not Twelve Men but Four and twenty But it seemeth that was not the only reason for this reason holdeth not in the Appeal But the great reason was lest it should tend to the discouragement of Jurors in Cases of Life and Death if they should be subject to Suit and Penalty where the favour of Life maketh against them It extendeth not also to any Suit where the Demand is under the value of forty Pounds for that in such Cases of petty value it would not quit the Charge to go about again There was another Law made against a branch of Ingratitude in Women who having been advanced by their Husbands or their Husbands Ancestors should alien and thereby seek to defeat the Heirs or those in Remainder of the Lands whereunto they had been so advanced The remedy was by giving power to the next to enter for a forfeiture There was also enacted that Charitable Law for the admission of poor Suitors In Forma Pauperis without Fee to Counsellor Attorney or Clerk whereby poor men became rather able to vex than unable to sue There were divers other good Laws made that Parliament as we said before but we still observe our manner in selecting out those that are not of a Vulgar nature The King this while though he sate in Parliament as in full Place and seemed to account of the designs of Perkin who was now returned into Flanders but as a May-game yet having the composition of a wise-King Stout without and Apprehensive within had given order for the watching of Beacons upon the Coasts and erecting more where they stood too thin and had a careful eye where this wandering Cloud would break But Perkin advised to keep his fire which hitherto burned as it were upon green wood alive with continual blowing Sailed again into Ireland whence he had formerly departed rather upon the hopes France than upon any unreadiness or discouragement he found in that People But in the space of time between the King's Diligence and Poynings Commission had so setled things there as there was nothing left for Perkin but the blustring affection of wild and naked people Wherefore he was advised by his Council to seek ayd of the King of Scotland a Prince young and valorous and in good terms with his Nobles and People and ill affected to King Henry At this time also both Maximilian and Charles of France began to bear no good will to the King The one being displeased with the King's Prohibition of Commerce with Flanders the other holding the King for suspect in regard of his late entry into League with the Italians Wherefore besides the open Ayds of the Duchess of Burgandy which did with Sails and Oars put on and advance Perkin's designs there wanted not some secret Tides from Maximilian and Charles which did further his fortunes In so much as they both by their secret Letters and Messages recommended him to the King of Scotland Perkin therefore coming into Scotland upon those hopes with a well appointed company was by the King of Scots being formerly well prepared honourably welcomed and soon after his arrival admitted to his Presence in a solemn manner For the King received him in State in his Chamber of Presence accompanied with divers of his Nobles And Perkin well attended as well with those that the King had sent before him as with his own Train entred the room where the King was and coming near to the King and bowing a little to embrace him he retired some paces back and with a loud voice that all that were present might hear him made his Declaration in this manner HIgh and Mighty King your Grace and these your Nobles here present may be pleased benignly to bow your Ears to hear the Tragedy of a young Man that by right ought to hold in his hand the Ball of a Kingdom but by Fortune is made Himself a Ball tossed from Misery to Misery and from Place to Place You see here before you the Spectacle of a Plantagenet who hath been carried from the Nursery to the Sanctuary from the Sanctuary to the direful Prison from the Prison to the hand of the cruel Tormentor and from that hand to the wide-Wilderness as I may truly call it for so the World hath been to me So that he that is born to a great Kingdom hath not ground to set his foot upon more than this where he now standeth by your Princely Favour Edward the Fourth late King of England as your Grace cannot but have heard left two Sons Edward and Richard Duke of York both very young Edward the eldest succeeded their Father in the Crown by the name of King Edward the Fifth But Richard Duke of Gloceffer their unnatural Uncle first thirsting after the Kingdom through Ambition and afterwards thirsting for their Blood out of desire to secure himself employed an Instrument of his confident to him as he thought to murther them both But this Man that was employed to execate that execrable Tragedy having cruelly slain King Edward the eldest of the two was moved partly by Remorse and partly by some other mean to save Richard his Brother making a Report nevertheless to the Tyrant that he had performed his Commandment for both Brethren This Report was accordingly believed and published generally So that the World hath been possessed of an Opinion that they both were barbarously made away though ever Truth hath some sparks that flie abroad until it appear in due time as this hath had But Almighty God that stopped the mouth of the Lion and saved little Joas from the Tyranny of Athaliah when she massacred the King's Children and did save Isaac when the hand was stretched forth to sacrifice him preserved the second Brother For I my self that stand here in your presence am that very Richard Duke of York Brother of that infortunate Prince King Edward the Fifth now the most rightful surviving Heir-male to that Victorious and most Noble Edward of that name the Fourth late King of England For the manner of my Escape it is fit it should pass in silence or at least in a more secret Relation for that it may concern some alive and the memory of some that are dead Let it suffice to think that I had then a Mother living a Queen and one that expected daily such a Commandment from the Tyrant for the murthering of her Children Thus in my tender age escaping by God's mercy out of London I was secretly conveyed over Sea Where after a time the Party that had me in Charge upon what new Fears change of Mind or Practice God knoweth suddenly forsook me Whereby I was forced to wander abroad to seek mean Conditions for the sustaining of my Life Wherefore distracted between several Passions the one of fear to be known lest the Tyrant should have a new Attempt upon me the other of Grief and Disdain to be unknown and to live in that base and servile manner that I did I resolved with
consecrated by the Archbishop but he on whom the King by his Congé D'eslire or other his Letters had conferred that Dignity And whereas many complained that now all commerce with Rome was forbidden all means were taken away of mitigating the rigour of the Ecclesiastical Laws of Dispensation Papal authority is granted to the Archbishop of Canterbury the King reserving to himself the power of dispensing in causes of greater moment And that all Appeals formerly wont to be made from the Archbishop to the Pope should now be from the Archbishop to the King who by Delegates should determine all such Suits and Controversies Furthermore the King's Marriage with the Lady Catharine is again pronounced incestuous the Succession to the Crown established on the King's Issue begotten on Queen Ann. And all above the age of sixteen years throughout the Kingdom are to be bound by Oath to the observance of this Law Whosoever refused to take this Oath should suffer loss of all their goods and perpetual imprisonment Throughout all the Realm there were found but two who durst refractorily oppose this Law viz. Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More the late Lord Chancellor men who were indeed very learned but most obstinate sticklers in the behalf of the Church of Rome who being not to be drawn by any perswasions to be conformable to the Law were committed to prison from whence after a years durance they were not freed but by the loss of their lives But the King fearing that it might be thought That he took these courses rather out of a contempt of Religion than in regard of the tyranny of the Court of Rome to free himself from all suspition either of favouring Luther or any authors of new Opinions began to persecute that sort of men whom the Vulgar called Hereticks and condemned to the cruelty of that merciless Element Fire not only certain Dutch Anabaptists but many Professors of the Truth and amongst others that learned and godly young man John Frith who with one Hewet and others on the two and twentieth of July constantly endured the torments of their martyrdom The five and twentieth of September died Clement the Seventh Pope in whose place succeeded Alexander Farnese by the name of Paulus the Third who to begin his time with some memorable Act having called a Consistory pronounced Henry to be fallen from the Title and Dignity of a King and to be deposed reiterating withal the thunder of Excommunication with which bugbear his predecessor Clement had sought to affright him But this peradventure happened in the ensuing year after the death of Fisher and More A Parliament is again called in November wherein according to the Decree of the late Synod the King was declared Supreme Head of the Church of England and the punishment of all crimes which formerly pertained to the Ecclesiastical Courts is made proper to him So the Kingdom is vindicated from the usurpation of the Pope who before shared in it and the King now first began to reign entirely Also all Annats or First-fruits formerly paid to the Pope are granted to the King And Wales the seat of the remainder of the true antient Britans hitherto differing from us compounded of Normans and Saxons as well in the form of their Government as in Language is by the authority of this Parliament to the great good of both but especially that Nation united and incorporated to England Edward the First was the first who subdued this Countrey yet could he not prevail over their minds whom the desire of recovering their lost liberty animated to many Rebellions By reason whereof and our suspitions being for two hundred years oppressed either with the miseries of Servitude or War they never tasted the sweet fruits of a true and solid Peace But Henry the Seventh by blood in regard of his Father and birth a Welchman coming to the Crown as if they had recovered their liberty whereto they so long aspired they obeyed him as their lawful Prince So the English being freed of their former jealousies permitted them to partake of their Priviledges since common to both Nations the good whereof equally redounded to both I could wish the like Union with Scotland That as we all live in one Island professing one Faith and speaking for the most part one Language under the government of one and the same Prince so we may become one Nation all equally acknowledging our selves Britans and so recover our true Countrey Britain lost as it were so many hundreds of years by our divisions of it into England Scotland and Wales ANNO DOM. 1535. REG. 27. THe Coronation of the new Queen and other passages of entertainment had exhausted the Treasury The Pope and the Emperour were both enemies to Henry watchfully attending all opportunities to do him mischief Neither in regard that so many sided with the Pope were all things safe at home The King was therefore forced to a course seemingly rash and full of dangerous consequences but very necessary for the time He resolves to demolish all the Monasteries throughout England He is content the Nobility should share with him in the spoil so enriching and strengthening himself by their necessary revolt from the Popish faction To this end they that were thought more especially in maintaining the Pope's authority to withstand the King's proceedings were condemned of high Treason and they that refused to acknowledge the King under Christ Supreme Head of the Church of England are hanged For this cause on the third of May were executed John Houghton Prior of the Charterhouse in London Augustine Webster Prior of Bevaley and Thomas Lawrence Prior of Exham and with them Richard Reignalds a Monk and Doctor of Divinity and John Hales Vicar of Thistlehurst On the eighteenth of June Exmew Middlemore and Nudigate all Charterhouse-Monks suffered for the same cause And four days after John Fisher Bishop of Rochester a man much reverenced by the People for his holy life and great learning was publickly beheaded and his Head set over London Bridge Our Histories hardly afford a president of the execution of such a man But the Pope was the occasion of his death who to ease the burthen of his now a years imprisonment by the addition of a new Title had on the one and twentieth of May created him Cardinal The news whereof hastened him to a Scaffold The sixth of July Sir Thomas More for the same stiffness in opinion with Bishop Fisher suffered the like death This was that More so famous for his Eutopia and many other Works both in English and Latin As for his conversation the most censorious fault him in nothing but his too too jesting I will not say scoffing wit to which he gave more liberty than did beseem the gravity of his person not tempering himself in the midst of his calamity no not at the very instant of death After his condemnation he denied to give
purposely arraied him and bitterly taunted at to be dragged to death and that death by the horrid tortures of Fire Being now fastned to the Stake as soon as ever the flame began to ascend lifting up his left Hand to Heaven he thrust forth his right hand into the flame and there with admirable constancy continued it until it was consumed only once drawing it in and with it stroaking his Beard At length the raging flame spreading it self lifting up his Eyes toward Heaven he cried out Lord receive my Spirit and his Body abiding as immoveable as the Stake whereto he was fastened he patiently endured the Fires violence until he at last expired His Body being consumed to ashes his Heart was found entire and untoucht Had any of the Romanists found the like in any one of their Faction it should have been recorded for a Miracle and that Miracle sufficed to have Sainted him Give me leave though it be contrary to the method of History to insert a few Verses written by Ralph Skinner concerning this great man's Martyrdom Succubuit sanctus Praesul Cranmerus iniquâ Pontificum rabie fraude doloque perit Quòd Verbi invicto dejecer at Ense Papatum Quòd docuit purâ quaerere mente Deum Quódque Antichristi subverterat impia regna Regna piis Anglis heu tolerata diù Hinc pius clemens crudeli addicitur igni Dantur innocui membra cremenda viri Huc ubi jam ventum est Dextram projecit in ignem Projectamque tenens talia dicta dedit Primùm peccasti primùm sentire dolorem Debes ah Christo dextra inimica meo Immotamque tenet dum deflagraverat omnis In cineres totam dum cecidisse videt Caetera cùm pereant flammâ mirabile dictu Cor manet illaesum post ubi flamma perit Ecce invicta fides cor inviotabile servat Nec mediis flammis corda perire sinit Which Verses may be thus rendred in English Through Papists rage and fraud good Cranmer dy'd Because he put their Doctrine to the Sword The two-edg'd Sword of Scripture and discri'd Christ's Foe instructing England with the Word For this meek man he had a Martyr's hire His Soul was burnt with Zeal his Corps with Fire But when he came unto the stake he thrust His right Hand in the flames Thou first he said Because thou first did'st sin here suffer must Thou first thy Lord and Master hast betrai'd There held he it his Eyes did see it fall Soon afterward he sent those Eyes withal But lo a wonder Heaven's sacred Oracle Had sure decreed that so admir'd a creature Should not be put to death sans Miracle His Body burnt his Heart in perfect feature Was found unsing'd See see the Faith he cherisht Once in that Heart preserv'd it still unperisht Beside Cranmer the cruelty of those times did the same year devour many Professors of the same Religion Of both Sexes no fewer than eighty four were this year martyred by Fire Neither did their cruelty exercise it self on the living only The Bones of Martin Bucer and Paul Phagius long since dead were digged up formally accused of Heresie and no man undertaking their Cause as who durst condemned and publickly Burned in the Market-place at Cambridge And Peter Martyr's Wife who died at Oxford was disinterred and with barbarous and inhumane cruelty buried in a Dunghil To Bucer and Phagius Queen Elizabeth did afterward with great solemnity restore their memory and honour And as for Peter Martyr's Wife she caused her Bones to be translated from that unclean place to be reinterred in the Church and commixed with the Relicks of Frideswid by Papists reputed a Saint that the like occasion of mockage might not again be offered On the same day whereon Cranmer thus ended his life Cardinal Pool was ordered Priest at Greenwich and the next day Naboth being dead took possession of his Vineyard being consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury Three days after being the Feast of the Annunciation accompanied by many Nobles Pool with great solemnity received the Pall at Bow-Church About the same time a notable Conspiracy was detected some having projected to rob the Exchequer at that time full of Spanish coin to the value of fifty thousand Pounds The names of the Conspirators were Udal Throckmorton Pecham Daniel Stanton and besides others that fled for it White who discovered his fellows The rest were all taken and suffered as Traitors Sir Anthony Kingston as partaker in their intentions was also apprehended but died before he could reach London In July new Tumults begun to be set on foot in Norfolk were maturely suppressed Cleber and three Brothers called Lincolne the authors of it suffering for their seditious attempt On the one and twentieth of November John Fecknam Dean of Pauls was installed Abbot at Westminster which Henry the Eighth had erected to an Archiepiscopal See There being at that time no Monks in England fourteen were found who were content with Fecknam to take the Religious habit of Benedictines ANNO DOM. 1557. REG. MARIAE 4 5 PHILIPPI 3 4. NOw after four or five years we found the effect of our Northern Navigation set on foot by Cabota About the beginning of this year arrived in England Osep Napea Ambassador from Basiliwitz Emperour of Russia for the Treaty of a perpetual League between our Kings and his Prince On the Scottish Coast he had suffered wrack and beside Merchandize of infinite value he lostthose Presents which were from the Emperour destinated to their Majesties But the loss of Richard Chanceller was beyond all these inestimable who being a most expert Pilot first discovered the passage into those Northern Regions and now more solicitous of the Ambassador's safeguard than of his own this man most worthy of immortal Memory was swallowed up in the Seas insatiate gulf I think the Entertainment of any Ambassador with us was never more Royal. On the five and twentieth of May Philip having about seven days before returned out of Flanders he was admitted into the presence of the Kings declared the purport of his Embassy and continued in London until the third of May and having then got a convenient season laden with Gifts he set sail for his Countrey On the sixth of March Charles Lord Stourton for having in his house cruelly murthered one Hargill and his Son with whom he had long been at variance was by a wholesom example to posterity Hanged at Sarisbury with four other of his Servants who were not only conscious but actors in the cruelty After he had beaten them down with Clubs and cut their Throats he buried their Carcases fifteen foot deep in the ground hoping by such sure work to stop the voice of Blood crying for revenge or if peradventure it were discovered the regard of his zealous persistance in the Religion of Rome would he hoped procure the Queens pardon But Murther is a sin that God hath by many memorable Examples manifested
