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. 1542. REG. 34.

BY this time Henry began to find the conveniency of his change, [ 1542] having married one as fruitful in evil, as his former Wives were in good; who could not contain her self within the sacred limits of a Royal marriage bed, but must be supplied with more vigorous and active bodies, than was that of the now growing aged and unwieldy King. Alas, what is this momentary pleasure, that for it we dare hazard a treble life, of Fame, of Body, of Soul? Heaven may be merciful, but Fame will censure, and the enraged Lion is implacable: such did this Queen find him, who* 1.1 procured not only her to be condemned by Act of Parliament

begun the sixteenth of January, and with her the Lady Jane [ 1542] Wife to the Viscount Rochfort, (behold the thrift of the Divine Justice, which made her an Instrument of the punishment of her own and others wickedness, who by her calumnies had betrayed her own Husband and his Sister the late beheaded Queen Ann) but two others also long since executed, Francis Derham and Thomas Calpepper, in their double condemnation scarce sufficiently punished. Derham had been too familiar with her in her virgin time, and having after attained to some publick Offices in Ireland, was by her now Queen sent for and entertained as a houshold Servant, in which time whether he revived his former familiarity is not manifest. But Culpepper was so plainly convict of many secret meetings with the Queen by the means of the Lady Rochfort, that the Adultery was questionless. For which the Queen and the Viscountess Rochfort were both beheaded within the Tower on the twelfth of February. Derham had been hanged, and Culpepper beheaded at Tyburn the tenth of the preceding De∣cember.

Hitherto our Kings had stiled themselves Lords of Ireland, a* 1.2 Title with that rebellious Nation not deemed so sacred and dread∣ful; as to force obedience: The Estates therefore of Ireland as∣sembled in Parliament Enacted him King of Ireland; according to which Decree he was on the three and twentieth of January publickly Proclaimed.

About the same time Arthur Viscount Lisle natural Son of Ed∣ward* 1.3 the Fourth, out of a surfeit of sudden Joy deceased. Two of his Servants had been executed the preceding year for having conspired to betray Calais to the French, and the Viscount as being conscious committed to the Tower. But upon manifestation of his innocence, the King sent unto him Sir Thomas Wriothsley Prin∣cipal Secretary of Estate, by whom he signified the great con∣tent he received in the Viscount's approved fidelity, the effects whereof he should find in his present liberty, and that degree of favour that a faithful and beloved Uncle deserved. The Viscount receiving such unexpected news imbellished with rich promises and Royal tokens (the King having sent him a Diamond of great value) of assured favour; being not sufficiently capable of so great joy, free from all symptoms of any other disease, the ensuing night expired. After whose decease Sir John Dudley was created* 1.4 Viscount Lisle, claiming that Honour as hereditary in the right of his Mother the Lady Elizabeth, Sister and Heir to the Lord Edward Grey Viscount Lisle, Wife to the late deceased Lord Arthur, but formerly married to Edmund Dudley one of the Barons of the Exchequer, beheaded the first year of this King's reign. Which I the rather remember, for that this man afterwards memorable for his power and dignities, might have proved more happy in his Issue, than his greatness, had not his own ambition betrayed

some of these fair sprouts to the blast of unseasonable hopes, and [ 1542] nature denying any (at least lawful) Issue to the rest, the name and almost remembrance of this great Family hath ceased. Of which hereafter.

Scotland had been long peaceable, yet had it often administred motives of discontent and jealousie. James the Fifth, King of Scots, Nephew to Henry by his Sister, having long lived a Ba∣chelor, Henry treated with him concerning a Marriage with his (then only) Child the Lady Mary, a Match which probably would have united these neighbour Kingdoms. But God had reserved this Union for a more happy time.

