brought to the Court and for full fourteene dayes after remained in a priuate Chamber altogether solitary and comfortlesse not so much as suffered to see much lesse to speake with any friend onely the L. Chamberlaine and Sr. Iohn Gage who atended at the dore of her Lodging shee had no comforter but her innocence no companion but her Booke she was armed with Patience to vndergoe the heate of the day to endure all opposition Quo fata trahunt retrahuntque sequemur Quicquid erit superanda omnis fortuna ferendo est None can be brought to so wretched a Condition but they may haue hope of better fortune she knew that the clouds being ouer the day wold become cleare the Sun but once appearing those thicke mists would be soone expelled thus she remained a sorrowfull and deiected Prisoner in the hands of spleenfull and potent aduersaries brought into so straight an exigent either to forsake her faith or else to fall vnder the merciles cruelty of such as sought her innocent life Vpon the Friday before Palme-Sunday the Bish. of Winchester with nine more of the Councel conuented her being come before them and offering to kneele the Earle of Sussex would by no meanes suffer her but commanded a Chayre to bee brougt in for her to fit on Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and then Lord Chancellor taking vpon him to be the mouth of the rest began very sharply to reproue her as if shee had beene already conuicted for hauing a hand in Wiat's Rebellion to whom she mildly answered with a modest protestation that shee neuer had the least knowledge of his practice and proceedings for proofe whereof said shee when Wyat at his death was by some malicious enemies of mine demaÌ„ded whether I was any way knowing or accessary to his insurrection euen at the parting of life and body hauing prepared his soule for heauen when no dissimulation can be so much as suspected euen then he pronounced me guiltlesse besides the like question being demanded of Nicholas Throckmorton and Iames Crofts at their Arraignment I was likewise cleared by them and being acquitted of all others my Lords would you haue mee to accuse my selfe after this shee was question'd about a stirring in the West rais'd by Sr. Peter Carew but answered to euery particular so distinctly that they could not take hold of the least circumstance whereby they might any way strengthen their accusation which Gardiner perceiuing told her that it would bee her safest course to submit her selfe to the Queene and to craue pardon of her gracious Maiestie wherunto she answered that submission coÌ„fest a crime and pardon belong'd to a delinquent either of which being proued by her she would then and not till then make vse of his Graces councell Gardiner told her she should heare more anon retiring with the reâ—t of the Lords to know the Queens further pleasure they being gone she left alone without either seruant to attend her or friend to cheere her began to thinke with her selfe that beauty was but a flower soone faded health a blessing soone altered fauour a Sun-shine often clouded riches and glory no better then broken pillars but innocency and truth vnmoued Columns In the midst of these conceptions Gardiner and the rest entred the Chamber told her that it was her Maiesties pleasure shee must instantly bee conueyed to the Tower that her houshold was dissolued and all her seruants discharged except her Gentleman Vsher three Gentle-women and two Groomes and that for her guard two hundred Northern white Coates were appointed that night to watch about her lodging and early in the morning to see her safely deliuered into the custody of the Lieftenant of the Tower the very name of Tower strucke a deepe horror into her insomuch that the cheerfull blood forsaking her fresh cheeks left nothing but ashy palenesse in her visage shee spake these words Allasse my Lords how comes it that I haue so incensed my Sister and Soueraigne if it be held to be either Criminall or Capitall to bee Daughter to King Henry Sister to King Edward of Sacred memory or to bee the next in blood to the Queene I may then perhaps incurre as well the seuerity of censure as the rigour of Sentence but otherwise I here protest before heauen and you I neuer either in act or thought haue as yet trespass'd against her Maiesty whose pleasure if it be so that I must be confined and my liberty restrain'd my humble suite is vnto you to be Petitioners on my behalfe vnto her Maiestie that I may be sent vnto some other place lesse notorious that being a Prison for Traytors and Malefactors in the highest degree The Earle of Sussex presently replyed that her request was both iust reasonable desiring the rest of the Lords to ioine with him on her behalfe whereuppon the Bishop of Winchester cut him off and told him that it was the Queenes absolute command and her pleasure was vnalterable when after a little pause well sayd she Flebile principium melior fortuna sequatur Iniury is but the tryall of our patience troubles are onely instructions to teach vs wisedome by the one falshood from faith may be perceiued by the other true friends from Traytors may be easily discerned Guttacauat lapidem hard things may bee mollified crooked things straightned a Rocke will in time relent and Troy though it stands out long it yeeldâ— at last whilst there is a Sun to set I wil not despaire of a good issue Non omniâ—m dierum Sol occidit shall bee still my Comâ—orter â—nd with â—hese words they all left her That night being spent in pious deuotion the next day following two Lords brought word that she must instantly to the Tower that the Barge was ready at the staires to conuey her thither for saith one of them whose name I purposeâ—y omit The tide will â—â—ry for no body vpon which shee humbly besought them that shee might onely haue the freedome of one tide more and that they would solicit the Queen â—or so small a fauour whereunto he very churlishly replyed that it was a thing by no possible meanes to bee granâ—ted then shee desireâ— that she might write vnto the Queene which he would not admit but the Earle of Sussex beinâ— the other that was sent from the Queene kneeled vnto her kist her hand and said that vpon his owne apperill shee should not onely haue the liberty to write but as he was a true man vnto God his Prince he would deliuer her Letter to the Queenes owne hands and bring an Answer of the same whatsoeuer came thereof Whilst shee was writing for a small peece of paper could not make sufficient report of her Sorrowes being so great in quantity so extraordinary in quality the tyde was spent then they whispered together to take aduantage of the next but that course was held to be inconuenient in regard that
