silver There were two hundred and fourescore Beds the furniture to most of them being silke and all for the entertainment of Strangers onely Keturning to London we were on Saint MARTINS day invited by the King to Greenwich to a Banquet the most sumptuous that ever I beheld whether you consider the dishes or the Markes and Playes wherein the Ladie MARY the Kings Daughter acted a part To conclude the King and MONTMORENCY having taken the Sacrament together the King for himselfe MONTMORENCY in the behalfe of FRANCIS swore the observation of the League The King bestowed great gifts on euery one and dismissed MONTMORENCY who left the Bishop of Bayeux Leiger for his King to endevour the continuance of the amitie begun betweene these Princes Shortly after were sent into France Sir THOMAS BOLEN Viscount Rochfort and Sir ANTHONY BROWNE Knight who together with IOHN CLERRE Bishop of Bath and Wells Leiger in France should take the French King's Oath not to violate the late League in any part and to present him with the Order of the Garter We had now made France ours Nothing remained but to let the Emperour know the effects of the late Confederacy To this end Sir FRANCIS POINTZ and Clarentieux King at Armes are dispatched away to the Emperonr to demand the moitie of the bootie gotten in the battaile of Pavie and the Duke of Orleans one of the French Kings Sonnes left Hostage for his Father to be delivered to HENRY who had borne a share in the charges of that war and therefore expected to partake in the gaines To command him to draw his Army out of Italy and not to disturbe the peace of Christendome by molesting CHRIST'S Vicar This if he refused to do neither was there expectation of any thing else they should forthwith defie him They execute their Commission and perceiving nothing to be obtained Clarentieux and a certaine French Herald being admitted to the Emperous presence do in the names of both Kings proclaime war agaiust him CHARLES accepts it chearefully But the Embassadors of France Venâ—ce and Florence craving leave to depart are committed to safe custodie vntill it be knowne what is become of his Embassadours with these Estate The report hereof flies into England and withall that Sir FRANCIS POINTZ and Clarentieux were committed with the rest Whervpon the Emperour's Embassador is detained vntill the truth be knowne as it shortly was by the safe returne of them both But Sir FAANCIS POINTZ about the beginning of the next Summer died fudainly in the Court being infected with the sweating sicknesse The same happening to divers other Courtiers and the infection spreading it selâ—e over London the Terme was adiourned and the King faine to keepe a running Court But these were the accidents of the ensuing yeare Anno Dom. 1528. Reg. 20. POpe CLEMENT was of himselfe naturally slow but his owne ends made him beyond the infirmity of his nature protract time in this cause concerning the Kings Divorce Bearing himselfe as neuter betweene the Emperor and the French King hee makes them both become iealous of him And war being renewed in Italy hee perceives himselfe likely againe to become a prey to the Conquerour Which if it should happen hee must betake himselfe to the King of England of whose helpe hee was certaine as long as his cause did vncertainly hang in suspence But if hee should determine in the behalfe of the King would he in gratitude be as beneficiall as hope or feare of offending had made him That he much doubted These thoughts possessing the Pope CAESAR'S affaires in Italy began to decline almost all the Townes throughout the Realme of Naples out of hatred to the insolent Spaniard and affection to the French making offer of their Keyes and receiving Garisons of French CLEMENT therefore did not now much stand in awe of the Emperour much against whose minde he was intreated to send a Legate into England LAWRENCE CAMPEGIVS Cardinall and Bishop of Salisbury who together with the Cardinall of Yorke should have the hearing of this Cause so long controverted to no purpose And the more to testifie his affection to the King he did by a Decretall Bull but privately drawne pronounce the Kings marriage with CATHARINE to bee void This Bull was committed to the Legate with these instractions That having shewed it to the King and the Cardinall of Yorke Hee should withall signifie to them that he had authoritie to publish it but not to give sentence vntill hee received new instructions telling him that he was content the King should enioy the benefit of it and it may be hee was then so minded but that it stood him vpon to haue this businesse delayed vntill he had sufficiently secured himselfe from the Emperour These were the pretences of the old Fox to the Legate But his meaning was to make vse of all seasons and to turne with the weather The ninth of October to London comes the Legate the King having given order to the Citie for his solemne entertaiment But the old mans infirmitie frustrated their preparations hee was grievously tormented with the gout and would bee privately brought into the Citie After a few dayes rest carried in a chaire he was brought to the King's presence to whom his Secretary made a Latin Oration wherein having much complained of the extreme crueltie of the Imperials in the sacking of Rome he vsed many words to signifie that the Kings pious bounty shewed in his liberally relieving them in so needfull a season was most acceptable to the Pope and the whole Colledge of Cardinals To this speech EDWARD FOX afterward Bishop of Hereford returned an answere in Latine wherein he declared That his Maiestie was much grieved at his Holinesse calamitie forasmuch as man is naturally touched with a feeling of anothers miseries That He had not onely performed what could bee expected from him as a man but had also done the part of a friend for a friend and what was due from a Prince to CHRIST'S Vicar on earth He did therefore hope that in reguard of his filiall obedience to the Holy Sea if it should happen that He should stand in need of its assistance and authoritie his Holinesse would be pleased readily to grant those things which it might beseeme a Sonne to crave of the common Mother Thus much passed in publique The King and the Legates conferring in private CAMPEGIVS assured the King of the Popes forwardnesse to pleasure him CAMPEGIVS was indeed no bad man and spake truly what hee thought For CLEMENT knowing how difficult a matter it was to deceive a man that was no foole by one conscious of the guile and that was not deceiued himselfe made the Legate beleeue that in this matter of the Divorce hee would be readie to doe for the King whatsoeuer hee should demand After these passages the Legates spent sixe whole moneths in consultation only concerning their manner of proceeding in the Kings Divorce In the meane time the
Eight his Chappell in the Church of Windsore That three of his Children raigning after him none of them vndertooke by perfecting it to cover the as it were vnburied bones of their Father what may wee thinke but that the excessive charge of it deterred them But vpon a further ininquiry we may more iustly ascribe it to the especiall iudgement of the Divine Providence who had decreed that he who had so horribly spoiled the Church should alone be debarred the honor afforded to each of his Predecessours in the Church And thus much concerning WOLSEY who died the thirtieth of November 1530. In the meane time in Iune Anno 1529. after long debating the matter to and fro by the mediation of Louyse the French Kings Mother and MARGARET Aunt to the Emperour these two Princes are drawne to an accord a Peace is concluded betweene them at Cambray thence commonly called The Peace of Cambray but by vs The Peace of Women The chiefe Conditions whereof and that any way concerned vs were That the French King should giue to the Emperour for the freedome of his Children who had beene three yeares Hostages in Spaine for their Father two Millions of Crownes whereof he should pay foure hundred thousand due from the Emperor by the League made Anno 1522. to Henry and his Sister Mary Dowager of France Beside which huge summe he should also acquit the Emperor of fiue hundred thousand which he did owe to our King for the indemnity of the marriage betweene the Emperour and the Lady Mary the Kings Daughter whom having beene long since contracted hee left to marry with the Daughter of Portugall And that hee should vngage and restore to the Emperour the Flower de Lys of gold enriched with precious stones a piece of our Saviours Crosse which Philip truly called The Good Duke of Burgoigne the Emperours Father being driven into England by contrary windes had ingaged to Henry the Seventh for fifty thousand Crownes So that the summe to be paid to HENRY amounted to nine hundred and fifty thousand Crownes besides sixteene hundred thousand more to be payed to the Emperour at the very instant of the delivery of the French King's Children The totall summe was two millions fiue hundred fifty thousand Crownes which of our money make seven hundred sixty five thousand pounds FRANCIS not knowing which way sudainly to raise so huge a masle by his Embassadours intreated our King to be pleased to stay some time for his moneyes But HENRY was much moved that he had not beene made acquainted with this Treaty notwithstanding his secret designes made him temper his choler nay and with incredible liberality to grant more then was demanded For hee absolutely forgave him the five hundred thousand Crownes due for the not marrying his Daughter hee gave the Flower de Lys to his Godsonne HENRY Duke of Orleans and left the other foure hundred thousand to be payed by equall portions in five yeares The Pope had lately by his Legates deluded HENRY who was therevpon much discontented not knowing what course to run And this is thought to be the cause of his so extraordinary liberality toward the French The King being then in progresse and hunting at Waltham it happened that STEPHEN GARDINER Principall Secretary of Estate after Bishop of Winton and FOX the King's Almoner after Bishop of Hereford were billeted in the house of a gentleman named CRESSEY who had sent his two sons to be brought vp at Cambridge vnder the tutelage of THOMAS CRANMER Doctour in Divinity a man both very learned and vertuous The plague then spreading it selfe in Cambridge CRANMER with his two Pupils betooke himselfe to Master CRESSEY their father his house Where GARDINER and FOX among other table talke discoursing of the Kings Suite concerning his Divorce which had so many yeares depended in the Court of Rome vndecided CRANMER said that he wondred the King required not the opinions of the most famous learned men that were any where to be found of whom the world had many far more learned then the Pope and followed not their iudgements What CRANMER had as it were let fall by chance they report to the King who sudainly apprehending it said that this fellow whosoever he was had hit the naile on the head and withall demanding his name caused CRANMER to be sent for whom he commended for his but too late advise which course if he had taken but five yeares before hee should now have had an hundred thousand pounds in his purse which he had vnprofitably in this suite cast away on the Court of Rome he commands CRANMER to write a Tract concerning this question wherein having drawne together what reasons hee could for the confirmation of his advice hee should conclude with his owne opinion CRANMER did it very readily and is therevpon with Sir THOMAS BOLEN lately created Earle of Wiltshire CARNE STOKESLEY and BE NET Doctours of Law with others sent on an Embassie to Rome CRANMER'S booke is to be presented to his Holinesse and they are commanded to challenge the Court of Rome to a disputation wherin the Contents of that book should be maintained the argument whereof was That by the authority of holy Scripture ancient Fathers and Councels it was vtterly vnlawfull for any man to marry his Brothers Widow and that no such marriage could bee licenced or authorized by the Popes Dispensation This being done the King's intent was they should procure the opinions of all the Vniversities throughout Europe by whom if he found his former marriage condemned then without farther expecting the approbation of the Sea of Rome he was resolved to run the hazard of a second To this the amity of the French seeming very conducible the King had by his former liberality sought to oblige him The Embassadours came to Rome had audience were promised a publique disputation whereof they were held so long in expectation that perceiving their stay there to bee to little purpose they all returned into England except CRANMER who with the same instructions that hee had formerly beene sent to the Pope was to go to the Emperour whose Court was then in Germany There this good learned man hitherto no friend to LVTHER while he defends his owne booke and the King's Divorce against the most learned either of Protestants or Papists is thought to have beene seasoned with the leaven of that doctrine for which after he had beene twenty yeares Archbishop of Canterbury he was most cruelly burned While CRANMER thus laboured abroad the King at home deales with LANGEY the French Embassadour by whose meanes with the forcible Rhetoricke saith one of some English Angels hee obtained of the Vniversities of Paris with the rest throughout France Pavia Padua Bononia and others this Conclusion That the Pope who hath no power over the Positive Law of God could not by his Dispensation ratifie a marriage contracted betweene a Brother and a brothers Widow it being forbidden by the expresse words
seeme a miracle and is a great argument both of rare vertue in the succeeding King and of a right iudgement in the subject For this great Lady was so farre beyond example that even the best Princes come short of her and they who most inveigh against that Sexe contend that Woman is incapable of those vertues in her most eminent Wisdome Clemency Learning variety of Languages and Magnanimity equall to that of Men to which I adde feruent Zeale of Piety and true Religion But in these things peraduenture some one or other may equall her What I shall beyond all this speake of her and let me speake it without offence to my most excellent Soueraigne IAMES the Paterne of Princes the Mirrour of our Age the Delight of Britaine no age hath hitherto paraleld nor if my Augury faile not none ever shall That a Woman and if that be not enough a Virgin destitute of the helpe of Parents Brothers Husband being surrounded with enemies the Pope thundring the Spaniard threatening the French scarce dissembling his secret hate as many of the neighboring Princes as were devoted to Rome clashing about her should containe this warlike Nation not only in obedience but in peace also and beyond all this Popery being profligated in the true Divine worship Hence it comes to passe that England which is among the rest of it selfe a Miracle hath not these many yeares heard the noise of war and that our Church which she found much distracted transcends all others of the Christian world For you shall at this day scarce finde any Church which either defiled with Popish superstitions or despoiled of those Revenues which should maintaine Professors of the Truth hath not laid open a way to all kinde of Errors grosse Ignorance in learning especially Divine and at length to Ethnique Barbarousnesse But to what end do I insist on these or the like they beeing sufficiently knowne even to the Barbarians themselves and Fame having trumpetted them throughout the world Which things when and how they were done how bountifully she aided and relieved her Allies how bravely she resisted brake vanquished her Enemies I have a desire in a continued History to declare and will God willing declare if I can attaine to the true intelligence of the passages of those times have leasure for the compiling it and that no other more able then my selfe which I wish may happen in the meane time ingage themselves therein LAVS DEO Errata PAg. 4. Lin. 20. read five dayes p. 6. l. 36. wearying p. 11. l. 36. dele of p. 26. l. 27. for crave read renew p. 27. l. 7. after her part read the good of the. p. 31. l. 9. into Scotland p. 32. l. 31. this debt p. 38. l. 13. Tournay lin 24. sixtieth p. 41. l. 13. oblations at Beckets tombe p. 51. l. 1. these p. 64. l. 6. mutemque l. 7. Falsus p. 72. l. 12. doth p. 95. l. 2. for Protector read Proctor pag. 97. lin 8. Ziâ— p. 133. l. 12. sticklers p. 139. l. 14 31. SMETON p. 142. l. 12. for just read vnjust p. 193. l. 33. MEVTAS p 198. l. 34. for passed r. posted p. 214 l. 20. Heads p. 223. l. 13. sictitious p. 227. l. 3. for of r. by p. 238. l. 21. for greatly r. gently p. 2â—6 l. 28. disceptation p. 2â—8 l. 14. dele and. ibid. read could hardly p. 318. l. 30. read out of contempt p. 319. l 1 for vnity read vnion p. 3â—0 l. 13. read vnion Henry 8. 