the coming of the legation and commission from Rome, yet at length
it came. And after the arrival of the Legate Campeggio with his
solemn commission in England, he being sore vexed with the gout, was
constrained by force thereof to make a long journey or ever he came to
London; who should have been most solemnly received at Blackheath, and
so with great triumph conveyed to London; but his glory was such, that
he would in nowise be entertained with any such pomp or vainglory, who
suddenly came by water in a wherry to his own house without Temple Bar,
called then Bath Place, which was furnished for him with all manner of
stuff and implements of my lord's provision; where he continued and
lodged during his abode here in England.
Then after some deliberation, his commission understood, read, and
perceived it was by the council determined, that the king, and the
queen his wife, should be lodged at Bridewell. And that in the Black
Friars a certain place should be appointed where as the king and
the queen might most conveniently repair to the court, there to be
erected and kept for the disputation and determination of the king's
case, where as these two legates sat in judgment as notable judges;
before whom the king and the queen were duly cited and summoned to
appear. Which was the strangest and newest sight and device that ever
was read or heard in any history or chronicle in any region; that a
king and a queen [should] be convented and constrained by process
compellatory to appear in any court as common persons, within their
own realm or dominion, to abide the judgment and decrees of their own
subjects, having the royal diadem and prerogative thereof. Is it not
a world to consider the desire of wilful princes, when they fully
be bent and inclined to fulfil their voluptuous appetites, against
the which no reasonable persuasions will suffice; little or nothing
weighing or regarding the dangerous sequel that doth ensue as well
to themselves as to their realm and subjects. And above all things,
there is no one thing that causeth them to be more wilful than carnal
desire and voluptuous affection of foolish love. The experience is
plain, in this case both manifest and evident, for what surmised
inventions have been invented, what laws have been enacted, what noble
and ancient monasteries overthrown and defaced, what diversities of
religious opinions have risen, what executions have been committed, how
many famous and notable clerks have suffered death, what charitable
foundations were perverted from the relief of the poor, unto profane
uses, and what alterations of good and wholesome ancient laws and
customs hath been caused by will and wilful desire of the prince,
almost to the subversion and dissolution of this noble realm. All men
may understand what hath chanced to this region; the proof thereof hath
taught all us Englishmen a common experience, the more is the pity,
and is to all good men very lamentable to be considered. If eyes be
not blind men may see, if ears be not stopped they may hear, and if
pity be not exiled they may lament the sequel of this pernicious and
inordinate carnal love. The plague whereof is not ceased (although this
love lasted but a while), which our Lord quench; and take from us his
indignation! _Quia pecavimus cum patribus nostris, et injuste egimus,
&c._
Ye shall understand, as I said before, that there was a court erected
in the Black Friars in London, where these two cardinals sat for
judges. Now will I set you out the manner and order of the court there.
First, there was a court placed with tables, benches, and bars, like
a consistory, a place judicial (for the judges to sit on). There was
also a cloth of estate under the which sat the king; and the queen sat
some distance beneath the king: under the judges' feet sat the officers
of the court. The chief scribe there was Dr. Stephens[136], (who was
after Bishop of Winchester); the apparitor was one Cooke, most commonly
called Cooke of Winchester. Then sat there within the said court,
directly before the king and the judges, the Archbishop of Canterbury,
Doctor Warham, and all the other bishops. Then at both the ends, with
a bar made for them, the counsellors on both sides. The doctors for
the king were Doctor Sampson, that was after Bishop of Chichester, and
Doctor Bell, who after was Bishop of Worcester, with divers other. The
proctors on the king's part were Doctor Peter, who was after made the
king's chief secretary, and Doctor Tregonell, and divers other.
Now on the other side stood the counsel for the queen, Doctor Fisher,
Bishop of Rochester, and Doctor Standish, some time a Grey Friar, and
then Bishop of St. Asaph in Wales, two notable clerks in divinity, and
in especial the Bishop of Rochester, a very godly man and a devout
person, who after suffered death at Tower Hill; the which was greatly
lamented through all the foreign Universities of Christendom. There was
also another ancient doctor, called, as I remember, Doctor Ridley, a
very small person in stature, but surely a great and an excellent clerk
in divinity.
