who first was married to the French king, and brother the king, our late sovereign lord, is afterward to Charles, duke of Suffolk. But to departed to God's mercy; which news how make no long tarriance hereupon, the marriage woeful they be unto our heart, he only knowbeing ended, and the king waxing every day eth, to whose will and pleasure we must, and more sick than other, whereas indeed there do humbly submit us and our wills. But in seemed in him no hope of recovery, it was this so lamentable a case, that is to wit, now brought to pass by the consent not only of the after his majesty's departure and death, connobility, but also of the chief lawyers of the cerning the crown and governance of this realm, that the king by his Testament did ap- | realm of England, with the title of France, and point the foresaid lady Jane, daughter to the all things thereto belonging, what hath been duke of Suffolk, to be inheretrix unto the crown provided by act of parliament, and the testaof England, passing over his two sisters, Mary ment and last will of our dearest father, besides and Elizabeth. To this Order subscribed all other circumstances advancing our right, you the king's Council, and the chief of the nobility, know, the realm, and the whole world knoweth, the mayor and city of London, and almost all the rolls and records appear by the authority the judges and chief lawyers of this realin, of the king our said father, and the king, our saving only justice Hales of Kent, a man both said brother, and the subjects of this realm; so favouring true religion, and also an upright that we verily trust that there is no good true judge, as any hath been noted in this realm, subject, that is, can, or would pretend to be who, giving his consent unto lady Mary, would ignorant thereof: and of our part we have of in no case subscribe to lady Jane. The causes ourselves caused, and, as God shall aid and laid against lady Mary, were as well for that it strengthen us, shall cause our right and title in was feared she would marry with a stranger, this behalf to be published and proclaimed ac and thereby intangle the crown; as also that cordingly. And albeit this so weighty a matter she would clean alter religion, used both in seemeth strange, that our said brother dying king Henry her father, and also in king Edward upon Thursday at night last past, we hitherto her brother's days, and so bring in the pope, to had no knowledge from you thereof, yet we the utter destruction of the realm, which in- consider your wisdom and prudence to be such, deed afterward came to pass, as by the course that having eftsoons amongst you debated, and sequel of this story may well appear. pondered, and well weighed this present case with our estate, with your own estate, the com Much probable matter they had thus to conjecture of her, by reason of her great stubborn-mon-wealth, and all our honours, we shall and ness shewed and declared in her brother's days, as in the letters before mentioned, passing between her and king Edward, and the council, may appear. The matter being thus concluded, and after confirmed by every man's hand, king Edward, an imp of so great hope, not long after this departed by the vehemency of his sickness, when he was 16 years of age; with whom also decayed in a manner the whole flourishing estate and honour of the English nation. When king Edward was dead, this Jane was established in the kingdom by the nobles consent, and was forthwith published queen by proclamation at London, and in other cities where was any great resort, and was there so taken and named. Between this young damsel and king Edward there was little difference in age, though in learning and knowledge of the tongues she was not only equal, but also superior unto him, being instructed of a master right nobly learned. If her fortune had been as good as was her bringing up, joined with fineness of wit, undoubtedly she might have seemed comparable not only to the house of Vespasians, Sempronians, and mother of the Gracchies, yea, to any other women beside, that deserved high praise for their singular learning; but also to the university-men, which have taken many degrees of the schools. In the mean time while these things were a working at London, Mary, which had knowledge of her brother's death, writeth to the lords of the Council in form as followcth: "My lords, we greet you well, and have received sure advertisement, that our dearest may conceive great hope and trust with much assurance in your loyalty and service, and therefore for the time interpret and take things not to the worst; and that ye will, like noblemen, work the best. Nevertheless we are not ignorant of your consultations to undo the provisions made for our preferment, nor of the great bands and provisions forcible wherewith ye be assembled and prepared, by whom, and to what end, God and you know, and nature can but fear some evil. But be it that some consideration politic, or whatsoever thing else hath moved you thereto, yet doubt you not my lords, but we can take all these your doings in gracious part, being also right ready to remit and fully pardon the same, and that freely, to eschew blood-shed and vengeance against all those that can or will intend the same, trusting also assuredly you will take and accept this grace and virtue in good part as appertaineth, and that we shall not be inforced to use the service of other our true subjects and friends, which in this our just and right cause, God, in whom our whole affiance is, shall send us. Wherefore my lords, we require you and charge you, and every of you, that of your allegiance which you owe to God and us, and to none other, for our honour