A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Regnal history 15
THE REIGNE OF QUEEN MARY.
THE Lady Mary having bin Proclaimed Queen in London and other parts of the Realme; removed from her castle of Framingham towards London; and being come to Wanstead in Essex, on the thirtieth of Iuly, the Lady Elizabeth her sister, with a traine of a thousand horse, rode from her place in the Strand to meet her: on the third of August the Queene rode through London to the Tower, where at her entrance were presented to her Thomas Duke of Norfolke, Edward Lord Courtney, Stephen Gardiner late Bishop of Winchester, and the Du…chesse of Somerset; who all kneeling downe… she kissed them, and said, These be my Prisoners, and then caused them presently to be set at liberty: the next day she restored the Lord Courtney to his Marchisate of Exceter; and the same day also she not onelyonly restored Stephen Gardiner to his Bishopricke of Winchester, but a few da…es after made him Chancellour of England; yet this was the man that had subscribed to her Mothers Divorce… and had written Bookes against the lawfulnesse of her mariage. The fift of August Edmund Bonner late Bishop of London prisoner in the Marshalsey, and Cutbert Tunstall the old Bishop of Durham prisoner in the Kings Bench, had their Pardons and were restored to their Sees. Sortly aft…r, all the Bishops which had been deprived in the time of King Edward the sixth, were restored to their Bishopricks… and the new removed, as Ridley was removed from London and Bonner placed, Skory from Chichester and Day placed, Miles Coverdale from Exceter and West placed, Iohn Hooper from Worcester and Heath placed. Also all Beneficed men that were married, or would not renounce their Religion, were put out of their Livings, and other of a contrary opinion put in their rooms.
On the thirteenth of August one Master Bourne a Canon of Pauls, preaching at Pauls Crosse, not onelyonly prayed for the dead, but also declared that Doctor Bonner Bishop of London, (late restored, and there in presence) for a Sermon by him made foure yeeres before, in the same place, and upon the same Text, had unjustly beene cast into the vile prison of the Marshalsey; which Speech so offended some of the Auditory, that they cried, Pull him downe, pull him downe; and had certainly done him violence (for a Dagger was throwne at him) if Master Bradford a Protestant Preacher, had not stept into his place and appeased the tumult, and Master Rogers another Protestant Minister (who were both afterward burnt for Religion) had not shifted away Bourne into Pauls Schoole.
Hitherto Queene Maries reigne had beene without blood, but now the Cataracts of seventy will be opened, that will make it raine blood: for now on the eighteenth of August, Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland, VVilliam Parre Marquesse of Northampt…n, and Iohn Earle of VVarwicke, so…ne and heire to the Duk, were arraigned at VVestminster-hall, before Thomas Duke of N… folke as high Steward of England; where the Duke of Northumberland, after his Indictment read, required the opinion of the Court in two points; first, whither a man doing any Act by authority of the Princes Couns…le, and by warrant of the great Seale of England, might for any such Act be charged with treason: secondly, whither any such persons as were equally culpable, and by whose commandements he was directed, might be his Judges and passe upon his triall: whereunto was answered, that concerning the first; the great Seale which he alleaged for his warrant, was not the Seale of the lawfull Queene of the Realm, but of an Usurper, and therfore could be no warrant for him: and as to the second, it was resolved, that if any were as deeply to be touched in the case as himself, yet so long as no Attainder were of record against them, they were persons able in law to passe …pon his triall, and not to be challenged but at the Princes pleasure. After which answers, the Duke used few words, but confessed the Indictment, and accordingly had judgment to dye. By whose example the other prisoners arraigned with him, confessed the Indictments, and therupon had judgment: the ninteenth of August, Sir Andrew Dudley, Sir Iohn, and Sir Henry Gates brethren, and Sir Thomas Palmer Knights, were arraigned at VVestminster, who c…nfessing their Indictments, had judgment, which was pronounced by the Marquesse of VVinchester, Lord high Treasu…er, sitting that day as chiefe Justice: after these condemnations, followed the executions; for on the two and twentieth of August Iohn Duke of Northum…erland was brought to the Tower-hill, and there beheaded; being upon the scaffold in a gowne of green coloured damaske, he put it off and then made a long Speech, wherein he asked the Queen forgivenesse, whom he acknowledged to have grievously offended; and then making profession of his Faith, that he died a true Catholick (meaning a Papist) he said the Psalmes of Miserere and De Profundis, the Pater noster, and six of the first verses of the Psalme In te Domine speravi, ending with this verse, Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; and this said, he looked about him, as looking for a Pardon, but none comming, he laid his head downe upon the blocke, and at one blow had it strucken off; his body with the head was buried in the Tower, by the body of Edward late Duke of Somerset (mortall enemies while they lived, but now lying together as good friends) so as there lyeth before the high Altar in Saint Peters Church, …wo Dukes between two Queens, namely the Duke of Somerset and the Duke of Northumberland between Queen Anne and Queene Katherine, all foure beheaded. Of what religion this Duke was may well be doubted, seeing at his death he professed himself a Papist, when lately before he had importuned King Edward to make the Lady Iane his successour, lest the Papall religion should be restored; it seems he was not greatly of either but for other ends; a Protestant then when it was to make his daughter in law Queen; now a Papist, when it was to save his life (for it was thought he had Pardon promised, if he would recant. At the same time and place were beheaded Sir Iohn Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer, who were no such temporizers but persisted and dyed in the Protestant Religion, which they had alwayes professed.
After this, a sprinkling of mercy came from the Queene; for on the third of September the Lord Ferrers of Chartley, the two chiefe Justices, Sir Roger Cholmley and Mountague, Sir Iohn Cheeke and others were delivered out of the Tower whether before they had been committed; but a shower of severity followed soon after, for on the fifteenth of September Master Latimer and Doctor Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury were sent to the Tower, and on the third o… November following, the said Archbishop Cranmer, the Lady Iane (late Queene) and the Lord Guildford her husband, with the Lords Ambrose and Henry, sonnes to the late Duke of Northumberland, were all arraigned at the Guild-hall, found guilty and had judgement to dye.
All this while Queen Mary had contented her selfe to be Queene by Proclamation; but now that things were something setled, she proceeds to her Coronation: for on the last of September she rode in her Chariot through London towards VVestminster in this order; first rode a number of Gentlemen and Knights, then Doctors, then Judges, then Bishops, then Lords, then the Councell, after whom followed the Knights of the Bath, thirteene in number in their Robes, then the Bishop of VVinchester Lord Chancellour, and the Marquesse of VVinchester Lord high Treasurer, next came the Duke of Norfolke, and after him the Earle of Oxford who bore the sword, then the Major of Lond…n in a Gowne of Crimson Velvet, who bore the Scepter of Gold; after came the Queenes Chariot, and then followed another Chariot wherein sat the Lady Elizabeth her sister and the Lady Anne of Cleeve, and then came Ladies and Gentlewomen riding on horses, trapped with red velvet: &c. In this order they came through London to VVestminster; where in many places by the way, were Pagents and stately shewes, and many rich presents given to the Queene. The next day she went by water to the old Palace, and remained there till eleven of the clock, and then went on foot upon blew cloth, being railed on either side to Saint Peters Church, where she was Crowned and Anointed by the Bishop of VVinchester, (the two Archbishops being then in the Tower) with all Rites and Ceremonies of old accustomed.
