But let vs further consider what moved this blessed man to stand
in defence of this quarrell, and we shall soone perceive that he had
great cause to do as he did, for although he thought in his Conscience,
and by his profound learninge most assuredly knewe, that
the kinge for noe f. 73vcause yet alleadged, could by the law of god
make any separacion between him and his wife, this noble Princesse,
yet had he a more secrett intelligence of the kings doings, & further
intent therin then at that time was knowne to many others; I meane
of his proceedinge to a second marriage with the lady Ann Bullen,
wherof although for the great reuerence he bore to the kings person
he spared to speake openly that which he knew for trew, yet to some
of his secret frendes when it might serve to the purpose he would not
sticke to vtter, that the kinge could not by anie meanes proceed to
such marryage without the ruine of his honor and good name, and
the inestimable losse of his soul for euer. No, although the Pope
shoulde pronounce the first maryage to be void & adnihillat, and
that for sundrie causes; for first it was well knowne that even about
such time as the king began to cast his carnall love to this ladie,
Ann Bullen, the lord Henrie Persie, sonne and heire to the Erle of
Northumberland, chanced also not longe before that time to fall in
love with her; and therin at last proceeded so fare that they were
assured before good witnesses in the waie of maryage, he beinge
then attendant vpon Cardinall Woolsey, and she wayting in the
Court vpon this good queene Catherin nether of them yet knowing
the kings intent; f. 74rbut when knowledge therof came to the kings
eares he waxed angrie, and was much moved against the lord
Pearcie, insomuch as he sent in hast for the Cardinall to come to
him on a time to Bridewell, and there opened vnto him all his intent
and purpose, willinge him in any wise with all the speed that might
be, to call before him the said lorde Percie, and to infringe his
assurance by all the meanes he could devise. The Cardinall seeinge
all this matter come to this effect was not a litle vnquyeted therat.
Howbeit returninge home to his howse at Westminster, and not forgettinge
the kings Commaundement, he called the lord Percie before
him, and there in presence of diuers of his servantes demaunded of
him with many sharpe wordes what he had done, and how farr he
had proceeded in this matter. The lord Percie perceavinge this his
doinge to be ill taken, and verie lykely to turne to his displeasure,
answerred vpon his knee with feare; That they were assured before
witnesse. Then said the Cardinall hast thou done lyke a lewd
boye, to attempt any such thinge without the knowledge other of
the kings Maiestie, thy father, or me, and therfore I commaund thee
that thou come no more in her companie vpon paine of the kings
displeasure & mine, for by this meane thou hast gotten thee alreadie
his ill will; And I will also signifie vnto thy father thy bould and
rashe attempt, wherby it is lyke thou shalt be disinherited for ever.
Then the lord Percie in most lamentable and pittifull manner said
vnto the Cardinall still kneelinge, "I most humblie desire your
graces favour herin, and that you will stand so much my f. 74vgood lord
as to intreate the kings Maiestie for me, for truly I have now gone so
farre in this matter, and that before many worthie witnesses that I
know not how to discharge my conscience before god, nor yet excuse
my self before men." "Whie" said the Cardinall "dost thou harpe
still vpon that stringe? I thought thou wouldest have shewed thy self
penitent for thy foolish doings, and here have promised to relinquish
from henceforth any further attempt therin." "Truly" said the
lord Pearcie, "so will I with all my hart as much as in me lyeth,
my conscience only reserved for my former promisse." "Well" said
the Cardinall, "I will signifie so much to the kinge," and so departed.
And this was one cause that made this reuerend man to mislyke of
this second marriage.
An other cause was for that there was a greate and constant fame
how the king had before carnally knowne the ladie Anns mother,
which in law forbiddeth all marriage of the children for ever after,
because otherwise it might be dowbt that the kinge should marrye
his owne daughter. And for some better probabillitie therof I have
heard yt reported of diuers persons of good credit, that the Countesse
of Wilshire her mother as she happened on a time to talke with
the kinge of this matter sodenly said vnto him in the hearing of
sundrie persons, half in sport and halfe in earnest, these wordes:
"Sir, for the reuerence of god take heed what you doe in marying
my daughter; for yf you record your conscience well she is your
owne daughter as well as mine."
f. 75r Lykewise it was verie evident to many that were about the
kinge, that he commonly knewe not only this ladie, Ann Bullen,
before he marryed her, but also longe before that he knew in lyke
manner the ladie Marie Carie, her sister. And these were causes
whie this good man thought that the king could not by any meanes
lawfully proceed to this maryage; no, although his first marryage
had bene void and adnihillat, or though this good queen had bene
dead, and the kinge free to marrie.
