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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Life of Cardinal Wolsey - -Author: George Cavendish - -Editor: Samuel Weller Singer - -Release Date: January 23, 2017 [EBook #54043] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF CARDINAL WOLSEY *** - - - - -Produced by MWS, Christopher Wright and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -[Illustration: QUEEN ANNE BOLEYN. - -ENGRAVED BY E. SCRIVEN, AFTER - -THE ORIGINAL PICTURE BY HOLBEIN. - -_London, Published Jan. 1, 1825, by Harding, Triphook & Lepard._] - - - - - THE - - LIFE - - OF - - CARDINAL WOLSEY. - - BY - - GEORGE CAVENDISH, - - HIS GENTLEMAN USHER. - - FROM THE ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT. - - WITH - - NOTES AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS, - - BY - - SAMUEL WELLER SINGER, F.S.A. - - [Illustration] - - _SECOND EDITION._ - - LONDON: - - PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, - - FOR HARDING AND LEPARD, PALL MALL EAST. - - MDCCCXXVII. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - TO HIS GRACE - - THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, - - THIS REVIVAL OF A MOST INTERESTING - - SPECIMEN OF COTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY, - - BY HIS COLLATERAL ANCESTOR - - GEORGE CAVENDISH, - - IS WITH PERMISSION DEDICATED - - BY HIS GRACE'S OBLIGED AND - - OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT, - - S. W. SINGER. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -Perhaps few periods of English history are more remarkable than that -which comprised the fortunes of Wolsey; a period which had to boast -the most illustrious potentates who have ever filled the thrones of -Europe. The age of Henry was also that of Leo, of Charles, and of -Francis:--a period big with political events of singular interest:--the -captivity of the French monarch and of the Roman Pontiff,--the -sacking of Rome,--the divorce of Queen Katherine,--and the train of -circumstances which led the way to the Reformation,--Events in which -Wolsey's hand may be often traced, and in some of which he was a -principal actor. The record of his life and its vicissitudes,--his -humble origin--his towering fortunes, and his sudden fall,--could not -well fail of interesting even in ordinary hands:--But he has been -extremely fortunate in his biographer. The narrative contained in the -following pages, of course, only affords a glance at these events; it -is not the work of a professed historiographer, but the production -of a simple-hearted and honest eyewitness of what he relates. George -Cavendish was the faithful attendant of this princely prelate in his -triumphant as well as in his declining fortunes:--One who failed him -not in his adversity, but shed over his fallen master the tears of -affection, performed for him the last sad offices of humanity, and then -in his retirement sat down with honest indignation to vindicate him -from slander, and to transmit to future ages a faithful picture of his -life, with a sacred regard to truth. - -It is this circumstance which renders his work so much more interesting -than any thing of a similar kind with which I am acquainted. We are -here occasionally introduced to the secret recesses of the private -life of one of the most distinguished statesmen the world ever saw; of -one who not only divided the sway of empire with his monarch, but who -governed or influenced the conduct alternately of France and Spain; -whose power for a time was almost unlimited, and whose magnificence has -never been exceeded. - -There is a sincere and impartial adherence to truth, a reality in -Cavendish's narrative, which bespeaks the confidence of his reader, and -very much increases his pleasure. It is a work without pretension, but -full of natural eloquence, devoid of the formality of a set rhetorical -composition, unspoiled by the affectation of that _classical manner_ -in which all biography and history of old time was prescribed to be -written, and which often divests such records of the attraction to be -found in the conversational style of Cavendish. There is an unspeakable -charm in the naïveté of his language--his occasional appeals to his -reader--and the dramatic form of his narration, in which he gives the -very words of the interlocutors, and a lively picture of their actions, -making us as it were spectators of the scenes he describes. Indeed -our great poet has literally followed him in several passages of his -King Henry VIII. merely putting his language into verse. Add to this -the historical importance of the work, as the only sure and authentic -source of information upon many of the most interesting events of -that reign; from which all historians have largely drawn, (through -the secondary medium of Holinshed and Stowe, who adopted Cavendish's -narrative,) and its intrinsic value need not be more fully expressed. - -Upon the death of the Cardinal his master, Cavendish relates that the -king gave him the same appointment, of Gentleman Usher, in his service, -which he had filled in the household of Wolsey: yet at the close of -his work he tells us that he returned to his own home in the country. -Whether his retirement was only temporary, or whether he then took his -final leave of the court, we have no exact means of ascertaining. In -his poems he does not mention having served the king, yet dwells upon -his faithful services to the Cardinal; but the information he displays -upon the principal subsequent events of the reign of Henry, and that -of Edward VI. seems to lead to the conclusion that he was a spectator -of them. In retirement he would have hardly been able to obtain -the acquaintance with public affairs which his poems show that he -possessed. The circumstance of his sitting down to write in the reign -of Philip and Mary[1], "to eschewe all ociosite," would seem to point -to that as the period of his retirement, or otherwise his conscience -had long slumbered before it accused him that his "tyme he spent in -idelnes." - -The fate of this Life of Wolsey has been indeed singularly unfortunate; -after remaining in manuscript nearly a century, it was first printed in -1641, for party purposes, but in such a garbled form as to be hardly -recognized for the same work, abridgment and interpolation having -been used with an unsparing hand. Its author too had been robbed of -his literary honours, which were bestowed upon his younger and more -fortunate brother Sir William Cavendish, until the year 1814, when -his cause was ably advocated in a Dissertation by the Rev. Joseph -Hunter, F.A.S. author of the History of Hallamshire. I am indebted -to the kind intervention of my friend J. H. Markland, Esq. for the -privilege of reprinting that Dissertation, which the reader will find -at the commencement of the volume, and will, I doubt not, be gratified -in the perusal. It affords the best example of clear argumentative -solution of a literary paradox from circumstantial evidence with which -I am acquainted, at the same time it is so skilfully interwoven with -curious matter bearing upon the question, as not only to divest it of -the sterile character with which disquisitions of the same kind from -less able hands have been marked, but to render it very interesting. I -owe Mr. Hunter my best acknowledgements for the ready manner in which -the favour was conferred, and I look to have the thanks of those, who -are yet unacquainted with it, for uniting this tract with the work of -George Cavendish, from which it should never again be disjoined. For -all that relates to the Life of Wolsey and its author, therefore, I -shall beg leave to refer to this source of information; and it will -only remain for me to give an account of the present edition. - -Having purchased two valuable ancient manuscript copies of the work, -one of them from among the duplicates of the late Duke of Norfolk's -library[2], I conceived that the text might be very much improved -by collation of these and the several manuscripts in private and -public libraries. Upon naming the design to my friend Mr. Douce, he -mentioned to me a very curious copy in the possession of Mr. Lloyd, -which contained some verses apparently by the same author, and which -from this circumstance might have some claim to be considered the -author's original autograph. Upon application to that gentleman, he, -with a liberality which calls for my warmest thanks, immediately -placed the manuscript in my hands. I at once saw that its pretensions -were undoubted, and that it contained not only a more valuable text -of the Life, but a series of poems, evidently in the hand writing of -the author, with occasional corrections and interlineations, and thus -attested:--"_per le Auctor_ G. C." in numerous places. On the first -blank leaf is written in the same hand with the body of the manuscript, -"_Vincit qui patitur_ q^d G. C. _Maxima vindicta paciencia_;" and then -"Cavendysh de Cavendysh in Com. Suff. gent." and beneath, "I began -this booke the 4. day of Novemb^r." On the reverse of the same leaf is -another Latin sentence and the motto of Cavendish, _Cavendo tutus_. -On a succeeding blank leaf is the name of a former possessor, C. -Rossington[3], under which is written in another hand, "i. e. Clement -Rossington of Dronfield, Gent. whose son Mr. James Rossington gave -me this MS." It is remarkable that it should have passed into the -possession of a person in Derbyshire. Those who have made Sir William -Cavendish the author would have seized upon this circumstance with -avidity as lending colour to their assertion, and would probably have -argued that the initials G. C. by which _George_ Cavendish has attested -it as his production in so many places, were intended to designate -_Gulielmus_ Cavendish. Mr. Hunter has, however, settled the question -beyond the possibility of dispute; it is sufficient to remark here that -Sir William Cavendish died in 1557, and that this manuscript affords -unequivocal evidence that the writer survived Queen Mary, who died at -the close of 1558. Unfortunately the first leaf of the text of the Life -is wanting. At the end of the Author's Address to his Book, with which -the poems conclude, is the date of the completion of the manuscript, -which will be found on the plate of fac-similes: - - _Finie et compilé le xxiiij jour de Junij._ - - _A^o. Regnor. Philippi Rex & Regine Marie iiij^{to}. & v^{to}._ - - _Per le Auctor G. C._ - - Novus Rex, nova lex, Nova sola Regina, probz. pene ruina. - -This invaluable acquisition made me at once change my plan, and -proceed earnestly to the work of transcription; feeling convinced -that all other manuscripts were, in comparison, of little authority, -I determined to follow this, as most entitled to confidence. Upon -comparing it with my own manuscript copies and the text of Dr. -Wordsworth, I found that it supplied the chasm which, for some unknown -reason, is found in all the manuscripts that have come under my notice. -The suppressed passages contain the description of a boar hunt, and -an account of the libels written against Wolsey by the French[4]; the -imperfection is generally indicated by a blank space being left, which -in Mr. Douce's MS. is accompanied by a note saying, "in this vacante -place there wanteth copy." It was at first my intention to give various -readings, but upon closer comparison I found this would have -been impracticable, because the text, as it appears in Dr. Wordsworth's -edition and in the common manuscript copies, has been almost entirely -rewritten; changes in the structure of the phrase and verbal -discrepancies occur in almost every line. Under such circumstances -I was obliged to content myself with indicating the most important -variations, I mean such as in any way affected the meaning of the text. -I have however availed myself of my own manuscript copies, or of Dr. -Wordsworth's edition, to supply an occasional word or phrase which -seemed necessary to the sense of a passage, but have always carefully -distinguished these additions, by enclosing them in brackets. - -It is not easy to account for the extraordinary difference in the -language of the original autograph copy and the later manuscripts, by -any other means than a supposition that the copyist thought he could -improve the style of Cavendish, which is indeed sometimes involved and -obscure, but many of the discrepancies have clearly arisen from the -difficulty of reading his hand-writing, and the substitutions most -frequently occur where the original manuscript is the most illegible. -It is scarcely probable that Cavendish wrote another copy, for he was -already, as he himself says, old, and probably did not survive the date -of the completion of this MS. above a year. There are no additions of -the least importance in the more recent copies; the few which occur -have been carefully noted. - -Of the Poems, to which I have given the title of METRICAL VISIONS, no -other copy is known to exist. They have little or no merit as verses, -being deficient in all the essential points of invention, expression -and rhythm, and it is to be regretted that Cavendish, who knew so well -how to interest us by his artless narration of facts in prose, should -have invoked the muse in vain. He seems to have been sensible of his -deficiency, and says very truly - - "I must write plain, colours I have none to paint." - -In the former limited impression these Metrical Visions were printed, -but as they have little in them to interest the general reader, it has -been deemed advisable to give only a specimen in the Appendix to the -present edition; the omission enabling the publishers to compress the -work into one volume, and thereby to make it more generally accessible. - -I have ventured to take the spelling and pointing into my own hands; -but in no instance have I presumed to alter the disposition of the -text. I have reason to think that the judicious reader will not be -displeased at what is done in this respect; it is no more than what -has been effected for Shakspeare and other of our ancient classics. -The orthography of Cavendish, as the specimen given from his poems -will evince, was exceedingly uncouth and unsettled; retaining it could -have answered no good end; those who wish to have recourse to the work -for philological purposes would most assuredly prefer the authority of -manuscripts; and the disguise of old spelling might have deterred many -from reading this interesting narrative, to whom it will now afford -pleasure. - -The remaining portion of the volume comprises a very curious Memoir -of Queen Anne Boleyn by George Wyatt, grandson of Sir Thomas Wyatt, -the poet, containing some particulars relating to that unfortunate -lady not elsewhere noted. It must be considered a valuable supplement -to the notice of her contained in the Life of Wolsey. In the Appendix -is also given a Parallel between Wolsey and Laud, written at the time -when Cavendish's work first issued from the press; though its purpose -was to excite prejudice against Laud, it is not deficient in interest, -and is conducted with tolerable temper. The original being of extreme -rarity, and of sufficient brevity, I have thought that it would be an -agreeable addition to this work. The few letters and papers which are -added were necessary illustrations of passages in the text and notes, -and though some of them are to be found in books readily accessible, -they are not placed in connexion with the work to which they relate -without sufficient reasons, which the reader will find stated in the -preliminary notices; it is therefore unnecessary to repeat them in -this place. A few notes on the Life of Wolsey which have been adopted -from Dr. Wordsworth's edition are distinguished by the letter W. - -It is not generally known that a very curious edition of this Life was -printed by the zealous biographer of Wolsey, Mr. Grove of Richmond, -as long since as the year 1761. He had first adopted the old spurious -copy, which he printed in the form of notes to his own work in 1742-4; -but afterwards meeting with a manuscript, he was so indignant upon -finding by comparison the forgeries and scandalous interpolations of -the old editions, that he printed off a small impression with a preface -and notes; but it is one of the rarest of English books. For the loan -of this curious volume[5] I am indebted to the kindness of Richard -Heber, Esq. M.P. for the University of Oxford, whose liberality, -in imparting the inexhaustible treasures of the richest and most -comprehensive library ever formed by one individual, it has been my -good fortune frequently to experience. - -My excellent and highly valued friend Francis Douce, Esq. with his -accustomed kindness, threw open to me his valuable library, and placed -in my hands a very curious manuscript[6] of this Life, embellished with -spirited drawings in outline of some of the principal occurrences, -from which three prints have been accurately copied as appropriate -embellishments of the book. With these advantages, I have reason to -hope that this edition will be found in all respects worthy of the -singular merit of the work, and of the auspices under which it goes -forth to the world. - - BOX HILL, - - _June_ 1, 1825. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] See the Life of Wolsey, page 102, where he speaks of King Philip -_now_ our sovereign lord. - -[2] The Norfolk MS. is defective at the beginning, one leaf being lost, -which contained a portion of the prologue; there is consequently no -title to the work. It has a blank leaf at the place where the _lacunæ_ -usually occur in the manuscript copies. The hand-writing is of the -reign of Elizabeth, and the text corresponds very nearly with that of -Dr. Wordsworth: the orthography is not the same. This MS. is in its -original binding, and has the name of its ancient possessor, _Henrie -Farleigh_, stamped on each cover. The other manuscript copy in my -possession is carefully written, but apparently of more recent date; it -has the following title in German text hand prefixed: - - The Life of Master - Thomas Wolsey - Archbishoppe of Yorke - and Cardinall - written by - George Cavendish - his Gentleman Usher. - -The same chasm is marked in this MS. as in the former, two pages and -a half being left blank, but the imperfect passages at the conclusion -of the hunt, and at the commencement of the relation concerning the -libels on Wolsey, are completed by a few words as they now stand in -Dr. Wordsworth's text. The variations between these copies are chiefly -literal; the orthography is in many respects different. - -[3] Mr Hunter informs me that Clement Rossington the elder, who must -be here alluded to, died in 1737. He acquired the manor of Dronfield -by his marriage with Sarah Burton, sister and co-heir of Ralph Burton, -of Dronfield, Esq. who died in 1714. The father of Ralph and Sarah -Burton was Francis Burton, also of Dronfield, who was aged twenty-five -at the visitation of Derbyshire, 1662, and the mother, Helen, daughter -and heir of Cassibelan Burton, son of William Burton the distinguished -antiquary and historian of Leicestershire. There is good reason to -believe that the Rossingtons were not likely to _purchase_ a book of -this curiosity, and it is therefore more than probable that it once -formed part of the library of William Burton, other books which had -been his having descended to them. - -[4] Vide pp. 181, 182, 183, and for another addition pp. 166, 167, 168; -in the present edition the passages are included in brackets. - -[5] Bound up in the same volume with the Life of Wolsey, in Mr. Heber's -copy, are the following tracts bearing upon the subject; of which a -very limited impression appears to have been made, as they are all -equally rare. - -Two Dialogues in the Elysian Fields between Cardinal Wolsey and -Cardinal Ximenes, by Mr. Grove of Richmond. London, Printed for the -Author by D. Leach, 1761. - -A Short Historical Account of Sir William Cavendish, Gentleman Usher -to Cardinal Wolsey, and of his Lady Elizabeth (afterwards Countess -of Shrewsbury) and their descendants. This has no title page. The -Observations and Appendix to the Life of Wolsey appear to have been -annexed, as the paging is continued. - -Six Appendices to a Short History of King Henry VIII. which he had -previously published. These have no general title, and are separately -paged. - -A Short Examination into some Reflections cast on the Memory of -Cardinal Wolsey, by the Author of the Life of Sir Thomas More, in the -Biographia Britannica. 1761. - -The Life of Robert Wolsey, of Ipswich, Gentleman, Father of the famous -Cardinal. 1761. - -Grove has divided his edition into sections for the purpose of -reference. His text has now nothing to recommend it, though it was then -a laudable undertaking: he occasionally shows that he could not very -well decipher his MS.; he puts _hinnocrisse_ for _hippocrass_ at p. 71, -and at p. 76 _peeres_ for _speres_, with many other palpable mistakes. -Grove's ingenuity, though not his ingenuousness, may be admired; for -finding in his manuscript the work attributed to _George_ Cavendish, he -converts it to _Gu._ Cavendish, Gent. not to disturb his own historical -account of Sir William Cavendish, in which he gives a circumstantial -relation of the intimacy between Wolsey and Thomas Cavendish of the -Exchequer, the father of Sir William, who, he says, placed him in the -service of Wolsey, and of the growth of his fortunes in consequence, -with a confidence and detail which is truly amusing. - -[6] This manuscript is carefully written in a volume with other curious -transcripts, and has marginal notes by the transcriber, who appears to -have been a puritan, from his exclamations against pomp and ceremony. -At the end he writes, "Copied forth by S. B. anno 1578, the first day -of September." - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - Page - - THE EDITOR'S PREFACE vii - - WHO WROTE CAVENDISH'S LIFE OF WOLSEY? A - Dissertation. By THE REV. JOSEPH HUNTER, - F. S. A. 1 - - THE LIFE OF WOLSEY BY GEORGE CAVENDISH 16 - - - APPENDIX. - - EXTRACTS FROM THE LIFE OF ANNE BOLEIGNE, BY - GEORGE WYATT, ESQ. SON OF SIR THOMAS - WYATT THE YOUNGER 417 - - SIX LETTERS, supplementary to the above Memoir; - containing Particulars of the Arrest of Queen Anne - Boleyn, and her Behaviour while in the Tower. - - - LETTER I. - - _Sir William Kingston to Secretary Cromwell._--Upon - Queen Anne's Committal to the Tower 451 - - - LETTER II. - - _Sir William Kingston to Secretary Cromwell._--On - Queen Anne's Behaviour in Prison 453 - - - LETTER III. - - _Sir William Kingston to Secretary Cromwell._--Further - Particulars 456 - - - LETTER IV. - - _Edward Baynton to the Lord Treasurer._--Declaring - that only Mark will confess any Thing against - Queen Anne 458 - - - LETTER V. - - _Sir William Kingston to Secretary Cromwell, May 16, - 1536._--Upon the Preparations for the Execution - of Lord Rochford and Queen Anne 459 - - - LETTER VI. - - _Sir William Kingston to the same._--Upon the same - Subject 460 - - - ORIGINAL LETTERS, - - ILLUSTRATIVE OF PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF WOLSEY. - - - LETTER VII. - - _Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, to his Bedfellow - and Cosyn Thomas Arundel._--Complains of Injuries - received at the Hands of Cardinal Wolsey. - Humble Solicitations for his Favour in certain - Matters 462 - - - LETTER VIII. - - _The same to Secretary Cromwell._--Denying a Contract, - or Promise of Marriage, having ever existed between - Anne Boleyn and himself 464 - - - LETTER IX. - - _Queen Catherine of Arragon and King Henry VIII. to - Cardinal Wolsey._--A joint Letter, about the coming - of the Legate, and Expressions of Kindness 465 - - - LETTER X. - - _Anne Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey._--Thanking him for - his diligent Pains in the Affair of the Divorce 467 - - - LETTER XI. - - _The same to the same._--The same Subject; and the - coming of the Legate 468 - - - LETTER XII. - - _Cardinal Wolsey, in his Distress, to Thomas Cromwell_ 469 - - - LETTER XIII. - - _Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener_ 471 - - - LETTER XIV. - - _The same to the same._--The miserable Condition he is - in, his Decay of Health, and Poverty, and desiring - some Relief at the King's Hands. A melancholy - Picture 474 - - - LETTER XV. - - _The same to the same._--Desiring Gardener to write and - give him an Account of the King's Intentions in - regard to him 476 - - - LETTER XVI. - - _The same to the same._--Requesting Gardener to expedite - the Making out his Pardon in large and ample - Form as granted by the King 477 - - - LETTER XVII. - - _The same to the same._--In favour of the Provost of - Beverley, and desiring Gardener to intercede with - the King for his Colleges 479 - - - LETTER XVIII. - - _The same to the same._--Desiring his Favour in a Suit - against him for a Debt of £700. by one Strangwish 481 - - - LETTER XIX. - - _Lettre de M. de Bellay Evesque de Bayonne à M. le - Grant Maistre, 17 Oct. 1529._--Containing an interesting - Picture of the Cardinal in his Troubles, - and desiring the Intercession of the King of France, - &c. in his Favour 482 - - - LETTER XX. - - _Thomas Alvard to Thomas Cromwell._--Containing a - genuine Picture of one of the last Interviews with - which Wolsey was favoured by Henry VIII. 487 - - - A PARALLEL BETWEEN CARDINAL WOLSEY AND - ARCHBISHOP LAUD, first printed in 1641 490 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIVE DOCUMENTS. - - - Page - - The Will of Thomas Wolsey, Father to the Cardinal 502 - - Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Notice of his Book against - the Divorce of Henry and Catherine of Arragon 504 - - The Schedule appended to the King's Gift to the Cardinal - after his Forfeiture by the Premunire 507 - - A Memoryall of such Communication as my Lorde - Legatts Grace had with the Queenes Almoner.--Containing - a circumstantial Account of Queen - Katherine's Objections to have her Cause finally - judged by the Legates, &c. 509 - - Itinerary of Cardinal Wolsey's last Journey to the - North 516 - - The Comming and Reseyvyng of the Lord Cardinall into - Powles for the Escaping of Pope Clement VII. - A. D. 1527. A^o Regni Henrici VIII. xix^o 519 - - The Ceremonial of receiving the Cardinal's Hat, sent - by the Pope to Wolsey 522 - - Specimen of the Poems of GEORGE CAVENDISH 526 - - - - -DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES. - - - Fac Simile of the Original Autograph MS. _to face this page._ - - - REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. - - No. 1. Part of the Text of the commencement of the - Life, with the attestation _finis quod_ G. C. - - No. 2. Last Stanza of the Author's Address to his Book, - with the subjoined inscription of the date of the - completion of the MS. _See Preface, p._ xvi. - - - Portrait of Anne Boleyn _to face the Title_ - - Portrait of Wolsey _p._ 61 - - Portrait of King Henry VIII. 79 - - Cardinal Wolsey in progress 149 - - Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk receive the great seal from - Wolsey 246 - - Cromwell. Earl of Essex 258 - - Tokens sent to Wolsey by the King and Anne Boleyn 288 - - Portrait of Sir Thomas Wyatt 424 - -[Illustration: _Fac simile of the Original Autograph M.S. of -Cavendish's Life of Wolsey._ - -_N^o. 1._ - -_N^o. 2._ - -_N^o. 3._ - -_Engraved by J. Swaine._] - - - - -WHO WROTE CAVENDISH'S LIFE OF WOLSEY? - -FIRST PRINTED IN MDCCCXIV. - - -When a writer undertakes to give _cuique suum_ in a question of -literary property, if he would avoid the ridicule which they deservedly -incur who raise a controversy only that they may have the honour of -settling it, he must show that there are more claimants than one on the -property he means to assign. - -This then will be our first object. - -[Sidenote: To whom the Biographia attributes it.] - -Let the reader turn to the 'Biographia Britannica,' and look out the -article 'Sir William Cavendish.' He will find in either of the editions -what follows in the words of Dr. Campbell, the original projector of -that work, or rather of his friend Mr. Morant, the historian of Essex, -for it does not appear that the later editors have either reconsidered -the article, or added to it any thing material. Sir William Cavendish, -we are told, "had a liberal education given him by his father, who -settled upon him also certain lands in the county of Suffolk; but -made a much better provision for him by procuring him to be admitted -into the family of the great Cardinal Wolsey, upon whom he waited in -quality of gentleman usher of his chamber."----"As Mr. Cavendish was -the Cardinal's countryman, and the Cardinal had a great kindness for -his father, he took him early into his confidence, and showed him -upon all occasions very particular marks of kindness and respect[7]." -Several extracts from the Life of Wolsey are then produced to show -the honourable nature of this employment. Mr. Cavendish's faithful -adherence to Wolsey in his fall receives due encomium: and we are then -favoured with a detail of Mr. Cavendish's public services after the -Cardinal's death, his rich rewards, his knighthood, marriages, and -issue, in which the writer of the article has followed Sir William -Dugdale, and the Peerages. Towards the conclusion Cavendish is spoken -of in his character of an author, a character which alone could entitle -him to admission into that temple of British worthies. We are told that -"he appears from his _writings_ to have been a man of great honour and -integrity, a good subject to his prince, a true lover of his country, -and one who preserved to the last a very high reverence and esteem -for his old master and first patron Cardinal Wolsey, _whose life he -wrote in the latter part of his own_, and there gives him a very high -character."----"This work of his remained long in manuscript, and the -_original_ some years ago was in the hands of the Duke of Kingston, -supposed to be given by the author to his daughter, who married into -that family. It had been seen and consulted by the Lord Herbert when he -wrote his history of the Reign of King Henry VIII., but _he was either -unacquainted with our author's Christian name, or mistook him for his -elder brother George Cavendish of Glemsford in the county of Suffolk, -Esq._ for by that name his lordship calls him: but it appears plainly -from what he says that the history he made use of was our author's." p. -324. - -[Sidenote: To whom, Lord Herbert.] - -[Sidenote: To whom the Peerages.] - -Such is the reputation in which the Biographia Britannica is held in -the world, and indeed not undeservedly, that most writers of English -biography have recourse to it for information: and with its authority -those among them are usually well satisfied, who neither value, nor -are willing to undertake, the toilsome researches of the genealogist -and the antiquary. Another such work, for an illustrious class of -English worthies, is 'The Peerage of England,' begun by the respectable -and ill rewarded Arthur Collins, and continued by successive editors -with as much exactness as could reasonably have been expected. The -several editions of this work, from that of 1712, in one volume, -to that of 1812, in nine, contain the same account of Sir William -Cavendish's attendance upon Wolsey, of his tried attachment to him, and -of his lasting gratitude to the memory of his old master, displayed -in writing apologetical memoirs of his life. At the very opening of -the pages devoted to the Devonshire family, in the recent edition of -this work, we are told that "the potent and illustrious family of -Cavendish, of which, in the last century, two branches arrived at -dukedoms, laid the foundation of their future greatness, first, on the -share of abbey lands obtained at the dissolution of monasteries by Sir -William Cavendish, who had been gentleman usher to Cardinal Wolsey, -who died in 1557, and afterwards by the abilities, the rapacity, and -the good fortune of Elizabeth his widow, who remarried George Earl of -Shrewsbury, and died in 1607[8]." And afterwards, in the account of -the said Sir William Cavendish, we are told nearly in the words used -by Morant, that "to give a more lasting testimony of his gratitude to -the Cardinal, he drew up a fair account of his life and death, which -he wrote in the reign of Queen Mary: whereof the oldest copy is in -the hands of the noble family of Pierrepoint, into which the author's -daughter was married. Lord Herbert of Cherbury, in the Life and Reign -of King Henry VIII., quotes the manuscript in many places, _but -mentions George Cavendish to be the author of it; which, from divers -circumstances, we may conclude to be a mistake_. In the year 1641 it -was printed, and again in 1667[9]." A full account is then given of the -public employments and honourable rewards of Sir William Cavendish; -and the descent of the two ducal families of Devonshire and Newcastle -from this most fortunate subject is set forth with all due regard to -genealogical accuracy. - -[Sidenote: Sir William Cavendish generally understood to be the author;] - -[Sidenote: but erroneously.] - -From these two great public reservoirs of English biography this -account of Sir William Cavendish, both as an author and a man, has -been drawn off into innumerable other works. Writers of high authority -in affairs of this nature have adopted it; and even historians of the -life of Wolsey, upon whom it appeared to be incumbent to make accurate -inquiry into this subject, have retailed as unquestioned truth what -the Biographia and the Peerages have told us concerning an author -to whose most faithful and interesting narrative they have been so -largely indebted. Sir William Cavendish may therefore be regarded as -the tenant in possession of this property: nor, as far as I know, hath -his right ever been formally controverted. Before the reader has got to -the last page of this little treatise he will probably have seen reason -to conclude that this account is _all fable_: for that Sir William -Cavendish could not possibly have been the Cardinal's biographer, nor, -of course, the faithful attendant upon him; that circumstance of his -history proceeding entirely upon the supposition that he was the writer -of the work in question[10]. - -[Sidenote: A third claimant.] - -While we have thus brought before the public the person who may be -considered as the _presumed proprietor_ of this work, we have also made -good our promise to show that there are more claimants than one upon -this piece of literary property. Lord Herbert, we have seen, quotes the -manuscript as the production of a _George_ Cavendish. Other writers of -no mean authority, as will be seen in the course of this disquisition, -have attributed it to another member of the house of Cavendish whose -name was _Thomas_. - -The editors of the Biographia and the Peerages have made very light -of my Lord Herbert's testimony. What those _divers circumstances_ were -which led the latter to reject it, as they have not informed us, so we -must be content to remain in ignorance. The noble historian of the life -and reign of Henry VIII. is not accustomed to quote his authorities at -random. If he sometimes endeavour too much to palliate enormities which -can neither be excused nor softened down, he is nevertheless generally -correct as to the open fact, as he is always ingenious and interesting. -Supported by so respectable an authority, the pretensions of this -George Cavendish of Glemsford to have been the faithful attendant upon -Wolsey, and the lively historian of his rise and fall, ought to have -received a more patient examination. Descended of the same parents -with Sir William, and by birth the elder, in fortune he was far behind -him. At a period of great uncertainty the two brothers took opposite -courses. William was for reform, George for existing circumstances. -Contrary to the ordinary course of events, the first was led to wealth -and honours, the latter left in mediocrity and obscurity. The former -yet lives in a posterity not less distinguished by personal merit than -by the splendour cast upon them by the highest rank in the British -peerage, the just reward of meritorious services performed by a race -of patriots their ancestors. Of the progeny from the other, history has -no splendid deeds to relate; and, after the third generation, they are -unknown to the herald and the antiquary. But this is to anticipate. -I contend that the wreath which he has justly deserved, who produces -one of the most beautiful specimens of unaffected faithful biography -that any language contains, has been torn from this _poor_ man's brow, -to decorate the temples of his more fortunate brother. To replace it -is the object of the present publication. It will, I trust, be shown, -to the satisfaction of the reader, that this George Cavendish was the -author of the work in question, and the disinterested attendant upon -the fallen favourite. The illustrious house of Devonshire needs no -borrowed merit to command the respect and admiration of the world. - -[Sidenote: George Cavendish the real author.] - -[Sidenote: Writers who have advanced his claim.] - -[Sidenote: Wanley.] - -[Sidenote: Grove.] - -[Sidenote: Douce.] - -[Sidenote: Wordsworth.] - -Let it not however be supposed that the writer is meaning to arrogate -to himself the credit of being the first to dispute the right of Sir -William Cavendish, and to advance the claim of the real owner. The -possession which Sir William has had has not been an undisturbed one: -so that were there any statute of limitations applicable to literary -property, that statute would avail him nothing. The manuscript of this -work, which now forms a part of the Harleian library, is described by -the accurate Wanley as being from the pen of a _George_ Cavendish[11]. -In 1742 and the two following years, 'A History of the Life and Times -of Cardinal Wolsey' was published in four volumes octavo by Mr. Joseph -Grove, who subjoined, in the form of notes, the whole of what was then -known to the public of these Memoirs; describing them in a running -title, 'The Secret History of the Cardinal, by _George_ Cavendish, -Esq.:' but, as if to show that no one who touched this subject should -escape defilement from the errors of the Biographia and the Peerages, -he confounds together the two brothers in the account he gives of the -author at the 98th page of his third volume. During the remainder of -the last century it does not appear that Sir William Cavendish suffered -any material molestation in his possession of this property: but in the -present century Mr. Francis Douce, in his most curious 'Illustrations -of Shakspeare,' restores to _George_ Cavendish the honour of having -produced this work, and marks by significative _Italics_ that it was -an honour which another had usurped[12]. Dr. Wordsworth may also be -ranked amongst those writers who have ventured to put a spade into -Sir William's estate. To this gentleman belongs the merit of having -first presented to the public an impression of this work, which conveys -any just idea of the original[13]. In an advertisement he expresses -himself thus cautiously as to the name of the author: "The following -life was written by the Cardinal's gentleman-usher, Cavendish, whose -Christian name in the superscription to some of the manuscript copies -is _George_, but by Bishop Kennet, in his Memoirs of the family of -Cavendish, by Collins in his Peerage, and by Dr. Birch (No. 4233, -Ayscough's Catalogue Brit. Museum) he is called _William_[14]." Had the -learned editor pursued the question thus started, it is probable he -would have been led to the conclusion which will here be brought out, -and have thus rendered wholly unnecessary the disquisition now tendered -to the notice of the public. But here he has suffered the matter to -rest. - -[Sidenote: Doubts of Sir William Cavendish's right to this work gained -not much credit in the world.] - -And indeed, to say the truth, though there may possibly have been two -or three other writers who have intimated a doubt as to the right of -Sir William Cavendish to the work in question, these doubts seem never -to have gained hold on the public attention. It would be an invidious -task to collect together the many modern supporters of his claim: there -are, amongst them, names who have deservedly attained a high degree -of celebrity in the walks of biography, history, antiquities, and -topography. All the writer wishes is, that he may stand excused with -the public in offering what he has collected upon this point: and if -the concession is made that the suspicions of Sir William Cavendish's -right to this piece of biography have never gained much hold on the -public mind, and that it is a prevailing opinion in the world that -the greatness in which we now behold the house of Devonshire owes -its origin to a train of fortunate circumstances resulting out of -an attendance on Cardinal Wolsey, he must consider himself as amply -excused. - -Let us now hear the evidence. - -[Sidenote: Authorities in his favour,] - -[Sidenote: all modern.] - -The learned editor of the 'Ecclesiastical Biography' has mentioned -several _names_ as supporters of Sir William's claim. And indeed, if -_names_ might carry the day, Kennet and Collins, Birch and Morant, -are in themselves a host. But who is there accustomed to close and -minute investigation, that has not discovered for himself, of how -little moment is _simple authority_ in any question? It is, especially, -of little weight in historical and antiquarian discussion. The -most laborious may sometimes overlook evidence which is afterwards -accidentally discovered to another of far inferior pretensions: the -most accurate may mistake: the most faithful may be bribed into -inattention by supposititious facts, which give a roundness and -compactness to what, without them, forms but an imperfect narration. -The case before us may possibly come under the latter head. Take away -the attendance upon Wolsey, and we have several years unaccounted for -in the life of Sir William Cavendish; and lose what the mind perceives -to be a step by which a private gentleman, as he was, might advance -himself into the councils of princes, and the possession of important -offices of state. There is in this what might lay a general biographer, -who was a very Argus, asleep. But these authorities, it must also be -observed, are all _moderns_: they lived a century and a half after -both the Cavendishes had been gathered to their fathers; and earlier -biographers, who have made mention of this founder of two ducal houses, -have said nothing of any attendance upon the Cardinal, never ascribed -the flourishing state of his fortunes to any recommendation of him to -the king from his old master, nor taken any notice of what is so much -to his honour, that he adhered faithfully to Wolsey in his fall, and -produced this beautiful tribute to his memory. Negative evidence of -this kind, it may be said, is of no great weight. It will be allowed, -however, to be of some, when it is recollected who they are that have -omitted these _leading particulars_ in Sir William Cavendish's history. -They are no other than the author of 'The Baronage of England,' and -Margaret Duchess of Newcastle, who has given a laboured genealogy -of the ancestors and kindred of her lord, a grandson of Sir William -Cavendish, annexed to the very entertaining memoirs which she left of -his life. The _omissions_ of two such writers, living at the time when -this work was first made public, and whose duty as well as inclination -it would have been to have mentioned the fact, had it been so, will at -least serve to weigh against the positive but unsupported testimonies -of the abovementioned respectable writers, all of whom lived much -too late to be supposed to have received any information by private -tradition. - -[Sidenote: Dugdale and the Duchess of Newcastle do not ascribe it to -him.] - -[Sidenote: The original MS. said to be in the hands of the Pierrepoint -family.] - -[Sidenote: Manuscripts;] - -[Sidenote: reason for their multiplication.] - -But the _original_ manuscript was in the hands of the Pierrepoint -family, and into that family Sir William Cavendish's daughter was -married. Possibly; but were it even so, it is obvious that this lays -but a very insufficient foundation for believing that Sir William was -the author. Why might it not have been given to Frances Cavendish by -George Cavendish her uncle? But Doctor Kennet, upon whose authority -this statement has been made, has not informed us by what criterion he -was guided in assigning that priority to the Pierrepoint manuscript -which this statement assumes. There are so many manuscripts of this -work abroad, that it must, I presume, be exceedingly difficult to -decide which has the best claim to be the author's autograph, if -indeed that autograph be in existence[15]. Scarcely any work of this -magnitude, composed after the invention of printing, has been so -often transcribed. There is a copy in the cathedral library at York -which once belonged to Archbishop Matthew; another very valuable one -in the library of the College of Arms, presented to that learned -society by Henry Duke of Norfolk; another in Mr. Douce's collection; -another in the public library at Cambridge; another in the Bodleian. -There are two in Mr. Heber's library; two at Lambeth; two in the -British Museum[16]. The reason of this multiplication of copies by -the laborious process of transcription seems to have been this: the -work was composed in the days of Queen Mary by a zealous catholic, -but not committed to the press during her short reign. It contained a -very favourable representation of the conduct of a man who was held -in but little esteem in the days of her successor, and whom it was -then almost treason to praise. The conduct of several persons was -reflected on who were flourishing themselves, or in their immediate -posterity, in the court of Queen Elizabeth: and it contained also the -freest censures of the Reformation, and very strong remarks upon the -conduct and character of Anne Boleyn, the Cardinal's great enemy. It -is probable that no printer could be found who had so little fear of -the Star-Chamber before his eyes as to venture the publication of a -work so obnoxious: while such was the gratification which all persons -of taste and reading would find in it, from its fidelity, its curious -minuteness, its lively details, and above all, from that unaffected air -of sweet natural eloquence in which it is composed, that many among -them must have been desirous of possessing it. Can we wonder then that -so many copies should have been taken between the time when it was -written and the year 1641, when it was first sent to the press: or that -one of these copies should have found its way into the library of Henry -Pierrepoint, Marquis of Dorchester, who was an author, and a man of -some taste and learning[17]? It cannot surely be difficult to divine -how it came into his possession, without supposing that it was brought -into his family by Sir William's daughter, his grandmother, Frances -Cavendish. - -[Sidenote: No evidence in his favour from the MSS.] - -Trifling as it appears, we have now had nearly all that has ever -been alleged as rendering it probable that Sir William Cavendish was -the author of this work. We have no evidence in his favour from any -early catalogue of writers in English history: nor any testimony in -inscription or title upon any of the manuscripts, except a modern one -by Dr. Birch, upon one of the Museum copies. But in appropriating -any literary composition to its author, that evidence is the most -conclusive which is derived from the work itself. This is the kind -of proof to which it is proposed to bring the claims of the two -competitors. It is contended that there are passages in the work, and -self-notices, which are absolutely inconsistent with the supposition -that it was the production of the person to whom it has usually been -ascribed. Let us attend to these. - -[Sidenote: Time when the work was written.] - -It will be of some importance to us to have clearly ascertained the -period at which this work was composed. We have information sufficient -for this purpose. At page 350[18] of Dr. Wordsworth's impression, we -read that the Cardinal "was sent twice on an embassage unto the Emperor -Charles the Fifth that now reigneth, and father unto King Philip, -now our soveraign lord." Mary queen of England was married to Philip -of Spain on the 25th of July, 1554. Again, at page 401, we hear of -"Mr. Ratcliffe, who was sonne and heire to the Lord Fitzwalter, and -nowe[19] Earle of Sussex." The Earl of Sussex of Queen Mary's reign, -who had been son and heir to a Lord Fitzwalter in the days of King -Henry VIII., could be no other than Henry Radcliffe, the second earl -of that name, who died on the 17th of February, 1557[20]. Without -incurring any risk by following older authorities, when so much -misconception is abroad, we may set down as fairly proved that the Life -of Wolsey was composed about the middle of the reign of Queen Mary[21]. - -[Sidenote: The author a neglected man.] - -Now we may collect that the author, whoever he was, thought himself a -_neglected_ man at the time of writing. He tells us that he engaged in -the work to vindicate the memory of his master from "diverse sondrie -surmises and imagined tales, made of his proceedings and doings," -which he himself had "perfectly knowen to be most untrue." We cannot -however but discover, that he was also stimulated by the desire of -attracting attention to himself, the old and faithful domestic of a -great man whose character was then beginning to retrieve itself in -the eyes of an abused nation, and whose misfortunes had prevented him -from advancing his servants in a manner accordant to his own wishes, -and to the dignity of his service. He dwells with manifest complacency -upon the words of commendation he received on different occasions from -his master; and relates towards the conclusion how kindly he had been -received by the king after the death of Wolsey, and what promises -had been made to him both by Henry and the Duke of Norfolk, who yet -suffered him to depart into his own country. But what shows most -strikingly that he was an unsatisfied man, and thought that he had -by no means had the reward due to his faithful services, is a remark -he makes after having related the sudden elevation of Wolsey to the -deanery of Lincoln. "Here," says he, "may all men note the chaunces -of fortune that followethe some whome she intendeth to promote, and -to some her favor is cleane contrary, though they travaille never so -much, with all the painfull diligence that they can devise or imagine: -_whereof for my part I have tasted of the experience_." p. 332[22]. - -[Sidenote: Not so Sir William Cavendish.] - -[Sidenote: His employments, promotions, and rewards.] - -There are persons whom nothing will satisfy, and they are sometimes -the most importunate in obtruding their supposed neglects upon the -public: but it must surely have been past all endurance to have had -such a complaint as this preferred by Sir William Cavendish in the -days of Queen Mary. His life had been a continual series of promotions -and lucrative employments. In 1530, the very year in the November of -which the Cardinal died, he was constituted one of the commissioners -for visiting and taking the surrenders of divers religious houses. In -1539 he was made one of the Auditors of the Court of Augmentations, -then lately established. At this period of his life he was living -luxuriously at his mansion of North Awbrey near Lincoln, as appears -by the inventory of his furniture there, which is preserved in -manuscript[23]. In the next year he had a royal grant of several -lordships in the county of Hertford. In 1546 he was knighted; -constituted treasurer of the chamber to the king, a place of great -trust and honour; and was soon afterwards admitted of the privy -council. He continued to enjoy all these honours till his death, a -space of eleven years, in which time his estate was much increased -by the grants he received from King Edward VI. in seven several -counties[24]. It was not surely for such a man as this to complain -of the _ludibria fortunæ_, or of the little reward all his "painful -diligence" had received. Few men, as Sylvius says, would have such a -"poverty of grace" that they would not - - "----think it a most plenteous crop - To glean the broken ears after the man - That such a harvest reaps." - -Sir William Cavendish began the world the younger son of a family of -some respectability, but of no great wealth or consequence; and he -left it, at about the age of fifty, a knight, a privy counsellor, and -the owner of estates which, managed and improved as they were by his -prudent relict, furnished two houses with the means of supporting in -becoming splendour the very first rank in the British peerage. - -[Sidenote: Zealous against the Reformation.] - -But an ambitious man is not to be contented; and men do form erroneous -estimates of their own deserts: let us see, then, if the work will -not supply us with something more conclusive. The writer is fond -of bringing forward his religious sentiments. The reader will be -amused with the following sally against the Reformation, its origin, -and favourers. He who is disposed may find in it matter for serious -reflection. When Cavendish has related that the king submitted to be -cited by the two legates, and to appear in person before them, to be -questioned touching the matter of the divorce, he breaks out into this -exclamation:--"Forsoothe it is a world to consider the desirous will -of wilfull princes, when they be set and earnestly bent to have their -wills fulfilled, wherein no reasonable persuasions will suffice; and -how little they regard the dangerous sequell that may ensue, as well -to themselves as to their subjects. And above all things, there is -nothing that maketh them more wilfull than carnall love and sensuall -affection of voluptuous desire, and pleasures of their bodies, as was -in this case; wherein nothing could be of greater experience than to -see what inventions were furnished, what lawes were enacted, what -costly edifications of noble and auncient monasteries were overthrowne, -what diversity of opinions then rose, what executions were then -committed, how many noble clerkes and good men were then for the same -put to deathe, what alteration of good, auncient, and holesome lawes, -customes, and charitable foundations were tourned from reliefe of the -poore, to utter destruction and desolation, almost to the subversion of -this noble realme. It is sure too much pitty to heare or understand the -things that have since that time chaunced and happened to this region. -The profe thereof hath taught us all Englishmen the experience, too -lamentable of all good men to be considered. If eyes be not blind men -may see, if eares be not stopped they may heare, and if pitty be not -exiled the inward man may lament the sequell of this pernicious and -inordinate love. Although it lasted but a while, the plague thereof is -not yet ceased, which our Lorde quenche and take his indignation from -us! _Qui peccavimus cum patribus nostris, et injuste egimus._" p. 420 -and 421. - -[Sidenote: Not so Sir William Cavendish.] - -This passage, warm from the heart, could have been written by none -but a zealous anti-reformist. That certainly was not Sir William -Cavendish. He had been one of the principal instruments in effecting -what I must be allowed to call a necessary and glorious work. Men -are not accustomed to record their own condemnation with such a -bold, untrembling hand. That hand, which is supposed to have penned -these words, had been once extended to receive the conventual seal -of the Priory of Sheen, and the Abbey of St. Alban's. The person by -whom we are to believe they were written had been an officer in that -court which was purposely erected to attend to the augmentation of -the king's revenue by the sequestration of ecclesiastical property; -the proceedings of which court were too often unnecessarily harsh -and arbitrary, if not unjust and oppressive. Nay, more, at the very -time these words were written, Sir William Cavendish was living on -the spoils of those very monasteries whose overthrow is so deeply -deplored; and rearing out of them a magnificent mansion at Chatsworth -in Derbyshire, to be the abode of himself and his posterity. After so -long and so decided a passage, it has been thought unnecessary to quote -any other: but throughout the work appears the same zeal in the writer -to signalize himself as a friend to the old profession. May not this -be considered as amounting to something almost conclusive against the -supposition that the attendant upon Wolsey and Sir William Cavendish -were the same person? - -[Sidenote: Sir William Cavendish did not change with the times.] - -Will it be said that he turned with the times; that he who, in the -Protestant reigns, had been zealous for the _Gospel_, in the Catholic -reign was equally zealous for the _Mass_: and that this work was his -_amende_ to the offended party? I know not of any authority we have -for charging this religious tergiversation upon Sir William Cavendish, -who, for any thing that appears in his history, was animated by -other views in promoting the cause of reform, than the desire of -personal advancement, and of obtaining the favour of his prince: -and I am prepared with two facts in his history, not mentioned by -former writers, which are unfavourable to such a supposition. The -first shows that he was in some disgrace at the court of Queen Mary -as late as the fourth year of her reign; the second, that he did not -seek to ingratiate himself there. On the 17th of August, 1556, a very -peremptory order of council was issued, commanding his "indelaid -repaire" to the court to answer on "suche matters as at his cōmyng" -should be declared unto him. The original, subscribed by seven of the -Queen's council, is among the Wilson collections mentioned in the note -at page 22. What the particular charges were it is not material to our -argument to inquire. The next year also, the year in which he died, -he ungraciously refused a loan of one hundred pounds required of him -and other Derbyshire gentlemen by the Queen, when her majesty was in -distress for money to carry on the French war. These facts show that -though he was continued in the offices of treasurer of the chamber and -privy counsellor, he was in no very high esteem with Queen Mary, nor -sought to conciliate her favourable regards. To which we may add, that -his lady, whose spirit and masculine understanding would probably give -her very considerable influence in the deliberations of his mind, was -through life a firm friend to the Reformation, and in high favour with -Queen Elizabeth. - -Whatever effect the preceding facts and argument may have had upon the -reader's mind, there is a piece of evidence still to be brought out, -which is more conclusive against the claim of Sir William Cavendish. -Soon after the Cardinal was arrested at his house of Cawood in -Yorkshire, Cavendish tells us that he resorted to his lord, "where he -was in his chamber sitting in a chaire, the tables being spred for him -to goe to dinner. But as soone as he perceived me to come in, he fell -out into suche a wofull lamentation, with suche ruthefull teares and -watery eies, that it would have caused a flinty harte to mourne with -him. And as I could, I with others comforted him; but it would not -be. For, quoth he, nowe I lament that I see this gentleman (meaning -me) how faithefull, how dilligent, and how painefull he hath served -me, abandonning his owne country, _wife and children_, his house and -family, his rest and quietnesse, only to serve me, and I have nothinge -to rewarde him for his highe merittes." p. 517. - -[Sidenote: The author married and a father before 1530.] - -[Sidenote: Not so Sir William Cavendish.] - -Hence it appears that the Cavendish who wrote this work was married, -and had a family _probably_ before he entered into the Cardinal's -service, _certainly_ while he was engaged in it. At what precise period -he became a member of the Cardinal's household cannot be collected -from his own writings. Grove says it was as early as 1519[25]; the -Biographia tells us that the place was procured for him by his father, -who died in 1524. This however is certain, that the first mention of -himself, as one in attendance upon the Cardinal, is in the exceedingly -curious account he has given of the means used to break the growing -attachment between the Lord Percy and Anne Boleyn, in order to make way -for the king. Cavendish was present when the Earl of Northumberland -took his son to task. This must have been before the year 1527; for in -that year the Lord Percy became himself Earl of Northumberland; and -probably it was at least a twelvemonth before; for ere the old Earl's -departure, a marriage had been concluded between Lord Percy and the -Lady Mary Talbot, a daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury[26]. In 1526 -then, the Cavendish who wrote this work was a member of Wolsey's -household. Now, fortunately for this inquiry, it happens that an exact -account has been preserved of the several marriages and the numerous -issue of Sir William Cavendish. It is to be found in the funeral -certificate, which, according to a laudable custom of those times, was -entered by his relict among the records of the College of Arms. This -document, subscribed by her own hand, sets forth that her husband's -first-born child came into the world on the 7th of January, in the 25th -year of King Henry VIII. This answers to 1534: that is at least seven -years after the Cavendish, for whom we are inquiring, had become a -member of Wolsey's family, and more than three years after the Cardinal -had remarked that his gentleman usher had left "wife and children, his -home and family, his rest and quietnesse," only to serve him. This is -decisive. - -[Sidenote: The funeral certificate where to be found.] - -The document which contains these family particulars of the Cavendishes -is not known only to those gentlemen who have access to the arcana of -the College of Arms. It has been published: and it is remarkable that -Arthur Collins, who has been a principal cause of the error concerning -the author of this work, gaining such firm hold on the public mind, -should have been the first to lay before the public a record which -proves beyond dispute that the Cavendish who wrote the Life of Wolsey -could not be the Cavendish who was the progenitor of the house of -Devonshire. It is printed in his 'Noble Families,' where is a more -complete account of the Cavendishes than is to be found in his Peerage, -and which might have been transferred with advantage into the later -editions of that work. This document has also been printed by Guthrie -and Jacob, whose account of the nobility of this nation may often -be consulted with advantage, after having read any of the editions -of Collins. Of its _authenticity_, the only point material to this -inquiry, no suspicion can reasonably be entertained. - -[Sidenote: How the early years of Sir William Cavendish may have been -spent.] - -We have now brought to a conclusion our inquiry into the right of the -_tenant in possession_. It has been questioned, examined, and, I think, -disproved. It is not contended that the common opinion respecting Sir -William Cavendish's attendance upon Wolsey does not harmonize well -enough with what is known of his real history, and to render our proof -absolutely complete, it might seem to be almost incumbent upon us to -show how Sir William Cavendish was engaged while Wolsey's biographer -was discharging the duties of his office as an attendant upon the -Cardinal. Could we do this, we should also disclose the steps by which -he attained to his honourable state employments, and the favour of -successive monarchs. In the absence of positive testimony I would be -permitted to hazard the conjecture, that in early life he followed the -steps of his father, who had an office in the court of Exchequer. Such -an education as he would receive in that court would render him a most -fit instrument for the purpose in which we first find his services -used, the suppression of the monasteries, and the appropriation of the -lands belonging to them to his royal master. Having signalized his -zeal, and given proof of his ability in this service, so grateful to -the King, we may easily account for his further employments, and the -promotions and rewards which followed them. Let it however be observed, -that this is no essential part of our argument; nor shall I pursue the -inquiry any further, mindful of the well known and sage counsel of the -Lord Chancellor Bacon. - -I would however be permitted to say something on that very -extraordinary woman, the lady of Sir William Cavendish, and the sharer -with him in raising the family to that state of affluence and honour -in which we now behold it. Indeed she was a more than equal sharer. He -laid the foundation, she raised the superstructure; as she finished the -family palace at Chatsworth, of which he had laid the first stone. - -[Sidenote: His lady an extraordinary character.] - -[Sidenote: Marries Sir William St. Lowe;] - -[Sidenote: becomes Countess of Shrewsbury.] - -[Sidenote: Has a present of jewels from Mary Queen of Scots.] - -[Sidenote: Death of the Earl.] - -This lady was Elizabeth Hardwick, a name familiar to all visitors of -the county of Derby, where she lived more than half a century with -little less than sovereign authority, having first adorned it with -two most splendid mansions. The daughter, and the virgin widow of -two Derbyshire gentlemen of moderate estates, she first stepped into -consequence by her marriage with Sir William Cavendish, a gentleman -much older than herself. The ceremony was performed at the house of -the Marquis of Dorset[28], father to the Lady Jane Grey, who, with -the Countess of Warwick and the Earl of Shrewsbury, was a sponsor at -the baptism of her second child. Cavendish left her a widow with six -children in 1557. Shortly after his death she united herself to Sir -William St. Lowe, one of the old attendants of the Princess Elizabeth, -on whose accession to the throne he was made captain of her guard. In -1567, being a third time a widow, she was raised to the bed of the most -powerful peer of the realm, George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury. He had -been a friend of Sir William Cavendish, and it is possible that the -magnificent state which he displayed in the immediate neighbourhood -of this lady had more than once excited her envy. She loved pomp and -magnificence and personal splendour, as much as she enjoyed the hurry -and engagement of mind which multiplied worldly business brings with -it. She had a passion for jewels, which was appealed to and gratified -by the unhappy Mary Queen of Scotland[29], who lived many years under -the care of the Earl of Shrewsbury, her husband. She united herself -to this nobleman more, as it should seem, from motives of ambition, -than as the consequence of any real affection she had for him. He had -unquestionably the sincerest regard for her: and, though she forgot -many of the duties of a wife, it continued many years in the midst of -all that reserve and perfidity, and even tyranny, if such a word may -be allowed, which she thought proper to exercise towards him. The -decline of this good and great man's life affords a striking lesson -how utterly insufficient are wealth and splendour and rank to secure -happiness even in a case where there is no experience of the more -extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune, the peculiar danger of persons -in elevated situations. Probably the happiest days of the last three -and twenty years of his life were those in which he was employing -himself in preparing his own sepulchre. This he occupied in 1590. But -the effect of his ill advised nuptials extended beyond his life. His -second countess had drawn over to her purposes some of his family, who -had assisted her in the designs she carried on against her husband. -She had drawn them closely to her interest by alliances with her own -family. Hence arose family animosities, which appeared in the most -frightful forms, and threatened the most deadly consequences[30]. -Much may be seen respecting this extraordinary woman in the Talbot -papers published by Mr. Lodge. A bundle of her private correspondence -has been preserved, and forms a curious and valuable part of that -collection of manuscripts which we have had occasion more than once to -mention. These let in much light upon her conduct. It is impossible -to contemplate her character in this faithful mirror without being -convinced that Mr. Lodge has drawn the great outlines of it correctly, -when he describes her as "a woman of masculine understanding and -conduct; proud, furious, selfish, and unfeeling[31]." Yet she was a -favourite of Queen Elizabeth, who paid her this compliment soon after -her last marriage, that "she had been glad to see my Lady Saint Lowe, -but was more desirous to see my Lady Shrewsbury, and that there was no -lady in the land whom she better loved and liked." These flattering -expressions were used to Mr. Wingfield, who was a near relation of this -lady, and who lost no time in reporting them to her. Most of these -letters are upon private affairs: a few only are from persons whom she -had engaged to send her the news of the day, as was usual with the -great people of that age when absent from court. There are several of -the letters which she received from Saint Lowe and Shrewsbury, which -show how extraordinary was the influence she had gained over their -minds. There is one from Sir William Cavendish. Having laboured to -show what the knight did _not_ compose, I shall transcribe in the note -below this genuine fragment of his writing, though in no respect worthy -of publication, except as having passed between these two remarkable -characters[32]. It is expressed in a strain of familiarity to which -neither of his successors ever dared aspire. To conclude the history of -this lady, she survived her last husband about seventeen years, which -were spent for the most part at Hardwick, the place of her birth, and -where she had built the present noble mansion. There she died in 1607, -and was interred in the great church at Derby. - -[Sidenote: Mr. Lodge's character of her.] - -[Sidenote: Anecdote of Queen Elizabeth.] - -[Sidenote: Letters to her.] - -The courteous reader will, it is hoped, pardon this digression; and now -set we forth on the second stage of our inquiry, Who wrote Cavendish's -Life of Wolsey? - -[Sidenote: Claim of Thomas Cavendish.] - -When there are only two claimants upon any property, if the pretensions -of one can be shown to be groundless, those of the other seem to be -established as a necessary consequence. But here we have a third party. -Beside Sir William and his elder brother George, a claimant has been -found in a _Thomas_ Cavendish. In the account of Wolsey given in the -Athenæ[33], Wood calls the author by this name: and Dodd, a Catholic -divine, who published a Church History of England in 3 vols. folio, -(Brussels, 1737.) in a list of historians and manuscripts used in -the preparation of his work, enumerates "Cavendish _Thomas_, Life of -Cardinal Wolsey, Lond. 1590." It is very probable that Dodd may have -contented himself with copying the name of this author from the Athenæ, -a book he used: and it is with the utmost deference, and the highest -possible respect, for the wonderful industry and the extraordinary -exactness of the Oxford antiquary, I would intimate my opinion that, -in this instance, he has been misled. To subject the pretensions of -_Thomas_ Cavendish to such a scrutiny as that to which those of Sir -William have been brought is quite out of the question: for neither -Wood nor Dodd have thrown any light whatever on his history or -character. He appears before us like Homer, _nomen, et præterea nihil_. -There was a person of both his names, of the Grimstone family, a noted -navigator, and an author in the days of Queen Elizabeth; but he lived -much too late to have ever formed a part of the household of Cardinal -Wolsey. - -We must now state the evidence in favour of George Cavendish. The -reader will judge for himself whether the testimony of Anthony Wood, -and that of the Catholic church-historian, supposing them to be -distinct and independent testimonies, is sufficient to outweigh what is -to be advanced in support of George Cavendish's claim. We shall first -state on what grounds the work is attributed to a Cavendish whose name -was George; and secondly, the reasons we have for believing that he was -the George Cavendish of Glemsford in Suffolk, to whom my Lord Herbert -ascribes the work. - -[Sidenote: That the writer's name was George.] - -On the former point the evidence is wholly external. It lies in a small -compass; but it is of great weight. It consists in the testimony of -all the ancient manuscripts which bear any title of an even date with -themselves[34]: and in that of the learned herald and antiquary Francis -Thinne, a contemporary of the author's, who, in the list of writers of -English history which he subjoined to Hollinshead's Chronicle, mentions -"George Cavendish, Gentleman Vsher vnto Cardinal Woolseie, whose life -he did write." - -[Sidenote: Four circumstances of the author's condition discovered in -the work.] - -Now to our second point. Four circumstances of the author's situation -are discovered to us in the work itself: viz. that his life was -extended through the reigns of Henry VIII. Edward VI. and Queen Mary; -that while he was in the Cardinal's service he was a married man, -and had a family: that he was in but moderate circumstances when -he composed this memoir; and that he retained a zeal for the _old -profession_ of religion. If we find these circumstances concurring in a -George Cavendish, it is probable we have found the person for whom we -are in search. - -Scanty as is the information afforded us concerning a simple esquire -of the days of the Tudors, it will probably be made apparent that -these circumstances do concur in the person to whom my Lord Herbert -ascribes the work. Men of little celebrity in their lives, and whose -track through the world cannot be discovered by the light of history, -are sometimes found attaining a faint and obscure "life after death" -in the herald's visitation books and the labours of the scrivener. -Those rolls of immortality are open to every man. They transmit to a -remote posterity the worthless and the silly with as much certainty as -the name of one who was instinct with the fire of genius, and whom a -noble ambition to be good and great distinguished from the common herd -of men. It is in these rolls only that the name of George Cavendish of -Glemsford is come down to us: he forms a link in the pedigree: he is a -medium in the transmission of manorial property. - -[Sidenote: Obscurity of George Cavendish a presumption in his favour.] - -But this very obscurity creates a presumption in favour of his claim. -What employment that should raise him into notice would be offered in -the days of Henry and Edward to the faithful and affectionate attendant -upon a character so unpopular among the great as the haughty, low-born -Wolsey? What should have placed his name upon public record who did -not, like Cromwell and some other of Wolsey's domestics, "find himself -a way out of his master's wreck to rise in" by throwing himself upon -the court, but retired, as Cavendish at the conclusion of the Memoirs -tells us he did, to his own estate in the country, with his wages, a -small gratuity, and a present of six of the Cardinal's horses to convey -his furniture? That, living at a distance from the court, he should -have been overlooked on the change of the times, cannot be surprising: -he was only one among many who would have equal claims upon Mary and -her ministry. Had she lived indeed till his work had been published, -we might then reasonably have expected to have seen a man of so much -virtue, and talent, and religious zeal, drawn from his obscurity, and -his name might have been as well known to our history as that of his -brother the reformist. But Mary died too soon for his hopes and those -of many others of his party, though not too soon for the interests -of religion and humanity. All expectation of seeing the admirer and -apologist of Wolsey emerge from his obscurity must end with the -accession of the protestant princess Elizabeth. - -[Sidenote: What is known of George Cavendish of Glemsford.] - -It is therefore not surprising, and on the whole rather favourable to -our argument, that nearly all which can now be collected of George -Cavendish of Glemsford is contained in the following passage extracted -from certain "Notices of the manor of Cavendish in Suffolk, and of the -Cavendish family while possessed of that manor," which was communicated -to the Society of Antiquaries by Thomas Ruggles, Esq., the owner of the -said manor[35]. Cavendish, it will be recollected, is a manor adjoining -to Glemsford, and which belonged to the same parties. - -George Cavendish is stated to be the eldest son of Thomas Cavendish, -Esq. who was clerk of the pipe in the Exchequer. He "was in possession -of the manor of Cavendish Overhall, and had two sons; William was -the eldest, to whom, in the fourth year of Philip and Mary, 1558, -he granted by deed enrolled in Chancery this manor in fee, on the -said William, releasing to his father one annual payment of twenty -marks, and covenanting to pay him yearly for life, at the site of -the mansion-house of Spains-hall, in the parish of Finchingfield, -in the county of Essex, forty pounds, at the four usual quarterly -days of payment. When George Cavendishe died is uncertain: but it is -apprehended in 1561 or 1562. - -"William Cavendishe his son was in possession of the manor in the -fourth year of Elizabeth."... "He was succeeded in this estate by his -son William Cavendysh of London, mercer, who, by that description, -and reciting himself to be the son of William Cavendishe, gentleman, -deceased, by deed dated the 25th of July, in the eleventh year of the -reign of Elizabeth, 1569, released all his right and title to this -estate, and to other lands lying in different parishes, to William -Downes of Sudbury, in Suffolk, Esq." - -[Sidenote: His fortune decayed.] - -[Sidenote: Married before 1526.] - -This detail plainly intimates that decay of the consequence and -circumstances of a family which we might expect from the complaints -in the Memoirs of Wolsey, of the unequal dealings of fortune, and of -the little reward all the writer's "painfull diligence" had received. -We see George Cavendish, for a small annual payment in money, giving -up the ancient inheritance of his family, a manor _called after his -own name_: and only eleven years after, that very estate passed to -strangers to the name and blood of the Cavendishes by his grandson and -next heir, who was engaged in trade in the city of London. We find also -what we have the concurrent testimony of the heralds of that time to -prove, that this George Cavendish was married, and the father of sons: -but on a closer inspection we find more than this: we discover that -he must have been married as early as 1526, when we first find the -biographer of Wolsey a member of the Cardinal's household[36]. William -Cavendish, the younger, grandson to George Cavendish, must have been -of full age before he could convey the estate of his forefathers. He -was born therefore as early as 1548. If from this we take a presumed -age of his father at the time of his birth, we shall arrive at this -conclusion, that George Cavendish the grandfather was a family-man at -least as early as 1526. - -[Sidenote: A Catholic.] - -[Sidenote: Lived in the three reigns.] - -To another point, namely, the religious profession of this Suffolk -gentleman, our proof, it must be allowed, is not so decisive. I rely -however, with some confidence, upon this fact, for which we are -indebted to the heralds, that _he was nearly allied to Sir Thomas -More_, the idol of the Catholic party in his own time, and the object -of just respect with good men in all times, Margery his wife being a -daughter of William Kemp of Spains-hall in Essex, Esq. by Mary Colt -his wife, sister to Jane, first wife of the Chancellor[37]. Indeed it -seems as if the Kemps, in whose house the latter days of this George -Cavendish were spent, were of the old profession. The extraordinary -penance to which one of this family subjected himself savours strongly -of habits and opinions generated by the Roman Catholic system. It is -perhaps unnecessary, in the last place, to remind the reader, that what -Mr. Ruggles has discovered to us of the owner of Cavendish shows that -his life was extended through the reigns of the second, third, and -fourth monarchs of the house of Tudor: now the family pedigrees present -us with no other George Cavendish of whom this is the truth. And here -the case is closed. - -[Sidenote: Genealogy.] - -It has been thought proper to annex the following genealogical table, -which exhibits the relationship subsisting among the several members of -the house of Cavendish whose names have been mentioned in the preceding -treatise. - - - THOMAS CAVENDISH, = ALICE, daughter and heir of - Clerk of the Pipe. | John Smith of Padbrook-hall, - Will dated 13th April, 1523. | co. Suff. - Died next year. | - | - +----------------------+----------------+ - | | - GEORGE, = MARGERY, Sir WILLIAM, = ELIZABETH, third - of Glemsford and | daughter of of North | wife, daughter of - Cavendish, Esq. | Wm. Kemp, Awbrey, and | John Hardwick, - eldest son and heir, | of Spains-hall, Chatsworth, | of Hardwick, co. - Gentleman usher | Essex, Knt. Auditor | Derby, Esq. widow - to Cardinal Wolsey, | niece to Sir of the Court of | of Robert Barlow, - and writer of | Thos. More. Augmentations, | of Barlow, in the - his life. Born | &c. | same county. She - about 1500. Died | Under age 1523 | survived Cavendish, - about 1561 or 1562. | Died 1557. | and married Sir - | | Wm. St. Lowe, - | | and George 6th - | | Earl of Shrewsbury. - | | - +------------+ +-------+-------+ - | | | - WILLIAM, 1. HENRY, 1. FRANCES, - gent. of Tutbury Wife of Sir - Owner of the _s. p._ Henry Pierrepoint. - manor of Cavendish | | - 1562. | | - | | | - WILLIAM, 2. WILLIAM, 2. ELIZABETH, - of London, mercer. created Earl of Wife of Charles - Sold Cavendish Devonshire 16 Stuart, Earl of - 1569. Jac. I. 1618. Lenox. - | | - | | - 3. Sir CHARLES, 3. MARY, - of Welbeck, Wife of Gilbert - father of William Talbot, Earl of - Duke of Newcastle. Shrewsbury. - - -[Sidenote: Origin of the mistaken appropriation of this work.] - -Supposing that the reader is convinced by the preceding evidence and -arguments, that this work could not be the production of Sir William -Cavendish, and that he was not the faithful attendant upon Cardinal -Wolsey, I shall give him credit for a degree of curiosity to know how -it happened that a story so far from the truth gained possession of the -public mind, and established itself in so many works of acknowledged -authority. That desire I shall be able to gratify, and will detain -him but a little while longer, when the disclosure has been made of a -process by which error has grown up to the exclusion of truth, in which -it will be allowed that there is something of curiosity and interest. -Error, like rumour, often appears _parva metu primo_, but, like her -also, _vires acquirit eundo_. So it has been in the present instance. -What was at first advanced with all the due modesty of probability -and conjecture, was repeated by another person as something nearer -to certain truth: soon every thing which intimated that it was only -conjecture became laid aside, and it appeared with the broad bold front -in which we now behold it. - -[Sidenote: Kennet.] - -The father of this misconception was no other than Dr. White Kennet. In -1708, being then only Archdeacon of Huntingdon, this eloquent divine -published a sermon which he had delivered in the great church at -Derby, at the funeral of William the first Duke of Devonshire. Along -with it he gave to the world Memoirs of the Family of Cavendish, in -which nothing was omitted that, in his opinion, might tend to set -off his subject to the best advantage. He lauds even the Countess -of Shrewsbury, and this at a time when he was called to contemplate -the virtues and all womanly perfections of Christian Countess of -Devonshire. It was not to be expected that he should forget the -disinterested attendant upon Wolsey, and the ingenious memorialist -of that great man's rise and fall; whose work had then recently been -given to the public in a third edition. After reciting from it some -particulars of Cavendish's attendance upon the Cardinal, and especially -noticing his faithful adherence to him when others of his domestics -had fled to find a sun not so near its setting, he concludes in these -words: "To give a more lasting testimony of his gratitude to the -Cardinal, he drew up a fair account of his life and death, of which the -oldest copy is in the hands of the noble family of Pierrepoint, into -which the author's daughter was married: for _without express authority -we may gather from circumstances_, that this very writer was the head -of the present family; the same person with the immediate founder of -the present noble family, William Cavendish of Chatsworth, com. Derb. -Esq." p. 63. - -[Sidenote: Collins.] - -The editors of the Peerages, ever attentive to any disclosure that -may add dignity to the noble families whose lives and actions are -the subjects of their labours, were not unmindful of this discovery -made by the learned Archdeacon. The book so popular in this country -under the name of Collins's Peerage was published by the industrious -and highly respectable Arthur Collins, then a bookseller at the -Black Boy in Fleet-street, in a single volume, in the year 1709. In -the account of the Devonshire family no more is said of Sir William -Cavendish than had been told by Dugdale, and than is the undoubted -truth[38]. But when, in 1712, a new edition appeared, we find added -to the account of Sir William Cavendish all that the Archdeacon had -said of Mr. Cavendish, the attendant upon Wolsey: but with this -remarkable difference, arising probably in nothing more blameworthy -than inattention, that while Kennet had written "for _without_ express -authority we may gather from circumstances, &c." Collins says, "for -_with_ express authority we may gather from circumstances, &c.[39]" A -third edition appeared in 1715, in two volumes, in which no change is -made in the Cavendish article[40]. In 1735 the Peerage had assumed a -higher character, and appeared with the arms engraven on copper-plates, -in four handsome octavo volumes. In this edition we find the whole -article has been recomposed; and we no longer hear of the _gathering -from circumstances_, or the _with_ or _without_ express authority; but -the account of Sir William Cavendish's connexion with the Cardinal is -told with all regularity, dovetailed with authentic particulars of his -life, forming a very compact and, seemingly, consistent story[41]. -The only material change that has been introduced in the successive -editions of a work which has been so often revised and reprinted, has -arisen from the discovery made by some later editor, that my Lord -Herbert had quoted the work as the production of a George Cavendish. -The gentle editors were not however to be deprived of what tended in -their opinion so much to the credit of the house of Cavendish, and -rendered the account they had to give of its founder so much more -satisfactory. Without ceremony, therefore, they immediately put down -the quotation to the inaccuracy and inattention of that noble author. - -[Sidenote: The Biographia.] - -Having once gained an establishment in a work so highly esteemed and -so widely dispersed, and carrying a _primâ facie_ appearance of truth, -it is easy to see how the error would extend itself, especially as in -this country the number of persons is so small who attend to questions -of this nature, and as the means of correcting it were not so obvious -as since the publication of the "Ecclesiastical Biography." But it -assumed its most dangerous consequence by its introduction into the -Biographia. The greatest blemish of that extremely valuable collection -of English lives seems to be that its pages are too much loaded with -stale genealogy taken from the commonest of our books. Wherever Collins -afforded them information, the writers of that work have most gladly -accepted of it, and have - - "----------whisper'd whence they stole - Their balmy sweets," - -by using in many instances his own words. His facts they seem to have -generally assumed as indubitable. In the present instance nothing -more was done than to new-mould the account given of Sir William -Cavendish in the later editions of the Peerage, and, by an unprofitable -generalization of the language, to make his mixture of truth and fable -more palatable to the taste of their readers. - -[Sidenote: Bragg the bookseller.] - -Poor Arthur Collins was not the only bookseller who took advantage of -the learned archdeacon's unfortunate conjecture. There was one Bragg, -a printer, at the Blue Ball in Ave Maria Lane, a man of no very high -character in his profession, who published in 1706 an edition of -Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, taken from the second edition by Dorman -Newman, and with all the errors and omissions of that most unfaithful -impression. Copies were remaining upon his shelves when Kennet's sermon -made its appearance. Rightly judging that this must cause inquiries to -be made after a book, the production of one who was the progenitor of -a person and family at that particular period, from a concurrence of -circumstances, the subject of universal conversation, he cancelled the -anonymous title-page of the remaining copies, and issued what he called -a "Second Edition," with a long Grub-street title beginning thus: - - Sir William Cavendish's - Memoirs of the Life of Cardinal Wolsey, - &c. - -This has sometimes been mistaken for a really new edition of the work. - -[Sidenote: Editions of the work.] - -And having thus adverted to the different editions, it may not be -improper to add a few words on the impressions which have been issued -of this curious biographical fragment. Till Dr. Wordsworth favoured the -public with his "Ecclesiastical Biography," what we had was rather an -abridgement than the genuine work. But even in its mutilated form it -was always popular, and the copies were marked at considerable prices -in the booksellers' catalogues. - -The first edition, it is believed, is that in 4to, London, 1641, for -William Sheeres, with the title "The Negotiations of Thomas Woolsey, -the great Cardinall of England, &c. composed by one of his own -Servants, being his Gentleman-Usher." The second was in 12mo, London, -1667, for Dorman Newman, and is entitled "The Life and Death of Thomas -Woolsey, Cardinal, &c. written by one of his own Servants, being his -Gentleman-Usher." The third is the one just mentioned in 8vo, London, -1706, for B. Bragg, and having for its title "The Memoirs of that great -Favourite Cardinal Woolsey, &c." It is supposed that it was first -made public in order to provoke a comparison between Wolsey and the -unpopular Archbishop Laud. These are the only editions known to the -writer. - -It is printed in the form of notes to Grove's History of the Life and -Times of Cardinal Wolsey[42], again in the Harleian Miscellany, and -in the selection from that work. And last of all, it forms a most -valuable part of the "Ecclesiastical Biography," published by Dr. -Wordsworth. - -[Sidenote: The supposed edition of 1590.] - -It must not however be concealed that mention has been made of a still -earlier edition than any of those above described. Bishop Nicholson, in -his English Historical Library[43], asserts that it was published at -London in 4to, 1590; and in this he is followed by Dodd the Catholic -historian. Nicholson's authority is not very high in respect of -bibliographical information; and there is great reason to believe that -he has here described an edition to be found only in the _Bibliotheca -abscondita_ of Sir Thomas Brown. This however is certain, that the -commentators on Shakspeare are agreed, that though the labours of -Cavendish must have been known in part to our great Dramatist, he has -followed them so closely in many of his scenes, it could have been only -by a perusal of them in manuscript, or by the ample quotations made -from them in the pages of Hollinshead and Stowe. Mr. Malone indeed -expressly affirms that they were not sent to the press before 1641. -The earliest edition known to the editor of the Censura Literaria, -whose intimate acquaintance with early English literature every one -acknowledges, and whose attention has been peculiarly drawn to this -work, was of that date. The catalogues, published and unpublished, of -most of our principal libraries have been consulted, and no earlier -edition than that of 1641 found in any one of them. No earlier -edition than that is to be found in the Royal Library at Paris. It -appears, therefore, on the whole, most probable that though there -are undoubtedly black-letter stores, which the diligence of modern -bibliomaniacs has not brought to light, no such edition exists, as -that which the author of the English Historical Library tells us was -published in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and during the height of the -persecutions which she authorized against the Catholics. Under this -persuasion the succeeding sheets have been composed. - -It is possible that Bishop Nicholson may have been misled by another -work on the same subject; The Aspiring, Triumph, and Fall of Wolsey, -by Thomas Storer, Student of Christ Church. This appeared in _quarto_, -1599. - -[Sidenote: Conclusion.] - -The writer now lays down his pen with something like a persuasion that -it will be allowed he has proved his two points,--that Sir William -Cavendish of Chatsworth could not have been the author of the Life of -Wolsey, and that we owe the work to his brother George Cavendish of -Glemsford. The necessary inference also is, that the foundation of the -present grandeur of the house of Cavendish was not laid, as is commonly -understood, in an attendance upon Cardinal Wolsey, and in certain -favourable circumstances connected with that service. The inquiry, -even in all its bearings, like many other literary inquiries, cannot -be considered as of very high importance. The writer will not however -affect to insinuate that he considers it as of no consequence. In works -so universally consulted as the Biographia and the Peerages, it is -desirable that no errors of any magnitude should remain undetected and -unexposed. Error begets error, and truth begets truth: nor can any one -say how much larger in both cases may be the offspring than the sire. I -do not indeed scruple to acknowledge, that, though not without a relish -for inquiries which embrace objects of far greater magnitude, and a -disposition justly to appreciate their value, I should be thankful to -the man who should remove my uncertainty, as to whose countenance was -concealed by the _Masque de Fer_, or would tell me whether Richard -was the hunch-backed tyrant, and Harry "the nimble-footed mad-cap" -exhibited by our great dramatist; whether Charles wrote the Εικων -Βασιλικη, and Lady Packington "The whole Duty of Man." Not that I would -place this humble disquisition on a level with the inquiries which have -been instituted and so learnedly conducted into these several questions. -In one material point, however, even this disquisition may challenge an -equality with them. There is a much nearer approach made to _certainty_ -than in the discussions of any of the abovementioned so much greater -questions. - -There are amongst readers of books some persons whose minds being -every moment occupied in the contemplation of objects of the highest -importance, look down with contempt upon the naturalist at his -_leucophræ_, the critic at his μεν and δε work, the -astronomer at his _nebulæ_, and the toiling antiquary at every thing. -One word to these gentlemen before we part. To them may be recommended -the words of a writer of our own day, a man of an enlarged and highly -cultivated mind:-- - -"He who determines with certainty a single species of the minutest -moss, or meanest insect, adds so far to the general stock of human -knowledge, which is more than can be said of many a celebrated name. -No one can tell of what importance that simple fact may be to future -ages: and when we consider how many millions of our fellow-creatures -pass through life without furnishing a single atom to augment that -stock, we shall learn to think with more respect of those who do." - - -THE END. