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though of a more private nature.
In this month of April was Sir John Gates, (sometime sir John
. Gates
wrote Yates,) a groom of the privy chamber to Henry vi^e-cham-
VIII. advanced to be vice-chamberlain, and captain of the beriain.

guards to the King ; and being, I suppose, but of mean

480 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK fortunes, was to be raised by his Prince, as were others of

his condition ; which cost the King dear. So Gates had

Anno 1551. lands givcn him to the value of 120Z. per annum. He was

Grants to ^bout this year also, or the last, high sheriff of Essex and

Hertfordshire, living at Chesthunt, and one of the King^s

commissioners, when the goods and chattels of colleges and

chantries, in considerable proportions, came into his hands

for the King''s use. Which, it may be presumed, he having

the fingering of, might convert some part thereof to his

own use. But if he did so, of it he got himself cleared by

a pardon, signed March 16, when, according to the Lord

Chancellor's ledger book, it was wrote, " that he was par-

" doned for all his accounts due to the King, for certain

" plate, jewels, ornaments of household, and other goods ;

" and also for accounts of certain goods received, appertain-

" ing to the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Surrey,

'^ upon their attainder : and further, now lately for the

'' plate received of the college of Plecy in Essex, at the

'' time of the dissolution thereof."' April 29, a patent was

granted him of an annuity of 40Z. to be assigned by the

master and council of the Court of Wards, out of the ma-

nors of Marden, Bremcham, Smethcote, and the farm of

Wilford in Wilts ; and all the manors of Mayor, Flotbeck,

&c. and other towns in the county of Cornwall: which

came to the King's hands by the death of Silvester Davers,

and by the minority of John Davers his son and heir, with

the custody and marriage of the said John. Likewise he

obtained a patent of the same date, whereby the King

granted him the scite of the college or free chapel of St.

Steven's in Westminster, with all the chapels and precincts

of the said scite, except the upper buildings, now called

271 i^^ parliame7it house, over the vault of the college chapel

beneath : and also the advowson of the parsonage and

church of Rothing Abbatissae, alias Abbas Rothing, in

Essex, belonging to the late monastery of Berking in the

said county : and to have the issues and profits thereof

from the time of the attaint of Sir Rauf Fane ; and were

extended to the yearly value of 13/. Qs. 8d.

OF KING EDWARD VI. 481

In the same fifth year of the King, in the month of Oc- CHAP,

tober, he gave to the said Sir John Gates the keepership and ^^'

walkership of two good walks in Waltham forest, viz. Chap- Anno 1551.

pel Hainalt and Le Hainalt, the two former keepers there- ?^^^,^^^^^
* . , ' ^ in Waltham
of bemg yet alive, namely, George Doddesworth and John forest.
Nodes ; who yet, by two patents dated October 20, were to
have the fees, during their lives, of eight pence a day, and
twenty toad of fuel wood, to be allowed them yearly by
the w^oodward of the said walks, in recompence of the said
offices granted to Gates : but his patents for these walks
were not signed till Jan. 29. The said Sir John to have
and occupy to him and his assigns during life; reserving
unto the said George and John their said fees during their
lives ; and after their decease, or either of them, to come to
the hands and possessions of Sir John Gates,
In the same fifth year, he surrendered into the King's Manors in
hands the hospital of St. Thomas in South wark ; which King
Henry had granted him by patent for life. In recompence
whereof, the King, in the month of July, bestowed on him
divers good manors in Essex, namely, Bradwel, Munden,
and Lawford, and other lands, to the yearly value of 208Z.
9^. 9^d. This hospital the King soon after gave to the city
of London for their poor.
And in the same month, the Duke of Suffolk dyinff of Offices in

, . . 1 ^ 11 i? I.- Southwark.

the sweatmg sickness, Gates was made keeper 01 his great
house in Southwark, with the garden, orchard, and park,

and high steward of the lands and liberties thereof for his

life. And also high steward of Paris Garden, and the li-

berties thereof, with the fee of SOI per annum.

Still in the same month, the King granted him the ma- Manors in

nors of Sutton and Ropley in the counties of Southampton anTsurrey.

and Surrey ; late lands belonging to the bishopric of Win-

chester, to the value of 145Z. 19^. 9|^. per annum.

In the seventh and last year of King Edward, he ob- Other lands

tained from him in fee-simple the manor of Hursbourn in shire.^"™^

the county of Southampton, with divers other lands, to the

yearly value of 203/. 10^. O^d with a further grant, that

VOL. II. I i

48^ MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK there shall be for ever one market and two fairs at Ring-

' wood, one of the towns granted him.