Other causes there were though not of so great importance as
these be, yet verie iust & probable why the kinge with his honor
and safetie of his realme could not well proceed thervnto. For first
there went a great rumour of her incontinencie and loose lyvinge, &
what inconveniences have growne in many Christian realmes by
doubtful succession of Bastardie; there needeth here noe example to
be rehearsed, beinge a case so well knowne to the worlde as it is;
and of this it should seeme there was a shrewd lykelyhood when
Sir Thomas Wyatt after he vnderstood of the kings intended purpose
to marrie with her came to the kinge and declared vnto him
the truth of that he knewe, doubtinge in deed that the same
comming els to his knowledge by some other meane might kindle
displeasure secretly in his brest against him, and so at one time or
other breake out to his confusion.
Wherfore comminge I saie to the kinge he told him plainly
f. 75vthat she was no fitt wife for his maiestie, confessinge there almost in
plaine wordes, with great feare, that himself had bene familier with
her. Lykewise she was greatly suspected, and in manner notoriously
knowne of diuers persons to be an heretick, and therby verie lykely
to corrupt the kinge, being so extreamely blinded with their vnlawfull
doctrine as she was, which after came to passe in deed: for she was
the first and only person that of a longe time durst breake with him
in such matters. The effect and fruite wherof the world seeth, and
this miserable countrey more and more feeleth to our vndoinge.
Now approched the time wherin this blessed man grew to his
finall and last trooble: for at the Parlement before mentioned, wherin
he was attainted of misprision of treason for the matter of the nunn of
Canterburie, there was also in the same Parliament an other statute
made, declaringe the establishment of the kings succession in the
imperiall Crowne of this realme; by vertue wherof it was enacted,
that the said mariage heretofore solemnized betweene the kinge and
the ladie Catherin, beinge before his older brothers wife, and by him
f. 76rcarnally knowne as the Acte reporteth should be by the authorite of
that Parliament, definitively, cleerly, and absolutely declared, deemed,
and iudged to be against the laws of Almightie god: and also excepted,
reputed, and taken of noe valewe or effect, but vtterlie void to all
intentes and purposes, accordinge to sentence made at Donstable by
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterburie. And that the matrimonie
had and solemnised betweene the kinge and queene Ann
should be established and taken for vndoubtfull, trew, sincere, and
perfect, accordinge to the iudgment of the said Archbishopp. And
that the yssue comminge of that mariage should be inheritable to the
Crowne and gouernment of the Realme. By meane wherof the ladie
Marie, being yssue of his former marriage, was disherited and disabled
to all intentes and purposes. And yf any person, of what
estate or condition soeuer he be, shall by wrytinge, printing, or any
exterior Acte or deed procure or doe any thinge, to the preiudice,
slaunder, disturbance, or derogation of the said matrimony, or the
yssue growing of the same, that euerie such person should be deemed
and iudged as a high Traytor, and should suffer such paines and losses
as in Case of high treason is provided. And further, yf any person
should, by word or speech only, without wrytinge or doinge, vtter or
publish any thinge in derogacion f. 76vof this matrimonie, that everie such
offence should be taken and adiudged for misprision of high treason,
and the offenders to suffer imprisonment during the kings pleasure,
and to loose to him all their goods, chattells, and debts. And that for
offendinge in any of these treasons or misprisions, no priveledge nor
immunitie of Sanctuarie within this Realme should serve. Certaine
other things there be also contained within the same Acte, as by
readinge of the same statute may appeare more at large. But, lastly,
it is concluded that for the better and more sure keepinge & observing
of this Acte, aswell the nobles of this realme, spirituall and
temporall, as all other subiectes of the same, shall make a corporall
oath, That they shall truly and constantly observe, defend, and keepe
to the vttermost of their cunninge, will, and powre the whole effect
and contentes of this Statute. The wordes of which oath although
they be not expressed at large in the Statute were these: Ye shall
sweare to beare faith, truth, and obedience all only to the kings
maiestie, and to his heires of his bodie of his most deere and intirely
