Search York

themselves away.
But notwithstanding all these several courses, religion

still prevailed greatly; as appeared by the compassion,

countenance, and encouragement that was given to two-and-

twenty at once, sent up by the commissioners from Col-

chester, as they passed through the country, tied and driven

along like sheep to the shambles. And at Stratford Bow

companies of good men met them, as it were, to conduct

them honourably to London, comforting and heartening

these poor prisoners of Jesus Christ. And still the nearer

they came to London, the compassionate crowds increased

about them ; so that by the time they came through the

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 555

city to Fulham, where the Bishop was, there were above a CHAP.

thousand people. The Bishop, surprised at this, told Sir XUI "

John Gresham, being then with him, that he should let the Anno 1556.

mayor and sheriffs know that this was not well ordered of

the city

But besides these commissioners aforesaid, that the coun- The Legate

try might be well scoured, the Lord Legate was now send- commit

ing down others by a commission from himself. sioners.
A commission was also given out for the counties of Nor- 4 coramis -

folk and Suffolk, that were as much infected with the pre- Norfolk and

tended heresy as Essex, before mentioned. To these com- Suffolk -

missioners, (whose names I meet not with,) they who were

like to feel their severity most, made an earnest and well-

penned supplication, which was printed, entitled, A Sup- A suppika-

plication made by certain godly persons, and unfeigned t !°" g^""

favourers of Chrisfs Gospel, in the counties of Norfolk persons

and Suffolk: and by them exhibited to the Queen's Com-

missioners, sent thither for the subverting and abolishing

of God's holy Word and true Religion ; and instead thereof,

to place and. advance the Romish Blindness and blasphe-

mous Superstition. Anno Dom. mdlvi. Herein, " they

" first professed to continue, as they had ever hitherto done, 342

" in all Christian obedience unto the end ; and to these

" commissioners, now having a commandment, as though it

" were from the Queen, with all humble obedience due to

" the regal power and authority, ordained of God, (which

" they acknowledged to stand whole and perfectly in her

" Grace,) and with due reverence unto her commissioners,

" they beseeched them with patience and pity to receive their

" answer, viz. that weighing the commandment given to

" them, concerning the restitution of the late abolished La-

" tin service, to dissent and disagree from God's word, and

" to command manifest impiety, and to overthrow true god-

" liness and religion, and to import a subversion of the re-

" gal power of this their native country and realm of Eng-

" land, with the bringing in of the Romish Bishop's supre-

" macy, with all errors, superstition, and idolatry, wasting

" of their goods and bodies, destroying of their souls ;

556 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP. " bringing with it nothing but the severe wrath of God;

" which they already felt, and feared lest the same should

Anno 1556. « De more } 10 t : therefore they humbly protested, they

" could not be persuaded, that the same wicked command-

" ment (as they called it) should come from the Queen's Ma-

" jesty, but rather from some other that abused the Queen's

" goodness and favour, and studied to work some feat

" against the Queen, her crown, and the realm ; to please

" with it the Roman Bishop. They thought the Queen's

" gentle heart to be abused by some who sought them-

" selves, arid their own vainglory, by procuring such com-

" mandments as were against the glory of God. For they

" could not have so ill an opinion of her Majesty, that she

" would subvert that most godly and holy religion, set forth

" by the most noble, virtuous, and innocent King Edward,

" her brother, except she were wonderfully abused. That

" the religion set forth by the same King was such, in their

" consciences, as every Christian was bound to confess to

" be the truth of God, and every member of Christ's Church

" here in England must needs embrace the same in heart,

" and confess it with mouth ; and, if need require, lose and

" forsake, not only house, land, and possessions, riches, wife,

" children, and friends, but also, if God so call them, gladly

" to suffer all manner of persecution, and to lose their lives

" in defence of God's word and truth, set out among them.'"

And afterwards, towards the conclusion, they add, " that

" they had humbly opened unto the commissioners their

" consciences, sore wounded and grieved by this command-

" ment : and they meekly prayed and beseeched the Queen's

" Majesty, for the precious death and bloodshed of Jesus

" Christ, to have mercy and pity upon them, her Grace's

" poor commons, faithful and true subjects, members of the

" same body politic, whereof her Grace was supreme head.

" That all their bodies, goods, lands, and lives were ready

" to do her Grace faithful, obedient, and true service, in all

" commandments that were not against God and his word.

