greet you well And whereas heretofore in the time of the late Reign of Our most dearest Brother King Edward the Sixth whose Soul God pardon divers notable Crimes Excesses and Faults with divers kinds of Heresies Simony Advoutry and other Enormities have been committed within this our Realm and other our Dominions the same continuing yet hitherto in like disorder since the beginning of our Reign without any correction or reformation at all and the People both of the Laity and Clery and chiefly of the Clergy have been given to much insolence and ungodliness greatly to the displeasure of Almighty God and very much to Our regret and evil contentation and to the slander of other Christian Realms and in a manner to the subversion and clear defaceing of this our Realm And remembring our Duty to Almighty God to be to foresee as much as in Us may be that all Vertue and Godly Living should be embraced flourish and encrease And therewith also that all vice and ungodly behaviour should be utterly banished and put away or at the least wise so nigh as might be so bridled and kept under that Godliness and Honesty might have the over-hand understanding by very credible report and publique fame to Our no small heaviness and discomfort that within your Diocess as well in not exempted as in exempted Places the like disorder and evil behaviour hath been done and used like also to continue and encrease unless due provision be had and made to reform the same which earnestly in very deed We do mind and intend to the uttermost all the ways We can possible trusting of God's furtherance and help in that behalf For these Causes and other most just Considerations us moving We send unto you certain Articles of such special Matter as among other things be most special and necessary to be now put in execution by you and your Officers extending to them by Us desired and the Reformation aforesaid wherein ye shall be charg'd with Our special Commandments by these our Letters to the intent you and your Officers may the more earnestly and boldly proceed thereunto without fear of any presumption to be noted on your part or danger to be incurred of any such our Laws as by your doings of that is in the said Articles contain'd might any wise grieve you whatsoever be threatned in any such Case and therefore we straitly charge and command you and your said Officers to proceed to the execution of the said Articles without all tract and delay as ye will answer to the contrary Given under our Hand at our Palace of Westminster the 4th day of March the first Year of our Reign ARTICLES 1. THat every Bishop and his Officers with all other having Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction shall with all speed and diligence and all manner and ways to them possible put in execution all such Canons and Ecclesiasticall Laws heretofore in the time of King Henry the 8th used within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same not being direct and expresly contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm 2. Item That no Bishop or any his Officer or other Person aforesaid hereafter in any of their Ecclesiastical Writings in Process or other extra-judicial Acts do use to put in this Clause or Sentence Regia Auctoritate fulcitus 3. Item That no Bishop or any his Officers or other Person aforesaid do hereafter exact or demand in the admission of any Person to any Ecclesiastical Promotion Orders or Office any Oath touching the Primacy or Succession as of late in few Years passed hath been accustomed and used 4. Item That every Bishop and his Officers with all other Persons aforesaid have a vigilant eye and use special diligence and foresight that no Person be admitted or received to any Ecclesiastical Function Benefit or Office being a Sacramentary infected or defamed with any notable kind of Heresy or other great Crime and that the said Bishop do stay and cause to be staied as much as lieth in him that Benefices and Ecclesiastical Promotions do not notably decay or take hinderance by passing or confirming of unreasonable Leases 5. Item That every Bishop and all other Persons aforesaid do diligently travel for the repressing of Heresies and notable Crimes especially in the Clergy duly correcting and punishing the same 6. Item That every Bishop and all other Persons aforesaid do likewise travel for the condemning and repressing of corrupt and naughty Opinions unlawful Books Ballads and other pernicious and hurtful devices engendring hatred among the People and discord amongst the same And that School-masters Preachers and Teachers do exercise and used their Offices and Duties without Teaching Preaching or setting forth any evil corrupt Doctrine and that doing the contrary they may be by the Bishop and his said Officers punish'd and remov'd 7. Item That every Bishop and all the other Persons aforesaid proceeding summarily and with all celerity and speed may and shall deprive or declare depriv'd and amove according to their learning and discretion all such Persons from their Benefices and Ecclesiastical Promotions who contrary to the state of their Order and the laudable Custom of the Church have married and used Women as their Wives or otherwise notably and slanderously disordered or abused themselves sequestring also during the said Process the Fruits and Profits of the said Benefits and Ecclesiastical Promotions 8. Item That the said Bishop and all other Persons aforesaid do use more lenity and clemency with such as have married whose Wives be dead than with other whose Women do yet remain in Life And likewise such Priests as with the consents of their Wives or Women openly in the presence of the Bishop do profess to abstain to be used the more favourably in which Case after Penance effectually done the Bishop according to his discretion and wisdom may upon just consideration receive and admit them again to their former Administration so it be not in the same Place appointing them such a Portion to live upon to be paid out of their Benefice whereof they be depriv'd by discretion of the said Bishop or his Officers shall think may be spared of the said Benefice 9. Item That every Bishop and all Persons aforesaid do foresee That they suffer not any Religious Man having solemnly profest Chastity to continue with his Woman or Wife but that all such Persons after deprivation of their Benefice or Ecclesiastical Promotion be also divorced every one from his said Woman and due punishment otherwise taken for the Offence therein 10. Item That every Bishop and all other Persons aforesaid do take Order and Direction with the Parishoners of every Benefice where Priests do want to repair to the next Parish for Divine Service or to appoint for a convenient time till other better Provision may be made one Curat to serve Alternis Vicibus in divers Parishes and to allot to the said Curat for his Labour some portion of the Benefice that he so
in all things with Authority sufficient to execute Justice as well in Causes Criminal as in Matters of Controversy between Party and Party his Majesty hath commanded and appointed two Commissions to be made out under his Grace's Great Seal of England by virtue whereof they shall have full Power and Authority in either Case to proceed as the Matter occurrent shall require And for the more speedy expedition to be used in all causes of Justice his Majesty's Pleasure is That the said Lord President and Council shall cause every Complainant and Defendant that shall have to do before them to put and declare their whole Matter in their Bill of Complaint and Answer without Replication Rejoinder or other Plea or Delay to be had or used therein which Order the said L. President and Council shall manifest unto all such as shall be Councellors in any Matter to be intreated and defined before them charging and commanding the said Councellors and Pleaders to observe this Order upon such Penalties as they shall think convenient as they will eschew the danger of the same and not in any ways to break it without the special License of the said Lord President and that only in some special Causes And further his Highness by these Presents doth give full Power and Authority to the said Lord President and Council as well to punish such Persons as in any thing shall neglect contemn or disobey their Commandments or the Process of the Council as all other that shall speak seditious Words invent Rumors or commit such-like Offences not being Treason whereof any Inconvenience might grow by Pillory cutting their Ears wearing of Papers Imprisonment or otherwise at their Discretions And the said L. President and Council at their discretions shall appoint Counsellors and other Requisites to poor Suitors having no Mony without paying Fees or other things for the same And his Highness giveth full Power and Authority to the said L. President Council being with him or four of them at the least whereof the said L. President Sir John Hind Sir Edmond Molineux Sir Robert Bowes Sir Leonard Becquith Sir Anthony Nevill Sir Thomas Gargrave Knights Robert Mennell and Robert Chaloner to be two with the Lord President to assess Fines of all Persons that shall be convict or indicted of any Riot how many soever they be in number unless the Matter of such Riot shall be thought unto them of such importance as the same shall be meet to be signified unto his Majesty to be punished in such sort by the Order of his Council attending upon his Grace's Person as the same may be noted for an Example to others And his Grace giveth full Power and Authority to the said Lord President and Council or four of them at the least whereof the Lord President and two others bound to continual Attendance to be three to Award and Assess Costs and Dammages as well to the Plaintiffs as to the Defendants by their discretions and to award execution of their Decrees and Orders and to punish the breakers of the same being Parties thereunto by their discretions All which Decrees and Orders the Secretary shall be bound incontinently upon the promulgation of the same to write or cause to be written in one fair Book which shall remain in the hands and custody of the said Lord President And to the intent it may appear to all Persons there what Fees shall be paid and taken for all Processes and Writings to be used by the said Council his Majesty therefore appointeth that there shall be a Table affixed in every place where the said Lord President and Council shall sit at any Sessions and a like Table to hang openly that all Men may see it in the Office where the said Secretary and the Clerks shall commonly sit and expedite the said Writings wherein shall be declared what shall be paid for the same That is to say For every Recognisance wherein one alone or more standeth bounden 12 d. for the cancelling of every like Recognisance 12 d. For the entring of every Decree 6 d. for the Copy of the same if it be asked 6 d. For every Letter Commission Attachment or other Precept or Process sent to any Person 4 d. For every Dismission before the said Council if it be asked 4 d. For the Copies of Bills and Answers and other Pleas for every ten lines reasonably writ 1 d. for the Examination of every Witness 4 d. And his Grace's Pleasure is That the Examination of Witnesses produced in Matters before the said Council shall be examined by such discreet Person and Persons as shall be thought convenient and meet by the said Lord President and two of the said Council bound to continual Attendance and that the said Lord President with such-like two of the said Council shall reform appoint and allow such Persons to write Bills Answers Copies or other Process in that Court as they shall think convenient over and beside the said Secretary and his two Clerks which Clerks also the said Lord President and Council shall reform and correct as they shall have cause and occasion In which Reformation and Appointments the said Lord President shall have a Voice Negative And for the more certain and brief determination of Matters in those parts his Majesty by these Presents ordaineth that the said Lord President and Council shall keep four general Sittings or Sessions in the Year every of them to continue by the space of one whole Month whereof one to be at York another at Kingston upon Hull one at New-Castle and another at Duresme within the limits whereof the Matters rising there shall be ordered and decreed if they conveniently so may be And they shall in every of the same Places keep one Goal Delivery before their departure from thence his Grace nevertheless referring it to their Discretions to take and appoint such other Place and Places for their said four general Sittings as they or the said Lord President with three of the Council bounden to continual Attendance shall think most convenient for the time and purpose so that they keep the full term of one Month in every such place if they may in any wise conveniently so do And forsomuch as a great number of his Majesty's Tenants and Farmers have been heretofore retained with sundry Persons by Wages Livery Badg or Connysance by reason whereof when his Grace should have had service of them they were rather at Commandment of other Men than according to their Duties of Allegiance of his Highness of whom they have their Livings his Majesty's Pleasure and express Commandment is That none of his said Council nor others shall by any means retain or entertain any of his Graces Tenants or Farmers in such sort as they or any of them should account themselves bounden to do him or them any other Service than as to his Highness Officers having Office or being appointed in Service there unless the same Farmers and Tenants be continually
