that K. Henry the 8 th had quietly passed the like change before I answere the example was not then to be followed the kings were not equall either in spirit or in power Euen as it is in the â—…able that albeit an Eagle did beare away a lamb in her talents with full flight yet a raven endeavouring to doe the like was hold entangled and fettered in the flecce Touching enclosures I am not ignorant what a profitable purchase is made thereby not only to particular persons but generally to the whole Commonwealth in case it bee without depopulation because a companie of lands inclosed are therby improved in worth 2 or 3 d parts at the least hereby two great commodities ensue riches and multitude of people because the more ritches are raised out of lands the more people are thereby maintained This doth plainely appeare by two shires almost equall both in greatnesse and in goodnesse of soyle Northampton much champion and Somerset altogether enclosed for if estimation may be made by musters and by subsidies tenths and fifâ—…eens enclosure hath made the one county more then double to exceed the other both in people and in wealth Notwithstanding the Lord Protector gaping after the fruitlesse breath of the multitude more desirous to please the most then the best causing a proclamation to be set forth against enclosures commanding that they who had inclosed any lands accustomed to lie open should vpon a certaine paine before a day assigned lay them open againe This Proclamation whilst fewe were forward to obey gaue occasion to the mutinous multitude instable in iudgement and intempestuous when they are stirred all carried with a headlong rashnesse and one following another as wiser then himselfe immoderatly both in desire hope to be easily drawn by others who had dâ—…per reaches then themselues to matters which at the first they least intâ—…nded And againe soone after the beginning of the young kings raigne certaine iniuncâ—…ions were set forth for remouing images out of Churches which had beene highly not onely esteemed but honoured before and for abolishing or altering some other ancient observations in the Church Herevpon commissioners were dispatched into all parts of the realme to see those iniunctions to be executed with those divers preachers were sent furnished with instructions to perswade the people from praying to Saints as for the dead for adoring Images from vse of beades ashes and processions from masse dirges praying in vnknown languages from some other like things wherevnto long custome had wrought a religious observation and for defect of preachers 〈◊〉 were appointed to be publikely read in Churches ayming to the very same end Some other offring to maintaine these ceremonies were either punished or forced to 〈◊〉 Edmund Bonner Bishop of London was committed prisoner to the Fleet for refusing to receiue these iniunctions Stephan Gardiner was likewise committed first to the Fleet afterwards to the Tower for that he had openly preached that it were well these changes in religion should be stayed vntill the King were of yeares to governe by himselfe This the people apprehending worse then it was either spoken or meant a question began to bee raised among them whether during the Kings minoritie such alterations might lawfully be made or no for the like causes Tonstall Bp of Duresme and Heath Bp of Rochester were in like committed to prison all these being then and still continuing famous for learning and iudgement were dispossessed of their Bishoppricks but no man was touched in life Herevpon a Parliament was held in the first yeare of the King and by prorogation in the second wherein diverse Colleges Chaâ—…tries free Chappell 's Fraternities Guildes c. with all their lands and goods were put into the actuall possession of the King part of the goods and lands being sold at a low value enriched many and enabled some and thereby made them firme in maintaining the change also that no mâ—… should speake against receiuing the Eucharist vnder both kindes which had beene restrained in times before and that Bishops should be placed by collation of the King vnder his Letters Patents without any precedent election or confirmation ensuing and that all processes ecclesiasticall should be made in the Kings name is in writs at the common Law and that all persons exercising Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction should haue the Kings armes in their seales of office and further the Statute of the 6 Articles and other statutes concerning punishment of Lollâ—…rds were repealed and so was another statute restreining the vse of Scriptures in the English tongue and the Kings supremacy ouer the Church of England was confirmed Herewith a booke was set forth for publike prayers by proclamation and for administration of the Sacraments other rights and offices of the Church and diuerse punishments were appointed by proclamation either for not vsing the formes prescribed in that booke or for depraving any thing therein contained I forbeare to rehearse other acts of this Parliament albeit a noble writer in our time esteemes it to be a mayme in historie that the acts of Parliament should not bee recited which I conceiue so farre to bee true as they occasion tumults or division or some remarkable alteration in state otherwise as I finde them not regarded by most imitable writers so I account the relation of them both fruitlesse improper for a true caryed history Now in this meane time the commissioners before mentioned