Search York

Grants of leases and places to several courtiers. The

Earl of Southampton, Denny, and the Lord Wentworth

die. Lady Mary comes to Court. Offices granted to the

Marquis of Northampton. A short Pathway, &c.

S^r William vxREAT iealousies were now of the French's making
Pickering ,. , ,
goes into disturbances both in Scotland and Ireland. A French am-

France. bassador came hither in January in favour of Scotland ;

as, to move the English to surrender certain places to the

Scots, and to confer other benefits upon that nation. Upon

this the King sent Sir William Pickering his ambassador

into France, in February, and withal sent a letter to Sir

John Mason, ambassador then in France, to return home

for ease of his sickness, and to communicate to Sir William

Pickering, placed there in his room, the whole state of the

King's affairs there; and to deliver to him all plate and

other things he had delivered to him here of the King at

OF KING EDWARD VI. 441

his departure. To Sir William Pickering a letter was sent CHAP,

soon after to this import, that if Sir John Mason for his L

sickness were not able to join with him in the message he is-^n^^o i^^o-

sent about to the French King, to authorize him to proceed

therein. And if he be able, and after wax so feeble by sick-

ness that he cannot continue his service of ambassage, that

then the said Sir William shall succeed him in his room by

authority of the King's letters. Pickering came home again

in March, and went again in April. And then Mason came

home.
And whereas the French were practising in Ireland, Sir And Sir

James Crofts, a good soldier, was sent thither in February, into ire-

to look after the condition of that kingdom, and especially ^^"'^•

the havens, to prevent any invasion, and to begin some

good fortifications. And he arrived with some artificers at

Waterford the next month, where the deputy was, having

lately repaired to the south parts with his forces to watch

the French. Four letters were sent at this time ; one to the

Earl of Desmond, and the other three to other persons of

credit, for the said Sir James Croft, Knight, sent thither to

view certain ports, havens, and other places, which certain

the King's enemies intended to invade there, and to report

the discommodities that may come upon the loss thereof.

And a fleet of ships was set forth for the defence of that

realm, and to guard some havens on the south side toward

France.
The same apprehensions had the English of the French's Jerseyfor-

surprising of the isle of Jersey. Orders were therefore '

taken for strengthening the castle and other important

places there. And it was thought fit the isle should bear

the whole charge of its own defence, though it made a hard

shift. For there was a letter sent thither to take down the (282)

bells, reserving but one in every church of the island of

St. Obin's, [a place in Jersey.] And the half value of the

same to be employed upon the fortifications of the castle

there, and the other half upon the fortifications towards the

alleviating of the charges of the King's subjects there : and

to arrest and tax the said subjects after the rate of their

442 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK goods, towards the charges of the said fortifications: and

further, to appoint unto priests that had fees and annuities

Anno 1 550. given to them for term of their Uves, upon certain obits

and masses founded there, such pensions as should be
thought good by their discretion, to be paid of the chantry
lands of that island. But these orders came not forth till
the beginning of the next year.
The Bishop This year the Duke of Somerset got from Barlow, the
palace Bishop of Bath and Wells, the palace of the Bishop of
comes to jgath : the said Bishop alienating to him, November 9, the
the Duke of ... ^ . ^ -i i i t
Somerset, scitc, circuit, and precmct of the said palace, and divers

other lands, to the yearly value of 62/. Os. lid. And in

March following he got a prebend, being the manor of

Dultingcote and Chilcote in Somersetshire, from one Thyn,

prebendary of Wells. Both, as it seems, in exchanges.

The Duke's The Duke in his late fall had been fleeced of all, not

cumstances. onlj his beneficial places and offices, but also of his lands

and revenues ; and was now reduced into narrow circum-

stances : and therefore was to make his fortunes again, as

well as he could. This his condition his nephew the King

considered, and helped him as much as he might : which

appeared, as in the respects above mentioned, so in this

that followeth. The King was now soon after the 25th of

March to send hostages into France, consisting of persons

of the best nobility, that might answer the French hostages

His son a sent hither. And among the rest the Earl of Hertford, son

hostage. ^^^j j^^^^ ^^ ^^g Duke, and the King's cousin, was one.

