Strype Ecclesiastical Memorials Volume 1 Part 1 Chapter XXXVI
Strype Ecclesiastical Memorials Volume 1 Part 1 Chapter XXXVI is in Strype Ecclesiastical Memorials Volume 1 Part 1.
The sickness and death of Queen Catherine
This year, and the next within five months after, put an end to two Queens, viz. Queen Katharme Dowager, and Queen Anne that succeeded her. To give some short notes concerning the former, with respect only to the last months of her life. In October her residence was at Bugden; being then not well in health: and seemed desirous to move to some other place. So the King ordered her departure thence to Fotheringay. Which when Thomas Vaux, one of her officers, told her of from Crumwel, she had no mind, whatever was the cause, to go thither: (whether she thought it looked like putting her under restraint in that castle:) telling him, that she would not go thither, unless the King sent her thither a prisoner, with ropes bound; notwithstanding all the provisions that were made and prepared for her. Yet from the place where she was, she fain would remove. Which the said Vaux in a letter to Crumwel informed him of; and that she was desirous to have some place appointed for her nearer London.
She would be styled Queen still
She was still styled Queen by her servants : and so she Commanded them to call her. Nor would she admit any about her to address to her in any inferior title. This the King hearing of, gave him great offence. Insomuch that he sent a charge to Vaux by his own letters, to inform him, "whether there were any about her that so styled her; and who they were that obstinately and wilfully, contrary to the determination taken in that behalf, did not desist nor forbear calling the said lady by the name of Queen: that further order might be taken therein. To which, in a letter to Crumwel, the said Vaux signified, that at that season he could not well and approvedly name any particular person that so obstinately called the Lady Dowager by the name of Queen. But generally he dared boldly to say and prove, that all women, priests, and ministers of the Princess's chamber, as sowers, hushers, and such other about, that did her any manner of service, did so call her. And that so she had both willed and commanded all that were her own servants, and served her: or else she would receive nothing of them. That the household officers that were there, delivered all things called for without such denomination. But that both men and women there were much persuaded by the Priests there, as he thought, upon their consciences, how they ought to call her Queen still; considering, that all that did appertain to the chamber especially, were sworn to King Henry and Queen Katharine. Yea, and further, that they were the more animated so to do, because they had learned and heard say in the house there, since his [Vaux] coming, that there was a letter sent from the Princess's Proctor at Rome, how that the Pope had given sentence upon her party. And the effect or copy of the said letter had been read and shewed to divers there. But that he could come to no sight thereof; because he was partly mistrusted among them. That he saw her Grace was merry, and bore good and joyful countenance: and much more resort of people come daily thither, than had done in any other place heretofore. But that if she were to be removed, it was requisite she should be removed shortly: otherwise the country would be so foul, that no carriages of household provision should pass or come." Hence it seems she removed to Kimbolton, where not long after she died.
Her officers, her visitors, Cott. Libr.
Her officers here, besides Vaux, were Edward Chamberlain and Edmund Bedingfield. Inquiries were not wanting concerning her; and what visitors she had coming to her. Upon Crumwel's letter to them to inform him thereof, they shewed him the names of such as lately gave her visits, viz. the Emperor's Ambassador came Jan. 2, who immediately after dinner came into her chamber, and so into her presence; there remaining scarce a quarter of an hour. At time both of them [Chamberlain and Bedingfield] were commanded to be present. That upon his coming, he saluted her in the Spanish tongue : which they, as they said, understood not. But, as they added in their answer, Mr. Vaughan, another there, could declare to him the effect of their communication at that time. At five in the afternoon she sent her doctor of physic for him. And then and there entered no man but the said Ambassador, beside the doctor and the steward to the Ambassador. Then he was with her about half an hour, and departed to his chamber. And again, the next day, about seven a'clock at night, about an hour. At those two last visits, none were present but the personages afore-mentioned, and her old trusty women; who either understood not the Spanish tongue, or if they did, or if they could, the matter being of importance, they [the officers] could get no manner of knowledge of it from them.
Lady Willoughby visits her
The Lady Willoughby also came thither on New-year's day about six o'clock at night : with whom these officers met, and demanded a sight of her licence to repair thither. She said, she would deliver next morning letters sufficient for their discharge. But at present she desired them, being in such a case, (by reason of a fall, as she pretended, from her horse,) to repair to the fire; and so was immediately conveyed to the Princess. And since that time they never saw her, nor any letter of licence to repair thither was shewed them. She appeared in her countenance at her coming to be greatly dismayed, saying, she thought never to have seen the Princess alive, by reason of such tidings as she had heard by the way.
