BL La 8, 3

BL MSS Lansdowne 8, 3
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 81 Page 169
Bishop of Bath and Wells to Cecil, Taunton, March 23 1563/4

Transcribed by Thomas Wright

It may please your Honor to be advertised, that I am much encombered with Mr. Doctor Turner, Deane of Welles, for his un discrete behaviour in the pulpitt : where he medleth with all matters, and unsemelie speaketh of all estates, more then is standing with discretion. I have advertysed hym by writinges, and have admonished secretly by his owne frends ; notwithstanding he persisteth still in his follie. He contemneth utterly all Bishopps, (1) and calleth them white coates, typpett gentlemen, with other wordes of reproach much more unsemelie, and asketh, who gave them authoritie more over me, then I over them : either to forbidd me preaching, or to deprive me ; unlesse they have it from their holy father the Pope. I have advertysed my Lord of Canterbury of his doings, from whom as yet I have heard no answer. If I might in treat your Honor to wryte three or foure lynes to the said Deane, I know it would staie his undiscrete doyngs. Your Honor should do him a good turne, and bynde me, as I acknowledge myself alreadie most bounden, to praie for your Honor's prosperitie during life.
At Taunton, this 23rd of Marche, 1563. Your Honor's dailie orator,

Gilb. Bathe and Wells (2)

(1) The puritans, who would have had the reformation carried much further, began now to make a great stir throughout the country. They were the more troublesome, by reason that many of them were beneficed, and had possession of the pulpit, as in the present instance of Dean Turner.
(2) Gilbert Berkley, made Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1560. He died in 1582.