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The History of the Reformation Volume 1 is in The History of the Reformation.
These were the grounds upon which the canonists advised the process at Rome to be carried on. But first, to amuse or overreach the Spaniard, the king [?] to his ambassador in Spain to silence the noise that was made about it in that court. Whether the king had then resolved on the person that should succeed the queen, when he had obtained 1527 what he desired or not, is much questioned. Some suggest, that from the beginning he was taken with the charms of Anne Boleyn (age 26), and that all this process was moved by the unseen spring of that secret affection. Others will have this amour to have been later in the king's thoughts. How early it came there, at this distance it is not easy to determine. But before I say more of it, she being so considerable a person in the following relation, I shall give some account of her. Sanders has assured the world, "That the king had a liking to her mother (age 47), who was daughter to the duke of Norfolk; and to the end that he might enjoy her with the less disturbance, he sent her husband, sir Thomas Boleyn, to be ambassador in France: and that, after two years absence, his wife being with child, he came over, and sued a divorce against her in the archbishop of Canterbury's court; but the king sent the marquis of Dorset to let him know, that she was with child by him, and that therefore the king desired he would pass the matter over, and be reconciled he would pass the matter over, and be reconciled. Boleyn, though she went under the name of his daughter, yet was of the king's begetting. As he describes her, "she was ill-shaped and ugly, had six fingers, a gag tooth, and a tumour under her chin, with many other unseemly things in her person."At the fifteenth year of her age,he says, "both her father's butler and chaplain lay with her: afterwards she was sent to France, where she was at first kept privately in the house of a person of quality; then she went to the French court, where she led such a dissolute life, that she was called the English Hackney. That the French king liked her, and, from the freedoms he took with her, she was called the King's Mule. But returning to England, she was admitted to the court, where she quickly perceived how weary the king was of the queen, and what the cardinal was designing; and having gained the king's affection, she governed it so, that by all innocent freedoms she drew him into her toils, and by the appearances of a severe virtue, with which she disguised herself, so increased his affection and esteem, that he resolved to put her in his queen's place, as soon as the divorce was granted.The same author adds That the king had likewise enjoyed her sister, with a great deal more, to the disgrace of this lady and her family.
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I know it is not the work of an historian to refute the lies of others, but rather to deliver such a plain account as will be a more effectual confutation than any thing can be that is said by way of argument, which belongs to other writers. And at the end of this king's reign, I intend to set down a collection of the most notorious falsehoods of that writer, together with the evidences of their being so. But all this of Anne Boleyn is so palpable a lie, or rather a complicated heap of lies, and so much depends on it, that presume it will not offend the reader to be detained a few minutes in the refutation of it. For if it were true, very much might be drawn from it, both to disparage king Henry, who pretended conscience to annul his marriage for the nearness of affinity, and yet would after that marry his own daughter.
It leaves also a foul and lasting stain both on the book memory of Anne Boleyn and of her incomparable daughter queen Elizabeth. It also derogates so much from the first reformers who had some kind of dependance on queen Anne Boleyn, that it seems to be of great importance, for directing the reader in the judgment he is to make of persons and things, to lay open the falsehood of this account. It were sufficient for blasting it, that there is no proof pretended to be brought for any part of it, but a book of one Rastal, a judge, that was never seen by any other person than that writer. The title of the book is, The Life of Sir Thomas More. There is great reason to think that Rastal never writ any such book; for it is most common for the lives of great authors to be prefixed to their works. Now this Rastal published all More's works in queen Mary's reign, to which, if he had written his life, it is likely he would have prefixed it. No evidence therefore being given for his relation, either from records, letters, or the testimony of any person who was privy to the matter, the whole is to be looked upon as a black forgery, devised on purpose to defame queen Elizabeth. For upon her mother's deaths who can doubt but that some, either to flatter the king, or to defame her, would have published these things, which, if they had been true, could be no secrets? For a lady of her mother's condition to bear a child two years after her husband was sent out of England on such a public employment, and a process thereupon to be entered in the archbishop's courts, are things that are not so soon to be forgotten. And that she herself was under so ill a reputation, both in her father's family, and in France, for Common lewdness, and for being the king's concubine are things that could not be hid. And yet, when the books of the archbishop's courts (which are now burnt) were extant, it was published to the world, and satisfaction offered to every one that would take the pains to inform themselves, that there was no such thing on record. Nor did any of the writers of that time, either of the imperial or papal side, once mention these things, notwithstanding their great occasion to do it. But eighty years after, this fable was invented, or at least it was then first published, when it was safer to lie, because none who had lived in the time could disprove it.
