07 Apr 1546. On the seuen and twentith of Aprill being tuesdaie in Easter wéeke William Foxleie pot-maker for the mint of the Tower of London fell asléepe, and so continued sléeping, and could not be wakened with pricking, cramping, or otherwise burning whatsoeuer, till the first daie of the next terme, which was full fouretéene daies, and as manie nights or more, for that Easter terme beginneth not before seauentéene daies after Easter. The cause of his thus sléeping could not be knowen, though it were diligentlie searched for by the kings physicians and other learned men, yea the king himselfe examining the said William Foxleie, who was in all points found at his waking to be but as if he had slept but one night: he was liuing in the Tower of London in the yéere of our Lord God 1579.

18 May 1546. The eighteenth daie of Maie there were foure of the kings ships, and foure pinases abroad on the seas afore the hauen of Hamble Thew, and there came eightéene of the French gallies to set vpon them, and so there was great shooting betweene them: and at length one of their gallies was taken, in the which were aboord fourtéene score soldiors and seauen score rowers: the rest of their gallies packed awaie. Moreouer, whilest the campe laie thus at Hamble Thew, it chanced that on a daie a mutinie rose among that they got themselues into order of battell, seized vpon the great artillerie, and shewed countenance as if they would haue set vpon the residue of the whole campe. Herevpon euerie soldior was commanded to repaire to his ensigne, and the Spaniards came and ioined with the Englishmen, readie to take such part as they did. At length by the diligence of the chiefteines, and good countenance of the English soldiors and Spaniards the tumult was staied, and six of the principall beginners were hanged.

21 May 1546. The one and twentith of Maie the French armie came and incamped beyond Bullongne at the church on the hill:

22 May 1545. ... and the morrow after the earle of Hertford marched with his power to a place within two miles of them, and certeine footmen and horssemen went foorth and skirmished with them; and in the meane time the artillerie ceassed not to shoot off, as well from the French campe and fortresse as from Bullongne and the Old man. This daie were slaine fouretéene Frenchmen and two taken prisoners; and thrée of the English part were likewise taken, and so the earle of Hertford returned to his campe, and left the lancequenets vpon the hill, incamped before the enemies faces, not two miles distant from them, in which place a fort was begun to be raised, which was after called the fort of Bullongne Berg.

23 May 1546. The next daie, to wit, the thrée and twentith of Maie the soldiors of Bullongne and the lancequenets skirmished with the Frenchmen, slue and tooke of them seuen score and aboue of the which there were fortie that were in cotes of veluet, and diuerse also with chaines.

Here you must vnderstand, that now in this meane while by the motion of diuerse princes, a méeting was had of sundrie commissioners, appointed to treat of some peace, to be concluded betwixt the two kings of England and France. Herevpon there came to Guisnes for the king of England the earle of Hertford, the bishop of Winchester, sir Iohn Dudleie vicount Lisle baron of Maupas, and high admerall of England, sir William Paget the kings secretarie, and doctor Nicholas Wootton deane of Canturburie. For the French king there came to Ard monsieur Claude Danebault admerall of France, being also one of the foure marshals of that realme, the bishop of Eureux, monsieur Reimund chiefe president of Rone, the secretarie Bouchetell. Diuerse times they met betwixt Ard and Guisnes, and after long debating of matters, and diuerse breakings off: yet at length the seauenth of Iune a peace was concluded, and proclamed as well in the court as in the citie of London on Whitsundaie the thirtéenth of Iune, with sound of trumpet, according to the manner: and in like sort the same daie it was proclamed at Paris and at Rone. The chiefest article of which peace was this, that the French king paieng to the king of England 800000 crownes within the terme of eight yeares, should haue Bullongne againe to him restored, which in the meane time should remaine in the hands and possession of the king of England, as a pledge and gage for assurance of the said moneie.

