Covenants of Marriage they could say nothing, but that a Revocation was made, and that they were but Spousals. And finally, after much reasoning, they offered themselves to remain Prisoners, until such time as they should have sent unto them from Cleves the first Articles ratified under the Duke their Masters Sign and Seal, and also the Copy of the Revocation made between the Duke of Lorrain's Son and the Lady Ann. Upon the which Answers, I was sent to your Highness by my Lords of your Council, to declare to your Highness their Answer; and came to you, by the Privy Way, into your PrivyChamber, and declared unto the same all the Circumstances, wherewith your Grace was very much displeased, saying, "I am not well handled;" insomuch that I might well perceive that your Highness was fully determined not to have gone through with the Marriage at that time, saying unto me these words, or the like in effect; "That if it were not that she is come so far unto my Realm, and the great Preparations that my States and People have made for her, and for fear of making a ruffel in the World; that is, to mean to drive her Brother into the hands of the Emperor and the French King's hands, being now together, I would never have ne married her.' So that I might well perceive your Grace was neither content with the Person, ne yet with the Proceedings of the Agents; And at after-dinner, the said Sunday, your Grace sent for all your said Counsellors in, repeating how your Highness was handled, as well touching the said Articles, as also the said Matter of the Duke of Lorrain's Son. It might, and I doubt not, did appear unto them how loth your Highness was to have married at that time. And thereupon, and upon the Considerations aforesaid, your Grace thought that it should be well done that she should make a Protestation before your said Counsellors and Notaries to be present, that she was free from all Contracts; which was done accordingly. And thereupon I repairing to your Highness, declared how that she had made her Protestation. Whereunto your Grace answered in effect these words, or much like; Is there none other Remedy, but that I must needs, against my Will, put my Neck in the Yoke;" and so departed, leaving your Highness in a study or pensiveness. And yet your Grace determined the next morning to go through; and in the morning, which was Monday, your Majesty preparing your self towards the Ceremonies; There was one Question, Who should lead to the Church? And it was appointed that the Earl of Essex deceased, and an Earl that came with her, should lead her to the Church. And thereupon one came to your Highness, and said to you That the Earl of Essex was not come; whereupon your Grace appointed me to be one that should lead her: And so I went into her Chamber, to the intent to have done your Commandment;

"

and shortly after I came into her Chamber the Earl of Essex was come: Whereupon 1 repaired back again into your Graces PrivyChamber, and shewed your Highness how he was come; and thereupon your Majesty advanced towards the Gallery out of your PrivyChamber; and your Grace being in and about the midst of your Chamber of Presence, called me unto you, saying these words, or the like in sentence;" My Lord, if it were not to satisfy the World, and my Realm, I would not do that I must do this day for none earthly thing" and therewith one brought your Grace Word that she was coming; and thereupon your Grace repaired into the Gallery towards the Closet, and there paused for her coming, being nothing content that she so long tarried as I judged then. And so consequently she came, and your Grace afterward proceeded to the Ceremonies; and they being finished, travelled the day as appertained, and the night after the custom. And in the morning, on Tuesday, I repairing to your Majesty into your Privy-Chamber, finding your Grace not so pleasant as I trusted to have done, I was so bold to ask your Grace how you liked the Queen? Whereunto your Grace soberly answered, saying, "That I was not all men, surely, as ye know, I liked her before not well, but now I like her much worse; for," quoth your Highness, I have felt her Belly, and her Breasts, and thereby, as I can judg, she should be no Maid; which strook me so to the Heart when I felt them, that I had neither will nor courage to proceed any further in other Matters," saying, “I have left her as good a Maid as I found her:" Which me thought then ye spake displeasantly, which made me very sorry to hear; Your Highness also after Candlemass, and before Showstie, once or twice said, "That ye were in the same case with her as ye were afore, and that your Heart could never consent to meddle with her carnally." Notwithstanding your Highness alledged, that ye for the most part used to lay nightly, or every second night by her, and yet your Majesty ever said, "That she was as good a Maid for you, as ever her Mother bare her, for any thing ye had miristred to her." Your Highness shewed to me also in Lent last passed, at such time as your Grace had some communication with her of my Lady Mary, how that she began to wax stubborn and willful, ever lamenting your fate, and ever verifying that ye never had any carnal knowledg with her: And also after Easter, your Grace likewise, at divers times, and in the Whitsun-week, in your Grace's PrivyChamber at Greenwich, exceedingly lamented your fate, and that your greatest grief was,

