to the king's journal, Palmer repeated at least so much of the story of the duke's accusers as related to a plot for a revolt in London. If the attempt upon the gendarmerie, who were to be fallen upon and killed at the first rising of the insurrection, had failed, the duke, according to the witness, was to "run through London and cry 'Liberty! liberty!' to raise the apprentices and rabble: if he could he would go to the Isle of Wight, or to Poole." On the 26th, "Crane," says the king, "confessed the most part, even as Palmer did before, and more also, how that the place where the nobles should have been banqueted, and their heads stricken off, was the Lord Paget's house. . . . Hammond also confessed the watch he (the duke) kept in his chamber at night. Bren also confessed much of this matter. The Lord Strange confessed how the duke willed him to stir me to marry his third daughter, the Lady Jane, and willed him to be his spy in all matters of my doings and sayings, and to know when some of my council spoke secretly with me: this he confessed of himself." How these depositions were procured we have no account; the king does not appear to speak of them as being taken in his presence, but rather as merely reported to him by the council. Meanwhile everything possible was done by the government to excite a strong feeling of public alarm. On the 17th "there were letters sent to all emperors, kings, ambassadors, noblemen, men, and chief men, into countries of the late conspiracy:" and on the 22d, all the crafts and corporations of the city were informed by a message from the king that the Duke of Somerset would have taken the Tower, seized on the broad seal, and destroyed the city, and were charged carefully to ward the several gates, and to appoint watches to patrol all the streets. Northampton, Pembroke, and the other leading members of the government; and the witnesses against him were not produced, but only their written depositions read. Somerset denied all the material facts with which he was charged. As for killing the Duke of Northumberland and the others, however, he admitted that he had thought of such a project and talked of it, but on consideration he had determined to abandon it: "yet," adds the notice in the king's journal, "he seemed to confess he went about their death.” In truth, this black charge, which would now excite so much horror, inasmuch as it did not amount to treason, was probably regarded both by the prisoner and his judges as the lightest in the indictment. It was upon this, however, that he was condemned. The subservient court, indeed, would have voted the conspiracy to imprison or take away the life of their master Northumberland to be treason; but that nobleman himself had the grace to decline this compliment, and so Somerset was only found guilty of felony. On this verdict being pronounced he thanked the lords for the open trial that had been allowed him, "and cried mercy of the Duke of Northumberland, the Marquis of Northampton, and the Earl of Pembroke, for his ill-meaning against them, and made suit for his life, wife, children, servants, and debts."? As soon as he was pronounced guiltless of treason the axe was withdrawn, and he was carried back to the Tower unaccompanied by that ghastly emblem. His royal nephew appears to have been perfectly couvinced of his guilt, and in that feeling to have dutifully given himself no further concern about him. Grafton, indeed, says that "he seemed to take the trouble of his uncle somewhat heavily;" but his public demeanour, at least, gave no signs of anything of the kind. While his uncle lay condemned to death he was enjoying the merry festivities and pastimes of Christmas with, to all appearance, not less relish than usual. The court having repaired to Greenwich, where open house was kept, there was, by order of the council, “a wise gentleman and learned," named George Ferrers, appointed for this year to be Lord of Misrule, "whose office," says the chronicler, "is not unknown to such as have been brought up in noblemen's houses and among great housekeepers, which use liberal feasting in that season." They did not even keep the sound of their revelry out of the hearing of Somerset in his dungeon, for part of their mummery in the shape of a land and water procession was in the immediate neighbourhood of the Tower. The indictment charging Somerset with having traitorously designed to seize on the king's person, and assume the entire government of the realm with having, along with a hundred others, intended to have imprisoned the Earl of Warwick-and with having conspired to raise an insurrection in the city of London, was found by the grand jury at Guildhall; on which twentyseven peers were summoned to sit as a court for his trial in Westminster Hall-the Marquis of Winchester, the lord-treasurer, being appointed lord high-steward. The trial took place on the 1st of December. Except only that an opportunity was given to the prisoner of making a public defence, it was scarcely characterized by any greater justice or fairness than had been meted out by the duke to his own brother. His Other shows and sports of the season are judges were the very parties against whom he recorded with great unction by the king himself was said to have conspired-Northumberland, in his journal. Thus, on the 6th of January after a tourney in the morning, we have, at night, first a play, in which, "after a talk between one that was called Riches, and the other Youth, whether of them was better," and "some pretty reasoning," six champions on each side "fought two to two at barriers in the hall;" and "then came in two apparelled like Almains, the Earl of Ormond and Jacques Granado, and two came in like friars, but the Almains would not suffer them to pass till they had fought: the friars were Mr. Drury and Thomas Cobham. After this followed two masks-one