Tudor Books, Hall's Chronicle 1540

On whiche day [01 Jan 140] the kyng whiche sore desired to see her grace accompanied with no more then viii. persons of his prevy chamber, and both he and they all apparelled in marble coates prevely came to Rochester, and sodainly came to her presence, which therwith was sumwhat astonied: but after he had spoken and welcomed her, she with most gracious and lovyng countenaunce and behavior hym received and welcomed on her knees, whom he gently toke up and kyssed: and all that after none commoned and devised with her, and that nyght supped with her, and the next day he departed to Grenewyche, and she came to Dartford.

03 Jan 1540. On the morow being the third day of January, and Saturday, in a faire playne on black heth more nerer the foote of shoters hill then the ascendent of the hyll called blacke heth hyll, was pitched a ryche cloth of gold and divers other tentes and pavilions in the whiche were made fyers and perfumes for her and suche Ladies as should receive her Grace: and from the Tentes to the parke gate of Grenewyche were all busshes and fyrres cutte downe, and a large and ample waye made for the shew of all persones. And fyrst nexte to the parke pale on the East syde, stode the Merchauntes of the Stilyard: and on the West syde stoode the Merchauntes of Jean, Florence and Venyce, and the Spanyardes, in coates of velvet. Then on bothe sydes of the waye stoode the Merchauntes of the Citie of London and Aldermen with the Counsellours of the saied Citie to the nomber of a C.lx. whiche were myxed with the Esquyers: Nexte upward towarde the Tentes stoode Knyghtes: Then the 1. Gentelmen Pencioners, and all this sorte were apparelled in velvet and chaynes of gold, truly accompted to the nomber of xii. C. and above, besyde them that came with the kyng and her grace, whiche were vi. C. in velvet cotes and chaines of golde. Behynde the gentelmen stode the servingmen in good ordre, well horsed and apparelled, that whosoever had well viewed theim might saye that they for tall and comely personages and clene of lym and body, were able to geve the greatest Prince in Christendome a mortall breakefast if he were the kynges enemy: And of this sorte the gentelmen appertainyng to the lord Chauncellor, the lord Prevy scale and the lord Admiral and divers other lordes, beside the costly lyvereis and comely horses, ware chaines of golde.

Thus was the lane ordered in rankes from the parke gate towarde the crosse on the Heth, which was betwene the Rankes and the Tentes, and in this ordre they continued tyll the kyng and she were returned.

About xii. of the clocke her grace with al the company which were of her owne nacion to the nomber of a C. horse, and accompanied with the dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke, the Archebyshop of Caunterbury and other bysshops, lordes and knightes whiche had received and conveyed her as you have hard before, came doune shoters hyl toward the tentes, and a good space from the tentes met her the erle of Rutland her lorde Chamberleyn, syr Thomas Denyce her Chauncellor, and all her councellers and officers, amongest whom, doctor Daye appointed to her Almoner, made to her an eloquent oracion in latin, presenting to her on the kynges behalfe all the officers and servauntes: whiche oracion was aunswered unto by the Duke her brothers Secretarie there being present, whiche done, the lady Margarete Doglas, daughter to the Quene of Scottes, the lady Marques Dorcet, daughter to the Frenche Quene being Nieces to the kyng, and the Duches of Rychemond, and the Countesse of Rutland and Herfford with divers other ladies and gentelwomen, to the nomber of Ixv. saluted and welcomed her grace, whiche alighted out of her Chariot in the which she had ridden al her long journey, and with most goodly demeanor and loving countenaunce gave to them hertie thankes and kissed them al, and after all her counsellors and officers kyssed her hand, which done, she with al the ladies entered the tentes, and there warmed them a space.

