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An Account of the Life of Anne Boleyn is in Stewart Books.
1623. An Account of Queen Anne Bullen. From a MS. in the Hand Writing of Sir Roger Twysden (age 25), Bart. 1623.
Advertisement. The Uncle of Sir Roger Twysden, from whose oral relation this account appears to have been reduced to writing, was a descendant of Thomas Wyat (the Poet), who attended Cardinal Wolsey at the time the conversation with Lord Percy, stated at p. 5, took place. R.T.
I receaued this from my Vncle Wyat, Anno: 1623, who beeing yonge had gathered many Notes towching this Lady not without an intent to have opposed Saunders.
This Gentlewoman was the daughter of Sir Thomas Bullen, knight, being at that time but a Batchelor knight; yet afterwards; for his daughters loue was promoted to high dignities: He bore at seuerall times all the great romes of the Kings houshold, for the most part as Comptroller, Treasurer and the like; and; after was made Vicount Rochford, and at last created Earle of Wiltshirea and Knight of the noble order of the Garter, and for his most encrease of honour and gayne Lord Keeper of the privie Seale, and one of the cheife of the Kings Counsell: and so continued untill his Sonne and daughter begann to fall into the Kings high indignation and displeasure. The Kingb during his fauoure fancied his daughter, that all things began allmost to be out of frame; And to tell you of the Kings loue, how it begann to take place, and what followed thereof, I will doe euen as much, as I knowe to declare unto you.
Note a. Wiltshire and Ormonde.
Note b. The King gaue good testymony of his loue to this Lady creating her in one day Marquesse of Pembrooke (that I may use the words of the patent: for the Nobylity of her Stock, excelency of her vertues and conditions, and othershewes of honesty and goodnesse worthyly to bee commended in her) And giuing her A patent for a 1000 pounds yeerely to maynteyne this honor wth. She was the first woeman I read to haue honor giuen to her and her heyres Male.
This Gentlewoman was commonly called Mrs Ann Bullen (age 13), and was sent, when she wasc very younge, into France, to be one of the Frenchd Queenes women, where she continued till the Queene died, and then was sent for home againe: And being with her father, he made such meanes, that she was admitted one of Queen Katherines women; who for her excellent gesture and behauioure surpassed all the other; In so much, as the King began to bee enamoured of her, which was to none, ne scant to her self knowne.
Note c. Not aboue 7 yeeres of age Anno 1514.
Note d. It should seeme by somme that she serued 3 in France successively; Mary of England (age 17) maryed to Lewis the 12th (age 51) Anno, 1514 with whome she went out of England: but Lewis dying the 1 of January following and that Queene to returne home sooner then either Sir Thomas Bullen or some other of her frends liked she should, She was prefer'd to Clauda (age 14); daughter to Lewis the 12th and wife to Francis the first (age 19) then Queene (it is likely upon ye commedation of Mary ye Dowager) who not long after Dying Anno 1524 not yet weary of France she went to liue wth Marguerite Dutches of Alançon and Berry (age 21) (a Lady much commended for her favor towards good Letters but neuer enough for ye protestant Religion then in ye infancy) who was Sister to Francis the 2nd [a mistake for first] and was twyce marryed, first to Charles Duc of Alançon, 2nd to Henry ye 2nd King of Nauarre, whose grandchilde Henry the fourth King of France and Nauarre was: from her (if I am not deceiued) she first learnte ye grounds of protestant religion, So that England may seem to owe some part of her happyness deriued from that Lady.
