Tudor Books, Hall's Chronicle 1542
Hall's Chronicle 1542 is in Hall's Chronicle.
06 Jan 1542. The sixtene daie of January the Parliament began, in the which the Lordes and Commons assented, to desire of the kyng certain peticions. First, that he would not vexe himself, with the Quenes offence, and that she and the lady Rocheford (age 37), might be attainted by Parliament.
Also, because of protractyng of tyme, whiche the more should bee to his unquietnes, that he would under his greate Scale, geve his royall assent, without tariyng the ende of the Parliament.
Also, that Duram and Culpeper, before attainted by the common law might also be attainted by Parliament.
Also, that Agnes Duches of Norffolke (age 65), and Katheryn Countesse of Brigewater (age 43) her daughter, whiche were for concealyng the saied offence committed to the Tower and indited of misprision, and the lorde William (age 32) and other, arreigned of the same, might be likewise attainted.
Also, that whosoever had spoken or doen any act, in the detestacion of her abhominable livyng, should be pardoned.
13 Feb 1542. To the whiche peticions the kyng graunted, saiyng that he thanked the Commons, that thei tooke his sorowe to bee theirs: Whereupon the Quene (age 19) and the Lady Rocheforde (age 37), were attainted by bothe the houses. And on Saterdaie beyng the [e]leventh daie of February, the Kyng sent his royall assent, by his greate Seale: and then all the Lordes were in their Robes, and the Common house called up, and there the acte redde, and his assent declared. And so on the thirtene daie, these twoo Ladies were behedded on the Grene, within the Tower [Map] with an axe, and confessed their offences, and died repentaunt.
At this Parliament the Kyng was Proclaymed kyng of Irelande, whiche name his predecessors never had, but wer alwaies called lordes of Irelande.
03 Mar 1542. In the beginnyng of Marche died sir Arthur Plantagenet Viscount Lisle (age 77) bastard to Kyng Edward the fourth, in the tower of London unattainted, when he should have been delivered and put at his liberty.
12 Mar 1542. And the twelve daye of the saied moneth, sir Jhon Dudley (age 38) sonne and heire to the saied Lorde Lisles wife was at Westmynster created Viscount Lisle.
The Parliament sittyng, in Lent one George Ferreis Bourgeoys for the toune of Plimmouth, was arested in London upon a condempnacion, at the suite of one White. Whereupon the Serjaunt at armes, of the Common house, was sent to the Counter in Bredestrete [Map] to fetche hym: but the Clerckes would not deliver hym, wherfore the Serjeaunt and his manne, would have brought him awaie perforce. Diverse of the Shirifes officiers there present, withstoode the Serjeaunt, so that they fell to quarellyng, and the Serjeauntes man was sore hurte. After the Fraie ended, the Shirifes of London whose names wer Rowland Hill, and Henry Suckely came to the Counter, and first denied the deliverye of the prisoner, howbeit afterward they delivered hym. But this matter was so taken in the Common house, that the Shirifes and the Clercke, and five Officiers, and the partie plaintife were sent to the tower, and there laye twoo daies, and were delivered agayn by the Speaker and Common house.
Although I have not used muche to declare of privat thynges doen, in other forrein Realmes, yet will I now tell of one because the thyng was so reported to me, and the matter it self so written and delivered me, that I must nedes judge it to be a truthe, and the like in al this woorke is not expressed, therfore I purposed woorde by woorde, as it was writen unto me, here to expresse it. The matter is of a certein Gentleman in Scotlande, who for contemning of the Bisshop of Romes usurped aucthoritie, and for praisyng and commendyng the affaires and procedinges of Englande, and reprovyng the naughtie life of the Scottishe Clergie, was, as an hereticke accused, and convented before diverse of theim, as after maie appere, there to make answere to suche Articles as should bee objected against hym. He knowyng their accustomed favor, fled from theim into Englande. Agaynst whom after he was gone, they preceded in suche sort, as by this that foloweth whiche is the true copie of the processe maie appere.
