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A LETTER

FROM KING EDWARD ANNOUNCING HIS INTENTION OF
VISITING THE UNIVERSITY.

To our trusty and well beloved the Chaunceller
and in his absence the Vicechaunceller and to all
the deans presidentes wardens and other
Masters and Rulers of the Colledges Halles
hostelles and other houses of studentes and
scolers of our universitie of Cambridge
and to every of them.

K EDWARD

RIGHT trustie and right entierly welbiloved and trustie and welbiloved we grete you well And forsomiche as we do entende very shortly to visite our Universitie of Cambridge and all the Colleges of the same purposing to set some godlie direction and order there according as occasion shall be ministered to the further increase and avauncement of vertue and good lerning Therefore this is to will and commaunde you and every of you that if there be any Rown vacaunte at this present tyme or hereafter shall fall vacaunte either of Mastershipp, Provostship or fellowshipp, scholershipp or Bibleclercshipp that yow nor none of you do proceade to any election or nomination of any Mr., Fellow, scholer or Bibleclerc or attempt any other acte or actes thing or thinges which shulde be prejudiciall to our said visitation before the full accomplishment and perfection of the same As you tender our pleasure and will aunswer to the contrary at your perrill. Geven under our signet at our Manor of Greenwiche the iiiith of Aprile the second yeare of our Reigne.

E. SOMERSET.

A LETTER FROM THE DUKE OF SOMERSET.

To our lovyng freende our

Vicechaunlor of Cambridge and to

all Maisters and Rulers of Colledges
there.

AFTER Our right hartie commendations. For so myche as uppon diverse ordres in the rites and ceremonies of the Churche, there might peradventure some dissention or disordre ryse emongst yow in thunyversitie to the evell example of others we have thought good to advertise yow and in the Kinges Majesties behalf to will and commande yow that untill suche tyme as an ordre bee taken and prescribed by his highness, to be universally kept throughout the hole realme or by Visitors of his highness appointed unto yow particularly, that yow and every of yow in your Colledges, Chapelles, or other churches use one uniforme ordre ryte and ceremonye in the Masse, matens and evensonge and all dyvine service in the same to be saide or songe suche as is presentlie used in the Kinges Majesties Chapell and none other. The which for more plaine instruction we have by this berer sent unto yow. Thus fare yow well. Frome Sion the iiiith of September, 1548.

Your Lovinge Freende

E. SOMERSET.

A LETTER TO DOCTOR PARKER.

To the right worshipful Mr. Doctor Parker
Vicechaunceler of thuniversitie of Cambridge
or in his absence to his depute there.

RIGHT Worshipfull I have me commended unto yow. Yow shall understand that lettres is comen from the Kinges Counsell to my Lorde. The tenor whereof is that the Kinges Hyghnes

entendeth with an army roiall and a like puissant navie by the grace of God with all spede to assayle and repulse his enemies. To the which thing it is his Graces pleasure and desire to be helped with prayers and processions made through owt his Roialtie and warnynge thereof to be severally given in every diocese. Wherefore me thynkes yow should do very well, if as at syche tymes in lyke cases yow were wont yow did contynew wekely your generall processions in thuniversity of Cambridge. There was at no tyme more nede of comon and harty prayer then now. Jesu kepe yow. At Downham the xxi day of August.

A LETTER TO DR. PARKER.

To Mr. Doctor Parkar Vycechauncelor
of Cambridge gyre these.

MR. VYCECHAUNCELLOR according to your promisse we her looke for your devyse towching the ordre off the unyversitie. And dowght you nott but all thynges shall be donn moderatlye and in dew ordre. Your syckness ys suffycyent lycence and dispensation for you to receyve absque scandalo that meat which ys most meat for yow. Mr. Mere bearer hereof can herein suffyciently enstruct you. Thus farre you well. Wrytten at London the xiii day of March.

Your lovyng frend

WYLLM MEY.

A LETTER FROM KING EDWARD'S VISITORS.

To our Lovying freendes the Vicechaunceler Masters and Presydentes of Colleges, halls and houses, to their deputies and other fellowes of Colledges in the unyversitie of Cambridge and to exerie of them.

AFTER our right hartie commendations Forasmiche as the Kings Majestie by thadvice of my Lord Protector's grace and the rest of his privie counsaill hath appointed us to visit the universitie

of Cambridge, Understanding that some men now of late hathe taken upon them to sell and alienate awaie the lands tenements and goodes of the Colleges and do other thinges to the prejudice of his Highness' visitation and the end and purpose by his grace at this time intended contrarie to their dewties in that behalf

We have thought good to inhibit in his Majesties behalf you Mr. Vicechauncelor and all Mrs. and rulers of Colleges and all presidents and substitutes and likewise all fellows of Colleges and scholers that in no wise you attempt or go abowte to sell give or alienate awaie by any coler or meanes enye lands or tenements or anie other goodes movable or immovable whatsoever they be to the Universitie of Cambridge or the Colleges or haules there or any of them apperteyning or belonging, Or otherwyse to make anie election confer or give anie benefice office or dignitie to the said universitie or any Colleges thereof apperteyning or belonging or in them or anie of them to be given (graces for degrees onlie excepted) but that during the tyme that our said visitation doth hange, you leve all manner such thinges and other whatsoever they be to his Highness by reason of his prerogative or visitation apperteyning or belonging holie and entier untyll such tyme as our visitation by his Highness appointed be consummated and ended upon paine of the lawe in this case severelie to be exerted uppon thoffendors or thattemptors to the contrarie. Thus fare yow well, From Wyndsor the viiith of November 1548.

Your Lovyng freends

THOMAS ELIENS.
T. SMITH.

NIC. ROFFEN.

JOAN. CHEKE.

WILLM. PAGet.
WILLM. MEY.

THOMAS WENdye.

A LETTER FROM KING EDWARD'S VISITORS.

To our Loving freendes

the Vicechauncelor Proctors
and the Masters Regents and
Non Regents of the Universitie
of Cambridge.

AFTER our right heartie Commendacions Understanding by credyble information that shortlye thoffice of the Vicechaunceler of Cambridge shall be voyde and by reason of the inhibition coming from us we dowt whether you shall forbeare thelection of a Vicechaunceler, if it shulde chaunce us lenger then for that tyme to differe our comyng down the which thynge shulde be a great disturbaunce and perill to the good rule of the said universitie and your commonwelthe Bycause we are not sure how sone we shall come down although we trust it shall be shortlie. We have thought good to pray you whensoever the said office of the Vicechauncellershippe shall be voyde to chose and electe a wise and discrete man mete for that office to the same Notwithstanding any inhibition heretofore on our behalf made or sent unto yow Wherein we do not dowt but yow will use suche wisdome and discretion in thelection as shall apperteyne Fare yow well

From Westminstre the ix of february 1548

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