The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Part 2, Book 1 · Biography 9
K. EDWARD. 6.
The life of Edward the sixth, King of England, who dyed anno Christi 1553.
EDward the sixth borne Anno Christi 1537, was the sonne of King Henry the eigth by his third wife, Iane, daughter to Sir Iohn Seymer: whose mothers body was His education.opened for his birth, whereby she dyed of the incision the fourth day after; when he was six years old, he was committed to the tuition of Doctor Coxe, and Mr. Iohn Cheeke, the first instructed him in the knowledg of the Arts, and Divinity: the second in the languages of Latine, and Greek: others were appointed for other Languages, who all endevoured to infuse into him knowledge, and vertue by some mixture of honest delight. VnderUnder these he profited so much that in short time he spake French and Latine perfectly: also Greek, Spanish, and Italian. He was well skilled in Logick, Philosophy, Musick, and Astronomy, and other liberall sciences, in so much as the great Italian Philosopher, Cardane, having made some triall of him, was astonished with admiration and delight, reporting abroad, that he was a Miracle of nature: when he was about nine yeares old, his father dyed, and he was proclaimed King and brought to Proclaimed King.the Tower, where he remained about three weeks; in which time his uncle, the Earle of Hartford, was elected Protector of the Realme, and Governour of the Kings person during his minority: and a few daies after, he Knighted the King, who taking the sword from him, Knighted the L. Maior, & advanced diverse other of the nobility: the Lord Protector was made Duke of Sommerset, his other uncle, Sir Thomas Seymer was made Lord of Sudely, and high admirall of England &c. February 19 Anno Christi 1547. he rode in great state from the Tower to Westminster, and the next day was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The same day a generall His Coronation.pardon was granted to all persons, six only excepted: Never was King more loving to others, or bet…er beloved generally of all: He was of an excellent beauty and modestie, verie curteous, and naturally so His Character.disposed to learning, that he seemed rather borne so, then instructed in it; he was full of Clemency, courage, care and knowledg in state affaires. He was very tender of shedding blood, so that none were executed in his time for religion, but only two blasphemous Hereticks, Ioan Butcher, and Georg, a Dutchman: Two hereticks put to death.for the execution of the first, all the councell could not get him to set his hand to the warrant, till Cranmer perswaded him to it, to whom he said, that he would lay all the charge of it upon him before God. He took much delight in representations of Battails, skirmishes, and Assaults, and such like military exercises: He took much pleasure in the exercises of activity, and caused his servants to use wrestling, leaping, running, riding, and shooting at rovers &c. He was exceeding skilfull in fortifications: He knew all the principall ports of England, Scotland, Ireland His knowledg.and France, how they lay, when the tide served, what vessells of burthen they could receive, and what winds served for entrance. He was exceeding carefull about State affairs, was much with his Councell, and would well understand what matters passed them, and upon what grounds: and would often encounter their reasons, and give lively reasons of his owne, insomuch that they made an order, that no matters of weight should be debated, but when he was present: He had a Chest, where of himselfe carried the Key, wherein he kept record, of such matters as were concluded by his Councell: He set time apart to dispatch poore mens causes without tedious attendance, & delay. Of all the Magistrates, Iustices & Gentlemen of quality in his realme, he knew their names, houskeeping, religion, and manner of life: He was skilfull in the matter and manner of Exchange abroad, and provident for the Mint at home. To Ambassadours he would giuegive answer upon the sudden, and touch both orderly, and fully upon everie part of their speech, to the admiration of his hearers: He much frequented Sermons, and penned His Piety.them with his owne hands: His sports were ingenuous, and manlike, whereby he alwaies learned something: He in the middest of all his businesses reserved daily some houres for his private studies and exercises with his teachers.
