An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (8 of 8)
History
An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (8 of 8)
English literature
The aforesaid Yeomen of the Guard, when they came against the King's
barge, they durst not pass by towards Paul's Wharf, lest they should be
espied: and therefore entreated the Secretary to go with them to the
Bearbaiting; and they would find the means, being of the Guard, to make
room and to see all the pastime.
The Secretary perceiving no other remedy, assented thereto.
When the wherry came nigh the multitude of boats; they with poleaxes
got the wherry so far that, being encompassed with many other wherries
and boats, there was no refuge if the bear should break loose and come
upon them: as, in very deed, within one _Paternoster_ while, the bear
brake loose; and came into the boat where the Yeomen of the Guard were,
and the said Secretary.
[Sidenote: Tall Yeomen, but ill Keepers.]
The Guard forsook the wherry, and went into another barge; one or two
of them leaping short, so fell into the water.
[Sidenote: A Bearbaiting upon [the] Thames before the King.]
[Sidenote: The Book of Dr CRANMER against the _Six Articles_
lost in the Thames.]
The bear and the dogs so shaked the wherry wherein the Secretary was,
that the boat being full of water sank to the ground; and being also,
as it chanced, an ebbing tide, he sat there in the end of the wherry
up to the middle in water. To whom came the bear and all the dogs. The
bear, seeking as it were aid and succour of him, came back with his
hinder parts upon him; and so, rushing upon him, the Book was loosed
from the Secretary's girdle, and so fell into the Thames out of his
reach.
The flying of the people, after that the bear was loose, from one boat
to another, was so cumbrous that divers persons were thrown into the
Thames: the King commanding certain men, that could swim, to strip
themselves naked; and to help to save them that were in danger.
This pastime so displeased the King, that he bade, "Away, away with the
bear! and let us go all hence!"
The Secretary, perceiving his Book to fleet away in the Thames, called
to the Bearward to take up the Book.
[Sidenote: This Bearward was Princess ELIZABETH's servant.]
[Sidenote: Dr CRANMER's Book against the _Six Articles_
delivered to a Popish Priest.]
When the Bearward had the Book in his custody, being an arrant
Papist, far from the religion of his Mistress (for he was the Lady
ELIZABETH's Bearward, now the Queen's Majesty), ere that the
Secretary could come to land, he had delivered the Book to a Priest
of his own affinity in religion standing on the bank: who, reading in
the Book, and perceiving that it was a manifest Refutation of the _Six
Articles_, made much ado; and told the Bearward that whosoever claimed
the Book, should surely be hanged.
Anon, the Secretary came to the Bearward for his Book.
"What," quoth the Bearward, "dare you challenge this Book? Whose
servant be you?"
"I am servant to one of the [Privy] Council," said the Secretary, "and
my Lord of CANTERBURY is my master."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account