XXVII. stealth and covert. And in the preface the King shewed CHAP. his princely compassion to his people, "calling to remem"brance how, according to the regal power and state to Anno 1550. "him committed by Almighty God over his realm, nothing "could better declare his zeal and affection borne toward "the commonwealth, than when by all good means such "orders proceeded from his Majesty as might best tend to "the general plenty of things needful, for the commodious "living of his natural subjects; and namely, such things as "were brought forth, and given us of God, as the pecu"liar commodities of this realm, might be enjoyed by the subjects of the same, to their utility and mutual benefit among themselves, in plentiful sort and cheapness of price, before others, according as in ancient time had been "accustomed." 66 66 victuals. But this dearness still continuing in the realm, (notwith-Further standing all these former endeavours,) partly by reason of orders for abating the conveyance of commodities beyond sea, and partly by men's prices of buying up of corn in the markets to be sold again, and also by not bringing any quantities to the market; the King issued out yet another proclamation, dated Sept. 24, signifying in the preface thereof," how the insatiable greediness of "divers ill-natured people, neither minding the due ob"servation of good laws, nor any preservation of natural "societies within their own country, and contrary to the 66 provision of divers good laws and statutes, by frequent "unlawful exportation of victuals, and by many detestable "frauds and covins, had occasioned great scarcity and un"reasonable prices of victuals:" and therefore he first commanded, "that no person should, after eight days ensuing "the proclamation, transport into Scotland, or elsewhere, "wheat, malt, rye, barley, pease, beans, oats, or any kind "of grain, or the meals of any of the same, beefs, muttons, "veals, cheese, butter, tallow, candles, beer, ale, biscuit, lea❝ther, salt, hides, wood, wool, fells. But if at any time "of shipping or transporting the premises, corn were of "such a particular price, then it should be lawful for the "King's subjects to carry over grain at pleasure: that is, Item, That no person after eight days should buy in open market, or otherwise, to be sold again, any wheat, malt, barley, rye, pease, oats, beans, or any kind of meals, upon pain of forfeiture of the same grain, and the moiety of their goods, chattels, leases and farms for term of life, excepting brewers and bakers, innkeepers and innholders. Item, That Justices of peace in every shire should divide themselves into hundreds, rapes, wards, and wapentakes, according as heretofore in other the King's business they had done. And they, or two of them, within the limits of their division, were to repair to all farms, barns, stacks, and gar223 ners, and there to view and try out, as well by the verdict of honest men, as by all other good and lawful means, what quantity and kind of grain every person had within their respective division. And after the certainty thereof known, as near as could be, they were to allot and appoint to the owners of the corn and grain, sufficient and competent for the finding and maintenance of their houses, and payment of their rent-corns, and performance of any bargains for the King's Majesty's house, or to any nobleman, gentleman, or others, for the only maintenance of his or their household, until the 20th of September next coming; and also for necessary seed-corn. And the overplus of the said grain the Justices shall have authority to charge and command them in the King's name to bring to the markets next adjoining; and that in such portions as the Justices shall think fit. And then the Justices were to signify unto the chief officer or officers of the respective markets, what quantity of grain is appointed to every man within their limits to bring to market. And if the owner of such corn shall refuse to bring to the market his corn, he should forfeit for every such de XXVII. King Edw. upon vic fault ten pounds, and suffer imprisonment for three months. CHAP. But notwithstanding, there came but little corn to the markets: whereupon letters were sent down to the gentlemen Anno 1550. of every shire for the better observing the last proclamation, Journ and to punish the offenders. And as the King had taken this care for stocking the Prices set markets, and keeping victuals, that God sent the people of tuals. England, within the realm, so he proceeded to set a moderate price upon them by another proclamation, October 20. building upon that statute of 25. Henry VIII. whereby the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Treasurer, the Lord President of the King's Privy Council, the Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, and all other Lords of the Council, the Treasurer and Comptroller of the King's house, the Chancellor of the Duchy, the King's Justices of either bench, the Chancellor, Chamberlain, Under-treasurer, and Barons of the Exchequer, or seven of them at the least, should have power from time to time, as the case should require, to set and tax reasonable prices of all kinds of cheese, butter, capons, hens, chickens, and other kind of victuals necessary for man's sustenance; how they should be sold in gross, or by retail, for the relief of the King's subjects. And that after such tax, proclamation should be made in the King's name under his seal, of the said prices. According to which statute the prices were by certain of the King's great officers now set as follow, viz. from the feast of All Saints next ensuing: The quarter. White wheat of the best sort, 13s. 4d. White wheat of the second sort, and red wheat of the best sort, 118. Od. All other wheat, as well white, red, and gray, of the Barrelled butter of Essex, not to be sold to any And barrelled butter of any other parts, Cheese of Essex, to be sold from Hallowmas The pound. 1d. ob. contest. Cap and surplice. CHAP. XXVIII. Controversy about the ecclesiastical habits. Peter Martyr's, A Lasco's, and Bucer's judgments thereof. Altars taken down. Barlow, Bishop of Bath and Wells. Superstition in Wales. Foreign matters. Duke of Somerset restored. Grants of the King. Lady Elizabeth. Morice. Haddon. Knox. Hoper's BUT to return to ecclesiastical matters. This year also happened the great controversy with Hoper, who, being to be consecrated Bishop, refused to wear the ordinary episcopal habits, because they had been used by papistical idolaters. But before this contest happened with Hoper, it seems the dispute of the cap and surplice, and other pretended popish habits, grew very warm. For there is a letter of Peter Martyr extant to a certain friend nameless, dated July 1, wherein, by occasion of his friend's writing to him upon this P. Martyr's argument, he said, "That being indifferent things of themjudgment "selves, they make no man either godly or ungodly. Yet "he judged it more expedient, that that garment and di"vers other things were taken away, when it might conve thereof. "niently be: whereby ecclesiastical things might be done CHAP. "in a more plain manner. For when signs are defended XXVII. " and retained with so obstinate a mind, which are not un- Anno 1550. 66 derpropped with God's word, there men are oftentimes less "desirous of the things themselves signified thereby. And "where shew most prevails, there commonly that which is "serious is much neglected." and Bucer's John a Lasco, superintendent of the Dutch church, a Lasco London, seemed to encourage Hoper in his incompliance; judgment. that noble and learned foreigner's judgment standing at present rather against the use of such garments for the ministers of the Gospel, however not come to full resolution. Bucer and Peter Martyr aforesaid, the two learned King's Professors of Divinity in each University, were for wearing them in this case, when the laws of the land were so con-225 stituted, that a minister might not officiate, or exercise his office, except he were so appareled, habits being things in their own nature indifferent; and which might have a tendency to edification. An account of Martyr's letter in this point, which he wrote to the said Hoper, may be seen in Archbishop Cranmer's Memorials. Bucer wrote two letters on this argument, one to A Lasco, who had propounded reasons to him against the habits; and another to Hoper. The sum of both which shall here be shewn, especially being so well replenished with learning, temper, and wisdom. A Lasco, In his letter to the former, he first prayed, "that they Bucer to "in those troublesome times of the Church might begin shewing his "and finish things, that offences and dangers were not in-judgment. "creased. Then going on, he said, that the more dili"gently he weighed what fruit men gathered by this con"troversy of vestures, and what Satan went about hereby "to work, he could have wished that it had never once "been spoken of. But that all of their function had stoutly "and unanimously gone forward in teaching true repent<< ance, and the wholesome use of all things, and in com"mending the putting on of the apparel of salvation. That by helping forward this strife, (and he knew some that "did so,) the most necessary points were neglected, that is, 66 |