When her grace was advertysed of the kynges commyng, she issued out of her tent beyng apparelled in a riche goune of cloth of golde reysed, made rounde without any trayne after the Duche fassyon, and on her head a kail, and over that a rounde bonet or cappe set full of Orient Pearle of a very proper fassion, and before that she had a cornet of blacke velvet, and about her necke she had a partelet set full of ryche stone whiche glistered all the fielde. And at the dore of the tente, she mounted on a fayre horse rychely trapped, with her fotemen about her in goldsmithes worke embroudered with the blacke Lion, and on his shoulder a Carbuncle gold, and so she marched towarde the kyng: which perceiving her to approche came forwarde somewhat beyonde the crosse on Blacke Heth, and there paused a litle in a faire place tyll she came nerer: then he put of his bonnet and came foreward to her, and with moste lovely countenaunce and Princely behaviour saluted, welcomed and embrased her to the great rejoysyng of the beholders: and she lykewyse not forgettyng her duty, with most amiable aspecte and womanly behaviour received his grace with many swete wordes and greate thankes and praisynges geven to hym. And while they two were thus communyng, the fyftie Pencioners and the Garde departed to furnyshe the Courte and Halle of Grenewiche. And when the kyng had talked with her a lytle whyle, he put her on his ryght hande, and so with their footemen they roade as though they had bene coupeled together. O what a syght was this to se so goodly a prince and so noble a kyng to ryde with so fayre a Lady of so goodly a stature and so womanly a countenaunce, and in especial of so good qualities, I thynke no creature could se them but his herte rejoysed.

In this ordre they rode thorough the rankes, and so thorough the parke and at the late Freers walle all men alyghted savyng the kyng the twoo Masters of the Horses and the Henxmen whiche rode to the halle dore, and the Ladies rode to the Courte gate. And as they passed they behelde on the wharfe howe the Citezens of London were rowyng up and down on the Thames even before them, every crafte in his barge garnished with Banners, Flagges, Stremers, Pencelles and Targettes, some paynted and beaten with the kynges armes, some with her Graces Armes, and some with the armes of their crafte or Mistery. Beside the Barges of every crafte, there was a Barge made like a ship, called the Batchelers barke, decked with cloth of gold, penons, pencels, and targettes in great nomber, on whom wayted a Foyst that shot great peces of Artillary. And in every barge was diverse sortes of Instrumentes and children and men syngyng, whiche sang and plaied altogether as the kyng and the Lady passed on the wharfe, whiche sight and noies they muche praised and allowed.

When the kyng and she were within the utter court, they alyghted from their horses, and the kyng lovyngly embrased her and kissed her, byddyng her welcome to her owne, and led her by her lyfte arme thorough the Halle whiche was furnished beneth the harth with the kynges Garde, and above the harth with the fyftie Pencioners with their batel Axes, and so brought her up to her prevy chamber, where he lefte her for that tyme.

And assone as the kyng and she was entered the courte, was shot out of the Tower of Grenewiche and there about, a great peale of Gonnes.

When the kynges company and hers was entered the parke, as you have hearde, then all the horse men on Blacke Heath brake their aray and had licence to departe to London, or to their lodgyng. To se howe longe it was or the horsemen coulde passe, and howe late it was in the nyght yer the footemen coulde get over London brydge, I assure you it was wonderous to beholde, the nomber was so great.

Then the Lordes went to fetche the Ladie Anne, whiche was apparelled in a gowne of ryche cloth of gold set full of large flowers of great and Orient Pearle, made after the Duche fassion rownde, her here hangyng doune, whiche was faire, yellow and long: On her head a Coronal of gold replenished with great stone, and set about full of braunches of Rosemary, about her necke and middle, Juelles of great valew and estimacion. In this apparell she goyng betwene the erle of Oversteyn and the Graunde Master Hostonden, whiche had the conduitie and ordre of the performaunce of her mariage, with moste demure countinaunce and sad behaviour, passed thorough the kynges chamber, all the Lordes goyng before her till they came to the galery where the kyng was, to whom she made thre low obeysaunces and curtesies. Then the Archebishop of Caunterbury received them and maried them together, and the erle of Overstein did geve her: and about her mariyng ryng was written: God send me welto kepe.

When the Mariage was celebrate, they went hande in hande into the Kynges closet and there hard Masse and offered their tapers, and after Masse had wyne and spyces, and that done, the kyng departed to his chamber, and all the Ladies wayted on her to her chamber, the Duke of Norffolke goyng on the ryght hande, and the Duke of Suffolke on the lefte hande on her grace.

