told him that he should be King. The Duke had at various times given sums of money to the monk for divers purposes, and said the monk had done well to enjoin secrecy on De la Court, as, if these things should reach the King, they would ruin him.

That in order to acquire the love of the people, and accomplish his designs, he had bought cloths of gold and silver and velvet, and conferred the same upon knights, esquires, and gentlemen of the King's household, yoemen of the guard, and others, to engage their affections, to carry out his evil designs.

That at divers times the Duke appointed a greater number officers, in his castles, houses, and lordships, than was his wont, to assist in accomplishing his evil purposes. That he earnestly solicited his majesty for leave to retain any of the subjects of the counties of Hereford, Gloucester, and Somerset, to convey warlike instruments. in Wales, to use against the King, and usurp the gov

ernment.

That the Duke again sent to the monk on 20th May, who replied, that there should be an alteration before Christmas, and that he should rule and govern the whole kingdom. That he said to his chancellor that he waited for an opportune season to put his designs into exccution, which he could easily do if some of the nobility would declare their minds together. That he found faults with everything that was transacted in the present reign.

That the Duke also said, in the eleventh year of the King's reign, that after the King had reproved the Duke for retaining Sir William Paner in his service, if he had found he must have been committed to the tower, he would have managed his business so that the principal agents should have had no great reason to rejoice; for be would have played the part which his father intended

to put in practice against Richard III. at Salisbury, who if he had been admitted into the presence of that Prince, would have stabbed him. The Duke swore he would do his utmost to accomplish his designs.

That in the twelfth year of the King's reign, in London, he asked what was said of the King's voyage beyond the seas? That fears were entertained of evil designs intended by the French. The Duke replied, he feared it would come to pass according to the predictions of a certain monk. Farther, that the Duke said, if the King had died in his last sickness, he would have chopped off the head of the cardinal and Sir Thomas Lovel.

Lastly, that in the eleventh year, the Duke murmured against the privy-council and their administration, saying, that if the King died, he would have the government in spite of all opposers.

How far the particulars of the indictment were proved, is not known; but the following account by the Duke himself, to Sir Thomas Lovel, constable, is vastly different in almost all circumstances, from the matters contained in the indictment:

That the summer before the King made war in France, Hopkins sent for him, but not being able to go, he sent De la Court, his chaplain. That Hopkins said naught to him; that next Lent he went himself, and in shrift (confession) the monk told him the King should obtain great honor in France, that if the King of Scots came to England, he should never go home again. That the monk prayed God his issue might continue, for he feared God was not pleased, because he made no restitution, according to his father's will. That at another time he came to the monk with his son Strafford and the Earl of Westmoreland, and that the monk asked who he was, and said, "Some of his blood or name should prove great

men.” And that after the monk sent to the Duke praying him to help their house, being at Newton, to make their conduit, the ten pound formerly given being expended.

The Duke was indicted as above, and arraigned in Westminster Hall. Duke of Norfolk being constituted high-steward of England for the day. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Said the indictment was false, untrue, and forged to take away his life. The Duke desired that the witnesses might appear-Knevet, Gilbert, De la Court, and Hopkins; these stood to their depositions. The Duke was found guilty and sentenced. The Duke of Norfolk pronounced the death sentence, to which the unhappy Duke replied, "My Lord of Norfolk, you have said as a traitor should be spoken to, but I never was one; but my Lords, I do not reproach you; may the eternal God forgive you. I'll never sue the King for my life, though he is a gracious Prince, and may show more mercy than I desire."

All the favor that was shown him was a message from the King, declaring his sentence so far mitigated, that instead of dying like a traitor, he should be beheaded. Accordingly, on Friday, 17th of May, the sentence was carried out. He declared to the last, that he was the King's loving and true subject.

The Duke was thought rather criminal through folly and rash expressions, than any intention declared by overt act, against the King's person; hence, not incapable of mercy, had he sued for it in a proper manner; but since his arraignment, he did, as it were, disclaim life, and caused only a consolatory letter to be written to the Duchess and his son.

Never was such a complication of remote treason set together; and there is such a punctuality in dates, it seems like a design to ruin the Duke, from the beginning

of the King's reign and the cardinal's grandeur. The Duke's indiscretion, and the cardinal's malice, were really the sources of the brave man's misfortunes. And as the former was lamented by the people, the other was libelled, and called Carnificis Filius, the son of a butcher (as indeed he was); to which we may add, the Duke's hard fate was lamented abroad, as well; and when the Emperor was told of it, he said, “A butcher's dog has worried to death the finest buck in England." He was the last hereditary Lord High Constable of England, being descended from Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, sixth son to Edward III., and was so remote from the crown, that it is absurd to believe he made any pretensions to it.

K

CHAPTER XIV.

TRIAL OF QUEEN ANNE BOLEYN.

ING HENRY VIII., having obtained a divorce from his first wife, Queen Catherine of Spain, married the Lady Anne Boleyn, daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn. The marriage was celebrated on the 14th of November, 1532. She bore him one daughter, Elizabeth, afterwards Queen of England.

The popish party were bitterly opposed to the queen; they looked upon her as the great supporter of heresy. The Duke of Norfolk at court, and Gardiner, ambassador in France, planned a way for reconciling the king with the emperor and pope, if the queen could be removed out of the way; he then might marry whom he pleased. The male issue from such an alliance could not be disputed; whereas his present marriage, being judged null, could never be allowed by the court of Rome.

The queen had been his wife three years. At this time he entertained a secret affection for the Lady Jane Seymour.

Queen Anne was of very cheerful temper, not always kept within the bounds of discretion. Every jest or bit of familiar conversation was treasured up by her enemies, and used fatally against her in the bitter trial through which she passed. Lord Rochford, her brother and friend, Henry Norris, groom of the stole, Weston and Brereton, gentlemen of the king's privy-chamber, and Mark Smeton, a physician, were observed to have great share in her favor, and when the queen was confined to her chamber, were all seized; but none would confess to anything, except Mark Smeton. The queen.