" But in these things, that imported a denial of Christ, and

" a refusal of his word and holy communion, they could not

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 557

" consent nor agree unto it. For they had bound them- chap.
" selves in baptism to be Christ's disciples, and to keep his __
" holy word and ordinances. And if they denied him be- An,1 ° l556 -
" fore men, he would deny them before his heavenly Fa- 343
" ther, and his holy angels, in the day of judgment. Which
" they trusted her benign Grace 'would not require of them.
" They humbly beseeched, that they might not be forced
" unto it : but, as they served her Grace with body and
" goods, and due obedience according to God's command-
" ment ; so that they might be permitted freely to serve
" God and Christ, and keep unto him their souls, which he
" had with his precious blood redeemed. That if persecu-
" tion ensued, with which they were threatened, they de-
" sired the heavenly Father, according to his promise, to
" look from heaven, to hear their cry, and to judge between
" them and their adversaries, and give them faith, strength,
" and patience to continue faithful unto the end, and to
" shorten these evil days for his chosen sake. And so they
" faithfully believed he would. Notwithstanding, they
" trusted the Queen's gracious and merciful heart would
" not suffer such tyranny to be done against her poor, inno-
" cent, faithful subjects. -11
Finally, " They heartily prayed the commissioners to be

" means unto the Queen's Highness and her Council, that

" their humble suit might be favourably tendered and gra-

" ciously heard : and so subscribed themselves,

" Your poor suppliants, and lovers of Christ's
" true religion, in Norfolk and Suffolk."
This whole supplication Mr. Fox hath preserved in his

Acts and Monuments. But I think it had little effect, the

Queen and Council being so vigorously bent to severity

against all that opposed their proceedings, and so resolved

upon the establishment of the old religion.

558

MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

344

CHAP. XLIII.

Preparations in the north. Matters with Scotland. The

Earl of Cumberland complained of.
Anno 1556. J_ HERE was now, in the month of January, a great ap-

stirs in the prehension of an invasion or rebellion in the north parts :

north. which occasioned the Queen to send her letters to the Earl

of Shrewsbury, for the putting in a readiness the able men

within the counties of York and Darby. On the 24th of

January, he signified back his care in fulfilling the Queen's

command, with as much expedition as he might. But the

Queen again willed her Council, (such was her fear,) that

they should again remind the said Lord of her former com-

mand, and to use such diligence therein, as her Highness

might understand what he had done in that behalf, with all

convenient speed. But in truth, those northern parts were at

present in a great want of money, victuals, ammunition, and

other things. Of which the said Earl, being lord president

of the north, gave them notice, and desired a supply, in case

a necessity of service should happen.

The Lord Treasurer therefore took such order, as he

wrote to the Earl, that the office of the ordnance in the

north was sufficiently furnished with munition, ordnance,

powder, and all other things necessary ; which the Lord

Wharton, who was keeper of the town and castle of Bar-

wick, and master of the ordnance there, would inform them.

And as for money, the Queen's Council sent word, that when

the Queen should have occasion to use the service of those

men that should be put into a readiness there, she would

take order for the furniture thereof, as need should require.

And as for victuals and provender, they thought, as far as

they could understand, that there was as good store of those

things in those parts, as in any other place of the realm,

the scarcity being general at that time.

Orders to The Earl of Shrewsbury, lord lieutenant of some of

the Earl of t nose northern countries, being intended chief of that annv

Shrews- . . .'
bury. that was preparing in those parts, had desired a special

Supplies

sent into

the north

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 559

commission for that service. In answer to which, the Coun- CHAP,

cil signified, that his commission of lieutenancy, if the same _

stood still in force, were sufficient for the two causes of re- Anno i55«.

bellion or invasion, was as much as needed to answer the

Queen's meaning at that time. And they added, that they

doubted not but he would be always in such readiness, as

if any preparation should be made by any foreign enemy,

for the invasion of the borders, they might be ready to meet

there within time, according to the trust in him. This was

writ the last day of January, from Greenwich, and signed by

the Lord Chancellor, Marquis of Winchester, lord trea-

surer, the Earl of Arundel, Lord William Howard, Tho-

mas Bishop of Ely, Sir William Petre, John Bourne, and

John Boxal, secretaries.
The Queen also wrote letters at this time to the same im-353

port, that is, to be all united and in a readiness, to the other And other

lieutenants, viz. the Earls of Westmorland and Cumber- L "dstnthe

land ; also to the Lord Coniers, the Lord Evers, the Lord north.

