Search York

mounted upon barded horse, in one suit of red and yellow

damask, (the bards of their horses and plumes of feathers

being of the same colour,) to attend upon his Majesty for

the defence of his person. Afterwards, for his deserts, he
n2

180 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK served the King in the band of gentlemen pensioners, as he

^' did after to King Edward and Queen Mary. In the days

Anno 1548. of King Edward, he was of such good esteem, and so well

known and beloved by the nobility, that having a son born

during the short reign of Queen Jane, she was godmother,

and named him after her husband's name, Guildford, Sir

Nicolas Throgmorton's lady being her deputy, the Duke of

Suffolk and the Earl of Pembroke, godfathers. Immedi-

atelv after the christening was done, Queen Mary was pro-

claimed in Cheapside, the deputy-godmother returning to

the Tower to wait upon her lady, found the cloth of state

taken down, and all things defaced belonging to Jane as

Queen, and she as well as her mistress made prisoners.

Follows bad At first Underhil followed loose company, gamesters and

company, j^^^^^p^^^g Some of them were these dicers, Great Morgan of

Salisbury-court, Sir John Palmer, called Buskin Palmer,

Sir Miles Partridge, lusty young Rafe Bagnal, men infa-

mous in King Edward's days: yet in favour among the

magistrates, and were advanced, though they were the sowers

of sedition, and destroyers of the two dukes. These were

the court-flatterers, and knew well the old proverb ;

He that will in Court abide,
Must curry fault both back and side.
But leaves To these was Allen the conjurer joined, of whom we have

^^' spoken before. But Underhil soon forsook them by reading

the Scriptures, and hearing the preachers. And then, as

some satisfaction to the world, he put forth a satire against

the wickedness of these men, revealing the falsehood and

knavery that he was made privy to. For this they hated

him mortally. They called him the hot Gospeller^ jesting and

mocking him ; and would say of him. He is all of the Spirit.

It was their common custom at their tables to jest and scoff

the preachers and earnest followers of the Gospel. Even

among the magistrates and lords they would spend the time

in wanton and ribald talk. Which when they fell into, one

or other would look through the board, saying. Take heed

that Underhil be not here. And these persons, those of

OF KING EDWARD VI. 181

them that survived, (for Palmer and Partridge died by the CHAP,

hand of justice,) at the change of prince, readily complied. ^^^'

with Queen Mary's religion, and then became infamous. Anno 1548.

Of Underhil they raised scandals and false bruits, say- They hate

ing, he was a spy for the Duke of Northumberland, and seamiairof

called him Hoiwi'^s champion. He was so indeed. For^ii".

Hoper, being a zealous reformer, drew upon himself great

envy: insomuch that he was abused with railing libels castll6

into pulpits against him, and by other ways. But Under-

hil, who was a very witty man, set up a bill upon St. PauFs

door in defence of Hoper, and another at St. Magnus

church, where especially such ignominious lampoons had

been divulged against that reverend man. For the fixing

up these sort of bills was common in these times.
How this Underhil apprehended a Vicar of Stepney for His actions.

hindering the preaching of the Gospel in his own church in

King Henry's reign, and bringing him before the Archbi- Cranm.

shop of Canterbury, was told in another book. These fol. ^^^™^'^^''-

lowing are acts which he did in the reign of King Edward.
At Stratford on the Bow, he took the pix from the altar Takes away

of copper, stored with copper gods, the Curate being ^j'^ ^"ow

present, and a popish justice dwelling in the town, called ^i^^rch.

Justice Tawe. There had been an injunction, that the pix

should no more hang in a string over the altar, the mean-

ing whereof was, that it should be taken wholly away. But

the Papists thought to obey the injunction, and withal to

preserve their pix, and so they set it upon the altar. This

stirred the zeal of Underhil to observe how the orders of

the government were illuded by such shifts as these : which

made him, living not far off, viz. at Limehouse, to go him-

self and put it away. For this act, the Justice's wife, with

the women of the town, conspired to have murdered him.

Whereof one of the parties gave him warning, whose good

will to the Gospel was unknown to the rest. And by that

means, being aware of them, he took care and preserved

himself from them.
There was one Luke, a physician in London, who wrote Frees Day

divers books against the Papists, in the end of King Henry's ^ '^"^ ^'

N 3

182 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK reign : for which he had been imprisoned in the Fleet. In

^' the first year of King Edward, he pubhshed one book, for

Anno 1548. which he was heavily cried out upon by the Papists to Sir

John Gresham, the Lord Mayor. It was a dialogue between

John Boon and Master Parson. Which two persons were

brought in, reasoning together of the natural presence in

the Sacrament ; but the author had concealed himself. It

was writ very facetiously, and sprinkled with wit, severely

bitins: now and then at the Priests. The book took much

at the Court, and the courtiers wore it in their pockets.