were earnest in executing their authority And either pulled downe or defaced all images in Churches and that in such vnseasonable vnseasoned fashion as if it had beene done in hostility against them hereat many did expresse a sense of distast some for religious respects others in regard of the excellent artifice of some of their pieces affirming that albeit religious reverence migh happily haue beene either taken away or moderated yet the civill regard which all men doe not only afford but affect in maintaining the memory of those whom they honour or loue night be endured without offence Certainly albeit the religion of the Romans endured 170 yeeres according to a law of Numa Pompilius without any images albeit the Persians had neither images nor temples nor altars being of opinion that God could bee represented by no device that he had no temple but the world no Altar but the heart of man albeit Eusâ—…bius writeth that the people of Asia called Seres by expresse law forbad adoration of images albeit that images were forbidden of Lyâ—…urgus as drawing men from the true worship of that which cannot be seene Albeit the ancient Germans from the Brittaines and the Gaules had neither Images nor Temples albeit the Iewes and in imitation of them the Saracens and Turkes abhorre nothing more then Images either in their temples or in their houses because the lawe of God forbiddeth not onely to adore but to make any image Albeit the Christians continued a long time without Images in their Churches yet were they
Somerset for hereafter he must be no otherwise called was committed into their power and committed to custody in Beâ—…uchampe tower within the castle The next day he was brought to London as if he had bin a captaine caried in triumph He rode through Holborne betweene the Earles of Southhampton and of Huntington and was followed with Lords and Gentlemen to the number of 300 mounted on horsebacke At Holborne bridge certaine Aldermen attended on horsebacke and the cittisâ—…ns housholders stood with halberds on all sides of the streets through which he passed At Sopherlane he was receiued by the Maior Shâ—…riffes Recorder and diuers Knights of especiall note who with a great traine of officers and attendants bearing halbeards carryed him forthwith to the Tower all this was to beare in shew both that the Duke was a dangerous man and that the common both aide and applause concurred in his restraint Forthwith the King was brought to Hampton courte where all things being borne as done well because nothing was ill taken seauen of the Lords of the counsaile and 4 Knights were appointed by turnes to attend the Kings person The Lords were the Marquis of Northhampton the Earles of Warwicke and Arundell the Lordes Russell S t Iohn and Wentworth the knights were these S r Andrew Dudley S r Edward Rogers S r Thomas Darcy and S r Thomas Worth As for affaires of state the gouernment of them was referred to the whole body of the counsaile Soone after the King rode to his house in Southwarke then called Suffolke place there dined all-After dinner he rode in great estate through the citty to Westminster as if the people should be giuen to vnderstand that nothing was dâ—…minished either from the safety or glory of the King by imprisonment of the Duke And now when the Duke had breathed a small time in the tower certaine Lords of the counsaile were sent vnto him who after a shorte preface in such termes as hate and dissimulation could temper together remembring how great the amity had beene betweene them and of what continuance Then acknowledging what offices seruices he had done for the commonwealth yet enterlacing some errors defects wherewith they seemed to reproach him Lastly they presented him certaine articles as from the residue of the priuy counsaile desiring his present answere whether hee would acknowledge them to be true or else stand vpon his iustification The articles obiected against him were these 1 That he tooke vpon him the office of Protector vpon expresse condition that he should doe nothing in the Kings affaires but by assent of the late Kings executors or the greatest part of them 2 That contrary to this condition he did hinder iustice subuert Lawes of his owne Authority aswell by letters as by other commande 3 That he caused diuers persons arrested and imprisoned for treason murther manslaughter and felloâ—…y to be discharged against the lawes and statutes of the realme 4 That he appointed Lâ—…euetenants for Armies and other officers for the weighty affaires of the king vnder his own writing and seale 5 That he communed with Embassadors of other realmes alone of the weighty matters of the realme 6 That he would taunt and reproue diuers of the kings most honourable counsailors for declaring their aduice in the Kings weighty affaires against his opinion sometimes telling them that they were not worthy to sit in counsaile and sometimes that he needed not to open weighty matters to them and that if they were not agreeable to his opinion he would discharge them 7 That against law he held a court of request in his house and did enforce diuers to answere there for their freeholde goods and did determine of the same 8 That being no officer without the aduice of the counsaile or most part of them he did dispose offices of the Kings guift for money grant leases and wards and presentations of Benefices pertaining to the King gaue Bishoprickes and made sales of the Kings lands 9 That he commanded Alchimie and multiplication