Search York

422 " the schools ; our pleasure is, that for the better execution

*' of our said commandment, you shall yearly (at the least)

*' once visit, or cause to be visited, every school within your

" said diocese. In which visitation it shall be required,

" both how the schoolmaster of every such school hath

" used himself in the teaching of the said Catechism ; and

OF KING EDWARD VI. 107

" also how the scholars do receive and follow the same : CHAP.

" making plain and full certificate of the offenders contrary ^^^i-

" to this order, and of their several offences, to the Arch- Anno 1553.

'* bishop of the province, within three months, from time

" to time, after every such offence. Yeven under our sig-

*' net, at our manor of Greenwich, the 9th day of June, in

" the seventh year of our reign,"

This Catechism I conclude to be the Church Catechism, Warr. Book,

joined now ordinarily with our Common Prayer, for the

printing of which John Day had the King's licence in the

month of March before ; as likewise he had from Queen

Elizabeth afterwards.
In the month of May were many letters written from Letters to

the King to divers, and the chief, of the Irish nobility : lo^ds."^

what the contents thereof were, I do not learn. But if I

take it right, the intention thereof seems to be, by promises

of pardon and fair words, either to reduce them to obe-

dience, or to keep them from making disquiet in that realm.

These letters, all of one date, viz. May 13, were to the Earl

of Tyrone ; to the Bishop of Done and Dromore ; to O Han-

Ion, lord of Oriet ; to Mac Donel, captain of the Gallo-

glas ; to Maculyn ; to Ochan ; to Magwyre lord of Farman-

nagh ; to John 0-nel, the Earl of Tyrone's son ; to Mol-

mor Oraylie, lord of Breffyn ; and to Hugh Macnellog, lord

of Clanaboy.
Dudley, the great Duke of Northumberland, now bore Nortiium-

all the sway at Court, and in effect did what he listed, gr^ift"! ^

This year, besides the county palatine of Durham, (the ho-

nour and power of which was like to fall to him,) the King

gave him Bernard's castle there, with very great additions

of lands and lordships in that county and in Northumber-

land. He was also now made high steward of all the ho-

nours, castles, manors, lordships, and lands in the counties

of Cumberland, Northumberland, Westmorland, and York,

or any otherwhere in the bishopric of Durham, for life.

He had also granted to him the manors of Feckenham,

Bromesgrove, King's-norton, in Worcestershire, with many

other lands. The year before, he was made chief steward

108

MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK

II.
Anno 1553

423
The Duke

of Nor-

thumber-

land's

greatness.

Northum-

berland's

cares for

the realm.

of the east riding of York, and of all the King's lordship in

Holdernes and Cottingham in the said county. The year

before that, he was constituted general warden or keeper of

the marches of England towards Scotland ; namely, of the

east, west, and middle marches : which were scarcely be-

fore put into one man's hand, (except the Marquis of Dor-

set, immediately before him,) and he to appoint his deputy

wardens. And his patent was ordered to be drawn up in

the most large and comprehensive manner, enduing him

with as much authority, power, preeminence, commodity,

and liberty, as any before him had enjoyed from Richard

the Second's time to Henry the Eighth, as the warrant ran.

Besides these, things in the north, he obtained of the King

great and spreading demeans in Somersetshire, Warwick,

and Worcestershire, and many other counties.

So that by this time the Duke had prodigiously enriched

himself, and made himself formidably great, by lands and

lordships, honours and offices, castles, and places of trust,

heaped upon him by the King ; to whom it was not safe to

deny him any thing he asked. He had strengthened his

interest also by raising himself friends upon tlie King's cost,

as more especially, the Lord Clinton and Sir John Gates,

and his brother. Sir Andrew Dudley, master of the ward-

robe, and taken into the order of the Garter, and his own

sons, Ambrose, raised to the degree of Earl of Warwick,

and master of the King's horse, Sir Robert Dudley, made a

lord, and the King's carver, and Guilford Dudley, whom

the Duke was now marrying to one of the royal blood, viz.

the Lady Jane, eldest daughter of the Duke of Suffolk.

This present juncture was an extraordinary busy time

with him. For finding the King declining apace in his

health, (which some thought himself the instrument of,) his

ambitious mind drew him to make his advantage hereof,

and to advance his family to reign : which he did by sug-

gesting to the King the danger of the true religion, which

he had so carefully reformed and established, if his sister

Mary should succeed, who was wholly Popish : advising him

therefore, that he should by his express will exclude her.

OF KING EDWARD VI. 109

and make a settlement of the crown upon the family of the CHAP.