The court being thus furnished and ordered, the judges commanded the
crier to proclaim silence; then was the judges' commission, which they
had of the pope, published and read openly before all the audience
there assembled. That done, the crier called the king, by the name of
"King Henry of England, come into the court, &c." With that the king
answered and said, "Here, my lords!" Then he called also the queen, by
the name of "Katherine Queen of England, come into the court, &c.;"
who made no answer to the same, but rose up incontinent out of her
chair, where as she sat, and because she could not come directly to the
king for the distance which severed them, she took pain to go about
unto the king, kneeling down at his feet in the sight of all the court
and assembly, to whom she said[137] in effect, in broken English, as
followeth:
"Sir," quoth she, "I beseech you for all the loves that hath been
between us, and for the love of God, let me have justice and right,
take of me some pity and compassion, for I am a poor woman and a
stranger born out of your dominion, I have here no assured friend,
and much less indifferent counsel; I flee to you as to the head of
justice within this realm. Alas! Sir, wherein have I offended you, or
what occasion of displeasure? Have I designed against your will and
pleasure; intending (as I perceive) to put me from you? I take God
and all the world to witness, that I have been to you a true humble
and obedient wife, ever conformable to your will and pleasure, that
never said or did any thing to the contrary thereof, being always well
pleased and contented with all things wherein you had any delight or
dalliance, whether it were in little or much, I never grudged in word
or countenance, or showed a visage or spark of discontentation. I
loved all those whom ye loved only for your sake, whether I had cause
or no; and whether they were my friends or my enemies. This twenty
years I have been your true wife or more, and by me ye have had divers
children, although it hath pleased God to call them out of this world,
which hath been no default in me.
"And when ye had me at the first, I take God to be my judge, I was a
true maid without touch of man; and whether it be true or no, I put
it to your conscience. If there be any just cause by the law that ye
can allege against me, either of dishonesty or any other impediment to
banish and put me from you, I am well content to depart to my great
shame and dishonour; and if there be none, then here I most lowly
beseech you let me remain in my former estate, and receive justice
at your hands. The king your father was in the time of his reign of
such estimation thorough the world for his excellent wisdom, that he
was accounted and called of all men the second Solomon; and my father
Ferdinand, King of Spain, who was esteemed to be one of the wittiest
princes that reigned in Spain, many years before, were both wise and
excellent kings in wisdom and princely behaviour. It is not therefore
to be doubted, but that they elected and gathered as wise counsellors
about them as to their high discretions was thought meet. Also, as me
seemeth, there was in those days as wise, as well learned men, and men
of as good judgment as be at this present in both realms, who thought
then the marriage between you and me good and lawful. Therefore it
is a wonder to hear what new inventions are now invented against me,
that never intended but honesty. And cause me to stand to the order
and judgment of this new court, wherein ye may do me much wrong, if
ye intend any cruelty; for ye may condemn me for lack of sufficient
answer, having no indifferent counsel, but such as be assigned me,
with whose wisdom and learning I am not acquainted. Ye must consider
that they cannot be indifferent counsellors for my part which be your
subjects, and taken out of your own council before, wherein they be
made privy, and dare not, for your displeasure, disobey your will and
intent, being once made privy thereto. Therefore I most humbly require
you, in the way of charity, and for the love of God, who is the just
judge, to spare me the extremity of this new court, until I may be
advertised what way and order my friends in Spain will advise me to
take. And if ye will not extend to me so much indifferent favour, your
pleasure then be fulfilled, and to God I commit my cause[138]!"
