BL Harley 416, 175

BL MSS Harleian 416, 175
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 78 Page 164
Bishop of Norwich to John Fox (1), Ludham, Jan. 29 1563/4
Transcribed by Thomas Wright

Salutem in Christo Jesu. I have receyved your loving letters, and do understand therby your visitation at Godde's hand in this tyme of mortalytie ; you are not ignorant that so he is wont to chastise whom he loveth. As touching the prebend, what I with other your frends have done in that behalf, I am sure you have heard, howbeit the successe is not suche as we hoped at Mr. Foule's hands ; but ther is one Mr. Smith, in Cambridge, that hathe another of the prebends, who, as I heare, can be content to parte from the same uppon reasonable conditions.
Good Mr. Foxe, appointe you to come downe as soone as convenientlie you may, and doubt you not God wyll provyde for you either that or some other thing as good, whereunto there shall want nothing in me that I am able to do.
And thus with my hartie commendations to my good frendes with you, I commyt you to the keeping of Almightie God. From Ludham (2), this 29th of Januarie, 1563. Your assured frend,

John Norwic

My Lord Deane of Christ's Churche was appointed by the Duke's counsell to preache at the buriall of the Dutches [of Norfolk], The whiche thing he had done, if I had not sent my letters to them, offering my service in this behalfe, for although the other could do muche better than I, yet I thought it my bounden duty to do all things that I might to Godde's glorie to do honor to the Duke's grace.
Therefore the Deane buried her, and I made the funerall sermon, 24 January. All thinges were done honorably, sine crux, sine lux, at non sine tinckling. There was neither torche, neither taper, candell, nor any light elles besydes light of the sunne. Singing there was ynough. I have sent to you here inclosed a letter, written to me from Dr. Gesner, (3) and two catalogos. The one for you, to searche by that the Quene's librarie, according to Dr. Gesner's request, and to ask of other learned men concerning the same.
The other I pray you send to Dr. Sampson or Dr. Humphrys (4), that searche may be made in Oxford also.
One I have sent to Mr. Beaumont (5), in Cambridge, that he may do the lyke.
I wold rather be negligent in other things, then in setting forthe old ancient writers ; and yet to say the truthe to you, I lyke no olde wryter worse then Dionysius, the which, although he be somewhat ancient, yet I am persuaded that it is not Areopagita ille de quo Act. 17.
I pray you certifie me of these thinges as sone as you maye, and if a bloodhound or twayne might be sent to Zurich, according to Dr. Gesner's requeste, I wold rejoyce not a little, and wold be contente to pay for the charges thereof. I wryte this unto you, because you be so good a hunter, and have suche plentie of dogges, &c.
I praye you when you have perused Dr. Gesner's letters, that you will send them againe forthe to me, that I may make answer to the same against the nexte carte.
Commende me to Mrs. Fox, to Mr. Day (6) and his wyfe, and thanke him for the boke of the Reliques of Rome which he sent me. I will thanke Mr. Becon (7), which dedicated the same to my name, another time, if God so will. Yf you see the Bishop of London, the Deane of Paul's, Mr. Whitehedd, and other of my trends there, I praye you salute them in my name.
Yours,

John Norwic.

(1) The celebrated John Fox, the martyrologist. During Mary's reign he had taken shelter on the continent, where he had contracted a close friendship with Parkhurst. He was now waiting for some preferment in the church, and particularly desired a prebend of Norwich for the sake of living near his friend. He was some time after made Prebend of Salisbury.
(2) Ludham, a village about ten miles from Norwich.
(3) Conrad Gesner, the famous naturalist, born at Zurich, in 1516, and died in 1565.
(4) Thomas Sampson, Dean of Christ Church : and Lawrence Humphrey, President of Magdalene College.
(5) Dr. Robert Beaumont, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.
(6) Day the printer.
(7) Thomas Becon, a zealous English reformer, who died about 1570, He was a voluminous writer, and published books so early as 1541. The book here referred to is the " Reliques of Rome," printed by Day in 16mo. in 1563. In the folio of Becon's works, printed in 1564, is a Latin epigram in his praise, by Bishop Parkhurst.