the French vnder colour of reconciling him with the Emperour but his chiefe errant was to combine them both against HENRY Whereof hee having intelligence did by his Agent earnestly solicite FRANCIS That in reguard of their mutuall amity hee would cause POOLE to bee apprehended as guilty of high Treason and sent to him where hee should vndergo the punishment due therefore But because Religion and the Law of Nations had beene violated in betraying any especially the Popes Embassadour the French could not yeeld to the Kings request but to shew that hee would administer no cause of offence hee refused to admit of his Embassy and commanded him speedily to depart out of his Dominions HERCVLES stature might be guessed at by the proportion of his foot and by this one mans endeavours HENRY was taught what if need were hee was to expect of his Clergy So that hee was easily induced as any of them offended to send him to his grave for that a dead Lion biteth not And this course beeing taken with his professed enemies the feare of the like punishment would secure him of the rest On the twelfth of October the Queene having long suffered the throwes of a most difficult travaile and such a one wherein either the Mother or the Infant must necessarily perish out of her wombe was ripped Prince EDWARD who after succeeded his Father in the Crowne The Queene onely surviving two daies died on the fourteenth of October and on the twelfth of November was with great pompe buried at Windsore in the middle of the Quire on whose Tombe is inscribed this Epitaph Phoenix IANA iacet nato Phoenice dolendum Secula Phoenices nulla tulisse duas Here a Phoenix heth whose death To another Phoenix gaue breath It is to be lamented much The World at once ne'r knew two such On the eighteenth of October the Infant was created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornewall and Earle of Chester and with him his Vnkle EDWARD SEIMOVR brother to the deceased Queene Lord Beauchampe and Earle of Hereford which Honours onely and not those afterwards conferred on him hee left to his posterity WILLIAM FITZ-WILLIAMS Lord Admirall was made Earle of Southampton Then also WILLIAM POWLET and IOHN RVSSELL began their races in the lists of Honour POWLET being made Treasurer and RVSSELL Comptroller of the Kings Houshold and both sworne of the Privy Counsaile Neither was here their non vltra the one being afterward raised to Lord Treasurer of England and Marquis of Winchester the other to Earle of Bedford wherein hee dying in the yeare 1554 his Sonne FRANCIS that pious old man and liberall releiuer of the Poore succeeded him who at the very instant of his death lost his Sonne FRANCIS slaine by a Scot Anno 1587. Which FRANCIS was Father to EDWARD Earle of Bedford and brother to WILLIAM by King IAMES created Lord RVSSELL POWLET living to be a very decrepit old man had to his Successour his Nephew by his Sonne WILLIAM named also WILLIAM the sole Marquis of England And to end this yeare with death as it began THOMAS HOWARD youngest sonne to the Duke of Norfolke having beene fifteene moneths imprisoned for affiancing himselfe without the Kings consent to MARGARET Daughter to ARCHIBALD DOVGLAS Earle of Angus and Lady MARGARET the Kings Sister on the first day of November to the vnspeakeable good of this Island deceased in the Tower For this MARGARET beeing after married to MATHEW Earle of Lenox had by him HENRY the Father of King IAMES of sacred memory the most happy Vnitor of divided Britaine Anno Dom. 1538. Reg. 30. IT is at length after many ages resolved That through the superstitious abuse of Images God was robbed of his due honour The King much prone to Reformation specially if any thing might be gotten by it thought it fit to remove this stumbling blocke and the rather for that hee conceived his Treasury would be thereby supplied There were some Images of more especiall fame and Shrines of reputed Saints Whereunto Pilgrimages were made from the farthest parts of the Kingdome nay even from foraine Countries also the Oblations whereto were so many and so rich that they not onely suffised for the maintenance of Priests and Monkes but also to the heaping vp of incredible wealth The Shrine of THOMAS BECKET Archbishop of Canterbury was covered with plates of gold and laden with guifts of inestimable value The blinde zeale of those and former times had decked it with gemmes chaines of gold of great weight and pearles of that large size which in our Language finde no proper terme This Tombe was razed and his bones found entire in steed of whose head the Monkes vsually obtruded the skull of some other peradventure better deserving then did their supposed Martyr The spoile of this Monument wherein nothing was meaner then gold filled two chests so full that each of them required eight strong men for the portage Among the rest was a stone of especiall lustre called the Royall of France offered by LEWIS the Seventh King of France in the yeare 1179 together with a great massy cup of gold at what time hee also bestowed an annuity on the Monkes of that Church of an hundred tunnes of wine This stone was after ward highly prised by the King who did continually weare it on his thumbe ERASMVS speakes much of the magnificence of this Monument as also of the Image of our Lady of Walsingham both which hee had seene and admired This Image was also stripped of whatsoeuer worthy thing it had the like being also done in other the like places and the statues and bones of the dead digged vp and burned that they might bee no further cause of superstition Among the rest of these condemned Images there was a Crucifex in South-Wales called of the Inhabitants Darvell Gatharen concerning which there was a kinde of prophecy That it should one day fire a whole Forest It chanced that at this time one Doctor FOREST a Frier Observant who had formerly taken the Oath of Supremacy was vpon his relapse apprehended and condemned of Treason and Heresy For this Fryer a new Gallowes was erected whereon hee was hanged by the arme pits and vnderneath him a fire made of this Image wherewith hee was burned and so by his death made good the Prophecy Great was the Treasure which the King raised of the spoiles of Churches and Religious Houses But whether the guilt of sacriledge adhering like a consuming canker made this ill gotten treasure vnprofitable or that he found he had need of greater supplies to withstand the dangers that threatened him from abroad not content with what hee had already corraded hee casts his eyes on the wealth of the Abbeyes that had escaped the violence of the former tempest and not expecting as hee deemed it a needlesse Act of Parliament seizeth on the rest of the Abbeyes and Religious Houses of the Realme And first hee begins with that
