NOTES TO CHAPTER XIV
Reading edition
Note A. The points which indicate that this paper was drawn up by Aske are:
(1) The questions are not the same as those which were laid before the clergy at Pontefract, and Aske said afterwards that his questions were not used there[1867].
(2) Several of the questions are on points on which Aske was examined, e.g. the contradictory oaths, the rights of the Church according to Magna Carta, and the Statute of Uses. The opinions expressed in the questions agree with those in Aske’s replies.
(3) The questions were found together with a paper in Latin on the clause in the Creed “Credo in Sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam.”[1868] This paper would probably be given to Archbishop Lee, who also had Aske’s questions in his possession[1869]. He may have sent both to the King together.
Note B. The Articles of Pontefract are printed in the Letters and Papers, XI, 1246, in Speed’s History of Great Britain, Book IX, chap. 21, and in Froude’s History of England, II, chap. XIII, in a foot-note. In the present work the articles have been grouped in a new order, but the numbering of the original order has been retained for convenience of reference.
Note C. Against this article is written “ney,” but it is uncertain when or by whom the note was made. It is difficult to believe that there was a division of opinion among the Pilgrims as to the conduct of the notorious commissioners, and there seems to be no reason to suppose that this article was opposed or rejected after it was laid before the general council, for Aske stated that “they all agreed to the Articles and none to the contrary of them.”[1870] Possibly the word may have been written when Aske was being examined to indicate that he had not yet been interrogated on this article, as his reply to it occurs in his last examination[1871].
“Non” is written in the margin against article 9, probably for a similar reason.
Note D. Bye-elections were not accepted as a constitutional practice even as late as the seventeenth century[1872].
388Note E. The boroughs were Ripon, Doncaster, Tickhill, Ravenspur, Yarm, Pickering, Hedon, Beverley, Thirsk, Northallerton, Malton, Knaresborough, Pontefract, Hull and Scarborough[1873].
The other northern counties had electoral grievances as well as Yorkshire, for instance, Durham was not represented at all. The members for Cumberland in 1523 were nominated by the King but this was because no one would volunteer to stand[1874].
Note F. The name is illegible in his confession[1875], and as he had received his benefice in August 1536 it cannot be discovered from the Valor Ecclesiasticus. Dakyn, however, mentions that Dr Rokeby was at Pontefract[1876], and the unknown writer names his uncle William Rokeby. Friar Pickering adds to the list of divines, Mr Bachelor of Meux and a secular man. He also says that the friar was an Observant[1877].
Note G. There are galleries in All Hallows, the parish Church of Pontefract, at the present day[1878], but as the church was almost completely destroyed during the Civil War it is impossible to say whether there were galleries in the original building[1879].
Note H. These articles are printed by Strype, Memorials, I (ii), 266, and by Wilkins, Concilia, III, 812, but as neither of these copies is very accurate a fresh one has been made from the original in the British Museum, Cotton MS. Cleop. E. V, 381 (old numbering), 413 (modern numbering). A very much condensed summary is printed in the Letters and Papers, XI, 1245. The Articles are also printed in “The Acts of the Northern Convocation” (Surtees Soc.), but they are erroneously represented as being the reply of the Northern Convocation to the King’s Ten Articles.
END OF VOLUME ONE.
CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY JOHN CLAY, M.A. AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.
Used numbers for footnotes, placing them all at the end of the last chapter.
Did not make the "Additions and Corrections" to the document.