beloved lawfull wife, queen Ann, begotten and to be begotten. And
further, to the heires of our soueraigne lord according to the limitacion
f. 77rin the Statute, made for suertie of his succession in the crowne of this
Realme mentioned and contayned, and not to any other within this
realme, noe forraine authoritie or Potentate. And in Case any oath
be made or hath bene made by you to any person or persons, that
then ye to repute the same as vaine and annihilat, and that to your
cunninge, witt, and vttermost of your power, without guile, fraud, or
other vndew meanes, ye shall observe, keepe, maintaine, and defend
the said Acte of Succession, and all the whole effects and contents
therof, and all other Actes and Statutes made in confirmacion and
for execucion of the same, or of any thinge therin contained: and
this ye shall doe against all manner of persons of what estate,
dignitie, degree, or condicion soeuer they be: and in no wise do
or attempt, nor to your powre suffer to be done or attempted directly,
any thinge or thinges prively or apertly, to the lett, hinderance,
daunger, or derogation therof or of any part of the same, by any
manner of meanes, of for any manner of pretence, so helpe you
God, and all Saincts, And the holy Evangeliste.
This oath, although it was not in these wordes expressed in the
Statute as is before said, and therby not of any such force that any
man was compellable by vertue of that lawe to take yt, yet it so
pleased f. 77vthe Kinge and his Counsellors of their owne authoritie to
have it framed, and lykewise tendred to all such as were called
before the Commissioners for that cause authorised: and in the end
of that session of parliament which was the xxxth of March it was
offred to all the lordes of the higher howse, both spirituall and
temporall, and lykewise to the Commons in the lower howse; wherof
most of both howses accepted it with heavie hartes only my lord of
Rochester except, who openly refused to sweare it. Neuertheles he
was winked at for that time, and nothing said to him. And so the
Parliament beinge ended he departed home to his Pallace of Rochester
where he had not remayned above the space of four daies, but a letter
came to him from the Archbishop of Canterburie and certaine other
Commissioners, willinge him personally to appeare before them at
Lambeth, in the said Archbishops howse, by a certaine daie expressed
within that letter, all excuses sett apart. This letter beinge once
knowne and heard of within his howse, cast such a terror and feare
amonge his servantes, and after amonge other his frendes in the
countrey, that nothinge was there to be heard of f. 78rbut lamentacion
and mourninge on all sides: Howbeit the holy man, nothinge at all
dismaid therat as a thing that he daily and howrly looked for before,
called all his familie before him, and willed them to be of good
cheere, and to take noe care for him, sayinge that he nothinge
doubted but all this should be to the glorie of God, and his owne
quietnesse. "And for that" said he, "I beinge once gone, you
may doubte of the time of my returne hither to you againe, I have
willed my Steward to consider euerie of you with a portion of my
goodes as far as they extend, desiringe god to send both you and me
his grace;" and so turninge his backe lefte them all weepinge, and
went about other business. And callinge his officers to him to consult
for the disposition of his goods, he first allotted to Michaell howse
in Cambrige where he was brought vp at learninge a hundred
pounds, which was after paid to the howse in goulde. An other
portion he caused to be devided amonge his servantes, alowinge euery
one of them a rate according to his place and worthines. Lykewise
to poore people in Rochester he assigned an other some to be distributed.
The rest he reserved for himself to defend his necessitie in
prison, where he accounted himself sure as soone as he was come
before the Commissioners, alwais reservinge vnto the Colledge of Saint
John in Cambrige such percells of goods as he before had geven them,
and borrowed againe of them by his wrytinge, though in deed his
good meaninge in that point was neuer fulfilled, as after shall be
declared. The next daie he sett forward his iorney towards Lambeth,
and passing through Rochester, there were by that time assembled a
great number of people of f. 78vthat Cittie and countrey aboute to see him
departe, to whom he gave his blessinge on all sides, as he ridde through
the Cittie bare headed. There might you haue heard great waylinge
and lamentinge: some cryinge that they should neuer see him againe.