names of both Legates he began a speech in English wherein hee professed a great deale of observance and dutie to her and that they came to no other end but to advise her for her good The Queene answered them much after this manner As for your good will I thanke you as for your advise I will give you the hearing But the matter I beleeve about which you come is of so great importance that it will require a great deale of deliberation and the helpe of a braine surpassing that of feminine weaknesse You see my employments shewing them a skaine of white thred hanging about her necke in these I spend my time among my Maides which indeed are none of the greatest Counsailers yet I have none other in England and Spaine where they are on whom I dare relie God wot is farre enough hence yet I am content to heare what you have to say and will give you an answere when we can conveniently So taking the Cardinall by the hand she brought them into a withdrawing roome where having attentively heard out their message shee made this reply That now after twenty yeares the lawfulnesse of my marriage should be questioned I cannot sufficiently wonder especially when I consider who were the Authours of it Many of them are yet alive both in England and Spaine and what kind of men the rest were who are now dead the world knowes Henry and Ferdinand our Parents the most sage Princes of their time and their Counsaile such without doubt who for their wisdome were approved of as fit servants for so iudicious Masters besides the Pope whose Dispensation J have to shew and which was procured by my Father at no small rate But what thing is there so sincere and firme which enuy will not seeke to blast Of these my miseries I can accuse none but you my Lord of Yorke Because I could not away with your monstrous pride excessive riot whoredome and intolerable oppression therefore do I now suffer And yet not only for this for some part of your hatred I am beholding to my Nephew the Emperour whom for that he did not satisfie your insatiable ambition by advancing you to the Papacy you have ever since maligned You threatned to be revenged on him and his Friends and you have performed your promise for you have beene the onely incendiarie and plotter of all the mischiefe and wars against him these late yeares And J am his Aunt whom how you have persecuted by raising this new doubt God only knowes to whose iudgement only I commend my cause This Shee spake in French as it seemed very much moved and would not endure to heare WOLSEY speake in defence of himselfe but courteously dismissed CAMPEGIVS It was now Iune and the Harvest drawing on the Legates thought it high time to make an end of this suite A day therefore being prefixed many of the Nobility and a multitude of the Commonaltie repaired to the Court verily expecting that iudgement should have beene given for the King HENRY having I know not how conceived some hope of the Legates good intents caused a seat to bee placed for himselfe behind the hangings vnder the covert wherof he might vnseene heare whatsoever was spoken or passed in Court The Cardinals being seated the King's Advocates earnestly requiring that sentence might be given on their side CAMPEGIVS made this Oration well beseeming the constancy of a man not vnworthy of the place he supplied J have heard and diligently examined whatsoever hath beene alledged in the King's behalfe And indeed the arguments are such that I might and ought pronounce for the King if two reasons did not controll and curbe my desires of doing his Matestie right The Queene you see withdrawes her selfe from the iudgement of this Court having before vs excepted against the partialitie of the place where she saith nothing can be determined without the consent of the Plaintife Moreover his Holinesse who is the fountaine and life of our authoritâ—e hath by a messenger given vs to vnderstand that hee hath reserved this cause for his owne hearing so that if wee would never so faine proceed any farther peradventure wee cannot J am sure wee may not Wherefore which only remaineth I doe heere dissolve the Court Other then this as the case stands I cannot do and I beseech them whom this Cause concernes to take in good part what I have done Which if they will not although it may trouble me yet not so much as to reguard the threats of any one I am a feeble old man and see death so neere me that in a matter of so great consequence neither hope nor feare nor any other respect but that of the Supreme Iudge before whom I finde my selfe ready to appeare shall sway me How the King was pleased at this you may easily conceive It is reported that the Duke of Suffolke knowing the King to be present and conscious of his infirmitie in a great rage leaping out of his chaire bountifully bestowed a volley of curses vpon the Legates saying It was never well with England since it had any thing to doe with Cardinalls To whom WOLSEY returned a few wordes saying That it was not in his power to proceed without Authoritie from the Pope and that no man ought to accuse them for not doing that whereto their power did not extend But the Kings implacable anger admitted of no excuse WOLSEY himselfe must become a sacrifice to appease it As for CAMPEGIVS hee tasted neverthelesse of the King's bountie and had leave to depart But at Calais his carriages were searched by the King's command The pretence was that WOLSEY intending an escape had by CAMPEGIVS convaied his treasures for Rome But the Bull was the Treasure so much sought after The King could not beleive it was burned and if it were found it was enough to countenance his second marriage But found it was not no nor scarce so much money in all the Cardinals carriages as had beene given him by the King WOLSEY his rising and his fall were alike sodaine neither of them by degrees but as the Lion gets his prey by leapes Shortly after the departure of his Colleague vpon the eighteene of October the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke in his Maiesties name commanded him to surrender the Great Seale But he pleaded That the King had by Patent made him Lord Chancellour during terme of life and by consequence committed the custodie of the great Seale to him Neverthelesse hee would resigne his place if his Maiestie so commanded But hee thought it not fit having received the Seale from the King to deliver it to any other but vpon especiall Command The Lords returning to Windsore where the Court then was the next day brought the King's Letters whose Mandate the Cardinall forthwith obeied In this Dignitie the six and twentieth of October Sir THOMAS MORE succeeded whose admirably generall learning is so well knowne to the world that I
Gentlemen of the Kings Priuy Chamber and MARKE SVETON a Musitian either as Partakers or accessory were to run the same fortune The King greatly favoured NORRIS and is reported to be much grieved that he was to dy with the rest Whereupon he offered pardon to him conditionally that he would confesse that whereof hee was accused But hee answered resolutely and as it became the progenitor of so many valiant Heroes That in his conscience he thought her guiltlesse of the obiected crime but whether she were or no he could not accuse her of any thing and that he had rather vndergo a thousand deaths then betray the Innocent Vpon relation whereof the King cryed out Hang him vp then Hang him vp then Which notwithstanding was not accordingly executed For on the thirteenth of May two dayes after his condemnation all of them viz. the Viscont Rochfort NORRIS BRIERTON and SVETON were beheaded at Tower hill NORRIS left a sonne called also HENRY whom Queene ELIZABETH in contemplation of his Fathers deserts created Baron of Ricot This Lord NORRIS was father to those great Captaines WILLIAM IOHN THOMAS and EDWARD in our dayes so famous throughout Christendome for their braue exploits in England France Irland and the Netherlands On the nineteenth of May the Queene was brought to the place of execution in the greene within the Tower some of the Nobility and Companies of the City being admitted rather to be witnesses than spectators of her death To whom the Queene hauing ascended the scaffold spake in this manner Friends and good Christian people J am here in your presence to suffer death whereto J acknowledge my selfe adiudged by the Lawes how iustly J will not say for I intend not an accusation of any one J beseech the Almighty to preserue his Maiâ—sty long to raigne ouer you a more gentle or milde Prince neuer swayed Scepter his bounty and