1509. His priuie Counsaile The funerals of Henry the 7. S. Stephens Chappell The Coronation of Henry the 7. His marriage The death of Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond Empson and Dudley An expedition into Afrique Into Gueldres Barton a Pirat takâ—n Warre with France Afruitlesse Voyage into Spaine The Spaniard seâ—seth on Navarrâ— The Lord Admirall drowned Terouenne besieged The battaile of Spurres Terouenne yeilded Maximilian the Emperor serveth vnder King Henry The siegâ— of Tournay Tournay yeilded Wolsey Bishop of Tourney The King of Scots slaine Flodden field The descent and honours of the Howards Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke Charles Somerset Earle of Worcester Peace with Frauce The Ladie Mary the Kings sister married to Levis 12. K. of France Cardinall Wolsey A breach with France The Starre-chamber and The Court of Requests instituted by Wolsey Ill May day The sweating sickenesse Peace with France The death of the Emperor Maximilian The Emperour Charles the in Fifth England Canterburie Enterview betwixt the Kings of England and France Henry visits the Emperor at Graueling The Duke of Buckingham accused of treason King Henry writeth against Luther Luthers departure from the Church Rome The Kings of England by the Pope stiled Defenders of the Faith The death of Leo the Tenth Cardinall Wolsey and others sent embassadors to the Emperour and French King The Emperor Charles the second time in Enland Windsore The Conditions of the League concluded with the Emperor Rhodes taken by the Turke Christierne King of Denmarke The Duke of Bourbon reuolts The death of Adrian the Sixth Clement the Sâ—uenth succeedeth and Wolsey suffereth the repulse Wolsey persuades the King to a diuorce Richard Pacey Deane of Pauls falleth mad The battel of Pavy Money demanded and commanded by Proclamation The King fals in Loue with Anne Bolen A creation of Lords Wolsey to build two Colledges Demolisheth fou Monasteries Sacrileoge punished Luther writes to the King The Kings answer A breach with the Emperor The King endevours to râ—lieve the French King A League concluded with the French King The French King set at liberty The King of Hungary slaine by the Turkes Wolsey seâ—kes to bee Pope Sede nondum vacante Rome sacked Montmorency Embassadour from France War proclaimed against the Emperor The inconstancie of the Pope Cardinall Campegius sent into England The Kings Speech concerning his Divorce The suite of the Kings Divorce The Queens speech to the King before the Legates The Queene depart th Reasons for the Divorre Reasons against the Divorce The Popes inconstancy Wolsey fals The Legates repaire to the Queene Their conference with her Her answer Cardinall Campegius his Oration Wolsey discharged of the great Seale Siâ— Thomas Moore Lord Câ—ancell our Thâ— Câ—rdinall accused of treâ—son Wolseyes speech to the Iudges Christ Church in Oxford Wolsâ—y falls sickâ— Wolsâ—y is confined to Yorke The 〈◊〉 â—s apprehended His lâ—st words He dieth And is buried His greatnesse His buildings The peace of Cambray The first occasion of Cranmers rising Creation of Earles The Bible translated into English An Embassie to the Pope All commerce with the Sea of Rome forbiddâ—n The Clergy fined The King declared Supreme Head of the Church The death of William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury Cranmer though much against his will succeedoth him Sir Thomas More resignes the place of Lord Chanceâ—lour An enterview betweene the Kings of England and France Catharina de Medices married to the Duke of Orleans The King marrieth Anne Bâ—len The
MAGDALEN Colledge and afterward became Master of the free Schoole thereto belonging Among other schollers the sonnes of the Marquis of Dorset were committed to his trust and for his care ouer them the Paâ—sonage of Limington in Somersetshire no verie meane one was bestowed on him As soone as he had set footing there he was very disgracefully entertained by Sir AMIAS POWLET who clap't him in the stockes a punishment not vsually inflicted vpon any but beggars and base people What the matter was that so exasperated him against WOLSEY a man not of least account I know not This I know that WOLSEY beeing afterward made Cardinall and Lord Chancellor of England so grieuously punished this iniurie that Sir AMIAS POWLET was faine to dance attendance at London some yeares and by all manner of obsequiousnesse to currie fauour with him There remaines to this day a sufficient testimonie her of in a building ouer the gate of the middle Temple in London built by the Knight at the time of his attendance there decked round about very sumptuously with the Cardinalls Armes hoping thereby somewhat to alay the wrath of the incensed Prelate But these things were long after this yere WOLSEY whether that hee could not brooke this disgrace or bearing a minde that look't beyond this poore Benefice left it and became domestique Chaplaine to Sir IOHN NAFANT Treasurer of Calais by whose meanes hee was taken notice of by FOX Bishop of Winchester a man that knew rightly how to iudge of good wits He finding this young man to be verie â—prightfull of learning sufficient and verie actiue in dispatch of affaires so highly commended him to king HENRY the Seuenth who relied much vpon FOXES faith and wisedome that hee thought it good forthwith to imploy him in affaires of great moment What need many words he so far pleased the King that in short time he became a great man and was first prefer'd to the Deanrie of Lincolne and then made the Kings Almoner But HENRY the Eighth a young Prince comming to the Crowne was wholly taken with his smooth tongue and pliable behauiour For when all the rest of his friends aduised Him to sit euerie day in person at the Counsell Table that so by experience and daily practise He might reape wisedome and to accustome Himselfe to the managing of affaires of Estate WOLSEY aduised Him to follow His pleasures saying That His youth would not be able to brooke their tedious Consultations euerie Age of man had its Seasons and Delights agreeable They did not do well that would force the King to act an Old Man before His time Youth being vtterly auerse from wrinckled Sâ—ueritie It would come to passe hereafter if God were so pleased that what was now troublesome to him would not be disagreeable to riper Yeares nay prooue perhaps a great pleasure Vntill that time came He should enioy the present and not by hearkening to others needlesse persuasions any way interrupt the course of that felicitie which the largenesse of His Dominions would easily affoord Him He should hawke and hunt and as much as Him list vse honest recreations If so bee Hee did at any time desire suddenly to become an Old Man by intermedling with Old Mens Cares He should not want those meaning himselfe that would in the euening in one or two wordes relate vnto Him the effect of a whole daies Consultation This speech hitting so pat with the Kings humour made WOLSEY so powerfull that whereas the King before fauored him as much as any other he onely was now in fauour with and next the King with whon e there was nothing to bee done but by him For he was the man that was made choice of who like another MERCVRY should passe betweene this our IOVE and the Senate of the lesser Gods offering their petitions to Him and to them returning his pleasure therein Wherefore he was euen at the first sworne of the Priuie Counsell and besides the late collation of Tournay vpon the death of SMITH he was also made Bishop of Lincolne In the gouernement of which Church he had not fully spent six moneths before he was translated from Lincolne to the Archbishopricke of Yorke then vacant by the death of Cardinall BAMBRIDGE at Rome Shortly after that I may at once shew all his honors WILLIAM WARHAM Archbishop of Caterâ—urie leauing the place he was by the King made Lord Chancellor of England and by the Pope Legate a latere Yet he stayed not there but as if the Archb shopricke of Yorke and the Chancellorship of England had not beene sufficient to maintaine the port of a Cardinall besides many other lâ—uings he procured of the King the Abbey of Saint Albanes and the Bishopricke of Bath and Wells And not content with these leauing Bath and Wells he addeth the Bishopricke of Durham to that of Yorke and then leauing Durhamâ—eazeth â—eazeth on Winchester at that time of greatest reuenue of any Bishopricke in England You now see WOLSEY in his height rich his Princes Fauourite and from the bottom raised to the top oâ— Fortunes wheele What became of him afterward you shall know hereafter Anno Dom. 1515. Reg. 7. THe League lately made with LEWIS the French King was confirmed by FRANCIS his Successor and published by Proclamation in London the ninth day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1516. Reg. 8. BVt the French King hauing taken into his protection the young King of Scots sent IOHN STVART Duke of Albanie in Scotland to be Gouernour both of the kings Person and kingdome The first thing this Duke vndertook was either to put to death or banish those whom he any way suspected to fauor the English Insomuch that the Queene Dowager who by this time was matried to ARCHIBALD DOVGLIS Earle of Aagus forced to saue herselfe by flight came into England to her Brother with whom she stayed at London a whole yeare the Earle her husband after a moneth or two without leaue returning into Scotland King HENRY being displeased at these French practises deales vnderhand with the Emperour MAXIMILIAN with whome the French then contended for the Dutchie of Milane and lends him a great summe of money whereby he might hire the Suisâ—es to aid him in the expelling the French out of Italie But the Emperour although he had leuied a sufficient Armie returned home without doing any thing He was indeed accompted a wise Prince but vnhappy in the managing of his affaires whether it were that Fortune waiwardly opposed him or that he was naturally slow in the execution of his wel plotted designes But shortly after hee intendes a second triall of his Fortune Wherefore by his Embassadour the Cardinall of Suisserland hee yet boroweâ— more mony of the King which was deliuered to certaine Merchants of Genua to bee by a set day payed to the Emperour in Italie But they whether corrupted by the French or not of sufficient abilitie to make returne deceiued him and so his second designes vanished also into
ships and Merchants in England find the like entertainment the Hostages giuen by the French for the foresaid sums are committed to close prison and the French Embassadour confined to his house Levies are made throughout England great preparatioÌ„s for another expedition into France To which the King being wholly bent Embassadors suddenly arrive from the Emâ—erour whose request was That He would joine his forces with the Imperialls and that if it so pleased Him CHARLES would within few dayes be in England that so they might personally confer aduise what course they were best to run Many reasons mooued the Emperour by the way to touch at England His Grandfather FERDINAND being dead his presence was necessarily required in Spaine whither he must passe by England He feared lest this breach betwixt vs France might easily be made vp he being so far distant He had an Aetna in his brest which burned with extreame hatred toward the French and was confident that his presence would raise our sparkle to a flame They might personally treat conclude more safely securely than by Agents Posts of whom in matters of moment no wise man would make vse vnles forced by necessity But the chiefe cause as I coniecture of this his second coÌ„ming into England was that he was weary of WOLSEY with whom he saw it was impossible long to continue friend For the Cardinall by his importunity one while for the Papacy another while for the Archbishopricke of Toledo did much molest him who had determined to afford him nothing but good words He disdained not in his letters to a Butchers son to vse that honorable compellation of Couzen whether present or absent he afforded him all kind of honor whatsoeuer But when the Cardinall craued any ernest of his loue some excuse or other was found out to put him by yet so as still to entertaine him with hopes But WOLSEY was subtill and of a great spirit And these deuises were now growne so stale that they must needs be perceiued CHARLES therfore neglecting his wonted course by WOLSEY studies how to be assured of the King without him For this no fitter means could be thought of then this interview The King was naturally courteous loued the Emperour exceedingly and reposed great confidence in him CHARLES therefore hoped that by the familiarity of some few weekes hee might make the King his owne But HENRY he thought would not long continue so vnlesse he could some way lessen his fauor toward the Cardinall This he hoped might be effected by admonishing the King that he was now past the yeares of a childe and needed no Tutor that it was not fit he should suffer himselfe to be swaied by a Priest one in all reason better skilled in the mysteries of the Altar than of State against which in this respect besides the abuse of his power he must needs be some way though perhaps vnwillingly faulty The addition of some aspersions withalâ— were thought not to be amisse which if not true should at least carrie a shew of truth That the Emperour practised something in this kinde the consequences make it more than probable HENRY being a noble Prince and one that scorned money as much as any one breathing was very glad of the Emperors comming yet was his Treasury very bare and so great a Guest could not be entertained without as great expences CHARLES vpon notice of the Kings pleasure attended by the Marquis of Dorset the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield the Lord De La-ware others of the English Nobility comes from Graueling to Calais from whence he passed to Douer where he was receiued by the Cardinall who was accompanied with two Earles ten Bishops ten Abbots thirty six Knights 100 Gentlemen thirty Priests all these apparelled in velvet and at least seuen hundred seruants Two daies he staied at Douer before the King came At length he came and welcommed him with all Princely entertainment professing that no greater happinesse could betide him on earth then the inioying his Maiesties most desired company though but for so short a time From Douer taking Canâ—erbury in the way they came to Greenwich where the Queene awaited the longed for presence of her Nephew FroÌ„ thence to London where they werereceiued by the Citisens with the solemnities vsuall at the Coronation of our Kings At Whitsontide both Princes came to Pauls where they heard the Cardinall say Masse Sports agreeable to the entertainement of such a Guest were not wanting But when mention was made of renewing the League Windsore was thought fittest for the Treaty it being not aboue twenty miles from London and a place altogether as it were composed for pleasure Windsore is situated in a large Plaine vpon the bankes of the riuer Thames The Castle being the chiefest in England for strength comparable to that of Douer but far exceeding it in greatnesse and beauty is built on a hill This Castle containes besides the Kings Court a goodly Church by EDWARD the Third dedicated to the blessed Virgin and Saint George adioining to which is the Colledge where are the houses of the Deane Prebendaries and Vicars Chorall where also liue twelue Souldiers discharged of the wars called Knights and hauing pensions who in their habits are bound daily to frequent the Church there to pray vnto God for the Knights of the Illustrious Order of the Garter Of this Order the Castle is the Seat where according to the first Institution the Knights are to be installed on certaine dayes are to offer and to do some other duties Here vpon Corpus Christi day these Princes hauing on the robes of the Order in their stalls heard Masse and receiuing the Sacrament bound themselues by oath inuiolably to obserue the Conditions of this new League the chiefe Articles whereof were these That they should with joint and as great forces as they could inuade France That the Emperor should yearely pay to the King as much as was due to Him and his Sister from the French viz. 133000 crownes That the Emperor should at conuenient yeares take to Wife his Cousin german the Lady MARY the Kings onely Childe who after raigned and at age of fortie yeares was married to PHILIP the Emperors son That he by whose default it should happen that this match should not succeed should pay the other fiue hundred thousand crownes and for assurance of this the Emperour should put Saint Omers and Aires into the Kings hands One would haue thought it had passed the reach of human policy to haue dissolued this band But shortly after broken it was and could neuer after be firmely knit againe After eight dayes stay at Windsore these Princes went to Winchester and from thence to Southampton where was the Emperors Fleet consisting of a hundred and eighty ships Here on the first of Iuly the Emperor tooke ship and made for Spaine In the meane time the Earle of Surrey hauing gathered a Fleet landed neere Morleys
