Historical collections, out of several grave Protestant historians concerning the changes of religion, and the strange confusions following in the reigns of King Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary and Elizabeth : with an addition of several remarkable passages taken out of Sir Will. Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwickshire, relating to the abbies and their institution.

A Preamble.

BEfore we begin this Queens Reign, we will (following Dr. Heylyn's order) first make a Relation out of him of the vari∣ous Fortunes of her Mother, Anne Boleign; of whom thus he writes in his History of Re∣formation, pag. 86.

Anne Boleign, from her tender years, was brought up in the Court of France: Who re∣turning into England, was preferred to be Maid of Honor to Queen Catherine: In whose Ser∣vice the King falls in Love with her. But so long concealed his Affections, that there was a great League contracted betwixt her, and the young Lord Peircy, Son to the Earl of Nor∣thumberland. But that being broken off, by the endeavors of Cardinal Wolsey; and the King laboring for a Divorce, from Queen Ca∣therine, that he might Marry her; that also was sought to be obstructed by the Cardinal: Which being understood by Mrs. Anne Boleign she seeks all ways for his destruction; and pre∣vailed so far with the King, that he was pre∣sently Indicted, and Attainted of a Praemunire; and not long after, by the Counsel of Thomas Cromwel, (who had sormerly been the Cardi∣nals Solicitor in his Legatine Court) envolves the whole Clergy in the same Crime with him. And by perswasion of this man, he re∣quires of the said Clergy, to acknowledge him for Supreme Head, on Earth, of the Church of England; and to make no new Canons, and Constitutions, not to Execute any such, when made, by his consent. And having thus brought his own Clergy under his Command, he was the less solicitous how his matters went in the Court of Rome, concerning his Divorce. Where∣upon he privately Marries Mistris Anne Boleign:

And a long time after, to wit, Three or Four Months after the Birth of the Princess Elizabeth) began a Parliament; in which the Kings first Marriage was declared Unlawful; and the Suc∣cession of the Crown settled upon His Issue by this Second Marriage: An Oath being devised in maintenance of the said Succession; and not long after, Moor and Fisher were Executed for refusing to take that Oath.

The New Queen being thus settled; and considering, that the Pope and She had such different Interests, that they could not subsist to∣gether, She resolved to suppress his Power what she could. But finding, that the Pope was too well entrenched, to be dislodged upon a sudden, it was advised by Cromwel, to begin with taking in the Outworks first; which being gained, it would be no hard matter to beat him out of his Trenches.

In order whereunto a Visitation is begun, in which a diligent Enquiry was to be made into all Abbey's, Priories, and Nunneries within the Kingdom: (an Account of which Visitation, and the D•…•…ssolution of Abbeys, hath been former∣ly given in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth.)

But the New Queen (for whose sake Crom∣wel had contrived that Plot) did not live to see this Dissolution.

For such is the uncertainty of Humane Af∣fairs, that when she thought her Self most Se∣cure,

and free from Danger, She became most obnoxious to the ruine prepared for Her. It had pleased God, upon the Eighth of January, to put an end unto the Calamities of the Virtuous, but unfortunate Queen, unto whose Bed she had succeeded: The News whereof she en∣tertained with such contentment, that she caused her self to be apparelled in lighter Co∣lours, than was agreeable to the season, or the sad occasion. Whereas, if she had rightly un∣derstood her own Condition, She could not but have known, that the long Life of Queen Catherine, was to be her best preservation, a∣gainst all changes, which the King's loose Affections, or any other Alteration in the Affairs of State, were otherwise like to draw upon her.

But this Contentment held not long. For within Three Weeks after, She fell in Travail; in which she miscarried of a Son, to the ex∣treme discontent of the Father: Who looked upon it, as an Argument of God's displeasure, as being much offended at this Second Marriage. He then began to think of His ill Fortune, with both His Wives; both Marriages subject to cis∣pute, and the Legitimation of both His Daugh∣ters, likely to be called in question, in the time succeeding. He must therefore cast about for another Wife; of whose Marriage, and his Issue by Her, there could rise no controversie. His eye had carried him to a Gentlewoman in the Queens Attendance; on the enjoying of

whom he so fixed his Thoughts, that he had quite obliterated all remembrance of his for∣mer Loves.