After her Coronation, a generall pardon was published in her name, but interlaced with so many exceptions of matters and persons, that very few tooke benefit by it; for after the pardon published, there were Commissioners assigned, to compound with such persons as were excepted: from some of whom they tooke away their Fees and Offices, some they fi…ed, and some they deprived of their estates and livings.
About this time Sir Iames Hales one of the Justices of the Common Pleas, who in the time of King Edward had refused to signe a writing for disinheriting the Lady Mary, and the Lady Elizabeth; (a fact worthy at least of a kinde remembrance from the Lady Mary now Queene) yet now, for that at a quarter Sessions in Kent, he gave charge upon the statutes of King Henry the eight, and King Edward the sixth, in derogation of the Primacy of the Church of Rome; he was first committed to the Kings Bench, then to the Counter, and lastly to the Fleet; where he grew so troubled in minde, that he attempted with a Pen-knife to kill himselfe; and being afterward recovered of that hurt, and brought to the Queenes presence, who gave him very comfortable words, yet could never come to be quiet in his minde; but in the end, drowned himselfe in a River not halfe a mile from his house, the River being so shallow, that he was faine to lye groveling before he could dispatch him…elfe of life.
And now another sprinkling of mercy came from the Queene; for the Marquesse of Northampton, and Sir Henry Gates, lately before condemned to dye, were now pardoned and set at liberty. The Lady Iane also was allowed the liberty of the Tower, not without hope of life and liberty altogether; if her father the Duke of Suffolke had not the second time been cause of her destruction.
About this time also a Synod was assembled, for consulting about matters of Religion; and the point specially of the reall presence in the Sacrament. The Prolocutour was Doctor VVeston; and of the Protestant side, were Iohn Almer and Richard Cheyney, both Bishops afterward in Queene Elizabeths time, also Iohn Philpo…, afterward burnt, Iames Haddon and others. After long disputation, where reasons were not so much weighed as voyces numbred; the Papall side, as having most voyces, carried it; and thereupon was that Religion againe restored, and the Masse commanded in all Churches to be celebrated, after the ancient manner.
It was now the yeer 1553. when Queene Mary was come to the age of seven and thirty yeers, and therefore high time now to thinke of marriage, at least if she meant to have issue of her body; but a hard ma…ter it was to finde a husband in all points …itting for her, yet three at this time (in common fame at least) were taken into consideration: one was the Lord Courtney M…rquesse of Exceter, a goodly Gentleman and of Royall blood, but there was exception against him because inclining (as was thought) to Lutheranisme; another was Cardinal …oole, of a dignity not much inferiour to Kings, and by his Mother descended from Kings; but there was exception against him also, because foure and fifty yeers old, (as old a Batchelour as Queen Mary was a maid) and so the lesse hope of issue betweene them: but the third (if he might be had) was without exception, and this was Phillip Prince of Spaine, the Emperour Charles his eldest sonne, with whom being a Spaniard, she was the fitter matched, as being by the Mother a Spaniard her selfe. And now very oppertunely came in the beginning of Ian. Embassadors into England about it; amongst others, the Cou… of Egmond Admirall of the L…w Countryes; and Iohn of Memorancy Lord of Curryers; whose message was so kindely entertained, that the marriage in short time was absolutely concluded, though it seemed something strange to many, that she should now be wife to the sonne, who thirty yeers before should have been wife to the father. But so it is, Queenes are never old, so long as they are within yeers of bearing children. And indeede the match was concluded, with conditions of farre more advantage to Quee…e Mary, then they were to King Phillip, as on the fourteenth of Ianuary Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancelour of England, openly in the Presence Chamber at Westminster, declared to all the Lords and Gentlemen there present: for it was agreed, that after the mar…iage, King Phillip should have the Title of all the Queenes Dominions, and be assumed into fellowship of the government; but yet with reservation to the Queene, of all Priviledges and Customes of the Kingdome, and free disposition of all Offices and Honours, as likewise the Queene should be assumed into the fellowship of all the Kings Dominions, and surviving him, should have a Joynture of two hundred thousand Pounds a yeer. Then for the issue betweene them, if she had a Sonne, that he should inherit the Low Countryes and Burgundy; and King Phillips sonne Charles, which he had by a former wife, should inherit all his Dominions in Italie and Spaine; but if his sonne Charles should fail without issue, then the sonne he should have by Queene Mary, should inherit his Kingdomes of Italie and Spaine also. And the like good provision was also made for daughters. But notwithstanding these great …dvantage… of the ma…ch, yet such was the precipitant rashnesse of some; that thinking themselves wiser then the Queene and the Councel, they sought by all meanes to oppose the match; giving out that it …ended to bring England under the yoke of Spaine, and to make the Countrey a slave to strangers. This was the generall murmuring of people; but the first that shewed himselfe in Armes, was Sir Thomas Wyat of Kent; who having communicated the matter with the Duke of Suffolke the Lady Ianes father, with Peter Caroe a Knight of Devonshire, and divers others; intended onelyonly to make secret provision, but not to stirre till Prince Phillip should be come, that so their cause of taking armes might have the better colour. On the fifteenth of Ianuary, Robert Dudley sonne to the Duke of Northumberland, was arraigned at the Guildhall of high Treason, who confessed the indictment, and had judgement given by the Earle of Sussex, to be drawen, hanged, bowelled and quartered.
But now in counsels communicated to many, it is a hard matter to have counsell kept, and Sir Peter Caroe finding that their plot was discovered, fled privily into France, where lurking for a time, he was afterward taken at Bruxells, and brought captive into England; as likewise at the same time and place Sir Iohn Cheeke King Edwards Schoolmaster was taken, who being drawne by terrours to embrace the Papall Religion, with very griefe afterward of his errour pined away and dyed; Sir Peter Caroe lived many yeers af…er, and dyed in Ireland; though it be falsely recorded, they were both burnt for Religion, in Iune of this yeer. Wyatt hearing of Sir Peter Caroes flight, and that all their purpose was discovered; was driven before his time to enter into armes, giving out for the cause that it was not to attempt any thing against the Queene, but onelyonly to remove ill Councellours, and chiefly to repell Prince Phillip; least by this mariage the Kingdome should come in subjection to the Spaniard. With Wyatt were joyned Sir Henry Isley, Sir George Harper, Anthony and William Knevet, and divers other Gentlemen of the County; against him were the Lord Abuegaveny, Sir Thomas Cheyney Lord Warden of the Ports, Sir Sobert Southwell Sheriffe of Kent, Sir Warram Sentleger, Sir Thomas Kempe Sir Thomas Moyle, Sir Thomas Finch with divers other; yet all these great men had such doubt of the people, that they durst not proceed but very warily. The five and twentieth of Ianuary, newes came to London of Wyats rising; against whom was presently sent the Duke of Norfolke, with Sir Henry …erningham Captaine of the Guard, Sir Edward Bray, Sir Iohn Fogge, Iohn Covert Roger Appleton Esquires, and five hundred souldiers out of London; appointed to go after him, under the leading of Captaine Brett. And now see in times of Sedition, how uncertaine a thing it is to trust to the people; for before Brett could overtake the Duke, Sir George Harper was secretly got to him, who so perswaded him that he and his five hundred souldiers left the Duke and went all to VVyatt; which made the Duke and those with him presently to flye, and put such boldnesse into VVyatt, that now he marched in great confidence towards London, with so great terrour to all sorts of people, that at VVestminster-Hall, the Serjeants and other Lawyers, pleaded in harnesse.