to be practised thereby to abase the Kings coine 10 That diuers times he openly said that the nobility and gentry were the only cause of dearth Whereupon the people rose to reforme matters of themselues 11 That against the minde of the whole counsaile he caused proclamation to be made concerning enclosures wherevpon the people made diuers insurrections and destroied many of the Kings subiects 12 That he sent forth a commission with Articles annexed concerning enclosures commons highwaâ—…es cottages and such like matters giuing the commishioners authority to heare 〈◊〉 determine those causes whereby the lawes and statutes of the realme were subuerted and much rebellion raised 13 That he suffered rebells to assemble and lie armed in campe against the nobility and gentry of the realme without speedie repressing of them 14 That he did comfort and encourage diuers rebells by giuing them money and by promising them fees rewards and seruices 15 That he caused a proclamation to be made against law and in fauour of the rebells that none of them should be vexed or sued by any for their offences in their rebellion 16 That in time of rebellion he said that he liked well the actions of the rebells and that the auarice of gentlemen gaue occasion for the people to rise and that it was better for them to dye then to porish for want 17 That he said the Lords of the Parliament were loath to reforme enclosures and other things therefore the people had a good cause to reforme them themselues 18 That after declaration of the defaults of Bouline and the pieces there by such as did surview them he would neuer amend the same 19 That he would not suffer the Kings pieces of Newhauen and Blacknesse to be furnished with men and prouision albeit he was 〈◊〉 of the defaults and aduised thereto by the Kings 〈◊〉 whereby the French King was emboldned to attempt vpon them 20 That he would neither giue authority nor suffer noble men and gentlemen to suppresse rebells in time conuenient but wrote to them to speake the rebells â—…aire and vse them gently 21 That vpon the fifth of October the present vâ—…ere 〈◊〉 Hampton courte for defence of his owne priuate causes hee procured seditious bills to be written in counterfeit hands and secretly to be dispersed into diuerse parts of the realme beginning thus Good people intending thereby to raise the Kings subiects to rebellion and open warre 22 That the Kings priuy counsaile did consult at London to come to him and moue him to reforme his gouernment but he hearing of their assembly declared by his letters in diuers places that they were high traitors to the King 23 That he declared vntruly aswell to the King as to other yong Lords attending his person that the Lords at London intended to destroy the King desired the King neuer to forget but to reuenge it and required the yong Lords to put the King in remembrance thereof
in cases of treason murther or selony That for the time of the Mart all men should pay but halfe the custome due in other places of the Realme That during the time noe shipping should be made from any place betweene Southwales Essex but only to South-hampton That in Hampshire Wiltshire Sussex Surry Kent Dorseâ—…shire and no bargaine should be made for wares during that time but only at that Mart. That a court should be erected to punish offendors with liberties of good condition That some one commodity as happily some one kind of cloath should be assigned as proper to the Mart. That some liberties must be giuen to the inhabitants of South-hampton and some monies lent to them if it might be spared to beginne their Trafique That ships should attend the safegard of Merchants so well as they could and that if this Mart tooke good effect another might be erected at Hull for the Northeast countries to beginne presently after Sturbridge faire so as they might returne before the great Ices stopped their seas Thus it was concluded but the execution was for a time delaied because the wooll fleete of 60 saile was lately before departed for Antwerp could not possibly be called backe But to make the first preparation because a Mart could not subsist without exchang liberty was granted to the English Merchants to exchang and rechange money for money As vpon this occasion this profitable purpose was first delaied so afterwards it was altogether dashed first by the Kinges sicknesse after by his death Now albeit the King was both deepely in debt and had many extraordinary occasions yet in regard of the troublesome times he did forbeare to charge his subiects with such loanes and impositions as vsually in peace breed discontent and in turbulent times disquiet but he chose rather to deale with the Foulker in the low Countries for moneys vpon loane at a very high rate And hereupon letters were directed from the Lords of the counsell to the Foulker at Antwerp that he had receiued from the King 63000 punds Flemmish in Februarie and 24000 in Aprill next before which amounted to 87000 pounds Flemmish A faire summe to be paid in one year especially in that busy world when it was necessarie for Princes not to be without money Hereupon and for that they vnderstood that at that time he was well able to forbeare money they aduised the King to pay to him only 5000 pounds of the 45000 l which then remained vnpaid and to continue the rest at the vsuall yearly interest of 14 l for euery hundred wherewith they desired him to retaine good patience Hereto the Foulker answered that as he had found faire dealings