twelfth of February 1554. being the first day of the weeke Guilford Dudley was brought to the Scaffold on the Tower-Hill where hauing with great penitence reconcil'd himself to God with a settled and vnmooued constancie patiently subiected himselfe to the stroke of death The head with the body still bleeding were both laid together in a Cart and brought into the Chappell within the Tower euen in the sight of this sad and sorrowfull Lady the obiect striking more terrour then the sight of that fatall Axe by which her selfe was presently to suffer death being instantly led to the Greene within the Tower where being mounted on a Scaffold with a cheerefull and vndaunted countenance shee spake as followeth GOod People I am come hither to dye and by a Law I am condemned to the same my offence against the Queene was onely in consent to the deuice of others which now is deemed treason yet it was neuer of my seeking but by counsell of those who should seeme to haue further vnderstanding oâ— things then I which knew little of the Law and much lesse of titles to the Crowne but touching the procurement thereof by mee or on my behalfe I doe wash my hands in Innocency thereof before God the face of you all this day And therewithall she mooued her hands wherein shee had a Booke and then proceeded thus I pray you all good Christian People beare me witnesse that I dye a true Christian Woman and that I looke to be saued by no other meanes then by the mercy of God in the bloud of his onely Sonne Iesus Christ I confesse that when I did know the word of God I neglecIed it and loued my selfe the world and therfore this plague and punishment is iustly and worthâ—ly happened vpon mee for my sinnes yet I thanke God of his goodnesse that hee hath giuen me a time and respite to repent and now good people whilst I am aliue I pray you assist mee with your Prayers As soone as shee had thus spoken she humbly kneeled downe and rehearsed the one and fiftieth Psalme in English then she raysed her selfe vpon her feete and deliuered her Booke to Mr. Bridges who was then Liefienant of the Tower beginning to vntie her gowne to prepare her selfe for death the Exâ—cutioner offered to help her but she turning her selfe to the two Gentlewomen that then attended her was by them disroabed both of her gowne and other attires Then the Heads-man kneeled downe to aske her forgiuenes to whom she replyed The Lord for giue thee and I doe and I entreate thee to dispatch mee as soone as thou canst then kneeling againe she locked suddenly backe and said will you take it besore I lie downe he answered No Madame then she tyed her handkercher before her eyes and being blindfold shee felt about for the Blocke and said twice Where is it then laying her necke vpon it shee stretched forth her body and said Lord Iesus into thy hands I commend my spirit the Axe met with the last word and she expired Neuer was a Ladies fall more deplored and herein it was remarkable Iudge Morgan who gaue the sentence of her death presently fell mad and in all his distracted fitts cryed out continually take away the Lady Iane take away the Lady Iane from me and in that extreame distemperature of passion ended his life Some report that the Lady Iane was young with Child at the time of her departure but though her Romish opposites were many and the times bloudy Christian Charity may perswade vs that they would not vse such inhumanity against so great a person She was indeed a Royall Lady indued with more vertues then are frequently found in her Sexe in Religion and Piety praecellent her deuoute Prayer to God Oration to the People demonstrated no lesse at the time of her Execution shee was but 16. yeares of age of inforc'd honors so vnambitious that shee neuer attired her selfe in Regall Ornaments but constrainedly and with teares whilst shee was Prisoner in the Tower these subsequent verses were found written on the wall with a Pinne Non aliena putes homines quae obtingere possint Sors hodierna mihi cras erit illa tibi Thinke nothing strange that doth on man incline This day my lot is drawne Tomorrow thine And thus Deo iuuante nil nocet liuor malus Et non iuuante nil iuuat labor grauis Post tenâ—bras spero lucem God on our side vaine is all strifes intention And God oppos'd bootlesse is all preuention After night my hope is light There be extant of her workes in the English tongue a learned Epistle to M. Harding Chaplaine to the Duke of Suffolke her Father formerly a stout Champion in K. Edwards dayes but now a Renegado from the Faith A Colloquy with one Fecknam a Priest two nights before her death about Faith and the Sacraments An Epistle to her Sister written in the end of the New Testament in Greeke sent the night before she dyed As for the Duke of Suffolke her Father I can parallell his betraying to none so properly as to the Duke of Buckingham in the Reigne of Richard the Third as the one had a Banister the other had an Vnderwood a man raysed by him onely to a competent estate vnto whose trust and gard hee committed his Person was by him