Erkynwald Rawlins to Richard Chambers
DATE: 1554 November 241
This was probably the day after Chambers had left Strasbourg.
LOCATION OF ORIGIN: Strasbourg
DESTINATION: Frankfurt
SOURCE: Denbighshire Record Office, Plas Power MSS, DD/PP/839 pp. 40-41
To Mr Richard Chamber (sic) in Franckford.
Strasbourgh the 24o of November 1554.
The lorde of heaven blesse you in yo(u)r dooinges to the prayese of his name & comfort of his churche. The same day you departed from hence Mr Heton2Thomas Heton, merchant, Garrett, Marian Exiles, 182-83. receaved l(ett)res from London dated the 17o of this presentes how y(a)t Mr Loke,3News of the imprisonment of Thomas Locke and Anthony Hickman was given in Grindal's letter to Cox, 6 Nov 1554, DD/PP/839 37-39. Mr Hickman, Thomas Aldersay4Thomas Aldersay [ODNB] probably a relative of John, see Goodman to John Aldersay, 30th September 1554, DD/PP/839 34. wer delyvered owt of prison upon this condicion to put in sewerties for 500 li(bri) a man to make answer to the cowncell any day betwene this & midsummer next: of all such thinges as shall be laide against them. Cardinall Poole is looked for the 18o of this moneth in London; & to receave him at the sea coast Mr Cisill with diverse other are sent in that behalf.5Cardinal Reginald Pole's arrival in England was the signal for the formal reconciliation of the kingdom with the Papacy. William Cecil had been sent to meet Pole as he landed. Mr Sparke6Mr Spark, draper was arrested in early October 1554, on charges of receiving suspect books from abroad. Foxe 6, 561. is in the cownter & his wiffe in the flytt, but wherfor I know not the Lord comfort them with all other his afflicted. Thus for this presentes I com(m)end you to God & for Godes sake waye those wordes that you & I talked of concerning the Psalmes songe in miter, which as it seamed to me you cold not alowe to be used in the churche so well as the texte it selffe.7A debate about the use in worship of metrical versions of the psalms seemed to have formed part of a wide-ranging liturgical discussion which took place in Strasbourg as the result of Chambers visits. Indeade it must be graunted, that the texte above all thinges is to be esteamed, but when a man of God shall other in miter or prose wright or preache upon any parte of the scripture not dissentinge frome the true sence and meaning therof, it owght both to be receaved & allowed. Againe, all Christian churches so fare as I have harde & seene, do use to singe their Psalmes in the same order.8Rawlins appeared to be objecting, not to singing the Psalms, but that the metrical versions might distort the correct sense of the Psalms. Thus as a foole I wright, but I know you will take all thinges well. Agayne, for putting in the worde forme9'forme' underlined in manuscript here and in the two instances below. after y(a)t the company had concluded to have it put forthe,10This is an interesting charge, that after the Strasbourg exiles had agreed to remove the word 'forme' from their document and had all signed it, Chambers had re-inserted the word on his own initiative. As Rawlins pointed out, as well as the implication of bad faith, this might come to haunt Chambers. Despite the language of deference, this is a severe reprimand. The Strasbourg document was carried by Chambers and Grindal to Frankfurt and was probably related to the 'Three Questions', Troubles xxiiii. if the letters be not gon: waye it as gods spirite shall move you, & aske also the cowncell of Mr Grindall, for allthough you11Probably a word missing from the manuscript here. of a good mynde towards thalluringe of other to come thether did put yt in: yet it 12'Be' crossed out in manuscript.may turne to a forther inconveniencie. I wright thus moche because I was in place this daye [p. 41] where this worde forme was talked of, & one emonge other sayde it was a peace of their cheiffe comynge together. Thus as one that knowith how you will take my simple writinge I am bolde to utter the thinges I do. And this in my simple & foolish iudgement I fear may come of yt, that it may be sayde of you by some particuler man. Suche a daye we wer to treat of matters, & the conclusion being thus, yet Mr Chambers after we all had subcribed our names, put in this worde forme. Thus moche I had in my head when I put it in to tell you, but now comynge to mynde I wright it, knowing you will take it in good part. For this present fare ye well in Christ Jesus, beseching you to praye for me a poore sinfull wretche. Do my com(m)endacions I pray you to Mr Grindall and I beseche the Lord of wisdome to give you abowndance of wisdome in the bessines you have in hande. I pray you comend me to my beloved sister Misteris Giblet,13Possibly Mrs Gilby, the wife of Anthony Gilby. Mr Woode,14Thomas Wood, Garrett, Marian Exiles, 343. Mr Williams,15William Williams, Garrett, Marian Exiles, 335-36. & my good frend Mr Wallton.16William Walton, Garrett, Marian Exiles, 320.
A poore sinfull wretche
Erkynwald Rawlyns
1 This was probably the day after Chambers had left Strasbourg.
2 Thomas Heton, merchant, Garrett, Marian Exiles, 182-83.
3 News of the imprisonment of Thomas Locke and Anthony Hickman was given in Grindal's letter to Cox, 6 Nov 1554, DD/PP/839 37-39.
4 Thomas Aldersay [ODNB] probably a relative of John, see Goodman to John Aldersay, 30th September 1554, DD/PP/839 34.
5 Cardinal Reginald Pole's arrival in England was the signal for the formal reconciliation of the kingdom with the Papacy. William Cecil had been sent to meet Pole as he landed.
6 Mr Spark, draper was arrested in early October 1554, on charges of receiving suspect books from abroad. Foxe 6, 561.
7 A debate about the use in worship of metrical versions of the psalms seemed to have formed part of a wide-ranging liturgical discussion which took place in Strasbourg as the result of Chambers visits.
8 Rawlins appeared to be objecting, not to singing the Psalms, but that the metrical versions might distort the correct sense of the Psalms.
9 'forme' underlined in manuscript here and in the two instances below.
10 This is an interesting charge, that after the Strasbourg exiles had agreed to remove the word 'forme' from their document and had all signed it, Chambers had re-inserted the word on his own initiative. As Rawlins pointed out, as well as the implication of bad faith, this might come to haunt Chambers. Despite the language of deference, this is a severe reprimand. The Strasbourg document was carried by Chambers and Grindal to Frankfurt and was probably related to the 'Three Questions', Troubles xxiiii.
11 Probably a word missing from the manuscript here.
12 'Be' crossed out in manuscript.
13 Possibly Mrs Gilby, the wife of Anthony Gilby.
14 Thomas Wood, Garrett, Marian Exiles, 343.
15 William Williams, Garrett, Marian Exiles, 335-36.
16 William Walton, Garrett, Marian Exiles, 320.