ready to give accompt to God for the abunâ—ance of bloud already spilt and knew he was no longer able to live he imprisoned the Duke of Norfolk the father signed a Warrant for the execution of the Earl of Surrey his son within nine dayes after he himself expired Unto a stately great outlandish Dame A messenger from our King Henry came Henry of famous memory the eight To treat with her in matter of great weight As namely how the King did seek her marriage Because of her great vertue and goâ—d carriage She that had heard the King lov'd change of pasture Repli'd I humbly thank the King your master And would such love his same in me hath bred My body venter so but not my head Sir Iohn Harringtons Epigrams Maximilian the Emperour was retained by him as his souldier He not only wore the Cross of St. George but received his pay duely viz. a hundred Crowns per diem L. Herbert in Hen. the 8 ths life Sub Rege Anglorum magnus meret Induperator Germanique truces duro gens strenua bello Oclandi Anglorum praelia The Raign of this King continued with great nobleness and fame the space of thirty eight years During whose time and Raign was great alteration of things as well to the Civil State of the Realm as especially to the State Ecclesiasticall and matters to the Church appertaining For by him was exiled and abolished out of the Realm the usurped power of the Bishop of Rome idolatry and superstition somewhat repressed images defaced Abbeys and Monasteries pulled down sects of Religion rooted out Scriptures reduced to the knowledge of the vulgar tongues and the state of the Church and Religion redressed Fox his Acts and Monuments vol. 2. p. 63. See B. Bedells Examinat of Wadsworths motives c. 10. He was much addicted to the reading of Thomas Aquinas and was therefore as some think called by Luther Thomisticus acerrimus ingeniorum aestimator Had. Jun. Epist. D. Dilso He wrote a volume against Luther in defence of Pardons the Papacy and the supposed seven Sacraments Of this Work the original is yet remaining in the Vatican at Rome and with his own hand thus inscrib'd Anglorum Rex Henricus Leoni 10. mittit hoc opus fidei testem amicitiae Whereupon saith Sleidan Pontifex honorisicum Regi cognomen tribuit Defensorem appellans Ecclesiae which is the same with Defender of the faith This title was given him about the twelfth year of his Raign Vide Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 27. p. 664. His fool coming unto the Court and finding the King transported with an unusuall joy boldly asked him the cause thereof To whom the King answered It was because the Pope honoured him with a stile more eminent then any of his Ancestors Good Harry quoth he let thou and I defend one another and let the faith alone to defend it self Fisher was not the Author of King Henry his Book against Luther as Sanders and Bellarmine will have it nor Sir Thomas More as others say though I doubt not but they might both revise it by the Kings favour and where it was needfull also interpose their judgement Many thought that was compiled by Sir Thomas More some by the Bishop of Rochester and others not without cause suspected it to be the work of some other great Scholar Godwins Annals of England The Pope excommunicating him he fell off from the Pope Luther in an Epistle to the King saith thus Verum etiam quód fide dignis testibue didici libellum sub majestatis tuae nomine in me editum non esse Regis Angliae ut videri volebant subdoli sophistae qui majestatis tuae titulo abusi non senserunt quantum sibi ipsis periculum in Regia ignominia pararent praesertim illud monstrum publicum odium Dei hominum Cardinalis Eboracensis pestis illa regni tui The King in his Answer to this Epistle affirms it to be his Iam quantumviâ— te fingas credere editum à me libellum non esse meum sed meo nomine subornatum à sophistis subdolis tamen meum esse multi majori fide digni quà m sunt tuâ illi fide digni testes cognoscunt ego quanto tibi minus placet tanto magis libenter agnosco He caused to be put into the Liturgy Ab Episcopi Romani tyrannide detestandis enormitatibius libera nos Domine heroica animi magnitudine imbelles pontificum bullas instatas execrationibus buccas despicatui habuit Renigerus de Pii quinti Gregorii decimi tertii Romanorum pontificum furoribus He thrust out the Popes Supremacy that he might be revenged of the Pope who would not allow of his divorce from his first wife but he continued much of the Popish Religion and made six Articles called a whip with six strings which were the death of many godly men being perswaded thereto by Bishop Gardiner There is a story of one who seeing then both Papists hanged for traytors because they opposed the Kings Supremacy and Protestants burned for hereticks in regard they denied the six Articles cried out What Religion is there here in England whereupon one asked him What Religion he was of he answered He was of the Kings Religion Nor was that boysterous King so much to blame in dissolving materiall Temples or houses rather abused then consecrated to superstition as he was after this Reformation if so it may be called in destroying so many living Temples of God which sought not the dissolution of his Kingdome nor any other Reformation of him and his people save only the clearing and purifying of