Works, Part 4 · Letter 3
Maister Greenhams care for the poore Schollers of Cambridge.
RIght Honourable, although it bee a thing well knowne vntounto many, and specially to your Lordshippe, that the number of students in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge is greater of late yeeres than hath beene heretofore; yet it may bee many hauehave not heard, neither hath your Honour vnderstood, how many of good hope for want of sufficient reliefe hauehave beene, and are forced, or tempted to forsake the Vniuersitie.
Of the which number some hauehave entered into the Ministerie both vnseasonably and hurtfully, some taken vponupon them to be pettie scholemaisters vnprofitably, some fallen to be seruingmen or to some other meane trades of life inconueniētly, some hauehave crept into popish gentlemens houses at home, or flying ouer sea hauehave proued traiterous and vnnaturall Iesuites or Seminarie Priests.
Besides that which is as true as ruefull, some straining themselues for louelove of learning to liue in the Vniuersitie, for want of necessaries hauehave either pined away there, or shortly after they hauehave departed from thence; or else hauehave liued there much discouraged to their farre lesse profit in learning. Which sore as I hauehave seene of some to be espyed, of some to be pitied, euen with desire of redresse; yet hauehave I not seene any sufficient care taken to salue and recouer the same.
True it is, that diuers men of diuers degrees, as in the citie and elsewhere, hauehave somewhat largely yeelded their helping hand hereunto: but by reason of the multitude of the needie, and for that by want, either of the wise care in the choise, or of a continued ouersight of such as were chosen, diuers abuses hauehave growen in the receiuers, the hearts and the hands of the giuers hauing beene much streightned.
These things often weighed wrought much compassiō in me, so that I hauehave indeuored, according to my power and place, a good while to procure some exhibition from diuers, for poore learned, and godly students in the same Vniuersitie: whereunto I was and am induced, the rather by a speciall charge of caring for the poore laide vponupon me (by a speciall occasion) at the time of mine ordination into the Ministerie; which I willingly went vnderunder, because the holy Apostles Paul and B…rnabas did the same before me. Whose wiseGal. 2. 20. and worthie dispensation about the Church almes, often admonishing me of no lesse wisedome and discretion, than of dutie & conscience to be vsed in this behalfe. And foreseeing some offensiue inconueniences of the sole dealing of one man in so great a cause; I hauehave long thought of some men, most meete in many respects to ioyne with me herein. And to this end of late I resolued of Maister Whittakers and Master Chaderton; who, after diuers intreaties and perswasions, hauehave yeelded the right hand of fellowship both carefully and faithfully to labour with me in this matter.
The reason, why I rested rather on them than others, was, because as by their place and residence in the Vniuersitie, so by long obseruation I hauehave iudged them most meete, not onelyonly in regarde of their promise to take paines, but also for their faithfulnes and fitnes to doe good in it, being men well knowne vntounto many Honourable, worshipfull, rich and mercifull persons.
And for testimonie of our more faithful seruice herein, I, in their names, do promise to your Honor our speciall care and conscience of imploying that beneuolence, without respect of persons, vponupon those schollers only, that either are learned or towardly in learning, and the same being religious, honest, poore, and making conscience of the right and reuerent vse of their almes; and that so long as they continue to be such.
Further we shall be readie each other yeere, or oftner, if your Honourable wisdome shal thinke good, to make our accounts to Maister Nowell Deane of Paules, Maister Osburne of the Exchequer, Maister Doctor Hammond, Maister Vincent Skinner, or some two of these, or any other, whom your Lordship shall thinke meete herein. Now that with some good authoritie and greater hope of successe this matter might bee performed, I come first and principally to your Honour an humble petitioner, that you would vouchsafe by your Honorable word and hand, to commend and authorize vsus as meete men to be imployed in this worke; and then, if so it seeme good to your Lordship, I will repaire in the same suite for like fauour to Sir Frauncis Walsingham, Maister Secretary Dauison, Sir Walter Mildmay, or others of your most Honourable societie, whom your wisedome shall aduise me vntounto.
In that I hauehave beene so bold to mention my selfe in this action, I humbly craue your Honours fauourable construction towards me, who, hauing receiued great mercies of the Lord from the Vniuersitie, think my selfe much more indebted to seeke the good therof, especially after so long waiting for others to doe it; and so now, if any will doe it without me, or any other meanes more fit than this may be vsed, I most heartily wish the same.
Thus I commend my selfe and the whole cause to your Honours wise and mercifull consideration, as desirous of the most fruitfull successe hereof, and humbled in mine own vnabilitie to further it.
FINIS.