Henry VIII: April 1534, 21-25 | British History Online

Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 7, 1534. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1883.

'Henry VIII: April 1534, 21-25', in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 7, 1534, (London, 1883) pp. 211-217. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol7/pp211-217 [accessed 25 April 2024]

April 1534, 21–25



[21 April.]	524. John [Longland] Bishop of Lincoln to Cromwell.
R. O.	Had forgotten to ask him about the election of proctors at Oxford. Four are standing for the office to the great unquietness of the university. The heads and seniors have tried to compromise the matter, so that the two most meet should have the office this year. They are Mr. Lacy of Lincoln college, “who did in the King's great cause there positive,” and Mr. Howell of Alsolen College, two honest, apt, sober and well learned men. Sober men are needed for the room. Asks him to move the King to write to the university to elect them. At the Old Temple in Holborn, this Tuesday.
R. O.	Hol., p. 1. Add.: Secretary.
21 April.	525. Robert [Sherburn] Bishop of Chichester to [Cromwell].
R. O.	Desires credence for the bearer in a cause concerning “the prebend which I did give you.” Aldingbourne, 21 April. Signed.
R. O.	P. 1. Add.: To the right honorable Secretary to the King's highness. Endd.
21 April.	526. [Henry VIII.] to —.
R. O.	Directs them to inquire into a riot and unlawful assembly in Warwickshire made by Edward Grevell, esq., of which Robt. Porter, Ric. Graunt and Hugh Mervyn, it is said, can give evidence. Greenwich, 21 April.
R. O.	P. 1. Extract beginning: And forasmuch as we be enformed.
	527. Sir Willam Poulet and Thos. Legh to Cromwell.
R. O.	We certify you that, according to the King's pleasure, we have moved my lady of Whorwell to resign her office on an honest and competent pension, with liberty to stay in her own house, or in any other place of her religion she likes. She has plainly answered she will in no case resign until she has spoken with the King himself. Whorwell, this evening.
	P.S. in Poulet's hand:—My lady says that I am the occasion hereof, which troubles her the more, thinking she would rather have done it in my absence. Signed.
	P. 1. Add.: Secretary. Endd.
	528. Sir William Poulet to Cromwell.
R. O.	As it will be ill for you to examine the lady of Wherewell and other persons with her, because of your great causes, and she must needs tarry, it will be better for you to appoint Dr. Oliver or Dr. Tregonnell to examine all parties except herself. This would relieve 19 persons and 16 horses in the city at the charge of the monastery. Let me know your mind. I am to be with the King tomorrow, as all other officers are absent.
R. O.	Hol., p. 1. Add.: Secretary. Endd.
	529. Sir William Poulet to Cromwell.
R. O.	This day my lord of Wiltshire and I go to my lady Mary; thence to court to make report; and so to my house for 12 days. Give the bearer Sir Thos. More's bills. Be so good to the monastery of Wherewell as to deliver my lady and her sisters “whom” (home ?); then after your report to the King you may proceed as you see cause. Be good to Mr. Augustyn that he may be relieved of his charge. He is put to more costs than he is able to sustain. Wednesday morning.
