Cotton lib.

fol. 228.

Queen Ann Boleyn's last letter to king Henry.

SIR,

YOUR grace's displeasure, and my imprisonment, are Otho. c. 10. things so strange unto me, as what to write, or what to excuse, I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you send unto me (willing me to confess a truth, and so to obtain your favour) by such an one whom you know to be bmy antient professed enemy. I no sooner received this message by him, than I rightly conceived your meaning; and if, as you say, confessing a truth indeed may procure my safety, I shall with all willingness and duty perform your command.

But let not your grace ever imagine that your poor wife will ever be brought to acknowledge a fault, where not so much as a thought [thereof] ever proceded. And to speak a truth, never da prince had wife more loyal in all duty, and in all true affection, than you have ever found in Ann Boleyn, with which name and place I could willingly have contented my self, if God, and your grace's pleasure had so been pleased. Neither did I at any time so far forget my self in my exaltation, or received queenship, but that I always looked for such an alteration as now I find; for the ground of my preferment being on no surer foundation than your grace's fancy; the least falteration was fit and sufficient (I know) to draw that fancy to some other subject. You have chosen me, from a low estate, to be your queen and companion, far beyond my desert or desire. If then you found me worthy of such honour, good your grace let not any light fancy, or bad counsel of mine enemies, withdraw your princely favour from me; neither let that stain, that unworthy stain of disloyal heart towards your good grace, ever cast so foul a blot on your most dutiful wife, and the infant-princess your daughter: try me, good king,

[* A great part of this letter was burnt in the fire before noticed.]

but let me have a lawful trial, and let not my sworn ene- BOOK mies sit as my accusers and judges; yea, let me receive an open trial, for my truth shall fear no open & shames; then shall you see, either mine innocency cleared, your suspicion and conscience satisfied, the ignominy and slander of the world stopped, or my guilt openly declared. So that whatsoever God, or you may determine of me, your grace may be freed from an open censure; and mine offence being so lawfully proved, your grace is at liberty, both before God and man, not only to execute worthy punishment on me as an hunfaythful wife, but to follow your affection, already setled, on that party, for whose sake I am now as I am, whose name I could some good while since have pointed unto, your grace being not ignorant of my suspicion therein.

But if you have already determined of me, and that not only my death, but an infamous slander must bring you the ijoying of your desired happiness; then I desire of God, that he will pardon your great sin kherein, and likewise my enemies, the instruments thereof; and that he will not call you to a straight account for your unprincely and cruel usage of me, at his general judgment-seat, where both you and my self must shortly appear, and in whose "just judgment I doubt not (whatsoever the world may think of me) my innocency shall be openly known, and sufficiently cleared.

m

My last and only request shall be, that my self may only bear the burden of your grace's displeasure, and that it may not touch the innocent souls of those poor gentlemen, who (as I understand) are likewise in strait imprisonment for my sake. If ever I have found favour in your sight, if ever the name of Ann Boleyn hath been pleasing in your Pears, let me obtain this request; and I will so leave to trouble your grace any further, with mine earnest 9 prayer to the Trinity to have your grace in his good keeping, and

BOOK to direct you in all your actions. From my doleful prison in the Tower, 'the 6th of May.

III.

Your most loyal and ever faithful wife,

Ann Boleyn.

V.

The judgment of the convocation concerning general-councils. Published by the L. Herbert from the original.

As concerning general-councils, like-as we (taught by long experience) do perfectly know that there never was, nor is, any thing devised, invented, or instituted by our fore-fathers, more expedient or more necessary for the establishment of our faith, for the extirpation of heresies, and the abolishing of sects and schisms; and finally, for the reducing of Christ's people unto one perfect unity and concord in his religion, than by the having of general-councils; so that the same be lawfully had and congregated in Spiritu Sancto, and be also conform and agreeable, as well concerning the surety and indifferency of the places, as all other points requisite and necessary for the same, unto that wholsome and godly institution and usage, for the which they were at first devised and used in the primitive church: even so on the other side, taught by like experience, we esteem, repute, and judg, that there is, ne can be any thing in the world more pestilent and pernicious to the common-weal of Christendom, or whereby the truth of God's word hath in times past, or hereafter may be sooner defaced or subverted, or whereof hath and may ensue more contention, more discord and other devilish effects, than when such general councils have or shall be assembled, not Christianly, nor charitably, but for and upon private malice and ambition, or other worldly and carnal respects and considerations, according to the saying of Gregory Nazianzenus, in his Epistle to one Procopius, wherein he writeth this sentence following; Sic sentio, si verum scribendum est, omnes conventus episcoporum fugiendos esse, quia nullius synodi finem