And with that she rose up, making a low courtesy to the king, and so
departed from thence. [Many] supposed that she would have resorted
again to her former place; but she took her way straight out of the
house, leaning (as she was wont always to do) upon the arm of her
General Receiver, called Master Griffith. And the king being advertised
of her departure, commanded the crier to call her again, who called
her by the name of "Katherine Queen of England, come into the court,
&c." With that quoth Master Griffith, "_Madam, ye be called again_."
"On, on," quoth she, "it maketh no matter, for it is no indifferent
court for me, therefore I will not tarry. Go on your ways." And thus
she departed out of that court, without any farther answer at that
time, or at any other, nor would never appear at any other court after.
The king perceiving that she was departed in such sort, calling to his
grace's memory all her lament words that she had pronounced before him
and all the audience, said thus in effect: "For as much," quoth he,
"as the queen is gone, I will, in her absence, declare unto you all
my lords here presently assembled, she hath been to me as true, as
obedient, and as conformable a wife as I could in my fantasy wish or
desire. She hath all the virtuous qualities that ought to be in a woman
of her dignity, or in any other of baser estate. Surely she is also
a noble woman born, if nothing were in her, but only her conditions
will well declare the same." With that quoth my Lord Cardinal, "Sir,
I most humbly beseech your highness to declare me before all this
audience, whether I have been the chief inventor[139] or first mover
of this matter unto your majesty; for I am greatly suspected of all men
herein." "My Lord Cardinal," quoth the king, "I can well excuse you
herein. Marry (quoth he), ye have been rather against me in attempting
or setting forth thereof. And to put you all out of doubt, I will
declare unto you the special cause that moved me hereunto; it was a
certain scrupulosity that pricked my conscience upon divers words that
were spoken at a certain time by the Bishop of Bayonne, the French
King's Ambassador[140], who had been here long upon the debating for
the conclusion of a marriage to be concluded between the princess our
daughter Mary, and the Duke of Orleans, the French king's second son.
"And upon the resolution and determination thereof, he desired respite
to advertise the king his master thereof, whether our daughter Mary
should be legitimate, in respect of the marriage which was sometime
between the queen here, and my brother the late Prince Arthur. These
words were so conceived within my scrupulous conscience, that it bred
a doubt within my breast, which doubt pricked, vexed, and troubled
so my mind, and so disquieted me, that I was in great doubt of God's
indignation; which (as seemed me), appeared right well; much the rather
for that he hath not sent me any issue male; for all such issue male as
I have received of the queen died incontinent after they were born; so
that I doubt the punishment of God in that behalf. Thus being troubled
in waves of a scrupulous conscience, and partly in despair of any
issue male by her, it drave me at last to consider the estate of this
realm, and the danger it stood in for lack of issue male to succeed
me in this imperial dignity. I thought it good therefore in relief of
the weighty burden of scrupulous conscience, and the quiet estate of
this noble realm, to attempt the law therein, and whether I might take
another wife in case that my first copulation with this gentlewoman
were not lawful; which I intend not for any carnal concupiscence, ne
for any displeasure or mislike of the queen's person or age, with whom
I could be as well content to continue during my life, if our marriage
may stand with God's laws, as with any woman alive; in which point
consisteth all this doubt that we go now about to try by the learned
wisdom and judgment of you our prelates and pastors of this realm here
assembled for that purpose; to whose conscience and judgment I have
committed the charge according to the which (God willing), we will be
right well contented to submit ourself, to obey the same for our part.
Wherein after I once perceived my conscience wounded with the doubtful
case herein, I moved first this matter in confession to you, my Lord
of Lincoln[141], my ghostly father. And for as much as then yourself
were in some doubt to give me counsel, moved me to ask farther counsel
of all you my lords; wherein I moved you first my Lord of Canterbury,
axing your license, (for as much [as] you were our metropolitan) to
put this matter in question; and so I did of all you my lords, to the
which ye have all granted by writing under all your seals, the which I
have here to be showed." "That is truth if it please your highness,"
quoth the Bishop of Canterbury, "I doubt not but all my brethren here
present will affirm the same." "No, Sir, not I," quoth the Bishop of
Rochester, "ye have not my consent thereto." "No! ha' the!" quoth the
king, "look here upon this, is not this your hand and seal?" and showed
him the instrument with seals. "No forsooth, Sire," quoth the Bishop of
Rochester, "it is not my hand nor seal!" To that quoth the king to my
Lord of Canterbury, "Sir, how say _ye_, is it not his hand and seal?"