But the Mayor had the book so illy represented unto him,

that he was very angry, and sent for Day the printer of it,

intending to make him discover the author, and to lay him

in prison for printing the same. Underhil chanced to come

in at this time, to desire aid of the Mayor to take Allen

before spoken of, who reported the King^s death. The

Mayor made Underhil dine with him, and speaking to him

at dinner concerning this book, the maker whereof, he told

him, he intended to search for, that so, as it seems, Underhil

might declare at Court the diligence of the Mayor in his

office, he presently replied to him, that that book was a

good book, adding, that he had himself one of them about

him, and that there were many of them in the Court. With

that the Mayor desired to see it, and took it and read a

little, and laughed thereat, as it was both pithy and merry.

And by this seasonable interposition of Underhil, John Day

the printer, sitting at a side-board, after dinner, was bidden

to go home, who had else gone to prison.

117 The woodmongers in this King's reign had wronged the

Prosecutes ^ity in their firing extremely, by setting false marks upon

mongers, their billets. Underhil, being moved with this piece of dis-

honesty to the injury of the public, complained of them,

presenting them, and had a long conflict with them. For

which he drew a great deal of spite upon himself from

them, which they uttered in the next reign. When being

put into Newgate, they required the keeper to shew him no

favour, and to lay irons upon him, declaring that he was

the greatest heretic in London.

OF KING EDWARD VI. 183

He was of so active a spirit, and so inquisitive into CHAV.

wicked and superstitious practices, that he made himself.

the mark of evil men^s rancour and violence. Loose lords ^'^"^ i^^^-

and ladies, priests and lawyers, wizards, knaves, whores, dangers!
bawds, thieves, and gamesters, so hated him, that, as he
writ in his narrative, " he walked as dangerously as Daniel
" among the lioiis ; and yet from them all the Lord deli-
" vered him, notwithstanding their often devices and con-
" federacies by violence to have shed his blood, or with
" sorcery destroyed him." But though he escaped in King
Edward's time, having the countenance of authority, yet he
had his share of sorrow and persecution in the reign of
Queen Mary, as we may see when we come to that time.

CHAP. XV.

Preaching suspended. Pensions. Term put off. Exporta-

tion of corn forhid. The state of the coin. Melancthon

writes to the King. Bucer and Martyr placed in the

Universities. Sharington of the mint attainted : and

the Lord Admiral. His jjractices. His ill life. His

death.
Notwithstanding the care used in licensing fit Notice

preachers, the sermons now preached gave much offence, framing an

For several who had preaching licences, either from the""ifo^^»n

, _, ^ , A 1 1 • 1 /D order of
King, the Lord Protector, or the Archbishop, (tor none prayer,

else might give them out,) and who at the receiving those

licences had good advice given them for their discreet using

them, yet had abused this their authority, and behaved

themselves irreverently, and without good order in their

preaching, contrary to such good instructions and advertise-

ments as were suggested to them. Whereby much conten-

tion and disorder was in danger of arising in the realm.

Wherefore the King by a proclamation, Sept. 23, inhi-

bited all preachers for a time, and gave notice of a public

form of divine service ere long to be expected. He told
N 4

184 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK his subjects, " that minding to see very shortly one uniform

' " order throughout his reahn, and to put an end to all con-

Annoi548.« troversies in religion, so far as God should give grace,

^ ^ ^ " (for which cause at that time, as he added, certain Bishops

" and notable learned men by his commandment were con-

All preach- a gregate,) he thought fit to inhibit for a time, till that order

ed. " should be set forth, as well the said preachers so before

" licensed, as all manner of persons whosoever they were,

" to preach in open audience in the pulpit, or elsewhere.

" To the end that the whole Clergy in this mean space

" might apply themselves to prayer to Almighty God for

" the better achieving of the said most godly intent and

" purpose. Not doubting, but his loving subjects in the

" mean time would occupy themselves to God's honour,

" with due prayer in the Church, and patient hearing of

" godly homilies, heretofore set forth by his injunctions.

