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statesman the writer. See them in the Repository. . GG. HH.
Yet Paget's temper naturally disposed to severity, and

286

MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK confirmed therein by the methods he had observed in Bi-

^- shop Gardiner, under whom he had been bred, led him to

mild go
vernment

vindicated

And his

Court of

Requests.

Anno 1549, principles of government perhaps too rigorous, and by some

The Duke's ^ige men in those days disliked ; as thinking it not safe to

hold such a strict hand over the commons, and to press and

keep them under, in a kind of slavery ; which English spi-

rits would not nor could digest. And therefore Somerset's

milder courses in his managery of public affairs were not to

be thought so impolitic, however condemned by the said

Paget, and some other of the lofty domineering nobles and

gentlemen, whose covetousness made them afflict and op-

press the inferior sort. And as for his Court of Requests,

surely it deserved no such hard censure ; serving as some

check to the rigorous and unjust dealings of the rich and

the mighty exercised upon the poor, who were not able to

contend with them at law, by reason of their countenance

and wealth, whatsoever great wrongs were done them;

which at this Court might easily and cheaply be shewn

and complained of by way of request and petition. Here

many controversies were made up, and restraints laid upon

the destructive designs of the rich against the poor, and ac-

cording to the cognizance of the causes brought before the

Duke, he would sometimes send his letters to the Judges

that were to hear them, not to warp their judgments, but

to incline them to do justice impartially, and not to favour

the great in their extortions upon those of meaner rank and

degree : sometimes he would appoint intelligent and honest

men as arbitrators, to consider the complaints preferred to

him, and with speed to make a just determination and con-

clusion between party and party, without the long expen-

sive formality of law. Such an order, for example sake, did

the Protector send to Francis None, and Owen Hopton,

Esquires, the last year. His letter I will insert for the giv-

ing the more light to this Court.

MSS. penes " After our hartie commendations : We send unto you

h!s letter " the supplication here inclosed ; wherin we minding di-

ection by right ; wherefore (knowing your wisdoms and

from that cc

Court.

OF KING EDWARD VI. 287

" upright dexterities) we will and require you by vertue CHAP.

" hereof, calling all such parties before you, as you shall

think mete for the better knowledge of the truith therin, Anno 1549.

"to hear and examine the same. And upon due know- 184

" ledge of the case, to proceed, without furder tract of time,

" unto the final determination therof, as to right, equity,

" and conscience shall apperteyne. So as the party com-

" plainant may receive and enjoy th'ole that in conscience

" he ought to have by your order ; being you, by the tenor

" hereof, authorized thereunto, without further cause liere-

" after eftsones to molest us in this behalf with complaint.

" Thus not doubting that you will not frustrate this the

" good opinion we have conceyved in you, we bidde you

'« farewel. From Somerset Place the 11. of March, an.

« 1548.
" Your louing freende,

" E. Somerset.''
I need not enter into any further relation of these troubles The Lords,

raised against the Duke; our histories discover them atej^e^j^gg^

larffe. Yet to shew in part the course the Lords, the Duke's summon
° ^ 11 ^"^ counties
enemies, took against him. They summoned armed men, to send up

horse and foot, to repair to them from every county, to op- *^°'"'=^*-

pose the Duke and his men : giving out to the gentry the

great dangers the King's person was in, and the necessity

of rescuing him out of the Duke's hands: whose doings

they called traito7'Ous and false, and his proceedings de^

vUisJi. But upon the Duke's submission and surrendering

the King's person, the Lords despatched another letter,

dated from London, October 11, to forbear the sending up

of the forces they required in their last. Whose letter ran

in this strain :
" After our harty commendations. Where we liave here- Their let-

" tofore addressed our letters unto sundry gentlemen, oL^l^^^ ^

" that the King's Majesty's county of for their
*' coming or sending towards us such and as great num-

" bers of hable men, both horsemen and footmen, as they

288 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK " might furnish, to join with us for the deliverance of the

_______" King's Majesty's most royal person from the imminent

Anno 1649." danger the same was in, through the traitorous doings

" and false practices of the Duke of Somerset : forasmuch

" as it hath now pleased Almighty God of his infinite

" goodness and mercy so to provide, that his Majesty is

" delivered from those dangers; and the forces also as-

" sembled by the said Duke for maintenance of his naughty

" and devilish proceedings, clearly also dispersed ; we have

" thought good both to advertise both of this great good-

" ness of God, requiring you to give him humble thanks

" for the same : and also to pray you, to give notice by pro-

" clamation and otherwise, as you shall think good, to all

" such gentlemen of that county, to whom any such letters

^' have been addressed from us, as is aforesaid, to stay

" themselves with their men at home ; taking good heed to

" the common peace, quiet, and good order of the shire, ac-

" cording to the King's Majesty's laws : giving them his

" Majesty's most harty thanks for their readiness to serve

" at this time. And so we bid you right hartily farewel.