Greys, married into the royal blood; a daughter whereof.

one of his sons had lately wedded. The courtiers saw Nor- Anno 1553.

thumberland's designs, and many of them did but coldly

espouse the business, and were not as careful in the matter

as himself: which he expected they should be, out of their

unfeigned concern for religion and the safety of the realm,

which he much talked of and pretended. And having oc-

casion in the beginning of May to write to Secretary Cecyl,

then retired into the country upon pretence of being sick of

an ague, but perhaps more truly sick of Northumberland's

project, he lamented to him the great negligence of many

in the Court in those, as he called them, most dmigerous

days: " and that neither zeal, nor the consideration of the

" time, could scarcely awake them, and smoothly winked

<' all cares from their hearts. And that he could illy bear

" them ; such was his duty to the State, as he plausibly

" writ, like a very careful statesman."" But another of K.

his cares perhaps now was, that in the beginning of this

May the King was in a probability of restoration to his

health. For he now seemed to amend and grow better. The King

1 11 r. 1 • 1 1 mends.
and the physicians made no doubt of his thorough recovery:

and the rather, because the King was now resolved to fol-

low their directions, which he was not so inclinable to do

before. This, Northumberland said, he was sure would

comfort the Secretary ; and that the news of it, two or three

mornings one after another, being brought him by the phy-

sicians, revived his spirits. Nevertheless, all this surely was

but a copy of his countenance. Or if he were in earnest, it

was because the King might live to have his aforesaid de-

signed settlement of the crown confirmed by Parliament;

which was soon after called for that purpose, and should

have sat, had the King lived.

And the King's growing better, together with a present The Lady

he had sent his sister Mary, caused her to write to him a writes a

congratulatory letter, as little doubting now a perfect reco- J^"^^''*!"^',

very ; which ran in this tenor : ter to him

hereupon.

110 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK " My duty most humbly remembered unto your Ma-

^^' " jesty. It may please the same to be advertised, that as

Anno 1553." the hearing of your Highness' late rheum-cough was to

424 " me as much grief as ever was any thing ; even so the hope

p^t^t A • " which I have conceived, since I received your Majesty's

mig. " last token by my servant, hath been not a little to my
" comfort. Praying Almighty God, as according to my

" bounden duty, to give your Majesty perfect health and

" strength, with long continuance in prosperity to reign.

" Beseeching your Highness to pardon this my bold and

" rude writing. And if in the same I do trouble your Ma-

" jesty at this present, as I hope I do not, that then my

" humble duty and nature, which enforced me thereunto,

" may excuse my default. Thus most humbly taking my

" leave of your Majesty, I do and sliall daily pray for the

" prosperous preservation of your most royal state, as of

*' all others I am most bound. From Beaulyeu, the xvi of

" May, scribbled with a rude hand.

" Your Majesty's most humble sister,
" Marye."
A deputy Now therefore having the great game of all to play, to

of the bring the crown into his family, the Duke thought of se-

Tower curing the Tower. Sir John Gage, the present constable of

the Tower, being now absent, either by sickness or some

other cause. Sir James Croft, one of this Duke's confidents,

was appointed to be Gage's deputy in his absence, in order

to laying him quite aside. And in May instructions were

sent by the King to Sir James Croft and Sir Edward War-

ner, lieutenant of the Tower, for their proceedings, touching

the good order to be kept there. And a warrant was sent

to the Treasurer of the Augmentations, to pay the said Sir

James, deputy constable of the Tower, forty shillings by

the day, for thirty men appointed under him ; and to Sir

Edward Warner, eightpence a day apiece for ten men. And

in the same month of May orders were given to Clinton,

lord admiral, for the discharging of several bulwarks and

OF KING EDWARD VI. Ill

fortifications, as those at East and West Tilbury, Sandshot CHAP,

in Dorsetshire, the bulwark of Higham, and those of ______

Gravesend and Milton in Kent, and the powder and mu- Anno 1553.

nition in them to be removed to the Tower, for the better

guard thereof. And in the same month of May a licence

was given to the Lord Warwick and to the Lord Robert

Dudley, two of the Duke"'s sons, the one to retain an hun-

dred men, and the other fifty.
In the next month, viz. June, a third secretary of state Anew se-

was appointed, (a thing scarce known before,) viz. Sir John *^'^*^ ^^^'

Cheek : whose love and zeal to religion made him safe to the

interest of the Lady Jane. And a gift was added to him

and his heirs, of Clare in Suffolk, with other lands, to the

yearly value of 1001. And in the same month was sent to

the Lord Admiral a letter, to take charge of the Tower, Lord ciin-

and enter upon the government thereof. And another letter ^""gj^'JlJg

was sent to the Lieutenant, to assist the said Lord Admiral of the

in all things, as should be by the said Lord declared to him,

and to observe such directions as he should appoint. And

another letter, dated June 30, revoking Sir James Croft 425

from the charge of the oversight and order of the Tower,

and to permit the said Lord Clinton, to whom the King

had appointed the chief order, rule, and safe custody of

the same.

