Marginalia1557. Ianuary.thers to be obserued, as in processe hereof was to be sene.
From thence they attended all vpon the Legates to S. Maryes church, which we declared before to haue bene interdited. In the which place, for as much as it was suspended, although no Masse myght be songe, MarginaliaPecocke preacheth at S. Maries.yet there was a Sermon made in open audience by M. Pecocke in the Latin toung, preaching agaynst heresies and heretickes, as Bilney, Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley. &c. The which being ended, they proceded eftsones to the visitation. Where first Doct. Haruy dyd in the Cardinals name exhibite the commission to the Byshop of Chester with a few wordes in Latin. Which being accepted, and by M. Clarke openly redde to the end, then the Vicechauncellour with an oration did exhibite the certificat vnder his seale of office, MarginaliaThe Citation of the Masters of the Colledges.with the Cardinals citation annexed, conteining euery mans name in the Vniuersitie, and Colledges, with the officers and all the masters of houses. Among whom was also Robert Brassey Master
Technically, this is incorrect; the head of King's College is the provost, not the master.
This favourable description of Brassey comes from the Historia vera, but hewas also favourably described by the Marian martyr George Marsh.
After the formall solemnity of these thinges thus accomplished, the Commission being red, and the citation exhibited, also þe masters of houses being only cited, euery man for a whyle departed home to his owne house, with commaundement to be at the common scholes of the sayd Vniuersity at one of the clocke of the same day. MarginaliaInquisitiō at þe cōmon Scholes.When the degrees of the Vniuersity, commonly called Regents and non Regents, were assembled thither, they spēt the rest of the day in reading ouer of Charters, graunted to the Vniuersity by kings and Princes, in searching out of Bulles and pardons from the Pope, and in perusing of other monumentes pertaynyng to the Vniuersity.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIanuary. 12. Inquisitiō at þe Kings Colledge.The next day following, being the. 12. of Ianuary, they resorted to the kinges Colledge to make Inquisition, eyther because the same for the worthynes therof was chiefe and soueraigne of all the residue, or els because that that house especially before all others, had bene counted, time out of minde, neuer to be without an heretike (as they terme them) or twain. And at that present time, albeit that many now alate had withdrawen themselues from thence, yet they iudged there were some remaynyng still. The order and maner how they would be interteyned of euery Colledge, when they should come to make Inquisition, they themselues appoynted, which was in this sort.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe manner of receauing þe Inquisitors when they went to make Inquisition.They commaunded the master of euery house together with the residue, as well fellowes as scholers, apparelled in priestlike garmēts (which they call habits) to mete them at the vttermost gate of theyr house toward the towne. The master him selfe to be dressed in
[Back to Top]lyke apparell as the priest when he rauesheth hymselfe to Masse, sauyng that he should put on vppermost hys habit, as the rest dyd. The order of theyr going they appoynted to be in thys wyse. MarginaliaNote the ambitious pompe of these Papistes.The Master of the house to go formost. Next vnto him euery man in his order as he was of degree, seignioritie, or of yeares. Before the master should be caried a crosse & holy water, to sprinckle the Commissioners withall, and then after that the sayd commissioners to be sensed. And so after thys meting, and mumbling of a few deuotions, they determined with thys pompe and solemnity to be brought to the Chappell.
[Back to Top]Many thought they tooke more honor vpon them then belonged to the state of man. Other some (forasmuch as at that tyme they not only pretended the iurisdiction of the Cardinal, MarginaliaThe Cōmissioners represent the Pope.but also represented the power and authoritie of the bishop of Rome himselfe, who was accoumpted to be more than a mortall man) sayd it was farre lesse then of duety appertayned to hys holynes, in that the honor that was done to his Legates, was not done to them but to hys holynes. Now was the houre come at which they appoynted to meete: and being entred the kinges Colledge gate, where they loked for the Master and fellowes of the house, seing no man came to meete them, they proceded forth to the church dore, where they stayed.MarginaliaHere was a foule fault cōmitted, that these mē came in without procession. There perceauing how the master and the rest of the house were dressing them selues as fast as they could, in such order as was appoynted before, they came in sodainly vpon them before they had set any foote out of theyr places.
[Back to Top]Then the masterMarginaliaD. Braßey excuseth hym selfe for the slacknes of his procession. first excused him selfe, that he was ready no soner, acknowledging that it had bene hys duety to haue bene in a readines. Secondly, he sayd he was very glad of theyr comming, promysing first in his owne name, and after in the name of all the rest, as much reuerence as might be, in all matters concerning theyr common vtility, the which he doubted not but should be performed at theyr handes, according to hys expectation. But lyke as he had done the other day in S. Maryes church, MarginaliaM. Brassey maketh exception agayne.the same exception he made to them now also: the which hys doyng he besought them not to be offended withall. For seing he dyd it onely for the discharge of hys duety, he had iuster cause to be held excused.
[Back to Top]He had scarcely yet finished his tale, but the Bishop of Chester with a frowning looke and an angry countenaunce, interrupting him of his talke, sayd: MarginaliaDoct. Scots aunswere to M. Braßey.he neded not to repeat the things he had protested before, nor they to make aunswer any more to those thinges wherin they had sufficiently enformed him before. He rather feared that their quarel was not good, that they made such a do abut it, and sought such starting holes. For so were diseased persons oftentimes wont to do, when for the payne and griefe they are not able to abide a strong medicine. MarginaliaThe Popes authoritie swalloweth vp all other priuileges.As though that any man were able to graunt so strong a priuiledge, as to withstande the Popes authority. As for the bishops letters, he said must needes make on his side, and with such as were wyth him, and could not in any wise be alleged against him. Therfore he admonished hym to desist from hys vnprofitable altercation, and to conforme himselfe and his to such thinges as then were in doyng.
[Back to Top]After this they went to masse. Which finished, wyth great solemnitie, first they went to the hygh altar of the church, and hauyng there saluted their God,MarginaliaThe Legates saluting first their God. and searching whether all were wel about him or no, they walked through all the inner chappels of the church. The church goodes, the crosses, the chalices, þe masse bokes, the vestmentes, and whatsoeuer ornamentes were besides, were commaunded to bee brought out vnto them. When they had sufficiently vewed all thinges, and had called forth by name euery fellow and scholer of the house, they went to the maisters lodging, where first and formost swearyng them vpon a booke to aunswer to all such interrogatories as should be propoun-
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