Etsi autem nos ex animo semper optavimus, ut Synodus, rebus deliberatis, emendationem abusuum atque errorum, qui diu jam in Ecclesia hærent, institueret, etiam adversus illos ipsos Pontifices et Prælatos, quorum partim Negligentia, partim Cupiditatibus, vitia illa in Ecclesiam irrepserunt: Tamen Bulla, in qua Paulus Pontifex Concilium indicit, non obscurè testatur, Pontificem (cum suis conjunctis) nequaquam passurum esse; ut in Synodo, de restituenda vera Doctrina, et corrigendis Abusibus atq; Erroribus, agatur. Sed quemadmodum ab ipso, et quibusdam suis Antecessoribus Doctrina, quam confessi sumus, sine ulla Cognitione, aut Examinatione Generalis, liberæ, et Christianæ Synodi, temerè, et cum Contumelia Evangelij, damnata est; Ita ostendit se Paulus Pontifex, hæc Præjudicia, Prætextu Synodi confirmaturum esse: Et conatur sibi ipsa receptione Bullæ, obligare omnes Reges et Potentatos, ut ipsi quoque assentiantur illis Prejudiciis, et omissa cognitione, se ad Piam et Catholicam Doctrinam, et in Evangelio clarè traditam, quam profitemur extirpandam, et armis delendam conjungant. In hanc Indictionem si consensissemus, visi essemus hæc Præjudicia confirmare et Doctrinam Ecclesiæ Romanæ et Doctrinam nostrorum Testimonio nostro condemnare.. Itaque Oratori Cæsariæ Majestatis, verè, et bona fide commemoravimus, quare nobis illa Indictio Concilij, iniqua, et perniciosa Ecclesiæ videatur; ac petivimus, ut Cæsariæ Majestati, Excusationem nostram justam, et consentaneam, Juri scripto et naturali, quare in illam Indictionem non consenserimus, exponat. Non dubitabamus, aut quin Romanus Pontifex, et hi quos habet conjunctos, se excusaturi essent apud Regiam Dign. V. tanquam Pontifex fecerit suum Officium, ac ostenderit se voluisse recte consulere Ecclesiæ; nos vero oneraturi Invidia, quasi communi Utilitati deesse velimus. Quare necessarium nobis visum est, Causas, propter quas Indictionem illam iniquissimam, et insidiarum ac periculi plenam recusavimus, Regiæ Dignitati vestræ, et cæteris Regibus et Principibus significare, ut adversariorum Calumniis, et aliorum Suspicionibus occurreremus. Itaque, ut Regia Dignitas vestra Causas illas verè et integrè intelligere possit, rogamus, propter Gloriam Christi, ut Regia Dignitas V. nostram Excusationem, quam publicatam his Literis adjecimus, perlegat. qua in re non solum periculo moveatur multorum in Germania Populorum, quib. Regiam Dignitatem V. optimè velle speramus, sed etiam cogitet, hanc nostram Causam ad communem Salutem Ecclesiæ pertinere, in qua cum Disciplinam multis in rebus collapsam esse constet, et paulatim receptos esse abusus non dissimulandos, diu multi, magni, et præstantes Viri, Emendationem optaverunt et flagitarunt. Non dubitamus, aut quin Regia Dignitas V. etiam ex alio cupiat Ecclesia Christi quemadmodum Deus hoc Officium, præcipuè à summis Principibus requirit, omni Ope, et omnibus Viribus consulere. Proinde et communem Ecclesiæ Causam, et nos ipsos diligenter commendamus Regiæ Dignitati V. et nostra Officia, cum summa Observantia, Reg. Dignitati vestræ deferimus. Bene et feliciter valeat Regia Dignitas Vestra. Datæ vij. Calend. April. Anno Domini M.D.XXXVII. Dei Beneficio, Jeannes Fredericus Dux Saxoniæ, Sacri Romani Imperij Archimareschallus ac Princeps Elector, Lantgravius Turingiæ, et Marchio Mysiæ. Et Philippus Lantgravius Hassiæ, Comes Cattorum Diek, Zygenhaim, et Nidde, suo et aliorum, Principum Statuum, et Civitatum Imperij Germanicæ Nationis, Nomine, puram Evangelij Doctrinam profitentium. Serenissimo Principi, Domino Henrico ejus Nomi- XLVIII. Cranmer's Letter to Cromwell, complaining of the Ill Treatment of the Ambassadors from Germany. (Cotton Libr. Cleop. E. 5, P. 212.) My very singuler good Lorde, in my most hertie wise I recommend me unto your Lordeship. And where that the Oratours of Germany, when thei granted to tary one Moneth, required that we should go furth in their