And a little before this time were great preparations raak-Prepara-

ing for the match (which was celebrated in May) of the ^|,°^^^°''

Lady Jane with Guilford, North umberland''s son, and great

some other marriages that were to accompany that ; as the

Earl of Pembroke''s eldest son with the Lady Katharin, the

Duke of Suffolk's second daughter ; and the Earl of Hun-

tingdon's eldest son with the Duke of Northumberland's

youngest daughter ; and another of the said Duke's near

relations, (his brother, I think,) Sir Andrew Dudley, was

likewise matched, near the same time, with Margaret Clif-

ford, the Earl of Cumberland's daughter. And for the

more solemnity and splendour of this day, the master of

the wardrobe had divers warrants, to deliver out of the

112 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK King''s wardrobe much rich apparel and jewels: as, to de-

liver to the Lady Frances, Duchess of Suffolk, to the

Anno 1653. Duchess of Northumberland, to the Lady Marchioness of

Northampton, to the Lady Jane, daughter to the Duke of

Suffolk, and to the Lord Guilford Dudley, for wedding ap-

parel ; (which were certain parcels of tissues, and cloth of

gold and silver, which had been the late Duke's and

Duchess's of Somerset, forfeited to the King;) and to the

Lady Katharin, daughter to the said Duke of Suffolk, and

the Lord Herbert, for wedding apparel, and to the Lord

Hastings, and Lady Katharin, daughter to the Duke of

Northumberland, for wedding apparel, certain parcels of

stuff and jewels. Dated from Greenwich, the 24th of April.

A warrant also there came to the wardrobe, to deliver to

tlie King's use, for the finishing certain chairs for his Ma-

jesty, six yards of green velvet, and six yards of green satin :

another, to deliver to the Lady Mary's Grace, his Majesty's

sister, a table diamond, with pearl pendant at the same ;

and to the Duchess of Northumberland, one square tablet

of gold, enamelled black, with a clock, late parcels of the

Duchess of Somerset's jewels. And lastly, another warrant

to Sir Andrew Dudley, to take for the Lady Margaret

Clifford, daughter of the Earl of Cumberland, and to him-

self, for their wedding apparel, sundry silks and jewels :

this last warrant bearing date June 8.

The King's The King, but the month before his death, gave a most

'^ift^o^Ui^e roy^l ^"d exemplary charity to the city of London, for the

city. better maintenance of their poor of all sorts. For in June
" there was an indenture made between the King's Majesty

and the mayor, commonalty, and citizens of London,

" witnessing, that the King's Majesty hath given and

" granted to the said mayor and commonalty, and their

" successors for ever, towards the maintenance of the poor

" and impotent people, all his manor-house and place of

BriJewei. " Bridewel, with the appurtenances, lying or being in the

Council- u parish of St. Bridget in Fleet-street, London, with divers

" other lands, &c. with a licence unto them for to purchase

OF KING EDWARD VI. 113

*' 4000 mark land, for the use abovesaid ; besides the lands CHAP.
X VTT
*' given them by his Majesty in London, and elsewhere. " '

And also his Majesty covenanteth, that they shall pur- Anno 1553.

" chase so much land as they are afore licensed, besides the

*' fees and pensions granted by the King's letters patents to

" the officers that shall serve in any of the hospitals. And

" his Majesty covenanteth, that as well the lands given by

" his Highness, as those that they shall purchase, shall be

"clearly quitted and discharged against his Majesty, his 426

" heirs and successors for ever, of all tenths and first-fruits,

" and of all and singular sums of money, for or in the name

" of a tenth, or yearly tenth part, or in the name of first-

*' fruits. And that they may make godly and wholesome

" ordinances, statutes, and rules, for the good governance of

*' the poor. And it shall be lawful for them, within the city

" of London and county of Middlesex, to search and ex-

" amine, by all ways and means, all manner of suspicious

" houses, as taverns, alehouses, and such like, gaming and

" diceing houses, dancing schools, tennis plays, bowling

" alleys, and such other like suspect places, for ruffians, vaga-

" bonds, and idle persons, and masterless. And further,

" his Majesty hath granted unto them to do, and suffer to

" be done, all thing and things, be it by letters patents, acts

" of Parliament, confirmation, or otherways, for the more

" assurance of the premises, as by their learned Council

" shall be devised:" as it ran "verbatim in the Council ma-

nuscript book, which I often make use of, and I do here

the rather specify it, because perhaps this original indenture

may have been consumed in the great conflagration, with

other of the hospital's writings and muniments. In the same

manuscript a note of the gift is set down in these words :

" A gift unto the said mayor, &c. of the manor, chief mes-

" suage, tenement and house called Bridewel, and divers

" other lands, to the yearly value of 450/." And besides

this house of Bridewel, he gave the city for their poor, the

Gray Friars, now called Christ's Church, and St. Thomas

hospital in South wark.

