he said they were Mathew Mark Luke and John that were still shut up for the People longed much to see them abroad She answered him as pleasantly she would first talk with themselves and see whether they desired to be set at such liberty as he requested for them A Consultation about the change of Religion Now the two great things under Consultation were Religion and Peace For the former some were appointed to consider how it was to be Reform'd Beal a Clerk of the Council gave advice to Cecil that the Parliaments under Queen Mary should be declared void the first being under a force as was before related and the Title of Supream Head being left out of the Summons to the next Parliament before it was taken away by Law from whence he inferred that both these were not lawfully held or duly summoned and this being made out the Laws of King Edward were still in force but this was laid aside as too high and violent a way of proceeding since the annulling of Parliaments upon little errors in Writs or some particular disorders was a Precedent of such consequence that to have proceeded in such a manner would have unhinged all the Government and security of the Nation More moderate Courses were thought on The Queen had been bred up from her Infancy with a hatred of the Papacy and a Love to the Reformation But yet as her first Impressions in her Fathers Reign were in favour of such old Rites as he had still retained so in her own Nature she loved State and some Magnificence in Religion as well as in every thing else She thought that in her Brothers Reign they had stript it too much of external Ornaments and had made their Doctrine too narrow in some Points therefore she intended to have some things explained in more general terms that so all Parties might be comprehended by them She inclined to keep up Images in Churches and to have the manner of Christs Presence in the Sacrament left in some general words that those who believed the Corporal Presence might not be driven away from the Church by too nice an Explanation of it Nor did she like the Title of Supream Head she thought it imported too great a Power and came too near that Authority which Christ only had over the Church These were her own private thoughts She considered nothing could make her Power great in the World abroad so much as the uniting all her People together at home Her Fathers and her Brothers Reign had been much distracted by the Rebellions within England and she had before her Eyes the Instance of the Coldness that the People had expressed to her Sister on all occasions for the maintaining or recovering of the Dominions beyond Sea Therefore she was very desirous to find such a Temper in which all might agree She observed that in the Changes formerly made particularly in renouncing the Papacy and making some Alterations in Worship the whole Clergy had concurred and so she resolved to follow and imitate these by easie steps There was a long Consultation had about the Method of the Changes she should make The substance of which shall be found in the Collection in a Paper where in the way of Question and Answer A Method of doing it proposed Collection Number 1. the whole design of it is laid down This Draught of it was given to Sir William Cecil and does exactly agree with the account that Cambden gives of it That Learned and Judicious Man has written the History of this Queens Reign with that Fidelity and Care in so good a Stile and with so much Judgment that it is without question the best part of our English History but he himself often says that he had left many things to those who should undertake the History of the Church therefore in the Account of the beginnings of this Reign as I shall in all things follow him with the credit that is due to so extraordinary a Writer so having met with some things which he did not know or thought not necessary in so succinct a History to enlarge on I shall not be afraid to write after him though the Esteem he is justly in may make it seem superfluous to go over these matters any more It seemed necessary for the Queen to do nothing before a Parliament were called The Heads of it for only from that Assembly could the affections of the People be certainly gathered The next thing she had to do was to ballance the dangers that threatned her both from abroad and at home The Pope would certainly excommunicate and depose her and stir up all Christian Princes against her The King of France would lay hold of any opportunity to embroil the Nation and by the assistance of Scotland and of the Irish might perhaps raise troubles in her Dominions Those that were in Power in Queen Maries time and remained firm to the old Superstition would be discontented at the Reformation of Religion the Bishops and Clergy would generally oppose it and since there was a necessity of demanding Subsidies they would take occasion by the discontent the People would be in on that account to inflame them and those who would be dissatisfied at the retaining of some of the old Ceremonies would on the other hand disparage the Changes that should be made and call the Religion a Cloak'd-Papistry and so alienate many of the most zealous from it To remedy all these things it was proposed to make Peace with France and to cherish those in that Kingdom that desired the Reformation The Curses and Practises of Rome were not much to be feared In Scotland those must be encouraged who desired the like change in Religion and a little Money among the Heads of the Families in Ireland would go a great way And for those that had borh Rule in Queen Maries time ways were to be taken to lessen their credit throughout England they were not to be too soon trusted or employed upon pretence of Turning but those who were known to be well affected to Religion and the Queens Person were to be sought after and