Anno 1551. And to add the mention of one benevolence more to this

gentleman, which was before any of these above-mentioned,

viz. in the King's first year. He had by patent, dated July

S9, the lordship and manor of Barwick, with the appurte-

nances, in the county of Essex, parcel of the possessions of

the duchy of Lancaster, and divers other lands and tene-

ments in Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Northampton-

shire. And this, in consideration of service, and for per-

formance of the purpose of King Henry VIIL's will. And

besides all this, we may read of more favours shewn him

in the process of this history. This gentleman, in short, as

he was the Duke of Northumberland's favourite, so he pe-

rished with him in the Lady Jane's business.

272 In April was the warrant to the Lord Chancellor Rich,

Geo. Van ^q i^^^ke out proccss and writ of execution for the burning

Warr.Book.of oiie George Van Paris, a chirurgeon, born in Flanders,

having been condemned of anabaptism, averred by him to

death, as the words ran in the said warrant. This was the

Arian mentioned by the King in his Journal, and said to

be excommunicated by the Dutch congregation, and after

long disputation, condemned.

Altars to The see of Chichester being now vacant, upon Bishop

down in Day's deprivation, the altars remained in many churches a

Chichester g^^^ while after. For in May 1551. a letter from the

Council was writ into the diocese to this tenor: " That

^' where, notwithstanding the King's general commandment

" already passed for the taking down all altars within the

" realm, divers stand yet within the diocese of Chichester ;

" that substantial order be taken forthwith for the pulling

" down all altars within the churches and chapels of the

" said diocese, and for the setting up of tables in their

'^ stead in some convenient place of the chancels again.'*

A triumph May the 3d was a great triumph at Greenwich. The

wich. King and all his company wore black and white : (being

in mourning perhaps for somebody:) as the footmen and

OF KING EDWARD VI. 483

trumpeters, their hats and cloaks, the banners and the CHAP,

spears, in those colours. The other part, which was the ^^-

Earl of Hertford, and with him a great company of lords, Anno ir^si,

knights, and other young gentlemen, wore all yellow silk.

So were their trumpeters' hats, the banners, and footmen,

and their spears and trappings of their horses, all in yellow.

And they ran at the ring and at tourney with swords.
May 25, about Rygate, Croyden, and Darking, was felt An eartii-

an earthquake, and especially at Darking : insomuch that ^^^^^'

there, and elsewhere, pots and pans and dishes, fell down

and moved about.

May 31, the Earls of Derby and Shrewsbury came to Two great

town out of the north : both accompanied most splendidly "^7*'^' "

A r J earls come
with men and horse. Whereof the latter was attended "p-

with seven score horse, and afore him forty velvet coats and

chains, and all wearing his own livery ; unto his own place

in London, which was called Coldherber.

In this month of May, when Ponet was made Bishop of A new set-

Winchester, after the deprivation of Gardiner, a great ^jj^^*^^,^"

alienation was made of the lands and revenues anciently be-siiopric of

longing to that bishopric, according as it was required of

the said Ponet, when he first came to the see, or rather con-

ditionally to his preferment thither. Then he passed away

to the King the manors of Marden, Twiford, Marwel,

Waltham, &c. in the county of Southampton, and divers^

other lands, lordships, tenements, rents, &c. and in effect

all the temporalties of that rich bishopric. And to make

all sure,- letters were despatched to the Dean and Chapter

to confirm the grant of the said Bishop by their full consent

and seal of the Chapter, as in that case by the order of the

laws is required and accustomed. Then did the King give

to the Bishop and his successors, in consideration of the

said Bishop''s surrender, a great many rectories, as that of

Bremmer, and of the chapel of Charford and Hale, and the

rectory of Regborn in the county of Southampton, and

divers other lands, to the value of 2000 marks, to be held

ill Uheram eleemosynam, and to take the profits from Mi-

chaelmas last. He granted him moreover, for some recom-
li 2

484 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK pence for all this taken away, that his first-fruits, (which

before were charged in the King's books at 38857. Ss. 3fcZ.)

Anno 1551. should be now reduced to 2000 marks; and that for his

273 tenths, from henceforth he should be taxed at 200 marks,

and no more, to be paid yearly ; that he should have ten

years'* space to pay his first-fruits in ; that bonds should be

taken for payment, from the Bishop only, without sureties

to be bound with him : and that all the bonds and writings

for the first-fruits of his former bishopric, viz. of Rochester,

should be delivered him up ; which the King forgave him.

And for the putting all this into effect, a warrant was issued

out to the Chancellor, Treasurer, and Council, and to all

others, being ofiicers of the Court of First-fruits and Tenths.

The King also gave him a licence to enter into his bishopric,

and to take the profits thereof, without paying any thing

therefore, notwithstanding a statute made in that behalf,

in the 26th of Henry VIII. The import whereof was, that

no spiritual person should enter upon his benefice before

he had paid the first-fruits, or given bond and security to

pay them. A pardon also was granted him of all pains,

penalties, and sums of money that might be forfeited and

due to the King, for entering into the bishopric of Roches-

ter, contrary to the said statute.

