Desires the recipient to answer the things contained in Starkey’s letter to him, which was written by the King’s express commandment.
Syr after my most harty recommendatyanys thys shalbe in few & short wordys to requyre you accordyng to the callyng that our lord Jhesu Chryst hath callyd & redemyd you that ys to say as wel wyth the gyft of gud letteres and vnderstondyng, as wyth the most excellent gyft of jugement in the same, ye wyl indeuur yourselfe to make answere vnto such thyngys as be contynyd in master starkeys letteres to you wrytyn at thys tyme, by the kyng our masturys & soueraynys expresse cummandement & that the same answer may be such & of such gravyte, as the lyght & truthe therof may be to the honowre of god, & the satysfactyon of hys hyghnes. Wherof I assure you I wold be as glad as any parent or frend ye haue lyuyng not dowtyng in your approuyd wysedome & jugement but that ye wyl extend the gyftys gyuen vnto you in such wyse as leuyng al your respectys or affectyon wole so inserch your conscyence & jugement for the truth as ye wole both dyscharge yourselfe agaynst god & your prynce, in dowyng wherof you shal assurydly dow the thyng much to thencrese of your meryte & fame, wherin as he that ys your assuryd frend to hys lytyl power I requyre you to haue indyfferent consyderatyon & so to ordur yourselfe therin as the expectatyon of your frendys wythe the jugement of al men that knowyth you may be satysfyd in that behalfe & thus our lord send you no worse to fare than I wold ye dyd at london
Add. To my synguler frend Mayster Edmunde Herwel marchant at Venyce
134. ‹Cromwell› to ‹an Abbot›.
R.O. Cal. viii. 1122. ‹1535.›
In consideration of his willing mind, has obtained the King’s licence for him to resort to his manors near his monastery, provided that by so doing he causes no disturbance.
Ye shall vnderstand that I haue resceyved your letteres[860], and touching that ye desire amonges other thinges licence for your selfe and certayn of your bretherne to walke to your manours and other places about your monastery. Ye shall understand that in consideracion of the good and toward mynd that I have found yn you towardes me and my seruauntes diuerse ways I[861] have opteynyd licence of the kinges highnes for your selfe that ye may resorte vnto your maners and other convenyent walkes nygh vnto your monastery, so that no common brute may be reysed therby, not doubtyng but ye will vse your selfe so (as for the good will and mynd I bere toward you) it may be to the good zele of religion and as I may therby resceyve no disworship therby. so that always your bretherne must nedes use and order theymselfes accordyng to the Iniunccions in that case geven unto theym in that behalf.
END OF VOL. I.
Oxford: Printed at the Clarendon Press, by Horace Hart, M.A.