" From London, this 11. of Octob. 1549.

" Your loving friends."
185 Two days after, viz. October 13, a revocation was made

The Duke's by letters patent, of the authority of Governor of the King's

Governor pcrsou and protectorship granted to the Duke of Somerset,

and Protec- December 24, anno 1 Edw. VI. for the ill government, rule,

tor revoked. i t . /> , . i i • i i •
and direction of his person : " whereby it was brought m

" great danger; the subjects by civil dissension much an-

" noyed, and the laws subverted, and his realms and domi-

" nions brought to great peril of utter ruin ;" as the instru-

ment ran.

ThePariia- The Parliament that had been prorogued began to sit

^iuite^^^ws ^^^^ y^^^' November 4, and continued sitting till February

for religion. 1. following. In this session some further considerable steps

were made in the reformation of religion, and abandoning

the old superstitions out of the Church, which stuck still

full close to it. For as yet images in many churches, set up

OF KING EDWARD VI. 289

for religious worship, remained, or else were in the keeping CHAP,

of private men, priests and others. And the old popish ^^^l-

service books were still preserved and used by Curates, as Anno 1549.

they stood affected. Of which there were divers and sun- l^^^^^^'H^^

dry sorts, according to the various religious offices ; such popish ser-

as antiphonals, missals, grails, processionals, manuals, le-

gends, pies, portuasses, primers, couchers, journals, ordi-

nals. As to these, both books and images, it was decreed,

that they should be abolished totally, and kept no longer

in the kingdom; the images to be broken and defaced;

and the books to be brought to the Mayor, or other officer

in each parish, before the end of 30th of June next. And

this under a penalty of money first, and then of imprison-

ment. And such officers were upon pain of 40 Z. to bring

those books, which they received, within three months to

the Bishop of the diocese, his chancellor or commissary.

And he was to cause them openly to be burnt, or otherwise

to be defaced or destroyed, upon pain likewise of 40/. But

King Henry's Primer was particularly excepted ; which in-

deed contained many good and wholesome instructions and

devotions ; that book therefore might be retained, only strik-

ing out the sentences of invocation and prayer to saints.

Neither were images and pictures belonging to tombs and

monuments to be meddled withal, but to remain and stand,

if the persons for whom those monuments were erected,

were not reputed for saints, and so their pictures in danger

to be abused to idolatry.

The evil and inconvenience of the books aforesaid, hither- Which frus-

to not called in, but remaining in churches, or otherwise .^j^qj g^^jg

preserved, was, that it was found to frustrate the good ends ^^^^he Com-
iiion PruYcr
intended by the Book of Common Prayer lately set forth ; Book.

which was, Jvr an uniform, quiet, and godly oi'der of' com-

mon and open prayer. " The use of which book, as the pre-

" amble set forth, was agreeable to the order of the primi-

" tive Church, and much more comfortable unto the King's

" subjects, than other diversity of service, as heretofore of

'' long time had been used ; nothing being ordered in the
VOL. II. u

290 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK " same book to be read but the very pure word of God, or

^' " which was evidently grounded upon the same. Whereas

\nno 1549." in the other were things corrupt, untrue, vain, and super-

" stitious, and as it were a preparation for superstition.

" And which still remaining gave occasion to divers per-

" sons, as impugned the order and good meaning of the

" King's said Book of Common Prayer, to continue in their

" old accustomed superstitious service, and also ministered

" occasion to diversity of opinions, rites, ceremonies, and

" services.'' Many of these books upon this act were

186 brought in; but very many more were not, but carefully

concealed by those that affected them, in secret places:

which were produced again and came to light under Queen

Mary.

\n act for Another good law made this Parliament for amending the

SasticaT corrupt state of the Church, was that whereby the King

aws. was empowered to appoint thirty-two learned men, to

peruse and examine the old ecclesiastical laws ; and to ga-

ther, order, and compile such laws ecclesiastical, as should

be thought to the King and his Council convenient to be

used, practised, and set forth within the realm, in all spi-

ritual or ecclesiastical courts. And that such laws so made

should be taken and put in ure for the King's ecclesiastical

laws,

^n act for Also, the old Ordinal being full of superstition, a new

TnZhZl office of ordination of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Dea-

of ordina- cons, and other ministers, was allowed of; which had been

or should be suddenly framed and devised by six Prelates,

and six other learned in God's law, to be appointed by the

King, or the greatest number of them ; and by them to be

set forth before the first day of April next. And this was

enacted to be exercised and used, and none else.