their hearts and brests which had been consecrated unto Gods service from the infection of Romish superstition and idolatry Dr. Iacksons Commentary on the Creed l. 11. c. 38. He was counted the common Umpire of Christendome He exceeded all his Progenitors in setting up sumptuous houses He confirmed Christ-Church in Oxford and erected Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge The professors of the Hebrew and Greek tongues were first instituted by him in both the Universities Sit Rich. Bakers Chron. In running at Tilt and such exercises he overcame the rest Cum lectissimi equites Cataphracti in ludâ—cro spectaculo infestis hastis concurrerent tanta arte id bellici vigoris munus implebat ut ei proposita victoribus prâ—mia integra populi judicio saepissimé deferrentur Paul Jov. Brit. descript He could not only sing his part but of himself compose a Service of four five and six parts Eras. in farrag in Epist. Finding fault with the disagreement of Preachers he would often say Some are too stiffe in their old Mumpsimus and others too busie and curious in their new Sumpsimus King Ine out of his devotion to the See of Rome enjoyned every one of his Subjects that possessed in his house of any one kind of goods to the value of nineteen penes to
gloria gentis erat Dignus Apollineis lachrymis c. It is to this day a question both how this King died and where he was â—â—ried Queen IANE The Lady Iane Gray whom King Edward had declared for his next Successour was eldest daughter of Henry Lord Gray Duke of Suffolke Her mother was the Lady France's daughter and in fine one of the co-heirs of Charles Brandon the late Duke of Suffolke by Mary his wife Queen Dowager to Lewis the twelfth of France and youngest daughter of King Henry the seventh Grandfather to King Edward now deceased She spake the Latin and Greek tongues with as sweet a fluency as if they had been naturall and native to her exactly skilled in the liberall Sciences and perfectly well studied both kinds of Philosophy She was most zealously affected to the true Protestant Religion then by Law established She was urged by her near friends to accept of the Crown Her Raign was but nine dayes her life not twice so many years as she raigned dayes Ascham Annâ— Maria Schurman Master Fox and others speak of her rare accomplishments Queen MARY It is a question much agitated of the rule of women 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An licita Bodius on Ephes. 5. 22. dislikes it Bodin de Republica l. 6. c. 5. method Hist. c. 6. much opposeth it He lames us for suffering Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth to raign and saith we violated therein not only the Law of God but the law of nature and Nations knoxe also writes against it Danaeus a French man in his Book de Hâ—mine c. 33. saith It is lawfull He quotes Aâ—â— 8. 27. 1 King 10. and commends the Raign of Zenâ—bâ—ia Queen of the Arabians aâ—d Elizabeth Queen of England and Ioan Queen of Navarr as happy and lasting There is a choice Manuscript in Arch. in Oxford Library stiled A dutifull defence of the lawfull regiment of women written by my Lord Howard The Suffolk men first resorted to her promising her their aid and help so that she would not attempt the alteration of Religion established by her brother which she agreed unto but broke her promise and that Diocess tasted the sharpest persecution under her Raign So well inclined was she of her self that had not the zeal of her Religion and the authority of Church men overswayed her own disposition the flames of their consuming fires had not mounted so high She was crowned by Steven Gardiner Bishop of Winchester the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke being then prisoners in the Tower Within the compasse of less then four years continuance there died for the testimoniall of their conscience in this case two hundred seventy and seven persons without regard of degree sex or age In the heat of whose flames were consumed five Bishops one and twenty Divines eight Gentlemen eighty four Artificers one hundred Husbandmen servants and labourers twenty six wives twenty widdowes nine virgins two boyes and two Infants There being consultation at the Counsel-board what to do with the Lady Elizabeth Gardiner said My Lords we have but all thâ— while been 〈◊〉 ripping off the leaves and now and then lopped a branch but till such time as we strike at the root of heresie meaning the Lady Elizabeth nothing to purpose can be effected God forbid replied the Spaniards that our King and Master should once conceive a thought to consent unto such a mischief They thence solicited the King on her behalf and he favoured her and set her free at last The worst that can be said of her is this that she was ill principled and the best that she acted according to her principles Judge Morgan who in her Raign gave sentence of death against the Lady Iane Gray presently after her death fell mad and in his ravings continually cried Take away the Lady Jane from me and in that horrour shortly ended his life She was learned Ludovicus Vives A Spaniard was sometimes her Teacher He came to England with Queen Kahterine her mother She lost Calais which had been a long time before in the possession of the Engllish and said if she were opened they would