and place I could willingly have contented | my self, if God and your grace's pleasure had 'been so pleased. Neither did I at any time so far forget my self in my exaltation, or re'ceived queenship, but that I alwayes looked for such an alteration as now I find; for the 6 ground of my preferment being on no surer foundation than your grace's fancy, the least alteration, I knew, was fit and sufficient to draw that fancy to some other subject. You ‹ have chosen me, from a low estate, to be your queen and companion, far beyond my desert or desire. If then you found me worthy of such honour, good your grace let not any light fancy, or bad counsel of mine enemies, withdraw your princely favour from me; neither let that stain, that unworthy stain of a disloyal heart towards your good grace, ever cast so foul a blot on your most dutiful wife, and the infant princess your daughter: <try me, good king, but let me have a lawful trial, and let not iny sworn enemies sit as my accusers and judges; yea, let me receive an open trial, for my truth shall fear no open shame; then shall you see, either mine innocency cleared, your suspicion and conscience satisfied, the ignonimy and slander of the world stopped, or my guilt openly declared. So that whatsoever God or you may determine of me, your grace may be freed from an open censure; and mine offence being so lawfully proved, your grace is at liberty, both before God and man, not only to execute worthy punishment on me as an unlawful wife, but to follow your affection, already settled on that party, for whose sake I am now as I am, whose name I could some good while since have pointed unto; your grace being not ignorant of my suspicion therein.-But if you have already determined of me, and that not only my death, but an infamous slander must bring you the enjoying of your desired happiness; then I desire of God, that he will pardon your great sin therein, and likewise mine enemies, the instruments thereof; and that <he will not call you to a strict account for your unprincely and cruel usage of me, at his general judgment-seat, where both you and my self must shortly appear, and in whose judgment I doubt not, (whatsoever the world * 6 Extract from Strype's Memorials, vol. 1. p. 279. This year, (1536) in the month of May, queen Anne Boleyn was beheaded: a great friend. and patroness of the reformed religion. She was very nobly charitable, and expended largely in all manner of acts of liberality, according to her high quality. And among the rest of her ways of shewing this Christian virtue, she being a favourer of learning, together with her father, the lord Wiltshire, and the lord Rochford, her brother, maintained divers ingenious men at the universities. Among the rest, were these men of note, Dr. Hethe, afterward archbishop of York, and lord chancellor; Dr. Thirlby, afterward bishop of Ely; and Mr. Paget, afterward lord Paget, and secretary of state: all which in her time were favourers of the Gospel, though afterwards they relapsed. Of Paget one hath observed, that he was a most earnest Protestant, and being in Cambridge, gave unto one Raynold West, Luther's book, and other books of the Germans, as Franciscus Lambertus de Sectis; and that, at that time he read Melancthon's rhetorick openly in Trinity-hall; and was a maintainer of Dr. Barnes, and all the Protestants then in Cambridge, and helped This queen was also a great favourer of those many religious persons out of their cowles. that suffered for religion. Let this Letter ensuing, writ by her to Crumwel, stand upon record here, shewing both her love to such sufferers, and her high esteem of the word of God. By the Queen. Anne the Queen. Trusty and right well 'beloved, wee greet you well. And whereas, we be credibly enformed, that the bearer hereof, Rychard Herman, merchant, and citizen of Antwerp in Brabant, was, in the time of the late lord cardinal, put and expelled 'from his freedom and fellowship of and in the English-House there, for nothing else, as he affirmeth, not only for that, that he did, both with his goods and policy, to his great hurt and hindrance in this world, help to the setting forth of the New Testament in English. Wee therefore desire and instantly pray you, that with all speed and favour convenient, ye woll cause this good and honest merchant, being my lords true, faithful and loving sub may think of me) mine innocence shall beject, to be restored to his pristin freedom, openly known, and sufficiently cleared.--My last and only request shall be, that my self may only bear the burthen of your grace's displeasure, and that it may not touch the innocent souls of those poor gentlemen, who, as I understand, are likewise in strait impri'sonment for my sake. If ever I have found favour in your sight, if ever the name of Ann Boleyn hath been pleasing in your ears, then let me obtain this request; and I will so leave to trouble your grace any further, with mine earnest prayers to the Trinity to have your grace in his good keeping, and to direct you in all your actions. From my doleful prison in the Tower, this 6th of May. Your most ♦ loyal and ever faithful wife, ANN BOLLYN.' liberty and fellowship aforesaid. And the sooner at this our request: and at your good plesure to hear him in such things as he hath to make further relation unto you in this behalf. Yeven under our signet, at my lord's mannor of Grenewich, the 14 day of May.' Such a material piece of history in the king's reign, besides what is written by our historians, may deserve divers particular remarks to be shewn, concerning this queen's behaviour and her speeches, from the time of her commitment to the Tower, to her execution. Which I am enabled to give from five or six letters of sir William Kyngston, constable, or (as others) lieutenant, of the Tower, to secretary Crumwel. And I do it the rather, to represent matters concerning this queen in her afflictions the more largely, exactly and distinctly; which bishop Burnet hath set down from the same papers, more briefly and imperfectly. And perhaps upon the reading of what follows, some things which that reverend author attributes to fits and vapours in the queen, may find a better and truer interpretation. The lord Herbert also has given us only some short hints of these things. 