And the King was at the charge of setting him out, which

Warr.Book.I do not find he did to any other. For to Francis Nudi-

gate, steward to the Duke, the King granted 200 mark by

way of gift toward the charge of the said Earl's furniture.

And more, to the Duke was given 246Z. 6s. Sd. in recom-

pence of the charges of the board-wages of certain of the

servants attending upon the Earl in France. And about

the same time to the Duke was paid 500/. bequeathed him

by King Henry's last will, which was paid upon account of

his present need, as I must suppose, that legacy having in

effect been before satisfied, when in the first year of the

OF KING EDWARD VI. 443

King the said Duke had a grant of divers lands and lord- CHAP,

ships, partly in consideration of services, and partly for ful- ^^^'^^-

filling the King's last will ; as it ran in the Book of Sales. Anno 1550.
In December, Sir Andrew Dudley, brother to the Earl of sir Andrew

Warwic, gained the office of keeping all the jewels, of the office^^ *

robes and other things in the palace of Westminster ; with

whom was joined Arthur Sturton ; which place was granted

to them for life, and the longest liver, with the fee of 100

mark.
Mr. Cecyl, Secretary, about this time had the rectory of Leases to

Wimbleton in reversion granted him for threescore years, cTc^i.'^'^^

according to a letter sent by the King, dated in January,

to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, to whom the said

rectory belonged : Sir Robert Tirwhit, Knight, being at

present in possession by an old lease, and Cecyl having Sir

Roberts interest in the same.

William Honnings, Esq. now or late a clerk of the Coun-C283)

cil, got a prebend from the church of Salisbury. For Guido Honnings

Cavalcant, a stranger, incumbent of the prebend of Che- lend^of Sa-

ping Farington in the county of Berks, belonging to the said '¦""^*

church, being requested to give and surrender his interest

and estate of the possession of the said prebend, and being

contented thereto, the King this February wrote to the Bi-

shop, Dean, and Chapter of Salisbury, that they also would

agree hereunto in such sort as the same might take effect

towards him in fee-simple.

The King's justice appeared in an act of his that hap- A grant to

pened about this time. The wardens, and scholars, and coiiege^^ ^^

clerks of the college of St. Mary's prope Winton, alias St.

Mary's college of Winchester, had heretofore sold to King

Henry certain lands, and paid 671Z. 14-9. 2d besides, to his

treasurer. For the which the manor of Endeford in Wilts,

with other lands, were granted to them : which manor

and lands were in remainder to one Thomas Culpeper and

his heirs male of his body begotten : and who had law-

fully entered. So their purchase was lost and gone. The

King therefore in satisfaction now this February granted

444 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK them the manor of Aysshe in Surrey, with divers other lands,

______ to the yearly value of 77/ 16s. 9d.

Anno 1550. To gratify George Broke, Lord Cobham, a great soldier,

LofdVb ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^"^ ^^^® King good service abroad, and was now

ham. going with an army into Ireland, the King gave him in fee-
simple the lordship and manor of Great Hoo and Little

Hoo, and the hundred of Hoo, with divers other lands, te-

nements, &c. to the yearly value of 108/. 3^. 5d. several

rents reserved and deducted : to hold by the fortieth part

of one knight's fee. Some of these lands lay in Rochester

and Wrotham : to which was added the rectory of Earith.

The Earl The Earl of Southampton, August 4, was honourably

ampton bu- buried in the church of St. Andrew's, Holborn : and Sir

"^*^- John Hoper, priest, preached at his funerals. And Sep-
tember 1. his lady and widow was buried at Farnham ;

who had sometime been the wife of Sir William Fitz-Wil-

liams. Lord Privy Seal to King Henry VIII.

