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SOLEMN 

Distribution  of  Prizes 
$g 

ST.  MICHAEL'S    COLLEGE 
TORONTO 


obtained  by  M 

The  Superior, 

The  Professor, 


June, 
Prize      ^ 


LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 


THE  LIFE  AND  DEATH 

OF 

THOMAS    WOLSEY 

CARDINAL 
©nee  Brcbbfsbop  of  H)otfc  ano  OLorfc  Cbancellor  of  Bnglanfc 


CONTAINING 

1.  THE  ORIGIN  OF  HIS  PROMOTION,  AND  THE)  WAY 

HE  TOOK  TO  OBTAIN  IT 

2.  THE  CONTINUANCE  IN  HIS  MAGNIFICENCE 

3.  HIS  NEGOTIATIONS  CONCERNING  THE  PEACE  WITH 

FRANCE  AND  THE  NETHERLANDS 

4.  HIS  FALL,  DEATH,  AND  BURIAL 

WHEREIN  ARE  THINGS  REMARKABLE  FOR  THESE 
TIMES 


WRITTEN    BY 

ONE   OF   HIS   OWN   SERVANTS,   BEING   HIS 
GENTLEMAN   USHER 


EDITED  BY 

GRACE    H.    M.    SIMPSON 


R.  &  T.  WASHBOURNE 

18  PATERNOSTER  ROW,  LONDON 

BENZIGER  BROS. :  NEW  YORK,  CINCINNATI,  AND  CHICAGO 

1901 
[All  rights  reserved] 


]HE  author  of  this  book,  Sir  William 
Cavendish,  was  Privy  Counsellor  during 
the  successive  reigns  of  Henry  VIII., 
Edward  VI.,  and  Queen  Mary.  Preserving  to  the 
last  great  esteem  and  reverence  for  his  old  master, 
Cardinal  Wolsey,  he  wrote  his  life. 

For  a  long  time  it  remained  only  in  manuscript, 
and  is  quoted  by  Lord  Herbert  in  his  '  History  of 
Henry  VIII.,'  and  by  Burnet  in  his  '  History  of 
the  Reformation.'  It  was  at  length  printed  for 
Dorman  Newman,  and  dedicated  to  the  Marquis 
of  Dorset,  in  1667.  This  is  the  first  edition. 

I  give  below  a  short  account  of  Sir  William 
Cavendish,  taken  from  the  '  Biographia  Britannica,' 
published  1748 : 

'William  Cavendish,  a  great  favourite  and 
Privy  Counsellor  of  three  Princes,  viz.,  Henry  VIII., 
Edward  VI.,  and  Queen  Mary,  was  the  second 


VI          PREFACE  TO  THE   PRESENT  EDITION 

son  of  Thomas  Cavendish,  of  Cavendish,  in 
the  county  of  Suffolk,  Clerk  of  the  Pipe  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  and  was  born  about  the 
year  1505,  being  descended  of  very  ancient 
and  honourable  families,  both  by  his  father 
and  mother,  as  appears  by  unquestionable  authori- 
ties. He  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 
whose  person  he  waited  in  quality  of  Gentleman 
Usher  of  his  chamber  at  a  time  when  he  lived 
with  all  the  state  and  dignity  of  a  Prince.  ...  As 
Mr.  Cavendish  was  the  Cardinal's  countryman,  and 
as  he  had  a  great  kindness  for  his  father,  he  took 
him  early  into  his  confidence,  and  showed  him, 
upon  all  occasions,  very  particular  marks  of  kind- 
ness and  respect. 

'In  1527  he  attended  his  master  in  his  splendid 
embassy  to  France.  .  .  .  He  returned  with  that 
great  Prelate  into  England,  and  served  him  with 
the  utmost  zeal  and  fidelity  as  well  in  his  disgrace 
as  when  in  the  highest  favour,  and  was  one  of  the 
few  servants  that  stuck  close  to  him  when  he  had 
neither  office  nor  salary  to  bestow  upon  them. 
This  was  so  far  from  prejudicing  him  in  the  opinion 
of  his  Sovereign,  that  on  this  very  account  he  took 


PREFACE   TO   THE   PRESENT   EDITION          vii 

particular  notice  of  him,  and  gave  him  singular 
intimations  of  his  grace  and  favour ;  and  after  the 
Cardinal's  death,  upon  whom  Mr.  Cavendish  waited 
to  the  last  and  delayed  going  to  Court  till  he  had 
seen  his  body  interred,  the  King  took  him  into  his 
own  family  and  service.  He  was  also  constituted 
one  of  the  Commissioners  for  visiting  and  taking 
the  surrenders  of  several  religious  houses,  and  in 
1531  he  took  several  surrenders  in  that  capacity. 
In  1540  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  auditors  of 
the  Court  of  Augmentation,  and  soon  after  had  a 
very  considerable  grant  made  him  of  several  lord- 
ships in  the  county  of  Hereford.  In  1546  he  was 
made  Treasurer  of  the  Chamber  to  His  Majesty, 
and  on  Easter  Day  the  same  year  he  had  the 
honour  of  Knighthood  conferred  upon  him,  and 
was  soon  after  sworn  of  the  Privy  Council.  He 
continued  to  enjoy  both  these  honours  for  the 
space  of  eleven  years,  in  which  time  his  estate 
was  much  increased  by  the  grants  he  received  from 
King  Edward  VI.  in  several  counties  ;  nor  does  it 
appear  that  he  was  less  in  credit  or  favour  with 
Queen  Mary,  under  whose  reign  he  died,  1557. 
He  married  three  wives.  ...  His  third  and  last 
wife  survived  him.  By  her  he  had  issue  three 
sons  and  as  many  daughters.  .  .  . 

'  He  appears  from  his  writings  to  have  been  a 
man  of  great  honour  and  integrity,  a  good  subject 


Vlil        PREFACE  TO  THE   PRESENT  EDITION 

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.' 


THE  EPISTLE  DEDICATORY 

TO 

THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE  HENRY, 
LORD  MARQUIS  OF  DORCHESTER 

|Y  NOBLE  LORD, 

True  nobility  and  learning  are  the 
grand  accomplishments  which  make 
your  Honour  outshine  the  most  of  your  degree  in 
the  cynosure  of  all  arts  and  sciences,  of  which 
your  Lordship  is  so  great  a  master  and  patron  that 
you  despise  not  the  addresses  of  the  meanest 
endeavours. 

My  Lord,  I  have  now  presumed  to  dedicate  to 
your  Lordship  the  Life  and  Death  of  that  famous 
Cardinal  Wolsey,  newly  reprinted ;  the  subject 
whereof  takes  in  the  most  remarkable  occurrences 
of  those  times,  not  unworthy  the  perusal  of  ours, 
seeing  it  is  no  small  advantage  future  times  reap 
from  former  ages,  and  great  men  from  their  prede- 
cessors ;  for  they  may  inform  themselves  what 
made  them  shine,  to  provoke  their  imitation,  and 


X  THE   EPISTLE   DEDICATORY 

what  it  was  that  clouded  them,  to  excite  their 
caution. 

My  Lord,  this  great  person  was  then  looked 
upon  as  the  most  able  pilot  to  steer  things  aright, 
both  in  Church  and  State,  whilst  he  was  embarked 
in  those  two  great  offices  of  Lord  High  Chancellor 
of  England,  and  Archbishop  of  York ;  and  so 
equally  did  he  balance  things  in  those  troublesome 
times  that  one  observes  of  him,  'That  he  never 
spake  a  word  too  much,  and  but  one  too  little ' ; 
nor  were  his  successes  inconsiderable  in  begetting 
a  right  understanding  between  foreign  nations  and 
home ;  as  in  the  Netherlands,  so  especially  in 
France,  which  he  did  with  so  much  amity,  as  if  he 
would  cross  that  pleasant  proverb,  '  Kingdoms  are 
never  married.' 

My  Lord,  had  this  Cardinal  been  a  man  of  no 
conscience  (as  some  would  have  it),  his  Honour 
might  have  been  more  lasting,  though  we  have 
reason  to  believe  his  own  words  (notwithstanding 
his  great  magnificence),  i.e.,  that  had  he  been  as 
faithful  to  his  Maker  as  to  his  master,  he  had  not 
been  deserted  in  his  old  age,  when  Fortune  frowned 
on  him  ;  though,  indeed,  he  died  rather  neglected 
than  quite  cast  off. 

My  Lord,  great  men  are  set  in  the  world  like 
diamonds  in  a  ring,  and  the  first  thing  the  vulgar 
look  at  is  to  observe  their  flaws  ;  which  made 


THE  EPISTLE  DEDICATORY  XI 

them  think  the  Cardinal's  prosperity  might  have 
been  more  durable,  had  it  been  more  moderate  ; 
but  Rickets-like,  growing  too  big  in  the  head,  it 
enfeebled  its  supporters,  yet  not  so  much  as  to 
make  his  own  magnificence  or  memory  to  be 
forgotten. 

May  it  therefore  please  your  Honour  to  counte- 
nance this  new  edition,  since  the  old  one  hath 
survived  his  greatest  enemies,  and  now  hath  ex- 
pired, Phoenix-like,  to  give  place  to  this.  I  beg 
your  Lordship's  pardon  for  my  bold  attempt,  and 
disturbing  your  serious  affairs.  And  that  your 
Lordship  may  long  live,  to  shine  in  our  English 
orb,  is  the  prayer  of 

Your  Lordship's  most  humble  servant, 

N.  D. 


AN  ADVERTISEMENT  TO  THE 
READER 

|HO  pleaseth  to  read  this  history  advisedly 
may  well  perceive  the  mutability  of 
honour,  the  tottering  state  of  earthly 
dignity,  the  deceit  of  flattering  friends,  and  the 
instability  of  Princes'  favours. 

This  great  Cardinal  having  experience  of  all 
this,  witness  his  fleeting  from  honour,  the  loss  of 
friends,  riches,  dignities,  being  forgotten  of  his 
Prince,  whilst  Fortune  smiled ;  having  satiety  of 
all  these,  and  she  bending  her  brow,  deprived  him 
of  all  terrestrial  joys,  who  by  twenty  years'  study 
and  pains  had  obtained  so  great  wealth  and 
dignity  and  in  less  than  one  year  lost  all. 
And  thus  was  his  honour  laid  in  the  dust. 


THE    PREFACE 

j]T  seemeth  no  wisdom  to  credit  every  light 
tale,  blazed  about  in  the  mouths  of 
vulgars,  for  we  daily  hear  how  with  their 
blasphemous  trump  they  spread  abroad  innumer- 
able lies,  without  either  shame  or  honesty ;  which 
primd  facie  sheweth  forth  a  visage  of  truth,  as 
though  it  were  an  absolute  verity,  though  indeed 
nothing  less,  and  amongst  the  better  sort  those 
babblings  are  of  no  validity. 

I  have  read  the  allegations  of  divers  worthy 
authors  against  such  false  rumours  and  opinions 
of  the  common  people,  who  delight  in  nothing 
more  than  to  hear  strange  things  and  to  see  new 
alterations  of  authority,  rejoicing  sometimes  in 
such  novelties,  which  afterwards  do  produce  re- 
pentance. Thus  may  all  men  of  understanding 
conceive  the  madness  of  the  rude  multitude,  and 
not  give  too  much  credence  to  every  sudden 
rumour,  until  the  truth  be  perfectly  known,  by  the 


XIV  PREFACE 

report  of  some  approved  and  credible  persons, 
that  commonly  have  the  best  intelligence.  I  have 
heard,  and  also  seen  set  forth  in  divers  printed 
books,  some  untrue  imaginations,  after  the  death 
of  divers  persons  (who  in  their  lives  were  in  great 
estimation),  invented  rather  to  bring  their  honest 
names  in  question  than  otherwise. 

Now  I  intend .  to  write  here  some  special  pro- 
ceedings of  Cardinal  Wolsey,  the  great  Arch- 
bishop, his  ascending  into  honour  and  great  pro- 
motion, his  continuance  in  it  and  sudden  falling 
from  the  same,  a  great  part  whereof  shall  be  of 
mine  own  knowledge  and  some  part  from  credible 
persons'  informations.  This  Cardinal  was  njy 
Lord  and  master,  whom  in  his  lifetime  I  served 
and  so  remained  with  him  in  his  fall  continually, 
during  the  time  of  all  his  troubles,  both  in  the 
south  and  north  parts  until  he  died. 

In  all  which  time  I  punctually  observed  all  his 
demeanours,  as  also  in  his  great  triumph  and 
glorious  estate.  And  since  his  departure,  I  have 
heard  divers  surmised  and  imagined  tales  concern- 
ing his  proceedings  and  dealings,  which  I  myself 
have  certainly  known  to  be  most  untrue,  unto 
which  I  could  have  sufficiently  answered  according 
to  truth ;  but  conceiving  it  to  be  much  better  to 
be  silent  than  to  reply  against  their  untruths, 
whereby  I  might  perhaps  have  rather  kindled  a 


PREFACE  XV 

great  flame  of  displeasure  than  have  quenched  one 
spark  of  their  untrue  reports,  therefore  I  did  refer 
the  truth  thereof  to  the  Almighty,  Who  knows  the 
truth  of  all  things. 

Nevertheless,  whatsoever  any  man  hath  con- 
ceived of  him  in  his  life  or  since  his  death,  thus 
much  I  dare  say  without  offence  to  any,  that  in 
my  judgment  I  never  saw  this  realm  in  better 
obedience  and  quiet  than  it  was  in  the  time  of  his 
authority,  nor  justice  better  administered  without 
partiality,  as  I  could  justly  prove,  if  I  should  not 
be  taxed  with  too  much  affection. 

I  will  therefore  here  desist  to  speak  any  further 
by  the  way  of  apology,  and  proceed  now  to  speak 
of  his  origin  and  of  ascending  through  fortune's 
favour  to  high  dignity  and  abundance  of  wealth. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

.  i.  OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  ORIGIN,  AND  WHO  HE  WAS      19 
ii.  OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  SPEEDY  DESPATCH  IN  HIS 

FIRST  AMBASSAGE   TO    THE   EMPEROR  MAXI- 
MILIAN -        25 

in.  OF  KING  HENRY'S  INVADING  FRANCE  IN  -HIS 

OWN  PERSON,  WITH  THE  CARDINAL'S  ASSIST- 
ANCE    -  -        31 

IV.  THE  KING  PROMOTING  HIS  ALMONER,   WOLSEY 
BEING    MADE    CARDINAL  AND    LORD    CHAN- 
CELLOR OF  ENGLAND  -         35 
V.   OF  THE  ORDERS  AND   OFFICES  OF   HIS   HOUSE 

AND  CHAPEL     -  -38 

VI.   OF  HIS  SECOND  AMBASSAGE  TO  THE  EMPEROR 

CHARLES   V.  43 

VII.   OF    THE    MANNER    OF    HIS     GOING     TO    WEST- 
MINSTER HALL  -  -        46 

vni.  OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  MAGNIFICENCE  IN   HIS 

HOUSE  -  -      49 

IX.  OF   THE    ORIGINAL    INSTRUMENT    OF    THE 

CARDINAL'S  FALL,  MISTRESS  ANNE  BOLEYN      55 
X.  OF  MISTRESS  ANNE  BOLEYN'S  FAVOUR  WITH 

THE  KING          -  -        59 

XI.   OF    THE    VARIANCE     BETWEEN    THE    FRENCH 

KING  AND  THE  DUKE  OF  BOURBON,  ETC.    -        63 
XII.   OF  THE  DUKE  OF  BOURBON'S  STRATAGEM  AND 
VICTORY,  WHEREIN  THE   FRENCH   KING  WAS 
TAKEN   PRISONER          -  67 

2 


XViil  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XIII.  OF  THE  FRENCH  KING'S  REDEMPTION  OUT  OF 

CAPTIVITY,  AND  OF   THE   CARDINAL'S  AM- 
BASSAGE  INTO  FRANCE  -      73 

XIV.  OF  THE  FRENCH  AMBASSADOR'S  ENTERTAIN- 

MENT AND  DESPATCH  -    IOO 

XV.  OF  THE  KING'S  DISCOVERY  OF  HIS  LOVE  FOR 
MISTRESS  ANNE  BOLEYN  TO  THE  CARDINAL, 
WITH  THE  CARDINAL'S  DISLIKE,  ETC.          -    112 
XVL  A  NEW  COURT  ERECTED  TO  DETERMINE  THE 
KING'S  CASE,  TWO  CARDINALS  BEING  JUDGES, 

AND  OF  THE   ISSUE      -  -       Il8 

XVII.  OF  CERTAIN  PASSAGES  CONDUCING  TO  THE 

CARDINAL'S  FALL       -  -     136 

XVIII.  THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON 

IN  THE  PARLIAMENT  HOUSE,  AND  MR.  CROM- 
WELL'S  DEFENCE  FOR  HIM    -  -    149 

XIX.  OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  FALL,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS 

ARRESTED  OF  HIGH  TREASON          -          -    169 
xx.  OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  ENTERTAINMENT  AT  THE 
EARL  OF  SHREWSBURY'S,  AND  OF  HIS  DEATH 
AND  BURIAL    -          -          -  '    179 


LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 


OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  ORIGIN,  AND  WHO  HE  WAS 

|RUTH  it  is  Cardinal  Wolsey  was  an 
honest  poor  man's  son  in  the  town  of 
Ipswich,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  and 
there  born,  who,  being  but  a  child,  was  very  apt 
to  learn,  wherefore,  by  means  of  his  parents  and 
other  good  friends,  he  was  maintained  at  the 
University  of  Oxford,  where  in  a  short  time  he 
prospered  so  well,  that  in  a  small  time  (as  he  told 
me  with  his  own  mouth)  he  was  made  Batchelor  of 
Arts,  when  he  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  was 
most  commonly  called  the  '  Boy  Batchelor.'  Thus 
prospering  in  learning,  he  was  made  Fellow  of 
Magdalen  College  in  Oxford ;  after  that  he  was 
made  Master  of  Magdalen  School,  at  which  time 
there  were  the  Lord  Marquis  of  Dorset's  sons 

2 — 2 


2O  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

there  at  school,  committing  unto  him  as  well  their 
education  as  their  instructions  and  learning. 

It  pleased  this  Lord  Marquis  against  Christmas 
to  send  as  well  for  the  schoolmaster  as  for  the 
scholars  home  to  his  house,  for  their  recreation  in 
that  pleasant  and  honourable  forest.  They  being 
awhile  there,  the  Lord  Marquis,  their  father,  per- 
ceiving them  to  be  well  improved  in  learning  for 
the  time,  he  was  so  well  contented,  that  he  having 
a  benefice  in  his  gift  (being  at  that  present  void), 
gave  the  schoolmaster  the  same  in  regard  of  his 
diligence.  After  Christmas,  at  his  departure  to 
the  University,  and  he  having  the  presentation 
thereof,  repaired  to  the  Ordinary  for  his  institution, 
and  being  then  furnished  with  all  his  instruments 
at  the  Ordinary's  hands  for  his  preferment,  made 
haste  without  any  further  delay  to  his  benefice  to 
take  possession  thereof.  Now  you  shall  under- 
stand that  the  schoolmaster  had  not  been  long 
there,  but  one  Sir  James  Pawlet,  Knight,  dwelling 
in  the  country  thereabouts,  took  an  occasion  of 
displeasure  against  him,  but  upon  what  ground  I 
know  not,  insomuch  that  Sir  James  was  so  bold  as 
to  set  the  schoolmaster  by  the  heels  during  his 
displeasure,  which  affront  was  afterwards  neither 
forgotten  nor  forgiven  ;  for  when  the  schoolmaster 
mounted  so  high  as  to  be  Lord  Chancellor  of 
England,  he  was  not  forgetful  of  his  old  dis- 


THE  CARDINAL'S  ORIGIN,  AND  WHO  HE  WAS  21 

pleasure,  most  cruelly  ministered  unto  him  by 
Sir  James,  but  sent  for  him,  and  after  a  very  sharp 
reproof,  enjoined  him  not  to  depart  out  of  London 
without  license  first  obtained,  so  that  he  continued 
in  the  Middle  Temple  the  space  of  five  or  six  years, 
who  afterwards  lay  in  the  Gate-House  next  the 
stairs,  which  he  re-edified  and  sumptuously  beauti- 
fied the  same  all  over  on  the  outside  with  the 
Cardinal's  arms,  his  hat,  his  cognizance  and 
badges,  with  other  devices  in  so  glorious  a 
manner,  as  he  thought  thereby  to  have  appeased 
his  old  displeasure.  This  may  be  a  good  pre- 
cedent for  men  in  authority,  which  work  their  own 
wills  without  wit,  to  remember  that  greatness  may 
decay.  And  those  whom  they  do  punish  more  of 
humour  than  justice  may  afterwards  be  advanced 
to  great  honour  (as  this  Cardinal  was),  and  they 
abased  as  low  as  this  Sir  James  was,  which  seek 
revenge. 

Who  would  have  thought  that  when  Sir  James 
Pawlet  punished  this  poor  schoolmaster  that  ever 
he  should  have  mounted  to  so  great  dignity  as  to 
be  Chancellor  of  England,  considering  his  mean 
parentage  and  friends  ?  These  be  the  most 
wonderful  works  of  God's  providence,  and  I 
would  that  all  men  in  authority  would  fear  God 
in  all  ages  in  the  time  of  their  triumph  and  great- 
ness, considering  that  advancement  and  authority 


22  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

are  not  permanent,  but  many  times  slide  and 
vanish  suddenly  away,  as  Princes'  pleasures  alter 
and  change,  or  as  all  living  creatures  must  of 
necessity  pay  the  debt  due  to  Nature,  which  no 
earthly  creature  can  resist. 

Shortly  after  it  chanced  the  said  Lord  Marquis 
died,  after  whose  decease  the  schoolmaster,  thinking 
himself  but  a  weak  beneficed  man,  and  that  he  had 
left  his  Fellowship  in  the  College,  for  (as  I  under- 
stand) if  a  Fellow  of  that  House  be  once  promoted 
to  a  Benefice,  he  shall  by  the  rules  of  the  same 
house  be  dismissed  of  his  Fellowship  ;  and  now 
being  also  destitute  of  his  singular  good  Lord  as 
well  as  of  his  Fellowship,  which  was  most  of  his 
relief,  though  long  to  be  provided  of  some  other 
help  to  defend  him  from  all  such  storms  as  he 
might  meet  with.  In  his  travel  thereabouts  he 
grew  acquainted  with  a  very  great  and  ancient 
knight  who  had  a  great  place  at  Calais  under 
Henry  VII.  This  knight  he  served  and  behaved 
himself  so  discreetly  that  he  obtained  the  special 
favour  of  his  said  master,  insomuch  that  for  his 
wit  and  gravity  he  committed  all  the  care  and 
charge  of  his  said  office  to  his  said  Chaplain. 
And  as  I  understand,  his  office  was  the  Treasurer- 
ship  of  Calais,  who  in  regard  of  his  great  age 
shortly  after  was  discharged  of  his  said  Office,  and 
so  returned  into  England,  intending  to  live  a  more 


THE  CARDINAL'S  ORIGIN,  AND  WHO  HE  WAS  23 

private  life.  But  through  his  instant  labour  and 
good  favour  his  Chaplain  was  preferred  to  be  the 
King's  Chaplain.  And  when  he  had  once  cast 
anchor  in  the  port  of  promotion,  how  he  then 
bestirred  himself  I  shall  now  declare.  He  having 
then  just  occasion  to  be  daily  in  sight  of  the  King 
in  his  Closet,  not  spending  the  rest  of  the  day  in 
idleness,  would  attend  those  men  whom  he  thought 
to  bear  most  rule  in  the  Council,  and  were  most  in 
favour  with  the  King,  which  at  that  time  was 
Doctor  Fox,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  Lord 
Privy  Seal,  and  also  Sir  Thomas  Lovell,  Knight, 
a  very  sage  and  wise  Counsellor,  being  Master  of 
the  Wards,  and  Constable  of  the  Tower.  These 
ancient  and  grave  Counsellors  in  process  of  time, 
perceiving  this  Chaplain  to  be  a  man  of  a  very 
acute  wit,  thought  him  a  meet  instrument  to  be 
employed  in  greater  affairs. 

