Notwithstanding , the Father dying , and the Soueraigne Sonne inaugurated by the name of Henry the eight , for many yeeres together enioyning a peaceable & quiet raigne , whether distasting his Queene , by reason that by this time she was growne somewhat in yeeres , or that hee had cast an affectionate eye vpon a more choice beauty , The ●●tiues perswading a Diuorce . or that through scruple of Conscience ( which for his honors sake is most receiued ) I am not able to censure . But sure it is , that hee beganne deepely to consider with himselfe , that notwithstanding the vsurped liberty of the Pope ( whose Prerogatiues till then was neuer thought disputable ) that his marriage was not onely vnlawfull , but incestuous : some are of opinion that hee was hereunto moued by the Nobility ; others , that hee was instigated by the Clergy , but if we may giue credit to his owne Protestation in open Court , the first original● of this touch in Conscience , was , because the Bishop of Bayon being sent Ambassador from the French King to debate a Marriage betwixt the Duke of Orleance his second sonne , and the Lady Mary , the sole suruiuing Issue of him and his Queene Katharine , but as the match was vpon the point to bee concluded , the Bishop beganne to demurre and desired respit , till he were fully resolued whether the Lady Mary ( by reason of the Kings Marriage with his brothers wife ) were legitimate or not . The cause is doubtfull , but the effect I am sure is vnquestionable .

Although the King receiued from this Spanish Lady a Prince called Edward , Prince He●ry borne . borne at Richmond on Newyeeres day in the second yeer of his raigne , for whose Natiuity great Triumphs were kept at Westminster , yet breathed his last vpon Saint Mathews day following . Besides hee had by her a second issue , the Lady Mary before-named , so that neither sterility and barrennesse could be aspersed vpon her , nor any knowne disobedience or disloyalty obiected against her , but that ( as the King himselfe often protested ) she was a wife no way refractory , but in all things corresponding to his desires and pleasures : These things notwithstanding , the pretended diuorce The Diuouorce disputed of . was to the Kings great cost and charge , so effectually negotiated , that after they had liued together by the space of 22 yeeres and vpwards in vnquestioned Matrimony , it was made the publique Argument in Schooles , debated by the Italian , French , German , and our owne moderne Doctors , both Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill , by an vnanimous consent determined , and for the better confirmation thereof , by th● Seales of diuers Academies signed , that the Marriage betwixt the King and Queene ( neuer till now called his Sister , or Brothers wife ) was a meere nullity , absolutely vnlawfull , and that his sacred Maiesty had liberty and licence ( howsoeuer the Pope sought by all meanes to antipose their opinions ) warrantable from them , after a legal diuorce sued out from the Court , to make choice of any other lady to his wife where he himselfe best liked .

Cardinall Campeius Cardinall Campeius sent from Rome . was sent from his Holinesse and Cardinall Wolsey was ioyned with him in commission , to determine of this difficult point : the King and Queene were conuened in open Court , then held in Black Friers ; the Resolution of the weighty Argument then in hand , was so abstruse , that it puzled all ; though many seemed confident , yet not a few of the best Orthodoxall diuines then staggered in their opinions , in so much that the Legate departed the land before he would giue vp a definitiue sentence in the cause , the reason was because hee desired further Order and Instruction from his Holinesse .

In the Interim the good Princess , greatly beloued , was much pittied , and the King much honored was greatly feared . ( For now most mens thoughts were in their hearts , a time better to thinke then speake ) but before the Diuorce was publikly denounced , the Lady Anne Bullein The Lady Anne Bullein daughter to the Earle of Wil●shi●re & Ormond created Marchionesse of Pembrooke . on the first of S●pt . An. 1532. was at Windsor created Marchiones of Pembrooke , and one thousand pound per annum conferred vpon her by the King , which news no sooner arriued to the deiected Princesse eare , but shee beganne to consider with her selfe , the ficklenesse and instability of greatnesse ; and seeing that Sunne to set in a cloud on her , which was beginning to rise serenely on another , who was now maiestically ascending those steps , by which shee was miserably descending , exprest a womans wondrous modesty , and without speaking any distastfull or irreuerent word against the King , said : Great men enterprizing great things , ought neither by the Lawes of God , nor man to employ their power , as their owne mind willeth ; but as Iustice and Reason teacheth : but fearing lest in speaking so little she had spoken too much , shut vp the rest , of what shee thought to vtter in a modest and welbeseeming silence .