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[7] Kippis's Edit. vol. iii. p. 321. - -[8] Vol. i. p. 302. - -[9] Vol. i. p. 314. - -[10] See the marginal references in the Biographia and the Peerages. - -[11] Catalogue Harl. MSS. No. 428. - -[12] Vol. ii. p. 51. - -[13] In his 'Ecclesiastical Biography; or, Lives of eminent Men -connected with the History of Religion in England,' 6 vols. 8vo. a -useful and valuable collection, Dr. Wordsworth very properly rejected -the parenthesis, "at which time it was apparent that he had poisoned -himself," which had been introduced into the printed copies without -the authority of the manuscripts. The editor of the Censura Literaria -once intimated his intention to prepare an edition of this work. (C. L. -iii. 372.) How could the press of Lee Priory, of whose powers we have -had so many favourable specimens, have been more worthily engaged than -in producing a correct edition of this valuable piece of antiquarian -lore,--except in favouring the public with more of its able director's -own feeling and beautiful essays? - -[14] Vol. i. p. 321. - -[15] The reader will bear in mind that this passage was written in -1814, when the writer could not, for obvious reasons, have been -acquainted with the claims of Mr. Lloyd's manuscript, to be considered -as the _original autograph_ of the author. I will here take occasion -to observe that, to the manuscripts enumerated above, two more may -be added, described in the preface to the Life, which are in the -possession of the writer of this note. S. W. S. - -[16] It appears by the Catalogus MSS. Anglie that there were two copies -in the library of Dr. Henry Jones, rector of Sunningwell in Berks, both -in folio: and a third also in folio among the MSS. of the Rev. Abraham -De la Pryme, F. R. S. of Thorne in Yorkshire. There was a copy in the -very curious library formed about the middle of the last century by Dr. -Cox Macro at his house, Norton near St. Edmund's Bury. - -[17] See the 'Royal and Noble Authors,' p. 202, and Fasti Oxon. vol. -ii. col. 706, ed. 1692. - -[18] P. 102 in the present edition. - -[19] In the Autograph MS. it stands--"and _after_ Earl of Sussex," v. -p. 179 in the present edition. - -[20] Milles's Catalogue of Honour, p. 667. - -[21] - -[Sidenote: A supposed anachronism explained.] - -The reader will, it is hoped, excuse the _minuteness_ of this inquiry. -We have enough to teach us to take nothing upon trust that has been -said concerning this work: and some doubts have been expressed as -to the period at which it was written, grounded on a passage near -the conclusion. Cavendish tells us that when the Cardinal left the -hospitable mansion of the Earl of Shrewsbury at Sheffield, on the -borders of Yorkshire, "he took his journey with Master Kingston and -the guard. And as soon as they espied their old master in such a -lamentable estate, they lamented him with weeping eyes. Whom my lord -took by the hands, and divers times, by the way, as he rode, he would -talk with them, sometime with one, and sometime with another; at night -he was lodged at a house of the Earl of Shrewsbury's, called Hardwick -Hall, very evil at ease. The next day he rode to Nottingham, and there -lodged that night, more sicker, and the next day we rode to Leicester -Abbey; and by the way he waxed so sick, that he was divers times likely -to have fallen from his mule." p. 536. This is an affecting picture. -Shakspeare had undoubtedly seen these words, his portrait of the sick -and dying Cardinal so closely resembling this. But in these words is -this chronological difficulty. How is it that Hardwick Hall is spoken -of as a house of the Earl of Shrewsbury's in the reign of Henry VIII. -or at least in the days of Queen Mary, when it was well known that -the house of this name between Sheffield and Nottingham, in which the -Countess of Shrewsbury spent her widowhood, a house described in the -Anecdotes of Painting, and seen and admired by every curious traveller -in Derbyshire, did not accrue to the possessions of any part of the -Shrewsbury family till the marriage of an earl, who was grandson to -the Cardinal's host, with Elizabeth Hardwick, the widow of Sir William -Cavendish, in the time of Queen Elizabeth? If I recollect right, this -difficulty perplexed that learned Derbyshire antiquary Dr. Samuel -Pegge, who has written somewhat at length on the question, whether -the Cardinal met his death in consequence of having taken poison. -See Gent. Mag. vol. xxv. p. 27, and vol. liii. p. 751. The editor of -the Topographer proposes to correct the text by reading Wingfield in -place of Hardwick; vol. ii. p. 79. The truth, however, is, that though -the story is told to every visitor of Hardwick Hall, that "the great -child of honour, Cardinal Wolsey," slept there a few nights before his -death; as is also the story, equally unfounded, that Mary Queen of -Scots was confined there; it was another Hardwick which received the -weary traveller for a night in this his last melancholy pilgrimage. -This was Hardwick upon Line in Nottinghamshire, a place about as far to -the south of Mansfield, as the Hardwick in Derbyshire, so much better -known, is to the north-west. It is now gone to much decay, and is -consequently omitted in many maps of the county. It is found in Speed. -Here the Earl of Shrewsbury had a house in the time of Wolsey. Leland -expressly mentions it. "The Erle [of Shrewsbury] hath a park and maner -place or lodge yn it caullid Hardewike upon Line, a four miles from -Newstede Abbay." Itin. vol. v. fol. 94. p. 108. Both the Hardwicks -became afterwards the property of the Cavendishes. Thoroton tells us -that Sir Charles Cavendish, youngest son of Sir William, and father of -William Duke of Newcastle, "had begun to build a great house in this -lordship, on a hill by the forest side, near Annesley Woodhouse, when -he was assaulted and wounded by Sir John Stanhope and his men, as he -was viewing the work, which was therefore thought fit to be left off, -some bloud being spilt in the quarrel, then very hot between the two -families." Throsby's edit. vol. ii. p. 294. - -[22] The reference is to Dr. Wordsworth's text; the passage will be -found at p. 77 of the present edition. The same strain of querulous -complaint occurs in his prologue to the Metrical Visions: - - How some are by fortune exalted to riches, - And often such as most unworthy be, &c. - -Afterwards he checks himself, and calls Dame Reason to his aid: - - But after dewe serche and better advisement, - I knew by Reason that oonly God above - Rewlithe thos thyngs, as is most convenyent, - The same devysing to man for his behove: - Wherefore Dame Reason did me persuade and move - To be content with my _small estate_, - And in this matter no more to vestigate. - -Here we have decisive proof that the writer's fortunes were not in the -flourishing condition which marked those of Sir William Cavendish at -this period, i. e. in the reign of Mary. - - S. W. S. - -[23] - -[Sidenote: John Wilson of Bromhead.] - -It formed part of the curious collection of manuscripts made by the -late John Wilson, Esq. of Bromhead near Sheffield, in Yorkshire; a -gentleman who spent a long life in collecting, and transcribing where -he could not procure possession of the original, whatever might throw -any light upon the descent of property, or on the history, language, or -manners of our ancestors. He was the intimate friend and correspondent -of Burton, Watson, Brooke, Beckwith, and indeed of all that generation -of Yorkshire antiquaries which passed away with the late Mr. Beaumont -of Whitley Beaumont. Mr. Wilson died in 1783. Cavendish's library was -not the best furnished apartment of his magnificent mansion. For the -satisfaction of the gentle Bibliomaniac, I shall transcribe the brief -catalogue of his books. "Chawcer, Froyssarte Cronicles, a boke of -French and English." They were kept in the new parler, where were also -the pictor of our sov^reigne lord the kyng, the pyctor of the Frenche -kyng and another of the Frenche quene: also 'two other tables, one -with towe anticke boys, & the other of a storye of the Byble.' In 'the -lyttle parler' was 'a payntyd clothe with the pictor of Kyng Harry the -VIII^{th} our sovereygne lord, & kyng Harry the VII^{th} & the VI^{th}, -Edward the Forthe & Rychard the Third.' - -[24] The authorities for this detail of the employments, rewards, and -honours of Sir William Cavendish are to be found in the Biographia and -the Peerages. - -[25] Life and Times, &c. vol. iii. p. 98. - -[26] - -[Sidenote: Mary, Countess of Northumberland.] - -Though little ceremony and probably as little time was used in -patching up these nuptials. As might be expected, they were most -unhappy. So we are told on the authority of the earl's own letters in -the very laboured account of the Percy family given in the edition -of Collins's Peerage, 1779; perhaps the best piece of family history -in our language. "Henry the unthrifty," Earl of Northumberland, died -at Hackney in the prime of life, about ten or twelve years after he -had consented to this marriage. Of this term but a very small part -was spent in company of his lady. He lived long enough, however, not -only to witness the destruction of all his own happiness, but the sad -termination of Anne Boleyn's life. In the admirable account of the -Percy family, referred to above, no mention is made of the lady who, -on these terms, consented to become Countess of Northumberland, in her -long widowhood. She had a valuable grant of abbey lands and tythes, -from which, probably, she derived her principal support. One letter of -hers has fallen into my hands. It presents her in an amiable position. -She is pleading in behalf of a poor man whose cattle had been impounded -by one of Lady Cavendish's agents. Its date and place is to the eye -Wormhill[27]; but the running hand of that age, when not carefully -written, is not to be depended on for representing proper names with -perfect exactness, and the place may be Wreshill, which was a house of -the Northumberland family. She died in 1572; and on the 17th of May -her mortal remains were deposited in the vault made by her father in -Sheffield church, where sleep so many of her noble relatives, some of -them in monumental honours. - -[27] In justice to the amiable author of this essay, who is extremely -anxious to be accurate, I think it proper to apprise the reader that -the note taken from the former edition of his work at p. 127 must be -qualified by what is here stated. In a letter with which I have been -favoured, he says, "I have looked again and again at the letter, and -the word is certainly (if we may judge from the characters which the -lady's pen has formed) _Wormhill_: yet still I think it must have been -intended for _Wreshill_, as I have met with nothing else to show that -the lady had a house at Wormhill." S. W. S. - -[28] Broadgate in Leicestershire. See the Funeral Certificate. They -were married on the 20th Aug. 1 Edw. VI., at two o'clock after midnight. - -[29] Among the Wilson collection is a list of jewels presented to the -Countess of Shrewsbury by the Queen of Scotland. - -[30] See "Memoirs of the Peers of England during the Reign of James the -First," p. 19. Lodge's "Illustrations," &c. iii. 50-64, and Harl. MS. -in Brit. Mus. No. 4836. fol. 325. and 6846. fol. 97. - -[31] "Illustrations," &c. Introd. p. 17. - -[32] - -[Sidenote: Original Letter of Sir William Cavendish.] - - To Besse Cavendysh - my wyff. - - Good Besse, haveing forgotten to wryght in my letters that you shuld - pay Otewell Alayne eight pounds for certayne otys that we have bought - of hym ov^r and above x^{li} that I have paid to hym in hand, I - hertely pray you for that he is desyrus to receyve the rest at London, - to pay hym uppon the sight hereof. You knowe my store and therefore I - have appoyntyd hym to have it at yo^r hands. And thus faer you well. - From Chattesworth the xiii^{th} of Aprell. - - W. C. - -[33] Ath. Oxon. vol. i. col. 569. ed. 1691. - -[34] - -[Sidenote: Original title of the work.] - -None of the publishers of this work have given us the original title. -I shall here transcribe it as it appears upon the manuscript in the -Library of the College of Arms. - - Thomas Wolsey, late Cardinall intituled - of S^t Cicile trans Tiberim presbyter and - Lord Chauncellar of England, his lyfe - and deathe, compiled by George - Cavendishe, his gentleman Usher. - -[35] Archæologia, vol. xi. p. 50-62. - -[36] See page 4. - -[37] See Vincent's Suffolk. MS. in Col. Arm. fol. 149, and compare -with Morant's Essex, vol. ii. p. 363, and with the account of the -Cavendishes in the Peerages. - -[38] See page 84. - -[39] See p. 100. - -[40] Vol. i. p. 106. - -[41] Vol. i. p. 122. It is singular enough that in this edition the -name of the Cardinal's attendant and biographer, by a slip of the pen, -is written _George_. See line 38. It is plain from the connexion that -this must have been an unintended blunder into the truth. It was duly -corrected in the later editions. - -[42] Mr. Grove subsequently (in 1761) met with what he considered "an -antient and curious manuscript copy written about one hundred and -fifty years ago," and from this he printed an edition in 8vo, with a -preface and notes, the advertisement to which bears the above date. -It appears to be one of the rarest of English books, and was probably -never published: the copy with which I have been favoured by Richard -Heber, Esq. M. P. having no title-page. There are other curious tracts -in the volume on the subject of Wolsey, having separate titles bearing -no bookseller's name, but purporting to be printed _for the Author_ by -Dryden Leach, and all in 1761. - - S. W. S. - -[43] 4to, 1776, p. 116. - - - - - The Life of Thomas Wolsey, - sometime Archbishop of Yorke - and Cardinal, - - intituled Sanctæ Ceciliæ trans Tiberim, - Presbiter Cardinalis, and L. Chancellor of England. - - Written by - George Cavendish, sometime his Gentleman Usher. - - - - - ------------This Cardinal, - Though from an humble stock, undoubtedly - Was fashion'd to much honour from his cradle. - He was a scholar, and a ripe, and good one; - Exceeding wise, fair spoken, and persuading: - Lofty, and sour, to them that lov'd him not, - But, to those men that sought him, sweet as summer. - And though he were unsatisfied in getting, - (Which was a sin), yet in bestowing-- - He was most princely: Ever witness for him - Ipswich and Oxford! one of which fell with him, - Unwilling to outlive the good that did it; - The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous, - So excellent in art, and yet so rising, - That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue. - His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him; - For then, and not till then, he felt himself, - And found the blessedness of being little: - And, to add greater honours to his age - Than man could give him, he died fearing God. - - SHAKSPEARE. - - - - -[Illustration: CARDINAL WOLSEY. - -ENGRAVED BY E. SCRIVEN. - -AFTER THE ORIGINAL PICTURE. - -_London, Published Jan^y. 1, 1825, by Harding, Triphook & Lepard._] - - - - -THE - -LIFE - -OF - -CARDINAL WOLSEY. - - - - -THE PROLOGUE. - - -[Meseems it were no wisdom to credit every light tale, blasted abroad -by the blasphemous mouth of the rude commonalty. For we daily hear how, -with their blasphemous trump, they spread abroad innumerable lies, -without either shame or honesty, which _primâ facie_ showeth forth a -visage of truth, as though it were a perfect verity and matter indeed, -whereas there is nothing more untrue. And amongst the wise sort so it -is esteemed, with whom those babblings be of small force and effect. - -Forsooth I have read the exclamations of divers worthy and notable -authors, made against such false rumours and fond opinions of the -fantastical commonalty, who delighteth in nothing more than to hear -strange things, and to see new alterations of authorities; rejoicing -sometimes in such new fantasies, which afterwards give them more -occasion of repentance than of joyfulness. Thus may all men of wisdom -and discretion understand the temerous madness of the rude commonalty, -and not give to them too hasty credit of every sudden rumour, until the -truth be perfectly known by the report of some approved and credible -person, that ought to have thereof true intelligence. I have heard and -also seen set forth in divers printed books some untrue imaginations, -after the death of divers persons, which in their life were of great -estimation, that were invented rather to bring their honest names into -infamy and perpetual slander of the common multitude, than otherwise. - -The occasion therefore that maketh me to rehearse all these things is -this; for as much as I intend, God willing, to write here some part -of the proceedings of][44] Legate and Cardinal Wolsey, Archbishop of -York, and of his ascending and descending from honorous estate; whereof -some part shall be of mine own knowledge, and some of other person's -information. - -Forsooth this cardinal was my lord and master, whom in his life I -served, and so remained with him, after his fall, continually, during -the term of all his trouble, until he died; as well in the south as in -the north parts, and noted all his demeanor and usage in all that time; -as also in his wealthy triumph and glorious estate. And since his death -I have heard diverse sundry surmises and imagined tales, made of his -proceedings and doings, which I myself have perfectly known to be most -untrue; unto the which I could have sufficiently answered according to -truth, but, as me seemeth, then it was much better for me to suffer, -and dissemble the matter, and the same to remain still as lies, than -to reply against their untruth, of whom I might, for my boldness, -sooner have kindled a great flame of displeasure, than to quench one -spark of their malicious untruth. Therefore I commit the truth to Him -who knoweth all things. For, whatsoever any man hath conceived in him -when he lived, or since his death, thus much I dare be bold to say, -without displeasure to any person, or of affection, that in my judgment -I never saw this realm in better order, quietness, and obedience, -than it was in the time of his authority and rule, ne justice better -ministered with indifferency; as I could evidently prove, if I should -not be accused of too much affection, or else that I set forth more -than truth. I will therefore here desist to speak any more in his -commendation, and proceed farther to his original beginning [and] -ascending by fortune's favour to high honours, dignities, promotions, -and riches. - - _Finis quod G. C._ - - * * * * * - -Truth it is, Cardinal Wolsey, sometime Archbishop of York, was an -honest poor man's son[45], born in Ipswich, within the county of -Suffolk; and being but a child, was very apt to learning; by means -whereof his parents, or his good friends and masters, conveyed him to -the University of Oxford, where he prospered so in learning, that, -as he told me [in] his own person, he was called the boy-bachellor, -forasmuch as he was made Bachellor of Arts at fifteen years of age, -which was a rare thing, and seldom seen. - -Thus prospering and increasing in learning, [he] was made Fellow -of Magdalen College, and after appointed, for his learning, to be -schoolmaster there; at which time the Lord Marquess Dorset had three of -his sons there at school with him, committing as well unto him their -virtuous education, as their instruction and learning. It pleased -the said marquess against a Christmas season, to send as well for -the schoolmaster as for his children, home to his house, for their -recreation in that pleasant and honourable feast. They being then -there, my lord their father perceived them to be right well employed in -learning, for their time: which contented him so well, that he having -a benefice[46] in his gift, being at that time void, gave the same -to the schoolmaster, in reward for his diligence, at his departing -after Christmas upon his return to the University. And having the -presentation thereof [he] repaired to the ordinary for his institution -and induction; then being fully furnished of all necessary instruments -at the ordinary's hands for his preferment, he made speed without any -farther delay to the said benefice to take thereof possession. And -being there for that intent, one Sir Amyas Pawlet, knight, dwelling in -the country thereabout, took an occasion of displeasure against him, -upon what ground I know not[47]: but, sir, by your leave, he was so -bold to set the schoolmaster by the feet during his pleasure; the which -was afterward neither forgotten nor forgiven. For when the schoolmaster -mounted the dignity to be Chancellor of England, he was not oblivious -of the old displeasure ministered unto him by master Pawlet, but sent -for him, and after many sharp and heinous words, enjoined him to -attend upon the council until he were by them dismissed, and not to -depart without license, upon an urgent pain and forfeiture: so that he -continued within the Middle Temple, the space of five or six years, or -more; whose lodging there was in the gate-house next the street, which -he reedified very sumptuously, garnishing the same, on the outside -thereof, with cardinals' hats and arms, badges and cognisaunces of the -cardinal, with divers other devices, in so glorious a sort, that he -thought thereby to have appeased his old unkind displeasure. - -Now may this be a good example and precedent to men in authority, -which will sometimes work their will without wit, to remember in their -authority, how authority may decay; and [those] whom they punish of -will more than of justice, may after be advanced in the public weal -to high dignities and governance, and they based as low, who will -then seek the means to be revenged of old wrongs sustained wrongfully -before. Who would have thought then, when Sir Amyas Pawlet punished -this poor scholar, that ever he should have attained to be Chancellor -of England, considering his baseness in every condition. These be -wonderful works of God, and fortune. Therefore I would wish all men -in authority and dignity to know and fear God in all their triumphs -and glory; considering in all their doings, that authorities be not -permanent, but may slide and vanish, as princes' pleasures do alter and -change. - -Then as all living things must of very necessity pay the due debt of -nature, which no earthly creature can resist, it chanced my said Lord -Marquess to depart out of this present life[48]. After whose death this -schoolmaster, considering then with himself to be but a small beneficed -man, and to have lost his fellowship in the College (for, as I -understand, if a fellow of that college be once promoted to a benefice -he shall by the rules of the house be dismissed of his fellowship), -and perceiving himself also to be destitute of his singular good lord, -thought not to be long unprovided of some other succour or staff, to -defend him from all such harms, as he lately sustained. - -And in his travail thereabout, he fell in acquaintance with one Sir -John Nanphant[49], a very grave and ancient knight, who had a great -room[50] in Calais under King Henry the Seventh. This knight he served, -and behaved him so discreetly, and justly, that he obtained the -especial favour of his said master; insomuch that for his wit, gravity, -and just behaviour, he committed all the charge of his office unto his -chaplain. And, as I understand, the office was the treasurership of -Calais, who was, in consideration of his great age, discharged of his -chargeable room, and returned again into England, intending to live -more at quiet. And through his instant labour and especial favour his -chaplain was promoted to the king's service, and made his chaplain. And -when he had once cast anchor in the port of promotion, how he wrought, -I shall somewhat declare. - -He, having then a just occasion to be in the present sight of the -king daily, by reason he attended, and said mass before his grace in -his private closet, and that done he spent not the day forth in vain -idleness, but gave his attendance upon those whom he thought to bear -most rule in the council, and to be most in favour with the king, -the which at that time were Doctor Fox, Bishop of Winchester, then -secretary and lord privy seal, and also Sir Thomas Lovell, knight, a -very sage counsellor, and witty; being master of the king's wards, and -constable of the Tower[51]. - -These ancient and grave counsellors in process of time after often -resort, perceived this chaplain to have a very fine wit, and what -wisdom was in his head, thought [him] a meet and an apt person to be -preferred to witty affairs. - -It chanced at a certain season that the king had an urgent occasion -to send an ambassador unto the emperor Maximilian[52], who lay at -that present in the Low Country of Flanders, not far from Calais. -The Bishop of Winchester, and Sir Thomas Lovell, whom the king most -highly esteemed, as chief among his counsellors (the king one day -counselling and debating with them upon this embassy), saw they had -a convenient occasion to prefer the king's chaplain, whose excellent -wit, eloquence[53], and learning they highly commended to the king. The -king giving ear unto them, and being a prince of an excellent judgment -and modesty, commanded [them] to bring his chaplain, whom they so much -commended, before his grace's presence. At whose repair [thither] to -prove the wit of his chaplain, the king fell in communication with -him in matters of weight and gravity: and, perceiving his wit to be -very fine, thought him sufficient to be put in authority and trust -with this embassy; [and] commanded him thereupon to prepare himself -to this enterprise and journey, and for his depeche[54], to repair -to his grace and his trusty counsellors aforesaid, of whom he should -receive his commission and instructions. By means whereof he had then -a due occasion to repair from time to time into the king's presence, -who perceived him more and more to be a very wise man, and of a good -entendment[55]. And having his depeche, [he] took his leave of the -king at Richmond about noon, and so came to London with speed [about -four of the clock[56]], where then the barge of Gravesend was ready -to launch forth, both with a prosperous tide and wind. Without any -farther abode he entered the barge, and so passed forth. His happy -speed was such that he arrived at Gravesend within little more than -three hours; where he tarried no longer than his post horses were -provided; and travelling so speedily with post horses, that he came to -Dover the next morning early, whereas the passengers[57] were ready -under sail displayed, to sail to Calais. Into which passengers without -any farther abode he entered, and sailed forth with them, [so] that he -arrived at Calais within three hours, and having there post horses -in a readiness, departed incontinent, making such hasty speed, that -he was that night with the emperor; who, having understanding of the -coming of the King of England's ambassador, would in no wise defer the -time, but sent incontinent for him (his affection unto King Henry the -Seventh was such, that he rejoiced when he had an occasion to show him -pleasure). The ambassador having opportunity, disclosed the sum of his -embassy unto the emperor, of whom he required speedy expedition, the -which was granted; so that the next day he was clearly dispatched, with -all the king's requests fully accomplished. At which time he made no -farther tarriance, but with post horses rode incontinent that night -toward Calais again, conducted thither with such number of horsemen as -the emperor had appointed, and [was] at the opening of the gates there, -where the passengers were as ready to return into England as they were -before in his advancing; insomuch that he arrived at Dover by ten of -the clock before noon; and having post horses in a readiness, came to -the court at Richmond that night. Where he taking his rest for that -time until the morning, repaired to the king at his first coming out -of his grace's bedchamber, toward his closet to hear mass. Whom (when -he saw) [he] checked him for that he was not past on his journey. -"Sir," quoth he, "if it may stand with your highness' pleasure, I -have already been with the emperor, and dispatched your affairs, I -trust, to your grace's contentation." And with that delivered unto the -king the emperor's letters of credence. The king, being in a great -confuse and wonder of his hasty speed with ready furniture of all his -proceedings, dissimuled all his imagination and wonder in that matter, -and demanded of him, whether he encountered not his pursuivant, the -which he sent unto him (supposing him not to be scantly out of London) -with letters concerning a very necessary cause, neglected in his -commission and instructions, the which the king coveted much to be -sped. "Yes, forsooth, Sire," quoth he, "I encountered him yesterday by -the way: and, having no understanding by your grace's letters of your -pleasure therein, have, notwithstanding, been so bold, upon mine own -discretion (perceiving that matter to be very necessary in that behalf) -to dispatch the same. And for as much as I have exceeded your grace's -commission, I most humbly require your gracious remission and pardon." -The king rejoicing inwardly not a little, said again, "We do not only -pardon you thereof, but also give you our princely thanks, both for the -proceeding therein, and also for your good and speedy exploit[58]," -commanding him for that time to take his rest, and to repair again to -him after dinner, for the farther relation of his embassy. The king -then went to mass; and after at convenient time he went to dinner. - -It is not to be doubted but that this ambassador hath been since his -return with his great friends, the Bishop of Winchester, and Sir Thomas -Lovell, to whom he hath declared the effect of all his speedy progress; -nor yet what joy they conceived thereof. And after his departure from -the king in the morning, his highness sent for the bishop, and Sir -Thomas Lovell; to whom he declared the wonderful expedition of his -ambassador, commending therewith his excellent wit, and in especial the -invention and advancing of the matter left out of his commission and -instructions. The king's words rejoiced these worthy counsellors not a -little, for as much as he was of their preferment. - -Then when this ambassador remembered the king's commandment, and saw -the time draw fast on of his repair before the king and his council, -[he] prepared him in a readiness, and resorted unto the place assigned -by the king, to declare his embassy. Without all doubt he reported the -effect of all his affairs and proceedings so exactly, with such gravity -and eloquence that all the council that heard him could do no less but -commend him, esteeming his expedition to be almost beyond the capacity -of man. The king of his mere motion, and gracious consideration, gave -him at that time for his diligent and faithful service, the deanery -of Lincoln[59], which at that time was one of the worthiest spiritual -promotions that he gave under the degree of a bishoprick. And thus from -thenceforward he grew more and more into estimation and authority, and -after [was] promoted by the king to be his almoner. Here may all men -note the chances of fortune, that followeth some whom she listeth to -promote, and even so to some her favour is contrary, though they should -travail never so much, with [all the] urgent diligence and painful -study, that they could devise or imagine: whereof, for my part, I have -tasted of the experience. - -Now ye shall understand that all this tale that I have declared of his -good expedition in the king's embassy, I received it of his own mouth -and report, after his fall, lying at that time in the great park of -Richmond, I being then there attending upon him; taking an occasion -upon divers communications, to tell me this journey, with all the -circumstances, as I have here before rehearsed. - -[Illustration: HENRY THE EIGHTH. - -FROM AN ORIGINAL PICTURE BY HOLBEIN. - -IN THE COLLECTION OF BARRET BRYDGES ESQ. - -AT LEE PRIORY IN KENT. - -_London, Published Jan^y. 1, 1825; by Harding, Triphook & Lepard._] - -When death (that favoureth none estate, king or keiser) had taken that -prudent prince Henry the Seventh out of this present life (on whose -soul Jesu have mercy!) who for his inestimable wisdom was noted and -called, in every Christian region, the second Solomon, what practices, -inventions, and compasses were then used about that young prince, -King Henry the Eighth, his only son, and the great provision made for -the funerals of the one, and the costly devices for the coronation of -the other, with that virtuous Queen Catherine[60], then the king's -wife newly married. I omit and leave the circumstances thereof to -historiographers of chronicles of princes, the which is no part mine -intendment. - -After all these solemnities and costly triumphs finished, and that -our natural, young, lusty and courageous prince and sovereign lord, -King Henry the Eighth, entering into the flower of pleasant youth, -had taken upon him the regal sceptre and the imperial diadem of this -fertile and plentiful realm of England (which at that time flourished -in all abundance of wealth and riches, whereof he was inestimably -garnished and furnished), called then the golden world, such grace of -plenty reigned then within this realm. Now let us return again unto -the almoner (of whom I have taken upon me to write), whose head was -full of subtil wit and policy, [and] perceiving a plain path to walk -in towards promotion, [he] handled himself so politicly, that he found -the means to be made one of the king's council, and to grow in good -estimation and favour with the king, to whom the king gave a house at -Bridewell, in Fleet Street, sometime Sir Richard Empson's[61], where -he kept house for his family, and he daily attended upon the king in -the court, being in his especial grace and favour, [having][62] then -great suit made unto him, as counsellors most commonly have that be -in favour. His sentences and witty persuasions in the council chamber -[were][63] always so pithy that they, always as occasion moved them, -assigned him for his filed tongue and ornate eloquence, to be their -expositor unto the king's majesty in all their proceedings. In whom the -king conceived such a loving fantasy, and in especial for that he was -most earnest and readiest among all the council to advance the king's -only will and pleasure, without any respect to the case; the king, -therefore, perceived him to be a meet instrument for the accomplishment -of his devised will and pleasure, called him more near unto him, and -esteemed him so highly that his estimation and favour put all other -ancient counsellors out of their accustomed favour, that they were in -before; insomuch that the king committed all his will and pleasure unto -his disposition and order. Who wrought so all his matters, that all his -endeavour was only to satisfy the king's mind, knowing right well, that -it was the very vein and right course to bring him to high promotion. -The king was young and lusty, disposed all to mirth and pleasure, -and to follow his desire and appetite, nothing minding to travail in -the busy affairs of this realm. The which the almoner perceiving very -well, took upon him therefore to disburden the king of so weighty a -charge and troublesome business, putting the king in comfort that he -shall not need to spare any time of his pleasure, for any business that -should necessarily happen in the council, as long as he, being there -and having the king's authority and commandment, doubted not to see all -things sufficiently furnished and perfected; the which would first make -the king privy of all such matters as should pass through their hands -before he would proceed to the finishing or determining of the same, -whose mind and pleasure he would fulfill and follow to the uttermost, -wherewith the king was wonderly pleased. And whereas the other ancient -counsellors would, according to the office of good counsellors, diverse -times persuade the king to have sometime an intercourse in to the -council, there to hear what was done in weighty matters, the which -pleased the king nothing at all, for he loved nothing worse than to be -constrained to do any thing contrary to his royal will and pleasure; -and that knew the almoner very well, having a secret intelligence of -the king's natural inclination, and so fast as the other counsellors -advised the king to leave his pleasure, and to attend to the affairs -of his realm, so busily did the almoner persuade him to the contrary; -which delighted him much, and caused him to have the greater affection -and love to the almoner. Thus the almoner ruled all them that before -ruled him; such [things] did his policy and wit bring to pass. Who was -now in high favour, but Master Almoner? Who had all the suit but Master -Almoner? And who ruled all under the king, but Master Almoner? Thus -he proceeded still in favour; at last, in came presents, gifts, and -rewards so plentifully, that I dare say he lacked nothing that might -either please his fantasy or enrich his coffers; fortune smiled so upon -him; but to what end she brought him, ye shall hear after. Therefore -let all men, to whom fortune extendeth her grace, not trust too much -to her fickle favour and pleasant promises, under colour whereof she -carrieth venemous gall. For when she seeth her servant in most highest -authority, and that he assureth himself most assuredly in her favour, -then turneth she her visage and pleasant countenance unto a frowning -cheer, and utterly forsaketh him: such assurance is in her inconstant -favour and sugared promise. Whose deceitful behaviour hath not been -hid among the wise sort of famous clerks, that have exclaimed her -and written vehemently against her dissimulation and feigned favour, -warning all men thereby, the less to regard her, and to have her in -small estimation of any trust or faithfulness. - -This almoner, climbing thus hastily on fortune's wheel, that no man -was of that estimation with the king as he was, for his wisdom and -other witty qualities, he had a special gift of natural eloquence[64], -with a filed tongue to pronounce the same, that he was able with the -same to persuade and allure all men to his purpose. Proceeding thus -in fortune's blissfulness, it chanced the wars between the realms -of England and France to be open, but upon what occasion I know not, -in so much as the king, being fully persuaded, and resolved in his -most royal person to invade his foreign enemies with a puissant army, -to delay their hault[65] brags, within their own territory: wherefore -it was thought very necessary, that this royal enterprise should be -speedily provided and plentifully furnished in every degree of things -apt and convenient for the same; the expedition whereof, the king's -highness thought no man's wit so meet, for policy and painful travail, -as his wellbeloved almoner's was, to whom therefore he committed his -whole affiance and trust therein. And he being nothing scrupulous in -any thing, that the king would command him to do, although it seemed to -other very difficile, took upon him the whole charge and burden of all -this business, and proceeded so therein, that he brought all things to -a good pass and purpose in a right decent order, as of all manner of -victuals, provisions, and other necessaries, convenient for so noble a -voyage and puissant army. - -All things being by him perfected, and furnished, the king, not minding -to delay or neglect the time appointed, but with noble and valiant -courage advanced to his royal enterprise, passed the seas between Dover -and Calais, where he prosperously arrived[66]; and after some abode -there of his Grace, as well for the arrival of his puissant army royal, -provisions and munitions, as to consult about his princely affairs, -marched forward, in good order of battle, through the Low Country, -until he came to the strong town of Terouanne. To the which he laid his -assault, and assailed it so fiercely with continual assaults, that -within short space he caused them within to yield the town. Unto which -place the Emperor Maximilian repaired unto the king our sovereign Lord, -with a puissant army, like a mighty and friendly prince, taking of -the king his Grace's wages[67], as well for his own person as for his -retinue, the which is a rare thing seldom seen, heard, or read, that -an emperor should take wages, and fight under a king's banner. Thus -after the king had obtained the possession of this puissant fort, and -set all things in due order, for the defence and preservation of the -same to his highness' use, he departed from thence, and marched toward -the city of Tournay, and there again laid his siege; to the which he -gave so fierce and sharp assaults, that they within were constrained -of fine force[68] to yield up the town unto his victorious majesty. At -which time he gave the Almoner the bishoprick of the same See, for some -part of recompense of his pains sustained in that journey. And when -the King had established all things there agreeable to his princely -pleasure, and furnished the same with noble valiant captains and men -of war, for the safeguard of the town against his enemies, he returned -again into England, taking with him divers worthy persons of the peers -of France, as the Duke of Longueville, and Countie Clermont, and divers -other taken there in a skirmish most victoriously. After whose return -immediately, the See of Lincoln fell void by the death of Doctor Smith, -late bishop of that dignity, the which benefice and promotion his -Grace gave unto his Almoner[69], Bishop elect of Tournay, who was not -negligent to take possession thereof, and made all the speed he could -for his consecration: the solemnization whereof ended, he found the -means to get the possession of all his predecessor's goods into his -hands, whereof I have seen divers times some part thereof furnish his -house. It was not long after that Doctor Bambridge[70], Archbishop of -York, died at Rome, being there the king's ambassador unto the Pope -Julius; unto which benefice the king presented his new Bishop of -Lincoln; so that he had three bishopricks[71] in one year given him. -Then prepared he again of new as fast for his translation from the -See of Lincoln, unto the See of York. After which solemnization done, -and he being in possession of the Archbishoprick of York, and _Primas -Angliæ_, thought himself sufficient to compare with Canterbury; and -thereupon erected his cross in the court, and in every other place, -as well in the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in the -precinct of his jurisdiction as elsewhere. And forasmuch as Canterbury -claimeth superiority and obedience of York, as he doth of all other -bishops within this realm, forasmuch as he is _primus totius Angliæ_, -and therefore claimeth, as a token of an ancient obedience, of York -to abate the advancing of his cross, in the presence of the cross -of Canterbury; notwithstanding York, nothing minding to desist from -bearing of his cross in manner as is said before, caused his cross -to be advanced[72] and borne before him, as well in the presence of -Canterbury as elsewhere. Wherefore Canterbury being moved therewith, -gave York a certain check for his presumption; by reason whereof there -engendered some grudge between Canterbury and York. And York perceiving -the obedience that Canterbury claimed to have of York, intended to -provide some such means that he would rather be superior in dignity -to Canterbury than to be either obedient or equal to him. Wherefore he -obtained first to be made Priest Cardinal, and _Legatus de latere_; -unto whom the Pope sent a Cardinal's hat, with certain bulls for his -authority in that behalf[73]. Yet by the way of communication ye shall -understand that the Pope sent him this hat as a worthy jewel of his -honour, dignity, and authority, the which was conveyed hither in a -varlet's budget, who seemed to all men to be but a person of small -estimation. Whereof York being advertised, of the baseness of the -messenger, and of the people's opinion and rumour, thought it for his -honour meet, that so high a jewel should not be conveyed by so simple a -messenger; wherefore he caused him to be stayed by the way, immediately -after his arrival in England, where he was newly furnished in all -manner of apparel, with all kind of costly silks, which seemed decent -for such an high ambassador. And that done, he was encountered upon -Blackheath, and there received with a great assembly of prelates, and -lusty gallant gentlemen, and from thence conducted and conveyed through -London, with great triumph. Then was great and speedy provision[74] and -preparation made in Westminster Abbey for the confirmation of his high -dignity; the which was executed by all the bishops and abbots nigh or -about London, in rich mitres and copes, and other costly ornaments; -which was done in so solemn a wise as I have not seen the like unless -it had been at the coronation of a mighty prince or king. - -Obtaining this dignity [he] thought himself meet to encounter with -Canterbury in his high jurisdiction before expressed; and that also he -was as meet to bear authority among the temporal powers, as among the -spiritual jurisdictions. Wherefore remembering as well the taunts and -checks before sustained of Canterbury, which he intended to redress, -having a respect to the advancement of worldly honour, promotion, -and great benefits, [he] found the means with the king, that he was -made Chancellor of England; and Canterbury thereof dismissed, who had -continued in that honourable room and office, since long before the -death of King Henry the Seventh[75]. - -Now he being in possession of the chancellorship, endowed with the -promotion of an Archbishop, and Cardinal Legate _de latere_, thought -himself fully furnished with such authorities and dignities, that he -was able to surmount Canterbury in all ecclesiastical jurisdictions, -having power to convocate Canterbury, and other bishops, within his -precincts, to assemble at his convocation, in any place within this -realm where he would assign; taking upon him the correction of all -matters in every diocese, having there through all the realm all manner -of spiritual ministers, as commissaries, scribes, apparitors, and -all other officers to furnish his courts; visited also all spiritual -houses, and presented by prevention whom he listed to their benefices. -And to the advancing of his Legatine honours and jurisdictions, he -had masters of his faculties, masters Ceremoniarum, and such other -like officers to the glorifying of his dignity. Then had he two great -crosses of silver, whereof one of them was for his Archbishoprick, and -the other for his Legacy, borne always before him whither soever he -went or rode, by two of the most tallest and comeliest priests that he -could get within all this realm[76]. And to the increase of his gains -he had also the bishoprick of Durham, and the Abbey of St. Albans _in -commendam_; howbeit after, when Bishop Fox, of Winchester, died, he -surrendered Durham into the King's hands, and in lieu thereof took the -Bishoprick of Winchester. Then he held also, as it were _in ferme_, -Bath, Worcester, and Hereford, because the incumbents thereof were -strangers[77], born out of this realm, continuing always beyond the -seas, in their own native countries, or else at Rome, from whence they -were sent by the Pope in legation into England to the king. And for -their reward, at their departure, the prudent King Henry the Seventh -thought it better to reward them with that thing, he himself could not -keep, than to defray or disburse any thing of his treasure. And then -they being but strangers, thought it more meet for their assurance, -and to have their jurisdictions conserved and justly used, to permit -the Cardinal to have their benefices for a convenient yearly sum of -money to be paid them by exchanges in their countries, than to be -troubled, or burdened with the conveyance thereof unto them: so that -all their spiritual promotions and jurisdictions of their bishopricks -were clearly in his domain and disposition, to prefer or promote -whom he listed unto them. He had also a great number daily attending -upon him, both of noblemen and worthy gentlemen, of great estimation -and possessions, with no small number of the tallest yeomen, that he -could get in all this realm, in so much that well was that nobleman -and gentleman, that might prefer any tall and comely yeoman unto his -service. - -Now to speak of the order of his house and officers, I think it -necessary here to be remembered. First ye shall understand, that he -had in his hall, daily, three especial tables furnished with three -principal officers; that is to say, a Steward, which was always a dean -or a priest; a Treasurer, a knight; and a Comptroller, an esquire; -which bare always within his house their white staves. Then had he -a cofferer, three marshals, two yeomen ushers, two grooms, and an -almoner. He had in the hall-kitchen two clerks of his kitchen, a clerk -comptroller, a surveyor of the dresser, a clerk of his spicery. Also -there in his hall-kitchen he had two master cooks, and twelve other -labourers, and children as they called them; a yeoman of his scullery, -and two other in his silver scullery; two yeomen of his pastry, and two -grooms[78]. - -Now in his privy kitchen he had a Master Cook who went daily in damask -satin, or velvet, with a chain of gold about his neck; and two grooms, -with six labourers and children to serve in that place; in the Larder -there, a yeoman and a groom; in the Scalding-house, a yeoman and two -grooms; in the Scullery there, two persons; in the Buttery, two yeomen -and two grooms, with two other pages; in the Pantry, two yeomen, two -grooms, and two other pages; and in the Ewery likewise: in the Cellar, -three yeomen, two grooms, and two pages; beside a gentleman for the -month: in the Chaundery, three persons: in the Wafery, two; in the -Wardrobe of beds, the master of the wardrobe, and ten other persons; in -the Laundry, a yeoman, a groom, and three pages: of purveyors, two, and -one groom; in the Bakehouse, a yeoman and two grooms; in the Wood-yard, -a yeoman and a groom; in the Garner, one; in the Garden, a yeoman and -two labourers. Now at the gate, he had of porters, two tall yeomen -and two grooms; a yeoman of his barge: in the stable, he had a master -of his horse, a clerk of the stable, a yeoman of the same; a Saddler, -a Farrier, a yeoman of his Chariot, a Sumpter-man, a yeoman of his -stirrup; a Muleteer; sixteen grooms of his stable, every of them -keeping four great geldings: in the Almeserie, a yeoman and a groom. - -Now I will declare unto you the officers of his chapel, and singing men -of the same. First, he had there a Dean, who was always a great clerk -and a divine; a Sub-dean; a Repeater of the quire; a Gospeller[79], a -Pisteller; and twelve singing Priests: of Scholars, he had first, a -Master of the children; twelve singing children; sixteen singing men; -with a servant to attend upon the said children. In the Revestry[80], -a yeoman and two grooms: then were there divers retainers of cunning -singing men, that came thither at divers sundry principal feasts. But -to speak of the furniture of his chapel passeth my capacity to declare -the number of the costly ornaments and rich jewels, that were occupied -in the same continually. For I have seen there, in a procession, -worn forty-four copes of one suit, very rich, besides the sumptuous -crosses, candlesticks, and other necessary ornaments to the comely -furniture of the same. Now shall ye understand that he had two cross -bearers, and two pillar bearers: and in his chamber, all these persons; -that is to say: his high Chamberlain, his Vice Chamberlain; twelve -Gentlemen ushers, daily waiters; besides two in his privy chamber; and -of Gentlemen waiters in his privy chamber he had six; and also he had -of Lords nine or ten[81], who had each of them allowed two servants; -and the Earl of Derby had allowed five men. Then had he of Gentlemen, -as cup-bearers, carvers, sewers, and Gentlemen daily waiters, forty -persons; of yeomen ushers he had six; of grooms in his chamber he had -eight; of yeomen of his chamber he had forty-six daily to attend upon -his person; he had also a priest there which was his Almoner, to attend -upon his table at dinner. Of doctors and chaplains attending in his -closet to say daily mass before him, he had sixteen persons: and a -clerk of his closet. Also he had two secretaries, and two clerks of -his signet; and four counsellors learned in the laws of the realm. - -And for as much as he was Chancellor of England, it was necessary for -him to have divers officers of the Chancery to attend daily upon him, -for the better furniture of the same. That is to say: first, he had the -Clerk of the Crown, a Riding Clerk, a Clerk of the Hanaper, a Chafer of -Wax. Then had he a Clerk of the Check, as well to check his Chaplains, -as his Yeomen of the Chamber; he had also four Footmen, which were -apparelled in rich running coats, whensoever he rode any journey. -Then had he an herald at Arms, and a Sergeant at Arms; a Physician; -an Apothecary; four Minstrels; a Keeper of his Tents, an Armourer; an -Instructor of his Wards; two Yeomen in his Wardrobe; and a Keeper of -his Chamber in the court. He had also daily in his house the Surveyor -of York, a Clerk of the Green Cloth; and an Auditor. All this number -of persons were daily attendant upon him in his house, down-lying and -up-rising. And at meals, there was continually in his chamber a board -kept for his Chamberlains, and Gentlemen Ushers, having with them a -mess of the young Lords[82], and another for gentlemen. - -Besides all these, there was never an officer and gentleman, or any -other worthy person in his house, but he was allowed some three, some -two servants; and all other one at the least; which amounted to a -great number of persons. Now have I showed you the order of his house, -and what officers and servants he had, according to his checker roll, -attending daily upon him; besides his retainers, and other persons -being suitors, that most commonly were fed in his hall. And whensoever -we shall see any more such subjects within this realm, that shall -maintain any such estate and household, I am content he be advanced -above him in honour and estimation. Therefore here I make an end of his -household; whereof the number was about the sum of five hundred[83] -persons according to his checker roll. - -You have heard of the order and officers of his house; now I do intend -to proceed forth unto other of his proceedings; for, after he was thus -furnished, in manner as I have before rehearsed unto you, he was twice -sent in embassy unto the Emperor Charles the Fifth, that now reigneth; -and father unto King Philip, now our sovereign lord. Forasmuch as the -old Emperor Maximilian was dead, and for divers urgent causes touching -the king's majesty, it was thought good that in so weighty a matter, -and to so noble a prince, that the Cardinal was most meet to be sent -on so worthy an embassy. Wherefore he being ready to take upon him the -charge thereof, was furnished in all degrees and purposes most likest a -great prince, which was much to the high honour of the king's majesty, -and of this realm. For first in his proceeding he was furnished like a -cardinal of high estimation, having all things thereto correspondent -and agreeable. His gentlemen, being in number very many, clothed in -livery coats of crimson velvet of the most purest colour that might be -invented, with chains of gold about their necks; and all his yeomen and -other mean officers were in coats of fine scarlet, guarded with black -velvet a hand broad. He being thus furnished in this manner, was twice -sent unto the emperor into Flanders, the emperor lying then in Bruges; -who entertained our ambassador very highly[84], discharging him and all -his train of their charge; for there was no house within all Bruges, -wherein any gentlemen of the Lord Ambassador's lay, or had recourse, -but that the owners of the houses were commanded by the emperor's -officers, that they, upon pain of their lives, should take no money -for any thing that the cardinal's servants should take or dispend in -victuals; no, although they were disposed to make any costly banquets: -furthermore commanding their said hosts, to see that they lacked no -such thing as they desired or required to have for their pleasures. -Also the emperor's officers every night went through the town, from -house to house, where as any English men lay or resorted, and there -served their liveries[85] for all night; which was done after this -manner: first, the emperor's officers brought in to the house a cast of -fine manchet bread[86], two great silver pots, with wine, and a pound -of fine sugar; white lights and yellow; a bowl or goblet of silver, to -drink in; and every night a staff torch. This was the order of their -liveries every night. And then in the morning, when the officers came -to fetch away their stuff, then would they accompt with the host for -the gentlemen's costs spent in that night and day before. Thus the -emperor entertained the cardinal and all his train, for the time of his -embassy there. And that done, he returned home again into England, with -great triumph, being no less in estimation with the king than he was -before, but rather much more. - -Now will I declare unto you his order in going to Westminster Hall, -daily in the term season. First, before his coming out of his privy -chamber, he heard most commonly every day two masses in his privy -closet; and there then said his daily service with his chaplain: and -as I heard his chaplain say, being a man of credence and of excellent -learning, that the cardinal, what business or weighty matters soever -he had in the day, he never went to his bed with any part of his -divine service unsaid, yea not so much as one collect; wherein I doubt -not but he deceived the opinion of divers persons. And after mass he -would return in his privy chamber again, and being advertised of the -furniture of his chambers without, with noblemen, gentlemen, and other -persons, would issue out into them, appareled all in red, in the habit -of a cardinal; which was either of fine scarlet, or else of crimson -satin, taffety, damask, or caffa, the best that he could get for money: -and upon his head a round pillion, with a noble of black velvet set to -the same in the inner side; he had also a tippet of fine sables about -his neck; holding in his hand a very fair orange, whereof the meat -or substance within was taken out, and filled up again with the part -of a sponge, wherein was vinegar, and other confections against the -pestilent airs; the which he most commonly smelt unto, passing among -the press, or else when he was pestered with many suitors. There was -also borne before him first, the great seal of England, and then his -cardinal's hat, by a nobleman or some worthy gentleman, right solemnly, -bareheaded. And as soon as he was entered into his chamber of presence, -where there was attending his coming to await upon him to Westminster -Hall, as well noblemen and other worthy gentlemen, as noblemen and -gentlemen of his own family; thus passing forth with two great crosses -of silver borne before him[87]; with also two great pillars of silver, -and his pursuivant at arms with a great mace of silver gilt. Then -his gentlemen ushers cried, and said: "On, my lords and masters, on -before; make way for my Lord's Grace!" Thus passed he down from his -chamber through the hall; and when he came to the hall door, there was -attendant for him his mule, trapped all together in crimson velvet, and -gilt stirrups. When he was mounted, with his cross bearers, and pillar -bearers[88], also upon great horses trapped with [fine] scarlet. Then -marched he forward, with his train and furniture in manner as I have -declared, having about him four footmen, with gilt pollaxes in their -hands; and thus he went until he came to Westminster Hall door. And -there alighted, and went after this manner, up through the hall into -the chancery; howbeit he would most commonly stay awhile at a bar, made -for him, a little beneath the chancery [on the right hand], and there -commune some time with the judges, and sometime with other persons. And -that done he would repair into the chancery, sitting there till eleven -of the clock, hearing suitors, and determining of divers matters. -And from thence, he would divers times go into the star chamber, as -occasion did serve; where he spared neither high nor low, but judged -every estate according to their merits and deserts. - -He used every Sunday to repair to the court, being then for the most -part at Greenwich, in the term; with all his former order, taking his -barge at his privy stairs, furnished with tall yeomen standing upon the -bayles, and all gentlemen being within with him; and landed again at -the Crane in the vintry. And from thence he rode upon his mule, with -his crosses, his pillars, his hat, and the great seal, through Thames -Street, until he came to Billingsgate, or thereabout; and there took -his barge again, and rowed to Greenwich, where he was nobly received -of the lords and chief officers of the king's house, as the treasurer -and comptroller, with others; and so conveyed to the king's chamber: -his crosses commonly standing for the time of his abode in the court, -on the one side of the king's cloth of estate. He being thus in the -court, it was wonderly furnished with noblemen and gentlemen, much -otherwise than it was before his coming. And after dinner, among the -lords, having some consultation with the king, or with the council, -he would depart homeward with like state[89]: and this order he used -continually, as opportunity did serve. - -Thus in great honour, triumph, and glory, he reigned a long season, -ruling all things within this realm, appertaining unto the king, by -his wisdom, and also all other weighty matters of foreign regions, -with which the king of this realm had any occasion to intermeddle. -All ambassadors of foreign potentates were always dispatched by his -discretion, to whom they had always access for their dispatch. His -house was also always resorted and furnished with noblemen, gentlemen, -and other persons, with going and coming in and out, feasting and -banqueting all ambassadors diverse times, and other strangers right -nobly. - -And when it pleased the king's majesty, for his recreation, to repair -unto the cardinal's house, as he did divers times in the year, at which -time there wanted no preparations, or goodly furniture, with viands of -the finest sort that might be provided for money or friendship. Such -pleasures were then devised for the king's comfort and consolation, -as might be invented, or by man's wit imagined. The banquets were set -forth, with masks and mummeries, in so gorgeous a sort, and costly -manner, that it was a heaven to behold. There wanted no dames, or -damsels, meet or apt to dance with the maskers, or to garnish the place -for the time, with other goodly disports. Then was there all kind of -music and harmony set forth, with excellent voices both of men and -children. I have seen the king suddenly come in thither in a mask, with -a dozen of other maskers, all in garments like shepherds, made of fine -cloth of gold and fine crimson satin paned, and caps of the same, with -visors of good proportion of visnomy; their hairs, and beards, either -of fine gold wire, or else of silver, and some being of black silk; -having sixteen torch bearers, besides their drums, and other persons -attending upon them, with visors, and clothed all in satin, of the -same colours. And at his coming, and before he came into the hall, ye -shall understand, that he came by water to the water gate, without any -noise; where, against his coming, were laid charged many chambers[90], -and at his landing they were all shot off, which made such a rumble in -the air, that it was like thunder. It made all the noblemen, ladies, -and gentlewomen, to muse what it should mean coming so suddenly, -they sitting quietly at a solemn banquet; under this sort: First, ye -shall perceive that the tables were set in the chamber of presence, -banquet-wise covered, my Lord Cardinal sitting under the cloth of -estate, and there having his service all alone; and then was there -set a lady and a nobleman, or a gentleman and gentlewoman, throughout -all the tables in the chamber on the one side, which were made and -joined as it were but one table. All which order and device was done -and devised by the Lord Sands, Lord Chamberlain to the king; and also -by Sir Henry Guilford, Comptroller to the king. Then immediately after -this great shot of guns, the cardinal desired the Lord Chamberlain, and -Comptroller, to look what this sudden shot should mean, as though he -knew nothing of the matter. They thereupon looking out of the windows -into Thames, returned again, and showed him, that it seemed to them -there should be some noblemen and strangers arrived at his bridge, as -ambassadors from some foreign prince. With that, quoth the cardinal, -"I shall desire you, because ye can speak French, to take the pains -to go down into the hall to encounter and to receive them, according -to their estates, and to conduct them into this chamber, where they -shall see us, and all these noble personages sitting merrily at our -banquet, desiring them to sit down with us, and to take part of our -fare and pastime. Then [they] went incontinent down into the hall, -where they received them with twenty new torches, and conveyed them -up into the chamber, with such a number of drums and fifes as I have -seldom seen together, at one time in any masque. At their arrival -into the chamber, two and two together, they went directly before the -cardinal where he sat, saluting him very reverently; to whom the Lord -Chamberlain for them said: "Sir, for as much as they be strangers, and -can speak no English, they have desired me to declare unto your Grace -thus: they, having understanding of this your triumphant banquet, -where was assembled such a number of excellent fair dames, could do -no less, under the supportation of your good grace, but to repair -hither to view as well their incomparable beauty, as for to accompany -them at mumchance[91], and then after to dance with them, and so to -have of them acquaintance. And, sir, they furthermore require of your -Grace licence to accomplish the cause of their repair." To whom the -cardinal answered, that he was very well contented they should so do. -Then the maskers went first and saluted all the dames as they sat, and -then returned to the most worthiest, and there opened a cup full of -gold, with crowns, and other pieces of coin, to whom they set divers -pieces to cast at. Thus in this manner perusing all the ladies and -gentlewomen, and to some they lost, and of some they won. And thus -done, they returned unto the cardinal, with great reverence, pouring -down all the crowns in the cup, which was about two hundred crowns. -"At all," quoth the cardinal, and so cast the dice, and won them all -at a cast; whereat was great joy made. Then quoth the cardinal to my -Lord Chamberlain, "I pray you," quoth he, "show them that it seemeth -me that there should be among them some noble man, whom I suppose to -be much more worthy of honour to sit and occupy this room and place -than I; to whom I would most gladly, if I knew him, surrender my -place according to my duty." Then spake my Lord Chamberlain unto them -in French, declaring my Lord Cardinal's mind, and they rounding[92] -him again in the ear, my Lord Chamberlain said to my Lord Cardinal, -"Sir, they confess," quoth he, "that among them there is such a noble -personage, whom, if your Grace can appoint him from the other, he is -contented to disclose himself, and to accept your place most worthily." -With that the cardinal, taking a good advisement among them, at the -last, quoth he, "Me seemeth the gentleman with the black beard should -be even he." And with that he arose out of his chair, and offered the -same to the gentleman in the black beard, with his cap in his hand. -The person to whom he offered then his chair was Sir Edward Neville, -a comely knight of a goodly personage, that much more resembled the -king's person in that mask, than any other. The king, hearing and -perceiving the cardinal so deceived in his estimation and choice, could -not forbear laughing; but plucked down his visor, and Master Neville's -also, and dashed out with such a pleasant countenance and cheer, that -all noble estates there assembled, seeing the king to be there amongst -them, rejoiced very much. The cardinal eftsoons desired his highness -to take the place of estate, to whom the king answered, that he would -go first and shift his apparel; and so departed, and went straight -into my lord's bedchamber, where was a great fire made and prepared -for him; and there new apparelled him with rich and princely garments. -And in the time of the king's absence, the dishes of the banquet were -clean taken up, and the tables spread again with new and sweet perfumed -cloths; every man sitting still until the king and his maskers came -in among them again, every man being newly apparelled. Then the king -took his seat under the cloth of estate, commanding no man to remove, -but sit still, as they did before. Then in came a new banquet before -the king's majesty, and to all the rest through the tables, wherein, I -suppose, were served two hundred dishes or above, of wondrous costly -meats and devices, subtilly devised. Thus passed they forth the whole -night with banqueting, dancing, and other triumphant devices, to the -great comfort of the king, and pleasant regard of the nobility there -assembled. - -All this matter I have declared at large, because ye shall understand -what joy and delight the cardinal had to see his prince and sovereign -lord in his house so nobly entertained and pleased, which was always -his only study, to devise things to his comfort, not passing of the -charges or expenses. It delighted him so much, to have the king's -pleasant princely presence, that no thing was to him more delectable -than to cheer his sovereign lord, to whom he owed so much obedience and -loyalty; as reason required no less, all things well considered. - -Thus passed the cardinal his life and time, from day to day, and year -to year, in such great wealth, joy, and triumph, and glory, having -always on his side the king's especial favour; until Fortune, of whose -favour no man is longer assured than she is disposed, began to wax -something wroth with his prosperous estate, [and] thought she would -devise a mean to abate his high port; wherefore she procured Venus, -the insatiate goddess, to be her instrument. To work her purpose, she -brought the king in love with a gentlewoman, that, after she perceived -and felt the king's good will towards her, and how diligent he was both -to please her, and to grant all her requests, she wrought the cardinal -much displeasure; as hereafter shall be more at large declared. This -gentlewoman, the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, being at that time but -only a bachelor knight, the which after, for the love of his daughter, -was promoted to higher dignities. He bare at divers several times -for the most part all the rooms of estimation in the king's house; -as Comptroller, Treasurer, Vice Chamberlain, and Lord Chamberlain. -Then was he made Viscount Rochford; and at the last created Earl of -Wiltshire, and Knight of the noble Order of the Garter; and, for his -more increase of gain and honour, he was made Lord Privy Seal, and most -chiefest of the king's privy council. Continuing therein until his son -and daughter did incur the king's indignation and displeasure. The king -fantasied so much his daughter Anne, that almost all things began to -grow out of frame and good order[93]. - -To tell you how the king's love began to take place, and what followed -thereof, I will even as much as in me lieth, declare [unto] you. This -gentlewoman, Mistress Anne Boleyn, being very young[94] was sent into -the realm of France, and there made one of the French[95] queen's -women, continuing there until the French queen died. And then was she -sent for home again; and being again with her father, he made such -means that she was admitted to be one of Queen Katharine's maids, among -whom, for her excellent gesture and behaviour, [she] did excel all -other; in so much, as the king began to kindle the brand of amours; -which was not known to any person, ne scantly to her own person. - -In so much [as] my Lord Percy, the son and heir of the Earl of -Northumberland, then attended upon the Lord Cardinal, and was also his -servitor; and when it chanced the Lord Cardinal at any time to repair -to the court, the Lord Percy would then resort for his pastime unto the -queen's chamber, and there would fall in dalliance among the queen's -maidens, being at the last more conversant with Mistress Anne Boleyn -than with any other; so that there grew such a secret love between -them that, at length, they were insured together[96], intending to -marry. The which thing came to the king's knowledge, who was then much -offended. Wherefore he could hide no longer his secret affection, but -revealed his secret intendment unto my Lord Cardinal in that behalf; -and consulted with him to infringe the precontract between them: -insomuch, that after my Lord Cardinal was departed from the court, and -returned home to his place at Westminster, not forgetting the king's -request and counsel, being in his gallery, called there before him -the said Lord Percy unto his presence, and before us his servants of -his chamber, saying thus unto him. "I marvel not a little," quoth he, -"of thy peevish folly, that thou wouldest tangle and ensure thyself -with a foolish girl yonder in the court, I mean Anne Boleyn. Dost -thou not consider the estate that God hath called thee unto in this -world? For after the death of thy noble father, thou art most like to -inherit and possess one of the most worthiest earldoms of this realm. -Therefore it had been most meet, and convenient for thee, to have sued -for the consent of thy father in that behalf, and to have also made -the king's highness privy thereto; requiring therein his princely -favour, submitting all thy whole proceeding in all such matters unto -his highness, who would not only accept thankfully your submission, -but would, I assure thee, provide so for your purpose therein, that he -would advance you much more nobly, and have matched you according to -your estate and honour, whereby ye might have grown so by your wisdom -and honourable behaviour into the king's high estimation, that it -should have been much to your increase of honour. But now behold what -ye have done through your wilfulness. Ye have not only offended your -natural father, but also your most gracious sovereign lord, and matched -yourself with one, such as neither the king, ne yet your father will -be agreeable with the matter. And hereof I put you out of doubt, that -I will send for your father, and at his coming, he shall either break -this unadvised contract, or else disinherit thee for ever. The king's -majesty himself will complain to thy father on thee, and require no -less at his hand than I have said; whose highness intended to have -preferred [Anne Boleyn] unto another person, with whom the king hath -travelled already, and being almost at a point with the same person, -although she knoweth it not, yet hath the king, most like a politic -and prudent prince, conveyed the matter in such sort, that she, upon -the king's motion, will be (I doubt not) right glad and agreeable to -the same." "Sir," (quoth the Lord Percy, all weeping), "I knew nothing -of the king's pleasure therein, for whose displeasure I am very sorry. -I considered that I was of good years, and thought myself sufficient -to provide me of a convenient wife, whereas my fancy served me best, -not doubting but that my lord my father would have been right well -persuaded. And though she be a simple maid, and having but a knight -to her father, yet is she descended of right noble parentage. As by -her mother she is nigh of the Norfolk blood: and of her father's side -lineally descended of the Earl of Ormond, he being one of the earl's -heirs general[97]. Why should I then, sir, be any thing scrupulous to -match with her, whose estate of descent is equivalent with mine when I -shall be in most dignity? Therefore I most humbly require your grace -of your especial favour herein; and also to entreat the king's most -royal majesty most lowly on my behalf for his princely benevolence in -this matter, the which I cannot deny or forsake." "Lo, sirs," quoth -the cardinal, "ye may see what conformity and wisdom is in this wilful -boy's head. I thought that when thou heardest me declare the king's -intended pleasure and travail herein, thou wouldest have relented and -wholly submitted thyself, and all thy wilful and unadvised fact, to -the king's royal will and prudent pleasure, to be fully disposed and -ordered by his grace's disposition, as his highness should seem good." -"Sir, so I would," quoth the Lord Percy, "but in this matter I have -gone so far, before many so worthy witnesses, that I know not how to -avoid my self nor to discharge my conscience." "Why, thinkest thou," -quoth the cardinal, "that the king and I know not what we have to do -in as weighty a matter as this? Yes (quoth he), I warrant thee. Howbeit -I can see in thee no submission to the purpose." "Forsooth, my Lord," -quoth the Lord Percy, "if it please your grace, I will submit myself -wholly unto the king's majesty and [your] grace in this matter, my -conscience being discharged of the weighty burthen of my precontract." -"Well then," quoth the cardinal, "I will send for your father out of -the north parts, and he and we shall take such order for the avoiding -of this thy hasty folly as shall be by the king thought most expedient. -And in the mean season I charge thee, and in the king's name command -thee, that thou presume not once to resort into her company, as thou -intendest to avoid the king's high indignation." And this said he rose -up and went into his chamber. - -Then was the Earl of Northumberland sent for in all haste, in the -king's name, who upon knowledge of the king's pleasure made quick -speed to the court. And at his first coming out of the north he -made his first repair unto my Lord Cardinal, at whose mouth he was -advertised of the cause of his hasty sending for; being in my Lord -Cardinal's gallery with him in secret communication a long while. And -after their long talk my Lord Cardinal called for a cup of wine, and -drinking together they brake up, and so departed the earl, upon whom -we were commanded to wait to convey him to his servants. And in his -going away, when he came to the gallery's end, he sat him down upon a -form that stood there for the waiters some time to take their ease. -And being there set called his son the Lord Percy unto him, and said -in our presence thus in effect. "Son," quoth he, "thou hast always -been a proud, presumptuous, disdainful, and a very unthrift waster, -and even so hast thou now declared thyself. Therefore what joy, what -comfort, what pleasure or solace should I conceive in thee, that thus -without discretion and advisement hast misused thyself, having no -manner of regard to me thy natural father, ne in especial unto thy -sovereign lord, to whom all honest and loyal subjects bear faithful and -humble obedience; ne yet to the wealth of thine own estate, but hast -so unadvisedly ensured thyself to her, for whom thou hast purchased -thee the king's displeasure, intolerable for any subject to sustain! -But that his grace of his mere wisdom doth consider the lightness of -thy head, and wilful qualities of thy person, his displeasure and -indignation were sufficient to cast me and all my posterity into utter -subversion and dissolution: but he being my especial and singular good -lord and favourable prince, and my Lord Cardinal my good lord hath and -doth clearly excuse me in thy lewd fact, and doth rather lament thy -lightness than malign the same; and hath devised an order to be taken -for thee; to whom both thou and I be more bound than we be able well to -consider. I pray to God that this may be to thee a sufficient monition -and warning to use thyself more wittier hereafter; for thus I assure -thee, if thou dost not amend thy prodigality, thou wilt be the last -earl of our house. For of thy natural inclination thou art disposed -to be wasteful prodigal, and to consume all that thy progenitors have -with great travail gathered together and kept with honour. But having -the king's majesty my singular good and gracious lord, I intend (God -willing) so to dispose my succession, that ye shall consume thereof -but a little. For I do not purpose, I assure thee, to make thee mine -heir; for, praises be to God, I have more choice of boys who, I -trust, will prove themselves much better, and use them more like unto -nobility, among whom I will choose and take the best and most likeliest -to succeed me. Now, masters and good gentlemen," (quoth he unto us), -"it may be your chances hereafter, when I am dead, to see the proof -of these things that I have spoken to my son prove as true as I have -spoken them. Yet in the mean season I desire you all to be his friends, -and to tell him his fault when he doth amiss, wherein ye shall show -yourselves to be much his friends." And with that he took his leave of -us. And said to his son thus: "Go your ways, and attend upon my lord's -grace your master, and see that you do your duty." And so departed, and -went his way down through the hall into his barge. - -Then after long debating and consultation upon the Lord Percy's -assurance, it was devised that the same should be infringed and -dissolved, and that the Lord Percy should marry with one of the Earl -of Shrewsbury's daughters[98]; (as he did after); by means whereof -the former contract was clearly undone. Wherewith Mistress Anne Boleyn -was greatly offended, saying, that if it lay ever in her power, she -would work the cardinal as much displeasure; as she did in deed after. -And yet was he nothing to blame, for he practised nothing in that -matter, but it was the king's only device. And even as my Lord Percy -was commanded to avoid her company, even so was she commanded to avoid -the court, and sent home again to her father for a season; whereat she -smoked[99]: for all this while she knew nothing of the king's intended -purpose. - -But ye may see when fortune beginneth to lower, how she can compass a -matter to work displeasure by a far fetch. For now, mark, good reader, -the grudge, how it began, that in process [of time] burst out to the -utter undoing of the cardinal. O Lord, what a God art thou! that -workest thy secrets so wonderfully, which be not perceived until they -be brought to pass and finished. Mark this history following, good -reader, and note every circumstance, and thou shaft espy at thine eye -the wonderful work of God, against such persons as forgetteth God and -his great benefits! Mark, I say, mark them well! - -After that all these troublesome matters of my Lord Percy's were -brought to a good stay, and all things finished that were before -devised, Mistress Anne Boleyn was revoked unto the court[100], where -she flourished after in great estimation and favour; having always a -privy indignation unto the cardinal, for breaking off the precontract -made between my Lord Percy and her, supposing that it had been his own -device and will, and none other, not yet being privy to the king's -secret mind, although that he had a great affection unto her. Howbeit, -after she knew the king's pleasure, and the great love that he bare -her in the bottom of his stomach, then she began to look very hault -and stout, having all manner of jewels, or rich apparel, that might be -gotten with money. It was therefore judged by-and-bye through all the -court of every man, that she being in such favour, might work masteries -with the king, and obtain any suit of him for her friend. - -And all this while, she being in this estimation in all places, it -is no doubt but good Queen Katharine, having this gentlewoman daily -attending upon her, both heard by report, and perceived before her -eyes, the matter how it framed against her (good lady), although she -showed ne to Mistress Anne, ne unto the king, any spark or kind of -grudge or displeasure; but took and accepted all things in good part, -and with wisdom and great patience dissimuled the same, having Mistress -Anne in more estimation for the king's sake than she had before, -declaring herself thereby to be a perfect Griselda, as her patient acts -shall hereafter more evidently to all men be declared[101]. - -The king waxed so far in amours with this gentlewoman that he knew not -how much he might advance her. This perceiving, the great lords of the -council, bearing a secret grudge against the cardinal, because that -they could not rule in the scene well for him as they would, who kept -them low, and ruled them as well as other mean subjects, whereat they -caught an occasion to invent a mean to bring him out of the king's high -favour, and them into more authority of rule and civil governance. -After long and secret consultation amongst themselves, how to bring -their malice to effect against the cardinal, they knew right well that -it was very difficile for them to do any thing directly of themselves. -Wherefore, they perceiving the great affection that the king bare -lovingly unto Mistress Anne Boleyn, fantasying in their heads that -she should be for them a sufficient and an apt instrument to bring -their malicious purpose to pass, with her they often consulted in this -matter. And she having both a very good wit, and also an inward desire -to be revenged of the cardinal[102], was as agreeable to their requests -as they were themselves. Wherefore there was no more to do but only -to imagine some presented circumstances to induce their malicious -accusations. Insomuch that there was imagined and invented among them -diverse imaginations and subtle devices, how this matter should be -brought about. The enterprise thereof was so dangerous, that though -they would fain have often attempted the matter with the king, yet -they durst not; for they knew the great loving affection and especial -favour that the king bare to the cardinal, and also they feared the -wonderous wit of the cardinal. For this they understood very well, -that if their matter that they should propone against him were not -grounded upon a just and an urgent cause, the king's favour being such -towards him, and his wit such, that he would with policy vanquish all -their purpose and travail, and then lye in a-wait to work them an utter -destruction and subversion. Wherefore they were compelled, all things -considered, to forbear their enterprise until they might espy a more -convenient time and occasion. - -And yet the cardinal, espying the great zeal that the king had -conceived in this gentlewoman, ordered himself to please as well the -king as her, dissimuling the matter that lay hid in his breast, and -prepared great banquets and solemn feasts to entertain them both at his -own house. And thus the world began to grow into wonderful inventions, -not heard of before in this realm. The love between the king and this -gorgeous lady grew to such a perfection, that divers imaginations were -imagined, whereof I leave to speak until I come to the place where I -may have more occasion. - -Then began a certain grudge to arise between the French king and the -Duke of Bourbon, in so much as the Duke, being vassal to the house -of France, was constrained for the safeguard of his person to flee -his dominions, and to forsake his territory and country, doubting the -king's great malice and indignation. The cardinal, having thereof -intelligence, compassed in his head, that if the king our sovereign -lord (having an occasion of wars with the realm of France), might -retain the duke to be his general in the wars there: in as much as -the duke was fled unto the emperor, to invite him also, to stir wars -against the French king. The cardinal having all this imagination in -his head thought it good to move the king in this matter. And after -the king was once advertised hereof, and conceived the cardinal's -imagination and invention, he dreamed of this matter more and -more, until at the last it came in question among the council in -consultation, so that it was there finally concluded that an embassy -should be sent to the emperor about this matter; with whom it was -concluded that the king and the emperor should join in these wars -against the French king, and that the Duke of Bourbon should be our -sovereign lord's champion and general in the field; who had appointed -him a great number of good soldiers over and besides the emperor's -army, which was not small, and led by one of his own noblemen; and also -that the king should pay the duke his wages, and his retinue monthly. -In so much as Sir John Russel, (who was after Earl of Bedford), lay -continually beyond the seas in a secret place, assigned both for to -receive the king's money and to pay the same monthly to the duke. -So that the duke began fierce war with the French king in his own -territory and dukedom, which the French king had confiscated and seized -into his hands; yet not known to the duke's enemies that he had any -aid of the king our sovereign lord. And thus he wrought the French -king much trouble and displeasure; in so much as the French king was -compelled of fine force to put harness on his back, and to prepare a -puissant army royal, and in his own person to advance to defend and -resist the duke's power and malice. The duke having understanding -of the king's advancing was compelled of force to take Pavia, a -strong town in Italy, with his host, for their security; where as -the king besieged him, and encamped him wondrous strongly, intending -to enclose the Duke within this town, that he should not issue. Yet -notwithstanding the duke would and did many times issue and skirmish -with the king's army. - -Now let us leave the king in his camp before Pavia, and return again -to the Lord Cardinal, who seemed to be more French than Imperial. But -how it came to pass I cannot declare [unto] you: but the [French] king -lying in his camp, sent secretly into England a privy person, a very -witty man, to entreat of a peace between him and the king our sovereign -lord, whose name was John Joachin[103]; he was kept as secret as might -be, that no man had intelligence of his repair; for he was no -Frenchman, but an Italian born, a man before of no estimation in -France, or known to be in favour with his master, but to be a merchant, -and for his subtle wit elected to entreat of such affairs as the king -had commanded him by embassy. This Joachin after his arrival here in -England was secretly conveyed unto the king's manor of Richmond, and -there remained until Whitsuntide, at which time the cardinal resorted -thither, and kept there the said feast very solemnly. In which season -my lord caused this Joachin divers times to dine with him, whose talk -and behaviour seemed to be witty, sober, and wondrous discreet. [He] -continued in England long after, until he had (as it seemed) brought -his purposed embassy to pass which he had in commission. For after -this there was sent out immediately a restraint unto Sir John Russell, -into those parts where he made his abiding beyond the seas, that he -should retain and keep back that month's wages still in his hands, -which should have been paid unto the Duke of Bourbon, until the king's -pleasure were to him further known; for want of which money at the day -appointed of payment, the duke and his retinue were greatly dismayed -and sore disappointed; and when they saw that their money was not -brought unto them as it was wont to be. And being in so dangerous a -case for want of victuals, which were wondrous scant and dear, there -were many imaginations what should be the cause of the let thereof. -Some said this, and some said they wist never what; so that they -mistrusted no thing less than the very cause thereof. In so much at the -last, what for want of victual and other necessaries which could not -be gotten within the town, the captains and soldiers began to grudge -and mutter; and at the last, for lack of victuals, were like all to -perish. They being in this extremity came before the Duke of Bourbon -their captain, and said, "Sir, we must be of very force and necessity -compelled to yield us in to the danger of our enemies; and better it -were for us so to do than here to starve like dogs." When the duke -heard the lamentations, and understood the extremities that they were -brought unto for lack of money, he said again unto them, "Sirs," quoth -he, "ye are both valiant men and of noble courage, who have served -here under me right worthily; and for your necessity, whereof I am -participant, I do not a little lament. (Howbeit) I shall desire you, -as ye are noble in hearts and courage, so to take patience for a day -or twain: and if succour come not then from the King of England, as I -doubt nothing that he will deceive us, I will well agree that we shall -all put ourselves and all our lives unto the mercy of our enemies;" -wherewith they were all agreeable. And expecting the coming of the -king's money the space of three days, (the which days passed), the -duke seeing no remedy called his noble men, and captains, and soldiers -before him, and all weeping said, "O ye noble captains and valiant men, -my gentle companions, I see no remedy in this necessity but either we -must yield us unto our enemies, or else famish. And to yield the town -and ourselves, I know not the mercy of our enemies. As for my part I -pass not of their cruelties, for I know very well I shall suffer most -cruel death if I come once into their hands. It is not for myself -therefore that I do lament, but it is for your sakes; it is for your -lives; it is also for the safeguard of your persons. For so that ye -might escape the danger of your enemies' hands, I would most gladly -suffer death. Therefore, good companions and noble soldiers, I shall -require you all, considering the dangerous misery and calamity that we -stand in at this present, to sell our lives most dearly rather than to -be murdered like beasts. If ye will follow my counsel we will take upon -us this night to give our enemies an assault in their camp, and by that -means we may either escape, or else give them an overthrow. And thus it -were better to die in the field like men, than to live in captivity -and misery as prisoners." To the which they all agreed. "Then," quoth -the duke, "Ye perceive that our enemy hath encamped us with a strong -camp, and that there is no way to enter but one, which is so planted -with great ordnance, and force of men, that it is not possible to enter -that way to fight with our enemies without great danger. And also, -ye see that now of late they have had small doubt of us, insomuch as -they have kept but slender watch. Therefore my policy and advice shall -be this: That about the dead time of the night, when our enemies be -most quiet at rest, there shall issue from us a number of the most -deliverest soldiers to assault their camp; who shall give the assault -right secretly, even directly against the entry of the camp, which is -almost invincible. Your fierce and sharp assault shall be to them in -the camp so doubtful, that they shall be compelled to turn the strength -of their entry that lyeth over against your assault, to beat you from -the assault. Then will I issue out at the postern, and come to the -place of their strength newly turned, and there, or they be ware, will -I enter and fight with them at the same place where their guns and -strength lay before, and so come to the rescue of you of the assault, -and winning their ordnance which they have turned, beat them with their -own pieces. And then we joining together in the field, I trust we -shall have a fair hand of them. This device pleased them wondrous well. -Then prepared they all that day for the purposed device, and kept them -secret and close, without any noise or shot of piece within the town, -which gave their enemies the less fear of any trouble that night, but -every man went to their rest within their tents and lodgings quietly, -nothing mistrusting that after ensued. - -Then when all the king's host was at rest, the assailants issued out -of the town without any noise, according to the former appointment, -and gave a fierce and cruel assault at the place appointed; that they -within the camp had as much to do to defend it as was possible: and -even as the duke had before declared to his soldiers, they within -were compelled to turn their shot that lay at the entry against the -assailants. With that issued the duke, and with him about fifteen or -sixteen thousand men or more, and secretly in the night, his enemies -being not privy of his coming until he was entered the field. And at -his first entry he was master of all the ordnance that lay there, and -slew the gunners; and charged the said pieces and bent them against his -enemies, [of] whom he slew wondrously a great number. He cut down tents -and pavilions, and murdered them within them, or they wist of [his] -coming, suspecting nothing less than the duke's entry; so that he won -the field or ever the king could arise to the rescue: who was taken -in his lodging or ever he was armed. And when the duke had obtained -the field, and the French king taken prisoner, his men slain, and his -tents robbed and spoiled, which were wondrous rich. And in the spoil, -searching of the king's treasure in his coffers there was found among -them the league newly concluded between the King of England and the -French king, under the great seal of England; which once by [the duke] -perceived, he began to smell the impediment of his money which should -have come to him from the king. Having upon due search of this matter -further intelligence that all this matter and his utter undoing was -concluded and devised by the Cardinal of England, the duke conceived -such an indignation hereupon against the cardinal, that after he had -established all things there in good order and security, he went -incontinent unto Rome, intending there to sack the town, and to have -taken the pope prisoner: where, at his first assault of the walls, -he was the first man that was there slain. Yet, notwithstanding, his -captains continued there the assault, and in conclusion won the town, -and the pope fled unto Castle Angell, where he continued long after in -great calamity. - -I have written thus this history at large because it was thought that -the cardinal gave the chief occasion of all this mischief[104]. Ye may -perceive what thing soever a man purposeth, be he prince or prelate, -yet notwithstanding God disposeth all things at his will and pleasure. -Wherefore it is great folly for any wise man to take any weighty -enterprise of himself, trusting altogether to his own wit, not calling -for grace to assist him in all his proceedings. - -I have known and seen in my days that princes and great men [who] -would either assemble at any parliament, or in any other great -business, first would most reverently call to God for his gracious -assistance therein. And now I see the contrary. Wherefore me seems that -they trust more in their own wisdoms and imaginations than they do to -God's help and disposition; and therefore often they speed thereafter, -and their matters take no success. Therefore not only in this history, -but in divers others, ye may perceive right evident examples. And -yet I see no man almost in authority or high estate regard or have -any respect to the same; the greater is the pity, and the more to be -lamented. Now will I desist from this matter and proceed to other. - -Upon the taking of the French king, many consultations and divers -opinions were then in argument among the council here in England. -Whereof some held opinion that if the king would invade the realm of -France in proper person, with a puissant army royal, he might easily -conquer the same; considering that the French king, and the most part -of the noble peers of France, were then prisoners with the emperor. -Some again said how that were no honour for the king our sovereign -lord, (the king being in captivity). But some said that the French -king ought by the law of arms to be the king's prisoner, forasmuch as -he was taken by the king's champion and general captain, the Duke of -Bourbon, and not by the emperor. So that some moved the king to take -war thereupon with the emperor, unless he would deliver the French king -out of his hands and possession; with divers many other imaginations -and inventions, even as men's fantasies served them, too long here to -be rehearsed: the which I leave to the writers of chronicles. - -Thus continuing long in debating upon the matter, and every man in the -court had their talk, as will without wit led their fantasies; at the -last it was devised by means of divers embassies sent into England out -of the realm of France, desiring the king our sovereign lord to take -order with the emperor for the French king's deliverance, as his royal -wisdom should seem good, wherein the cardinal bare the stroke; so that -after long deliberation and advice taken in this matter, it was thought -good by the cardinal that the emperor should redeliver out of his ward -the French king, upon sufficient pledges. And that the king's two sons, -that is to say, the Dolphin and the Duke of Orleans should be delivered -in hostage for the king their father; which was in conclusion brought -to pass. - -After the king's deliverance out of the emperor's bondage, and his -two sons received in hostage to the emperor's use, and the king our -sovereign lord's security for the recompense of all such demands and -restitutions as should be demanded of the French king, the cardinal, -lamenting the French king's calamity, and the pope's great adversity, -who yet remained in castle Angell, either as a prisoner, or else for -his defence and safeguard (I cannot tell whether), travailed all that -he could[105] with the king and his council to take order as well for -the delivery of the one as for the quietness of the other. At last, -as ye have heard here before, how divers of the great estates and -lords of the council lay in a-wait with my Lady Anne Boleyn, to espy -a convenient time and occasion to take the cardinal in a brake[106]; -[they] thought then, now is the time come that we have expected, -supposing it best to cause him to take upon him the king's commission, -and to travel beyond the seas in this matter, saying, to encourage -him thereto, that it were more meet for his high discretion, wit, and -authority, to compass and bring to pass a perfect peace among these -great and most mighty princes of the world than any other within this -realm or elsewhere. Their intent and purpose was only but to get him -out of the king's daily presence, and to convey him out of the realm, -that they might have convenient leisure and opportunity to adventure -their long desired enterprise, and by the aid of their chief mistress, -my Lady Anne, to deprave him so unto the king in his absence, that he -should be rather in his high displeasure than in his accustomed favour, -or at the least to be in less estimation with his majesty. Well! what -will you have more? This matter was so handled that the cardinal was -commanded to prepare himself to this journey; the which he was fain -to take upon him; but whether it was with his good will or no, I am -not well able to tell you. But this I know, that he made a short abode -after the determined resolution thereof, but caused all things to be -prepared onward toward his journey. And every one of his servants were -appointed that should attend upon him in the same. - -[Illustration: _Etched by I Harris Jun^r._ - -CARDINAL WOLSEY AND HIS SUITE IN PROGRESS. - -_From a M.S. in the Collection of Francis Douce Esq.