Marginalia1555. February.fieri posset, magis honorem nostrum, quam quid ab eo exigi possit, consideraturam. Itaq̀ Serentitatem vestram repetitis precibus vrgere non constituimus: sed potius testatum facere, quam accepta nobis Serenitatis vestræ gratificatio sit, cuius talem euētum omninò speramus, vt ipse Couerdalus coram nobis suæ incolumitatis a Serenitate vestra exoratæ beneficium propediem repræsentare possit. Illud vero imprimis Serenitati vestræ vicissim persuasum esse cupimus, nos non solū refendæ gratiæ, sed etiam stabiliendæ prouehendæq; inter nos ac regna vtrinq̀ nostra amicitiæ ac necessitudinis mutuæ occasionem aut facultatem nullam esse prætermissuros. Deus opt. max. Serenitatem vestra diu, fœliciter, ac beatè incolumen esse velit. Datæ ex opido nostre Ottoniensi. 24. Septemb. Anno. 1554.

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Vester frater & consangui-
neus Christianus.

MarginaliaThe same epistle in English.WE haue receaued your Maiesties letters, whereby aunswere is rendred, and that very graciously vnto our petition which we made for the safegard of Maister Couerdale, late called B. of Exon: So that we perceiue, though he be in daunger for an other cause thē was signified vnto vs afore, yet your Maiesty will so regard our intercession, that Couerdale him selfe shal vnderstand it to haue done him good. To the which Regal promise, seing we (as reason is we should do) attribute so much, that trusting vnto the same, we doubt not, where as, hee being in captiuity, his frendes (whom we especially tender) are therefore in heauines and care, your good promise doth call them from such sorrowe and solicitude, to the hope and expectation of his assured welfare: we could not do otherwise, but render thankes vnto your Maiestie for such your ready and gratious good will, not onely in respecte of thys benefite, but also of the conseruation and keeping of perpetuall amitie betwene vs and our Realmes, and so as much as in vs lyeth, to omitte nothing that to the nourishing & continuance of these fortunate beginnings might appertaine. Neyther had we euer any doubt cōcerning the clemency and moderation of your goodnes, whom we hartely besech almighty God, euer more & more to prosper, vnto the glory of his name, and profite of the common weale. Wherfore seing your Maiesty writeth that Maister Couerdale is in daunger for certayne accomptes of money, and not for any other more greuous offence, wee haue cause on his behalfe to reioyce: and therefore we doubt so much the lesse, that at our request, he shall graciously haue hys deliueraunce geuen him and be out of daunger. For as touching the bishopricke, by reason whereof hee came in debt, we vnderstand he yelded it vp, that payment might thereof be required, specially seing he is reputed neyther to haue enioyed it long, neither to haue had at any tyme so great commodity of it. Moreouer, though it be possible to finde some perplexitie in the accompt, or happely some other cause, yet your maiesties letters offring such fauour and benignitie, haue takē from vs all carefulnes and doubt: In so much that we thynke your maiesty (asmuch as may bee) will haue more respect vnto our honour, then vnto that which might of hym be requyred. And therefore we purpose not to trouble your maiestie by repetyng of our petition, but to declare how greatly we esteme it, that your maiesty would gratify vs herin: wherof we playnly hope for such an ende that Couerdale him selfe shall shortly in our presence make declaration concerning the benefite of his welfare obteined of your maiestie. And of this we desyre your maiesty to be specially assured again, that we will not only omitte no occasion or oportunity to requite thys benefite, but also to establysh and amplifie our mutuall loue and amity betwene vs and our realmes on either syde. Almighty god preserue your Maiestie in prosperous health & felicitie. Geuen at our City of Otton the. xxiiij. of September. Anno D. 1554.

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To these letters it was a great whyle before the Quene would aunswere.  

At length through great sute

made, the next yeare the 18. of February, she aunswereth againe in this wyse.