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Collection of Records 16: The Attainder of Thomas Cromwell
(Parliament Rolls, Act 60, Anno Regni tricesimo secundo.)
Also, a certain other petition, containing the form of a certain act of attainder, was presented to His Royal Majesty in the aforementioned Parliament, the tenor of which follows in these words.
[29th June 1540] Item quedam alia petitio, formam cujusdam actus attincture in se continens, exhibita est suz Regie Majestati in Parliamento pradicto, cujus tenor sequitur in hc verba.
In their most humble-wise shewing to your most Royal Majesty, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and all your most loving and obedient Subjects, the Commons in this your high Court of Parliament assembled; That where your most. Royal Majesty, our Natural Sovereign Lord, is justly and lawfully, really entituled to be our sole Supreme Head and Governor? of this your Realm of England, and of the Dominions of the same; to whom, and to none other under God, the Kingly .Direction., Order, and Governance of your most loving and obedient Subjects, and People of this your Realm, only appertained and belongeth And the which your most loving and obedient Subjects your Highness prudently and quietly, without any manner of disturbance by a long time most graciously hath preserved sustained and defended.
And your Highness, for the Quietness, Wealth, and Tranquillity of your said humble and obedient Subjects, hath made, and ordained, divers and many most godly, virtuous and wholesome Laws; and for due execution of the same, hath not desisted to travel in your own most Royal Person, to support and maintain, as well the Laws or Almighty God, as the Laws by your Highness made and ordained, by due and condign Execution of the same Laws upon the Transgressors offending contrary to the same: And your Majesty hath always most virtuously -studied and laboured, by all ways, and alt means, to and for the setting forth thereof, in such wise as might be most to the Honour, Glory, and Pleasure of Almighty God and for the common accord and wealth of this your Realm, and other your Dominions
And for the true execution of the same, hath elected, chosen and made divers, as well of your Nobles as others, to be of your most Honourable Council, as to the Honour of a Noble Prince appertained. And where your Majesty hath had a special Trust and Confidence in your said most trusty Counsellors, that the same your Counsellors, and every of them, had minded and intended, and ‘finally purposed to hare followed and pursued your most Godly and Princely Purpose, as of truth the more number hath most faithfully done; Yet nevertheless Thomas Cromwell, now Earl of Essex, whom your Majesty took and received into your trusty Service, the same Thomas then being a Man of very base and low degree, and far singular Favour Trust and Confidence, which your Majesty bore and had in him, did not only erect and advance the same Thomas unto the state of an Earl, and enriched him with manifold Gifts, as well of Goods, as of Lands and Offices, but also him, the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, did erect and make one of your most trusty Counsellors, as well concerning your Grace's Supreme Jurisdictions Ecclesiastical, as your most high secret Affairs Temporal Nevertheless your Majesty now of late hath found, and tried, by a large number of Witnesses, being your faithful Subjects, and Personages of great Honour, Worship, and Discretion, the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, contrary to the singular trust and confidence which your Majesty had in him, to be the most false and corrupt Traitor, Deceiver, and Circumventor against your most Royal Person, and the Imperial Crown of this your Realm, that hath been known, seen, or heard of in all the time of your most noble Reign.
Insomuch that it is manifestly proved and declared, by the Depositions of the Witnesses aforesaid. That the same Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, usurping upon your Kingly Estate, Power, Authority, and Office; without your Grace's„ Commandment or Assent, hath taken upon him to set at liberty divers Persons being convicted and attainted of Misprision of High Treason; and divers other being apprehended, and in Prison, for Suspicion of High Treason; and over that, many and divers Times, at sundry Places in this your Realm, for manifold Sums of Money to him given, most traitorously hath taken upon him, by several Writings, to give and grant, as well unto Aliens, as to your Subjects, a great Number of Licenses for conveying and carrying of Money, Corn, Grain, Beans, Beer, Leather, Tallow, Belli;, Metals, Horses, and other Commodities of this your Realm, contrary to your Highness's most Godly and Gracious Proclamations made for the Commonwealth of your People of this your Realm in that behalf, and in Derogation of your Crown and Dignity, And the same Thomas Cromwell, elated and full of Pride, contrary to his most bounden Duty, of his own Authority and Power, not regarding your Majesty Royal.
