Memoirs of life of Anne Boleyn, queen of Henry VIII.

Front matter

Ti

M E M 1 11 S

OF THE LIFE

Preface

In the records of biography, there is, perhaps, no character that more forcibly exemplifies the vanity of human ambition than that of Anne Boleyn : elevated to a throne, devoted to a scafi'old, she appears to have been invested with royalty only to offer an example of humiliating degradation, such as modern Europe had never witnessed. But, abstracted from those signal vicissitudes of fortune, which, in every age and country, must awaken curiosity and sympathy, there are various circumstances connected with the history of Anne Boleyn, which are calculated to create peculiar interest in the English reader. It would be ungrateful to forget that the mother of Queen Elizabeth was the early and zealous advocate of the Reformation, and that by her efforts to dispel the gloom of ignorance and superstition, she conferred on the English people a benefit, of which, in the present advanced state of knowledge and civilization, it would be difficult to conceive or to appreciate the real value and importance. But the most prominent feature of her destiny is, that the abolition of xii PREFACE.

papal supremacy in this country must be referred to her influence ; and that the only woman ever permitted to effect a change in our national and political institutions, has been instrumental in introducing and establishing a better system of things, whose effects have altered the whole fabric of society. On this single circumstance, perhaps, is founded the diversity of opinion which to this day prevails respecting the moral qualities of Anne Boleyn, alternately the subject of unqualified censure and extravagant praise. Catholic bigots and Protestant enthusiasts, calumniators and encomiasts, historians and poets, have alike conspired to create and transmit of her an unfaithful and even a distorted portraiture. It is, however, worthy of remark, that whilst she is reproached for real virtues by Bayle, and by Marot stigmatised for pretended vices, Calderon, the great dramatic poet of Spain, leaves her chastity unimpeached. In his fine play, "The Schism of England," she is invested with the ambition of Lady Macbeth ; but her ruin is attributed to Henry's fantastic and impetuous jealousy.

In offering these Memoirs to the public, the author has to lament the absence of some important documents respecting Anne Boleyn's early life, which, till lately, were extant in the libraries of Paris and Berne, but which are now transferred to other seats of learning and science, where they may perhaps continue to be inaccessible. To introduce history without an obvious necessity, formed no part of the original plan ; but it appeared impossible to

PREFACE. xiii

separate the details of Anne Boleyn's fate from those great political events, in which she was destined to perform an important part : still less could her character and conduct be understood without preliminary sketches of the customs and manners of the age ; to illustrate which, the minute description of Queen Mary's bridal progress, and other details, derived from our old garrulous chroniclers, have been introduced.

Whatever may be the defects in the plan or execution of this little work, the author ventures to hope she shall obtain credit for the assertion, that she has been actuated by no motives inconsistent with the spirit of candour and a humble but unaffected love of truth.

Contents

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

PAGE

HENRY THE EIGHTH, AND HIS COURT AND CHARACTER IN YOUTH.

Chapter II

OF THE DESCENT OF THE BOLEYNES. — THE INTRODUCTION OF ANN BOLEYN AT THE FRENCH COURT.

SIR GEOFFREY BOLEYNE — SIR WILLIAM BOLEYNE — THE EARL OF SURREY — SIR THOMAS BOLEYN — ANNE BULLEN — INFANCY — THE LADY ELIZABETH — FOX — WOLSEY — HIS MISSION TO FRANCE — HIS CHARACTER — HIS RISE — WAR WITH FRANCE — CATHERINE'S REGENCY — CHARLES BRANDON — ED- MUND DE LA POLE — HIS DEATH — LETTER OF CATHERINE OF ARRAGON" MAXIMILIAN — BATTLE OF SPURS — LETTER OF CATHERINE — WOLSEY A BI- SHOP — THE DUCHESS OF SURREY — WAR WITH SCOTLAND — BATTLE OF FLOD- DEN FIELD — SIR CHARLES SOMERSET — HENRY's FAVOURITES — A TOURNA- MENT — THE PRINCESS MARY AFFIANCED TO LOUIS XII. — ANNE A MAID OF

HONOUR MARY's FOLLOWERS — THE VOYAGE THE LANDING — CAVALCADE

— INTERVIEW WITH THE KING — LOUIS XII. — MARY's MARRIAGE HER LET- TER TO HENRY — HER ATTENDANTS DISMISSED — THE TOURNAMENT — DEATH

OF LOUIS XII. — Mary's second marriage — her pardon by henry —

HER DOMESTIC HAPPINESS xvi CONTENTS.

Chapter III

LETTERS AND EMBASSIES OF SIR THOMAS BOLEYN. — THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD.

QUEEN CLAUDE — ANNE's DUTIES AS MAID OF HONOUR — HER POSITION — EDUCATION OF YOUNG NOBLES — ANNe's CHILDHOOD — ROCHFORD HALL — ANNE's character — HER ACQUIREMENTS — MARGARET OF ALAN5ON — HER CHARACTER — ANNe's ADVANTAGES — FRENCH EMBASSY — A BANQUET — SIR THOMAS BOLEYN's MISSION — WOLSEY's AMBITION — HIS MUNIFICENCE — HIS SCHEMES — SIR THOMAS BOLEYN — HIS MISSION TO FRANCE — HIS LETTERS TO THE KING — ELECTION OF CHARLES V. AS EMPEROR OF GERMANY — BOLEYN's LETTER — BIRTH OF THE DUKE OF ORLEANS — BOLEYN's DILIGENCE — CON- DITION OF HENRY AND FRANCIS — VISIT OF CHARLES V. — HENRY's VISIT TO FRANCIS — THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD — MEETING OF HENRY AND FRANCIS — henry's DRESS — 'AMUSEMENTS — EXTRAVAGANCE OF THE NO- BLES — THE TWO QUEENS — THE BELLES OF FRANCE — BALLADS — FRANCIS VISITS HENRY — ANNE BOLEYN AT THE MASQUE — END OF THE MEETING AT GUISNES . . 85

CHAPTER ly.