About this time preparations were made for warr with Scotland, which was thus occasioned: Mary The quarrell with Scotland.Stuart sole daughter and heir to Iames the fifth, being very young, was desired by Henry the eighth to to be assured to his sonne Prince Edward, which was assented to by the Nobility, and Parliament of Scotland: and all conditions, and covenants were concluded, sealed, and sworne to of both parties, and a peace established for ten yeares, at the end whereof both Prince and Queene should be of age to consent. But the King of France hearing of it, laboured by all meanes to break this agreement, endeavouring to get this match for Francis, afterwards King of France, and so farr prevailed, that he made a strong party for him in Scotland: yet the Protector wrote friendly to the nobility, remembred them of their promises, seales, and oaths: he shewed them the benefits that would redound to both Kingdoms by this union &c but notwithstanding all this, when they would not be brought to reason, he raised a great Army, with which he marched into The Protector in vades Sco…landScotland, and sent a great Fleet by Sea to meet him there. In the Army were twelve thousand Foot, & two thousand eight hundred light Horse: The Earle of Warwick was Lieutenant Generall, the Lord Gray of Wilton was Marshall of the Field, &c. The Protector of Scotland also made great preparation to resist them, Making his Rendevouz at Musklebrough Field, whither the English marched; and so between the two nations, a great and cruell battell was fought, A great battell.wherein the English were victors, and pursued the Scots for five hours space, doing great execution upon The Scors beaten.them, so that the river of Esk ran red with blood.
Divers of the Scottish Nobility and Gentry were slain, and of the inferior sort about ten thousand. Of the English were slain fifty two, but very many hurt. And thus the Lord revenged upon them their perfidiousnesse in breaking their Oathes and Covenants. In the which victory this also is to bee noted, that the same day and houre wherein the Images were Perjury punished by God.burned openly in London, the Scots received this great overthrow.
Also fifteen hundred of the Scots were taken prisoners, amongst whom was the Earle of Huntley, & some other Noble-men: Huntley being afterwards asked, how he stood affected to the intended marriage, answered, That he liked the marriage well, but he liked Huntlies peech.not the manner of wooing. Afterwards the English fired many places, took in divers Castles, placed garrisons in them, and so returned back into England.
A great alteration also was made in Religion, Injunctions were set forth for removing Images out of Churches, Godly Preachers were sent abroad to instruct and teach the people and, for want of Preachers, Bonner, Gardiner, and other Bishops imp…isoned.Homilies were appointed to be read in Churches. Edmond Bonner was committed to the Fleet, for refusing to receive these Injunctions, and Steven Gardiner to the Tower, with Bishop Tonstall and Heath.
In the first yeare of the King, a Parliament was held, wherein was enacted, That none should speak against receiving the Sacrament in both kindes, That all Processes Ecclesiasticall should be made in the Kings name: The Statute of the six Articles was repealed, and that which prohibited the use of the Scriptures in English: A Liturgy was set forth; Commissioners being sent abroad to pull down Images in Cornwall, one of them was stabbed by a Priest, as he A Commissioner stabbed.was pulling down an Image: and afterwards the whole County rose in a commotion, which spred also into Wiltshire and Summersetshire; they beat down A Rebellion.Enclosures, and Parks: but Sir William Herbert, with some Souldiers, set upon them, slue some, and scattered the rest.
The like commotions were raised in other Counties, which by the prudence of Gentlemen, and other honest persons, were appeased: Yet afterwards there was another rising in the West Countries, to whom the King wrote, First reproving them for their disordered assemblies; then hee pitied their ignorance, and errors thence arising, perswading them to return to their homes, and due obedience. In which Letter he thus wrote to them, Assure your selves most surely, that we of no earthly thing under the Heaven, make such account, as we doe of this one thing, To have our Lawes Zeale and courage.obeyed, and this cause of God which we have taken in hand, to be throughly maintained, from the which we wil never remove a haires breadth, nor give place to any creature living, much lesse to any subject, but therein will spend our own Royall Person, our Crowne, Treasure, Realme, and all our estate, whereof we assure you of our high Honour. But they growing more unruly, went to Exeter, demanded entrance, which being refused, A great rebellionthey attempted to take the Citie by storme, by firing the Gates, by Mines, but all in vain, being easily repulsed, and slain like Dogges. In the meane time the L. Privie Seale, with a small Company, attempted the reliefe of the City, which the Mutiniers hindred, by felling many trees crosse his way; and in his retreat set upon him; but he beat them back, with the losse of six hundred of them.