In the meane time, the Duke of Suffolke was perceived in VVarwickshire, to be raising of Forces in assistance of VVyatt; against whom was presently sent the Earle of Huntington, and the Duke finding himselfe unable to make resistance, having with all his industry gotten together but onelyonly fifty men; he betooke himselfe to a Tenant of his One, Vnderwood, with whom he hoped and had promise to remaine undiscovered, till he might have oppertunity to escape, as some say, as others to a Keeper of his Parke called Nicholas Lawrence, who kept him in a hollow Oake in the said Park… for two or three dayes: but whether Vnderwood or Lawrence, either out of fear, or out of hope of reward, he betrayed him to the Earle, by whom he was taken, and under a strong guard carried to the Tower. Upon this, Queen Mary her selfe came into London, where calling the Major and chiefe of the City together, she made an Oration, wherein she shewed the insolency of VVyatt; who though he pretended the but onelyonly the crossing of the marriage; yet was now grown to such presumption, that he required to have the custody of her person; and to have Councellours retained or removed at his pleasure. A…d as for her mariage, she there affirmed she had done nothing in it, but by advice of her Councell; and for her selfe, tha… she was not so longing for a husband, but that if it were not more for the good of the Kingdome, then for her ownsatisfaction, she would never once think of entertaining it. Having by her speech confirmed the minds of the Citizens; Forces are presently raised, and placed about the Bridge, and other fit places of the City. The third of February, Wyatt with an Army of three or four thousand, came to London, hoping of present entrance, but finding the Bridge broken, and souldiers placed to resist him, after two dayes stay in Southwarke, he removed to Kingstone, where he found likewise the Bridge broken, yet with great industry suddenly repairing it, he passed over his men, and meant with all speed, to get to the Court, before the Queene should have notice of him coming; and had done so indeede, if a mischance, and an errour upon that mischance had not hindred him. For being come within six miles of London, the carriage of one of his great Ordnance brake, in mending whereof so much time was spent (and VVyatt by no perswasions would go forward without it) that the time was past, in which his friends at London expected his coming; which disappointment made many in those parts to fall off, and being perceived by those about him, many of them also; so as one halfe of his Army was suddenly gone and left him; amongst other, Sir George Harper, the most intimate of all his councell, went to the Queene and discovered all his purposes: whereupon the Earle of Pembrooke with a company levied upon the sudden… was sent against him; which made VVyat slacke his pace, so as it was noone before he came to the suburbs of the City; and then placing his Ordnance upon a hill, and leaving there the greatest part of his Army, he onelyonly with five Ensignes marched towards Ludgate, and being encountred at Charing-crosse by the Lord Chamberlin and Sir Iohn Gage, after a small fight put them to flight in such sort, that word was carried to the Queene, how neer VVyat approached, and how wonderfully he prevailed all the way he came: with which nothing dismayed; well then (said she) I will go in person against him my selfe; and was prep…ring to doe so indeed (so much was her Fathers valour running in her veines:) but it needed not; for by this time Sir Henry Ie…ningham Captaine of the Guard, Sir Edward Bray Master of the Ordnance, and Sir Phillip Paris, had given him battaile and slaine many of his men; and that which was more, comming …o Ludgate, he was denied entrance; and then thinking to retyre, …e heard the Earle of Pembrooke with his Forces was behinde at Cha…ing-crosse; so as neither able to goe forward nor yet backward, he was at a stand and in amazement, and then lea…ing a while upon a stall by the Bell-savage, after a little musing, he returned towards Temple-gate; where Clarentius the Herauld meeting him, fell to perswade him, not to be a cause of more effusion of blood, nor by persisting in obstinacy to exclude all hope of the Queenes mercy. The Souldiers of VVyat were earnest with him to have stood it out; but Wyat as sillily ending, as he had unadvisedly begun; yeelded himselfe to Sir Maurice Berkeley, and getting up upon his horse behinde him, in that manner rode to the Court; where he had not the entertainment he expected, for without more adoe he was presently sent away to the Tower. The Captaine taken, the rest made no resist…nce, few fled, and of the other many were taken and laid in prison: and this was done the sixth of February. And now consultation was held what Delinquents should be punished; where the first that was thought on was the Lady Iane, in whom was verified, The Fathers have eaten sower grapes, and the childrens teeth are set on edge … the innocent Lady must suffer for her Fathers fault; for if her Father the Duke of Suffolke, had not this second time made shipwracke of his loyalty, his Daughter perhaps had never tasted the salt-waters of the Queens displeasure: but now as a rocke of offence, she is the first that must be removed; and thereupon is Doctor Fecknam sent to acquaint her, that she must prepare her selfe to dye the next day: which Message was so little unpleasing to her, that she seemed rather to rejoyce at it, as wherby she should at last be set at liberty; and the Doctor being earnest with her to leave her new Religion, and to embrace the old; she answered, She had now no time to thinke of any thing, but of perparing her selfe to God by Prayer: Fecknam thinking she had spoken this, to the end she might have some longer time of life, obtained of the Queene three dayes longer, and then came and …old so much to the Lady Iane; whereat she smiling said, You are much deceived if you thinke I had any desire of longer life; for I assure you, since the time you went from me, my life hath beene so tedious to me, that I long for nothing so much as death, and since it is the Queenes pleasure, am mo… willing to undergoe it. Before she was brought to Execution, her hu…band the Lord Guildford, had made suit, and obtained to see her and have some conference with her; but she refused it, saying, These were rather augmenters of griefe, then comfort… of death… she made no doubt, but they should shortly meet in a better place, and in a better condition of society: so on the twelfth of February, her husband the Lord Guildford first, and then she an houre or two after, was beheaded within the Tower; where she acknowledged her selfe to have deserved death, not for seeking the Crown, but for not refusing it, being offered; and after prayers to God, unclothing her selfe, and putting a Handcarchiffe before her eyes, she laid her head downe upon the blocke, and patiently suffered death, more grievous to the beholders, then to her selfe. This end had the Lady Iane Gray, a Lady of incomparable Pietie; and (for her yeers) of incomparable learning; for being not past seventeen yeeres of age, she understood perfectly the Greek and Latine tongues, and was so ready in all points of Divinity, as if she knew them by inspiration rather then by instruction; no lesse a miracle in this kinde then King Edward; and therefore no mervaile if he appointed her to succeed him in the Kingdome, who in the endowments of minde was so like unto him, that whilest she reigned, it might be thought he continued to reigne himselfe, at lest no more differing but onelyonly the sex. It may not be forgotten, that Judge Morgan, who at her arraignement gave the sentence against her, shortly after fell mad, and in his raving, cried continually to have the Lady Iane taken away from him, and so ended his life.
