Head of the Church of England under Christ as well in all spiritual things or causes as temporal what better Answers in brief could be returned to the Questions of Dr. Martin Cranmer having sworn that the King was Supream Head of the Church of England under Christ as well in all spiritual things or causes as temporal A. But how did he interpret those words as well in all spiriritual things or causes as temporal B. Fox tells you p. 662. viz. After this Dr. Martyn demanded of him who was Supream Head of the Church of England Marry quoth my Lord of Canterbury Christ is Head of this Member as he is of the whole Body of the Universal Church Why quoth Dr. Martyn you made King Henry the 8th Supream Head of the Church Yea said the Archbishop of all the people of England as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal And not of the Church said Martyn No said he for Christ is only Head of his Church and of the Faith and Religion of the same the King is Head and Governour of his People which are the visible Church What quoth Martyn you never durst tell the King so Yes that I durst quoth he and did in the publication of his Stile wherein he was named Supream Head of the Church there was never other thing meant page 662. This is Foxes account of the Dialogue received as he says from a better hand A. Did he answer any thing further concerning the Perjury objected to him B. Fox tells you Others who were present at his Tryal do thus report the effect of Cranmers words viz. while he in this sort made his Answer ye heard before how Dr. Story and Martyn divers times interrupted him with blasphemous Talk and would sain have had the Bishop of Glocester to put him to silence who notwithstanding did not but suffered him to end his Tale at full After this ye heard also how they proceeded to examine him of divers Articles whereof the chief was that at the time of his creating Archbishop of Canterbury he was sworn to the Pope and had his Institution and Induction from him and promised then to maintain the Authority of that See and therefore was perjured wherefore he should rather stick to his first Oath and return to his old fold again than continue obstinately in an Oath forced in the time of Schism To that he answered says Fox saving his Protestation which term he used before all his Answers that at such time as Archbishop Warham dyed he was Ambassador in Germany for the King who thereupon sent for him home and having intelligence by some of his Friends near about the King how he meant to bestow the same Bishoprick upon him and therefore counselled him in that case to make haste home he feeling in himself a great inability to such a Promotion and very sorry to leave his Study and especially considering by what means he must have it which was clean against his Conscience which he could not utter without great peril and danger devised an Excuse to the King of matter of great importance for the which his longer abode there should be most necessary thinking by that means in his absence the King would bestow it upon some other and so remained there by that device one half year after the King had written for him to come but after that no such matter fell out as he seemed to make suspicion of the King sent for him again Who after his return understanding still the Archbishoprick to be reserved for him made means by divers of his best Friends to shift it off desiring rather some smaller Living that he might more quietly follow his Book To be brief when the King himself spake with him declaring that his full intention was for his Service sake note this and for the good opinion he conceived of him to bestow that Dignity upon him Fox proceeds After long disabling of himself perceiving he could by no perswasions alter the Kings determination he brake frankly his Conscience with him most humbly craving first his Graces Pardon for what he should declare unto his Highness Which obtained he said that if he accepted the Office he must receive it at the Popes hand which he neither would nor could do His Highness being the only Supream Governour of this Church of England as well in causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal this was a Chaplain after King Henry's own Heart And therefore if he might in that Vocation serve God the King and his Country seeing it was his pleasure so to have it he would accept that Dignity and receive it of his Majesty and of no Stranger who had no Authority within this Realm Whereat the King said he staying a while and musing asked me How I was able to prove that At which time I alledged many Texts out of Scripture and the Fathers also approving the Supream and highest Authority of Kings within their own Realms shewing withall the intolerable usurpation of the Pope of Rome Afterwards it pleased his Highness quoth the Archbishop many and sundry times to talk with me about it and perceiving that I could not be brought to acknowledge the Authority of the Bishop of Rome the King himself called Doctor Oliver and other Civil Lawyers to advise with them how he might bestow the Archbishoprick upon me inforcing me nothing against my Conscience who thereupon informed him that I might do it by the way of Protestation and so one to be sent to Rome who might take the Oath and do every thing in my name which when I understood I said he should do it super Animam suam And I indeed bona fide made by Protestation that I did not acknowledge his Authority any further then as it agreed with the express Word of God And that it might be lawful