27 Jun 1546. On the seuen & twentith of Iune doctor Crome recanted at Paules crosse: which recantation was vrged vpon this occasion. When the chanteries & colleges were giuen by act of parlement into the kings hands (as is aboue remembred) which was about the moneth of December 1545, the next lent following doctor Crome preaching in the mercers chappell, among other reasons and persuasions, to rouse the people from the vaine opinion of purgatorie, inferred this, grounding vpon the said act of parlement: that if trentals and chanterie masses could auaile the soules in purgatorie, then did the parlement not well in giuing awaie monasteries, colleges, & chanteries, which serued principallie to that purpose. But if the parlement did well (as no man could denie) in dissoluing them & bestowing the same vpon the king, then is it a plaine case, that such chanteries and priuat masses doo nothing conferre so reléeue them in purgatorie. This Dilemma of doctor Crome, no doubt, was insoluble: but notwithstanding the charitable prelats (for all the kings late exhortation vnto charitie) were so charitable to him that they brought him Coram nobis, and so handled him that they made him recant his words. On the sixtéenth of Iune were letters patents deliuered to sir Thomas Cheinie treasuror of the kings houshold, and lord warden of the cinque ports, wherby he was authorised to be the kings agent in christening the Dolphins daughter of France named Elizabeth. A true copie of which letters patents is here recorded, bicause the said action hath béene ignorantlie transferred from the said sir Thomas Chemie to sir Henrie Kneuet: as appeareth in Holinsheds chronicle published 1577, pag. 1608.

A true copie of the kings letters patents to sir Thomas Cheinie.

The king hauing passed ouer the foresaid letters patents to sir Thomas, and he in forwardnesse to execute his charge, to the intent that his retinue and attendants should no waies offensiuelie behaue themselues against the French, with whom the king was verie carefull to continue and mainteine the peace interchangeablie agreed vpon and concluded, his maiestie to preuent and cut off all occasions that might anie waie impeach, interrupt, or violate this peace, commanded the lords of his councell to direct letters with all expedition to the said sir Thomas, then vpon his voiage into France, conteining a prescript forme of demeanor, which the gentlemen & yeomen attendant vpon him in France should vse, during the time of their abode in those forren parts: a copie of which letter, being a testimoniall of the king of Englands inclinable mind to peace hereafter followeth out of the verie originall, as the same was subscribed by the lords.

Thus farre of sir Thomas Cheinie, imploied about the kings affaires in France; namelie the christening of the Dolphins daughter: wherein we haue béene the more copious in words, bicause it hath béen published, that sir Henrie Kneuet was there vnto personallie deputed: which to be vntrue, both the letters patents and the letter missiue doo sufficientlie prooue; both which we receiued at the hands of an ancient seruitor, attendant vpon the same sir Thomas at his béeing in France to execute his charge in the kings behalfe. Of which woorthie knight when we come to the yeare and daie of his death, we will deliuer further report to his high commendation, but yet none otherwise than as by warranted intelligence we shall be directed.

The same time was a combat fought before the French king betwixt two Spaniards, Iulian Romerou, and one Morow. They both serued the king of England in the last wars against France: but Morow had reuolted from his seruice to the French kings, and for certeine spéeches which he had vttered, was chalenged to fight the said combat by the said Iulian, for whome sir Henrie Kneuet vndertooke that he should stand to his chalenge, and trie it with his aduersarie, which he now did, and vanquished him in lists, the fight being appointed on horssebacke. Incontinentlie after, sir Henrie Kneuet sickned and died at Corbell, and was buried in Paris within the church of S. Paule.

Aug 1546. In the same moneth of August monsieur Danebalt high admerall of France, accompanied with the bishop of Eureux, the earle of Nauteuill knight of the order, the earle of Uilliers, the chiefe president of Roan, secretarie Bouchetell, monsieur de Canaples knight of the order, monsieur de Taies knight of the order, monsieur de Masilerie viceadmerall of France, monsieur de Desse, the baron de la Gard, with diuerse other lords and capteines of honor, beside two hundred gentlemen well appointed, leused from Déepe with twelue gallies and a right faire ship called the Sacre of Déepe, and so making saile he staied not anie where to take land, till he came into the Thames, where at Blackewall he was receiued into the kings barge by the earles of Darbie and Essex, who brought him to Gréenewich, where he landed, and lodged there that night.

Aug 1546. The next daie he came vp with all his gallies, and landed at the Tower wharfe. Upon all the banks by the water side were laid péeces of artillerie, which shot off freelie, and so likewise did all the artillerie in the ships, but speciallie from the Tower was shot a maruellous great peale of ordinance. From whence being landed, they rode thorough London in great triumph (the maior and the crafts standing in the streets in verie good order) vnto the bishops palace by Paules, where the French admerall lodged till Bartholomew euen, on which daie he was conueied toward Hampton court, where in the waie the prince hauing with him the archbishop of Yorke, the earles of Hertford and Huntington, and aboue two thousand horsse, met him and imbrased him in such courteous and honorable wise, that all the beholders greatlie reioised, and much maruelled at the said princes high wit and great audacitie, and so the French admerall came to the court, giuing the prince the vpper hand as they rode. And at the vtter gate of the court, the lord chancellor, and all the kings councell receiued him, and brought him to his lodging.