Whereupon He began to be as weary of Queen Annes Gayeties, and Secular humor, as formerly, of the Gravity, and Reservedness of Queen Katharine. And causing many eyes to observe her Actions, they brought him a Re∣turn of some particulars; which he conceived, might give him a sufficient ground to proceed upon.

The Lord Rochfort (her own Brother) ha∣ving some Suit to obtain (by her means) of the King, was found whispering to her on her Bed, when she was in it; which was interpre∣ted for an act of some dishonor done, or in∣tended to be done to the King: in the aggra∣vating whereof, with all odious circumstances, none was more forward, than the Lady Roch∣fort her self.

It was observed also, That Sir Henry Norris, Groom of the Stool to the King, had enter∣tained a very dear affection for her; not with∣out giving himself hopes of succeeding in the King's Bed, if she chanced to survive Him: And it appeared, that she had given him op∣portunity, to make his Affection known, and to acquaint her with his hopes; which she ex∣pressed, by twitting him, in a frolick humor, with looking after dead mens shoes.

Weston and Breerton, both Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, were observed also to be very diligent in their Services and Addresses to her; which were construed more to proceed from Love, than Duty.

Out of all these Premises, the King resolved to come to a conclusion of His aims and wishes.

A Solemn Tilting was maintained at Green∣wich; at which both the King and Queen were present; the Lord Rochfort, and Sir Henry Norris being principal Challengers.

Here the Queen (by chance) let fall her Handkerchief; which was taken up by one of her supposed Favourites, who stood under the Window; whom the King perceived to wipe his face with it. This taken by the King to have been done of purpose, he thereupon leaves the Queen, and all the rest, and goes immedi∣atly to Westminster: Rochfort and Norris, are the next day committed to the Tower; and the Queen likewise. After which Breerton and Weston, with Mark Smeton, one of the King's Musicians, were commited on the same occa∣sion. These persons being thus committed, and the cause made known, the next care was to find sufficient evidence for their condemna∣tion. It was objected, That the Queen, grow∣ing out of hope of having any issue Male by the King, had used the company of the Lord Rochfort, Norris, Breerton, Weston, and

Smeton; involving her at once in no smaller crimes, than Adultery and Incest.

It appears by a Letter of Sir William King∣ston Lieutenant of the Tower, that he had much communication with her, when she was his Prisoner; in which her language seemed to be broken, and distressed, betwixt tears and laughter. She exclaimed against Norris, as if he had accused her. It was further signified in that Letter, that she named some others, who had obsequiously applyed themselves to her Love and Service, acknowledging such passages, as shewed, she had made use of very great liberties. The conclusion of this Busi∣ness was, That both the Queen, and the rest of the Prisoners were all put to death.

So died this great Lady; one of the most remarkable Mockeries and Disports of For∣tune, which these last ages have produced; raised from the quality of a private Lady, to the Bed of a King; Crowned on the Throne, and Executed on the Scaffold; the Fabrick of her Power and Glory being Six years in Build∣ing; but cast down in an instant: The splen∣dor and magnificence of her Coronation, seem∣ing to have no other end, but to make her the more glorious Sacrifice, at the next Alteration.

But her death was not the chief mark the King aim'd at. If she had only lost her Head, though with the loss of her Honor, it would have been no Bar to her Daughter Elizabeth,

from Succeeding her Father in the Throne. Now he must have his Bed free from all such pretensions, the better to draw on the following Marriage.

It was therefore thought necessary, that she should be separated from his Bed, by some other means than the Ax or Sword; and that He should be legally separated from her in a Court of Judicature; when the Sentence of Death had deprived Her of all means, as well as of all manner of desire to dispute the point.

It doth not appear in Record, upon what ground this Marriage was dissolved. All which occurs, in reference to it, is a Solemn Instru∣ment, under the Seal of the Archbishop Cran∣mer; by which that Marriage is declared (on good and valid Reasons) to be null, and void.

Which Sentence was pronounced at Lam∣beth, in the Presence of most of the great Men of that time, and approved by the Prelates and Clergy assembled in their Convocation; and lastly, confirmed by Act of Parliament.

In which Act, there also passed a Clause, which declared the Lady Elizabeth to be Ille∣gitimate.