conueyed into a hollow tree morning and euening relieued with sustenance by him euery time of his appearance renewed his confidence vnto him and engaged himselfe with millions of oathes for the performance of his truth and fidelity yet easily corrupted with some small quantity of gold and many large promises Iudas-like betrayed his Master discouered him and deliuered him vp to the Earle of Huntington vnder whose conduct hee was with a strong guard conueyed through London to the Tower arraigâ—ed and conuicted of Treason in the great Hall at Westminster and vpon the 12. of the month of Feb. wherein the Daughâ—er expired was the Faâ—her beheaded on the Tower-Hill Tower-Hill Northumberland and â—is Sonne Guilford Suffolke with his Daughter â—ane being thus cut off â—aries nunc proximus ardet 〈◊〉 was generally fear'd â—hat the Lady Elizabeth'sâ—rne â—rne would bee next â—he Queene was no sooner Crown'd but shee sleighted her and remoued her into the Countrey the good Lady was in the meane time much troubled to see how Bethel lay in the dust vnregarded and Babel onely exalted true Religion deiected and Superstition aduanced but more especially vnderstanding that her self 〈…〉 the sword was turned into their owne bosomes she pass'd the storme and at last arriued safely to the ioy of all true hearted Christians This Birth of Ours is but an entrance into this Life where in the sight of Heauen wee must endure for a tryall of our valor the furious shocks of many fierce encounters hee that soiournes in the Camp of this life must not hope for Holy-dayes his traualie
the King the noblest and mercifullest Prince that liues whom I wish long to reigne ouer you He hath made me Marchionesse of Pembrooke vouchsafed me to lodge in his owne bosome higher on earth hee could not raise me and hath done thereâ—ore well to lift me vp to those blessed Innocents in Heauen Which hauing vttered with a smiling and cheerefull countenance as no way frighted with the Terrour of Death She gently submitted her selfe to her fate and kneeling down on both her knees with this short eiaculation in her mouth Lord Iesus Christ into thy hands I commend my Soule with the close of the last syllable the Hangman of Callis at one blow struck off her head Phoenix Iana iacet nato Phoenice dolendum Saecula Phoenices nulla tulisse duos The King loth to shew himselfe too sad a widdower for so good a wife the very next ensuing day was married to the Lady Iane Seymor daughter to Sir Iohn Seymor Knight Sister to Edward Seymor Earle of Hertford and Duke of Somerset Queene Anne was no sooner frowned on by the King but she was abandoned by her late friends and seruants the young Lady her Daughter lost a Mother before she could doe any more but smile vpon her She dyed the Phoenix of her Sexe but left a daughter behind who proued the Phoenix of her time the true Daughter of so rare a Mother Phoenix Queene Iane is now the sole obiect of all the Peoples ioy but within little more then the Reuolution of one yeare all their hopes are crossed death nip't the bud but preserued the blossome for a while after On the 12. day of October in the yeare 1537. the Queene was deliuered both of a Son her own life together at Hampton Court about two of the clocke in the afternoone It is said that newes being brought to the King in the time of her trauell that her throwes were very violent insomuch that her life was in great perill by reason of the extremities of her hard labour nay that the issue was driuen to so strait an exigent that either the mother or the infant must nccessarily perish huÌ„bly desiring his Highnesse in so great extremity his answer was that the Mother then should die for certaine hee was that hee could haue more wiues but vncertaine whether to â—aue more children heerevpon preparation was made to saue both if possible but her body was ripped vp to giue way to her Child in the conclusion and two dayes after her deliuery her Soule expired The Queene dyed much pittyed and the young Prince called Edward was the eighteenth of the same moneth created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornewall and Chester The Father was so ioyfull of his Sonne that hee seemed to cast a neglect vpon his two daughters yet of them both the Lady Elizabeth was in most fauor and grace for when Mary was separated from the Court and not so much as suffered to come within a certain distance there of limited the Lady Elizabeth was then admitted to keepe the young Prince company in his infancy who in the time of his minority was committed to the tuition of Doctor Coxe and Sir Iohn Cheeke as they were guardians and Schoole-masters to the Prince so were they the dayly Instructors of the sweet young Lady Shee was 3. yeares elder then her Brother and therefore able in her pretty language to teach and direct him euen froÌ„ the first of his speech and vnderstanding in the principles of Religion and other Documents the Arch-bishop Cranmer her God-father was euer chary and tender ouer her as one that at the Font had tooke charge vpon him to see her educated in all vertue piety Cordiall intire grew the affection betwixt this brother and Sister insomuch that he no sooner began to know her but hee seemed to acknowledge her and she being of more maturity as deeply loued him Both comming out of one loynes their affection was no lesse then if they had issued likewise from one wombe they were indeede one way equally fortunate and vnfortunate hauing one Father and either of them depriued of a Mother and euen in their seuerall deaths there was a kind of correspondencie the one dyed by the sword the other in Child-bed both of them violent and enforced deaths So pregnant and ingenious were either that they desired to looke vpon bookes as soone as the day began to breake their horae matutinae were so welcome that they seemed to preuent the nights sleeping for the entertainment