The following is taken from the text of Thomas Cromwell's letter books and the spelling modernized. Much deeply anxious crossing out and erasing in the original prevents being perfectly certain of every word in the resulting letter. Moreover, I have left off the final paragraph which dealt with unrelated matters.
Protestant influences around Henry VIII were already gently suggesting that the English church might break away from Rome. The frustration of negotiating for years for a divorce from Queen Katherine in order to marry Anne Boleyn was taking its toll. After the English exile William Tyndale followed his English translation of the bible with a book thought to support the idea that kings should also rule their churches, rather than the Pope, Henry seems to have considered inviting him back into the country.
Tyndale's next book, however, opposed Henry's divorce and asserted interpretations of scripture he thought superior to those upon which the king forwarded his petitions to the Pope. The king was sent a pre-publication manuscript copy by the dedicated English Protestant Stephen Vaughan, friend and trusted factor of the new royal favorite and Privy Councilor, Thomas Cromwell. It seems not unlikely that neither Vaughan nor Cromwell had actually read the bound manuscript copy they delivered to the king. Cromwell, at least, would surely have known the response it would receive and the threat to his favor with the king.
Stephen Vaughan I commend me unto you And have received your letters dated at Antwerp the xviiith day of April with also that part of Tyndale's book enclosed in leather which ye directed to the king's highness After the receipt whereof I did repair unto the court and there presented the same unto his royal majesty who made me answer for that time that his highness at opportune leisure would visit, oversee and read the contents as well of you[r] letters as also the said book And at my next repair thither it pleased his highness to call for me declaring unto me as well the contents of your letters as also much of the matter contained in the said book of Tyndale. And albeit that I might well perceive that his majesty was right well pleased and right acceptably considered your diligence and pains taken in the writing and sending of the said book as also in the persuading and exhorting of Tyndale to repair int[o] this realm yet his highness nothing liked the said book being filled with Seditious, Slanderous lies and Fantastical opinions Showing therein neither learning nor truth and further Communing with his grace I might well conject that he thought that ye bare much affection towards the said Tyndale whom in his manners ye undoubtedly in your letters do much allow and commend whose works being replete with so abominable Slanders & lies Imagined and only feigned to infect the people doth declare him both to lack grace, virtue, learning, discretion and all other good qualities nothing else pretended in all his works but to seduce [dissaive?] ─ that ye in such wise by your letters praise set forth and advance him ─ to be envious and to lack learning, gra[ce] pretendeth and sow sedition among the people of this realm. The king's highness therefore hath commanded me to advertise you that his pleasure is that ye should desist and leave any further to persuade or attempt the said Tyndale to Come into this realm alleging that he perceiving the malicious, perverse, uncharitable mind of the sayd Tyndalle is in manner without hope of reconciliation in him and is very Joyous to have his Realm destitute of Such a person for his highness right prudently considereth if he were present by all likelihood he would shortly (which god defend) do as much as in him were to infect and corrup[t] the whole realm to the great inquietation and hurt of the commonwealth of the same. Wherefore Stephen I heartily pray you in all your doings and proceedings and writing to the king's highness ye do justly, truly and unfeignedly without dissimulation Show yourself his true loving and obedient Subject bearing no manner Favor, love or affection to the said Tyndale ne to his works in any manner of wise but rather utterly to condemn and abhor the same assuring you that in so doing ye shall not only cause the king's royal Majesty whose goodness at this time is so benignly and
graciously minded towards you So to Set you forwards as all your lovers & friends shall have great consolation of the same and by the contrary to acquire the indignation of god and displeasure of your Sovereign lord and by the same cause your good Friends which have been ever glad prone and ready to bring you into his gracious favours of your prince to lament and sorrow that their suite in that behalf should be frustrate and not to take effect according to their good intent and purpose, having therefore firm trust that for the love ye owe to yourself me and other your Friends ye will beware and eschew to enter into any such opinions whereby any slander dishonesty danger or Suspicion might ensue towards you whereof I promise you I would be as sorry as your natural father.
As touching Frith mentioned in your said letters the king's highness hearing tell of his towardness in good letters and learning doth much lament that he should in such wise as he doth Set forth Show and apply his learning and doctrine in the semenation and sowing such evil seeds of damnable and detestable heresies maintaining bolstering and advancing the venomous and pestiferous works erroneous and seditious opinions of the said Tyndale and other Wherein his highness as like a most virtuous and benign pr[ince] and governor having charge of his people and Subjects & being very sorry to hear tell that any of the same should in such wise Run headlong [?] and digress from th[e] laws of almighty god and most wholesome doctrine of holy Fathers into such damnable heresies and seditious opinions and being ever inclined willi[ng] and greatly desirous to force and provide for the same & much desiring the reconciliation of the said Frith firmly trusting that he be not so far as yet enrouted [?] in the evil doctrine of the said Tind[ale] & odor [?] but that by the grace of god loving charitable and friend [ly]
exhortations and advertisement of good people he may be called again to the right way hath therefore willed me to write unto you that ye according to his trust and expectation will with your friendly persuasions admonitions and wholesome exhortations to counsel and advise the said Frith if ye may conveniently speak with the same to leav[e] his willful opinions and like a good Christian to return into his native country where he assuredly shall Find the king's highness most merciful and benignly upon his conversion disposed to accept him to his grace & mercy. Wherefore eftsoons I exhort you for the love of god not only utterly to forsake leave and withdraw your affection from the said Tyndale and all his sect but also as much as ye can politicly and charitably to allure all the said Fryth and other such persons being in these parties which in any wise ye shall know or suppose to be [factors?] and assistants to the same from all their erroneous minds and opinions. In which doing ye shall not only highly merit in Almighty god but also deserve high thanks of the king's royal majesty who will not forget your devoirs and labours in that behalf So that his majesty may evidently perceive that ye effectually do intend the same.
Source: Merriman, Roger Bigelow. Life and Letters of Thomas Cromwell (1902). I.335-39.
Also at Virtual Grub Street:
The Stanley Family Papers on the Earl of Derby's Mysterious Death. April 8, 2023. “Strange events, of course, occurred at Lathom, according to statements later given under oath.”
Queen Elizabeth I’s Heart and the French Ambassador. March 21, 2023. "The reason to delay his first audience under this pretext would soon be known."
Young William, Lord Herbert, samples the pleasures. February 24, 2023. “...a bookish, melancholic young man, with an addiction to tobacco, only slightly less to the ladies...”
A Brief Introduction to the Tudor Inn. February 5, 2023. "A London inn was homey enough, it would seem."
Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
- Check out the Queen Elizabeth I Biography Page for many other articles.
No comments:
Post a Comment