Help us create a biggest collection of medieval chronicles and manuscripts on line.
#   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z 
Medieval chronicles, historical sources, history of middle ages, texts and studies

FRANCIS LANCELOTT, ESQ. Queens of England. Vol.1.

DOWNLOAD THE ONLY FULL EDITIONS of

Sir John Froissart's Chronicles of England, France, Spain and the Ajoining Countries from the latter part of the reign of Edward II to the coronation of Henry IV in 12 volumes 

Chronicles of Enguerrand De Monstrelet (Sir John Froissart's Chronicles continuation) in 13 volumes 

 
 
 
  Previousall pages

Next  

FRANCIS LANCELOTT, ESQ.
Queens of England. Vol.1.
page 364



lian Cardinal to Grafton, had his last interview with Henry—the offended monarch ever afterwards refusing to see him. The archbishopric of York he was permitted to retain ; but, to his astonishment, whilst be was preparing to enjoy in his retreat those splendours which he ever loved, he was arrested by the Earl of Northumberland for high treason. He at first Tcfused to comply, as being a cardinal; but at length he surrendered himself, and set out, by easy journeys, for London. He was taken ill on his way, and with difficulty reached Leicester Abbey, where the monks coming out to receive him, he exclaimed: "Father abbot, I am come to lay my bones amongst you," As hisdisordcrincreased, he seeing Kyngston, the lieutenant of the Tower, near his bedside, thus addressed him.— " Master Kyngston, I pray you have me commended to his Grace, and beseech him, in my behalf, to call to mind all things that have passed between us especially respecting good Queen Katherine and himself, and then shall his Grace's conscience know whether I have offended him or not. He is a prince of most royal courage, and rather than miss any part of his will, he will endanger one half of bis kingdom ; and, I do assure you, I have often knelt before him, sometimes for three hours together, to persuade him from his appetite, and could not prevail. And, Master Kyngston, had I but served God as diligently as I bave served the King, he would not have given me over in my grey hairs. But this is my just reward for my pains and study, not regarding my service to God, but only my duty to my Prince." He died a few days afterwards, and, as an esteemed historian very justly remarks, " the best eulogy on his character is to be found in the contrast between tbe conduct of Henry before and after the Cardinal's fall." During the winter, the King exerted every art to induce the Queen to consent to the divorce ; and having, by bribes, threats, and other means, obtained from most of the universities of Europe opinions that the marriage was illegal, he, in the spring of 1631, caused a deputation to proceed to the Queen, at Greenwich, to inform her thereof, and to request her to withdraw her appeal from Rome ; and, for the quieting of his conscience, to submit the case to the decision of four prelates and four temporal lords of the realm. The Queen, however, after expressing a hope that the compunctions of her husband's conscience would soon cease, boldly declared that, come what would, she was resolved to abide by the decision of no other tribunal saving that of Rome. This reply so enraged the King, that he took the Queen to Windsor, and, departing for the castle himself, on the fourteenth of July, 1531, left a prompt order for her to immediately quit the royal residence, and never again return. " He is my husband, and it is my duty to obey him," said the good Queen, on learning the cruel mandate ; " but although I go hence at his bidding, still will I pray for the health of his body and soul." She then retired to Windsor, and after a short sojourn at Ware, in Hertfordshire, took up her abode at Ampthill, From this time she never again beheld her cruel lord or her daughter ; but to the latter she wrote several affectionat letters, exhorting her to remember her Creator, love and obey her father, attend to her studies, and be kind and charitable to every one. Meanwhile, the Pope issued a brief, confirming the marriage of Henry and Katherine, and legitimatizing their offspring, which so alarmed the King, that, after venting his wrath upon the clergy, he declaredhewouldnowforevcr abandon the attempt to procure a divorce. This good resolution was, however, foiled by the ambition of the base, bold Cromwell, who was a servant of Wolsey, had risen from comparative poverty to affluence, and who, the day after the King's intentions to return to Katherine became known, solicited and obtained an audience with Henry, when, falling on his knees, he spoke as follows :—" Your Grace, to my feeble understanding, the difficulties which cause your present anxiety are only imaginary ones. Your councillors are frightened by shadowy


  Previous First Next  
 
 
 
 

"Medievalist" is an educational project designed as a digital collection of chronicles, documents and studies related to the middle age history. All materials from this site are permitted for non commersial use unless otherwise indicated. If you reduplicate documents from here you have to indicate "Medievalist" as a source and place link to us.