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
Wherefore they so intrenched themselves and fortified their Campes with Artillery as if they expected a siege from each other Some moneths thus passed without any other exploits then inrodes and light skirmishes At length they mutually entertaine a motion of peace both of them considering that their Armies consisting of strangers the fruits of the victory would be to the Aliens only but the calamity and burthen of the defeat would light on the shoulders of the vanquished or which comes all to one passe of the subiects These motives drew together for a treaty on HENRY'S side the Constable the Marshall of S. Andrew the Cardinall of Loraine MORVILLIERS Bishop of Orleans and AVBESPINE Secretary of Estate for PHILIP the Duke of Alva the Prince of Orange RVYZ GOMES de Silva GRANVELL Bishop of Arras and others Much altercation was had about the restoring of Calais which the French were resolved to hold and PHILIP would have no peace vnlesse it were restored to MARY whom in point of honour he could not so forsake But this difference was ended by the death of MARY a little before whome on the one and twentieth of September died also the Emperour CHARLES the Fift which occasioned both the change of place and time for another Treaty And if the continuall connexion of other memorable affaires had not transported me I should ere this have mentioned the marriage celebrated at Paris with great pompe on the eight and twentieth of Aprill betweene the Daulphin FRANCIS and MARY Queene of Scots But the fruits thereof were not lasting For two yeares after died FRANCIS the Crowne by the death of his Father HENRY having beene first devolved to him and left his bed to a more auspicious husband HENRY the eldest Sonne to the Earle of Lenox Of these Parents was borne our late Soveraigne of ever sacred memory who was Nephew by his Mother to IAMES the Fift by MARGARET the eldest Daughter Nephew to that wise King HENRY the Seventh who the Issue of HENRY the Eight being extinct as the next vndoubted Heire most happily vnited the Crownes of England Scotland and Irland But now at length to draw neerer home this Autumne was very full of diseases Fevers especially quartane raigning extraordinarily in England wherby many chiefely aged persons and among them a great number of the Clergy perished Of the sole Episcopall ranke thirteene died either a little before the Queene or some few moneths after her Among the rest Cardinall POOLE scarce survived her a day who having beene for some weekes afflicted by this kinde of disease and brought to extreme weakenesse of body as if he had at the newes of the Queenes death received his deaths wound expired at three a clocke the next morning His corps inclosed in lead was buried in his Cathedrall at Canterbury with this briefe Elogy on his Tombe in steed of an Epitaph Depositum Cardinalis POLI. He was a man admirably learned modest milde of a most sweet disposition wise and of excellent dexterity in the managing of any affaires so that hee had beene incomparable if corrupted with the Religion of the Church of Rome he had not forced his nature to admit of those cruelties exercised vpon the Protestants The Queene died at S. Iames on the seventeenth of November some few houres before day She was a Lady very godly mercifull chaste and every way praise-worthy if you reguard not the errors of her Religion But her Religion being the cause of the effusion of so much innocent bloud that of the Prophet was necessarily to be fulfilled in her Bloud-thirsty men c. shall not finish halfe their dayes For she was cut off in the two and fortieth yeare of her age hauing raigned onely fiue yeares foure moneths and eleuen dayes wheras her Sister who succeeded her most happily in a more milde gouernement ruled nine timesas long and almost doubled her age Concerning the cause of Queen MARIE'S death there are divers conjectures To relate what I finde in approoved Authors it is reported that in the beginning of her sickenesse her friends supposing that she grieved at the absence of her husband whome she saw so ingaged in wars abroad that she could not hope for his speedy returne vsed consolatory meanes and indevored to remove from her that fixed sadnesse wherewith she seemed to be oppresled But she vtterly averse from all comfort and giving her selfe over to melancholy told them That she died but that of the true cause of her death they were ignorant which if they were desirous to know they should after her death dissect her heart and there they should finde Calais Intimating thereby that the losse of Calais had occasioned this fatall griefe which was thought to have beene increased by the death of the Emperor her Father-in-law But the truth is her liver being over-cooled by a Mole these things peradventure might hasten her end which could not otherwise be far from her and cast her by degrees into that kinde of Dropsy which Physitians terme Ascites This Dropsy being not discovered in time deceived her Physitians who beleeved that she had conceived by King PHILIP whereas she alas did breed nothing but her owne death So mature remedies being not applied and she not observing a fit diet she fell into a Fever which increasing by little and little at last ended in her death She lieth interred at Westminster in the midst of that Chappell which is on the North side of her Grandfather HENRY the Seventh his Monument where her sister Queene ELIZABETH was after buried with her and over both by the pious liberality of that most munificent Prince King IAMES hath since beene erected a most stately Monument well befitting the Majesty of such great Monarchs Queene ELIZABETH Anno 1558. HAving thus briefely run over the Reignes of these three Princes Queene ELIZABETH'S times in the next place offer themselves which deservedly requiring a more accurate stile I will here set a period to this worke not so much with intent to pretermit them as reserving them for a more exact labour In the meane time to give some satisfaction to the Reader I will make this short addition Some few houres after the decease of Queene MARY the Estates then assembled in Parliament on the seventeenth of November declared her Sister the Lady ELIZABETH Queene who was Daughter to HENRY the Eighth and ANNE BOLEN Having most gloriously reigned forty foure yeares foure moneths and seven dayes she ended her life and Reigne on the foure and twentieth of March Anno 1603 the Crown being by her death devolved to the renouned King of Scots IAMES the Sixt to whome it was so far from feeling it a burthen to have succeeded so good a Princesse that never was any Prince received with greater applause and gratulation of his People Many thinke their condition happy if they exchange a CALIGVLA for a CLAVDIVS or a NERO for a VITELLIVS or an OTHO But that any Mortall should please after ELIZABETH may
