beauty or that through scruple of Conscience which for his honors sake is most receiued I am not able to censure But sure it is that hee beganne deepely to consider with himselfe that notwithstanding the vsurped liberty of the Pope whose Prerogatiues till then was neuer thought disputable that his marriage was not onely vnlawfull but incestuous some are of opinion that hee was hereunto moued by the Nobility others that hee was instigated by the Clergy but if we may giue credit to his owne Protestation in open Court the first originalâ— of this touch in Conscience was because the Bishop of Bayon being sent Ambassador from the French King to debate a Marriage betwixt the Duke of Orleance his second sonne and the Lady Mary the sole suruiuing Issue of him and his Queene Katharine but as the match was vpon the point to bee concluded the Bishop beganne to demurre and desired respit till he were fully resolued whether the Lady Mary by reason of the Kings Marriage with his brothers wife were legitimate or not The cause is doubtfull but the effect I am sure is vnquestionable Although the King receiued from this Spanish Lady a Prince called Edward borne at Richmond on Newyeeres day in the second yeer of his raigne for whose Natiuity great Triumphs were kept at Westminster yet breathed his last vpon Saint Mathews day following Besides hee had by her a second issue the Lady Mary before-named so that neither sterility and barrennesse could be aspersed vpon her nor any knowne disobedience or disloyalty obiected against her but that as the King himselfe often protested she was a wife no way refractory but in all things corresponding to his desires and pleasures These things notwithstanding the pretended diuorce was to the Kings great cost and charge so effectually negotiated that after they had liued together by the space of 22 yeeres and vpwards in vnquestioned Matrimony it was made the publique Argument in Schooles debated by the Italian French German and our owne moderne Doctors both Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill by an vnanimous consent determined and for the better confirmation thereof by thâ— Seales of diuers Academies signed that the Marriage betwixt the King and Queene neuer till now called his Sister or Brothers wife was a meere nullity absolutely vnlawfull and that his sacred Maiesty had liberty and licence howsoeuer the Pope sought by all meanes to antipose their opinions warraÌ„table from them after a legal diuorce sued out from the Court to make choice of any other lady to his wife where he himselfe best liked Cardinall Campeius was sent from his Holinesse and Cardinall Wolsey was ioyned with him in commission to determine of this difficult point the King and Queene were conuened in open Court then held in Black Friers the Resolution of the weighty Argument then in hand was so abstruse that it puzled all though many seemed confident yet not a few of the best Orthodoxall diuines then staggered in their opinions in so much that the Legate departed the land before he would giue vp a definitiue sentence in the cause the reason was because hee desired further Order and Instruction from his Holinesse In the Interim the good Princess greatly beloued was much pittied and the King much honored was greatly feared For now most mens thoughts were in their hearts a time better to thinke then speake but before the Diuorce was publikly denounced the Lady Anne Bullein on the first of Sâ—pt An. 1532. was at Windsor created Marchiones of Pembrooke and one thousand pound per annum conferred vpon her by the King which news no sooner arriued to the deiected Princesse eare but shee beganne to consider with her selfe the ficklenesse and instability of greatnesse and seeing that Sunne to set in a cloud on her which was beginning to rise serenely on another who was now maiestically ascending those steps by which shee was miserably descending exprest a womans wondrous modesty and without speaking any distastfull or irreuerent word against the King said Great men enterprizing great things ought neither by the Lawes of God nor man to employ their power as their owne mind wil leth but as Iustice and Reason teacheth but fearing lest in speaking so little she had spoken too much shut vp the rest of what shee thought to vtter in a modest and welbeseeming silence Vpon the 25. of Ianuary An. 1533. the King was married in his Closset at Whitehall to the Marchionesse of Pembrooke the Lady Anne Bullein but very priuately few were present at the ceremonies then celebrated by Dr. Rowland Lee not long after consecrated Bishop of Chester In this concealed Soâ—emnity one Mistresse Anne Sauage much trusted â—y them both bore vp the Queenes traine this Lady was within few moneths after espoused to the Lord Berkely In Easter Eue being the 12 of Aprill the Queene being known to the King to bee young with child went to the Chappell oâ—enly as a Queene and was proclaimed publikly the same day Queene of England vpon Whitsunday following crowned at Westminster with all the â—ompe state and magnificence therto belonging Queene