Scroop, and the Lord Darcy.
Command was also sent to take a diligent account of all

the marches, west, east, and middle ; to know what strength

was to be expected there, and to put things in a readiness,

which had of late gone very much into neglect and dis-

order.
That which was done in the east and middle marches, the The condi-

Lord Wharton, lord warden thereof, signified to the Lord east and

President, tog-ether with a declaration of the warden-court, midd J e
. marches.
which he had called ; which warden-court began at Alnwic

castle the 3d of February, and continued till Monday the

8th. The order whereof, and what was done, he sent the

Lord President in a schedule, viz.

" A brief declaration of the warden-court, held at Aln-

" wic, for the King and Queen's Majesties 1 east and middle

" marches of England, in the time of six days continuing

" the same court, viz. beginning the 3d of February in-

" stant, and ending the 8th of the same. Wherein is men-

" tioned, as well the number of offenders, at one instant

" brought to the bar by the Lord Wharton, his deputies and

560

MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP.

XLIII.

servants, for suspicion of march-treasons by them com-

mitted, as also the numbers of juries chosen, and pur-

Anno 1556. " posely tried forth of all places within the said marches, to

" pass of inquiry and delivery, and for matters of contro-

" versy between party and party ; and what number of the

" said march-traitors, as before, were indicted, and con-

" demned to die. 1 '

At the bar

in one in-

stant, in

number five

score and

one.

Causes be-

Quests of

Quests of

Indicted for

tween party

gentlemen

gentlemen

the march-

and party

for inquiry,

for delivery,

treasons, in

ordered,

in number

in number

number six-

seventy five.

five.

three.

ty eight.

Cast and

condemned

to die for

march-trea-

sons, in

number five.

All Scotch-

men.

Their

strength

The Lord

Wharton's
deserts.

Before the end of the court, he called the gentlemen and

freeholders, and declared to them the Queen's commandment

for their service and readiness upon an hour's warning : and

having their own certificates of musters, he demanded of every

man severally, if their power with horse, armour, and wea-

pon were ready, according to their said certificate : who said

every one openly, after their name and number read, that

they would stand to the same. Thereupon he commanded,

in their Majesties" 1 names, to see their furniture immediately

after their repair unto their houses. They confessed eight

hundred and twenty horsemen, and eleven hundred forty-nine

footmen. Notwithstanding which, he set forth gentlemen

to muster the country in several parts. Of which he after-

wards certified the Lord President.
This was the care of the Lord Wharton, warden of the

east and middle marches; which had gone of late years

much into disorder, and were of great extent. This gentle-

man seemed to deserve well in this office ; the weight of

which he was very apprehensive of telling the Lord Presi-

354 dent, " that it was a charge over great, and too much for

" so unmeet a subject as he was, to rule so great a country,

" which had been so long suffered in disorder : but that he

" was glad that he was commanded for the future to cer-

" tify to the said President, from time to time, .the occur-

UNDER QUEEN MARY I.

561

" rences of those marches: and prayed him, that he would CHAP

" favour him and the service under his charge to his com-

xlih.

Anno 1550".

" fort." This for the east and middle marches.

As for the west marches, the Lord William Dacre had The state of

also received letters from the Council, to take a particular the " est

r , inarches.
account of the strength of the west wardenry, and to certify

them thereof: which he finished by the middle of Fe-

bruary. And accordingly sent this certificate unto the

Council :

A certificate of the musters taken within the precinct of the

west marches of England, Febr. — 1556.

In Cumberland, able men 4227.

Whereof

-g ") Light horsemen 262

| > Archers . . 258

£ J Bill men

L»

2003

1604

In Westmorland, able men 1178.

Whereof

15 "^ Light horsemen 67

1 > Archers . . 188

| J Billmen . . 526

LD

398

The Lord Dacre then gave the Lord President account

of the state of his borders, and the order taken by the com-

missioners for redress of attentates on both sides. The

effect whereof was, that all such attentates committed since

the said commissioners 1 meetings, being about the 26th of

July last, should be sworn, and first redressed before any

other were answered. According to the tenor whereof, he

vol. in. o o

562 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

CHAP, received sundry letters from the Lords of the Council to

" proceed indelayedly to the accomplishment of the premises,

Anno 1556. conform to the law of marches and conservation of the

amity. But upon some politic and partial considerations,

he deferred the execution of these commands ; namely, that

the sum of 3000/. were filed on the Gremes, or Grymes, and

already sworn : which the Scots had to demand, for mis-

355 chiefs and spoils taken from them by that family; and not

passing an 100/. to be asked of the Scots by the English.