the Rebels camp 21 Espousals of James King of Scotland and Lady Margaret 118 Exchanges unlawful prohibited 40 Exceter besieged by Perkin 102 the Loyalty of the Town 103 the Town rewarded with the King 's own Sword 105 Execution of Humphrey Stafford 12 John a Chamber and his fellow-Rebels at York 41 Sir James Tyrril murderer of King Edward's two Sons 71 of divers others 75 Sir William Stanley 77 Rebels 79 Perkin's company 81 Audley and Cornish Rebels 96 another counterfeit Earl of Warw. 110 Perkin Warbeck 111 the Mayor of Cork and his Son ibid. Earl of Warwick ibid. F. FAme ill affected 97 Fame entertained by divers the reasons of it 70 Fame neglected by Empson and Dudley 119 Fear not safe to the King 79 Fines 43 Without Fines Statute to sell Land 58 Flammock a Lawyer a Rebel 92 Flemings banished 75 Flight of King Henry out of Britain into France wherefore 34 Forfeitures and Confiscations furnish the King's wants 9 17 Forfeitures aimed at 45 76 Forfeitures upon Penal Laws taken by the King which was the blot of his times 80 Fortune various 16 22 Forwardness inconsiderate 96 Fox made Privy Counsellor 10 made Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal ib. his providence 98 Free-fishing of the Dutch 129 Title to France renewed by the King in Parliament 56 Frion joyns with Perkin 68 First-fruits 10 In forma Pauperis a Law enacted for it 84 G. GAbato Sebastian makes a Voyage for Discovery 107 Gordon Lady Katherine wife to Perkin 87 Granado vindicated from the Moors 60 Guard Yoomen first instituted 7 Gifts of the French King to King Henry's Counsellors and Souldiers 64 Gratitude of the Pope's Lègate to King Henry 42 H. HAllowed Sword from the Pope 101 Hatred of the People to the King with the main reason of it 12 Hearty Acclamations of the People to the King 〈◊〉 King Henry his Description 133 c. his Piety 1 60 he hath three Titles to the Kingdom 2 Hereticks provided against a rare thing in those times 115 Hern a Counsellor to Perkin 101 Hialas otherwise Elias to England how 98 Holy War 114 Hopes of gain by War 64 Hostages redeemed by the King 10 Houses of Husbandry to be maintained to prevent the decay of People 45 Histories defects in them what 46 I. IAmes the Third King of Scotland his distress and death 42 Idols vex God and King Henry 105 John Egremond Leader of the Rebels 41 Inclosures their manifest inconveniencies and how remedied 44 Ingratitude of Women punished 85 Innovation desired 12 Incense of the People what 118 Instructions of Lady Margaret to 〈◊〉 66 Intercursus Magnus 91 Intercursus Malus ibid. 129 Invectives of Maximilian against the French King 〈◊〉 Invectives against the King and Council 79 Improvidence of King Henry to prevent his troubles 12 14 Improvidence of the French 82 Jointure of Lady Katherine how much 117 Jointure of Lady Margaret in Scotland how much 119 Joseph a Rebel 92 Ireland favoureth York Title 15 Ireland receiveth Simon the Priest of Oxford with his counterfeit ibid. Irish adhere to Perkin 68 Jubile at Rome 114 Juno i. e. the Lady Margaret so called by the King's friends 65 K. KAtherine Gordon Perkin's Wife royally entertained by K. Hen. 104 Kent loyal to the King 81 94 The King the publick Steward 36 Kings their miseries 50 King of Rakehels Perkin so called by King Henry 103 The King's Skreen who 92 King of France Protector of King Henry in his trouble 133 Kingdom of France restored to its integrity 25 King of France buys his Peace of King Henry 64 King of Scots enters England 87 again 98 Knights of the Bath 95 Knights of Rhodes 〈◊〉 King Henry Protector of the Order 115 L. LAncaster Title condemned by Parliament 3 Lancaster House in possession of the Crown for three Descents together 〈◊〉 Lambert Simnel See Counterfeit 13 Laws enacted in Parliament 38 Divers Laws enacted 123 Law charitable enacted 84 A good Law enacted ibid. A Law of a strange 〈◊〉 83 A Law against carrying away of Women by violence the reasons of it 39 Law of Poynings 79 Laws Penal put in execution 80 A Legate from the Pope 42 preferred to be Bishop in England by King Henry ibid. his gratitude to King Henry ibid. Lenity of the King abused 101 Letters from the King out of France to the Mayor of London 64 A Libel 55 Libels the causes of them 79 Libels the females of Sedition ibid. Libels the Authors executed ibid. A Loan from the City to the King repaid 46 London entred by King Henry in a close Chariot wherefore 5 London in a tumult because of the Rebels 95 London purchase Confirmation of their Liberties 124 M. MAlecontents their effects 40 Margaret of Burgundy the fountain of all the mischief to K. Henry 18 she entertains the Rebels 41 69 she a Juno to the King 65 she instructs Perkin 66 Lady Margaret desired in Marriage by the Scottish King 108 Manufacture forein how to be kept out 36 123 Marriage of King Henry with Lady Elizabeth 10 of the French King with the Duchess of Britain 55 of Prince Arthur 116 Mart translated to Calice the reasons of it 74 Maintenance prohibited by Law 38 Merchants of England received at Antwerp with procession and great joy 91 A memorable Memorandum of the King 121 Military power of the Kingdom advanced how 44 Mills of Empson and Dudley what and the gains they brought in 124 Mitigations 120 Money bastard employments thereof repressed 36 Money left at the King's death how much 132 Morton made Privy Counsellor 10 made Archbishop of Canterbury ib. his Speech to the Parliament 32 Morton's Fork 58 Morton author of the Union of the two Roses 114 Moors expelled Granado 61 Murmuring 14 Murmurs of the People against the King 70 Murther and Manslaughter a Law concerning it in amendment of the common Law 39 Murther of King Edward the Fifth 85 Murther of a Commissioner for the Subsidy 93 N. NAvigation of the Kingdom how advanced 45 Neighbour over-potent dangerous 34 Bad News the effect thereof in Souldiers 63 Nobility neglected in Council the ill effects of it 32 Nobility few of them put to death in King Henry's time 134 North the King's journey thither for what reasons 11 O. OAth of Allegiance taken 9 Oath enforced upon Maximilian by his Subjects 46 Oath kept ibid. Obedience neglected what follows 42 First Occasion of a happy Union 109 Obsequies for the French King performed in England ibid. Obsequies to Tyrants what 1 An Ominous answer of the King 119 An Ominous Prognostick 129 Opinions divers what was to be done with Perkin 105 Orator from the Pope met at London-Bridge by the Mayor 101 Order of the Garter sent to Alphonso 64 Ostentation of Religion by the King of Spain 60 Over-merit prejudicial to Sir William Stanley 73 Outlawries how punished 120 Oxford Earl fined for breach of the Law 121 P. PAcificator King Henry between the French King and Duke of Britain 32 Pardon
proclaimed by the King 9 11 16 A Parliament called speedily 7 A Parliament called for two reasons 33 another 122 Parliaments advice desired by the King 33 35 56 Passions contrary in King Henry joy and sorrow with the reasons of both 36 Peace pretended by the French King 29 Peace to be desired but with two conditions 33 Peace concluded between England and France 64 People how brought to decay the redress of it by the King 44 Pensions given by the King of France 64 A Personation somewhat strange 65 A great Plague 12 Edward Plantagenet Son and Heir of George Duke of Clarence 4 Edward Plantagenet shewed to the People 17 Plantagenet's Race ended 195 Perkin Warbeck History of him 65 his Parentage 68 God son to K. Edward the Fourth ibid. his crafty behaviour 65 69 favoured by the French King 68 by him discarded 69 favoured by the Scottish King 85 he yieldeth and is brought to the Court 106 set in the Stocks 109 executed at Tyburn 111 A Pleasant passage of Prince Arthur 118 Policy to prevent War 26 A point of Policy to defend the Duchy of Britain against the French 29 34 Policy of State 26 Pope sows seeds of War 54 Pope Ambassador to him 24 Poynings Law in Ireland 79 Priest of Oxford Simon 13 Pretence of the French King 28 29 Prerogative how made use of 133 Price of Cloth limited 45 Prisoners Edward Plantagenet 4 Prince of Orange and Duke of Orleance 37 Maximilian by his Subjects 46 Priviledges of Clergy abridged 39 Priviledges of Sanctuary qualified in three points 24 Proclamation of Perkin what effect 90 Protection for being in the King's service limited 58 Proverb 104 Providence for the future 43 Q. QUeen Dowager 13 enclosed in the Monastery of Bermondsey 16 her variety of Fortune ibid. Queens Colledge founded in Cambridge 17 Q. Elizabeth Crowned after two years 24 Queen Elizabeth's death 119 R. REbellion of Lord Lovel and Staffords 11 Rebellion in Yorkshire 41 Rebellion how to be prevented 35 Rebellion how frequent in King Henry's time 42 Rebellion of the Cornishmen 92 Rebels but half-couraged men 96 Religion abused to serve Policy 122 Remorse of the King for oppression of his People 131 Restitution to be made by the King 's Will 132 Return of the King from France 64 Retribution of King Henry for Treasure received of his Subjects 43 Revenge divine 1 Revenge of Blood 122 Reward proposed by Perkin 111 Richard the Third a Tyrant 1 Richard slain at Bosworth-field ibid. this 〈◊〉 Burial ibid. murder of his two Nephews 2 jealous to maintain his Honour and Reputation ibid. hopes to win the People by making Laws ibid. this Virtues overswayed by his Vices 2 yet favoured in Yorkshire 40 Riches of King Henry at his death 132 Riches of Sir William Stanley 76 Richmond built upon what occasion 106 Riot and Retainers suppressed by Act of Parliament 123 Rome ever respected by King Henry 42 A Rumour false procuring much hatred to the King 12 Rumour false enquired after to be punished 23 Rumour that the Duke of York was alive first of the King 's own nourishing 37 S. SAnctuary at Colneham could not protect Traytors 12 Sanctuary-priviledges qualified by a Bull from the Pope in three points 24 Saturday observed and fancied by King Henry 5 96 Saying of the King when he heard of Rebels 41 Scottish men voyded out of England 58 Service of 〈◊〉 92 Simon the Priest 13 Skreens to the King who 92 A Sleight ingenious and taking good effect in War 〈◊〉 Sluce besieged and taken ibid. Soothsayers Prediction mistaken 〈◊〉 Speeches 32 49 53 Speech of the King to Parliament 55 Speech of Perkin 85 Speech conditional doth not qualifie 〈◊〉 of Treason 77 Speeches bitter against the King 64 Sparks of Rebellion neglected dangerous 〈◊〉 Spies from the King 72 Sprites of what kind vexed K. Henry 65 Stanley Sir William crowns King Henry in the field 〈◊〉 motives of his falling from the King 77 is appeached of Treason 70 is confined examined and consesseth 〈◊〉 is beheaded 77 Reasons which aliènated the King's affections 78 Star-Chamber Court confirmed in certain cases 38 Star-Camber Court described what Causes belong to it ibid. Statute of Non-claim 43 Steward publick the King 36 Strength of the Cornishmen 96 Spoils of Bosworth-field 78 Spoils as water spilt on the ground 97 Subsidy denied by the inhabitants of Yorkshire and Durham the reason wherefore 40 Subsidies denied by the Cornishmen 92 Subsidy Commissioner killed 93 Subsidy how much 91 Swart Martin 19 Sweating Sickness 6 the manner of the cure of it ibid. Sweating Sickness the interpretation the People made of it 23 T. ATale pleasant concerning the King 137 Terrour among the King's Servants and Subjects 67 Tyrrell Sir James a murderer of King Edward's two Sons 71 Tyrell executed 122 Thanks of the King to the Parliament 32 Thanksgiving to God for the Victory 1 23 24 61 Three Titles to the Kingdom meet in King Henry 2 Title to France stirred 54 by the King himself 55 Treasure to be kept in the Kingdom 45 Treasure raised by the King how 23 31 120 Treasure inordinately affected by the King 121 Treasure how increased 124 Treasure left at the King's death how much 132 Trade the increase thereof considered 36 Trade in decay pincheth 90 Traytors taken out of Sanctuary 12 Tower the King's lodging wherefore 75 A Triplicity dangerous 94 Triumph at the Marriage of the Lady Elizabeth to King Henry 10 Truce with Scotland 25 Tyrants the Obsequies of the People to them 1 V. VIctory wisely husbanded by the French 37 Victory at Black-heath 96 Union of England and Scotland its first original 98 Voyage of King Henry into France 63 Voyage for Discovery 107 Urswick Ambassador 65 Usury 40 W. VVAlsingham Lady vowed to by King Henry 20 Wards wronged 120 War between the French King and the Duke of Britain 30 War the fame thereof advantagious to King Henry 31 War gainful to the King 91 War pretended to get money 57 War of France ended by a Peace where at the Souldiers murmur 64 White Rose of England 69 104 Wilford counterfeit Earl of Warwick 110 A Wives affection 129 Woodvile voluntarily goes to aid the Duke of Britain 31 Woodvile slain at St. Albans in Britain 62 Wolsey employed by the King 130 Women carried away by violence a Law enacted against it the reasons 39 Womens ingratitude punished by Law 84 Y. YEomen of the Guard first instituted 7 Yeomanry how maintained 44 York House and Title favoured by the People 3 12 York Title and Line depressed by King Henry 4 10 York Title favoured in Ireland 15 Yorkshire and Durham deny to pay the Subsidy 49 THE HISTORY Of the Reign of KING HENRY The SEVENTH AFter that Richard the Third of that Name King in Fact only but Tyrant both in Title and Regiment and so commonly termed and reputed in all times since was by the Divine Revenge favouring the Design of an Exil'd man overthrown and slain at
of Ten years had been brought up in a Court where infinite Eyes had been upon him For King Edward touched with remorse of his Brother the Duke of Clarence's Death would not indeed restore his Son of whom we speak to be Duke of Clarence but yet created him Earl of Warwick reviving his Honour on the Mothers side and used him honorably during his time though Richard the Third afterwards confined him So that it cannot be but that some great Person that knew particularly and familiarly Edward Plantagenet had a hand in the business from whom the Priest might take his aim That which is most probable out of the precedent and subsequent Acts is that it was the Queen Dowager from whom this Action had the principal source and motion For certain it is she was a busie negotiating Woman and in her withdrawing-Chamber had the fortunate Conspiracy for the King against King Richard the Third been hatched which the King knew and remembred perhaps but too well and was at this time extremely discontent with the King thinking her Daughter as the King handled the matter not advanced but depressed and none could hold the Book so well to prompt and instruct this Stage-play as she could Nevertheless it was not her meaning nor no more was it the meaning of any of the better and sager sort that favoured the Enterprize and knew the Secret that this disguised Idol should possess the Crown but at his peril to make way to the Overthrow of the King and that done they had their several Hopes and Ways That which doth chiefly fortifie this Conjecture is that as soon as the matter brake forth in any strength it was one of the King 's first Acts to cloister the Queen Dowager in the Nunnery of Bermonsey and to take away all her Lands and Estate and this by close Council without any Legal proceeding upon far-fetcht Pretences That she had delivered her two Daughters out of Sanctuary to King Richard contrary to promise Which Proceeding being even at that time taxed for rigorous and undue both in-matter and manner makes it very probable there was some greater matter against her which the King upon reason of Policy and to avoid Envy would not publish It is likewise no small Argument that there was some Secret in it and some suppressing of Examinations for that the Priest Simon himself after he was taken was never brought to Execution no not so much as to publick Tryal as many Clergy-men were upon less Treasons but was only shut up close in a Dungeon Add to this that after the Earl of Lincoln a principal Person of the House of York was slain in Stoke-field the King opened himself to some of his Council that he was sorry for the Earl's Death because by him he said he might have known the bottom of his Danger But to return to the Narration it self Simon did first instruct his Scholar for the part of Richard Duke of York second Son to King Edward the Fourth and this was at such time as it was voyced that the King purposed to put to Death Edward Plantagenet Prisoner in the Tower whereat there was great murmur But hearing soon after a general bruit that Plantagenet had escaped out of the Tower and thereby finding him so much beloved amongst the People and such rejoycing at his Escape the cunning Priest changed his Copy and chose now Plantagenet to be the Subject his Pupil should personate because he was more in the present speech and Votes of the People and it pieced better and followed more close and handsomly upon the bruit of Plantagenet's Escape But yet doubting that there would be too near looking and too much Perspective into his Disguise if he should shew it here in England he thought good after the manner of Scenes in Stage-Plays and Masques to shew it a-far-off and therefore sailed with his Scholar into Ireland where the Affection to the House of York was most in height The King had been a little Improvident in matters of Ireland and had not removed Officers and Chancellors and put in their places or at least intermingled persons of whom he stood assured as he should have done since he knew the strong Bent of that Countrey towards the House of York and that it was a ticklish and unsetled State more easie to receive distempers and mutations than England was But trusting to the reputation of his Victories and Successes in England he thought he should have time enough to extend his Cares afterwards to that second Kingdom Wherefore through this neglect upon the coming of Simon with his pretended Plantagenet into Ireland all things were prepared for Revolt and Sedition almost as if they had been set and plotted before-hand Simon' s first Address was to the Lord Thomas Fitz-Gerard Earl of Kildare and Deputy of Ireland before whose Eyes he did cast such a Mist by his own insinuation and by the carriage of his Youth that expressed a natural Princely Behaviour as joyned perhaps with some inward Vapours of Ambition and Affection in the Earl's own mind left him fully possessed that it was the true Plantagenet The Earl presently communicated the matter with some of the Nobles and others there at the first secretly But finding them of like Affection to himself he suffered it of purpose to vent and pass abroad because they thought it not safe to resolve till they had a tast of the Peoples Inclination But if the Great ones were in forwardness the People were in fury entertaining this Airy Body or Phantasm with incredible affection partly out of their great devotion to the House of York partly out of a proud humour in the Nation to give a King to the Realm of England Neither did the Party in this heat of affection much trouble themselves with the Attaindor of George Duke of Clarence having newly learned by the King's example that Attaindors do not interrupt the conveying of Title to the Crown And as for the Daughters of King Edward the Fourth they thought King Richard had said enough for them and took them to be but as of the King's Party because they were in his power and at his disposing So that with marvellous consent and applause this Counterfeit Plantagenet was brought with great Solemnity to the Castle of Dublin and there saluted served and honoured as King the Boy becoming it well and doing nothing that did bewray the baseness of his condition And within few days after he was proclaimed King in Dublin by the Name of King Edward the Sixth there being not a Sword drawn in King Henry his Quarrel The King was much moved with this unexpected Accident when it came to his Ears both because it strook upon that String which ever he most 〈◊〉 as also because it was stirred in such a Place where he could not with safety transfer his own Person to suppress it For partly through natural Valour and partly through an universal Suspition not knowing whom to trust
called Dixmue where part of the Flemish Forces joyned with them While they lay at this siege the King of England upon pretence of the safety of the English Pale about Calice but in truth being loth that Maximilian should become contemptible and thereby be shaken off by the States of Britain about this Marriage sent over the Lord Morley with a thousand men unto the Lord Daubigny then Deputy of Calice with secret instructions to ayd Maximilian and to raise the siege of Dixmue The Lord Daubigny giving it out that all was for the strengthning of the English Marches drew out of the Garrisons of Calice Hammes and Guines to the number of a thousand men more So that with the fresh Succours that came under the Conduct of the Lord Morley they made up to the number of two thousand or better Which Forces joyning with some Companies of Almains put themselves into Dixmue not perceived by the Enemies and passing through the Town with some re-enforcement from the Forces that were in the Town assailed the Enemies Camp negligently guarded as being out of fear where there was a bloody Fight in which the English and their Partakers obtained the Victory and slew to the number of eight thousand men with the loss on the English part of a hundred or thereabouts amongst whom was the Lord Morley They took also their great Ordnance with much rich spoils which they carried to Newport whence the Lord Daubigny returned to Calice leaving the hurt men and some other Voluntaries in Newport But the Lord Cordes being at Ipre with a great power of men thinking to recover the loss and disgrace of the Fight at Dixmue came presently on and sate down before Newport and besieged it and after some days siege he resolved to try the fortune of an Assault Which he did one day and succeeded therein so far that he had taken the principal Tower and Fort in that City and planted upon it the French Banner Whence nevertheless they were presently beaten forth by the English by the help of some fresh Succours of Archers arriving by good fortune at the instant in the Haven of Newport Whereupon the Lord Cordes discouraged and measuring the new Succours which were small by the Success which was great levied his Siege By this means matters grew more exasperate between the two Kings of England and France for that in the War of Flanders the auxiliary Forces of French and English were much blooded one against another Which Blood rankled the more by the vain words of the Lord Cordes that declared himself an open Enemy of the English beyond that that appertained to the present Service making it a common by-word of his That he could be content to lye in Hell seven years so he might win Calice from the English The King having thus upheld the Reputation of Maximilian advised him now to press on his Marriage with Britain to a conclusion Which Maximilian accordingly did and so far forth prevailed both with the young Lady and with the principal persons about her as the Marriage was consummate by Proxy with a Ceremony at that time in these parts new For she was not only publickly contracted but stated as a Bride and solemnly Bedded and after she was laid there came in Maximilian's Ambassador with Letters of Procuration and in the presence of sundry Noble Personages Men and Women put his Leg stript naked to the Knee between the Espousal-Sheets to the end that that Ceremony might be thought to amount to a Consummation and actual Knowledge This done Maximilian whose property was to leave things then when they were almost come to perfection and to end them by imagination like ill Archers that draw not their Arrows up to the Head and who might as easily have Bedded the Lady himself as to have made a Play and Disguise of it thinking now all assured neglected for a time his further proceeding and intended his Wars Mean-while the French King consulting with his Divines and finding that this pretended Consummation was rather an Invention of Court than any ways valid by the Laws of the Church went more really to work and by secret Instruments and cunning Agents as well Matrans about the young Lady as Counsellors first sought to remove the point of Religion and Honour out of the mind of the Lady her self wherein there was a double labour For Maximilian was not only contracted unto the Lady but Maximilian's Daughter was likewise contracted to King Charles So as the Marriage halted upon both feet and was not clear on either side But for the Contract with King Charles the Exception lay plain and fair for that Maximilian's Daughter was under years of Consent and so not bound by Law but a power of Disagreement left to either part But for the Contract made by Maximilian with the Lady her self they were harder driven having nothing to alledge but that it was done without the consent of her Sovereign Lord King Charles whose Ward and Client she was and he to her in place of a Father and therefore it was void and of no force for want of such Consent Which defect they said though it would not evacuate a Marriage after Cohabitation and Actual Consummation yet it was enough to make void a Contract For as for a pretended Consummation they made sport with it and said That it was an argument that Maximilian was a Widdower and a cold Wooer that could content himself to be a Bridegroom by Deputy and would not make a little Journey to put all out of question So that the young Lady wrought upon by these Reasons finely instilled by such as the French King who spared for no Rewards or Promises had made on his side and allured likewise by the present Glory and Greatness of King Charles being also a young King and a Batchelor and loth to make her Countrey the Seat of a long and miserable War secretly yielded to accept of King Charles But during this secret Treaty with the Lady the better to save it from Blasts of Opposition and Interruption King Charles resorting to his wonted Arts and thinking to carry the Marriage as he had carried the Wars by entertaining the King of England in vain belief sent a solemn Ambassage by Francis Lord of Luxemberg Charles Marignian and Robert Gaguein General of the Order of the Bonnes Hommes of the Trinity to treat Peace and League with the King accoupling it with an Article in nature of a Request that the French King might with the King 's good will according unto his right of Seigniory and Tutelage dispose of the Marriage of the young Duchess of Britain as he should think good offering by a Judicial proceeding to make void the Marriage of Maximilian by Proxy Also all this while the better to amuse the World he did continue in his Court and custody the Daughter of Maximilian who formerly had been sent unto him to be bred and educated in France not dismissing or renvoying her