encouraged The Bishops were generally hated by the Nation It would be easie to draw them within the Statute of Praemunire and upon their falling into it they must be kept under it till they had renounced the Pope and consented to the Alterations that should be made The Commissions of the Peace and for the Militia were to be carefully reviewed and such Men were to be put in them as would be firm to the Queens Interests When the Changes should be made some severe punishments would make the rest more readily submit Great care was to be had of the Universities and other publick Schools as Eaton and Winchester that the next Generation might be betimes seasoned with the Love and Knowledge of Religion Some learned Men as Bill Parker May Cox Whitehead Grindall Pilkington and Sir Thomas Smith were to be ordered to meet and consider of the Book of Service In the mean while the People were to be restrained from Innovating without Authority and the Queen to give some hope of a Reformation might appoint the Communion to be given in both kinds The Persons that were thought fit to be trusted with the Secret of these Consultations were the Marquess of Northampton the Earls of Bedford and Pembroke and the Lord John Gray The Place that was thought most convenient for the Divines to meet in was Sir Thomas Smiths
more _____ at the Mass that they do always communicate with the Executor in both kinds And for her Highness Conscience till then if there be some other devout sort of Prayer or Memory and the _____ or Mass Quest 6. What Noblemen be fit to be made privy to those Proceedings before it be opened to the whole Council Answer The Marquess Northampton the Earl of Bedford the Earl of Pembrook Lord John Gray Quest 7. What Allowance the Learned Men shall have for the time they are about to renew the Book of Common Prayers and Order of certain Ceremonies and Service in the Church and when they shall meet Answer Being so many Persons as must attend still upon it two Messes of Meat is thought yet indifferently to suffice for them and their Servants The Place is thought most meet either in some set Place or rather at Sir Thomas Smith's Lodging in Cannon-Row At one of those Places must Provision be laid in of Wood of Coal and Drink Number 2. Dr. Sand's Letter to Dr. Parker concerning some Proceedings in Parliament An Original Ex MS. Col. Cor. C. Cant. YE have rightly considered that these times are given to taking and not to giving for ye have stretched forth your hand further than all the rest They never asked us in what state we stand neither consider that we want and yet in the time of our Exile were we not so bare as we are now brought but I trust we shall not linger here long for the Parliament draweth towards an end The last Book of Service is gone through with a Proviso to retain the Ornaments which were used in the first and second Year of King Edward until it please the Queen to take other order for them our gloss upon this Text is that we shall not be forced to use them but that others in the mean time shall not conveigh them away but that they may remain for the Queen After this Book was past He was Dean of Windsor and Peterb in Q. Mary's Time Boxall and others quarrelled with it that according to the order of the Scripture we had not gratiarum actio for saith he Christus accepit panem gratias egit but in the time of Consecration we give no Thanks This he put into the Treasurers Head and into Count de Soreus Head and he laboured to alienate the Queen's Majesty from confirming of the Act but I trust they cannot prevail Mr. Secretary is earnest with the Book and we have ministred Reasons to maintain that part The Bill of Supreme Government of both the Temporality and Clergy passeth with a Proviso that nothing shall be judged hereafter which is not confirmed by the Canonical Scriptures and four General Councils Mr. Lever wisely put such a scruple into the Queen's Head A Minister at Frankfort much commended by Calvin to be followed as an Example that she would not take the Title of Supream Head The Bishops as it is said will not swear unto it as it is but rather lose their Livings The Bill is in hand to restore Men to their Livings how it will speed I know not The Parliament is like to end shortly and then we shall understand how they mind to use us We are forced through the vain Bruits of the lying Papists to give up a Confession of our Faith to shew forth the Sum of that Doctrine which we profess and to declare that we dissent not amongst our selves This Labour we have now in hand on purpose to publish that so soon as the Parliament is ended I wish that we had your Hand unto it Ye are happy that ye are so far from this tossing and gross Alterations and Mutations for we are made weary with them but ye cannot long rest in your Cell ye must be removed to a more large Abbey and therefore in the mean time take your pleasure for after ye will find but a little Nihil est statutum de conjugio Sacerdotum sed tanquam relictum in medio Lever was married now of late The Queen's Majesty will wink at it but not stablish it by Law which is nothing else but to bastard our Children Other things another time Thus praying you to commend me to your Abbesses I take my leave of you for this present hastily at London April ult 1559. Yours Edwin Sands Number 3. The first Proposition upon which the Papists and Protestants Disputed in Westminster-Abbey With the Arguments which the Reformed Divines made upon it It is against the Word of God and the Custom of the Primitive Church to use a Tongue unknown to the People in Common-Prayers and Administration of the Sacraments BY these words the Word we mean only the written Word of God Ex M. S. Col. C. Ch. Cant. or Canonical Scriptures And by the Custom of the Primitive Church we mean the Order most generally used in the Church for the space