BOOK word, and the causes which the King's Highness hath most like a Christian Prince taken in hand to set forth.

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Now before your beginning ye may take deliberation with your self to ponder the weight of my consideration. Had I wist is too late.

And as concerning that, whatsoever I have at any time said and divulged, I wil, by God's grace at al times, and before any indifferent judg, defend it to my uttermost power; which I doubt not to do both by Scripture, by the testimony of the most approved authors in Christ's Church, and by the articles and injunctions of the King's setting forth. As for the Bishop's determination, I know that there remaineth the aglets setting on; and therefore I purpose not to stay certainly upon that; although yet whatsoever I have spoken, I could justify it sufficiently by that which I read there. Howbeit I will neither use that book to prove or disprove, as by the authority of that, unles I se it have its ful perfection, which yet I know it lacketh. But if in case report should be made unto you, that I should teach that thing, whereunto your judgment shal not agree, (for as for so much as I spake this other day at Clare, you allowed it, and justified it to my self of your own accord, undesired of my part,) I wil then require thus much of you, to suspend your determination until ye know the truth by my self. That we may so dispute the cause privately betwixt us to search out the truth, that thereupon either I may see sufficient learning of your 7 part to agree unto your judgment, or els if I bring the same of my party, you to consent to the truth, and you to agree to my judgment.

My request, Mr. Doctor, I insure you (as God knoweth my secret hart) riseth not of any fear either of your person or learning, that ye could or should hinder my poor estimation among my neighbours; which for the better credence of God's word in me, I will endeavour my self to defend, otherwise not greatly careful therefore, but could refer al things to God's judgment: it is not for my person sake that I require you to this, but it is the cause sake, God's sake, and the people's true and peaceable instruction that I regard:

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it is to cut away al occasion from seditious and tumultuous BOOK people: it is for the more quietnes of both our parties, that we should, without let or interruption of by-matters, effectuously go forward with the principal purpose of the office and vocation taken upon us, in converting, reversing the Luke iv. harts of the fathers to their childer, and the unbelievers to the wisdom of the just, to make the people ready for the Lord, to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the broken in hart, to preach deliverance to the captives, and sight to the blind, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. These ought to be our matters; not our own fame, lucre, and pre-eminence, and fancies. That were but foolishnes to brawl for these before our audience; and wisdom were it not, the one to desire to glory over the other; the one to lawbur to win sporis [spurs] of the other, and to allure the people's minds and fantasies to our selves, with depraving, sugilling, and noting the other.

As for my part, I trust in God's grace I shal bear a. personal injuries and slanders wel in worth, as hitherto I have don; I could els have promoted some to their displesure. But if the injury or slaunder redound to the word of God, to the majesty of that, or the decay of my Prince's authority and lawful ordinances, or to the disturbance or commotion of the commons, I wil never for friendship suffer that, but will do my utmost to revenge it. I would write many mo things unto you, but my leisure wil not suffer me. But thus shortly to conclude: If ye shal go about, Mr. Doctor, to get you a name to hurt the truth of Scripture, to deprave or hinder that reformation that the King's Highnes purposeth in matters of our religion, or to rise a schism or murmur in the people of this country, now meetly in good stay and toward in the acceptance of the truth, under an open or colourable insinuation, verily ye cannot so secretly do it, but it wil brast out. It shall not so soon come to my knowledg, but I wil, according to my duty, present it immediately. If (as I have better trust in your wisdom, circumspection, and conscience) ye intend truly and rightly to declare the veritie to the edification of the King's subjects, I

BOOK wil then promise to joyn hands with you the best I can: and

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to further you therin, ye shal use me at al times at your commandment. Of this condition shal our friendship consist and stond betwixt us, and of no other intend I with no man; as I would no man should in no other respect bear his friendship with me. And thus the Holy Ghost be with you. At Stoke college this 23d day of November.

Yours, to his power,

Matthue Parker.

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Number IV.

Dr. Stokes to Crumwel, Lord Privy Seal; being imprisoned for opposing the King's proceedings.

