Lansdowne MS 1045

Miscellaneous papers, mainly concerning Thomas Cranmer (1489–1556), archbishop of Canterbury, collected by John Strype (1643–1737), historian and biographer.

Containing an autograph poem by John Dryden (1631–1700), poet, playwright, and critic, on the death of Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658), lord protector of England, Scotland and Ireland (ff. 101r-103v).

With an autograph draft copy of Christus Triumphans by John Foxe (1516/17–1587), martyrologist (ff. 132r-155v).

Contents:

f. 1r: List of contents.

ff. 2r-3v: ‘Insignia Cœnobiorum, Monasteriorum et Domorum Religiosorum in Anglia’.

ff. 4r-8v: ‘Some notes by way of abstract out of the Case of the Clergy’s being assess’d for their spirituall possessions towards the repair of High-wayes’.

ff. 9r-22v: Inventories of parish churches, taken as part of a commission directed by King Edward VI to Sir Francis Russell, second Earl of Bedford, Sir Maurice Berkeley (d. 1581) and others. Listing goods, plate, jewels, bells, and other ornaments, belonging to the parish churches of Chesham Magna, Cheyney, Taplow, Chalfont Saint Giles, Chalfont Saint Peter, Farnham Royal, Hecham, Eyshamstede Latimer, Penn, Burnham, and Agmondesham, Buckinghamshire. 1552.

ff. 23r-54v: Papers relating to the election of a President of Magdalen College, Oxford. With the case of the Vice-President and Fellows, and reasons for their rejection of Anthony Farmer (b. 1657), who had been recommended by King James II. 1687.

f. 56r-56v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to King Henry VIII. Concerning Reginald Pole, and intelligence received from Rome. November 18 1533. The original letter is in Harley MS 787.

f. 56v-57r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to King Henry VIII. Granting licence to proceed to the trial and examination of the marriage of Katherine of Aragon, and to pronounce judgement accordingly. 11 April 1533.

f. 57r-57v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to King Henry VIII. On his pronouncing the sentence of divorce. 23 May 1533.

ff. 57v-58r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to King Henry VIII. To pardon certain members of his convent at Canterbury who had been concerned in the impositions of Elizabeth Barton the Nun of Saint Sepulchre’s. 13 December 1533.

f. 58r-58v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Sir John Butler, commissary at Paris. Concerning a divorce there. 13 January 1533.

ff. 58v-59r: Copy of Thomas Cranmer’s recommendation of Sir Thomas Dornkester as a successor to the Abbot of Newsham. No date.

f. 59v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to the Convent of Newsham. On Sir Thomas Dornkester as a successor as Abbot. 18 May 1533.

f. 59v: Copy of a fragment of a letter from Thomas Cranmer. Concerning Nicholas Roberts, preferred by the Prioress of Stanfield to the vicarage of Quadring. No date.

f. 60r-60v: Copy of an inhibition sent by Thomas Cranmer to the Bishops. Concerning some seditious preaching which began in Easter week, and the King’s marriage. 1533.

f. 60v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to John Longland, Bishop of Lincoln. To prefer a servant of his to a place in Oxford. 5 July 1533.

ff. 60v-61r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Edward Lee, Archbishop of York. On a debate in a Convocation concerning not reading the general sentence. 4 April 1533.

f. 61r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to William Benson, Abbot of Westminster. For a vicar in the College of Saint Martin’s, London. 4 May 1533.

f. 61v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to William Capon, Master of Jesus College, Cambridge. Sending a present of a buck. 26 June 1633.

f. 61v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed recipient. Declining to receive his son into his house, already overcharged with servants. 26 June 1533.

f. 62r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to John Essex, Abbot of St. Augustine, Canterbury. Sending some communications through a confidential servant whom he recommends. 28 April 1533.

ff. 62r-64r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Nicholas Hawkins, ambassador to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Concerning the King’s divorce and the coronation of Anne Boleyn. 1533. See Harley MS 6148.

