Anne of Cleves, which otherwise it is to be thought, during the life Henry of Cromwell could not so well be brought to pass.

A.D.

Cleves

king.

patience

well in

But these things being now done and past, let us pass them over, and return again from whence we digressed, that is, to the lord 1540. Cromwell, being now attainted and committed to the Tower; who, so Anne of long as he went with full sail of fortune, how moderately, and how divorced temperately he did ever bear himself in his estate, before hath been from the declared. So now the said lord Cromwell, always one man, by the Christian contrary wind of adversity being overblown, received the same with of Cromno less constancy and patience of a christian heart: neither yet was adverhe so unprovided of counsel and forecast, but that he did foresee sity. this tempest long before it fell, and also prepared for the same; for two years before, smelling the conspiracy of his adversaries, and fear- Preparing ing what might happen, he called unto him his servants, and there, trouble showing unto them in what a slippery state he stood; and also per- hand. ceiving some stormy weather already to gather, required them to look diligently to their order and doings, lest, through their default, any occasion might rise against him. And furthermore, before the Good to time of his apprehension, such order he took for his servants, that many of them, especially the younger brethren, who had little else to take unto, had honestly left for them in their friends' hands to relieve them; whatsoever should him befall.

Briefly, such a loving and kind master he was to his servants, that he provided aforehand almost for them all; insomuch, that he gave to twelve children, who were his musicians, twenty pounds a piece, and so committed them to their friends, of whom some yet remain alive, who both enjoyed the same, and also gave record of this to be true.

Furthermore, being a prisoner in the Tower, how quietly he bare it, how valiantly he behaved himself, how gravely and discreetly he answered and entertained the commissioners sent unto him, it is worthy noting. Whatsoever articles and interrogatories they propounded, they could put nothing unto him, either concerning matters ecclesiastical or temporal, wherein he was not more ripened, and more furnished in every condition, than they themselves.

Amongst the rest of those commissioners who came unto him, one there was, whom the lord Cromwell desired to carry for him a letter to the king; which when he refused, saying that he would carry no letter to the king from a traitor, then the lord Cromwell desired him at least to do from him a message to the king. To that the other was contented, and granted, so that it were not against his allegiance. Then the lord Cromwell, taking witness of the other lords, what he had promised, "You shall commend me," said he, "to the king, and tell him, by that he hath so well tried, and throughly proved you as I have done, he shall find you as false a man as ever came about him.”

for his

before

his servants.

Sadler

trusty

Besides this, he wrote also a letter from the Tower to the king, Sir Ralph whereof when none durst take the carriage upon him, sir Ralph CromSadler (whom he also had preferred to the king before, being ever well's trusty and faithful unto him), went unto the king to understand his friend. pleasure, whether he would permit him to bring the letter or not; which when the king had granted, the said Master Sadler, as he was

VIII.

Henry required, presented the letter unto the king, which he commanded thrice to be read unto him, insomuch that the king seemed to be A. D. moved therewith.

1540.

Cromwell

to the

*At last, three years after all this was done, Cromwell being circumvented with the malicious craft and policy of divers, that, by occasion of mention made touching the king's divorce with the lady Anne of Cleves, he had said these words: "That he wished his dagger in him that had dissolved or broken that marriage;" hereupon it was objected against him by Thomas duke of Norfolk and others, that it was spoken against the king, who, at that time being in love with Catherine Howard, was the chief cause and author of that divorce. Whereupon divers of the nobles conspiring against him, some for hatred, and some for religion's sake, he was cast into the Tower of London; where, as it happened (as it were by a certain fatal destiny), that whereas he, a little before, had made a law, that whosoever was cast into the Tower, should be put to death without examination, he himself suffered by the same law. It is said (which also I do easily credit), that he made this violent law, not so much for any cruelty or tyranny, as only for a certain secret purpose, to have entangled the bishop of Winchester, who, albeit he was, without doubt, the most violent adversary of Christ and his religion, notwithstanding, God, peradventure, would not have his religion set forth by any wicked cruelty, or otherwise than was meet and convenient.*

Notwithstanding, by reason of the act of parliament before passed, brought the worthy and noble lord Cromwell, oppressed by his enemies, and scaffold. condemned in the Tower, and not coming to his answer, on the 28th day of July, A.D. 1540, was brought to the scaffold on Tower-hill, where he said these words following.