MarginaliaFebr. 18. The answere of Queene Mary to the king of Denmarkes letter.MAria dei gratia, Regina Angliæ, Franciæ, Neapolis, Hierusalem & Hiberniæ &c. Serenissimo Principi Christiano, eadem gratia Daniæ, Noruegiæ, Gothorum, & Vandalorum Regi: Slesuici, Holsatiæ, Stormariæ & Ditmersiæ duci: Comiti in Oldenburgh & Delmenhorst &c. fratri & amico nostro chariss. salutem, prosperumq̀ rerum incremētum. Cū intellexerimus ex Serenitatis vestræ literis, quas hic nuntius nobis attulit, desiderium vestrū obtinēdi a nobis pro M. Couerdalo subdito MarginaliaM. Couerdale deliuered and sent to the king of Denmarke.nostro exeundi è regno nostro & ad vos profiscendi facultatem: facile quidem in V. Serenitatis gratiam, hanc illi facultatem concessimus. Et quāquam ille natus subditus noster nondum explicatus fuerat a debitione certæ cuiusdam pecuniæ quam nostro ærario soluere iure tenebatur, tamen maiorem vestri desiderij quam nostri debiti rationem habendam esse duximus. Quin insuper animū & voluntatē gratificandi vestræ Serenitati pro nostra mutua amicitia, in qua alia etiam re possumus, cum oportunitas feret, libenter ostendemus. Deus V. Serenitatem diutissiime seruet incolumen. Ex Regia nostra Westmonasterij. 18. Februarij. 1555.

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MarginaliaFebr. 19.The same moneth, the. xix. day was a certaine intimation set foorth and printed in the name of Boner,  

MarginaliaThe effect of B. Boners immation sent into his dioces to receaue the Cardinals absolution, and to be reconciled to the Pope in the Lent next folowing.wherein was contained a generall monition and strait charge geuen to euery man and woman within his dioces, to prepare thē selues against Lent then nere approching to receiue the glad tidinges of peace and reconciliation sent from Pope Iulius. 3. by Poole his Cardinal and Legate De latere,   and so receaue also the ioyfull benefite of absolution, being sent first from the Cardinall to Boner, and from him to euerich of his Archdeacons to bee ministred to euery priuate person within his dioces, that would come the sayd holy tyme of Lent to his Pastor or Curate to be confessed, and to receaue of him wholsome counsell, penaunce, and absolution: Signifying moreouer, that as he was authorised by the foresayd Cardinall, so he for the same purpose had indued with the like authoritie, all and singular Pastors and Curates within his dioces, to reconcile and assoyle frō their former heresie, & schisme, and from the censures of the church, such as would resorte vnto them. And lest any scruple or doubt, rising peraduenture in their consciences, should be any stay or let in this behalfe, he had assigned and deputed therfore through his dioces certain learned men, to whom they might resort, or els might open their griefes to any of his Archdeacons, or els come to hys own person, and so should be resolued.   And therefore all maner doubtes and obstacles set asyde, he straitly wylled and cōmaunded euery man and woman to come to confession, and to enioy this benefite of reconciliation and absolution, against the first Sonday next after Easter ensuing, and not to fayle. For the which purpose hee had specially commaunded the Pastors and Curates of euery parish to certifie vp in writing the names of euery man and woman so reconciled: and so forth. The copy of which intimatiō is more fully to be read in the former edition of Actes and Monumentes. Pag. 1083.   In the meane time the forme of his absolution, because it is but short, I thought here to exhibite, as vnder followeth.

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MarginaliaThe absolutiō of Byshop Boner to be vsed in his dioces.OVr Lord Iesus Christ absolue you, and by the Apostolike authoritie to me graūted and committed, I absolue you from the sentences of excommunication, and from all other censures and paynes, into the which you be fallen by reason of heresie, or schisme, or any other waies: and I restore you vnto the vnity of our holy mother the church, and the communion of all Sacramentes, dispensing wyth you for all maner of irregurality: and by the same authoritie, I absolue you from all your sinnes, in the name of the father, & of the sonne and of the holy ghost. Amen.

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