nourish these bruits And it was not long ere these rumors of Novelty had begotten others of Scandal and Murmur against the King and his government taxing him for a great Taxer of his People and discountenancer of his Nobility The loss of Britain and the Peace with France were not forgotten But chiefly they fell upon the wrong that he did his Queen in that he did not reign in her Right Wherefore they said that God had now brought to light a Masculine-Branch of the House of York that would not be at his Courtesie howsoever he did depress his poor Lady And yet as it fareth in things which are currant with the Multitude and which they affect these Fames grew so general as the Authors were lost in the generality of Speakers They being like running Weeds that have no certain root or like Footings up and down impossible to be traced But after a while these ill Hamors drew to an head and setled secretly in some eminent Persons which were Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain of the King's Houshold the Lord Fitz-water Sir Simon Mountfort Sir Thomas Thwaites These entred into a secret Conspiracy to favour Duke Richard's Title Nevertheless none engaged their fortunes in this business openly but two Sir Robert Clifford and Master William Barley who sailed over into Flanders sent indeed from the Party of the Conspirators here to understand the truth of those things that passed there and not without some help of monies from hence Provisionally to be delivered if they found and were satisfied that there was truth in these pretences The person of Sir Robert Clifford being a Gentleman of Fame and Family was extremely welcome to the Lady Margaret Who after she had confeernce with him brought him to the sight of Perkin with whom he had often speech and discourse So that in the end won either by the Duchess to affect or by Perkin to believe he wrote back into England that he knew the Person of Richard Duke of York as well as he knew his own and that this Young-man was undoubtedly he By this means all things grew prepared to Revolt and Section here and the Conspiracy came to have a Correspondence between Planders and England The King on his part was not asleep but to Arm or levy Forces yet he thought would but shew fear and do this Idol too much worship Nevertheless the Ports he did shut up or at least kept a Watch on them that none should pass to or fro that was suspected But for the rest he chose to work by Counter-mine His purposes were two the one to lay open the Abuse the other to break the knot of the Conspirators To detect the Abuse there were but two ways the first to make it manifest to the world that the Duke of York was indeed murthered the other to prove that were he dead or alive yet Perkin was a Counterfeit For the first thus it stood There were but four persons that could speak upon knowledge to the murther of the Duke of York Sir James Tirrel the employed-man from King Richard John Dighton and Miles Forrest his Servants the two Butchers or Tormentors and the Priest of the Tower that buried them Of which four Miles Forrest and the Priest were dead and there remained alive only Sir James Tirrel and John Dighton These two the King caused to be committed to the Tower and examined touching the manner of the Death of the two Innocent Princes They agreed both in a Tale as the King gave out to this effect That King Richard having directed his Warrant for the putting of them to death to Brackenbury the Lieutenant of the Tower was by him refused Whereupon the King directed his Warrant to Sir James Tirrel to receive the Keys of the Tower from the Lieutenant for the space of a night for the King 's special service That Sir James Tirrel accordingly repaired to the Tower by night attended by his two Servants afore-named whom he had chosen for that purpose That himself stood at the stair-foot and sent these two Villains to execute the murther That they smothered them in their bed and that done called up their Master to see their naked dead bodies which they had laid forth That they were buried under the Stairs and some stones cast upon them That when the report was made to King Richard that his will was done he gave Sir James Tirrel great thanks but took exception to the place of their burial being too base for them that were King's children Where upon another night by the King's Warrant renewed their bodies were removed by the Priest of the Tower and buried by him in some place which by means of the Priest's death soon after could not be known Thus much was then delivered abroad to be the effect of those Examinations But the King nevertheless made no use of them in any of his Declarations whereby as it seems those Examinations left the business somewhat perplexed And as for Sir James Tirrel he was soon after beheaded in the Tower-yard for other matters of Treason But John-Dighton who it seemeth spake best for the King was forthwith set at liberty and was the principal means of divulging this Tradition Therefore this kind of proof being left so naked the King used the more diligence in the latter for the tracing of Perkin To this purpose he sent abroad into several parts and especially into Flanders divers secret and nimble Scouts and Spies some feigning themselves to flie over unto Perkin and to adhere unto him and some under other pretences to learn search and discover all the circumstances and particulars of Perkin's Parents Birth Person Travels up and down and in brief to have a Journal as it were of his life and doings He furnished these his employed-men liberally with Money to draw on and reward intelligences giving them also in charge to advertise continually what they found and nevertheless still to go on And ever as one Advertisement and Discovery called up another he employed other new Men where the Business did require it Others he employed in a more special nature and trust to be his Pioners in the main Counter-mine These were directed to insinuate themselves into the familiarity and confidence of the principal persons of the Party in Flanders and so to learn what Associates they had and Correspondents either here in England or abroad and how far every one engaged and what new ones they meant afterwards to try or board And as this for the Persons so for the Actions themselves to discover to the Bottom as they could the utmost of Perkin's and the Conspirators their Intentions Hopes and Practices These latter Best-be-trust-Spies had some of them further instructions to practise and draw off the best Friends and Servants of Perkin by making remonstrance to them how weakly his Enterprize and Hopes were built and with how prudent and potent a King they had to deal and to reconcile them to the King with
my self to expect the Tyrant's death and then to put my self into my Sisters hands who was next Heir to the Crown But in this season it happened one Henry Tidder Son to Edmond Tidder Earl of Richmond to come from France and enter into the Realm and by subtil and foul means to obtain the Crown of the same which to me rightfully appertained So that it was but a change from Tyrant to Tyrant This Henry my extreme and mortal Enemy so soon as he had knowledge of my being alive imagined and wrought all the subtil ways and means he could to procure my final Destruction For my mortal Enemy hath not only falsly surmised me to be a feigned Person giving me Nick-names so abusing the World but also to deferr and put me from entry into England hath offered large summs of Money to corrupt the Princes and their Ministers with whom I have been retained and made importune Labours to certain Servants about my Person to murther or Poyson me and others to forsake and leave my righteous Quarrel and to depart from my Service as Sir Robert Clifford and others So that every man of Reason may well perceive that Henry calling himself King of England needed not to have bestowed such great summs of Treasure nor so to have busied himself with importune and incessant Labour and Industry to compass my Death and Ruine if I had been such a feigned Person But the truth of my Cause being so manifest moved the most Christian King Charles and the Lady Duchess Dowager of Burgundy my most dear Aunt not only to acknowledge the truth thereof but lovingly to assist me But it seemeth that God above for the good of this whole Island and the knitting of these two Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a strait Concord and Amity by so great an Obligation had reserved the placing of me in the Imperial Throne of England for the Arms and Succours of your Grace Neither is it the first time that a King of Scotland hath supported them that were bereft and spoiled of the Kingdom of England as of late in fresh memory it was done in the Person of Henry the Sixth Wherefore for that your Grace hath given clear signs that you are in no Noble quality inferiour to your Royal Ancestors I so distressed a Prince was hereby moved to come and put my self into your Royal Hands desiring your Assistance to recover my Kingdom of England promising faithfully to bear my self towards your Grace no otherwise than if I were your own Natural Brother and will upon the Recovery of mine Inheritance gratefully do you all the Pleasure that is in my utmost Power AFter Perkin had told his Tale King James answered bravely and wisely That whatsoever he were he should not repent him of putting himself into his hand And from that time forth though there wanted not some about him that would have perswaded him that all was but an Illusion yet notwithstanding either taken by Perkin's amiable and alluring behaviour or inclining to the recommendation of the great Princes abroad or willing to take an occasion of a War against King Henry he entertained him in all things as became the person of Richard Duke of York embraced his Quarrel and the more to put it out of doubt that he took him to be a great Prince and not a Representation only he gave consent that this Duke should take to Wife the Lady Catherine Gordon Daughter to Earl Huntley being a near Kinswoman to the King himself and a young Virgin of excellent beauty and virtue Not long after the King of Scots in person with Perkin in his company entred with a great Army though it consisted chiefly of Borderers being raised somewhat suddenly into Northumberland And Perkin for a Perfume before him as he went caused to be published a Proclamation of this tenour following in the name of Richard Duke of York true Inheritor of the Crown of England IT hath pleased God who putteth down the Mighty from their Seat and exalteth the Humble and suffereth not the hopes of the Just to perish in the end to give Us means at the length to shew Our Selves armed unto Our Lieges and People of England But far be it from Us to intend their hurt and damage or to make War upon them otherwise than to deliver Our Self and them from Tyranny and Oppression For Our mortal Enemy Henry Tidder a false 〈◊〉 of the Crown of England which tolls by Natural and Lineal Right appertaineth knowing in his own Heart Our undoubted Right We being the very Richard Duke of York younger Son and now surviving Heir-male of the Noble and Victorious Edward the Fourth late King of England hath not only deprived Us of Our Kingdom but likewise by all foul and wicked means sought to betray Us and bereave Us of Our Life Yet if his Tyranny only extended it self to Our Person although Our Royal Blood teacheth Us to be sensible of Injuries it should be less to Our Grief But this Tidder who boasteth himself to have overthrown a Tyrant hath ever since his first entrance into his Usurped Reign put little in practice but Tyranny and the feats thereof For King Richard Our unnatural Uncle although desire of Rule did blind him yet in his other actions like a true Plantagenet was Noble and loved the Honour of the Realm and the Contentment and Comfort of his Nobles and People But this Our Mortal Enemy agreeable to the meanness of his Birth hath trod under foot the Honour of this Nation selling Our hest Confederates for Money and making Merchandize of the Blood Estates and Fortunes of Our Peers and Subjects by feigned wars and dishonourable Peace only to enrich his Coffers Nor unlike hath been his hateful Mis-government and evil Deportments at home First he hath to fortifie his false Quarrel caused divers Nobles of this Our Realm whom he held Suspect and stood in dread of to be cruelly murthred as Our Cousin Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain Sir Simon Mountfort Sir Robert Ratcliff William Dawbeney Humphrey Stafford and many others besides such as have dearly bought their Lives with intolerable Ransoms Some of which Nobles are now in the Sanctuary Also he hath long kept and yet keepeth in Prison Our right entirely beloved Cousin Edward Son and Heir to Our Uncle Duke of Clarence and others with-bolding from them their rightful Inheritance to the intent they should never be of might and power to aid and assist Us at Our need after the duty of their Liegeances He also married by compulsion certain of Our Sisters and also the Sister of Our said Cousin the Earl of Warwick and divers other Ladies of the Royal Blood unto certain of his Kinsmen and Friends of simple and low Degree and putting apart all well-disposed Nobles he hath none in favour and trust about his Person but Bishop Fox Smith Bray Lovel Oliver King David Owen Risley Turbervile Tiler Cholmley Empson James Hobart John Cut Garth
Henry Wyat and such other Cattiffs and Villains of Birth which by subtil Inventions and Pilling of the People have been the principal Finders Occasioners and Counsellors of the Mis-rule and Mischief now reigning in England We remembring these Premisses with the great and execrable Offences daily committed and done by Our foresaid great Enemy and his Adherents in breaking the Liberties and Franchises of Our Mother the Holy Church upon pretences of Wicked and Heathenish Policy to the high displeasure of Almighty God besides the manifold Treasons abominable Murthers Man-slaughters Robberies Extortions the daily Pilling of the People by Disms Taxes Tallages Benevolences and other unlawful Impositions and grievous Exactions with many other heinous Effects to the likely destruction and desolation of the whole Realm shall by God's grace and the help and assistante of the great Lords of Our Blood with the counsel of other sad Persons see that the Commodities of Our Realm be employed to the most advantage of the same the intercourse of Merchandise betwixt Realm and Realm to be ministred and handled as shall more be to the Common-weal and prosperity of Our Subjects and all such Disms Taxes Tallages Benevolences unlawful Impositions and grievous Exactions as be above rehearsed to be fore-done and laid apart and never from henceforth to be called upon but in such cases as Our Noble Progenitors Kings of England have of old time been accustomed to have the ayd succour and help of their Subjects and true Liege-men And further We do out of Our Grace and Clemency hereby as well publish and promise to all our Subjects Remission and free Pardon of all By-past Offences whatsoever against Our Person or Estate in adhering to Our said Enemy by whom We know well they have been mis-led if they shall within time convenient submit themselves unto Us. And for such as shall come with the foremost to assist Our Righteous Quarrel We shall make them so far partakers of Our Princely Favour and Bounty as shall be highly for the Comfort of them and theirs both during their life and after their death As also We shall by all means which God shall put into Our hands demean Our selves to give Royal contentment to all Degrees and Estates of Our People maintaining the Liberties of Holy Church in their Entire preserving the Honours Priviledges and Prebeminences of Our Nobles from contempt or disparagement according to the dignity of their Blood We shall also unyoak Our People from all heavy Burthens and Endurances and confirm Our Cities Boroughs and Towns in their Charters and Freedoms with enlargement where it shall be deserved and in all points give Our Subjects cause to think that the blessed and debonair Government of Our Noble Father King Edward in his last times is in Us revived And for as much as the putting to death or taking alive of Our said Mortal Enemy may be a mean to stay much effusion of Blood which otherwise may ensue if by Compulsion or fair Promises he shall draw after him any number of Our Subjects to resist Us whith We desire to avoid though We be certainly informed that Our said Enemy is purposed and prepared to flie the Land having already made over great masses of the Treasure of Our Crown the better to support him in Forein Parts We do hereby declare That whosoever shall take or distress Our said Enemy though the Party be of never so mean a Condition he shall be by Us rewarded with a Thousand Pound in Money forthwith to be laid down to him and an Hundred Marks by the year of Inheritance besides that he may otherwise merit both toward God and all good People for the destruction of such a Tyrant Lastly We do all men to wit and herein We take also God to witness That whereas God hath moved the Heart of Our dearest Cousin the King of Scotland to aid Us in Person in this Our righteous Quarrel it is altogether without any Pact or Promise or so much as demand of any thing that may prejudice Our Crown or Subjects But contrariwise with promise on Our said Cousin's part that whensoever he shall find Us in sufficient strength to get the upper hand of Our Enemy which we hope will be very suddenly he will forthwith peaceably return into his own Kingdom contenting himself only with the glory of so Honourable an Enterprize and Our true and faithful Love and Amity Which We shall ever by the Grace of Almighty God so order as shall be to the great comfort of both Kingdoms BUT Perkin's Proclamation did little edifie with the people of England neither was he the better welcom for the company he came in Wherefore the King of Scotland seeing none came in to Perkin nor none stirred any where in his favour turned his Enterprize into a Rode and wasted and destroyed the Countrey of Northumberland with fire and sword But hearing that there were Forces coming against him and not willing that they should find his men heavy and laden with booty he returned into Scotland with great Spoils deferring further prosecution till another time It is said that Perkin acting the part of a Prince handsomly when he saw the Scottish fell to waste the Countrey came to the the King in a passionate manner making great lamentation and desired That that might not be the manner of making the War for that no Crown was so dear to his mind as that he desired to purchase it with the blood and ruine of his Countrey Whereunto the King answered half in sport that he doubted much he was careful for that that was none of his and that he should be too good a Steward for his Enemy to save the Countrey to his use By this time being the Eleventh year of the King the Interruption of Trade between the English and the Plemmish began to pinch the Merchants of both Nations very sore Which moved them by all means they could devise to affect and dispose their Savereigns respectively to open the Intercourse again Wherein time favoured them For the Arch-Duke and his Council began to see that Perkin would prove but a Runnagate and Citizen of the World and that it was the part of Children to fall out about Babies And the King on his part after the Attempts upon Kent and Northumberland began to have the business of Perkin in less estimation so as he did not put it to accompt in any Consultation of State But that that moved him most was that being a King that loved Wealth and Treasure he could not endure to have Trade sick nor any Obstruction to continue in the Gate-vein which disperseth that blood And yet he kept State so far as first to be sought unto Wherein the Merchant-Adventurers likewise being a strong Company at that time and well under-set with rich men and good order did hold out bravely taking off the Commodities of the Kingdom though they lay dead upon their hands for want of Vent At the last Commissioners met