find that next her heart pray it was that a paltry Town should lye where Christ should should have lain At the loss of Calai when a proud French man tauntingly demanded When will ye fetch Calais again An English Captain gravely answered Quâ—ndo peccata vestra erunt nostris gâ—â—viorâ— When your sins shall weigh down ours The Lord Corâ—â—s Governour of Picardy under the French King said That he would be content to lie in Hell seven years so he might win Calais from the English The keeping of it indeed was chargeable to the English but yet it was very advantagious to them While they kept it they had a door open into France upon all occasions and therefore it is commonly said That they carried the keyes of France at their Girdles Of all since the Conquest her Raign was the shortest only excepting that of Richard the Tyrant but much more bloudy then was his She raigned five years and four moneths wanting two dayes only She lieth buried in Westminster without any Monument or remembrance at all Queen ELIZABETH She was born at Greenwich on the seventh of September 15â—3 Her father was Henry the eighth King of England her mother Anne Bulloin whose love to the pure Religion cost her her life Amabat Regina puram verà mque Religionem haec illi res odium nox necem peperit Adolphi à Dans vita Elizabethae The Archbishop Cranmer her Godfather was every where chary and tender over her as one that at the Font had took charge upon him to see her educated in all vertue and piety What Prince was ever more sage in her Counsell or more solemn in her Government or more advised in her favours and fâ—owns Dr. Gaudens Eccles. Anglie Suspiria l. 4. c. 22. Before the age of seventeen years she was skilled in Latine French Italian and in the Greek indifferent well Neither did she neglect musick both singing and playing on instruments very sweetly and artificially for so much as became a Prince With Roger Ascham who governed her studies she read over Melancthons common places Cicero entire a great part of Livies History some select Orations of Isocrates whereof two she translated into Latine Sophocles Tragedies and the New Testament in Greeke by which means she both furnished her speech with elegant language and her mind with wholsome precepts referring her learning rather to practice and conversation then ostentation and pomp yet was she in a manner for learning a miracle among the Princes of her age In one and the same day she answered three Embassadors of great Princes the one in Latine the other in French and the third in Italian I have seen a Book which is in Sion-Colledge wherein divers sentences were turned out of English into Latine and Italian and some translated
it is reported that a Virgin * might travell alone in his dayes through all his Dominions without any violence offered and that Bracelets of gold were hanged in the high wayes and no man so hardy as to take them away William the first so well provided for execution of Justice upon offenders that a young maiden well charged with gold might travell in any part of the Realm without any offer of injury unto her Hayw. He permitted none in office in Court or elsewhere unless he were learned which incited his Nobles to the earnest pursuit of learned Arts and to train up their children in good letters He caused all former Lawes to be surveyed and made choice of the best which he translated into the English tongue He begins his Lawes with a religious Majesty Loquutus est Dominus ad Mosem hos sermones c. and cites all the Decalogue Abbot Ethelred gives this encomium of his Lawes Leges Christianissimas scripsit promulgavit in quibus fides ejus devotio in Deum sollicitudo in subditos misericordia in pauperes justitia circa omnes cunctis legentiâ—us patet He had so great a love to learning that he made a Law that all Freemen of the Kingdome possessing two Hides of Land should bring up their sons in learning till they were fifteen years of age at least that so they might be trained to know God to be men of understanding and to live happily He bestowed the sixth part of his riches and Rents upon the poor strangers of the Countrey and sent every year little less to forraign Churches without the Realm Dalechamps Christian hospitality c. 3. He was very learned a quality rare in his time and as Solomon Alexander the Great Iulius Caesar Augustus and our Charlemagne saith Andre Du Chesne he joyned learning and valour and was clement liberall pious and devout and adorned with all royall vertues and endowments I may in some respects compare him with Almansor the learned and victorious King that conquered Spain He was at fifteen years so skilfull in the seven liberall Sciences that they who were the most learned in them spake of them in his presence with much fear and bashfulness for at every other word he corrected the imperfections which proceeded out of their ignorance At the five and twentieth year of his age he spake eleven languages reading and writing them as perfectly as the very Naturals themselves He divided the dayes of the week after this manner The Friday for matters of his Religion in which he was very devout The Saturday for matters of Justice The Sunday for matters of Warre The Munday for the government of his Kingdomes The Tuesday and Wednesday for his recreations