Two dayes after the execution of the Lady Iane, namely the fourteenth and fifteenth of February, twenty paire of Gallowes were set up in divers places of the City, whereon were handed fifty of Wyats faction; on the eighteenth of February Bret was hanged at Rochester in chaines, Sir Henry… Isle, who had beene taken in an old freeze coat and an old paire of hose, with his brother Thomas Isle and Walter Mantell were hanged at Maidstone, Anthony Knevet and his brother William, with another of the Mantels were executed at Sevenocke; but then on the twentieth of February a sprinkling of mercy came, for foure hundred of Wyats followers, being brought before the Queene with halters about their necks, were all pardoned and set at liberty. But then severity soone after began againe, for on the three and twentieth of February the Lord Henry Gray Duke of Suffolke, and Father to the Lady Iane, who the weeke before had been attaigned and condemned, was on the Tower-hill beheaded, and on the eleventh of Aprill, in the same place was beheaded (the Author of all this mischiefe) Wyot himselfe, whose quarters were set up in divers places of the City, his head upon the Gallowes at Hay-hill, besides Hide Parke. This man, in hope of life, having before accused the Lord Courtney and the Lady Elizabeth the Queenes sister… to be privie to his conspiracy, yet at his death he cleered them, and protested openly, that they were altogether innocent, and never had been acquainted with his proceedings. Yet was this matter so urged against them by Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellour, that both of them in March before had beene committed to the Tower, though in May following they were both againe released, but yet confined, the Lady Elizabeth to Woodstocke, under the custody of Sir Henry Beningfield of Oxenborough in the County of Norfolke; the Lord Courtney to Foderingham, under the custody of Sir Thomas Tres…am, who after some time was set at liberty, and going into Italie there dyed. It is memorable, what malice this Bishop Gardiner bore to the Lady Elizabeth, by whose onelyonly procurement, not onelyonly she was kept i… most hard durance, but a Warrant was at last framed under certaine Councellours hands, to put her to death, and had beene done, but that Master …ridges L…ev…enant of the Tower, pitying her case, went to the Queene to know her pleasure, who utterly denied that she knew any thing of it; by which meanes here life was preserved. Indeed the Bishop would sometimes say, how they cut off boughes and branches, but as long as they let the root remaine, all was nothing: and it is not unworthy the remembring what …raines were laid to ens…are her. The common net at that time for catching of Protestants, was the Reall Pres…nce, and this net was used to catch her; for being asked one time, what she thought of the words of Christ, This is my Body; whether she thought it the true body of Christ, that was in the Sacrament. It is said, that after some pawsing, she thus answered:
Christ was the Word that spake it:
He tooke the Bread, and brake it:
And what the Word did make it,
That I beleeve, and take it.
Which though it may seeme but a slight expression, yet hath it more solidnesse then at first fight appears; at lest it served her turne at that time to escape the net, which by direct answering she could not have done.
On the seventeenth of Aprill Thomas Lord Grey, the Duke of Suffolkes brother was beheaded, the last, and indeed the lest in delinquency, that suffered, for having any hand in Wyats conspiracy. There remained yet a fagge end, and was indeed but a fagge end, as nothing worth; for on the same day Sir Nichol…s Thr…gmorton, being accused to have beene a party in Wyats conspiracy, was at the Guild-hall arraigned before Sir Thomas White Lord Maior, the Earles of Shrewsbury and Derby, Sir Thomas Bromley Lord chiefe Justice of England, Sir Nicholas Hare Master of the Roles, Sir Francis Englefield Master of the Wards, Sir Richard Southwell and Sir Edward Walgrave Privie Councellours, Sir Roger Chomley, Sir William Portman one of the Justices of the Kings Bench, Sir Edward Sanders one of the Justices of the Common Pleas, Master St… ford and Master Dyer Serjeants at Law, Master Edward Griffin Atturney ge…erall, Master Sendall and Peter Titch…orne Clarkes of the Crowne, where the said M…ster Nicholas Throgmorton so fully and discreetly answered all objections brought against him, that he was found by the Jurie, Not Guilty, and was cleerly acquitted, but the Jury notwithstanding was afterward troubled for acquitting him, and sent prisoners, some of them to the Tower, and some to the Fleet, and afterward fined to pay a thousand makes a peece at lest, and some 2000. l. though these sums were afterward something mitigated.
More of Wya…s complices had beene taken, arraigned and adjudged to dye, but in judgement the Queene remembred mercy, and gave them their Pardon; of which number were Master Rudston of Kent, Sir Iames a Crofts, the Lord Iohn Gray brother to the Duke of Suf…olke, and some others.
About this time, a little before and after, were advancements in honour, the Lord William Howard, Lord Admirall of England, was created Baron Ho…ard of E…ingham, Sir Iohn VVilliams was created Baron of Tames, Sir Edward North was created Ba…on of Chartleigh, Sir Iohn Bridges was created Baron Chandowes of Sudeley, Gerrard Fitz Garret was created Earl of Kildare and B… ron of Ophelley, and not long after Sir Anthony Browne Master of the Horse, was created Viscount Mountag….
It is scarce worth remembring, that in the end of this fir… yeer of …he Queens reign…, one Elizabeth Cro…t, a wench of eighteen yeeres old, was by pr…ctice put into a Wall, and thereupon called the Spirit in the Wall, who with a whistle made for the purpose, whistled out many seditious words against the Queene, the Prince of Spaine, the Masse, Confession, and such other Points; for which she did Penance, standing upon a skaffold at Pauls Cro…e all the Sermon time, where she made open confession of her fault.
There had beene good store of Laymens blood shed already, and now the times is comming to have Clergie mens shed, and for a preparative to it, on the tenth of Aprill, Cranm…r Archbishop of Canterbury, Nicholas Ridley la…e Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer late Bishop of Worcester, are conveyed from the Tower to Oxford, there to dispure with Oxford and Cambridge men in points of Religion, but specially of the Eucharist; the Oxford men were Cole, Cha…scy, Pye, Harpsefield, Smith and Doctor Weston Prolocurour: the Cambridge men Young, Seaton, Watson, Atkinson, Fecknham and Sedgewicke: the Disputation ended, which (we may well thinke, as the matter was carried) went against the prisoners; on the twentieth of Aprill they were brought again on the Stage; and then demanded, whether they would persist in their opinion, or else recant; and affirming they would persist, they were all three adjudged Hereticks, and condemned to the fire; but their execution we must not looke for till a yeere or two hence; but in the meane time we have Iohn Rogers, the first Martyr of these time, burnt at London the fourth of February; after whom the ninth of February, Iohn Hooper late Bishop of VVorcester, burnt at Glocester; after him, Robert Ferrar Bishop of Man, burnt at Carmarden; after him Iohn Bradford, with many others; and then the two famous men Ridley and Latimer, no lesse famous for their constant deaths, then their religious lives, both burnt at Oxford the sixteenth of October.
This rising of VVyat had beene a Remora to the Queenes marriage, and now to avoid all such obstacles hereafter, the Queen in Aprill called a Parliament; wherein were p…opounded two things; one for confirmation of the Marriage, the other for restoration of the Popes Primacie. This latter was not assented to, but with great difficulty; for the six yeers reigne of King Edward had spred a plantation of the Protest…nt Religion, in the hearts of many; but the Proposition for the marriage was assented to readily, but yet with the adding of some conditions, which had no… beene thought of in the former Articles: First, that King Phillip should admit of no Stranger in any Office, but onelyonly Natives… secondly, that he should innovate nothing in the Lawes and Customes of the Kingdome. Thirdly, that he should not carry the Queen out of the Realme, without her consent, nor any of her children without consent of the Councell. Fourthly, that surviving the Quee…, he should challenge no right in the Kingdome, but suff…r it to descend to the next heire. Fiftly, that he should carry none of the Jewels of the Realme out of the Kingdome, nor suffer any Ships or Ordnance to be removed out of the Realme: and lastly, that neither directly nor indirectly, he should cause the Realme of England to be intangled with the warre betweene Spaine and France.