birth of Queene Elizabeth Mary Queen of France dieth No Canons to be constituted without the Kings assent The King to collate Bishopricks The Archbishop of Canterbury hath Papall authority vnder the King Fisher and More imprisoned Persecution Pope Clement dâ—â—th First fruits granted to the King Wales vnited to England The King begins to subvâ—rt religious houses Certaine Priors Monks executed The Bishop Rochester beheaded Made Cardinall vnseasonably Sir Thomas Moore beheaded Religious Housâ—s visited The death of Queene Catharine Queene Anne the Viscont Rochford and others committed The Queene condemned with her Brother and Norris Her execution Lady Elizabeth disinherited The King marrieth Iane Seimour Death of the Duke of Somerset the Kings naturall Sonne Bourchier Earle of Bathe Cromwells Honor Dignity The beginning of Reformation The subuersion of religious houses of lesse note Commotion in Lincolneshire Insurrection in Yorkeshire Scarborough Castle besieged Rebellion in Irland Cardinall Poole Rebels executed Cardinall Poole writes against the King The birth of Prince Edward Seimour Earle of Hertford Fitz-William Earle of Southampton Powlet and Russell rise The abuse of Images restrained Beckets shrine demolish d. * Vniones The Image of our Lady of Walsingham Frier Forest makes good a Prophecy Saint Augustines as Canterbury Battaile Abbey and others suppressed The Bible translated The Marquis of Excester and others beheaded Lambert convented burned Margaret Countesse of Salisbury condemned The subversion of Religious Houses Some Abbots executed Glastonbury A catalogue of the Abbots who had voices among the Peeres New Bishoprickes erected The Law of the Six Articles Latimer and Schaxton resigne their Bishoprickes The arrivall of certaine Princes of Germany in England for the treatise of a Match betweene the King Lady Anne of Cleve The King marrieth the Lady of Cleve Cromwell created Earle of Essex and within three months after beheaded Lady Anne of Cleve repudiated The King marrieth Catharine Howard Protestants and Papists alike persecuted The Prior of Dancaster fox others hanged The Lord Hungerford hanged Beginnings of a Commotion in Yorke-shire Lord Leonard Grey beheaded The Lord Dacres hanged Queene Catharine beheaded Irland made a Kingdoms The Viscont Lisle deceased of a surfeit of ioy Sir Iohn Dudley made Viscont Lisle War with Scotland The Scots overthrowne The death of Iames the Fift King of Scotland Hopes of a match betweâ—ne ` Prince Edward and the Queene of Scots The Scottish captives set at liberty The Earle of Angus returneth into Scotland The league and match concluded The Scottish shipping detained War with Scotland War with France A League with the Emperour Landrecy besieged but in vaine The people licensed to eat White Meates in Lent The Kings sixt marriage Will am Parr Earle of Essex Another of the same name made Lord Parr The Lord Chancellour dieth An expedition into Scotland * Alias Bonlamberg The Earle of Hertford Protector King Henry's Funerals The Coronation The death of Francis King of France Musselburgh Feild Reformation in the Church The Scots French besiege Hadinton The Queene of Scots transported into France Humes Castle and Fasteastle gained by the Enemy Gardiner Bishop of Winchester committed to the Tower anddeprived Boner Bishop of London committed also Discord betweene the Duke of Somerset and his Brother the Lord Admirall The Lord Admirall beheaded An Insurrection in Norfolke and in Devonshire Some Forts lost in Boloignois * Corruptly Bonlamberg Enmity betweene the Protector the Earle of Warwick The Protector committed The death of Paul the Third Pope Cardinall Poole elected Pope The Duke of Somerset set at liberty Peace with the Scots and French The Sweating Sickenesse The death of the Duke of Suffolke A creation of Dukes and Earles The descent of the Earles of Pembroke Enmity betweene the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland revived Certaine Bishops deprived Some of the Seruants of the Lady Mary committed An Arrian burned An Earthquake The Queene of Scots in England The Earle of Arundell the Lord Paget committed The Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor The Duke of Somerset beheaded A Monster The King sickeneth His Will wherin he disinheriteth his Sisters He dieth His Prayer Cardanus Lib. de Genituris Sir Hugh Willoughby frozen to death Commerce with the Muscovite Lady Mary flies into Suffolke Lady Iane proclaimed Queene Northumberland forced to be Generall * L. quiâ—â—e provinci◠§ Divus ff de Rit Nupt. L. â— C. d. Jncest Nupt. Gloâ— ibid. â— â—um inâ—er c. ex tâ—nore Extr. qui sil sint legit Northumberland forsaken by his souldiers The Lords resolue for Queene Mary And to supprâ—sse Lady Iane. Northumberland proclaimes Mary Queene at Cambridge Northumberlaud and some other Lords taken Queene Mary comes to London Gardiner made Lord Chancellour Deprived Bishops restored King Edward's Funerall The Duke of Northumberland the Earle of Warwicke the Marquis of Northampton condemned The Duke of Northumberland beheaded Bishops imprisoned Peter Martyâ— The Archbishop Cranmer Lady Iane Lord Guilford Lord Ambrose Dudley condemned The Coronation A Disputation