scarce gain belief Wherefore I am well content that Truth which maugre her enemies will at length be every where victorions shall prevail with me I have done to my power Politely eloquently politickly I could not write Truly and fide Atticâ as they say I could If I have done amiss in ought it is not out of malice but errour which the gentle Reader will I hope pardon This I earnestly intreat withal beseeching the All-good and All-mighty God that this my labour directed to no other end than to his glory and the good of his Church may attain its due and by me desired success Farewel ANNALS OF ENGLAND From the Year 1508 to the Year 1558. BOOK I. King HENRY the Eighth ANNO DOM. 1509. REG. 1. AFter the death of Henry the Seventh his only Son Henry Prince of Wales undertook the Government of this Kingdom He had then attained to the Age of Eighteen years and was richly adorned with Endowments both of Body and Mind For of Stature he was tall of a beautiful Aspect and of Form through all his age truly beseeming a King He was witty docil and naturally propense to Letters until Pleasures to which the Liberty of Sovereignty easily prompteth did somewhat unseasonably withdraw him from his Studies to these you may add a Great Spirit aspiring to the glory both of Fortitude and Munificence This towardliness was so seconded by the happy care of his Tutors that if the end of his Reign had been answerable to the beginning Henry the Eighth might deservedly have been ranked amongst the greatest of our Kings For if you consider his first Twenty years you shall not easily find any one that either more happily managed Affairs abroad or Governed more wisely at home of that bare greater sway among his Neighbour Princes This I think ought chiefly to be ascribed to the providence of his wise Father and his Grand-mother then still alive For they took care that he should have wise and virtuous Over-seers in his youth by whose assistance having once passed the hazards thereof he happily avoided those Rocks whereon so many daily suffer wrack But these either dying or being so broken with age that they could be no longer employed in affairs of State and he himself being now come to those years that commonly cast aside Modesty Modeslty I say the Guardian of that great Virtue then making use of no Counsellor but his Will he fell into those Vices which notwithstanding the glory of his former Reign branded him deeply with the foul stains of Luxury and Cruelty But remitting those things to their proper places those Worthies appointed his Counsellors were William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellour of England Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester Thomas Ruthal Bishop of Durham Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Lord Treasurer of England George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Steward of the King's Houshold Charles Somerset Lord Chamberlain Knights Sir Thomas Lovel Sir Henry Wyat Sir Edward Poynings These men the Solemnity of the dead King's Funeral being duly and magnificently performed erected him a Tomb all of Brass accounted one of the stateliest Monuments of Europe which one would hardly conceive by the Bill of Accompts For it is reported that it cost but a Thousand Pounds The Monument is to be seen at Westminster the usual place of our Kings Interrments in that admirable Chappel dedicated to St. Stephen by this King heretofore built from the ground a testimony of his religious Piety I have read that this Chappel was raised to that height for the summ of Fourteen thousand Pounds and no more and that he at the same time built a Ship of an unusual burthen called from him The great Henry which by that time it was rigged cost little less than that stately Chappel But now O Henry what is become of that Ship of thine that other Work besides the reward of Heaven will perpetually proclaim thy pious Munificence Hence learn O Kings that the true Trophies of Glory are not to be placed in Armories and Arsenals but and those more durable in Pious Works Seek first seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof and without doubt all other things shall be added unto you But to go on in my proposed course although Henry the Eighth began his Reign the two and twentieth of April 1509 his Coronation was deferred to the four and twentieth of June In the mean time his Council thought it would prove a profitable policy for the King to marry Katherine the Widow of Prince Arthur his deceased Brother and Daughter to Ferdinando King of Castile for otherwise that huge mass of Money assigned for her Jointure must yearly be transported out of the Kingdom Neither was there at first any other doubt made of this Match than whether it were approved by the Ecclesiastical Constitutions for as much as the Scripture said some forbad any man to marry his Brother's Wife But this rub was easily removed by the omnipotence of the Pope's Bull in so much that presently upon the Dispensation of Pope Julius on the third of June under a malignant Constellation the Nuptials of these Princes were solemnized and they both Crowned the four and twentieth of June next following being St. John Baptist's day At these Solemnities there wanted neither pomp nor acclamations of the Estates of the Realm But to shew that of Solomon to be true The end of Mirth is Heaviness five days had not yet run their course since the Coronation when Margaret Countess of Richmond the King's Grand-mother made an exchange of this life with death She was a very godly and virtuous Lady and one who for her benefits to the Estate deserved with all honour to be commended to the perpetual memory of Posterity But her ever-living Works will so far set forth her praise that the pains of any Writer will prove altogether needless Yet notwithstanding omitting other things it will savour somewhat of Ingratitude if I should not recount what she hath conferred upon our Universities She founded two Colledges at Cambridge one dedicated to our Saviour CHRIST and the other to St. John the Evangelist and endowed them both with such large Revenues that at this time besides Officers and Servants there are about two hundred Students maintained in them She also left Lands to both Universities out of the Rents whereof two Doctors publick Professors of Divinity to this day do receive their Annual Stipends She lies interred near her Son in a fair Tomb of Touch-stone whereon lies her Image of gilded Brass ANNO DOM. 1510. REG. 2. H Enry the Seventh Father to this our Eighth some few years before his death had caused an inquisition to be made throughout the Kingdom of the breach of the Penal Statutes saying That Laws were to no purpose unless the fear of Punishment did force men to observe them But the Inquisition proceeding so rigorously that even the least faults were punished
had fortified themselves as well as the shortness of time would permit them and the Peasants thereabouts bring all their goods into the City as to a place of safeguard The City was of no great circuit yet at the beginning of the Siege it contained fourscore thousand People by reason whereof Victuals began quickly to fail them and they could no way hope for relief The French King was far off they had no Garrison the Citizens bad Soldiers two great Princes had begirt the Town with fifty thousand men but they had an Enemy within called Famine more cruel and insupportable than both So having for some few days held out the Siege the nine and Twentieth of September their lives being granted them they yield and to save themselves from spoil pay a hundred thousand Crowns The King makes them swear Fealty to him and appoints Sir Edward Poynings a Knight of the Garter their Governour Next he gives order for store of Warlike provision puts in a small Garrison and builds a Cittadel for the confirmation of his Conquest Neither amongst these Politick affairs did he neglect those of the Church For the Bishop being proscribed he conferrs the See with all the revenues upon Thomas Wolsey of whose first rising and immoderate Power we shall have much occasion to speak hereafter All things being thus ordered because Winter came on apace he began to bethink himself of returning with his Army into England This thought so far pleased him that having been absent scarce four Months he took Ship and about the end of October came home triumphing in the Glory of a double Conquest By the way he was entertained with the news of another Victory the Lord Howard Earl of Surrey having under his Fortune slain the King of Scots The King of France being encumbred with many Wars had conjured James the Fourth King of Scots By the ancient Laws of Amity and the late League made between them that He would not forsake him entangled in so many difficulties If He regarded not his Friend's case yet he should at least look to Himself sor whom it would not be safe to suffer a bordering Nation always at enmity with Him by such additions to arise to that height of power The King of England busied with a forein War was now absent and with Him the flower of the English Chivalry He should therefore forthwith take Arms and try to recover Berwick an especial Town of the Scottish Dominions but for many years with-held by the English He would easily be victorious if He would but make use of this occasion so happily offered It could not be but this War would be for His Honour and profitable to His Friend if not to Himself He should thereby also make known to His Enemies that the Scottish Arms were not to be contemned whose former Victories a long and to them hurtful Peace had obscured and buried in oblivion among the English As for the charges of it He need not be troubled for that he would afford Him fifty thousand Crowns towards the providing of Munition and Ordnance These Reasons so prevailed with the young King covetous of glory that notwithstanding he had lately made a League with our King whose Sister he had married and her vehement dissuasions he proclaimed War against Henry which proved fatal to him bloody to his and the cause of many ensuing calamities So having raised a great Army he breaks into our Marches and besiegeth Norham-Castle belonging to the Bishop of Durham the which having held out six days was at last yielded unto him Thence he removes his Camp to Berwick wasting all the Countrey as he marcht with Fire and Sword The news whereof are brought unto them to whom the government of the Kingdom was committed in the absence of the King and a levy being made through all the North parts of the Kingdom Alnewike is appointed the rendezvous where all the Troops should meet at a set day that thence they might set forward against the Enemy under the conduct of the Lord Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Among the first to his Father's great joy comes the Earl's Son Thomas Lord Admiral leading a veteran Troop of five thousand men of tryed valour and haughty in regard of their former Naval Victories obtained under the command of this young Lord. After him came the Lords Dacres Clifford Scrope Latimer Canyers Lumley and Ogle besides Sir Nicholas Appleyard Master of the Ordnance Sir W. Percie Sir William Sidney Sir William Bulmer Sir John Stanley Sir William Molineux Sir Thomas Strangwayes Sir Richard Tempest and many other Knights These sitting in Council thought it best to send an Herald to the King to expostulate with him concerning the outrages committed to complain that He had without all right or reason spoiled the Countrey of a Prince not only Ailied unto him but also his Confederate and therefore to certifie him that they were ready by Battel to revenge the breach of League if so be he durst await their coming but a few days in a ground that might be fitting for the meeting of both Armies The King makes answer by writing wherein He retorts the violation of the League calling God to witness that King Henry had first by his many injuries shown evident signs of an alienated mind For the English he pretended robbed all along the Marches of Scotland without restitution or punishment Andrew Barton a stout and bonest man had been unjusty slain by the King's command and one Heron who had murthered Robert Car a Scottish Noble-man vaunted himself openly in England the King taking no notice of so heinous a fact Of these things he had often complained by his Ambassadors but without effect There was therefore no other way for him but to betake himself to Arms for the common defence of himself and his Kingdom against the King's injustice As for the meeting he signified that he accepted of it and appointed both time and place for the Battel Neither party failed the prefixed day The Scot seeks to animate his men by taking away all hope of safeguard by flight commanding them I know not how wisely but the event shewed how unhappily for them to forsake their Horses forasmuch as they were to trust to their Hands not to their Horses heels and by his own example shewing what he would have done he alights and prepares himself to fight on foot The rest doing the like the whole Army encountred us on foot to whom after a long and bloody fight the fortune of the Victory inclined The Scots had two and twenty pieces of great Ordnance which stood them in no stead For our men climbing up a Hill where the Enemy sate hovering over us the shot passed over our heads Our chief strength were our Archers who so incessantly played upon four Wings of Scots for the King divided his Army into five Battalions that were but lightly armed that they forced them to flie and leave their fellows who
yet stood stoutly to it But the main Battel where the King was consisting of choice men and better armed against our shot was not so easily defeated For the Scots although they being inclosed as it were in a toyl were forced to fight in a ring made most desperate resistance and that without doubt so much the rather because they not only heard their King encouraging them but saw him also manfully fighting in the foremost Ranks until having received wound upon wound he fell down dead They say there fell with him the Archbishop of St. Andrews his natural Son two other Bishops two Abbots twelve Earls seventeen Barons and of common Souldiers eight thousand The number of the Captives is thought to have been as many They lost all their Ordnance and almost all their Ensigns insomuch that the Victory was to be esteemed a very great one but that it was somewhat bloody to us in the loss of fifteen hundred This Field was fought the ninth of September near Flodon-Hill upon a rising Bank called Piperdi not far from Bramston I am not ignorant that the Scottish Writers constantly affirm the King was not slain in the field but having saved himself by flight was afterwards killed by his own people and that the Body which was brought into England was not the King 's but of one Alexander Elfinston a young Gentleman resembling the King both in visage and stature whom the King that he might delude those that pursued him and might as with his own presence animate them that fought elsewhere had caused with all tokens of Royalty to be armed and apparrelled like himself But to let pass the great number of Nobility whose carcases found about him sufficiently testifie that they guarded their true King and consequently that the counterfeit fought else-where It is manifest that his Body was known by many of the Captives who certainly affirmed that it could be no other than the King 's although by the multitude of wounds it were much defaced For his Neck was opened to the midst with a wide wound his left Hand almost cut off in two places did scarce hang to his Arm and the Archers had shot him in many parts of his body Thus was James the Fourth King of Scots taken away in the flower of his youth who truly in regard of his Princely Virtues deserved a longer life For he had a quick wit and a majestical countenance he was of a great spirit courteous mild liberal and so merciful that it was observed he was often forced against his will to punish offendors These virtues endeared him to his People in his life time and made them so much lament the loss of him being dead that as all Historians report they seemed to have lost only him in the whole succession of their Kings which sufficiently argues the improbability of the Subjects pretended Parricide But he had not fallen into this misery if he would have hearkned to the advice of those who perswaded him to have returned home before the Fight contented with what he had already performed in the Expedition that he should not upon so weak forces hazard the estate of his Kingdom he had won glory-enough and abundantly fulfilled his Friends request But the French Agent and some of the King's Mignons corrupted by the French urging to the contrary this haughty Prince even otherwise very desirous to give proof of his valour was easily perswaded to await our great Forces already marching His Body if at least that were his and not Elfinston's being enclosed in Lead and brought into England was by our King's I will not say cruel but certainly inhumane command cast in some by-corner or other without due Funeral Rites saying that It was a due punishment for one who had perjurously broken his League whereas if we examine the premisses we shall find he wanted not probale pretexts for what he undertook ANNO DOM. 1514. REG. 6. THE next year having begun his course Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey he who had been victorious over the Scots was created Duke of Norfolk the title and dignity of his Ancestors John his Father deriving his pedigree from Thomas de Brotherton Son to King Edward the First the Segraves and the Mowbrays who had been all Dukes of Norfolk enjoyed this Honour by right of Inheritance But because in Bosworth-Field where here he was flain he took part with the Usurper both he and his Posterity were deprived of that Honour This Thomas dying in the year 1524 his Son of the same name succeeded him who deceased in the year 1554. His Son Henry a young Lord of great hopes his Father then living was beheaded towards the end of this King's Reign He left Issue Thomas the last Duke of Norfolk who also lost his Head the year 1572 and Henry at nurse when his Father dyed a very learned and wise man whom King James no good man repining thereat created Earl of Northampton Thomas Duke of Norfolk had three Sons that survived him Philip Thomas and William Philip Earl of Surrey and by his Mother of Arundel condemned the year 1589 and after dying in prison left Issue Thomas then a little one who by King James his favour succeeded his Father in his Honours His Uncle Thomas out of the same fountain of Royal Goodness was created Earl of Suffolk with addition of the dignity of Lord Chamberlain Beside these this Family hath Charles Earl of Nottingham Lord Admiral of England Nephew by the Lord William his Father to Thomas Duke of Norfolk that famous Triumpher over the Scots This is he who in emulation of his Grandfather's glory in the year 1588 under the fortune of Queen Elizabeth most happily overthrew that vainly called Invincible Armada of Spain Thomas also Viscount Bindon is derived from Thomas Duke of Norfolk by his Son the Lord Thomas So this noble House lately afflicted now gloriously flourishing hath four Earls and a Viscount all brave and famous men and of whom there will be occasion of much to be spoken hereafter I therefore thought it good in brief to set down their Genealogy lest I should trouble the Reader with too often repetition of their Race upon each mention of the Name At the time of this Duke's creation others were also honored with new Titles Charles Brandon made Duke of Suffolk and Charles Somerset Earl of Worcester and Edward Stanley Lord Mountegle Sir William Brandon Standard-bearer to Henry the Seventh in Bosworth-Field and there slain by the hand of Richard the Third was Father to this new Duke of Suffolk of whose Education he then a little one King Henry having obtained the Crown was very careful and made him rather a Companion than a Servant to the young Prince of whose houshold he was The Prince so greatly favoured him partly for his Father's deserts chiefly for his own that he being afterward King created him Viscount Lisle and intending at least many were so persuaded to give him to Wife the