Booke, nd entreate of the Abuses, so that the same myght be set furth in Wryting as the other Articles arr: I have syns effectuously moved the Bishops therto, but they have made me this Answer; That thei knowe, that the King's Grace hath taken apon hymself to answer the said Oratours in that Behalf, and thereof a Book alredie divised by the King's Majestie: and therfore they will not meddell with the Abuses, leste thei should write therin contrarye to that the King shall write. Wherfore thei have required me to entreate now of the Sacraments of Matrimony, Orders, Confirmation, and Extreme Unction; wherin thei knowe certeynly that the Germanes will not agree with us, excepte it be in Matrymoney onlye. So that I perceyve, that the Bishops seek only an Occasion to breke the Concorde; assuring your Lordship, that nothing shall be done, unles the King's Grace speciall Commandmente be unto us therin directed. For they manifestly see, that they cannot defend the Abuses, and yet they wold in no wise grant unto them. Farther, as concernyng the Oratours of Garmanye, I am. advertised, that thei are very evil lodged where thei be: For besides the Multitude of Ratts, daily and nyghtly runnyng in thair Chambers, which is no small Disquietnes; the Kechyn standeth directly against their Parlar, where they dayly Dine and Supp; and by reason therof the House savereth so yll, that it offendeth all Men that come into it. Therefore, if your Lordship do but offer them a more Commodious House to demore in, I doubt not, but that they will accept that Offer most thankefully, albeit I am suer that they will not remove for this tyme. And wheras of late I did put your Lordship in Remembrance, for the Suppression of the Abbey of Tudberye; now I beseech your Lordship, not only that Commissionours may be sent unto that House, but also in likewise unto the Abbey of Rocester, or Crockesdon; beseeching your Lordship to be good Lorde unto this Berer Frances Basset, my Servant, for his Preferment unto a Leace of one of the said Houses; not doubting but you shall prefer a right honest Man, who at all Tymes shall be able to do the King's Grace right good Service in those Partes, and also be at your Lordship's Commandment during his Life. Thus Almightie God have your Good Lordship in his blessed Tuition. At Lambeth, the xxiijd Daye of Auguste. Your own ever assured, T. CANTURIEN'. XLIX. The Earl of Northumberland's Letter to Cromwell, denying any Contract, or Promise of Marriage between Queen Anne aud Himself. An Original. (Cott. Libr. Otho. C. 10.) MR. Secretary, This shall be to signifie unto you, that I perceyve by Sir Raynold Carnaby, that there is supposed a Precontract between the Queen and me; wherupon I was not only heretofore examined upon my Oath before the Archbishopps of Canterbury and York, but also received the Blessed Sacrament upon the same before the Duke of Norfolk, and other the King's Highnes Council Learned in the Spirituall Law; assuring you, Mr. Secretary, by the said Oath, and Blessed Body which affore I received, and hereafter intend to receive, that the same may be to my Damnation, if ever there were any Contracte, or Promise of Marriage between Her and Me. At Newyngton-Green, the xiijth Day of Maye, in the 28th Year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Henry the VIIIth. Your Assured, NORTHUMBErland. L. A Letter, giving Pace an Account of Propositions made to King Henry by Charles the Vth. (Paper-Office.) TRUSTY and Right Wel-beloved, we grete you well, lating you Wit, that on Tuesday last passed, repaired to our Maner of Greenwiche unto us, the Emperors Ambassador here Resident, and on his Masters Behalf, pretending a Desire to renew the Old Amytie that hath been between us, testified nevertheles by Letters of Credence sent from the said Emperor to our Trusty and Right Wel-beloved Counsailer, Thomas Cromwell, our Principal Secretary, which