of five hundred Years after Christ in which Times lived the most notable Fathers as Justin Ireneus Tertullian Cyprian Basil Chrysostom Hierome Ambrose Augustine c. This Assertion above-written hath two parts First That the use of a Tongue not understood of the People in common Prayers of the Church or in the Administration of the Sacraments is against God's Word The second That the same is against the Use of the Primitive-Church The first part is most manifestly proved by the 14th Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians almost throughout the whole Chapter in the which Chapter St. Paul intreateth of this Matter ex professo purposely And although some do cavil that St. Paul speaketh not in that Chapter of Praying but of Preaching yet it is most evident to any indifferent Reader of Understanding and appeareth also by the Exposition of the best Writers That he plainly there speaketh not only of Preaching and Prophesying but also of Prayer and Thanksgiving and generally of all other publick Actions which require any Speech in the Church or Congregation For of Praying he saith I will pray with my Spirit and I will pray with my Mind I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with my Mind And of Thanksgiving which is a kind of Prayer Thou givest Thanks well but the other is not edified And how shall he that occupieth the room of the Vnlearned say Amen to thy giving of Thanks when he understandeth not what thou sayest And in the end ascending from Particulars to Universals concludeth That all things ought to be done to Edification Thus much is clear by the very words of St. Paul and the Ancient Doctors Ambrose Augustine Hierome and others do so understand this Chapter as it shall appear by their Testimonies which shall follow afterward Upon this Chapter of St. Paul we gather these Reasons following 1. All things done in the Church or Congregation ought to be so done as they may edify the same But the use of an Unknown Tongue in Publick Prayer or Administration of Sacraments doth
Stewardships during Leases for 21 Years Forfeits under 40 l. Receiverships Woodwardships Surveyorships c. during pleasure Instalments of days for Debts To those Gentlemen that have well-served Fee-Farms to them and their Heirs Males of their Body paying their Rent and discharging the Annuities due to all Officers touching the same Keeping of Houses and Parks ordinary Offices as Yeomen of the Crown the Houshold Offices c. June 2. Sir John Williams who was committed to the Fleet for disobeying a Commandment given to him for not paying any Pensions without not making my Council privy upon his submission was delivered out of Prison 4. Beamont Master of the Rolls did confess his Offences who in his Office of Wards had bought Land with my Mony had lent it and kept it from Me to the value of 9000 l. and above more than this twelve month and 11000 in Obligations how he being Judg in the Chancery between the Duke of Suffolk and the Lady Powis took her Tittle and went about to get it into his Hands paying a Sum of Mony and letting her have a Farm of a Manour of his and caused an Indenture to be made falsly with the old Duke's counterfeit Hand to it by which he gave these Lands to the Lady Powis and went about to make twelve Men perjured Also how he had concealed the Felony of his Man to the Sum of 200 l. which he stole from him taking the Mony into his own hand again For these Considerations he surrendered into my Hands all his Offices Lands and Goods moveable and unmoveable toward the paiment of this Debt and of the Fines due to these particular Faults by him done 6. The Lord Paget Chancellor of the Dutchy confessed how he without Commission did sell away my Lands and great Timber-Woods how he had taken great Fines of my Lands to his said particular Profit and Advantage never turning any to my Use or Commodity how he made Leases in Reversion for more than 21 Years For these Crimes and other-like recited before he surrendred his Office and submitted himself to those Fines that I or my Council would appoint to be levied of his Goods and Lands 7. Whaley Receiver of York-shire confessed how he lent my Mony upon Gain and Lucre how he paied one Years Revenue over with the Arrearages of the last how he bought mine own Land with my own Mony how in his Accompts he had made many false Suggestions how at the time of the fall of Mony he borrowed divers Sums of Mony and had allowance for it after by which he gained 500 l. at one crying down the whole Sum being 2000 l. and above For these and such-like Considerations he surrendred his Office and submitted to Fines which I or my Council should assign him to be levied of his Goods and Lands 8. The Lords of the Council sat at Guild-hall in London where in the presence of a thousand People they declared to the Mayor and Brethren their sloathfulness in suffering unreasonable prices of Things and to Craftsmen their willfulness c. telling them That if upon this Admonition they did not amend I was wholly determined to call in their Liberties as confiscate and to appoint Officers that should look to them 10. It was appointed that the Lord Gray of Wilton should be pardoned of his Offences and delivered out of the Tower Whereas Sir Philip Hobbey should have gone to Calais with Sir Richard Cotton and William Barnes Auditor it was appointed Sir Anthony St. Legier Sir Richard Cotton and Sir Thomas Mildmay should go thither carrying with them 10000 l. to be received out of the Exchequer Whereas it was agreed that there should be a Pay now made to Ireland of 5000 l. and then the Mony to be cried down it was appointed that 3000 weight which I had in the Tower should be carried thither and coined at 3 Denar fine and that incontinent the Coin should be cried down 12. Because Pirry tarried here for the Bullion William Williams Essay-Master