of the morrows schooling besides such were the hopefull inclinations of this Princely youth and pious Virgin that their first houres were spent in Prayers other Religious exercises as either reading some History or other in the Old Testament or else attending the exposition of some Text or other in the New the rest of the sore-noone Breakfast-time excepted they were doctrinated and instructed either in language or some of the liberal Sciences one morrall learning or other collected out of such Authors as did best conduce to the Instruction of Princes And when hee was cal'd out to any youthfull exercise becomming a Child of his age for study without action breedes dulnesse she in her priuate Chamber betooke her selfe to her Lute or violl and wearyed with that to practise her needle This was the circular course of their employment God was the Center of all their actions Ab Ioue Principium they began with God and hee went along still with them insomuch that in a short time they were as well entered into language as Arts most of the frequent tongues of Christendom they now made theirs Greeke Latine French Italian Spanish Dutch were no strangers no forraigne Idiomes but now made familiar with their natiue English Merito vt puer vnicus orbis Iure vocaretur Phoenix virgo alâ—era Pallas These concurrences met in such a Concordancie that the Schollers though Princes for their good instructions were in a kind of duty obliged to their Tutors and their Tutors for their willingnesse and Industry as much grac'd and honour'd by their Schollers Alexander the great confessed himselfe more obliged to Aristotle his Schoole-master for his learning then to his Father King Philip for his life by the one he became a Man by the other an vnderstanding Man This Princely couâ—le cannot bee taxed of â—ngratitude if all the malice in the world were â—nfused into one eye it shall neuer be able to deâ—ract either of them how forward was the one during his time to promote Doctor Coxe his Tutor and the life that Marian persecution being drawn to the last breath the other recald him from beyond the Seas whither he was fled restor'd him to many Church dignities and grac'd him so far as that by her appointment he made a learned Sermon that day when she went to her first Parliament These tender young Plants being past their sappy age and now beginning to flourish the old stocke begins to
Admirall the younger Brother married the Queene Dowager whose hap it was of all the rest to suruiue her husband she contested with her Sister in Law for precedence and priâ—ority of place both were priuately encouraged both swell'd alike with spleene neither would giue way to other the one claim'd it as she had beene once Queene the other challeng'd it as she was the present wife of the Protector the two Dukes were as suell to â—his fire new kindled beâ—â—â—wixt the women Dudâ—ey incenseth the one priâ—tely Gray encourageth the other secretly The wiues set their husbands at odds by taking their parts the Gordian knot of brotherly loue is therevpon dissolued Northumberland and Suffolke take hold of this aduantagious occasion insomuch that within a short time after the Admirall was questioned for Treason by consent of his brother condemned in Parliament and his head struck off at the Tower-hill March 20. 1549 his Brother the Protector with his owne hand signing the warrant for his death The one being thus remoued there was now lesse difficulty to supplant the other in the same month of Febr. in which his brother lost his head was the Protector coÌ„mitted to the Tower by the Lords of the Councell many Articles especially touching the gouernment of the State were commenced against him but the yeare after upon his submission to the Lords and intercession made for him by the King hee was released this proued but a Lightning before death his great and potent Aduersaries still prosecute their malice against him insomuch that not long after calling him to a second accompt when he had acquit himselfe of all such Articles of Treason as could bee inferred against him hee was in a tryall at Guild-hall conuicted of Felony and on the 22. of Ianuary was beheaded on the Tower-Hill These two next Kinsmen to the King the proppes and stayes on which the safety of his minoritie leaned the hinges on which the whole State turned being thus cut off it was a common feare and generall presage through the whole Kingdome that the two Vncâ—es being dead the Nephew would not suruiue long after and so accordingly it happened for now all such Gentle-men and Officers as the Protector had preferred for the Kings attendance were suddenly remoued and all such as were the Fauourites of the two Dukes onely suffered to come neere his person In the Interim was the Match concluded betwixt the Lord Guilford Dudley Son to the Duke of Northumberland the Lady Iane Gray daughter to the Duke of Suffolke Not long after the King fell sicke and dyed the 6. of Iuly in the 7th yeare of his Priâ—cely gouernment and oâ— the tenth of the same month was proclaymed Queene the Lady Iane It is to this day a question both how he dyed and where hee was buryed yet others say hee lyes buried at Westminster he was a Prince of that hope that it would seeme improper thus to leaue his honour in the dust vncharacterized Hee was studious for the propagation of the Gospell the refining and establishing of true Religion the foundation whereof his Father had proiected Images hee caused to be demolished and as Idolatrous to be taken out of all Churches within his Domininions the learned men of his time hee encouraged and commanded them to open and expound the Scriptures caused the Lords Supper to bee administred in both kinds vnâ—o his people In the third yeare of his Reigne by Parliamentall Decree hee abolished the Masse commanded the Liturgie to be made and our Common prayer and Seruice to