and it stood not with the publick weal that he should live single especially the lawfulness of his Daughters birth being so questionable He married not again for his pleasure but to settle the Kingdom on his lawful Issue The Learned as many as he had conferred with did generally pronounce the first Marriage void yet would he have it lawfully decided that with a safe conscience he might make choice of a second Thus far had Wolsey willingly led him hoping to have drawn him to a Match in France But he was of age to choose for himself and had already elsewhere setled his affections And the more to manifest his love on the eighteenth of June he created his future Father-in-Law Sir Thomas Bolen Viscount Rochfort At the same time were created Henry Fitz-roy the King 's natural Son by Elizabeth Blount Daughter to Sir John Blount Knight Earl of Nottingham and Duke of Richmond and Somerset Henry Courtney Earl of Devonshire the King 's Cousin-german Marquess of Exceter Henry Brandon eldest Son to the Duke of Suffolk by the King's Sister the Dowager of France Earl of Lincoln Thomas Manners Lord Roos Earl of Rutland Sir Henry Clifford Earl of Cumberland and Robert Ratcliff Lord Fitzwalter Viscount Fitzwalter Cardinal Wolsey this year laid the foundation of two Colleges one at Ipswich the place of his birth another at Oxford dedicated to our Saviour CHRIST by the name of Christ-Church This latter though not half finished yet a magnificent and royal Work a most fruitful Mother of Learned Children doth furnish the Church and Commonwealth with multitudes of able men and amongst others acknowledgeth me such as I am for her Foster-child The other as if the Founder had also been the foundation fell with the Cardinal and being for the most part pulled down is long since converted to private uses The Cardinal 's private estate although it were wonderful great being not sufficient to endow these Colleges with revenues answerable to their foundation the Pope consenting he demolished forty Monasteries of meaner note and conferred the lands belonging to them on these his new Colleges It hath been the observation of some That this business like that proverbial Gold of Tholouse was fatal to those that any way had a hand in it We will hereafter shew what became of the Pope and the Cardinal But of five whom he made use of in the alienation of the Gifts of so many Religious men it afterward happened that two of them challenging the field of each other one was slain and the other hanged for it a third throwing himself headlong into a Well perished wilfully a fourth before that a wealthy man sunk to that low ebb that he after begged his bread and Dr. Allen the fifth a man of especial note being Archbishop of Dublin was murthered in Ireland I could wish that by these and the like examples men would learn to take heed how they lay hands on things consecrated to God If the Divine Justice so severely punished those that converted the abused yet not regarding the abuse but following the sway of their ambitious desires goods of the Church to undoubtedly better uses what can we expect of those that take all occasions to rob and spoil the Church having no other end but only the enriching of themselves Luther had notice of Henry his intended Divorce and that from Christiern the expelled King of Denmark who eagerly solicited him to write friendly unto the King putting Luther in hope that Henry being a courteous Prince might by mild perswasions be induced to embrace the Reformation which Luther had begun And indeed Luther foreseeing the necessary consequences of this Divorce was easily intreated and did write unto the King in this submissive manner He doubted not but he had much offended his Majesty by his late Reply but he did it rather enforced by others than of his own accord He did now write presuming upon the King 's much bruited humanity especially being informed That the King himself was not Author of the Book against him which thing he understood was captiously cavilled at by some Sophisters And having occasion to speak of the Cardinal of York he called him the Caterpillar of England He understood the King did now loath that wicked sort of men and in his mind to favour the Truth Wherefore he craveth pardon of his Majesty beseeching him to remember that we being mortal should not make our enmities immortal If the King would be pleased to impose it he would openly acknowledge his fault and blazon his Royal Virtues in another Book Then he wished him to stop his ears against those standerous tongues that branded him with Heresie for this was the summ of his Doctrine That we must be saved through Faith in Christ who did bear the punishment of our sins in every part and throughout his whole body who dying for us and rising again reigneth with the Father for ever That he taught this to be the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and that out of this position he shewed what Charity was how we ought to behave our selves one towards another that we are to obey Magistrates and to spend our whole life in the profession of the Gospel If this Doctrine contain any Impiety or Errour why do not his Adversaries demonstrate it Why do they condemn him without either lawful hearing or confutation In that he inveigheth against the Pope and his Adherents he doth it not without good reason for asmuch as for their profits sake they teach things contrary to what Christ and the Apostles did that so they may domineer over the Flock and maintain themselves in Gluttony and Idleness That this was the mark at which their thoughts and deeds aimed and that it was so notorious that they themselves could not deny it That if they would reform themselves by changing their idle and filthy course of life maintained by the loss and wrong of others the differences might easily be composed That his Tenets were approved by many Princes and Estates of Germany who did reverently acknowledge this great blessing of God amongst whom he wonderfully desired he might rank his Majesty That the Emperour and some others opposed his proceedings he did not at all wonder for the Prophet David had many Ages since foretold That Kings and Nations should conspire against the Lord and against his Christ and cast away his yoak from them That when he did consider this and the like places of Scripture he did rather wonder that any Prince did favour the doctrine of the Gospel And to conclude he craved a favourable Answer The King made a sharp Reply to Luther's Letter accusing him of base Inconstancy He stands in defence of his Book which he said was in great esteem with many Religious and Learned men That he reviled the Cardinal a Reverend Father was to be regarded as from him from whose impiety neither God nor man could be free That both
partakers in this Tumult finding it confirmed by the King with promise moreover that he would have a care that these things whereof they complained should be redressed they laying aside their Arms peaceably repaired each one to his home They in the heat of this their fury had for six weeks straitly besieged Scarborough-Castle then kept by Sir Ralph Evers of the noble Family of Evers who without any other Garrison than of his Houshold-servants and Tenants and so slenderly victualled that for twenty days together they sustained themselves with Bread and Water manfully defended it against their furious attempts and kept it until the Commotion was appeased For which brave service the King made him Leader of the Forces appointed for the defence of the Marches towards Scotland which he with great credit performed until he was in the year of our Lord 1545 unfortunately slain Neither was the Estate of Ireland more peaceable than of England Girald Fitg-Girald Earl of Kildare having been twelve years Lord Deputy of Ireland was for some slight matters removed called into England and condemned to death which punishment he through the malice of Wolsey had undergone had not friendship shewed its effects in the Lieutenant of the Tower to whose custody the Earl was committed He having received a Mandate for the execution of the Earl durst hazard the displeasure of the potent Cardinal to save his friend Wherefore he repairs to the King at midnight desirous to know his Majesty's pleasure concerning the Earl who not only disapproved the Mandate but also pardoning the Earl received him into his favour and a few years after restored him to his former dignity of Lord Deputy But these garboils happening in England he is for as slight suspitions as before revoked and commanded to attend at the Council-Table where by his answers he appeared not altogether so innocent but that he was again committed to the Tower Before his departure out of Ireland the King had commanded him to substitute some one in his place for whose faith and diligence he would undertake He had a Son named Thomas little above twenty years old a haughty and stout young Lord very ingenious and exceedingly affecting his Father To this Son as to another Phaeton he commits the guidance of his Chariot Sed quae non viribus istis Munera conveniunt nec tam puerilibus annis which indeed proved fatal to them both and to almost the whole Family For no sooner was the Earl imprisoned but report raised as is conjectured by his enemies beheaded him threatning the like to his Off-spring and Brethren whose destruction the King had most certainly resolved The author of this report was uncertain and the young Lord as rashly credulous who taking Arms solicited the aid of his friends against the King's injustice He had then five Uncles Brethren to his Father three of which at first disswaded him from these violent proceedings But passion had excluded reason and they at length associate themselves with their Nephew with whom they were involved in the same ruine Many others flocking unto him he had suddenly raised a great Army wherewith marching up and down the Countrey he robbed and killed them who refused to obey him And among the rest he permitted the Archbishop of Dublin to be murthered in his sight The poor Earl already afflicted with a Palsie was so stricken to the heart with the news of this Tumult that he but a few days survived the knowledge of his unhappiness The King levying great Forces quickly curbed the unruly Youth and after some months forced him to yield His Uncles were either taken or willingly submitted themselves All of them were sent to London and there brought to their answer There goes a Story that those three Uncles who endeavoured to restrain their headstrong Nephew did half presume on the King's clemency until in the passage demanding of the Master the name of the Ship wherein they sailed and understanding it was called The Cow bethinking themselves of a certain Prophecy That five Sons of an Earl should in the belly of a Cow be carried into England never to return they forthwith despaired of pardon The event approved the skill of the Wizard For some enemies to this noble Family incensing the King by suggesting that he should never expect to settle Ireland as long as any of the race of the Fitz-Giralds remained easily prevailed with the King for their Execution In regard whereof I cannot blame Girald the Brother of Thomas who trusting not to the weak plea of his innocence then sick of the Measles as he was sought by making an escape to set himself out of the reach of malice Being therefore packed up in a bundle of clothes he was privately conveyed to one of his Friends with whom he lurked until he found an opportunity of escaping into France where he was for a time favourably received by the King But long he could not be there secure the Agents of Henry pressing hard That by the League all Fugitives were to be delivered wherefore he went thence into the Netherlands where finding himself in no less danger than before he fled into Italy to Reignald Pool who maintained and used him very nobly and at length procured him to be restored to his Countrey and the Honors of his Ancestors The mention of Pool falls fit with our time he being this year on the two and twentieth of December by Pope Paul the Fourth chosen into the Colledge of Cardinals He was near of blood to the King who first bestowed Learning on him and afterward finding his modesty and excellent disposition conferred on him the Deanry of Exceter But travelling afterwards to forein Universities he was in Italy quickly bewitched with the Sorceries of the Circe of Rome insomuch that he became a deadly enemy to his Fosterer his Prince his Kinsman For when he would neither allow of the Divorce from the Lady Catharine nor the abrogating of the Authority of the Pope and openly condemned other the King's proceedings in Ecclesiastical affairs refusing also to obey the King who commanded him home Henry disposed of his Deanry and withdrew the large stipend which he had yearly allowed him The Pope therefore intending to make use of this man as an Engin of battery against the King and being induced by the commendations of Cardinal Contaren bestowed on him a Cardinal's Hat and was thereby assured of him who had of late been suspected to have been seasoned with the Leaven of purer Doctrine But of that hereafter ANNO DOM. 1537. REG. 29. THe accidents of this year were Tragical and England the Scene of blood and deaths of many famous Personages On the third of February was Thomas Fitz-Girald beheaded for Treason his five Uncles hanged drawn and quartered and their members fixed over the Gates of London The same month Nicholas Musgrave and Thomas Gilby for that stirring a new Rebellion they had besieged Carlile were executed The tenth of March
Bromley Sir Anthony Denny Sir Edward North. Sir Edward Wotton Doctor Wotton Dean of Canterbury and York To whom he added as Assistants especially in matters of great consequence Henry Earl of Arundel William Earl of Essex Sir Thomas Cheny Steward of the King's Houshold Sir John Gage Comptroller Sir Anthony Wingfield Vice-Chamberlain Sir William Peter Secretary Sir Richard Rich. Sir John Baker Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Thomas Seymour Sir Richard Southwell Sir Edmond Pecham He ordained his Body should be interred at Windsor in a Monument yet imperfect erected by Cardinal Wolsey not for himself as many falsly 〈◊〉 but for the King as by the Inscription is manifest which cannot be of later date For therein Henry is 〈◊〉 Lord of Ireland without any mention of Supreme Head of the Church which two particles it is manifest were changed in the Title after Wolsey his death In the same his last Will he commanded that the Monuments of Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth both interred in Windsor should be made more magnificent and stately and other things of less moment most of which were neglected This last Will and Testament he confirmed subscribed and sealed the last of December and survived a month after dying at Westminster the eight and twentieth of January and that in this manner The King having long languished the Physicians finding apparent symptoms of approaching death wished some of his friends to admonish him of his estate which at last Sir Anthony Denny undertook who going directly to the fainting King told in few but those plain words That the hope of humane help was vain wherefore he beseeched his Majesty to erect his thoughts to Heaven and bethinking him of his ' fore-passed life through Christ to implore God's Mercy An advice not very acceptable to him But finding it grounded upon the judgment of the Physicians he submitted himself to the hard law of necessity and reflecting upon the course of his Life which he much condemned he professed himself confident that through Christ his infinite Goodness all his sins although they had been more in number and weight might be pardoned Being then demanded whether he desired to confer with any Divines With no other saith he but the Archbishop Cranmer and not with him as yet I will first repose my self a little and as I then find my self will determin accordingly After the sleep of an hour or two finding himself fainting he commanded the Archbishop then at Croydon should be sent for in all hast Who using all possible speed came not until the King was speechless As soon as he came the King took him by the hand the Archbishop exhorting him to place all his hope in God's Mercies through Christ and beseeching him that if he could not in words he would by some sign or other testifie this his Hope Who then wringed the Archbishop's hand as hard as he could and shortly after expired having lived fifty five years and seven months and thereof reigned thirty seven years nine months and six days Thus ended Henry the Eighth his Life and Reign which for the first years of his Government was like Nero's Five years Admirable for often Victories and happy Success in War Glorious for the many Changes under it Memorable for the Foundation of the Churches Reformation Laudable to Queens most unhappy for the Death of so many for the most great Personages Bloody and for the frequent Exactions and Subsidies and Sacrilegious Spoil of the Church much Prejudicial to the Estate Grievous and Burthensom to the Subject FINIS ANNALS OF ENGLAND EDVVARD THE SIXTH The Second Book LONDON Printed for Thomas Basset John Wright and Richard Chiswel M. DC LXXV ANNALS OF ENGLAND BOOK II. EDWARD the Sixth ANNO DOM. 1547. REG. 1. ROyalty like a Pythagorean Soul transmigrates Although Henry were dead the King was still alive and survived in the person of young Edward who began his Reign the eight and twentieth of January then in the tenth year of his age and having been on the last of the same Month proclaimed King came the same day from Enfield where the Court had then been to the Tower there according to the ancient custom of our Kings to abide until his Inauguration at Westminster The next day the Council assembled for the managing of the Estate conferred on the King's Uncle Edward Seymour Earl of Hertford the honour and power of Protector of the King's Person and Kingdom Who to season his new Dignity with some memorable act on the sixth of February dubbed the King Knight the King presently imparting the same Honour to Richard Hoblethorn Lord Mayor of London On the fifteenth of February King Henry his Funerals were solemnized and his Body Royally interred in the middle of the Quire in the Church at Windsor Two days after were some of the Nobility dignified with greater Honours some new created The Lord Protector Earl of Hertford was made Duke of Somerset William Parr Earl of Essex Marquis of Northampton John Dudley Viscount Lisle Earl of Warwick and the Lord Chancellour Wriothsley Earl of Southampton Sir Thomas Seymour Brother to the Protector and Lord Admiral Sir Thomas Rich Sir William Willoughby and Sir Edmond Sheffeild were inrolled among the Barons Other two days being fled after their predecessors the King passed triumphantly from the Tower through London to Westminster where he was solemnly crowned anointed and inaugurated by Cranmcr Archbishop of Canterbury At what time also with incredible indulgence pardon of all crimes whatsoever was publickly proclaimed and granted to all persons throughout the Realm six only being exempted from the benefit thereof namely the Duke of Norfolk Cardinal Pool the lately beheaded Marquis of Exceter his eldest Son one Throcmorton Fortescue and Richard Pate late Bishop of Worcester who lest he should be constrained to acknowledge the King Head of the Church had some years passed fled to Rome On the nineteenth of June in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in London were celebrated the Exequies of Francis King of France He deceased the two and twentieth of the precedent March having been after the death of our Henry much disposed to melancholy whether for that he failed in the hope of strengthening their late contracted amity with some stricter tie or that being some few years the younger he was by his death admonished of the like approaching fate They were also of so conspiring a similitude of disposition and nature that you shall hardly find the like between any two Princes of whatever different times This bred a mutual affection in them and as it were forcibly nourished the secret fire thereof between them unless peradventure when emulation or the respect of publick utility swayed them the contrary way so that the death of the one could not but much grieve the surviver He therefore in the Cathedral at Paris celebrated the Funerals of Henry though Excommunicated by the Pope He also left one only Son named Henry inheritor of his