^r F.S.A._ - -_Published by Harding, Triphook, & Lepard, 1824._] - - -When all things were fully concluded, and for this noble embassy -provided and furnished, then was no lett, but advance forwards in -the name of God. My Lord Cardinal had with him such of the lords and -bishops and other worthy persons as were not privy of the conspiracy. - -Then marched he forward out of his own house at Westminster, passing -through all London[107], over London Bridge, having before him of -gentlemen a great number, three in a rank, in black velvet livery -coats, and the most part of them with great chains of gold about their -necks. And all his yeomen, with noblemen's and gentlemen's servants -following him in French tawny livery coats; having embroidered upon the -backs and breasts of the said coats these letters: T. and C., under -the cardinal's hat. His sumpter mules, which were twenty in number and -more, with his carts and other carriages of his train, were passed on -before, conducted and guarded with a great number of bows and spears. -He rode like a cardinal, very sumptuously, on a mule trapped with -crimson velvet upon velvet, and his stirrups of copper, and gilt; and -his spare mule following him with like apparel. And before him he had -his two great crosses of silver, two great pillars of silver, the great -seal of England, his cardinal's hat, and a gentleman that carried his -valaunce, otherwise called a cloakbag; which was made altogether of -fine scarlet cloth, embroidered over and over with cloth of gold very -richly, having in it a cloak of fine scarlet. Thus passed he through -London, and all the way of his journey, having his harbingers passing -before to provide lodging for his train. - -The first journey he made to Dartford in Kent, unto Sir Richard -Wiltshire's house, which is two miles beyond Dartford; where all his -train were lodged that night, and in the country thereabouts. The next -day he rode to Rochester, and lodged in the bishop's palace there; -and the rest of his train in the city, and in Stroud on this side the -bridge. The third day he rode from thence to Feversham, and there -was lodged in the abbey, and his train in the town, and some in the -country thereabouts. The fourth day he rode to Canterbury, where he -was encountered with the worshipfullest of the town and country, and -lodged in the abbey of Christchurch, in the prior's lodging. And all -his train in the city, where he continued three or four days; in which -time there was the great jubilee, and a fair in honour of the feast -of St. Thomas their patron. In which day of the said feast, within -the abbey there was made a solemn procession; and my Lord Cardinal -went presently in the same, apparelled in his legantine ornaments, -with his Cardinal's hat on his head; who commanded the monks and all -their quire to sing the litany after this sort, _Sancta Maria ora pro -papa nostro Clemente_; and so perused the litany through, my Lord -Cardinal kneeling at the quire door, at a form covered with carpets and -cushions. The monks and all the quire standing all that while in the -midst of the body of the church. At which time I saw the Lord Cardinal -weep very tenderly; which was, as we supposed, for heaviness that the -pope was at that present in such calamity and great danger of the Lance -Knights[108]. - -The next day I was sent with letters from my Lord Cardinal unto -Calais, by empost, insomuch as I was that same night at Calais. And -at my landing I found standing upon the pier, without [the] Lantern -Gate, all the council of the town, to whom I delivered and dispatched -my message and letters or ever I entered the town; where I lay two -days or my lord came thither; who arrived in the haven the second day -after my coming, about eight of the clock in the morning: where he was -received in procession with all the worshipfullest persons of the town -in most solemn wise. And in the Lantern Gate was set for him a form, -with carpets and cushions, whereat he kneeled and made his prayers -before his entry any further in the town; and there he was censed -with two great censers of silver, and sprinkled with holy water. That -done he arose up and passed on, with all that assembly before him, -singing, unto St. Mary's church, where he standing at the high altar, -turning himself to the people, gave them his benediction and clean -remission. And then they conducted him from thence unto a house called -the Checker, where he lay and kept his house as long as he abode in -the town; going immediately to his naked bed, because he was somewhat -troubled with sickness in his passage upon the seas. - -That night, unto this place of the Checker, resorted to him Mons. du -Biez, captain of Boulogne, with a number of gallant gentlemen, who -dined with him; and after some consultation with the cardinal, he with -the rest of the gentlemen departed again to Boulogne. Thus the cardinal -was daily visited with one or other of the French nobility. - -Then when all his train and his carriages were landed at Calais, and -every thing prepared in a readiness for his journey, he called before -him all his noblemen and gentlemen into his privy chamber; where -they being assembled, [he] said unto them in this wise in effect: -"I have called you hither to this intent, to declare unto you, that -I considering the diligence that ye minister unto me, and the good -will that I bear you again for the same, intending to remember your -diligent service hereafter, in place where ye shall receive condign -thanks and rewards. And also I would show you further what authority -I have received directly from the king's highness; and to instruct -you somewhat of the nature of the French men; and then to inform you -what reverence ye shall use unto me for the high honour of the king's -majesty, and also how ye shall entertain the French men, whensoever -ye shall meet at any time. First, ye shall understand that the king's -majesty, upon certain weighty considerations, hath for the more -advancement of his royal dignity, assigned me in this journey to be -his lieutenant-general; and what reverence belongeth to the same I -will tell you. That for my part I must, by virtue of my commission of -lieutenantship, assume and take upon me, in all honours and degrees, -to have all such service and reverence as to his highness' presence -is meet and due: and nothing thereof to be neglected or omitted by me -that to his royal estate is appurtenant. And for my part ye shall see -me that I will not omit one jot thereof. Therefore, because ye shall -not be ignorant in that behalf, is one of the special causes of this -your assembly, willing and commanding you as ye entend my favour not -to forget the same in time and place, but every of you do observe this -information and instruction as ye will at my return avoid the king's -indignation, but to obtain his highness' thanks, the which I will -further for you as ye shall deserve. - -"Now to the point of the Frenchmen's nature, ye shall understand that -their disposition is such, that they will be at the first meeting as -familiar with you as they had been acquainted with you long before, and -commune with you in the French tongue as though ye understood every -word they spake: therefore in like manner, be ye as familiar with them -again as they be with you. If they speak to you in the French tongue, -speak you to them in the English tongue; for if you understand not -them, they shall no more understand you." And my lord speaking merrily -to one of the gentlemen there, being a Welshman, "Rice," quoth he, -"speak thou Welsh to him, and I am well assured that thy Welsh shall be -more diffuse[109] to him than his French shall be to thee." And then -quoth he again to us all, "let all your entertainment and behaviour -be according to all gentleness and humanity, that it may be reported, -after your departure from thence, that ye be gentlemen of right good -behaviour, and of much gentleness, and that ye be men that know your -duty to your sovereign lord, and to your master, allowing much your -great reverence. Thus shall ye not only obtain to yourselves great -commendation and praise for the same, but also advance the honour of -your prince and country. Now go your ways admonished of all these -points, and prepare yourselves against to-morrow, for then we intend, -God willing, to set forward." And thus, we being by him instructed and -informed, departed to our lodgings, making all things in a readiness -against the next day to advance forth with my lord. - -The next morrow, being Mary Magdalen's day, all things being furnished, -my Lord Cardinal rode out of Calais with such a number of black velvet -coats as hath not been seen with an ambassador. All the spears of -Calais, Guines, and Hammes, were there attending upon him in that -journey, in black velvet coats, and many great and massy chains of gold -were worn there. - -Thus passed he forth with three gentlemen in a rank, which occupied the -length of three quarters of a mile or more, having all his accustomed -and glorious furniture carried before him, as I before have rehearsed, -except the broad seal, the which was left with Doctor Taylor, in -Calais, then Master of the Rolls, until his return[110]. - -Passing thus on his way, and being scant a mile of his journey, it -began to rain so vehemently that I have not seen the like for the time; -that endured until we came to Boulogne; and or we came to Sandyngfeld, -the Cardinal of Loraine, a goodly young gentleman, encountered my -lord, and received him with great reverence and joy; and so passed -forth together, until they came to Sandyngfeld, which is a place of -religion, standing between the French, English, and the Emperor's -dominions, being neuter, holding of neither of them. And being come -thither, met with him there Le Countie Brion, Captain of Picardy, with -a great number of men of arms, as Stradiots and Arbenois[111] with -others standing in array, in a great piece of oats, all in harness, -upon light horses, passing with my lord, as it were in a wing, all his -journey through Picardy; for my lord somewhat doubted the emperor, lest -he would lay an ambush to betray him; for which cause the French king -commanded them to await upon my lord for the assurance of his person -out of the danger of his enemies. Thus rode he accompanied until he -came to the town of Boulogne, where he was encountered within a mile -thereof, with the worshipfullest citizens of the town, having among -them a learned man, that made to him an oration in Latin; unto the -which my lord made answer semblably in Latin. And that done, Monsieur -du Biez, Captain of Boulogne, with the retinue there of gentlemen, -met him on horseback; which conveyed him into the town with all this -assembly, until he came to the abbey gate, where he lighted and went -directly into the church, and made his prayers before the image of our -Lady, to whom he made his offering. And that done, he gave there his -blessing to the people, with certain days of pardon[112]. Then went he -into the abbey where he was lodged, and his train were lodged in the -high and basse towns. - -The next morning, after he heard mass, he rode unto _Montreuil sur la -mer_, where he was encountered in like case as he was the day before, -with the worshipfullest of the town, all in one livery, having one -learned that made an oration before him in Latin, whom he answered in -like manner in Latin; and as he entered in to the town, there was a -canopy of silk embroidered with the letters and hat that was on the -servants coats, borne over him [by] the persons of most estimation -within the town. And when he was alighted his footmen seized the same -as a fee due to their office. Now was there made divers pageants for -joy of his coming, who was called there, and in all other places within -the realm of France as he travelled, _Le Cardinal Pacifique_; and in -Latin _Cardinalis Pacificus_. [He] was accompanied all that night with -divers worthy gentlemen of the country there about[113]. - -The next day he rode toward Abbeville, where he was encountered with -divers gentlemen of the town and country, and so conveyed unto the -town, where he was most honourably received with pageants of divers -kinds, wittily and costly invented, standing in every corner of the -streets as he rode through the town; having a like canopy borne over -him, being of more richer sort than the other at Montreuil, or at -Boulogne was; they brought him to his lodging, which was, as it seemed, -a very fair house newly built with brick. At which house King Louis -married my Lady Mary, King Henry the VIIIth sister; which was after -married to the Duke of Suffolk, Charles Brandon. And being within, it -was in manner of a gallery, yet notwithstanding it was very necessary. -In this house my lord remained eight or ten days; to whom resorted, -daily, divers of the council of France, feasting them, and other noble -men, and gentlemen that accompanied the council, both at dinners and -suppers. - -Then when the time came that he should depart from thence, he rode to a -castle beyond the waters of Somme, called Pincquigny Castle, adjoining -unto the said water, standing upon a great rock or hill, within the -which was a goodly college of priests; the situation whereof was most -like unto the castle of Windsor in England; and there he was received -with a solemn procession, conveying him first into the church, and -after unto his lodging within the castle. At this castle King Edward -the Fourth met with the French king, upon the bridge that goeth over -the water of Somme, as ye may read in the chronicles of England. - -When my lord was settled within his lodging, it was reported unto -me that the French king should come that day into Amiens, which was -within six English miles of Pincquigny Castle; and being desirous to -see his first coming into the town, [I] axed license and took with -me one or two gentlemen of my lord's, and rode incontinent thither, -as well to provide me of a necessary lodging as to see the king. And -when we came thither, being but strangers, [we] took up our inn (for -the time) at the sign of the Angel, directly against the west door of -the cathedral church _de notre Dame Sainte Marie_. And after we had -dined there, tarrying until three or four of the clock, expecting the -king's coming, in came Madame Regent, the king's mother, riding in -a very rich chariot; and in the same with her was her daughter, the -Queen of Navarre, furnished with a hundred ladies and gentlewomen or -more following, riding upon white palfreys; over and besides divers -other ladies and gentlewomen that rode some in rich chariots, and some -in horse litters; who lighted at the west door with all this train, -accompanied with many other noblemen and gentlemen besides her guard, -which was not small in number. Then, within two hours after, the king -came into the town with a great shot of guns and divers pageants, made -for the nonce at the king's _bien venue_; having about his person both -before him and behind him, besides the wonderful number of noblemen and -gentlemen, three great guards diversely apparelled. The _first_ was of -Soutches[114] and Burgonyons, with guns and havresacks. The _second_ -was of Frenchmen, some with bows and arrows, and some with bills. The -_third_ guard was _pour le corps_, which was of tall Scots, much more -comelier persons than all the rest. The French guard and the Scots had -all one livery, which was rich coats of fine white cloth, with a guard -of silver bullion embroidered an handful broad. The king came riding -upon a goodly genet, and lighted at the west door of the said church, -and so [was] conveyed into the church up to the high altar, where he -made his prayers upon his knees, and [was] then conveyed into the -bishop's palace, where he was lodged, and also his mother. - -The next morning I rode again to Pincquigny to attend upon my lord, -at which time my lord was ready to take his mule towards Amiens; and -passing on his journey thitherward, he was encountered from place to -place with divers noble and worthy personages, making to him divers -orations in Latin, to which he made answer again _extempore_; at whose -excellent learning and pregnant wit they wondered very much. Then was -word brought my lord that the king was coming to encounter him; with -that, he having none other shift, was compelled to alight in an old -chapel that stood by the high way, and there newly apparelled him into -more richer apparel; and then mounted upon a new mule very richly -trapped, with a footcloth and traps of crimson velvet upon velvet, -purled with gold, and fringed about with a deep fringe of gold very -costly, his stirrups of silver and gilt, the bosses and cheeks of his -bridle of the same[115]. And by that time that he was mounted again -after this most gorgeous sort, the king was come very near, within -less than a quarter of a mile English, mustering upon an hill side, his -guard standing in array along the same, expecting my lord's coming; to -whom my lord made as much haste as conveniently it became him; until -he came within a pair of butt lengths, and there he staid awhile. The -king perceiving that, stood still; and having two worthy gentlemen -young and lusty [with him], both brethren to the Duke of Lorraine, and -to the Cardinal of Lorraine; whereof one of them was called Monsieur -de Guise, and the other Monsieur Vaudemont: they were both apparelled -like the king, in purple velvet lined with cloth of silver, and their -coats cut, the king caused Monsieur Vaudemont to issue from him, and to -ride unto my lord to know the cause of his tracting. [This monsieur] -rode upon a fair courser, taking his race in a full gallop, even until -he came unto my lord; and there caused his horse to come aloft once -or twice so nigh my lord's mule, that he was in doubt of his horse; -and with that he lighted from his courser, and doing his message to -my lord with humble reverence; which done, he mounted again, and -caused his horse to do the same at his departing as he did before, and -so repaired again to the king; and, after his answer made, the king -advanced forward. That seeing my lord did the like, and in the mid -way they met, embracing each other on horseback, with most amiable -countenance entertaining each other right nobly. Then drew into the -place all noblemen and gentlemen on both sides, with wonderful cheer -made one to another, as they had been of an old acquaintance. The -prease was such and [so] thick, that divers had their legs hurt with -horses. Then the king's officers cried "_Marche, marche, devant, allez -devant._" And the king, and my Lord Cardinal on his right hand, rode -together to Amiens, every English gentleman accompanied with another -of France. The train of French and English endured two long miles, -that is to say from the place of their encounter unto Amiens; where -they were very nobly received with shot of guns and costly pageants, -until the king had brought my lord to his lodging, and there departed -asunder for that night, the king being lodged in the bishop's palace. -The next day after dinner, my lord with a great train of noblemen and -gentlemen of England, rode unto the king's court; at which time the -king kept his bed, being somewhat diseased, yet notwithstanding my lord -came into his bedchamber, where sat on the one side of his bed his -mother, Madam Regent, and on the other side the Cardinal of Lorraine, -with divers other noblemen of France. And after a short communication, -and drinking of a cup of wine with the king's mother, my lord departed -again to his lodging, accompanied with divers gentlemen and noblemen -of France, who supped with him. Thus continued the king and my lord in -Amiens the space of two weeks and more, consulting[116] and feasting -each other divers times. [And in the feast of the Assumption of our -Lady, my lord rose betimes and went to the cathedral church _de notre -Dame_, and there before my Lady Regent and the Queen of Navarre, in -our Lady Chapel, he said his service and mass; and after mass, he -himself ministered the sacrament unto my Lady Regent and to the Queen -of Navarre. And that done, the king resorted unto the church, and was -conveyed into a rich travers at the high altar; and directly against -him, on the other side of the altar, sat my Lord Cardinal in another -rich travers[117], three gressis[118] higher than the king's. And -at the altar, before them both, a bishop sang high mass, and at the -fraction of the host the same bishop divided the sacrament between -the king and the cardinal, for the performance of the peace concluded -between them; which mass was sung solemnly by the king's chapel, having -among them cornets and sackbuts. And after mass was done the trumpeters -blew in the roodeloft[119] until the king was past inward to his -lodging out of the church. And at his coming in to the bishop's palace, -where he intended to dine with my Lord Cardinal, there sat, within a -cloister, about two hundred persons diseased with the king's evil, upon -their knees. And the king, or ever he went to dinner, provised every -of them with rubbing and blessing them with his bare hands, being bare -headed all the while; after whom followed his almoner distributing of -money unto the persons diseased. And that done he said certain prayers -over them, and then washed his hands, and so came up into his chamber -to dinner, where as my lord dined with him[120].] - -Then it was determined that the king and my lord should remove out of -Amiens, and so they did, to a town or city called Compeigne, which -was more than twenty English miles from thence; unto which town I was -sent to prepare my lord's lodging. And as I rode on my journey, being -upon a Friday, my horse chanced to cast a shoe in a little village, -where stood a fair castle. And as it chanced there dwelt a smith, to -whom I commanded my servant to carry my horse to shoe, and standing -by him while my horse was a shoeing, there came to me one of the -servants of the castle, perceiving me to be the cardinal's servant and -an Englishman, who required me to go with him into the castle to my -lord his master, whom he thought would be very glad of my coming and -company. Whose request I granted, because that I was always desirous to -see and be acquainted with strangers, in especial with men in honour -and authority, so I went with him; who conducted me unto the castle, -and being entered in the first ward, the watchmen of that ward, being -very honest tall men, came and saluted me most reverently, and knowing -the cause of my coming, desired me to stay a little while until they -had advertised my lord their master of my being there; and so I did. -And incontinent the lord of the castle came out to me, who was called -Monsieur Crequi, a nobleman born, and very nigh of blood to King Louis, -the last king that reigned before this King Francis. And at his first -coming he embraced me, saying that I was right heartily welcome, and -thanked me that I so gently would visit him and his castle, saying -furthermore that he was preparing to encounter the king and my lord, to -desire them most humbly the next day to take his castle in their way, -if he could so intreat them. And true it is that he was ready to ride -in a coat of velvet with a pair of velvet arming shoes on his feet, and -a pair of gilt spurs on his heels. Then he took me by the hand, and -most gently led me into his castle, through another ward. And being -once entered into the base court of the castle, I saw all his family -and household servants standing in goodly order, in black coats and -gowns, like mourners, who led me into the hall, which was hanged with -hand-guns, as thick as one could hang by another upon the walls; and -in the hall stood an hawk's perch, whereon stood three or four fair -goshawks. Then went we into the parlour, which was hanged with fine -old arras, and being there but a while, communing together of my lord -of Suffolk, how he was there to have besieged the same, his servants -brought to him bread and wine of divers sorts, whereof he caused me -to drink. And after, "I will," quoth he, "show you the strength of my -house, how hard it would have been for my Lord of Suffolk to have won -it." Then led he me upon the walls, which were very strong, more than -fifteen foot thick, and well garnished with great battery pieces of -ordnance ready charged to [be] shot off against the king and my lord's -coming. - -When he had showed me all the walls and bulwarks about the castle, he -descended from the walls, and came down into a fair inner court, where -his genet stood for to mount upon, with twelve other genets, the most -fairest and best that ever I saw, and in especial his own, which was -a mare genet, he showed me that he might have had for her four hundred -crowns. But upon the other twelve genets were mounted twelve goodly -young gentlemen, called pages of honour; all bare headed in coats of -cloth of gold, and black velvet cloaks, and on their legs boots of red -Spanish leather, and spurs parcel gilt. - -Then he took his leave of me, commanding his steward and other his -gentlemen to attend upon me, and conduct me unto my lady his wife, to -dinner. And that done he mounted upon his genet, and took his journey -forth out of his castle. Then the steward, with the rest of the -gentlemen, led me up into a tower in the gatehouse, where then my lady -their mistress lay, for the time that the king and my lord should tarry -there. - -I being in a fair great dining chamber, where the table was covered -for dinner, and there I attended my lady's coming; and after she came -thither out of her own chamber, she received me most gently, like [one -of] noble estate, having a train of twelve gentlewomen. And when she -with her train came all out, she said to me, "For as much," quoth she, -"as ye be an Englishman, whose custom is in your country to kiss[121] -all ladies and gentlewomen without offence, and although it be not so -here in this realm, yet will I be so bold to kiss you, and so shall -all my maidens." By means whereof I kissed my lady and all her women. -Then went she to her dinner, being as nobly served as I have seen any -of her estate here in England, having all the dinner time with me -pleasant communication, which was of the usage and behaviour of our -gentlewomen and gentlemen of England, and commended much the behaviour -of them, right excellently; for she was with the king at Ardres, when -the great encounter and meeting was between the French king and the -king our sovereign lord: at which time she was, both for her person and -goodly haviour, appointed to company with the ladies of England. To be -short, after dinner, pausing a little, I took my leave of her, and so -departed and rode on my journey. - -By reason of my tracting of time in Chastel de Crequi[122], I -was constrained that night to lye in a town by the way, called -_Montdidier_, the suburbs whereof my Lord of Suffolk had lately burned. -And in the next morning I took my journey and came to Compeigne upon -the Saturday, then being there the market day; and at my first coming -I took my inn in the midst of the market-place, and being there set at -dinner in a fair chamber, that had a window looking into the street, I -heard a great rumour and clattering of bills. With that I looked out -into the street, and there I espied where the officers of the town -brought a prisoner to execution, whose head they strake off with a -sword. And when I demanded the cause of his offence, it was answered -me, that it was for killing of a red deer in the forest thereby, the -punishment whereof is but death. Incontinent they had set up the poor -man's head upon a pole in the market-place, between the stag's horns; -and his quarters in four parts of the forest. - -Thus went I about to prepare my lord's lodging, and to see it -furnished, which was there in the great castle of the town, whereof to -my lord was assigned the one half, and the other half was reserved for -the king; and in like wise there was a long gallery divided between -them, wherein was made in the midst thereof a strong wall with a door -and window, and there the king and my lord would many times meet at the -same window, and secretly talk together, and divers times they would go -the one to the other, at the said door. - -Now was there lodged also Madame Regent, the king's mother, and all her -train of ladies and gentlewomen. Unto which place the Chancellor of -France came (a very witty man), with all the king's grave counsellors, -who took great pains daily in consultation. In so much as I heard my -Lord Cardinal fall out with the Chancellor, laying unto his charge, -that he went about to hinder the league which my said Lord Cardinal had -before his coming concluded between the king our sovereign lord and -the French king his master; insomuch that my lord stomached the matter -very stoutly, and told him, "That it should not lie in his power to -dissolve the amicable fidelity between them. And if his master the king -being there present forsook his promise and followed his counsel, he -should not fail after his return into England to feel the smart, and -what a thing it is to break promise with the King of England, whereof -he should be well assured." And therewithal he arose and went into -his own lodging, wondrously offended. So that his stout countenance, -and bold words, made them all in doubt how to pacify his displeasure, -and revoke him again to the council, who was then departed in a fury. -There was sending, there was coming, there was also intreating, and -there was great submission made to him, to reduce him to his former -friendly communication; who would in no wise relent until Madame Regent -came herself, who handled the matter so discreetly and wittily, that -she reconciled him to his former communication. And by that means he -brought other matters to pass, that before he could not attain, nor -cause the council to grant; which was more for fear, than for any -affection to the matter, he had the heads of all the council so under -his girdle that he might rule them all there as well as he might the -council of England. - -The next morning after this conflict, he rose early, about four of -the clock, sitting down to write letters into England unto the king, -commanding one of his chaplains to prepare him to mass, insomuch that -his said chaplain stood revested until four of the clock at afternoon; -all which season my lord never rose once to ----, ne yet to eat any -meat, but continually wrote his letters, with his own hands, having -all that time his nightcap and keverchief on his head. And about the -hour of four of the clock, at afternoon, he made an end of writing, -conmanding one Christopher Gunner, the king's servant, to prepare him -without delay to ride empost into England with his letters, whom he -dispatched away or ever he drank. And that done, he went to mass, and -said his other divine service with his chaplain, as he was accustomed -to do; and then went straight into a garden; and after he had walked -the space of an hour or more, and said his evensong[123], he went to -dinner and supper all at once; and making a small repast, he went to -his bed, to take his rest for that night. - -The next night following he caused a great supper to be provided for -Madame Regent, and the Queen of Navarre, and other great estates of -ladies and noble women. - -There was also Madame Reneé, one of the daughters of King Louis, whose -sister, (lately dead), King Francis had married. These sisters were, by -their mother, inheritrices of the Duchy of Britanny, and for as much -as the king had married one of the sisters, by whom he had the moiety -of the said duchy, and to attain the other moiety, and so to be lord -of the whole, he kept the said Lady Reneé without marriage, intending -that, she having none issue, the whole duchy might descend to him, or -to his succession, after her death, for want of issue of her body. - -But now let us return again to the supper or rather a solemn banquet, -where all these noble persons were highly feasted; and in the midst of -their triumph, the French king, with the king of Navarre, came suddenly -in upon them unknown, who took their places at the nether end of the -table. There was not only plenty of fine meats, but also much mirth and -solace, as well in communication, as in instruments of music set forth -with my lord's minstrels, who played there so cunningly and dulce all -that night, that the king took therein great pleasure, insomuch that he -desired my lord to lend them unto him the next night. And after supper -and banquet finished, the ladies and gentlewomen went to dancing; among -whom one Madame Fountaine, a maid, had the prize. And thus passed they -the night in pleasant mirth and joy. - -The next day the king took my lord's minstrels and rode unto a -nobleman's house, where was some goodly image that he had avowed a -pilgrimage unto, to perform his devotion. When he came there, he -danced, and others with him, the most part of that night; my lord's -minstrels played there so excellently all that night, that the -shalme--[124], (whether it were with extreme labour of blowing, or -with poisoning, as some judged, because they were more commended and -accepted with the king than his own, I cannot tell), but he that played -upon the shalme, an excellent man in that art, died within a day or -twain after. - -Then the king returned again unto Compeigne, and caused a wild boar -to be lodged for him in the forest there; whither my lord rode with -the king to the hunting of the wild swine within a toil; where the -Lady Regent stood in chariots or wagons, looking on the toil, on the -outside thereof, accompanied with many ladies and damosels; among whom -my lord stood by the Lady Regent, to regard and behold the pastime and -manner of hunting. There was within the toil divers goodly gentlemen -with the king, ready garnished to this high enterprise and dangerous -hunting of the perilous wild swine. The king being in his doublet and -hosen only, without any other garments, all of sheep's colour cloth; -his hosen, from the knee upward, was altogether thrummed with silk very -thick of the same colour: having in a slip a fair brace of great white -greyhounds, armed, as the manner is to arm their greyhounds from the -violence of the boar's tusks. And all the rest of the king's gentlemen, -being appointed to hunt this boar, were likewise in their doublets and -hosen, holding each of them in their hands a very sharp boar's spear. - -The king being thus furnished, commanded the hunts to uncouch the -boar, and that every other person should go to a standing, among whom -were divers gentlemen and yeomen of England; and incontinent the boar -issued out of his den, chased with an hound into the plain, and being -there, stalked a while gazing upon the people, and incontinent being -forced by the hound, he espied a little bush standing upon a bank over -a ditch, under the which lay two lusty gentlemen of France, and thither -fled the boar, to defend him, thrusting his head snuffing into the same -bush where these two gentlemen lay, who fled with such speed as men do -from the danger of death. Then was the boar by violence and pursuit of -the hounds and the hunts driven from thence, and ran straight to one of -my lord's footmen, a very comely person, and an hardy, who held in his -hand an English javelin, with the which he was fain to defend himself -from the fierce assault of the boar, who foined at him continually -with his great tusks, whereby he was compelled at the last to pitch -his javelin in the ground between him and the boar, the which the -boar brake with his force of foining. And with that the yeoman drew -his sword, and stood at defence; and with that the hunts came to the -rescue, and put him once again to flight. With that he fled and ran -to another young gentleman of England, called Master Ratcliffe, son -and heir to the Lord Fitzwalter, and after[125] Earl of Sussex, who -by chance had borrowed of a French gentleman a fine boar spear, [very -sharp, upon whom, the boar being sore chafed, began to assault very -eagerly, and the young gentleman deliverly avoided his strokes, and -in turning about he struck the boar with such violence (with the same -spear that he had borrowed) upon the houghs, that he cut the sinews -of both his legs at one stroke, that the boar was constrained to sit -down upon his haunches and defend himself, for he could go no more; -this gentleman perceiving then his most advantage, thrust his spear -into the boar under the shoulder up to the heart, and thus he slew the -great boar. Wherefore among the noblemen of France it was reputed to be -one of the noblest enterprises that a man might do (as though he had -slain a man of arms); and thus our Master Ratcliffe bare then away the -prize of that feat of hunting, this dangerous and royal pastime, in -killing of the wild boar, whose tusks the Frenchman doth most commonly -doubt above all other dangers, as it seemed to us Englishmen then being -present.] - -[In this time of my lord's being in France, over and besides his -noble entertainment with the king and nobles, he sustained diverse -displeasures of the French slaves, that devised a certain book, which -was set forth in diverse articles upon the causes of my lord's being -there: which should be, as they surmised, that my lord was come thither -to conclude two marriages; the one between the king our sovereign -lord and Madame Reneé[126], of whom I spake heretofore; and the other -between the then princess of England, (now being queen of this realm) -my Lady Mary the king's daughter and the French king's second son, the -Duke of Orleans, who is at this present king of France: with diverse -other conclusions and agreements touching the same. Of this book many -were imprinted and conveyed into England, unknown to my lord, [he] -being then in France, to the great slander of the realm of England, and -of my Lord Cardinal. But whether they were devised of policy to pacify -the mutterings of the people, which had diverse communications and -imaginations of my lord's being there; or whether [they] were devised -of some malicious person, as the dispositions of the common people -are accustomed to do, upon such secret consultations, I know not; but -whatsoever the occasion or cause was, the author hath set forth such -books. This I am well assured, that after my lord was thereof well -advertised, and had perused one of the said books, he was not a little -offended, and assembled all the privy council of France together, to -whom he spake his mind thus; saying, that it was not only a suspicion -in them, but also a great rebuke and a defamation to the king's -honour to see and know any such seditious untruths openly divulged -and set forth by any malicious and subtle traitor of this realm; -saying furthermore, that if the like had been attempted within the -realm of England, he doubted not but to see it punished according to -the traitorous demeanour and deserts. Notwithstanding I saw but small -redress[127]]. - -So this was one of the displeasures that the Frenchmen showed him, for -all his pains and travail that he took for qualifying of their king's -ransom. - -Also another displeasure was this. There was no place where he was -lodged after he entered the territory of France, but that he was robbed -in his privy chamber, either of one thing or other; and at Compeigne he -lost his standish of silver, and gilt: and there it was espied, and the -party taken, which was but a little boy of twelve or thirteen years of -age, a ruffian's page of Paris, which haunted my lord's lodging without -any suspicion, until he was taken lying under my lord's privy stairs; -upon which occasion he was apprehended and examined, and incontinent -confessed all things that were missed, which he stole, and brought to -his master the ruffian, who received the same, and procured him so -to do. After the spial of this boy, my lord revealed the same unto -the council, by means whereof the ruffian was apprehended, and set on -the pillory, in the midst of the market-place; a goodly recompense -for such an heinous offence. Also another displeasure was; some lewd -person, whosoever it was, had engraved in the great chamber window -where my lord lay, upon the leaning stone there, a cardinal's hat with -a pair of gallows over it, in derision of my lord; with divers other -unkind demeanours, the which I leave here to write, they be matters so -slanderous. - -Thus passing divers days in consultation, expecting the return of -Christopher Gunner, which was sent into England with letters unto the -king, as it is rehearsed heretofore, by empost, who at last returned -again with other letters; upon receipt whereof my lord made haste to -return into England. - -In the morning that my lord should depart and remove, being then at -mass in his closet, he consecrated the Chancellor of France a cardinal, -and put upon him the habit due to that order; and then took his journey -into Englandward, making such necessary expedition that he came to -Guisnes, where he was nobly received of my Lord Sands, then captain -there, with all the retinue thereof. And from thence he rode to Calais, -where he tarried the shipping of his stuff, horses, and train; and in -the meantime he established there a mart, to be kept for all nations; -but how long it endured, and in what sort it was used, I know not, for -I never heard of any great good that it did, or of any worthy assembly -there of merchants or merchandise, that was brought thither for the -furniture of so weighty a matter. - -These things finished, and others for the weal of the town, he took -shipping and arrived at Dover, from whence he rode to the king, being -then in his progress at Sir Harry Wyatt's house, in Kent, [it was] -supposed among us that he should be joyfully received at his home -coming, as well of the king as of all other noblemen: but we were -deceived in our expectation. Notwithstanding he went, immediately after -his coming, to the king, with whom he had long talk, and continued -there in the court two or three days; and then returned to his house at -Westminster, where he remained until Michaelmas term, which was within -a fortnight after, and using his room of Chancellorship, as he was wont -to do. - -At which time he caused an assembly to be made in the Star Chamber, of -all the noblemen, judges, and justices of the peace of every shire that -were at that present in Westminster Hall, and there made to them a long -oration, declaring unto them the cause of his embassy into France, and -of his proceeding there; among the which he said, "he had concluded -such an amity and friendship as never was heard of in this realm in -our time before, as well between the emperor and us, as between the -French king and our sovereign lord, concluding a perpetual peace, which -shall be confirmed in writing, alternately, sealed with the broad seals -of both the realms graved in fine gold; affirming furthermore, that the -king should receive yearly his tribute, by that name, for the Duchy of -Normandy, with all other costs which he hath sustained in the wars. And -where there was a restraint made in France of the French queen's dower, -whom the Duke of Suffolk had married, for divers years during the wars, -it is fully concluded, that she shall not only receive the same yearly -again, but also the arrearages being unpaid during the restraint. All -which things shall be perfected at the coming of the great embassy -out of France: in the which shall be a great number of noblemen and -gentlemen for the conclusion of the same, as hath not been seen repair -hither out of one realm in an embassy. This peace thus concluded, there -shall be such an amity between gentlemen of each realm, and intercourse -of merchants with merchandise, that it shall seem to all men the -territories to be but one monarchy. Gentlemen may travel quietly from -one country to another for their recreation and pastime; and merchants, -being arrived in each country, shall be assured to travel about -their affairs in peace and tranquillity: so that this realm shall joy -and prosper for ever. Wherefore it shall be well done for all true -Englishmen to advance and set forth this perpetual peace, both in -countenance and gesture, with such entertainment as it may be a just -occasion unto the Frenchmen to accept the same in good part, and also -to use you with the semblable, and make of the same a noble report in -their countries. - -"Now, good my lords and gentlemen, I most entirely require you in -the king's behalf, that ye will show yourselves herein very loving -and obedient subjects, wherein the king will much rejoice [at] your -towardness, and give to every man his princely thanks for such -liberality and gentleness, as ye or any of you shall minister unto -them." And here he ended his persuasion, and so departed into the -dining chamber, and dined among the lords of the council. - -This great embassy[128], long looked for, was now come over [with -a great retinue], which were in number above fourscore persons, of -the most noblest and worthiest gentlemen in all the court of France, -who were right honourably received from place to place after their -arrival, and so conveyed through London unto the bishop's palace in -Paul's Churchyard, where they were lodged. To whom divers noblemen -resorted and gave them divers goodly presents; and in especial the -Mayor and city of London, as wine, sugar, wax, capons, wild fowl, -beefs, muttons, and other necessaries in great abundance, for the -expenses of their house. Then the next Sunday after their resort to -London, they repaired to the court at Greenwich, and there, by the -king's majesty, most highly received and entertained. They had a -special commission to create and stall the king's highness in the Royal -order of France; for which purpose they brought with them a collar of -fine gold of the order, with a Michael hanging thereat, and robes to -the same appurtenant, the which was wondrous costly and comely, of -purple velvet, richly embroidered; I saw the king in all this apparel -and habit, passing through the chamber of presence unto his closet; -and afterward in the same habit at mass beneath in the chapel. And to -gratify the French king with like honour, [he] sent incontinent unto -[him] the like order of England by a nobleman (the Earl of Wiltshire), -purposely for that intent, to create him one of the same order of -England, accompanied with Garter the Herald, with all robes, garter, -and other habiliments to the same belonging; as costly in every degree -as the other was of the French king's, the which was done before the -return of the great embassy. - -And for the performance of this noble and perpetual peace, it was -concluded and determined that a solemn mass should be sung in the -cathedral church of Paul's by the cardinal; against which time there -was prepared a gallery made from the west door of the church of Paul's -[through the body of the same], unto the quire door, railed on every -side, upon the which stood [vessels] full of perfumes burning. Then -the king and my Lord Cardinal, and all the Frenchmen, with all other -noblemen and gentlemen, were conveyed upon this gallery unto the high -altar into the traverses; then my Lord Cardinal prepared himself -to mass, associated with twenty-four mitres of bishops and abbots, -attending upon him, and to serve him, in such ceremonies as to him, by -virtue of his legatine prerogative, were due. - -And after the last agnus[129], the king rose out of his travers and -kneeled upon a cushion and carpet at the high altar; and the Grand -Master of France, the chief ambassador, that represented the king his -master, kneeled by the king's majesty, between whom my lord divided the -sacrament, as a firm oath and assurance of this perpetual peace. That -done, the king resorted again to his travers, and the Grand Master in -like wise to his. This mass finished, which was sung with the king's -chapel and the quire of Paul's, my Lord Cardinal took the instrument -of this perpetual peace and amity, and read the same openly before the -king and the assembly, both of English and French, to the which the -king subscribed with his own hand, and the Grand Master, for the French -king, in like wise, the which was sealed with seals of fine gold, -engraven, and delivered to each other as their firm deeds; and all this -done and finished they departed. - -The king rode home to the cardinal's house at Westminster, to -dinner, with whom dined all the Frenchmen, passing all day after in -consultation in weighty matters, touching the conclusion of this peace -and amity. That done, the king went again by water to Greenwich; at -whose departing it was determined by the king's device, that the French -gentlemen should resort unto Richmond to hunt there, in every of the -parks, and from thence to Hampton Court, and therein likewise to hunt, -and there my Lord Cardinal to make for them a supper, and lodge them -there that night; and from thence they should ride to Windsor, and -there to hunt, and after their return to London they should resort to -the court, whereas the king would banquet them. And this perfectly -determined, the king and the Frenchmen all departed. - -Then was there no more to do but to make provision at Hampton Court -for this assembly against the day appointed. My Lord Cardinal called -for his principal officers of his house, as his Steward, Comptroller, -and the Clerks of his Kitchen, whom he commanded to prepare for this -banquet at Hampton Court; and neither to spare for expenses or travail, -to make them such triumphant cheer, as they may not only wonder at it -here, but also make a glorious report in their country, to the king's -honour and [that] of this realm. His pleasure once known, to accomplish -his commandment they sent forth all the caterers, purveyors, and other -persons, to prepare of the finest viands that they could get, other for -money or friendship among my lord's friends. Also they sent for all the -expertest cooks, besides my lord's, that they could get in all England, -where they might be gotten, to serve to garnish this feast. - -The purveyors brought and sent in such plenty of costly provision, as -ye would wonder at the same. The cooks wrought both night and day in -divers subtleties and many crafty devices; where lacked neither gold, -silver, ne any other costly thing meet for the purpose. - -The yeomen and grooms of the wardrobes were busied in hanging of the -chambers with costly hangings, and furnishing the same with beds of -silk, and other furniture apt for the same in every degree. Then my -Lord Cardinal sent me, being gentleman usher, with two other of my -fellows, to Hampton Court, to foresee all things touching our rooms, to -be noblily garnished accordingly. Our pains were not small or light, -but traveling daily from chamber to chamber. Then the carpenters, the -joiners, the masons, the painters, and all other artificers necessary -to glorify the house and feast were set at work. There was carriage and -re-carriage of plate, stuff, [and] other rich implements; so that there -was nothing lacking or to be imagined or devised for the purpose. -There were also fourteen score beds provided and furnished with all -manner of furniture to them belonging, too long particularly here to -rehearse. But to all wise men it sufficeth to imagine, that knoweth -what belongeth to the furniture of such triumphant feast or banquet. - -The day was come that to the Frenchmen was assigned, and they ready -assembled at Hampton Court, something before the hour of their -appointment. Wherefore the officers caused them to ride to Hanworth, -a place and park of the king's, within two or three miles, there to -hunt and spend the time until night. At which time they returned -again to Hampton Court, and every of them conveyed to his chamber -severally, having in them great fires and wine ready to refresh them, -remaining there until their supper was ready, and the chambers where -they should sup were ordered in due form. The first waiting-chamber -was hanged with fine arras, and so was all the rest, one better than -an other, furnished with tall yeomen. There was set tables round about -the chamber, banquet-wise, all covered with fine cloths of diaper. A -cupboard of plate, parcel gilt, having also in the same chamber, to -give the more light, four plates of silver, set with lights upon them, -a great fire in the chimney. - -The next chamber, being the chamber of presence, hanged with very rich -arras, wherein was a gorgeous and a precious cloth of estate hanged -up, replenished with many goodly gentlemen ready to serve. The boards -were set as the other boards were in the other chamber before, save -that the high table was set and removed beneath the cloth of estate, -towards the midst of the chamber, covered with fine linen cloths of -damask work, sweetly perfumed. There was a cupboard made, for the -time, in length, of the breadth of the nether end of the same chamber, -six desks high[130], full of gilt plate, very sumptuous, and of the -newest fashions; and upon the nethermost desk garnished all with plate -of clean gold, having two great candlesticks of silver and gilt, most -curiously wrought, the workmanship whereof, with the silver, cost three -hundred marks, and lights of wax as big as torches burning upon the -same. This cupboard was barred in round about that no man might come -nigh it; for there was none of the same plate occupied or stirred -during this feast, for there was sufficient besides. The plates that -hung on the walls to give light in the chamber were of silver and gilt, -with lights burning in them, a great fire in the chimney, and all other -things necessary for the furniture of so noble a feast. - -Now was all things in a readiness and supper time at hand. My lord's -officers caused the trumpets to blow to warn to supper, and the said -officers went right discreetly in due order and conducted these noble -personages from their chambers unto the chamber of presence where they -should sup. And they, being there, caused them to sit down; their -service was brought up in such order and abundance, both costly and -full of subtleties, with such a pleasant noise of divers instruments -of music, that the Frenchmen, as it seemed, were rapt into a heavenly -paradise. - -Ye must understand that my lord was not there, ne yet come, but they -being merry and pleasant with their fare, devising and wondering -upon the subtleties. Before the second course, my Lord Cardinal -came in among them, booted and spurred, all suddenly, and bade them -_proface_[131]; at whose coming they would have risen and given place -with much joy. Whom my lord commanded to sit still, and keep their -rooms; and straightways, being not shifted of his riding apparel, -called for a chair, and sat himself down in the midst of the table, -laughing and being as merry as ever I saw him in all my life. Anon came -up the second course, with so many dishes, subtleties, and curious -devices, which were above a hundred in number, of so goodly proportion -and costly, that I suppose the Frenchmen never saw the like. The wonder -was no less than it was worthy indeed. There were castles with images -in the same; Paul's church and steeple, in proportion for the quantity -as well counterfeited as the painter should have painted it upon a -cloth or wall. There were beasts, birds, fowls of divers kinds, and -personages, most lively made and counterfeit in dishes; some fighting, -as it were with swords, some with guns and crossbows, some vaulting -and leaping; some dancing with ladies, some in complete harness, -justing with spears, and with many more devices than I am able with -my wit [to] describe. Among all, one I noted: there was a chess board -subtilely made of spiced plate, with men to the same; and for the good -proportion, because that Frenchmen be very expert in that play, my lord -gave the same to a gentleman of France, commanding that a case should -be made for the same in all haste, to preserve it from perishing in the -conveyance thereof into his country. Then my lord took a bowl of gold, -which was esteemed of the value of five hundred marks, filled with -hypocras, whereof there was plenty, putting off his cap, said, "I drink -to the king my sovereign lord and master, and to the king your master," -and therewith drank a good draught. And when he had done, he desired -the Grand Master to pledge him cup and all, the which cup he gave him; -and so caused all the other lords and gentlemen in other cups to pledge -these two royal princes. - -Then went cups merrily about, that many of the Frenchmen were fain to -be led to their beds. Then went my lord, leaving them sitting still, -into his privy chamber to shift him; and making there a very short -supper, or rather a small repast, returned again among them into the -chamber of presence, using them so nobly, with so loving and familiar -countenance and entertainment, that they could not commend him too -much. - -And whilst they were in communication and other pastimes, all their -liveries were served to their chambers. Every chamber had a bason and -a ewer of silver, some gilt, and some parcel gilt; and some two great -pots of silver, in like manner, and one pot at the least with wine and -beer, a bowl or goblet, and a silver pot to drink beer in; a silver -candlestick or two, with both white lights and yellow lights [of] three -sizes of wax; and a staff torch; a fine manchet, and a cheat loaf of -bread. Thus was every chamber furnished throughout the house, and yet -the two cupboards in the two banqueting chambers not once touched. -Then being past midnight, as time served they were conveyed to their -lodgings, to take their rest for that night. In the morning of the next -day, (not early), they rose and heard mass, and dined with my lord, and -so departed towards Windsor, and there hunted, delighting much of the -castle and college, and in the Order of the Garter. They being departed -from Hampton Court, my lord returned again to Westminster, because it -was in the midst of the term. - -It is not to be doubted, but that the king was privy of all this worthy -feast, [and] intended far to exceed the same; (whom I leave until the -return of the Frenchmen), who gave a special commandment to all his -officers to devise a far [more] sumptuous banquet for the strangers, -otherwise than they had at Hampton Court; which was not neglected, but -most speedily put in execution with great diligence. - -After the return of these strangers from Windsor, which place with -the goodly order thereof they much commended, the day approached that -they were invited to the court at Greenwich; where first they dined, -and after long consultation of the sagest with our counsellors, and -dancing of the rest and other pastimes, the time of supper came on. -Then was the banqueting chamber in the tiltyard furnished for the -entertainment of these strangers, to the which place they were conveyed -by the noblest persons being then in the court, where they both supped -and banqueted. But to describe the dishes, the subtleties, the many -strange devices and order in the same, I do both lack wit in my gross -old head, and cunning in my bowels to declare the wonderful and curious -imaginations in the same invented and devised. Yet this ye shall -understand: that although it was at Hampton Court marvellous sumptuous, -yet did this banquet far exceed the same, as fine gold doth silver in -weight and value; and for my part I must needs confess, (which saw them -both), that I never saw the like, or read in any story or chronicle of -any such feast. In the midst of this banquet, there was tourneying at -the barriers (even in the chamber), with lusty gentlemen in gorgeous -complete harness, on foot; then was there the like on horseback; and -after all this there was the most goodliest disguising or interlude, -made in Latin and French, whose apparel was of such exceeding riches, -that it passeth my capacity to expound. - -This done, then came in such a number of the fair ladies and -gentlewomen that bare any bruit or fame of beauty in all this realm, -in the most richest apparel, and devised in divers goodly fashions -that all the cunningest tailors could devise to shape or cut, to set -forth their beauty, gesture, and the goodly proportion of their bodies: -who seemed to all men more angelic than earthly [creatures] made of -flesh and bone;--surely to me, simple soul, it seemed inestimable -to be described, and so I think it was to other of a more higher -judgment,--with whom these gentlemen of France danced until another -mask came in of noble gentlemen, who danced and masked with these fair -ladies and gentlewomen, every man as his fantasy served [him]. This -done, and the maskers departed, there came in another mask of ladies -so gorgeously apparelled in costly garments, that I dare not presume -to take upon me to make thereof any declaration, lest I should rather -deface than beautify them, therefore I leave it untouched. These lady -maskers took each of them a French gentleman to dance and mask with -them. Ye shall understand that these lady maskers spake good French, -which delighted much these gentlemen, to hear these ladies speak to -them in their own tongue. - -Thus was this night occupied and consumed from five of the clock until -two or three after midnight; at which time it was convenient for all -estates to draw to their rest. And thus every man departed whither they -had most relief. Then as nothing either health, wealth, or pleasure, -can always endure, so ended this triumphant banquet, the which in the -morning seemed to all the beholders but as a fantastical dream. - -After all this solemn cheer, at a day appointed they prepared them to -return with bag and baggage. Then, as to the office of all honourable -persons doth appertain, [they] resorted in good order to the court, to -take their leave of the king, and other noblemen, then being there: to -whom the king committed his princely commendations to the king their -master, and thanked them of their pains and travel, and after long -communication with the most honourable of the embassy, he bad them -adieu. - -[They were] assigned by the council to repair to my Lord Cardinal for -to receive the king's most noble reward, wherefore they repaired to my -lord, and taking of their leave, they received every man the king's -reward after this sort; every honourable person in estimation had most -commonly plate, to the value of three or four hundred pounds, and some -more, and some less, besides other great gifts received at the king's -hands before; as rich gowns, horses, or goodly geldings of great value -and goodness; and some had weighty chains of fine gold, with divers -other gifts, which I cannot now call to my remembrance; but this I -know, that the least of them all had a sum of crowns of gold: the worst -page among them had twenty crowns for his part: and thus they (nobly -rewarded), departed. And my lord, after humble commendations had to the -French king, bad them adieu. And the next day they conveyed all their -stuff and furniture unto the seaside, accompanied with lusty young -gentlemen of England: but what praise or commendation they made in -their country at their return, in good faith, I cannot tell you, for I -never heard any thing thereof. - -Then began other matters to brew and take place that occupied all -men's heads with divers imaginations, whose stomachs were therewith -full filled without any perfect digestion. The long hid and secret -love between the king and Mistress Anne Boleyn began to break out into -every man's ears. The matter was then by the king disclosed to my Lord -Cardinal; whose persuasion to the contrary, made to the king upon his -knees, could not effect: the king was so amorously affectionate, that -will bare place, and high discretion banished for the time[132]. My -lord, provoked by the king to declare his wise opinion in this matter -for the furtherance of his desired affects, who thought it not meet -for him alone to wade too far, to give his hasty judgment or advice -in so weighty a matter, desired of the king license to ask counsel of -men of ancient study, and of famous learning, both in the laws divine -and civil. That obtained, he by his legatine authority sent out his -commission unto all the bishops of this realm, and for other that were -either exactly learned in any of the said laws, or else had in any -estimation for their prudent counsel and judgment in princely affairs -of long experience. - -Then assembled these prelates before my Lord Cardinal at his place in -Westminster, with many other famous and notable clerks of both the -Universities (Oxford and Cambridge), and also divers out of colleges -and cathedral churches of this realm, renowned and allowed learned -and of witty discretion in the determination of doubtful questions. -Then was the matter of the king's case debated, reasoned and argued; -consulting from day to day, and time to time; that it was to men -learned a goodly hearing; but in conclusion, it seemed me, by the -departing of the ancient fathers of the laws, that they departed with -one judgment contrary to the expectation of the principal parties. -I heard the opinion of some of the most famous persons, among that -sort, report, that the king's case was so obscure and doubtful for any -learned man to discuss; the points therein were so dark to be credited -that it was very hard to have any true understanding or intelligence. -And therefore they departed without any resolution or judgment. Then -in this assembly of bishops it was thought most expedient that the -king should first send out his commissioners into all the Universities -of Christendom, as well here in England as in foreign countries and -regions, to have among them his grace's case argued substantially, and -to bring with them from thence the very definition of their opinions in -the same, under the seals of every several University. Thus was their -determination for this time; and thereupon agreed, that commissioners -were incontinent appointed and sent forth about this matter into -several Universities, as some to Oxford, some to Cambridge, some to -Louvain, some to Paris, some to Orleans, some to Bologna, and some to -Padua, and some to other. Although these commissioners had the travail, -yet was the charges the king's; the which was no small sums of money, -and all went out of the king's coffers into foreign regions. For as -I heard it reported of credible persons (as it seemed indeed), that -besides the great charges of the commissioners, there was inestimable -sums of money given to the famous clerks to choke them, and in especial -to such as had the governance and custody of their Universities' -seals[133]. Insomuch as they agreed, not only in opinions, but also -obtained of them the Universities' seals, (the which obtained), they -returned home again furnished for their purpose. At whose return there -was no small joy made of the principal parties. Insomuch as the -commissioners were not only ever after in great estimation, but also -most liberally advanced and rewarded, far beyond their worthy deserts. -Notwithstanding, they prospered, and the matter went still forward, -having then (as they thought), a sure foundation to ground them upon. - -These proceedings being once declared to my Lord Cardinal, [he] sent -again for all the bishops, whom he made privy of the expedition of -the commissioners; and for the very proof thereof he showed them the -opinions of the several Universities in writing under the Universities -seals[134]. These matters being thus brought to pass, they went again -to consultation how these matters should be ordered to the purpose. -It was then thought good and concluded, by the advice of them all, -that the king should (to avoid all ambiguities), send unto the pope -a legation with the instruments, declaring the opinions of the -Universities under their seals; to the which it was thought good that -all these prelates in this assembly should join with the king in this -legation, making intercession and suit to the pope for advice and -judgment in this great and weighty matter; and if the pope would not -directly consent to the same request, that then the ambassadors should -farther require of him a commission to be directed (under lead[135]), -to establish a court judicial in England, (** **** *****) directed to -my Lord Cardinal, and unto the Cardinal Campeggio, (who was then Bishop -of Bath), although he was a stranger, which [bishopric] the king gave -him at such time as he was the pope's ambassador here in England), to -hear and determine according to the just judgment of their conscience. -The which after long and great suit, they obtained of the pope his -commission. This done and achieved, they made return into England, -making report unto the king of their expedition, trusting that his -grace's pleasure and purpose should now be presently brought to pass, -considering the estate of the judges, who were the Cardinal of England -and Campeggio, being both his highness's subjects in effect. - -Long was the desire, and greater was the hope on all sides, expecting -the coming of the legation and commission from Rome, yet at length -it came. And after the arrival of the Legate Campeggio with his -solemn commission in England, he being sore vexed with the gout, was -constrained by force thereof to make a long journey or ever he came to -London; who should have been most solemnly received at Blackheath, and -so with great triumph conveyed to London; but his glory was such, that -he would in nowise be entertained with any such pomp or vainglory, who -suddenly came by water in a wherry to his own house without Temple Bar, -called then Bath Place, which was furnished for him with all manner of -stuff and implements of my lord's provision; where he continued and -lodged during his abode here in England. - -Then after some deliberation, his commission understood, read, and -perceived it was by the council determined, that the king, and the -queen his wife, should be lodged at Bridewell. And that in the Black -Friars a certain place should be appointed where as the king and -the queen might most conveniently repair to the court, there to be -erected and kept for the disputation and determination of the king's -case, where as these two legates sat in judgment as notable judges; -before whom the king and the queen were duly cited and summoned to -appear. Which was the strangest and newest sight and device that ever -was read or heard in any history or chronicle in any region; that a -king and a queen [should] be convented and constrained by process -compellatory to appear in any court as common persons, within their -own realm or dominion, to abide the judgment and decrees of their own -subjects, having the royal diadem and prerogative thereof. Is it not -a world to consider the desire of wilful princes, when they fully -be bent and inclined to fulfil their voluptuous appetites, against -the which no reasonable persuasions will suffice; little or nothing -weighing or regarding the dangerous sequel that doth ensue as well -to themselves as to their realm and subjects. And above all things, -there is no one thing that causeth them to be more wilful than carnal -desire and voluptuous affection of foolish love. The experience is -plain, in this case both manifest and evident, for what surmised -inventions have been invented, what laws have been enacted, what noble -and ancient monasteries overthrown and defaced, what diversities of -religious opinions have risen, what executions have been committed, how -many famous and notable clerks have suffered death, what charitable -foundations were perverted from the relief of the poor, unto profane -uses, and what alterations of good and wholesome ancient laws and -customs hath been caused by will and wilful desire of the prince, -almost to the subversion and dissolution of this noble realm. All men -may understand what hath chanced to this region; the proof thereof hath -taught all us Englishmen a common experience, the more is the pity, -and is to all good men very lamentable to be considered. If eyes be -not blind men may see, if ears be not stopped they may hear, and if -pity be not exiled they may lament the sequel of this pernicious and -inordinate carnal love. The plague whereof is not ceased (although this -love lasted but a while), which our Lord quench; and take from us his -indignation! _Quia pecavimus cum patribus nostris, et injuste egimus, -&c._ - -Ye shall understand, as I said before, that there was a court erected -in the Black Friars in London, where these two cardinals sat for -judges. Now will I set you out the manner and order of the court there. -First, there was a court placed with tables, benches, and bars, like -a consistory, a place judicial (for the judges to sit on). There was -also a cloth of estate under the which sat the king; and the queen sat -some distance beneath the king: under the judges' feet sat the officers -of the court. The chief scribe there was Dr. Stephens[136], (who was -after Bishop of Winchester); the apparitor was one Cooke, most commonly -called Cooke of Winchester. Then sat there within the said court, -directly before the king and the judges, the Archbishop of Canterbury, -Doctor Warham, and all the other bishops. Then at both the ends, with -a bar made for them, the counsellors on both sides. The doctors for -the king were Doctor Sampson, that was after Bishop of Chichester, and -Doctor Bell, who after was Bishop of Worcester, with divers other. The -proctors on the king's part were Doctor Peter, who was after made the -king's chief secretary, and Doctor Tregonell, and divers other. - -Now on the other side stood the counsel for the queen, Doctor Fisher, -Bishop of Rochester, and Doctor Standish, some time a Grey Friar, and -then Bishop of St. Asaph in Wales, two notable clerks in divinity, and -in especial the Bishop of Rochester, a very godly man and a devout -person, who after suffered death at Tower Hill; the which was greatly -lamented through all the foreign Universities of Christendom. There was -also another ancient doctor, called, as I remember, Doctor Ridley, a -very small person in stature, but surely a great and an excellent clerk -in divinity. - -The court being thus furnished and ordered, the judges commanded the -crier to proclaim silence; then was the judges' commission, which they -had of the pope, published and read openly before all the audience -there assembled. That done, the crier called the king, by the name of -"King Henry of England, come into the court, &c." With that the king -answered and said, "Here, my lords!" Then he called also the queen, by -the name of "Katherine Queen of England, come into the court, &c.;" -who made no answer to the same, but rose up incontinent out of her -chair, where as she sat, and because she could not come directly to the -king for the distance which severed them, she took pain to go about -unto the king, kneeling down at his feet in the sight of all the court -and assembly, to whom she said[137] in effect, in broken English, as -followeth: - -"Sir," quoth she, "I beseech you for all the loves that hath been -between us, and for the love of God, let me have justice and right, -take of me some pity and compassion, for I am a poor woman and a -stranger born out of your dominion, I have here no assured friend, -and much less indifferent counsel; I flee to you as to the head of -justice within this realm. Alas! Sir, wherein have I offended you, or -what occasion of displeasure? Have I designed against your will and -pleasure; intending (as I perceive) to put me from you? I take God -and all the world to witness, that I have been to you a true humble -and obedient wife, ever conformable to your will and pleasure, that -never said or did any thing to the contrary thereof, being always well -pleased and contented with all things wherein you had any delight or -dalliance, whether it were in little or much, I never grudged in word -or countenance, or showed a visage or spark of discontentation. I -loved all those whom ye loved only for your sake, whether I had cause -or no; and whether they were my friends or my enemies. This twenty -years I have been your true wife or more, and by me ye have had divers -children, although it hath pleased God to call them out of this world, -which hath been no default in me. - -"And when ye had me at the first, I take God to be my judge, I was a -true maid without touch of man; and whether it be true or no, I put -it to your conscience. If there be any just cause by the law that ye -can allege against me, either of dishonesty or any other impediment to -banish and put me from you, I am well content to depart to my great -shame and dishonour; and if there be none, then here I most lowly -beseech you let me remain in my former estate, and receive justice -at your hands. The king your father was in the time of his reign of -such estimation thorough the world for his excellent wisdom, that he -was accounted and called of all men the second Solomon; and my father -Ferdinand, King of Spain, who was esteemed to be one of the wittiest -princes that reigned in Spain, many years before, were both wise and -excellent kings in wisdom and princely behaviour. It is not therefore -to be doubted, but that they elected and gathered as wise counsellors -about them as to their high discretions was thought meet. Also, as me -seemeth, there was in those days as wise, as well learned men, and men -of as good judgment as be at this present in both realms, who thought -then the marriage between you and me good and lawful. Therefore it -is a wonder to hear what new inventions are now invented against me, -that never intended but honesty. And cause me to stand to the order -and judgment of this new court, wherein ye may do me much wrong, if -ye intend any cruelty; for ye may condemn me for lack of sufficient -answer, having no indifferent counsel, but such as be assigned me, -with whose wisdom and learning I am not acquainted. Ye must consider -that they cannot be indifferent counsellors for my part which be your -subjects, and taken out of your own council before, wherein they be -made privy, and dare not, for your displeasure, disobey your will and -intent, being once made privy thereto. Therefore I most humbly require -you, in the way of charity, and for the love of God, who is the just -judge, to spare me the extremity of this new court, until I may be -advertised what way and order my friends in Spain will advise me to -take. And if ye will not extend to me so much indifferent favour, your -pleasure then be fulfilled, and to God I commit my cause[138]!" - -And with that she rose up, making a low courtesy to the king, and so -departed from thence. [Many] supposed that she would have resorted -again to her former place; but she took her way straight out of the -house, leaning (as she was wont always to do) upon the arm of her -General Receiver, called Master Griffith. And the king being advertised -of her departure, commanded the crier to call her again, who called -her by the name of "Katherine Queen of England, come into the court, -&c." With that quoth Master Griffith, "_Madam, ye be called again_." -"On, on," quoth she, "it maketh no matter, for it is no indifferent -court for me, therefore I will not tarry. Go on your ways." And thus -she departed out of that court, without any farther answer at that -time, or at any other, nor would never appear at any other court after. - -The king perceiving that she was departed in such sort, calling to his -grace's memory all her lament words that she had pronounced before him -and all the audience, said thus in effect: "For as much," quoth he, -"as the queen is gone, I will, in her absence, declare unto you all -my lords here presently assembled, she hath been to me as true, as -obedient, and as conformable a wife as I could in my fantasy wish or -desire. She hath all the virtuous qualities that ought to be in a woman -of her dignity, or in any other of baser estate. Surely she is also -a noble woman born, if nothing were in her, but only her conditions -will well declare the same." With that quoth my Lord Cardinal, "Sir, -I most humbly beseech your highness to declare me before all this -audience, whether I have been the chief inventor[139] or first mover -of this matter unto your majesty; for I am greatly suspected of all men -herein." "My Lord Cardinal," quoth the king, "I can well excuse you -herein. Marry (quoth he), ye have been rather against me in attempting -or setting forth thereof. And to put you all out of doubt, I will -declare unto you the special cause that moved me hereunto; it was a -certain scrupulosity that pricked my conscience upon divers words that -were spoken at a certain time by the Bishop of Bayonne, the French -King's Ambassador[140], who had been here long upon the debating for -the conclusion of a marriage to be concluded between the princess our -daughter Mary, and the Duke of Orleans, the French king's second son. - -"And upon the resolution and determination thereof, he desired respite -to advertise the king his master thereof, whether our daughter Mary -should be legitimate, in respect of the marriage which was sometime -between the queen here, and my brother the late Prince Arthur. These -words were so conceived within my scrupulous conscience, that it bred -a doubt within my breast, which doubt pricked, vexed, and troubled -so my mind, and so disquieted me, that I was in great doubt of God's -indignation; which (as seemed me), appeared right well; much the rather -for that he hath not sent me any issue male; for all such issue male as -I have received of the queen died incontinent after they were born; so -that I doubt the punishment of God in that behalf. Thus being troubled -in waves of a scrupulous conscience, and partly in despair of any -issue male by her, it drave me at last to consider the estate of this -realm, and the danger it stood in for lack of issue male to succeed -me in this imperial dignity. I thought it good therefore in relief of -the weighty burden of scrupulous conscience, and the quiet estate of -this noble realm, to attempt the law therein, and whether I might take -another wife in case that my first copulation with this gentlewoman -were not lawful; which I intend not for any carnal concupiscence, ne -for any displeasure or mislike of the queen's person or age, with whom -I could be as well content to continue during my life, if our marriage -may stand with God's laws, as with any woman alive; in which point -consisteth all this doubt that we go now about to try by the learned -wisdom and judgment of you our prelates and pastors of this realm here -assembled for that purpose; to whose conscience and judgment I have -committed the charge according to the which (God willing), we will be -right well contented to submit ourself, to obey the same for our part. -Wherein after I once perceived my conscience wounded with the doubtful -case herein, I moved first this matter in confession to you, my Lord -of Lincoln[141], my ghostly father. And for as much as then yourself -were in some doubt to give me counsel, moved me to ask farther counsel -of all you my lords; wherein I moved you first my Lord of Canterbury, -axing your license, (for as much [as] you were our metropolitan) to -put this matter in question; and so I did of all you my lords, to the -which ye have all granted by writing under all your seals, the which I -have here to be showed." "That is truth if it please your highness," -quoth the Bishop of Canterbury, "I doubt not but all my brethren here -present will affirm the same." "No, Sir, not I," quoth the Bishop of -Rochester, "ye have not my consent thereto." "No! ha' the!" quoth the -king, "look here upon this, is not this your hand and seal?" and showed -him the instrument with seals. "No forsooth, Sire," quoth the Bishop of -Rochester, "it is not my hand nor seal!" To that quoth the king to my -Lord of Canterbury, "Sir, how say _ye_, is it not his hand and seal?" -"Yes, Sir," quoth my Lord of Canterbury. "That is not so," quoth the -Bishop of Rochester, "for indeed you were in hand with me to have both -my hand and seal, as other of my lords had already done; but then I -said to you, that I would never consent to no such act, for it were -much against my conscience; nor my hand and seal should never be seen -at any such instrument, God willing, with much more matter touching the -same communication between us." "You say truth," quoth the Bishop of -Canterbury, "such words ye said unto me; but at the last ye were fully -persuaded that I should for you subscribe your name, and put to a seal -myself, and ye would allow the same." "All which words and matter," -quoth the Bishop of Rochester, "under your correction my lord, and -supportation of this noble audience, there is no thing more untrue." -"Well, well," quoth the king, "it shall make no matter; we will not -stand with you in argument herein, for you are but one man." And with -that the court was adjourned until the next day of this session. - -The next court day the cardinals sat there again, at which time the -counsel on both sides were there present. The king's counsel alleged -the marriage not good from the beginning, because of the carnal -knowledge committed between Prince Arthur her first husband, the king's -brother, and her. This matter being very sore touched and maintained -by the king's counsel; and the contrary defended by such as took -upon them to be on that other part with the good queen: and to prove -the same carnal copulation they alleged many coloured reasons and -similitudes of truth. It was answered again negatively on the other -side, by which it seemed that all their former allegations [were] very -doubtful to be tried, so that it was said that no man could know the -truth. "Yes," quoth the Bishop of Rochester, "_Ego nosco veritatem_, -I know the truth." "How know you the truth?" quoth my Lord Cardinal. -"Forsooth, my lord," quoth he, "_Ego sum professor veritatis_, I know -that God is truth itself, nor he never spake but truth; who saith, -_quos Deus conjunxit, homo non separet_. And forasmuch as this marriage -was made and joined by God to a good intent, I say that I know the -truth; the which cannot be broken or loosed by the power of man upon no -feigned occasion." "So much doth all faithful men know," quoth my Lord -Cardinal, "as well as you. Yet this reason is not sufficient in this -case; for the king's counsel doth allege divers presumptions, to prove -the marriage not good at the beginning, _ergo_, say they, it was not -joined by God at the beginning, and therefore it is not lawful; for God -ordaineth nor joineth nothing without a just order. Therefore it is not -to be doubted but that these presumptions must be true, as it plainly -appeareth; and nothing can be more true in case these allegations -cannot be avoided; therefore to say that the matrimony was joined of -God, ye must prove it farther than by that text which ye have alleged -for your matter: for ye must first avoid the presumptions." "Then," -quoth one Doctor Ridley, "it is a shame and a great dishonour to this -honourable presence, that any such presumptions should be alleged in -this open court, which be to all good and honest men most detestable -to be rehearsed." "What," quoth my Lord Cardinal, "_Domine Doctor, -magis reverenter_." "No, no, my lord," quoth he, "there belongeth -no reverence to be given to these abominable presumptions; for an -unreverent tale would be unreverently answered." And there they left, -and proceeded no farther at that time. - -Thus this court passed from session to session, and day to day, in so -much that a certain day the king sent for my lord at the breaking up -one day of the court to come to him into Bridewell. And to accomplish -his commandment he went unto him, and being there with him in -communication in his grace's privy chamber from eleven until twelve -of the clock and past at noon, my lord came out and departed from the -king and took his barge at the Black Friars, and so went to his house -at Westminster. The Bishop of Carlisle being with him in his barge -said unto him, (wiping the sweat from his face), "Sir," quoth he, "it -is a very hot day." "Yea," quoth my Lord Cardinal, "if ye had been -as well chafed as I have been within this hour, ye would say it were -very hot." And as soon as he came home to his house at Westminster, he -went incontinent to his naked bed, where he had not lain fully the -space of two hours, but that my Lord of Wiltshire came to speak with -him of a message from the king. My lord, having understanding of his -coming, caused him to be brought unto his bed's side; and he being -there, showed him the king's pleasure was, that he should incontinent -(accompanied with the other cardinal) repair unto the queen at -Bridewell, into her chamber, to persuade her by their wisdoms, advising -her to surrender the whole matter unto the king's hands by her own will -and consent; which should be much better to her honour than to stand -to the trial of law and to be condemned, which would seem much to her -slander and defamation. To fulfil the king's pleasure, my lord [said] -he was ready, and would prepare him to go thither out of hand, saying -farther to my Lord of Wiltshire, "Ye and other my lords of the council, -which be near unto the king, are not a little to blame and misadvised -to put any such fantasies into his head, whereby ye are the causes of -great trouble to all the realm; and at length get you but small thanks -either of God or of the world," with many other vehement words and -sentences that were like to ensue of this matter, which words caused -my Lord of Wiltshire to water his eyes, kneeling all this while by my -lord's bedside, and in conclusion departed. And then my lord rose up, -and made him ready, taking his barge, and went straight to Bath Place -to the other cardinal; and so went together unto Bridewell, directly to -the queen's lodging: and they, being in her chamber of presence, showed -to the gentleman usher that they came to speak with the queen's grace. -The gentleman usher advertised the queen thereof incontinent. With that -she came out of her privy chamber with a skein of white thread about -her neck, into the chamber of presence, where the cardinals were giving -of attendance upon her coming. At whose coming quoth she, "Alack, my -lords, I am very sorry to cause you to attend upon me; what is your -pleasure with me?" "If it please you," quoth my Lord Cardinal, "to go -into your privy chamber, we will show you the cause of our coming." -"My lord," quoth she, "if you have any thing to say, speak it openly -before all these folks; for I fear nothing that ye can say or allege -against me, but that I would all the world should both hear and see -it; therefore I pray you speak your minds openly." Then began my lord -to speak to her in Latin. "Nay, good my lord," quoth she, "speak to -me in English I beseech you; although I understand Latin." "Forsooth -then," quoth my lord, "Madam, if it please your grace, we come both -to know your mind, how ye be disposed to do in this matter between -the king and you, and also to declare secretly our opinions and our -counsel unto you, which we have intended of very zeal and obedience -that we bear to your grace." "My lords, I thank you then," quoth she, -"of your good wills; but to make answer to your request I cannot so -suddenly, for I was set among my maidens at work, thinking full little -of any such matter, wherein there needeth a longer deliberation, and a -better head than mine, to make answer to so noble wise men as ye be; -I had need of good counsel in this case, which toucheth me so near; -and for any counsel or friendship that I can find in England, [they] -are nothing to my purpose or profit. Think you, I pray you, my lords, -will any Englishmen counsel or be friendly unto me against the king's -pleasure, they being his subjects? Nay forsooth, my lords! and for my -counsel in whom I do intend to put my trust be not here; they be in -Spain, in my native country. Alas, my lords! I am a poor woman lacking -both wit and understanding sufficiently to answer such approved wise -men as ye be both, in so weighty a matter. I pray you to extend your -good and indifferent minds in your authority unto me, for I am a simple -woman, destitute and barren of friendship and counsel here in a foreign -region: and as for your counsel I will not refuse but be glad to hear." - -And with that she took my lord by the hand and led him into her -privy chamber, with the other cardinal; where they were in long -communication: we, in the other chamber, might sometime hear the -queen speak very loud, but what it was we could not understand. The -communication ended, the cardinals departed and went directly to the -king, making to him relation of their talk with the queen; and after -resorted home to their houses to supper. - -Thus went this strange case forward from court-day to court-day, until -it came to the judgment, so that every man expected the judgment to be -given upon the next court-day[142]. At which day the king came thither, -and sat within a gallery against the door of the same that looked unto -the judges where they sat, whom he might both see and hear speak, to -hear what judgment they would give in his suit; at which time all their -proceedings were first openly read in Latin. And that done, the king's -learned counsel at the bar called fast for judgment. With that, quoth -Cardinal Campeggio, "I[143] will give no judgment herein until I have -made relation unto the pope of all our proceedings, whose counsel and -commandment in this high case I will observe. The case is too high and -notable, known throughout the world, for us to give any hasty judgment, -considering the highness of the persons and the doubtful allegations; -and also whose commissioners we be, under whose authority we sit here. -It were therefore reason, that we should make our chief head [of] -counsel in the same, before we proceed to judgment definitive. I come -not so far to please any man, for fear, meed, or favour, be he king -or any other potentate. I have no such respect to the persons that I -will offend my conscience. I will not for favour or displeasure of any -high estate or mighty prince do that thing that should be against the -law of God. I am an old man, both sick and impotent, looking daily for -death. What should it then avail me to put my soul in the danger of -God's displeasure, to my utter damnation, for the favour of any prince -or high estate in this world? My coming and being here is only to see -justice ministered according to my conscience, as I thought thereby -the matter either good or bad. And forasmuch as I do understand, and -having perceivance by the allegations and negations in this matter laid -for both the parties, that the truth in this case is very doubtful -to be known, and also that the party defendant will make no answer -thereunto, [but] doth rather appeal from us, supposing that we be not -indifferent, considering the king's high dignity and authority within -this his own realm which he hath over his own subjects; and we being -his subjects, and having our livings and dignities in the same, she -thinketh that we cannot minister true and indifferent justice for -fear of his displeasure. Therefore, to avoid all these ambiguities -and obscure doubts, I intend not to damn my soul for no prince or -potentate alive. I will therefore, God willing, wade no farther in this -matter, unless I have the just opinion and judgment, with the assent -of the pope, and such other of his counsel as hath more experience and -learning in such doubtful laws than I have. Wherefore I will adjourn -this court for this time, according to the order of the court in Rome, -from whence this court and jurisdiction is derived. And if we should go -further than our commission doth warrant us, it were folly and vain, -and much to our slander and blame; and [we] might be accounted for the -same breakers of the order of the higher court from whence we have (as -I said) our original authorities." With that the court was dissolved, -and no more pleas holden. - -With that stepped forth the Duke of Suffolk[144] from the king, and -by his commandment spake these words, with a stout and an hault -countenance, "It was never merry in England," (quoth he), "whilst we -had cardinals among us:" which words were set forth both with such a -vehement countenance, that all men marvelled what he intended; to whom -no man made answer. Then the duke spake again in great despight. To -the which words my Lord Cardinal, perceiving his vehemency, soberly -made answer and said, "Sir, of all men within this realm, ye have least -cause to dispraise or be offended with cardinals: for if I, simple -cardinal, had not been, you should have had at this present no head -upon your shoulders, wherein you should have a tongue to make any such -report in despight of us, who intend you no manner of displeasure; -nor have we given you any occasion with such despight to be revenged -with your hault words. I would ye knew it, my lord, that I and my -brother here intendeth the king and his realm as much honour, wealth, -and quietness, as you or any other, of what estate or degree soever -he be, within this realm; and would as gladly accomplish his lawful -desire as the poorest subject he hath. But, my lord, I pray you, show -me what ye would do if ye were the king's commissioner in a foreign -region, having a weighty matter to treat upon: and the conclusion being -doubtful thereof, would ye not advertise the king's majesty or ever ye -went through with