Therefore, as he reckoned it, for the honour of the realm,

and commonwealth of those borders, and partly for the said

Gremes -1 sakes, who were men of good service, he had pro-

tracted the time by all the means he could devise, and did as

much as possible he might to see them undelivered ; and in-

tended still so to order and moderate the delivery, to be

done at sundry times, that thereby the easier the friends of

such as should be delivered might find remedy for their

redemption and enlargement. Although he were much

pressed, and earnestly called upon by the Lord Fleming,

lieutenant of Scotland, to proceed and deliver for all at one

time and meeting, according to the commissioners 1 order.

The This favour was shewn to these Gremes, or Grames, who,
rames. [j vm g U p on the borders, were a warlike people ; and did

great damage and spoil to the Scots in time of war. But

they were lawless, and made inroads upon the English too

sometimes, and assisted the outlaw Scots. The Lord War-

den, though he shewed them much friendship, had but a

hard hand with them : so that the Lord President had

given them admonition to use themselves obediently towards

the Warden ; yet when he sent for one, called Little Thorn.

Grame, George's son, and Will, and George, Rich's son,

(who had played some of their tricks,) they would not come

at him, and persisted in disobedience. And so stood these

matters.

One op- Archbishop Hethe, lord chancellor, in the month of-
pressed by March anno exeunt e, wrote to the Lord President of
the Earl of ' '
Cumber- the north, and the Council, to take cognizance of a con-

land.

UNDER QUEEN MARY I. 563
troversy between the Earl of Cumberland and Gabriel Proc- CHAP.
tor, esq. the occasion may appear from a supplication _J '_
made to the said Lord Chancellor by the said Proctor. The Anno 1556.

import whereof was, that whereas there had lately and of

long time depended matter in controversy, in the court of

the duchy of Lancaster between these two, touching the

farm of the manors of Winterborn, Hetton, Ashton, Flashy,

and Ayreton, in the county of York, whereof Proctor was

the farmer, bailiff", and receiver : so it was, that notwith-

standing a decree, and divers injunctions and writs, awarded

against the said Earl, his servants, and tenants, in Proctors

behalf; the Earl and they did not only from time to time

disturb, vex, and trouble him, his wife, servants, and tenants,

in the quiet occupation of the premises; but also divers

malefactors had been, and still were, maintained and aided

by the said Earl against the said Proctor, his wife, servants,

and tenants : whereby they were daily put in danger and

fear of their lives ; that is to say, one Lancelot Knowells

and Rafe Harrison, his servants, for murdering Proctor's

servant at his foot, and leaving him for dead. The Earl

gave the former a tan-house, and keepership of one of his

games, and appointed the latter to be a yeoman usher in his.

hall. And did so remain at that present, to the ill example

of others, and manifest contempt of the King's and Queen's

laws, with divers others of the said Earl's servants, who

were aiders and abettors of the said murder. Since which

time, his wife, his eldest son, and servants, had been sore

beaten, hurt, and wounded, by certain of the servants and

tenants of the said Earl and others hereafter named. And 356

by them divers and many great routs and unlawful acts had

been done.
For the reformation of which misdemeanours, it pleased

the Queen, by her bill signed, to grant her letters of com-

mandment to the sheriff and justices of peace of the county

of York, and all other her ministers there, to aid and assist

Proctor, in the quiet occupation and enjoying of the said

premises, according to the said decree, and a lease granted

o o

564 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL
CHAP, to him by the late King Edward VI. under the seal of the

* LIH - said duchy

Anno 1556. In consideration of the premises, and that for fear of the

" is c °™' malice of the said Earl, his servants, tenants, and others by
plaint to ' ...
the Lord his procurement, and for fear of the loss of his life, Proctor

Chancellor. re p au . e( j ] lome to n i s mansion-house and country. Where

he dared not to go about to put the Queen's letters in execu-

tion, and attend about his necessary business ; therefore he

petitioned the Lord Chancellor for remedy thereof: and in

way of charity, (for that the Earl was in that country a man

of great power, and still maintained his servants, tenants,

and others against Proctor,) to grant him their Majesties

writ of special supplicavit, to be delivered to the right

honourable the Earl of Shrewsbury, lord president of the

north, and the rest of the Council there, and to the sheriffs

and justices of the peace of the said county, and of all Lanca-

shire, authorizing them thereby, not only to call before them

the said Earl of Cumberland, Lancelot Kno wells, and Rafe

Harrison, Lancelot Neffield, Christopher Muncton, Thomas

Clifford, bastard brother to the said Earl, Thomas Clifford

Aspertyne, and thirteen more, who were principal offenders

herein, (the three last not being servants unto the Earl, had

wounded Proctor's wife, whereupon afterward she died,) but