Now did the Sign 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 was come under 〈◊〉 Perkin should appear And therefore he was straight sent unto by the Duchess to go for Ireland according to the first designment In Ireland he did arrive at the Town of Cork When he was thither come his own Tale was when he made his Confession afterwards That the Irish-men finding him in some good clothes came flocking about him and bare him down that he was the Duke of Clarence that had been there before and after that he was Richard the Third's base Son and lastly that he was Richard Duke of York second Son to Edward the Fourth But that he for his part renounced all these things and offered to swear upon the Holy Evangelists that he was no such man till at last they forced it upon him and bad him fear nothing and so forth But the truth is that immediately upon his coming into Ireland he took upon him the said Person of the Duke of York and drew unto him Complices and Partakers by all the means he could devise Insomuch as he wrote his Letters unto the Earl of Densmond and Kildare to come in to his Ayd and be of his Party the Originals of which Letters are yet extant Somewhat before this time the Duchess had also gained unto her a near Servant of King Henry's own one Stephen Frion his Secretary for the French Tongue an active man but turbulent and discontented This Frion had fled over to Charles the French King and put himself into his service at such time as he began to be in open enmity with the King Now King Charles when he understood of the Person and Attempts of Perkin ready of himself to embrace all advantages against the King of England instigated by Frion and formerly prepared by the Lady Margaret forthwith dispatched one Lucas and this Frion in the nature of of Ambassadors to Perkin to advertise him of the King 's good inclination to him and that he was resolved to ayd him to recover his right against King Henry an Usurper of England and an Enemy of France and wished him to come over unto him at Paris Perkin thought himself in heaven now that he was invited by so great a King in so honourable a manner And imparting unto his Friends in Ireland for their encouragement how Fortune called him and what great hopes he had sailed presently into France When he was come to the Court of France the King received him with great honour saluted and stiled him by the name of the Duke of York lodged him and accommodated him in great State And the better to give him the representation and the countenance of a Prince assigned him a Guard for his Person whereof the Lord Congreshall was Captain The Courtiers likewise though it be ill mocking with the French applied themselves to their King 's bent seeing there was reason of State for it At the same time there repaired unto Perkin divers English-men of Quality Sir George Nevile Sir John Taylor and about one hundred more and amongst the rest this Stephen Frion of whom we spake who followed his fortune both then and for a long time after and was indeed his principal Counsellor and Instrument in all his Proceedings But all this on the French King's part was but a Trick the better to bow King Henry to Peace And therefore upon the first Grain of Incense that was sacrificed upon the Altar of Peace at Bulloign Perkin was smoaked away Yet would not the French King deliver him up to King Henry as he was laboured to do for his Honors sake but warned him away and dismissed him And Perkin on his part was as ready to be gone doubting he might be caught up under-hand He therefore took his way into Flanders unto the Duchess of Burgundy pretending that having been variously tossed by Fortune he directed his course thither as to a safe Harbour No ways taking knowledge that he had ever been there before but as if that had been his first address The Duchess on the other part made it as new and strange to see him pretending at the first that she was taught and made wise by the example of Lambert Simnel how she did admit of any Counterfeit stuff though even in that she said she was not fully satisfied She pretended at the first and that was ever in the presence of others to pose him and sift him thereby to try whether he were indeed the very Duke of York or no. But seeming to receive full satisfaction by his answers she then feined her self to be transported with a kind of astonishment mixt of Joy and Wonder at his miraculous deliverance receiving him as he were risen from death to life and inferring that God who had in such wonderful manner preserved him from Death did likewise reserve him for some great and prosperous Fortune As for his dismission out of France they interpreted it not as if he were detected or neglected for a Counterfeit Deceiver but contrariwise that it did shew manifestly unto the World that he was some Great matter for that it was his abandoning that in effect made the Peare being no more but the sacrificing of a poor distressed Prince unto the utility and Ambition of two Mighty Monarchs Neither was Perkin for his part wanting to himself either in gracious and Princely behaviour or in ready and apposite answers or in contenting and caressing those that did apply themselves unto him or in pretty scorn and disdain to those that seemed to doubt of him but in all things did notably acquit himself Insomuch as it was generally believed as well amongst great Persons as amongst the Vulgar that he was indeed Duke Richard Nay himself with long and continual counterfeiting and with oft telling a Lye was turned by habit almost into the thing he seemed to be and from a Lyar to a Believer The Duchess therefore as in a case out of doubt did him all Princely honour calling him always by the name of her Nephew and giving him the Delicare Title of the White-Rose of England and appointed him a Guard of thirty persons Halberdiers clad in a party-coloured Livery of Murrey and Blew to attend his Person Her Court likewise and generally the Dutch and Strangers in their usage towards him expressed no less respect The News hereof came blazing and thundering over into England that the Duke of York was sure alive As for the name of Perkin Warbeck it was not at that time come to light but all the news ran upon the Duke of York that he had been entertained in Ireland bought and sold in France and was now plainly avowed and in great honour in Flanders These Fames took hold of divers in some upon discontent in some upon ambition in some upon levity and desire of change and in some few upon conscience and belief but in most upon simplicity and in divers out of dependance upon some of the better sort who did in secret favour and
that knew themselves guilty in the Pale fled to them So that Sir Edward Poynings was enforced to make a Wild-Chase upon the Wild-Irish Where in respect of the Mountains and Fastnesses he did little good Which either out of a suspicious Melancholy upon his bad Success or the better to save his service from Disgrace he would needs impute unto the Comfort that the Rebels should receive under-hand from the Earl of Kildare every light suspition growing upon the Earl in respect of the Kildare that was in the Action of Lambert Simnel and slain at Stoke-field Wherefore he caused the Earl to be apprehended and sent into England where upon Examination he cleared himself so well as he was re-placed in his Government But Poynings the better to make compensation of the Meagerness of his Service in the Wars by acts of Peace called a Parliament where was made that memorable Act which 〈◊〉 this day is called Poynings Law whereby all the Statutes of England were made to be of force in Ireland For before they were not neither are any now in force in Ireland which were made in England since that time which was the tenth year of the King About this time began to be discovered in the King that disposition which afterward nourished and whet-on by bad Counsellors and Ministers proved the Blot of his times which was the course he took to crush Treasure out of his Subjects Purses by Forfeitures upon Penal Laws At this men did startle the more at this time because it appeared plainly to be in the King's Nature and not out of his Necessity he being now in Float for Treasure For that he had newly received the Peace-money from France the Benevolence-money from his Subjects and great Casualties upon the Confiscations of the Lord Chamberlain and divers others The first noted Case of this kind was that of Sir William Capel Alderman of London Who upon sundry Penal Laws was condemned in the summ of seven and twenty hundred Pounds and compounded with the King for sixteen hundred And yet after Empson would have cut another Chop out of him if the King had not died in the instant The Summer following the King to comfort his Mother whom he did always tenderly love and revere and to make Demonstration to the World that the proceedings against Sir William Stanley which was imposed upon him by necessity of State had not in any degree diminished the affection he bare to Thomas his Brother went in Progress to Latham to make merry with his Mother and the Earl and lay there divers days During this Progress Perkin Warbeck finding that time and temporizing which whilest his practices were covert and wrought well in England made for him did now when they were discovered and defeated rather make against him for that when matters once go down the Hill they stay not without a new force resolved to try his adventure in some exploit upon England hoping still upon the affections of the Common People towards the House of York Which body of Common People he thought was not to be practised upon as persons of Quality are But that they only practice upon their affections was to set up a Standard in the field The Place where he should make his Attempt he chose to be the Coast of Kent The King by this time was grown to such an height of Reputation for cunning and Policy that every Accident and Event that went well was laid and imputed to his foresight as if he had set it before As in this particular of Perkin's Design upon Kent For the world would not believe afterwards but the King having secret Intelligence of Perkin's intention for Kent the better to draw it on went of purpose into the North a-far-off laying an open side unto Perkin to make him come to the close and so to trip up his heels having made sure in Kent before-hand But so it was that Perkin had gathered together a Power of all Nations neither in number not in the hardiness and courage of the Persons contemptible but in their nature and fortunes to be feared as well of Friends as Enemies being Bankrupts and many of them Felons and such as lived by Rapine These he put to Sea and arrived upon the Coast of Sandwich and Deal in Kent about July There he cast Anchor and to prove the affections of the People sent some of his men to land making great boast of the Power that was to follow The Kentish-men perceiving that Perkin was not followed by any English of name or account and that his forces consisted but of strangers born and most of them base People and Free-booters fitter to spoil a Coast than to recover a Kingdom resorting unto the principal Gentlemen of the Countrey professed their loyalty to the King and desired to be directed and commanded for the best of the King's service The Gentlemen entring into Consultation directed some forces in good number to shew themselves upon the Coast and some of them to make signs to entice Perkin's Soldiers to land as if they would joyn with them and some others to appear from some other places and to make semblance as if they fled from them the better to encourage them to land But Perkin who by playing the Prince or else taught by Secretary Frion had learned thus much That People under Command do use to consult and after to march in order and Rebels contrariwise run upon an Head together in confusion considering the delay of time and observing their orderly and not tumultuary Arming doubted the worst And therefore the wily Youth would not set one foot out of his Ship till he might see things were sure Wherefore the King's Forces perceiving that they could draw on no more than those that were formerly landed set upon them and cut them in pieces ere they could flie back to their Ships In which Skirmish besides those that fled and were slain there were taken about an hundred and fifty persons Which for that the King thought that to punish a few for example was Gentleman's play but for Rascal-People they were to be cut off every man especially in the beginning of an Enterprize and likewise for that he saw that Perkin's Forces would now consist chiefly of such Rabble and scum of desperate people he therefore hanged them all for the greater terrour They were brought to London all rail'd in Ropes like a Team of Horses in a Cart and were executed some of them at London and Wapping and the rest at divers places upon the Sea-Coast of Kent Sussex and Norfolk for Sea-marks or Light-houses to teach Perkin's People to avoid the Coast. The King being advertised of the landing of the Rebels thought to leave his Progress But being certified the next day that they were partly defeated and partly fled he continued his Progress and sent Sir Richard Guilford into Kent in message Who calling the Countrey together did much commend from the King their fidelity manhood and well
at London to Treat On the King's part Bishop Fox Lord Privy Seal Viscount Wells Kendal Prior of St. John's Warham Master of the Polls who began to gain much upon the King's opinion Urswick who was almost ever one and Risley On the Arch-Duke's part the Lord Bevers his Admiral the Lord Verunsel President of Flanders and others These concluded a perfect Treaty both of Amity and Intercourse between the King and the Arch-Duke containing Articles both of State Commerce and Free-Fishing This is that Treaty which the Flemings call at this day Intercursus Magnus both because it is more compleat than the precedent Treaties of the Third and Fourth years of the King and chiefly to give it a difference from the Treaty that followed in the One and twentieth year of the King which they call Intercursus Malus In this Treaty there was an express Article against the Reception of the Rebels of either Prince by other purporting that if any such Rebel should be required by the Prince whose Rebel he was of the Prince Confederate that forthwith the Prince Confederate should by Proclamation command him to avoid the Countrey Which if he did not within fifteen days the Rebel was to stand proscribed and put out of Protection But nevertheless in this Article Perkin was not named neither perhaps contained because he was no Rebel But by this means his wings were clipt off his Followers that were English And it was expresly comprised in the Treaty that it should extend to the Territories of the Duchess Dowager After the Intercourse thus restored the English Merchants came again to their Mansion at Antwerp where they were received with Procession and great Joy The Winter sollowing being the Twelfth year of his reign the King called again his Parliament Where he did much exaggerate both the Malice and the cruel Predatory War lately made by the King of Scotland That that King being in Amity with him and no ways provoked should so burn in hatred towards him as to drink of the Lees and Dregs of Perkin's Intoxication who was every where else detected and discarded And that when he perceived it was out of his reach to do the King any hurt he had turned his Arms upon unarmed and unprovided people to spoil only and depopulate contrary to the Laws both of War and Peace Concluding that he could neither with Honour nor with the safety of his People to whom he did owe Protection let pass these wrongs unrevenged The Parliament understood him well and gave him a Subsidy limited to the summ of one hundred and twenty thousand Pounds besides two Fifteens For his Wars were always to him as a Mine of Treasure of a strange kind of Ore Iron at the top and Gold and Silver at the bottom At this Parliament for that there had been so much time spent in making Laws the year before and for that it was called purposely in respect of the Scottish War there were no Laws made to be remembred Only there passed a Law at the Suit of the Merchant-Adventurers of England against the Merchant-Adventurers of London for Monopolizing and exacting upon the Trade which it seemeth they did a little to save themselves after the hard time they had sustained by want of Trade But those Innovations were taken away by Parliament But it was fatal to the King to fight for his Money And though he avoided to fight with Enemies abroad yet he was still enforced to fight for it with Rebels at home For no sooner began the Subsidie to be levied in Cornwal but the people there began to grudge and murmur The Cornish being a race of men stout of stomach mighty of body and limb and that lived hardly in a barren Countrey and many of them could for a need live under ground that were Tinners they muttered extremely that it was a thing not to be suffered that for a little stir of the Scots soon blown over they should be thus grinded to Powder with Payments And said it was for them to pay that had too much and lived idly But they would eat the bread they got with the sweat of their brows and no man should take it from them And as in the Tides of People once up there want not commonly stirting Winds to make them more rough So this People did light upon two Ring-leaders or Captains of the Rout. The one was one Michael Joseph a Black-smith or Farrier of Bodmin a notable talking Fellow and no less desirous to be talked of The other was Thomas Flammocke a Lawyer who by telling his neighbours commonly upon any occasion that the Law was on their side had gotten great sway amongst them This man talked learnedly and as if he could tell how to make a Rebellion and never break the Peace He told the people that Subsidies were not to be granted nor levied in this case that is for Wars of Scotland for that the Law had provided another course by service of Escuage for those Journies much less when all was quiet and War was made but a Pretence to poll and pill the People And therefore that it was good they should not stand now like sheep before the Shearers but put on Harness and take Weapons in their hands Yet to do no creature hurt but go and deliver the King a Strong Petition for the laying down of those grievous Payments and for the punishment of those that had given him that Counsel to make others beware how they did the like in time to come And said for his part he did not see how they could do the duty of true English-men and good Liege-men except they did deliver the King from such wicked Ones that would destroy both Him and the Countrey Their aim was at Archbishop Morton and Sir Reginald Bray who were the King 's Skreens in this Envy After that these two Flammocke and the Black-smith had by joynt and several Pratings found tokens of consent in the Multitude they offered themselves to lead them until they should hear of better men to be their Leaders which they said would be ere long Telling them further that they would be but their servants and first in every danger but doubted not but to make both the West-end and East-end of England to meet in so good a Quarrel and that all rightly understood was but for the King's service The People upon these seditious Instigations did arm most of them with Bows and Arrows and Bills and such other Weapons of rude and Countrey People and forthwith under the Command of their Leaders which in such cases is ever at pleasure marched out of Cornwal through Devonshire unto Taunton in Somersetshire without any slaughter violence or spoil of the Countrey At Taunton they killed in fury an officious and eager Commissioner for the Subsidie whom they called the Provoct of Perin Thence they marched to Wells where the Lord Audley with whom their Leaders had before some secret Intelligence a Noble-man of an ancient Family
of Days for payment of Moneys and some other Particulars of the Frontiers And it was indeed but a wooing Ambassage with good respects to entertain the King in good affection but nothing was done or handled to the derogation of the King 's late Treaty with the Italians But during the time that the Cornish-men were in their march towards London the King of Scotland well advertised of all that passed and knowing himself sure of War from England whensoever those Stirs were appeased neglected not his opportunity But thinking the King had his hands full entred the Frontiers of England again with an Army and besieged the Castle of Norham in Person with part of his Forces sending the rest to forrage the Countrey But Fox Bishop of Duresm a wise man and one that could see through the Present to the Future doubting as much before had caused his Castle of Norham to be strongly fortified and furnished with all kind of Munition And had manned it likewise with a very great number of tall Soldiers more than for the proportion of the Castle reckoning rather upon a sharp Assault than a long Siege And for the Countrey likewise he had caused the people withdraw their Cattel and Goods into Fact Places that were not of easie approach and sent in post to the Earl of Surrey who was not far off in Yorkshire to come in diligence to the Succour So as the Scottish King both failed of doing good upon the Castle and his men had but a catching Harvest of their Spoils And when he understood that the Earl of Surrey was coming on with great Forces he returned back into Scotland The Earl finding the Castle freed and the Enemy retired pursued with all 〈◊〉 into Scotland hoping to have overtaken the Scottish King and to have given him Battel But not attaining him in time sate down before the Castle of Aton one of the strongest places then esteemed between Berwick and Edenburgh which in a small time he took And soon after the Scottish King retiring further into his Countrey and the weather being extraordinary foul and stormy the Earl returned into England So that the Expeditions on both parts were in effect but a Castle taken and a Castle distressed not answerable to the puissance of the Forces nor to the heat of the Quarrel nor to the greatness of the Expectation Amongst these Troubles both Civil and External came into England from Spain Peter Hialas some call him Elias surely he was the fore runner of the good Hap that we enjoy at this day For his Ambassage set the Truce between England and Scotland the Truce drew on the Peace the Peace the Marriage and the Marriage the Union of the Kingdoms a man of great Wisdom and as those times were not unlearned sent from Ferdinando and Isabella Kings of Spain unto the King to treat a Marriage between Catherine their second Daughter and Prince Arthur This Treaty was by him set in a very good way and almost brought to perfection But it so fell out by the way that upon some Conference which he had with the King touching this business the King who had a great dexterity in getting suddenly into the bosom of Ambassadors of forein Princes if he liked the men Insomuch as he would many times communicate with them of his own affairs yea and employ them in his service fell into speech and discourse incidently concerning the ending the Debates and differences with Scotland For the King naturally did not love the barren Wars with Scotland though he made his profit of the Noise of them And he wanted not in the Council of Scotland those that would advise their King to meet him at the half-way and to give over the War with England pretending to be good Patriots but indeed favouring the affairs of the King Only his heart was too great to begin with Scotland for the motion of Peace On the other side he had met with an Allie of Ferdinando of Arragon as fit for his turn as could be For after that King Ferdinando had upon assured confidence of the Marriage to succeed taken upon him the person of a Fraternal Allie to the King he would not let in a Spanish gravity to counsel the King in his own affairs And the King on his part not being wanting to himself but making use of every man's humours made his advantage of this in such things as he thought either not decent or not pleasant to proceed from himself putting them off as done by the Counsel of Ferdinando Wherefore he was content that Hialas as in a matter moved and advised from Hialas himself should go into Scotland to treat of a Concord between the two Kings Hialas took it upon him and coming to the Scottish King after he had with much Art brought King James to hearken to the more safe and quiet Counsels wrote unto the King that he hoped that Peace would with no great difficulty cement and close if he would send some wise and temperate Counsellor of his own that might treat of the Conditions Whereupon the King directed Bishop Fox who at that time was at his Castle of Norham to confer with Hialas and they both to treat with some Commissioners deputed from the Scottish King The Commissioners on both sides met But after much dispute upon the Articles and Conditions of Peace propounded upon either part they could not conclude a Peace The chief Impediments thereof was the demand of the King to have Perkin delivered into his hands as a reproach to all Kings and a person not protected by the Law of Nations The King of Scotland on the other side peremptorily denied so to do saying That he for his part was no competent Judge of Perkin's Title But that he had received him as a Suppliant protected him as a person fled for Refuge espoused him with his Kinswoman and aided him with his Arms upon the belief that he was a Prince And therefore that he could not now with his Honour so unrip and in a sort put a Lye upon all that he had said and done before as to deliver him up to his Enemies The Bishop likewise who had certain proud instructions from the King at the least in the Front though there were a pliant clause at the Foot that remitted all to the Bishop's discretion and required him by no means to break off in ill terms after that he had failed to obtain the delivery of Perkin did move a second point of his Instructions which was that the Scottish King would give the King an Enterview in Person at Newcastle But this being reported to the Scottish King his answer was That he meant to treat a Peace and not to go a begging for it The Bishop also according to another Article of his Instructions demanded Restitution of the Spoils taken by the Scottish or Damages for the same But the Scottish Commissioners answered That that was but as Water spilt upon the ground which could not be
