Search York

chyrche, to shew to you foure tymes in the yere, in eche

quarter of the yere ones, whan the people is most plenary

in holy chyrche, the articles of the sentence of cursynge. So

that none for our defaute, neyther man nor woman, fall

therin. And if ony be fallen therin, that he may thrugh

the help of Almighty God, and al holy churche, with shryfte

and penaunce makynge good for his synne, ryse up and

hym amende. Wherfore I do you to understande, that

cursynge is suche vengeance takynge, that it departeth a

man from the blysse of heven, from howsel, shryfte, and al

the sacramentes of holy churche, and betake hym to the

Devyll, and to the paines of hell, the which shal endure per-

petually without ende ; but yf he have grace of our Lord

hym to amende. But therfore se that no man or woman

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 189

say, that I curse them, for it longeth not to me, but for to

shewe the poyntes and the artycles of the sentence of curs-

yng. For I do you wel to wyte, that whoso doth agaynst

ony of these poynts, that I shal shew you, he is accursed m

the dede doyng, of the Pope, Archebysshop, Bysshope, and

of al holy chyrche: and that God Almyghty gyve you

grace for to kcpe you out of cursynge, lysten and heare,

and I shal, through the help of God Father Almighty, to

you than tel and shew.
By the aucthorite of God, the Son, and the Holy Goost,

and his gloryous mother and mayden, our Lady Saynt

Marye : and the blessed apostles Peter and Poule, and al

the apostles, martyrs, confessours, and virgyns, and al

the halowes of God, I denounce and shew for accursed, al

those that the fraunchyse of holy chyrche break or dystrou-

ble, or are agaynst the state of holy chyrche, or therto as-

sent with dede or counseylc. And also al those that deprive

holy chyrche of ony right to make of holy chyrche ony laye

fee, that is halowed or sanctifyed. And also al those that

with holde the rightes of holy chyrche, that is to say, offer-

ynges, tithes, rents, or fredoms of holy chyrche, let or dys-

trouble, or breake: that is to saye, yf ony man flee to

chyrche, or chyrcheyard, whoso hym outdrawe, and al those

that therto procure, or assent. And al those that purchaseth

lettres of ony lords courte, wherfore lettynge is made in

Chrysten courte, that process of right may not be determyned

or ended. And al those that the peace of the land distrouble.