clemency towards me I am sure hath beene especiall If any one intend an inquisitiue survey of my actions J intreat him to iudge favourably of me and not rashly to admit of any hard censorious conceit And so I bid the world farewell beseeching you to commend mee in your Prayers to God To thee O Lord do J commend my Soule Then kneeling downe shee incessantly repeated these words CHRIST haue mercy on my soule Lord IESVS receive my soule vntill the Executioner of Caâ—ais at one blow smote off her head with a sword Had any one three yeares before at what time the King so hot in the pursuit of his loue preferred the enioying of this Lady beyond his Friends his Estate his Health Safeguard and his onely Daughter prophetically foretold the vnhappy fate of this Princesse he should haue beene beleeued with CASSANDRA But much more incredible may all wise men thinke the vnheard of crime for which shee was condemned viz. That fearing least her Daughter the Lady ELIZATETH borne while CATHARINE survived should bee accompted illegitimate in hope of other especially masle Issue whereof shee despaired by the King now neere fifty yeares old shee had lasciviously vsed the company of certaine young Courtiers nay not therewith content had committed incest with her owne Brother A strange ingratitude in one raised from so low degree euen to the height of honour I will not derogate from the Authority of publique Records But an Act of Parliament against her shall not worke on my beliefe Surely it carried so little shew of probability with foraine Princes that they alwaies deemed it an act of inhumane cruelty Especially the Estates of Germany Confederates for the defence of the Reformed Religion who having often treated with FOX Bishop of Hereford and other Embassadours had decreed to make HENRY Head of their League and had designed an Embassy by IOHN STVRMIVS who should haue brought with him into England those excellent Divines PHILIP MELANCTHON and MARTIN BVCER with one GEORGE DRACO who should endeavour that and the Reformation of our Church But having heard of the lamentable and vnworthy as they iudged it end of the Queene loathing the King for his inconstancy and cruelty they cast off all farther thought of that matter I will not presume to discusse the truth of their opinion But freely to speake what I my selfe thinke There are two reasons which sway much with mee in the behalfe of the Queene That her Daughter the Lady ELIZABETH was seated in the Royall Throne where shee for so many yeares ruled so happily and triumphantly What shall we thinke but that the Divine Goodnesse was pleased to recompence the iust calamity of the Mother in the glorious prosperity of the Daughter And then consider but the Kings precipitated Nuptialls the very next day after the death of his former Wife yet scarce interred and with whose warme bloud his imbrued hands yet reaked consider this I say and you shall easily be persuaded with mee that the insatiable Prince glutted with the satiety of one and out of the desire of variety seeking to enioy another did more willingly giue eare to the treacherous calumnies of the malicious Popelings than either befitted an vpright Iudge or a louing husband For it seemeth wonderfull strange to mee that either the fault of the one or the pleasing conditions and faire language of the other Wife should so far possesse the King as that hee should procure his daughter ELIZABETH to be by Act of Parliament declared illegitimate the matrimony contracted with both the former Queenes CATHARINE and ANNE to be pronounced invalid and the Crowne to be perpetually established on the posterity of the third wife or if the King had no Issue by her that then it should bee lawfull for him by Will and Testament to transfer it on whome hee pleased Parliaments were not then so rigid but that they could flatter the Prince and condescend to his demands though vniust even in cases which most neerely concerned the publique Weale But servile Feare is oft times more ready then Loue which slowly moves by apprehension of Good as the other is quickely forced by the apprehension of Danger On the twentieth of May the King married IANE SEIMOVR Daughter of Sir IOHN SEIMOVR who on the nine and twentieth of May being Whitsonday clad in royall habiliments was openly shewed as Queene So that the Court of England was now like a Stage whereon are represented the vicissitudes of ever various Fortune For within one and the same moneth it saw Queene ANNE flourishing accused condemned executed and another assumed into her place both of bed and honour The first of May it seemeth shee was informed against the second imprisoned the fifteenth condemned the seventeenth deprived of her Brother and Friends who suffered in her cause and the nineteenth executed On the twentieth the King married IANE SEIMOVR who on the nine and twentieth was publiquely shewed as Queene The death of this innocent Lady God seemed to revenge in the immature end of the Duke of Richmond the Kings only but naturall
stir vp the wits of others partly that the desires of Forainers might in some sort be satisfied who not without cause complaine that these times then which for a thousand yeares wee have had none more memorable in reguard of their divers and remarkable changes are not described by any otherwise then slightly and as if they they had not intended any such thing As for Polydore Virgill he hath written either nothing or very little concerning them and that little so false and misbeseeming the ingenuitie of an Historian that he seemeth to have aimed at no other end then by bitter invectives against Henry the Eighth and Cardinall Wolsey to demerit the favour of Queene Mary already more then befitted incensed against both for the Divorce of her Mother J have therefore written friendly Reader and so written that although many things I will not deny conducing to an Historian may be wanting in me yet am I confident that this my endeuour will finde acceptance with many Other Writers may here have as it were a store-house from whence they may if I be not deceived furnish themselves with some matter which may helpe to raise an everlasting monument Forainers also ignorant of the English tongue may have a taste of these times vnvntill some one arise who can and will compile a History of our Nation worthy the maiestie of the British name J have in this worke beene so observant of Jmpartiality Simplicity and Truth that I feare nothing so much as a Domestique anger for not being pious enough because I would not be over-pious Many contend that a good Prince should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This I thinke no man will affirme of an Historian though some seeme to opine it So that he shall come short of his duty either to God or his Countrey who in the delivery of an History will not be at the least 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and who by affirming incertainties and knowne truthes shall not yeild much to his affections so they be ioined with the love of Religion and Countrey But how much do they inure Truth who from lies and falshood beg helpes to vnderprop her Avant We have no need of them And had we yet would it not much profit vs to rely on such weake advantages one pious lye detected proving more hurtfull then a thousand others although so artificially contrived that they avoid discovery can prove profitable For example whereof seeke no farther then the Papists whose fained miracles impostures and Legends patched vp of lyes have brought to passe that even in those things which are true they scarce gaine beliefe Wherfore I am well content that Truth which maugre her enemies will at length