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. 1558. REG. ultimo.

HEnry some way to repair his losses at St. Quintin, resolves an [ 1558] Enterprize upon Calais, which Senarpont Governour of Bou∣toigne perswaded him was not so fortified according to report,* 1.1 but that it might easily be taken. The Marshal Strossy having under the favour of a disguise viewed the place, confirmed Senarpont's assurance of taking it. Philip whether having intelligence of Henry's designs, or else presaging so much, had often admonished the Queen to have an especial regard to that Town, voluntarily offering his assistance for the security of it. But we over-wisely jealous, lest Philip had a practice on it, it lying commodiously for his adjoyning Netherlands, neglected both his advice and proffer. But the reality of his advice was manifested by the event. The Duke of Guise having by the King been declared Lieutenant Ge∣neral in all his Dominions, levying a great Army flies suddenly to the Siege of Calais, before which he sate down on New-years-day, and intrenched at Sandgate. Then dividing his Army into two parts, he at the same time assaults Newnambridge and the Risbank, two Forts wherein the chief strength of that Town consisted, the taking whereof would have cut off all possibility of relieving the besieged either by Land or Sea. The Garrisons of each place terrified with so unexpected a danger, he at his first arrival gaines Newnambridge, and the next day the Risbank. The French then batter the Wall between the Water-gate and the Prison, not so much out of hope to gain entrance that way, as to divert us from guarding that part of the Town, where they really intended to give an Assault. Having for a while battered that part, and we little suspecting an enterprize upon the Castle, they suddenly with fifteen Peeces make a battery upon the Castle, and continue it with such fury, that the thunder of the Cannon was all that day heard at Antwerp, which is distant from thence more than one hundred English miles. Having by that time night drew on made a sufficient breach, and yet in regard of the deep Dikes filled with Water (wherein consisted the main hopes of the Defendants) not able to come to an Assault, the Enemy with great toil and labour by a cut from thence to the Sea draw the Dikes so low, that by that time the Tide was gone out, they march not above Navil-high through the Dikes to the Wall (which we little feared could be done) without resistance: Finding the place void

of Defendants, they easily make themselves masters of the Castle, [ 1558] and had as easily taken the Town, if Sir Anthony Ager Marshal of the Town had not with some few others made head against them, and forced them to retreat to the Castle, in which conflict that valiant Knight was slain. The Lord Wentworth Governour of the Town seeing little hopes of keeping the Town, craved parley, which was granted; and at length yielded the Town upon these Conditions: That the common Souldiers and Inhabitants should depart without transporting or carrying away any thing with them, and that Lord Wentworth with fifty others such as the Duke of Guise-should* 1.2 appoint, should remain Captives to be put to ransom. So was Calais lost, which had continued English above two hundred years: nei∣ther was the Siege long, the Enemy sitting down before it on New-years-day, and having it yielded up on Twelf-day.

Seven days after, the Duke marcheth toward Guisnes, which Town he took without any difficulty, but the Castle, which the Lord Gray commanded, not so easily. But that and Hames Castle were at length taken also and dismantled; so that of all the Kingdom of France, the greatest part whereof was for a long time held by our Kings, and whereof Henry the Sixth had been Crowned King at Paris, Anno 1431, nor in the Duchies of Nor∣mandy and Aquitain, the ancient Inheritance of the Kings of Eng∣land, our Kings possess nothing, but the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey, which have proved Loyal to us ever since the Conquest. While the French proceeded thus in Picardy, the Queen certified thereof with great diligence prepares her Fleet to transport Succours for Calais; but contrary winds kept them back so long, until Calais was irrecoverably lost.

You shall not easily read of any Action, wherein God hath by more manifest signs declared, how displeasing those Wars are to him, which undertaken for Ambition or Profit do dissolve the publick Peace: Philip (to begin with him) against whom Henry and the Pope did most unjustly conspire, enlarged himself with a double Victory, each whereof were great and memorable. The Cardinal Caraffa and the Duke of Paliane, who for their own ends had perswaded the doating Pope to throw the Ball of Discord between these Princes, were after for this very thing Be∣headed by Pius the Fourth, who immediately succeeded Paul. Paul himself in the mean time, the French being overthrown at St. Quin∣tin was exposed to the mercy of the Spaniard, whom he had irritated, the French being forced to withdraw his Army out of Italy. The rash violation of the League by Mary, was pu∣nished with the loss of Calais, and through grief thereof (accord∣ing to common belief) of Life also. What happened to the French, who by the Pope's instigation first brake the five years Truce, we have already declared. And lest it might be con∣ceived, that his losses at and of St. Quintin were repaired by the

taking of Calais, another Overthrow given him within few [ 1558] months after, will take away much from the content of that Victory.

