Page 1406
* 1.1❧The first entring of Queene Mary to the Crowne, with the al∣teration of Religion, and other perturbations happening the same time in this Realme of England.
* 1.2WHat time King Edward by long sicke∣nesse beganne to appeare more fe∣ble and weake, in the meane while during the time of this his sicke∣nesse,* 1.3 a certayne mariage was prouided, concluded and shortly also vpon the same solempnised in the moneth of May, betwene the Lord Gilford, sonne to the Duke of Northumberland,* 1.4 and the La∣dy Iane the Duke of Suffolkes daughter, whose mother being then aliue, was daughter to Mary King Henryes second sister, who first was maried to the French king, and afterward to Charles Duke of Suffolke. But to make no long tariance hereupon, the mariage being ended, and the king waxing euery day more sicke then other, where as in deede there seemed in him no hope of recouerye, it was brought to passe by the consent not onely of the Nobility, but also of all the chiefe Lawyers of the Realme, that the king by his Testament did appoynt the foresayde Ladye Iane, daughter to the Duke of Suffolke, to be inheretrice vnto the crowne of England, passing ouer his two sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
To this order subscribed all the kinges Counsell, and chiefe of the Nobility,* 1.5 the Maior and city of London, and almoste all the Iudges and chiefe Lawyers of this Real∣me, sauing onely Iustice Hales of Kent, a man both fauo∣ring true Religion, and also an vpright iudge as any hath bene noted in this Realme, who geuing his consent vnto Lady Mary, would in no case subscribe to Lady Iane. Of this man (God willing) you shall perceiue more in the se∣quele of this story. The causes layd agaynst Lady Marye, were as well for that it was feared she would mary with a Straunger, and thereby entangle the crowne: as also that she would cleane alter Religion, vsed both in king Henry her father, and also in king Edwarde her brothers dayes, & so bring in the pope, to the vtter destruction of the Real∣me, which indeed afterward came to passe, as by the course and sequele of this story may well appeare.
* 1.6Much probable matter they had thus to coniecture of her, by reason of her great stubbernnes shewed and decla∣red in her brothers dayes, as in the letters before mentio∣ned, passing betwene her and king Edward, & the Coun∣sell, may appeare. The matter being thus concluded, and after confirmed by euery mans hand, King Edwarde an Impe of so great hope, not long after this departed, by the vehemency of his sickenes, when he was sixtene yeares of age: with whom also decaid in maner the whole florishing estate and honor of the English nation.
* 1.7When king Edwarde was deade, this Iane was esta∣blished in the kingdome by the Nobles consent, and was forthwith published Queene by proclamation at London, and in other Cityes where was any great resort, and was there so taken and named. Betweene this young Damo∣sell and kyng Edwarde there was litle difference in age, though in learning & knowledge of the tongues she was not onely equall, but also superior vnto him, being instru∣cted of a Mayster right notablye learned. If her fortune had bene as good as was her bringing vppe, ioyned wyth ••inenesse of wit: vndoubtedly she might haue semed com∣parable, not onelye to the house of the Uaspasians, Sem∣p••onians, and mother of the Grachies, yea, to anye other women beside that deserued high prayse for theyr sigulart learning: but also to the vniuersity men, which haue taken many degrees of the Schooles.
In the meane time while these thinges were a wor∣king at London, Mary which had knowledge of her Bro∣thers death, writeth to the Lords of the Councell in forme as foloweth.