6 After the duke of Norfolk, and some other of the kings council who had conducted queen Anne to the Tower (which was on the 2d of May) were departed, the said constable of the Tower went before her into her lodging. And then she said to him, Mr. Kyngston, shall I go into a dungeon?' he answered her, No, madam; you shall go into your lodging, that you lay in at your coronation. Upon which she said, It is too good for me. And further said, Jesu! have mercy on me.' And then kneeled down, weeping a great pace. And in the same sorrow fell into a great laughing. And so she did several times afterwards. Then she desired Mr. Kyngston, to move the king's highness that she might have the sacrament in the closet by her chamber, that she might pray for mercy. For I am as clear,' said she, from the company of man, as for sin, as I am clear from you and again, the king's true wedded wife. And then she said, Mr. Kyngston, do you know wherefore I am here? and he said, Nay. And then she asked him, when he saw the king? he said, not since he saw him in the Tilt-Yard, [which was but the day before at Greenwich, when he seemed first to take a displeasure against her.] And then she asked him, I pray you tell me, where my lord my father is. He told her, he saw him afore dinner in the court. O! where is my sweet brother? (for she feared the king's displeasure against her, would reach unto all her relations,) Kingston replyed, I left him at York-place: thinking it convenient to conceal it from her, though he was committed the same day. I hear say, said she, that I shall be accused by three men. And I can say no more but, Nay: though you should open my body; and therewith she opened her gown. Adding, O! Norris, hast thou accused me? thou art in the Tower with me. And thou and I shall die, together. And Mark, [another that accused her] thou art here too. And then with much compassion she said, O! my mother, thou wilt die with sorrow. And then she much lamented my lady Worcester (being with child) because her child did not stir in her body. And when the constable's wife, being present, asked, what might be the cause, she said, It was for the sorrow she took for me. Then she said, Mr. Kyngston, shall I die without justice? to which he resolved, The poorest subject the king had, had justice. And therewith she laughed. All these sayings happened that night. The next morning in conversation, with her, these speeches happened; related by sir W. Kyngston, in bis foresaid letter. Mrs. Cosins, a gentlewoman appointed to wait upon the queen here, and that lay on her palate bed, said, that Norris (one of those that were accused about her) did say on Saturday last unto the queen's amner, that he would swear for the queen, that she was a good woman. And then the said gentlewoman added, speaking to the queen, [as minding to enquire of her concerning the occasion of her present trouble] Madam, why should there be any such matters spoken of? Marry, said the queen, I bade him do so. For I asked him, why he did not go through with his marriage [with some lady, it seems, Norris courted]. And he made answer, he would tarry a time. Then said she, You look for dead men's shoes. For if ought should come to the king, but good, you would look to have me. Then he said, If he should have any such thought, he would his head were off. And then she said, she could undo him, if she would. And therewith they fell out. And then she said, I more fear Weston [another that was cast into the Tower about her business.] For Weston had said unto her, that Norris came more unto her chamber for her, than he did for Mage [the name, I suppose, of one of the queen's maids, that he courted.] And further, Kyngston related another saying, which the queen spake to him concerning Weston, [whom also she had sometimes talk with, coming often in her way; which might create a jealousy concerning hum.] That she had spoke with him, because he did love her kinswoman, Mrs. Skelton. And said to him, that he loved not his wife [spoken by way of reproof.] And he made answer to her again, that he loved one in her house better than them both. And the queen said, Who is that? he gave this answer, It is yourself. And then she defied him, as she said to Kyngston [in scorne and displeasure, as reflecting upon her honour, undoubtedly]. These passages between the queen and them, was the cause of all their deaths; coming some way or other to the jealous king's ears. For she, being of a free and courteous nature, would exchange words sometimes, and enter into some talk with such as she met in the court; and with these gen. tlemen, who were of the privy chamber: and so happened often to come where she was. And some of their discourse