XI.

his sovereign to be informed that she was crowned CHAP. the next day with great ceremonies; 52 a fact that is not mentioned in the other documents which have reached us.

54

That almost all the nobility of England accompanied her state procession to the Tower, 53 and swore, within that fortress, to maintain her reign, were their public pledges to the people and to her, that this revolution of the succession was their work, and would receive their support. But it was remarked, that tho 'the concourse of the people was great, their acclamations were few.' 55 The change was received with unexpected tranquillity. Mary had escaped the arrest which was awaiting her, it was obvious that force must now decide the question between the fair competitors; and the new queen and her creators became as active as the crisis demanded. She issued her royal letters to the lord lieutenants of the counties, requiring them to exert themselves to the uttermost of their

56

As

power to

62 On 11 July, avec grandes ceremonies.' Amb. Noaill. p. 56. Stowe mentions that on the 10th she was received as queen at the Tower, and proclaimed; but he does not mention her coronation. p. 610. And the Frenchman's note calls it rather peculiarly,' Le couronnement du roy, successeur du feu roy Edward.' ib.

53 By almost all the peers of the realm.' Godwin, p. 264.

54 Ibi accepto ciam universæ fere precipuæ nobilitatis jurejurando.' Sanders's Schis. p. 322.

55As if the strangeness of some new spectacle had drawn them together, rather than any intent of gratulation; which Mary's friends, hitherto distrustful more of success than of the cause, accepted of as an happy omen, and were encouraged to assist her as occasion should invite them.' Godw. ap. 265.

56 Sans tumulte ni emotion du peuple; chose qui étoit inopinée à un chacun.' Noaill. P 56. Only one person was noticed for expressing dislike, a vintner's boy; and he, upon the accusation of his own master, was taken up his ears were cruelly nailed to a pillar, and then cut off. Stowe, 610. It was an uncharitable satisfaction to many, that the informer, on his return home by water, was drowned the same evening by an accidental upsetting of the boat. ib. Sanders, 323.

II.

BOOK defend her title, and to assert her possession, and to resist the untrue claim of the lady Mary." This princess, as resolute to recover her usurped crown, ordered the authorities at Norwich to proclaim her as their queen. They hesitated on the first day, from a doubt of its prudence; 58 but obeyed her on the ensuing one, when their feelings had become more excited, or their loyalty more safe, and even sent her both men and munitions.59

All things thus far favored the bold undertaking. The government, revenue, fortresses, and army of the country, were in the hands of Jane's upholders. The populace of the nation exhibited no opposition. The emperor was too much embarrassed to send any counteracting succours to the excluded princess; and the French sovereign, from hostility to him, did not then chuse to interfere on her behalf. The usurpation seemed complete; and Ridley, one of

60

57 One of these, to the marquis of Northampton, is printed by Ellis, First Series, v. 2. p. 183. We will hope that Jane did not read before she signed it, the degrading epithet which it attached to the princess, of bastard daughter.' p. 185. A similar letter is in the MS. Lansd. in the B. Museum, N° 1236.

58

Alleging that they were not certain of the king's death. Stowe, 610. 59 Stowe, ib.

60 Sanders has put this fact satisfactorily. Charles the Cæsar, from whom alone Mary could expect assistance, was at this time so pressed by attacks upon him, that he could scarcely maintain himself. For tho he had, in preceding years, subdued all Germany, and carried prisoners into Flanders the electors of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse, the heads of the Protestants; yet this very success so roused the minds of other princes against him, that Henry, the late king of France, tho a maximus hostis hæreticorum, yet signed himself the Protector of the Liberties of Germany, and the avenger of the captives. With this sovereign, Maurice of Saxony, deserting the emperor, conspired; and the ruler of Brandenburg and other German princes joining them, the French king was not only enabled to take from Charles the three amplissimos bishoprics of Toul, Verdun and Metz; but Maurice, by an unexpected attack on the city of Enipontina, had nearly made the emperor himself a prisoner.' De Schis. p. 324.

61

XI.

our worthiest and most respected reformers, and CHAP. then bishop of London, unhappily mingling party politics with his religious sincerity, degraded himself, and gave a triumph to his enemies, by preaching to the people, amid many others of the clergy, in support of this unrightful change of dynasty." When will this sacred order of society, whom every well-taught mind and good heart desire to revere, leave worldly things to worldly combatants; and cease to unite what our Greatest Legislator has so truly declared to be for ever incompatible?

