life promised him; but it was not fit to let him live to tell tales. Norris had been much in the King's favour, and an offer was made him of his life, if he would confess his guilt, and accuse the Queen. But he generously rejected that unhandsome proposition, and said that in his conscience he thought her innocent of these things laid to her charge; but whether she was or not, he would not accuse her of any thing, and he would die a thousand times rather than ruin an innocent person."

,, а

On the day of the execution, Henry the Eighth put on white for mourning, as though he would have said, I am innocent of this deed:' and the next day was married to Jane Seymour.

The good Melanchton, whose visit to England was prevented by the afflicting news of the Queen's execution, has elegantly expressed his opinion of her innocence, in a letter to Joachim Camerarius, dated on the fifth of the ides of June 1536:

"Anglica profectionis cura prorsus liberatus sum. Postquam enim tam tragici casus in Anglia acciderunt, magna consiliorum mutatio secuta est. Posterior REGINA, MAGIS ACCUSATA quam CONVICTA ADULTERII, ultimo supplicio affecta est. Quam mirabiles sunt rerum vices, mi Joachime, quantam Dei iram omnibus hominibus denunciant, in quantas calamitates etiam ex summo fastigio potentissimi homines hoc tempore decidunt. Hæc cum cogito, etiam nobis ærumnas nostras et nostra pericula æquiore animo ferenda esse disputo."

"b

To some it has been a cause of surprize, that Anne Boleyn should have passed an encomium upon Henry the Eighth at her death. Indeed it is remarkable that at almost every execution in that sanguinary period, the praise of the Sovereign was pronounced by those who fell upon the scaffold. It seems to have been so directed by the Government. Tyndale, from whose "Practice of Prelates" we have already made an extract respecting the disclosure of Confessions, has another passage upon this point, too important not to be given here:

"When any GREAT MAN is put to death, how his Confessore entreateth him; and what penance is enjoyned him concerning what he shall say when he cometh unto the place of execution. I coude gesse at a practyse that might make mennes eares glowe.'

" C

In Anne Boleyn's case, however, it may be in part ascribed to anxiety for the safety of her daughter.

Anne Boleyn's execution was a fatal precedent for succeeding times. Henry having beheaded one Queen, proceeded fearlessly to the beheading of another. Elizabeth familiarized the application of the axe to royalty one step farther; for she beheaded a foreign Queen who had taken shelter in her dominions. Half a Century later, and the people beheaded their Sovereign. a Burnet, Hist. Reform. vol. i. p. 205. b Melancht. Epist. 80 Lips. 1569. e Pract. of Prelates, 12o Marborch, 1530.

LETTER CXXIV.

Lady Rocheford to Secretary Cromwell.

[MS. COTTON. VESP. F. XIII. fol. 109 b. Orig.]

The profligate woman whose smooth Letter now presents itself, was the wife of the viscount Rochford, the brother of Anne Boleyn. Her calumnies against that injured Queen were equally void of truth and humanity. She even pretended that her own husband was engaged in a criminal correspondence with his sister.

Her career, however, was not of long duration. She entangled herself with the real amours of Queen Catherine Howard, and, as will be seen hereafter, fell with her upon the scaffold in 1542, unpitied.

The Bill of Attainder of Queen Catherine Howard, stat. 33 Hen. VIII. ch. xxi. states that the Queen had met Culpeper "in a secret and vyle place, and that, at an undue hower of xi. a clocke in the night, and so remayned there with him till three of the clocke in the morninge, none being with them but that Bawde the LADY JANE ROCHFORD, by whose meanes Culpeper came thither."

MAYSTER Secretory, as a power desolat wydow wythoute comffort, as to my specyall trust under God and my Pryns, I have me most humbly recommendyd unto youe; prayng youe, after your accustemyd gentyll maner to all them that be in suche lamentabull case as I ame in, to be meane to the Kyngs gracyous Hyghnes for me for suche power stuffe and plate as my husbonde had, whome God pardon; that of hys gracyous and mere lyberalyte I may have hyt to helpe me to my power lyvyng, whiche to his Hyghnes ys nothynge to be regardyd, and to me schuld be a most hygh helpe and souccor. And farther more, where that the

a She was daughter of Henry Parker, son of Henry Parker Lord Morley and Montegle, who died in his father's lifetime. See Dugd. Baron. tom. ii. p. 307.