An act of This sessions of Parliament ended with an act of grace

and general pardon, designed as well for the ease of such

as had been concerned in the late rebellion, as other of-

fenders against die laws. There was in this act a proviso,

whereby persons that held certain opinions were excluded

OF KING EDWARD VI. 291

the benefit of this pardon: which are set down expressly; chap.

viz. that infants were not to be baptized ; and if they were

baptized, that they ought to be rebaptized w^hen they came^n^o ^^^g.

to lawful age. That it was not lawful for a Christian man e^xcepted''^'

to bear office or rule in the commonwealth. That no men's out of it.

laws ought to be obeyed. That it was not lawful for a

Christian man to take an oath before any Judge. That

Christ took no bodily substance of our blessed Lady. That

sinners after baptism could not be restored by repentance.

That all things be or ought to be common, and nothing

several. The persons that held these doctrines might well

have a note set upon them, being not consistent with a

Christian commonweal. For if these should be believed and

practised, it were not able to subsist. And they who held

these tenets, were those they called Anabaptists ; whereof

several were now in prison : who were not thought fit to

have the benefit of this act. But some of them were brought

to recant. Two suff*ered death, viz. Van Paris and Joan

of Kent.

In this Parhament, besides the public acts, which may be Private acts.

seen in the ordinary printed statute books, were made seve-

ral private acts, never printed : which may not be unuseful

nor unacceptableto mention, viz.

An act for dividends and quotidians in Wells.
An act for disinheriting WiUiam West during his life. Lord de la

The reason whereof was, for designing to kill his uncle, the

Lord La Ware, by poison, that he might the sooner enjoy his

estate, and succeed to the honour of Baron La Ware. This

William, whom Queen Elizabeth afterwards had created a

Baron anew, lived throughout the best part of that Queen's

reign. And his son Thomas was called to a Parliament

sitting in the year 1597, and was presented to the ancient

place of his forefathers. Lords La Ware, taking precedency,

as his ancestors had done, which his father, by reason of his 18/

late creation, had not enjoyed.
An act for the restitution of Thomas Islely, Esq.
An act for the restitution of Sir WiUiam Hussey, Knight,

u 2

292 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL
BOOK An act touchiiicr the fine and ransom of the Duke of
T .
' Somerset. That is, for the punishment of his late misde-

Lnno i549.nieanours, he was fined 2000/. a year, of land, and lost all

f Somer-^ his goods and offices.

CHAP. XXIIL

An embassy to the Emperor. The Emperor''s requests.

The Pope's death. Peace with France ; by the means of

Guidot, an Italian merchant : retvarded.
:heyne J[]sj x\^q mouth of November, the King and Lords of his

assador to Council (after the Duke was deposed of the protectorship)

he Empe- ggj^^ again an ambassador to the Emperor, viz. Sir Thomas

Cheyne, treasurer of the King's^ chamber, to continue the

good understanding between him and the Emperor, and to

acquaint him with the present state of England, with parti-

cular respect to the late disorders about Somerset; but

chiefly to levy more soldiers out of his dominions, for the

King's wars. He arrived at Brussels, Nov. 6. The morrow

after his arrival, the Emperor sent a gentleman of his cham-

ber, Don John Manrique, brother to the Duke of Naiara,

to welcome him : which Manrique was one of the chief of-

ficers of the Emperor's household, and in right good esti-

mation with him. Cheyne, having admission to the Empe-

ror's presence, signified to him, that a great end of his com-

ing was to inform him of the late disorders in the kingdom

about the Duke of Somerset. And some alterations touch-

ing the order of the government, having lately happened,

that the Lords of the Council thought good to give him in

commandment to declare the truth and ground thereof

unto his Majesty. And here Cheyne rehearsed unto him,

from point to point, the whole discourse of the Duke of So-

merset's proceedings, until the time of his apprehension,

following therein as near as he could the very substance in

effect of their Lordships' instructions. He subjoined, " that

^* albeit the King's Majesty's affairs, as well at home as

t

OF KING EDWARD VI. 293
*< abroad, were presently, by reason of the said Duke's CHAP.

