The Life of Alexander Barclay 365 is against what would be considered going from a higher to a lower spiritual state. In view of these facts, and of Bale's doubt upon this point, it seems reasonable to assume that Barclay was never a Benedictine, but that some time after he left the chaplaincy of St. Mary Ottery he entered the order of St. Francis. Barclay's biographers are silent upon the interval between 1520, the year of the letter from Vaux to Wolsey, and 1546 ; when he became Vicar of Much Badew in Essex. During this period, which covers Wolsey's height of power and later fall, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the separation of the Church of England and the Church of Rome, Barclay's own career must have undergone many changes in his transition from a Franciscan Friar to a position in the English Church. Light is thrown upon this period of Barclay's life by the Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII, already men- tioned. In a letter from Herman Rinck to Wolsey, dated at Cologne, Oct. 4, 1528, 19 the writer acknowledges the receipt of letters delivered to him by John West, an Observant, concerning the arrest of certain heretics. Among other things he offers to go to the Emperor to obtain the renewal of privileges for English merchantmen, "as there was a clause for the prevention of English rebels or heretics taking refuge in the empire," etc. He adds that "William Roy, William Tyntaell, Jerome Barlo, Alexander Barckley, and their adherents, and George Constans and others ought to be delivered up." This would indicate that Barclay's criticism of certain abuses of the Church and Clergy, which had appeared in his earlier works, had ripened into something stronger until he was compelled to flee to the continent. That Barclay returned, or was brought back, to England is shown by a letter from John West to Wolsey, dated 1529. 20 The letter "asks that he may speak with him secretly before he sees Brother Alysander Barkley, who has called Wolsey a tyrant and other opprobrious and blasphemous words." 5 19 Letters and Papers, 4. 4810. 20 Ibid., 4. 3. 5462. 21 Father Aldrich (mentioned previously) suggests that there is here addi- tional evidence that Barclay was a Franciscan in the fact thatjtjohn West, an
Observant, speaks of him as "Brother." ^ ^
