Anne of Cleves Annulment

Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1540. 9th July 1540. 851. (From Cranmer's Register, f.141) 860. Anne of Cleves. Record of the process of nullity of the marriage of Henry VIII. and Anne of Cleves. On Wednesday, 7 July 1540, 32 Hen. VIII, in the chapter house of St. Peter's, Westminster, present, Thomas abp. of Canterbury, Edw. abp. of York, Edm. bp. of London, Cuthb. bp. of Durham, Steph. bp. of Winchester, John bp. of Lincoln, Robt. bp. of Carlisle, Wm. bp. of St. David's, Robt. bp. of Llandaff, John bp. of Hereford, John bp. of Worcester, Robt. bp. of St. Asaph, Nich. bp. of Rochester, and John bp. of Bangor,; Ric. Gwent, archd. of London, official of the Court of Canterbury and prolocutor of the lower house of the Convocation of Canterbury; Thos. Thirleby, LL.D., archd. of Ely and bp. designate of Westminster; deans John Incent of St. Paul's, Peter Vannes of Sarum, John Taylor of Lincoln, Hen. Williams of Lichfield, Simon Haynes of Exeter, and Ric. Layton of York; archdeacons Edm. Cranmer of Canterbury, Ric. Rawson of Essex, Ric. Coren of Colchester and Oxford, Thos. Baugh of Surrey, Maur. Griffith of Rochester, John Worthiall of Chichester, Polydor Virgilius of Wells, Ric. Street of Derby, David Poole of Salop, Thos. Wynter of Cornwall, Geo. Heneage of Taunton, Griffin Leyson of Caermarthen, Thos. Runcorne of Bangor, Thos. Westby of York, Thos. Magnus of East Riding, John Langrihe (sic) of Cleveland, Robt. Davel of Northumberland, Wm. Holgill of Carlisle, and a multitude of the clergy of both provinces. Ric. Gwent presented the King's letters of commission under the Great Seal addressed to the archbishops and clergy, which were then read by Ant. Husey, notary public, in presence of Thos. Argall, notary public. The clergy decreed to proceed upon the commission. The bp. of Winchester then explained the causes of the nullity of the marriage of the King and lady Anne of Cleves in a lucid speech. For convenience it was decreed that the two Archbishops, the bps. of London, Durham, Winchester, and Worcester, and Ric. Gwent, Thos. Thirleby, Thos. Incent, Edw. Leighton, and Thos. Robertson, Ric. Layton, and Wm. Ryvett, doctors of Theology and Law, and Thos. Magnus, archd. of the East Riding, should receive and weigh all the evidences in the case and explain them to the Convocation. This done, the clergy of the lower house departed, all except the Prolocutor, the elect of Westminster, the deans of York and St. Paul's, Leighton, Robertson, Magnus and Ryvet. Subsequently the bishops and these said eight men agreed that the bishops of Durham and Winchester, the Prolocutor, the elect of Westminster, and the dean of York should take the depositions of witnesses. Convocation was then prorogued (continuata) by the archbishop of Canterbury until next day between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. This done, the bps. of Durham and Winchester, the Prolocutor, elect of Westminster, and dean of York, in presence of the "said" prothonotary and of John Rheseus and Ant. Husey, notaries public, between 1 and 6 p.m., went to the King's palace near Westminster, and there took the depositions, as witnesses in the case, of Thos. lord Audeley, Chancellor, Thos. duke of Norfolk, Charles duke of Suffolk, Wm. earl of Southampton, Privy Seal, John lord Russell, Great Admiral, Sir Ant. Browne, master of the Horse, knights of the Garter; and of George lord Cobham, Sir Thos. Henneage, Sir Thos. Wryothesley, King's secretary, Ant. Denny, and Wm. Butt, M.D. All of these made their depositions upon oath, as contained in schedules signed with their hands, which the bishops, &c., received and retained. Afterwards they took the deposition of John Chamber, M.D., at his house in Canon Rowe, as contained in a schedule left with the elect of Westminster. Next day, Thursday, Philip Hoby, gentleman, made his deposition in the vestibule of the chapter house of Westminster, before Thos. elect of Westminster and Ant. Husey. The same day the Convocation reassembled, and, in the presence of the prothonotary and the other notaries, it was agreed to add John Tregonwell, John Olyver, Wm. Petre, and John Hughes, doctors of laws, to the aforenamed eight men, and the bp. of Winchester presented the schedules of depositions, which they discussed among themselves. The abp. of Canterbury prorogued the rest of the Convocation until 3 p.m. the same day.