William Kingston who lately came thither with some of the King's Guard exhorted him to be of good comfort for that the King in whose name he saluted him had sent for him to no other end but that he might clear himself from those things which malice and detraction had forged against him neither did he doubt but that shortly he should see him more potent than ever if out of pusillanimity he gave not too much scope to the violence of his discontented passions Whereto the Cardinal in these his last words replied I am as truly glad to hear of his Majesty's health as I truly know my death to be at hand I have now been eight days together troubled with a Flux accompanied with a continual Fever which kind of disease if within eight days it remit nothing of its wonted violence by the consent of all Physicians threatneth no less than death per adventure an evil beyond death distraction But grown weak and my disease raging more and more I do each minute expect when God will be pleased to free this sinful soul from this loathsom prison of the body But should my life be a little prolonged do you think I perceive not what traps are laid for me You Sir William if I mistake not are Lieutenant of the Tower and I guess for what you come But God hath justly rewarded me for neglecting my due service to him and wholly applying my self to his Majesty's pleasure Woe is me wretch and sot that I am who have been ungrateful to the King of kings whom if I had served with that due devout observance that besits a Christian he would not have for saken me in the evening of my age I would I might be a general example even to the King himself how slipperily they stand in this world who do not above all things rely upon the firm support of G O D's Favour and Providence Salute his Majesty from me and deliver this my last petition unto him which is That he live mindful of the tryal he must undergo before G O D's high Tribunal so shall he by the secret testimony of his own conscience free me from those crimes wherewith my adversaries seek to burthen me More he would have spoken but his speech failed him and death presently ensued His body apparelled in his Pontifical Robes after it had all that day for he expired at the very break of day been exposed to open view was at midnight without any solemnity buried in our Ladies Chappel in the Church of the Monastery Thus unhappily ended Cardinal Wolsey his long happy life than whom England no nor I believe all Europe if you except the Bishops of Rome ever saw a more potent Prelate His retinue consisted of near about a thousand persons among which were one Earl commonly nine Barons many Knights and Gentlemen and of Officers belonging to his house above four hundred besides their Servants which far exceeded the former number His Chappel was served by a Dean a Sub-dean a Chanter thirty five Singers whereof thirteen were Clergy twelve Lay and ten Choristers four Sextons beside sixteen Chaplains the most sufficient for their Learning throughout all England two Cross-bearers and as many Pillar-bearers But nothing doth manifest his wealth and greatness so much as do his stately and incomparable Buildings We have already spoken of his Colledges Whitehal then called York-house as belonging to the Archbishop the place where our Kings do most reside was almost wholy built by him Hampton-Court the neatest pile of all the King's houses he raised entirely from the ground and having furnished it with most rich housholdstuff gave it to the King It was a gift fitter for a King to take than for a subject to give But in the opinion of the vulgar the Monument which he intended for the King far surpassed all these It was of solid Brass but unfinished and is to be seen in Henry the Eighth his Chappel in the Church of Windsor That three of his Children reigning after him none of them undertook by perfecting it to cover the as it were unburied bones of their Father what may we think but that the excessive charge of it deterred them But upon a farther inquity we may more justly ascribe it to the especial judgment of the Divine Providence who had decreed that he who had so horribly spoiled the Church should alone be debarred the honour afforded to each of his Predecessors in the Church And thus much concerning Wolsey who died the thirtieth of November 1530. In the mean time in June Anno 1529 after long debating the matter to and fro by the mediation of Louyse the French King's Mother and Margaret Aunt to the Emperour these two Princes are drawn to an accord and a Peace is concluded between them at Cambray thence commonly called The Peace of Cambray but by us The Peace of Women The chief Conditions whereof and that any way concerned us were That the French King should give to the Emperour for the freedom of his Children who had been three years Hostages in Spain for their Father two millions of Crowns whereof he should pay four hundred thousand due from the Emperour by the League made Anno 1522 to Henry and his Sister Mary Dowager of France Beside which huge summ he should also acquit the Emperour of five hundred thousand which he did owe to our King for the indemnity of the Marriage between the Emperour and the Lady Mary the King's Daughter whom having been long since contracted he left to marry with the Daughter of Portugal And that he should disengage and restore to the Emperour the Flower-de-Lys of gold enriched with precious stones and a piece of our Saviour's Cross which Philip truly called The Good Duke of Burgoigne the Emperour's Father being driven into England by contrary winds had engaged to Henry the Seventh for fifty thousand Crowns So that the summ to be paid to Henry amounted to nine hundred and fifty thousand Crowns besides sixteen hundred thousand more to be paid to the Emperour at the very instant of the delivery of the French King's Children The total summ was two millions five hundred fifty thousand Crowns which of our money make seven hundred sixty five thousand Pounds Francis not knowing which way suddenly to raise so huge a mass by his Ambassadors intreated our King to be pleased to stay some time for his moneys But Henry was much moved that he had not been made acquainted with this Treaty notwithstanding his secret designs made him temper his choler nay and with incredible liberality to grant more than was demanded For he absolutely forgave him the five hundred thousand Crowns due for the not marrying his Daughter he gave the Flower-de-Lys to his God-son Henry Duke of Orleans and left the other four hundred thousand to be paid by equal portions in five years The Pope had lately by his Legates deluded Henry who was thereupon much discontented
any thing to the Barber that trimmed him affirming That head about which he had bestowed his pains was the Kings if he could prove it to be his that did bear it he would well reward him To his Keeper demanding his upper garment as his fee he gave his Hat Going up the Scaffold he desired him that went before him To lend him his hand to help him up as for coming down he took no care Laying his head upon the block he put aside his beard which was then very long saying The Executioner was to cut off his head not his heard The executions of so many men caused the Queen to be much maligned as if they had been done by her procurement at least the Papists would have it thought so knowing that it stood her upon and that indeed she endeavoured that the authority of the Pope of Rome should not again take footing in England They desired nothing more than the downfal of this virtuous Lady which shortly after happening they triumphed in the overthrow of Innocence In the mean time they who undertook the subversion of the Monasteries invented an Engin to batter them more forcibly than the former course of torture and punishment They send abroad subtil-headed fellows who warranted by the King's authority should throughout England search into the lives and manners of Religious persons It would amaze one to consider what villanies were discovered among them by the means of Cromwell and others Few were found so guiltless as to dare withstand their proceedings and the licentiousness of the rest divulged made them all so odious to the people that never any exploit so full of hazard and danger was more easily atchieved than was the subversion of our English Monasteries ANNO DOM. 1536. REG. 28. THis year began with the end of the late Queen Catharine whom extremity of grief cast into a disease whereof on the eighth of January she deceased Queen Ann now enjoyed the King without a Rival whose death notwithstanding not improbably happened too soon for her For the King upon May-day at Greenwich beholding the Viscount Rochfort the Queens Brother Henry Norris and others running a-Tilt arising suddenly and to the wonder of all men departing thence to London caused the Viscount Rochfort Norris the Queen her self and some others to be apprehended and committed The Queen being guarded to the Tower by the Duke of Norfolk Audley Lord Keeper Cromwell Secretary of Estate and Kingston Lieutenant of the Tower at the very entrance upon her knees with dire imprecations disavowed the crime whatsoever it were wherewith she was charged beseeching God so to regard her as the justness of her cause required On the fifteenth of May in the Hall of the Tower she was arraigned the Duke of Norfolk sitting high Steward to whom were adjoined twenty six other Peers and among them the Queens Father by whom she was to be tryed The Accusers having given in their evidence and the Witnesses produced she sitting in a Chair whether in regard of any infirmity or out of honour permitted to the Wife of their Sovereign having an excellent quick wit and being a ready speaker did so answer to all objections that had the Peers given in their verdict according to the expectation of the assembly she had been acquitted But they among whom the Duke of Suffelk the King's Brother-in-Law was chief one wholly applying himself to the King's humour pronounce her guilty Whereupon the Duke of Norfolk bound to proceed according to the verdict of the Peers condemned her to death either by being Burned in the Green in the Tower or Beheaded as his Majesty in his pleasure should think fit Her Brother George Viscount Rochfort was likewise the same day condemned and shortly after Henry Norris William Brierton and Francis Weston Gentlemen of the King 's Privy Chamber and Mark Smeton a Musician 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 die with the rest Whereupon he offered pardon to him conditionally that he would confess that whereof he was accused But he answered resolutely and as it became the progenitor of so many valiant Heroes That in his conscience he thought her guiltless of the objected crime but whether she were or no he could not accuse her of any thing and that he had rather undergo a thousand deaths than betray the Innocent Upon relation whereof the King cryed out Hang him up then hang him up then Which notwithstanding was not accordingly executed For on the thirteenth of May two days after his condemnation all of them viz. the Viscount Rochfort Norris Brierton and Smeton were Beheaded at Tower-hill Norris left a Son called also Henry whom Queen Elizabeth in contemplation of his Father's deserts created Baron of Ricot This Lord Norris was Father to those great Captains William John Thomas and Edward in our days so famous throughout Christendom for their brave exploits in England France Ireland and the Netherlands On the nineteenth of May the Queen was brought to the place of Execution in the Green 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 Queen having ascended the Scaffold spake in this manner Friends and good Christian people I am here in your presence to suffer death whereto I acknowledge my self adjudged by the Laws how justly I will not say for I intend not an accusation of any one I beseech the Almighty to preserve his Majesty long to reign over you a more gentle or mild Prince never swayed Scepter his bounty and clemency towards me I am sure hath been especial If any one intend an inquisitive survey of my actions I intreat him to judge favourably of me and not rashly to admit of any hard censorious conceit And so I bid the World farewel beseeching you to commend me in your Prayers to God To thee O Lord do I commend my Soul Then kneeling down she incessantly repeated these words Christ have mercy on my soul Lord Jesus receive my soul until the Executioner of Calais at one blow smote off her Head with a Sword Had any one three years before at what time the King so hot in the pursuit of his love preferred the enjoying of this Lady beyond his Friends his Estate his Health Safeguard and his only Daughter prophetically foretold the unhappy fate of this Princess he should have been believed with Cassandra But much more incredible may all wise men think the unheard of crime for which she was condemned viz. That fearing lest her Daughter the Lady Elizabeth born while Catharine survived should be accounted illegitimate in hope of other especially male Issue whereof she despaired by the King now near fifty years old she had lasciviously used the company of certain young Courtiers nay not therewith content had committed Incest with her
much endeavoured Reformation in point of Religion The rest who were addicted to the Doctrine of Rome could for private respects temporize fearing indeed restitution of Church goods wherein each of them shared unless an irreconcilable breach were made with that See So that whiles some eagerly oppose Popery and others coldly defend it not only what had been enacted by Henry the Eighth concerning the abrogation of the Pope's authority is confirmed but many other things are added whereby our Church was so purged from the dregs of Superstition that for Purity of Doctrine and Institution of select Ecclesiastical Rites it excelled the most Reformed Churches of Germany All Images are pulled down Priests are permitted to marry the Liturgie set forth in the English tongue the 〈◊〉 administred under both kinds Auricular Confession forbidden no man prohibited the reading of the Scriptures no Masses to be said for the Souls of the departed and many other things ordained so far differing from the Institution of our Forefathers that it administred matter to the common people who are wont to judge not according to Reason but Custom of breaking out into Rebellion And it is somewhat remarkable that the same day wherein the Images whereof the Churches were dispossessed were publickly burned at London we obtained that memorable Victory over the Scots at Musselburgh This year at Archbishop Cranmer his invitation came into England Peter Martyr a Florentine Martin Buter of Selestadt and Paulus Phagius born in the Palatinate Who being very courteously received by the King and Nobles having reposed themselves some while at Canterbury were sent Martyr to Oxford Bucer and Phagius to Cambridge there publickly to Read Divinity but Phagius having scarce saluted the University deceased of a Quartan Ague the twelfth of November in the five and fortieth year of his age Neither did Bucer long survive him who died at Cambridge the last of February 1551 being then threescore years old Martyr shortly after his coming to Oxford maintained publickly in the Schools and that with solid Arguments against Tresham and Chedsey Opponents that the Popish Transubstantiation was but a meer fiction which Disputation he after published and enlarged ANNO DOM 1548. REG. 2. THe English having this year fortified and put a strong Garrison into Hadinton a Town seated in the most fertil soil of all Scotland did from thence and Lauder make often inroads upon the bordering Countrey burning and spoiling whatsoever might be useful to the Enemy from whom they expected a Siege In the mean time had the French sent six thousand ten thousand say we men into Scotland whereof three thousand were Lansquenets led by the Rhinegrave The Lord of Essé a man of tried valour famous in the Siege of Landrecy and other Expeditions was chief of the Army These adventures landing at Dunbar march speedily for Hadinton and joyning with the Scottish Forces consisting of eight thousand men straightly besiege it At the Abbey near the Town they call a Council treat of transporting the Queen into France and marrying her to the Daulphin They whom the respect of private ends had not corrupted and withdrawn from the care of the publick weal objected That they should so draw on them a perpetual War from England and betray themselves to the slavery of the French That the Propositions made by the English were reasonable who offered a ten years Truce and sought not to entrap the Scot in any bands or prejudicial compacts their demands being no other than this That if within the ten years either the King of England or the Queen of Scots should decease all things should on each side remain entire and in their former estate Delay had often in the like cases proved advantageous whereas speedy repentance commonly followeth precipitated hast The Popish Faction especially the Clergy to whom the amity of England was little pleasing in regard of the differences in Religion and some others obliged to the French either in respect of received benefits or future profit with might and main interposed to the contrary and chiefly the Regent bought with a Pension of four thousand Crowns and the Command of one hundred Lances The French Faction prevailed for her transportation The Fleet from Leith where it harboured setting sail as if for France fetching a compass round about Scotland put in at Dunbritton where they embarqued the six-year-old Queen attended by James her base Brother John Areskin and William Leviston who being put back by contrary winds and much distressed by tempest arrived at length in Little Bretaigne and from thence set forward to the Court of France so escaping our Fleet which hovered about Calais to intercept them if as we were perswaded they needs must they crossed those neighbouring Straights Hadinton in the mean time being straightly beleaguered Sir Robert Bowes and Sir Thomas Palmer are with seven hundred Lances and six hundred light Horse sent to relieve it Buchanan saith there were but three hundred Horse the rest Foot Of what sort soever they were it is certain that before they could reach Hadington they were circumvented and slain almost to a man Yet did not the besieged let fall their courages but bravely defended themselves until Francis Earl of Shrewsbury with an Army of twelve thousand English and four thousand Lansquenets disassieged them and forced the French to retreat The Earl having supplied the Town with necessaries and reinforced the Garrison returned to Berwick What they could not by force the Enemy hopes more easily to effect by a surprisal To this end D'Essé with some select Bands arrives at Hadinton about the break of day where having killed the Centinels and taken an Half-moon before the Port some seek to force the Gates some invade our adjoyning Granaries The noise and shouts of the assailants gives an alarm to the Garrison who give fire to a Cannon planted before the Port the Bullet whereof penetrating the Gate makes way through the close ranks of the Enemies and so affrights them that they seek to save themselves by flight Fortune was not so favourable to the Garrisons of Humes and Fastcastle where by the negligence of the Centinels the designs of the Enemy were crowned with success At Humes being conducted by some that knew all the secret passages they climb up a steep Rock enter massacre the secure Garrison and enjoy the place At Fastcastle the Governour had commanded the neighbouring Husbandmen at a prefixed day to bring in their contribution of Corn and other necessary provision The Enemy makes use of this opportunity Souldiers habited like Pesants at the day come fraught with their burthens whereof easing their Horses they carry them on their shoulders over the Bridge which joyned two Rocks together and so gain entrance The watch-word being given they cast down their burthens kill the Centinels open the Gates to their fellows and become masters of the place Neither were our Naval enterprises fortunate being at St. Minian and Merne repelled with loss