And al those that blode draw of man or of woman in vio-

lence, or in vylany make to be di'awen, in chyrche or in

chyrcheyarde, wherfore the chyrche or the chyrcheyard is

interdyted or suspended. And al those that be agaynst the

ryght of our Soverayne Lord the Kynge. And al those

that warr sustayne agaynst the King wrongfully. And al 127

those that are commune robbers, revers, or mansleers, but

it be in themself defendynge. And al those that be agaynst

the great charter of the Kynge, that is confermed of the

courte of Rome. And al those that false wytnes beare wrong-

fully : namely in cause of matrymony, in what courte soever

190 APPENDIX OF

it be, or out of courte. And al those that false wytnes

bring fortli in ryght of matrymony, for to distrouble man

or woman. Or for to disheryte ony man of lands or tene-

ments, or ony other catell. And al false advocates, that for

mede put forth ony false excepcyons, or quarells, through

the which the ryght of matrymony is foredone, or ony other

maner of ryght instede of judgment. And al those that for

mede or favour, malicyously man or woman bryngeth out

of theyr good fame into wycked ; or make them for to lese

theyr worldly goods or honour, or them put wrongfully to

their purgacyon, of the which was no fame ne renowne

knowne before that tyme. And also al those that malicy-

ously, and through cawtel or gyle, distrouble, letteth, or

gaynsayeth the ryght presentment of our mother holy

churche mylytaunt here in erth, thereas the very patrone

shold be present ; and al that therto procure with word or

dede, or with false conquest, or with other power. And al

those that malicyously despyse the commaimderaent of the

Kynge, or take a cursed man from the tyme that he hath

layen in cursyng xl dayes, and wil seke for no remedy. And

al those, that prysoners distrouble with false judgement, or

false enquest, and al those, that theyr dely veraunce purchase

agaynst the ryght of holy chyrche. And al those that take

mede for to distrouble peace, there love sholde be, and

charite, or stryfe maynteyne with wordes or dedes, or tyl

they have yelded agayne theyr mede, that they toke of

them, they may never be assoyled : and al those that hold

houses, manors, graunges of Parsones, Vycaryes, or of ony

other man of holy chyrche agaynst theyr wyl. And al those

that ony maner of movable good, or unmovable, away bear

with strength, or wrongfully away draw or waste: of the

which cursyng they may not be assoyled, tyl they have

made satisfaccyon unto whom the wrong is done. And al

those that ony maner of goods with vyolence or maUce beare

out of holy chyrche stedde or abbaye, or hous of relygyon,

which that therin is layd or done for warandyse or socoure,

or for to be kepte : and al those which that therto procure

or assent. And al those that them mayntayne or sustayne.

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 191

And al tliose that have layd hand on preest or clerke with

malyce, but it be by hymself defendynge. And al those

that gyve counseyle to Sarasins, or help them agaynst Chryst-

endome. And al those that theyr chyldren wrongfully fa-

ther wyttyngly, or theyr chyldren wyten ony other man

with malycc. And al those that vary or slee theyr genera-

tyons, or theyr children destroy with drynkes, or with ony

other craft. And al those that make false mony, or therto

be assentyng. And al those that good mony clyppe or shere,

them to advauntage to deceyve ony man with. And al

those that false the Popes bull, or counterfayte the Kynges

scale. And al those that bye or sell with false measures, or

false weyghts : that is to say, to bye with one, and to sel

with another. And al those that false the Kynges standarde

themself wytyng. And al those that ony testament distrou-

ble, or therto procure with word or with dede, wherfore the

deedes wil is not fulfylled. And al those that forswere them

upon the holy dome, wyllyng and wytynge for mede, or for 128

liate, for to do ony man or woman to lese theyr worldly

goods or honour. And al robbers or revers, openly or

pryvely, by day or by night, or ony mannes good stele,

wherfore they were worthy for to have judgment. And al

those that withholde ony mannes good, that have ben spyred

thryse in holy chyrche themselfe wyttynge. And al those

that dystrouble the peace of holy chyrche, or of the land,

and al the Kynges felons. And al those that them mayn-

tayn. And al false conspyratours, and al false forswerers in

assyses, or in ony other coin-te. And al those that ony false

playnts put forth agaynst the fraunchyse of holy chyrche, or

of the Kynge, or of the realme. And al those offrynges that

are ofFred in holy chyrche or in chyrche yard or chapel, or in

oratory, or in ony other stede within the provynce of Caun-

terbury, withholden, or put away in ony other place agaynst

tlie wyl of the Parsone or Vycare, or theyr attourney in the

parysshe, that it is offred in. And al those that theyr goodes

away gyue for drede of deth, in fraud of holy chyrche, or

to forbeare theyr dettes payenge. And al those that suche

gyftes take, or therto helpe or counseyle. And al those that

192 APPENDIX OF

let Prelates or Ordynaryes for to hokle consy story, sessyon,

or chapytres, for to enquyre of synnes, and of excesse, in

good amendement of mannes soule. And al wytches, and al

that on them byleve. And al heretykes that byleve not in

the Sacrament of the Awter, that is Goddes own body in

flesshe and blode in fourme of breed, and other sacraments,

that toucheth helpe of mannes soule. And al juglers and

usurers : that is to say, that yf ony man or woman lend they

catell to man or woman for ony avauntage to take by cove-

naunt more or lesse than theyr own, and yf there be ony

suche founde in towne or cite, the cite or the towne sholde

be interdyted by the old lawe, and neyther do theyr masse,

nor sacrament mynystred, tyl he were out therof. And al

that withhold tythes, or withdraw theyr tithes wytyngly or

malycyously, to the harme of holy chyrche ; or tythes let

to be gyven of al the goodes which they be commaunded,

and ordeyned to be gyven by the law of holy chyrche, that

is to say, of al fruytes of yerds, cornes, herbes, the ware,

fruytes of trees, of al maner of beestes that are newynge, of

wol, lambe and chese, in tyme of the yere of swannes, gese,

douves, duckes, of bees, hony, wax, of hey, as often as it

neweth : of flax, of hemp, of wyndmylles, or al maner of

mylles, of al maner of marchaundyse of chafFryng men and

of men of craft. And al those that malycyously or wyttyngly

ony of these thynges, or ony other withhold, the which ought

to be gyven to holy chyrche by Goddes law, to the harme

of holy chyrche, and al that therto procure in word or in

dede.
Modus Julminandi sententiam.

