we may be to mark, yet due regard to our common sense, and the consistency of impartial justice, forbid us either to palliate or obliterate.140 He was in no want of the fullest information for his guidance to a right decision. He heard all the legal objections from the judges, till he commanded them into silence. He had all the conscientious and moral difficulties put before him by Cranmer, and yet urged his adviser to suppress the voice of pious reason, and to act against his own conviction. He had ten days for consideration after the discussions began, and yet adhered to the purpose, from which both law and religion had emphatically dissuaded him. It was therefore a deliberate and indefensible perversity of both will and judgment, which he must have felt to be unjust; which it would be impossible to carry into execution without proscription and bloodshed, and which could not become successful without mischievous results. The health of Edward had never been permanent or secure. Soon after his accession, his sister Elizabeth expressed to him her uneasiness about it.141 At 140 It became such a favorite idea with Edward, that he wrote the plan out with his own hands: My devise for the succession, for lack of my body, to the lady Frances's heir males, if she have any such issue before my death; to the lady Jane and her heir males; to the lady Katerin's heir males; to the lady Mary's heir males; to the heirs males of the daughters which she shall have hereafter; then to the lady Margaret's heirs males. For lack of issue to the heirs males of the lady Jane's daughters, to the heirs males of the lady Katerin's daughters, and so forth, till you come to the lady Margaret's daughters heirs male.' Bur. 6. p. 274. Strype, 912. 141 Two chief occasions moved me much and grieved me greatly; the one, for that I doubted your majesty's health; of this, I am relieved in part; as one, desirous to hear of your majesty's health, tho unfortunate to see it, I shall pray God for ever to preserve you.' Lett. Eliz. Ellis, 145, 6. СНАР. X. BOOK II. a subsequent time she congratulated him on his recovery from an attack, which, from the strength of her expressions, we may infer to have threatened danger.142 We need not therefore recur to any suspicions of poison, because he was unwell in the spring of 1553,143 or became dangerously ill in the following June.144 145 While the king and cabinet were pursuing this anomalous scheme, the French ambassador, who was anxiously watching every movement of the government, became so far apprised of it as to report to his court that the king was rapidly declining, but that the succession was unsettled; and, therefore, altho the Venetian envoy had been to kiss Mary's hand, and, to make all sure, had likewise visited Elizabeth,146 yet that he, from the uncertainty which he had discerned, would not, unless commanded, imitate this diplomatic example. Six days after 142 In her Latin letter of 20 Sept.: When I recollect the singular benefits of the best and greatest God, I deem this the chief of all, that he has so suddenly and so mercifully restored you at London, from the very near disease. The late illness having been driven from you, we think you will be preserved by these frequent changes of air and residence, from all dangers of sicknesses.' Ellis, 159. 143 On 7 May, the secretary of state expressed to Cecil, The king is very well amended, and that so apparently, as continuing to keep himself close a few days longer, there is no doubt his majesty shall be well ado to take the air in better case than he hath been a good while.' Haynes, 149. By the 25 June, Edward was so much indisposed, that as we learn from sir Philip Hoby's letter, the current report at Brussels was, that he was dead. Haynes, 153. 145 Lett. Noailles, of 16 June. The illness of the king is such, that they have no more hopes, but this is kept very secret. People think that he is every day mending, and taking his walks in the garden, gallery and park.' p. 31. I have learnt from one of his physicians, that he will never get beyond the month of August, and is in great danger of going suddenly off.' p. 32. I cannot learn what resolution the lords will take as to the succession. Two days ago they were a long time assembled.' ib. 146 Lett. Noailles, p. 32. X. wards, he learnt that the fever was leaving Edward, CHAP. and that some mending symptoms appeared; but the watch of the metropolis was doubled, its gates closed earlier than usual; the prisoners in the Tower were confined more strictly than before; a fleet of twenty sail was ordered; and the peers were summoned to London.147 Before the week elapsed, the indefatigable ambassador penetrated and communicated the great mystery that was preparing." 