The history of the reformation of the Church of England. The first part of the progess made in it during the reign of K. Henry the VIII / by Gilbert Burnet.

XXXII. A Letter from Gardiner and Fox, about their Pro∣ceedings at Cambridg. An Original.

Feb. 1530. from Cambridg by Stephen Gardiner.

To the King's Highness.

PLeaseth it your Highness to be advertised, That arriving here at Cambridg upon Saturday last past at noon, that same night, and Sun∣day in the Morning, we devised with the Vice-chancellour, and such other as favoureth your Grace's Cause, how and in what sort to com∣pass and attain your Grace's Purpose and Intent; wherein we assure your Grace, we found much towardness, good will, and diligence, in the Vice-Chancellour and Dr. Edmunds, being as studious to serve your Grace as we could wish or desire: Nevertheless there was not so much care, labour, study, and diligence employed on our Party, by them, our self, and other, for attaining your Grace's Purpose, but there was as much done by others for the lett and empeachment of the same; and as we assembled they assembled, as we made Friends they made Friends, to lett that nothing should pass as in the Universities Name; wherein the first day they were Superiors, for they had put in the ears of them, by whose Voices such things do pass, multas fabulas, too tedious to write unto your Grace. Upon Sunday at afternoon were assembled, after the manner of the University, all the Doctors, Batchellors of Divinity, and Masters of Art, being in number almost two hundred: In that Congregation we delivered your Grace's Letters, which were read openly by the Vice-Chancellor. And for answer to be made unto them, first the Vice-Chancellor calling apart the Doctors, asked their Advice and Opinion; whereunto they answered severally, as their Affections led them, & res erat in multa confusione. Tandem they were content Answer should be made to the Questions by indifferent Men: But then they came to Exceptions against the Abbot of St. Benets, who seemed to come for that purpose; and likewise against Dr. Reppes, and Dr. Crome; and also generally against all such as had allowed Dr. Cranmer's Book, inasmuch as they had already declared their Opi∣nion. We said thereunto, That by that reason they might except against all; for it was lightly, that in a Question so notable as this is, every Man Learned hath said to his Friend as he thinketh in it for the time; but we ought not to judg of any Man, that he setteth more to defend that which he hath once said, than Truth afterward known. Final∣ly; The Vice-Chancellor, because the day was much spent in those al∣tercations, commanding every Man to resort to his Seat apart, as the manner is in those Assemblies, willed every Man's mind to be known secretly, whether they would be content with such an Order as he had conceived for answer to be made by the University to your Grace's Letters; whereunto that night they would in no wise agree. And for∣asmuch as it was then dark night, the Vice-Chancellor continued the Congregation till the next day at one of the Clock; at which time the Vice-Chancellor proponed a Grace after the form herein inclosed; and

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it was first denied: When it was asked again, it was even on both Par∣ties, to be denied or granted; and at the last, by labour of Friends to cause some to depart the House which were against it, it was obtained in such form as the Schedule herein enclosed purporteth; wherein be two Points which we would have left out; but considering by putting in of them, we allured many, and that indeed they shall not hurt the Determination for your Grace's part, we were finally content there∣with. The one Point is that where it was first, that quicquid major pars of them that be named decreverit, should be taken for the Determinati∣on of the University. Now it referred ad du••s partes, wherein we suppose shall be no difficulty. The other Point is, That your Grace's Question shall be openly disputed, which we think to be very honou∣rable; and it is agreed amongst us, That in that Disputation, shall an∣swer, the Abbot of St. Benets, Dr. Reppes, and I Mr. Fox, to all such as will object any thing or reason against the conclusion to be sustained for your Grace's part. And because Mr. Doctor Clyss hath said, That he hath somewhat to say concerning the Canon-Law; I your Secretary shall be adjoined unto them for answer to be made therein. In the Schedule which we send unto your Grace herewith, containing the names of those who shall determine your Grace's Question, all marked with the Letter A. be already of your Grace's Opinion; by which we trust, and with other good means, to induce and obtain a great part of the rest. Thus we beseech Almighty God to preserve your most Noble and Royal Estate.

From Cambridg the day of February.

Your Highness's most humble Subjects and Servants,

• Stephen Gardiner,
• Edward Foxe.

The Grace purposed and obtained, Feb. 1530.

Placet vobis ut

• A. Vicecancellarius.
• ...Doctores.
  • A. Salcot. The Abbot of St. Benets.
  • Watson.
  • A. Repps.
  • Tomson.
  • Venetus, de isto bene speratur.
  • A. Edmunds.
  • Downes.
  • A. Crome.
  • A. Wygan.
  • A. Boston.
• ...Magistri in Theologia.
  • Middelton.
  • A. Heynes.
  • Mylsent. de isto bene speratur.
  • A. Shaxton.
  • A. Latimer.
  • A. Simon.
  • Longford. De isto bene speratur.
  • Thyxtel.
  • Nicols.
  • Hutton.
  • A. Skip.
  • A. Goodrich.
  • A. Heth.
  • Hadway, de isto bene speratur.
  • Dey.
  • Bayne.
  • A.A. Duo Procuratores.

HAbeant plenam facultatem & Authoritatem, nomine totius Univer∣sitatis, respondendi Literis Regiae Majestatis in hac Congregatione lectis, ac nomine totius Universitatis definiendi & determinandi quae∣stionem in dictis literis propositam: Ita quod quicquid duae partes eorum praesentium inter se decreverint, respondendi dictis literis, & defi∣nierint ac determinaverint super quaestione proposita, in iisdem habea∣tur, & reputetur pro Responsione, Definitione & determinatione totius Universitatis, & quod liceat Vicecancellario, Procuratoribus & Scruta∣toribus, literis super dictarum duarum partium definitione & determi∣natione concipienda sigillum commune Universitatis apponere; sic quod disputetur Quaestio publice & antea legatur coram Universitate abs{que} ulteriori gratia desuper petenda aut obtinenda.

Your Highness may perceive by the Notes, that we be already sure of as many as be requisite, wanting only three; and we have good hope of four; of which four if we get two, and obtain of another to be absent, it is sufficient for our purpose.

Notes

• Cotton Libr. Vitell. B. 13.