Yo_ur_ lordshippis assuryd freei_n_d THOMAS CRUMWELL.
_Add._ To my verey loving Lord my lord of wynchester.
_Edd._ the xxiiij of Ap_ri_l Mr. Secretary
The King considers it expedient that More and Fisher be compelled to swear to the preamble of the Act of Succession as well as to the Act itself: otherwise it might be taken as a confirmation of the authority of the Bishop of Rome.
My Lorde after myne humble co_m_menda_ci_ons it may please yo_ur_ grace to be adu_er_tesed that I haue receyued yo_ur_ l_ette_res and shewed the same to the king_es_ highnes who p_er_ceyuing yo_ur_ mynde and opynyon is that it were good that the bisshop of Rochester and Mr. More should be sworn to the acte of the king_es_ succession and not to the preamble of the same, thinketh that if their othe should be so taken it were an occasion to all men to refuse the hole or at the lest the lyke. For in case they be sworn to the succession and not to the p_re_amble it is to be thought that it might be taken not onelie as a confirmacion of the Bisshop of Rome his auctoryte but also as a reprobacion of the king_es_ second mariage wherefore to thintent that no such thing_es_ should be brought into the hedd_es_ of the people by the ensample of the saide Bisshop of Rochester and Mr. More the king_es_ highnes in no wise willeth but that they shalbe sworn aswell to the preamble as to the acte of Succession[818] in no man_er_ of wyse Wherfore his grace specyallye trustyth that ye wyll in no wyse Suppose attempt or move hym to the Contrarye For as hys grace Suppossyth that that man_er_ of Sweryng yf yt sholde be sufferyd myght be an vtter destruccyon to his hole Cause and Also to the effecte of the law made For the same
72. CROMWELL TO THE PRIOR AND CONVENT OF WENLOCK.
Desires them to grant to Thomas Lowley the lease of Okinbold farm, in Shropshire, at the rent which his father paid.
In myn harty maner I co_m_mende me unto youe And wheras ye haue nowe in yo_ur_ handes and disposic_i_on again, the ferme of Oxinbold belonging to that Mon_astery_. These shalbe to desire and hartely pray youe, for my sake to graunte a sufficient lease therof to my Freende Thomas Lowleye ser_ua_unt to Mr. Norreys vnder yo_ur_ convent seale for the terme of xl yeres yelding and payeng vnto yow suche rent for the same, as his father whiche was fermo_ur_ therof hertofore paid vnto your mon_astery_ at that tyme that he had it in ferme. Desiring you in noo wise to alienate it to any man but only to this tyl ye shal knowe further, in case ye shal not condescende to this my request, and to adu_er_tise me by yo_ur_ L_ette_res w_i_t_h_ spede of yo_ur_ proceding in this Behaulf And thus Fare you hartely well From Stepnaye the first daye of Maye