" And so endeavour themselves, that they might be the more

" ready with thankful obedience to receive a most quiet,

" godly, and uniform order, to be had throughout all his

" realms and dominions. And to see the infringers of this

" commandment to be imprisoned, he gave charge to all

" justices, mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, and constables."
When chantries and such like foundations were by a

statute given to the King in his Parliament, the incumbents

thereof being discharged, for their livelihood had pensions

allowed them during their lives. For the King being

minded to provide for those late incumbents of colleges,

chantries, fraternities, guilds, and such other, convenient

and reasonable recompences and pensions, according to the

said statute, had commanded several letters patents to be

made under the great seal of the Court of Augmentations,

and the revenue of his crown, for the pensions and recom-

pence of the said incumbents. But those that were ap-

pointed to pay these poor men were suspected to deal hardly

with them by making delays, or requiring bribes, and de-

ductions out of the pensions, or fees for writing receipts ;

An. 2 and 3 as it appeared afterwards they did, which occasioned an act

Vi.^cap.ff. ^^ Parliament in behalf of these pensioners. Therefore, by

OF KING EDWARD VI. 185

a proclamation dated the last day of October, published in chap.

every shire, the King signified, that these pensions should ¦^^•

presently be sent to the hands of the auditors, receivers. Anno 1 548.

and surveyors of the respective counties, with strait com-

mandment to believe the same patents immediately, and to

make payment unto the parties when it concerned them,

and hereafter yearly frank and free, without fee, duty, or

sum of money to be demanded or taken of the said pen-

sioners. And willed those persons who had to do herein to

resort to his Highness'^s audit presently, to be held within

the county, or else where the officers should be, and ther6

receive their pensions accordingly.
Towards the declining of the summer, the King kept his a plague.

Court in the country. In the beginning of September he

was at Hatfield ; and at Leghes the month after : occasioned

as it seems by the plague, which now afflicted the city and

other places. The danger of which infection made it ad-

visable to put off the term for about a month. Which was

therefore done by a proclamation, dated at Hatfield afore-

said, Sept. 6, to this import : " That the King's Majesty

" was credibly informed, that the infection of the plague

" reigned in sundry places of the realm, and especially

" within the cities of London and Westminster, and in other

" places near adjoining to the same. And that whereas, by

" the continuance of the same, through the great repair and 11 9

" resort of his loving subjects, greater peril and danger

" might not only ensue unto his most royal person, but also

" unto his most loving subjects repairing thither for their

" suits and causes ; his Majesty therefore minding the pre-

" servation of his loving subjects, and being in hope that

" the same infection would, by the help of Almighty God,

" and through the coldness of the year, the rather cease by

" the adjournment of the next term of St. Michael, from

" the utas of the same till the morrow after the feast of All

" Saints next coming ; of his special favour and benignity

" was pleased and contented to adjourn the said term of St.

" Michael from the utas thereof unto crastine an'imarum

" next coming ; and willed and commanded his subjects to

186 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK " observe and keep their assembly and appearances, with

^' "all their returns and certificates in his Courts at West-

Anuo 1548. " minster, to be holden in Hke manner, form, and condition,

" as they should or ought to have been done, if this present
" proclamation of adjournment had not been had, made,
" and proclaimed/'
Restraint of The prices of corn and other victuals now increased, and
exportation -^^ divers placcs within the realm, and the marches and
CI corn, i
confines of the same. Wherefore the King thought it meet,

weighing most especially (as it ran in the proclamation) the

wealth and commodity of his poor subjects, to have a re-

straint for a season of all manner of grain, tallow, and vic-

tuals in all places within his realm. And therefore straitly

charged and commanded all manner of persons, as well de-

nizens as strangers, that they should not transport any

manner of grain, butter, cheese, tallow, or any kind of vic-

tual, without his special licence under his great seal of Eng-

land, upon pain to forfeit the grain, tallow, &c. and to be

farther punished by imprisonment, &c. This bore date at

Leighes, Oct. 8, an. secundo reg.

A prohibi- This prohibition seemed to be relaxed again not long

^ilx^fr^^ after. But in the month of January ensuing, the King, be-

King's DC- ing to equip and furnish out a navy and an army, put a stop

again to the exportation of provisions, till himself were first

served. For a proclamation went forth, dated from West-

minster, Jan. 18, that forasmuch as the King's Highness

at that present should occupy great provisions, he, by the ad-

vice of his most entirely beloved uncle, &c. straitly charged

and commanded, that no manner of person, whosoever he

were, should ship or lade, to the intent to carry out of the

realm, any wheat, malt, oats, barley, butter, cheese, bacon,

cask or tallow, any licence or grant heretofore made not-

withstanding ; until such time as his Majesty's provision be

fully certified and restored; upon pain that whosoever

should, after the 22d of January this present year, and be-

fore the 20th of April, transport or carry into the parts be-

yond seas any of the foresaid things or provisions, contrary

to this present proclamation, &c.

casions.