for me at all times to speak against him and to impugn his Errors when time and occasion should serve me And this my Protestation I did cause to be inrolled and there I think it remains This says Fox is the faithful Relation and Testimony of certain Persons that were present at his Tryal before the Bishop of Glocester See page 661 662. Reader Remember what Doctor Martyn observes page 60. Hearken good People to what this man saith he makes a Protestation one day to keep never a tittle of that which he intended to swear next day See the Tenour of his Oath to the Pope page 28. of this Catechism A. What did he answer to the particular of Incontinency or breach of his Sacerdotal Vow B. Dr. Martyn objected that being in holy Orders after the Death of his first Wife he married a second named Ann and kept her secretly in the days of King Henry 8. Whereunto he answered that it was better for him to have his own Wife than to do like other Priests holding and keeping other mens wives But the Question is whether other mens vices could be any excuse for him he seems to suppose here every man to be
his Consecration what was the first Service he did for the King B. The Parliament then sitting anno 1533. he came and sat in the upper House of Convocation Burnet p. 129. and there says Heylin he propounds two Questions to be disputed and considered by the Bishops and Clergy concerning the Kings Marriage with Queen Katherine both which Questions were answer'd as the King would have have it though not without some opposition in either House especially the upper It was concluded thereupon in the Convocation and not long after in the Parliament also that the King might lawfully proceed to another Marriage But NOTE The King was then privately married to Ann Bolen Heylin proceeds These Preparations being made and the Marriage with Queen Katherine precondemned by Convocation The new Archbishop upon his own desire and motion contained in his Letters of the 11th of April is authorized by the King under his Sign Manual to proceed definitively in the Cause mark the Authority upon which Cranmer proceeds to divorce Queen Katherine who thereupon accompanied by the Bishops of London Winchester Wells and Lincoln and divers other persons to serve as Officers in that Court repaired to Dunstable in the beginning of May and having a convenient place prepared in form of a Consistory they sent a Citation to the Princess Dowager meaning Q Katherine who was then at Ampthill a Mannor House of the Kings about six miles off requiring her to appear before them at the day appointed which day being come and no appearance by her made either in person or by proxy as they knew there would not she is called peremptorily every day fifteen days together and every day there was great posting betwixt them and the Court to certifie the King and Cromwell a principal Stickler in this business how all matters went in one of which from the new Archbishop extant in the Cottonian Library a resolution is signified to Cromwell for coming to a final Sentence on Friday the 18th of that Month but with a vehement Conjuration both to him and the King not to divulge so great a Secret for fear Queen Katherine on the hearing of it either before or on the day of passing Sentence should make her appearance in the Court. For saith he if the Noble Lady Katherine should upon the bruit of this matter either in the mouths of the inhabitants of the Country or by her Friends or Council hearing of it be counselled or perswaded to appear before me at the time or before the time of Sentence I should be thereby greatly staid let in the Process and the Kings Graces Council there present shall be much uncertain what to do therein For a great bruit and voice of the people in this behall might perchance move her to do the thing which peradventure she would not if she hear little of it and therefore I pray you to speak as little of this matter as you may and to move the Kings Highness so to do for consideration above recited Heylin Histor Reform pag. 177 178. NOTE Burnet commends Cranmer for his native Simplicity joyned with Prudence but what sort of Prudence this was let any man judge Thus Heylin sets down the naked truth of this matter which Burnet colours with all his Art not mentioning this Letter to Cromwell p. 130. 1. vol. He proceeds ibid. But so it happened to their wish that the Queen persisting constant in her resolution of standing to the Judgment of no other Court than that of Rome vouchsafed not to take any notice of their proceeding in the Cause and thereupon she was pronounced to be Contumax for defect of Appearance and by the general Consent of all the learned men then present the Sentence of Divorce was passed and her Marriage with the King declared void and of no effect Heylin page 178. Of this more anon A. But if you please I would know of what Church or Religion was Cranmer at the time of his Consecration and afterwards and likewise what were the Words of his Mission and Consecration both as Bishop and Priest B. First as to his Religion I will tell you my own opinion A Papist he could not be at that time because he denied the Popes Supremacy and other Doctrines of the Church of Rome Of the present Church of England he could not be because he went to Mass then and 14 years after so that he must be of King Henry's Church or of none at all In the year 1538. he was says Burnet of Luthers Opinion which he had drunk in from his Friend Osiander pag. 252. 