Henry VIII: December 1534, 16-20 | 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: December 1534, 16-20', in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 7, 1534, (London, 1883) pp. 576-582. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol7/pp576-582 [accessed 25 April 2024]

December 1534, 16–20



16 Dec.	1548. Edmund Knyghtley, Sergeant-at-Law, to Cromwell.
R. O.	It has pleased God to take my father. (fn. 1) His burial and the comforting of his lady my mother, who is an old woman, have prevented my attending you and inquiring your pleasure touching the lands lately enclosed in the King's park of Grafton, Hertwell and Pury. I intend to wait on you before next term. The sheriff of Northamptonshire has sent for me to be at Northampton at the next session, Tuesday after Twelfth Day. I am one of the commissioners for gaol delivery. Let me know your pleasure in this matter. Fallesle, 16 Dec. Signed.
R. O.	P. 1. Add.: Secretary. Endd.
17 Dec.	1549. The Earl of Cumberland to Cromwell.
R. O.	Has received his letter dated the Rolls, 24 Nov., touching the complaints of lord Dacres and his uncle Sir Christopher, that he will not restore their sheep according to Cromwell's award. Has restored not only the sheep but the lambs which came of them, amounting to over 300, yet the Earl and his brother are not paid their money—over 200l. Denies that he received the rents of the King's lands due at Michaelmas before Dacres was committed to ward. By his patent he should have received them for the year ending Michaelmas following; but Dacre had his whole year's fee, and the Earl accounted for the rest. Has no tithes or takkes due to Sir Christopher, but only the tithe corns of Kyrklonde, Cumb., which he occupies by force of a dimission made to him by the prior at the King's request. Appulby, 17 Dec. Signed.
R. O.	P. 1. Add.: To master Secretary. Endd.
R. O.	2. Order of Cromwell, Chief Secretary, for the settlement of matters in dispute between Hen. earl of Cumberland and Wm. lord Dacre.
	1. The earl of Cumberland to have all the stewardships which lord Dacre occupied, viz.:—of the bishop of Carlisle, of the [prior of] Carlisle, of the abbot of the Holme, and of the prior of Wederhall, so long as he is the King's warden there.
	2. The Earl to have all the tithes which lord Dacre occupied, viz.:—of Penrethe, Langwathbye, Ricardbye and Crossebye, Oughton and Staynton, during the same term.
	3. Lord Dacre shall receive the fees of the stewardships as heretofore, viz.:—from the bishop of Carlisle, 40s, the prior of Carlisle, 26s. 8d., the abbot of the Holme, 40s., and the prior of Wederhal, 26s. 8d.
	4. The Earl shall pay to lord Dacre yearly the rents and farms reserved upon the leases of the foresaid tithes, as Dacre stands bound by his leases to pay to the lessors thereof, viz.:—for Penrith, 33l. 6s. 8d., for Langwathbye, 9l., for Ricardby and Crossebye, 100s., for Oughton and Staynton, 100s., to be paid in Carlisle in St. Mary's Church on the altar of St. Rockes on St. Andrew's Day between 9 and 11 o'clock or within 12 days after.
	5. The Earl and his brother Sir Thomas Clifforde to restore to lord Dacre and Sir Chr. Dacre all their sheep and wool: Dacre to pay 200l. and the Earl to pay for all that have been sold or slain, [for a wedder 2s. 8d., a ewe 2s. and a lamb 12d.] (fn. 2)
	6. The Earl to restore to Dacre such lead as remained at Appulbye at the time of his trouble, which it can be proved the Earl has received; also 120l. 4s. 1¼d., which he has taken up of the lordship of Penrith, being Dacre's year's fee of Carlisle Castle.
	7. Also to pay Dacre, for keeping the said castle from Michaelmas till the 23rd October, 14l. 11s. 5¼d., and for the rate of wardenry, from Michaelmas till 10 October, 4l. 4s. 7¾d., and to repay him 16l. 12s. 2d., which Dacre paid the Earl the last time he was warden.
	8. Also to pay Dacre and Sir Chr. Dacre for 70½ qrs. of corn, 17l. 12s. 6d., taken from their tithe barns by the Earl and his brother, and to “restore the said lord Dacre to his flagon of silver which the said Earl tenaunt has.”