Katharine who for many yeeres had been their Soueraigne Lady is now quite forgotten and Queene Anne being to the people scarcely known is soly honored The rising Sunne is onely adored their ioyful acclamations readier for the coronation of the one then their vniust exclamations to forward the deposing of thâ— other Vpon the 7th of Sepâ—tember being Sunday beâ—twixt the houres of 3â— and 4â— in the Afternoone Queene Anne was deliâ—uered of a fayre daughteâ— at Greenewich who 〈◊〉 the great vnspeakable ioyâ— both of Prince and people was christened on thâ— third day following beâ—ing Wednesday the Mayâ—â— of London and his breâ—hren with more then forâ—y other of the grauest Ciâ—izens being commanded â—o attend vpon the solemâ—ities It was performed â—n the Fryers Church in Greenewich the Font was of siluer placed in the middle of the church with â—n ascent of three steps â—igh the old Dutchesse of Norfolke bore the Babe wrap'd in a Mantle of purple veluet The Consponsors or witnesses were Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury the Dutchesse of Norfolke and â—he Marchionesse of Dorset both widdowes Not long after the birth of the Lady Elizabeth a generall oath of allegiancâ— past thorow the kingdom to bind al such as by theirâ— yeers were capable thereof to maintaine and vphold the successiue heyreâ— descending from the bodies of the King Queen Anne lawfully begotten iâ— the true and legall possession of the Throne Crown Sword and Scepter with all the royalties and impeâ—riall honors thereunto beâ—longing The coniecturall of theâ— administration of thiâ— oath together with the suddenesse of the Queeneâ— coronation was to streâ—â— then the match and makâ— the legitimation of her iâ—â—sue which by the Kingâ— former match was amongst many yet made questionable of more vaâ—â—idity for as one obserâ—eth Anna coronatur quod â—ulli
February being Thursday An. 1558. and lyes buried in a chappell in Saint Peters Westminster without any monument or remembrance at all Queene Mary was well inclined of her selfe had not the blind zeale of her Religion and authority of the clergy ouerswayd her the flames of their consuming fire had not mounted so high as heauen there to solicite for vengeance it is obserued that her raigne was the shortest of all Kings since the conquest Richard the third only excepted and that more christian blood was spilt in her short time then had beene in case of Religion in any Kings raign whatsoeuer since K. Lucius the first establisher of Christianity in England and God grant the like may neuer be seene againe Amen The Cloud thus set that wished Sunne appeared in our horizon like a fresh spring after a stormy winter The Parliament then sitting at Westminst newes was brought that the Queen was deceased the soddainnesse of the news struck the house into amazment Some look'd backward to the dead Queene others looked forward to the suruiuing Princesse but at last they pitch'd vpon the proclamation of the L. Elizabeth which was accordingly performed the same day in the 24th yeere 2. month and 10 day of her age at what time she remooued from Hatfield to the Charterhouse from thence she was royally attended to the Tower of London and the 24 of the same month passed with great state through the City to Westminster On the foure twentieth of Nouember Queen Elizab. set forward from the Tower to passe thorow the City to Westminster but considering that after so long restraint she was now exalted from misery to Maiesty from a Prisoner to a Princesse before shee would suffer herself to bemouÌ„ted in her Chariot shee very deuoutely lifted vp Her Handes and Eyes to Heauen vâ—â—ering these words O Lord Almighty and euer-liuing God I giue thee most humble and hearty thankes that thou hast beene so mercifull vnto mee as to spare mee to see this ioyfull blessed Day and I acknowlede that thou hast dealt as graciously and wonderfully with me as thou didst with thy true and faithfull Seruant Daniel thy Prophet whom thou deliuered'st out of the Lyons Denne from the crueltie of the greedy and raging Lyons euen so was I ouer-whelmed and by thee deliuered to thee therefore onely bee thankes and honour and prayse for euermore Amen Hauing made an end of her thankes-giuing to God shee put onwards through the City where diuers magnificent Pageants presented themselues to her view the throng of people was extraordinary their acclamations loud as thunder many were the expressions of loue tendred vnto her and by her as gratefully entertained as they were louingly presented To make a particular relation of the seuerall occurrences in that one dayes entertainment would require aboue a dayes expression I will onely but point at some more remarkeable passages wherein shee shewed her selfe extraordinarily affected to her People She would many times cause her Charriot to stand that the people might haue their full sight of her amongst the seuerall speeches that were addressed vnto her from the Pageants if at any time any word did reflect vpon her a change of countenance was obserued in her but a settled constancie