1. vol. And sate upon the Tryal and Condemnation of John Lambert one of the new Preachers for denying the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament After the Death of K. Henry of whom he stood in aw he tackt about with the next wind of Doctrine which was Zuinglianism and joyning with King Edwards privy Counsellors he reformed that is subverted the established Religion of the Nation Yet in the first year of King Edward Heylin tells you that he with eight other Bishops all in their rich Mitres and other Pontificals sang a Mass of Requiem for the Soul of Francis the French King then lately deceased History Reform page 40. Notwithstanding that he with the rest of the Privy-Council had a good while before sent out their Injunctions and Commissioners into all parts of the Nation and Preachers to attend them which Preachers were particularly instructed to disswade the people from praying for the Dead from Diriges and Masses c. Heylin p. 34. yet Burnet would perswade you he was a Person of a native simplicity and not for Court Policies vide p. 302. A. And besides all this did he not hold some strange Opinions B. Yes Doctor Burnet says he had some particular Conceits of his own or singular Opinions which he delivered with all possible Modesty page 289. 1 Vol. A. What were those Opinions B. You shall hear them together with the excuse which the Doctor makes for him First That Bishops and Priests were at one time and were not two things but one Office in the beginning of Christs Religion In which Opinion all the Bishops and Clergy of England except two Bishops and two Doctors were against him Burnet Collection Records page 223. 2. A Bishop may make a Priest and so may Princes and Governours also and that by the Authority of God committed to them and the People by their Election For as we read that Bishops have done it so Christian Emperors and Princes usually have done it and the People before Christian Princes were commonly did Elect their Bishops and Priests But all the rest of the Bishops and Clergy except the Bishop of Saint Davids and two or three Doctors said positively that they found no example either in Scripture or the ancient Doctors that any Man beside a Bishop hath Authority to make Priests 3. In the New Testament he that is appointed to be a Bishop or a Priest
the Preacher of St. Warbroughs A Fool may ask more Questions than a Wise man can easily answer Answer to D. M's Latin Questions pag. 99. A. Yes and I remember what he says moreover p. 25. He viz. Cranmer in all he did had the unanimous Consent and Vote of the major part of the Convocation c. B. You must excuse him for that mistake He has enough to do and perhaps more than an ingenious man would desire to undertake to satisfie the itching Ears of his Congregation with a spick and span new Sermon every Sunday in the year besides other Parochial Duties and cannot know every thing as he pretends Dr. Burnet informs you how in the year 1534. Cromwell joyning himself to Cranmer in a firm Friendship did promote the Reformation very vigorously but there was another party in Court that wrestled much against it whereof the Duke of Norfold was Head whose great Friend was Gardiner Bishop of Winchester who despised Cranmer and hated all Reformation Longland that had been the Kings Confessor was also managed by them and they had a great Party in Court and mark this almost all the Churchmen were on their side Burnet p. 172. 1. vol. Here almost all the Churchmen were against Cranmer Then in the year 1540. Cranmer says Burnet was for reducing the Seven Sacraments to Two but the Popish Party was then prevalent so the old number of Seven was agreed to pag. 289. 1. vol. and Cranmer subscribed with the rest tho against his own opinon This was far from the unanimous Consent of the Clergy In the Reign of King Edward anno 1547. while the Parliament was sitting they were not idle in the Convocation though the Popish party these are Burnets words was yet so prevalent in both Houses of Convocation that Cranmer had no hopes of doing any thing till they were freed of the trouble which some of the great Bishops gave them p. 47. 2. vol. that is till those Bishops were purged out And reckoning the number of Bishops that were of Cranmers side anno 1547. all he could find were these viz. Holgate of York Holbeach of Lincoln Goodrick of Ely Ridley elect of Rochester and Latimer Others of the Bishops were ignorant and weak men says Burnet who understood Religion little and valued it less meaning his new Reformation and so though they liked the old Superstition best that is Catholique Religion yet they resolved to swim with the stream p. 25. 2 vol. Then anno 1548. of the 8 Bishops who were ordered to draw up the Common Prayer Book four protested against it as Burnet confesses p. 94. 2. vol. And the same year it being brought into the House of Lords the Bishops of London Durham Norwich Carlisle Hereford Worcester Westminster and Chichester protested against it p. 23. 2. vol. That same year there was a Committee of selected Bishops Divines for examining all the Offices of the Church and for reforming them says Burnet The thing they first examined was the Sacrament of the Eucharst and here they managed their Enquiries in the same manner that was used in King Henrys Reign in which when any thing was considered in order to a Change it was put into several Queries to which every one in Commission was to give his Answer in Writing Some of the Queries were these viz. What was the Oblation or Sacrifice of the Mass wherein the Mass consisted c. To these the Bishops made their several Answers by which the Reader will perceive says Burnet how generally the Bishops were addicted to the old Superstition and how few did agree in all things with Cranmer p. 61 62. 