be every where victorious shall prevaile with me J have done to my power Politely eloquently politiquely I could not write Truly and fide Atticâ as they say I could If I have done amisse in ought it is not out of malice but errour which the gentle Reader will I hope pardon This â—ernestly intreate withall beseeching the All-good and All-mighty God that this my labour directed to no other end then to his glory and the good of his Church may attaine its due and by me desired successe Farewell Regem dedi iratus eis J. Cecill sculp ANNALES OF ENGLAND From the Yeare 1508. to the Yeare 1558. The first Booke AFter the death of HENRY the Seventh his only Sonne HENRY Prince of Wales vndertooke the government of this Kingdome He had then attained to the age of eighteene yeares and was richly adorned with endowments both of Bodie and Mind For of Stature he was tall of a beautifull Aspect and of Forme through all his age truly beseeming a King hee was wittie docile and naturally propense to Letters vntill pleasures to which the libertie of Soueraigntie easily prompteth did somewhat vnseasonably withdraw him from his Studies to these you may addâ— a great Spirit aspiring to the glorie both of Foâ—titude and Munificence This towardlinesse was so seconded by the happie care of his Tutors that if the end of his Raigne had beene answerable to the beginning HENRY the Eighth might deservedly haue beene ranked amongst the greatest of our Kings For if you consider his first twentie yeares you shall not easily find any one that either more happily managed affaires abroad or gouerned more wisely at home or that bare greater sway among his Neighbour Princes This I thinke ought chiefly to be ascribed to the prouidence of his wise Father and his Grandmother then still aliue For they tooke care that he should haue wise and vertuous Ouer-seers in his youth by whose assistance hauing once passed the hazards thereof he happily auoided those rockes whereon so many daily suffer wracke But these either dying or being so broken with age that they could bee no longer imployed in affaires of State and He himselfe being now come to those yeares that commonly cast aside modestie Modestie I say the Guardian of that great Vertue then making vse of no Counsellour but his will he fell into those vices which notwithstanding the glorie of his former Raigne branded him deeply with the fowle staines of Luxurie and Crueltie But remitting those things to their proper places those Worthies appointed his Counsailours were William Warham Archbishop of Canterburie and Lord Chancelour of England Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester Thomas Ruthall Bishop of Durham Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey Lord Treasurer of England George Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold Charles Somerset Lord Chamberlaine Knights Sir Thomas Louell Knights Sir Henrie Wyat Knights Sir Edward Poynings These men the solemnitie of the dead Kings Funerals being duly and magnificently performed erected him a Tombe all of brasse accounted one of the stateliest Monuments of Europe which one would hardly conceiue by the bill of accompts For it is reported that it cost but a thousand pound The Monument is to be seene at Westminster the vsuall place of our Kings Interments in that admirable Chappell dedicated to Saint Stephen by this King heretofore built from the ground a testimonie of his religious pietie I haue read that this Chappel was raised to that height for the summe of fourteene thousand pounds and no more and that he at the same time built a Ship of an vnusuall burthen called from him The great Henrie which by that time it was rigged cost little lesse then that stately Chappell But now O HENRY what is become of that Ship of thine that other worke besides the reward of Heauen will perpetually proclaime thy pious munificence Hence learne ô Kings that the true Trophies of Glorie are not to be placed in Armories and Arsenalls but and those more durable in pious Workes Seeke first seeke the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and without doubt all other things shall be added vnto you But to goe on in my proposed course although HENRY the Eighth began his Raigne the two and twentieth of April
forasmuch as the Commissioners demanded it after an impudent and shamelesse manner they in most places incurred the dislike and indignation of the people especially in Germany where they saw this facultie of redeeming soules from Purgatory was either solde for little or nothing or played away in their Tauernes But what speake I of the Commissioners That which made the Germans most impatient was that the heedlesse Pope had giuen to his sister MAGDALEN the profit of the exactions of Indulgences in many parts of Germany and that so openly that euery one must needs know it For all Germany spake it that this money was not gathered for the Pope or the Treasurie of the Church whereby peraduenture some part of it might be employed to good vses but was exacted to satisfie the greedinesse of a woman At that time liued MARTIN LVTHER a Doctor of Diuinity and an Augustine Monke one who vnder a religious Habit did not consecrate himselfe to idlenesse but to God It is reported how truly I know not that recreating himselfe in the fields his companion with whom he then discoursed was suddenly stricken dead with thunder He therupon falling into due consideration of the vncertaintie of death and of iudgment left the study of the Ciuill Law to which he then applied himselfe and renouncing the world betooke himselfe to a Cloister where for his deportment he was beyond exception for learning especially diuine he was scarce matchable Vpon this horrible abuse of the authority of the Keyes being inflamed with a pious zeale he could not containe himselfe but boldly and bitterly inueighed against this grosse impiety Neither staied he there but storme the Pope neuer so much proceeds to other enormities in the Church of Rome some whereof that Church hath since reformed the rest religious Princes by LVTHER awakened out of their dead sleepe of superstition notwithstanding the practises of Rome haue God be thanked exploded New opinions especially in matters of Religion are of themselues alwayes odious HENRY being offended with LVTHERS new as the world then deemed them Tenets thought it would proue to his honor by writing against LVTHER to manifest his learning and pietie to the world Herupon vnder his name a book was set forth better beseeming some antient and deep Diuine than a youthfull Prince whom although he earnestly endeauoured it yet his affaires would not permit to bury himselfe among his books which many thought to haue beene compiled by Sir THO. MOORE some by the Bishop of Rochester and others not without cause suspected to be the worke of some other great Scholler Whosoeuerwrit it LVTHER repli ed in such sort that although his holy zeale were approved by many yet those many could haue wished him more temperate and respectiue of the Maiesty of Kings This Booke was so acceptable to the Pope that according to the example of ALEXANDER the Sixt who entituled the King of Spaine Catholique and of that Pope whosoeuer he were that gaue the French King the title of Most Christian he decreed to grace King HENRY and his Successors with that honorable one of Defender of the Faith Which severall titles are by these Princes retained to this day But LEO long surviued not his gift about the end of the yeare dying as is suspected by poison In the meane time the exulcerated mindes of the Emperour and the French King according to the nature of ambitious hatred that for it 's owne ends makes