Florus Anglicus: or An exact history of England, from the raign of William the Conqueror to the death of the late King. / By Lambert Wood gent.

MARY Queen of England, France and Ireland.

Anno 1553.

MARY, so soon as the fame was spread of her Brothers death, came with Post∣horse from Hovesdon, where she than resided, into Suffolk, to whom presently came divers Lords, who had first compacted to preserve the Reformed Religion. Then she sent by her Letters to the Senate of London, that they should proclaim her for Queen. But the Lords in the Name of all the people made Answer, that by the Testament of King Edward, Joan was to succeed, and they asserted that Maries Mother was Divorced; whereupon they fly to Arms. The Earl of Northumberland with a small Army went against Mary, but as he pro∣ceeded but slowly, Maries Forces increased mightily: Also Edward Hastings, who was set with four thousand souldiers and six Ships, to

prevent that Mary might no waies escape, re∣volted to her, by which loss the Londoners and Lords were not a little dismaid, and grew at odds one with another. The London Counsell, when they did not hold fast together, was com∣manded openly to proclaim Mary Queen, and the same was done in all other places. Nor∣thumberland when he was certain that his com∣panions had fallen from him, that he might not runne the hazard alone, called a Counsell at Cambridge, and he for want of a Herauld pro∣claimed Mary Queen of England, casting his Cap up in token of joy. But that did not at all help his cause; for the Earl of Arundel, who a little before did not decline to venture his life for Joan, coming to Cambridge, in Maries Name takes the Duke, who in vain intreated for his life, and casts him into prison. Joan, at the command of her Father Duke of Suffolk, when the case was altered, laid down the Ensignes of the Kingdom with more cheerfulness than she had taken them up.

The Queen coming to London, met her Si∣ster Elizabeth with a thousand Horse, and Tho∣mas of Norfolk, Edward Contener, Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester, and Sommersets Wife, which she received into grace, giving them her hand to kiss. Then entring upon the Church affairs, she abolished those Bishops and

Ceremonies that Edward had confirmed, set∣ting up others in their room (the people were not a little enraged at it) and then she punished severely all those that were enemies to the Church of Rome.

In the interim the Duke of Northumberland, the Earls of Northampton and Warwick, are Endited of high Treason, she spared Northam∣pton, but Northumberland was beheaded, ab∣juring the Religion he professed before in hope of pardon. His Body was buried by the Duke of Sommerset his Capitall enemy, between Anne of Boloyne, and Katharine, who all suf∣fered the same death. The rest persisted and did not renounce the Faith they had pro∣fessed.

Joan afterwards with her Husband Dudley, Ambrose and Henry Sonnes to Northumberland, was condemned to lose her Head, but she was reprieved for a time.

Then a Marriage was Contracted between the Queen, and Philip Sonne to Charles the fifth, who was afterwards King of Spain, which matter was very ill liked by some, who did fore∣see from hence a dangerous consequence to the Kingdom of England: Amongst whom was Thomas Wiat, who took up Arms to Rebell by the advice of Suffolk Father to Joan Gray, drawing some of the Nobility to side with him.

Also Bres who was sent against him with five thousand men, revolted to him, by which suc∣cess he grew more bold, and marched toward London, and put the Citizens into great fear, so that the Lawyers pleaded in their Armour.

In the mean while the Earl of Suffolk had an Army raised in the County of Warwick, but the Earl of Huntington was sent out against him, who terrified the feeble Duke, that he was forced to fl••e in haste, and to shelter himself in Woods and by-places. At last he was discovered by his Host, and sent with a strong guard to London, and cast into prison. Wiat in the mean time coming to London, was shut out of the City, but he passed over the Thames at Kingston, and provided to offer violence to the Citizens. After some light skirmishing with the Queens Forces, he was overborn by the power of his Enemy, and when he had yielded, he was sent to pri∣son, his Souldiers being scattered or taken. The Queen being enraged with that bold∣nesse of the Subjects, began seriously to con∣sider how to punish the guilty; Gilford Husband to Joan was first beheaded, then Joan her self, within the Walls of the Tow∣er of London, with a wonderfull Courage, Piety and Constancy, had her Head chop••

off. She was a Princesse for her Learning and Wisdome, worthy of immortal praise. It is reported also that Morgan, who had given sentence of Death against Joan, fell into madnesse shortly after her Death, and died mad, alwayes crying out, That they should take Joan Gray away from him. Then Suffolk was beheaded, and the same day Wiat, the cause of all these mischiefs (for Joan had been pardoned, had not he with a fu∣rious Tumult enraged the Queen.) Those that followed him, some were punished in other places, and at severall times, amongst whom was Thomas Grey, and some were pardoned. Also Elizabeth was cast into Prison by the malice of Gardner Bishop of Winchester. Without doubt her Life was at stake, had she not wisely answered Que∣stions propounded to her concerning her Faith; They did severely at that time pu∣nish all those that were Enemies to the Re∣ligion of the Church of Rome, amongst whom was Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester, these refusing to abjure their Faith, were burnt to ashes.

The Queens Marriage with Philip was now solemnized, and Cardinal Pool being sent from

the Pope, all the Errours of the English are purged, as it were, and all confessing their sinnes are received under the Popes Tuition.

The fame was at this time, that the Queen was with Childe, she was so glad of it, that she commanded to let loose many who were prison∣ers in the Towr; Amongst which were the sons of the Duke of Northumberland, who were be∣fore condemned to lose their Heads. But all this hope vanished, when the Queens Conception proved to be but a Tympany.

That there might not lack Examples of Piety, the Queen restored to the Church all the Goods she possessed belonging to the Church, and when she was told, That by so great bounty the Crown-Lands would be much wasted: She answered piously and prudently, That she pre∣ferred her souls health before all the worlds good.

Philip in the interim went to Brussels to his Father Charles, and obtain'd from him the Kingdom of Spain, and his other Dominions before his Death, then he returned for Eng∣land; Then again he went to Callis, to wage Warre with the Frenchman, and he staid upon that business above eighteen Moneths, the Eng∣lish murmuring, and the Queen lamenting for his absence.

Thomas Stafford at that time was instigated by the French to make Warre against the Queen, and landing in England with an Army, he wan the Castle of York, but he was soon conquer'd, and taken by the Earl of Westmer∣land, he was then beheaded at London, and his followers were hanged.

The Queen, though it were against the Ar∣ticles agreed upon, put her finger in to assist her Husband, and sent an Army, under the Command of Pembroke, to assist him to be∣leaguer S^t Quintius. The French attempting to relieve the place with victuals, were forced to fight, and they were beaten, and the chief of their Nobility were taken, amongst whom were the Dukes of Momorancy, Mompensier and Longovill, John Borbon Duke of Anion was killed, whereupon the City yeelded. This Victory was imputed chiefly to the English, but it was recompensed with a greater loss, for Callis having more Forces drawn out of it, then could be spared, was assaulted by the Duke of Guise, who would not let such an opportunity slip, and being repulsed, he came valiantly on again, so long, untill it was forced to yeeld, after this City had been in the hands of the English two hundred years; Guyna followed this, though it were gallantly maintain'd by the besieged, and so the English were thrust forth

of all France. The Queen was wonderfull grieved for the loss of Callis, she sent a great Fleet, and burnt some Villages, but had small comfort for her great loss. Peace then was con∣firmed between both Crowns, but Mary sought not for it, who took such grief of minde for the loss of Callis, and was so weak of body by rea∣son of her Dropsie, that she ended her dayes, in the year of our Lord, 1558. the fifth year of her Raign, and the three and fourtieth year of her Life.