At which hour it was agreed in full Convocation that the King and Anne of Cleves were nowise bound by the marriage solemnised between them, and it was decreed to send letters testimonial of this to the King, the drawing up which was committed to the archbishops and bishops and the twelve men above named, and the Convocation was prorogued until 8 a.m. on Friday. At that hour the Convocation met, and, after discussion, was prorogued until 3 p.m. the same day, when, after much discussion, the letters testimonial, containing the judgment of the nullity of the marriage, made on parchment in the form of a public instrument, was subscribed with their names and signed and sealed by the prothonotary, &c., and sealed by the remembrancers of the archbishops, witnessed by Tregonwell, Olyver, Petre, and Hughes.

ii. Tenor of the letters testimonial.

The clergy of both provinces have received the King's commission (recited), dated Westm., 6 July 32 Hen. VIII. After mature deliberation, they have found the marriage null by reason of a precontract between lady Anne and the marquis of Lorraine, that it was unwillingly entered into and never consummated, and that the King is at liberty to marry another woman, and likewise the lady Anne free to marry. Westm., 9 July 1540. Latin.

Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1541. 46b. Lady Anne of Cleves, for certain considerations (As in No. 503 (32)). Manors of Tangham, Bawdesey, Chesilford, Magna Glemham, Stratford, Boyton, Waybrige, and Magna Fynborough, and rectories and advowsons of Waybridge, Bawdesey, Glemham Magna, and Fynborough Magna, Suff., manor of West Somerton, and rectories and advowsons of West Somerton and Upton, Norf.,—Butley; manors of Culphoo Regis alias Culphoo Abbatis and Glaverynge, and rectory and advowson of Corton, Suff.,— Leyston; manors of Ockolte and Fresyngfeld and rectories and advowsons of Yaxley, Dunwiche, and Pleyforthe, Suff.,—Eye; manors of Huntyngfelde, Newhawe, Thornedon, Watlesfelde, Walsham, Cretyng, Neddyng, Saxmondham Merkett, Vyrles, Swannes, and Cotton Hempnall, and hundred of Hartesmere, also manors of Frossenden, and Stratforde juxta Benhall and hundred of Stowe, also manor of Cotton Brisworth and hundred of Waynforde and Blythyng, also manor of Stradebroke, Suff.,—Charles duke of Suffolk; manors of Saxlingham, Claxton, and Helyngton, and hundred of Frebrige, also manors of Stoketon and Costessey, Norf., and rent of 23l. 6s. 8d. out of Combes manor, Suff.,—Charles duke of Suffolk; lands now in tenure of Thos. Weldon in Bustlesham Mountague and Cockham, Berks, manors of Bustlesham, Mountague, Cockeham, Maydenhed, and Braye, Berks, of Ivez (or Iver), and Hurdecote, Soms. and Berks, and of Little and Great Marlowe, Bucks,—Bisham; rectories and advowsons of Kyngesclere with Ocle chapel, Hants, Westwycombe, Bucks, Echynswell (with chapel and grange), Hants, Shaldeflete in the I. of Wight, Stokenham, Devon, Molesden, N. Wales, Curryryvell with Bradewey chapel, Soms., and Helmerton, Wilts,—Bisham; site and chief messuage of Crawstons manor, Bucks, with appurtenances in Little Marlowe and Great Wycombe, Bucks, and Sondayes Wharff in the parish of St. Andrew at Baynards Castle in London,—Bisham; house and site of Bethekilhert alias Belchelkelherd, co. Carnarvon, and all its possessions in cos. Carnarvon and Anglesey, South (sic) Wales; manors of Hever, Seale, and Kempseyng and park of Hever, Kent,—Thos. earl of Wiltshire; lordships [and] manors of Shene alias Richmonde, Petresham and Ham and island of Crowell and park called Richmond Park; advowsons of the churches of Shene, Richemonde Petresham, Ham, Hever, Seale, and Kempseyng, Surr., and Kent. With reservations, and on condition of payment of certain fees and annuities, specified, due upon the premises. 20 Jan [1541].

Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1540. 9th July 1541. R.O. S. Pi. 629, Burnet, iv. 431. 861. Anne of Cleves.