happened to be brought to the king by some oflicious person, that owed her no good will. In another Letter to secretary Crumwel, he wrote these passages concerning the said queen: That she much desired to have there in her closet the sacrament; and also her amner for one hour, when she was determined to die [that is, to suffer death.] After an examination of her at Greenwich, before some of the council, the said Kyngston sent for his wife and Mrs. Cosins (who both were appointed to be always with her) to know of them, how she had done that day. They said, she had been very merry, and made a good dinner: and after, called for a supper. And then called for him, and asked him, where he had been all day. And ↑ did, when he put two such about her, as my after some words, she began to talk, and said, lady Boleyn, and Mrs. Cosins. For they could she was cruelly handled at Greenwich with the tell her nothing of my lord, her father, and noking's council: namely, with my lord of Nor-thing else. But that she defied them all. folk [who was indeed her enemy.] And that he said, [to what she had spoken, as it seems in her own defence] Tut, tut, tut;' and shaking his head three or four times. And as for Mr. Treasurer, he was, said she, in the forest of Windsor. You know, added the writer of the letter, what she meant by that. And then named Mr. Comptroller (another of the council) to be a very gentleman. But she to be a queen, and so cruelly handled, it was never seen. But I think the king doth it to prove me.' And then laughed withal: and was very merry. And then she said, I shall have justice. Then said the constable, Have no doubt therein. Then she said, If any man accuse me, I can say but nay. And they can bring no witness. [Meaning any about her whosoever, to be able to charge her with any dishonourable act.] But then upon this, my lady Boleyn [her kinswoman] said to her, Such desire as you have had to such tales, [tale-carriers or tellers, as some perhaps of her women were] have brought you to this. Then said Mrs. Stoner, [another gentlewoman about her] Mark [Smeton, the musician, another committed to the Tower, an accuser of the queen] is the worst cherished of any in the house. For he weareth irons. The queen said, that was because he was no gentleman. And he never was at my chamber; [and so could know less, she meant, than any, what was done by her, or any with her there] but at Winchester, and there she sent for him, to play on the virginals: for there my lodging And in some communication with the lady was above the king's. And I never spake with Kyngston and Mrs. Cosins, I would to God, him since, but upon Saturday before May day said she, I had my bishops. For they would [that fatal day, when the king first conceived all go to the king for me. For I think the his jealousy.] And then I found him standing most part of England prayeth for me. And if in the round window in my chamber of preI die, you shall see the greatest punishment for sence. And I asked him, why he was so sad. me within this seven years, that ever came to And he answered and said, it was no matter. England. [This she spake no doubt in the And then she said, You may not look to have confidence of her innocency; and God's right-me speak to you as I would do to a nobleman: eous and visible judgments for the most part, because ye be an inferior person. No, no, for shedding innocent blood. And indeed said he, a look sufficeth me; and thus fare you within the seventh year following, happened a well. This shews him to be some haughty dreadful pestilence in London, and many com- person; and thought the queen gave him not motions and insurrections to the end of this respect enough. And so might take this opreign.] And then,' said she, shall I be in portunity to humble her; and revenge himself Heaven. For I have done many good deeds by this means on her: not thinking it would in my days.' Then she took notice of divers cost him his own life. women set about her, that she liked not; saying, I think much unkindness in the king to put such about me, as I never loved. Then Kyngston shewed her, that the king took them to be honest and good women. But I would have had of my own privy chamber, replyed she, which I favour most, &c. In another Letter of Kyngston to Crumwel, he relates, how she desired of him to carry a letter to the said Crumwel [of whose friendship she had a belief.] But he (it seems not thinking it safe for him to carry letters from her) | said to her, that if she would tell it him by mouth, he would do it. For which she gave him thanks and added, that she much marvelled, that the king's council came not to her, as seeming to be ready to justify her self. The same day she said, we should have no rain, till she was delivered out of the Tower: it being a season that wanted rain: [thinking probably that God (who takes care of innocency) would vindicate her, by giving, or withholding the clouds of Heaven.] To which Kyngston replyed, I pray, it may be shortly, because of the fair weather adding, you know what I mean [that is, the king's reconciliation to her]. Other occasional speeches of hers, were these. She said concerning such women as was set about her, That the king wist what he And Another letter of sir William Kyngston to Crumwel, giving an account of this queen's behaviour at her execution, is published in the History of the Reformation, which began thus ; Sir, this shall be to advertise you, that I have received your letter; wherein you would have, strangers