attendant in the House of him that shall retain them And the said Lord President and Council shall in every their General Sittings give special notice and charge That no Nobleman nor other shall retain any of the said Tenants and Farmers otherwise than is aforesaid Charging also the said Farmers and Tenants upon pain of the forfeiture of their Farms and Holds and incurring of his Majesty's further Displeasure and Indignation in no wise to agree to any such Retainers other than is before-said but wholly to depend upon his Highness and upon such as his Highness hath or shall appoint to be Officers Rulers or Directors over them And his Grace's Pleasure further is That in every such Sitting and in all other Places where the said Lord President and Council shall have any notable Assemblies before them they shall give strait Charge and Commandment to the People to conform themselves in all things to the observation of such Laws Ordinances and Determinations as be made passed and agreed upon by his Grace's Parliament touching Religion and the most Godly Service set forth in their own Mother Tongue for their Comforts And likewise to the Laws touching the abolishing of the usurped and pretended Power of the Bishop of Rome whose Abuses they shall so beat into their Heads by continual inculcation as they may smell and understand the same and may perceive the same to be declared with their Hearts and not with their Tongues only for a form And likewise they shall declare the Order and Determination taken and agreed upon for the Abrogation of certain vain Holy Days being appointed by the Bishop of Rome to blind the World and to persuade the same that they might make Saints at their pleasures and thereby through idleness do give occasion of the increase of many and great Vices and Inconveniences which Points his Majesty doth earnestly require and straitly commmand the said Lord President and Council to set forth with all dexterity and to punish extreamly for example all Offenders in the same And his Majesty willeth the said Council as he doubteth not but they will most earnestly set forth all such other Things and Matters as for the confirmation of the People in those Matters and other the King's Majesty's Proceedings and things convenient to be remembred be or shall be set forth or devised and sent unto them for that purpose Further his Highness Pleasure is That the said Lord President and Council shall from time to time make diligent inquisition of the wrongful taking in and inclosing of Commons and other Grounds and who be extream therein and in taking and exacting of unreasonable Fines and Gressomes and overing or raising of Rents and to call the Parties that have so evil used themselves therein before them and leaving all Respects and Affections apart they shall take such order for the Redresses of Enormities used in the same as the poor People be not oppressed but that they may live after their Sorts and Qualities And if it shall chance that the said Lord President and Council shall vary in Opinion either in the Law or for any Order to be taken in any Matter or Fact before them if the case be of very great Weight and Importance then the Opinion of the greater or more part of the number of Counsellors appointed to give continual attendance shall take place and determine the Doubt and if they be of like like number of Counsellors bounden to continual Attendance then that Party whereunto the Lord President shall give his Assent shall be followed and take place And if the Case and Matter be of great Importance and the Question of the Law then the Lord President and Council shall signify the Case and Matter to the Judges at Westminster who shall with diligence advertise them again of their Opinions therein And if the Matter be of great Importance and an Order to be taken upon the Fact then the said Lord President and Council attendant upon his Person upon the same whereupon they shall have knowledg again how to use themselves in that behalf And the said Lord President and Council shall take special regard upon complaint of Spoil Extortions or Oppressions to examine the same speedily that the Party grieved may have due and undelayed Remedy and Restitution And for want of Ability in the Offenders thereunto they to be punished to the Example of others And if any Man of what degree soever he be shall upon a good lawful and reasonable Cause or Matter and so appearing to the Lord President and Council by Information or otherwise demand Surety of Peace or Justice against any great Lord or Nobleman of that Country the said Lord President and Council shall in that case grant the Petition of the poorest Man against the richest or greatest Lord being of the Council or no as they should grant the same being lawfully asked against Men of the meanest sort degree and behaviour And forasmuch as it may chance the said Lord President to be sometime diseased that he shall not be able to travel for the direction of such Matters as then shall occur or to be called to the Parliament or otherwise to be imploied in the King's Majesty's Affairs or about other Business for good Reformation or Order within his Rule or for other reasonable cause by his discretion To the intent therefore that the said Council may be and remain ever full and perfect and that they may be at all times in the same one Person to direct and use all things in such and the same order sort and form as the said Lord President should and might do by virtue of the afore-said's Commissions and these Instructions his Majesty's Pleasure is That when the said Lord President shall be so diseased absent or letted as is before-said that he cannot conveniently supply his room himself that then he shall name and appoint one of the said Commissioners being appointed to give continual attendance to supply his Room for that season during his said Disease Absence or Lett and shall deliver the Signet to the Person so appointed to keep during the same time And the King's Highness during the same time giveth unto the said Person so appointed the Name of Vice-President which Name nevertheless he shall no longer continue than during the time that the said Lord President shall so be sick absent or letted as is before-said And his Majesty's Pleasure is That for the time only that any of the said Council as is before-said shall occupy the said Room and Place as a Vice-President that all the rest of the Council shall in all things use him in like sort and with like reverence as they be bound by those Injunctions to use the Lord President himself whereunto his Grace doubteth not but every of them will conform themselves accordingly And further his Majesty by these Presents giveth full Power and Authority to the said Lord President and Council That when the Condition of any Recognisance
also labour to set forwards the Matter the best We may So doubt We not but if this Our good Purpose take effect both He and We and the rest of all Christendom shall have good cause to give God thanks and rejoice thereat Assuring him that if We had in our Conscience thought any other Person more fit for than Place that our said dearest Cousin We would not for any private Affection have preferred his Advancement before God's Glory and the Benefit of Christendom the furtherance whereof is We take God to Record the only thing We seek herein which moveth Us to be the more earnest in this Matter The overture whereof We have taken in hand as you may assure them on our Honour without Our said dearest Cousin's knowledg or consent And because We need not to remember the Wisdom Sincerity of Life and other godly Parts wherewith Almighty God hath endowed our said dearest Cousin the same being well enough known to Our said good Brother and his said Commissioners and the rest of the World We do refer the manner of the opening and handling of the rest of the Matter unto your own Wisdoms praying you We may understand from you as soon as ye may what answer ye shall have received herein at the said Commissioners hands Given under Our Signet at Our Honour of Hampton-Court the 30th of May the first and second Years of Our Reigns Number 19. An Order prescribed by the King and Queens Majesties unto the Justices of Peace of the County of Norfolk for the good Government of their Majesties loving Subjects within the same Shire March 26. 1555. An Original Philip R. Mary the Queen FIrst The said Justices of the Peace assembling themselves together Cotton Libr. Titus B. 2. and consulting by what good Means good Order and Quietness may be best continued shall after divide themselves into eight ten or twelve parts more or less as to their discretions having regard to the quantity of the Shire and number of themselves shall seem most convenient endeavouring themselves besides their general care that every particular number may give diligent heed within their Limits appointed to them for conservation of Quietness and good Order Item The said Justices of the Peace shall not only be aiding and assisting unto such Preachers as be and shall be sent unto the said County but shall also be themselves present at Sermons and use the Preachers reverently travelling soberly with such as by abstaining from coming to the Church or by any other open doings shall appear not persuaded to conform themselves and to use such as be wilful and obstinate more roundly either by rebuking them or binding them to good bearing or committing them to Prison as the Quality of the Persons and Circumstance of their Doings may seem to deserve Item Amongst all other things they must lay special weight upon those which be Preachers and Teachers of Heresy or Procurers of secret Meetings for that purpose Item The said Justices of Peace and every of them must by themselves their Wives Children and Servants shew good example and if they shall have any of their own Servants faulty they must first begin to reform them Item The said Justices of the Peace and every of them shall as much as in them lieth procure to search out all such as shall by any means spread false Tales or seditious Rumours causing them when they shall be known to be further apprehended and punished according to the Laws Item They shall procure to have in every Parish or part of the Shire as near as may be some one or more honest Men secretly instructed to give information of the behaviour of the Inhabitants amongst or about them Item They shall charge the Constables and four or more of the most Honest and Catholick of every Parish with the order of the same Parish unto whom idle Men Vagabonds and such as may be probably suspected shall be bound to give a reckoning how they live and where they shall be come from time to time Item They shall have earnest regard to the execution and keeping of the Statutes against rebellious Vagabonds and Reteinours Ale-houses and for keeping of the Statute of Huy-and-Cry and shall give order for keeping of good and substantial Watches in places convenient the same to begin the 20th day of April next Item As soon as any Offenders for Murder Felony or other Offences shall be taken the said Justices of the Peace shall cause the matter to be forthwith examined and ordered as to Justice shall appertain according to the Tenour of the Commission of Oyer and Terminer addressed presently unto them for that purpose Finally The said Justices of Peace shall meet and consult together at the Sessions every month and more-often as