Sir Jhon Borthwike, commonly called Capitain Borthwike, accused, suspected, defamed and convicted by witnesses, whiche were men of suche honestie, against whom could none excepcion bee taken, the yere of our lorde, a thousande five hundred and fourtie, the xxviii. day of May in the Abbay of sainct Androwes, in the presence of the moste worshipfull fathers in Christ, Gawyn Archebishoppe of Glasgue, Chauncellor of Scotlande, William of Aberdowyn, Henry Bishoppe of Galloway and of the Kynges Chapell of Sterlyng, Jhon Bishoppe of Brecth. William bishop of Dunblan: Andrew Abbot of Melros, George Abbot of Dumfermelyng, Jhon Abbot of Paslay, Jhon Abbot Lundros, Robert Abbot of Kyllos, and Willyam Abbot of Culros: Malcolme Prior of Whitytern, and Jhon Prior of Pettywerin, Master Alexander Balfour Vicar of Kylmane, and Rector of the Universitie of sainct Androwes. And afore the cunnyng Masters, Master Jhon Mair, and Master Peter Chapilain, professors, and doctors of Divinitee, Master Marten Balfour, Bachelar of Divinitie, and of the lawe, and Officiall principall of sainct Androwes, Jhon Wyrem Supprior, Jhon Wannand, and Thomas Cunnyngham, Chanones of the Abbay of sainct Androwes, Jhon Thomson with his felowe, Prior of the blacke Friers of sainct Androwes, Jhon Tullydaff Wardein of the Grey Friers, of S. Androwes, and Jhon Patersone, vicar of the same covent. And also before the noble mightie and right worshipfull lordes, George Erle of Huntley, James erle of Arrain, Willyam erle Marshall, William erle of Montrosse, Malcolme lorde Flemmyng, Chamberlain of Scotlande, Jhon lorde Lindesay, Jhon lorde Erskyn, George lorde Seiton, Hugh lorde Symervall, sir James Homilton of Finnard, Walter lorde of S. Jhones of Torphecten knightes, master James Foules of Colynton clerke of the Register, to our moste sovereigne Lorde the Kyng and many and diverse and sondery other lordes, barons, and honest persones, required to be witnesses in the premisses, doth affirme that he hath holden these errors folowyng, openly taught them, and instructed them, that is to saie.
First, that our moste holiest lorde the Pope, the Vicar of Jesu Christ, cannot have nor exercise any more aucthoritie emongest Christians, then any other bishop or priest.
Secondly, that Indulgences and Pardons, graunted by our moste holiest lorde the Pope, is of no value strength and efficacie, but utterly to the abusion of the people, and the deceivyng of our soules.
Thirdly, he saied that the Pope was a Simoniack, ever sellyng gyftes, and that all priestes might mary.
Fourthly, that al Englishe heresies (as thei are called) or at the least, the greater and better part observed by Englishemen, hath been and is good, and to be observed by christen men, as true and consonant to the law of God: in so much that he perswaded very many people to accept the same.
Fiftly, that the people of Scotlande, and the clergie therof hath been and is utterly execated and blinded, by affirmacion that thei had not the true catholike faith, affirmyng and openly saiyng, that his faith was of more value and better, then all the Ecclesiasticalles, of the realme of Scotland.
Item, likewise accordyng unto tholde opinions, of Jhon Wiclief and Hus, heresiarches and Master heretikes, condempned in the counsail of Constantine, he hath affirmed and farther declared, that Ecclesiasticall persones, should not possesse, have nor enjoye, any temporall possessions neither exercise jurisdiccion, or any kynd of aucthoritie in temporall matters, neither upon their awne subjectes, but that all should utterly bee taken awaie from them, as it is in these daies in Englande.
Item, he hath saied, holden, and affirmed falsely, and contrary to the honor, state, and reverence, of our sacred kynges majestye of Scotlande that our kynges majestie of Scotland, the moste clerest defender of the Christian faith, would contrary to the lawe and libertie of the holy churche, vendicat and chalenge unto his private uses, all ecclesiastical! possessions, landes, and yerely rentes, geven by his fore fathers, and also by hymselfe, and to inforce this matter he hath also by writyng perswaded our moste noble kyng, with all his endevor.
Item, he hath willed and sought, and many times hath desired hartely that the Churche of Scotlande should come, and be brought to the same poynt and ende, and to suche like fal, as the Churche of England, is now come to in deede.
Item, he hath saied, affirmed, and taught openly, the Cannon lawes and the Decrees of our holy fathers, approved by the Catholike and apostolike Churche, is of no valewe nor strength, bryngyng in and affirmyng the same, for to be made and set furth, contrary to the lawe of God.
Item, he hath saied holden and affirmed many waies that no religion should be kept, but that should bee abolished and destroyed, and to bee as it is now destroyed in Englande, and vilepending all holy Religion, affirmyng it to bee an abusion of the people, whose clothyng sheweth manifestly, to be deformed monsters, havyng no utilitie or holines, bryngyng in by this and perswadyng, asmuche as in hym lay, all adherentes of his opinion, that all the religion in this realme of Scotlande, should be destroyed and utterly taken awaie, to the moste greatest losse of the Catholike Churche, and to the deminishyng of Christen religion.
