Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

que publica disputatione præmissis, tandem ad illius quæstionis determinationem ac diffinitionem devenerunt. Super qua ut nullus est vestrum (quibus ea provincia_commissa est) qui aut ambigere aut refragari possit: Ita et vobis omnibus (quod et Gratia a vobis concessa postulat) eandem compertam esse Volumus. Accipite igitur ac amplectimini, quod vestra Causa, vestrisque nominibus, a Fratribus vestris, per ingentes labores, ac summam industriam exantlatum est. Determinatio in his scriptis comprehensa sic habet.

Nos Universitas studentiam Academiæ Cantabrigiensis, omnibus infra scripta lecturis audituris ve salutem. Cum occasione causæ Matrimonialis, inter Invictissimum et Potentissimum Principem et Dominum nostrum Henricum octavum Dei gratia Angliæ Franciæque Regem, Fidei Defensorem, ac Dominum Hiberniæ, et Illustrissimam Dominam Catharinam Reginam controversæ, de illa quæstione nostra rogaretur sententia: videlicet, An sit jure Divino et naturali prohibitum, ne Frater ducat ut uxorem Relictam fratris mortui sine liberis? Nos de ea re deliberaturi more solito convenientes; atque communicatis consiliis, Matura consultatione tractantes quomodo, quo ordine ad investigationem veritatis certius procederetur, ac omnium tandem suffragiis, selectis quibusdam ex doctissimis Sacræ Theologiæ Professoribus, Bachalauriis, ac aliis Magistris ea cura demandata, ut scrutatis diligentissime Sacræ Scripturæ locis, illisque collatis referrent ac renunciarent, quid ipsi dictæ quæstioni respondendum putarent. Quoniam auditis, perpensis, ac post publicam super dicta quæstione disputationem matura deliberatione discussis hiis, quæ in quæstione prædicta alterutram partem statuere et convellere possint; Illa nobis probabiliora, validiora, veriora, etiam et certiora, ac genuinum et syncerum Sacræ Scripturæ intellectum præ se ferentia, Interpretum etiam sententiis magis consona visa sunt, quæ confirmant et probant, jure divino et naturali prohibitum esse, ne Frater uxorem fratris mortui sine liberis accipiat in conjugem: 1llis igitur persuasi, et in unam opinionem convenientes, ad Quæstionem prædictam ita respondendum decrevimus, et in hiis scriptis, nomine totius universitatis respondemus, ac pro Conclusione nobis solidissimis rationibus et validissimis argumentis comprobata affirmamus, quod ducere uxorem Fratris mortui sine liberis, cognitam a priori viro per Carnalem copulam, nobis Christianis hodie est prohibitum Jure Divino ac naturali. Atque in fidem et testimonium hujusmodi nostræ responsionis et affirmationis, hiis Literis sigillum nostrum commune curavimus apponi. Dat.

Congregatione nostra Cantebrigiæ, die nono Martii Anno Domini Millesimo quingentesimo vicesimo nono. Dominica 2. Quadregesima Anno Domini 1529. in Wyndesor.

Delivered by me W. B. Vicechancellour in the Chambre of Presence, post vesperas.

Your Universitie of Cambridge have them most humbly commended unto your Grace, and here thei have sent unto your Highness their Letters. Than kisse them and so deliver them.

Furthermore as touching your Request expressed in your Letters dyrected unto them by Mr. Secretary and Mr. Fox your most wyse Counsaillers in th' accomplishing of the same, they have don their Devors, and here in Writing under their Comon Seale, thei have sent unto your Grace ther Sentence, desyring the same to accept, and to take it in parte and good worthe. And if thei had any thing ellys to gratify your Grace wythall, their Lettres and their Studies, your Highness shuld be suer thereof to the uttermost of their Powers.

M.S. C. C. C. Given to the College by Dr. Jegon, Master.

To the Right Worshipfull Master Doctor Edmonds, Vicar of Alborne in Wiltshire.

My Duty remembred, I hartily commend me unto you, and I let you understand, that Dominica Secunda at Afternoon, I came to Wyndsor, and also to part of Mr. Latymer's Sermon; and after the end of the same, I spake with Mr. Secretary, and also with Mr. Provost, and so after Even-Song, I delivered our Letters in the Chamber of Presence, all the Court beholding. The King with Mr. Secretary did there read them, but not the Letters of Determination, notwithstanding that I did there also deliver them, with a Proposition. His Highness gave me there great Thank, and talked with me a good while. He much lauded our Wisedomes and good Conveyance in the Matter, with the great Quietness in the same. He shewed me also what he had in his Hands for our University, according unto that, that Mr. Secretary did express unto us, &c. So he de parted. But by and by, he greatly praised Mr. Latimer's Sermon, and in so praising sayd on this wise, This displeaseth greatly Mr. Vicechancellour yonder. Yon same,

sayd he unto the Duke of Norfolk, is Mr. Vicechancellour of Cambridge, and so pointed unto me. Then he spake secretly unto the Duke, which after the King's Departure came unto me, and wellcomed me, saying amongst other Things, that the King would speak with me on the next day; and here is the first Act. On the next day, I waited untill it was Dinner time; and so at the last Dr. Butt came unto me, and brought a Reward, twenty Nobles for me, and five Marcks for the younger Procter, which was with me; saying that I should take that for a resolute Answere, and that I might depart from the Court, when I would. Then came Mr. Provost, and when I had shewed him of the Answere, he sayd, I should speak with the King at after Dinner for all that, and so brought me into a privy place, where as he would have me to wait at after Dinner. I came thither and he both, and by One of the Clock, the King entred in. It was in a Gallery. There were Mr. Secretary, Mr. Provost, Mr. Latimer, Mr. Proctor, and I, and no more: The King there talked with us, until Six of the Clock. I assure you, he was scarce contented with Mr. Secretary, and Mr. Provost, that this was not also determined, An Papa possit dispensare, &c. I made the best, and confirmed the same that they had shewed his Grace before, and how it would never have been so obtained. He opened his Minde, saying, that he would have it determined at after Ester, and of the same was counsailed a while.

