mean Original the King had advanced him to fo great Honour. But Cromwell's Crime was that of dalhing against the Rock on which two before had split; the King, pretending more than ordinary Love for Queen Jane, had not fo foon provided himfelf with another Wife as he had been used to do; and Cromwell, willing to ftrengthen the Reformation, advised the King to marAnn of Cleve, ry Ann, the Sifter of the Duke of Cleve, the King's 4th which Marriage took at first; but, after fix Months Cohabitation, this Lady was repudiated; and, inftead of the Title of Queen, was forced to be contented with that of the King's adopted Sifter. The Caufe for the Divorce of this Lady was diverfly spoken of, but three in particular forwarded it much: First, The King, having taken her unfeen, found himself mistaken in her Beauty, Does not like for, it seems, Nature in that respect had not been very bountiful to her. Wife. ber. 1540. Se condly, Some natural Defect in this Lady was a Bar to Enjoyment, which feems probable from her own Confeffions; for in a Letter, wherein fhe fubmits herfelf to the Judgment of the Parliament, fhe affirms, the King never knew her carnally. Thirdly, The King had another in his Eye, which he fancied better, who was the Lady Catherine Howard. Now Cromwell, having been the Promoter of the Match with Ann, and the King having a mind to Catherine, who, looking upon Cromwell as a Hindrance to her Advancement, became his Enemy, and perfuaded the King to get rid of him; and, though the Crimes objected against him were caCromwell im pital, yet, not being permitted to speak peached. for himfelf, the Proceedings against him cannot but be thought extreamly rigorous. In fhort, the Accufations against him were chiefly for an Ufurpation of Power, in fetting at Liberty certain Perfons not entitled to it; granting certain Licences, and making feveral Commiffions in high Affairs, without And beheaded. without the King's Knowledge; of being an Heretick, and a Favourer of them; but that the Head of the Church, the Vicegerent in fpiritual Affairs, should be an Heretick feems very inconfiftent: Though these were only pretended Crimes, to put the better Colour on the King's Injuftice, his Mistress hated him, and the King refolved he should die; accordingly he was beheaded on Tower-bill on the 28th of June, 1540: Dying with great Prefence of Mind, profeffing himself upon the Scaffold a true Catholick Chriftian, which being a general Term, it is uncertain whether he meant of the Romish or Reformed Communion. However, the King carried his Refentment no further; for, before the End of the Year, he created Cromwell's Son a Lord, and restored his Father's Eftate to him. More Execu tions. On the 30th of July fix Priests were drawn upon Hurdles to Smithfield, where three were burnt, being charged with Herefy; and the other three, being charged with Treason, were hanged, drawn and quartered. Soon after the Lord Leonard Gray, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was recalled from thence, fent to the Tower, and the next Year was beheaded for Treafon. Catherine Howard, the King's 5th Wife. On the 4th of Auguft no lefs than feven Perfons were executed, for denying the King's Supremacy. Blood and Luft went hand in hand; for, whilft thefe Executions were carrying on, the King married the Lady Catherine Howard, and on the 8th of August she was publickly fhewed as Queen, which Honour fhe neither enjoyed long; for, on the 12th of February, 1541, fhe was likewife beheaded for Adultery, which she confeffed. So that the Reader may here obferve, that Catherine and Ann were the Ruin of both Mafter and Servant; that in less than Executed for Some Reflections on what paled. ten ten Years Henry had five Wives; and, what is more remarkable, that Anna Bulleyn, who was the Ruin of Cardinal Wolfey, Cromwell's Mafter, was afterwards brought to the Block; that Catherine Howard, who was the Ruin of Cromwell, met with the fame Fate, being accufed, condemned, and executed for the fame Crime, though perhaps not both equally guilty. The Severities that had been fhewn Another Infur- to both Papists and Proteftants raised a ge rection. neral Discontent throughout the Kingdom, which caused a Revolt in Yorkshire; but it was foon quelled, and, Sir John Nevill, with feveral other Gentlemen and Yeoman, were executed at York. Countess of Salifbury butch ered. But this did not fatisfy the King, for he caufed the aged Countess of Salisbury to be sent to the Tower, it being Crime fufficient for her to be of the House of York; though fhe was attainted of Treason, yet beheaded without being heard. An odd Act of Parliament. 