1512. This yeare, at a Parlement kept at Westminster,^a was grawnted to the Kinge two fifteens and [four]^b dimes, and head money^c for everie man; for a Duke 10 markes, for an Earle 5l., for a Lorde 4l., a knight 4 marks, and so after lower degrees; he that might spend 40s. to pay 12d.; and everie man was valued that was worth in goodes 800l. to pay 4 marks, 400l. 4 nobles, 200l. 2 nobles, 40l. a noble, 20l. to pay 40d., and everie man valued worth 40s. [wages] to pay 12d., and servantes, prentises, weomen, and all other [of 15 years and upwards]^d to pay 4d. a peece.

Note a. This Parliament was convoked for the 4th Feb. 1511-2, but was subsequently prorogued to the 4th Norember, which would be in the fourth year of Henry's reign.

Note b. Supplied from Stow and Arnold, but Hardyng's Chronicle says two dismes, or tenths.

Note c. This term generally signifies a poll-tax, bnt it is here evidently used for an assessed or property tax.

Note d. Supplied from Stow.

1513. This yeare, on the Assension Even,^e Edmonde de la Pole (age 42)^f was beheaded on Tower Hill [Map].

Note e. We should here read May Even as in Arnold and Stow; Ascension Even in 1513 fell on May 4th, whereas the Duke was executed on the 30th April, 1518.

Note f. Edmund de la Pole (age 42), son of John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, was nephew of Edward IV and brother of the Earl of Lincoln who was slain at the battle of Stoke; his other brother, Richard de la Pole (age 33), called the White Rose, was afterwards slain before the city of Pavia, in 1525.

14 Sep 1513. This yeare allso, on the day of th' Exaltation of the Crosse^h, Te Deum was sungen in Paules Churche [Map] for the victorie of the Scottishe feild, where King Jamys of Scotland (deceased) was slayneⁱ. The King of England (age 22) that tyme lyenge at seege before Turney [Map]^a in France, and wan it and Turwym^b also.

Note h. 14th of September.

Note i. James IV (deceased) of Scotland was slain at the battle of Flodden Field, on the 9th September, 1513.

Note a. Tonrnai, the capital of the Tonmaisis, and one of the most ancient towns of Belgium, contained at this period about 80,000 inhabitants.

Note b. Terouenne surrendered to Henry on the 23rd August, 1513.

03 Jan 1514. A Parlement kept at Westminster,^c where was graunted to the King (age 22) of all men's goodes 6d. in the pownde.

04 Dec 1514. This yeare on Monday, the 4th of December, Richarde Hunn, taylor, of London, was hanged in the Lowlardes Tower at Powles [Map]. He was made an heretique for suinge a Præmunire against Dr. Fitz-James, Bishopp of London, and Dr. Horsey, his Chauncellor; and they saide he hanged himselfe, but it was fownde contrarie. His bodie was burnt in Smithfeilde [Map], on the even of St. Thomas th' Apostle next followinge.^g

Note g. Arnold's version is as follows: "This yere, in Octobre, one Richard Hoone, dwellyng in the parysh of Saynt Margaret in Brydge Stret, was appeached of heresy, and put into the Lollar's Tower, at Powles, and therin was founde hangyd in prison, whereupon grete exclamacyon was amonge people, how, by whom, or by what meane, he was hangyd; the dowt was denyd by the temporall lawe, and was sayd that one Kok Charls, a sumner, and the Bell Rynge of Powles, sholde, in a nyght, hang the sayd Hoone; howe be it, aftyr he was hanged, he was jugyd an herctyck by the spirituall lawe, and brnyed in Smythfeld."

