the MOWBRAYES who had beene all Dukes of Norfolke enioyed this Honour by right of Inheritance But because in Bosworth field where hee was slaine hee tooke part with the Vsurper both he and his Posteritie were deprived of that Honour This THOMAS dying in the yeare 1524. his Sonne of the same name succeeded him who deceased in the yeare 1554. His Sonne HENRY a young Lord of great hopes his Father then living was beheaded towards the end of this Kings Raigne Hee left Issue THOMAS the last Duke of Norfolke who also lost his head the yeare 1572. and HENRY at nurse when his Father died a very learned and wise man whom King IAMES no good man repining thereat created Earle of Northampton THOMAS Duke of Norfolke had three Sonnes that survived him PHILIP THOMAS and WILLIAM PHILIP Earle of Surrey and by his Mother of Arundell condemned the yeare 1589. and after dying in prison left Issue THOMAS then a little one who by King IAMES his favour succeeded his Father in his Honors His Vncle THOMAS out of the same fountaine of Royall Goodnes was created Earle of Suffolke with addition of the dignity of Lord Chamberlaine Beside these this Family hath CHARLES Earle of Nottingham Lord Admirall of England Nephew by the Lord WILLIAM his father to THOMAS Duke of Norfolke that famous Triumpher ouer the Scots This is he who in emulation of his grandfathers glory in the yeare 1588. vnder the fortune of Queene ELIZABETH most happily ouerthrew that vainely called Inuincible Armada of Spaine THOMAS also Viscount Bindon is deriued from THOMAS Duke of Norfolke by his sonne the Lord THOMAS So this noble House latély afflicted now gloriously flourishing hath foure Earles and a Viscount all braue and famous men and of whom there will be occasion of much to be spoken hereafter I therefore thought it good in briefe to set downe their Genealogie lest I should trouble the Reader with too often repetition of their Race vpon each mention of the Name At the time of this Dukes creation others were also honored with new titles CHARLES BRANDON made Duke of Suffolke and CHARLES SOMERSET Earle of Worcester and EDWARD STANLEY Lord Mountegle Sir WILLIAM BRANDON Standard bearer to HENRY the seuenth in Bosworth field and there slaine by the hand of RICHARD the Third was father to this new Duke of Suffolke of whose education he then a little one King HENRY hauing obtained the Crowne was verie carefull and made him rather a companion than a seruant to the young Prince of whose household hee was The Prince so greatly fauored him partly for his fathers deserts chiefely for his owne that he being afterward King created him Viscount Lisle and intending at least many were so persuaded to giue him to wife the Ladie MARY his sister who afterward was married to the King of France thought it first good to honour him with the Duchie of Suffolke which this yeare at the feast of Candlemas was performed But how he was frustrated of his hopes and afterward beyond all hope enioyed her shall be declared hereafter SOMERSET the naturall sonne of HENRY of the House of Lancaster the last Duke of Somerset tooke his surname of his fathâ—rs Honour whereas he should haue beene called BEAVFORT or rather PLANTAGENET according to the antient name of our English Kings Heâ— being Couzen german to HENRY the Seuenth whose mother was MARGARET Sister to the Duke of Somerset and famous for his many vertues of which that King was a quicke and exact Iudge was by him made L. high Chamberlaine of England But hauing behaued himself very valiantly in this last expedition against the French wherein GVICCIARDIN vntruly reporteth him to haue been slaine HENRY the eighth added this new title which his posteritie still inioyes to his antient honors He was great grandfather by his son HENRY nephew WILLIAM to EDWARD the now Earle who being one of his Maiesties most honorable priuy Counsel Lo. Priuy Seale doth by his vertues much more ennoble his so noble Ancestors The French King hearing of the ouerthrow of the Scots perceiuing himselfe depriued of such a frieud confederat seeing his kingdom on fire about his ears and none to relie vpon but himselfe determined if so he might fairely and with credit to craue his League with vs. Pope IVLIVS 2. the Incendiarie of Christendoine was lately dead and the French king himselfe was now a widower He therefore intends to try whither by marrying the lady MARY the kings sister he might secure himselfe from war on our side and by so neere alliance gaine the assured friendship of so potent a Prince LEO 10. succeeding IVLIVS 2. did openly side with the French against the Spaniard He therefore earnestly soliciting a reconciliation a Peace was cluded profitable to the French acceptable to vs and on the 9 of October the nuptials were with great pompe solemnised The French king was well stricken in yeres his wife a tender virgin of some 16. or 18. yeares of age but wonderfull beautifull Besides the forementioned reasons the desire of children for he had no masle issue on His part on Her part the publique weale the authoritie of her brother so willing and which beares chiefest sway in a womans heart the supremacy of honor in the title of a Queen were motiues to match so Vneuen a Paire But many not without cause were persuaded that she had rather haue made choice of BRANDON for her husband so her power had been answerable to her wil than the greatest Monarch in the world neither was it long before she enioyed her desire For the king as it often happens to elderly men that apply theÌ„selues to yong womeÌ„ died the last of Febr. hauing scarce 3 months suruiued his wedding The queenâ— might then lawfully according to the articles of agreemeÌ„t return into England which she earnestly desiring the Duke of Suffolke was sent to conduct her who becomming a fresh suitor vnto her so far easily preuailed that before their departure from Paris they were there priuatly married The marriage was afterward by the kings consent celebrated at Greenwich the 13 day of May of the ensuing yeare And now we must speake something of VVOLSEY'S sudden and for these our times incredible rising who hauing as we haue related before beene inuested in the Bishopricke of Tournay was within the yeare preferred to two other Bishopricks That venerable Bishop of Lincolne WILLIAM SMITH was lately deceased who beside many other monuments of his piety hauing begun in Oxford a Colledge for students called Brasen nose Colledge was immaturely taken away before he could finish so good a work So the Sea being vacant it is conferred on WOLSEY now high in the Kings fauour Hee was of verie meane parentage a Butchers sonne and Jpswiâ—h a towne in Suffolke but of Norwich Diocesse where hee afterward laid the foundation of a stately Colledge was the place of his birth He was brought vp at Oxford in
the night in the morning hearing the Kings forces to approach most of them slipt away onely some thrâ—e hundred remained whereof eleuen were women and being apprehended supplied their places whom theybefore had freed They were all arraigned onely thirteene designed for death whereof nine suffered on diuers gibbets purposely erected in diuers parts of the Citie LINCOLNE SHERWIN and two brethren named BETS Chiefetaines in this sedition were carried to Cheapside where LINCOLNE was deseruedly hanged The Executioner readie to turne off another was preuented by the Kings gracious Pardon The minde of man beeing prone to pittie wee may imagine that others were well pleased at the newes but certainely the condemned had cause to reioice The Queenes of England the two Dowagers of of France and Scotland both of them the Kings Sisters and then at Court became incessant Petitioners to his Maiestie and that on their knees in the behalfe of these condemned persons and at length WOLSEY consenting by whome the King was wholly swayed their Petitions were graunted to them and to the poore men their liues This was the last scene of this tragicall tumult the like whereof this well gouerned Citie had not knowne in manie ages For the Lawes verie well prouided in that case do vnder a great penaltie forbid Assemblies especially of armed men if not warranted by publicke Authoritie In August and September the sweating sicknesse termed beyond Sea Sudor Anglicus or the English sweat began a disease vtterly vnknowne to former ages Of the common sort they were numberlesse that perished by it Of the Nobilitie the Lords CLINTON and GREY of Wilton The symptomes and cure you may finde in Polydore Virgill in Anno. 1. HENR 7. who as confidently as I beleeue truely maintaines That this disease was neuer till then knowne to bee much lesse to bee mortall As if there were a concatenation of euills one euill seldome commeth alone A Pestilence succeeded this former mortalitie and so raged the whole Winter season in most parts of the Realme that the King for feare of infection attended by a few was faine euery day to remoue his Court from one place to another The eleuenth of Februarie was borne the Ladie MARY afterwards Queene of England Anno Dom. 1518. Reg. 10. THe Peace so long treated of betweene vs and the French was now in September at length concluded on these Conditions That the DAVLPHIN should marrie the Ladie MARIE the Kings only Châ—lde and not yet two yeares old That Tournay should bee restored to the French That the French should pay King HENRY foure hundred thousand Crownes viz. two hundred thousand for his charge in building the Cittadell for the Artillerie Powder and Munit on which hee should leaue there and other two hundred thousand crownes partly for the expence of that warre wherein the Citie was taken and partly in regard of other Pensions that were due vnto him For the paiment of which summes the French gaue eight hostages so saith BELLAY But our Writers speake of a farre different summe viz. Six hundred thousand crownes for the Citie and foure hundred thousand crownes for the Cittadell besides three and twenty thousand pounds Tournois which the City of Tournay ought the King and an annual Pension of a thousand Markes assigned to Cardinall WOLSEY for renouncing all claime and title to the Bishopricke of Tournay For the confirmation of these Articles the Earle of Worcester and the Bishop of Ely with some others were sent into France where both by the King and Princes of the Realme they were magnificently entertained Anno Dom. 1519. Reg. 11. THis yeare on the twelfth of Ianuarie in the three and sixtie yere of his age died the Emperor MAXIMILIAN hauing to preuent a disease to which hee thought himselfe inclining vnseasonably taken a Medicine of vncertaine opperation His death bred an equall desire in the mindes of two great Princes who became Competitours for the Empire FRANCIS King of France and CHARLES King of Spaine But CHARLES although King of Spaine yet being by birth borne at Gand and discent a German at the age of nineteene yeares was chosen Emperour of Germanie with the full consent and sufferages of all the Princes Electors This Election how euer other slight matters were pretended was vndoubtedly the cause of the ensuing dreadfull war betweene these Princes The French King taking this repulse impatiently meditates nothing but reuenge And that his designes might no way be crossed by vs he labors amain for the confirmation of the peace lately agreed vpon betweene HENRY and him Therefore by the Admirall BONIVET he deales with WOLSEY that at an enteruiew betweene the two Kings the League might be ratified To this end HENRY intends to come to Guisnes FRANCIS to Ardres and a conuenient place betweene both is made choice of for their enteruiew Anno Dom. 1520. Reg. 12. HEreupon the King setting forward towards France by easy iourneis comes to Canterbury intending there to keepe his Whitsontide The next day after being the twenty sixth of May the new created Emperor CHARLES the fifth in his return from Spaine arriues at Douer distant twelue miles from Canterbury The King gladly entertaines the newes and although it were midnight takes horse and within little more than an houre comes by torch light to Douer Castle where the Emperour lay who seaweary was then asleepe But being certified of the Kings arriuall hee suddenly apparelled himselfe and met the King at the top of the staires They embraced and saluted one another they long conferred together and the next morning beeing Whitsonday they rode together to Canterburie the Emperour alway keeping the right hand and the Earle of Derby bearing the Sword before them both Canterburie is a Citie more famous for antiquitie than for moderne beauty To let passe that it was aboue a thousand yeares since made an Archiepiscopall Sea our Chronicles do sufficiently testify that both in respect of priuate mens faire houses and the magnificent structure of it's Churches it antiently excelled the brauest cities of England But within these few yeares it hath lost so much of it's greatnesse and beautie that a man shall finde little of Canterburie beside the name Why it should so much in so short space decay many reasons may be alledged As the vicinity of London which swelling like the spleene suckes both bloud and moisture from all the other languishing Cities of the Kingdome Likewise the subuersion of Saint AVGVSTINES Monasterie the losse of Calais and the pulling downe of Archbishop BECKET his Shrine things which occasioned a great concourse of people and did by their losse and ouerthrow much impaire this Cities splendor One only Ornament therof suruiues which is the Cathedrall and Metropoliticall Church with such a Maiesty piercing the skies saith ERASMVS that it a far off fills the beholder with deuout amazement This Church being at first dedicated to our Sauiour CHRIST a few ages past degenerated into the nickname of S. THOMAS
forasmuch as the Commissioners demanded it after an impudent and shamelesse manner they in most places incurred the dislike and indignation of the people especially in Germany where they saw this facultie of redeeming soules from Purgatory was either solde for little or nothing or played away in their Tauernes But what speake I of the Commissioners That which made the Germans most impatient was that the heedlesse Pope had giuen to his sister MAGDALEN the profit of the exactions of Indulgences in many parts of Germany and that so openly that euery one must needs know it For all Germany spake it that this money was not gathered for the Pope or the Treasurie of the Church whereby peraduenture some part of it might be employed to good vses but was exacted to satisfie the greedinesse of a woman At that time liued MARTIN LVTHER a Doctor of Diuinity and an Augustine Monke one who vnder a religious Habit did not consecrate himselfe to idlenesse but to God It is reported how truly I know not that recreating himselfe in the fields his companion with whom he then discoursed was suddenly stricken dead with thunder He therupon falling into due consideration of the vncertaintie of death and of iudgment left the study of the Ciuill Law to which he then applied himselfe and renouncing the world betooke himselfe to a Cloister where for his deportment he was beyond exception for learning especially diuine he was scarce matchable Vpon this horrible abuse of the authority of the Keyes being inflamed with a pious zeale he could not containe himselfe but boldly and bitterly inueighed against this grosse impiety Neither staied he there but storme the Pope neuer so much proceeds to other enormities in the Church of Rome some whereof that Church hath since reformed the rest religious Princes by LVTHER awakened out of their dead sleepe of superstition notwithstanding the practises of Rome haue God be thanked exploded New opinions especially in matters of Religion are of themselues alwayes odious HENRY being offended with LVTHERS new as the world then deemed them Tenets thought it would proue to his honor by writing against LVTHER to manifest his learning and pietie to the world Herupon vnder his name a book was set forth better beseeming some antient and deep Diuine than a youthfull Prince whom although he earnestly endeauoured it yet his affaires would not permit to bury himselfe among his books which many thought to haue beene compiled by Sir THO. MOORE some by the Bishop of Rochester and others not without cause suspected to be the worke of some other great Scholler Whosoeuerwrit it LVTHER repli ed in such sort that although his holy zeale were approved by many yet those many could haue wished him more temperate and respectiue of the Maiesty of Kings This Booke was so acceptable to the Pope that according to the example of ALEXANDER the Sixt who entituled the King of Spaine Catholique and of that Pope whosoeuer he were that gaue the French King the title of Most Christian he decreed to grace King HENRY and his Successors with that honorable one of Defender of the Faith Which severall titles are by these Princes retained to this day But LEO long surviued not his gift about the end of the yeare dying as is suspected by poison In the meane time the exulcerated mindes of the Emperour and the French King according to the nature of ambitious hatred that for it 's owne ends makes all causes iust burst out into open wars for the composing whereof each of them had formerly agreed to refer themselues if any differences should arise to the arbitrement of HENRY He therefore sends to each of them Embassadours the Cardinall of Yorke the Earle of Worcester and others who should if it were possible reconcile these inraged Princes All they could do proued but an endeavor for when they thought they had compassed their desires sudden newes came That the Admirall BONIVET had by force taken Fuentaraby a Towne of the Emperours in Biscay The Emperour would not then ratify the Agreement vnlesse this towne were redeliuered which the French denying to do all fell to pieces againe and the War was renewed After their deuoir in this cause our Embassadours went directly to Bruges to the Emperour of whom for a fortnight which was the time of their stay there they had royall entertainment But he held the Cardinall in so great esteeme that it was apparant hee was not ignorant how powerfull the Cardinall was with his Prince And here perhaps it would not be amisse in reguard of those times to let the Reader know the pompe and state of this Cardinall how many Gentlemen attended him apparrelled with velvet and adorned with gold chaines then how many were cloathed in skarlet coats the skirts whereof were guarded with veluet the full bredth of a hand But let him guesse HERCVLES stature by the length of his foot Such was the brauerie of his attendants that in CHRISTIERNE King of Denmarke and other Princes then residing at Bruges it bred amazement It was also reported that he was by Gentlemen of the best ranke serued on the knee a kinde of state which Germany had yet neuer knowne He spent a huge masse of money in that Embassage and that as it is thought not against his will For he by all meanes sought the Emperors fauour hoping that LEO although much younger either cut off by treachery or his owne intemperance might leaue the world before him And then were it no hard matter for him being vnderpropped by the Emperour and our King to be aduanced to the Papacy Wherefore at the first bruit of his death hee posted away PACEY the Deane of Pauls into Italy with Mandates to certaine Cardinalls whom he thought respected him that they should do their best in his behalfe But before hee could reach Rome he was certainely informed that ADRIAN sometimes Tutor to the Emperour and then Viceroy of Spaine was already elected by the name of ADRIAN the Sixt. Anno Dom. 1522. Reg. 12. WOLSEY neuerthelesse was as full of ambitious hope as euer For ADRIAN was a decrepit weake old man and therefore not likely as indeed he did not to survive him In the mean time he might make an ascent by which his ambition might clime He therefore seeks to aduance the Emperors designes more than ever to that end he persuadeth HENRY to denounce war against the French for that he denied to surrender Fuentaraby had broken the Couenants made between them in not standing to the arbitrement of HENRY as both CHARLES FRANCIS had compromised at what time it was likewise decreed that HENRY should declare himself an enemy to the obstinate refuser The French discerning the storme before it came arrests all English ships commits the Merchants to prison and seizeth their goods to His own vse stops all Pensions due either to HENRY for Tournay or to his Sister the Dowager of France for her Ioincture The French
ships and Merchants in England find the like entertainment the Hostages giuen by the French for the foresaid sums are committed to close prison and the French Embassadour confined to his house Levies are made throughout England great preparatioÌ„s for another expedition into France To which the King being wholly bent Embassadors suddenly arrive from the Emâ—erour whose request was That He would joine his forces with the Imperialls and that if it so pleased Him CHARLES would within few dayes be in England that so they might personally confer aduise what course they were best to run Many reasons mooued the Emperour by the way to touch at England His Grandfather FERDINAND being dead his presence was necessarily required in Spaine whither he must passe by England He feared lest this breach betwixt vs France might easily be made vp he being so far distant He had an Aetna in his brest which burned with extreame hatred toward the French and was confident that his presence would raise our sparkle to a flame They might personally treat conclude more safely securely than by Agents Posts of whom in matters of moment no wise man would make vse vnles forced by necessity But the chiefe cause as I coniecture of this his second coÌ„ming into England was that he was weary of WOLSEY with whom he saw it was impossible long to continue friend For the Cardinall by his importunity one while for the Papacy another while for the Archbishopricke of Toledo did much molest him who had determined to afford him nothing but good words He disdained not in his letters to a Butchers son to vse that honorable compellation of Couzen whether present or absent he afforded him all kind of honor whatsoeuer But when the Cardinall craued any ernest of his loue some excuse or other was found out to put him by yet so as still to entertaine him with hopes But WOLSEY was subtill and of a great spirit And these deuises were now growne so stale that they must needs be perceiued CHARLES therfore neglecting his wonted course by WOLSEY studies how to be assured of the King without him For this no fitter means could be thought of then this interview The King was naturally courteous loued the Emperour exceedingly and reposed great confidence in him CHARLES therefore hoped that by the familiarity of some few weekes hee might make the King his owne But HENRY he thought would not long continue so vnlesse he could some way lessen his fauor toward the Cardinall This he hoped might be effected by admonishing the King that he was now past the yeares of a childe and needed no Tutor that it was not fit he should suffer himselfe to be swaied by a Priest one in all reason better skilled in the mysteries of the Altar than of State against which in this respect besides the abuse of his power he must needs be some way though perhaps vnwillingly faulty The addition of some aspersions withalâ— were thought not to be amisse which if not true should at least carrie a shew of truth That the Emperour practised something in this kinde the consequences make it more than probable HENRY being a noble Prince and one that scorned money as much as any one breathing was very glad of the Emperors comming yet was his Treasury very bare and so great a Guest could not be entertained without as great expences CHARLES vpon notice of the Kings pleasure attended by the Marquis of Dorset the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield the Lord De La-ware others of the English Nobility comes from Graueling to Calais from whence he passed to Douer where he was receiued by the Cardinall who was accompanied with two Earles ten Bishops ten Abbots thirty six Knights 100 Gentlemen thirty Priests all these apparelled in velvet and at least seuen hundred seruants Two daies he staied at Douer before the King came At length he came and welcommed him with all Princely entertainment professing that no greater happinesse could betide him on earth then the inioying his Maiesties most desired company though but for so short a time From Douer taking Canâ—erbury in the way they came to Greenwich where the Queene awaited the longed for presence of her Nephew FroÌ„ thence to London where they werereceiued by the Citisens with the solemnities vsuall at the Coronation of our Kings At Whitsontide both Princes came to Pauls where they heard the Cardinall say Masse Sports agreeable to the entertainement of such a Guest were not wanting But when mention was made of renewing the League Windsore was thought fittest for the Treaty it being not aboue twenty miles from London and a place altogether as it were composed for pleasure Windsore is situated in a large Plaine vpon the bankes of the riuer Thames The Castle being the chiefest in England for strength comparable to that of Douer but far exceeding it in greatnesse and beauty is built on a hill This Castle containes besides the Kings Court a goodly Church by EDWARD the Third dedicated to the blessed Virgin and Saint George adioining to which is the Colledge where are the houses of the Deane Prebendaries and Vicars Chorall where also liue twelue Souldiers discharged of the wars called Knights and hauing pensions who in their habits are bound daily to frequent the Church there to pray vnto God for the Knights of the Illustrious Order of the Garter Of this Order the Castle is the Seat where according to the first Institution the Knights are to be installed on certaine dayes are to offer and to do some other duties Here vpon Corpus Christi day these Princes hauing on the robes of the Order in their stalls heard Masse and receiuing the Sacrament bound themselues by oath inuiolably to obserue the Conditions of this new League the chiefe Articles whereof were these That they should with joint and as great forces as they could inuade France That the Emperor should yearely pay to the King as much as was due to Him and his Sister from the French viz. 133000 crownes That the Emperor should at conuenient yeares take to Wife his Cousin german the Lady MARY the Kings onely Childe who after raigned and at age of fortie yeares was married to PHILIP the Emperors son That he by whose default it should happen that this match should not succeed should pay the other fiue hundred thousand crownes and for assurance of this the Emperour should put Saint Omers and Aires into the Kings hands One would haue thought it had passed the reach of human policy to haue dissolued this band But shortly after broken it was and could neuer after be firmely knit againe After eight dayes stay at Windsore these Princes went to Winchester and from thence to Southampton where was the Emperors Fleet consisting of a hundred and eighty ships Here on the first of Iuly the Emperor tooke ship and made for Spaine In the meane time the Earle of Surrey hauing gathered a Fleet landed neere Morleys
Garter by whom Hee did congratulate his late victorious successe admonishing him to a close pursuit of his fortunes That if his Jmperiall Maiesty intended with greater forces to oppresse the already Vanquished in regard of the strict â—y of friendship betweene them his necessary endeauors should in no sort be wanting What answer the Emperor gaue I know not It is very likely he paid the King in his owne coine and dissembled with the Dissembler but hauing courteously entertained our Embassadours as courteously dismissed them But the King wants money and must now dissemble with his subiects He pretended war with France and with this key hopes to open his Subiects coffers The expectation of supplies by a Parliament would prove tedious some shorter course must be taken Money is therfore demanded by Proclamation that no lesle then according to the sixth part of euery mans Moveables Divers great personages appointed Commissioners vse all faire meanes to draw the people to contribute But although they sate in Commission in divers parts of the Kingdome at one and the same time they were so far from preuailing that as if the people had vniuersally conspired it was every where denied and the Commissioners very ill entreated not without further danger of sedition and tumult Hereupon the King calls a Parliament to be held at London wherein he professeth himselfe to be vtterly ignorant of these intollerable courses by such burthenous taxations The King disclaiming it euery one seekes to free himselfe The Cardinall was at last faine to take all vpon himselfe protesting That as a faithfull Seruant he had no further end in it than the profit of his Lord the King and that hee had aduised not onely with his Maiesties Councell which they all acknowledged but also with the Learned in the Lawes both Diuine and Humane whose opinion it was that the King might lawfully take the same course that PHARAOH did who by the ministery of IOSEPH sequestred a certaine portion of euery mans priuate estate for the publique good But the dislike of the people occasioned by this though fruitlesse proiect was greater than could be removed by this excuse And yet this proiect was not altogether fruitlesse the Kings apparant want affording a sufficient pretext of deferring the war with France vntill another yeare Neither was it the Kings intent to make vse of his advantages ouer the French who now lay open to all his blows HENRY hauing put away his wife the Emperour must needs be netled and then the amity of France would stand him in some steed Indeed CATHARINE was a noble and a vertuous Lady but shee had liued so long as to make her Husband weary of her He affected the daughter of Sir THOMAS BOLEN Treasurer of his Houshold Her he intends to marry and to be diuorced from the other For he did in his soule abhor this incestuous Match and it stood not with the publique weale that He should live single especially the lawfulnesse of his Daughters birth being so questionable Hee married not againe for his pleasure but to settle the Kingdome on his lawfull Issue The Learned as many as Hee had conferred with did generally pronounce the first marriage void yet would Hee haue it lawfully decided that with a safe conscience He might make choice of a second Thus far had WOLSEY willingly led him hoping to haue drawne him to a Match in France But Hee was of age to choose for himselfe and had already els where setled his affections And the more to manifest his love on the eighteenth of Iune he created his future Father in law Sir THOMAS BOLEN Viscont Rochfort At the same time were created HENRY FITZ-ROY the Kings naturall fonne by ELIZABETH BLOVNT Daughter to Sir IOHN BLOVNT Knight Earle of Nottingham and Duke of Richmond and Somerset HENRY COVRTNEY Earle of Devonshire the Kings Couzen german Marquis of Excester HENRY BRANDON eldest sonne to the Duke of Suffolke by the Kings Sister the Dowager of France Earle of Lincolne THOMAS MANNERS Lord Roos Earle of Rutland Sir HENRY CLIFFORD Earle of Cumberland and ROBERT RATCLIF Lord Fitzwalter Viscont Fitzwalter Cardinall WOLSEY this yeare laid the foundation of two Colledges one at Ipswich the place of his birth another at Oxford dedicated to our Sauiour CHRIST by the name of Christ-Church This later though not halfe finished yet a magnificent and royall Worke a most fruitfull Mother of Learned Children doth furnish the Church and Common-wealth with multitudes of able men and amongst others acknowledgeth me such as I am for her Foster-childe The other as if the Founder had also been the foundation fell with the Cardinall and being for the most part pulled downe is long since converted to private vses The Cardinalls private estate although it were wonderfull great being not sufficient to endow these Colledges with revenues answerable to their foundation the Pope consenting he demolished fourty Monasteries of meaner note and conferred the lands belonging to them on these his new Colledges It hath been the observation of some That this businesse like that proverbiall gold of Tholouse was fatall to those that any way had a hand in it We will hereafter shew what became of the Pope and the Cardinall But of five whom he made vse of in the alienation of the guifts of so many religious men it afterward happened that two of them challenging the field of each other one was slaine and the other hanged for it a third throwing himselfe headlong into a Well perished wilfully a fourth before that a wealthy man sunke to that low ebbe that he after begged his bread and Doctor ALLEN the fift a man of especiall note being Archbishop of Dublin was murthered in Jreland I could wish that by these and the like examples men would learne to take heed how they lay hands on things consecrated to God If the Divine Iustice 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 vndoubtedly better vses what can we expect of those that take all occasions to rob and spoile the Church hauing no other end but onely the inriching of themselues LVTHER had notice of HENRY his intended Divorce and that from CHRISTIERNE the expelled King of Denmarke who eagerly solicited him to write friendly vnto the King putting LVTHER in hope that HENRY being a courteous Prince might by milde persuasions be induced to embrace the reformation which LVTHER had begun And indeed LVTHER foreseeing the necessary consequences of this Divorce was easily entreated and did write vnto the King in this submissiue manner He doubted not but he had much offended his Majesty by his late reply but he did it rather enforced by others then of his owne accord Hee did now write presuming vpon the Kings much bruited humanity especially being informed That the King himselfe was not Author of the Booke against him which thing