and private affairs And the Thursday for matters of learning He chastised theeves so severely that none durst take any thing from other neither in City nor in Countrey as well in deserts as in peopled placeâ— And in so great awe they were of him that if any one had lost ought in the street or Market-place none durst meddle therewith otherwise than to leave it at the next Shop and cause it to be cryed till the owner were found to whom it was to be restored None ever â—ought for alms or succour at his hands whether he were Moor Christian or Jew that went away unrelieved He was worthily called the Conquerour being never overcome He won eighty six Battels by Sea and by Land and took five Kings subdued three parts of the world Asia Africke and Europe His life and death by Ashley Alfred's Arms are to be seen in the publike Hall of University-Colledge in Oxford The Archdeacon of Huntington speaking of the continuall travail he had during his Raign relates these Verses of him Nobilitas innata tibi probitatis honorem Armipotens Aelfrede dedit probitasque laborem Perpetuumque labor nomen cui mixta dolori Gaudia semper erant spes semper mixta timori Si modo victor eras ad crastina bella pavebas Si modo victus eras ad crastinâ— bella parabas Cui veâ—tes sudore jugi cui â—â—eca cruore Tincla jugi quâ—â—ntum sâ—t onus regnare probarunt Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi Cui tot in adversis vel respirare liceret Nec tamen aut ferro contritus poncre ferrum Aut gladio potuit vitae finisse labores Iam post transactos vitae regnique dolores Christus ei sit vera quies sceptrumque perenne He raigned twenty seven years say some twenty eight saith Powell the writer of his life Ingulphus saith he died in the twenty ninth year of his Raign CHAP. VI. EDWARD the elder THe twenty fourth King of the West-Saxons and twenty fifth Monarch of the English men Fuit Edwardus forma eximia ac per omnes aetatis gradus decentissima Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 6. Before the conquest of the Normans there were in England three Edwards 1. This Edward the elder 2. Edward the Martyr 3. Edward the Confessor We have had more Kings of England of this name than of any other nine in all three before the conquest and six after it Verstegans Etymology of our Saxon proper names Henry the name of seven Emperours of Germany eight Kings of England four Kings of France four Kings of Castile Phillips his new world of English words He was heir apparent to his Father Alfreds valour and vertues as well as to his Crown Some say he was the great Iustinian of our Nation Our Laws being suppressed by the Danish Kings were revived and reinforced in the time of Edward the Confessor whence they had the name of Edward the Confessors Laws He raigned in great Warres and honour the space of twenty four years So Henricus Huntingdoniensis saith Paternum regnum tenuit 24. annis Ethelstan or Adelstan The twenty fifth King of the West Saxons and the twenty sixth Monarch of the English men He was crowned at that Kingly Town Kingston In Regia villa in Regem levatur Rog. de Hoveden He began his Kingdome with War and ended in peace and tranquillity He was the worthiest Prince saith Lhoyd of Saxon bloud that ever raigned Being seduced by the bad Counsell and false suggestions of one of his favourites he banished his Brother Edwin unjustly commanding him to be sent to Sea with only one servant and in a Boat without Oar or Sail wherein he perished His Cup-bearer after in his service upon festivall stumbled with the one foot and recovering himself with the other pleasantly said You see how one Brother helpeth another upon which speech the King with grief and touch of heart called to mind the death of his innocent Brother occasioned by his wicked Counsell and forthwith commanded execution to be done on him the procurer and himself was ever after more tender and carefull toward his other Brethren Leyland in his new years gift to King Henry
end kept a most judicious Journall of all the most principall passages of the affairs of his estate Inclytus Edvardus formatus ab ubere matris Confestim doctis à praeceptoribus artes Ingenuas omnes didicit qui Graeca Latinis Adjungens studio paucis profecerat annis Ut foret inferior nulli quem terra Britanna Protulerat claro magnorum ex stemmate Regum Nullus adaequari posset si flexilis â—tas In puero egresso nondum tria lustra duosque Annos ingenii aut praecox spectetur acumen Quantum ad doctrinas virtutesque attinet almas Ille erat Europae Phoenix quem funere acerbo Ut flos vere novo viridanti carpitur horto Sustulit ante diem mors immatura Britannis Invidet haec terris pietatem jura colentes Oclandi Anglorum praelia In his childhood being about to take down something which seemed to be above his reach one of his fellowes offered him a bossed plated Bible to stand upon and heighten him for taking that which he desired But he perceiving it to be a Bible with holy indignation resused it and sharply reproved him that made the offer A strong assurance of that dear esteem and veneration in which he held that sacred Book in his riper years Dr. Heylins History of Edward the sixth He hath this observation in his Diary the originall of which is in the hands of Sir Thomas Cotton At the sixth year of my age I was