in the Convocation house Popery restored The Queene inclines to marry The Articles of the Queenes marriage with Philip of Spaine * Which as I conceive would have fallen in the yeare 1588. Sir Thomas Wyats rebellion Sir Iohn Cheeke is taken and diâ—th Bret with 500. Londoners revolts to Wyat. The Duke of Suffolke persuades the people to Armes in vaine The Queens oration to the Londoners Wiat is taken The Lady Iane beheaded The Duke of Suffolke beheaded Wiat executed and Lord Thomas Grey A Disputation at Oxford Cranmer Ridley and Latimer condemned Additions to the former Nuptiall Compacts Philip arriveth in England and is marrâ—ed to the Queene Cardinall Poole comes into EnglaÌ„d Cardinall Pooles Oration to the Farliament The Realme freed from Interdiction The Queene thought to be with childe Lords created Lady Elizabeth and Marquis of Excester set at liberty Iohn Rogers burned and Bishop Hooper Bishop Farrar many others and Bishop Ridley and Latimer The death of Pope Iulius the Third Paul the Fourth succeedeth Gardiner suâ—th to be Cardinall Gardiner dieth Charles the Emperour resignes his Crownâ—s The Archbishop of Yorke Lord Chancellour A Comet A counterfâ—it Edward Archbishop Cranmer burned This yeare eighty foure burned The exhumation of Bucer and Phagius Cardinall Poole consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury An Embassage to Muscovia The Lord Stourton hanged Thomas Stafford indevouring an insurrection is taken and beheaded War against France proclaimed P Ole's 〈◊〉 Legantine abrogated and restored The French overthrowne at S. Quâ—ntin S. Quintin taken A 〈◊〉 Rainbow Calais besiâ—ged by the French Calais yeilded The battaile of Graueling The French overthrowne Conquet taken and burned by the English The Daulphin married to the Queene of Scots The death of Cardinall Poole The Queene dieth
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
King vnderstanding that among his subiects but especially the women kinde this his action was much traduced as if Hee tooke this course more to satisfie his Lust then his Conscience to give a stop to all farther rumours having assembled all the Nobles of the Realme Iudges Lawiers and as many of the better sort of Commonsas could conveniently attend vpon the eight of November made an Oration to this effect Twentie yeares have almost run their course faithfull and loving Subiects since We first began Our Raigne among you Jn all which tract of time Wee haue by Gods â—ssistance so behaved Our Selfe that Wee hope Wee haue neither given you cause to complaine nor Our Enemies to glory No foraine power hath indevoured ought against you but to his owne losse neither have Wee employed Our Armes any where but We haue triumphantly erected Our glorious trophies So that whether you consider the sweet fruits of plentifull Peace or the glory of Our warlike exploits We dare boldly avouch Wee have shewed Our Selfe not vnworthy of Our Ancestors whom without offence bee it spoken Wee have in all points equalled But when wee reflect vpon the necessary end of Our fraile life We are surprised with feare least the miseries of future times should so obscure the splendour and memory of Our present felicitie that as the Romans did after the death of Augustus so you may hereafter bee forced to wish with teares either that VVe had never beene or might have perpetually lived to governe you VVee see many here present who in reguard of their age might have beene parties in the late Civill warres which for eightie yeares together so miserably rended this Realme no man knowing whom to acknowledge for his Soveraigne vntill the happie Coniunction of Our Parents did not resolve but tooke away all cause of farther doubt Consider then whether after Our death you can hope for better dayes then when the Factions of Yorke and Lancaster distracted this Realme VVee have a Daughter whom VVee the more affectionately tender because shee is Our sole Jssue But VVee would have you know that having lately treated with Our deare Brother of France concerning a match betweene this Our Daughter and Henrie Duke of Orleans his yonger sonne both of Vs were well pleased with this alliance vntill one of his Privy Counsell made a question of Our Daughters birth for it was much to bee doubted least she were to be held illegitimate being begotten of Vs and that Mother who had before beene married to Our deceased Brother saying it was vtterly repugnant to the Word of God that any one should marry his Brothers Widow wherefore he was of opinion that this match with Our most beloved Spouse was to be deemed no other then incestuous How grievously this relation afflicted Vs God the Searcher of Our hearts knowes For these words did seeme to question not onely Our deare Consort and Our Daughter but euen the very estate of Our soule which after death must necessarily vndergo eternall and inevitable torments if being admonished of so horrible an Incest We should not indevour an amendement And for your parts you cannot but foresee how great dangers by reason of this doubt do threaten you and your Posterity Being therefore desirous as the case indeed required to bee resolved in this point Wee first conferred with Our Friends and then with the most learned in the Lawes both Divine and Humane who indeed were so farre from satisfying Vs that they left Vs more perplexed Wee therefore had recourse to the Holy Apostolique Sea to the Decree whereof VVe thinke it fitting that Our Selfe and all others should bee obedient To this and no other end We call immortall God to witnesse have wee procured this Venerable Legate As for the Queene Our most beloved Consort whatsoever women may tattle or ill willers mutter in private We do willingly and ingenuously professe that in noblenesse of Mind she far transcends the greatnesse of her Birth so that if wee were now at liberty and free for a second choice We take God to witnesse among all the plenty of the worlds Beauties wee would not make choice of any other if lawfully wee might then of this Our now Queene one in regard of