PRINCE EDWARD’S EPISTLE TO THE KING, FB139
42. Having thus settled and confirmed the regal style, his next care was for settling and preventing all disputes and quarrels which might be raised
about the succession of the crown, if the Prince, his son, should chance to die without lawful issue, as he after did. In which, as he discharged the trust reposed in him, so he waived nothing of the power which he had took unto himself by an act of parliament, made in that behalf, in the 35th year of his reign, as before was noted. FB210 In pursuance whereof, finding himself sensibly to decay, but, having his wits and understanding still about him, he framed his last will and testament, which he caused to be signed and attested on the 30th of December, anno 1546, being a full month before his death; first published by Mr Fuller, in his Church History of Britain, Lib. 5. fol. 243, 254. FB211 And out of him I shall crave leave to transcribe so much thereof as may suffice to shew unto posterity the sense he had of his own condition, the vile esteem he had of his sinful body, what pious but unprofitable care he took for the decent interment of the same; in
what it was wherein he placed the hopes of eternal life; and finally, what course he was pleased to take in the entailing of the crown after his decease, by passing over the line of Scotland, and settling the reversion in the house of Suffolk, if his own children should depart without lawful issue, as in fine they did. In which, and in some other points, not here summed up, the reader may best satisfy himself by the words and tenor of the will, which are these that follow:
“IN the name of God, and of the glorious and blessed Virgin, our Lady St. Mary, and of all the holy company of heaven: We Henry, by the grace of God King of England, France, and Ireland,
Defender of the Faith, and in earth, immediately under God, the Supreme Head of the Church of England and Ireland, of that name the Eighth; calling to our remembrance the great gifts and benefits of Almighty God, given unto us in this transitory life, give unto him our most lowly and humble thanks, acknowledging ourselves insufficient in any part to deserve or recompense the same, but fear that we have not worthily received the same; and considering further also, that we be (as all mankind are) mortal, and born in sin, believing nevertheless, and hoping that every Christian creature living here in this transitory and wretched world, under God, dying in steadfast and perfect faith, endeavoring and exercising himself to execute in his lifetime, if he have leisure, such good deeds and charitable works as Scripture commandeth, and as may be to the honor and pleasure of God, is ordained by Christ’s passion to be saved FB212 and attain eternal life; of which number we verily trust by his grace to be one:— “And that every creature, the more high that he is in estate, honor, FB213 and authority in this world, the more he is bound to love, serve, and thank God, and the more diligently to endeavor himself to do good and charitable works, to the laud, honor, and praise of Almighty God, and the profit of his soul; we also calling to remembrance the dignity, estate, honor, rule and governance that Almighty God hath called us to FB214 in this world;
and that neither we nor any other creature mortal knoweth the place, time, when nor where, it shall please Almighty God to call him out of this transitory world; willing therefore, and minding with God’s grace, before our passage out of the same, to dispose and order our latter mind, will, and testament, FB215 in that sort as we trust it shall be acceptable to Almighty God, our only Savior Jesus
Christ, and all the holy company of heaven, and the due satisfaction of all godly brethren in earth, have now, being of whole and perfect mind, adhering wholly to the right faith of Christ and his doctrine, repenting FB216 also our old and detestable life, and being in perfect will and mind, by his grace, never to return to the same, nor FB217 such-like, and minding by God’s grace never to vary therefrom as long as any remembrance, breath, FB218 or inward knowledge doth or may remain within this mortal body; most humbly and heartily do commend and bequeath our soul to Almighty God, who in person of the Son redeemed the same with his most precious body and blood, in time of his passion, and, for our better remembrance thereof, hath left here with us, in his Church militant, the consecration and administration of his most precious body and blood, to our no little consolation and comfort, if we as thankfully accept the same, as he lovingly, and undeservedly on man’s behalf, hath ordained it for our only benefit, and not his.
“Also, we do instantly require and desire the blessed Virgin Mary, his mother, with all the holy company of heaven, continually to pray for us, [and with us] FB218 whilst we live in this world, and in the time of passing out of the same, that we may the sooner attain everlasting life, after our departure out of this transitory life, which we do both hope and claim by Christ’s passion [and word].
FB219
And for my body, [which] FB219 when the soul is departed, shall then remain but as a cadaver, FB220 and so return to the vile matter it was made of; were it not for the crown and dignity which God hath called us unto, and that we would not be counted FB221 an infringer of honest worldly policies and customs, when they be not contrary to God’s laws, we would be content to have it buried in any place accustomed for Christian folks, were it never so vile, for it is but ashes, and to ashes it shall return. Nevertheless, because we would be loth, in the reputation of the people, to do injury to the dignity which we are unworthily called unto, we are content, and also by these presents, our last will and testament is, to will and order, FB222 that our body be buried and interred in the quire of our college of Windsor, middle way between the stalls FB223 and the high altar, and there to be made and set, as soon as conveniently may be done after our decease, by our executors, at our costs and charges, if it be not done by us in our lifetime, an honorable tomb, for our bones to rest
in, which is well onward, and almost made therefore already, with a fair grate about it; in which we will also that the bones of our true and loving wife Queen Jane be put also: and that there be provided, ordained, [made,] FB224 and set, at the cost and charge of us or of our executors, if it be not done in our lifetime, a convenient altar, honorably prepared and appareled with all manner of things requisite and necessary for daily mass, FB225 there to be said perpetually while the world shall endure. Also, we will that the tombs and altars of King Henry the Sixth, and also of King Edward the Fourth, our great uncle and grandfather, be made more
princely, in the same place where they now be, at our charge.”