of men, another of women. accomplices of the duke, Sir Miles Partridge, Si Ralph Vane, Sir Michael Stanhope, and Sir Thomas Arundel, were also tried, convicted, and executed together on the 26th of February. They all with their last breath protested their innocence of any design either against the king, or against the lives of any of the council. Vane said, that as often as Northumberland laid his head on his pillow he would find it wet with their blood. Parliament re-assembled on the 23d of Jauuary, 1552, the day after the execution of Somerset. Acts were passed for enforcing throughout the realm the use of the Book of Common Prayer, as amended the preceding year by a committee of bishops and divines, and already sanctioned by the convocation; for amending the law of treason, in which the important principle was introduced, that no person should be attainted under the act unless upon the evidence of two witnesses given in the presence of the accused; for maintaining the observance of the fastdays and holidays marked in the calendar; for the relief of the poor, in which the churchwardens were empowered to collect contributions for that purpose, and the bishop was directed to proceed against such parishioners as refused to contribute; for legalizing the marriages of priests and legitimizing their children; besides a few others relating chiefly to subjects of trade and manufactures. Some of the questions that arose occasioned a good deal of debate, and the divisions that took place in the commons showed that the existing government could scarcely count upon the attachment or support of a majority of the members in that house. Finding them thus impracticable, Northumberland, before they had yet sat for three months, or even granted the usual supplies, not only terminated the session, but dissolved the parliament, which had now been in existence for nearly five years. This done, "it was resolved," says Burnet, "to spend the summer in making friends all over England, and to have a new parliament in the opening of next year." COURT MASK OF THE TIME.-Strutt's Regal Antiquities. Then a banquet of 120 dishes." In the hurry of all this masking and feasting Edward had neither time nor inclination to think of his uncle, or to heed his endeavours to move him to mercy. So, as the chronicler puts it, "this Christmas being thus passed and spent with much mirth and pastime, it was thought now good to proceed to the execution of the judgment given against the Duke of Somerset." The execution took place on Friday, the 22d, under which date his nephew has coolly noted that "the Duke of Somerset had his head cut off upon Tower-hill, between eight and nine o'clock in the morning." The duke met his death with great composure. As he was repeating the name of Jesus for the third time, the axe fell, and instantly deprived him of life. Many persons, to preserve a memorial of him, dipped their handkerchiefs in his blood. Whatever may be thought of many of Somerset's actions, and of his general character, his guilt in respect of the charges for which he suffered death must be held to be extremely doubtful; and it is not doubtful at all that he was condemned without a fair trial, and that he was really sacrificed to the ambition of a worse man than himself. Of the persons apprehended as the 1 Foz, from the account of a nobleman, who was present. On the 18th of January, 1553, accordingly, the usual warrant was sent to the lord-chancellor, directing him to summon a parliament for the 1st of March following; and then the most direct means were taken to procure a House of Commons composed, to as great an extent as possible, of the friends of the government. In several cases particular persons holding offices at the court or in the government were expressly recommended to the sheriffs in letters from the king. 2 Strype, iii 237. Wher ¡ the parliament met, the first bill that was brought tracted illness. In the beginning of the present forward was one for granting supplies. Notwith-year he was seized with a violent cough, which standing the preponderance of the government no medicines would relieve; it was no doubt the party in the house, it was not passed in the com- consequence of disease formed in the lungs, but mons without long and eager debate, principally the suspicious credulity of the times attributed occasioned, it is supposed, by the preamble, which it to some slow poison that had been given to attributed all the king's financial difficulties to him. He was so ill when the parliament met in the administration of the Duke of Somerset. The the beginning of March, that he could not gc only other act of the session requiring to be here down to Westminster, and the two houses were noticed was one suppressing the bishopric of assembled the first day at Whitehall. In the Durham, and creating in its stead two new dio- beginning of May he seemed rather better; but ceses, one comprehending the county of Durham, this show of amendment soon disappeared-and the other that of Northumberland. Since the by the following month it became evident that he failure of his attempt in the last session of par- could not live many weeks. Throughout his illliament to effect the deprivation of Bishop Ton- ness, Northumberland had sedulously laboured stal by a bill of pains and penalties, Northum- to win his affection and confidence by a constant berland had accomplished that object by bringing attendance and every manifestation of solicitude: the bishop before a new court erected for the he had at the same time not neglected some special purpose as open and daring an act of other necessary preparations for the project he arbitrary power as if he had deprived him with- had in hand. In the beginning of May were out any trial at all. The object of the depriva- celebrated with great magnificence, at the duke's tion of the bishop and the