The lands The King soon gratified his servants with the lands and

shopric^of i^a^^ors of this bishopric; as Sir John Gates, Sir Philip

Winton dis- Hobyc, Sir Henry Semur, Sir Andrew Dudley, knights ;

courtiers. Henry Nevyl, and William Fitzwilliams, esquires. For in

July following wei'e these parcels given away :
To Sir John Gates, the manors of Sutton, Ropley, &c. in

Southampton and Surrey, of the yearly value of 145/. 19
To Sir Philip Hoby, the manors of Marden, &c. in the

county of Southampton, of the yearly value of 871. 18s.

Id.
To Sir Andrew Dudley, the manor of Witney, &c. of

the yearly value of 180Z. 7fc2.

To Sir Henry Semour, lands to the yearly value of 186Z.

4d

OF KING EDWARD VI. 485
To William Fitzwilliams, the manor of High Clere, &c. CHAP,

to the yearly value of 84/. 17^. Sd. ^^'

To Heniy Nevyl, the manor of Margrave, &c. to the ^""^ 1551

yearly value of 114Z. 18^. lOd
Sir Thomas Wroth also had an annuity of 1 OOZ.
And for the further confirmation of this alienation made This aiiena

by the Bishop of Winchester, it was thought requisite to confirmed

have it allowed and consented to by the Dean and Chap- ^y t^'e

ter, under their seal. Whereupon in August a letter was

sent to Sir John Mason, knight, that he should repair

to Winchester, and to agree with the Bishop to meet them

there at a certain day ; and to cause all the canons, pre-

bendaries, and others whom it concerned, to assemble in

the chapter-house, for confirming the said lands, before

Michaelmas next; and to advertise the Council the day,

that order might be given to the King's learned counsel to

be there at the same time.

And, to take up all these matters together, another letter The city of

was sent to this Bishop in behalf of the city of Winchester ; J^ ^e f^g^d

namely, to take order, that the city and citizens, and their from suit

successors, might be freed from their suits and services ^^ ti,g g^.

heretofore made to that Court, called tJie Palm Court, and ^^op.

all other liberties he had to the same, clearly exonerated and *

discharged by his sufficient writing under his seal, and con-

firmed by the Chapter seal according to his promise.

In this month of July, the King was pleased to grant An extraor

somewhat an extraordinary licence to George Chidley ; cenc7to'

whether for some remarkable merit in him, or out of the Chidiey.

King's special inclination and affection to him ; viz. that he

should wear his cap in the King's presence, or elsewhere,

without let or trouble of any man.

The King also now took care of his tin, one of the an- A commanc

cientest and choicest commodities of this land. Some dis- ^^^ o^f^he"

orders arising amongst the tinners, he gave order to the stanueries.

warden of the stanneries of Cornwall, who, I think, was

the Earl of Bedford, to summon four and twenty of the

most substantial and discreetest tinners of every stannery,

into some convenient place, and there to consider and re-
lis

486

MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK

II.
Anno 1551

Regulation

of coin.

The teston.

King's

Journal.

Proclama-

tions for

the same.

view the laws and customs, and to take notice of the irre-

gularities committed ; and to redress and reform the things

that were amiss, for the quietness and good government of

the tinners, the preservation of the stanneries, and the com-

mon wealth of the realm : and that command should be given,

that the same laws and orders be strictly put in execution.
Another of his great cares, which employed his thoughts

and endeavours all along his reign almost hitherto, was for

the amending of the coarse money of his kingdom, and

bringing down the good to a true value. For as the King

had taken order for his coin, both gold and silver, in the

year 1549, viz. setting a price upon the several pieces of

gold, that they should not go above the due value; and

for calling in a coarse sort of money, called testourjis or

testons^ which passed for twelve pence, though scarce half

so much in intrinsic value ; so now this year the King and

his Council had further cares about coinage, for the further

regulation of it. For still the testons went current for above

the value. There was therefore, this July, a proclamation

for shortening the fall of money to a day. And another

proclamation the same month, that the testourn should go at

nine pence, and the groat at three pence in all places of the

realm at once. Another proclamation came forth the same

month of July, for the punishment of them that would

blow rumours of abasing and enhancing of the coin, to

make things dear. And in August (to take up here at

once the transactions of this money-business all together)

the teston was again cried down from nine pence to six

pence, the groat from three pence to two pence, and the

two pence to a penny, the penny to an halfpenny, and the

halfpenny to a farthing. In September there was a great

deliberation concerning coin, occasioned chiefly because

there were divers standards. For at this time a shilling fine

had been reckoned for two shillings. The same month a

proclamation was set forth touching the prices of cattle, of

hogs, pigs, beeves, oxen, muttons, butter, and cheese;

which were set after a reasonable price, but not fully so

good cheap as when coin was at the perfectest; but within

OF KING EDWARD VI. 487

a fifth part of it, or thereabouts. The same month a letter chap.