¶A Letter of the Lady Mary, sent to the Lordes of the Counsell, wherein shee claymeth the Crowne after the decease of king Edwarde,* 1.8
MY Lordes, we greete you well, and haue receiued sure ad∣uertisement that our dearest Brother the king our late soue∣raigne Lord, is departed to Gods mercye: whiche newes howe they be woefull vnto our hart, he onely knoweth, to whose will and pleasure we must and do humbly submitte vs and our willes. But in this so lamentable a case, that is to witte, now after hys Maiesties departure and death, concerning the Crowne and go∣uernaunce of thys Realme of England, with the title of Fraunce, and all thinges thereto belonging, what hath bene prouided by Act of Parliament and the Testament and last will of our dea∣rest Father, besides other circumstaunces aduauncing our right, you know, the Realme, and the whole world knoweth, the Rolles and Recordes appeare by the authority of the kyng our sayde Fa∣ther, and the king our sayde brother, and the subiectes of thys Realme, so that we verily trust that there is no good true subiect, that is, can, or would pretend to be ignoraunt therof, and of our parte wee haue of our selues caused, and as God shall ayde and strength vs, shall cause our right and title in this behalfe to be published and proclaymed accordingly. And albeit this so weighty a matter seemeth straunge, that the dying of oure sayde brother vpon Thursday at night last past, we hytherto hadde no knowledge from you thereof, yet we consider your wisedomes and prudence to be such, that hauing eftsoones amongest you de∣bated, pondered, and well wayed this present case with our e∣state, with your own estate, the common wealth, and all our ho∣nours, wee shall and may conceiue greate hope and trust with much assuraunce in your loyaltye and seruice, and therefore for the tyme interprete and take thinges not to the worst, and that ye yet will like Noble men woorke the best. Neuerthelesse wee are not ignoraunt of your consultations, to vndoe the prouisions made for our preferment, nor of the great bandes and prouisi∣ons forceable, wherewith yee bee assembled and prepared, by whom, and to what ende, God and you know, and nature can but feare some euill. But be it that some consideration politicke, or whatsoeuer thing else hath mooued you thereto, yet doubte you not my Lordes, but we can take all these your doynges in gracious part, being also right ready to remit & fullye pardon the same, with that freely to eschewe bloudshed and vengeance agaynst all those that canne or will intend the same: trusting also assuredly you will take and accept this grace and vertue in good part as appeateyneth, and that wee shall not be enforced to vse the seruice of other our true subiectes and frendes which in thys our iust and right cause, God in whom our whole affiaunce is, shall send vs. Wherefore my Lordes we require you and charge you, and euery of you, that euery of you, of your allegeance why∣che you owe to God and vs, and to none other, for our honour and the surety of our parson, onely employ your selues, & forth with vpon receit hereof, cause our right and title to the Crowne and gou••rnement of this Realme to be proclaymed in our Citty of London, and other places as to your wisedomes shall seeme good, and as to this case apperteineth, not fayling hereof as our verye trust is in you. And thus our Letter signed with our hande, shalbe your sufficient warrant in this behalfe.
Yeu••n vnder our Signet, at our Manor of Kenyngall, the ninth of Iuly••. 1553.
To this Letter of the Ladye Marye, the Lordes of the Counsell make aunswere agayne as foloweth.
¶Aunswere of the Lordes vnto the Lady Maryes Letter.
MAdame,* 3.1 we haue receiued your letters the ninth of this instant, declaring your supposed title, which you iudge your self to haue to the Imperiall crowne of this Realm, & all the dominions thereunto belonging. For answere whereof, this is to aduertise you, that forasmuch as our soueraign Lady Quene Iane is after the death of our soueraign Lord Edward the sixt, a prince of most noble memorye inuested and possessed with the iuste and right title in the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme,* 3.2 not onely by good order of olde aunciente lawes of this Realme, but also by our late soueraigne Lordes Letters patentes signed with his own hand, and se••led with the greate seale of Englande in presence of the most parte of the Nobles, Counsellours, Iudges, with diuers other graue and sage personages, assenting & subscribing to the same: We must therfore as of most boūd duety and allegeance as∣sent vnto her sayde Grace, and to none other, except wee shoulde (which faythfull subiectes can not) fall into greeuous and vn∣speakeable enormities. Wherefore we can no lesse do, but for the quiet both of the realme and you also, to aduertise you, that for∣asmuch as the diuorce made betwene the king of famous memo∣ry K Henry the 8. & the Lady Katherine your mother, was neces∣sary to be had both by the euerlasting lawes of God, and also by the Ecclesiasticall lawes, & by the most part of the noble & lear∣ned