before so he would rest content to deferre paâ—…ment of 30000 l so as 20000 l thereof might be well assured to be paid within some conuenient time All this was presently agreed and no lesse faithfully performed afterwards And assuredly as God is the word and cannot but make good his word so a Prince so much looseth of his dignity as hee declineth from his word About this time a garrison pay of 10000 l was sent to the Frontires of Scotland and the like to Calais and in the same yeere 5000 l into Ireland hereto if we adde the Kings great charges in fortification vpon both the frontires of Scotland and France the particulars wherof I omit as matters now altogether of no vse it may easily be be discerned that the hostility with Scotland and France and the inciuility of Ireland were a great part of the cause which held this frugall King thus diued in debt And for another means of raising of mony commissions went forth for selling chantry lands and houses for paiment of the Kings debt giuen forth to be 251000 pounds sterling at the least Also to enquire of all Church goods either remaining in Cathedrall or parish Churches or embesâ—…ed away namely of Iewels of gold siluer or siluer crosses candiâ—…sticks censors challicies ready mony coapes and other vestiments and reseruing to euery Church one Challice and couering for the Communion â—…able the residue to be applied to the benefit of the King â—…y their sales and enquiries the Kings wants were 〈◊〉 what relieued And many persons uery meane both for birth and ability of minde and of no lâ—…sse place of emploiment found means to aduance themselues to so great estate as they left their posterity ranged among the nobility of this realme Of these church purchasers I haue seene many melt to nothing and the residue shall be obserued either by riot or by improuidence to consume At the same time for more assured strength of the Borders vpon Scotland order was setled that no man in those parts should beare two offices at once which not well obserued in later years hath much derogated both from the dignity and discharge of offices aswell in state as in some inferior places Another means for raising mony was practised no lesse pleasing to the people then profitable to the common-wealth And that was by enquiring after offences of officers in great place who as by vniust dealing they became most odious so by iustice in their punishments the Prince acquireth both loue and applause And so one Beamont M â— of the Rolles was conuinced that in his office of wardes he had purchased lands with the Kinges mony also that he had lent aboue 700 l of the Kinges mony and forborne 11000 of the Kinges debts for his owne profit Also that being M r of the Rolles he dealt corruptly in a case betweene the Duke of Suffolke and the Lady Powes For he bought the Ladies Tithe and caused an indenture to be forged from Charles Brandon the Duke a little before deceased purposing a grant of the lands in question from Duke Charles to the Lady Powes Also that he had concealed the felony of his seruant who hauing stolne from him 200 l he tooke the mony to himselfe againe Hereupon he surrendred to the King all his offices lands goods in satisfaction as well for the monies due by him to the King as of the fines which his offences had merited he was a man of a dull and heauy spirit and therefore the more senslesly deuoted in his sensuall auarice One Whalie receiuer of Yorkeshire acknowledged how he had lent the Kinges mony for gaine how he euer paid one yeares reuenue with the arrerages of the yeare before how he had bought the Kinges land with the Kinges mony how he had made diuerse false accompts how vpon fall of mony he borrowed diuerse summes whereby he gained 500 l at one crying downe For these misdemeanors he surrendred his office and submitted himselfe to pay such fines as the King or his counsell should charge vpon him The Lord Paget Chancellor of the ' Duchie was conuinced that he had sould the Kings landes and timber woods without commission that he had taken great fines for the Kings lands and applied them to his proper vse and
and maintained the sâ—…cond to be cured and relecued and the third to be chastised and reduced to good order When this was 〈◊〉 to the King he gauâ—… to the Citie for education and maintenance of the first sort of poore the Gray-Friers Church neere Newgate-market with all the reuenues there to belonging for cure and releefe of the second â—…ort he gaue Saint Bartholomewes neere 〈◊〉 for correction of the third hee appoinâ—…ed his house at Brideâ—…ell the ancient Mansion of many English Kingâ—… and which not long before had beene repaired and beautified by Henry the â—…ighth for the entertainment of the great Emperour Charles the fifth for increase of 〈◊〉 of their places together with the new re-edified Hospitall of Saint Thomas in Southwork the King gaue seuen hundred and fifty markes yearely out of the rents of the Hospitall of Saint Iohn Baptist or the Sauoy with all the bedding and furniture at that time belonging to that place and when the charter of this gift was prâ—…sented vnto him with a blanke space for lands to be afterwards receiued in Mortmâ—…ine to a yearly valew without further licence the King presently with his owne hand filled vp the void space with these words foure thousand markes by yeare this done with reuerenâ—… gesture and speech he thanked God for prolonging his life to finish that businesse and so hee was the first Founder of those three pious workes