the same? Yes, yes, my lord, I doubt not. Therefore -I would ye should banish your hasty malice and despight out of your -heart, and consider that we be but commissioners for a time, and can, -ne may not, by virtue of our commission proceed to judgment, without -the knowledge and consent of the chief head of our authority, and -having his consent to the same; which is the pope. Therefore we do no -less ne otherwise than our warrant will bear us; and if any man will -be offended with us therefore, he is an unwise man. Wherefore my lord, -hold your peace, and pacify yourself, and frame your tongue like a man -of honour and of wisdom, and not to speak so quickly or reproachfully -by your friends; for ye know best what friendship[145] ye have received -at my hands, the which I yet never revealed to no person alive before -now, neither to my glory, ne to your dishonour." And therewith the duke -gave over the matter without any words to reply, and so departed and -followed after the king, who was gone into Bridewell at the beginning -of the duke's first words. - -This matter continued long thus, and my Lord Cardinal was in -displeasure with the king, for that the matter in his suit took no -better success, the fault whereof was ascribed much to my lord, -notwithstanding my lord excused him always by his commission, which -gave him no farther authority to proceed in judgment, without knowledge -of the pope, who reserved the same to himself. - -At the last they were advertised by their post that the pope would take -deliberation in respect of judgment until his courts were opened, which -should not be before Bartholomew tide next. The king considering the -time to be very long or the matter should be determined, thought it -good to send a new embassy to the pope, to persuade him to show such -honourable favour unto his grace, that the matter might be sooner ended -than it was likely to be, or else at the next court in Rome, to rule -the matter over, according to the king's request. - -To this embassy was appointed Doctor Stephens[146], then secretary, -that after was made Bishop of Winchester. Who went thither, and there -tarried until the latter end of summer, as ye shall hear after. - -The king commanded the queen to be removed out of the court, and sent -to another place; and his highness rode in his progress, with Mistress -Anne Boleyn in his company, all the grece season[147]. - -It was so that the Cardinal Campeggio made suit to be discharged, that -he might return again to Rome. And it chanced that the secretary, who -was the king's ambassador to the pope, was returned home from Rome; -whereupon it was determined that the Cardinal Campeggio should resort -to the king at Grafton in Northamptonshire, and that my lord Cardinal -should accompany him thither, where Campeggio should take his leave of -the king. And so they took their journey thitherward from the Moor, -and came to Grafton[148] upon the Sunday in the morning, before whose -coming there rose in the court divers opinions, that the king would not -speak with my Lord Cardinal; and thereupon were laid many great wagers. - -These two prelates being come to the gates of the court, where they -alighted from their horses, supposing that they should have been -received by the head officers of the house as they were wont to be; yet -for as much as Cardinal Campeggio was but a stranger in effect, the -said officers received them, and conveyed him to his lodging within the -court, which was prepared for him only. And after my lord had brought -him thus to his lodging, he left him there and departed, supposing to -have gone directly likewise to his chamber, as he was accustomed to -do. And by the way as he was going, it was told him that he had no -lodging appointed for him in the court. And being therewith astonied, -Sir Henry Norris, Groom of the Stole [to] the king, came unto him, -(but whether it was by the king's commandment or no I know not), and -most humbly offered him his chamber for the time, until another might -somewhere be provided for him: "For, Sir, I assure you," quoth he, -"here is very little room in this house, scantly sufficient for the -king; therefore I beseech your grace to accept mine for the season." -Whom my lord thanked for his gentle offer, and went straight to his -chamber, where as my lord shifted his riding apparel, and being thus -in his chamber, divers noble persons and gentlemen, being his loving -friends, came to visit him and to welcome him to the court, by whom -my lord was advertised of all things touching the king's displeasure -towards him; which did him no small pleasure; and caused him to be the -more readily provided of sufficient excuses for his defence. - -Then was my lord advertised by Master Norris, that he should prepare -himself to give attendance in the chamber of presence against the -king's coming thither, who was disposed there to talk with him, and -with the other cardinal, who came into my lord's chamber, and they -together went into the said chamber of presence, where the lords of the -council stood in a row in order along the chamber. My lord putting off -his cap to every of them most gently, and so did they no less to him: -at which time the chamber was so furnished with noblemen, gentlemen, -and other worthy persons, that only expected the meeting, and the -countenance of the king and him, and what entertainment the king made -him. - -Then immediately after came the king into the chamber, and standing -there under the cloth of estate, my lord kneeled down before him, who -took my lord by the hand, and so he did the other cardinal. Then he -took my lord up by both arms and caused him to stand up, whom the king, -with as amiable a cheer as ever he did, called him aside, and led him -by the hand to a great window, where he talked with him, and caused him -to be covered. - -Then, to behold the countenance of those that had made their wagers to -the contrary, it would have made you to smile; and thus were they all -deceived, as well worthy for their presumption. The king was in long -and earnest communication with him, in so much as I heard the king say: -"How can that be: is not this your own hand?" and plucked out from his -bosom a letter or writing, and showed him the same; and as I perceived -that it was answered so by my lord that the king had no more to say in -that matter; but said to him: "My lord, go to your dinner, and all my -lords here will keep you company; and after dinner I will resort to you -again, and then we will commune further with you in this matter; and so -departed the king, and dined that same day with Mrs. Anne Boleyn, in -her chamber, who kept there an estate more like a queen than a simple -maid. - -Then was a table set up in the chamber of presence for my lord, and -other lords of the council, where they all dined together; and sitting -thus at dinner communing of divers matters. Quoth my lord, "It were -well done if the king would send his chaplains and bishops to their -cures and benefices." "Yea marry," quoth my Lord of Norfolk, "and so -it were for you too." "I could be contented therewith, very well," -quoth my lord, "if it were the king's pleasure to grant me license, -with his favour, to go to my benefice of Winchester." "Nay," quoth -my Lord of Norfolk, "to your benefice of York, where consisteth your -greatest honour and charge." "Even as it shall please the king," quoth -my lord, and so fell into other communications. For the lords were very -loth to have him planted so near the king as to be at Winchester[149]. -Immediately after dinner they fell in secret talk until the waiters -had dined. - -And as I heard it reported by them that waited upon the king at dinner, -that Mistress Anne Boleyn was much offended with the king, as far as -she durst, that he so gently entertained my lord, saying, as she sat -with the king at dinner, in communication of him, "Sir," quoth she, "is -it not a marvellous thing to consider what debt and danger the cardinal -hath brought you in with all your subjects?" "How so, sweetheart?" -quoth the king. "Forsooth," quoth she, "there is not a man within all -your realm, worth five pounds, but he hath indebted you unto him;" -(meaning by a loan that the king had but late of his subjects). "Well, -well," quoth the king, "as for that there is in him no blame; for I -know that matter better than you, or any other." "Nay, Sir," quoth -she, "besides all that, what things hath he wrought within this realm -to your great slander and dishonour? There is never a nobleman within -this realm that if he had done but half so much as he hath done, but -he were well worthy to lose his head. If my Lord of Norfolk, my Lord -of Suffolk, my lord my father, or any other noble person within your -realm had done much less than he, but they should have lost their heads -or this." "Why, then I perceive," quoth the king, "ye are not the -cardinal's friend?" "Forsooth, Sir," then quoth she, "I have no cause, -nor any other that loveth your grace, no more have your grace, if ye -consider well his doings." At this time the waiters had taken up the -table, and so they ended their communication. Now ye may perceive the -old malice beginning to break out, and newly to kindle the brand that -after proved to a great fire, which was as much procured by his secret -enemies, [of whom] I touched something before, as of herself. - -After all this communication, the dinner thus ended, the king rose up -and went incontinent into the chamber of presence, where as my lord, -and other of the lords were attending his coming, he called my lord -into the great window, and talked with him there a while very secretly. -And at the last, the king took my lord by the hand and led him into -his privy chamber, sitting there in consultation with him all alone -without any other of the lords of the council, until it was night; the -which blanked his enemies very sore, and made them to stir the coals; -being in doubt what this matter would grow unto, having now none other -refuge to trust to but Mistress Anne, in whom was all their whole and -firm trust and affiance, without whom they doubted all their enterprise -but frustrate and void. - -Now was I fain, being warned that my lord had no lodging in the court, -to ride into the country to provide for my lord a lodging; so that I -provided a lodging for him at a house of Master Empson's called Euston, -three miles from Grafton, whither my lord came by torch light, it -was so late or the king and he departed. At whose departing the king -commanded him to resort again early in the morning to the intent they -might finish their talk which they had then begun and not concluded. - -After their departing my lord came to the said house at Euston to -his lodging, where he had to supper with him divers of his friends -of the court; and sitting at supper, in came to him Doctor Stephens, -the secretary, late ambassador unto Rome; but to what intent he came -I know not; howbeit my lord took it, that he came to dissemble a -certain obedience and love towards him, or else to espy his behaviour -and to hear his communication at supper. Notwithstanding my lord bade -him welcome, and commanded him to sit down at the table to supper; -with whom my lord had this communication, under this manner. "Master -Secretary," quoth my lord, "ye be welcome home out of Italy; when came -ye from Rome?" "Forsooth," quoth he, "I came home almost a month ago." -"And where," quoth my lord, "have you been ever since?" "Forsooth," -quoth he, "following the court this progress." "Then have ye hunted, -and had good game and pastime," quoth my lord. "Forsooth, sir," quoth -he, "and so I have, I thank the king's majesty." "What good greyhounds -have ye?" quoth my lord. "I have some, sir," quoth he. And thus in -hunting, and like disports, passed they all their communication at -supper; and after supper my lord and he talked secretly together, till -it was midnight or they departed. - -The next morning my lord rose early and rode straight to the court; at -whose coming the king was ready to ride, willing my lord to resort to -the council with the lords in his absence, and said he could not tarry -with him, commanding him to return with Cardinal Campeggio, who had -taken his leave of the king. Whereupon my lord was constrained to take -his leave also of the king, with whom the king departed amiably in the -sight of all men. The king's sudden departing in the morning was by the -special labour of Mistress Anne, who rode with him, only to lead him -about, because he should not return until the cardinals were gone, the -which departed after dinner, returning again towards the Moor[150]. - -The king rode that morning to view a ground for a new park, which -is called at this day Hartwell Park, where Mistress Anne had made -provision for the king's dinner, fearing his return or the cardinals -were gone. - -Then rode my lord and the other cardinal after dinner on their way -homeward, and so came to the monastery of St. Alban's (whereof he -himself was commendatory), and there lay one whole day; and the next -day they rode to the Moor; and from thence the Cardinal Campeggio took -his journey towards Rome, with the king's reward; what it was I am -uncertain. Nevertheless, after his departure, the king was informed -that he carried with him great treasures of my lord's, (conveyed in -great tuns) notable sums of gold and silver to Rome, whither they -surmised my lord would secretly convey himself out of this realm. In so -much that a post was sent speedily after the cardinal to search him; -whom they overtook at Calais[151], where he was stayed until search was -made; there was not so much money found as he received of the king's -reward, and so he was dismissed and went his way. - -After Cardinal Campeggio was thus departed and gone, Michaelmas -Term[152] drew near, against the which my lord returned unto his house -at Westminster; and when the Term began, he went to the hall in such -like sort and gesture as he was wont most commonly to do, and sat in -the Chancery, being Chancellor. After which day he never sat there -more. The next day he tarried at home, expecting the coming of the -Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk, [who] came not that day; but the next -day they came thither unto him; to whom they declared how the king's -pleasure was that he should surrender and deliver up the great seal -into their hands, and to depart simplily unto Asher[153], a house -situate nigh Hampton Court, belonging to the Bishoprick of Winchester. -My lord understanding their message, demanded of them what commission -they had to give him any such commandment? who answered him again, -that they were sufficient commissioners in that behalf, having the -king's commandment by his mouth so to do. "Yet," quoth he, "that is not -sufficient for me, without farther commandment of the king's pleasure; -for the great seal of England was delivered me by the king's own -person, to enjoy during my life, with the ministration of the office -and high room of chancellorship of England: for my surety whereof, -I have the king's letters patent to show." Which matter was greatly -debated between the dukes and him with many stout words between them; -whose words and checks he took in patience for the time: in so much -that the dukes were fain to depart again without their purpose at that -present; and returned again unto Windsor to the king: and what report -they made I cannot tell; howbeit, the next day they came again from -the king, bringing with them the king's letters. After the receipt and -reading of the same by my lord, which was done with much reverence, he -delivered unto them the great seal[154], contented to obey the king's -high commandment; and seeing that the king's pleasure was to take his -house, with the contents, was well pleased simply to depart to Asher, -taking nothing but only some provision for his house. - -[Illustration: - - _Etched by I HARRIS, Jun[^r]._ - -THE CARDINAL SURRENDERS THE GREAT SEAL TO THE DUKES OF SUFFOLK & -NORFOLK, AND ALL HIS GOODS TO THE KING. - -_From a M.S. in the Collection of Francis Douce Esq.[^r] F.S.A._ - -_Published by Harding, Triphook & Lepard, 1824._] - -And after long talk between the dukes and him, they departed, with the -great seal of England, to Windsor, unto the king. Then went my Lord -Cardinal and called all officers in every office in his house before -him, to take account of all such stuff as they had in charge[155]. And -in his gallery there was set divers tables, whereupon a great number of -rich stuffs of silk, in whole pieces, of all colours, as velvet, satin, -damask, caffa, taffeta, grograine, sarcenet, and of other not in my -remembrance; also there lay a thousand pieces of fine holland cloth, -whereof as I heard him say afterward, there was five hundred pieces -thereof, conveyed both from the king and him[156]. - -Furthermore there was also all the walls of the gallery hanged with -cloth of gold, and tissue of divers makings, and cloth of silver -likewise on both the sides; and rich cloths of baudkin[157], of -divers colours. There also hung the richest suits of copes of his own -provision, (which he caused to be made for his colleges of Oxford -and Ipswich), that ever I saw in England. Then had he two chambers -adjoining to the gallery, the one called the _gilt chamber_, and the -other called, most commonly, the _council chamber_, wherein were set -in each two broad and long tables, upon tressels, whereupon was set -such a number of plate of all sorts, as were almost incredible. In the -_gilt chamber_ was set out upon the tables nothing but all gilt plate; -and a cupboard standing under a window, was garnished all wholly with -plate of clean gold, whereof some was set with pearl and rich stones. -And in the _council chamber_ was set all white plate and parcel gilt; -and under the tables, in both the chambers, were set baskets with -old plate, which was not esteemed but for broken plate and old, not -worthy to be occupied, and books containing the value and weight of -every parcel laid by them ready to be seen; and so was also books set -by all manner of stuff, containing the contents of every thing. Thus -every thing being brought into good order and furnished, he gave the -charge of the delivery thereof unto the king, to every officer within -his office, of such stuff as they had before in charge, by indenture -of every parcel; for the order of his house was such, as that every -officer was charged by indenture with all such parcels as belonged to -their office. - -Then all things being ordered as it is before rehearsed, my lord -prepared him to depart by water. And before his departing, he commanded -Sir William Gascoigne, his treasurer, to see these things before -remembered delivered safely to the king at his repair [thither]. That -done, the said Sir William said unto my lord, "Sir, I am sorry for your -grace, for I understand ye shall go straightway to the Tower." "Is this -the good comfort and counsel," quoth my lord, "that ye can give your -master in adversity? It hath been always your natural inclination to be -very light of credit; and much more lighter in reporting of false news. -I would ye should know, Sir William, and all other such blasphemers, -that it is nothing more false than that, for I never (thanks be to -God), deserved by no ways to come there under any arrest, although -it hath pleased the king to take my house ready furnished for his -pleasure at this time. I would all the world knew, and so I confess, -to have nothing, either riches, honour, or dignity, that hath not -grown of him and by him; therefore it is my very duty to surrender the -same to him again as his very own, with all my heart, or else I were -an unkind servant. Therefore go your ways, and give good attendance -unto your charge, that nothing be embezzled." And therewithal he made -him ready to depart, with all his gentlemen and yeomen, which was no -small number, and took his barge at his privy stairs, and so went by -water unto Putney, where all his horses waited his coming. And at the -taking of his barge there was no less than a thousand boats full of men -and women of the city of London, _waffeting_ up and down in Thames, -expecting my lord's departing, supposing that he should have gone -directly from thence to the Tower, whereat they rejoiced, and I dare be -bold to say that the most part never received damage at his hands. - -O wavering and new fangled multitude! Is it not a wonder to consider -the inconstant mutability of this uncertain world! The common people -always desiring alterations and novelties of things for the strangeness -of the case; which after turneth them to small profit and commodity. -For if the sequel of this matter be well considered and digested, ye -shall understand that they had small cause to triumph at his fall. What -hath succeeded all wise men doth know, and the common sort of them hath -felt. Therefore to grudge or wonder at it, surely were but folly; to -study a redress, I see not how it can be holpen, for the inclination -and natural disposition of Englishmen is, and hath always been, to -desire alteration of officers, which hath been thoroughly fed with long -continuance in their rooms with sufficient riches and possessions; -and they being put out, then cometh another hungry and a lean officer -in his place, that biteth nearer the bone than the old. So the people -be ever pilled and polled with hungry dogs, through their own desire -of change of new officers, nature hath so wrought in the people, that -it will not be redressed. Wherefore I cannot see but always men in -authority be disdained with the common sort of men; and such most of -all, that justly ministereth equity to all men indifferently. For where -they please some one which receiveth the benefit of the law at [their] -hands according to justice, there doth they in likewise displease the -contrary party, who supposeth to sustain great wrong, where they have -equity and right. Thus all good justices be always in contempt with -some for executing of indifferency. And yet such ministers must be, for -if there should be no ministers of justice the world should run full -of error and abomination, and no good order kept, ne quietness among -the people. There is no good man but he will commend such justices as -dealeth uprightly in their rooms, and rejoice at their continuance and -not at their fall; and whether this be true or no, I put it to the -judgment of all discreet persons. Now let us leave, and begin again -where we left. - -When he was with all his train arrived and landed at Putney, he took -his mule, and every man his horse. And setting forth, not past the -length of a pair of garden butts, he espied a man come riding empost -down the hill, in Putney town, demanding of his footmen who they -thought it should be? And they answered again and said, that they -supposed it should be Sir Harry Norris. And by and bye he came to -my lord and saluted him, and said "that the king's majesty had him -commended to his grace, and willed him in any wise to be of good -cheer, for he was as much in his highness' favour as ever he was, and -so shall be." And in token thereof, he delivered him a ring of gold, -with a rich stone, which ring he knew very well, for it was always the -privy token between the king and him whensoever the king would have -any special matter dispatched at his hands. And said furthermore, -"that the king commanded him to be of good cheer, and take no thought, -for he should not lack. And although the king hath dealt with you -unkindly as ye suppose, he saith that it is for no displeasure that -he beareth you, but only to satisfy more the minds of some (which he -knoweth be not your friends), than for any indignation: and also ye -know right well, that he is able to recompense you with twice as much -as your goods amounteth unto; and all this he bade me, that I should -show you, therefore, sir, take patience. And for my part, I trust to -see you in better estate than ever ye were." But when he heard Master -Norris rehearse all the good and comfortable words of the king, he -quickly lighted from off his mule, all alone, as though he had been -the youngest person amongst us, and incontinent kneeled down in the -dirt upon both his knees, holding up his hands for joy. Master Norris -perceiving him so quickly from his mule upon the ground, mused, and -was astonied. And therewith he alighted also, and kneeled by him, -embracing him in his arms, and asked him how he did, calling upon him -to credit his message. "Master Norris," quoth he, "when I consider your -comfortable and joyful news, I can do no less than to rejoice, for the -sudden joy surmounted my memory, having no respect neither to the -place or time, but thought it my very bounden duty to render thanks to -God my maker, and to the king my sovereign lord and master, who hath -sent me such comfort in the very place where I received the same." - -And talking with Master Norris upon his knees in the mire, he would -have pulled off his under cap of velvet, but he could not undo the -knot under his chin; wherefore with violence he rent the laces and -pulled it from his head, and so kneeled bare headed. And that done, he -covered again his head, and arose, and would have mounted his mule, -but he could not mount again with such agility as he lighted before, -where his footmen had as much ado to set him in his saddle as they -could have. Then rode he forth up the hill into the town, talking -with Master Norris. And when he came upon Putney Heath, Master Norris -took his leave and would have departed. Then quoth my lord unto him, -"Gentle Norris, if I were lord of a realm, the one half thereof were -insufficient a reward to give you for your pains, and good comfortable -news. But, good Master Norris, consider with me, that I have nothing -left me but my clothes on my back. Therefore I desire you to take this -small reward of my hands;" the which was a little chain of gold, made -like a bottle chain, with a cross of gold hanging thereat, wherein -was a piece of the _Holy Cross_, which he wore continually about his -neck next his skin; and said furthermore, "I assure you, Master Norris, -that when I was in prosperity, although it seem but small in value, yet -I would not gladly have departed with it for the value of a thousand -pounds. Therefore I beseech you to take it in gree, and wear it about -your neck for my sake, and as often as ye shall happen to look upon -it, have me in remembrance to the king's majesty, as opportunity shall -serve you, unto whose Highness and clemency, I desire you to have -[me] most lowly commended; for whose charitable disposition towards -me, I can do nothing but only minister my prayer unto God for the -preservation of his royal estate, long to reign in honour, health, -and quiet life. I am his obedient subject, vassal, and poor chaplain, -and do so intend, God willing, to be during my life, accounting that -of myself I am of no estimation nor of no substance, but only by him -and of him, whom I love better than myself, and have justly and truly -served, to the best of my gross wit." And with that he took Master -Norris by the hand and bade him farewell. And being gone but a small -distance, he returned, and called Master Norris again, and when he was -returned, he said unto him: "I am sorry," quoth he, "that I have no -condign token to send to the king. But if ye would at this my request -present the king with this poor Fool, I trust his highness would -accept him well, for surely for a nobleman's pleasure he is worth a -thousand pounds[158]." So Master Norris took the Fool with him; with -whom my lord was fain to send six of [his] tall yeomen, to conduct -and convey the Fool to the court; for the poor Fool took on and fired -so in such a rage when he saw that he must needs depart from my lord. -Yet notwithstanding they conveyed him with Master Norris to the court, -where the king received him most gladly. - -After the departure of Master Norris with his token to the king, my -lord rode straight to Asher, a house appertaining to the Bishoprick of -Winchester, situate within the county of Surrey, not far from Hampton -Court, where my lord and his family continued the space of three or -four weeks, without beds, sheets, table cloths, cups and dishes to -eat our meat, or to lie in. Howbeit, there was good provision of all -kind of victuals, and of drink, both beer and wine, whereof there was -sufficient and plenty. My lord was of necessity compelled to borrow -of the Bishop of Carlisle, and of Sir Thomas Arundell, both dishes -to eat his meat in, and plate to drink in, and also linen cloths to -occupy. And thus continued he in this strange estate until the feast of -All-hallown tide was past[159]. - -It chanced me upon All-hallown day to come there into the _Great -Chamber_ at Asher, in the morning, to give mine attendance, where I -found Master Cromwell leaning in the great window, with a Primer in his -hand, saying of our Lady mattins; which had been since a very strange -sight[160]. He prayed not more earnestly than the tears distilled -from his eyes. Whom I bade good morrow. And with that I perceived -the tears upon his cheeks. To whom I said, "Why Master Cromwell, what -meaneth all this your sorrow? Is my lord in any danger, for whom ye -lament thus? or is it for any loss that ye have sustained by any -misadventure?" - -[Illustration: THOMAS CROMWELL, - -EARL OF ESSEX. - -ENGRAVED BY E. SCRIVEN, AFTER - -THE ORIGINAL PICTURE BY HOLBEIN. - -_London, Published Jan. 1, 1825, by Harding, Triphook & Lepard._] - -"Nay, nay," quoth he, "it is my unhappy adventure, which am like to -lose all that I have travailed for all the days of my life, for doing -of my master true and diligent service." "Why, sir," quoth I, "I trust -ye be too wise, to commit any thing by my lord's commandment, otherwise -than ye might do of right, whereof ye have any cause to doubt of loss -of your goods." "Well, well," quoth he, "I cannot tell; but all things -I see before mine eyes, is as it is taken; and this I understand -right well, that I am in disdain with most men for my master's sake; -and surely without just cause. Howbeit, an ill name once gotten will -not lightly be put away. I never had any promotion by my lord to the -increase of my living. And thus much will I say to you, that I intend, -God willing, this afternoon, when my lord hath dined, to ride to -London, and so to the court, where I will either make or mar[161], or -I come again. I will put myself in prease[162], to see what any man is -able to lay to my charge of untruth or misdemeanour." "Marry, sir," -quoth I, "in so doing, in my conceit, ye shall do very well and wisely, -beseeching God to be your guide, and send you good luck, even as I -would myself." And with that I was called into the closet, to see and -prepare all things ready for my lord, who intended that day to say mass -there himself; and so I did. - -And then my lord came thither with his chaplain, one Doctor Marshall, -saying first his mattins, and heard two masses on his knees. And then -after he was confessed, he himself said mass. And when he had finished -mass, and all his divine service, returned into his chamber, where he -dined among divers of his doctors, where as Master Cromwell dined also; -and sitting at dinner, it chanced that my lord commended the true and -faithful service of his gentlemen and yeomen. Whereupon Master Cromwell -took an occasion to say to my lord, that in conscience he ought to -consider their truth and loyal service that they did him, in this his -present necessity, which never forsaketh him in all his trouble. - -"It shall be well done, therefore," said he, "for your grace to -call before you all these your most worthy gentlemen and right -honest yeomen, and let them understand, that ye right well consider -their patience, truth, and faithfulness; and then give them your -commendation, with good words and thanks, the which shall be to them -great courage to sustain your mishap in patient misery, and to spend -their life and substance in your service." - -"Alas, Thomas," quoth my lord unto him, "ye know I have nothing to -give them, and words without deeds be not often well taken. For if I -had but as I have had of late, I would depart with them so frankly -as they should be well content: but nothing hath no savour; and I am -ashamed, and also sorry that I am not able to requite their faithful -service. And although I have cause to rejoice, considering the fidelity -I perceive in the number of my servants, who will not depart from me -in my miserable estate, but be as diligent, obedient, and serviceable -about me as they were in my great triumphant glory, yet do I lament -again the want of substance to distribute among them." "Why, sir," -quoth Master Cromwell, "have ye not here a number of chaplains, to whom -ye have departed very liberally with spiritual promotions, in so much -as some may dispend, by your grace's preferment, a thousand marks by -the year, and some five hundred marks, and some more, and some less; ye -have no one chaplain within all your house, or belonging unto you, but -he may dispend at the least well (by your procurement and preferment) -three hundred marks yearly, who had all the profit and advantage at -your hands, and other your servants none at all; and yet hath your poor -servants taken much more pains for you in one day than all your idle -chaplains hath done in a year. Therefore if they will not freely and -frankly consider your liberality, and depart with you of the same goods -gotten in your service, now in your great indigence and necessity, it -is pity that they live; and all the world will have them in indignation -and hatred, for their abominable ingratitude to their master and lord." - -"I think no less, Thomas," quoth my lord, "wherefore, [I pray you,] -cause all my servants to be called and to assemble without, in my -great chamber, after dinner, and see them stand in order, and I will -declare unto them my mind, according to your advice." After that the -board's end was taken up, Master Cromwell came to me and said, "Heard -you not, what my Lord said even now?" "Yes, sir," quoth I, "that I -did." "Well, then," quoth he, "assemble all my lord's servants up -into the great chamber;" and so I did, and when they were all there -assembled, I assigned all the gentlemen to stand on the right side of -the chamber, and the yeomen on the left side. And at the last my lord -came thither, appareled in a white rochet upon a violet gown of cloth -like a bishop's, who went straight into the great window. Standing -there a while, and his chaplains about him, beholding the number of -his servants divided in two parts, he could not speak unto them for -tenderness of his heart; the flood of tears that distilled from his -eyes declared no less: the which perceived by his servants, caused the -fountains of water to gush out of their faithful hearts down their -cheeks, in such abundance as it would cause a cruel heart to lament. -At the last, after he had turned his face to the wall, and wiped his -eyes with his handkerchief, he spake to them after this sort in effect: -"Most faithful gentlemen and true hearted yeomen, I do not only lament -[to see] your persons present about me, but I do lament my negligent -ingratitude towards you all on my behalf, in whom hath been a great -default, that in my prosperity [I] have not done for you so much as I -might have done, either in word or deed, which was then in my power to -do: but then I knew not my jewels and special treasures that I had of -you my faithful servants in my house; but now approved experience hath -taught me, and with the eyes of my discretion, which before were hid, I -do perceive well the same. There was never thing that repented me more -that ever I did than doth the remembrance of my oblivious negligence -and ungentleness, that I have not promoted or preferred you to condign -rooms and preferments, according to your demerits. Howbeit, it is -not unknown to you all, that I was not so well furnished of temporal -advancements, as I was of spiritual preferments. And if I should have -promoted you to any of the king's offices and rooms, then should I have -incurred the indignation of the king's servants, who would not much let -to report in every place behind my back, that there could no office -or room in the king's gift escape the cardinal and his servants, and -thus should I incur the obloquy and slander before the whole world. -But now it is come to this pass, that it hath pleased the king to -take all that ever I have into his possession, so that I have nothing -left me but my bare clothes upon my back, the which be but simple in -comparison to those that ye have seen me have or this: howbeit, if -they may do you any good or pleasure, I would not stick to divide them -among you, yea, and the skin of my back, if it might countervail any -thing in value among you. But, good gentlemen and yeomen, my trusty and -faithful servants, of whom no prince hath the like, in my opinion, I -most heartily require you to take with me some patience a little while, -for I doubt not but that the king, considering the offence suggested -against me by my mortal enemies, to be of small effect, will shortly, I -doubt not, restore me again to my living, so that I shall be more able -to divide some part thereof yearly among you, whereof ye shall be well -assured. For the surplusage of my revenues, whatsoever shall remain at -the determination of my accompts, shall be, God willing, distributed -among you. For I will never hereafter esteem the goods and riches of -this uncertain world but as a vain thing, more than shall be sufficient -for the maintenance of mine estate and dignity, that God hath or shall -call me unto in this world during my life. And if the king do not thus -shortly restore me, then will I see you bestowed according to your -own requests, and write for you, either to the king, or to any other -noble person within this realm, to retain you into service; for I -doubt not but the king, or any noble man, or worthy gentleman of this -realm, will credit my letter in your commendation. Therefore, in the -mean time, mine advice is, that ye repair home to your wives, such -as have any: and such among you as hath none, to take this time to -visit your parents and friends in the country. There is none of you -all, but once in a year would require licence to visit your wives and -other of your friends: take this time, I pray you, in respect thereof, -and at your return I will not refuse you, if I should beg with you. -I consider that the service of my house hath been such, and of such -sort, that ye be not meet or apt to serve [any] man under the degree -of a king; therefore I would wish you to serve no man but the king, -who I am sure will not reject you. Therefore I desire you to take your -pleasures for a month, and then ye may come again unto me, and I trust -by that time, the king's majesty will extend his clemency upon me." -"Sir," quoth Master Cromwell, "there is divers of these your yeomen, -that would be glad to see their friends, but they lack money: therefore -here is divers of your chaplains who have received at your hands great -benefices and high dignities; let them therefore now show themselves -unto you as they are bound by all humanity to do. I think their -honesty and charity is not so slender and void of grace that they would -not see you lack where they may help to refresh you. And for my part, -although I have not received of your grace's gift one penny towards the -increase of my yearly living, yet will I depart with you this towards -the dispatch of your servants," and [therewith] delivered him five -pounds in gold. "And now let us see what your chaplains will do. I -think they will depart with you much more than I have done, who be more -able to give you a pound than I one penny." "Go to, masters," quoth he -to the chaplains: in so much as some gave to him ten pounds, some ten -marks, some a hundred shillings, and so some more and some less, as at -that time their powers did extend; whereby my lord received among them -as much money of their liberality as he gave to each of his yeomen a -quarter's wages, and board wages for a month; and they departed down -into the hall, where some determined to go to their friends, and some -said that they would not depart from my lord until they might see him -in better estate. My lord returned into his chamber lamenting the -departure from his servants, making his moan unto Master Cromwell, who -comforted him the best he could, and desired my lord to give him leave -to go to London, where he would either make or mar or he came again, -which was always his common saying. Then after long communication with -my lord in secret, he departed and took his horse, and rode to London, -at whose departing I was by, whom he bade farewell; and said, "ye shall -hear shortly of me, and if I speed well, I will not fail to be here -again within these two days." And so I took my leave of him, and he -rode forth on his journey. Sir Rafe Sadler, (now knight), was then his -clerk, and rode with him. - -After that my lord had supped that night, and all men gone to bed, -(being All-hallown day), it chanced so, about midnight, that one of -the porters came unto my chamber door, and there knocked, and waking -me, I perceived who it was; [and] asked him, "what he would have that -time of the night?" "Sir," quoth the porter, "there is a great number -of horsemen at the gate, that would come in, saying to me, that it is -Sir John Russell, and so it appears to me by his voice; what is your -pleasure that I should do?" "Marry," quoth I, "go down again, and make -a great fire in your lodge, against I come to dry them;" for it rained -all that night the sorest that it did all that year before. Then I -rose and put on my nightgown, and came to the gates, and asked who was -there. With that Master Russell spake, whom I knew by his voice, and -then I caused the porter to open the gates and let them all in, who -were wet to the skin; desiring Master Russell to go into the lodge to -the fire; and he showed me that he was come from the king unto my lord -in message, with whom he required me to speak. "Sir," quoth I, "I trust -your news be good?" "Yea, I promise you on my fidelity," quoth he, -"and so, I pray you, show him, I have brought him such news that will -please him right well." "Then I will go," quoth I, "and wake him, and -cause him to rise." I went incontinent to my lord's chamber door, and -waked my lord, who asked me, "what I would have?" "Sir," said I, "to -show you that Sir John Russell is come from the king, who is desirous -to speak with you;" and then he called up one of his grooms to let me -in; and being within I told him "what a journey Sir John Russell had -that night." "I pray God," quoth he, "all be for the best." "Yes, sir," -quoth I, "he showed me, and so bade me tell you, that he had brought -you such news as ye would greatly rejoice thereat." "Well, then," quoth -he, "God be praised, and welcome be his grace! Go ye and fetch him unto -me, and by that time I will be ready to talk with him." - -Then I returned from him to the lodge, and brought Master Russell from -thence to my lord, who had cast on his nightgown. And when Master -Russell was come into his presence, he most humbly reverenced him, -upon his knee, [to] whom my lord bowed down, and took him up, and bade -him welcome. "Sir," quoth he, "the king commendeth him unto you;" and -delivered him a great ring of gold with a Turkis, for a token; "and -willeth you to be of good cheer; who loveth you as well as ever he did, -and is not a little disquieted for your troubles, whose mind is full -of your remembrance. In so much as his grace, before he sat to supper, -called me unto him, and commanded me to take this journey secretly to -visit you, to your comfort the best of my power. And Sir, if it please -your grace, I have had this night the sorest journey, for so little a -way, that ever I had to my remembrance." - -My lord thanked him for his pains and good news, and demanded of him -if he had supped; and he said "Nay." "Well, then," quoth my lord to -me, "cause the cooks to provide some meat for him; and cause a chamber -with a good fire to be made ready for him, that he may take his rest -awhile upon a bed." All which commandment I fulfilled; and in the -meantime my lord and Master Russell were in very secret communication; -and in fine, Master Russell went to his chamber, taking his leave of -my lord for all night, and said, "he would not tarry but a while, for -he would, God willing, be at the court at Greenwich again before day, -for he would not for any thing that it were known, his being with my -lord that night." And so being in his chamber, having a small repast, -rested him a while upon a bed, whilst his servants supped and dried -themselves by the fire; and then incontinent he rode away with speed -to the court. And shortly after his being there, my lord was restored -again unto plenty of household stuff, vessels, and plate, and of all -things necessary some part, so that he was indifferently furnished much -better than he was of late, and yet not so abundantly as the king's -pleasure was, the default whereof was in the officers, and in such as -had the oversight of the delivery thereof; and yet my lord rejoiced in -that little in comparison to that he had before. - -Now let us return again to Master Cromwell, to see how he hath sped, -since his departure last from my lord. The case stood so, that there -should begin, shortly after All-hallown tide, the Parliament, and [he], -being within London, devised with himself to be one of the Burgesses -of the Parliament, and chanced to meet with one Sir Thomas Rush, -knight, a special friend of his, whose son was appointed to be one of -the Burgesses of that Parliament, of whom he obtained his room, and -by that means put his foot into the Parliament House: then within two -or three days after his entry into the Parliament, he came unto my -lord, to Asher, with a much pleasanter countenance than he had at his -departure, and meeting with me before he came to my lord, said unto -me, "that he had once adventured to put in his foot, where he trusted -shortly to be better regarded, or all were done." And when he was come -to my lord, they talked together in secret manner; and that done, he -rode out of hand again that night to London, because he would not be -absent from the Parliament the next morning. There could nothing be -spoken against my lord in the Parliament House but he would answer -it incontinent, or else take until the next day, against which time -he would resort to my lord to know what answer he should make in his -behalf; in so much that there was no matter alleged against my lord but -that he was ever ready furnished with a sufficient answer; so that at -length, for his honest behaviour in his master's cause, he grew into -such estimation in every man's opinion, that he was esteemed to be the -most faithfullest servant to his master of all other, wherein he was of -all men greatly commended. - -Then was there brought in a Bill of Articles into the Parliament House -to have my lord condemned of treason; against which bill Master -Cromwell inveighed so discreetly, with such witty persuasions and deep -reasons, that the same bill could take there no effect[163]. Then -were his enemies compelled to indite him in a _premunire_, and all -was done only to the intent to entitle the king to all his goods and -possessions, the which he had gathered together, and purchased for -his colleges in Oxford and Ipswich, and for the maintenance of the -same, which was then abuilding in most sumptuous wise. Wherein when -he was demanded by the judges, which were sent [to] him purposely to -examine him what answer he would make to the same, he said: "The king's -highness knoweth right well whether I have offended his majesty and his -laws or no, in using of my prerogative legatine, for the which ye have -me indited. Notwithstanding I have the king's license in my coffers, -under his hand and broad seal, for exercising and using the authority -thereof, in the largest wise, within his highness' dominions, the which -remaineth now in the hands of my enemies. Therefore, because I will not -stand in question or trial with the king in his own cause, I am content -here of mine own frank will and mind, in your presence, to confess the -offence in the inditement, and put me wholly in the mercy and grace -of the king, having no doubt in his godly disposition and charitable -conscience, whom I know hath an high discretion to consider the truth, -and my humble submission and obedience. And although I might justly -stand on the trial with him therein; yet I am content to submit myself -to his clemency, and thus much ye may say to him in my behalf, that I -am entirely in his obedience, and do intend, God willing, to obey and -fulfil all his princely pleasure in every thing that he will command me -to do; whose will and pleasure I never yet disobeyed or repugned, but -was always contented and glad to accomplish his desire and commandment -before God, whom I ought most rathest to [have] obeyed; the which -negligence now greatly repenteth me. Notwithstanding, I most heartily -require you, to have me most humbly to his royal majesty commended, for -whom I do and will pray for the preservation of his royal person, long -to reign in honour, prosperity, and quietness, and to have the victory -over his mortal and cankered enemies." And they took their leave of him -and departed. - -Shortly after the king sent the Duke of Norfolk unto him in message; -but what it was I am not certain. But my Lord being advertised that the -duke was coming even at hand, he caused all his gentlemen to wait upon -him down through the Hall into the Base Court, to receive the duke at -the entry of the gates; and commanded all his yeomen to stand still in -the Hall in order. And he and his gentlemen went to the gates, where he -encountered with my Lord of Norfolk, whom he received bareheaded; who -embraced each other: and so led him by the arm through the Hall into -his chamber. And as the duke passed through the Hall, at the upper end -thereof he turned again his visage down the Hall, regarding the number -of the tall yeomen that stood in order there, and said: "Sirs," quoth -he, "your diligent and faithful service unto my lord here your master, -in this time of his calamity, hath purchased for yourselves of all -noble men much honesty; in so much as the king commanded me to say to -you in his grace's name, that, for your true and loving service that -ye have done to your master, his highness will see you all furnished -at all times with services according to your demerits." With that my -Lord Cardinal put off his cap, and said to my Lord of Norfolk; "Sir," -quoth he, "these men be all approved men: wherefore it were pity they -should want other service or living; and being sorry that I am not able -to do for them as my heart doth wish, do therefore require you, my good -lord, to be good lord unto them, and extend your good word for them, -when ye shall see opportunity at any time hereafter; and that ye will -prefer their diligent and faithful service to the king." "Doubt ye not -thereof," quoth my Lord of Norfolk, "but I will do for them the best of -my power: and when I shall see cause, I will be an earnest suitor for -them to the king; and some of you I will retain myself in service for -your honesty's sake. And as ye have begun, so continue and remain here -still with my lord until ye hear more of the king's pleasure:--God's -blessing and mine be with you!" And so went up into the great chamber -to dinner, whom my Lord Cardinal thanked, and said unto him, "Yet, my -lord, of all other noble men, I have most cause to thank you for your -noble heart and gentle nature, which ye have showed me behind my back, -as my servant, Thomas Cromwell, hath made report unto me. But even as -ye are a noble man in deed, so have ye showed yourself no less to all -men in calamity, and in especial to me, and even as ye have abated my -glory and high estate, and brought it full low, so have ye extended -your honourable favour most charitably unto me, being prostrate before -you. Forsooth, Sir, ye do right well deserve to bear in your arms the -noble and gentle lion, whose natural inclination is, that when he hath -vanquished any beast, and seeth him yielded, lying prostrate before him -at his feet, then will he show most clemency unto his vanquished, and -do him no more harm, ne suffer any other devouring beast to damage him: -whose nature and quality ye do ensue; therefore these verses may be -applied to your lordship: - - _Parcere prostratis scit nobilis ira leonis: - Ta quoque fac simile, quisquis regnabis in orbem._" - -With that the water was brought them to wash before dinner, to the -which my lord called my Lord of Norfolk to wash with him: but he -refused of courtesy, and desired to have him excused, and said "that -it became him not to presume to wash with him any more now, than it -did before[164] in his glory." "Yes, forsooth," quoth my Lord Cardinal, -"for my authority and dignity legatine is gone, wherein consisted -all my high honour." "A straw," quoth my Lord of Norfolk, "for your -legacy. I never esteemed your honour the more or higher for that. But -I regarded your honour, for that ye were Archbishop of York, and a -cardinal, whose estate of honour surmounteth any duke now being within -this realm; and so will I honour you, and acknowledge the same, and -bear you reverence accordingly. Therefore, I beseech you, content -yourself, for I will not presume to wash with you; and therefore I pray -you, hold me excused." Then was my Lord Cardinal constrained to wash -alone; and my Lord of Norfolk all alone also. When he had done, my Lord -Cardinal would fain have had him to sit down on the chair, in the -inner side of the table, but surely he refused the same also with much -humbleness. Then was there set another chair for my Lord of Norfolk, -over against my Lord Cardinal, on the outside of the table, the which -was by my Lord of Norfolk based something beneath my lord, and during -the dinner all their communication was of the diligent service of the -gentlemen which remained with my lord there attending upon him at -dinner, and how much the king and all other noble men doth esteem them -with worthy commendations for so doing; and at this time how little -they be esteemed in the court that are come to the king's service, and -[have] forsaken their master in his necessity; whereof some he blamed -by name. And with this communication, the dinner being ended, they rose -from the table, and went together into my lord's bedchamber, where they -continued in consultation a certain season. And being there, it chanced -Master Shelley, the judge, to come thither, sent from the king; whereof -relation was made to my lord, which caused the duke and him to break up -their communication; and the duke desired to go into some chamber to -repose him for a season. And as he was coming out of my lord's chamber, -he met with Master Shelley, to whom Master Shelley made relation of the -cause of his coming, and desired the duke to tarry and to assist him -in doing of his message; whom he denied and said, "I have nothing to -do with your message, wherein I will not meddle;" and so departed into -a chamber, where he took his rest for an hour or two. And in the mean -time my lord issued out of his chamber, and came to Master Shelley to -know his message. Who declared unto him, after due salutation, that the -king's pleasure was to have his house at Westminster, (then called York -Place, belonging to the Bishoprick of York,) intending to make of that -house a palace royal; and to possess the same according to the laws -of this his grace's realm. His highness hath therefore sent for all -the judges, and for all his learned counsel, to know their opinions in -the assurance thereof; in whose determinations it was fully resolved, -that your grace should recognise, before a judge, the right thereof -to be in the king and his successors; and so his highness shall be -assured thereof. Wherefore it hath pleased his majesty to appoint me -by his commandment to come hither, to take of you this recognisance, -who hath in you such affiance, that ye will not refuse so to do -accordingly. Therefore I shall desire your grace to know your good will -therein."--"Master Shelley," quoth my lord, "I know that the king of -his own nature is of a royal stomach, and yet not willing more than -justice shall lead him unto by the law. And therefore, I counsel you, -and all other fathers of the law and learned men of his counsel, to put -no more into his head than the law may stand with good conscience; for -when ye tell him, this is the law, it were well done ye should tell -him also that, although _this_ be the law, yet _this_ is conscience; -for law without conscience is not good to be given unto a king in -counsel to use for a lawful right, but always to have a respect to -conscience, before the rigour of the common law, for _laus est facere -quod decet, non quod licet_. The king ought of his royal dignity and -prerogative to mitigate the rigour of the law, where conscience hath -the most force; therefore, in his royal place of equal justice, he hath -constitute a chancellor, an officer to execute justice with clemency, -where conscience is opposed by the rigour of the law. And therefore the -Court of Chancery hath been heretofore commonly called the Court of -Conscience; because it hath jurisdiction to command the high ministers -of the common law to spare execution and judgment, where conscience -hath most effect. Therefore I say to you in this case, although you, -and other of your profession, perceive by your learning that the king -may, by an order of your laws, lawfully do that thing which ye demand -of me; how say you, Master Shelley, may I do it with justice and -conscience, to give that thing away from me and my successors which is -none of mine? If this be law, with conscience, show me your opinion, -I pray you." "Forsooth, my lord," quoth he, "there is some conscience -in this case; but having regard to the king's high power, and to be -employed to a better use and purpose, it may the better be suffered -with conscience; who is sufficient to make recompense to the church of -York with double the value." "That I know well," quoth my lord, "but -here is no such condition neither promised nor agreed, but only a bare -and simple departure with another's right for ever. And if every bishop -may do the like, then might every prelate give away the patrimony of -their churches which is none of theirs; and so in process of time -leave nothing for their successors to maintain their dignities, which, -all things considered, should be but small to the king's honour. Sir, -I do not intend to stand in terms with you in this matter, but let -me see your commission." To whom Master Shelley showed the same, and -that seen, and perceived by him, said again thus: "Master Shelley," -quoth he, "ye shall make report to the king's highness, that I am -his obedient subject, and faithful chaplain and beadman, whose royal -commandment and request I will in no wise disobey, but most gladly -fulfil and accomplish his princely will and pleasure in all things, -and in especial in this matter, in as much as ye, the fathers of the -laws, say that I may lawfully do it. Therefore I charge your conscience -and discharge mine. Howbeit, I pray you, show his majesty from me, -that I most humbly desire his highness to call to his most gracious -remembrance, that there is both heaven and hell." And therewith the -clerk was called, who wrote my lord's recognisance[165], and after some -secret talk Master Shelley departed. Then rose my Lord of Norfolk from -his repose, and after some communication with my lord he departed. - -Thus continued my lord at Asher, who received daily messages from the -court, whereof some were not so good as some were bad, but yet much -more evil than good. For his enemies, perceiving the great affection -that the king bare always towards him, devised a mean to disquiet and -disturb his patience; thinking thereby to give him an occasion to fret -and chafe, that death should rather ensue than increase of health or -life, the which they most desired. They feared him more after his fall -than they did before in his prosperity, doubting much his re-adoption -into authority, by reason that the king's favour remained still towards -him in such force, whereby they might rather be in danger of their -estates, than in any assurance, for their cruelty ministered, by their -malicious inventions, surmised and brought to pass against him. - -Therefore they took this order among them in their matters, that -daily they would send him something, or do something against him, -wherein they thought that they might give him a cause of heaviness or -lamentation. As some day they would cause the king to send for four or -five of his gentlemen from him to serve the king: and some other day -they would lay matters newly invented against him. Another day they -would take from him some of his promotions; or of their promotions whom -he [had] preferred before. Then would they fetch from him some of his -yeomen; in so much as the king took into service sixteen of them at -once, and at one time put them into his guard. This order of life he -led continually; that there was no one day but, or ever he went to bed, -he had an occasion greatly to chafe or fret the heart out of his belly, -but that he was a wise man, and bare all their malice in patience[166]. - -At Christmas he fell sore sick, that he was likely to die. Whereof -the king being advertised, was very sorry therefore, and sent Doctor -Buttes, his grace's physician, unto him, to see in what estate he -was. Doctor Buttes came unto him, and finding him very sick lying in -his bed; and perceiving the danger he was in repaired again unto the -king. Of whom the king demanded, saying, "How doth yonder man, have -you seen him?" "Yea, sir," quoth he. "How do you like him?" quoth the -king. "Forsooth, sir," quoth he, "if you will have him dead, I warrant -your grace he will be dead within these four days, if he receive no -comfort from you shortly, and Mistress Anne." "Marry," quoth the king, -"God forbid that he should die. I pray you, good Master Buttes, go -again unto him, and do your cure upon him; for I would not lose him -for twenty thousand pounds." "Then must your grace," quoth Master -Buttes, "send him first some comfortable message, as shortly as is -possible." "Even so will I," quoth the king, "by you. And therefore -make speed to him again, and ye shall deliver him from me this ring for -a token of our good will and favour towards him, (in the which ring was -engraved the king's visage within a ruby, as lively counterfeit as was -possible to be devised). This ring he knoweth very well; for he gave -me the same; and tell him, that I am not offended with him in my heart -nothing at all, and that shall he perceive, and God send him life, very -shortly. Therefore bid him be of good cheer, and pluck up his heart, -and take no despair. And I charge you come not from him, until ye have -brought him out of all danger of death." And then spake he to Mistress -Anne, saying, "Good sweetheart, I pray you at this my instance, as ye -love us, to send the cardinal a token with comfortable words; and in -so doing ye shall do us a loving pleasure." She being not minded to -disobey the king's earnest request, whatsoever she intended in her -heart towards the cardinal; took incontinent her tablet of gold hanging -at her girdle, and delivered it to Master Buttes, with very gentle and -comfortable words and commendations to the cardinal. And thus Master -Buttes departed, and made speedy return to Asher, to my Lord Cardinal; -after whom the king sent Doctor Clement, Doctor Wotton, and Doctor -Cromer the Scot, to consult and assist Master Buttes for my lord's -health. - -After that Master Buttes had been with my lord, and delivered -the king's and Mistress Anne's tokens unto him, with the most -comfortable words he could devise on their behalf, whereat he -rejoiced not a little, advancing him a little in his bed, and received -their tokens most joyfully, thanking Master Buttes for his comfortable -news and pains. Master Buttes showed him furthermore, that the king's -pleasure was, that he should minister unto him for his health: and to -join with him for the better and most assured and brief ways, to be -had for the same, hath sent Doctor Wotton, Doctor Clement, and Doctor -Cromer, to join with him in counsel and ministration. "Therefore, -my lord," quoth he, "it were well done that they should be called -in to visit your person and estate, wherein I would be glad to hear -their opinions, trusting in Almighty God that, through his grace and -assistance, we shall ease you of your pains, and rid you clean from -your disease and infirmity. Wherewith my lord was well pleased and -contented to hear their judgments; for indeed he trusted more to the -Scottish doctor than he did to any of the other, because he was the -very occasion that he inhabited here in England, and before he gave -him partly his exhibition in Paris. Then when they were come into -his chamber, and had talked with him, he took upon him to debate his -disease learnedly among them, so that they might understand that he was -seen in that art. After they had taken order for ministration, it was -not long or they brought him out of all danger and fear of death; and -within four days they set him on his feet, and got him a good stomach -to his meat[167]. This done, and he in a good estate of amendment, -they took their leave to depart, to whom my lord offered his reward; -the which they refused, saying, that the king gave them in special -commandment, to take nothing of him for their pains and ministration; -for at their return his highness said that he would reward them of his -own costs: and thus with great thanks they departed from my lord, whom -they left in good estate of recovery. - -[Illustration: _Etched by I. Harris, Jun._ - -D^R. BUTTS SENT BY THE KING TO THE SICK CARDINAL WITH TOKENS OF FAVOUR. - -_From a M.S. in the Collection of Francis Douce Esq^r. F.S.A._ - -_Published by Harding, Triphook, & Lepard. 1824._] - -After this time my lord daily amended, and so continued still at Asher -until Candlemas; against which feast, the king caused to be sent him -three or four cart loads of stuff, and most part thereof was locked in -great standards, (except beds and kitchen-stuff,) wherein was both -plate and rich hangings, and chapel-stuff[168]. Then my lord, being -thus furnished, was therewith well contented; although they whom the -king assigned did not deliver him so good, ne so rich stuff, as the -king's pleasure was, yet was he joyous thereof, and rendered most -humble thanks to the king, and to them that appointed the said stuff -for him, saying to us his servants, at the opening of the same stuff in -the standards, the which we thought, and said, might have been better -appointed if it had pleased them that appointed it: "Nay, sirs," quoth -my lord to us, "he that hath nothing is glad of somewhat, though it -be never so little, and although it be not in comparison half so much -and good as we had before, yet we rejoice more of this little than we -did of the great abundance that we then had; and thank the king very -much for the same, trusting after this to have much more. Therefore let -us all rejoice, and be glad, that God and the king hath so graciously -remembered to restore us to some things to maintain our estate like a -noble person." - -Then commanded he Master Cromwell, being with him, to make suit to the -king's majesty, that he might remove thence to some other place, for -he was weary of that house of Asher: for with continual use thereof -the house waxed unsavoury; supposing that if he might remove from -thence he should much sooner recover his health. And also the council -had put into the king's head, that the new gallery at Asher, which my -lord had late before his fall newly set up, should be very necessary -for the king, to take down and set it up again at Westminster; which -was done accordingly, and stands at this present day there[169]. The -taking away thereof before my lord's face was to him a corrosive, -which was invented by his enemies only to torment him, the which -indeed discouraged him very sore to tarry any longer there. Now Master -Cromwell thought it but vain and much folly to move any of the king's -council to assist and prefer his suit to the king, among whom rested -the number of his mortal enemies, for they would rather hinder his -removing, or else remove him farther from the king, than to have holpen -him to any place nigh the king's common trade; wherefore he refused -any suit to them, and made only suit to the king's own person; whose -suit the king graciously heard, and thought it very convenient to be -granted; and through the special motion of Master Cromwell, the king -was well contented that he should remove to Richmond, which place my -lord had a little before repaired to his great cost and charge; for the -king had made an exchange thereof with him for Hampton Court. All this -his removing was done without the knowledge of the king's council, for -if they might have had any intelligence thereof before, then would they -have persuaded the king to the contrary: but when they were advertised -of the king's grant and pleasure, they dissimuled their countenances -in the king's presence, for they were greatly afraid of him, lest his -nigh being, the king might at length some one time resort to him, and -so call him home again, considering the great affection and love that -the king daily showed towards him; wherefore they doubted his rising -again, if they found not a mean to remove him shortly from the king. -In so much that they thought it convenient for their purpose to inform -the king upon certain considerations which they invented, that it -were very necessary that my lord should go down into the North unto -his benefice of York, where he should be a good stay for the country; -to the which the king, supposing that they had meant no less than -good faith, granted and condescended to their suggestions; which were -forced so with wonderful imagined considerations, that the king, -understanding nothing of their intent, was lightly persuaded to the -same. Whereupon the Duke of Norfolk commanded Master Cromwell, who -had daily access unto him, to say to my lord, that it is the king's -pleasure that he should with speed go to his benefice, where lieth his -cure, and look to that according to his duty. Master Cromwell at his -next repair to my lord, who lay then at Richmond, declared unto him -what my Lord of Norfolk said, how it was determined that he should go -to his benefice. "Well then, Thomas," quoth my lord, "seeing there is -no other remedy, I do intend to go to my benefice of Winchester, and -I pray you, Thomas, so show my Lord of Norfolk." "Contented, sir," -quoth Master Cromwell, and according to his commandment did so. To the -which my Lord of Norfolk answered and said, "What will he do there?" -"Nay," quoth he, "let him go into his province of York, whereof he -hath received his honour, and there lieth the spiritual burden and -charge of his conscience, as he ought to do, and so show him." The -lords, who were not all his friends, having intelligence of his intent, -thought to withdraw his appetite from Winchester, and would in no wise -permit him to plant himself so nigh the king: [they] moved therefore -the king to give my lord but a pension[170] out of Winchester, and to -distribute all the rest among the nobility and other of his worthy -servants; and in likewise to do the same with the revenues of St. -Albans; and of the revenues of his colleges in Oxford and Ipswich, the -which the king took into his own hands; whereof Master Cromwell had the -receipt and government before by my lord's assignment. In consideration -thereof it was thought most convenient that he should have so still. -Notwithstanding, out of the revenues of Winchester and St. Albans the -king gave to some one nobleman three hundred marks, and to some a -hundred pounds, and to some more and to some less, according to the -king's royal pleasure. Now Master Cromwell executed his office, the -which he had over the lands of the college, so justly and exactly that -he was had in great estimation for his witty behaviour therein, and -also for the true, faithful, and diligent service extended towards my -lord his master. - -It came at length so to pass that those to whom the king's majesty had -given any annuities or fees for term of life by patent out of the -forenamed revenues could not be good, but [only] during my lord's life, -forasmuch as the king had no longer estate or title therein[171], which -came to him by reason of my lord's attainder in the premunire; and to -make their estates good and sufficient according to their patents, it -was thought necessary to have my lord's confirmation unto their grants. -And this to be brought about, there was no other mean but to make suit -to Master Cromwell to obtain their confirmation at my lord's hands, -whom they thought might best obtain the same. - -Then began both noblemen and other who had any patents of the king, -out either of Winchester or St. Albans, to make earnest suit to Master -Cromwell for to solicit their causes to my lord, to get of him his -confirmations; and for his pains therein sustained, they promised -every man, not only worthily to reward him, but also to show him such -pleasures as should at all times lie in their several powers, whereof -they assured him. Wherein Master Cromwell perceiving an occasion and -a time given him to work for himself, and to bring the thing to pass -which he long wished for; intended to work so in this matter, to serve -their desires, that he might the sooner bring his own enterprise to -purpose. - -Then at his next resort to my lord, he moved him privily in this matter -to have his counsel and his advice, and so by their witty heads it -was devised that they should work together by one line, to bring by -their policies Master Cromwell in place and estate, where he might do -himself good and my lord much profit. Now began matters to work to -bring Master Cromwell into estimation in such sort as was afterwards -much to his increase of dignity; and thus every man, having an occasion -to sue for my lord's confirmation, made now earnest travail to Master -Cromwell for these purposes, who refused none to make promise that he -would do his best in that case. And having a great occasion of access -to the king for the disposition of divers lands, whereof he had the -order and governance; by means whereof, and by his witty demeanour, -he grew continually into the king's favour, as ye shall hear after in -this history. But first let us resort to the great business about the -assurance of all these patents which the king hath given to divers -noblemen and other of his servants, wherein Master Cromwell made a -continuance of great suit to my lord for the same, that in process of -time he served all their turns so that they had their purposes, and he -their good wills. Thus rose his name and friendly acceptance with all -men. The fame of his honesty and wisdom sounded so in the king's ears -that, by reason of his access to the king, he perceived to be in him no -less wisdom than fame had made of him report, forasmuch as he had the -government and receipts of those lands which I showed you before; and -the conference that he had with the king therein enforced the king to -repute him a very wise man, and a meet instrument to serve his grace, -as it after came to pass. - -Sir, now the lords thought long to remove my lord farther from the -king, and out of his common trade; wherefore among other of the lords, -my Lord of Norfolk said to Master Cromwell, "Sir," quoth he, "me -thinketh that the cardinal your master maketh no haste northward; show -him, that if he go not away shortly, I will, rather than he should -tarry still, tear him with my teeth. Therefore I would advise him -to prepare him away as shortly as he can, or else he shall be sent -forward." These words Master Cromwell reported to my lord at his next -repair unto him, who then had a just occasion to resort to him for the -dispatch of the noblemen's and others' patents. And here I will leave -of this matter, and show you of my lord's being at Richmond. - -My lord, having license of the king to repair and remove to Richmond, -made haste to prepare him thitherward; and so he came and lodged -within the great park there, which was a very pretty house and a neat, -lacking no necessary rooms that to so small a house was convenient and -necessary; where was to the same a very proper garden garnished with -divers pleasant walks and alleys: my lord continued in this lodge from -the time that he came thither, shortly after Candlemas, until it was -Lent, with a privy number of servants, because of the smallness of the -house, and the rest of his family went to board wages. - -I will tell you a certain tale by the way of communication. Sir, as -my lord was accustomed towards night to walk in the garden there, -to say his service, it was my chance then to wait upon him there; -and standing still in an alley, whilst he in another walked with his -chaplain, saying of his service; as I stood, I espied certain images -of beasts counterfeit in timber, standing in a corner under the lodge -wall, to the which I repaired to behold. Among whom I saw there a dun -cow, whereon I mused most, because it seemed me to be the most lively -entaylled[172] among all the rest. My lord being, as I said, walking -on the other side of the garden, perceived me, came suddenly upon me -at my back, unawares, [and] said: "What have you espied here, that -you so attentively look upon?" "Forsooth, if it please your grace," -quoth I, "here I do behold these entaylled images; the which I suppose -were ordained for to be set up within some place about the king's -palace: howbeit, sir, among them all, I have most considered the dun -cow, [in] the which (as it seemeth me) the workman has most apertly -showed his cunning." "Yea, marry, sir," quoth my lord, "upon this -dun cow dependeth a certain prophecy, the which I will show you, for -peradventure ye never heard of it before. There is a saying," quoth he, -"that - - "When this cow rideth the bull, - Then, priest, beware thy scull." - -[Of] which prophecy neither my lord that declared it, ne I that heard -it, understood the effect; although that even then it was a-working to -be brought to pass. For this cow the king gave as one of his beasts -appertaining of antiquity unto his earldom of Richmond, which was his -ancient inheritance; this prophecy was after expounded in this wise. -This dun cow, because it was the king's beast, betokened the king; -and the bull betokened Mistress Anne Boleyn, which was after queen, -because that her father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, gave the same beast in -his cognisance. So that when the king had married her, the which was -then unknown to my lord, or to any other at that time, then was this -prophecy thought of all men to be fulfilled. For what a number of -priests, both religious and secular, lost their heads for offending -of such laws as were then made to bring this [marriage] to effect, is -not unknown to all the world. Therefore it was judged of all men that -this prophecy was then fulfilled when the king and she were joined in -marriage. Now, how dark and obscure riddles and prophecies be, you may -behold in this same: for before it was brought to pass there was not -the wisest prophesier could perfectly discuss it, as it is now come -to effect and purpose. Trust therefore, by mine advice, to no kind of -dark riddles and prophecies, wherein ye may, as many have been, be -deceived, and brought to destruction. And many times the imaginations -and travailous business to avoid such dark and strange prophecies, hath -been the very occasion to bring the same the sooner to effect and -perfection. Therefore let men beware to divine or assure themselves -to expound any such prophecies, for who so doeth shall first deceive -themselves, and, secondly, bring many into error; the experience hath -been lately experienced, the more pity. But if men will needs think -themselves so wise, to be assured of such blind prophecies, and will -work their wills therein, either in avoiding or in fulfilling the -same, God send him well to speed, for he may as well, and much more -sooner, take damage than avoid the danger thereof! Let prophecies -alone, a God's name, apply your vocation, and commit the exposition -of such dark riddles and obscure prophecies to God, that disposeth -them as his divine pleasure shall see cause to alter and change all -your enterprises and imaginations to nothing, and deceive all your -expectations, and cause you to repent your great folly, the which when -ye feel the smart, will yourself confess the same to be both great -folly and much more madness to trust in any such fantasies. Let God -therefore dispose them, who governeth and punisheth according to man's -deserts, and not to all men's judgments. - -You have heard herebefore what words the Duke of Norfolk had to Master -Cromwell touching my lord's going to the North to his benefice of York, -at such time as Master Cromwell declared the same to my lord, to whom -my lord answered in this wise: "Marry, Thomas," quoth he, "then it is -time to be going, if my Lord of Norfolk take it so. Therefore I pray -you go to the king and move his highness in my behalf, and say that -I would, with all my heart, go to my benefice at York, but for want -of money; desiring his grace to assist me with some money towards my -journey. For ye may say that the last money that I received of his -majesty hath been too little to pay my debts, compelled by his counsel -so to do; therefore to constrain me to the payment thereof, and his -highness having all my goods, hath been too much extremity; wherein I -trust his grace will have a charitable respect. Ye may say also to my -Lord of Norfolk, and other of the council, that I would depart if I had -money." "Sir," quoth Master Cromwell, "I will do my best." And after -other communication he departed again, and went to London. - -My lord then in the beginning of Lent [removed] out of the Lodge into -the Charterhouse of Richmond, where he lay in a lodging, which Doctor -Collet, sometime Dean of Paul's, had made for himself, until he removed -northward, which was in the Passion Week after; and he had to the -same house a secret gallery, which went out of his chamber into the -Charterhouse church, whither he resorted every day to their service; -and at afternoons he would sit in contemplation with one or other of -the most ancient fathers of that house in his cell, who among them by -their counsel persuaded him from the vain glory of this world, and gave -him divers shirts of hair, the which he often wore afterward, whereof -I am certain. And thus he continued for the time of his abode there in -godly contemplation. - -Now when Master Cromwell came to the court, he chanced to move my Lord -of Norfolk that my lord would gladly depart northward but for lack of -money, wherein he desired his assistance to the king. Then went they -both jointly to the king, to whom my Lord of Norfolk declared how my -lord would gladly depart northward, if he wanted not money to bring -him thither; the king thereupon referred the assignment thereof to the -council, whereupon they were in divers opinions. Some said he should -have none, for he had sufficient of late delivered him; some would -he should have sufficient and enough; and some contrariwise would he -should have but a small sum; and some thought it much against the -council's honour, and much more against the king's high dignity to see -him want the maintenance of his estate which the king had given him in -this realm; and [who] also hath been in such estimation with the king, -and in great authority under him; it should be rather a great slander -in foreign realms to the king and his whole council, to see him want -that lately had so much, and now so little. "Therefore, rather than he -should lack," quoth one among them, "(although he never did me good or -any pleasure), yet would I lay my plate to gage for him for a thousand -pounds, rather than he should depart so simply as some would have him -for to do. Let us do to him as we would be done unto; considering his -small offence, and his inestimable substance that he only hath departed -withal the same, for satisfying of the king's pleasure, rather than -he would stand in defence with the king in defending of his case, as -he might justly have done, as ye all know. Let not malice cloak this -matter whereby that justice and mercy may take no place; ye have all -your pleasures fulfilled which ye have long desired, and now suffer -conscience to minister unto him some liberality; the day may come -that some of us may be in the same case, ye have such alterations in -persons, as well assured as ye suppose yourselves to be, and to stand -upon as sure a ground, and what hangeth over our heads we know not; I -can say no more: now do as ye list." Then after all this they began -again to consult in this matter, and after long debating and reasoning -about the same, it was concluded, that he should have by the way of -prest[173], a thousand marks out of Winchester Bishoprick, beforehand -of his pension, which the king had granted him out of the same, for the -king had resumed the whole revenues of the Bishoprick of Winchester -into his own hands; yet the king out of the same had granted divers -great pensions unto divers noblemen and unto other of his council; so -that I do suppose, all things accompted, his part was the least. So -that, when this determination was fully concluded, they declared the -same to the king, who straightway [commanded] the said thousand marks -to be delivered out of hand to Master Cromwell; and so it was. The -king, calling Master Cromwell to him secretly, bade him to resort to -him again when he had received the said sum of money. And according to -the same commandment he repaired again to the king; to whom the king -said: "Show my lord your master, although our council hath not assigned -any sufficient sum of money to bear his charges, yet ye shall show him -in my behalf, that I will send him a thousand pound, of my benevolence; -and tell him that he shall not lack, and bid him be of good cheer." -Master Cromwell upon his knees most humbly thanked the king on my -lord's behalf, for his great benevolence and noble heart towards -my lord: "those comfortable words of your grace," quoth he, "shall -rejoice him more than three times the value of your noble reward." -And therewith departed from the king and came to my lord directly -to Richmond; to whom he delivered the money, and showed him all the -arguments in the council, which ye have heard before, with the progress -of the same; and of what money it was, and whereof it was levied, which -the council sent him; and of the money which the king sent him, and -of his comfortable words; whereof my lord rejoiced not a little, and -[was] greatly comforted. And after the receipt of this money my lord -consulted with Master Cromwell about his departure, and of his journey, -with the order thereof. - -Then my lord prepared all things with speed for his journey into the -North, and sent to London for livery clothes for his servants that -should ride with him thither. Some he refused, such as he thought were -not meet to serve; and some again of their own mind desired him of his -favour to tarry still here in the south, being very loath to abandon -their native country, their parents, wives, and children, [whom] he -most gladly licensed with good will and favour, and rendered unto them -his hearty thanks for their painful service and long tarriance with -him in his troublesome decay and overthrow. So that now all things -being furnished towards this journey, he took the same in the beginning -of the Passion Week, before Easter; and so rode to a place, then the -abbot's of Westminster, called Hendon; and the next day he removed to a -place called the Rye; where my Lady Parrey lay; the next day he rode to -Royston, and lodged in the monastery there; and the next he removed to -Huntingdon, and there lodged in the Abbey; and from thence he removed -to Peterborough, and there lodged also within the Abbey, being then -Palm Sunday, where he made his abode until the Thursday in Easter week, -with all his train[174]; whereof the most part went to board wages in -the town, having twelve carts to carry his stuff of his own, which came -from his college in Oxford, where he had three score carts to carry -such necessaries as belonged to his buildings there. Upon Palm Sunday -he went in procession, with the monks, bearing his palm; setting forth -God's service right honourably, with such singing men as he then had -remaining with him. And upon Maundy Thursday he made his Maundy in our -Lady's Chapel, having fifty-nine[175] poor men, whose feet he washed, -wiped, and kissed; each of these poor men had twelve pence in money, -three ells of canvass to make them shirts, a pair of new shoes, a -cast of bread, three red herrings, and three white herrings, and the -odd person had two shillings. Upon Easter Day in the morning he rode -to the resurrection[176], and that day he went in procession in his -cardinal's vesture, with his hat and hood on his head, and he himself -sang there the high mass very devoutly; and granted clean remission to -all the hearers[177]; and there continued [he] all the holidays. - -My lord continuing at Peterborough after this manner, intending to -remove from thence, sent me to Sir William Fitzwilliams, a knight, -which dwelt within three or four miles of Peterborough, to provide him -there a lodging until Monday next following, on his journey northward. -And being with him, to whom I declared my lord's request, and he -being thereof very glad, rejoiced not a little that it would please -my lord to visit his house in his way; saying, that he should be most -heartiliest welcome of any man alive, the king's majesty excepted; and -that he should not need to discharge the carriage of any of his stuff -for his own use during the time of his being there; but have all things -furnished ready against his coming to occupy, his own bed excepted. -Thus upon my report made to my lord at my return, he rejoiced of my -message, commanding me therein to give warning to all his officers -and servants to prepare themselves to remove from Peterborough upon -Thursday next. Then every man made all things in such readiness as was -convenient, paying in the town for all things as they had taken of any -person for their own use, for which cause my lord caused a proclamation -to be made in the town, that if any person or persons in the town -or country there were offended or grieved against any of my lord's -servants, that they should resort to my lord's officers, of whom they -should have redress, and truly answered as the case justly required. -So that, all things being furnished, my lord took his journey from -Peterborough upon the Thursday in Easter week, to Master Fitzwilliams, -where he was joyously received, and had right worthy and honourable -entertainment at the only charge and expense of the said Master -Fitzwilliams, all [the] time of his being there[178]. - -The occasion that moved Master Fitzwilliams thus to rejoice of my -lord's being in his house was, that he sometime being a merchant of -London and sheriff there, fell in debate with the city of London -upon a grudge between the aldermen of the bench and him, upon a new -corporation that he would erect of a new mystery called Merchant -Taylors, contrary to the opinion of divers of the bench of aldermen -of the city, which caused him to give and surrender his cloak, and -departed from London, and inhabited within the country; and against -the malice of all the said aldermen and other rulers in the commonweal -of the city, my lord defended him, and retained him into service, whom -he made first his treasurer of his house, and then after his high -chamberlain; and in conclusion, for his wisdom, gravity, port, and -eloquence, being a gentleman of a comely stature, made him one of the -king's counsel: and [he] so continued all his life afterward. Therefore -in consideration of all these gratitudes received at my lord's hands, -as well in his trouble as in his preferment, was most gladest like a -faithful friend of good remembrance to requite him with the semblable -gratuity, and right joys that he had any occasion to minister some -pleasure, such as lay then in his power to do. - -Thus my lord continued there until the Monday next; where lacked -no good cheer of costly viands, both of wine and other goodly -entertainment; so that upon the said Monday my lord departed from -thence unto Stamford; where he lay all that night. And the next day -he removed from thence unto Grantham, and was lodged in a gentleman's -house, called Master Hall. And the next day he rode to Newark, and -lodged in the castle all that night; the next day he rode to Southwell, -a place of my lord's within three or four miles of Newark, where he -intended to continue all that summer, as he did after. - -Here I must declare to you a notable tale of communication which was -done at Master Fitzwilliams before his departure from thence, between -[my lord] and me, the which was this: Sir, my lord being in the -garden at Master Fitzwilliams, walking, saying of his evensong with -his chaplain, I being there giving attendance upon him, his evensong -finished, [he] commanded his chaplain that bare up the train of his -gown whilst he walked, to deliver me the same, and to go aside when he -had done; and after the chaplain was gone a good distance, he said unto -me in this wise, "Ye have been late at London," quoth he; "Forsooth, -my lord," quoth I, "not since that I was there to buy your liveries -for your servants." "And what news was there then," quoth he; "heard -you no communication there of me? I pray you tell me." Then perceiving -that I had a good occasion to talk my mind plainly unto him, [I] said, -"Sir, if it please your grace, it was my chance to be at a dinner in -a certain place within the city, where I, among divers other honest -and worshipful gentlemen happed to sit, which were for the most part -of my old familiar acquaintance, wherefore they were the more bolder -to enter in communication with me, understanding that I was still your -grace's servant; [they] asked me a question, which I could not well -assoil them." "What was that?" quoth my lord. "Forsooth, sir," quoth I, -"first they asked me how ye did, and how ye accepted your adversity, -and trouble, and the loss of your goods; to the which I answered, that -you were in health (thanks be to God), and took all things in good -part; and so it seemed me, that they were all your indifferent friends -lamenting your decay, and loss of your room and goods, doubting much -that the sequel thereof could not be good in the commonwealth. For -often changing of such officers which be fat fed, into the hands of -such as be lean and hungry for riches, [they] will sure travail by -all means to get abundance, and so the poor commons be pillaged and -extorted for greedy lucre of riches and treasure: they said that ye -were full fed, and intended now much to the advancement of the king's -honour and the commonwealth. Also they marvelled much that ye, being -of so excellent a wit and high discretion, would so simply confess -yourself guilty in the premunire, wherein ye might full well have stood -in the trial of your case. For they understood, by the report of some -of the king's learned counsel, that your case well considered, ye had -great wrong: to the which I could make, as me thought, no sufficient -answer, but said, "That I doubt not your so doing was upon some greater -consideration than my wit could understand." "Is this," quoth he, -"the opinion of wise men?" "Yea, forsooth, my lord," quoth I, "and -almost of all other men." "Well, then," quoth he, "I see that their -wisdoms perceive not the ground of the matter that moved me so to do. -For I considered, that my enemies had brought the matter so to pass -against me, and conveyed it so, that they made it the king's case, and -caused the king to take the matter into his own hands and quarrel, and -after that he had upon the occasion thereof seized all my goods and -possessions into his demayns, and then the quarrel to be his, rather -than yield, or take a foil in the law, and thereby restore to me all -my goods again, he would sooner (by the procurement of my enemies and -evil willers) imagine my utter undoing and destruction; whereof the -most ease therein had been for me perpetual imprisonment. And rather -than I would jeopard so far, or put my life in any such hazard, yet had -I most liefest to yield and confess the matter, committing the sole -sum thereof, as I did, unto the king's clemency and mercy, and live -at large, like a poor vicar, than to lie in prison with all the goods -and honours that I had. And therefore it was the most best way for me, -all things considered, to do as I have done, than to stand in trial -with the king, for he would have been loath to have been noted a wrong -doer, and in my submission, the king, I doubt not, had a great remorse -of conscience, wherein he would rather pity me than malign me. And -also there was a continual serpentine enemy about the king that would, -I am well assured, if I had been found stiff necked, [have] called -continually upon the king in his ear (I mean the night-crow) with -such a vehemency that I should with the help of her assistance [have] -obtained sooner the king's indignation than his lawful favour: and his -favour once lost (which I trust at this present I have) would never -have been by me recovered. Therefore I thought it better for me to keep -still his loving favour, with loss of my goods and dignities, than -to win my goods and substance with the loss of his love and princely -favour, which is but only death: _Quia indignatio principis mors est_. -And this was the special ground and cause that I yielded myself guilty -in the _premunire_; which I perceive all men knew not, wherein since I -understand the king hath conceived a certain prick of conscience; who -took to himself the matter more grievous in his secret stomach than all -men knew, for he knew whether I did offend him therein so grievously -as it was made or no, to whose conscience I do commit my cause, truth, -and equity." And thus we left the substance of all this communication; -although we had much more talk: yet is this sufficient to cause you to -understand as well the cause of his confession in his offence, as also -the cause of the loss of all his goods and treasure. - -Now let us return where we left, my lord being in the castle of Newark, -intending to ride to Southwell, which was four miles from thence, took -now his journey thitherward against supper. Where he was fain for lack -of reparation of the bishop's place, which appertained to the see of -York, to be lodged in a prebendary's house against the said place, and -there kept house until Whitsuntide next, against which time he removed -into the place, newly amended and repaired, and there continued the -most part of the summer, surely not without great resort of the most -worshipfullest gentlemen of the country, and divers other, of whom they -were most gladly entertained, and had of him the best cheer he could -devise for them, whose gentle and familiar behaviour with them caused -him to be greatly beloved