The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

Wednesday the .xxv. of Ianuarie the Par∣liament [ 10] began, the Queenes Maiestie ryding in hir Parliament Robes, from hir Palaice of white Hall, vnto the Abbey Churche of West∣mynster, with the Lordes spirituall and tempo∣rall, attending hir likewise in theyr Parliament Robes. Doctor Coxe sometime scholemaister to King Edwarde the sixt, and nowe lately re∣turned frō the parties of beyonde the seas, where during the dayes of Queene Marie he had liued as a banished man, preached nowe before the e∣states [ 20] there assembled in the beginning of the sayd Parliament.

In this Parliament, the first fruits & tenthes were restored to the crown, and also the supreme gouernment ouer the state ecclesiasticall, which Queene Mary had giuen to the Pope. Likewise the booke of common prayer and administration of the Sacraments in our mother tongue was restored.

Moreouer in the time of this Parliament, a [ 30] motion was made by the common house, that the Queenes Maiestie might be sued vnto, to graūt hir graces licence to the speaker, knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, to haue accesse vnto hir graces presence, to declare vnto hir matter of great importance, concerning the state of thys hir graces realme. The which petition being mooued to hir grace, she most honourably agreed and consented therevnto, and assigned a day of hearing. When the day came, the speaker and [ 40] common house resorted vnto hir graces palaice at Westmynster, called the white Hall. And in the great Gallerie there, hir grace most honou∣rably shewed hir selfe readie to heare their moti∣on and petition. And when the speaker had so∣lemnely and eloquently set forth the message (the speciall matter whereof most specially was tomoue hir grace to mariage,) whereby (to al our comforts) wee might enioy (as Gods pleasure should be) the royall issue of hir bodie to raigne [ 50] ouer vs. &c.

The Queenes Maiestie after a little pause, made this answere folowing, as nere as I could beare the same away, sayth Grafton.

As I haue good cause, so doe I giue to you my heartie thankes for the good zeale and care that you seeme to haue as well towarde mee, as to the whole estate of your Countrey. Your petition I gather to be grounded on three cau∣ses, and mine answere to the same shall con∣sist in two partes. And for the first I say vnto you, that from my yeares of vnderstanding, knowing my selfe a seruitour of almightie God, I chose this kind of life, in which I doe yet liue, as a life most acceptable vnto him, wherein I thought I coulde best serue him, and with most quietnesse doe my duetie vnto him. From which my choise, if either ambition of high estate offred vnto me by mariages (whereof I haue recordes in this presence) the displeasure of the Prince, the eschewing the daunger of mine enimies, or the auoyding the perill of death (whose Messenger the Princesse indignation was no little tyme continually present before mine eyes, by whose meanes, if I knew or do iustly suspect, I will not now vtter them, or if the whole cause were my sister hirselfe, I will not nowe charge the deade) coulde haue drawne or disswaded me, I had not nowe remayned in this Virgins estate wherein you see me. But so constant haue I al∣ways continued in this my determination (that although my wordes and youth may seeme to some hardly to agree togither) yet it is true, that to this day I stande free from any other mea∣ning, that eyther I haue had in tymes past, or haue at this present. In which state and trade of liuing wherwith I am so throughly acquain∣ted, God hath hitherto so preserued mee, and hath so watchfull an eye vpon me, and so hath guided me and ledde me by the hand, as my full trust is, he will not suffer me to go alone. The maner of your petition I doe lyke, and take in good part, for it is simple, and conteyneth no ly∣mitation of place or person. If it had bene other∣wise, I must haue mislyked it verie much, and thought in you a verie great presumption, being vnfitte and altogither vnmeete, to require them that may commaunde, or those appoynt, whose partes are to desire, or such to binde and limitte, whose dueties are to obey: or to take vpon you to draw my loue to your lykings, or to frame my wil to your fancies. A guerdon constrayned, and a gift freely giuen can neuer agree. Neuer∣thelesse, if any of you be in suspect that whensoe∣uer it may please god to incline my heart to that kinde of life, my meaning is to do or determine any thing wherewith the realme may haue iust cause to be discontented: Put that out of your heades, for I assure you (what credence my as∣surance may haue with you I cannot tell, but what credite it shall deserue to haue, the sequele shall declare) I wil neuer in that matter cōclude any thing that shall bee preiudiciall vnto the realme: For the weale and good safetie where∣of, as a good mother of my Countrey, I will neuer shooune to spende my lyfe. And

