Arundel MS 152

ff. 1r–313v: A volume of documents relating to John Fisher (c. 1469-1535), Bishop of Rochester, and Thomas More (1478–1535). It includes the original copy of More’s letter to his daughter Margaret of 2 or 3 May 1535. A note records that this manuscript was damaged in a fire at the binders, 10 July 1865.

ff. 1r–90v: ‘A Treatise conteyning the life and maner of deathe of that most holy prelate and constant martyr of Christ, Johne Fyssher, Bisshop of Rochester and Cardinall of the holy churche of Rome.’ Printed, with considerable alterations in the language, in Thomas Baily, The Life and Death of the Renowned John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester… (London, 1655).

ff. 91r–244r: Imperfect copy of ‘Anonymi Vita Johannis Fisher, Episcopi Roffensis, manu auctoris, ut videtur, castigata.’ Begins, ‘Joannes Fislierus, natione Anglus in Eboracensi comitatu Beverlaci natus est.’ Ends ‘Que autem ad manus nostras venerunt fere has sunt.’

ff. 246r–247v: 'Certen breaf notes apparteninge to B. Fyshere, collected owt of Sir Thomas Moores lyfe written by Mr. Justice Restall.'

ff. 248r–286v: Collections for a Life of Bishop Fisher.

ff. 288r–292v: Inquisitio capta de Thoma More milite, quod Regem unicum Supremum Caput in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae accipere recusasset.

ff. 293r–v : [Thomas More?], Assertio quod omne perjurium sit mortale peccatum eitra ullam exceptionem prorsus. The text is printed from Royal MS 17 D XVI in The Complete Works of St. Thomas More, Volume 6, Part II, ed. Thomas Lawler, Germain Marc’Hadour and Richard Marius (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1981), Appendix B, pp. 763–69.

ff. 294r–295r: Original letter from Sir Thomas More to his daughter Margaret, 2 or 3 May 1535. Printed in St Thomas More: Selected Letters, ed. E. F. Rogers (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1961), pp. 244–47.

ff. 296r–299v: Copy of a letter from More to Cromwell, concerning the Holy Maid of Kent.

f. 300r: Another copy of More’s discussion of perjury.

ff. 300v–301r: Copy of the petition of More's wife and children to Henry VIII, praying for his release from prison.

ff. 301v–302r: Act of Parliament repealing all letters patent granted in favour of Sir Thomas More, in 1534. fol. 321. Printed in The Statutes of the Realm, vol. iii, p. 528.

ff. 302v–305v: Another copy of the item on ff. 308r–: (Inquisitio capta de Thoma More milite, quod Regem unicum Supremum Caput in terra Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ accipere recusasset).

ff. 305v–306v: Act of Parliament annulling the deed of feoffment made by Sir Thomas More of certain estates prior to his attainder. Printed in The Statutes of the Realm, vol. iii, p. 629.

ff. 307r–v: Account of the causes wherefore Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More were attainted. This item and the two following it are all written in the same large italic hand.

f. 307v: Notices of six Acts of Parliament made against the minds of the Lords and Commons, 26 Henry VIII.

f. 308r: Note concerning the Carthusians and Father Reynolds of Syon and John Hall, a secular priest, vicar of Isleworth, indicted of high treason for denying the King's supremacy with one John Feren, a secular priest who had his pardon for accusing himself and the vicar, 28 April 1535.

ff. 309r–311v: Account of John Fisher’s martyrdom. This item and the two which follow are all in the same secretary hand.

ff. 311v–312r: An account of the life, qualities, virtue and learning of Bishop Fisher, and the books he wrote.

ff. 312r–313r: Richardi Hiliardi Narratio de divortio Henrici VIII., et de condemnatione Johannis Fisher, Episc. Roffen.