Item, it is plainly knowen by lawfull probacions, that the same Jhon Borthwike, hath had and actually hath, diverse bokes suspect of heresy dampned, aswell by the Papall, as by the Regall and ordinary authorities forbidden (that is to saie) firste of all the newe Testament in Englishe, printed in Englande, CEcolampadius, Melancthon, and diverse tractes of Erasmus, and other condempned heretickes, and also the boke of Unio Disddenttum, conteinyng moste manifest errors, and that he hath red, studied, and communicated, and presented the same to other men, aswell openly as privatly, and that he hath instructed and taughte, very many Christians in the same, to the effect, to turne them from the very true and Catholike faithe.
Item, it is openly knowen, the same Jhon Borthwike, to bee so stubburne in all these foresaid errors and heresies, and to have susteined and taught the same, with suche an indurate mynde, so that he would not declyne by no maner of meanes from the same, for diverse of his frendes, and persons whiche loved hym, and would have had hym convert, to the catholike faithe, neither would he consent to theim in any wyse, but rather unmoveably persist in his errors.
For the whiche said articles, and many other errors holden, saied, publicated and taught by hym and (as the common voyce is) which he stil holdeth and teacheth, the forsaid Jhon Borthwike to bee taken, holden, and coumpted as an Heretike, and a Master heretike, and as a very evil judger of the holy faithe.
Therfore we David of the title of sainct Stephyn in the mount Celo of the holy churche of Rome priest Cardinall, Archebyshop of saint Androwes, Primate of this whole realme of Scotlande and of the Apostolike seate Legate create, syttyng in our seate of justice in nature of Judges, the holy Evangelistes of God set afore us, that our judgementes precede from the sight of God, and our iyes must loke to equitie, having onely God and the catholike faith afore our iyes, the name of God being called upon and folowyng the counsayll aswell of the devines as lawyers, this foresaied Jhon Borthwike called capytain Borthwike condempned of the foresaid heresies, accused, suspected and infamed by lawfull probacions had and brought against hym in all the foresaides, convicted, cited, called and not appearyng but absentyng hym selfe lyke a runaway: Therfore let us thinke, pronounce, and declare hym to be convicted and to be punyshed worse then an heretike. And further more all his movables and unmovables by whatsoever title they be gotten and in whatsoever parties they lye, they to be geven to the secular power. And all offices had by dower or by his wyfe to be confiscat and spent to the use and custome of the lawe. Also we do declare by these presentes the image of the foresayed Jhon to be made to the likenes of hym, and to be brought into the metrapolitan Churche of sainct Andrewes and after that to the market crosse of the citie, there to be brent as a sygne and a memoriall of his condemnyng to the example and feare of all other. Lykewise we do declare that if the same Jhon be taken within our lyberties to be punyshed accordyng to the lawe of heretikes. Also we warne all true belevers in Christ of whatsoever state and condicion they bee, that they from this daie do not receive or admit into their houses, tentes, villages or tounes Jhon Borthwike to eate or to drinke or to preferre any kynd of humanitie in paine of such like punishment: Further, if there be any founde culpable in these foresaied that they shalbe accused as fautours and maintayners of heretiques, and they shalbe punished accordyng to the law. This sentence red and made and put in writyng in the Metrapolitan Churche of sainct Androwes we sittyng in our Tribunals seate, the yere of our Lord 1540, the xxviii. day of Maye drawen out of the Regester made against heretikes and agreyng with the sentence of Jhon Borthwike.
In this yere James erle of Desmond came to the kyng and was honorably entertained and wel rewarded. And in September the great Onele [Conn O'Neill 1st Earl Tyrone] came to the kyng to Grenewyche, where he and a capitaine of the North partes of Irelande called Magannysse and the Byshop of Cloar, made their submission in writing, confessyng their offences, and promisyng to serve the kyng and his Jheires truely: whiche submission by the kyng consydered, he upon the first daie of October created at Grenewyche the saied sir Eustace Onele called greate Onele (because he was the chiefe of his linage called Onele) Erle of Tereowen, commonly called Tyron and gave hym a great chayne, and made Magannysse and his cosyn knightes and gave them both chaynes, and he gave to the lord Mathias sonne to the erle, the Barony of Duncan.
At this ceason the kynges Majestic prepared for warre into Scotlande: the cause why this warre was made is moste manifestly declared by that whiche foloweth, which the kynges Majestic published by this title, A declaration conteignyng the just causes and consideracions of this present warre with the Scottes: wherin also appeareth the true and ryght title that the kynges moste royall majestie hath to his sovereigntie of Scotland. And it begynneth thus.