her mildnesse wisdome humility sanctity of minde and conversation We are verily perswaded not to be paralleled But when We consider that We are bestowed on the world to other ends then the pursuite of Our owne pleasures We have thought it meet rather to vndergo the hazard of an vncertaine iudgement then to commit impiety against God the liberall Giver of all blessings and ingratitude against Our Countrey the weale and safetie whereof each one should prefer before his private life or fortunes Thus much have you heard from Our owne mouth And we hope that you will hereafter give no heed either to seditious detractions or idle rumours of the people This Oration tooke according to the divers dispositions of the hearers some lamenting the King's but many more the Queenes case every one doubting and fearefull of the event Some few weary of the present estate desired a change even to worse rather then a continuance of the present And by these the course the King had taken not approved by the vulgar as pious and imposed on him by his owne and the publique necessitie was according to the nature of hopefull flattery most highly applauded Anno Dom. 1529. Reg. 21. AT length about the beginning of Aprill the King residing at Bridewell at the Blacke Friers in London began the suit concerning the King's Divorce There was that to be seene the like whereof the Histories of no other Nation afford A most puissant Monarch actually Soveraigne and bearing rule in his Realme being cited by the voice of of an Apparitor made his appearance personally before the Iudges The ceremonies in a matter so vnusuall and indeed otherwise of great moment require an accurate and large relation beyond the intended shortnesse of this Historie A Chaire of State whereto was an ascent of some steps was placed above for the King and by the side of it another but a little lower for the Queene Before the King at the fourth step sate the Legates but so as the one seemed to sit at his right hand the other at the left Next to the Legates stood the Apparitors and other Officers of the Court and among them GARDINER after Bishop of Winchester appointed Register in this businesse Before the Iudges within the limits of the Court sate the Archbishop of Canterbury with all the other Bishops of the Realme At the farther end of each side were the Advocates and Proctors retained for each partie for the King SAMPSON after Bishop of Chichester BELL after Bishop of Worcester TREGONEL and PETERS Father to the now Lord PETERS all Doctours of Law For the Queene FISHER Bishop of Rochester and STANDISH Bishop of Saint Assaph with RIDLEY Doctor whether of Divinitie or Law I know not but one who
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
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
three Vnkles who endeavoured to restraine their headstrong Nephew did halfe presume on the Kings clemency vntill in the passage demanding of the Master the name of the Ship wherein they failed and vnderstanding it was called The Cow bethinking themselves of a certaine Prophecy That fiue Sonnes of an Earle should in the belly of a Cow be carried into England neuer to returne they forthwith despaired of pardon The event approved the skill of the Wizard For some enemies to this noble Family incensing the King by suggesting that hee should never expect to settle Jrland as long as any of the race of the FITZ-GIRALDS remained easily prevailed with the King for their execution In reguard whereof I cannot blame GIRALD the Brother of THOMAS who trusting not to the weake plea of his innocence then sicke of the Measles as hee was sought by making an escape to set himselfe out of the reach of malice Being therefore packed vp in a bundle of cloathes hee was priuately conveied to one of his Friends with whome hee lurked vntill hee found an opportunity of escaping into France where hee was for a time favourably received by the King But long hee could not be there secure the Agents of HENRY pressing hard That by the League all Fugitives were to be delivered wherefore he went thence into the Netherlands where finding himselfe in no lesse danger then before hee fled into Italy to REIGNALD POOLE who maintained and vsed him very nobly and at length procured him to be restored to his Countrey and the Honors of his Ancestors The mention of POOLE falls fit with our time hee being this yeare on the two and twentieth of December by Pope PAVL the Fourth chosen into the Colledge of Cardinalls Hee was neere of bloud to the King who first bestowed learning on him and afterward finding his modesty and excellent disposition conferred on him the Deanry of Excester But travailing afterwards to foraine Vniversities hee was in Jtaly quickly bewitched with the sorceries of the Circe of Rome insomuch that hee became a deadly enemy to his Posterer his Prince his Kinsman For when hee would neither allow of the divorce from the Lady CATHARINE nor the abrogating of the authority of the Pope and openly condemned other the Kings proceedings in Ecclesiasticall affaires refusing also to obey the King who commanded him home HENRY disposed of his Deanry and withdrew the large stipend which he had yearely allowed him The Pope therefore intending to make vse of this man as an engine of battery against the King and being induced by the commendations of Cardinall CONTAREN bestowed on him a Cardinalls Hat and was thereby assured of him who had of late beene suspected to haue beene seasoned with the Leauen of purer Doctrine But of that hereafter Anno Dom. 1537. Reg 29. THe accidents of this yeare were tragicall and England the Scene of bloud and deaths of many famous Personages On the third of February was THOMAS FITZ-GIRALD beheaded for treason his five Vnkles hanged drawne and quartered and their members fixed over the gates of London The same moneth NICHOLAS MVSGRAVE and THOMAS GILBY for that stirring a new rebellion they had besieged Carlisle were executed The tenth of March was IOHN PASLEW Bachelour of Divinity and Abbot of Whalley put to death at Lancaster and