Strasbourg Exiles to Frankfurt Congregation
DATE: 1554 December 13
LOCATION OF ORIGIN: Strasbourg
DESTINATION: Frankfurt
SOURCE: Denbighshire Record Office, Plas Power MSS, DD/PP/839 p. 42
To our louing bretheren & Countremen thenglishe Congregation att Franckford.1
Not in Troubles.
Gratiam et pacem in D[omi]no.2Troubles has 'Grace, mercy and peace etc'. We have receaved yo[u]r l[ett]res3The Frankfurt congregation's letter to Strasbourg, 3 Dec 1554, DD/PP/839 41-2, Troubles xxiiii-vi, which Richard Chambers and Edmund Grindal brought with them when they returned from negotiating with Frankfurt. & also yo[u]r answer in writing conseryning certayne Articles4This probably referred to the Three Questions Strasbourg had sent with Grindal and Chambers. & doe perceave as well by the same, as by Mr Grindall & Mr Chambers5Troubles has 'mister Chambers and maister Grindall'. yo[u]r state. But for as moche6Troubles has 'for so muche'. as yo[u]r opinyon is, that the tyme dothe not presentlie serve tooe[sic] move the Magistrats in those requests the obtayning wherof was the principall cause of our sendinge tooe yowe,7Troubles has 'sending vnto you'. The 'time is not ripe' argument was used by Strasbourg as the reason to avoid any commitment to come to Frankfurt on 1 Feb. as they had previously suggested and to close this stage of the negotiations without making any concessions. we cannot at this presente condescende upon any generall meatinge at anye certayne tyme, either tooe remaine with you or otherwise. And therfore if you shall certainlye perceaue a tyme conveniaunte y[a]t the Magistrats may be trawelled withall, as well for the good & quiett habitation of the com[m]eres especially studentes, as also for a severall churche8Troubles has 'and especially Students, as also a severall churche'. & to knowe whether thexcercyse of thorders of the Booke9Troubles has 'the exercise of the book'. shalbe usede (such we meane as nooe reasonable manne canne iustelye reprove)10Troubles does not have brackets. & that certayntye of those matteres11Troubles has 'that the certeintie off theis matters'. maye be knowne at the Magistrats handes: Then if you lett us have intelligence12Troubles has '(yff you can let vs have intelligence)'. we will further13Troubles has 'farther'. consulte what is to be done on owr partie. Trusting that Godd14Troubles has 'trusting god'. shall directe us tooe dooe sooe as maye be most to his glorie in thende, howsoever the present tyme shall judge of it. Thus in god we wishe you well to fare.15Troubles does not have this sentence. From Strasbroughe this 13o Decemb(er) 1554.
Your loving bretheren in the Lorde16Troubles has 'as in the letteers before' and no list of signatures. The letter of 23 November had 16 signatures, the 13 shown above and John Pedder; Michael Renniger; Augustine Bradbridge and Thomas Crafton.
Edwinus Sands
Edmundus Grindall
Jacobus Hadden
Thomas Heton
Johan(us) Fauconer
A(rthur) Saull
Gye Heton
C(hristopher) Goodman
Hum(phrey) Alcocson
Tho(mas) Steward
Joh(anus) Jefferaye
Tho(mas) Lochyn
Jo(hanus) Hontinston
1 Not in Troubles.
2 Troubles has 'Grace, mercy and peace etc'.
3 The Frankfurt congregation's letter to Strasbourg, 3 Dec 1554, DD/PP/839 41-42, Troubles xxiiii-vi, which Richard Chambers and Edmund Grindal brought with them when they returned from negotiating with Frankfurt.
4 This probably referred to the Three Questions Strasbourg had sent with Grindal and Chambers.
5 Troubles has 'mister Chambers and maister Grindall'.
6 Troubles has 'for so muche'.
7 Troubles has 'sending vnto you'. The 'time is not ripe' argument was used by Strasbourg as the reason to avoid any commitment to come to Frankfurt on 1 Feb. as they had previously suggested and to close this stage of the negotiations without making any concessions.
8 Troubles has 'and especially Students, as also a severall churche'.
9 Troubles has 'the exercise of the book'.
10 Troubles does not have brackets.
11 Troubles has 'that the certeintie off theis matters'.
12 Troubles has '(yff you can let vs have intelligence)'.
13 Troubles has 'farther'.
14 Troubles has 'trusting god'.
15 Troubles does not have this sentence.
16 Troubles has 'as in the letteers before' and no list of signatures. The letter of 23 November had 16 signatures, the 13 shown above and John Pedder; Michael Renniger; Augustine Bradbridge and Thomas Crafton.