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Nov. 23.
Oxford. |
58. Thomas Reynold, Vice-Chancellor, to Cardinal Pole, Chancellor
of Oxford, at the Court. Mr. Cole, by his wisdom and pains, set many
things in good forwardness towards reformation of disorders, so that
I hope, through my own and other officers' diligence, you shall, by
little and little, see a new face of the university, as well in life as
learning; and to this I will apply myself to the uttermost, though
hereby I shall procure to myself enemies and hatred incredible. |
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I beseech your aid in two points; one is that I may have the
injunctions appointed for redress of abuses detected in the late
visitation of particular colleges and houses, without which it will
be impossible to have good rule and obedience abroad; the other
is fulfilment of the Act of Parliament, 7 Edw. VI., which most
prudently ordained that in all Oxford there should be but three
wine taverns, if it may be without injury; for since then, eight
or more have,—under the cloak of pretended loss in providing
for the Parliament that was appointed by Her Majesty to be held
at Oxford,—obtained of the late Lord Chancellor licence to sell wine
for a term of years, and that to their best advantage, so that some
sell Gascony wine at 16d. the gallon, sack at 2s. 4d., and Malmsey
at 2s. 6d. If this gap be not stopped, neither I nor all the heads
of this university can do any good, besides the great impoverishing
of the poor scholars, who will have wine whatever it cost. Our
old privileges and charters which give you, as our Chancellor, the
whole order of all kinds of victuals, were confirmed by Her Majesty
before their patents were granted, and their patents are thought by
some wise men insufficient; yet because the words are much in
their favour, I thought it not good to attempt the matter before
consulting you. |
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If my Lord Chancellor would remedy the matter, it were much
for the weal of the university, for what inconvenience has grown
by this great number of taverns and other victualling houses well
appears by the discommuning of so many houses, as in your late
visitation was decreed and done by your discreet visitors; and yet
I have, in this little time, been importuned to admit three or four
more. So that if this be not redressed with speed, the great part
of the exhibition of scholars will scarcely serve for this abuse.
Wherefore I, in the name of all the heads of the university, beseech
you, as you have most godly begun reformation amongst us, to
provide a salve for this sore, without which all our travail shall be
but in vain. [1½ pages, damaged.] |
| 1556 ? |
59. Statement by — that the merchants of the staple have
wrongly informed "your worships" that the Lady Lenox's licence and
his have been the only ones in four years for packing wools, whereas
John Rothes, a Scot, John Gerald, and Thos. Calvacant, Fras. Barnard, and my Lord Warden have all had similar licences lately,
which have taken effect both in King Edward's time and that of
the present Queen. [1 page.] Annexing, |
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59. i. Account of wools bought by Marg[aret, Countess of Lenox],
from 1553 to 1555; total value, 1,138 florins. [1 sheet,
damaged.] |
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60. Account of the Queen's lands in Congleton, and request for a
grant of lands in Denbighshire, a lease of which was granted to
John Gwynne, in reversion after Secretary Bourne, now sold to
Lady Egerton of Ridley; rent, 22 nobles. [1 page.] |
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61. Grant by the King and Queen to Richard Lord Rich, of the
office of chief seneschal of the feodary of the honour of Raleigh for
life. [1 page, Latin.] |
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62. Margaret Pole to Sir Fras. Englefield, master of the Wards.
I entreat your favour for Rich. Godman, who has lately behaved lewdly in Sussex. His sister is my nurse for a child only
eight days old, and I much fear her milk will dry away if
she frets about her brother, and thus my poor child will be in
danger; and if it do otherwise than well, I should not live long,
for I have been very ill, and am yet unable to turn in bed. The
man will give surety not to do the like again. [1 page, much
damaged.] |
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63. Order in the Court of Wards for payment to Anne Duchess
Somerset of 40l., towards reparation of Woolfall manor, co. Wilts,
now in the Queen's possession during the minority of her son,
Sir Edw. Seymour, of whom she has the custody, binding her to
certify into the Court that the same has been duly laid out.
Signed Fras. Knighton, of Bradley, co. Suffolk. [1½ pages.]
Annexing, |
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63. i. Book of the costs of the reparation of the late Duke of
Somerset's mansion house at Woolfall; total, 51l. 14s. 2d.
Signed by Thos. Blagrave, auditor. [5 pages.] |