After nyne of the clocke, the Kyng with a gowne of ryche Tyssue lyned wyth Crymosyn Velvet embroudered, came to his closet, and she in her here in the same apparell that she was Maried in, came to her Closet with her Serjant of Armes and all her Officers, lyke a Quene, before her. And so the kyng and she went openly on Procession and offered and dyned together. And after dyner she chaunged into a gowne lyke a mannes gowne, of Tyssue with longe sieves gyrte to her, furred wyth ryche Sables, her narrowe sieves were very costly, but on her head she had a cap as she ware on the saterdaie before with a cornet of laune, whiche cap was so ryche of Perle and Stone, that it was judged to bee of greate valew. And after her fassion, her Ladies and Gententlewomen were appareled very riche and costly with chaynes of divers fassyons, and in this apparell she went that nyght to Evensong, and after Supped with the kyng: and after Supper were Bankettes, Maskes, and diverse dysportes, tyll the tyme came that it pleased the kyng and her too take their rest.

12 Apr 1540. The xii. daie of Aprill began a Parliament, and sir Nicholas Hare (age 56) restored to the office of speaker, in the whiche was frely graunted, without contradicions, foure fiftenes and a Subsedy, of twoo s. of landes, and xii. d. of goodes, toward the greate charges of Bulwarkes.

01 May 1540. The first day of May, Sir John Dudley, Sir Thomas Seymour, Sir George Carew, Sir Thomas Poynings, Sir Richard Cromwell (age 45), Sir Anthony Kingston knights, enterprised a Royal Joust, Tourney, and Barriers, which were in white velvet barded and based. The Jousts began the first day of May, the Tourney the third day, and the Barriers the fifth which challenge they valiantly performed, against allcomers, and also they kept open household at Duresme Place, and feasted the King and Queen, and all the Lordes. Beside this, on Tuesday in the Rogacion Weke, they feasted all the Knights and Burgesses of the Common House and the morrow after they had the Mayor, the Aldermen and all their wives to dinner, and so the Friday they broke up household.

In this Parliament which began the xviii. day of April, as is afore rehearsed, the religion of Saint Johns in England, which of most men was named the Knights of the Rhodes, was dissolved, whereof hearing sir Willyam Weston (age 70) knight, Prior of Saint John's, for thought died on the Ascencion day, being the fift day of May.

In this month was sent to the Tower, Doctor Wilson, and docter Sampson Bishop of Chichester, for relieving of certain traitorous persons, which denied the King's Supremacy and for the same offence was one Richard Farmer Grocer of London, a riche and wealthy man, and of good estimation in the City, committed to the Marshall See [Map], and after in Westminster Hall was arraigned and attainted in the Premunire, and lost all his goods.

On Saint Peters even [28 Jun 1540], was kept the Serjeant's feast at Saint John's with all plenty of victuals. At which feast were made ten Serjeants, three out of Grey's Inn, and three out of Lincoln's Inn, and of every of the Temples two. At which feast were present, all the lords and commons of the Parliament, beside the Mayor and the Aldermen, and a great number of the commons of the cite of London.

29 Jun 1540. The morrow after Midsomer day, the king caused the Queen (age 24) to remove to Richmond, purposing it to be more for her health, open air and pleasure: but the sixth day of July, certain Lordes came down into the neither house, which expressly declared causes, that the marriage was not lawful, and in conclusion, the matter was by the Convocation clearly determined, that the king might lawfully marry where he would, and so might she: and so were they clearly divorced and separated, and by the Parliament enacted and concluded, that she should be taken no more as Queen, but called the Lady Anne of Cleve.