And further, taking upon him your Power, Sovereign Lord, in that behalf, divers and many times most. traitorously hath constituted, deputed and assigned, many singular Persons of your Subjects to be Commissioners in many your great, urgent and weighty Causes and Affairs, executed and done in this your Realm, without the Assent,Knowledge, or Consent of your Highness, And further also, being a Person of as poor and low Degree, as few be within this your Realm; pretending to have so great a Stroke about you, our, and his natural Sovereign Liege Lord, that he letted and Falsehoods, the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, being detestable Heretic, and being In himself utterly disposed to set and sow common Sedition and Variance among your true and loving Subjects, hath secretly set forth and dispersed into all Shires, and other Territories of this your Realm, and other your Dominions, great Numbers of false erroneous Books, whereof many were printed and made beyond the Seas, and divers other within this Realm, comprising and declaring, among many other Evils and Errors, manifest Matters to induce and lead your Subjects to diffidence, and refusal of the true and sincere Faith and Belief, which Christian Religion bindeth all Christian People to have, in the most Holy and Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, and other Articles of Christian Religion, most graciously declared by your Majesty, by Authority of Parliament:
And certain Matters comprised in some of the said Books, hath caused to be translated into our Maternal and English Tongue; And upon report made unto him by the Translator thereof, that the Matter so translated hath expressly been against the said most Blessed and Holy Sacrament; Yet the same Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, after he had read the same Translation, most heretically hath affirmed the same material Heresies so translated, to be good; and further hath said, that he found no fault therein; and over that, hath openly and obstinately holden Opinion, and said, That it was as lawful for every Christian Man to be a Minister of the said Sacrament, as well as a Priest.
And where also your most Royal Majesty, being a Prince of Virtue, Learning, and Justice, of singular Confidence and Trust, did constitute and make the same Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, your Highness's Vicegerent within this your Realm of England; and by the same, gave unto him Authority and Power, not only to redress and reform all, and all manner of Errors, and erroneous Opinions, insuring and growing among your loving and obe-dient Subject of this your Realm, and of the Dominions of the same, but also to order and direct all Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Causes within your said Realm, and Dominions; the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, not regarding his Duty to Almighty God, and to your Highness, under the Seal of your Vicegerent, bath without your Grace's Assent or Knowledge, licensed and authorized divers Persons, detected and suspected of Heresies, openly to teach and preach amongst your most loving and obedient Subjects within this your Realm of England.
And under the Pretence and Colour of the said great Authorities and Cures, which your Majesty hath committed unto him in the Premises, hath not only, of his corrupt and damnable Will and Mind, actually, at some time, by his own Deed and Commandment, and at many other Times by his Letters expressly written to divers worshipful Persons, being Sheriffs, in sundry Shires of this your Realm, falsely suggesting thereby your Grace's Pleasure so to have been, caused to be set at large many false Here ticks, some being there indicted, and some other being thereof apprehended, and in Ward: and commonly, upon Complaint* made by credible Persons unto the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, of great and most detestable Heresies committed and sprung in many places of this your Realm, with Declaration of the Specialities of the same Heresies, and the Names of the Offenders therein, the same Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, by his crafty and subtle Means and Inventions, bath not only defended the same Heretics from Punishment and Reformation; but being a Fautor, Maintainer, and Supporter of Heretics, divers times bath terribly rebuked divers of the said credible Persons being their Accusers, and some others of them hath persecuted and vexed by Imprisonment and otherwise. So that thereby many of your Grace's true and loving Subjects have been in much Dread and Fear, to detect or accuse such detestable known He re ticks; the Particularities and Specialties of which said abominable Heroics, Errors, and Offences, committed and done by the said Thomas Cromwell, being over-tedious, long, and of too great Number here to be expressed, declared, or written.