of long Season hath been interrupted, made unto us for the Advancement of suche a Renovation certain Overtures: The First was, that he wold be a Means to have a Reconciliation between us and the Bishop of Rome: An other, that we would ayd him with some Contributions in his entended Voyage against the Turk: The Third, that forasmuch as by a certain Leage passed between us, it is covenanted and agreed, that in Case either of us shuld be invaded in any of our Realmes, Dominions, or Seigniories, which we have in Possession, the other shuld ayd him in such Form, as in the said Leage is expressed, at the Costs and Expences of the Prince requiring the same, and that there is a greate Appearance that the French King wil now invade him in the Duchie of Millain, we wold grant him such Ayde for his Defence against the said French King, as in the said Leage is limited. To the said Masse and Substance of his Credence, tending to a Renovation of Amytie, ye shall understande our Answer was, that albeit the Interruption and Disturbance thereof, hath proceded holly on the Emperors Behalf, who for our Friendeship in such wise hertofore shewed unto him, in making him King of Spayn, in making him Emperor, whenne the Empire was at our Disposicion, in lending him our Money, that he may only thank us for the Honour he is now advanced unto, hath nevertheless for his reciproque shewed unto us, all the Ingratitude he could devise, both in contempnying, as it were, a Friendship, when we have done more for his Satisfaction in our Proceedings then needed, and in procuring what Displeasure and Injury he could against us, at the Bishop of Romes Hande, as by Credible Reports we have knowen and lerned; yet such is our Zeal to Unytie, Concord, and Quiet amongs Christian Princes, and such is our Princely Nature, that as we canne continue our Displeasure to no man, if he do ones remove the Cause therof: So if he which is a Prince of Honor, and a Personage whom we ones chose, and thought Worthie for his Vertue and Qualities, to be advanced, will by his express Writing, eyther desire us to put his Doings towards us in Oblivion, or by the same Purge himself, and declare that such Things as we have noted Unkindnes in at his Hande, hath been unjustly, and without his Desert, imputed unto him, we shall gladly embrace his Overture touching this Renovation; but we plainly said and offered, that seing we had susteyned the Injury, we could not be a Suiter for the Reconciliation, nor treat with his Master of such Appendents for Aydes, as be before expressed, or any such like, unless our Amyties shuld be first Symple, and without all Manner of Conditions renoveled; which Parte, if he will first accomplish, he shuld not need to doubt, but to all his reasonable Desires to be made after, he shall have as Friendly and Reasonable Answer, as between Friends in the Highest Degree of Friendship can be required. Touching the Bishope of Rome, we declared unto him, that as we have not proceeded uppon so sleight and slender Grounds, as we wold revoke, alter, or change any Peece of our Doings; having in all Causes made our Foundacions uppon the Laws of God, Nature, and Honestie, and established all our Works made uppon the same, by the Consent of all the States of our Realme, in open and High Court of Parliament, so considering there hath been some Means made unto us by the Bishop himself for such a Reconciliation, which we have not yet embraced, it shuld not be Expedient to have it compassed by any other Means; nor we could take as in good Parte, or think that the Emperor shuld ernestly mind a Reconciliation, and a Renovation of our Amyties, if for the Satisfaction of the Bishop of Rome our Enemye, he shuld move us to allter any one Thing that we have here determyned contrary to his Purpose, and pretended Autoritie. To his Request for Aid against the Turk, was answered, that we could give no cer |