All things being thus agreed on, the Earle of Bedford Lord Privie Seale, the Lord Fitzwaters, and divers other Lord… and Gentlemen, are sent into Spaine to fetch over Prince Phillippe, who arrived at Southampton the twentieth of Iuly in the yeere 1554. and the three and twentieth came to VVinchester, where the Queene met him, and the five and twentieth, the marriage betweene them there was openly solemnized: (the desparity of yeeres, as in Princes, not much regarded, though he were then but seven and twenty yeeres of age, shee eight and thirty) at which time, the Emperours Embassadour being present, openly declared; that in consideration of that mariage, the Emperour had given to Prince Phillippe his sonne, the Kingdomes of Naples and Hierusalem; and thereupon (the solemnity of marriage being ended) Garter King of Heraulds openly in the Church, in the presence of the King, the Queene, and the Lords both of England and Spaine, solemnly proclaimed, the title and stile of these two Princes, as followeth: Phillip and Mary by the grace of God King and Queen of England, France, Naples, Hierusalem, and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, Princes of Spaine and Scicily, Archdukes of Austria, Dukes of Millany, Burgandy, and Brabant, Counts of Habspurge, Flanders and Tyroll. After this the King and Queene by easie journeys came to Winsor Castle, where the King was instal'd Knight of the Garter, and the Earle of Sussex with him: The eleventh of August they removed to Richmond, the seven and twentieth to Suffolk-place in Southwark, and the next day to London (where the stately shews that were made, may well enough be conceived without relaring) from hence after foure dayes they removed againe to Richmond, where all the Lords had leave to depart into their Countries, and indeede so many departed, that there remained not an English Lord at the Court, but the Bishop of Winchester: from Richmond they removed to Hampton-court, where the Hall door within the Court was continually kept shut, so as no man might enter unlesse his errand were first known, which might perhaps be the fashion of Spain, but to Englishmen seemed very strange.
About this time Cardinall Poole, sent for by the King and Queene, came over into England; and had come sooner, but that the Emperour fearing he might prove a corrivall with his sonne Phillip, had used meanes to stop his passage, but now that his Sonnes marriage was past, he was content to let him passe, who though he came from Rome with the great authority of a Legat … Latere, yet he would not but come privately into London, because his Attaindour was yet upon Record; an Act therefore was presently passed to take it off, and to restore him in blood; for passing of which Act, the King and Queene in person came to the Parliament house; whither a few dayes after, the Cardinall came himselfe, which was then kept in the great Chamber of Whitehall, because the Queen by reason of sicknesse, was not well able to goe abroad; and here the King and Queene sitting under the cloath of Estate, and the Cardinall on their right hand, all the Lords, Knights and Burgesses being present, the Bishop of VVinchester Lord Chancellour, made a short speech unto them; signifying the presence of the Lord Cardinall, and that he was sent from the Pope as his Legate a Latere, to doe a worke tending to the glory of God, and the benefit of them all; which (saith he) you may better heare from his own mouth. Then the Cardinall rose up, and made a long solemne Oration, wherin he first thanked them for his restoring, by which he was enabled to be a member of their society; then exhorting them to returne into the bosome of the Church, for which end he was come; not to condemne, but to reconcile; not to compell, but to call and require; and for their first worke of reconcilement, requiring them to repeale and abrogate all such Lawes as had formerly beene made in derogation of the Catholicke Religion. After which Speech, the Parliament going together, drew up a Supplication, which within two dayes after they presented to …he King and Queene; wherein they shewed themselves to be very penitent for their former errours, and humbly desired their Majesties to intercede for them to the Lord Cardinall and the See Apostolicke, that they might be Pardoned of all they had done amisse, and be received into the bosome of the Church; being themselves most ready to abrogate all Lawes prejudiciall to the See of Rome. This Supplication being delivered to the Cardinall, he then gave them Absolution, in these words; Wee, by the Apostolicke authority given unto us, by the most Holy Lord Pope Iulius the third (Christs Vicegerent on Earth) doe Absolve and deliver you and every of you, with the whole Realme and Dominions thereof, from all Heresie and Schisme, and from all Judgements, Censures and Paines for that cause incurred, and also Wee doe restore you againe, to the unity of our Mother the holy Church, The report hereof comming to Rome, was cause that a solemne Procession was made, for joy of the conversion of England to the Church of Rome. And now the Queene had a great desire to have King Phillip crowned, but to this the Parliament would by no meanes assent.
In October this second yeere of her reigne, a rumour was spread of the Queenes being with childe, and so forward that she was quicke; and thereupon were Lettes sent from the Lords of the Councell: to Bonner Bishop of London, that Prayers of Thanksgiving should be made in all Churches; and the Parliament it selfe was so credulous of it, that they entred into consideration of the education of the childe, and made an Act; desiring the King (our of … confidence they had in him) that if the Queene should faile, he would be pleased …o take upon him the Rule and Government of the childe; but after …ll this, in Iune following, it came to be knowne, that it was but a Tympany, …r at lest the Queene so miscarried, that there came no childe, nor the Queene likely ever after to have any. But howsoever, in hope of the joy that was expected; in Ianu…ry of this yeere, divers of the Councell, as the Lord Chancellour, the Bishop of Elye, the Lord Treasurour, the Earle of Shrewsb…ry, the Controlour of the Queens house, Secretary Bourne and Sir Richard So…thwell Master of the Ordinance, were sent to the Tower, to discharge and set at liberty a great part of the Prisoners in the Tower; as …amely, the late Duke of Northumberlands sonnes, Ambrose, Robert and Henry, also Sir Andrew Dudley, Sir Iames Cro…ts, Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, Sir Iohn Rogers, Sir Nicholas Arnold, Sir George Harper, Sir Edward Warner, Sir William Sentlow, Sir Gowen Carow, William Gybbs Esquire, Cutbert Vaughan, and some others.
About this time, one William Fetherstone, a Millers sonne, of the age of eighteene yeeres, named and bruted himselfe to be King Edward the sixth; for which being apprehended and examined, he answered as one lunaticke; and thereupon was whipped at a Carts …ayle, and banished into the North; but the yeere after, spreading abroad againe, that King Edward was alive, and that he had talked with him, he was arraigned and condemned of treason, and at Tyburn hanged and quartered.
In the monethmonth of March, the Queene was taken with a fit of Devotion, and thereupon called unto her foure of her Privie Councell, namely, William Marquesse of Winchester Lord Treasurour, Sir Robert Rochester Comptrolour, Sir William Peter Secretary, and Sir Francis Englefield Master of the Wards, and signified unto them, that it went against her conscience, to hold the Lands and Possessions as well of Monasteries aud Abbeys as of other Churches, and therefore did freely relinquish them, and leave them to be disposed, as the Pope and the Lord Cardinall should thinke fit; and thereupon charged them to acquaint the Cardinall with this her purpose. A…d shortly after in performance hereof, Iohn Fecknam late Deane of Pauls, was made Abbot of Westminster, and had possession delivered him, and with him fourteen Monkes received the Habit at the same time: and on the twentieth of November, Sir Thomas was instituted Lord of Saint Iohns of Hierusalem, and was put in possession of the Lands belonging unto it. And when it was told her… that this would be a great diminution of the Revenues of her Crowne; she answered, she more valued the salvation of her soule, then a thousand Crownes: a most religious speech, and enough, if there were but this, to shew her to be a most pious Prince.
