manded by the king to go down unto the Commons House, to show unto them both what the Universities, as well of other parts beyond the seas as of Oxford and Cambridge, had done in that behalf, and their seals also testifying the same, all which matters, at the king's request, not showing of what mind himself was therein, he opened to the lower house of the parliament. Nevertheless, doubting lest further attempts after should follow, which, contrary to his conscience, by reason of his office, he was likely to be put unto, he made suit unto the Duke of Norfolk, his singular dear friend, to be a mean to the king that he might, with his grace's favour, be discharged of that chargeable room of the chancellorship, wherein, for certain [1]infirmities of his body, he pretended himself unable any longer to serve.
This duke, coming on a time to Chelsea to dine with him, fortuned to find him at the church, in the quire, with a surplice on his back, singing. To whom, after service, as they went homeward together arm in arm, the duke said, God's body, God's body, my Lord Chancellor, a parish clerk,
- ↑ ———this disease of mine, whereof the chief occasion is grown, as it is thought, by the stooping and leaning on my breast that I have used in writing. —Letter to Cromwel.
Pectus mihi occupavit nescio quid morbi cujus non tam sensu et dolore crucior, quam eventus metu ac timore solicitor.———Quamobrem, ut et publicis rebus pariter et meæ saluti consulerem, a clarissimi principis et optimi benignitate supplex impetravi at magistratu isto———dignaretur ejus pietas exonerare.—Mori Episto: Erasmo.