the way to wipe out the remembrance of an old offence by committing a new Hee found some other pretence to send one FRANCIS CAMPANA into England but his chiefe errand was to will CAMPEGIVS to burne the Bull whereby the King's marriage had before beene pronounced void and to returne to Rome with speed But the newes of the Popes sicknesse at the same time made him deferre the execution of his Mandate For if CLEMENT should die the Cardinall might with safetie gratifie the King who had conferred on him the Bishopricke of Sarisbury and to whom the Cardinall had promised successe answerable to his desires And if hee should permit the King to be thus illuded he feared he might be accompted not onely ingratefull but also treacherous But hee shortly vnderstood the Pope was well whose Mandate he must obey and the Bull as if for Hereâ—ie must be condemned to the fire In the meane time the King who was deeply in loue with ANNE BOLEN according to the nature of Lovers counting each minute by the houre quickly resented this change and never rested vntill hee knew the whole carriage of the matter Then first fell his wrath like thunder on WOLSEY whose wit had hitherto made all his proiects feasible And hee could not beleeve but that it was in his power to effect this also Here I cannot choose but cry out with Comoedian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IOVE and yee Gods how hard a thing It is to serve a raging King Full twenty yeares had WOLSEY served the King behaving himselfe so that hee grew powerfull and wealthy beyond a private fortune and to the rest of the King's Titles had procured the addition of that rich one of a good Prince For as often as I consider how laudably HENRY had hitherto ruled and behold the calamities of ensuing times I cannot but accord with them who ascribe the sway which he did beare over all the Princes of Christendome to the excellency of WOLSEY his counsailes But WOLSEY being taken away to whom shall we impute those effects of Lust Tyrannie and Avarice two Wives killed two put away so many and among them many of the greater sort put to death for their Religion only extremitie only differing in the manner vsed by Hanging against Papists by Fire against Heretiques these were the termes of those dayes the Church or rather the Common-wealth horribly spoiled and robbed of her Patrimony Certainly had WOLSEY sate at the Sterne the King had never like a Ship destitute of a Pilot beene carried to and fro with such contrary and vncertaine motions But inordinate greatnesse is alwayes a burthen to it selfe the waight whereof is augmented by the vsuall attendance of publique enny and hatred the misbegotten Elfes of long and powerfull happinesse WOLSEY the King once offended began presently to totter and at his first frowne as at the roaring of a Lion before any harder course was taken with him was so deiected that although he after seemed a little to lift vp his head yet was hee never able to stand on his feet Nay the King being once alienated from him would never after admit him to his presence Behold power of base Detraction yet I will not exclude the the greatnesse of the Cardinals wealth already devoured in conceit which wipes away the remembrance of the faithfull service of so many yeares and the consideration of so great glory purchased to the King by WOLSEY'S labours I am not ignorant what things were obiected against him But they carry so little shew of probability that I should much suspect his iudgement that would give any credit to them Vntill it was knowne that the King inraged at the slow proceedings in the cause of his Divorce did day and night breath out against him threats and revenge no man ever preferred Bill against him which considering the vsuall severe courses held by our Parliaments must needs acquit him of Abuse of Power As for the causes of the King's anger wee will derive them rather from his owne discontents then WOLSEY'S faultinesse The King by this time knew the treachery of the dissembling Pope Hee had neere five yeares wandered in the Labyrinth of the Court of Rome and could find no clue to lead him out He therefore determined to make a way where he could not find one and like ALEXANDER by force to vndoe that Gordian knot which by wit and labour hee could not To WOLSEY therefore hee communicated his intent of marrying another whether the Pope were willing or no wishing him withall to finde out some course or other whereby CAMPEGIVS his Colleague notwithstanding the late Mandates to the contrary might be drawne to give sentence on his side Many things might be pretended to excuse the deed but chiefly the feare of the King 's high displeasure which peradventure hee should feele too vnlesse hee assented to the King 's iust request WOLSEY his answer to this I cannot relate But this is certaine that WOLSEY whether for that he did not approve of the King 's intended course seeming as the times were then full of rashnesse and insolence or that he would not vndertake the attempting of his Colleague or that as SLEIDAN writes the King had notice that the Cardinall had advised the Pope not to approve of the Divorce from CATHARINE forasmuch as the King was then resolved to marry another infected with Lutheranisme WOLSEY I say was so sharply taken vp and threatned by the King that even then you might reade in his face and gestures the symptomes of his waining fortune For the Cardinall at that time returning from the Court by water the Bishop of Carlile being with him in the same Barge complained of the heate which was then extraordinary to whom WOLSEY replied My Lord if you had beene but now in my place you would have found it hot indeed And as soone as hee came home he put off his clothes and went sicke to bed Before hee had reposed himselfe an houre and halfe the Viscount Rochfort came to him and in the King's Name willed that hee and his Colleague should instantly repaire to the Queene and exhort her not to contend any longer with the King for that it would be more for her good and the honour of them both to submit herselfe to the King's pleasure then to vndergo the disgrace of a publique iudgement For it was now brought to that push that longer deferred it could not be The Cardinall advertised of the King's pleasure did arise and with his Colleague went to the Queene who having notice of their comming went forth and met them After mutuall salutations the Cardinals desired shee would vouchsafe a few words in private but the Queene refused to entertaine any conference with them but where she might have witnesses of what passed WOLSEY then began to speake in Latine but the Queene interrupted him willing that although she vnderstood Latin yet hee should speake in English So in the
King's affection towards him was no lesse then when hee flourished most in the sunshine of his favour The same comfortable words being againe and againe ingeminated by divers others sent for that purpose the Cardinall in a few dayes recovered his former health At Court each one aspired to rise by WOLSEY his fall But now iealous least the King intended a reall and sincere reconciliation and fearing revenge from him whom they had iniured worke all their wits to supplant him At or about London he was too neere the Court some tricke must be had to send him farther Winthester the Bishopricke whereof hee held in ommendam was not farre enough off Why then should he not said they being not deteined at London as Lord Chancellour betake himselfe to the governement of his Archbishopâ—icke of Yorke So having a thousand pound assigned him by the King whose Counsaile thought a thousand markes sufficient about the end of March in the ensuing yeare hee set forward towards Yorke Of all his Livings they leave him only the Archbishopricke of Yorke wherewith to maintaine him the revenues whereof might be valued at foure thousand pounds per annum The speech of SENECA concerning APICIVS why may I not apply to the present estate of WOLSEY How great was his Luxurie who deemed the income of foure thousand pound povertie And now it were requisite that we should proceed to the yeare 1530. But let vs first behold the end of this great Cardinall That Summer hee spent at Cawood a Mannor house belonging to the Sea of Yorke where by his mildnesse iustice and liberality hee did so win the hearts of his Diocesans that hee was both admired and loved He seemed to be much delighted with this solitary confinement for that having hitherto beene tossed in the Court to and fro as in a tempest hee had now escaped not from shipwracke to a rocke but to his desired haven of repose Yet notwithstanding vpon any the least hope of recovering his former power although hee professed that converted by an Anchorite of Richmond he had bid adieu to the vanities of the world hee could not conceale the greatnesse of his ioy That he failed of his hopes which indeed were none of the least I cannot assent to them who impute it to the importunity of his potent adversaries For to what end served so many messages full of gracious reconciliatorie promises but ever intermixed with insufferable disgraces the forerunners of a dire Catastrophe Certainly to no other then that he might bee wrought one way or other to approue of and give sentence for the King's Divorce at least as Archbishop CRANMER after did But this course not prevailing they intend a second accusation of Treason To this purpose the Earle of Northumber land is sent to apprehend and as he was amazed at this sudaine change bring him to his answer to London But by the way he fell sick of a disease which at Leicester Abbey secured him from all other Being neere his end it is reported Sir 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 hee might cleere himselfe from those things which malice and detraction had forged against him neither did hee doubt but that shortly hee should see him more potent then ever if out of pusillanimity he gave not too much scope to the violence of his discontented passions Whereto the Cardinall in these his last words replied I am as truly glad to heare of his Maiesties health as I truly know my death to be at hand J have now bin eight dayes together troubled with a Flux accompanied with a continuall Fever which kind of disease if within eight dayes it remit nothing of its wonted violence by the consent of all Physicians threatneth no lesse then death peradventure an evill beyond death distraction But growne weake and my diseasâ— raging more and more I do each minute expect when God will be pleased to free this sinfull soule from this loathsome prison of the body But should my life be a litle prolonged do you thinke J perceive not what traps are laid for me You Sir VVilliam if J mistake not are Lieutenant of the Tower and J guesse for what you come But God hath iustly rewarded mee for neglecting my due service to him and wholy applying my selfe to his Maiesties pleasure Woe is me wretch and sot that I am who have beene vngratefull to the King of Kings whom if I had served with that due devout observance that befits a Christian hee would not have forsaken me in the evening of my age I would I might be a generall example even to the King himselfe how sliperily they stand in this world who do not above all things rely vpon the firme support of Gods Favour and Providence Salute his Maiestie from me and deliver this my last petition vnto him which is That he live mindfull of the triall he must vndergo before Gods high Tribunall so shall hee by the secret testimony of his owne conscience free mee from those crimes wherewith my adversaries seeke to burthen me More he would have spoken but his speech failed him and death presently ensued His body apparrelled in his Pontificall Robes after it had all that day for he expired at the very breake of day beene exposed to open view was at midnight without any solemnity buried in our Ladies Chappell in the Church of the Monastery Thus vnhappily ended Cardinall WOLSEY his long happy life then whom England no nor I beleeve all Europe if you except the Bishops of Rome ever saw a more potent Prelate His retinue consisted of neere about a thousand persons among which were one Earle commonly nine Barons many Knights and Gentlmen and of Officers belonging to his house above foure hundred besides their servants which far exceeded the former number His Chappell was served by a Deane a Subdeane a Chanter thirty fiue Singers whereof thirteene were Clergy twelve Lay and ten Choristers foure Sextons beside sixteene Chaplaines the most sufficient for their learning thoroughout all England two Crosse-bearers as many Piller-bearers But nothing doth manifest his wealth and greatnesse so much as do his stately and incomparable buildings Wee have already spoken of his Colledges Whitehall then called Yorke house as belonging to the Archbishop the place where our Kings do most reside was almost wholy built by him Hampton Court the nearest pile of all the King's houses he raised entirely from the ground and having furnished it with most rich housholdstuffe gave it to the King It was a guift fitter for a King to take then for a subiect to give But in the opinion of the vulgar the monument which hee intended for the King far surpassed all these It was of solid brasse but vnfinished and is to be seene in HENRY the
Eight his Chappell in the Church of Windsore That three of his Children raigning after him none of them vndertooke by perfecting it to cover the as it were vnburied bones of their Father what may wee thinke but that the excessive charge of it deterred them But vpon a further ininquiry we may more iustly ascribe it to the especiall iudgement of the Divine Providence who had decreed that he who had so horribly spoiled the Church should alone be debarred the honor afforded to each of his Predecessours in the Church And thus much concerning WOLSEY who died the thirtieth of November 1530. In the meane time in Iune Anno 1529. after long debating the matter to and fro by the mediation of Louyse the French Kings Mother and MARGARET Aunt to the Emperour these two Princes are drawne to an accord a Peace is concluded betweene them at Cambray thence commonly called The Peace of Cambray but by vs The Peace of Women The chiefe Conditions whereof and that any way concerned vs were That the French King should giue to the Emperour for the freedome of his Children who had beene three yeares Hostages in Spaine for their Father two Millions of Crownes whereof he should pay foure hundred thousand due from the Emperor by the League made Anno 1522. to Henry and his Sister Mary Dowager of France Beside which huge summe he should also acquit the Emperor of fiue hundred thousand which he did owe to our King for the indemnity of the marriage betweene the Emperour and the Lady Mary the Kings Daughter whom having beene long since contracted hee left to marry with the Daughter of Portugall And that hee should vngage and restore to the Emperour the Flower de Lys of gold enriched with precious stones a piece of our Saviours Crosse which Philip truly called The Good Duke of Burgoigne the Emperours Father being driven into England by contrary windes had ingaged to Henry the Seventh for fifty thousand Crownes So that the summe to be paid to HENRY amounted to nine hundred and fifty thousand Crownes besides sixteene hundred thousand more to be payed to the Emperour at the very instant of the delivery of the French King's Children The totall summe was two millions fiue hundred fifty thousand Crownes which of our money make seven hundred sixty five thousand pounds FRANCIS not knowing which way sudainly to raise so huge a masle by his Embassadours intreated our King to be pleased to stay some time for his moneyes But HENRY was much moved that he had not beene made acquainted with this Treaty notwithstanding his secret designes made him temper his choler nay and with incredible liberality to grant more then was demanded For hee absolutely forgave him the five hundred thousand Crownes due for the not marrying his Daughter hee gave the Flower de Lys to his Godsonne HENRY Duke of Orleans and left the other foure hundred thousand to be payed by equall portions in five yeares The Pope had lately by his Legates deluded HENRY who was therevpon much discontented not knowing what course to run And this is thought to be the cause of his so extraordinary liberality toward the French The King being then in progresse and hunting at Waltham it happened that STEPHEN GARDINER Principall Secretary of Estate after Bishop of Winton and FOX the King's Almoner after Bishop of Hereford were billeted in the house of a gentleman named CRESSEY who had sent his two sons to be brought vp at Cambridge vnder the tutelage of THOMAS CRANMER Doctour in Divinity a man both very learned and vertuous The plague then spreading it selfe in Cambridge CRANMER with his two Pupils betooke himselfe to Master CRESSEY their father his house Where GARDINER and FOX among other table talke discoursing of the Kings Suite concerning his Divorce which had so many yeares depended in the Court of Rome vndecided CRANMER said that he wondred the King required not the opinions of the most famous learned men that were any where to be found of whom the world had many far more learned then the Pope and followed not their iudgements What CRANMER had as it were let fall by chance they report to the King who sudainly apprehending it said that this fellow whosoever he was had hit the naile on the head and withall demanding his name caused CRANMER to be sent for whom he commended for his but too late advise which course if he had taken but five yeares before hee should now have had an hundred thousand pounds in his purse which he had vnprofitably in this suite cast away on the Court of Rome he commands CRANMER to write a Tract concerning this question wherein having drawne together what reasons hee could for the confirmation of his advice hee should conclude with his owne opinion CRANMER did it very readily and is therevpon with Sir THOMAS BOLEN lately created Earle of Wiltshire CARNE STOKESLEY and BE NET Doctours of Law with others sent on an Embassie to Rome CRANMER'S booke is to be presented to his Holinesse and they are commanded to challenge the Court of Rome to a disputation wherin the Contents of that book should be maintained the argument whereof was That by the authority of holy Scripture ancient Fathers and Councels it was vtterly vnlawfull for any man to marry his Brothers Widow and that no such marriage could bee licenced or authorized by the Popes Dispensation This being done the King's intent was they should procure the opinions of all the Vniversities throughout Europe by whom if he found his former marriage condemned then without farther expecting the approbation of the Sea of Rome he was resolved to run the hazard of a second To this the amity of the French seeming very conducible the King had by his former liberality sought to oblige him The Embassadours came to Rome had audience were promised a publique disputation whereof they were held so long in expectation that perceiving their stay there to bee to little purpose they all returned into England except CRANMER who with the same instructions that hee had formerly beene sent to the Pope was to go to the Emperour whose Court was then in Germany There this good learned man hitherto no friend to LVTHER while he defends his owne booke and the King's Divorce against the most learned either of Protestants or Papists is thought to have beene seasoned with the leaven of that doctrine for which after he had beene twenty yeares Archbishop of Canterbury he was most cruelly burned While CRANMER thus laboured abroad the King at home deales with LANGEY the French Embassadour by whose meanes with the forcible Rhetoricke saith one of some English Angels hee obtained of the Vniversities of Paris with the rest throughout France Pavia Padua Bononia and others this Conclusion That the Pope who hath no power over the Positive Law of God could not by his Dispensation ratifie a marriage contracted betweene a Brother and a brothers Widow it being forbidden by the expresse words
Authoritie At length the subtle heads of the Lawiers found out a quirke wherby to salue all He must first by a praevious Protestation except against this Oath which was to be taken pro formd that it should not hereafter be any way preiudiciall to him Thus ascended CRANMER to the Archiepiscopall Sea where hee sate neere about twenty yeares vntill Queene MARY the Daughter of repudiated CATHARINE not only thrust this most innocent grave learned man out of his Bishopricke but with a barbarous cruelty condemned him to the fire as hereafter in its place we shall declare For the Treatise of a more strict League betweene the two Kings of England and France an interview is appointed betweene them To this end on the eleventh of October the King with a mightie traine passed to Calais The tenth day after going to Boloigne he was met halfe way by the French King his Sons and conducted to Boloigne where the two Kings divided the Abbey betweene them HENRY staied there foure dayes and then brought FRANCIS in whose company were the King of Navarre some Dukes and Cardinals a great number of Noblemen and of others at least twelve hundred to Calais At Saint Ioquebert the Duke of Richmond who was not at Boloigne with the King his Father received them After much solemne entertainment and the enterchangeable favours from each King to the Princes of each others company from HENRY to the King of Navarre or as the French write to MONT MORENCY and CHABOT the Admirall by the Order of the Garter From FRANCIS to the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke by that of Saint MICHAEL these great Monarchs parted Ielousie of the Emperours still increasing power had now vnited these Princes and their naturall dispositions wonderfull agreeable had made them alwayes prone to a mutuall love which by this interview tooke such deepe root that even in their owne opinions they rested assured of each other And indeed had they beene private persons their friendship in all likelihood had continued inviolable But Princes are not so much to be swayed by their owne Affections as the consideration of the publique Vtilitie The effect of this interview was an agreement to represse the Turke about that time wasting Hungary to which end they should assemble together by their ioint forces an Army of fourescore thousand men whereof there should be ten thousand horse with artillery requisite for the said Campe A specious pretext For they both knew that the Turke had already retreated But in private they treated of other matters They had both many causes of discontent FRANCIS not without cause was displeased with the Pope and HENRY thinking it best to strike while the iron was hot indevoured an vtter alienation betweene them HENRY complaines first of the wrong the Court of Rome did him touching the matter of his Divorce in the suite whereof full six yeares were now spent and yet at length after all their deceits mockeries they seeke to force him either to goe in persen to Rome or in a matter of so great importance to send Deputies who should in the Kings behalfe follow the suite An insolent proceeding and iniury without example which did concerne the French and all other Princes of Christendome For in like cases hapning among Soveraigne Princes especially touching the conscience so neere it was the vsuall custome of other Popes to send Iudges to the place it being reasonable that the Persons should speake personally and not by their Attorneyes and very vnrâ—asonable that a Soveraigne Prince leaving the rule and governement of his Estates should go and plead his cause at Rome Moreover hee did complaine of the intolerable exactions of the Church of Rome over the Clergy and people of England where by the yoke before too heavy was now become insupportable neither did he doubt but the same courses were taken in France Germany had begun the way of freedome to the rest of Christendome why should not other Princes follow their example To conclude hee did instantly require that they two should send their Embassadours iointly together to the Pope to summon him to appeare at the next generall Councell there to answere his extortions and by the authority and iudgement of the Councell to force him to a reinformation affirming that there was no Nation in Christendome which did not desire â—hat the inâ—olencies of the Romanists should be repressed â—o this the French answered that hee acknowledged these things to be true but it was not in his power to yeild to the Kings request yet for the bâ—oâ—herly love which hee did beare vnto him and the chariâ—able reguard of his owne Country he professed himselfe ready to vndergo all difficulties Hee wanted not sufficient iniuries whereof to complaine considering that he having so well deserved of the Apostolique Sea but more especially of this Pope yet he certainly found that CLEMENI all this notwithstanding was not well affected towards him CLEMENT had very lately suffered his reputation to be violated in his presence and by the Bishop of Verulo had secretly endevoured to alienate the Suisses his allies from him France groaned vnder the burthen of the new and vndutifull exactions of the Popes Officers by meanes whereof all the treasure was carried out of the Kingdome to the preiudice of his subiects the Clergy especially who grew poore the Churches were vnrepaired and the poore neither clothed nor fed and if he himselfe levied any great summe of money the tributes are longer comming in then vsually they were wont But he thought it best before they proceeded to that harsh course to vse some milder meanes whereto there was a faire occasion offred the Pope having by the Cardinall of Grandmont made him a promise of an interview at Nice or Avtgnon where if hee could not obtaine reason of him in the behalfe of both hee would indevour to prevaile by force where he could not by iust intreaties In the meane time he desired him to attend the issue of their parley But FRANCIS concealed the true cause of this intended interview for feare least our HENRY not approving it should seeke to dissuade him from it The French was implacable towards the Emperour against whom to strengthen himselfe hee meanes to win the Pope by the marriage of his younger Sonne HENRY Duke of Orleans who after raigned with CATHARINE de MEDICES Duchesse of Vrbin the Popes Niece The Pope could not at first believe this potent Prince intended him so much honour but perceiving the French to be reall he most eagerly farthered it appointing time and place for the consummation of it which was after done at Marseilles by CLEMENT himselfe in the presence of the French King Anno Dom. 1533. Reg. 25. THe King's loue brooked no delayes Wherefore on the fiue and twentieth of Ianuary privately and in the presence of very few he marrieth the Ladie ANNE BOLEN Shortly after by Act of Parliament the marriage of the King and the Lady CATHARINE was
of multitudes silenced those who had been hitherto furtherers of Reformation Among whom HVGH LATIMER and NICHOLAS SCHAXTON Bishops the one of Worcester the other of Salisbury were remarkable who that they might quietly enioy themselves the Parliament being scarce dissolved did both on one day viz. the first of July resigne their Bishoprickes LATIMER who for the freedome of his conscience could as willingly resigne his life as hee did this rich Bishopricke being burned for it in Queene MARIES raigne after his Resignation taking off his Rochet being a merry conceited man with a little leape lifted himselfe from the ground saying That hee felt himselfe much more light and quicke now hee had freed himselfe of so great a burthen HENRY in reguard of his wiving disposition had long continued a Widdower And that he should at length marry the consideration of his Estate being surrounded with Enemies passionate in the Popes cause persuaded him Wherein he also gave eare to CROMWELL who advised him to combine with those Estates whom the burthen of the Popes tyranny had forced to the same courses and like feares By whose assistance he might countermine the secret practises of Rome A counsaile without doubt good and befitting the times but producing the effects of Ill ones proving as is thought Pernicious to the Giuer For the treatise of such a Match in September came into England FREDERICKE Duke and Elector of Saxony FREDERICKE Duke of Bavaria OTHO HENRY Count Palatine of Rhine and the Chancellour of the Duke of Cleve with some others who were for eight dayes royally entertained by the King at Windsore where the marriage with ANNE Sister to the Duke of Cleve being concluded they returned to their owne Countries This yeare died MARGARET Queene of Scotland Sister to King HENRY who was buried at the Charterhouse in the towne of S. IOHN necre the Tombe of IAMES the First Anno Dom. 1540. Reg. 32. ON the Eve of the Circumcision the Lady ANNE of Cleve destinated to the Kings bed arrived at Dover was on the third of January triumphantly received at Greenwich and on the feast of the Epiphany ritely married to the King On the twelfth of March HENRY BOVRCHIER Earle of Essex the antientest Earle of the Realme throwne by an vnruly young horse which he sought to breake brake his necke by whose death the Inheritance was devolved to his daughter and from her deceasing without Issue to the Family of DEVREVX which Family in reguard of their claime by discent was by Queene ELIZABETH advanced to the Earledome of Essex But in the meane time CROMWELL yet chiefe in the Kings favour was on the eighteenth of Aprill created Earle of Essex And here behold the frailty of humane affaires The current of few yeares had from very meane beginnings brought CROMWELL to the height of honour insomuch that his happinesse was admired by all envied by many But Fortune intending a Tragedy he is vnexpectedly apprehended sitting at the Counsaile Table and committed to the Tower where he continued vntill his execution For in this Parliament begun the twelfth of Aprill hee is accused of Treason and Heresy without being brought to his answer condemned and on the twenty eighth of Iuly beheaded This King may well be censured of cruell inconstancy who could so easily dispence with the death of those whome he had admitted to intimate familiarity and made vse of their counsailes and indeavours as if he had advanced them to no other end but to depresse them WOLSEY had his turne CROMWELL succeeds whose sudden downefall there want not those who attribute to Gods Iustice inflicted on him for the Sacriledge whereof hee was reported to be the Author committed in the subversion of so many Religious Houses And indeed even they who confesse the rowsing of so many vnprofitable Epicures out of their dennes and the abolishing of Superstition wherewith the Divine Worship had by them beene polluted to have beene an act of singular Iustice and Piety do notwithstanding complaine of the losse of so many stately Churches dedicated to Gods service the goods whereof were no otherwise imploied then for the satisfaction of private mens covetousnesse and although many have abused the Vaile of Religion yet was that Monasticall life instituted according to the pious example of antient Fathers that they who found themselves vnfit for the execution of worldly affaires as many such there are might in such their voluntary retirements spend their dayes in Divine Writings or Meditations and are verily persuaded that for the taking away of these things God was offended both with the King and CROMWELL But SLEIDAN peradventure comes neerer the matter touching the immediate cause of his death About this time saith hee the King of England beheadeth THOMAS CROMWELL whome hee had from fortunes answerable to his low parentage raised to great Honours repudiates the Lady ANNE of Cleve and marrieth CATHARINE HOWARD Daughter to the Lord EDMOND HOWARD who was Brother to the Duke of Norfolke CROMWELL had beene procurer of the Match with ANNE But the King loving CATHARINE is thought to have beene persuaded by her to make away CROMWELL whome shee suspected to be a Remora to her advancement The actions of Kings are not to be sifted too neerely for which we are charitably to presume they haue reasons and those inscrutable But let vs see the procesle of this divorce Six moneths this coniugall band lasted firme without scruple the King and Queene giving daily testimonies of their mutuall love On the twentieth of June the Queene is willed to remove from London where the King staied by reason of the Parliament to Richmond a place pretended in reguard of the scituation and aire to be more for her health On the sixth of Iuly reasons are proposed by certaine Lords purposely sent to the lower House of Parliament demonstrating the invalidity of the Kings marriage with the Lady ANNE so that it was lawfull for them both to marry where they pleased The same reasons are alledged in the Convocation house and generally approved Whereupon the Queene also whether forced or willing consenting the Parliament pronounced the marriage void What the allegations were is vncertaine Some relate disability by reason of some defects to be obiected to her which seemes the more probable for that in her Letters wherein shee submitted her selfe to the iudgement and determination of the Parliament shee affirmed that the King never knew her carnally Whether for this or for that Nature having not over liberally endowed her wtih beauty but a private woman she became and as such not enduring to returne to her friends with dishonor shee lived vpon some lands assigned her by the King who alwaies vsed her respectively vntill the fifteenth of Iuly Annv 15â—7 at what time shee ended her discontented life and lieth buried at Westminster on the South side of the Quire in a Tombe not yet finished Scarce had the resolution of the Convocation House and the Decree concerning it