Thus far Dr. Heylyn, concerning her Mother.

Now because the Relation here made con∣cerning this Queen, belongs to the Reign of King Henry the Eighth; I think it will not be altogether improper to insert a Speech made

in that Kings Reign, which did not come to my hands time enough to be put into its pro∣per place.

A Speech made in the Upper House of Parli∣ment, by Dr. John Fisher Bishop of Ro∣chester, in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, in opposition to the Suppressing of the lesser Monasteries.

My Honored Lords,

THis is the place where your glorious and noble Progenitors have paternized the Kingdom from oppression. Here is the San∣ctuary where, in all Ages but this of ours, our Mother Church found still a sound Protection. I should be infinitely sorrowful, that from you, that are so lovely Branches of antiquity, and Catholick Honor, the Catholick Faith should be so deeply wounded. For God's, and your own Goodness sake, leave not to Posterity, so great a blemish, that you were the First, and only those, that give it up to ruine. Where there is Cause you nobly punish, and with Justice; but beware of infringing so long continued Priviledges, or denying the Mem∣bers of the Church, the parts of their Advan∣tage that is enjoyed by every private Subject. The Commons shoot their Arrows at our Li∣vings, which are the Motives that conceit us, (or make us to be conceived) guilty. Is all

the Kingdom innocent, and we only faulty, that there is no room left for other Considera∣tions far more weighty? The Diligence, De∣votion, and Liberality of your Great Fore∣fathers endowed their Mother Church with fair and large Revenues, making it still their greatest care to keep her upright, able, still in freedom: And will you give consent, that like a servile Bondmaid, she now sinks lower to a naked thraldom, and, by degrees, be forced from her Mansion? If not, to what end serves the flux of these Petitions, that taint your Ears with Language far unfit the Ears of Christian Princes. These strike not at the withered Branches, but, at the Tree, on which Religion groweth. Certainly, All are not guilty. Admit that some, as they en∣force (or urge) be vicious, must it conclude, there is none good amongst us, or able to re∣form their proper vices? Will you assume a Power, till now unheard of, to give away their Rites, by new made Statutes? If you will seek and sist our Constitutions, you shall there find as strict Injunctions, as you can make, for Reformation. But, I suppose, it is not that is aimed at; pretence of Restauration, (or Reformation) tends to ruine, else such be∣ginnings could not find such Favor. My Lords, consider well your actions; be advised. This Cause seems only Ours, it will be Yours, if that the Mother Church do feel Injustice

Your turns are next to feel the like Oppres∣sion. When Faith▪ begins to fail, then all must perish. Heretick, (or Heretical) Fan∣cies taint the common People, whom Novel∣ties betray, even to Perdition. Let Neigh∣bour Nations tell you your own story. Husse, Luther, and such frantick Teachers, cry out against the Church in all their Sermons, they do pretend nothing else but Reformation, when they themselves are deepest dyed in mis∣chief. What follows them, (to wit, Perdi∣tion) we may expect in Justice. The Churches Wealth, occasioned this first moving. If that were poor, our Vices would be Vertues, and none would be so forward to Accuse us. What can we look for then but Desolation, where private ends are made a publick grievance? Our Lesser Houses are desired from us; not that their value doth deserve the Motion; but, that the Greater may succeed their for∣tune; which soon will follow, if the gap be opened. The King himself, I hope, is too too gracious, to set abroach an Action so dis∣ordered: Nor, can I think, the Lower House of Commons will be so blind, to Second this loose Motion. Some giddy-brain, whose fa∣ding Fortunes lead him to hope to raise him∣self out of our Ruins, betrays their Judgments with a shew of Justice; which seeks in truth but meerly Innovation, which must succeed, unless you do oppose it. Wherefore, My

Lords, call back that Ancient Vertue, that so long time hath sat in these your places. Now is the time to shew your worth; the Church Implores it, the Church which you acknow∣ledge for your Mother. If Liberty take place of Faith, farewel Religion. The Turk may then direct us how to guid in Rapine, Blood, and Murder. Foul Dissention proceeds from want of good Devotion. The lack of Faith, begets these strange Conceptions, which time will make stark dead, if we continue.

Thus of this Speech.

Now we will proceed to relate what occurs in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, as touching matters of Religion.