[41] No reference has been given to the paging, as it is improbable that readers will have access to the Grafton Edition. Should there be need for further reference to Hall's Life, no difficulty will be found, as in all editions each year has a separate chapter.
TWO LETTERS WRITTEN BY KING HENRY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, FOR THEIR OPINION IN THE CAUSE OF HIS MARRIAGE (1529).
Letter I. By the King.
Source.—Burnet's History of the Reformation, Book III.; Collection of Records, Book II. No 17.
Trusty and well beloved subjects, we greet you well. And whereas we have, for an high and weighty cause of ours, not only consulted many and substantial well learned men within our Realm and without, for certain considerations our conscience moving, we think it also very convenient to feel the minds of you amongst you in our University of Oxenford, which be erudite in the faculty of Divinity, to the intent we may perceive of what conformity ye be with the others, which marvellously both wisely and substantially have declared to us their intent and mind: not doubting but that ye for the allegiance and fidelity that ye are bound unto us in, will as sincerely and truly without any abuse declare your minds and conscience in this behalf, as any of the other have done. Wherefore we will and command you, that ye not leaning to wilful and sinister opinions of your own several minds, not giving credence to misreports and sinister opinions or persuasions, considering we be your sovereign Liege Lord, totally giving your true mind and affection to the true overture of Divine learning in this behalf, do shew and declare your true and just learning in the said cause, like as ye will abide by; wherein ye shall not only please Almighty God, but also us your Liege Lord. And we for your so doing shall be to you and our University there so good and gracious a Sovereign Lord for the same, as ye shall perceive it well employed to your well fortune to come; in case you do not uprightly according to Divine Learning hand yourselves herein, ye may be assured, that we, not without great cause, shall so quickly and sharply look to your unnatural misdemeanour herein, that it shall not be to your quietness and ease hereafter. Wherefore we heartily pray you, that according both to Duty to God and your Prince, you set apart all untrue and sinister informations, and accommodate yourselves to mere truth as it becometh true subjects to do; assuring you that those that do, shall be esteemed and set forth, and the contrary neglected and little set by: trusting that now you know our mind and pleasure, we shall see such conformity among you, that we shall hereof take great consolation and comfort, to the great allegement of our conscience; willing and commanding you among you to give perfect credence to my Lord of Lincoln our Confessor in this behalf and matter: and in all things which he shall declare unto you or cause to be declared in our behalf, to make unto us either by him or the authentic letters full answer and resolution, which, your duties well-remembered, we doubt not but that it shall be our high contention and pleasure.
Given under, etc.
Letter II. By the King.
Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And of late being informed, to our no little marvel and discontentation, that a great part of the youth of that our University with contentious factions and manner, daily combining together, neither regarding their duty to us their Sovereign Lord, nor yet conforming themselves to the opinions and orders of the virtuous, wise, sage, and profound learned men of that University, wilfully to stick upon the opinion to have a great number of regents and non-regents to be associate unto the doctors, proctors, and Bachelors of Divinity, for the determination of our question; which we believe hath not been often seen, that such a number of right small learning in regard to the other, should be joined with so famous a sort, or in a manner stay their seniors in so weighty a cause: which as we think should be no small dishonour to our University there, but most especially to you the seniors and rulers of the same, assuring you that this their unnatural and unkind demeanour is not only right much to our displeasure, but much to be marvelled of, upon what ground and occasion they being our mere subjects, should show themselves more unkind and wilful in this matter, than all other universities both in this and in all other regions do. Finally, we trusting in the dexterity and wisdom of you and other the said discreet and substantial learned men of that University, be in perfect hope, that ye will condemn and frame the said young persons unto good order and conformity, as it becometh you to do. Wherefore we be desirous to hear with incontinent diligence, and doubt you not we shall regard the demeanour of everyone 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, etc.