Annales of England Containing the reignes of Henry the Eighth. Edward the Sixt. Queene Mary. Written in Latin by the Right Honorable and Right Reverend Father in God, Francis Lord Bishop of Hereford. Thus Englished, corrected and inlarged with the author's consent, by Morgan Godwyn.

Anno Dom. 1551. Reg. 5.

* 1.1 MEntion hath formerly beene made concer∣ning the Sweating Sickenesse, a disease to which England hath given a name, as well in reguard of it's originall, as of the knowne dispo∣sition of our bodies to admit of this virulent con∣tagion. England had beene formerly afflicted with it, but never so mortally as this present yeare. Shrewsbury was now the first place acquainted with this Pestilence, there it began in Aprill, and thence diffusing it selfe over the most part of the King∣dome, at length it vanished away in the North about the beginning of October. The fury of it was such, as if it would never end but by it's proper cruelty, when it should not have left subiects wher∣on to feed. The dead whome it swept away were numberlesse. In London only eight hundred was scarce a seven nights stint. It made it's first entry into this Island in the Reigne of HENRY the Seventh Anno 1486. and from hence it tooke it's progresse to other Nations. The Infected flowed away, and within the space of twenty foure houres when this malignant disease was most mercifull in it's execution, peradventure within twelve, did sweat out their soules. Women, children, and old men it for the most part overpassed, and wreaked it selfe on the robustious youth and well compact middle age, who, if in the beginning of their sicke∣nes did but slumber, perished instantly. If it seized on any that were full gorged, the recovery was in a manner desperate. Nay and of others whatsoever

they were, scarce one of a hundred escaped, vntill time had found out a remedy: the manner wherof was thus: If any be taken in the day time, hee must without shifting of his apparell betake himselfe to bed: If by night and in bed, let him not stir thence, vntill twenty foure howers be run▪ In the meane let the coverture be such, that it provoke not sweat, but that it may gently distill of it selfe: if it be pos∣sible for him so long to forbeare, let him not eat nor drinke more then may moderately serve to ex∣tinguish thirst: But above all, let him so patiently endure heat, that hee vncover not any part of his body, no not so much as a hand or a foot. The strangenesse of this disease I do not so much ad∣mire; for that PLINY in his twenty sixt Booke the first Chapter witnesseth, and daily experience teacheth vs, that every age produceth new and Epidemicall diseases. But that which surpasseth the search of humane reason is this, that this Pestilence afflicted the English in what part of the world soe∣ver, without touching the Natives, but in England alone. This dire contagion promiscuously impo∣verisht the Land of people of all sorts: among* 1.2 those of especiall note were HENRY Duke of Suffolke, and his Brother, who were the Sonnes of CHARLES BRANDON, and the Kings Cou∣zins germane, young Noblemen of great and live∣ly hopes: by the death of HENRY, the Duchy was for some few howers devolved to the younger Brother, who had the vnhappy honour but to be* 1.3 seized of the Title and dy. The Lord Gray Mar∣quis of Dorset having married FRANCIS the eldest Daughter of CHARLES BRANDON, in the right of his Wife made claime to the Duchy, and was on the eleventh of October invested in it.

At▪ what time also IOHN DVDLEY Earle of Warwicke was created Duke of Northumberland: WILLIAM POWLET Earle of Wiltshire, Mar∣quis of Winchester: and Sir WILLIAM HER∣BERT Lord Cardif Master of the Horse, Earle of Pembroke. The masculine Line of DVDLEY and GRAY hath beene long since extinct: Of the Family of the POWLETS we have spoken already▪ the Lord HERBERT Brother in law to* 1.4 Queene CATHARINE PARR, derived him∣selfe from WILLIAM HERBERT in the time of EDWARD the Fourth Earle of Pem∣broke, and was succeeded in the Earledome by his Sonne HENRY Father to WILLIAM the moderne Earle (whose mature wisedome and gra∣vity even in his greener yeares, long since ranked him in the sage Senate of the Privy Counsaile to two successive Kings) and to PHILIP by King IAMES created Earle of Montgomery. Then also were knighted Sir IOHN CHEEKE the King's Schoolemaster, Sir HENRY DVDLEY, Sir HENRY NEVILL, and (whome I cannot mention but with due honor) Sir WILLIAM CECILL. CECILL I say, who then Secretary of Estate, was afterward by all Europe held in admi∣ration for his wisedome; whome Queene ELI∣ZABETH made Lord Treasurer of England and Baron of Burleigh, and was whilest he lived a se∣cond prop of this Estate; who on the fourth of Au∣gust 1598. piously ended his long, but for the pub∣lique weales sake ever restlesse life, leaving two Sonnes, THOMAS by King IAMES created Earle of Excester, and ROBERT out of the same Fountaine of Royall Goodnesse Earle of Sarisbury and Lord Treasurer of England.

And now the ill cemented affections of the* 1.5 Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland dissolved in∣to open enmity. In the prosecution wherof, Somer∣set, otherwise of a most milde disposition (but Pati∣ence abused, oft runneth into the extreme of Fury) provoked by continuall iniuries, resolved (as some write) to murther Northumberland. To this end, but vnder colour of a visite, privily armed, and well at∣tended by Seconds who awaited him in an vtter chamber, he comes to his Adversary at that time by reason of some indisposition of body keeping his Chamber, hath accesse vnto him naked as hee was in his bed, but is so courteously entertained, and with such smooth language, that the Duke of Somerset good man repenting himselfe of his blou∣dy resolutions, would not execute what he pur∣posely came for. At his departure one of his con∣spirators is reported to have asked him, Whether he had done the feat? and vpon his denial to have added, Then you are vndone. This his intent being by his owne Party bewraied, a second accusation is in∣grossed against him. The matter is referred to the Counsaile Table, and he on the sixteenth of October againe committed to the Tower together with the Duchesse his Wife, the Lord Gray of Wilton, Sir RALPH VANE, Sir THOMAS PALMER, Sir MILES PARTRIDGE, Sir MICHAEL STANHOP, Sir THOMAS ARVNDELL, and many other of his Friends.