Some others said, woe worth they that are the cause of his trooble;
others cryed out vpon the wickednes of the time to see such sight;
euery one vtteringe his greefe to others as their mindes served them.
Thus passed he till he came to a place in the waie called Shooters
hill, nigh twenty miles from Rochester, on the topp wherof he rested
himself, and dessended from his horse; and because the howre of his
refection was then come, which he observed at dew times, he caused
to be sett before him such victualls as were thither broughte for him
of purpose, and there dyned openly in the ayre, his servants standinge
round about him, and so came to London that night. And this
precise order of dyett he vsed longe before, because the Phisitians
thought, and he feared him self to be entred into a consumption.
When the daie of his appearance was come, he presented himself
before the byshopp of Canterburie, the lorde Awdeley, Chauncellor
of England, and Maister Thomas Cromwell, the kings secretarie, and
certaine other commissioners authorised vnder the great seale to
tender the oath to him and others, they fittinge then at Lambeth,
where he found at the same time Sir Thomas Moore and f. 79rMaister
Doctor Wilson, somtimes the kings Confessor, who both had refused
the oath a litle before his cominge, and thervpon Sir Thomas
Moore being committed to the custodie of the Abbot of Westminster,
Doctor Wilson was forthwith sent to the towre of London. Against
the same daie all the Clergie of London were also warned to come
thither about the same purpose, wherof fewe or none refused the
oath for that time. Then was he called into the Chamber before
them, and there my lord of Canterburie put him in remembrance of
the late Act of Parliament, wherin is provided an oath to be ministred
to all the kinges maiesties subiects for the suertie of his succession
in the crowne of this realme, "which oath" said he, "all the lordes,
both spirituall and temporall, haue willingly taken, only your lordship
except. And therfore his maiestie holdeth himself greatly discontent
with you, and hath by his Commission appointed vs to call
you before vs, and to offer you the oath once againe, which we have
here present;" and therwith laying the oath before him, demaunded
of him what he said to yt. Then said my lord of Rochester, "I praie
you let me see the oath, and consider a litle vpon it." Then the
Commissioners, consultinge a litle amonge them selves, graunted him
space for foure or five daies, and so he departed againe to his owne
howse in Lambeth Marsh where he lodged.
f. 79vDuringe the time of his lyinge there many of his frendes came
to visitt him, and as it were to take their leaves of him, thinkinge to
see him no more after that day: amonge which the maisters and fellowes
of Saint Johns College in Cambrige, not forgettinge their great
benefitt receaved at his handes, sent vp two of their companie, called
Maister Seton and Maister Brandsbe, partly to salute and visitt him in
the name of the whole howse, and partly to desire of him the confirmacion
of their Statutes vnder his seale, which himself longe before
had made and drawne in writing, but yet never confirmed. And
therefore doubting much the time of his imprisonment to be verie
neare at hand, their humble suite was that it would please him to
alowe the same statutes vnder his seale before he went to prison:
but to that he answered that he would first reade and consider of
them once more, and then if he lyked them he would fulfill their
request. "Alas" said they, "we feare the time is now so short
for you to read them before you goe to prison." "Then," said he,
"I will read them in prison." "Naie" said they, "that we thinke
will hardlie be brought to passe." "Then" said he, "let gods will
be done, for I will neuer alowe vnder my seale that thinge f. 80rwhich I
haue not well and substantially viewed and considered:" wherfore
these two fellowes departed without their purpose. But shortly
after, when this good father was in prison, and things began to alter
and change, the byshop of Canterburie and Maister Cromwell, the
kings Secretarie, with certaine others, by vertue of a commission from
the kinge, made a new booke of Statutes, and sent them downe vnder
their authoritie to the Colledge: which new statutes beinge receaved,
then were the ould then made by the Bishop of Rochester, pronounced
void and of none effect, and therfore the bookes to be laid
awaie, and disposed at their pleasure. At the same time was Presedent
in that howse one Maister George Cowper, a Bacheler in divinitie,
and a right well learned and reuerend man. This Maister Cowper,
havinge one of the ould Statute bookes remayning in his custodie
as by vertue of his office belonged vnto him, was loath to deface or
cast it awaie for his sake that made them, but studyinge with himself
what were best to be done with the booke, agreed at the last to geve
the same to some bodie to be kept for a remembrance of that holy
man, and so vpon some speciall fancie as it seemed gave them to a
yonge fellow of that howse standing by called Thomas Watson,
saying to him, "hould, take this booke of my guifte, and keep it
well, for the time may f. 80vcome that thou shalt live and restore it to
the howse, and so bring the statutes into their force againe." And in
deed as this good man said it came after to passe, for that yonge
man prospered in his studies so singulerly well, that he came to great
honour, estimacion, & credit, and beinge many yeres after elected
Maister of that howse, restored againe those good Statutes, which
stoode in force till wickednes againe gott the vpper hande. But since
that, for his speciall merittes, he beinge most worthily promoted to
the Bishoprick of Lincoln, is for his great and profound learninge
accounted a rare man in his time.