R. O.	Hol., p. 1. Add.: Secretary. Endd.
22 April.	530. Chapuys to Charles V.
Vienna Archives.	Your majesty's letters of the 27th ult., intercepted, as I have already notified, by the deputy of Calais, have been delivered to me, with the packet of the queen Regent in Flanders under which they came, after they and the courier had been detained four days by master Cromwell. On my making a second application about them, Cromwell sent to me by my messenger to say, in excuse for the interception, that he wished it had cost him a good part of his property that the thing had not happened, and that the King was very sorry for it. He also sent to tell me that the King had been informed that someone had written in Flanders that I was not treated with the respect due to my position, which writing the King supposed could not have proceeded from me, as no ground of complaint had been given me and I had not asked for anything, and that the King was very sorry I had never asked him for something to testify the goodwill he bore me, both as he was pleased to say for my personal qualities and for the great love he bore your majesty, and that the ministers of either power could do nothing better than endeavor to maintain and augment so old a friendship, and that for his part he would rather have lost one of his hands, indeed both, than any rupture or disagreement should have taken place; and after much to the same effect, he began to say that your majesty was making much preparation for war, and that some would imagine it was against England, which he could not believe, as no occasion had been given for it. On this subject Cromwell would have liked to hear something from my man, who denied that he knew anything about such matters, and was thereupon dismissed with many recommendations from the King and Cromwell. That evening, although the packet was delivered to me, Cromwell still retained the courier, as if to examine him touching the words he was said to have spoken in Calais, but nothing was said to him except to make him very good cheer, that he might make the better report. Cromwell's words are good, but his deeds are bad, and his will and inclination incomparably worse; and I fully believe the deputy of Calais had express commission from the King to take the said packet to learn to what end your majesty was making the preparation for war above mentioned, of which they are more afraid than ever on account of the sentence given. The packet was delivered to me whole and untouched, except that the first cover, which Gerard Sterck had put upon it as usual, was taken away, under which were two open letters (fn. 1) in which they wrote to me of the treaty concluded with Lubeck. That news I think has been a safe-conduct for the packet, restraining their illwill.
	According to your instructions, I desired the Scotch ambassador with whom I had before spoken of the affairs mentioned in that instruction to come and speak with me, which he did yesterday morning. On my inquiring the state of affairs between them and the English, he said he thought a peace would be concluded, as the English urged it very much, and the Bishop, his colleague, was much inclined to it, as their King was destitute of the aid of the French and of all other. They also thought that by means of some treaty of peace they would conciliate the goodwill of this people; and although, being mindful of the remonstrances I had formerly made to him, he was a good deal inclined to take the opposite side, nevertheless the authority of the Bishop, and a feeling that it would not be to his honor to have solicited this peace and afterwards not only failed to bring it about but even tried to oppose it, almost compelled him to incline to it, at least for some time. But after I had confuted his reasons, he said he would have given a good deal of money that he had known some time ago the news of the sentence at Rome and the love your majesty bore to the King his master, and he would do his best to reconvert the Bishop and find some pretext before concluding to refer to the King his master, and persuade him to throw himself entirely upon the protection of your majesty, and the treaties you would propose, which could not but be good, virtuous, and Catholic; and if his influence with his master was not sufficient, he would make use of what he had with other people of great authority in Scotland and elsewhere; and that in such a case, he would leave me a cipher to send me sure knowledge of all occurrences. On this I thought it well to inform him particularly both of the truce with Lubeck and of the devotion of those of Norway, Denmark and the adjoining countries to your majesty, and also of the disposition of this kingdom, which he detests very much, of the facility of a remedy, and the need for it, especially in the interest of Scotland; all which he took in very good part, and said that although they had no answer from their ambassador in France about the marriage with the French king's eldest daughter, yet they considered the case desperate, as I have long since written to your majesty, seeing the delay which the French king has always given them, besides that this King has assured them that there was an express treaty between the French king and him that Francis would not give his daughter to their master, nor give him any help against England. And understanding this, together with what I had formerly advised, the said Bishop and he had spoken of the marriage of the Princess, to which answer was suddenly made that it was out of the question, as they knew she was a bastard, and too near in blood to the King their master. On the other points no answer had yet been made to them, and they expect one in two days, of which the said ambassador promises to let me know, and says he will do his utmost to persuade the Bishop that they shall both say plainly to this King that, failing the Princess, the succession should belong to the King their master, so as to prevent him doing her any mischief. He will also advise his master to write expressly to this King acknowledging plainly the truth of what I told him, viz., that his said master could not make himself great without the favor of your majesty and the marriage of the said Princess, saying that your majesty might rest assured that the hearts of Scotland generally were much more inclined to you than to France.