with him one EASTGATE a Monke of the same place and three dayes after them another Monke called HAYDOCKE was hanged at Whalley The Abbots of Sauley and Woburne with two Monkes make the like end at Woburne And a little after one Doctor MACARELL another Abbot the Vicar of Louth two other Priests and seven Lay men All these for as much as I can any way collect were condemned for hauing beene especiall furtherers of the late rebellions But the Chieftaines and nobler sort were reserved vntill June at what time the Lords Darcey Hussey were beheaded the one at Lincolne the other at London Sir ROBERT CONSTABLE Sir THOMAS PERCY Sir FRANCIS BIGOT Sir STEPHEN HAMILTON and Sir IOHN BVLMER were likewise put to death MARGARET Lady to Sir IOHN BVLMER was burned at London WILLIAM THVRST Abbot of Fountaines ADAM SVDBVRY Abbot of Gervaux the Abbot of Rivers WOLD Prior of Birlington GEORGE LVMLEY NICHOLAS TEMPEST Esquires and ROBERT ASKE with many others as having beene partakers in the late Insurrection did likewise partake in punishment for the same And for a Commotion in Somerset-shire in Aprill were three scorecondemned whereof onely fourteene suffered But least any one may wonder at these severe and vnheard of courses taken against the Clergy I thinke it not amisse to relate what SLEIDAN writes of Cardinall POOLE who set forth one or two Bookes which as yet lurking at Rome about this time were spred abroad in Germany and came at length to the Kings hands Wherein directing his stile to the King hee sharpely repâ—chendeth him for taking vpon him the title of Head of the Church which onely belonged to the Pope who is CHRISTS Vicar on earth c. Then hee proceeds to the matter of his Divorce alledging That hee neither out of terrour of conscience nor feare of God as hee pretended but out of lust and blinde loue had forsaken the Lady CATHARINE his Wife whom his Brother Prince ARTHVR a weake young man and but fourteene yeares old had left a Virgin That it was not lawfull for him to marry ANNE BOLEN whose Sister hee had before vsed as his Concubine And that hee himselfe had confessed to the Emperour and others That hee found the Lady CATHARINE a Maide Hee also eagerly reproveth him for seeking the opinions of the Vniversities concerning his former marriage and triumphing in his owne wickednesse when some of them had pronounced it incestuous and that hee might bee ashamed to prefer the Daughter of a Whore before one that was legitimate and a most Vertuous Princesse Then speaking of the death of the Bishop of Rochester and Sir THOMAS MORE hee detests his cruelty Hee then rips vp what tyranny hee had exercised over his Subiects of all degrees in what miseries hee had plunged this flourishing Realme what dangers he incurred from the Emperour in reguard of the iniury offered to his Aunt and the overthrow of Religion and that hee could not expect any aid either from his owne or forraine Nations who had deserued so ill of the Christian Commonwealth After this hee whets on the Emperour to revenge the dishonour of his Family affirming that Turcisme meaning the Protestant Religion had found entertainement in England and Germany And after many bitter reproofes hee invites HENRY to repentance persuading him That for these evills there was no other remedy but to returne to the bosome of the Church in the defence whereof a most glorious example hee had made vse not onely of his Sword but his Pen also Neither did the Cardinall onely by Booke but by other personall endeavours manifest his spleene against the King beeing sent Embassadour from the Pope to
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
The Parliament had alreadie granted him great Subsidiâ—â— so that thence hee could expect no more Yet moneyes must be had HENRY therefore resolves on an honesâ— kind of rapine The Intreaties of Princes little differ from Commands vnlesse perhaps in this that they worke more subtilly and render them pliable with whom Commands would not have prevailed Which manifestly appeared in the execution of this proiect He had twenty yeares since commanded money by Proclamation a course so far from taking as wâ—â— desired that it had like to have beene the cause of much mischiefe but now by some fit Commissioners informing his subiects of his necessities and desiring the richer sort one by one to contribute towards his support hee quickly replenished the Exchequer The Commissioners begin first with the Citizens of London among whom two were more straight laced then the rest viz. RICHARD READ and WILLIAM ROCH but their parsimony shall cost them deare For READ being an old man and vtterly vnexpert of Martiall Discipline is commanded to serve in person in the wars of Scotland is taken by the Scots and forced to ranson himselfe at a high rate ROCH as having vsed some vncivill language before those of his Maiesties Counsaile who sate Commissioners was for some moneths punished with straight imprisonment and at length not improbably bought his libertie In the meane time Boloigne was a great eyesore to the French They try to regaine it by stratagems and surprisals but in vaine They betake themselves to force with the like successe The Marshall of Biez Governour of Boloignois comes with a great Army to the Port a Towne two miles from Boloigne and begins to build a Fort on this side the river vpon the point of the Tower of Ordre but is by the Earle of Hertford forced away and leaves his Castle in the Aire His intent was by this Fort to have kept the garrison of Boloigne within their wals to have commanded the haven so to cut off all succours by sea and from Calais by land Which being done FRANCIS resolved in Person to besiege Guisnes and there to fortifie thereby to famish Boloigne and to keepe Calais and the land of Oye in subiection But these designes proving fruitlesse he prepares his navall forces giving forth that he intended to invade England hoping that this alarme would have made vs have a care of the maine and neglect those pieces abroad so that Boloigne for lack of aide should easily be reduced