I pray you therefore study for us, for our Business is not yet at an end, An Papa potest dispensare cum Jure Divino, &c. Much other Communication we had, which were too long here to recite. Thus his Highness departed, casting a little Holy Water of the Court: and I shortly after toke my leave of Mr. Secretary and Mr. Provost, with whom I did not drink, ne yet was bidden, and on the Morrow departed from thence, thinking more than I did say, and being glad that I was out of the Court, where many Men, as I did both hear and perceive, did wonder at me. And here shall be an end for this time of this Fable.

All the World almost crieth out of Cambridge for this Act, and specially on me, but I must bear it as well as I may. I have lost a Benefice by it, which I should have had within these ten Dayes. For there hath one falne in Mr. Throckmorton's Gift, which he hath faithfully promised unto me many a time, but now his Mind is turned and alienate from me. If ye go to the Court at after Ester, I pray you have me in remembrance there, as ye shall think best. But of this no more. Mr. Latymer preacheth still, Quod amuli ejus graviter ferunt. I am informed, that VOL. III, PART II. D

Oxford had now elected certain Persons to determine the King's Question. I hear say also, that Mr. Provost was there in great Jeopardy. Other Tidings I have none at this time, but that all the Company be in good Health, and heartily saluteth you. And thus fare you heartily well. At Cambridge, in Crastino Dominic. Palmarum. Your own to his Power,

The King willed me to send unto you, and to give you word of his Pleasure in the said Question.

WILLIAM BUCKMASTER.

M. S. C. C. C. Miscellan. P.

XVII.

Three Letters written by K. Henry to the University of Oxford, for their Opinion in the Cause of his Marriage.

(Ex MS. D. Kennet.)

LETTER I. By the King.

TRUSTY and well beloved Subjects we greet you well. And whereas we have for an high and weighty Cause of ours not only consulted many and substantial well learn'd Men - within our Realm and without, for certaine Considerations our Conscience moving, we think it also very convenient to feel the Minds of you amongst you in our University of Oxenford, which be erudite in the Faculty of Divinity, to the intent we may perceive of what Conformity ye be with the others, which marvellously both wisely and substantially have declared to us their intent and mind: Not doubting but that ye, for the Allegiance and Fidelity that ye are bound unto us in, will as sincerely and truly without any Abuse declare your Minds and Conscience in this behalf, as any of the other have done. Wherefore we will and command you, that ye not leaning to wilfull and sinister Opinions of your own several Minds, not giving Credence to Misreports and sinister Opinions or Perswasions, considering we be your Soveraign Leige Lord, totally giving your true Mind and Affection to the true Overture of Divine Learning in this behalf, do shew and declare your true and just Learning in the said Cause, like as ye will abide by; wherin ye shall not only please Almighty God, but also us your Leige Lord. And we for your so doing shall be to you and our University there so Good and Gracious a Soveraigne

Lord for the same, as ye shall perceive it well imploi'd to your well Fortune to come; In case you do not uprightly according to Divine Learning hand your selves herein, ye may be assured, that we, not without great Cause, shall so quickly and sharply look to your unnaturall Misdemeanour herein, that it shall not be to your Quietness and Ease hereafter. Wherefore we heartily pray you, that according both to Duty to God and your Prince, you sett apart all untrue and sinister Informations, and accommodate your selves to the meer Truth, as it becommeth true Subjects to do; assuring you that those that do, shall be esteemed and set forth, and the contrary neglected and little set by: Trusting that now you know our Mind and Pleasure, we shall see some Conformitie among you, that we shall hereof take great Consolation and Comfort, to the great Allegement of our Conscience willing and commanding you among you to give perfect Credence to my Lord of Lincoln our Confessour in this behalfe and matter; and in all things which he shall declare unto you, or cause to be declared in our behalfe, to make unto us either by him or the Authentick Letters full Answere and Resolution, which your Duty's well remembred, We doubt not but that it shall be our high Contentation and Pleasure. Given under, &c.

LETTER II. By the King.

TRUSTY and Well-beloved, We greet you well. And of late being informed, to our no little Marvell and Discontentation, that a great Part of the Youth of that our University, with contentious Factions and Manner, daily combineing together, neither regarding their Duty to Us their Soveraigne Lord, nor yet conforming themselves to the Opinions and Orders of the vertuous, wise, sage, and profound learned Men of that University, wilfully to stick upon the Opinion to have a great Number of Regents and Non-Regents to be associate unto the Doctors, Proctors, and Batchelors of Divinity, for the Determination of our Question; which we believe hath not been often seen, that such a Number of right small Learning in regard to the other, should be join'd with so famous a Sort, or in a manner stay their Seniors in so weighty a Cause which as we think should be no small Dishonour to our University there, but most especially to you the Seniors and Rulers of the same, assureing you that this their unnatural and unkind Demeanour is not only right much to our Displeasure, but much to be marvelled of, upon what Ground and Occasion they, being our meere Subjects, should shewe themselves

« ZurückWeiter »