Vpon the 25. of Ianuary An. 1533. the King was married in his Closset at Whitehall , to the Marchionesse of Pembrooke , the Lady , Anne Bullein ; Henry the eight married to the Lady Anne Bullein . but very priuately , few were present at the ceremonies , then celebrated by Dr. Rowland Lee , not long after consecrated Bishop of Chester .

In this concealed So●emnity , one Mistresse Anne Sauage , much trusted ●y them both , bore vp the Queenes traine , this Lady was within few moneths after espoused to the Lord Berkely .

In Easter Eue being the 12 of Aprill , the Queene being known to the King to bee young with child , went to the Chappell o●enly as a Queene , and was proclaimed publikly the same day Queene of England & vpon Whitsunday following crowned at Westminster , Queene Anne crowned . with all the ●ompe , state and magnificence therto belonging . Queene Katharine who for many yeeres had been their Soueraigne Lady , is now quite forgotten , and Queene Anne being to the people scarcely known , is soly honored : The rising Sunne is onely adored their ioyful acclamations ▪ readier for the coronation of the one , then their vniust exclamations to forward the deposing of th● other .

Vpon the 7th of Sep●tember , being Sunday , be●twixt the houres of 3● and 4● in the Afternoone Queene Anne was deli●uered of a fayre daughte● at Greenewich , The birth of the Lady Elizabeth . who 〈◊〉 the great vnspeakable ioy● both of Prince and people , Not kept a fortnight or a month in state , as it is now vsuall with ordinary people . was christened on th● third day following be●ing Wednesday ; the May●● of London and his bre●hren , Lady Elizabeth borne on the Eue of the virgins Natiuity , and died on the Eue of the Virgins Annuntiation 1603 Euen that she is now in heauen with all these blessed virgins that had oyle in their lampes . with more then for●y other of the grauest Ci●izens , being commanded ●o attend vpon the solem●ities . It was performed ●n the Fryers Church in Greenewich , the Font was of siluer , placed in the middle of the church with ●n ascent of three steps ●igh ; the old Dutchesse of Norfolke bore the Babe wrap'd in a Mantle of purple veluet . The Consponsors or witnesses , were , Thomas Cranmer , Archbishop of Canterbury , Lady Elizabeths godfather are godmothers . the Dutchesse of Norfolke , and ●he Marchionesse of Dorset , both widdowes .

Not long after the birth of the Lady Elizabeth , a generall oath of allegianc● past thorow the kingdom ▪ to bind al such as by their● yeers were capable thereof , An oath taken to the successors of Q. Anne . to maintaine and vphold the successiue heyre● descending from the bodies of the King & Queen Anne , lawfully begotten i● the true and legall possession of the Throne , Crown ▪ Sword and Scepter , with all the royalties and impe●riall honors thereunto be●longing .

The coniecturall of the● administration of thi● oath , together with the suddenesse of the Queene● coronation , The Reason of Qu. Annes so sudden coronation . was to stre●● then the match , and mak● the legitimation of her i●●sue ( which by the King● former match was amongst many yet made questionable ) of more va●●idity : for ( as one obser●eth , Anna coronatur , quod ●ulli nisi regni haeredibus con●ingere solet : Qu. Anne was ●herefore crowned , be●ause it is an honour so●y conferred vpon such whose issue are capable of ●●ccession , wherby it is pro●able that the Kings pur●ose was to adnihilate and ●●tinguish the Title of his ●aughter Mary , and to ●aue the Crowne and dig●●ty Royall , to the sole ●eires of Q. Anne : For this ●use were the two young ●adies brought vp apart , ●hich may be a reason why ●ey were after so different in their dispositions ▪ and so opposite in thei● Religions : The different dispositions of Elizabeth and Mary . both of them ▪ though not sucking th● milke , yet as well imita●ting the mindes as following the steps of their mo●thers ; Queene Katharin● liuing and dying a con●stant Romane Catholique Queene Anne , both in he● life and death , resolute 〈◊〉 the defence of the Refor●med Religion , which ( 〈◊〉 the most probable conie●ctures haue left to vs vp●on file ) was by the instiga●tion of some Romists the● powerfull with the King● who was not then fully se●●led in those tenents whic● he after made his maxim● the prologue to her fall an● ●●ues Catastrophe which 〈◊〉 long after hapned .

