Search York

As touching such books as be now prohibited, containing

the Bp. of Homes authority ; some indeed I have, joyned

with divers other works in one great volume or two at the

most, which I have found leisure to read. Notwithstanding,

if it be the Kings plesure and yours, that I shal bring or

send them, I wil do it right gladly. As for the warks of

John Fisher, 1 never had any of them to my knowledg,

except one little sermon : which about eight or nine years

past was translated into Latine by Mr. Pace. And for that

cause I bought it, more than for the author or matter. But

where it is, I am not sure. For, in good faith, 1 never read

it but once since I bought it. Finally, if your plesure be

to have that and the other, forasmuch as my books be in

sundry houses of mine own, and far asunder, 1 heartily pray

you, that I may have convenient respite to repair thither af-

ter my perfect recovery. And as I would that God should

help me, I wil make diligent search ; and such as I shal find,

q3

230 APPENDIX OF
savouring any thing against the Kings plcsure, I wil put

them in readines, either to be brought to you, or to be cut

out of the vohnue, where they be joyned with other, as yee

shal advise me, after that I have certified to you the titles of

them.
Wherefore, Sir, I heartily beseech you, for the sincere love

that I have towards you, to advertise me plainly (ye lacking

• plesure to write) either by Mr. Petre Vannes, or Mr. Au-

gustine; they writing what your counsel and advise is

herein, which to my power I wil follow. And, good Mr.

Secretary, consider, that from the time of our first acquaint-

ance, which began of a mutual benevolence, ye never knew

in me froward opinion or dissimulation. Perchance natural

simplicity, not discretely ordered, mought cause men to sus-

pect I favoured hypocrisy, superstition, and vanity ; not-

withstanding, if ye mought se my thoughts, as God doth,

ye should find a reformer of those things, and not a fa-

vourer, if I mought that I would. And that I desire no

less, that my Soveraign Lord should prosper and be exalted

in honor, than any servant that he hath, as Christ knoweth.

Which send to you abundance of his grace, with long life.

Written at Cambridg on the vigil of S. Thomas.
Your unfeignedly,
Elyott.

— =*^«»»-

155 Number LXIII.
An amhassiate and declaration of K. Henry VIII. to
James V. King of Scots; concermng the supremacy ^ &c.
exciting- that Ki7ig to cast off Popery, and to vindicate
his own authority from the encroachments of Rome.
Cleopatra, JMQST excellent, mighty, and victorious Prince. Pleaseth
E. ti. p. 260. , , 1 1 o 11
your Majesty, that by the commandment ot my most dread

Lord and Soveraign King of England, your Graces most

dear uncle, I have in charge under commission certain

special matters concerning his Highnes plesure, secretly to

be signified unto your Grace. Wherln not only as a na-

tural cousin of your royal consanguinity, but as a most

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 251

loving father, intirely tcndring your worthy honor ; no Ics

desirous therof, than regarding his own pecuhar prosperity ;

unfeignedly accounting your Graces advancement his most

conformable consolation. In consideration wherof, sith it

hath so pleased God of his infinite favor to revele unto his

Highnes, as wel by studious endeavor of good letters, as by

erudite consultation of famous esteemed Clerks; also by

long attempted experience in searching the truth, chiefly in

Christs doctrin, (wlio saith, Job. xiv. Ego sum Veritas,) now •

clearly to perceive the thral captivity under the usurped

power of the Bp. of Rome, and his ungodly laws ; wherin

liis Highnes, and other many of his ncjble progenitors, were

most wickedly abused, to their intolerable calamity and ex-

ceeding molestation of their subjects, over whom God had

yevon them authority and governance to rule ; as by al

stories of the Old Testament, and information of the New,

plainly appeareth :
Which groundly known to his Highnes, wisheth likewise

the same to be persuaded unto your Grace. Wherby your

honorable renown and royal authority should be much en-

larged, with no les felicity of soul, principally to be re-

garded, than with habundant commodity of riches and un-

feigned obeysaunce of faithful subjects, far from the cum-

bersome calamity of popish miserable molestations. What

more intolerable calamity may there be to a Christen prince,

than unjustly to be defeated of the righteous jurisdiction

within his own realm : to be a king by name, but not in

deed ? to be a ruler without regiment over his own liege

people.'* What more grievous molestation can chance to

true-hearted subjects, than to be severed from the allegi-

ance due to their natural sovereign, their anoynted king,

graunted by Gods law, and to become servile slaves to a

foraign potentate, usurping to reign over them against the

law of God ; as by the violent tyranny of the Bp. of Rome

hath hitherto many years been practised throughout al re-

gions, to the ruinous desolation of the holy Christentie .''