Prelatus alba indutus cum ceteris sacerdotibus in ecclesia

existentibus, cruce erecta, candelis accensis, stans in pulpito,

pronunciet verba que sequuntur.
Ex aucthoritate Dei Patris Omnipotentis et beate Marie

Virginis et omnium sanctorum, excommunicamus, anathe-

matizamus, et Diabolo commendamus, omnes supra dictos

1 29 malefactores, ut excommunicati sint, anathematizati, et Dia-

bolo commendati : maledicti sint in villis, in campis, in viis,

in semitis, in domibus, extra domos, et in omnibus aliis lo-

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 193

cis, stando, sedendo, jaccndo, surgendo, ambulando, cur-

rendo, vigilando, dormiendo, comedendo, bibendo, ct aliud

opus faciendo, et illos a luminibus et omnibus bonis ecclesie

sequestramus, et diabolo damnamus, et in penis inferni ani-

mas eorum extinguamus, sicut extinguitur ista candela ; nisi

resipiscant et ad satisfactionem veniant.

Finita sententia, extinguat lumen ad terrorem, pulsanti-

bus campanis.

Number XLVII.

A letter of one Friar Laurence^ concerning the divo7-cc ;
and the favor of some Friars of Greenwich to Queen
Katharine's cause. Written to Crum'wel.

Jhesus.
REHTT worthy honnor and dygnyte for yowr hy wys- '^f^^- ^- ^•

dum and poUysy, grace and peace yn adversyte, for an

humbyl and meke salutasyon. My Lorde, as I am yn-

formyd, by sartan of our brethryne, Fathar Robbynsone a

pon Sunday last past dyd offar hyme selfe to contende yn

dysputasyone with that wyrschypful Abbote, whytch that

day dyd pretch at Fowls Crose. Wher apon ys rysyn a com-

myn brute, that the frers of Grenwytch, yf they myhte be

suffarde to tell the trothe, wollde pute to sylence al theyme

whytche hath or shalle pretche in owre Sufferande the

Kinges caws, and allso prove all thynges fals that they have

pretchyde. Mor ovar the forsayd Father Robbynsun duth

fully purpose to declar thys matter of matrimony betwyxte

owr moste gracyus Sufferande and the Quene, and, as mytche

OS in hym ys, bothe with hys wyte and lernynge to justyfy

the Qucnes parte. Thys ys apoyntyde to be done apon

Sunday nextc cummynge: and that wheros he may have

the moste soleme aAvdyence. Wherfore exceptc that yowr

Lordschype doth fynde sum convenyent romydy by your

hy pollysy, erjor posterior erit priore pcjor : the Viccar

of our covente ys of secrete cownselle yn all thys bysyncs.

He was with Fathar Robbynsun at Powlse Crose. He dyd

brynge theys tydynges firste to our covente. He ys for the

VOT,. I. PART II. o

194 APPENDIX OF

moste parte contynually with owr Fathars at Lambethe, or

els abrode amonkste Seculars; and by hys desaytful flat-

terynge, he dothe mytche harme bothe amonkste owr bre-

thryne, and also amonkste Seculars. He dothe aprove yt to

be well done, that owr Wardeyn dyd reprove the pretcher

yn the pulpete withyn owr covent, bothe os consarnynge the

tyme, and also the maner of hys spekynge : in so mytche,

that he hath mayde reporte to sartayn brethryne of the

covent of Rytchmonte, that yt was not owr Wardeyne,

whytche dyd speke, but yt was the Holy Goste, that dyd

speke yn hyme. Byt to yowr Lordschype he was of a con-

trary opynyon. Thus may yowr Lordschype manyfestly se

and parsave howe full he ys of crafte, and dyssymulasyone.