who soeuer my choyse may lyght vpon, he shall be as carefull for the preseruation of the Realme as you, I will not say as my selfe: for I cannot so certainly promise of another, as I doe sure∣ly knowe of my selfe, but as any other can be. And albeeit it doth please almightie God to con∣tinue me still in this minde to liue oute of the state of mariage, it is not to be feared, but hee will so worke in my heart, and in youre wise∣domes, that as good prouision may bee made in [ 10] conuenient tyme, whereby the Realme shall not remaine destitute of an heyre that may bee a fitte Gouernour, and peraduenture more be∣neficiall to the Realme than suche ofspring as may come of mee. For though I bee neuer so carefull for your well doings, and mynde euer so to be, yet may mine issue growe out of kinde, and become vngracious. And for mee it shall bee sufficient, that a Marble stone declare that a Queene, hauing raigned suche a tyme, ly∣ued [ 20] and dyed a Virgine. To make an ende, I take your comming to mee in good part, and gyue vnto you eftsoones my heartie thankes, more yet for your zeale, good will, and good meaning, than for your message and pe∣tition.

Many that for feare of persecution in Queene Maries dayes were fled the Realme, and liued in voluntarie exile, nowe that all persecution ceassed by the gracious clemencie of this noble [ 30] Princesse Queene Elizabeth, they returned with all conuenient speede home into their na∣tiue Countrey, giuing to Almightie God most humble thankes for that his mercifull deliue∣rance, in sending them a gouernor, that not on∣ly permitted libertie of conscience, but also was readie to aduaunce religion, and command free exercise of common prayer, preaching and ad∣ministration of the Sacraments, according to the right institution of the primitiue Churches. [ 40]

Fryday the .xvij. of Februarie, one of maister Hunnings seruants, that was also one of the takers of freshe fishe for the prouision of the Queenes house, was set on the Pillorie in Cheape side in the fishe market ouer agaynst the kings head, hauing a baudrike of Smeltes han∣ging about his necke with a Paper on his fore∣heade, written for buying Smelts for .xij. pens the hundred, and solde them againe for tenne pens the quarter. He stoode so likewise on the [ 50] xviij. and .xx. day of the same moneth, euerye of those three dayes from .ix. of the clocke vn∣till twelue. The last day he should haue had one of his eares slitte, if by great suyte made to the Counsayle by the Lorde Maior of London, be hadde not beene pardoned and released oute of prison.

This penaunce was assigned to him by the Queenes owne appoyntment, when to hir Grace his trespasse was reuealed. Whereby she gaue a taste to the people of a zealous minde to haue iustice duely ministred, and faults accor∣dingly punished, namely of those which vnder pretence of hir Graces authoritie shoulde goe aboute to wrong and oppresse hir louing sub∣iects.

This yeare in the Easter holidayes, on the Monday preached at the Spittell Doctor Bill, on the Tuesday doctor Coxe, and on the Wed∣nesday Doctor Horne: the first was hir Maie∣sties Chapleine, the other two had remayned at Geneua, and in other places beyond the seas all Queene Maries time.

On low Sunday maister Sampson made the rehearsall Sermon, but when the Lord Ma∣ior and Aldermē came to their places in Pauls Church yarde, the Pulpet doore was locked, and the key could not bee bearde of, wherevpon the Lord Maior sent for a Smith to open the lock, which was done, and when the Preacher should enter the place, it was founde verie filthie and vncleanly.

Moreouer the Verger that had the custodie of the Key that opened the doore of the place where the Prelates and other vse to stande at the Sermon time would not open the doore, but the Gentlemen with a forme brake it open, and so came in to heare the Sermon. This disorder chaunced by reason that since Christmasse last past, there was not a sermon preached at Pauls Crosse, by reason of an inhibition sent from the Counsaile vnto the Bishop of London, that he shoulde admit no Preacher bycause of the con∣trouersie betwixt the Bishops and other of the Clergie that were now returned into the realm, from the parties of beyonde the Seas.

The last of Marche the Parliament yet continuing, was a conference begon at West∣minster concerning certaine Articles of Religi∣on betwixt the Bishops and other of the Clear∣gie, on the one part, and certaine learned prea∣chers of whom some had beene in dignitie in the Churche of Englande before that tyme on the other parte, the declaration of the proceeding wherein, and the cause of the breaking vp of the same conference by default and contempt of cer∣taine Bishoppes parties of the sayde conference was published in a little treatise, and imprin∣ted by Richarde Iugge and Iohn Cawood, Printers to the Queenes maiestie, as here follo∣weth.