Not  long  after  it  happened  that  the  King  had  an 
urgent  occasion  to  send  an  Ambassador  to  Maxi- 
milian, the  Emperor,  who  lay  at  that  present  in 
the  Low  Countries  at  Flanders,  and  not  far  from 
Calais. 

Now,  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  and  Sir  Thomas 
Lovell,  whom  the  King  most  esteemed  as  the 
chiefest  of  his  Council,  one  day  were  advising  and 
debating  with  themselves  upon  this  ambassage, 
and  by  this  time  they  saw  they  had  a  convenient 


24  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

occasion  to  prefer  the  King's  Chaplain,  whose 
excellent  eloquence  and  learning  they  highly 
commended  unto  the  King's  Highness,  who 
giving  ear  unto  them  and  being  a  Prince  of  an 
excellent  judgment  and  modesty,  he  commanded 
them  to  bring  his  Chaplain  (whom  they  so  com- 
mended) before  his  Grace  ;  and  being  come,  His 
Majesty  (to  prove  his  ability)  entered  into  dis- 
course with  him  concerning  matters  of  State, 
whereby  the  King  had  so  well  informed  himself, 
that  he  found  him  to  be  a  man  of  a  sharp  wit  and 
such  excellent  parts,  that  he  thought  him  worthy 
to  be  put  in  trust  with  matters  of  greater  conse- 
quence. 


II 

OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  SPEEDY  DESPATCH  IN  HIS 
FIRST  AMBASSAGE  TO  THE  EMPEROR  MAXI- 
MILIAN 

[HE  King,  being  now  resolved  to  employ 
him  in  this  ambassage,  commanded  him 
thereupon  to  prepare  himself  for  his 
journey,  and  for  his  despatch,  wished  him  to 
repair  to  his  Grace  and  his  Council,  of  whom  he 
should  receive  his  commission  and  instruction,  by 
means  whereof  he  had  then  a  fit  occasion  to  repair 
from  time  to  time  into  the  King's  presence,  who 
had  thereby  daily  experience  of  his  singular 
wisdom  and  sound  judgment.  Thus,  having  his 
despatch,  he  took  his  leave  of  the  King  at  Rich- 
mond, about  four  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon. 
He  launched  forth  in  a  Gravesend  barge  with  a 
prosperous  wind  and  tide,  and  his  happy  speed 
was  such  that  he  arrived  at  Gravesend  in  little 
more  than  three  hours,  where  he  tarried  no  longer 


26  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

than  the  post-horses  were  provided  ;  and  he 
travelled  so  speedily  that  he  came  to  Dover  the 
next  morning,  where  the  passengers  were  under 
sail  to  pass  to  Calais,  so  that  long  before  noon  he 
arrived  there.  Having  post-horses  prepared,  he 
departed  from  thence  without  tarrying,  making 
such  hasty  speed  that  he  was  that  night  with  the 
Emperor,  who,  understanding  of  the  arrival  of  the 
King  of  England's  Ambassador,  would  in  no  wise 
delay  time,  but  sent  for  him  immediately,  for  his 
affection  for  the  King  of  England  was  such  that 
he  was  glad  of  any  opportunity  to  do  him  a 
courtesy. 

The  Ambassador  declared  the  sum  of  his  embassy 
unto  the  Emperor,  of  whom  he  craved  speedy  ex- 
pedition, which  was  granted  him,  so  that  next  day 
he  was  clearly  despatched,  and  all  the  King's 
requests  fully  accomplished  and  granted.  At 
which  time  he  made  no  further  stay,  but  took 
post-horses  that  night,  and  rode  without  inter- 
mission to  Calais,  being  conducted  thither  by 
divers  nobles  appointed  by  the  Emperor.  At  the 
opening  of  the  gates  of  Calais,  he  came  thither 
where  the  passengers  were  ready  to  return  to 
England,  insomuch  that  he  arrived  at  Dover 
between  ten  and  eleven  of  the  clock  in  the  fore- 
noon. 

Having  post-horses  in  readiness,  he  came  to  the 


THE  CARDINAL'S  FIRST  AMBASSAGE  2? 

Court  at  Richmond  that  same  night,  where,  taking 
kis  repose  until  morning,  he  presented  himself  unto 
His  Majesty  at  his  first  coming  out  of  his  bed- 
chamber to  his  Closet  to  Mass,  whom  when  he  saw 
he  checked  for  that  he  was  not  in  his  journey. 

'  Sir,'  quoth  he,  '  if  it  may  please  your  Highness, 
I  have  already  been  with  the  Emperor  and  de- 
spatched your  affairs,  I  trust,  to  your  Grace's 
content ;'  and  thereupon  presented  the  King  with 
his  letters  of  credence  from  the  Emperor. 

The  King,  wondering  at  his  speedy  return  (he 
being  so  well  furnished  with  all  his  proceedings), 
for  the  present  dissembled  his  admiration  and 
imagination  in  that  matter,  and  demanded  of  him 
whether  he  encountered  with  his  pursuivant,  which 
he  sent  unto  him  with  letters  (imagining  him  to  be 
scarce  out  of  London),  which  concerned  very 
material  passages  which  were  omitted  in  their 
consultation,  which  the  King  earnestly  desired 
should  have  been  despatched  in  his  ambassage. 

'Yes,  forsooth,'  quoth  he,  'I  met  with  him 
yesterday  by  the  way,  and  though  I  had  no  know- 
ledge thereof,  yet  notwithstanding  I  have  been 
so  bold  (upon  mine  own  discretion),  perceiving  the 
matter  to  be  very  necessary,  in  that  behalf  I  de- 
spatched the  same.  And  forasmuch  as  I  have 
been  so  bold  to  exceed  my  commission,  I  most 
humbly  crave  your  royal  remission  and  pardon.' 


28  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

The  King,  inwardly  rejoicing,  replied  : 

c  We  do  not  only  pardon  you,  but  give  you  our 
princely  thanks,  both  for  your  good  exploit  and 
happy  expedition.' 

He  then  dismissed  him  for  that  present,  and 
bade  him  return  to  him  again  after  dinner  for  a 
further  relation  of  his  ambassage ;  and  so  the 
King  went  to  Mass. 

It  is  not  to  be  doubted  but  this  Ambassador  had 
all  this  while  visited  his  great  friends,  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester  and  Sir  Thomas  Lovell,  to  whom  he 
had  declared  the  effect  of  his  ambassage  ;  and  also 
His  Majesty's  commendations  did  not  a  little 
rejoice  the  worthy  Counsellors,  forasmuch  as  he 
was  of  their  preferment.  And  shortly  after  the 
King  gave  him  for  his  diligent  service  the  Deanery 
of  Lincoln,  which  was  in  those  days  one  of  the 
greatest  promotions  that  he  gave  under  the  degree 
of  a  Bishop.  He  grew  more  and  more  in  estima- 
tion and  authority,  and  was  afterwards  promoted 
to  be  Almoner. 

Now,  not  long  after,  when  Death  (that  favoureth 
no  estates,  nor  King,  nor  Emperor)  had  taken 
away  the  wife  of  King  Henry  VII.  out  of  this 
present  life,  it  was  a  wonder  to  see  what  practices 
and  devices  were  then  used  about  the  young  Prince, 
Henry  VIII. ;  the  great  provision  that  was  then 
made  for  the  funeral  of  the  one  and  for  the  Corona- 


THE   CARDINAL'S   FIRST   AMBASSAGE  29 

tion  of  the  other  by  the  now  Queen  Katherine  and 
mother,  after  the  Queen's  Highness  that  now  is, 
whose  virtuous  life  Jesu  long  preserve. 

After  the  solemnizations  and  costly  triumphs, 
our  natural,  young,  courageous,  lusty  Prince  and 
Sovereign  Lord,  King  Henry  VIII.,  entering  into 
his  flower  and  lusty  youth,  took  upon  him  the 
royal  sceptre  and  imperial  diadem  of  this  fertile 
nation,  the  two  and  twentieth  of  April,  A.D.  1509, 
which  at  that  time  flourished  with  all  abundance 
of  riches,  whereof  the  King  was  most  inestimably 
furnished,  called  them  the  golden  world.  Now, 
shortly  after,  the  Almoner,  seeing  he  had  a  plain 
pathway  to  promotion,  behaved  himself  so  politicly 
that  he  was  made  one  of  the  King's  Privy  Council, 
and  increased  in  favour  daily :  to  whom  he  gave  a 
house  at  Bridewell,  near  Fleet  Street,  where  he 
kept  his  house  for  his  family,  and  so  he  daily 
attended  upon  the  King,  being  in  special  favour. 

His  sentences  in  the  Star  Chamber  were  ever  so 
pithy  and  witty,  that  upon  all  occasions  they 
assigned  him,  for  the  fluent  eloquence  of  his 
tongue,  to  be  Expositor  to  the  King  in  all  their 
proceedings.  In  whom  the  King  conceived  so 
great  content  that  he  called  him  still  nearer  to  his 
person  ;  and  the  rather  because  he  was  ready  to 
advance  the  King's  own  will  and  pleasure,  having 
no  respect  to  the  case. 


30  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

Now,  the  King  being  young  and  much  given  to 
his  pleasure,  his  old  Counsellors  advised  him  to 
have  recourse  sometimes  to  the  Council  about  his 
weighty  affairs  ;  but  the  Almoner,  on  the  contrary, 
persuaded  him  to  mind  his  pleasure,  and  he  would 
take  his  care  and  charge  upon  himself  (if  His 
Majesty  would  countenance  him  with  his  authority), 
which  the  King  liked  well.  And  thus  none  was 
like  to  the  Almoner  in  favour  with  the  King. 


Ill 

OF  KING  HENRY'S  INVADING  FRANCE  IN  HIS 
OWN  PERSON,  WITH  THE  CARDINAL'S  ASSIST- 
ANCE 

JHUS  the  Almoner,  continuing  in  high 
favour,  till  at  last  many  presents,  gifts 
and  rewards  came  in  so  plentifully  that  I 
dare  say  he  wanted  nothing,  for  he  had  all  things 
in  abundance  that  might  either  please  his  fancy  or 
enrich  his  coffers,  for  the  times  so  favourably 
smiled  upon  him,  but  to  what  end  you  shall 
hereafter  hear.  Therefore  let  all  men  to  whom 
Fortune  extendeth  her  favour  and  grace  take  heed 
they  trust  not  her  subtle  and  fair  promises,  for 
under  colour  thereof  she  carrieth  an  envious  gall ; 
for  when  she  seeth  her  servant  in  highest  authority 
she  turneth  her  favour  and  pleasant  countenance 
into  frowns. 

This  Almoner  climbed  up  Fortune's  wheel  so 
that  no  man  was  in  estimation  with  the  King  but 


32  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

only  he,  for  his  witty  qualities  and  wisdom.  He 
had  an  especial  gift  of  natural  eloquence  and  a 
ready  tongue  to  pronounce  the  same,  so  that  he 
was  able  therewith  to  persuade  and  allure  all  men 
to  his  purposes  in  the  time  of  his  continuance  in 
Fortune's  favour. 

In  the  fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VIII. 
it  chanced  that  the  realms  of  England  and  France 
were  at  variance,  but  upon  what  ground  or  occasion 
I  know  not,  insomuch  that  the  King  was  fully 
resolved  in  his  own  person  to  invade  France  with 
a  powerful  army.  It  was  therefore  thought  very 
necessary  that  his  royal  enterprises  should  be 
speedily  provided  and  furnished  in  every  degree 
in  things  apt  and  convenient  for  the  same. 

For  expedition  the  King  thought  no  man's  wit 
so  meet  for  policy  and  painful  travel  as  the  Almoner, 
to  whom  he  committed  his  whole  confidence  and 
trust  therein.  The  Almoner,  being  nothing  scrupu- 
lous in  anything  that  the  King  would  command, 
although  it  seemed  very  difficult,  took  upon  him 
the  whole  charge  of  the  business,  and  proceeded  so 
therein  that  he  brought  all  things  to  good  effect  in 
direct  order  for  all  manner  of  victuals  and  pro- 
vision convenient  for  so  noble  a  voyage  and  army. 
All  things  being  thus  prepared  by  him  in  order, 
the  King  not  intending  to  neglect  or  delay  any 
time,  but  with  noble  and  valiant  courage  to  advance 


KING  HENRY'S  INVASION  OF  FRANCE       33 

his  royal  enterprise,  passed  the  seas  between  Dover 
and  Calais,  where  he  prosperously  arrived.  And 
after  he  had  there  made  his  arrival,  and  landed  all 
his  provision  and  munition  and  sate  in  consultation 
about  his  weighty  affairs,  he  marched  forth  in  good 
order  of  battle  till  he  came  to  the  strong  town  of 
Terouanne,  to  the  which  he  laid  strong  siege  and 
made  a  sharp  assault,  so  that  in  short  space  it  was 
yielded  unto  him,  unto  which  place  the  Emperor 
Maximilian  resorted  unto  him  with  a  great  army, 
like  a  mighty  Prince  taking  off  the  King's  wages. 

Thus,  after  the  King  had  taken  this  strong  town, 
and  taken  possession  thereof,  and  set  all  things  in 
good  order  for  the  defence  and  preservation  thereof 
to  His  Majesty's  use,  then  he  retired  from  thence, 
and  marched  towards  Tournay,  and  there  laid 
siege  in  like  manner,  to  which  he  gave  so  fierce 
assault  that  the  enemies  were  constrained  to  sur- 
render the  town  to  His  Majesty,  at  which  time  the 
King  gave  unto  the  Almoner  the  Bishopric  of  the 
same  see  for  his  pains  and  diligence  shown  in  that 
journey.  And  when  he  had  established  all  things 
according  to  his  princely  mind  and  pleasure,  and 
the  same  with  men  and  captains  of  war  for  the 
safeguard  of  the  town,  he  prepared  for  his  return 
to  England. 

But  now  you  shall  understand  by  the  way  that 
whilst  the  King  was  absent  with  a  great  power  in 

3 
i 


34  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

France,  the  Scottish  King  invaded  England,  against 
whom  the  Queen  sent  a  great  army,  the  Earl  of 
Surrey  being  General.  The  Scots  were  over- 
thrown at  Balmston,  called  Hoddenfield,  where  the 
King  of  Scots  was  slain  with  divers  of  his  nobility 
and  1 8,000  men,  and  they  took  all  his  munition 
for  war. 

By  this  time  the  King  returned  into  England, 
and  took  with  him  divers  noble  personages  of 
France,  being  prisoners,  as  the  Duke  of  Longuido, 
Viscount  Clerimond,  with  divers  others  that  were 
taken  in  a  skirmish. 

And  thus  God  gave  him  victory  at  home  and 
victory  abroad,  being  in  the  fifth  year  of  his  reign, 
A.D.  1513. 


IV 

THE  KING  PROMOTING  PUS  ALMONER,  WOLSEY 
BEING  MADE  CARDINAL  AND  LORD  CHAN- 
CELLOR OF  ENGLAND 

IjHE  King  being  returned  into  England,  the 
See  of  Lincoln  became  void  by  the  death 
of  Doctor  Smith,  late  Bishop  there, 
which  Bishopric  the  King  gave  to  his  Almoner, 
the  Bishop  Elect  of  Tournay,  who  was  not  negli- 
gent to  take  possession  thereof,  but  made  all 
speed  for  his  consecration.  The  solemnization 
thereof  being  ended,  he  found  a  way  to  get  into 
his  hands  all  his  predecessor's  goods,  whereof  I 
have  seen  divers  parts  that  furnished  his  house. 

It  was  not  long  after  but  Doctor  Bambridge, 
Archbishop  of  York,  died  at  Rouen  in  France, 
being  there  the  King's  ambassador.  Unto  this 
See  the  King  presented  the  last  new  Bishop  of 
Lincoln,  so  that  he  had  three  Bishoprics  in  his 
hands  at  one  time,  all  in  one  year  given  him. 

3—2 


36  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

Then  prepared  he  again  for  his  translation  from 
the  See  of  Lincoln  to  that  of  York,  as  he  did 
before  to  his  installation. 

After  which  solemnization  done,  and  being  then 
Archbishop  and  Primus  Angliae,  he  thought  him- 
self sufficient  to  compare  with  that  of  Canterbury, 
and  did  thereupon  erect  his  Crosses  in  the  Courts 
and  every  other  place,  as  well  in  the  precinct  and 
jurisdiction  of  Canterbury  as  any  other  place. 

And  though  Canterbury  claimeth  a  superiority 
over  York  as  well  as  over  any  other  bishopric 
within  England,  and  for  that  cause  claimeth  an 
acknowledgment  as  in  ancient  obedience  of  York, 
to  abate  advancement  of  his  Cross  in  the  presence 
of  the  Cross  of  Canterbury,  notwithstanding,  York 
did  not  desist  to  bear  the  same,  although  Canter- 
bury gave  York  a  check  for  the  same  and  told 
him  it  was  presumption,  by  reason  whereof  there 
engendered  some  grudge  between  them.  But 
shortly  after  he  obtained  to  be  made  Cardinal  and 
Legatus  de  Latere,  unto  whom  the  Pope  sent  the 
Cardinal's  Cap  and  certain  Bulls  for  his  authority 
in  that  behalf.  Whereupon  he  was  installed  at 
Westminster  in  great  triumph,  which  was  executed 
by  all  Bishops  with  their  mitres,  caps  and  other 
ornaments.  And  after  all  this  he  was  made  Chan- 
cellor of  England,  and  Canterbury,  who  was  the 
Chancellor,  was  dismissed.  Now  he  being  in  the 
Chancellorship  and  endowed  with  the  promotions 


MADE  CARDINAL  AND   LORD  CHANCELLOR     37 

of  Archbishop  and  Cardinal  de  Latere,  thought 
himself  so  fully  furnished  that  he  was  now  able  to 
surmount  Canterbury  in  all  jurisdictions,  and  in  all 
ecclesiastical  powers  to  convocate  Canterbury  and 
all  other  bishops  and  spiritual  persons  to  assemble 
at  his  Convocations,  where  he  would  assign  and 
take  upon  him  the  conversion  of  all  ministers  and 
others  within  their  jurisdictions,  and  visit  all  the 
spiritual  houses  in  their  Dioceses,  and  all  manner 
of  spiritual  ministers  as  Commissioners,  Scribes, 
Apparitors  and  all  other  necessary  Officers  to 
furnish  his  Courts,  and  did  present  benefices  to 
whom  he  pleased  through  this  realm  and  dominion 
and  all  other  persons  to  the  glory  of  his  dignity. 
Then  had  he  two  great  Crosses  of  silver,  whereof 
one  was  of  his  Archbishopric  and  the  other  of 
his  Legacy,  borne  before  him  wheresoever  he  rode 
or  went,  by  two  of  the  tallest  priests  that  he  could 
get  in  this  realm. 

And  to  the  increase  of  his  gain,  he  had  in  his 
hand  the  Bishopric  of  Durham  and  St.  Albans 
'  in  commendam.'  Also  when  Doctor  Fox,  Bishop 
of  Winchester,  died,  he  did  surrender  Durham  to 
the  King  and  took  himself  to  Winchester.  He  had 
also,  as  it  were  in  farm,  the  Bishoprics  of  Bath, 
Worcester  and  Hereford,  for  the  incumbents  of 
them  were  foreigners.  He  had  also  attending 
upon  him  men  of  great  possessions  and  the  tallest 
yeomen  for  his  guard  in  the  realm. 


OF  THE  ORDERS  AND  OFFICES  OF  HIS  HOUSE 
AND  CHAPEL 

fOW,  first  for  his  house.  You  shall  under- 
stand that  he  had  in  his  hall  three  boards 
kept  with  three  several  officers — that  is 
to  say,  a  Steward  (that  was  always  a  priest)  ;  a 
Treasurer  (that  was  ever  a  Knight)  ;  and  a  Con- 
troller (that  was  an  Esquire) ;  also  a  Confessor,  a 
Doctor,  three  Marshals,  three  Ushers  in  the  hall, 
besides  two  Almoners  and  Grooms. 

Then  he  had  in  the  hall-kitchen  two  clerks — a 
Clerk  Comptroller  and  a  Surveyor  over  the  dresser; 
a  clerk  in  the  spicery,  which  kept  continually  a 
mess  together  in  the  hall ;  also  he  had  in  the  hall- 
kitchen  two  cooks  and  labourers  and  children, 
twelve  persons,  four  men  of  the  scullery,  two 
Yeomen  of  the  Pantry,  with  two  other  paste-layers 
under  the  yeomen. 

Then  had  he  in  his  kitchen  a  master-cook,  who 


ORDERS  AND  OFFICES  OF  HOUSE  AND  CHAPEL   39 

went  daily  in  velvet  or  satin,  with  a  gold  chain, 
besides  two  other  cooks  and  six  labourers  in  the 
same  room.  In  the  larder,  one  yeoman  and  a  groom ; 
in  the  scullery,  one  yeoman  and  two  grooms ;  in 
the  buttery,  two  yeomen  and  two  grooms ;  in  the 
ewcry,  so  many;  in  the  cellar,  three  yeomen,  three 
pages  ;  in  the  chandlery,  two  yeomen  ;  in  the  way- 
fary,  two  yeomen  ;  in  the  wardrobe  of  beds,  the 
Master  of  the  Wardrobe  and  twenty  persons 
besides  ;  in  the  laundry,  a  yeoman  and  a  groom 
and  thirteen  pages,  two  yeomen-purveyors  and  a 
groom-purveyor ;  in  the  bakehouse,  two  yeomen 
and  grooms  ;  in  the  wood-yard,  one  yeoman  and  a 
groom  ;  in  the  barn,  one  yeoman  ;  porters  at  the 
gate,  two  yeomen  and  two  grooms ;  a  yeoman  in 
his  barge  and  a  Master  of  his  Horse ;  a  clerk  of 
the  stables  and  a  yeoman  of  the  same  ;  a  farrier, 
and  a  Yeoman  of  the  Stirrup  ;  a  muleteer  and 
sixteen  grooms,  every  one  of  them  keeping  four 
geldings. 

Now  will  I  declare  unto  you  the  officers  of  his 
chapel  and  singing-men  of  the  same. 

First,  he  had  there  a  Dean,  a  great  divine  and 
a  man  of  excellent  learning ;  and  a  Sub-Dean,  a 
Repeater  of  the  Choir,  a  Gospeller,  an  Epistoler  of 
the  Singing  Priests,  a  Master  of  the  Children  ;  in 
the  vestry  a  yeoman  and  two  grooms,  besides  other 
retainers  that  came  thither  at  principal  Feasts. 


4O  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

And  for  the  furniture  of  his  chapel,  it  passeth 
my  weak  capacity  to  declare  the  number  of  the 
costly  ornaments  and  rich  jewels  that  were  occupied 
in  the  same  ;  for  I  have  seen  in  procession  about 
the  hall  forty-four  rich  copes  of  one  suit  very  rich, 
besides  the  rich  candlesticks  and  other  necessary 
ornaments  to  the  furniture  of  the  same. 

Now  you  shall  understand  that  he  had  two 
cross-bearers  and  two  pillar-bearers  in  his  great 
chamber,  and  in  his  privy  chamber  all  these 
persons  :  the  Chief  Chamberlain,  a  Vice-Chamber- 
lain, a  Gentleman  Usher,  beside  one  of  his  privy 
chamber ;  he  had  also  twelve  waiters  and  six 
gentlemen  waiters  ;  also  he  had  nine  or  ten  Lords, 
who  had  each  of  them  two  or  three  men  to  wait 
upon  him,  except  the  Earl  of  Derby,  who  had 
five  men. 

Then  he  had  of  gentlemen,  cup-bearers  and 
carvers,  sewers,  both  of  the  great  chamber  and  of 
the  privy  chamber,  forty  persons,  six  Yeomen 
Ushers,  eight  Grooms  of  his  Chamber  ;  also  he 
had  of  alms  (who  were  daily  waiters  of  his  board 
at  dinner),  twelve  doctors  and  chaplains  besides 
them  of  his  which  I  have  rehearsed ;  a  Clerk 
of  his  Closet  and  two  Secretaries,  and  two  Clerks 
of  his  Signet ;  four  Counsellors  learned  in  the 
law. 