he vnderstood was captiously cavilled at by some Sophisters And hauing occasion to speake of the Cardinall of Yorke he called him the Caterpillar of England He vnderstood the King did now loath that wicked sort of men and in his minde to fauour the Truth Wherefore he craueth pardon of his Majesty beseeching him to remember that wee being mortall should not make our enmities immortall If the King would be pleased to impose it hee would openly acknowledge his fault and blazon his Royall Vertues in another Booke Then hee wished him to stop his eares against those slanderous tongues that branded him with Heresy for this was the summe of his Doctrine That wee must bee saued through Faith in Christ who did beare the punishment of our sinnes in every part and throughout his whole body who dying for vs and rising againe raigneth with the Father for euer That he taught this to be the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and that out of this position hee shewed what Charity was how we ought to behave our selues one towards another that we are to obey Magistrates to spend our whole life in the profession of the Gospell If this Doctrine containe any Jmpiety or Errour why do not his Aduersaries demonstrate it Why do they condemne him without either lawfull hearing or confutation In that he inveigheth against the Pope and his Adherents hee doth it not without good reason forasmuch as for their profits sake they teach things contrary to what Christ and the Apostles did that so they may domineere ouer the Flocke maintaine themselues in Gluttony Idlenes That this was the marke at which their thoughts and deeds aimed and that it was so notorious that they themselues could not deny it That if they would reform themselues by chāging their idle and filthy course of life maintained by the losse and wrong of others the differences might easily be composed That his Tenets were approued by many Princes and Estates of Germany who did reverently acknowledge this great blessing of God amongst whom he wonderfully desired he might ranke his Maiesly That the Emperour and some others opposed his proceedings he did not at all wonder for the Prophet DAVID had many ages since foretold That Kings and Nations should conspire against the Lord and against his Christ and cast away his yoke from them That when he did consider this and the like places of Scripture he did rather wonder that any Prince did fauor the doctrine of the Gospell And to conclude he craued a fauorable answer The King made a sharpe reply to LVTHERS letter accusing him of base inconstancy He stands in defence of his Booke which hee said was in great esteeme with many Religious and Learned men That he reuiled the Cardinall a Reuerend Father was to be regarded as from him from whose impiety neither God nor man could be free That both Himselfe and the whole Realme had found the profitable and wholsome effects of the Cardinalls endeavours who should reape this fruit of LVTHERS railing that whereas he loued him very well before hee would now favour him more than ever That among other of the Cardinalls good deeds this was one that he tooke especiall care that none of LVTHERS leprosy contagion and heresy should cleaue to or take roote in this Kingdome Then he vpbraided him with his incestuous marriage with a Nunne a crime as hainous and abhominable as any At this answer which the King caused to be printed LVTHER grieued much blaming his friends that had occasioned it saying That he writ in that humble manner only to please his Friends and that he now plainely saw how much he was mistaken That he committed the like errour in writing friendly at the request of others to Cardinall CAIETAN GEORGE Duke of Saxony and ERASMVS the fruits whereof were that he made them the more violent That the shewed himselfe a foole in hoping to find Piety and Zeale in Princes Courts in seeking Christ in the Kingdome of Satan in searching for IOHN BAPTIST among the Cloathed in Purple But being he could not prevaile by faire meanes he would take another course The late mention of ERASMVS puts me in minde of a Booke written by him either this or the yeare passed at the entreaty of the King and the Cardinall as he himselfe in an Epistle confesseth entituled De Libero Arbitrio Whereto LVTHER made a quicke reply writing a booke De Servo Arbitrio Anno Dom. 1526. Reg. 18. MAny reasons might move the Emperour to seeke the continuation of a Peace with England The French although they concealed it their King beeing not yet at liberty intend to revenge their late ouerthrow The Turke prepares for Hungary the King whereof LEWIS had married ANNE the Emperors Sister Almost all Italy by the Popes meanes combined against CHARLES whose power is now becom formidable And Germany it self the Boors hauing lately bin vp in arms being scarce pacified do yet every where threaten new tumults In this case the enmity of HENRY must necessarily much impeach his proceedings But many things againe vrge him on the other side his Aunts disgrace for of this he long since had an inkling The late League concluded vnder hand with the French But that which swaied aboue all was the dislike of his promised match with the Kings Daughter That the Queene his Aunt might be reconciled to her Husband there might yet be some hope The League with France especially the French Kings case being now so desperate might be as easily broken as it was made But this Match did no way sort to his minde which he had either for loue or for some other private respects setled els where ISABELLA Sister to IOHN King of Portugall was a brave beautifull Lady and had a Dowry of nine hundred thousand Duckets MARY was neither marriageable nor beautifull yet her by agreement must he marry without any other Dowry then those foure hundred thousand crownes which he had borrowed of HENRY The wars had drawne his Treasury dry and his Subjects in Spaine being required to relieve their Prince doe plainly perhaps not without subornation of some principall persons deny it vnlesse hee marry ISABELLA one in a manner of the same Linage of the same Language and Nation and of yeares sufficient to make a mother By way of seruice Custome growing to a Law they are to giue their King at his marriage foure hundred thousand Duckets if hee will in this be pleased to satisfie their request they promise to double the vsuall summe For these reasons when HENRY sent Embassadours to treate againe whether sincerely or no I cannot say concerning the renewing of the League the marriage of the Ladie MARY and of warre in France to bee maintained at the common charge of both CHARLES answered but coldly and at last even in the very nuptiall solemnities sends to excuse his marriage to the King whereunto the vndeniable desires of his subiects had in a manner forced him
Some doe farther adde that concerning that part of the Embassage of warre against France our demands were such as if they had beene purposely coined by WOLSEY to force the Emperour to the prioritie of an apparent breach For the King demanded no smaller share in the conquest then Picardie Normandie Guien Gascoigne with the title of King of France and that the Emperour partaking both of Perill and Charge should himselfe serve in Person But CHARLES wanting money and tired with continuall perill if he regard either his safetie and ease or his profit must not give his assent especially considering that the Captive King made larger offers and those with Peace then these yea although he became victorious with Warre the event whereof being alwayes doubtfull no man can assure himselfe of wished successe Neither indeed did HENRY expect any other issue of his Embassie then a flat refusall For at the same time he deales with the Regent the Captive Kings Mother to send over some trustie person with whom he might consult of the maine chance which she gladly did dispatching away the Lord of Brion President of Rouen and IOHN IOACHIM with a large Commission and Instructions by all submissive and faire Language to perswade the King to persist in the prosecution of this new League For indeed shee much feared least the consideration of his advantages over the tottering Estate of France might make him flie off againe France was already distressed what would it bee if the Emperour pressing hard on the one side and the Duke of Bourbon a homebred enemy revolting besides many other occasions the English should infest it on the other side In England these Agents found their entertainment such that they could not but hope well especially making meanes to the Cardinall who yet swayed the King WOLSEY long since disaffected the Emperour but now made his hate apparant CHARLES before the baâ—taile of Pauy sent no letters to the Cardinall but intirely written by himselfe and subscribed Your Sonne and Couzen CHARLES After this victorie he sent one or two subscribed barely with his Name without the vsuall solemne forme or any signification of favour or respect These were evident tokens of an alienated minde and WOLSEY durst view hates with him Neither did he deale otherwise with HENRIE then as one beneath him being now puffed vp with the conceipt of that great victory for the obtaining whereof HENRIE did beare a part in the charge though in deed not so great as he promised The Kings affaires now stood vpon those termes that renouncing the strict alliance with the Emperour hitherto by so many ties kept inviolable he must make a party with the French Brion therefore at the Counsaile Table having Audience deplores his Princes calamitie and the miseries inflicted vpon his Countrey by their late overthrow He calleth to minde what Trophies the English erected in France when the Estate of it was most flourishing withall acknowledging that France being now as it were in the Sun-set of its Fortune occasion was offred of advancing the English Colours farther then ever But it would neither beseeme so magnanimous a King nor would it be for the good of England at this time to invade it A generous minde scorneth to insult over one already deiected Neither would the victorie beside the fortune of warre want its dangers being to be communicated with one alreadie become so potent that no lesse then the vnited Forces of all Europe would serve to stop the current of his fortune which must necessarily be done vnlesse we could be content willingly to vndergoe the miseries of a Spanish servitude Hee therefore craved of his Maiestie that leaving the Emperour who puffed vp with his late successe contemned his best Friends Hee would vouchsafe to make a League with the King his Master whom in this so great a time of need if He would bee pleased to raise as it were from the ground He should by so great a benefit oblige him to a faithfull Friendship which hee should vpon all occasions be readie to manifest vnlesse for foule Jngratitude hee had rather vndergo the censure of the Christian World Having delivered thus much in Latine Sir THOMAS MORE afterward Lord Chancellor returned this answer in Latine likewise That the King was well pleased that the French acknowledged Hee wanted not power to revenge old iniuries that having felt his Force they should also tast of his Bounty that Hee would do the vtmost of his indeuour to set their Captive King at libertie Which if Hee effected Hee hoped when Hee had occasion to make vse of their King hee would not be vnmindfull of so good a turne freely done in so vrgent a season Jn the meane time Hee was content to make a perpetuall Peace with them As for the Emperour He would consider what to determine of him So a most firme League is concluded with the French the Regent vndertaking for her Sonne and a separation from the Emperour so openly made that the first thing concluded betweene them was That it should not bee lawfull for the French King in lieu of his ranson to consigne any part of his Kingdome to the Emperour The French were glad of this League who now began to conceiue some hope of good being secure of England Indeed it made so great an impression in the heart of FRANCIS that in his care of our affaires for many yeares together hee shewed himselfe mindfull of so great a benefit These things were done in the winter season A little after FRANCIS having beene a yeare Prisoner in Spaine was vpon these Conditions at length set at liberty That as soone as he came into France hee should consigne the Dutchie of Burgoigne to the Emperour That hee should quit the Soueraignette of Flanders and Arthois That hee should renounce all his right pretended to the Dutchy of Milan and Kingdome of Naples That he should restore to his honours the Duke of Bourbon and the rest that had revolted with him That he should marrie Eleonor the Emperour's Sister Queene of Portugall That he should pay the whole summes of money heretofore due to the King of England his Sister the Queene of France and Cardinall VVolsey The payment whereof the Emperour had vndertaken that wee might not be endammaged by partaking with him For the performance of these and other things of lesse moment FRANCIS not onely bound himselfe by Oath but also delivered his two Sonnes FRANCIS the Dolphin and HENRY Duke of Orleans who should remaine Hostages in Spaine vntill all things were duly performed FRANCIS as soone as hee entred into his Realme ratified all the Articles of the Treaty but that concerning the Dutchie of Burgoigne which hee pretended he could not alienate without the consent of his subiects Having therefore assembled the Estates of the Countrey for the debating of this matter vpon a sudaine in the presence of the Emperours Embassadours is publiquely proclaimed the League made betweene the Kings of England