	Also the Earl and his brother to permit Sir Chr. Dacre to enjoy his tithes, farms, &c., and “mine” officers to do the same according to “my” leases to them when “I” was King's officer there.
	Pp. 2, large paper. Corrected by Cromwell. Endd.
17 Dec.	1550. H. Earl of Northumberland to Cromwell.
R. O.	As the great matter (fn. 3) between the King and him is unfinished, and he is too ill to attend to it, trusts Cromwell to offer to the King the said bargain. Cromwell knows what the lands are worth and what has been offered for them by others, but he will do as the King pleases, for his physicians tell him he must not remain here. Mylys-ende, 17 Dec. Signed.
R. O.	P. 1. Add: Master Cromwell, secretary to the King's majesty. Endd.
Titus, B. I. 177. B. M.	2. A petition of H. earl of Northumberland to the King for “recompence and surety of and for delivery of ready possession of all his lands to the King's highness.”
	The Earl desires to have lands to the value of 500l. for life, and to be made sure for 8 years after for performance of his will. The further sum which the King will assign him for the residue of his lands to be paid quarterly from the customs of London, &c. Signed.
	P. 1.
17 Dec.	1551. Bishop's Hatfield.
R. O.	A view taken by command of Mr. Thos. Cromwell, secretary to the King, by James Nedeham, clerk and surveyor of the works, 17 Dec. 26 [Hen. VIII.], of the parsonage of Bishop's Hatfield, Herts.
	Statement of repairs necessary for the half, the parlor, the entry between the hall and the kitchen, the kitchen, the bakehouse and malthouse, the oatbarn, the oxhouse and sheephouse, the carthouse, the henhouse, chimneys, floors, &c., 90l. 3s. 4d.. Signed by Nedam.
	Pp. 5. Endd.
18 Dec.	1552. Bryon to Cromwell.
Cal. E. I. 62. B. M.	On his arrival at Rouen, received complaints from the merchants owning the friezes and other wares which the searchers “[de Lon]dres” lately caused to be taken out of their ship, and which Bryon before his departure told Cromwell ought to be restored. Asks him to show them favor and to allow their sureties to be discharged, and to order the searchers in future not to cause them any hindrance, “veu que de tout temps [les] marchans de ce pays ne oseroient pacquer ny amballer lesdites” marchandises ......avoir lesdits officiers.” The said merchants say that they will not go thither unless they are treated as honorably as English merchants are here. Rouen, [x]viij. Dec. Signed.
Cal. E. I. 62. B. M.	Fr., p. 1. mutilated. Add: Secretaire. Endd: L'Admyrall du France, 18 jour December.
18 Dec.	1553. Mary Lady Guldeford to Cromwell.
R. O.	I have received your letters, desiring me to take some reasonable way with Adam Sampson for 100l. due to him from the late Mr. Guldeford. I would gladly do to him as to any of the creditors; but he will have all, and in ready money, which I cannot do, as I showed you when I was last with you, when you were in hand with me for Markes Awgeyr, to whom, at your desire, I gave such new stuff as came to 50l.; but he is not content. I have no money, and the stuff is at the same price as it was appraised. I have in the same way offered Sampson 50l., and he refuses it. If you promise him, I will pay 60l. in stuff and money, to be paid when I am able at 9l. a year; and so offer him half in stuff and half in money. Monday's debt is 930l., to whom I think myself as much bound as any other. I beg you to help me, for he will come to no arrangement. I have offered him 500l., 300l. to be paid out of hand and stuff and plate, 100l. to be paid after my death, and the other 100l. yearly as I can make it, to which he agreed, and then broke off again, because he might not have a house and garden out of hand, which should have been his for the money that should be paid him after my death. I beg you will speak for me to Adam Sampson, whom I intend to pay 500l. when I can. You will see by a bill next term what I have paid, and how little remains to me. I beg you will not offer Monday more than 500l. If he is not content, I wish he and the creditors would sue me, and then it would appear that they should not recover so much as I have offered them. Beheworthe, (fn. 4) 18 Dec.