Lord Cromwell's words on the Scaffold.

I am come hither to die, and not to purge myself, as some think, peradventure, that I will: for if I should so do, I were a very wretch and a miser. I am, by the law, condemned to die, and thank my Lord God that hath appointed me this death for mine offence. For since the time that I have had years of discretion, I have lived a sinner, and offended my Lord God; for the which I ask him heartily forgiveness. And it is not unknown to many of you, that I have been a great travailler in this world, and being but of a base degree, was called to high estate; and since the time I came thereunto I have offended my prince, for the which I ask him heartily forgiveness, and beseech you all to pray to God with me, that He will forgive me. * O2 Father forgive me! O Son forgive me! O Holy Ghost forgive me! O three persons in one God forgive me! And now I pray you that be here, to bear me record, I die in the catholic christian faith, not doubting in any article of my faith, no nor doubting in any sacrament confes- of the church. Many have slandered me, and reported that I have been a

A true

sion of the lord

at his death.

bearer of such as have maintained evil opinions; which is untrue: but I conCromwell fess, that like as God, by his Holy Spirit, doth instruct us in the truth, so the devil is ready to seduce us; and I have been seduced. But bear me witness, that I die in the catholic faith of the holy church. And I heartily desire you to pray for the king's grace, that he may long live with you in health and prosperity; and that after him, his son, prince Edward, that goodly imp, may long reign over you. And once again I desire you to pray for me, that so long as life remaineth in this flesh, I waver nothing in my faith.

(1) See Edition 1563, p. 598.-ED.

(2) This ejaculatory portion of Cromwell's address is from the Edition 1563, p. 598.-Ed.

And so making his prayer, which was long, but not so long as both godly and learned, kneeling on his knees he spake these words, the effect whereof here followeth.

A Prayer that the Lord Cromwell said at the Hour of his Death.

O Lord Jesu! which art the only health of all men living, and the everlasting life of them which die in thee, I, wretched sinner, do submit myself wholly unto thy most blessed will; and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed unto thy mercy, willingly now I leave this frail and wicked flesh, in sure hope that thou wilt, in better wise, restore it to me again at the last day, in the resurrection of the just. I beseech thee, most merciful Lord Jesu Christ! that thou wilt, by thy grace, make strong my soul against all temptations, and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all the assaults of the devil. I see and acknowledge that there is in myself no hope of salvation, but all my confidence, hope, and trust, is in thy most merciful goodness. I have no merits nor good works which I may allege before thee. Of sins and evil works, alas! I see a great heap; but yet, through thy mercy, I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sins; but wilt take and accept me for righteous and just, and to be the inheritor of everlasting life. Thou, merciful Lord! wast born for my sake; thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake; thou didst teach, pray, and fast for my sake; all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake; thou sufferedst most grievous pains and torments for my sake: finally, thou gavest thy most precious body and thy blood to be shed on the cross for my sake. Now, most merciful Saviour! let all these things profit me, that thou freely hast done for me, which hast given thyself also for me. Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spots and foulness of my sins. Let thy righteousness hide and cover my unrighteousness. Let the merits of thy passion and blood-shedding be satisfaction for my sins. Give me, Lord! thy grace, that the faith of my salvation in thy blood waver not in me, but may ever be firm and constant: that the hope of thy mercy and life everlasting never decay in me: that love wax not cold in me. Finally, that the weakness of my flesh be not overcome with the fear of death. Grant me, merciful Saviour! that when death hath shut up the eyes of my body, yet the eyes of my soul may still behold and look upon thee; and when death hath taken away the use of my tongue, yet my heart may cry and say unto thee, Lord! into thy hands I commend my soul; Lord Jesu! receive my spirit.' Amen.

