Hall's Chronicle 1540
Hall's Chronicle 1540 is in Hall's Chronicle.
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.
19 Jul 1540. The xix. day of July, Thomas Lord Cromwell (age 55), late made Earl of Essex, as before you have hard, being in the counsel chamber, was suddenly apprehended, and committed to the Tower of London [Map], the which many lamented, but more rejoiced, and especially such, as ether had been religious men, or favoured religious persons, for they banqueted, and triumphed together that night, many wishing that that day had been seven years before, and some fearing least he should escape, although he were imprisoned, could not be merry. Other who knew nothing but truth by him, both lamented him, and heartily prayed for him. But this is true that of certain of the clergy, he was detestably hated, and specially of such as had borne swinge, and by his meanes was put from it, for in deed he was a man, that in all his doings, seemed not to favour any kind of Popery, nor could not abide the snoffing pride of some prelates, which undoubtedly whatsoever else was the cause of his death, did shorten his life, and procured the end that he was brought unto which was that the xix. day of the said month, he was attainted by Parliament, and never came to his answer, which law many reported, he was the causer of the making thereof, but the truth thereof I know not. The Articles for which he died, appear in the Record, where his attainder is written, which are too long to be here rehearsed, but to conclude he was there attainted of heresy, and high treason.
And the xxviii. day of July [28 Jul 1540] was brought to the scaffold on the Tower Hill, where he said these words following.
I am come hither to die, and not to purge myself, as may happen, some think that I will, for if I should so do, I were a very wretch and miser. I am by the Law condemned to die, and thank my Lord God that hath appointed me this death, for mine offence: For sithence the time that I have had years of discretion, I have lived a sinner, and offended my Lord God, for the which I ask him heartly forgiveness. And it is not unknown to many of you, that I have been a great traveller in this world, and being but of a base degree, was called to high estate, and sithens the time I came thereunto, I have offended my Prince, for the which I ask him heartily forgiveness, and beseech you all to pray to God with me, that he will forgive me. O father forgive me, O son forgive me, O holy ghost forgive me. O three persons in one God forgive me. And now I pray you that be here, to bear me record, I die in the Catholic faith, not doubting in any article of my faith, no nor doubting in any Sacrament of the Church. Many hath slandered me, and reported that I have been a bearer, of such as hath maintained evil opinions, which is untrue, but I confess that like as God by his holy spirit, doth instruct us in the truth, so the devil is ready to seduce us, and I have been seduced: but bear me witness that I die in the Catholic faith of the Holy Church. And I heartly desire you to pray for the King’s Grace, that he may long live with you, in health and prosperity. And after him that his son Prince Edward, that goodly imp, may long reign over you. And once again I desire you to pray for me, that so long as life remains in this flesh, I waver nothing in my faith.
And then made he his prayer, which was long, but not so long, as both Godly and learned, and after committed his soul, into the hands of God, and so patiently suffered the stroke of the axe, by a ragged and butcherly miser, which very ungoodly performed the office.
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.
28 Jul 1540. The twenty and eighth day of July, as you have heard before in this year, was the Lorde Cromwell (age 55) beheaded, and with him likewise was beheaded the Lord Hungerford of Heytesbury (age 37), which certainly at the time of his death, seemed to be very unquiet in mind and rather in a frensy then otherwise.
30 Jul 1540. The thirtieth day of July, were drawn on hurdles out of the Tower to Smithfield, Robert Barnes Doctor in Divinity, Thomas Garard, and William Jerome Bachelors in Divinity, Powell, Fetherston, and Abell. The first three were drawn to the stake, there before set up, and were burned: and the latter three drawn to the gallows, likewise there set up, and were hanged, beheaded, and quartered. Here you must note, that the first three, were men that professed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and were preachers thereof. But wherefore they were now thus cruelly executed, I know not, although I have searched to know the truth. But this I find in their attainder, for you must understand, that after they had Preached at Saint Mary Spittle, as before I have declared, Barnes for learning his lesson no better was committed to the schoolhouse before prepared, which was the Tower, where he was kept, and never called to examination, till his rod that he should be beaten withall, was made, which was a sharp and great fire in Smithfield and for company sake, was sent to the schoolhouse with him, the afore named Caret, and Jerome, which drunk all of one cup. And as I said before, thus much I find in their attainder, that they were detestable and abominable heretics, and that they had taught many heresies, the number whereof was to great in the attainder to be recited, so that there is not one alleged, which I have often wondered at, that their heresies were so many, and not one there alleged, as special cause of their death. And indeed at their death, they asked the Sheriffs, wherefore they were condemned, who answered, they could not tell. But if I may say the truth, most men said it was for preaching against the Doctrine of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, who chiefly procured this their death, God and he knows, but great pity it was, that such learned men should so be cast away, without examination, neither knowing what was laid to their charge, nor never called to answer.
The last three which were Powell, Fetherston, and Abell, were put to death for treason, and in their attainder, is special mention made of their offences, which was for the denying of the King’s Supremacy, and affirming that his marriage with the Lady Katherine was good. These with other were the treasons, that they were attainted of, and suffered death for.
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.
The eight day of August [08 Aug 1540], was the Lady Catherine Howard (age 17), niece to the duke of Norfolk (age 67), and daughter to the Lord Edmund Howard, showed openly as Queen at Hampton Court [Map], which dignity she enjoyed not long, as after you shall hear.
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.