was put in his place to view the Mines with Mr. Brabazon or him whom the Deputy should appoint 13. Banester and Crane the one for his large Confession the other because little Matter appeared against him were delivered out of the Tower 16. The Lord Paget was brought into Star-Chamber and there declared effectuously his submission by word of Mouth and delivered it in writing Beaumont who had before made his Confession in writing began to deny it again but after being called before my Council he did confess it again and there acknowledged a Fine of his Land and signed an Obligation in surrender of all his Goods 17. Monsieur de Couriers took his leave 2. The French King won the Castle of Robdemac Certain Horsemen of the Regents came and set upon the French King's Baggage and slew divers of the Carriers but at length with some loss of the Frenchmen they were compelled to retire The French King won Mount St. Ann. 4. The French King came to Deuvillars which was a strong Town and besieged it making three Breaches 12. The Town was yielded to him with the Captain He found in it 2500 Footmen 200 Horsemen 63 great Brass-pieces 300 Hagbuts of Croke much Victual and much Ammunition as he did write to his Ambassador 19. It was appointed that the Bishop of Durham's Matter should stay till the end of the Progress 20. Beaumont in the Star-Chamber confessed after a little sticking upon the Matter his Faults to which he had put to his Hand 22. It was agreed that the Bands of Men of Arms appointed to Mr. Sidney Mr. Vicechamberlain Mr. Hobbey and Mr. Sadler should not be furnished but left off 25. It was agreed that none of my Council should move Me in any Suit of Land for Forfeits above 20 l. for Reversion of Leases or other extraordinary Suits till the State of my Revenues were further known 15. The French King came to a Town standing upon the River of Mosa called Yvoire which gave him many hot Skirmishes 18. The French King began his Battery to the Walls 14. The Townsmen of Mountmedy gave a hot Skirmish to the French and slew Monsieur de Toge's Brother and many other Gentlemen of the Camp 12. The Prince of Salerno who had been with the French King to treat with him touching the Matter of Naples was dispatched in Post with this Answer That the French King would aid him with 13000 Footmen and 1500 Horsemen in the French Wages to recover and conquer the Kingdom of Naples and he should marry as some said the French King's Sister Madam Margaret The Cause why this Prince rebelled against the Emperor was partly the uncourteous handling of the Viceroy of Naples partly Ambition The Flemings made an Invasion into Champaign in so much that the Dolphin had almost been taken and the Queen lying at Chalons sent some of her Stuff toward Paris Also another Company took the Town of Guise and spoiled the Country 22. Monsieur
all the Particulars in King Edwards Journal The King of France sent another very noble Embassy into England with the Order of St. Michael to the King and a very kind Message that he had no less love to him than a Father could bear to his own Son He desired the King would not listen to the vain Rumors which some malicious Persons might raise to break their friendship and wished there might be such a regulation on their Frontiers that all differences might be amicably removed To this the young King made answer himself That he thanked his good Brother for his Order and for the Assurances of his Love which he would always requite For Rumors they were not always to be credited nor always to be rejected it being no less vain to fear all things than it was dangerous to doubt of nothing and for any differences that might arise he should be always ready to determine them by reason rather than force so far as his Honour should not be thereby diminished Whether this Answer was prepared before-hand or not I cannot tell I rather think it was otherways it was extraordinary for one of fourteen to talk thus on the sudden But while all this was carrying on there was a design laid to destroy the Duke of Somerset He had such access to the King and such freedoms with him A Conspiracy against the Duke of Somerset that the Earl of Warwick had a mind to be rid of him lest he should spoil all his Projects The Duke of Somerset seemed also to have designed in April this Year to have got the King again in his power and dealt with the Lord Strange that was much in his favour to perswade him to marry his Daughter Jane and that he would advertise him of all that passed about the King But the Earl of Warwick to raise himself and all his Friends higher procured a great Creation of new Honours Gray was made Duke of Suffolk and himself Duke of Northumberland for Henry Piercy the last Earl of Northumberland dying without Issue his next Heirs were the Sons of Thomas Piercy that had been attainted in the last Reign for the York-shire Rebellion Pawlet then Lord Treasurer and Earl of Wilt-shire was made Marquess of Winchester and Sir William Herbert that had married the Marquess of Northampton's Sister was made Earl of Pembroke The Lord Russel had been made Earl of Bedford last year upon his return from making the Peace with the French Sir Tho. Darcy had also been made Lord Darcy The new Duke of Northumberland could no longer bear such a Rival in his greatness as the Duke of Somerset was who was the only Person that he thought could take the King out of his Hands So on the 17th of October the Duke was apprehended and sent to the Tower and with him the Lord Gray Sir Ralph Vane who had escaped over the River but was taken in a Stable in Lambeth hid under the Straw Sir Tho. Palmer and Sir Tho. Arundel were also taken yet not sent at first to the Tower but kept under Guards in their Chambers Some of his followers Hamond Nudigate and two of the Seimours were sent to Prison The day after the Dutchess