2. vol. Dissenters from the Reformation were generally turned out of their Sees For the most part the Prelates were changed says Fox and the dumb Bishops compelled to give place to others that would preach p. 1180 And that all things might be carried with as little opposition and noise as might be saith Heylin it was thougt fit that Bishop Gardiner of Winchester should be kept in Prison till the end of the Session of Parliament and that Bishop Tonstall of Durham a man of a most moderate and even Spirit should be made less in Reputation by being deprived of his place at Council Table History Reformation p. 48. This was anno 1547. the first year of King Edward Heylin adds And though the Parliament consisted of such Members as disagreed amongst themselves in respect of Religion yet they agreed well enough together in one common Principle which was to serve the present Turn and preserve themselves For though a great part of the Nobility and not a few of the Chief Gentry in the House of Commons were Cordially affected to the Church of Rome yet were they willing to give way to all such Acts and Statutes as were made against it out of a fear of losing such Church Lands as they were possessed of if that Religion should prevail and get up again And for the rest who either were to make or improve their Fortunes there is no question to be made but that they came resolved to further such a Reformation as should most visibly conduce to the advancement of their several ends which appears plainly by the strange mixture of the Acts and Results thereof some tending simply to God's Glory and the good of the Church some to the present benefit and enriching of particular Persons And some again being devised of purpose to prepare a way for exposing the Revenues of the Church unto spoil and rapine Heylin p. 48. Anno 1551. Poynet was made Bishop of Winchester Gardiner being deprived Doctor Story was made Bishop of Rochester Miles Coverdal Bishop of Exeter Hooper of Glocester So that now says Burnet the Bishopriks were generally filled with men well affected to the Reformation Burnet pag. 166. 2. vol. And now let the Reader observe his following words viz. so now the Bishops being generally addicted to the Purity of Religion most of this year 1551 was spent in preparing Articles which should contain the Doctrine of the Church of England But many thought says he they should have begun 1. with those Articles but Cranmer upon good reasons was of another mind though much pressed by Bucer about it till the Order of Bishops observe were brought to such a model that the far greater part of them would agree to it it was much fitter to let that design of the 39 Articles go on slowly than to set out a Profession of their Belief to which so great a part of the chief Pastors might be obstinately averse Burnet p. 166. 2. vol. In the first year of Queen Elisabeth 1559 the Bill for the Supremacy was past by the Lords on the 18th of March. The Archbishop of York the Earl of Shrewsbury the Bishops of London Winchester Worcester Landaff Coventry and Litcfield Exeter Chester and Carlisle and the Abbot of Westminster dissenting Burnet p. 385. 2. vol. He proceeds p. 386. There was no other punishment
it by their own Authority For saith the Doctor a common Concurrence of other Churches was a thing scarce to be expected and therefore this Church must be in a very ill condition if there could be no endeavours for a Reformation till all the rest were brought together ibid. page 7. B. The design of this Catechism is to shew by the Doctors own Confession that the English Reformation was not the Act and Deed of the National Church or Clergy of England neither in the days of Henry VIII nor of his Son Edward VI nor of Queen Elisabeth but impos'd upon the Nation by the Interest and Power of a few Persons for their own advantage viz. the raising their Fortunes out of Church Lands And when I have done this I shall leave you to think what you please of Mr. King's Modesty the Preacher of St. Warbroughs who in a late thing which he calls an Answer to Dean Manby's Considerations affirms very confidently page 25. He viz. Cranmer in all he did had the unanimous Vote and Consent of the major part of the Convocation the universal Submission of the Clergy and Approbation of the People And a little after But if the Clergy in a National Council and the People in Obedience to them or from their own Inclinations did comply in earnest what an idle Question is it to ask by what Authority Cranmer condemned that Church from whom he received his Mission and Holy Orders when she concurred in all he did and approved nay made all the Alterations in her Liturgy Sacraments and Constitutions that were made c. A. But I pray go on in the method which at first you prescribed to your self and tell us in the Doctors words the History of those who promoted the Reformation under Henry VIII and his Son Edward VI. and then what observable passages you have met with touching the Reformation it self I am satisfied that King Henry by the Doctors Account of him had little thoughts of Reformation whilst he had the least hopes of the Popes complyance in the matter of his Divorce from Queen Katherine B. The chief Apostles under Henry VIII were Ann Bolen Cromwell Cranmer Latimer Shaxton Barlow A. What were the extraordinary Vertues of Ann