to heare it out then her loue and courtesie in giuing the people thankes In Cornehill a Pageant presented it selfe called the Scate of worthy Gouernement intimating their dutifull allegiance to her with the generall conceiued hopes of her Princely Gouernement the Speech was no sooner deliuered but shee immediately answered I haue taken notice of your good meaning toward mee and will endeauour to Answere your seuerall expectations Passing forward another Pageant appeared representing the eight Beatitudes euery one applyed to her in particular by the Speaker the multitude crying out Amen Amen But being come to the litle Conduit in Cheape shee perceiued an offer of Loue and demanded what it might signifie one told her Grace that there was placed Time Time said shee and Time I praise my God hath brought me hither but what is that other with the Booke shee was resolued that it was Truth the Daughter of Time presenting the Bible in English whereunto she answered I thanke the Citie for this guift aboue all the rest it is a Booke which I will often and often read ouer then she commanded Sir Iohn Perrot one of the Knights that held vp the Canopie to goe and receiue the Bible but being informed that it was to bee let downe vnto her by a silken string shee commanded him to stay in the Interim a Purse of gold was presented by the Recorder in the behalfe of the City which shee receiued with her owne hands and afterward gaue attention to a speech deliuered making reply in the conclusion I thanke my Lord Mayor his brethren the Aldermen and all of you and whereas your request is that I should continue your good Lady and Queene be you assured that I will be as good vnto you as euer Queene was yet vnto her people no will in me is wanting neither doe I hope can there want any power As for the priuiledges and Charters of your City I will in discharge of my oath and affection see them safely and exactly maintained and perswade your selues that for the safety and quietnes of you all I will not spare if need bee to spend my blood in your behalfe God blesse you all good people As shee went along in Fleete-streete at St. Dunstans Church the children of Christ's Hospitall sate there with the gouernours shee tooke great delight in the obiect and calling to minde that it was her brothers foundation shee expressed her selfe very thankefull for the presentation of such a charitable sight saying Wee are Orphans all let me enioy your Prayers and you shall be sure of my assistance As shee went through Temple-Barre the Ordinance and Chambers of the Tower went off the report whereof gaue much content thus passed Shee along to Westminster royally attended with the Nobility of the Kingdom and was there Crowned to the ioy of all true-hearted Christians Est et quod Regnat causa fuisse piam FINIS Prince Arthur marrieth Infant Katharine of Spaine Prince Henry marrieth his Brothers wife The â—â—tiues perswading a Diuorce Prince Heâ—ry borne The Diuouorce disputed of Cardinall Campeius sent from Rome The Lady Anne Bullein daughter to the Earle of Wilâ—shiâ—re Ormond created Marchionesse of Pembrooke Henry the eight married to the Lady Anne Bullein Queene Anne crowned The birth of the Lady Elizabeth Not kept a fortnight or a month in state as it is now vsuall with ordinary people Lady Elizabeth borne on the Eue of the virgins Natiuity and died on the Eue of the Virgins Annuntiation 1603 Euen that she is now in heauen with all these blessed virgins that had oyle in their lampes Lady Elizabeths godfather are godmothers An oath taken to the successors of Q.
wither the King feeling himself dangerously sick many infirmities growing more and more vpon him cal'd his Councell about him made his last will and Testament part of which so much as concernes this present Discourse shall be deliuered as it hath been extracted out of the originall Coppie still reserued in the Treasury of the Exchequer Dated the Thirtieth day of December 1546. Item I giue and bequeath vnto our two Daughters Mary and Eliâ—abethâ— if they shall be marâ—â—ed to any outward Potenâ—â—tes the Summe of tennâ—â—housand pounds a peecee â—nd that to be paid them by â—he consent of our Councell 〈◊〉 Money Plate Iewels and Houshold-stuffe if wee beâ—â—ow them not in our life â—ime or a larger Summe â—t the discretion of our Exâ—cutors or the most part of â—hem And both of them vpon our blessing to be ordeâ—ed aswell in marriage as â—ll other lawfull things by â—he aduice of our fore said Councell and in case they will not that then those Summes are to be diminiâ—hed at our Councels pleasure Further our will is that from the first houre of our death vntill such time as they can prouide either of them or both of an honourable Marriage they shall haue either of them or both of them three Thousand pounds vltra Reprisas to liue vpon I haue knowne many a Noble Man's Daughter left as great a Legacie nay a larger Dower who neuer had any claime or alliance to a Crowne but so it pleased the King at that time Vpon the nineteenth day of Ianuary following the King lying vpon his death-bed euen when