And  for  that  he  was  Chancellor  of  England,  it 


ORDERS  AND  OFFICES  OF  HOUSE  AND  CHAPEL  4! 

was  necessary  to  have  officers  of  the  Chancery 
to  attend  him  for  the  better  furniture  of  the 
same. 

First,  he  had  a  Riding  Clerk,  a  Clerk  of  the 
Crown,  a  Clerk  of  the  Hamper,  a  Chaser  ;  then  had 
he  a  Clerk  of  the  Check,  as  well  upon  the  chaplains 
as  upon  the  yeomen  of  the  chamber ;  he  had  also 
four  footmen  garnished  with  rich  running-coats, 
whensoever  he  had  any  journey. 

Then  he  had  a  Herald-of-Arms,  a  Sergeant-of- 
Arms,  a  Physician,  an  Apothecary,  four  minstrels, 
a  keeper  of  his  tents,  an  Armourer,  an  Instructor 
of  his  wardrobe  of  robes,  a  keeper  of  his  chamber 
continually. 

He  had  also  in  his  house  a  Surveyor  of  York,  a 
Clerk  of  the  Green-cloth.  All  these  were  daily 
attending  down-lying  and  up-rising.  And  at  meat 
he  had  eight  continual  boards  for  the  chamberlains 
and  gentlemen  officers,  having  a  mess  of  young 
lords  and  another  of  gentlemen  ;  besides  this,  there 
was  never  a  gentleman  or  officer  or  other  worthy 
person,  but  he  kept  some  two,  some  three  persons 
to  wait  upon  them,  and  all  others  at  the  least  had 
one,  which  did  amount  to  a  great  number  of 
persons. 

Now,  I  have  declared  the  order  according  to  the 
chain-roll  of  his  house  and  what  officers  he  had 
daily  attending  to  furnish  the  same ;  besides, 


42  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOOLSEY 

retainers  and  other  persons  being  suitors  dined  in 
the  hall. 

And  when  shall  we  see  any  more  such  subjects 
that  shall  keep  such  a  noble  house  ?  Therefore  here 
is  an  end  of  his  household  ;  the  number  of  persons 
in  the  chain-roll  were  eight  hundred  persons. 


VI 

OF   HIS   SECOND  AMBASSAGE  TO  THE  EMPEROR 
CHARLES  V. 

1HEN  he  was  furnished  in  manner  as  I  have 
before  rehearsed  unto  you,  he  was  sent 
twice  on  ambassage  to  the  Emperor 
Charles  V.,  that  now  reigneth,  and  father  to  King 
Philip,  now  our  Lord  and  Sovereign. 

Forasmuch  as  the  old  Emperor  Maximilian  was 
dead,  and  for  divers  other  urgent  occasions  touch- 
ing His  Majesty,  it  was  thought  fit  that,  about 
such  weighty  matters  and  so  noble  a  Prince,  the 
Cardinal  was  most  meet  to  be  sent  on  this  ambas- 
sage, and  he,  being  one  ready  to  take  the  charge 
thereof  upon  him,  was  furnished  in  every  respect 
most  like  a  great  Prince,  which  was  much  to  the 
honour  of  His  Majesty  and  of  this  realm.  For 
first  he  proceeded  forth  like  to  a  Cardinal,  having 
all  things  correspondent ;  his  gentlemen,  being 
very  many  in  number,  were  clothed  in  livery  coats 


44  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

of  crimson  velvet  of  the  best  and  chains  of  gold 
about  their  necks,  and  his  yeomen  and  all  his 
mean  officers  were  clad  in  fine  scarlet,  guarded 
with  black  velvet  one  hand  breadth.  Thus 
furnished,  he  was  twice  sent  in  this  manner  to  the 
Emperor  in  Flanders,  then  lying  at  Bruges,  whom 
he  did  most  nobly  entertain,  discharging  all  his 
own  charges  and  his  men's.  There  was  no  house 
in  the  town  of  Bruges  wherein  any  one  of  my 
Lord's  gentlemen  were  lodged  or  had  recourse 
but  that  the  owners  of  the  houses  were  com- 
manded by  the  Emperor's  officers,  upon  pain  of 
their  lives,  to  take  no  money  for  anything  that 
the  Cardinal's  men  did  take  of  any  kind  of 
victuals.  No,  although  they  were  disposed  to 
make  costly  banquets,  further  commanding  their 
said  hosts  that  they  should  want  nothing  which 
they  honestly  required  or  desired  to  have. 

Also  the  Emperor's  officers  every  night  went 
through  the  town  from  house  to  house,  where  any 
English  had  recourse  or  lodged,  and  served  their 
livery  for  all  night,  which  was  done  on  this 
manner.  First,  the  officers  brought  into  the  house 
of  Castille  a  fine  manchet,  then  two  silver  pots  of 
wine  and  a  pound  of  sugar,  white  lights  and 
yellow  lights,  a  bowl  of  silver  and  a  goblet  to 
drink  in,  and  every  night  a  staff  torch.  This  was 
their  order  of  their  livery  every  night ;  and  in  the 


HIS  SECOND  AMBASSAGE  TO  THE  EMPEROR  45 

morning,  when  the  officers  came  to  fetch  away 
their  stuff",  they  would  account  for  the  gentlemen's 
costs  the  day  before. 

Thus  the  Emperor  entertained  the  Cardinal  and 
his  train  during  the  time  of  their  embassy.  And 
that  done,  he  returned  into  England  with  great 
triumph,  being  no  less  in  estimation  with  the  King 
than  he  was  before,  but  rather  much  more,  for  he 
increased  daily  in  the  King's  favour,  by  reason  of 
wits  and  readiness  to  do  the  King's  pleasure  in  all 
things.  In  the  one  and  twentieth  year  of  King 
Henry  VIII.'s  reign,  A.D.  1529,  this  Emperor 
Charles  V.  came  into  England,  who  was  nobly 
entertained. 


VII 

OF  THE  MANNER  OF   HIS  GOING  TO   WEST- 
MINSTER HALL 

j]OW  I  must  declare  the  manner  of  his  going 
to  Westminster  Hall  in  the  Term  time. 
First,  when  he  came  out  of  his  Privy 
Chamber  he  most  commonly  heard  two  Masses 
in  his  Chapel  or  Chamber.  And  I  heard  one  of 
his  Chaplains  say  since  (that  was  a  man  of  credit 
and  excellent  learning)  that  what  business  soever 
the  Cardinal  had  in  the  daytime,  that  he  never 
went  to  bed  with  any  part  of  his  service  unsaid — 
no,  not  so  much  as  one  Collect,  in  which  I  think 
he  deceived  many  a  man.  Then,  going  into  his 
chamber  again,  he  demanded  of  some  of  his  ser- 
vants if  they  were  in  readiness  and  had  furnished 
his  Chamber  of  Presence  and  Waiting  Chamber  ; 
he,  being  then  advertised,  came  out  of  his  Privy 
Chamber  about  eight  of  the  clock,  ready  apparelled 
and  in  red  like  a  Cardinal ;  his  upper  vesture  was 
all  of  scarlet  or  else  of  fine  crimson  taffeta  or  crim- 


MANNER  OF  GOING   TO  WESTMINSTER   HALL   47 

son  satin  engrained,  his  pillion  of  scarlet,  with  a 
black  velvet  tippet  of  sables  about  his  neck,  hold- 
ing in  his  hand  an  orange,  the  meat  or  substance 
thereof  being  taken  out  and  filled  again  with  a 
piece  of  sponge,  with  vinegar  and  other  confections 
against  pestilent  airs,  the  which  he  most  commonly 
held  to  his  nose  when  he  came  to  the  presses,  or 
when  he  was  pestered  with  many  suitors.  Before 
him  was  borne  the  Broad  Seal  of  England  and  the 
Cardinal's  hat  by  some  Lord  or  some  gentleman 
of  worship  right  solemnly,  and  as  soon  as  he  was 
entered  into  his  Chamber  of  Presence,  where  there 
were  daily  attending  on  him,  as  well  noble  men  of 
this  realm  as  other  worthy  gentlemen  of  his  own 
family,  his  two  great  Crosses  were  there  preceding 
him.  Then  cried  the  Gentlemen  Ushers,  that  went 
before  him  bareheaded  :  '  On,  masters,  before,  and 
make  room  for  my  Lord  !'  Thus  went  he  down 
into  the  hall,  with  a  Sergeant-of-Arms  before  him 
bearing  a  great  mace  of  silver  and  two  gentlemen 
carrying  two  great  plates  of  silver,  and  when  he 
came  to  the  door  there  his  mule  stood  trapped  all 
in  crimson  velvet,  with  a  saddle  of  the  same. 

Then  was  attending  him,  when  he  was  mounted, 
his  two  cross-bearers,  his  two  pillar-bearers,  all 
upon  great  horses,  all  in  fine  scarlet ;  then  he 
marched  on  with  a  train  of  gentry,  having  four 
footmen  about  him,  bearing  every  one  of  them  a 


48  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

poleaxe  in  his  hand.  Thus  he  passed  forth  till  he 
came  to  Westminster,  and  there  alighted  and  went 
in  this  manner  up  to  the  Chancery  and  stayed 
awhile  at  the  Bar,  made  for  him  beneath  the 
Chancery,  and  there  he  communed  sometimes 
with  judges  and  sometimes  with  other  persons, 
and  then  went  up  to  the  Chancery  and  sat  there 
till  eleven  of  the  clock  to  hear  suits  and  to  deter- 
mine causes.  From  thence  he  would  go  into  the 
Star  Chamber  as  occasion  served  him ;  he  neither 
spared  high  nor  low,  but  did  judge  everyone 
according  unto  right. 

Every  Sunday  he  would  resort  to  the  Court 
being  at  Greenwich  with  his  former  rehearsed 
train  and  triumph,  taking  his  barge  at  his  own 
stairs,  furnished  with  yeomen  standing  upon  the 
sails  and  his  gentlemen  within  and  about,  and 
landed  at  the  Three  Cranes  in  the  Vine  Tree, 
and  from  thence  he  rode  upon  his  mule  with  his 
crosses,  his  pillars,  his  hat,  and  his  broad  seal 
carried  before  him  on  horseback  along  Thames 
Street  until  he  came  to  Billingsgate,  and  there  he 
took  his  barge  and  so  went  to  Greenwich,  where 
he  was  nobly  entertained  of  the  Lords  in  the 
King's  house,  being  there  with  staves  in  their 
hands  as  the  Treasurer,  Comptroller,  with  many 
others.  He  was  conveyed  into  the  King's  chamber, 
and  so  went  home  again  in  the  like  triumph. 


VIII 

OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  MAGNIFICENCE  IN  HIS 
HOUSE 

|E  lived  a  long  season,  ruling  all  things  in 
this  realm  appertaining  to  the  King  by 
his  wisdom  and  all  other  matters  of 
foreign  regions,  with  whom  the  King  had  any 
occasion  to  meddle.  All  ambassadors  of  foreign 
Potentates  were  ever  disposed  by  the  Cardinal's 
wisdom,  to  whom  they  had  continual  access  for 
their  despatch.  His  house  was  always  resorted 
unto  like  a  King's  house  by  noblemen  and  gentle- 
men, and  when  it  pleased  the  King's  Majesty  (as 
many  times  it  did),  he  would  for  his  recreation 
resort  unto  the  Cardinal's  house,  against  whose 
coming  there  wanted  no  preparation  of  goodly 
furniture,  with  victuals  of  the  finest  sort  that  could 
be  had  for  money  or  friendship. 

Such  pleasures  were  here  devised  for  the  King's 
delight  as  could  be  invented  or  imagined  ;  banquets 

4 


50  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

set   with   maskers   and  mummers   in  such  costly 
manner  that    it   was   glorious   to   behold ;    there 
wanted    no    damsels    meet    to    dance   with    the 
maskers,  or  to  garnish  the  place  for  the  time  with 
variety  of  other  pastimes.     Then  was  there  divers 
kinds  of  music,  and  many  choice  men  and  women 
singers  appointed  to  sing  who  had  excellent  voices. 
I  have  seen  the  King  come  suddenly  thither  in  a 
mask  with  a  dozen  maskers  all  in  garments  like 
shepherds,  made  of  fine  cloth  of  gold  and  silver 
wire  and  six  torch-bearers,  besides  their  drummers 
and  others  attending  on  them  with  vizards,  and 
clothed  in  satin.     And  before  his  entering  into  the 
Hall,  you  shall  understand,  that  he  came  by  water 
up  to   the  water-gate   without   any  noise,  where 
were  laid  divers  chambers  and  guns  charged  with 
shot,  and   at  his   landing  they  were  discharged, 
which  made  such  a  rattling  noise  in  the  air  that  it 
was   like   thunder.      It   made   all   the   noblemen, 
gentlemen    and   ladies   to   muse  what   it   should 
mean  coming  so  suddenly,  they  sitting  quietly  at 
a  banquet.     In  this  sort  you  shall  understand  that 
the  tables  were  set  in  the  Chamber  of  Presence, 
and  my  Lord  Cardinal  sitting  under  his  cloth  of 
State,  and  there  having  all  his  service  alone ;  and 
then  was   there   set   a   lady  and   a  nobleman,  a 
gentleman  and  a  gentlewoman  throughout  all  the 
tables  in  the   chambers  on  the  one  side,  which 


MAGNIFICENCE  IN   HIS   HOUSE  51 

were  made  all  joining,  as  it  were,  but  one  table. 
All  which  order  was  done  by  my  Lord  Sands, 
then  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  King,  and  by  Sir 
Henry  Guildford,  then  Comptroller  of  the  King's 
house. 

Then,  immediately  after  this  great  shot  of  guns, 
the  Cardinal  desired  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to  see 
what  it  did  mean,  as  though  he  knew  nothing  of 
the  matter.  They  then  looked  out  of  the  window 
into  the  Thames,  and  returning  again,  told  him 
that  they  thought  they  were  noblemen  and 
strangers  arrived  at  the  bridge,  and  coming  as 
ambassadors  from  some  foreign  Prince. 

With  that  said  the  Cardinal : 

'  I  desire  you,  because  you  can  speak  French,  to 
take^  pains  to  go  into  the  hall,  there  to  receive 
themMnto  the  chamber,  where  they  shall  see  us 
and  all  those  noble  personages  being  merry  at  our 
banquet,  desiring  them  to  sit  down  with  us  and 
take  part  of  our  fare.' 

Then  went  they  directly  into  the  hall,  where 
they  were  received  with  twenty  torches  and  con- 
veyed up  into  the  chamber,  with  such  a  number  of 
drums  and  flutes  as  I  have  seldom  seen  together 
at  one  time  and  place. 

Then,  at  their  arrival  into  the  chamber,  they 
went  two  and  two  together  directly  before  the 
Cardinal  where  he  sat  and  saluted  them  very 

4—2 


52 

reverently,  to  whom  the  Lord  Chamberlain  for 
them  said  : 

'  Sir,  forasmuch  as  they  are  strangers  and 
cannot  speak  English,  they  have  desired  me  to 
declare  unto  you  that  they  having  understanding 
of  this  your  triumphant  banquet,  at  which  were 
assembled  such  a  number  of  fair  dames,  they 
could  do  no  less  (under  the  support  of  your  Grace) 
than  to  view  as  well  their  incomparable  beauties, 
as  to  accompany  them  to  the  "mumchance,"  and 
after  that  to  dance  with  them,  so  to  beget  their 
better  acquaintance.  And,  furthermore,  they 
require  of  your  Grace  licence  to  accomplish  this 
cause  of  their  coming.' 

Then  the  Cardinal  said  he  was  willing  and  very 
well  content  they  should  do  so. 

Then  went  the  maskers  and  first  saluted  all 
the  dames,  and  then  returned  to  the  most 
worthiest,  and  there  opened  the  great  cup  of 
gold  filled  with  crowns  and  other  pieces  to  cast 
with. 

Thus  perusing  all  the  gentlewomen,  of  some 
they  won  and  of  some  they  lost.  And  having 
viewed  all  the  ladies,  they  returned  to  the  Cardinal, 
with  great  reverence,  pouring  down  all  their  gold, 
which  was  above  two  hundred  crowns. 

'  At  all/  quoth  the  Cardinal,  and  casting  the  die, 
he  won  it,  whereat  was  made  great  joy. 


MAGNIFICENCE  IN   HIS  HOUSE  53 

Then  quoth  the  Cardinal  to  my  Lord  Chamber- 
lain: 

'  I  pray  you  go  tell  them,  that  to  me  it  seemeth 
that  there  should  be  a  noble  man  amongst  them, 
that  better  deserves  to  sit  in  this  place  than  I,  to 
whom  I  should  gladly  surrender  the  same  accord- 
ing to  my  duty  if  I  knew  him.' 

Then  spake  my  Lord  Chamberlain  to  them  in 
French,  declaring  my  Lord  Cardinal's  words,  and 
they  rounding*  him  again  in  the  ear,  the  Lord 
Chamberlain  said  unto  my  Lord  Cardinal : 

'  Sir,'  quoth  he,  '  they  confess  that  among  them 
is  such  a  noble  personage,  whom,  if  your  Grace 
can  point  out  from  the  rest,  he  is  contented  to 
disclose  himself  and  to  accept  of  your  place  most 
willingly.' 

With  that,  the  Cardinal,  taking  good  advice, 
went  amongst  them,  and  at  the  last  quoth  he,  '  It 
seemeth  to  me  that  the  gentleman  with  the  black 
beard  should  be  he,'  and  with  that  he  rose  from 
out  his  chair  and  offered  the  same  to  the  gentleman 
with  the  black  beard,  with  the  cup  in  his  hand. 
But  the  Cardinal  was  mistaken,  for  the  person  to 
whom  he  then  offered  his  chair  was  Sir  Edward 
Nevil,  a  comely  Knight,  and  of  a  goodly  personage, 
who  did  more  resemble  His  Majesty's  person  than 
any  other  in  that  mask. 

*  '  Rounding,'  sometimes  spelt '  rowning,'  i.e.  '  whispering.' 


54  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

The  King  seeing  the  Cardinal  so  deceived  in 
his  choice,  could  not  forbear  laughing,  but  pulled 
down  his  vizard  and  Sir  Edward  Nevil's  also,  with 
such  a  pleasant  countenance  and  cheer,  that  all  the 
noblemen  desired  His  Highness  to  take  his  place. 
To  whom  the  King  made  answer,  that  he  would 
first  go  and  shift  himself;  and  thereupon  went  into 
the  Cardinal's  bedchamber,  where  was  a  great  fire 
prepared  for  him,  and  there  he  new  apparelled 
himself  with  rich  and  princely  garments.  In  the 
King's  absence,  the  dishes  of  the  banquet  were 
clean  taken  away,  and  the  tables  covered  again 
with  new  and  perfumed  cloths,  every  man  sitting 
still  until  the  King's  Majesty  with  his  maskers 
came  in  among  them,  every  man  new  apparelled. 

Then  the  King  took  his  seat  under  the  cloth  of 
State,  commanding  every  person  to  sit  still  as  they 
did  before.  And  then  came  in  a  new  banquet  be- 
fore His  Majesty  of  two  hundred  dishes,  and  so 
they  passed  the  night  in  banqueting  and  dancing 
until  the  morning,  and  it  much  rejoiced  the 
Cardinal  to  see  his  Sovereign  Lord  so  pleasant  at 
his  house. 


IX 


OF  THE  ORIGINAL  INSTRUMENT  OF  THE  CAR- 
DINAL'S  FALL,   MISTRESS  ANNE   BOLEYN 

|OW  you  shall  understand  that  the  young 
Lord  of  Northumberland  attended  upon 
my  Lord  Cardinal,  who,  when  the  Car- 
dinal went  to  Court,  would  ever  have  conference 
with  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn,  who  then  was  one  of 
the  Maids  of  Honour  to  Queen  Katherine,  inso- 
much that  at  last  they  were  contracted  together, 
which,  when  the  King  heard,  he  was  much  moved 
thereat  (for  he  had  a  private  affection  to  her 
himself,  which  was  not  yet  discovered  to  any), 
and  then  advised  the  Cardinal  to  send  for  the 
Earl  of  Northumberland,  his  father,  and  take  order 
to  dissolve  the  contract  made  between  the  said 
parties,  which  the  Lord  Cardinal  did,  after  a  sharp 
reprehension,  because  it  was  contracted  without 
the  King's  and  his  father's  knowledge.  He  sent 
for  his  father,  who  came  up  to  London  very 


$6  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

speedily,  and  came  first  to  my  Lord  Cardinal,  as 
all  great  personages  did  that  in  such  sort  were  sent 
for,  of  whom  they  were  advertised  of  the  cause  of 
their  sending  for.  And  when  the  Earl  was  come, 
he  was  presently  brought  to  the  Cardinal  into  the 
gallery.  After  whose  meeting  my  Lord  Cardinal 
and  he  were  in  secret  communication  a  long  space. 
After  their  long  discourse  and  drinking  a  cup  of 
wine,  the  Earl  departed,  and  at  his  going  away, 
he  sat  down  at  the  gallery  end  in  the  hall  upon  a 
form,  and  being  set,  called  his  son  unto  him  and 
said  :  '  Son,  even  as  thou  art  and  ever  hast  been 
a  proud,  disdainful  and  very  unthrifty  waster,  so 
hast  thou  now  declared  thyself;  wherefore  what 
joy,  what  pleasure,  what  comfort  or  what  solace 
can  I  conceive  in  thee,  that  thus  without  discretion 
hast  abused  thyself,  having  neither  regard  to  me 
thy  natural  father,  nor  unto  thy  natural  Sovereign 
Lord,  to  whom  all  honest  and  loyal  subjects  bear 
faithful  obedience,  nor  yet  to  the  prosperity  of 
thine  own  estate,  but  hast  so  unadvisedly  ensnared 
thyself  to  her  for  whom  thou  hast  purchased  the 
King's  high  displeasure,  intolerable  for  any  subject 
to  sustain.  And  but  that  the  King  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 
ruin  and  destruction.  But  he  being  my  singular 


THE  CARDINAL  AND  ANNE  BOLEYN     57 

good  Lord  and  favorable  Prince,  and  my  Lord 
Cardinal  my  very  good  friend,  hath  and  doth 
clearly  excuse  me  in  thy  lewdness,  and  doth  rather 
lament  thy  folly  than  malign  thee,  and  hath 
advised  an  order  to  be  taken  for  thee,  to  whom 
both  you  and  I  are  more  bound,  than  we  conceive 
of.  I  pray  to  God  that  this  may  be  a  sufficient 
admonition  unto  thee  to  use  thyself  more  wisely 
hereafter,  for  assure  thyself  that  if  thou  dost  not 
amend  thy  prodigality,  thou  wilt  be  the  last  Earl 
of  our  house.  For  thy  natural  inclination,  thou 
art  masterful  and  prodigal,  to  consume  all  that  thy 
progenitors  have  with  great  travail  gathered  and 
kept  together  with  honour.  But  having  the  King's 
Majesty  my  singular  good  Lord,  I  trust  (I  assure 
thee)  so  to  order  my  succession  that  thou  shalt 
consume  thereof  but  a  little.  For  I  do  not 
intend,  I  tell  thee,  truly  to  make  thee  heir,  for, 
thanks  be  to  God,  I  have  more  boys,  that  I  trust 
will  use  themselves  much  better  and  prove  more 
like  to  wise  and  honest  men,  of  whom  I  will 
choose  the  most  likely  to  succeed  me. 

'  Now,  good  masters  and  gentlemen,'  quoth  he 
to  the  servants,  '  it  may  be  your  chances  hereafter, 
when  I  am  dead,  to  see  those  things  that  I  have 
spoken  to  my  son  prove  as  true  as  I  now  speak 
them  ;  yet  in  the  meantime  I  desire  you  all  to  be 
his  friends  and  tell  him  his  faults,  in  what  he  doth 


$8  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

amiss,  wherein  you  shall  show  yourselves  friendly 
to  him,  and  so  I  take  my  leave  of  you ;  and,  son, 
go  your  ways  unto  my  Lord  and  Master  and  serve 
him  diligently.'  And  he  parted  and  went  down 
into  the  hall  and  so  took  his  barge. 