f. 64r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Balthasar Guersye, physician to King Henry VIII. Thanking him for his care of one of his chaplains, Mr Witwell. 5 July 1533.

f. 64r-64v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to John Longland, Bishop of Lincoln. On behalf of someone unjustly expelled from his chantry. 8 July 1533.

ff. 64v-65v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to his cousin Kyngston, possibly Sir William Kyngston. On his son’s suing for a divorce. 20 July 1533.

f. 65v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to his neighbour curates. To collect for the repairs of Malling church. No date.

ff. 65v-66r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to his chancellor, possibly Dr Coke. For documents concerning a matter of variance of matrimony between Thomas Perry and Jane Benbowe, and to bring the parties before him. No date.

f. 66r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Thomas Cromwell. Enquiring about the Prior of the Friar Preachers of Bristol, who wanted a licence to preach. 19 July 1533.

f. 66r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Thomas Cromwell. To procure his servant the place of Squire Beadle of Arts at Oxford. No date.

f. 66v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed prioress. With directions to bring her Nun, who was at Courthope Street, to him at Ottford. No date.

f. 66v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to William Fitzalan, eleventh Earl of Arundel. Concerning bucks from Arundel forest. No date.

ff. 66v-67r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Howard, third Duke of Norfolk to Thomas Cranmer. Concerning the King’s cause. 5 September 1533.

f. 67r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Thomas Howard, third Duke of Norfolk. On the King’s cause. No date.

f. 67r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to his brother, addressed as Mr Rosel. On his son’s education. No date.

f. 67v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to one Gresham, possibly Sir Richard or Sir John. Concerning business to be dispatched at his audit at Lambeth. 6 October 1533.

f. 67v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Thomas Goldwell, Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury. Thanking him for a present. No date.

ff. 67v-68r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Dr Downes. To obtain the farm of a Prebend in Southwell. No date.

f. 68r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Richard Gwent, Dean of the Arches. Concerning Edwards’s suit. No date.

f. 68r-68v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Mr Stapleton, parson of Bingham. On sending his sister’s son to the free school in his parish. 12 October 1533.

ff. 68v-69r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Charles Booth, Bishop of Hereford. On a supplication made to Cranmer by one of the Bishop’s diocese, against his receiver. 18 October 1533.

f. 69r-69v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to John Palgrave, parson of Saint Dunstan’s in the East at London. Concerning fruits of the benefices due to him. No date.

f. 69v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to his chancellor, possibly Dr Coke. In favour of his vicar general, Dr May. 24 October 1533.

ff. 69v-70r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to his chancellor, possibly Dr Coke. On behalf of the vicar of Milton, concerning his complain. No date.

f. 70r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed lord. In response to a requested favour for his servant. No date.

f. 70r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed chief member of the church in Lincoln. Concerning the place of Auditor in the church. No date.

ff. 70r-71r: Copy of a letter from Henry Bourchier, second Earl of Essex, to Thomas Cranmer. In favour of one Stonesby. 13 October 1533. With Cranmer’s answer.

f. 71r-71v: Copy of a letter from King Henry VIII to Henry Bourchier, second Earl of Essex. Concerning the above Stonesby. 26 October 1533.

ff. 71v-73r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Nicholas Hawkins, ambassador in Germany. Concerning the Holy Nun, her miracle, and other matters. 20 December 1533.

f. 73r-73v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to unnamed gentlemen in Hertfordshire. Concerning injuries done to one Thomas Wiggington. No date.

f. 73v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to George Neville, fifth Baron Bergavenny. Responding to an offer to attend him to Canterbury, and soliciting a red deer or two. 27 November 1533.

ff. 73v-74r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Hugh Latimer, then parson of West Kynton, Wiltshire. With licences for preaching. No date.

f. 74r-74v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Hugh Latimer, then parson of West Kynton, Wiltshire. Reporting that he is appointed to preach before the King at Lent. No date.