and of France the Pope the Venetians Florentines and Suisses called the Holy League for the common libertie of Italy The Embassadours much amazed and seeing small hopes of the Dutchy of Burgorgne for which they came returne into Spaine and advertise the Emperour that if he will bee content with a pecuniarie ranson and free the two Princes the King was willing to pay it other Conditions he was like to have none In the meane time SOLYMAN not forgetting to make his profit of these horrible confusions invaded Hungary with a great Army overthrew the Hungarians slew King LEWIS the Emperours Brother in law and conquered the greatest part of the Kingdome For the obtaining of this victorie our Rashnesse was more availeable to him then his owne Forces The Hungarians in comparison of their Enemies were but a handfull but having formerly beene many times victorious over the Turkes they persuaded the young King that hee should not obscure the ancient glory of so warlike a Nation that not expecting the aides of Transylvania he should encounter the Enemy even in the open fields where the Turkes in regard of their multitudes of horse might be thought invincible The event shewed the goodnesse of this counsell The Army consisting of the chiefe strength and Nobilitie of the Countrey was overthrowne a great slaughter made and the King himselfe slaine with much of the Nobility and chiefe Prelates of the Realme and among them TOMORAEVS Archbishop of Colâ—cza the chiefe authour of this ill advised attempt I cannot omit an oddeiest at the same time occasioned by WOLSEY his arnbition It was but falsly rumoured that Pope CLEMENT was dead The Cardinall had long beene sicke of the Pope and the King lately of his Wife WOLSEY persuades the King there was no speedier way to compasseâ—his desires then if Hee could procure him to be chosen Pope CLEMENT being now dead STEPHEN GARDINER a stirring man one very learned and that had a working spirit did then at Rome solicit the Kings Divorce from Queene CATHARINE Wherein although vsing all possible meanes and that CLEMENT was no friend to the Emperour yet could hee not procure the Popes favour in the King's behalfe Nay whether he would not cut off all meanes of reconciliation with the Emperour if need were or whether being naturally slow hee did not vsually dispatch any matter of great moment speedily or peradventure whereto the event was agreeable that he perceived it would be for his profit to spin it out at length or which some alledge that he was of opinion that this marriage was lawfully contracted so that he could not giue sentence on either side without either offence to his Conscience or his Friend the Pope could not be drawne to determine either way in this businesse These delayes much vexed the King If matters proceed so slowly vnder CLEMENT on whom hee much presumed what could hee expect from another Pope one perhaps wholy at the Emperours devotion Hee therefore resolved to endevour the advancement of WOLSEY to the Chaire from whom hee promised to himselfe a successe answerable to his desires HENRY therefore sends away speedy Posts to GARDINER with ample instructions in the behalfe of WOLSEY willing him to worke the Cardinals some with promises others with guifts some with threats others with persuasions and to omit no meanes that might be any way availeable But this was to build Castles in the aire The messenger had scarce set forth when report that had made CLEMENT dead had againe revived him Anno Dom. 1527. Reg. 19. THe sixt of May Rome was taken and sacked by the Imperials vnder the conduct of the Duke of Bourbon who was himselfe slaine in the assault marching in the head of his troupes The Pope Cardinals Embassadours of Princes and other Nobles hardly escaping into the Castle of Saint Angelo were there for some dayes besieged At length despairing of succours and victuals failing the Pope for feare hee should fall into the hands of the Lansquenets for the most part seasoned with LVTHERS doctrine and therefore passionate enemies to the Sea of Rome agreeth with the Prince of Auranges after the death of the Duke of Bourbon chosen Generall by the Army yeilding himselfe and the Cardinals to him who kept them close Prisoners in the Castle Rome was now subiect to all kind of crueltie and insolencies vsuall to a conquered Citie intended for destruction Beside Slaughter Spoile Rapes Ruine the Pope and Cardinals were the sport and mockerie of the licentious multitude HENRY pretended much griefe at this newes but was inwardly glad that such an occasion was offred whereby he might oblige CLEMENT in all likelihood as he had iust cause offended with the Emperour for this so insolent and harsh proceeding Whereupon hee dispatcheth WOLSEY into France who should intimate to the King his perpetuall Ally what a scandale it was to all Christendome that the Head of it should bee oppressed with Captivitie a thing which did more especially concerne FRANCIS his affaires The Cardinall set forth from London about the beginning of Iuly accompanied with nine hundred Horse among which were many Nobles The Archbishop of Dublin the Bishop of London the Earle of Derby the Lords SANDS MONTEGLE and HARENDON besides many Knights and Gentlemen WOLSEY found the French King at Amiens where it is agreed that at the common charge of both Princes warre shall be maintained in Italy to set the Pope at libertie and to restore him to the possessions of the Church HENRY contributing for his part thirtie thousand pounds sterling a moneth Vpon the returne of the Cardinall FRANCIS sent into England MONTMORENCY Lord Steward and Mareschall of France for the confirmation of this League and to invest the King with the Order of Saint MICHAEL Hee arriued in England about the middle of October accompanied with â—OHN BELLAY Bishop of Bayeux afterward Cardinall the Lord of Brion and among others MARTIN BELLAY the Wriâ—er of the French Historie who in this manner describes the passages of this Embassage MONTMORENCY arriving at Dover was honourably received by many Bishops and Gentlemen sent by the King who brought him to London where he was met by twelue hundred horse who conducted him to his lodging in the Bishop of Londons Palace Two dayes after hee went by water to Greenwich fower miles beneath London where the King oft resideth There hee was very sumptuously entertained by the King and the Cardinall of Yorke Having had Audience the Cardinall having often accompanied him at London and Greenwich brought him to a house which he had built a little before ten miles aboue London seated vpon the bankes of Thames called Hampton Court. The Cardinall gave it afterward to the King it is this day one of the King 's chiefest houses The Embassador with all his Attendants was there feasted by him foure or fiue dayes together The Chambers had hangings of wonderfull value and euery place did glitter with innumerable vessels of gold and
the way to wipe out the remembrance of an old offence by committing a new Hee found some other pretence to send one FRANCIS CAMPANA into England but his chiefe errand was to will CAMPEGIVS to burne the Bull whereby the King's marriage had before beene pronounced void and to returne to Rome with speed But the newes of the Popes sicknesse at the same time made him deferre the execution of his Mandate For if CLEMENT should die the Cardinall might with safetie gratifie the King who had conferred on him the Bishopricke of Sarisbury and to whom the Cardinall had promised successe answerable to his desires And if hee should permit the King to be thus illuded he feared he might be accompted not onely ingratefull but also treacherous But hee shortly vnderstood the Pope was well whose Mandate he must obey and the Bull as if for Hereâ—ie must be condemned to the fire In the meane time the King who was deeply in loue with ANNE BOLEN according to the nature of Lovers counting each minute by the houre quickly resented this change and never rested vntill hee knew the whole carriage of the matter Then first fell his wrath like thunder on WOLSEY whose wit had hitherto made all his proiects feasible And hee could not beleeve but that it was in his power to effect this also Here I cannot choose but cry out with Comoedian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IOVE and yee Gods how hard a thing It is to serve a raging King Full twenty yeares had WOLSEY served the King behaving himselfe so that hee grew powerfull and wealthy beyond a private fortune and to the rest of the King's Titles had procured the addition of that rich one of a good Prince For as often as I consider how laudably HENRY had hitherto ruled and behold the calamities of ensuing times I cannot but accord with them who ascribe the sway which he did beare over all the Princes of Christendome to the excellency of WOLSEY his counsailes But WOLSEY being taken away to whom shall we impute those effects of Lust Tyrannie and Avarice two Wives killed two put away so many and among them many of the greater sort put to death for their Religion only extremitie only differing in the manner vsed by Hanging against Papists by Fire against Heretiques these were the termes of those dayes the Church or rather the Common-wealth horribly spoiled and robbed of her Patrimony Certainly had WOLSEY sate at the Sterne the King had never like a Ship destitute of a Pilot beene carried to and fro with such contrary and vncertaine motions But inordinate greatnesse is alwayes a burthen to it selfe the waight whereof is augmented by the vsuall attendance of publique enny and hatred the misbegotten Elfes of long and powerfull happinesse WOLSEY the King once offended began presently to totter and at his first frowne as at the roaring of a Lion before any harder course was taken with him was so deiected that although he after seemed a little to lift vp his head yet was hee never able to stand on his feet Nay the King being once alienated from him would never after admit him to his presence Behold power of base Detraction yet I will not exclude the the greatnesse of the Cardinals wealth already devoured in conceit which wipes away the remembrance of the faithfull service of so many yeares and the consideration of so great glory purchased to the King by WOLSEY'S labours I am not ignorant what things were obiected against him But they carry so little shew of probability that I should much suspect his iudgement that would give any credit to them Vntill it was knowne that the King inraged at the slow proceedings in the cause of his Divorce did day and night breath out against him threats and revenge no man ever preferred Bill against him which considering the vsuall severe courses held by our Parliaments must needs acquit him of Abuse of Power As for the causes of the King's anger wee will derive them rather from his owne discontents then WOLSEY'S faultinesse The King by this time knew the treachery of the dissembling Pope Hee had neere five yeares wandered in the Labyrinth of the Court of Rome and could find no clue to lead him out He therefore determined to make a way where he could not find one and like ALEXANDER by force to vndoe that Gordian knot which by wit and labour hee could not To WOLSEY therefore hee communicated his intent of marrying another whether the Pope were willing or no wishing him withall to finde out some course or other whereby CAMPEGIVS his Colleague notwithstanding the late Mandates to the contrary might be drawne to give sentence on his side Many things might be pretended to excuse the deed but chiefly the feare of the King 's high displeasure which peradventure hee should feele too vnlesse hee assented to the King 's iust request WOLSEY his answer to this I cannot relate But this is certaine that WOLSEY whether for that he did not approve of the King 's intended course seeming as the times were then full of rashnesse and insolence or that he would not vndertake the attempting of his Colleague or that as SLEIDAN writes the King had notice that the Cardinall had advised the Pope not to approve of the Divorce from CATHARINE forasmuch as the King was then resolved to marry another infected with Lutheranisme WOLSEY I say was so sharply taken vp and threatned by the King that even then you might reade in his face and gestures the symptomes of his waining fortune For the Cardinall at that time returning from the Court by water the Bishop of Carlile being with him in the same Barge complained of the heate which was then extraordinary to whom WOLSEY replied My Lord if you had beene but now in my place you would have found it hot indeed And as soone as hee came home he put off his clothes and went sicke to bed Before hee had reposed himselfe an houre and halfe the Viscount Rochfort came to him and in the King's Name willed that hee and his Colleague should instantly repaire to the Queene and exhort her not to contend any longer with the King for that it would be more for her good and the honour of them both to submit herselfe to the King's pleasure then to vndergo the disgrace of a publique iudgement For it was now brought to that push that longer deferred it could not be The Cardinall advertised of the King's pleasure did arise and with his Colleague went to the Queene who having notice of their comming went forth and met them After mutuall salutations the Cardinals desired shee would vouchsafe a few words in private but the Queene refused to entertaine any conference with them but where she might have witnesses of what passed WOLSEY then began to speake in Latine but the Queene interrupted him willing that although she vnderstood Latin yet hee should speake in English So in the
names of both Legates he began a speech in English wherein hee professed a great deale of observance and dutie to her and that they came to no other end but to advise her for her good The Queene answered them much after this manner As for your good will I thanke you as for your advise I will give you the hearing But the matter I beleeve about which you come is of so great importance that it will require a great deale of deliberation and the helpe of a braine surpassing that of feminine weaknesse You see my employments shewing them a skaine of white thred hanging about her necke in these I spend my time among my Maides which indeed are none of the greatest Counsailers yet I have none other in England and Spaine where they are on whom I dare relie God wot is farre enough hence yet I am content to heare what you have to say and will give you an answere when we can conveniently So taking the Cardinall by the hand she brought them into a withdrawing roome where having attentively heard out their message shee made this reply That now after twenty yeares the lawfulnesse of my marriage should be questioned I cannot sufficiently wonder especially when I consider who were the Authours of it Many of them are yet alive both in England and Spaine and what kind of men the rest were who are now dead the world knowes Henry and Ferdinand our Parents the most sage Princes of their time and their Counsaile such without doubt who for their wisdome were approved of as fit servants for so iudicious Masters besides the Pope whose Dispensation J have to shew and which was procured by my Father at no small rate But what thing is there so sincere and firme which enuy will not seeke to blast Of these my miseries I can accuse none but you my Lord of Yorke Because I could not away with your monstrous pride excessive riot whoredome and intolerable oppression therefore do I now suffer And yet not only for this for some part of your hatred I am beholding to my Nephew the Emperour whom for that he did not satisfie your insatiable ambition by advancing you to the Papacy you have ever since maligned You threatned to be revenged on him and his Friends and you have performed your promise for you have beene the onely incendiarie and plotter of all the mischiefe and wars against him these late yeares And J am his Aunt whom how you have persecuted by raising this new doubt God only knowes to whose iudgement only I commend my cause This Shee spake in French as it seemed very much moved and would not endure to heare WOLSEY speake in defence of himselfe but courteously dismissed CAMPEGIVS It was now Iune and the Harvest drawing on the Legates thought it high time to make an end of this suite A day therefore being prefixed many of the Nobility and a multitude of the Commonaltie repaired to the Court verily expecting that iudgement should have beene given for the King HENRY having I know not how conceived some hope of the Legates good intents caused a seat to bee placed for himselfe behind the hangings vnder the covert wherof he might vnseene heare whatsoever was spoken or passed in Court The Cardinals being seated the King's Advocates earnestly requiring that sentence might be given on their side CAMPEGIVS made this Oration well beseeming the constancy of a man not vnworthy of the place he supplied J have heard and diligently examined whatsoever hath beene alledged in the King's behalfe And indeed the arguments are such that I might and ought pronounce for the King if two reasons did not controll and curbe my desires of doing his Matestie right The Queene you see withdrawes her selfe from the iudgement of this Court having