In the mean time the Citizens suffered great want, made bread of the coursest bran: their finest flesh was A famine in Exeter.their Horses. An aged Citizen in this their want, brought out all his store, saying, That as he communicated Fidelity.to them his store, so he would participate with them in their wants; and that he would feed upon one arme, and fight with the other, before he would consent to put the City into the hands of the seditious.
But the Lord Gray coming with more Forces, set upon them, slue above 900. of them, and dispersed the rest: notwithstanding which, about two thousand of them r'allying the next day, affronted the Kings Forces, yet after a while, they ran away. After this also, a greater number met together, and brought with them a Crucifix upon a Cart, beset with Crosses, tapers, holy bread &c. The Lord Gray set upon them and slew the greatest part of them, diverse-were taken, and some of the principall presently executed. Ignorance. Rebels overthrowne.The seditious in Norfolk were more dangerous, as having greater strength, and the City of Norwich to favour them. To these the King wrote A rebelliin Norfolk.also, and sent an Herald with a Generall pardon, if they would quietly depart, which they refusing, the Lord William Parre was sent against them, who entring into the City of Norwich, was the next day set upon by the seditious, but he repulsed them with the losse of three hundred of their company.Rebelion supprest.
Afterwards the Earle of Warwick came with some more forces, and after some bickerings, wherein many of the rebells were slaine, he pardoned the rest, only executing some of the ringleaders, and so that commotion was quieted: Religion begininng now to flourish in the land, as well all such Godly subjects as were in the realme had free liberty publickly to professe the gospell: as also many learned, and zealous Exiled ministers restored.preachers before banished, were now licensed freely to returne home, and were encouraged boldly, and faithfully to travell in their function, and calling, so that God was much glorified, and the people much edified: About the same time a dangerous rebellion began in Yorkshire, but through A Rebellion-Gods mercy, one of the rebells revealing of it in his drunkennesse in an alehouse, it was in some measure prevented, and the mischiefe intended against others returned upon the contrivers pates: The The French. beatenFrench King also thinking to make his advantage of such stirrs in England, denounced warr against King Edward, and sent a great fleet suddenly to have taken Iersey, and Gernsey, together with many of the Kings ships there, but they were so hotly intertained, that they lost one thousand of their men, and their ships, and Gallies were so spoiled, that they were forced to returne home with shame and dishonour: the French King also came in person with Anno 1549a mighty Army against Bulloigne, where also he was repulsed with shame and great losse: so that it was apparent, that the mighty arme of God fought for King Edward his servant, to defend and deliver him from so many dangerous commotions at home, Gods goodnesse.and attempts abroad: But the Devill envying the progresse of the Gospell, sought to hinder it, by stirring up contentions amongst our Nobility: first between the Lord Protector, and his brother the Lord Admirall, which was not appeased but by the blood of the latter: then between the Lord Protector, and the Earle of Warwick, and other nobles Contention among the Nobility.that he had drawne into his party, which (notwithstanding all endeavours used by the Godly King to make peace betwixt them) ended in the death and destruction of the Protector: Hereupon many of the vulgar sort (thinking that the alterations of the Latin service into English &c. had beene the only act of the Protector) began to bruit it abroad, that now they should have their Latine service againe with holy bread, and holy water &c. Whereupon the Reformation carried on.King with his privie Councell sent to all the Bishops, to take away all Popish books in everie parish, and that if any were refractory, and would not deliver them up, that they should be commited to ward: Anno Christi 1550 letters were sent abroad for the taking downe of Altars in Churches and setting up of Tables instead of the same: and during all the time that the Nobles lived in peace amongst themselves, religion flourished, the Gospell had a free passage, Popery was confounded, and scarce a Papist found that durst shew his head: The popish Doctors, Smith, Chadsey, Standish, Young, Oglethorp, Recantations.with many more, recanted their former ignorance and errors. Yea Bonner with his owne hand subscribed to the Kings supremacy, and promoted his injunctions: the same also did Steven Gardiner. Yea during all the time of peace and concord, what Papist was found in all the realme, which out of devotion to the Pope, would put his neck into the halter, and die a Martyr for his sake? In those peaceable times it was that the King sent for P. Martyr, Martin Forraigne Divines sent for.Bucer, Paul Fagius, with many other learned men, whereof some he placed at Cambridge, others at Oxford, who with their diligent industry, did much good.
