Search York

An order of Council happening just about this time No com.

concerning Bishops, I will here insert it; which w^as, that^f^^^J^

none henceforth should hold commendams, excepting one

granted at the same time by them to Bishop Poinet.

" June 29. Upon consideration that Mr. Poynet, now

" elected Bishop of Rochester, hath no house to dwell

z 4

lVXJL.iVlVJj:Vl.rt.JL.O XL.V^V.yl^ll.012i.;3 X lV^-rt.1^

inst se-

tious
QS.

BOOK " upon, it is agreed that he shall enjoy his benefice in com-

" men dam. But henceforth it is decreed, that no Bishop

nno 1550. « shall keep other benefice than his bishopric only.'"'

marches to As the commous were upon these dangerous points in

issex. Kent and Essex, as was said before, so there were some

jealousies of tumults in Sussex also. So that there was a

privy search appointed to be made through that county for

vagabonds, gypsies, conspirators, prophesiers, and players,

and such like. Who probably under such disguises met

together, laid their plots, and enticed the people to no-

velties,

procla- And this was but in pursuance of a proclamation set

forth May 17. last past ; shewing how several ill disposed

pej- persons had lately attempted and gone about in conven-

ticles and secret places in the realm, where they durst speak

their pleasure, and determined and conspired sundry evil

facts, enterprises, and disorders, tending to rebellion, mur-

der, and unlawful assemblies : but the said determinations

had come to the King's knowledge, to the subduing and

destruction of such persons, and as many as willingly took

part with them. Wherefore, for the discovery of the re-

mainders of these seditious persons, the King promised the

reward of twenty pounds, and thanks, to any that should

make discovery of any such attempts, and make the same

known to him, or his Privy Council, or to the Lieutenant

of the county, where any such thing should be intended,

moved, or determined. And any person was to have the

said reward, though he were before one of the conspiracy.

ike of In July the Duke of Somerset (who the beginning of

"sTnto ^^^ y^^^ g^^ ^^'^^ ^is troubles, but with great loss of his

- ^'¦'^st. offices and estate) was sent down into Oxfordshire, Sussex,

nl'sJour- Wiltshire, and Hampshire, to secure those places from rising;

'• and so to take order for the keeping of peace. And in Au-

gust he went to Reding for the same purpose. The reason of

most of these present jealousies were upon account of the

Lady Mary, who was privately to be conveyed out of Eng-

land from some creek in Essex, by Shipperius, admiral of

the navy, belonging to the Emperor. And then an open

Kjr JVli'NVI Shl^ \\ Jr\.X\XJ V X.

war was to be begun, and an intestine conspiracy to be at c H A P.

home, as Sir Thomas Chamberlain, ambassador with the xxvii.

Queen of Hungary in the Low Countries, had learned at Anno 1550.

that Court, and advertised hither.
The dearth before mentioned continued all along this A great

year, all provisions being at high rates; which lay very

heavy upon the poorer sort. Which gives me occasion to

conjecture, that this was the year wherein happened a great

drought, that made great fears of a famine. Whereupon a

public fasting day was appointed, and a prayer was com-

posed, and ordered to be used in the churches at that time,

that God would send rain: and the rather, because the 221

enemies of the reformation were apt to lay the cause of

this judgment upon the reformation. See it in the Repo-

sitory, as I found it in Fox's MSS. ^^•
The King and his Council took especial care for the re- idle persons

moving of this calamity now laying upon the nation. And f^oul^Lon-

first, for the ease of the city of London in this dear time, it don.

was thought expedient to clear it of as many poor, needy

persons as could be. Therefore the King, by proclamation,

dated May 4, commanded all persons, of what state or de-

gree soever, being the King's natural subjects, not born

within the city or borough of Southwark, or the liberties,

nor being householders, nor having sufficient to live by, nor

that had lived there by the space of three years together

now last past, nor retained in any service with any person,

nor applying themselves to any bodily labour, and taking

wages for the same; should forthwith depart out of the

city, borough, and liberties, and return to their native

countries, or the places where they last dwelt, by the space

of three years together, according to the tenor of a statute

in that behalf, concerning the order of aged impotent

people, and for punishing vagabonds and idle persons.

And for the easing of the city still of more of her unne- And soi-

cessary guests, on 20. July, the King by his proclamation bonded!'

commanded all captains, officers of bands, and soldiers, as

well English, as strangers of what nation soever, which

were not presently entertained in the King's wages, and had

J54b

MEMOKIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK been paid for their service by treasurers thereunto ap-

' pointed, according to their capitulations, until the day of

Anno 1550. their cassing and dismission; that they failed not to depart

and avoid the city, the suburbs, and the members of the

same, within three days after the proclamation published,

upon pain of suffering strait imprisonment, with further

punishment at the King's pleasure.