And to the Intent to have those damnable Errors and Heresies, to be inculcated impressed, and infixed in the Hearts of your Subjects, as well contrary to God's Laws, as to your Law* and Ordinances. Most Gracious Sovereign Lord, the same Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, hath allured and drawn unto him by Retainours, many of your Subjects sunderly inhabiting in every of your said Shires and Territories, as well erroneously persuading and daring to them the Contents of the false erroneous Books, above written to be good, true, and best standing with the most Holy Word and Picture of God; as other his false and heretical Opinions and Errors; whereby, and by his Confederacies there-in, he hath caused many of your faithful Subjects to be greatly infected with Heresies, and other Errors, contrary to the right Laws and Pleasure of Almighty God. And the same Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, by the false and traitorous Means above-written, supposing himself to be fully able, by Force and Strength, to maintain and defend his said abominable Treasons, Heresies, and Errors, not regarding his most bounden Duty to Almighty God, and his Laws, nor the natural Duty of Allegiance to your Majesty, in the last Day of March, in the 30 Year of your most gracious Reign, in the Parish of St, Peter the Poor, within your City of London, upon Demonstration and Declaration then and there made unto him, that there were certain new Preachers, as Robert Barnes Clerk, and other, whereof part were committed to the Tower of London, for preaching nod teaching of loud learning against your Highness's Proclamations the same Thomas affirming the same preaching to be good most detestably, arrogantly, erroneously, wilfully, maliciously, and traitorously expressly against your Laws and Statutes, then and there did not let to declare, and say, these most traitorous and detestable Words ensuing, amongst other Words of like Matter and Effect.
That is to say, That if the King would turn from it, yet would not turn; dud if the King did turn, and all his People, I would fight in the Field in mine own Person, with my Sword hi my Hand against him and all others; and then, and there, most traitorously milled out his Dagger, and held it on high, saying these Words, Or else this Dagger thrust me to the Heart, if I would not die in that Quarrel against them all: And I trust if I live one Year or two, it shall not lie in the King's Power to resist or lett if if he would. And further, then and there swearing by a great Oath, traitorously affirmed the same his traitorous Saying and Pronunciation of Words, saying, I will do so indeed extending up his Arm, a$ tho he had had a Sword in his Hand; to the most perilous,grievous, and wicked Example of all oilier your loving, faithful and obedient Subjects in this your Realm, and to the Peril of your most Royal Person.
And moreover, our most gracious Sovereign Lord, the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, hath acquired and obtained into his Possession, by Oppression, Bribery, Extort, Power and false Promises made by him to your Subjects of your Realm, innumerable Sums of Money and Treasure; and being so enriched, hath had your Nobles of your Realm in great Disdain, Derision, and Detestation, as by express words by him most opprobriously spoken hath appeared. And being put in remembrance of others, of his Estate, which your Highness hath called him unto, offending in like Treasons, the last Day of January, in the 31 Year of your most noble Reign, at the Parish of St. Martins in the Field, in the County of Middlesex, most arrogantly, willingly, maliciously, and traitorously, said, published, and declared, That if the Lords would handle hint $of that he would give them such a Breakfast as never was made in England, and that the proudest of them should know to the great Peril and Danger, as well of your Majesty, as of your Heirs and Successors: For the which his most detestable and abominable Heresies and Treasons, and many other his like Offences and Treasons over-long here to be rehearsed and declared.
Be it Enacted, Ordain fed, and Established by your Majesty, with the Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, 'Hint the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, for his abominable and detestable Heresies and Treasons, by him most abominably, hectically, and traitorously practised, committed, and done, as well against Almighty God, as against your Majesty, and this your said Realm, shall be, and stand, by Authority of this present Parliament, convicted and attainted of Heresies and High-Treason, and be adjudged an abominable and detestable Heretick and Traitor; and shall have and suffer such Pains of Death, Losses, and Forfeitures of Goods, Debts, and Chattels, as in eases of Heresies and High-Treason, or as in cases of either of them, at the Pleasure of your most Royal Majesty. And that the same Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, shall, by Authority above said, lose,end forfeit to your Highness, and to your Heirs and Successor all such his Castles, Lordships, Manors, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Reversions, Remainders, Services, Possessions, Offices, Rights, Conditions, and all other his Hereditaments, of what Names, Natures, or Qualities so ever they be, which he the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, or any other to his Use had, or ought to have had, of any Estate of Inheritance, in Fee-Simple or Fee-Tail, in Reversion or Possession, at the said last Day of March, in the said thirtieth Year of your most Gracious Reign, or any time sith or after, as in Cases of High-Treason.