before vs excepted against the partialitie of the place where she saith nothing can be determined without the consent of the Plaintife Moreover his Holinesse who is the fountaine and life of our authoritâ—e hath by a messenger given vs to vnderstand that hee hath reserved this cause for his owne hearing so that if wee would never so faine proceed any farther peradventure wee cannot J am sure wee may not Wherefore which only remaineth I doe heere dissolve the Court Other then this as the case stands I cannot do and I beseech them whom this Cause concernes to take in good part what I have done Which if they will not although it may trouble me yet not so much as to reguard the threats of any one I am a feeble old man and see death so neere me that in a matter of so great consequence neither hope nor feare nor any other respect but that of the Supreme Iudge before whom I finde my selfe ready to appeare shall sway me How the King was pleased at this you may easily conceive It is reported that the Duke of Suffolke knowing the King to be present and conscious of his infirmitie in a great rage leaping out of his chaire bountifully bestowed a volley of curses vpon the Legates saying It was never well with England since it had any thing to doe with Cardinalls To whom WOLSEY returned a few wordes saying That it was not in his power to proceed without Authoritie from the Pope and that no man ought to accuse them for not doing that whereto their power did not extend But the Kings implacable anger admitted of no excuse WOLSEY himselfe must become a sacrifice to appease it As for CAMPEGIVS hee tasted neverthelesse of the King's bountie and had leave to depart But at Calais his carriages were searched by the King's command The pretence was that WOLSEY intending an escape had by CAMPEGIVS convaied his treasures for Rome But the Bull was the Treasure so much sought after The King could not beleive it was burned and if it were found it was enough to countenance his second marriage But found it was not no nor scarce so much money in all the Cardinals carriages as had beene given him by the King WOLSEY his rising and his fall were alike sodaine neither of them by degrees but as the Lion gets his prey by leapes Shortly after the departure of his Colleague vpon the eighteene of October the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke in his Maiesties name commanded him to surrender the Great Seale But he pleaded That the King had by Patent made him Lord Chancellour during terme of life and by consequence committed the custodie of the great Seale to him Neverthelesse hee would resigne his place if his Maiestie so commanded But hee thought it not fit having received the Seale from the King to deliver it to any other but vpon especiall Command The Lords returning to Windsore where the Court then was the next day brought the King's Letters whose Mandate the Cardinall forthwith obeied In this Dignitie the six and twentieth of October Sir THOMAS MORE succeeded whose admirably generall learning is so well knowne to the world that I
of Scripture The eight of December the King graced three noble and worthy men with new titles of honour THOMAS BOLEN Viscount Rochfort the King 's future Father in law was created Earle of Wiltshire ROBERT RATCLIF Viscount Fitz-Walter of the noble Family of the FITZ-WALTERS Earle of Sussex in which honour his sonne THOMAS his nephevves THOMAS first then HENRY brother to THOMAS and now ROBERT the sonne of HENRY have succeeded him And GEORGE Lord Hastings was made Earle of Huntingdon who left it to his son FRANCIS Father of HENRY who deceased without issue and GEORGE Grandfather to HENRY the now Earle by FRANCIS who died before his Father Anno Dom. 1530. Reg. 22. WILLIAM TINDALL having translated the New Testament into English and procured it to be printed at Antwerp had secretly dispersed many copies thereof throughout England Whereat the Bishops and Clergy especially those that were most addicted to the Doctrine of Rome stormed excedingly saying that this Translation was full of errours and that in the prefaces and else where it contained many things contrary to the Truth The King being angry with the Pope had long since determined to free himselfe from his vsurped power And therefore admonished the murmuring Clergy to correct this booke not to suppresse it for it was a most profitable worke and very necessary for the discovery of the deceits of the Court of Rome the tyranny whereof was become intolerable to all the Princes of Christendome Whereupon he giveth order to the Bishops and some other learned men to set forth a new Translation which his subiects might reade with safety and profit The hope of prevailing with the Pope by the French King's meanes had drawne HENRY to send on a second Embassage to the Pope the Earle of Wiltshire Doctour STOKESLEY Elect of London and EDWARD LEE WOLSEY his Successor in Yorke They found the Pope at Bononia with the Emperour but had no other answer to their demands then that his Holinesse when he came to Rome would indevour to do the King iustice Till then he could do nothing Faire meanes not prevailing the King runs another course â—y publique Proclamation throughout the Kingdome he forbids all commerce betweene his subiects and the Bishop of Rome commanding that no man should receive any thing from or send any thing especially money vnto him either by exchange or any other meanes calling him Tyrant the Harpy of the World the common Incendiary and deeming him vtterly vnworthy of that glorious title which he had vaingloriously vsurped Christs Vicar This in September But the wealth of the Clergy being very great and considering how they had in the Raignes of his Predecessors strongly sided with the Pope the King was some what iealous of them To curbe them hee condemnes the whole Clergy throughout the Kingdome in a Praemunire for that without licence from his Maiesty they had beene obedient to the authority of the Pope in acknowledging WOLSEY for his Legate The Clergy of the Province of Canterbury being assembled in Convocation buy their pardon at a hundred thousand pounds and in this Synode he is with much ado by the Clergy of both Provinces declared next vnder Christ Supreme Head of the Church of England and all foraine power or authority whatsoever disclaimed The Province of Yorke is moreover fined at eighteene thousand eight hundred forty pounds So this one fault if it may be so accompted it being certaine that WOLSEY was licenced to exercise his authority Legantine cost the Clergy a hundred and eighteene thousand eight hundred and forty pounds Anno Dom. 1531. Reg. 23. THe only publique memorable occurrents of this yeare were that the Laity for the most part as deepe in a Praemunire as the Clergy were by Act of Parliament pardoned In which assembly Sir THOMAS MORE Lord Chancellour and other remarkable speakers related at large the Conclusions of the Vniversities concerning the vnlawfulnesse of the Kings marriage And yet perhaps the notorious villany of RICHARD ROSE Cooke to the Bishop of Rochester might crave a place in this History who with poysoned broth killed sixteene of the Bishops servants The Bishop himselfe who was especially aimed at that day contrary to his accustomed diet forbearing broth escaped The poisoner according to a Law lately enacted was throwne into a cauldron of boyling water But the offence deserved tortures of a most exquisite straine Anno Dom. 1532. Reg. 24. ON the three and twentieth of August died WILLIAM WARHAM Archbishop of Canterbury to whom THOMAS CRANMER at that time in Germany about the Kings affaires was appointed Successor He was not so ambitious as to aspire to such a dignity and some reasons made him vnwilling to accept it being offred He knew before he could be consecrated he must sweare obedience to the Pope which with a safe conscience he could not He feared what would be the issue of this abrupt seperation from the Sea of Rome Hee knew the King's disposition to be violent such sudaine changes to be full of danger and the Court although hee had not yet purchased the acquaintance of it to be a meere schoole of fraud and dissembling The Kings pleasure must necessarily be obeyed and if he slipped neuer so little enuy the mischievous attendant of great felicity would helpe him forward to a breake-necke CRANMER also having long since lost his Wife whom he had married in his youth had taken a liking to a certaine maide neipce to OSIANDERS wife whom he intended to make his second wife yet hee knew that the Canon Law permitted not Priests to marry and made them vncapable of holy Orders who had beene twice married These considerations made him linger in Germany six whole moneths after the dispatch of his businesle hoping that his absence might afford meanes to some other to worke a way to the Archbiâ—hopricke But the times were such that they to whom desert might give greatest hopes of attaining it did abhorre this still â—ottering and slippery dignity and even they who were already advanced to the like indeavoured to betake themselves to the safety of meaner fortune As did Sir THOMAS MORE the Lord Chancellour who by his continuall ernest petitions obtained leave of the King on the fifteene of May to resigne his place and Sir THOMAS AWDLEY on the fourth of Iune was in his steed made Lord Keeper CRANMER having privately married his wife at Norimberg at length returned into England where the Kings importunity prevailing beyond all scrupulous difficulties CRANMER is though much against his will made Archbishop of Canterbury the Pope also by his Bull confirming the Election He refusing the Arbishopricke because hee must take an oath to the Pope delivered the Bull to the King protesting that hee would never accept of any Bishopricke in England but from the King who was Supreme Head of the Church of England and that he would not take any oath that should any way derogate from the King's
declared void and incestuous and a Law enacted wherein all Appeales to Rome were forbidden and that none should stile CATHARINE other then Princesse of Wales and Widow or Dowager of Prince ARTHVR By vertue and authority of the same Law the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied with some other Bishops comming to Dunstable six miles from Ampthill where CATHARINE then resided caused her to be cited before Him next vnder the King chiefe Iudge in all Ecclesiasticall causes within the Province of Canterbury to shew what reasons could be alleaged why the marriage not lawfully contracted betweene the King and her should not be disanulled and pronounced impious incestuous and consequently void To these things by one of her servants she answered that it beseemed not the Archbishop to thrust his sickle into anothers harvest this Cause did yet depend vndecided before the Pope CHRIST'S Vicar on earth whose Decree she would obey and other Iudge would shee acknowledge none Being called fifteene dayes together and not appearing Shee is pronounced Contumax and for her contumacie separated from the Kings bed and company Wherevpon the Lady ANNE proclaimed Queene throughout the Kingdome on Easter eve shewed her selfe publiquely as Queene and was at Whits ontide crowned with as great pompe and solemnitie as ever was Queene The particulars I will let passe excepting that propheticall Disticke vpon one of the triumphant Arches purposely erected in London where shee was to passe Regina ANNA paris Regis de sanguine Natam Et paries populis aurea secla tuis In English ANNE thou a daughter bearest to our King And to thy people golden dayes shalt bring Wafers also with the same impression were throwne about saith STOW But I rather beleeve that this Disticke was made after the Queenes deliverie Whensoever it were hee that truely considers the feâ—icitie of the foure and fortie yeares raigne of this Queenes Daughter will thinke this Oracle could not proceed from any but a Delphian APOLLO For the Queene at the time of her Coronation was great with childe whereof the seventh of September shee was delivered at Greenwich which was that ever famous Queene ELIZABETH who after the death of her Brother and Sister so gloriously ruled this Kingdome The Pope was certified of all these passages that his authoritie in England was abrogated that the late Queene CATHARINE was put away that ANNE BOLEN as Queene was taken to the Kings bed that the King stiled himselfe Supreme Head of the Church of England that the Archbishop of Canterbury executed all those offices which formerly the Pope only did and that not as the Popes Legate but as Primate of England who vnder the King claimed chiefe authority in Ecclesiasticall affaires throughout his whole Province Wherwith being neâ—ed hee seemed to breath nothing but threats and revenge But knowing himselfe to have beene the motive of it and doubtfull of the event he was easily persuaded by the French King as yet not to proceed by excommunication against HENRY vntill he had made triall of some milder course Wherevpon FRANCIS by BELLAY Bishop of Paris entreates HENRY not to withdraw himselfe wholy from the obedience of Rome for as much as it was a matter of great danger Hee would therefore advise him once more by Embassadours to Rome to signifie that he was not vtterly averse from a râ—conciliation which if hee did hee made no doubt but all things would succeed to his minde HENRY was certaine of enioying his Love and let the Pope decree what he list was resolved to keepe her Hee had beene formerly abused by the Court of Rome and was loath to make farther triall of their dilatory proceedings Yet had BELLAY prevailed so faâ—re with him that Hee would be content once more to submit himselfe to the Church of Rome if hee could bee assured of the Popes intention to do him equity The Bishop conceiving some hopes of a peace although it were in the winter time goes himselfe to Rome gives the Pope an account of his actions and certifies him that the matter was not yet desperate Wherevpon a day is appointed by which a Post returning from the King was to give notice of an intended Embassie But the Consistory gave so short a time to have an answere that the Post came short two dayes at his returne The terme expired they proceed hastily to the confirmation of their Censures notwithstanding the Bishops instance to obtaine six dayes more for as much as contrary windes or some other chance might hinder the messenger and six dayes would be no great matter considering the King had wauered six whole yeares before hee fell The more moderate thought the Bishop demanded but reason but the preposterous haste of the greater sort preuailed Two dayes were scarce past after the prefixed time but the Post arriuing with ample authority and instructions from England did greatly amaze those hasty Cardinalls who afterwards would faine but could not finde any meanes to mend what they had so rashly marred For the matter to please the Emperor was so hudled vp as that which could not ritely bee finished in three Consistories was done in one So the King and the whole Realme was interdicted the Bull whereof the Messengers not daring to come neerer was brought to Dunkirk The report hereof comming to the King hee laies all the blame on the Lady CATHARINE Whereupon the Duke of Suffolke was sent to lessen her Houshold They who might be any way suspected to haue been imploied by her in this businesse are turned away the rest are commanded to take their oathes to serve her as Princesse of Wales not as Queene of England They that refuse are caâ—hiered and they that are content to sweare are by her cast off so that for a time shee had few or no Attendants In the meane time on the three and twentieth of June died MARY Queene of France the Kings Sister and was buried in the Abbey of Saint Edmundsbury Anno Dom. 1534. Reg. 26. ABout this time was discouered the grand imposture of ELIZABETH BARTON which brought her to a deserued end Shee had formerly beene sicke of a strange disease which not only afflicted her inwardly but as often as her fit tooke her so wonderfully distorted her mouth and other parts of her body that most were of opinion it could not peoceed from any naturall cause But Custome growing to a second Nature the continuance of the Disease had taught her to distort her body after her recouery in the fame manner as when she was sicke Hoping to make a profit of this her counterfeit Convulsion she imparted the secret to the Curate of the Parish by whose deuice after â—ong deliberation betweene them it was agreed that she should often faine her selfe to be in an ecstasie and whereas shee was wont when the fit seased her to ly still without motion as if she had been dead shee should now sometimes vtter some godly sentences inveigh against the wickednesse of the times but