occasion may require conferring among themselves upon the state of all particular parts of the Shire and taking such order for all Misorders as to their Wisdoms may seem requisite Number 20. A Letter written by the King and Queen requiring the Bishop of London to go on in the prosecution of the Hereticks Philip R. Mary the Queen RIght Reverend Father in God right trusty and well-beloved Regist Bonn. Fol. 363. We greet you well And where of late We addressed our Letters unto the Justices of the Peace within every of the Counties of this our Realm whereby amongst other Instructions given therein for the good Order and quiet Government of the Country about therein they are willed to have a special regard unto such disordered Persons as forgetting their Duties towards Almighty God and Us do lean to any Erroneous and Heretical Opinions to shew themselves conformable to the Catholick Religion of Christ's Church whom if they cannot by good admonition and fair means reform they are willed to deliver unto the Ordinary to be by him charitably travelled withal and removed if it may be from their naughty Opinions or else if they continue obstinate to be ordered according to the Laws provided in that behalf Understanding now to our no little marvel that divers of the said disordered Persons being by the Justices of the Peace for their contempt and obstinacy brought to the Ordinaries to be used as is aforesaid are either refused to be received at their hands or if they be received are neither so travelled with as Christian Charity requireth nor yet proceeded withal according to the Order of Justice but are suffered to continue in their Errors to the dishonour of Almighty God and dangerous example of others Like-as We find this Matter very strange so have We thought convenient both to signify this Our knowledg and therewith also to admonish you to have in this behalf such regard henceforth to the Office of a good Pastor and Bishop as when any such Offenders shall be by the said Justices of Peace brought unto you ye do use your good wisdom and discretion in procuring to remove them from their Errors if it may be or else in proceeding against them
Soveraign Lord King Edward the 6th by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and in Earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland the Supream Head And have likewise for more ample testimony of this our Opinion of and upon the Premisses put and subscribed our Names to this present Duplicate of the same here asserted in this present Act of this 6th day of the month of March accordingly Number 6. The Duke of Somerset's Commission to be Protector Ex Libro Concilii Fol. 62. EDward the 6th by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and of the Church of England and also of Ireland in Earth the Supream Head Whereas our Council and divers of the Nobles and Prelats of this our Realm of England considering Our young and tender Age have thought meet and expedient as well for Our Education and bringing up in Knowledg Learning and Exercises of Good and Godly Manners Vertues and Qualities meet and necessary for a Prince of Our Estate and whereby We should and may at Our full Age be the more able to minister and execute the Charge of our Kingly Estate and Office committed unto Us by the Goodness of Almighty God and left and come unto Us by right Inheritance after and by the decease of Our late Soveraign Lord and Father of most famous Memory King Henry the 8th whose Soul God pardon As also to the intent that during the time of our Minority the great and weighty Causes of our Realms and Dominions may be set forth conducted passed applied and ordered in such sort as shall be most to the Glory of God our Surety and Honour and for the Weal Benefit and Commodity of Us Our said Realms and Dominions and of all Our loving Subjects of the same have advised Us to nominate appoint and authorize some one meet and trusty Personage above all others to take the special Care and Charge of the same for Us and in our Name and Behalf without the which the things before remembred could not nor can be done so well as appertaineth We therefore using their Advices and Counsels in this behalf did heretofore assign and appoint our dear and well-beloved Uncle Edward now Duke of Somerset Governour of our Person and Protector of Our said Realms and Dominions and of our Subjects and People of the same Which thing albeit We have already declared heretofore and our Pleasure therein published by Word of our Mouth in the presence of Our said Council Nobles and Prelats of Our said Realm of England and not by any Writing set forth under Our Seal for that only purpose Yet for a more perfect and manifest knowledg and further corroboration and understanding of Our determination in that behalf and considering that no manner of Person is so meet to have and occupy the said Charge and Administration and to do Us service in the same as is Our said Uncle Edward Duke of Somerset eldest Brother to our Natural most gracious late Mother Queen Jane as well for the proximity of Blood whereby he is the more stirred to have special eye and regard to our Surety and good Education in this Our said Minority as also for the long and great experience which Our said Uncle hath had in the Life-time of Our said dear Father in the Affairs of our said Realm and Dominions both in time of Peace and War whereby he is more able to Order and Rule Our said Realms Dominions and Subjects of the same and for the special confidence and trust that We have in Our said Uncle as well with the Advice and Consent of our Council and other our Nobles and Prelats as also of divers discreet and sage Men that served Our said late Father in his Council and weighty Affairs We therefore by these Presents do not only ratify approve confirm and allow all and every thing and things whatsoever devised or set forth committed or done by Our said Uncle as Governor of our Person and Protector of our said Realms and Dominions and of the Subjects of the same sith the time he was by Us named appointed and ordained by Word Governor of our Person and Protector of Our said Realms and Dominions and of the Subjects of the same as is aforesaid or otherwise any time before sithence the death of Our said late Father But also by these Presents We for a full and perfect Declaration of the Authority of Our said Uncle given and appointed as aforesaid do nominate appoint and ordain Our said Uncle Governor of Our said Person and Protector of Our said Realms and Dominions and of the Subjects of the same until such time as We shall have by the sufferance of God accomplished the Age of eighteen Years And We also do grant to Our said Uncle by these Presents full Power and Authority from time to time until such time as We shall have accomplished the said Age of eighteen Years to do procure and execute and cause to be done procured and executed all and every such Thing and Things Act and Acts which a Governor of the King's Person of this Realm during his Minority and a Protector of his Realms Dominions and Subjects ought to do procure and execute or cause to be done procured and executed and also all and every other thing and things which to the Office of a Governor of a King of the Realm during his Minority and of a Protector of his Realms Dominions and Subjects in any wise appertaineth or belongeth Willing Authorising and Commanding Our said Uncle by these Presents to take upon him the Name Title and Authority of Governor of our Person and Protector of our Realms Dominions and Subjects and to do procure and execute and cause to be done procured and executed from time to time until We shall have accomplished the said Age of eighteen Years all and every Thing and Things Act and Acts of what Nature Quality or Effect soever they be or shall be concerning our Affairs Doings and Proceedings both Private and Publick as well in Outward and Forreign Causes and Matters as also concerning our Affairs Doings and Proceedings within Our said Realms and Dominions or in any of them or concerning any Manner Causes or Matters of any of our Subjects of the same in such like manner and form as shall be thought by his Wisdom and Discretion to be for the Honour Surety Prosperity good Order Wealth or Commodity of Us or of any of Our said Realms and Dominions or of the Subjects of any of the same And to the intent Our said Uncle should be furnished with Men qualified in Wit Knowledg and Experience for his Aid and Assistance in the managing and accomplishment of Our said Affairs We have by the Advice and Consent of Our said Uncle and others the Nobles Prelats and wise Men of Our said Realm of England chosen taken and accepted and by these Presents do chuse take accept
and ordain to be our Counsellors and of our Council the most Reverend Father in God Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and our right Trusty and well-beloved William Lord St. John Great Master of our Houshold and President of our Council John Lord Russel Keeper of our Privy-Seal and Our trusty and right well-beloved Cousins William Marquess of Northampton John Earl of Warwick Great Chamberlain of England Henry Earl of Arundel our Lord Chamberlain Thomas Lord Seymour of Sudley High Admiral of England the Reverend Father in God Cuthbert Bishop of Duresm and Our right trusty and well-beloved Richard Lord Rich Sir Thomas Cheyney Knight of our Order and Treasurer of our Houshold Sir John Gage Knight of our Order and Comptroller of our Houshold Sir Anthony Brown Knight of our Order Master of our Horses Sir Anthony Wingfield Knight of our Order our Vicechamberlain Sir William Paget Knight of our Order Our chief Secretary Sir William Petre Knight one of Our two principal Secretaries Sir Ralph Sadler Knight Master of our Great Wardrobe Sir John Baker Kt. Dr. Wotton Dean of Canterbury and York Sir Anthony Denny and Sir William Herbert Kts. Gentlemen of our Privy-Chamber Sir Edward North Kt. Chancellor of our Court of Augmentations and Revenues of our Crown Sir Edward Montague Kt. Chief Justice of our Common-Pleas Sir Edward Wotton Kt. Sir Edmund Pekham Kt. Cofferer of our Houshold Sir Thomas Bromley Kt. one of the Justices for Pleas before us to be holden and Sir Richard Southwell Kt. And furthermore We are contented and pleased and by these Presents do give full Power and Authority to our said Uncle from time to time untill We shall have accomplished and be of the full Age of eighteen Years to call ordain name appoint and swear such and as many other Persons of our Subjects as to him our said Uncle shall seem meet and requisite to be of our Council and that all and every such Person or Persons so by our said Uncle for and during the time aforesaid to be called named ordained appointed and sworn of our Council and to be our Counsellor or Counsellors We do by these Presents name ordain accept and take our Counsellor and Counsellors and of our Council in like manner and form as if he they and every of them were in these Presents by Us appointed named and taken to be of our Council and our Counsellor or Counsellors by express Name or Names And that also of our forenamed Counsellors or of any others which our said Uncle shall hereafter at any time take and chuse to be our Counsellor or Counsellors or of our said Council he our said Uncle shall may and have Authority by these Presents to chuse name appoint use and swear of Privy-Council and to be our Privy-Counsellor or Counsellors such and so many as he from time to time shall think convenient And it is Our further pleasure and also We will and grant by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors That whatsoever Cause Matter Deed Thing or Things of what Nature Quality or Condition soever the same be yea though the same require or ought by any Manner Law Statute Proclamation or other Ordinance whatsoever to be specially or by Name expressed or set forth in this Our present Grant or Letters Patents and be not herein expressed or mentioned specially which Our said Uncle or any of our Privy-Counsellor or Counsellors with the Advice Consent or Agreement of Our said Uncle have thought necessary meet expedient decent or in any manner-wise convenient to be devised done or executed during our Minority and until We come to the full Age of eighteen Years for the Surety Honour Profit Health or Education of our Person or for the Surety Honour Profit Weal Benefit or Commodity of any of our Realms Dominions or Subjects and the same have devised done or executed or caused to be devised executed or done at any time since