suppression of the see new residence of Durham House in the Strand, was soon made manifest. Parliament was pro- the marriages of his fourth son, the Lord Guildrogued on the 31st of March, and in the course ford Dudley, to the Lady Jane Grey, eldest of the following month the suppressed bishopric daughter of the Duke of Suffolk-of his daughter was erected into a county-palatine, which was the Lady Catherine Dudley, to the Lord Hastunited to the crown for the present, but was in- ings, eldest son of the Earl of Huntingdon-and tended to be ultimately devolved, with all its regal of the Lady Catherine Grey, the Duke of Sufprivileges, on the Duke of Northumberland. folk's second daughter, to the Lord Herbert, the son of the Earl of Pembroke. Two of these alliances might seem to be intended merely to aid generally in extending or strengthening his family connections and binding together the fabric of his power; but the third had a higher aim. Meanwhile, however, a new prospect opened upon the duke's ambition. For some time past the health of the young king had been in a very infirm state, and of late it had been visibly and rapidly declining. In the spring of the last year Frances, Duchess of Suffolk, the mother of the Lady Jane Grey, whose hand was received by his son, was the eldest of the two daughters and only surviving children of the Princess Mary, daughter of Henry VII., who had first been married to Louis XII. of France, and then to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, by whom she had her two daughters. After Edward, in the succession to the throne, there stood between Lady Jane, or her mother, by this descent, only the two princesses Mary and Elizabeth, both of whom, by their father's command, had been bastardized by acts of parliaments; and the descendants of Mary Tu dor's eldest sister Margaret, who married James IV. of Scotland, but who had not been recognized as having any claim in the will of her brother Henry VIII., and whose representative, the present infant Queen of Scots, certainly would have little chance of successfully asserting any rights she might be supposed to have to the English throne. Northumberland therefore proposed to bring the crown into his own family by securing it for the head of his new daughter-inlaw the Lady Jane. Having without difficulty induced the Duchess of Suffolk to transfer her right to her eldest daughter, he proceeded to unfold his plan to the king. Before the anxious mind of the dying boy, over whom he had acquired an extraordinary influence, he placed an alarming representation of the dangers and calamities that were likely to arise from the succession of either of his sisters. Mary, the elder, was a bigoted Papist, and would certainly, the moment that she ascended the throne, proceed to undo all that had been done during her brother's reign, in the settlement of the true religion; yet she could not be set aside without urging a plea-that of her illegitimacy -which would at the same time equally exclude Elizabeth. The only safe course, therefore, was to pass by both; and in that case Edward's cousin, the amiable, accomplished, and thoroughly Protestant Lady Jane Grey, was obviously the person fittest to be named as his successor. Edward acquiesced in the force of these arguments; and assuming himself to be entitled to exercise the same powers which had been used by his father Henry, he determined upon having a new entail of the crown executed to the effect the duke bad proposed. Having sketched with his own pen a draft of the instrument, and signed a fair copy of it with his name above and below and on each margin, he sent, on the 11th of June, for Sir Edward Montague, chief-justice of the Common Pleas, Sir Thomas Bromley, one of the puisne justices of the same court, Sir Richard Baker, chancellor of the augmentations, and Gosnold and Gryffyn, the attorney and solicitor general, to attend the council at Greenwich. When they came to him the next day, be received them in the presence of several of the counsellors, shortly stated to them what he had made up his mind upon doing, and the reasons that had weighed with him, and desired them to draw up the instrument in the proper legal form. They objected that the act of parliament which settled the succession could not be taken away in the manner proposed; but the king persisted in the command he had given. On the 14th they returned and intimated that, upon looking into the statutes, they had found that to draw such an instrument as was proposed, would subject them to the pains of treason. Upon this, Northumberland came rushing into the room in the greatest fury, called Montague a traitor, and threatened him and the rest, so that they thought he would have beaten them." He said he was ready to fight any man in his shirt, in so just a quarrel. In the end they were commanded to retire for the present; but the next day they were again sent for—and first Montague and then the others suffered themselves to be partly persuaded, partly brow-beaten, into consenting to draw the will, the king declaring that it was his intention to have it ratified in the parliament which was summoned to meet in September, and agreeing to give them under the great seal both a commission to perform the act, and a pardon for having performed it. The instrument accordingly was duly prepared, and, having been engrossed on parchment and carried to the Chancery, had the great seal affixed to it. After this, on the 21st, it received the signatures of all the lords of the council, of most of the judges, and of the attorney and solicitor general. Twenty-four members of the council, with Archbishop Cranmer at their head, had also before this, on the command of Northumberland, signed another paper, pledging their oaths and honour to "observe every article contained in his majesty's own device respecting the succession, subscribed with his majesty's hand in six several places, and delivered to certain judges and other learned men, that it might be written in full order;" to defend it to the uttermost; and if any man should ever attempt to alter it, to repute him an enemy to the kingdom, and to punish him as he deserved. Edward survived the completion of this transaction only a few days. It is said that when his physicians declared they had no hope of his recovery, he was intrusted to the care of a woman who offered to undertake his cure. Under the woman's treatment he grew worse every day, and the physicians were soon recalled; but he still continued to sink; and on the evening of the 6th of July, while engaged in prayer, he breathed his last, having lived fifteen years, eight months, and twenty-two days, and entered upon the sixth month of the seventh year of his reign. 