and the surety of our person only imploy yourselves, and forthwith upon receipt hereof, cause our right and title to the crown and government of this realm to be proclaimed in our city of London and other places, as to your wisdoms shall seem good, and as to this case appertaineth, not failing hereof as our very trust is in you. And thus our letter, signed with our hand, shall be your sufficient warrant in this behalf. Given under our signet at our manor of Kening-hall, the 9th of July, 1553." Gates, W. Peter, W. Cecill, John Cheeke, All these aforesaid, except only the duke of Northumberland, and sir John Gates, afterward were either by special favour, or special or general pardon, discharged. After this Answer received, and the minds of the lords perceived, lady Mary speedeth berself secretly away far off from the city, hoping chiefly upon the good will of the commons, and yet perchance not destitute altogether of the secret advertisements of some of the nobles. When the Council heard of her sudden departure and perceived her stoutness, and that all canie not to pass as they supposed, they gathered speedily a power of men together, appointing an army, and first assigned that the duke of Suffolk should take that enterprise in hand, and so have the leading of the band. But afterward altering their minds, they thought it best to send forth the duke of Northumberland, with certain other lords and gentlemen, and that the duke of Suffolk should keep the Tower, where the lord Gilford and the lady Jane the same time were lodged. In the which expedition the guard also, albeit they were much unwilling at the first thereunto, yet notwithstanding, through the vehement persuasions of the lord treasurer, master Chomley, and other, they were induced to assist the duke, and to set forward with him, These things thus agreed upon, and the duke now being set forward after the best array out of London, having notwithstanding his times prescribed, and his journey appoint To this Letter of the lady Mary, the lords of the Council make answer again, as followeth : "Madam, we have received your letters the 9th of this instant, declaring your supposed title, which you judge yourself to have to the imperial crown of this realm, and all the dominions thereunto belonging. For answer whereof, this is to advertise you, that for as much as our sovereign lady queen Jane is, after the death of our sovereign lord Edward the 6th, a prince of most noble memory, invested and possessed with the just and right title in the imperial crown of this realm, not only by good order of old ancient laws of this realm, but also by our late sovereign lord's letters patents signed with his own hand, and sealed with the great seal of England in presence of the most part of the nobles, counsellors, judges, with divers other grave and sage personages, assenting and subscribing to the same: we must therefore, as of most bound duty and allegiance, assent unto her said grace, and to none other, except we should, which faithful subjects cannot, fall into grievous and unspeakable enormities. Wherefore we can no less do, but for the quiet both of the realm and you also, to advertise you, that forasmuch as the divorce, made between the king of famous memory, king Henry the 8th, and the lady Catharine your mother, was necessary to be had both by the everlasting laws of God, and also by the ecclesiastical laws, and by the most part of the noble and learned uni-ed by the council, to the intent he might not versities of Christendom, and confirmed also by the sundry acts of parliaments remaining yet in their force, and thereby you justly made illegitimate and unheritable to the crown imperial of this realm, and the rules, and dominions, and possessions of the same, you will upon just consideration hereof, and of divers other causes lawful to be alledged for the same, and for the just inheritance of the right line and godly order taken by the late king our sovereign lord king Edward the 6th, and agreed upon by the nobles and great personages aforesaid, surcease by any pretence to vex and molest any of our sovereign lady queen Jane her subjects from their true faith and allegiance due unto her grace: assuring you, that if you will for respect shew yourself quiet and obedient, as you ought, you shall find us all and several ready to do you any service that we with duty may, and glad with your quietness to preserve the common state of this realm: wherein you may be other- To make the matter short, unto this condiwise grievous unto us, to yourself, and to them. tion she eftsoons agreed, with such promise And thus we bid you most heartily well to fare. made unto them that no innovation should be From the Tower of London, this 9th of July, made of religion, as that no man would or 1553. Your ladyship's friends, shewing your could then have misdoubted her. Which proself an obedient subject, Thomas Canterbury, mise, if she had as constantly kept, as they the marquis of Winchester, John Bedford, did willingly preserve her with their bodies and Will. Northampton, Thomas Ely chancellor, weapons, she had done a deed both worthy Northumberland, Henry Suffolk, Henry Arun-her blood, and had also made her reign more del, Shrewsbury, Pembroke, Cobham, R. Rich, Huntingdon, Darcy, Cheyney, R. Cotton, John seem to do any thing but upon warrant. Mary in the mean while tossed with much travel up and down, to work the surest way for her best advantage, withdrew herself into the quarters of Norfolk and Suffolk, where she understood the duke's name to be had in much hatred for the service that had been done there of late under king Edward, in subduing the rebels, and there gathering to her such