all causes iust burst out into open wars for the composing whereof each of them had formerly agreed to refer themselues if any differences should arise to the arbitrement of HENRY He therefore sends to each of them Embassadours the Cardinall of Yorke the Earle of Worcester and others who should if it were possible reconcile these inraged Princes All they could do proued but an endeavor for when they thought they had compassed their desires sudden newes came That the Admirall BONIVET had by force taken Fuentaraby a Towne of the Emperours in Biscay The Emperour would not then ratify the Agreement vnlesse this towne were redeliuered which the French denying to do all fell to pieces againe and the War was renewed After their deuoir in this cause our Embassadours went directly to Bruges to the Emperour of whom for a fortnight which was the time of their stay there they had royall entertainment But he held the Cardinall in so great esteeme that it was apparant hee was not ignorant how powerfull the Cardinall was with his Prince And here perhaps it would not be amisse in reguard of those times to let the Reader know the pompe and state of this Cardinall how many Gentlemen attended him apparrelled with velvet and adorned with gold chaines then how many were cloathed in skarlet coats the skirts whereof were guarded with veluet the full bredth of a hand But let him guesse HERCVLES stature by the length of his foot Such was the brauerie of his attendants that in CHRISTIERNE King of Denmarke and other Princes then residing at Bruges it bred amazement It was also reported that he was by Gentlemen of the best ranke serued on the knee a kinde of state which Germany had yet neuer knowne He spent a huge masse of money in that Embassage and that as it is thought not against his will For he by all meanes sought the Emperors fauour hoping that LEO although much younger either cut off by treachery or his owne intemperance might leaue the world before him And then were it no hard matter for him being vnderpropped by the Emperour and our King to be aduanced to the Papacy Wherefore at the first bruit of his death hee posted away PACEY the Deane of Pauls into Italy with Mandates to certaine Cardinalls whom he thought respected him that they should do their best in his behalfe But before hee could reach Rome he was certainely informed that ADRIAN sometimes Tutor to the Emperour and then Viceroy of Spaine was already elected by the name of ADRIAN the Sixt. Anno Dom. 1522. Reg. 12. WOLSEY neuerthelesse was as full of ambitious hope as euer For ADRIAN was a decrepit weake old man and therefore not likely as indeed he did not to survive him In the mean time he might make an ascent by which his ambition might clime He therefore seeks to aduance the Emperors designes more than ever to that end he persuadeth HENRY to denounce war against the French for that he denied to surrender Fuentaraby had broken the Couenants made between them in not standing to the arbitrement of HENRY as both CHARLES FRANCIS had compromised at what time it was likewise decreed that HENRY should declare himself an enemy to the obstinate refuser The French discerning the storme before it came arrests all English ships commits the Merchants to prison and seizeth their goods to His own vse stops all Pensions due either to HENRY for Tournay or to his Sister the Dowager of France for her Ioincture The French
not in the Pope to dispence with them It is certaine that the Emperors Embassadors had thus discoursed with WOLSEY vpon this very point and WOLSEY made his vse of it accordingly Hee knew the King doated not on his Queene and buzzed these things in his eares in hope he would bethinke himselfe of a new wife This taking as he desired and the King lamenting that for lacke of Issue he should leaue the Kingdome to a Childe to a Woman to One whom in reguard the lawfulnesse of her birth was questionable hee could not with safety make his Heire the Cardinall proposed vnto him for wife MARGARET Duchesse of Alançon a beautifull Lady and Sister to the King of France He knew that vpon his Diuorce from CATHARINE and Marriage with the other HENRY must of necessity fall foule with the Emperour and without hope of reconciliation strongly adhero to the French That this diuorce was for these reasons set on foot by WOLSEY the Imperiall Historians do all accord neither for ought I euer read do Ours deny But howsoeuer it came to passe this is certaine That HENRY in stead of furnishing the Emperour with the money he had promised demanded all that he had already lent Anno Dom. 1525. Reg. 17. RICHARD PACEY Deane of S. Pauls had been not long before sent to Venice as an Agent concerning our affaires in Italy He was a very learned man and worthy had God been so pleased of a better Destiny He knew not the change of the Kings minde But perceiuing the monethly pay due from the King according to promise came not of whole Honor which now lay at stake he was very tender he was much discontented To salue all he assaied to take vp so much money of certaine Merchants with whom it seemes he in part preuailed But the sum was so small that it stood the Imperialls in as small steed yet so great that it exceeded the ability of his priuate estate to make satisfaction Vpon notice of the Kings alienation from the Emperor he fell irrecouerably distracted In the meane time the Duke of Bourbon and the Imperialls were in so great distresse and want of all things that vnlesse they could by some stratagem or other draw the French to commit all to the fortune of a battaile the Army must needs disband They disquiet and trie the French especially in the night preceding Saint Mathias day which was the day of the Emperor CHARLES his natiuity with many false alarmes They make two squadrons of horse and foure of foot The first consisting of six thousand Lansquenets Spaniards and Italians vnder the command of the Marquis of Guasto The second of Spanish foot vnder the Marquis of Pescara The third fourth of Lansquenets vnder the Viceroy LAVNOY and the Duke of Bourbon They came to a wall called the Park-wall vnder the covert of the night cast downe aboue sixty paces enter within it the first squadron taking the way to Mirabell the rest marching toward the Kings Army The King thought the Imperials went to Mirabell as making choice of the plaine open fields to fight in He was vnwilliug to leave the besieged at liberty yet the Plaines were aduantageous for his Horse He therfore commands his Artillery to be discharged which somewhat endamaged them and though vnwilling drawes his Forces out of their trenches then which the Imperials desired nothing more opposed the whole strength of his Army against thē But passing before the Cannon hinders their execution They that tooke the way to Mirabell now turne head and both Armies engage themselues in a cruell fight wherein the King more following Shadowes then Substances and the idle rumors of the vulgar then the meanes of a most certaine and glorious victory is ouerthrowne and taken prisoner loosing beside the floure of the French Nobilitie almost all either taken or slaine at one blow the Duchie of Milan the possession whereof had made him Lord of the greatest part of Lombardy Pope CLEMENT who had left the Emperour for the French which hee afterward repented often aduertised the King that the Imperialls were in great distresse and want that they continually mutinied for lacke of pay that he had taken so sufficient order with the King of England and the rest of the Confederates that they should continue bare enough of money If therefore he would but hold his hand and forbeare to fight necessity enforcing the Imperialls