And to stop the conveying of provisions out of the land,

(which was another cause of the high prices set upon them,)

a proclamation came forth, May the 7th, commanding, that

none, upon pain of imprisonment, and of other forfeitures

according to the laws of the land, should carry and convey

into the parts beyond seas, any kind of beefs, muttons, veals,

lamb, pork, butter, cheese, corn, grain, wood, coals, ale,

beer, tallow, hides, or any other kind of victual ; except

only to the to^vn of Calais, and the castles of Guisnes and

Hammes. And charge was given to all the King's cus-

tomers, comptrollers, searchers, &c. to make diligent search

for the better furtherance of the King's most high and

dreadful commandment, as the phrase was. And this pro-

clamation to continue till the feast of All Saints,

id Within two months after, (the former commandment,
through the covetousness of some merchants and others,

not being sufficiently obeyed,) another proclamation, dated

July 3, was issued forth, charging, that no sort of victual,

corn, beer, wools, fells, leather, hides, tallow, bell-metal,

wood, or coal, should be shipped or transported into foreign

parts out of the realm, (the town of Calais only excepted)

vmtil the King should hereafter allow the same, upon pain

of confiscation of the goods and forfeiture of the ship

And the reason hereof was given, because of late years the

said commodities had been reduced to a great scarcity, and

to an unwonted excessive price. The cause whereof to no

one thing might sooner be imputed, than that now com-

monly those commodities, which ought especially to serve

222 the turn, and be employed to the use and sustentation of the

subject, were in over-large measures conveyed into foreign

regions, as well by colour of licences unlawfully used, as by

Ut KIJNU i^UV^'AltJJ VI. J347

stealth and covert. And in the preface the King shewed CHAP,

his princely compassion to his people, " calling to remem-.

" brance how, according to the regal power and state to^""^^^^^-

" him committed by Almighty God over his realm, nothing
" could better declare his zeal and affection borne toward
*' the commonwealth, than when by all good means such
" orders proceeded from his Majesty as might best tend to
" the general plenty of things needful, for the commodious
*' living of his natural subjects ; and namely, such things as
'' were brought forth, and given us of God, as the pecu-
" liar commodities of this realm, might be enjoyed by the
'' subjects of the same, to their utility and mutual benefit
''among themselves, in plentiful sort and cheapness of
" price, before others, according as in ancient time had been
" accustomed."
But this dearness still continuing in the realm, (notwith- Further

standing all these former endeavours,) partly by reason of !^j^'.^^[,^^ °^e

conveyance of commodities beyond sea, and partly by men's prices of

buying up of corn in the markets to be sold again, and

also by not bringing any quantities to the market ; the King

issued out yet another proclamation, dated Sept. 24, signify-

ing in the preface thereof, " how the insatiable greediness of

" divers ill-natured people, neither minding the due ob-

" servation of good laws, nor any preservation of natural

'' societies within their own country, and contrary to the

" provision of divers good laws and statutes, by frequent

'' unlawful exportation of victuals, and by many detestable

" frauds and covins, had occasioned great scarcity and un-

" reasonable prices of victuals :" and therefore he first com-

manded, " that no person should, after eight days ensuing

" the proclamation, transport into Scotland, or elsewhere,

" wheat, malt, rye, barley, pease, beans, oats, or any kind

" of grain, or the meals of any of the same, beefs, muttons,

" veals, cheese, butter, tallow, candles, beer, ale, biscuit, lea-

" ther, salt, hides, wood, wool, fells. But if at any time

" of shipping or transporting the premises, corn were of

'' such a particular price, then it should be lawful for the

" King's subjects to carry over grain at pleasure : that is.

am MEMUK1A1.S ECCi.±;&lAMlLAl^

1
I

s.

d.

ol
3

4

.5

0-

BOOK
^- Wheat, - -

Anno 1 550. Malt of the best sort.
Beans and pease, )>at, or under '^ 4 )>the qviarter.
Oats, - - -
Kye, - - . J
Item^ That no person after eiglit days should buy in open

market, or otherwise, to be sold again, any wheat, malt,

barley, rye, pease, oats, beans, or any kind of meals, upon

pain of forfeiture of the same grain, and the moiety of their

goods, chattels, leases and farms for term of life, excepting

brewers and bakers, innkeepers and innholders.