faire sprouts to the blast of vnseasonable hopes and nature denying any at least lawfull issue to the rest the name and almost remembrance of this great Family hath ceased Of which hereafter Scotland had beene long peaceable yet had it often administred motives of discontent and jealousy IAMES the Fifth King of Scots Nephew to HENRY by his Sister having long liued a Bachelor HENRY treated with him concerning a marriage with his then only Childe the Lady MARY a Match which probably would have vnited these neighbour Kingdomes But God had reserved this Vnion for a more happy time The antient League betweene France and Scotland had alwaies made the Scots affected to the French and IAMES prefer the alliance with France before that of England where the Dowry was no lesse than the hopes of a Kingdome So he marrieth with MAGDALEN a Daughter of France who not long surviving hee againe matcheth there with MARY of Guise Widow to the Duke of Longueville HENRY had yet a desire to see his Nephew to which end he desired an enterview at Yorke or some other oportune place IAMES would not condiscend to this who could notwithstanding vndertake a long and dangerous voyage into France without invitation These were the first seeds of discord which after bladed to the Scots destruction There having been for two yeares neither certaine peace nor a iust War yet incursions from each side Forces are assigned to the Duke of Norfolke to represse the insolency of the Scots and secure the Marches The Scot vpon newes of our being in Armes sends to expostulate with the Duke of Norfolke concerning the motives of this war and withall dispatcheth the Lord GORDON with some small Forces to defend the Frontiers The Herauld is detained vntill our Army came to Berwick that hee might not give intelligence of our strength And in October the Duke entring Scotland continued there ransacking the Countrey without any opposition of the Enemy vntill the middle of November By which time King IAMES having levied a great Army resolved on a battaile the Nobility persuading the contrary especially vnwilling that hee should any way hazard his Person the losse of his Father in the like manner being yet fresh in memory and Scotland too sensible of the calamities that ensued it The King proving obstinate they detaine him by force desirous rather to hazard his displeasure than his life This tendernesse of him in the language of rage and indignation hee termes cowardise and treachery threatening to set on the Enemy assisted with his Family only The Lord MAXWELL seeking to allay him promised with ten thousand only to invade England and with far lesse then the English Forces to divert the war The King seemes to consent But offended with the rest of the Nobility he gives the Lord OLIVER SAINTCLARE a private Commission not to be opened vntill they were ready to give the onâ—et wherein hee makes him Generall of the Army Having in England discovered five hundred English horse led by Sir THOMAS WHARTON and Sir WILLIAM MVS GRAVE the Lord SAINTCLARE commanded his Commission publiquely to be read the recitall whereof so distasted the Lord MAXWELL and the whole Army that all things were in a confusion and they ready to disband The oportunity of an adioining hill gave vs a full prospect into their Army and invited vs to make vse of our advantages Wee charge them furiously the Scots amazedly fly many are slaine many taken more plunged in the neighbouring fens and taken by Scotish Freebooters sold to vs. Among the Captives were the Earles of Glencarne and Cassells the Lords SAINTCLARE MAXWELL Admirall of Scotland FLEMING SOMERWELL OLIPHANT and GRAY besides two hundred of the better sort and eighthundred common souldiers The consideration of this overthrow occasioned as hee conceived by the froward rashnesse of his owne Subiects and the death of an English Herauld slaine in Scotland so surcharged him with rage and griefe that hee fell sicke of a Fever and died in the three and thirtieth yeare of his age and two and thirtieth of his raigne leaving his Kingdome to the vusally vnhappy governement of a Woman a Childe scarce eight dayes old The chiefe of the captives being conveied to the Tower were two dayes after brought before the King's Counsaile where the Lord Chancellour reprehended their treachery who without due denunciation of war invaded and spoiled the territories of their Allies and committed many outrages which might excuse any severe courses which might in iustice be taken with them Yet his Maiesty out of his naturall Clemency was pleased to deale with them beyond their deserts by freeing them from the irkesomenesse of a strict imprisonment and disposing of them among the Nobles to beby them entertained vntill He should otherwise determine of them By this time King IAMES his death had possessed HENRY with new hopes of vniting Britaine vnder one Head England had a Prince and Scotland a Queene but both so young that many accidents might dissolve a contract before they came to sufficiency Yet this seeming a course intended by the Divine Providence to extirpate all causes of enmity and discord betweene these neighbouring Nations a marriage betweene these young Princes is proposed With what alacrity and applaufe the proposition was on both sides entertained wee may conceive who have had the happinesse to see that effected which they but intended Which being a matter of so sweet a consequence it is to be wondred at that the conspiracy of a few factious spirits should so easily hinder it The hope of it prevailed with the King for the liberty of the Captives conditionally that they should leave hostages for their returne if peace were not shortly concluded which as also the furtherance of this so wished coniunction they faithfully promised Anno Dom. 1543. Reg. 35. AFter their short Captivity the Scottish Lords having beene detained onely twelve dayes at London on New yeares day began their iourney towards Scotland and with them ARCHIBALD DOVGLAS Earle of Angus whom his Sonne in law King IAMES had a little before his death intended to recall Fifteene yeares had hee and his brother GEORGE lived exiles in England HENRY out of his Royall Bounty allowing to the Earle a pension of a thousand markes and to his brother of five hundred The sudaine returne of these captive Lords caused in most as sudaine a ioy Only the Cardinall of Saint ANDREWS who had by forgery made himselfe Regent and his faction could willingly have brooked their absence They came not as freed from a Captivity but as Embassadours for Peace by them ernestly persuaded which by the happy coniunction of these Princes might be concluded to perpetuitie But the Cardinall with his factious Clergy the Queene Dowager and as many as were affected to the Flower de Lys interposed themselves for the good of France Yet notwithstanding the Cardinals fraud being detected hee is not only deposed from his Regency and IAMES HAMILTON
Preiudiciall to the Estate Grievous and Burthensome to the Subiect FINIS ANNALES OF ENGLAND EDVVARD THE SIXT The Second Booke LONDON Printed by Adam Islip and William Stansby 1630. Vae tibi Jerra cuius Rex Puer est ANNALES OF ENGLAND The second Booke EDWARD the Sixt. Anno Dom. 1547. Reg. 1. ROyalty like a Pythagorean Soule transmigrates Although HENRY were dead the King was still alive and survived in the person of young EDWARD who began his Raigne the eight and twentieth of Ianuary then in the tenth yeare of his age and having beene on the last of the same moneth proclaimed King came the same day from Enfield where the Court had then beene to the Tower there according to the ancient custome of our Kings to abide vntill his Inauguration at Westminster The next day the Counsaile assembled for the managing of the Estate conferred on the Kings Vnckle EDWARD SEIMOVR Earle of Hertford the honour and power of Protector of the King's Person and Kingdome Who to season his new Dignitie with some memorable act on the sixt of February dubbed the King Knight the King presently imparting the same Honour to RICHARD HOBLETHORNE Lord Maior 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 Windsore Two daies after were some of the Nobilitie dignified with greater Honours some new created The Lord Protector Earle of Hertford was made Duke of Somerset WILLIAM PARR Earle of Essex Marquis of Northampton IOHN DVDLEY Viscount Lisle Earle of Warmicke and the Lord Chancellour WRIOTHSLEY Earle of Southampton Sir THOMAS SEIMOVR brother to the Protector and Lord Admirall Sir THOMAS RICH Sir WILLIAM WILLOVGHBY and Sir EDMOND SHEFFEILD were inrolled among the Barons Other two daies being fled after their Predecessours the King passed triumphantly from the Tower through London to Westminster where he was solemnely crowned anointed and inaugurated by CRANMER Archbishop of Canterbury At what time also with incredible indulgence pardon of all crimes whatsoever was publiquely proclaimed and granted to all persons throughout the Realme six only being exempted from the benefit thereof namely the Duke of Norfolke Cardinall POOLE the lately beheaded Marquis of Excester his eldest Sonne one THROCMORTON FORTESCVE and RICHARD PATE late Bishop of Worcester who least hee should be constrained to acknowledge the King Head of the Church had some yeares passed fled to Rome On the nineteenth of Iune in the Cathedrall Church of Saint PAVL in London were celebrated the Exequies of FRANCIS King of France He deceased the two and twentieth of the precedent March having beene after the death of our HENRY much disposed to melancholy whether for that hee failed in the hope of strengthening their late contracted amity with some stricter tie or that being some few yeares the younger hee 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 finde the like betweene any two Princes of what ever different times This bred a mutuall affection in them and as it were forcibly nourished the secret fire thereof betweene them vnlesse peradventure when emulation or the respect of publique vtilitie swaied them the contrary way so that the death of the one could not but much grieve the surviver He therefore in the Cathedrall at Paris celebrated the Funerals of HENRY though excommunicated by the Pope He also left one only Sonne named HENRY inheritor of his Crowne whose Raigne lasted but to the beginning of Queene ELIZABETH And now the affaires of Scotland which have without doubt beene great and memorable crave a part in our History Wee have before made mention of our League with Scotland wherein it was determined concerning the marriage betweene the now King EDWARD and the Queene of Scots The times since then were full of continuall iarres Wee at length resolved not to dally with them but to vndertake the war with forces agreeable to the cause The Duke of Somerset by consent of the Privie Counsaile is sent into Scotland with ten thousand Foot and six thousand Horse beside pioners and artificers thirteene hundred and fifteene peeces of brasse Ordnance To the Lord CLINTON is assigned a Navy consisting of foure and twenty men of war one Galley and thirty Ships of burthen wherewith hee was to scowre the Seas and infest the maritime parts of Scotland On the third of September the Duke of Somerset made an hostile entrance vpon the Enemies Countrey and forthwith dispatched letters to the Earle of Arren Regent of Scotland much to this effect That he wished the Scots would consider that this war was waged among Christians that our ends were no other then a iust Peace whereto the endevours of all good men should tend An occasion not only of a League but of a perpetuall Peace was now happily offred if they would suffer the two differing and emulous Nations by vniting the Head to grow together This as it had beene formerly sought by vs so had it beene generally assented to by the Estates of Scotland Therefore he could not but wonder why they should rather treacherously recurre to Armes the events of war being vsually even to the Victor sufficiently vnfortunate then maintaine in violate their troth plighted to the good of both Nations They could not in reason expect that their Queene should perpetually live a Virgin life And if shee married where could shee bestow her selfe better then on a puissant Monarch inhabiting the same Island and parlying the same language They saw what inconveniences were the consequents of foraine matches whereof they should rather make triall by the examples of others then at their owne perill He demanded nothing but equity yet he so much abhorred the effusion of Christian bloud that if hee found the Scots not vtterly averse from an accord hee would endevour that some of the Conventions should be remitted he would also permit that the Queene should abide and be brought vp among them vntill her age made her marriageable at what time she should by consent of the Estates her selfe make choice of a Husband In the meane time there should be a Cessation of Armes neither should the Queene be transported out of her Realme nor entertaine treatise of marriage with the French or any other forainer This if they would faithfully promise he would forthwith peaceably depart out of Scotland and whatsoever damages the Countrey had suffred by this invasion he would according to the esteeme of indifferent Arbitrators make ample satisfaction The Scottish Army consisted of thirty thousand Foot some speake a greater number The chiefe Commanders whereof puffed vp with confidence of their strength although they had lately lost eight hundred in a tumultuary skirmish and misconceiving our offers to proceed out of feare reiect all Conditions of Accord and least vpon knowledge of the equitie of our demands the Counsaile should
admonished the Protector to have a heedy reguard to this action Some peradventure might be content to let a Brother shed teares to shed his bloud when they might prevent it scarce any it was much to be feared least his Brothers death would be his ruine and the losse of such Friends a hazard to the King Others highly extolled his impartial proceeding whom fraternal affection could not divert from righting his Countrey for if Consanguinity or Alliance to the King should be a sufficient cause to exempt them from punishment who should plot and contrive the change of governement in the Estate vpon what ticklâ—sh termes should we all stand whiles nothing could be câ—rtaine and sure in the publique governement Others maintained the necessity of cutting off the Admirall and that it stood the Protector vpon so to do if he either reguarded his owne or the Kings safeguard For at what other marke did the Admirall aime but that having seised on the Kings Person removed his Brother from the Protectorship and married the Lady ELIZABETH he might by poison or some other meanes make away the young King already deprived of his Friends and as in the right of his Wife invest himselfe in the Regall Throne wherto the Lady MARY although the elder Sister as incestuously begotten could make no claime And thus much was in a Sermon delivered before the King by HVGH LATIMER who having ten yeares since resigned his Bishopricke had also hitherto abstained from preaching vntill after the death of King HENRY this Light was againe restored that by his rayes he might illustrate Gods Church But how true his coniectures were concerning the Lord SEIMOVR I will not vndertake to determine Whether faulty in his ambition or overborne by his envious adversaries thus ended the Admirall his life who was indeed a valiant Commander and not vnfit for a Consultation in whose ruine the Protector was likewise involved Not long after this great mans fall the People throughout almost the whole Realme brake out into a Rebellion wherto the frequent vsurpations and avarice of the Gentry who in many places enclosed the common and waste grounds for their owne pleasure and private profit had incited them The Lords of the Counsaile vpon notice of the Peoples discontents and the probability of an Insurrection vnles speedy course were taken to appease them dispatched some into Kent the Fountaine of this generall Vprore who should vpon due examination of the causes of the Peoples grievances admonish those that were in that kinde faulty by throwing open the Inclosures to restore to the People what had beene vniustly taken from them otherwise they should be Authority Royall be forced therunto and by their punishments serve to deterre others from the like insolencies and oppressions The most part obey and a most gratefull spectacle to the People cause their new made Inclosures to be againe laid open Wherwith Report acquainting the neighbouring Shires the vnruly multitude inraged that like restitution had not as yet beene made to them not expecting the necessary direction of the Magistrate but as if each one were authorized in his owne cause both to iudge of and revenge received iniuries taking armes levell the Dikes assert the inclosed Lands and give hope that there their fury would be at a stand But as the Sea having once transgressed the iust limits of it's shore by little and little eats it's way to an Inundation and is not but with excessive toile to be forced within it's vsuall bounds So these having once transcended the prescripts of the Lawes let themselves loose to all kinde of licentiousnesse over-run and spoile the Countrey murther those that favour not their proceedings and at length by the conflux of the baser sort and malcontents so increase their numbers that it was not to make head against them with small Forces And although this plague raged more in Norfolke-Shire then any where els yet had it so spred it's contagion over the most part of the Kingdome that it was scarce any where sincere and free from infection For the Counties of Kent Oxford Surrey Buckingham Essex Cambridge Yorke Lincolne but especially Devon and Somerset were imbroiled in these tumults In Norfolke only had twenty thousand assembled who now confident of their strength did no more talke of Inclosures but stretched their complaints to a higher straine as that The free-borne Commonalty was oppressed by a small number of Gentry who glut themselves with pleasure whiles the poore Commons wasted with daily labour do like pack-horses live in extreme slavery But howsoever the calamities incident to this present life may with a constant patience be endured the Soule is to be redeemed even with a thousand deaths Holy Rites established by antiquity are abolished new ones are autorized and a new forme of Religion obtruded To other evills death gives an end but if they suffer their soules to be contaminated and polluted by this kinde of impiety what thing is there that can equall them in miseries to whom the end of these present ones is but the beginning of some more horrid namely of the paines infernall which no death can ever terminate Why then should they not go to the Court and appoint the King yet in his minority new Counsailours removing those who now ruling as they list confound things sacred and prophane reguarding nothing els but the enriching of themselves with the publique Treasure that they may riot it amid the publique calamities This was the common complaint and resolution especially of the Devonshire Rebells who having among them made choice of their Chieftaines did indevour to vnite themselves with the rest of their fellow Rebells But to keepe them from ioyning Forces are dispatched some into Norfolke some into Devonshire For Norfolke are designed onely fifteene hundred vnder the conduct of the Marquis of Northampton who for a time bravely defended that spacious but weake City Norwich against the insolent Clownes But his small troupes being much diminished by the losse of the Lord Sheffeild and some others he was at last faine to quit the City to the Enemy who after spoile barbarously set it on fire and consumed a great part of the edifices This ill successe drave the Lords of the Counsaile to a more serious apprehension of the danger who therupon sent the Earle of Warwicke wi h more competent Forces who as he was an excellent Commander not only forced the Rebells to relinquish the City but also pressed them so hard in their retreat that he compelled them to fight They seeing a necessity of battaile imposed placed all their Captives for the most part Gentlemen manacled and chained togeather in front that they alone might beare the fury of the onset and dull both the swords and courages of the Royallists But their loyalty was not so ill recompenced as to suffer for it scarce any of them falling by the sword The Rebells were neverthelesse overthrowne and all either taken or slaine except a very few
Annales OF ENGLAND Containing the Reignes OF HENRY the Eighth EDWARD the Sixt. Queene MARY Written in Latin by the Right Honorable and Right Reverend Father in God FRANCIS Lord Bishop of Hereford Thus Englished corrected and inlarged with the Author's consent by MORGAN GODWYN Nec verbum verbo curabo reddere fidus Interpres HORAT LONDON Printed by A. Islip and W. Stansby 1630. The Translator to the READER THe Author's Preface hath occasioned mine Wherein it may be expected I should give a publique accompt of this action J had once otherwise resolved But it is the fashion And therefore know gentle Reader that Evill is oftimes the accidentall cause of Good Idlenesse invited me to the triall of my pen in some few loose sheets which my fancy converted to the private vse of a beloved friend Other end had J none Sithence the Reverend Author hath beene pleased to impose that as a serious taske which I had wantonly begun Nature commanded duty and obedience and so have J the glory of the time To be in print Sed dic Posthume de tribus capellis How doth the Authours Preface conduce to mine Why thus To many who perhaps will not at first consider that this worke is but a Translation or seeke advantages to expend their Censures his may seeme impertinent But let them know that these Annales were first written In gratiam Exterorum Res nostras noscendi cupidorum So much witnesseth the first Latin Edition Peruse it and finde it J am but an Interpreter of whom I hope thou wilt not expect a dictionary translation Neither quarrell the omission of some things the knowledge whereof is to our Natives so innate that now to insert them were as bad as to farce with tautologies and make this little volume nauseous Yet hath it lost nothing of its bulke whatsoeuer it hath of its splendour those defalcations being here and there in the course of the history supplied with not vnnecessary additions whereto the Authors approbation and consent was not wanting As for errours of the Presse blame the Printer not me If thou by this reape either profit or pleasure thanke the Author whose benefit it is that thou hast it and that not tongue-tied but more then single-languaged Good is of it selfe diffusive and he participates so much of it that he cannot indevour an envious confinement of it Farewell The Translators Dedication TO THE RIGHT Honourable the Lord SCVDAMORE Viscount SLEGO My Lord ALthough I haue ever been averse from works of this nature as desirous to know them in the Originall rather then in any after-taught language yet have I not vn willingly vndergone the taske of this Translation It is an English History ofthose turbulent times whereof no one hath written either so largely or freely as this Authour who intended it for the common good whereof the meere English without these or the like paines of some other would have beene incapable Your Lordship hath knowne it in the Latine which tongue you have naturalized VVherefore this Dedication may seeme needles But it is due to You as the worke of your servant in which reguard it craves your Honorable Patronage It hath hitherto walked vnder Royall Protection Other would not have befitted the Authour of this ingenuous History by the exemplified miseries whereof the busie Spirits of these times may learne rightly to deeme of our moderne happinesse But even small grievances in any Part make vs insensible of the generall good estate of the whole VVe wil be ignorant of our good and vnhappy As for these Annales they have long passed with approbation If they now distast let the fault be the Translatours and the Pardon Yours to whom alone my maiden pen sueth for favour and to whose service dedicateth himselfe Your Honours most humbly devoted MORG GODWYN The Authors Epistle Dedicatory TO MY MOST Gracious Soveraigne CHARLES King of Great Britaine France and Irland The most inviet Defender of the FAITH Most Royall Sir THese Commentaryes containing the Acts of three Princes began about some ten yeares since vnder the Protection of Your most August Father to breath the common aire and but for so Gracious an Aspect had suffered even at the instant of their birth For the errours of the Presse had made them such as might have deterred even extreme impudence from so presumptive a Dedication Yet such as they were they found Acceptance and Favour at His Royall Hands Hence am I incouraged to consecrate this second but corrected Edition to Your Maiesty VVho inherit as well Your Father's Vertues as his Kingdomes Neither indeed can it befit any other after King JAMES of ever Sacred Memory Most humbly therefore beseecheth Your Maiesty to daigne it the like Gratious Acceptance who with the same loyalty and observance dedicateth and consecrateth to Your Majestie himselfe and his Your Maiesties most humble Chaplaine FR HEREF d THE AVTHOVRS PREFACE TO the Reader AMong the many who have in Latin compiled the History of our Nation Polydore Virgill in the opinion of most excelleth not that hee hath written either more truly or copiously then many others but more politely andlatest of any that have taken paines in this kinde For indeed it could not be that a Forainer an Italian well gone in yeares even at his first arrivall in England where being made Archdeacon of VVells he long survived not should not often erre in the delivery of our Affaires and in reguard of his meere ignorance in the English tongue in silence bury many worthy passages recorded by our English Writers only Jt being therefore to be wished and is much desired that some one versed in our Antiqnities would as learned Master Camden hath alreadie done for the description of the Island consecrate part of his learned labours to the Eternitie of Britaine not in reforming that obsolete Virgilian History but in composing a new one our Antiquaries may iustly be taxed of Slouth I had almost said slouthfulnesse who had rather suffer the famous Acts of their Ancestors to die eternally in silence and so as much as in them lieth defraud their Couutrey of its true and deserved Glory then bestow any the least paines in commenting that so the examples of most eminent Vertues whereof the harvest here hath ever beene most plentifull might not want the Record of their due Monuments This J hope some or other will in good time performe In the meane time others drawing backe although I was never indued with such eloquence as that I should dare adventure the writing of an History but now especially vires vltra sortemque senectae when having passed the age of fifty long desuetude may have dulled my faculty of penning yet have I thought it might prove paines-worthy to vndertake briefly in three small Commentaries to set forth the deeds of three Princes immediate Successors to Henry the Seventh so far forth as I have had notice of them And that partly that by tovching at the fountaine as they say J might
stir vp the wits of others partly that the desires of Forainers might in some sort be satisfied who not without cause complaine that these times then which for a thousand yeares wee have had none more memorable in reguard of their divers and remarkable changes are not described by any otherwise then slightly and as if they they had not intended any such thing As for Polydore Virgill he hath written either nothing or very little concerning them and that little so false and misbeseeming the ingenuitie of an Historian that he seemeth to have aimed at no other end then by bitter invectives against Henry the Eighth and Cardinall Wolsey to demerit the favour of Queene Mary already more then befitted incensed against both for the Divorce of her Mother J have therefore written friendly Reader and so written that although many things I will not deny conducing to an Historian may be wanting in me yet am I confident that this my endeuour will finde acceptance with many Other Writers may here have as it were a store-house from whence they may if I be not deceived furnish themselves with some matter which may helpe to raise an everlasting monument Forainers also ignorant of the English tongue may have a taste of these times vnvntill some one arise who can and will compile a History of our Nation worthy the maiestie of the British name J have in this worke beene so observant of Jmpartiality Simplicity and Truth that I feare nothing so much as a Domestique anger for not being pious enough because I would not be over-pious Many contend that a good Prince should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This I thinke no man will affirme of an Historian though some seeme to opine it So that he shall come short of his duty either to God or his Countrey who in the delivery of an History will not be at the least 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and who by affirming incertainties and knowne truthes shall not yeild much to his affections so they be ioined with the love of Religion and Countrey But how much do they inure Truth who from lies and falshood beg helpes to vnderprop her Avant We have no need of them And had we yet would it not much profit vs to rely on such weake advantages one pious lye detected proving more hurtfull then a thousand others although so artificially contrived that they avoid discovery can prove profitable For example whereof seeke no farther then the Papists whose fained miracles impostures and Legends patched vp of lyes have brought to passe that even in those things which are true they scarce gaine beliefe Wherfore I am well content that Truth which maugre her enemies will at length be every where victorious shall prevaile with me J have done to my power Politely eloquently politiquely I could not write Truly and fide Atticâ as they say I could If I have done amisse in ought it is not out of malice but errour which the gentle Reader will I hope pardon This â—ernestly intreate withall beseeching the All-good and All-mighty God that this my labour directed to no other end then to his glory and the good of his Church may attaine its due and by me desired successe Farewell Regem dedi iratus eis J. Cecill sculp ANNALES OF ENGLAND From the Yeare 1508. to the Yeare 1558. The first Booke AFter the death of HENRY the Seventh his only Sonne HENRY Prince of Wales vndertooke the government of this Kingdome He had then attained to the age of eighteene yeares and was richly adorned with endowments both of Bodie and Mind For of Stature he was tall of a beautifull Aspect and of Forme through all his age truly beseeming a King hee was wittie docile and naturally propense to Letters vntill pleasures to which the libertie of Soueraigntie easily prompteth did somewhat vnseasonably withdraw him from his Studies to these you may addâ— a great Spirit aspiring to the glorie both of Foâ—titude and Munificence This towardlinesse was so seconded by the happie care of his Tutors that if the end of his Raigne had beene answerable to the beginning HENRY the Eighth might deservedly haue beene ranked amongst the greatest of our Kings For if you consider his first twentie yeares you shall not easily find any one that either more happily managed affaires abroad or gouerned more wisely at home or that bare greater sway among his Neighbour Princes This I thinke ought chiefly to be ascribed to the prouidence of his wise Father and his Grandmother then still aliue For they tooke care that he should haue wise and vertuous Ouer-seers in his youth by whose assistance hauing once passed the hazards thereof he happily auoided those rockes whereon so many daily suffer wracke But these either dying or being so broken with age that they could bee no longer imployed in affaires of State and He himselfe being now come to those yeares that commonly cast aside modestie Modestie I say the Guardian of that great Vertue then making vse of no Counsellour but his will he fell into those vices which notwithstanding the glorie of his former Raigne branded him deeply with the fowle staines of Luxurie and Crueltie But remitting those things to their proper places those Worthies appointed his Counsailours were William Warham Archbishop of Canterburie and Lord Chancelour of England Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester Thomas Ruthall Bishop of Durham Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey Lord Treasurer of England George Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold Charles Somerset Lord Chamberlaine Knights Sir Thomas Louell Knights Sir Henrie Wyat Knights Sir Edward Poynings These men the solemnitie of the dead Kings Funerals being duly and magnificently performed erected him a Tombe all of brasse accounted one of the stateliest Monuments of Europe which one would hardly conceiue by the bill of accompts For it is reported that it cost but a thousand pound The Monument is to be seene at Westminster the vsuall place of our Kings Interments in that admirable Chappell dedicated to Saint Stephen by this King heretofore built from the ground a testimonie of his religious pietie I haue read that this Chappel was raised to that height for the summe of fourteene thousand pounds and no more and that he at the same time built a Ship of an vnusuall burthen called from him The great Henrie which by that time it was rigged cost little lesse then that stately Chappell But now O HENRY what is become of that Ship of thine that other worke besides the reward of Heauen will perpetually proclaime thy pious munificence Hence learne ô Kings that the true Trophies of Glorie are not to be placed in Armories and Arsenalls but and those more durable in pious Workes Seeke first seeke the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and without doubt all other things shall be added vnto you But to goe on in my proposed course although HENRY the Eighth began his Raigne the two and twentieth of April