aid of the commons, in every side as she might, keeping herself close for a space within Fremingham castle. To whom first of all resorted the Suffolk men; who being always forward in promoting the proceedings of the Gospel, promised her their aid and help, so that she would not attempt the alteration of the religion, which her brother king Edward had before established, by laws and orders publicly enacted, and received by the consent of the whole realm in that behalf. stable to herself through former tranquillity. For though a man be never so puissant of power, yet breach of promise is an evil upholder of quietness, fear is worse, but cruelty is the worst of all. Thus Mary being guarded with the power of the Gospellers, did vanquish the duke, and all those that came with her. In consideration whereof it was an heavy word that she answered to the Suffolk men afterwards, which did make supplication to her grace to perform her promise: Forsomuch, saith she, as you being but members desire to rule your head, you shall one day well perceive, that members must obey their head, and not look to bear rule over the same. And not only that, but also to cause the more terror unto other, a certain gentleman named master Dobb, dwelling about Wyndham side, for the same cause, that is, for advertising her by humble request of her promise, was punished, being three sundry times set on the pillory to be a gazing stock unto all men. On the contrary side, the duke of Northumberland having his warrant under the broad seal, with all furniture in readiness, as he took his voyage, and was now forward in his way; what ado there was, what stirring on every side, what sending, what riding and posting, what letters, messages, and instructions went to and fro, what talking among the soldiers, what heart-burning among the people, what fair pretences outwardly, inwardly what privy practices there were, what speeding of ordinance daily and hourly out of the Tower, what rumours and coming down of soldiers from all quarters there was; a world it was to see, and a process to declare, enough to make a whole Ilias. The greatest help that made for the lady Mary was the short journeys of the duke, which by commission were assigned to him before, as is abovementioned. For the longer the duke lingered in his voyage, the lady Mary the more increased in puissance, the hearts of the people being mightily bent unto her. Which after the council at London perceived, and understood how the common multitude did withdraw their hearts from them to stand with her, and that certain noblemen began to go the other way, they turned their song, and proclaimed for queen the lady Mary, eldest daughter to king Henry 8th, and appointed by parliament to succeed king Edward dying without issue. And so the duke of Northumberland, being by council and advice sent forth against her, was left destitute, and forsaken alone at Cambridge with some of his sons, and a few other, among whom the earl of Huntingdon was one who there were arrested and brought to the Tower of London, as traitors to the crown, notwithstanding that he had there proclaimed her queen before. Thus have ye Mary now made a queer, and the sword of authority put into her hand. Therefore when she had been thus advanced by the Gospellers, and saw all in quiet by means that her enemies were conquered, sending the duke captive to the Tower before, VOL. I. which was the 25th of July, she followed not long after, being brought up the 3d day of August to London, with the great rejoicing of many men, but with a greater fear of more, and yet with flattery, peradventure most great, of feigned hearts. Thus coming up to London, her first lodging she took at the Tower, whereas the foresaid lady Jane with her husband the lord Gilford, a little before her coming, were imprisoned; where they remained waiting her pleasure almost five months. But the duke, within a month after his coming to the Tower, being adjudged to death, was brought forth to the scaffold, and there beheaded. Albeit he having a promise, and being put in hope of pardon (yea, though his head were upon the block) if he would recant and hear mass, consented thereto, and denied in words that true religion, which before time, as well in king Henry 8'ths days, as in king Edward's, he had oft evidently declared himself both to favour and further: exhorting also the people to return to the catholic faith, as he termed it. Whose recantation the papists did forthwith publish and set abroad, rejoicing not a little at his conversion or rather subversion as then appeared. Thus the duke of Northumberland, with sir John Gates, and sir Thomas Palmer, (which Palmer on the other side confessed his faith that he had learned in the gospel, and lamented that he had not lived more gospel like) being put to death; In the mean time queen Mary entering thus her reign with the blood of these men, besides hearing mass herself in the Tower, gave a heavy shew and signification hereby, but especially by the sudden delivering of Steven Gardiner out of the Tower, that she was not minded to stand to that which she so deeply had promised to the Suffolk men before, concerning the not subverting or altering the state of religion, as in very deed the surmise of the people was therein nothing deceived. The 3rd of February, the lord Cobham was committed to the Tower, and master Wyat entered into Southwark. Who, forsomuch as he could not enter that way into London, returning another way by Kingston with his army, came up through the streets to Ludgate, and returning thence, he was resisted at TempleBar, and there yielded himself to sir Clement Parson, and so was brought by him to the court, and