The fourth of September this yeer, King Phillip waited on with the Earle of Arundell Lord Steward, the Earle of Pembrooke, the Earle of Huntington and others, went over to Callice, and from thence to Brussels in Brabant, to visit the Emperour his Father; who delive…ing him possession of the Low Countries, in March following he returned into England; but then, on the sixth of Iuly following, by reason of wars with France, he passed again over to Callic… and so into Flanders, from whence he returned not till eighteene moneths after; which made great muttering amongst the common people, as though hee tooke any little occasion to be absent, for the little love hee bore to the Queene.
In the third yeere of the Queene dyed Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester at his house in Southwarke; of whose death it is memorable, that the same day in which Bishop Ridley and Master Latimer suffered at Oxford, he would not goe to dinner till foure a clocke in the a…ternoone, tho…gh the old Duke of Nor…olke was come to dine with him; the reason was, because he would first heare of their being burnt, and as soon as word of that was brought him, he presently said, Now let us goe to Dinner; where sitting downe and eating merrily, upon a sudden he fell into such extremity, that he was faine to be taken from the Table and carried to his bed, where he continued fifteen dayes, without voyding any thing either by urine or otherwise, which caused his tsongu to swell in his mouth, and so dyed; after whose death, Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke was made Lord Chancelour.
And now comes the time of Archbishop Cranmers execution, who the yeere before had beene condemned and degraded by Commission from the Pope; after which, being by the subtiltie of some, put in hope of life, out of frailty, he subscribed to a Recantation, which yet did him no good; for whether it were, that Cardinall Poole would no longer be kept from being Archbishop (which he would not be as long as he lived) or that the Queen could …ot be gotten to forget, his being the chief instrument of her Mothers di…orce; his ex…cution was resolved to be the 14. of Febr. in the same place at Oxford where Ridley and Latimer five month before had bin: before the execution D…ct. …le preached, who to make use of Cranmers Recantation, told the people, they doe well to harken to this learned mans confession, who now at his death, and with his death wold testifie which was the true religion, never thinking that Cranmer wold ha…e denied his former Recantation; but Cranmer being brought to the stake (contrary to expectation) acknowledged, that through frailty he had subscribed it, praying God hartily to forgive it; and now for a punishment, that hand which had done it should first suffer, and therewithall thrusting his right hand into the fire, he there held it, till it first and then his whole body was consumed; onelyonly (which was no small miracle) his heart remained whole and not once touched with the fire. The same yeer also, no fewer then 84. of both sexes were burnt for Religion; and it was a cruelty very far extended, that the bones of Bucer and Ph…gi… some time before dead and buried, were taken up and publikely burnt in Cambridge. No sooner was Cranmer dead, but the very same day was Cardinall Poole made Archbishop of Canterbury.
In the fourth yeere of the Queene, exemplar Justice was done upon a great person; for the Lord Sturton, a man much in the Queens fa…our, as being an earnest Papist, was for a murther committed by him, arraigned and condemned, and he with foure of his servants, carried to Salisbury, was there in the Market-place hanged, having this favour to be hanged in a silken halter, his servants in places neere adjoyning to the place where the Murther was committed.
The foure and twentieth of Aprill, Thomas Stafford second son to the Lord Stafford, with other, to the number of two & thirty persons (set on by the French King) attempted to raise Sedition against the Queen, for marrying with King Phillip, and comming out of France, arrived at Scarborough in Yorkeshire, where they tooke the Castle, but within two dayes were driven out by the Ea…le of VVestmerland, and then taken and arraigned: the eight and twentieth of May Stafford was beheaded on the Tower-hill, and the next day three of his associates Strelley, Bradford & Proctor were drawn from the Tower to Tyburne and there executed. The first of May Thomas Percy was first made Knight, after, Lord, and the next day was created Earle of Northumberland, to whom the Queene gave all the Lands that had bin his Ancestours.
At this time the Queene intangled her selfe (contrary to her promise) in her husbands quarrell, sent a defiance to the French King, by Clarenti… king at Armes; and after on the Munday in Whitsonweeke, by sound of trumpet, proclaimed open warre against him in Cheapside, and other places of the Citie; and shortly after, caused an Army of a thousand Horse, and foure thousand foo…, to be transported over, to the aid of her husband King Phillip, under the leading of the Earle of Pembrooke Captain Generall, Sir Anthony Bro…ne Viscount Mountague Lievtenant Generall, the Lord Gray of VVilton Lord Marshall, the Earle of Rutland Generall of the Horse, the Earle of Lincolne Coronel of the Foot, the Lord Ro…ert Dudley Master of the Ordnance, the Lord Thomas Howard, the Lord De la VVare, the Lord Bray, the Lord Chandowes, the …or… Ambrose Dudley, the Lord Henry Dudley, with divers Knights and Gent…ement; who joyning with King Phillips Forces, they altogether …et down before S…int Quint…ns, a town of the French Kings of great importance. To the res… whereof, the French King sent an Army, under the leading of the Constable … France, which consisted of nine hundred men at armes, with as many light …, eight hundred Reystres, two and twenty Ensignes of Lancequene…s, and … Ensigns of French footmen; their purpose was not to give battell, but to … more succours into the Town; which the Philippians perceiving, encountred them, and in the …ight slew Iohn of Burbon Duk of Anghien, the Viscount of T… rain, the Lo of Ch…denier, with many gentlemen of account; they took prisoners the Duk of Memorancy Constable of France, the Duk of Montpensyer, Duk Longuevile, the Marshall of Saint Andrewes, the Lord Lewis brother to the Duke of Mantova, the Baron of Curton, the Rhinegrave Colonell of the Almaynes, Monsieur d'Obigny, Monsieur de Biron, and many others; and then pursuing the victory, under the government of the Earle of Pembrooke, on the seven and twentieth of August they tooke the towne of Saint Qintyns; in the assault whereof, the Lord Henry Dudley, yongest sonne to the Duke of Northumberland, was with a peece of great Ordnance slaine, and some other of account. The saccage of the Town King Phillip gave to the English, as by whose valour chiefly it was won.