That ye should surely never have any more Children for the comfort of this Realm, if ye should so continue;" assuring me, "that be fore God ye thought she was never your lawful Wife." At which time your Grace know. eth what answer I made; which was, that I would for my part do my utmost to comfort

and deliver your Grace of your Afflictions; and how sorry I was both to see and hear your Grace God knoweth. Your Grace divers times sithen Whitsuntide, ever alledigug one thing, and also saying, "That ye had as much to do to move the consent of your Heart and Mind as ever did Man, and that you took God to witness; but ever," you said," the obstacle could never out of your Mind." And, Gracious Prince, after that you had first seen her at Rochester, I never thought in my heart that ye were or would be contented with that Marriage. And, Sir, I know now in what case I stand, in which is only the Mercy of God and your Grace; if I have not, to the uttermost of my remembrance, said the Truth, and the whole Truth in this Matter, God never help me. I am sure there is, as I think, no Man in this your Realm that knew more in this than I did, your Highness only excepted. And I am sure, my Lord Admiral calling to his remembrance, can shew your Highness, and be my Witness what I said unto him after your Grace came from Rochester, yea, and after your Grace's Marriage: And also now of late, sithence Whitsuntide, and I doubt not but many and divers of my Lords of your Council, both before your Marriage and sithence, have right well perceived that your Majesty hath not been well pleased with your Marriage. And as I shall answer to God, I never thought your Grace content, after vou had once seen her at Rochester. And this is all that I know, most gracious and most merciful Sovereign Lord, beseeching Almighty God, who ever hath in all your Causes counselled, preserved, opened, maintained, reliev. ed, and defended your Highness; So he will now vouchsafe to counsel you, preserve you, maintain you, remedy you, relieve and defend you, as may be most to your Honour, with Prosperity, Health, and Comfort of your Heart's desire. For the which, and for the long Life, and prosperous Reign of your most Royal Majesty, I shall, during my Life, and whiles I am here, pray to Almighty God, that he of his most abundant Goodness will help, aid, and comfort you, after your continuance of Nestor's Years: that that most noble Imp, the Princes Grace, your most dear Son, may succeed you to reign long, prosperously, and feliciously to God's pleasure: beseeching most humbly your Grace to pardon this my rude writing, and to consider that I a most woful Prisoner, ready to take the Death, when it shall please God and your Majesty; and yet the frail flesh inciteth me continually to call to your Grace for Mercy and Grace for mine Offences; and thus Christ save, preserve, and keep you. Written at the Tower this Wednesday, the last of June, with the heavy Heart and trembling hand, of your Highness's most heavy and most miserable Prisoner, and poor Slave, THOMAS CROMWELL. Most Gracious Prince, I cry for Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.

XVIII.-The King's own Declaration concerning it. An Original.

[Cott. Libr. Otho C. 10.]