Then  after  long  and  large  debating  the  matter 
about  the  Lord  Percy's  assurance  to  Mistress  Anne 
Boleyn,  it  was  devised  that  the  contract  should  be 
infringed  and  dissolved,  and  that  Lord  Percy 
should  marry  one  of  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury's 
daughters.  And  so  indeed  not  long  after  he  did, 
whereby  the  former  contract  was  broken  and 
dissolved,  wherewith  Mistress  Anne  was  greatly 
displeased,  promising  that  if  ever  it  lay  in  her 
power,  she  would  do  the  Cardinal  some  displeasure, 
which  she  afterwards  did.  But  yet  he  was  not 
altogether  to  be  blamed,  for  he  did  nothing  but 
what  the  King  commanded,  whereby  the  Lord 
Percy  was  charged  to  avoid  her  company.  And 
so  was  she  for  a  time  discharged  at  the  Court  and 
sent  home  to  her  father,  whereat  she  was  much 
troubled  and  perplexed.  For  all  this  time  she 
knew  nothing  of  the  King's  intended  purpose. 
But  we  may  see  when  Fortune  doth  begin  to  frown 
how  she  can  compass  a  matter  of  displeasure 
through  a  far-fetch  mark;  now  therefore  of  the 
grudge — how  it  began  that  in  process  of  time 
wrought  the  Cardinal's  utter  destruction. 


X 

OF   MISTRESS  ANNE  BOLEYN'S  FAVOUR  WITH 
THE  KING 

Lord,   what  a  great  God  art  Thou,    that 
workest  Thy  wonders   so   secretly   that 
they  are    not  perceived    until   they  be 
brought  to  pass  and  finished  ! 

Attend  now,  good  reader,  to  this  story  following, 
and  note  every  circumstance,  and  thou  shalt  at  the 
end  perceive  a  wonderful  work  of  God  against 
such  as  forget  Him  and  His  benefits.  Therefore, 
I  say,  consider  after  this  my  Lord  Percy's  trouble- 
some business  was  over,  and  all  things  brought  to 
an  end.  Then  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn  was  again 
admitted  to  the  Court,  where  she  flourished  in 
great  estimation  and  favour,  having  always  a  prime 
grudge  against  my  Lord  Cardinal  for  breaking  the 
contract  between  the  Lord  Percy  and  herself, 
supposing  it  had  been  his  own  device  and  no 
other's.  And  she  at  last,  knowing  the  King's 


60  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

pleasure  and  the  depth  of  his  secrets,  then  began 
to  look  very  haughtily,  lacking  no  manner  of.  rich 
apparel  or  jewels  that  money  could  purchase. 

It  was  therefore  imagined  by  many  through  the 
Court  that  she,  being  in  such  favour,  might  do 
much  with  the  King,  and  obtain  any  suit  of  him 
for  her  friends.  All  this  while,  being  in  this 
estimation  in  all  places,  there  was  no  doubt  but 
good  Queen  Katherine,  having  this  gentlewoman 
daily  attending  upon  her,  both  heard  by  report  and 
saw  with  her  eyes  how  all  things  tended  against 
her  good  Ladyship,  although  she  seemed  neither  to 
Mistress  Anne  Boleyn  nor  the  King  to  carry  any 
spark  of  discontent  or  displeasure,  but  accepted  all 
things  in  good  part,  and  with  great  wisdom  and 
much  patience  dissembled  the  same,  having  Mis- 
tress Anne  Boleyn  in  more  estimation  for  the 
King's  sake  than  when  she  was  with  her  before, 
declaring  herself  indeed  to  be  a  very  patient  Grissel, 
as  by  her  long  patience  in  all  her  troubles  shall 
hereafter  more  plainly  appear.  For  the  King  was 
so  enamoured  of  this  young  gentlewoman  that  he 
knew  not  how  sufficiently  to  advance  her. 

This  being  perceived  by  all  the  great  Lords  of 
the  Court,  who  bore  a  secret  grudge  against  my 
Lord  Cardinal  for  that  they  could  not  rule  in  the 
kingdom  as  they  would  for  him  because  he  was 
'Dominus  factotum'  with  the  King,  and  ruled  as 


ANNE  BOLEYN'S   FAVOUR   WITH   THE   KING    6l 

well  the  great  Lords  as  the  mean  subjects,  whereat 
they  took  occasion  to  work  him  out  of  the  King's 
favour,  and,  consequently,  themselves  into  more 
estimation.  And  after  long  and  secret  consulta- 
tion with  themselves  how  to  bring  this  matter  to 
pass,  they  knew  very  well  that  it  was  somewhat 
difficult  for  them  to  do  absolutely  of  themselves. 
Wherefore  they,  perceiving  the  great  affection  and 
love  the  King  bore  to  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn,  sup- 
posing in  their  judgments  that  she  would  be  a  fit 
instrument  to  bring  their  earnest  intentions  to  pass, 
therefore  they  often  consulted  with  her  to  that 
purpose,  and  she,  having  both  a  very  good  wit  and 
also  an  inward  grudge  and  displeasure  against  my 
Lord  Cardinal,  was  ever  as  ready  to  accomplish 
their  desires  as  they  were  themselves  ;  wherefore 
there  was  no  more  to  do,  but  only  to  imagine  an 
occasion  to  work  their  malice  by  some  pretended 
circumstances. 

Then  did  they  daily  invent  divers  devices  how 
to  effect  their  purpose,  but  the  enterprise  thereof 
was  so  dangerous,  that  though  they  would  feign 
have  attempted  the  matter  with  the  King,  yet 
durst  they  not,  for  they  knew  the  great  zeal  the 
King  did  bear  unto  the  Cardinal,  and  this  they 
knew  very  well,  that  if  the  matter  they  should 
propound  against  him  was  not  grounded  upon  a 
just  and  urgent  cause,  the  King's  love  was  such 


62  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

towards  him,  and  his  wit  such  withal,  that  he  could 
with  his  policy  vanquish  all  their  enterprises,  and 
then,  after  that,  requite  them  in  the  like  nature  to 
their  utter  ruin. 

Therefore  they  were  compelled  to  forbear  their 
plots  till  they  might  have  some  better  ground  to 
work  upon.  And  now  the  Cardinal,  seeing  the 
great  zeal  the  King  bore  to  this  gentlewoman, 
framed  himself  to  please  her  as  well  as  the  King. 
To  that  end  therefore  he  prepared  great  banquets 
and  feasts  to  entertain  the  King  and  her  at  his  own 
house,  she  all  the  while  dissembling  £he  secret 
grudge  in  her  breast.  Now  about  the  Cardinal 
began  to  grow  wonderful  inventions,  not  heard  of 
before  in  England,  and  the  love  between  this 
glorious  lady  and  the  King  grew  to  such  perfection 
that  divers  things  were  imagined,  whereof  I  forbear 
here  to  speak  until  I  come  to  the  proper  place. 


XI 


OF  THE  VARIANCE  BETWEEN  THE  FRENCH  KING 
AND  THE  DUKE  OF  BOURBON,  WHO  FLED 
TO  THE  CITY  OF  PA  VIA,  WHERE  THE  KING 
BESIEGED  HIM 

j HEN  began  a  certain  grudge  between 
the  French  King  and  the  Duke  of 
Bourbon  to  break  out,  insomuch  that 
the  Duke,  being  now  at  variance  with  the  house  of 
France,  was  compelled  for  safeguard  of  his  life  to  fly 
and  forsake  his  country,  fearing  the  King's  malice 
and  indignation.  The  Cardinal  having  intelligence 
hereof,  contrived  that  the  King  our  Sovereign  Lord 
should  obtain  the  Duke  to  be  his  General  in  his 
wars  against  the  French  King,  with  whom  our 
King  had  then  an  occasion  to  war,  and  the  rather 
because  the  Duke  of  Bourbon  had  fled  to  the 
Emperor  to  invite  him  to  a  like  purpose.  And 
after  the  King  was  advised  thereof  and  conceived 
the  Cardinal's  invention,  he  mused  more  and  more 


64  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

of  this  matter  until  it  came  into  a  consultation 
amongst  the  Council,  so  that  it  was  concluded  that 
an  ambassador  should  be  sent  to  the  Emperor 
about  this  matter,  and  it  was  further  concluded 
that  the  King  and  Emperor  should  join  in  those 
wars  against  the  French  King,  and  that  the  Duke 
of  Bourbon  should  be  the  King  of  England's 
Champion  and  General  in  the  field.  He  had  a 
number  of  good  soldiers  over  and  besides  the 
Emperor's  army,  which  was  not  small,  and  it  was 
agreed  that  the  King  should  pay  the  Duke 
monthly  wages  for  himself  and  his  retinue. 

For  which  purpose  John  Russell,  who  was  after- 
wards created  Earl  of  Bedford,  lay  continually 
beyond  the  seas  in  a  secret  place,  both  to  receive 
money  from  the  King,  and  to  pay  the  same 
monthly  to  the  Duke,  so  that  the  Duke  began  the 
wars  with  the  French  King  in  his  own  territories 
and  dukedom,  which  the  King  had  gotten  into  his 
own  hands,  being  not  perfectly  known  to  the 
Duke's  enemies  that  he  had  any  aid  from  our 
Sovereign  Lord  ;  and  thus  he  wrought  the  French 
King  much  displeasure,  inasmuch  that  the  French 
King  was  constrained  to  at  once  prepare  an  army, 
and  in  his  own  person  to  resist  the  Duke's  power. 
And  battle  being  joined,  the  King  drove  him  to 
take  Pavia,  a  strong  town  in  Italy,  with  his  host  of 
men  for  his  security,  where  the  King  encamped 


THE  KING  AND  THE  DUKE  OF  BOURBON   65 

himself  wonderfully  strong,  intending  to  close  the 
Duke  within  the  town,  lest  he  should  issue  out  and 
skirmish  with  him. 

The  French  King  in  his  camp  sent  secretly  into 
England  a  private  person  (being  a  very  witty  man) 
to  treat  or  a  peace  between  his  master  and  our 
Sovereign.  His  name  was  John  Jokin,  or  Joachin, 
who  was  kept  as  secretly  as  might  be,  no  man 
having  intelligence  of  his  arrival,  for  he  was  no 
Frenchman  born,  but  an  Italian,  a  man  of  no  great 
estimation  in  France,  or  known  to  be  much  in  his 
master's  favour,  but  taken  to  be  a  merchant.  And 
for  his  subtile  wit  he  was  elected  to  treat  of  such 
an  ambassage  as  the  French  King  had  given  him 
in  commission. 

This  Jokin  (or  Joachin)  was  secretly  conveyed 
to  Richmond,  and  there  stayed  until  such  time  as 
the  Cardinal  resorted  thither  to  him,  where,  after 
Easter  Term  was  ended,  he  kept  his  Feast  of 
Whitsuntide  very  solemnly.  In  this  season  my 
Lord  Cardinal  caused  this  Jokin  divers  times  to 
dine  with  him,  who  seemed  to  be  both  witty  and 
of  good  behaviour ;  he  continued  long  in  England 
after  this,  till  at  last  (as  it  should  seem)  he  had 
brought  the  matter  which  he  had  in  commission 
to  pass,  whereupon  the  King  sent  out  immediately 
a  restraint  to  Sir  John  Russell  that  he  should 
retain  that  month's  pay  still  in  his  hands,  until  the 

5 


66  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

King's  pleasure  should  be  further  made  known, 
which  should  have  been  paid  to  the  Duke,  being 
then  encamped  within  the  town  of  Pavia. 

For  want  of  this  money  the  Duke  and  his  men 
were  much  dismayed,  when  they  saw  no  money 
come  as  it  was  wont  to  do  ;  and  being  in  this 
dangerous  case  where  victuals  began  to  be  scant 
and  very  dear,  they  imagined  many  ways  what 
should  be  the  reason  that  the  King's  money  came 
not.  Some  said  this,  and  some  said  that,  mistrust- 
ing nothing  else  than  the  true  cause  thereof. 


XII 

OF  THE  DUKE  OF  BOURBON'S    STRATAGEM   AND 
VICTORY,  WHEREIN   THE  FRENCH  KING  WAS 
TAKEN   PRISONER 

jOW,  the  Duke  and  his  soldiers  were  in 
great  misery  for  want  of  victuals  and 
other  necessaries,  which  they  could  by 
no  means  get  within  the  town.  Hereupon  the 
captains  and  soldiers  began  to  grudge  and  mur- 
mur, being  for  want  of  victuals  all  like  to  perish  ; 
and  being  in  this  extremity,  they  came  before  the 
Duke  and  said  :  '  Sir,  we  must  of  force  and  neces- 
sity yield  to  our  enemies  ;  and  better  were  it  for  us 
so  to  do  than  to  starve  like  dogs.'  But  when  the 
Duke  heard  this  he  replied  with  weeping  tears  : 
'  Sirs,  you  have  proved  yourselves  valiant  men  and 
of  noble  hearts  in  this  service,  and  for  your  neces- 
sity, whereof  I  myself  do  participate,  I  do  not 
a  little  lament.  But  I  shall  desire  you,  as  you  are 

S) 

4 


68  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

noble  in  heart  and  courage,  so  to  take  patience 
for  two  or  three  days,  and  if  succour  come  not  then 
from  the  King  of  England  (as  I  doubt  nothing 
less),  I  will  then  consent  to  you  all  to  put  our- 
selves and  lives  unto  the  mercy  of  our  enemies.' 
Whereunto  they  all  agreed,  and  tarried  till  two 
days  were  past,  expecting  relief  from  the  King. 
Then  the  Duke,  seeing  no  remedy,  called  his  noble 
captains  and  soldiers  before  him,  and,  weeping, 
said  :  '  You  noblemen  and  captains,  we  must  yield 
ourselves  unto  our  enemies  or  else  famish.  To 
yield  the  town  and  ourselves,  will  be  to  know  well 
the  cruelty  of  our  enemies.  As  for  my  part,  I  care 
not  for  their  cruelties,  for  I  shall  suffer  death,  I 
know  very  well,  most  cruelly  if  I  come  once  into  their 
hands.  It  is  not,  therefore,  for  myself  that  I  do 
lament ;  it  is  for  your  sakes,  and  for  your  lives, 
and  for  the  safeguard  of  your  persons  ;  for  so  that 
you  might  escape  your  enemies'  hands  I  would 
willingly  suffer  death.  Good  companions  and 
noble  soldiers,  I  do  require  you  all,  considering 
the  miserable  calamities  and  dangers  we  are  in  at 
this  present,  to  sell  our  lives  most  dearly  rather 
than  be  murdered  like  beasts.  Therefore,  if  you 
all  consent  with  me,  we  will  take  upon  us  this 
night  to  give  our  enemies  assault,  and  by  that 
means  we  may  either  escape  or  else  give  them  an 
overthrowal,  for  it  were  better  to  die  like  men  in 


THE  DUKE  OF  BOURBON'S  STRATAGEM   69 

the  field  than  to  live  prisoners  miserably  in  cap- 
tivity.5    To  this  they  all  agreed. 

'Then,'  quoth  the  Duke,  'you  all  perceive  the 
enemy's  camp  is  strong,  and  there  is  no  way  to 
enter  upon  them  but  one,  and  that  entry  is  planted 
with  great  cannons  and  strength  of  men  so  that  it 
is  impossible  to  attain  to  our  enemies  that  way  to 
fight  with  them  in  their  camp.  And  also  now  of 
late  you  perceive  they  have  had  but  small  doubt  of 
us,  and  so  they  have  kept  but  slender  watch ; 
therefore  mine  advice  is  that  there  shall  issue  out 
of  the  town  in  the  dead  time  of  the  night  from  us 
a  certain  number  of  you  that  be  most  likely  to 
assault  the  camp,  and  they  shall  give  the  assault 
secretly  against  the  place  of  the  entry,  which  is 
most  strong  and  invincible,  which  force  and  valiant 
assault  shall  be  to  them  of  the  camp  so  doubtful 
that  they  will  turn  the  strength  of  the  entry  that 
lieth  over  against  your  assault  to  beat  you  from 
your  purpose.  Then  I  will  enter  out  at  the  postion 
gate  and  come  to  the  place  of  their  strength  newly 
turned,  and  there  ere  they  be  aware  will  I  enter 
and  fight  with  them  in  the  camp  and  win  their 
cannon  which  they  have  newly  turned,  and  beat 
them  with  their  own  pieces,  and  then  may  you 
come  and  join  with  me  in  the  field.'  So  this 
device  pleased  them  all  wonderfully  well,  and  they 
did  then  prepare  themselves  all  that  day  for  that 


7O  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

device,  and  kept  themselves  secret  and  close  with- 
out any  noise  or  shot  of  pieces  in  the  town,  which 
gave  the  enemy  the  less  fear  of  the  assault,  for  at 
night  they  went  all  to  their  tents  and  slept  quietly, 
nothing  mistrusting  what  after  happened.  So,  in 
the  dead  of  the  night,  when  they  were  at  rest,  the 
assailants  issued  out  of  the  town,  and  there,  ac- 
cording to  the  Duke's  appointment,  they  gave  so 
cruel  and  fierce  an  assault  that  they  in  the  camp 
had  much  ado  to  withstand  them.  And  then, 
as  the  Duke  before  had  declared,  they  within 
were  compelled  to  turn  the  shot  that  lay  at  the 
entry  against  the  assault.  Then  issued  out  the 
Duke  and  with  him  about  fifteen  or  sixteen 
hundred  men  or  more  secretly  in  the  night,  the 
enemy  being  ignorant  of  his  coming  until  he 
entered  the  field.  At  his  entry  he  took  all  the 
cannon  that  lay  there  and  slew  the  gunners,  then 
charged  the  pieces  against  the  enemies,  and  slew 
them  wonderfully,  and  cut  down  their  tents  and 
pavilions,  and  murdered  many  therein  ere  they 
were  aware  of  his  coming,  suspecting  nothing  less 
than  his  entry,  so  that  he  won  the  field  ere  the 
King  could  arise.  So  the  King  was  taken  in  his 
lodging  before  he  was  armed.  And  when  the 
Duke  had  won  the  field,  the  French  King  being 
taken  and  his  men  slain,  his  tents  robbed  and 
spoiled  and  the  King's  coffers  searched,  the  Duke 


THE   DUKE   OF   BOURBON'S   STRATAGEM       ?I 

of  Bourbon  found  the  league  under  the  Great  Seal 
of  England  newly  made  between  the  King  of 
England  and  the  French  King,  whereby  he  per- 
ceived the  cause  of  the  withdrawal  of  his  money 
which  should  have  come  to  him  from  the  King, 
having  upon  due  search  of  this  matter  further 
intelligence  that  all  this  business  was  devised  by 
the  Cardinal  of  England.  Whereupon  the  Duke 
conceived  such  indignation  against  the  Cardinal 
that  he  went  immediately  to  Rome,  and  there 
intended  to  sack  the  town  and  to  have  taken  the 
Pope  ;  but  at  the  first  assault  of  the  town  the  Duke 
was  the  first  man  that  was  there  slain,  notwith- 
standing the  captains  continued  their  assaults,  and 
at  last  many  of  the  town  fled  with  the  Pope  to  the 
Castle  of  Angell,  where  he  continued  in  great 
calamity. 

I  have  written  this  history  more  at  large  because 
that  you  may  see  whatsoever  a  man  doth  propose, 
be  he  Prince  or  Prelate,  yet  God  disposeth  all 
things  according  to  His  pleasure  and  will,  it  being 
a  folly  for  any  wise  man  to  take  upon  him  any 
weighty  enterprise  of  his  own  will  without  calling 
upon  God  for  His  grace  and  assistance  in  all  his 
proceedings. 

I  have  seen  Princes  either  when  they  would  call 
a  Parliament  or  any  other  great  assembly  that  they 
would  first  call  to  God  most  reverently  for  His 


72  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

grace  therein.  And  now  I  see  the  contrary,  as  it 
seems  they  trust  more  to  their  own  minds  and  wills 
than  to  God's  good  grace ;  and  even  thereafter 
oftentimes  do  their  matters  take  effect,  wherefore 
not  only  in  this  history,  but  divers  others,  may  be 
perceived  most  evident  examples.  Yet  I  see  no 
man  almost  in  authority  or  high  estate  regard  the 
same,  which  is  the  greater  pity  and  the  more  to  be 
lamented.  Now  here  I  desist  to  speak  any  further 
of  this  matter,  and  proceed  to  others. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

OF  THE  FRENCH  KING'S  REDEMPTION  OUT  OF 
CAPTIVITY,  AND  OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  AMBAS- 
SAGE  INTO  FRANCE 

PON  the  taking  of  the  French  King,  there 
were  divers  consultations  and  various 
opinions  amongst  the  Council.  Some 
held  that  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  could 
invade  the  realm  of  France,  and  might  easily 
conquer  the  same,  forasmuch  as  the  King  with 
the  most  part  of  the  noblemen  of  France  were 
in  captivity ;  some  said,  again,  that  the  King, 
our  Master,  ought  to  have  had  the  French  King 
prisoner,  forasmuch  as  he  was  taken  by  our  King's 
Champion  and  Captain-General  the  Duke  of  Bour- 
bon and  the  Emperor,  insomuch  that  the  King  was 
advised  thereby  to  occasion  of  war  against  the 
Emperor  because  he  kept  the  King  of  France  out 
of  our  King's  possession,  with  divers  imaginations 


74  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

and  devises  as  their  fantasies  served,  which  were 
too  long  to  relate  here. 

Thus  were  they  in  long  consideration,  whereof 
every  man  in  the  Court  talked  as  his  fancy  served 
him,  until  at  the  last  divers  ambassadors  from  the 
realm  of  France  came  to  the  King,  our  Lord, 
desiring  him  to  take  order  with  the  Emperor  for 
the  French  King's  delivery  as  his  Highness's 
wisdom  should  think  best,  wherein  my  Lord 
Cardinal  bore  great  rule.  So  that  after  great 
deliberation  and  advice  being  taken,  it  was  thought 
good  by  the  Cardinal  that  the  Emperor  should 
deliver  the  French  King  out  of  his  ward  upon  suf- 
ficient pledges. 

And  afterwards  it  was  thought  meet  that  the 
King's  two  sons,  that  is  to  say  the  Dauphin  and  the 
Duke  of  Orleans,  should  be  delivered  as  hostages 
for  security  of  the  Emperor  and  the  King  our 
Sovereign  Lord  upon  all  such  demands  and  re- 
quests as  should  be  demanded  of  the  French  King 
as  well  by  the  Emperor  as  by  our  Sovereign  Lord. 

The  Cardinal,  lamenting  the  French  King's  cap- 
tivity and  the  Pope's  great  adversity  (who  yet 
remained  in  the  Castle  Angell,  either  as  prisoner 
or  else  for  defence  against  his  enemies),  en- 
deavoured and  laboured  all  that  he  could  with 
the  King  and  his  Council  to  take  some  order  for 
the  benefit  of  them  both. 


THE  KING'vS   REDEMPTION   OUT  OF  CAPTIVITY  75 

At  the  last,  as  you  have  heard  before,  divers  of 
the  great  States  and  Lords  of  the  Council,  with  the 
Lady  Anne,  lay  in  continual  wait  to  spy  a  con- 
venient occasion  to  take  the  Cardinal  in  a  snare. 

Therefore  they  consulted  with  the  Cardinal,  and 
informed  him  that  they  thought  it  a  necessary 
time  for  him  to  take  upon  him  the  King's  commis- 
sion to  travel  beyond  the  seas,  and  by  his  wisdom 
to  compass  a  present  peace  amongst  these  great 
princes  and  potentates,  encouraging  him  thereto 
and  alleging  that  it  was  more  meet  for  his  wisdom, 
discretion  and  authority  to  bring  so  weighty  a 
matter  to  pass  than  for  any  other  within  the  realm. 
Their  intent  was  no  other  than  to  get  him  from  the 
King  that  they  might  adventure,  by  the  help  of 
their  chief  mistresses,  to  malign  him  unto  the  King, 
and  so  in  his  absence  bring  him  into  his  disgrace, 
or  at  the  least  to  be  in  less  estimation. 