On May day , A no 1536. ●as a great iusting held at ●●eenewich , The preparation to Queene Annes fa●ll . in the which ●●e chiefe challenger was ●●e Lord Rochford , brother 〈◊〉 the Queene , and the de●●ndants were one Henry ●orrice of the Kings Bed●amber , with others , they ●ānaged their armes with ●eat dexterity , and euery ●urse which they ranne , ●me off with the lowd ap●●●ause of the people , inso●uch that the King at first ●●ght seemed in outward ●ewe to be wonderously ●lighted : but about the ●iddle of the triumph , ●e a storme in the midst ●a quiet Sea , the King arose suddenly from h●● seat , and attended with 〈◊〉 persons only , tooke Barg●● and was row'd to Westmi●●● leauing no small amaz●●ment behinde him , eu●●ry one wondring and co●●iecturing as their affect●●ons led them , what mig●● be the occasion thereo● All things were with 〈◊〉 night husht vp and in q●●●et ; The Qu. Brothers , with other sent to the Tower . no appearance of d●●content eyther in King 〈◊〉 Courtier perceiued , b● no sooner did the day pe●●● out , but the King 's disco●●tent appeared with it . Geo●● Bulleine , Lod Rochford 〈◊〉 Queenes brother , and He●●ry Norrice , the defenda●● were saluted with a co● breakfast next their hea●● 〈◊〉 their beds , & both con●eyed to the Tower ; the ●ewes being brought to ●he Queene , struck as cold ●o her heart , and hauing ●ast ouer dinner with dif●ontent , ●ecause the King , 〈◊〉 his custome was , had ●ent none of his waiters to ●id Much good doe it her , 〈◊〉 the Table , but percei●ing her seruants about ●er , some with their eyes glazed in teares , but all with looks deiected on the earth , it bred strange con●ep●ions in her , yet being ●onfident in her own inno●●ency , bred in her rather ●mazement then feare .

The same day entred in●o her chamber ; Sr Thomas ●udley , L. Chancellor , the Duke of Norfolke , Thomas Cromwell , Secretary , and ● d●●●●●ce after them , Si● William Kinsman , Constab●e of the Tower , at their first apppearance , her apprehension was , that they were sent from the King to comfort her about the imprisonment of her brother ; but obseruing them to looke more austerely vpon her , then vsually they were accustomed , shee be●gan to mistrust their message , but casting her eye beyond them , and espying the Constable of the Tower to accompany them in their vnwelcome visit , she grew then confident , that her death was now approaching , and that these were the Heralds to pre●are it , so expressing more ●odesty then Maiesty , Queene Anne commanded to the tower . ●oth in her behauiour , and ●ountenance , she prepared ●er selfe to attend their ●essage , which the Chan●ellor deliuered vnto her in ●ew words , telling her , ●hat it was his Maiesties ●ōmand , that she must in●antly be conveyed from ●hence to the Tower , there ●o remaine , during his ●ighnes pleasure , to which ●he answered , that her in●ocence and patience had ●●med her against all ad●ersities what soeuer , and 〈◊〉 such were his Maiesties ●ommand and pleasure , ●hey both should with all ●umility be obeyed : so ●ithout change of habit , or any thing necessary fo● her remooue , shee put her● selfe into their safe custody , and by them was conueyed into her Barge .

Iust vpon the stroke o●fiue , Qu. Anne entreth ●he●owuer she entred the Tower● the Lords with the Luie●tenant , brought her to he● Chamber , to whome , a● their departure , she spok● these few words following ( falling vpon her knees . I beseech God Almighty to 〈◊〉 my assistance and helpe , onely so farre forth as I am n●●guiltie of any iust crime , that may be layd against me : the● turning to the Lords , I in●treat you , to beseech the King in my ●ehalfe , that it wil● please him to be a good Lor● vnto mee , which word● were no sooner vttered , but they departed .

