Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

¶The death of K. Henry the viij. with the maner thereof.

ANd thus closing vp this eight booke with the death of King Henry the 8. I will now (the Lorde Christ assi∣sting me with his grace) proceede next to the time & reigne of King Edward his sonne,* 1.1 after that first I shall inter∣mitte a few wordes touching the death of the sayde Kyng Henry his father, and the maner of the same. Who after long languishing, infirmitie growing more and more vp∣pon him, lay from S. Steuens day (as is aboue mentio∣ned) to the latter end of Ianuary. His Phisicians at length perceiuing that he would away:* 1.2 and yet not daring to dis∣courage him with death, for feare of the Act past before in Parliamente, that none shoulde speake anye thing of the Kings death (the Act being made onely for Southsayers and talkers of prophesies) moued them that were about the King to put him in remembrance of his mortall state and fatall infirmitie. Which when the rest were in dread to do, M. Deny who was specially attendant vpon hym, boldly comming to the King: told him what case he was in, to mans iudgement not like to liue, and therefore ex∣horted him to prepare himselfe to death, calling himselfe to remembrance of his former life, and to call vpon God in Christ betime for grace and mercy, as becommeth euery good Christian man to do.

Although the K. was loth to heare any mētion of death, yet perceiuing the same to rise vpon the iudgement of hys Phisicians and feeling his owne weakenes, he disposed himselfe more quietly to harken to the wordes of his ex∣hortation, and to consider his life past. Which although he much accused, yet (said he) is the mercy of Christ able to pardon me all my sinnes, though they were greater then they be. M. Deny being glad to heare him thus speake, re∣quired to know his pleasure, whether he would haue any learned man sent for to conferre withall, and to open hys mind vnto.* 1.3 To whome the King aunswered againe, that if he had any, he would haue D. Cranmer, who was then lying at Croydon. And therefore M. Denye asking the King whether he woulde haue him sente for, I will first said the King take a little sleepe, and then as I feele my selfe, I will aduise vpon the matter.

* 1.4After an houre or two, the King awaking and feeling feeblenes to encrease vpon him, commanded D. Cranmer to be sent for: but before he could come, y^e king was speach∣les, and almost senseles. Notwithstanding perceiuing D. Cranmer to be come, he reaching his hande to D. Cran∣mer, did hold him fast, but could vtter no word vnto hym, and scarse was able to make any signe. Then the Archby∣shop exhorting him to put his trust in Christ, and to call vpon his mercy, desired him, though he could not speake, yet to geue some token with his eyes, or with hand, as he trusted in the Lord. Then the King holding him with his hand, did wring his hand in his, as hard as he could, and so shortly after departed, after he had reigned in this land the terme of 37. yeares and 9. monethes,* 1.5 leauing behinde him three children, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth.

Moreouer, for so much as mention is inserted in thys place of the good inclination of King Henry in his latter dayes to the reformation of religion,* 1.6 by the occasion here∣of it commeth also to minde, somewhat likewise to adde by way of appendix touching the talke betweene the Archbi∣shop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer, and the Duke of Suffolke Charles Branden, as cōcerning the Kings pur∣pose and intent conceaued against the Bishop of Winche∣ster Steuen Gardiner, in that he could neuer allowe any reformation in religion in this realme, and namely beeing offended with this that men should vse in their talke, The Lord, as well as our Lord. The sayd Duke sayd vnto the sayd Archbyshop: We of the Counsell had him once at a good lift, and should well haue dispatched him from his authoritie, if the Kings Maiestie our Maister had stayed himselfe from admitting him to his presence, as then hys highnes was content that we should throughly haue sifted and tried him, It was my Lord (quoth the Duke to the Archbishop) at that time, when Gardiner his Secretarie was attached and suffred for defending the Popes autho∣ritie. For then I and certaine of the Counsell hauing con∣ference with the Kings Maiestie for that matter, his high∣nesse was fully perswaded that the Bishops Secretarie being in such speciall fauour with his Maister, would ne∣uer stande so stiffe in defence of the Bishop of Romes v∣surped power and authoritie,* 1.7 without his said maisters both aduise, knowledge, and perswasion. For already, quoth the King, he played but a homely part with me, when he was Ambassadour to the Pope concerning my cause of diuorce. And therefore (quoth the King to me) send for him my Lord incontinently, and by assistance of two or three moe of the Counsell whome you thinke good, let him be committed to the Tower, to aunswere to suche thynges as may bee obiected agaynst hym. Thys com∣municatiō was in y^e euening: so that we purposed to haue executed the kinges pleasure and commaundement y^e next morning. How beit our talke was not so secrete, but that some of his friendes of the priuy chamber then, suspecting the matter (where he had many frends) sent him word ther of. Who incontinently repayred to the kings presence,* 1.8 and finding some matter to minister vnto y^e king, his highnesse sayd to the bish. We doe marueile that your secretary hath thus notoriously offended agaynst vs & our lawes. It is surely though: that you are not all cleare in this offēce, but that you are of the same opinion with him, & therefore my Lord be playne with me,* 1.9 and let me know if you be y^e way infected or no: If you will tell me the trueth, I will rather pardon the fault, but if you halt or dissemble with me, looke for no fauour at my hand.

