[1]

21.1. To this letter of the ladie Marie, the lords of the councell answered againe as followeth.

To this letter of the ladie Marie, the lords of the councell answered againe as followeth.

[1] _MAdam, we haue receiued your letters the ninth of this instant, declaring your sup|posed title, which you iudge your selfe to haue to the imperiall crowne of this realme, and all the dominions thereto belonging. For answer wherof, this is to aduertise you, that for|somuch as our souereigne ladie quéene Iane is, after the death of our souereigne lord Edward the sixt,The lords ad|uertise the la|die Marie that the ladie Iane is queene. a prince of most noble memorie, inuested and possessed with the iust and right title of the imperiall crowne of this realme, not onelie by good order of old anci|ent good lawes of this realme; but also by our late souereigne lords letters patents, signed with his owne hand, and sealed with the great seale of Eng|land, in presence of the most part of the nobles, coun|cellors, iudges, with diuers other graue and sage per|sonages, assenting and subscribing to the same: we must therefore, as of most bound dutie and allegi|ance, assent vnto hir said grace, and to none other, except we should (which faithfull subiects cannot) fall into gréeuous and vnspeakeable enormities. Where|fore we can no lesse doo, but for the quiet both of the realme and you also, to aduertise you, that forsomuch as the diuorse made betwéene the king of famous memorie king Henrie the eight, and the ladie Katha|rine your mother, was necessarie to be had, both by the euerlasting lawes of God, and also by the ecclesi|asticall lawes,A subtill shift to prooue the ladie Marie illegitimate. and by the most part of the noble and learned vniuersities of christendome, and confirmed also by the sundrie acts of parlements, remaining yet in their force, and thereby you iustlie made illegi|timate, and vnheritable to the crowne imperiall of this realme; and the rules, dominions, and possessi|ons of the same: you will vpon iust consideration hereof, and of diuers other causes lawfull to be alled|ged for the same, and for the iust inheritance of the right line, and godlie orders taken by the late king Edward the sixt, and greatest personages aforesaid, surcease, by anie pretense to vex and molest anie of our souereigne ladie quéene Iane hir subiects, from the true faith and allegiance due vnto hir grace; assu|ring you, that if you will for respect shew your selfe quiet and obedient (as you ought) you shall find vs all, and seuerall, readie to doo you a [...]e seruice that we with dutie may, and to be glad of your quietnesse, to preserue the common state of this realme, where|in you may be otherwise gréeuous vnto vs, to your selfe, and to them. And thus we bid you most hartilie well to fare. From the tower of London this ninth of Iulie.

Your ladiships freends shewing your selfe an obedient subiect, Thomas Canturburie, the marquesse of Winche|ster, Iohn Bedford, William Northampton, Tho|mas Elie chancellor, Iohn Northumberland, Hen|rie Suffolke, Henrie Arundell, Francis Shrewes|burie, William Penbroke, Cobham, R. Rich, Hun|tington, Darcie, Cheineie, R. Cotton, Iohn Gates, William Peter, William Cecill, Iohn Chéeke, Iohn Mason, Edward North, Robert Bowes.