conveyed out of the tower. so they be, by the means of Richard Gresham, and William Loke, and Withepole. But the 'number of strangers past not thirty; and not many hothe [other.] Armed' is added in the said History, which word is not in the original letter. Other mistakes there, this more exact transcription will rectify thus far in the Letter. Another Letter of hers to the king, beginning, Sir, your grace's displeasure,' &c. (p. 426), is published in the said History. But this passage following wrote at the end of her Letter, I think worthy to be transcribed, and set here, the reverend author of that book relating it imperfectly, viz. The king sending a message to the queen Anne, being prisoner in the Tower; willing her to confess the truth, she said, She could confess no more, then she had already spoken. And she said, she must 'conceal nothing from the king, to whom she 'did acknowledge her self so much bound for many favours: for raising her first from a mean woman to be a Marquess; next to be 493] STATE TRIALS, 33 HENRY VIII. This queen. And now, seeing he could bestow DO further honour upon her on earth, for purposing to make her, by martyrdom, a saint in 'Heaven.-I add one remark more concerning this queen: that at this time of her being in the Tower, a former charge was revived against her: namely, the contract of marriage between her and the present earl of Northumberland, before her marrying with the king: designing, if they could prove this, to make her former marriage with the king unlawful and void; and to make the smoother way for his marrying with the lady Jane. But whatsoever the af | 1541.—the Earl of Essex, for Treason. [434 flicted queen confessed to save her life, or to change the way of her execution, from burning to beheading, that there never was any such precontract, the said earl protested solemnly in a letter to secretary Crumwel: who it seems had now desired to know the truth from himself. Therein telling him, how he had formerly before the two archbishops, viz. Warham and Wolsey, utterly denied it upon his oath, and the receiving of the sacrament: so he now confirmed it in this letter. See further Fuller's Church Hist. book 5, p. 206, 207. 34. Proceedings against THOMAS CROMWELL, earl of ESSEX, for Treason: 33 Hen. VIII. A. D. 1541. [2 Kennett's Compl. Hist. 222. 2 Fox's Acts and Monum. 512. Hist. 544.] 1 Cobb. Parl. The that any man, who medled so much in great THAT beauty and attraction which should take the kings eye in Anne of Cleve, not appearing, nor that conversation which should please his ear; and her brother besides excusing himself in the performance of some Articles of the Treaty, he did more willingly think of a Divorce; for which purpose, the pre-contract with the duke of Lorain's son was chiefly pretended. For though Olesleger, chancellor of Cleves, had according to his promise, 26 Feb. 1540, procured an Instrument in writing out of the Records of Dusseldorp, dated Feb. 15, 1535, testifying the Sponsalia heretofore made by the parents betwixt the duke of Lorain's son, and the lady Anne, should not take effect. Yet this it seems either was not shewed, or did not satisfie our king. Howsoever it was not deposited in Archivis Regis, but found among Cromwel's Papers after his apprehension. And now although all scruples seemed the more considerable, in that so many doubts had been already cast concerning the kings former Marriages, yet the king determined at what price soever to separate himself from Anne of Cleve, and together to ruine Cromwel. For though he had not long before made him knight of the Garter, earl of Essex, and high chamberlain of England, yet as he was odious by reason of his low birth to all the nobility, and hated particularly by Stephen After this he was attainted by parliament; Gardiner, and the Roman catholics, for having in the which Attainder, divers and sundry operated so much in the dissolution of Abbies; and that the Reformers themselves found he Crimes, Surmises, Objections, and Accusacould not protect them from burning; and last- tions were brought against him, but chiefly and ly, that besides a Subsidy that the clergy gave above all other he was charged and accused of of 4s. in the pound, he had gotten in the pre- Heresy, for that he was a supporter of them sent parliament, not without much reluctation, (whom they recounted for heretics) as Barns, one tenth, and one fifteen parts of all lay-Clark, and many other, whom he by his authomens goods; be was universally hated: which our king considering, and having besides divers Articles brought against him, he now judged him no longer necessary: therefore he gave way to all his enemies accusations; which could not but be material; it being impossible VOL. I. Lord Cromwell. rity and letters written to sheriffs and justices in divers shires rescued, and discharged out of prison. Also that he did divulgate and disperse abroad among the king's subjects great numbers of Books, containing, as they said, manifest matter of much heresy, diffidence, and 2 F [436 misbelief. Item, that he caused to be trans- John, Henry 2, and Richard 2, had had such a lated into our English tongue Books compris- counsellor about them, I suppose they should ing matter expressly against the Sacrament of the Altar, and that, after the translation there- and overthrown as those good princes were:' never have been so traiterously abandoned, of, he commended and maintained the same for good and Christian doctrine. Over and After which, he