sister, than thus any abatement.

' She received Master Arundel, and Master Englefield.' You shall say :— « All the council remembereth well her refusal to have her house charged with any more number, alleging the small proportion for her char<^e ; and therefore it was thought to come more for their earnest suit meaning to be privileged subjects from the law, than of her desire, who refused very often to increase her number. Their cautel the king might not suffer, to have his law disobeyed; their countries where they should serve, by them to be destitute; and, having been servants to his majesty, the circumstances of their departure might in no wise be liked.'

' She refused to hear any man to the contrary of her opinion." You shall say :— ' It is an answer more of will than of reason ; and, there-

10 THE LADY JMARy's LETTER TO THE LORD PROTECTOR.

Edward fore, her grace must be admonished neither to trust her own opinion Avithout

^^- groimd, neither to mislike all others having ground. If hers be good, it is no

~7~Tr~ hurt if she hear the worse: if it be ill, she shall do well to hear the better: she

■iKAn shall not alter by hearing, but by hearing the better. And because she shall

not mislike the offer, let her grace name of learned men whom she will; and

-,° further than they by learning shall prove, she shall not be moved. And so

,. far, it is thought, reason will compel her grace.'

In the end ye shall say : — ' The good wills and minds of the lord protector and the council are so much toward her grace, that howsoever she would herself in honour be esteemed, howsoever in conscience quieted, yea howsoever bene- fited, saving their duties to God and the king, they would as much ; and in their doings (if it please her to prove it) will be nothing inferiors ; assuring her grace, that they be most sorry that she is thus disquieted : and, if necessity of the cause, the honour and surety of the king, and the judgment of their own conscience moved them not, thus far they would not have attempted. But their trust is, her grace will allow them the more, when she shall perceive the cause, and think no less could be done by them, where she provoked them so far.'

These and other of like credit, more amply committed to you in speech, you shall declare to her grace; and further, declare your conscience for the allowing of the manner of the Communion,' as ye have plainly professed it before us.

At Richmond the 14th» of June, 1549.

A Letter of the Lady Mary, to the Lord Protector and the rest of the Council, the 27th of June, 1549.

My lord, I perceive by letters directed from you, and other of the king's majesty's council, to my comptroller, my chaplain, and Master Englefield my servant, that ye will them, upon their allegiance, to repair immediately to you; wherein you gave me evident cause to change mine accustomed opinion of you all (that is to say, to think you careful of my quietness and well doing), con- sidering how earnestly I writ to jou for the stay of two of them, and that not without very just cause. And as for Master Englefield, as soon as he could have prepared himself, having his horses so far off, although ye had not sent at this present, he would have performed your request. But indeed I am much deceived; for I supposed ye would have weighed and taken my letters in better part, if ye have received them ; if not, to have tarried my answer : and I not to have found so little friendship, nor to have been used so ungcntly at your hands, in sending for him upon whose travail doth rest the only charge of my whole house, as I writ unto you lately ; whose absence therefore shall be to me and my said house no little displeasure, especially being so far off. And beside all this, I do greatly marvel to see your writing for him and the other two, with such extreme words of peril to ensue towards them in case they did not come, and specially for my comptroller, whose charge is so gi'eat, that he can- not suddenly be meet to take a journey : which words, in mine opinion, needed not (unless it were in some very just and necessary cause) to any of mine, who taketh myself subject to none of you all ; not doubting but, if the king's majesty my brother were of sufficient years to perceive this matter, and knew what lack and incommodity the absence of my said officer should be to my house, his grace would have been so good a lord to me, as to have sufl'ered him to remain where his charge is. Notwithstanding, I have willed him at this time to repair to you, commanding him to return forthwith, for my very necessity's sake ; and I have given the like leave to my poor sick priest also, whose life I think undoubtedly shall be put to hazard by the wet and cold painful travail of this journey. But, for my part, I assure you all, that since the king my father, your late master and very good lord, died, I never took you for other tlian my friends : but in this it appeareth contrary. And saving I thought verily that

(1) Note Dr. Hopton's allowance of the Coiumiinion iii those days.

(2J Judging by tlic documents before and after, this date is lik'elv to have been June the 2-lth, .-Ed.

THE KING TO THE LADY MARY. 11

my former letters should have discharged this matter, I would not have troubled Edward myself with writing the same ; not doubting but you do consider, that none of ^^• you all would have been contented to have been thus used at your inferiors' ~T~~n~ hands ; 1 mean, to have had your officer, or any of your servants, sent for by . ,Vp,' force (as ye make it), knowing no just cause why. Wherefore I do not a little marvel, that ye had not this remembrance towards me, who always have willed and wished you as well to do as myself ; and botli have prayed and will pray for you all, as heartily as for mine own soul, to Almighty God, whom I humbly beseecli to illuminate you all with his holy Spirit ; to whose mercy, also, I am at a full point to commit myself, whatsoever shall become of my body. And thus, with my commendations, I bid you all farewell. From my house at Kenninghall, the 27th of June.

Your friend, to my power, though you give me contrary cause,

Mary.

A Copy of the King's Majesty's Letter to the Lady Mary, the 24th of January, 1550.