"Yes, Sir," quoth my Lord of Canterbury. "That is not so," quoth the
Bishop of Rochester, "for indeed you were in hand with me to have both
my hand and seal, as other of my lords had already done; but then I
said to you, that I would never consent to no such act, for it were
much against my conscience; nor my hand and seal should never be seen
at any such instrument, God willing, with much more matter touching the
same communication between us." "You say truth," quoth the Bishop of
Canterbury, "such words ye said unto me; but at the last ye were fully
persuaded that I should for you subscribe your name, and put to a seal
myself, and ye would allow the same." "All which words and matter,"
quoth the Bishop of Rochester, "under your correction my lord, and
supportation of this noble audience, there is no thing more untrue."
"Well, well," quoth the king, "it shall make no matter; we will not
stand with you in argument herein, for you are but one man." And with
that the court was adjourned until the next day of this session.
The next court day the cardinals sat there again, at which time the
counsel on both sides were there present. The king's counsel alleged
the marriage not good from the beginning, because of the carnal
knowledge committed between Prince Arthur her first husband, the king's
brother, and her. This matter being very sore touched and maintained
by the king's counsel; and the contrary defended by such as took
upon them to be on that other part with the good queen: and to prove
the same carnal copulation they alleged many coloured reasons and
similitudes of truth. It was answered again negatively on the other
side, by which it seemed that all their former allegations [were] very
doubtful to be tried, so that it was said that no man could know the
truth. "Yes," quoth the Bishop of Rochester, "_Ego nosco veritatem_,
I know the truth." "How know you the truth?" quoth my Lord Cardinal.
"Forsooth, my lord," quoth he, "_Ego sum professor veritatis_, I know
that God is truth itself, nor he never spake but truth; who saith,
_quos Deus conjunxit, homo non separet_. And forasmuch as this marriage
was made and joined by God to a good intent, I say that I know the
truth; the which cannot be broken or loosed by the power of man upon no
feigned occasion." "So much doth all faithful men know," quoth my Lord
Cardinal, "as well as you. Yet this reason is not sufficient in this
case; for the king's counsel doth allege divers presumptions, to prove
the marriage not good at the beginning, _ergo_, say they, it was not
joined by God at the beginning, and therefore it is not lawful; for God
ordaineth nor joineth nothing without a just order. Therefore it is not
to be doubted but that these presumptions must be true, as it plainly
appeareth; and nothing can be more true in case these allegations
cannot be avoided; therefore to say that the matrimony was joined of
God, ye must prove it farther than by that text which ye have alleged
for your matter: for ye must first avoid the presumptions." "Then,"
quoth one Doctor Ridley, "it is a shame and a great dishonour to this
honourable presence, that any such presumptions should be alleged in
this open court, which be to all good and honest men most detestable
to be rehearsed." "What," quoth my Lord Cardinal, "_Domine Doctor,
magis reverenter_." "No, no, my lord," quoth he, "there belongeth
no reverence to be given to these abominable presumptions; for an
unreverent tale would be unreverently answered." And there they left,
and proceeded no farther at that time.