and esteemed through the whole country. - -He kept a noble house, and plenty of both meat and drink for all -comers, both for rich and poor, and much alms given at his gates. He -used much charity and pity among his poor tenants and other; although -the fame thereof was no pleasant sound in the ears of his enemies, and -of such as bare him no good will, howbeit the common people will report -as they find cause; for he was much more familiar among all persons -than he was accustomed, and most gladdest when he had an occasion to -do them good. He made many agreements and concords between gentleman -and gentleman, and between some gentlemen and their wives that had -been long asunder, and in great trouble, and divers other agreements -between other persons; making great assemblies for the same purpose, -and feasting of them, not sparing for any costs, where he might make a -peace and amity; which purchased him much love[179] and friendship in -the country. - -It chanced that upon Corpus Christi eve, after supper, [my lord] -commanded me to prepare all things for him in a readiness against the -next day, for he intended to sing high mass in the minster that day; -and I, not forgetting his commandments, gave like warning to all his -officers of his house, and other of my fellows, to foresee that all -things appertaining to their rooms were fully furnished to my lord's -honour. This done I went to my bed, where I was scantly asleep and -warm, but that one of the porters came to my chamber door, calling -upon me, and said, there was two gentlemen at the gate that would -gladly speak with my lord from the king. With that I arose up and went -incontinent unto the gate with the porter, demanding what they were -that so fain [would] come in. They said unto me, that there was Master -Brereton, one of the gentlemen of the king's privy chamber, and Master -Wrotherly, who were come from the king empost, to speak with my lord. -Then having understanding what they were, I caused the porter to let -them in. And after their entry they desired me to speak with my lord -without delay, for they might not tarry; at whose request I repaired to -my lord's chamber, and waked him, who was asleep. But when he heard me -speak, he demanded of me what I would have. "Sir," quoth I, "there be -beneath in the porter's lodge, Master Brereton, gentleman of the king's -privy chamber, and Master Wrotherly, come from the king to speak with -you: they will not tarry; therefore they beseech your grace to speak -with you out of hand." "Well then," quoth my lord, "bid them come up -into my dining chamber, and I will prepare myself to come to them." -Then I resorted to them again, and showed them that my lord desired -them to come up unto him, and he would talk with them, with a right -good will. They thanked me, and went with me unto my lord, and as soon -as they perceived him, being in his night apparel, did to him humble -reverence; whom he took by the hands, demanding of them, how the king -his sovereign lord did. "Sir," said they, "right well in health and -merry, thanks be unto our Lord." "Sir," quoth they, "we must desire -you to talk with you apart." "With a right good will," quoth my lord, -who drew them aside into a great window, and there talked with them -secretly; and after long talk they took out of a male a certain coffer -covered with green velvet, and bound with bars of silver and gilt, with -a lock of the same, having a key which was gilt, with the which they -opened the same chest; out of the which they took a certain instrument -or writing, containing more than one skin of parchment, having many -great seals hanging at it, whereunto they put more wax for my lord's -seal; the which my lord sealed with his own seal, and subscribed his -name to the same; and that done they would needs depart, and (forasmuch -as it was after midnight) my lord desired them to tarry, and take a -bed. They thanked him, and said they might in no wise tarry, for they -would with all speed to the Earl of Shrewsbury's directly without let, -because they would be there or ever he stirred in the morning. And -my lord, perceiving their hasty speed, caused them to eat such cold -meat as there was in store within the house, and to drink a cup or -two of wine. And that done, he gave each of them four old sovereigns -of gold, desiring them to take it _in gree_, saying, that if he had -been of greater ability, their reward should have been better; and so -taking their leave they departed. And after they were departed, as I -heard say, they were not contented with their reward. Indeed they were -not none of his indifferent friends, which caused them to accept it -so disdainously. Howbeit, if they knew what little store of money he -had at that present, they would I am sure, being but his indifferent -friends, have given him hearty thanks: but nothing is more lost or cast -away than is such things which be given to such ingrate persons. My -lord went again to bed; and yet, all his watch and disturbance that he -had that night notwithstanding, he sang High Mass the next day as he -appointed before. There was none in all his house [besides myself and -the porter] that knew of the coming or going of these two gentlemen; -and yet there lay within the house many worshipful strangers. - -After this sort and manner my lord continued at Southwell, until the -latter end of grease time; at which time he intended to remove to -Scroby, which was another house of the Bishoprick of York. And against -the day of his removing, he caused all his officers to prepare, as well -for provision to be made for him there, as also for carriage of his -stuff, and other matters concerning his estate. His removing and intent -was not so secret, but that it was known abroad in [the] country; -which was lamentable to all his neighbours about Southwell, and as it -was lamentable unto them, so was it as much joy to his neighbours about -Scroby. - -Against the day of his removing divers knights and other gentlemen of -worship in the country came to him to Southwell, intending to accompany -and attend upon him in that journey the next day, and to conduct -him through the forest unto Scroby. But he being of their purpose -advertised, how they did intend to have lodged a great stag or twain -for him by the way, purposely to show him all the pleasure and disport -they could devise, and having, as I said, thereof intelligence, was -very loath to receive any such honour and disport at their hands, not -knowing how the king would take it; and being well assured that his -enemies would rejoice much to understand that he would take upon him -any such presumption, whereby they might find an occasion to inform the -king how sumptuous and pleasant he was, notwithstanding his adversity -and overthrow, and so to bring the king into a wrong opinion [of him, -and caused] small hope of reconcilement, but rather that he sought -a mean to obtain the favour of the country to withstand the king's -proceedings, with divers such imaginations, wherein he might rather -sooner catch displeasure than favour and honour. And also he was loath -to make the worshipful gentlemen privy to this his imagination, lest -peradventure they should conceive some toy or fantasy in their heads -by means thereof, and so to eschew their accustomed access, and absent -themselves from him, which should be as much to his grief as the other -was to his comfort. Therefore he devised this mean way, as hereafter -followeth, which should rather be taken for a laughing disport than -otherwise: first he called me unto him secretly at night, going to his -rest, and commanded me in anywise most secretly that night to cause -six or seven horses, besides his mule for his own person, to be made -ready by the break of the day for him and such persons as he appointed -to ride with him to an abbey called Welbeck[180], where he intended to -lodge by the way to Scroby, willing me to be also in a readiness to -ride with him, and to call him so early that he might be on horseback, -after he had heard mass, by the breaking of the day. Sir, what will you -more? All things being accomplished according to his commandment, and -the same finished and done, he, with a small number before appointed, -mounted upon his mule, setting forth by the breaking of the day towards -Welbeck, which is about sixteen miles from thence; whither my lord and -we came before six of the clock in the morning, and so went straight -to his bed, leaving all the gentlemen strangers in their beds at -Southwell, nothing privy of my lord's secret departure, who expected -his uprising until it was eight of the clock. But after it was known -to them and to all the rest there remaining behind him, then every man -went to horseback, galloping after, supposing to overtake him. But -he was at his rest in Welbeck or ever they rose out of their beds in -Southwell, and so their chief hunting and coursing of the great stag -was disappointed and dashed. But at their thither resort to my lord, -sitting at dinner, the matter was jested, and laughed out merrily, and -all the matter well taken. - -My lord the next day removed from thence, to whom resorted divers -gentlemen of my lord the Earl of Shrewsbury's servants, to desire my -lord, in their master's name, to hunt in a park of the earl's called -Worksop Park, the which was within a mile of Welbeck, and the very -best and next[181] way for my lord to travel through on his journey, -where much plenty of game was laid in a readiness to show him pleasure. -Howbeit he thanked my lord their master for his gentleness, and them -for their pains; saying that he was no meet man for any such pastime, -being a man otherwise disposed, such pastimes and pleasures were meet -for such noblemen as delight therein. Nevertheless he could do no -less than to account my Lord of Shrewsbury to be much his friend, in -whom he found such gentleness and nobleness in his honourable offer, -to whom he rendered his most lowly thanks. But in no wise they could -entreat him to hunt. Although the worshipful gentlemen being in his -company provoked him all that they could do thereto, yet he would not -consent, desiring them to be contented; saying, that he came not into -the country, to frequent or follow any such pleasures or pastimes, but -only to attend to a greater care that he had in hand, which was his -duty, study, and pleasure. And with such reasons and persuasions he -pacified them for that time. Howbeit yet as he rode through the park, -both my Lord of Shrewsbury's servants, and also the foresaid gentlemen -moved him once again, before whom the deer lay very fair for all -pleasant hunting and coursing. But it would not be; but [he] made as -much speed to ride through the park as he could. And at the issue out -of the park he called the earl's gentlemen and the keepers unto him, -desiring them to have him commended to my lord their master, thanking -him for his most honourable offer and good will, trusting shortly to -visit him at his own house: and gave the keepers forty shillings for -their pains and diligence who conducted him through the park. And so -rode to another abbey called Rufford Abbey [to dinner]; and after he -rode to Blythe Abbey, where he lay all night. And the next day he came -to Scroby, where he continued until after Michaelmas, ministering many -deeds of charity. Most commonly every Sunday (if the weather did serve) -he would travel unto some parish church thereabout, and there would say -his divine service, and either hear or say mass himself, causing some -one of his chaplains to preach unto the people. And that done, he would -dine in some honest house of that town, where should be distributed to -the poor a great alms, as well of meat and drink as of money to supply -the want of sufficient meat, if the number of the poor did so exceed -of necessity. And thus with other good deeds practising and exercising -during his abode there at Scroby, as making of love-days and agreements -between party and party, being then at variance, he daily frequented -himself there about such business and deeds of honest charity. - -Then about the feast of St. Michael next ensuing my lord took his -journey towards Cawood Castle, the which is within seven miles of -York; and passing thither he lay two nights and a day at St. Oswald's -Abbey, where he himself confirmed children in the church, from eight of -the clock in the morning until twelve of the clock at noon. And making -a short dinner, resorted again to the church at one of the clock, and -there began again to confirm more children until four of the clock, -where he was at the last constrained for weariness to sit down in a -chair, the number of the children was such. That done, he said his even -song, and then went to supper, and rested him there all that night. And -the next morning he applied himself to depart towards Cawood; and or -ever he departed, he confirmed almost a hundred children more; and then -rode on his journey. And by the way there were assembled at a stone -cross standing upon a green, within a quarter of a mile of Ferrybridge, -about the number of two hundred children, to confirm; where he -alighted, and never removed his foot until he had confirmed them all; -and then took his mule again and rode to Cawood, where he lay long -after with much honour and love of the country, both of the worshipful -and of the simple, exercising himself in good deeds of charity, and -kept there an honourable and plentiful house for all comers; and also -built and repaired the castle, which was then greatly decayed, having -a great multitude of artificers and labourers, above the number of -three hundred persons, daily in wages. - -And lying there, he had intelligence by the gentlemen of the country, -that used to repair unto him, that there was sprung a great variance -and deadly hate between Sir Richard Tempest and Mr. Brian Hastings, -then being but a squire, but after made knight, between whom was -like to ensue great murder, unless some good mean might be found to -redress the inconvenience that was most likeliest to ensue. My lord -being thereof advertised, lamenting the case, made such means by his -wisdom and letters, with other persuasions, that these two gentlemen -were content to resort to my lord to Cawood, and there to abide his -order, high and low. Then was there a day appointed of their assembly -before my lord, at which day they came not without great number on -each part. Wherefore against [that] day, my lord had required many -worshipful gentlemen to be there present, to assist him with their -wisdoms to appease these two worthy gentlemen, being at deadly feud. -And to see the king's peace kept, commanding no more of their number -to enter into the castle with these two gentlemen than six persons -of each of their menial servants, and all the rest to remain without -in the town, or where they listed to repair. And my lord himself -issuing out of the gates, calling the number of both parties before -him, straightly charging them most earnestly to observe and keep the -king's peace, in the king's name, upon their perils, without either -bragging or quarreling either with other; and caused them to have -both beer and wine sent them into the town; and then returned again -into the castle, being about nine of the clock. And because he would -have these gentlemen to dine with him at his own table, thought it -good in avoiding of further inconvenience to appease their rancour -before. Whereupon he called them into his chapel; and there, with -the assistance of the other gentlemen, he fell into communication -with the matter, declaring unto them the dangers and mischiefs that -through their wilfulness and folly were most likeliest to ensue; with -divers other good exhortations. Notwithstanding, the parties laying -and alleging many things for their defence, sometime adding each to -other stout and despiteful words of defiance, the which my lord and -the other gentlemen had much ado to qualify, their malice was so -great. Howbeit, at length, with long continuance and wise arguments, -and deep persuasions made by my lord, they were agreed, and finally -accorded about four of the clock at afternoon; and so made them -friends. And, as it seemed, they both rejoiced, and were right well -contented therewith, to the great comfort of all the other worshipful -gentlemen, causing them to shake hands, and to go arm in arm to dinner; -and so went to dinner, though it was very late to dine[182], yet -notwithstanding they dined together with the other gentlemen at my -lord's table, where they drank lovingly each to other, with countenance -of great amity. After dinner my lord caused them to discharge their -routs and assembly that remained in the town, and to retain with them -no more servants than they were accustomed most commonly to ride with. -And that done, these gentlemen, fulfilling his commandment, tarried -at Cawood, and lay there all night; whom my lord entertained in such -sort that they accepted his noble heart in great worthiness [and -friendship,] trusting to have of him a special jewel in their country: -having him in great estimation and favour, as it appeared afterward by -their behaviour and demeanour towards him. - -It is not to be doubted but that the worshipful persons, as doctors -and prebendaries of the close of York, would and did resort unto him -according to their duties, as unto their father and patron of their -spiritual dignities being at his first coming into the country, their -church of York being within seven miles. Wherefore ye shall understand -that Doctor Hickden, dean of the church of York[183], with the -treasurer, and divers other head officers of the same repaired to my -lord, welcoming him most joyously into the country; saying, that it was -to them no small comfort to see him among them, as their chief head, -which hath been so long absent from them, being all that while like -fatherless children comfortless, trusting shortly to see him among them -in his own church. "It is," quoth he, "the especial cause of all my -travel into this country, not only to be among you for a time, but also -to spend my life with you as a very father, and as a mutual brother." "Sir, -then," quoth they, "ye must understand that the ordinary rules of our -church hath been of an ancient custom, whereof although ye be head and -chief governor, yet be ye not so well acquainted with them as we be. -Therefore, we shall under the supportation of your grace, declare some -part thereof to you, as well of our ancient customs as of the laws -and usage of the same. Therefore ye shall understand that where ye do -intend to repair unto us, the old law and custom of our church hath -been, that the archbishop being our chief head and pastor, as your -grace now be, might ne ought not to come above the choir door, nor have -any stall in the choir, until he by due order were there stalled. For, -if ye should happen to die before your stallation, ye shall not be -buried above in the choir, but in the body of the same church beneath. -Therefore we shall, _una voce_, require your grace in the name of all -other our brethren, that ye would vouchsafe to do herein as your noble -predecessors and honourable fathers hath done; and that ye will not -infringe or violate any of our laudable ordinances and constitutions of -our church, to the observance and preservation whereof we be obliged, -by virtue of an oath at our first admittance, to see them observed and -fulfilled to the uttermost of our powers, with divers other matters -remaining of record in our treasury house among other things." "Those -records," quoth my lord, "would I gladly see; and these seen and -digested, I shall then show you further of my mind." And thus of this -matter they ceased communication, and passed forth in other matters; so -that my lord assigned them a day to bring in their records. At which -day they brought with them their register book of records, wherein -was written their constitutions and ancient rules, whereunto all the -fathers and ministers of the church of York were most chiefly bound, -both to see it done and performed, and also to perform and observe the -same themselves. And when my lord had seen, read, and considered the -effect of their records, and debated with them substantially therein, -he determined to be stalled there in the Minster the next Monday after -Allhallown day. Against which day there was made necessary preparation -for the furniture thereof, but not in so sumptuous a wise as his -predecessors did before him; ne yet in such a sort as the common fame -was blown abroad of him to his great slander, and to the reporters much -more dishonesty, to forge such lies and blasphemous reports, wherein -there is nothing more untrue. The truth whereof I perfectly know, for -I was made privy to the same, and sent to York to foresee all things, -[and] to prepare according for the same, which should have been much -more mean and base than all other of his predecessors heretofore hath -done. - -It came so to pass, that upon Allhallown day, one of the head officers -of the church, which should, by virtue of his office, have most -doings in this stallation, [was] to dine with my lord at Cawood; and -sitting at dinner they fell in communication of the order of his -stallation, who said to my lord that he ought to go upon cloth from -St. James's chapel (standing without the gates of the city of York) -unto the minster, the which should be distributed among the poor. My -lord, hearing this, made answer to the same in this wise. "Although," -quoth he, "that our predecessors went upon cloth right sumptuously, -we do intend, God willing, to go afoot from thence without any such -glory[184], in the vamps of our hosen. For I take God to be my very -judge that I presume not to go thither for any triumph or vain glory, -but only to fulfil the observance and rules of the church, to the -which, as ye say, I am bound. And therefore I shall desire you all -to hold you contented with my simplicity, and also I command all my -servants to go as humbly without any other sumptuous apparel than they -be constantly used, and that is comely and decent to wear[185]. For I -do assure you, I do intend to come to York upon Sunday at night, and -lodge there in the dean's house, and upon Monday to be stalled; and -there to make a dinner for you of the close, and for other worshipful -gentlemen that shall chance to come to me at that time; and the next -day to dine with the mayor, and so return home again to Cawood that -night, and thus to finish the same, whereby I may at all times resort -to York Minster without other scrupulosity or offence to any of you." - -This day could not be unknown to all the country, but that some must -needs have knowledge thereof, whereby that notice was given unto the -gentlemen of the country, and they being thereof as well advertised -as abbots, priors, and others, of the day of this solemnization, sent -in such provision of dainty victuals that it is almost incredible; -wherefore I omit to declare unto you the certainty thereof. As of -great and fat beeves and muttons, wildfowl, and venison, both red and -fallow, and divers other dainty meats, such as the time of the year -did serve, sufficient to furnish a great and a sumptuous feast, all -which things were unknown to my lord: forasmuch as he being prevented -and disappointed of his reasonable purposed intent, because he was -arrested, as ye shall hear hereafter; so that the most part of this -provision was sent to York that same day that he was arrested, and -the next day following; for his arrest was kept as close and secret -from the country as it could be, because they doubted the people, -which had him in great love and estimation for his accustomed charity -and liberality used daily among them, with familiar gesture and -countenance, which be the very means to allure the love and hearts of -the people in the north parts. - -Or ever I wade any further in this matter, I do intend to declare unto -you what chanced him before this his last trouble at Cawood, as a sign -or token given by God what should follow of his end, or of trouble -which did shortly ensue, the sequel whereof was of no man then present -either premeditate or imagined. Therefore, for as much as it is a -notable thing to be considered, I will (God willing) declare it as -truly as it chanced according to my simple remembrance, at the which I -myself was present. - -My lord's accustomed enemies in the court about the king had now my -lord in more doubt than they had before his fall, considering the -continual favour that the king bare him, thought that at length the -king might call him home again; and if he so did, they supposed, that -he would rather imagine against them than to remit or forget their -cruelty, which they most unjustly imagined against him. Wherefore they -compassed in their heads that they would either by some means dispatch -him by some sinister accusation of treason, or to bring him into the -king's indignation by some other ways. This was their daily imagination -and study, having as many spials, and as many eyes to attend upon his -doings as the poets feigned Argus to have; so that he could neither -work or do any thing, but that his enemies had knowledge thereof -shortly after. Now at the last, they espied a time wherein they caught -an occasion to bring their purpose to pass, thinking thereby to have -of him a great advantage; for the matter being once disclosed unto the -king, in such a vehemency as they purposed, they thought the king would -be moved against him with great displeasure. And that by them executed -and done, the king, upon their information, thought it good that he -should come up to stand to his trial; which they liked nothing at all; -notwithstanding he was sent for after this sort. First, they devised -that he should come up upon arrest in ward, which they knew right well -would so sore grieve him that he might be the weaker to come into the -king's presence to make answer. Wherefore they sent Sir Walter Walshe, -knight, one of the gentlemen of the king's privy chamber, down into the -country unto the Earl of Northumberland[186] (who was brought up in -my lord's house), and they twain being in commission jointly to arrest -my lord of hault treason. This conclusion fully resolved, they caused -Master Walshe to prepare himself to this journey with this commission, -and certain instructions annexed to the same; who made him ready to -ride, and took his horse at the court gate about one of the clock at -noon, upon Allhallown day, towards the north. Now am I come to the -place where I will declare the thing that I promised you before of a -certain token of my lord's trouble; which was this. - -My lord sitting at dinner upon Allhallown day, in Cawood Castle, -having[187] at his board's end divers of his most worthiest chaplains, -sitting at dinner to keep him company, for lack of strangers, ye -shall understand, that my lord's great cross of silver accustomably -stood in the corner, at the table's end, leaning against the tappet -or hanging of the chamber. And when the table's end was taken up, and -a convenient time for them to arise; in arising from the table, one -Doctor Augustine, physician, being a Venetian born, having a boisterous -gown of black velvet upon him, as he would have come out at the table's -end, his gown overthrew the cross that stood there in the corner, and -the cross trailing down along the tappet, it chanced to fall upon -Doctor Bonner's head, who stood among others by the tappet, making of -curtsy to my lord, and with one of the points of the cross razed his -head a little, that the blood ran down. The company standing there were -greatly astonied with the chance. My lord sitting in his chair, looking -upon them, perceiving the chance, demanded of me being next him, what -the matter meant of their sudden abashment. I showed him how the cross -fell upon Doctor Bonner's head. "Hath it," quoth he, "drawn any blood?" -"Yea forsooth, my lord," quoth I, "as it seemeth me." With that he cast -down his head, looking very soberly upon me a good while without any -word speaking; at the last, quoth he, (shaking of his head) "_malum -omen_[188];" and therewith said grace, and rose from the table, and -went into his bedchamber, there lamenting, making his prayers[189]. -Now mark the signification, how my lord expounded this matter unto me -afterward at Pomfret Abbey. First, ye shall understand, that the cross, -which belonged to the dignity of York, he understood to be himself; and -Augustine, that overthrew the cross, he understood to be he that should -accuse him, by means whereof he should be overthrown. The falling -upon Master Bonner's head, who was master of my lord's faculties and -spiritual jurisdictions, who was damnified by the overthrowing of the -cross by the physician, and the drawing of blood betokened death, -which shortly after came to pass; about the very same time of the day -of this mischance, Master Walshe took his horse at the court gate, as -nigh as it could be judged. And thus my lord took it for a very sign -or token of that which after ensued, if the circumstance be equally -considered and noted, although no man was there present at that time -that had any knowledge of Master Walshe's coming down, or what should -follow. Wherefore, as it was supposed, that God showed him more secret -knowledge of his latter days and end of his trouble than all men -supposed; which appeared right well by divers talks that he had with me -at divers times of his last end. And now that I have declared unto you -the effect of this prodigy and sign, I will return again to my matter. - -The time drawing nigh of his stallation; sitting at dinner, upon the -Friday next before Monday on the which he intended to be stalled at -York, the Earl of Northumberland and Master Walshe, with a great -company of gentlemen, as well of the earl's servants as of the country, -which he had gathered together to accompany him in the king's name, not -knowing to what purpose or what intent, came into the hall at Cawood, -the officers sitting at dinner, and my lord not fully dined, but being -at his fruits, nothing knowing of the earl's being in his hall. The -first thing that the earl did, after he came into the castle, [he] -commanded the porter to deliver him the keys of the gates, who would in -no wise deliver him the keys, although he were very roughly commanded -in the king's name, to deliver them to one of the earl's servants. -Saying unto the earl, "Sir, ye do intend to deliver them to one of -your servants to keep them and the gates, and to plant another in my -room; I know no cause why ye should so do, and this I assure you that -you have no one servant, but that I am as able to keep them as he, to -what purpose soever it be. And also, the keys were delivered me by my -lord my master, with a charge both by oath, and by other precepts and -commandments. Therefore I beseech your lordship to pardon me, though -I refuse your commandment. For whatsoever ye shall command me to do -that belongeth to my office, I shall do it with a right good will as -justly as any other of your servants." With that quoth the gentlemen -there present unto the earl, hearing him speak so stoutly like a man, -and with so good reason: "Sir," quoth they, "he is a good fellow, and -speaketh like a faithful servant to his master; and like an honest -man: therefore give him your charge, and let him keep still the gates; -who, we doubt not, will be obedient to your lordship's commandment." -"Well then," quoth the earl, "hold him a book," and commanded him to -lay his hand upon the book, whereat the porter made some doubt, but -being persuaded by the gentlemen there present, was contented, and laid -his hand upon the book, to whom, quoth the earl, "Thou shalt swear, -to keep well and truly these gates to the king our sovereign lord's -use, and to do all such things as we shall command thee in the king's -name, being his highness' commissioners, and as it shall seem to us at -all times good, as long as we shall be here in this castle; and that -ye shall not let in nor out at these gates, but such as ye shall be -commanded by us, from time to time," and upon this oath he received the -keys at the earl's and Master Walshe's hands. - -Of all these doings knew my lord nothing; for they stopped the stairs -that went up to my lord's chamber where he sat, so that no man could -pass up again that was come down. At the last one of my lord's -servants chanced to look down into the hall at a loop that was upon -the stairs, and returned to my lord, [and] showed him that my Lord of -Northumberland was in the hall; whereat my lord marveled, and would -not believe him at the first; but commanded a gentleman, being his -gentleman usher, to go down and bring him perfect word. Who going down -the stairs, looking down at the loop, where he saw the earl, who then -returned to my lord, and showed him that it was very he. "Then," quoth -my lord, "I am sorry that we have dined, for I fear that our officers -be not stored of any plenty of good fish, to make him such honourable -cheer as to his estate is convenient, notwithstanding he shall have -such as we have, with a right good will and loving heart. Let the table -be standing still, and we will go down and meet him, and bring him up; -and then he shall see how far forth we be at our dinner." With that -he put the table from him, and rose up; going down he encountered the -earl upon the midst of the stairs, coming up, with all his men about -him. And as soon as my lord espied the earl, he put off his cap, and -said to him, "My lord, ye be most heartily welcome; (and therewith they -embraced each other). Although, my lord," quoth he, "that I have often -desired, and wished in my heart to see you in my house, yet if ye had -loved me as I do you, ye would have sent me word before of your coming, -to the intent that I might have received you according to your honour -and mine. Notwithstanding ye shall have such cheer as I am able to make -you, with a right good will; trusting that ye will accept the same of -me as of your very old and loving friend, hoping hereafter to see you -oftener, when I shall be more able and better provided to receive you -with better fare." And then my lord took the Earl of Northumberland -by the hand, and led him up into the chamber; whom followed all the -earl's servants; where the table stood in the state that my lord left -it when he rose, saying unto the earl, "Sir, now ye may perceive how -far forth we were at our dinner." Then my lord led the earl to the -fire, saying, "My lord, ye shall go into my bedchamber, where is a -good fire made for you, and there ye may shift your apparel until your -chamber be made ready. Therefore let your male be brought up: and or -ever I go, I pray you give me leave to take these gentlemen, your -servants, by the hands." And when he had taken them all by the hands, -he returned to the earl, and said, "Ah, my lord, I perceive well that -ye have observed my old precepts and instructions which I gave you, -when you were abiding with me in your youth, which was, to cherish your -father's old servants, whereof I see here present with you a great -number. Surely, my lord, ye do therein very well and nobly, and like -a wise gentleman. For these be they that will not only serve and love -you, but they will also live and die with you, and be true and faithful -servants to you, and glad to see you prosper in honour; the which I -beseech God to send you, with long life." This said, he took the earl -by the hand, and led him into his bedchamber. And they being there all -alone, save only I, that kept the door, according to my duty, being -gentleman usher; these two lords standing at a window by the chimney, -in my lord's bedchamber, the earl trembling said, with a very faint and -soft voice, unto my lord, (laying his hand upon his arm) "My lord, I -arrest you of high treason." With which words my lord was marvellously -astonied, standing both still a long space without any further words. -But at the last, quoth my lord, "What moveth you, or by what authority -do you this?" "Forsooth, my lord," quoth the earl, "I have a commission -to warrant me and my doing." "Where is your commission?" quoth my lord; -"let me see it." "Nay, sir, that you may not," quoth the earl. "Well -then," quoth my lord, "I will not obey your arrest: for there hath -been between some of your predecessors and mine great contentions and -debate grown upon an ancient grudge, which may succeed in you, with -like inconvenience, as it hath done heretofore. Therefore, unless I see -your authority and commission, I will not obey you." Even as they were -debating this matter between them in the chamber, so busy was Master -Walshe in arresting of Doctor Augustine, the physician, at the door, -within the portal, whom I heard say unto him, "Go in then, traitor, -or I shall make thee." And with that, I opened the portal door, and -the same being opened, Master Walshe thrust Doctor Augustine in before -him with violence. These matters on both the sides astonished me very -sore, musing what all this should mean; until at the last, Master -Walshe, being entered the chamber, began to pluck off his hood, the -which he had made him with a coat of the same cloth, of cotton, to -the intent he would not be known. And after he had plucked it off, he -kneeled down to my lord, to whom my lord spake first, commanding him -to stand up, saying thus, "Sir, here my Lord of Northumberland hath -arrested me of treason, but by what authority or commission he showeth -me not; but saith, he hath one. If ye be privy thereto, or be joined -with him therein, I pray you show me." "Indeed, my lord," quoth Master -Walshe, "if it please your grace, it is true that he hath one." "Well -then," said my lord, "I pray you let me see it." "Sir, I beseech your -grace hold us excused," quoth Master Walshe, "there is annexed unto -our commission a schedule with certain instructions which ye may in no -wise be privy unto." "Why," quoth my lord, "be your instructions such -that I may not see them? Peradventure, if I might be privy to them, I -could the better help you to perform them. It is not unknown unto you -both I am assured, but I have been privy and of counsel in as weighty -matters as this is, for I doubt not for my part, but I shall prove and -clear myself to be a true man, against the expectation of all my cruel -enemies. I have an understanding whereupon all this matter groweth. -Well, there is no more to do. I trow, gentleman, ye be one of the -king's privy chamber; your name, I suppose, is Walshe; I am content -to yield unto you, but not to my Lord of Northumberland, without I see -his commission. And also you are a sufficient commissioner yourself -in that behalf, inasmuch as ye be one of the king's privy chamber; -for the worst person there is a sufficient warrant to arrest the -greatest peer of this realm, by the king's only commandment, without -any commission. Therefore I am ready to be ordered and disposed at -your will, put therefore the king's commission and your authority in -execution, a God's name, and spare not, and I will obey the king's will -and pleasure. For I fear more the cruelty of my unnatural enemies, -than I do my truth and allegiance; wherein, I take God to witness, I -never offended the king's majesty in word or deed; and therein I dare -stand face to face with any man alive, having indifferency, without -partiality." - -Then came my Lord of Northumberland unto me, standing at the portal -door, and commanded me to avoid the chamber: and being loath to depart -from my master, [I] stood still, and would not remove; to whom he -spake again, and said, "There is no remedy, ye must needs depart." -With that I looked upon my lord, (as who sayeth, shall I go?) upon -whom my lord looked very heavily, and shook at me his head. Perceiving -by his countenance it booted me not to abide, and so I departed the -chamber, and went into the next chamber, where abode many gentlemen of -my fellows, and other, to learn of me some news of the matter within; -to whom I made report what I saw and heard; which was to them great -heaviness to hear. - -Then the earl called divers gentlemen into the chamber, which were for -the most part his own servants; and after the earl and Master Walshe -had taken the keys of all my lord's coffers from him, they gave the -charge and custody of my lord's person unto these gentlemen. [And -then] they departed, and went about the house to set all things in -order that night against the next morning, intending then to depart -from thence (being Saturday) with my lord; the which they deferred -until Sunday, because all things could not be brought to pass as they -would have it. They went busily about to convey Doctor Augustine away -to London-ward, with as much speed as they could, sending with him -divers honest persons to conduct him, who was tied under the horse's -belly. And this done, when it was night, the commissioners assigned two -grooms of my lord's to attend upon him in his chamber that night where -they lay; and the most part of the rest of the earl's gentlemen and -servants watched in the next chamber and about the house continually -until the morrow, and the porter kept the gates, so that no man could -go in or out until the next morning. At which time my lord rose up, -supposing that he should have departed that day, howbeit he was kept -close secretly in his chamber, expecting continually his departure -from thence. Then the earl sent for me into his own chamber, and -being there he commanded me to go in to my lord, and there to give -attendance upon him, and charged me upon an oath that I should observe -certain articles. And going away from him, toward my lord, I met with -Mr. Walshe in the court, who called me unto him, and led me into his -chamber, and there showed me that the king's highness bare towards me -his princely favour, for my diligent and true service that I daily -ministered towards my lord and master. "Wherefore," quoth he, "the -king's pleasure is, that ye shall be about your master as most chiefest -person, in whom his highness putteth great confidence and assured -trust; whose pleasure is therefore, that ye shall be sworn unto his -majesty to observe certain articles, in writing, the which I will -deliver you." "Sir," quoth I, "my Lord of Northumberland hath already -sworn me to divers articles." "Yea," quoth he, "but my lord could -not deliver you the articles in writing, as I am commanded specially -to do. Therefore, I deliver you this bill with these articles, the -which ye shall be sworn to fulfil." "Sir," then quoth I, "I pray -you to give me leave to peruse them, or ever I be sworn, to see if -I be able to perform them." "With a right good will," quoth he. And -when I had perused them, and understood that they were but reasonable -and tolerable, I answered, that I was contented to obey the king's -pleasure, and to be sworn to the performance of them. And so he gave -me a new oath: and then I resorted to my lord, where he was in his -chamber sitting in a chair, the tables being covered for him ready to -go to dinner. But as soon as he perceived me coming in, he fell into -such a woful lamentation, with such rueful terms and watery eyes, that -it would have caused the flintiest heart to have relented and burst -for sorrow. And as I and other could, [we] comforted him; but it would -not be. "For," quoth he, "now that I see this gentleman (meaning me) -how faithful, how diligent, and how painful since the beginning of my -trouble he hath served me, abandoning his own country, his wife, and -children; his house and family, his rest and quietness, only to serve -me, and remembering with myself that I have nothing to reward him for -his honest merits grieveth me not a little. And also the sight of -him putteth me in remembrance of the number of my faithful servants, -that I have here remaining with me in this house; whom I did intend -to have preferred and advanced, to the best of my power, from time -to time, as occasion should serve. But now, alas! I am prevented, and -have nothing left me here to reward them; for all is deprived me, and -I am left here their desolate and miserable master, bare and wretched, -without help or succour, but of God alone. Howbeit," quoth he to me -(calling me by my name), "I am a true man, and therefore ye shall never -receive shame of me for your service." I, perceiving his heaviness and -lamentable words, said thus unto him: "My lord, I nothing mistrust your -truth: and for the same I dare and will be sworn before the king's -person and his honourable council. Wherefore, (kneeling upon my knees -before him, I said,) my lord, comfort yourself, and be of good cheer. -The malice of your uncharitable enemies, nor their untruth, shall -never prevail against your truth and faithfulness, for I doubt not but -coming to your answer, my hope is such, that ye shall so acquit and -clear yourself of all their surmised and feigned accusations, that -it shall be to the king's contentation, and much to your advancement -and restitution of your former dignity and estate." "Yea," quoth he, -"if I may come to mine answer, I fear no man alive; for he liveth not -upon the earth that shall look upon this face (pointing to his own -face), shall be able to accuse me of any untruth; and that knoweth mine -enemies full well, which will be an occasion that I shall not have -indifferent justice, but they will rather seek some other sinister -ways to destroy me." "Sir," quoth I, "ye need not therein doubt, the -king being so much your good lord, as he hath always showed himself -to be, in all your troubles." With that came up my lord's meat; and -so we left our communication, I gave him water, and sat him down to -dinner; with whom sat divers of the earl's gentlemen, notwithstanding -my lord did eat very little meat, but would many times burst out -suddenly in tears, with the most sorrowfullest words that hath been -heard of any woful creature. And at the last he fetched a great sigh -from the bottom of his heart, saying these words of scripture[190], -"_O constantia Martirum laudabilis! O charitas inextinguibilis! O -pacientia invincibilis, quæ licet inter pressuras persequentium visa -sit despicabilis, invenietur in laudem et gloriam ac honorem in -tempore tribulationis._" And thus passed he forth his dinner in great -lamentation and heaviness, who was more fed and moistened with sorrow -and tears than with either pleasant meats or delicate drinks. I suppose -there was not a dry eye among all the gentlemen sitting at the table -with him. And when the table was taken up, it was showed my lord, that -he could not remove that night, (who expected none other all that day), -quoth he, "Even when it shall seem my lord of Northumberland good." - -The next day, being Sunday, my lord prepared himself to ride when he -should be commanded; and after dinner, by that time that the earl had -appointed all things in good order within the castle, it drew fast -to night. There was assigned to attend upon him five of us, his own -servants, and no more; that is to say I, one chaplain, his barber, and -two grooms of his chamber, and when he should go down the stairs out -of the great chamber, my lord demanded for the rest of his servants; -the earl answered, that they were not far; the which he had inclosed -within the chapel, because they should not disquiet his departure. -"Sir, I pray you," quoth my lord, "let me see them or ever I depart, -or else I will never go out of this house." "Alack, my lord," quoth -the earl, "they should trouble you; therefore I beseech you to content -yourself." "Well," quoth my lord, "then will I not depart out of this -house, but I will see them, and take my leave of them in this chamber." -And his servants being inclosed in the chapel, having understanding of -my lord's departing away, and that they should not see him before his -departure, began to grudge, and to make such a rueful noise, that the -commissioners doubted some tumult or inconvenience to arise by reason -thereof, thought it good to let them pass out to my lord, and that done -they came to him into the great chamber where he was, and there they -kneeled down before him; among whom was not one dry eye, but pitifully -lamented their master's fall and trouble. To whom my lord gave -comfortable words and worthy praises for their diligent faithfulness -and honest truth towards him, assuring them, that what chance soever -should happen unto him, that he was a true man and a just to his -sovereign lord. And thus with a lamentable manner, shaking each of them -by the hands, was fain to depart, the night drew so fast upon them. - -My lord's mule and our horses were ready brought into the inner court; -where we mounted, and coming to the gate which was shut, the porter -opened the same to let us pass, where was ready attending a great -number of gentlemen with their servants, such as the earl assigned to -conduct and attend upon his person that night to Pomfret, and so forth, -as ye shall hear hereafter. But to tell you of the number of people -of the country that were assembled at the gates which lamented his -departing was wondrous, which was about the number of three thousand -persons; who at the opening of the gates, after they had a sight of his -person, cried all with a loud voice, "God save your grace, God save -your grace! The foul evil take all them that hath thus taken you from -us! we pray God that a very vengeance may light upon them!" Thus they -ran crying after him through the town of Cawood, they loved him so -well. For surely they had a great loss of him, both the poor and the -rich: for the poor had of him great relief; and the rich lacked his -counsel in any business that they had to do, which caused him to have -such love among them in the country. - -Then rode he with his conductors towards Pomfret; and by the way -as he rode, he asked me if I had any familiar acquaintance among -the gentlemen that rode with him. "Yea, sir," said I, "what is your -pleasure?" "Marry," quoth he, "I have left a thing behind me which I -would fain have." "Sir," said I, "if I knew what it were, I would send -for it out of hand." "Then," said he, "let the messenger go to my Lord -of Northumberland, and desire him to send me the red buckram bag, lying -in my almonry in my chamber, sealed with my seal." With that I departed -from him, and went straight unto one Sir Roger Lassels, knight, who -was then steward to the Earl of Northumberland (being among the rout -of horsemen as one of the chiefest rulers), whom I desired to send -some of his servants back unto the earl his master for that purpose; -[who] granted most gently my request, and sent incontinent one of his -servants unto my lord to Cawood for the said bag; who did so honestly -his message, that he brought the same to my lord immediately after he -was in his chamber within the abbey of Pomfret; where he lay all night. -In which bag was no other thing enclosed but three shirts of hair, -which he delivered to the chaplain, his ghostly father, very secretly. - -Furthermore, as we rode toward Pomfret, my lord demanded of me, whither -they would lead him that night. "Forsooth, sir," quoth I, "but to -Pomfret." "Alas," quoth he, "shall I go to the castle, and lie there, -and die like a beast?" "Sir, I can tell you no more what they do -intend; but I will enquire here among these gentlemen of a special -friend of mine who is chief of all their counsel." - -With that I repaired unto the said Sir Roger Lassels, knight, desiring -him most earnestly that he would vouchsafe to show me, whither my lord -should go to be lodged that night; who answered me again that my lord -should be lodged within the abbey of Pomfret, and in none other place; -and so I reported to my lord, who was glad thereof; so that within -night we came to Pomfret Abbey, and there lodged. - -And the earl remained still all that night in Cawood Castle, to see -the despatch of the household, and to establish all the stuff in some -surety within the same. - -The next day they removed with my lord towards Doncaster, desiring -that he might come thither by night, because the people followed him -weeping and lamenting, and so they did nevertheless although he came in -by torchlight, crying, "God save your grace, God save your grace, my -good lord cardinal," running before him with candles in their hands, -who caused me therefore to ride hard by his mule to shadow him from the -people, and yet they perceived him, cursing his enemies. And thus they -brought him to the Blackfriars, within the which they lodged him that -night. - -And the next day we removed to Sheffield Park, where the Earl of -Shrewsbury lay within the lodge, and all the way thitherward the people -cried and lamented as they did in all places as we rode before. And -when we came into the park of Sheffield, nigh to the lodge, my Lord of -Shrewsbury, with my lady his wife, a train of gentlewomen, and all my -lord's gentlemen and yeomen standing without the gates of the lodge to -attend my lord's coming, to receive him with much honour; whom the -earl embraced, saying these words, "My lord," quoth he, "your grace is -most heartily welcome unto me, and [I am] glad to see you in my poor -lodge, the which I have often desired; and [should have been] much more -gladder, if you had come after another sort." "Ah, my gentle lord of -Shrewsbury," quoth my lord, "I heartily thank you: and although I have -no cause to rejoice, yet, as a sorrowful heart may joy, I rejoice, -my chance which is so good to come unto the hands and custody of so -noble a person, whose approved honour and wisdom hath been always -right well known to all noble estates. And, sir, howsoever my ungentle -accusers have used their accusations against me, yet I assure you, -and so before your lordship, and all the world, I do protest, that my -demeanour and proceedings hath been just and loyal towards my sovereign -and liege lord; of whose behaviour and doings your lordship hath had -good experience; and even according to my truth and faithfulness so -I beseech God to help me in this my calamity." "I doubt nothing of -your truth," quoth the earl, "therefore, my lord, I beseech you, be of -good cheer, and fear not; for I have received letters from the king -of his own hand in your favour and entertaining, the which you shall -see. Sir, I am nothing sorry, but that I have not wherewith worthily -to receive you, and to entertain you, according to your honour and my -good will; but such as I have, ye are most heartily welcome thereto, -desiring you to accept my good will accordingly, for I will not receive -you as a prisoner, but as my good lord, and the king's true faithful -subject; and here is my wife come to salute you." Whom my lord kissed -bareheaded, and all her gentlewomen; and took my lord's servants by -the hands, as well gentlemen and yeomen as other. Then these two lords -went arm and arm into the lodge, conducting my lord into a fair chamber -at the end of a goodly gallery, within a new tower where my lord was -lodged. There was also in the midst of the same gallery a traverse of -sarsenet drawn; so that the one part was preserved for my lord, and the -other part for the earl. - -Then departed all the great number of gentlemen and other that -conducted my lord to the earl of Shrewsbury's. And my lord being there, -continued there eighteen days after; upon whom the earl appointed -divers gentlemen of his servants to serve my lord, forasmuch as he had -a small number of servants there to serve; and also to see that he -lacked nothing that he would desire, being served in his own chamber at -dinner and supper, as honourably, and with as many dainty dishes, as he -had most commonly in his own house being at liberty. And once every -day the earl would resort unto him, and sit with him communing upon -a bench in a great window in the gallery. And though the earl would -right heartily comfort him, yet would he lament so piteously, that it -would make the earl very sorry and heavy for his grief. "Sir," said he, -"I have, and daily do receive letters from the king, commanding me to -entertain you as one that he loveth, and highly favoureth; whereby I -perceive ye do lament without any great cause much more than ye need -to do. And though ye be accused (as I think in good faith unjustly), -yet the king can do no less but put you to your trial, the which is -more for the satisfying of some persons, than for any mistrust that -he hath in your doings." "Alas!" quoth my lord to the earl, "is it -not a piteous case, that any man should so wrongfully accuse me unto -the king's person, and not to come to mine answer before his majesty? -For I am well assured, my lord, that there is no man alive or dead -that looketh in this face of mine, [who] is able to accuse me of any -disloyalty toward the king. Oh! how much it grieveth me that the king -should have any suspicious opinion in me, to think that I would be -false or conspire any evil to his royal person; who may well consider, -that I have no assured friend in all the world in whom I put my trust -but only in his grace; for if I should go about to betray my sovereign -lord and prince, in whom is all my trust and confidence before all -other persons, all men might justly think and report, that I lacked -not only grace, but also both wit and discretion. Nay, nay, my lord, -I would rather adventure to shed my heart's blood in his defence, -as I am bound to do, by mine allegiance and also for the safeguard -of myself, than to imagine his destruction; for he is my staff that -supporteth me, and the wall that defendeth me against my malignant -enemies, and all other: who knoweth best my truth before all men, and -hath had thereof best and longest experience. Therefore to conclude, it -is not to be thought that ever I would go about or intend maliciously -or traitorously to travel or wish any prejudice or damage to his royal -person or imperial dignity; but, as I said, defend it with the shedding -of my heart blood, and procure all men so to do, and it were but only -for the defence of mine own person and simple estate, the which mine -enemies think I do so much esteem; having none other refuge to flee -to for defence or succour, in all adversity, but under the shadow of -his majesty's wing. Alas! my lord, I was in a good estate now, and in -case of a quiet living right well content therewith: but the enemy that -never sleepeth, but studieth and continually imagineth, both sleeping -and waking, my utter destruction, perceiving the contentation of my -mind, doubted that their malicious and cruel dealings would at length -grow to their shame and rebuke, goeth about therefore to prevent the -same with shedding of my blood. But from God, that knoweth the secrets -of their hearts and of all others, it cannot be hid, ne yet unrewarded, -when he shall see opportunity. For, my good lord, if you will show -yourself so much my good friend as to require the king's majesty, by -your letters, that my accusers may come before my face in his presence, -and there that I may make answer, I doubt not but ye shall see me -acquit myself of all their malicious accusations, and utterly confound -them; for they shall never be able to prove, by any due probations, -that ever I offended the king in will, thought, and deed. Therefore -I desire you and most heartily require your good lordship, to be a -mean for me, that I may answer unto my accusers before the king's -majesty. The case is his; and if their accusations should be true, then -should it touch no man but him most earnestly; wherefore it were most -convenient that he should hear it himself in proper person. But I fear -me, that they do intend rather to dispatch me than I should come before -him in his presence; for they be well assured, and very certain, that -my truth should vanquish all their untruth and surmised accusations; -which is the special cause that moveth me so earnestly to desire to -make mine answer before the king's majesty. The loss of goods, the -slander of my name, ne yet all my trouble, grieveth me nothing so much -as the loss of the king's favour, and that he should have in me such an -opinion, without desert, of untruth, that have with such travail and -pains served his highness so justly, so painfully, and with so faithful -a heart, to his profit and honour at all times. And also again, the -truth of my doings against their unjust accusations proved most just -and loyal should be much to my honesty, and do me more good than to -attain great treasure; as I doubt not but it will, if [the case] might -be indifferently heard. Now, my good lord, weigh ye my reasonable -request, and let charity and truth move your noble heart with pity, -to help me in all this my truth, wherein ye shall take no manner of -slander or rebuke, by the grace of God." "Well then," quoth my Lord -of Shrewsbury, "I will write to the king's majesty in your behalf, -declaring to him by my letters how grievously ye lament his displeasure -and indignation; and what request ye make for the trial of your truth -towards his highness." Thus after these communications, and divers -others, as between them daily was accustomed, they departed asunder. - -Where my lord continued the space after of a fortnight, having goodly -and honourable entertainment, whom the earl would often require to -kill a doe or two there in the park, who always refused all manner of -earthly pleasures and disports either in hunting or in other games, but -applied his prayers continually very devoutly; so that it came to pass -at [a] certain season sitting at dinner in his own chamber, having at -his board's end that same day, as he divers times had to accompany him, -a mess of the earl's gentlemen and chaplains, and eating of roasted -wardens at the end of his dinner, before whom I stood at the table, -dressing of those wardens for him: beholding of him [I] perceived his -colour often to change, and alter divers times, whereby I judged him -not to be in health. Which caused me to lean over the table, saying -unto him softly, "Sir, me seemeth your grace is not well at ease." He -answered again and said, "Forsooth, no more I am; for I am," quoth he, -"suddenly taken about my stomach, with a thing that lieth overthwart my -breast as cold as a whetstone; the which is but wind; therefore I pray -you take up the cloth, and make ye a short dinner, and resort shortly -again unto me." And after that the table was taken up, I went and sat -the waiters to dinner, without in the gallery, and resorted again to -my lord, where I found him still sitting where I left him very ill -at ease; notwithstanding he was in communication with the gentlemen -sitting at the board's end. And as soon as I was entered the chamber, -he desired me to go down to the apothecary, and to inquire of him -whether he had any thing that would break wind upward, and according -to his commandment I went my way towards the apothecary. And by the -way I remembered one article of mine oath before made unto Master -Walshe, which caused me first to go to the earl, and showed him both -what estate he was in, and also what he desired at the apothecary's -hand for his relief. With that the earl caused the apothecary to be -called incontinent before him; of whom he demanded whether he had any -thing to break wind that troubleth one in his breast; and he answered -that he had such gear. "Then," quoth the earl, "fetch me some hither." -The which the apothecary brought in a white paper, a certain white -confection unto the earl, who commanded me to give the assay thereof to -the apothecary, and so I did before him. And then I departed therewith -bringing it to my lord, before whom I took also the assay thereof, and -delivered the same to my lord, who received the same wholly altogether -at once. And immediately after he had received the same, surely he -avoided exceeding much wind upward. "Lo," quoth he, "now you may see -that it was but wind; but by the means of this receipt I am, I thank -God, well eased and so he rose from the table, and went to his prayers, -as he accustomedly did after dinner. And being at his prayers, there -came upon him such a laske, that it caused him to go to his stool; and -being there the earl sent for me, and at my coming he said, "Forasmuch -as I have always perceived you to be a man, in whom my lord your -master hath great affiance; and for my experience, knowing you to be -an honest man" (with many more words of commendation than need here to -be rehearsed), said, "It is so, that my lord, your lamentable master, -hath often desired me to write to the king's majesty that he might -come unto his presence, to make answer to his accusations; and even -so have I done; for this day have I received letters from his grace, -by Sir William Kingston, knight, whereby I do perceive that the king -hath in him a very good opinion; and upon my often request, he hath -sent for him, by the said Sir William, to come up to answer, according -to his own desire; who is in his chamber. Wherefore now is the time -come that my lord hath often desired to try himself and his truth, as -I trust much to his honour; and I put no doubt in so doing, that it -shall be for him the best journey that ever he made in all his life. -Therefore now would I have you to play the part of a wise man, to -break first this matter unto him so wittily, and in such sort, that he -might take it quietly in good part: for he is ever so full of sorrow -and dolor in my company, that I fear me he will take it in evil part, -and then he doth not well: for I assure you, and so show him that the -king is his good lord, and hath given me the most worthy thanks for his -entertainment, desiring and commanding me so to continue, not doubting -but that he will right nobly acquit himself towards his highness. -Therefore, go your ways to him, and so persuade with him that I may -find him in good quiet at my coming, for I will not tarry long after -you." "Sir," quoth I, "I shall, if it please your lordship, endeavour -me to accomplish your commandment to the best of my power. But, sir, I -doubt one thing, that when I shall name Sir William Kingston, he will -mistrust that all is not well; because he is constable of the tower, -and captain of the guard, having twenty-four of the guard to attend -upon him." "Marry it is truth;" quoth the earl, "what thereof, though -he be constable of the tower? yet he is the most meetest man for his -wisdom and discretion to be sent about any such message. And for the -guard, it is for none other purpose but only to defend him against all -them that would intend him any evil, either in word or deed; and also -they be all, or for the most part, such of his old servants as the king -took of late into his service, to the intent that they should attend -upon him most justly, and doth know best how to serve him." "Well, -sir," said I, "I will do what I can," and so departed toward my lord. - -And at my repair I found him sitting at the upper end of the gallery, -upon a trussing chest of his own, with his beads and staff in his -hands. And espying me coming from the earl, he demanded of me what -news. "Forsooth, sir," quoth I, "the best news that ever came to you; -if your grace can take it well." "I pray God it be," quoth he, "what is -it?" "Forsooth, sir," quoth I, "my Lord of Shrewsbury, perceiving by -your often communication that ye were always desirous to come before -the king's majesty, and now as your most assured friend, hath travailed -so with his letters unto the king, that the king hath sent for you -by Master Kingston and twenty-four of the guard, to conduct you to -his highness." "Master Kingston," quoth he, rehearsing his name[191] -once or twice; and with that clapped his hand on his thigh, and gave -a great sigh. "Sir," quoth I, "if your grace could or would take all -things in good part, it should be much better for you. Content yourself -for God's sake, and think that God and your friends hath wrought for -you, according to your own desire. Did ye not always wish that ye might -clear yourself before the king's person, now that God and your friends -hath brought your desire to pass, ye will not take it thankfully? If ye -consider your truth and loyalty unto our sovereign lord, against the -which your enemies cannot prevail, the king being your good lord as he -is, you know well, that the king can do no less than he doth, you being -to his highness accused of some heinous crime, but cause you to be -brought to your trial, and there to receive according to your demerits; -the which his highness trusteth, and saith no less but that you shall -prove yourself a just man to his majesty, wherein ye have more cause to -rejoice than thus to lament, or mistrust his favourable justice. For I -assure you, your enemies be more in doubt and fear of you, than you -of them; that they wish that thing, that I trust they shall never be -able to bring to pass with all their wits, the king (as I said before) -being your indifferent and singular good lord and friend. And to prove -that he so is, see you not how he hath sent gentle Master Kingston for -you, with such men as were your old true servants, and yet be as far as -it becometh them to be only to attend upon you, for the want of your -own servants, willing also Master Kingston to remove you with as much -honour as was due to you in your high estate; and to convey you by such -easy journeys as ye shall command him to do; and that ye shall have -all your desires and commandments by the way in every place, to your -grace's contentation and honour. Wherefore, sir, I humbly beseech your -grace, to imprint all these just persuasions with many other imminent -occasions in your discretion, and be of good cheer; I most humbly with -my faithful heart require your grace, wherewith ye shall principally -comfort yourself, and next give all your friends and to me and other -of your servants good hope of your good speed." "Well, well, then," -quoth he, "I perceive more than ye can imagine, or do know. Experience -of old hath taught me." And therewith he rose up, and went into his -chamber, to his close stool, the flux troubled him so sore; and when -he had done he came out again; and immediately my Lord of Shrewsbury -came into the gallery unto him, with whom my lord met, and then they -both sitting down upon a bench in a great window, the earl asked him -how he did, and he most lamentably, as he was accustomed, answered, -thanking him for his gentle entertainment. "Sir," quoth the earl, "if -ye remember ye have often wished in my company to make answer before -the king; and I as desirous to help your request, as you to wish, -bearing towards you my good will, have written especially to the king -in your behalf; making him also privy of your lamentable sorrow, that -ye inwardly receive for his high displeasure; who accepteth all things -and your doings therein, as friends be accustomed to do in such cases. -Wherefore I would advise you to pluck up your heart, and be not aghast -of your enemies, who I assure you have you in more doubt than ye would -think, perceiving that the king is fully minded to have the hearing -of your case before his own person. Now, sir, if you can be of good -cheer, I doubt not but this journey which ye shall take towards his -highness shall be much to your advancement, and an overthrow of your -enemies. The king hath sent for you by that worshipful knight Master -Kingston, and with him twenty-four of your old servants, who be now of -the guard, to defend you against your unknown enemies, to the intent -that ye may safely come unto his majesty." "Sir," quoth my lord, "as -I suppose Master Kingston is constable of the tower." "Yea, what of -that?" quoth the earl, "I assure you he is only appointed by the king -for one of your friends, and for a discreet gentleman, as most worthy -to take upon him the safe conduct of your person; for without fail the -king favoureth you much more, and beareth towards you a secret special -favour, far otherwise than ye do take it." "Well, sir," quoth my lord, -"as God will, so be it. I am subject to fortune, and to fortune I -submit myself, being a true man ready to accept such ordinances as -God hath provided for me, and there an end: sir, I pray you, where is -Master Kingston?" "Marry," quoth the earl, "if ye will, I will send for -him, who would most gladly see you." "I pray you then," quoth my lord, -"send for him." At whose message he came incontinent, and as soon as my -lord espied him coming in to the gallery, he made haste to encounter -him. Master Kingston came towards him with much reverence; and at his -approach he kneeled down and saluted him on the king's behalf; whom -my lord bareheaded offered to take up, but he still kneeled. "Then," -quoth my lord, "Master Kingston, I pray you stand up, and leave your -kneeling unto a very wretch replete with misery, not worthy to be -esteemed, but for a vile abject utterly cast away, without desert; -and therefore, good Master Kingston, stand up, or I will myself kneel -down by you." With that Master Kingston stood up, saying, with humble -reverence, "Sir, the king's majesty hath him commended unto you." "I -thank his highness," quoth my lord, "I trust he be in health, and -merry, the which I beseech God long continue." "Yea, without doubt," -quoth Master Kingston: "and so hath he commanded me first to say unto -you, that you should assure yourself that he beareth you as much good -will and favour as ever he did; and willeth you to be of good cheer. -And where[192] report hath been made unto him, that ye should commit -against his royal majesty certain heinous crimes, which he thinketh -to be untrue, yet for the ministration of justice, in such cases -requisite, and to avoid all suspect of partiality [he] can do no less -at the least than to send for you to your trial, mistrusting nothing -your truth and wisdom, but that ye shall be able to acquit yourself -against all complaints and accusations exhibited against you; and to -take your journey towards him at your own pleasure, commanding me to -be attendant upon you with all damage and inconveniences that might -ensue; and to elect all such your old servants, now his, to serve you -by the way, who have most experience of your diet. Therefore, sir, I -beseech your grace to be of good cheer; and when it shall be your good -pleasure to take your journey, I shall give mine attendance." "Master -Kingston," quoth my lord, "I thank you for your good news: and, sir, -hereof assure yourself, that if I were as able and as lusty as I have -been but of late, I would not fail to ride with you in post: but, sir, -I am diseased with a flux[193] that maketh me very weak. But, Master -Kingston, all these comfortable words which ye have spoken be but for -a purpose to bring me into a fool's paradise: I know what is provided -for me. Notwithstanding, I thank you for your good will and pains taken -about me; and I shall with all speed make me ready to ride with you -to-morrow." And thus they fell into other communication, both the -earl and Master Kingston with my lord; who commanded me to foresee and -provide that all things might be made ready to depart the morrow after. -I caused all things to be trussed up, and made in a readiness as fast -as they could conveniently. - -When night came that we should go to bed, my lord waxed very sick -through his new disease, the which caused him still continually from -time to time to go to the stool all that night; insomuch from the -time that his disease took him, unto the next day, he had above fifty -stools, so that he was that day very weak. The matter that he voided -was wondrous black, the which physicians call choler adustine; and -when he perceived it, he said to me, "If I have not some help shortly, -it will cost me my life." With that I caused one doctor Nicholas, a -physician, being with the earl, to look upon the gross matter that -he avoided; upon sight whereof he determined how he should not live -past four or five days; yet notwithstanding he would have ridden with -Master Kingston that same day, if the Earl of Shrewsbury had not been. -Therefore, in consideration of his infirmity, they caused him to tarry -all that day. - -And the next day he took his journey with Master Kingston and the -guard. And as soon as they espied their old master, in such a -lamentable estate, they lamented him with weeping eyes. Whom my lord -took by the hands, and divers times, by the way, as he rode, he would -talk with them, sometime with one, and sometime with another; at night -he was lodged at a house of the Earl of Shrewsbury's, called Hardwick -Hall, very evil at ease. The next day he rode to Nottingham, and there -lodged that night, more sicker, and the next day we rode to Leicester -Abbey; and by the way he waxed so sick that he was divers times likely -to have fallen from his mule[194]; and being night before we came -to the abbey of Leicester, where at his coming in at the gates the -abbot of the place with all his convent met him with the light of many -torches; whom they right honourably received with great reverence. To -whom my lord said, "Father Abbot, I am come hither to leave my bones -among you," whom they brought on his mule to the stairs foot of his -chamber, and there alighted, and Master Kingston then took him by the -arm, and led him up the stairs; who told me afterwards that he never -carried so heavy a burden in all his life. And as soon as he was in -his chamber, he went incontinent to his bed, very sick. This was upon -Saturday at night; and there he continued sicker and sicker. - -Upon Monday in the morning, as I stood by his bed side, about eight -of the clock, the windows being close shut, having wax lights burning -upon the cupboard, I beheld him, as me seemed, drawing fast to his -end. He perceiving my shadow upon the wall by his bed side, asked who -was there? "Sir, I am here," quoth I; "How do you?" quoth he to me. -"Very well, sir," quoth I, "if I might see your grace well." "What is -it of the clock?" said he to me. "Forsooth, sir," said I, "it is past -eight of the clock in the morning." "Eight of the clock?" quoth he, -"that cannot be," rehearsing divers times, "eight of the clock, eight -of the clock, nay, nay," quoth he at the last, "it cannot be eight of -the clock: for by eight of the clock ye shall lose your master: for -my time draweth near that I must depart out of this world." With that -Master Doctor Palmes, a worshipful gentleman, being his chaplain and -ghostly father, standing by, bade me secretly demand of him if he would -be shriven, and to be in a readiness towards God, whatsoever should -chance. At whose desire I asked him that question. "What have you to do -to ask me any such question?" quoth he, and began to be very angry with -me for my presumption; until at the last Master Doctor took my part, -and talked with him in Latin, and so pacified him. - -And after dinner, Master Kingston sent for me into his chamber, and -at my being there, said to me, "So it is, that the king hath sent me -letters by this gentleman Master Vincent, one of your old companions, -who hath been of late in trouble in the Tower of London for money that -my lord should have at his last departing from him, which now cannot -be found. Wherefore the king, at this gentleman's request, for the -declaration of his truth hath sent him hither with his grace's letters -directed unto me, commanding me by virtue thereof to examine my lord in -that behalf, and to have your counsel herein, how it may be done, that -he may take it well and in good part. This is the chief cause of my -sending for you; therefore I pray you what is your best counsel to use -in this matter for the true acquittal of this gentleman?" "Sir," quoth -I, "as touching that matter, my simple advice shall be this, that your -own person shall resort unto him and visit him, and in communication -break the matter unto him; and if he will not tell the truth, there -be that can satisfy the king's pleasure therein; and in anywise speak -nothing of my fellow Vincent. And I would not advise you to tract the -time with him; for he is very sick, and I fear me he will not live -past to-morrow in the morning." Then went Master Kingston unto him; -and asked first how he did, and so forth proceeded in communication, -wherein Master Kingston demanded of him the said money, saying, "that -my lord of Northumberland hath found a book at Cawood that reporteth -how ye had but late fifteen hundred pounds in ready money, and one -penny thereof will not be found, who hath made the king privy by his -letters thereof. Wherefore the king hath written unto me, to demand of -you if you know where it is become; for it were pity that it should -be embezzled from you both. Therefore I shall require you, in the -king's name, to tell me the truth herein, to the intent that I may -make just report unto his majesty what answer ye make therein." With -that my lord paused awhile and said, "Ah, good Lord! how much doth -it grieve me that the king should think in me such deceit, wherein I -should deceive him of any one penny that I have. Rather than I would, -Master Kingston, embezzle, or deceive him of a mite, I would it were -moult, and put in my mouth;" which words he spake twice or thrice very -vehemently. "I have nothing, ne never had (God being my judge), that I -esteemed, or had in it any such delight or pleasure, but that I took -it for the king's goods, having but the bare use of the same during -my life, and after my death to leave it to the king; wherein he hath -but prevented my intent and purpose. And for this money that ye demand -of me, I assure you it is none of mine; for I borrowed it of divers -of my friends to bury me, and to bestow among my servants, who have -taken great pains about me, like true and faithful men. Notwithstanding -if it be his pleasure to take this money from me, I must hold me -therewith content. Yet I would most humbly beseech his majesty to see -them satisfied, of whom I borrowed the same for the discharge of my -conscience." "Who be they?" quoth Master Kingston. "That shall I show -you," said my lord. "I borrowed two hundred pounds thereof of Sir John -Allen of London; and two hundred pounds of Sir Richard Gresham; and two -hundred pounds of the master of the Savoy; and two hundred pounds of -Doctor Hickden, dean of my college in Oxford; and two hundred pounds -of the treasurer of the church of York; and two hundred pounds of the -dean of York; and two hundred pounds of parson Ellis my chaplain; and -a hundred pounds of my steward, whose name I have forgotten; trusting -that the king will restore them again their money, for it is none of -mine." "Sir," quoth Master Kingston, "there is no doubt in the king; -ye need not to mistrust that, but when the king shall be advertised -thereof, to whom I shall make report of your request, that his grace -will do as shall become him. But, sir, I pray you, where is this -money?" "Master Kingston," quoth he, "I will not conceal it from the -king; I will declare it to you, or I die, by the grace of God. Take a -little patience with me, I pray you." "Well, sir, then will I trouble -you no more at this time, trusting that ye will show me to-morrow." -"Yea, that I will, Master Kingston, for the money is safe enough, and -in an honest man's keeping; who will not keep one penny from the king." -And then Master Kingston went to his chamber to supper. - -Howbeit my lord waxed very sick, most likeliest to die that night, and -often swooned, and as me thought drew fast toward his end, until it was -four of the clock in the morning, at which time I asked him how he did. -"Well," quoth he, "if I had any meat; I pray you give me some." "Sir, -there is none ready," said I; "I wis," quoth he, "ye be the more to -blame, for you should have always some meat for me in a readiness, to -eat when my stomach serveth me; therefore I pray you get me some; for -I intend this day, God willing, to make me strong, to the intent I may -occupy myself in confession, and make me ready to God." "Then, sir," -quoth I, "I will call up the cook to provide some meat for you; and -will also, if it be your pleasure, call for Master Palmes, that ye may -commune with him, until your meat be ready." "With a good will," quoth -he. And therewith I went first, and called up the cook, commanding him -to prepare some meat for my lord; and then I went to Master Palmes and -told him what case my lord was in; willing him to rise, and to resort -to him with speed. And then I went to Master Kingston, and gave him -warning, that, as I thought, he would not live; advertising him that -if he had any thing to say to him, that he should make haste, for he -was in great danger. "In good faith," quoth Master Kingston, "ye be to -blame: for ye make him believe that he is sicker, and in more danger -than he is." "Well, sir," quoth I, "ye shall not say another day but -that I gave you warning, as I am bound to do, in discharge of my duty. -Therefore, I pray you, whatsoever shall chance, let no negligence be -ascribed to me herein; for I assure you his life is very short. Do -therefore now as ye think best." Yet nevertheless he arose, and made -him ready, and came to him. After he had eaten of a cullis made of a -chicken, a spoonful or two; at the last, quoth he, "Whereof was this -cullis made?" "Forsooth, sir," quoth I, "of a chicken." "Why," quoth -he, "it is fasting day, and St. Andrew's Eve." "What though it be, -sir," quoth Doctor Palmes, "ye be excused by reason of your sickness?" -"Yea," quoth he, "what though? I will eat no more." - -Then was he in confession the space of an hour. And when he had ended -his confession, Master Kingston bade him good-morrow (for it was about -seven of the clock in the morning); and asked him how he did. "Sir," -quoth he, "I tarry but the will and pleasure of God, to render unto him -my simple soul into his divine hands." "Not yet so, sir," quoth Master -Kingston, "with the grace of God, ye shall live, and do very well; if -ye will be of good cheer." "Master Kingston, my disease is such that -I cannot live; I have had some experience in my disease, and thus it -is: I have a flux with a continual fever; the nature whereof is this, -that if there be no alteration with me of the same within eight days, -then must either ensue excoriation of the entrails, or frenzy, or else -present death; and the best thereof is death. And as I suppose, this -is the eighth day: and if ye see in me no alteration, then is there -no remedy (although I may live a day or twaine), but death, which is -the best remedy of the three." "Nay, sir, in good faith," quoth Master -Kingston, "you be in such dolor and pensiveness, doubting that thing -that indeed ye need not to fear, which maketh you much worse than ye -should be." "Well, well, Master Kingston," quoth he, "I see the matter -against me how it is framed; but if I had served God as diligently -as I have done the king, he would not have given me over in my grey -hairs[195]. Howbeit this is the just reward that I must receive for my -worldly diligence and pains that I have had to do him service; only -to satisfy his vain pleasure, not regarding my godly duty. Wherefore -I pray you, with all my heart, to have me most humbly commended unto -his royal majesty; beseeching him in my behalf to call to his most -gracious remembrance all matters proceeding between him and me from the -beginning of the world unto this day, and the progress of the same: -and most chiefly in the weighty matter yet depending; (meaning the -matter newly began between him and good Queen Katherine) then shall -his conscience declare, whether I have offended him or no. He is sure -a prince of a royal courage, and hath a princely heart; and rather -than he will either miss or want any part of his will or appetite, he -will put the loss of one half of his realm in danger. For I assure you -I have often kneeled before him in his privy chamber on my knees, the -space of an hour or two, to persuade him from his will and appetite: -but I could never bring to pass to dissuade him therefrom. Therefore, -Master Kingston, if it chance hereafter you to be one of his privy -counsel, as for your wisdom and other qualities ye are meet to be, I -warn you to be well advised and assured what matter ye put in his head, -for ye shall never put it out again. - -"And say furthermore, that I request his grace, in God's name, -that he have a vigilant eye to depress this new pernicious sect of -Lutherans[196], that it do not increase within his dominions through -his negligence, in such a sort, as that he shall be fain at length -to put harness upon his back to subdue them; as the king of Bohemia -did, who had good game, to see his rude commons (then infected with -Wickliffe's heresies) to spoil and murder the spiritual men and -religious persons of his realm; the which fled to the king and his -nobles for succour against their frantic rage; of whom they could get -no help of defence or refuge, but [they] laughed them to scorn, having -good game at their spoil and consumption, not regarding their duties -nor their own defence. And when these erroneous heretics had subdued -all the clergy and spiritual persons, taking the spoil of their -riches, both of churches, monasteries, and all other spiritual things, -having no more to spoil, [they] caught such a courage of their former -liberty that then they disdained their prince and sovereign lord with -all other noble personages, and the head governors of the country, -and began to fall in hand with the temporal lords to slay and spoil -them, without pity or mercy, most cruelly. Insomuch that the king and -other his nobles were constrained to put harness upon their backs, to -resist the ungodly powers of those traitorous heretics, and to defend -their lives and liberties, who pitched a field royal against them; -in which field these traitors so stoutly encountered, the party of -them was so cruel and vehement, that in fine they were victors, and -slew the king, the lords, and all the gentlemen of the realm, leaving -not one person that bare the name or port of a gentleman alive, or -of any person that had any rule or authority in the common weal. By -means of which slaughter they have lived ever since in great misery -and poverty without a head or governor, living all in common like -wild beasts abhorred of all Christian nations. Let this be to him an -evident example to avoid the like danger, I pray you. Good Master -Kingston, there is no trust in routs, or unlawful assemblies of the -common people; for when the riotous multitude be assembled, there is -among them no mercy or consideration of their bounden duty; as in the -history of King Richard the Second, one of his noble progenitors, which -[lived] in that same time of Wickliffe's seditious opinions. Did not -the commons, I pray you, rise against the king and the nobles of the -realm of England; whereof some they apprehended, whom they without -mercy or justice put to death? and did they not fall to spoiling and -robbery, to the intent they might bring all things in common; and at -the last, without discretion or reverence, spared not in their rage -to take the king's most royal person out of the Tower of London, and -carried him about the city most presumptuously, causing him, for the -preservation of his life, to be agreeable to their lewd proclamations? -Did not also the traitorous heretic, Sir John Oldcastle, pitch a field -against King Henry the Fifth, against whom the king was constrained -to encounter in his royal person, to whom God gave the victory? Alas! -Master Kingston, if these be not plain precedents, and sufficient -persuasions to admonish a prince to be circumspect against the -semblable mischief; and if he be so negligent, then will God strike and -take from him his power, and diminish his regality, taking from him his -prudent counsellors and valiant captains, and leave us in our own hands -without his help and aid; and then will ensue mischief upon mischief, -inconvenience upon inconvenience, barrenness and scarcity of all things -for lack of good order in the commonwealth, to the utter destruction -and desolation of this noble realm, from the which mischief God of his -tender mercy defend us. - -"Master Kingston, farewell. I can no more, but wish all things to have -good success. My time draweth on fast. I may not tarry with you. And -forget not, I pray you, what I have said and charged you withal: for -when I am dead, ye shall peradventure remember my words much better." -And even with these words he began to draw his speech at length, and -his tongue to fail; his eyes being set in his head, whose sight failed -him. Then we began to put him in remembrance of Christ's passion; and -sent for the abbot of the place to anneal[197] him, who came with all -speed, and ministered unto him all the service to the same belonging; -and caused also the guard to stand by, both to hear him talk before -his death, and also to witness of the same; and incontinent the clock -struck eight, at which time he gave up the ghost, and thus departed he -this present life[198]. And calling to our remembrance his words, the -day before, how he said that at eight of the clock we should lose our -master, one of us looking upon an other, supposing that he prophesied -of his departure. - -Here is the end and fall of pride and arrogancy of such men, exalted by -fortune to honours and high dignities; for I assure you, in his time of -authority and glory, he was the haughtiest man in all his proceedings -that then lived, having more respect to the worldly honour of his -person than he had to his spiritual profession; wherein should be all -meekness, humility, and charity; the process whereof I leave to them -that be learned and seen in divine laws[199]. - -After that he was thus departed, Master Kingston sent an empost to the -king, to advertise him of the death of the late Cardinal of York by one -of the guard, that both saw and heard him talk and die. And then Master -Kingston calling me unto him and to the abbot, went to consultation for -the order of his burial. - -After divers communications, it was thought good, that he should be -buried the next day following; for Master Kingston would not tarry the -return of the empost. And it was further thought good that the mayor -of Leicester and his brethren should be sent for, to see him personally -dead, in avoiding of false rumours that might hap to say that he was -not dead but still living. Then was the mayor and his brethren sent -for; and in the mean time the body was taken out of the bed where he -lay dead; who had upon him, next his body, a shirt of hair, besides his -other shirt, which was of very fine linen Holland cloth; this shirt -of hair was unknown to all his servants being continually attending -upon him in his bedchamber, except to his chaplain, which was his -Ghostly Father; wherein he was buried, and laid in a coffin of boards, -having upon his dead corpse all such vestures and ornaments as he was -professed in when he was consecrated bishop and archbishop, as mitre, -crosses, ring, and pall, with all other things appurtenant to his -profession. And lying thus all day in his coffin open and barefaced, -that all men might see him lie there dead without feigning; then when -the mayor, his brethren, and all other had seen him, lying thus until -four or five of the clock at night, he was carried so down into the -church with great solemnity by the abbot and convent, with many torches -light, singing such service as is done for such funerals. - -And being in the church the corpse was set in our lady chapel, with -many and divers tapers of wax burning about the hearse, and divers -poor men sitting about the same, holding of torches light in their -hands, who watched about the dead body all night, whilst the canons -sang dirige, and other devout orisons. And about four of the clock -in the morning they sang mass. And that done, and the body interred, -Master Kingston, with us, being his servants, were present at his said -funeral, and offered at his mass. And by that time that all things were -finished, and all ceremonies that to such a person were decent and -convenient, it was about six of the clock in the morning. - -Then prepared we to horseback, being St. Andrew's Day the Apostle, and -so took our journey towards the court[200], being at Hampton Court; -where the king then lay. And after we came thither, which was upon St. -Nicholas' Eve, we gave attendance upon the council for our depeche. - -Upon the morrow I was sent for by the king to come to his grace; and -being in Master Kingston's chamber in the court, had knowledge thereof, -and repairing to the king, I found him shooting at the rounds in the -park, on the backside of the garden. And perceiving him occupied in -shooting, thought it not my duty to trouble him: but leaned to a tree, -intending to stand there, and to attend his gracious pleasure. Being in -a great study, at the last the king came suddenly behind me, where I -stood, and clapped his hand upon my shoulder; and when I perceived him, -I fell upon my knee. To whom he said, calling me by name, "I will," -quoth he, "make an end of my game, and then will I talk with you:" and -so departed to his mark, whereat the game was ended. - -Then the king delivered his bow unto the yeoman of his bows, and went -his way inward to the palace, whom I followed; howbeit he called for -Sir John Gage, with whom he talked, until he came at the garden postern -gate, and there entered; the gate being shut after him, which caused me -to go my ways. - -And being gone but a little distance the gate was opened again, and -there Sir Harry Norris called me again, commanding me to come in to -the king, who stood behind the door in a nightgown of russet velvet, -furred with sables; before whom I kneeled down, being with him there -all alone the space of an hour and more, during which time he examined -me of divers weighty matters, concerning my lord, wishing that liever -than twenty thousand pounds that he had lived. Then he asked me for the -fifteen hundred pounds, which Master Kingston moved to my lord before -his death. "Sir," said I, "I think that I can tell your grace partly -where it is." "Yea, can you?" quoth the king; "then I pray you tell me, -and you shall do us much pleasure, nor it shall not be unrewarded." -"Sir," said I, "if it please your highness, after the departure of -David Vincent from my lord at Scroby, who had then the custody thereof, -leaving the same with my lord in divers bags, sealed with my lord's -seal, [he] delivered the same money in the same bags sealed unto a -certain priest (whom I named to the king), safely to keep to his use." -"Is this true?" quoth the king. "Yea, sir," quoth I, "without all -doubt. The priest shall not be able to deny it in my presence, for I -was at the delivery thereof[201]." "Well then," quoth the king, "let me -alone, and keep this gear secret between yourself and me, and let no -man be privy thereof; for if I hear any more of it, then I know by whom -it is come to knowledge." - -"Three may," quoth he, "keep counsel, if two be away; and if I thought -that my cap knew my counsel, I would cast it into the fire and burn -it. And for your truth and honesty ye shall be one of our servants, -and in that same room with us, that ye were with your old master. -Therefore go to Sir John Gage our vice chamberlain, to whom I have -spoken already to give you your oath, and to admit you our servant in -the same room; and then go to my Lord of Norfolk, and he shall pay you -all your whole year's wages, which is ten pounds, is it not so?" quoth -the king. "Yes, forsooth, sire," quoth I, "and I am behind thereof for -three quarters of a year." "That is true," quoth the king, "for so we -be informed, therefore ye shall have your whole year's wages, with our -reward delivered you by the Duke of Norfolk." The king also promised -me furthermore, to be my singular good and gracious lord, whensoever -occasion should serve. And thus I departed from him. - -And as I went I met with Master Kingston coming from the council, who -commanded me in their names to go straight unto them, whom they had -sent for by him, "And in any wise," quoth he, "for God's sake, take -good heed what ye say; for ye shall be examined of such certain words -as my lord your late master had at his departure, and if you tell -them the truth," quoth he, "what he said, you shall undo yourself; -for in any wise they would not hear of it: therefore be circumspect -what answer ye make to their demands." "Why, sir," quoth I, "how have -ye done therein yourself?" "Marry," quoth he, "I have utterly denied -that ever I heard any such words; and he that opened the matter first -is fled for fear; which was the yeoman of the guard that rode empost -to the king from Leicester. Therefore go your ways, God send you good -speed; and when you have done, come to me into the chamber of presence, -where I shall tarry your coming to see how you speed, and to know how -ye have done with the king." - -Thus I departed, and went directly to the council chamber door; and as -soon as I was come, I was called in among them. And being there, my -Lord of Norfolk spake to me first, and bade me welcome to the court, -and said, "My lords, this gentleman hath both justly and painfully -served the cardinal his master like an honest and diligent servant; -therefore I doubt not but of such questions as ye shall demand of him, -he will make just report, I dare undertake the same for him. How say -ye, it is reported that your master spake certain words, even before -his departure out of this life; the truth whereof I doubt not ye know; -and as ye know, I pray you report; and fear not for no man. Ye shall -not need to swear him, therefore go to, how say you, is it true that -is reported?" "Forsooth, sir," quoth I, "I was so diligent attending -more to the preservation of his life than I was to note and mark every -word that he spake: and, sir, indeed, he spake many idle words, as men -in such extremities do, the which I cannot now remember. If it please -your lordships to call before you Master Kingston, he will not fail to -show you the truth." "Marry, so have we done already," quoth they, "who -hath been here presently before us, and hath denied utterly that ever -he heard any such words spoken by your master at the time of his death, -or at any time before." "Forsooth, my lords," quoth I, "then I can say -no more; for if he heard them not, I could not hear them; for he heard -as much as I, and I as much as he. Therefore, my lords, it were much -folly for me to declare any thing of untruth, which I am not able to -justify." "Lo!" quoth my Lord of Norfolk, "I told you as much before; -therefore go your ways:" quoth he to me, "you are dismissed, and come -again to my chamber anon, for I must needs talk with you." - -I most humbly thanked them, and so departed; and went into the chamber -of presence to meet with Master Kingston, whom I found standing in -communication with an ancient gentleman, usher of the king's privy -chamber, called Master Radcliffe. And at my coming, Master Kingston -demanded of me, if I had been with the counsel; and what answer I made -them. I said again, that I had satisfied them sufficiently with my -answer; and told him the manner of it. And then he asked me how I sped -with the king; and I told him partly of our communication; and of his -grace's benevolence and princely liberality; and how he commanded me -to go to my Lord of Norfolk. As we were speaking of him, he came from -the council into the chamber of presence; as soon as he espied me, he -came unto the window, where I stood with Master Kingston and Master -Radcliffe; to whom I declared the king's pleasure. These two gentlemen -desired him to be my good lord. "Nay," quoth he, "I will be better unto -him than ye wene; for if I could have spoken with him before he came -to the king, I would have had him to my service; (the king excepted) -he should have done no man service in all England but only me. And -look, what I may do for you, I will do it with right good will." "Sir, -then," quoth I, "would it please your grace to move the king's majesty -in my behalf, to give me one of the carts and horses that brought up -my stuff with my lord's (which is now in the tower), to carry it into -my country." "Yea, marry, will I," quoth he, and returned again to -the king; for whom I tarried still with Master Kingston. And Master -Radcliffe, who said, that he would go in and help my lord in my suit -with the king. And incontinent my lord came forth, and showed me, how -the king was my good and gracious lord; and had given me six of the -best horses that I could choose amongst all my lord's cart horses, -with a cart to carry my stuff, and five marks for my costs homewards; -and "hath commanded me," quoth he, "to deliver you ten pounds for -your wages; being behind unpaid; and twenty pounds for a reward;" -who commanded to call for Master Secretary to make a warrant for all -these things. Then was it told him, that Master Secretary was gone to -Hanworth for that night. Then commanded he one of the messengers of the -chamber to ride unto him in all haste for those warrants; and willed -me to meet with him the next day at London; and there to receive both -my money, my stuff, and horses, that the king gave me: and so I did; -of whom I received all things according, and then I returned into my -country. - -And thus ended the life of my late lord and master, the rich and -triumphant legate and cardinal of England, on whose soul Jesu have -mercy! Amen. - - -_Finis quod G. C._ - - -Who list to read and consider, with an indifferent eye, this history, -may behold the wondrous mutability of vain honours, the brittle -assurance of abundance; the uncertainty of dignities, the flattering of -feigned friends, and the tickle trust to worldly princes. Whereof this -lord cardinal hath felt both of the sweet and the sour in each degree; -as fleeting from honours, losing of riches, deposed from dignities, -forsaken of friends, and the inconstantness of princes favour; of all -which things he hath had in this world the full felicity, as long as -fortune smiled upon him: but when she began to frown, how soon was -he deprived of all these dreaming joys and vain pleasures. The which -in twenty years with great travail, study, and pains, obtained, were -in one year and less, with heaviness, care, and sorrow, lost and -consumed. O madness! O foolish desire! O fond hope! O greedy desire -of vain honours, dignities, and riches! Oh what inconstant trust and -assurance is in rolling fortune! Wherefore the prophet said full -well, _Thesaurizat, et ignorat, cui congregabit ea_. Who is certain -to whom he shall leave his treasure and riches that he hath gathered -together in this world, it may chance him to leave it unto such as -he hath purposed? but the wise man saith, _That an other person, who -peradventure he hated in his life, shall spend it out, and consume it_. - - -THE END. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[44] The autograph MS. begins here. - -[45] He was born in the year 1471. See Fiddes's _Life of Wolsey_, p. -2. 1726. By some it has been said that his father was a _butcher_, -but the foundation for this assertion is not known. The zealous -biographer of the cardinal, Mr. Grove, made two successive journeys -to Ipswich for the purpose of obtaining information respecting him, -but the whole fruit of both expeditions was ascertaining the Christian -name of Wolsey's father, and that he was a man of some substance! He -printed, however, what he calls "The Life of Robert Wolsey, of Ipswich, -_Gentleman_," in 1761! The will of Wolsey's father was published by Dr. -Fiddes, and for its curiosity I shall give it a place in the Appendix. - -[46] The place was Lymington, in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. He was -instituted October 10, A. D. 1500. _Fiddes_, p. 5. - -[47] The tradition is, that Wolsey was set in the stocks by Sir Amyas -Pawlet's direction, for disorderly conduct at a fair where he had drunk -to excess. The ground for this assertion is not known, but it seems to -rest upon no earlier authority than that of Sir John Harrington. It may -be remarked that Storer, in his metrical Life of Wolsey, represents him -as the injured party: - - "Wrong'd by a knight for no desert of mine." - - -[48] September, 1501. - -[49] Fiddes asserts that Sir John Nanfan was a Somersetshire gentleman. -Nash, in his History of Worcestershire states, that the father and -the son have been confounded, and that it was Sir Richard Nanfan, a -gentleman of that county, who was captain of Calais about this time, i. -e. circa 1503. His son's name was Sir John; but it is evident that the -words _a very grave and ancient_ knight can only apply to Sir Richard. - -[50] _Place_, or _office_. - -[51] Wolsey had not only the address and good qualities necessary to -the acquisition of such friends, but also retained them to the last. -The affection of Bishop Fox is apparent in the last letter which he -wrote to him; and Sir Thomas Lovell's esteem was manifested to the -close of his life, for he leaves him in his will "a standing cup of -golde, and one hundred marks in golde." - -[52] This mission related to the intended treaty of marriage between -Henry the Seventh, and the Duchess Dowager of Savoy. - -[53] Shakspeare represents the cardinal as "Exceeding wise, fair spoken -and persuading;" and one of the charges exhibited against him was, -that "at the privy council he would have all the words to himself, and -consumed the time with a fair tale!" - -[54] _Dispatch._ - -[55] _Understanding._ - -[56] Wordsworth's Ed. - -[57] By _passengers_ the reader will see by the context that the -_passage boats_ are meant. It was the usual phrase to signify a -ferryman, and also his boat, from _passager_, Fr. Thus in Baret's -Alvearie, "A _passenger_, one that conveyeth over many, convector." - -[58] Thomas Storer, in his metrical Life of Wolsey, 1599, has the -following stanza, in which the expedition Wolsey used on this occasion -is not unpoetically alluded to: - - "The Argonautic vessel never past - With swifter course along the Colchian main, - Than my small bark with fair and speedy blast - Convey'd me forth, and reconvey'd again; - Thrice had Arcturus driv'n his restless wain, - And heav'n's bright lamp the day had thrice reviv'd - From first departure, till I last arriv'd." - -This poem was reprinted by Mr. Park in the Supplement to the Harleian -Miscellany. There are extracts from it in the Retrospective Review, -Vol. v. p. 275. - -[59] He was collated Feb. 2. A. D. 1508. Le Neve's _Fasti_. p. 146. - -[60] These words follow in most of the manuscripts, but are probably an -interpolation: "and mother afterwards of the queen's highness, that now -is, (whose virtuous life and godly disposition Jesu long preserve, and -continue against the malignity of her corrupt enemies!)" - -[61] This house merged to the crown by the attainder of Empson, and -appears to have been a princely dwelling, for in the patent, an orchard -and twelve gardens are enumerated as belonging to it. The grant bears -date in 1510. It stood upon the ground which is now occupied by -Salisbury Square and Dorset Street, its gardens reaching to the banks -of the river. - -[62] _Who had._ MS. L. - -[63] _Was._ MS. L. - -[64] Dr. Wordsworth has cited a passage from Sir Thomas More, in his -_Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation_, in which is a lively and -characteristic picture, "designed, no doubt, to represent the cardinal -at the head of his own table." I could not refuse myself the pleasure -of laying it before the reader. - -"_Anthony._ I praye you, cosyn, tell on. _Vincent._ Whan I was fyrste -in Almaine, uncle, it happed me to be somewhat favoured with a great -manne of the churche, and a great state, one of the greatest in all -that country there. And in dede whosoever might spende as muche as -hee mighte in one thinge and other, were a ryght great estate in anye -countrey of Christendom. But glorious was hee verye farre above all -measure, and that was great pitie, for it dyd harme, and made him abuse -many great gyftes that God hadde given him. Never was he saciate of -hearinge his owne prayse. - -So happed it one daye, that he had in a great audience made an oracion -in a certayne matter, wherein he liked himselfe so well, that at his -diner he sat, him thought, on thornes, tyll he might here how they that -sat with hym at his borde, woulde commend it. And whan hee had sitte -musing a while, devysing, as I thought after, uppon some pretty proper -waye to bring it in withal, at the laste, for lacke of a better, lest -he should have letted the matter too long, he brought it even blontly -forth, and asked us al that satte at his bordes end (for at his owne -messe in the middes there sat but himself alone) howe well we lyked -his oracyon that he hadde made that daye. But in fayth Uncle, whan -that probleme was once proponed, till it was full answered, no manne -(I wene) eate one morsell of meate more. Every manne was fallen in so -depe a studye, for the fyndynge of some exquisite prayse. For he that -shoulde have brought oute but a vulgare and a common commendacion, -woulde have thoughte himself shamed for ever. Than sayde we our -sentences by rowe as wee sat, from the lowest unto the hyghest in good -order, as it had bene a great matter of the comon weale, in a right -solemne counsayle. Whan it came to my parte, I wyll not saye it, Uncle, -for no boaste, mee thoughte, by oure Ladye, for my parte, I quytte -my selfe metelye wel. And I lyked my selfe the better beecause mee -thoughte my wordes beeinge but a straungyer, wente yet with some grace -in the Almain tong wherein lettyng my latin alone me listed to shewe -my cunnyng, and I hoped to be lyked the better, because I sawe that -he that sate next mee, and should saie his sentence after mee, was an -unlearned Prieste, for he could speake no latin at all. But whan he -came furth for hys part with my Lordes commendation, the wyly Fox, -hadde be so well accustomed in courte with the crafte of flattry that -he wente beyonde me to farre. - -And that might I see by hym, what excellence a right meane witte may -come to in one crafte, that in al his whole life studyeth and busyeth -his witte about no mo but that one. But I made after a solempne vowe -unto my selfe, that if ever he and I were matched together at that -boarde agayne: when we should fall to our flattrye, I would flatter in -latin, that he should not contende with me no more. For though I could -be contente to be out runne by an horse, yet would I no more abyde it -to be out runne of an asse. But Uncle, here beganne nowe the game, he -that sate hygheste, and was to speake, was a great beneficed man, and -not a Doctour onely, but also somewhat learned in dede in the lawes of -the Churche. A worlde it was to see howe he marked every mannes worde -that spake before him. And it semed that every worde the more proper it -was, the worse he liked it, for the cumbrance that he had to study out -a better to passe it. The manne even swette with the laboure, so that -he was faine in the while now and than to wipe his face. Howbeit in -conclusion whan it came to his course, we that had spoken before him, -hadde so taken up al among us before, that we hadde not lefte hym one -wye worde to speake after. - -_Anthony._ Alas good manne! amonge so manye of you, some good felow -shold have lente hym one. _Vincent._ It needed not as happe was Uncle. -For he found out such a shift, that in hys flatteryng he passed us -all the mayny. _Anthony._ Why, what sayde he Cosyn? _Vyncent._ By our -Ladye Uncle not one worde. But lyke as I trow Plinius telleth, that -whan Appelles the Paynter in the table that he paynted of the sacryfyce -and the death of Iphigenia, hadde in the makynge of the sorowefull -countenances of the other noble menne of Greece that beehelde it, -spente oute so much of his craft and hys cunnynge, that whan he came to -make the countenance of King Agamemnon her father, whiche hee reserved -for the laste, ... he could devise no maner of newe heavy chere and -countenance--but to the intent that no man should see what maner -countenance it was, that her father hadde, the paynter was fayne to -paynte hym, holdyng his face in his handkercher. The like pageant in -a maner plaide us there this good aunciente honourable flatterer. For -whan he sawe that he coulde fynde no woordes of prayse, that woulde -passe al that hadde bene spoken before all readye, the wyly Fox woulde -speake never a word, but as he that were ravished unto heavenwarde -with the wonder of the wisdom and eloquence that my Lordes Grace hadde -uttered in that oracyon, he fette a long syghe with an Oh! from the -bottome of hys breste, and helde uppe bothe hys handes, and lyfte uppe -bothe his handes and lift uppe his head, and caste up his eyen into -the welkin and wepte. _Anthony._ Forsooth Cosyn, he plaide his parte -verye properlye. But was that greate Prelates oracion Cosyn, any thyng -prayseworthye?" _Sir Thomas More's Works_, p. 1221, 1222. - -[65] _i.e._ haughty. - -[66] June 1513. - -[67] 100 crowns a day. - -[68] "Heaven and happiness eternal is τὸ ξητόυμενον, that -which is joined in issue, to which we are intituled, for which we -plead, to which we have right; from whence by injury and treachery we -have been ejected, and from whence _by fine force_ we are kept out: for -this we do _clamare_, by the Clergy, our Counsel, in the view of God -and Angels." _Montague's Diatribe upon Selden's History of Tithes_, p. -130. _W._ - -[69] He was consecrated bishop of Lincoln, March 26, A. D. 1514. _Le -Neve's Fasti_, p. 141. _W._ - -[70] Bambridge was poisoned (according to Stow) by Rinaldo da Modena, -his chaplain, who was incited to the act by revenge, having suffered -the indignity of a blow from the archbishop. - -[71] Dr. Robert Barnes preached a Sermon on the 24th of December, -1525, at St. Edward's Church in Cambridge, from which Sermon certain -Articles were drawn out upon which he was soon after called to make -answer before the Cardinal. Barnes has left behind him a description of -this examination. The sixth of these Articles was as follows. "I wyll -never beleeve that one man may be, by the lawe of God, a Byshop of two -or three cities, yea of an whole countrey, for it is contrarye to St. -Paule, which sayth, _I have left thee behynde, to set in every citye a -byshop_." - -"I was brought afore my Lorde Cardinall into his Galary, (continues Dr. -Barnes), and there hee reade all myne articles, tyll hee came to this, -and there he stopped, and sayd, that this touched hym, and therefore -hee asked me, if I thought it wronge, that one byshop shoulde have -so many cityes underneath hym; unto whom I answered, that I could no -farther go, than St. Paules texte, whych set in every cytye a byshop. -Then asked hee mee, if I thought it now unright (seeing the ordinaunce -of the Church) that one byshop should have so many cities. I aunswered -that I knew none ordinaunce of the Church, as concerning this thinge, -but St. Paules sayinge onelye. Nevertheles I did see a contrarye custom -and practise in the world, but I know not the originall thereof. Then -sayde hee, that in the Apostles tyme, there were dyvers cities, some -seven myle, some six myle long, and over them was there set but one -byshop, and of their suburbs also: so likewise now, a byshop hath -but one citye to his cathedrall churche, and the country about is as -suburbs unto it. Me thought this was farre fetched, but I durst not -denye it." _Barnes's Works_, p. 210. A. D. 1573. _W._ - -[72] This was not the first time in which this point of precedency had -been contested. Edward III, in the sixth year of his reign, at a time -when a similar debate was in agitation, having summoned a Parliament at -York, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and all the other Prelates of his -Province, declined giving their attendance, that the Metropolitan of -all England might not be obliged to submit his Cross to that of York, -in the Province of the latter. _Fox_, p. 387, 388. _W._ - -[73] Wolsey, in his endeavours to obtain the purple pall, had relied -much on the assistance of Adrian, Bishop of Bath, himself a cardinal, -then the Pope's collector in England, but residing at Rome, and -acting by Polydore Vergil, his deputy. Adrian being either unable or -unwilling to render the expected service, Wolsey, conceiving that -he had been betrayed, seized upon the deputy collector, Polydore, -and committed him to the Tower, where he remained, notwithstanding -repeated remonstrances from the court of Rome, until the elevation of -Wolsey to the cardinalate procured his liberty. This will account for -the unfavourable light in which Wolsey is placed in Polydore Vergil's -History. - -[74] "Not farre unlike to this was the receaving of the Cardinals -hatte. Which when a ruffian had brought unto him to Westminster under -his cloke, he clothed the messenger in rich aray, and sent him backe to -Dover againe, and appoynted the Bishop of Canterbury to meet him, and -then another company of Lordes and Gentles I wotte not how oft, ere it -came to Westminster, where it was set on a cupborde and tapers about, -so that the greatest Duke in the lande must make curtesie thereto: yea -and to his empty seat he being away." _Tindal's Works_, p. 374. _Fox's -Acts_, p. 902. _W._ - -[75] Dr. Fiddes and Mr. Grove remark, that this is a prejudiced -statement of the case, and that Cavendish was misled by false -information. It does not indeed appear that Wolsey used any indirect -means to supersede Archbishop Warham, and the following passages in -the correspondence of Sir Thomas More with Ammonius seem to prove the -contrary. Sir Thomas says: "The Archbishop of Canterbury hath at length -resigned the office of Chancellor, which burthen, as you know, _he -had strenuously endeavoured to lay down for some years_; and the long -wished for retreat being now obtained, he enjoys a most pleasant recess -in his studies, with the agreeable reflection of having acquitted -himself honourably in that high station. The Cardinal of York, _by the -Kings Orders_, succeeds him; who discharges the duty of the post so -conspicuously as to surpass the hopes of all, notwithstanding the great -opinion they had of his other eminent qualities: and what was most -rare, to give so much content and satisfaction after so excellent a -predecessor." - -Ammonius, writing to Erasmus, says: "Your Archbishop, with the King's -good leave, has laid down his post, which that of York, _after much -importunity_, has accepted of, and behaves most beautifully." - -[76] This is noticed by the satirist Roy, in his invective against -Wolsey: - - Before him rydeth two prestes stronge, - And they beare two crosses right longe, - Gapinge in every man's face: - After them follow two lay-men secular, - And each of them holdinge a pillar - In their hondes, insteade of a mace. - Then followeth my lord on his mule - Trapped with gold, &c. - -Dr. Wordsworth, misled by Anstis, has erroneously attributed this -satire to Skelton, confounding it probably with that writer's - - "Why come ye not to court." - -See note at the end of the Life. - -[77] Even so early as the reign of Henry III, the annual amount of the -benefices in the hands of Italians, in this kingdom, was 70,000 marks; -more than three times the value of the whole revenue of the crown. _M. -Paris, in Vit. Hen. III. Ann. 1252._ - - _Wordsworth._ - - -[78] These are termed _under pastelers_, in the more recent MSS. - -[79] The _Gospeller_ was the priest who read the Gospel. The -_Pisteller_, the clerk who read the Epistle. - -[80] _Revestry_, from the French _Revestir_; contractedly written -_Vestry_. - -[81] Those Lords that were placed in the great and privy chambers were -_Wards_, and as such paid for their board and education. It will be -seen below that he had a particular officer called "Instructor of his -Wards." _Grove._ - -[82] Among whom, as we shall see below, was the eldest son of the Earl -of Northumberland. This was according to a practice much more ancient -than the time of Wolsey; agreeably to which, young men of the most -exalted rank resided in the families of distinguished ecclesiastics, -under the denomination of pages, but more probably for the purposes of -education than of service. In this way Sir Thomas More was brought up -under Cardinal Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury; of whom he has given a -very interesting character in his Utopia. From Fiddes's Appendix to the -Life of Wolsey, p. 19, it appears that the custom was at least as old -as the time of Grosthed, Bishop of Lincoln, in the reign of Henry III, -and that it continued for some time during the seventeenth century. -In a paper, written by the Earl of Arundel, in the year 1620, and -intitled _Instructions for you my son William, how to behave yourself -at Norwich_, the earl charges him, "You shall in all things reverence, -honour, and obey my Lord Bishop of Norwich, as you would do any of -your parents: esteeminge whatsoever he shall tell or command you, as -if your grandmother of Arundell, your mother, or myself should say it: -and in all things esteem yourself as my lord's page; a breeding, which -youths of my house, far superior to you, were accustomed unto; as my -grandfather of Norfolk, and his brother, my good uncle of Northampton, -were both bredd as pages with bishopps." See also Paul's _Life of -Archbishop Whitgift_, p. 97. - -It is not out of place to mention, what we are told by Sir George -Wheler in his _Protestant Monastery_, p. 158. A. D. 1698. "I have -heard say, in the times no longer ago than King Charles I, that many -noblemen's and gentlemen's houses in the country were like academies, -where the gentlemen and women of lesser fortunes came for education -with those of the family; among which number was the famous Sir -Beaville Granville and his lady, father and mother of our present lord -of Bath." _W._ - -[83] Dr. Wordsworth's edition says _one hundred and eighty_. The -manuscripts differ in stating the numbers, the edition of 1641 has -_eight hundred persons_. And, in consequence, Wolsey has been so far -misrepresented, by some writers, as to have it asserted that he kept -_eight hundred servants_! - -[84] At Bruges, "he was received with great solemnity, as belongeth -unto so mighty a pillar of Christes church, and was saluted at the -entring into the towne of a merry fellow which sayd, _Salve rex regis -tui, atque regni sui_, Hayle both king of thy king, and also of his -realme." _Tindal's Works_, p. 370, A. D. 1572. - -[85] _Liveries_, are things _'livered_, i. e. delivered out. - -[86] Bread of the finest flour. _A cast_ is a share or allotment. - -[87] So our author, in his _poetical legend_, dwells upon this regal -pomp of his master: - - 'My crossis twayne of silver long and greate, - That dayly before me were carried hyghe, - Upon great horses opynly in the streett; - And massie pillers gloryouse to the eye, - With pollaxes gylt that no man durst come nyghe - My presence, I was so pryncely to behold; - Ridyng on my mule trapped in silver and in golde.' - -See Appendix. - -[88] The pillar, as well as the cross, was emblematical, and designed -to imply, that the dignitary before whom it was carried was a _pillar_ -of the church. Dr. Barnes, who had good reason why these pillars should -be uppermost in his thoughts, glances at this emblem, in the case -of the cardinal, in the following words; "and yet it must bee true, -because a _pillar of the church_ hath spoken it." _Barnes' Works_, p. -210, A. D. 1572. See also _Tindal's Works_, p. 370. _W._ - -[89] It was made One of the Articles of Impeachment against him: -"That by his outrageous Pride he had greatly shadowed a long season -his Grace's Honour." Art. XLIV. Sir Thomas More, when Speaker of the -House of Commons, noticing a complaint which had been made by the -cardinal, that nothing could be said or done in that house, but it -was presently spread abroad, and became the talk of every tavern or -alehouse, "Masters, (says he) forasmuche as my lord cardinall latelie -laied to our charges the lightnes of our tongues for things uttered out -of this house, it shall not in my minde be amisse to receive him with -all his pompe, with his maces, his pillers, pollaxes, his crosses, his -hatt, and the greate seal too; to thintent, that if he finde the like -fault with us heereafter, wee maie be the bolder from ourselves to laie -the blame on those that his grace bringeth hither with him." _Roper's -Life of Sir Thomas More_, p. 21, edit. 1817. Sir Thomas also, in his -Apology, written in the year 1533, reflects severely upon the change -introduced among the clergy, through the cardinall's means, in the -luxury and sumptuousness of their dress. _Works_, p. 892. - -The pulpit likewise occasionally raised its voice against him. Doctor -Barnes, who was burnt in Smithfield in the year 1541, preached at St. -Edward's Church in Cambridge, a sermon, for which he was called to -appear before the cardinal. This was a part of their dialogue, as it -is related in Fox: "What Master Doctor (said the cardinall) had you -not a sufficient scope in the Scriptures to teach the people, but that -my golden shoes, my pollaxes, my pillers, my golden cushions, my cross -did so sore offend you, that you must make us _ridiculum caput_ amongst -the people? We were jolily that day laughed to scorne. Verely it was -a sermon more fitter to be preached on a stage than in a pulpit; for -at the last you said I weare a paire of _redde_ gloves, I should say -_bloudie_ gloves (_quoth you_) that I should not be cold in the midst -of my ceremonies. And Barnes answered, I spake nothing but the truth -out of the Scriptures, according to my conscience, and according to the -old doctors." _Fox's Acts_, p. 1088. _W._ - -The following curious passage from Doctor Barnes's 'SUPPLICATION TO THE -KING,' printed by Myddelton, in 12mo, without date, is probably more -correct than the exaggeration of the good old martyrologist. It opens -to us, as Dr. Wordsworth justly remarks, some part of the philosophy -upon which the cardinal defended the fitness of that pomp and state -which he maintained. - -"Theie have _baculum pastolarem_ to take shepe with, but it is not -like a shepeherdes hooke, for it is intricate and manifolde crooked, -and turneth always in, so that it may be called a mase, for it hath -neither beginning nor ending, and it is more like to knocke swine and -wolves in the head with, than to take shepe. _Theie have also pillers -and pollaxes_, and other ceremonies, which no doubte be but trifels and -thinges of nought. I praye you what is the cause that you calle your -staffe a shepeherdes staffe? You helpe no man with it? You comforte no -man?--You lift up no man with it? But you have stryken downe kynges, -and kyngedomes with it; and knocked in the head Dukes and Earls with -it. Call you this a sheepeherdes staffe? There is a space in the -shepeherdes staffe for the foote to come oute againe, but youre staffe -turneth and windeth alwayes inwarde and never outewarde, signifieing -that whatsoever he be that cometh within your daunger, that he shall -neuer come oute againe. This exposition youre dedes do declare, let -them be examined that you have had to do with; and let us see howe they -have escaped youre shepeherdes hooke. But these be the articles for -the which I must nedes be an heretike, never the less all the worlde -may see how shamefully, that I have erred agaynst your holinesse in -saying the truth. _My Lord Cardinall reasoned with me in this article, -all the other he passed over, saving this and the sixth article. Here -did he aske, "if I thought it good and reasonable, that he shulde lay -downe his pillers and pollaxes and coyne them?"_ Here is the heresye -that is so abhomynable. _I made him answere, that I thoughte it well -done. "Than, (saide he), howe thynke you, were it better for me (being -in the honour and dignitie that I am) to coyne my pillers and pollaxes -and to give the money to five or sixe beggers; than for to maintaine -the commenwelthe by them, as I do? Do you not recken (quod he) the -commenwelthe better than fyve or sixe beggers?"_ To this I did answere -that I rekened it more to the honour of God and to the salvation of -his soule and also to the comforte of his poore bretheren that they -were coyned and given in almes, and as for the commenwelthe dyd not -hange of them, (where be they nowe?) for as his grace knewe, the -commenwelthe was afore his grace, and must be when his grace is gone, -and the pillers and pollaxes came with him, and should also go away -with him. Notwithstanding yf the commenwelthe were in suche a condicion -that it had nede of them, than might his grace so longe use them, or -any other thinge in theyr stede, so long as the commenwelth neded them, -Notwithstanding I sayd, thus muche dyd I not say in my sermon agaynst -them, but all onely I dampned in my sermon the gorgeous pompe and pride -of all exterior ornamentes. Than he sayde, "Well--you say very well." -But as well as it was said I am sure that these wordes made me an -heretike, for if these wordes had not bene therein, mine adversaries -durst never have shewed their faces against me. But now they knewe -well that I could never be indifferently hearde. For if I had got the -victorie than must all the Bishops and my Lord Cardinal have laid downe -all their gorgeous ornamentes, for the which they had rather burne xx -such heretikes as I am, as all the worlde knoweth. But God is mighty, -and of me hath he shewed his power, for I dare say they never intended -thing more in their lives, than they did to destroy me, and yet God, of -his infinite mercy, hath saved me, agaynst all their violence: unto his -Godly wisdome is the cause all onely knowne. The Byshop of London that -was then, called Tunstal, after my departing out of prison, sayd unto a -substancyal man, that I was not ded (for I dare say his conscience did -not recken me such an heretike, that I wolde have killed myself, as the -voyce wente, but yet wolde he have done it gladly of his charyte) but -I was, saide he, in Amsterdam (where I had never been in my lyfe, as -God knoweth, nor yet in the Countrey this ten yeares) and certaine men -dyd there speake with me (said he) and he fained certaine wordes that -they shulde say to me, and I to them, and added thereunto that the Lord -Cardinal woulde have me againe or it shulde coste hym a greate somme of -money, howe moche I do not clerelye remember. I have marvayle that my -Lorde is not ashamed, thus shamefully and thus lordly to lye, althoughe -he might doo it by auctoritie. And where my Lord Cardinal and he wold -spend so moche money to have me agayne, I have great marvayle of it, -What can they make of me? (I am now here, what say you to me?) I am a -symple poore wretche, and worthe no mans money in the worlde (saving -theirs) not the tenth peny that they will give for me, and to burne me -or to destroye me, cannot so greatly profyt them. _For when I am dead, -the sunne, and the moone, the starres, and the element, water and fyre, -ye and also stones shall defende this cause againste them rather than -the verity shall perish._" - -[90] _Chambers_, short guns, or cannon, standing upon their breeching -without carriages, chiefly used for festive occasions; and having their -name most probably from being little more than _chambers_ for powder. -It was by the discharge of these _chambers_ in the play of Henry -VIIIth. that the Globe Theatre was burnt in 1613. Shakspeare followed -pretty closely the narrative of Cavendish. - -[91] _Mumchance_ appears to have been a game played with _dice_, at -which silence was to be observed. - -[92] _Rounding_, sometimes spelt _rowning_, i. e. _whispering_. - -[93] "The king gave good testymony of his love to this lady, creating -her in one day Marquesse of Pembroke (that I may use the words of the -patent) for the nobylity of her stocke, excellency of her virtues and -conditions, and other shewes of honesty and goodness worthyly to bee -commended in her. And giving her a patent for a 1000 pounds yerely to -maynteyne this honour with. She was the first woman, I read, to have -honor given to her and her heyres male." - - _Sir Roger Twysden's MS. note._ - - -[94] "Not above seven yeares of age, Anno 1514." as appears from a -fragment of this life with notes by Sir Roger Twysden, of which a few -copies were printed in 1808, by Mr. Triphook, from whence also the -following note is copied. - -[95] "It should seeme by some that she served three in France -successively; Mary of England maryed to Lewis the twelfth, an. 1514, -with whome she went out of England, but Lewis dying the first of -January following, and that Queene (being) to returne home, sooner -than either Sir Thomas Bullen or some other of her frendes liked she -should, she was preferred to Clauda, daughter to Lewis XII. and wife to -Francis I. then Queene (it is likely upon the commendation of Mary the -Dowager), who not long after dying, an. 1524, not yet weary of France -she went to live with Marguerite, Dutchess of Alançon and Berry, a Lady -much commended for her favor towards good letters, but never enough -for the Protestant religion then in the infancy--from her, if I am not -deceived, she first learnt the grounds of the Protestant religion; so -that England may seem to owe some part of her happyness derived from -that Lady." - -[96] This expression, unless the author himself were misinformed, must -not be extended to imply an absolute precontract. Lord Herbert, in -his Life of Henry VIII. p. 448, has published an original letter from -this nobleman, then Earl of Northumberland, written in the year 1536, -a short time before Q. Anne's suffering, in which he denies any such -contract, in the most solemn terms. This letter will be found in the -Appendix. _W._ - -I have placed this letter in the Appendix (Letter VIII) for the -convenience of the reader. - -[97] Geffrey Bollen, a gentlemen of Norfolk, Mayor of London, 1457, -marryed one of the daughters and heyres of Thomas Lord Hoo and -Hastings, by whome he had William Bolleyn (knight of the Bath at -Richard 3ds coronation) who marryed the Earl of Ormonds daughter -(he though of Ireland, sate in the English parliament above English -Barons), by her he had Thomas Bollen, whome the Erle of Surrey after -Duke of Norfolk chose for his son-in-law; of which marriage this Anne -was born, 1507. - - _Note from Sir R. Twysden's MS. Frag._ - - -[98] This was the Lady Mary Talbot, daughter to George Earl of -Shrewsbury, by whom he had no issue. "Though little ceremony, and -probably as little time, was used in patching up these nuptials. As -might be expected, they were most unhappy. So we are told, on the -authority of the earl's own letters, in the very laboured account of -the Percy family given in Collins' Peerage, ed. 1779, perhaps the -best piece of family history in our language. "Henry, the unthrifty -Earl of Northumberland, died at Hackney in the prime of life, about -ten or twelve years after he had consented to this marriage. Of this -term but a very small portion was spent in company of his lady. He -lived long enough, however, not only to witness the destruction of his -own happiness, but the sad termination of Anne Boleyn's life. In the -admirable account of the Percy family, referred to above, no mention -is made of the lady who, on these terms, consented to become Countess -of Northumberland, in her long widowhood. She sequestered herself from -the world at Wormhill, on the banks of the Derbyshire Wye, amidst -some of the sublimest scenery of the Peak. Wormhill is about eighteen -miles from Sheffield, where Lady Northumberland's father, brother, and -nephew, successively Earls of Shrewsbury, spent the greater part of -their lives." - - _Who wrote Cavendish's Life of Wolsey?_ p. 30. - -The reader will be pleased to refer to the note as it now stands in -Mr. Hunter's Essay, prefixed to the present edition. He thinks that -_Wreshill_, and not _Wormhill_, must be meant, as there is no other -evidence to show that Lady Percy had a house at Wormhill. - -[99] i. e. _fumed_. This metaphorical use of the word has not occurred -to me elsewhere. - -[100] The charms of Anne had also attracted Sir Thomas Wyatt, and -some of his poems evidently allude to his passion; he was afterwards -closely questioned as to the nature of his intimacy with her. A very -curious narrative of some particulars relating to this attachment, from -the pen of a descendant of the poet, has fortunately been preserved -among the MS. collections of Lewis the antiquary. A few copies of this -memoir were printed in 1817, but as it has still almost the rarity of -a manuscript, I shall enrich my Appendix by reprinting it as a most -curious and valuable document relating to this eventful period of our -history. - -[101] In the very interesting memoir of Anne Boleyn, by George Wyat, -which the reader will find in the Appendix, the queen's prudent conduct -is mentioned, and the following anecdote related: 'These things being -well perceived of the queen, which she knew well to frame and work her -advantage of, and therefore the oftener had her (i. e. Anne Boleyn) at -cards with her, the rather also that the king might have the less her -company, and the lady the more excuse to be from him, also she esteem -herself the kindlier used, and yet withal the more to give the king -occasion to see the nail upon her finger. And in this entertainment, -of time they had a certain game, that I cannot name, then frequented, -wherein dealing, the king and queen meeting they stopt; and the young -lady's hap was, much to stop at a king. Which the queen noting, said to -her, playfully, '_My Lady Anne, you have good hap to stop at a king, -but you are like others, you will have all or none_.' - -[102] Yet nothing can be more strong than her expressions of gratitude -and affection to the cardinal at this period when his assistance was of -importance to her views. Two letters of hers to the cardinal have been -published by Burnet, I. 55, [see our Appendix, Letter XI.] in which she -says: "all the days of my life I am most bound of all creatures next -the king's grace to love and serve your grace; of the which I beseech -you never to doubt that ever I shall vary from this thought as long as -any breath is in my body. And as touching your grace's trouble with -the sweat, I thank our Lord that them that I desired and prayed for -are scaped, and that is the king and you. And as for the coming of the -Legate, I desire that much, and if it be God's pleasure, I pray him -to send this matter shortly to a good end, and then I trust, my lord, -to recompense part of your great pains." In another letter she says: -"I do know the great pains and troubles that you have taken for me, -both day and night, is never like to be recompensed on my part, but al -only in loving you next the king's grace above all creatures living." -In a third letter, published by Fiddes, "I am bound in the mean time -to owe you my service: and then look what thing in the world I can -imagine to do you pleasure in, you shall find me the gladdest woman -in the world to do it, and next unto the king's grace, of one thing I -make you full promise to be assured to have it, and that is my hearty -love unfeignedly during my life." It should seem, therefore, unless -we suppose her to have been insincere in her expression of gratitude, -that her animosity did not proceed from any displeasure at the rupture -of the affair with Lord Percy; but from subsequent causes. She was -probably worked upon by the cardinal's enemies in the court. - -[103] The name of this person was Giovanni Joacchino Passano, a -Genoese; he was afterwards called Seigneur de Vaux. The emperor, it -appears, was informed of his being in England, and for what purpose. -The cardinal stated that Joacchino came over as a merchant, and that -as soon as he discovered himself to be sent by the Lady Regent of -France, he had made de Praet (the emperor's ambassador) privy thereto, -and likewise of the answer given to her proposals. The air of mystery -which attached to this mission naturally created suspicion, and after a -few months, De Praet, in his letters to the emperor, and to Margaret, -the governess of the Netherlands, expressed his apprehension that all -was not right, and the reasons for his surmises. His letters were -intercepted by the cardinal, and read before the council. Charles and -Margaret complained of this insult, and the cardinal explained as well -as he could. At the same time protesting against the misrepresentation -of De Praet, and assuring them that nothing could be further from his -wish than that any disunion should arise between the king his master -and the emperor; and notwithstanding the suspicious aspect of this -transaction, his dispatches both immediately before and after this -fracas strongly corroborate his assertions. [See additional note at the -end of the Life.] Wolsey suspected that the Pope was inclined toward -the cause of Francis, and reminded him, through the Bishop of Bath, of -his obligations to Henry and Charles. The Pope had already taken the -alarm, and had made terms with the French king, but had industriously -concealed it from Wolsey, and at length urged in his excuse that he -had no alternative. Joacchino was again in England upon a different -mission, and was an eyewitness of the melancholy condition of the -cardinal when his fortunes were reversed. He sympathised with him, -and interested himself for him with Francis and the Queen Dowager, as -appears by his letters published in _Legrand, Histoire du Divorce de -Henri VIII._ - -[104] Dr. Fiddes has justly observed, that Cavendish, in his account of -these transactions, asserted some things not only without sufficient -authority, but contrary to the evidence of documents which he has -adduced. By these it appears, that if there was any delay in the -supplies promised on the part of England it was purely accidental; -and that the remissness of the emperor to furnish his quota was the -principal cause of the extremity to which the Duke of Bourbon's army -was reduced. Cavendish is also wrong in his relation of the siege of -Pavia and its consequences. The fact is, that the Duke of Bourbon did -not command in the town, but marched at the head of the imperial army -to relieve it; and the garrison did not sally out until the two armies -were engaged. The demonstrations of joy with which the victory at Pavia -was received in London is also an argument for the sincerity of Henry -and the cardinal at this time. The story of the treaty between Henry -and Francis, said to have been found in the tent of the latter after -the victory, is also a mere fiction. In the spirit of a true son of the -Apostolic Church, Cavendish deprecates every thing which might tend -to bring the Pope into jeopardy; and he cannot help bearing hard even -upon the cardinal, because he was thought indirectly the cause 'of all -this _mischief_.' What is here said receives confirmation from some -interesting letters of the cardinal in the Appendix to Galt's Life of -Wolsey, No. IV. V. VI. p. cxxxiv, &c. 4to edition, Lond. 1812. - -[105] These intrigues, in which the cardinal bore so large a part, did -not redound to the glory of his country. Our merry neighbours even then -had begun to make our diplomatic inferiority the subject of their sport -and ridicule. William Tindall, in his _Practice of popish Prelates_, -referring to these events, tells us, "The Frenchmen of late dayes made -a play or a disguising at Paris, in which the emperour daunsed with the -pope and the French king, and weried them, the king of England sitting -on a hye bench, and looking on. And when it was asked, why he daunsed -not, it was answered, that he sate there, _but to pay the minstrels -their wages onely_: as who should say, wee paid for all mens dauncing." -_Tindall's Works_, p. 375. A. D. 1572. _W._ - -[106] A _brake_ here seems to signify a _snare_ or _trap_. The word has -much puzzled the commentators on Shakspeare (See Measure for Measure, -Act II. Sc. 1). One of its antient significations was a _sharp bit_ -to break horses with. A farrier's _brake_ was a machine to confine or -trammel the legs of unruly horses. An antient instrument of torture was -also called _a brake_; and a thorny _brake_ meant an intricate thicket -of thorns. Shakerly Marmion, in his comedy of 'Holland's Leaguer', -evidently uses the word in the same sense with Cavendish: - - "-------Her I'll make - A stale to catch this courtier in _a brake_." - - -[107] The 3d Day of July (1526), the Cardinal of Yorke passed through -the City of London, with many lords and gentlemen, to the number of -twelve hundred horse----The 11th day of May he took shipping at Dover, -and landed at Calais the same day. - - _Grafton_, p. 1150. - - -[108] _Lanzen-Knechts_, the name by which these bands of German -mercenaries were then designated. - -[109] Cavendish uses this word again in his poems: - - "Wherin was found a certyn _defuse_ clause - Wrested by craft to a male intente." p. 139. - -See _Fox's Acts_, &c. p. 1769: - -"_Cook._ Then answere me, What sayest thou to the blessed sacrament of -the altar? Tell me: - -"_Jackson._ I answered; it is a _diffuse_ question, to aske me at the -first dash, you promising to deliver me." See also p. 1574. "_Diffuse_ -and _difficult_." - -It appears to have been used in the sense of _obscure_, but _difficult_ -is the reading of Grove's edition. I find _diffused_ explained by -Cotgrave "_diffus_, _espars_, OBSCURE." And in a Latin Greek and -English Lexicon by R. Hutton, printed at London by H. Bynneman, 1583, -the Latin adverb, _obscure_, is interpreted "darkely, obscurely, -DIFFUSELY." - -[110] The great seal could not be carried out of the king's dominions -without violating the law; letters patent were passed to enable Dr. -Taylor to hold it in his absence. - -[111] _Stradiots and Arbenois._ These were light armed cavalry, said by -Guicciardini to have been Greek mercenaries in the service of Venice, -retaining their Greek name στρατιώται. Arbenois is Albanians, -_Albanois_, FR. The following passage from _Nicot Thresor de la Langue -Françoise, ed. 1606. fol._ will fully explain this: - -"A présent on apelle en particulier _Albanois_ ces hommes de cheval -armez à la légère, autrement dit Stratiote, ou _Stradiots_ (par la -consonne moyenne), qui portent les chapeaux à haute testière, desquels -on se sert pour chevaux légers, qui viennent dudit pays d'Albanie, -dont les Papes se servent encore de ce temps és garnisons de plusieurs -villes du Saint siège, _Albani, olim Epirotæ_." - -[112] In like manner, we saw, a little above, that at Calais he gave -"benediction and pardon." From a letter to the cardinal, from Humfrey -Monmouth, confined in the Tower on suspicion of heresy, we may gather -what notion was entertained, even by comparatively enlightened men, -of the efficacy of these pardons. "If I had broken most part of the -Ten Commandments of God, being penitent and confessed (I should be -forgiven) by reason of certain pardons that I have, the which my -company and I had graunted, whan we were at Rome, going to Jerusalem, -of the holy father the pope, _a pœna et a culpa_, for certain times in -the year: and that, I trust in God, I received at Easter last past. -Furthermore I received, when your grace was last at Pawles, I trust in -God, your pardon of _a pœna_ _et a culpa_; the which I believe verily, -if I had done never so great offences, being penitent and confessed, -and axing forgiveness, that I should have forgiveness." _Strype's -Ecclesiast. Memor._ vol. i. p. 248. Appendix. The cardinal had also a -bull granted by Pope Leo Xth. A. D. 1518. to give in certain cases and -conditions plenary remission from all sins. _Fiddes_, p. 48. Appendix. -_W._ - -[113] Among other distinguished honours conferred by Francis upon -the Cardinal was the singular privilege of pardoning and releasing -prisoners and delinquents confined in the towns through which he -passed, in the same manner as the king himself was used to do: the only -culprits excluded from the power of pardon given him by this patent -were those guilty of the most capital crimes. - -[114] i. e. _Switzers_. Cavendish revels in his subsequent description -of the _tall Scots_ who formed the French king's body guard. - -[115] - - Whose mule if it should be sold - So gayly trapped with velvet and gold - And given to us for our schare, - I durst ensure the one thing - As for a competent lyvynge - This seven yeare we should not care. - _Roy's Satire._ - -In the picture of the Champs de drap d'or, which has been engraved by -the Society of Antiquaries, the cardinal appears mounted on a richly -caparisoned mule. - -[116] A previous negotiation of a singular nature had been begun, for -the Bishop of Bath writes to the cardinal in March, 1527, that "Francis -is very desirous to have the Princess Mary, and to have her delivered -into his hands as soon as the peace is concluded. Our king pretends -her non age, and will have all, pension, &c., concluded first. The -Queen Regent is earnest also for the present marriage: Saying there -is no danger, for she herself was married at xi. And for this match -there might be a device to satisfy both sides, saying the princess -will be well toward xii by August. At that time both princes should -meet at Calais with a small company and charge, there her son, after -the marriage solemnized, might abide himself for an hour or less with -my Lady Princess; she said the king her son was a man of honour and -discretion, and would use no violence, especially the father and mother -being so nigh; meaning, that _conatus ad copulam cum illa, quæ est -proxima pubertati, prudentia supplente ætatem_, should make every thing -sure that neither party should now vary. So the king her son might -be assured of his wife, and King Henry carry back his daughter till -she should be accounted more able, &c. This overture our ambassadors -think very strange." _Fiddes Collections_, p. 176. The Bishop of Bath -returned into England soon after the cardinal went on his mission, to -relate to Henry the course adopted by the cardinal in treating with -Francis, and also to explain to him certain devices concerning his own -secret matters. _Mr. Master's Collections._ - -[117] Skinner explains this word, _a curtain_. It evidently signifies -here an enclosed or divided space or seat, decorated with rich -draperies or curtains. In another place we have _a traverse of -sarsenet_, which confirms Skinner's explanation. - -[118] Grises, greeses, or _steps_, for it was spelt various ways -according to the caprice of the writer, from the Latin _gressus_. - -[119] The _roodeloft_ was the place where the cross stood; it was -generally placed over the passage out of the church into the chancel. - -[120] The passage within brackets is not to be found in any of the more -recent MSS., nor in Dr. Wordsworth's edition. - -[121] Erasmus, in a letter to Aleander, dwells with delight upon this -custom: - -"Quanquam si Britanniæ dotes satis pernosses Fauste, næ tu alatis -pedibus, huc accurreres; et si podagra tua non sineret, Dædalum te -fieri optares. Nam ut e pluribus unum quiddam attingam. Sunt hic -nymphæ divinis vultibus, blandae, faciles, et quas tu tuis Camænis -facile anteponas. _Est præterea mos nunquam satis laudatus_: Sive -quo venias omnium osculis exciperis; sive discedas aliquo, osculis -demitteris: redis? redduntur suavia; venitur ad te? propinantur suavia: -disceditur abs te? dividuntur basia: occuritur alicubi? basiatur -affatim: denique, quocunque te moveas, suaviorum plena sunt omnia. Quæ -si tu, Fauste, gustasses semel quam sint mollicula, quam fragrantia, -profecto cuperes non decennium solum, ut Solon fecit, sed ad mortem -usque in Anglia peregrinari." _Erasmi Epistol._ p. 315, edit. 1642. -"It becometh nat therefore the persones religious to folowe _the maner -of secular persones_, that in theyr congresses and commune metyngs or -departyng done use to kysse, take hands, or such other touchings, that -good religious persones shulde utterly avoyde." _Whytford's Pype of -Perfection._ fol. 213. b. A. D. 1532. _W._ - -[122] This name is spelt _Creeky_ and _Crykky_ in the autograph MS. In -Wordsworth's edition it is Crokey. Grove has it _Crockly_, and two of -the MSS. copies _Crokir_. I know not whether I have divined the true -orthography, but there was a noble family of this name at the time. - -[123] _Evensong._ "Which persons for their waiting befoir noon hath -licence at afternoon to go about their own business from the saide noon -to iij of the clocke that evensong begin." - - _Northumberland Household Book_, p. 310. - - -[124] The shalme, or shawm, was a wind instrument like a hautboy, with -a swelling protuberance in the middle. In "Commenius's Visible World," -translated by Hoole, 1659, the Latin word _gingras_ is translated by -shawn, and the form of the instrument is represented as below. Its -proper name appears to have been _shawme_; it is derived from the -Teutonic. Drayton mentions it as shrill-toned: 'E'en from the shrillest -_shaum_ unto the cornamute.' - - _Polyolbion_ v. iv. p. 376. - -[Illustration] - - -[125] _Now_, Wordsworth's edit. The passages within brackets which -follow are not found in any other manuscript: a space almost always -marking the deficiency of this relation, and the succeeding account of -the libels of the French against the cardinal. - -[126] Catherine Reneé, one of the daughters of Louis the Twelfth. It -does not seem that this exposition of the cardinal's views in regard -to the union of Henry with this princess, in case of a divorce, were -without foundation, for he persuaded himself that Henry's passion for -Anne Boleyn would soon subside, and thought this alliance a sure mode -of perpetuating the peace and union between the sovereigns. The other -part of the assertion was proved true by the subsequent treaty, in -which it was agreed that the Princess Mary should marry either Francis, -or the Duke of Orleans; the first if he should remain a widower until -she was of sufficient age, the second if it seemed expedient that -Francis should keep his faith to the emperor, and marry his sister -Leonora, to whom he was contracted by the Treaty of Madrid. Hence the -necessity of keeping these designs secret, and the cardinal's anger at -their developement. - -[127] This passage stands in the ordinary MSS., and in Dr. Wordsworth's -edition, in the following abridged and confused manner. The -transcribers of the MSS. appear to have been sensible that their copy -was defective, for in several of them one or two blank leaves are here -left. - -"Now shortly after there were divers malicious practices pretended -against us by the French, who by their theft somewhat impaired us: -whereupon one of them, being a man I was well acquainted with, -maintained a seditious untruth, openly divulged, and set forth by -a subtle and traitorous subject of their realm, saying also that -he doubted not, but the like had been attempted within the king of -England his majesty's dominions; but to see so open and manifest -blasphemy to be openly punished, according to their traitorous deserts, -notwithstanding I saw but small redress." - -[128] The twentieth of October, A. D. 1527. The embassadors were the -Maréchal de Montmorency, the Bishop of Bayonne, the President of Rouen, -and Monsieur d'Humieres. - -[129] The book of ceremonies (compiled under the influence of the -Bishops Gardiner and Tonstall, and in opposition to that of Cranmer, -about the year 1540, and designed to retain in the church many operose -and superstitious rites, by setting them off with the aids of a -philosophical and subtle interpretation), describing in succession -the different parts of the Canon of the Mass, proceeds thus, "Then -saith the priest _thrice_, _Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, &c._ -advertising us of _three_ effects of Christ's passion; whereof the -_first_ is, deliverance from the misery of sin; the _second_ is from -pain of everlasting damnation; wherefore he saith twice _Miserere -nobis_, that is to say, _Have mercy on us_; and the _third_ effect is, -giving of everlasting peace, consisting in the glorious fruition of -God." _Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials_, Vol. i. p. 289. Records. See -also _Mirror of our Lady_. fol. 189, and _Becon's Works_. Vol. iii. -fol. 49. A. D. 1564. _W._ - -[130] These cupboards or rather sideboards of plate were necessary -appendages to every splendid entertainment. The form of them somewhat -resembled some of the old cumbrous cabinets to be found still in -ancient houses on the continent. There was a succession of step-like -stages, or desks, as Cavendish calls them, upon which the plate was -placed. The reader will have a better conception than description -can convey of this piece of antient ostentation, from a print in -a very curious work by Julio Bello, entitled LAUREA AUSTRIACA: -_Francof._ 1627, folio, p. 640. Where our King James I. is represented -entertaining the Spanish ambassadors in 1623. - -[131] _Proface._ An expression of welcome equivalent to Much good -may it do you! Mr. Steevens conjectured it to be from the old French -expression, '_Bon prou leur face_,' which is to be found in Cotgrave -_in voce_ PROU. This was a happy conjecture of Mr. Steevens, for Mr. -Nares has pointed out its true origin in the old Norman-French or -Romance language: 'PROUFACE souhait qui veut dire, bien vous fasse, -_proficiat_.' ROQUEFORT. _Glossaire de la Langue Romane._ - -[132] 'Mademoiselle de Boulan à la fin y est venue, et l'a le Roy logée -en fort beau logis, qu'il a fait bien accoustrer tout auprès du sien, -et luy est la cour faicte ordinairement tous les jours plus grosse que -de long temps ne fut faicte à la Royne.' - - _Lettre de l'Evesque de' Bayonne._ - - -[133] It is a question of fact which has been warmly debated, whether -the suffrages of the Universities in Henry's favour were purchased by -money. It does not seem very necessary that _we_ should enter into this -dispute. But any one who wishes so to do, may consult _Burnet's Hist. -of the Reformation_, Vol. iii. p. 401, Appendix. _Harmer's Specimen of -Errors_, p. 7. _Fiddes's Life of Wolsey_, p. 420. _Poli Epistolæ_, Vol. -i. p. 238. A. D. 1744. _W._ - -[134] Eight of these determinations soon after were printed in one -volume, with a long Discourse in support of the judgments contained -in them, under the following title: "The Determinations of the moste -famous and moste excellent Universities of Italy and Fraunce, that it -is so unlefull for a man to marry his Brother's Wyfe, that the Pope -hath no power to dispence therewith: imprinted by Thomas Berthelet the -viith day of Novembre, 1531." They were also published in Latin: in -which language they are exhibited by Bishop Burnet in his _Hist. of the -Reformation_, Vol. i. book ii. No. 34. Records. _W._ - -[135] i. e. the _Bulla_ or Papal seal. The passage marked with * * -contains three words which I could not decipher. - -[136] Doctor _Stephen_ Gardiner, afterwards Bishop of Winchester, -at this time in great estimation with Wolsey. In letters and other -documents of this period he is often called Doctor _Stevens_. Mr. -Grainger in the third vol. of Bishop Burnet's Hist. of the Reformation, -p. 385, Appendix, intimates that this was a colloquial vulgarism; -"_vulgarly_, as Stephen Gardiner was Mr. _Stevyns_, in Wolsey's -Letter." But it is questionable, I think, whether this is the true -account of that name. The bishop himself, in his Declaration of his -Articles against George Joye, A. D. 1546, fol. 3. b. of the 4to -edition, thus speaks of it, "a booke, wherein he wrote, how Doctor -_Stevens_ (by _whiche name_ I was _then_ called) had deceyved him." - -In Doctor Barnes' account of his examination before the bishops at -Westminster, he calls Gardiner "Doctor Stephen then secretary." - -[137] The reader may consult Burnet's Hist. of the Reformation, Vol. -iii. p. 46-48. The bishop affirms positively that the king did not -appear personally, but by proxy; and that the queen withdrew after -reading a protest against the competency of her judges. "And from this -it is clear (says the bishop), that the speeches that the historians -have made for them are all plain falsities." It is easy to contradict -the confident affirmation of the historian upon the authority of a -document published by himself in his Records, i. 78. It is a letter -from the king to his agents, where he says: "At which time both we -and the queen appeared in person, and they minding to proceed further -in the cause, the queen would no longer make her abode to hear what -the judges would fully descern, but incontinently departed out of the -court; wherefore she was thrice preconnisate, and called eftsoons to -return and appear; which she refusing to do, was denounced by the -judges _contumax_, and a citation decerned for her appearance on -Friday." Which is corroborated also by _Fox's Acts_, p. 958. Indeed the -testimony for the personal appearance of the king before the cardinals -is surprisingly powerful; even though we do not go beyond Cavendish, -and the other ordinary historians. But in addition to these, Dr. -Wordsworth has produced the authority of William Thomas, Clerk of the -Council in the reign of King Edward VI, a well informed writer; who, -in a professed Apology for Henry VIII, extant in MS. in the Lambeth -and some other libraries, speaking of this affair affirms, "that the -Cardinal (Campeggio) caused the king as a private party in person to -appear before him, and the Lady Katharine both." P. 31. - -[138] Hall has given a different report of this speech of the queen's, -which he says was made _in French_, and translated by him, as well as -he could, from notes taken by Cardinal Campeggio's secretary. In his -version she accuses Wolsey with being the first mover of her troubles, -and reproaches him, in bitter terms, of pride and voluptuousness: such -harsh language could hardly deserve the praise '_modeste tamen eam -locutum fuisse_,' given by Campeggio. - -[139] See _Neve's Animadversions on Phillips's Life of Cardinal Pole_, -p. 62. - -[140] Nothing of this kind is to be found in the journal of this -embassy, or in the letters of the bishop and his companions, which have -been preserved, and many of which have been published by _Le Grand, -Histoire du Divorce de Henri VIII._ - -[141] "In a Manuscript Life of Sir Thomas More, written not many -years after Longland's death, this account is given. 'I have heard -Dr. Draycot, that was his (Longland's) chaplain and chancellor, say, -that he once told the bishop what rumour ran upon him in that matter; -and desired to know of him the very truth. Who answered, that in very -deed he did not break the matter after that sort, as is said: but the -king brake the matter to him first; and never left urging him until he -had won him to give his consent. Of which his doings he did forethink -himself, and repented afterward.' MSS. Coll. Eman. Cantab." Baker's -Notes on _Burnet's Hist. of the Reformation_: in Burnet, Vol. iii. p. -400, Appendix. The same Life is among the MSS. in the Lambeth Library, -No. 827, (see fol. 12), and, I have reason to think, was composed -about the year 1556, and by Nicolas Harpsfield. From these concurrent -testimonies it should appear, that the charge which has been often -urged against Wolsey, that it was through his intrigues that Longland -first suggested his scruples to the king, is unfounded. _W._ - -Wolsey was at the time loudly proclaimed as the instigator of the -divorce, and though he denied it upon some occasions, he admitted it -on others; but Cardinal Pole asserts that it was first suggested by -certain divines whom Anne Boleyn sent to him for that purpose. It is -remarkable that he says this when writing to the king, and would surely -not have ventured to say so if he had not had good grounds for the -assertion. - -[142] July, 1529. - -[143] This determination of Campeggio was in consequence of secret -instructions from the pope (unknown to Wolsey), at the instance of the -emperor, who had prevailed upon the pontiff to adjourn the court and -remove the cause to Rome. - -[144] These proceedings led the way to the next great step in the -progress of the Reformation, the renunciation of the pope's authority, -and the establishment of the regal supremacy. The following account, -from an unpublished treatise, of the manner in which these questions -were first brought to the king's mind (whether authentic or not) may -not be unacceptable to my readers. - -"Now unto that you say, that because Pope Clement would not dispense -with his second matrimonie, his majestie extirped out of England the -papal authoritie, a thinge of most auncient and godly reverence as you -take it, I aunsweare that after the kinges highness had so appeared in -person before the Cardinal Campegio, one of the princes of his realm, -named the _Duke of Suffolk_, a great wise man, and of more familiaritie -with the kinge than any other person, asked his majestie, 'how this -matter might come to passe, that a prince in his own realme should so -humble himself before the feet of a vile, strange, vitious priest,' -(for Campegio there in England demeaned himself in very deed most -carnally -- --). Whereunto the king aunswered, "he could not tell; -but only that it seemed unto him, the spiritual men ought to judge -spiritual matters; and yet as you saye (said the king) me seemeth there -should be somewhat in it, and I would right gladly understand, why and -how, were it not that I would be loth to appeare more curious than -other princes." "Why, sir (sayd the duke), your majestie may cause the -matter to be discussed secretly by your learned men, without any rumour -at all." "Very well (sayd the kinge), and so it shall be." And thus -inspired of God, called he diverse of his trusty and great doctours -unto him; charging them distinctly to examine, _what lawe of God should -direct so carnal a man as Campegio, under the name of spiritual, to -judge a king in his owne realme_. According unto whose commandment, -these doctors resorting together unto an appointed place, disputed this -matter _large et stricte_, as the case required. And as the blacke by -the white is knowen, so by conferring the oppositions together, it -appeared that the evangelical lawe varied much from the canon lawes in -this pointe. So that in effect, because two contraries cannot stand -_in uno subjecto, eodem casu et tempore_, they were constrained to -recurre unto the kinges majesties pleasure, to knowe whether of these -two lawes should be preferred: who smiling at the ignorance of so fonde -a question aunsweared, that the Gospell of Christ ought to be the -absolute rule unto all others; commanding them therefore to followe -the same, without regard either to the civile, canon, or whatsoever -other lawe. And here began the quicke: for these doctours had no sooner -taken the Gospel for their absolute rule, but they found this popish -authoritie over the kinges and princes of this earth to be usurped." -_William Thomas's Apology for King Henry the Eighth_, written A. D. -1547. p. 34. Lambeth Library. MSS. No. 464. _W._ - -[145] The history and occasion of this great obligation of the Duke -of Suffolk to the cardinal, who plainly intimates that but for his -interposition the duke must have lost his life, does not appear to be -known to the historians. See _Fiddes's Life of Wolsey_. p. 454. _W._ - -A writer in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1755 (Dr. Pegge), who appears -to have paid much attention to the Cardinal Wolsey's history, suggests -that Wolsey was the means of abating the anger of Henry at the marriage -of Suffolk with his sister Mary Queen of France, which might have been -made a treasonable offence. A letter from Mary to Wolsey, dated March -22, 1515, after her marriage with Suffolk, which is still extant in the -Cotton Collection, gives some probability to this conjecture. - -[146] i. e. Dr. Stephen Gardiner. - -[147] i. e. The season of hunting, when the hart is in _grease_ or -full season. Dr. Wordsworth's edition and the more recent manuscripts -read--'all _that_ season.' - -[148] The following additional particulars of the route are found -in more recent MSS. "And were lodged the first night at a towne in -Bedfordshire, called Leighton Bussarde, in the parsonage there, being -Mr. Doctor Chambers's benefice, the kings phisitian. And from thence -they rode the next day." - -[149] The king had listened to their suggestions against the -cardinal, and they felt assured of success; they are represented by -an eyewitness, as boasting openly that they would humble him and all -churchmen, and spoil them of their wealth: "La faintaisie de ces -seigneurs est, que lui mort ou ruiné ils déferrent incontinent icy -l'estat de l'eglise, et prendront tous leurs biens; qu'il seroit ja -besoing que je le misse en chiffre, car ils le crient en plaine table." - - _L'Evesque de Bayonne, Le Grand_, Tom. iii. p. 374. - - -[150] "Le pis de son mal est, que Mademoiselle de Boulen a faict -promettre à son Amy qu'il ne l'escoutera jamais parler; car elle pense -bien qu'il ne le pourroit garder d'en avoir pitié." - - _Lettre de l'Eveque de Bayonne ap. Le Grand_, Tom. iii. p. 375. - -The manor of THE MOOR was situate in the parish of Rickmansworth, in -Hertfordshire; the site is still called Moor Park. It was purchased -and the house built by George Neville, Archbishop of York. Edward the -fourth had promised to make that prelate a visit there, and while he -was making suitable preparations to receive his royal master he was -sent for to Windsor, and arrested for high treason. The king seized -at the Moor all his rich stuff and plate to the value of 20,000_l._ -keeping the archbishop prisoner at Calais and Hammes. _Stowe_, A^o. -1472. There was a survey of the house in 1568, by which it appears the -mansion was of brick, the chief buildings forming a square court, which -was entered by a gate-house with towers: the whole was moated. It was -then in a dilapidated state. - -[151] "Le Cardinal Campège est encores à Douvres, et à ceste heure -(je) viens d'entendre que, soubz couleur de faute de Navires, on ne le -veult laisser passer, sans y prendre avis, de paeur qu'il n'emporte le -thrésor du Card. d'Yorc." - - _Lettre de l'Evesque de Bayonne, apud Le Grand Hist. du Divorce._ - - -[152] The Term then began the ninth of October. - -[153] Esher. - -[154] The Eighteenth November, 1529. - -[155] This inventory is preserved among the Harleian MSS. No. 599. - -[156] These words follow in the more recent MSS. "Yet there was laide -upon every table, bokes, made in manner of inventories, reporting the -number and contents of the same. And even so there were bokes made -in manner of inventories of all things here after rehearsed, wherein -he toke great paines to set all things in order against the king's -comming." - -[157] Baudkyn, cloth made partly of silk and partly of gold. Derived -from _Baldacca_, an Oriental name for Babylon, being brought from -thence.--"_Baldekinum_--pannus omnium ditissimus, cujus, utpote -stamen ex filio _auri_, subtegmen ex _serico_ texitur, plumario opere -intertextus." _Ducange Glossar. in voce._ It sometimes is used for a -_canopy_ or _cloth of state_. - -[158] The name of Cardinal Wolsey's fool is said to have been "Master -Williams, otherwise called Patch." An inquiry into this very curious -feature in the domestic manners of the great in ancient times could not -fail to be very interesting. Mr. Douce has glanced at the subject in -his Illustrations of Shakspeare; and gave his friends reason to hope -for a more enlarged inquiry at a future period: it would afford me real -pleasure to hear that his intentions were not finally abandoned. - -[159] The Bishop of Bayonne, who paid him a visit of commiseration at -this period, gives the following affecting picture of his distress, -in a most interesting letter which will be found in the Appendix; he -says: "J'ay esté voir le Cardinal en ses ennuis, où que j'y ay trouvé -_le plus grand example de fortune qu' on ne sçauroit voir_, il m'a -remonstré son cas en la plus mauvaise rhétorique que je vis jamais, -_car cueur et parolle luy falloient entièrement_; il a bien pleuré et -prié que le Roy et Madame voulsissent avoir pitié du luy--mais il m'a -à la fin laissé sans me povoir dire austre chose qui vallist mieux que -son visage; qui est bien dechue de la moitié de juste pris. Et vous -promets, Monseigneur, que sa fortune est telle que ses ennemis, encores -qu'ils soyent Anglois, ne se sçauroyent garder d'en avoir pitié, ce -nonobstant ne le laisseront de le poursuivre jusques au bout." He -represents him as willing to give up every thing, even the shirt from -his back, and to live in a hermitage if the king would desist from his -displeasure. - -[160] Dr. Wordsworth's edition and the later manuscripts read: -"_which had bine a strange sight in him afore_;" but this can hardly -be right? The splendour of Cromwell's subsequent fortunes, their -tragical close, and the prominent figure he makes in the events of this -reign, which are among the most important of modern history, gives -this circumstantial account a great degree of interest. His father -was a blacksmith at Putney, the son was first an agent to an English -factory at Antwerp, then a trooper in the Duke of Bourbon's army, and -was present at the sacking of Rome. It appears that he assisted Mr. -Russell (afterwards Earl of Bedford), in making his escape from the -French at Bologna, and it is probably to this circumstance that he -owed the friendly offices of that gentleman at a subsequent period. -After passing some time in the counting-house of a Venetian merchant, -he returned to England and studied the law. Wolsey, it appears, first -met with him in France, and soon made him his principal agent in the -dissolution of monasteries and the foundation of his colleges. It was -a trust which he discharged with ability, and is said to have enriched -himself; yet he here complains that he "never had any promotion at -the cardinal's hands to the increase of his living." And he tells the -cardinal in his troubles, that "the soliciting his cause hath been very -chargeable to him, and he cannot sustain it any longer without other -respect than he hath had heretofore." He says, "I am a thousand pounds -worse than I was when your troubles began." And after announcing the -king's determination to dissolve the cardinal's colleges, he says: -"I intreat your grace to be content, and let your prince execute his -pleasure." - -Cardinal Pole relates that he openly professed to him his Machiavelian -principles; he had learned, he said, "that vice and virtue were -but names, fit indeed to amuse the leisure of the learned in their -colleges, but pernicious to the man who seeks to rise in the courts -of princes. The great art of the politician was, in his judgment, to -penetrate through the disguise which sovereigns are accustomed to -throw over their real inclinations, and to devise the most specious -expedients by which they may gratify their appetites without appearing -to outrage morality or religion." He shared largely in the public odium -in which the cardinal was held, and Pole, who was then in London, says -that the people loudly clamoured for his punishment. - -[161] The day after it appears Cromwell was at court, and sought an -audience from the king, which was granted him; Cardinal Pole, who had -the account from Cromwell himself and others who were present, relates -that upon this occasion Cromwell suggested to the king a mode of -overcoming the difficulty of the pope's opposition to the divorce, by -taking the authority into his own hands, and declaring himself head of -the church within his own realm. The king gave ear to the proposition, -and was so well pleased with Cromwell, that he thanked him, and -admitted him to the dignity of a privy counsellor. This was the first -step; to carry into effect this project his assistance was deemed -necessary, and he arrived at length to the highest honours of the -state; but at last became the victim of his own Machiavelian intrigues, -and the vindictive spirit of the monarch. It has been doubted whether -Cromwell deserves the credit of attachment to his fallen master to the -whole extent which some writers have supposed. It is evident, from -the very interesting conversation above, that he despaired of ever -seeing Wolsey reinstated in his fortunes, and he was too subtle in his -policy to have endeavoured to swim against the stream of court favour. -That the cardinal suspected his fidelity to his cause is evident -from fragments of two letters published by Fiddes among Mr. Master's -collections, in one of which Cromwell says: "I am informed your grace -hath me in some diffidence, as if I did dissemble with you, or procure -any thing contrary to your profit and honour. I much muse that your -grace should so think or suspect it secretly, considering the pains I -have taken, &c. Wherefore I beseech you to speak without faining, if -you have such conceit, that I may clear myself; I reckoned that your -grace would have written plainly unto me of such thing, rather than -secretly to have misrepresented me. But I shall bear your grace no less -good will. Let God judge between us! Truly your grace in some things -overshooteth yourself; there is regard to be given to what things you -utter, and to whom." - -The cardinal, in answer to this, protests: "that he suspects him not, -and that may appear by his deeds, so that he useth no man's help nor -counsel but his. Complaint indeed hath been made to him, that Cromwell -hath not done him so good offices as he might concerning his colleges -and archbishoprick; but he hath not believed them; yet he hath asked of -their common friends how Cromwell hath behaved himself towards him; and -to his great comfort hath found him faithful. Wherefore he beseecheth -him, with weeping tears, to continue stedfast, and give no credit to -the false suggestions of such as would sow variance between them, and -so leave him destitute of all help." - -But the testimony of Cavendish in his favour is conclusive; he says -that, by reason of "his honest behaviour in his master's cause, he grew -into such estimation in every man's opinion, that he was esteemed to be -the most faithfullest servant to his master of all other, wherein he -was of all men greatly commended." - -[162] In _prease_, i. e. the _press_ or _crowd_. - -[163] A writer before cited (Dr. Pegge), is of opinion that the House -of Commons could not do otherwise than acquit him, notwithstanding the -validity of several of the articles alleged against him, because he had -either suffered the law for them already, or they were not sufficiently -proved: indeed some of them were not proper grounds of censure. - -'Wolsey says of these articles himself, "whereof a great part be -untrue: and those which be true are of such sort, that by the doing -thereof no malice or untruth can be arrected unto me, neither to the -prince's person nor to the state." The rejection of the bill may be -justly ascribed to the relentment of the king, for Cromwell would not -have dared to oppose it, nor the Commons to reject it, had they not -received an intimation that such was the royal pleasure.' - -[164] During the visit of the Emperor Charles V. to Henry VIII. "on -Monday at nine of the clocke at night, was begun a banquet, which -endured till the next morning at three of the clocke, at the which -banquet the emperor, the king, and the Queene did wash together, the -Duke of Buckingham giving the water, the Duke of Suffolke holding the -towel. Next them did washe _the Lord Cardinall_, the Queene of Fraunce, -and the Queene of Arragon. At which banquet the emperor kept the -estate, the king sitting on the left hand, next him the French Queene; -and on the other side sate the Queene, _the Cardinall_, and the Queene -of Aragon; which banquet was served by the emperor's owne servants." -_Stowe's Annals_, p. 510. edit. 1615. _W._ - -[165] This instrument is published by Fiddes in his Collections, p. 224. - -[166] The anguish and anxiety he suffered may be seen by the letters -written at this period to his old servants Cromwell and Gardiner; I -have placed them in the Appendix, as a necessary illustration of this -affecting picture. - -[167] In an extract from a letter to Cromwell, published by Fiddes, the -cardinal says: "My fever is somewhat asswaged, and the black humour -also, howbeit I am entering into the kalends of a more dangerous -disease, which is the dropsy, so that if I am not removed into a dryer -air, and that shortly, there is little hope." And in a letter to -Gardiner, which will be found in the Appendix, he repeats his wish to -be removed from Asher: "Continuing in this moiste and corrupt ayer, -beyng enteryd in the passion of the dropsy, _Appetitus et continuo -insomnio_, I cannot lyve: wherfor of necessyte I must be removed to -some dryer ayer and place." - -[168] _Stuff_ was the general term for all kind of _moveables_ or -baggage. See the instrument of the king's benefaction to the cardinal -after his forfeiture by the premunire, in Rymer's Fœdera, and in -Fiddes' Collections. The reader will find the _Schedule_ which was -affixed to it, in our Appendix. - -[169] "From the old gallery next the king's lodging, unto the first -gatehouse." _Wordsworth's Edition._ - -[170] "Of four thousand marks," say the more recent MSS. and Dr. -Wordsworth's Edit. - -[171] Those to whom they were granted appear to have been the Lord -Sandys and his son Thomas; Sir William Fitzwilliam, Sir Henry Guilford, -Sir John Russel, and Sir Henry Norris. This suit to the cardinal seems -to have been successfully brought about. Their pensions out of the -revenues of the see of Winchester were settled on them for life by Act -of Parliament, notwithstanding the just objection in the text. Rot. -Parl. clxxxviii. Stat. 22 Hen. VIII. c. 22. - -[172] From the Ital. _intagliare_, to cut, carve, &c. - -[173] _Prêt, Somme prêtée._ Fr. A sum in advance. _W._ - -[174] "His train was in number one hundred and threescore persons." -This addition is in Dr. Wordsworth's edition and the later MSS. - -[175] He was now fifty-nine years old. - -[176] The book of Ceremonies before cited, which was compiled in -the reign of Henry VIII. observes: "Upon Easter Day in the morning -_the ceremonies_ of the _resurrection_ be very laudable, to put us -in remembrance of Christ's resurrection, which is the cause of our -justification." _Strype's Eccles. Memorials_, v. i. p. 294. _Records._ -What these ceremonies were we may collect from the Rubrics upon that -day, in the _Processionale secundum usum Sarum_. fol. 72. edit. 1555; -which are to this effect: On Easter Day, before mass, and before the -ringing of the bells, let the clerks assemble, and all the tapers -in the church be lighted. Then two persons shall draw nigh to the -sepulchre, and after it is censed let them take the cross out of the -sepulchre, and one of them begin _Christus resurgens_. Then let the -procession commence. After this they shall all worship (_adorent_) -the cross. Then let all the crucifixes and images in the church be -unveiled, &c. &c. In like manner Good Friday also had its peculiar -ceremonies. Bishop Longland closes his sermon preached on that day -before King Henry VIII. A. D. 1538, in the following manner: "In meane -season I shall exhorte you all in our Lord God, _as of old custome -hath here this day bene used_, every one of you or ye departe, with -moost entire devocyon, knelynge tofore our Savyour Lorde God, this -our Jesus Chryst, whiche hath suffered soo muche for us, to whome we -are soo muche bounden, _whoo lyeth in yonder sepulchre_; in honoure -of hym, of his passyon and deathe, and of his five woundes, to say -five Pater-nosters, five Aves, and one Crede: that it may please his -mercifull goodness to make us parteners of the merites of this his most -gloryous passyon, bloode, and deathe." _Imprynted by Thomas Petyt._ See -also Michael Wood's _Dialogue or Familiar Talks_. A. D. 1554. Signat. -D. 3. _W._ - -[177] See above, page 158, Dr. Wordsworth's note. - -[178] In Mr. Ellis's very interesting collection of Historical Letters, -vol. i. p. 176, there is an extract of a letter from Sir William -Fitzwilliams, then on a mission in France, relating a conversation he -had with the French king upon his hearing the Duke of Buckingham was in -the Tower. With the Cardinal's answer. - -[179] The favourable representation given of this portion of the -cardinal's life, notwithstanding what is said by Fox, p. 908, is fully -confirmed by an authority which cannot be suspected of partiality to -his memory, that of a State Book, which came out from the office of the -king's printer in the year 1536, intituled _A Remedy for Sedition_. -"Who was lesse beloved in the Northe than my lord cardynall, God have -his sowle, before he was amonges them? Who better beloved, after he had -ben there a whyle? We hate oft times whom we have good cause to love. -It is a wonder to see howe they were turned; howe of utter enemyes they -becam his dere frendes. He gave byshops a ryght good ensample, howe -they might wyn mens hartys. There was few holy dayes, but he would ride -five or six myle from his howse, nowe to this parysh churche, nowe to -that, and there cause one or other of his doctours to make a sermone -unto the people. He sat amonges them, and sayd masse before all the -paryshe. He sawe why churches were made. He began to restore them to -their ryght and propre use. He broughte his dinner with hym, and bad -dyvers of the parish to it. He enquired, whether there was any debate -or grudge betweene any of them; yf there were, after dinner he sente -for the parties to the churche, and made them all one. Men say well -that do well. Godde's lawes shal never be so set by as they ought, -before they be well knowen." Signat. E. 2. _W._ - -[180] In the more recent MS. and in Dr. Wordsworth's edition, "Newsted -Abbey." - -[181] Next, _i.e._ nearest. - -[182] The prevailing hour of dinner with our ancestors appears to have -been much earlier. In the Northumberland Household Book it is said, "to -X of the clock that my lord goes to dinner." - -"With us," says Harrison, in the Description of England, prefixed to -Holinshed's Chronicle, p. 171, "the Nobilitie, Gentrie, and Students -do ordinarilie go to dinner at eleven before noone, and to supper at -five, or betweene five and six at afternoone. The merchants dine and -sup seldome before twelve at noone, and six at night, especiallie in -London. The husbandmen dine also at high noone, as they call it, and -sup at seven or eight: but out of the tearme in our Universities the -scholars dine at ten. As for the poorest sort, they generally dine and -sup when they may: so that to talke of their order of repast, it were -but a needlesse matter." - -"_Theophilus._ You wente to diner betyme I perceave. _Eusebius._ Even -as I doe commonly, when I have no busynes, betwene nyne and ten; me -thinkes it is a good houre: for by that meanes I save a breakfast, -whyche for such idlers as I am, is most fittest." _Dialogue between -Eusebius and Theophilus._ Signat. B 4. A. D. 1556. _W._ - -[183] Dr. Brian Higden at that time bore the office. - -[184] The Cardinal perhaps remembered the credit which was gained by -his successful rival Cardinal Adrian, who being elected to the papacy -by the Conclave, through the influence of the emperor Charles V. -"before his entry into the cittie of Rome (as we are told by one of Sir -Thomas More's biographers), putting off his hose and shoes, and as I -have credibly heard it reported, bare-footed and bare-legged, passed -through the streets towards his Palace, with such humbleness, that -all the people had him in great reverence." Harpsfield's _Life of Sir -Thomas More_. Lambeth MSS. No. 827, fol. 12. _W._ - -[185] Storer, in his Poetical Life of Wolsey, 1599, has availed himself -of this declaration of the cardinal, in a passage justly celebrated -for its eminent beauty. The image in the second stanza is worthy of a -cotemporary of Shakspeare: - - I did not mean with predecessors pride, - To walk on cloth as custom did require; - More fit that cloth were hung on either side - In mourning wise, or make the poor attire; - More fit the dirige of a mournful quire - In dull sad notes all sorrows to exceed, - For him in whom the prince's love is dead. - - I am the tombe where that affection lies, - That was the closet where it living kept; - Yet wise men say, Affection never dies;-- - No, but it turns; and when it long hath slept, - Looks heavy, like the eye that long hath wept. - O could it die, that were a restfull state; - But living, it converts to deadly hate. - - -[186] Dr. Percy, in the notes to the Northumberland Household Book, has -adduced a very curious extract from one of the letters of this Earl of -Northumberland, which he thinks affords a "full vindication of the earl -from the charge of ingratitude in being the person employed to arrest -the cardinal." However this may be, the earl appears to have felt the -embarrassment of his situation; he trembled, and with a faltering voice -could hardly utter the ungracious purport of his mission. To a mind -of any delicacy the office must have been peculiarly distressing, and -even supposing the earl to have been formerly treated in an arbitrary -and imperious manner by the cardinal, it is one which he should have -avoided. As the letter gives a very curious picture of the manners as -well as the literature of our first nobility at that time, I shall -place it in my appendix; the very curious volume in which it is to be -found being of great rarity and value. - -[187] "In the houses of our ancient nobility they dined at long tables. -The Lord and his principal guests sate at the upper end of the first -table, in the Great Chamber, which was therefore called the Lord's -Board-end. The officers of his household, and inferior guests, at long -tables below in the hall. In the middle of each table stood a great -salt cellar; and as particular care was taken to place the guests -according to their rank, it became a mark of distinction, whether a -person sate above or below the salt."--_Notes on the Northumberland -Household Book_, p. 419. - -[188] The enemies of Archbishop Laud, particularly in the time of -his troubles, were fond of comparing him with Cardinal Wolsey: and a -garbled edition of this life was first printed in the year 1641, for -the purpose of prejudicing that great prelate in the minds of the -people, by insinuating a parallel between him and the cardinal. It is -not generally known that, beside the edition of this life then put -forth, a small pamphlet was also printed with the following title, -"A true Description or rather Parallel betweene Cardinall Wolsey, -Archbishop of York, and William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1641." -As it is brief, and of extreme rarity, I shall give it a place in the -Appendix. - -[189] "But what he did there, I know not." The more recent MS. and Dr. -Wordsworth's edition have this reading. - -[190] The words which follow, I apprehend, are part of some -ecclesiastical hymn. It was not unusual to attribute the name of -_Scripture_ to all such compositions; and to whatever was read in -churches. "Also I said and affirmed" (the words are part of the -recantation of a Wickliffite), "that I held no _Scripture_ catholike -nor holy, but onely that is contained in the Bible. For the legends and -lives of saints I held hem nought; and the miracles written of hem, I -held untrue." Fox's _Acts_, p. 591. _W._ - -[191] "I know not whether or no it be worth the mentioning here -(however we will put it on the adventure), but Cardinal Wolsey, in -his life time was informed by some fortune-tellers, _that he should -have his end at Kingston_. This, his credulity interpreted of Kingston -on Thames; which made him alwayes to avoid the riding through that -town, though the nearest way from his house to the court. Afterwards, -understanding that he was to be committed by the king's express order -to the charge of Sir Anthony [William] Kingston (see Henry Lord Howard -in his Book against Prophecies, chap. 28, fol. 130), it struck to his -heart; too late perceiving himself deceived by that father of lies in -his homonymous prediction." Fuller's _Church History_. Book v. p. 178. -_W._ - -[192] _where_ for _whereas_. - -[193] In the old garbled editions the passage stands thus: "But alas! I -am a diseased man, having a fluxe (at which time it was apparent that -_he had poisoned himself_); it hath made me very weak," p. 108, edit. -1641. This is a most barefaced and unwarranted interpolation. The words -do not occur in any of the MSS. Yet the charge of his having poisoned -himself was repeated by many writers among the reformers without -scruple. See Tindall's _Works_, p. 404. _Supplications to the Queen's -Majesty_, fol. 7. A. D. 1555. Fox's _Acts_, p. 959. - -[194] "This is an affecting picture," says a late elegant writer. -"Shakspeare had undoubtedly seen these words, his portrait of the -sick and dying Cardinal so closely resembling this. But in these -words is this chronological difficulty. How is it that Hardwick Hall -is spoken of as a house of the Earl of Shrewsbury's in the reign of -Henry VIII, when it is well known that the house of this name between -Sheffield and Nottingham, in which the Countess of Shrewsbury spent -her widowhood, a house described in the Anecdotes of Painting, and -seen and admired by every curious traveller in Derbyshire, did not -accrue to the possessions of any part of the Shrewsbury family till -the marriage of an earl, who was grandson to the cardinal's host, with -Elizabeth Hardwick, the widow of Sir William Cavendish, in the time of -Queen Elizabeth?--The truth however is, that though the story is told -to every visitor of Hardwick Hall, that "the great child of honour, -Cardinal Wolsey," slept there a few nights before his death; as is -also the story, perhaps equally unfounded, that Mary Queen of Scots -was confined there; it was _another_ Hardwick which received the weary -traveller for a night in this his last melancholy pilgrimage. This -was Hardwick-upon-Line in Nottinghamshire, a place about as far to -the south of Mansfield as the Hardwick in Derbyshire, so much better -known, is to the north-west. It is now gone to much decay, and is -consequently omitted in many maps of the county. It is found in Speed. -Here the Earl of Shrewsbury had a house in the time of Wolsey. Leland -expressly mentions it. "The Erle [of Shrewsbury] hath a parke and -manner place or lodge in it called Hardewike-upon-Line, a four miles -from Newstede Abbey." Itin. vol. v. fol. 94, p. 108. Both the Hardwicks -became afterwards the property of the Cavendishes. Thoroton tells us -that Sir Charles Cavendish, youngest son of Sir William, and father of -William Duke of Newcastle, "had begun to build a great house in this -lordship, on a hill by the forest side, near Annesly-wood-House, when -he was assaulted and wounded by Sir John Stanhope and his men, as he -was viewing the work, which was therefore thought fit to be left off, -some blood being spilt in the quarrel, then very hot between the two -families.--_Thoresby's Edit. of Thoroton_, vol. ii. p. 294."