01 Jan 1515. The French King (age 52) died,^h and a new peace concluded with the Kinge (age 23) and Francis (age 20),^a that tyme new made King of France. And the Ladie Marye (age 18), French Queene, was grawnted her dowrie to be brought into England, and was suffred to have all her goodes and riches. The Duke of Suffolke (age 31), with Sir Richard Wingfeilde (age 46) and Dr. West, and other, sent into France as ambassadors.^b A conclusion was made that the saide Duke was weddid to the saide Lady Marie in France and thereupon cam over into Englande, and with them brought oyer all thinges after their mynde.^d

Note h. Louis XII (age 52) died 1st January, 1515.

Note a. The Duke of Valois (age 20), who succeeded under the title of Francis I, renewed the alliance with Henry.

Note b. Charles Brandon (age 31), Duke of Suffolk, Sir Richard Wingfield (age 46), and Dr. West, "with a goodly bande of yeomen, all in black" (says Hall), had been sent in embassy to Paris to negociate a settlement of the ex-queen's dower.

Note c. It had been arranged that the Duke (age 31) should conduct the ex-queen (age 18) back to England, and there have married her, but (says Stow) "for doubt of change he married her secretly at Paris, as was said;" it is now ascertained that such was the fact, and that the Duke was reproved for it by Wolsey (age 41), a draught of whose letter is still extant; as is also a letter of Mary to her brother, Heniy Ym., taking the blame on herself.

Note d. The French Chroniclers assert that Mary brought over with her into England jewels, plate, and tapestry belonging to Louis XII. to the value of 200,000 crowns, besides a great diamond called "le miroir de Naples."

May 1516. The Queene of Scottes (age 26), sister to the Kinge (age 24), came porelie out of Scotland to the Kinge,^f and was richlye receaved, and rode thorowe London.

Note f. Margaret, Queen dowager of Scotland, the King's eldest sister, being forced by a faction to fly to England, passed through London on her way to the court at Greenwich in May 1516.

12 Jan 1517. This yeare a great frost began the 12 day of Januarie^g in suche wise that no bote might goe betwixt London and Westminster all the terme tyme. And from Westminster to Lambeth was a common way over the Themms upon the ise [ice].

Note g. This season was likewise remarkable for a great drought, "for there fell no rain to be accounted of from the beginning of September till May in the following year, so that, in some places, men were fain to drive their cattle three or four miles to water." — Stow, ed. Howes, p. 606.

30 Apr 1517. This yeare, on Thursday, the last day of Aprill, there was an insurrection of yonge men and aprentises in London.^a And the Munday after, beinge the 4 of Maye, there was brought from the Tower of London to the Guyld-hall 54 persons,^b and there were indited. And the morrowe after a 11 persons were judged to death; fower of them to be hanged, drawne, and their bowells brent, and then quartered, which was so done; one of them at Blanck Chappeltone,^c another at Leaden Hall [Map], and two at the Standerd [Map] in Cheepe. And the other 7 were hanged on other gallowes which were sett up in divers places within the Cittie of London.

Note a. A fuller account of this uprising of the London Apprentices will be found in Hall and Stow.

Note b. 278 prisoners were arraigned before the Commissioners at Guildhall, of whom 13 were capitally executed. — Hall.

Note c. Blanche-Chapelton, i.e. Whitechapel.

22 Jan 1517. This yeare the Turk warred upon the Sowdan,^d and slewe him and one hundred thowsand men.^e And the countrie made a new Sowdan.

Note d. The Mamaluke Sultan of Egypt

Note e. In a battle fought near Aleppo by Sellul

14 May 1517. The 14 day of May the Kinge satt in the Kinges Benche in Westminster Hall [Map], and there was brought before him all the prisoners which came from the Tower of London [Map],^f in their shirtes with halters aboute their neckes, and there the King pardoned them, and the Major and citizens also which were there present in their liveries.

Note f. This event is more fully related by Arnold, who says, that, on the 16th May, 330 men and 11 women were bound in ropes, and led with cords from Guildhall to Westminster, the Sheriffs waiting on them, and every prisoner "a peyr of bedys [beads] in ther handys," and in the King's Street in Westminster were stripped to their shirts and halters placed about their necks.