greatest note that accompanied him were richly rewarded and all being dismissed with many thankes safely returned home In their absence MARGARET Duchesse of Sauoy who was Daughter to the Emperour MAXIMILIAN and Gouernesse of the Netherlands vnder CHARLES the Infant of Spaine preuailed with our King for the like number of Archers shee hauing then wars with the Duke of Gueldres against whom she meant to imploy them These men in the space of fiue moneths did many braue exploits at Brimnost Aske and Venloo vnder the command of Sir EDWARD POâ—NINGS a braue Souldier and in great fauour with his Prince Of them fourteene hundred returned home much commended and well rewarded the fortune of warre had cut off one hundred Foure Captaines in regard of their valour were Knighted by the Infant CHARLES afterwardes Emperour viz. IOHN NORTON IOHN FOG IOHN SCOT and THOMAS LYND The King of Scots had then warre with the Portugall vnder pretext whereof one ANDREW BARTON a famous Pirat tooke all ships that coasted either England or Scotland affirming them alwayes to bee Portugals of what Nation soeuer they were or at least fraught with Portugall marchandise The King sent EDWARD HOWARD Lord Admirall of England and his brother the Lord THOMAS HOWARD eldest sonne to the Earle of Surrey with one IOHN HOPTON to take this Rouer When they had once found him out after a long and bloudie fight they tooke him aliue but mortally wounded with his two ships and all his companions that survived the fight and brought them to London Anno Dom. 1512. Reg. 4. AS yet our HENRY had no warre with any forraine Prince neither did the wiser sort wish that he should haue any But hee a young King in the heat of one and twentie yeares was transported with a vehement desire of warre which saith the Prouerbe is sweet to them that neuer tasted of it Although he had about a yeare or two before made a League with LEWIS the Twelfe of France yet hee was easily entreated by Pope IVLIVS â—o renounce this Confederacie This Pope more like to that CAESAR whose Name hee bare the PETER from whom he would faine deriue his Succession that like another NERO sitting still hee might from on high be a spectator while the whole world was on fire had written Letters to our King wherein hee entreated his assistance towards the suppression of the French who without feare of God or man these were the pretended causes had not only sacrilegiously laid hold on the reuenues of the Church had caused Cardinall WILLIAM to vsurpe the Papacie had vpheld ALFONSO of Ferara and the Bentivogli in rebellion against him but had also farther decreed to make Italy the Theater of his tyrannie Wherefore he coniured him by the Loue of our Saâ—ionr by the Pietie of his Ancestors whose aides were neuer wanting when the Church stood in need and by the fast tie of Filiall Obedience that hee would enter into the Holy League of the Estates of Italy who had made choice of him for their Generall Iealousie and Reuerence to the Sea of Rome so prevailed with Him that hee easily condiscended to the Popes request Yet that he might some way colour his action hee would needs interpose himselfe as Vmpier betweene the Pope and the French whom by his Embassadours hee entreates to lay aside armes withall not obscurely threatning that if he did not so he intended to vndertake the defence of the Pope against him the common disturber of the peace of Christendome The French set light by this Wherefore warre is proclaimed by a Herald the French King commanded to part with the Kingdome of France and the Duchies of Normandie and Aquitaine which hee without right vniustly vsurped Then entring into League with MAXIMILIAN the Emperour the Arragonois and the Pope they consult of assaulting the French with ioint forces The Arragonois invites vs into Spaine that thence we might invade France promising besides certaine troupes of Horse store of Artillery Waggons for carriage Munition and many other things necessary for such an Expedition Our King relying on his Father in law his promises levies a great Armie whereof he ships onepart for Spaine and employes the other by Sea EDWARD HOWARD Lord Admirall had charge of the Sea forces who fought with the French Fleet in the Bay of Bretatgne In which fight there was no memorable thing done besides the combate of the two great ships the one having seven hundred English in it vnder the command of Sir THOMAS KNEVET the other nine hundred French vnder PRIMAVGET a Briton These ships being both fast grapled after a long fight fell both on fire and were vtterly consumed not a man being saved of whom it might bee learned whether this fire happened by chance or were purposely kindled by a forced despaire Our other Army vnder the command of the Lord THOMAS GRAY Marquis of Dorset amongst ten thousand tall English souldiers had fiue hundred Germanes vnder one GVINT a Flemming This Armie landed in Biscay where they spent some moneths in expectation of due performances from the Arragonois who feeding them with promises only tempered the heat of our men who were very eager vpon the march for France It hapned that GASTON of Foix Competitor for the Kingdome with IOHN King of Navarre died about the same time The Navarroâ—s had promised FERDâ—NAND some aides toward this warre But now fearing no Competitor hee whether out of inconstancie or that he thought his affaires so required secretly by his Agents makes a League with the French Vpon this FERDINAND turnes his Armes vpon the Navarrois and straines all his strings to draw our men to the same attempt but the Marquis of Dorset pleaded his Commission beyond which hee could not with safetie proceed The Navarrois was vtterly vnprouided and the Nobilitie so divided into the factions of the Egremonts and the Beaumonts that he could doe nothing It was bruited that two mighty Kings came against him with no lesse forces what should hee doe to hope from France were vaine the French were too farre off and deeply engaged in other warres At the approach of the Spantard hee quits his Kingdome and with his Wife and Children flying over the Pyrenean mountaines makes Beaâ—ne his receptacle FERDINAND having thus gotten a new Kingdome casts off all farther thought of â—rance onely intending the confirmation of his conquest to which end hee intreates of HENRY the helpe of our forces raised for France and prevailes but to no purpose For the English having their bodies inflamed with the intolerable heate of a strange climate and the drinking of strong wines dropâ— downe every where insomuch that we lost about a thousand some say of eighteene hundred men in an instant Wherefore impatient of farther delay they force their Commanders to set saile homeward The King was mightily enraged at their returne insomuch that hee once thought to haue punished them for their obstinacie but the multitude of Delinquents proved a
hee saw into what straights our King was likely to driue the French being weake if he would pressehard vpon him and pierce farther into the Kingdome although hee were a profest enemie to the French yet was he iealous of our prosperous proceeding and therefore by all meanes perswaded HENRY to dismantle Therouenne and thence to proceed to the siege of Tournay Hee blamed him not without iust cause for his late setting forth Summer being first welâ—neere spent Winter was now at hand when it would not quit cost to maintaine such an Armie good desigues being not then to bee put in execution Hee told him that Therovenne was so farre from him that it could not bee kept without great difficultie therefore hee should doe well to dismantle it that it might not hereafter serue for a Bulwarke to the Eenemie That Tournay was a French Citie but like an Island with the Sea surrounded with Flanders and Hainault and farre divided from the rest of France True it was that it was well stored with inhabitants and not meanly fortified but that there was no other Garrison then of Citizens and these hee should finde effeminate and for provision that they had none Hee should therefore make speed and come on them vnawares and with a few dayes siege force them to yeild That the French King if hee intended to succour them must first march through all Henault and passe over two or three great Riuers amongst which were the Escaut and the Scarpe That the Souldiers should finde good booties there and the King himselfe the triumph of a most assured conquest That the addition of such a Citie would bee no meane increase of his Dominions and so much the lesse care to bee taken of it for as much as it would bee as easie for him to keepe it in obedience as it was for the French for the space of so many yeares to defend it being placed amidst so many Enemies that still had a greedie eye over it King HENRY by this time had so much of Warre that hee began to bee wearie of the toyle thereof and to cast his minde on the pleasures of the Court Wherefore although hee wanted not Counsailors for the best hee followed the Emperours advice as being the more easie The Flemmings who begged it of the King had leave to rase the walls of Therouenne to fill the ditches and to burne all the buildings except the Church and the Chanons houses which they in regard of the dissensions vsuall to bordering Nations very gladly performed Therouenne being thus taken and destroyed away they march with all speed to Tournay indevouring by their celeritie to prevent the fame of their comming But the Citizens suspecting some such enterprise had fortified themselves as well as the shortnesse of time would permit them and the Peasants thereabouts bring all their goods into the Citie as to a place of safeguard The Citie was of no great circuit yet at the beginning of the siege it contained fourescore thousand people By reason whereof victuals quickly began to faile them and they could no way hope for reliefe The French King was farre off they had no Garison the Citizens bad Souldiers two great Princes had begirt the Towne with fifâ—ie thousand men but they had an Enemy within called Famine more cruell and insupportable then both So having for some few dayes held out the siege the nine and twentieth of September their lives being granted them they yeild and to saue themselves from spoile pay a hundred thousand Crownes The King makes them sweare Fealty to him and appoints Sir EDWARD POYNINGS a Knight of the Garter their Governour Next hee gives order for store of warlike provision puts in a small Garison and builds a Cittadell for the confirmation of his conquest Neither amongst these politique affaires did he neglect those of the Church For the Bishop being proscribed hee conferres the Sea with all the revenues vpon THOMAS WOLSEY of whose first rising and immoderate power we shall have much occasion to speake hereafter All things being thus ordered because Winter came on apace hee beganne to bethinke himselfe of returning with his Armie into England This thought so farre pleased him that having beene absent scarce foure monethes hee tooke ship and about the end of October came home triumphing in the glory of a double conquest By the way hee was entertained with the newes of another victorie the Lord HOWARD Earle of Surrey having vnder his Fortune slaine the King of Scots The King of France being encumbred with many warres had coniured IAMES the Fourth King of Scots by the ancient Lawes of Amitie and the late League made betweene them that Hee would not forsake him intangled in so many difficulties If Hee regarded not his friends case yet Hee should at least looke to himselfe for whom it would not bee safe to suffer a bordering Nation alwayes at enmitie with Him by such additions to arise to that height of power The King of England busied with a foraine warre was now absent and with Him the flower of the English Chivalrie Hee should therefore forthwith take Armes and trie to recover Berwicke an especiall towne of the Scottish Dominions but for many yeares withheld by the English He would easily be victorious if He would but make vse of this occasion so happily offered It could not be but this warre would bee for His Honour and profitable to His Friend if not to Himselfe He should thereby also make knowne to His Enemies that the Scottish Armes were not to bee contemned whose former victories a long and to them hurtfull peace had obscured and buried in oblivion among the English As for the charges of it Hee need not bee troubled for that Hee would afford Him fiftie thousand Crownes towards the providing of Munition and Ordinance These reasons so preuailed with the yong King covetous of glory that notwithstanding he had lately made a League with our King whose Sister hee had married and her vehement dissuasions he proclaimed warre against HENRY which proved fatall to him bloudie to his and the cause of many ensuing calamities So having raised a great Armie hee breakes into our Marches and besiegeth Norham Castle belonging to the Bishop of Durham the which having held out sixe dayes was at last yeilded vnto him Thence hee removes his Campe to Berwicke wasting all the Countrey as hee marcht with fire and sword The newes whereof are brought vnto them to whom the governement of the Kingdome was committed in the absence of the King and a leuy being made through all the North parts of the Kingdome Alnewike is appointed the rendez-vous where all the troupes should meete at a set day that thence they might set forward against the Enemie vnder the conduct of the Lord THOMAS HOWARD Earle of Surrey Among the first to his Fathers great ioy comes the Earles Sonne THOMAS Lord Admirall leading a veterane troupe of fiue thousand men of tried valour and
MAGDALEN Colledge and afterward became Master of the free Schoole thereto belonging Among other schollers the sonnes of the Marquis of Dorset were committed to his trust and for his care ouer them the Paâ—sonage of Limington in Somersetshire no verie meane one was bestowed on him As soone as he had set footing there he was very disgracefully entertained by Sir AMIAS POWLET who clap't him in the stockes a punishment not vsually inflicted vpon any but beggars and base people What the matter was that so exasperated him against WOLSEY a man not of least account I know not This I know that WOLSEY beeing afterward made Cardinall and Lord Chancellor of England so grieuously punished this iniurie that Sir AMIAS POWLET was faine to dance attendance at London some yeares and by all manner of obsequiousnesse to currie fauour with him There remaines to this day a sufficient testimonie her of in a building ouer the gate of the middle Temple in London built by the Knight at the time of his attendance there decked round about very sumptuously with the Cardinalls Armes hoping thereby somewhat to alay the wrath of the incensed Prelate But these things were long after this yere WOLSEY whether that hee could not brooke this disgrace or bearing a minde that look't beyond this poore Benefice left it and became domestique Chaplaine to Sir IOHN NAFANT Treasurer of Calais by whose meanes hee was taken notice of by FOX Bishop of Winchester a man that knew rightly how to iudge of good wits He finding this young man to be verie â—prightfull of learning sufficient and verie actiue in dispatch of affaires so highly commended him to king HENRY the Seuenth who relied much vpon FOXES faith and wisedome that hee thought it good forthwith to imploy him in affaires of great moment What need many words he so far pleased the King that in short time he became a great man and was first prefer'd to the Deanrie of Lincolne and then made the Kings Almoner But HENRY the Eighth a young Prince comming to the Crowne was wholly taken with his smooth tongue and pliable behauiour For when all the rest of his friends aduised Him to sit euerie day in person at the Counsell Table that so by experience and daily practise He might reape wisedome and to accustome Himselfe to the managing of affaires of Estate WOLSEY aduised Him to follow His pleasures saying That His youth would not be able to brooke their tedious Consultations euerie Age of man had its Seasons and Delights agreeable They did not do well that would force the King to act an Old Man before His time Youth being vtterly auerse from wrinckled Sâ—ueritie It would come to passe hereafter if God were so pleased that what was now troublesome to him would not be disagreeable to riper Yeares nay prooue perhaps a great pleasure Vntill that time came He should enioy the present and not by hearkening to others needlesse persuasions any way interrupt the course of that felicitie which the largenesse of His Dominions would easily affoord Him He should hawke and hunt and as much as Him list vse honest recreations If so bee Hee did at any time desire suddenly to become an Old Man by intermedling with Old Mens Cares He should not want those meaning himselfe that would in the euening in one or two wordes relate vnto Him the effect of a whole daies Consultation This speech hitting so pat with the Kings humour made WOLSEY so powerfull that whereas the King before fauored him as much as any other he onely was now in fauour with and next the King with whon e there was nothing to bee done but by him For he was the man that was made choice of who like another MERCVRY should passe betweene this our IOVE and the Senate of the lesser Gods offering their petitions to Him and to them returning his pleasure therein Wherefore he was euen at the first sworne of the Priuie Counsell and besides the late collation of Tournay vpon the death of SMITH he was also made Bishop of Lincolne In the gouernement of which Church he had not fully spent six moneths before he was translated from Lincolne to the Archbishopricke of Yorke then vacant by the death of Cardinall BAMBRIDGE at Rome Shortly after that I may at once shew all his honors WILLIAM WARHAM Archbishop of Caterâ—urie leauing the place he was by the King made Lord Chancellor of England and by the Pope Legate a latere Yet he stayed not there but as if the Archb shopricke of Yorke and the Chancellorship of England had not beene sufficient to maintaine the port of a Cardinall besides many other lâ—uings he procured of the King the Abbey of Saint Albanes and the Bishopricke of Bath and Wells And not content with these leauing Bath and Wells he addeth the Bishopricke of Durham to that of Yorke and then leauing Durhamâ—eazeth â—eazeth on Winchester at that time of greatest reuenue of any Bishopricke in England You now see WOLSEY in his height rich his Princes Fauourite and from the bottom raised to the top oâ— Fortunes wheele What became of him afterward you shall know hereafter Anno Dom. 1515. Reg. 7. THe League lately made with LEWIS the French King was confirmed by FRANCIS his Successor and published by Proclamation in London the ninth day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1516. Reg. 8. BVt the French King hauing taken into his protection the young King of Scots sent IOHN STVART Duke of Albanie in Scotland to be Gouernour both of the kings Person and kingdome The first thing this Duke vndertook was either to put to death or banish those whom he any way suspected to fauor the English Insomuch that the Queene Dowager who by this time was matried to ARCHIBALD DOVGLIS Earle of Aagus forced to saue herselfe by flight came into England to her Brother with whom she stayed at London a whole yeare the Earle her husband after a moneth or two without leaue returning into Scotland King HENRY being displeased at these French practises deales vnderhand with the Emperour MAXIMILIAN with whome the French then contended for the Dutchie of Milane and lends him a great summe of money whereby he might hire the Suisâ—es to aid him in the expelling the French out of Italie But the Emperour although he had leuied a sufficient Armie returned home without doing any thing He was indeed accompted a wise Prince but vnhappy in the managing of his affaires whether it were that Fortune waiwardly opposed him or that he was naturally slow in the execution of his wel plotted designes But shortly after hee intendes a second triall of his Fortune Wherefore by his Embassadour the Cardinall of Suisserland hee yet boroweâ— more mony of the King which was deliuered to certaine Merchants of Genua to bee by a set day payed to the Emperour in Italie But they whether corrupted by the French or not of sufficient abilitie to make returne deceiued him and so his second designes vanished also into
This THOMAS surnamed BECKET hauing obstinatly opposed HENRY the second was in this Church slain by certaine soldiers and being afterward canonized for a Saint his sepulchre mightily encreased the glory of the place For from those times euen almost to our dayes all sorts of people from all parts of Europe superstitiously frequented the Shrine of this vpstart Saint with rich oblations indeuoring to procure his fauor Hence the Monastery was so inriched that of it and the Church ERASMVS said That euery place was enlightened with the lustre of most pretious and huge stones and the Church throughout abounded with more than Royall Treasure But the Shrine especially that contained the reliques of this Saint was so embossed with jewels that gold was the meanest thing about it Hither accompanied with King HENRY came the Emperor CHARLES but whether out of deuotion or curiositie I cannot say But this is certaine that the Cardinall and the Clergie going in procession to the Church they went directly where a great deale of time was spent in Ceremonious worship and ablations at BECKETS Tome not onely by the Emperour but euen by Him who shortly after defaced the Monument and seised vpon that infinite Treasure heaped vp by the deuout follie of many preceding ages From the Church they went to the Archbishops Palace where the Queene Aunt to the Emperour awaited them and very ioyfully welcommed her Nephew Three dayes were spent in banketing pastimes and then the Emperour went to his Nauy at Sandwich the King and Queene to Douer from whence they passed to Calais that the intended interuiew of the two Kings might worke it's due effects The seuenth of Iune was the appointed day The place betweene Ardres and Guisnes There the two Kings mounted on Spanish Gennets attended by such a multitude of Nobilitie as the occasions of a hundred yeres before had not at once brought together the like incountred each other both in the floure of their age the goodliest Princes of the world and most expert in all kinde of combates both on horse and foot It were needlesse to set forth the magnificence of these Princes when the brauerie of their attendants was such that the place was thence named The golden campe Hauing embraced each other on horseback they alight and betake themselues to a Pauilion there purposely pitched HENRY attended on by the Cardinall of Yorke and the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke FRANCIS by the Admirall BONIVET the Chancellour du PRAT and some other Counsellors Hauing had familiar conference concerning some priuate matters they gaue order for erecting a Theater and enclosing a ground for a Tilt-yard that so they might solace themselues whiles their Counsell treated of grauer matters the conclusion whereof they might at leisure euery day know by relation Fourteene dayes these Princes gaue each other the meeting with great concourse of most famous soldiers HENRY then entertained the French King at Guisnes in a house made of timber framed partly in England partly in Holland and thence brought thither wherein there were foure Mansions The out side was couered with cloth so painted that it would haue deceiued the beholders for squared stone the in side was hung with most rich Arras so that it euery way seemed a most artificiall and stately Building The forme of it was much like that of the Exchange at Calais It being afterward taken asunder was transported into England and so stood the King in little or nothing saith BELLAY Whereas wee know and that by Records that there were sent ouer out of England for this Worke three hundred Masons six hundred Carpenters two hundred Painters Glasiers and other Artificers in all eleuen hundred which for the space of two moneths laboured continually on this fabricke The day ensuing the French King prepares a banquet the banqueting house was a Canopy euery way extended sixtie foot which without was couered with cloath of Tissue within with blew velvet pouldred with golden floures de Lys. At each corner was a Pauilion of the same workes the cords were of blew silke twisted with gold of Cyprus which was of great esteeme But a most impetuous and tempestuous winde broke asunder the cords and laid all this brauerie in the dirt Patience par force The French King suddenly makes another banquetting house in that place where there is now a Fort that takes it's name from this banquet The preparations were extraordinary and the magnificence outstripped the reach of humane iudgement There wanted neither houses woods nor fields for disport for many men brought them entire on their backes But pleasures must haue their intermission and Kings if not by their Greatnesse are by their Affaires seuered HENRY therefore returnes to Calais and FRANCIS to Boloigne The tenth of the ensuing moneth the King gallantly attended visited the Emperour at Graueling The Emperour in requitall accompanied him backe to Calais Shewes and banquets are Princes vsuall entertainments To this end the King so commanding a round building is made in the forme of an Amphiteatre eight hundred foot in compasse The sides were of plankes in the middle was a pillar made of eight great masts tied together This pillar supported the weight not onely of the roofe of the whole fabricke whither as into a lower Heauen the Moone and Stars had descended but Organs also and places for the receipt of all sorts of musicke in aboundance These places were adorned with tapestrie statues and curious pictures insomuch that the most fault finding could not complaine of any want in that kinde All things were now prepared for the entertainment of such a guest and the banquet readie to be serued in when the same mischance that befel the French Canopy made our English Heauen and Earth meet together God as displeased with the mad prodigality of these two Kings sent a tempest the violence whereof scattered this counterfeit heauen blew out aboue a thousand wax tapers defaced the glorious thrones prepared for these Princes frustrated the expectation of the people and forced the King to the necessitie of another place But to lec passe the tilting maskes and gorgeous feasts during the six dayes the Emperor stayed at Calais In these seueral enterviewes betweene all these Princes there was no one serious thing done but this that a firme Peace a perpetuall League faithfull Friendship seemed to be concluded on all sides For who would haue thought that it had been possible for discord it selfe to haue disolued this knot where CHARLES FRANCIS attributed so much to HENRY that they made him Vmpier of all controuersies that should arise betweene thē But that there is seldom any heed to be giuen to the Agreements of Princes where they are tied by no other bands as of Religion Affinity or manifest Vtility than that weake one of their plighted Troth those foule dissentions and bloudy wars which afterwards rent all Christendome and opened a way for that cōmon enemy of our Faith may be a sufficient example
The Emperor after all these passages of courtesy humanity departs toward Graueling mouÌ„ted on a braue horse couered with a foot cloth of cloth of gold richly beset with stones which the King had giuen him He would often speak of his Aunts happinesse that was matcht to so magnificent a Prince The King staied some few days after at Calais from whence passing to Douer he with all his traine arriued safe at London I cannot but enuy their happines who in so little time saw 3 the mightiest Monarchs in Christendom who for their exploits the great alterations happening vnder each of theÌ„ will without doubt be famous through all succeeding Ages Anno Dom. 1521. Reg. 13. EDWARD STAFFORD Duke of Buckingham was about this time arraigned of high Treason He was discended of a Family which whether it was more antient or noble is questionable He deriued himself by a direct line froÌ„ ROBERT de Stafford to whom WILLIAM the Conquerour gaue large revenues which his posterity greatly inlarged by matching with the heires female of many noble Families By the Lady ANNE daughter to THOMAS of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester who was Brother to EDWARD the Third hee participated of the Bloud Royall The first honourable title of the Family was of Lord Stafford the next of Earle of Stafford as was EDMVND that married the daughter to THOMAS of Woodstocke HVMFREY son to EDMVND was created Duke of Buckingham by HENRY the Sixt who left that Honor to his son HVMFREY who was grandfather to this EDWARD by his son HENRY the third Duke How HENRY assisted the Vsurper RICHARD the Third in oppressing EDWARD the Fifth how he after conspired with the Earle of Richmond afterwards HENRY the Seuenth against the Vsurper but was cut off by the Tyrant before he could bring any thing to passe the histories of those times declare EDWARD his son restored to Bloud Dignities by HENRY 7. for his discent wealth and Honors inferior to none but the King not content with this was by N. HOPKINS a Charterhouse Monke induced to beleeue that Heauen had decreed to cut off K. HENRY after whose death he should raigne and the Crowne be for euer established on his posterity This the Monke affirmed God the Gouernour of all things had reuealed vnto him He further aduised him by liberality aud curtesy to win the minds of the people for the time was at hand wherein this should certainly come to passe if it were not through his owne default The Duke no sot but blinded by ambition gaue such credit to the Monke who was either mad or else flattered him in hope of reward that although the time prefixed for these miracles were past yet was he still in hope fed the Impostor with gifts who fed him with aire secretly vilified the King and gaue profusely to all Nay he could not forbeare but at longth he must brag of the Iuglers promises as hee did to a gentleman named CHARLES KNEVET to whom he boldly vnmasked himselfe and gaue a reason of his actions Vpon KNEVETS accusation he was arraigned condemned the thirteenth of May and on the seuenteenth publiquely beheaded His death was lamented by many the rather for that he was no way faulty but in his vanity and pride which ouerthrew him Being a childe I haue heard antient men say that by his brauery of apparell and sumptuous feasts he exasperated the King with whom in these things he seemed to contend But he could by no meanes beare with the intolerable pride of the Cardinall whose hatred not improbably prooued fatall vnto him rather than did the Kings displeasure for many times Princes are with lesse danger offended than their Mignons There goes a tale That the Duke once holding the basen to the King the Cardinall when the King had done presently dipped his hands in the same water the Duke disdaining to debase himselfe to the seruice of a Priest shed the water in his shoos The Cardinall therewith incensed threatned him That he would fit vpon his skirts The Duke to shew that hee slighted his threats withall that the King might take notice of the Cardinalls malice came the next day to Court richly as he vsually was apparelled but without skirts to his dublet The King many others demanding what he meant by that strange fashion he answered readily That it was done by way of preuention for the Cardinall should not now sit vpon his skirts Hee thought he had put a jest vpon the Cardinal to whose informations as proceeding from enuy and spleen he hoped the King would hereafter giue the lesse credit But he missed his marke for most men were of opinion that the Cardinalls malice crushed him rather than did the weight of his owne offences It was the saying of CHARLES the Emperor vpon the report of his death That the Butchers Dog had killed the fairest Hart of England Howsoeuer it came to passe the king who had hitherto ruled without bloudshed induced by the former reasons so the Records run permitted his hands to be stained with the bloud of this poore Prince many lamenting that the indiscreet credulity of one man hauing not attempted ought against the Estate should be the ouerthrow of so noble a Family If I might lawfully pry so far into Gods iudgements which are indeed inscrutable I would be bold to impute the punishment of the Sonne to the Fathers treachery who conspired with the Vsurper against his lawfull Prince EDW. 5. who by his assistance was depriued of his life and kingdome But forasmuch as that being touched in conscience hee manifestly repented this fact for seeking to oppresse the Tyrant whom he himselfe had raised he perished miserably the Diume Iustice I thinke so far regarded his repentance that his posterity are neuerthelesse Peeres of the Realme by the title of L. Stafford The first point of wisdome is not to run into error the next quickly to ameÌ„d it The King hauing written a booke against MARTIN LVTHER sent it as a Present to Pope LEO the Tenth This LEO not yet thirty eight yeares old was by the combination of the Iunior Cardinallâ— elected Pope In which dignity hee behaued himselfe according to his yeares profusely spending the treasures of the Church in hawking and hunting and other pleasures not deemed ouer honest Need began at length to pince him and money must be had Wherupon he resolues to make vse of his Keyes against the most subtill lockes and strongest bars euer yet held preualent Indulgences of all sorts without distinction of time or place must now publiquely be sâ—t to sale Saint Peters Church this was the pretence was out of repaire towards which a certaine summe of money giuen would purchase pardon of sinnes not onely for the Liuing but for the Dead also whose soules should thereby bee redeemed from the paines of Purgatorie But whatsoeuer was pretended euery one palpably saw that these Pardons were granted to get money for his owne reliefe And