PLEASETH your honorable Lordship in the reverence of Christ, to hear this poor and rude supplication of your simple prisoner, Friar Stokes: humbly beseeching your good Lordship of charity and pity to be good Lord to me. For I am not able thus continue my life saved, as God knoweth and the company; sith the time of my coming into 8 the house, I have lyen in hazzard of my life. And where the Lord's visitors incensed your Lordship with divers complaints in a bil presented to your Lordship, I am sory and heavy of it. Wherin first he [D. Yngworth, a black Friar, and a Suffragan] accused me that I should preach contrary to his precept: the which was not given to me openly or ordinatly, nor absolutely, but with a condition upon certain causes, which should be moved against me at Clare. But he coming thither, nothing was layd to my charge, neither by secular nor regular. But thanks be to God I ministred no occasion, but only set forth the word of God, and the right title of my Prince, as concerning the superiority upon the Church immediately under Christ, by holy Scripture. And for this intent divers gentlemen of worship, considering the scarce of preachers, moved me to resort home into my country, for the furtherance of God's word, and to declare my Prince's

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title to the people. To the which I have applyed my dili- BOOK gence after my power, inveighing against the Bishop of Rome's usurped authority by Gods word: whom I have and do detest and abhor, with al his papistical fashions, I trust the country wil testify.

Also, your Lordship is formed that I should preach against the Dean of Stokes. Truly, my Lord, I commend him by name in my sermon for declaring of certain rites the Sunday before me. And I did [preach] indifferently, as al the parish wil testify. But not the word of God did touch him I cannotIf Mr. Wotton, your Lordship's ser- Sense imvant, should accuse me that I should preach seditiously, in this I do refer to al the audience, trusting that four of that audience wil witnes that I preached the sincere word of God, and the most part of my sermon, with the beade also, was the claration of the King's power by Scripture

But in this I do accuse my self to your Lordship, that I have been too much addicted to, or too serious to the old ceremonies; intending by God's grace to reform my self, and to give more diligence in setting forth sincerely Gods word, as I trust your Lordship shal hear: lowly beseeching your good Lordship, that I might, with your gracious favour permiting, change my habit. For my possibility is able to purchase the Kings dispensation. And if it be your Lordships wil and plesure that I shal remain in it, I am content; meekly submitting my self to your Lordship, and ever to be your beadman.

Number V.

King Henry VIII. to the Fellows of Bene't college: recommending to their choice Dr. Parker to be their Master.

By the King.

HENRY R.

TRUSTIE and welbeloved, we grete youe wel.

And

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whereas yt is cum to our understanding, that your maister cell. O. E

pist. Princip. &c.

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BOOK and governor either lieth now at the extreme pointe of death, or is already departed oute of this transitory lief; by occasion wherof ye be, or shortly are like to be, destitute of a good hed and governor; we therefore, for the zele and love we bear to the advancement of good letters, desieringe to see yowe furnished of such a governor, as in al pointes may seme worthie of that roome; have thought good by thes owre letters, to commende unto yowe oure welbeloved Chaplain Doctor Parker; a man, as wel for his approved learning, wisedome, and honestie, as for his singuler grace and industrie in bringing upp youth in vertue and learning, so apte for th'exercise of the said roome, as is thought very harde to finde the like for al respects and purposes. Wherefore like as owre trust is, that at the contemplation of us, ye wil with one assent condescend to elect him for yowre Hed, whome we have judged worthye for that office; so we doubt not but by th'ac9 complishment of this owre pleasure, ye shal have cause to think yowre selfes furnished of such a maister as apperteyneth. Yeven under our signet, at our palace at Westminster, the last day of November, the 36th yere of owre reign.

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Number VI.

The Dean of Stoke to Queen Katharine's Council, in bahalf of his college in danger of dissolution.

PLEASETH it your honorable states, after due comC. C. Mis- mendation to the same, to be adverted, that where for the

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discharge of my governance of the Queens Graces college of Stoke in Suffolk, committed to my trust, I have hitherto don my best diligence to employ that her Graces foundation not only agreable thereto, but also of late improved the state thereof somewhat above the first institution, to no smal cost and charge: and moreover have hitherto resisted such suite for surrender as might (by the occasion offered) have been both beneficial to me for the present commodity,