302 



The Fall of the Wiltshire Monasteries. 



letter, that if it came to his colleague's knowledge, it might be 

 the cause of much trouble to himself ; and accordingly he writes the 

 next day to Cromwell to tone down and modify his first letter? 

 stating in a very naive way the reasons which led him to do so : — 1 



"After nay right humble commendations. Please it your M r ship to be advertised 

 that where as of late atyo r straight commaundement I have certified yo r M r ship of 

 certain things touching M r Docto r Legh, allthough they were all trewe, yet than 

 havyng no other respect but to satisfie yo r commaundement and for haste, I omitted 

 that moderation therein, which of my conscience I can not no we but advertise your 

 M r ship of. First havyng experyment in myself not long agoo bowe grevous ye 

 and dedlie it is for any man to have the displeasure of suche a man as you are 

 specially havyng your favo r before and hanging onlye of you. And what 

 desperation or other inconvenience maye ensue therupon to the same so that I 

 wolde not wisshe my moste enemie so greate a displeasure. And also considering 

 for yo r parte howe ye can not sodenlie or violentlie use any extremetie toward the 

 said M r Docto r but ye shall therby geve occasion to some to reken that ye were 

 to quicke in choysing suche a one to that rome, as ye wolde so sone after 

 disalowe and reprove. Also it wolde be thought by some other that all his doings 

 and proceedings in suche places as he was at, were reproved by you and he for the 

 same so handeledc I think therfor, savyng yo r M r ships better opinion, that ye 

 sholde doo an acte bothe agreable to yo r hono r and very benigne towards hym 

 yf ye did firste gentlie admonyshe hym to amendement and not utterly discorage 

 hym and strike hym under foote. And yf therupon he doo use any exorbitunce 

 or excese I shall upon my perill (nowe that I knowe yo r pleasure) signifie it 

 unto you. And then might ye call hym home by litle and litle so that as litle 

 brute or rumo r shulde arise therof as might be. And seing he is but a yong man 

 and bothe for that and of nature somewhat highe of courage, yf he were but 

 admonyshed by you modestlie he woll percase doo very well yet. And surely he 

 hath a very good will and audacitie ynough, and therwith pretendeth suche an 

 ernest fasshion to sett foorth the matiers that he intended (yf he wolde use some 

 what more modestie therm than he dooth) as I knowe no other man to have that 

 ye putt in truste. But some faultes maye be tolerated and some amended yf 

 they maye be, seing no man is all fautlesse. For this my boldnes in advertysing 

 you being of that wisdom, I praye you to pardon me for it procedith of a good 

 faithfull mynde towardes you. 



"And forasmoche as the said M r Docto r is of suche acqueyntunce and 

 familiaritie with many Rufflers and servyng men that yf he knowe this matier 

 to have proceeded of me though it be but at yo r commaundement,I havyng comenly 

 no greate assistence with me when I go abrode might take perchaunce irrecoverabl e 

 harme by hym or his er I were ware. I instantly desire and praye yo T good 

 M r ship that I be not rekened the autho r of his displeasure. For the trueth of 

 all things shalbe knowen sufficientlye by other men and so it were better for 

 nother he ne any other that ye shall happen to putt in like truste wolde than 



1 Letters and Papers, ix., 630, 



