LETTER CLVIII.

The Queen to Sir William Cecil; the Inclosure in the

former Letter.

[IBID. p. 266.]

By the Queen.

ELIZABETHE R.

TRUSTY and right well beloved we greet you well; and whereas we be credibly informed that the Study of Divinity and the Scriptures is at this present very much decayd within the University of Cambridge, by mean that the towardly Scholers for that learning, have in some part lacked the benefit of exhibition; and partly also have withdrawn themselves, by reason of the late alteration of the times past; We have therefore determined, for some help in this matter, to provide that both the Promotions reserved to our gift, and such Prebends also as be within the compass of the grant of the Keeper of Our Great Seal, should be bestowed upon those Scholers that by your allowance and commendation shall be fittest to receive the same exhibition and promotions. For the more assured doing whereof, according to this our meaning, we will that you shall from time to time address several Schedules containing the names of all such hable Scholers, whereof the one

to remain with you Our Principall Secretary, for our better remembrance in the bestowing of the things of Our gift, and the other with the said Keeper of Our Great Seal, for the semblable to be performed on his behalf: not doubting but you will have earnest regard hereunto, according to your good will to Learning, and trust committed unto you for advancement of the same. Yeven under Our Signet at our Palace of Westm. the 26th of March the second year of Our Reign.

THE matters betwixt the Quenes Majestie and the Quene of Scottes rest in these tearmes. The Quenes Majestie was contented in June to accord upon an En

terview in August with the Quene of Scottes comming to Nottingham, so as the matters in France tooke good end before the last of July. And becawse at that tyme the trobles grew to be more desperat, the Entierview was disappointed, and so excuse was sent to the Quene of Scottes by Sir Henry Sidney, with offer to mete at York betwixt Midsomer and the end of August; which is lyke to succede as the planetes in France shall be disposed; and nevertheles I find the Quenes Majestie here so well disposed to kepe amytie with the Quene of Scottes, as suerly the default of their two Agreementes shall not grow from the Quene here.

Her Majestie writeth to her at this presente, and maketh such distinction in her proceedinges, as on the one parte she maketh her well assured of her love towardes her, and on the other she noteth plainly and franckly her offence towardes the Guises, which she so tempereth by her Letters of her own devise to the Quene of Scottes, as I think she shall have cawse to think well of the Quene's Majestie, and to lament her uncles folish procedinge. The said Quene of Scottes, upon the disapointment of the Enterview, made her Progresse into the North parte of Scotland, where she hath as I heare ministred both justice, and lost not by her journey, as you know the Quene her mother was wont to do upon the frontiers. The intelligence betwixt this and that Realme remayneth in the same good tearmes as heretofore it did, and so is like to

continue, as I think untill the French seed be sowen

to make division.

11th Octob. 1562

Your assured

W. CECILL.

LETTER CLX.

Archbishop Parker to Sir William Cecil, concerning the foundation of a Grammar School at Sandwich in Kent. A. D. 1563.

[MS. LANSDOWNE 6. art. 71. Orig.]

WHERE of late, I made a requeste by letters, to your honor, for the obteyninge of the Counsells letters in that cause opened unto yow: nowe I wolde be a suter to the Quenes majestie, by your favourable furderance, for the behofe of the Towne of Sandwiche, concerninge her Highnes licence, as well to the Deane and Chapter for their alienacion, or rather a lease in fee farme of a rude acre of grounde belonginge to their Churche, wheron the towne wolde builde a gramar Schoole: Mr. Manwood beinge so well disposed therto, that he is fullye determyned to geve to

that foundacion xx. li. by yere imperpetuum of his owne possessions presentlye. The Deane and Chapter (whome I have perticulerlie solicited) be well willinge of their grante, steyinge onlie at the quenes licence : the Towne itselfe whóllie bent to the erection: Mr. Manwood his lande redy for assurance. The oportunitie beinge suche, I dowt not of the Quenes Majesties good and gracious assent: as I have learned by experience by my owne sute to her highnes, for the recoverye of the stipende of the Schoolemaster at Stoke colledge; perceyvinge then her godlie zeale to the furderance of learninge, yea in that case, where the Stipende went out of her owne cofers. This rare example of so godlie foundacion in Mr. Manwood, a man of his vocation, who be comonlie judged rather to employe all ther habilities to their owne posterities, then to suche common respects; and he beinge not without yssue, (and is dailie like to have more) might have followed the common example, in leavinge the gaynes of his tyme to his ofspringe. And therfore I wolde wishe his purpose wer savored, bothe for example to others, as also to put awaye the common judgement whiche runneth upon suche as be of his callinge. I take it to be a motion of God, in consideracion that we pore Bishopps be not nowe able to succede our predecessours in their so liberall foundacions. Nowe you, suche as you be and as Mr. Manwood is, muste laye hande to the furderance of suche publicke endew