Which care being taken for his tomb, he gives order that all divine offices accustomed for the dead should be duly celebrated for him; that at the removal of his body to Windsor 1000 marks should be distributed amongst the poor, to the end that they may pray for the remission of his sins and the wealth of his soul; that a revenue of 600 pound per annum be settled on the Dean and Chapter of Windsor, for performance of the uses in the will expressed, and more particularly for the maintenance of thirteen poor gentlemen, (to be called the Poor Knights of Windsor), at the rate of 12d.
by the day to each of them, with a fee of 3l. 6s. 8d. yearly to be super- added unto him which should be chosen the head and governor over all the rest. And that being done, he proceeds to the entailing of the crown, in this manner following—“And as concerning the order and disposition of the imperial crown of this realm of England and Ireland, with our title of France, and all dignities, honors, and preeminences, prerogatives,
authorities, and jurisdictions to the same annexed or belonging, and for the sure establishment of the succession of the same; and also for a full and plain gift, disposition, assignment, declaration, limitation, and appointment, with what conditions our daughters Mary and Elizabeth shall severally have, hold, and enjoy the said imperial crown, and other the like premises after our decease, and for default of issue and heirs of the several bodies of us and of our son Prince Edward lawfully begotten; and also for a full gift, disposition, assignment, declaration, limitation, and appointment to whom, and of what estate, and in FB227 what manner, form, FB228 and condition, the said imperial crown and other the premises shall remain and come after our decease, and for default of issue and heirs of the several bodies of us, [and]
FB229
of our said son Prince Edward, [and] FB229 of our said daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, lawfully begotten:—We by these presents do make and
declare our last will and testament, concerning FB230 the said imperial crown and all other the premises, in manner and form following.
“That is to say, we will by these presents, that immediately after our departure out of this present life our said son Prince Edward shall have and enjoy the said imperial crown, and realm of England [and Ireland], FB229 our title of France, with all dignities, honors, pre- eminences, prerogatives, authorities, and jurisdictions, lands and possessions, to the same annexed and FB231 belonging, unto him, or to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. And for default of such issue of our said son Prince Edward’s body lawfully begotten, we will the same imperial crown, and other the premises after our [two] FB229 deceases, shall wholly remain and come to the heirs of our body lawfully begotten upon the body of our entirely beloved wife, Queen Katharine, that now is, or of any other our lawful wife that we shall hereafter marry. And for lack of such issue and heirs, we will also that after our decease, and for default of heirs of the several bodies of us and of our said son Prince Edward lawfully begotten, the said imperial crown and all other the premises shall wholly remain and come to our said daughter Mary, and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, upon condition that our said daughter Mary, after our decease, shall not marry nor take any person to her husband without the assent and consent of the Privy Counselors and others, appointed by us to our dearest son Prince Edward aforesaid to be of council, or of the most part of them, or the most FB232 of such as shall then be alive, thereunto, before the said marriage, had in writing, sealed with their seals. All which conditions we declare, limit, appoint, and will by these presents, shall be knit and invested to the said estate of our daughter Mary, in the said imperial crown, and other the premises. And if it fortune our said daughter Mary to die without issue of her body lawfully begotten, we will that after our decease, and for default of issue of the several bodies of us and of our said son Prince Edward lawfully begotten, and of our daughter Mary, the said imperial crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and FB233 come to our said daughter Elizabeth, and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, upon condition that our said daughter Elizabeth, after our decease, shall not marry or take any person to her husband without the assent and consent of the Privy Counselors and others, appointed
by us to be of council with our said dearest son Prince Edward, or the most part of them, or the most part of such of them as shall be then alive, thereunto, before the marriage, had in writing, sealed with their seals; which condition, we declare, limit, and appoint, and will by these presents, shall be to the said estate of our said daughter Elizabeth [in the said imperial crown, and other the premises] FB234 knit, and invested.