of Somerset was also sent to the Tower with one Crane and his Wife that had been much about her and two of her Chamber-women After these Sir Tho. Holdcroft Sir Miles Partridge Sir Michael Stanhop Wingfield Bannister and Vaughan were all made Prisoners The Evidence against the Duke was That he had made a Party for getting himself declared Protector in the next Parliament which the Earl of Rutland did positively affirm and the Duke did so answer it that it is probable it was true But though this might well inflame his Enemies yet it was no crime But Sir Tho. Palmer though imprisoned with him as a Complice was the Person that ruined him He had been before that brought secretly to the King and had told him that on the last St. Georges day the Duke apprehending there was mischief designed against him thought to have raised the People had not Sir William Herbert assured him he should receive no harm that lately he intended to have the Duke of Northumberland the Marquess of Northampton and the Earl of Pembroke invited to Dinner at the Lord Pagets and either to have set on them by the way or to have killed them at Dinner that Sir Ralph Vane had 2000 Men ready that Sir Tho. Arundel had assured the Tower and that all the Gandarmoury were to be killed The Duke of Somerset hearing Palmer had been with the King challenged him of it but he denied all He sent also for Secretary Cecil and told him he suspected there was an ill design against him To which the Secretary answered if he were not in fault he might trust to his innocency but if he were he had nothing to say but to lament him All this was told the King with such Circumstances that he was induced to believe it The King is possessed against him and the probity of his disposition wrought in him a great aversion to his Unkle when he looked on him as a Conspirator against the Lives of the other Counsellors and so he resolved to leave him to the Law Palmer being a second time examined said That Sir Ralph Vane was to have brought 2000 Men who with the Duke of Somersets 100 Horse were on a Muster-day to have set on the Gendarmoury that being done the Duke resolved to have gone thorough the City and proclaimed Liberty Liberty and if his attempt did not succeed to have fled to the Isle of Wight or to Pool Crane confirmed all that Palmer had said to which he added That the Earl of Arundel was privy to the Conspiracy and that the thing had been executed but that the greatness of the Enterprise had caused delays and sometimes diversity of advice and that the Duke being once given out to be sick had gone privately to London to see what Friends he could make Hamond being examined confessed nothing but that the Dukes Chamber at Greenwich had been guarded in the night by many Armed Men. Upon this Evidence both the Earl of Arundel and the Lord Paget were sent to the Tower The Earl had been one of the chief of those who had joyned with the Earl of Warwick to pull down the Protector and being as he thought ill rewarded by him was become his Enemy So this part of the Information seemed very credible The thing lay in suspence till the first of December He is brought to his Trial. that the Duke of Somerset was brought to his Trial where the Marquess of Winchester was Lord Steward The Peers that judged him were twenty seven in number The Dukes of Suffolk and Northumberland the Marquess of Northampton the Earls of Derby Bedford Huntington Rutland Bath Sussex Worcester Pembroke and the Viscount of Hereford the Lords Abergaveny Audley Wharton Evers Latimer Borough Souch Stafford Wentworth
make a match at Shooting and so taken Nudegates was called for as from my Lord his Master and taken likewise were John Seimour and David Seimour Arundel also was taken and the Lord Gray coming out of the Country Vane upon two sendings of my Lord in the morning fled at the first sending he said My Lord was not stout and if he could get home he cared for none of them all he was so strong But after he was found by John Piers in a Stable of his Man 's at Lambeth under the Straw These went with the Duke to the Tower this Night saving Palmer Arundel and Vane who were kept in Chambers here apart 17. The Dutches Crane and his Wife with the Chamber-keeper were sent to the Tower for devising these Treasons James Wingfield also for casting of Bills seditiously also Mr. Partridge was attaqued and Sir James Holcroft 18. Mr. Banister and Mr. Vaughan were attaqued and sent to the Tower and so was Mr. Stanhope 19. Sir Thomas Palmer confessed that the Gandarms on the Muster-day should be assaulted by 2000 Footmen of Mr. Vane's and my Lord 's hundred Horse besides his Friends which stood by and the idle People which took his part If he were overthrown he would run through London and cry Liberty Liberty to raise the Apprentices and R if he could he would go to the Isle of Wight or to Pool 22. The Dowager of Scotland was by Tempest driven to Land at Portsmouth and so she sent word she would take the benefit of the safe Conduct to go by Land and to see Me. 23. She came from Portsmouth to Mr. Whites House 24. The Lords sat in the Star-Chamber and there declared the Matters and Accusations laid against the Duke meaning to stay the minds of the People 25. Certain German Princes in the beginning of this month desired Aid in Cause of Religion 400000 Dollars if they should be driven to make shift by necessity and offered the like also if I entred into any War for them whereupon I called the Lords and considered as appeareth by a Scroll in the Board at Westminster and thereupon appointed that the Secretary Petre and Sir William Cecil another Secretary should talk with the Messenger to know the matter precisely and the Names of those would enter the Confederacy 28. The Dowager came to Sir Richard Cotton's House 29. She came from Sir Richard Cotton's to the Earl of