is the thunder and terror of the papists. One day I hope people will say that of me too.
16 June 1549
Bradgate Park
Are we on the brink of civil war? There are rebellions all across the country now and there is even a rumour that the rebels will march on London!
“What are they to do? Prices are high, they cannot find work and now that the landowners have enclosed the common lands they have nowhere to grow food or graze their animals,” I heard a servant grumble. I asked Dr Aylmer if it was true. (I have tried everyone else and no one will tell me.)
“There is much I do not understand,” I said to him, “and not all I want to learn can be found in books.” He looked at me doubtfully, but I insisted. “It is truth I am after, and that alone. I have heard the servants talk and wish to know if what they say is true,” I said stubbornly.
He asked me what I had heard and listened carefully as he always does. “They have many grievances,” he told me. “Some refuse to accept the new prayer book, some suffer from the enclosing of common lands.” And then he told me something that has truly startled me. The Lord Protector himself wishes to undo the harm caused to the peasants. He is even prepared to pardon the rebels – if the nobility will let him. (There are many wealthy landowners who have been made richer by the sale of common lands, Dr Aylmer says.) What he himself thinks about this I do not know. He does not say. I hope my family have not been made richer by the sale of the common lands. We are rich enough already. Then I demanded to know why people complain about the new prayer book. Do they not understand what a beautiful thing it is? I would it was read all over the world, I told him. Dr Aylmer smiled at me; it was such a beautiful smile that I knew that in this at least we were of one mind.
17 June 1549
Bradgate Park
Was reproved this morning for falling asleep in my lessons. But it was not my fault. I hardly slept at all last night. Katherine climbed into my bed saying she had dreamt the rebels were coming to kill us, and talked and wriggled all night long. As I lay there trying to sleep I thought about the sermon that had been preached to us in church. The peasants were very wicked to rebel, we were told. They should accept their lot in life, as we all must. Our lives are ordained by God, and our sufferings are punishment for our sins and a warning to repent. But can the Protector think so, if he wishes to help them?
20 August 1549
Bradgate Park
Father is trying to keep the peace but has not enough men. He wanted his brother Lord Thomas to bring his men. But he has been sent to France. It seems that we are at war with them too! I feel as if enemies surround us. How many there seem to be – those who do not like the reforms, those who hate wealthy people like us – and now the French too. I pity poor Edward. How could anyone ever wish to be king?
1 September 1549
Bradgate Park
I am tiptoeing about, trying to be as quiet as I can, so as not to disturb Father. He was to have ridden to the Earl of Huntingdon’s estate this morning, but has shut himself away in his chamber and will not speak to anyone – not even Mother. He is grieving for our uncle, Sir Henry Willoughby, who has died of wounds at a place called Dussindale in Norfolk. Mother said he was a brave man. He died helping the Earl of Warwick put down the rebellion – which I am pleased to write seems to be over now. My sisters could not remember who he was, until Mother reminded them that he was Thomas’s father. Now your cousins have no mother or father, she said. Katherine would like them to live with us. She likes cousin Thomas. He is the same age as her and she would have someone to play with.
Katherine has got her wish. All our Willoughby cousins are to live with us for a while. Thomas is my father’s ward, so he may stay here for a very long time. Katherine said she knew he would come – she made a wish at the wishing well. I
16 June 1549
Bradgate Park
Are we on the brink of civil war? There are rebellions all across the country now and there is even a rumour that the rebels will march on London!
“What are they to do? Prices are high, they cannot find work and now that the landowners have enclosed the common lands they have nowhere to grow food or graze their animals,” I heard a servant grumble. I asked Dr Aylmer if it was true. (I have tried everyone else and no one will tell me.)
“There is much I do not understand,” I said to him, “and not all I want to learn can be found in books.” He looked at me doubtfully, but I insisted. “It is truth I am after, and that alone. I have heard the servants talk and wish to know if what they say is true,” I said stubbornly.
He asked me what I had heard and listened carefully as he always does. “They have many grievances,” he told me. “Some refuse to accept the new prayer book, some suffer from the enclosing of common lands.” And then he told me something that has truly startled me. The Lord Protector himself wishes to undo the harm caused to the peasants. He is even prepared to pardon the rebels – if the nobility will let him. (There are many wealthy landowners who have been made richer by the sale of common lands, Dr Aylmer says.) What he himself thinks about this I do not know. He does not say. I hope my family have not been made richer by the sale of the common lands. We are rich enough already. Then I demanded to know why people complain about the new prayer book. Do they not understand what a beautiful thing it is? I would it was read all over the world, I told him. Dr Aylmer smiled at me; it was such a beautiful smile that I knew that in this at least we were of one mind.
17 June 1549
Bradgate Park
Was reproved this morning for falling asleep in my lessons. But it was not my fault. I hardly slept at all last night. Katherine climbed into my bed saying she had dreamt the rebels were coming to kill us, and talked and wriggled all night long. As I lay there trying to sleep I thought about the sermon that had been preached to us in church. The peasants were very wicked to rebel, we were told. They should accept their lot in life, as we all must. Our lives are ordained by God, and our sufferings are punishment for our sins and a warning to repent. But can the Protector think so, if he wishes to help them?
20 August 1549
Bradgate Park
Father is trying to keep the peace but has not enough men. He wanted his brother Lord Thomas to bring his men. But he has been sent to France. It seems that we are at war with them too! I feel as if enemies surround us. How many there seem to be – those who do not like the reforms, those who hate wealthy people like us – and now the French too. I pity poor Edward. How could anyone ever wish to be king?
1 September 1549
Bradgate Park
I am tiptoeing about, trying to be as quiet as I can, so as not to disturb Father. He was to have ridden to the Earl of Huntingdon’s estate this morning, but has shut himself away in his chamber and will not speak to anyone – not even Mother. He is grieving for our uncle, Sir Henry Willoughby, who has died of wounds at a place called Dussindale in Norfolk. Mother said he was a brave man. He died helping the Earl of Warwick put down the rebellion – which I am pleased to write seems to be over now. My sisters could not remember who he was, until Mother reminded them that he was Thomas’s father. Now your cousins have no mother or father, she said. Katherine would like them to live with us. She likes cousin Thomas. He is the same age as her and she would have someone to play with.
Katherine has got her wish. All our Willoughby cousins are to live with us for a while. Thomas is my father’s ward, so he may stay here for a very long time. Katherine said she knew he would come – she made a wish at the wishing well. I
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