What realm is there, but that the Bp. of Rome hath planted

therin his kingdome, and established his regiment, after

u4

2S2 APPENDIX OF
such a subtil way, that he and his craft v creatures were

obeyed of princes, to whom of duty they ought to have

been subjects ? 1 Petri, ii. S'lve regi tanquam prcEcellenti,

&c. Of whom al Roman Bps. have presumed to be suc-

156cessors, but not followers: contrary to his example, 5?/ i non

ven'it minhfran, sed minhtrare.

In al realms the popish practise hath had such confede-

ratie of false forsworn factions and traiterous titinylls, un-

true to their Sovereign, that nothing was so secret in coun-

sel of any prince, but forth'w-ith it was caried by relation to

the Popes ear. And if ought were attempted against his

own person, or any crooked creature of his creation, in re-

straint of their extortionate claimes, (as there was nothing

but they claimed to have authority upon,) incontinent they

bounced out their thunder bolts and cursing fulminations,

with such intolerable force of unmerciful crueltv, that thev

made the greatest personages of the world to tremble and

quake for fear. For by the negligent sujBPerance of princes

through default of knowledg of Gods word, that popish

pride was so haught, his authority so preeminent, his power

so puissaunt, his strength so mighty, his displesure so dan-

gerous, his tyranny so terrible, that scarce any durst resist ;

to countervaile, none was able.
Examples of many excellent princes, as John the First

and Henry II. of gracious memory, kings of England, here

in then- life times most cruelly vexed : and after their de-

cease, by forged leasyngs and slanderous impeachments,

misreported and falsely belyed, with despiteful dishonour

of their excellent progeny. After hke fashion the \-ictorious

Emperor Lodovicus, enterj^rising to interrupt the pestilent

perversity of Pope John XXII. to Avhat careful confusion

was he brought ? ]Moreover the godly and wel disposed

Henry III. Emperor of Almavn, how traiterously was he

betrayed by Pope Hildebrand, procuring his own son un-

naturally to war against his father, to take him prisoner,

and finally to depose him of his imperial crown r Further-

more, what Christen heart can refrain from sorroAvful sighs

and movirnine: lamentations, to consider how the innocent

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 233

and hamiles Prince Childericus, King of France, was ex-

tremely handled of his own servant ; Pepyne, bereaved of

his kingdom through the instigation of the Bp. of Rome r
And now tho' he hath thus encroached upon princes,

being men, [he had been less to blame had that been all ;]

wheras he hath exalted himself against God, thrusting him

out of his room, and settling himself in Gods place, the

conscience of Christen people : of whose usurped power, S.

Paul prophesying, Thes. ii. calleth him, The siiiful man,

the son of perdition : qui est adversarius, et effertur ad-

versiis omne quod dicitur Deus, aut niimen ; adeo ut in

temi^lo Dei sedeat. Doth he not sit in the temple of God

by damnable dispensations, by deceivable remissions, by

lying miracles, by feigned rehcks, by false religion, &c. ?

And as he hath avoyded God out of the conscience of

Christien people; so hath he defeated princes of their ju-

risdiction, and debarred every common weal from their po-

litic governance, bringing in his lawless canons and de-

testable decrees, supplanting the divine ordinance of power,

given to princely rulers. And the cause why thev have been

so deceived S. Paul declareth, eo quod dilcetionem verita-

tis non acccpernnt.
This egally considered of your most prudent, singular,

and high politick discretion, as wel by probable experience

within your dominions, as by evident example of other

Christen regions, where the popish unridy regiment hath

reigned with intolerable usurpations, t^Tannously defaceing 1 5 7

al power of princes ; it may please your gracious benignity

to advertise the intyre intent, the lo\-ing mind, and un-

feigned heart of my Sovereign, your most dear uncle, to be

expressed to allure your Graces affection toward the fa-

vorable embrasement of Gods word. Wherin his Highnes

only rejoycing ardently, desireth to impart the same, his

special joy, \\\\\\ your most excellent Grace : which should

be greatly the advancement of your state royal, the quiet-

ation of your loving subjects, and most highly the plesure of

God.

234 APPENDIX OF

Number LXIV.

The proposals, called the Petitions, of John Frederic, the

Duke of Saxony, and Philij), Lundg-rave of Hesse ; given
to the King^s ambassadors, in order to a league.

Cleopatra, IMPRIMIS, That it may please the Kings Majesty to

' '^' ' promote the doctrin of the Gospel, as the confession of the-

Germans at Augstburg, and the apologies therupon do im-

port : unles his Grace woU change or reform any thing ac-

cording to the word of God.

Item, That his Highnes shal defend, with the confe-

derates, the doctrin of the Gospel, and the ceremonies con-

formable to the same in the Councel General, if the same

shal be just, catholic, and free.