24 Aug 1546. On Bartholomew daie the king admitting him to his presence, welcomed him, and in great triumph went to the chappell, where the king receiued his oth to performe the articles of the league, as it was couenanted. To speake of the bankettings, huntings and such like honorable sorts of interteinements, it were much to vtter, and hard to beléeue. But on fridaie following, being the seuen and twentith of August, he being rewarded with a cupboord of plate, to the value of twelue hundred pounds, returned to London, and on the sundaie next insuing tooke his gallies and departed. Beside the kings gifts, he had giuen to him by the citie of London two flaggons guilt, and two other that were parcell guilt, valued at one hundred thirtie six pounds, beside wine, wax, and torches. There were diuerse of his companie also that went not awaie vnrewarded, hauing both plate, and also manie horsses, and greihounds giuen them.

Although this peace pleased both the English and French nations, yet suerlie both mistrusted the continuance therof. And verelie the old prouerbe séemed to be throughlie verefied, which saith, that what the eie séeth, the hart rueth: for the Frenchmen still longed for Bullogne, and the Englishmen meant not willinglie to giue it ouer. For during the French admerals being in England, monsieur de Chatillon capteine of Montplaisier began to make a new bastilion euen at the verie mouth of the hauen, naming it Chatillons garden. Wherevpon that noble gentleman the lord Greie of Wilton, shortlie after appointed to be deputie of the towne and countie of Bullogne, perceiuing the great inconuenience that this new building would bring to the towne if it went forwards, did aduertise the king thereof, earnestlie beséeching his grace, that the matter might be throughlie considered of. Sir Thomas Palmer was the messenger.

The king vpon the intelligence, asked his councels aduise, which onelie went wholie, that the conditions of the peace were not in anie wise to be infringed. This resolued, secretarie Paget then knight, and afterwards lord, was commanded accordinglie to draw a letter to the lord Greie, the which [...]he king himselfe did signe, willing that the messenger should further know of his pleasure before he departed. Wherevpon sir Thomas Palmer, hauing his dispatch at the secretaries hands, did get word to be giuen to the king, who presentlie sent for him into his priuie chamber, and betwixt them two, vsed these words: Palmer, you haue there a letter from vs to the lord Greie, that he doo in no wise deale in the matter that he hath by you aduertised vs of. Notwithstanding, I will that you deliuer him this message from vs.

Bid him call to mind how that his brethren and himselfe not a short time, but euen from tender yeares, nor farre off, but still neere to our person, we haue brought him vp, which (tell him) not vniustlie, if that be in him that we conceiue dooth bréed in vs an od trust of feruencie to serue vs of him, more than a common seruant or subiect. By that token will him whatsoeuer I haue written to the contrarie, that he presentlie impeach the fortification of Chatillons garden, and rase it if it be possible: and this my message shall be his cléering therein, & the seruice gratefullie accepted.

Sir Thomas Palmer somewhat astonied hereat, considering the weightinesse of the cause, and the contrarietie of the letter and message, began to put the king in mind of the small credit that his bare errand of right was like to haue, so flat against that which his maiesties letters imported. But the king cutting off his tale

Deliuer thou the message (quoth he) at his choise then be the executing thereof.

Sir Thomas thus dispatched, with great spéed arriued at Bullogne immediatlie vpon the opening of the gates at after noone. His letters and message deliuered, the lord Greie streight assembled the councell, shewed them the kings letters, which read, he caused sir Thomas to pronounce before them the message also. Euerie man was to saie his aduise: it went roundlie through the boord without anie question, that the letter was to be followed, the message not to be staied on. The lord Greie hauing heard, and not replieng anie thing, willed sir Thomas to be called in againe, bad him repeat his message, and therwhilest made a clearke of the councell to write the same Verbatim. This doone, he praied the whole table to set their hands vnto it, which they did, and the lord Greie taking the same into his hands, without further opening, declaring his resolution, brake vp councell, commanded streight the gates to be shut, gaue priuie warning, that certeine bands with armour and weapon, and likewise pioners should that night by an houre be in a readines.