Kyngs Hyghnes and my Lord my father payed great soms of money for my Joynter to the Errell of Wyltchere to the some off too thowsand Marks, and I not assuryd of no more duryng the sayd Errells naturall lyff then one hundreth Marke; whyche ys veary hard for me to schyffte the worldd wythall. That youe wyll so specyally tender me in thys behalff as to enforme the Kyngs Hyghnes of these premysses, wherby I may the more tenderly be regardyd of hys gracyous persone, youre Worde in thys schall be to me a sure helpe: and God schall be to youe therfore a sure reward, whyche dothe promes good to them that dothe helpe powere forsaken Wydos. And bothe my prayer and servys schall helpe to thys duryng my naturall lyff, as most bounden so to doo, God my wyttnes; whoo ever more preserve you.

JANE ROCHEFORD.

LETTER CXXV.

John de Ponte, a poor Frenchman, to Secretary
Cromwell.

[MS. COTTON. TIT. B. I. fol. 358. Orig.]

Juste deprecantibus nichil denegari debet. 1536. MONSTM I beseche God geve yow thesame that your noble hert desyreth, and Victorye agenst your Enemyes. Amen.

Mons! truth it is that the furst day of Juny, the vicary of Honnyngton and an other prest prayd me to dyne with them in John Bould's house at the signe of the golden Lyon. I went thether with them, and an other named Granger and M: Nedersolles wiff and M: Wrakes wiffe, and of John Bould, all of Dover were there at dyner. Whan we had half dyned, one of the Masters of Godds Howses sernamit called Trasse, sayd that he had newes for the company touching Quene Katherine. Saying that the day afore my lady Anne was behedded, the tapers aboute the said quene Katherine sepulchres kendeld of them selfs and after matynes were don to Deo gratias the said tapers qwenched of them selfs; and that the King sent xxx. men to the Abbaye wher quene Katherine was buryed; and it was true of this light contynuyng from day to daye with suche a token that within fewe days ther shuld be geven a commaundement to pray for quene Katherine as it was acoustomed to be don: and that after the same a grete hepe of heretiks and newe invencions shuld be hanged and brent; as I who was the gretest heretik of England and a false knave; and that shortely I shuld be befor the Kings Conseill, like a false knave that I was, for certayn matiers whiche he knew well, whiche he wold not saye for that tyme: and that I shuld merke well what he said. After that I had heard all his sayng and words, I said, merk well what this man saieth of me. I said unto hym that he spak

moche to my dishonour saing that I was a grete heretike, and that I shuld be hanged and brent. Askyng whether he had heard me preache or spek heresye, he sayd ys, and that I had eaten mylk, butter, and eggs. I said that I had eaten milk and butter, and that it was no heresie: but as for eggs I did eate non for I loved them not. He said unto me agayn that ther wer ferre other things whiche he wold not saye, but that I was a false Frenshe knave, with great injuries. I toke patiently feare lest he shuld strikke me, for he had a swerd and a dagger. I tok witnesses, and all the companye said unto hym that he shuld be content and that I was not of suche as he spake of. He said that his mouth was afore and that he shuld hold befor the Kings Counseill the same that he had spoken. Mons! I put myself to your good Grace I being true; deale with me: as it shal please you pleaseth me. I am the Kings and Yours in every thing unto deth. Praying God that he geve you grace to continue in helth. Amen. The your servaunt and lesse of your servants Monsr Jehan de Ponte.

Na

De Ponte, the furst day of Juny

Mons! ye owe to be advertissed that I am in danger to be kylled of them of Godds house; and I deare not abyde in the Chapell for feare of them. They wolld that I should flye in to Fraunce for their threatenyngs, and they put me in feare; but I shall neve do dishonor to my frends. But if it shal please You to