says again, I loved him as besides all this, they brought in certain wit-loved him for the love which I thought I saw my friend, for so I took him to be, but I chiefly nesses, what they were, the Attainder expresseth not, which most especially pressed, or him bear ever towards your grace singularly rather oppressed, him with heinous words above all others: But now, if he be a Traitor, spoken against the king in the Church of St. him, and I am very glad that his treason is I am sorry that ever I loved him, or trusted Peter the Poor, in the month of March, in the discovered in time; but yet again I am very thirtieth year of the king's reign. Which words, sorrowful; for who shall your grace trust if they be true, as the Attainder doth purport, hereafter, if you might not trust him? Alas! three things, says Fox, I have here much to marvel at. First, if his adversaries had so sure herein, I wot not whom your grace may trust. I bewail and lament your grace's chance hold and matter against him, then what should But I pray God continually night and day move them to make such hasty speed, in all post haste to have him dispatched and rid out to send such a counsellor in his place, of the way, and in no case could abide him to come to his purgation? Which, if he might have done, it is not otherwise to be thought, but he would easily have cleared himself there. of. Secondly, this I marvel, that if the words had been so heinous against the king, as his enemies did pretend, why then did those witnesses which heard those words in St. Peter's Church, in the thirtieth year of the king's reign, conceal the said words of such treason so long, the space almost of two years, and now uttered the same in the two and thirtieth year of the king's reign, in the month of July. Thirdly, here is again to be marvelled, if the king had known or believed these words to be true, and that Cromwell had indeed been such a traitor to his person, why then did the king so shortly after lament his death, wishing to have his Cromwell alive again? What prince will wish the life of him whom he suspecteth undoubtedly to be a traitor to his life and person? Whereby it may appear what judgment the king had of Cromwell in himself, howsoever the parliament by sinister information was otherwise incensed to judge upon him. The whom your grace may trust, and who for all like to him, and that will have so much sohis qualities can and will serve your grace licitude and care to preserve your grace from which, as being a character of Cromwell in all dangers, as I ever thought he had.' All Cranmer's opinion, I have faithfully copied tend excuses for him, whom the laws have conout of the Original. Not yet that I will predemned; (though Fox doubts not to say, 'That as General Councils have sometimes been observed to err, so princes and parliaments may be sometimes informed by sinister heads;') but that his punishment may serve as a caution for those that serve severe princes, to procure sufCrimes objected to Cromwell seeming to be ficient warrant for all that they do. chiefly an usurpation of power, to set at liberty certain Licences, and making certain Comcertain persons not capable of it, and granting missions in high affairs, without the king's knowledge: For which, though Cromwell in his discretion might have found due motives; yet as he proceeded not warily therein, he fell into the danger of the law. Furthermore, he ing them: (But then, that the head of the was accused for being an Heretic, and favourChurches vicegerent in spiritual affairs, should seemed strange, to others gave occasion of be an Heretic and favourer of them, to some merriment.) As for his speaking certain high presumptuous words concerning the king, and sundry of the nobility, many thought it procecded rather out of mistaking and rashness, than any ill intention. The proceedings against him were thought rigorous, but so few pitied him, that all was easily passed over: nevertheless, I find by an Original, that Cranmer wrote to the king in his behalf boldly, considering the times; for though,' as is in his letter, he heard yesterday in his grace's council, that he is a Traitor; yet, he saith, who cannot be sorrowful and amazed that he should be a traitor against your majesty? He that was so advanced by your majesty, he whose surety was only by your majes- being condemned while he was in the Tower, Cromwel thus unheard, and almost unpitied, ty, he who loved your majesty, as I ever thought, omitted not yet to write unto the king. Amongst no less than God; he who studied always to set forward whatsoever was your majesty's will him, one there was, whom the lord Cromwell the rest of the Commissioners which came unto and pleasure; he that cared for no man's dis- desired to carry for him a Letter to the King, pleasure to serve your majesty; he that was such a servant, in my judgment, in wisdom, carry no Letter to the king from a Traitor; which when he refused, saying that he would diligence, faithfulness, and experience, as no prince in this realm ever had; he that was so then the lord Cromwell desired him at least to vigilant to preserve your majesty from all do from him a message to the king. To that Treasons, that few could be so secretly conthe other was contented, and granted, so that ceived, but he detected the same in the begin-lord Cromwell taking witness of the other it were not against his allegiance. Then the ning? If the noble princes of memory, king lords, what he had promised; you shall com |