with him the residue of his army, for be fore, sir George Harpar and almost half of his men ran away from him at Kingston bridge, were also taken, and about an hundred killed, and they that were taken were had to prison, and a great many of them were hanged, and he himself afterward executed at the Tower hill, and then quartered; whose head after being set up upon Haihill, was thence stolen away, and great search made for the same. Of which story ye shall hear more, the Lord willing, hereafter. The 12th day of Feb. was beheaded the lady Jane, to whom was sent master Fecknam, alias Howman, from the queen, two days before 3 A her death, to commune with her, and to reduce | all, yet we be unprofitable servants, and faith her from the doctrine of Christ to Dr. Mary's only in Christ's blood saveth us. religion. The effect of which Communication here followeth : Feck. How many Sacraments are there? Jane. Two. The one the Sacrament of Baptism, and the other the Sacrament of the The Communication had between the Lady Lord's Supper. Jane and Fecknam. Fecknam. Madam, I lament your heavy case, and yet I doubt not, but that you bear out this sorrow of yours with a constant and patient mind. June. You are welcome unto me, sir, if your coming be to give christian exhortation. And as for my heavy case, I thank God, I do so little lament it, that rather I account the same for a more manifest declaration of God's favour toward me, than ever he shewed me at any time before. And therefore there is no cause why either you, or other which bear me good will, should lament or be grieved with this my case, being a thing so profitable for my soul's health. Fack. I am here come to you at this present sent from the queen and her council, to instruct you in the true doctrine of the right faith: although I have so great confidence in you, that I shall have, I trust, little need to travail with you much therein. June. Forsooth, I heartily thank the queen's highness, which is not unmindful of her humble subject and I hope likewise that you no less will do your duty therein both truly and faithfully, according to that you were sent for. Feck. What is then required of a Christian Jane. Yes verily, faith, as Paul saith, only justifieth. Feck. Why? St. Paul saith, if I have all faith without love, it is nothing. Jane. True it is; for how can I love him whom I trust not; or how can I trust him whom I love not? Faith and love go both together, and yet love is comprehended in faith. Feck. How shall we love our neighbour? Jane. To love our neighbour is to feed the hungry, to cloath the naked, and give drink to the thirsty, and to do to him as we would do to our selves. Feck. Why? then it is necessary unto salvation to do good works also, and it is not sufficient only to believe. Feck. No, there are seven. Jane. By what Scripture find you that? Feck. Well, we will talk of that hereafter. But what is signified by your two Sacraments? Jane. By the sacrament of Baptism I am washed with water and regenerated by the spirit, and that washing is a token to me that I am the child of God. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper offered unto me, is a sure seal and testimony that I am, by the blood of Christ which he shed for me on the cross, made par taker of the everlasting kingdom. Feck. Why? what do you receive in that Sacrament? Do you not receive the very body and blood of Christ? Jane. No surely, I do not so believe. I think that at the Supper I neither receive flesh nor blood, but bread and wine: which bread when it is broken, and the wine when it is drunken, putteth me in remembrance how that for my sins the body of Christ was broken, and his blood shed on the cross, and with that bread and wine I receive the benefits that come by the breaking of his body, and shedding of his blood for our sins on the cross. Feck. Why? Doth not Christ speak these words, ‘Take, eat, this is my body?' require you any plainer words? doth he not say it is his body? Jane. I grant he saith so; and so he saith, 'I am the vine, I am the door,' but he is never the more for the door nor the vine. Doth not Saint Paul say, ' He calleth things that are not as though they were? God forbid that I should say, that I eat the very natural body and blood of Christ; for then either I should pluck away my redemption, or else there were two bodies or two Christs. One body was tormented on the cross and if they did eat another body, then had he two bodies; or if his body were eaten, then was it not broken upon the cross, or if it were broken upon the cross, it was not eaten of his disciples. : Feck. Why? Is it not as possible that Christ by his power could make his body both to be eaten and broken, and to be born of a woman without seed of man, as to walk upon the sea having a body, and other such like mi racles as he wrought by his power only? June. Yes verily; if God would have done at his Supper any miracle, he might have done so: but I say that then he minded no work nor miracle, but only to break his body, and shed his blood on the cross for our sins. But I pray you to answer me to this one question: where was Christ, when he said, Take, eat, this is Jane. I deny that, and I affirm that faith my body, Was he not at the table when he only saveth: but it is meet for a Christian, in said so? he was at that time alive, and suffered token that he followeth his master Christ, to do not till the next day. What took he but bread, good works, yet may we not say that they pro-what brake he but bread? And what gave he fit to our salvation. For when we have done | but bread? Look what he took, he brake: and look what he brake, he gave; and look what | he gave, they did eat: and yet all this while he himself was alive; and at supper before his disciples, or else they were deceived., Feck. You ground your faith upon such authors as say and unsay both with a breath, and not upon the church; to whom ye ought to give credit. Jane. No, I ground my faith on God's word, and not upon the Church. For if the Church be a good Church, the faith of the Church must be tried by God's word, and not God's word by the Church, either yet my faith. Shall I believe the Church because of antiquity? or shall I give credit to the Church that taketh away from me the half part of the Lord's Supper, and will not let any man receive it in both kinds? Which thing if they deny to us, then deny they to us part of our salvation. And I say that it is an evil Church, and not the spouse of Christ, but the spouse of the devil, that altereth the Lord's Supper, and both taketh from it, and addeth to it. To that Church (say I) God will add plagues, and from that Church will he take their part out of the book of life do they learn that of Saint Paul when he ministered to the Corinthians in both kinds? shall I believe this Church? God forbid. And yet though I must needs acknowledge, that being constrained, and, as you wot well enough, continually assayed, in taking upon me I seemed to consent, and therein grievously offended the queen and her laws: yet do I assuredly trust that this my offence towards God is so much the less, in that being in so royal estate as I was, mine inforced honour blended never with mine innocent heart. And thus, good father, I have opened unto you the state wherein I presently stand. Whose death at hand, although to you perhaps it may seem right woeful, to me there is nothing that can be more welcome, than from this vale of misery to aspire to that heavenly throne of all joy and pleasure with Christ our Saviour. whose steadfast faith (if it may be lawful for the daughter so to write to the father) the Lord that hitherto hath strengthened you, so continue you, that at the last we may meet in heaven with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." A In Letter written by the lady Jane in the end of the New Testament in Greek, the which she sent unto her sister lady Catherine, the night before she suffered. "I HAVE here sent you, good sister Catherine, a book, which although it be not out Feck. That was done for a good intent of the Church to avoid an heresy that sprang onwardly trimmed with gold, yet inwardly it is it. Jane. Why? shall the Church alter God's will and ordinance for good intent? How did king Saul? the Lord God defend. With these and such like persuasions he would have had her lean to the Church, but it would not be. There were many more things whereof they reasoned, but these were the chiefest. After this, Fecknam took his leave, saying, that he was sorry for her; for I am sure quoth be, that we two shall never meet. Jane. True it is (said she) that we shall never meet, except God turn your heart. For I am assured, unless you repent and turn to God, you are in an evil case: and I pray God, in the bowels of his mercy, to send you his holy spirit: for he hath given you his great gift of utterance, if it pleased him also to open the eyes of your heart. A Letter of the Lady Jane sent unto her Father. "FATHER, although it hath pleased God to hasten my death by you, by whom my life should rather have been lengthened yet can I so patiently take it, as I yield God more hearty thanks for shortening my woeful days, than if all the world had been given unto my possessions with life lengthened at my own will. And albeit I am well assured of your impatient dolours, redoubled manifold ways, both in bewailing your own woe, and especially (as I hear) my unfortunate state, yet my dear father (if I may without offence rejoice in my own mishaps) me seems in this I may account my self blessed that washing my hands with the innocency of my fact, my guiltless blood may ery before the Lord, Mercy to the innocent. more worth than precious stones. It is the book (dear sister) of the law of the Lord. It is his testament and last will which he bequeathed unto us wretches: which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy, and if you with a good mind read it, and with an earnest mind do purpose to follow it, it shall bring you to an immortal and everlasting life. It shall teach you to live, and learn you to die. It shall win you more than you should have gained by the possession of your woful father's lands. For, as if God had prospered him, you should have inherited his lands; so if you apply diligently this book, seeking to direct your life after it, you shall be an inheritor of such riches, as neither the covetous shall withdraw from you, neither thief shall steal, neither yet the moths corrupt. Desire with David, good sister, to understand the law of the Lord God. Live still to die, that you by death may purchase eternal life. And trust not that the tenderness of your age shall lengthen your life; for as soon (if God call) goeth the young as the old, and labour always to learn to die. Defy the world, deny the devil, and despise the flesh, and delight yourself only in the Lord. Be penitent for your sins, and yet despair not; be strong in faith, and yet presume not; and desire with St. Paul to be dissolved and to be with Christ, with whom even in death there is life. Be like the good servant, and even at midnight be waking, lest when death cometh and stealeth upon you as a thief in the night, you be with the evil servant found sleeping, and lest for lack of oil, you be found like the five foolish women and like him that had not on the wedding garment, and then ye be cast out from the |