The noise of an invasion made HENRY arme who having gathered together a sufficient Fleet awaited the Enemie at Portsmouth intent to all occasions Neither did the French onely intend an alarme landing in three severall places in England but were every where with losse driven aboard their ships Two dayes after they fall downe to the Channell that divideth the Isle of Wight from the rest of Britaine they seeme to threaten Portsmouth where the King then was and seeke to draw our Fleet to fight The French beside a sufficient Fleet of other ships had twenty five Gallies no way probably vsefull in these â—empestuous and rough seas not brooking this flat kinde of shipping but by their bulke and number to terrifie vs yet at this time an vnusuall calmnesse of the sea without winde or current put them in hope of effecting wonders by their Galleyes But our Fleet was not to be drawne to fight much lesse to bee forced without apparent danger to the Enemy who must slâ—p downe a narrow Channell where but few ships could go in front and the like number opposed might easily defend it where they could not enter but with the tide and winde and the first ships repulsed in their falling backe would have disordered the rest of the Fleet where of necessitie they must fight vnder the favour of our Forts and Cannon which would easily have hindred their approach The Enemy being put off heere consult of fortifying the Isle of Wight where at Saint Helens point they land two thousand men resolve forsooth to make that the seate of the warre and there to build three Forts but the valour of the inhabitants made them change their designe and forced them againe to their ships Thus every where affronted to their losse without any memorable act they set saile for Normandie The French Fleet consisted of a hundred and three saile of all sorts ours of only sixtie so that it was no way sae for vs to incounter them Some light proffers were made on both sides wherein we alwayes came of with the better As for the Mary Rose a ship which with her losse buried Sir GEORGE CAROW the Captaine and seven hundred men the French do well to make vse of casualties to their owne glory But it was not the valour of the French or fury of their Cannons that sunke her but the supine negligence of the Marinets being wracked in the very haven in the presence of the King Boloigne was not idle the while Vpon hope of a Fort to be built by the Marshall of Biez FRANCIS had made great preparations for an enterprize vpon Guisnes but was diverted by the death of the Duke of Orleans his younger Sonne and the lost hopes of his intended Fort neere Boloigne and having for a while encamped at Mont-Lambert retired at last toward Amiens The neernesse of the Kings Campe at Mont-Lambert did daily invite both Nations to make triall of their valour the English sometimes sometimes the French having the better One day among the rest the English hotly charging the French the Duke of Aumale comes to relieve them who being strooken with a Lance vnder his right eye it breakes in pieces and leaves the tronchion halse a foot within his head It was a token of an excellent spirit in this young Nobleman that for so rough a charge hee lost not his stirrups and endured the torture whereto they put him in drawing out the three square head with such an invincible constancy as if they had picked a thorne from out his finger and beyond all expectation of the Chirurgians recovered The victory remained to the English Who could not long bragge of it afterward seeking to cut off a Convoy of the Enemies defeated by the Ringrave with the losse of sixteene Captaines and seven or eight hundred men The Earle of Surrey who led them saved himselfe by flight And were it not discourtesie in vs not to requite the late visit of the French The Lord Admirall therefore landed six thousand men at Treport in Normandie burned the Towne and Abbey with thirtie Ships and a Barke in in the Haven and returned with the losse of only fourteene men Neither were our imployments lesse or fewer in Scotland then among the French Scotland had so many enemies at home that it needed not any abroad But their homebred dissentions had caused war from vs and the way to set them at peace was to invade them In the beginning of March Sir RALPH EVERS by the death of his
Father Lord Evers with an Army entred Scotland making all the Countrey desert about Iedbury and Kelson Thence marching to Coldingham fortified the Church and Tower and leauing a Garrison there departed The Garrison partly out of couetousnesse partly to distresse the Enemy if he should lay siege to them pillaged and wasted all the neighbouring Countrey The Regent according to their expectation besiegeth the Church with eight thousand men and batters it a whole day and a night But sudainly making none of the Nobles partakers of his determinations whether out of feare to be betraied by his Army or some other cause tooke horse and passed away to Dunbar which occasioned the disbanding of the Army and the freedome of the besieged Our often successe hauing emboldened vs we adventure vpon another impression the fury whereof disburdened it selfe in Merch Tâ—ifidale and Lauden the Inhabitants being either forced to yeild or fly and leave their goods to be seized on by Bellonas Haâ—bingers The Scots at length make head and although of more then equall number they betake themselves to stratagems They vnderstand by their Scouts of our approach and to deceive vs by the advise of WALTER SCOT send their horses to the adioyning hils Neither indeed was the place so advantageous for Horse as for Foot The horses backed by the Groomes that kept them did from the hils make shew of an Army and that flying We advance as loath to let our enemies escape in the pursuit of whom we vnawares fall among the whole Army not disorderly flying but prepared to receive vs. It is not vnusuall to encounter men but if Heaven and the Elements oppose vs how can we hope for victory Wee finde the number of our adverse Army great beyond our expectation the Sun