hee was ready to giue an accompt to God for the aboundance of bloud already spilt when hee knew himselfe was no longer able to liue hee â—imprisoned the Duke of Norfolke the Father signed a warrant for the execution of the Earle of Surrey the Sonne within nine dayes after he himselfe expired and on the eighteenth of February following was with great State and magnificence interred at Windsore On the same day wherin the Father deceased was the Sonne inauguraâ—ed King of England by the name of Eâ—ward the â—â—xth being of the age of 9. yeares on the nineteenth of February following he rode with his Vncle the Lord Protector Duke of Sommerset through the Citie of London and the next day ensuing was anoynted King at West-minster by Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury whoâ— that day administred the holy Eucharist together with sundry other Ceremonies appropriated for such Solemnities Great is the person oâ— a King reigning heereâ— vpon earth amoÌ„gst men hee is a liuely Embleme of the high and glorious Maiesty of God in heauen The King was no â—ooner crowned but the Lady Elizabeth gaue â—ay to his State there â—as now a discontinuâ—nce of that frequent â—nd priuate familiarity â—suall betwixt them â—ormerly she loued him â—s a Brother now she hoâ—ours him as her Soueâ—aigne Honour and Royalty make difference â—etwixt the Sonne and â—he Father the degrees â—f State distinguish beâ—wixt brother and Sister â—hey which liued sociaâ—ly in all familiarity together now doe not so â—uch as talke but at a distance The death of â—he Father which raysed him to the Crowne remoued her from the Court set him in the Throne sent her downâ— into the Countrey iâ— which retirement being nobly attended as welâ— by diuers voluntary Ladies and Gentle-womeâ— as her owne traine anâ— houshould Seruants shâ— led there though a morâ— solitary yet a much more contented life as hauinâ— now more leisure houre to contemplate and ruminate on those Rudiments and Exerciseâ— wherein she had for merly beene conuersant Diligence is the breeâ—eâ—â— and productor of Arts but practise and exercisâ— doth nourish and cherish them She in her great discretion made gainfull vse of tâ—is Soliâ—ude as is apparant by â—he future Being setled in the Country to adde vnto her Reuenue shee had many gifts and visits â—ent her from the King who was very carefull â—oth of her honour and â—ealth shee liued under â—he charge of a noble â—nd vertuous Lady who â—as stil'd her Gouerâ—esse scarce was she yet â—ull fourteene yeares of â—ge when one of her Vncles then in great office and place about the King brought vnto her 〈◊〉 Princely Suitor as great in means as comeâ—â—y in Person A stranger richly habited and nobly attended whose name my Author giues notâ— he after much importunitie both from himselfe and friends yet at last crost in his purpose by modest repulses and cold answeres and finding her immutable disposition solely addicted to a single life as not enduring the name of a husband setled in his mind though not satisfied in her denyall retyred into his Countrey for though it may be said of women in generall that they are spare in their answeres and peâ—â—remptory in their demands purposes thaâ— their affections are stil in â—e extreames either so â—assionate as by no counâ—ell to be redressed or so counterfeit to be by no man beleeued and again â—f they are beautiful they are to be won with prayâ—es if coy with prayers if â—roud with gifts if coâ—etous with promises yet â—his sweet L. tho her beauâ—y were attractiue yet by â—o flattery could be reâ—oued froÌ„ her setled reâ—olution and being concious neither of Pride â—oyness or couetousnes â—ould not be easily drawn â—ithin the compas of any â—â—btile temptation This â—â—rst vnwelcome motion â—f Marriage was a 〈◊〉 why shee liued afterwards more solitary and retyred If at any time the King her Brother vpon any weighty or important occasion had sent to enioy her company at Court she made no longer Residence then to know his highnesse pleasure and to make humble tender of her duty and allegiance That done with all conuenient returned backe into the Country where she spent the entire season of her Brothers Raigne The King had 3 Vncles left him by the Mothers side Edward Thomas and Henry Seymour Edward was Lord Pro-Protector and Thomas high Admirall of England These two Brothers being knit and ioyned together in amity were like a Bunch of Arrowes not easily broke asunder but once dispersed distracted betwixt themselues they made but way for their Aduersaries how to assaile them with little disaduantage The two great Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke Dudley and Gray murmuring that his Maiesties two Vncles should beare such great sway in the Kingdome by which their glory seem'd to bee eclipsed and darkned sought all meanes how to oppose this great vnited strength of Fraternall loue but finding that there was no other way leâ—t to cast this yoake from off their necks which their Ambition held to be intolerable but onely by making a disiunction of that brotherly loue which had so long continued and doubting how to worke it by their Seruants tooke a neerer course to effect it by their wiues and so to draw their ruines out of their owne bosomes and most successiuely to their owne purposes thus it happened Sir Thomas Seymour