--WHO WROTE -CAVENDISH'S LIFE OF WOLSEY? p. 18. - -[195] Mr. Douce has pointed out a remarkable passage in Pittscottie's -History of Scotland (p. 261, edit. 1788,) in which there is a great -resemblance to these pathetic words of the cardinal. James V. imagined -that Sir James Hamilton addressed him thus in a dream. "Though I was a -sinner against God, I failed not to thee. Had I been as good a servant -to the Lord my God as I was to thee, I had not died that death." - -[196] In the yeare 1521, the cardinal, by virtue of his legatine -authority, issued a mandate to all the bishops in the realme, to take -the necessary means for calling in and destroying all books, printed -or written, containing any of the errors of Martin Luther: and further -directing processes to be instituted against all the possessors and -favourers of such books, heresies, &c. The mandate contained also a -list of forty-two errors of Luther. See Wilkins's _Concilia_, vol. iii. -p. 690-693; and Strype's _Ecclesiastical Memorials_, vol. i. p. 36-40. -_W._ - -[197] To administer the _extreme unction_. "The _fyfth sacrament_ is -anoyntynge of seke men, the whiche oyle is halowed of the bysshop, and -mynystred by preestes to them that ben of lawfull age, in grete peryll -of dethe: in lyghtnes and abatynge of theyr sikenes, yf God wyll that -they lyve; and in forgyvynge of theyr venyal synnes, and releasynge of -theyr payne, yf they shal deye." _Festival_, fol. 171. _W._ - -[198] He died Nov. 29, 1530. Le Neve's _Fasti_, p. 310. - -According to the superstitious credulity of that age, the death of -Wolsey was said to have been preceded by a portentous storm. See -LETTERS FROM THE BODLEIAN, Vol. ii. page 17. In a letter from Dr. -Tanner to Dr. Charlett, dated Norwich, Aug. 10, 1709, is the following -passage: - -"On the other side is a coeval note at the end of an old MS. -belonging to our cathedral, of the odd exit of the great Cardinal -Wolsey, not mentioned, I think, in Cavendish, or any of the ordinary -historians,--much like Oliver's wind. - -"Anno Xti, 1530, nocte immediate sequente quartum diem Novemb. vehemens -ventus quasi per totam Angliam accidebat, et die proximè sequente -quinto sc. die ejusdem mensis circa horam primam post meridiem -captus erat Dūus Thomas Wulsye Cardinalis in ædibus suis de Cahow -[Cawood] infra Diocesam suam Eboracensem; et postea in itinere ejus -versus Londoniam vigilia St. Andreæ prox. sequente apud Leycestriam -moriebatur, quo die ventus quasi Gehennalis tunc fere per totam Angliam -accidebat, cujus vehementia apud Leystoft infra Dioc. Norwicensem et -alibi in diversis locis infra Regnum Angliæ multæ naves perierunt." - -_Ad finem Annalium Bartholomæi Cotton. MS. in Biblioth. Eccl. Cath. -Norwic. habetur hæc notata._ - -[199] The excellent author of the dissertation on this life doubted -whether this passage was not an interpolation, because "Wolsey is -spoken of in terms so different from those used in other parts of the -book." But it is only a proof of the integrity of the biographer, whose -upright heart and devout catholic spirit would not conceal the truth. - -[200] This passage follows in the more recent MSS. "riding that same -day, being Wednesday, to Northampton; and the next day to Dunstable; -and the next day to London; where we tarried untill St. Nicholas Even, -and then we rode to Hampton Court." - -[201] Here is another addition, in the more recent MSS. to the -following effect: "Who hath gotten diverse other rich ornaments into -his hands, the which be not rehersed or registered in any of my lords -books of inventory, or other writings, whereby any man is able to -charge him therewith, but only I." - - - - -ADDITIONAL NOTES TO THE LIFE OF WOLSEY. - - -PAGE 95. The Letter of Anstis, referred to in the note, is addressed -to Fiddes, and is printed in his Collections. It relates to a rude -representation of the House of Lords in the reign of King Henry VIII. -but that learned herald and antiquary has made it the vehicle of some -observations, which may not be misplaced here. - -"Almost every action of Wolsey hath been interpreted as an instance of -pomp, ambition, or insolence; notwithstanding, probably, upon a strict -examination, most of them will be found to be strictly precedented. -This particular of _two crosses_ gave Polydore Virgil an opportunity -of making an uncharitable reflection: "Non contentus unâ cruce, qua -utebatur, quod Archiepiscopus esset Eboracensis, alteram præ se -ferri voluit, per duos sacerdotes statura elegantes, et equis magnis -insidentes, qui aperto capite, quocunque anni tempore incederent. Nunc -plane constat Wolsæum suæ sibi conscium esse culpæ, qui propterea -binas in pompa habet cruces, quod una non satis foret ad ejus expianda -commissa." Anstis then cites the passage from Roy's satire, which he -mistakingly attributes to Skelton; and proceeds thus: "Here is a long -catalogue, and yet possibly not one particular is singular to the -cardinal. For the same honours, according to the known customs of Rome, -were to be paid to every Legate _de Latere_ as to the sovereign pontiff -himself: Nay, he might of right use all papal ensigns and ornaments, -for which Parisius (De Resignat. L. 7. qu. 13. n. 6 et 7) produces the -vouchers." - -"I know not what was the figure of the _pillars_ here mentioned; but it -was not an unusual ensign, because Chaucer, in the Plowman's Tale, v. -2044, setting forth the duty of a clergyman, says thus: - - And usin none yerthly honours, - Ne croune, ne curious covertours, - Ne _pillar_, ne other proud pall, &c. - -According to the present customs in this country, no one will charge -the cardinal's riding on a mule to be a mark of his insolence or -haughtiness, neither was it any testimony of his humility, but a usage -of his age, in correspondence to the ancient practice of clergymen, who -esteemed it unbecoming them to ride upon a horse, when our Saviour rode -on the foal of an ass. Thus St. Basil on Psalm 32, _Exclusus est ab usu -sanctorum equus_. And here I cannot forbear from diverting you with the -odd simplicity of the style wherein Peraldus (Summæ de Superbia, tom. -2) expresses himself on this occasion: "Christus nunquam equitavit, -tantum semel asinavit, atque adeo neque mulavit, neque palafredavit, -neque dromedariavit." His sentiment was as of some other rigid -disciplinarians at that time, that the clergy should travel on foot. -It is well known that our judges, till the first year of Queen Mary, -rode always to Westminster on mules, (v. Dugdal. Orig. Juridic. p. 38). -Christopher Urswicke, who had been Dean of Windsor, in his will made -10 Oct. 1521, devises to Mr. Cuthbert Tunstall, Maister of the Rolls, -"his gowne of blacke furred with martron, his typpet of sarcenet furred -with sables, and his little _mule_ with saddle and bridle and all hir -harneys." (Lib. Mainwaryng, in Cur. Prærog.) And upon the motive of -an affected humility it doubtless was that John de Beverle, in his -will dated 1380, "Volo quod corpus meum sit ductum ab hospitio meo -per duos asinos, si possint inveniri." (Registr. Beckingham Episcopi -Lincoln.) The sumptuary law for apparel, 24 Hen. 8. c. 13, prohibits -all persons to wear upon their horse, _mule_, or other beast, any silk -of purpure, &c. Of the custom of the clergy, see Bede Eccles. Hist. 1. -3, c. 14, and 1. 4, c. 3: and that they first began to ride on mares, -1. 2, c. 13, unless there be some error in the print. As to Cardinals, -David Chambre, in his History of the Popes abridged, acquaints us that -Innocent IV. gave them liberty to ride on horseback, and that Pope -Clement V. ordained they should ride upon asses, according to the -example of our Saviour. - -But these rich trappings and housings of the cardinal's mule may give -offence; herein he could justify himself by an especial privilege to -those of his degree:--_Equitare mulas phaleratas, et clavam argenteam -ante se deferre_ (Cohelii Notitia Cardinalatus, p. 28). Here then is -a poleaxe or mace also, and the same author, p. 30, acquaints us that -in the Roman court the cardinals "dum equitant _mulas_, præmittunt -apparitores cum argenteis _clavis_ et _bulgis_ ab acupictoribus -gentilitiis insignibus auro et argento redimitis, necnon famulos duos -pedissequos (parafrænarios vocant) baculis duobus innixos." - - -Page 137. The circumstances attending the interception of De Praet's -dispatches, mentioned in the note, are thus related in a letter of -Wolsey's to Mr. Sampson, printed in the Appendix to Galt's Life of -Wolsey, p. clv. No. vi. 4to. 1812. - -"It hath bene of a long season, and from sundry parts, reported unto -the king's hignes and to me at divers times, that Mon^{sr} de Praet, -who resideth here ambassador for the emperor, hath continually bene a -man disposed and inclined to make, in his letters and writings, both -to the emperor and the Lady Margaret, seditious and sinister reports; -saying many times, upon his own fantasie, suspicion, and conjecture, -things clearly untrue, and compassing at other times, when things have -been done, sayd, or set forth, frendly, kindlie, and lovinglie, soe -to cowch his reports, and the circumstances of the doings thereof, as -though the gratuities shewed by the king's highnes, have from time to -time been conduced by the industrie, pollicy, and labour of the sayd -ambassadors; ascribing, therefore, the laude and thank therof unto -himself, wherby he might acquire the more grace and favor of the sayd -emperor and Lady Margaret. To these things the kings highnes and I -were not over hasty to give soone creddence; but supposing the sayd -ambassador to be a p^rsonage of more vertue and inclinacion to good -then now he proveth to be, I would some times admonish him, in general -words of such advertisement; exhorting and advising him to be well -ware how he, being a minister betwene two princes so neerly conjoined -in intelligence, should attempt or doe any thing to the hinderance -thereof; but rather, regarding the office of a good ambassador to doe -that in him is for the nourishing and increase of the same. Wherein he -alwayes made me such answere that I conceaved noe further suspicion or -jealousy towards him in that behalfe; being therefore the more franke -and plaine with him in all my conferences, as he, that for the singuler -good mind which I have alwayes borne unto the emperors honor, weale, -and suretie, would procede with his majestie, sincerelie, plainely, -and truelie. And as familiarly, kindly, and lovinglie hath the kings -highnes and I admitted, entertayned, and used the sayd de Praet at -all times, as the most hearty love betwene the kings highnes and his -majestie doth require, making him privie, and having him present, -at all such comunicacions and accesses have bene of other princes -ambassadors, or of any matter worthy advertisement or knowledge, to the -intent that he should make most credible and plaine relacion thereof -unto th'emperor and other to whom it appertained." - -* * * * * * * * * * * * * * He then relates, that upon one occasion he -sent for the ambassador "to make him participant of such newes as -the kings highnes and I had received, as also to understand whether -he had any good newes in confirmation of the same." And after a long -communication, he "seeming to be joyous and well contented, giving me -thanks on the emperors behalfe, departed." - -"Three days before that, as many times is here accustomed, it was -appointed that, as that night following, which was the xj^{th} day -at night, a privie watch should be made in London, and by a certaine -cercoute and space about it: in the which watch was taken, passing -between London and Brainford, by certaine of the watch appointed to -that quarter, one ryding towards the said Brainford; who, examined -by the watch, answered soe closely, that upon suspicion thereof they -searched him, and found seacretly hid about him a little pacquet of -letters, subscribed in French, which the sayd watch p^rceaving, brought -the letters unto a man of lawes clarke, being of the same company; -who, supposing the bearer of them to be either a spie or a messenger -from some merchant, stranger, or other, intendinge to disclose things -unto the emperor, and p^rceaving the sayd pacquet to be in the taking -of it, by the unlearned men of the watch, broken and evil handled, -looked in the letters. And thinking the same, by reason of the ciphers, -more suspect, brought it unto the king's solicitor, being in the same -watch; who not acquainted with the name of the sayd de Praet, brought -the letters soe opened unto Sir Thomas Moore, being in another watch -neere unto the same; and he presented them, in the morning following, -unto me, being in the chancery at Westminster; which, when I had read, -knowing how farr the effect of them was discrepant from the truth, anon -I conceived the former adv^rtisements made unto me touching the said -ambassadors accustomed usage in making sinister reports, to be true. -And p^rceyving by the sayd letters, that albeit the usage is not here -that strangers should passe through the realme without a passport, -yet one of the foulkes was depeched by the sayd ambassador the day -before with letters towards Spaine,--wherin it was like there might be -as evill or worse report then in these, I with all diligence sent to -countermande the sayd former letters, or any other depeched at that -time by the sayd ambassador. And soe was taken also a pacquet of his -letters directed to my Lady Margaret, which original letters directed -unto th'emperor, with copies of those addressed unto my Lady Margaret, -viewed and overlooked, and the untruth mencioned in them deprehended, -I send unto your hands herewith, as well because th'emperor may know -such things as his folkes on this side doe advertise his majestie of, -which may conferr to the furtherance of his affaires; as also, because -the same may hereby the more assuredlie and p^rfectlie understand -and p^rceave that the sayd de Praet hath of lykelyhood contrived noe -few matters untrue and fayned in his letters sent of a long season, -as well into Spayne as into Flanders. Wherof there is much apparance, -by reason of such proceeding, strange demeanour, and suspicion, as -hath seemed to have bene had towards the kings grace, both on that -side and in Flanders of a good season, soe that it is evident to be -conjectured that the sayd de Praet hath done more hurt, detriment, and -damage, by his evil reports in the comon affaires, then ever he can -be able to reduble or amend; and surely has by the same deserved much -more blame than I will reherse." He then enters into detail of the -misrepresentations of De Praet, who, he says, would have long since -been denounced to the emperor as "a man of insufficient qualities, -inexpert and far unmeet to be ambassador from so great a prince," had -it not been out of courtesy to that potentate and his council. And -further, that "De Praet being not a little abashed, ne without cause, -made first exception at the intercepting of his letters, as he would -not give credence to the manner of their interception, and the opening -of them by a fortunate error, as is aforesayd, saying that ambassadors -doe write unto their princes that which in their conceipt is thought -good, referring the judgment unto others. He affirmed also, that till -this time it could not ne should be ever found in any of his letters, -that he hath made evill report either of the king's highnes or of me, -as by his original letters, which he sayd he desired and would be gladd -should and might be showed, he would be judged, and that the cause and -occasion moving him thus to write at this time, was only the being here -of John Joachym by viij moneths, the difficulty made to condescend unto -the truce proposed at Rome, the not advancing of an army on this side, -as was spoken of, and the refusal of the kings highnes to contribute -any thing to the defence of Italy." - -To this Wolsey states the long and circumstantial answer he gave, in -which he asserts that he was not privy to Joachinos coming, and that -it was some time after his arrival that he disclosed to him what he -was, and that as soon as he discovered himself to be sent from the Lady -Regent, he made de Praet privy thereto, praying him to advertise the -Lady Margaret and the emperor, as he also would do and did. - -To this he states 'that De Praet could make no other answer than that -he wrote his fantasy, and remitted the judgment to wiser men.' The -whole letter is well worth attention as an example of Wolsey's talent -in diplomacy; and though his apology is not very convincing, it must be -confessed to be very skilful and ingenious. - - FINIS. - - - - -APPENDIX. - - - - - EXTRACTS FROM THE LIFE - OF - THE VIRTUOUS CHRISTIAN AND RENOWNED - QUEEN ANNE BOLEIGNE. - - BY GEORGE WYATT, ESQ. - - WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. - - FROM THE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS OF THE REV. JOHN LEWIS. - - - - - - Great princes favourites their fair leaves spread, - But as the marigold at the sun's eye; - And in themselves their pride lies buried, - For at a frown they in their glory die. - - SHAKSPEARE. - - -_Among the other calumnies with which the memory of the unfortunate -Queen Anne Boleyn has been aspersed by the enemies of the Reformation, -it has been said--"that she had long carried on a criminal intercourse -with Sir Thomas Wyatt the poet; who, we are told, had gone so far -as to confess to the king that he had debauched her; and had urged -this, in the first instance, as an argument to dissuade the king -from marrying her." The story requires no refutation; but Wyatt's -name having been called in question when Anne Boleyn's conduct was -scrutinized, gave the forgers of fabulous history an opportunity of -engrafting their libellous inventions on slight circumstances, in order -to give them something of the colour of probability. How far there -was any foundation for these calumnies will now appear. The following -interesting pages were written, it is presumed, by the grandson of the -poet, George Wyatt, Esquire, sixth son and heir of Sir Thomas Wyatt -the younger, who was beheaded for rebellion in the first year of the -reign of Queen Mary. The writer died at the advanced age of eighty, -at Boxley in Kent, in the year 1624, and seems to have meditated a -complete exposure of such parts of Saunders' Book on the Reformation as -came within his own immediate knowledge. He was maternal uncle to Sir -Roger Twysden, and in 1623 communicated to him part of his collections. -A fragment of the Life of Cardinal Wolsey, by George Cavendish, was -in the late Mr. Bindley's library, to which we have already referred, -at p. 120 of the present edition; prefixed to which was the following -note by Sir Roger Twysden.-- "I receaved this from my uncle Wyatt, -Anno 1623, who beeing yonge had gathered many notes towching this lady, -not without an intent to have opposed Saunders." It is remarkable -that this fragment from Wolsey's Life has been twice printed as a -piece of original and authentic cotemporary history, without suspicion -of its being an extract from Cavendish;--the first time for private -distribution, in 1808, and secondly by Dr. Nott, in his appendix to -Wyatt's Poems, in 1816._ - -_The manuscript from which the present very interesting memoir is -printed was purchased at the late Sir Peter Thompson's sale. It is in -the hand writing of the Rev. John Lewis, of the Isle of Thanet, the -celebrated antiquary. It was printed in 1817 for a few noblemen and -gentlemen, but twenty-seven copies only having been taken off, may be -considered still to have almost the rarity of a manuscript._ - - - - - -SOME PARTICULARS OF THE LIFE OF QUEEN ANNE BOLEIGNE. - - -The peculiar means that I have had, more than others, to come to some -more particular knowledge of such things as I intend to handle, ought -to draw thus much from me; yet much more the request of him that hath -been by authority set on work in this important business, both for -the singular gifts of God in him, of wisdom, learning, integrity, and -virtue; and also the encouragement I have had of late from the right -reverend my Lord of Canterbury's grace, to set down what understanding -I have had of this matter, is both my warrant, and a bond the more upon -my conscience, to hold me urged and constrained not to neglect such -an opportunity of my service to the church, my prince, and country. -Principally his desire was, and my purpose in satisfying it, to deliver -what I knew, touching certain things that happened to the excellent -lady, the LADY ANNE BOLEIGNE, about the time of her first coming to -the court. Yet, considering I had some other knowledge of things that -might be found serviceable no less than that, and also might give -light and life to the faithful narration of this whole matter, I have -supposed it would fall best, to deliver the same, as it were, under -the description of her whole life; and this the more particularly and -frankly, that, all things known, those that I understood were to visit -it again might take what they should think most material for their use. -And would to God I could give that grace and felicity of style unto it -that the worthiness of the subject doth require, notwithstanding that -in this regard I am the less carefull, for that it is to pass through -their hands that can give it better vesture; and I shall the more turn -my care to intend the sincere and faithful delivery of that which I -have received from those that both were most likely to come to the -most perfect knowledge hereof, and had least cause or, otherwise for -themselves, could least give just reason of suspicion to any, either -of mind, or partiality, or wit, to fayne or misreport any whit hereof. -And, indeed, chiefly the relation of those things that I shall set down -is come from two. One a lady[202], that first attended on her both -before and after she was queen, with whose house and mine there was -then kindred and strict alliance. The other also a lady of noble birth, -living in those times, and well acquainted with the persons that most -this concerneth, from whom I am myself descended. A little, therefore, -repeating the matter more high, I will derive the discourse hereof -from the very spring and fountains, whence may appear most clearly by -what occasion and degrees the stream of this whole cause hath grown to -such an ocean as it were of memorable effects through all our parts -of Christendom, not by chance or wits of men so much as even by the -apparent work of God, as I hope presently to make plain to all men. - -The see of _Rome_ having risen, in this our age, unto a full tide of -all wickedness, had overflowed all these parts of the world with the -floods of her evils, whereby was occasioned and had beginning the ebb -of all her pomp, power, and glory, every particular devising, as if it -had been by one consent and accord (so showing it the more apparently -to come of God), to provide for the time to come against her so great -inundation of mischiefs. Hereof, in _England_, _Germany_, _Italy_, -and in many other places, sundry persons of singular learning and -piety, one succeeding another, at divers times, opened their mouths -as trumpets to call men to this work upon several occasions, all -rising from the outrageous corruptions and foaming filth of that see. -But chiefly and most notoriously, in the time of Henry the Eighth, -of famous memory, this came to pass by the just judgment of God upon -her, and his mercy upon us, where the same polity by which she had in -custom, and then made herself most assured, to strengthen herself in -giving to princes licence to unlawful contracts (esteeming thereby to -tie them and their issue the more strongly to her); the bond of so evil -counsel breaking suddenly, set at liberty the certain means of this -great opposition against her after almost through all Europe. So little -assurance especially have evil foundations of usurped authorities -against the provoked judgments of God by sin, and general displeasure -of man upon just conceived indignities. - -There was, at this present, presented to the eye of the court the -rare and admirable beauty of the fresh and young Lady Anne Boleigne, -to be attending upon the queen. In this noble imp, the graces of -nature graced by gracious education, seemed even at the first to have -promised bliss unto her aftertimes. She was taken at that time to have -a beauty not so whitely as clear and fresh above all we may esteem, -which appeared much more excellent by her favour passing sweet and -cheerful; and these, both also increased by her noble presence of shape -and fashion, representing both mildness and majesty more than can be -expressed. There was found, indeed, upon the side of her nail upon one -of her fingers, some little show of a nail, which yet was so small, by -the report of those that have seen her, as the workmaster seemed to -leave it an occasion of greater grace to her hand, which, with the tip -of one of her other fingers, might be and was usually by her hidden -without any least blemish to it. Likewise there were said to be upon -some parts of her body certain small moles incident to the clearest -complexions. And certainly both these were none other than might more -stain their writings with note of malice that have caught at such light -motes in so bright beams of beauty, than in any part shadow it, as may -right well appear by many arguments, but chiefly by the choice and -exquisite judgments of many brave spirits that were esteemed to honour -the honourable parts in her, even honoured of envy itself. - -Amongst these, two were observed to be of principal mark. The one was -_Sir Thomas Wiat_, the elder[203], the other was the king himself. -The knight, in the beginning, coming to behold the sudden appearance -of this new beauty, came to be holden and surprised somewhat with the -sight thereof; after much more with her witty and graceful speech, his -ear also had him chained unto her, so as finally his heart seemed to -say, _I could gladly yield to be tied for ever with the knot of her -love_, as somewhere in his verses hath been thought his meaning was to -express[204]. She, on the other part, finding him to be then married, -and in the knot to have been tied then ten years, rejected all his -speech of love; but yet in such sort as whatsoever tended to regard of -her honour, she showed not to scorn, for the general favour and good -will she perceived all men to bare him, which might the rather occasion -others to turn their looks to that which a man of his worth was brought -to gaze at in her, as, indeed, after it happened. The king is held -to have taken his first apprehension of this love after such time as -upon the doubt in those treaties of marriage with his daughter Mary, -first with the Spaniard, then with the French: by some of the learned -of his own land he had vehemently in their public sermons, and in his -confessions to his ghostly fathers, been prayed to forsake that his -incestuous life by accompanying with his brother's wife; and especially -after he was moved by the cardinal, then in his greatest trust with the -king, both for the better quietness of his conscience, and for more -sure settling of the succession to more prosperous issue. - -[Illustration: SIR THOMAS WYATT K^T.] - -About this time, it is said that the knight, entertaining talk with -her as she was earnest at work, in sporting wise caught from her a -certain small jewel hanging by a lace out of her pocket, or otherwise -loose, which he thrust into his bosom, neither with any earnest request -could she obtain it of him again. He kept it, therefore, and wore it -after about his neck, under his cassock, promising to himself either -to have it with her favour or as an occasion to have talk with her, -wherein he had singular delight, and she after seemed not to make -much reckoning of it, either the thing not being much worth, or not -worth much striving for. The noble prince having a watchful eye upon -the knight, noted him more to hover about the lady, and she the more -to keep aloof of him; was whetted the more to discover to her his -affection, so as rather he liked first to try of what temper the regard -of her honour was, which he finding not any way to be tainted with -those things his kingly majesty and means could bring to the battery, -he in the end fell to win her by treaty of marriage, and in this talk -took from her a ring, and that wore upon his little finger; and yet all -this with such secrecy was carried, and on her part so wisely, as none -or very few esteemed this other than an ordinary course of dalliance. -Within few days after, it happened that the king, sporting himself at -bowls, had in his company (as it falls out) divers noblemen and other -courtiers of account, amongst whom might be the Duke of Suffolk, Sir F. -Brian, and Sir T. Wiat, himself being more than ordinarily pleasantly -disposed, and in his game taking an occasion to affirm a cast to be his -that plainly appeared to be otherwise; those on the other side said, -with his grace's leave, they thought not, and yet, still he pointing -with his finger whereon he wore her ring, replied often it was his, -and specially to the knight he said, Wiat, I tell thee it is mine, -smiling upon him withal. Sir Thomas, at the length, casting his eye -upon the king's finger, perceived that the king meant the lady whose -ring that was, which he well knew, and pausing a little, and finding -the king bent to pleasure, after the words repeated again by the king, -the knight replied, And if it may like your majesty to give me leave -to measure it, I hope it will be mine; and withal took from his neck -the lace whereat hung the tablet, and therewith stooped to measure -the cast, which the king espying, knew, and had seen her wear, and -therewithal spurned away the bowl, and said, It may be so, but then -am I deceived; and so broke up the game. This thing thus carried was -not perceived for all this of many, but of some few it was. Now the -king, resorting to his chamber, showing some discontentment in his -countenance, found means to break this matter to the lady, who, with -good and evident proof how the knight came by the jewel, satisfied the -king so effectually that this more confirmed the king's opinion of her -truth than himself at the first could have expected. Shortly, upon the -return of the cardinal, the matter of the dutchess[205] cooling every -day more and more, his credit also waned till it was utterly eclipsed; -and that so busied the great personages that they marked the less the -king's bent, the rather for that some way it seemed helpful to their -working against the cardinal. The king also took here opportunity to -proceed to discover his full and whole meaning unto the lady's father, -to whom we may be sure the news was not a little joyful. - -All this notwithstanding, her virtue was not so dased with the glory -of so forcible attractives, but that she stood still upon her guard, -and was not, as we would suppose, so easily taken with all these -appearances of happiness; whereof two things appeared to be the causes. -One the love she bare ever to the queen whom she served, that was also -a personage of great virtue: the other her conceit that there was not -that freedom of conjunction with one that was her lord and king as with -one more agreeable to her estate. These things being well perceived -of, the queen shew she knew well to frame and work her advantage of, -and therefore the oftener had her at cards with her, the rather also -that the king might have the less her company, and the lady the more -excuse to be from him; also she esteem herself the kindlier used, and -yet withal the more to give the king occasion to see the nail upon her -finger. And in this entertainment of time they had a certain game that -I cannot name then frequented, wherein dealing, the king and queen -meeting they stopped, and the young lady's hap was much to stop at a -king; which the queen noting, said to her playfellow, My Lady Anne, -you have good hap to stop at a king, but you are not like others, you -will have all or none. So often earnest matters are delivered under -game. Yet had the king his times, and she in the end yielded to give -her consent of marriage to him, whom hardly ever any before was found -able to keep their hold against. This was now so far to the pleasure -of the king, that forthwith he with her and her father concluded to -open the matter to the council, all other things being ripe thereunto, -and specially for that it was not possible to keep it any longer -from the talk of men near his person, and the more, the queen being -found to take such knowledge thereof. It is thought then the table -was diversely carried to give opinion upon this matter; some of the -nobility wishing rather to have had so good hap lighted to some of -their own houses; others that it had not been at all; some inclining to -either of these as depending on them; but most liked better the king's -own choice, both for the hope of issue, and that the greatness of great -men should not grow too great to sway with in managing of matters of -state. But howsoever, it appeared manifestly that presently there were -practices discovered on all sides under sundry arts, on the parts of -Spain, from Rome and that faction, and from the queen herself, and -specially some with the king, some with the lady herself, plotted to -break or stay at the least till something might fall between the cup -and the lip, that might break all this purpose with one of them, if -it might have been. And verily one of these may seem for this present -occasion not unmeet to be recounted; which was this: There was conveyed -to her a book pretending old prophecies, wherein was represented the -figure of some personages, with the letter H upon one, A upon another, -and K upon the third, which an expounder thereupon took upon him to -interpret by the king and his wives, and to her pronouncing certain -destruction if she married the king. This book coming into her chamber, -she opened, and finding the contents, called to her maid of whom we -have spoken before, who also bore her name: "Come hither, Nan," said -she, "see here a book of prophecy; this he saith is the king, this the -queen, mourning, weeping and wringing her hands, and this is myself -with my head off." The maid answered, "If I thought it true, though he -were an emperor, I would not myself marry him with that condition." -"Yes, Nan," replied the lady, "I think the book a bauble; yet for the -hope I have that the realm may be happy by my issue, I am resolved to -have him whatsoever might become of me." - -The Romish fable-framer[206], if he may be believed, affirmeth another -practice after this sort: "That Sir Thomas Wiat coming to the council, -for his better security, confessed to have had dealings with that lady, -before he had any perceiving of the king's purpose of marriage; but not -being credited by the king, that Wiat, as not finding it well he was -not believed, affirmed he would bring the king where he might see him -enjoy her. And that again being delivered by the Duke of Suffolk to -the king, he yet believed it not." But it is certain that the whole or -greatest part of this is fiction; for the persons, manner, and event of -these things have been utterly mistaken and misshapen. For I have heard -by the report of one of right good and honourable account, and of much -understanding in such things, who also hath the truth of his word in -high respect, that it was Sir Francis Brian that confessed such a like -thing to the king by another lady, with other success more likely, -which was that the king thereupon pardoned _him_ indeed, but rejected -and gave over the lady ever after to him. Whether the duke might, upon -the sight of that which happened at bowls, take any occasion with the -king to dissuade the marriage, supposing the knight could not or would -not otherwise have cleared himself and the lady, but by confessing and -craving pardon for it as done before he had knowledge of the king's -intention, I cannot say; and by guess I will not affirm it in any case -of any, much less of so worthy and noble a personage. Only this I -say, that if he did so, I believe verily that he was greatly deceived -therein of his expectation; as finding that by good proof the knight -could clear himself and her of that matter, even to the full assuring -and ascertaining of the king of the manner of his coming by the jewel -without her dishonour, and that so the duke, if he did so, might come -to find himself had gone too far, as to have purchased to himself -thereby mislike both of the king and queen, whereupon he might turn -his heavy displeasure to the knight ever after. I know of a certainty, -that the knight had a most high opinion of that princely lady's noble -virtues as by trial, and chiefly in the matter of the bowls; in that -she took not or interpreted ill of his deed (as herself, being in her -own conscience clear), but as he meant it to the king's disport before -knowledge of the marriage. This is true also, that Sir Thomas Wiat -was twice sifted and lifted at, and that nobleman both times his most -heavy adversary, as I have to show under the knight's own hand in his -answer to his last indictment. Neither could I ever learn what might -be the cause of his so perpetual grudge, save only that it appeareth -to be as old as this. Some man might perhaps be led to think that the -duke might have a special end to draw him to enter and venture so far -to the breaking off the match. And it is true that he was then married -with the king's second sister, when the king had then remaining but one -only daughter, and then she also questioned whether legitimate: That -then also was procured a statute to cut off foreign titles; and it is -true also, that after the ambition of some to occasion hereby to thrust -the duke's issue, even before the proper and lawful issue of the king, -into the regal seat. All this notwithstanding, I will never be induced -to give that opinion of that nobleman, but rather I would think, if -he did any such thing, in any sort giving colour to this fancy of the -Roman legender, he did it upon zeal that in his conceit it was true, -and that he thought the knight would so far confess it as done before -talk of the king's marriage, when he saw he had passed so far in the -measuring of the cast. And though the whole fiction have scarcely so -much as shadow of colour of any appearance, yet for that part where -he deviseth that Sir Thomas should before the council apeach himself -and that lady, or after not being credited, offer to make the king see -him to have to do with her, this showing itself sufficiently falsified -to any wise and understanding reader, especially considering it -particularly with the circumstances, it is so far from all likelihood, -as all presumptions are flat against it, as in a word or two shall now -be showed. - -For that princely lady, she living in court where were so many brave -gallants at that time unmarried, she was not like to cast her eye -upon one that had been then married ten years. And her parents, then -in good and honourable place, resident in court, and themselves of no -mean condition, they would keep, no doubt, a watchful eye over her -to see she should not roam to the hinderance of her own preferment, a -course so foul with one where was no colour of marriage. The King's -eye also was a guard upon her, as also those that pleased the king in -recounting the adventures of love happening in court made it hard, -specially for the shortness of time after her placing there, and the -king's own love. Also she that held out against such a king where was -hope of marriage, what was like she should do to the knight, where his -own lady and her friends were still to attend upon their doings, whose -testimonies of the honourable carriage of that lady are therefore here -most strong for her? And for the knight, if he had enjoyed her, was he -so far desperately wicked and a monster in love, that he would openly, -purposely, and to his own disgrace, vaunt the spoil of a maid of so -good friends and likelihoods of advancements, without all regard of God -or man? especially when she had stood so well upon the assurance of her -own innocence for the matter of the jewel without turning him to any -displeasure thereby. Those that knew him best, knew him far from that -dishonest disposition chiefly in this kind, and for so gross a villany. -And if he had been of that mind, yet was he known not of so little wit -or understanding, upon a point that was not very likely to be known, to -discover his own and her evil; where was a great deal more likelihood -that, the king believing her rather than him, he was to incur a more -certain and greater mischief, that might in all presumption, fall by -the heavy displeasure of them both upon himself ever after. And if -we could imagine him both so wretchedly dishonest, and so very a sot -(neither of which could be found of him), his father then counsellor -to the king, for his wisdom, years, and experience, more grave, would -not have suffered him yet to quit himself so fondly and to be so mad; -especially as when the king had showed not to believe it, then to run -more obstinately to offer when the king had made her privy hereunto, -to bring her that the king should see her also so mad as to yield to -him after she had given consent of marriage to the king. Who would not -believe them also mad, that would believe so mad a carriage of such a -business amongst grave and wise men, howsoever the railing Romanist be -so mad to write it so as he would seem mad with reason? For the king -also, besides that he had more occasion and means than any other to -note and observe her doings, yet much more (as the nature of generous -spirits carries them) he was watchful upon the knight, as in other -things so chiefly in this, not to be outrun at this garland of love; -so as by himself and by the eyes of others, there was not any trip but -would have been spied, no likelihood but would have carried suspicion -with it; how much more would the knight's confession have sunk into -his head? Would he, being so wise a prince, have forgotten that the -soberness of his choice would serve much for satisfying the world, -touching his divorce? Had he not time, had he not leisure to learn, to -inquire and sift out all things? His care used in gathering opinions -of universities, and in informing princes of the whole matter, with -all circumstances in the managing this cause, by the space of some -years, show he was not so passionate a lover, but also withal a wise -and considerate prince. But it is said the king believed it not! Yet -what? when the knight (as this tale saith) offered to make the king see -it, and that avowed to the council! Could such a prince as he swallow -this? Doubtless none that hath his wits will think so, none that knew -the complexion of the king could induce himself to suppose a thing so -incredible. The case of Sir Francis Brian's[207] opening of his love -had another effect, and shows plainly that the king was of another -metal, since he cast off that Lady loved right dearly (as hath been -said) without farther matter. And doubtless in this case, he believing -the matter would have thrown off this lady also, the marriage not yet -consummate, and he having in his own realm and abroad beauties enough -to content him, and means enough also to push on some other. But it -is devised the king believed it not. Not believing it, think we the -knight could have escaped punishment of a slanderer, though he might -by confessing, avoid the punishment of a malefactor (as they say) -after? This no outrageous madman would believe. If the king would or -could have passed it over, the lady in honour could not, nor might. But -suppose also that supposal beyond all suppose. Though they punished -it not, would they, think ye, have put him in credit and advancement -after? Would they have had him chief ewerer even the very day of her -coronation? Would they have employed him ambassador in that matter of -the marriage? Yea, I say more! would the king also have rewarded him -with a good portion of lands soon upon this? But all these were so as -we have alleged them. The Chronicles have his service on that day of -coronation. His embassages were twice about this matter known right -well: I have seen the patents of the grant myself[208]. And these -things, the last especially, I the rather allege, for that the knight -useth them himself as testimonies of the king's good opinion of him, in -his defence before mentioned, which also by the king and his council in -those times was liked and allowed of as his just purgation, by which -they acquitted him. Finally, that his defence then may and is to be -esteemed his defence now also in this case not to be contemned, and -may thus be considered. This reporteth that he was twice winnowed. The -matters were the same both times, the accusations so frivolous, the -inducements and proofs so idle, that they prove nothing more than that -there lacked no wills in his adversary to do him hurt, than that they -had any least colour of matter to work it. Nothing so impertinent, -nothing so unlikely that they allege not. Yea and his most trusty and -best services they had the chief matters of their accusation, nothing -was so fond that they ripped not up to his discredit, at the least -if it might have been. Yet in all this was no word or signification -of any such matter. Though it had not been brought as the ground of -his accusation, would it not have been drawn forth to aggravate or -induce the matter? Undoubtedly it would, either in the queen's life in -his first trouble, and it would have done well to revenge if he had -done her this wrong, or after to her overthrow, or else in his second -trouble against him. But no one word is or was in it touching any such -matters. - -After so many cross billets of cunning polities, surmounted by the -guiding providence of God, after so many trials of her truth, passed -through by her wise and virtuous governance, the king having every way -made so thorough proof how deep root honour had taken in her bosom, and -having found it not to be shaken even by him, this royal and famous -prince Henry the Eighth, resolving her matchless perfections meet alone -to be joined with his, now at the length concluded forthwith to knit up -this marriage, although for certain causes the same was thought more -convenient to be performed somewhat privately and secretly. On the -twenty-fifth of January[209], therefore, the ceremony was consummate. -The king also, shortly after having himself more ascertained, and by -more inward trial more assured of her spousal truth, would yet farther -testify that his opinion of her, by giving her that highest honour he -could give her virtues, in having her solemnly and royally crowned. And -thus we see they lived and loved, tokens of increasing love perpetually -increasing between them. Her mind brought him forth the rich treasures -of love of piety, love of truth, love of learning. Her body yielded -him the fruits of marriage, inestimable pledges of her faith and loyal -love. And touching the former of these, it is here first not to be -forgotten, that of her time (that is during the three years that she -was queen) it is found by good observation, that no one suffered for -religion, which is the more worthy to be noted for that it could not -so be said of any time of the queens after married to the king. And -amongst other proofs of her love to religion to be found in others, -this here of me is to be added. That shortly after her marriage, divers -learned and christianly disposed persons resorting to her, presented -her with sundry books of those controversies that then began to be -questioned touching religion, and specially of the authority of the -pope and his clergy, and of their doings against kings and states. And -amongst other, there happened[210] one of these, which, as her manner -was, she having read, she had also noted with her nail as of matter -worthy the king's knowledge[211]. The book lying in her window, her -maid (of whom hath been spoken) took it up, and as she was reading it, -came to speak with her one[212] then suitor to her, that after married -her; and as they talked he took the book of her, and she withal, called -to attend on the queen, forgot it in his hands, and she not returning -in some long space, he walked forth with it in his hand, thinking it -had been hers. There encountered him soon after a gentleman of the -cardinal's of his acquaintance, and after salutations, perceiving the -book, requested to see it, and finding what it was, partly by the -title, partly by some what he read in it, he borrowed it and showed it -to the cardinal. Hereupon the suitor was sent for to the cardinal and -examined of the book, and how he came by it, and had like to have come -in trouble about it, but that it being found to have pertained to one -of the queen's chamber, the cardinal thought better to defer the matter -till he had broken it to the king first, in which meantime the suitor -delivered the lady what had fallen out, and she also to the queen, -who, for her wisdom knowing more what might grow thereupon, without -delay went and imparted the matter to the king, and showed him of the -points that she had noted with her finger. And she was but newly come -from the king, but the cardinal came in with the book in his hands to -make complaint of certain points in it that he knew the king would -not like of, and withal to take occasion with him against those that -countenanced such books in general, and specially women, and as might -be thought with mind to go farther against the queen more directly if -he had perceived the king agreeable to his meaning. But the king that -somewhat afore distasted the cardinal, as we have showed, finding the -notes the queen had made, all turned the more to hasten his ruin, which -was also furthered on all sides. - -On the other part, of her body she bare him a daughter on the -seventh[213] of September, to the great joy then of all his people, -both for that the king had now issue legitimate of his own body, and -for the hope of more after. The king also he expressed his joy for -that fruit sprung of himself, and his yet more confirmed love towards -her, caused her child openly and publickly to be proclaimed PRINCESS -ELIZABETH at the solemnity of her baptising, preferring his younger -daughter legitimate before the elder in unlawful wedlock. And after -this again, at the prorogation of the parliament, the thirtieth of -March[214], he had every lord, knight, and burgess sworn to an act of -succession, and their names subscribed to a schedule fixed to the same -statute, where it was enacted, that his daughter princess Elizabeth, he -having none other heir male, should succeed him to the crown. - -And after were commissioners sent to all parts of the realm to take -the like oath of all men and women in the land. Neither also were her -virtues only enclosed in her own breast or shut up in her own person. -She had procured to her chaplains[215], men of great learning and of no -less honest conversing, whom she with hers heard much, and privately -she heard them willingly and gladly to admonish her, and them herself -exhorted and encouraged so to do. Also at the first, she had in court -drawn about her, to be attending on her, ladies[216] of great honour, -and yet of greater choice for reputation of virtue, undoubted witnesses -of her spousal integrity, whom she trained upon with all commendations -of well ordered government, though yet above all by her own example she -shined above them all, as a torch that all might take light of, being -itself still more bright. Those that have seen at _Hampton Court_ the -rich and exquisite works by herself, for the greater part wrought by -her own hand and needle, and also of her ladies, esteem them the most -precious furniture that are to be accounted amongst the most sumptuous -that any prince may be possessed of. And yet far more rich and precious -were those works in the sight of God which she caused her maids and -those about her daily to work in shirts and smocks for the poor. But -not staying here her eye of charity, her hand of bounty passed through -the whole land; each place felt that heavenly flame burning in her; all -times will remember it, no place leaving for vain flames, no times for -idle thoughts. Her ordinary amounted to fifteen hundred pounds at the -least, yearly, to be bestowed on the poor. Her provisions of stock for -the poor in sundry needy parishes were very great. Out of her privy -purse went not a little to like purposes. To Scholars in exhibition -very much: so as in three quarters of a year her alms was summed to -fourteen or fifteen thousand pounds. - -She waxing great again and not so fit for dalliance, the time was taken -to steal the king's affection from her, when most of all she was to -have been cherished. And he once showing to bend from her, many that -least ought shrank from her also, and some lent on the other side; such -are the flexible natures of those in courts of princes for the most -part. Unkindness grew, and she was brought abed before her time with -much peril of her life, and of a male child dead born, to her greater -and most extreme grief. Being thus a woman full of sorrow, it was -reported that the king came to her, and bewailing and complaining unto -her the loss of his boy, some words were heard break out of the inward -feeling of her heart's dolours, laying the fault upon unkindness, -which the king more than was cause (her case at this time considered) -took more hardly than otherwise he would if he had not been somewhat -too much overcome with grief, or not so much alienate. Wise men in -those days judged that her virtues was here her default, and that if -her too much love could, as well as the other queen, have borne with -his defect of love, she might have fallen into less danger, and in -the end have tied him the more ever after to her when he had seen -his error, and _that_ she might the rather have done respecting the -general liberty and custom of falling then that way. Certainly, from -henceforth the harm still more increased, and he was then heard to say -to her: he would have no more boys by _her_. Having thus so many, so -great factions at home and abroad set loose by the distorned favour of -the king, and so few to show themselves for her, what could be? what -was otherlike but that all these guests lighting on her at once should -prevail to overthrow her, and with her those that stood under her fall? -She and her friends therefore were suddenly sent to the Tower: and this -gracious queen coming unto the entry of the gate, she falling down upon -her knees made that place a reverend temple to offer up her devout -prayers, and as a bale there her soul beaten down with afflictions to -the earth, with her faithful prayers bounded up to heaven. "O Lord," -said she, "help me, as I am guiltless of this whereof I am accused." -The time approached for the hearing of her cause. The place of her -trial in the Tower may somewhat discover how the matter was liked -to be handled. Nor there was it appointed the better to conceal the -heinousness of the accusation, though that might be the pretence. For -that was published in parliament that it might from thence spread -abroad over all. Her very accusations speak and even plead for her; -all of them, so far as I can find, carrying in themselves open proof -to all men's consciences of mere matter of quarrel, and indeed of a -very preparation to some hoped alteration. The most and chief of them -showing to have come from _Rome_, that popish forge of cunning and -treachery, as _Petrarch_ long since termed it. - - _Nido di tradimenti in cui si cuova - Quanto mal per lo mondo hoggi si spandi._ - - Nest of treasons in which is hatch'd and bred - What ill this day the world doth overspread. - -For that most odious of them, something is to be esteemed by the -apparent wrongs of the other evil handling of matters. But for this -thing itself, partly it is incredible, partly by the circumstances -impossible. Incredible, that she that had it her word as it were, the -spirit of her mind, as hath been said, that she was _Cæsar's_ all, -not to be touched of others, should be held with the foul desire of -her brother. Again, she having so goodly a prince to please her, who -also had showed himself able to content more than one, that she should -yet be carried to a thing so much abhorring even womanly years and to -nature itself, much more to so christian a queen. Impossible, for the -necessary and no small attendance of ladies ever about her, whereof -some, as after appeared, even aspired unto her place and right in the -king's love; yea, by manifest prevention before their time. And indeed, -hereof, it was her very accusers found it impossible to have colour -to charge her with any other than her brother, which also made it no -less impossible even for him alike as other. Impossible, I say, because -neither she could remove so great ladies, by office appointed to attend -upon her continually, from being witnesses to her doings; neither for -the danger she saw she stood in, and the occasion daily sought, would -she for her own wisdom, and also by the advertisements of her kindred -and followers, whereof she had many of most great understanding, -experience, and faith, about her. Besides, she could not but be made -more wary and wakeful, if for none other cause, yet even to take away -all colour from her enemies, whose eyes were everywhere upon her to -pick matter, and their malicious hearts bent to make some where they -found none; as plainly enough was to be seen when they were driven to -those straits to take occasion at her brother's more private being with -her; the more grudged at perhaps, for that it might be supposed his -conference with her might be for the breaking off the king's new love. -For the evidence, as I never could hear of any, so small I believe it -was. But this I say, well was it said of a noble judge of late, that -"half a proof where nature leadeth was to be esteemed a whole proof." -On the contrary, in this case he would have said, whole and very -absolute proofs to have been needful in such a case against nature. -And I may say, by their leaves, it seems themselves they doubted their -proofs would prove their reproofs, when they durst not bring them to -the proof of the light in open place. For this principal matter between -the queen and her brother, there was brought forth, indeed, witness, -his wicked wife accuser of her own husband, even to the seeking of his -blood, which I believe is hardly to be showed of any honest woman ever -done. But of her, the judgment that fell out upon her, and the just -punishment by law after of her naughtiness, show that what she did -was more to be rid of him than of true ground against him. And that -it seemeth those noblemen that went upon the queen's life found in -her trial, when it may appear plainly by that defence of the knight -that oft hath been here mentioned, that the young nobleman the Lord -Rochford, by the common opinion of men of best understanding in those -days, was counted and then openly spoken, condemned only upon some -point of a statute of words then in force. And this and sundry other -reasons have made me think often that upon some clause of the same -law they grounded their colour also against her, and that for other -matters she had cleared herself well enough. It seemeth some great -ones then had their hands in drawing in that law to entangle or bridle -one another, and that some of them were taken in the same net, as good -men then thought worthily. Surely my Lord Cromwell and this young lord -were taken in those entanglements, and the knight himself, of whom is -spoken, had hardly scaped it, as may appear by his defence, if he had -not by the well delivering of the goodness of his cause broken through -it. And this may well serve to admonish men to be well aware how far -they admit of laws that shall touch life upon construction of words; -or, at the least, admitting them, how far they leave to lawyers to -interpret of them, and especially that thereby they give not excuse to -juries to condemn the innocent when sway of time should thrust matters -upon them. Thus was she put upon her trial by men of great honour; it -had been good also if some of them had not been to be suspected of -too much power and no less malice. The evidence were heard indeed, -but close enough, as enclosed in strong walls. Yet, to show the truth -cannot by any force be altogether kept in hold, some belike of those -honourable personages there, more perhaps for countenance of others' -evil than for means by their own authority to do good (which also -peradventure would not have been without their own certain perils), did -not yet forbear to deliver out voices that caused every where to be -muttered abroad, that that spotless queen in her defence had cleared -herself with a most wise and noble speech. Notwithstanding such a -trial, such a judgment found her guilty, and gave sentence of death -upon her at home, whom others abroad, living to feel her loss, found -guiltless. - -The woful sentence was given; burning or heading at the king's -pleasure, leaving open some small place to pity for the kind of death, -which the king's conscience (no doubt) moved him to take in appointing -the more honourable death. Within those walls this execution was to be -done. What needed that? The love known indeed to her by the people was -not to be feared of the king, her love being such to him as to her last -breath she stood to acquit and defend him by her words at her death, -carrying a very true image of her former love and life. "Christian -people!" said she, "I am come to die, and according to law, and by law -I am judged to death, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I -am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak any thing of that whereof -I am accused and condemned to die. But I pray God save the king, and -send him long to reign over you, for a gentler and more merciful prince -was there never, and to me he was ever a good, a gentle, and sovereign -lord. If any person will meddle of my cause, I require him to judge the -best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you, and I heartily -desire you all to pray for me. O Lord, have mercy on me! To God I -commend my soul." And so she kneeling down said, "To Christ I commend -my soul. Jesu, receive my soul!" The bloody blow came down from his -trembling hand that gave it, when those about her could not but seem to -themselves to have received it upon their own necks, she not so much -as shrieking at it. God provided for her corpse sacred burial, even in -place as it were consecrate to innocents. - - END OF THE MEMOIR - OF QUEEN ANNE BOLEYN. - - _The following letters, relating to the arrest and behaviour in prison - of Queen Anne Boleyn, are in themselves so interesting that no apology - seems necessary for placing them in juxtaposition with the foregoing - interesting memoir. They have been recently given to the public in Mr. - Ellis's accurate and interesting collection of Historical Letters; - that gentleman has preferred printing them as mutilated fragments, - to supplying the_ lacunæ _by such means as I have ventured to adopt. - Strype saw these letters previous to the calamitous fire in 1731, - which injured so many valuable papers in the Cottonian Collection, - and he has given large extracts from them of the most interesting - passages: from this source, therefore, I have filled up such chasms - as I could, that the reader may not be tantalized by the enigma-like - appearance of a few disjointed words. The passages supplied have been - carefully distinguished by printing them in Italics between brackets, - and as Strype was a sufficiently accurate Antiquary, and faithful - in his extracts, it is presumed that the reader may rely upon the - authenticity of the passages thus supplied._ - - _The reader is already acquainted with the writer, Sir William - Kingston, the Lieutenant or Constable of the Tower, from the figure he - makes in the Life of Wolsey. See p. 369, et seq._ - - -LETTER I. - -_Sir William Kingston to Secretary Cromwell, upon Queen Anne's -committal to the Tower._ - -[MS. COTTON, OTHO C. X. fol. 225.] - -Thys ys to advertyse you apon my Lord of Norfolk and the kyngs -counsell depart[_inge_] from the Towre I went before the quene in to -hyr lodgyng, & [_then she_] sayd unto me, M. Kyngston, shall I go in -to a dungyn? Now, madam, y[_ou_] shall go into your logyng that you -lay in at your coronacion. It ys to gu[_de_] for me, she sayd, Jesu, -have mercy on me; and kneled downe wepyng a [_great_] pace, and in the -same sorow fell in to agret lawyng, and she hathe done [_so_] mony -tymes syns. And then she desyred me to move the kyngs hynes that she -[_myght_] have the sacarment in the closet by hyr chambr, that she -my[_ght pray_] for mercy, for I am as clere from the company of man, -as for s[_yn, sayd she as I_] am clere from you, and am the kyngs -trew wedded wyf; and then sh[_e sayd_] M. Kyngston, do you know wher -for I am here, and I sayd Nay, and then [_she sayd_] when saw you -the kyng? and I sayd, I saw hym not syns I saw [_him in_] the Tylte -yerde, and then M. K. I pray you to tell me wher my [_Lord Roch_]ford -ys? and I told hyr I saw hym afore dyner in the cort. O [_where ys_] -my sweet brod'er? I sayd I left hym at York place, and so I dyd. I -[_hear say, say_]d she, that I shuld be accused with iij men; and I -can say [_no more but_] nay, withyowt I shuld oppen my body; and ther -with opynd [_her gown sayeng, O Nor_]res, hast thow accused me, thow -ar in the Towre with me, & [_thou and I shal_]l dy to gether: and, -Marke, thou art here to. O my mother, [_thou wilt dy_] for sorow, and -meche lamented my lady of Worcet^r, for by ca[_wse her child_] dyd not -store in hyr body, and my wyf sayd what shuld [_be the cawse, she_] -sayd for the sorow she toke for me: and then she sayd M. K[_ingston, -shall I dy_] with yowt just^s; & I sayd, the porest sugett the kyng -[_hath had justis, and_] ther with she lawed. All thys sayings was -yester ny[_ght_] . . . . . . . . & thys moryng dyd talke with mestrys -Cosȳ[217], [_and said that Nor_]res dyd say on Sunday last unto the -quenes amn[_er, that he wold sw_]ere for the quene that she was a gud -woman. [_And then sayd Mrs._] Cosyn, Madam, why shuld ther be hony -seche maters [_spoken of? Mary_,] sayd she, I bad hym do so, for I -asked hym why he [_went nat thorough with_] hys maryage? and he made -ansur he wold tary [_a time. Then said she, you_] loke for ded mens -showys; for yf owth cam[_e to the king but good_,] you wold loke to -have me; and he sayd, yf he [_should have ony soche thought_,] he -wold hys hed war of; and then she sayd, [_she could undo him if she -wold_,] and ther with thay fell yowt. Bot [_she said, she more feared -Weston; for_] on Wysson Monday ^{Twysday} last [_Weston told he_]r that -Nores cam more u[_nto her chawmbre for her then for M_]age[218], and -further . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wher I -was commaunded to charge the gentlewemen that y gyf thaye atende apon -the quene, that ys to say, thay shuld have now commynycaseon with hyr, -in lese[219] my wyf ware present, and so I dyd hit, notwithstaundyng it -canot be; for my lady Bolen and mestrys Cosyn lyes on the quenes palet, -and I and my wyf at the dore with yowt, so at[4] thay most nedes talke -at[220] be without; bot I have every thyng told me by mestrys Cosyn -that she thynks met for mee to knowe, and tother ij gentlewemen lyes -with yowt me, and as I may knowe [_the_] kings plesur in the premysses -I shall folow. From the Towre this mo . . . - -S^r. syns the makyng of thys letter the quene spake of West[_on[221] -that she_] had spoke to hym by cause he dyd love hyr kynswoma[_n Mrs. -Skelton and that s_]he sayd he loved not hys wyf; and he made anser to -hyr [_again that he_] loved won in hyr howse bettr then them bothe[; -_she asked him who is that? to which he answered_] that it ys your -self; and then she defyed hym. - - WILL[=M] KYNG[_STON_] - - -LETTER II. - -_Sir William Kingston to Secretary Cromwell, on Queen Anne's behaviour -in Prison._ - -[MS. COTTON, OTHO C. X. fol. 222.] - -After your departyng yesterday, Greneway gentilman ysshar cam to me, -& . . . M. Caro and Mast^r Bryan commanded hym in the kyngs name to my -[_Lord of_] - -Rotchfort from my lady hys wyf, and the message was now -more . . . . . se how he dyd; and also she wold humly sut unto the -kyngs hy[_nes_] . . . . for hyr husband; and so he gaf hyr thanks, -and desyred me to know [_at what_] tyme he shuld cum affore the kyngs -counsell, for I thynk I s[_hall not_] cum forthe tyll I cum to my -jogement, wepyng very . . . . . . . . I departed from hym, and when -I cam to the chambr the [_quene heard_] of me and sent for me, and -sayde I here say my lord my [_brother is_] here; it ys trowth, sayd -I; I am very glad, said sh[_e that we_] bothe be so ny together; -and I showed hyr here wase . . . . Weston and Brerton, and she made -very gud countenans . . . . I also sayd, M. Page and Wyet wase mo, -then she sayd he ha . . . . on hys fyst tother day and ye here now -bot ma . . . . . . I shall desyre you to bayre a letter from me [_to -Master_] Secretory; and then I sayd, madam, tell it me by [_word of -mouth & I_] will do it, and so gaf me thanks saying, I ha[_ve moche -marvell_] that the kyng's counsell comes not to me; and thys [_same -day she_] sayd we shuld have now rayne tyll she ware [_delivered owt_] -of the Towre. I pray you it may be shortly by [_cawse of the_] fayre -wether. You know what I mayne. The quen[_e sayd this_] nyght that the -kyng wyst what he dyd wh[_an he put soche_] ij abowt hyr as my lady -Boleyn and Mestres [_Cosyns, for_] thay cowd tell hyr now thyng of my -[_lord her father nor_] nothyng ellys, bot she defyed them all. B[_ot -upon this my lady Bolen_] sayd to hyr, seche desyre as you heve ha[_d -to soche tales_] hase browthe you to thys. And then sayd [_Mrs. Stoner, -Marke_] ys the worst cheryssht of heny m[_an in the howse, for he_] -wayres yernes, she sayd that was [_becaws he was no_] gentleman. Bot he -wase never in m[_y chamb^r but at Winchestr, and_] ther she sent for -hym to ple[_y on the virginals, for there my_] logyng was [_above the -kings_] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -. . . . . . . . . . . . for I never spake with hym syns, bot apon -Saterday before May day, and then I fond hym standyng in the ronde -wyndo in my chambr of presens, and I asked why he wase so sad, and -he ansured and sayd it was now mater, and then she sayd, you may not -loke to have me speke to you as I shuld do to anobull man, by cause -you be aninferer persson. No, no, madam, aloke sufficed me; and thus -far you well . . [_s_]he hathe asked my wyf whether heny body maks -thayr bed . . . . [_m_]y wyf ansured and sayd, nay, I warant you, then -she say . . . . . . . y myght make baletts Well now bot ther ys non -bet . . . . . . . . d that can do it, yese sayd my wyf master Wyett -by . . . sayed trew. - -. . . . my lord my brod' will dy.} - . . . . ne I am sur thys was as } WILL[=M] KYNGSTON. -. . . tt downe to den^r thys day.} - -. . . . . thys day at diner I sent M. Nores hys diner & sent -hym . . . . . . . . a knave to hys prest that wayted apon hym -withe . . . . . . . . . . . t unto hym, and he ansured hym -agayn . . . . . . . . . . . . ny thyng of my confession he ys worthye -to have . . . . . . . hyt I defy hym; and also he desyreth to -hav . . . . . . . . . [_ha_]lf anowre yf it may be the kyngs plesur . - - WILL[=M] KYNG[STON.] - - -LETTER III. - -_Sir William Kyngston to Secretary Cromwell, with further details of -the Queen's conduct._ - -[MS. COTTON, OTHO C. X. fol. 224 b.] - - S^R. - -The quene hathe meche desyred to have here in the closet the -sacarments, & also hyr amner who she supposeth to be Devet; for won -owre she ys determyned to dy, and the next owre meche contrary to that. -Yesterday after your departyng I sent for my wyf, & also for mestrys -Cossyn to know how the[222] had done that day, they sayd she had bene -very mery and made agret dyner, and yet sone after she called for hyr -supper, havyng marvell wher I was all day; and after supper she sent -for me, and at my commyng she sayd, "Wher have you bene all day," and -I mad ansure I had bene with prysoners, "so," she sayd, "I thowth I -hard M. Tresur[_er_,"] I ansured he was not here; then she be gan talke -and sayd I was creuely handeled ... a Grēweche with the kyngs counsell -with my lord of Norfolke that he sayd, [_Tut, tut, tut_,] and shakyng -hys hed iij or iiij tymes, and as for Master Tresurer he was in the -[_Forest of Windsor_.] You know what she meynes by that, and named M^r. -Controler to be avery [_gentleman_] ... she to be a quene and crevely -handeled as was never sene; bot I [_think the king_] dose it to prove -me, and dyd lawth with all and was very mery, and th[_en she said I -shall have just_]ists; and then I sayde have now dowt ther[_in_]; then -she sayd yf hony man [_accuse me I can say bot n_]ay, & thay can bring -now wytnes, and she had talked with the gentell[_wemen_] ... sayd I -knew at Marks commyng to the Towre that nyght I reysayved ... at it -was x. of the cloke or he ware well loged, and then she sayd ... knew -of Nores goyng to the Towre, and then she sayd I had ... next yf it -had bene leyd she had wone, and then she sayd I w[_old God I had m_]y -bysshoppys for thay wold all go to the kyng for me, for I thy[_nke -the most part of_] Yngland prays for me, and yf I dy you shall se the -grette[_st punishment for m_]e withyn thys vij yere that ever cam to -Yngland, & then sh[_e sayd I shal be in heaven, for_] I have done mony -gud dedys in my days, bot zit I thynke [_moche onkindnes yn the_] kyng -to put seche abowt me as I never loved: I showed [_her that the king -toke theym_] to be honest and gud wemen, bot I wold have had [_of myn -owne prevy chambre_,] weche I favor most &c. - - WILL[=M] KYNGST[_ON_.] - - To Mast^r Seretory. - - -LETTER IV. - - _Edward Baynton to the Treasurer: declaring that only one person, - named Mark, will confess any thing against Queen Anne._ - -[MS. COTTON, OTHO C. X. fol. 209. b.] - - M^R THEASURER, - -This shalbe to advertyse yow that here is myche communycacion that -noman will confesse any thyng agaynst her, but allonly Marke of any -actuell thynge. Wherfore (in my folishe conceyte) it shulde myche -toche the kings hono^r if it shulde no farther appeere. And I cannot -beleve but that the other two bee as f[_ully_] culpapull as ever was -hee. And I thynke assur[_edly_] the on kepith the others councell. As -many .... conjectures in my mynde causeth me to thynk ... specially -of the communycacion that was last bet[_wene_] the quene and Master -Norres. M^r. Aumener [_tolde_] me as I wolde I myght speke with M^r. -S[_ecretorie_] and yow together more playnely expresse my ... yf case -be that they have confessyd like wret ... all thyngs as they shulde do -than my n....... at apoynte. I have mewsed myche at ...... of mastres -Margery whiche hath used her .... strangely toward me of late, being -her fry[_nde_] as I have ben. But no dowte it cann[_ot be_] but that -she must be of councell therewith, [_there_] hath ben great fryndeship -betwene the q[_ene and_] her of late. I here farther that the que[_ne_] -standith styfly in her opynyon that she wo...... whiche I thynke is in -the trust that she . ... ther two. But if yo^r busynes be suche .. -.... not com, I wolde gladly com and wayte . ...... ke it requysyte. -From Grenewy[_che_] ....... mornyng. - - EDWARD..... - - -LETTER V. - - _Sir William Kyngston to Secretary Cromwell, May 16^{th}. 1536, upon - the preparations for the execution of my Lord Rochford and Queen Anne._ - -[HARL. MS. 283. fol. 134. _Orig._] - - SIR, - -Thys day I was with the kyng's grace and declared the petysyons of -my Lord of Rochford, wherin I was answred. Sir, the sayd lord meche -desyreth to speke with you, weche towchet hys consyens meche as he -sayth, wherin I pray you I may know your plesur, for by cause of my -promysse made unto my sayd lord to do the same, and also I shall desyre -you further to know the kyngs plesur towchyng the quene, as well for -her comfyt as for the preparacion of skefolds and hother necessarys -consernyng. The kyng's grace showed me that my lord of Cantorbury shuld -be hyr confessar, and was here thys day with the quene; & not[223] -in that mater, sir, the tyme ys short, for the kyng supposeth the -gentelmen to dy to morow, and my lord of Rocheford with the reysydew -of gentelmen, & as zit with yowt [_confession_] weche I loke for, bot -I have told my lord of Rocheford that he be in aredynes to morow to -sulfur execusyon, and so he accepse[224] it very well, and will do his -best to be redy, Notwithstandyng he wold have reysayved hys ryghts, -weche hathe not bene used and in especiall here. Sir, I shall desyre -you at[225] we here may know the kyngs plesur here as shortly as may -be, at[225] we here may prepayre for the same weche[226] ys necessary, -for the same we here have now may for to do execusyon. Sir, I pray you -have gud rymembrance in all thys for hus[227] to do, for we shalbe redy -al ways to our knowlage. Zit thys day at dyner the quene sayd at[225] -she shuld go to Anvures[228] & ys in hope of lyf, and thus far you well. - - WILLM KYNGSTON. - - -LETTER VI. - -_Sir William Kingston to Lord Cromwell, apparently May 18^{th} 1536._ - -[MS. COTTON, OTHO C. X. fol. 223.] - - SYR, - -Thys shalbe to advertyse you I have resayved your lett^r wherin yo[_u -wolde_] have strangerys conveyed yowt of the Towre and so thay be by -the [_meanis_] of Richard Gressum, & Will-m Loke, & Wythepoll, bot the -[=n]mbr[229] of stra[_ngers past_] not XXX. and not mony; Hothe and -the inbassit^r of the emperor had a [_servaunt_] ther and honestly put -yowt. S^r yf we have not an owre[230] serten [_as it may_] be knowen -in London, I thynke he[_re_] wilbe bot few and I thynk [_a resonable_] -humbur[231] ware bes: for I suppose she wyll declare hyr self to b[_e -a good_] woman for all men bot for the kyng at the o^r of hyr de[_th. -For thys_] mornyng she sent for me that I myght be with hyr at [_soche -tyme_] asshe reysayved the gud lord to the in tent I shuld here by[_r -speke as_] towchyng her innosensy alway to be clere. & in the writy[_ng -of this_] she sent for me, and at my commyng she sayd, M. Kyngston, I -he[_ar saye I shall_] not dy affore none, & I am very sory ther fore; -for I thowth [_than to_] be dede [_an_]d past my payne. I told hyr it -shuld be now payne it w[_as so sottell. And then she said I_] hard say -the execut^r. was very gud, and I have a ly[_ttle necke, and put he_]r -hand abowt it lawyng hartely. - -I have sen[_e mony men_ &] also wemen executed and at they have bene in -gre[_te sorrowe, and to my knowle_]ge thys lady hathe meche joye and -plesur in dethe. [_Sir, hyr Amner is conti_]newally with hyr, and hasse -byne syns ij of the clo[_cke after midnight. This is_] the effect of -hony thyng that ys here at [_thys tyme, and thus fare yow_] well. - - Your . . . . . . - - WILL[=M] KYNG[_STON_.] - -LETTER VII. - - _From the Earl of Northumberland, addressed "To his beloved Cosyn - Thomas Arundel, one of the Gentlemen of my Lord Legates prevy - chambre." It was written soon after the death of the Earl's father, in - 1527. Referred to at p. 339 of Wolsey's life._ - -[FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.] - -Bedfellow, after my most harte recommendacion: Thys Monday the iijd -off August I resevyd by my servaunt, Letters from yow beryng datt the -XX^{th} day off July, deliveryd unto hym the sayme day at the kyngs -town of Newcastell; wher in I do perseayff my lord Cardenalls pleasour -ys to have such boks as was in the Chapell of my lat lord and ffayther -(wos soll Jhu pardon). To the accomplyshment of which at your desyer -I am confformable, notwithstanding I trust to be able ons to set up a -chapel off myne owne. But I pray God he may look better upon me than -he doth. But me thynk I have lost very moch, ponderyng yt ys no better -regardyd; the occasion wher off he shall persayff. - -Fyrst, the long lyeng of my tressorer[232], with hys very hasty and -unkynd words unto hym, not on my parte deserved. - -Also the news off Mr. Manyng, the which ys blon obroud over all -Yorksher; that neyther by the kyng[233], nor by my lord cardenall am I -regardyd; And that he wyll tell me at my metyng with hym, when I come -unto Yorksher; which shall be within thys month, God wyllyng: but I -ffer[234] my words to M^r Manyng shall displeas my lord; for I will be -no ward. - -Also, bedfellow, the payns I tayk and have taykyn sens my comyng -hether, are not better regardyd; but by a fflatteryng Byshope of -Carel[235] and that fals Worm[236] shall be broth[237] to the messery -and carffulness that I am in; and in such slanders, that now and my -lord cardenal wold, he cannot bryng me howth[238] thereof. - - * * * * * - -I shall with all sped send up your lettrs with the books unto my lord's -grace, as to say iiij Anteffonars[239], such as I thynk were not seen a -gret wyll; v Gralls; an Ordeorly; a Manuall; viij^{th} Proffessioners, -And ffor all the ressidew, they not worth the sending, nor ever was -occupyd in my lords chapel. And also I shall wryt at thys time as ye -have wylled me. - -Yff my lord's grace wyll be so good Lord unto me, as to gyf me -lychens[240] to put Wyll^m Worme within a castell of myn off Anwyk in -assurty, unto the tyme he have accomptyd ffor more money rec^d. than -ever I rec^d., I shall gyff hys grace ij C^{li}. and a benefiss off -a C. worth unto hys colleyg, with such other thyngs resserved as his -[grace] shall desyre; but unto such tyme as myne Awdytors hayth takyn -accompt off him: wher in good bedfellow do your best, ffor els he shall -put us to send myselff, as at owr metyng I shall show yow. - -And also gyff secuer credens unto this berer, whom I assur yow I have -ffonddon a marvellous honest man, as ever I ffownd in my lyff. In hast -at my monestary of Hul Park the iij^d. day of August. In the owne hand -off - - Yours ever assured, - - H. NORTHUMBERLAND. - - To my bedfellow Arundel. - - -LETTER VIII. - - _The Earl of Northumberland to Cromwell, denying any contract or - promise of marriage between Anne Bullen and himself._ - -[ORIGINAL, COTT. LIB. OTHO C. 10.] - -M^R SECRETARY, This shall be to signifie unto you that I perceive by -Sir Raynold Carnaby, that there is supposed a precontract between the -queen and me; wherupon I was not only heretofore examined upon my oath -before the Archbishopps of Canterbury and York, but also received the -blessed sacrament upon the same before the Duke of Norfolk, and other -the king's highnes' council learned in the spiritual law; assuring -you M^r Secretary, by the said oath, and blessed body which affore I -received, and hereafter intend to receive, that the same may be to my -damnation, if ever there were any contracte or promise of marriage -between her and me. At Newington Green, the xiijth day of Maye, in -the 28^{th} year of the reigne of our soveraigne lord King Henry the -VIII^{th}. - - Your assured, - - NORTHUMBERLAND. - - -LETTER IX. - -_Queen Catherine of Arragon and King Henry VIII^{th} to Cardinal -Wolsey, a joint letter, 1527._ - -[MS. COTTON, VITELL. B. XII. fol. 4.] - - Mr. Ellis has printed this letter in its mutilated condition; I have - ventured to supply the _lacunæ_ from the copy in Burnet's History of - the Reformation, vol. i. p. 55. Burnet obtained his transcript when - it was in a perfect state, but has unaccountably attributed the first - part of the letter to Anne Boleyn. It is however said by Mr. Ellis to - be in the hand-writing of Catherine, and cannot but be considered very - interesting. - -MY LORD, in my moste humblyst wys that my hart can thinke [I _desire -you to pardon_] me that I am so bold to troubyl yow with my sympyl -[& _rude wryteng, estemyng_] yt to prosed from her that is muche -desirus to kno[_we that youer grace does well_.] I paersave be this -berar that you do; the wiche I [_praye God long to continewe_,] as I -am moste bonde to pray, for I do know the g[_reate paines and trowbles -that_] you have taken for me bothe day and nyght [_is never like to -be recompensyd on_] my part, but allonly in loveng you next on to the -[_kinges grace above all_] creatures leveng; and I do not dought but -the [_dayly proffes of my deades_] shall manefestly declaer and aferme -my wryte[_ng to be trewe, and I do_] truste you do thynke the same. -My lord, I do assure you I do long to heare from you som newes of the -legat, for I do hope and [_they come from you they_] shall be very -good, and I am seur that you deseyre [_it as moche as I_] and more, -and ytt waer possibel as I knowe ytt ys not: And thus remaineing in a -stedfast hope I make anend of my letter, [_writtyn with the hande_] of -her that is moste bounde to be---- - - ➔_Here Queen Catherine's part ends, the rest is in the hand-writing of - Henry the Eighth._ - -The wrytter of thys letter wolde not cease tyll she had [_caused me -likewise_] to set to my hand desyryng yow thowgh it be short to t[_ake -it in good part_.] I ensure yow ther is nother of us but that grettly -desyry[_th to see you, and_] muche more rejoyse to heare that you have -scapyd thys plage [_so well, trustyng_] the fury thereof to be passyd, -specially with them that k[_epyth good diett_] as I trust you doo. The -not heryng of the legates arywall [_in Franse causeth_] us sumwhat to -muse; nottwithstandyng we trust by your dily[_gens and vigilancy_] -(with the assystence of Almyghty God) shortly to be easyd owght [_of -that trouble_.] No more to yow at thys tyme but that I pray God send -yow [_as good health_] and prosperity as the wryters wolde. - - By your lovyng so[_veraign & frende_] - - HENR[_Y R._] - - -LETTER X. - -_Anne Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey._ - -[FIDDES' COLLECTIONS, p. 256.] - -MY LORD, after my most humble recommendations this shall be to gyve -unto your grace as I am most bownd my humble thanks for the gret payn -& travelle that your grace doth take in steudyeng by your wysdome and -gret dylygens how to bryng to pas honerably the gretyst welth that is -possyble to come to any creator lyving, and in especyall remembryng -howe wretchyd and unworthy I am in comparyng to his hyghnes. And for -you I do know my selfe never to have deservyd by my desertys that -you shuld take this gret payn for me, yet dayly of your goodnes I do -perceyve by all my frends, and though that I had nott knowlege by them -the dayly proffe of your deds doth declare your words and wrytyng -toward me to be trewe; nowe good my Lord your dyscressyon may consyder -as yet how lytle it is in my power to recompence you but all onely wyth -my good wyl, the whiche I assewer you that after this matter is brought -to pas you shall fynd me as I am: bownde in the mean tym to owe you my -servyse, and then looke what a thyng in thys woreld I can immagen to -do you pleasor in, you shall fynd me the gladyst woman in the woreld -to do yt, and next unto the kyngs grace of one thyng I make you full -promes to be assewryd to have yt and that is my harty love unfaynydly -deweryng my lyf, and beying fully determynd with Godds grace never to -change thys porpos, I make an end of thys my reude and trewe meanyd -letter, praying ower Lord to send you moche increase of honer with long -lyfe. Wrytten with the hand of her that besechys your grace to except -this letter as prosydyng from one that is most bownde to be - - Your humble and - - obedient servante, - - ANNE BOLEYN. - - -LETTER XI. - -_Anne Boleyn to Cardinal Wolsey._ - -FROM FIDDES' COLLECTIONS, p. 255. - -_Collated with the Original in the Cottonian Collection. Brit. Mus. -Otho_ C. X. fol. 218. - -MY LORD, in my most humblyst wyse that my powuer hart can thynke I do -thanke your grace for your kind letter, and for youer rych and goodly -present, the whyche I shall never be able to desarve wyth owt your gret -helpe, of the whyche I have hetherto hade so grete plente that all the -dayes of my lyfe I ame moaste bownd of all creators next the kyngs -grace to love and serve your grace, of the whyche I besyche you never -to dowte that ever I shalle vary frome this thought as long as ony -brethe is in my body. And as tochyng your grace's troble with the swet -I thanke ower Lord that them that I desyerd and prayed for ar scapyd, -and that is the kyng and you. Not doughthyng bot that God has preservyd -you bothe for grete cawsys knowen allonly to his hygh wysdome. And as -for the commyng of the legate I desyer that moche; and yf it be Goddis -pleasor I pray him to send this matter shortly to a good ende; and then -I trust my lord to recompense part of your grete panys, the whych I -must requyer you in the meane tyme to excepte my good wyll in the stede -of the power, the whyche must prosede partly from you as ower Lourd -knoweth to whome I be syche to sende you longe lyfe with continewance -in honor. Wrytten wyth the hande of her that is most bound to be - - Your humble and - - obedyent servante, - - ANNE BOLEYN. - - -LETTER XII. - -_Cardinal Wolsey in his Distress to Thomas Cromwell._ - -MS. COTTON. VESP. F. XIII. fol. 76. - -_From Fiddes' Collections, p. 256. Collated with the Original._ - - MYN OWNE ENTERLY BELOVYD CROMWELL, - -I beseche you as ye love me and wyl evyr do any thyng for me, repare -hyther thys day as sone as the parlement ys brokyn up, leyng aparte -all thyngs for that tyme; for I wold nat onely commynycat thyngs unto -yow wherin for my comfort & relief I wold have your good sad, dyscret -advyse & counsell, but also opon the same commytt sertyng thyngs -requyryng expedicion to yow, on my behalf to be solycytyd: this I pray -you therfor, to hast your commyng hyther assafore, with owt omyttyng -so to do, as ye tendyr my socor, reliff & comfort, and quyetnes of -mynde. And thus fare ye well: from Asher, in hast, thys Satyrday in the -mornyng, with the rude hande & sorrowful hert of your assuryd lover - - T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR. - -I have also serteyn thyngs consernyng yowr sylf wych I am suere ye -wolbe glad to here & knowe: fayle not therfore to be here thys nygth, -ye may retorne early in the mornyng ageyn yf nede shul so requyre. _Et -iterum vale._ - -Mr. Augusteyn[241] shewyd me how ye had wryttyn onto me a lettre wherin -ye shuld adv^rtyse of the comyng hyther of the Duke of Norfolke: I -assure you ther cam to my hands no suche lettre. - - -LETTER XIII. - -_From Wolsey to Dr. Stephen Gardener, Secretary of State._ - - Communicated to Mr. Grove by Mr. Littleton, afterwards Lord Littleton, - who possessed the original. It is now in the _Ashmole Museum_ at - Oxford. - - MY OWNE GOODE MASTYR SECRETARY, - -Goyng this day out of my pue to sey masse, your lettres datyd -yesternygth at London wer delyveryd unto me; by the contynue wherof I -undyrstand, that the kyng's hyhnes, of hys excellent goodnes & cheryte -ys contentyd, that I shall injoy & have the admynystracion of Yorke -merly, with the gyftts of the promocyons spiritual & temporall of the -same, reservyd onely onto his nobyll grace the gyft of v or vj of the -best promocions. And that hys pleasure ys, I shal leve Wynchester -& Saynt Albons. As hereonto Mr. Secretary, I can nat expresse howe -moche I am bowndyn to the kyng's royal majeste for thys hys gret & -bowntawse liberalyte, reputyng the same to be moche more then I shal -ever be abyl to deserve. Howbeyt yf hys majeste, consyderyng the short -& lyttyl tyme that I shal lyve here in thys world, by the reason of -such hevynes as I have conceyved in my hert, with the ruinyuose of the -olde howsys & the decay of the said archbyshopryck at the best to the -sum of viii C Marcke yearly, by the reason of the act passyd for Fynys -of Testaments, wth also myn long paynful servys and poore degre; and -for the declaration of hys grace's excellent cheryte, yf hys hyhnes be -myndyd I shal leve Wynchester & Saynt Albon's, wych I supposyd, when -I maid my submyssyon, not offendying in my trewth towards hys royal -parson, dygnyte, or majeste royal, I should not now have desyrvyd to -have left; and much the more knowyng his grace's excellent propensyon -to pyte & mercy, & rememberyng the francke departyng with of all that -I had in thys world, that I may have summe convenyent pension reservyd -unto me, suche as the kyng's hyhnes of hys nobyll charite shal thynke -mete, so orderyng his that shal succede and my lyvyng, that the same -may be of lyck valew yeerly and exstent. Whereat my trust ys, and my -herte so gevyth me, that hys majeste wold make no dyffyculte, yf yt -may lycke yow friendly to propone the same, assuryng yow that I desyre -not thys for any mynde (God ys my judge), that I have to accumulate -good, or desyre that I have to the muke of world; for, God be thankyd, -at thys ower I set no more by the ryches & promocyons of the world, -then by the roshe undyr my fote; but onely for the declaration of the -kyng's favor & hyhe cheryte, & to have wherewith to do good dedys, & -to helpe my poore servants and kynnysfolks. And furthermore that yt -wold please the kyng's excellent goodnes by your freindly medyacion, -consyderyng how slendyrly I am furnyshyed in my howse, nowe specially -that the apparell of Wynchester and Saynt Albons shal be takyn from me, -to geve and appoynt unto me a convenyent fernyture for the same, _non -ad pompam, sed necessariam honestatem_. And yf I may have the free gyft -and dysposycion of the benefyces, yt shalbe gretly to my comfort. And -yet when any of the v or vi pryncypall shal fortune to be voyd, the -kyng's grace being myndyd to have any of them, hys hyhnes shalbe as -sure of the same, as though they wer reservyd. And thus by his nobyl & -mercyful goodnes delyvered owt of extreme calamite, & restoryd to a -newe fredome, I shal, with God's mercy & help, so ordyr my lyff, that I -trust hys majeste shal take special comfort therin, & be pleasyd with -the same: _Spero quod hoc, quæ peto, non videbitur magna_. Howbeyt I -most humbly submyt and referre all my petytions, _immo ipsam vitam_, -to his gracyous ordynance & pleasure, praying yow to declare & sygnify -the same, supplying myn indysposycion & lacke of wyt, conceyvyd by -reason of my extreme sorowe & hevynes, that the same may be to the -kyng's contentacion, wherin I had lever be ded then to offende in word, -thowght, or dede, and as towching the grantyng of the fee of one c li. -for Mr. Nores duryng hys lyff for hys good servys done unto the kyng's -hyhnes, for the wych I have always lovyd him, and for the singuler -good hert and mynde, that I knowe he hath alweys borne unto me, I am -content to make out my grawnte upon the same, ye & it wol please the -kyng to inlarge it one c. li. more; and semblably cause Mr. Thesauror -hath the kepyng of the kyng's game nygh to Fernam, I wold gladly, if -it may stand with the kyng's pleasure, grawnte unto hym the reversion -of such thinges as the Lord Sands hath there, with the ampliacon of -the fee above that wych is oldely accustomyd, to the sum of xl. li. -by the yeere; & also I wold gladly geve to Mr. Comptroller a lycke -fee, & to Mr. Russel, another of xx. li. by the yeere. Remyttyng thys -and all other my sutes to the kyng's hyhnes pleasure, mercy, pity, & -compassion, moste holly. Beseechyng hys Hyhnes so nowe gracyously to -ordyr me, that I may from hensforth serve God quietly & with repose -of mynd, & pray as I am most bowndyn, for the conservacyon & increase -of his most nobyll and royal astate. And thus with my dayly prayer I -byd yow farewell. From Asher hastely with the rude hand and moste hevy -herte of - - Yowr assuryd frende & bedysman, - - T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR. - - -LETTER XIV. - -_Cardinal Wolsey to Dr. Stephen Gardener._ - -This Letter was also communicated to Mr. Grove by Mr. Littleton. It is -now in the Ashmole Museum at Oxford. - - MY OWNE GOODE MASTYR SECRETARY, - -Aftyr my moste herty commendacions I pray yow at the reverens of God -to helpe, that expedicion be usyd in my persuts, the delay wherof so -replenyshyth my herte with hevynes, that I can take no reste; nat -for any vayne fere, but onely for the miserable condycion, that I am -presently yn, and lyclyhod to contynue yn the same, onles that yow, -in whom ys myn assuryd truste, do help & releve me therin; For fyrst, -contynuyng here in this mowest & corrupt ayer, beyng enteryd into -the passyon of the dropsy. _Cum prostatione appetitus et continuo -insomnio._ I cannat lyve: Wherfor of necessyte I must be removyd -to some other dryer ayer and place, where I may have comodyte of -physycyans. Secondly, havyng but Yorke, wych is now decayd, by viii C. -li. by the yeere, I cannot tell how to lyve, & kepe the poore nombyr of -folks wych I nowe have, my howsys ther be in decay, and of evry thyng -mete for howssold onprovydyd and furnyshyd. I have non apparell for my -howsys ther, nor money to bring me thether, nor to lyve wyth tyl the -propysse tyme of the yeere shall come to remove thether. Thes thyngs -consyderyd, Mr. Secretary, must nedys make me yn agony and hevynes, -myn age therwith & sycknes consyderyd, alas Mr. Secretary, ye with -other my lordys shewyd me, that I shuld otherwyse be furnyshyd & seyn -unto, ye knowe in your lernyng & consyens, whether I shuld forfet my -spiritualties of Wynchester or no. Alas! the qualytes of myn offencys -consyderyd, with the gret punishment & losse of goodes that I have -sustaynyd, owt to move petyfull hertys; and the moste nobyl kyng, to -whom yf yt wold please yow of your cherytable goodnes to shewe the -premyses aftyr your accustomable wysdome & dexteryte, yt ys not to -be dowbtyd, but his highnes wold have consyderacyon & compassyon, -aggmentyng my lyvyng, & appoyntyng such thyngs as shuld be convenient -for my furniture, wych to do shalbe to the kyng's high honor, meryte, -& dyscharge of consyens, & to yow gret prayse for the bryngyng of the -same to passe for your olde brynger up and lovying frende. Thys kyndnes -exibite from the kyng's hyghnes shal prolong my lyff for some lytyl -whyl, thow yt shall nat be long, by the meane whereof hys grace shal -take profygtt, & by my deth non. What ys yt to hys hyhnes to give some -convenyent porcion owt of Wynchester, & Seynt Albons, hys grace takyng -with my herty good wyl the resydew. Remember, good Mr. Secretary, my -poore degre, & what servys I have done, and how nowe approchyng to -deth, I must begyn the world ageyn. I besech you therfore, movyd with -pity and compassyon soker me in thys my calamyte, and to your power -wych I knowe ys gret, releve me; and I wyth all myn shal not onely -ascrybe thys my relef unto yow, but also praye to God for the increase -of your honor, & as my poore shal increase, so I shal not fayle to -requyte your kyndnes. Wryttyn hastely at Asher, with the rude and -shackyng hand of - - Your dayly bedysman, - - And assuryd frend, - - T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR. - - To the ryght honorable and my assuryd frende Mastyr Secretary. - - -LETTER XV. - -_Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener_, - -Desiring him to write to him and give him an account of the king's -intentions with regard to him. (_From Strype._) - -Myn own good mastyr secretary, albeit I am in such altiration and -indisposition of my hede & body, by the meansse of my dayly sorowe & -hevynesse, that I am fen omit to writ any long l[=re]s. Yet my trustyng -frend, Thomas Crowmwel, retornyng & reparyng unto yow, I cowde nat -forbere, but brively to put yow in remembrance: how that aftyr the -consultation takyn by the kyngs hyghnes opon myn orderyng, which ye -supposyd shulde be on Sunday was sevennyght, ye wolde not fayle to -advertyse me at the length of the specialties thereof. Of the [=w]ch to -here & have knowleg, I have & dayly do looke for. I pray yow therefore -at the reverens of God, & of this holy tyme, & as ye love & tendyr my -poore lyf, do so moche as to wrytt onto me your seyd l[=re]s: wherby -I