Item, That Justices of peace in every shire should divide

themselves into hundreds, rapes, wards, and wapentakes,

according as heretofore in other the King's business they had

done. And they, or two of them, within the limits of their

division, were to repair to all farms, barns, stacks, and gar-

223 ners, and there to view and try out, as well by the verdict of

honest men, as by all other good and lawful means, what

quantity and kind of grain every person had within their

respective division. And after the certainty thereof known,

as near as could be, they were to allot and appoint to the

owners of the corn and grain, sufficient and competent for

the finding and maintenance of their houses, and payment

of their rent-corns, and performance of any bargains for

the King's Majesty's house, or to any nobleman, gentleman,

or others, for the only maintenance of his or their house-

hold, until the 20th of September next coming ; and also

for necessary seed-corn. And the overplus of the said grain

the Justices shall have authority to charge and command

them in the King's name to bring to the markets next ad-

joining; and that in such portions as the Justices shall think

fit.
And then the Justices were to signify unto the chief officer

or officers of the respective markets, what quantity of grain

is appointed to every man within their limits to bring to

market. And if the owner of such corn shall refuse to bring

to the market his corn, he should forfeit for every such de-

OF KING EDWARD VI. 349

fault ten pounds, and suffer imprisonment for three months. ^^Jvn*

But notwithstanding, there came but httle corn to the mar-

kets: whereupon letters were sent down to the gentlemen Anno 1550.

of every shire for the better observing the last proclamation, j^^fj^

and to punish the offenders.

And as the King had taken this care for stocking the P"ces^set.

markets, and keeping victuals, that God sent the people of tuais.

England, within the realm, so he proceeded to set a mode-

rate price upon them by another proclamation, October 20.

building upon that statute of 25. Henry VIII. whereby the

Lord Chancellor, the Lord Treasurer, the Lord President

of the King's Privy Council, the Lord Privy Seal, the Lord

Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, and all other Lords of the

Council, the Treasurer and Comptroller of the King's house,

the Chancellor of the Duchy, the King's Justices of either

bench, the Chancellor, Chamberlain, Under-treasurer, and

Barons of the Exchequer, or seven of them at the least,

should have power from time to time, as the case should re-

quire, to set and tax reasonable prices of all kinds of cheese,

butter, capons, hens, chickens, and other kind of victuals

necessary for man's sustenance ; how they should be sold in

gross, or by retail, for the relief of the King's subjects.

And that after such tax, proclamation should be made in

the King's name under his seal, of the said prices. Accord-

ing to which statute the prices were by certain of the King's

great officers now set as follow, viz. from the feast of All

Saints next ensuing :

The quarter.

White wheat of the best sort, - - - - 13^. 4 J.

White wheat of the second sort, and red wheat of
the best sort, - - - - - - 11^. Od.
All other wheat, as well white, red, and gray, of the
meanest sort, not clean or tailed, - - -8s. Od.

Malt clean and sweet of the best sort, - - 10*. Od.

Malt of the second sort, ----- 8*. Od.

Rye of the best and cleanest, - -^ - 7s. Od.

Rye of the second sort, - - -6s. Od.
Barley of the best sort, - 9s. Od.

S50 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK Of the second sort, 7^. Od,
Beans or pease of the best sort, - - - 5.9. Od.

Annoi55o.Of the second sort, - - - . _ Ss. Od.

Oats of the best sort, clean and sweet, - - 4s. Od.
Accounting eight bushels to the quarter.
The pound.

224 A pound of sweet butter, not above - - - Id. ob.

Barrelled butter of Essex, not to be sold to any
of the Lmg's subjects above - - - - oh. di, q.

And barrelled butter of any other parts, - - ob. q.

Cheese of Essex, to be sold from Hallowmas
till New-year's crop, - . ... oh. di. q.
Cheese of other parts, not above _ - - oh. q.

CHAP. XXVIIL

Controversy about the ecclesiastical habits. Peter Martyr'^s.,

A Lascd's^ and Bucer's judgments thereof. Altars taken

dozon. Barlozv^ Bishop of Bath and Wells. Supei'stition

in Wales. Foreign matters. Duke of Somerset restored.

Grants of the King. Lady Elizabeth. Morice. Haddon.

Knox.
J3UT to return to ecclesiastical matters. This year also

happened the great controversy with Hoper, who, being to

be consecrated Bishop, refused to wear the ordinary episcopal

habits, because they had been used by papistical idolaters.

But before this contest happened with Hoper, it seems the

dispute of the cap and surplice, and other pretended popish

habits, grew very warm. For there is a letter of Peter

Martyr extant to a certain friend nameless, dated July 1,

wherein, by occasion of his friend's writing to him upon this

argument, he said, " That being indifferent things of them-

" selves, they make no man either godly or ungodly. Yet

" he judged it more expedient, that that garment and di-

" vers other tilings were taken away, when it might conve-

Ur IVlINlj HjLfW AIXU VI. D£)l

" niently be : whereby ecclesiastical things might be done CHAP.

" in a more plain manner. For when signs are defended

" and retained with so obstinate a mind, which are not un-'^""^* i^^o.

" derpropped with God^s word, there men are oftentimes less

" desirous of the things themselves signified thereby. And

" where shew most prevails, there commonly that which is

" serious is much neglected.""