silver There were two hundred and fourescore Beds the furniture to most of them being silke and all for the entertainment of Strangers onely Keturning to London we were on Saint MARTINS day invited by the King to Greenwich to a Banquet the most sumptuous that ever I beheld whether you consider the dishes or the Markes and Playes wherein the Ladie MARY the Kings Daughter acted a part To conclude the King and MONTMORENCY having taken the Sacrament together the King for himselfe MONTMORENCY in the behalfe of FRANCIS swore the observation of the League The King bestowed great gifts on euery one and dismissed MONTMORENCY who left the Bishop of Bayeux Leiger for his King to endevour the continuance of the amitie begun betweene these Princes Shortly after were sent into France Sir THOMAS BOLEN Viscount Rochfort and Sir ANTHONY BROWNE Knight who together with IOHN CLERRE Bishop of Bath and Wells Leiger in France should take the French King's Oath not to violate the late League in any part and to present him with the Order of the Garter We had now made France ours Nothing remained but to let the Emperour know the effects of the late Confederacy To this end Sir FRANCIS POINTZ and Clarentieux King at Armes are dispatched away to the Emperonr to demand the moitie of the bootie gotten in the battaile of Pavie and the Duke of Orleans one of the French Kings Sonnes left Hostage for his Father to be delivered to HENRY who had borne a share in the charges of that war and therefore expected to partake in the gaines To command him to draw his Army out of Italy and not to disturbe the peace of Christendome by molesting CHRIST'S Vicar This if he refused to do neither was there expectation of any thing else they should forthwith defie him They execute their Commission and perceiving nothing to be obtained Clarentieux and a certaine French Herald being admitted to the Emperous presence do in the names of both Kings proclaime war agaiust him CHARLES accepts it chearefully But the Embassadors of France Venâ—ce and Florence craving leave to depart are committed to safe custodie vntill it be knowne what is become of his Embassadours with these Estate The report hereof flies into England and withall that Sir FRANCIS POINTZ and Clarentieux were committed with the rest Whervpon the Emperour's Embassador is detained vntill the truth be knowne as it shortly was by the safe returne of them both But Sir FAANCIS POINTZ about the beginning of the next Summer died fudainly in the Court being infected with the sweating sicknesse The same happening to divers other Courtiers and the infection spreading it selâ—e over London the Terme was adiourned and the King faine to keepe a running Court But these were the accidents of the ensuing yeare Anno Dom. 1528. Reg. 20. POpe CLEMENT was of himselfe naturally slow but his owne ends made him beyond the infirmity of his nature protract time in this cause concerning the Kings Divorce Bearing himselfe as neuter betweene the Emperor and the French King hee makes them both become iealous of him And war being renewed in Italy hee perceives himselfe likely againe to become a prey to the Conquerour Which if it should happen hee must betake himselfe to the King of England of whose helpe hee was certaine as long as his cause did vncertainly hang in suspence But if hee should determine in the behalfe of the King would he in gratitude be as beneficiall as hope or feare of offending had made him That he much doubted These thoughts possessing the Pope CAESAR'S affaires in Italy began to decline almost all the Townes throughout the Realme of Naples out of hatred to the insolent Spaniard and affection to the French making offer of their Keyes and receiving Garisons of French CLEMENT therefore did not now much stand in awe of the Emperour much against whose minde he was intreated to send a Legate into England LAWRENCE CAMPEGIVS Cardinall and Bishop of Salisbury who together with the Cardinall of Yorke should have the hearing of this Cause so long controverted to no purpose And the more to testifie his affection to the King he did by a Decretall Bull but privately drawne pronounce the Kings marriage with CATHARINE to bee void This Bull was committed to the Legate with these instractions That having shewed it to the King and the Cardinall of Yorke Hee should withall signifie to them that he had authoritie to publish it but not to give sentence vntill hee received new instructions telling him that he was content the King should enioy the benefit of it and it may be hee was then so minded but that it stood him vpon to haue this businesse delayed vntill he had sufficiently secured himselfe from the Emperour These were the pretences of the old Fox to the Legate But his meaning was to make vse of all seasons and to turne with the weather The ninth of October to London comes the Legate the King having given order to the Citie for his solemne entertaiment But the old mans infirmitie frustrated their preparations hee was grievously tormented with the gout and would bee privately brought into the Citie After a few dayes rest carried in a chaire he was brought to the King's presence to whom his Secretary made a Latin Oration wherein having much complained of the extreme crueltie of the Imperials in the sacking of Rome he vsed many words to signifie that the Kings pious bounty shewed in his liberally relieving them in so needfull a season was most acceptable to the Pope and the whole Colledge of Cardinals To this speech EDWARD FOX afterward Bishop of Hereford returned an answere in Latine wherein he declared That his Maiestie was much grieved at his Holinesse calamitie forasmuch as man is naturally touched with a feeling of anothers miseries That He had not onely performed what could bee expected from him as a man but had also done the part of a friend for a friend and what was due from a Prince to CHRIST'S Vicar on earth He did therefore hope that in reguard of his filiall obedience to the Holy Sea if it should happen that He should stand in need of its assistance and authoritie his Holinesse would be pleased readily to grant those things which it might beseeme a Sonne to crave of the common Mother Thus much passed in publique The King and the Legates conferring in private CAMPEGIVS assured the King of the Popes forwardnesse to pleasure him CAMPEGIVS was indeed no bad man and spake truly what hee thought For CLEMENT knowing how difficult a matter it was to deceive a man that was no foole by one conscious of the guile and that was not deceiued himselfe made the Legate beleeue that in this matter of the Divorce hee would be readie to doe for the King whatsoeuer hee should demand After these passages the Legates spent sixe whole moneths in consultation only concerning their manner of proceeding in the Kings Divorce In the meane time the
shall not need to speake any thing of it WOLSEY being removed from the Chancellorship is presently after accused of Treason and that which hath beene seldome seene in the Parliament that so without hearing hee might be condemned by Act. But hee perceiving the drift of his Adversaries procured one of his attendants THOMAS CROMWELL hee who afterward became so potent to bee elected a Burgesse of the Lower House The Cardinall being daily informed by him what things were laid to his charge did by letter instruct him what to answer CROMWELL although no Scholler was very wise and eloquent Which good parts hee so faithfully imployed in the defence of his Lord that the House acquitted him and himselfe became famous opening withall by these meanes a way to those Honours to which the current of a few yeares aduanced him Even they who hated WOLSEY honoured CROMWELL whose wisdome industrie but above all fidelitie in defending his deiected Lord was admirable Now the Cardinall because he would not be found a Traitor is falne into a Praemunire Wherevpon he is thrust as it were naked forth his owne house his great wealth is seised on by the King's Officers and hee faine to borrow furniture for his house and money for his necessary expences Iudges are sent into the house whereto he was confined to take his answer to the obiected crime which was that without leave from the King hee had dared so many yeares to exercise his power Legatine To which calumny for can any man beleive it to be other Hee made this answer J am now sixty yeares old and have spent my dayes in his Maiesties service neither shunning paines nor indeavouring any thing more then next my Creatour to please Him And is this that hainous offence for which J am at this age deprived of my estate and forced as it were to beg my bread from doore to doore Jexpected some accusation of a higher straine as treason or the like not for that J know my selfe conscious of any such matter but that his Maiesties wisdome is such as to know it little beseemes the constancy magnanimity of a King for a slight fault to condemne and that without hearing an ancient servant for so many yeares next his Person greatest in his favour and to inflict a punishment on him more horrid then death What man is he who is so base minded that hee had not rather a thousand times perish then see a thousand men so many my Family numbreth of whose faithfull service hee hath bad long triall for the most part to perish before his eyes But finding nothing else obiected J conceive great hope that J shall as easily breake this machination of combined envy as was that late one against me in the Parliament concerning Treason It is well knowne to his Maiesty of whose iustice J am confident that I would not presume to execute my power Legatine before he had beene pleased to ratifie it by his Royall Assent given vnder his Seale which notwithstanding I cannot now produce that and all my goods as you well know being taken from me Neither indeed if I could would J produce it For to what end should I contend with the King Go therefore and tell his Maiesty that I acknowledge all that J have but alasse what speake J of what I have Who indeed have nothing left me or whatsoever I had to be derived from his Royall Bounty and do thinke it good reason that he should revoke his gifts if he thinke me vnworthy of them Why then do I not remit my cause to his Maiesties arbitrement at his pleasure to be either condemned or absolved To him then if you will have me acknowledge my fault behold I will make short worke for you I confesse it The King knowes my innocencie so that neither my owne confession nor the calumnies of my adversaries can deceiue him I am therefore content to confesse my selfe guilty His Maiesty from the fountaine of his naturall Clemency doth often derive the stremes of his mercy to the delinquent And I know though I should not desire it Hee will reguard my innocence Vpon his confession the penalty of the Law was forthwith inflicted only he was not as the Law requires committed to perpetuall imprisonment The furniture of his house of infinite value incredible store of plate great treasure had bin already seised to the King's vse There remained nothing but the Lands wherewith he intended to indow his Colledge the greatest part whereof were his owne purchase the rest were the demesnes of the demolished Monasteries These Lands amounted to above foure thousand pounds per annum and were all confiscated But God would not suffer so brave a work to perish The King afterward bestowed on the Colledge in Oxford called Christ Church revenues for the maintenance of a Deane eight Prebendaries a hundred Students twelue Chaplaines and Singing men and foure and twenty Almes men for which this Colledge acknowledgeth HENRY the Eighth for its Founder But the King arrogated to himselfe what was truly to be ascribed to the Gardinall Who was now in the case of the poore Mouse whom the Cat intends to devoure The King had marked him out for destruction yet permitted him to live but so as that he could never escape and yet never despaire of escaping Scarce any day throughout those few moneths passed wherein hee indured not something or other that would have animated a senselesse thing with anger neither was the Cardinall composed of patience yet did he never despaire His sorrowes were alwayes tempred with some mixture of ioy For he was often visited from the King but that very secretly and commonly by night often certified of the King's affection towards him in token whereof the Visitants did sometimes from the King present him with a Iewell or some such thing willing him to be of good comfort for that shortly they would assure him he should be raised to his former degree of favoâ—r and power Adversity at length prevailing hee fell into a disease from the extremiâ—ie whereof few expected his recouery And the King demanding of one of his Physicians whose patient the Cardinall was what disease WOLSEY had the Doctor replied What disease soever he hath if You desire his death You may be secure for I promise You he will not live to seâ— the end of three dayes more The King striking the table with his hand cried out I had rather loose twenty thousand pounds then he should die Make hast therefore you and as many other Physicians as are about the Court and by all meanes indeavour his recovery The Physician then certifying him that he was sicke more in minde then body the King dispatched away a Gentleman with a Ring which WOLSEY had formerly given to him willing him withall to tell the Cardinall that the King's anger was now past who was sorry that he had so long given eare to detraction and that he should shortly finde that the
declared void and incestuous and a Law enacted wherein all Appeales to Rome were forbidden and that none should stile CATHARINE other then Princesse of Wales and Widow or Dowager of Prince ARTHVR By vertue and authority of the same Law the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied with some other Bishops comming to Dunstable six miles from Ampthill where CATHARINE then resided caused her to be cited before Him next vnder the King chiefe Iudge in all Ecclesiasticall causes within the Province of Canterbury to shew what reasons could be alleaged why the marriage not lawfully contracted betweene the King and her should not be disanulled and pronounced impious incestuous and consequently void To these things by one of her servants she answered that it beseemed not the Archbishop to thrust his sickle into anothers harvest this Cause did yet depend vndecided before the Pope CHRIST'S Vicar on earth whose Decree she would obey and other Iudge would shee acknowledge none Being called fifteene dayes together and not appearing Shee is pronounced Contumax and for her contumacie separated from the Kings bed and company Wherevpon the Lady ANNE proclaimed Queene throughout the Kingdome on Easter eve shewed her selfe publiquely as Queene and was at Whits ontide crowned with as great pompe and solemnitie as ever was Queene The particulars I will let passe excepting that propheticall Disticke vpon one of the triumphant Arches purposely erected in London where shee was to passe Regina ANNA paris Regis de sanguine Natam Et paries populis aurea secla tuis In English ANNE thou a daughter bearest to our King And to thy people golden dayes shalt bring Wafers also with the same impression were throwne about saith STOW But I rather beleeve that this Disticke was made after the Queenes deliverie Whensoever it were hee that truely considers the feâ—icitie of the foure and fortie yeares raigne of this Queenes Daughter will thinke this Oracle could not proceed from any but a Delphian APOLLO For the Queene at the time of her Coronation was great with childe whereof the seventh of September shee was delivered at Greenwich which was that ever famous Queene ELIZABETH who after the death of her Brother and Sister so gloriously ruled this Kingdome The Pope was certified of all these passages that his authoritie in England was abrogated that the late Queene CATHARINE was put away that ANNE BOLEN as Queene was taken to the Kings bed that the King stiled himselfe Supreme Head of the Church of England that the Archbishop of Canterbury executed all those offices which formerly the Pope only did and that not as the Popes Legate but as Primate of England who vnder the King claimed chiefe authority in Ecclesiasticall affaires throughout his whole Province Wherwith being neâ—ed hee seemed to breath nothing but threats and revenge But knowing himselfe to have beene the motive of it and doubtfull of the event he was easily persuaded by the French King as yet not to proceed by excommunication against HENRY vntill he had made triall of some milder course Wherevpon FRANCIS by BELLAY Bishop of Paris entreates HENRY not to withdraw himselfe wholy from the obedience of Rome for as much as it was a matter of great danger Hee would therefore advise him once more by Embassadours to Rome to signifie that he was not vtterly averse from a râ—conciliation which if hee did hee made no doubt but all things would succeed to his minde HENRY was certaine of enioying his Love and let the Pope decree what he list was resolved to keepe her Hee had beene formerly abused by the Court of Rome and was loath to make farther triall of their dilatory proceedings Yet had BELLAY prevailed so faâ—re with him that Hee would be content once more to submit himselfe to the Church of Rome if hee could bee assured of the Popes intention to do him equity The Bishop conceiving some hopes of a peace although it were in the winter time goes himselfe to Rome gives the Pope an account of his actions and certifies him that the matter was not yet desperate Wherevpon a day is appointed by which a Post returning from the King was to give notice of an intended Embassie But the Consistory gave so short a time to have an answere that the Post came short two dayes at his returne The terme expired they proceed hastily to the confirmation of their Censures notwithstanding the Bishops instance to obtaine six dayes more for as much as contrary windes or some other chance might hinder the messenger and six dayes would be no great matter considering the King had wauered six whole yeares before hee fell The more moderate thought the Bishop demanded but reason but the preposterous haste of the greater sort preuailed Two dayes were scarce past after the prefixed time but the Post arriuing with ample authority and instructions from England did greatly amaze those hasty Cardinalls who afterwards would faine but could not finde any meanes to mend what they had so rashly marred For the matter to please the Emperor was so hudled vp as that which could not ritely bee finished in three Consistories was done in one So the King and the whole Realme was interdicted the Bull whereof the Messengers not daring to come neerer was brought to Dunkirk The report hereof comming to the King hee laies all the blame on the Lady CATHARINE Whereupon the Duke of Suffolke was sent to lessen her Houshold They who might be any way suspected to haue been imploied by her in this businesse are turned away the rest are commanded to take their oathes to serve her as Princesse of Wales not as Queene of England They that refuse are caâ—hiered and they that are content to sweare are by her cast off so that for a time shee had few or no Attendants In the meane time on the three and twentieth of June died MARY Queene of France the Kings Sister and was buried in the Abbey of Saint Edmundsbury Anno Dom. 1534. Reg. 26. ABout this time was discouered the grand imposture of ELIZABETH BARTON which brought her to a deserued end Shee had formerly beene sicke of a strange disease which not only afflicted her inwardly but as often as her fit tooke her so wonderfully distorted her mouth and other parts of her body that most were of opinion it could not peoceed from any naturall cause But Custome growing to a second Nature the continuance of the Disease had taught her to distort her body after her recouery in the fame manner as when she was sicke Hoping to make a profit of this her counterfeit Convulsion she imparted the secret to the Curate of the Parish by whose deuice after â—ong deliberation betweene them it was agreed that she should often faine her selfe to be in an ecstasie and whereas shee was wont when the fit seased her to ly still without motion as if she had been dead shee should now sometimes vtter some godly sentences inveigh against the wickednesse of the times but
especially against Heretiques and broachers of new Opinions and should relate strange visions revealed by God to her in the time of her ecstasie By these jugling trickes not only among the Vulgar who termed the holy Maid of Kent but among the wiser sort such as were Archbishop WARHAM Bishop FISHER and others her sanctity was held in admiration The Imposture taking so generally her boldnesse increased Shee prefixeth a day whereon she shall be restored to perfect health and the meanes of her recouery must be procured forsooth by a pilgrimage to some certaine Image of our Lady The day came and shee beeing brought to the place by the like cousenage deceiued a great number of people whom the expectation of the miracle had drawne thither and at last as if she had iust then shaken off her disease shee appeares whole and straight vnto them all saying That by especiall command from God shee must become a Nunne and that one Doctor BOCKING a Monke of Canterbury there present was ordained to bee her Confessor which office hee willingly vndertooke vnder pretext whereof this Nunne liuing at Canterbury BOCKING often resorted to her not without suspition of dishonesty The intended Divorce from CATHARINE and marriage with ANNE BOLEN had much appalled most part of the Clergy for then a necessity was imposed on the King of a divorce from the Papall Sea in which the Church and all Ecclesiasticall persons were likely to suffer The apprehension whereof wrought so with BOCKING that making others conscious of the intent hee persuaded ELIZABETH BARTON by denuntiation of Gods revealed judgements to deterre the King from his purposed change Shee according as shee was instructed proclaimes it abroad That the King aduenturing to marry another CATHARINE surviving should if in the meane time hee died not some infamous death within one moneth after be depriued of his Kingdome The King heares of it and causeth the Impostrix to be apprehended who vpon examination discouered the rest of the conspirators who were all committed to prison vntill the next Parliament should determine of them ELIZ. BARTON BOCKING MASTERS the afore mentioned Curate of the Parish DEERING and RISBEY Monkes with GOLD a Priest are by the Parliament adiudged to dy The Bishop of Rochester and ADESON his Chaplaine one ABEL a Priest LAVRENCE the Archdeacon of Canterbury his Register and THOMAS GOLD Gentleman for hauing heard many things whereby they might guesse at the intents of the Conspirators and not acquainting the Magistrate with them are as accessory condemned in a Praemunire confiscation of their goods and perpetuall imprisâ—nment ELIZABETH BARTON and her Companions hauing each of them after a Sermon at Pauls Crosse publiquely confessed the Imposture are on the twentieth of Aprill hanged and their heads set ouer the gates of the City By the same Parliament the authority of the Convocation to make Canonicall Constitutions vnlesse the King giue this Rovall assent is abrogated It is also inacted That the Collocation of all Bishoprickes the Seas being vacant should henceforth be at the Kings dispose and that no man should be chosen by the Chapter or consecrated by the Archbishop but he on whom the King by his Congé D'eslire or other his Letters had conferred that Dignity And wheras many complained that now all commerce with Rome was forbidden all meanes were taken away of mitigating the rigour of the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Dispensation Papall authority is granted to the Archbishop of Canterbury the King reserving to himselfe the power of dispensing in causes of greater moment And that all Appeales formerly wont to be made from the Archbishop to the Pope should now bee from the Archbishop to the King who by Delegates should determine all such suites and controversies Furthermore the Kings marriage with the Lady CATHARINE is againe pronounced incestuous the Succession to the Crowne established on the Kings Issue begotten on Queene ANNE And all aboue the age of sixteen yeares throughout the Kingdome are to be bound by oath to the obseruance of this Law whosoeuer refused to take this oath should suffer losse of all their goods and perpetuall imprisonment Throughout all the Realme there were found but two who durst refractoâ—ily oppose this Law viz FISHER Bishop of Rochester and Sir THOMAS MOORE the late Lord Chancellor men who were indeed very learned but most obstinate stickers in the behalfe of the Church of Rome who being not to be drawne by any persuasions â—o be conformable to the Law were committed to prison from whence after a yeares durance they were not freed but by the losse of their liues But the King fearing that it might be thought That hee tooke these courses rather out of a contempt of Religion than in regard of the tyrannie of the Court of Rome to free himselfe from all suspition either of favouring LVTHER or any authors of new Opinions began to persecute that sort of men whom the Vulgar called Heretiques and condemned to the cruelty of that mercilesle Element Fire not only certaine Dutch Anabaptists but many Professors of the Truth and amongst others that learned and godly young man IOHN â—RITH who with one HEWET and others on the two and twentieth of July constantly endured the torments of their martyrdome The fiue and twentieth of September died CLEMENT the Seuenth Pope in whose place succeeded ALEXADER FARNESE by the name of PAVLVS the Third who to begin his time with some memorable Act hauing called a Consistory pronounced HENRY to be fallen from the Title and Dignity of a King and to be deposed re-iterating withall the thunder of Excommunication with which bug-beare his predecessor CLEMENT had sought to affright him But this peradventure happened in the insuing yeare after the death of FISHER and MORE A Parliament is againe 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 all crimes which formerly pertained to the Ecclesiasticall Courts is made proper to him So the Kingdome is vindicated from the vsurpation of the Pope who before shared in it and the King now first began to raigne entirely Also all Annates 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 vs compounded of Normans and Saxons as well in the forme of their gouernment as in Language is by the authority of this Parliament to the great good of both but especially that Nation vnited and incorporated to England EDWARD the First was the first who subdued this Countrey yet could hee not prevaile over their mindes whome the desire of recouering their lost liberty animated to many rebellions By reason whereof and our suspitions being for two hundred yeares oppressed either with the miseries of seruitude or war they neuer tasted the sweet fruits of a true and solid peace But HENRY the Seuenth by bloud in reguard
Gentlemen of the Kings Priuy Chamber and MARKE SVETON a Musitian either as Partakers or accessory were to run the same fortune The King greatly favoured NORRIS and is reported to be much grieved that he was to dy with the rest Whereupon he offered pardon to him conditionally that he would confesse that whereof hee was accused But hee answered resolutely and as it became the progenitor of so many valiant Heroes That in his conscience he thought her guiltlesse of the obiected crime but whether she were or no he could not accuse her of any thing and that he had rather vndergo a thousand deaths then betray the Innocent Vpon relation whereof the King cryed out Hang him vp then Hang him vp then Which notwithstanding was not accordingly executed For on the thirteenth of May two dayes after his condemnation all of them viz. the Viscont Rochfort NORRIS BRIERTON and SVETON were beheaded at Tower hill NORRIS left a sonne called also HENRY whom Queene ELIZABETH in contemplation of his Fathers deserts created Baron of Ricot This Lord NORRIS was father to those great Captaines WILLIAM IOHN THOMAS and EDWARD in our dayes so famous throughout Christendome for their braue exploits in England France Irland and the Netherlands On the nineteenth of May the Queene was brought to the place of execution in the greene within the Tower some of the Nobility and Companies of the City being admitted rather to be witnesses than spectators of her death To whom the Queene hauing ascended the scaffold spake in this manner Friends and good Christian people J am here in your presence to suffer death whereto J acknowledge my selfe adiudged by the Lawes how iustly J will not say for I intend not an accusation of any one J beseech the Almighty to preserue his Maiâ—sty long to raigne ouer you a more gentle or milde Prince neuer swayed Scepter his bounty and clemency towards me I am sure hath beene especiall If any one intend an inquisitiue survey of my actions J intreat him to iudge favourably of me and not rashly to admit of any hard censorious conceit And so I bid the world farewell beseeching you to commend mee in your Prayers to God To thee O Lord do J commend my Soule Then kneeling downe shee incessantly repeated these words CHRIST haue mercy on my soule Lord IESVS receive my soule vntill the Executioner of Caâ—ais at one blow smote off her head with a sword Had any one three yeares before at what time the King so hot in the pursuit of his loue preferred the enioying of this Lady beyond his Friends his Estate his Health Safeguard and his onely Daughter prophetically foretold the vnhappy fate of this Princesse he should haue beene beleeued with CASSANDRA But much more incredible may all wise men thinke the vnheard of crime for which shee was condemned viz. That fearing least her Daughter the Lady ELIZATETH borne while CATHARINE survived should bee accompted illegitimate in hope of other especially masle Issue whereof shee despaired by the King now neere fifty yeares old shee had lasciviously vsed the company of certaine young Courtiers nay not therewith content had committed incest with her owne Brother A strange ingratitude in one raised from so low degree euen to the height of honour I will not derogate from the Authority of publique Records But an Act of Parliament against her shall not worke on my beliefe Surely it carried so little shew of probability with foraine Princes that they alwaies deemed it an act of inhumane cruelty Especially the Estates of Germany Confederates for the defence of the Reformed Religion who having often treated with FOX Bishop of Hereford and other Embassadours had decreed to make HENRY Head of their League and had designed an Embassy by IOHN STVRMIVS who should haue brought with him into England those excellent Divines PHILIP MELANCTHON and MARTIN BVCER with one GEORGE DRACO who should endeavour that and the Reformation of our Church But having heard of the lamentable and vnworthy as they iudged it end of the Queene loathing the King for his inconstancy and cruelty they cast off all farther thought of that matter I will not presume to discusse the truth of their opinion But freely to speake what I my selfe thinke There are two reasons which sway much with mee in the behalfe of the Queene That her Daughter the Lady ELIZABETH was seated in the Royall Throne where shee for so many yeares ruled so happily and triumphantly What shall we thinke but that the Divine Goodnesse was pleased to recompence the iust calamity of the Mother in the glorious prosperity of the Daughter And then consider but the Kings precipitated Nuptialls the very next day after the death of his former Wife yet scarce interred and with whose warme bloud his imbrued hands yet reaked consider this I say and you shall easily be persuaded with mee that the insatiable Prince glutted with the satiety of one and out of the desire of variety seeking to enioy another did more willingly giue eare to the treacherous calumnies of the malicious Popelings than either befitted an vpright Iudge or a louing husband For it seemeth wonderfull strange to mee that either the fault of the one or the pleasing conditions and faire language of the other Wife should so far possesse the King as that hee should procure his daughter ELIZABETH to be by Act of Parliament declared illegitimate the matrimony contracted with both the former Queenes CATHARINE and ANNE to be pronounced invalid and the Crowne to be perpetually established on the posterity of the third wife or if the King had no Issue by her that then it should bee lawfull for him by Will and Testament to transfer it on whome hee pleased Parliaments were not then so rigid but that they could flatter the Prince and condescend to his demands though vniust even in cases which most neerely concerned the publique Weale But servile Feare is oft times more ready then Loue which slowly moves by apprehension of Good as the other is quickely forced by the apprehension of Danger On the twentieth of May the King married IANE SEIMOVR Daughter of Sir IOHN SEIMOVR who on the nine and twentieth of May being Whitsonday clad in royall habiliments was openly shewed as Queene So that the Court of England was now like a Stage whereon are represented the vicissitudes of ever various Fortune For within one and the same moneth it saw Queene ANNE flourishing accused condemned executed and another assumed into her place both of bed and honour The first of May it seemeth shee was informed against the second imprisoned the fifteenth condemned the seventeenth deprived of her Brother and Friends who suffered in her cause and the nineteenth executed On the twentieth the King married IANE SEIMOVR who on the nine and twentieth was publiquely shewed as Queene The death of this innocent Lady God seemed to revenge in the immature end of the Duke of Richmond the Kings only but naturall
Sonne a Prince of excellent forme and endowments whâ— deceased the two and twentieth of Iuly for whom the King a long time after mourned In the meane time on the nineteenth of Iuly IOHN BOVRCHIER Lord Fitz-waren was created Earle of Bathe whose successours in that Honour were his Sonne IOHN who begat IOHN deceased before his Father whose Sonne WILLIAM is now Earle of Bathe At what time also THOMAS CROMWELL a poore Smiths Sonne but of a dexterous wit whose first rising was in the Family of Cardinall WOLSEY in whose service by him faithfully performed he grew famous was made Lord CROMWELL many dignities being also conferred on him to the increase of his estate and honour For first he was Master of the Rolls and principall Secretary of Estate then Sir THOMAS BOLEN Earle of Wiltshire resigning he was made Lord Privy Seale and after that dignified with the vnheard of Title of The Kings Vicar generall in affaires Ecclesiasticall For the authority of the Pope being abrogated many businesses dayly happened which could not bee disparched without the Kings consent who not able to vndergo the burthen alone conferred this authority granted him by Act of Parliament on CROMWELL not for that he thought a Lay man fitter for this dignity than a Clergy man but because hee had determined vnder colour and pretence thereof to put in execution some designes wherein the Clergy in all probability would haue moved very slowly and against the haire Hee was therefore President in the Synod this yeare Certainly a deformed spectacle to see an vnlearned Lay man President over an assembly of sacred Prelates and such as for their learning England had in no preceding ages knowne the like For indeed HENRY is for that much to be commended who would not easily advance any one to place of government in the Church but whome his learning should make worthy By the authority of this Synod a booke was set forth wherein many points of Doctrine being proposed to be by the Curates expounded to their Parishioners mention was made of onely theee Sacraments Baptisme the Eucharist and Penance some holy dayes also were abrogated and other things pertaining to Religion and Ecclesiasticall discipline somewhat changed wherewith many were offended who preferred prescript Errors before the Truth The same time the Parliament assembled the fourth of Ianuary permitted all Monasteries the revenues whereof exceeded not two hundred pounds a yeare to the Kings disposall who causing them to be suppressed to the number of three hundred seventy and six entred vpon their lands amounting to thirty two thousand pounds a yeare and selling their goods even at very low rates most men accompting it sacrilegious to set to sale the goods of the Church raised aboue an hundred thousand pounds These things of themselves were distastfull to the vulgar sort Each one did as it were claime a share in the goods of the Church for many who being neither Monkes nor relied to Religious persons did receive no profit of Ecclesiastieall goods did notwithstanding conceiue that it might herafter come to passe that either their children friends or kinred might obtaine the places yet supplied by others whereas of these goods once confiscated they could not hope that any commodity should redound vnto them But the commiseration of so many people to the number of at least ten thousand who were without any warning giuen thrust out of dores and committed to the mercy of the world was a more forcible cause of generall distaste Which notwithstanding of it selfe sufficient was augmented by the malice of ill disposed and seditious persons who in their assemblies exaggerated these proceedings as the beginnings of greater evills that this was but a triall of their patience as yet the shrubs and vnderwoods were but touched but without speedy remedy the end would bee with the fall of the lofty oakes While these generall discontents thus vented themselves in private CROMWELL in September sent forth certaine Injunctions to the Clergy by vertue whereof each â—urate was to expound to his parishioners the Apostles Creed the Lords Prayer the Aue Maria and the Ten Commandements and earnestly to endeauour that they might learne them in the English Tongue This drave these Male contents into such extremes that the midwifry of any occasion served to produce the prodigious issues of their madnesse For in Lincolneshire the Commons being assembled about the beginning of October concerning Subsidies to be paid to the King as if the spirit of fury had generally animated them they suddenly to the number of twenty thousand tooke armes forcing certaine Lords and Gentlemen to be their leaders and to sweare to such Articles as they should propound such as refused were either imprisoned or put to death as was a certaine Priest Chancellor to the Bishop of Lincoln The King being certified of this Commotion sent against the Rebels with great Forces the Duke of Suffolke and the Earles of Shrewsbury and Kenâ— either to appease or suppresse them The rumonr of an Army marching against them so quailed their courages that they sent to excuse themselves vnto the King pretending That their endeavours tended to no other than the safety of his Maiesly and good of the Realme That â—ee hauing followed the advice of bad Counsellors had lately beyond the example of any of his Ancestors changed many things in the estate of Commonwealth and Church That having dispossessed the religious Inhabitants he had demolished many Monasteries where the poore had daily reliefe and God was wont to be deuoutly worshipped by godly men That the Feasts of Saints instituted many yeares since were profaned by his command That new Tenets which the Catholique Church did abhor were every where preached and obtruded to the people That now in each aged person was to be seene the Embleme of Jgnorance who having one foot in the grave were faine to betake them to their ABC Bookes that they might learne new kinde of Prayers never before vsed by any Christians That many vniust and pernicious Lawes had lately beene enacted and great Subsidies exacted both of the Clergy and Laity even in the time of Peace which were not wont to be demanded but for the maintenance of Wars That the Commons in generall did distaste these things and the rather for that they conceived them to be but trialls of their patience and the beginnings of more insupportable euills Wherefore they humbly beseeched his Maiesty whom they could not safely petition vnarmed that the Authours of these pernicious counsailes might sit no longer at the sterne but that others who should faithfully endeavour the amendment of the aforesaid evills might supply their places and that it might not be any way preiudiciall to them that they had taken Armes which even with the losse of their deerest bloud they were ready to imploy for his Maiesties safety and the defence of the Realme The King had a Spirit befitting his greatnesse and perceiving them to shrinke could not