Admirall the younger Brother married the Queene Dowager whose hap it was of all the rest to suruiue her husband she contested with her Sister in Law for precedence and priâ—ority of place both were priuately encouraged both swell'd alike with spleene neither would giue way to other the one claim'd it as she had beene once Queene the other challeng'd it as she was the present wife of the Protector the two Dukes were as suell to â—his fire new kindled beâ—â—â—wixt the women Dudâ—ey incenseth the one priâ—tely Gray encourageth the other secretly The wiues set their husbands at odds by taking their parts the Gordian knot of brotherly loue is therevpon dissolued Northumberland and Suffolke take hold of this aduantagious occasion insomuch that within a short time after the Admirall was questioned for Treason by consent of his brother condemned in Parliament and his head struck off at the Tower-hill March 20. 1549 his Brother the Protector with his owne hand signing the warrant for his death The one being thus remoued there was now lesse difficulty to supplant the other in the same month of Febr. in which his brother lost his head was the Protector coÌ„mitted to the Tower by the Lords of the Councell many Articles especially touching the gouernment of the State were commenced against him but the yeare after upon his submission to the Lords and intercession made for him by the King hee was released this proued but a Lightning before death his great and potent Aduersaries still prosecute their malice against him insomuch that not long after calling him to a second accompt when he had acquit himselfe of all such Articles of Treason as could bee inferred against him hee was in a tryall at Guild-hall conuicted of Felony and on the 22. of Ianuary was beheaded on the Tower-Hill These two next Kinsmen to the King the proppes and stayes on which the safety of his minoritie leaned the hinges on which the whole State turned being thus cut off it was a common feare and generall presage through the whole Kingdome that the two Vncâ—es being dead the Nephew would not suruiue long after and so accordingly it happened for now all such Gentle-men and Officers as the Protector had preferred for the Kings attendance were suddenly remoued and all such as were the Fauourites of the two Dukes onely suffered to come neere his person In the Interim was the Match concluded betwixt the Lord Guilford Dudley Son to the Duke of Northumberland the Lady Iane Gray daughter to the Duke of Suffolke Not long after the King fell sicke and dyed the 6. of Iuly in the 7th yeare of his Priâ—cely gouernment and oâ— the tenth of the same month was proclaymed Queene the Lady Iane It is to this day a question both how he dyed and where hee was buryed yet others say hee lyes buried at Westminster he was a Prince of that hope that it would seeme improper thus to leaue his honour in the dust vncharacterized Hee was studious for the propagation of the Gospell the refining and establishing of true Religion the foundation whereof his Father had proiected Images hee caused to be demolished and as Idolatrous to be taken out of all Churches within his Domininions the learned men of his time hee encouraged and commanded them to open and expound the Scriptures caused the Lords Supper to bee administred in both kinds vnâ—o his people In the third yeare of his Reigne by Parliamentall Decree hee abolished the Masse commanded the Liturgie to be made and our Common prayer and Seruice to be read in the English tongue hee was acute in witt graue in censure mature in Iudgement all which concurring in such tender yeeres were beyond admiration In the liberall Arts so frequent that he appeared rather innate and borne with them then either acquired by teaching or study All the Port-Townes and Hauens in England Scotland and France hee had adâ— vnguem not the least punctilio of any State affaires past beyond his obseruation nor did hee commit such obseruations to memory but had a chest euery yeare for the reseruation of such Acts as past the councell board himself keeping the key hee would appoynt certain hours to sit with the Master of Requests only to â—ispatch the cause of the Poore hee was the Inchoation and Instauration of a glorious Church and Common-weale hee was perfect in the Latine Greeke Italian French and Spanish tongues and as Cardanus reports was well seene in Logicke and the Principles of naturall Philosophy no stranger to Musicke singing at first sight in Melancthon's common-places hee was câ—â—uersant and all Cicero's workes with a great part of Titus Liuius two of Isocrates Orations hee translated out of the Originall into Latine hee was facetious and witty as may appeare in the fourth yeare of his reign thirteenth of his age being at Greenewich on S. Georges day comming from the Sermon with all the Nobility