CRAN court had sent out no scouts to give warning of the approach of the enemy. MER, Abp. Cant. But Providence, which commonly, though not always, disappoints rebellious practices, threw an obstacle in the way. It happened that the carriage of one of the cannon brake, about Loses time. six miles from town. Wyat was so far infatuated as to spend several hours in mending it. Thus the main opportunity was lost, and the time concerted with his friends in the city not kept. Captain Vaughan and other officers advised him to be punctual to his appointment, to march on, and leave the fieldpiece behind him. Harper, above-mentioned, finding him obstinate, quitted him, came to court, and discovered his measures. Stow reports, that Poinet, bishop of Winchester, was in Wyat's army, and encouraged the enterprise; but that, when he perceived Wyat was likely to miscarry by trifling about mending the carriage, that the conspiracy began to break and the men slip from their colours,-finding their affairs go backward, he advised Brett and some others to look to themselves and thus, taking leave of his friends, with promise to pray for their success, he embarked for Germany. Stow's Annals, p. 620. 361. The news of Wyat's being so near alarmed the court extremely. The queen ordered the raising what forces could be gotten together on a sudden, and gave the command of them to the earl of Pembroke. Wyat, having notice of this preparation, and that they were likely to come to blows, came on by slow marches, to keep his men in the better condition for action; and thus it was almost noon before he entered the suburbs. The earl of Pembroke skirmished with him near St. James's; and sir John Gage, lord chamberlain, with a body of the guards, at Charing-cross. But, being apprehensive the earl of Pembroke had gone in to the enemy, Gage's men were seized with a panic, and retired to the court in great confusion. Notwithstanding this suspicion, the earl of Pembroke acquitted himself honourably, hung upon the rebels' rear, and cut off a great many. However, Wyat, continuing his march through the Strand and Fleet-street, came up to Ludgate. As they moved, they cried "God save the queen!" and told the people she had granted them all their demands. Ludgate being shut against them, Wyat called out he was there, and desired entrance. But those within returning hard renders him language, and being in no condition to force the gate, he MARY. retreated with his men towards Temple-bar, where, perceiving himself almost enclosed by the earl of Pembroke, he surren- And surdered to sir Maurice Berkley, who carried him to the council, self from whence he was sent to the Tower. Wyat's men, when Feb. 6. they saw their general surrender, threw down their arms, and were many of them taken and imprisoned. Godwin's Annals. The duke of Suffolk's concerting this rebellion with Wyat, proved fatal to his daughter, the lady Jane. She acquainted him, in a letter, she was not insensible he had shortened her life. Before this last revolt, the queen seemed disposed to deal gently with this lady: for, after she was found guilty of high Stow. treason, she had the liberty of the Parade in the Tower, and of walking in the queen's garden: but now it was thought necessary to proceed to extremities, and that the queen could not be safe as long as the other was living. This being resolved, Dr. Fecknam was sent to her, to give her notice she must die, and offered to reconcile her to the Roman Catholic religion. She received the first part of this message with great temper and unconcernedness: but, as to the other, she said she had no leisure to enter upon controversy, but should spend the little time she had in preparing for eternity. Fecknam, believing she was willing to get more time, went to the queen and procured a reprieve for three days. When he acquainted her with it, he desired she would hear him upon the subject of religion. She told him he mistook her meaning; that she was by no means fond of living longer, and never intended his moving the queen to respite her execution. After this they engaged in a dispute concerning justification by faith, the number of the sacraments, transubstantiation, communion in one kind, and the authority of the Church: upon all which Fox. points she argued much beyond what could be expected from her age, and a lady's education. Her husband, the lord Guilford, desired to take leave of her, before he suffered this was granted; but the lady Jane refused to see him. She was afraid such an interview might excite an unseasonable tenderness, and make them leave the world with more regret. Her miscarriage being much more owing to others than herself, was apt to make an impression upon the people. How far this might work upon the company, could not be known it was therefore thought advisable to execute her within the Tower. CRAN MER, The lady Jane and the lord Guilford executed. She mounted the scaffold without the least appearance of fear, Abp. Cant. or being disturbed. In her speech she owned herself guilty, not that she had grasped the crown, but because that she had not refused the offer: and thus her misfortune might be a warning to posterity, that innocent meaning is not a sufficient Her speech excuse for disturbing the public: and that those who resign to other people's ambition, help to fill up their schemes, and are drawn into unlawful practices, though against their will, have a great deal to answer for. upon the scaffold. Godwin, Her character. The descent of this lady has been mentioned already, with some other particulars: as to the rest of her character, she was a handsome person, obliging in her temper, and no ordinary genius. Her inclination lay unusually for learning. She was scarcely seventeen years old when she suffered and yet, in king Edward's time, she had made such a proficiency in Greek, that Plato untranslated was a diversion: she had likewise something of a talent for poetry, in English and Latin. There is a letter of her's to one Harding, who had been chaplain in her father's family. This divine had professed the reformed religion, but was now gone off to the Church of Rome. The lady Jane writes in a very pathetical strain to recover him. She endeavours to move him by the terrors of the other world, tells him he ought to prefer