Henry

VIII.

A.D. 1540.

the lord

And thus his prayer made, after he had godly and lovingly ex- Death of horted them that were about him on the scaffold, he quietly com- Crommitted his soul into the hands of God; and so patiently suffered the well. stroke of the axe, by a ragged and butcherly miser, who very ungoodly performed the office.

* This valiant soldier and captain of Christ, the aforesaid lord Cromwell, as he was most studious of himself in a flagrant zeal to set forward the truth of the gospel, seeking all means and ways to beat down false religion and to advance the true, so he always retained unto him and had about him such as could be found helpers and furtherers of the same; in the number of whom were sundry and divers fresh and quick wits, pertaining to his family; by whose industry and ingenious labours, divers excellent ballads and books were contrived and set abroad, concerning the suppression of the pope and all popish idolatry. Amongst which, omitting a great sort that we might here bring in, yet this small treatise here following called 'The Fantassie

(1) See Edition 1563, p. 498.-Ed.

(2) This paragraph, with The Fantassie of Idolatrie,' is from the First Edition, 1563, pp. 598-600.-ED.

VIII.

Henry of Idolatrie,' we thought not to pass over, containing in it, as in a brief sum, the great mass of idolatrous pilgrimages; for the posterity A. D. hereafter to understand, what then was used in England.*

1540.

The prophetes all,

In general!,

Of idols, as we may se,

Put us from doubte,

And set them out,

In their colours, as they ought to be.

Saynt Paule also,

With many saintes mo,

Against idols, with al their myght,
Perceiving suche swarmes,

Did blase their armes,

And brought them out to lyght.

This should suffise

All those that be wyse;

But we, of a stoubourne mynde,

Be so harde harted,

Wyll not be conuerted,

But rather styll be blynde.

Ronnyng hyther and thyther,
We cannot tell whither,

In offryng candels and pence

To stones and stockes,

And to olde rotten blockes,

That came, we know not from whense.

To Walsyngham' a gaddyng,
To Cantorbury a maddyng,

As men distraught of mynde;
With fewe clothes on our backes,
But an image of waxe,

For the lame and for the blynde.

To Hampton, to Ipswyche,

To Harforth, to Shordyche,

With many mo places of pryce;

As, to our lady of Worcester,

And the weet rode of Chester,

With the blessed lady of Penryce.

To Leymster, to Kyngstone,

To Yorke, to Donyngton,

To Redying, to the chyld of grace;

To Wynsore, to Waltam,

To Ely, to Caultam,

Bare foted and bare legged apace.

To Saynt Earth, a right,

Where, in the dark nyght,

Many iuglyng casts hath be done;

To Saynt Augers rotten bones

That ran away for the nones;

To the crosse that groweth at Chaldon.

(1) The image of our Lady at Walsingham was so famous in former times that even foreigners Erasmus has given us a description of the chapel or shrine in came on pilgrimage to visit it. which it was contained, and which appears to have been a distinct building from the priory church. Henry III. went thither in his twenty-sixth year. Edward I. in his ninth, and-twenty-fifth years. Edward II. in his ninth year. Edward III. in his thirty-fifth year. John de Mountford earl of Bretaigne came over to visit it in the thirty-fifth of Edward III. David Bruce king of Scotland. in the thirty-eighth year of Edward III. Henry VI. went there in 1455. Henry VII. ordered an image of silver, gilt, to be set up before it, in his will; and Henry VIII. and his first queen made more than one visit to it. Sir Henry Spelman says, that when he was a youth, the tradition was that Henry VIII. had walked barefoot from the town of Barsham to the chapel of our Lady, and presented her with a necklace of great value. This famous image, however, upon the change of belief, was taken from Walsingham to Chelsea, near London, and there burnt, the thirtieth year of Henry VIII.' See Dugdale, vol. vi. p. 71. Lond. 1825.-ED.

Henry
VIII.

A. D.

1540.