Item, That neither his G. nor the confederates in Ger-

many, without the expres consent of both parties, shal not

assent to any councel to be indicted by the Bp. of Rome,

whatsoever authority he shal pretend ; nor also agree witli

the people of the said councel. Provided nevertheles, that

if it shal appear such a free, just, and Christian councel to

be indicted, as the confederates do require in their answer

to Paulus Vergerius, the Bp. of Romes Ambassador, that

such councel is not to be refused.
Item, That if it should happen, that any councel should

be indicted by the Bp. of Rome to certain place, where he,

and other princes of his papistical confederation, would pro-

cede, if the said councel should be indicted without his Ma-

jesty and confederates of Germany their agreement; that

they shal earnestly employ themselves to let it to their

power.
Item, That in the same case they shal make, and cause

protestation to be made, how they dissent to the said councel,

and that they intend not to be bound to the decrees of the

same.
Item, That they shal obey no manner of decrees, man-

dates, sentences, bulls, letters, or breves of the said councel,

in whatsoever name they shal procede, and they shal re-

fuse the same to be good and lawfid ; and to their powers

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 235

cause their Bishops and Preachers so to persuade unto the

people.
Item, They desii-e, that hke as his Majesty is associate

unto tlieni in the doctrin of God, so his Highnes would take

upon him the place of protector and defender of their

league.
Item, That neither the Kings Highnes nor the Germans 158

shal defend or maintain the opinion, that the primacy of

Rome should be jure dlvino ; nor that it should be ex-

pedient to the common wealth of Christendome to have the

Rp. of Rome above al other, or to have any jurisdiction

within the dominions of the said Princes.

Item, That in case it should happen any wars to be

moved against the said King, or any of the princes or states

of Germany, in the cause of religion, or of any other cause

or matter ; that neither of both parties shal give any help,

succor, or aid, or favor against the other, directly or un-

directly, secretly or openly, to the invasor.

Item, That it may please the Kings Majesty, for the de-

fence of tlie league, and cause of religion, to contribute and

put in and under sureties deposit, with the said Princes,

100,000 crownes. The one half wherof the said confe-

derates shal and may use for their defence : and the other

half the said confederates shal take of such monies, as they

have conferred and deposited to that sum. And if the said

confederates shal need to make any long defence, that seeing

the princes and confederates be bound to further sums to be

by them contributed, besides the danger of their goods and

lives for the mutual defence ; that it may please the Kings

IVIajesty to conti'ibute 200,000 crownes more. Of the one

part wherof the confederates may have the use. And if the

war shal happen sooner to be finished, that then the rest

shal be reserved bona fide, and restored after the time of

the confederation to his Majesty.

Item, That if the King woll so do, the said Princes shal

promise and give sufficient sureties, that they shal convert

no part of the same sum to any other use, than to the de-

fence of the league and cause of the religion, nor of any

236 APPENDIX OF

such money as they do contribute to the same. And that

in case the same sum be not so spent, that they restore it to

his Majesty ; or after the defence they shal restore tlie rest,

that shal not have been spent in that use.

Item, That in the mean time, while the Kings orators

shal confer with some of their learned men, the said orators

wol advertise the K. Highnes therof, and to know therupon

his plesure, to be signified unto the said Duke and Land-

grave.
Item, That after his plesure known, the said Princes, in

their names, and also in the names of their confederates,

shal send some ambassadors, and among them one excel-

lently learned, not only to confer upon the doctrin and cere-

monies, &c. but also to treat and conclude with his High-

nes, in the name of the confederates.

159 Number LXV.

The opinion of' Stephen, Bishop of Winchester, concerning
the articles presented to the King's Highness by the
Princes of Germany.

Cleopatra, AS touching the first article. If this article be granted

' '^' ' unto, then shal the Kings Highnes be bound to the Church

of Germany, and without their consent may not do that the

word of God shal permit, unles the common consent doth

concur therunto. Wherupon, if this capitulation be lawful,

and shal bind, then shal the Bp. of Rome draw it for an

argument to his part, that the word of God may be re-

strained to a common assent. Wherfore a league or bond

herein in such termes is, in my judgment, incompatible.