VOL. IX. TAKT II. 1

114 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK In thi^ month of June a warrant was issued to the Lord

Chancellor, to make out writs for a Parliament, to be liolden

Anno 1553. the 18th of September.

For a new j^^^^ ^^le Archbishop had more good work upon the anvil,
Parliament. _ ^^ ® j^ _
A convoc:i- to do for religion and the Church, had the King lived, and

tion sum- ]jg remained in place. For June 19, a command came from

the King to the Archbishop for holdmg a convocation : and

accordingly the Archbishop issued out his letters of order

Regist. Rid. to Ridley, bishop of London, for a convocation to be held

in St. PauTs, September 19 ensuing. The Archbishop''s

said letters were dated July 3. And Bishop Ridley issued

out his letters, bearing date July 6 : which were not exe-

cuted, the King dying that day. But by the way, this

makes it plain, that Ridley, however he was in design, was

never actually bishop of Durham : because the very last

day of the King's life, he styled himself in the said letters,

N'lcolaus, m'lseratlone divina^ London, ep'iscopiis.

A new edi- This year Coverdale set forth another edition of the holy

^onofthe g-^j^ entitled, The whole Bible of the Old and New

Testament, Jaitlifully translated into English, by Miles

Coverdale : and neioly overseen and correct, m.d.liii.

^ Thes. iii. Pray for us, that the word of God may have

free passage, and be g-lori/ied. Set forth 7oith the King's

most gracious licence. The epistle dedicatory Avas to the

King. And M. Coverdale had an epistle also there to the

Christian reader.

The cate- And a licence of privilege was granted unto John Day,

chism. pi-inter, for the printing a catechism in English, with the

brief of an A. B. C. thereunto annexed: and also for the

The books printing and reprinting of all such Avorks and books, as were

Ponetaifd Revised and compiled by the right reverend father in

IJecon. God, John, now bishoj) of Winton, and by Thomas Becon,

427 professor ^^ divinity. So that no such books, nor any part

of them, be in any wise repugnant to the holy scriptures, or

the proceedings in religion, and the laws of the realm. This

licence was dated at AVestminster, March 25.

A licence also was indulged to Richard Tothel, printer,

OF KING EDWARD VI.

115

to print all manner of books of the common law of this

realm, for seven years : so as the first copies thereof be al-

lowed by one of the justices of the law, or two sergeants, or

three apprentices of the law : whereof one to be a reader in

the court, &c.
And Thomas Sternhold, one of the King^^s servants, set

forth his Psalms: being a collection of some of David's

Psalms, which he, for his own private entertainment, had

composed into English verse, and set them to tunes, and had

sung and played by himself, for his own godly solace. These

gave the yoinig King, sometimes overhearing them, much

pleasure : which was the reason of Sternhold's dedicating

them to the King ; though they seemed not to be published

till after his death. His book was entitled. All such Psalms

qf' David as Tho. Sternhold, late grootn of' the King's

Majesty's robes, did in his life-time drazo into English

metre.

CHAP.

XXII.
Anno 155;:!.

Licence for

printing

law books.
Sternhold's

Psalms.

The Kings's sales

this la&

t year of hi

s reign, bes

ides w

iat'l''i« King's

StllCS LillS

were set down before, were

as follow :

year.

£. s.

d.

£. s.

d.

In Mar. j 1072 13

I 236 10

Sob.

1406 10

1

4

388 17

1

1440 7

2

r 704 13

9

395 6

8

1554 12

1

In Apr. -

303 18

7

234 8

756 1

5ob.

980 17

1736 13

lob.

615 10

1

3302 6

8

1330

585 16

1161 19

5

Inx\pr. ¦

1334 19

6

¦1989 6

8

893 6

7

435 4

5

3102 7

Oob.q

301 5

1681 13

7

In May, <

949 7

3

1717 8

4

1797 7

9

190 16

783 8

2

1709 29

8

1049 9

4
116 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK

II.
Anno 1553.

IiiMay^-

428

In June,

£. s.

cl

589 6
497 11

8

564 14 Uob.

727 3

7

531

1072 13

Bob.

735 17

1

1608 14

Oob.

630 7

6

1926 3

9ob.

718 8

8

1402 13

lob.

270
4221 11

5

773

4

^3972 9

4o6.

'2132 3

9

126 6

4

414 18

4

733 12

6

775 19

0o6

834 14

3

212 17

10

307 4

2

In June, *

^. .9.

d.

3708 11

9

699 18

1

1667
615 14

10 o&.

129 7 11