farre declining to the West darted his rayes in our faces and a violent winde drives the smoke of the shot into our mouthes which not onely made the most necessary sence vnusefull but with a foule stench corrupted the aire and hindred the breathing of the already panting Souldiers The many advantages give them the victory Wee leave two hundred in the place and among them the Lord EVERS a thousand are taken whereof Alderman READ was one A little after this victory FRANCIS sent into Scotland a supply of five hundred French Horse and three thousand Footmen vnder the command of the Lord of Lorges Earle of Montgomery not so much to crosse our attempts against the Scots as to distract our forces that the violence of them vnited might not at once fall on France This yeare among other accidents is alâ—o memorable through the death of the King's Brother in law CHARLES BRANDON Duke of Suffolke a man of a mighty spirit yet so tempering it with mildnesse and faire demeanour that hee was generally beloved both of Prince and people Who in that height of favour carried him so evenly as to die quietly in his bed A happinesse vnder this Prince rare even to Fortunes and His Favourites A Parliament assembled in November granted the King the Disposall of all Colledges Chantries and Hospitals the demeasnes salaries and stipends thereto belonging or given to Priests to say Masse for the soules of the departed The King personally gave thankes to both Houses promising to have a care that they should be imployed to the honour of God and the publique good But we finde not the effect of his promises Anno Dom. 1546. Reg. 38. vltimo WE are now come to the last yeare of HENRY his Raigne Who having tired himselfe with the French wars began at length seriously to bethinke himselfe of peace Neither was FRANCIS lesse desirous of his friendship To this end Deputies from both sides meet often betweene Guisnes and Ardres For HENRY the Earle of Hertford GARDINER Bishop of Winchester the Viscount Lisle Lord Admirall Sir WILLIAM PAGET Secretary of Estate and Doctour WOTTON the first Deane of Canterbury For FRANCIS the Admirall ANNEBAVLT RAYMOND first President of Rouan and BOVCHEREL Secretary After many consultations a Peace was concluded on these Conditions That Francis within eight yeares should pay fourescore hundred thousand Crownes to the King as well for the arrerage of his Pension as for many other expenses made by him in war in the fortification of Boloigne and of the Countrey and vpon receipt of the said summe Henry should deliver vnto the King of France Boloigne and all the Countrey belonging to it with the ancient places or newly edified by him Mont-Lambert the Tower of Ordre Ambleteul and others with all the Artillery and Munition in them For the confirmation whereof the Viscount Lisle was sent Embassadour into France and from thence came the Admirall ANNEBAVLT to receive the oathes of each King and the Peace was proclaimed in London On the sixteenth of Iuly were burnt at London for their Religion IOHN LASSELS NICHOLAS OTTERDEN IOHN ADLAM and ANNE ASSKEW a young Gentlewoman aged twentie five of an ancient Descent excellent beauty and acute wit whose examinations writings tortures and patient suffering are at large set downe by Master FOX being before their execution by Doctour SCHAXTON exhorted to recant as he then was forced who some yeares passed had resigned his Bishopricke to enioy his Conscience And here I may not omit an addition to the septenary number of Sleepers WILLIAM FOXLEY a Potmaker in London who without any touch of any preceding infirmity was seised with such a dead sleepe that for fourteene daies and fifteene nights no force nor invention could awake him on the fifteenth day this miraculous sleepe forsaking him he was as it were restored to life and found as sound and entire as if he had taken no more then an ordinary repose Neither would he believe that he had taken other but that the building of a certaine wall made it apparant to him how much time he had slept away Hee lived above forty yeares after viz. to the yeare 1587. Let vs conclude this yeare with the death of MARTIN LVTHER that famous impugner of the Church of Rome who being sent for by the Counts of MANSFEILD to compose some differences betweene them concerning their inheritance died among them in his Climactericall yeare and after much contention for his body lieth buried at Wirtenberg Anno Dom. 1547. HENRY long since growne corpulent was become a burthen to himselfe and of late lame by reason of a violent vleer in his leg the inflammation whereof cast him into a lingering fever which by little and little decaying his spirits hee at length began to feele the inevitable necessity of death The cogitation of many things as in the like exigents vsually happeneth oppressed him and chiefly of his Sonnes nonage but now entring into his tenth yeare an age infirme and oportune to treacheries against which he found small provision in his friends having none amongst those on whose loyalty hee chiefly relied of so sufficient eminency as to vnderprop his weake Estate with those supporters of Royalty Power and
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
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