And that all the said Castles, Lordships, Manors, Lands, Messuages Tenements, Rents, Reversions, Remainders, Services, Possessions, Offices, and all other the Premises forfeited, as is above said, shall he deemed, in-vested, and adjudged, in the lawful, real, and actual Possession of your Highness, your Heirs and Successors for ever in the same, and in such Estate, Manner and Form, as if the said Castles, Lordships, Man dots, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Re tits, Reversions, Remainders, Services, Possessions, Offices, and other the Premises, with their Appurtenances, and every of them, were especially or particularly founden, by Office or Offices, Inquisition or Inquisitions, to be taken by any Eschceator or Escheators, or any other Commissioner or Commissioners, by Virtue of any Commission or Commissions to them or any of them, to he directed in any County or Counties, Shire or Shires, within this your Realm of England, where the said Castles, and other the Premises, or any of them, been, or do lye, and returned Into any of your Majesty's Courts.
Saving to all and singular, Person and Persons, Bodies politick and corporate, their Heirs and Successors and their Successors and Assignees of every of them, other than the said Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, and his Heirs, and all and every other Person and Persons, claiming by the same Thomas Cromwell, and to his Use, all such Right, Title, Entry, Possessions, Interest, Reversions, Remainders, .Lease, Leases, Conditions, Fees, Offices, Rents, Annuities, Commons, and all other Commodities, Profits, and Hereditaments whatsoever they or any of them might, should or ought to have had, if this Act had never been had or made. Provided always, and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that this Act of Attainder, ne any Offence, ne other thing therein contained, extend not unto the Deanery of Wells in the County of Somerset; nor to any Manors, Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments thereunto belonging; nor be in any wise prejudicial or hurtful unto the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
Nor to the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of St, Andrew of Wells, nor to any of them, nor to any of their Successors; but that the said Bishop, Dean, and Chapters, and their Successors, and every of them, shall and may have, hold, use, occupy, and enjoy, all and singular their Titles, Rights, Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Reversions, and Services, and all and singular other their Hereditaments, Commodities, and Profits, of what nature, kind, or quality, or condition so ever they be, in as ample and large manner and form, as tho' this Act of Attainder, or any Offence therein mentioned, had never been had, committed, nor made; and that from henceforth the Dean, and his Successors, Deans of the said Cathedral Church that hereafter shall be perfected, elected, and admitted to the same, Shall, by the Authority aforesaid, be Dean of the said Cathedral Church, fully and wholly incorporated with the Chapter of the same, in as ample, large, and like manner and form, to all intents and purposes, as the Deans before this time hath been and used to be, with the said Chapter of the said Cathedral Church of Wells. And that the same Dean and Chapter, and their Successors, shall have, occupy, and enjoy, all and singular their such Possessions, Manors, Lands. Tenements Rents, Reversions, and Services, and all and singular their Hereditaments, of what nature, kind, name or names they be called or known. And shall be adjudged and deemed in actual and real Possession and Seizin of, and in the same Premise to all intents and purposes, according to their old Corporation, as tho' this Act of Attainder, or anything, clause, or matter therein contained had never been had, committed, nor made. This said Act of Attainder, or any other Act, Provision, or anything heretofore had or made to the contrary notwithstanding.
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[29th January 1536.] This was the last public good act of this unfortunate queen (age 35); who, the nearer she drew to her end, grew more full of good works. She had distributed in the last nine months of her life between fourteen and fifteen thousand pounds to the poor, and was designing great and public good things. And by all appearance, if she had lived, the money that was raised by the suppression of religious houses had been better employed than it was. In January, she brought forth a dead son. This was thought to have made ill impressions on the king; and that, as he concluded from the death of his sons by the former queen, that the marriage was displeasing to God; so he might, upon this misfortune, begin to make the like judgment of this marriage. Sure enough the popish party were earnestly set against the queen, looking on her as a great supporter of heresy. And at that time Fox (age 40), then bishop of Hereford, was in Germany, at Smalcald, treating a league with the protestant princes, who [?]sisted much, on the Ausburg Confession. There were many conferences between Fox and doctor [?]arnes, and some others, with the Lutheran divines, for accommodating the differences between them; and the thing was in a good forwardness: all which was imputed to the queen. Gardiner was then ambassador in France, and wrote earnestly to the king, to dissuade him from entering into any religious league with these princes; for that would alienate all the world from him, and dispose his own subjects to rebel. The king thought the German princes and divines should have submitted all things to his judgment; and had such an opinion of his own learning, and was so puffed up with the flattering raises that he daily heard, that he grew impatient of any opposition, and thought that his dictates should pass for oracles. And because the Germans would not receive them so, his mind was alienated from them.