The Queenes most excellent Maiestie, ha∣uing hearde of diuersitie of opinions in cer∣taine matters of Religion amongst sundrie of hir louing Subiectes, and beeing verie desy∣rous to haue the same reduced to some godly

and Christian concorde, thought it best by the aduice of the Lordes, and other of hir priuye Counsayle, as well for the satisfaction of per∣sones doubtfull, as also for the knowledge of the verye truth in certayne matter of diffe∣rence: to haue a conuenient thosen number of the beste learned of eyther parte, and to con∣ferre togyther theyr opinions and reasons, and thereby to come to some good and charitable a∣greement. [ 10]

And herevppon by hir Maiestyes commaun∣dement, certayne of hir priuye Counsayle, de∣clared thys purpose to the Archebishoppe of Yorke (beyng also one of the same priuie Coun∣sayle) and requyred him that he woulde imparte the same to some of the Bishoppes, and to make choyse of eight, nine, or tenne of them, and that there shoulde bee the lyke number na∣med of the other parte: and further also declared to hym (as then was supposed) what the mat∣ters [ 20] shoulde be: And as for the tyme, it was thought meete to bee as soone as possible myght bee agreed vpon. And then after certaine dayes past, it was signifyed by the sayde Archbishoppe, that there was appoynted by suche of the By∣shoppes to whome hee hadde imparted this mat∣ter, eight persones, that is to saye, foure By∣shoppes, and foure Doctours, who were con∣tent at the Queenes Maiesties commaunde∣ment to shewe theyr opinions, and as he tear∣med [ 30] it, render accounte of theyr fayth in those matters whiche were mentioned, and that spe∣cially in wryting, although he sayd they thought the same so determined, as there was no cause to dispute vpon them.

It was herevppon fullye resolued by the Queenes Maiestie, with the aduice aforesayde, that according to theyr desyre, it shoulde bee in wryting on both partes, for auoyding of muche altercation in woordes, and that the [ 40] sayde Byshoppes shoulde, bycause they were in authoritie, of degree Superiours, fyrste declare theyr myndes and opinions to the matter, with theyr reasons in wryting, and the other number beeing also eyght menne of good degree in Schooles, and some hauing beene in dignitie in the Churche of Englande, if they had any thing to say to the contrarie, shoulde the same day declare theyr opinions in lyke manner. And so eche of them shoulde de∣lyuer [ 50] theyr Wrytings to the other, to be con∣sydered what were to bee improoued therein, and the same to declare agayne in wryting at some other conuenient daye, and the lyke or∣der to bee kept in all the rest of the matters: all this was fully agreed vpon with the Archbishop of Yorke, and so also signifyed to both partyes. And immediately herevpon, diuerse of the No∣bilitie and States of the Realme, vnderstan∣ding that such a meeting and conference shoulde bee, and that in certayne matters, wherevpon the Courte of Parliament consequentlye follo∣wing, some lawes myght bee grounded: they made earnest meanes to hir Maiestie, that the partyes of thys conference, myghte putte and reade theyr assertions in the Englishe tongue, and that in the presence of them of the Nobili∣tie, and others of the Parliament house, for the better satisfaction and inhabling of theyr owne Iudgementes, to treate and conclude of such lawes as myght depende herevpon. Thys also beeing thought verie reasonable, was sig∣nifyed to both partyes, and so fully agreed vp∣pon, and the daye appoynted for the first mee∣ting to bee the Fryday in the forenoone, being the last of Marche at Westmynster Church, where both for good order, and for honour of the con∣ference, by the Queenes Maiesties commaun∣dement, the Lordes and others of the priuye Counsayle were present, and a great part of the Nobilitie also, and notwythstanding the for∣mer order appoynted, and consented vnto by both partes, yet the Bishoppe of Wynchester and his Colleges, alleging they had mystaken that theyr assertions and reasons should be writ∣ten, and so onely recyted out of the Booke, sayde theyr booke was not readie then written, but they were readie to argue and dispute, and there∣fore they woulde for that tyme repeate in speache that which they had to say to the fyrst propositi∣on. This variation from the order, and specially from that whiche themselues had by the sayde Archbishoppe in wryting before requyred, ad∣ding thereto the reason of the Apostle, that to contende wyth wordes is profitable to nothing, but to subuersion of the hearer, seemed to the Queenes Maiesties Counsayle somewhat straunge, and yet was it permytted wythoute any greate reprehension, bycause they excused themselues with mistaking the order, and agreed that they would not fayle but put it in writing, & according to the former order, deliuer it to the o∣ther part, and so the sayd Bishop of Wynchester and his Colleges appointed Doctor Cole Deane of Paules, to be the vtterer of theyr myndes, who partlye by speeche onely, and partlye by reading of authorities written, and at cer∣tayne tymes beeyng infourmed of hys Colle∣gees what to saye: made a declaration of theyr meanings, and theyr reasons to theyr fyrst proposition, which beeing ended, they were asked by the priuie Counsaile, if any of them had any more to be sayde: and they sayde no. So as then the other parte was lycenced to shewe theyr myndes, which they did according to the first order, exhibiting all that whiche they mente