For by the word of God, both they may reform their

opinions without our assent, and we without theirs, whatso-

ever league were made to the contrary.
And for the world, in as much as the Kings Highnes,

being of the state of a King, and in his realm an Emperor,

and Head of the Church of England ; and among the

Princes of Germany there be onely Dukes and lower de-

grees; such also as knowledg the Emperor for their Su-

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 237

preme Lord ; by reason wherof, the same reasons, wherby

we prove by Scripture the Kings Majesty Head of the

Church of England, we prove also the Emperor Head of

their Churches : how shal they, without the consent of the

Head of their Church, (which is the Emperor,) establish

with us the agreement u])on their religion : or how shal we,

without derogating the Kings cause of his prerogative and

supremacy, covenant with them in that behalf: whom we

know as no heads of their Church, but inferior members,

as long as they knowledg a superior in the same Church :

that is to say, themselves as subjects to the Emperor ? For

as we must be ordered by our Head, the Kings Highnes ;

so wil the Emperor also, that they should be ruled by him

according to the word of God. If they here in wil not

agree with us, then shal we vary in a great matter. For

either they must deny the Emperor their superior, wherin

they be very scrupulous, and seem to attribute very much

unto him ; or else, granting that, they must, according to

oiu- o])inion, which is true, grant him Head of the Church ;

and it followeth then, that without him they can establish

nothing, but such as he alone, by the word of God, may re-

forme at al times.

As touching the second, The Kings Highnes might make

such a promise unto them as is contained in this article;

and therby be bound, so as by the word al were discussed.

But on their part I se not how their promise can stand

ami be sure: because they knowledg a subjection to the

Emperor.

To the third article. As concerning the councel to be in-

dicted, as they have answered to the Bp. of Rome : in as

much as the Kings Highnes hath nothing ado with the Em-

peror ; I se not how his Grace should agree to any councel

to be indicted by the said Emperor. And yet this article

doth import that effect, in that it maketli an acception of l60

such a councel, as should be indicted according to the answer

made to Peter Paul, [Vergerius, the Pope's Ambassador.]

As touching the fourth article, The Kings Highnes may

accomplish this article on his part. But I see not how they

238 APPENDIX OF

could do any thing again for their part, in letting the

councel, for as much as touch them, in case the Emperor

would, as Emperor, cal the councel.
To the seventh article. Me seemeth the Avord association

soundeth not wel. Ne it were convenient, that the Kmgs

Highnes should have any lower place, than to be chief,

principal, and head of the league, and the rest not to be

associate, but adherent and dependent therunto, as contra-

hents. And if any were, the Duke of Saxony to be associate.

Whom, for that he is an Elector, the Kings Highnes hath

been accustomed to write, his cottsin, &c.

The rest of the articles, concerning mutual defence and

mony, be very good for the said Princes. For they shal be

sure of a great Prince to their friend, and therewith a sum

of money in hand, wherby they might be percase relieved.

But as for a reciproque, I se none to the Kings Highnes

for their part again : in as much as they be so far off*, and

cal themselves the Emperors subjects.
Finally, Where they desire to have al things agreed unto,

before they send an ambassador to the K. H. they speak

therin wisely for their own commodity. For so shal they

stil obtain his grace, that they shal then send unto us, not

to learn of us, but to instruct and teach us ; not to sue to

vis, but to direct our Church in such ceremonies, as by their

deliberation should be communed of and concluded.
Thus, Master Secretary, according to your letters I write

unto you what I think, that is to say, what doubts and

scrupulosities I find in this matter. Wherin percase I write

somewhat amiss, because I understand not fully how they

take the Emperor in Germany, ne what wil be their opinion

in him. But if they take him, as I gather by their other

writings they do, then our matters by way of league shal be

so much the more perplexed with them. I would rather ad-

vise the Kings H. to give them mony, wherwith to defend

truth, than to enter any league with such men, which, as I

fear, cannot be fast bound again, and dwel also so far oft'.

To hear their ambassadors, to commune also with them, to

discuss the very truth, were very good : but upon the

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 239

word of God, to make a new knot, wherof the one end

shal be in Germany, slial declare ratlicr a change of a bond

of dejxndence, than a riddance therof. If the Kings H.

can induce them Avholly and uniformely to agree upon the

mere truth, it shal be an honourable deed, beside the secret

merit therof. But in case a bond were made, and then any

of them should swerve from any piece of the capitulation by

force of the Emperor, a grief and displesure should ensue,

without any conmiodity of redressing the same. I write the

M'orst, for that ever needeth remedy : the best needeth no

connnendation, and the best, I doubt not, slial be followed

with you.

One thing I have thought good to put you in remem-

brance of, that it were wel done, that they were moved there

in Germany to agree upon the Kings stile, because of his su-

premacy, as wel as upon his cause of matrimony ; wherin

God hath given sentence for the most part by the death of

the Dowager =^. And this cause is now so necessary as the "Who de-

other. For since my coming hither, I have been assayed J^^^'^j^'g^^

herein. And one said, he thought they in Germany would ^Qi

not agree therunto, for fear of giving unto the Emperor

over much authority over them. Upon which occasion, I

made this answer my first reason unto you. The King, our

master, hath a special cause, because he is Emperor in him-

self, and hath no superior. Other Kings, that knowledg an

Emperor, had rather suffer any man else, than the Emperor