Diary of Edward VI 1537
Diary of Edward VI 1537 is in Diary of Edward VI Volume 2.
[MS. Cotton. Nero, C. x.]
The MS. of the King's Journal is a folio paper book of 68 leaves, now bound, with some other papers of his writing, in the Cottonian volume above specified. On the fly-leaf in front is a drawing of the royal arms, crowned, within the garter, partly coloured and gilt, but not finished. The present Editor retains the title of Journal, which was bestowed on this compilation by Bishop Burnet; but the royal Author himself seems to have been inclined to call it a Chronicle, which was the more usual term of his day. The words "A Chronicle" are written by his pen, but smeared whilst the ink was wet, at the top of the first leaf; and the word occurs again on leaf *14.
For the remarks which some of our leading historical writers and others have made on this Journal, the reader may turn to the Preface.
The yere of our Lord 1537 was a prince borne to king Harry th'eight, by Jane Seymour then quene, who within few dayes after the birth of her soone died1, and was buried at the castel of Winsore. This child was christened by the duke of Northfolk, the duke of Southfolke, and the archbishop of Caunterbury.2 Afterward was brought up, til he came to six yeres old, amoung the wemen. At the sixt yere of his age, he was brought up in learning by Mr. Doctour Cox, who was after his amner3, and Jhon Chieke, Mr of Art, tow wel learnid men, who sought to bring him up in learning of toungues, of the scriptures, of philosophie, and all liberal sciences. Also Jhon Belmaine, frenchman, did teach him the French launguage. The 10 yere not yet ended, it was apointed he shuld be created Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwal, and Oonte Palatine of Chester. At wich time, being the yere of our Lord 1647, the said king died of a dropsi, as it was thought. After whos death incontinent came Edward erle of Hartford and sir Anthony Browne, master of the hors, to convey this prince to Enfild, wheare th' earle of Hertford declared to him, and his younger sister Elizabeth, the death of their father.
Note 1. King Edward was born on the 12th of October, and his mother died on the 24th of that month: see Biographical Memoir.
Note 2. It is remarkable that the King omits the name of his godmother — being his sister Mary. The ceremonial of the Christening is given in the Appendix.
Note 3. Richard Coxe, S.T.P. was constituted Almoner, by letters patent dated 16th March, 1546-7, which are printed in Rymer's Foedera, &c. The following entry in the register of the Privy Council lets us know in what the duties of that ofiice consisted: "1546-7. March 10: Warrant was addressed to sir William Cavendish, treasurer of the chambre, for the payment of the summes ensuing to Mr. doctour Coxe, the King's Mates Almonyer, viz. for the almes given by his Mate to xiij . pore men daily, at 5 d. sterling a piece of them, per annum lxv li. x s. Item for almes distributed on Palme Sunday and Good Friday amongs pore parishes as it was the last year, cxxxiij li. vj s. viij d. Item for privy almes given monthly by his Highnes, xxli. Faoit for one whole year, ccxlli." On the 11th June following sir William Cavendish "had warrant to allow himself xij li. for so much disbursed to xij. pore men by the King's Mates in almes on Maunday Thursday last past."
1After the death of king Henry th'eight, his son Edward prince of Wales was come to at Hartford by th'erle of Hartford and sir Anthony Brown, master of t'horse, for whom before was made great preparacion that he might [be] created Prince of Wales, and afterward was brought to Enfild, whear the death of his father was first shewed him, and the same day the death of his father was shewed in London, wher was great lamentation and weping; and sodenly he proclaimed King.2
Note 1. Bishop Burnet remarks that here the King "begins anew again," repeating some of the particulars already stated. The probable explanation of this is, that the first beginning was here, with his accession, and that he subsequently prefixed the short account of his birth and childhood.
Note 2. The proclamation (in London) did not take place until the 31st of January; the same day on which the King was brought to the Tower. See in the Appendix the ceremonial of the Proclamation, as related in the Black Book of Lincoln's Inn.
The same day in the after-noone the said young King came to the Towef of London from Hertford, and rode into the citie at Aldgate, and so along the wall by the Crossed Fryers to the Tower-hill, and entered at the Red Bulwarke, where hee was received by sir John Gage, constable of the Tower, and the lieutenant on horsebacke, the earle of Hertford riding before the King, and sir Anthony Browne riding after him; and on the bridge next the ward gate the archbishop of Canterbury, the lord chancellour, with other great lords of the councell received him, and so brought him to his chamber of presence, where they were sworne to his Majestie." (Stowe's Chronicle, quoting "Rob. Greene" as authority in his margin.)