Manners of those Heathen Christians FINIS ANNALS OF ENGLAND QUEEN MARY The Third Book LONDON Printed for Thomas Basset John Wright and Richard Chiswel M. DC LXXV ANNALS OF ENGLAND BOOK III. QUEEN MARY ANNO DOM. 1553. REG. 1. WHen the Lady Mary long since acquainted with Northumberland's secret practices was also certified of her Brother's decease not thinking it safe to abide near London where her Enemies were in their full strength pretending a fear of the Plague by reason of the suspitious death of one of her Houshold she suddenly departed from St. Edmundsbury and came in one day to Framingham Castle in Suffolk distant from London fourscore miles and seated near the Sea from whence if Fortune frowned on her she might make an easie escape into France Here she took upon her the Title of Queen and by Letters to her Friends and the Nobles wished their speedy repair unto Her In the mean time Northumberland having for two days together consulted with his Friends concerning the managing of this great business the King's death being not yet published sent command to the Lord Mayor of London to repair forthwith to Greenwich with six Aldermen and twelve other Citizens of chiefest account To them he declares the King's departure and the seating of Lady Jane in the Throne of Sovereignty shewing withal the King's Testament under Seal which did import no less than the setling the Succession on her and that Family He causeth them either by terrour or promises to swear Allegiance to Lady Jane with command and that under a great penalty that they should not as yet divulge these secret passages What a furtherance it might be to his Affairs if he could assure himself of this City he was too wise to be ignorant of And as for suppressing the report of the King's death he thought it might prove a means to facilitate the surprisal of the Lady Mary as yet probably secure for lack of notice of her Brother's decease But understanding that she had made an escape into Suffolk Lady Jane was by almost all the Peers of the Realm pompously conducted to the Tower and with great Solemnity publickly proclaimed Queen She was of age about sixteen of feature not admirable but handsom incredibly learned very quick-witted and wise both beyond her Sex and above her Age wonderfully devoted to purity of Doctrine and so far from desire of this Advancement that she began not to act her part of Royalty without Tears manifesting it to the World that she was forced by her Parents and Friends ambition to this high but dangerous Ascent At her going through the City toward the Tower the Concourse of the People was great their Acclamations few as if the strangeness of some new Spectacle had drawn them together rather than any intent of Gratulation Which Queen Maries for so we must henceforth call her Friends hitherto distrustful more of Success than the Cause accepted of as an happy omen and were encouraged to assist her as occasion should invite them But the presence of Northumberland a man quick watchful and very politick was yet a remora to their Proceedings Him they must send farther off or be content to sit still The same day that Lady Jane entred the Tower Letters sent from Queen Mary are read openly at the Council Table wherein she commands the Lords to repair to her as being the next in Succession to the Crown and that they at last should take example from the general Votes of the Kingdom she being now every where acknowledged the lawful Sovereign And indeed the Norfolk and Suffolk men were become hers and the wiser sort did easily discern that the affections of the People were hers Wherefore it was thought at first expedient speedily to levy an Army and that while yet the Hearts of the People were free from any Impression and their Minds yet equally poised in the Ballance of Irresolution were either way to be swayed By this course they might be peradventure too strong for the Queen and preventing her Plea by Arms force her to plead more necessarily for her Life And an Army was raised whereof the Duke of Suffolk was appointed General But the fautors of Maries Cause whose main Project was to remove that grand obstacle the Duke of Northumberland slily insinuating themselves with Lady Jane perswaded her not to part with her Father but to dispatch Northumberland for this Employment the very terrour of whose Name his late Victory over the Norfolk Rebels being yet fresh in memory would effect more than the other could either by Policy or Arms And indeed to whose trust could a Daughter be better committed than to her Father's As for the City the Faith and wonted Wisdom of the Council now with her would contain it in Obedience and work it to her best Advantages She poor Lady swayed with these Reasons earnestly beseeched Northumberland himself to undergo this Burthen who at length though unwillingly consented His chief fear was lest the advantage of his Absence might encourage opposite Practisers to raise some Tumults But finding either excuses or absolute denials no way available he prepares himself for this Expedition and on the the thirteenth of July sets forth from London with an Army of six thousand At his departure it is reported he should say to the Lord Gray of Wilton who then accompanied him Do you see my Lord what a conflux of People here is drawn together to see us march And yet of all this multitude you hear not so much as one that wisheth us Success The Londoners stood very well affected in point of Religion so did also for the most part the Suffolk and the Norfolk men and they knew Mary to be absolute for Popery But the English are in their due respects to their Prince so loyally constant that no regards no not pretext of Religion can alienate their Affections from their lawful Sovereign whereof the miserable case of Lady Jane will anon give a memorable Example For although her Faction had laid a strong Foundation and as may appear by the premisses had most artificially raised their Superstructure yet as soon as the true and undoubted Heir did but manifest her Resolution to vindicate her Right this accurate Pile presently fell and dissolved as it were in the twinkling of an Eye and that chiefly by their endeavour of whom for their Religions sake Lady Jane might have presumed her self assured Neither were the People made any thing the more inclinable by publickly impugning Queen Maries Right in the Pulpit a course wherein Northumberland engaged many a Preacher Nay even in the City of London that learned and godly Prelate Nicholas Ridley upon the deprivation of Boner consecrated Bishop of London who I wish had not erred in this matter was scarce heard out with patience As for Queen Mary if that Rule of the Civilians be not true that Matrimony contracted without any conceived Impediment although it after chance to be dissolved
Conditions of thè League concluded with the Emperour Rhodes taken by the Turk Christiern King of Denmark The Duke of Bourbon revolts The death of Adrian the Sixth Clement the Seventh succeedeth and Wolsey suffereth the repulse Wolsey persuades the King to a Divorce Richard Pacey Dean of Pauls falleth mad The Battel of Pavy Money demanded and commanded by Proclamation The King falls in love with Ann Bolen A creation of Lords Wolsey 10 build two Colleges demolisheth forty Monasteries Sacriledge punished Luther writes to the King The King's Answer A breach with the Emperour The King endeavours to relieve the French King A League concluded with the French King The French King set at liberty The King of Hungary slain by the Turks Wolsey seeks to be Pope Sede nondum vacante Rome sacked Montmorency Ambassador from France War proclaimed against the Emperour The inconstancy of the Pope Cardinal Campegius 〈◊〉 sens into England The King's Speech concerning his Divorce The Suit of the King's Divorce The Queens speech to the King before the Legates The Queen diparteth Reasons for the Divorce Reasons against the Divorce The Pope's inconstancy Wolsey falls The Iegates repair to the Queen Their conference with her Her answer Cardinal Campegius his Oraition Wolsey discharged of the Great Seal Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellour The Cardinal accused of 〈◊〉 Wolsey's Speech to the Judges Christ-Church in Oxford Wolfey-falls sick Wolsey is confined to York The Cardinal is apprehended His last words He dicth And is buried His greatness His buildings The Peace of Cambray The first occasion of Cranmer's rising Creation of Earls The Bible translated into English An Embassy to the Pope All comnierce with the See of Rome forbidden The Clergy fined The King declared supreme Head of the Church The death of William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury Cranmer though much against his will succeedeth him Sir Thomas More resigns the place of Lord Chancellour An interview between the Kings of England and France Catharina de Medices married to the Duke of Orleans The King marrieth Ann Bolen The birth of Queen Elizabeth Mary Queen of France dieth The Imposture of Elizabeth Barton discovired No Canons to be constituted without the King's assent The King to collate Bishopricks The Archbishop of Canterbury bath Papal authority under the King Fisher and More imprisoned Persecution Pope Clement dieth First-fruits granted to the King Wales united to England The King begins to subvert Religious Houses Certain Priors and Monks executed The Bishop of Rochester beheaded Made Cardinal unseasonably Sir Thomas More beheaded Religious Houses visited The death of Queen Catharine Queen Ann the Visconnt Rochford and others committed The Queen condemned with her Brother and Norris Her Execution Lady Elizabeth difintarited The King marrieth Jane Seymour Death of the Duke of Somerset the King 's natural Son Bourchier Earl of Bath Cromwell's Honour and Dignity The beginning of Reformation The subversion of Religious Houses of less note Commotion in Lincolnshire Insurrection in Yorkshire Scarborough-Castle befieged Rebellion in Ireland Cardinal Pool Rebels executed Cardinal Pool writes against the King The birth of Prince Edward Seymour Earl of Hertford Fitz-William Earl of Southampton Powlet and Russel rise The abuse of Images restrained Becket's Shrine demolished * Uniones The Image of our Lady of Walsingham Frier Forest makes good a 〈◊〉 Saint Augustine's at Canterbury Battel-Abbey and others suppressed The Bible translated The Marquess of Exceter and others beheaded Lambert convented and burned Margaret 〈◊〉 of Salisbury condemned The subversion of Religious Houses Some Abbots executed Glastonbury A catalogue of the Abbots who bad voices among the Peers New Bishopricks erected The Law of the Six Articles Latimer and Schaxton resign their Bishopricks The arrival of certain Princes of Germany in England for the treatise of a Match between the King and Lady Ann of Cleve The King marrieth the Lady Ann of Cleve Cromwell created Earl of Essex and within three months after beheaded Lady Ann of Cleve 〈◊〉 The King marrieth Catharine Howard Protestants and Papists alike persecuted The Prior of Dancaster and six others hanged The Lord Hungerford executed Beginnings of a commotion in Yorkshire Lord Leonard Grey beheaded The Lord Dacres hanged Queen Catharine beheaded Ireland made a Kingdom The Viscount Lisle deceased of a surfert of Joy Sir John Dudley made Viscount Lisle War with Scotland The Scots overthrowes The death of James the Fifth King of Scotland Hopes of a Match between Prince Edword and the Queen of Scots The Scottish Captives set liberty The Earl of Angus return-eth into Scotland The League and Match concluded The Scottish shipping detained War with Scotland War with France A League with Emperour Landrecy besieged but in vain The people licensed to eat White Meats in Lent The King 's sixth Marriage William Parr Earl of Essex Another of the same name made Lord Parr The Lord Chancellour dieth An Expedition into Scotland * Alias Bonlamberg The Earl of Hertford Protector Hing Henry's Funerals The Coronation The death of Francis King of France MusselburghField Reformation in the Church The Scots and French besiege Hadinton The Queen of Scots transported into France Humes Castle and Fastcastle gained by the Enemy Gardiner Bishop of Winchester committed to the Tower Gardiner deprived of his Bishoprick Boner Bishop of London committed also Discord 〈◊〉 the Duke of Somerset and his Brother the Lord Admiral The Lord Admiral beheaded An Insurrection in Norfolk and in Devonshire Some Forts lost in Boloignois * Corruptly Bonlamberg Enmity between the Protector and the Earl of Warwick The Protector committed The death of Paul the Third Pope Cordinal Pool elected Pope The Duke of Somerset set at liberty Peace with the Scots and French The Sweating Sickness The death of the Duke of Suffolk A creation of Dukes and Earls The descent of the Earls of Pembroke 〈◊〉 between the 〈◊〉 Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland revived Certain Bishops deprived Some of the Servants of the Lady Mary committed An Arrian burned An Earthquake The Queen of Scots in England The Earl of Arundel and the Lord Paget committed The Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor The Duke of Somerset beheaded A Monster The King Sicknoth His Will wherein he disinheriteth his Sisters He dieth His Prayer Cardanus Lib. de Genituris Sir Hugh Willoughby frozen 10 death Commerce with the Muscovite Lady Mary flies into Suffolk Lady Jane proclaimed Queen Northumberland forced to be General * L. qui in provinciâ sect Divus ff de Ris Nupt. L. 4. C. de Incest Nupt. Gloss. ibid. C. cum inter c. ex tenore Extr. qui fil sins legit Northumberland forsaken by his Souldiers The Lords resolve for Queen Mary And to suppress Lady Jane Northumberland proclaims Mary Queen at Cambridge Northumberland and some other Lords taken Queen Mary comes to London Gardiner made Lord Chancellour Diprived Bishops restored King Edward's Funeral The Duke of Northumberland the Earl of Warwick and the Marquis of Northampton condemned The Duke of Northumberland Bheaded Bishops imprisoned Peter Martyr The Archbishop Cranmer Lady Jane Lord Guilford and Lord Ambrose Dudley condemned The Coronation A Disputation in the Convocation-House Popery restored The Queen inclines to marry The Articles of the Queens Marriage with Philip of Spain * Which as I conceive would have 〈◊〉 in the year 1588. Sir Thomas Wyat's Rebellion Sir John Cheeke is taken and dieth Bret with five hundred Londoners revolts to Wiat. The Duke of Suffolk perswades the People to Arms in vain The Queens Oration to the Londoners Wyat is taken The Lady Jane Beheaded The Duke of Suffolk Beheaded Wyat Executed And Lord Thomas Gray A Disputation at Oxford Cranmer Ridley and Latimer Condemned Additions to the former Nuptial Compacts Philip arrivith in England And is married to the Queen Cardinal Pool comes into England Cardinal Pool's Oration to the Parliament The Realm freed from 〈◊〉 The Queen thought to be with Child Lords created Lady Elizabeth and the Marquess of Exceter set at liberty John Rogers Burned and Bishop Hooper Bishop Ferrar many others and Bishop Ridley and Latimer The death of Pope Julius the Third Paul the Fourth succeedeth Gardiner sueth to be Cardinal Gardiner 〈◊〉 Charles the Emperour resigns his Crowns The Archbishop of York Lord Chancellour A Comet A 〈◊〉 Edward Archbishop Cranmer Burned This year eighty four Burned The exhumation of Bucer and Phagius Cardinal Pool consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury An Embassage to Muscovia The Lord Stourton hanged Thomas Stafford endeavouring an Insurrection is taken and Beheaded War against France proclaimed Pool's authority 〈◊〉 abrogated and restored The French overthrown at St. Quintin St. Quintin taken A nocturual Rainbow Calais besieged by the French Calais yielded The Battel of Graveling The French overthrown Conquet taken and burned by the English The Daulphin married to the Queen of Scot. The death of Cardinal Pool The Queen diesh
beginning of her Sickness her friends supposing that she grieved at the absence of her Husband whom she saw so engaged in Wars abroad that she could not hope for his speedy return used consolatory means and endeavoured to remove from her that fixed sadness wherewith she seemed to be oppressed But she utterly averse from all comfort and giving her self over to melancholy told them That she died but that of the true cause of her Death they were ignorant which if they were desirous to know they should after her death dissect her Heart and there they should find Calais Intimating thereby that the loss of Calais had occasioned this fatal grief which was thought to have been increased by the Death of the Emperour her Father-in-Law But the truth is her Liver being over-cooled by a Mole these things peradventure might hasten her end which could not otherwise be far from her and cast her by degrees into that kind of Dropsie which Physicians term Ascites This Dropsie being not discovered in time deceived her Physicians who believed that she had conceived by King Philip whereas she alas did breed nothing but her own Death So mature remedies being not applied and she not observing a fit Diet she fell into a Fever which increasing by little and little at last ended in her Death She lieth interred at Westminster in the midst of that Chappel which is on the North side of her Grandfather Henry the Seventh his Monument where her Sister Queen Elizabeth was after Buried with her and over both by the pious Liberality of that most Munificent Prince King James hath since been erected a most stately Monument well befitting the Majesty of such great Monarchs QVEEN ELIZABETH ANNO DOM. 1558. HAving thus briefly run over the Reigns of these three Princes Queen Elizabeth's times in the next place offer themselves which deservedly requiring a more accurate Style I will here set a period to this Work not so much with intent to pretermit them as reserving them for a more exact labour In the mean time to give some satisfaction to the Reader I will make this short Addition Some few hours after the decease of Queen Mary the Estates then assembled in Parliament on the seventeenth of November declared her Sister the Lady Elizabeth Queen who was Daughter to Henry the Eighth and Ann Bolen Having most gloriously reigned forty four years four months and seven days she ended her Life and Reign on the four and twentieth of March Anno 1603 the Crown being by her death devolved to the renowned King of Scots James the Sixth to whom it was so far from feeling it a burthen to have succeeded so good a Princess that never was any Prince received with greater Applause and Gratulation of his People Many think their condition happy if they exchange a Caligula for a Claudius or a Nero for a Vitellius or an Otho But that any Mortal should please after Elizabeth may seem a Miracle and is a great argument both of rare Virtue in the succeeding King and of a right Judgment in the Subject For this great Lady was so far beyond Example that even the best Princes come short of her and they who most inveigh against that Sex contend that Woman is incapable of those Virtues in her most eminent Wisdom Clemency variety of Languages and Magnanimity equal to that of Men to which I add fervent Zeal of Piety and true Religion But in these things peradventure some one or other may equal her What I shall beyond all this speak of her and let me speak it without offence to my most Excellent Sovereign James the Pattern of Princes the Mirrour of our Age the Delight of Britain no Age hath hitherto parallel'd nor if my Augury fail not none ever shall That a Woman and if that be not enough a Virgin destitute of the help of Parents Brothers Husband being surrounded with Enemies the Pope thundring the Spaniard threatning the French scarce dissembling his secret hate as many of the neighbouring Princes as were devoted to Rome clashing about her should contain this Warlike Nation not only in Obedience but in Peace also and beyond all this Popery being profligated in the true Divine Worship Hence it comes to pass that England which is among the rest of it self a Miracle hath not these many years heard the noise of War and that our Church which she found much distracted transcends all others of the Christian World For you shall at this day scarce find any Church which either defiled with Popish Superstitions or despoiled of those Revenues which should maintain Professors of the Truth hath not laid open a way to all kind of Errours gross Ignorance in Learning especially Divine and at length to Ethnick Barbarousness But to what end do I insist on these or the like they being sufficiently known even to the Barbarians themselves and Fame having trumpetted them throughout the World Which things when and how they were done how bountifully she aided and relieved her Allies how bravely she resisted brake vanquished her Enemies I have a desire in a continued History to declare and will God willing declare if I can attain to the true intelligence of the passages of those times have leisure for the compiling it and that no other more able than my self which I wish may happen in the mean time engage themselves therein LAUS DEO * * The Original of this Proclamation remaineth with Sir Robert 〈◊〉 a worthy Preserver and Treasurer of rare Antiquities from whose Manuscripts I have had much light for the furnishing of this Work His Privy-Council The Funerals of K. Henry the Seventh St. Stephen's Chappel The Coronation of Henry the Eighth His Marriage The death of Lady Margaret Countess of Richmond Empson and Dudley An Expedition into Africk Into Gueldres Barton a Pirat taken War with France A fruitless Voyage into Spain The Spaniard seiseth on Navarr The Lord Admiral drowned Terovenne besieged The Battel of Spurs Terovenne yielded Maximilian the Emperor serveth under King Henry The Siege of Tournay Tournay yielded Wolsey Bishop of Tournay The King of Scots slaim Flodden-Field The descent and Honours of the Howards Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk Charles Somerset Earl of Worcester Peace with France The Lady Mary the King's Sister married to Lewis the Twelfth King of France Cardinal Wolfey A breach with France The Star-Chamber and The Court of Requests instituted by Wolsey Ill May-day The Sweating-Sickness Peace with France The death of the Emperour Maximilian The Emperour Charles the Fifth in England Canterbury Interview betwixt the Kings of England and France Henry visits Emperour at Graveling The Duke of Buckingham accused of Treason King Henry writeth against Luther Luther's departure from the Church of Rome The Kings of England by the Pope stiled Defender of the Faith The death of Leo the Tenth Cardinal Wolsey and others sins Ambassadors to the Emperour and French King The Emperour Charles the second time in England Windsor The