Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1554

27th April 1554. The xxvij^th day the lorde Thomas Graye¹ was behedded at Tower hill, who saied, &c.

Note 1. "A proper gentleman," remarks Holinshed, "and one that had served right valiantly both in France and Scotlande, in the dayes of the late kings Henrie and Edwarde." He was buried (says Machyn, p. 61) at Allhallows Barking.

18th May 1554. The xviij. daie of May was master William Thomas drawne to Tyborne, and ther hanged and quarteryd, who saide he dyed for his country with the three (?) points declared.

2nd November 1554. Note, that the morowe after Newe yere's day, being the second of Janyver, the embassadors called the erle of Eglemod, the erle of Lane, and Coryurs,^a came in for the knytting upp of the marryage of the quene to the kinge of Spayne, before whose landing ther was lett of a great peale of guns in the Tower. He landed at Tower wharf, and ther was met by sir Anthony Browne, he being clothed in a very gorgeouse apparell. At the Tower hill, the erle of Devonshire, with the lorde Garret, and dyvers other, receyved [him] in most honorable and famylier wise; and so, the lorde of Devonshire gevyng him the right hand, brought him thoroughte Chepsyde and so fourthe to Westminster;^b the people, nothing rejoysing, helde downe their heddes sorowfully.

Note a. The count of Egmont, Charles count de Laing, and the sieur de Corners: see a note to Machyn's Diary, p. 337.

Note b. The -word Westminster is erased, and several words written above, but they are illegible, qu. Dyrram place?

[After 2nd January 1554]. The day befor his coming in, as his retynew and harbengers came ryding thorugh London, the boyes pelted at theym with snowballes; so hatfull was the sight of ther coming in to theym. The morrow following, being wenysday, the lord chancellour sent for the churchewardens and substancyllest of xxx. parishes of London, to come before him, apon whose apparence he enquired of diverse of theym whie they had not the masse and servyse in Latten in their churches, as some of theym had not, as St. (blank') in Mylke stret, and others; and they answered that they had don what lay in theym.

Note c. The xiiijth of Januarie, anno 1553, the bushope of Winchester (age 71), lorde chancellour of Inglande, in the chamber of presence at Westminster, made to the lordes, nobilytye, and gentyllmen, an oration very eloquentlie, wherin he declared that the quenes majesty, partely for the welthe and enryching of the realme, and partely for frendeship and other waighty considerations, hathe, after moche suite on his (the king of Spaynes) behalf made, determyned, by the consent of hir counsaille and nobylyty, to matche herselfe with him in most godly and lawfull matrymonye; and he said further that she should have for her joynter xxx^ml ducketes by the yere, with all the Lowe Country of Flanders; and that the issue betwene theym two lawfully begotten shoulde, yf there were any, be heir as well to the kingdome of Spayne, as also to the saide Lowe Country. And he declared further, that we were moche bounden to thanck God that so noble, worthye, and famouse a prince woulde vouchsaff so to humble himself, as in this maryadge to take apon him rather as a subject then otherwise; and that the quene shoulde rule all thinges as she dothe nowe; and that ther should be of the counsell no Spanyard, nether should have the custody of any fortes or castelles; nether bere rule or offyce in the queues house, or elswhere in all Inglande; with diverse other things which he then rehersed; when he sayde the queues pleasure and request was, that, like humble subjectes, for her sake they would receyve him with all reverence, joye, honnour, &c.

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Theis newes, althoughe before they wer not unknown to many, and very moche mysliked, yit being nowe in this wise pronounced, was not onely credyted, but also hevely taken of sondery men, yea and therat allmost eche man was abashed, loking daylie for worse mattiers to growe shortly after.

15th January 1554. On the morowe following, being monday, the mayre, sheryfes, and diverse of the best commoners, wer sent for before the counsell, where the said lord chancellour made the like oration to theym, desyring theym to behave themselve like subjectes with all humblenes and rejoycing.

17th January 1554. Within yj. dayes after ther was worde brought howe that sir Peter Carowe (age 40), sir Gawen Carowe (age 70), sir Thomas Dey,(?) and sir (blank), with dy verse others, wer uppe in Devonshire resysting of the king of Spaynes comyng, and that they hade taken the city of Exeter and castell ther into their custodye.

23rd January 1554. Note, that on tuyseday the xxiij^th of January, the lorde Robert Dudley (age 21), sone to the late duke of Northumberland, was brought out of the Tower to the yeldhall, wher he was arrayned and condempned.

25th January 1554. Note, that the XXVth of January the counsell was certyfyed that ther was uppe in Kent sir Thomas Wyat,^a mr. Cullpepper, the lorde Cobham (age 57), who had taken his castell of Coulyng,^c and the lord warden, who had taken the castell of Dover,^c and sir Herry Isely in Meddeston, sir James Croftes, mr. Harper, mr. Newton,^d mr. Knevet, for the said quarrell, in resysting the said king of Spayne, as they said, ther pretence was this only and non other, and partely for moving certayn counsellours from about the quene. And about this time sir James Croftes departed to Walles, as yt is thought to rayse his powre there.

Note a. The ensuing passages of the Chronicle supply some very interesting details respecting Wyatt's rebellion, particularly those occurrences in connexion with it which happened in and near London and the royal court. "The Historic of Wyates Rebellion" was compiled by John Proctor, the first master of sir Andrew Judde's school at Tunbridge, and published soon after its termination in 12mo. It is the principal source of the narrative given in Holinshed's Chronicle, and it has been reprinted entire in the second edition of The Antiquarian Repertory, 4to. 1808, vol. iii. pp. 65 — 114. Proctor, however, is the partial chronicler of the victorious party, and omits the many curious pictures of their distress and embarrassment which are related by the present authority (and which are remarkably confirmed by Underbill's account, which will be found in the Appendix). The late Mr. Robert Peirce Cruden, in his History of Gravesend and the Port of London, 1843, 8vo. has collected the particulars of all that occurred within the county of Kent, combining the information contained in Proctor's narrative, with several original documents found in the State Paper Office.

Note b. Sir Thomas Wyatt hoped for the support of lord Cobham, who seems to have temporised in the matter, but gave information to the queen's lieutenant, the duke of Norfolk: see three of his letters, all written from Cowling castle, in Cruden, pp. 178, 180.

Note c. Sir Thomas Cheney was also backward in maintaining the royal authority, and consequently fell under suspicion; see his statements in explanation in Cruden, p. 183.

Note d. A mistake probably for Rudston.

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26th January 1554. The xxvj^th day ther was [brought] into the Tower as prysoners the lord marques (age 42)^e and sir Edwarde Warner (age 43) knight, in the mornyng. And the same nyght there went out certeyn of the garde and other agaynste the Kentish men. Item, the same day, in the mornyng, the cytey began to be kept with harnessyd men.

Note e. The marquess of Northampton.

25th January 1554. The day afore, the lorde treasurer (age 71)^f being at the yeld hall, with the mayre and aldermen, declared that yt was goode to have a nombre of ij^ML, or ther aboutes, in a redynes for the savegarde of the cyte, &c. with his ....

Note f. The marquess of Winchester.

[25th January 1554]. Note, that the xxvth dale of Januarie the duke of Suffolk, the lord John Graie, and the lord Leonarde Gray, fledd.^a Yt is said that the same morning that he was going ther came a messenger to him from the quene, that he shulde come to the court. "Marye," quoth he, "I was comyng to her grace. Ye may see I am booted and spurred redy to ryde; and I will but breke my fast, and go." So he gave the messenger a rewarde, and caused hym to be made to drink, and so thence departed himself, no man knoweth whither. Sir Thomas Palmer, servant to the erle of Arundel, said on the morow folowing, to a friend of his, that the complot betwene the Frenche king and the said duke of Suffolk was nowe come to light. The same day the duke of Norfolke wente down towardes Gravesende.

Note a. From his house at Sheen in Surrey: see the Appendix.

[26th January 1554]. The xxvjth day yt was noysed that Rochester bridge was taken by the rebelles.^b

About this tyme the lord of Bergenny^c by chance encounteryd with sir Herry Isely, and sleue ij. or iij. of his men, he fleeing to the camp of Wyat.