r this

III.

vidi bonum, neque habentem magis solutionem malorum, BOOK quam incrementum: nam cupiditates contentionum, et gloria (sed ne putes me odiosum ista scribentem) vincunt rationem. That is to say; "I think this, if I should write

66

to say,

truly, that all general councils be to be eschewed, for I "never saw that they produced any good end or effect, nor "that any provision or remedy, but rather increase of mis"chiefs proceeded of them. For the desire of maintenance "of mens opinions, and ambition of glory (but reckon not "that I write this of malice) hath always in them overcomed "reason." Wherefore we think that Christian princes, especially and above all things, ought and must, with all their wills, power, and diligence, foresee and provide; Ne sanctissima hac in parte majorum instituta, ad improbissimos ambitionis aut malitiæ effectus explendos, diversissimo suo fine et sceleratissimo pervertantur: neve ad alium prætextum possint valere, et longe diversum effectum orbi producere quam sanctissima rei facies præ se ferat. That is "Lest the most noble wholsome institutions of our "elders in this behalf be perverted to a most contrary and "most wicked end and effect: that is to say, to fulfil and "satisfy the wicked affections of mens ambition and malice; "or, lest they might prevail for any other colour, or bring ❝ forth any other effect, than their most vertuous and laud"able countenance doth outwardly to the world shew or "pretend." And first of all, we think they ought principally to consider who hath the authority to call together a general council. Secondly, whether the causes alledged be so weighty and so urgent, that necessarily they require a general council, nor can otherwise be remedied. Thirdly, who ought to be judges in the general council. Fourthly, what order of proceeding is to be observed in the same; and how the opinions or judgments of the fathers are to be consulted or asked. Fifthly, what doctrines are to be allowed or defended, with divers other things which in general councils ought of reason and equity to be observed. And as unto the first point, we think that neither the bishop of Rome, nor any one prince, of what estate, degree, or

BOOK preheminence soever he be, may, by his own authority, call, III. indict, or summon any general council, without the express consent, assent, and agreement of the residue of Christian princes, and especially such as have within their own realms and seigniories, imperium merum, that is to say, of such as have the whole, intire, and supream government and authority over all their subjects, without knowledging or recognizing of any other supream power or authority. And this to be true, we be induced to think, by many and sundry, as well examples as great reasons and authority. The which, forasmuch as it should be over long and tedious to express here particularly, we have thought good to omit the same for this present. And in witness that this is our plain and determinate sentence, opinion and judgment, touching the premisses, we the prelats and clergy under-written, being congregate together in the convocation of the province of Canterbury, and representing the whole clergy of the same, have to these presents subscribed our names the 20th of July, in the year of our Lord 1536. 28 Hen. 8.

There were then but 17

bishops in

the province of Canterbury; and Rochester

being va

cant, of the
other 16,
14 did sign
this.

Ex MSS.

Nob. D. G.
Pierpoint.

Signed by

Thomas Cromwel, Thomas Cantuariensis, Johannes London, with13 bishops; and of abbots, priors, arch-deacons, deans, proctors, clerks, and other ministers, 49.

VI.

Instructions for the king's commissioners, for a new survey; and an inventory to be made of all the demesnes, lands, goods and chattels appertaining to any house of religion of monks, canons, and nuns within their commission, according to the articles hereafter following. The number of which houses in every county limited in their commission, being annexed to the said commission. An original.

Henry R.

FIRST; After the division made, one auditor, one par