The fifteenth of the same moneth , the Lords of the Councell met at the Tower ; the Queene was called to● to the Barre , and arraigned before the Duke of Norfolk , Qu. Anne arra●gned . who sate as Lord high Steward , the Lord Chancellor on the right hand , and the Duke of Suffolke on the left hand , with diuers others Marquesses , Earles , and Barons ; the Earle of Surrey , sonne to the Duke of Norfolke , sate directly before his father , a degree ●ower , as Earle ▪ Marshall of England , the Queen● sit●ing in a chaire , diuers accusations , especially touching inconstancy , were obiected against her , to all which she answered punctually with such grauity and discretion , that it appeared to her Auditory she could not bee found guilty of any aspersion whatsoeuer : But when in their fauourable censures they were readye ( not without great applause ) to acquit her ; Q. Anne quit in the opinion of the Lords , but found guilty by the Iury. The Iury brought in a contrary verdict , by which shee was convicted , condemned , and had her iudgement to be burned , or else her head to be cut off at the Kings pleasure ; The Sentence being denounced , the Court arose , and she wa● conueyed backe againe to her Chamber , the La● Bullein her Aunt , and the Lady Kinsman , wife to the Constable of the Tower , onely attending her .

Two dayes after were brought vnto the Tower-Hill George Lord Rochford , Henry Norris , Marke Smeton , The Queens Brother with others beheaded . Medlin Brierton , Francis Weston , all of them of the Kings Priuy Chamber , who seuerally suffered and had their heads stricken off , no other account of their sufferings being giuen out abroad , but that they deseruedly dyed for matters concerning the conuicted Queene .

Two dayes after the Queene was brought to the greene within the Tower , and there mounted on a Scaffold where were present most part of the Nobility , Queene Annes death . 〈◊〉 Lord Mayor of London with certaine Aldermen and many other Spectators , her last words were these , Her Speech at her death . My honourable Lords , and the rest here assembled , I beseech you all to beare witnesse with me that I humbly submit my selfe to vndergoe the penalty to which the Law hath sentenced me ; as touching my offences , I am sparing to speak , they are best knowne to God , and I neither blame nor accuse any man , but commit them wholly to him , beseeching God that knowes the● secrets of all hearts to haue mercy on my Soule ; next I beseech the Lord Iesus to blesse and saue my Soueraigne & Master the King , the noblest and mercifullest Prince that liues ; whom I wish long to reigne ouer you . He hath made me Marchionesse of Pembrooke , vouchsafed me to lodge in his owne bosome , higher on earth hee could not raise me , and hath done there●ore well to lift me vp to those blessed Innocents in Heauen . Which hauing vttered with a smiling and cheerefull countenance , as no way frighted with the Terrour of Death , She gently submitted her selfe to her fate , and kneeling down on both her knees , with this short eiaculation in her mouth , Lord Iesus Christ , into thy hands I commend my Soule , with the close of the last syllable the Hangman of Callis at one blow struck off her head .

The King loth to shew himselfe too sad a widdower for so good a wife , the very next ensuing day was married to the Lady Iane Seymor , daughter to Sir Iohn Seymor Knight , Sister to Edward Seymor Earle of Hertford , and Duke of Somerset .

Queene Anne was no sooner frowned on by the King , but she was abandoned by her late friends and seruants , the young Lady her Daughter lost a Mother before she could doe any more but smile vpon her ; She dyed the Phoenix of her Sexe , but left a daughter behind who proued the Phoenix of her time , the true Daughter of so rare a Mother Phoenix . Queene Iane is now the sole obiect of all the Peoples ioy , but within little more then the Reuolution of one yeare all their hopes are crossed , death nip't the bud but preserued the blossome for a while after .

On the 12. day of October in the yeare 1537. The Birth of P●i●ce Edward● the Queene was deliuered both of a Son & her own life together at Hampton Court about two of the clocke in the afternoone . It is said , that newes being brought to the King in the time of her trauell , that her throwes were very violent , insomuch that her life was in great perill by reason of the extremities of her hard labour , nay that the issue was driuen to so strait an exigent , that either the mother or the infant must nccessarily perish ; humbly desiring his Highnesse in so great extremity ; his answer was that the Mother then should die , for certaine hee was that hee could haue more wiues , but vncertaine whether to ●aue more children ; heerevpon preparation was made to saue both , if possible , The death of Qu. Iane in Child-bed . but her body was ripped vp to giue way to her Child in the conclusion , and two dayes after her deliuery her Soule expired .

The Queene dyed much pittyed , and the young Prince called Edward was the eighteenth of the same moneth created Prince of Wales , Young Edward Prince of Wales , &c Duke of Cornewall and Chester .