in State correspondent for the day said My Lords I pray you what Saint is S. George that wâ—e so much honour him heere this day The Lord Treasurer made answere If it please your Maiesty I did neuer in any History read of S. George but onely in Legenda aurea where it is thus set downe that S. George out with his sword ran the Dragon through with his speare The King hauing something vented himselfe with laughing replyed I pray you my Lord and what did hee with his sword the while That I cannot tell your Maiesty said hee To conclude hee was so well qualified that hee was not onely the forwardest Prince of all his Auncestors but the sole Phoenix of his time Dic mihi musa virum shew me such another As hee began and continued hopefully so hee ended Religiously being fallen sicke of a Plurisie some say consuÌ„ption of the lungs hauâ—ng made his peace with God and the world he lifted vp his eyes and hands to heauen prayed to himselfe thinking none to haue heard him after this manner Lord deliuer mee out of this miserable life and take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my Spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happie it were for me to be with thee yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serue thee Oh my Lord God blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance Oh Lord God saue thy chosen people of England defend this Land from Papistry and maintaine thy true Religion that I and thy People may praise thy holy name for thy Sonne Iesus Christ's sake to which hee added Oh I faint haue mercy on me O Lord and receiue my Spirit With which eiaculation his life ended not without suspition of poyson deliuered him in a Nose-gay but the diuilish Treason not being enquired after neuer came to light The Lady Mary being at the time of the Kings death at Hunsdon in Hertfordshire was much
pray that God may forgiue you all Amen Amen said he and so departed seuen dayes nights she continued lockt vp in her lodgings not so much as hauing seene the Queene though both vnder one Roofe yet at last after many Letters written long Suite and great friends made she was admitted to the presence of the Queene whose face in two yeeres and more she had not seene King Philip hauing before mediated for her and placed himselfe vnknowne to the Queene behind the haÌ„gings of Arras on purpose to heare the discourse her grace about ten of the clock at night was sent for into the presence the suddennesse of the message did somwhat daunt her especially being at that time of the night wherevpon she entreated those that were about her to pray for her and then with the constancy of her former resolution shee went towards the presence where being entred finding her Maiesty sitting in her Chaire of State after three conges she humbly fel down vpon her knees praying for the health long life and preseruation of her Maiestie protesting her truth and loyalty towards her person notwithstanding whatsoeuer had been maliciously suggested to the contrary whereunto the Q. very sharpely answered Then you will not confesse your selfe to be a delinquent I see but stand perâ—mptorily vpon your truth and innocence I pray God they may so fall out If not replied the Princesse I neither require fauour nor pardon at your Maiesties hands Well said the Queene then you stand so stiffly vpon your faith and loyalty that you suppose your selfe to haue been wrongfully punished and imprisoned I cannot said she nor must not say so to you why then belike said the Queene you will report it to others Not so replied the good Lady I haue borne and must beare the burthen my selfe and if I may but enioy your Maiesties good opinion of me I shall be the better enabled to beare it still and I pray God that when I shall cease to be one of your Maiesties truest and loyall subiects that then I may cease to bee at all The Queene onely replied in Spanish Dios lo sabe that is God knoweth it and so turning aside left her to bee conueyed to her former custody King Philip hauing priuately ouer-heard the Conference was now fully settled in a good opinion of her loyalty hee well perceiued the inueterate malice of her Aduersaries and her extraordinary patience in such a trial did forthwith take order for her deliuerance she in the interim remayned very solitary not knowing what the euent woâ—ld be not one word of comfort could she imagine to haue proceeded from her Sister yet after long expectation in this deluge of sorrows a doue appeared with an oliue braÌ„ch in her mouth within seuen dayes after by the intercession of som eminent friends she was discharged of her keeper Sir Henry Beningfield yet so that Sir Thomas Pope one of her Maiesties priuy Councell and Master Gage her Gentleman vsher were made superintendents ouer her the change was howsoeuer most happy she was now in liber a custodia vnder the haÌ„ds of her louing friends with whom shee went downe into the Country and there spent the Remaynder of her Sisters raigne The bishop of Winchester and others of his faction look'd blacke in the mouth to see all their plots discouered all their