the Death of Our most Noble Father of most famous memory We are contented and pleased and will and grant for Us our Heirs and Successors by these Presents that the same Cause Matter Deed Thing and Things and every of them shall stand remain and be until such time our said Uncle with such and so many of Our foresaid Counsellors as he shall think meet to call unto his assistance shall revoke and annihilate the same good sure stable vailable and effectual to all Intents and Purposes without offence of Us or against Us or of or against any of our Laws Statutes Proclamations or other Ordinances whatsoever and without incurring therefore into any Danger Penalty Forfeit Loss or any other Encumbrance Penalty or Vexation of his or their Bodies Lands Rents Goods or Chattels or of their or of any of their Heirs Executors or Administrators or of any other Person or Persons whatsoever which have done or executed any Cause Matter Deed Thing or Things now or any time since the Death of Our said Father by the Commandment or Ordinance of Our said Uncle or any of our Counsellors with the Advice Consent or Agreement of Our said Uncle And further We are contented and pleased and will and grant for Us our Heirs and Successors by these Presents that whatsoever Cause Matter Deed Thing or Things of what Nature Quality or Condition soever the same be or shall be yea though the same require or ought by any Manner Law Statute Proclamation or other whatsoever Ordinance to be specially and by name expressed and set forth in this our present Grant and Letters Patents and be not herein specially named or expressed which our said Uncle shall at any time during our Minority and until We shall come to the full Age of eighteen Years think necessary meet expedient decent or in any wise convenient to be devised had made executed or done in our Name for the Surety Honour Profit Health or Education of our Person or which our said Uncle with the Advice and Consent of such and so many of our Privy-Council or of our Counsellors as he shall think meet to call unto him from time to time shall at any time until We come unto the full Age of eighteen Years think necessary meet decent expedient or in any-wise convenient to be devised had made executed or done in our Name for the Surety Honour Profit Weal Benefit or Commodity of any of our Realms Dominions or Subjects or any of them he Our said Uncle and Counsellors and every of them and all and every other Person or Persons by his Our said Uncle's Commandment Direction Appointment or Order or by the Commandment Appointment Direction or Order of any of Our said Counsellors so as Our said Uncle agree and be contented to and with the same shall and may do or execute the same without displeasure to Us or any manner of Crime or Offence to be by Us our Heirs or Successors laid or imputed to him Our said Uncle or any Our said Counsellors or any other Person
or Persons therefore or in that behalf and without any offence of or against our Laws Statutes Proclamations or other whatsoever Ordinances and without incurring therefore into any Dammages Penalty Forfeit Loss or any other Encumbrance Trouble or Vexation of his or any of their Bodies Lands Tenements Goods or Chattels or of his or their or any their Heirs Successors Assigns Executors or Administrators And therefore we Will and Command not only all and every our Judges Justices Serjeants Attornies Sollicitors Sheriffs Escheators Bailiffs and all other our Officers Ministers and Subjects that now be or hereafter shall be in no wise to Impeach Appeal Arrest Trouble Vex Injure or Molest in our Name or otherwise Our said Uncle or our said Counsellors or any of them or any other Person for any Cause Matter Deed Thing or Things which he or they or any of them have done or shall do execute or cause to be executed or done as aforesaid But also We require and nevertheless straitly Charge and Command by these Presents all and every our Officers Ministers and Subjects of what Estate Degree or Condition soever he or they be or shall be to be obedient aiding attendant and assisting to Our said Uncle and Counsellors and to every of them as behoveth for the execution of this Charge and Commission given and committed unto Our said Uncle and Council as aforesaid as they tender our Favour and their own Weals and as they will answer unto Us at their uttermost Perils for the contrary In Witness whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness our Self at Westminster the 13th day of March in the first Year of our Reign E. Somerset T. Cantuarien W. St. John J. Russell W. Northamp T. Cheynie William Paget Anthony Brown Number 7. The King's Letter to the Arch-Bishop of York concerning the Visitation then intended EDwardus sextus Dei Gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Cotton Libr. Titus B. 2. Fidei Defensor ac in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hiberniae supremum Caput Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac praedilecto Consiliario nostro Roberto permissione divina Eboracen Archiepisc Angliae Primati Metropolitano salutem Quum nos suprema Authoritate nostra Regia omnia singula loca Ecclesiastica clerumque populum infra per totum nostrum Angliae Regnum constituta propediem visitare statuerimus Vobis tenore praesentium stricte inhibemus atque mandamus per vos Suffraganeis vestris confratribus Episcopis ac per illos suis Archidiaconis ac aliis quibuscunque jurisdictionem Ecclesiasticam exercentibus tam exemptis quam non exemptis infra vestram Provinciam Eboracens ubilibet constitutis sic inhibere volumus atque praecipimus quatenus nec vos nec quisquam eorum Ecclesias aut alia loca praedicta Clerumve aut populum visitare aut ea quae sunt jurisdictionis exercere seu quicquam aliud in praejudicium dictae nostrae Visitationis generalis quovismodo attemptare presumat sive presumant sub poena contemptus donec quousque licentiam facultatem vobis eis in ea parte largiend impertiend fore duxerimus Et quia non solum internam animorum subditorum nostrorum pacem verum etiam externam eorum concordiam multiplicibus opinionum procellis ex contentione dissentione contraversiis concionatorum exortis multum corruptam violatam ac misere divulsam esse cernimus Idcirco nobis admodum necessarium visum est ad sedandas componendas hujusmodi opinionum varietates quatenus inhibeatis seu inhiberi faciatis omnibus singulis Episcopis nec alibi quam in Ecclesiis suis Cathedralibus aliis Personis Ecclesiasticis quibuscunque ne in alio loco quam in suis Ecclesiis Collegiatis sive Parochialibus in quibus intitulati sunt predicent aut subditis nostris quovismodo concionandi munus exerceant nisi ex gratia nostra speciali ad id postea licentiati fuerint sub nostrae indignationis paena In cujus rei testimonium Sigillum nostrum quo ad causas Ecclesiasticas utimur praesentibus apponi mandavimus E. Somerset T. Seimour T. Cantuarien W. St. John Will. Petre Secretary J. Russell John Barker John Gage Dat. quarto die mensis Maii Anno Dom. 1547. Regni nostri Anno primo Number 8. The Form of bidding Prayer before the Reformation The Bedes on the Sunday Out of the Festival printed An. 1509. YE shall kneel down on your Knees and lift up your Hearts making your Prayers to Almighty God for the good State and Peace of all-holy Church that God maintain save and keep it For our Holy Father the Pope with all his true College of Cardinals that God for his Mercy them maintain and keep in the right Belief and it hold and increase and all Misbelief and Heresy be less and destroy'd Also ye shall pray for the Holy Land and for the Holy Cross that Jesus Christ died on for the redemption of Man's Souls that it may come into the power of Christian Men the more to be honoured for our Prayers Also ye shall pray for all Arch-Bishops and Bishops and especially for the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury our Metropolitane and for the Bishop of N. our Diocesan that God of his Mercy give to them Grace so to govern and rule Holy Church that it may be to the Honour and Worship of him and Salvation of our Souls Also ye shall pray for Abbots Priors Monks Canons Friers and for all Men and Women of Religion in what Order Estate or Degree that they stand in from the highest Estate unto the lowest Degree Also ye shall pray for all them that have Charge and Cure of Christian Mens Souls as Curats and Parsons Vicars Priests and Clarks and in especial for the Parson and Curat of this Church and for all the Priests and Minsters that serve therein or have served therein and for all them that have taken any Order that Almighty God give them Grace of continuance well for to keep and observe it to the honour and health of their Souls Also ye shall pray for the Unity and Peace of all Christian Realms and in especial for the good Estate Peace and Tranquility of this Realm of England for our Liege Lord the King that God for his great Mercy send him Grace so to Govern and Rule this Realm that God be pleased and worshipped and to the Profit and Salvation of this Land Also ye shall pray for our Liege Lady the Queen my Lord Prince and all the noble Progeny of them for all Dukes Earls Barons Knights and Esquires and other Lords of the King's Council which have any Rule and Governance in this Land that God give them Grace so to Council Rule and Govern that God be pleased the Land defended and to the profit and Salvation of all the Realm Also ye shall pray for the Peace both on Land and on the Water that God grant Love and Charity
Proceedings therein and in all things committed to our Charge shall be such as shall be able to answer the whole World both in honour and discharge of our Consciences And where your Grace writeth that the most part of the Realm through a naughty Liberty and Presumption are now brought into such a Division as if we Executors go not about to bring them to that stay that our late Master left them they will forsake all Obedience unless they have their own Will and Phantasies and then it must follow that the King shall not be well served and that all other Realms shall have us in an Obloquy and Derision and not without just cause Madam as these words written or spoken by you soundeth not well so can I not perswade my self that they have proceeded from the sincere mind of so vertuous and so wise a Lady but rather by the setting on and procurement of some uncharitable and malicious Persons of which sort there are too many in these days the more pity but yet we must not be so simple so to weigh and regard the Sayings of ill-disposed People and the Doings of other Realms and Countries as for that Report we should neglect our Duty to God and to our Soveraign Lord and Native Country for then we might be justly called evil Servants and Masters and thanks be given unto the Lord such hath been the King's Majesty's Proceedings our young Noble Master that now is that all his faithful Subjects have more cause to render their hearty thanks for the manifold Benefits shewed unto his Grace and to his People and Realm sithence the first day of his Reign until this hour than to be offended with it and thereby rather to judg and think that God who knoweth the Hearts of all Men is contented and pleased with his Ministers who seek nothing but the true Glory of God and the Surety of the King's Person with the Quietness and Wealth of his Subjects And where your Grace writeth also That there was a Godly Order and Quietness left by the King our late Master your Graces Father in this Realm at the time of his Death and that the Spiritualty and Temporalty of the whole Realm did not only without compulsion fully assent to his Doings and Proceedings specially in Matters of Religion but also in all kind of Talk whereof as your Grace wrote ye can partly be witness your self at which your Graces Sayings I do something marvel For if it may please you to call to your remembrance what great Labours Travels and Pains his Grace had before he could reform some of those stiff-necked Romanists or Papists yea and did not they cause his Subjects Rise and Rebel against him and constrained him to take the Sword in his hand not without danger to his Person and Realm Alas why should your Grace so shortly forget that great Outrage done by those Generations of Vipers unto his Noble Person only for God's Cause Did not some of the same ill kind also I mean that Romanist Sect as well with his own Realm as without conspire oftentimes his Death which was manifestly and oftentimes proved to the confusion of some of their privy Assisters Then was it not that all the