especially against Heretiques and broachers of new Opinions and should relate strange visions revealed by God to her in the time of her ecstasie By these jugling trickes not only among the Vulgar who termed the holy Maid of Kent but among the wiser sort such as were Archbishop WARHAM Bishop FISHER and others her sanctity was held in admiration The Imposture taking so generally her boldnesse increased Shee prefixeth a day whereon she shall be restored to perfect health and the meanes of her recouery must be procured forsooth by a pilgrimage to some certaine Image of our Lady The day came and shee beeing brought to the place by the like cousenage deceiued a great number of people whom the expectation of the miracle had drawne thither and at last as if she had iust then shaken off her disease shee appeares whole and straight vnto them all saying That by especiall command from God shee must become a Nunne and that one Doctor BOCKING a Monke of Canterbury there present was ordained to bee her Confessor which office hee willingly vndertooke vnder pretext whereof this Nunne liuing at Canterbury BOCKING often resorted to her not without suspition of dishonesty The intended Divorce from CATHARINE and marriage with ANNE BOLEN had much appalled most part of the Clergy for then a necessity was imposed on the King of a divorce from the Papall Sea in which the Church and all Ecclesiasticall persons were likely to suffer The apprehension whereof wrought so with BOCKING that making others conscious of the intent hee persuaded ELIZABETH BARTON by denuntiation of Gods revealed judgements to deterre the King from his purposed change Shee according as shee was instructed proclaimes it abroad That the King aduenturing to marry another CATHARINE surviving should if in the meane time hee died not some infamous death within one moneth after be depriued of his Kingdome The King heares of it and causeth the Impostrix to be apprehended who vpon examination discouered the rest of the conspirators who were all committed to prison vntill the next Parliament should determine of them ELIZ. BARTON BOCKING MASTERS the afore mentioned Curate of the Parish DEERING and RISBEY Monkes with GOLD a Priest are by the Parliament adiudged to dy The Bishop of Rochester and ADESON his Chaplaine one ABEL a Priest LAVRENCE the Archdeacon of Canterbury his Register and THOMAS GOLD Gentleman for hauing heard many things whereby they might guesse at the intents of the Conspirators and not acquainting the Magistrate with them are as accessory condemned in a Praemunire confiscation of their goods and perpetuall imprisâ—nment ELIZABETH BARTON and her Companions hauing each of them after a Sermon at Pauls Crosse publiquely confessed the Imposture are on the twentieth of Aprill hanged and their heads set ouer the gates of the City By the same Parliament the authority of the Convocation to make Canonicall Constitutions vnlesse the King giue this Rovall assent is abrogated It is also inacted That the Collocation of all Bishoprickes the Seas being vacant should henceforth be at the Kings dispose and that no man should be chosen by the Chapter or consecrated by the Archbishop but he on whom the King by his Congé D'eslire or other his Letters had conferred that Dignity And wheras many complained that now all commerce with Rome was forbidden all meanes were taken away of mitigating the rigour of the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Dispensation Papall authority is granted to the Archbishop of Canterbury the King reserving to himselfe the power of dispensing in causes of greater moment And that all Appeales formerly wont to be made from the Archbishop to the Pope should now bee from the Archbishop to the King who by Delegates should determine all such suites and controversies Furthermore the Kings marriage with the Lady CATHARINE is againe pronounced incestuous the Succession to the Crowne established on the Kings Issue begotten on Queene ANNE And all aboue the age of sixteen yeares throughout the Kingdome are to be bound by oath to the obseruance of this Law whosoeuer refused to take this oath should suffer losse of all their goods and perpetuall imprisonment Throughout all the Realme there were found but two who durst refractoâ—ily oppose this Law viz FISHER Bishop of Rochester and Sir THOMAS MOORE the late Lord Chancellor men who were indeed very learned but most obstinate stickers in the behalfe of the Church of Rome who being not to be drawne by any persuasions â—o be conformable to the Law were committed to prison from whence after a yeares durance they were not freed but by the losse of their liues But the King fearing that it might be thought That hee tooke these courses rather out of a contempt of Religion than in regard of the tyrannie of the Court of Rome to free himselfe from all suspition either of favouring LVTHER or any authors of new Opinions began to persecute that sort of men whom the Vulgar called Heretiques and condemned to the cruelty of that mercilesle Element Fire not only certaine Dutch Anabaptists but many Professors of the Truth and amongst others that learned and godly young man IOHN â—RITH who with one HEWET and others on the two and twentieth of July constantly endured the torments of their martyrdome The fiue and twentieth of September died CLEMENT the Seuenth Pope in whose place succeeded ALEXADER FARNESE by the name of PAVLVS the Third who to begin his time with some memorable Act hauing called a Consistory pronounced HENRY to be fallen from the Title and Dignity of a King and to be deposed re-iterating withall the thunder of Excommunication with which bug-beare his predecessor CLEMENT had sought to affright him But this peradventure happened in the insuing yeare after the death of FISHER and MORE A Parliament is againe called in November wherein according to the Decree of the late Synod the King was declared Supreme Head of the Church of England and the punishment all crimes which formerly pertained to the Ecclesiasticall Courts is made proper to him So the Kingdome is vindicated from the vsurpation of the Pope who before shared in it and the King now first began to raigne entirely Also all Annates or first Fruits formerly paid to the Pope are granted to the King And Wales the seat of the remainder of the true antient Britans hitherto differing from vs compounded of Normans and Saxons as well in the forme of their gouernment as in Language is by the authority of this Parliament to the great good of both but especially that Nation vnited and incorporated to England EDWARD the First was the first who subdued this Countrey yet could hee not prevaile over their mindes whome the desire of recouering their lost liberty animated to many rebellions By reason whereof and our suspitions being for two hundred yeares oppressed either with the miseries of seruitude or war they neuer tasted the sweet fruits of a true and solid peace But HENRY the Seuenth by bloud in reguard
of his Father and birth a Welchman comming to the Crowne as if they had recouered their liberty whereto they so long aspired they obeied him as their lawfull Prince So the English being freed of their former jealousies permitted them to partake of their Priuiledges since common to both Nations the good whereof equally â—edounded to both I could wish the like Vnion with Scotland That as wee all liue in one Island professing one Faith and speaking for the most part one Language vnder the gouernment of one and the same Prince so we may become one Nation all equally acknowledging our selues Britans and so recouer our true Countrey Britaine lost as it were so many hundreds of yeares by our divisions of it into England Scotland and Wales Anno Dom. 1535. Reg. 27. THe Coronation of the new Queene and other passages of entertainment had exhausted the Treasury The Pope and the Emperour were both enemies of HENRY watchfully attending all opportunities to do him mischiefe Neither in regard that so many sided with the Pope were all things safe at home The King was therefore forced to a course seemingly rash and full of dangerous consequences but very necessary for the time Hee resolves to demolish all the Monasteries throughout England Hee is content the Nobility should share with him in the spoile so inriching and strengthening himselfe by their necessary revolt from the Popish faction To this end they that were thought more especially in maintaining the Popes authority to withstand the Kings proceedings were condemned of high Treason and they that refused to acknowledge the King vnder CHRIST Supreme Head of the Church of England are hanged For this cause on the third of May were executed IOHN HOVGHTON Prior of the Charterhouse in London AVGVSTINE WEBSTER Prior of Bevaley and THOMAS LAWRENCE Prior of Exham and with them RICHARD REIGNALDS a Monke and Doctor of Divinity and IOHN HALES Vicar of Thistlehurst On the eighteenth of June EXMEW MIDDLEMORE and NVDIGATE all Charterhouse Monkes suffered for the same cause And foure dayes after IOHN FISHER Bishop of Rochester a man much reverenced by the People for his holy life and great learning was publiquely beheaded and his head set over London bridge Our Histories hardly afford a president of the execution of such a man But the Pope was the occasion of his death who to ease the burthen of his now a yeares imprisonment by the addition of a new title had on the one and twentieth of May created him Cardinall The newes whereof hastened him to a scaffold The sixth of Iuly Sir THOMAS MORE for the same stifnesse in opinion with Bishop FISHER suffered the like death This was that MORE so famous for his Eutopia and many other Workes both in English and Latin As for his conversation the most censorious fault him in nothing but his too too jesting I will not say scoffing wit to which he gaue more liberty then did beseeme the grauity of his person not tempering himselfe in the midst of his calamity no not at the very instant of death After his condemnation hee denied to giue any thing to the Barber that trimmed him affirming That head about which he had bestowed his paines was the Kings if he could prove it to be his that did â—eare it hee would well reward him To his Keeper demanding his vpper garment as his fee hee gaue his Hat Going vp the scaffold he desired him that went before him to lend him his hand to helpe him vp as for comming downe he tooke no care Laying his head vpon the blocke hee put aside his beard which was then very long saying The Executioner was to cut off his head not his beard The executions of so many men caused the Queene to be much maligned as if they had beene done by her procurement at least the Papist would haue it thought so knowing that it stood her vpon and that indeed â—hee endeavoured that the authority of the Pope of Rome should not againe take footing in England They desired nothing more than the downefall of this vertuous Lady which shortly after happening they triumphed in the overthrow of Innocence In the meane time they who vndertooke the subversion of the Monasteries invented an Engine to batter them more forcibly then the former course of torture and punishment They send abroad subtle headed fellowes who warranted by the Kings authority should throughout England search into the liues and manners of religious persons It would amaze one to consider what villanies were discouered among them by the meanes of CROMWELL and others Few were found so guiltlesse as to dare withstand their proceedings and the licentiousnesse of the rest divulged made them all so odious to the people that neuer any exploit so full of hazard and danger was more easily atchieued then was the subversion of our English Monasteries Anno Dom. 1536. Reg. 28. THis yeare began with the end of the late Queene CATHARINE whom extremity of griefe cast into a disease whereof on the eighth of January she deceased Queene ANNE now enioyed the King without a Rivall whose death not withstanding not improbably happened too soone for her For the King vpon May day at Greenwich beholding the Viscont Rochfort the Queenes brother HENRY NORRIS and others running a tilt arising suddenly and to the wonder of all men departing thence to London caused the Viscont Rochfort NORRIS the Queene her selfe and some others to be apprehended and committed The Queene being guarded to the Tower by the Duke of Norfolke AVDLEY Lord Keeper CROMWELL Secretary of Estate and KINGSTON Lieutenant of the Tower at the very entrance vpon her knees with dire imprecations disavowed the crime whatsoeuer it were wherewith shee was charged beseeching God so to regard her as the iustnesse of her cause required On the fifteenth of May in the hall of the Tower she was arraigned the Duke of Norfolke sitting high Steward to whom were adioined twenty six other Peeres and among them the Queenes Father by whom she was to be tried The Accusers hauing giuen in their evidence and the Witnesses produced she sitting in a chaire whether in regard of any infirmity or out of honour permitted to the Wife of their Soueraigne hauing an excellent quicke wit and being a ready speaker did so answer to all obiections that had the Peeres giuen in their verdict according to the expectation of the assembly shee had beene acquitted But they among whom the Duke of Suffolke the Kings brother in Law was chiefe one wholly applying himselfe to the Kings humor pronounce Her guilty Whereupon the Duke of Norfolke bound to proceed according to the verdict of the Peeres condemned Her to death either by being burned in the Greene in the Tower or beheaded as his Maiesty in his pleasure should thinke fit Her brother GEORGE Viscont Rochford was likewise the same day condemned and shortly after HENRY NORRIS WILLIAM BRIERTON and FRANCIS WESTON