deuices frustrate yet rather then they would giue off they would play at small game because they could not touch the Lady Elizabeth they would haue a fling at her household and at those who were neerest vnto her person A warrant was sent downe for no lesse then foure of her Gentlewomen at one time which the Lady no sooner heard of but said they will fetch away all in time but not long after it so pleased God that Gar. himselfe was fetched away to giue account for his actions howsoeuer his death was the cause why she liued in lesse feare and more quietnesse Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester hath had a long and tedious part in the troubles of the Lady Elizabeth not one Scene of all her Tragicall Story but he hath had a share in it it will not I hope bee therefore impertinent to write a line or two of his Exit wherin I will wade no further then the warrant of sufficient Authority shall direct me The same day that those two bright shining lamps Bishop Ridley and Master Latimer were extinguished at Oxford Gardiner had inuited the Duke of Norfolke and others to dinner but caused the good old Duke to stay for it till about 3 or 4 a clock in the afternoone being as it should seem not disposed to dine till he had heard that fire was put to the two good Martyrs he would not feede his own body till theirs were quit consumed at length came in a seruant betwixt 3 and 4 and informed him of the certainty thereof he no sooner vnderstood it but came out with great ioy to the Duke and said Come now lets vs goe to dinner the meat was serued in he fell merrily aboard but before the second messe came in he fell sick at the table and was immediatly remoued theÌ„ce to bed where he remayned full 15. dayes in such anguish torments that he could not voyd what he had receiued either by vrine or otherwise lyin in this extremity Doctor Day Bishop of Winchester came to visite and comfort him with words of Gods promise and free Iustification in the bloud of Christ Iesus which he no sooner heard but he answered thus What my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell all together to me and such other in my case you may speak it but open that Cazement once to the people then farewell all together more hee would haue spoke but his toÌ„gue being so swell'd with the inflammation of his body he became speechlesse and soone after died After the death of Gardiner one or other of the good Ladies Aduersaries dropt away insomuch that by little and little her dangers decreased feares diminished and hope of comfort as out of a thick cloud beganne to appeare she spent the remaynder of her Sisters reigne in thankes-giuing and prayses vnto Gods who had thus mercifully preserued her The time of Queene Mariâ—s reckoning being come rumours were spred abroad that shee was already deliuered of a sonne yea and such a one as it was then suspected was readily prepared whereof King Philip being informed and â—corning that by any such Impostory a counterfeit brood should be the heyre of all his Kingdomes would not depart the Chamber all the time of her trauell by which meanes the Plot tooke no effect howsoeuer the rumour of this young Heyre made the Bells ring merily in London spread it selfe as farre as Antwerpe where it was entertained with great triumphs both on Land and Sea towards which charge an hundred Pistolets were conferr'd on the Officers by the
Lady Regent but the newes on their side was too good to bee true their ioyfull acclamations too extreame to continue their Haleluiahs were instantly turn'd to Lachrymae the report proued but poin'd and turned the Vane presently into another poynt it was after knowne to all their greefes that shee neuer had conceiued or euer was likely so to do some gaue out that shee was with Child but miscarried some that she had a Timpany others that such a thing was rumour'd onely for policy but the truth is King Philip seeing himselfe frustrate of his expected Isâ—ue and perceiuing such shuffling and cutting amongst them not long after took his leaue of the Queene to visite his Father the Emperour and take possession of the Low-Countreys his departure was very grieuous vnto her but as most are of opinion hee did but little affect her King Philip stâ—yed beyond Seas a full yeare sixe months during his abode there the Statists of that time lost not the least opportunity to extinguish if it might bee possible that Cause of God that hereticall faction as they termed it how many deere Saintâ— of God during the Kings absence in the space of 18. months mounted vp with Elias in a fiery Chariot to Heauen the fire was then at the hottest the flames were then at the highest and the Lady Elizabeth though peaceably seated in the Countrey with her louing friends yet was much daunted with the fearefull apprehension of such extremities she feared the more because shee knew that such as were aduerse vnto her would like the Diuell worke vpon the weakenesse of her Sisters frailety they would leape ouer the hedge where it is the lowest and that now the absence of King Philip beyond the seas was the