John a Lasco, superintendent of the Dutch church, A Lasco

London, seemed to encourage Hoper in his incompliance ; J"(jament. ^

that noble and learned foreigner"'s judgment standing at

present rather against the use of such garments for the

ministers of the Gospel, however not come to full resolution.

Bucer and Peter Martyr aforesaid, the two learned King's

Professors of Divinity in each University, were for wearing

them in this case, when the laws of the land were so con- 225

stituted, that a minister might not officiate, or exercise his

office, except he were so appareled, habits being things in

their own nature indifferent ; and which might have a ten-

dency to edification. An account of Martyr's letter in this

point, which he wrote to the said Hoper, may be seen in

Archbishop Cranmer's Memorials. Bucer wrote two letters

on this argument, one to A Lasco, who had propounded

reasons to him against the habits ; and another to Hoper.

The sum of both which shall here be shewn, especially be-

ing so well replenished with learning, temper, and wisdom.

In his letter to the former, he first prayed, " that they Bucer to

" in those troublesome times of the Church might begin shewin/his

" and finish things, that offences and dangers were not in-J^'^Sf^^"^-

" creased. Then going on, he said, that the more dili-

" gently he weighed what fruit men gathered by this con-

" troversy of vestures, and what Satan went about hereby

" to work, he could have wished that it had never once

" been spoken of. But that ail of their function had stoutly

" and unanimously gone forward in teaching true repent-

" ance, and the wholesome use of all things, and in com-

'' mending the putting on of the apparel of salvation. That

" by helping forward this strife, (and he knew some that

" did so,) the most necessary points were neglected, that is,

BOOK "of removing sacrilegious persons from spoiling churches,

of providing fit ministers for every parish, and restoring

Anno 1550." of discipline. As to Hoper''s business, he did acknow-

" ledge, if it were his own case, if he thought ceremonies

" and vestures were impure of themselves, [i. e. in their

" own natures,] he would not in any wise take upon him

" the office of a Bishop till they were taken away by au-

" thority. But he thought it not impertinent, that men

" should be admonished to take heed of Satan's accustomed

" sleights, to lead men away, from the care of necessary

" things, to carefulness about things that might be let pass,

" and to a zeal to purge away things that are without us,

" thereby to neglect inward deformities. He told A Lasco,

" that, according to his talent, he had weighed his reasons,

" and yet he could perceive no other, but that the use of

" all external things, as well in ceremonies as private mat-

" ters, ought to be left free to the churches of God. He ac-

" knowledged, as he had confessed before to A Lasco, and

" declared unto his own countrymen, that he had rather no

" kind of vestures, used by Papists, were retained; and

" that for two or three reasons, viz. for shewing more

" full detestation of the Antichristian priesthood, for the

" plainer avouching of Christian liberty, and for avoiding

" dangerous contentions among brethren. Yet that he was

" for ministers using a grave habit, to be discerned from

" other men. But as far as he saw as yet, he could not be

" brought by any Scriptures to deny, that the true mi-

'' nisters of God might use without superstition, and to a

" certain edification, any of those vestures which the An-

" tichristian Church used." Thence descending to particu-

lars, he spent the remaining part of his letter in great per-

spicuity, learning, and moderation. The whole letter was

translated into English, and set forth not far from the be-

ginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, for the use of the

Church, that then was exercised afresh with the same con-

LL. troversy ; and may be found in the Repository.

226 The same reverend man having received a letter from

Ho^^/r^^ Hoper, and a paper enclosed, wherein were contained the

OF KING EDWARD VI. 353

reasons of his present trouble, and why in his judgment the c H AP.
habits ought not to be worn, and to which, if he approved ^^^^^^-
them, he desired Bucer to subscribe his name; he gave Anno 1550.
him this answer : " That he was exceeding sorry for this
" controversy, which so grievously hindered his ministry,
" that he could have been willing to have given a great
<' deal, that either it had not been moved at all, or speedily
" removed. That Satan by these lets prolonged his full
" banishment from among the people of God. That it was
" his desire to have all things reduced to apostolic simpli-
" city in external things, and to full and perfect religion.
" That he never procured to have any special kind of ap-
" parel in the administration of the sacrament, in the places
" where he had preached, as at Argentine, Ulm, Aus-
" burgh, Casel. And that the abuse that he had seen of
" the garments in many places in England, he could be
" willing to suffer torment in his flesh, that they were taken
" away. But yet that which weighed most with him was,
" that the sinews of Antichrist bore such sway : he meant,
" that church-robbers did still hold and spoil the chief pa-
" rish churches ; and that commonly one man had four or
" six of them, or more ; and that many patrons bestowed
" two or three upon their stewards or huntsmen ; and that
" upon condition that a good portion of the profits should
" be reserved to themselves. And any were hired for vi-