The throne of Jane would have stood unsubverted, if the feelings of the people had corresponded with those of the leading aristocracy; but on no occasion has public opinion more signally manifested its overwhelming power than on this experiment. Law, government, army, magistracy, nobility, the clergy, the metropolis, every fortress and actual possession, were on the side of Jane. Mary was a fugitive, and alone; and that she might not escape abroad, and excite invasions with an imperial force, a fleet was sent to Yarmouth, to intercept her flight."

But the feelings of the gentry of England were almost unanimous for the daughter of their undiminished favorite, Henry VIII. Her attachment to the popery they had rejected, would have determined

61 Stowe, 611. Bishop Godwin, who justly says, I wish he had not erred in this matter," remarks with truth its ill effect: Neither were the people made any thing the more inclinable by public impugning queen Mary's right in the pulpit, a course wherein Northumberland engaged many a preacher.' Ann. p. 267. Ridley's sermon was the more unfortunate for himself, in its worldly effects, as injudicious in the time of his uttering it; for it was preached on 16th July, when the popular feeling had turned the scale against queen Jane. Stowe, 611.

62 Godw. 268.

II.

63

BOOK them to oppose her; but the remembrance and popularity of her father, led them to resolve that she should be their queen, and Protestants as well as Catholics armed zealously for her. Sir Edward Hastings, altho the brother of one of the lords most active for Jane, and who had been sent by Northumberland to raise four thousand foot for her support, obeyed her appeal to him, and was among the first to raise the standard of loyalty to Mary, by marching instantaneously to her retreat in Norfolk the forces he had rapidly collected. This decided conduct removed all fear from those who desired to imitate. Her castle, embosomed in a wood of difficult access, was made more secure by its few defenders cutting down trees to block up the paths that led to it; and when the place of retreat was known, knights and gentlemen, and some peers, levying their tenants and dependents, with zealous speed, and taking what money, provisions, and munitions they had by them, hastened to offer her their devoted assistance 65 with such rapid alacrity, as to reach her retirement within six days after Edward's death. She proceeded to Framlingham Castle, the chief seat of the Norfolk

63 Godw. 268. For this early declaration and timely aid, Mary created him baron of Lowborough. ib.; and made him one of her confidential ministers. To take with him the treasure which he had of Edward's in his hands, as M. Noailles intimates, (p. 71,) seems irreconcileable with personal honor.

64 Castello chiuso da un bosco inaccessibile, sbarrate che sieno con arbori certe vie strette e guardate da poca gente.' Lett. Prin. 137.

65 The nobles were the earls of Bath and Sussex, and the two heirs of lords Wharton and Mordaunt. Godw. 267. The law serjeant, Morgan, was also so alert as to be promoted to be one of the chief judges of the kingdom. ib. 268.

66 Stowe says, that on 12 July the account of these arrivals at Kenninghall was brought to the council at London. p. 610.

67

family, to be near the sea coast in case of disaster; but all apprehensions of the issue became dissipated, when, from the thronging numbers, she soon beheld thirty thousand unexpected defenders, with their glittering arms and banners, near her walls, resolved to place her on her father's throne. No one had summoned them; no one had anticipated such an enthusiasm. It was the impulse of their own sensibilities which had collected them; and many who had been embodied and commissioned to act against her, catching the general sympathy, marched only to join her cordial supporters. The men in the fleet which had been sent to intercept her on the sea, being driven by a tempest into Yarmouth, associated themselves with her friendly bands." This incident peculiarly rejoiced Mary, and removed her apprehensions of her opponent's power. The loyalty being so general, the leaders of this powerful force determined to act with immediate energy; and sir Edward Hastings, on the 15th, marched to Drayton with ten thousand men, to proceed forward to Westminster.70

68

67 Per la quale in brevissimo spatio di tempo cerca trenta mila huomini voluntarii stavano in arme in suo servitio.' Lett. Prin. 137. They brought such abundance of necessaries, that altho so numerous, a cask of ale was sold for a Spanish real, and four great loaves for the sixth part of one. Sanders, p. 326. She wrote to the imperial ambassadors an expression of her feelings, on finding the people 'si affectionée à sa devotion, leur declarant qu'elle en trouve nombre infini.' Noail. 72.

66 Lett. Prin. 137. This Italian gentleman, then in London, thus contrasts the sudden change: a maiden lady, destitute and abandoned by all; without arms, artillery or soldiers; flying into a poor country, found in a moment riches spontaneously brought to her; opened hearts; arms, horses, ammunition and artillery, competent to make her terrible enemy tremble.' ib. 136.

69 Godw. 268. The captains took both their men and great ordnance to join her at sir W. Jerningham's request. Stowe, 611.

CHAP. XI.