Arundel to Dinner and brought to Mr. Brown's House where met her the Gentlemen of Sussex 30. She came and was conveied by the same Gentlemen to Guilford where the Lord William Howard and the Gentlemen of Surrey met her All this month the Frenchmen continued spoiling of the Emperor's Frontiers and in a Skirmish at Ast they slew 100 Spaniards 31. A Letter directed to Sir Arthur Darcy to take the charge of the Tower and to discharge Sir John Markham upon this that without making any of the Council privy he suffered the Duke to walk abroad and certain Letters to be sent and answered between David Seimour and Mrs. Poinings with other divers Suspicions 17. There were Letters sent to all Emperors Kings Ambassadors Noblemen Men and Chief Men into Countries of the late Conspiracy 31. She came to Hampton-Court conveied by the same Lords and Gentlemen aforesaid and two miles and an half from thence in a Valley there met her the Lord Marquess of Northampton accompanied with the Earl of Wiltshire Son and Heir to the Lord High Treasurer Marquess of Winchester the Lord Fitzwater Son to the Earl of Sussex The Lord Evers the Lord Bray the Lord Robert Dudley the Lord Garet Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Sir Edward Rogers and divers other Gentlemen besides all the Gentlemen Pensioners Men of Arms and Ushers Sewers and Carvers to the number of 120 Gentlemen and so she was brought to Hampton-Court At the Gate thereof met her the Lady Marquess of Northampton the Countess of Pembrook and divers other Ladies and Gentlewomen to the number of sixty and so she was brought to her Lodging on the Queen-side which was all hanged with Arras and so was the Hall and all the other Lodgings of Mine in the House very finely dressed and for this night and the next day all was spent in Dancing and Pastime as though it were a Court and great presence of Gentlemen resorted thither 26. Letters were written for because of this Business to defer the Musters of Gendarmory till the day of December November 1. The Dowager perused the House of Hampton-Court and saw some coursing of Deer 2. She came to the Bishop's Palace at London and there she lay and all her Train lodged about her 3. The Duke of Suffolk the Earl of Warwick Wiltshire and many other Lords and Gentlemen were sent to her to welcome her and to say on My behalf That if she lacked any thing she should have it for her better Furniture and also I would willingly see her the day following The 26th of October Crane confessed the most part even as Palmer did before and more also how that the place where the Nobles should have been banqueted and their Heads striken off was the Lord Paget's House and how the Earl of Arundel knew of the Matter as well as he by Stanhop who was a Messenger between them also some part how he went to London to get Friends once in August last feigning himself sick Hammond also confessed the Watch he kept in his Chamber at Night Bren also confessed much of this matter The Lord Strange confessed how the Duke willed him to stir me to marry his third Daughter the Lady Jane and willed him to be his Spie in all Matters of my Doings and Sayings and to know when some of my Council spoke secretly with Me this he confessed of himself November 4. The Duke of Suffolk the Lord Fitzwater the Lord Bray and divers other Lords and Gentlemen accompanied with his Wife the Lady Francis the Lady Margaret the Dutchesses of Richmond and of Northumberland the Lady Jane Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk the Marquess of Northampton and Winchester the Countesses of Arundel Bedford Huntington and Rutland with 100 other Ladies and Gentlewomen went to her and brought her through London to Westminster At the Gate there received her the Duke of Northumberland Great Master and the Treasurer and Comptroller and the Earl of Pembrook with all the Sewers and Carvers and Cup-bearers to the number of thirty In the Hall I met her with all the rest of the Lords of my Council as the Lord Treasurer the Marquess of Northampton c. and from the outer-Gate up to the Presence-Chamber on both sides stood the Guard The Court the Hall and the Stairs were full of Servingmen the Presence-Chamber Great-Chamber and her Presence-Chamber of Gentlemen And so having brought her to her Chamber I retired to Mine I went to her to Dinner she dined under the same Cloth of State at my left Hand at her rereward dined my Cousin Francis and
this Point but some hap to be curious and inquisitive of things that little pertain unto their parts and some might peradventure hap to talk of such things as might peradventure after turn to much harm as I think you have heard how the late Duke of Buckingham moved with the fame of one that was reported for an Holy Monk and had such talking with him as after was a great part of his destruction and disheriting of his Blood and great slander and infamy of Religion It sufficeth me good Madam to put you in remembrance of such things as I nothing doubt your Wisdom and the Spirit of God shall keep you from talking with any Person specially with high Persons of any such manner things as pertain to Princes Affairs or the State of the Realm but only to commune and talk with any Person high and low of such manner things as may to the Soul be profitable for you to shew and for them to know And thus my good Lady and dearly beloved Sister in our Lord I make an end of this my needless advertisement unto you whom the Blessed Trinity preserve and increase in Grace and put in your mind to recommend me and mine unto him in your devout Prayers At Chelsey this Tuesday by the Hand of Your hearty loving Brother and Beadsman Thomas More Kt. At the receipt of this Letter she answered my Servant that she heartily thanked me Soon after this there came to mine House the Prior of the Charterhouse at Shene and one Brother