The same day ther was made redy, by vj. of the clock at nyght, about v^c. of harnessed men, and came together at Leaden hall; and the sonday followinge they went towardes Gravesende against the Kentyshe men. Note, the erle of Huntingdon went down to take the duke of Suffolk.

Note b. The word is apparently taken. At first the chronicler had written was driven upp or broken downe.

Note c. The encounter of lord Burgavenny with sir Henry Isley took place in the parish of Wrotham, at a field called Blacksoll field, on Saturday the 27th of January, and is fully described by Proctor. Isley secreted himself during the following night in Hartley wood, and then fled into Hampshire.

The duke of Norfolk was leutenant of the army, and with him the erle of Ormonde, master Gernyngham^d captayn of the garde, with a great nombre of the garde with him, and a great nomber of other soldrars. Apon the they were sett in array towardes Rochester bridge, which was kept by Wyat's company, and furnyshed with iij. or foure doble-cannons. One Tutton, .... Fe Williams, and Bret, was captaynes of the said company.

Note d. Sir Henry Jerningham.

And before the setting forward of thes men the duke sent a herald into Rochester with the quenes proclamation, that all such as wolde desyst ther purpose shuld have frank and free pardon; who cam apon the bridge, and wolde have gone thoroghe into the cyty, but they that kept the bridge wold not suffer him tyll that the captayn came, who at last granted the same to be red in the cytye; but the same being ended, eche man cryed they had don nothing wherfor they shold nede eny pardon, and that quarrell which they toke they wold dye and lyve yn it. Neverthelesse at the last sir Jeorge Harper receyved the pardon uttwardely, and being recey ved under the duke of Norfolkes protection cam on forwarde agaynst the Kentyshmen; and even as the company was sett in a redynes, and marched forwarde toward the bridge, the saide Bret, beinge captaine of the vc. Londoners, of which the more parte were in the forwarde, turned himselfe aboute, and drawinge out his sworde, saide, by reaporte, thes or moche like wordes: " Masters, we goe about to fight agaynst our natyve countreymen of Ingland and our friendes in a quarrell unrightfull and partely wicked, for they, consydering the great and manyfold myseries which are like to fall apon us if we shalbe under the rule of the proude Spanyardes or strangers, are here assemblyd to make resystance of the cominge in of him or his favourers; and for that they knowe right well, that yf we should be under ther subjection they wolde, as slaves and villaynes, spoyle us of our goodes and landes, ravishe our wyfes before our faces, and deflowre our daughters in our presence, have nowe, for the avoydinge of so great mysschefes and inconveynences likely to light not only apon theymselves but on every of us and the hole realme, have taken apon theym now, in tyme before his comyng, this their enterprise, agaynst which I thinck no Inglyshe hart ought to say, moche lesse by fyghting to withstande theym. Wherfore I and theis (meanyng by such as were in that rank with him,) will spende our bloode in the quarrell of this wourthy captain, maister Wyat, and other gentyllmen here assembly d." Which wordes once pronounced, eche man turned their ordenance against their fellowe.^a The Londoners thereupon cryed, A Wyat! A Wyat! of which sudden noyse the duke, the erle of Ormonde, and the captayne of the garde, being abashed, fledd forthwith. Immedyately came in maister Wyat and his company on horseback rushing in emongest theym, saying, aswell to the garde, Londoners, as to all the rest, " So many as will come and tarry with us shalbe welcome; and so many as will depart, good leave have they." And so all the Londoners, parte of the garde, and more then iij. partes of the retynue, went into the campe of the Kentyshmen, where they styl remayne. At this discomfyture the duke lost viij. peces of brasse, with all other munytyon and ordenance, and himselfe, with the erle of Ormonde and Gernyngham and others, fledd to London. Ye shoulde have sene some of the garde com home, ther cotes tourned, all ruyned, without arowes or stringe in their bowe, or sworde, in very strange wyse; which dyscomfiture, lyke as yt was a hart-sore and very dyspleasing to the quene and counsayll, even so yt was almost no lesse joyous to the Londoners, and most parte of all others.

Note a. Misprinted followers in Stowe.

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This day was doctor Sandes,^b Veron, Easy 11, and about v. prisoners more, removed out of the Tower to the Mershallsee.

Note b. Doctor Sandys (who was afterwards bishop of London) was vice-chancellor of Cambridge, and was compromised by the reception he had there given to the duke of Northumberland, and a sermon he had preached favourable to the accession of queen Jane. Veron and Basil had been committed, together with the more celebrated Bradford, as "seditious preachers," (see notes to Machyn's Diary, p. 332).

On tuysday following the saying was that the erle of Penbroke had promysed never to look the queene in the face before he brought them upp, God willing; he to be accompanied with the erle of ...., the lord pryvey seale,^c [and] the lord Clynton.

Note c. The earl of Bedford.

This day a bruit went in London that ther was a companye upp in Hervodeshire.^a

Note a. Herefordshire — raised by sir James Croft.

Note, the duke of Norfolke went into Norfolke at this tyme.

Note, apon thursday the quene came [to] the yelde hall, all the garde being in harnesse, with her the lorde chancellour and the counsell. At Paules churchyarde the erle of Penbroke mett hir, to whom she bowed herselfe partely lowe, and the lorde chancellour, being w full sudayn (?) bowed himself benethe the pomell of his saddell. She made an oration^b to the .... in the ...., and retourned by water.^c

Note b. "The oration of queene Mary in the guildhall" is printed at length by Foxe, iii. 30.

Note c. These lines are so scribbled as to be almost illegible.

On wenisday was a proclamation by the quene, bothe in London and in Southewark, that Wyat and all his companye were ranck traytours, and alsuche as was gone to Wyat, and as many as dyd take his parte or spake in his cause, and that all his wellwishers shoulde go thoroghe Southwarke to him, and they shoulde have free passadge, &c.

[31st January 1554]. Note, on wenisdaye, being the last of Januarie, master Wiat and his company came to Dartforde, and the next day they came full and hole to Grenewich and Debtforde, where they remayned that thursdaye, frydaye, and the fore-noone of satterdaie.

[2nd February 1554]. In this space, apon the frydaye, which was candlemas daye, the moste parte of the howseholders of London, with the mayre and aldermen, were in harnesse, so that ye shoulde have seen the stretes very full of harnessed men in every parte.^d

Note d. Stowe adds to this passage, " Yea, this day and other dayes the justices, serjeantes at the law, and other lawyers in Westminster hall, pleaded in harnesse." The following anecdote is related of Ralph Rokeby, serjeant-at-law, during the same period of alarm: "And yet I may not soe injuriously defraude my father of his due praise as to omitt his service against Wyatt, which was thus: Sir Thomas Wyatt the rebell of Kent against king Philip and queene Mary, the Spaniards, being noised to be comeing towards London, your grandfather went to Westminster in his serjant's robes to plead, under them a good coate-armour; and heareing at Charing-crosse the nere approach of the enemie. the rebell, he hastened him to the queens court at Whitehall, strunge and fetled an archer of the guard's liverye bow that stood there unstrunge, threw downe the serjant's robes for that tyme, and went to the Gate-house to serve there with a bowe and a sheaf of arrowes, and there taried till the enemie was yielded. Old Nicholson, of Paule's chaine, told me my father then committed a bagg of money to him to keepe, and that Alexander Metham his clerk was with him, but that William Bell hidd him under my father's bedd in Serjantes inn, and there laye untill his master retorned." (Œconomia Rokebeiorum, in Whitaker's History of Richmondshire, vol. i. p. 173.) The martial spirit spread even to the priesthood, if we may believe another contemporary chronicle: "On Ashe Weddinsday that Wyat was at Charynge crosse did doctor Weston singe masse before the quene in harnesse under his vestments. This Weston reported himself unto one Mr. Robards." (MS. Harl. 419. f. 131.)

[2nd February 1554]. This daye the erle of Pembroke, generall of the quenes army royall, with the lord William Haward, lorde deputy,^a and the lord Clynton, with not past l. [50] of their servantes unharnessed, went over the bridge into the borough of Southwark, up to saincte Georges, and so retourned agayn into the citye.

Note a. Lord William Howard was at this time deputy of Calais.