The Father was so ioyfull of his Sonne that hee seemed to cast a neglect vpon his two daughters , yet of them both , the Lady Elizabeth was in most fauor and grace , for when Mary was separated from the Court , and not so much as suffered to come within a certain distance there of limited , the Lady Elizabeth was then admitted to keepe the young Prince company in his infancy , who in the time of his minority was committed to the tuition of Doctor Coxe , Dr. Coxe and Sr. Iohn Cheeke Tutors to P. Edward and L. Elizabeth . and Sir Iohn Cheeke , as they were guardians and Schoole-masters to the Prince , so were they the dayly Instructors of the sweet young Lady , Shee was 3. yeares elder then her Brother , and therefore able in her pretty language to teach and direct him ( euen from the first of his speech and vnderstanding ) in the principles of Religion and other Documents ; the Arch-bishop Cranmer her God-father was euer chary and tender ouer her , as one that at the Font had tooke charge vpon him to see her educated in all vertue & piety . Cordiall & intire grew the affection betwixt this brother and Sister , insomuch that he no sooner began to know her , but hee seemed to acknowledge her , and she being of more maturity as deeply loued him . Both comming out of one loynes , their affection was no lesse then if they had issued likewise from one wombe , they were indeede one way equally fortunate and vnfortunate , hauing one Father , and either of them depriued of a Mother , and euen in their seuerall deaths there was a kind of correspondencie , the one dyed by the sword , the other in Child-bed , both of them violent and enforced deaths .

So pregnant and ingenious were either , that they desired to looke vpon bookes as soone as the day began to breake , their horae matutinae were so welcome , that they seemed to preuent the nights sleeping for the entertainment of the morrows schooling , besides , such were the hopefull inclinations of this Princely youth and pious Virgin , The Industry of the Prince and L. Eliz. that their first houres were spent in Prayers & other Religious exercises , as either reading some History or other in the Old Testament , or else attending the exposition of some Text or other in the New ; the rest of the sore-noone ( Breakfast-time excepted ) they were doctrinated and instructed either in language , or some of the liberal Sciences , one morrall learning or other collected out of such Authors as did best conduce to the Instruction of Princes ; And when hee was cal'd out to any youthfull exercise becomming a Child of his age ( for study without action breedes dulnesse ) she in her priuate Chamber betooke her selfe to her Lute or violl , and ( wearyed with that ) to practise her needle ; This was the circular course of their employment , God was the Center of all their actions , Ab Ioue Principium , they began with God , and hee went along still with them , insomuch that in a short time they were as well entered into language , as Arts , most of the frequent tongues of Christendom they now made theirs , Greeke , Latine , French , Italian , Spanish , Dutch were no strangers , no forraigne Idiomes , but now made familiar with their natiue English , — Merito vt puer vnicus orbis Iure vocaretur Phoenix : virgo al●era Pallas .

These concurrences met in such a Concordancie that the Schollers ( though Princes ) for their good instructions were in a kind of duty obliged to their Tutors ; and their Tutors ( for their willingnesse , and Industry ) as much grac'd and honour'd by their Schollers . Alexander the great confessed himselfe more obliged to Aristotle his Schoole-master for his learning , then to his Father King Philip for his life , by the one he became a Man , by the other an vnderstanding Man . This Princely cou●le cannot bee taxed of ●ngratitude ; if all the malice in the world were ●nfused into one eye , it shall neuer be able to de●ract either of them : how forward was the one during his time to promote Doctor Coxe his Tutor , The Prince & La. Elizabeth not ingratefull to their Tutors . and the life that Marian persecution being drawn to the last breath , the other recald him from beyond the Seas , whither he was fled , restor'd him to many Church dignities and grac'd him so far as that by her appointment he made a learned Sermon that day when she went to her first Parliament .