The joy was not so great for this winning of Saint Qintyns, but there will be greater sorrow presently for other losses. Many of the Garrison of Callice had beene drawne from thence, for this service of Saint Quintyns, and no new supply sent, which being perceived by the French King, a Plot is laid how to surprize it, which yet was not so secretly carried, but that the Officers of Callice had intelligence thereof; who thereupon signified it to the Councell of England, requiring speedy succours, without which, against so great an Army as was raisd against them, they should not be able to hold out. But whether they gave no credit to their relations, or whether they apprehended not the danger so imminent as indeed it was, they neglected to send supplies till it was too late. For the Duke of Guyse, with no lesse speed then Policie, tooke such a course that at one and the same time, he set both upon Newnambridge and also Ricebanke, (the two maine Skonces for defence of the Towne,) and tooke them both, and then fell presently to batter the Wals of the Castle it selfe, and that with such violence of great Ordnance, that the noyse was heard to Ant…erp…, being a hundred miles of. But having made the wals assaultable, the English used this stratagem, they laid traines of Powder to blow them up, when they should offer to enter, but this stratagem succeeded not; for the French in passing the Ditch, had so wet their cloathes, that dropping upon the traine, the Powder would take no fire, (so all things seemed to concurre against the English) and thereupon the Castle was taken also, and with it the Towne also had beene taken, but that Sir Anthony Ager, with the losse of his owne life and his eldest sonnes, valiantly defended it, and for that time repelled the French, but their numbers increased so fast upon the Towne, that the Lord Wentworth the Deputy, seeing no other way of safty, demanded Parlee, where a composition was made, that the Towne should presently be yeelded to the French King, the lives of the Inhabitants onelyonly saved, with safe conduct to passe away, saving the Lord Deputy with fifty other, such as the Duke should name. And here to be quit with the English for their hard usage at Saint Quintins, the Duke caused Proclamation to be made, that all and every person of the Towne, should bring their money, jewels and plate; to the value of a groat, and lay it downe upon the high Altar of the Church; by which meanes an inestimable sum of treasure was there offered, enough …o enrich an Army, which had before enriched a Towne: and now to make it appeare how unable the Towne was to hold out against so great an Army. It is said, there were in it but onelyonly five hundred souldiers of ordinary, and scarce two hundred more of able fighting men; but of other people, men, women and children foure thousand and two hundred, all which were suffered to depart, saving the Lord We…tworth the Deputy, Sir Ralph Chamberlaine Captaine of the Castle, Iohn Hu…ston Captaine of Ricebruke, Nicholas Alex…nder Captain of New…hambridge, Edward Grimston the Controlour, Iohn Rogers the Surveyour, with others to the number of fifty, who were al caried prisoners into France. And thus Callice, which had bin in possession of the English above two hundred yeers, was won from the English in eight dayes, which King Edward the third had not won from the French in lesse then a yeer. The Lord Wentworth was suspected, and in Queen Elizabeths time arraigned for betraying it, was acquitted by his Peeres. Callice thus won, the Duke with his Army marched to Guysnes, five miles distant, whereof was Captaine the Lord Gray of Wilton, who held out the siedge and batteries five or six dayes with so great valour and resolution, that he appeared in nothing inferiour to the Enemy but in multitude, yet a… last overlaid with their numbers, and importunde by his souldiers, much again… his owne will, he made composition, that the Towne and Castle should be wholly rendered, himselfe and all Officers remaine prisoners, all other to depart with their Armour and Baggage. The Lord Gray afterward ransomed for foure and twenty thousand crownes. And now the Duke of Guise considering that Guysnes would be too costly a Castle to be kept, and too dangerous a neighbour to Callice, if it should be recovered, raced it with the Bulwarkes and Fortifications to the ground. Guysnes thus won, there remained nothing within the English pale, but the little Castle of Hammes, whereof was Captaine the Lord Edward Dudley, who considering that though it were naturally strongly scituate, as being invironed with Fens and Marshes, yet it had but little helpe… by Art of Fortifications, and being assured that the Duke of Guyse would speedily come upon him, he secretly in the night with all his garrison, departed into Flanders, so as the Castle was not won, but taken by the Duke of Guyse; and with the losse of this Castle, the English lost all their footing in Terra firma, and the Kings of England all the reality of their Title in France, having nothing left but nudum nomen.
Presently after this, the French King caused the mariage between his eldest sonne Francis the Dolphin, and Mary Steward sole heire of Iames the fift King of Scotland to be solemnized: whereupon great wars insued soon after between England and Scotland.
Queen Mary being infinitely troubled in minde for the losse of Callice, sent presently forth her Admirall the Lord Clinton, with a Fleet of more then a hundred sayle, to recover, at lest reparation in honour, by doing some exploit upon France, who not finding opportunity to set upon Brest, as he was appointed, fell upon the towne of Conquest, which he tooke and bur…t, and also divers Villages thereabouts, and then returned. In which meane time, many great conflicts having been between King Phillip and the King of France; at last, by mediation of the Dutchesse of Lorraigne, a treaty of Peace is agreed on, where all things seemed to be well accorded, but onelyonly that King Phillip by all meanes required restitution of Callice, to which by no means the French would assent; but whilst they stood upon these termes, it happened that first the Emperour Charles King Phillips father dyed, and shortly after Queene Mary, and the day after her Cardinall Poole, and shortly after Sir Iohn Baker of Sissingherst in Kent, who had been a Privie Councellour to Henry the eight, Edward the sixth a…d Queen Mary. And so our Story hath no further relation to either War or Peace, between the two Kings of France and Spaine.
Of her Taxations.
SHEE began with a rare Example; for in the first yeer of her Reign, wa… pardoned by Proclamation, the Subsidie of foure shillings the pound of Land, and two shillings the pound of goods, granted in the last Parliament of King Edward the sixth. In her second yeer in a Parliament then holden, was granted to the King and Queen, a Subsidie of the Layitie, from five pounds to ten pounds, of eight pence in the pound; from ten pounds to twenty pounds, of twelve pence in the pound; and from twenty pounds upwards, sixteen pence in the pound; all Strangers double; and the Clergie six shillings in the pound. If this were all, then upon the matter, in all her time, there came to new charge upon her people; for one Subsidie r…mit…ed and one received, made but even. In her last yeer she borrowed twenty thousand pounds of the City of London, and paid twelve pounds a yeer interest for every …undred pou…d.
Lawes and Ordinances in her time.
IN her first yeere, on the fourth of September, were proclaimed certaine new Coynes of gold and silver, a Soveraigne of gold of thirty shillings; the halfe Soveraigne fifteene shillings; an Angell often shillings; the halfe Angell five shillings. Of silver, the groat, the halfe groat and penny; all these Coynes to be currant as before. In her second yeer, Proclamation was made, forbidding the shooting in Hand-guns and bearing of weapons. The yeer in which she was married to King Phillip, a straight charge was to all Victuallers, Taverners and Alehouse-keepers, that they should sell no Meat nor Drinke nor any kinde of Victuals, to any Serving-man whatsoever, unlesse he brought a testimoniall to shew whole servant he was. Also in a Parliament holden this yeere, amongst other Acts, the Statute Ex Officio, and other Lawes made for the punishment of Heresies, were revived; but chiefly the Popes Bull of Dispensation of Abbey Land was there confirmed. In her second yeere, on Michaelmas Eeven, the Prisoners that lay in the Counter in Bredstreet, were removed to a new Counter made in Woodstreet, of the Citie Purchase and building; the which removing was confirmed by the Common Councell of the City.
Affaires of the Church in her time.
IN the first yeere of this Queenes reigne, all Bishops which had beene deprived in the time of King Edward the sixth, were restored to their Bishopriks, and the new removed; also all Benefized men that were married, or would not forsake their opinion, were put out of their Livings; and other of a contrary opinion put in their roomes. Also this yeere, on the seven and tweetieth of August, the Service begun to be sung in Latine in Pauls Church. Also this yeere the Popes authority was by Act of Parliament restored in England; and the Masse commanded in all Churches to be used. In her second yeer, the Realme is Absolved, and reconciled to the Church of Rome, by Cardinall Poole; and first Fruits and Tenths are restored to the Clergy: but this was soone revoked, the Councell finding the necessity of it for the Queenes support. In her fourth yeere, Monasteries were begun to be reedified; of which number were that of Westminster, that of Sheene and Sion, that of the Black-fryers, and the Fryers of Greenwich. Of the number of those that dyed for Religion in her time, there are recorded five Bishops, one and twenty Divines, and of all sorts of men and women, two hundred threescore and seventeene.
Workes of Pietie done by her or others in her time.