The day beinge at last come when this blessed man should geue
answere before the Commissioners, whether he would accept the Oath
or not, he presented himself againe vnto them, sayinge, "That he
had pervsed the same oath with as good deliberacion as he could, but
that it being framed in such sort as it is, by no meanes he could
accept yt with safetie of his Conscience. Neuertheles" said he,
"to satisfie the kings maiesties will and pleasure, I can be content to
sweare to some part therof, so that my self may frame yt with other
conditions, and in other sort then it now standeth; and so both
mine owne conscience shall be the better satisfyed, and his maiesties
doings the better iustified and warranted by lawe."
f. 81rBut to that they answered that the kinge would by no means
lyke of exceptions or Conditions; "and therfore," said my lord of
Canterburie, "you must answere directlie to our question, whether
you will sweare the oath or noe." Then said my lord of Rochester,
"yf you will needs haue me to answere directly, my answere is,
That forasmuch as mine owne conscience cannot be satisfied, I do
absolutly refuse the oath:" vpon which answere he was sent
straightway to the Towre of London, where he remained verie close
locked and shutt vp in a stronge prison, without the companie of
any person more then one servant to helpe him in his necessitie,
because he was aged; and this was done on tuesdaie the xxjth of
Aprill, in the yere of our lord god 1534, and the xxvth yeare of the
Kings Raigne, being the last daie of his raigne for that yere.
After he had lyen in prison six mounths and more, the Parliament
began againe at Westminster vpon prorogacion in the xxvjth yere of the
kings raigne, the third daie of November. This Parliament, although
it were but short for yt continued but five and fortie daies, yet were
the matters within it both great and waightie. Amonge which one
Act was made for ratifyinge the Oathe made in the last Parliament
towching the Succession, for the refusinge wherof this good bishop was
committed to prison as ye have heard before: for ye shall vnderstand,
that although this oath was ministred to diuers persons
wherof the most accepted it for feare, and some refused it that were
forthwith imprisoned, yet was not the same euer warranted by lawe,
nether yet any man compellable by that law to take yt before the
makinge of the second Acte. And therfore seeinge it so fell out that
this good father was by their owne lawes wrongfully imprisoned for
refusing this oath, yt was now ordered that his wrongfull imprisonment
was to be iudged and accounted rightfull from the begininge
by this Acte of Parliament.

When the innocent and holie Cardinall was come vpon the
Scaffold, he spake to the people in effect as followeth: "Christian
people, I am come hither to die for the faith of Christs holy Catholick
Church, and I thanke god hitherto my stomack hath served me
verie well thervnto, so that yet I have not feared death: wherfore I
do desire you all to helpe and assist me with your praiers, that at the
verie point and instant of deaths stroake, I maie in that verie moment
stand stedfast without faintinge in any one point of the Catholick
faith free from any feare; and I beseech almightie god of his infinite
goodnes to save the kinge and this Realme, and that it maie please
him to holde his holy hand ouer yt, and send the king good Counsell."