Spiritualty nor yet the Temporalty did so fully assent to his Godly Orders as your Grace writeth of Did not his Grace also depart from this Life before he had fully finished such Orders as he minded to have established to all his People if death had not prevented him Is it not most true that no kind of Religion was perfected at his Death but left all uncertain most like to have brought us in Parties and Divisions if God had not only helpt us And doth your Grace think it convenient it should so remain God forbid What regret and sorrow our late Master had the time he saw he must depart for that he knew the Religion was not established as he purposed to have done I and others can be witness and testify and what he would have done further in it if he had lived a great many know and also I can testifie And doth your Grace who is learned and should know God's Word esteem true Religion and the knowledg of the Scriptures to be new-fangledness and fantasie For the Lord's sake turn the Leaf and look the other while upon the other side I mean with another Judgment which must pass by an humble Spirit through the Peace of the Living God who of his infinite Goodness and Mercy grant unto your Grace plenty thereof to the satisfying of your Soveraign and your most noble Hearts continual desire Number 16. Certain Petitions and Requests made by the Clergie of the Lower House of the Convocation to the most Reverend Father in God the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his Grace and the residue of the Prelats of the Higher House for the furtherance of certain Articles following FIrst Ex M. S. Dr. Stillingfleet That Ecclesiastical Laws may be made and established in this Realm by thirty two Persons or so many as shall please the King's Majesty to name and appoint according to the effect of a late Statute made in 35th Year of the most noble King and of most famous Memory King Henry the 8th So that all Judges Ecclesiastical proceeding after those Laws may be without danger and peril Also that according to the Ancient Custom of this Realm and the Tenour of the King 's Writ for the summoning of the Parliament which be now and ever have been directed to the Bishops of every Diocess the Clergy of the Lower House of the Convocation may be adjoined and associate with the Lower House of the Parliament or else That all such Statutes and Ordinances as shall be made concerning all Matters of Religion and Causes Ecclesiastical may not pass without the sight and assent of the said Clergy Also that whereas by the Commandment of King Henry the 8th certain Prelats and learned Men were appointed to alter the Service in the Church and to devise other convenient and uniform Order therein Who according to the same Appointment did make certain Books as they be informed Their Request is That the said Books may be seen and perused by them for a better expedition of Divine Service to be set forth accordingly Also that Men being called to Spiritual Promotions or Benefices may have some Allowance for their necessary Living and other Charges to be sustained and born concerning the same Benefices in the first Year wherein they pay the first Fruits Whether the Clergy of the Convocation may liberally speak their Minds without danger of Statute or Law Number 17. A second Petition to the same purpose Ex M. S. Dr. Stillingfleet WHere the Clergy in this present Convocation assembled have made humble suit unto the most Reverend Father in God my Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and all the other Bishops That it may please them to be a Mean to the King's Majesty and Lord Protector 's Grace
that the said Clergy according to the Tenour of the King 's Writ and the Ancient Laws and Customs of this Noble Realm might have their Room and Place and be associated with the Commons in the Nether House of this present Parliament as Members of the Common-Wealth and the King 's most humble Subjects And if this may not be permitted and granted unto them that then no Statutes nor Laws concerning the Christian Religion or which shall concern especially the Persons Possessions Rooms Livings Jurisdictions Goods or Chattels of the said Clergy may pass nor be enacted the said Clergy not being made privy thereunto and their Answers and Reasons not heard The said Clergy do most humbly beseech an Answer and Declaration to be made unto them what the said most Reverend Father in God and all other the Bishops have done in this their humble Suit and Request to the end that the said Clergy if need be may chuse of themselves such able and discreet Persons which shall effectually follow the same Suit in the Name of them all And whereas in a Statute ordained and established by Authority of Parliament at Westminster in the 25th Year of the Reign of the most excellent Prince King Henry the 8th The Clergy of this Realm submitting themselves to the King's Highness did knowledg and confess according to the Truth That the Convocations of the same Clergy have been and ought to be assembled by the King 's Writ and did promise farther in Verbo Sacerdotii that they never from thenceforth would presume to attempt alledg claim or put in use or enact promulge or execute any new Canons Constitutions Ordinances Provincials or other or by whatsoever other Name they shall be called in the Convocation unless the King 's most Royal Assent and License may to them be had to make promulge and execute the same And his Majesty to give his most Royal Assent and Authority in that behalf upon pain of every one of the Clergy doing the contrary and being thereof Convict to suffer Imprisonment and make Fine at the King 's Will. And that no Canons Constitutions or Ordinances shall be made or put in execution within this Realm by Authority of the Convocation of the Clergy which shall be repugnant to the King's Prerogative Royal or the Customs Laws or Statutes of this Realm which Statute is eft-soons renewed and established in the 27th Year of the Reign of the most noble King as by the Tenour of both Statutes more at large will appear The said Clergy being presently assembled in Convocation by Authority of the King 's Writ do desire that the King's Majesty's License in writing may be for them obtained and granted according to the effect of the said Statutes authorising them to attempt entreat and commune of such Matters and therein freely to give their Consents which otherwise they may not do upon pain and peril premised Also the said Clergy desireth that such Matters as concerneth Religion which be disputable may be quietly and in good order reasoned and disputed among them in this House whereby the Verities of such Matters shall the better appear and the Doubts being opened and resolutely discussed Men may be fully perswaded with the quietness of their Consciences and the time well spent Number 18. A Paper offered to Q. Elizabeth and afterwards to K. James concerning the Inferior Clergies being brought to the House of Commons Reasons to induce her Majesty that Deans Arch-Deacons and some other of her grave and wise Clergie may be admitted into the Lower House of Parliament 1. IN former Times when Causes Ecclesiastical were either not at all Ex M.S. Dr. Borlace or else very rarely treated of in that Assembly the Clergy were thought Men most meet to consult and determine of the Civil Affairs of this Realm 2. The Supream Authority in Church Causes is not newly granted but reunited and restored to the Crown and an Order is by Law already established how all Abuses in the Church are to be reformed so as no cause concerning Religion may be handled in that House without her Majesty's special leave but with the manifest impeaching of her Prerogative Royal and contempt of the said Order 3. If it shall please her Highness to give way to this Course that Church-Matters be there debated and in part concluded How much more necessary is it now than it was in former Times that some of the Clergy should be there present at the same * In the same Paper written over to be presented to K. James this Article is thus varied It is thought the Clergie falling into a Premunire and so not in the King's Protection it did afterwards please the King to pardon them but not to restore them So began this Separation as far forth as can be collected then the Wisdom of a great Politician meeting with the Ambition of as great a Prelat wrought the continuance of the said Separation under this pretence That it should be most for the Honour of him and his Clergie to be still by themselves in two Assemblies of Convocation answerable in proportion to the two Houses of Parliament There are many other inconsiderable Amendments made by Bishop Ravis 's own hand It doth not appear why they were excluded but as it is thought either the King offended with some of them did so grievously punish the whole Body or else the Ambition of one of them meeting with the subtilty of an undermining Politick did occasion this causeless Separation 5. They are yet to this day called by several Writs directed into their several Diocesses under the Great Seal to assist the Prince in that High Court of Parliament 6. Though the Clergy and the Universities be not the worst Members of this Common-Wealth yet in that respect they are of all other in worst condition for in that Assembly every Shire hath their Knights and every incorporate Town their Burgesses only the Clergy and the Universities are excluded 7. The Wisdom and Justice of this Realm doth intend That no Subject should be bound to that Law whereunto he himself after a sort hath not yielded his Consent but the Clergy and the Universities may now be concluded by Law without their Consent without their just Defence without their Privity 8. The many Motions made so prejudicial to the State and being of the Clergy and Universities followed now with so great eagerness in that House would then be utterly silenced or soon repressed with the sober and sufficient Answers of the Clergy present 9. It would much repair the Reputation and Credit of the Clergy which now is exposed to great contumely and contempt as generally abroad in this Land so particularly in that House And whoso is religious and wise may observe That the Contempt of the Clergy is the high way to Atheism and all Prophaneness Men are Flesh and not Spirit led by ordinary outward Means and not usually overwrought by extraordinary Inspirations and therefore do easily
receive their worthy Reward the which is the thing we most desire to spare as much as may be the effusion of Blood and that namely of our own Nation In York-shire a Commotion was attempted the Week last past but the Gentlemen were so soon upon them and so forwardly that it was streight suppressed and with weeping Eyes the rest upon their Knees they wholly together desired the Gentlemen to obtain their Pardons the which the King's Majesty hath so granted unto them as may stand with his Highness Honour So that for the Inner Parts thanks be to the Almighty God the Case standeth in good Points The Causes and Pretences of these Uproars and Risings are divers and uncertain and so full of variety almost in every Camp as they call them that it is hard to write what it is as ye know is like to be of People without Head and Rule and that would have that they wot not what Some crieth pluck down Inclosures and Parks some for their Commons others pretend the Religion a number would Rule another while and direct things as Gentlemen have done and indeed all have conceived a wonderful hate against Gentlemen and taketh them all as their Enemies The Ruffians among them and the Souldiers which be the chief Doers look for spoil So that it seemeth no other thing but a Plague and a Fury amongst the vilest and worst sort of Men for except only Devonshire and Cornwall and they not past two or three in all other Places not one Gentleman or Man of Reputation was ever amongst them but against their Wills and as Prisoners In Norfolk Gentlemen and all Servingmen for their sakes are as ill handled as may be but this Broil is well asswaged and in a manner at a point shortly to be fully ended with the Grace of God On the other part of the Seas we have not so good News for the French King taking now his time and occasions of this Rebellion within the Realm is come unto Bullingnois with a great number of Horse-men and Foot-men himself in Person And as we are advertised of the Letters of the 24th of this present from Ambletue or Newhaven the Almain Camp or Almain Hill a piece appertaining to the said Ambletue was that day delivered to the French by traiterous consent of the Camp their variance falling out or feigned between the Captain and the Souldiers so that they are now besieged very near and in a manner round Howbeit they write that they trust the piece it self of Newhaven will be well enough defended God assisting them who be in as good and stout a courage as any Men may be and as desirous to win Honour and give a good account of their Charge Thus we bid you heartily farewel August 24. 