149 148 The decaying king in the meantime sank irretrievably into the last exhaustion of human life. He was sensible of his state, and a few hours before his last extremity, expressed his feelings and his pain in an interesting prayer. Opening his eyes, he saw his physician: Are you there? I had not thought you had been so near. I was making my prayer to God.' A short pause ensued: when suddenly uttering, I faint; Lord! have mercy on 147 Lett. Noailles, of 22 June, 40-2. They really thought of losing the king last Tuesday or Wednesday; yet they have assured me, that for these two days his fever has left him, and that he is still going on mending.' ib. 40. The next day he wrote, that Edward was worse, p. 45. So closely was he watching. 148 On 26 June, his dispatch informed his royal master, 'Nine days ago the king made his will, and by that, settles the crown on Jane of Suffolk. The parliament is postponed to the end of September.' Lett. Noailles. p. 49. 149 His physician, Dr. Owen, who was sitting by him, noted it down without the king's knowlege: O Lord God! Free me, I beseech thee, out of this miserable and calamitous life. Receive me among the number of thine elect, if so be it be thy pleasure. Altho not mine, but thy will be done. To thee, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Thou knowest how happy I shall be, if I may live with Thee in heaven. Yet I would I might live and be well, for thine elects' sake, that I might faithfully serve Thee. O Lord God! bless thy people, and save thine inheritance. O save thy people of England; defend this kingdom from popery, and preserve thy true religion in it, that I and my people may bless Thy most holy name, thro thy Son Jesus Christ." Godw. Ann. 257. BOOK II. me-receive my soul!' he instantly expired.150 The melancholy event was carefully concealed; but the rumour of it soon spread,' 151 tho on no specific authority, and therefore for some days the public mind was floating amid doubt and denial, and became much agitated, from the uncertainty, by suspicion and mistrust. His mild disposition, his intelligent mind, his acquisitions of knowlege, his unfeigned piety, his patriotic spirit, and his ambition of doing good, promised a reign of no ordinary individual excellence and political prosperity; but as he had acted little for himself, and when he did so, had not always displayed that judgment and moral firmness, without which even virtue will not pass from the intention efficiently into the act, we are not authorized to assert that his maturity, if he had reached it, would have realized the promise, or have diminished the imperfections of his youth. It is not probable that he would have become an Elizabeth; and if he had not, both he and the nation might have sunk in the storms which were excited and directed against her. His reign lasted long enough to enable Cranmer and his auxiliaries to advance the English Reformation to that admirable system of doctrine, worship, discipline and precepts, which, with a few improvements from his wisest sister's reign, constitute the present 150 On 6th July 1553. Godw. p. 258. He had been committed for a time to the care of a quack gentlewoman, who undertook to work a wonderful cure, but who only hastened his death. Heylin, 139. 151 Noailles wrote the next day to his court: I have heard that the king is dead; a strong report of it, and much believed, is all over this city. Lett. 7 July. p. 52. church of England, and have deservedly immortalised its authors, and the name of the king under whom so much was, with his assent and approbation securely established. His education and attainments have been already noticed. The possession of the crown did not abate his love of study, 152 tho he also indulged in the recreations of the day. From writing and speaking Latin he proceeded to Greek, till he could translate with ease his Roman authors into the attic tongue, in which he read Aristotle's Ethics, and afterwards his Rhetoric.153 He notices. his amusements in his own Journal. He won at a challenge of base or running, and at rovers; but lost in a contest of shooting at rounds,154 with a party of his gentlemen, in black silk coats; he ran at the ring in emulous contest with others, in yellow taffety, but unsuccessfully.155 He banqueted at Deptford, to see two ships lanched.156 He indulged the French ambassador with an exhibition of his hunting, shooting, and musical talent. 157 He went on several 152 He would sequester himself from all companies, into some chamber or gallery, to learn his lessons without book, with great alacrity and cheerfulness. If he spent more time in play and pastime than he thought was convenient, he would find fault with himself, and say, We forget ourselves. We should not lose the substantia for the accident." Strype's Eccl. v. 2, part 2, p. 49. 153 Ib. part 3. p. 426. 154 Edw. Journ. on 1 April 1553. p. 34. 155 Neither side seems to have been very dexterous, for The yellow band took it thrice in 120 courses, and my band touched often, but never took, which seemed very strange.' 3 May. p. 36. A tournay followed, between six and six. ib. 156 Journ. p. 42. 157 The next morning he came to me to mine arraying, and saw my bedchamber, and went a hunting with hounds; and saw me shoot, and saw all my guards shoot together. He dined with me, and heard me play on the lute; ride; came to me to my study, supped with me, and so departed to Richmond.' Journ. p. 44. CHAP. X. |