be read in the English tongue hee was acute in witt graue in censure mature in Iudgement all which concurring in such tender yeeres were beyond admiration In the liberall Arts so frequent that he appeared rather innate and borne with them then either acquired by teaching or study All the Port-Townes and Hauens in England Scotland and France hee had adâ— vnguem not the least punctilio of any State affaires past beyond his obseruation nor did hee commit such obseruations to memory but had a chest euery yeare for the reseruation of such Acts as past the councell board himself keeping the key hee would appoynt certain hours to sit with the Master of Requests only to â—ispatch the cause of the Poore hee was the Inchoation and Instauration of a glorious Church and Common-weale hee was perfect in the Latine Greeke Italian French and Spanish tongues and as Cardanus reports was well seene in Logicke and the Principles of naturall Philosophy no stranger to Musicke singing at first sight in Melancthon's common-places hee was câ—â—uersant and all Cicero's workes with a great part of Titus Liuius two of Isocrates Orations hee translated out of the Originall into Latine hee was facetious and witty as may appeare in the fourth yeare of his reign thirteenth of his age being at Greenewich on S. Georges day comming from the Sermon with all the Nobility in State correspondent for the day said My Lords I pray you what Saint is S. George that wâ—e so much honour him heere this day The Lord Treasurer made answere If it please your Maiesty I did neuer in any History read of S. George but onely in Legenda aurea where it is thus set downe that S. George out with his sword ran the Dragon through with his speare The King hauing something vented himselfe with laughing replyed I pray you my Lord and what did hee with his sword the while That I cannot tell your Maiesty said hee To conclude hee was so well qualified that hee was not onely the forwardest Prince of all his Auncestors but the sole Phoenix of his time Dic mihi musa virum shew me such another As hee began and continued hopefully so hee ended Religiously being fallen sicke of a Plurisie some say consuÌ„ption of the lungs hauâ—ng made his peace with God and the world he lifted vp his eyes and hands to heauen prayed to himselfe thinking none to haue heard him after this manner Lord deliuer mee out of this miserable life and take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my Spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happie it were for me to be with thee yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serue thee Oh my Lord God blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance Oh Lord God saue thy chosen people of England defend this Land from Papistry and maintaine thy true Religion that I and thy People may praise thy holy name for thy Sonne Iesus Christ's sake to which hee added Oh I faint haue mercy on me O Lord and receiue my Spirit With which eiaculation his life ended not without suspition of poyson deliuered him in a Nose-gay but the diuilish Treason not being enquired after neuer came to light The Lady Mary being at the time of the Kings death at Hunsdon in Hertfordshire was much
perplexed with the newes of the Proclamation of the Lady Iane as Queene of England but more especially vnderstanding that it was done by the consent of the whole Nobility herevpon the Suffolke men assemble themselues about her not liking such shuffling in State profer'd their free and voluntary seruice towards the attaining of her lawfull inheritance this being bruited at Court the great Duke of Northumberland hauing a large Commission granted and sigâ—ed with the great Seale of England by the vertue thereof raised an Army with purpose to suppress and surprize the Lady Mary the designe was no sooner aduanced and on foote but the Lords in generall repenting them of so great an iniurie done to the Kings Sister and the immediate Inheritrix sent a Countermand after him the Nobility forsooke him the Commons abandon'd him so that being come to Cambridge he with his Sons and some few seruants were left alone where notwithstanding he and his associates proclaimed the Lady Mary Queene of England in the Market-place yet for all this hee was arrested of high treason in the Kings Colledge from thence brought to the Tower and on a Scaffold on the Hill the 12. day of August lost his head This was the end of the great Duke of Northumberland Now those two great opposing Dukes Somerset and Northumb whose vnlimited Ambitions England the gouernement therof could not satiate one peece of ground containes them They lye quietly together in one small bed of earth before the Altar in St. Peters Church in the Tower betwixt two Queenes wiues of K. Henry the 8th Queene Anne and Queene Katherine all foure beheaded All their greatnesse and magnificence is couered ouer with these two narrow words Hic iacet Northumberland oâ—erthrew Somerset and â—aised himselfe vpon his Ruines Mary who was friend to neither but indifferent to both easily dispenced with the cutâ—ing off Northumberland thinking her selfe to stand more firme by his fall and ruine The Lady Elizabeth residing at her Mannour in â—he Country much lamented the death of her Brother being strangeâ—y perplexed in her mind as not knowing by any probable coniecture what these strange passages of State might come to but considering that amongst these tempestuous stormes her Sister Marie's and her owne were now at an Aduenture in one bottome she resolutely first ayded her Sister with 500. men her selfe the formost Prima ibi ante omnes then the storme being ouer shee attended her Maiestie in her Barge to the Tower where was released the Duke of Norfolke the Lord Courtney and Dr. Gardiner soone after diuers Bishops suspended in the dayes of her Brother Edward were restored viz. Dr. Gardiner to Winchester and