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. 1533. Reg. 25.

THe King's loue brooked no delayes. Where∣fore on the fiue and twentieth of Ianuary, pri∣vately and in the presence of very few, he mar∣rieth the Ladie ANNE BOLEN.

Shortly after by Act of Parliament the marriage of the King and the Lady CATHARINE was decla∣red void and incestuous, and a Law enacted, where∣in all Appeales to Rome were forbidden, and that none should stile CATHARINE other then Prin∣cesse of Wales, and Widow or Dowager of Prince ARTHVR. By vertue and authority of the same Law, the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied with some other Bishops, comming to Dunstable six miles from Ampthill, where CATHARINE then resided, caused her to be cited before Him next vnder the King chiefe Iudge in all Ecclesiasticall causes within the Province of Canterbury, to shew what reasons could be alleaged why the marriage not lawfully contra∣cted betweene the King and her should not be disa∣nulled, and pronounced impious, incestuous, and consequently void. To these things by one of her servants she answered; that it beseemed not the Arch∣bishop to thrust his sickle into anothers harvest: this Cause did yet depend vndecided before the Pope CHRIST'S Vicar on earth, whose Decree she would obey, and other Iudge would shee acknowledge none. Being called fifteene dayes together and not appearing. Shee is pronounced Contumax, and for her contumacie separated from the Kings bed and company. Wherevpon the Lady ANNE proclai∣med Queene throughout the Kingdome, on Easter eve shewed her selfe publiquely as Queene: and

was at Whits ontide crowned with as great pompe and solemnitie as ever was Queene. The particu∣lars I will let passe, excepting that propheticall Disticke vpon one of the triumphant Arches pur∣posely erected in London where shee was to passe:

Regina ANNA, paris Regis de sanguine Natam, Et paries populis aurea secla tuis.

In English,

ANNE, thou a daughter bearest to our King, And to thy people golden dayes shalt bring.

Wafers also with the same impression were throwne about saith STOW. But I rather beleeve, that this Disticke was made after the Queenes deliverie. Whensoever it were, hee that truely considers the fe••icitie of the foure and fortie yeares raigne of this Queenes Daughter, will thinke this Oracle could not proceed from any but a Delphian APOLLO. For the Queene at the time of her Coronation was great with childe, (whereof the seventh of September shee was delivered at Greenwich) which was that ever famous Queene ELIZABETH, who after the death of her Brother and Sister so gloriously ruled this Kingdome.

The Pope was certified of all these passages; that his authoritie in England was abrogated, that the late Queene CATHARINE was put away, that ANNE BOLEN as Queene was taken to the Kings bed, that the King stiled himselfe Supreme Head of the Church of England, that the Archbi∣shop of Canterbury executed all those offices which formerly the Pope only did, and that not as the Popes Legate, but as Primate of England, who vnder the King claimed chiefe authority in Ecclesia∣sticall

affaires throughout his whole Province. Wher∣with being ne••ed, hee seemed to breath nothing but threats and revenge. But knowing himselfe to have beene the motive of it, and doubtfull of the event, he was easily persuaded by the French King, as yet not to proceed by excommunication against HENRY, vn∣till he had made triall of some milder course. Where∣vpon FRANCIS by BELLAY Bishop of Paris en∣treates HENRY not to withdraw himselfe wholy from the obedience of Rome, for as much as it was a matter of great danger: Hee would therefore advise him once more by Embassadours to Rome, to signifie that he was not vtterly averse from a r••conciliation: which if hee did, hee made no doubt but all things would succeed to his minde. HENRY was certaine of enioying his Love, and let the Pope decree what he list, was resolved to keepe her. Hee had beene for∣merly abused by the Court of Rome, and was loath to make farther triall of their dilatory proceedings. Yet had BELLAY prevailed so fa••re with him, that Hee would be content once more to submit himselfe to the Church of Rome, if hee could bee as∣sured of the Popes intention to do him equity. The Bishop conceiving some hopes of a peace (although it were in the winter time) goes himselfe to Rome, gives the Pope an account of his actions, and certifies him that the matter was not yet desperate. Where∣vpon a day is appointed by which a Post returning from the King was to give notice of an intended Embassie. But the Consistory gave so short a time to have an answere, that the Post came short two dayes at his returne. The terme expired, they pro∣ceed hastily to the confirmation of their Censures notwithstanding the Bishops instance to obtaine six dayes more, for as much as contrary windes or some other chance might hinder the messenger;

and six dayes would be no great matter, considering the King had wauered six whole yeares before hee fell: The more moderate thought the Bishop de∣manded but reason; but the preposterous haste of the greater sort preuailed. Two dayes were scarce past after the prefixed time, but the Post arriuing with ample authority, and instructions from Eng∣land, did greatly amaze those hasty Cardinalls, who afterwards would faine, but could not finde any meanes to mend what they had so rashly marred. For the matter (to please the Emperor) was so hud∣led vp, as that which could not ritely bee finished in three Consistories, was done in one. So the King and the whole Realme was interdicted, the Bull whereof (the Messengers not daring to come neerer) was brought to Dunkirk.

The report hereof comming to the King, hee laies all the blame on the Lady CATHARINE. Whereupon the Duke of Suffolke was sent to lessen her Houshold: They who might be any way suspe∣cted to haue been imploied by her in this businesse, are turned away, the rest are commanded to take their oathes to serve her as Princesse of Wales, not as Queene of England. They that refuse are ca••hie∣red, and they that are content to sweare, are by her cast off; so that for a time shee had few or no At∣tendants.

In the meane time, on the three and twentieth of June died MARY Queene of France the Kings Sister, and was buried in the Abbey of Saint Ed∣mundsbury.

Notes

• The King marrieth Anne B••len.
• The birth of Queene Eli∣zabeth.
• Mary Queen of France di∣eth.