R. O.	Hol, pp. 2. Add.: Secretary. Endd.
19 Dec.	1554. Chapuys to Charles V.
Vienna Archives.	Having received your majesty's letter of the 9th ult., I informed the Queen and Princess of what concerned them, which has been to them the greatest joy and consolation; of which they stood much in need, considering the rudeness to which they are continually subjected: for there is no amendment in their treatment, but it rather gets worse, and there is no news of any of their servants being returned to them, as was written from Rome to your majesty, but rather some are taken from them every day, as I wrote lately of a young lady of the Princess who had been put in prison. She has been now released and forbidden to return to the said Princess, and I think all that has been done about the said young lady was at the desire of the Lady, without the knowledge of the King, who sometimes shows affection for the Princess, and has given proof of it of late, when she was ill, by sending his physician to her, telling him that he would not on any account that anything should happen amiss to her. On learning afterwards from the same physician that her illness partly arose from her illtreatment, the King heaved a great sigh, saying it was a great misfortune that she remained so obstinate, and that she took from him all occasion to treat her as well as he would. The physician advised him to send her to the Queen her mother, where she would be kept at less expense and more honorably and safely for her health, and at least, if anything did happen to her, the King would be freed from all suspicion; to which the King replied that it was quite true, but there was one great obstacle, that if he did so there would be no hope of bringing her to do what he wanted, viz., to renounce her lawful and true succession.
	Since the date of the said letters, your majesty will have received several of mine, satisfying fully almost every one of the articles contained in yours. I will therefore touch upon them at present as lightly as possible. As to the King being dissatisfied with the Lady, it is true he sometimes shows it, but, as I have written before, they are lovers' quarrels, and not much weight is to be attached to them, unless the love of the King for the young lady of whom I wrote to you should grow warm and continue some time; of which it is impossible to form a judgment, considering the changeableness of this king. I have learned from the Master of the Horse that when the Lady began to complain of the said young lady, because she did not do either in word or deed the reverence she expected, the King went away from her very angry, complaining of her importunity. As to the instigation of this king against the relations of his said Lady, it does not appear otherwise (il ne sen appart autrement). It is true that Rochford's wife was sent from Court for the reason that I have heretofore written, and the King has lately shown this favor to the said Rochford in some question he had with master Bryan. The Lady's sister was also banished from Court three months ago, but it was necessary to do so, for besides that she had been found guilty of misconduct (malefice), it would not have been becoming to see her at Court enceinte.
	Although it was at first given me to understand that the French admiral had spoken of the marriage of the Princess with the Dauphin, nevertheless I was informed on good authority, before the receipt of your letters, that he had asked the said Princess for the duke of Angoulême, and that the said King had twice refused to entertain such proposals, taking it in jest, and as if it proceeded from a suggestion of the Admiral himself. And though the latter gave him to understand the second time that he had charge to that effect from the King his master, the King still persisted in saying that the French king might have spoken of the affair to the said Admiral in jest; so that for the third time the Admiral was compelled to show his instructions under the great seal of France, in which, as I am informed by an honest man, who knows a person who read them, the said Admiral was charged to urge the said marriage, and exhort the King to resume his obedience to the Church of Rome and to acknowledge his daughter's legitimacy. The answer of the King as to the said marriage was, as I am informed, that he would be willing, if the husband and she made a solemn renunciation of all rights they could pretend in this kingdom. I think, from the Admiral's saying to me that he expected shortly to do good service to the Princess, that he imagined beforehand he could effect the said marriage; yet I doubt when they have thoroughly considered the matter on all sides, the project will cool.
	Those of this Court have set agoing a rumor that their men have gained a castle from the carl of Kildare, but it is not believed. The English and Irish have treated together to make better war than they have done hitherto, and that they shall not hereafter burn on either side. From Scotland there is no news, and I do not find that the King has sent thither any person since those who went for the ratification of the peace, nor has the king of Scots had any one here since the departure of the Abbot, who came to receive the ratification of the said peace. A Scotchman who came from Scotland seven days ago said that your majesty's man was still there. I am told that Cromwell, since the Admiral's departure, boasted in good company that he had begun to weave a web from which your majesty could not extricate yourself in a whole year. The French ambassador, I am told, has spoken of it lately more openly and like a Frenchman, saying that your majesty after doing so many injuries to the King his master had offered him for sole recompense some marriage, and that his wrongs would have to be redressed, and what had been violently taken from him restored, otherwise you would lose Sicily and the rest of Italy, and the Turk in person, or at least Ymbraym Bassa, would descend on Italy with a horrible power, besides that of Barbarossa, to the arrival of whose ambassador in France the said ambassador attached great importance. I am told that the 100,000 cr. which the French ought to pay to the English for the term of St. John last, had taken the road of Germany to make a brewing, of which Cromwell boasts.