Iohn Poynet put out Dr. Bonner to London and Nicholas Ridley confind ' â—ohn Day to Chichester â—nd Iohn Scory excluded Dr. Tonstall to Duresme Dr. Heath to Worcester â—ohn Hooper excluded â—nd committed to the Fleete Dr. Vesey to Exeâ—er and Couerdaleâ—ashier'd â—ashier'd The miseraâ—le face of a wretched Kingdome began now â—o appeare They that â—â—oulâ— dissemble their Religion tooke no great are how things went â—ut such whose consciâ—nces were ioyned to â—uth perceiuing that â—e Lamps of the Sanctuâ—y began to shine dim â—eing those bright Taâ—ers pull'd out of their â—ckets and extinguiâ—shed concluded that coles were now kindled which would proue the destruction of many a good Christian which accordingly happened From the Tower of London the Queene rode through the City towards her Pallace at West-minster The Lady Elizabeth to whom all this while shee shewed a pleasant and gracious out-side rode in a Chariot next after her drawne with sixe Horses trapt in cloath of siluer the Chariot being couered with the same wherein sate only to accompany her the Lady Anne of Cleue The fifth day of October shee was crown'd at West-minster by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Dr. Thomas Cranmer being at that time in the Tower The Lady Elizabeth was most Princely attended at her Sisters Coronation fiue dayes after began the Parliament wherein besides the supplantation of the reformed Religion Guilford Dudley and the Lady Iane his wife lately proclaymed Queene were both arraigned and conuicted of treason As for the Lady Iaâ—e how vnwilling shee was to take the imperiall dignitie vpon her doth appeare by this letter following sent to her Father a little before her death FAther althoug it hath pleased God to hasten my death by you by whom my life should rather haue been lengthened yet can I so patienâ—ly take it that I yeeld God more hearty thanks for shortning my wofull dayes than if all the world had beene giuen into my possessions with life lengthened at my owne will And albeit I am very well assured of your impatient dolours redoubled many wayes both â—â—bewaâ—ling our owne wo â—nd espâ—cially as I am informed my wofull estate yet my deare father if I may without â—ffence reioyce in my owne mishaps herein I may account my selfe blessed that washing my hands with the innocence of my fact my guiltless blood may cry before the Lord mercie to the innocent And yet though I must needes acknowledge that being constrained and as you know well enough continually assayed yet in taking vpon me I seemed to consent and therein grieuously offended the Queene and hâ—r Lawes yet do I assuredly trust that this my offence towards God is so much the lesse in that being in so Royall estate as I was my enforced honour neâ—uer mingled with mine innocent heart And thus good father I haue opened vnto you the state wherein I presently stand my death at hand althought to you perhaps it may seeme wofull yet to mee there is nothing that can bee more welcome than from this vale of misery to aspire to that hâ—â—uenly thrâ—ne of all ioy and pleasure with Christ my Sauiour in whose stedfast faith if it may be lawfull for the daughter so to write to the father the Lord that hath hitherto strengthened you so continue to keepe you that at the last wee may meet in heauen with the Father Son and holy Ghost I am Your obedient Daughter till death IANE DVDLEY Shee was no way conscious of those illegall proceedings practised against the Queene by her owne and her husbands father much griefe there was for the Lady Iane the Queene her selfe tooke the sadnesse of her estate into consideration gaue her leaue to walke in the Queenes Garden not debarring her of any pleasant prospect belonging to the Tower and had not her father after first offence remitted ran headlong into a second it is generally conceiued shee would haue pardoned her life his mis-councelled rashnes hasten'd the deaths of these 2 Innocents Guilford and Iane The Statists of that time especially such as were addicted to the Romish faction held it not policie to suffer any that were addicted to the contrary faction to liue especially if they could entrap them being fallen into any lapse of the law therfore vpon the
can haue no rest his labour can haue no end no Countrey but can yeeld a Pharoh to destroy him no Clime but can afford a Herod to pursue him The allusion needs no further illustration The Troubles of the Lady Elizabeth will make a perfect Comment Shee swamme to the Crowne through a Sea of Sorrow and hauing obtained it how dangerously was her life insidiated by Popish Assassines there wanted not a Iesuiticall Mariana to perswade treason nor a bloudy Rauiliacke to performe it then the Pope menaced her with his Bulls abroad now the Bishop of Winchester the Popes Agent endeauours to supplant heâ— with Warrants at home now she liues captiuated to an incensed Sisters indignation hurryed from one place to another from post to piller Quocunque aspicio nihil â—nisi pontus aâ—r The Sea of her Sorrow is so broad and spacious I can see no shore discry no land at all Shee was greatly stomack't by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and other Romists as well of the Laity as the Clergie who studyed by all meanes poâ—sible not onely to supplant her from the Queenes loue but to depriue her of her life the first being the way to the secoÌ„d for the better effecting whereof with the more speed and safety Fortune seemed thus to smile vpon their enterprise Sir Thomas Wiat's insurrection suppressioÌ„ both â—apning within some few weeks but being ouer and many hauing suffered for the same others were likewise had in suspition by the Clergie especially those whom they termed of the new Religion here the traine is laid â—or the Lady the net is spread they thinke now all sure but the Phoenix they aym'd at was deliuered from the hands of the