ff. 74v-75r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to the Dean of the King’s chapel. Giving notice that Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Shaxton are to preach before the King. 9 January 1534.

f. 75r-75v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed person. Concerning some legacies given by a person at Bristol and not performed. No date.

f. 75v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to the parson at Petworth. Concerning a lease to be granted to John Bower, farmer of the parsonage. 8 February 1534.

ff. 75v-76r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to his chancellor Dr Coke. Recommending he deal more charitably with some of his parishioners whom he appears to have persecuted. No date.

f. 76r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed recipient. Concerning a bill in Parliament related to tithes in Rumney Marsh. No date.

f. 76r-76v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Thomas Cromwell. Concerning a priest committed for words spoken against Cranmer. No date.

ff. 76v-77r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to John Baker, Recorder of London. On behalf of a widow, concerning a house belonging to the Chamber of London. 25 May 1534.

f. 77r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Elizabeth Stafford, Duchess of Norfolk. To intercede with King Henry VIII on behalf of a servant of hers, Thomas Cade, who wanted a place at Calais. No date.

ff. 77v-78r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to Thomas Thirlby, Archdeacon of Ely. Reproving him for ambition in seeking some preferment from King Henry VIII. 24 May 1534.

f. 78r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed person appointed by him to preach at Paul’s Cross. No date.

f. 78v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed lord, who had distrained the goods of a poor man. Entreating him to be merciful. No date.

f. 78v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to an unnamed parson. Requiring him to see a performance by some of his parishioners. No date.

ff. 78v-79r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to the unnamed secretary of King Henry VIII. For the preferment of his servant Thomas Barthelet. No date.

f. 79r: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to his sister Alice. Recommending one Mrs Creke as a companion. No date.

f. 79r-79v: Copy of a letter from Queen Anne Boleyn to the City of Bristol. Requesting the next presentment to the Mastership of St John’s College, Bristol, for a friend of hers. No date. Drawn up by the secretary to Thomas Cranmer.

f. 79v-80r: Copy of a letter from Queen Anne Boleyn to Dr Crome, parson of St Antony’s, London. Concerning her intention of his preferment. 20 May 1533.

f. 80r-80v: Copy of the King’s authority for apprehending all who preached upon the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome. April 1534. In the hand of the secretary to Thomas Cranmer.

f. 80v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cromwell to Thomas Cranmer. Reporting that Nicholas Heth [Heath] is to be sent as ambassador to Germany. No date.

f. 80v-81r: Copy of a letter to the Pope from Queen Mary I and Philip II of Spain. Recommending Nicholas Heth [Heath] as Archbishop of York. 4 May 1555. Latin.

f. 81r-81v: Copy of a letter from Thomas Cranmer to the inhabitants of Hadleigh. Exhorting them to love and agreement, especially concerning their curate, Sir Thomas Ross, accused of holding improper discourse in the pulpit. 22 March 1534.

ff. 82r-100v: Sermon preached by John Burges before King James I. With his apology, and letters to the King and Bishops. 1605.

ff. 101r-103v: John Dryden, autograph copy of ‘Heroique stanzas consecrated to the glorious memorie of his most serene and renowned Highness Oliver, late Lord Protector of this Commonwealth, &c. Written after the celebration of his funeralls’.

ff. 104r-131*v: Copy of an Italian translation of John Philip’s poem Cyder by Lorenzo Magalotti (1637–1712). With an account of the author.

ff. 132r-155v: John Foxe, autograph copy of Christus Triumphans. With alterations and corrections by Foxe. Latin.

ff. 156r-165v: Alphabetical list of charters granted to cities and boroughs. Copied from two volumes held by the Inner Temple. ‘Transmitted to James West, Esq. by J.B., October 10 1729’. To which is added a similar list of charters, copied from other books also held by the Inner Temple.

ff. 166r-172v: English translation of a portion of Longinus, On the Sublime. Made ‘for the improvement of oratory’. No date. ‘Thomas’ on f. 166r.