These or lyke wordes he spake with such a cheerfull countenance,
such a stowte and constant courage, and such a reverent gravitie
that f. 101v he appeared to all men not only void of feare but also gladd of
death. Besides this he vttered his wordes so distinctly and with so
lowde and cleere a voice, that the people were astonied therat, and
noted it for a miraculous thinge to heare so plaine and audible a
voice come from so weake and sickly an ould bodie; for the yongest
man in that presence, being in good and perfect health, could not
have spoken to be better heard and perceived than he was. Then
after these fewe wordes by him vttered, he kneeled downe on both
his knees and said certaine praiers, amonge which as some reported
one was the Hymne of Te deum laudamus to the end, and the psalme
In te domine speraui. Then came the executioner & bound a handcarcher
about his eyes, and so this holy father lifting up his handes
and hart to heaven, said a few praiers which were not longe but
fervent and devout, which being ended, he laid his holy head downe
over the middest of the blocke, where the Executioner being readie
with a sharp and heavie Axe cutt a sunder his slender necke at one
blowe, which bledd so abundantly that many wonndred to see so
much blood yssue out of so leane and slender a bodie; and so head
and body being severed, his innocent soule mounted to the blissfull
ioys of heaven.
And as concerninge the head the Executioner put it into a bagge,
and carryed it awaie with him, meaninge to have set it vpon London
bridge that night as he was commanded. But it was reported that
the ladie Ann Bullen, who was the cheef cause of this holy mans
death, had a certaine desire f. 102rto see the head before yt were sett vp;
whervpon being brought vnto her, she beheld yt a space, and at last
contemptuously said these or lyke wordes: "Is this head that so
often exclaymed against me? I trust it shall neuer do me more
harme;" and with that strykinge it vpon the mouth with the backe
of her hand, hurte one of her fingers vpon a tooth that stood somwhat
more out then the rest did: which finger after grewe sore, and puttinge
her to paine many daies after, was neuerthelesse cured at last with
some difficultie. But after it was healed the marke of the hurt place
remayned to be seene till her dyinge day. This maie seem strange,
as a rare example of cruell bouldnes in that sexe, which by nature is
fearfull and cannot well behould such spectacles, and therfore argues
no doubt a wonderfull malice, which she by lykelyhood bare to the
holy man living, that could thus cruelly vse his head beinge dead:
Then strippinge the bodie out of his shirte and all his cloathes, he
departed thence, leavinge the headles carcasse naked vpon the scaffold,
where it remained after that sort for the most part of that daie,
savinge that one for pittie and humanitie cast a litle strawe vpon
his privities; and about eight of the clock in the eveninge, commaundment
came from the kings Counsell, to such as watched about
the dead bodie for it was still watched with manie halberds and
weapons, that they should cause it to be buried. Whervpon two of
the watchers tooke it vpon a halbert betweene them, and so carried
it to a church yard there hard by, called Allhallows Barkinge, where
on the north side of the Church hard by the wall they digged a
grave with their halberdes, and therin without any reuerence tumbled
the bodie of this holy prelate and f. 102vblessed Martyr all naked and flatt
vpon his bellie, without ether sheet or other accustomed thinge
belonging to a christian mans buriall, and so covered it quickly with
earth, followinge herein the kings commaundment, who willed it
should be buryed contemptuously. And this was done on the daie
of St. Albane the prothomartyr and first martyr of Englande, being
Tuesday the xxijth of Iune, in the yere of our redemtion 1535, and
the xxvijth yere of king Henries raigne, after he had lived full threescore
and sixteene yeares nyne mounthes and odd daies.