Well,  the  matter  was  so  handled  that  the 
Cardinal  was  commanded  to  prepare  himself  for 
the  journey  which  he  took  upon  him,  but  whether 
willingly  or  not  I  cannot  say.  But  this  I  know, 
that  he  made  so  short  abode  after  the  perfect 
resolution  thereof  that  he  caused  all  things  to  be 
prepared  speedily  for  his  journey ;  and  every  one 
of  his  servants  was  appointed  that  should  attend 
him  in  the  same. 

When  all  things  were  concluded  and  provided 


?6  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

for  this  noble  journey,  he  advanced  forward  in  the 
name  of  God ;  my  Lord  had  with  him  such  of  the 
Lords  and  Bishops  as  were  not  of  the  conspiracy. 

Then  marched  he  forward  from  his  new  house 
at  Westminster  through  all  London,  over  London 
Bridge,  having  a  great  many  of  gentlemen  in  a 
rank  before  him  in  velvet  coats,  and  the  most  part 
of  them  with  chains  of  gold  about  their  necks. 
And  all  his  yeomen  followed  him  with  noble  men 
and  tall  men-servants,  all  in  orange-tawny  coats, 
and  the  Cardinal's  hat  with  T.  and  C.  for  Thomas 
Cardinal  embroidered  upon  them  and  also  upon 
his  own  servants'  coats,  and  those  of  the  rest  of  the 
gentlemen.  His  sumpter  mules  were  twenty  and 
more  in  number,  and  when  all  his  carriages  and 
carts  and  other  train  were  passed  before,  he  rode 
very  sumptuously,  like  a  Cardinal,  with  the  rest  of 
his  train,  on  his  mule,  with  his  spare  mule  and 
his  spare  horse  covered  with  crimson  velvet  and 
gilt  stirrups  following  him.  And  before  him  he 
had  his  two  great  silver  crosses,  his  two  pillars  of 
silver,  the  King's  Broad  Seal  of  England  and  his 
Cardinal's  hat,  and  a  gentleman  carrying  his 
valaunce,  otherwise  called  his  cloak-bag,  which 
was  made  of  fine  scarlet  all  embroidered  very 
richly  with  gold.  Thus  he  passed  through  London, 
as  I  said  before,  and  all  the  way  in  his  journey  he 
was  thus  furnished,  having  his  harbingers  in  every 


THE   KING'S  REDEMPTION   OUT  OF  CAPTIVITY  77 

place  before,  which  prepared  lodgings  for  him  and 
his  said  train. 

The  first  journey  he  went  two  miles  beyond 
Deptford  in  Kent,  unto  Sir  Richard  Wiltshire's 
house  ;  the  rest  of  his  train  were  lodged  in  Dept- 
ford, and  in  the  country  thereabouts. 

The  next  day  he  marched  to  Rochester,  where 
he  lay  in  the  Bishop's  Palace,  and  the  rest  were 
lodged  in  the  city. 

The  third  day  he  rode  from  thence  to  Faversham, 
and  there  lodged  in  the  Abbey,  and  his  train  in 
the  town,  and  some  about  in  the  country. 

The  fourth  day  he  rode  to  Canterbury,  where  he 
was  kindly  entertained  by  the  Bishop  of  the  city, 
and  there  he  continued  four  or  five  days ;  in  which 
season  was  the  Jubilee  and  a  great  fair  in  the  town, 
by  reason  it  was  the  Feast  of  Saint  Thomas,  their 
patron,  upon  which  day  there  was  a  solemn  pro- 
cession, wherein  my  Lord  Cardinal  was  in  his 
Legatine  ornaments,  with  his  hat  upon  his  head, 
who  commanded  the  monks  and  the  choir  to  sing 
the  Latin  after  this  sort  :  '  Sancta  Maria  ora  pro 
Papa  nostro  clemente  ';  and  in  this  manner  perused 
the  Latin  through,  my  Lord  Cardinal  kneeling  at 
a  stool  before  the  choir  door  prepared  for  him  with 
carpets  and  cushions.  All  the  monks  and  the 
choir  stood  in  the  body  singing  the  Litany ;  at 
which  time  I  saw  my  Lord  Cardinal  weep  tenderly, 


78  LIFE   OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

the  which  many  conceived  to  be  for  grief  that  the 
Pope  was  in  such  calamity  and  danger  of  the 
Lance  Knights.  The  next  day  I  was  sent  with 
letters  from  my  Lord  to  a  Cardinal  in  Calais  in 
post,  so  that  I  was  the  same  night  in  Calais.  At 
my  arrival  I  found  standing  upon  the  pier  without 
the  Lantern  Gate  all  the  Council  of  the  town,  to 
whom  I  delivered  up  my  message  and  my  letters 
before  I  entered  the  town,  where  I  lay  until  my 
Lord  came  thither,  who  arrived  two  days  after  my 
coming  thither  before  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  was  received  of  all  the  noble  Officers  and 
Council  of  the  town  with  procession,  the  clerks 
being  in  rich  copes  having  many  rich  crosses.  In 
the  Lantern  Gate  a  stool  with  cushions  and  carpets 
was  set  for  him,  where  he  kneeled  and  made  his 
prayers,  at  which  time  they  censed  him  with 
censers  of  silver  and  sprinkled  water.  That  done, 
they  passed  on  before  him  in  procession  until  he 
came  into  Saint  Mary's  Church,  where,  at  the  High 
Altar,  turning  him  to  the  people,  he  gave  them 
his  Benediction  and  pardon,  and  then  he  repaired 
with  a  great  number  of  noblemen  and  gentlemen 
to  a  place  in  the  town  called  the  Chequer, 
where  he  kept  his  house  so  long  as  he  abode  in  the 
town,  going  immediately  into  his  bed,  because  he 
was  somewhat  troubled  with  sickness  by  reason  of 
his  passage  by  sea. 


THE   KING'S   REDEMPTION   OUT  OF  CAPTIVITY  79 

That  night  he  called  unto  him  Monsieur  de 
Biez,  Captain  of  Boulogne,  with  divers  other 
gallants  and  gentlemen  who  had  dined  with  him 
that  day,  and  having  some  further  consultation 
with  my  Lord  Cardinal,  he  and  the  rest  of  the 
gentlemen  departed  again  to  Boulogne. 

Thus  my  Lord  was  daily  visited  with  one  or 
other  of  the  French  nobility. 

When  all  his  train  and  carriage  was  landed,  and 
all  things  prepared  for  his  journey,  His  Grace  called 
all  his  noblemen  and  gentlemen  into  the  Privy 
Chamber,  where,  being  assembled  before  him,  he 
said :  '  I  have  called  you  hither  to  declare  unto 
you  that  I  would  have  you  both  consider  the  duty 
you  owe  to  me  and  the  goodwill  I  openly  bear  to 
you  for  the  same.  I  would  show  you  further  the 
authority  I  have  by  commission  from  the  King, 
your  diligent  observance  of  which  I  will  hereafter 
recommend  to  His  Majesty,  as  also  to  show  you 
the  nature  of  the  Frenchmen,  and  withal  to  instruct 
you  what  reverence  you  shall  show  me  for  the 
high  honour  of  the  King's  majesty,  and  to  inform 
you  how  you  shall  entertain  and  accompany  the 
Frenchmen  when  you  meet  at  any  time. 

'  Concerning  the  first  point,  you  shall  understand 
for  divers  weighty  affairs  of  His  Grace's,  and  for 
mere  advancement  of  his  royal  dignity,  he  hath 
assigned  me  in  this  journey  to  be  his  Lieutenant. 


80  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

What  reverence  belongeth  to  me  for  the  same  I 
will  show  you. 

'  By  virtue  therefore  of  my  commission  and  Lieu- 
tenantship,  I  assume  and  take  upon  me  to  be 
esteemed  in  all  honour  and  degrees  of  service  as 
unto  His  Highness  is  meet  and  due,  and  that  by  me 
nothing  be  neglected  that  to  his  State  is  due  and 
fitting ;  for  my  part  you  shall  see  that  I  will  not  omit 
one  jot  thereof.  Therefore,  one  of  the  chief  causes 
of  your  assembly  at  this  time  is  to  inform  you  that 
you  be  not  ignorant  of  your  duty  in  this.  I  wish 
you,  therefore,  as  you  would  have  my  favour,  and 
also  charge  you  all  in  the  King's  name,  that  you  do 
not  forget  the  same  in  time  and  place,  but  that 
every  one  of  you  do  observe  his  duty  to  me  accord- 
ing as  you  will  at  your  return  avoid  the  King's 
indignation  or  deserve  His  Highness's  thanks,  the 
which  I  will  set  forth  at  our  return  as  each  of  you 
shall  deserve. 

'  Now,  to  the  second  point,  the  nature  of  French- 
men is  such  that  at  their  first  meeting  they  will  be 
as  familiar  with  you  as  if  they  had  known  you  by 
long  acquaintance,  and  will  commune  with  you  in 
their  French  tongue  as  if  you  knew  every  word  ; 
therefore  use  them  in  a  kind  manner,  and  be  as 
familiar  with  them  as  they  are  with  you.  If  they 
speak  to  you  in  their  natural  tongue,  speak  to  them 
in  English ;  for  if  you  understand  not  them,  no 


THE   KING'S   REDEMPTION    OUT   OF   CAPTIVITY   8 1 

more  shall  they  you.'  Then,  speaking  merrily  to 
one  of  the  gentlemen,  being  a  Welshman,  '  Rice,' 
quoth  he,  '  speak  thou  Welsh  to  them,  and  doubt 
not  but  thy  speech  will  be  more  difficult  to  them 
than  their  French  shall  be  to  thee.'  Moreover,  he 
said  unto  them  all,  '  Let  your  entertainment  and 
behaviour  be  according  to  all  gentlemen's  in 
humility  that  it  may  be  reported  after  our  depar- 
ture from  thence  that  you  were  gentlemen  of  very 
good  behaviour  and  humility,  that  all  men  may 
know  you  understand  your  duties  to  your  King 
and  to  your  master ;  thus  shall  you  not  only 
obtain  to  yourselves  great  commendations  and 
praises,  but  also  greatly  advance  your  Prince  and 
country. 

'  Now,  being  admonished  of  these  things,  prepare 
yourselves  against  to-morrow,  for  then  we  purpose 
to  set  forward.'  Therefore  we  his  servants,  being 
thus  instructed  and  all  things  being  in  readiness, 
proceeded  forwards. 

The  next  day  being  Mary  Magdalen's  Day,  my 
Lord  Cardinal  advanced  out  of  Calais  with  such  a 
number  of  black  coats  as  hath  seldom  been  seen  ; 
with  the  ambassador  went  all  the  Peers  of  Calais 
and  Guienne.  All  other  gentlemen,  besides  those 
of  his  train,  were  garnished  with  black  velvet  coats 
and  chains  of  gold. 

Thus  passed  he  forward,  with  his  troop  before, 

6 


82  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

three  in  a  rank,  which  compass  extended  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  in  length,  having  his  crosses  and 
all  of  his  other  accustomed  glorious  furniture 
carried  before  him,  as  I  have  formerly  related, 
except  the  Broad  Seal,  the  which  he  left  with 
Doctor  Taylor,  then  Master  of  the  Rolls,  until  his 
return. 

Thus  passing  on  his  way,  we  had  scarce  gone  a 
mile  but  it  began  to  rain  so  vehemently  that  I  have 
not  seen  the  like  for  the  time,  which  endured  until 
we  came  to  Boulogne,  and  ere  we  came  to  Stand- 
ingfield  the  Cardinal  of  Lorraine,  a  goodly  young 
gentleman,  gave  my  Lord  a  meeting  and  received 
him  with  much  joy  and  reverence,  and  so  passed 
forth  with  my  Lord  in  communication,  until  we 
came  near  the  said  Standingfield,  which  is  a  re- 
ligious place  standing  between  the  English,  French 
and  imperial  dominions,  being  a  neuter,  held  of 
neither  of  them. 

Then  there  we  waited  for  my  Lord  the  Count 
Brion,  Captain  of  Picardy,  with  a  great  number  of 
Stradiots  or  Arbenois,*  standing  in  array  in  a  great 
field  of  green  oats,  all  in  harness  upon  light  horses, 
passing  on  with  my  Lord  in  a  wing  unto  Boulogne 
and  so  after  into  Picardy,  for  my  Lord  doubted 
that  the  Emperor  would  lay  some  ambush  to 

*  Stradiots  and  Arbenois  were  light-armed  cavalry,  said  to 
be  Greek  mercenaries. 


THE  KING'S  REDEMPTION  OUT  OF  CAPTIVITY  83 

betray  him,  for  which  cause  he  commanded  them 
to  attend  my  Lord  for  the  safety  of  his  own  person, 
to  conduct  him  from  the  danger  of  his  enemies. 

Thus  rode  he  accompanied  until  he  came  nigh 
to  Boulogne,  within  an  English  mile,  where  all  the 
worshipful  citizens  of  Boulogne  came  and  met 
him,  having  a  learned  man  that  made  an  oration 
in  Latin  to  him,  unto  the  which  my  Lord  made 
answer  ;  and  that  done,  Monsieur  de  Biez,  Captain 
of  Boulogne,  with  his  retinue,  met  him  on  horse- 
back with  all  his  assembly.  Thus  he  marched 
into  the  town,  alighting  at  the  Abbey  gate,  from 
whence  he  was  conveyed  into  the  Abbey  with  pro- 
cession, and  they  presented  him  with  the  image  of 
Our  Lady,  commonly  called  Our  Lady  of  Boulogne, 
where  were  always  great  offerings.  That  done,  he 
gave  his  blessing  to  the  people  with  certain  days 
of  pardon.  Then  went  he  into  the  Abbey  to  his 
lodging,  but  all  his  train  were  lodged  in  the  high 
and  basse  towns. 

The  next  day,  after  he  had  heard  Mass,  he  rode 
to  Montreuil,  where  he  was  in  like  manner  saluted 
by  the  worshipful  of  the  town  all  in  livery  alike, 
where  also  a  learned  oration  was  made  to  him  in 
Latin,  which  His  Grace  answered,  again  in  Latin. 
And  as  he  entered  in  at  the  gate  there  was  a  canopy 
of  silk  embroidered  with  like  letters  as  his  men 
had  on  their  coats.  And  when  he  was  alighted,  his 

6-2 


84  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

footmen  had  it  as  due  to  their  office.  There  was 
also  made  pageants  for  joy  of  his  coming,  who  was 
called  in  the  French  tongue  whither  ever  he  rode 
or  came  '  Le  Cardinal  de  Patifagus,'  and  in  Latin 
'  Cardinalis  Patifagus,'  who  was  accompanied  all 
that  night  with  the  gentlemen  of  the  country  there- 
about. 

The  next  day  he  took  his  journey  towards 
Abbeville,  where  he  was  in  like  manner  enter- 
tained and  conveyed  into  the  town,  and  most 
honourably  welcomed  with  divers  kinds  of  pageants 
both  costly  and  wittily  contrived  at  every  turning 
of  the  streets,  as  he  rode  through  the  town,  having 
a  canopy  borne  over  him  richer  than  at  Montreuil ; 
and  so  they  conveyed  him  to  his  lodging,  which 
was  a  fair  house  newly  built  with  brick,  at  which 
house  the  French  King  Louis  was  married  to  the 
King's  sister,  who  was  married  after  to  the  Duke 
of  Suffolk.  In  this  town  of  Abbeville  he  remained 
eight  or  nine  days,  where  resorted  unto  him  divers 
of  the  French  King's  Council,  every  day  continually 
feasting  and  entertaining  him  and  the  other  Lords. 
At  the  time  of  his  departing  out  of  the  town,  he 
rode  to  a  castle  beyond  the  water,  called  by  some 
the  Channel  Percequeine,  standing  and  adjoining 
to  the  said  water  upon  a  great  hill  and  rock,  within 
the  which  there  was  a  college  of  priests,  the  situa- 
tion whereof  was  much  like  to  the  Castle  of 


THE   KING'S   REDEMPTION   OUT  OF  CAPTIVITY  85 

Windsor  in  England,  and  there  he  was  received 
with  a  solemn  procession,  conveying  him  first  to 
the  church  and  then  to  the  cattle  upon  the  bridge 
over  the  water  of  Somme,  where  Edward  IV.  met 
with  the  French  King,  as  you  may  read  at  large  in 
the  Chronicles  of  England. 

My  Lord  was  no  sooner  seated  in  his  lodging, 
but  I  heard  that  the  French  King  would  come  that 
day  to  the  city  of  Amiens,  which  was  not  above 
six  English  miles  from  thence.  And  being  desirous 
to  see  his  coming  thither,  I  took  with  me  two  of 
my  Lord's  gentlemen,  and  rode  presently  thither. 
Being  but  strangers,  we  took  up  our  lodgings  at 
the  sign  of  the  Angel,  directly  over  against  the 
west  door  of  the  cathedral  church  of  Notre  Dame, 
where  we  stayed  in  expectation  of  the  King's 
coming.  And  about  four  of  the  clock  came 
Madam  Regent,  the  King's  mother,  riding  in  a 
very  rich  chariot,  and  with  her  within  was  the 
Queen  of  Navarre,  her  daughter,  attended  with  a 
hundred  or  more  of  ladies  and  gentlewomen,  follow- 
ing, every  one  riding  upon  a  white  palfrey  ;  also 
her  guard,  which  was  of  no  small  number. 

And  within  two  days  after  the  King  came  in 
with  a  shot  of  guns,  and  there  were  divers  pageants 
made  only  for  joy  of  his  coming,  having  about  his 
person  and  before  him  a  great  number  of  noblemen 
and  gentlemen  in  three  companies.  The  first  were 


86  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

of  Soutches  and  Burgonians  with  guns,  the  second 
were  Frenchmen  with  bows,  the  third  guard  was 
of  tall  Scots,  who  were  more  comely  persons  than 
all  the  rest  The  French  guard  and  Scottish  had 
all  one  livery,  being  apparelled  with  rich  coats  of 
white  cloth,  with  a  rich  guard  of  silver  bullion  of 
a  handful  broad.  The  King  came  riding  on  a  rich 
genet,  and  did  alight  at  the  said  great  church,  and 
was  conveyed  with  procession  to  the  Bishop's 
palace,  where  he  was  lodged. 

The  next  morning  I  rode  again  to  Pincquigny 
to  attend  upon  my  Lord,  and  when  I  came,  my 
Lord  was  ready  to  go  on  horseback  to  ride  towards 
Amiens,  and,  passing  on  his  way,  was  saluted  by 
divers  noble  personages,  making  him  orations  in 
Latin,  to  whom  my  Lord  made  answer  'extem- 
pore.' There  was  word  brought  him  that  the  King 
was  ready  to  meet  him,  wherefore  he  had  no  other 
shift  but  to  alight  at  an  old  chapel  that  stood  hard 
by  the  highway,  and  there  he  newly  apparelled 
himself  in  rich  array,  and  so  mounted  again  upon 
another  mule,  very  richly  trapped  with  a  foot-cloth 
of  crimson  velvet  purled  with  gold,  and  fringed 
about  the  edges  with  a  fringe  of  gold  very  costly  ; 
his  stirrups  of  silver  gilt ;  the  bosses  of  the  same 
and  the  checks  of  his  mule's  bit  were  all  gilt  with 
fine  gold,  and  by  the  time  he  was  mounted  again 
in  this  gorgeous  manner  the  King  was  come  very 


THE   KING'S   REDEMPTION    OUT  OF  CAPTIVITY   87 

near,  within  less  than  an  English  quarter  of  a  mile, 
his  guard  standing  in  array  upon  the  top  of  a  high 
hill,  expecting  my  Lord's  coming,  to  whom  my 
Lord  made  as  much  haste  as  conveniently  he  could, 
until  he  came  within  a  pair  of  butt  lengths,  and 
there  he  stayed.  The  King  perceiving  that, 
caused  Monsieur  Vaudemont  to  issue  from  him 
and  to  ride  to  my  Lord  Cardinal  to  know  the  cause 
of  his  tarrying ;  and  so  Monsieur  Vaudemont, 
being  mounted  upon  a  very  fair  genet,  took  his 
race  with  his  horse  till  he  came  even  to  my  Lord, 
and  then  he  caused  his  horse  to  come  aloft  twice 
or  thrice  so  near  my  Lord's  mule  that  he  was  in 
doubt  .of  his  horse,  and  so  alighted,  and  in  humble 
reverence  did  his  message  to  my  Lord.  That  done, 
he  repaired  to  the  King.  And  then  the  King 
advanced  forwards,  seeing  my  Lord  do  the  like, 
and  in  the  mid-way  they  met,  embracing  each 
other  with  amiable  countenances.  Then  came 
into  the  place  all  noblemen  and  gentlemen  on 
both  sides,  who  made  a  mighty  press. 
Then  the  King's  officers  cried  : 
'  Marche,  marche,  devant,  allez  devant !' 
So  the  King,  with  the  Lord  Cardinal  on  his  right 
hand,  rode  towards  Amiens,  every  English  gentle- 
man being  accompanied  by  another  of  France. 
The  train  of  these  two  great  princes  was  two  miles 
in  length — that  is  to  say,  from  the  place  of  their 


88  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

meeting  at  Amiens,  where  they  were  nobly  received 
with  guns  and  pageants,  until  the  King  had  brought 
my  Lord  to  his  lodging,  and  then  departed  for  the 
night,  the  King  being  lodged  in  the  Bishop's 
Palace.  And  the  next  day,  after  dinner,  my  Lord 
rode  with  a  great  train  of  English  noblemen  and 
gentlemen  unto  the  Court  to  the  King,  at  which 
time  the  King  kept  his  bed,  yet  nevertheless  my 
Lord  came  into  his  bedchamber,  where  on  the  one 
side  of  the  bed  sat  the  King's  mother,  and  on  the 
other  side  the  Cardinal  of  Lorraine,  accompanied 
with  divers  other  gentlemen  of  France,  and  after 
some  communication  and  drinking  of  wine  with 
the  King's  mother,  my  Lord  departed  and  returned 
to  his  own  lodging,  accompanied  with  divers  other 
lords  and  gentlemen. 

Thus  continued  my  Lord  at  Amiens,  and  also 
the  King,  fourteen  days,  feasting  each  other  divers 
times,  and  there  one  day  at  Mass  the  King  and  my 
Lord  received  the  Holy  Sacrament,  as  also  the 
Queen  Regent  and  the  Queen  of  Navarre.  After 
that  it  was  determined  that  the  King  and  my  Lord 
should  remove,  and  so  they  rode  to  a  city  called 
Compeigne,  which  was  more  than  twenty  miles 
from  Amiens,  unto  which  town  I  was  sent  to  pro- 
vide lodging  for  my  Lord,  and  in  my  travel  I  had 
occasion  to  stay  by  the  way  at  a  little  village  to 
shoe  my  horse.  There  came  to  me  a  servant  from 


THE   KING'S   REDEMPTION    OUT    OF  CAPTIVITY   89 

the  Castle,  perceiving  me  to  be  an  Englishman 
and  one  of  my  Lord  Legate's  servants,  who  desired 
me  to  go  into  the  Castle  to  the  Lord,  his  master, 
whom  he  thought  would  be  very  glad  to  see  me,  to 
whom  I  consented  because  I  desired  acquaintance 
with  strangers,  especially  men  of  authority  and 
honourable  rank  ;  so  I  went  with  him,  who  con- 
ducted me  to  the  Castle,  and  at  my  first  entrance 
I  was  among  the  watchmen  who  kept  the  first  ward, 
being  very  tall  men  and  comely  persons,  who 
saluted  me  very  kindly. 