RETURN OF ANNE BOLEYN TO ENGLAND. — ESTABLISHMENT AT COURT. — ATTACHMENT TO PERCY. — SEPARATION OP THE LOVERS.

WOLSEY — DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM — HIS TRIAL — WAR WITH FRANCE — ANNE's RETURN TO ENGLAND — ANNE INTHEQUEEN's SERVICE— CHARAC- TER OF CATHERINE — HENRY's GALLANTRY — HE MEETS ANNE — A MASKED BALL — henry's VISIT TO WOLSEY — ANNe's BEAUTY — HER MANNERS — ACCOMPLISHMENTS — MORAL QUALITIES — LUXURY OF THE COURT — MAIDS OF HONOUR — EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND — OLD CASTLES — SERVANTS' AMUSEMENTS — PERCY WOOES ANNE — THE LOVERS SEPARATED — PERCY AND WOLSEY — NORTHUMBERLAND'S LECTURE — ANNE's RESENTMENT . 121

Chapter V

ANNE BOLEYN's RETIREMENT AT HEVER CASTLE. — RECALL TO COURT. — CELEBRATED BY SIR THOMAS WIATT. — PROGRESS OF HENRY^S ATTACHMENT.

ANNe's apartment at HEVER CASTLE — THE BOLEYN FAMILY — DISCORD —MARRIAGE OF PERCY — HENRY VISITS HEVER— HER FATHER PROMOTED —

CONTENTS. xvii

PAGS

STR WM. CAREY — ANNE RETURNS TO COURT — HER SENTIMENTS TOWARDS

THE KING SCHOLARS AT COURT — FINEUX DIPLOMACY — LAWYERS — POETS

AND AUTHORS — WIATT AND SURREY WIATT's ADMIRATION OF ANNE

— HIS ATTENTIONS — WIATT A PROTESTANT — THE JEWEL — HENRY's GAL- LANTRY — THE KING — CORRESPONDENCE HENRY's LETTERS — ANNe's

PRUDENCE A GAME AT CARDS — CATHERINE'S FORBEARANCE THE POPE's

BULL — LAW OF DIVORCE — WOLSEY's POLICY — HENRY's COURTSHIP . 149

CHAPTER Yl.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROCESS OF DIVORCE.

WOLSEY's state — HIS DISAPPOINTMENT — BATTLE OF PA VI A — DR. PACE — WOLSEY's INTRIGUES — SIEGE OF ROME — NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRAN- CIS I. — WOLSEY's MISSION TO FRANCE — HIS RETURN — OPINIONS OF THE BISHOPS — ANNE HATED BY WOLSEY — HER PROTESTANTISM — HER LETTER TO WOLSEY — REASONS FOR ANNE's CONDUCT — HER GOOD QUALITIES — WIATT's POEMS — HENRY HOWARD — GEORGE BOLEYN — EMBASSY FROM FRANCE — BANQUET — THE KINg's TENT — HIS TREAT — ALMONER FOX — GARDINER —

henry's letter — CARDINAL CAMPEGGIO HENRY's DUPLICITY — HIS

SCRUPLES — RELATIONS OF CATHERINE AND ANNE — CATHERINE'S POPULA- RITY — THE SWEATING SICKNESS — SIR WILLIAM CAREY — SICKNESS OF ANNE

HER RECOVERY — DISCONTENT OF THE PEOPLE ANNE LEAVES THE

COURT — POSITION OF HENRY — HENRY's LETTERS TO ANNE — CARDINAL CAMPEGGIO'S NEGOTIATIONS — ILLNESS OF THE POPE — THE CONSISTORIAL COURT — PATHETIC ADDRESS OF CATHERINE — SHE DENIES THE JURISDIC- TION AND QUITS THE COURT 181

CHAPTER VII. WOLSEY's DISGRACE. — ANNE's CORONATION

EDICTS THE COURT — CATHERINE'S FIRMNESS — COMPEGGIO'S DECISION

— henry's rage — WOLSEY's DISGRACE HIS DECEIT EXPOSED — EFFECTS

OF THE VERDICT — THE LUTHERANS CRANMER SUMMONED TO COURT

WOLSEY's ENEMIES — HIS RECEPTION BY THE KING — PERPLEXITY OF ANNE — HER INFLUENCE — FALL OF WOLSEY — HIS RETIREMENT — HIS FINAL DIS- MISSION — HIS CATHOLICISM HIS SUCCESSORS — GARDINER CROMWEL

MORE — CRANMER — STATE OF MORALS — LUTHER's OPINION — THE UNIVER- SITIES — THE CLERGY AND PARLIAMENT — SATISFACTION OF THE PEOPLE —

THE REFORMERS ENCOURAGED — REMONSTRANCE DEATH OF WOLSEY

DISMISSAL OF CATHERINE — EMBARRASSMENT OF HENRY — CRANMER's IN- STRUCTIONS — INTERCOURSE OF HENRY AND ANNE DOMESTIC HABITS OF

HENRY — CARDINAL DU BELLAl's LETTER — ANNe's OCCUPATIONS — GRAND 2* xviii CONTENTS.

PAGE CEREMONIAL — ANNE CREATED A MARCHIONESS — A FEAST — PROGRESS TO FRANCE — MEETING OF HENRY AND FRANCIS I. — 'HAWKING PARTY — DANCES — MARRIAGE OF ANNE — HER CORONATION — THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF WILTSHIRE 223