to David the second, K. of Scotland, continuing his wife twenty eight yeares. This was she ( as I conceive) who was commonly called Joan Make-Peace; (and we know Blessed are the peace makers) improving her power (though sometimes with small suc∣cesse) to do good offices betwixt the two Kingdomes. Coming into England to visit her Brother K. Edward the third, she deceased here without issue, Anno 1357. and lyeth buried in Gray-Friers London.
It will not be amiss in Reference to her Name, here to observe, that Joan (which is Feminine to John) was a frequent name in the Royal Family of England, as also amongst Foreign Princes; and no wonder, seeing we find a worthy woman of that name, Benefactresse to our Saviour himself. However, seeing in later times it hath been counted but a Course and homely name, and some Proverbs of Contempt have been cast thereon: it hath since been m ollified into Jane, (sounding finer it seemes to an English eare) though this modern name will hardly be found in any English wri∣ter three hundred yeares ago.
KATHERINE, youngest Daughter to K. Henry the 7. and Elizabeth his Queen, was born in the Tower of London, on the 2 day of February, Anno Dom. 1503. decea∣sing few dayes after.
It is a sad (and probably too true an) account, of an Antient man, which is given in his Epitaph,
Here lies the man was born, and cry'd,
Liv'd sixty yeares, fell sick, and dy'd.
What was a bad Character of his aged unprofitablenesse, is a good one of this infant Ladies innocence, of whom we know nothing, save that she sucked, fell sick and decea∣sed. Only let me adde, she was the last Princesse born in the Tower; our English Kings hereafter removing their residence to Bridewel and White-hall, and using the Tower not so much as a Palace for the State, as Prison for the strength thereof.
ANNA BOLLEN, Daughter of the Lord Thomas Bollen Earl of Wiltshire, was (as some of her Honourable relations still surviving do conjecture) born in London, and became second Wife to K. Henry 8th. Indeed he passionately affected her, when but a Lords Daughter, but did not marry her till she was a Princesse; Created by him Mar∣chionesse of Pembroke, partly to make her the more proportionable Match, and partly to try how she would become a •…•…oronet, before she wore a Crown.
The Papists much disparage her memory (malice will lye, or must be dumb) ma∣king all her Wit to consist in Boldnesse, her Beauty in a French garb and her Modesty in a Cunning •…•…oynesse; whereas indeed she was a Lady accomplished in Body, (was it likely K. Henry would love what was not lovely?) and Vertuous in Mind, and, whilst a Favourite of the Kings, a Favourer of all good men, and great Promoter of the Gospel. The Inconstancy of her husbands affections, is conceived by most moderate men, (what else soever was pretended) her chiefest crime, and cause of her death, which happened Anno 1536.
KATHERINE HOWARD, Daughter to the Lord Edmond Howard, son to Thomas Duke of Norfolk, was (though her father had large lands and houses in many places) probably born in London, and at last became fifth wife to K. Henry the eighth. Such as desire to know the names, number and successe of all six, may conceive K. Henry thus speaking on his death bed,
Three Kates, two Nans, and one dear Jane I wedded,
One Spanish, one Dutch, and four English Wives,
From two I was divorc'd, two I beheaded,
One died in childbed, and one me survives.
Of this Katherine Howard little is reported, and yet too much, if all be true, of her incontinency, which cost her her life. The greatest good the Land got by this match, was a general leave to marry Cousin-Germans, formerly prohibited by the Canon, and hereafter permitted by the Common-law; A door of lawful liberty left open by God in Scripture, shut by the Pope for his private profit, opened again by the King, first, for his own admittance, (this Katherine being Cousin-German to Anna Bollen, his former Wife) and then for the service of such Subjects, as would follow him upon the like occasion. This Lady was beheaded Anno Domini 1540.