Here is to be noted also, lest any man should mistake the matter, as if the king dealt indirectlie herein, that his maiestie knowing how the Frenchmen in going about to build this fort, did more than they might by the couenants of the peace; and therefore was resolued at the first aduertisement thereof, to haue it rased. But yet for that it might happilie haue béene signified ouer vnto the Frenchmen, before my lord Greie could haue accomplished the feat, he therefore wiselie wrote one thing in his letters, wherevnto manie might be priuie, and [...]en [...] secret knowledge by words contrarie to the contents of the same letters, so as if the messenger were trustie, his pleasure might not be discouered to the hinderance or dispappointing of the same. But now to our purpose.

The French king after this, bicause as yet hée would not séeme to breake the peace, commanded the trenches and new fortifications made about this fortresse, called Chatillons garden thus cast downe, to be filled by his owne people, and so it rested during the life of king Henrie: but afterwards it was begun againe, and finished, as after ye shall heare. About Michaelmas in this present yeare, Thomas duke of Norffolke, and Henrie earle of Surrie that was his sonne and heire, vpon certeine surmises of treason, were committed to the tower of London, and immediatlie after Christmas, the thirtéenth of Ianuarie, the king then lieng in the extremities of death, the said earle was arreigned in the Guildhall of London, before the lord maior, the lord chancellor, and diuerse other lords and iudges being there in commission. Where if he had tempered his answers with such modestie as he shewed token of a right perfect and readie wit, his praise had béene the greater. Some things he flatlie denied, seeking to weaken the credit of his accusers by certeine circumstances: other he excused with interpretations of his meaning, to proue the same to be far otherwise than was alleged against him.

And one speciall matter amongest other wherewith he was charged, was, for bearing certeine arms that were said to belong to the king, and to the prince. The bearing where of he iustified and maintened, that (as he tooke it) he might beare them as belonging to diuerse of his ancestors, and withall affirmed, that he had the opinion of heralds therein. But yet to his indictment he pleaded not giltie: and for that he was no lord of the parlement, he was inforced to stand to the triall of a common inquest of his countrie, which found him giltie, and therevpon he had iudgement of death: and shortlie after, to wit, the 19 of Ianuarie, he was beheaded on the tower hill. In this moneth of Ianuarie, the church of the late graie friers in London was opened, and masse [...]oong there: and that daie preached at Paules crosse the bishop of Rochester, who declared the kings gift to the citie of London, for the relieuing of the poore people, which was by patent vnder his great seale. Saint Bartholomews spittle, the church of the graie friers, and two parish churches, the one of saint Nicholas in the shambles, the other saint Ewine in Newgate market, all to be m [...]de on parish church of the graie friers church; and in lands he gaue for the maintenance of the same 500 markes by yeare for euer, & this church to be named Christs church, founded by king Henrie the eight.]

The duke was atteinted by parlement, and the atteindor after reuersed in the first yeare of quéene Marie. The euill hap as well of the father, as of the sonne, was greatlie lamented of manie, not onelie for the good seruice which the duke had doone in his daies in defense of this realme, but also for that the earle was a gentleman well learned, and knowne to haue an excellent wit, if he had béene thankefull to God for the same, and other such good gifts as he had indued him withall.

30 Dec 1546. The king now lieng at the point of death, made his last will and testament, wherein he not onelie yéelded himselfe to almightie God; but also tooke order, that during the minoritie of his sonne prince Edward, his executors should be councellors and aiders to him in all things, as well concerning priuate as publike affaires. They were sixtéene in number, whose names were as hereafter followeth.

Thomas Cranmer archbishop of Canturburie, Thomas Wriothesleie lord chancellor, sir William Paulet knight of the order, lord Saint-Iohn, & great master of the houshold: sir Edward Seimer knight of the order, earle of Hertford, and high chamberleine of England: sir Iohn Russell knight of the order, lord priuie seale: sir Iohn Dudleie knight of the order, vicount Lisle, & baron of Maupas, high admerall of England: Cutbert Tunstall bishop of Durham: sir Anthonie Browne knight of the order, and master of the horsse: sir Edmund Montacute knight chiefe iustice of the cõmon plees: sir Thomas Bromleie knight, one of the iustices of the kings bench: sir Edward North knight, chancellor of the augmentation: sir William Paget knight of the order: sir Anthonie Dennie knight: sir William Herbert knight: sir Edward Wotton knight, treasuror of Calis: Nicholas Wotton deane of Canturburie and Yorke.