1

OF KING EDWARD VI. 187
The state of the coin of the nation at this present stood CHAP.

thus. The King had lately called in the testons, a coarse ^^'

sort of money that went for l^d. the piece, though not Anno 1543.

worth half so much, as to the intrinsic value. Which occa- ^i^f, ^^*^*®.
' ^ 01 the coin.
sioned vast numbers of false testons to be coined by stealth,

and to pass about. Many therefore brought in these pieces

to the King's mints. The smaller pieces of good coin, such

as groats and half groats, were now also for the most part

so bent and battered, that they were hardly passable, and,

great boggle was made in the receiving them. By which 1 20

means there was a great want of money to pass in ordinary

exchange of buying and selling. This the King was sensi-

ble of: and for the speedy help and relief of his loving sub-

jects, and to the intent that money and coin might be more

plentiful hereafter in the realm, had caused several pieces

of gold and silver of various values to be coined, and com-

manded the other pieces of silver to go current. The pieces

of gold which were now coined were of four sorts, whereof

the first was called the sovereign of gold, and was appointed

to be current for twenty shilHngs in lawful money of Eng-

land. Another piece was called the half sovereign, or Ed-

wai'd's royal, running for ten shillings of the lawful money

aforesaid. One other piece of gold called the croxvn, run-

ning for five shillings. And the fourth piece was called the

half crown, for two shillings and sixpence. The pieces of

silver newly coined were, first, a piece called a shilling, run-

ning for twelve pence of the lawful monies of England;

one other piece or coin, which should be called the half

shilling, running for six pence. All which pieces or coins,

as well of gold as also of silver, the King by his proclama-

tion signified it to be his pleasure and commandment, from

henceforth, to be current within his realms and dominions,

according to their several rates and valuations before ex-

pressed. And moreover, he straitly charged and com-

manded, that from henceforth all manner of groats, half

groats, pence and halfpence, of his coins, being not counter-

feits, current within his realms, not dipt nor fully broken,

albeit they might be much crooked, should be taken, re-

188 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK ceived and paid throughout the said realm, without any

^' manner of refusal or denial. Wherefore he straitly charged

Anno 1548. and commanded all mayors, justices of peace, sheriffs, bail-

iffs, constables, and other his officers and subjects, that if

any person or persons, of whatsoever state, &c. should refuse

or deny to take and receive the said monies of gold, being

weight, or any of the monies of silver before expressed, be

it for merchandises, victuals, change, or rechange, or other

cause whatsoever, forthwith to take and arrest the same

persons so making refusal or denial, and to put them in

ward or prison, there to remain, and further to be punished

at the King's pleasure.

Meianc- The great learned German divine, Philip Melancthon,
thon writes ^^^^^^3^^ Kinff Edward with a letter dated the 13th of Ja-
toKingr/O- o 1 1 -r»
ward. nuary : which one Francis Dryander, a learned Protestant,
brought and presented, who fled hither, as many other pro-

fessors of religion out of foreign parts had done, for avoid-

ing the persecution which the Interim occasioned. By which

letter it appeared, that great consultations were now held

here at home by the King and some of his learned Divines,

not only concerning the reformation of this Church, but of

the other foreign churches too in Germany, Switzerland,

and France, Italy and Spain, and for the uniting them to-

gether in one uniform doctrine ; a matter thought fit for a

royal breast. Wherein the Archbishop of Canterbury was

the great mover. Melancthon in his letter commended the

King for this, and told him, " that he followed his royal

'' father's example, whom he styled sapientissimum regern^

" a very ivise king; and that many in Europe well knew,

" how he, in the controversies of religion then moved, had it

" a great while in his serious thoughts, that care should be

" taken for the churches every where, by applying a due

121 " moderation to the different opinions of men in matters of

« relio-ion ; and that he hked not of oppressing truth with

" arms. And wished heartily that other kings had been

" of his mind. For, as he added, whereas some thought

" the concord of the Church might be restored by arms,

" they judged amiss: and that the unjust counsels of op-

OF KING EDWARD VI. 189

pressing truth were neither pleasing to God, nor were CHAP.

long successful. That the wise King his father saw great

''diseases, and they of ancient date, in the Church; to Anno 1548.

'^ which there was high need of applying true and whole-
" some remedies. He beseeched God the Father of our
'' Lord Jesus Christ to overrule the King's mind, and to
'' amend the churches in his kingdom and elsewhere ; that
" his glory might be truly set forth, and many might be
*' truly converted to him, and at last made consorts with
*' the Son of God for ever. But he advised him to take
" heed in this reformation, that men of ill principles mixed
'' not corruptions. And that he would therefore do well,
" prudently to consider the senses and opinions, as well of
'' his own people, as of the strangers, the guests of his
'' kingdoms. And lastly, he commended to the King the
" bearer Dryander, as well learned, and long known to
" him ; that he was a man that judged aright of the con-