ANNO DOM. 1540. REG. 32.
ON the Eve of the Circumcision, the Lady Ann of Cleve desti∣nated [ 1540] to the King's 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 Bourchier Earl of Essex, the* antientest Earl of the Realm, thrown by an unruly young Horse which he sought to break, brake his neck: By whose death the Inheritance was devolved to his Daughter, and from her deceasing without Issue, to the Family of Deureux, which Family in regard of their claim by descent, was by Queen Elizabeth advanced to the Earldom of Essex. But in the mean time Cromwell (yet chief in the King's favour) was on the eighteenth of April created Earl of Essex.
And here behold the frailty of Human affairs. The current of few years had from very mean beginnings brought Cromwell to the height of Honour, insomuch that his happiness was admired by all, envied by many: But Fortune intending a Tragedy, he is unexpectedly apprehended sitting at the Council-Table, and committed to the Tower, where he continued until his Execution. For in this Parliament begun the twelfth of April, he is accused of Page 100 Treason and Heresie, without being brought to his answer [ 1540] condemned, and on the twenty eighth of July beheaded. This King may well be censured of cruel inconstancy, who could so easily dispense with the death of those whom he had admitted to intimate familiarity, and made use of their counsels and en∣deavours; as if he had advanced them to no other end, but to depress them. Wolsey had his turn, Cromwell succeeds, whose sudden downfal there want not those who attribute to God's Justice inflicted on him for the Sacriledge (whereof he was re∣ported to be the Author) committed in the subversion of so many Religious Houses. And indeed even they who confess the rouzing of so many unprofitable Epicures out of their dens, and the abolishing of Superstition, wherewith the Divine Worship had by them been polluted, to have been an act of singular Justice and Piety; do notwithstanding complain of the loss of so many stately Churches dedicated to God's service, the goods whereof were no otherwise employed, than for the satisfaction of private mens covetousness: and although many have abused the Vail of Religion, yet was that Monastical life instituted according to the pious example of antient Fathers, that they who found themselves unfit for the execution of worldly affairs, (as many such there are) might in such their voluntary retirements spend their days in Divine Writings or Meditations: and are verily perswaded, that for the taking away of these things, God was offended both with the King and Cromwell. But Sleidan peradventure comes nearer the matter, touching the immediate cause of his death.
About this time (saith he) the King of England beheadeth Tho∣mas Cromwell, whom he had from fortunes answerable to his low parentage, raised to great Honours; repadiates the Lady Ann of Cleve,* and marrieth Catharine Howard Daughter to the Lord Edmond Howard, who was Brother to the Duke of Norfolk. Cromwell had been procurer of the Match with Ann. But the King loving Catha∣rine, is thought to have been perswaded by her to make away Crom∣well, whom she suspected to be a Remora to her advancement. The actions of Kings are not to be sifted too nearly, for which we are charitably to presume they have reasons, and those inscrutable.
But let us see the process of this Divorce. Six months this conjugal band lasted firm without scruple, the King and Queen giving daily testimonies of their mutual love. On the twentieth of June the Queen is willed to remove from London, (where the King stayed by reason of the Parliament) to Richmond, a place pretended in regard of the situation and air, to be more for her health.
On the sixth of July Reasons are proposed by certain Lords pur∣posely sent to the lower House of Parliament, demonstrating the invalidity of the King's Marriage with the Lady Ann, so that it was lawful for them both to marry where they pleased. The Page 101 same reasons are alledged in the Convocation-House, and gene∣rally [ 1540] approved. Whereupon the Queen also (whether forced or willing) consenting, the Parliament pronounced the Mar∣riage void.
What the allegations were is uncertain. Some relate disa∣bility by reason of some defects to be objected to her, which seems the more probable, for that in her Letters wherein she sub∣mitted her self to the judgment and determination of the Parlia∣ment, she affirmed that the King never knew her carnally. Whether for this, or for that Nature having not over-liberally endowed her with Beauty; but a private woman she became, and as such (not enduring to return to her friends with dishonour) she lived upon some Lands assigned her by the King, (who always used her respectively) until the fifteenth of July Anno 1557, at what time she ended her discontented life, and lieth buried at West∣minster on the South side of the Quire in a Tomb not yet fi∣nished.
Scarce had the resolution of the Convocation-House, and the Decree concerning it passed both Houses, when this lusty Wi∣dower with as good success as before, marrieth his fifth Wife Catharine Howard. When their Nuptials were celebrated is not* known, but on the eighth of August in Royal habiliments she shewed her self as Queen.
The fautors of Reformation were much dismayed at the sud∣den unqueening of Ann; fearing (not without cause) lest it proving occasion of enmity between 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 only caused three Anabaptists to be burned, but also many sincere Professors of the Truth, for not subscribing to the Six Articles. Among whom three Divines were most eminent, viz. Robert Barnes* Doctor of Divinity, Thomas Gerard, and William Jerome Bache∣chelors, who by Parliament (unheard) being condemned for Heresie, were on the one and thirtieth committed to the torments of the merciless fire. At the same time and place three other Do∣ctors of Divinity, viz. Powel, Able, and Fetherston were hanged for denying the King's Supremacy; the sight whereof made a French-man cry out in these words, Deus bone, quomodo hic vivunt gentes? suspenduntur Papistae, comburuntur Antipapistae;
The same day with the Lord Cromwell, the Lord Hungerford* was also Beheaded. As their causes were divers, so died they Page 102 alike differently. Cromwell's conscience quietly welcomed death; [ 1540] to the other suffering for that most unnatural crime of Sodomy, death presented it self with that horror, that the apprehension of it made him as impatient, as if he had been seised with a frenzy.
