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. 1540. Reg. 32.

ON the Eve of the Circumcision the Lady ANNE of Cleve destinated to the Kings bed, arrived at Dover, was on the third of January triumphantly received at Greenwich, and on the feast of the Epiphany ritely married to the King.

On the twelfth of March HENRY BOVR∣CHIER Earle of Essex, the antientest Earle of the Realme, throwne by an vnruly young horse which he sought to breake, brake his necke: by whose death the Inheritance was devolved to his daugh∣ter, and from her deceasing without Issue, to the Family of DEVREVX, which Family in reguard of their claime by discent, was by Queene ELI∣ZABETH advanced to the Earledome of Essex. But in the meane time CROMWELL (yet chiefe in the Kings favour) was on the eighteenth of Aprill created Earle of Essex.

And here behold the frailty of humane affaires. The current of few yeares had from very meane beginnings brought CROMWELL to the height of honour, insomuch that his happinesse was admired by all, envied by many: But Fortune intending a Tragedy, he is vnexpectedly apprehen∣ded sitting at the Counsaile Table, and committed to the Tower, where he continued vntill his execu∣tion. For in this Parliament begun the twelfth of Aprill, hee is accused of Treason and Heresy, with∣out being brought to his answer condemned, and on the twenty eighth of Iuly beheaded. This King may well be censured of cruell inconstancy, who

could so easily dispence with the death of those whome he had admitted to intimate familiarity, and made vse of their counsailes and indeavours; as if he had advanced them to no other end, but to depresse them. WOLSEY had his turne, CROMWELL succeeds, whose sudden downefall there want not those who attribute to Gods Iustice inflicted on him for the Sacriledge (whereof hee was reported to be the Author) committed in the subversion of so many Religious Houses. And indeed even they who con∣fesse the rowsing of so many vnprofitable Epicures out of their dennes, and the abolishing of Super∣stition, wherewith the Divine Worship had by them beene polluted, to have beene an act of sin∣gular Iustice and Piety; do notwithstanding com∣plaine of the losse of so many stately Churches de∣dicated to Gods service, the goods whereof were no otherwise imploied, then for the satisfaction of pri∣vate mens covetousnesse: and although many have abused the Vaile of Religion, yet was that Monasti∣call life instituted according to the pious example of antient Fathers, that they who found them∣selves vnfit for the execution of worldly affaires, (as many such there are) might in such their volun∣tary retirements spend their dayes in Divine Wri∣tings or Meditations: and are verily persuaded, that for the taking away of these things, God was of∣fended both with the King and CROMWELL. But SLEIDAN peradventure comes neerer the matter, touching the immediate cause of his death.

About this time (saith hee) the King of England beheadeth THOMAS CROMWELL, whome hee had from fortunes answerable to his low parentage, raised to great Honours; repudiates the Lady ANNE of Cleve, and marrieth CATHARINE HO∣WARD

Daughter to the Lord EDMOND HO∣WARD, who was Brother to the Duke of Nor∣folke. CROMWELL had beene procurer of the Match with ANNE. But the King loving CA∣THARINE, is thought to have beene persuaded by her to make away CROMWELL, whome shee suspe∣cted to be a Remora to her advancement. The actions of Kings are not to be sifted too neerely, for which we are charitably to presume they haue reasons, and those inscrutable.

But let vs see the procesle of this divorce. Six mo∣neths this coniugall band lasted firme without scru∣ple, the King and Queene giving daily testimonies of their mutuall love. On the twentieth of June the Queene is willed to remove from London, (where the King staied by reason of the Parliament) to Richmond, a place pretended in reguard of the scituation and aire, to be more for her health.

On the sixth of Iuly reasons are proposed by certaine Lords purposely sent to the lower House of Parliament, demonstrating the invalidity of the Kings marriage with the Lady ANNE, so that it was lawfull for them both to marry where they pleased. The same reasons are alledged in the Con∣vocation house, and generally approved. Where∣upon the Queene also (whether forced or willing) consenting, the Parliament pronounced the mar∣riage void.

What the allegations were is vncertaine. Some relate disability by reason of some defects to be obie∣cted to her, which seemes the more probable, for that in her Letters wherein shee submitted her selfe to the iudgement and determination of the Par∣liament, shee affirmed that the King never knew her carnally. Whether for this, or for that Nature ha∣ving not over liberally endowed her wtih beauty;

but a private woman she became, and as such (not en∣during to returne to her friends with dishonor) shee lived vpon some lands assigned her by the King, (who alwaies vsed her respectively) vntill the fif∣teenth of Iuly Annv 15••7, at what time shee ended her discontented life, and lieth buried at Westminster on the South side of the Quire in a Tombe not yet finished.

Scarce had the resolution of the Convocation House, and the Decree concerning it passed both Houses, when this lusty Widower with as good suc∣cesse as before, marrieth his fifth Wife CATHA∣RINE HOWARD. When their nuptialls were celebrated is not knowne, but on the eighth of Au∣gust in Royall habiliments shee shewed her selfe as Queene.

The fautors of Reformation were much dismaied at the sudden vnqueening of ANNE: fearing (not without cause) least it proving occasion of enmity betweene HENRY and the Princes of Germany, he must of necessity rely on them who misliked our di∣vorce from Rome. But the King proceeding still in the course he had begun, like a torrent bearing all before him, not onely caused three Anabaptists to be burned, but also many sincere Professors of the Truth▪ for not subscribing to the Six Articles. Among whome three Divines were most eminent, viz. ROBERT BARNES Doctor of Divi∣nity, THOMAS GERARD, and WIL∣LIAM IEROM Bachelors, who by Parliament (vnheard) being condemned for Heresie, were on the one and thirtieth committed to the ••orments of the mercilesse fire. At the same time and place three other Doctors of Divinity, viz. POWELL, ABIE, and FETHRSTON were hanged for denying the Kings Supremacy▪ the sight whereof made a French

man cry out in these words, Deus bone, quomodo hic vivunt gentes? Suspenduntur Papistae, comburuntur, Antipapistae; Good God, how do the People make a shift to live here, where both Papists are hanged; and Anti∣papists burned? In August the Prior of Dancaster and six other for defending the Institution of the life Mo∣nasticall (a crime now become as capitall as the grea∣test) being also condemned by Act of Parliament, were hanged.

The same day with the Lord CROMWELL, the Lord HVNGERFORD was also behea∣ded. As their causes were divers, so died they alike differently. CROMWELLS conscience quietly welcommed Death: to the other suffering for that most vnnaturall crime of Sodomy, Death pre∣sented it selfe with that horror, that the apprehension of it made him as impatient, as if hee had been seized with a frenzy.

Notes

• The King marrieth the Lady of Cleve.
• Cromwell created Earle of Essex, and within three months after beheaded.
• Lady Anne of Cleve re∣pudiated.
• The King marrieth Catharine Howard.
• Protestants and Papists alike perse∣cuted.
• The Prior of Dancaster & fox others hanged.
• The Lord Hungerford hanged.