	The said ambassador also told me he had been lately called to the house of the Chancellor, where he met Cromwell and three doctors, and certain dishonorable and heretical articles were presented to him to see if they could be accepted by the King his master, which he repudiated with indignation in such a manner that no one knew what to answer; which Cromwell and the Chancellor perceiving, they begged him not to reveal it, but to keep the articles in his hands until the doctors had left. This he did, and according to promise he has said nothing of the said articles to the Bishop, but he has promised to send me the substance of them as far as he can remember. He also told me that seven or eight days ago, being at mass at Greenwich with his bishop, the King sent for him by two gentlemen only to tell him that he had news of the arrival of a personage with two servants in a harbour of Scotland, and that he thought it was a nuncio of the Pope. On asking if he knew anything of it, he replied “No,” and that it might be the envoy from your majesty, although the time seemed rather short for it. After much conversation, we agreed that he should say nothing to the Bishop of all our talk, except about the general goodwill borne by your majesty to the King their master, until a fitting opportunity, and that if possible he should find means by which we might communicate together without suspicion, and that I need not doubt that he will keep everything secret, especially out of regard to his master. To encourage him in this, I told him that besides the service he would therein do to God, to the King his master and these two kingdoms, he would lose nothing on the side of your majesty, whom I would inform of the affection he showed to your service. And with this he left.
	The King has lately been two days at the place where the Bastard is, and meanwhile the Princess has been commanded not to leave her chamber. Care has been taken of this by the Lady (sur ce fut mise garde de la part de la dame), who was there with the King, and a weak maid of hers who refused to swear to the statute made about the succession was during that time locked up in her chamber, and compelled to swear by a threat of being taken to prison, for which the Princess has felt much regret. But this is a small thing in comparison with what happened to the Princess herself at the same time, to whom the aunt of the said Anne Boleyn, who has her in charge, said that the King her father did not care in the least that she should renounce her title, since by statute she was declared a bastard and incapable; but that if she were in the King's place, she would kick her out of the King's house for disobedience, and moreover the King himself has said that he would make her lose her head for violating the laws of his realm. The Princess, not having the means to disclose the last point to anyone, asked leave to speak privately to a physician there, who was formerly her preceptor and her physician, (fn. 2) and this not being allowed her, she found an artifice to tell him what she wished without suspicion. She began to say to him, that she had now been so long without speaking Latin that she could not say two words, and the said physician desiring her to say something in Latin, she told him in Latin, knowing that no one else understood it, what the King had that day said. The physician was astonished, and knew not what to answer, except that that was not good Latin, and sent to inform me immediately; and assuredly there is no one in this kingdom but fears that he will do her some ill turn. The thing will not soon be remedied; but the time is more favorable now than ever, while the people bears goodwill to your majesty, the Queen and the Princess, and is indignant at what is occurring; but the dangers that may arise, or the delay with this new sect, which is continually increasing, may change their disposition; and many think that if intercourse with Flanders and Spain were cut off for three or four months, this people would force the King to acknowledge the truth and do what he ought. There is nothing the King is so much afraid of as that by this and some other means his people may begin to mutiny, as the ambassador of France, who lately left, signified to certain French merchants his friends, advising them at once to leave the country. The King thinks he has got his subjects more under command by making them individually swear to maintain the laws made against the Queen and Princess in favor of this second marriage, but it only irritates them the more, while they are at present in such fear that there is neither small nor great who dare speak or grumble in any way; but when the time comes every one will declare himself.
	It is feared the King will put to death the bishop of Rochester and Mr. More, late chancellor, who, as I lately wrote, are confined in the Tower with others for refusal to swear. The Scotch ambassadors laugh at this King with good reason for imagining to strengthen his cause and his laws by this oath violently extorted, for it rather tends to show that they are worth nothing, since they require such help to maintain them.