to disband he should be victorious without bloudshed But he was not capable of so good advice His Forces were great yet short of his account his Captaines treacherously abusing him in not furnishing those numbers of foot for which they receiued pay and it were equally a dishonour to him either to seeme to avoid the Enemy or to ly still so long at a siege to no purpose The Diume Power hauing decreed to chastise him permitted him through impatience to run headlong into these errours which so deepely plunged him in those calamities that without Gods especiall favour had proved fatall to him and his France When I consider this and many other the like chances happening as well in the course of a private mans life as in publique affaires I cannot but wonder at the sottish valour of this age wherein rather than endure the touch of the least though fal◠aspersion wee will run the hazard both of life and fortunes How many braue men do wee daily see wonderfull ingenious in this kinde of folly who standing vpon I know not what Points of Honor vpon the least offence challenge the field and wilfully seeke out their owne destruction What in Gods name is become of the patience of that lingering FABIVS who quietly bearing the bitter taunts and mockes of his Souldiers of the People and the Senate yet brought home an easy though late victory We are certainely too blame with the Dog we catch at the shadow and loose the substance Of our Saviour we shall learne that it is the highest point of fortitude In patience to possesse our soules And according to ARISTOTLE True valour is regardles of ill language Mordear opprobrijs falsis matemque colores Fassus honor iuvat mendax infamia terret Quem nisi mendosum mendacem It is HORACE Backe-bitten must I needs turne pale for it False honors please and lying slanders fright Whom but the vnworthy and vainglorious wight In the tent of the captiue King the letters of the Pope and our King concerning their late league with the French being found the Duke of Bourbon now knew the cause why supplies of money came in so slowly And PRAT Lieger here for the Emperor vpon notice of it without leaue withdrew himselfe from Court and on the ninth of Aprill secretly departed the land In the meane time HENRY little suspecting that these secret compacts were knowne to the Emperor about the end of March sent Embassadors to him CVTBERT TONSTAL Bishop of London Sir RICHARD WINGfield Knight of the
the way to wipe out the remembrance of an old offence by committing a new Hee found some other pretence to send one FRANCIS CAMPANA into England but his chiefe errand was to will CAMPEGIVS to burne the Bull whereby the King's marriage had before beene pronounced void and to returne to Rome with speed But the newes of the Popes sicknesse at the same time made him deferre the execution of his Mandate For if CLEMENT should die the Cardinall might with safetie gratifie the King who had conferred on him the Bishopricke of Sarisbury and to whom the Cardinall had promised successe answerable to his desires And if hee should permit the King to be thus illuded he feared he might be accompted not onely ingratefull but also treacherous But hee shortly vnderstood the Pope was well whose Mandate he must obey and the Bull as if for Hereâ—ie must be condemned to the fire In the meane time the King who was deeply in loue with ANNE BOLEN according to the nature of Lovers counting each minute by the houre quickly resented this change and never rested vntill hee knew the whole carriage of the matter Then first fell his wrath like thunder on WOLSEY whose wit had hitherto made all his proiects feasible And hee could not beleeve but that it was in his power to effect this also Here I cannot choose but cry out with Comoedian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IOVE and yee Gods how hard a thing It is to serve a raging King Full twenty yeares had WOLSEY served the King behaving himselfe so that hee grew powerfull and wealthy beyond a private fortune and to the rest of the King's Titles had procured the addition of that rich one of a good Prince For as often as I consider how laudably HENRY had hitherto ruled and behold the calamities of ensuing times I cannot but accord with them who ascribe the sway which he did beare over all the Princes of Christendome to the excellency of WOLSEY his counsailes But WOLSEY being taken away to whom shall we impute those effects of Lust Tyrannie and Avarice two Wives killed two put away so many and among them many of the greater sort put to death for their Religion only extremitie only differing in the manner vsed by Hanging against Papists by Fire against Heretiques these were the termes of those dayes the Church or rather the Common-wealth horribly spoiled and robbed of her Patrimony Certainly had WOLSEY sate at the Sterne the King had never like a Ship destitute of a Pilot beene carried to and fro with such contrary and vncertaine motions But inordinate greatnesse is alwayes a burthen to it selfe the waight whereof is augmented by the vsuall attendance of publique enny and hatred the misbegotten Elfes of long and powerfull happinesse WOLSEY the King once offended began presently to totter and at his first frowne as at the roaring of a Lion before any harder course was taken with him was so deiected that although he after seemed a little to lift vp his head yet was hee never able to stand on his feet Nay the King being once alienated from him would never after admit him to his presence Behold power of base Detraction yet I will not exclude the the greatnesse of the Cardinals wealth already devoured in conceit which wipes away the remembrance of the faithfull service of so many yeares and the consideration of so great glory purchased to the King by WOLSEY'S labours I am not ignorant what things were obiected against him But they carry so little shew of probability that I should much suspect his iudgement that would give any credit to them Vntill it was knowne that the King inraged at the slow proceedings in the cause of his Divorce did day and night breath out against him threats and revenge no man ever preferred Bill against him which considering the vsuall severe courses held by our Parliaments must needs acquit him of Abuse of Power As for the causes of the King's anger wee will derive them rather from his owne discontents then WOLSEY'S faultinesse The King by this time knew the treachery of the dissembling Pope Hee had neere five yeares wandered in the Labyrinth of the Court of Rome and could find no clue to lead him out He therefore determined to make a way where he could not find one and like ALEXANDER by force to vndoe that Gordian knot which by wit and labour hee could not To WOLSEY therefore hee communicated his intent of marrying another whether the Pope were willing or no wishing him withall to finde out some course or other whereby CAMPEGIVS his Colleague notwithstanding the late Mandates to the contrary might be drawne to give sentence on his side Many things might be pretended to excuse the deed but chiefly the feare of the King 's high displeasure which peradventure hee should feele too vnlesse hee assented to the King 's iust request WOLSEY his answer to this I cannot relate But this is certaine that WOLSEY whether for that he did not approve of the King 's intended course seeming as the times were then full of rashnesse and insolence or that he would not vndertake the attempting of his Colleague or that as SLEIDAN writes the King had notice that the Cardinall had advised the Pope not to approve of the Divorce from CATHARINE forasmuch as the King was then resolved to marry another infected with