1549. Number 37. A Letter of Bonner 's after he was deprived An Original The first part of this Letter is the recommending the Bearer that they might find a good Marriage for him The Pears were so well accepted in every place where I had so many Thanks for my Distribution that I intend by God's Grace to send down to you your Frail again to have an eching either of more Pears or else of Puddings c. ye do know what c. doth mean by that Italian Proverb Dio me guarda da furia di villani da Conscientia di preti da chi odi due messe nel giorno da quasibuglie di medici da c. di notarii da chi jura per la Conscientia mia I do not write to Sir John Burne nor to my Lady for any thing their Conscience is not over-large and the like is in Mr. Hornvale and also my old Acquaintance John Badger But if amongst you I have no Puddings then must I say as Messer our Priest of the Hospital said to his mad Horse in our last journey to Hostia Al diavolo al diavolo aitutti diavolli Our Lord preserve you and all yours with desire to be recommended to all Festo omnium Sanctorum in the Marshalsea To my dear beloved Friend the Worshipful Richard Lechmore Your loving and assured old Acquaintance Edmond Bonner Number 38. Letters and Instructions touching Proceedings with the Emperor to Sir William Paget Knight of the Order sent to the Emperor 1549. FIrst He shall communicate his Instructions Cotton Libr. Galba B. 12. and the cause of his coming with Sir Philip Hobbey Ambassador Resident with the Emperor and accompanied with him at his access to the said Emperor shall deliver his Letters of Credit and for his Credit shall utter his Charge as followeth First He shall declare what good Will we have to the continuance of the Amity and the encrease of the same by such means as may be devised on either Party and how the Reciproque hath been promised on their behalf Item To the intent they may as well perceive our forwardness therein as also the World see the same take effect indeed he is sent to shew what We have thought upon for this purpose and also if they be of a like forwardness to hear again what they think meet in that behalf and upon this Conference either to conclude upon both Our Devices or such one of them as shall be thought best for both Parties Item We think good that the Treaty already made between the Emperor and the King's Majesty of famous memory deceased be made perpetual that is to say confirmed by the Prince and the Countries on both sides whose Commodity depend upon the same Treaty Item Before the Confirmation the Treaty to be revised by him and the Ambassador and certain other to be appointed by the Emperor to the intent it may appear whether we have both one understanding of the words of the Treatise Item Where the debating to and from of the Amity with his Ambassador here occasion hath risen to talk of Marriage between the Infant of Portugal and the Lady Mary to which thing we perceive the Emperor hath sithence been made privy and that in case the Emperor mind to treat further of that Matter he shall say he hath commission to hear and conclude thereof Item To declare the State of our Affairs in Scotland at this time and forasmuch as the Scots have been very much aided with Victuals Ammunitions and other Necessaries from his Dominions by reason whereof they are more stiff and unwilling to come to Reason the said Comptroller declaring this Consideration shall do whâ—t he may to â—â—ocure that not only all safe Conducts granted by the Emperor or the Regent may be cassed but also his consent that if any his Subjects traffique into Scotland being common Enemies if they be taken beyond Barwick thitherward it may be lawful for our Men to take their Goods as forfeit Item To declare our proceedings with France at this time and of our sending Commissioners upon the French Motion who shall not conclude any thing prejudicial to the Amity or Treaties already passed or now to be passed
Countries not being privy of the Causes thereof to avoid further inconveniences and danger which might ensue to your Majesty's Person which by many Rumors certain Intelligences and sundry Messages was declared imminent unto your Highness and to me the Lord Protector was forced to seek this Defence as I at the first beginning declared unto your Highness Secondly That this Force and Power which here is assembled about your Majesty at this present is to do none of them which be there at London or else-where either in Person or Goods any damage or hurt but to defend only if any violence should be attempted against your Highness As for any contention and strife betwixt me the Lord Protector and the Council there I do not refuse to come to any reasonable end and conclusion that should be for the preservation of your Majesty and tranquillity of the Realm if they will send any two of them with Commission on their behalfs to conclude and make a good end betwixt us And I most humbly beseech your Majesty to appoint any two of such as be here about your Majesty to join with the same and whatsoever those four or three of them shall determine I do and shall wholly and fully submit my self thereunto And that for more confirmation if it shall be so thought good to the said Persons their Agreement and Conclusion to be established and ratified by Parliament or any other Order that shall be devised And I beseech your Majesty that at my humble suit and by the advice of me and other of your Council here for the better proceedings herein and to take away all Doubts and Fears that might arise to grant to them four or any such two of them which they shall send for the purpose above-said free passage for themselves and with each of them twenty of their Servants to safely come tarry here and return at their pleasure And I most humbly beseech your Majesty that this Bill signed with your Majesty's Hands and ours may be a sufficient Warrant therefore Given and exhibited at the Castle of Windsor Octob. 8. 1549. Number 43. Letters sent from the Lords at London to the King's Majesty MOst high and mighty Prince our most gracious Soveraign Lord Ex Libro Concilii we have received by Mr. Hobbey your Majesty's most gracious Letters of the 8th of this Instant and heard such further Matter as it pleased your Majesty to will to be declared by him And sorry we be that your Majesty should have these occasions to be troubled especially in this kind of Matter the beginning and only occasion whereof as we be well able to prove to your Majesty hath proceeded of the Duke of Somerset It is much discomfort to us all to understand that your Royal Person should be touched with any care of Mind and most of all it grieveth us that it should be perswaded your Majesty that we have not that care that beseemeth us of the pacifying of these Uproars and conservation of your Majesty's Common-Wealth and State from Danger wherein whatsoever is informed your Highness we humbly beseech your Majesty to think we be as careful as any Men living may be and do not nor we trust shall not forget the Benefits received of your Majesty's most noble Father nor any of our bounden Duties of Allegiance the consideration and the special care whereof forced us to consult seriously and to join in this sort which thing if we had not presently followed not only your most Royal Person whom Almighty God long preserve but this your whole Estate being already much touched and in great towardness of ruin was most like to come in short time to most imminent danger and peril the Causes whereof as we do all well know and can prove to have proceeded from the said Duke So if we should not earnestly provide for the same we should not be able to answer to your Majesty hereafter for not doing our Duties therein therefore do we nothing doubt but your Majesty of your great clemency and good nature will not think that all and every of us being the whole state of your Privy-Council one or two excepted should be led in these things by private Affections or would presume to write to your Majesty that whereof we were not most assured and much more we trust that your Highness of your goodness will without any jealousie or suspition think that most expedient both for your own most Royal Person and all your Subjects that by the Body of your Council may be thought expedient to whom and to no one Man your Highness most grave Father appointed by his last Will and Testament the Care of your Majesty and all your most weighty Affairs We cannot therefore but think our selves much wronged that your said most Royal Person is in this sort by the Duke only detained and shut up from us to all our great heaviness and the great fear of all other your Majesty's true Subjects and wonder of all the World sooner may one Man intend ill than a multitude of us who we take God to witness to be a thousand times more careful of Your Highness surety than for all our own Lives We trust also that of Your Majesty's good Nature You will not think that wilfulness which Your whole Council doth or shall agree upon for Your Majesty's Surety and Benefit where the more agreeable we be the better Opinion we trust Your Majesty will conceive of us and our doings It comforteth us much to see the great appearance of Your Majesty's natural clemency even in these Your young Years and the assured hope which we have thereof encourageth us to be perswaded that You both do and will conceive good Opinion of us and all our doings and that Your Majesty is and so will continue our gracious good Lord with whom as we trust we never deserve willingly to be called in the standing of any Judgment with Your Majesty For the end of this Matter touching the Duke of Somerset if he have that respect to Your Majesty's Surety that he pretendeth if he have that consideration of his Duty to God that his Promise and Oath requireth if he have that remembrance of the performance of Your Majesty's Father's Will that to the effect of a good Executor appertaineth if he have the reverence to Your Law that a good Subject ought to have Let him first quietly suffer us Your Majesty's most humble Servants and true Counsellors to be restored to Your Majesty's presence let him as becometh a true Subject submit himself to Your Majesty's Council and the order of Your Highness Laws let the Forces assembled be sent away and then may we do our Duties in giving our attendance upon Your Majesty and after consult there with Your Majesty more freely for such order as may be thought most meet for Your Grace's Surety By these means Your Majesty's Subjects may be at quiet and all occasions of stir taken away And if the said
