We had conceived so great a hope and opinion of the probity, integrity, and prudence of your predecessor, that, from his care and vigilance, we securely trusted that the business and affairs of this your Order, which hitherto has always wont to be of no slight assistance to our most Holy Faith, and to the Christian name, would as far as was needful have been amended and settled most quietly and effectually with God and his Holy Religion. From the love then and affection which we have hitherto shown in no ordinary manner to your Order, for the sake of the propagation of the Christian Faith, we were not a little grieved at the death of your predecessor, because we very much feared that serious loss would in consequence be entailed on that Religion. But since, both from your letters and from the discourse of others, we now hear that your venerable Brethren agreed by their unanimous voice and consent to choose your Reverence as the {101} person to whom the care and government of so weighty an office should be intrusted, considering this dignity to be especially worthy of you and your spirit of Religion, we cannot but sincerely be glad; and rejoice especially if, by your eminent virtues, it shall be effected that only such matters shall be undertaken, and presided over by the strength and counsels of the Order of Jerusalem, as are most in accordance with the True Religion of Christ our Redeemer, and best adapted to the propagation of his doctrine and Faith. And if you shall seriously apply your mind to this, as you are especially bound to, we shall by no means repent of the favours which we have bestowed neither seldom nor secretly upon this your Order, nay rather this object shall be attained that you shall have no reason to think that you have been foiled in that your confidence, and in our protection and the guardianship which we extend over your concerns through reverence for the Almighty God. And we shall not find that this guardianship and protection of your Order, assumed by us, has been borne for so long a period by us without any fruit. Those things which the Reverend Prior of our Kingdom, and the person who brought your Reverend Lordship's letter to us, have listened to with attention and kindness, and returned an answer to, as we doubt not will be intimated by them to your Reverend Lordship. May all happiness attend you. From our Palace at Westminster, The 17th day of November, 1534. HENRY REX.