1553.

AN. DOM. been spoke withal, by whom they were assured of the fidelity of the rest of the city: that there was nothing wanting but her grateful acceptance of the high estate which God Almighty, the sovereign disposer of all crowns and sceptres (never sufficiently to be thanked by her for so great a mercy), had advanced her to: that therefore she should cheerfully take upon her the name, title, and estate of Queen of England, France, and Ireland, with all the royalties and pre-eminencies to the same belonging-receiving at their hands the first-fruits of the humble duty (now tendered by them on their knees) which shortly was to be paid to her by the rest of the kingdom."

19. This speech being ended, the poor lady found herself in a great perplexity, not knowing whether she should more lament the death of the King or her adoption to the kingdom the first loss not to be repaired, the next care possible to be avoided'. She looked upon the crown as a great temptation, to resist which she stood in need of all the helps which both philosophy and divinity could suggest unto her. And she knew also, that such fortunes seldom knocked twice for entrance at the same man's gate; but that, if once refused, they are gone for ever. Taking some time, therefore, of deliberation, she summoned a council of her purest thoughts; by whose advice, half drowned in tears (either as sorrowing for the King's death or foreseeing her own) she returned an answer in these words, or to this effect-that "the laws of the kingdom and natural right standing for the King's sister2, she would beware of burthening her weak conscience with a yoke which did belong to them that she understood the infamy of those who had permitted the violation of right to gain a sceptre: that it were to mock God and deride justice, to scruple at the stealing of a shilling, and not at the usurpation of a crown.”

66

Besides," said she, "I am not so young, nor so little read in the guiles of fortune, to suffer myself to be taken by them. If she enrich any, it is but to make them the subject of her spoil; if she raise others, it is but to pleasure herself with

1 There seems to be some error here. Perhaps we might read "impossible;" or, "the first, a loss not to be repaired; the next, scarce possible to be avoided.”

2 Qu. "sisters ?"

1553.

their ruins. What she adored but yesterday, is to-day her AN. DOM. pastime. And, if I now permit her to adorn and crown me, I must to-morrow suffer her to crush and tear me in pieces. Nay, with what crown doth she present me? A crown which hath been violently and shamefully wrested from Katharine of Arragon; made more unfortunate by the punishment of Ann Bollen and others that wore it after her. And why then would you have me add my blood to theirs, and to be the third victim from whom this fatal crown may be ravished with the head that wears it? But in case it should not prove fatal unto me, and that all its venom were consumed; if fortune should give 160 me warranties of her constancy-should I be well advised to [158] take upon me those thorns which would dilacerate though not

kill me outright—to burthen myself with a yoke which would
not fail to torment me, though I were assured not to be stran-
gled with it? My liberty is better than the chain you proffer
me, with what precious stones soever it be adorned, or of what
gold soever framed. I will not exchange my peace for honour-
able and precious jealousies, for magnificent and glorious fet-
ters1. And, if you love me sincerely and in good earnest, you
will rather wish me a secure and quiet fortune, though mean,
than an exalted condition exposed to the wind and followed by
some dismal fall."

20. It had been happy for herself, her fathers, and their
several families, if they had suffered themselves to be overcome
by such powerful arguments, which were not only persuasive,
but might seem convincing, had they not all been fatally hur-
ried unto their own destruction. But the ambition of the two
Dukes was too strong and violent to be kept down by any
such prudent considerations. So that, being wearied at the
last with their importunities, and overcome by the entreaties
of her husband, whom she dearly loved, she submitted unto
that necessity which she could not vanquish; yielding her head
with more unwillingness to the ravishing glories of a crown
than afterwards she did to the stroke of the axe. The point
being thus concluded on, the two Dukes, with all the rest of
the Lords of the Council, swore allegiance to her. And on Proclamation
the same day, about five of the clock in the afternoon, they Queen.
caused her solemnly to be proclaimed Queen of England,

1 Edd. 1, 2, "letters."

of Jane as

1553.

AN. DOM. France, and Ireland, &c. in many of the principal streets in London; and after, by degrees, in most of the chief cities, towns, and places of greatest concourse and resort of people. In which proclamation1 it was signified, that, by the letters patents of the late King Edward, bearing date the 21st of June last past, the Lady Jane Gray, eldest daughter to the Duchess of Suffolk, had been declared his true and lawful successor to the crown of England; the same to be enjoyed after her decease by the heirs of her body, &c., as in the said letters patents more especially did at large appear. Which proclamation, though it was published in the city with all solemnities, and that the concourse of people was exceeding great, yet their acclamations were but few; which served as a sufficient argument to the friends and followers of the Princess Mary, that they were rather drawn together out of curiosity to behold some unusual spectacle, than out of any purpose to congratulate the Queen's advancement. And so far some of them declared their dislike thereof, that the next day one Gilbert Pot was set on the pillory in Cheapside, his ears first nailed and afterwards cut off, for certain words which he had spoken at the publishing of the proclamation; a trumpet sounding at the time of the execution, and an herald in his coat of arms publicly noting his offence in a form prescribed. A severity neither safe nor necessary (the party being of no better condition than a vintner's boy) as the case then stood1.