the same to be at Calais or Bulloign if it may be so brought to pass otherwise to be at such convenient Place either within our Dominion or the French or sometime in the one and sometime the other as may be best agreed upon In the appointing whereof we would no Ceremony to be so much sticked upon as the same should be any occasion of hindrance to the good success looked for at this meeting Secondly If the French Commissioners shall require Bulloign with the Members and all such Grounds and Lands as was of late conquered by our late Father of most noble memory to be restored to the French King we be pleased our said Commissioners shall on our Name agree and assent thereunto so as the said French Commissioners do and will likewise covenant and agree in the Name of the said French King to any of our Requests hereafter ensuing First Our said Commissioners shall demand in recompence for Bulloign and the Members and Grounds as aforesaid that the Treaties last made between our said Father of famous Memory and the Realm of Scotland may in all things be performed and the Person of the Young Scotch Queen delivered to us to the intent the Marriage between us and her may be performed They shall also demand that the Fortifications at Newhaven and Blackness may be utterly ruinated and no Fortifications made from hence-forth at any of those Places They shall also require the continuance of paiment of our perpetual Pension and all the Debts due unto us by force of any former Treaties before the commencement of these last Wars And this for the first degree which if it may not be obtained then for The second Degree we be pleased to accept for a Recompence if they will covenant for performance of the said Treaties with Scotland to deliver the Scotch Queen and continue from henceforth the paiment of the perpetual Pension But if that shall also be refused then for the third Degree our said Commissioners shall require the continuance of paiment of our Pension the Arrearages due by any former Treaties between our said Father and the late French King and that the Forts of Newhaven Hambletue and Blackness may be utterly ruinated and no new Fortifications commenced at any of the said Places hereafter And if this may not be obtained then for the fourth and last Degree our Pleasure is That our said Commissioners shall require the continuance of paiment of our said Pension and all such Debts as were due unto our said late Father before the commencement of his last War In the debating and discoursing whereof we will that our said Commissioners shall employ themselves to their uttermost to make as good and honourable a Bargain for us and to attain all or as much of the Premises as they may remembring unto the French Commissioners our great Charges sustained in these last Wars commenced by them contrary to the former Treaties Touching the Place Day Time and other Circumstances to be used as well in the delivery of Bulloign the Base Town the Old Man the Young Man with the Ground Territories and Members to the said Pieces or any of them belonging as also of paiment of such Sums of Mony as shall be agreed upon for the same Our said Commissioners shall by their good discretions devise with the said French Commissioners all such ways as they can or may think most for our Honour and Surety And such overtures or Discourses as shall be made by the said French Commissioners touching the Premises our said Commissioners shall advertise unto us or our Council And if any motion shall be made to have Scotland comprehended in this Peace our said Commissioners shall say That forasmuch as the Scots be common Enemies to us and the Emperor we may not assent to the comprehension of them without the Emperor's consent or at the least without such respect to our Treaties with the Emperor and his Subjects as the Amity between us requireth And therefore if the Scots will covenant to stand to our Arbitrement and Judgment for all such Matters as be in difference between the said Emperor and them we will be pleased that the Scots shall be comprehended and one such Article or of like effect made for comprehension of them as was made at the conclusion of the least Peace And if the delivery or razing of any Pieces now by us possessed in Scotland shall be required we be pleased that our said Commissioners travelling first by all ways and means they may to induce the other Commissioners to assent that all the said Pieces and the Lands by us now possessed may remain to us and our Heirs and Successors for ever shall nevertheless if that may not be received assent in the end that Borthwickeraig Lauder and Dunglass shall be restored upon a convenient Recompence in Money so as the Forts of Roxburgh and Haymouth with their Grounds adjoining may be covenanted to remain to us and our Successors for ever If the French Commissioners shall make any motion of Treaty for Marriage between us and the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter to the French King our said Commissioners excusing the present talk thereof in respect of our young Years and for such other Causes as they may think good shall do all that they may to cut off that Talk But if they shall be much pressed therein in respect of such Overtures as have been made already our Pleasure is that our said Commissioners shall by general words entertain the talk of that Matter and thereof and of such other Matters as shall be proponed touching the same advertise us or our Council In all the Treaty it must be remembred to reserve and have special regard to the preservation of our Treaties with the Emperor and other our Friends And if it shall seem expedient to our said Commissioners for the better expedition of our Affairs committed to their Charge that a Surceance or Abstinence of Wars be granted as well on our behalf as on the behalf of the French King we be pleased that our Right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin the Earl of Huntingdon our Lieutenant General of that side shall by the advice of our said Commissioners grant a Surceance or Abstinence for such time and in such manner and sort as by our said Commissioners shall be thought best so as the like be also granted on the behalf of the said French King Finally Our said Commissioners shall advertise us our Council attendant about our Person from time to time of their Proceedings and further do as we or our Council shall appoint them either by our Letters or the Letters of our said Council accordingly T. Cant. R. Rich Canc. W. Saint John H. Dorset W. Northampton J. Warwick Thomas Southampton Thom. Ely Cuth Duresm T. Cheyne T. Wentworth Anthony Wingfield W. Herbert T. Darcy N. Wotton J. Baker Edward North. Edward Montague Richard Southwell Number 50. Articles devised by the King's Majesty with the Advice of
his Highness Council answering to certain Doubts moved in the Letters bearing date the 27th of February last past sent from his Majesty's Commissioners being on the other side the Seas for the Treaty of Peace An Original EDWARD R. FIrst Cotton Libr. Caligula E. 1 If the French Deputies require to have Roxburgh and Aymouth to be rendred unto the Scots we will that our Commissioners shall by all the best means they can devise induce them to agree that the said two places may and shall remain to Us And in case the French will not so be persuaded but require still to have them rendred Our pleasure is That our Commissioners shall stand most stifly in the denial of it so far forth that they shall come to the breaking of that days talk rather than to condescend unto it And in case that move not the French to relent of their Request our Commissioners shall afterwards send to the French Deputies to meet or to talk again and then they shall say That rather than such a good work of Peace should fail they will grant to the razing and abandoning of both the said Pieces with special Capitulation that neither the Scots nor the French shall re-fortify nor cause to be re-fortified in neither of those two Places with the like Covenant for our part if the French Deputies do require it Item We are pleased that the Reservance of our Rights and Titles mentioned in our former Articles sent to our said Commissioners be in general words so as severally general reservance be made as well for our Rights and Titles as to Scotland as for our Matters with France Item We are pleased that for such Sums of Mony as shall be agreed upon to be paied unto Us for the delivery of Bulloign Our said Commissioners shall take Hostages of the French according to Our former Articles sent unto them in that behalf the said Hostages to remain there till the whole and last Sum so agreed upon be fully answered unto Us. And likewise in case the French Deputies will ask Hostages for the sure delivery of the Town of Bulloign with the Members Our said Commissioners may agree to the assigning of such Hostages as shall be thought sufficient for the same which Hostages nevertheless shall not be bound to remain or continue there any longer than till the said Town is delivered but shall thereupon be suffered to return home at their Pleasure Item Upon the Conclusion between our Commissioners and the French Deputies for the delivery of Bulloign our pleasure is That the term of the delivery of the same be appointed as short as may be conveniently having considerance to a reasonable respite for the removing and safe conveyance away of the Artillery Munition Armour and Goods belonging to Us or our Subjects either by Sea or by Land as shall be thought most commodious and that our Men departing out of the Town in the Forenoon the French shall abstain from entry into it till at three or four hours after for avoiding the inconveniences which may chance upon the coupling of our Men with the French Item Forasmuch as Our said Commissioners being upon the Place can better consider any other thing not touched in the Premises concerning the manner and fashion of the delivery of Bulloign or retire of our Men Artillery and other things other than we can do here we are pleased to remit that to their wisdoms and discretions Item As for Alderney and Sark forasmuch as both those Places are Ours reason would that the French should raze their Fortifications at Sark and the Fortifications at Alderney being lawfully done by Us upon our own Ground to remain at our Arbitrement That in case the French Deputies shall make no mention neither of the one nor of the other We are pleased that our Commissioners shall also pass it over in silence but if the French Deputies shall mention the same and without the razing the Fortifications at Alderney will not condescend to a Peace We are pleased our Commissioners shall conclude with them upon the razing and abandoning of the one and the other of the aforesaid Fortifications standing first as much in denial of the French Deputies Demands herein as they may T. Cant. R. Rich Chanc. W. Wilts T. Wentworth A. Wingfield T. Darcy N. Wotton R. Sadler J. Warwick VV. Northampton T. Ely T. Cheyne W. Herbert John Gage Edward North. Number 51. The King's Letters Patents to John a Lasco and the German Congregation Rot. pat 4 to Reg. part 5. EDwardus Sextus Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor in Terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hibernicae supremum sub Christo Caput omnibus ad quos presentes literae pervenerint salutem Cum magnae quaedam graves considerationes nos ad presens specialiter impulerunt tum etiam cogitantes illud quanto studio charitate Christianos Principes in Sacrosanctum Dei Evangelium Religionem Apostolicam ab ipso Christo inchoatam institutam traditam animatos propensos esse conveniat sine qua haud dubie politia civile Regnum nec consistere diu neque nomen suum tueri potest nisi principes caeterique praepotentes viri quos Deus ad Regnorum gubernacula sedere voluit id in primis operam dent ut per totum Reipub Corpus casta sinceraque Religio diffundatur Ecclesia in vere Christianis Apostolicis opinionibus ritibus instituta atque adulta per sanctos ac carni mundo mortuos ministros conservetur pro eo quod Christiani Principis officium statuimus inter alias suas gravissimas de Regno suo bene splendideque administrando cogitationes etiam Religioni Religionis causa calamitate fractis afflictis exulibus consulâ—re Sciatis quod non solum praemissa contemplantes Ecclesiam a Papatus Tyrannide per nos vindicatam in pristina libertate conservare cupientes verum etiam exulum ac peregrinorum conditionem miserantes qui jam bonis temporibus in Regno nostro Angliae commorati sunt voluntario exilio Religionis Ecclesiae causa mulctati quia hospites exteros homines propter Christi Evangelium ex Patria sua profligatos ejectos in Regnum nostrum profugos praesidiis ad vitam degendam necessariis in Regno nostro egere non dignum esse neque Christiano homine neque principis magnificentia duximus cujus liberalitas nullo modo in tali rerum statu restricta clausave esse debet Ac quoniam multi Germanae nationis homines ac alii peregrini qui confluxerunt in dies singulos confluunt in Regnum nostrum Angliae ex Germania aliis remotioribus partibus in quibus Papatus dominatur Evangelii libertas labefactari premi caepta est non habent certam sedem locum in Regno nostro ubi conventus suos celebrare valeant ubi inter suae gentis moderni idiomatis homines Religionis
