ANNO DOM. 1533. REG. 25.
THe King's love brooked no delays. Wherefore on the five [ 1533] and twentieth of January, privately and in the presence of very few, he marrieth the Lady Ann Bolen.*
Shortly after by Act of Parliament the Marriage of the King and the Lady Catharine was declared void and incestuous, and a Law enacted, wherein all Appeals to Rome were forbidden, and that none should stile Catharine other than Princess of Wales, and Widow or Dowager of Prince Arthur. By virtue and authority of the same Law, the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied with some other Bishops, coming to Dunstable six miles from Ampthill, where Catharine then resided, caused her to be cited before him, next under the King chief Judge in all Ecclesiastical causes within the Province of Canterbury, to shew what reasons could be al∣ledged why the Marriage not lawfully contracted between the King and her should not be disannulled, and pronounced impious, incestuous, and consequently void. To these things by one of her Servants she answered; that it beseemed not the Archbishop to thrust his sickle into another's harvest: this Cause did yet depend undecided before the Pope, Christ's Vicar on earth, whose Decree she would obey, and other Judge would she acknowledge none. Being called fifteen days together and not appearing, she is pronounced Contumax, and for her contumacy separated from the King's bed and company. Whereupon the Lady Ann pro∣claimed Queen throughout the Kingdom, on Easter-eve shewed her self publickly as Queen; and was at Whitsontide crowned with as great pomp and solemnity as ever was Queen. The particulars I will let pass, excepting that prophetical Distich upon one of the Triumphant Arches purposely erected in London where she was to pass:
Wafers also with the same impression were thrown about, saith Stow. But I rather believe, that this Distich was made after the Queens delivery. Whensoever it were, he that truly considers the felicity of the four and forty years Reign of this Queens Daughter, will think this Oracle could not proceed from any but a Delphian Apollo. For the Queen at the time of her Coronation was great with child, (whereof the seventh of September she was delivered at Greenwich) which was that ever famous Queen* Elizabeth, who after the death of her Brother and Sister so glo∣riously ruled this Kingdom.
The Pope was certified of all these passages; that his authority in England was abrogated, that the late Queen Catharine was put away, that Ann Bolen as Queen was taken to the King's bed, that the King stiled himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, that the Archbishop of Canterbury executed all those Offices which formerly the Pope only did, and that not as the Pope's Legate, but as Primate of England, who under the King claimed chief authority in Ecclesiastical affairs throughout his whole Province. Wherewith being netled, he seemed to breath nothing but threats and revenge. But knowing himself to have been the motive of it, and doubtful of the event, he was easily perswaded by the French King, as yet not to proceed by Excommunication against Henry, until he had made trial of some milder course. Where∣upon Francis by Bellay Bishop of Paris intreats Henry not to with∣draw himself wholly from the obedience of Rome, for as much as it was a matter of great danger: He would therefore advise him once more by Ambassadors to Rome, to signifie that he was not utterly averse from a reconciliation: which if he did, he made no doubt but all things would succeed to his mind. Henry was certain of enjoying his Love, and let the Pope decree what he list, was resolved to keep her. He had been formerly abused by the Court of Rome, and was loath to make farther trial of their dilatory proceedings. Yet had Bellay prevailed so far with him, that he would be content once more to submit himself to the Church of Rome, if he could be assured of the Pope's intention to do him equity. The Bishop conceiving some hopes of a peace (although it were in the Winter time) goes himself to Rome, gives the Pope an account of his actions, and certifies him that the matter was not yet desperate. Whereupon a day is appointed, by which a Post returning from the King was to give notice of an intended Embassy. But the Consistory gave so short a time to have an answer, that the Post came short two days at his return. Page 75 The term expired, they proceed hastily to the confirmation of [ 1533] their Censures, notwithstanding the Bishop's instance to obtain six days more, for as much as contrary winds or some other chance might hinder the Messenger; and six days would be no great matter, considering the King had wavered six whole years before he fell: The more moderate thought the Bishop demanded but reason; but the preposterous haste of the greater sort pre∣vailed. Two days were scarce past after the prefixed time, but the Post arriving with ample authority and instructions from England, did greatly amaze those hasty Cardinals, who afterwards would fain, but could not find any means to mend what they had so rashly marred. For the matter (to please the Emperour) was so hudled up, as that which could not ritely be finished in three Consistories, was done in one. So the King and the whole Realm was interdicted, the Bull whereof (the Messengers not daring to come nearer) was brought to Dunkirk.
The report hereof coming to the King, he lays all the blame on the Lady Catharine. Whereupon the Duke of Suffolk was sent to lessen her Houshold: They who might be any way suspected to have been employed by her in this business, are turned away, the rest are commanded to take their Oaths to serve her as Prin∣cess of Wales, not as Queen of England. They that refuse are cashiered, and they that are content to swear, are by her cast off; so that for a time she had few or no Attendants.
In the mean time, on the three and twentieth of June died* Mary Queen of France, the King's Sister, and was buried in the Abbey of St. Edmundsbury.
