has been slightly mentioned, requiring aid for "Monsignor Reverendissimo," the usual style in Italy for a great churchman, and evidently meaning Wolsey, dated Esher Jan. 19, 1529-30. This Letter is so ill written, as far as penmanship goes, that it would be difficult to give an exact transcript of it. Nevertheless it deserves a farther notice. Augustine begs in it that Master Butts and Master Walter may be sent down as soon as possible; adding in Latin "Res multum urget. Prudenti et Amico pauca." He wishes Leeches, hungry ones, to be procured, and desires that Master Balthasar, or if he cannot or is unwilling, that some other person may be sent, who understands to put them on. He adds again in Latin, "Periculum est in mora:" and signs "A vestri commandi, AUG. DE AUG." LETTER CII. Cardinal Wolsey to Thomas Cromwell, concerning his House, belonging to the See of York, at Battersea in Surrey. [MS. COTTON. BRIT. MUS. Orig.] A moiety of the manor which had belonged to the Stanley family in Battersea, consisting of nearly four hundred acres of land, with houses, &c. was purchased in the 39th of Henry the Sixth, by Laurence Booth then bishop of Durham, and by him afterwards annexed to the See of York, of which he became Archbishop. The House upon this estate, not far from the water-side, at Battersea, called YORK-HOUSE, is said to have been built by him. It was intended as a residence for his successors when their affairs should call them to London; and fourscore acres of land were reserved, by a special clause in their farmer's lease, to be surrendered to the Archbishop to use as demesne lands, at a month's notice, whenever he should be resident at Battersea, or within sixty miles of that place. This is the House alluded to in Wolsey's Letter. Tradition speaks of Wolsey's residence here; and the room is yet shewn in which he is said to have entertained Anne Boleyn; Lysons however in his Environs of London thinks both traditions improbable : the House being too small to contain half of the Cardinal's retinue, and his residence at Whitehall bearing the same appellation, where his entertainments were more likely to have been given.a It is remarkable that in the superscription of this Letter which must have been written in the month of June 1530, Cromwell is designated as Wolsey's wellbeloved Counsellor and Servant. "Young Daunce," for whom, as his father-in-law, Sir Thomas More had begged the occupation of York House at Battersea, was the son of Sir John Dancy. He married Elizabeth, Sir Thomas More's second daughter. There is something in this Letter which tells us that Sir Thomas More had misgivings of his elevation. Nor is it unworthy of remark that the signature of him who here asks a favor, stands at the head of those who preferred charges against WOLSEY. MAISTER Cromwell in my right harty and lovyng maner I commende me unto you, signifieng unto the same that albeit I have heretofor, as ye do well knowe, at the sute and desir of my Lord Chaunceler made unto me on the behalf of young Daunce his sonne in lawe, graunted unto hym the use and occupieng of my poor house in Batirsey, if any casueltie of deth, or any other incommodite or inconvenience chaunced unto hym, wherby he shulde be inforced or compelled to remove from his awne house; yet, I never mente nor intended that my por servaunte John Oxynherde, who hath maried a poor kynswoman of myne, shulde be expelled out of the same; but that they shulde have their habitacion and dwellyng place therin, for their relefe and comforte. Notwithstanding, my said por kynswoman commyng hither from thens to her no litle coste and charge (her husbonde beyng upon the See Env. of London, 2d edit. vol. i. pt. 1. pa. 21, 22. for helpyng of the conveyance of my por stuf hither) hath shewed unto me that she is commaunded clierly to remove and departe from the said House, not knowyng wher to have a place to put in her hede, to the utter undoyng of her, her husbond and children: wherof, if it so be, I do not a little mervaile, consideryng that in makyng of the said graunte unto my said Lord Chaunceler, I never thought ne ment that they shuld be clierly removed from the said house, but that my Lord Chauncelor other his folks beyng in the forsaide necessite shulde have alweys the occupieng and use of the principall parte of the same. And they in absence to have the custodie therof, and in their presence to have cern in the same for their dwellyng & mansion place as shalbe righte convenient. And thus I alweys declared unto yong hym on my behalf thus to be contented and pleased; requyryng and praying you furthermore that they may have, besids that they have all redy, parte of such pastures as wer reserved to the use of my household, to ferme, payng therfor as moche as any other wolde do for the sustenaunce of their catall, withoute the which they cannot leve. And grete pitie it wer and ferre discrepant from kyndenes that any strangers shulde have any preferrement by lease, copy, or otherwise afore any of my pore kynne, unto whom I am naturally and of charite bounden to see in their necessites. Nowe ye beyng advertised of my mynde in the premisses, myne assured trust is that ye wol for the love that ye bere to theym and me see theym ordered accordyngly. In doyng ye shall administer unto me right singular pleasur, as knoweth God who alweys preserve you. From my manor of Southwel th day of June. Your lovyng ffrende To my right trusty and wel biloved counsaillor and servaunte Thomas Cromwell. T. CAR'is EBOR’. LETTER CIII. Cardinal Wolsey to King Henry the VIIIth. recommending to the King his College at Oxford. [DRAFT IN WOLSEY'S HAND. A FRAGMENT IN THE COTTONIAN LIBRARY.] The expected destruction of Cardinal College was one of Wolsey's last afflictions. It had been founded in 1525 upon the site, and partly with the buildings of the Austin Monastery of St. Frideswide; but before the vast design could be perfected, Wolsey had incurred the premunire. Still, however, it was not dissolved, but continued in being after Wolsey's death. On or about July 17th, 1532, the prayer of Wolsey's petition was so far complied with, that it was reestablished for a Dean, twelve Canons, &c. under the style of KYNGE HENRY THE EIGHTHE'S COLLEGE IN OXFORD, which was again surrendered into the King's hands July 18th, 1545; and the next year the See of Oxford being removed from Oseney hither, the Priory Church was made its Cathedral, by the name of CHRIST CHURCH, and the chapter and College refounded. The last patent of foundation was dated Nov. 4th, 1546. A Copy of the Statutes by which Wolsey's foundation was to have been governed, is still preserved among the Hargrave Manuscripts in the British Museum. The Re-foundation is without Statutes: Henry the Eighth intended to have given them, but died before they were prepared. con MOST gracyous Sovereign Lord and mercyfull Prince, prostrat at your majestys fete with wepyng terys, this shalbe in moste reverent and humble maner to recomende onto your excellent cheryte and goodnes the poore College of Oxford, wych for the gret zeele and affection that your Grace beryth to good Lettres, vertue, and norishyng of Lernyng, and in consyderacion of peynfull and longe contynued servys tentyd that I shuld erect, founde, and establishe, and wher, not withstandyng my convyccion in the Premunyre, of your most excellent nature wych hath ever be moved and propensyd to clemency and mercy then to rygor and severyte, yt hath pleasyd your Hyhnes to your perpetuall meryte, honor, and most abundantly to impart your mercy, lyberallyte, and bountiosnes vnto me, for the which I accept my self of all creatures lyvyng to be most oblegyd and bwndyn unto your Majeste. So yt may please the sam to have petya and VOL. II. SER. 2. a pity. D |