Knowing  the  cause  of  my  coming,  they  adver- 
tised their  lord  and  master,  and  forthwith  the 
lord  of  the  castle  came  out  unto  me.  His  name 
was  Monsieur  Crookesly,  a  nobleman  born,  and 
at  his  coming  he  embraced  me,  saying  that  I  was 
heartily  welcome,  and  thanked  me  that  I  was  so 
gentle  as  to  visit  him  and  his  castle,  saying  that 
he  was  preparing  to  meet  the  King  and  my  Lord 
Cardinal,  and  to  invite  them  to  his  castle  ;  and 
when  he  had  showed  me  the  strength  of  his  castle 
and  the  walls,  which  were  fourteen  feet  broad,  and 
I  had  seen  all  the  houses,  he  brought  me  down  into 
a  fair  inner  court,  where  his  genet  stood  ready  for 
him,  with  twelve  other  of  the  fairest  genets  that 
ever  I  saw,  especially  his  own,  which  was  a  mare, 
for  which  genet  he  told  me  he  had  400  crowns 
offered.  Upon  these  twelve  genets  were  mounted 


90  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

twelve  goodly  gentlemen,  called  pages  of  honour. 
They  rode  all  bareheaded  in  coats  of  cloth  of  gold, 
guarded  with  black  velvet,  and  they  had  all  of 
them  boots  of  red  Spanish  leather. 

Then  took  he  his  leave  of  me,  commanding  his 
Steward  and  other  of  his  gentlemen  to  conduct  me 
to  his  lady  to  dinner.  So  they  led  me  up  to  the 
gatehouse,  where  then  their  lady  and  mistress 
lay  for  the  time  that  the  King  and  the  Cardinal 
should  tarry  there.  And  after  a  short  time  the 
Lady  Crookesly  came  out  of  her  chamber  into 
the  dining-room,  where  I  attended  her  coming, 
who  did  receive  me  very  nobly,  she  having  a 
train  of  twelve  gentlemen  that  did  attend  on 
her. 

'  Forasmuch,'  quoth  she,  '  as  you  are  an  English- 
man, whose  custom  is  to  kiss  all  the  ladies  and 
gentlewomen  in  your  country  without  offence,  yet 
it  is  not  so  in  this  realm  ;  notwithstanding,  I  will 
be  so  bold  as  to  kiss  you,  and  so  shall  you  salute 
all  my  maids.' 

After  this  we  went  to  dinner,  being  nobly  served 
as  ever  I  saw  in  England,  passing  all  dinner-time 
in  pleasing  discourses. 

And  shortly  after  dinner  I  took  my  leave,  and 
was  constrained  that  night  to  lie  short  of  Com- 
peigne  at  a  great  walled  town  called  Montdidier, 
the  suburbs  whereof  my  Lord  of  Suffolk  had  lately 


THE   KING'S   REDEMPTION   OUT  OF  CAPTIVITY  9! 

burned,  and  early  in  the  morning  I  came  to  Com- 
peigne,  being  Saturday  and  market-day.  At  my 
first  coming  I  took  up  my  inn  over  against  the 
market-place,  and  being  set  at  dinner  in  a  fair 
chamber  that  looked  out  into  the  street,  I  heard  a 
great  noise  and  clattering  of  bills,  and  looking  out, 
I  saw  the  officers  of  the  town  bringing  a  prisoner 
to  execution,  and  with  a  sword  cut  off  his  head. 
I  demanded  what  was  the  offence.  They  answered 
me,  for  killing  of  red-deer  in  the  forest  near 
adjoining.  And  immediately  they  held  the  poor 
man's  head  upon  a  pole  in  the  market-place 
between  the  stag's  horns,  and  his  four  quarters 
were  set  up  in  four  places  of  the  forest. 

Having  prepared  my  Cardinal's  lodgings  in  the 
great  castle  of  the  town,  and  seen  it  furnished,  my 
Lord  had  the  one  half  assigned,  and  the  King  the 
other  half,  and  in  like  manner  they  divided  the 
gallery  between  them.  And  in  the  midst  thereof 
there  was  made  a  strong  wall,  with  a  window  and 
a  door,  where  the  King  and  my  Lord  did  often 
meet  and  talk,  and  divers  times  go  one  to  the  other 
through  the  same  door.  Also  there  was  lodged  in 
the  same  castle  Madam  Regent,  the  King's  mother, 
and  all  the  ladies  and  gentlewomen  that  did 
attend  on  her. 

Not  long  after  came  the  Lord  Chancellor  of 
France,  a  very  witty  man,  with  all  the  King's 


92  LIFE   OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

grave  Counsellors,  and  they  took  great  pains  daily 
in  consultation.  At  which  time  I  heard  my  Lord 
Cardinal  fall  out  with  the  Chancellor  of  France, 
laying  to  his  charge  that  he  went  about  to  hinder 
the  League  which  before  his  coming  was  concluded 
upon  by  the  King,  our  Sovereign  Lord,  and  the 
French  King,  their  master,  insomuch  that  my 
Lord  told  him  it  was  not  he  that  should  infringe 
the  amiable  friendship ;  and  if  the  French  King, 
his  master,  being  there  present,  would  follow  his, 
the  Chancellor's,  counsel,  he  should  not  fail  shortly 
after  his  return  to  feel  the  smart  which  it  was  to 
maintain  war  against  the  King  of  England,  and 
thereof  he  should  be  well  assured.  He  arose  and 
went  unto  his  own  lodging  wondrously  offended 
insomuch  that  his  angry  speech  and  bold  coun- 
tenance made  them  all  doubt  how  to  quiet  him  to 
the  Council,  who  was  then  departed  in  great  fury. 
Now  here  was  sending,  here  was  coming,  here  was 
entreating,  and  here  was  great  submission  and 
intercession  made  unto  him  to  reduce  him  to  his 
former  communication,  who  would  in  no  ways 
relent  until  Madam  Regent  came  to  him  herself, 
who  handled  the  matter  so  well  that  she  brought 
him  to  his  former  communication,  and  by  this 
means  he  brought  all  things  to  pass  that  before  he 
could  not  compass,  which  was  more  out  of  fear 
than  affection  the  French  King  had  to  the  matter 


THE  KING'S   REDEMPTION   OUT  OF   CAPTIVITY  93 

in  hand,  for  now  he  had  got  the  heads  of  the 
Council  under  his  girdle. 

The  next  morning  after  this  conflict  the  Cardinal 
arose  about  four  of  the  clock  and  sate  him  down  to 
write  letters  into  England  unto  the  King,  command- 
ing one  of  his  Chaplains  to  prepare  himself  ready, 
insomuch  that  the  Chaplain  stood  ready x  in  his 
vestments  until  four  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon, 
all  which  season  my  Lord  never  rose  to  any  meat, 
but  continually  wrote  letters  with  his  own  hand. 
About  four  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  he  made  an 
end  of  writing,  commanding  one  Christopher 
Gunner,  the  King's  Sergeant,  to  prepare  himself 
without  delay  to  ride  post  into  England  with  his 
letters,  whom  he  despatched  away  ere  ever  he 
drank.  That  done,  he  went  to  Mass  and  Matins 
and  other  devotions  with  his  Chaplain,  as  he  was 
accustomed  to  do,  and  then  went  to  walk  in  a 
garden  the  space  of  an  hour  or  more,  and  then 
said  Evening  Song,  and  so  went  to  dinner,  and 
supper,  making  no  long  stay,  and  so  went  to  bed. 

The  next  night  following  my  Lord  caused  a 
great  supper  to  be  made,  or  rather  a  banquet,  for 
Madam  Regent  and  the  Queen  of  Navarre  and 
other  noble  personages,  lords  and  ladies  ;  at 
which  supper  was  Madam  Louis,  one  of  the 
daughters  of  Louis,  the  last  King,  whose  sister 
lately  died.  These  two  sisters  were  by  their 


94  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL    WOLSEY 

mother  inheritors  of  the  Duchy  of  Brittany.  And 
forasmuch  as  King  Francis  had  married  one  of  the 
sisters,  by  which  he  had  one  moiety  of  the  said 
Duchy,  he  kept  the  said  Madam  Louis,  the  other 
sister,  without  marriage,  to  the  intent  that  the 
whole  'Duchy  might  descend  to  him  or  his  suc- 
cessors after  his  death  for  lack  of  issue  of  her. 

But  now  let  us  return  to  the  supper  or  banquet 
where  all  those  noble  personages  were  highly 
feasted.  And  in  the  midst  of  the  said  banquet 
the  French  King  and  the  King  of  Navarre  came 
suddenly  in,  who  took  their  places  in  the  lowest 
part  thereof.  There  was  not  only  plenty  of  fine 
meats,  but  also  much  mirth  and  solace  as  well  in 
merry  communication  as  also  the  noise  of  my 
Lord's  music,  who  played  there  all  that  night  so 
cunningly  that  the  two  Kings  took  great  delight 
therein,  insomuch  that  the  French  King  desired  my 
Lord  to  lend  them  unto  him  for  the  next  night. 
And  after  the  supper  or  banquet  was  ended  the 
lords  fell  to  dancing,  amongst  whom  one  Madam 
Fontaine  had  the  praise.  And  thus  passed  they 
the  most  part  of  the  night  ere  they  parted. 

The  next  day  the  King  took  my  Lord's  music 
and  rode  to  a  nobleman's  house,  where  was  some 
goodly  image  to  whom  he  had  vowed  a  night's 
pilgrimage.  And  to  perform  his  devotion  when 
he  came  there  (which  was  in  the  night)  he  danced 


and  caused  others  to  do  the  same,  and  the  next 
morning  he  returned  to  Compeigne. 

The  King,  being  at  Compeigne,  gave  order  that 
a  wild  boar  should  be  lodged  for  him  in  the  forest, 
whither  my  Lord  Cardinal  went  with  him  to  see 
him  hunt  the  wild  boar,  where  the  Lady  Regent, 
with  a  number  of  ladies  and  damsels,  were  stand- 
ing, in  chariots,  looking  upon  the  toil.  Amongst 
these  ladies  stood  my  Lord  Cardinal  to  regard  the 
hunting  in  the  Lady  Regent's  chariot,  and  within 
the  toil  was  the  King,  with  divers  ladies  of  France 
ready  furnished  for  the  high  and  perilous  enterprise 
of  hunting  this  dangerous  wild  swine. 

The  King  was  in  his  doublet  and  hose,  all  of 
sheep's-colour  cloth,  richly  trimmed,  in  his  slip  a 
brace  of  very  great  greyhounds,  who  were  armed 
as  their  manner  is  to  defend  them  from  the  violence 
of  the  beasts'  tusks.  And  the  rest  of  the  King's 
gentlemen  that  were  appointed  to  hunt  were  like- 
wise in  their  doublets  and  hose,  holding  each  of 
them  a  very  sharp  boar's  spear.  Then  the  King 
commanded  the  keepers  to  set  free  the  boar,  and 
that  every  person  within  the  toil  should  go  to  a 
standing,  amongst  whom  were  divers  gentlemen  of 
England. 

The  boar  presently  issued  out  of  his  den,  and, 
being  pursued  by  a  hound,  came  into  the  plain, 
where  he  stayed  awhile,  gazing  upon  the  people, 


96  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

and  the  hound,  drawing  near  him,  he  espied  a  bush 
upon  a  bank.  Under  the  bush  lay  two  French- 
men, who  fled  thither,  thinking  there  to  be  safe ; 
but  the  boar,  smelling  them,  thrust  his  head  into 
the  bush,  and  these  two  men  came  away  from 
thence  as  men  are  accustomed  to  fly  from  the 
danger  of  death. 

Then  was  the  boar,  by  the  violence  of  the 
hunters,  driven  from  thence,  who  ran  straight  to 
one  of  my  Lord's  footmen,  a  very  tall  man,  who 
had  in  his  hand  an  English  javelin,  with  which  he 
defended  himself  a  great  while.  But  the  boar 
continued  foaming  at  him  with  his  great  tusks  ; 
at  the  last  the  boar  broke  in  sunder  his  javelin,  so 
that  he  was  glad  to  draw  his  sword  and  therewith 
stood  upon  his  guard,  until  the  hunters  came  and 
rescued  him  and  put  the  boar  once  again  to  flight, 
to  another  gentleman  of  England,  one  Mr.  Rat- 
cliffe,  who  was  son  and  heir  to  the  Lord  Fitzwalter, 
now  Earl  of  Sussex,  who  by  his  boar's  spear 
rescued  himself.  There  were  many  other  passages, 
but  I  forbear  prolixity,  and  return  to  the  matter 
in  hand. 

Many  days  were  spent  in  consultation  and  ex- 
pectation of  Christopher  Gunner's  return,  who 
was  formerly  sent  post  into  England  with  letters, 
as  I  said  before.  At  last  he  returned  with  letters, 
upon  receipt  whereof  my  Lord  prepared  with  all 


THE  KING'S   REDEMPTION   OUT  OF   CAPTIVITY  97 

expedition  to  return  to  England.  The  morning 
that  my  Lord  intended  to  remove,  being  at  Mass 
in  his  closet,  he  consecrated  the  Chancellor  of 
France  a  Cardinal,  and  put  his  hat  on  his  head 
and  his  cap  of  scarlet,  and  then  took  his  journey, 
and  returned  into  England  with  all  expedition  he 
could,  and  came  to  Guienne,  and  was  there  nobly 
entertained  of  my  Lord  Sands,  who  was  Captain 
of  that  place,  and  from  thence  went  to  Calais, 
where  he  stayed  awhile  for  shipping  of  his  goods. 
And  in  the  meantime  he  established  a  mart  to  be 
there  kept  for  all  nations.  But  how  long,  or  in 
what  sort  it  continued,  I  know  not,  for  I  never 
heard  of  any  good  it  did  or  of  any  assembly  of 
merchants  or  traffic  of  merchandise  that  were 
brought  thither,  for  so  great  and  mighty  a  matter 
as  was  intended  for  the  good  of  the  town.  This 
being  established,'  he  took  shipping  for  Dover,  and 
from  thence  rode  post  to  Court. 

The  King  was  then  in  his  progress  at  Sir  Henry 
Wyatt's  house,  in  Kent,  of  whom  I  and  other  of 
his  servants  thought  the  Cardinal  should  have  been 
nobly  entertained  as  well  of  the  King  as  of  his 
nobles.  But  we  were  all  deceived  in  our  expecta- 
tions. Notwithstanding,  he  went  immediately  to 
the  King  after  his  return,  with  whom  he  had  long 
talk,  and  continued  two  or  three  days  after  in  the 
Court,  and  then  retired  to  his  house  at  West- 

7 


98  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

minster,  where  he  remained  till  Michaelmas  term, 
which  was  within  a  fortnight  after,  and  there  he 
exercised  his  place  of  Chancellorship,  as  he  had 
done  before. 

And  immediately  after  the  beginning  of  the 
term  he  caused  to  be  assembled  in  the  Star- 
chamber  all  the  noblemen,  judges,  and  justices  of 
the  peace  of  every  shire  throughout  England,  and 
were  at  Westminster  Hall  then  present.  And 
there  he  made  a  long  oration,  declaring  the  cause 
of  his  ambassage  into  France,  and  of  his  proceed- 
ings therein,  saying  that  he  had  concluded  such  an 
amity  and  peace  as  never  was  heard  of  in  this 
realm  between  our  Sovereign  Lord  -  the  King's 
Majesty,  the  Emperor,  and  the  French  King,  for  a 
perpetual  peace  which  shall  be  confirmed  in  writing, 
under  the  Seals  of  both  realms  engraven  in  gold, 
and  offered  further  that  our  King  should  receive 
yearly  by  that  same  out  of  the  Duchy  of  Normandy 
all  the  charges  and  losses  he  had  sustained  in  the 
wars. 

And  also  forasmuch  as  there  was  a  restraint 
made  of  the  French  Queen's  dowry  (whom  the 
Duke  of  Suffolk  had  married)  for  many  years 
together  during  the  wars,  it  was  concluded  that 
she  should  not  only  receive  the  same  according  to 
her  just  right,  but  all  the  arrears  being  unpaid 
during  the  said  restraint  should  be  perfected 


THE   KING'S   REDEMPTION  OUT   OF   CAPTIVITY   99 

shortly  after.  The  resort  of  Ambassadors  out  of 
France  should  be  such  a  great  number  of  noblemen 
and  gentlemen  to  confirm  the  same  as  hath  not 
been  seen  heretofore  to  repair  thither  out  of  one 
realm. 

This  peace  concluded,  there  shall  be  such  an 
amity  between  them  of  each  realm  and  intercourse 
of  merchandise  that  it  shall  be  seen  to  all  men  to 
be  but  one  monarchy.  Gentlemen  and  others  may 
travel  from  one  country  to  another  for  their  recrea- 
tions and  pleasure.  Merchants  also  of  either 
country  may  traffic  safely  without  fear  of  danger, 
so  that  this  realm  shall  ever  after  flourish.  There- 
fore may  all  Englishmen  well  rejoice  and  set  forth 
the  truth  of  this  embassy  in  the  country. 

'Now,  my  masters,  I  beseech  you  and  require 
you  in  the  King's  behalf  that  you  show  yourselves 
as  loving  and  obedient  subjects  in  whom  the  King 
may  much  rejoice.' 

And  so  he  ended  his  oration  and  broke  up  the 
Court  for  that  time. 


7—2 


XIV 

OF  THE  FRENCH  AMBASSADOR'S  ENTERTAINMENT 
AND   DESPATCH 

the  great  long-looked-for  ambassadors 
are  arrived,  being  in  number  eight  persons 
of  the  noblest  and  most  worthy  gentle- 
men in  all  France,  who  were  nobly  received  from 
place  to  place,  and  so  conveyed  through  London 
to  the  Bishop's  palace  in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard, 
where  they  were  lodged,  to  whom  divers  noblemen 
resorted  and  gave  them  noble  presents  (especially 
the  Mayor  of  London),  as  wines,  sugars,  beef, 
mutton,  capons,  wild  fowl,  wax  and  other  neces- 
sary things  in  abundance  for  the  expenses  of  his 
house.  They  resorted  to  the  Court,  being  then  at 
Greenwich,  on  Sunday,  and  were  received  of  the 
King's  Majesty,  of  whom  they  were  entertained 
highly. 

They  had  a  commission  to  establish  our  King's 
Highness  in  the  order  of  France,  to  whom  they 


THE   AMBASSADORS   ENTERTAINMENT       IOI 

brought  for  that  intent  a  collar  of  fine  gold  with 
a  Michael  hanging  thereat,  and  robes  to  the  said 
order  appertaining,  which  were  of  blue  velvet  and 
richly  embroidered,  wherein  I  saw  the  King  pass 
to  the  closet  and  after  in  the  same  to  Mass. 

And  to  gratify  the  French  King  for  his  great 
honour,  he  sent  at  once  noble  men  here  in  England 
of  the  Order  of  the  Garter,  which  Gaiter  the 
Herald  carried  into  France  unto  the  French  King, 
to  establish  him  in  the  Order  of  the  Garter  and 
robes  according  to  the  same,  the  French  Ambassa- 
dor still  remaining  here  until  the  return  of  the 
English.  All  these  things  being  then  determined 
and  concluded  concerning  the  perpetual  peace 
upon  solemn  ceremonies  and  oaths  contained  in 
certain  documents  concerning  the  same,  it  was 
concluded  that  there  should  be  solemn  Mass  sung 
in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  St.  Paul's  in  London 
by  the  Cardinal,  the  King  being  present  at  the 
same  in  his  travers  to  perform  all  things  deter- 
mined. 

And  for  the  preparation  thereof,  there  was  a 
gallery  from  the  west  door  of  St.  Paul's  Church 
through  the  body  of  the  same  up  to  the  choir  and 
to  the  High  Altar  into  the  transepts. 

My  Lord  Cardinal  prepared  himself  to  sing  the 
Mass,  associated  with  twenty-four  mitred  Bishops 
and  Abbots,  who  attended  him  with  such  cere- 


102  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

monies  as  to  him  were  then  due  by  reason  of  his 
Legatine  prerogative. 

And  after  the  last  Agnus  the  King  rose  out  of 
the  travers  and  kneeled  upon  a  carpet  and  cushions 
before  the  High  Altar,  and  the  like  did  the  great 
Master  of  France,  chief  Ambassador,  that  here 
represented  the  King's  person  of  France.  Between 
them  the  Lord  Cardinal  divided  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment as  a  perfect  oath  and  bond  for  security  of 
the  said  Covenants  of  perpetual  peace.  That  done, 
the  King  went  again  into  the  travers.  This  Mass 
being  ended,  which  was  solemnly  sung  by  the 
choir  of  the  same  church  and  all  the  King's 
chapel,  then  my  Lord  took  and  read  the  Articles  of 
Peace  openly  before  the  King  and  all  others,  both 
English  and  French,  and  there  in  sight  of  all  the 
people  the  King  put  his  hand  to  the  Gold  Seal 
and  subscribed  with  his  own  hand  and  delivered 
the  same  to  the  Grand  Master  of  France,  as  his 
deed,  who  openly  did  the  like.  That  done,  they 
departed  and  rode  home  with  the  Cardinal  and 
dined  with  him,  passing  all  the  day  after  in  con- 
sultation of  weighty  affairs  touching  the  Articles 
and  conclusion  of  the  said  peace. 

Then  the  King  departed  to  Greenwich  by  water, 
at  whose  departure  it  was  concluded  by  the  King's 
device  that  all  the  Frenchmen  should  remove  to 
Richmond  and  hunt  there,  and  from  thence  to 


THE  AMBASSADOR'S   ENTERTAINMENT      IO3 

Hampton  Court,  and  there  to  hunt  likewise.  And 
the  Lord  Cardinal  was  there  to  make  a  banquet 
or  supper  or  both,  and  from  thence  they  should 
ride  to  Windsor  and  there  hunt,  and  after  return 
to  the  King  at  Greenwich,  and  there  to  banquet 
with  him  before  their  departure. 

This  determined,  they  all  repaired  to  their 
lodgings;  then  was  there  no  more  to  do  but  to 
make  preparation  in  all  things  for  the  entertain- 
ment of  this  great  assembly  at  Hampton  Court, 
at  the  time  appointed  by  my  Lord  Cardinal,  who 
called  before  him  all  his  chief  officers,  as  stewards, 
treasurers,  clerks  and  comptrollers  of  his  kitchen, 
to  whom  he  declared  his  whole  mind  touching 
the  entertainment  of  the  Frenchmen  at  Hampton 
Court,  to  whom  he  also  gave  command  neither  to 
spare  for  any  cost  or  expenses  or  pains  to  make 
them  such  a  triumphant  banquet,  as  they  might 
not  only  wonder  at  it  here,  but  also  make  a 
glorious  report  to  the  great  honour  of  our  King 
and  this  realm. 

Thus  having  made  known  his  pleasure,  to 
accomplish  his  commandment,  they  sent  out  all 
the  carriers,  purveyors  and  other  persons  to  my 
Lord's  friends  to  prepare ;  also  they  sent  to  all 
expert  cooks  and  cunning  persons  in  the  arts  of 
cookery  in  London  or  elsewhere,  that  they  might 
be  secured  to  beautify  the  noble  feast. 


IO4  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

Then  the  purveyor  provided  and  my  Lord's 
friends  sent  in  such  provision  that  it  was  a  wonder 
to  see  it.  The  cooks  wrought  both  day  and  night 
in  many  curious  devices,  and  there  was  no  lack 
of  gold,  silver  or  any  other  costly  thing;  the 
yeomen  and  grooms  of  his  wardrobe  were  busied 
in  hanging  the  chambers  with  costly  hangings, -and 
furnished  the  same  with  beds  of  silk  and  other 
furniture  for  the  same  of  every  kind. 

Then  my  Lord  sent  me,  being  his  Gentleman 
Usher,  and  two  other  of  my  fellows  to  foresee  all 
things  touching  our  rooms  to  be  richly  garnished, 
wherein  our  pains  were  not  small,  but  daily  we 
travelled  up  and  down  from  chamber  to  chamber 
to  see  things  fitted. 

Then  wrought  joiners,  carpenters,  painters, 
and  other  artificers  needful,  so  that  there  was 
nothing  wanting  to  adorn  this  noble  feast.  There 
was  carriage  and  re-carriage  of  plate,  stuff,  and 
other  rich  ornaments,  so  that  there  was  nothing 
lacking  that  could  be  devised  or  imagined  for  the 
purpose. 