fowler This which at the first was in the Queene but meere suspition by Biâ—shop Gardiners aggrauation grew after into her high indignation insomuch that a strict Commission was sent downe to Ashridge where shee then soiourned to haue her with all speede remoue from thence and brought vp to London there to answere all such criminall Articles as could be obiected against her The Charge was committed to Sir Iohn Wilâ—iams Lord of Tame Edward Hastings and Sir Thomas Cornewallis all â—hree Coâ—nceâ—lors of â—ate and for the better â—ccomplishment of the â—eruice a guard of two undred and fifty horse â—â—en were attendant on â—em The Princesse was at the same time dangerously sicke and euen almost to death the day was quite spent and the euening come on newes being brought vnto her by her seruants much affrighted that so greaâ— a strength had begirt heâ— house and in such a time wheÌ„ her innocence could not so much as dream of any thing dangerouâ— that might be suggesteâ— against her it bred in he howsoeuer no small a mazement but ere she could well recollect he selfe a great rapping waâ— heard at the Gate she sending to demand thâ— cause thereof in steadâ— returning an answer thâ— Lords stept into the House without demanding so much as leaue of the Porter and comming into the hall where â—hey met Mistris Ashley a Gentlewoman that atâ—ended her they will'd â—her to informe her Lady â—hat they had a message 〈◊〉 deliuer her from the Queene the Gentlewoman went vp told her â—hat they had said who â—ent them word back by â—er againe that it beâ—ng then an vnseasonable â—ime of the night she in â—er bed and dangerously â—â—cke to entreate them 〈◊〉 not in courtesie yet â—or modesties sake to deâ—â—r the deliuery of their Message till morning but they without further reply as shee was returning to the Princesses Chamber followed her vp the staires and press'd in after her presenting themselues at her bed-side at which sight shee was suddenly moued told them that shee was not well pleased with their vnciuill intrusion they by her low and fainâ— speech perceiuing heâ— debilitie and weaknessâ— of body desired her graâ—â—ces pardon The Lord oâ— Tame speaking in excuâ—â— of all the rest and tolâ— her they were sory 〈◊〉 find such infirmity vpoâ— her especially since was the Queenes express pleasure that the seuenth of that present moneth shee must appeare before her Maiestie at her Court neere Westminster to whom shee answered that the Queene had not a Subiect in the whole Kingdome more ready or willing to tender their seruice and loyalty to her Highnesse then her selfe yet hoâ—ed with all in regard of her present disaâ—ility they who were eye witnesses of her weake estate might in their owne charity goodnesse dispence witâ— their extremity of hast but the hast was such and the extremitie so great that their Commission was to bring her either aliue or dead A sore Commission it is said shee herevpon they consulted with her Physitians charging them on their allegiance to resolue them whether she might be remoued theÌ„ce without imminent perill oâ— her life vpon conference together they returned answer that she might vndergoe that iourney without death thâ— not without great danger her infirmity being hazardfull but not mortall their opinions thus deliuered they told her Grace that she must of necessity prepare her selfe for the morrow's iourney and withall that the Queene out of her great fauor and care had sent her owne Littâ—r at which words she raysed her self vpon her pillow thanking the Queene for such grace fauour extended towards her telling them that she would contend with death to tender her life before her Maiestie and with that small strength she had be ready for them in the morning intreating theÌ„ to take such slender prouision as her house aâ— such time could afford afterwards to repose themselues in such Lodgings as were prouided for them and so gaue them the good-night they tooke their leaue with great respect and â—euerence to her person and after they had set a strong watch vpon the House first went to supper and after that to â—ed Early the next morning by the Rising of the Sunne she was mounted into her Litter and set onwards towards London the people as they past the way wondring at so great a guard especially set vpon one they 〈◊〉 dearely affected fearing the more the lesse they knew and because they saw her conducted as a Prisoner generally commiserated her case some smothering their griefes in silence and shaking the head some expressing it in teares others in loud acclamations that the Lord God Almighty would safeguard and protect her from all her enemies in this manner she past onward on her way to Red-burne where she was garded that night her sicknesse and infirmity had beene guard enough being able to ride but 3. miles the next day tarrying that night in Sr. Ralph Rowlets house at St. Albones from thence shee passed to South-Mymms resting her weary body at Mr. Dods house there and so the next day to Hieâ—gate where being very weake in body and much deiected in mind she stayed that night and the next day following thus was shee