which by many additions are now growne to be the most absolute and famous of that kinde in Europe The Kings sicknesse daily increased and so did the Duke of Northumberlands diligence about him for he was little absent from the King and had alwayes some well assured to espie how the state of his health changed euery houre and the more ioyfull hee was at the heart the more sorrowfull appearance did he outwardly make whether any tokens of poyson did appeare reports are various certainly his Physitians discerned an inuincible malignitie in his disease and the suspition did the more increase for that the complaint being chiefly from the lights a part as of no quicke sense so no seat for any sharpe disease yet his sicknesse towards the end grew highly extreme but the Duke regarded not much the muttering multitude knowing right well that rumours grow stale and vanish with time and yet somewhat either to abate or delay them for the present hee caused speeches to be spread abroad that the King was well recouered in health which was readily beleeued as most desired to be true Hereupon all persons expressed ioy in their countenance and speech which they inlarged by telling the newes to others whom they incountred who haply had heard it often before and as the report increased so there with increased also the ioy Thus whilest euery men beleeued and no man knew it was made more credible by religious persons who openly in Churches gaue publike thankes for the Kings recouery But when the speech of his danger was againe reuiued and as in newe it happeneth the more stopped the more increased to the worse then as if the second time he had beene lost the people did immoderatly breake forth into passions complaining that for this cause his two Vncles had beene taken away for this cause the most faithfull of his Nobilitie and of his Councell were disgraced and remoued from Court this was the reason that such were placed next his person who were most assuredly disposed either to commit or permit any mischiefe that then it did appeare that it was not vainly coniectured some yeares before by men of iudgement and fore-sight that after Somersets death the King should not long enioy his life To qualifie these and some broader speeches it was thought conuenient that the King sometimes should shew himselfe abroad albeit little either with his pleasure or for his health yet a thing which in long consuming sicknesses euen to the last period of life men are often able to doe Whilest the King remained thus grieuously sicke diuers notable mariages were solemnized at once in Durham place The Lord Guldford fourth sonne to the Duke of Northumberland married Lady Iane the Duke of Suffolkes eldest daughter by Frances daughter to Mary second sister to King Henry the eighth also the Earle of Pembrokes eldest sonne married the Lady Katherine the Duke of Suffolkes eldest daughter by the said Lady Frances who then was liuing and Martin Kayes Gentleman Porter married Marie the third daughter of the Duke of Suffolke by the said Lady Frances lastly the Lord Hastings sonne to the Earle of Huntington tooke to wife Katherine youngest daughter to the Duke of Northumberland hereupon the common people vpon a disposition to interpret all Northumberlands actions to the worst left nothing vnspoken which might serue to stâ—…rre their hatred against the Duke or pitie towards the King but the Duke was nothing moued herear for being equally obstinate both in purpose and desire and mounting his hopes aboue the pitch of reason he resolued then to dissemble no longer but began openly to play his game For albeit the Lady Iane married to his fourth sonne had not right to the succession of the Crowne for that shee was excluded first by the two Ladies Mary and Elizabeth daughters of King Henry the eighth next by the issue of Lady Margret married into Scotland eldest sister to King Henry the eighth lastly by her owne mother the Ladie Frances who then was liuing yet Northumberland sottishly mad with ouer great fortune procured the King by his Letters Patents vnder the great Seale of England to appoint the Lady Iane to succeed him in the inheritance of the Crowne in this contriuance he vsed the aduice of two especially Lord chiefe Iustice Montague who drew the Letters Patents and Secretary Cecil these furnished the Patent with diuers reasons whereof some were of Law and some of policie in State The pretensions of Law were these that albeit the Crowne of the Realme by an Act of the fiue and thirtieth of King Henry the eighth was in default of his issue of his body and of the body of Edward his sonne lawfully begotten limited to remaine to the Lady Mary his eldest daughter and to the heires of her body lawfully begotten and in default of such issue the remainder thereof to the Lady Elizabeth his second daughter and to the heires of her body lawfully begotten vnder such conditions as should be limited by the said King vnder his Letters Patents vnder the great Seale or by his last Will in writing signed with his hand yet because the said limitations were made to persons illegitimate both the marriages betweene King Henry the eighth and their seuerall mothers being vndone by sentences of diuorce and the seuerall diuorcements ratified by authoritie of Parliament in the eight and thirtieth yeare of King Henry the eighth which Act remained then in force both the Lady Mary and the Lady Elizabeth were thereby disabled to claime the Crowne or any honours or hereditaments as heires