22.1. The words of the ladie Iane at hir death, on a scaffold vpon the greene ouer against the white tower.
The words of the ladie Iane at hir death, on a scaffold vpon the greene ouer against the white tower.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 _GOod people I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condem|ned to the same. My offense a|gainst the queenes highnes was onelie in consent to the deuice of other, which now is deemed treason; but it was neuer of my seeking, but by counsell of those who should seeme to haue further vnder|standing of things than I, which knew lit|tle of the law, and much lesse of the titles EEBO page image 1100 to the crowne. But touching the procure|ment and desire therof by me, or on my be|halfe, I doo wash my hands in innocencie thereof before God, and the face of all you (good christian people) this daie. And ther|with she wroong hir hands wherin she had hir booke. Then (said she) I praie you all good christian people, to beare me witnesse that I die a true christian woman, & that I looke to be saued by none other meanes, but onelie by the mercie of God, in the bloud of his onelie sonne Iesus Christ; & I confesse that when I did know the word of God, I neglected the same, & loued my selfe and the world, and therefore this plague and punishment is iustlie & worthilie hap|pened vnto me for my sins, & yet I thanke God of his goodnesse, that he hath giuen me a time and respit to repent. And now good people while I am aliue, I praie you assist me with your praiers.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Then knéeling downe, she said the p [...]alme of Mi|serere mei Deus, in English, and then stood vp and gaue hir maid (called mistresse Ellin) hir gloues and handkercher, and hir booke she also gaue to maister Bridges then lieutenant of the tower, and so vntied hir gowne; and the executioner pressed to helpe hir off with it, but she desired him to let hir alone, and turned hir toward hir two gentlewomen, who hel|ped hir off therewith, and wish hir other attires, and they gaue hir a faire handkercher t [...] [...]ut about hir eies.The executio|ner asked the ladie Iane forgiuenesse. Then the executioner knéeled d [...]wne and asked hir forgiuenesse, whom she forgaue most willinglie. Then he willed hir to stand vpon the straw, which doone, she saw the blocke, & then she said; I praie you dispatch me quicklie. Then she knéeled downe, sai|eng; Will you take it off before I laie me down Whervnto the executioner answered, No madam Then tied she the handkercher about hir eies, and fée|ling for the blocke, she said; Where is it, where is it? One of the standers by guided hir therevnto, and she laid downe hir head vpon the blocke, and then stret|ched forth hir bodie, and said; Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit, and so finished hir life. ¶ This was the end of the lord Gilford and the ladie Iane, I. Stow. whose deaths were the more hastened for feare of further troubles and sturs for hir title, like as hir fa|ther had attempted.]
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Thus (as saith maister Fox) were beheaded two innocents, Iohn Fox. in comparison of them that sat vpon them: for they did but ignorantlie accept that which the others had willinglie deuised, and by open pro|clamation consented to take from others, and giue to them. And verelie how vnwilling she was to take it vpon hir, there are yet liuing that can testifie. Iudge Morgan now that gaue the sentence against hir,Iudge Mor|gan fell mad. shortlie after fell mad, and in his rauing cried continuallie to haue the ladie Iane taken awaie from him, and so ended his life. ¶Touching this ladie Iane in the high commendation of hir godlie mind, I find this report in maister Foxes appendix to his Acts and Monuments, Abr. Fl. ex I. F. [...]. namelie that being on a time when she was verie yoong at Newhall in Essex at the ladie Maries, was by one ladie Anne Wharton desired to walke, and they passing by the chapell, the ladie Wharton made low curtsie to the popish sacra|ment hanging on the altar. Which when the ladie Iane saw maruelled why she did so, and asked hir whether the ladie Marie were there or not? Unto whome the ladie Wharton answered no, but she said that she made hir curtsie to him that made vs all. Why quoth the ladie Iane, how can he be there that made vs all, and the baker made him? This hir an|swer comming to the ladie Maries eare, she did ne|uer loue hir after, as is crediblie reported, but estée|med hir as the rest of that christian profession. In further witnesse of which good ladies disposition (both to God and the world) besides the verses of certeine learned men extant to hir praise, these following were found written by hir owne hand with a pin:
Non aliena putes homini, quae obtingere possunt,Sors [...] mihi, tunc erit illa tibi.Iane Dudley.Deo iuuante, nil nocet liuor malus,Et non iuuante, nil iuuat labor gra [...]is,Post tenebras spero videre lucem.