THis Queen restored a great part of Abbey-lands that were in her possession, and if she had lived longer, very likely she would have restored more. In her first yeer, Sir Thomas White then Major, erected a Colledge in Oxford, now called Saint Iohns Colledge, before, Bernard Colledge; he also erected Schooles at Bristow and Reading, and gave two thousand pounds to the City of Bristow to purchase Lands, the profits whereof to be imployed for the benefit of young Clothiers for ten yeeres, and after that to be imployed in like manner, to the benefit of two and twenty other shires and Cities. In her third yeere dyed Sir Iohn Gresham, late Major of London, who founded a free School at Holt in Nor…olke, and gave to every Ward in London ten pounds, to be distributed to the poore; also to Maids marriages two hundred pounds. Cutbert Tunstall Bishop of Du…ham, erected a goodly Library in Cambridge, storing it with many excellent both Printed and written Bookes: he also bestowed much upon building at Durham, at Alnewicke and at Tunbridge.
Casualties happening in her time.
IN her first yeere, on the seven and twentieth of August, the goodliest Ship in England, called The Great Harrye, being of the burthen of a thousand tun, was burnt at Woolwich by negligence of the Mariners. In her second yeer on the fifteenth of February, appeared in the skie a Rainbow reversed, the bowe turned downward, and the two ends standing upward: also two Sunnes shined at one time, a good distance asunder, which were taken for ill signes. This yeere also in the monethmonth of August, at a place in Suffolke by the Sea side, all of hard stone and pibble, lying betweene the Townes of Oxford and Alborough, where never grasse grew, not any earth was ever seene, there chanced suddenly to spring up without any tillage or sowing, so great abundance of Peason, that the Poore gathered above an hundred quarters, yet there remained some ripe, and some blossoming, as many as were before. In her fourth yeer, hot burning Agues and other strange diseases, tooke away much people; so as between the twentieth of October and the last of December, there dyed seven Aldermen, namely, Henry Heardson, Sir Richard Dob…s la…e Major, Sir William Laxton late Major, Sir Henry Hobblesterne late Majors, Sir Iohn Champneys late Major, Sir Iohn Aleph late Sheriffe, and Sir Iohn Gresham late Major. In her fourth yeer, before Harvest, Wheat was sold for foure Markes the quarter, Mault at foure and forty shillings the quarter, and Pease at six and forty shillings eight pence; where after harvest, Wheat was sold for five shillings the quarter, Malt at six shillings eight pence, Rye at three shillings foure pence the quarter. In the Countrey, Wheat was sold for foure shillings the quarter, Mault at foure shillings eight pence, and in some places a bushell of Rye for a pound of Candles, which was foure pence. In her fift yeer, within a mile of Nottingham, so mervailous a tempest of thunder happened, that it beat down all the Houses and Churches in two Towns thereabouts, cast the Bels to the outside of the Churchyard, and some webs of Lead foure hundred foot into the field, writhen as if it had been leather; the rive… of Trent running between the two Townes, the water with the mud in the bottome was carried a quarter of a mile, and cast against trees; with the violence whereof the trees were pulled up by the the roots, and cast twelve score off; also a childe was taken forth of a mans hand and carried two speares length high, and then let fall two h…ndred foot off, of which fall it dyed; five or six men thereabouts were slaine, and neither flesh nor skin perished; also there fell some Hale-stones that were fifteen inches about. This yeer also in Harvest-time was great mortality, and specially of Priests, so as many Churches were unserved, and much corne was lost in the field for want of Workmen; whereupon ensued a great scarcity, so that corne was sold for fourteen shillings a quarter, and Wood sold in London for thirteen shillings a thousand of Billets, and Coles ten pence a sacke. Also this yeer on the last of September, fell so great store rain, that Westminster Hall was full of water, and Boats were rowed over Westminster-bridge into Kings-street.
Of her Personage and Conditions.
OF her Personage we can make no particular description, only we may say, she was none of the most amiable, but yet without deformity; but of her Conditions we may say, she was not without deformity, and yet was very amiable. If we account her Religion a deformity, yet her constancy and devotion in it, we must needs count a beauty: if it were a deformity to promise the Suffolke men, not to alter the Religion w…ich King Edward had established, yet it was certainly a Pious dissem…ling, Cretizare cum C…etensibus; and equivocation (will some say) was there a vertue, where she deceived them into truth, and did them good against their wils. And as for her sister Elizabeth, if she did not love her, it was but a quality hereditary in her; for their Mothers did not love one another before; and indeed not without some cause in both; for as those upbraided each others marriage, so these, each others birth. We shall not doe her right, if we deny her to be of a mercifull disposition, seeing oftentimes she pittied the person, where she shed the blood; she could have found in her heart to have spared the Lady Ianes life, if Ragion di…stato had not beene against it… and she did spare her Father the Duke of Suffolkes life, till his second offence gave her just provocation. The goodnesse of her nature might be seene in the badnesse of her fortune; who tooke nothing so much to heart, as unkindnesse of friends; the revolt of Callice, and the absence of King Phillip, being the two chiefe causes that brought her to her end.
Of her Death and Buriall.
THE conceit of her being with childe, had kept Physitians to looke into the state of her body; so as her distemper at first neglected, brought her by degrees into a Dropsie, to which was added a burning Feavour, brought upon her by a double griefe; one for the long absence of King Phillip (who had now beene away a yeer and a halfe;) the other, and perhaps the greater, for the losse of Callice; as she forbore not to say to some about her, that if they looked into her Heart, being dead, they should finde Callice there. She began to fall sicke in September, and dyed at her Mannour of Saint Iames the seventeenth of Novemb…r, in the …eer 1558. when she had reigned five yeers four moneths and eleven dayes. Lived three and forty yeers. Her Body was interred in a Chappell in the Minster of Saint Peters Church at Westminster, without any Monument or other Remembrance.
Men of note in her time.
OF Men of Valour in her time, there were many, as may be seen in the Story of her Re…gne; but to name some for example, there was William Herbert Earle of Pembrooke, the chiefe assistant of King Phillip in the winning of Saint Quintins; there was William Lord Gray of VVilton, Captain of Guysnes, who though he yeelded the Town, yet more out of tendernesse to his Souldiers, then out of feare of his Enemies, which he would never else have yeelded up; and to speake of one of a meaner ranke, there was Sir Anthony Ager, who in defence of the Town of Callice lost his life, but not till he made the Enemie turne their backes and flye. O… learned men also there were many, as Iohn Rogers borne in Lancashire, who Translated the Bible into English with Notes, Richard Moryson Knight, borne in Oxfordshire, who wrote divers Treatises, Robert Record a Doctor of Physicke, who wrote a Booke of Arithmaticke, C… bert Tunstall, of a worshipfull Family in Lancashire, though base borne, who…e Ancestours came into England with the Conquerour, as his Barbour, and …herefore hath three Combs his Armes; Bishop first of London, and after of D… ham, who wrote divers learned Workes: Richard Sampson, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, who wrote certaine Trea…ses: Luc…s Shephea…d borne a… Colechester in Essex an English Poet: Iane Dudley, daughter …o Henry Gray Duke of Suffolke, wrote divers excellent Treatises: VVilliam Thomas a VV…lshman, who w…ote the History of Italie, and other things: Iames Brookes and Iohn Standish, both of them writers in defence of the Popes Doctrine: VVilliam Peryn a black Fryer, who wrote in defence of the Masse, and also divers Sermons: Henry Lord Stafford, sonne to Edward Duke of Buckingham, who amongst other things which he wrote, Translated a Booke out of Latine into English, intituled Vtriusque Potestatis Differentia … which Booke (as some thinke) was first compiled by Edward Foxe Bishop of Hereford: Iohn Hopkins who translated divers of Davids Psalmes into English Meeter, which are to be found amongst those appointed to be sung in the Church.