Earle of Arren substituted but also committed to custody whence afterwards making an escape hee was the authour of more garboiles In the meane time the marriage of the young Queene and other conditions proposed to the Estate of Scotland by Sir RALPH SADLER the Kings Embassadour are fully assented vnto and hostages promised for the performance of them But the adverse Faction became so prevalent that the hostages were not delivered at the day neither did the Captive Nobility render themselves in England Only GILBERT KENNEDA Earle of Cassels like another REGVLVS had rather commit himselfe to the mercy of his enemies then prostitute his Honour to the fowle taint of base infidelity His brethren had become pledges for his returne the importunity nay violence of his friends could not deterre him from redeeming them So to London he caâ—â—e where the bountifull King duly honouring him for his constancy in steed of receiving a ranson gave him one dismissing him and his brothers fraught with honour and rewards The Scots falling off from their late agreement the King commandeth stay to bee made of all their ships and confiscateth their goods sends letters full of threats and iust complaints to the Estates at Edinborough blaâ—â—ing them for arrogantly reâ—ecting his Alliance the want whereof must needs be preiudiciall to them neither had they onely reiected it but vnmindfull of former benefitâ— had sowen seeds of new warre and forced him to armes But letters proving in effectuall Scotland is by the frontier Garisons invaded in three severall places forty Scots making resistance are slaine five and fifty Villages burned five hundred and sixtie prisoners taken and a booty brought into England of three thousand five hundred head of cattell eight hundred horses and seven thousand sheepe beside great provision of houshold stuffe But this obstinacy of the Scots proceeded not onely from themselves France and Scotland were ever combined against England so that to invade one was to draw on a war with both Wee had beene often victorious in France wherof many portions anciently belonged to Vs if we should make any claime to all or part of our Inheritance Scotland would serve either to distract our forces or to transfer the seat of the war neâ—rer home The vniting of England and Scotland would by securing vs at home facilitate our enterprises vpon France These were motives sufficient for FRANCIS notwithstanding the long inviolate amity betweene him and HENRY secretly to crosse our designes in Scotland Whereof HENRY could not long be sensible and not revenge Wherefore hee proclaimes open hostility with France as he had already with Scotlaâ—â— and reconciles himselfe with the Emperour before thought irreconciliable in reguard of his Aunts disgrace who professed that all causes of difference betweene them were buried with her yet is it certaine that vnto the Pope he accused HENRY to have dispatched her by poison But now they are become Confederates and an aide of ten thousand English sent to ioyne with Imperialls Landrecy a towne lately taken from the Emperour by the French is the first exercise of our Armes The Emperour also comming in Person it is invested with forty thousand men is furiously battered and the souldiers brought to the distresse of halfe a provant loafe of bread a day and to drinke water FRANCIS being certified of their wants assembles his forces drawesneere the Emperour feeding him with hope of a Battaile entertaining him with skirmishes relieves the besieged and without any more adoe vnder the covert of the night retreats Let vs now conclude the yeare at home And to begin with the Church In February the people by Proclamation is licenced to eate White Meates in Lent but vnder a great penalty enioyned to abstaine from Flesh The third of Iune MOROGH O BRIEN a Nobleman of Irland descended from the Kings of Limrick submitted himselfe to the King and was shortly after made Earle of Twomond which honour his posteritie at this day enioyeth having given ample proofe of their loyalty to succeeding Princes The twelf of Iuly the King married his sixt Wife the Lady CATHARINE PARR Widow to the Lord LATIMER and sister of WILLIAM PARR lately created Earle of Essex in the right of his Wife sole Daughter and heire to the late Earle HENRY BOVRCHIER At what time another of the same name Vnckle to the Queene and the Earle was created Lord Parr and Chamberlaine to the Queene The eight and twentieth of Iuly for the profession of their Faith were ANTHONY PARSONS ROBERT TESTWOOD and HENRY FILMER burned at London MARBECK was also condemned but afterward pardoned Anno Dom. 1544. Reg. 36. THe Lord THOMAS AVDLEY Chancellour of England deceasing the last of Aprill the Lord WRIOTHSLEY chiefe Secretary of Estate is designed his successor And the Earle of Hertford made Lieutenant of the North is sent thither with an Army to represse the incursions of the Scots The Viscount Lisle Admirall of England with a Navy of two hundred saile entred the Forth of Scotland landed ten thousand men forced the rich towne of Leith and then marched toward Edenburg the Metropolis of the Kingdome The Regent was there with the Cardinall at whose dispose hee now wholy was and many other Nobles guarded with six thousand horse and a great number of foote who vpon sight of an invading Army betooke themselves to flight and left the City voide of defendants The Provost craving parley offred to yeild the city vpon condition of departure with Bag and Baggage and saving the towne from fire But the breach of League and insolencies of the inhabitants of Leith and Edenburg had inspired vs with revenge so that no Conditions were to be admitted but what the Victor should impose This drives the Provost to a desperate resolution of defence The English give a furious assault enter at the Canygate put the inhabitants to the sword pillage and fire it The like calamitie felt the Country round about fire and sword cruelly feeding vpon Villages Castles and Noblemens houses Leith had hitherto beene reprived from the like misery but at our returne to the Navy it is made its owne funerall pile and the Peere of the haven vtterly consumed New imployments call home our Admirall HENRY resolves once more to transport his Armes into France there to ioyne with the Earles of Reux and Bares Imperiall Commanders It was agreed betweene the Emperour and the King that the one should invade Champaigne the other Picardy and having vnited their forces which should amount to fourescore thousand foote and eighteene thousand horse to march directly to Paris thereby either to force the French to fight with disadvantage or to suffer the ruine of his Countrey HENRY lands at Calais and finds Picardy vnfurnished of men FRANCIS having withdrawne his forces towards Champaigne to oppose them against the Emperour Hee therefore sends the Duke of Norfolke with the Earles of Reux and Bures to beseege Montrueil The Marshall of Biez
matters Ecclesiasticall this last she could not for a while obtaine the other was assented vnto vpon conditions That PHILIP should not advance any to any publique Office or Dignity in England but such as were Natives of England and the Queenes Subiects He should admit of a set number of English in houshold whome he should vse respectively and not suffer them to be inâ—â—red by Forainers He should not transport the Queene out of England but at her intreaty nor any of the Jssue begotten by her who should have their education in the Realme and should not be suffered but vpon necessity or some good reasons to go out of the Realme nor then neither but with the consent of the English The Queene deceasing without Children PHILIP should not make any claime to the Kingdome but should leave it freely to him to whome of right it should belong Hee should not change any thing in the Lawes either publique or private the Jmmunities and Customes of the Realme but should be bound to confirme and keepe them He should not transport any Iewells or any part of the Wardrobe nor alienate any of the Revenues of the Crowne He should preserve our Shipping Ordnance and Munition and keepe the Castles Forts and Blocke-houses in good repaire and well manned Lastly that this Match should not any way derogate from the League lately concluded betweene the Queene and the King of France but that the Peace betweene the English and the French should remaine firme and inviolate onely it should be lawfull for PHILIP out of other Kingdomes and Dominions belonging to his Father the Emperour to send aides vnto him either for propelling iniuries or taking revenge for any already received All things being thus transacted and no further impediment interposing betweene these Princes PHILIP setting saile from the Groine on the sixteenth of Iuly with a good Southerne gale within three dayes arrived at Southampton with a Fleet of one hundred and sixty saile wherof twenty were English and other twenty Flemings Having rested himselfe there the space of three dayes attended by a great company of the English and Spanish Nobility on the fower and twentieth of Iuly being a very wet day he came to the Queene at Winchester The feast day of S. Iames the tutelary Saint of Spaine was destined for the Nuptialls which were celebrated at Winchester with great pompâ— There Don IVAN FIGVEROA for the Emperor resigned the Kingdomes of Naples Sicily and conferred all his right thereto on PHILIP and the Heralds proclaimed their titles in Latine French and English About the beginning of August these two Princes came to Basing and thence to Windsore where the King was installed Knight of the Garter On the eleventh of August they came to London where the Citizens received them with most magnificent solemnity Oâ— the eleventh of November another Parliament began at Westminster about the beginning wherof Cardinall POOLE who by King HENRY had beene proclaimed enemy to the Estate was created Cardinall by PAVL the Third had himselfe beene Pope if he had but consented in time and in the opinion of many was thought a fit Husband for the Queene arrived in England Having beene put beside the Papacy by others default more then his owne craving leave of the new Pope IVLIVS he withdrew himself to a Monastery in the territory of Verona called Maguzano the Religious whereof were Benedictine Monkes of which Order hee himselfe while hee continued at Rome had beene Patron Having decreed there to hide himselfe and spend the remainder of his dayes the fame of King EDWARD'S death and Queene MARY'S advancement to the Crowne drew him againe out of the Cloister to Rome He was not ignorant how MARY stood affected to the Sea of Rome and therefore hoped not without good cause that IVLIVS who much favoured him having by his delaies attained the Papacy would send him into his Countrey with the honorable title and authority of a Legate And now he fained to himselfe a double hope of a Kingdome if not secular at least Ecclesiasticall by vertue of his authority Legatine and the dignity of Archbishop of Canterbury Queene MARY had her education for some yeares vnder MARGARET Countesse of Salisbury the Mother of POOLE who was then a childe and that by Queene CATHARINES meanes who intended as it was thought to marry her Daughter the Lady MARY to one of the Countesses Sonnes thereby to strengthen her Daughters claime to the Crowne if it should happen that HENRY should decease without other lawfull issue the Countesse being Daughter to GEORGE Duke of Clarence who was brother to EDWARD the Fourth The Cardinall whether for this or some other reasons knowing himselfe to be in deere esteeme with the Queene was confident if not of the Crowne by marriage yet at least of all advantages of her favour Neither was he therein deceived for MARY having obtained the Crowne earnestly sued vnto him to restore himselfe to his Countrey and the Pope not ignorant how much he would advantage the Apostolique Sea at the Queenes request dispatched him with most ample authority But the Emperour having a proiect on foot for his Sonne was somewhat jealous of the Cardinall and therefore began seriously to treat with Cardinall DANDINO the Popes Legat with him for the conclusion of a Peace betweene him and the French that so he might give a stop to POOLE whose comming into England the Emperors affaires being not yet setled might peradventure make all fly asunder DANDINO to gratify CHARLES by FRANCISCO COMMENDONO sends Letters to POOLE advising him not to set forth as yet forasmuch as this Legacy vndertaken without the Emperours consent was displeasing and the English Nation for the most part especially the Londoners did so hate the name of the Pope of Rome that his Legacy would be held in contempt among them a Legate therfore was not to be emploied vnto them vntill persuasions had brought them to a better temper POOLE having received these letters in his Cloister thought it fitting to expect his Holinesse pleasure The Pope not brooking the increase of the Emperors greatnes by the addition of such Estates and fretting that DANDINO had presumed to stay the Cardinall recalled DANDINO and conferred on POOLE alone the Legacy both into England for the one affaire and to the Emperour and the French for the treaty of a Peace He willingly vndertaking it presently set forward from Trent certifying the Emperour and the French of his large Commission The Emperour perceiving that these devises would be no longer availeable sent Don IVAN de Mendoza vnto him with letters wherin he plainly discovered his feare that the Cardinalls premature arrivall in England might prove an obstacle to his proceedings there which were great and hopefull wherfore it was his desire that hee should either there attend his pleasure or if hee would needs go further he might come to Liege and there expect the event of his designes The Cardinall vpon receipt
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
speake all the truth were to spake far more Being yet but in his fifteenth yeare he spake Latine as readily and politely as I could What saith he is the subiect of your Bookes De Rerum Varietate I had dedicated them to his Maiesty CARD In the first Chapter I shew the long hidden and vainly sought after causes of Comets KING And what is the cause CARD The concourse and meeting of the lights of the erratique Stars KING But being the Planets are moved with severall motions how comes it to passe that the Comet doth not either presently dissolve and scatter or move with their motion CARD It moves indeed but with a far swifter motion then the Planets by reason of the diversity of the aspect as we see in Chrystall and the Sunne when a Rainebow rebound vpon a wall for a little change makes a great difference of the place KING But how can that be done without a subiect for the wall is the subiect to the Rainbow CARD As in the Galaxia or Milky way and in the reflection of lights when many candles lighted are set neere one another they do produce a certaine lucid and bright meane You may know the Lion by his paw as they say For his ingenuous nature and sweet conditions he was great in the expectation of all either good or learned men He began to favour learning before he could know it and knew it before he knew what vse to make of it O how true is that saying Jmmodicis brevis est etas rara senectus Immoderate growths short liv'd are aged seld He could give you only a taste of his Vertue not an example When occasion required a Maiestique gravity you should see him act an old man in his affability and mildnesse he shewed his age He plaied on the Lute accustomed himselfe to publique affaires was liberally disposed c. So much CARDAN His Corps was on the ninth of August with no very great pompe interred at Westminister neere to his Grandfather HENRY the Seventh And here had I with this King's death concluded this second Part had not the consideration of a memorable enterprise of this Kings occurred To SEBASTIAN CABOTA a Portugall for his admirable skill in Cosmography and the art of Navigation hee allowed an annuity of an hundred sixty six pounds EDWARD by this CABOTA'S persuasion on the twelfth of May set forth three ships vnder Sir HVGH WILLOVGHBEY for the discovery of vnknowne Regions in the North parts of the world The maine hope of this voiage was that way to open a shorter passage to those vast Countries of the East Catay and China Neere vpon the coast of Norway these Ships were so severed by tempest that they never met againe One of these great Ships terâ—ified with the greatnes of irresistable dangers quickly returned home Sir HVGH WILLOVGHBY arrived at last at a Countrey vnder the Latitude of seventy foure degrees not inhabited hitherto to vs vnknowne and was forced to winter there where he all his company were frozen to death The Ship was afterward found by some the like English Adventures and in his Deske a writing relating the adventures of each day his Will also by which it appeared that he lived vntill Ianuary RICHARD CHANCELLER with the third Ship making a more prosperous voyage after many dangers and incerâ—ainties arrived at last among the Russes and Muscovites To these parts some few yeares after he made a second voyage but in his returne suffered wracke on the Scottish coast where seeking to save the Muscovite Embassador he himselfe was drowned Howsoever he were vnfortunate he opened a rich veine of traffique to succeeding times wherby we have an exact discovery of that Countrey and of the Manners of those Heathen Christians FINIS ANNALES OF ENGLAND QVEENE MARY The Third Booke LONDON Printed by Adam Islip and William Stansby 1630. Fortissimi quique interfecti sunt 〈◊〉 ANNALES OF ENGLAND The third Booke Queene MARY Anno Dom. 1553. Reg. 1. WHen the Lady MARY long since acquainted with Northumberland's secret practices was also certified of her Brother's decease not thinking it safe to abide neere London where her Enemies were in their full strength pretending a feare of the Plague by reason of the suspitious death of one of her houshold she sudainly departed from Saint Edmundsbury and came in one day to Framingham Castle in Suffolke distant from London fourescore miles and seated neere the Sea from whence if Fortune frowned on her shee might make an easie escape into France Here she tooke vpon her the Title of Queene and by letters to her Friends and the Nobles wished their speedy repaire vnto Her In the meane time Northumberland having for two dayes together consulted with his friends concerning the managing of this great businesse the King's death being not yet published sent command to the Lord Maior of London to repaire forthwith to Greenwich with six Aldermen and twelve other Citizens of chiefest account To them he declares the King's departure and the seating of Lady IANE in the Throne of Soveraignety shewing withall the King's Testament vnder Seale which did import no lesse then the setling the Succession on her and that Family He causeth them either by terrour or promises to sweare Allegiance to Lady IANE with command and that vnder a great penalty that they should not as yet divulge these secret passages What a furtherance it might be to his affaires if he could assure himselfe of this Citie hee was too wife to be ignorant of and as for suppressing the report of the King's death hee thought it might prove a meanes to facilitate the surprisall of the Lady MARY as yet probably secure for lacke of notice of her Brother's decease But vnderstanding that shee had made an escape into Suffolke Lady IANE was by almost all the Peeres of the Realme pompously conducted to the Tower and with great solemnity publiquely proclaimed Queene Shee was of age about sixteene of feature not admirable but handsome incredibly learned very quick-witted and wise both beyond her Sexe and above her Age wonderfully devoted to purity of Doctrine and so far from desire of this advancement that shee began not to act her part of Royalty without teares manifesting it to the world that she was sorced by her parents and friends ambition to this high but dangerous ascent At her going through the Citie toward the Tower the concourse of the People was great their acclamations few as if the strangenesse of some new spectacle had drawne them together rather then any intent of gratulation Which Queene MARYES for so we must henceforth call her friends hitherto distrustfull more of successe then the cause accepted of as an happy omen and were incouraged to assist her as occasion should invite them But the presence of Northumberland a man quicke watchfull and very politique was yet a remora to their proceedings Him they must send farther of or be content to siâ— still The