1 Burnet. VOL. II. U2 CHAPTER XI.-CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY.-A. D. 1553-1554. MARY.-ACCESSION, A.D. 1553—DEATH, A.D. 1558. Blunders of the Duke of Northumberland on the death of Edward VI.-Lady Jane Grey proclaimed queenCounter-proclamation of Mary-Duke of Northumberland takes command of the army against Mary-Her cause adopted by the people-Northumberland joins in proclaiming her-He is arrested and imprisoned— Politic conduct of the Princess Elizabeth-The Popish bishops released from confinement-The Duke of Northumberland and his chief adherents tried and executed - Popery restored - Persecuting symptoms shown by Mary-Cranmer imprisoned-Mary's coronation-Worship paid to her by the Popish party-Protestantism condemned and Protestants persecuted-Protestant bishops imprisoned-The Protestant pulpits silenced-Mary's partiality for the Earl of Devon-Proposals for her marriage to Philip of Spain-The terms of the marriage treaty-It occasions Wyatt's rebellion-First successes of the rebellion-The rebels attempt to gain possession of London-They are defeated-Execution of Wyatt and his accomplices-Elizabeth arrested and examined as privy to the rebellion-Her letter to her sister Mary-Elizabeth committed to the Tower-Execution of Lady Jane Grey-Execution of the Duke of Suffolk, her father-Elizabeth released from the Tower-Arrival of Philip in England-His marriage with the queen-His attempts to win popularity in England-The fears of the holders of church lands quieted-Cardinal Pole recalled to England-Jealousy of the English at Philip's proceedings-Mary's hopes of producing an heir to the throne-Joy of the Papists on the occasion-Their disappointment. HE talent and decision of the Earl | seated near the sea, whence, if fortune frowned, of Northumberland were far from she might easily embark and flee to the Flemish being equal to his ambition. Al- dominions of her relative the Emperor Charles. though the death of Edward must The Lady Elizabeth was in Hertfordshire: she have been expected for months, had been summoned to court in the like manner that event seems to have taken as her half-sister Mary, and was also warned of him by surprise, or at least in a very unprepared the real state of affairs by some personal friend, state. In order to gain a little time, he deter- who is generally supposed to have been Sir Wilmined to conceal the king's death-a common liam Cecil. She therefore remained where she enough practice in despotic governments, and one was.2 which, as we have seen, had also been adopted on the demise of Henry VIII. He had even neglected the important measure of getting possession of the persons of the two princesses. The Lady Mary, it appears, had been summoned to attend her half-brother Edward on his death-bed; but having long been acquainted with Northumberland's secret practices, she showed no anxiety for this journey to London, where her enemies were in their full strength. The summons was now repeated, as if Edward, though in extremity, were still alive; and Mary at last moved reluctantly from Hunsdon in Hertfordshire. But the Earl of Arundel' despatched messengers to inform her that her brother was dead, and that Northumberland, who was plotting to place the Lady Jane Grey on the throne, only wanted to make her a prisoner. On receiving this intelligence, Mary, who had advanced within a half a day's journey of the capital, changed her route, and went to Framlingham Castle in Suffolk, According to another account, the timely warning was first given by Mary's goldsmith, despatched from London by Nicholas Throckmorton, who, though a Protestant, had a great veneration for legitimacy. In many breasts the latter feeling was strong enough to overcome the religious objection. A little later Throckmorton had a narrow escape from the block. Northumberland, having two days together consulted with his friends and dependants as to the best way of managing this great affair-the king's death being still kept secret-commanded the attendance, at Greenwich (where the dead body was lying), of the lord-mayor of London, six aldermen, and twelve other citizens "of chiefest account." On the 8th of July the mayor, the aldermen, and the citizens, went down to Greenwich, where Northumberland and some of the council secretly declared to them the death of the king, as also how, by his last will, and by his letters-patent, he had appointed and ordained that the Lady Jane should be his successor in the throne and sovereignty. The deputation, being shown the royal will, swore allegiance to Lady Jane, and were bound under a great penalty not to divulge these "secret passages" until they should receive orders from the council. The long conference being thus satisfactorily ended, the duke and three other lords repaired to Sion House, announced to Jane her elevation, and tendered their homage upon their knees; but her answer to their congratulations was a flood of 2 Stow: Holinshed; Godwin Strype: Aikin. Memoirs of the Court af Elizabeth. |