And whereas the Emperours Embassador demanded boldly, that the Lady Mary might be suffered to Zeale and courage of the King.have the Masse freely exercised in her house: The good King resolutely and constantly denied to condescend thereunto: Hee increased Sermons at the Court, and ordered that no man should have a Benefice from the King, but first he should preach before him: He sent five thousand pounds beyond sea, to His bounty to distressed Protestants.relieve the poore Protestants; and hearing that the Emperour made many strait lawes against them, he charged his Merchants to forbeare their Trade into Flanders, as much as they could. This prudent and godly King, seeing the wofull breaches at home, intended by alliance to strengthen himselfe abroad; for which end he sent to treat of a marriage between his sister the Lady Elizabeth, and the King of Denmarks eldest son. But this Lady, though she was furnished with many excellent endowments both of Nature and Education, yet could she never be induced to marry with any.
The Lord Protector having been brought to his end by the malice and subtilty of the Earle of Warwick, (now made Duke of Northumberland) the king at first gave no token of any ill tempered passion, as taking it not to be agreeable to Majesty openly to discover it: The Lords also laboured to dispell such melancholy thoughts, by plying of him with variety of exercises, and disports: yet upon speech of him afterwards, The King grieves for the death of his Uncle.he would often sigh, and let fall teares: Sometimes he thought that he had done nothing that deserved death; or if he had, that it was very small, and proceeded rather from his wife then from himselfe. And where then (said he) was the good nature of a Nephew? Where was the clemency of a Prince? Ah! how unfortunate have I been to those of my blood? My Mother I slue at my very birth, and since have made away two of her brothers; and haply to make way for the purposes of others against my selfe. Alas, how falsly have I been abused? How weakly carried? How little was I master over my own judgement? &c. But the Lords laboured to divert his thoughts otherwayes all that they could. The King had six Chaplaines in ordinary, concerning whom an order was made, that two should remaine with the King by turnes, and foure should travell in preaching abroad: the first yeare, two in Wales, and two in Lincolnshire: the next yeare, two in the marches of Scotland, and two in Yorkeshire, and so through all the Shires in England. His zeale in propagating the Gospel.Hereby Religion was much propagated, and the people taught obedience.
The King being fallen into want of money, Commissions were sent forth for selling of Chantry lands, Punishment of sacriledge.and Church-jewels, Chalices, &c. by purchasing whereof many mean persons were advanced to great estates, whereby they left their posterity ranged amongst the Nobility of the land. But within a few yeares, most of them by the secret curse of God, melted to nothing; and by improvidence, or riot, consumed all.
In the sixth year of the Kings reigne, in Aprill he fell The Kings sicknesse.sick of the meazles; yet, through Gods mercy, in a short time, he recovered of the same. Not long after, he fell sick of the small pox; which coming kindly forth, was judged a means, which would much conduce to his future health: & hereof also he recovered perfectly. And the Summer following he rode his And recovery.Progresse with a great train; but when he found that it was burdensome to the Countrey, he discharged the greatest part of it. Soon after, the King complained of a continuall infirmity of body. About which time sundry prodigies were seen; In Oxfordshire a childe was born that had two bodies from the Navell Prodigies.upward, which lived eighteen dayes, and then died both together. At Quinborough three great Dolphins were taken: presently after six more at Blackwall. At Grovesend three great Fishes cal…ed Whirlepooles, were taken. In Ianuary, and the beginning of the seventh yeare of the Kings reigne, his sicknesse The Kings last sicknesse.increased upon him, attended with a strong cough; and notwithstanding all meanes and remedies used, yet it daily increased by dangerous degrees. He had also a great faintnesse, which shewed that his vitall parts were most strongly and strangely assaulted. And the common report was, that his sicknesse proceeded from a slow working poyson. His sicknesse was much lamented, not onelyonly by his own people, but by strangers, his courtesie and wisdome having procured him much love every where. He was famous for his fore sight and judgement in affaires; and he so well tempered the greatnesse of his estate with modesty and gravity, that he avoyded envy by the one, and contempt by the other.