[2nd February 1554]. Note, this same frydaye, being the seconde of Februarie, the lorde Cobham (age 57) (leving his ij. sones with Mr. Wyat) at midenight cam to the gates of the bridge, and ther was lett in at midenight, and the next morowe was brought to the counsell, wher he remayned at the erle of Pembroke's untyll afternoone, and then was brought to the Tower as prysonner.

[2nd February 1554]. This daye ther came a gentleman named (blank), and a drome, in message; who was received in Southwarke and blindfylld brought thoroughe the cytye unto the erle of Pembroke's at Coleharbert, where he remayned untyll afternoone that he was conducted and so brought agayn into Southwarke, where at saint George's churche hys horse was delivered him, and so departed with the drom which cam with him.

[3rd February 1554]. On sattersdaye in the mornynge, being the thirde of Februarye, ther came fourthe a proclamation, sett furthe by the quenes counsell, wherin was declared that that traytour Wyat deduced simple people agaynst the quene. Wherefore, she willed all her loving subjectes to endevour themselves to withstande him; and that the duke of Suffolke, with his ij. brethren, were dyscomfeted by the erle of Huntingdon, and certayn of his horsemen taken, and the duke and his ij. brethren fledde in servingman's cottes; and that sir Peter Carowe (age 40) was fled into France; and that sir Gawen Carowe (age 70), Gibbes, and others, were taken, and remayn in Exeter; and that the hole cytie of Exeter, and commons therabout, were at the quenes commandement, with their powere, to the death.^a And that she dyd pardon the hole campe except Wyat, Harper, Rudestone, and Iseley; and that whosoever coulde take Wyat, except the sayd iiij. persons, should have an hunderith poundes a yere to them and to their heires for ever.

Note a. Sir Peter Carew, and his uncle sir Gawen, had been the commanders employed by the government of king Edward VI. to quell the insurrection of Humphrey Arundell and others in Devonshire, in the year 1549, and had been rewarded with the rebels' lands. (Lysons, Magna Britannia, Devonshire, p. x.) Mr. Lysons found no account of the present insurrection in any of the annals of Exeter; and from "The Life of Sir Peter Carew, of Mohun's Ottery," written by John Vowell, alias Hoker (the historian of Exeter), which is printed in the 28th volume of Archaeologia, it is evident that the reports which reached London were much exaggerated. It appears that, before the conspirators had made any head, sir Gawen Carew, sir Arthur Champernowne, and William Gybbes esquire were arrested by sir Thomas Denys the sheriff and sir John Sentleger. Sir Peter Carew, escaping to Weymouth, fled first to France, afterwards to Venice, and lastly to Strasburg; from whence he was tempted to goto Antwerp, in order to seek an interview with lord Paget, but, being arrested, was at last brought back to the Tower of London, in company with sir John Cheke, and finally made his peace with the queen by payment of a heavy fine. See the narrative of these adventures in Archaeologia, vol. xxviii. pp. 120 et seq.; and see also in Tytler's "Edward VI. and Mary," a letter addressed to the queen by sir Nicholas Wotton, her ambassador at Paris, describing sir Peter Carew's reception on his first arrival in France. The date of his release is shown by the following passage in a letter of sir John Mason to Peter Vannes, dated London, Oct. 12, 1555: "Mr. Carew, having throughlie clered himself of all matters layed unto his charge, is also abrode with the quenes favour." (MS. Cotton. Vesp. C. VII. f. 200.)

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[3rd February 1554]. Note, this daie before noone all horsemen were by a drom commanded to be at sainct James felde, and the footemen commanded to be in Fynsbury felde to muster. This day, about iij. of the clocke, sir Thomas Wyat and the Kentyshemen marched forwarde from Debtford towardes London with v. auncientes, being by estimation about ij. thousand men; which their comyng, so soone as it was perceyved, ther was shot off out of the White tower a vj. or viij. shott; but myssed them, somtymes shoting over, and somtymes slioting short. After the knowledge therof once had in London, forthwith the draybridge was cutt downe and the bridge gates shut. The mayre and the sheryves harnessyd theymselves, and commanded eche man to shutt in their shoppes and wyndowes, and being redy in harnes to stande every one at his dore, what chance soever myght hapen. Then should ye have seen taking in wares of the stalles in most hasty manner; ther was renning upp and downe in every place to wepons and harnes; aged men were astoyned, many women wept for feare; children and maydes ran into their howses, shytting the dores for feare; moche noyse and tumult was every where; so terryble and fearfull at the fyrst was Wyat and his armyes comyng to the most part of the cytezens, who wer seldom or nere wont before to here or have eny suche invasions to their cyty.

At this time was Wyat entered into Kent street, and so by sainct George's church into South warke. Himselfe and parte of his compaynye cam in goode array downe Barmesey strete. Note, they wer sufferyd peceably to enter into Southwarke without repulse or eny stroke stryken either by the inhabitours or by eny other; yit was ther many men of the contry in the innes, raysed and brought thether by the lord William,^aand other, to have gone agaynst the saide Wyat and Kentyshmen, but they all joyned themselves to the said Kentyshe rebelles, taking their partes; and the said inhabitantes most willinglye with their best entertayned them. Imediatly upon the said Wyates comynge, he made a proclamation that no souldear should take eny thing, but that he should pay for it, and that his coming was to resyst the comyng in of the Spanyshe kynge, &c.

Note a. Lord William Howard.

At his comyiig to the bridge foote, he ladd forthwith ij. peces of ordenance, and began a great trenche between the bridge and him; he laid another pece at sainct George's, another going into Barmesey strett, and another towardes the bushopes house.

[4th February 1554]. Note, that on sonday the iiij^th daye of February yt is sayd that the lorde William Howard shold call at the gate and say, "Wyat?" At last one answeryd him, "What wold ye with him?" and he sayd "I wold speke with him." And the other answeryd, "The captayne is busye; yf ye will any thing to him, I shall shewe him." "Mary (quod the lord William), knowe of him what he meneth by this invasyon, and whether he contynue in his purpose or no?" The messenger departed to master Wyat, and within iij. quarters of an hower returned with a purse, and therein master Wyat's answer, which being throwne over the gate, was receyved and redd by the said lord William, and his proclamation was cast over. Note, that from satersday at noone all botes being brought to London syde over the water, was commanded ther to staye, and in payne of death none to go over to theym.

[4th February 1554]. Upon the iiij^th of February ther was sett out of the Tower topp a banner of defyance, and at mornyng and evenyng, at the chardging of the watch, was shot of agret pece of ordynance accustumably.

[4th February 1554]. This day sir Nicholas Ponynges (age 44), as yt is said, being an assystant at the Tower, was with the quene to knowe whether they should shot of at the Kentyshmen, and so bett downe the houses upon their hedds. "Nay," sayde the quene, "that were pyty, for mayny pore men and howsholders are like to be undone there and kylled. For," sayth she, "I trust, God willing," saythe she, "that they shalbe fought with tomorrowe."

Note, that sir John of Brydges, the night before, saide to the wattche in the Tower, "I moche muse they are not fought withall. By God's mother! I feare there is some traytour abrode that they be sufferyd all this while; for surely, and yf yt had been about my centry,^a I wolde have fought with theym myself, by Goddes grace!"

Note a. i. e. on my sentry, or beat; a military expression, very appropriately addressed to the watch.

Note, that that night the Kentyshemen made a noys as yt were a signe of assault at the bridge, and shot of ij. half-hackes. This day the queues company assembled in sainct James's parke.

Note, that yt is saide that the said master Wyat, apon the proclamation that whosoever will take him should have a C^li in ... ey, dyd cause his name to be fayre wrytten by the name of Thomas Wyat, and sett yt on his cappe.

[5th February 1554]. Note, that this vth day the noyes was that the lord warden, the lord of Burgenye, sir Rychard Southwell (age 51), was come to Blackeheath and Grenwich with iij. thousand men agaynst the said master Wyat.