With this monition Winchester fell downe vppon hys knees & besought his maiesty of mercy and pardon,* 1.10 mani∣festly confessing y^t he of long time had bene of that opinion w^t his sayd secretary: and there bewayling himselfe, promi∣sed from that day forward to reform hys opinion, & become a new man. Well (quoth y^e king) this way you haue of me, that which otherwise you should neuer haue obtayned. I am content to remitte all thinges past and pardon you vp∣on your amendment.

The next morning I had worde how the matter was handled, whereupon I came to his highnes & sayde: Your Maiestie hath preuented our commission, whiche I and o∣ther had from your grace concerning my Lord of Winche∣sters cōmitting to the tower. Wot you what quoth the K.? hee hath confessed himselfe as giltie in this matter as hys man,* 1.11 and hath with muche sorrowe & pensiuenes sued for my pardon: And you know what my nature and custome hath bene in such matters, euermore to pardon them that will not dissemble but confesse their fault.

Thus wil••ly and politickely he got himselfe out of our hands. But if I had suspected this, I would haue had him in the tower ouer night and stopped his iourny to y^e court. Well sayd my Lord of Caunterbury hee was euermore to good for you all.

Moreouer as touching this foresaid bishop of Winche∣ster for so much as he in king Edwardes tyme bragged so much of his old mayster of famous memory king Henr. 8. to y^e entent y^t the glorious vanitie of this bishop, & of all o∣ther like vnto him, more notoriously may appeare to al mē

heere is to be noted by the testification as well of mayster Deny, as also of Sir Henry Neuell, who were there pre∣sent witnesses of the matter, whose record is this, that king Henry before the time of his sicknes, taking his horse vp∣pon the tarras at Windsore to ride out on hauking, sawe standing before him the Lorde Wryothesley Lord Chan∣celour with diuers other Counsellours, and amōgst them the Bishop of Winchester. Whereupon he called the Lorde Chancelour and sayd:* 1.12 Did not I commaund you he shuld come no more amongst you (meaning the Bishop?) Wher∣unto the Lorde Chauncellour aunswered, that his com∣ming was to bring his Maiestie word of a beneuolence geuen vnto him by the Cleargie. Whereat the King sayd: Ah, let him come hether, and so he did his message, and the King went straight away.

Item, another time the King immediatly after his re∣paire to London, fell sicke, and caused diuers times hys whole Counsell to come vnto him about his will, and o∣ther his graue affaires:* 1.13 At what time, the Bishop also would come vp with them into the vtter priuie Chamber, and there remayne vntill the Counsell came from the King, and then go downe with them agayne, to the ende (as then was thought) to blind the world withall.

Furthermore, as the King grewe more in sickenes, he considering vpon his will and testament made before at his going ouer to Bullein, willed the same to be drawne out againe with leauing out and excluding the Byshop of Winchester by name from amongst his Executors. Which being to him no small corsey, and a cutting off of all theyr purposes,* 1.14 a way was found, that Sir Anthony Browne a principall pillar of Winchesters side, pretending vnto the King, as though by the negligence of the writer the By∣shops name had bene left out of the Kings will, kneeled downe to the Kings Maiestie,* 1.15 lying in his bed, and sayd: My Lord of Winchester I thinke by negligence is left out of your Maiesties wil, who hath done your highnes most paynefull, long, and notable seruice, and one without whome the rest shall not be able to ouercome your greate and weighty affaires committed vnto them.

Hold your peace (quoth the King) I remembred hym well inough, and of good purpose haue left him out. For surely, if he were in my testamēt, and one of you, he would cumber you all, and you should neuer rule him, he is of so troublesome a nature. Mary, quoth the King, I my selfe could vse him, and rule him to all maner of purposes, as seemed good to me,* 1.16 but so shall you neuer do, and therefore talke no more of him to me in this behalfe. Syr Anthony Browne perceiuing the king somewhat stiffe heerein, gaue place to the Kings words at that time. Howbeit, seeking farther occasion vpō more perswasions put into his head, tooke in hand once againe to moue the King to haue the Byshop one of his Executors. When the King perceyued that this instant sute would not cease: haue you not yet done (quoth the King) to molest me in this matter? If you wil not cease farther to trouble me, by the faith that I owe vnto God, I will surely dispatch thee out of my will also, and therefore let vs heare no more of this matter. All thys Sir Anthony Deny was heard to report to the Archby∣shop of Cant. Thom. Cranmer,* 1.17 of the sayd Archbyshops Secretary who is yet aliue, and witnes to the same.