Bolen B. She favoured the Reformers their chief Encouragement was from her who reigned in the King's Heart as absolutely as he did over his Subjects and was a known Favourer of them She took Shaxton and Latimer to be her Chaplains ad soon after promoted them to the Bishopricks of Salisbury and Worcester and in all other things cherished and protected them and used her most effectual endeavours with the King to promote the Reformation page 171 of his first Vol. second Edition A. What more B. Every Body admired Queen Ann's Conduct who had managed such a Kings Spirit so long and had neither surfeited him with great freedom the Doctor speaks of her cunning behaviour before the King married her nor provoked him by the other extream For the King who was extreamly nice in these matters conceived still an higher opinion of her And her being so soon with Child after the Marriage as it made people conclude she had been Chast till then so they hoped for a Blessing upon it since there were such early appearances of Issue Those that favoured the Reformation expected better days under her Protection for they knew she favoured them page 132. 1 vol. A. But how did this Zealous Reformer behave her self after her Marriage B. This being saith the Doctor one of the most memorable passages of King Henry's Reign I was at more then Ordinary pains to learn all I could concerning it She was of a very cheerful temper which was not always limited within the bounds of exact Decency and Discretion She had rallied some of the King's Servants more than became her her Brother the Lord Rochford was her Friend as well as Brother But his spiteful Wife was jealous of him and being a Woman of no sort of Vertue she carried many Stories to the King or some about him to perswade that there was a familiarity between the Queen and her Brother beyond what so near a Relation could justify Henry Norris that was Groom of the Stool Weston and Brereton that were of the King's Privy-Chamber and one Mark Smeton a Musician were all observed to have much of her Favour And their Zeal in serving her was thought too warm and diligent to flow from a less active principle then Love. Many Circumstances were brought to the King which working upon his aversion to the Queen together with his Affection to Mrs Seymeur made him conclude her Guilty Yet somewhat which himself observed or fancied at a Tilting at Greenwich is believed to have given the Crisis to her Ruin. It is said that he spied her let fall her Handkerchief to one of her Gallants to wipe his Face being hot after a course See the rest page 197. 1 vol. A. Did she confess nothing B. She confessed this odd passage between her self and Sir Henry Norris That she once asked him why he did not go on with his Marriage Who answered her that he would yet tarry some time to which she replyed you look for Dead Mens Shoos for if ought come to the King but good you would look to have Me He answered if he had any such thought he would his Head were cut off Upon which she said she could undo him if she pleased and thereupon she fell out with him page 199. As for Mark Smeton who was then laid in Irons she said he was never in her Chamber but when the King was last at Winchester And then he came in to play on the Virginals She said that she never spoke to him after that but on Saturday before May-day when she saw him standing in the Window and then she asked him Why he was so sad he said it was no matter She answered you may not look to have me speak to you as if you were a Noble Man since you are an inferiour person No no Madam said he a Look sufficeth me ibid. page 199. She seemed more apprehensive of Weslon then of any Body For on Whit-Sunday Morning last he said to her that Norris came more to her Chamber upon her account than for any body else that was there She had observed that he loved a Kinswoman of hers and challenged him for it and for not loving his Wife But he answered her that there were Women in the House whom he loved better then them both she asked who is that your self said he upon which she said she desied him ibid. page 197. A. What is the Doctors opinion of this B. It is certain her Carriage had given just cause of some Jealousy page 206. A. How did other people Censure her B. Her Carriage seemed too free and all people thought saith the Doctor that some Freedoms and Levities in her had encouraged those unfortunate Persons to speak such bold things to her
since few attempt upon the Chastity or make Declarations of Love to Persons of so exalted a Quality except they see some Invitations at least in their Carriage Others thought that a free and jovial Temper might with great Innocence though with no Discretion lead one to all those things that were proved against her page 206. A. I pray tell us the sum of her Story as well what the Doctor says for her as against her B. You may assure your self he says nothing to her disadvantage but what the meer force of Truth extorts from him The only design of his History being to magnify the Reformation and all the Friends thereof He tells us page 202. She was indicted of High Treason the Crimes charged upon her being these viz. That she had procured her Brother and the other four to Lye with her which they had done often and that she said to them that the King never had her Heart and had said to every one of them by themselves that she loved them better than any Person whatsoever which was to the slander of the Issue that was Begotten between the King and Her viz. the Lady Elisabeth It was also