Williams with him who nothing talked to me but of her and of the great joy that they took in her Vertue but of any of her Revelations they had no communication But at another time Brother Williams came to me and told me a long Tale of her being at the House of a Knight in Kent that was sore troubled with Temptations to destroy himself and none other thing we talked of nor should have done of likelyhood though we had tarried together much longer he took so great pleasure good Man to tell the Tale with all the Circumstances at length When I came again another day to Sion on a day in which there was a Profession some of the Fathers asked me how I liked the Nun And I answered that in good Faith I liked her very well in her talking howbeit quoth I she is never the nearer tried by that for I assure you she were likely to be very bad if she seemed good e're I should think her other till she happened to be proved naught and in good Faith that is my manner indeed except I were set to search and examine the truth upon likelyhood of some cloaked evil for in that case although I nothing suspected the Person my self yet no less than if I suspected him sore I would as far as my wit would serve me search to find out the truth as your self hath done very prudently in this Matter wherein you have done in my mind to your great laud and praise a very meritorious Deed in bringing forth to light such detestable Hypocrisy whereby every other Wretch may take warning and be feared to set forth their own devilish dissembled falshood under the manner and colour of the wonderful Work of God for verily this Woman so handled her self with help of that evil Spirit that inspired her that after her own Confession declared at Paul's Cross when I sent word by my Servant unto the Prior of the Charterhouse that she was undoubtedly proved a false deceiving Hypocrite The good Man had had so good opinion of her so long that he could at the first scantly believe me therein Howbeit it was not he alone that thought her so very good but many another right good Man besides as little marvel was upon so good report till she was proved naught I remember me further that in Communication between Father Rich and me I counselled him that in such strange things as concerned such Folk as had come unto her to whom as she said she had told the causes of their coming e're themselves spake thereof and such good Fruit as they said that many Men had received by her Prayer he and such other as so reported it and thought that the knowledg thereof should much pertain to the Glory of God should first cause the things to be well and sure examined by the Ordinaries and such as had Authority thereunto so that it might be surely known whether the things were true or not and that there were no Letters intermingled among them or else the Letters might after hap to aweigh the credence of these things that were true And when he told me the Tale of Mary Magdalen I said unto him Father Rich that she is a good vertuous Woman in good Faith I hear so many good Folk so report that I verily think it true and think it well-likely that God worketh some good and great things by her but yet are you wot well these strange Tales no part of our Creed and therefore before you see them surely proved you shall have my poor counsel not to wed your self so far forth to the credence of them as to report them very surely for true least that if it should hap that they were afterwards proved false it might minish your estimation in your Preaching whereof might grow great loss To this he thanked me for my counsel but how he used it after that I cannot tell Thus have I good Mr. Cromwell fully declared to you as far as my self can call to remembrance all that ever I have done or said in this Matter wherein I am sure that never one of them all shall tell you any further thing of effect for if any of them or any Man else report of me as I trust verily no Man will and I wot well truly no Man can any Word or Deed by me spoken or done touching any breach of my legal Truth and Duty toward my most redoubted Soveraign and natural Liege Lord I will come to mine Answer and make it good in such wise as becometh a poor true Man to do that whosoever any such thing shall say shall therein say untrue for I neither have in this Matter done evil nor said evil nor so much as any evil thing thought but only have been glad and rejoiced of them that were reported for good which condition I shall nevertheless keep toward all other good Folk for the false cloaked Hypocrisy of any of these no more than I shall esteem Judas the true Apostle for Judas the false Traitor But so purpose I to bear my self in every Man's Company while I live that neither good Man nor bad neither Monk Friar nor Nun nor other Man or Woman in this World shall make me digress from my Truth and Faith either towards God or towards my natural Prince by the Grace of Almighty God and as you therein find me true so I heartily therein pray you to continue toward me your favour and good-will