dissemble the rage he had conceived at the presumption of this rascally rout who durst capitulate with their Soveraigne and seeke to curbe the vnlimited power of Kings Wherefore he roughly commands them that without delay one hundred of their company such as by his appointment should be made choice of should be deliuered vp to his mercy The performance whereof if they but deferred nothing but extremity was to be expected The report wherof made the Rebels disband each one fearing least himselfe might helpe to make vp the number of this Hecatombe This blaze was yet scarce quenched when within six dayes another far more dangerous kindled by the same accidents bewraied it selfe in Yorke-shire where no fewer than fourty thousand had gathered together naming themselues Fellowes of the holy Pilgrimage and that the specious pretext of Religion might palliate their madnesse they in their Ensignes on the one side portraied the Saviour of the world hanging on the Crosse on the other side the Chalice and the Host by them called the Body of our Lord. They surprised many of the Nobility as EDWARD LEE Archbishop of Yorke hee that writ against ERASMVS the Lords DARCY and HVSSEY besides many Knights and Gentlemen whom they forced to be sworne to their party whereto it is very probable some of them were much against their wills who notwithstanding suffered for it afâ—erward vpon a scaffold Against these Rebells were sent the Dukes of Norfolke and Suâ—folke the Marquis of Excester and the Earle of Sâ—rewsbury who endeavoured peaceably to compose all matters and to bring this corrupt Body to it's former temper without Phlebotomy For they knew they were to deale with such a base sort of people to whom if they gaue the overthrow yet would their victory be inglorious neither could they promise themselves so happy successe against the most active and hardy bodies and most enured to warfare of the whole Realme besides despaire had cast them into the extremes either of victory or death resolutely determining not to fly to seeke an ignominious end at a gallowes which if they escaped they could expect no other then an accustomed miserable life more intolerable then the most horrid torturing death These reasons made these Nobles vnwilling to hazard a battaile But the Rebells desperate resolution admitted no parley wherefore by consent of both Armies the field was appointed on the Eue of the Saints Simon and Iude. Betweene both Armies did run a little Brooke so shallow that on the Eve of the battaile it was in most places passable for footmen even without danger of wetting their feet but that night God abhorring the effusion of so much English blond a raine and that no great one fell which so raised this little Brooke the like whereof never happened there before that it became impassable both for horse and man which hindered the meeting of the two Armies This chance did so worke in the supeâ—stitious and giddy heads of this Rout that they persuaded themselues God by this prodigy did manifestly forbid their intended battaile Wherefore pardon being againe offered as it had formerly beene as well to the Leaders and Gentry as the rest who had beene either authors or 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 Armes peaceably repaired each one to his home They in the heat of this their fury had for sixe weekes straightly 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 dayes together they sustained themselves with bread and water manfully defended it against their furjous attempts and kept it vntill the Commotion was appealed For which brave service the King made him leader of the Forces appointed for the defence of the Marches towards Scotland which hee with great credit performed vntiâ—l he was in the yeare of our Lord 1545 vnfortunately slaine Neither was the Estate of Irland more peaceable then of England GIRALD FITZ-GIRALD Earle of Kildare having been twelve yeares Lord Deputy of Irland was for some flight matters removed called into England and condemned to death which punishment hee through the malice of WOLSEY had vndergone had not friendship shewed it's effects in the Lieutenant of the Tower to whose custody the Earle was committed He having received a Mandate for the execution of the Earle durst hazard the displeasure of the potent Cardinall to save his friend Wherefore he repaires to the King at midnight desirous to know his Maiesties pleasure concerning the Earle who not onely disapproved the Mandate but also pardoning the Earle received him into his favour and a few yeares after restored him to his former dignitie of Lord Deputy But these garboiles happening in England hee is for as slight suspitions as before revoked and commanded to attend at the Counsaile Table where by his answers hee appeared not altogether so innocent but that hee was againe committed to the Tower Before his departure out of Irland the King had commanded him to substitute some one in his place for whose faith diligence he would vndertake Hee had a Sonne named THOMAS little above twenty yeares old a haughty and stout young Lord very ingenious and exceedingly affecting his Father To this Sonne 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 fatall to them both and to almost the whole Family For no sooner was the Earle imprisoned but report raised as is coniectured by his enemies beheaded him threatening the like to his off-spring and brethren whose destruction the King had most certainely resolved The author of this report was vncertaine and the young Lord as rashly credulous who taking Armes solicited the aid of his friends against the Kings injustice Hee had then five Vnckles brethren to his Father three of which at first dissuaded him from these violent proceedings But passion had excluded reason and they at length associate themselves with their Nephew with whome they were involved in the same ruine Many others flocking vnto him hee had suddenly raised a great Army wherewith marching vp and downe the Countrey hee robbed and killed them who refused to obey him And among the rest hee permitted the Archbishop of Dublin to be murthered in his sight The poore Earle already afflicted with a palsey was so stricken to the heart with the newes of this tumult that hee but a few dayes survived the knowledge of his vnhappinesse The King leuying great Forces quickly curbed the vnruly Youth and after some moneths forced him to yeeld His Vnkles 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
the French vnder colour of reconciling him with the Emperour but his chiefe errant was to combine them both against HENRY Whereof hee having intelligence did by his Agent earnestly solicite FRANCIS That in reguard of their mutuall amity hee would cause POOLE to bee apprehended as guilty of high Treason and sent to him where hee should vndergo the punishment due therefore But because Religion and the Law of Nations had beene violated in betraying any especially the Popes Embassadour the French could not yeeld to the Kings request but to shew that hee would administer no cause of offence hee refused to admit of his Embassy and commanded him speedily to depart out of his Dominions HERCVLES stature might be guessed at by the proportion of his foot and by this one mans endeavours HENRY was taught what if need were hee was to expect of his Clergy So that hee was easily induced as any of them offended to send him to his grave for that a dead Lion biteth not And this course beeing taken with his professed enemies the feare of the like punishment would secure him of the rest On the twelfth of October the Queene having long suffered the throwes of a most difficult travaile and such a one wherein either the Mother or the Infant must necessarily perish out of her wombe was ripped Prince EDWARD who after succeeded his Father in the Crowne The Queene onely surviving two daies died on the fourteenth of October and on the twelfth of November was with great pompe buried at Windsore in the middle of the Quire on whose Tombe is inscribed this Epitaph Phoenix IANA iacet nato Phoenice dolendum Secula Phoenices nulla tulisse duas Here a Phoenix heth whose death To another Phoenix gaue breath It is to be lamented much The World at once ne'r knew two such On the eighteenth of October the Infant was created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornewall and Earle of Chester and with him his Vnkle EDWARD SEIMOVR brother to the deceased Queene Lord Beauchampe and Earle of Hereford which Honours onely and not those afterwards conferred on him hee left to his posterity WILLIAM FITZ-WILLIAMS Lord Admirall was made Earle of Southampton Then also WILLIAM POWLET and IOHN RVSSELL began their races in the lists of Honour POWLET being made Treasurer and RVSSELL Comptroller of the Kings Houshold and both sworne of the Privy Counsaile Neither was here their non vltra the one being afterward raised to Lord Treasurer of England and Marquis of Winchester the other to Earle of Bedford wherein hee dying in the yeare 1554 his Sonne FRANCIS that pious old man and liberall releiuer of the Poore succeeded him who at the very instant of his death lost his Sonne FRANCIS slaine by a Scot Anno 1587. Which FRANCIS was Father to EDWARD Earle of Bedford and brother to WILLIAM by King IAMES created Lord RVSSELL POWLET living to be a very decrepit old man had to his Successour his Nephew by his Sonne WILLIAM named also WILLIAM the sole Marquis of England And to end this yeare with death as it began THOMAS HOWARD youngest sonne to the Duke of Norfolke having beene fifteene moneths imprisoned for affiancing himselfe without the Kings consent to MARGARET Daughter to ARCHIBALD DOVGLAS Earle of Angus and Lady MARGARET the Kings Sister on the first day of November to the vnspeakeable good of this Island deceased in the Tower For this MARGARET beeing after married to MATHEW Earle of Lenox had by him HENRY the Father of King IAMES of sacred memory the most happy Vnitor of divided Britaine Anno Dom. 1538. Reg. 30. IT is at length after many ages resolved That through the superstitious abuse of Images God was robbed of his due honour The King much prone to Reformation specially if any thing might be gotten by it thought it fit to remove this stumbling blocke and the rather for that hee conceived his Treasury would be thereby supplied There were some Images of more especiall fame and Shrines of reputed Saints Whereunto Pilgrimages were made from the farthest parts of the Kingdome nay even from foraine Countries also the Oblations whereto were so many and so rich that they not onely suffised for the maintenance of Priests and Monkes but also to the heaping vp of incredible wealth The Shrine of THOMAS BECKET Archbishop of Canterbury was covered with plates of gold and laden with guifts of inestimable value The blinde zeale of those and former times had decked it with gemmes chaines of gold of great weight and pearles of that large size which in our Language finde no proper terme This Tombe was razed and his bones found entire in steed of whose head the Monkes vsually obtruded the skull of some other peradventure better deserving then did their supposed Martyr The spoile of this Monument wherein nothing was meaner then gold filled two chests so full that each of them required eight strong men for the portage Among the rest was a stone of especiall lustre called the Royall of France offered by LEWIS the Seventh King of France in the yeare 1179 together with a great massy cup of gold at what time hee also bestowed an annuity on the Monkes of that Church of an hundred tunnes of wine This stone was after ward highly prised by the King who did continually weare it on his thumbe ERASMVS speakes much of the magnificence of this Monument as also of the Image of our Lady of Walsingham both which hee had seene and admired This Image was also stripped of whatsoeuer worthy thing it had the like being also done in other the like places and the statues and bones of the dead digged vp and burned that they might bee no further cause of superstition Among the rest of these condemned Images there was a Crucifex in South-Wales called of the Inhabitants Darvell Gatharen concerning which there was a kinde of prophecy That it should one day fire a whole Forest It chanced that at this time one Doctor FOREST a Frier Observant who had formerly taken the Oath of Supremacy was vpon his relapse apprehended and condemned of Treason and Heresy For this Fryer a new Gallowes was erected whereon hee was hanged by the arme pits and vnderneath him a fire made of this Image wherewith hee was burned and so by his death made good the Prophecy Great was the Treasure which the King raised of the spoiles of Churches and Religious Houses But whether the guilt of sacriledge adhering like a consuming canker made this ill gotten treasure vnprofitable or that he found he had need of greater supplies to withstand the dangers that threatened him from abroad not content with what hee had already corraded hee casts his eyes on the wealth of the Abbeyes that had escaped the violence of the former tempest and not expecting as hee deemed it a needlesse Act of Parliament seizeth on the rest of the Abbeyes and Religious Houses of the Realme And first hee begins with that
at Canterbury dedicated to AVGVSTINE the English Apostle who was there interred This being the first Fruits of Christianity among this Nation I meane the Saxons for the Britans had beene watred with streames derived even from the Fountaines Apostolique far more pure then were those later overflowes of AVGVSTINE hee invades expells the Monkes and divides their meanes betweene his Exchequer and Courtiers Battaile Abbey built by WILLIAM the Conquerour in the same place where by the overthrow of HARALD the last Saxon King hee purchased this Kingdome to himselfe and his posterity did also run the same fortune So that it is not so much to be wondered at if those at Merton in Surrey Stratford in Essex Lewis in Sussex the Charterhouse Blacke-Friers Gray-Friers and White-Friers in London felt the fury of the same Whirlewinde At the same time among many other Reformations in this Church that wholesome Iniunction was one whereby the Bible translated and printed in English was commanded to be kept in every parish Church and to bee conveniently placed where any that were so desirous might reade therein They who were more eagerly addicted to the superstition of their Ancestours brooked not these proceedings among whom were chiefe HENRY COVRTNEY Marquis of Excester HENRY Lord Mountague brother to Cardinall POOLE and Sir EDWARD NEVILL brother to the Lord ABERGAVENNY who on the fifth day of November vpon the accusation of Sir GEOFFREY POOLE Brother to the Lord MOVNTAGVE were committed to the Tower for having maintained intelligence with the Cardinall and conspired the Kings destruction for which they were on the third of the ensuing Ianuary the Lord AVDLEY sitting high Steward for the time arraigned and condemned and on the ninth of the same moneth beheaded Two Priests named CROFTS and COLINS with one HOLLAND a Mariner as partakers in the same guilt were hanged and quartered at Tiburne This COVRTNEY was by the Fathers side of a very noble discent deriving himselfe from the bloud Royall of France by HVGH COVRTNEY created Earle of Devonshire by EDWARD the Third But by his mother hee far more neerely participated of the Bloud Royall of England being Sonne to CATHARINE Daughter to EDWARD the Fourth who was Sister to Queene ELIZABETH the Mother of King HENRY The King lâ—ng favoured him as his Couzen germane but at length in regard of his neere Alliance to the Crowne became jealous of his Greatnesse whereof hee had lately given more then sufficient testimony in suddenly arming some thousands to oppose against the Yorke-Shire Rebells The consideration whereof made HENRY gladly entertaine any occasion to cut off this Noble Gentleman About the same time IOHN LAMBERT a religious and learned man was also condemned the King himselfe sitting Iudge This LAMBERT being accused of Heresy appealed from his Ordinary to the King who fearing least hee should be accounted a Lutheran resolved vpon this occasion to manifest to the World how hee stood affected in Religion To this end summoning as many of the Bishops and other Peeres of the Realme as could conveniently be present he caused Scaffolds to be built in Westminster Hall from whence the people might be spectators and witnesses of the Acts of that day On the right hand of the King were seated the Bishops and behinde them the Iudges and chief Lawyers of the Realme at his left hand sate the Temporall Lords and behinde them the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber LAMBERT being brought to the Bar DAY Bishop of Chichester by the Kings appointment made an Oration wherein he declared the cause of this meeting saying That LAMBERT hauing beene accused of Heresy before his Ordinary had made his Appeale vnto the King as if expecting from his Maiesty more favour for Heresy then from the Bishop So that he now found it be true whereof hee had been oft informed That the credulous People were verily persuaded that his Maiesty abhorring the Religion of his Ancestors had embraced the new Tenets lately broached in Germany True it was the tyranny of the Court of Rome had beene troublesome to his Predecessors but to Him intolerable and therefore had Hee shaken it off That Religion might no longer patronize Jdlenesse Hee had expelled Monkes who were no other then Drones in the Bee-hive Hee had taken away the idolatrous worship of Jmages had permitted to his Subiects the reading and knowledge of Gods Word hither to prohibited by the Church of Rome least their wiles and cousenages should be discovered and had made reformation in some other things peradventure of lesse moment which no man could deny would much redound to the good both of Church and Common-wealth But as for other things Hee had determined there should be no change in the Church during his Raigne Which his Resolution Hee now intended publiquely to manifest His Maiesties desire was That the Delinquent renouncing his Errours should suffer himselfe to be received into the bosome of the Church to which end partly and partly to shew that Hee thirsted not after any ones bloud out of his clemency Hee had procured the presence of those Graue and Learned men meaning the Bishops who by Authority and force of Arguments should if it were possible bring backe this straied Sheepe into the Fold of the Church But if hee perversly oppugned the Truth and all persuasions notwithstanding became immoveable Hee would by this mans exemplary punishment make knowne what others should in the like Case expect and instruct the Judges and Magistrates what they ought to do therein The Bishop having ended the King demanded of LAMBERT What hee thought of the presence of CHRISTS body in the Sacrament Whose answer being little to the Kings liking reasons and arguments were produced as if a Disputation in the Schooles and not a Iusticiary Session had beene appointed Five whole houâ—es this Disputation lasted the King being as it were Prior Opponent Archbishop CRANMER also and nine other Bishops forcibly pressing vpon poore LAMBERT But neither this course nor the battery of threats and terrors prevailing against his constancy the King commanded the Lord CROMWELL to passe sentence of condemnation vpon him by vertue whereof within a day or two after hee was burned Neither this dreadfull Sentence nor his torturing death did any way appale him which hee so little reguarded that going to his death hee merrily tooke his breakâ—ast with some Gentlemen into whose company he chanced as if hee had beene going to some sportfull game rather then his execution Anno Dom. 1539. Reg. 31. ON the third of March Sir NICHOLAS CAREW Knight of the Garter and Master of the Horse was beheaded for being of Counsaile with the Marquis of Excester and the Lord MOVNTAGVE And on the eight and twentieth of April a Parliament began wherein MARGARET Countesse of Salisbury Mother to Cardinall POOLE and Daughter to GEORGE Duke of Clarence who was brother to EDWARD the Fourth was attainted of high Treason and condemned without hearing and with her the Cardinall
her Sonne GERTRVDE Widow to the Marquis of Excester Sir ADRIAN FORTESCVE and Sir THOMAS DINGLEY DINGLEY and FORTESCVE were beheaded on the tenth of Iuly and the Countesse being then aged threescore and ten yeares suffered two yeares after In the same Parliament it was inacted That the King might erect new Episcopall Seas in oportune places of the Realme For the performance whereof and of some other things no lesse specious the late dissolution of those Abbeyes whereon the King seised was confirmed and all Religious Houses as yet vnsuppressed were granted to the King for ever Vpon notice whereof many either out of guilt of conscience or desirous to purchase the Kings favour surrendred their charge even before they were required And first of all the Abbot and Convent of Saint Albans the first Abbot of the Realme as Saint ALBAN was the first Martyr which Honour was conferred on this House by Pope ADRIAN the Fourth whose Father had long lived a Monasticall life therein forsake their rich Abbey seated neere the ruines of Verolamium once a great and antient City and leaue it to the mercy of the Courtiers Which dereliction afforded matter of example to many other few enioying that security of conscience that they durst lay claime to their owne Onely three were found whose innocence made them so regardlesse of threats promises or reward that they could never be induced to betray the goods of their Churches to the mercilesse impiety of sacrilegious Harpyes which three were Iâ—OHN BECH Abbot of Colchester in Essex HVGH FARINGDON Abbot of the Abbey of Reding built by HENRY the First for the place of his Sepulture and RICHARD WHITING Abbot of Glastonbury one of the stateliest and antientest Monasteries of Europe being first builded by IOSEPH of Arimathea who buried the body of our Saviour CHRIST and is himselfe there interred as is also beside some Saxon Kings that most renowned King ARTHVR whose glorious Acts had they beene vndertaken by a fit Historian would have ranked him among the antient Worthies without the helpe of a fabulous Romance Against these men therefore other courses not availing that one one was taken of administring the Oath of Supremacy which they refusing are as enemies to the Estate condemned of high Treason BECH was hanged at Colchester and FARINGDON with two Priests named RVG and OGNION at Reding WHITING a man very aged and by reason therof doting scarce perceiving that he had beene condemned returning from the place of Iudgement which was in the Bishops Palace at Wells distant from Glastonbury foure miles with conceit that hee was restored to his Abbey was suddenly rapt vp to the top of the Tor a hill that surveies the country round about and without leave of bidding his Convent farewell which hee earnestly begged was presently hanged the staine of ingratitude sticking fast to the authors of this speedy execution of whom the poore Abbot is reported to have better deserved With WHITING were two Monkes also executed named ROGER IAMES and IOHN THORNE their bodies all drawne and quartered and set vp in divers places of the Countrey The punishment of these few so terrified the rest that without more ado they permitted all to the Kings disposall The number of those that were supprest is not easily cast But the names of the chiefest and whose Abbots had voices among the Peeres in the higher House of Parliament are these S. PETERS in Westminster Saint MARIES in Yorke S. ALBANS  S. Edmundsbury Teuksbury S. BENETS of Hulme Reading Berdney Battaile Shrewsbury Winchcomb Crowland Hide by Winchester Abingdon Cirencester Euesham Waltham Glocester Walmesbury Ramsey Thorney Saint AVGVSTINES in Canterbury Saint IOHNS in Colchester Selbey Coventrey Peterborough Tavestocke The King that hee might some way supply the want of the suffrages of so many learned and wise men in the Parliament House as also that of so great a prey hee might consecrate if not the tenth to HERCVLES at least some Part to God according to his promise erected some new Bishoprickes wherof one was at Westminster a place so neere and contiguous to London that it might rather seeme a part of the Suburbs thereof than a distinct City But a City it is and so ennobled with many stately monuments that for beauty it contendeth with most in Christendome In it are the chiefe Seat of the Prince and Palaces of the Nobility the chiefe seats of Iustice in the Land the most magnificent Church wherein are interred most of our Kings and Nobles whose sumptuous Monuments render it vnparaleld even by the world Another was at Oxford in the Colledge founded by Cardinall WOLSEY The rest at Peterborough Bristoll stoll Chester and Glocester Westminster was by Queene MARY againe reduced to an Abbey and furnished with Monkes of Saint BENETS Order whome Queene ELIZABETH againe expelled and converted the revenues of the Bishopricke to the maintenance of Schollers and other pious vses As for the other Seas they remaine to this day From those antient Cathedrall Churches wherein Monkes were seated nothing was taken away onely Cannons were placed there in steed of Monkes as likewise in the Cathedrall Churches of the new erected Bishoprickes The Churches wherein antiently Cannons and Prebendaries were instituted are Jn England YOrke Wells London Lichfield Lincolne Hereford Sarisbury Chichester Excester  Jn Wales S. DAVIDS Bangor Landaf S. ASAPH The Cathedralls founded with Monkes were CAnterbury Worcester Winchester Rochester Ely Duresme Norwich Carlisle The new Seas where primarily were Abbeyes are OXford Chester Bristoll Peterborough Glocester  So there are six and twenty Bishoprickes within this Realme and in every Cathedrall Archdeacons Prebendaries and other Ministers as also a Deanâ— who governes the rest vnles it be in S. Davids where the Chanter and Landaf where the Archdeacon is Head of the Chapter These things thus ordered the King still jealous least it should be conceived that hee had forsaken the Religion of his Fathers began to thunder out against the maintainers of new Tenets and much against CRANMERS will by Parliament enacted the Law of the Six Articles the summe whereof was 1 That if any one should deny the True and Reall presence of the Body of CHRIST in the Sacrament or should maintaine That the substance of Bread and Wine remained after the words of Consecration pronounced by the Priest he should be burned as an Heretique 2 If any should deny the Sacrament to be sufficiently administred vnder one Species only 3 Or should hold it lawfull for Priests to be married but much more he that having entred into holy Orders should presume to take a Wife 4 Or that Chastity vowed vpon mature deliberation was not to be kept 5 Or that private Masses ought not be celebrated in the Church of England or els where 6 Or that Auricular Confession was not expedient hee should for his errours vndergo losse of life by hanging These Lawes like those of Draco written in bloud were the destruction
passed both Houses when this lusty Widower with as good successe as before marrieth his fifth Wife CATHARINE HOWARD When their nuptialls were celebrated is not knowne but on the eighth of August in Royall habiliments shee shewed her selfe as Queene The fautors of Reformation were much dismaied at the sudden vnqueening of ANNE fearing not without cause least it proving occasion of enmity betweene HENRY and the Princes of Germany he must of necessity rely on them who misliked our divorce from Rome But the King proceeding still in the course he had begun like a torrent bearing all before him not onely caused three Anabaptists to be burned but also many sincere Professors of the Truth for not subscribing to the Six Articles Among whome three Divines were most eminent viz. ROBERT BARNES Doctor of Divinity THOMAS GERARD and WILLIAM IEROM Bachelors who by Parliament vnheard being condemned for Heresie were on the one and thirtieth committed to the â—orments of the mercilesse fire At the same time and place three other Doctors of Divinity viz. POWELL ABIE and FETHRSTON were hanged for denying the Kings Supremacy the sight whereof made a French man cry out in these words Deus bone quomodo hic vivunt gentes Suspenduntur Papistae comburuntur Antipapistae Good God how do the People make a shift to live here where both Papists are hanged and Antipapists burned In August the Prior of Dancaster and six other for defending the Institution of the life Monasticall a crime now become as capitall as the greatest being also condemned by Act of Parliament were hanged The same day with the Lord CROMWELL the Lord HVNGERFORD was also beheaded As their causes were divers so died they alike differently CROMWELLS conscience quietly welcommed Death to the other suffering for that most vnnaturall crime of Sodomy Death presented it selfe with that horror that the apprehension of it made him as impatient as if hee had been seized with a frenzy Anno Dom. 1541. Reg 33. THe late Yorke-Shire Rebellion was not so throughly quenched but it againe began to shew it selfe but by the punishment of the chiefe Incendiaries it was quickely suppressed Fourteene of the Conspirators were put to death LEIGH a Gentlenan THORNTON a Yeoman and TATTERSHALL a Cloatheir at London Sir IOHN NEVILL and ten others at Yorke Which Commotion whether raised in favour of Religion or being suspected that it had any abettors beyond the Seas is thought to have hastened the death of the long sithence condemned Countesse of Sarisbury who on the seven and twentieth of May was beheaded in the Tower The eight and twentieth of Iune the Lord LEONARD GREY Deputy of Irland did on the Tower hill publiquely vndergo the like punishment Hee was Sonne to the Marquis of Dorset neere allied to the King and a brave martiall man having often done his Countrey good service But for that he had suffered his Nephew GERARD FITZ-GERARD brother to THOMAS lately executed proclaimed enemy to the Estate to make an escape and in revenge of some conceived private iniury had invaded the lands of the Kings friends hee was arraigned and condemned ending his life with a resolution befitting a brave Souldier The same day THOMAS FINES Lord Dacres of the South with some other Gentlemen for the death of one BVSBRIG slaine by them in a fray was hanged at Tiburne Many in reguard of his youth and Noble Disposition much lamented his losse and the Kings inexorable rigour Anno Dom. 1542. Reg. 34. BY this time HENRY began to finde the conveniency of his change having married one as fruitfull in evill as his former wives were in good who could not containe her selfe within the sacred limits of a Royall marriage bed but must be supplied with more vigorous and active bodies then was that of the now growing aged and vnweildy King Alas what is this momentary pleasure that for it wee dare hazard a treble life of Fame of Body of Soule Heaven may be mercifull but Fame will censure and the inraged Lyon is implacable such did this Queene finde him who procured not only her to be condemned by Act of Parliament begun the sixteenth of Ianuary and with her the Lady IANE Wife to the Viscount ROCHFORT behold the thrift of the Divine Iustice which made her an Instrument of the punishment of her owne and others wickednesse who by her calumnies had betraied her owne Husband and his Sister the late beheaded Queene ANNE but two others also long since executed FRANCIS DERHAM and THOMAS CVLPEPPER in their double condemnation scarce sufficiently punished DERHAM had beene too familiar with her in her virgin time and having after attained to some publique offices in Irland was by her now Queene sent for and entertained as a houshold servant in which time whether hee revived his former familiarity is not manifest But CVLPEPPER was so plainly convict of many secret meetings with the Queene by the meanes of the Lady ROCHFORT that the adultery was questionles For which the Queene and the Viscontesse ROCHFORT were both beheaded within the Tower on the twelfth of February DIRHAM had beene hanged and CVLPEPPER beheaded at Tiburne the tenth of the preceding December Hitherto our Kings had stiled themselves Lords of Irland a Title with that rebellious Nation not deemed so sacred and dreadfull as to force obedience The Estates therefore of Jrland assembled in Parliament enacted him King of Irland according to which Decree he was on the three and twentieth of Ianuary publiquely proclaimed About the same time ARTHVR Viscont Lisle naturall Sonne of EDWARD the Fourth out of a surfeit of sudden ioy deceased Two of his Servants had beene executed the preceding yeare for having conspired to betray Calais to the French and the Viscont as being conscious committed to the Tower But vpon manifestation of his innocence the King sent vnto him Sir THOMAS WRIOTHSLEY Principall Secretary of Estate by whom he signified the great content he received in the Visconts approved fidelity the effects whereof hee should finde in his present liberty and that degree of favour that a faithfull and beloved Vnkle deserved The Viscont receiving such vnexpected newes imbelished with rich promises and Royall tokens the King having sent him a Diamond of great value of assured favour being not sufficiently capable of so great ioy free from all symptomes of any other disease the ensuing night expired After whose decease Sir IOHN DVDLEY was created Viscont LISLE claiming that honour as hereditary in the right of his mother Lady ELIZABETH Sister and Heire to the Lord EDWARD GREY Viscont LISLE Wife to the late deceased Lord ARTHVR but formerly married to EDMVND DVDLEY one of the Barons of the Exchequer beheaded the first yeare of this Kings raigne Which I the rather remember for that this man afterwards memorable for his power and dignities might have provod more happy in his Issue then his greatnesse had not his owne ambition betraied some of these
