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more unkind and wilfull in this Matter, than all other Universities, both in this and all other Regions do. Finally, We trusting in the Dexterity and Wisdome of you and other the said Discreet and Substantial Learned Men of that University, be in perfect Hope, that ye will conduce and frame the said young Persons unto good Order and Conformity, as it becommeth you to do. Wherefore we be desirous to hear, with incontinent Diligence, and doubt you not we shall regard the Demeanour of every one of the University, according to their Merits and Deserts. And if the Youth of the University will play Masteries, as they begin to do, We doubt not but that they shall well perceive, that non est bonum irritare Crabrones. Given under, &c.

LETTER III.

To our Trusty and Well-beloved, the Commissary-Regents, and Non-Regents of our University of Oxon.

TRUSTY and Well-beloved, We greet you well. And whereas by sundry our Letters, sent and delivered at sundry times by the Hands of our Counsellors unto you, with Credence declared unto you by the same, we have only required and made instance unto you, for the obtaining of that, which at the least Desire of any Christian Man ye be bound and oblig'd to do; that is to say, to declare and shew your Opinions and Sentence in such a Doubt, as upon the Dissolution and Determination whereof, dependeth the Tranquility, Repose, and Quiet of our Conscience, we cannot a litle marvell that you, neither having respect to our Estate, being your Prince and Soveraigne Lord, nor yet remembring such Gratuites and Benefits as we have always shew'd unto you, as well to the particular Wealth of Diverse as to the Common Body of that our University, without any correspondency shew'd on their Behalfe againe, have hitherto delay'd and deferr'd, not only to send us your Determination and Resolution to our Demand and Question, but also refused to take Order, or enter into any Way or Meane, whereby you might declare or shew unto us, that ye be of Mind and Determination to endeavour your selfe for an Accomplishment of our Desire in that Behalfe. And so much the more marvell we at this your Manner of Delayes, that our University of Cambridge hath within far shorter Time not only agreed upon the Fashion and Manner to make Answere unto us effectually, and with Diligence following the same; but hath also 8 Days since sent unto us their Answere under Common

Seale, plainly determining, "Prohibitionem esse Divini et naturalis Juris, nè frater Uxorem fratris etiam mortui sine liberis ducat Uxorem." For the searching of the Truth in which Matter, if ye had before this Time condescended upon the Manner and Fashion convenient in that Behalf, we could then have taken any Delay afterward, upon any other cold Pretence made, but in good Part: Whereas now the refuseing to agree upon any such Order, and denying to do that which should be but the Entrie into the Matter for declaration of your Forwardness, Good Will, and Diligence: We can't otherwise think of you, but that you neither behave your selves towards Us, as our Merits towards you have deserved, as good Subjects to a kind Prince and Sovereigne Lord, as by the Learning ye professe ye be obliged and bound. Wherefore revolving this in our Mind, and yet nevertheless considering you to be there by our Authority and Grant, as a Body Politique, in the ruleing whereof in Things to be done in the Name of the Whole, the Number of the Private Suffrages doth prevaile, and being loth to shewe our Displeasure, whereof we have so great Cause ministered unto us, unto the Whole in general; whereas the Fault perchance consisteth and remaineth but in light and willfull Heads; for the tender Consideration we bear to Learned Men, and the great Desire we have to nourish, maintaine, and favour those that are Good; have thought convenient to send unto you these Letters by our Trusty and Right Well-beloved Clarke and Counseller, Mr. Edwarde Fox, trusting verily that ye which be Heads and Rulers there, well considering and weighing your Dutyes in the Accomplishment of our Request, for the searching the Truth in such a Cause, as touching your Prince and Soveraigne Lord, our Soul, and the Wealth of this our Realme and your great Lack and Blame, with just Cause of High Displeasure to be worthily conceiv'd by us in the denyall and slack doing thereof, will so order and accomodate the Fashion and passing such Things as should proceed from that University in this Case, as the Number of the private Suffrages, given without reason, prevaile not against the Heads, Rulers, said Sage Fathers, to the Detriment, Hindrance, and Inconvenience of the Whole. But so to examine, try, and weigh the Opinions and Minds of the Multitude, as the Importance of the Matter doth require: Wherein we doubt not but your Body is established in such wise, that there be left waies and means to the Heads and Rulers how to eschew and avoid such Inconveniences, when they shall chance: As we trust ye that be Heads and Rulers for the comprobation and declaration of par

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ticular good Minds, ye will not faile to do accordingly, and so by your Diligence to be shew'd hereafter, to redeem the Errors and Delaies past. The Favour we beare to the Maintenance of Learning, we would be very glad, as our said well beloved Councellour can shew unto you on our Behalfe; unto whom we will you give firme credence: Given under our Signet at our Castle of Windsor.