These tender young Plants being past their sappy age , and now beginning to flourish , the old stocke begins to wither , the King feeling himself dangerously sick , many infirmities growing more and more vpon him , cal'd his Councell about him , made his last will and Testament , part of which , so much as concernes this present Discourse , shall be deliuered as it hath been extracted out of the originall Coppie , still reserued in the Treasury of the Exchequer , Dated the Thirtieth day of December 1546. Item , I giue and bequeath vnto our two Daughters , Mary and Eli●abeth● , if they shall be mar●●ed to any outward Poten●●tes , The last Wil● and Testament of K. Henry the eighth . the Summe of tenn●●housand pounds a peecee , ●nd that to be paid them by ●he consent of our Councell , 〈◊〉 Money , Plate , Iewels and Houshold-stuffe , if wee be●●ow them not in our life ●ime , or a larger , Summe ●t the discretion of our Ex●cutors , or the most part of ●hem ; And both of them vpon our blessing to be orde●ed aswell in marriage , as ●ll other lawfull things , by ●he aduice of our fore said Councell , and in case they will ▪ not , that then those Summes are to be dimini●hed at our Councels pleasure : Further , our will is , that from the first houre of our death , vntill such time as they can prouide either of them , or both of an honourable Marriage , they shall haue either of them , or both of them , three Thousand pounds vltra Reprisas to liue vpon . I haue knowne many a Noble Man's Daughter left as great a Legacie , nay a larger Dower , who neuer had any claime or alliance to a Crowne ; but so it pleased the King at that time .

Vpon the nineteenth day of Ianuary following the King lying vpon his death-bed , K. Henry dyeth . euen when hee was ready to giue an accompt to God for the aboundance of bloud already spilt , when hee knew himselfe was no longer able to liue , hee ●imprisoned the Duke of Norfolke the Father , signed a warrant for the execution of the Earle of Surrey , the Sonne , within nine dayes after he himselfe expired and on the eighteenth of February following , K. Henry buried at Windsor . was with great State and magnificence interred at Windsore .

On the same day wherin the Father deceased was the Sonne inaugura●ed King of England by the name of E●ward the ●●xth being of the age of 9. yeares , Edward the 6. crowned . on the nineteenth of February following he rode with his Vncle the Lord Protector , Duke of Sommerset , through the Citie of London , and the next day ensuing was anoynted King at West-minster by Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury who● that day administred the holy Eucharist together with sundry other Ceremonies appropriated for such Solemnities .

Great is the person o● a King , reigning heere● vpon earth amongst men ▪ hee is a liuely Embleme of the high and glorious Maiesty of God in heauen . The King was no ●ooner crowned , but the Lady Elizabeth gaue ●ay to his State , L. Elizabeths obseruance to the King her brother . there ●as now a discontinu●nce of that frequent ●nd priuate familiarity ●suall betwixt them , ●ormerly she loued him ●s a Brother , now she ho●ours him as her Soue●aigne ; Honour and Royalty make difference ●etwixt the Sonne and ●he Father , the degrees ●f State distinguish be●wixt brother and Sister , ●hey which liued socia●ly in all familiarity together , now doe not so ●uch as talke but at a distance . The death of ●he Father which raysed him to the Crowne , remoued her from the Court , set him in the Throne , sent her down● into the Countrey , L. Elizabeth goeth into the countrey . i● which retirement being nobly attended as wel● by diuers voluntary Ladies and Gentle-wome● as her owne traine an● houshould Seruants , sh● led there , though a mor● solitary yet a much more contented life , as hauin● now more leisure houre to contemplate and ruminate on those Rudiments and Exercise● wherein she had for merly beene conuersant . Diligence is the bree●e●● and productor of Arts ▪ but practise and exercis● doth nourish and cherish them , She in her great discretion made gainfull vse of t●is Soli●ude , as is apparant by ●he future .