	The archbishop of Canterbury has begun to exercise his antipapality, making the bulls and despatch of three bishoprics, and he has by his own authority consecrated the three bishops. The King has also set in train the sovereignty to which he pretends over the English church, and has appointed a Jacobin and an Augustinian (fn. 3) provincials and general visitors of all the religious, giving them among other things the commission contained in the bill hereto adjoined, which will strike your majesty as something very novel.
	I have not been able to learn more about the earl of Desmond than I formerly wrote. The earl of Kildare is here, sick both in body and brain by the shot of a harquebus, which he received long ago, and there is no hope of his recovery, so that he must not be counted among those who will serve your majesty. I am told he has brothers, who are good enough fellows, but they have no power. He has a son who is said to be a likely fellow for his age, but his father being here, I know not if he would give ear to it. Some think that if the Pope were to send someone to Ireland, or the censures of his Holiness were duly executed and published, there would be some commotion, for they hold themselves entirely subject to the Apostolic See. I send the statutes made against the Pope, the Queen and Princess. London, 22 April 1534.
	Fr. From a modern copy, pp. 11.
22 April.	531. Roger Abbot of Furness to Cromwell.
R. O.	Desires Cromwell's assistance, as he wrote to him last term promising help if the rights of the monastery came in question. Information has lately been given to the King that the parsonage of Hawkeshed, in Lancashire, is in the Abbot's presentation, and the King has desired letters of presentation under the convent seal. Has sent it up accordingly by one of the King's servants, who will show Cromwell that and other letters concerning a lease to be made by the Abbot to the earl of Cumberland. Hawkeshed never was a parsonage but only a chapel of ease in the parish of Dalton, in which the inhabitants obtained licence to minister the sacraments, as it was 12 miles from Dalton. The parish church of Dalton with all its members has been appropriate to the monastery since its foundation. Sends 10 ryalls for a token and begs Cromwell to excuse him to the King, for if any such presentation be made to Hawkeshed the monastery is undone, and will be compelled to give up hospitality. Furnes, 22nd April. Signed.
R. O.	P. 1. Add.: To, &c. Master Cromwell, one of the King's most honorable Councillors. Endd.
22 April.	532. Harry Ellyngton to Cromwell.
R. O.	I wrote you a letter at the end of February, of certain causes and one principal matter concerning the persons named. The bringer shall tell you more, and if that is not sufficient the parties shall be forthcoming that sold the plate in London, and the carriers who took it in barrels disguised as black soap. Desires to handle the matter for the King's advantage to 5,000l. or 6,000l. stg. The richer of the two men I wrote about goes to London by a privy seal in a matter that he is sued by this bearer. He is so rich that no justice can be done, and retains all the learned men against this poor suitor. He refused to accept the privy seal. On Christmas last a merchant of this town fell “at bate” with this Harry Whit, by which this matter came to light, and three masters of this town took the matter in hand and cloaked it. Had he been a poor man they would rather have helped to hang him. Bristowe, 22 April 1534.
	You will receive by this bearer two boxes with trenchers, with one that he gives you, and one that my wife sends.
	Hol., pp. 2. Add. Sealed. Endd.
22 April.	533. Lord Lisle to Sir Richard Page.
R. O.	The King is misinformed as to his having given five or six spears' rooms since he came to Calais. Has given only three; two by the King's own letters [and Mr. Secretary's (fn. 4) ], one to Ric. Blount, the other to Sir Thos. Palmer, porter. The third was to a man that served the King all his life, well deserving. If the King will forbear admitting young Whetyll whilst I am here, I shall be greatly obliged to him. If he or others were made in spite of my appointment they would not obey my commandment. This would not be for the King's honor and service. Stick to me in this matter. I should be loth to be overcome by Mr. Whetyll, his wife or any of his lineage. Calais, 22 April. Signed.