Lutheranisme WOLSEY I say was so sharply taken vp and threatned by the King that even then you might reade in his face and gestures the symptomes of his waining fortune For the Cardinall at that time returning from the Court by water the Bishop of Carlile being with him in the same Barge complained of the heate which was then extraordinary to whom WOLSEY replied My Lord if you had beene but now in my place you would have found it hot indeed And as soone as hee came home he put off his clothes and went sicke to bed Before hee had reposed himselfe an houre and halfe the Viscount Rochfort came to him and in the King's Name willed that hee and his Colleague should instantly repaire to the Queene and exhort her not to contend any longer with the King for that it would be more for her good and the honour of them both to submit herselfe to the King's pleasure then to vndergo the disgrace of a publique iudgement For it was now brought to that push that longer deferred it could not be The Cardinall advertised of the King's pleasure did arise and with his Colleague went to the Queene who having notice of their comming went forth and met them After mutuall salutations the Cardinals desired shee would vouchsafe a few words in private but the Queene refused to entertaine any conference with them but where she might have witnesses of what passed WOLSEY then began to speake in Latine but the Queene interrupted him willing that although she vnderstood Latin yet hee should speake in English So in the
Authoritie At length the subtle heads of the Lawiers found out a quirke wherby to salue all He must first by a praevious Protestation except against this Oath which was to be taken pro formd that it should not hereafter be any way preiudiciall to him Thus ascended CRANMER to the Archiepiscopall Sea where hee sate neere about twenty yeares vntill Queene MARY the Daughter of repudiated CATHARINE not only thrust this most innocent grave learned man out of his Bishopricke but with a barbarous cruelty condemned him to the fire as hereafter in its place we shall declare For the Treatise of a more strict League betweene the two Kings of England and France an interview is appointed betweene them To this end on the eleventh of October the King with a mightie traine passed to Calais The tenth day after going to Boloigne he was met halfe way by the French King his Sons and conducted to Boloigne where the two Kings divided the Abbey betweene them HENRY staied there foure dayes and then brought FRANCIS in whose company were the King of Navarre some Dukes and Cardinals a great number of Noblemen and of others at least twelve hundred to Calais At Saint Ioquebert the Duke of Richmond who was not at Boloigne with the King his Father received them After much solemne entertainment and the enterchangeable favours from each King to the Princes of each others company from HENRY to the King of Navarre or as the French write to MONT MORENCY and CHABOT the Admirall by the Order of the Garter From FRANCIS to the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke by that of Saint MICHAEL these great Monarchs parted Ielousie of the Emperours still increasing power had now vnited these Princes and their naturall dispositions wonderfull agreeable had made them alwayes prone to a mutuall love which by this interview tooke such deepe root that even in their owne opinions they rested assured of each other And indeed had they beene private persons their friendship in all likelihood had continued inviolable But Princes are not so much to be swayed by their owne Affections as the consideration of the publique Vtilitie The effect of this interview was an agreement to represse the Turke about that time wasting Hungary to which end they should assemble together by their ioint forces an Army of fourescore thousand men whereof there should be ten thousand horse with artillery requisite for the said Campe A specious pretext For they both knew that the Turke had already retreated But in private they treated of other matters They had both many causes of discontent FRANCIS not without cause was displeased with the Pope and HENRY thinking it best to strike while the iron was hot indevoured an vtter alienation betweene them HENRY complaines first of the wrong the Court of Rome did him touching the matter of his Divorce in the suite whereof full six yeares were now spent and yet at length after all their deceits mockeries they seeke to force him either to goe in persen to Rome or in a matter of so great importance to send Deputies who should in the Kings behalfe follow the suite An insolent proceeding and iniury without example which did concerne the French and all other Princes of Christendome For in like cases hapning among Soveraigne Princes especially touching the conscience so neere it was the vsuall custome of other Popes to send Iudges to the place it being reasonable that the Persons should speake personally and not by their Attorneyes and very vnrâ—asonable that a Soveraigne Prince leaving the rule and governement of his Estates should go and plead his cause at Rome Moreover hee did complaine of the intolerable exactions of the Church of Rome over the Clergy and people of England where by the yoke before too heavy was now become insupportable neither did he doubt but the same courses were taken in France Germany had begun the way of freedome to the rest of Christendome why should not other Princes follow their example To conclude hee did instantly require that they two should send their Embassadours iointly together to the Pope to summon him to appeare at the next generall Councell there to answere his extortions and by the authority and iudgement of the Councell to force him to a reinformation affirming that there was no Nation in Christendome which did not desire â—hat the inâ—olencies of the Romanists should be repressed â—o this the French answered that hee acknowledged these things to be true but it was not in his power to yeild to the Kings request yet for the bâ—oâ—herly love which hee did beare vnto him and the chariâ—able reguard of his owne Country he professed himselfe ready to vndergo all difficulties Hee wanted not sufficient iniuries whereof to complaine considering that he having so well deserved of the Apostolique Sea but more especially of this Pope yet he certainly found that CLEMENI all this notwithstanding was not well affected towards him CLEMENT had very lately suffered his reputation to be violated in his presence and by the Bishop of Verulo had secretly endevoured to alienate the Suisses his allies from him France groaned vnder the burthen of the new and vndutifull exactions of the Popes Officers by meanes whereof all the treasure was carried out of the Kingdome to the preiudice of his subiects the Clergy especially who grew poore the Churches were vnrepaired and the poore neither clothed nor fed and if he himselfe levied any great summe of money the tributes are longer comming in then vsually they were wont But he thought it best before they proceeded to that harsh course to vse some milder meanes whereto there was a faire occasion offred the Pope having by the Cardinall of Grandmont made him a promise of an interview at Nice or Avtgnon where if hee could not obtaine reason of him in the behalfe of both hee would indevour to prevaile by force where he could not by iust intreaties In the meane time he desired him to attend the issue of their parley But FRANCIS concealed the true cause of this intended interview for feare least our HENRY not approving it should seeke to dissuade him from it The French was implacable towards the Emperour against whom to strengthen himselfe hee meanes to win the Pope by the marriage of his younger Sonne HENRY Duke of Orleans who after raigned with CATHARINE de MEDICES Duchesse of Vrbin the Popes Niece The Pope could not at first believe this potent Prince intended him so much honour but perceiving the French to be reall he most eagerly farthered it appointing time and place for the consummation of it which was after done at Marseilles by CLEMENT himselfe in the presence of the French King Anno Dom. 1533. Reg. 25. THe King's loue brooked no delayes Wherefore on the fiue and twentieth of Ianuary privately and in the presence of very few he marrieth the Ladie ANNE BOLEN Shortly after by Act of Parliament the marriage of the King and the Lady CATHARINE was