He also made reporte, that owr forsayd fathers schollde

130 schortely prevale aganste yowr Lordschype, and also aganste

all themme, whitche dothe favowr owr Soverandes cawse.

What he hath reportyd of me, I commyte my cawse to

Gode : byt I have asuryde confydence yn owr grasyous Suf-

ferand, that he wyll nevar be so unkynd to me os owr for-

sayd Vyccare hath reportyd hyme. For yf he schollde, I

ware undone for evar.
If yt ware the gracyus plesure of owr most nobyll Suf-

ferand to send for me, then wolld I disclose to hyme sartane

thynges, whitche I dare note exprese, nethar by messynger,

nor by wrytynge. Whitche thynges I trust scholld be bothe

to the yncrese of hys honnor, and also to the forthrance of

his pui^pose. Wherfor yf yt schal be hys gracyous pleysur

to send for me, I humbly besytch your Lordschype to

moschon hys Grace, that he doth send also for brother

Lyste. Whitch to his lytyll powar dothe faythfully favoure

our SufFerande and allso hys cawse. Whitche is allso dy-

syrus of your prosperyte. No mor to your Lordschype at

thys tyme : byt Jhesu presarve yowe yn this presente lyfe

by hys Grace. Whitche ended, he grawnte to yow glory

eternalle. Amen.

Yowres yn alle thynges to hys lytyll powar,
John Lawrence.

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 195

Number XLVIII.

Sir Thomas More to Secretary Crumwel; excusing his

communication with, and letter writ to, the Nun of Kent,
&c.
RIGHT worshipful, After my most harty recommenda- Cleopatra,

tions: it may please you to understand, that I have per- * ¦^'"

ceived by the relation of my son Rooper (for which I be-

seech Almighty God reward you) your most charitable la-

bour taken for me towards the Kinges gracious Highnes,

in the procuring at his most gracious hands the relief and

comfort of this woful heavines, in which myne heart stand-

eth, neither for the loss of goods, lands, or liberty, nor for

any respect either of this kind of honesty, that standeth in

the opinion of people, and worldly reputation. Al which

maner things, I thank our Lord, I so little esteem for any

affection therin toward my self, that I wil wel be content to

jubarde, lese, and forgoe them al, and my life therewith,

without a further respite, then even this same present day,

either for the plesure of God, or of my Prince. But surely,

good Mayster Cromwel, as I by mouth declared unto you

some part (for al I neither then sayd, nor now write) it

thorowly pierceth my poor hart, that the Kings Highnes

(whose gracious favor towards me far above al the things of

this world I have ever more desired, and wherof, both for

the conscience of mine awne true faith and devotion towards

him, and for the manifold benefits of his high goodnes con-

tinually bestowed upon me, I thought my self alway sure)

should conceive any such mind or opinion of me, as 10^3^

think, that in my communication either with the nun or

with the frerys, or in my letter written unto the nun, I

had any other maner mind, than that might wel stand with

the duty of a tender loving subject toward his naturall

Prince ; or that his G. should reckon in me any maner of

obstinate hart against his plesure in any thing, that ever I

said or did concerning his great matter of his mariage, or

concerning the primatie of the Pope. Nor would I wish

other thins: in this world more liefe, then that his H. in

196 APPENDIX OF

these things al three, as perfectly knew my deaUng, and as

thorowly saw my mind, as I do my self, or as God doth

himself: whose sight pierceth deeper into my hart, then

mine awne.

The Nun. For, Sir, as for the first matter, that is to wit, my letter

or communication with the www, (the whole discourse wher-

of in my former letter I have as plainly declared unto you

as I possibly can,) so pray I God to withdraw that scruple

and doubt of my good mind out of the Kings noble brest.

And none otherwise, but as I not only thought none harme,

but also purposed good. And in that thing most in which

as I perceive his G. conceiveth most grief and suspition.