The antient League between France and Scotland had always* 1.5 made the Scots affected to the French, and James prefer the alliance with France, before that of England, where the Dowry was no less than the hopes of a Kingdom. So he marrieth with Magda∣len a Daughter of France; who not long surviving, he again matcheth there with Mary of Guise, Widow to the Duke of Longueville. Henry had yet a desire to see his Nephew, to which end he desired an interview at York or some other oportune place. James would not condescend to this, who could not withstanding undertake a long and dangerous voyage into France, without in∣vitation. These were the first seeds of discord, which after bladed to the Scots destruction. There having been for two years neither certain Peace, nor a just War, yet incursions from each side; Forces are assigned to the Duke of Norfolk to repress the insolency of the Scots, and secure the Marches. The Scot upon news of our being in Arms, sends to expostulate with the Duke of Nor∣folk, concerning the motives of this War, and withal dispatcheth the Lord Gordon with some small Forces to defend the Frontiers. The Herald is detained until our Army came to Berwick, that he might not give intelligence of our strength: And in October the Duke entring Scotland, continued there ransacking the Countrey without any opposition of the Enemy until the middle of Novem∣ber. By which time King James having levied a great Army, resolved on a Battel, the Nobility perswading the contrary, espe∣cially unwilling that he should any way hazard his Person, the loss of his Father in the like manner being yet fresh in memory, and Scotland too sensible of the calamities that ensued it. The King proving obstinate, they detain him by force, desirous ra∣ther to hazard his displeasure, than his life. This tenderness of him, in the language of rage and indignation he terms cowardise and treachery, threatning to set on the Enemy assisted with his Family only.

The Lord Maxwell seeking to allay him, promised with ten thousand only to invade England, and with far less than the English Forces to divert the War. The King seems to consent: But of∣fended with the rest of the Nobility, he gives the Lord Oliver

Saintclare a private Commission not to be opened until they were [ 1542] ready to give the onset, wherein he makes him General of the Army. Having in England discovered five hundred English Horse led by Sir Thomas Wharton and Sir William Musgrave, the Lord Saint∣clare commanded his Commission publickly to be read, the recital whereof so distasted the Lord Maxwell and the whole Army, that all things were in a confusion, and they ready to disband.

The opportunity of an adjoyning Hill gave us a full prospect* 1.6 into their Army, and invited us to make use of our advantages: We charge them furiously, the Scots amazedly fly, many are slain, many taken, more plunged in the neighbouring Fens, and taken by Scottish Freebooters sold to us. Among the Captives were the Earls of Glencarn and Cassels, the Lords Saintclare, Maxwell Ad∣miral of Scotland, Fleming, Somerwell, Oliphant, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, besides two hundred of the better sort, and eight hundred common Soul∣diers. The consideration of this overthrow occasioned (as he 〈◊〉〈◊〉) by the froward rashness of his own Subjects; and the death of an English Herald slain in Scotland, so surcharged him with rage and grief, that he fell sick of a Fever, and died in the* 1.7 three and thirtieth year of his age, and two and thirtieth of his reign, leaving his Kingdom to the usually unhappy government of a Woman, a Child scarce eight daysold. The chief of the Captives being conveyed to the Tower were two days after brought before the King's Council, where the Lord Chancellour repre∣hended their treachery, who without due denuntiation of War, invaded and spoiled the Territories of their Allies, and commit∣ted many outrages, which might excuse any severe courses, which might in justice be taken with them: Yet his Majesty out of his natural Clemenoy was pleased to deal with them beyond their deserts, by freeing them from the irksomness of a strict imprison∣ment, and disposing of them among the Nobles, to be by them entertained, until he should otherwise determine of them.

By this time King James his death had possessed Henry with new hopes of uniting Britain under one Head. England had a* 1.8 Prince, and Scotland a Queen, but both so young that many ac∣cidents might dissolve a contract before they came to sufficiency. Yet this seeming a course intended by the Divine Providence to extirpate all causes of enmity and discord between these neigh∣bouring Nations, a Marriage between these young Princes is pro∣posed. With what alacrity and applause the proposition was on both sides entertained, we may conceive, who have had the happiness to see that effected, which they but intended. Which being a matter of so sweet a consequence, it is to be wondered at, that the conspiracy of a few factious spirits should so easily hinder it. The hope of it prevailed with the King for the liberty of the Captives, conditionally, that they should leave Hostages for their return, if Peace were not shortly concluded; which,

as also the furtherance of this so wished conjunction, they faith∣fully [ 1542] promised.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Queen Catha∣rine beheaded.
• * 1.2

  Ireland made a Kingdom.
• * 1.3

  The Viscount Lisle deceased of a surfert of Joy.
• * 1.4

  Sir John Dud∣ley made Vis∣count Lisle.
• * 1.5

  War with Scotland.
• * 1.6

  The Scots over∣throwes.
• * 1.7

  The death of James the Fifth, King of Scotland.
• * 1.8

  Hopes of a Match between Prince Ed∣word and the Queen of Scots.