armes in the behalfe of her Husband Pope PAVL was much displeased And being hee could not be revenged on her who indeed was the sole cause of our breach with France he determined to powre out his wra hon POOLE whom he ever hated but now he thought he had more cause to manifest it because POOLE knowing that this war was set on foot by the Pope had by letters and Embassadours sought to appease him and that though with most humble reverence yet roundly and according to his conscience Having abrogated POOLE'S Legation he repeales him to Rome and for supply of his place hee creates one FRANCIS PETOW a Franciscan Frier Cardinall and Legate and a little after designed him Bishop of Sarisbury The Queene having intelligence of these proceedings tooke especiall care that POOLE might have no notice of them prohibiting not only this new Cardinall to enter the Realme but all others whom shee suspected to bring any Mandates to that purpose with exact diligence causing his letters to be intercepted by her Orators at Rome certified his Holinesse what a hazard the Catholique Religion not yet fully established would incurre if he should indevour the disgrace of so great a man whose authority had beene much available for the conversion of the Nation But while there is this intercourse betweene the Pope and the Queene concerning this matter POOLE hauing some way or other had an inkling of it abstained from having the silv r Crosse the Ensigne of his Legation borne before him neither would he afterward exercise his authoritie Legantine vntill by the intercession of ORMANETO the Popes Datary in England hee was restored to his dignitie By this time the warre was very hot on both sides PHILIP besieging Saint Quint in in Picardie with thirtie five thousand Foot and twelve thousand Horse which number was after increased by a thousand Horse foure thousand Foot and two thousand Pioners out of England vnder the Command of the Earle of Pembrooke For the managing of this war PHILIP set saile out of England on the seventh of Iuly On the tenth of August the French indevouring to put succors into the Towne are overthrown The Spaniard chargeth the Constable MONTMORENCY in his retreat routs the French kils two thousand five hundred a victory not so great in the execution as in the death and captivity of many brave men The Constable was wounded taken prisoner with his son as also the Dukes of Montpensier Longueville LVDOVICO GONZAGA brother to the Duke of Mantua the Marshal of Saint Andrew the Ringraue ROCHE-DV-MAINE the Count Rochfoucault the Baron of Curton with many other men of marke The chiefe of them that were slaine were IOHN of Burbon Duke of Anguien the Viscount of Turen N. TIFRCELLIN son to ROCHE-DV-MAINE the Lords oâ— handenier Pontdormy and many others and in a manner all the foot Captaines PHILIP lost only fifty men The eight day after this victorie an assault is given and the Towne carried by force wherin were taken the Admirall COLIGNY with his brother D'ANDELOT who shortly after made an escape IARNAC S. REMY HVMES and many other persons of quality the son of the Lord of Fayette SALEVERT OGIER VICâ—YES LABARRE ESTANG and GOVRDES were slaine Of the English in this assault few of note were lost beside Lord HENRY DVDLEY yongest son to the Duke of Northumberland and Sir EDWARD WINDSORE who were the first that advanced Ensigne on the walls This yeare is alike memorable for the extreme dearth and contemptible cheapnesâ—e of corne A little before harvest wheat was sold at foure markes the quarter within the current of a moneth it fell to the low rate of live shillings Wherin I rather admire the insuing cheapnesse then the dearth having my selfe in the yeare 1597. paied double the former deare price But that which I shall now relate I should deeme far more memorable had I not in later times my selfe seene the like On the night which insued the seventh day of September almost two houres after Sun-set the Moone having risen an houre before a Rainbow was seene in the West That I may relate the like accident though of differing time the like apparition was seene by me on the foure and twentieth of November 1â—04 when the Sun having two houres before declined to its lowest travailing towards Colebrooke the forme of a white cloud shaped into a fragment of a Circle and iust opposite to the Moone then newly risen appeared which did every way resemble a true Rainbow but that it was not diversified with colors and in steed of the Sunne had the Moone its opposite Anno Dom. 1558. Reg. vltimo HENRY some way to repaire his losses at Saint Quintin resolves an enterprise vpon Calais which SENARPONT Governour of Bouloigne persuaded him was not so fortified according to report but that it might easily be taken The Marshall STROSSY having vnder the favour of a disguise viewed the place confirmed SENARPONT'S assurance of taking it PHILIP whether having intelligence of HENRY'S designes or else presaging so much had often admonished the Queene to have an especiall reguard to that Towne voluntarie offering his assistance for the securitie of it But wee over-wisely ielous least PHILIP had a practice on it it lying commodiously for his adioyning Netherlands neglected both his advice and proffer But the reality of his advice was manifested by the event The Duke of Guise having by the King beene declared Lieutenant Generall in all his Dominions leuying a great Armie flies sudainly to the siege of Calais before which he sate downe on Newyeares day and intrenched at Sandgate Then dividing his Army into two parts he at the same time assaults Newnambridge and the Risbanke two Forts wherein the chiefe strength of that Towne consisted the taking whereof would have cut of all possibilitie of relieving the besieged either by land or sea The garrisons of each place terrified with so vnexpected a danger hee at his first arrivall gaines Newnambridge and the next day the Risbanke The French then batter the wall betweene the watergate and the prison not so much out of hope to gaine entrance that way as to divert vs from garding that part of the Towne where they really intended to give an assault Having for a while battered that part and we little suspecting an enterprise vpon the Castle they sudainly with fifteene peeces make a battery vpon the Castle and continue it with such fury that the thunder of the Canon was all that day heard at Antwerp which is distant from thence more then one hundred English miles Having by that time night drew on made a sufficient breach and yet in reguard of the deepe dikes filled with water wherin consisted the maine hopes of the defendants not able to come to an assault the Enemy with great toile and labour by a cut from thence to the sea draw the dikes so low that by that time the tide was gone out they march not
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