1542. Notwithstanding all this the King's Mind still run upon marrying again; but, as he had fuch bad Luck with his Wives, the Parliament took the fame into Confideration; and, to prevent any more fuch Difafters, they caused it to be enacted, "That, if the King "fhould happen to marry a Woman that had been be"fore incontinent, if the concealed the fame, it should be deemed High Treafon." But this Act, however well intended, did the King a Difkindness; for (fo few chofe to run the Hazard of entering into the Bands of Matrimony with him, who had got fuch a Knack of diffolving them, knowing in what a flippery State they must be in, if he, after receiving them to his Bed, fhould, through any Miftake, declare them no Maids) our Ladies at home refufed his Courtship; however, the King wanting a Wife, he was pleased to look A The Ladies highly difpleafed at it. broad * A foreign Princess refufes the King's CourtJhip. broad for one this Time; for which Purpose he sent an Ambaffador to demand the Princefs Chriftiana, Sifter to the King of Denmark, in Marriage, and withal writ her a Letter with his own Hand. The Princess answered the Letter, wherein "fhe thanked the King for the Honour defigned her, "which fhe would gladly have accepted, had the "been so happy as to have had two Heads; but, as "fhe had but one, fhe hoped the King would ex"cufe her for declining the Honour, being willing to keep that on her Shoulders." A Widow,bis 6th Wife. 1543. The King, finding himself disappointed Abroad, fixed at last upon a Widow at Home, the Lady Catherine Parr, who being indeed a Lady of Integrity and Worth, and of Maturity of Years, he lived after Marriage well with her in Appearance; but, towards the End of the King's Life, fhe was in great Danger of lofing hers; not for Adultery, but for a Crime he used to punish as severely, Herefy, of which she She is impeachwas much fufpected by Stephen Gardi- ed for Herefy. ner, and others of the fame Kidney; in which, by the King's Confent, they had proceeded fo far against the Queen, as to procure a Warrant to carry her to the Tower; but her prudent Submission to the King took off the Edge of his Anger, and thereby not only prevented the Edge of the Ax coming too near her, but defeated the Defigns of her Enemies. 1544. 1545. These Years Henry continued to spend his Time in hanging Papifts and burning Proteftants that did not comply with the Acts and Orders he caused to be made for fupporting his vio, lent Measures. About this Time the King was employed in carry ing Whofe Picture is ftill in the Royal Palace at Hampton-court. ing on a War both against France and Scotland; but he foon clapt up a Peace with both Nations. The Duke of Norfolk and his Son in Cu The Year 1546 was ushered in with fpilling more Blood, and the Duke of Norfolk, one of Wolfey's most inveterate Eneftody. mies, now felt the Effects of his Master's reforming Spirit; for he was committed to the Tower, as well as his Son, the most learned and noble Earl of Surry, who was tried and convicted of what was called Treafon in thofe Times, and, fome Days before the King's Death, was beheaded, as would likewife have been the Father, had not that Exit prevented it. Burnet, and other Authors have indeed talked of Wolfey's abject Behaviour on his Disgrace; but, give us Leave to fay, no Man could behave with a meaner Submiffion than the Duke of Norfolk did upon his being fent to the Tower; for Proof of which fee Lord Herbert's History, in which is likewife the following among many other Confeffions. I Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, do confefs and acknowledge myfelf moft untruly, and contrary to my Oath and Allegiance, to have offended the King's most excellent Majefty in the disclosing and opening of his privy Letters, and Counfels, at divers and fundry Times, to divers and fundry Perfons, to the great Peril of his Highness, and difappointing of his most prudent and royal Affairs. T. N. Could as much be ever found against Wolfey? If a Soldier behaved thus under Misfortunes, why fhould we wonder at a faithful Minister's being uneafy, when his ungrateful Mafter was about to deliver him over to the Mercy of his Enemies? The Duke of Suffolk, it is true, by his complying with the King in all his Humours, had the good Fortune to die in his Bed. That |