FIRST; I depose and declare, That this hereafter written is merely the verity intended, upon none sinister affection, nor yet upon none hatred nor displeasure, and herein I take God to witnesse. Now to the Matter I say and affirm; That when the first communica tion was had with me for the Marriage of the Lady Ann of Cleves, I was glad to hearken to it, trusting to have some assured Friend by it; I much doubting that time, both the Emperor, France, and the Bishop of Rome; and also because I heard so much, both of her excellent Beauty and vertuous Conditions. But when I saw her at Rochester, the first time that ever I saw her, it rejoiced my heart that I had kept me free from making any Pact or Bond before with her till I saw her my self; for then I adsure you I liked her so ill, and so far contrary to that she was praised, that [ was woe that ever she came into England; and deliberated with my self, that if it were possible to find means to break off, I would never enter Yoke with her. Of which misliking, both the great Master, the Admiral that now is, and the Master of the Horses, can and will bear record. Then after my repair to Greenwich, the next day after I think, and doubt not, but that the Lord of Essex well examined, can, and will, or hath declared what I then said to him in that case; not doubting, but since he is a Person which knoweth himself condemned to die by Act of Parliament, will not damn his Soul, but truly declare the Truth, not only at that time spoken by me, but also continually till the day of Marriage; and also many times after, whereby my lack of consent, I doubt not, doth or shall well appear; And also lack enough of the Will and Power to consummate the same; wherein both he, my Physicians, the Lord Privy Seal that now is, Hennage and Denny can, and I doubt not will testify according to truth, which is, That I never for love to the Woman consented to marry; nor yet if she brought Maiden-head with her, took any from her by true Carnal Copulation. This is my brief, true, and perfect Declaration.

H. R.

XIX.-The Judgment of the Convocation for annulling of the Marriage with Ann of Cleve.

[Regist. Cranmer.]

tantes, cum obsequio, reverentia et honore debitis, salutem et fœlicitatem. Cum nos humillimi et Majestatis Vestræ devotissimi subditi, Convocati et Congregati sumus virtute Commissionis Vestræ magno sigillo Vestro sigillat. dat. 6 Julii Anno fœlicissimi Regni Vestri tricesimo secundo, quam accepimus in hæc quæ sequitur verba.

Henricus Octavus Dei Gratia Angliæ, &c. Achiepiscopis Cantuarien. et Eborac. ac cæteris Regni nostri Angliæ Episcopis, Decanis, Archidiaconis, et universo Clero, salutem. Egerunt apud nos Regni nostri proceres et populus, ut cum nuper quædam emerserint, quæ ut illi putant ad nos Regniq; nostri successionem pertineant, inter quæ præcipua est, causa et conditio Matrimonii quod cum Illustri et Nobili Fœmina Domina Anna Clevensi propter externam quidem conjugii speciem, perplexum alioqui etiam multis ac variis modis ambiguum videtur; Nos ad ejusdem Matrimonii disquisitionem ita procedere dignaremur ut opinionem Vestram qui in Ecclesia nostra Anglicana scientiam Verbi Dei et Doctrinam profitemini exquiramus, vobisq; discutiendum Autoritatem ita demandemus, ut si animis Vestris fuerit persuasum Matrimonium cum præfata Domina Anna minime consistere aut cohærere debere; nos ad Matrimonium contrahend. cum alia liberos esse, Vestro, Patrum ac reliquæ deinde Ecclesie suffragio pronuncietur et confirmetur. Nos autem qui Vestrum in reliquis Ecclesiæ hujus Anglicanæ negotiis gravioribus quæ Ecclesiasticam Oeconomiam et Religionem spectant judicium amplecti solemus, ad veritatis explicandæ testimonium omnino necessarium rati sumus Causæ hujusmodi Matrimonialis seriem et circumstantias vobis exponi et communicari curare, ut quod vos per Dei Leges licere decreveritis, id demum totius Ecclesia nostræ Autoritate innixi licite facere et exequi audeamus. Vos itaq; Convocari et in Synodum Universalem nostra Autoritate convenire volentes; vobis conjunctim et divisim committimus atq; mandamus ut inspecta hujus negotii veritate, ac solum Deum præ oculis habentes, quod verum, quod justum, quod honestum, quod sanctum est, id nobis de communi Concilio scripto annuncio renuncietis et de communi consensu licere definiatis: Nempe hoc unum a vobis nostro jure postulamus, ut tanquam fida et proba Ecclesiæ membra causæ huic Ecclesiasticæ, quæ maxima est, in justitia et veritate adesse velitis et eam maturime juxta Commissionem vobis in hac parte factam absolvere et expedire. In cujus rei Testimonium has Literas nostra fieri fecimus Patentes, Teste meipso apud Westmon. sexto die Julii, Anno Regni nostris tricesimo secundo. Nos tenorem et effectum Vestræ Commissionis per omnia sequentes, postquam matura deliberatione perpendimus et consideravimus omnes Matrimonii prætensi inter Vestram Majestatem Illustrissimam et Nobilem fœminam Dominam Annam Clevensem circumstantias, nobis multis modis