[6th February 1554]. Note, that on shryve-tuesdaye, being the vjth of Februarye, master Wyat departed out of Southwarke towards Kyngeston bridge [Map], before xj. of the clocke before noone, in goode array they marched forwardes. A littell before his departing he shott of ij. peces of ordenaunces, the more to cover his departure so much as yt might be. And when he departed, yt is saide he paid all his soldears their wages, and made proclamation in Southewarke that yf eny of his soldears ought a peny to eny person ther, that they should come to him and he would se them paid; but ther was non complayned; all men the enhabytantes said that ther was never men behaved theymselves so honestly as his compayny dyd there for the tyme of their abode.

Note, that the night before, by chance, as the levetenantes man^a of the Tower was rowing with a scoller over against Winchester place, ther was a waterman of the Tower steres desyred the said levetenauntes man to take him in, who dyd so; which vij. hagabusyars of Wyat's company spying the bote departing from land, called to them to land agayn, but they wolde not; wherapon eche man dyschardged their pece, and so one of theym by chaunce kylled the saide waterman, the which falling forthewith downe dedd, the scoller, with moche payne, rode thoroughe the bridg to the Tower wharf with the said levetenantes servant and the ded man in the bote. This thing was no sooner knowne to the levetenaunt, but the same night and the next morning (whether he had comysyon so to do is not knowne) bent vij. great peces of ordenance, that is to saie, culveringes and demi-canons, full agaynst the foote of the bridge and agaynst Southwarke, and the ij. steples of saincte Tooles and sainct Marie Overies; besides all the peces on the White tower, one culvering on the Devyls tower, and iij. fawkenetes over the Watergate, all being bent towardes Southwarke. Which thing so sone as the inhabytauntes of Southwarke had intelligence of, certayn men, and also many women, came to the saide Wyat in most lamentable wise, saying, "Sir, we are like to be utterlie undone all and dystroyed for your sake or default; our houses, which are our ly vinges, shal be by and by thrown down apon our hedes, and our childers, to the utter desolation of this boroughe, with the shott of [the Tower] layed and chardged towardes us; for the love of God, therefore, take pytye apon us!" At which wordes he being partly abashed, stayed awhyle, and then said theis or moche-like words: " I pray you, my frendes, content yourselves a lyttell, and I will soone ease you of this myschefe; for God forbid that ye, or the least childe here, shoulde be hurt or killed in my behalfe." And so in most spedye maner marched awaye. Yt is saide he should say he wolde pay his soldears no more untill he paid theym in Chepesyde. Some reaported he knocked at the gate when he went, sayinge, " Twyse have I knocked and not ben suffered to enter; yf I knocke the thirde tyme I will come yn, by God's grace!"

Note a. Named Thomas Menchen, adds Stowe.

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And as he marched towardes Kingeston he mett by chaunce a merchaunt named Christopher Dorrell, whom he called, saying, "Cosen Dorrell, I praie you comende me unto your cetezens the Lonnonours, and saie unto theym from me, that when libertie and fredome was offered theym they wolde not receyve yt, neither wolde they admytt me to enter within their gates, who for their fredome, and the dysburdenyng of their grefes and opression by straundgers, wolde have francklie spente my bloode in that their cause and quarrell; but nowe well apperith their unthanckfullnes to us their frendes, which meanethe theym so moche goode; and therefore they are the lesse to be moned hereafter, when the myserable tyrrannye of straundgers shall oppresse theym." And so he went forwarde.

That night he marched so fast that it is saied he came to Kingeston by night, where the bridge was broken and kept on this side by CC. or ther aboutes of the quenes partie; which bridge so soone as the saide Wyat perceyved to be broken, and the men kepyng yt, went back, and dyd fetch a pece or ij. of ordenance and laied on the bridge, by the reason wherof he forced the other to flee, and leave the bridge unkepte. Then caused he iij. or iiij. of his soldears to lepe into the water and swyme to the other side, who losed the Westerne botes, which ther laie tyed, and so brought theym over to the other syde, and by that meane he passyd the water.

It is a straundg mattier what paynes he tooke himself comyng on foote emongest theym; neither dyd they staye eny whit ah1 that night, but cam almost to Braynforde or ever they were dyscryd by the quenes scootes, who ther by chaunce meting Brett and his companye, the saide Brett saide to the scoote, "Backe, villayne; yf thou goe further to dyscover eny compayny here, thou shalt dye out of hande." The scoute retourned in great hast.

Note, the saide daye of his departure the Londonours many were moche joyouse.

The same day towardes night ther was laden x. or xij. cartes with ordenance, as billes, morice pikes, speres, bowes, arowes, gonstones, pouder, shovells, mattokes, spades, baskets, and other munytion, and ther went out ij. culverings, one sacre, iij. faucons, and a fauconett; all which the same nighte stayed in Poules churchyarde. The same night, also, about v. of the clocke, a trompeter went along, warning all horse and men of armes to be at sainct James felde, and all footemen to be ther also by vjth of the clocke the next morning.

The next mornyng sir George Harper was taken.^a

Note a. This passage was inserted after the first writing. Stowe states that Harper deserted Wyat (a second time, for he did so before at Rochester,) and came to the court to report his approach.

Yt is thought that the hast the saide Wyat and his companye made that night was partely for lacke of victualles and money, which was then nere spent; and partely for that he hoped of better ayde of the Londoners than he had before, if he might come to that part of the cetye.

Some saide his entent was to have been in London, yf he had coulde, before daye; but hering that the erle of Pembroke was come into the feldes, he stayed at Knightesbridge untyll daye, wher his men being very wery with travel of that night and the daye before, and also partely feble and faynte, having receyved small sustenance since ther comyng out of Southwarke, rested.

The quenes scout, apon his retourne to the court, declared their coming to Brainforde, which subden newes was so feareftill that therwith the quene and all the court was wonderfully affryghted. Dromes went thoroughe London at iiij. of the clocke, warninge all soldears to arme themselves and to repaire to Charing crosse. The quene was once determyned to come to the Tower forthwith, but shortelie after she sende worde she would tarry ther to se the uttermost. Mayny thought she wolde have ben in the felde in person.

Here was no small a-dowe in London, and likewise the Tower made great preparation of defence. By x. of the clocke, or somewhat more, the erle of Penbroke had set his troopp of horsemen on the hill in the higheway above the new brige over against saynct James; his footemen was sett in ij. battailles somewhat lower, and nerer Charing crosse. At the lane turning downe by the brike wall from Islington-warde he had sett also certayn other horsemen, and he had planted his ordenance apon the hill side. In the meane season Wyat and his company planted his ordenance apon the hill beyonde sainct James, almost over agaynst the park corner; and himself, after a fewe words spoken to his soldears, came downe^a the olde lane on foote, hard by the courte gate at saincte James's, with iiij. or v. auncyentes; his men marching in goode array. Cutbart Vaughan, and about ij. auncyentes, turned downe towards Westminster. The erle of Pembroke's horsemen hoveryd all this while without moving, untyll all was passed by, saving the tayle, upon which they dyd sett and cut of. The other marched forwarde, and never stayed or retounied to the ayde of their tayle. The greate ordenaunce shott of fresly on bothe sydes. Wyat's ordenance overshott the troope of horsemen. The quenes ordenance one pece struck iij. of Wyat's companye^b in a ranck, apon ther hedes, and, sieving them, strake through the wall into the parke. More harme was not done by the great shott of neither partie. The quenes hole battayle of footemen standing stille, Wyat passed along by the wall towardes Charing crosse, wher the saide horsemen that wer ther sett upon parte of them, but were soone forced backe.

Note a. "And so came that daye toar (toward) Saint James felde, where as was the erle of Pembroke the quenes leftenant, and my lorde prevy seale [the earl of Bedford], and my lord Paget, and my lord Clynton, which was lord marshall of the campe, with dyvars oder lordes on horseback; which lord Clynton ghawe the charge with the horsemen by the parke corner, which was aboute xij. of the clocke that daye, and Wyat so passed hym selve with a smalle company, toar Charryng crosse, and so toar Flet streate," &c. MS. Addit. Brit. Mus. 15,215, p. 40.

Note b. It is possible these were the very three men whose burial is thus recorded in the register of Saint Margaret's, Westminster: 1553. Feb. The viijth day Edmonde Pyrry, Joh'n Sympson and Anthony Adamson, souldyars w^t Wyat.