On the first of December the Marquis of Winche∣ster being for that day high Steward, he is arraig∣ned for Treason against the Estate, which hee had not onely ill but treacherously managed; and for conspiracy against the Duke of Northumberland. Of Treason he cleered himselfe, and his Peeres acquit∣ted

him. For the Conspiracy he was by his owne confession condemned, and that by vertue of a Law enacted 3. HENR. 7. which made the very intent, nay imagination of killing a Privy Counsailor, puni∣shable by death. But howsoever the Law (enacted as some conceive vpon somewhat differing intents and meaning) were extended to the highest of it's rigour, yet can I not but wonder, how a man so great in the reguards of his Reigning Nephew, of his Ho∣nors, of the popular Favour, should be so destitute of Learned Advice, as not to exempt himselfe from a felonious death by his Clergy. But such were the times, such his misfortunes in the minority of his Prince; from whose revengefull hand how could the adverse Faction presume themselves secure in the future? Neither could they choose but be somewhat terrified with that ecchoing testimony of the peoples ioy, who seeing that fatall Virge the Axe (vsually mar∣shalling Traitors to the Barre) laied aside vpon his freedome from the guilt of Treason; from Westmin∣ster Hall certified that part of the City by their loud festivall acclamations, of the gladsome tidings of their Favorite's conceived Absolution. And these peradventure might be causes that his execution was deferred.

* 1.6 Hitherto had the Estate patiently indured the ob∣stinate opposition of some Bishops in point of Re∣formation, who for their non-conformity are at length deprived and others substituted in their Bishopricks. Of some of them we have occasionally already spo∣ken, whose censures notwithstanding fall in with this yeare. GARDINER Bishop of Winchester was de∣prived the fourteenth of February; DAY of Chi∣chester, and HEATH of Worcester on the tenth of October: TONSTALL of Duresme on the twenti∣eth of December committed to the Tower; and

BONER of London on the first of October 1549. had beene already exautorated. All of them for feare of practising against the Estate were deteined in Prison.

* 1.7 And on the last of October FRANCIS INGLE∣FIELD, WALGRAVE, and ROCHESTER Servants to the Lady MARY, as also FRANCIS MALLET Doctor of Divinity her Chaplaine, were committed. I cannot speake any thing certaine of the causes of any of their imprisonments, excepting Do∣ctor MALLET'S only. At the Emperours request he was permitted to celebrate Masse, but with this li∣mitation, In the presence of the Lady MARY, not otherwise: for adventuring to celebrate in her ab∣sence, it was thought fit he should be punished for his presumptuous transgression. With the Lady her selfe all meanes had beene vsed to conforme her to the Times: the King himselfe had taken much paines with her by often suasory Letters, the Counsaile had done the like, and personally to satisfie her with rea∣son, divers learned men had beene imploied. But their labours were vaine; for hatred to our Religion for her Mothers, for her owne sake, and some politique respects (for by the Decrees of our Religion she was made illegitimate, and consequently cut off from the Succession to the Crowne, if her brother should dy issulesse) confirmed her in that Superstition which she had sucked from her Mother.

* 1.8 On the fourteenth of Aprill one GEORGE PA∣RIS a Gormane was at London burned for Arria∣nisme.

* 1.9 On the five and twentieth of May, Croydon and se∣ven or eight other Villages in Surrey were terribly shaken with an Earthquake.

* 1.10 Toward the beginning of November, MARY Dowager of Scotland arriving at Portsmouth, sent to

the King and craved leave to passe through England into Scotland. Which being granted, and she invited to London, entred the City on the second of Novem∣ber, where her entertainment was generall and Roy∣all. On the sixt of November she departed for Scot∣land, and had the charges of her whole Retinue borne vntill she arrived there in safety.

* 1.11 About the same time also the Earle of Arundell and the Lord Paget were (but for what causes is vncer∣taine) committed to the Tower. In the ensuing Aprill the Garter was taken from the Lord Paget, and con∣ferred on the Earle of Warwick the Duke of Northum∣berlands eldest Sonne. As for the Earle o•• Arundell he was on the third of December in the next yeare set at liberty.

* 1.12 On the one and twentieth of December was the Lord Rich removed from the Chancellorship, and THOMAS GOODRICH Bishop of Ely made Lord Chancellor.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Swea∣ting Sicke∣nesse.
• * 1.2

  The death of the Duke of Suffolke.
• * 1.3

  A creation of Dukes and Earles.
• * 1.4

  The descent of the Earles of Pembroke
• * 1.5

  Enmity be∣tweene the Dukes of So∣merset and Northum∣berland re∣vived.
• * 1.6

  Certaine Bi∣shops depri∣ved.
• * 1.7

  Some of the Seruants of the Lady Mary com∣mitted.
• * 1.8

  An Arrian burned.
• * 1.9

  An Earth∣quake.
• * 1.10

  The Queene of Scots in-England.
• * 1.11

  The Earle of Arundell & the Lord Pa∣get commit∣ted.
• * 1.12

  The Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor.