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.

*A copy of the Queenes Proclamation for the driuing out of the Realme Straungers and Forreiners.

* 1.1THE Queene our soueraigne Lady vnderstanding that a mul∣titude of euill disposed persons, being borne out of her high∣nes dominions in other sondry nations, flyeng from the obey∣saunce of the Princes and Rulers vnder whome they be borne, some for heresie, some for murther, treason, robbery, and some for other horrible crimes, be resorted into this her maiesties Realme, and heere haue made theyr demour, and yet be commoraunt and lingring, partly to eschew such conding punishment as their said horrible crimes deserue, and partly to dilate, plant, and sowe the seedes of their malicious doctrine and lewd conuersation among the good subiectes of this her said Realme, of purpose to infect her good subiectes with the like, in so much as (besides innume∣rable heresies, which diuers of the same beeing heretickes haue preached and taught within her highnes sayd Realme) it is assu∣redly knowne vnto her Maiesty,* 1.2 that not only their secret practi∣ses haue not fayled to stirre, comfort and ayde dyuers her highnes subiectes to this most vnnaturall rebellion against God and her grace, but also some other of them desist not still to practise with her people eftsoones to rebell, her Maiestie therefore hauing (as afore is sayd) knowledge and intelligence heereof, hath for reme∣die heerein determined, and most straightly chargeth and com∣maundeth, that all and euery such person or persons borne out of her highnes dominions, now commoraunt or resident within this Realme, of whatsoeuer Nation or Countrey, beeing eyther Preacher, Printer, Bookeseller, or other Artificer, or of whatso∣euer calling else, not being Denizen or Marchant knowne, vsing the trade of Marchaundize, or seruaunt to such Ambassadours as be liegers heere from the Princes and states ioyned in league with her grace, shall within 24. dayes after this Proclamation, auoyde the Realme, vpon payne of most greeuous punishment by enpri∣sonment and forfayture and confiscation of all their goodes and moueables, and also to be delyuered vnto their natu••all Princes, or Rulers, agaynst whose persons or lawes they haue offended. Geuing to all Mayors, Sheriffes, Bayliffes, Constables, and all o∣ther her ministers, officers, and good subiectes, straightly also in charge, if they knowe any such person not borne in the Queenes highnes dominion•• (〈◊〉〈◊〉 before excepted) that shall after the time and day limitted in ••his Proclamation, tarry within thys Realme, that they shall apprehende the same person or persons, and commit him or them to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, there to remayne without bayle or mayneprise, till her graces pleasure or her Counsayles be signifyed vnto them for the further ordering of the sayde per∣son or persons. And that if any of her sayde officers, after the sayd 24. dayes apprehend, take, or knowe of any such, they shall with diligence immediatly certifie her sayd Counsell thereof, to the in∣tent order may forthwith be geuē for their punishmēt according.

In the meane while, vpō the Proclamation before men∣cioned, not only y^e strangers in K. Edwards time receiued into the Realme for Religion,* 1.3 amōg whō was Pet. Mar∣tir, Iohn Alasco vncle to the King of Poleland, but many Englishmen fled, some to Freeseland, some to Cleueland, some to high Germany, where they were diuersly scatte∣red into diuers companies & congregations, at Wesell, at Frankford, Emden, Markpurgh, Strausborough, Basill, Arow, Zurich, Geneua, and other places: where by the prouidence of God they were al susteined, and there enter∣tained with greater fauour among strangers abroad,* 1.4 then they could be in their owne countrey at home, welneare to the number of 800. persons, Students, & other together.

In the saide moneth of March, the Lorde Courtney Earle of Deuonshire, whome the Queene at her first en∣tring deliuered out of the Tower, and Lady Elizabeth al∣so the Queenes Sister, were both in suspection to haue consented to Wiats conspiracie, and for the same this March were apprehended and committed to the Tower.

Touching the imprisonment of which Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney, thou shalt note heere for thy lear∣ning (good Reader) a politicke point of practise in Steuen Gardiner Bishop of Wint. not vnworthy to be considered. This Gardiner being alwayes a capitall enemie to the Lady Elizabeth, and thinking ••owe by the occasion of maister Wyate to picke out some matter against the Lorde Courtney, and so in the end, to entangle the Lady Eliza∣beth, deuised a pestilent practise of conueyance, as in the story heere following may appeare.

The story is this. The same day that Sir Tho. Wyate died,* 1.5 he desired the Lieutenant to bring him to the presence of the Lord Courtney. Who there before the Lieutenaunte and the Sheriffes, kneeling downe vpon his knees, be∣sought the Lorde Courtney to forgeue him, for that he had falsly accused both the Lady Elizabeth and him, and so be∣ing brought from thence vnto the scaffold to suffer, there openly in the hearing of all the people cleared the Lady E∣lizabeth, and the Lorde Courtney to be free and innocente from all suspition of that commotion. At which confession,* 1.6 Doctor Weston there standing by, cryed to the people, say∣ing: Beleeue him not good people, for he confessed other∣wise before vnto the Counsell.

After the execution done of Sir Thomas Wyat, which was the 11. day of Aprill, word was brought immediately to the Lord Maior Sir Thomas White, a little before din∣ner,* 1.7 how maister Wyate had cleared the Lady Elizabeth and Lorde Courtney, and the wordes also which Doctor Weston spake vnto the people, wherunto the Lord Maior aunswering: Is this true quoth he? said Weston so? In sooth I neuer tooke him otherwise but for a knaue. Upon this, the Lord Maior sitting downe to dinner (who dyned the same day at the Bridgehouse) commeth in Sir Martin Bowes with the Recorder, newly come from the Parlia∣ment house, who hearing of the Maior and Sheriffes this report of Wiats confession, both vpon the Scaffold and al∣so in the Tower, marueiled thereat, declaring how there was another tale contrary to this, told the same day in the Parliament house, which was, that Sir Thomas Wyate should desire the Lord Courtney to confesse the truth, so as he had done before.