XVIII.

Copie of the King's Letters to the Bishop of Rome.
(Ex MSS Rymeri.)

ETSI videamus vel temporum vel Hominum iniquitate fieri, ut postulata nostra, quantumvis equa ac naturali ratione subnixa, parum expediantur, nihil etiam proficere, in causa nostra justissima, Charissimi fratris et Consanguinei ac perpetui Confederati nostri, Christianissimi Regis Amicissimas preces; Nobilium autem nostrorum intercessionem non modo contemni, sed etiam derideri, quod eos equo animo non laturos existimamus. Denique re ipsa nihil prestari quod nos afflictos atque vexatos sublevet; hæc omnia, licet apertius cernamus quam velimus, tum autem ex Oratoribus nostris quos apud vos habemus, tum a vestro isthic Oratore cognoscamus; est tamen spei opinionisque nostræ tam diversus exitus ut subinde cogitantibus nobis ac memoria repetentibus omnes causæ nostræ circumstantias, porro autem singula Conferentibus que precesserunt queque secuta sunt, fidem factorum, dictorum atque responsorum vestræ Sanctit. in hac causa nostra quam alioqui certam et firmam, fide dignorum Oratorum et vestrorum et nostrorum relatio constituit, ipsa ratio Communis labefactet atque convellat; atque in re certissima tam dubium reddit ut certo interdum non credamus Sanct. vest. fecisse que fecisse cognoscimus quum ea facere non debuisse intelligamus. Nam ut omittamus ea quæ longius precesserunt, quod nuperime efflagitavimus de dandis in Anglia Judicibus, quis Credidisset Sanctitatem vestram negare voluisse; longe aliter sperabamus nos. Aliter certe credidit Christianissimus Rex qui nobiscum una id petiit: Aliter crediderunt sui Consiliarii, quorum suasu id fecit: Secus crediderunt nobiles nostri omnes, et omnes omnium ordinum primi viri. Qui ad nostra postulata suas literas adjunxerunt, et quem non ad id adigerit ratio ut crederet Sanctitatem vestram facturam Dei respectu quod debuisset, et in principum gratiam quod inculpate potuisset: debuisset certe permittere sacrosanctis olim Consiliis id definientibus, ut con

troversia illic terminetur ubi primum nata est. Illic enim Judices et propius vident et cernunt certius: Ut Gloriosissimo Martyri Cypriano placuit. Et Divus Barnardus ad Eugenim scribit bene facis tu quod appellationum negato Suffragio remittis negotia ad cognoscentes et qui noscere citius possunt: ubi enim certior et facilior notio, ibi decisio tutior et expeditior esse potest: potuisset autem Sanctitas vestra: nam olim se potuisse ostendit cum Judices ad nos in Angliam mitteret quos postea revocavit. Quod si debuisset quidem quod negari non poterit, et potuisset etiam ut quidem factis antea suis de consilio suorum declaravit, quis dubitaret de voluntate siquidem ut deberet ipsam liberam rectam et certam teneat Sanctitas vestra, non ad aliena arbitria accomodatam ac humanis respectibus inservientem quod res ita se habet ut habet fuerunt aliquando vices nostri, nunc ut videmus aliorum sunt: Non in Lege Domini, sed in rerum vicissitudine meditandum est, ut de vestræ Sanctitatis Manu auliquod auxilii expectemus, sed auxilium nostrum a Domino certum est, et in Domino sperantes non infirmabimur. Nam in conspectu omnium, acta probant voluntatem Sanctitatis vestræ totam Cæsari addictam esse : Illius nutu flecti, ad illius arbitrium attemperari. Si quid petimus, si quid rogamus, quod officii vestri esset, prima ratio est, ut ne quid Cæsari displiceat. Quem etiamsi amicum habeamus, tamen dominantem in illo naturæ affectum ut improbare omnino non possumus, ita in hac causa nostra iniquiorem nobis non sine causa refugere' debemus et recte gravissimam nobis injuriam factam et vestro officio indignissimum dedecus admissum videmus, ut cum Cæsar si in hac causa interposuerit, etiam cum se opposuerit definitioni appellatione interposita, cum partem publice professus sit, vestra Sanctitas tamen eundem semper consultorem adhibeat: ad illius imperium figat, ac refigat, differat, proroget, mutet et statuat quodcunque temporis rationi oportunum videatur. Et si quid ab adverso dicatur statim creditur: Si quid nos proposuerimus omnino rejicitur, scilicet creditnr nunc Reginæ Regnum nostrum Angliæ non esse tutum locum in quo causa judicetur: Et creditur unicæ allegationi sine testibus contra tam preclara et aperta documenta quæ nos in diversum edidimus, non verbis et assertionibus quæ fingi possunt, sed rebus ipsis et factis quæ non mentiuntur. Nos enim quanta cum libertate atque impunitate audivimus omnes in nos, liberius etiam quam oportuit, quod videbatur proferentes, nemini unquam aliam opinionem extorsimus, quam quæ animo videretur suo: diversum a nobis sentientes etiam in cæteris,

