Your most humble s_er_u_a_unt and bedysman THOMAS CRUMWELL.
Information concerning the progress of the Cardinal’s affairs at Court and elsewhere. Begs him to cease building for a time, in order that his enemies may have no chance to accuse him of extravagance. News from England and the Continent. Cf. Letter 13.
Please it your grace to be adu_er_tised[764] that after the Receipt of yo_ur_ l_ette_res dated at Southwell on saynt Laurence Day I p_er_ceyued how that yo_ur_ grace remayned in som displeasure and anxietie of mynde for that I by my l_ette_res had before c_er_tefied you of the fynding certen offic_es_ concerning yo_ur_ busshopriche of Yorke The Fynding whereof as I p_er_ceyue by yo_ur_ l_ette_res ye do suppose should be moche to yo_ur_ dishono_ur_ & detriment For the which intent that yo_ur_ grace may put yo_ur_self in repose & quietac_i_on of mynde I haue sent vnto you this berer who shall at length declare vnto you besid_es_ the demonstracion of the copies of suche offic_es_ as be drawen for that purpose that the Fynding of the said offic_es_ savyng onelie that in the preamble of the same there is touched the conuiction of yo_ur_ grace in the p_re_munir_e_ which all the wo_ur_ld alredie knoweth shalbe for yo_ur_ good onelie proffit and availe And yet yo_ur_ pardon and restitucion stand in good & p_er_fite effecte So that yo_ur_ grace shal haue no nede nether to be in fere of losse of any your sp_irit_uall or temporall good_es_ or to be troubeled for the same ne also to be put to any new Sute in the obteyning of any other pardon or restitucion. And if in case yo_ur_ said pardon and restitucion were in any parte insufficient I assure yo_ur_ grace I know that the king_es_ highnes wold it should be made as good as by any counsaill it could be Devised And doubt ye not but his highnes is yo_ur_ gracyous and benigne Sou_er_eigne lorde and wold in no wise that ye should be greued molested or troubeled. Wherfore it may please yo_ur_ grace to quiet yourself and to take the fynding of these offic_es_ pacientlie and vppon the reto_ur_ne of the same there shalbe such orders taken that yo_ur_ grace shall not be interrupted in the receyuing of yo_ur_ reuenues ne otherwise be molested in any man_er_ case for any new sute As touching yo_ur_ colledges the offic_es_ shalbe founde houbeit the Deane and suche other as haue sued to the king_es_ highnes haue had veray good answer wherof I think they haue certefied yo_ur_ grace or this tyme. As touching the m^l mark_es_ of the reuenues of Wynchester I doubt not but it shalbe obteyned at the audite And conc_er_ning Batyrsey it may please yo_ur_ grace that such thing_es_ as ye haue sent me the copies of may be sent hither vnder seale for they woll trust no scrowes and also that Serche may be made for Busshop Bothes will concerning the same. Strangwissh continually cryeth and maketh exclamac_i_on in the courte of you insomoch that the lord_es_ of the counsaill haue determyned to wryte vnto you in that behalf wold to o_ur_ lorde your grace were rid of that man. As concerning the p_re_bends of Witwang doubt ye not but in that all thing is and shalbe ordered to yo_ur_ good contentac_i_on. Sir I assure yo_ur_ grace that ye be moch bounde to o_ur_ lorde god that in suche wise hath suffered you so to behaue and order yo_ur_self in thes p_ar_ties to atteyne the good myndes and hert_es_ of the people[765] there the reporte whereof in the courte and ell_es_where in these p_ar_ties is & hathe ben[766] to the aquyryng & augmentyng the good oppynyons of many p_er_sons toward_es_ yo_ur_ grace beseching your grace therfore to contynue[767] in the same after Suche a Sorte and Fashyon as ye may daylye increase not onlye in the Fauours of the pepull ther but also here and ell_es_where to the pleasure of god & the prynce And notwithstonding yo_ur_ good vertuous and charitable demeaning and vsing yo_ur_self[768] in thes p_ar_ties ys not by your enemies[769] interpretyd after the best Fashyon yet always Folow and p_er_seu_er_ ye attemperatelye in suche thing_es_ as yo_ur_ woorldlye affeccyons Sett apart Shall serue to stand best w_i_t_h_ the pleasure of god and the kyng S_ir_ som ther be that doth alledge in that yo_ur_ grace doth kepe to grete a house & famylie and that ye are contynually buylding for the loue of god therefore I eftesones as I often tymys haue done most hertelye beseche your grace to haue respecte to eu_er_y thing and consyderyng the tyme to refrangne your Self for a Season from all mann_er_ byldingg_es_ more than mere necessite requireth which I assure yo_ur_ grace[770] shall sease and putto Sylence Som p_er_sons that moche spekyth of the same.