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At Charinge crosse ther stoode the lorde chamberlayne,^b with the garde and a nomber of other, almost a thousande persons, the whiche, upon Wyat's coming, shott at his company, and at last fledd to the court gates, which certayn pursued, and forced them with shott to shyt the court gates against them. In this repulse the said lord chamberlayn and others were so amased that men. cry ed Treason! treason! in the court, and had thought that the erle of Penbroke, who was assayling the tayle of his enemeys, had gon to Wyat, taking his part agaynst the quene. There should ye have seene runninge and cryenge of ladyes and gentyll women, shyting of dores, and such a scryking and noyse as yt was wonderfull to here.

Note b. Sir John Gage.

[7th February 1554]. The said Wyat, with his men, marched still forwarde, all along to Temple barre, also thoroghe Fleete street, along tyll he cam to Ludgate, his men going not in eny goode order or array. It is saide hat in Fleet street certayn of the lorde treasurer's band, to the nomber of CCC. men,^a mett thejm, and so going on the one syde passyd by theym coming on the other syde without eny whit saying to theym. Also this is more strandge: the saide Wyat and his company passyd along by a great company of harnessyd men, which stoode on bothe sydes, without eny withstandinge them, and as he marched forwarde through Fleet street, moste with theire swords drawne, some cryed "Queene Mary hath graunted our request, and geven us pardon." Others said, "The quene hathe pardoned us." Thus Wyat cam even to Ludgate, and knockyd calling to come in, saying, there was Wyat, whome the quene had graunted their requestes; but the lorde William Howard standing at the gate, saide, "Avaunt, traytour! thou shalt not come in here." And then Wyat awhill stayed, and, as some say, rested him apon a seate (at) the Bellsavage gate; at last, seing he coulde not come in, and belike being deceaved of the ayde which he hoped out of the cetye, retourned backe agayne in arraye towards Charing crosse, and was never stopped tyll he cam to Temple barre, wher certayn horsemen which cam from the felde met them in the face; and then begann the fight agayne to waxe hote, tyll an heralde^b saide to maister Wyat, "Sir, ye were best by my counsell to yelde. You see this day is gon agaynst you, and in resysting ye can get no goode, but be the death of all theis your souldears, to your greate perill of soule. Perchaunce ye may fynde the quene mercyfull, and the rather yf ye stint so greate a bloudshed as ys like here to be." Wyat herewith being somewhat astonished (although he sawe his men bent to fyght it out to the death), said, "Well, yf I shall needs yelde, I will yelde me to a gentyllman;" to whom sir Morice Barkeley cam straight up, and bayd him lepe up behinde him; and another toke Thomas Cobham and William Knevet; and so caryed them behind theym upon their horses to the courte. Then was taking of men on all sydes. It is saide that in this conflyct one pikeman, setting his backe to the wall at sainct James, kept xvij. horsemen of him a great tyme, and at last was slayne. At this battell was slayne in the felde, by estymacion, on both sydes, not past xlty persons, as far as could be lerned by certayne that viewed the same; but ther was many sore hurt; and some thincke ther was many slayne in houses. The noys of women and children, when the conflyct was at Charing crosse, was so great and shirle, that yt was harde to the toppe of the White tower; and also the great shot was well deserned ther out of sainct James felde. Ther stood apon the leddes there the lorde marques,8 sir Nicholas Poyns, sir Thomas Pope, master John Seamer, and^other. From the battayle when one cam and brought worde that the quene was like to have the victory, and that the horsemen had dyscomfyted the tayle of his enemyes, the lorde marques for joye gave the messenger xs in golde, and fell in great rejoysing.

Note a. Stowe adds, whereof the lord Chidioke Powlet (age 34), his sonne, was captaine.

Note b. Stowe iiiserts Vie name Clarentius, i. e. Thomas Hawley. Machyn (p. 54) says that Wyat "yielded unto master Norroy, the harold of armes, in his cote of armes." In that case he was William Harvey, who subsequently became Clarenceux in 1557.

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Note, that when Wyat was perceaved to be comen to Ludgate, and the maire and his brethren herde therof, thinkyng all had not gon well with the quenes syde, they were moche amased, and stoode as men half out of ther lyves, and many hollowe hartes rejoysed in London at the same.

At v. of the clock this Wyat, William Knevet, Thomas Cobbam, the lorde Cobbam's son, ij. brethren named the Mantelles, and Alexander Bret, wer brought by maister Jernyngham, vichamberleyn, by water to the Tower as prysoners; wher sir Phillip Deny receyved them at the bullwark; and as Wyat passed by he said, " Go, traytour! There was never suche a traytour in Ingland!" To whom this Wyat tourned, and said, "I am no traytour. I wolde thou should well knowe, thou art more traytour then I; and it is not the part of an honest man to call me so;" and so went fourth. When he came to the Tower gate the levtenant^b toke in first Mantell through the wicket, and toke him by the boysome, and shaked him, and said " Ah! thou traytour! What wickednes hast thou and thy company wrought!" But he, holdyng doune his hed, said nothinge. Then came Thomas Knevet, whom rnaister Chamberlayne, gentyllman porter of the Tower, toke by the collar very roughlie. Then cam Alexander Bret, whom sir Thomas Pope toke by the boysome, sayinge, " Ohe traytor! how couldest thou finde in thine hart to worke suche vyllany, as to takinge (the queen's) wages, and, beinge trusted over a bande of men, to fall to hir enemye, returninge agaynst hir in battaile" Bret answered, "Yea, I have offended in the case by all this." Then came Thomas Cobham, whom sir Nicholas Poines toke by the bosome, and said, " Alas, maister Cobham, what wynde headed you to worke suche treason?" And he answered, " Oh, sir! I was seduced." Then came in sir Thomas Wyat, who sir John of Bridges toke by the coller in most rygorouse maner, and saide theis or moche-like wordes, "Ohe! thou villayn and unhappie traytour! howe couldest thou finde in thine hart to worke suche detestable treason to the queues maiestie, who beinge thie moste graciouse soverayn ladie, gave the thie lyfe and lyvinge once alredy, although thowe dydest before this tyme beare armes in the felde agaynst hir? and nowe to make suche a great and moste traytorous stirre, yelding hir battayle, to hir mervellouse troble and fryght. And yf yt was not (saith he) that the lawe must justly passe apon thee, I wolde strike thee throughe with my dagger." And in so saying, havinge one hand apon the coller of the said maister Wyat, and the other on his dagger, shaked his bossome; to whom Wyat made no answer, but holdinge his armes under his side, and looking grevously with a grym looke upon the saide livetenant, saide, "Yt is no maistery nowe." And so they passyd on.

Note b. John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos.

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This Wyat had on a shert of mayll with sieves very fayre, and theron a velvett cassoke, and an yellowe lace, with the windelesse of his dag hanging theron, and a payre of botes and sporres on his legges; on his hedd he had a faire hat of velvet with broade bonneworke lace about it.

The monday, being the xij^th [12] of Februarie [1554], about ten of the clocke, ther went out of the Tower to the scaffolde on Tower hill, the lorde Guilforde Dudley (age 19), sone to the late duke of Northumberland, husbande to the lady Jane Grey (age 18), daughter to the duke of Suffolke (age 37), who at his going out tooke by the hande sir Anthony Browne (age 25), maister John Throgmorton (age 30), and many other gentyllmen, praying them to praie for him; and without the bullwarke Offeley^a the sheryve receyved him and brought him to the scaffolde, where, after a small declaration, having no gostlye father^b with him, he kneeled downe and said his praiers; then holding upp his eyes and handes to God many tymes^c; and at last, after he had desyred the people to pray for him, he laide himselfe along, and his hedd upon the block, which was at one stroke of the axe taken from him.

Note, the lorde marques (age 42)^d stode upon the Devyl's towre, and sawe the executyon. His carcas throwne into a carre, and his hed in a cloth, he was brought into the chappell [Map] within the Tower, wher the ladye Jane, whose lodging was in Partrige's house, dyd see his ded carcase taken out of the cart, aswell as she dyd see him before on lyve going to his deathe, a sight to hir no lesse^e then death^f.