pray that God may forgiue you all Amen Amen said he and so departed seuen dayes nights she continued lockt vp in her lodgings not so much as hauing seene the Queene though both vnder one Roofe yet at last after many Letters written long Suite and great friends made she was admitted to the presence of the Queene whose face in two yeeres and more she had not seene King Philip hauing before mediated for her and placed himselfe vnknowne to the Queene behind the haÌ„gings of Arras on purpose to heare the discourse her grace about ten of the clock at night was sent for into the presence the suddennesse of the message did somwhat daunt her especially being at that time of the night wherevpon she entreated those that were about her to pray for her and then with the constancy of her former resolution shee went towards the presence where being entred finding her Maiesty sitting in her Chaire of State after three conges she humbly fel down vpon her knees praying for the health long life and preseruation of her Maiestie protesting her truth and loyalty towards her person notwithstanding whatsoeuer had been maliciously suggested to the contrary whereunto the Q. very sharpely answered Then you will not confesse your selfe to be a delinquent I see but stand perâ—mptorily vpon your truth and innocence I pray God they may so fall out If not replied the Princesse I neither require fauour nor pardon at your Maiesties hands Well said the Queene then you stand so stiffly vpon your faith and loyalty that you suppose your selfe to haue been wrongfully punished and imprisoned I cannot said she nor must not say so to you why then belike said the Queene you will report it to others Not so replied the good Lady I haue borne and must beare the burthen my selfe and if I may but enioy your Maiesties good opinion of me I shall be the better enabled to beare it still and I pray God that when I shall cease to be one of your Maiesties truest and loyall subiects that then I may cease to bee at all The Queene onely replied in Spanish Dios lo sabe that is God knoweth it and so turning aside left her to bee conueyed to her former custody King Philip hauing priuately ouer-heard the Conference was now fully settled in a good opinion of her loyalty hee well perceiued the inueterate malice of her Aduersaries and her extraordinary patience in such a trial did forthwith take order for her deliuerance she in the interim remayned very solitary not knowing what the euent woâ—ld be not one word of comfort could she imagine to haue proceeded from her Sister yet after long expectation in this deluge of sorrows a doue appeared with an oliue braÌ„ch in her mouth within seuen dayes after by the intercession of som eminent friends she was discharged of her keeper Sir Henry Beningfield yet so that Sir Thomas Pope one of her Maiesties priuy Councell and Master Gage her Gentleman vsher were made superintendents ouer her the change was howsoeuer most happy she was now in liber a custodia vnder the haÌ„ds of her louing friends with whom shee went downe into the Country and there spent the Remaynder of her Sisters raigne The bishop of Winchester and others of his faction look'd blacke in the mouth to see all their plots discouered all their deuices frustrate yet rather then they would giue off they would play at small game because they could not touch the Lady Elizabeth they would haue a fling at her household and at those who were neerest vnto her person A warrant was sent downe for no lesse then foure of her Gentlewomen at one time which the Lady no sooner heard of but said they will fetch away all in time but not long after it so pleased God that Gar. himselfe was fetched away to giue account for his actions howsoeuer his death was the cause why she liued in lesse feare and more quietnesse Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester hath had a long and tedious part in the troubles of the Lady Elizabeth not one Scene of all her Tragicall Story but he hath had a share in it it will not I hope bee therefore impertinent to write a line or two of his Exit wherin I will wade no further then the warrant of sufficient Authority shall direct me The same day that those two bright shining lamps Bishop Ridley and Master Latimer were extinguished at Oxford Gardiner had inuited the Duke of Norfolke and others to dinner but caused the good old Duke to stay for it till about 3 or 4 a clock in the afternoone being as it should seem not disposed to dine till he had heard that fire was put to the two good Martyrs he would not feede his own body till theirs were quit consumed at length came in a seruant betwixt 3 and 4 and informed him of the certainty thereof he no sooner vnderstood it but came out with great ioy to the Duke and said Come now lets vs goe to dinner the meat was serued in he fell merrily aboard but before the second messe came in he fell sick at the table and was immediatly remoued theÌ„ce to bed where he remayned full 15. dayes in such anguish torments that he could not voyd what he had receiued either by vrine or otherwise lyin in this extremity Doctor Day Bishop of Winchester came to visite and comfort him with words of Gods promise and free Iustification in the bloud of Christ Iesus which he no sooner heard but he answered thus What my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell all together to me and such other in my case you may speak it but open that Cazement once to the people then farewell all together more hee would haue spoke but his toÌ„gue being so swell'd with the inflammation of his body he became speechlesse and soone after died After the death of Gardiner one or other of the good Ladies Aduersaries dropt away insomuch that by little and little her dangers decreased feares diminished and hope of comfort as out of a thick cloud beganne to appeare she spent the remaynder of her Sisters reigne in thankes-giuing and prayses vnto Gods who had thus mercifully preserued her The time of Queene Mariâ—s reckoning being come rumours were spred abroad that shee was already deliuered of a sonne yea and such a one as it was then suspected was readily prepared whereof King Philip being informed and â—corning that by any such Impostory a counterfeit brood should be the heyre of all his Kingdomes would not depart the Chamber all the time of her trauell by which meanes the Plot tooke no effect howsoeuer the rumour of this young Heyre made the Bells ring merily in London spread it selfe as farre as Antwerpe where it was entertained with great triumphs both on Land and Sea towards which charge an hundred Pistolets were conferr'd on the Officers by the