R. O.	P. 1. Add.: Sir Richard Page, knight, one of the King's Privy Chamber.
R. O.	2. Draft of the preceding, with corrections in Palmer's hand.
23 April.	534. The Order of the Garter.
Austis, Order of the Garter, II. 393.	A chapter of the Order of the Garter was held at Greenwich on St. George's day 26 Hen. VIII., the King and divers nobles being present. It was decided to hold the feast at Windsor on May 17, the Sovereign's place being supplied by the duke of Richmond, assisted by the duke of Norfolk, the marquis of Exeter, the earl of Northumberland and lord Burgavenny. During the feast at Windsor, on May 27 (sic), there was a discussion about the contributions for the new building; and Robt. Aldrydge was sworn in as registrar, vice Mr. Sydnor, deceased, the oath being administered by the duke of Norfolk, in consequence of the absence of the herald through age and disease.
Austis, Order of the Garter, II. 393.	Lat.
MS. Ashmol. 1,109, f. 155.	2. “An order to be taken for the keeping of St. George's feast at Windsor.” (26 Hen. VIII. ?), No. 194.
Ib., f. 100 b, No. 133.	3. List showing where “St. George's dayes” were kept, 26–38 Hen. VIII. (f. 3).
24 April.	535. Cromwell to Gardiner.
Add. MS. 25,114, f. 348. B. M.	Requests for a dear friend the advowson of St. John's [Sher]bourne (fn. 5) in Hampshire, of the yearly value of 10l. or 11l. Begs he will direct letters to his Vicar-general and to the prior and convent of Winchester to expedite the matter. 24 April. Signed.
Add. MS. 25,114, f. 348. B. M.	P. 1. Add.: “My lord of Winchester.” Endd. by Gardiner, “Mr. Secretary.”
25 April.	536. Karne and Revett to Henry VIII.
R. O. St. P. VII. 554.	Since writing on the 7th by Thomas a courier, Karne received a letter from the bishop of Worcester at Rome, stating that on the 13th and 15th two citations were served upon him to see the executorials decreed and the expenses taxed, of which copies are enclosed. Do not know whether the executorials are decreed or no.
	Send also a copy of an appeal by Karne as excusator, from the bishop of Rome, ill informed and in fear of the Imperialists, to the bishop of Rome better informed and in more liberty. Have had an instrument made privily, so that the King may take the commodity of it, but yet nothing done in his name. It could not prejudice the King if a copy were intimated to the bishop of Rome. Bologna, 25 April 1534. Signed.
	In Revett's hand. Add.
25 April.	537. John Earl of Oxford to Cromwell.
R. O.	I have received a letter from you stating that by records the King is founder of the house of Royston. I doubt not to prove it belongs to my ancestors, and that they have been taken for founders time out of mind. Had I made the unthrifty canon prior he would not have set up the King's title. 25 April.
R. O.	P. 1. Add.: Of the King's Council. Endd. erroneously: My lady of Oxford.
	538. John Palsgrave to Cromwell.
R. O.	I beg you to have the prior of Royston's matter in your remembrance-Wednesday next is the furthest time; for on Thursday my lord of Canterbury intends to visit St. Paul's, when the jurisdiction of my lord of London shall cease—how long is uncertain. In case it shall pass the King's grace's signature, and the privy and great seals cannot be obtained in due time, send some of your folks expressly for speedy expedition; or send by some certain message to my lord of London that he may not doubt the King's pleasure, though he see not his great seal. I sue to you for my poor friend that he and his monastery may be bound to pray for you.
R. O.	Hol., p. 1. Add.: Secretary. Sealed.
25 [April].	539. P. de Villers Lyle Adam, [Master] of Rhodes, to the Deputy of Calais.
Otho, C. IX. 51. B. M.	Sends the bearer to the King. Begs him to hasten his voyage. Malta, 25 [April]. (fn. 6) Signed.
Otho, C. IX. 51. B. M.	Fr., p. 1, mutilated. Add.: A Monsieur mons. le depputé de Calais.