Note a. Sir Thomas Offley; see note in Machyn's Diary, p. 353.

Note b. He had probably refused the attendance of a Roman Catholic priest, and was not allowed one of his own choice.

Note c. Misread by Stowe with teares.

Note d. The marquess of Northampton.

Note e. no lesse in MS., not worse as given by Stowe and Holinshed.

Note f. "Great pitie was it for the casting awaye of that fayre Ladye, whome nature had not onely so bewtified, but God also had endewed with singuler gyftes and graces, so that she ignorantly receaved that which other wittingly devised and offred unto her.

"And in like manner that comely, vertuous, and goodly gentleman the lorde Gylford Duddeley most innocently was executed, whom God had endowed with suche vertues, that even those that never before the tyme of his execution saw hym, dyd with lamentable teares bewayle his death." Grafton's Abridgment, 1563.

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12th February 1554. By this tyme was ther a scaffolde made upon the grene over agaynst the White tower, for the saide lady Jane (age 18) to die apon. Who with hir husband (age 19) was appoynted to have ben put to deathe the fryday before, but was staied tyll then, for what cause is not knowen, unlesse yt were because hir father was not then come into the Tower. The saide lady, being nothing at all abashed, neither with feare of her owne deathe, which then approached, neither with the sight of the ded carcase of hir husbande, when he was brought in to the chappell, came fourthe, the levetenaunt leding hir, in the same gown wherin she was arrayned, hir countenance nothing abashed, neither her eyes enything moysted with teares, although her ij. gentylwomen, mistress Elizabeth Tylney and mistress Eleyn, wonderfully wept, with a boke in hir hande, wheron she praied all the way till she cam to the saide scaffolde, wheron when she was mounted, &c.

So far, our Diarist's narrative of this judicial tragedy has been adopted, somewhat abridged, by Stowe and Holinshed. The latter chronicler then proceeds thus (copying Grafton), "Whereon when she was mounted, this noble young ladie, as she was indued with singular gifts both of learning and knowledge, so was she as patient and mild as any lambe at hir execution, and a little before hir death uttered these words," (then giving her address to the people assembled). Whether our Diarist's conclusion," when she was mounted, &c."was intended to lead on to some other paper, written by himself or another, it is impossible to decide; but it seems not very improbable that he was also the writer of the account of the lady Jane's execution, which begins with the same words, and which was originally published in a small black-letter pamphlet^a entitled,

The Ende of the lady Jane Dudley, daughter of the duke of Suffolk, upon the scaffolde, at the houre of her death.

First, when she mounted upon the scaffolde, she sayd to the people standing thereabout: "Good people, I am come hether to die, and by a lawe I am condemned to the same. The facte, in dede, against the quenes highnesse was unlawfull, and the consenting thereunto by me^b but touching the procurement and desyre therof by me or on my halfe, I doo wash my handes thereof in innocencie, before God, and the face of you, good Christian people, this day," and therewith she wrong [Note. wrung] her handes, in which she had hir booke. Then she sayd, "I pray you all, good Christian people, to beare me witnesse that I dye a true Christian woman, and that I looke to be saved by none other meane, but only by the mercy of God in the merites of the blood of his only sonne Jesus Christ: and I confesse, when I dyd know the word of God I neglected the same, loved my selfe and the world, and therefore this plague or punyshment is happely and worthely happened unto me for my sins; and yet 1 thank God of his goodnesse that he hath thus geven me a tyme and respet to repent. And now, good people, while I am alyve, I pray you to assyst me with your prayers."^a2 And then, knelyng downe, she turned to Fecknam^b2, saying, "Shall I say this psalme?" And he said, "Yea." Then she said the psalme of Miserere mei Deus in English, in most devout maner, to the end. Then she stode up, and gave her maiden mistris Tilney^c her gloves and handkercher, and her book to maister Bruges^d, the lyvetenantes brother; forthwith she untyed her gown.

The hangman went to her to help her of therewith; then she desyred him to let her alone, turning towardes her two gentlewomen, who helped her off therwith, and also with her frose paast^a3 and neckercher, geving to her a fayre handkercher to knytte about her eyes.

Then the hangman kneeled downe, and asked her forgevenesse, whome she forgave most willingly. Then he willed her to stand upon the strawe: which doing, she sawe the block. Then she sayd, "I pray you dispatch me quickly." Then she kneeled down, saying, "Wil you take it of before I lay me downe?" and the hangman answered her, "No, madame." She tyed the kercher about her eys; then feeling for the blocke, saide, "What shall I do? Where is it?" One of the standers-by guyding her therunto, she layde her heade down upon the block, and stretched forth her body and said: "Lorde, into thy hands I commende my spirite!" And so she ended.

Note a. This is here copied from a reprint edited by the Rev. John Brand in the 13th volume of the Archaeologia. I have not been able to find a copy of the original. It was incorporated into the narratives of Grafton and Foxe, with some variations, which will be noticed in the ensuing notes.

Note b. Holinshed has amplified this into the following more explicit statement: "My offence agaynst the queenes highnesse was onely in consent to the device of other, which nowe is deemed treason; but it was never my seeking, but by counsell of those who shoulde seeme to have further understanding of things than I, which knewe little of the lawe, and much lesae of the tytles to the crowne."

Note a2. Another report of "lady Jane Dudley's speech on the scaffold," somewhat more verbose but not so impressive, is printed in Nicolas's Remains, &c. p. 52.

Note b2. This circumstance, that Feckenham (the new dean of St. Paul's) was attendant upon her, is suppressed by Grafton, but preserved by Foxe.

Note c. Altered by Grafton, &c. to "her mayden (called mystresse Eleyn)" that is, her other female attendant.

Note d. Grafton altered this "to mayster Bruges, then lieutenant of the Tower;" and Foxe says, "maister Bruges" only. The book is supposed to have been the same manual of English prayers which is now preserved in the British Museum as the MS. Harl. 2342; and which contains the three following notes, the two former it will be perceived addressed to the duke of Suffolk, and the last to sir John Brydges:

Your lovyng and obedyent son wischethe unto your grace long lyfe in this world, with as muche joye and comforte as ever I wyshte to my selfe, and in the world to come joy everlasting. Your most humble son tel his death. G. DUDDELEY.

The Lorde comforte your grace, and that in his worde, whearin all creatures onlye are to be comforted. And thoughe it hathe pleased God to take away ij. of your children, yet thincke not, I most humblye beseach your grace, that you have loste them, but truste that we, by leasinge this mortall life, have wunne an immortal life. And I for my parte, as I have honoured your grace in this life, wyll praye for you in another life. Youre gracys humble doughter, JANE DUDDELEY.

Forasmutche as you have desired so simple a woman to wrighte in so worthye a booke, good mayster lieuftenaunte, therefore I shall as a frende desyre you, and as a Christian require you, to call uppon God to encline your harte to his lawes, to quicken you in his waye, and not to take the worde of trewethe utterlye oute of youre mouthe. Lyve styll to dye, that by deathe you may purchase eternall life, and remembre howe the ende of Mathusael, whoe, as we reade in the scriptures, was the longeste liver that was of a manne, died at the laste: for, as the precher sayethe, there is a tyme to be borne, and a tyme to dye; and the daye of deathe is better than the daye of cure birthe. Youres, as the Lorde knowethe, as a frende, JANE DUDDELEY."

These passages (facsimiles of the first and last of which are engraved in "Autographs of Remarkable Persons," 4to. 1829, Pl. 19) were evidently written very shortly before the execution of the noble pair, as is shown by an expression in the lady Jane's address to her father; and there is every probability in sir Harris Nicolas's conjecture that this book was employed as the messenger to convey these assurances of duty and affection, when personal intercourse was denied. The duke of Suffolk was brought back to the Tower only two days before his daughter's decapitation, and it is possible that she was spared the additional pain of knowing how imminent his fate also was. From the passage addressed to the lieutenant, it would further appear that the book, "so worthye a booke," already belonged to him; if, therefore, it is the same which the lady Jane carried with her to the scaffold, she would place it in the hands of "maister Brydges" (whether the lieutenant or his brother) as returning it to its owner. In some accounts of the lady Jane's last moments it will be found stated that she gave a book to sir John Gage; this error, into which Mr. Howard in his Memoir has fallen, arises merely from a confusion of the constable with the lieutenant of the Tower, sir John Gage having been erroneously named as the lieutenant in the description of the manual in the Catalogue of the Harleian MSS. This interesting relic is a small square vellum book, now in modern binding.