expositas, cognitas et perspectas, tandem ad definitionem et determinationem sequentem, quam communi omnium consensu justorumq; animorum nostrorum judicio ac recto couscientiæ dictamine protulimus, processimus, in hunc modum et (quod tenor Vestræ Commissionis exigit) Vestræ Nobilissimæ Majestati in hoc præsenti scripto referend. duximus, et significamus prout sequitur.

Primum itaq; comperimus et consideravimus Matrimonium inter Majestatem Vestram et Nobilem fæminam Dominam Annam Clevensem prætensam præcontracto quodam sive sponsaliorum, sive Matrimonii, inter dictam Dominam Annam et Marchionem Lotharingiæ concluso ambiguum, plane impeditum et perplexum reddi; Annimadvertimus enim quod quamvis Vestra Majestas in prima hujus Matrimonii prætensi tractatione præcontractus prædicti, et de quo tum sermo multus habebatur, discussionem et declarationem ante solemnizandum cum dicta Domina Anna Matrimonium tanta instantia exegerit, ut pro conditione contrahendi deinde Matrimonii fuisse merito existimari possit, qua conditione defecta nihil ageretur; atq; hæc cum ita se haberent ta men neque ante solemnizationem illa de præcontractu ambiguitas expedita et declarata est, cum id ipsum tum temporis Majestas Vestra denuo exposceret et efflagitaret, cui clara jam et expedita esse omnia falso renunciabatur, neq; postea quicquam efficax ut promissum ab Oratoribus fuerat, huc transmissum est, quo scrupulus ille ex præcontractu natus eximeretur, tolleretur amoveretur, adeo quidem ut prætensum Matrimonium inter Majestatem Vestram et Dominam Annam prædictam non modo ex conditionis defectu corruerit, sed si nulla conditio hujusmodi omnino fuisset, certe quidem Matrimo nium bujusmodi prætensum ex sola præcontractus hujusmodi causa non explicata in suspenso manserit, in eum etiam casum nullius vigoris omnino ac valoris pronunciandum, quo præcontractum illum verbis de præsenti factum fuisse constiterit, id quod multis de causis est verisimilius et merito suspectum haberi potest.

Consideravimus præterea ex his quæ allegata, affirmata et probata nobis fuerunt, quod prætensum Matrimonium inter Majestatem vestram et Dominam Annam prædictam internum, purum, perfectum et integrum consensum non habuit: Imo contra quemadmodum inter ipsa tractationis initia, cum de hoc Matrimonio ageretur, plurimus illecebrarum fucus adhibitus est, et magnus laudationum acervus supra fidem cumulatus, ut hic perduceretur et obtruderetur ignota, ita solemnizationis actus qui instabat a Majestate Vestra animo reluctante et dissentiente exortus est, causis maximis et gravissimis urgentibus et prementibus quæ animum invitum et alienum perpellere merito possent.

Consideravimus etiam carnalem Copulam inter Majestatem Vestram et prædictam Do

mus.