Now at that time my Lord Percye, Sonne and heire to the Earle of Northumberland attended on my Lord Cardinall as his seruant, and, when the Cardinall chaunced to repayre to the Court, the Lord Percye would for his pleasure resort to the Queenes Chamber, and there would fall into dalliance among the maydes, so that at the last he was more conuersant with Mrs Ann, then any other, whereby there grewe such secrett loue betweene them that in the end they were ensured, intending to marry; Which, when it came to the Kings eare, he was greatly offended therewith, and therefore could no longer hyde his affection, but reuealed his whole secrette to the Cardinall, willing him to infringe the assurance made betweene the sayd Lord Percye, and Mrs. Anne. So that when the Cardinall returned from the Court to his house at Westminster, being in the Gallerye, and not forgetting the Kings commandement, called the sayd Lord Percye unto him, and before us his Seruants then attendinge saide unto him: I marueile not a little (qd he) of thy folly, that thou wouldest thus attempt to assure thy selfe with a foolishe Gyrle yonder | in the Court Anne Bullen: doest thou not consider the estate, that God hath called thee unto in this world; for after thy fathers death thou art like to inherite and enioye one of the Noblest Earledomes in this Kingdome, and therefore it had bene most meete and conuenient for thee to haue had thy fathers consent in this case, and to haue acquainted the Kings Mate therewith requiring his Princely fauoure, and in all such matters submitting thy proceedings unto his highenesse, who would not only thankefully have excepted thy submission, but I am assured would haue so prouided for the purpose, that hee would haue aduanced thee much more nobly and haue matched thee according to thy degree and honor; and so by thy wise behaviour mightest haue growne into his highe favoure to thy great advancement: But now see what you haue done; through your willfulnesse you have not only offended your father, but also your louinge Soueraigne Lorde, and matched your selfe with such a one, as neyther the King nor your father will consent unto; And hereof I put thee out of doubt, that I will send for thy father, who at his cominge shall eyther breake this unadvised bargayne or else disinherite thee for euer: The Kings Mate will also complayne on thee to thy father, and require no lesse then I haue sayd, because he intended to preferr Anne Bullen to another, wherein the King had allreadie trauilled, and being allmost ata poynt with one for her; though shee knewe it not, yet hath the King, like a Politique Prince, conveyed the matter in such sort, that she will bee, I doubt not, upon his Graces mention gladd and agreeable to the same. Sr. (qd the Lord Percye weepinge) I knewe not the Kings pleasure, and am sory for it; I considered I am of good yeares, and thought meselfe able to prouide me a conuenient wife, as my fancie should please me, not doubting, but that my Lord and father would haue bene right well content, though shee but a simple maide, and a Knight to her father? yet is she descended of right noble bloud and parentage; for her mother is nighe of the Norfolks bloud, and her father descended of the Earle of Ormounde, being one of the Earles heires generall, Why then, Sir, should I be any thing scrupulous to match with her in regard of his estate and descent equall with myne, euen when I shall bee in most dignitie: Therefore I most humbly beseech your Graces fauoure herein, and also to entreate the Kings Majesty on my behalfe for his Princely favoure in this matter, which I cannot forsake. Loe Sir's (quod the Cardinall to us) yee may see, what wisdome is in this willfull boyes heade; I thought, that, when thou heardest the Kings | pleasure and intendemt herein, thou wouldest haue relented, and put theselfe and thy voluptuous act wholly to the Kings will and pleasure, and by him to haue beene ordered, as his Grace should haue thought good. Sir. (qd the Lord Percye) so I would, but in this matter I haue gone soe farre before soe many worthy wittnesses, that I knowe not, how to discharge my selfe and my conscience. Whye (qd the Cardinall) thinkest thou, that the King and I knowe not, what wee haue to doe in as weightie a matter as this, Yees I warrant thee; but I see no submission in thee to that purpose. Forsooth my Lord (qd my Lord Percye) if it please your grace I will submitte meselfe wholly to the King and your Grace in this matter, my conscience being discharged of the weightie burthen thereof. Well then (qd my Lord Cardinall) I will send for your father out of the North, and he and wee shall take such order, as in the meane season I chardge thee, that thou resort no more into her Company, as thou wilt abye the: Kings indignation; and soe he rose up and went into his chamber.
Note e. [Note. This note is not referenced in the text so we have added it where we think it should have been]
Geffrey Bollen, a gentleman of Norfolck, Mayor of London Anno 1457 marryed one of ye daughters and heyres of Thomas Lord Hoo & Hastings, by whome he had William Bullen (Knight of the Bath at Richard 3d coronation) who maryed the Erle of Ormonds daughter (he, though of Ireland sate in the English Parliament aboue English barons) by her he had Thomas Bullen whome the Erle of Surrey, after Duc of Norfolck chose for his Son in Law; of which mariage this Anne was borne 1507.