In the time of his sicknesse, Dr. Ridley preaching before him, in his Sermon much commended works of Charity, which as they were a duty for all men to performe, so more especially for those which were in great place, as well in regard of their great abilities, as for that they were obliged to give example thereby unto others.
The same day after dinner the King sent for him into his Gallery, caused him to sit in a Chaire by him, would not suffer him to be uncovered: and then His humility, piety, and charity.after courteous thankes for his Sermon, he repeated all the principall points of it, and then added, I took my selfe to be chiefly touched by your speech: For as in the Kingdome I am next under God, so must I most neerly approach to him in goodnesse and mercy. For as our miseries stand most in need of help from him, so are we the greatest debtors▪ and therefore as you have given me this generall exhortation, so direct me I intreat you by what particular act I may best discharg my duty: The Bishop partly astonished, and partly overjoyed with these speeches, was silent for a time: At last, teares & words breaking forth together, he declared to the King, that as he little expected such a question, so was he not furnished with a present answer: but said withall, that he conceived the Citizens of London had best experience, as overburthened with multitudes of poore of their owne, and from all parts of the Kingdome, and therefore if his Majesty pleased to afford his letter to that effect, he would conferr with them, and in short time returne their answer: the King immediately caused, the letter to be written, which, before the Bishop, he signed, and sealed, and enjoyned him to be the messenger, who going to the Lord Major with it, he called certaine Aldermen, and foure and twentie Commissioners, who ranked the poore into three sorts: such as were poore by impotency of nature, as Orphanes, decrepit persons, idiots and criples: others by faculty, as wounded souldiers, diseased, &c. Thirdly, such as were poore by idlenesse, unthriftinesse, &c. The first, to be educated and maintained: the second to be cured and relieved: the third, to be corrected and reduced to good order: which being presented to the King, he gave to the City, for education and maintenance of the first, the Gray-Friers Church by Newgate market, with all the revenewes belonging to it: to the second, Saint Bartholomews neere Smithfield: for the third, his house at Bridewell: and for increase of maintenance to these, besides the Hospitall of Saint Thomas in Southwark, he gave seven hundred & fifty marks yearly out of the rents of the Hospitall of St. Iohn Baptist, or the Savoy, with all the bedding and furniture belonging to that place: and the charter of this gift being presented to him with a blank for lands in Mortmaine, he presently filled it up with these words, Foure thousand marks by the yeare: which being done, with reverend gesture, and Speech, he thanked God for prolonging his life to finish that businesse. The Kings sicknesse daily increased, and so did the Duke of Northumberlands The Duke of Northumberland suspected to poison him.diligence about him: poison was strongly suspected, for his physitians discerned an invincible malignity in his disease, which though in the lungs, a part of no quick sence, yet his sicknes grew very extreame. The people did hereupon breake forth immoderately into passion, complaining that for this The peoples complaints, & sorrow.cause his two uncles had beene taken away: for this cause the most faithfull of his Nobility and Councell had beene disgraced and discarded, and that for this cause such were placed about him as were ready to commit, or permit any mischiefe.