Note a3. Sir Harris Nicolas (p. xci.) states that, after having taken considerable pains to ascertain the meaning of the article here named, he was inclined to coincide with a literary friend who suggested "Fronts-piece." Foxe, however, has it spelt "frowes past," which is probably "frow's paste," or matronly head-dress: the paste being a head attire worn by brides, as explained in the glossarial index to Machyn's Diary, p. 463. The term was thought probably too familiar, if not inapplicable, by Grafton, who altered it in his chronicle to "her other attyres."

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¹The same day, within half an hower after, was broght into the Tower as prisoner, by the lorde chamberlayne and CC. of the garde, the earle of Devonshire, or lorde Courtney, by water, who as he passed by said to the levetenaunt, belik who axed him the cause of his thither comyng, " Truly, I cannot tell, except I shoulde accuse myselfe; lett the worlde judge." This moche was herde by him then spoken.

Note 1. MS. f. 29.

This day was ther set upp at every gate of London a galouse, and at the brige-fote one, hi Southwarke ij. paire, at Leaden-hall one, ij. in Chepeside, in Fleetestrete and about Charing crosse iij. or foure paire, and in many other places about the city¹. In Kent also, and many places more, ther was raysed gallowes, a great sorte. That day and on thursday there was condempnyd of the rebelles to the nombre of CCCC. or thereaboutes. All the prisons of London was so full that the(y) were fayne to keep the poorest sort, by iiij^xx. on a hepp, in churches. On wednysday following was hanged in sondery places of the cytey to the nombre of xxvj^te or more. On thursday, in Southwarke, and other places of the subburbes, ther was hanged a greate nombre; this day, being the xvth of February, ther was x. prysoners out of the Tower arrayned and caste, whose names doe followe. (The names were not added.)

Yt was saide that Brett should saie, and Vaughan, at their araynment, that they ought to have their lives according to the lawe, for, said Brett, " Ther was promised a pardon to me and my companie, by an heralde in the felde, or els I wolde never have yelded, but dyed presentlie; and if the quenes pardon promised by a herald, which in the felde is as hir owne mouth, be of no value or auctorytye, then the Lord have mercy apon us!" The like was alledged by Cut Vaughan, who as yt is reported said moreover to the lorde William Poulet, lorde highe treasorer, sytting ther, (and who) gave sentence, "Yt forceth not, my lorde, sayeth we shall go before, and you shall not be long after us²."

Note 1. See a full catalogue of these horrors in Machyn's Diary, p. 55.

Note 2. The word "sayeth" is apparently sith, or since; and Vaughan 's intention seems to have been to pass a reflection on the old age of his judge, and his consequent impending death. If so, he was much mistaken in his anticipations, as the lord treasurer lived for one and twenty years after, to the age of ninety-seven.

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17th February 1554. Satersday the xvij^th daie of Februarie the duke of Suffolke (age 37) was caried to Westminster and there arrayned, being fetched from the Tower by the clerke of the cheke and all the garde almoste; who at his going out went out very stoutely and cherfully enough, but (at) his coming here he landed at the water gate with a countenance very hevy and pensyfe, desyring all men to praye for him. (The lorde Courtney, lying in the Bell tower, sawe him both outwarde and innwarde.)

¹Yt is saide, the erle of Arundell sitting apon him in judgement, he shoulde saye that yt was no treason for a pere of the reahne as he was to raise his power and make proclamacion onely to avoyde strangers out of the realme; and therapon he axed the sergeantes standing by whether yt was not soo or no, which they being abashed, they could not say yt was treason by eny lawe. Then yt was laidd to his chardge he mett with CC. men the quenes levetenaunt in armes, being the erle of Huntingdon, which was treason agaynst the quene, forasmuch as the saide levetenant represented hir own person. To the which he made answer that he knewe not the saide erle to be no such levetenant. "But," saith he, "I met him indede but with fyftye men or ther aboutes, and wolde not have shronken from him yf I had had fewer." And by theis wordes he confessed himself gilty of treason. Moreover he partelie accused his brother the lorde Thomas, who he saide had perswaded him rather to flye into his country then to abyd, saying, that " yt was to be feared he shoulde be put agayn into the Tower; where being in his countrey, and emongst frendes and tenauntes, who durst fetch hime?"

[Further] towching the other artycles laide to his charge, he said, that he never knewe eny thing therof, saving that once he shold say at his table over his supper that he wolde undertake, for nede, onely with C. gentylmen, to sett the crowne apon Courteney's hedd; and so he was condempned and brought back to the Tower agayn.

Note 1. MS. f. 69.

The same daie the quene sett out a proclamacion^a that all straungers not borne within hir highnes domynions shoulde, within xxiiij. daies after the saide proclamacion, avoide the realme, fredeynses^b, merchauntes known, and the servauntes of enbasadors onely excepted, apon payn of forfeiture of all their goodes, with imprysonment of ther bodyes, and ther lyves at the quenes plesure, as in the saide proclamacion apperith at lardge.

Note a. A copy of this proclamation is given by Foxe, its principal object having been to compel the congregations of Dutch, French, and other foreign Protestants, who had taken refuge in England during the reign of Edward VI., to quit the country. It describes the parties intended as "all and every such person or persons borne out of her highnesse' dominions, now commorant or resident within this realme, of whatsoever nation or country, being either preacher, printer, bookseller, or other artificer, or of whatsoever other calling else, not being denizen," &c. (as in the text.) Among those who took refuge in Germany were many French Protestants; see letter of Simon Renard in Tytler, ii. 312.

Note b. Free-denizens.

This daye, or the morow following, Alexander Brett, with xx [20] other prysoners, wer caried down towardes Kent by the sheryve to executyon. This Brett at his going out of the Tower embraced maister Chamberlayn the gentyllman porter, and desyred him to commend him to sir Thomas Wyat. Then praying all men to pray for him, he saide, "And I am wourthie of no lesse punishement then I do nowe go to suffer, for besyde myn offence I refused lyfe and grace iij. tymes when yt was offeryd; but I trust God dyd all for the best for me, that my soule might repent, and therby after this lyfe (attain) to the more mercy and grace in his sight" And so he went onwarde.

On sondaye the xviijth day of Februarie ther cam in as prisoner one (blank)

The same day there was proclamacyon made in Chepesyde by a trompeter, that yf eny man had eny of the saide rebells, or knewe wher they were, shoulde bringe theym unto the Marshalsee, or elles yf they were hurt, sicke, or colde not come in persons, their names shoulde be brought to the Mershelsee the morrowe followinge, apon payne of dysp(leasure?)

Mondaye the xix^th [19th] daie of Februarie [1554] ther went out to be arrayned at Westminster sir William Cobham, master George Cobham, Thomas Cobham, all being the lorde Cobham's sonnes, (blank) Wyat, (a blank space follows) of the which cam home uncondemned sir William Cobham and George Cobham, som say as repried; the rest being condempned to dye.

This daye a nomber of the erle of Pembroke's men and soldears, to the nomber of CCC. in armour, and array, with their dromes, cam upp Foster lane; whether they wer goinge to was not knowen.

About this tyme ther went a tale that ther had ben a skyrmysh betwen the Scotes and Inglyshemen in the north partyes, and that the Frenchmen had skirmyshed with some of the soldyars at Guynes. Yt was said allso that the Frenchmen had made a trench before Guynes; and that the lorde Graye wrate therof to the quene, desyring to have some soldyars^a, parte of siche as were condempned to be hanged.

Note a. Some words not legible are here ifriUen above the line.

Ther was also a saing at this tyme that the Frenche kinge, who indede had prepared a great navy apon the sea, to met, as yt was thought, the prince of Spayn, had surrenderyd his tyteU of the crown of France to his son, meanyng with all his power in person to be admyrall of his shipes on the sea for the viadge aforesayd.