And thus much touching the end of King Henry, who if he had continued a few moneths longer (all those obites and Masses, whiche appeare in his will made before hee went to Bulleyne notwithstandyng) most certayne it is, & to be signified to all posteritie, that his full purpose was to haue repurged the estate of the Church, & to haue gone through with the same,* 1.18 so that he would not haue left one masse in all England. For the more certayne intelligence whereof, two things I haue to leade me. The one is, the assured report and testimonie of Tho. Cranmer, Archby∣shop of Caunterbury, hearing the King declare the same out of his owne mouth, both to himselfe, & to Mounsieur de Annebault Lord Admirall the French Ambassadour, in the moneth of August a little before his death, as aboue may appeare more at large,* 1.19 page. 1240. The other cause which leadeth me thereunto, is also of equall credite, groū∣ded vpon the declaration of the Kings owne mouth after that time, more neare to his death, vnto Bruno Ambassa∣dour of Iohn Fridericke, Duke of Saxonie. Unto the which Ambassadour of Saxony, the King gaue this aun∣swere openly, that if the quarrell of the Duke of Saxony were nothing else against the Emperour but for religion,* 1.20 he should stand to it strongly, and he would take his part, willing him not to doubt nor feare, and so with this aun∣swere dimissed the Ambassadour vnto the Duke openly in the hearing of these foure sufficient witnesses, the L. Scy∣m••r Earle of Harforde, Lorde Lisley then Admirall, the Earle of Bedford Lorde Priuy Seale, and Lorde Paget. But the secret working of Gods holy prouidence, whyche disposeth all things after his own wisedome and purpose, thought it good rather by taking the King away, to re∣serue the accomplishmēt of this reformation of his church, to the peaceable time of his sonne Edward, and Elizabeth his daughter, whose handes were yet vndefiled wyth any bloud, and life vnspotted with any violence, or crueltie.

And thus to finish this booke, I thought heere to close vp King Henries raigne. But because a little vacant space of empty paper remayneth behinde needefull to be filled vp, to employ therefore and to replenishe the same wyth some matter or other, I thought to annexe heere vnto one story which hapned in this King Henries raigne. Which albeit it serueth not to the purpose of this our matter now in hand, yet neuerthelesse to supply the roome it may stand in some place, either to refreshe the traueiled minde of the Reader wearied with other stories, or else to disclose the detestable impietie of these counterfeite sectes of Monkes and Friers, who vnder the hipocriticall visour of preten∣sed Religion, haue so long seduced and deceiued the world. Although the deceitfull parts and practises of these fanta∣sticall orders be so many, and in all places so notorious, that they are not able to be expressed yet amongest many one you shall heare that chaunced in this Kings dayes in the Citie of Orleance in Fraunce, by the Gray Friers, a∣bout the yeare of our Lord. 1534. The story is this.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and maner of the kings death.
• * 1.2

  Of the Act that ••one shoulde speake of the kinges death. Vid. Stat. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Henr. 8.
• * 1.3

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.4

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.5

  The kings chil∣dren.
• * 1.6

  Talke betweene Thom. Cranmer Archbishop of Cant. and the Duke of Suffolk about. Ste. Gardiner.
• * 1.7

  Stephen Gar∣diner appoynted by the king to to be had to the Tower.
• * 1.8

  Ste. Gardiner priuily com∣meth to the king.
• * 1.9

  King Henry layeth to Win∣chesters charge.
• * 1.10

  Winchester con∣fesseth his pope∣ry to the king.
• * 1.11

  K. Henryes na∣ture to pardon them that come to him and con∣fesse their fault.
• * 1.12

  Winchester com¦maunded no more to come in the kings sight.
• * 1.13

  Winchester though he wer excluded yet would seeme stil to be of the kinges Counsel.
• * 1.14

  Win••. excluded out of the kinges will.
• * 1.15

  Syr Anthony Browne a great frend to Wint.
• * 1.16

  King Henryes opinion of the Bishop of Winchest.
• * 1.17

  Witnes.
• * 1.18

  The purpose of the king if he had liued, was to make a per∣fect reformation of religion.
• * 1.19

  Credite of this narration that it is true.
• * 1.20

  The kinges aunswere to the Duke of Saxo∣nies Ambassa∣dour, a little be∣fore his death.