may take some cumfort & rest: nat dowting but your hert is so gentyl -& pityful, that havyng knowleg in what agony I am yn, ye wole take the -payne to send onto me your seyd consollatory l[=re]s. Wherby ye shal -nat onely deserve toward God, but also bynde me to be as I am, your -contynual bedysman. Wrytten this mornyng at Asher, with the rude hand -and sorroweful hert of yours with hert and prayer. - - T. CARDINALIS EBOR. Miserrimus. - - To the right honorable Mr. Secretary. - - -LETTER XVI. - -_Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener._ - -To draw up his pardon. (_From Strype._) - - MYN OWNE GOOD MASTYR SECRETARY, - -Aftyr my moste herty recommendations, with lycke thanks for your -goodnes towards me, thes shal be to advertyse yow that I have beyn -informyd by my trusty frend Thomas Cromwell that ye have signifyed onto -hym to my syngular consolation how that the kynges highnes movyd with -pety & compassyon, & of hys excellent goodnes & cheryte consyderyng -the lamentable condition & stat that I stand yn, hath wyllyd yow -with other lords and mastyrs of hys honorable cownsell, to intende -to the perfyghtyng & absolvyng without further tract or delay of myn -end & appoyntement; and that my pardon shulde be made in the moste -ample forme that my counsell cowde devise. For thys the kyngs moste -gracyous remembrance, procedyng of hymself, I accompt my sylf not onely -moste bowndyn to serve & pray for the preservation of hys moste royal -majestie, but also thancke God that ye have occasion given onto you to -be a sollycyter & setter forth of such thynges as do & shall conserve -my seyde ende. In the makyng & compowndyng wherof myn assured truste -is, that ye wole shewe the love & affection wych ye have & bere towards -me, your olde lover & frende: so declaryng your self therin, that the -worlde may parceyve that by your good meanys the kyng ys the bettyr -goode lorde unto me; & that nowe newly in maner comyng to the world, -ther maye be such respect had to my poore degree, olde age & longe -contynued servys, as shal be to the kyngs hygh honor & your gret prayse -& laude. Wych ondowtydly shall folowe yf ye optinde yowre benyvolens -towards me, & men perceive that by your wisdome & dexterite I shalbe -relevyd, & in this my calamyte holpen. At the reverens therefore of God -myn owne goode Mr. Secretary, & refugy, nowe set to your hande, that I -may come to a laudable end & repos, seyng that I may be furnyshyd aftyr -such a sorte & maner as I may ende my short tyme & lyff to the honor of -Crystes churche & the prince. And besides my dayly prayer & true hert -I shal so requyte your kyndnes, as ye shall have cause to thyncke the -same to be well imployde, lycke as my seyd trusty frende shall more -amply shewe onto you. To whom yt may please yow to geve firme credens -and lovyng audyens. And I shall pray for the increase of your honour. -Wryttyn at Assher with the tremyllyng hand & hevy hert of your assuryd -lover & bedysman - - T. CARD^{LIS} EBOR. - - To the ryght honorable and my singular good frende Mayster Secretary. - - -LETTER XVII. - -_Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener_, - -Desiring him to favour the cause of the Provost of Beverly, and to -intercede with the king for him and his colleges. (_From Strype._) - - MYNE AWNE GENTIL MAISTER SECRETARY, - -After my mooste herty recommendations, these shal be to thanke you for -the greate humanite, lovyng & gentil recule, that ye have made unto the -poore Provost of Beverly: & specialy, for that ye have in such wise -addressed hym unto the kings highnes presence, that his grace not onely -hath shewed unto hym, that he is his goode & gracious lorde, but also -that it hath pleased hys majeste to admitte & accepte hym as his poore -orator & scholer. Wherby both he & I accompte our selfs so bounden -unto you, that we cannot telle how to requite this your gratitude & -kyndenes; mooste hartely praying you to contynue in your good favour -towards hym, & to take hym & his pore causis into your patrocynye & -protection. And, as myne assured expectation & trust is, to remember -the poor state & condition that I stond in, & to be a meane to the -kyngs highness for my relefe in the same. In doyng wherof ye shal not -onely deserve thanks of God, but also declare to your perpetual laud -and prayse, that ye beyng in auctorite, have not forgoten your olde -maister & frynde. And in the wey of charite, & for the love that ye -bere to virtue, & _ad bona studia_, be meane to the kyngs highnes for -my poore colleges; and specially for the college of Oxford. Suffer not -the things, which by your greate lernyng, studie, counsaile & travaile, -hath bene erected, founden, & with good statutes & ordinances, to -the honour of God, increase of vertue & lernyng established, to be -dissolved or dismembred. Ye do know, no man better, to what use the -monasteries, suppressed by the popis licence, the kyngs consente -concurryng with the same, & a pardon for the premoneri[242], be -converted. It is nat to be doubted, but the kyngs highnes, of his high -vertue & equite, beyng informed how every thing is passed, his mooste -gracious license & consente (as is aforesaid) adhibited therunto, wol -never go aboute to dissolve the said incorporations or bodyes, wherof -so greate benefite & commodite shal insue unto his realme & subjects. -Superfluities, if any such shal be thought & founden, may be resecat; -but to destroy the hole, it were to greate pitie. - -Eftsones therefore, good Maister Secretaire, I beseche you to be good -maister & patrone to the said colleges: "Et non sinas opus manuum -tuarum perire, aut ad nihilum redige." Thus doyng, both I, & they shal -not onely pray for you, but in such wise deserve your paynes, as ye -shal have cause to thinke the same to be wel bestowed & imployed, like -as this present berer shal more at the large shewe unto you. To whom -it may please the same to geve firme credence. And thus mooste hartely -fare ye wel. From Sothewell, the xxiij^{th} day of July. - - Your lovyng frende, - - T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR. - - To the right honorable & my singular good frende M^r Doctor Stephyns, - Secretory to the Kings Highnes. - - -LETTER XVIII. - -_Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener_, - -Desiring his favour in a suit against him for a debt of 700_l._ by one -Strangwish. (_From Strype._) - - MYNE AWNE GOOD MAISTER SECRETARY, - -After my mooste harty recommendations, these shal be to desire, & -mooste effectuelly to pray you to be good maister & friende unto me, -concernyng the uncharitable sute of Strangwishe for vij C li., which -he pretendith that I shulde owe unto hym, for the ward of Bowes. And -albeit there was at his fyrste comyng to my service, by our mutual -consents, a perfecte end made between hym & me for the same, yet nowe -digressyng therfrom, perceyvyng that I am out of favour, destitute of -socour, & in calamite, he not onely newly demaundyth the said vij C li. -but also hath made complaint unto the kyngs highnes, surmittyng, that -I shulde, contrary to justice, deteyne from hym the said vij C li. For -the redresse whereof, it hath pleased the kyngs majeste to direct his -mooste honorable letters unto me; the contents wherof I am sure be nat -unknown unto you. And insuing the purporte therof, & afore the delyvere -of the same thre days by past, notwithstanding my greate necessite -& poverte, onely to be out of his exclamation & inquietnes, I have -written to my trusty friende, M^r Cromwel, to make certeyn reasonable -offres unto hym for that intent and purpose; moost hartely beseching -you to helpe, that upon declaration of such things, as upon my part -shal be signified unto you by the said Maister Cromwell, some such end, -by your friendely dexterite, may bee made betwixt us, as shal accorde -with good congruence, & as I may supporte & be hable (myne other debts -and charges considered) to bere. In the doyng wherof, ye shall bynde me -to be your dayly bedesman, as knoweth God, who alwayes preserve you. -From Sothewell, the xxv^{th} day of August. - - Yours with hert & prayer, - - T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR. - - To my right entierly welbiloved frende M^r Stephyn Gardener, Secretory - to kyngs highnes. - - -LETTER XIX. - -_Lettre de Monsieur de Bellay Evesque de Bayonne à M^r le Grant -Maistre._ De Londres le xvij Oct. 1529. - -[MSS. DE BETHUNE BIBLIOTH. DU ROY, V. 8603. f. 113.] - -MONSEIGNEUR, depuis les lettres du Roy & les aultres vostres que je -pensoye sur l'heure envoyer, cette depesche a estée retardé jusques -à présent, parce qu'il a fallu faire & refaire les lettres que je -vous envoyé tout plein de fois, & pour ce aller & venir souvent, -tant les Ducs mêmes qu'aultres de ce conseil à Windesore, dont toute -à cette heure ils les m'ont envoyées en la forme que verrez par le -double d'iceux. Ils me prient le plus fort du monde de faire qu'on ne -trouve mauvais si en ces expéditions, & mesmement en ce que touche -le principal de la depesche, je ne suis de tout satisfait comme je -vouldroye, & aussi eulx mesmes, s'excusans que leur manière de négocier -envers leur maistre n'est encore bien dressée, mais pour l'advenir -doibvent faire merveilles, & en baillent de si grands asseurances & -si bien jurées, que je ne puis me garder de les croire; je n'ay point -refreschy mes lettres au Roy, car je ne voy point qu'il y en ait -matière. - -Au demourant, j'ay esté voir le Cardinal en ses ennuis, où j'ay trouvé -les plus grand exemple de fortune que on ne scauroit voir, il m'a -remonstré son cas en la plus mauvaise rhétorique que je viz jamais, -car cueur & parolle luy failloient entièrement; il a bien plouré & -prié que le Roy & Madame voulsissent avoir pitié de luy, s'ils avoyent -trouvé qu'il leur eust guardé promesse de leur estre bon serviteur -autant que son honneur & povoir se y est peu estendre, mais il me à -la fin laissé sans me pouvoir dire autre chose qui vallist mieux que -son visage, qui est bien descheu de la moitié de juste pris: & vous -promets, Monseigneur, que sa fortune est telle que ses ennemis, encore -qu'ils soyent Angloys, ne se scauroyent guarder d'en avoir pitié, ce -nonobstant ne le laisseront de le poursuivre jusques au bout, & ne -voyt de moyen de son salut, aussi ne fais-je sinon qu'il plaise au -Roy & à Madame de l'ayder. De légation, de sceau d'auctorité, de -crédit il n'en demande point, il est prest de laisser tout jusques à -la chemise, & que on le laisse vivre en ung hermitage, ne le tenant -ce Roy en sa mal grâce: Je l'ay reconforté au mieulx que j'ay peu, -mais je n'y ay sceu faire grant chose: Depuis par un en qui il se -fie, il m'a mandé ce qu'il vouldroit qu'on feist pour luy de la plus -grand partie, luy voyant qu'il ne touchoit au bien des affaires du -Roy qu'on luy accordast la plus raisonnable chose qui demande, c'est -que le Roy escripvist à ce Roy qu'il est un grand bruit de par delà -qu'il l'ait recullé d'autour de luy, & fort eslongé de la bonne grâce, -en sorte qu'on dict qu'il doibve estre destruict, ce que ne pense -totalement estre comme on le dict; toutefois pour la bonne fraternité, -qu'ils ont ensemble, & si grant communication de tous leurs plus grans -affaires, l'a bien voulu prier de y avoir égard, affin qu'il n'en -entre souldainement quelque mauvaise fantasie envers ceulx qui ont -veu qu'en si grant solemnité & auctorité, il ait servy d'instrument -en cette perpétuelle amitié tant renommée par toute la Chrétienté; & -que si d'adventure il estoit entré en quelque malcontentement de luy, -il veüille ung peu modérer son affection, comme il est bien sûr que -luy vouldront conseiller ceulx qui sont autour de sa personne & au -maniement de ses plus grandes affaires. Voilà, Monseigneur, la plus -raisonable de toutes ses demandes, en laquelle ne me veulx ingérer de -dire mon advis, si diray-je bien qu'il n'y a personne ici qui deust -prendre à mal telle lettre; & mesment là où ils considéreront, comme de -facit ils font, qu'il sont forcés de prendre & tenir plus que jamais -votre party, & d'advantage asseureray bien que la plus grant prinse -qu'ils ayent peû avoir suz luy du commencement, & qui plus leur a -servi à le brouiller envers le Roy, a esté qu'il déclara à ma venuë -decza trop ouvertement de vouloir aller à Cambray, car les aultres -persuaderent au maistre ce que c'estoient, seulement pour éviter -d'estre à l'expédition du mariage, & outre cela vous promets que sans -luy les aultres mectoyent ce Roy en ung terrible train de rompre la -pratique de paix dont vous escripvis quelque mot en ce temps-la, mais -j'en laissay dix fois en la plume, voyant que tout estoit rabillé, -je vous les diray estant là, & je suis seur que le trouverez fort -estrange: Il me semble, Monsieur, que à tout cela, & plusieurs aultres -choses que bien entendez de vous-mesmes, on doibt avoir quelque égard, -vous donnerez, s'il vous plaist, advis au Roy & à Madame de tout cecy, -affin qu'ils advisent ce qu'il leur plaira en faire, s'ils pensent -n'empirer par cela leurs affaires, je croy que voulentiers, outre ce -que sera quelque charité, ils vouldront qu'on cognoisse qu'ils ayent -retiré ung leur affectionné serviteur, & tenu pour tel par chescun, des -portes d'enfer; mais sur tout, Monseigneur, il desire que ce Roy ne -connoisse qu'ils en ayent esté requis, & que il les en ay fait requerir -en façon du monde, cela l'acheveroit d'affoller; car pour vous dire -le vray, & hormis toute affection, je vous asseure que la plus grant -prinse que ses ennemis ayent euë sur luy, outre celle du mariage, ce -a esté de persuader ce Roy que il avoit tousjours eu en temps de paix -et de guerre intelligence secrette à Madame, de laquelle ladite guerre -durant il avoit eu des grants presens, qui furent cause que Suffolc -estant à Montdidier, il ne le secourut d'argent comme il debvoit, dont -avint que il ne prit Paris; mais ils en parlent en l'oreille de ce -propos, afin que je n'en soy adverty. Quant auxdits presens, il espère -que Madame ne le nuyra où il en sera parlé, de toutes aultres choses -il s'en recommande en sa bonne grâce. La fantaisie de ces seigneurs -est que luy mort ou ruiné, il deffèrent incontinent icy l'estat de -l'Eglise, & prendront tous leurs biens, qu'il seroit ja besoing que je -misse en chiffre, car ils le crient en plaine table; je croy qu'ils -feront de beaux miracles, si m'a dict vostre grant prophète au visaige -bronsé, que ce Roy ne vivre gueres plus que........ au quel, comme -vous sçavez, à ce que je voy par ses escriptures, il n'a baillé terme -que de la monstre de May. Je ne veulx oublier à vous dire que si le -Roy & Madame veullent faire quelque chose pour le Légat, il faudroit -se haster, encores ne seront jamais icy ses lettres que il n'ait -perdu le sceau, toutefois il ne pense plus à cela, elles serviront -pour le demourant, aussi venant icy mon successeur, comme chascun -s'attend qu'il viendra dans peu des jours, ils luy donnassent charge -d'en parler; le pis de son mal est que Mademoiselle de Boulen a faict -promettre à son amy que il ne l'escoutera jamais parler; car elle pense -bien qu'il ne le pourrait garder d'en avoir pitié. - -Monseigneur, tout ce qui sera de bon en tout ce discours, vous le -sçaurez prendre comme tel; s'il y aura riens qui semble party de trop -d'affection, je vous supplie m'ayder à en excuser, & qu'il soit pris -de bon part, car là où la matière seroit mauvaise si vous assureray-je -bien que l'intention n'est telle, et la dessus est bien temps pour vous -& pour moy que je facze fin à la présente, me recommande humblement en -vostre bonne grâce, & pryant nostre Seigneur qu'il vous doint bonne vie -& longue. - - Vostre humble Serviteur, - - J. DU BELLAY, - - Evesque de Bayonne. - - De Londres, le xvij d'Octobre. - à Monsiegneur - Monseigneur - Le Grant Maistre & Marechal de France. - - -LETTER XX. - -_Thomas Alward to Thomas Cromwell._ A. D. 1529. - -[MS. COTTON. VITELLIUS B. XII. fol. 173. _Orig._] - - "The following Letter (says Mr. Ellis), though mutilated, presents a - genuine picture of one of the last interviews with which Wolsey was - favoured by his Sovereign. It is dated on the 23^d. of September; - sixteen days after which the King's attorney presented the indictment - against him in the Court of King's Bench upon the Statute of Provisors. - - "Thomas Alward, the writer of this Letter, appears to have been the - Keeper of Wolsey's Wardrobe. He has been already incidentally named in - the Letter which relates to the foundation of Ipswich College." - - - MAISTER CROMWEL, - - In my mooste hartiest wise I [_commende me_] unto you; advertisyng - the same that I have dely[_vered your lres_] unto my lordis grace who - did immediatly rede over [_the same_] after the redyng wherof his - grace did put theym in ... and so kepte theym always close to hym - self. Th[_is I note_] unto you, bicause I never sawe hym do the like - bifo[_re time_] the which your lettres his grace commaunded me.... - And first, the same hertely thankyth you for your ... advertysement - made unto hym from tyme to tyme [_of soche_] things as ye have written - unto his grace wherin I know [_ye have_] don unto his grace singular - pleasur and good service; and as [_for_] the vain bruts which goth - against my lords [_grace_] I assur you as fer as may apper unto my - said [_lord and_] other that be his servaunts, they be mervailous - false, ... and gretely I do mervaile wherof the same shul[_de arise_] - for I assur you that in this vacacion tyme [_dyvers_] lettres wer - written by the kyngs commaundment from [_Mr. Ste_]vyns unto my - said lord, by the which his adv[_ise_] and opinion was at sundry - tymes desired ... in the kyngs causis and affaires, unto the which - lettres [_aunswer_] was made from tyme to tyme, as well by my lords - [_wry_]tyng as also by the sendyng of his servaunts to the[_courte - with_] instructions by mouth to the kyng's highnes as the [_mater_] - and case did requir. Over this the noblemen and gentry [_as well_] - in my lords goyng to the courte as also in his retourne from [_the_] - same dyd mete and incounter hym at many places gently [_and_] humaynly - as they wer wonte to do. On Sonday last my lords grace, with the - Legat Campegius cam unto the courte at Grene[_wiche_] wher they wer - honorably receyved and accompanyed with sundry of the kings counsaile - and servaunts, and so brought bifor masse onto the king's presence, - who graciously and beni[~g]ly after the accustumed goodnes of his - highnes, with very familiar and loving acountenance did welcome theym. - And after communication and talkyng awhiles with my Lorde Campegius, - his grace talked a grete while with my lorde a parte, which don, they - departed all to geder in to chapel. And immediatly after dyner my - lords grace went again unto the kyngs highnes beyng then in his pryvie - chamber wher they wer commonyng and talkyng to geder at the leeste for - the space of ij. houres, no person beyng present, and a friende of - myne beyng of the prive chamber told me at my lords departur that tyme - from thens ther was as good and as familiar accountynaunce shewed and - used betwene theym as ever he sawe in his life heretofor. This don - my lords grace with the legat retourned unto theyr logyng at Maister - Empson's place. On Monday in the mornyng my lord leving the legat at - his logyng went again unto the kyngs grace, and after long talkyng - in his privie chamber to geder, the kyng, my lord, and all the hole - counsaile sate to geder all that for'none aboute the kyngs matiers - and affaires. In the after none, my lords grace having then with hym - the Legat Campegius, went to the kyng's grace, and after talkyng and - communication had a long whilis with the legat a parte they both toke - ther leve of the kyngs highnes in as good fascion and maner, and with - asmoche gentilnes, as ever I saw bifor. This don, the kyngs grace went - huntyng. The legate retourned to Maister Empson, and my lords grace - taried ther in counsaile til it was darke nyght. Further mor my Lord - of Suffolke, my Lord of Rochford, Maister Tuke, and Master Stevyns - did as gently [_be_]have theymselfs, with as moche observaunce and - humy[_lyte to_] my lords grace as ever I sawe theym do at any [_tyme_] - tofor. What they bere in ther harts I knowe n[_ot_.] Of the premissis - I have seen with myne ies; wherfor I boldely presume and thinke that - they be ferre [_furth_] overseen that sowth[243] the said false and - untrewe reports: ascerteynyng you if ye coulde marke som[_e of the_] - chief stirrers therof ye shulde do unto his grace [_moche_] pleasur. - Assone as ye can spede your bysynes th[_ere my_] lord wolde be very - glad of your retourne. My lord wilbe on Monday next at London. And the - Legat [_Cam_]pegius shal departe shortely oute of Englonde. A[_nd - thus_] makyng an ende I commit you to the tuicion and g[_widance of_] - Almyghty God. From Saint Albons the xxiij^{th} S[_ep_]tember. - - All the gentilmen of my lords chamber with the... ...[244] of - commendith them hartely unto you. - - Yowrs to my lytle [_power_] - THOMAS ALVARD. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[202] Mrs. Anne Gainsford. - -[203] See the Earl of Surrey's character of him, in an Elegy on his -Death, among his poems. - -[204] It is presumed that the allusion is here to Sir Thomas Wyatt's -verses entitled "A description of such a one as he would love:" - - A face that should content me wonderous well, - Should not be faire, but lovely to behold: - Of lively loke, all griefe for to repel - With right good grace, so would I that it should - Speak, without words, such words as none can tell; - Her tresse also should be of cresped gold. - With wit and these perchance I might be tide - And knit againe the knot that should not slide. - - _Songes and Sonettes_, 8_vo._ 1557, _p._ 35. 2. - - -[205] The King of France's sister. - -[206] _Sanders De Origine ac Progressu Schismatis Anglicani. Libri_ 3. -This book was first printed at Cologne, in 1585, and passed through -several editions, the last in 1628. It was subsequently translated -into French, and printed in 1673-4; which induced Burnet to write his -History of the Reformation. In the appendix to his first volume he -gives a particular account of Sanders' book, and refutes the calumnies -and falsehoods contained in it. This called forth a reply from the -catholic party, under the title of _Histoire du Divorce de Henry_ VIII. -_par Joachim Le Grand_. _Paris_, 1688, 3 vols. 12mo. A work not without -interest on account of the documents printed in the third volume, some -of which I have found useful as illustrations of the present work. - -[207] Sir Francis Brian was one of the most accomplished courtiers -of his times: a man of great probity and a poet. Wyatt addresses his -third satire to him, and pays a high compliment in it to his virtue -and integrity. He was, like Wyatt, firmly attached to the Protestant -cause: on this account he seems to have drawn on himself the hatred -of the Roman Catholic party. Sanders, in his malevolent account of -the Reformation in England, relates the following absurd and wicked -story of him.--Cum autem Henrici Regis domus ex perditissimo hominum -constaret, cujusmodi erant aleatores, adulteri, lenones, assentatores, -perjuri, blasphemi, rapaces, atque adeò hæretici, inter hos insignis -quidem nepos extitit, Franciscus Brianus, Eques Auratus, ex gente et -stirpe Bolenorum. Ab illo rex quodam tempore quæsivit, quale peccatum -videretur matrem primum, deinde filium cognoscere.--Cui Brianus, -"Omnino," inquit, "tale O rex quale gallinam primùm, deinde pullum -ejus gallinaceum comedere." Quod verbum cum rex magno risu accepisset, -ad Brianum dixisse fertur. "Næ! tu merito meus est Inferni Vicarius." -Brianus enim jam prius ob impietatem notissimam vocabatur, "Inferni -Vacarius." Post autem et "Regius Inferni Vicarius." Rex igitur cum et -matrem prius, et postea filiam Mariam Bolenam pro concubina tenuisset, -demum at alteram quoque filiam, Annam Bolenam, animum adjicere cœpit. -_De Schismate Anglicano_, p. 24. - -This disgusting calumny is repeated by the followers of Sanders, and -among others by Davanzati, in his _Schisma d'Inghilterra_, p. 22, -Ed. 1727. And yet that history is presented by the Curators of the -_Studio_ at Padua, to the youth educated there as "una stimabilissima -Storia; descritta con quei vivi e forti colori che soli vagliano a far -comprendere l'atrocita del successo dello Schisma d'Inghilterra." How -(says Dr. Nott, from whom this note is taken) can the bonds of charity -be ever brought to unite the members of the Roman Catholic communion -with those of the reformed church, so long as their youth shall be thus -early taught to consider our Reformation as the portentous offspring -of whatever was most odious in human profligacy, and most fearful in -blasphemy and irreligion?" _Memoirs of Sir Thomas Wyatt_, p. 84. - -[208] 32 Henry VIII. A. D. 1540. - -[209] A. D. 1532-3. - -[210] Tyndal's Obedience of a Christian Man. - -[211] This curious and interesting occurrence, which probably had -considerable effect in furthering the progress of the Reformation, is -told with more circumstance by Strype, from the manuscripts of Fox. -It is so entirely corroborated by what is here said, that I think it -incumbent upon me to place it in juxtaposition with Wyatt's narrative. - -"Upon the Lady Anne waited a young fair gentlewoman, named Mrs. -Gainsford; and in her service was also retained Mr. George Zouch. This -gentleman, of a comely sweet person, a Zouch indeed, was a suitor -in the way of marriage to the said young lady: and among other love -tricks, once he plucked from her a book in Englishe, called Tyndall's -Obedience, which the Lady Anne had lent her to read. About which time -the Cardinal had given commandment to the prelates, and especially -to Dr. Sampson, dean of the king's chapel, that they should have a -vigilant eye over all people for such books, that they came not abroad; -that so as much as might be, they might not come to the king's reading. -But this which he most feared fell out upon this occasion. For Mr. -Zouch (I use the words of the MS.) was so ravished with the spirit of -God speaking now as well in the heart of the reader, as first it did -in the heart of the maker of the book, that he was never well but when -he was reading of that book. Mrs. Gainsford wept because she could not -get the book from her wooer, and he was as ready to weep to deliver it. -But see the providence of God:--Mr. Zouch standing in the chapel before -Dr. Sampson, ever reading upon this book; and the dean never having -his eye off the book, in the gentleman's hand, called him to him, and -then snatched the book out of his hand, asked his name, and whose man -he was. And the book he delivered to the cardinal. In the meantime, the -Lady Anne asketh her woman for the book. She on her knees told all the -circumstances. The Lady Anne showed herself not sorry nor angry with -either of the two. But, said she, 'Well, it shall be the dearest book -that ever the dean or cardinal took away.' The noblewoman goes to the -king, and upon her knees she desireth the king's help for her book. -Upon the king's token the book was restored. And now bringing the book -to him, she besought his grace most tenderly to read it. The king did -so, and delighted in the book. "For (saith he) this book is for me and -all kings to read." And in a little time, by the help of this virtuous -lady, by the means aforesaid, had his eyes opened to the truth, to -advance God's religion and glory, to abhor the pope's doctrine, his -lies, his pomp, and pride, to deliver his subjects out of the Egyptian -darkness, the Babylonian bonds that the pope had brought his subjects -under. And so contemning the threats of all the world, the power of -princes, rebellions of his subjects at home, and the raging of so many -and mighty potentates abroad; set forward a reformation in religion, -beginning with the triple crowned head at first, and so came down -to the members, bishops, abbots, priors, and such like."--_Strype's -Ecclesiastical Memorials_, vol. i. p. 112. - -[212] Mr. George Zouch. - -[213] So it is in the Calendars prefixed to the Book of Common Prayer -in Queen Elizabeth's reign. Lord Herbert says it was the sixth, Sanders -the eighth, and Archbishop Cranmer the thirteenth or fourteenth. - -[214] A. D. 1534. - -[215] Shaxton and Latimer. - -[216] To every one of these she gave a little book of devotions, neatly -written on vellum, and bound in covers of solid gold enamelled, with a -ring to each cover to hang it at their girdles for their constant use -and meditation. - -One of these little volumes, traditionally said to have been given -by the queen when on the scaffold to her attendant, one of the -Wyatt family, and preserved by them through several generations, -was described by Vertue as being seen by him in the possession of -Mr. George Wyatt of Charterhouse Square, in 1721. Vide _Walpole's -Miscellaneous Antiquities_, printed at Strawberry Hill, 1772, No. II. -p. 13. It was a diminutive volume, consisting of one hundred and four -leaves of vellum, one and seven-eighths of an inch long by one and -five-eighths of an inch broad; containing a metrical version of parts -of thirteen Psalms: and bound in pure gold richly chased, with a ring -to append it to the neck-chain or girdle. It was in Mr. Triphook's -possession in the year 1817. - -[217] Cosȳ: this woman's name was Cousyns. - -[218] Probably the name of one of her attendants. - -[219] unless. - -[220] that. - -[221] Sir Francis Weston. - -[222] they. - -[223] note. - -[224] accepts. - -[225] that. - -[226] _i. e._ what. - -[227] us. - -[228] Anvers, Antwerp. - -[229] number. - -[230] an hour. - -[231] number. - -[232] That is his long continuance with the cardinal. - -[233] He had probably disobliged the king by his attachment to Anne -Boleyn. - -[234] fear. - -[235] Carlisle. - -[236] William Worm, whom he mentions in a former letter, as the person -who betrayed him. - -[237] brought. - -[238] out. - -[239] Antiphonars, Gralls, Orderlys, Manuals, and Professionaries, -are books containing different portions of the Roman Catholic Ritual. -See Percy's Northumberland Household Book, p. 446, and Burn's -Ecclesiastical Law. - -[240] _licence._ There is a tradition at Alnwick that an auditor was -formerly confined in the dungeon under one of the towers till he could -make up his accounts to his lord's satisfaction. - -[241] Dr. Augustine, or Agostino, a native of Venice, was physician -to the cardinal, and was arrested at Cawood at the same time with his -master, being treated with the utmost indignity: v. _Life_, pp. 348, -351. In the Cottonian MS. Titus b. i. fol. 365, there is a letter -of his to Thomas Cromwell, in Italian, requiring speedy medical -assistance, apparently for Cardinal Wolsey. It is dated Asher, Jan. -19th, 1529-30. Cavendish describes him as being dressed in a "boistous -gown of black velvet;" with which he overthrew one of the silver -crosses, which broke Bonner's head in its fall. - -[242] Premunire. - -[243] soweth. - -[244] _f._ rest thereof. - - - - - A TRUE DESCRIPTION, - - OR RATHER - - A PARALLEL - - BETWEENE - - CARDINALL WOLSEY, - - ARCH-BISHOP OF YORK, - - AND - - WILLIAM LAUD, - - ARCH-BISHOP OF CANTERBVRIE, &c. - - PRINTED IN THE YERE 1641. - - - - - _The following parallel between Laud and Wolsey is referred to in a - note at p. 342 of the Life of Wolsey. It was printed at the same time - and for the same purpose as the first garbled edition of that life; - namely--to prejudice Archbishop Laud in the minds of the people. The - press then teemed with pamphlets levelled at him, and in the same - volume I find two others: "The Character of an untrue Bishop, with a - Recipe to recover a Bishop if he were lost." And--"England's Rejoycing - at the Prelates Downfall, written by an Ill-willer to the Romish - Brood:" both of the same date._ - - - - -A TRUE DESCRIPTION, - -OR RATHER - -A PARALLEL - -BETWENE - -CARDINAL WOLSEY AND ARCH-BISHOP LAUD. - - -There be two primates, or arch-bishops throughout England and -Wales, Canterburie and Yorke, both metropolitans, York of England, -Canterburie of all England, for so their titles runne. To the primate -of Canterburie bee subordinate thirteene bishops in England, and foure -in Wales. But the primate of Yorke hath at this time but two suffragans -in England: namely, the Bishops of Carliele, and Durham: though hee -had in King Lucius dayes, (who was the first Christian king of this -our nation) all the prelacy of Scotland within his jurisdiction: -Canterburie commanding all from this side the River Trent to the -furthest limits of Wales; and York commanding all from beyond the -Trent to the utmost bounds of Scotland, and hitherto, their prime -archiepiscopall prerogatives may (not unproperly) be paralleld. - -In the time of Henrie the first were potent two famous prelates, -Anselme of Canterburie, who durst contest against the king, and Girald -of Yorke, who denyed to give place or any precedence at all to Anselme. -Thomas Becket, who was first chancellour, and after Arch-bishop of -Canterburie, in the reigne of Henrie the Second, bore himselfe so -insolently against the king his soveraigne, that it cost him his life, -being slaine in the church as he was going to the altar. But above all, -the pride, tyrannie, and oppression of the Bishop of Ely, in the reigne -of Richard the First, wants example, who was at once Chancellour of -England, and Regent of the land, and held in his hand at once the two -Arch-bishopricks of York and Canterburie, who never rid abroad without -a thousand horse for his guard to attend him, whom we may well parallel -with the now great Cardinall of France: and need hee had of such a -traine to keep himselfe from being pulled to peeces by the oppressed -prelates, and people, equally extorting from the clergie and laietie; -yet he in the end, disguising himselfe in the shape of an old woman, -thinking to passe the sea at Dover, where hee awayted on the Strand, -a pinace being hired for that purpose, he was discovered by a sayler, -and brought backe to abide a most severe sentence. Stephen Lancthon, -Archbishop of Canterburie, in the time King Iohn, would not absolve the -land, being for sixe yeares together indicted by the pope, till the -king had payd unto him and the rest of the bishops, eighteene thousand -markes in gold; and thus I could continue the pride of the prelacie, -and their great tyrannie through all the kings reignes: But I now fall -upon the promist parallel betwixt Thomas Wolsey, Arch-bishop of York, -and Cardinall, and William Laud, Doctor in Divinitie, and Arch-bishop -of Canterburie. - -They were both the sonnes of meane and mechanick men, Wolsey of a -butcher, Laud of a cloth worker. The one borne in Ipswich (threescore -miles), the other in Reading, thirtie miles distant from the City of -London, both of them verie toward, forward, and pregnant grammar -schollars, and of singular apprehensions, as suddenly rising to the -first forme in the schoole. From thence, being yong, they were removed -to the Vniversitie of Oxford, Wolsey admitted into Maudlin Coledge, -Laud into St. Iohns; and as they were of different times, so they -were of different statures; yet either of them well shapt according -to their proportions; Wolsey was of a competent tallnesse, Laud of a -lesse size, but might be called a prettie man, as the other a proper -man: both of ingenious and acute aspects, as may appeare by this mans -face, the others picture. In their particular colledges they were alike -proficients, both as active of body as braine, serious at their private -studies, and equally frequent in the schooles, eloquent orators, -either to write, speake, or dictate, daintie disputants, well verst in -philosophy, both morall, physicall, and metaphysical, as also in the -mathematicks, and neither of them strangers to the muses, both taking -their degrees according to their time; and through the whole academie, -Sir Wolsey was called the boy-batchelour, and Sir Laud the little -batchelour. - -The maine study that either of them fixt upon was theology: for though -they were conversant in all the other arts and sciences, yet that -they solely profest, and by that came their future preferment; Wolsey -being Batchelour was made schoole-master of Maudlin Schoole in Oxford: -but Laud came in time to be master of St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford, -therein transcending the other, as also in his degrees of Master of -Art, Batchelour of Divinitie, and Doctor of Divinitie, when the other -being suddenly cald from the rectorship of his schoole, to be resident -upon a countrie benefice, he took no more academicall degrees, than -the first of Batchelour, and taking a strange affront by one Sir -Amias Paulet, a knight in the countrie, who set him in the stocks, he -indured likewise divers other disasters: but that disgrace he made the -knight pay dearely for, after he came to be invested in his dignitie. -Briefely, they came both to stand in the princes eye; but ere I proceed -any further, let me give the courteous reader this modest caveat, that -he is to expect from me onely a parallell of their acts and fortune, -but no legend of their lives; it therefore briefely thus followeth. - -Both these from academicks comming to turne courtiers; Wolsey, by his -diligent waiting, came to insinuate himselfe into the brests of the -privie counsellours. His first emploiment was in an embassie to the -emperour, which was done by such fortunate, and almost incredible -expedition, that by that only he grew into first grace with King Henry -the Seventh, father to King Henry the Eighth. Laud, by the mediation -and meanes wrought by friends, grew first into favour with King Iames -of sacred memory, father to our now royall soveraigne King Charles. -They were both at first the kings chaplaines, Wolseyes first preferment -was to bee Deane of Lincolne, of which hee was after bishop. Lauds -first ecclesiasticall dignity was to be Deane of Saint Davids, of which -he was after bishop also. And both these prelaticall courtiers came -also to be privie counsellours. Woolsey in the beginning of Henry the -Eighth's raigne, was made Bishop of Tourney in France, soone after -Bishop of Lincoln, and before his full consecration (by the death of -the incumbent) was ended, translated to the Arch-bishoprick of York, -and all this within the compasse of a yeare; Laud, though not so -suddainly, yet very speedily was from St. Davids removed to London, -and from London to Canterburie, and this in the beginning of the reigne -of King Charles. Thus you see they were both arch-bishops, and as Laud -was never cardinall, so Woolsey was never Canterburie. - -But in some things the cardinall much exceeded Canterburie, as in -holding all these bishopricks at once, when the other was never -possest but of one at one time. The cardinall also held the bishoprick -of Winchester, of Worcester, Bath and Wells, with a fourth, and two -abbat-ships in commendam: He had besides an hat sent him from Rome, -and made himselfe cardinall, (that being before but Yorke) he might -over-top Canterburie. But our William, howsoever he might have the -will, yet never attained to that power, and howsoever hee could not -compasse a hat from Rome, yet made the meanes to have a consecrated -miter sent from Rome; which was so narrowly watcht, that it came not to -his wearing. Moreover, the cardinall extorted the chancellourship from -Canterburie; but we finde not that Canterburie ever either trencht upon -the jurisdiction, or tooke any thing away from the arch-bishoprick of -York. - -Woolsey likewise farre out-went him in his numerous traine, and the -noblenesse thereof, being waited on not onely by the prime gentrie, -but even of earles, and earles sonnes, who were listed in his family, -and attended him at his table, as also in his hospitalitie, his open -house being made free for all commers, with the rare and extraordinarie -state of his palace, in which there were daily uprising and downe-lying -a thousand persons, who were his domestick servants. Moreover in -his many entertainments of the K. with masks, and mightie sumptuous -banquets, his sumptuous buildings, the prince-like state he carried -in his forraigne embassages, into France, to the emperor, &c. in which -he spent more coyne in the service of his king, for the honour of his -countrie, and to uphold the credit of his cardinals cap, than would -(for the time) have paid an armie royal. But I answer in behalfe of -our Canterburie, that hee had never that meanes or imployment, by -which hee might make so vain-glorious a show of his pontificalitie, -or archiepiscopall dignitie: For unbounded mindes may bee restrained -within narrow limmits, and therefore the parallel may something hold in -this too. - -They were also in their judiciall courts equally tyrannous; the one -in the chancerie, the other in the high commission: both of them at -the councell boord, and in the starre-chamber alike draconically -supercilious. Blood drawne from Doctor Bonners head by the fall of his -crosse presaged the cardinals downfall. Blood drawne from the eares of -Burton, Prin, and Bastwick, was a prediction of Canterburies ruine; -the first accidentall, the last premeditate and of purpose[245]. The -cardinall would have expelled all the Lutherans and Protestants out of the -realme, this our Canterburie would have exil'd both our Dutch and -French church out of the kingdome. The cardinall took maine delight -in his foole Patch, and Canterburie tooke much delight in his -partie-coloured cats. The cardinall used for his agents Bonner and -others, Canterburie for his ministers, Duck, Lamb, and others. They -both favoured the Sea of Rome, and respected his holinesse in it. The -cardinall did professe it publickly, the arch-bishop did reverence it -privately. The cardinalls ambition was to bee pope, the arch-bishop -strove to bee patriarch, they both bid fairely for it, yet lost their -aime; and farre easier it is for men to descend than to ascend. - -The cardinall (as I have said) was very ambitious; the arch-bishop -was likewise of the same minde, though better moulded, and of a more -politick braine, having a close and more reserved judgement in all -his observations, and more fluent in his deliverie. The cardinall was -verie curious in his attire and ornament of his body, and took great -delight in his traine, and other his servants for their rich aparrell; -the arch-bishop his attire was neat and rich, but not so gaudie as -the cardinals was, yet tooke as much felicitie in his gentlemens rich -aparrell, especially those that waited on his person, as ever the -cardinall did, though other men paid for them: and if all men had their -owne, and every bird her feather, some of them would bee as bare as -those that professe themselves to bee of the sect of the Adamists: To -speake truth, the arch-bishops men were all given to covetousnesse and -wantonnesse; that I never heard of was in the cardinals men. - -As the cardinall was sumptuous in his buildings, as that of White Hall, -Hampton Court, &c. as also in laying the foundation of two famous -coledges, the one at Ipswich, where he was borne, the other at Oxford, -where he had his breeding: so Christ-Church, which he left unfinished, -Canterburie hath since repaired; and wherein he hath come short of -him in building, though he hath bestowed much on St. Iohns Coledge, -yet he hath out-gone him in his bountie of brave voluminous books, -being fourescore in number, late sent to the Bodleian or Universitie -Librarie: Further, as the cardinall was Chancelour of England, so -Canterburie was Chancellour of Oxford: And as the cardinall by -plucking downe of some small abbies, to prepare stone for his greater -structures, opened a gap for the king, by which he tooke the advantage -utterly to raze and demolish the rest: so Canterburie by giving way -for one bishop to have a temporall triall; and to be convicted, not by -the clergie, but the laitie, so he left the same path open both for -himselfe and the rest of the episcopacie: of which, there before scarce -remained a president. - -I have paralleld them in their dignities: I will conclude with a -word or two concerning their downefalls. The cardinall fell into the -displeasure of his king, Canterburie into an extreame hatred of the -commons: both were arrested of high treason, the cardinall by processe, -Canterburie by parliament. The cardinall at Keywood Castle neare -Yorke, Canterburie at Westminster neare London; both their falls were -speedy and suddaine: The cardinall sate as this day in the high court -of chancerie, and within two dayes after was confined to his house; -Canterburie as this day sate at the counsell boord, and in the upper -house of parliament, and the same day committed to the blacke rod, and -from thence to the Tower: The cardinall dyed at Leicester some say of a -flux; Canterburie remaines still in the Tower, onely sick of a fever. -_Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas._ - - -FINIS. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[245] This mention of omens reminds me that Dr. Wordsworth in his -notes to Wolsey's Life has related the following affecting anecdote of -Archbishop Laud. - -"The year 1639 we all know was big with events calamitous to Laud, and -to the church and monarchy. In Lambeth Library is preserved a small -pane of glass, in which are written with a diamond pencil the following -words: - - Memorand: Ecclesiæ de - Micham, Cheme et Stone, cum aliis - fulguro combusta sunt - Januar: 14, 1638/9. - Omen evertat Deus. - -On a piece of paper the same size as the glass and kept in the same -case with it, is written by the hand of Abp. Wake, as follows: "This -glasse was taken out of the west-window of the gallery at Croydon -before I new-built it: and is, as I take it, the writing of Abp. Laud's -own hand." - - - - -_The Will of Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal Wolsey's father; E Libro -Testamentorum in Registro principali Dni. Epi. Norwic. Multon -inscripto, fo. 146. a._ - - -In Dei Nomine, amen. The xxxi day of the Moneth of September the yer -of our Lord God a m. cccclxxxxvi. I Robert Wulcy of Ipyswiche hool of -mend and in good memory beyng, make my testament and my last wyll in -this maid wyse. Fyrst, I bequeth my soull to Almyghty God, our Lady -Sent Mary, and to all the company of hevyn, and my body to be buryed -in the churche yard of our Lady Sent Mary of Neum^rket. Also I beq. to -the hey aut^r of the pariche of Sent Nicholas of Ippyswiche vi^{_s._} -vij^{_d._} Also I beq. to the pentyng of the archangell ther, xl^{_s._} -Itm. I wyll that if Thomas my son be a prest, w^tin a yer next after -my decesse, than I wyll that he syng for me and my frends, be the -space of a yer, and he for to have for his salary x marc, and if the -seyd Thomas my son be not a prest than I wyll that a nother honest -prest syng for me and my frends the term aforeseyd and he to have the -salary of x marc. Itm. I wyll that Johan my wyf have all my lands and -ten^{ts}. in the pariche of Sent Nicholas in Ippiswich aforesaid, and -my free and bond londs in the piche of S^t Stoke to geve and to sell -the residew of all my goods afor not bequethed, I geve and bequethe to -the good disposition of Johan my wyff, Thomas my soon, and Thomas Cady, -whom I order and make my executors to dispose for me as thei shall -think best to ples allmyghty God and p^{ro}fyt for my soull; and of -this my testiment and last wyll I orden and make Richard Farrington -sup^rvisour, and he for to have for his labour xiij^{_s._} iiij^{_d._} -and yf the seid Richard deserve more he for to have more of Johan -my wyff. Itm. I beq. to the seyd Thomas Cady my executor aforeseyd -xiij^{_s._} iiij^{_d._} Yevyn the day yer and place above wretyn. - - * * * * * - -_Probatum fuit presens Testamentum apud Gipwic. coram nobis Offic. -Cans. Dm. Epi Norwic._ xj _die mensis Octobris Anno Dm. Millimo_ -cccc^{mo} lxxxxvi. _In cujus rei testimonium Sigillum, &c._ - - - - - -_Fisher, Bishop of Rochester._ - - -Bishop Fisher's opposition to Henry's divorce, as noticed by Cavendish -at p. 222, subsequently cost him his head. Besides his letter to Wolsey -maintaining the validity of the marriage with Catherine, published -by Fiddes in his Appendix to the Life of Wolsey, and in Collier's -Ecclesiastical History, vol. 2 Records, he wrote a larger discourse -in Latin, "De Causa Matrimonii Regis Angliæ," which was long thought -to exist only in MS. But in a late sale by public auction in London, -of Don Jos Antonio Conde's Library, a printed copy was purchased for -Mr. Heber, which appears to have issued from the press at Alcala -(Complutum) in Spain. The printer of which says the manuscript copy -was given him by the Arch-bishop of Toledo. It is probable that the -Spanish agents in England contrived to obtain a copy and sent it -to the emperor. It would not have been allowed to issue from the -press in England. It is remarkable that Ribadineira in his Historia -Ecclesiastica de Inglaterra, Madrid, 1588, p. 59. _rev._ mentions -that Fisher presented his book to the legates. "Los que por parte de -la Reyna tratavan este negocio eran los mas graves y doctos Teologos -y Perlados de todo el Reyno y entre ellos Gulielmo Varamo Arçopispo -Cantuariense y Primado de Inglaterra, y otros cinco Obispos de grande -autoridad. Pero el que mas se mostrava era Juan Fischero Obispo -Roffense, varon por cierto exemplar, y no solamente lumbrera del reyno -de Inglaterra, sino de toda la christiandad, espejo de santidad, sal -del pueblo, y verdadero Doctor de la Yglesia. El qual salio en publico, -_y presentò a los Legados_ UN LIBRO _doctissimo que avia escrito_ EN -DEFENSION DEL MATRIMONIO _del Rey y de la Reyna_, y amonestoles con -razonamiento gravissimo que no buscassen dificultades donde no las -avia, ni permitiessen que se pervirtiesse la verdad clara y manifiesta -de la sagrada Escritura, y se debilitasse la fuerça de las leyes -ecclesiasticas que en esta causa eran evidentes, y estavan tan bien -entendidas. Que pensassen y considerassen atentamente los da[=n]os -innumerables que deste divorcio se podian seguir: el odio entre el -Rey Enrique y Carlos Emperador: las parcialidades de los principes -que los seguirian: las guerras crueles de fuera y dentro del reyno: y -lo que mas importava, las dissensiones en materia de la Fè, sçismas, -heregias, y sectas infinitas. Yo dize por aver estudiado esta materia, -y gastado en ella mucho tiempo y trabajo, oso afirmar que no ay en la -tierra potestad que pueda deshazer este matrimonio, ni desatar lo que -Dios atò. Y esto que digo no solamente _lo pruevo claramente_ EN ESTE -LIBRO, con los testimonias irrefragable de la sagrada Escritura, y de -los santos Doctores, pero tambien estoy aparejado a defenderlo con -el derramamiento de mi sangre: dixolo Roffense, y como lo dixo, assi -cumplio. Aviendo hablado de esta manera aquel varon illustre por la -fama de su doctrina, excellente por la santidad de la vida, admirable -por la dignidad de Perlado, y por sus canas venerable." Ribadineira -says that four _other_ Doctors, and three Bishops, also offered other -books which they had composed in defence of the validity of the Queen's -marriage: the proof of this assertion is yet to seek. - -A manuscript copy of Fisher's book is said to be among those presented -by the Duke of Norfolk to the Royal Society. We may hope to have all -that relates to this venerable prelate in a more tangible form when -the Rev. John Lewis's Life of him shall be given to the world. I have -the satisfaction to add that it has been some time at press, under the -editorial care of the Rev. Theodore Williams of Hendon, and cannot fail -to prove a valuable addition to Ecclesiastical Biography. - - - - - _The Instrument of the Kings gift to the Cardinal after his forfeiture - by the premunire, which so much revived his hopes, is printed by Rymer - and by Fiddes. The following is the Schedule appended to it. V. Life, - 291._ - - -The Money, Goods, and Cattells, given by the King's Grace to the Lorde -Cardinall, whereof mention is made in the King's Lettres Patentes -hereunto annexed. - -Fyrste in Redy Money, MMM _li._ - -Item, in Plate, Nyne Thowsand Fyve Hundred Thre-score Fyve oz. dim. -quarter, at iij^_s_ viij^_d_ the oz. amounteth to MDCCLII _li._ iij^_s_ -viii^_d_. - -Item, Dyvers Apparell of Houshold, as Hangyngs, Beddyng, Napry, and -other thyngs, as appereth by the Inventorie of the same--amountyng in -Value by Estimation, DCCC _li._ - -Item, In Horses and Geldyngs lxxx with their Apparel, valued by -Estimation, CL _li._ - -Item, in Mules for the Saddell vi. with their Apparell, valued by -Estimation, LX _li._ - -Item, in Mules for Carriage vi with their Apparell, valued by -Estimation, XL _li._ - -Item, in Lyng on thowsand valued by Estimation, XL _li._ - -Item, in Cod and Haberden viij c valued by Estimation, XL _li._ - -Item, in Salt viii Waye valued by Estimation, X _l._ - -Item, in Implements of the Kytchen as Potts, Pannes, Spitts, Peawter -Vessell, and other things necessarie for the same, valued by -Estimation, LXXX _l._ - -Item, LII. Oxen valued by Estimation, LXXX _l._ - -Item, in Muttons LXX valued by Estimation XII _l._ - -Item, the Apparell of his Body, valued by Estimation, CCC _l._ - - Summa, vi M. ccc. lxxiv. _l._ iij^_s._ vii^_d._ ob. - - - - -_A Memoryall of suche Communication as my Lorde Legatts grace had with -the Quenes Almoner._ - -[EX. MS. INTER ARCHIVA ACADEMIA CANTABRIG.] - - This interesting paper is published in Fiddes, from the communication - of the learned and Reverend Mr. Baker. It is so necessary a supplement - to the very interesting interview of the two Cardinals with Katherine, - given by Cavendish, that I could not resolve to withhold it from - the reader, who may not chance to have ready access to Dr. Fiddes' - ponderous volume. - - -Fyrst my lordes grace taking for introduction & commencement of his -graces purposes & devyses, excogitate by the same for the totall -extermination of suche heresies as daily encreased in Cambrydge: & -that his grace thought more convenyent the same to be done by the -commyssaries then the Bysshops of Rochester or Elie, shewed his -pleasure & determination was to send him thyther, as well for that he -was of good reputation & credytt there, beinge a M'^r of a colledge -in the same, as also for that he had in tymes passed used hym in lyke -busyness. To which the said M^r Almoner, fyrst excusing the remission -of his wonte and bounde offyce & dewtie in vysitinge his grace, & -most humblie beseching the same not to impute yt as proceding of -any alienation of his trewe hart & devotion he bare unto the same, -answered, that he woold most gladly taike upon him the said province & -jorney; desyringe nevertheles his grace that he might defer the same -untyll 20 dayes were past & expired, in which space he might well -performe his residence at Wyndesore. Unto which petycyon his grace -condescendyng, & takynge the same as a full resolution in that behalfe, -pretendinge also to have had noon other cause or matter unto him, -fynished that communicacion, and sodenly asked hym what tydyngs he had -hard of late in the courte?-- - -To this he answered, that he hard noon, but that yt was much bruted -that a Legatt shuld come hyther into England.--Whereuppon his grace -inferred what the quene thought of his comynge, and for what purpose -he should come?----To this he said, that she was fully perswaded & -believed that his comynge was only for the decision of the cause of -matrimonie dependinge betweene her & the kinges highnes. - -Hereupon my lordes grace taking just occasion further to entre in -this mater, & fyrste makyng rehersall of sondrie excellent benefitts -with which his grace had indewed hym, to thend he shuld doo the kings -highnes trewe & faithfull service, & sithe adjuring him upon his -fidelitie, his othe, & _sub sigillo confessionis_, and suche other -obtestations, to conceale & kepe secrete whatsoever his grace shuld -then communicate unto hym, and never to propale the same to any man -lyvyng, oonles he had expresse commandement by the kyngs highnes or his -grace so to doo, desyred hym that he wold faithfully entierly & hooly -declare unto his grace all & singuler soche thinges as he knewe of the -quenes dysposicion, minde, sayings, purpose & intent in this mattier. - -To this the said M^r Almoner fyrst alleging & declaring of how -singuler and perfytt devocyon he was towards the kyngs hyghnes and my -lords grace, & that he wold not oonly be moost redy to execute his -commandements, but also to kepe secrete suche things as his grace -shuld wyll him so to doo: answered, that he hard the quene oft saie -that yf in this cause she myght attaine & injoye her naturall defence & -justice, she distrusted nothing butt yt should taike suche effecte as -shuld be acceptable both to God & man. And that for theese causes:-- - -Fyrst for that it was in the ieies of God moost plaine & evydent that -she was never knowen of Prince Arthure. Secondly, for that neyther of -the judges were competent, being bothe the kings subjects, beneficed -within his realme, & delegate from the pope at the contemplation of -the king, she being never hard, ne admytted to her defence. Thirdly, -for that she ne had ne myght have within this realme any indifferent -counsaile. Fynally, for that she had in Spaine two bulles, the oone -beinge latter daite than the other, but bothe of suche effycacie & -strengthe, as shulde sone remove all objections & cavyllations to be -maide to thinfringing of this matrymonie. - -To this my lord's grace replying said, he marvelled not a lyttle of her -so undyscrete ungodly purposes & sayings, which caused him to conceyve -that she was neyther of suche perfection, ne vertue as he had thought -in tymes past to have been in her: & so entering in refutation of all -the premisses said:-- - -Fyrst, where she saithe that she was not knowen of Prince Arthure, -verely it is a weake & much unsure grownde for her to leane unto, -being so urgent & vehement presumptions _non solum Juris, sed etiam de -Jure_ to the contrarie, which and of congreuence ought to wey more in -every equall judges brest then her symple allegation. For it cannot be -denied but that bothe he & she was then of suche yers as was mete and -hable to explete that act. It is also verey notarie, that thei dyd lye -together, bothe here & in Waylles, by the space of three quarters of a -yere. Furthermore, nothing was so muche desyred of bothe there parentes -as the consummation of the said act: Insomuche that the counsailers of -Ferdinando being resident here for that purposse dyd send the sheets -thei ley in, spotted with bloude, into Spaine, in full testimonye & -prouf therof. The counsaillers also of bothe parties moste solemnelye -sworne affearme in there treaties & saien that the matrymonie was -consummate by that act. Forthermore the comen voyce through England is, -that the said Prince Arthure shuld oftymes boost oon mornyng how ofte -he had been the nyght before in the myddes of Spaine: Insomuche that -commonlye his so primature deathe was imputed onely to _nimio coitu_. - -Fynally, King Henry VIIth of blessed memorie, wold not by certaine -space after the deathe of the saide prince, permytte or suffer that -the kings highnes shuld injoye the name & tytle of Prince, onely for -that it was dowbted by such as than was most abowte the quene whether -she was conceaved wyth chylde or noo. And therefore these presumptions -beinge of suche sorte & nature, my lords grace said, the quene shuld -do lyke neyther wyse ne vartuouse lady to adhere partinacely to the -contrarie. - -To the seconde his grace replied, saying that if she shuld refuse and -decline the judgment of those parsons unto whome the pope's holiness -had delegated the examination of this cause, she shuld not do well, -butt so doing rather incurr the indignacyon of the see apostolique, -deserve the obloque & hatred of all good chossin people & ingenerate -in there hartes a perpetuall hate & enmitie against her. For sythe -the popes holines proceadythe in thys commyssyon at the intercession -or motion of no partie, but onely _ex mero motu pastorali officio_, & -sith that his holines notwithstanding he being notoriously certyfied -that they be the kings subjects, & benefyced within his realme hathe -approved there parsons as moost mete and worthie to have the hole -decision of this cawse commytted unto them: with that also theire -parsons be qualyfyed with so hyghe preemynence & dignitie, as by the -common lawe cannot be refused as suspect. Fynallie sythe the same -parsons being straitly commanded by the king's hyghnes, all affection -of mede or drede set apart, onely to attend, waye, regard & consyder -the justyce of the cawse as they shall therunto answere on perell of -there owne sowles & his dreadfull indignacion, have no cawse which thei -shuld varye or deflect their sentence otherwyse than justyce shall -require, specially in a cawse of suche wayght & importance, & wherin -they for unrighteouse judgement shuld acquire nothing els but theire -owne dampnation, eternall ignominie & indignation of theire prince: -yf she shuld refuse suche parsons as suspect, it might well be saide -that she geveth tytles honour to the auctoritie of the churche, & that -this realme were marvelouslie destytute of men of sincere learnyng & -conscience, to the great slaunder of the same. - -And fynally his grace said, that yf this exception shuld be admytted as -suffycyent cawse of recusation, for that they be benefyced by the kings -hyghnes, than this cawse of matrymonie myght nowhere be ventylated -or dyscussed within Christindone, for that there are no parsons of -auctorite & lernyng in any regyon out of this realme, againe whome -the king's highnes might not alleadge, in lyke manner, lyke cawse of -recusation & suspicion. The pope's holines & the holle clargie of -Ytallie, Flaunders, Spaine, Denmarke & Scotlande, being now eyther -confederate or in thraldome & captivitie of the emperor's tyranny. - -To the third, concerning counsaillors to be retained on her behalf, my -lords grace saide, that although he was ryght well assured of the kings -singuler propencyon & inclination to justyce, & that above all things -his pleasour was justyce shuld be equally mynistred to eyther parte in -this cawse, being also never wylling or in mynde at any tyme, but that -she shuld have aide and assistance of so well lerned men, so wyse, and -of so good conscience, as might any be founde within this realme: yet -his grace thought that consydering the nature of this cawse to be of -suche sorte, as necessarily impliethe the hole tytle of succession of -this realme, lyke as yt were not expedyent, ne myght in any wyse be -suffred withowt great dangier & perell which might therby ensue, to -maike any aliene or straunger previe herunto, specially the Spaniards -having now intelligence with the King of Scotts; So his grace thought -that the quene wold not insyst in so fryvolous petition, which might -never be graunted unto her, but be content to admytt and adhybyt suche -lerned men as be here in this region her counsaillors, namely suche as -by theire othes solempnly maide & vowed, & by expresse commandement -_et optima gratia_ of the king's highnes, shuld withowt frawde or -corruption shew unto her theire sentence and openions: and desyring -the contrarie hereof his grace said she shuld doe nothing but declare -her owne sensuall affection to sett forthe that whiche, all due prouf, -bothe by Gods lawe & mans law hath justly condemned. And thus ended my -lords graces talke with M^r Almoner. - -⁂ Robert Shorton S. T. P. then master of Pembroke Hall and canon of -Windsor was almoner to the queen, preferr'd by her to the deanery of -Stoke Suffolk, the same that was internuncius cardinali de evocandis -viris doctis Cantabrigia Oxoniam, and sometime dean of the cardinal's -chapel. - - - - -_Itinerary of Cardinal Wolseys last Journey Northward, 1530._ - - -He set out from Richmond at the beginning of Passion Week, but we -know not on what precise day. The first days journey was to Hendon in -Middlesex, where he lodged for the night at the house of the abbot of -Westminster. - -The next day he removed to a place called the Rye, the abode of the -Lady Parry. - -The third day to Royston, where he lodged in the monastery. - -The fourth day to Huntingdon, where he sojourned for the night in the -abbey. - -On Palm Sunday he reached the Abbey of Peterborough, which he made his -abode until the Thursday in Easter week, his train for the most part -being at board wages in the town. Here he celebrated Palm Sunday, going -with the monks in procession, and bearing his palm with great humility. -He kept his Maunday on the Thursday so named, with the accustomed -ceremonies and bounties to the poor. On Easter Sunday he also went in -procession in his cardinal's habit, and performed the service of high -mass very devoutly. - -From Peterborough he went to visit his old friend Sir William -Fitzwilliams, about four miles from thence, who received him with great -joy and hospitality. He went there on Thursday in Easter week and -remained until the Monday following, on which day he went to Stamford -and lay there that night. - -On Tuesday he went to Grantham, where he lodged in the house of a -gentleman named Hall. - -On Wednesday he removed to Newark, where he rested in the castle. - -On Thursday to Southwell, where was a palace belonging to his see of -York, but this being out of repair he was lodged in the house of one -of the prebends. At Whitsuntide he removed into the palace, keeping a -noble table, where he was visited by the chief persons of the country. - -At the latter end of _grease time_ he removed to Scroby, another house -belonging to his see of York, being as much regretted at Southwell -as he was greeted at Scroby. In his way to Scroby he took Welbeck or -Newsted Abbey, from thence to Rufford Abbey to dinner, and slept at -Blythe Abbey, reaching Scroby on the following day, where he remained -until Michaelmas. - -About Michaelmas day he removed to his seat of Cawood Castle, twelve -miles (said by Cavendish to be only seven) from York, and in his way -thither he lay two nights and a day at St. Oswald's Abbey, where he -held a confirmation. He lay at Cawood long after, says Cavendish, with -much honour. - -His clergy here waited upon him to take order for his inthronization, -which he seems to have desired should be conducted with as little pomp -as possible. The ceremony was fixed to take place on the Monday after -All Hallown Tide, but he was arrested on the Friday before (fourth of -November) at Cawood, by the Earl of Northumberland and Mr. Welsh. - -They left Cawood with him in custody on Sunday the sixth. The first -night he was lodged in the Abbey of Pomfret. - -The next day [7^{th}] they removed to Doncaster. - -The third day [8^{th}] to Sheffield Park, a seat of the Earl of -Shrewsbury (afterwards appointed by Queen Elizabeth for the meeting -of her and Mary Queen of Scots, which never took place), where he -continued eighteen days, being there seized with the flux. Here Sir -William Kingston the Constable of the Tower came to take charge of his -person, and on Thursday the twenty-fourth of November they set forward, -the cardinal hardly able to sit upright on his mule. They passed the -night at Hardwicke upon Line in Nottinghamshire. (_See note on the -Life_, p. 379.) - -On Friday the twenty-fifth they rode to Nottingham, and lodged there -that night. - -On Saturday the twenty-sixth at night, they reached Leicester Abbey; he -had many times like to have fallen from his mule by the way; telling -the abbot as he entered he had come to lay his bones among them. He -gradually became worse, and died at eight o'clock in the morning of -Tuesday November the twenty-ninth. - - - - - _Beside the solemn mass performed by Cardinal Wolsey upon the - ratification of peace between the French and English kings, which - is described at p. 190 of the Life, he officiated at another great - ceremony of thanksgiving upon occasion of the Pope's deliverance - from captivity. The particulars of which are preserved in the - archives of the Herald's College in an ancient book written by Thomas - Walle, Windsor Herald, and published by Dr. Fiddes at p. 179 of his - Collections. For the convenience of the reader who may not possess Dr. - Fiddes's Life of Wolsey, I have thought it desirable to place this - curious relation in my Appendix._ - - _The Comming and Reseyving of the Lord Cardinall into Powles for the - Escaping of Pope Clement_ VII. A. D. 1527. A^o Regni Henrici VIII. - XIX^{th}. - - -Memorandum that the fifth day of January beyng Sunday even in the year -aforesaid, the Lord Thomas Wolcy Cardinall of Yorke &c. landyd betweene -eight of the clocke and nyne in the morninge at the Black fryars at -London, with great company of noblemen and gentlemen, where met with -him the Embassadours of the Pope, of the Emperour, the Frenche kinge, -of Venise, of Florence, of Millain. And so procedyd on horseback unto -Powles church dore, where they did alight. And ther the officers of -armes longing unto the king gave there theire attendance, and at his -alighting put on there sootes of armes. And here was also foure of -the doctors, prebendarys of the sayd Powles, in copes and grey amys, -which bare a rich canape over him of cloth of gould. And so the lord -cardinall procedyd, havyng themperours embassadour on his right hand, -and the Frenche kinges [embassadour] on his lifte hand, untill he came -to the arches where was prepared a bank with quyshions and carpets, -where the said Lord kneled, and there mete him, in Pontificalibus, the -Bushop of London, the Bushop of St. Asse [Asaph] which censyd him: And -the Bushop of Lincoln, the Bushop of Bath, the Bushop of Llandaff, -the Lord Priour of Westm^r, the Priour of St. Saviours, th Abbots of -Stratford, and of Towerhill, the Priour of Christ-churche, of St. Mary -Spytell, with other to the so[=m]e of xvi miters. And so the procession -of the hole quyer procedyd fourth, havyng thambassadours with him as -afore, up to the quier, and so to the high aultier, wher, his oblation -doon, he went with him into his travers, and duringe that the howre was -a singing he was revestyd in Pontificalibus, and then he with all the -other prelats, the quiere of Powles and his hole quiere, with his suit -of rich copes, went in procession within the said church, the officers -of arms about him, and next after him thembassadours, and then the -Mayor of London, and the other estates and gentlemen, with the aldermen -of the cittie. - -The procession doon, the Masse of the Trinity was begun, songen by the -Byshop of London; the Priour of St. Mary Spittell Gospeller; the Priour -of Christ Church Pistoler. The masse doon the lord cardinall with the -other prelatz went unto the quyer dore, where Doctor Capon declaryd -the calamities, miseries, and the opprobrious deeds and works, with -the great suffrance that our mother the Holy Churche hath suffryd, not -allonly by the Lutherian sorte, which was lyke to have sortyd to an -ungracious effecte; but also now of late of the great unhappy delings -of the Paynymes, and violators of our Christien faith, the men of -warr belonging to the emperor. In the sorrowful destruction of Rome, -where they, like miscreantz, nothing regarding nother God nor shame, -violentlye tooke and by force imprisoned our Holy Father the Pope, the -which now of late by the helpe of our Lord God, which se his churche in -p^rdicion, did releive hit againe; insomuch that our said Holy Father -is escapyd their hands, wherfore the Lord Legats grace by the kings -commandement hath here caused as this day, this noble assemble to be -had, to the end that lauds praysings and congratulations might be gyven -by all true Christien people unto Almighty God, and the hole company of -Heaven. - -And thus doing, the said lord cardinall did give his benediction to -all the people. Which Doctor Capon sayd, much more than I can reherse, -and this doon the sayd lord retournyd to the aultier wher the lord -cardinal began _Te Deum_, the which was solempnly songen with the -kingis trumpetts and shalmes, as well Inglishmen as Venysians, which -doon every man repayred home. And the Lord Legat Cardinall went to his -place to dynner, and the embassadours with him. - - _Copied out of an ancient book written by Thomas Walle Windsore, and - afterwards Garter, folio 126. Examined by us_, - - WILLIAM LE NEVE. - L. YORKE. - DANCER HANCOCKE. - - - - - _The Ceremonial of receiving the Cardinal's Hat, sent by the Pope to - Wolsey._ Extracted from a MS. in the Herald's Office. Ceremon. vol. 3. - p. 219. - -[FROM FIDDES' COLLECTIONS. _See p. 92._] - - -In the yeare of our Lord 1515, the 15^{th} daie of November, being -Thursdaie and the seaventh yeare of our sovereigne lord King Henry -the Eight, the said prothonitary enter'd into London, which before -according was mett bothe at the sea side, likewise at Canterbury and -at Rochester with the bishop of the same, and at Black Heath theare -mett with him the Reverend Father in God the Bishop of Lincolne, the -Earle of Essex, and many other gent. of great honour, both spiritual -and temporal, and soe proceeded through London, the Bishop of Lincolne -ridinge on the right hand [of] the said prothonitary and the Earle of -Essex on his left hand, having with them sixe horses or above, and -they all well beseeming and keeping a good order in their proceeding. -The Maior of London with the aldermen on horseback in Cheapside, and -the crafte stoode in the streets after there custome: and when the -said Hatt was comen to the Abbey of Westminster, wheare at the north -door of the same was redie th Abbot and eight abbotts besides him, -all in pontificalibus, and honorabilie received it; and in like sort -the same conveied to the high alter, whearuppon it was sett. The -Sundaie next following, the eightenth daie, the most Reverend Father -in God my Lord Cardinal, well accompanied with noble and gentlemen, -both spiritual and temporal, being on horseback, as knights, barons, -bishops, earles, dukes, and arch-bishops, all in due order proceeded -from his place betwixt eight and nyne of the clocke to the abbey; and -at the dore beforesaid, his grace with all the noble men descended -from their horses and went to the high alter, wheare on the south -side was ordeyned a goodlie travers from my Lord Cardinal, and when -his grace was comen into it, imediatelie began the Masse of the Holy -Ghost, songen by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Lincoln -Gospeller, and the Bishop of Excester Epistoler, th Arch Bishops of -Armachan and Dublyn, the Bishops of Winchester, Duresme, Norwiche, -Ely, and Landaffe, and viii abbotts, as of Westminster, Saint Albans, -Bury, Glastonbury, Reading, Glocestre, Winche-Combe, Tewkesbury, and -the Prior of Coventrie, all in pontificalibus. The Bishop of Rochester -was crosier to my Lord of Canterbury during the mass. M^r Doctor -Collet, Deane of Powles, made a brief collation or proposition, in -which especially he touched thre things, That is to witt, the name of a -cardinal, and wheareof it is said, alsoe the highe honour and dignitie -of the same, and as keeping the articles due and belonging to it, and -by what meanes he obtained to this high honour chieflie, as by his own -merits, theare naminge divers and sundrie vertues that he hath used, -which have been the cause of his high and joyous promotion to all the -realme. The second cause of his promotion was through our sovereigne -lord the king, for the greate zeale and favour that our holy father the -pope hath to his grace. The second thing, is touching the dignitie of -a prince as having power judicial. The third, of a bishop signifying -both the old and newe lawe, and havinge the power of them, and also -the highe and great power of a cardinal, and howe he betokeneth the -free beames of wisdome and charitie, which the apostles received of -the Holie Ghoste on Whitsundaie, and a cardinal representeth the order -of seraphin, which continually brenneth in the love of the glorious -Trinity; and for thies considerations a cardinal is onelie apparrelled -with redd, which collour onelie betokeneth nobleness; and howe these -three estates before named be collocated and placed in heaven, also he -exhorteth theare my lord cardinal, saying to him in this wise: _Non -magnitudo superbum extollat nobilitatissimum honorisq; dignitate_. But -remember that our Saviour in his owne person said to his disciples, -_Non veni ministrari, sed ministrare; & qui minor inter vos his maior -regno Celorum, et qui se exaltat humiliabilitur, & qui se humiliat -exaltabitur_; my lord cardinal, be glad and enforce your selfe always -to doe and execute righteousness to riche and poore, and mercy with -truth; and desired all people to praie for him that he might the -rather observe these poynts, and in accomplishinge the same what his -reward shall be in the Kingdom of Heaven; and so ended. The Bull was -read by Doctor Vecy, Deane of the King's Chappell, and Excestre, and -at Agnus Dei came forth of his travers my Lord Cardinal and kneeled -before the middle of the high alter, wheare for a certayne tyme he laye -gravelling, his hood over his head, during benedictions and prayers, -concerning the high Creation of a Cardinal, said over him by the Right -Reverend Father in God the Arch-Bishop of Canterburie, which alsoe -sett the hatt uppon his head. Then Te Deum was sung. All service and -ceremonies finished, my Lord came to the doore before-named, led by -the Dukes of Norffolk and Suffolk, where his grace with all the noble -men ascended uppon their horses, and in good order proceeded to his -place by Charing Crosse, next before him the crosse, preceeding it -the mace such as belongeth a cardinal to have, and then my Lord of -Canterbury, havinge no crosse borne before him, with the Bishop of -Winchester, before them the Duke of Norffolk and Suffolk together, and -in like order the residue of the noblemen, as the Bishop of Durham with -the Popes Orator, then the Marquess Dorsett with the Earle of Surrey, -the Earle of Shrewsburie, the Earle of Essex, the Earle of Wiltshire, -the Earle of Derby, the Lord of St. Johns, the Lord Fitzwater, the -Lord of Burgaveny, the Lord Dawbeny, the Lord Willoughby, the Lord -Hastings, the Lord Ferrers, the Lord Lattimer, the Lord Cobham, and -the Lord Darcey, Sir Henry Marney, Sir John Peche, Sir Thomas a Parr, -Sir Nicholas Vaux, and so all other Banneretts, Knyghts, and Gentlemen -before, after their degrees, and following his grace the Arch-bishop of -Armachan and Dublyn, the Bishops of Lincolne and Norwiche, Excestre, -Ely, and Rochester, and the ----, after them, my Lords Cardinals place, -being well sorted in every behalfe, and used with goodlie order, the -hall and chambers garnished very sumptuouslie with riche arras, a great -feast kept as to suche a highe and honourable creation belongeth. -At the which were the King & Queene and the French Queene, with all -the noblemen above specified, alsoe present at the creation the Lord -Fineaux, the Lord Read, the Barons of the Exchequer, with other Judges -and Serjeants at Law. - - -FINIS. - - - - -POEMS. - -BY - -GEORGE CAVENDISH. - - -The Poems of George Cavendish, which accompany the Life of Wolsey in -the Original Autograph Manuscript, consist of a series of Visions upon -the Fortunes and Fall of the most eminent Persons of his time. - -The reader is here presented with the Prologue; the Legend of Wolsey; -and the Author's Address to his Book; with two stanzas from a long -Epitaph on Queen Mary. This specimen, it is presumed, will be deemed -sufficient to convey an idea of the style of Cavendish in verse. -It should be remembered, that the Mirror for Magistrates, which -subsequently became so popular, had not then been given to the world. -Cavendish, therefore, may have formed his plan from Lydgate's Fall of -Princes. Traces of the same kind of versification, which is evidently -intended to depend more on rhythmical cadence than the number of feet -in the verse, will be found in Skelton, in Stephen Hawes, Nicholas -Grimoald, and other contributors to Tottel's Miscellany of Songes and -Sonnettes. In the MS. copy there is no punctuation; but instead we -have the mark of the pause or cæsura in the middle and occasionally at -the end of the line; as may be remarked in the example on the plate of -fac-similes. - - -PROLOUG DE L'AUCTOR G. C. - - In the monyth of June, I lyeng sole alon - Under the umber[246] of an oke with bowes pendant, - Whan Phebus in Gemynys had his course overgon - And entered Cancer, a sygne retrogradant, - In a mean measure his beams radyant, - Approaching Leo, than mused I in mynd - Of fykkellness of Fortune and the course of kynd[247]; - - How some are by fortune exalted to riches, - And often such as most unworthy be; - And some oppressed in langor and sykness, - Some wayling, lakkyng welthe, by wretched povertie; - Some in bayle and bondage, and some at libertie: - With other moo gystes[248] of fortune varyable; - Some pleasant, some mean, and some onprofitable. - - But after dewe serche and better advisement, - I knewe by Reason that oonly God above - Rewlithe thos thyngs, as is most convenyent, - The same devysing to man for his behove[249]; - Wherefore Dame Reason did me persuade, and move - - To be content with my small estate, - And in this matter no more to vestigate. - - Whan I had debated all thyng in my mynd, - I well considered myne obscure blyndness; - So that non excuse could I see or fynd, - But that my tyme I spent in idelnes; - For this me thought, and trew it is doughtles, - That since I ame a reasonable creature, - I owght my reason and wytt to put in ure[250]. - - Than of what matter myght I devise to wright, - To use my tyme and wytte to excercyse, - Sithe most men have no pleasour or delight - In any history, without it sownd to vice: - Alass! shold I than, that ame not young attise - With lewed ballatts, faynt harts to synne, - Or flatter estatts[251] some favor of them to wynne. - - What than shall I wright? the noble doughtyness - Of estatts that used is now a dayes? - I shall than lak matter; for gredy covetousnes - Of vayne riches, whiche hathe stopt all the wayes - Of worthy chyvallry, that now dayly sore dekayes: - And yet thoughe some behave them nobly, - Yet some ther be that dayly doth the contrarye. - - For some lovyth meat fynne and delicious, - And some baudye[252] brothes, as their educasion hath be; - So some lovethe virtue, and some tales vicious: - Sewerly suche tales get ye non of me, - But to eschewe all ociosite, - Of Fortune's fykellnes hereafter shall I wright, - How greatest estatts she overthrowyth by myght. - - Thoughe I onworthe this tragedy do begyne, - Of pardon I pray the reders in meke wyse; - And to correct where they se fault therein, - Reputing it for lak of connyng exercyse. - The cause that moved me to this enterprise - Especyally was that all estatts myght see - What it is to trust to Fortune's mutabylitie. - - With pen and ynke I toke this work in hand, - Redy to wright the deadly dole and whofull playnt - Of them whose fall the world doth understand; - Which for feare made my heart to faynt: - I must wright playn; colours have I none to paynt; - But termes rude their dolours to compile; - An wofull playnt must have an wofull style. - - To whome therefore for helpe shall I nowe call? - Alas! Caliope my calling will utterly refuse; - For mornyng dities and woo of Fortune's falle - Caliope dyd never in hir dyties use; - Wherefore to hir I might my self abuse: - Also the Musis that on Parnasus syng - Suche warblyng dole did - never temper stryng. - - Now to that Lord whose power is celestiall, - And gwydyth all thyng of sadnes and of blysse, - With humble voyce to the I crie and call, - That thou wouldest direct my sely[253] pen in this: - For, wantyng of thy helpe, no marvel thoughe I mysse; - And by thy grace, though my style be rude, - In sentence playne I may full well conclude. - - Nowe by thy helpe this hystory I will begyn, - And from theffect varie nothing at all; - For if I shold, it ware to me great synne - To take uppon me a matter so substancyall, - So waytie, so necessarie, of fame perpetuall: - And thus to be short, oon began to speke - With deadly voyce, as thoughe his hart wold breke. - - - FINIS QUOD G. C. - - -LE HISTORYE - -CARDINALIS EBORACENSIS. - - O Fortune! (quoth he) shold I on the complayn, - Or of my negligence, that I susteyn this smart? - Thy doble visage hathe led me to this trayne; - For at my begynnyng thou dydst ay take my part, - Untill ambysion had puffed up my hart - With vainglory, honor, and usurped dignytie, - Forgettyng cleane my naturall mendycitie. - - From povertie to plentie, which now I see is vayn, - A cardinal I was, and legate de latere, - A byshope and archbysshope, the more to crease my gayn - Chauncellor of Englond, Fortune by hir false flatterie - Dyd me advance, and gave me such auctorytie - That of hyghe and low I toke on me the charge, - All England to rewle, my power extendyd large. - - Whan Fortune with favor had set me thus aloft, - I gathered me riches; suffisance could not content; - My fare was superfluous, my bed was fyne and soft; - To have my desiers I past not what I spent: - In yerthe, such abondaunce Fortune had me lent, - Yt was not in the world that I could well requier, - But Fortune strayt wayes did graunt me my desier. - - My byldyngs somptious, the roffes with gold and byse[254] - Shone lyke the sone in myd day spere, - Craftely entaylled[255] as connyng could devise, - With images embossed, most lively did appere; - Expertest artificers that ware both farre and nere, - To beautyfie my howssys, I had them at my will: - Thus I wanted nought my pleasures to fullfill. - - My galleries ware fayer both large and long, - To walke in them whan that it lyked me best; - My gardens sweet, enclosed with walles strong, - Embanked with benches to sytt and take my rest; - The knotts so enknotted, it cannot be exprest[256], - With arbors and alyes so pleasant and so dulce, - The pestylent ayers with flavors to repulse. - - My chambers garnysht with arras fynne, - Importyng personages of the lyvelyest kynd: - And whan I was disposed in them to dynne, - My clothe of estate there ready did I fynd, - Furnysshed complett according to my mynd; - The subtyll perfumes of muske and sweet amber, - There wanted non to perfume all my chamber. - - Plate of all sorts most curiously wrought, - Of facions new, I past not of[257] the old, - No vessell but sylver before me was brought, - Full of dayntes vyands, the some cannot be told; - I dranke my wynne alwayes in sylver and in gold: - And daylye to serve me, attendyng on my table, - Servaunts I had bothe worshipfull and honorable. - - My crosses twayne of sylver long and greate, - That dayly byfore me ware carried hyghe, - Upon great horses, opynly in the strete, - And massie pillars gloriouse to the eye, - With pollaxes gylt that no man durst come nyghe - My presence, I was so pryncely to behold, - Ridyng on my mule trapped in sylver and gold. - - My legantyne prerogatyve was myche to myn avayle, - By vertue wherof I had thys high preemynence: - All vacant benefices I did them strayt retaylle, - Presentyng than my clarke, as sone as I had intellygence: - I prevented the patron, ther vaylled[258] no resistence; - All bysshopes and prelates durst not oons denay, - They doughted so my power, they myght not dysobey. - - Thus may you see how I to riches did attayne, - And with suffisaunce my mynd was not content; - Whan I had most, I rathest[259] wold complayne; - For lake of good, alas! how I was blent[260]! - Where shall my gatheryngs and good be spent? - - Some oon, perchance, shall me thereof dyscharge, - Whom I most hate, and spend it owt at large[261]. - - Sytting in Jugement, parcyall ware my doomes; - I spared non estatte, of hyghe or low degree; - I preferred whom me lyst, exaltyng symple gromes - Above the nobles; I spared myche the spritualtie, - Not passyng myche on the temperaltie; - Promotyng such to so hyghe estate - As unto prynces wold boldly say chek-mate. - - Oon to subdewe that did me always favor, - And in that place another to avaunce, - Ayenst all trewthe, I did my busy labor, - And, whilest I was workyng witty whiles in Fraunce, - I was at home supplanted, where I thought most assuraunce: - Thus who by fraud fraudelent is found, - Fraud to the defrauder will aye rebound. - - Who workyth fraude often is disceyved; - As in a myrror, ye may behold in me; - For by disceyt, or I had it perceyved, - I was disceyved; a guerdon mete parde - For hyme that wold, ayenst all equite, - Dysceyve the innocent, that innocent was in deede; - Therefore Justice of Justice ayenst me must proceede. - - For by my subtill dealyng thus it came to passe, - Cheafely disdayned, for whome I toke the payn; - And than to repent it was too late, alas! - My purpose I wold than have changed fayn; - But it wold not be, I was perceived playn: - Thus Venus the goddesse that called is of love - Spared not with spight to bryng me from above. - - Alas! my soverayn Lord, thou didest me avaunce, - And settest me uppe in thys great pompe and pryde, - And gavest to me thy realme in governaunce; - Thy pryricely will why did I set aside, - And followed myn own, consideryng not the tyde, - How after a floode an ebbe comyth on a pace? - That to consider, in my tryhumphe I lakked grace. - - Now fykkell Fortune torned bathe hir whele, - Or I it wyst[262], all sodenly, and down she did me cast; - Down was my bed, and upward went my hele, - My hold faylled me that I thought suer and fast; - I se by experience, hir favor doth not last; - For she full low now hath brought - me under, Though I on hir complayn, alas! it is no wonder. - - I lost myne honor; my treasure was me beraft; - Fayn to avoyd, and quykly to geve place, - Symply to depart, for me nothing was laft, - Without penny or pound I lived a certyn space, - Untill my soverayn Lord extendyd to me his grace; - - Who restored me sufficient, if I had byn content - To mayntayn myn estate, both of loud and rent. - - Yet, notwithstanding, my corage was so hault, - Dispight of mine enemyes rubbed me on the gall, - Who conspyred together to take me with asault; - They travelled without triall to geve me a fall: - I therefore entendyd to trie my frends all; - To forrayn potentates wrott my letters playn, - Desireng their ayd, to restore me to favor againe. - - Myn ennemyes, perceiving, caught thereof dysdayn, - Doughtyng the daynger, dreamed on the dought; - In councell consulting, my sewte to restrayn, - Accused me of treason, and brought it so about - That, travelling to my trial, or I could trie it owte, - Death with his dart strake me for the nons[263], - In Leicester, full lowe, where nowe lyeth my boons. - - Loo, nowe you may see what it is to trust - In worldly vanyties that voydyth with the wynd; - For death in a moment consumeth all to dust: - No honor, no glory, that ever man cowld fynd, - But Tyme with hys tyme puttythe all out of mynd; - For Tyme in breafe tyme duskyth the hystory - Of them that long tyme lyved in glory. - - Where is my tombe that I made for the nons, - Wrought of fynne copper, that cost many a pound, - To couche in my carion and my rotten boots? - All is byt vayn-glory, now I have found, - And small to the purpose, when I am in the ground; - What doth it avaylle me, all that I have, - Seyng I ame deade and laved in my grave? - - Farewell Hampton Court, whos founder I was; - Farewell Westminster Place, now a palace royall; - Farewell the Moore, let Tynnynainger[264] passe; - Farewell, in Oxford, my college cardynall; - Farewell, in Ipsewich, my schole gramaticall: - Yet oons farewell, I say, I shall you never see; - Your somptious byldyng, what now avayllethe me? - - What avayllyth my great aboundance? - What is nowe left to helpe me in this case? - Nothing at all but dompe in the daunce, - Among deade men to tryppe on the trace: - And for my gay housis now have I this place - To lay in my karcas, wrapt in a sheete, - Knytt with a knott at my lied and my feete. - - What avayleth now my feather bedds soft, - Sheets of Raynes[265], long, large, and wide, - And dyvers devyses of clothes chaynged oft; - Or vicious chapleyns walking by my syde, - Voyde of all vertue, fullfilled with pryde, - Which bathe caused me, by report of suche fame, - For ther myslyvyng to have an yll name. - - This is my last complaynt, I can say you no more, - But farewell my servant that faythefull hathe be; - Note well these words, quod he, I pray the therfore, - And wright them thus playn, as I have told them the, - All which is trewe, thou knowest well, parde; - Thou faylledst me not, untill that I dyed, - And now I must depart, I maye no longer byde! - - -SPECIMEN - -OF - -AN EPITAPHE ON QUENE MARIE. - -BY GEORGE CAVENDISH: - -CONSISTING OF FIFTEEN STANZAS. - - Discend from hevyn, O Muse Melpomene, - Thou mournfull goddesse, with thy sisters all, - Passe in your playnts the wofull Niobe, - Tome musyke to mone with teeres eternall, - Blake be your habetts, dyme, and funeral; - For deathe bathe bereft, to our great dolour, - Mary our mastres, our quene of honor. - - Our quene of honor, compared aptly - To VERITAS VICTRIX, daughter of Tyme, - By God assisted, amased in armye, - When she a virgin cleare, without cryme, - By ryght, without might, did happely clyme - To the stage royal, just inheritor, - Proclaymed Mary our quene of honor. - - -TH'AUCTOR TO HIS BOOKE. - - Crepe forthe, my boke, under the proteccion - Of suche as have bothe learnyng and eloquence; - Humbly submyttyng the to the correccion - Of worthy writers of virtuous excellence, - Besechyng all them, of ther benygn pacience - To take the meanyng, however the matter frame, - Of this thyn auctor, abasshed of his name. - - For, first of all, whan I do behold - Of famous writers the goodly circumstance, - My quaking hand my penne unnethe can hold, - So dombe I ame of doctryn, lame of experience, - Stakeryng in style, onsavery of sentence, - Save oonly hope, that saithe withouten fayll, - That my well meanyng shall quytt my travayll. - - Thus, not presumyng of learnyng ne eloquence, - Hope made me shove the boote from the shore; - Desyryng no thyng for my fare or expence, - But only good wyll; I aske no more: - And for[266] the hurt of envy that myght rore, - I shall set my shrowd[267] for my defence, - Under the mantell of well wyllyng audyence. - - And principally this my work for to assist, - I humbly beseche that Lord that is eternall - To defend my penne that wrott this with my fist, - To be my savegard, my staffe, and my wall; - And consequently for feare least I shold fall - In the daynger of the learned[268] and honorable sort, - I pray them all my lamenes to support. - - Least perchaunce the pleasaunt floode do faylle - Of witty writing or sugred eloquence, - Followe, therfore, good wyll at the boots taylle, - Me to preserve in the waves of ignorance, - Socoured by hope and gentill sufferance: - Nowe hale uppe, skuller; God graunt me wynd, - And Jhesu defend me to my lives end. - - Whan thou, my boke, comest into the prease - Bothe of the wyse and learned multitude, - To excuse thyn auctor thou canst do no lesse, - - Wantyng learnyng, and of utterance rude, - Which did never this enterprise entrude; - Trustyng either of wytt or learnyng, - But for an exercise, and non other thyng. - - FINIE ET COMPILÉ LE XXIIIJ JOUR DE JUNIJ - Ā REGNO[=R] PHILIPPI REX & REGINE MARIE IIIJ^{TO}. & V^{TO}.[269] - - PER LE AUCTOR G. C. - - _Novus Rex, nova Lex: Nova sola Regina, probz pene ruina._ - - - FINIS. - - - - - LONDON: - - PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[246] _umber_, i. e. shade, _ombre_, Fr. - -[247] _kynd_, is _nature_. - -[248] _gystes_, or _gests_, are _actions_. - -[249] For his _behove_, for his _behoof_ or _advantage_. - -[250] To put in _ure_, i. e. to put in _use_. Thus in Ferrex and -Porrex, by Sackville: - - And wisdome willed me without protract - In speedie wise to put the same in _ure_. - - -[251] _estatts_, i. e. nobles, persons of rank or great estate. - -[252] This word was used by our ancestors to signify any thing _greasy_ -or _filthy_; the revolutions of language have at length confined it to -one only of its ancient acceptations, that of _obscenity_. - -[253] _sely_, i. e. _simple_. - -[254] _gold and byse_, is gold and _purple_. - -[255] _entaylled_, i. e. carved, vide p. 300. - -[256] This is no uninteresting picture of the seclusion desired by our -ancestors in the old geometric style of gardening. Of this curious -knot-garden of Wolsey the remains are still to be seen at Hampton -Court, the maze there forming part of it. - -[257] _I past not of_, i. e. I cared not for. - -[258] _vaylled_, availed. - -[259] _rathest_, i. e. soonest. - -[260] _blent_, i. e. _blind_. - -[261] This is a version of the concluding passage of the Life of the -Cardinal. - -[262] _wyst_, i. e. knew. - -[263] for the _nons_, or _nonce_, for the _purpose_. - -[264] This is _Tittenhanger_, in Hertfordshire, which Wolsey held as -Abbot of St. Albans: there was formerly a palace belonging to the -Abbots of St. Albans there. - -[265] Sheets of _Raynes_. The fine linen used by our ancestors is -frequently called cloth of _Raynes_. Rennes in Brittanny was formerly -celebrated for its manufacture of fine linen. In the enumeration of the -cardinal's treasures at Hampton Court, many pieces of cloth of Raynes -are mentioned. In the Old Phrase Book, entitled Vulgaria, by W. Horman, -1519, is the following passage: "He weareth a shurte of _Raynis_ whan -curser wold serve him." - -[266] "And _for_ the hurt of envy," i. e. _against_ the hurt of envy. -Envy being the _cause_ of his seeking to shrowd himself. - -[267] A _shrowd_, signified a shield or buckler, and metaphorically any -kind of defence, coverture, or place of protection. - -[268] ----"least I shold fall _In the daynger_ of the learned and -honorable sort." - -That is, "lest I should encounter their _censure_, or fall into the -control of their severe judgment." The phrase has its origin from the -barbarous Latin _in dangerio_, and is common to Chaucer and our elder -writers as well as to Shakspeare and his cotemporaries. - -[269] By this is meant the Fourth Year of the Reign of Philip, and -the Fifth of Queen Mary, answering to 1558. The Latin rhyming couplet -Cavendish appears to have added after the commencement of Elizabeth's -reign. How far from a true prophecy it proved, the long and prosperous -reign of Elizabeth may witness. - - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - -There are many typographical irregularities present in this book. -The two most frequent are superscripted characters, indicated here with -a preceding carat (^) symbol, and macrons. - -Non-UTF-8 standard macrons are indicated with a bracket and equals sign. For -example: an 'm' with a macron over it appearing in the original text is -transcribed as [=m]. - -Minor obvious punctuation and printer errors were repaired. - -Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as -possible, including obsolete and variant spellings, inconsistent -hyphenation, and other inconsistencies. - -There are many unusual characters present in this book. In the text -version, these characters are rendered using the Distributed -Proofreaders' standard (for example, [=M] for a capital M with a macron -(bar) over it). - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of Cardinal Wolsey, by George Cavendish - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF CARDINAL WOLSEY *** - -***** This file should be named 54043-0.txt or 54043-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/0/4/54043/ - -Produced by MWS, Christopher Wright and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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