That is to wit, in my letter which I wrote unto her. And

therfore. Sir, sith I have by my writing declared the troth

of my dede, and am ready by mine oath to declare the troth

of mine intent, I can devise no ferther thing by me to be

done in that matter, but only beseech Almighty God to put

into the Kings gracious mind, that as God knoweth the

thing is indeed, so his noble G. may take it.

The King's As touching the second point, concerning his Gs great

ter of mar- 'matter of his marriage, to the intent that you may se cause

"»g«- with the better conscience to make suite unto his H. for me,

I shal as plainly declare you my demeanor in that matter,

as I have already declared you in the other. For more

plainly can I not.
Sir, upon a time, at my coming beyond sea, where I had

been in the Kings busines, I repaired, as my duty was, unto

the Kings G. being at that time at Hampton Court. At

which time suddenly his H. walking in the gallery, brake

with me of his great matter ; and shewed me, that it was

now perceived his mariage was not only against the positive

laws of the Church, and the written law of God ; but also

in such wise against the law of nature, that it could in no

wise by the Church be dispensable. Now so was it, that

before my going over the sea, I had heard certain things

moved against the bul of the dispensation, concerning the

words of the law Levitical, and the law Deuteronomycal,

to prove the prohibition to be jure divino. But yet per-

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 197

ceived I not at that time, but tliat the greater hope of the

matter stood in certain faults, that were founden in the bul:

wherby the bul should by the law be not sufficient. And

such comforte there was in that point, as far as I perceived

a good season, that the Council on the other part were fain

to bring forth a brief, by which they pretended those de-

bates to be supplyed. The truth of which brief was by the

Kings Councel suspected: and mych diligence was there

after don for the trial of that point. Wherin what was

finally founden, either I never knew, or ellys I not remem-

ber. But I reherse you this to the intent you shal know,

that the first time that ever I heard that point moved, that

it should be in such high degree against the law of nature,

was the time in which, as I began to tell you, the K. G. 132

shewed it me himself, and layd the Bible open before me,

and shewed me the words that moved his H. and divers

other erudite persons so to think, and asked me ferther

what my self thought theron.

At which time, not presuming to look that his H. should

any thing take that point for the more proved or improved

for my poor mind in so great a matter, I shewed neverthe-

less, as my duty was, at his commandment, what thing I

thought upon the words which I there read. Wherupon

his H. accepting benignely my suddain unadvised answer,

commanded me to commune ferther with Mr. Fox, now his

Graces Almoner, and to read a book with him, that then

was making for that matter. After which book read, and

my poor opinion eftsones declared unto his H., his H. like

a prudent and a virtuous Prince, assembled at another

time at Hampton Court a good nombre of very wel learned

men : at which time, as far as ever I heard, there were (as

was in so great a matter most likely to be) divers opinions

among them. Howbeit I never heard, but that they agreed

at that time upon a certain form, in which the book should

be made. Which book was afterward, at York Place, in

my L. Cardinals chamber, read in the presence of divers

Bps. and many learned men. And they al thought, that

there appeared in the book good and reasonable causes, that

o3

198 APPENDIX OF

might move the K. H. being so virtuous a Prince, to con-

ceive in his mind a scruple against his mariage. Which

while he could not otherAvise avoyd, he did wel and virtu-

ously, for the acquiescing of his conscience, to sue and pro-

cure to have his doubt decided by judgment of the Church.

After this the suite began, and the Legats sat upon the

matter. During al which time I never meddled therin,

nor was a man meet to do. For the matter was in hand

by an ordinary process of the spiritual law : wherof I could

little skil. And yet while the Legates were sitting upon

the matter, it pleased the Kings H. to send me in the com-

pany of my L. of London, now of Durham, in ambassiate

about the peace, that, at our being there, was concluded at

Cameray, between his H. and the Emperor, and the French

King. And after my coming home his H. of his only

goodnes, as far unworthy as I was therto, made me, as you

wel know, his Chancellor of his realm. Soon after which

time his G. moved me again yet eftsones, to look and con-

sider his great matter, and wel and indifferently to ponder

such things as I should find therin. And if it so were,

that therupon it should happe me to se such things as

should persuade me to that part, he would gladly use me