Sir An- gjj. Anthonv Denny, a learned and wise man, bred in St.

thonyDen- -^ ^' . /> i r^
ny dies. John's college, Cambridge, an ancient favourer of the Gos-

pel, and professor of it, one of the chief gentiemen of King

Henry's bedchamber, and of this King's, died about the

latter end of this year. His seat was at Waltham abbey in

Essex, where I think he lies buried. He left dame Johan

Denny, his widow, executrix of his last will and testament.

A declaration by her made as well concerning stuff received

by the said Sir Anthony, belonging to the King, as also

for disbursing and delivery thereof, was taken February 12.
Lord Went- As Denny finished his course, so the Lord Wentworth

accompanied him : who being Lord Chamberlain of the

King's household was honourably buried, March 7, in West-

minster abbey in the chapel,^ where the old Abbot was in-

terred ; two of the kings of arms and two of the chief

heralds attending, and Coverdale preached.

Lady Mary March 15, the Lady Mary rode through London unto
comes to , ' • ^ n n t • -i 1 1
London ; St. John s, her place, with fifty knights and gentlemen in

velvet coats and chains of gold afore her; and after her

fourscore gentlemen and ladies; and every one having a

OF KING EDWARD VI. 445

pair of beads of black; to make an open profession, no CHAP.
'VWTA7'
doubt, of their devotion for the mass ; which she lately had

been required to lay aside, as we shall read hereafter. In Anno 1.550.

this equipage she rode through Cheapside and Smithfield. (^^4)

Two days after, she rode from St. John's to the Court, And the

through Fleet-street, with many noblemen, knights, gen-

tlemen, ladies, and gentlewomen. And at Court she alight-

ed, and Mr. Wyngfield, comptroller of the King's house,

and many lords and knights, brought her through the hall

unto the chamber of presence. And there she tarried two

hours, being treated at a goodly banquet. What her busi-

ness now at the Court was, we shall soon see. Afterwards

she took horse, and rid back to St. John's, and lay there all

night, and on the morrow she rode to her house, called

Newhall in Essex, where she remained for some time.

As the Marquis of Northampton in October last obtained An office to

the keeping of Windsor, now, March 20, the King gave ^^^^ ^^'

him the office of keeping the chief messuage of the manor Northamp-

of Esscher, and the office of keeping the garden and ort-

yards there, and the bailiff of the said manor; and the

keeping of the park, and the lieutenantship of the chase of

Hampton Court, and the keeping of the chase, with three

men to attend thereupon, for life, with fee.

Let me add only the mention of a book that came forth A short

this year, imprinted at Worcester, by John Oswen, the 24th ^c."^**^*

of May ; having this title, A short Pathway/ to the right

and true understanding of the holy Scripture. Set forth

hij that most famous Clerk ^ Hulderick ZuingUus. And

translated out of Latin into English by John Verou Seno-

nois. This man was a foreigner, but an eminent minister

and preacher in London in the beginning of Queen Eli-

zabeth.
He dedicated this his translated book to Sir Arthur

Darcie, Knight. Thus beginning his address, (whence we

may collect the good progress of religion at this time, and

the backwardness of a great part of the people yet to enter-

tain it.) " Many at this present, right worshipful Sir, that

" the Gospel is so pregnantly, so sincerely, and purely

446 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL, &c.

BOOK " preached by innumerable learned godly men, whom God

" dodi stir up and excitate daily in this flourishing realm

Anno 1550. « and commonwealth, do greatly marvel and wonder that

" yet the greatest part of the people doth frowardly draw

" back, nor will submit themselves to the sweet and plea-

" sant yoke of the Gospel ; having lyeffer to abide still in

" the thick darkness of ignorance, and stinking puddle of

*' men''s traditions, than to come to the shining and most

" clear light of the everlasting truth and verity : which if

" they would weigh, ponder, and examine, and consider the

" matter more earnestly, and with greater diligence search

" the Scripture, they should undoubtedly find, perceive,

" and understand, that this blindness and error doth re-

" main yet in so many thousands, because that God hath

" not yet drawn them, without whose Spirit man's industry

" can profit nothing, though he teacheth and writeth never

*' so much, &c.

