tyme any common badger or kydder from the carryinge of grayne oute of our liberties, especiallie oute of the towne from amongeste us, is for this matter either onely or chieffely the poincte wherein we differ in opynion from theyme, refusinge not therein the judgement of suche as be learned in the lawes; and do for the equitie thereof referr our selves wholy unto your good lordship. Yf we had not allreadye weeryed your lordship with the lengthe of these matters (whereunto we have byn compelled by the greate rable of theire complayntes), we wolde very willingly putt your honor in mynde of theyre newe insinuacion, in the intitelinge of these matters under the coller of newe complayntes longe suffered, whereby we doubte not but your lordship will easily espye the guiltines of theire owne conscience, whoe are very pryvey unto themselves howe unsavery and sclaunderous theire olde complayntes have byn founde, beinge heretofore brought to the tryall, as is easely shewed them by the remembrance of theire olde rewardes, complayninge, as nowe they do, before they were beaten, to the lord duke of Norff., theire olde honerable patrone. We meane it not of them all (our very good lord), for we knowe the good simplicitie of diverse of them at home, willinge enough to enjoye the benefittes they have by us in quiett, and do thincke better of the disposicion of some one of those whome we see here to attende the matter, if he were not cunnyngly wounde in and the rest abused by that secrete woorkinge deviser in theire owne bodye, that auncient knowne enemye to the generall estate of our Universite, with the helpe of his owne taught brother-in-lawe, his handy instrument [Mr. Slegge and Searle]. We spare to say any more; they are not unknowen to your lordship; and coulde wishe that theire olde unquyete mallice towardes us were as well knowne to that honorable howse, wherein that contryvour of all this woorke seeketh also (as it seemeth unto us by that we heare) to sett these matters abroche. At ut olim sic a die in diem (mediante Burghleio) est Deus nobis otia facturus, under whose protection we quiete ourselves in all humblenes of duetie, sparinge that whereunto they have moste justely provoked us, as namely, the openinge of theire owne sores and shames, by the discovery of a noumber of theire newe exactions and ymprovementes in Sturbridge ffayre; theire unreasonable takinge of fees there; theyre private attemptes to bringe us in discredit by sclaunderous reportes; theyre apparaunt devises to hynder us in thexecution of justice, and theire publique devisinge, by theire pryvate ordinances, howe to barr us from the comon benefitt of her majesties subjectes, contrary to the comon course of the lawes of this realme: in every of which particulers we will be readye to charge them, whensoever it shall please your good lordship to require us thereunto. Some of these pretended injuries were done about 20, 14, 10, and 7 yeres agoe. 1596. [From MS. Lansd. no. 82, art. 43.] Decembris 13o, 1596. Elizabethæ 39°. The speache of the maior of Cambridge, Ro. Wallis, 1596. JOHN JEGON, doctor in divinitie, vice-chauncellor of the Universitie of Cambridg, and Robert Wallis, maior of the towne, with manie assistants of both bodyes, assembled in St. Maries church, the vice-chauncellor reade the order for the oathe set downe by the right honorable the lords keeper and treasurer, and then demaunded of the maior whether he would receave the oathe accordinge to the order agreed upon by their honorable lordships. The maior answered, that he did thincke himself not bounde by that order to take the oathe, because their lordships in their lettres had referrence unto the maior and burgesses for the time to come, and not for the time beinge. And beinge further urged by the words of the order, the maior expressinge much discontent, Dr. Nevile sayde unto him, "I see no cause why you, Mr. maior, or the rest, should not hould your selves contented with that order, which the lord treasurer, our chauncellour, and the lord keeper, your recorder, have thought meete to be taken in their honorable wisdomes." Whereunto the maior answered, "Indeed they have taken an order, but such as your chauncellour hath overruled againste all lawe and right." The said Dr. Nevile takinge present exception therto, and chardginge the maior to have used verie undutifull speach, he seemed but lightlie to regard the same. Then the vice-chauncellor put him in remembrance, and likewise made it knowne unto the whole companie present (many beinge then there who were not at the former meetinge), that he before that time had uttered in the same place like verie undutifull speach against those most honorable personages and their order, and that he might well thyncke their lordships would not enjoyne an order against lawe and right. Unto which the maior answered, that it was well enoughe knowne, when the matter was in expostulacion (for that word he used), what the lawe was, etc., with other words of dislike to the same effect. GRESHAM COLLEGE. THE VICE-CHANCELLOR TO LORD BURGHLEY. [From MS. Lansd. no. 83, art. 29.] To the right honorable the lord Burghley, lord highe treasurer of England, gyve these. RIGHT honorable, my singuler good lorde: may it please yow to understande that whereas certayne lectures were lately founded by Sir Thomas Gressham, deceased, to be reade within the citie of London by professores of severall artes, to be chosen by the lord maior and comminalty of that city, the sayd maior and his brethren have directed lettres to our University of Cambrydge, requestinge us to nominate unto them two of our meetest men in every faculty, with like petition made to the Universitie of Oxenforde, to name two other out of which fower they woulde electe one for everie lecture, as by the copie of theyr lettre (which I am bold herewith to present to your lordship) may more att large appeare; wherein (doubtinge that in tyme it maye be greatly prejudiciall to our Universityes) I have refrayned to doe anie thinge untill I moughte have your honors allowaunce thereof. Soe most humbly prayinge to knowe your pleasure, I recommende my service to your lordships commaundes. At Cambrydge, Januar. 30, 1596. Your honors most bounden ever, Jo. JEGON, vice-can. DISPUTES WITH THE TOWN. THE VICE-CHANCELLOR TO LORD BURGHLEY. [From MS. Lansd. no. 83, art. 31.] To the right honorable the lorde Burghley, lorde highe treasurer of Englande, give these. RIGHT honorable: whereas Nicholson and Rose, of Cambrydge, maulsters, amerced for ingrossinge of corne at our leete (holden before I came in office), doe complaine of an hard course held agaynst them, may it please your honor to be advertised, that they refusinge to paie vs for their fyne of xx to the proctors (ffee farmers of the leete by rent to her majestie), the procters required assistance of the vice-chauncelour my predecessour, who warned and convented them before him in courte, agaynst whom (beinge further hearde) execution was confirmed and seconded by me; from me they made appeale to thuniversitie deligates, chosen (after manie dayes pleadinge) dismissed the men and the matter without reliefe, becawse that against execution there lieth noe appeale in lawe. Hereuppon the proctors require my assistance for theire charges, which (with moderation) I thinke equall to awarde them. Theyr pretended exception is this, Ingrossinge of corne, Edward. 6ti 50, was first made an offence penall: forestallers, regraters, and ingrossers, by another statute may be punished by justices of peace in sessions; hereuppon they labor to make a nullitie of this, sentenced in our leete; whereas wee (havinge by charter and custome omnimodam correctionem victualium quorumcunque) have allwayes presented and punished in leete (as recordes doe shewe) fforestallers and regraters before that statute made, and ever since ingrossers in like manner. Soe, referringe your good lordship to this bearer (one of the sayde proctors) for further information, and the whole matter to your honourable wisdome |