" wilful and evil government, in some declination, yet would

" the Lords, as much as in them lay, travail by all means ^""<^ ^^'*^'

*' possible to redub and restore the same again to their for-
" mer estate and estimation. For the fiu'therance whereof,
" he said, they doubted nothing of his Majesty's wonted
" good-will and affection. And that seeing Boloign remained
'' presently, by the forenamed occasion, in such strait terms,
" there was now no other way to preserve it, but the re-
" pulse of the enemy from the siege, by force of men. That
" the Lord Clinton, the King's deputy there, had made a
" motion to Mons. Chastilion, the French King's lieutenant, 188
" to bring things to some composition. But that they re-
*' fused to stand to the former treaties, and seemed in the
'•• rest to be over-meager, and little conformable to reason.
" And therefore that matter was broken off again ; and no
" hope of any appointment that ways, unless some other
" occasion should be ministered on their part. Which, if it
" should be offered, they would communicate to his Ma-
"jesty. ¦
" And that therefore seeing there was now no other Desires

" means to save that piece, but only by force of men, the j-aise men.

" King, as it was his will these matters should be discoursed

" at length unto him, [the Emperor,] as to his most loving

" father and very friend, so, by the advice of his Lords, did

" most heartily pray him to grant him for his money the

" number of two thousand horsemen, and four thousand foot,

" to be levied within his countries, with such furniture of

" armour, and other ammunition, as should be necessary."
The Emperor made this answer : " Mons. 1' Ambassador, The Em-

" I must confess to have had both now, and at sundry other g^^'J'^ * ^"'

" times, large experience of the faithful love and friendly

" affiance, that the King my good brother, and his Council,

" have reposed in me, as well by sundry other arguments,

" as by their particular communicating unto me from time

" to time the estate of their affairs. And like as I am sorry

'' to hear of the trouble and business that hath been lately

" among them, so am I very glad to perceive it is at the
u 3

294 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK " last grown to so good and quiet an end, and in so good

^' " likelihood of continuance, which I hope, through the good

Anno 1549. " and prudent governance of those grave and wise counsel-

" lors, the King my good brother, his estate and person

" shall henceforth be in good surety, his realms quietlier

" governed, and his enemies better encountered, than they

" have been hitherto. Whereto, for my good brother's

" sake, I wish as good success, as I would to mine own

" proper affairs.

"As to the estate of Boloign, albeit it standeth, as ye

" say, in very weak terms, yet am I of opinion, that the

" French are able for this winter time to work no manner

" of displeasure that way. Wherein, and in the rest of my

'' good brother's affairs, I have heretofore at good length

" declared mine advice and counsel unto Mons. TAm-

" bassador here then : to which I have not presently any

" other thing to add. But as to the numbers of men

" that my good brother requireth at my hands, in good

" faith, as well because his father was during his lifetime

" my very friend, and almost another father, as also be-

" cause his Majesty, being yet under years, hath therefore

" need of his friend's assistance, I would even with all my

" heart shew him as much pleasure as in me lieth, and do

" for him as much as for my own child, my honour re-

" served : but yet can I not, without some touch of my

" estimation, and breach of my league with France, satisfy

" the request herein presently. And if I were disposed, or

" might agree thereto, yet to speak plainly as I think, I as-

" sure you it should in my mind rather hinder than further

" my good brother's affairs, for divers respects ; and namely,

" because the French, how closely soever the matter were

" gone about, might have commodity enough also to levy

" such numbers of men as they should think good. Glad

189" would I be to shew my good brother pleasure, and very

" loath either to do any thing against mine own honour, or

*' hinder my good brother's affairs. On the other side, I

" remember I am bound to observe my treaties with France,

" which I cannot violate without some touch of mine ho-

OF KING EDWARD VI. 295

" nour.'' And so he concluded, praying the Ambassador to CHAP,

common with Mons. d' Arras, who should further declare 1

unto him his mind, and devise such means herein as should Anno i549

be thought most indifferent and meetest for both parts.

And so, after leave taken, they departed.

Yet vv^as not this embassy wholly ineffectual, as obtaining Some foot

nothing but good words. For in Cheyne's and Hoby's g"^^^'^"^'^

conference with D' Arras, he told them, that the Emperor

was willing to grant the levying of five or six thousand

footmen, so as they had them from about Freezland,

and the seacoasts thereabouts, where they had at other

times been accustomed to levy their men; and with con-

dition only, that they were conveyed thence by sea, and

none otherwise. He said further, that for the horsemen

which they demanded, the Emperor thought they should

not have occasion to make any such great preparation

against the French, as well because they were presently, for

want of provision of victuals and other necessaries, unable

to bring down toward Boloign any great number of men of

arms, as also for that the time of the year was now very late.

Yet to satisfy, as much as he might, the King his good

brother, he could be content they should have out of the

country of Cleves five or six hundred horsemen to pass by

land, by ten and twenty ,^Z^ a file. But as for the carriage,

provision, and victuals they required, the Emperor could in

no wise grant thereto : as well because the matter would be