added in the Indictment that she and her Complices had conspired the Kings Death But this it seems was only put in saith the Doctor to swell the Charge When the Indictment was read she held up her hand and pleaded not Guilty and so did her Brother and did Answer the Evidence that was brought in against her discreetly One thing is remarkable that Mark Smeton who was the only Person that confessed any thing was never confronted with the Queen nor was kept to be an Evidence against her having received his Sentence three days before and so could be no witness in Law. But perhaps though he was wrought on to Confess yet they did not think he had Confidence enough to aver it to the Queens Face therefore the Evidence they brought as Spelman says was the Oath of a Woman that was Dead Yet this or rather the Terror of offending the King so wrought on the Lords that they found her and her Brother Guilty page 202. and Judgment was given that she should be Burnt A. Proceed B. Now she lying under so terrible a Sentence it is most probable that either some hopes of Life were given her or at least she was wrought on by the assurances of mitigating that cruel part of her Judgment of being Burnt into the milder part of the Sentence of having her Head cut off So that she confessed a Precontract with the Lord Peircy and on the 17th of May was brought to Lambeth and in Court the afflicted Archbishop Crammer sitting Judge some Persons of Quality being present she confessed some just and lawful Impediments by which it was Evident that her Marriage with the King was not valid upon which Confession her Marriage between the King and Her was judged to have been null and void The Record of the Sentence is burnt says the Doctor but these particulars are repeated in the Act that passed the next Parliament touching the Succession to the Crown page 203 1 Vol. NOTE The Record of the Sentence annulling her Marriage to be sure was not burnt by the Enemies but Friends of Queen Elisabeth That her Mother Ann made this Confession the Doctor is positive but upon what Reasons he is not positive only she lying under so terrible a Sentence It is most probable saith he that either some hopes of Life were given her or at least she was wrought on by the assurances of mitigating the cruel Sentence of being Burnt into that of having her Head cut off ibid. page 203. A. The Doctor is a good Advocate B. Observe his following words which are his own witty Reflections on this matter viz. The two Sentences that were past upon the Queen the one of Attainder for Adultery the other of Divorce because of a Precontract did so Contradict one another that it was apparent one if not both of them must be unjust For if the Marriage between the King and Her was null from the beginning then since she was not the Kings wedded Wife there could be no Adultery And her Marriage with the King was either a true Marriage or not if it was true then the annulling of it was unjust And if it was no true Marriage then the Attainder was unjust for there could be no breach of that Faith which was never given p. 203. NOTE But it appears by her own Confession that she had given her Faith both to the King and the Lord Peircy Only the Doctor in his Margine there calls it an extorted Confession Heylin relates the matter thus History of Reformation pag. 259. The admirable attractions of which young Lady Ann Bolen had drawn the King so fast unto her that in short time he gave her an absolute Sovereignty over all his Thoughts But so long he concealed his Affections from her that a great League and Intercourse was contracted betwixt her and the young Lord Peircy the eldest Son of Henry Lord Peircy who being brought up in the Cardinals Service had many opportunities of confirming acquaintance with her See the rest pag 259. Sir Henry Norris Sir Francis Weston William Brereton and Mark Smeton were tryed in Westminster Hall They were twice indicted and the Indictments found by two Grand Juries in the Counties of Kent and Mida'lesex the Crimes with which they were charged being said to be done in both those Counties The three first pleaded â—…t Guilty Mark Smeton confessed he had known the Queen caâ—…ally three times But the Jury upon the Evidence formerly mentioned found them all Guilty Doctor Burnet pag. 201 202. first vol. NOTE If Mark Smeton belyed the Queen for the saving his Life 't is very strange that at his Execution he did not declare the Truth for the Vindication of the Queens Honour and his own Innocency But Heylin gives this account of it pag. 264. which I will not conceal from the Reader viz. From none of the Witnesses they namely the Kings Commissioners were able to get any thing by all their Arts which might give any ground for her Conviction but that Mark Smeton had been wrought on to make some Confession of himself to her Dishonour out of a vain hope to save his own Life by the loss of hers Concerning which Cromwell thus writes to the King after the Prisoners had been thoroughly examined in the Tower by the Lords of the Council Many things saith he have been objected but nothing confessed only some Circumstances have been acknowledged by Mark Smeton It appears also by a Letter of Sir William Kingstons says Heylin that he had much communication with her when she was his Prisoner in which her Language seemed to be broken btwixt Tears and Laughter out of which nothing could be gathered but that she exclaimed against Norris as if he had accused her It was further signified in that Letter that she named some others