had 32 Gallies 19. The French Ambassador sent this News also That the Turks had taken Tripoly 20. The Secretary Cecil and Sir Philip Hobbey sent to London to help the Lord Treasurer c. in the Matters of the Bishops of Chichester Worcester and Duresme and examination of my Sisters Men. 18. Removing to Windsor 20. The Lords at London having tryed all kinds of Stamping both of the Fineness of 9 8 6 4 and 3 proved that without any loss but sufferable the Coin might be brought to eleven ounces fine For whereas it was thought before that the Testourn was through ill Officers and Ministers corrupted it was tried that it had the valuation just by eight sundry kinds of melting and 400 l. of Sterling Mony a Testourn being but Six-pence made 400 l. 11 ounces fine of Mony Sterling 22. Whereupon they reported the same and then it was concluded that the Testourn should be eleven ounces fine the proportion of the Pences according to the Gold so that five Shillings of Silver should be worth five of Gold 23. Removing to Oatlands 24. Agreed that the Stamp of the Shilling and Six-pence should be on one side a King painted to the Shoulders in Parliament-Robes with a Chain of the Order Five Shillings of Silver and half five Shillings should be a King on Horse-back armed with a naked Sword hard to his Breast Also that York's Mint and Throgmorton's in the Tower should go and work the fine Standard In the City of York and Canterbury should the small Mony be wrought of a baser State Officers for the same were appointed A piece of Barwick Wall fell because the Foundation was shaken by working of a Bullwark 28. The Lord Marquess of Dorset grieved much with the disorder of the Marches toward Scotland surrendered the Wardenship thereof to bestow where I would 27. The Wardenship of the North given to the Earl of Warwick Removing to Hampton-Court 28. Commissioners appointed for sitting on the Bishop of Chichester and Worcester three Lawyers and three Civilians 10. The Imperialists took the Suburbs of Heading and burnt them 26. The Passport of the Dowager of Scotland was made for a longer time till Christmass and also if she were driven to pass quietly by Land into Scotland 20. Monsieur d' Angoulesme was born and the Duke of Vendosme had a Son by the Princes of Navarr his Wife 30. The Feast of Michaelmass was kept by Me in the Robes of the Order October 1. The Commission for the making of five Shillings half five Shillings Groats and Six-pences eleven ounces fine and Pence with Half-pence and Farthings four ounces fine was followed and signed 5. Jarnac came in Post for declaration of two things the one that the Queen had a third Son of which she was delivered called Le Duc d' Angoulesme of which the King prayed Me to be God-father I answered I was glad of the News and that I thanked him for that I should be God-father which was a token of good Will he bare me Also that I would dispatch for the accomplishment thereof the Lord Clinton the Lord Admiral of England He said he came also to tell a second Point of the good success of his Masters Wars He told how the last month in Shampaign beside Sedan 1000 Horse Imperialists with divers Hungarians Martin Vanrossy being their Captain and Leader entred the Country and the Alarm came the Skirmish began so hot that the French Horse about two or three hundred Men of Arms came out and took Vanrossy's Brother and slew divers Also how in Piedmont since the taking of the last four Towns three other were taken Monrechia Saluges and the Town of Burges The Turks had come to Naples and spoiled the Country and taken Ostium in the Mouth of Tyberis Also in Sicily he had taken a good Haven and a Town 6. Jarnac departed having lying in the Court under my Lodging The Night before the Bishops of Worcester and Chichester were deposed for Contempts 7. There were appointed to go with the Lord Admiral Mr. Nevil Mr. Barnabie Gentlemen of the Chamber Sir William Stafford Sir Adrian Poinings Sir John Norton Sir John Teri Knights and Mr. Brook 8. Letters directed to the Captains of Gandarms that they should muster the 8th of November being the Sunday after Hallow-Eve day 11. Henry Marquess of Dorset created Duke of Suffolk John Earl of Warwick created Duke of Northumberland William Earl of Wiltshire created Marquess of Winchester Sir William Herbert created Earl of Pembrook and Lord of Cardiff Mr. Sidney Mr. Nevil Mr. Cheek all three of the Privy-Chamber made Knights also Mr. Cecil one of the two Secretaries 13. Proclamation signed touching the calling in of Testourns and Groats that they that list might come to the Mint and have fine Silver of Twelve-pence for two Testourns 3. Prior de Capna departed the French King's Service and went to his Order of Knights in Malta partly for displeasure to the Count Villars the Constable's Brother-in-Law partly for that Malta was assailed often by the Turks 7. Sir Thomas Palmer came to the Earl of Warwick since that time Duke of Northumberland to deliver him his Chain being a very fair one for every Link weighed an ounce to be delivered to Jarnac and so to receive as much whereupon in my Lords Garden he declared a Conspiracy How at St. George's day last my Lord of Somerset who then was going to the North if the Master of the Horse Sir William Herbert had not assured him on his Honour that he should have no hurt went to raise the People and the Lord Gray went before to know who were his Friends Afterward a Device was made to call the Earl of Warwick to a Banquet with the Marquess of Northampton and divers others and to cut off their Heads Also he found a bare Company about them by the way to set upon them 11. He declared also that Mr. Vane had 2000 Men in readiness Sir Thomas Arundel had assured my Lord that the Tower was safe Mr. Partridge should raise London and take the Great Seal with the Apprentices of London Seymour and Hammond should wait upon him and all the Horse of the Gandarms should be slain 13. Removing to Westminster because it was thought this Matter might easilier and surelier be dispatched there and likewise all other 14. The Duke sent for the Secretary Cecil to tell him he suspected some ill Mr. Cecil answered That if he were not guilty he might be of good courage if he were he had nothing to say but to lament him Whereupon the Duke sent him a Letter of Defiance and called Palmer who after denial made of his Declaration was let go 16. This morning none was at Westminster of the Conspirators The first was the Duke who came later than he was wont of himself After Dinner he was apprehended Sir Thomas Palmer on the Tarras walking there Hammond passing by Mr. Vice-chamberlain's Door was called in by John Piers to