But the duke of Norfolk at court, and Gardiner beyond sea, thought there might easily be found a mean to accommodate the king, both with the emperor and the pope, if the queen were once out of the way; for then he might freely marry any one whom he pleased, and that marriage, with the male issue of it, could not be disputed: whereas, as long as the queen lived, her marriage, as being judged all from the beginning, could never be allowed by the court of Rome, or any of that party. With less reasons of state, others of affection concurred. The queen had been his wife three years: but at this time he entertained a secret love for Jane Seimour (age 27), who had all the charms both of beauty and youth in her person; and her humour was tempered between the severe gravity of queen Katharine, and the gay pleasantness of queen Anne. The queen, perceiving this alienation of the king's heart, used all possible arts to recover that affection, of whose decay she was sadly sensible. But the success was quite contrary to what she designed: for the king saw her no more with those eyes, which she had formerly captivated; but grew jealous, and ascribed these caresses to some other criminal affections, of which he began to suspect her. This being one of the most memorable passages of this reign, I was at more than ordinary pains to learn all I could concerning it; and have not only seen a great many letters that were writ by those that were set about the queen, and catched every thing that fell from her, and sent it to court, but have also seen an account of it, which the learned Spelman, who was a judge at that time, writ with his own hand in his common-place book; and another account of it, writ by one Anthony Anthony, a surveyor of the ordnance of the Tower. From all which I shall give a just and faithful relation of it, without concealing the least circumstance, that may either seem favourable or unfavourable to her.
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She was of a very cheerful temper, which was not always limited within the bounds of exact decency and discretion. She [Queen Anne Boleyn of England (age 35)] had rallied some of the king's servants more than became her. Her brother, the lord Rochford (age 33), was her friend, as well as brother; but his spiteful wife (age 31) was jealous of him and, being a woman of no sort of virtue, (as will appear afterwards by her serving queen Katharine Howard in her beastly practices, for which she was attainted and executed,) she carried many stories to the king, or some about him, to persuade, that there was a familiarity between the queen and her brother, beyond what, so near a relation could justify. All that could be said for it was only this; that he was once been leaning upon her bed, which bred great suspicion. Henry Norris, that was groom of the stole; Weston and Brereton, that were the king's privy chamber; and one Mark Smeton, a musician; were all observed to have much of her favour. And their seal in serving her was thought too warm and diligent to flow from a less active principle than love. Many circumstances were brought to the king, which, working upon his aversion to the queen, together with his affection to mistress Seimour (age 27), made him conclude her guilty.
1st May 1536. Yet somewhat which himself observed, or fancied, at a tilting at Greenwich, is believed to have given the crisis to her ruin. It is said, that he spied her let her handkerchief fall to one of her gallants to wipe his face, being hot after a course. Whether she dropped it carelessly, or of design; or whether there be any truth in that story, the letters concerning her fall making no mention of it, I cannot deterimine; for Spelman makes no mention of it, and gives a very different account of the discovery in these words: As for the evidence this matter it was discovered by the lady Wingfield, who had been a servant to the queen, and, becoming on a sudden infirm some time before her death, did swear the matter to one of her.... and here unluckily the rest of the page is torn off. By this it seems, there was no legal evidence against the queen, and that it was but a witness at second-hand, who deposed what they heard the lady Wingfield [Bridget Wiltshire?] swear. Who this person was, we know not, nor in what temper of mind the lady Wingfield might be, when she swore it. The safest sort of forgery, to one whose conscience can swallow it, is, to a thing on a dead person's name, where there is no fear of discovery before the great day. And who it was understood that the queen had lost the king's heart, many, either out of their zeal to popeiy, or design to make their fortune, might be easily induced to carry a story of this nature. And this, it seems, was that which was brought to the king at Greenwich; who did thereupon immediately return to Whitehall, it being the first of May.