Yet at this time the Lord Guilford, fourth son to the Duke of Northumberland, was married to the Lady Iane, eldest daughter to the Duke of Summerset, by Frances daughter to Mary, second sister to Henry the eight: And albeit this Lady Iane had noe right to the Crowne, for she was excluded by the Ladies Mary, and Elizabeth, by the issue of Lady Margaret, eldest sister to Henry the eighth, married into Scotland, and by Frances, this Lady Ianes mother, now living: yet Northumberland blinded with pride, procured The Lady Jane made his heire.the King by his letters patents under the broad seale, to appoint the Lady Iane to succeed him in the Kingdome: and this the King did the more easily assent to, partly in regard of his great desire to have the reformed religion continued, which he suspected would be altered by the Lady Mary, if she succeeded, and he could not leaue the Crowne to the Lady Elizabeth, excluding Mary: and partly, By reason of that intire love which he bare to his cosen Iane, a woman of most rare and incomparable perfections, not only for her religion, but for her knowledge of the liberall Arts, skill in Languages, wherein shee exceeded all of her sexe: These letters were signed by the King when he was very weake, and then by all the Privie Councellers: by most of the Nobility, Bishops, Iudges (except Sir Iames Holles) and by the Kings learned Councell. Thus the Duke, having (as he thought) secured all, nothing remained but to dispatch the King: His disease was violent, yet the Physitians had some hope of his recoverie, if he might be removed into an healthfuller aire: but this the Duke over-auing the Councell, would not suffer: then a Gentlewoman was brought, Treacherywho would undertake to cure him, the Kings Physitians talking with her, and finding her extreame ignorant, would not consent that she should meddle with him: yet the Duke caused them to be discharged, and the cure to be committed to her alone: hereupon she administring something to him, the King fell into desperate extreamities, his vitall parts were mortally stuffed, he breathed with difficulty, his legs swelled, his pulse failed, his skin changed colour, and many other horrid Symptoms appeared: then were the Physitians called againe, who seeing how he was, departed with a sad silence: telling their friends, that they were called for fashion sake, but neither their advise, nor remedies used. And that the King had beene ill dealt with more then once: So the King having long wrestled with a lingering tormenting sicknesse, about three houres before his death, his eies being closed, thinking that none heard him, made this Godly prayer; Lord God, deliver me out of this miserable and wretched life, and His Prayer.take me amongst thy chosen: howbeit, not my will but thy will be done; Lord, I commit my spirit to thee. Oh Lord, thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee: yet for thy chosens sake, send me life and health, that I may truly serve thee; O my Lord God, blesse thy people, and save thine inheritance, O Lord God save thy chosen people of England. O my Lord God, defend this Realme from Papistry, and maintaine thy true religion, that I and my people may praise thy holy name, for thy Son Iesus Christs sake: Then turning his face, and seeing some by, he said unto them, are ye so nigh? I thought ye had beene further off: with great patience he endured his paines. Many fervent prayers he made, both for himselfe and this realme: the last words he spake were these; I am faint, Lord have mercy upon me, and take my spirit; and so he spent his His death.last breath in committing his sweet soule into his fathers hands. And thus this blessed King, our young Iosias dyed, anno Christi 1553, of his age the seventeenth, and of his raigne the seventh.
His zeale for religion doth Eminently appeare in His Zeale.this example, The Emperour Charles the fifth sent a request to the King and Councell, to permit the Lady Mary to have Masse in her house: the Councell thinking it fitt to gratifie the Emperour, sent Arch-Bishop Cranmer, and Bishop Ridley to the King, to request his consent thereto; who coming to the King, alleadged their reasons, why they desired it of him: which the King having heard, replyed againe from Scripture grounds so gravely and fully, that they were forced to give way to what he had said, granting it to be true: yet upon Politick grounds, they perswaded him to it, because else it might cause a breach with the Emperour, &c. VntoUnto which the King replyed, willing them to content themselves, for he would, he said, spend his life, & all he had, rather then to grant that which he knew certainly to be against the truth: yet still the Bishops pressed him, and would have no nay: then the good King, seeing their importunity, burst out into bitter weeping, and sobbing, and desired them to be content: whereat the Bishops themselves, seeing the Kings Zeale and constancy, wept as fast as he, and so tooke their leave of him, and coming from him, the Arch-Bishop tooke his Schoolmaster Mr Cheek by the hand, and said, Ah Master Cheek, you have such a scholler, that hath more divinity in his little finger, then all wee have in our bodies. He read over Melancthons common places; All Tullies works: the greatest part of Livies His studiesHistory: the choicest Orations of Socrates in Greek, of which he translated two into Latine: Sophocle's Tragaedies, and the New Testament in Greeke also. The learned Cardane made this Epitaph of him.
Flete nefas magnum, sed toto flebitis orbe
Mortales: vester corruit omnis honor.
Nam regum decus, juvenum flos, spes{que} bonorum,
Diliciae secli, et gloria gentis erat.
Dignus Apolloniis lachrymis, Doctae{que} Minervae:
Flosculus heu misero concidit ante diem.
Te tumulo dabimus, Musae supremaque flentes
Munera Melpomene tristia fata canunt.
Collected out of the Book of Martyrs, Sir Io. Haywards Life of Edward the sixth, and Speeds Chronicle.