	This king, besides the 30,000l. which he has newly obtained from the clergy, and an ordinary fifteenth from the laity which was granted him last year, and which may amount to 28,000l., has just imposed a tax by authority of Parliament of the 20th penny of all the goods of his subjects, and that foreigners shall pay double, which will amount to a great sum. These are devices of Cromwell, who boasts that he will make his master more wealthy than all the other princes of Christendom; and he does not consider that by this means he alienates the hearts of the subjects, who are enraged and in despair, but they are so oppressed and cast down that without foreign assistance it is no use their complaining, and it will not be Cromwell's fault if they are not oppressed further, taking example of the Turk, who, he says, may well be called King and Prince, for the absolute authority he exercises over his subjects. The distress of the people is incredible, and the anxiety they have to declare themselves, especially the Welsh, from whom by act of parliament the King has just taken away their native laws, customs and privileges, which is the very thing they can endure least patiently. I wonder how the King dared to do it during these troubles in Ireland, except that God wishes so to blind him.
	Two days since a secretary of the Waywode arrived here, who left Hungary four months ago, and has been staying in the court of France. I am told Parliament will be prorogued today till Thursday after Ascension Day. Nothing has been said of matters of the faith; at which the doctors of Lubeck and Hamburg are dissatisfied, and say that is evident the King does not care about the reformation of religion, but only filling his coffers (afferes, qu. coffres?). The King does not trust greatly the oath that he has forced people to make about the validity of his last marriage and the succession, and he has not been pleased at the discretionary punishment that had been appointed (ordonnec) against those who murmured at it, for which reason he has caused a more severe statute to be passed inflicting a penalty of death and confiscation on whosoever should call the Queen and Princess by the said titles, or speak against the second marriage; at which the people are in great fear. The statute which had been passed last year, against importing new wines from France before Candlemas or shipping goods except in English bottoms, has been revoked, as contrary to the treaties with France. London, 19 Dec. 1534.
	Fr. From a modern copy, pp. 9.
19 Dec.	1555. Convocation of Canterbury.
Wilkins, III. 769.	Prorogation from 31 March to 4 Nov. [1534].
Wilkins, III. 769.	On the 11th Nov. the Archbishop ordered that henceforth his style should be metropolitanus, and not Apostolicæ Sedis legatus. In Nov. and Dec. the book of Tyndal was examined. On the 11th Dec. a primer was submitted, containing certain prayers adjudged heretical. Convocation was then, 19 Dec., prorogued to 4 Nov. of the year following; but before its prorogation a petition was agreed upon to the King for the suppression of heretical books written in the vulgar tongue, and for translation into English of the Scriptures. Convocation was then prorogued to 4 Nov. 1535.
Cleoip. E. v. 339 b. B. M.	2. Extract from the above.
19 Dec.	1556. Sir Brian Tuke to Cromwell.
R. O.	I perceive by your message by Alane Hawte, that he has not sufficiently advertised you of the state I am in for money at this time. For the 3,000l. I needs must pay this Christmas for wages and New Year's gifts and other payments now due, amounting to as much, I have not in hand 50l., “ne cautel in the world,” whereof to receive the King's money before next term, and then little till March, for the cofferer must receive 19,000l. I must therefore do as I have done before, endanger myself for my furniture this Christmas. These wages cannot be disappointed without loud exclamation, so I have thought to ask you to lend me 1,000l. till March; and yet I must have 1,000l. or 2,000l. besides, and how am I to furnish my lord of Richmond with 1,000l.? And my friends of whom I have borrowed money grumble that they are not repaid. If I had 1,000l. of my own money, I would rather lay it out for the King than once say nay; but few subjects can furnish the sums I have mentioned. Therefore make such report as I may have courage to serve. I do not like to tell you this by mouth, for as my plants do water at the writing hereof, I am sure they would do much more in speaking of it. London, 19 Dec. 1534.
