"The Examinacon of Sir Anthony Browne, touching the La: Maries submission to Kinge Henry the 8th her father*, 18th June, 1536. "Sir Anthony Browne, Knight, sworne and examined, saith, that he never knew ye Kinges highnes and the dowger, for their matrimony was doubted, thought ye same lawfull, forasmuch as shee was his brother's wife before. "Item, He saith that Mr. Carewe shewed him lately that he had received a lře from the La: Marie as he supposed, and your deponent declared that Mr. Secretary had written a letter unto her adviseing her to submitte herselfe to the kinge; and shewed him that she would soe doe as he understood. Wherupon the said Sir Anthony praied God to give her grace soe to doe. Wherunto the said Mr. Carew said-Iff shee doe not submitte herselfe shee is undone; for the kinge is a mercifull prince and will have pittie of her, if shee will now leave her obstinacie, and not cast herself away. "Then he saith that Mr. Russel tould him that he heard say, that in case she would followe the king's pleasure shee should be heire apparante, at which time being others present, whom he now remembereth * Brit. Mus. Ayscough, 1786, 69. not, one of them said, what meane you by the heire apparant? whereunto it was answeared that shee should be reputed in such case to his highness unless his grace should have issue by his queen that now is, sonne or daughter. "Item, He saith that when Mr. Crom" was last at home, he went to Guildford to him; of whom the said Mr. Carew asked what newes were at court? whereunto he answered, that he knew no newes saving only Mr. Russel tould him he heard say that La: Marie should be made heire apparent to the king, if she would submitt herselfe and follow his pleasure, which the said Mr. Carewe praied to God shee might doe. "Item, He saith that Mr. Carew sent a lettre to the Ladie Mary, which ltre hee shewed before to this deponent and Mr. Crom", the effect thereof was to advise and counsell her in any wise to submitt herselfe to the king, and to followe such counsel as by Mr. Secretary's ltres should be declared unto her touching the same; nevertheless, whether he sent this ltre forth or noe, he knoweth not. "Item, He saith that since Mr. Cromw's coming to the court, he hath demanded of him whether the Ladie Marie should be heire apparent or noe, to whom hee hath answeared, that in case shee would submit herselfe, and bee obedient as shee ought to bee, hee trusted shee would; and iff shee will not bee obedient unto his grace, I would quoth hee that her head were from her shoulders that I might tosse it here with my foote, and soe putt his foote forward spurning the rushes. "Item, Examined why hee should have such affection to the said Ladie Marie, saith that hee was only moved thereunto for the love he beareth to the king; for hee never received letter, messege, token or recommendement from her, nor hath sent her any. "Item, Examined whether in case it had pleased God to call the King to his mercie, which God defend, leaving the Ladie Elizabeth in the degree of princesse, hee would have adheared to her, or advaunced the Ladie Marie? Hee saith that in such case he would have died with the Ladie Elizabeth according to the lawes of the land. “Item, He saith, he thought the Ladie Mary to be a fitt person to be an heire apparent, and to succeed in case the King's highness should not chance to have issue of his body by the Queene that now is, which God send him shortly, for that ye said Ladie Mary was borne in bona fide; which tearm of bona fide as hee hath hearde often, as well before the making of this lawe for the King's succession, as since, soe remembreth not presently of whom he hath hearde the same; but will endeavour himselfe to remember where hee hath heard it, and the same declare accordingly. "Item, Examined whether he hath had any private conference with any special men, or any other man or woman not specified, touchinge the state of the said Ladie Marie, he answeareth that he knew not, saying to some that he marvayled the would aske him such questions: but he saith that hee never had any private conferences with any man touchinge specyell matter, other than is expressed. "Item, Hee being examined, whether hee hath at any time heard ye name of bona fides parentum of Dr. Wolman, Dr. Bell, or Dr. Knight, saith nay. "Item, Being examined whether he knoweth of any conventicle devised, or sitte forth by any pson or psons for the advancement of the said Ladie Mary*; answereth, none otherwise than is before declared." * At this period, Mary was denied the title of Princess, by royal proclamation: and in the British Museum, Cott. Coll. Otho, c. x. 254, there is a curious examination of Dame Anne Huse, about her visiting the Lady Mary, and stiling her Princess, after the declaration of the monarch's pleasure. SECTION II. Succession to the Throne, how contemplated by Henry VIII.Royal Marriages negotiated-Sorrows of Princess MaryBirth of Lady Jane Grey-Progress of Reformation at the Birth of Lady Jane-Cranmer's Letter respecting the English Liturgy-Anecdotes of the English Bible-Family Anecdotes of the Greys-Description of their Family Mansion at Bradgate-Feudal Manners, and Sketches of Society-Progress of domestic Refinement-Birth of Edward VI.-Courtly and chivalrous Anecdotes-Dudley Family-Infancy of our Heroine-Early Promise-State of Literature, and of Female Education-Anecdotes of Erasmus, &c.; of Bishop Aylmer; of Ascham-Lady Jane educated in the reformed Religion, &c.-Queen Katherine Parr, &c. &c. - NOTWITHSTANDING the King's final regulation of the descent of the crown to Mary, next after the demise of Edward, it was certainly, at one period, in the 29th of his reign, A. D. 1537, his intention to have arranged matters otherwise, as appears from a letter written by him to Sir Thomas Wiatt*, wherein he details an offer, which the ambassadors of Charles V. had then seemed to agree to, that she should be married to the Prince of Portugal, Don Louis, with a fortune of 100,000 crowns; but with a proviso, that she should * Brit. Mus. Harl. Coll. No. 282, p. 1. |