of multitudes silenced those who had been hitherto furtherers of Reformation Among whom HVGH LATIMER and NICHOLAS SCHAXTON Bishops the one of Worcester the other of Salisbury were remarkable who that they might quietly enioy themselves the Parliament being scarce dissolved did both on one day viz. the first of July resigne their Bishoprickes LATIMER who for the freedome of his conscience could as willingly resigne his life as hee did this rich Bishopricke being burned for it in Queene MARIES raigne after his Resignation taking off his Rochet being a merry conceited man with a little leape lifted himselfe from the ground saying That hee felt himselfe much more light and quicke now hee had freed himselfe of so great a burthen HENRY in reguard of his wiving disposition had long continued a Widdower And that he should at length marry the consideration of his Estate being surrounded with Enemies passionate in the Popes cause persuaded him Wherein he also gave eare to CROMWELL who advised him to combine with those Estates whom the burthen of the Popes tyranny had forced to the same courses and like feares By whose assistance he might countermine the secret practises of Rome A counsaile without doubt good and befitting the times but producing the effects of Ill ones proving as is thought Pernicious to the Giuer For the treatise of such a Match in September came into England FREDERICKE Duke and Elector of Saxony FREDERICKE Duke of Bavaria OTHO HENRY Count Palatine of Rhine and the Chancellour of the Duke of Cleve with some others who were for eight dayes royally entertained by the King at Windsore where the marriage with ANNE Sister to the Duke of Cleve being concluded they returned to their owne Countries This yeare died MARGARET Queene of Scotland Sister to King HENRY who was buried at the Charterhouse in the towne of S. IOHN necre the Tombe of IAMES the First Anno Dom. 1540. Reg. 32. ON the Eve of the Circumcision the Lady ANNE of Cleve destinated to the Kings bed arrived at Dover was on the third of January triumphantly received at Greenwich and on the feast of the Epiphany ritely married to the King On the twelfth of March HENRY BOVRCHIER Earle of Essex the antientest Earle of the Realme throwne by an vnruly young horse which he sought to breake brake his necke by whose death the Inheritance was devolved to his daughter and from her deceasing without Issue to the Family of DEVREVX which Family in reguard of their claime by discent was by Queene ELIZABETH advanced to the Earledome of Essex But in the meane time CROMWELL yet chiefe in the Kings favour was on the eighteenth of Aprill created Earle of Essex And here behold the frailty of humane affaires The current of few yeares had from very meane beginnings brought CROMWELL to the height of honour insomuch that his happinesse was admired by all envied by many But Fortune intending a Tragedy he is vnexpectedly apprehended sitting at the Counsaile Table and committed to the Tower where he continued vntill his execution For in this Parliament begun the twelfth of Aprill hee is accused of Treason and Heresy without being brought to his answer condemned and on the twenty eighth of Iuly beheaded This King may well be censured of cruell inconstancy who could so easily dispence with the death of those whome he had admitted to intimate familiarity and made vse of their counsailes and indeavours as if he had advanced them to no other end but to depresse them WOLSEY had his turne CROMWELL succeeds whose sudden downefall there want not those who attribute to Gods Iustice inflicted on him for the Sacriledge whereof hee was reported to be the Author committed in the subversion of so many Religious Houses And indeed even they who confesse the rowsing of so many vnprofitable Epicures out of their dennes and the abolishing of Superstition wherewith the Divine Worship had by them beene polluted to have beene an act of singular Iustice and Piety do notwithstanding complaine of the losse of so many stately Churches dedicated to Gods service the goods whereof were no otherwise imploied then for the satisfaction of private mens covetousnesse and although many have abused the Vaile of Religion yet was that Monasticall life instituted according to the pious example of antient Fathers that they who found themselves vnfit for the execution of worldly affaires as many such there are might in such their voluntary retirements spend their dayes in Divine Writings or Meditations and are verily persuaded that for the taking away of these things God was offended both with the King and CROMWELL But SLEIDAN peradventure comes neerer the matter touching the immediate cause of his death About this time saith hee the King of England beheadeth THOMAS CROMWELL whome hee had from fortunes answerable to his low parentage raised to great Honours repudiates the Lady ANNE of Cleve and marrieth CATHARINE HOWARD Daughter to the Lord EDMOND HOWARD who was Brother to the Duke of Norfolke CROMWELL had beene procurer of the Match with ANNE But the King loving CATHARINE is thought to have beene persuaded by her to make away CROMWELL whome shee suspected to be a Remora to her advancement The actions of Kings are not to be sifted too neerely for which we are charitably to presume they haue reasons and those inscrutable But let vs see the procesle of this divorce Six moneths this coniugall band lasted firme without scruple the King and Queene giving daily testimonies of their mutuall love On the twentieth of June the Queene is willed to remove from London where the King staied by reason of the Parliament to Richmond a place pretended in reguard of the scituation and aire to be more for her health On the sixth of Iuly reasons are proposed by certaine Lords purposely sent to the lower House of Parliament demonstrating the invalidity of the Kings marriage with the Lady ANNE so that it was lawfull for them both to marry where they pleased The same reasons are alledged in the Convocation house and generally approved Whereupon the Queene also whether forced or willing consenting the Parliament pronounced the marriage void What the allegations were is vncertaine Some relate disability by reason of some defects to be obiected to her which seemes the more probable for that in her Letters wherein shee submitted her selfe to the iudgement and determination of the Parliament shee affirmed that the King never knew her carnally Whether for this or for that Nature having not over liberally endowed her wtih beauty but a private woman she became and as such not enduring to returne to her friends with dishonor shee lived vpon some lands assigned her by the King who alwaies vsed her respectively vntill the fifteenth of Iuly Annv 15â—7 at what time shee ended her discontented life and lieth buried at Westminster on the South side of the Quire in a Tombe not yet finished Scarce had the resolution of the Convocation House and the Decree concerning it