Right dear, &c. — We have seen by letters of our council, sent to you of late, and by your answer thereunto, touching the cause of certain your chaplains having offended our laws in saying of mass, their good and convenient advices, and your fruitless and indirect mistaking of the same : which thing moveth us to write at this time, that where good counsel from our council hath not pre- vailed, yet the like from ourself may have due regard. The whole matter we perceive rests in this, that you, being our next sister, in whom above all other our svibjects, nature should place the most estimation of us, would, wittingly and purposely, not only break our laws yourself, but also have others maintained to do the same. Truly, howsoever the matter may have other terms, other sense it hath not ; and, although by your letter it seemeth you challenge a promise made, that so you may do ; yet, surely, we know the promise had no such meaning, neither to maintain, nor to continue your fault. You must know this, sister; you were at the first time, when the law was made, borne withal, not because you should disobey the law, but that, by our lenity and love showed, you might learn to obey it. We made a difference of you from our other sub- jects, not for tliat all others should follow our laws, and you only gainstand them, but that you might be brought as far forward by love, as others were bjr duty. The error wherein you would rest is double, and every part so great, that neither for the love of God we can well suffer it unredressed, neither for the love of you, can we but wish it amended. First, you retain a fashion in honouring of God, who, indeed, thereby is dishonoured : and therein err you in zeal for lack of science ; and, having science offered you, you refuse it, not because it is science, Ave trust (for then should we despair of you), but because you think it is none. And, surely, in this we can best reprehend you, learning daily in our school, that therefore we learn things because we know them not, and are not allowed to say. We know not those things, or, We think they be not good, and therefore we will not learn them. Sister, you must think nothing can commend you more than reason, according to the which you have been hitherto used; and now, for very love, we will offer you reason ourself. If you are persuaded in conscience to the contrary of our laws, you or your persuaders shall freely be suffered to say what you or they can, so that you will hear what shall be said again.

In this point, you see, I pretermit my estate, and talk with you as your brother rather than your supreme lord and king. Thus should you, being as well content to hear of your opinions as you are content to hold them, in the end thank us as much for bringing you to light, as now, before you learn, you are loth to see it. And if thus much reason with our natural love shall not move you, whereof we would be sorry, then must we consider the other part of your fault, which is the offence of our laws. For though, hitherto, it hath been suffered in hope of amendment, yet now, if hope be none, how shall there be sufferance ? Our charge is to have the same care over every man's estate, that every man ought to have over his own. And in your own house as you would be loth openly to suffer one of your servants, being next you, most manifestly to break your orders, so must you think in our state it shall

12 THK I,ADY MMIy's ANSWER TO THE KING.

Edward miscontciit us to permit you, so great a subject, not to keep our laws.^ Your

^^- nearness to us in blood, your greatness in estate, the condition of this time,

. jy maketh your fault the greater. The example is unnatural, that our sister should

1 55o' ^° ^^^^ ^°^ "^ ^''^" °"'' ^^^^^ subjects. The case ia slanderous, for so great a

. '- — '— personage to forsake our majesty.

Finally, it is too dangerous in a troublesome commonwealth, to make the people to mistrust a faction. We be young, you think, in years to consider this. Truly, sister, it troubleth us somewhat the more ; for it may be, this evil, suffered in you, is greater than we can discern ; and so we be as much troubled because we doubt whether we see the whole peril, as we be for that we see. Indeed we will presume no further than our years give us ; that is, in doubtful things not to trust our own wits, but in evident things we think there is no difference. If you should not do as other subjects do, were it not evident that therein you should not be a good subject? Were it not plain, in that case, that you should use us not as your sovereign lord ? Again, if you should be suffered to break our laws manifestly, were it not a comfort for others so to do ? and if our law be broken, and contemned, where is our estate ? These things be so plain, as we could almost have judged them six years past; and indeed it grieveth us not a little, that you, who should be our most comfort in our young years, should alone give us occasion of discomfort. Think you not but it must needs trouble us ? and if you can so think, you ought, sister, to amend it. Our natural love towai'ds you, without doubt, is great ; and therefore diminish it not yourself. If you will be loved by us, show some token of love towards us, that we say not with the Psalm, * Mala pro bonis mihi reddiderunt.' If you will be believed, when by writing you confess us to be your sovereign lord, hear that which in other things is often alleged, ' Ostende mihi fidem tuam ex factis tuis.'

In the answer of your letter to our council, we remember you stick only upon one reason divided into two parts. The first is, that in matters of religion your faith is none other, but as all Christendom doth confess. The next is, you will assent to no alteration ; but wish things to stand as they did at our father's death. If you mean, in the first, to rule your faith by that you call Christen- dom, and not by this church of England wherein you are a member, you shall err in many points, such as our father and yours would not have suffered, whatsoever you say of the standing-still of things as they were left by him. The matter is too plain to write what may be gathered (and too perilous) to be concluded against you. For the other part, if you like no alteration by our authority, of things not altered by our father, you should do us too great an injury. We take ourself, for the administration of this our commonwealth, to have the same authority which our father had, diminished in no part, neither by example of