seeing which way we turned the point of our Army being commanded by his King to have an especiall care of that Territory puts himselfe into Montrueil and left the Lord of Vervein his sonne in law a man of small experience to command in Bouloigne This oportunity invites HENRY to incampe before Boloigne a towne neere to Calais and many wayes commodious Hee causeth the Duke of now in danger to be surprised by the French Army to arise from before Montruâ—il and omitting his intended voyage to Paris frustrated by the Emperours peace with the French to enter into which HENRY was invited by the Cardinall BELLAY RAYMOND President of Rouen and AVBESPINE Secretary of Estate sent of purpose hee investeth Boloigne The Duke of Suffolke had first encamped vpon a hill on the East of Boloigne from whence hee after made his approches into the valley And the King encamping on the North shutvp the towne on all sides The first assault is given on the Suburbs or Base Towne which the French vnder the covert of a made smoke had forsaken They pretend it to have beene purposely fired as vnprofitable and the fire quenched by our industry Next the Tower of the Ordre called by vs the Old man defended by twenty Souldiers is yeilded and the Towne continually battered in foure places whereof the most forcible was the battery from the hill on the East side which beat downe the steeple of our Ladies Church rent the houses and scowred the streets of the Towne The breach made by the Canon being not sufficient they fall to mining which happily succeeding they blow vp a great part of the wall We give a furious assault and are repulsed with losse yet did this assault carry the Towne that brave Captaine PHILIP CORSE being slaine in it whose valour alone had hitherto preserved it VERVEIN vpon the losse of this man at his wits end sounds the intention of the King and yeilds him the Towne vpon composition That the Souldiers and Citizens might depart with their Baggage and that all the Artillery Munition and Victuals whereof there was great store should remaine to the King The inhabitants refuse this bad composition and the Mayor with the Townesmen offer to keepe the Towne which had they accordingly vndertaken Boloigne in all probabilitie had continued French For the Capitulation was no fooner concluded hostages not yet given but a horrible tempest of winde and raine overthrowes our Tents and the soile being fat and slippery wee should not have had any meanes to mount to an assault Moreover the Daulphin was on march with great forces for their succour whose approach would have forced HENRY to have changed his designe But VERVEIN professing that hee would keepe touch even with his Enemy continued constant in his promise for which he soone lost his head on a scaffold at Paris The foure and twentieth of September the City was delivered to the Duke of Suffolke and the French departed to the number of threescore and seven horse a thousand five hundred threescore and three able foot and a thousand nine hundred twentie and seven women and children many of the infirmer sort not able to depart staying behinde The next day the King entred triumphantly and caused our Ladies Church to be demolished and in place thereof a Fortification to be raised and having ordered his affaires to his minde making the Viscount Lisle Governour set saile for Dover where hee arrived on the first of October But the King 's hasty departure permitted not all things to be sufficiently setled Part of the Artillery Victuals and Munition by the Capitulation left in Boloigne were not removed from the Base Towne which was fortified only with some small trenches for the surprisall whereof the Daulphin in the night sends some troupes who before morning enter the place cut all in pieces they meet win the Artillery and Munition and thinke to have gotten an absolute victory but being intent to pillage some Ensignes issue from the higher Towne finde them in disorder set vpon them and rout them Many of the Enemies were slaine among whom was FOVQYESSOLLES another sonne in law of BIEZ the victory not being without bloud on our side Neither was our Fleete idle in the meane which scowring the seas brought three hundred Prises so fraught with Merchandise that the three spatious Churches of the Augustine the Gray and the Blacke Friers in London whose Monasteries had lately beene suppressed were stored withnothing but hogsheads of wine The Earle of Lenox lately dispatched out of France for the managing of the affaires of Scotland to the behoofe of the French found not entertainment there according to his expectation The Queene Mother and Cardinall as long as they had need of him deluded him with hopes of marrying the Queene Mother and by their secret calumnies rendred him suspected to the French At length finding his safety questionable he flies for refuge into England accompanied with ALEXANDER sonne and heire to the Earle of Glencarne WALTER GRAHAM brother to the Earle of Montrosse and Sir IOHN BORTHWICKE with others and were honourably received by HENRY who most happily repaired the Earles losses of revenues in France fallen by the death of ROBERT STVART of Aubigny and of his marriage in Scotland with that most successefull Match with that beautifull Lady MARGARET Neipce to the King and Daughter to the Earle of Angus and an annuall pension of seven hundred markes And once more he resolved to try his fortune in Scotland attended by Sir RICE MANSELL and Sir PETER NEWTAS WINTOR AVDLEY and BROOKES with others who with eight ships set saiâ—e from Bristoll and hanging over the coast of Scotland like a cloud vncertaine whereto disburthen it selfe deterred the Scots from enterprising any thing vpon England in the absence of the King The Church of late had daily felt some change or other And this yeare in Iune the Letany set forth in English was commanded to be vsed in all Churches Anno Dom. 1545. Reg. 37. OVr late Expeditions had without doubt beene vâ—â—y chargeable So that I should not wonder that the King began to want supplies if I did not consider the incredible summes raised of the spoiles of the late suppressed Religious Houses All which notwithstanding whether it were that God not pleased with this authorized sacriledge did not inlarge them with his blessing which onely saith SALOMON maketh rich or that a great part thereof was otherwise divided either among his Courtiers or for the maintenance of the â—iected religious persons the Treasury was certainly very bare To which former reasons wee may adde the six new erected Bishoprickes and the like number of Cathedrall Churches as also the stipendâ— conferred on both Vniversities for the publique Professors of the Hâ—â—rem Greeke tongues Divinity Law and Physicke to each whereof he allotted an annuity of forty pounds Howsoever it were certaine it is that levies being made in Germany for the King the souldiers disbanded for want of pay
encline to resolutions of peace they conceale our letters And not only so but vpon assurance of victory spred a rumor that nothing would content the insolent English but the delivery of the Queene which if they could not otherwise they would by force obtaine and proceed to the absolute conquest of the Kingdome This report inraged the Souldiers whom no motives could disuade from present ingaging themselves in battaile The wiser sort were not ignorant of the necessities that long since began to presse vs who were brought to that passe that by reason of the difficulties of passages we could not make a safe retreat nor force the Enemie to fight in reguard of the strength of the place where he was incamped But the vaine hope of victorie had possessed the mindes of the greater part and excluded reason Necessitie forced vs to a resolution brave and expedient which was to seeke the Enemy in his lodging and endevour to draw him to combat But the hot-spurre Scots issuing from out their fastnesses seemed willing to prevent vs. So both Armies entertaine a mutuall resolution A little before the ioyning of the Armies an accident happened which did not a little make way to our victory The Enemy marching along neere the sea shore a piece of Ordnance discharged from out Gally tooke away five and twentie of their men whereof the eldest sonne of the Lord GRIMES was one Foure thousand Archers terrified with so vnexpected a slaughter made astand could never after be brought on The two armies approching each other the Duke of Somerset commanded the Lord GRAY with the Cavallery to charge the Scots and finde them imployment vntill the Infantery had seized on an adioyning hill and if he◠could without much hazard to disorder the Enemy But they were gallantly received by a strong Squadron of Pikes whereon some of the formost having too far ingaged themselues were cast away the rest retreated affirming that it was as casie to force a wall as through the Scottish rankes The Duke makes a second triall by the light Horse seconding them with the Ordnance and the Archers The Enemy either not able to stand so violent a charge or as some relate to draw vs from the favour of our Canon begins to giue ground which we perceiving give a shout crying out withall They fly they fly which so amazed them that some began to fly indeed and at length the whole Army was routed The Scots complaine that we tyrannized over the Captives especially the Priests and Friers whereof many served in this Feild because by their instigation chiefly our Conditions were so arrogantly reiected Of the Enemies were slaine thirteene thousand and among them beside the Earle of Lohemor and the Lord FLEMING the chiefe of the Scottish Gentry with their Tenants who thought it a disgrace to survive their Lords In the chase were taken fifteene hundred among whome were the Earle HVNTLEY Chancellour of Scotland the Lords HESTER HOBBEY and HAMILTON beside many other persons of Quality This lamentable overthrow was given the tenth of September The English become Victors beyond their expectation ransacked the Countrey five miles about fortified in the Forth the forsaken Islands Keth and Haymon tooke Brocth Castle by their terrour forced the Garrisons of Humes and Fastcastle to yeeld and having built a Fort at Lauder and repaired the ruines of Roxburgh by their departure recreated the deiected mindes of the distressed Scots Our affaires thus succeeding abroad the Church at home had her changes Many of the Counsaile but especially the Protector 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 vnles an irreconcileable breach were made with that Sea So that whiles some eagerly oppose Popery and others coldly defend it not onely what had beene enacted by HENRY the Eighth concerning the abrogation of the Popes 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 Ecclesiasticall Rites it excelled the most Reformed Churches of Germany All Images are pulled downe Priests are permitted to marry the Liturgy set forth in the English Tongue the Eucharist administred vnder both kindes Auricular-Confession forbidden no man prohibited the reading of the Scriptures no Masses to be said for the Soules 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 won◠to judge not according to Reason but Custome of breaking out into Rebellion And it is somewhat remarkable that the same day wherin the Images wherof the Churches were dispossessed were publiquely burned at London we obtained that memorable victory over the Scots at Musselburgh This yeare at Archbishop CRANMER his invitation came into England PETER MARTYR a Florentine MARTIN BVCER of Selestadt and PAVLVS PHAGIVS borne 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 BVCER and PHAGIVS to Cambridge there publiquely to read Divinity but PHAGIVS having scarce saluted the Vniversity deceased of a Quartane Ague the twelfe of November in the five and fortieth yeare of his age Neither did BVCER long survive him who died at Cambridge the last of February 1551 being then threescore yeares old MARTYR shortly after his comming to Oxford maintained publiquely in the Schooles and that with solid arguments against TRESHAM and CHEDSEY Opponents that the Popish Transubstantiation was but a meere fiction which Disputation he after published and inlarged Anno Dom. 1548. Reg. 2. THe English having this yeare fortified and put a strong Garrison into Hadinton a Towne seated in the most fertile soile of all Scotland did from thence and Lauder make often inrodes vpon the bordering Countrey burning and spoiling whatsoever might be vsefull to the Enemy from whome they expected a siege In the meane time had the French sent six thousand ten thousand say we men into Scotland wherof three thousand were Lansquenets led by the Reingrave The Lord of Essé a man of tried valor famous in the siege of Landrecy and other expeditions was chief of the Army These advēturers lāding at Dunbar march speedily for Hadinton ioining with the Scottish Forces consisting of eight thousand men straightly besiege it At the Abbey neere the Towne they call a Counsaile treat of transporting the Queene into France and marrying her to the Daulphin They whome the respect of private ends had not corrupted and withdrawne from the care of the publique weale obiected That they should so draw on them a perpetuall 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 yeares Truce and sought not to intrap the Scot
more worthy or be induced to conforme themselves to the present Reformation of the Church according to the prescript of the Lawes in that behalfe lately enacted And yet I would there were not sufficient cause to suspect that this was but a made oportunity the removall of these obstacles making way for the invasion of these widow Seas For as soone as TONSTALL was exautorated that rich Bishopricke of Duresme by Act of Parliament was wracked the chiefe revenues and customes of it being incorporated to the Crowne and and the rest in despight of the Tenants so guelded that at this day it scarce possesleth the third part of it's antient revenues Yet did Queene MARY seriously endeavour the restitution of those religious portions Queene ELIZABETH would hardly consent that it should lose any of it's plumes yet some it did and King IAMES hath lately enacted against the Alienation of Church lands yea even to the Crowne otherwise then vpon reservation of a reasonable Rent and the returne of them to the Church after the expiration of three lives or one and twenty yeares The hungry Courtier finding how good a thing the Church was had now for some yeares become acquainted with it out of a zealous inteÌ„t to Prey neither could the horridnesse of her sacred skeleton as yet so worke on him as to divert his resolutions and compassionately to leave the Church to her religious poverty Beside the infancy of the King in this incertaine ebbe and flow of Religion made her oportune to all kinde of sacriledge So that we are deservedly to thanke the Almighty Guardian of the Church that these Locusts have not quite devoured the maintenance of the Laborers in this English Vineyard For we yet retaine that antient forme of government in the Primitive Church by Bishops who have for the most part wherwith to support their honorable Function as likewise have other those subordinate Prelats Deans Archdeacons Canons of Cathedrall Churches as for our Preachers of the more polite learned sort we thinke him little befriended by Fortune who long liveth in expectation of a competent preferment I would the residue of the Reformed Churches of Christen dome had not beene pared so neere the quicke by precise hands that but some few of them might in this kinde be paralelled with ours And now behold two Brothers acting their severall Tragedies Iealousy Envy and Ambition infernall Furies had armed them against each other and the Pride of the Feminine Sex prepared them for the Lists A lamentable exigent wherein the losse of his Adversary must be the destruction of each wherein the Kingdome must groane at the losse of one both being in the Estate incompatible wherin the King himselfe must as most suspect he did suffer that he might not suffer THOMAS SEIMOVR Lord Admirall had married CATHARINE PARR the Widow of the deceased King What correspondence there might be betweene Her who had beene the Wife of the late Soveraigne and the Duchesse of Somerset whose Husband being Protector of the Realme in point of command little differed from a Soveraigne and had over his Brother the Admirall the advantages of Age Dignity and generall Esteeme if any man cannot without difficulty coniecture I refer him to the first booke of HERODIAN where let him observe the contentions arising betweene CRISPINA the Wife of COMMODVS and LVCILLA who had beene formerly married to L. VERVS the Emperour But in this the divers dispositions of the Brothers set on edge on the emulous humors of their Wives The Duke was milde affable free open and no way malicious the Admirall was naturally turbulent fierce ambitious and conceived himselfe to be of the two the fitter for publique government Presently after the death of HENRY the Admirall thrust on by the flattery of his overweening conceits resolved to ad a lustre to his good parts by marrying the Lady ELIZABETH as yet indeed scarce marriageable But the Protector wisely considering how rash and perilous this proiect was frustrated that designe By his after marriage with CATHARINE a most beautifull and noble Lady and aboundiug with wealth befitting her dignity most men were confident that the gulfe of his vast desires would have beene satisfied but the Law wherby he was condemned though peradventure enacted by strength of Faction will manifest the contrary What notice I have received and what the publique Records testify concerning this being persuaded that they swarve not much from the truth I thinke I may without blame relate The Admirall having now fortified himselfe with money and friends and deeming his Brothers Lenity Sluggishnesse began to behold him with the eye of contempt and to cast about how to dispossesse him of the saddle and being of like degree of consanguinity to the King to enioy the seat himselfe To the furtherance of this proiect it would be conducible secretly to viâ—ify and traduce the Protectors actions to corrupt the Kings Servants especially if in any degree of favor by faire words and large promises by degrees to assure himselfe of the Nobility to secure his Castle of Holt with a Magazine of warlike provision but above all to take care for money the nerves of War and assurance of Peace These things having beene ordered with exact diligence and for supply of coigne the Exchequer mightily pilled he vnmaskes himselfe to some of the Nobility signifying his intent of setling himselfe at the Sterne of forcibly ceasing on the Kings person Nay his madnesse so far transported him that to one of them conditionally that his assistance were not wanting to the advancement of his designes he promised that the King should marry his daughter In the meane time the Queene his Wife being in September delivered of a Daughter died in childe-bed and that not without suspicion of poison For after her death he more importunately sought the Lady ELIZABETH then ever eagerly endeavoring to procure her consent to a clandestine marriage as was that with the deceased Queene and not vntill after the Nuptialls to crave the assent of the King or the Lords of the Counsaile Anno Dom. 1549. Reg. 3. BVt the Admiralls proiects being oportunely discovered and a Parliament lately assembled he is by the authority thereof committed to the Tower and without triall condemned The Parliament being on the fourteenth of March dissolved he is on the sixt day after publiquely beheaded having first vehemently protested that hee never willingly did either actually endeavour or seriously intend any thing against the Person of the King or the Estate Concerning his death the opinions of men were divers their censures divers Among some the Protector heard ill for suffering his Brother to be executed without ordinary course of triall as for these faults proceeding from the violence of youthfull heat they might better have beene pardoned then the King be left destitute of an Vnkles helpe or himselfe of a Brothers Nay they say there wanted not those that before this severe couâ—se taken with the Admirall
The Lord Paget not long before had beene sent to the Emperor to signifie how we were distressed on the one side by the Scots and on the other by the French and miserably rent at home by intestine dissensions that our necessities required speedy succours or would force vs to condescend to an inconvenient Peace with France But perceiving nothing was to bee obtained of him wee stroke hands with the French vpon these conditions That Boloigne and all the Forts in Boloignois should be surrendred to the French together with the Artillery and other military provision That in lieu thereof the King of France should pay vnto EDVVARD foure hundred thousand crownes by equall portions at two payments That the English should restore to the Scots Lauder and Douglas and if the Queene of Scots should desire it should rase their Fortifications in Haymon and at Roxburgh The Emperour was on both sides comprehended in the League and the Queene of Scots by the French The two Kings presented each other with their military Orders and as one writeth it was on both parts agreed on that EDWARD should marry one of the Daughters of France For the ratification of the Articles on the eight of Aprill Hostages were given By Vs The Duke of Suffolke The Earle of Hertford Sonne to the Duke of Somerset The Earle of Arundell The Earle of Derby The Earle of Bath By the French IOHN of Bourbon Duke of Anguien CLAVD of Loraine Marquis of Mayenne FRANCIS Sonne to the Constable MONTMORENCY LEWIS of Tremoville FRANCIS of Vendosme Vidame of Chartres CLAVD d' Annebalt This Peace betweene vs and France was on the third of March solemnely proclaimed in London and on the five and twentieth of Aprill Bouloigne being accordingly surrendred to the French our Hostages were returned On the thirtieth of Iuly died the Lord WRIOTHSLEY Knight of the Garter late Lord Chancellour of England and Earle of Southampton He had about the beginning of this Kings Raigne delivered vp the Seale the Custody wherof was committed to the Lord Rich. But having beene about halfe a yeare past removed as was also the Earle of Arundell but for what cause is vncertaine from the Counsaile Table he at length whether out of griefe or some other cause fell sicke and died He was father to HENRY the second Earle and Grandfather to HENRY the third Earle of Southampton not long since deceased who having tasted of both fortunes did hertofore as generously behave himselfe in adversity as he did since moderately in prosperity whereto by the Clemency of our late Soveraigne he was restored Anno Dom. 1551. Reg. 5. MEntion hath formerly beene made concerning the Sweating Sickenesse a disease to which England hath given a name as well in reguard of it's originall as of the knowne disposition of our bodies to admit of this virulent contagion England had beene formerly afflicted with it but never so mortally as this present yeare Shrewsbury was now the first place acquainted with this Pestilence there it began in Aprill and thence diffusing it selfe over the most part of the Kingdome at length it vanished away in the North about the beginning of October The fury of it was such as if it would never end but by it's proper cruelty when it should not have left subiects wheron to feed The dead whome it swept away were numberlesse In London only eight hundred was scarce a seven nights stint It made it's first entry into this Island in the Reigne of HENRY the Seventh Anno 1486. and from hence it tooke it's progresse to other Nations The Infected flowed away and within the space of twenty foure houres when this malignant disease was most mercifull in it's execution peradventure within twelve did sweat out their soules Women children and old men it for the most part overpassed and wreaked it selfe on the robustious youth and well compact middle age who if in the beginning of their sickenes did but slumber perished instantly If it seized on any that were full gorged the recovery was in a manner desperate Nay and of others whatsoever they were scarce one of a hundred escaped vntill time had found out a remedy the manner wherof was thus If any be taken in the day time hee must without shifting of his apparell betake himselfe to bed If by night and in bed let him not stir thence vntill twenty foure howers be run In the meane let the coverture be such that it provoke not sweat but that it may gently distill of it selfe if it be possible for him so long to forbeare let him not eat nor drinke more then may moderately serve to extinguish thirst But above all let him so patiently endure heat that hee vncover not any part of his body no not so much as a hand or a foot The strangenesse of this disease I do not so much admire for that PLINY in his twenty sixt Booke the first Chapter witnesseth and daily experience teacheth vs that every age produceth new and Epidemicall diseases But that which surpasseth the search of humane reason is this that this Pestilence afflicted the English in what part of the world soever without touching the Natives but in England alone This dire contagion promiscuously impoverisht the Land of people of all sorts among those of especiall note were HENRY Duke of Suffolke and his Brother who were the Sonnes of CHARLES BRANDON and the Kings Couzins germane young Noblemen of great and lively hopes by the death of HENRY the Duchy was for some few howers devolved to the younger Brother who had the vnhappy honour but to be seized of the Title and dy The Lord Gray Marquis of Dorset having married FRANCIS the eldest Daughter of CHARLES BRANDON in the right of his Wife made claime to the Duchy and was on the eleventh of October invested in it At what time also IOHN DVDLEY Earle of Warwicke was created Duke of Northumberland WILLIAM POWLET Earle of Wiltshire Marquis of Winchester and Sir WILLIAM HERBERT Lord Cardif Master of the Horse Earle of Pembroke The masculine Line of DVDLEY and GRAY hath beene long since extinct Of the Family of the POWLETS we have spoken already the Lord HERBERT Brother in law to Queene CATHARINE PARR derived himselfe from WILLIAM HERBERT in the time of EDWARD the Fourth Earle of Pembroke and was succeeded in the Earledome by his Sonne HENRY Father to WILLIAM the moderne Earle whose mature wisedome and gravity even in his greener yeares long since ranked him in the sage Senate of the Privy Counsaile to two successive Kings and to PHILIP by King IAMES created Earle of Montgomery Then also were knighted Sir IOHN CHEEKE the King's Schoolemaster Sir HENRY DVDLEY Sir HENRY NEVILL and whome I cannot mention but with due honor Sir WILLIAM CECILL CECILL I say who then Secretary of Estate was afterward by all Europe held in admiration for his wisedome whome Queene ELIZABETH made Lord Treasurer of England and Baron of Burleigh and was whilest he
France the second Daughter of HENRY the Seventh who her two Brothers then alive had beene married to HENRY GRAY Marquis of Dorset The two Brothers as before dying of the late mortality the Marquis is in the right of his Wife created Duke of Suffolke and this was another stop to his Ambition For the removall whereof he intends this course He imparts his designes to the Duke of Suffolke and desires that a Match may be concluded betweene the Lord GVILFORD DVDLEY his fourth Sonne and Lady IANE GREY the Duke of Suffolke's eldest Daughter And because if onely right of inheritance should be pretended the Duchesse of Suffolke were in reason to be preferred before her Daughter he vndertakes to persuade the King not only to disherit his Sisters by Will and Testament but also by the same to declare the Lady IANE his next and immediate Successor Suffolke biting at this bait they complot by drawing the chiefest of the Nobility to contract Affinity either with the one or tother to procure the generall assent of them all So on the same day that Lady IANE vnder anvnhappy Planet was married to Lord GVILFORD the Duke of Suffolk's two youngest Daughters are married CATHARINE to Lord HENRY eldest sonne to the Earle of Pembrooke and crouch backed MARY to MARTIN KEYES Groome Porter Northumberlands eldest Daughter also named CATHARINE was married to the Lord HASTINGS eldest sonne to the Earle of Huntington These marriages were in Iune solemnized at London the King at that time extremely languishing Hauing thus brought these things to a desired passe nothing now remained but to act his part with the weake King To Him he inculcates In what danger the estate of the Church would be if He dying provision were not first made of a pious Successour and such a one as should maintaine the now established Religion How the Lady MARY stood affected was well knowne Of the Lady ELIZABETH there might be peraduenture better hopes But their causes were so strongly connexed that either both must be excluded or the Lady MARY be admitted That it was the part of a religious and good Prince to set apart all respects of Bloud where God's Glory and the Subiects weale might be indangered They that should do otherwise were after this life which is short to exspect revenge at God's dreadfull Tribunall where they are to vndergo the tryall either of eternall life or eternall death That the Duke of Suffolke had three Daughters neerest to him in degrees of Bloud they were such as their Vertues and Birth did commend and from whome the violation of Religion or the danger of a forraine yoke by any match was not to be feared for asnuch as their education had beene Religious they had as it were with their milke suckt in the spirituall food of true Christian Doctrine and were also matched to Husbands as zealous of the Truth as themselves He could wish and would advise that these might be successively called to the Crowne but with this caution That they should maintaine the now established Religion And although Lady IANE the eldest of the three were married to his Sonne he would be content that they should be bound by oath to performe whatsoever his Maiesty should decree for he had not so much reguard to his owne as the generall good These reasons so prevailed with the young King that he made his Will and therin as much as in him lay excluded both his Sisters from the Succession to the Crowne and all others whosoever beside the Duke of Suffolke's Daughters This Will was read in presence of the Counsaile and the chiefe Iudges of the Realme and by each of them confirmed with a strict command that no man should publish the contents of it least it might prove an occasion of sedition and civill tumults The Archbishop CRANMER did for a while refuse to subscribe to it not deeming it any way agreeable to equity that the right of lawfull Succession should vpon any pretences be violated But the King vrging him and making Religion a motive which was otherwise likely to suffer after a long deceptation he was at length drawne to assent But these delaies of his were so little reguarded by Queene MARY that vnder her scarce any man was sooner marked out for destruction Some few daies after these passages on the fixt of Iuly in the sixteenth yeare of his age King EDWARD at Greenwich surrendred his soule to God having vnder his Tutors reigned six yeares five moneths and nineteene daies and even in that tender age given great proofe of his vertue a Prince of great devotion constancy of minde love of the Truth and incredibly studious vertues which with Royall Greatnesse seldome concur Some three howers before his death not thinking any one had beene present to over-heare him he thus commended himselfe to God O Lord God free me Ibeseech thee out of this miserable and calamitous life and receive me among the number of thine Elect if so be it be thy pleasure although not mine but thy will he done To thee O Lord do J commend my Spirit Thou knowest O Lord how happy J shall be may I live with thee in Heaven yet would I might live and be well for thine Elects sake that I might faithfully serve thee O Lord God blesse thy People and save thine Jnheritance O Lord God save thy people of England defend this Kingdome frome Popery and preserve thy true Religion in it that Iand my People may blesse thy most Holy Name for thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST Then opening his eyes which he had hitherto closed and seeing Doctor OWEN the Physition from whose report we have this Prayer sitting by Are you there quoth he J had not thought you had been so neere who answered I heard you speake but could not collect your words Jndeed replied the King J was making my prayer to God A little after he suddenly cried out I faint Lord have mercy vpon me and receive my Soule which words he had scarce spoken ere hee departed Much might be spoken in praise of this Prince but reguardfull of my intended brevity I will only give you a taste of him out of CARDAN who about a yeare before travailing through England toward Scotland was admitted to his presence The conference betweene them he thus describeth Aderant illi speaking of the King Gratiae Linguas enim multas callebat puer c. He was stored with Graces for being yet a Childe he spake many Languages his native English Latine French and as I heare was also skilled in the Greeke Italian Spanish and peradventure some others He wanted neither the rudiments of Logicke the principles of Philosophy nor Musicke He was full of Humanity the relish of Morality of Gravity befitting Royalty of hopes great as himselfe A Childe of so great wit and such expectation could not be borne without a kinde of miracle in nature I write not this Rhetorically with the excesse of an Hyperbole for to