Being setled in the Country to adde vnto her Reuenue , shee had many gifts and visits ●ent her from the King , who was very carefull ●oth of her honour and ●ealth , shee liued under ●he charge of a noble ●nd vertuous Lady , who ●as stil'd her Gouer●esse : scarce was she yet ●ull fourteene yeares of ●ge , when one of her Vncles , then in great office and place about the King , brought vnto her 〈◊〉 Princely Suitor , A Princely Husband offered to the L. Elizabeth . as great in means as come●●y in Person . A stranger richly habited and nobly attended , ( whose name my Author giues not● ) he after much importunitie both from himselfe and friends , yet at last crost in his purpose by modest repulses , and cold answeres , L. Elizabeth will not by any meanes marry . and finding her immutable disposition solely addicted to a single life , as not enduring the name of a husband , setled in his mind ( though not satisfied in her denyall ) retyred into his Countrey ; for though it may be said of women in generall , that they are spare in their answeres , and pe●●remptory in their demands & purposes , tha● their affections are stil in ●e extreames , either so ●assionate as by no coun●ell to be redressed , or so counterfeit , to be by no man beleeued , and again , ●f they are beautiful they are to be won with pray●es , if coy with prayers , if ●roud with gifts , & if co●etous with promises ; yet ●his sweet L. tho her beau●y were attractiue , yet by ●o flattery could be re●oued from her setled re●olution , and being concious neither of Pride , ●oyness , or couetousnes , ●ould not be easily drawn ●ithin the compas of any ●●btile temptation . This ●●rst vnwelcome motion ●f Marriage , was a 〈◊〉 why shee liued afterwards more solitary and retyred ; If at any time the King her Brother vpon any weighty or important occasion had sent to enioy her company at Court , she made no longer Residence , then to know his highnesse pleasure and to make humble tender of her duty and allegiance . That done , with all conuenient returned backe into the Country , where she spent the entire season of her Brothers Raigne .

The King had 3 Vncles left him by the Mothers side , The Kings 3. Vncles . Edward , Thomas and Henry Seymour ▪ Edward was Lord Pro-Protector , and Thomas high Admirall of England ; These two Brothers being knit and ioyned together in amity , were like a Bunch of Arrowes not easily broke asunder , but once dispersed , distracted betwixt themselues , they made but way for their Aduersaries how to assaile them with little disaduantage .

The two great Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke , Northumberland and Suffolke worke a d●uision betwixt the two B●rothers . Dudley and Gray murmuring that his Maiesties two Vncles should beare such great sway in the Kingdome ( by which their glory seem'd to bee eclipsed and darkned ) sought all meanes how to oppose this great vnited strength of Fraternall loue , but finding that there was no other way le●t to cast this yoake from off their necks ( which their Ambition held to be intolerable ) but onely by making a disiunction of that brotherly loue which had so long continued , and doubting how to worke it by their Seruants , tooke a neerer course to effect it , by their wiues , and so to draw their ruines out of their owne bosomes ; and most successiuely to their owne purposes thus it happened : Sir Thomas Seymour Admirall & the younger Brother , married the Queene Dowager ( whose hap it was of all the rest to suruiue her husband ) she contested with her Sister in Law for precedence and pri●ority of place , both were priuately encouraged , both swell'd alike with spleene , neither would giue way to other , the one claim'd it as she had beene once Queene , the other challeng'd it as she was the present wife of the Protector , the two Dukes were as suell to ●his fire new kindled be●●●wixt the women , Dud●ey incenseth the one pri●tely , Gray encourageth the other secretly ; The wiues set their husbands at odds by taking their parts , the Gordian knot of brotherly loue is therevpon dissolued . Northumberland and Suffolke take hold of this aduantagious occasion , insomuch that within a short time after , the Admirall was questioned for Treason , by consent of his brother condemned in Parliament , The. L. Admiral beheaded . and his head struck off at the Tower-hill March 20. 1549 , his Brother the Protector with his owne hand signing the warrant for his death . The one being thus remoued , there was now lesse difficulty to supplant the other : in the same month of Febr. in which his brother lost his head , The Protector questioned . was the Protector committed to the Tower by the Lords of the Councell , many Articles especially touching the gouernment of the State were commenced against him , but the yeare after , upon his submission to the Lords , and intercession made for him by the King , The Protector quit of treason . hee was released , this proued but a Lightning before death ; his great and potent Aduersaries still prosecute their malice against him , insomuch that not long after , calling him to a second accompt , when he had acquit himselfe of all such Articles of Treason as could bee inferred against him , The Protector found guilty of Felonie , & beheaded . hee was in a tryall at Guild-hall conuicted of Felony , and on the 22. of Ianuary was beheaded on the Tower-Hill .

These two next Kinsmen to the King , the proppes and stayes on which the safety of his minoritie leaned , the hinges on which the whole State turned , being thus cut off , it was a common feare and generall presage through the whole Kingdome that the two Vnc●es being dead , the Nephew would not suruiue long after , and so accordingly it happened ; for now all such Gentle-men and Officers as the Protector had preferred for the Kings attendance , were suddenly remoued , and all such as were the Fauourites of the two Dukes , onely suffered to come neere his person .