Her death
As to her State of health, these two gentlemen further informed the said Lord Crumwel, that they understood by her doctor, that she had somewhat of comfort by the coming of those folks, and fell to somewhat more rest in the night tlian heretofore ; but that he feared it would be a long continuing sickness ere she recovered, as far as he could judge, if God so disposed. This their letter was dated from Kimbolton, the 5th day of January ; and three days after she died.
By the postscript it appears how strait they were kept of money, Bedingfield thus writing; "Sir, I beseech you send me some relief of money by Mr. Gostwick, [who it seems brought the letter,] for I have none left."
Order about her burial
This sickness then carried her off: which, when the King heard of, he ordered the Lord Privy Seal, that she might be buried decently, in the port of a person of her quality; and appointed her corpse to be interred at the abbey of Peterborough. Concerning this, he despatched his letters to the aforesaid gentlemen ; and that they should acquaint him with the preparations made for her funeral. The sum of their answer was, "that the boweling and cering" was done in the best manner : the leading and chesting was preparing, not lacking any thing ; and that it should "be finished with all speed." And the King having sent Mr. Comptroller thither, to order all things belonging to the interment, they shewed themselves very joyous at his coming.
Her treasure to be preserved for the King's use
Crumwel also gave them in command to preserve for the King's use, what treasure, goods, gold, and jewels, the deceased left. And for that purpose to look carefully to the gates. And that they should inform him what the sum there- " of might amount to, in order to the bearing the expenses of her funeral from thence. To this the answer they gave was, " that according to their power, they had commanded the safe custody of the gates : so that nothing had or should be suffered to issue. And further, that they had communed with all such persons as in her lifetime had the custody of any jewels, plate, or other things of charge: whom they had found to their conscience, just and plain, in the declaration of all such parcels as they had in their keeping. And that they had declared much more than ever they [Chamberlain and Bedingfield] saw or knew before. And that upon consideration thereof, every thing remained in their custody, until his further pleasure and commandment should be to them known."
Persons to be sent to attend the funeral
And whereas Crumvvel had mentioned some personages of honour to be sent to attend the funeral, the said officers attend the wrote, "that as to the entertainment of them, with others, as should repair thither by commandment, it should be, to the best they could devise, accomplished in as ample manner, as provision could be had for the King's honour."
And whereas Crumwel had signified to them, what the King designed for the deceased Princess's servants, by his motion ; they further added, "how they had declared unto "all the servants, how good and benevolent a master he had been to them, in moving the King's Highness, and obtaining his Majesty's favour towards them all. And that both these [the writers hereof] and all the rest were greatly comforted with his gracious promise. Wherein we (say they) wholly rejoice and trust. And should pray for the prosperous preservation of his most noble Majesty."
Prelates and Priests to execute their office
Crumwel also gave them instructions for the preparation of the house. To which they answered, "that it should be done with all diligence. And likewise, that the Prelates and Priests should be warned to repair, for the execution of all manner of ceremonies appertaining to the funerals. And all others according to his mastership's commandment to the uttermost of our powers, as knoweth Almighty God, [as they concluded,] who preserve your mastership with much honour, By yours ready at commandment, Edward Chamberleyn. Edmund Bedyngfield."
The Princess Katherine's Dowager's Will
The Princess made a will, but without naming any executor ; leaving the disposition thereof to the King : praying and desiring him in the beginning of it, to suffer her to have her goods, as well gold and silver as other things, and whatsoever was due to her in money : to the end that she might therewith pay her debts, and recompense her servants. Which she entreated as affectionately as she might, for the necessity wlierein she was ready to die, and to yield her soul to God. And then she proceeded in her legacies. The first whereof was for a person to go to our Lady of Walsingham in pilgrimage. And in going by the way to yield twenty nobles. And then follow the rest of her legacies to her servants: which were but mean, viz. twenty pounds, not many above. The two last legacies were, ornaments for the church, to be made of her gowns. And the furs of the same to her daughter. The whole will I have preserved in the Appendix, as I take it from a volume in the Cotton library.
