Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

A copy of the kinges Maiesties instructions, geuen to the said L. C. sir A. W. and sir W.P. Knightes, &c. 24. August. 1551.

FIrst, you the sayd Lorde Chauncellor and your Colleagues shall make your immediate repayre to the sayd Lady Mary geuing to her his maiesties hartye commendations, and shewe the cause of your comming to be as followeth

Although his maiesty hath long time, as well by his maie∣styes owne mouth and writing, as by his counsayle trauayled that the sayd Lady being his sister, and a principall subiect and member of his Realme, should both be in deede and also shew her selfe conformable to the lawes and ordinaunces of the realme, in the profession and rites of Religion, vsing all the gē∣tle meanes of exhortation and aduise that could be deuised, to the intent the reformation of the faulte might willingly come of her selfe, as the expectation and desire of his maiesty, and all good wise men was: yet notwithstanding his maiestie seeth that hetherto no maner of amendment hath followed, but by the continuance of the errour and manifest breach of his lawes, no small perill consequently may happe to the state of hys Realme, especially the sufferaunce of such a fault being direct∣ly to the dishonor of God and the great offence of his Maie∣sties conscience, and all other good men: and therefore of late,

euen with the consent and aduise of the whole state of his priuy Counsayle, and diuers others of the nobility of his Realme, whose names ye may repeate, if you thinke conuenient, his Maiestie did resolutely determine it iust, necessary, and expedient, that her grace should not in any wise vse or maintaine the priuate Masse, or any other manner of seruice, then suche as by the lawe of the Realme is authorised and allowed: and to participate this his ma∣iesties determination to her grace, it was thought in respect of a fauorable proceeding with her selfe, to haue the same, not only to be manifested by her owne officers and seruaunts, being most e∣steemed with her, but also to be executed by them in her house, as well for the more quiet proceeding in the very matter, as for the lesse molesting of her grace with any message by straungers, in that time of her solitarines, wherein her grace then was by the reason of the late sicknesse. For which purpose her three seruants, Rochester, Eglefield, and Walgraue were sent in message in thys mannaer. First, to deliuer his Maiesties letter to her, next to dis∣charge the complaintes of saying Masse, and prohibiting all the houshold from hearing any. Wherein the Kings Maiestie percei∣ueth vpon their owne report, being returned to the Court, how negligently, and in deede how falsly they haue execu••ed theyr commaundement and charge contrary to the duety of good sub∣iectes, and to the manifest contempt of his maiesty. Insomuch as manifestly they haue before his Maiesties Counsayle refused to do that which pertayneth to euery true faithfull subiecte, to the of∣fence so farre of his maiesty, and derogation of his authority, that in no wise the punishment of them could be forborne, and yet in the maner of the punishment of them, his Maiestie and his Coun∣sayle hath such consideration, and respect of her person being his sister, that without doubt his Maiestie could not with honour haue had the like consideration or fauour in the punishmente of the dearest Counsailour he hath, if any of them had so offended, and therefore his Maiesty hath sent you three not only to declare to her grace the causes of their sending thither of late his officers in message, but also the causes of their absence now presentlye. And further, in the default of the sayde officers to take order, as well with hir Chaplaynes, as with the whole housholde, that hys Maiesties lawes may be there obserued. And in the communica∣tion with her, you shall take occasion to answere in his Maiesties name certayne pointes of her letter, sent now lately to his Maie∣stie. The copy of which letter is now also sent to you to peruse, for your better instruction how to proceede in. First, her allega∣tion of the promise made to the Emperour, must be so aunswered, as the trueth of the matter serueth, whereof euery of you haue heard sufficient testimony diuers times in the counsaile for her offering of her body at the Kings will, rather then to chaunge her conscience. It greeueth his Maiestie much, that her conscience is so setled in errour, and yet no such thing is ment of his Maiestie, nor of any one of his counsayle once to hurt, or will euill to her body, but euen from the bottome of their hart wisheth to her mentem sanam in corpore sano. And therefore yee shall do very well to perswade her grace that this proceeding commeth onely of the conscience the King hath to auoyde the offence of God▪ and of necessary counsaile and wisedome to see his lawes in so weighty causes executed. Item, because it is thought that Ro∣chester had the care and consideration of her graces prouision of houshold, and by his absence the same might be either disordered or disfurnished: his Maiestie hath sent a trusty skilfull man of hys owne houshold, to serue her grace for the time. Who also is suffi∣ciently instructed of Rochester, of the state of her things of hous∣hold. And if there shall be any thing lacking in the same, his Ma∣iesties pleasure is, that his seruant shall aduertise his owne chiefe officers of houshold, to the intent if the same may be supplyed of any store heere, or otherwhere helped conueniently, her grace shall not lacke.

Item, hauing thus proceeded with her grace, as for the decla∣rations of the causes of your commoning, ye shal thē cause to be called afore you the Chaplaynes, and all the rest of the housholde there presente, and in the Kings Maiesties name most straightly forbid the Chaplaynes eyther to say or vse any Masse or kinde of seruice, other then by the lawe is authorised: and likewise yee shall forbid all the rest of the company to be present at any suche prohibited seruice, vpon paine to be most straightly punished, as worthely falling into the daunger of the Kings indignation, and a like charge to them all, that if any such offence shall be openly or secretly committed▪ they shall aduertise some of his Maiesties Counsayle. In the which clause ye shall vse the reasons of theyr naturall duty and allegeance that they owe as subiectes to theyr soueraigne Lord, which derogateth all other earthly dueties.

Item, if you shall finde eyther any of the priestes, or any other person disobedient to this order, ye shall commit them forthwith to prison as ye shall thinke conuenient.

Item, for as much as yee were priuy to the determination at Richmond, and there vnderstoode how necessary it was to haue reformation heerein: his Maiesty, vpon the great confidence he hath in your wisedome and vprightnes, remitteth to your discre∣tions the manner of the proceeding heerein, if any thing shall chaunce to arise there that in your opinions might otherwise then according to these instructions conduce you to the execu∣tion of your charge, which in one summe is to auoyde the vse of the priuate Masse, and other vnlawfull seruice, in the house of the sayd Lady Mary.

Item, ye shall deuise by some meanes as you may, to haue vn∣derstanding after your departure how the order you geue is ob∣serued, and as you shall iudge fit, to certifie hither.

• E.S.
• W.W.
• I.W.
• I.B.
• W.N.
• W.H.
• F.H.
• I.G.
• T.D.
• W.C.