King Edward the 6th by the same Act limited and appointed to remain to the Lady Mary his eldest Daughter and to the Heirs of her Body lawfully begotten And for default of such Issue the Remainder thereof to the Lady Elizabeth by the Name of the Lady Elizabeth his second Daughter and to the Heirs of her Body lawfully begotten with such Conditions as should be limited and appointed by the said late King of worthy memory King Henry the 8th our Progenitor our Great Uncle by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal or by his last Will in writing signed with his Hand And forasmuch as the said Limitation of the Imperial Crown of this Realm being limited as is afore-said to the said Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth being illegitimate and not lawfully begotten for that the Marriage had between â—he said late King King Henry the 8th our Progenitor and Great Uncle and the Lady Katherine Mother to the said Lady Mary and also the Marriage had between the said late King King Henry the 8th our Progenitor and Great Uncle and the Lady Ann Mother to the said Lady Elizabeth were clearly and lawfully undone by Sentences of Divorce according to the Word of God and the Ecclesiastical Laws and which said several Divorcements have been severally ratified and confirmed by Authority of Parliament and especially in the 28th Year of the Reign of King Henry the 8th our said Progenitor and Great Uncle remaining in force strength and effect whereby as well the said Lady Mary as also the said Lady Elizabeth to all intents and purposes are and been clearly disabled to ask claim or challenge the said Imperial Crown or any other of the Honours Castles Manours Lordships Lands Tenements or other Hereditaments as Heir or Heirs to our said late Cousin King Edward the 6th or as Heir or Heirs to any other Person or Persons whatsoever as well for the Cause before rehearsed as also for that the said Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth were unto our said late Cousin but of the half Blood and therefore by the Ancient Laws Statutes and Customs of this Realm be not inheritable unto our said late Cousin although they had been born in lawful Matrimony as indeed they were not as by the said Sentences of Divorce and the said Statute of the 28th Year of the Reign of King Henry the 8th our said Progeâ—â—â—or and Great Uncle plainly appeareth And forasmuch also as it is to be thought or at the least much to be doubted that if the said Lady Mary or Lady Elizabeth should hereafter have or enjoy the said Imperial Crown of this Realm and should then happen to marry with any Stranger born out of this Realm that then the said Stranger having the Government and Imperial Crown in his Hands would adhere and practise not only to bring this Noble Free Realm into the Tyranny and Servitude of the Bishops of Rome but also to have the Laws and Customs of his or their own Native Country or Countries to be practised and put in ure within this Realm rather than the Laws Statutes and Customs here of long time used whereupon the Title of Inheritance of all and singular the Subjects of this Realm do depend to the peril of Conscience and the uttersubversion of the Common-Weal of this Realm Whereupon our said late dear Cousin weighing and considering within himself which ways and means were most convenient to be had for the stay of the said Succession in the said Imperial Crown if it should please God to call our said late Cousin out of this transitory Life having no Issue of his Body And calling to his remembrance that We and the Lady Katharine and the Lady Mary our Sisters being the Daughters of the Lady Frances our natural Mother and then and yet Wife to our natural and most loving Father Henry Duke of Suffolk and the Lady Margaret Daughter of the Lady Elianor then deceased Sister to the said Lady Frances and the late Wife of our Cousin Henry Earl of Cumberland were very nigh of his Graces Blood of the part of his Fathers side our said Progenitor and great Uncle and being naturally born here within the Realm And for the very good Opinion our said late Cousin had of our said Sisters and Cousin Margarets good Education did therefore upon good deliberation and advice herein had and taken by his said Letters Patents declare order assign limit and appoint that if it should fortune himself our said late Cousin King Edward the Sixth to decease having no Issue of his Body lawfully begotten that then the said Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Confines of the same and his Title to the Crown of the Realm of France and all and singular Honours Castles Prerogatives Privileges Preheminencies and Authorities Jurisdictions Dominions Possessions and Hereditaments to our said late Cousin K. Edward the Sixth or to the said Imperial Crown belonging or in any wise appertaining should for lack of such Issue of his Body remain come and be to the eldest Son of the Body of the said Lady Frances lawfully begotten being born into the World in his Life-time and to the Heirs Males of the Body of such eldest Son lawfully begotten and so from Son to Son as he should be of vicinity of Birth of the Body of the said Lady Frances lawfully begotten being born into the World in our said late Cousins Life-time and to the Heirs Male of the Body of every such Son lawfully begotten And for default of such Son born into the World in his life-time of the Body of the said Lady Frances lawfully begotten and for lack of Heirs Males of every such Son lawfully begotten that then the said Imperial Crown and all and singular other the Premises should remain come and be to us by the Name of the Lady Jane eldest Daughter of the said Lady Frances and to the Heirs Males of our Body lawfully begotten and for lack of such Issue then to the Lady Katherine aforesaid our said second Sister and the Heirs Male of her Body lawfully begotten with divers other Remainders as by the same Letters Patents more plainly and at large it may and doth appear Sithence the making of our Letters Patents that is to say on Thursday which was the 6th day of this instant Month of July it hath pleased God to call unto his infinite Mercy our said most dear and entirely beloved Cousin Edward the Sixth whose Soul God pardon and forasmuch as he is now deceased having no Heirs of his Body begotten and that also there remaineth at this present time no Heirs lawfully begotten of the Body of our said Progenitor and great Uncle King Henry the Eighth And forasmuch also as the said Lady Frances our said Mother had no Issue Male begotten of her Body and born into the World in the life-time of our said Cousin King Edward the Sixth so as the said Imperial Crown and other the Premises to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining
but be-like we should have that as it was of late days The Matter of which Service is taken out of the Psalms and other part of the Bible Translated into English wherein are manifest Errors and false Translations which all by depravation of God's Scripture and so verè mendacia Now if the Service be so fram'd then may Men well say upon us That we serve God with Lyes Wherefore we may not so travel and labour to alter the form of our Common Prayer that we lese the Fruit of all Prayer which by this barbarous contention no doubt we shall do And the Church of God hath no such custom as St. Paul alledgeth in such Contentions And may not the whole World say unto us as St. Paul said unto the Corinthians 1 Cor. 14. An à vobis Verbum Dei processit aut in vos solos pervenit As though the whole Church had been ever in Error and never had seen this Chapter of St. Paul before And that the Holy Ghost had utterly forsaken his Office in leading that into all Truth till now of late certain boasting of the Holy Ghost and the sincere Word of God hath enterprised to correct and overthrow the whole Church Augustinus lib. 1. contra Julianum Pelagium à Graecis pro suâ Heresi profugum querentem ad hunc modum respondit Puto inquit tibi eam partem orbis debere sufficere in quâ primum Apostolorum suorum voluit Dominus gloriosissimo Martyrio Coronari Et idem paulo post Te certe Julianum alloquitur Occidentalis Terra generavit Occidentalis Regeneravit Ecclesia Quid ei quaeris inferre quod in eâ non invenisti quando in ejus membra venisti Imò Quid ei quaeris auferre quod in eâ tu quoque accepisti Haec ille A number of Authorities out of the Doctors we could rehearse that maketh for the Unity of the Church and for not disturbing the quiet Government of the same which all impugn this their first Assertion by way of Argument But because they have framed their Assertion so that we be compelled to defend the Negative in the probation whereof the Doctors use not directly to have many words therefore of purpose we leave out a number of the Sayings of the Doctors which all as I said before would prove this first Matter by way of Argument lest we should be tedious and keep you too long in a plain Matter And therefore now to conclude for not changing the Divine Service and the Ministration of the Sacraments from the Learned Tongue which thing doth make a Schism and a Division between us and the Catholick Church of God we have brought in the Scripture that doth forbid all such Schism And also the Consent and Custom of the whole Church which cannot Err and maketh us bold to say as we do with other things as ye have heard for confirmation of the same And in answering to the first Matter we intend God willing to say much more beseeching Almighty God so to inspire the Heart of the Queen's Majesty and her most Honourable Council with the Nobility of this Realm and Us that be the Pastors of the People in these Causes that so we may dispose of the Service of God as we may therein serve God And that we do not by altering the said Service from the Uniform manner of Christ's Church but also highly displease God and procure to Us infamy of the World the Worm of Conscience and Eternal Damnation which God forbid and grant us Grace to acknowledg confess and maintain his Truth To whom be all Glory Amen Number 5. The Declaration of the Proceedings of a Conference begun at Westminster the last of March 1559 concerning certain Articles of Religion and the breaking up of the said Conference by default and contempt of certain Bishops Parties of the said Conference THe Queen 's most Excellent Majesty having heard of diversities of Opinions in certain Matters of Religion Ex Chartophylac Regio amongst sundry of her Loving Subjects and being very desirous to have the same reduced to some Godly and Christian Concord thought it best by advice of the Lords and others of her Privy Council as well for the satisfaction of Persons doubtful as also for the knowledg of the very Truth in certain Matters of difference to have a convenient chosen number of the best Learned of either Part and to confer together their Opinions and Reasons and thereby to come to some good and charitable Agreement And hereupon by her Majesty's Commandment certain of her said Privy Council declared this purpose to the Arch-Bishop of York being also one of the said Privy Council and required him that he would impart the same to some of the Bishops and to make choice of 8 nine or ten of them and that there should be the like number named of the other part and further also declared to him as then was supposed what the Matters should be and as for the time it was thought upon and then after certain days past it was signified by the said Arch-Bishop that there was appointed by such of the Bishops to whom he had imparted this Matter eight Persons that is to say four Bishops and four Doctors who were content at the Queen's Majesty's Commandment to shew their Opinions and as he termed it render account of their Faith in those Matters which were mentioned and that specially in writing Although he said they thought the same so determined as there was no cause to dispute upon them It was hereupon fully resolved by the Queen's Majesty with the Advice aforesaid that according to their desire it should be in writing on both Parts for avoiding of much alteration in words And that the said Bishops should because they were in Authority of Degree Superiours first declare their Minds and Opinions to the Matter with their Reasons in writing And the other number being also eight Men of good degree in Schools and some having been in Dignity in the Church of England if they had any thing to say to the contrary should the same day declare their Opinions in like manner And so each of them should deliver their Writings to the other to be consisidered what were to be improved therein and the same to declare again in Writing at some other convenient day and the like Order to be kept in all the rest of the Matters All this was fully agreed upon with the Arch-Bishop of York and so also signified to both Parties and immediately hereupon divers of the Nobility and States of the Realm understanding that such a Meeting and Conference should be and that in certain Matters thereupon the present Court of Parliament consequently following some Laws might be grounded they made earnest means to her Majesty that the Parties of this Conference might put and read their Assertions in the English Tongue and that in the presence of them the Nobility and others of her Parliament-House for the better satisfaction and