At this tyme [19th February 1554], or a litle before, the ladye Elysabeth was sent for of the quene by sir John Williams, with a great nomber of men, to com upp from (blank), about xxvij [27] miles from London, to the court immedyatly^a. And she saying she was very sicke, desyred the said sir John Williams to depart, and that she wolde most willinglye, in as spedy a manner as she coulde for her sicknes, repayre to the quenes highnes with hir owne company and folkes onely. Many men dyversly thought of hir sending for.

Note a. The name of sir John Williams is here a mistake for the lord William Howard (age 44). Three councillors were sent to bring the lady Elizabeth up from Ashridge, lord William Howard, sir Edward Hastings, and sir Thomas Cornwaleys: see Tytler, vol. ii. pp. 424 et seq. and Miss Strickland's memoir of Elizabeth. In the circumstantial but not very accurate narrative of the lady Elizabeth's troubles, printed at the end of the third volume of Foxe's Actes and Monuments, the name of sir Richard Southwell is erroneously placed in the room of lord William Howard.

Wednesday the xxj^th [21st] of Februarie [1554] was brought into the Tower as prysoners out of the country sir James Croftes, the lorde Thomas Gray, and ij. other; the one a spie, the other a post^b.

Note b. "21 Feb. Richard Mitton esquire, (sheriff of Shropshire,) brought this daye upp the lord Thomas Graye, Richarde Piddocke, and Robarte Drake, delivered unto him by indenture berynge date the xv. day of Februarye by the lord presydent and counsell of Wales; who were comited to the Tower. Sir James Crofts knight was in lyke manner delyvered by the said master Mitton, and brought upp by him and comytted to the Tower." Register of the Privy Council.

Fridaie the xxiij^th [23rd] of Februarie, an^o 1553 [1554], the duke of Suffolke (age 37) was behedded at Tower hille. His wourdes at the comyng on the scaffolde were theis followeing, or moche like: "Good people, this daie I am come hether to dye, being one whom the lawe hathe justlie condempned, and one who hathe no lesse deserved for my dysobedyence against the quenes highenes, of whom I do moste humbly axe forgevenes, and I truste she dothe and will forgyve me." Then maister Western, his confessor, standing by, saide, "My lorde, hir grace hathe allredy forgeven^a and praieth for you." Then saide the duke, "I beseche you all, goode people, to lett me be an example to you all for obedyence to the quene and the majestrates, for the contrarie therof hath brought me [to this end^b]. And also I shall most hartely desire you all to beare me witnes that I do dye a faythefull and true Christian, beleving to be saved by non other but onely by allmightie God, thoroughe the passion of his son Jesus Christ^c. And nowe I pray you to praie with me." Then he kneled downe, and Weston with him, and saide the sallme of "Miserere mei Deus" and "In te, Domine, speravi," the duke one verse and Weston an other. Which don, he dyd put of his gown and his doblet. Then kniting the kercheve himself about his eyes, helde uppe his handes to heaven, and after laie downe along, with his hedd apon the blocke, whiche at one stroke was striken of by the hangman.

Note a. "With that, divers of the standers by said with meetly good and audible voice, ' Such forgivenesse God send thee!' meaning doctoure Weston." Foxe.

Note b. So in Stowe's Chronicle.

Note c. Foxe's account of " the godly end " of the duke of Suffolk is supported in all important points by the present writer. They coincide as to his distinct expression of reliance on the Protestant faith: but whilst the duke is here described as joining with the attendant priest (Hugh Weston, successively dean of Westminster and of Windsor), in the repetition of the psalm Miserere, Foxe represents him as having twice endeavoured to prevent Weston from ascending the stairs of the scaffold with him. Both circumstances, however, may have occurred. It is at least certain that, whatever may have been the ordinary weakness of Suffolk's character, he was as constant in religion as his heroic daughter could have desired, though subjected to the like zealous attempts which she had endured, and which were successful over the loose principles of the duke of Northumberland and many others at this period of trial. This fact is confirmed by the following passage of a letter of Simon Renard to the emperor, dated the 24th Feb: "Ce jourduy Ton execute le due de Suffocq, qui ne s'est jamais voulu reconnoistre quant a la religion; aiant fait admonestement au peuple pour non se revolter contre la royne, a laquelle il demandoit mercy." Tytler, vol. ii. p. 309.

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[23rd February 1554] This daie ther was housellyd Cutbert Vaughan, Houghe Boothe, and other^d.

Note d. These men were probably among those who were reconciled to the church of Rome. Foxe has inserted in his great work a paper written by Walter Mantell the elder, another of the Kentish prisoners, relating the several attempts made on his faith by three priests, Bourne, Weston, and Mallet, and defending himself from the suspicion of having consented to hear mass. It is dated the 2d of March, which seems to have been immediately before his execution in Kent (see p. 66).

Satersdaie the xxiiij^th [24th] dale of Februarie [1554] was brought into the Tower as prysoner sir Nicholas Arnolde knight,a sir Edwarde Rogers^b, and one master Doynett, &c.

Note a. Sir Nicholas Arnold was compromised by Wyat having named him as the person to whom William Thomas "first brake" his project of assassinating the queen. He was detained in the Tower until the 18th Jan. following. In 1556 he was again a prisoner there (see Machyn's Diary, p. 104.)

Note b. Holinshed and Foxe erroneously say sir John Rogers. Sir Edward was named by sir Thomas Wyat as having brought him a message from the earl of Devonshire. He also was discharged on the 18th Jan. 1554-5. Queen Elizabeth, on her accession, made him vice-chamberlain and captain of her guard, and in 1560 comptroller of the household, and he died holding the latter office in 1565.

This daie Thomas Rampton, a prysoner, and the late duke of Suffolkes secretarie, was caried into the country to Coventry, ther to be arained and to suffer death.

Sondaie the xxv^th [25th] of Februarye [1554] was brought into the Tower prysoner sir William Seinctlowe (age 36)^c, a man that cam in with a wounderfull stoute corage, nothing at all abashed.

Note c. Foxe states that sir William Sentlow had been "committed as prisoner to the master of the horse" on the previous day. See other particulars of his imprisonment in the Rev. Joseph Hunter's memoirs of him, Retrospective Review, Second Series, vol. ii. p. 319; also the letter written by the counsellors above named directing his arrest, in Tytler, ii. 314.

This daie, and all the senyght and more before, ther sat in counsell in the Tower, apon the examynation of the prisonners, sir Robert Southewell^d, sir Thomas Pope, and others.

Note d. This is a mistake for sir Richard Southwell. Renard abuses him very much as decidedly a secret partisan of Courtenay: Tytler, ii. 338.

About this tyme was the first bruit that the queene wolde kepe the terme and parliament at Oxforde.

The xxvjth of Februarye William Thomas had almost slayn himself the nighte before, with thrusting himself under the pappes with a knife.

24th March 1554. Note, the xxiiij^th of Marche, an^o 1553 [1554], ther was lett out¹ of the Tower from emprysonment the lorde marques of Northampton, the lorde Cobham (age 57), sir William Cobham (age 26), master John Fewillyames, one master Culpepper of Bedsbery, master Henry Vane, John Harrington², (blank) Corbett³.

Note 1. Two days after this, when the queen gave audience to the imperial ambassador, she was forced to make him many excuses for her clemency on this occasion. She stated that she had yielded to the persuasion of the commissioners employed to examine the prisoners; that it had been an immemorial custom that on Good Friday the kings of England should grant pardon to some of their prisoners; moreover, that the marquess of Northampton had returned to the old religion. Renard, however, was dissatisfied that they should have been let off so easily and so soon. See his letter in Tytler, ii. 348.

Note 2. From this it might be supposed that sir John Harington was mistaken in supposing that his father remained a prisoner eleven months (see p. 53). But it appears from the register of the privy council that he was not now released, for on the 24th June sir William Sentelowe, William Smethwicke, and John Harrington were ordered to be removed from the Tower to the Fleet, and in Jan. following Harington was bound to "good abearinge" in C li. previously to his release.

Note 3. This name should be Danett, whose committal see before in p. 65, and who is mentioned by Renard as one of the eight now released, though Mr. Tytler (ubi supra) supposed "Danet" to be the name of Daniel mis-spelt.