Thus this court passed from session to session, and day to day, in so
much that a certain day the king sent for my lord at the breaking up
one day of the court to come to him into Bridewell. And to accomplish
his commandment he went unto him, and being there with him in
communication in his grace's privy chamber from eleven until twelve
of the clock and past at noon, my lord came out and departed from the
king and took his barge at the Black Friars, and so went to his house
at Westminster. The Bishop of Carlisle being with him in his barge
said unto him, (wiping the sweat from his face), "Sir," quoth he, "it
is a very hot day." "Yea," quoth my Lord Cardinal, "if ye had been
as well chafed as I have been within this hour, ye would say it were
very hot." And as soon as he came home to his house at Westminster, he
went incontinent to his naked bed, where he had not lain fully the
space of two hours, but that my Lord of Wiltshire came to speak with
him of a message from the king. My lord, having understanding of his
coming, caused him to be brought unto his bed's side; and he being
there, showed him the king's pleasure was, that he should incontinent
(accompanied with the other cardinal) repair unto the queen at
Bridewell, into her chamber, to persuade her by their wisdoms, advising
her to surrender the whole matter unto the king's hands by her own will
and consent; which should be much better to her honour than to stand
to the trial of law and to be condemned, which would seem much to her
slander and defamation. To fulfil the king's pleasure, my lord [said]
he was ready, and would prepare him to go thither out of hand, saying
farther to my Lord of Wiltshire, "Ye and other my lords of the council,
which be near unto the king, are not a little to blame and misadvised
to put any such fantasies into his head, whereby ye are the causes of
great trouble to all the realm; and at length get you but small thanks
either of God or of the world," with many other vehement words and
sentences that were like to ensue of this matter, which words caused
my Lord of Wiltshire to water his eyes, kneeling all this while by my
lord's bedside, and in conclusion departed. And then my lord rose up,
and made him ready, taking his barge, and went straight to Bath Place
to the other cardinal; and so went together unto Bridewell, directly to
the queen's lodging: and they, being in her chamber of presence, showed
to the gentleman usher that they came to speak with the queen's grace.
The gentleman usher advertised the queen thereof incontinent. With that
she came out of her privy chamber with a skein of white thread about
her neck, into the chamber of presence, where the cardinals were giving
of attendance upon her coming. At whose coming quoth she, "Alack, my
lords, I am very sorry to cause you to attend upon me; what is your
pleasure with me?" "If it please you," quoth my Lord Cardinal, "to go
into your privy chamber, we will show you the cause of our coming."
"My lord," quoth she, "if you have any thing to say, speak it openly
before all these folks; for I fear nothing that ye can say or allege
against me, but that I would all the world should both hear and see
it; therefore I pray you speak your minds openly." Then began my lord
to speak to her in Latin. "Nay, good my lord," quoth she, "speak to
me in English I beseech you; although I understand Latin." "Forsooth
then," quoth my lord, "Madam, if it please your grace, we come both
to know your mind, how ye be disposed to do in this matter between
the king and you, and also to declare secretly our opinions and our
counsel unto you, which we have intended of very zeal and obedience
that we bear to your grace." "My lords, I thank you then," quoth she,
"of your good wills; but to make answer to your request I cannot so
suddenly, for I was set among my maidens at work, thinking full little
of any such matter, wherein there needeth a longer deliberation, and a
better head than mine, to make answer to so noble wise men as ye be;
I had need of good counsel in this case, which toucheth me so near;
and for any counsel or friendship that I can find in England, [they]
are nothing to my purpose or profit. Think you, I pray you, my lords,
will any Englishmen counsel or be friendly unto me against the king's
pleasure, they being his subjects? Nay forsooth, my lords! and for my
counsel in whom I do intend to put my trust be not here; they be in
Spain, in my native country. Alas, my lords! I am a poor woman lacking
both wit and understanding sufficiently to answer such approved wise
men as ye be both, in so weighty a matter. I pray you to extend your
good and indifferent minds in your authority unto me, for I am a simple
woman, destitute and barren of friendship and counsel here in a foreign
region: and as for your counsel I will not refuse but be glad to hear."
And with that she took my lord by the hand and led him into her
privy chamber, with the other cardinal; where they were in long
communication: we, in the other chamber, might sometime hear the
queen speak very loud, but what it was we could not understand. The
communication ended, the cardinals departed and went directly to the
king, making to him relation of their talk with the queen; and after
resorted home to their houses to supper.