'' I do most humbly dedicate, offer, and nuncupate unto

" your right worshipful mastership, as unto him who is

" and hath been always most desirous to promote, set forth,

" and enlarge the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ."

And here we end the first book, having taken a view of

the best part of this King'*s reign. Hereafter the factions at

Court more increased, and proved fatal to some of them ;

as shall be seen.

MEMORIALS 249

OF MATTERS WORTHY REMARK

ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL

IN THE REIGN OF

KING EDWARD VI.

BOOK 11.

CHAP. I.

The Lady Mary's concern with the King and Council, for

retaining mass in her family. Dr. Mallet her chaplain.

The Emperor interposes Jbr the Lady Mary to have

mass,
J- HE Lady Mary's zeal for her religion, created her and Anno 1550.

her chaplains and servants, this and the ensuing year, no ^^^^ ^'?"'

Httle trouble. An office having been composed for the com- the Lady

munion and public prayers in English, which was enjoined ^^^'^

by Parliament to be used throughout England, all were re-

quired, by proclamation, to receive it with due reverence.

But the Lady Mary would not admit it by any means in

her family, but kept herself to the old mass, notwithstand-

ing many messages and intimations from the King and his

Council to dissuade her, and to forbid the use of it.

So it fell out, that in November Dr. Mallet and Mr. Her chap-

Barkley, her two chaplains, were indicted for certain things ^^Y\ '"dict-

committed by them, contrary to the King's laws ; and pro- ing mass,

cess for them was awarded forth and delivered to the She-

448 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK rifF of Essex. And she seeming to defend them, the Coun-

cil wrote to her, requiring her, as soon as they or either of

Anno 1550. them returned to her house, to surrender them up unto

the Sheriff, who had a warrant from the King to attach

them. Or if it hked her not, then to warn them from her

house, and not to keep them there to be defended as it

were from the justice of the law. Mallet's fault was, that

250 he said mass at Newhall to her family, newly removed thi-

ther from Woodham Water, she following, but as yet not

being there. To whom in her closet only he ought to have

said it. Alexander Barkley, her other chaplain, was vicar

of Much Badow in Essex ; and he, thinking to bear out

himself with the authority of his mistress, had said mass in

his church, contrary to the King's statutes and proceedings.

But he submitted, and after some months' imprisonment

had his pardon in May 1551.
The letter of the Lords of the Council to the Lady Mary,

concerning her chaplains, was this :

The Coun- " After our due commendations unto your Grace. Where

L^d^^M^'^ " ^^^ ^^ y^"^ chaplains, the one named Dr. Mallet, the

Otho. C. 10. " other Barkley, be indicted for certain things committed

" by them contrary to the King's Majesty's laws ; for whom

" process is also awarded forth, and delivered to our lov-

'' ing friend Sir George Norton, Knight, Sheriff of Essex :

" forasmuch as we understand, that the one of your said

" chaplains doth continually attend about you, albeit Ave

'' nothing doubt but your conformity and obedience to the

" King's Majesty is such, that of yourself you will most

" readily cause any your servants, whatsoever they be, to

" obey humbly his Majesty's officers and ministers for the

" execution of justice ; yet being desirous, in respect of your

" Grace's honour, to have this process executed in as quiet

" sort as may be, we have thought good to pray your

" Grace to give order, that your said chaplain, remaining

" in your house, may be delivered to the Sheriff at such

" time as he, or any his deputy, shall come for him, to an-

" swer to the laws for such matters as he is charged withal.