Judgment of the united Convocations of both Provinces declaring the nullity of the King's marriage with Anne of : Cleves (as in No. 860, 8 ii.), Westm., 9 July 1540. Signed by the abps. of Canterbury and York, the bps. of London, Durham, Winchester, Lincoln, Exeter, Ely, Norwich, Coventry and Lichfield, St. David's, St. Asaph, Llandaff, Salisbury, Carlisle, Worcester, Hereford, Bangor, Rochester, and Thos. elect of Westminster. Also signed by Ric. Gwent, archd. of London "et cleri Cant. prolocutor"; Jo. Incent, LL.D., dean of London; Petrus Vannes, dean of Sarum and archd. of Worcester; John Tayler, dean of Lincoln; Hen. Williams, dean of Lichfield, Simon Heynes, dean of Exeter; "Johannes Thetforden, decanus Norwic. per procuratorem"; John Carvanell, dean of Warwick; John London, dean of Wallingford; Wm. Frankeleyn, dean of Windsor, John Olyver, dean of the Royal College, Oxford; Gamaliel Clyfton, dean of Hereford; Wm. Fleshmonger, dean of Chichester; John Chambre, dean of St. Stephen's, Westminster, and archd. of Bedford; Edmund Cranmer, archd. of Canterbury; Ric. Coren, archd. of Colchester and Oxon; Wm. Knyght, archd. of Chester and Huntingdon; Ric. Rawson, archd. of Essex; Thos. Baghe, archd. of Surrey; Edw. Leyghton, archd. of Sarum; George Hennage, archd. of Taunton; Maurice Greffyth, arch. of Rochester; John Worthiall, archd. of Chichester; Polydorus Vergilius, archd. of Wells; Ric. Strete, archd. of Derby; David Poole, archd. of Salop; Thos. Wynterus, archd. of Cornwall; Griffinus Leyson, archd. of Caermarthen; Thos. Runcornus, archd. of Bangor; Geo. Wyndame, archd. of Norwich; Nic. Wotton, archd. of Gloucester; Thos. Breyrwode, archd. of Berston; "Geordius Carewe, arch. Totton"; Robt. Audley, archd. of Berks; Robt. Newton, archd. of Norfolk; Ric. Edon, archd. of Middlesex; John Blyth, archd. of Coventry; John Bothe, archd. of Herford; John Luntley, archd. of Cardigan; Ric. Sparchfurth, archd. of Salop; "Edwardus Darby, archius. Stowie "; Walt. Cretyng, archd. of Bath; John Reston, "procurator cap'li eccl'ie S'ci Pauli, London"; Matth. Wotton, Roger Edgeworth, D.D., John Worthiall, Geo. Hennage, Ralph Sneyde, Griff. Leyson, John Broxolme, Chr. Neyvynson, Simon Matthew, Wm. Ryvett, Maurice Greffyth, Robt. Jonson, John Incent, Griffith Leyson, Thos. Benett, Ric. Arche, Roland Taylor, Hen. Joliff, Wm. Busby, John Sanayge, Ant. Draycot, Thos. Robertson, Thos. Thyrleby, "procur. Elien.," Wm. Mey, Ric. Strete, David Poole, Mauritius Birchinsha, Arth. Bulkeley, Hen. Morgan, Ant. Belassis, John Crayforde, Ant. Barker, John Cockys, Ric. Wade, Edw. Sopham, John Pilkyngton, Jas. Browne, Ric. Roberds, Paul Bushe, Hugh Glasyer, Wm. Burges, John Hood, Ric. Thornden, Wm. Marshall, Wm. Grene, Ric. Marsche, Hugh Raulins, Ric. Cox, Wm. Tresham, John Barbar, John Palsgrave, John Whytwell, Steph. Sagar, Th. Wakefelde, Ph. Brode, John Rudd, Gilb. Sanky, Thos. Sowthe, Thos. Byrkhed, Hen. Markham, Th. Barfot, Geo. Hovy, Wm. Haynys, Thos. Whyte, Edw. Cromo, Robt. Talbot, Gerard Carleton, Hugh Aprice, LL.D., John Brikynden, Giles Eyre, Humph. Parkens, Thos. Baxster, Wm. Benson D., Dionisius Dolyon, Wm. Gwyn, Thos. Talley, Wm. Petre, John Rokeby, Ric. Liell, John Tregonwell, John Hughes, W. Cooke. Also by Ric. Layton, dean of York; Thos. Westbe, archd. of York; T. Magnus, archd. of East Riding; Wm. Knyght, archd. of Richmond; Ric. Langgrische, archd. of Cleveland; Cuthb. Marshal, archd. of Nottingham; Wm. Franklyne, archd. of Durham; Robt. Dawell, archd. of Northumberland; Wm. Holgill, archd. of Carlisle; Geoff. Downes, chancellor of York; Thos. Wynterus, prepositus Beverlacensis; John Brandishe, Wm. Howghton, John Redmayn. Notarial attestations by John Rheseus, notary public, LL.B., Ric. Watkyns, prothonotary "juris bachalaureus"; Ant. Huse, notary, of London diocese, and Thos. Argall, notary, of Winchester diocese. Parchment, pp. 13. Seal much broken. ii. Modern copy, attached to the preceding, of Anne of Cleves' letter to her brother [See No. 898].