The King consults about seizing her goods
The King then was to advise what course to take to come to the legal possession of the estate of the deceased Princess. Some thought that he might seize on it as his own. And that, because she had said, it seems, that all was the King's and that she had nothing to give away. But Richard Ryche, the King's Solicitor, [that was afterwards Lord Ryche, and Lord High Chancellor of England,] upon the King's demand, shewed his learning in the law. Which was, that she now being a sole woman had a right to her goods. And that by the law of England, the next of kin was to administer, and to pay the debts. And the other course, that of seizure, he judged to be repugnant to his Majesty's laws. But in fine, he moved another way to the King to compass the same : namely, to send to the Bishop of the diocese, where the Princess deceased, who was the Bishop of Lincoln ; to grant the administration of her goods, as dying intestate, to such as his Highness should name. And then to have the goods, from them that had administered, to himself, for the payment of her debts, and the charges of her funerals. This he signified at large to the King in his letter from Kimbolton, where he was now, to look after this affair. Which letter will be found in the Appendix. Which I have the rather reposited there, in memory of that great man, as he appeared afterwards in the State : and from whom the Earls of Warwick are sprung. And wherein also a specimen of his parts and abilities might be seen.
Upon Queen Anne's death, it was doubted by the Lady Bryan, governess of the King's children, whether the young Lady Princess Elizabeth should have the same honourable retinue and service now as before. For her instruction herein, she thought fit to send to the Lord Crumwel: giving him also some account of the young Princess's ingenuity and towardness. See her letter in the Appendix, giving these things more at large.
The Charter House in London. Queen Anne's death. A favourer of the Reformation. Her discourse in the Tower. The condition of the Lady Elizabeth's daughter. The Lady Mary addresseth to the King. Articles for her.
The monks of the Charter House, London, remaining refractory still, the King being loath to go to the utmost extremity, endeavour was used to reclaim them, and enlighten them with a clearer knowledge of the nature of the supremacy, being for the most part young men. It was thought expedient therefore to separate them from one another. Four of the chief were disposed into two other houses of the same order, in the furthest part of the realm: and eight more they sent to Syon, an house of the order of St. Bridget: that they might there be persuaded to yield to the King. At last many of them took the oath, having been threatened otherwise to have their house plucked down. But while they took the oath, they said in their hearts1,
"Thou knowest, O God, how false and unjust this oath is, that these men wrest from us; thou knowest what exceptions and alleviations we have alleged. Thou seest the straits of time, and how we are threatened. But skin for skin, and all that a man hath will he give for his life. Evil is not to be done, that good may come. But since thou knowest the hearts of all men, and how willingly we resist them, we beseech thy mercy not to respect the manner which we perform outwardly, in laying our hand upon the book of the Gospel, and kissing it : nor take it, as if we were assenting to the Kings will: but take this our outward dissimulation as our reverence to the sacred word written in the Gospel, for the preservation of our house, if it shall please thy goodness."
But there were ten monks that thought not fit thus to dissemble. And they were put out of the convent in June 1537, and laid in prison: where, saith their historian, they all died but one, named William Home, who in 1541. was put to death. Two of the four that were removed from this house, were placed in a house of religion near Hull; where they were busy in the rebellion that happened this year in the north; and so were executed, and hung in chains at York, 1537, whose names were John Rochester and James Wannert. In the year 1539, all of them that remained were expelled their house, consisting of twelve professed monks, three guests, and six converts professed. In the church, the King's tents and ammunition were laid. The house was afterward given to Sir Edward North, who there built himself a fair dwelling, and made a parlour of the church; pulling down most of the cloisters.
Note 1. Hist. Mart. Angliæ. fol .59.
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 Reynold West, Luther's book, and other books of the Germans, as Franciscus Lamhertus de Sectis : and that at that time he read Melancthon's Rhetoric openly in Trinity hall; and was a maintainer of Dr. Barnes, and all the Protestants then in Cambridge, and helped many religious persons out of their cowles. 
This Queen was also a great favourer of those 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.
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, but 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 subject, to be restored to his pristin freedom, 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 xiv. 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 Willam 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 down1 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 these things.2
Note 1. Hist. Refor. vol. 1. p. 198.
Note 2. Life of K. Henry p 416.
After the Duke of Norfolk and some other of the King's Her words Council, who had conducted Queen Anne to the Tower, coming to (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. Kingston to move the Kings Highess 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 fom you: and again, the King's true wedded wife. And then she said, Mr. Kingston, 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 Kings's displeasure against her would reach unto all her relations.] Kyngston replied, 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.