31 Jan 1547. The next day, being the [31st] of [January], he was brought to the towre of London, whear he taried th'espace of three wekes; and in the mean season the counsel sat every day for the performaunce of the will1, and at length thought best that the erle of Hartford shuld be made Due of Somerset, sir Thomas Seimour Lord Sudley, the erle of Essex Marquis of Northampton (age 35), and divers knights should be mad Barons, as the lord Sheffield (age 25), with divers other.2 Also thei thought best to chose the duke of Somerset to be Protectour of the realm and Governour of the Kinges person during his minorite, to which al the gentlemen and lordes did agre becaus he was the Kinges oncle on his mother's side.3 Also in this time the late King was buried at Windsor with much solemnite, and th' officers broke their staves, hurling them into the grave.4 But thei were restored to them again when thei come to the towre.
Note 1. The Will of Henry the Eighth was printed at length in 4to. 1793. The proceedings of the privy council with regard to its execution will be found in the Appendix.
Note 2. The creations were:
1. The protector to be Duke of Somerset;
2. The earl of Essex (age 35) (brother to the queen dowager) to be Marquess of Northampton;
3. The lord Lisle (age 43) to be Earl of Warwick;
4. the lord chancellor Wriothesley (age 41) to be Earl of Southampton;
5. sir Thomas Seymour (age 39) to be Lord Seymour of Sudeley;
6. sir Richard Rich (age 50) to be Lord Rich of Leez;
7. sir William Willoughby (age 32) to be Lord Willoughby of Parham; and
8. sir Edmund Sheffield (age 25) to be Lord Sheffield of Butterwick. The ceremonial of their creations will be found in the Appendix.
Note 3. On the subject of the Protectorate the reader is referred to the Appendix. The duke was also constituted Lord Treasurer on the 10th of February, and the next day sworn in to that office before the lord chancellor in Westminster hall. He further became Earl Marshal (see the next page), both these high offices being vacated by the attainder of the duke of Norfolk.
Note 4. The ceremonial of the Funeral of Henry the Eighth is printed at length in Strype's Eccles. Memorials, vol. ii. Appx. A. The interment was accomplished on the 14th Feb.
1547. The lord Lisle (age 43) was mad(e) Erle of Warwick, and the lord great chamberlainship was given to him;1 and the lord Sudley mad(e) Admirall of England.2 Al this thinges wer don, the King being in the towre. Afterwardes, al thinges being prepared for the corronation3, the King being then but nin(e) yere old, passed through the cite of London as hiertofore hath ben used, and cam to the palace of Whestmuster, and the nest day cam into Whestmuster hall, and it was asked the peple whether they would have him to be there King? who answered "Ye, ye." Then he was crowned King of England, Eraunce, and Irlande by th'ar(ch)bishop of Caunterbury and al the rest of the cleargie and nobles, and anointed with al such ceremonies as wer accustomed, and toke his othe, and gave a general pardon4, and so was brought to the hale to diner, Shroft sunday, wher he satt with the croune on his hed, and th'arbishop of Caunterbury and the lord Protectour, and al the lordes satt at bourdes in the hal beneth; and the lord Marshales deputy, for my lord of Somerset was lord Marshal, rode about the hal to make rome. Then came in sir John Dimoke, champion, and mad his chaleng, and soe the King drounke to him, and he had the cup. At night the King retourned to his palace at Whest muster, wher ther wer justes and barieres; and afterward order was taken for al his servauntes being with his father and him being prince, and the ordinary and unordinary were appointed.
Note 1. On the 21st May following the Council made the following order relative to the hereditary claim of the earl of Oxford to this office: "This day it was ordered by the Lord Protectour's grace, with th'assent of others of the Counsail, that the patent of the Great Chambrelenship of Inglande shuld be demanded of th'erle of Oxenfourth, to be by him surrendered into the King's Mates hands, for the clere extinction of his pretenced clayme to the said office, whereunto he could showe nothing of good ground to have right to the same."' (Register of the Privy Council.)
Note 2. The office of Lord Admiral was resigned by the earl of Warwick (age 43) at this time, and resumed after lord Seymour of Sudeley's disgrace. The letters patent to Seymour, dated 17th February, 1547, are printed in Kymer's collection, as are other letters to the like purport, dated 30th August following. On the same day (17th February) the office of Earl Marshal was granted for life to the duke of Somerset; that of Great Constable of England was granted, for the day of the coronation, to the marquess of Dorset (age 30); and that of Great Steward of England, for the same day, to the earl of Bedford. (Ibid.)
Note 3. The ceremonial of the Coronation will be found in the Appendix.
Note 4. From this Pardon six persons were excepted: the duke of Norfolk, Edward lord Courtenay, son of the late marquess of Exeter, sir .... Fortescue, sir .... Throckmorton, cardinal Pole, and doctor Pates. (Stowe's Chronicle.) In the act for a General Pardon passed in the ensuing parliament, cap. 15, were excepted all persons being the 2nd Dec 1547, prisoners in the Tower of London. Statutes of the Realm, iv. 35.