The next daie after his buriall, the head beinge somwhat perboyled
in hott water, was pricked vpon a pole and sett on high vpon
London bridge, amonge the rest of the holy Carthusians heades that
suffred death lately before him. And here I cannot omitt to declare
vnto you the miraculous sight of this head, which after it had stand
vp the space of xiiij daies vpon the bridge could not be perceived to
wast nor consume, nether for the weather, which then was verie hott,
neither for the parboylinge in hott water, but grewe daily fresher
and fresher, so that in his life time he neuer looked so well; for his
cheekes being bewtifyed with a comly redd, the face looked as
though it had beholden the people passinge by, and would have
spoken to them, which many tooke for a miracle f. 103rthat Almightie
god was pleased to shew aboue the course of nature in thus preservinge
the fresh and lively color of his face farr passinge the color
he had beinge alive, wherby was notifyed to the worlde the innocencie
and holines of this blessed father, that thus innocently was
contented to loose his head in defence of his mothers heade, the holy
Catholick Church of Christ. Wherfore the people cominge daily to
see this strange sight, the passage ouer the bridge was so stopped
with their goinge and comminge, that almost nether Cart nor horse
could passe: And therfore at the end of xiiij daies the Executioner
commaunded to throwe downe the heade in the night time into the
river of Thames, and in place therof was sett the head of the most
blessed and constant Martyr Sir Thomas Moore, his companion and
fellowe in all his troobles; who suffred his passion the vjth day of
Julye next followinge.
And towchinge the place of his buriall in Barkinge Church yard,
it was well observed at that time by diuers worthie parsonages of
the nations of Italie, Spaine, and Fraunce, that were then abidinge
in the realme, and more dilligently noted and wrote the course of
things, and with lesse feare and suspition then any of the kings subiects
might or durst doe: that for the space of vij yeares after his
buriall there grewe nether leafe nor grasse vpon his grave, but the
earth still remained as bare as though it had bene continewally
occupied and trodden.
f. 103vWhen by common fame this bloodie execution was blowne and
spredd abroad, straight waie the name of kinge Henrie began to
growe odious amonge all good people, not only in his owne Realme
at home, but also amonge all forraine princes and nations abroad
through Christendome, which specially appeared in the most worthie
Pope Paule the third, who with great greefe signified this horrible
and barbarous crueltie by his seuerall letters to the Christian princes,
openly detestinge the outrage of kinge Henrie in committing such a
wicked and manifest inurie, not only against the freedome and priveledge
of the Church of Rome, but also against the whole state of
Christes vniversall Church, for the which, in short space after, he
pronounced the tirrible sentence of excommunication against him.
Lykewise the most noble and Christian Emperor Charles the vth,
at such time as Sir Thomas Moore was beheaded, and word therof
brought to him, he sent speedily for Sir Thomas Elliott, the kings
Ambassador, there resident with him, and asked him whether he
heard any such newes or noe; who answered him that he heard noe
such thinge. f. 104r"Yea" said the Emperour, "it is trewe, and too
true that Sir Thomas Moore is now executed to death as a good
Bishopp hath lately bene before;" and with that geving a sigth
said: "Alas, what ment the kinge to kill two such men: for" said
he "the Bishopp was such a one, as for all purposes I thinke the
kinge had not the lyke againe in all his Realme, nether yet was to
be matched through Christendome; So that" said he "the king,
your maister, hath in killinge that Bishopp killed at one blowe all
the bishoppes in England," meaning no doubt that this bishop,
considering his pastorall care and constant profession of his bishoply
duty in defence of the Church, in respect of the rest of his brethren,
did only deserve the name of a bishopp. "And Sir Thomas Moore"
said he "was well knowne for a man of such profound wisdome,
cunninge, and vertue, that yf he had bene towards me as he was
towardes the kinge your maister, I had rather have lost the best
Cittie in all my dominion then such a man."
And in lyke manner kinge Frauncis, the french kinge, though in
some respects a man wished to be otherwise then he was, yet talkinge
on a time with Sir John wallop, the kings Ambassador, of
those two blessed men, tould him plainly that ether the kinge his
maister had verie ill counsell about him, or els himself had a verie
hard hart, that could put to death two such worthie men, as the
lyke were not again within his realme: whereof kinge Henrie being
aduertised tooke it verie ill at the hands of king Frauncis for so
reporting of him, sayinge, that he did nothinge but that himself was
first made privie to yt.
But generally amonge all Christen people kinge Henrie was
both ill thought and ill spoken of, as no doubt but there was great
cause, for sundrie consideracions, as well for the innocent death of
this blessed father as of diuers other blessed men, both spirituall and
temperall: wherof some dyed before him and some after him, though
in all respects no one comparable to him, partly for his great age,
partly for his profound learninge, partly for his sanctitie of life, and
partly for his great and high dignities. as after shall be declared
unto you.