The history of the reigns of Henry the Seventh, Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, and Queen Mary the first written by the Right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban ; the other three by the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God, Francis Godwyn, Lord Bishop of Hereford.

ANNO DOM. 1537. REG. 29.

THe accidents of this year were Tragical, and England the [ 1537] Scene of blood and deaths of many famous Personages. On the third of February was Thomas Fitz-Girald beheaded for Treason, his five Uncles hanged, drawn, and quartered, and their members fixed over the Gates of London. The same month, Nicholas Mus∣grave and Thomas Gilby, for that stirring a new Rebellion, they had besieged Carlile, were executed.

The tenth of March was John Paslew Batchelor of Divinity and Abbot of Whalley, put to death at Lancaster, and with him one Eastgate a Monk of the same place; and three days after them another Monk called Haydock was hanged at Whalley. The Abbots of Sauley and Woburn with two Monks make the like end at Woburn. And a little after, one Doctor Macarell, another Abbot, the Vicar of Louth, two other Priests, and seven Lay-men. All these, for as much as I can any way collect, were condemned for having been especial furtherers of the late Rebellions. But the Chiestains and nobler sort were reserved until June, at what time the Lords Darcy and Hussey were beheaded, the one at Lincoln, the other at London; Sir Robert Constable, Sir Thomas Percy, Sir Francis Bigot, Sir Stephen Hamilton, and Sir John Bulmer were likewise put to death: Margaret Lady to Sir John Bulmer was burned at London: William Thurst Abbot of Fountaines, Adam Sudbury Abbot of Ger∣vaux, the Abbot of Rivers, Wold Prior of Birlington, George Lumley, Nicholas Tempest Esquires, and Robert Aske, with many others, as having been partakers in the late Insurrection, did likewise partake in punishment for the same. And for a Commotion in Somersetshire in April were threescore condemned, whereof only fourteen suffered.

But lest any one may wonder at these severe and unheard of courses taken against the Clergy, I think it not amiss to relate

what Sleidan writes of Cardinal Pool, who set forth one or two [ 1537] Books, which as yet lurking at Rome, about this time were spred abroad in Germany, and came at length to the King's hands. Wherein directing his stile to the King, he sharply reprehendeth him for taking upon him the title of Head of the Church, which only belonged to the Pope, who is Christ's Vicar on earth, &c. Then he proceeds to the matter of his Divorce, alledging, That he neither out of terrour of conscience, nor fear of God, (as he pretended) but out of lust and blind love had forsaken the Lady Catharine his Wife, whom his Brother Prince Arthur a weak young man, and but fourteen years old, had left a Virgin: That it was not lawful for him to marry Ann Bolen, whose Sister he had before used as his Concubine: And that he himself had confessed to the Emperour and others, That he found the Lady Catharine a Maid. He also eagerly reproveth him for seeking the Opinions of the Universities concerning his former Mar∣riage, and triumphing in his own wickedness, when some of them had pronounced it Incestuous; and that he might be ashamed to prefer the Daughter of a Whore, before one that was legitimate, and a most Vir∣tuous Princess. Then speaking of the death of the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More, he detests his cruelty. He then rips up what tyranny he had exercised over his Subjects of all degrees, in what mi∣series he had plunged this flourishing Realm, what dangers he incurred from the Emperour, in regard of the injury offered to his Aunt, and the overthrow of Religion; and that he could not expect any aid either from his own or forein Nations, who had deserved so ill of the Christian Commonwealth. After this, he whets on the Emperour to revenge the dishonour of his Family; affirming that Turcism (meaning the Pro∣testant Religion) had found entertainment in England and Germany. And after many bitter reproofs, he invites Henry to repentance, per∣swading him, That for these evils there was no other remedy, but to return to the bosom of the Church, in the defence whereof (a most glo∣rious example) he had made use not only of his Sword, but his Pen also.

Neither did the Cardinal only by Book, but by other personal endeavours manifest his spleen against the King, being sent Am∣bassador from the Pope to the French, under colour of reconci∣ling him with the Emperour; but his chief errant was, to com∣bine them both against Henry. Whereof he having intelligence, did by his Agent earnestly solicit Francis, That in regard of their mutual amity, he would cause Pool to be apprehended, as guilty of high Treason, and sent to him, where he should undergo the punishment due therefore. But because Religion and the Law of Nations had been violated in betraying any (especially the Pope's) Ambassador, the French could not yield to the King's request: But to shew that he would administer no cause of offence, he refused to admit of his Embassy, and commanded him speedily to depart out of his Dominions.

Hercules stature might be guessed at by the proportion of his

and by this one man's endeavours, Henry was taught what, if [ 1537] need were, he was to expect of his Clergy. So that he was easily induced as any of them offended, to send him to his grave, for that a dead Lion biteth not: And this course being taken with his professed enemies, the fear of the like punishment would se∣cure him of the rest.

On the twelfth of October, the Queen having long suffered the throws of a most difficult travel, and such a one, wherein either the Mother or the Infant must necessarily perish, out of her womb was ripped Prince Edward, who after succeeded his Father in the Crown. The Queen only surviving two days, died on the fourteenth of October, and on the twelfth of November was with great pomp buried at Windsor in the middle of the Quire, on whose Tomb is inscribed this Epitaph:

Phoenix Jana jacet nato Phoenice; dolendum, Saecula Phaenices nulla tulisse duas.

Here a Phenix lieth, whose death To another Phenix gave breath: It is to be lamented much, The World at once ne'r knew two such.

On the eighteenth of October the Infant was created Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwal, and Earl of Chester: and with him his Uncle Edward Seymour Brother to the deceased Queen, Lord Beauchamp, and Earl of Hertford; which Honours only (and not those afterwards conferred on him) he left to his posterity. Wil∣liam Fitz-Williams Lord Admiral, was made Earl of Southampton. Then also William Powlet and John Russel began their races in the lists of Honour; Powlet being made Treasurer, and Russel Comp∣troller of the King's Houshold, and both sworn of the Privy Coun∣cil. Neither was here their non ultra, the one being afterward raised to Lord Treasurer of England and Marquess of Winchester, the other to Earl of Bedford, wherein he dying in the year 1554, his Son Francis that pious old man, and liberal reliever of the Poor, succeeded him, who at the very instant of his death lost his Son Francis slain by a Scot, Anno 1587. Which Francis was Father to Edward Earl of Bedford, and Brother to William by King James created Lord Russel. Powlet living to be a very decrepit old man, had to his Successor his Nephew by his Son William, named also William the sole Marquess of England.

And to end this year with death, as it began, Thomas Howard youngest Son to the Duke of Norfolk, having been fifteen months imprisoned for affiancing himself without the King's consent to Margaret Daughter to Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus and Lady Margaret the King's Sister, on the first day of November, to the unspeakable good of this Island, deceased in the Tower.

For this Margaret being after married to Matthew Earl of Lenox, [ 1537] had by him Henry the Father of King James of sacred memory, the most happy Unitor of divided Britain.

Notes

• Rebels execu∣ted.
• Cardinal Pool writes against the King.
• The birth of Prince Ed∣ward.
• Seymour Earl of Hertford.
• Fitz-William Earl of Southampton. Powlet and Russel rise.