The queen was immediately restrained to her chamber; the other five were also seized on. But none of them would confess any thing but Mark Smeton, as to any actual things so Cromwel writ. Upon this they were carried to the Tower. The poor queen was in a sad condition; she must not only fall under the king's displeasure, but be both defamed and destroyed at once. At first she smiled, and carried it cheerfully; and said, she believed the king did it only to prove her. But when she saw it was in eanest, she desired to have the sacrament in her closed and expressed great devotion, and seemed to be prepared for death.
The surprise and confusion she was in raised fits of the mother, which those about her did not seem to understand: but three or four letters, which were writ by sir William Kingston to secretary Cromwell concerning her, to court, say, that she was at some times very devout, and cried much; and of a sudden would burst out in laughter: which are evident signs of vapours. When she heard that those, who were accused with her, were sent to the Tower, she then concluded herself lost; and said, she should be sent thither next; and talked idly, saying, "that if her bishops were about the king, they would all speak for her.She also said, "that she would be a saint in heaven, for she had done many good deeds; and that there should be no rain, but heavy judgments on the land, for what they were now doing to her.Her enemies had now gone too far not to destroy her. Next day she was carried to the Tower, and some lords, that met her on the river, declared to her what her offences were. Upon which she made deep protestations of her innocence, and begged leave to see the king; but that was not to be expected. When she was carried into the Tower, "she fell down on her knees, and prayed God to help her, as she was not guilty of the thing for which she was accused.That same day the king wrote to Cranmer to come to Lambeth; but ordered him not to come into his presence: which was procured by the queen's enemies, who took care, that one who had such credit with the king should not come at him till they had fully persuaded him that she was guilty. Her uncle's lady, the lady Boleyn, was appointed to lie in the chamber with her, which she took very ill; for, upon what reason I know not, she had been in very ill terms with her. She engaged her into much discourse, and studied to draw confessions from her. Whatsoever she laid was presently sent to the court: and a woman full of vapours was like enough to tell every thing that was true, with a great deal more; for persons in that condition not only have no command of themselves, but are apt to say any thing that comes in their fancy.
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A little before noon, being the nineteenth of May [1536], she was brought to the scaffold, where she made a short speech to a great company that came to look on the last scene of this fatal tragedy: the chief of whom were, the dukes of Suffolk and Richmond, the lord chancellor, and secretary Cromwell, with the lord mayor, the sheriffs, and aldermen of London. "She said, she was come to die, as she was judged by the law; she would accuse none, nor say any thing of the ground upon which she was judged. She prayed heartily for the king, and called him a most merciful and gentle prince, and that he had been always to her a good, gentle, sovereign lord; and if any would meddle with her cause, she required them to judge the best. And so she took her leave of them, and of the world, and heartily desired they would pray for her." After she had been some time in her devotions, her last words being, To Christ I commend my soul, her head was cut off by the hangman of Calais, who was brought over as more expert at beheading than any in England: her eyes and lips were observed to move after her head was cut off, as Spelman writes; but her body was thrown into a common chest of elmtree, that was made to put arrows in, and was buried in the chapel within the Tower, before twelve o'clock.
[28th July 1540] And now Cromwell, who had been six weeks a prisoner, was brought to his execution. He had used all the endeavours he could for his own preservation. Once he wrote to the king in such melting terms, that he made the letter to be thrice read, and seemed touched with it. But the charms of Catharine Howard, and the endeavours of the duke of Norfolk and the bishop of Winchester, at length prevailed. So a warrant was sent to cut off his head, on the twenty-eighth of July, at Tower-hill. When he was brought to the scaffold, his kindness to his son made him very cautious in what he said: he declined the purging of himself, but said, "he was by law condemned to die, and thanked God for bringing him to that death for his offences. He acknowledged his sins against God, and his offences against his prince, who had raised him from a base degree. He declared that he died in the catholic faith, not doubting of any article of faith, or of any sacrament of the church; and denied that he had been a supporter of those who delivered iil opinions: he confessed he had been seduced, but now died in the catholic faith, and desired them to pray for the king, and for the prince, and for himself: and then prayed very fervently for the remission of his past sins, and admittance into eternal glory." And having given the sign, the executioner cut off his head very barbarously.