Upon this it followed not lōg after that a certaine pren∣tice dwelling in S. Laurence lane, named Cut, as he was drinking with one Denhā a plasterer being one of Quene Maries seruaunts, amongst other talke made mentiō how Sir Thomas Wyate had cleared the Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney, to be no cōsenters to his rising. Which wordes being brought to Gardiner (by what meanes I know not) incōtinent vpon the same,* 1.8 Syr Andrew Iudde was sent by the sayd Bishop to y^e Lord Maior, commaun∣ding him to bring the said prentise to the Star Chamber, which was accused of these words, that he should say that Wyat was constrained by the Counsell to accuse the Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney. Which fellow when he was come to the starre Chamber, the aforesaid Gardiner letting passe other matters that were in hand, began to de∣clare to the whole multitude, how myraculously almighty God had brought the Queenes Maiesty to the Crowne, y^e whole Realme in a maner being against her, & that he had brought this to passe for this singular intent and purpose,* 1.9 that this Realme being ouerwhelmed with heresies, shee might reduce againe the same vnto the true Catholicke faith. And where she tooke the Lady Elizabeth into her fa∣uour, and loued her so tenderly, and also the Lord Court∣ney, who of long time had bene deteined in prison, and by her was set at libertie, and receiued great benefites at her hands, and notwithstanding all this, they had conspired most vnnaturally and traiterously against her with that haynous Traytour Wiate, and by the confession of Wyate (sayde he) and the letters sent to and fro may playnely ap∣peare: Yet there was some in the City of London, whiche reported that Wyat was constrained by the Counsell to accuse the Lady Elizabeth and the L. Courtney, & yet you my L. Maior (quoth he) haue not seene the same punished.

The party is heere, sayd the Lord Maior. Take hym with you (said Gardiner) and punish him according to his desert, & said further: My Lord, take heede to your charge, the Citie of London is a whirlepoole and sincke of all euill rumours, there they be bread, and from thence spread into all partes of this Realme.

There stood by the same time the Lord Shandoys,* 1.10 who being then Lieutenaunt of the Tower, and now hearing the Byshop thus speake, to sooth his tale, came in wyth these words as followeth.

My Lordes (quoth he) this is a trueth that I shall tell you, I being Lieutenant of the Tower when Wiat suffred he desired me to bring him to the Lorde Courtney, whych when I had done, he fell down vpon his knees before him in my presence, and desired him to confesse the truth of hym selfe, as he had done before, and to submit himselfe vnto the Queenes Maiesties mercy.

And thus much I thought of this matter to declare, to the entent that the Reader perceiuing the proceedings of

the bishop in the premisses, and comparing the same with the true testimony of Wyat himselfe, & with the testimony o•• the Sheriffes whiche were present the same time when Syr Thomas Wiat asked the Lord Courtney forgeuenes, may the better iudge of the whole case and matter for the whiche the Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney were so long in trouble. Of which her Graces trouble, hereafter (God willing) more shall be said in the story of her life. In the meane time, to let this matter stay, let vs now passe fur¦ther in our history.

* 1.11NOt longe after this, Queene Mary partly fearing the Londiners by occasion of Wiats cōspiracy partly per¦ceiuing most part of the City for religions sake not great∣ly to fauour her proceedings, to theyr displeasure and hin∣deraunce sommoned a Parliament to be holdē at Oxford: as it were to gratify that Citty,* 1.12 where both the Uniuersi∣ty, Towne, and Country had shewed themselues very o∣bedient and forward, especially in restoring popish religi∣on. For this purpose great prouision was made, as wel by the Queenes officers and by the townes men and inhabi∣tantes of Oxford and the Country about.

* 1.13But the Queenes minde in short space chaunged, and the same Parliament was holden at Westminster in aprill folowing. Then the Queene, beside other thinges, propo∣sed concerning her mariage to king Philip, and resto∣ring of the Popes supremacy. As touching her maryage it was agreed vpon: but the other request could not as then be obteyned.

The same time when this Parliamēt was sommoned, she also sommoned a conuocation of bishops & of the Cler∣gy,* 1.14 writing vnto Boner (whom she had made Uicegerēt in the stead of Cranmer being in the Tower) after y^e tenor and forme of a new stile, differing from the olde stile of K. Henry, and K. Edward as foloweth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Q. Maryes pro∣clamation for driuing out of straungers.
• * 1.2

  Causes layd a∣gaynst straun∣gers.
• * 1.3

  Pet. Martir and Iohannes Alas∣co, banished the realme.
• * 1.4

  Englishmen fled out of the realm for religion.

  The number of English exiles well neare 800. persons.

  March 15. Lady Elizabeth and Lord Courtney vpon suspicion of Syr Thom. Wyats rising commit∣ted to the Tower.
• * 1.5

  A poynt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 practise 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ste. Gar••••••ner agayn•••• the Lady ••••lizabeth.
• * 1.6

  D. Westo•• against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lady Eli••••••beth.
• * 1.7

  The Lor•• Mayors iudgeme•••• of D. We••ston.
• * 1.8

  Cut pre••••tise in L••••••dō brou•••••• before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gardine••▪
• * 1.9

  Ste. Gard••••ners tale 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the starr•• chamber ••••gaynst th•• Lady Eli••••••beth.
• * 1.10

  The Lor•• Shandoy•• false repo•••• in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chamber, ••••gaynst La•••• Elizabeth and Lord Courtne••▪
• * 1.11

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.12

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.13

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.14

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