In this yere the lord Leonard Gray, brother to Thomas lord Marques Dorset, being the King's Lieutenant in Ireland, practised sundry feats for his profit, as in delivering traitors being hostages, and especially his nephew Fitzgerald, brother to Thomas Fitzgerald before executed, and also caused such of the Irishe men, as he had intelligence with all, to invade such of the King's friends, which he favoured not. Wherefore the king sent for him, and he mistrusting and seeing no refuge wrote to the King's enemies, to invade the English pale after his departure. And also he kept the King's treasure, to his own use, without retaining soldiers, according to his commission whereupon, when he came to London, he was sent to the Tower [Map].

In July the Prince of Salerno, in the realm of Naples, and the Lord Lois Devola, came into England to see the king which had high cheer and great rewards, and so departed. And after them came Done Fredericke Marques of Padua, brother to the Duke of Ferrara, and the Prince of Macedonia, and the Marques of Tarra Nova, and Monsieur de Flagy and sixteen other gentlemen, from the Emperor's Courte into England, to see the King, which on the day of Mary Magdalene, came to the Court to Westminster, and were highly feasted and well entertained, and with great rewards departed.

04 Aug 1540. The fourth day of August Thomas Epsom, sometime monk of Westminster, which had been prisoner for treason, three years and more in Newgate, came before the Justices of Gaol delivery at Newgate, and would not ask the King's pardon, nor be sworn to be true to him wherefore his monks garment, was plucked from his back, and he repried till the king knew his malicious obstinacy and this was the last monk that was seen in his clothing in England.

In this month were certain Commissioners, sent by the king into Ireland, to inquire of the Lord Leonard Gray, which certified diverse articles against him, as ye shall here in the next year following.

In the latter end of this month, was universally through the realm great death, by reason of new hot agues and fluxes, and some pestilence, in which season was such a drought, that wells and small rivers were clean dried, so that much cattle died for lack of water and the Thames was so shallow, and the fresh water of so small strength, that the salt water flowed above London Bridge, till the rain had increased the fresh waters.

22 Dec 1540. On the twenty-second day of December, was Ralph Egerton servant to the Lord Audley, Lord Chancellor, hanged, drawn, and quartered, for counterfeiting of the King's great scale, in a signet, which was never seen, and sealed a great number of Licenses for Denizens, and one Thomas Harman that wrote them, was executed for the statute made the last parliament, sore bound the strangers, which were not Denizens, which caused them to offer to Egerton, great sums of money, the desire whereof caused him to practise, that which brought him to the end, that before is declared.

In the end of this year, the French King made a strong castle at Arde, and also a bridge over into the English pale, which bridge the crew of Calais did beat down, and the Frenchmen re-edified the same and the Englishmen beat it down again. And after the King of England sent fifteen hundred workmen, to wall and fortify Guines, and sent with them five hundred men of war, with captains to defend them. The news ran in France, that there were fifty thousand Englishmen landed at Calais with great ordnance wherefore the French king sent in all haste, the Duke of Vendome, and diverse other captains, to the frontiers of Picardy, to defend the same. The king of England hearing thereof, sent the Earls of Surrey and Southampton and the Lord Russell, his great Admiral, into the Marches of Calais, to set an order there and after them sent two hundred light horsemen, of the borders of Scotland whom the Frenchmen called stradiates, which Lordes when they had set all things in a good order, shortly returned.

Dec 1540. In this yere was burned in Smithfeld [Map], a child named Richard Mekins, this child passed not the age of fifteen years, and somewhat as he had heard some other folks talk, chanced to speak against the Sacrament of the Altar. This boy was accused to Edmond Boner (age 40) Bishop of London, who so diligently followed the accusation, that he first found the means to indite him, and then arraigned him, and after burned him. And at the time he was brought to the stake, he was taught to speak much good, of the Bishop of London, and of the great charity, that he showed him and that he defied all heresies, and cursed the time that ever he knew Doctor Barnes, for of him had he learned that heresy, which he died for. The poor boy would for the safeguard of his life have gladly said that the twelve Apostles taught it him, for he had not cared of whom he had named it, such was his childish innocence and fear. But for this deed many spoke and said, that it was great shame for the Bishop, who they said ought rather to have laboured to have saved his life, then to procure that terrible execution, seeing that he was such an ignorant soul, as knew not what the affirming of an heresy was.