Then was the Earle of Northumberland sent for in the Kings name; who upon the receipt of the Kings letters made all the speede he could out of the North unto the King: Who at his first cominge made his resort to my Lord Cardinall, as commonly all other, that were sent for in such sort, did; who certified them of the cause of theyr sendinge: And whenthe Earle was come to my Lord, he was brought unto my Lord into his Gallery, and were there a long space in secrette communication; which done, and after the drinking of a cup of wine, the Earle departed, and going his way sate downe at the Galleries end in the halfe place upon a forme, that was standing there for the wayters ease, and calling his Sonne thiter said unto him to this effect; Sonne (qd he) euen as thou hast bene and allwayes wert a proud, licentious, and unthriftie waster, so hast thou now declared thy selfe; and therefore what ioy, comfort, pleasure, or solace shall I conceaue of thee, that thus without discretion hast misused thyselfe, hauing neyther regarde unto me thy naturall father, nor yet to the King thy naturall Soueraigne Lord, to whom all honest and Loyall subiects beare faithfull obedience, nor to the wealth of thy owne estate, but hast unadvisedly assured thyselfe unto her; for whom the King is with thee highly displeased, whose displeasure is intolerable for any subiect to beare: but his Grace, considering the lightnesse of thy head, and willfull qualities of thy person, his indignations were able to ruine me and my posteritie utterly; yet he being my singular good Lord and fauorable Prince, and also my Lord Cardinall my good Lord hath and doth clearely excuse me in thy lewd fact, and doe lament thy lightnes rather then maligne me for the same, and hath devised an order to be taken for thee, to whom both thou and I be more bound, then wee be able well to consider: I pray God, that this may be to thee a sufficient admonition to use thyselfe more wisely hereafter; for that I assure thee that, if thou doest not amend thy prodigalitie, thou wilt be the last Earle of our house; for of thy natural inclination thou art wastfull and prodigall, and wilt consume all that thy progenitors haue with greate care and trauell gathered and keept together with honor. But the Kings Majesty beinge my singular and good and gracious Lord, I assure thee I trust soe to order my succession, that you shall consume but a little thereof; for to tell thee true, I intend not to make thee my heire; for I thanke God, I haue more boyes, that I trust will proue much better then you, and use themselues. more like unto wise and honest men, of whome I will choose the most likeliest to succeed me. Nowe good my Masters and Gentlemen (qd he unto us) it may be, you chaunce hereafter, when I am dead to see these things, that I haue spoken to my Sonne, proue as true, as I speake them: Yet in the meane season I desire you, to be his freendes, and to tell him his faulte, when he doth amisse, wherein you schall shewe yourselfe freendly unto him, and (q® he) I take my leaue of you, and Sonne goe your wayes in fo my Lord your Master, and attend uppon him according to your duetie. And soe hee went downe throughe the Hall into his Barge:
Then after longe consultation about the Lord Percyes late assurance it was deuised that the same should be infringed and dissolued, and that the Lord Percye should marry one of thef Earles of Sherewburye's daughters which after all this he did; by meanes whereof the former contract was frustrated; wherewith Mrs Anne Bullen was greatly offended, promising, if eer it lay in her power, she would worke much displeasure to the Cardinal, as afterward she did indeed; and yet he was not in blame all together; for he did nothing, but by the Kings deuised will and commandement. And as my Lord Percye was commanded to auoyd her company, soe was she dischardged of the Court, and sent home to her father for a season, whereat she smoked: for all this while she knewe nothing of the Kings intended. purpose. Now began the grudge that afterwards wrought the Cardinal's ouerthrowe; After my Lord Percyes troublesome matters were brought to a good stay, and all things donne, that were deuised; Ms Anne was reuocd to the Court, where she after florished in great estimacon and fauoure.
Note f. This was Mary daughter to George Erle of Shrewesbury, by whome he had no issue.