II.

PART duties, enforceth us to devise how to deliver your grace from the peril your highness standeth in, and no other respect; for whatsoever is, or shall be said to your highness, no earthly thing could have moved us to have seemed to stand as a party, but your only preservation, which your majesty shall hereafter perceive and (we doubt not) repute us for your most faithful servants and councellors, as our doings shall never deserve the contrary; as God knoweth, to whom we shall daily pray for your majesty's preservation; and with our bodies, defend your person and estate as long as life shall endure.

Cotton lib.

Caligula.

B. 7.

Number 42.

Articles offered by me the lord protector, to the king's majesty, in the presence of his highness council, and others his majesty's lords and gentlemen, at Windsor, to be declared on my behalf, to the lords, and the rest of his highness council remaining at London.

FIRST, That I do not, nor did not mean to apprehend any of them, or otherwise to disturb or molest them; but hearing tell of their such meetings and assemblies, and gathering of horsemen, and other powers, out of several countries, not being privy of the causes thereof, to avoid further inconveniences and danger which might ensue to your majesty's person; which by many rumors, certain intelligences, and sundry messages, was declared imminent unto your highness, and to me the lord protector, was forced to seek this defence, as I at the first beginning declared unto your highness.

I.

Secondly, That this force and power which here is assem- BOOK bled about your majesty at this present, is to do none of them which be there at London, or else-where, either in person or goods, any damage or hurt, but to defend only, if any violence should be attempted against your highness.

As for any contention and strife betwixt me the lord protector, and the council there, I do not refuse to come to any reasonable end and conclusion, that should be for the preservation of your majesty, and tranquillity of the realm, if they will send any two of them with commission on their behalfs, to conclude and make a good end betwixt us.

And I most humbly beseech your majesty to appoint any two of such as be here about your majesty, to join with the same; and whatsoever those four, or three of them shall determine, I do, and shall wholly and fully submit my self thereunto. And that for more confirmation, if it shall be so thought good to the said persons, their agreement and conclusion to be established and ratified by parliament, or any other order that shall be devised. And I beseech your majesty, that at my humble suit, and by the advice of me, and other of your council here, for the better proceedings herein, and to take away all doubts and fears that might arise, to grant to them four, or any such two of them, which they shall send for the purpose above-said, free passage for themselves, and with each of them twenty of their servants, to safely come, tarry here, and return at their pleasure. And I most humbly beseech your majesty, that this bill, signed with your majesty's hands, and ours, may be a sufficient warrant therefore. Given and exhibited at the castle of Windsor, Octob. 8. 1549.

Number 43.

Letters sent from the lords at London, to the king's ma

jesty.

concilii.

Most high and mighty prince, our most gracious sove-Ex libro raign lord, we have received, by Mr. Hobbey, your majesty's most gracious letters, of the 8th of this instant, and heard

II.

PART such further matter as it pleased your majesty to will to be declared by him. And sorry we be, that your majesty should have these occasions to be troubled, especially in this kind of matter; the beginning and only occasion whereof, as we be well able to prove to your majesty, hath proceeded of the duke of Somerset. It is much discomfort to us all, to understand that your royal person should be touched with any care of mind; and most of all it grieveth us, that it should be perswaded your majesty, that we have not that care that beseemeth us of the pacifying of these uproars, and conservation of your majesty's common-wealth and state from danger; wherein whatsoever is informed your highness, we humbly beseech your majesty to think, we be as careful as any men living may be; and do not, nor (we trust) shall not forget the benefits received of your majesty's most noble father, nor any of our bounden duties of allegiance; the consideration, and the special care whereof, forced us to consult seriously, and to join in this sort: which thing, if we had not presently followed, not only your most royal person (whom Almighty God long preserve) but this your whole estate being already much touched, and in great towardness of ruin, was most like to come, in short time, to most imminent danger and peril; the causes whereof, as we do all well know, and can prove to have proceeded from the said duke. So if we should not earnestly provide for the same, we should not be able to answer to your majesty hereafter for not doing our duties therein; therefore do we nothing doubt, but your majesty, of your great clemency and good nature, will not think that all and every of us, being the whole state of your privy-council, one or two excepted, should be led in these things by private affections, or would presume to write to your majesty, that whereof we were not most assured; and much more, we trust that your highness, of your goodness, will, without any jealousie or suspicion, think that most expedient, both for your own most royal person, and all your subjects, that by the body of your council may be thought expedient; to whom, and to no one man, your highness most grave father, appointed by his last will and testament,

I.

the care of your majesty, and all your most weighty affairs. BOOK We cannot therefore but think our selves much wronged, that your said most royal person is in this sort by the duke only detained and shut up from us, to all our great heaviness, and the great fear of all other your majesty's true subjects, and wonder of all the world; sooner may one man intend ill, than a multitude of us, who we take God to witness to be a thousand times more careful of your highness surety, than for all our own lives. We trust also, that of your majesty's good nature, you will not think that wilfulness, which your whole council doth, or shall agree upon, for your majesty's surety and benefit; where the more agreeable we be, the better opinion we trust your majesty will conceive of us and our doings. It comforteth us much to see the great appearance of your majesty's natural clemency, even in these your young years; and the assured hope which we have thereof, encourageth us to be perswaded, that you both do, and will conceive good opinion of us and all our doings; and that your majesty is, and so will continue, our gracious good lord, with whom (as we trust) we never deserve willingly to be called in the standing of any judgment with your majesty.

For the end of this matter, touching the duke of Somerset, if he have that respect to your majesty's surety that he pretendeth; if he have that consideration of his duty to God that his promise and oath requireth; if he have that remembrance of the performance of your majesty's father's will, that to the effect of a good executor appertaineth; if he have the reverence to your law that a good subject ought to have, let him first quietly suffer us, your majesty's most humble servants, and true counsellors, to be restored to your majesty's presence; let him, as becometh a true subject, submit himself to your majesty's council, and the order

your highness laws; let the forces assembled be sent away, and then may we do our duties, in giving our attendance upon your majesty; and after consult there with your majesty more freely, for such order as may be thought most meet for your grace's surety: by these means your

II.

PART majesty's subjects may be at quiet, and all occasions of stir taken away. And if the said duke refuse to agree hereunto, we must think him to remain in his naughty and detestable determination. The protectorship and governance of your most royal person, was not granted him by your father's will, but only by agreement, first amongst us the executors, and after of others. Those titles and special trust was committed to him during your majesty's pleasure; and upon condition he should do all things by advice of your council. Which condition, because he hath so many times broken, and notwithstanding the often speaking to, without all hope of amendment, we think him most unworthy those honours or trust. Other particular things, too many and too long to be written to your majesty at this time, may at our next access to your royal presence be more particularly opened, consulted upon, and moderated, for the conservation of your majesty's honour, surety, and good quiet of your realms and dominions, as may be thought most expedient.

Ex libro concilii.

Number 44.

Letters from the lords at London, to the arch-bishop of Canterbury and sir William Paget, &c.

My lords, after our most hearty commendations, we have received your letters by Mr. Hobbey, and heard such credence as he declared on the king's majesty's and your behalfs unto us. The answers whereunto, because they may at more length appear to you both, by our letters to the king's majesty, and by report also of the said Mr. Hobbey, we forbear to repeat here again; most heartily praying, and requiring your lordships, and every of you; and nevertheless charging and commanding you, in the king's majesty's name, to have a continual earnest watch, respect and care, to the surety of the king's majesty, our natural and most gracious soveraign lord's person; and that he be not removed from his majesty's castle of Windsor, as you tender your duties to Almighty God and his majesty, and as you