to bee propounde in a Booke written, which after a prayer and inuocation made most hum∣bly to Almightie God, for the enduing of them wyth hys holy spirite, and a protestation also to stande to the Doctrine of the Catholike Church, buylded vpon the Scriptures, and the doctrine of the Prophetes and the Apostles: was distinctly read by one Robert Horne Bachelour in Diui∣nitie, late Deane of Duresme. And the same beeing ended wyth some likelyhoode, as it seemed [ 10] that the same was muche allowable to the au∣dience: certaine of the Bishoppes began to saye contrarie to their former answere, that they had nowe muche more to say to this matter, where∣in although they myght haue beene well repre∣hended for such manner of cauillation, yet for a∣uoyding of any mistaking of orders in thys col∣loquie or conference, and for that they should vt∣ter all that which they had to say: It was both ordered, and thus openlye agreed vppon of both [ 20] partes in the full audience, that vpon the Mon∣day following, the Bishops shoulde bring theyr myndes and reasons in wryting to the seconde assertion, and the last also if they coulde, and first reade the same, and that done, the other parte shoulde bring likewise theyrs to the same. And being read, eche of them shoulde deliuer to other the same wrytings. And in the meane tyme the Bishops should put in writing, not onely al that which Doctour Cole had that day vttered: but [ 30] all suche other matters as they anye otherwise coulde thinke of for the same, and as soone as they might possible, to sende the same booke tou∣ching that first assertion to the other part, and they shoulde receyue of them that wryting which Maister Horne had there read that day, and vp∣on Monday it shoulde be agreed what day they shoulde exhibite their aunswers touching the first proposition. Thus both partes assented thereto, and the assemblie quietly dismissed. And there∣fore [ 40] vpon Monday, the like assembly beganne a∣gaine at the place and houre appoynted, and there vpon what sinister or disordered meaning is not yet fully knowne (though in some part it be vnderstanded) the Bishop of Winchester and his Colleages, and especially Lyncolne, refused to exhibite or reade, according to the former no∣torious order on Fryday, that whiche they had prepared for the seconde assertion. And therevp∣pon by the Lorde keeper of the great Seale, they [ 50] being first gentlye and fauourably requyred to keepe the order appoynted: and that taking no place, bring secondly as it behoued, pressed with more earnest request: they neyther regarding the authoritie of that place, nor theyr owne reputa∣tion, nor the credite of the cause, vtterly refused that to doe. And finally being againe particular∣ly euerie of them a parte distinctly by name, re∣quyred to vnderstande theyr opinions therein: they all sauing one (whiche was the Abbot of Westminster, hauing some more consideration of order and his duetie of obedience than the o∣ther) vtterly and plainly denied to haue theyr booke read, some of them as more earnestly than other, some so also, some other more vndiscretely and vnreuerently than others. Wherevpon gy∣uing such example of disorder, stubbornnesse and selfe will, as hath not beene seene and suffered in such an honourable assembly, beeing of the two estates of this Realme, the Nobilitie and the Commons, besides the presence of the Queenes Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsaile, the same assembly was dismissed, and the Godly and most Christian purpose of the Queenes Maie∣stie made frustrate. And afterwarde for the con∣tempt so notoriously made, the Bishoppes of Winchester and Lyncolne, hauing most obsti∣nately both disobeyed common authoritie, and varyed manifestly from theyr owne order, and specially Lyncolne, who shewed more folly than the other: were condignly commytted to the Tower of London, and the rest (sauing the Ab∣bot of Westmynster) stoode bounde to make day∣ly their personall apparance before the Counsaile, and not to departe the Citie of London and Westminster, vntil further order were takē with them for their disobedience and contempt.

Notes

• A Parliament.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Stow.
• The first fruits and tenthes re∣•…•…ed to the ••••••ne.
• A motiō made in the Parlia∣ment house.
• Graft. abr.
• The Queenes •…•…re.
• The returne of the Prote∣testants from exile.
• One set on the Pillorie.
• Preachers.
• A Conference appoynted.