pre

"Kinge your father and myne with all his "decessores evermore used; wherin also I have "been brought upp from my youth, and ther"unto my conscyence doth not only bynde me,' "which by no means will suffer me to thinke "one thing and do another, but also the promise "made to the Emperore by your Majesties "Counsell was an assurance to me that in so "doinge I should not offend the Lawes, although "they seeme now to quallefye and deny the "thing.

દ

"And at my laste waytinge upon your Majestie I was so bould to declare my mynd and

conscyence to the same, and desired your "Highnes, rather then you should constraine me "to leave the Masse, to take my life, whereunto your Majestie made me a very gentle answere. "And nowe I beseche your Highnes to give "" me leave to write what I thinke towching your "Majesties Letteres. In deed they be signed "with your owne hand, and neverthelesse in my "oppinione not your Majesties in effecte, be'cause it is well knowne (as heretofore I have "declared in the presence of your Highnes) that "althoughe, Our Lorde be praysed, your "jestie hath farre more knowledge and greater guiftes then otheres of your yeares, yett it is not possible that your Highnes can at theis

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yeares be a judge in matters of Religeon. And "therefore I take it that the matter in your "Letter procedeth from such as do wish those

thinges to take place, which be moste agree"able to themselves: by whose doinges (your "Majestie not offended) I intend not to rule my "Conscyence.

"And thus, without molestynge your Highnes 66 any further, I humblye beseeche the same ever, "for Gods sake, to beare with me as you have

done, and not to thinke that by my doinges or

ensample any inconvenyence might growe to your Majestie or your Realme; for I use it not "after any suche soarte; puttyng no doubte "but in time to come, whether I live or die, your "Majestie shall perceave myne intente is grownd"ed upon a true love towardes you, whose "royall estate I beseech Almightie God long "to contynewe, which is and shalbe my daylie prayer, accordinge to my dutye.

"And after pardon craved of your Majestie for "thes rude and boulde Letteres, yf neither at my "humble suite, nor for regard of the promisse "made to the Emperor, your Highnes will suffer "and beare with me, as you have done, tyll your "Majestie may be a Judge herein yourselfe, and 66 right understand their proceedinges, (of which "your goodness yet I dispaire not,) otherwise,

"rather than to offend God and my conscyence "I offer my bodye at your will, and death shall "be more welcome than lyfe with a trowbeled 66 conssyence.

"Moste humbly beseeching your Majestie to pardon my slowenes in answeringe your Let "teres, for my owlde deseasse would not suffer "me to write any soner. And thus I praye Al"mightie God to keep your Majestie in alle “ vertue and honor, with good health, and longe "lyfe to his pleasure. From my poore howse at Copped Hall the xix of Auguste.

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Your Majestie's moste

humble sistere

MARY.

WOLSEY'S NATURAL CHILDREN.

Of the fact that Wolsey had intrigues with the fair sex there seems no doubt. He had a son of the name of Winter, long Archdeacon of York, and the 38th article of the Impeachment charges him with having had two children by a Mrs. Leghe. But the following letter in the Museum, to Lord Cromwell puts the question beyond doubt.

"Ryghte honorable, after most humyll com"mendacyons, I lykewyce besuche you that the

* Ellis's Collection, Vol. ii. p. 92,

"Contents of this my simple Letter may be "secret; and that for asmyche as I have grete "cause to goo home, I besuche your good Mas"tershipe to comand Mr. Herytag to give at"tendance opon your Mastershipe for the know"lege off youre plesure in the seyd secrete mater, "whiche ys this, My Lord Cardinall causyd me "to put a yong gentyll homan to the Monystery "and Nunry off Shayfftysbyry, and there to be "provessyd, and wold hur to be namyd my doythter; and the troythe ys shew was his dowythter: and now by your Visitacyon she haythe commawynment to departe, and knowythe not whether Wherefore I humely besuche your Mastershipe to dyrect your Letter to the "Abbas there, that she may there contynu at "hur full age to be professed.

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"Withoute dowyte she ys other xxiiij. yere full, or shalbe at suche tyme of the here as she "was boren, which was a bowyte Myclelmas. "In this your doyng your Mastershipe shall do 66 a very charitable ded, and also bynd hur and "me to do you such servyce as as lyzthe in owre

lytell powers; as knowythe owre Lord God "whome I humely besuche prosperyusly and

BISHOP WATSON.

A tract had been published by the Duke of Grafton, a most sincere Christian and pious man, to whose public character infinite injustice has been done by the domestic virulence of Jesuits, but who deserves the high praise of having been a warm friend of civil and religious liberty, and enjoyed the useful and enviable distinction of transmitting the same principles unimpaired to his family. In this work his grace earnestly recommended a revisal of the liturgy. He was of course bitterly attacked. Dr. Watson, bishop of Landaff, wrote a pamplet in his defence, but so liberal, that the duke most candidly and kindly begged him not to publish it, saying, he never would be forgiven for it. The bishop with his accustomed honesty and boldness, after thanking his friend for this considerate advice, declared, that no view of interest could deter him from doing his duty. "How," said he " shall I an

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swer this at the tribunal of Christ? You saw “the corruption of my Church-you had some ability to attempt a reform, but secular con"siderations checked your integrity." Accordingly the pamphlet was published under the title of "Considerations on the expediency of revising the liturgy and articles of the Church of England --by a constant protestant." One of his prin