of these letters returnes to Dilling not far from Trent certifies his Holinesse of the whole carriage of the businesse and sends expostulatory letters to the Emperor shewing therin what an indignity it was to the Apostolique Sea that his Holinesse Legat sent vpon a treaty of Peace and to reduce a Kingdome to the obedience of the Church should so disgracefully with contempt to his Holinesse and that by the Emperours command be detained in the middest of Germany in the sight of the enemies of the Church That great Divine DOMINGO SOTO Ordinary Preacher to the Emperour was then at Dilling By him hee persuades the Emperour not to hinder this Legation being it would so much hazard the estate of the Church but especially of the Kingdome of England At length with much ado and that not vntill the Emperour had intelligence that the Articles concerning his Sonnes marriage were agreed on hee obtained leave to come to Brussells but on this condition that he should there reside vntill the Emperour were assured that the marriage betweene PHILIP aad MARY were solemnised So to Brussells he came where having saluted the Emperor who received him very courteously and that time might not passe vnprofitably with him he begins to put in execution one part of his Legation which was to draw the Emperor and the King of France to some indifferent termes of peace The Emperor professing that he would not reiect peace vpon any reasonable conditions the Cardinall goes into France to treat with HENRY concerning the same thing who made as faire shewes as did the Emperour but their mindes exulcerated with inveterate hate made all his paines fruitlesse HENRY at his departure embracing him signified the sorrow he had conceived that he had not sooner occasion to be acquainted with his worth for had he truly knowne him his endeavours should have beene totally for his advancement to the Papacy A little after his returne to Brussells came the Lords Paget and Hastings Embassadors to the Emperour from their Maiesties of England who signified their joint longing to see the Cardinall and therefore desired he might be forthwith dismissed that by vertue of his authority he might rectify the Church of England wonderfully out of tune by reason of the Schisme wherwith it had beene afflicted So in September hee had leave to go for England but was by contrary windes detained at Calais vntill November in which moneth he at length arrived at Dover His entertainment was most honorable the Kings and Nobles alike striving to manifest their joy And because being in the yeare 1539. by Parliament declared Enemy to the Estate and by the same Law condemned to dy the Estates then assembled in Parliament repealed that Act and restored him to his Bloud the Kings themselves comming to the House extraordinarily for the confirmation of the Act before his arrivall at London A little after his comming both Houses were sent for to the Court where the Bishop of Winchester lord Chancellor having in the presence of the Kings and the assembly spoken something concerning the Cardinalls gratefull arrivall the Cardinall himselfe began a long oration in English wherin Hee acknowledged how much he was bound to the Kings and the Estates of the Realme by whose favor those Lawes for his exile and proscription were repealed and he once more made a Native of the land he was bound by the Lawes of gratitude to endeavour the requitall of this benefit wherto an occasion happily offered it selfe The late Schisme had separated them from the vnion of the Church and made them exiles from heaven By the authority conferred on him by the Pope Saint PETER'S Successor CHRIST'S Vicar he would bring them backe into the Fold of the Church the sole meanes of attaining their celestiall Heritage Wherefore he exhorted them ingenuously to acknowledge the errors of these later yeares and to detest them with sincere alacrity of minde to accept of and retaine this benefit which God by his Vicar's Legate did proffer them For now nothing else remained but that hee being present with those Keyes which should open the gates of the Church they should also abrogate those Lawes which lately enacted to the preiudice of the Church had rended them from the rest of it's Body Having spoken a great deale to this purpose and ransacked Antiquity for examples of our fore-fathers devotion to the Sea of Rome his grave delivery excellent language and methodicall contexture of his speech wrote so effectually in the mindes of those who were addicted to Popery that they thought not themselves vntill this day capable of Salvation But many of the lower House who deemed it a rare felicity to have shaken off the yoke of Rome eagerly withstood the re-admittance of it But by the endeavours of the King and Queene all things were at last composed to the Cardinalls liking The authority which the Popes heretofore vsurped in this Realme is restored the title of Supreme Head of the Church is abrogated a Petition drawne by the whole Court of Parliament for the Absolution of the People and Clergy of England from Schisme and Heresy is by the Bishop of Winchester presented to the Legate who they all kneeling by the authority committed vnto him absolved them This being done they went to the Chappell in Procession singing Te Deum and the next Sunday the Bishop of Winchester in his Sermon at Pauls-Crosse made a large relation of what had passed These things being thus setled the Queene intends an honorable Embassy to Rome wherof she had at her first comming to the Crowne made promise For having resolved to replant the Religion of Rome she had privily written to POOLE requiring his advice therin The Pope was therefore pleased to send into England GIOVANNI FRANCISCO COMMENDONO his Chamberlaine afterward Cardinall for the more perfect notice of the estate of the Realme To him the Queene after much privat conference did vnder her hand promise obedience to the Sea of Rome desiring withall that the Kingdome might be absolved from the Interdict for the obtaining wherof she would by a solemne Embassy petition his Holinesse as soone as the Estate was setled So now about the end of this yeare the Bishop of Ely Sir ANTHONY BROWNE and EDWARD CARNE Doctor of Law are by the Kings sent to proffer their obedience to the Sea of Rome But these costs and paines were fruitlesse For before they came to Rome the Pope was dead In the meane time the Queene considering all her actions hitherto to have passed with full applause began to treat with the Nobility to condiscend that if not the Royall at least the matrimoniall Crowne of our Queenes might be imposed on PHILIP But it being a matter without precedent and that might perchance to an ambitious Prince give some colour for claime to the Kingdome they proved averse and shee content to surcease The next care was of restitution of Church lands But HENRY had so divided them and that
the living only the bones of MARTYN BVCER and PAVL PHAGIVS long since dead were digged vp formally accused of heresie and no man vndertaking their cause as who durst condemned and publiquely burned in the market place at Cambridge And PETER MARTYR'S wife who died at Oxford was disinterred and with barbarous and inhumane cruelty buried in a dunghill To BVCER and PHAGIVS Queene ELIZABETH did afterward with great solemnitie restore their memorie and honour And as for PETER MARTYR'S wife shee caused her bones to be translated from that vncleane place to be reinterred in the Church and commixed with the reliques of FRIDESWID by Papists reputed a Saint that the like occasion of mockage might not againe be offered On the same day whereon CRANMER thus ended his life Cardinall POOLE was ordered Priest at Greenwich and the next day NABOTH being dead tooke possession of his Vineyard being consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury Three dayes after being the Feast of the Annunciation accompanied by many Nobles POOLE with great solemnitie received the Pall at Bow-Church About the same time a notable conspiracie was detected some having proiected to rob the Exchequer at that time full of Spanish coine to the value of fiftie thousand pounds The names of the conspirators were VDALL THROCKMORTON PECHAM DANIEL STANTON and besides others that fled for it WHITE who discovered his fellowes The rest were all taken and suffred as Traitors Sir ANTHONY KINGSTON as partaker in their intentions was also apprehended but died before he could reach London In Iuly new tumults begunne to be set on foot in Norfolke were maturely suppressed CLEBER and three brothers called LINCOLNE the authours of it suffering for their seditious attempt On the one and twentieth of November IOHN FECKNAM Deane of Pauls was installed Abbot at Westminster which HENRY the Eighth had erected to an Archiepiscopall Sea There being at that time no Monkes in England fourteene were found who were content with FECKNAM to take the Religious habit of Benedictines Anno Dom. 1557. Reg. Mariae 4. 5. Philipi 3. 4. NOw after foure or five yeares we found the effect of our Northerne Navigation set on foot by CABOTA About the beginning of this yeare arrived in England OSEP NAPEA Embassadour from BASILIWITZ Emperour of Russia for the Treatie of a perpetuall League betweene our Kings and his Prince On the Scottsh coast hee had suffered wracke and beside merchandize of infinite value hee lost those Presents which were from the Emperour destinated to their Maiesties But the losse of RICHARD CHANCELLER was beyond all these inestimable who being a most expert Pilot first discovered the passage into those Northerne Regions and now more sollicitous of the Embassadours safeguard then of his owne this man most worthy of immortall memory was swallowed vp in the Seas insatiate gulfe I thinke the intertainment of any Embassadour with vs was never more royall On the five and twentieth of May PHILIP having about seven dayes before returned out of Flanders he was admitted into the presence of the Kings declared the purport of his Embassie and continued in London vntill the third of May and having then got a convenient season laden with guifts he set saile for his Countrey On the sixt of March CHARLES Lord STOVRTON for having in his house cruelly murthered one HARGILL and his sonne with whom he had long beene at variance was by a wholesome example to posterity hanged at Sarisbury with foure other of his servants who were not only conscious but actors in the cruelty After hee had beaten them downe with clubs and cut their throats hee buried their carcases fiâ—teene foot deep in the ground hoping by such sure worke to stop the voice of bloud crying for revenge or if perad venture it were discovered the reguard of his zealous persistance in the Religion of Rome would he hoped procure the Queenes pardon But murther is a sinne that God hath by many memorable examples manifested that iâ— shal not remaine vndetected and the Queene although blindly misled in matter of Religion was so exact a fautrix of iustice that she was vtterly averse from all mention of pardon So this Nobleman had the punishment due to his offence only in this preferred before other murtherers and parricides that he was not strangled with an halter of hempe but of silke The seven and twentieth of Aprill THOMAS STAFFORD landing in the Northerne parts of the Realme having raked together a small company of exiles and some forainers surprised Scarborough castle then as in time of peace vtterly destitute of provision for resistance having thus seized on a place of defence he makes Proclamation that Queene MARY having her selfe no right to the Crowne had betraied it to the Spaniard exhorting the people with him to take armes for the recovery of their lost liberty But by the diligence of NICHOLAS WOTTON Deane of Canterbury then Embassadour for their Maiesties with the French all his designes were revealed to the Counsaile before his arrivall in England So by the industry of the Earle of Westmerland hee was within six dayes taken brought to London and on the eight and twentieth of May beheaded STRECHLEY PROCTOR and BRADFORD the next day following him but in a more due punishment being drawne hanged and quartered whom they had followed in their treacherous attempts The Emperour CHARLES having bequeathed the inheritance of his hate to France with his Crowne MARY could not long distinguish her cause from her Husband 's Wherefore on the seventh of Iune the Queene set forth a Proclamation to this effect that Whereas the King of France had many wayes iniured her by supporting the Duke of Northumberland and Wyat in their Rebellions against her and that his Realme had beene a receptacle for Dudley and Ashton who with the privity of his Embassadour had in his house contrived their treacherous designes and after their escape into France had beene relieby Pensions from the King as also for having lately aided Stafford with shipping men money and munition thereby if it were possible to dispossesse her of the Crowne She gave her subiects to vnderstand that they should not entertaine traffique with that Nation whose Prince she accompted her Enemy and against whom vpon farther grievances shee determined to denounce war Although these things were true yet had shee abstained from denunciation of warre had not the five yeares Truce betweene PHILIP HENRY by the Popes instigation beene lately broken by the French and so warre arising betweene them shee would not make her selfe her Husband two For the Pope having long since maligned the Emperour knowing that he after the resignation of his Estates to his Son PHILIP had withdrawne himselfe into Spaine by the Cardinall of Loraine still sollicited the French King to armes against the Spaniard promising to invest him in the Kingdome of Naples HENRY vpon these faire hopes vndertakes it and MARY resolves to assist her Husband That MARY tooke
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