Hall's Chronicle 1535
Hall's Chronicle 1535 is in Hall's Chronicle.
Apr 1535. In the beginning of this yere the Duke of Norfolk (age 62) and the Bishop of Ely went to Calais, and thither came the Admiral of France.
19 Jun 1535. And the nineteenth day of June was three monks of the Charterhouse hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyborne [Map] and their quarters set up about London or denying the King to be Supreme Head of the Church. Their names were Exmewe, Myddlemore, and Nudigate. These men when they were arraigned at Westminster, behaved themselves very stiffly and stubbornly, for hearing their inditement read how traitorously they had spoken against the King’s Majesty his crown and dignity, they neither blushed nor bashed at it, but very foolishly and hypocritically acknowledged their treason which maliciously they avouched, having no learning for their defence, but rather being asked diverse questions, they used a malicious silence, thinking as by their examinations afterward in the Tower of London it did appear, for so they said, that they thought those men which was the Lord Cromwell (age 50) and other that there sat upon them in judgement to be heretics and not of the Church of God, and therefore not worthy to be either answered or spoken unto. And therefore as they deserved, they received as you have heard before.
22 Jun 1535 Also the twenty-second day of the same month John Fisher Bishop of Rochester (age 65) was beheaded, and his head set upon London bridge [Map]. This bishop was of very many men lamented, for he was reported to be a man of great learning, and a man of very good life, but therein wonderfully deceived, for he maintained the Pope to be Supreme Head of the Church, and very maliciously refused the King’s title of Supreme Head. It was said that the Pope, for that he held so manfully with him and stood so stiffly in his cause, did elect him a Cardinal, and sent the Cardinals hat as far as Calais, but the head it should have stood on, was as high as London Bridge or ever the hat could come to Bishop Fisher, and then it was too late and therefore he neither ware it nor enjoyed his office. This man as I said was accomplished learned, yea, and that very notably learned, and yet have you heard how he was deceived with Elizabeth Barton that called herself the Holy Maid of Kent, and no doubt so was he in the defence of that usurped authority, the more pity. Wonderful it is that a man being learned should be so blind in the scriptures of God that prove the supreme authority of Princes so manifestly.
06 Jul 1535. Also, the sixth day of Julye was Sir Thomas More (age 57) beheaded for the like treason before rehearsed, which as you have heard was for the denying of the King’s Majesty’s supremacy. This man was also accomplished learned, and as you have heard before he was Lord Chancellor of England, and in that time a great persecutor of such as detested the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, which he himself so highly favoured that he stood to it till he was brought to the scaffold on the Tower Hill [Map] where on a block his head was stricken from his shoulders and had no more harm. I cannot tell whether I should call him a foolish wiseman, or a wise foolish man, for undoubtedly he beside his learning, had a great wit, but it was so mingled with taunting and mocking, that it seemed to them that best knew him, that he thought nothing to be well spoken except he had ministered some mock in the communication in so much as at is coming to the Tower, one of the officers demanded his upper garment for his fee, meaning his gown, and he answered, he should have it, and took him his cap, saying it was the uppermost garment that he had. Likewise, even going to his death at the Tower gate, a poor woman called unto him and besought him to declare that he had certain evidence of hers in the time that he was in office (which after he was apprehended, she could not come by) and that he would intreat she might have them again, or else she was undone. He answered, good woman have patience a little while, for the King is so good unto me that even within this half hour he will discharge me of all business, and help thee himself. Also, when he went up the stair on the scaffold, he desired one of the sheriff’s officers to give him his hand to help him up, and said, when I come down again, let me shift for myself as well as I can. Also, the bagman kneeled down to him asking him forgiveness of his death (as the manner is) to whom he said I forgive thee, but I promise thee that thou shall never have honesty of the striking of my head, my neck is so short. Also, even when he should lay down his head on the block, he having a great grey beard, striked out his beard and said to the hangman, I pray you let me lay my beard over the block least ye should cut it, thus with a mock he ended his life.
Aug 1535. This yere in the time that the King went his progress, which was to Gloucester and so Westward, the King of Scots was installed at Windsor by the Lord Erskine his Procurator.
Oct 1535. And in October following Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester (age 52) was sent Ambassador into France where he remained three years after.
Nov 1535. In November was a solemn procession through the City of London of all the priests and religious in and about the City for the recovering of the French King to his health.
