III.

BOOK that wher of late my Lordes Grace of Yorke, and the Commissyoners there at the Queenes Majestyes commondement have stablyshyd and orderyd the college of Manchester, and placyd both honest and lernyd men ther. And the landes and revenuys they have so orderyd, as ys most nessysary for the hospitalyte and relyvyng the powr ther. Which doyng of thers of lykelyhod hath displesyd some men: for on Mydlent Sunday last, as our precher (who ys a Bacheler of Divynyte) was rydyng to preche at one of the chappels of the paryshe, beyng distant from the parysche churche iiii. mylys, one Wyllyem Smygth, of the parysche of Manchester, met hym by the way, and takyng hys horse by the brydell, drew hys dagger, and bet and woundyd hym with iii. wondes; and iff hys horse had not brokyn owte of the hand of the sayd Smygth, of lykelyhode he had sclayne hym. De76 syryng therfore your Lordschyp to help us, that quyetly we may ther doo our funcsyon and offyce: or else if we schal be thys betyn, as before this tyme, and now our precher ys, we schal never be able to lyve with them, excepte they mey be ponyshyd to the terrowre of wother.

They have also causyd one Thomas Staunton, atourney of the dewchy of Lancaster, to enter in to certayn landes of the collage, callyd Obyte Landes, and wold have hyt conselyd lands; and hyt ys contaynyd withyn our letters patentes of our foundacion. And yf the landes be takyn from us, we be not able to meyntayne the cumpany. They have also takyn away al our evydences and letters patentes; and of ornamentes and plate as myche as ys worthe five hundred markes. Wyche plate ys the Quenes Majestys. And althoughe we have prove, to whose handes hyt cam after the deprivation of my predisessour, yet ys hyt kepte from us. Wherfore we request your Honour to helpe our powr collage, as before this tyme ye have holpyn us, (Almyghty God reward yow for hyt.) Or else the collage had byn utterly dystroyde and spoylyd. Wheras now hyt woldbe able to mayntayne lernyd men to the helpe of that cuntrye. And this ye bynd us to be your daily oratowrs, and also of al

those that helpe to the ayde therof. Thys levyng your BOOK Honowr to Almighty God,

By your Lordschypps ever to commond,
Thomas Herle, Wardyn of Manchester.

III. Apr. 24, 1574.

Number XLVI.

The Earl of Derby and others to the Lord Treasurer and Secretary Walsingham: in behalf of Manchester college.

me.

OUR humble duty remembred unto your Honors. Wher- MSS. penes as we received your Honors letters, to deal with the tenants of the college of Manchester, to reduce them to some favourable consideration, or other yearly augmentation of rent corn, towards the maintenance of preaching and hospitality, (two things most needful in this country;) it may please your Honour to understand, that in respect of your Honors letters, and of the good mind we bear towards the state of that college, we have taken some pains with the said tenants; and have found the most part of the common sort something reasonable. As for some of the gentlemen, and Randal Hurleston, (who claimeth a lease of the Easter-book, oblations, mortuaries, churchings, weddings, burials, smal tiths, as pig, goose, and such like, and that by xxiiil. xiiis. iiiid. les then the old rent, which hath been yearly answered heretofore by such tenants as have occupied the same, ever sithence the dissolution of the college in K. Edwards dayes; as shal appear unto your Honor by the records of the Court of Augmentations, and by a general survey, subscribed with the hand of the right honorable Sir Walter Mildmay, Knight, one of her Majesties most honorable Privy Council;) we cannot deal with them so conveniently as we desire. And therfore have thought good to refer them over: that either your Honor may order them, according to your wisdomes and discretions; or otherwise to let the reverend Father in God, the Bishop of Chester a, now Warden of the said col- Dr. Wil

liam Cha

derton.

BOOK lege, and the Fellowes there, further deal with them, as they JII. may by law and conscience, if they shal in private confer

ence refuse to yield unto that which is reasonable. And so humbly praying your Honor (forasmuch as the tith corn, and other the smal tiths, are most convenient and needful, for the Warden and Fellowes to maintain hospitality, and relieve the poor, who are exceeding many in that town and parish) to stand favorable to the state of that college: which, without your help, is like to become very poor: we com77 mend you both to the Almighty, who long preserve and keep you in health and honor.

Your Lordships to use,

Weegan, this xxth of
August, 1581.

H. Derby.

Ryc. Shyrburn.

John Radeclyff. E. Fyton.

Postscript. We do hartilie pray your Honor to have consideration of the premisses; for that it (in some respects) doth greatly concern the state of this country.