was directed to the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Great Mas- ^^'

ter, and the Master of the Horse, to meet at London for Anno 1551.

the ordering of the coin.
In the same month of September, there was a letter un- Deiibera-

directed, but, I suppose, to the foresaid personages, i^^^- ^""^J^cehr

thorizinff them to call before them such expert, skilful men, money.
1 1 T 1 • • 1 1 1 Warr.Book
as they should thmk meet; and debatmg with them such ^y^

determinations and devices, as before the King's Majesty

and his Council have of late been propounded and purposed

for the state of the coin. And if the same shall be most pro-

fitable, then to proceed to put the same in ure. And if any

other way shall be found more convenient to be followed,

in alteration either in part or in the whole of the same de-

termination, then also to proceed in putting the same in

execution : whereof they were to certify the King and his

Council.

The same month, the Lords abovesaid, at London, tried The Lards'

all kinds of stamping ; but of the fineness of 9, 8, 6, 4, and 3/^^^"

3, proved, that without any loss but sufFerable, the coin

might be brought to eleven ounces fine. For whereas it was

thought before, that the testourn was through evil officers

and ministers corrupted, it was tried, that it had the valua-

tion just, by eight sundry kinds of melting. And 400

pounds of sterhng money, a testourn being but six pence,

made 400 pounds eleven ounces fine, of money sterling.

Whereupon they reported the same ; and then it was con-

cluded, that testourns should be eleven ounces fine : the pro-

portion of the pence according to the gold: so that five

shillings of silver should be worth five of gold.
In the same month (so close did they follow their busi- The stam]

ness) it was agreed, that the stamp of the shilling and six-*"^*^ ^^

pence should be, on one side a king figured to his shoulders

in parKament robes, with a chain of the order : the stamp

of five shillings of silver, and half five shilhngs, should be a

king on horseback, armed with a naked sword hard to his

breast. Also, that York's mint, and Throgmorton's in the

Tower, should go and work the fine work ; and in the

ii4

488 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK city of York and Canterbury should the small money be

• wrought of a baser state. And officers for the same were ap-

inno 1551. pointed. And October 1, a commission was signed for the

lints* set to ^^^^^^g ^^ ^^^ shilling pieces, half five shillings, groats, and

ork. sixpences, eleven ounces fine; and pence, and halfpence,

and farthings, four ounces fine.

L procia- This great work also cost divers proclamations. One was

ainst melt- dated in September, that none should melt any testourn, or

ig down shilling, groat, half-groat, penny, halfpenny, or farthing, or

oin. any other coin of silver, being current within the realm ; to
make vessel, plate, or any other thing : upon pain of for-

feiture of four times the value of the money so molten ; and

to suffer imprisonment and other pains,

mother for Another proclamation in October was signed for the call-

jstonl^ ing ij^ testons and groats. That they that listed, might come

to the mint, and have fine silver of twelve pence for two

testourns.

mother, Another in the same month, declaring that the King's

tie several Majesty had ordered and established to be made within his

aiues of mints these several coins, as well of silver in fineness of the

old and '
iver coin, standard, as also of gold, as hereafter ensueth ; that is to

say, one piece of silver monies, which shall be current for

five shillings of the lawful monies aforesaid. Another piece,

which shall be called the piece of two shillings and six-

pence, of the lawful monies. The third piece, which shall

be called the stei'ling shilling, current for twelve pence.

The fourth piece, which shall be half of the said shilling,

shall be current for six pence. Also, that the King had

ordered to have four pieces of small monies made likewise

current : that is to say, the first piece shall be called a

penny, with a double rose, and shall be current for a penny

276 of the lawful monies aforesaid: the second shall be called

ail halfpenny, with a single rose: and the third piece a

farthing, with a portcullis. [The fourth piece is here want-

ing, perhaps half a farthing.]
he several And of the coins of ffold as here ensueth : that is to say,
old coins. . , .
the old sovereign of fine gold, which shall be current for

thirty shilHngs of lawful money of England. Another piece

OF KING EDWARD VI. 489

of fine gold, called the angel, shall be current for ten shil- CHAP,

lings. The third piece of fine gold, which shall be called ^^'

the angelet^ half of the angel, current for five shillings. Anno 1551.

And further, an whole sovereign of crown gold shall be

current for twenty shillings. The second piece of crown

gold, which shall be called the half sovereign, shall be cur-

rent for ten shillings. And the third piece of crown gold,

which shall be called a crown, current for five shillino-s.

The fourth piece of crown gold, which shall be called the

half crown, shall be current for two shillings six pence of