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favore et prosequimur et prosecuti sumus. Et tamen, post tot argumenta securitatis, et cum nullum signum adhuc apparuerit cur timere quisquam a nobis merito deberet, credit vestra Sanctitas nudam Reginæ allegationem in diversum. Quo tempore dubitari potuit qualiter essemus faturi quod ageretur et quanta cum equanimitate passuri quod fieret, si quid contra nos fieret. Missi sunt ad nos Judices in Angliam, a Sanctitate vestra, nunc vero cum id amplius factitari non potest, non modo dubitatur sed creditur diversum ejus, quod nos probavimus. Probavimus autem nos Regnum nostrum locum esse tutum in quo causa nostra judicetur, viz. cum hactenus summam omnibus dicendi libertatem permiserimus. Regina vero tantum allegat diversum, et si quas probationes attulerit, vanæ sint oportet et falsæ nec verisimiles. Quæ quum ita sint, aliud tamen cur Judices non dederit, non respondit Sanctitas vestra, nisi quod Regina allegavit locum suspectum. Et quis crederet Sanctitatem vestram ista nobis respondisse, nec aliud dixesse ne Judices daret in partibus: certe referentium credulitatem exigit res vero ipsa negat. Si sequamur quod antea diximus eam persuasionem ut credamus Sanctitatem vestram voluntatem suam ita Cæsari addixisse, ut non ex animi vestri summa prudentia præditi sententia sed ex Cæsaris affectu respondere contendat. Que res facet ut iterum atque iterum repetitis literis Sanctitatem vestram adeamus, expressurinimirum si quid aliud moverit Sanctitatem vestram cur nostris ultimis desideriis non annuerit cupidi etiam literis vestris intelligere cui causæ potissimum, denegando innixa sit. Sic enim expressius et certius mentes invicem et animi nostri sententias communicabimus: Si in causis hiisce gravioribus et postulata et responsa scriptis mandaverimus. Itaque petimus denuo hiis literis a Sanctitate vestra ut causam nostram in Anglia datis Judicibus, illis quos inter oratores tanquam indifferentes et equissimos nominabimus, decidi patiatur, atque permittat. De Judicibus autem nullam ut accipimus facit difficultatem Sanctitas vestra, tantum de loco Questio fuit, quum sacra Consilia jam deffinierunt et Sanctus etiam Cyprianus et Divus Bernardus ut prædiximus, utique convenientissimum affirmant, ut in eo loco causa terminetur ubi primum nata est. Durum certe esset probare nudam Reginæ allegationem de loco suspecto, contra ea Argumenta que nos ostendimus. Et facile videt prudentia vestra non levem nobis notam inuri, ut ea infamia aspergamur, quasi in causa tanti Sacramenti suspecti haberemur, ne eam ex equo et bono Divinarum legum præscripto intra Regni nostri limitem terminari pateremur:

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