their armes and peaceably to repaire to their homes These letters tooke vp the matter and set the Duke at liberty which notwithstanding lasted not long For the next morning as he was readie to take horse the Earle of Arundell intercepted him and with him apprehended the Earle of Huntingdon the Earle of Warwicke Northumberland's eldest sonne and two others younger Lord AMBROSE and Lord HENRY DVDLEY Sir ANDREW DVDLEY the Duke's brother Sir THOMAS PALMER Sir IOHN GATES his brother HENRY GATES and Doctour EDWIN SANDS who on the five and twentieth of Iuly were brought to London and presently committed to the Tower The Earle of Huntingdon was not long after set at liberty but his sonne was presently Sir IOHN GATES whom Northumberland accused to have beene the contriver of all this mischiefe and Sir THOMAS PALMER were after executed The Earle of Warwicke died in prison The Lords AMBROSE and HENRY DVDLEY were pardoned HENRY was afterward slaine with a shot at the siege of S. Quintin but AMBROSE finding fortune more propitious out-lived MARY and by Queene ELIZABETH created Earle of Warwicke long flourished in the happinesse of her favour Sir ANDREW DVDLEY after his condemnation was also pardoned Doctour SANDS being then ce-chancellour of the Vniversitie of Cambridge had by Northumberland's command in the Pulpit publiquely impugned Queene MARYES cause and defended that of Ladie IANE but with that wisdome and moderation although vpon the short warning of some few howers that hee abundantly satisfied the Duke and yet did not so deeply incurre the displeasure of the adverse part but that his friends prevailed with the Queene for his pardon So that after a yeares imprisonment he was set at libertie and presently fled over into Germany after the death of Queene MARY returning from his voluntary exile hee was consecrated Bishop of Worcester from which Sea he was translated to London and thence againe to the Archbishoprick of Yorke a man for his learning vertue wisdome and extract very famous but most especially happy in his Issue whereof many were admirable for their indowments both internall and externall and of whom wee have in our age seene three honoured with Knighthood On the six and twentieth of Iuly the Marquis of Northampton afterward condemned and pardoned Doctour RIDLEY Bishop of London who two yeares after was burned at Oxford and beside many others Lord ROBERT DVDLEY that great Earle of Leicester vnder Queene ELIZABETH were brought to the Tower On the seven and twentieth the Duke of Suffolke to whom the Queene with admirable clemency within foure dayes restored his libertie Sir IOHN CHEEKE King EDWARD'S Schoolemaster Sir ROGER CHOLMELEY chiefe Iustice of the King's Bench and Sir EDMOND MOVNTAGVE chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas were committed to the same place who were all on the third of September set at libertie On the thirtieth of Iuly the Ladie ELIZABETH accompanied by a great traine of Nobles Knights Gentlemen and Ladies to the number of five hundred some say a thousand set forward from the Strand through London and so to Wansted towards the Queene to congratulate her happy successe in vindicating her right to the Crowne Who on the third of August having dismissed her Army which had not yet exceeded the number of 13000. attended by all the Nobilitie made a triumphant entrance through London to the Tower where the Duke of Norfolke EDWARD COVRTNEY sonne to the Marquis of Excester beheaded in the yeare 1538. GARDINER late Bishop of Winchester and ANNE Duchesse of Somerset presented themselves on their knees and GARDINER in the name of them all spake a congratulatory Oration which ended the Queene courteously raised them and kissing each of them said These are all my owne prisoners and gave order for their present discharge EDWARD COVRTNEY she restored to his Fathers honours making him Marquis of Excester As for GARDINER shee not only reseated him in the Bishopricke of Winchester but also on the threâ— and twentieth of August made him Lord Chancellour of England notwithstanding that he had not only subscribed to the Divorce from CATHARINE the Queenes Mother but had published bookes wherein hee had defended King HENRY'S proceedings On the fift of August BONER and TONSTALL who had beene formerly deprived of their Bishoprickes the one of London the other of Duresme and shortly after DAY of Chichester and HEATH of Worcester were inlarged and restored to their Bishopricks the present Incumbents being without due processe of Law eiected On the tenth of August were celebrated the Exequies of King EDWARD DAY Bishop of Chichester preaching executing in English and administring the Sacrament according to the manner and forme received in the Raigne of EDWARD For as yet nothing had beene determined concerning any change in point of Religion So that when BOWRNE a Chanoin of Pauls afterward Bishop of Bath Wells preaching at the Crosse did inveigh against the Reformation in King EDWARD'S time and did in vpbrading manner argue the iniustice of those times which condemned BONER to perpetuall imprisonment for matter delivered by him in that place that time foure yeare who was now by a more iust clemency restored to his libertie and dignitie the people inured to the Protestant Religion and could abstaine from stoning him and one of them ayming a poniard at him missed him very narrowly the affections of the Assembly may by this be conceived that during the Raigne of Queene MARY the Authour of this bold attempt notwithstanding the diligence of ernest inquisitors could neuer be discovered The vproare increasing and divers pressing toward the Pulpit BOVRNE protected by two Protestant Preachers BRADFORD and ROGERS who were greatly reverenced by the people and afterward burned for their Religion was with great difficultie conveied to the Schoole at Pauls And now at length on the eighteenth of August the Duke of Norfolke sitting as high Steward of England were the Duke of Northumberland his sonne the Earle of Warwicke and the Marquis of Northampton arraigned at Westminster where the Duke of Northumberland pleading that he had done nothing but by authority of the Counsaile his plea being not admitted for sufficient he was condemned of high Treason The sentence being pronounced he craved the favour of such a death as was vsually executed on Noblemen and not the other He beseeched also that a favourable reguard might be had of his children in respect of their age Thirdly that hee might be permitted to confer with some learned Divine for the setling of his conscience And lastly that her Maiesty would be pleased to send vnto him foure of her Counsaile for the discovery of some things which might concerne the Estate The Marquis of Northampton pleaded to his inditement that after the beginning of these tumults hee had forborne the execution of any publique office and that all that while intent to hunting and other sports he did not partake in the conspiracie But it being manifest that he was party with the Duke of
diversly some censuring the Queenes actions others complaining of the change of Religion contrary to her promise made to the Suffolke men some lamented the case of Lady IANE who had beene forcibly deposed and cruelly condemned to an ill-deserved death Some were swaied by pittie some by the reguard of Religion but most by the feare of a Spanish servitude and others were by their owne hopes and the desire of change animated to a rebellion A Chieftaine only was wanting which defect was quickly supplied by Sir THOMAS WYATA Knight of Kent Who having communicated the matter with the Duke of Suffolke Sir PETER CAROW of Devonshire and some others concluded that it would not be expedient to attempt any thing vntill the arrivall of PHILIP that so they might not seeme to have taken Armes to any other end then to secure their Countrey from the vsurpation of a foraine Prince So reserving themselves for oportunity they disperse themselves into severall places WYAT into Kent a countrey adioyning to London and disioyned from Calais by a little fret of Sea Sir PETER CAROW into Devonshire a part of England in the West opposite to the maine of France and the Duke of Suffolke withdrew himselfe to his place in Warwick shire situated in the very heart of the Realme In these severall places they secreâ—ly furnish themselves with armes money and all sorts of munition and seeke to draw others to partake in the Conspiracie Sir PETER CAROW whether thrust on by his fate or thinking delaywould prove dangerous began secretly to levie some forces in Cornwall but the maâ—ter being sooner detected then was hoped he quickly oppressed he presently tooke ship fled into France where he lurked some time vntill at length being seemingly reconciled to the King he was taken at Brussells and brought captive into England By what meanes hee afterward made an escape I know not But he flourished many yeares vnder Queene ELIZABETH and died at Rosse in Leinster a Province of Irland in the yeare 1577. as appeareth by his monument in the Cothedrall Church at Excester erected at the costs of his nephew PETER who was brother to GEORGE whom King IAMES for his many vertues not long since created a Baron With Sir PETER at the same time Sir IOHN CHEEKE who had beene King EDWARD'S Tutour was also taken who came from Strasburg towards Brussells and that not without publique licence vpon no other businesse but to visit as saith FOX the Queenes Agents there or rather according to THVANVS to marry a wife Whatsoever were the cause of his iourney certaine it is that hee was intercepted on the way from Antwerp to Brussells vnhorsed by some of the Queenes servants and tied with cords to a cart at last muffled carried on shipboard and conveied to the Tower at London not knowing all the way for what part of the world hee was bound There having alwaies in conscience abhorred the errours of Popery he was forced to abiure his Religion for which hee afterward became so repentant that out of extremitie of griefe he languished and shortly died These passages I doe the more exactly describe because there want not some who relate that both Sir PETER CAROW and Sir IOHN CHEEKE for their Religion suffered at a stake on the thirteenth of Iune this present yeare But to returne to WIAT he perceiving that his intents were divulged and that hee had nothing to trust to no refuge but valour incited the people in Kent to a Rebellion and as Rebels never want common pretexts to colour their actions that Because the Queene relying too much vpon the advise of bad Counsailers had lately done and did daily indevour many things preiudiciall to the Estate of the Realme That therefore to prevent farther inconveniences those Counsailers must be removed and others substituted who should so manage the Estate as should answere the trust reposed in such men whose loyalty should render them more carefull of the publique then their private profit But above all they must endevour that some meanes must be vsed to impeach this determined Match by which hee plainly foresaw this free Realme would be oppressed with the miseâ—ies of a most lamentable servitude and a floud-gate would be opened to let in a perpetuall current of Superstition That the effects of their Armes would prove very profitable to the Queene for whose happinesse he should ever pray and to the generall good of the Kingdome But howsoever heefed the giddie multitude with specious words the Duke of Suffolke at that time running the same courses in Warwick-shire it was palpable that their drift was to depose MARY and once more to inthrone captive IANE By the five and twentieth of Ianuary fame had filled London with the newes of this Kentish Rebellion For the repression whereof the Duke of Norfolke was the same day dispatched with some small forces consisting for the most part of the Queenes Guard which were a little increased by the accession of five hundred Londoners who were the next day sent downe by water to Gravesend where the Duke expected them With these hee resolves to encounter WIAT whom his madnesse had not yet carried beyond Rochester which notwithstanding its weaknesse being no way fortified he intended to make good against the Duke and had incamped within the ruines of the Castle Rochester is a Citie seated vpon the River Medway where falling into the Thames it is most violent ebbing and flowing like a straight and is made passable by an arched stone bridge of excellent artifice This bridge had the Rebels seized and planted on it some brasse double Canons that they might debar the Duke whom they vnderstood by their Scouts to bee vpon march of passage But he nothing daunted with their proceedings sent a Herald to proclaime pardon to such as forsaking WIAT should returne to their obedience resolving withall to force the bridge and gaine entrance into the Citie The Herald executed his office but with so submisse a voice that hee was heard by few for indeed a Pistoll held at his brest so terrified him that hee was content for his owne safetie to yeild to the Rebels so commanding and was returned with this answer that they knew not themselves to be so far delinquent as that they should need any such pardon Only Sir GEORGE HARPER faining a revolt made over toward the Duke of Norfolke but indeed with intent to persuade ALEXANDER BRET Captaine of those five hundred Londoners to partake in this action of common disloyalty Which he performed so effectually that BRET whose Company made the Vauntguard before hee came so neere the bridge as to give an assault sudainly drawing his sword turned about to his souldiers and thus bespake them Valiant Countrymen wee now ingage our selves in a cause which before wee farther proceed would require mature deliberation We march but against whom Are they not our friends our fellow-natives with whom we seeke to make a deeper mixture of our blouds Have
of these letters returnes to Dilling not far from Trent certifies his Holinesse of the whole carriage of the businesse and sends expostulatory letters to the Emperor shewing therin what an indignity it was to the Apostolique Sea that his Holinesse Legat sent vpon a treaty of Peace and to reduce a Kingdome to the obedience of the Church should so disgracefully with contempt to his Holinesse and that by the Emperours command be detained in the middest of Germany in the sight of the enemies of the Church That great Divine DOMINGO SOTO Ordinary Preacher to the Emperour was then at Dilling By him hee persuades the Emperour not to hinder this Legation being it would so much hazard the estate of the Church but especially of the Kingdome of England At length with much ado and that not vntill the Emperour had intelligence that the Articles concerning his Sonnes marriage were agreed on hee obtained leave to come to Brussells but on this condition that he should there reside vntill the Emperour were assured that the marriage betweene PHILIP aad MARY were solemnised So to Brussells he came where having saluted the Emperor who received him very courteously and that time might not passe vnprofitably with him he begins to put in execution one part of his Legation which was to draw the Emperor and the King of France to some indifferent termes of peace The Emperor professing that he would not reiect peace vpon any reasonable conditions the Cardinall goes into France to treat with HENRY concerning the same thing who made as faire shewes as did the Emperour but their mindes exulcerated with inveterate hate made all his paines fruitlesse HENRY at his departure embracing him signified the sorrow he had conceived that he had not sooner occasion to be acquainted with his worth for had he truly knowne him his endeavours should have beene totally for his advancement to the Papacy A little after his returne to Brussells came the Lords Paget and Hastings Embassadors to the Emperour from their Maiesties of England who signified their joint longing to see the Cardinall and therefore desired he might be forthwith dismissed that by vertue of his authority he might rectify the Church of England wonderfully out of tune by reason of the Schisme wherwith it had beene afflicted So in September hee had leave to go for England but was by contrary windes detained at Calais vntill November in which moneth he at length arrived at Dover His entertainment was most honorable the Kings and Nobles alike striving to manifest their joy And because being in the yeare 1539. by Parliament declared Enemy to the Estate and by the same Law condemned to dy the Estates then assembled in Parliament repealed that Act and restored him to his Bloud the Kings themselves comming to the House extraordinarily for the confirmation of the Act before his arrivall at London A little after his comming both Houses were sent for to the Court where the Bishop of Winchester lord Chancellor having in the presence of the Kings and the assembly spoken something concerning the Cardinalls gratefull arrivall the Cardinall himselfe began a long oration in English wherin Hee acknowledged how much he was bound to the Kings and the Estates of the Realme by whose favor those Lawes for his exile and proscription were repealed and he once more made a Native of the land he was bound by the Lawes of gratitude to endeavour the requitall of this benefit wherto an occasion happily offered it selfe The late Schisme had separated them from the vnion of the Church and made them exiles from heaven By the authority conferred on him by the Pope Saint PETER'S Successor CHRIST'S Vicar he would bring them backe into the Fold of the Church the sole meanes of attaining their celestiall Heritage Wherefore he exhorted them ingenuously to acknowledge the errors of these later yeares and to detest them with sincere alacrity of minde to accept of and retaine this benefit which God by his Vicar's Legate did proffer them For now nothing else remained but that hee being present with those Keyes which should open the gates of the Church they should also abrogate those Lawes which lately enacted to the preiudice of the Church had rended them from the rest of it's Body Having spoken a great deale to this purpose and ransacked Antiquity for examples of our fore-fathers devotion to the Sea of Rome his grave delivery excellent language and methodicall contexture of his speech wrote so effectually in the mindes of those who were addicted to Popery that they thought not themselves vntill this day capable of Salvation But many of the lower House who deemed it a rare felicity to have shaken off the yoke of Rome eagerly withstood the re-admittance of it But by the endeavours of the King and Queene all things were at last composed to the Cardinalls liking The authority which the Popes heretofore vsurped in this Realme is restored the title of Supreme Head of the Church is abrogated a Petition drawne by the whole Court of Parliament for the Absolution of the People and Clergy of England from Schisme and Heresy is by the Bishop of Winchester presented to the Legate who they all kneeling by the authority committed vnto him absolved them This being done they went to the Chappell in Procession singing Te Deum and the next Sunday the Bishop of Winchester in his Sermon at Pauls-Crosse made a large relation of what had passed These things being thus setled the Queene intends an honorable Embassy to Rome wherof she had at her first comming to the Crowne made promise For having resolved to replant the Religion of Rome she had privily written to POOLE requiring his advice therin The Pope was therefore pleased to send into England GIOVANNI FRANCISCO COMMENDONO his Chamberlaine afterward Cardinall for the more perfect notice of the estate of the Realme To him the Queene after much privat conference did vnder her hand promise obedience to the Sea of Rome desiring withall that the Kingdome might be absolved from the Interdict for the obtaining wherof she would by a solemne Embassy petition his Holinesse as soone as the Estate was setled So now about the end of this yeare the Bishop of Ely Sir ANTHONY BROWNE and EDWARD CARNE Doctor of Law are by the Kings sent to proffer their obedience to the Sea of Rome But these costs and paines were fruitlesse For before they came to Rome the Pope was dead In the meane time the Queene considering all her actions hitherto to have passed with full applause began to treat with the Nobility to condiscend that if not the Royall at least the matrimoniall Crowne of our Queenes might be imposed on PHILIP But it being a matter without precedent and that might perchance to an ambitious Prince give some colour for claime to the Kingdome they proved averse and shee content to surcease The next care was of restitution of Church lands But HENRY had so divided them and that
among the Nobility that nothing could be done therein Only it was decreed that the First-Fruits and Tenths granted to the King by the Clergy Anno 1534 should be remitted which Decree vpon consideration of the Treasuries poverty and of the many Pensions granted by HENRY to the eiected Religious Persons was quickly revoked About the same time an absurd I might say ridiculous accident happened by the Queens owne credulity and the flattery of fawning Courtiers By reason of a disease which Physitians terme a Mole her belly began to swell and some other reasons giving her cause to coniecture that she was with childe shee not entertaining the advice of any Physitians but of Mid wives and old women beleeving what she desired should be affirmed that she felt the stirring of the Embryo in her wombe To those that are affected with this malady that fleshy and informe substance which is termed Mola doth seeme sometimes to move but that slowly and with the generall motion of the whole belly By this and other symptomes Physitians would quickly have discovered her disease which vnlesse very maturely prevented is commonly incurable so that in processe of time her Liver being over-cooled she fell into a Dropsy which as FVCHSIVS and other Physitians write doth vsually happen But these flattering hopes betraied her to the laughter of the world and to her grave For on the seven and twentieth of November the Lords of the Counsaile sent some Mandates to the Bishop of London to disperse certaine formes of Praiers wherein after thankes given to God for his Mercies to this Kingdome by giving hopes of an Heire to the Crowne and infusing life into the Embryo they should pray for the preservation of the Queene and the Infant and her happy delivery and cause Te Deum to be sung every where Then by Parliament many things were enacted concerning the education of the Babe and much clutter was otherwise kept about preparatious for the Childes swadling clouts cradle and other things requisite at the Delivery vntill in Iune in the ensuing yeare it was manifested that all was little better then a dreame This yeare were many Barons created On the eleventh of March WILLIAM HOWARD was created Lord Howard of Effingam he was Father to CHARLES Lord Admirall and late Earle of Notingham on the fift of Aprill IOHN WILLIAMS Lord Williams of Tame on the seventh of Aprill EDWARD NORTH Baron of Chartlege on the eighth of Aprill IOHN BRVGES Lord Chandois on the fourteenth of May GERARD FITZ-GERARD of whome before Earle of Kildare and on the second of September ANTHONY BROWNE Viscount Mountague And in September deceased THOMAS Duke of Norfolke Anno Dom. 1555. Reg. MARIAE 2. 3. PHILIPPI 1. 2. ON the eighteenth of Ianuary the Lord Chancellor comming to the Tower with six other Lords of the Counsaile set many brave prisoners at liberty viz. the Archbishop of Yorke Sir IOHN ROGERS Sir IAMES CROFT Sir NICHOLAS THROCKMORTON Sir NICHOLAS ARNOLD Sir GEORGE HARPER Sir WILLIAM SENTLOW Sir GAWIN CAREW Sir ANDREW DVDLEY the Duke of Northumberland's Brother WILLIAM GIBS CVTBERT VAVGHAN HARINGTON TREMAINE and others The Archbishop having married a Wife was deprived and NICHOLAS HEATH sometimes Bishop of Worcester but deprived by King EDWARD and HOOPER being eiected and condemned to the fire lately restored by Queene MARY was substituted in his place ROGERS and CROFT were afterward Privy Counsailers to Queene ELIZABETH vnder whome they many yeares flourished in great authority THROCKMORTON a subtle man was thought to have beene the plotter of WIAT'S Rebellion his head was therefore especially aimed at But being indited and ten whole howers spent in sifting him he by such witty answers voided the accusation of his Adversary that the Iurors found him not guilty for which they were afterward soundly fined About the beginning of Aprill the Marquis of of Excester and a little after the Lady ELIZABETH were set at liberty Concerning Lady ELIZABETH it was long consulted what course to take with her wherein the resolutions of the Papists were bloudily bent to make her away when any colourable occasion should present it selfe The Bishop of Winchester vpon any speech concerning the punishment of Heretiques is repoâ—ted to have said We strip off the leaves or lop off the branches but vnles we strike at the Root that hope of Heretiques meaning Lady ELIZABETH we do nothing But after long search into her actions no sufficient matter of accusation being found although there wanted not those who sought to persuade the Queene that her liberty would indanger the Queene yet PHILIP aspiring to the opinion of clemency by his intercession toward the end of Aprill she had her liberty but so that she was bound to admit of into her Family Sir THOMAS POPE a Privy Counsailer GAGE and some others who should alwaies keepe watch over her actions This small sparkle of clemency was obscured by a gâ—eater flame of cruelty a multitude of godly men suâ—fering this yeare for their conscience only On the fourth of February IOHN ROGERS the Protomartyr of those times was burned at London He was TINDALL'S companion after whose death fearing persecution hee would not returne into his Countrey but went with his Wife to Wirtenberg where having attained to the Germane Tongue hee vndertooke the Cure of a certaine Church there which he faithfully discharged vntill vnder King EDWARD he was recalled from exile by RIDLEY Bishop of London made a Prebend of Pauls and Lecturer there Queene MARY having attained the Crowne the Papists endeavored to affright him and so to have once more forced him to a voluntary exile commanding him not so much as to peepe into the streets and in this manner lived he a yeare vntill at last refusing to fly he was imprisoned and condemned to the fire which cruell death notwithstanding that he was to leave a wife and ten children he did most constantly vndergo The like end on the ninth of February made IOHN HOOPER Bishop first of Glocester and then of Worcester too holding both Seas in Commendam who tooke much paines about BONER'S deprivation which thing now hastened him to a stake For as soone as Queene MARY was inthroned he was sent for to London committed to the Tower and condemned for an Heretique HENRY reigning he spent part of his life in Germany where hee tooke to wife a Burguignon and among other devout learned men had intimate familiarity with HENRY BVLLINGER by whome for his learning godly and sweet conversation he was held in dâ—ere esteeme After his condemnation hee was sent to Glocester there to suffer where hee was thought most to have sinned in sowing seeds of error He himselfe not a little rejoicing that he should by the testimony of his bloud confirme that Doctrine before their eyes into whose eares hee had so often inculcated it The same course was taken with FERRAR Bishop of S. Davids who was brought downe froÌ„ London to his owne Dioces there
to be judged by the new Bishop MORGAN by whome he was condemned and burned at Carmarden the third of March He was a man rigid and of a rough behaviour which procured him much trouble vnder King EDWARD and now I beleeve proved his bane For having been by the Duke of Somerset advanced to that Dignity after his death this good and learned man by his sower behaviour drawing neere to arrogance which with that Nation is a great indignity raised against himselfe many accusers two whereof vnder Queene ELIZABETH became Bishops who after the death of the Duke of Somerset easily prevailed with the adverse Faction for his imprisonment Being found in prison when MARY came to the Crowne and brought before the Bishop of Winchester he might I beleeve by pleasing answers and a little yeelding to the season have honestly escaped their bloudy hands as did many others who having not waded too far in Lady IANE'S cause nor otherwise given any grand affront to any of the Popish Prelates by this meanes without impediment going into voluntary exile or being taken had their liberty easily procured at the intercession of Friends But FERRAR according to his innate tartnesse answering freely I will not say waiwardly to his interrogatories did so inrage the Bishop of Winchester that I do not much wonder at the hard proceedings against him Beside these ROLAND TAILOR Doctor of Divinity suffered at Hadley the ninth of February LAVRENCE SANDERS an excellent Preacher on the eighth at Coventrey IOHN CARDMAKER Chancellor of the Church of Wells on the last of May at London where also on the first of Iuly that godly and learned man IOHN BRADFORD vnderwent the tortures of his martyrdome But not to go to a particular enumeration of all that suffered for their Faith the number of them was almost incredible the greater part whereof were executed out of BONER'S butchery But among others we cannot omit those Worthies RIDLEY and LATIMER who having beene condemned the yeare before were now on the sixteenth of October conducted to execution and at Oxford in the aspect of the Academiques were in the Towne ditch neere Balioll Colledge tied to a stake and burned CRANMER is reported from the higher part of his prison to have beheld this dolefull spectacle and with bended knees and elevated hands to have praied for their constancy of Hope and Faith as also for himselfe who was shortly hee knew to tread their path But his execution was for a time deferred by the Bishop of Winchesters meanes and that not out of pitty but ambition and reguard of his owne profit On the foure and twentieth of March died IVLIVS the Third after whose death the Conclave elected MARCELLO CERVINO a man of excellent learning wisedome and â—anctity of life and vnder whom there was great hope of the reformation of that Church whose that memorable saying was That he did not see how it was possible for a Pope to be saved who having sate two and twenty dayes only died and left the Chaire to Cardinall CARAFFA of whose contention with POOLE we have spoken already who succeeded him by the name of PAVL the Fourth GARDINER being not ignorant of this contention and the differences betweene them deales vnderhand with this new Pope to honour him with a Cardinalls Hat and to transfer on him the authority Legatine by IVLIVS conferred on POOLE The Pope in reguard of his hatred to POOLE easily condiscended thereto determining also to cite him to Rome there to force him to acquit himselfe of Heresy and to suffer as did Cardinall MORONO POOLE'S great Friend whome this Pope detained in prison as long as himselfe lived Hereby GARDINER well hoped to attaine to be Archbishop of Canterbury the revenues of which Bishopricke POOLE received as a Sequestratour and would no otherwise as long as CRANMER lived This was the reason that CRANMER'S execution was deferred to worke meanes that POOLE might not be invested in the Archbishopricke which hee himselfe for the former reasons hoped to attaine But while GARDINER was wholy intent to this proiect death had a proiect on him and cut him of by the extremity of a Dropsie which swelling from his feet and legs vp to his belly dispatched him on the twelfth of November who was with great solemnity interred in his Cathedrall at Winâ—hester The Emperour CHARLES the Fiâ—t having determined to resigne the Empire and his Kingdome on the five and twentieth of October at Brussels where all the Estates of his Realmes were assembled transferred all his Kingdomes and Dominions on his Son PHILIP whom he had formerly made King of Naples and Sicily and betooke himselfe to the rest of a priuate life Anno Dom. 1556. Reg. Mariae 3. 4. Philippi 2. 3. TO begin the yeare with its first day on the first of Ianuary NICHOLAS HEATH Archbishop of Yorke was made Lord Chancellour In March a Comet in the twentieth degree of Libra was seene from the fift to the seventeenth of the same moneth On the thirteenth of March a counterfait EDWARD whose true name was WILLIAM FETHERSTONâ— was executed for a Traitor he being a Millers sonne in stature and lineaments of bodie not much vnlike the deceased King EDWARD and his age also agreeable had beene the last yeare publiquely whipped through London for affirming himselfe to be the King But not sufficiently terrified by the smart of this punishment hee againe betakes him to the same imposture privately affirmes himselfe to be King EDWARD and causes letters to be cast abroad that King EDWARD was alive for which he was at length deservedly hanged And now we are at length come to the narration of the memorable Martyrdome of the Archbishop CRANMER STEPHEN GARDINER Bishop of Wincheâ—ter being dead Cardinall POOLE as yet the Pope's Legate appointed IAMES BROOKE Bishop of Gloueester for CRANMER'S triall forasmuch as they iudged it vnlawfull to punish an Archbishop but by leave from his Holinesse IOHN STORY and THOMAS MARTIN Doctours of Law Commissioners for the Queene accompanied the Bishop to Oxford that the Authority Royall might countenance the Delegates proceeding In Saint Maries Church they had high seates purposely erected for them BROOKE sitting vnder the place where the consecrated Host did vsually hang in a Pixe beside him sate MARTIN and STORY but a little lower and CRANMER habited like a Doctour of Divinite not like a Bishop was brought before them Being told that there were those who represented not only her Maiesties person but also of the most holy Father the Pope hee with due reverence saluted STORY and MARTIN but would not so much as vouchsafe to cast his eyes toward BROOKE and that not as he afterward confessed of contempt of the man whom hee formerly loved but that hee might not seeme to acknowledge the Popes authoritie hee having by oath to King HENRY obliged himselfe to the contrary especially in England where hee could make no pretence of right Then