OF KING EDWARD VI. 449

" And thus wishing your Grace long continuance of health, CHAP.

" we pray Almighty God to have you in his blessed keeping. ^'

" From Westminster, this 2d Decemb. 1550. Anno isso.

" Your Grace's assured,

" E. Somerset. T. Wentworth. W. Wilts.

" T. Cant. T. Cheyne. H. Dorset.
" J. Warwick. W. Northt. T. Darcy.
" E. Clynton. T. Ely. R. Sadleyr.^'
" J. Bedford. A. Wyngfeld.
Upon this passed several letters between her Grace and She writes

the Council, both in this and the next year, (viz. that «f Her chap- *^

1551,) she vindicating her chaplain; inasmuch as he had lain im-

done no more than what she had bidden him, and so if any ^"^^"^

fault were committed, it was hers rather than his. And in

justification of herself, she urged a promise, thrice repeated,

which the King and Council had granted the Emperor\s

ambassador on her behalf; which was, that she should have

leave to have mass said before her, and be exempted from

the danger of the statute. But they told her, in a letter

dated December 25, 1550, that " a promise was indeed

" made a good while ago to the ambassador, that mass in

" her own closet should be suffered and winked at ; but

" that it was to be but a while, till she were better in- 251

" formed ; and only a few of her own chamber to be pre-

" sent with her. But that to the rest of her household the

*' communion service should be used."
They signified to her moreover, what they said to the The Coun-

Emperor's ambassador, that came to intercede for her to^^thTier

have the mass, viz. " that they had only reduced that ^'^^""^ *^«

" which was commonly called the mass, to the order of the munion-

" primitive Church, and the institution of Christ; with^^''^-

" which the King and the whole realm had their con-

" sciences well quieted. They added, that it had founda-

" tion in Scripture upon plain texts, and no glosses, and

" confirmed by the use of the primitive Church. That the

" greatest change was, not in the substance of their faith,

" nor in any one article of their creed ; but only the di£-
VOL. II. G g

450 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK " ferciice was, that they used the ceremonies, observations,

^^' " and sacraments of their rehgion, as the Apostles and first

I

Anno 1550." Fathers of tlie Church did. Whereas she used the same

" that corruption of time had brought in, and very bar-

" barity and ignorance nourished. She held, they said,

" for custom against truth, they for truth against custom.

" And whereas she had urged earnestly the maintenance of

" her faith, they asked her, where her Grace had ground

'' for such a faith, to think common prayer in the English

'' Church should not be in English ; that images of God

" should be set up in the Church ; or that the ssicrament

" of the body and blood of Christ should be offered by the

" priest for the dead ? And that though she had no Scrip-

" ture to maintain them, they had plain Scripture to forbid

" them. They took notice also, how she had baptism mi-

" nistered in her house the old way, in a tongue unknown ;

" whereby, they said, the best part of the sacrament was

" unused, and as it were a blind bargain made by the god-

" fathers.'"* This excellent letter, which, I suppose, was

drawn by the pen of Archbishop Cranmer, is extant in

Fox.
But all convinced her not ; and she procured the Empe-

ror to interpose again in her behalf. For the Emperor's

ambassador, February 16, put the Council in remembrance

of their promise made unto them for the Lady Mary,

that she should be suffered to use mass in her family :

upon which promise she had hitherto used it. Wherefore

the Emperor trusted she should still do the same till the

King came to years of perfection. Answer was made, that

the Council would advise, and in three or four days give

full answer.

I do not find, neither in the King's Journal, nor Council-

Book, what answer the Council gave to the ambassador.

But March 18, the Lady Mary, being summoned, I sup-

pose, to come up, made her appearance at Court, and came

to the King at Westminster ; where she \vith the Council

was called into a chamber. And then she was told, how

long the King had borne with her, and that having now

The Lady

Mary comes

to Court.

OF KING EDWARD VI. 451