only opportunity for the aduancement of their intended designes but King Philips returne into England not long after proued the happy resolution of all her feareful apprehensions her life was a continuall warfare like a ship in the middst of an Irish Sea where nothing can be expected but troublesome stormes and tempestuous waues and certainly it will appeare that those peillous occurences shee met withall in the foure yeeres of her Ante-Regnum during the principality of her Sister will way downe the ballance being poys'd with those seuerall Treasons which threatned her Maiesty being an absoulte Princesse Then her opposites were aliens now natiues It was thou o my friend c then forraigne Kings sought to inuade her now a moderne Qu. striues to entrap her they strangers this a Sister she liued then at liberty without their iurisdiction now a prisoner captiuated to an incensed Sisters indignation she was then attended by her Nobility and graue Counsellors shee hath now not any to conuerse with but keepers and Goalers but that God wherein she still trusted first let her see her desire vpon her Aduersaries then in a good old age gathered her to himselfe freed her from the opposition of the one and the decease of Queen Mary her Sister set a period to the malice of the other Cardinall Poole with the rest of that suruiuing faction seeing things thus retrograde to their desires perceiuing the discontents of the Queene and that but a few sands were left in the glasse of her time they Nebuchadnezzar-like heated the ouen of their persecutionâ— seauen times hotter then before for hauing already burned fiue Bishops twenty one Doctors eight Gentlemen eighty foure Artificers an hundreth Husbandmen Seruants and labourers twenty sixe wiues twenty Widows nine Virgins two boyes two Infants the one whipped to death tho other sprange out of it's Mothers wombe being at the stake and was cruelly cast into fire againe Sixty foure persecuted whereof seuen whipped to death 16. dyed in prison and were buried in Dung-hils many in Captiuity abroad leauing all they had only for conscience sake Quis talia fando tempreet a lachrimis Yet did not their fury cease here they filled the cup vp to the brim perceiuing the heat of those fires beginne to slake and wanting fuell to encrease the flames they consulted to burne the bones of those which had beene long since expired they digged vp the bones of Martyn Bucer and Paulus Phagius long since buried at Saint Maries in Cambridge and with great Pontificall State first degraded them then committed them to the secular power afterward to the fire and lest the one Vniuersitie should mock the other they tooke vp the bones of Peter Martirs wife formerly interr'd at Oxford and buried them in a stinking dunghill nay in this fury the bones of K. Henry the eight and Edward the sixth hardly scaped free now they thought all sure that the hereticall faction as they termed it were with these bones vtterly extinguished but whilst they thus solace themselues in the supposed victory of Gods Saints euen then did the hand-writing appeare vpon the wall against them newes came ouer that Calice in France a towne of great import was recouered by the French hauing belonged to the Crowne of England two hundred eleuen yeeres and herin the losse of Calice was most memorable It was first won by Edward the third being the eleuenth King from William the Conquerour and lost againe by Mary being the eleuenth from Edward in 8 dayes The Queene took the losse to heart the people beganne to murmure some imputing the losse vnto the neglect of the Clergy who then sate at the helme of state others whispered that it was a iust Iudgement of God for the abundance of bloud already spilt broyled in the land In the interim those of the faction striue to allay the heat of this distemperature both in Prince and People by extenuation of the losse saying that it was a Towne of none such consequence but rather of greater inconuenience then they were aware of that it was onely a refuge for runnagate hereticks and coÌ„sequently that no true Romane Catholik ought to deplore but rather reioyce at the dammage At Regina graui iam dudum saucia cura Vulnus alit venis How soeuer the Queene being struck to the heart the wound became vncurable then they call'd a Parliament many large profers were made for the recouery of Calice wherin the clergy did exceed yet all this would not do Calice still stuck in the Qu. stomack she went vp and downe mourning and sighing all the day long which being asked her by some what was the reason thereof whether K. Philips departure were the occasion No said she The losse of Calice is written in my heart and there may be reade the occasion of my griefe when after death my body shall bee opened her conceptions at length fayling great dearth in the land raigning much harme done by thunders on shoare and by fire on her Royall Fleete at Sea home troubles forraigne losses K. Philips vnkindnesse there with others discontentments brought her to a burning feauer of which â—he died at Saint Iames nere Westminster on the 17th of