There  were  also  provided  two  hundred  and  eighty 
beds,  with  all  manner  of  furniture,  too  long  here 
to  be  related.  The  day  assigned  to  the  French- 
men being  come,  they  were  ready  assembled  before 
the  hour  of  their  appointment,  wherefore  the 
officers  caused  them  to  ride  to  Hanworth,  a  park 


THE    AMBASSADOR'S   ENTERTAINMENT      IO5 

of  the  King's  within  three  miles  of  Hampton 
Court,  there  to  spend  the  time  in  hunting  till  night, 
which  they  did,  and  then  returned,  and  every  one 
of  them  were  conveyed  to  their  several  chambers, 
having  in  them  good  fires  and  store  of  wine,  where 
they  remained  till  supper  was  ready. 

The  chambers  where  they  supped  and  banqueted 
were  adorned  thus.  First,  the  great  waiting- 
chamber  was  hung  with  very  rich  cloth  of  Arras, 
and  so  all  the  rest,  some  better  than  others,  and 
they  were  furnished  with  tall  yeomen  to  serve. 
There  were  set  tables  around  the  chambers,  ban- 
quet-wise covered  ;  also  a  cupboard  garnished  with 
white  plates  ;  also  in  the  same  chamber  were  four 
great  plates,  to  give  the  more  light,  set  with  great 
lights,  a  great  fire  of  wood  and  coals. 

The  next  chamber  was  the  Chamber  of  Presence, 
richly  hung  also  with  cloth  of  Arras,  and  a 
sumptuous  cloth  of  state,  furnished  with  many 
goodly  gentlemen  to  serve.  The  tables  were 
ordered  in  manner  as  the  other  were,  save  only  the 
high  table  was  removed  beneath  the  cloth  of  state, 
towards  the  midst  of  the  chamber,  with  six  desks 
of  plate,  garnished  all  over  with  fine  gold,  having 
one  pair  of  candlesticks  of  silver  and  gilt  with 
lights  in  the  same  ;  the  cupboard  was  barred  about 
so  that  no  man  could  come  very  near  it,  for  there 
were  divers  pieces  of  plate  of  great  store  to  use 


106  LIFE    OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

besides.  The  plates  that  hung  on  the  walls  to 
give  light  were  silver  and  gilt  with  wax  lights. 

Now  were  all  things  in  readiness,  and  the  supper 
being  set,  the  principal  officers  caused  the  trumpets 
to  blow  to  call  them  to  supper.  The  officers  con- 
ducted the  noblemen  to  where  they  were  to  sup, 
and  they  being  set,  service  came  up  in  such  abund- 
ance, both  costly  and  full  of  devices,  with  such  a 
pleasant  noise  of  music  that  the  Frenchmen  (as 
it  seemed)  were  rapt  up  in  a  heavenly  paradise. 
You  must  understand  that  my  Lord  Cardinal  was 
not  there  all  this  while.  But  the  French  messieurs 
were  very  merry  with  their  rich  fare.  But  before 
the  second  course,  my  Lord  Cardinal  came  in 
booted  and  spurred  suddenly  amongst  them,  at 
whose  coming  there  was  great  joy,  every  man 
rising  from  his  place,  whom  my  Lord  Cardinal 
caused  to  sit  still  and  keep  their  places.  Being  in 
his  riding  apparel,  he  called  for  his  chair  and  sat 
him  down  in  the  midst  of  the  high  table,  and  was 
there  as  merry  and  pleasant  as  ever  I  saw  him  in 
my  life. 

Presently  after  came  up  the  second  course, 
which  was  above  one  hundred  different  devices, 
which  were  so  goodly  and  costly  that  I  think  the 
Frenchmen  never  saw  the  like.  But  the  rarest 
curiosities  of  all  the  rest  (which,  indeed,  was 
worthy  of  wonder)  were  castles  with  images 


THE  AMBASSADOR'S  ENTERTAINMENT    107 

in  the  same  like  St.  Paul's  Church;  there  were 
also  beasts,  birds,  fowls,  personages,  most  excel- 
lently made,  some  fighting  with  swords,  some 
with  guns,  others  with  cross-bows,  some  dancing 
with  ladies,  some  on  horseback  with  complete 
armour,  jousting  with  long  and  sharp  spears, 
and  many  other  strange  devices,  which  I  cannot 
describe.  Amongst  all  I  noted  there  was  a  chess- 
board subtilely  made  of  spiced  plate  with  men  to 
the  same.  And  because  Frenchmen  are  very  ex- 
pert at  that  sport,  my  Lord  Cardinal  gave  that 
same  to  a  French  gentleman,  commanding  that 
there  should  be  made  a  good  care  to  convey  the 
same  into  his  country. 

Then  called  my  Lord  for  a  great  bowl  of  gold 
filled  with  Hippocras,  and  putting  off  his.  cap,  said  : 
'  I  drink  a  health  to  the  King  my  Sovereign  Lord, 
and  next  unto  the  King  your  Master.'  And  when 
he  had  drunk  a  hearty  draught,  he  desired  the 
Grand  Master  to  pledge  him  a  cup,  which  cup  was 
worth  five  hundred  marks,  and  so  all  the  Lords 
in  order  pledged  these  great  princes. 

Then  went  the  cup  merrily  about,  so  that  many 
of  these  Frenchmen  were  led  to  their  beds  ;  then 
went  my  Lord  to  his  Privy  Chamber,  making  a 
short  supper,  or  rather  a  short  repast,  and  then 
returned  again  into  the  Presence  Chamber  amongst 
the  Frenchmen,  behaving  himself  in  such  a  loving 


108  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

sort   and  so    familiarly   towards  them,  that  they 
could  not  sufficiently  commend  him. 

And  while  they  were  in  communication  and 
pastime,  all  their  livery  were  served  to  their 
chambers ;  each  chamber  had  a  basin  and  ewer  of 
silver  and  a  great  silver  pot  with  plenty  of  wine 
and  sufficient  of  everything. 

Thus  furnished  was  every  room  about  the  house  ; 
when  all  was  done,  then  were  they  conducted  to 
their  lodgings.  In  the  morning  after  they  had 
heard  Mass,  they  stayed  and  dined  with  my  Lord, 
and  so  departed  towards  Windsor.  And  as  soon 
as  they  were  gone,  my  Lord  returned  to  London, 
because  it  was  the  midst  of  the  term. 

You  must  conceive  the  King  was  privy  to  this 
magnificent  feast,  who  then  intended  far  to  exceed 
the  same,  which  I  leave  till  the  Frenchmen's  re- 
turn. Now,  the  King  had  given  command  to  his 
officers  to  provide  a  far  more  sumptuous  banquet 
for  the  strangers  than  they  had  at  the  Cardinal's, 
which  was  not  neglected.  After  the  return  of 
these  strangers  from  Windsor — which  place  they 
much  commended  for  the  situation  thereof — the 
King  invited  them  to  the  Court,  where  they  dined, 
and  after  dinner  they  danced  and  had  their  pastime 
till  supper-time. 

Then  was  the  banquet-chamber  in  the  little  yard 
at  Greenwich  furnished  for  the  entertainment  of 


THE  AMBASSADOR'S  ENTERTAINMENT    109 

these  strangers,  to  which  place  they  were  conducted 
by  the  greatest  personages  then  being  in  the  Court, 
where  they  did  both  sup  and  banquet,  but  to 
describe  to  you  the  order  hereof,  the  variety  of 
costly  dishes,  and  the  curious  devices,  my  weak 
ability  and  shallow  capacity  would  much  eclipse 
the  magnificence  thereof.  But  thus  much  take 
notice  of,  that  although  that  banquet  at  Hampton 
Court  was  marvellously  sumptuous,  yet  this  banquet 
excelled  the  same  as  much  as  gold  doth  silver  in 
value.  And  for  my  part  I  never  saw  the  like. 

In  the  midst  of  the  banquet  there  was  turning 
at  the  barriers  of  lusty  gentlemen,  very  gorgeous 
on  foot,  and  the  like  on  horseback.  And  after  all 
this  there  was  such  an  excellent  interlude  made  in 
Latin  that  I  never  saw  or  heard  the  like,  the  actors' 
apparel  being  so  gorgeous  and  of  such  strange 
devices  that  it  passeth  my  poor  capacity  to  relate 
them. 

This  being  ended,  there  came  a  great  company 
of  ladies  and  gentlewomen,  the  chiefest  beauties  in 
the  realm  of  England,  being  as  richly  attired  as 
cost  could  make  or  art  devise  to  set  forth  their 
gestures,  proportions,  or  beauty,  that  they  seemed 
to  the  beholder  rather  like  celestial  angels  than 
terrestrial  creatures,  and,  in  my  judgment,  worthy 
of  admiration,  with  whom  the  gentlemen  of  France 
danced  and  masked,  every  man  choosing  as  his 


1 10  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

fancy  served.  That  done,  and  the  maskers  de- 
parted, there  came  in  another  mask  of  ladies  and 
gentlewomen  more  richly  attired  than  I  can  express. 
These  lady  maskers  took  each  of  them  one  of  the 
Frenchmen  to  dance  with  ;  and  here  note  that 
these  noble  women  spoke  all  of  them  good  French, 
and  it  delighted  the  Frenchmen  much  to  hear  the 
ladies  speak  to  them  in  their  own  language.  Thus 
triumphantly  did  they  spend  the  whole  night  from 
five  of  the  clock  at  night  unto  two  or  three  of  the 
clock  in  the  morning,  at  which  time  the  gallants 
drew  all  to  their  lodgings  to  take  their  rest. 

As  neither  health,  wealth,  nor  pleasure  can 
always  last,  so  ended  this  triumphant  banquet, 
which,  being  past,  seemed  in  the  morning  to  the 
beholders  as  a  fantastic  dream. 

Now,  after  all  this  solemn  banqueting,  they  pre- 
pared with  bag  and  baggage  to  return,  and  there- 
upon repaired  to  the  King,  and,  in  order,  every 
man  took  his  leave  of  His  Majesty  and  the  nobles, 
by  whom  the  King  sent  his  princely  pleasure  and 
commendations  to  the  King  their  Master,  thanked 
them  for  their  pains,  and  after  great  communica- 
tions with  the  Great  Master  of  that  Ambassage, 
he  bade  them  adieu.  Then  they  came  to  West- 
minster to  my  Lord  Cardinal  to  do  the  like,  of 
whom  he  received  the  King's  reward,  which  I  shall 
hereafter  relate. 


THE  AMBASSADOR'S  ENTERTAINMENT    in 

First  every  man  of  honour  and  estimation  had 
plate,  some  to  the  value  of  two  or  three  hundred 
pounds,  and  some  of  four  hundred  pounds,  besides 
the  great  gifts  before  received  of  His  Majesty,  such 
as  gowns  of  velvet  with  rich  furs,  great  chains  of 
gold  ;  and  some  had  goodly  horses  of  great  value, 
with  divers  other  gifts  of  great  value  which  I  can- 
not call  to  remembrance,  but  the  least  of  them  had 
the  sum  of  twenty  crowns,  and  thus  being  nobly 
rewarded,  my  Lord,  after  humble  commendation 
of  them  to  the  French  King,  bade  them  farewell ; 
and  so  they  departed.  The  next  day  they  were 
conveyed  to  Dover  to  the  seaside,  with  all  their 
furniture,  being  accompanied  with  many  English 
young  gallants,  and  what  report  of  their  royal 
entertainment  they  made  in  their  own  country  I 
never  heard. 


XV 

OF  THE  KING'S  DISCOVERY  OF  HIS  LOVE  FOR 
MISTRESS  ANNE  BOLEYN  TO  THE  CARDINAL, 
WITH  THE  CARDINAL'S  DISLIKE,  AND  ALSO 
THE  OPINION  OF  ALL  LEARNED  BISHOPS  IN 
ENGLAND  AND  FOREIGN  UNIVERSITIES 

]FTER  this  began  new  matters  which 
troubled  the  heads  and  imaginations  of 
all  the  Court — namely,  the  long-con- 
cealed affection  of  the  King  for  Mistress  Anne 
Boleyn  now  broke  out,  which  His  Majesty  disclosed 
to  the  Cardinal,  whose  frequent  persuasions  on  his 
knees  took  no  effect.  My  Lord  thereupon  being 
compelled  to  declare  to  His  Majesty  his  opinion 
and  wisdom  in  the  advancement  of  the  King's 
desires,  thought  it  not  safe  for  him  to  wade  too  far 
alone,  or  to  give  rash  judgment  in  so  weighty  a 
matter,  but  desired  leave  of  the  King  to  ask  counsel 
of  men  of  ancient  and  famous  learning  both  in 
divine  and  civil  laws. 


THE   KING'S  LOVE  FOR  ANNE  BOLEYN      113 

Now,  this  being  obtained,  he  by  his  Legatine 
authority  sent  out  his  commissions  for  the  Bishops 
of  this  realm,  who  not  long  after  assembled  all  at 
Westminster  before  my  Lord  Cardinal.  And  not 
only  these  Prelates,  but  also  the  most  learned  men 
of  both  Universities,  and  some  from  divers  cathe- 
dral colleges  in  this  realm  who  were  thought  suffi- 
ciently able  to  solve  this  doubtful  question.  At 
this  learned  assembly  was  the  King's  case  consulted 
of,  debated,  argued,  and  judged  from  day  to  day. 
But  in  conclusion,  when  these  ancient  Fathers  of 
Law  and  Divinity  parted,  they  were  all  of  one 
judgment,  and  that  contrary  to  the  expectation  of 
most  men.  And  I  heard  some  of  the  most  famous 
and  learned  amongst  them  say  the  King's  case  was 
too  obscure  for  any  man,  and  the  points  therein 
were  doubtful  to  have  any  resolution  therein,  and 
so  at  that  time  with  a  general  consent  departed 
without  any  resolution  or  judgment.  In  this 
assembly  of  Bishops  and  divers  learned  men  it  was 
thought  very  expedient  that  the  King  should  send 
out  his  Commissioners  into  all  Universities  in 
Christendom,  as  well  here  in  England  as  in  foreign 
regions,  there  to  have  this  case  argued  substantially, 
and  to  bring  with  them  from  thence  every  defini- 
tion of  their  opinions  of  the  same  under  the  Seal 
of  every  University. 

And  thereupon  divers  Commissioners  were  imme- 

8 


114  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEV 

diately  despatched  for  this  purpose.  Some  were 
sent  to  Cambridge,  some  to  Oxford,  some  to 
Louvain,  others  to  Paris,  some  to  Orleans,  others 
to  Padua,  all  at  the  proper  costs  and  charges  of 
the  King,  which  in  the  whole  amounted  to  a  great 
sum  of  money ;  and  all  went  out  of  this  realm 
besides  the  charge  of  the  ambassage  to  those 
famous  and  notable  persons  of  all  the  Universities. 
Especially  such  as  bare  the  rule  or  had  the  custody 
of  the  University  Seals  were  fed  by  the  Commis- 
sioners with  such  great  sums  of  money,  that  they 
did  easily  condescend  to  their  requests  and  grant 
their  desires.  By  reason  whereof  all  the  Com- 
missioners returned  with  their  purpose  furnished 
according  to  their  commissions  under  the  Seal  of 
every  University,  whereat  there  was  no  small  joy 
conceived  of  the  principal  parties. 

Insomuch  that  ever  after  the  Commissioners 
were  had  in  great  estimation,  and  highly  advanced 
and  liberally  rewarded  far  beyond  their  worthy 
deserts.  Notwithstanding  they  prospered,  and  the 
matter  went  still  forward,  having  now,  as  they 
thought,  a  sure  staff  to  lean  upon.  These  pro- 
ceedings being  declared  unto  my  Lord  Cardinal, 
he  sent  again  for  the  Bishops,  to  whom  he  declared 
the  effect  of  these  Commissioners'  labours,  and  for 
assurance  thereof  showed  them  the  documents  of 
each  University  under  their  several  Seals,  and  the 


THE  KING'S  LOVE  FOR  ANNE  BOLEYN      11$ 

business  being  thus  handled,  they  went  again  to 
consultation  how  things  should  be  ordered. 

At  last  it  was  concluded  that  it  was  very  meet 
the  King  should  send  unto  the  Pope's  Holiness 
the  opinions  of  both  Universities  of  England,  and 
also  foreign  Universities,  which  were  manifestly 
authorized  by  their  common  seals.  And  it  was 
also  thought  fit  that  the  opinions  of  the  worthy 
Prelates  of  England  should  be  sent  to  the  Pope 
comprised  in  a  document,  which  was  not  long  time 
in  furnishing. 

Nor  was  it  long  after  that  the  Ambassadors 
were  assigned  for  this  purpose,  who  took  their 
journey  accordingly,  having  certain  documents,  so 
that  if  the  Pope  would  not  thereupon  consent  to 
give  judgment  definitely  in  the  King's  case,  then 
to  require  another  Commission  from  His  Holiness 
to  be  granted  to  his  Legate  to  establish  a  Court 
here  in  England  for  that  purpose  only,  to  be 
directed  to  my  Lord  Cardinal  Legate  of  England 
and  to  Cardinal  Campeggio,  Bishop  of  Bath 
(which  the  King  gave  him  at  a  certain  time  when 
he  was  sent  Ambassador  hither  from  the  Pope's 
Holiness),  to  determine  and  rightly  judge  accord- 
ing to  their  consciences.  To  which,  after  a  long 
time  and  for  the  goodwill  of  the  said  Cardinal, 
the  Pope  granted  their  suit. 

Then  they  returned  into  England,  relating  unto 

8—2 


Il6  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

the  King  their  expedition,  trusting  that  His  Grace's 
pleasure  should  be  now  brought  to  pass  sub- 
stantially, being  never  more  likely,  considering  the 
estate  of  the  judges. 

Long  was  the  expectation  on  both  sides  for  the 
coming  over  of  the  Legate  from  Rome,  who  at  last 
arrived  in  England  with  his  Commission,  and  being 
much  troubled  with  the  gout,  his  journey  was  long 
and  tedious  ere  he  could  get  to  London,  who  should 
have  been  most  solemnly  received  at  Blackheath  ; 
but  he  desired  not  to  be  so  entertained  with  pomp 
and  vainglory,  and  therefore  he  came  very  privately 
to  his  own  house  without  Temple  Bar,  called  Bath 
Place,  where  he  lodged,  the  house  being  furnished 
with  all  manner  of  provision  of  my  Lord's.  So 
after  some  deliberation  and  consultation  in  the 
ordering  of  the  King's  business  now  in  hand  by 
his  Commission  and  Articles  of  the  Ambassage, 
which  being  read,  it  was  determined  that  the  King 
and  the  good  Queen,  his  lawful  wife,  should  be 
judged  at  Bridewell  and  in  Blackfriars,  and  that 
some  place  about  the  court  should  be  kept  for  the 
disputation  and  determination  of  the  causes  and 
differences  between  the  King  and  the  Queen,  who 
were  summoned  to  appear  before  these  two  Legates 
who  sat  as  judges,  which  was  a  strange  sight  and 
the  newest  device  that  ever  was  heard  or  read  of 
in  any  story  or  chronicle :  A  King  and  a  Queen  to 


THE   KING'S   LOVE   FOR  ANNE  BOLEYN      1 1/ 

be  compelled  to  appear  in  a  court  as  common 
persons  within  their  own  realm  and  dominions,  and 
to  abide  the  judgments  and  decrees  of  their  sub- 
jects, having  the  royal  diadem  and  prerogative 
thereof. 


XVI 

A  NEW  COURT  ERECTED  TO  DETERMINE  THE 
KING'S  CASE,  TWO  CARDINALS  BEING  JUDGES, 
HAVING  POWER  TO  SUMMON  THE  KING  AND 
QUEEN — THE  ISSUE  THEREOF 

|T  is  a  wonderful  thing  to  consider  the 
strength  of  Princes'  wills  when  they  are 
bent  to  have  their  pleasure  fulfilled,  where- 
in no  reasonable  persuasions  will  serve  the  turn. 
How  little  do  they  regard  the  dangerous  sequels 
that  may  ensue  as  well  to  themselves  as  to  their 
subjects  !  And  amongst  all  things  there  is  nothing 
that  makes  them  more  wilful  than  carnal  love  and 
various  affecting  of  voluptuous  desires,  wherein 
nothing  could  be  of  greater  experience  than  to  see 
what  inventions  were  furnished,  what  laws  were 
enacted,  what  costly  edifices  of  noble  and  ancient 
monasteries  were  overthrown,  what  diversities  of 
opinion  then  arose,  what  extortions  were  then 
committed,  how  many  good  and  learned  men  were 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE  IIQ 

then  put  to  death,  and  what  alterations  of  good 
ancient  laws,  customs  and  charitable  foundations 
were  turned  from  the  relief  of  the  poor  to  the  utter 
destruction  and  desolation,  almost  to  the  subversion, 
of  this  noble  realm. 

It  is  a  thousand  pities  to  understand  the  things 
that  since  have  happened  to  this  land,  the  proof 
whereof  hath  taught  all  us  Englishmen  lament- 
able experience.  If  men's  eyes  be  not  blind, 
they  may  see,  and  if  their  ears  be  not  stopped, 
they  may  hear,  and  if  pity  be  not  exiled,  their 
hearts  may  relent  and  lament  at  the  sequel  of 
this  inordinate  love,  although  it  lasted  but  a 
while.  O  Lord  God,  withhold  Thine  indignation 
from  us ! 

You  shall  understand,  as  I  said  before,  that 
there  was  a  court  erected  at  Blackfriars,  London, 
where  these  two  Cardinals  sat  as  judges.  Now  I 
will  describe  to  you  the  order  of  the  court.  First 
there  were  many  tables  and  benches  set  in  manner 
of  a  consistory,  one  seat  being  higher  than  another 
for  the  judges  aloft ;  above  them  three  degrees 
high  was  a  cloth  of  State  hung  and  a  chair  royal 
under  the  same,  wherein  sat  the  King,  and  some 
distance  off  sat  the  Queen,  and  at  the  judges'  feet 
sat  the  scribes  and  officers  for  the  execution  of  the 
process.  The  chief  scribe  was  Doctor  Stevens,  after- 
wards Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  the  apparitor  who 


120  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

was  called  Doctor  of  the  Court  was  one  Cooke  of 
Westminster. 

Then,  before  the  King  and  the  judges  sat  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Doctor  Warham,  and 
all  other  Bishops.  There  stood  at  both  ends 
within  counsellors  learned  in  the  spiritual  laws  as 
well  on  the  King's  as  the  Queen's  side.  Doctor 
Sampson,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Chichester,  and 
Doctor  Hall,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Worcester,  and 
divers  others,  and  proctors  in  the  same  law  were 
Doctor  Peter,  who  was  afterwards  Chief  Secretary, 
and  Doctor  Tregunmill  with  divers  others. 