minam Annam minime secutam esse, nec cum ea justo impedimento intercedente consequi deinde posse. Quæ omnia ex his quas audivimus probationibus, vera et certa esse existimaPostremo illud quoq; Consideramus, quod et nobis ab aliis propositum etiam nos verum esse fatemur, agnoscimus et approbamus, viz. ut si Majestas Vestra (modo ne fiat divinæ jussioni præjudicium) in libertate contrabendi Matrimonii cum alia esse declaretur, maxime totius Regni beneficio id futurum. Cum quidem Regni fœlicitas omnis et conservatio, tum in Regia Vestra persona ad Dei honorem et divinarum legum executionem conservandam consistit, tum in vitandis etiam sinistris omnibus opinionibus et scandalis quæ de Majestatis Vestræ progenie post natam nobis ex prætenso Matrimonio sobolem suborirentur, si præcontractus ille de quo diximus, et cujus declaratio nulla secuta est, prædictæ Dominæ Annæ objiceretur. His itaq; de causis et considerationibus aliisq; multis non necessariis quæ exprimantur, cum separatim singulis, tum conjunctim omnibus consideratis et perpensis, Nos Archiepiscopi et Episcopi, cum Decanis, Archiadiaconis, et reliquo hujus Regni Clero nunc congregato, circumstantias facti ejusq; veritatem ut antedictum est considerantes, tum vero quid Ecclesia in hujusmodi casibus et possit facere et sæpenumero antehac fecerit perpendentes, tenore præsentium declaramus et definimus, Majestatem Vestram prædicto Matrimonio prætenso, utpote nullo et invalido, non alligari, sed alio desuper judicio non expectato Ecclesiæ suæ Autoritate fretam posse arbitrio suo ad contrahend. et consummand. Matrimonium cum quavis fœmina, divino jure vobis cum contrahere non prohibita, procedere, prætenso illo cum Domina Anna prædicta Matrimonio non obstante.

Similiter Dominam Annam prædictam non obstante Matrimonio prætenso cum Majestate Vestra, quod nullo pacto obstare debere Decernimus, posse arbitrio suo cum quavis alia persona divino jure non prohibita Matrimonium contrahere. Hæc Nos Clerum et doctam Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ partem repræsentantes, tum vera, justa, honesta, et sancta esse Affirmamus, tum eisdem qui perfectissime, integerrime, et efficacissime ad omnem intentionem, propositum et effectum a nobis exigi potest, Consentimus et Assentimur per præsentes. In quorum omnium et singulorum testimonium hæc scripta manuum nostrarum subscriptione, communimus, utriusq; etiam Archiepiscopi sigillo apposito. Dat. Westmon. nono die mensis Julii, Anno Dom.

1540.

XX.-Ann of Cleve's Letter to her Brother. Cotton Libr. Otho C. 10.]

BROTHER,

BECAUSE I had rather ye knew the Truth by mine Advertisement, than for want thereof ye should be deceived by vain Reports, I write these present Letters unto you, by which ye shall understand, That being adver tised how the Nobles and Commons of this Realm desired the King's Highness here to commit the examination of the Matter of Marriage, between me and his Majesty, to the determination of the Clergy: I did the more willingly consent thereunto, and since the determination made, have also allowed, approved, and agreed unto the same, wherein I have more respect, as becometh me, to Truth and good Pleasure, than any worldly Affection that might move me to the contrary. I account God pleased with that is done, and know my self to have suffered no wrong or injury; but being my Body preserved in the integrity which I brought into this Realm, and I truly discharged from all band of Consent, I find the King's Highness, whom I cannot justly have as my Husband, to be nevertheless as a most kind, loving, and friendly Father and Brother, and to use me as honourably, and with as much humanity and liberality as you. I my self, or any of our Kin or Allies could wish or desire; wherewith I am, for mine own part, so well content and satisfied, that I much desire my Mother, You, and other mine Allies so to understand it, accept, and take it; and so to use your self towards this Noble and Vertuous Prince, as he may have cause to continue his friendship towards you, which on his behalf shall nothing be empaired or altered for this Matter: for so hath it pleased his Highness to signify unto me, that like as he will shew me always a most fatherly and brotherly kindness, and has so provided for me; so will he remain with you, and other, according to such terms as have passed in the same knot of Amity which between you hath been concluded, this Matter notwithstanding, in such wise as neither I, ne you, or any of our Friends shall have just cause of miscontentment. Thus much I have thought necessary to write unto you, lest for want of true knowledg ye might otherwise take this Matter than ye ought, and in other sort care for me than ye should have cause. Only I require this of you, That ye so use your self, as for your untowardness in this Matter, I fare not the worse; whereunto I trust you will have regard.

* This Letter was drawn by Gardiner; bë it is not certain that it was sent.

I