his conscience to his life: cites several passages from Scripture and Church history to work him to repentance and resolution. The discourse is remarkably pious, and discovers no ordinary share of elocution. But, after all, the language is extremely harsh: she expostulates in the highest terms of reproach. If he had revolted to the Koran, or worshipped the Pagan deities, she could not have Fox, vol. 3. expressed herself in stronger aversion. p. 33. By this letter the reader may perceive to what distance this lady had been bred from any thing which looked like popery; now, where the idea seems too hideously drawn, and the imputation overcharged, vehemence and passion is apt to succeed. Several of those who suffer in Fox's Martyrology, seem to have gone too far in declamations of this kind. Indeed, both Papists and Protestants, when they first parted especially, treated each other with too much severity of language. Now such sallies tend only to exasperate, and do no manner of service. People may stand clear of error without insult and hostile behaviour. There is a middle way between railing and ceremony, between caresses and outrage; and, without ques- MARY. tion, smooth advances, and friendly applications, are the best expedients to undeceive the misled, and dispose them to part with their errors'. About fifty of the most forward in this insurrection were executed in several places. Captain Brett, who carried in the Londoners to Wyat, was put into the hands of the sheriff of Kent, and hanged in chains at Rochester. He owned he had deserved his punishment, having thrice refused the queen's pardon. The duke of Suffolk was beheaded on Tower-hill. He Feb. 23. The duke of confessed he suffered justly for his disloyalty to the queen, and Suffolk desired the people to take warning by his misfortune, and be- beheaded. have themselves dutifully to the government: he professed his belief of the Christian religion, without any distinction as to communions, excepting his saying that he rested his salvation upon no other means than the mercy of God, through the passion of our blessed Saviour. By this he may seem to exclude all dependence upon the saints' intercession. And, without doubt, Fox took him in this sense, for he gives him the commendation of making a godly end. On the other hand, Dr. Weston, it seems, did not look on him as an heretic for, after this speech, he assisted him in his devotions, and they repeated the two Psalms, " Miserere mei, Deus," and "In te, Domine, speravi," alternately, the duke one verse, and the Stow's doctor another. Annal. p. 623. This duke, notwithstanding he had concerted the disinherit- 362. ing the queen with Northumberland, and appeared at the head of his daughter's usurpation, was graciously pardoned, as hath been already observed. And therefore his engaging with Wyat, and breaking out in a second rebellion, was horrible ingratitude. He is said to have been a weak man, which is the only circumstance that can be pleaded in abatement of his guilt. William Thomas, clerk of the council, in the late reign, was one of Wyat's adherents, and committed to the Tower for high treason. During his imprisonment he stabbed himself with a knife, and the wound was near being mortal. At his execution Ibid. et he justified his treason, and said he died for his country. He p. 624. advised assassinating the queen, for which Wyat abhorred him, as he confessed to the attorney-general at his execution. Holinshed, This Thomas was not without learning and parts. He I Would that this advice of Collier, confirmed by his practice, were more followed by polemical disputants. P. 1104. CRAN MER, Wyat execuled. the princess Elizabeth wrote a book, entitled "Pelerin Inglese," in defence of the Abp. Cant. proceedings of king Henry VIII. Sir Thomas Wyat was beheaded upon Tower-hill. He had begged his life, and pretended he could have made the queen satisfaction. It is probable he meant in some discoveries. He owned his treason upon the scaffold, and appeared very penitent. He asked the queen forgiveness, cautioned the people against defiance of the government, and making insurrections upon any pretence. And whereas it had been reported he had charged the lady Elizabeth, and Courtney, earl of Devonshire, with holding correspondence with him, and having a share in the revolt, he Wyat clears solemnly declared this was a downright calumny upon them both, and that neither of them knew any thing of his rising. and the earl It seems he had given in some depositions to the council to their disadvantage; but his dying words, without question, are most to be regarded. I have seen a letter in the paper-office, under the lady Elizabeth's own hand, in which she purges herself from this imputation with the strongest imprecations imaginable. Whether it was Wyat's inconsistency in his evidence, or Courtney's refusal of the queen's favour, and making his court to her sister, which raised a jealousy, is hard to determine. However, it is certain the queen was apprehensive of disturbance from this quarter; and therefore the earl of Devonshire, who had been committed to the Tower in this commotion, was now conveyed to Fotheringay-castle, in Northamptonshire. The lady Elizabeth was sent from the Tower to Woodstock, and had a gentler confinement. of Devon shire at his death. Stow's Rebelling upon the score of religion an unwarrant able expedient. As to the insurrection under Wyat, it is plain it was the colour of religion which misled the people, and strengthened the revolt. Now, for Christians to endeavour a relief by rising upon the government, is a desperate expedient. What can be more unaccountable than to rebel for that belief which damns rebellion? To honour God with the breach of his laws, and serve him with the highest violation of faith and duty, is a blasphemous pretence. It is to prescribe poison for preservative, and kill in the remedy. Besides, religion is never in danger of being lost; a man's faith by God's grace is impregnable against all assaults. Unless we throw it up, and betray it, all the force of men and devils cannot wrest it from us. The primitive Christians kept it upon the rack. "Neither nakedness, nor peril, nor sword, could separate them from the love of Christ." What can be more contrary to religion, than to |