MSS. penes

me.

Number XLVII.

Mr. Lever's letter to the Earl of Leicester and Sir William Cecyl, Secretary; in favour of those that refused the habits.

GRACE and peace in Christ. For that God hath placed you in authoritie, and faver with the Quenes Majestie, so as heretofore I and mani others have bi your meanes had quietnes, libertie, and comfort, to preach the Gospel of Christ : therefore of Christian charitie, and bonden dewtie, must we daili prai, and use al godli indevor for the continuance of the

same.

And so now, as more willing then able to render dwe thankfulnes unto God, the Quenes Majestie, and unto your Honors, I have here noted summe such things, as make mich to the subversion or preservation of godli honor. Gen. xxxiv. The Sichemites receiving circumcision, partli for

.III.

voluptuousnes, and partli for coviteousnes, were al utterli de- BOOK
stroied. Which is a terrible threatning to England; whereas
mani even so farre receive and refuse religion, as seemeth to
be for pleasure, or gaine worldli. And Josu. vii. The armie
of the Israelits, polluted with the coviteous spoile of Achan,
cold neither use sufficient power nor good policie against
thar and Gods ennemies, until that offence was confessed, and
such corruption utterlie abolished from among Gods people.
And then did God give unto his people the use of power
and police, to prevaile against their ennemies. So England,
being polluted with mich coviteous spoil, especialli of impro-
priations, grammer scoles, and other provision for the pore,
cannot use power and policie, to prevaile against the enne-
mies of God and godli religion, if it sink stil into such cor-
ruption, as causeth more sclander and danger daili to in-
cresse unto the cheife professors and promoters of good re-
ligion.

And certenli the necessari revenwes of the Prince, the Bishops, other estates, and the Universities, do as yet rather sinke into the corruption, then stand upon the profets of improperations.

Wherefore in the Universities and els where, no standing, but sinking doth appere; when as the office and living of a Minister shalbe taken from him, that, once lawfulli admitted, hath ever since diligentli preached, bicause he now refuseth prescription of man in apparell: and the name, living, and office of a Minister of Gods worde allowed unto him that neither can nor wil preach, except it be pro forma tantum, to kepe Gods commandments summe times per alium, ever observing the prescription of man in wairing apparell, and reding per se.

Also Ezek. xiv. When as, bi plaines of the Prophets, notable idolatrie was reproved in Israel, and at the same time the elders of Israel keping their idols in their harts, and setting their stombling blockes afore their faces, wold yet, bi hearing the Prophet, and word of God, seme to be godli: then such Elders and Prophetts, hearing and answaring according to the uncleines of their own hartes, were both justly

BOOK deceived and destroied of God. Likewise now is notable

III. Papistry in England and Scotland proved and proclaimed, 78 bi preaching of the Gospel, to be idolatrie and treason: and how such idolatrie and treason is yet norrished in the hartes of mani, God knoweth; and how the old stombling blockes be set openli of mani things in mani places, and especialli of the crucifix in England, and of the Masse in Scotland, afore the faces of the hieghest, is daili to be seen of idolators and traitors, with rejoiecing and hoping of a dai; and of Christian faithful obedient subjects, with sorrow of harte, and feare of the state.

And if in the ministre and Ministers of Gods worde, the sharpnes of salt bi doctrine, to mortifie affections, be rejected, and ceremonial service with flatteri, to fede affections, reteined; then doth Christ threaten such treding under fote, as no power or policie can withstand or abide.

Furthermore, under Assuerus, the most faithful people of God, and obedient subjects, were then falseli accused to be breakers of the kings lawes, and so brought into extreme danger and destresse. Then Ester the Quene, advertised by Mardocha what occasion God had offered unto her to help his people, did take and use the same occasion, unto the moost comfortable deliverance of them, and the greattest incresse and stai of her honor and state.

Contrariwise, Ezech. xxix. Egipt, as a staf of rede, failing, breaking, and hurting Gods people, in their destresse, leaning and trusting unto it, did bi the just judgment of God loose honor and power, man and beast; and so was with dishonour brought to desolation.

The most godli and faithful subjects be mani times worst suspected and reported, and so brought into greattest destresse and danger; that bi Gods providence, wonderfulli to God's glorie, thei mai be preserved and prosper, seing their ennemies and counterfeited frends tried and destroied bi God's just judgments.

Now therefore my praier unto God, and writing to your Honors is, that authorite in England, and especialli you, mai for sincere religion refuse pleasure and gaine worldli;