In June the Marshal De Termes (who succeeded Strossy lately* 1.3 slain) Governour of Calais, breaketh into Arthois and Flanders, with an Army consisting of near about eleven thousand men, leaving Graveling and Burburg at his back, attempts Berghes, takes it, sacks it, and so opens a way to Dunkirk, which he also takes and spoils; and the Countrey all about (for they feared not the French there, and the Towns which the Spaniard held throughout that Tract, were ill furnished) lying open to their mercy, they ransack it most miserably, and march as far as Newport.

Philip was affrighted with this Tempest, fearing especially, lest the Duke of Guise then in Arms, should joyn with Termes: But having intelligence that the Duke spent his time about Arlon and Vireton, he resolves to intercept the French in their return. In this Enterprize he employs Count Egmond, (his Lieutenant∣general in the Netherlands) who having speedily out of the neigh∣bour Garrisons of Betune, St. Omer, Aires, Burburg, and others, assembled an Army of fifteen thousand, puts himself between Dunkirk and Calais. Termes had hitherto expected the Duke of Guise, but upon notice that the Countrey was up in Arms, he somewhat too late bethought himself of a retreat. He was now every way enclosed, and passage not to be gained but by dint of Sword. The French therefore valiantly charge their Enemies, and overthrow some Squadrons of Horse; indeed despair anima∣ted them to do wonders, and the Flemings were set on fire by the desire of revenging late Injuries. The Spanish Troops renew the fight, which was with equal order long maintained on both sides: In the heat whereof ten English Men of War fortunately sailing by (for De Termes had for his security betaken him to the shoar, hoping that way with much less hazard to have gained passage) upon discovery of the French Colours, let fly their Ord∣nance furiously among the French, making such a slaughter, that* 1.4 they began to give ground, were at last routed and over∣thrown.

The French in this Battel lost five thousand. Their chief Commanders were almost all taken; the Marshal himself was hurt and taken, with d'Annebalt the Son of Claud the late Admiral, the Earl of Chaune, Senarpont, Villebon Governour of Picardy, Morvilliers, and many others. Two hundred escaped to our Ships, whom they might have drowned, but giving them Quarter, they were brought Captives into England. This Bat∣tel was fought on the thirteenth of July.

The Queen desirous by some action or other to wipe out the stain of the ignominious loss of Calais, about the same time set forth a Fleet of one hundred and forty Sail (whereof thirty were

Flemings) the main of the Expedition being from Brest in Bre∣taigne. [ 1558] But the Lord Clinton Lord High Admiral of England finding no good to be done there, set sail for Conquet, where he* 1.5 landed, took the Town, sacked it and set it on fire, together with the Abbey and the adjacent: Villages, and returned to his Ships. But the Flemings somewhat more greedy after prey, dis∣orderly piercing farther into the Countrey, and regardless of Martial discipline, which commands obedience to their General, being encounted by the Lord of Kersimon, came fewer home by five hundred.

Philip about the same time lodging near Amiens with a great Army, Henry with a far greater attended each motion of his, They encamp at last, Henry on the North of the River Somme, Philip on the South of the River Anthy, so near to one another, that it might be thought impossible for two such spirited Princes commanding so great Armies, to depart without a Battel. But divers considerations had tempered their heat. Philip being the weaker of the two, saw no reason why to engage himself. Henry had an Army which had twice felt the other victorious, and was therefore loath on them to adventure his already shaken estate. Wherefore they so entrenched themselves, and fortified their Camps with Artillery, as if they expected a Siege from each other. Some months thus passed without any other exploits than Inroads and light Skirmishes. At length they mutually entertain a motion of Peace, both of them considering, that their Armies consisting of Strangers, the fruits of the Victory would be to the Aliens only, but the calamity and burthen of the Defeat would light on the shoulders of the Vanquished, or (which comes all to one pass) of the Subjects. These motives drew together for a Treaty on Henry's side, the Constable, the Marshal of St. Andrew, the Cardinal of Lorain, Morvilliers Bishop of Orleans, and Aubespine Secretary of Estate: For Philip, the Duke of Alva, the Prince of Orange, Puyz Gomes de Silva, Granvell Bishop of Arras and others. Much altercation was had about the restoring of Calais, which the French were resolved to hold, and Philip would have no Peace unless it were restored to Mary, whom in point of Honour he could not so forsake. But this difference was ended by the death of Mary, a little before whom on the one and twentieth of September died also the Emperour Charles the Fifth, which occasioned both the change of place and time for another Treaty.