“And, if it shall fortune our said daughter Elizabeth to die without issue of her body lawfully begotten, we will that after our decease, and for default of issue of the several bodies of us, and of our said son Prince Edward, and of our said daughters Mary and Elizabeth, the said imperial crown and other the premises, after our decease, shall wholly remain and come to the heirs of the body of the Lady Frances, our niece, eldest daughter to our late sister the French Queen, lawfully begotten. And for default of such issue of the body of the said Lady Frances, we will that the said imperial crown and other the premises, after our decease, and for default of issue of the several bodies of us, and of our son Prince Edward, and of our daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and of the Lady Frances, lawfully begotten, shall wholly remain and come to the heirs of the body of the Lady Elianor our niece, second daughter to our said sister the French Queen, lawfully begotten. And if it happen the said Lady Elianor to die without issue of her body lawfully begotten, we will that after our decease, and for default of issue of the several bodies of us, and of our said son Prince Edward, and of our said daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and of the said Lady Frances, and of the said Lady Elianor, lawfully begotten, the said imperial crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and come to the next rightful heirs. And we will that if our said daughter Mary do marry without the assent and consent of the Privy Counselors and others,
appointed by us to be of council to our said son Prince Edward, or the most part of them FB235 that shall then be alive, thereunto, before the said marriage, had in writing, sealed with their seals, as is aforesaid; that then, and from thenceforth, for lack of heirs of the several bodies of us and of our said son Prince Edward lawfully begotten, the said imperial crown [and other the premises] FB236 shall wholly remain, be, and come, to our said daughter Elizabeth, and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, in such manner and
form as though our said daughter Mary were then dead without any issue of the body of our said daughter Mary lawfully begotten;
anything contained in this our will, or [in] FB236 any act of
parliament or statute, to the contrary in any wise, notwithstanding.
And in case our said daughter, the Lady Mary, dos keep and perform the said condition, expressed, declared, and limited to her estate in the said imperial crown and other the premises, in this our last will declared; and that our said daughter Elizabeth do FB237 keep and perform, for her part, the said condition, declared and limited by this our last will to the estate of the said Lady Elizabeth in the said imperial crown of this realm FB238 of England and Ireland, and other the premises: we will that then and from henceforth, after our decease, and for lack of heirs of the several bodies of us, and of our said son Prince Edward, and of our [said] FB239 daughter Mary, lawfully begotten, the said imperial crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and come to the next heirs lawfully begotten of the said Lady Frances, in such manner and form as though the said Lady Elizabeth were dead without any heir of her body lawfully begotten; any thing contained in this will, or in any act or statute, to the contrary, notwithstanding. The remainder over, for lack of issue of the said Lady Frances lawfully begotten, to be and continue to such persons, [in] FB240 like remainders, and estates, as is before limited, and declared.
“And we, being now at this time (thanks to Almighty God) of perfect memory, do constitute and ordain these personages following our executors and performers of our last will and testament; willing, commanding, and praying them to take upon them the occupation and performance FB241 of the same, as
executors: that is to say; The Archbishop of Canterbury; the Lord Wriothesley, Chancellor of England; the Lord St. John, Great Master of our House; the Earl of Hartford, Great Chamberlain; the Lord Russel, Lord Privy Seal; the Viscount Lisle, Lord High Admiral of England; the Bishop Tonstal, of Duresme; Sir Anthony Browne, Knight, Master of Our Horse; Sir Edward Montague, Knight, Chief Judge of the Common Pleas; Justice Bromley; Sir Edward North, Knight, Chancellor of the Augmentations; Sir William Paget, Knight, our Chief Secretary; Sir Anthony Denny, Sir William Herbert, Knights, Chief Gentlemen FB242 of our Privy
Chamber; Sir Edward Wotton, Knight, and Mr. Dr. Wotton his brother. And all these we will to be our executors, and counselors of the Privy Council with our said son, Prince Edward, in all
matters, both concerning his private affairs, and the public affairs of the realm; willing and charging them, and every of them, as they must and shall answer at the day of judgment, truly FB243 and fully to see this my last will and testament performed in all things, with as much speed and diligence as may be; and that none of them presume to meddle with any of our treasure, or to do any thing appointed by our said will, alone, unless the most part of the whole number of the co-executors do consent, and by writing agree to the same; and [we] FB244 will that our said executors, or the most part of them, may lawfully do what they shall think most convenient for the execution of this our will, without being troubled by our said son or any other for the same.”
After which, having taken order about the payment of his debts, he proceeds as followeth:
“Further, according to the laws of Almighty God, and for the fatherly love which we bear to our son, Prince Edward, and this our realm, we declare him, according to justice, equity, and conscience, to be our lawful heir; and do give, and bequeath unto him the succession of our realms of England and Ireland, with our title of France, and all our dominions, both on this side the seas and beyond: a convenient portion for our will and testament to be reserved. Also we give unto him all our plate, stuff of household, artillery, ordnance, ammunition, ships, cables and all other things and implements to them belonging, and money also, and jewels;
saving such portions as shall satisfy this our last will and testament:
charging and commanding him on pain of our curse, (seeing he hath so loving a father of us, and that our chief labor and study in this world is to establish him in the crown imperial of this realm, after our decease, in such sort as may be pleasing to God, and to the wealth FB245 of this realm, [and to his own honor and quiet,] FB246 that he be ordered and ruled, both in his marriage, and also in ordering the affairs of the realm, as well outward as inward, and also in all his own private affairs, and in giving of offices of charge, by the advice and counsel of our right entirely beloved counselors, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Wriothesley, Chancellor of