A party is formed in favour of Mary.

21. For the next day the Lords received advertisement from divers hands that many persons of quality were drawn together at Kenning-hall Castle, in Norfolk, to offer their service and assistance to the Princess Mary; who, finding by the answer which she had received from the Lords of the Council that no good was otherwise to be done, resolved not to be wanting to her own pretensions, and to that end gave cheerful entertainment to all comers which either favoured her title or embraced her religion. Amongst such gentlemen as were certified to the Lords of the Council, I find the names of the Earl of Bath, Sir Thomas Wharton, son to the Lord Wharton, Sir John Mordant, son to the Lord Mordant, Sir William Drury,

1 Printed by Burnet, II. ii. 337.

2 "By" omitted in edd. 1, 2.
3 Edd. 1, 2, "to congratulate at."

4 Stow, 611.

159

1553.

Sir John Shelton, Sir Henry Bedingfield, Mr Henry Jerningham, AN. DOм.
Mr John Sulierd, Mr Richard Higham, of Lincoln's-Inn1. It
was advertised also that the Earl of Sussex and Mr Henry
Ratcliff his son were coming towards her with their forces:
which last advertisement gave the business some appearance of
danger; for what else was to be expected but that the coun-
tenance and encouragement of so great a person might draw
many more unto the side, who otherwise would have been con-
tent to be lookers on, in case they had not moved against her?
Prevention in such cases was the wholesomest physic; which
therefore was to be administered with all speed that might be,
before those companies increased and were united under some
commander, which might gain them the reputation of a little
army-little at first, but like enough to become formidable to
their enemies, if not broken in time. Some forces therefore to
be sent under the conduct and command of some person who
was well-affected to the cause, to scatter those small companies
before they grew unto an head, to seize upon the Lady Mary
and bring her with him to the court, where they knew well
enough how to make sure of her. For which employment
none more fit than the Duke of Suffolk, who had the greatest
stock going in the present adventure, and whose affection to
the Queen, being raised out of the bowels of nature, would
prompt him to dispatch the service with his utmost diligence.
And because possibly the Lady Mary, hearing of these pre-
parations, might fly for safety into Flanders, and create more
trouble to them there than she could at home, it was thought
necessary that such ships as lay upon the Downs should be
commanded to attend on the coast of Norfolk, to intercept her
on the way, if peradventure she should think of flying to the
Emperor's court.

22. So was it counselled and concluded. But the matter
could not be carried so close as not to come to the Queen's
knowledge; to whom the least drop of her father's blood was
far more precious than all the kingdoms in the world: so that,
with tears in her eyes, and voice as mournful as her face, she
besought such of the Lords as she conceived to be most tenderly
affected towards her, to be her mediators to the rest of the
council, that her father might be suffered to remain with her,
1 Stow, 610.

1553.

:

AN. DOM. and that some other man, more exercised in deeds of arms, might be sent out on that employment'. Nor was the motion made in vain for some there were who secretly had as great a mind to put Northumberland upon the service as she could be to have her father excused from it. They saw how things were like to go, and how generally the people were inclined to King Henry's children, and could not promise to themselves any long security under that power which they had put into the hands of a weak young lady, who must be altogether governed by Duke Dudley's counsels-of whom they stood in so great fear, that none of them durst oppose his doings, or steer their course unto that point which most they aimed at, and which they doubted not to gain if they could find a way to send him from the council-table. No way more probable than this; and this they meant to husband to the best advantage, using their best endeavours to persuade him to the undertaking of the present service: "For who," said they, " can be so proper as your Grace to undertake this expedition into Norfolk, where your late victories2 hath made your name so terrible to all sorts of people, as may disperse them without battle? For, should the matter come to blows-(which God prohibit!)—what man so able as yourself in the art of war, the order of encamping, the putting of your men into such a figure as may best suit with the advantages which are offered to you, and animating the most cowardly soldiers, not only by your own exemplary valour, but by strong persuasions? Whom have we in the realm so dexterous in point of treaty, so able to persuade the enemy to lay down arms (which is the noblest way of conquering the true-born English), if once it came unto parle,” as they hoped it would. Besides, the Queen had made it her most earnest suit, that her father might be spared to stay with her till those terrors and affrights were over; and had moreover pointed out his Grace as the abler man and more fit for action; "than which what can be further said to prompt your Grace to lay fast hold upon all opportunities for obliging her, who may hereafter find so many ways for obliging you?" 23. Swelling with vain-glory, and tickled with the frequent against them. mention of his dear abilities, he suffered himself to be en

Northumberland sets out

1 Stow, 610.

2 Over the insurgents of 1549.-Sup. i. 161.

3 The substance of this is in Stow, 610.