And if the continual connexion of other memorable Affairs* 1.6 had not transported me, I should ere this have mentioned the Marriage celebrated at Paris with great pomp on the eight and twentieth of April, between the Daulphin Francis and Mary Queen of Scots. But the fruits thereof were not lasting: For two years after died Francis (the Crown by the death of his Father Henry

having been first devolved to him) and left his Bed to a more [ 1558] auspicious Husband, Henry the eldest Son to the Earl of Lenox. Of these Parents was born our late Sovereign of ever sacred me∣mory, who was Nephew by his Mother to James the Fifth, by Margaret the eldest Daughter Nephew to that wife King Henry the Seventh, who, the Issue of Henry the Eighth being extinct, as the next undoubted Heir, most happily united the Crowns of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

But now at length to draw nearer home, this Autumn was very full of Diseases, Fevers (especially quartan) reigning ex∣traordinarily in England, whereby many, chiefly aged persons, and among them a great number of the Clergy perished. Of the sole Episcopal rank thirteen died either a little before the Queen, or some few months after her. Among the rest Cardinal Pool* 1.7 scarce survived her a day, who having been for some weeks af∣flicted by this kind of Disease, and brought to extreme weakness of Body, as if he had at the news of the Quens death received his deaths wound, expired at three a Clock the next morning. His Corps inclosed in Lead, was buried in his Cathedral at Canter∣bury, with this brief Elogy on his Tomb, instead of an Epitaph:

Depositum Cardinalis POLI.

He was a man admirably learned, modest, mild, of a most sweet disposition, wise, and of excellent dexterity in the managing of any affairs, so that he had been incomparable, if corrupted with the Religion of the Church of Rome he had not forced his nature to admit of those cruelties exercised upon the Protestants.

The Queen died at St. James on the seventeenth of November,* 1.8 some few hours before day. She was a Lady very godly, merciful, chast, and every way praise-worthy, if you regard not the errours of her Religion. But her Religion being the cause of the effusion of so much innocent Blood, that of the Prophet was necessarily to be fulfilled in her, Blood-thirsty men, &c. shall not finish half their days. For she was cut off in the two and fortieth year of her age, having reigned only five Years, four Months, and eleven Days; whereas her Sister, who succeeded her, most happily in a more mild Government ruled nine times as long, and almost doubled her age. Concerning the cause of Queen Maries Death there are divers conjectures. To relate what I find in approved Authors, it is reported, that in the beginning of her Sickness her friends supposing that she grieved at the absence of her Husband, whom she saw so engaged in Wars abroad, that she could not hope for his speedy return, used consolatory means, and endeavoured to remove from her that fixed sadness where∣with she seemed to be oppressed. But she utterly averse from all comfort, and giving her self over to melancholy, told them,

That she died, but that of the true cause of her Death they were [ 1558] ignorant, which if they were desirous to know, they should after her death dissect her Heart, and there they should find Calais: Intimating thereby, that the loss of Calais had occasioned this fatal grief, which was thought to have been increased by the Death of the Emperour her Father-in-Law. But the truth is, her Liver being over-cooled by a Mole, these things peradventure might hasten her end, which could not otherwise be far from her, and cast her by degrees into that kind of Dropsie, which Physicians term Ascites. This Dropsie being not discovered in time, deceived her Physicians, who believed that she had conceived by King Philip, whereas she alas did breed nothing but her own Death. So mature remedies being not applied, and she not observing a fit Diet, she fell into a Fever, which increasing by little and little, at last ended in her Death. She lieth interred at West∣minster in the midst of that Chappel which is on the North side of her Grandfather Henry the Seventh his Monument, where her Sister Queen Elizabeth was after Buried with her, and over both by the pious Liberality of that most Munificent Prince King James hath since been erected a most stately Monument, well befitting the Majesty of such great Monarchs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Calais be∣sieged by the French.
• * 1.2

  Calais yielded.
• * 1.3

  The Battel of Graveling.
• * 1.4

  The French overthrown.
• * 1.5

  Conquet ta∣ken and burned by the English.
• * 1.6

  The Daulphin married to the Queen of Scot.
• * 1.7

  The death of Cardinal Pool.
• * 1.8

  The Queen diesh.