	If I get a favorable answer from you I will wait upon you. If not, I shall be very loth to come in the place where you be, if you are not content, and shall be thought opprobrium hominum.
	Hol., p. 1. Add. Endd.
20 Dec.	1557. Payments for State Affairs.
R. O.	Warrant to Cromwell, Chief Secretary and master of the Jewels, to pay the following sums;—to Sir Edmund Bedyngfeld 500l., to be spent in the princess Dowager's household; to John de Lenope, senator of Lubeck, 100l., by way of reward; to Sir Mark Meger, 125 cr. of the sun = 29l. 3s. 4d. for his half-year's pension; to the two chief justices, Sir Ant. Fitzherberd, Sir Humph Wyngfeld, speaker of the Parliament, Chr. Hales, attorney general, Ric. Riche, the King's solicitor, and Rob. Armestrong, for their attendance at the said parliament, 240l., viz., 30l. to each chief justice and to Sir A. Fitzherbert, 100l. to Wyngfeld, 20l. each to the Solicitor and Attorney, and 10l. to Armestrong; to — (blank) Yougham, servant to the duke of Luneberge, 46l. 13s. 4d., by way of reward; to the family of the Lubecks, 9l. 6s. 8d. reward; to Will. Brabason's servant, in reward for bringing news from Ireland, 4l. 6s. 8d.; to Ric. Hough, “for his costs in the time of making sale of Plumer's goods,” 17s. 6d. Westm., 20 Dec. 26 Hen. VIII.
R. O.	Endd.
20 Dec.	1558. The Bishop of Ely.
20 Dec.	See Grants in December, No. 24.
20 Dec.	1559. Sir Thomas Elyot to [Cromwell].
Cleop. E. VI. f. 248*. B. M. Arch. XXXIII. 352. Strype's Eccl. Mem. I. II. 228.	It was his duty to wait on Cromwell to know the King's pleasure in the proclamation concerning seditious books. As he is not yet recovered from his sickness, is obliged to trouble him with his “homely letters,” which he hopes will not be “fastidious” to Cromwell, whom he has always accounted amongst his chosen friends, from the similitude of their studies, “which undoubtedly is the most perfect foundation of amity.”
	Cromwell knows that he has always been desirous of reading many books, “especially concerning humanity and moral philosophy,” and therefore he has a good number of such studies. “But concerning holy Scripture I have very few, for in questionists I never delighted; unsavory glosses and comments I ever abhorred; the boasters and avaunters of the pompous authority of the bishop of Rome I never esteemed. But after that by much and serious reading I had apprehended a judgment or estimation of things, I did anon smell out their corrupt affections, and beheld with sorrowful eyes the sundry abusions of their authorities,” &c. Has often wished a reformation; which brought him into contention with certain persons whom Cromwell thought he favored, and whom Cromwell did favor, for laudable qualities which they (Elyot and Cromwell) supposed to be in them. But they could not persuade him to approve that which his faith and reason condemned, nor could he dissuade them; which caused a separation between them. As to the books now prohibited, containing the bishop of Rome's authority, he has indeed joined some, with other works, in one or two great volumes, which he has had no leisure to read, and which he is willing to bring or send, if such is the pleasure of the King or Cromwell. Has had none of the works of John Fisher, except a little sermon, which was translated into Latin eight or nine years ago by Mr. Pace, “and for that cause I bought it more than for the author or matter,” and has only read it once.
	If it is his pleasure “to have that and the other,” as his houses are far apart, prays for respite to repair thither after his recovery, and he will then make a diligent search. Beseeches him to let him know by Mr. Peter Vanes or Mr. Augustine, what his advice is. “And good Mr. Secretary, consider that from the time of our first acquaintance, which began of a mutual benevolence, ye never knew in me froward opinion or dissimulation;” perhaps his natural simplicity might cause men to think that he favored hypocrisy, superstition and vanity. Combe, on the vigil of St. Thomas. Signed.
	P. 1. Begins: Mr. Secretary.