brought up in learning by Dr. Coxe who was after my Almner and John Cheek Master of Arts two well learned men who sought to bring me up in learning of tongues of the Scripture of Philosophy and all liberall Sciences Also John Belmain French man did teach me the French tongue He was annointed King at Westminster by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury being of the age of nine years A Prince of great devotion constancy of mind love of the truth and incredibly studious Godwins Annals of England He knew all the principall Ports in England Scotland Ireland France and other Countries not far distant how they lay when the tide served what vessels of burden they could receive and what winds served for entrance He reformed Religion He caused Images and all monuments of Idolatry to be destroyed and a great Bible in English to be set up in every Church He was in body beautifull of a sweet aspect and specially in his eyes which seemed to have a starry liveliness and lustre in them He would answer Embassadors sometime upon the suddain either in French or Latin He could call all Gentlemen of account through his Kingdome by their names When Ioan Butcher a blasphemous Heretick was to be burned all the Counsell could not procure him to set his hand to the Warrant Wherefore they employed Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury to deal privily with him for his subscription But the King remained firm both in reason and resolution affirming that he would not drive her headlong to the Devil but because Hereticks for the most part have a strain of madness he thought it best to apply her with some corporall chastisements which with respite of time might happily reduce her to good order The Archbishop was violent both by perswasions and entreaties and when with meer importunity he had prevailed the King in subscribing his name said that he would lay all the charge thereof upon the Archbishop before God Not many years passed but this Archbishop also felt the smart of the fire and it may be that by his importunity for bloud he did offend for a good thing is not good if it be immoderately desired A Miller who had been busie in rebellion against the King knowing the danger willed his man to take the name of the master if any enquired after him Sir Anthony Kingston Provost Martiall came to the Mill and calling for the master the man in his name presented himself who strait commanded him to the Gallows the servant then seeing the danger of death confessed he was not the master but the man Well said the Knight thou canst never do thy master better service then to hang for him and thereupon trusted him up in the next tree The Lord Protector in his dayes marcht with a powerfull Army into Scotland to demand their Queen Mary in marriage to our King according their promises The Scots refusing to do it were beaten by the English in Musleborough fight One demanding of a Scotch Lord taken prisoner Now Sir how do you like our Kings marriage with your Queen I alwayes quoth he did like the marriage but I do not like the wooing that you should fetch a Bride with fire and sword The Kings Uncles Edward-Duke of Somerset Protector of his person Realms and Dominions and Thomas Lord Seymour Baron of â—udley the younger high Admirall of England were both beheaded Strife between their wives about place and precedency caused the death of their husbands and the death of the young King followed speedily after Sir Thomas Seymour Admirall and the younger brother married the Queen Dowager whose hap it was of all the rest to survive her husband She contested with her sister in law for priority of place both were privately encouraged neither would give way to the other The one claimed it as she had been once Queen the other challenged it as she was the present wife of the Protector The wives set their husbands at oddes and their enemies took hold of this advantage The Admirall was shortly questioned for treason by consent of his brother condemned in Parliament and lost his head In the same moneth was the Protector committed to the Tower by the Lords of the Counsell and after beheaded In this Kings dayes when Bonner was kept in prison reverend Ridley having his Bishoprick of London would â—ever go to dinner at Fulham without the company of Bonners mother and sister the former alwayes sitting in a Chair at the upper end of the Table These guests were as constant as Bread and Salt to the Board no meal could be made without them He died in the seventh year of his Princely Government in the sixth of Iuly anno 1553. Some write that he was poysoned The death of this Prince was lamented of all the godly within Europe for the graces given unto him of God as well of nature as of erudition and godliness passed the measure that accustomably is used to be given to other Princes in their greatest perfection and yet exceeded he not sixteen years of age Knoxe his Ecclesiasticall Hist. of Scotland l. 1. p. 97. I wonder that Doctor Heylin in his Epistle before his Ecclesia Restaurata should say therefore Whose death I cannot reckon for an infelicity to the Church of England Cardan made this Epitaph of him Flete nefas magnum sed toto flebitis orbe Mortales vester corruit omnis honos Nam Regum decus juvenum flos spesque bonorum Deliciae saecli