Now,  on  the  other  side  there  were  Counsel  for 
the  Queen,  Doctor  Fisher,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  and 
Doctor  Standish,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  in  Wales,  two 
noble  divines,  especially  the  Bishop  of  Rochester, 
a  very  godly  man,  whose  death  many  noble  men 
and  many  worthy  divines  much  lamented,  who  lost 
his  head  about  this  cause  ere  it  was  ended,  on 
Tower  Hill,  as  also  another  ancient  doctor  called 
Doctor  Ridley,  a  little  man  but  a  great  divine. 
The  court  being  thus  ordered  as  is  before  ex- 
pressed, the  judges  commanded  the  Crier  to 
proclaim  silence  whilst  the  commission  was  both 
read  to  the  court  and  to  the  people  there  as- 
sembled. That  done,  and  silence  being  again 
proclaimed,  the  scribes  commanded  the  Crier  to 
call  King  Henry  of  England,  whereunto  the  King 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE  121 

answered  and  said,  '  Here  !'  Then  called  he  again 
the  Queen  of  England  by  the  name  of  '  Katherine, 
Queen  of  England,  come  into  the  court,'  etc. 
She  made  no  answer  thereunto,  but  rose  imme- 
diately out  of  her  chair  where  she  sat,  and  because 
she  could  not  come  to  the  King  directly  by  reason 
of  the  distance,  therefore  she  came  round  about 
the  court  to  the  King  and  kneeled  down  at  his 
feet,  saying  these  words  in  broken  English  as 
followeth,  viz. :  'Sir,  I  beseech  you  do  me  justice 
and  right,  and  take  some  pity  upon  me,  for  I  am  a 
poor  woman  and  a  stranger,  born  out  of  your 
dominions,  having  here  no  indifferent  Counsel  and 
less  assurance  of  friendship.  Alas  !  sir,  how  have 
I  offended  you  ?  what  offence  have  I  given  you, 
intending  to  abridge  me  of  life  in  this  manner  ?  I 
take  God  to  witness  I  have  been  to  you  a  true  and 
loyal  wife,  ever  conformable  to  your  will  and 
pleasure ;  never  did  I  oppose  or  gainsay  your 
mind,  but  always  submitted  myself  in  all  things 
wherein  you  had  .any  delight,  whether  it  were  little 
or  much,  without  grudging  or  any  sign  of  discon- 
tent. I  have  loved  for  your  sake  all  men  whom 
you  have  loved,  whether  I  had  cause  or  not,  were 
they  friends  or  foes.  I  have  been  your  wife  this 
twenty  years,  by  whom  you  had  many  children, 
and  I  put  it  to  your  conscience,  if  there  be  any 
cause  that  you  can  allege  either  of  dishonesty  or  of 


122  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

any  other  matter  lawfully  to  put  me  from  you,  I 
am  willing  to  depart  with  shame  and  rebuke ;  but 
if  there  be  none,  then  I  pray  you  let  me  have 
justice  at  your  hands. 

'  The  King,  your  father,  was  a  man  of  such  an 
excellent  wit  in  his  time  that  he  was  accounted  a 
second  Solomon,  and  the  King  of  Spain,  my 
father,  Ferdinand,  was  taken  for  one  of  the  wisest 
Kings  that  reigned  in  Spain  these  many  years. 
So  they  were  both  wise  men  and  noble  princes, 
and  it  is  no  question  but  that  they  had  wise 
counsellors  of  either  realm  as  be  now  at  this  day. 
Who  thought  at  the  marriage  of  you  and  me  to 
hear  what  new  devices  are  now  invented  against 
me  to  cause  me  to  stand  to  the  order  of  this  Court  ? 

'And  I  conceive  you  do  me  much  wrong  if  you 
condemn  me  for  not  answering,  having  no  counsel 
but  such  as  you  assigned  me.  You  must  consider 
that  they  cannot  be  indifferent  on  my  part,  being 
your  own  subjects,  and  such  as  you  have  made 
choice  of  out  of  your  own  Council,  whereunto  they 
are  privy  and  dare  not  disclose  your  pleasure. 

'  Therefore  I  most  humbly  beseech  you  to  spare 
me  until  I  know  how  my  friends  in  Spain  will 
advise  me ;  but  if  you  will  not,  then  let  your 
pleasure  be  done/ 

And  with  that  she  rose,  making  a  low  curtsey 
to  the  King,  and  departed  from  thence,  all  the 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE   12$ 

people  thinking  she  would  have  returned  again  to 
her  former  seat ;  but  she  went  presently  out  of  the 
court,  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  one  of  her  servants, 
who  was  her  general  receiver,  one  Mr.  Griffith. 

The  King,  seeing  that  she  was  ready  to  go  out 
of  the  court,  commanded  the  Crier  to  call  her  again 
by  these  words  : 

'  Katherine,  Queen  of  England,  come  into  the 
court !' 

'  Lo !'  quoth  Mr.  Griffith,  'you  are  called  again.' 

'  Go  on,'  quoth  she ;  '  it  is  no  matter.  It  is  no 
fit  court  for  me,  therefore  I  will  not  tarry.  Go  on 
your  way.' 

And  so  they  departed,  without  any  further 
answer  at  that  time  or  any  appearance  in  any 
other  court  after  that. 

The  King,  seeing  she  was  departed  thus,  and 
considering  her  words,  said  to  the  audience  these 
few  words  in  effect : 

'Forasmuch,'  quoth  he,  'as  the  Queen  is  gone, 
I  will  in  her  absence  declare  unto  you  all :  She 
hath  been  to  me  a  true,  obedient  wife,  and  as 
comfortable  as  I  could  wish  or  desire ;  she  hath  all 
the  virtues  and  good  qualities  that  belong  to  a 
woman  of  her  dignity,  or  in  any  meaner  estate. 
Her  conditions  will  well  declare  the  same.1 

Then  quoth  my  Lord  Cardinal : 

'  I  humbly  beseech  your   Highness  to  declare 


124  LIFE  OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

unto  this  audience  whether  I  have  been  the  first 
and  chief  mover  of  this  matter  unto  your  High- 
ness or  no,  for  I  am  much  suspected  of  all 
men.' 

'  My  Lord  Cardinal,'  quoth  the  King, '  you  have 
rather  advised  me  to  the  contrary  than  been  any 
mover  of  the  same.  The  special  cause  that  moved 
me  in  this  matter  is  a  certain  scruple  that  pricked 
my  conscience  upon  certain  words  spoken  by  the 
Bishop  of  Bayonne,  the  French  Ambassador  who 
came  hither  to  consult  of  a  marriage  between  the 
Princess,  our  daughter,  the  Lady  Mary,  and  the 
Duke  of  Orleans,  second  son  to  the  King  of  France, 
and  upon  resolution  and  determination  he  desired 
respite  to  advertise  the  King  his  Master  thereof, 
whether  our  daughter  Mary  should  be  legitimate 
in  respect  of  my  marriage  with  this  woman,  being 
some  time  my  brother's  wife,  which  words  I  pon- 
dering, begot  such  a  scruple  in  my  conscience  that 
I  was  much  troubled  at  it,  whereby  I  thought 
myself  in  danger  of  God's  heavy  displeasure  and 
indignation,  and  the  rather  because  He  sent  us  no 
male  issue,  for  all  the  male  issue  that  I  had  by  my 
wife  died  immediately  after  they  came  into  the 
world,  which  caused  me  to  fear  God's  displeasure 
in  that  particular.  Thus,  my  conscience  being 
tossed  in  the  waves  of  troublesome  doubts,  and 
partly  in  despair  of  having  any  other  issue  than  I 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE    125 

had  by  this  lady,  now  my  wife,  it  behoved  me  to 
consider  the  estate  of  this  realm,  and  the  danger  it 
stands  in  for  lack  of  a  Prince  to  succeed  me.  I 
thought  it  therefore  good,  in  release  of  this  mighty 
burden  on  my  conscience,  as  also  for  the  quiet 
estate  of  this  realm,  to  attempt  a  trial  in  the  law 
herein  as  to  whether  I  might  lawfully  take  another 
wife  without  carnal  concupiscence,  by  which  God 
may  send  more  issue.  I  have  not  any  displeasure 
in  the  person  or  age  of  the  Queen,  with  whom  I 
could  be  well  contented  to  continue  (if  our 
marriage  may  stand  by  the  law  of  God)  as  with 
any  woman  alive,  in  which  point  consisteth  all  the 
doubt  that  we  go  about  now  to  know  by  the 
learned  wisdom  of  you  our  Prelates  and  Pastors  of 
this  realm  and  dominion  now  here  assembled  for 
that  purpose,  to  whose  consciences  and  learning  I 
have  committed  the  care  and  judgment,  according 
to  which  I  will  (God  willing)  be  well  contented  to 
submit  myself  and  obey  the  same.  And  when  my 
conscience  was  so  troubled  I  moved  it  to  you,  my 
Lord  of  Lincoln,  in  confession,  then  being  my 
ghostly  father,  and  forasmuch  as  you  were  then  in 
some  doubt,  you  moved  me  to  ask  counsel  of  the 
rest  of  the  Bishops.  Whereupon  I  moved  it  to 
you,  my  Lord  Cardinal,  to  have  your  licence — for- 
asmuch as  you  are  Metropolitan — to  put  this 
matter  in  question,  and  so  I  did  to  all  you,  my 


126  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

lords,  to  which  you  all  granted  under  your  seals, 
which  is  here  to  show.' 

'  That  is  truth,'  quoth  the  Bishop  of  Canterbury, 
'  and  I  doubt  not  but  my  brothers  will  acknowledge 
the  same.' 

'  No,  sir ;  not  so,  under  correction,'  quoth  the 
Bishop  of  Rochester,  '  for  you  have  not  my  hand 
and  seal.' 

'No  ?'  quoth  the  King.  '  Is  not  this  your  hand 
and  seal?'  and  showed  it  to  him  in  the  document 
with  seals. 

'  No,  forsooth  !'  quoth  the  Bishop. 

'  How  say  you  to  that  ?'  quoth  the  King  to  the 
Bishop  of  Canterbury. 

'  Sir,  it  is  his  hand,'  quoth  the  Bishop  of  Canter- 
bury. 

'  No,  my  Lord,'  quoth  the  Bishop  of  Rochester. 
'  Indeed,  you  were  in  hand  with  me  to  have  both 
my  hand  and  seal,  as  other  of  the  lords  have  done ; 
but  I  answered  I  would  never  consent  to  any  such 
act,  for  it  was  much  against  my  conscience,  and 
therefore  my  hand  and  seal  shall  never  be  set  to 
such  a  document  (God  willing)/  with  many  other 
words  to  that  purpose. 

'  You  say  truth,'  quoth  the  Bishop  of  Canterbury. 
'  Such  words  you  used,  but  you  were  fully  resolved 
at  the  last  that  I  should  subscribe  your  name  and 
put  to  your  seal,  and  you  would  allow  of  the  same.' 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE   I2/ 

'All  which,'  quoth  the  Bishop  of  Rochester, 
'  under  correction,  my  lord,  is  untrue.' 

'  Well,'  quoth  the  King,  '  we  will  not  stand  in 
argument  with  you  ;  you  are  but  one.' 

And  so  the  King  arose  up,  and  the  court  was 
adjourned  until  the  next  day,  at  which  time  the 
Cardinals  sat  again,  and  the  Counsel  on  both  sides 
were  there  present  to  answer. 

The  King's  Counsel  alleged  the  matrimony  not 
good  nor  lawful  at  the  beginning,  because  of  the 
carnal  copulation  that  Prince  Arthur  had  with  the 
Queen. 

This  matter  was  very  narrowly  scanned  on 
that  side,  and  to  prove  the  carnal  copulation 
they  had  many  reasons  and  similitudes  of  truth, 
and  being  answered  negatively  again  on  the  other 
side,  it  seemed  that  all  their  former  allegations 
were  doubtful  to  be  tried,  and  that  no  man 
knew. 

'  Yes,'  quoth  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  '  I  know 
the  truth.' 

'  How  can  you  know  the  truth,'  quoth  the 
Cardinal,  '  more  than  any  other  person  ?' 

'Yes,  forsooth,  my  Lord,'  quoth  he;  'I  know 
that  God  is  the  Truth  itself,  and  never  said  but 
truth,  and  He  said  thus:  "  Quos  Deus  conjunxit, 
homo  non  separet."  And  forasmuch  as  this 
marriage  was  joined  and  made  by  God  to  a  good 


128  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

intent,  therefore  I  said  I  knew  the  truth,  and  that 
man  cannot  break  any  institution  that  God  hath 
made  and  constituted.' 

'  So  much  do  all  faithful  men  know,'  quoth  my 
Lord  Cardinal,  *  as  well  as  you,  therefore  this 
reason  is  not  sufficient  in  this  case,  for  the  King's 
Counsel  do  allege  many  presumptions  to  prove 
that  it  was  not  lawful  at  the  beginning,  therefore 
that  it  was  not  ordained  by  God,  for  God  doth 
nothing  without  a  good  end  ;  therefore  it  is  not 
to  be  doubted  that  if  the  presumptions  be  true, 
which  they  allege  to  be  most  true,  then  the  con- 
junction neither  was  nor  could  be  of  God.  There- 
fore I  say  unto  -you,  my  Lord  of  Rochester,  you 
know  not  the  truth,  unless  you  can  avoid  their 
presumptions  upon  just  reasons.' 

Then  quoth  Dr.  Ridley : 

'It  is  a  great  shame  and  dishonour  to  this 
honourable  presence  that  such  presumptions  should 
be  alleged  in  this  open  court.  No,  my  Lord, 
there  belongs  no  reverence  to  this  matter,  for  an 
irreverent  matter  may  be  irreverently  answered.' 

And  so  he  left  off,  and  then  they  proceeded 
to  other  matters.  Thus  passed  this  court  from 
session  to  session  and  day  to  day,  till  a  certain 
day  the  King  sent  for  the  Cardinal  to  Bridewell, 
who  went  into  the  Privy  Chamber  to  him,  where 
he  was  about  an  hour,  and  then  departed  from 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE    1 29 

the  King  and  went  to  Westminster  in  his  barge. 
The  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  being  with  him,  said  : 

*  It  is  a  hot  day  to-day.' 

'  Yea,'  quoth  the  Cardinal ;  '  if  you  had  been 
as  well  chafed  as  I  have  been  within  this  hour, 
you  would  say  you  were  very  hot.' 

My  Lord  no  sooner  came  home  but  he  went 
to  bed,  where  he  had  not  laid  two  hours  but  my 
Lord  of  Wiltshire,  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn's  father, 
came  to  speak  with  him  from  the  King.  My 
Lord  commanded  he  should  be  brought  to  his 
bedside,  who  told  him  it  was  the  King's  pleasure 
he  should  forthwith  go  with  the  Cardinal  to  the 
Queen,  being  then  at  Bridewell  in  her  chamber, 
and  to  persuade  her  by  their  wisdom  to  put  the 
whole  matter  into  the  King's  own  hands  by  her 
consent,  which  would  be  much  better  for  her 
honour  than  stand  to  the  trial  at  law  and  thereby 
be  condemned,  which  would  tend  much  to  her 
dishonour  and  discredit.  To  perform  the  King's 
pleasure,  my  Lord  said  he  was  ready,  and  so 
prepared  to  go,  but  quoth  he  further  to  my  Lord 
of  Wiltshire : 

'  You  and  others  of  the  Council  have  put  fancies 
into  the  head  of  the  King,  whereby  you  trouble 
all  the  realm,  but  at  the  end  you  will  get  but 
small  thanks  both  of  God  and  the  world.' 

Many  other  words  and  reasons  did  cause  my 

9 


130  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

Lord  of  Wiltshire  to  be  silent,  kneeling  by  my 
Lord's  bedside,  and  at  last  he  departed. 

And  then  my  Lord  rose  and  took  his  barge, 
and  went  to  Bath  House  to  Cardinal  Campeggio's, 
and  they  went  together  to  Bridewell  to  the  Queen's 
lodgings.  She  being  in  her  Chamber  of  Presence, 
they  told  the  Gentleman  Usher  that  they  came  to 
speak  with  the  Queen's  Grace.  The  Queen  was 
told  the  Cardinals  were  come  to  speak  with  her. 
Then  she  arose  up,  having  a  skein  of  red  silk 
about  her  neck  (being  at  work  with  her  maids), 
and  came  to  the  Cardinals  at  the  place  where  they 
awaited  her  coming,  at  whose  coming  quoth  she : 

'  Alack,  my  Lords  !  I  am  sorry  that  you  have 
attended  on  me  so  long.  What  is  your  pleasure 
with  me  ?' 

'  If  it  please  your  Grace,'  quoth  the  Cardinal, 
'  to  go  to  your  Privy  Chamber,  we  will  show  you 
the  cause  of  our  coming.' 

'  My  Lord,'  said  she,  '  if  you  have  anything  to 
say  to  me,  say  it  openly  before  all  these  folk,  for 
I  fear  nothing  that  you  can  say  to  me  or  against 
me ;  but  I  am  willing  all  the  world  should  both 
see  and  hear  it,  and  therefore  speak  your  minds 
openly.' 

Then  began  my  Lord  to  speak  to  her  in  Latin. 

'  Nay,  good  my  Lord,  speak  to  me  in  English,' 
quoth  she, '  although  I  do  understand  some  Latin.' 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE    13! 

'  Forsooth,'  quoth  my  Lord.  '  Good  madam,  if 
it  please  your  Grace,  we  come  both  to  know  your 
mind,  what  you  are  disposed  to  do  in  this  matter, 
and  also  to  declare  to  you  secretly  our  counsels 
and  opinions,  which  we  do  for  very  zeal  and 
obedience  to  your  Grace.' 

'  My  Lords,'  quoth  she,  '  I  thank  you  for  your 
good  will,  but  to  make  answer  to  your  requests, 
I  cannot  so  suddenly,  for  I  was  sitting  amongst 
my  maids  at  work,  little  thinking  of  any  such 
matter,  wherein  is  requisite  some  deliberation  and 
a  better  head  than  mine  to  answer,  for  I  need 
counsel  in  this  case  which  concerns  me  so  nearly, 
and  friends  here  I  have  none.  They  are  in  Spain, 
in  mine  own  country.  Also,  my  Lords,  I  am  a 
poor  woman  of  too  weak  capacity  to  answer  such 
noble  persons  of  wisdom  as  you  are,  in  so  weighty 
a  matter.  And  therefore  be  good  to  me,  a  woman 
destitute  of  friendship  here  in  a  foreign  region, 
and  your  counsel  I  also  shall  be  glad  to  hear.'  And 
therewith  she  took  my  Lord  by  the  hand  and  led 
him  into  her  Privy  Chamber,  where  they  stayed 
awhile,  and  I  heard  her  voice  loud,  but  what  she 
said  I  know  not. 

This  done,  they  went  to  the  King  and  made  a 
relation  unto  him  of  the  passages  between  the 
Queen  and  them,  and  so  they  departed. 

This  strange  case  proceeded  and  went  forwards 

9—2 


132  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

from  court  day  to  court  day,  until  it  came  to 
that  time  that  every  man  expected  to  hear  judg- 
ment given,  at  which  time  all  their  proceedings 
were  openly  read  in  Latin.  That  done,  the  King's 
Counsel  at  the  Bar  moved  for  judgment.  Quoth 
Cardinal  Campeggio  :  '  I  will  not  give  judgment 
till  I  have  related  the  whole  proceedings  to  the 
Pope,  whose  counsel  and  commandment  I  will  in 
this  case  observe.  The  matter  is  too  high  for 
us  to  give  hasty  judgment,  considering  the  persons 
and  the  doubtful  occasions  alleged,  and  also  whose 
Commissioners  we  are,  by  whose  authority  we  sit. 
It  is  good  reason  therefore  that  we  make  our  Chief 
Lord  counsel  in  the  same  before  we  proceed  to 
definite  judgment.  I  came  not  to  please  for  any 
favour,  reward  or  fear  of  any  person  alive,  be  he 
King  or  otherwise ;  I  have  no  such  respect  to  the 
person  that  I  should  offend  my  conscience.  And 
the  party  defendant  will  make  no  answer  here, 
but  rather  doth  appeal  from  us.  I  am  an  old  man, 
both  weak  and  sickly,  and  look  every  day  for 
death ;  what  shall  it  avail  me  to  put  my  soul  in 
danger  of  God's  displeasure,  to  my  utter  damna- 
tion, for  the  favour  of  any  prince  in  this  world  ? 
My  being  here  is  only  to  see  justice  administered 
according  to  my  conscience. 

'  The  defendant  supposeth  that  we  be  not  indif- 
ferent judges,  considering  the  King's  high  dignity, 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE    133 

and  authority  within  his  realm.  And  we  being 
both  his  subjects,  she  thinks  we  will  not  do  her 
justice,  and  therefore  to  avoid  all  these  ambiguities 
I  adjourn  the  court  for  the  time  according  to  the 
Court  of  Rome,  from  whence  our  jurisdiction  is 
derived  ;  for  if  we  should  go  further  than  our 
commission  doth  warrant  us,  it  were  but  a  folly 
and  blameworthy,  because  we  shall  be  breakers  of 
the  Orders  from  whom  we  have,  as  I  said,  our 
authority  derived.' 

And  so  the  court  was  dissolved,  and  no  more 
was  done. 

Thereupon,  by  the  King's  commandment,  stepped 
up  the  Duke  of  Suffolk,  and  with  a  haughty  coun- 
tenance uttered  these  words  :  '  It  was  never  thus 
in  England  until  we  had  Cardinals  amongst  us.' 
These  words  were  set  forth  with  such  vehemence 
that  all  men  marvelled  what  he  intended,  the  Duke 
further  expressing  some  opprobrious  words. 

My  Lord  Cardinal,  perceiving  his  vehemence, 
soberly  said  :  '  Sir,  of  all  men  in  this  realm  you 
have  least  cause  to  malign  Cardinals,  for  if  I,  poor 
Cardinal,  had  not  been,  you  should  not  at  this 
present  have  had  a  head  upon  your  shoulders 
wherewith  to  make  such  a  bray  in  dispute  of  us, 
who  wish  you  no  harm,  neither  have  given  you 
such  cause  to  be  offended  with  us.  I  would  have 
you  think,  my  Lord,  I  and  my  brother  wish  the 


134  LIFE   OF  CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

King  as  much  happiness  and  the  realm  as  much 
honour,  wealth  and  peace  as  you  or  any  other 
subject  of  whatsoever  degree  he  be  within  this 
realm,  and  would  as  gladly  accomplish  his  lawful 
desires.  And  now,  my  Lord,  I  pray  you  show 
me  what  you  would  do  in  such  a  case  as  this,  if 
you  were  one  of  the  King's  Commissioners  in  a 
foreign  region  about  some  weighty  matter,  the 
solution  whereof  was  very  doubtful  to  be  de- 
cided. Would  you  not  advertise  the  King's 
Majesty  ere  you  went  through  with  the  same  ?  I 
doubt  not  but  you  would,  and  therefore  abate  your 
malice  and  spite,  and  consider  we  are  Commis- 
sioners for  a  time,  and  cannot  by  virtue  of  a 
Commission  proceed  to  judgment  without  the 
knowledge  and  consent  of  the  chief  authority, 
and  without  license  obtained  from  him  who  is  the 
Pope.  Therefore  do  we  neither  more  nor  less  than 
our  Commission  allows  us,  and  if  any  man  will 
be  offended  with  us,  he  is  an  unwise  man.  There- 
fore pacify  yourself,  my  Lord,  and  speak  like  a 
man  of  honour  and  wisdom,  or  hold  your  peace. 
Speak  not  reproachfully  of  your  friends;  you  best 
know  what  friendship  I  have  shown  you.  I  never 
did  reveal  it  to  any  person  till  now,  either  to  mine 
own  praise  or  your  dishonour.' 

Whereupon  the  Duke  went  his  way  and  said  no 
more,  being  much  discontented. 


NEW  COURT  TO  DETERMINE  THE  KING'S  CASE    135 

This  matter  continued  thus  a  long  season,  and 
the  King  was  in  displeasure  against  my  Lord 
Cardinal,  because  his  suit  had  no  better  success  to 
his  purpose.  Notwithstanding,  the  Cardinal  ex- 
cused himself  by  his  Commission,  which  gave  him 
no  authority  to  proceed  to  judgment  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  Pope,  who  reserved  the  same  to 
himself.  At  last  they  were  advertised  by  a  post 
that  they  should  take  deliberation  in  the  matter 
until  his  Council  were  opened,  which  should  not 
be  till  Bartholomew-tide  next. 

The  King,  thinking  it  would  be  too  long  ere  it 
would  be  determined,  sent  an  ambassador  to  the 
Pope,  to  persuade  him  to  show  so  much  favour  to 
His  Majesty  as  that  it  might  be  sooner  deter- 
mined. 

On  this  ambassage  went  Dr.  Stephen  Gardiner, 
then  called  by  the  name  of  Doctor  Steven,  Secre- 
tary to  the  King,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Winchester. 
This  ambassador  stayed  there  till  the  latter  end  of 
summer,  of  whose  return  you  shall  hereafter  hear. 


XVII 

OF  CERTAIN  PASSAGES  CONDUCING  TO  THE 
CARDINAL'S  FALL 

the  King  commanded  the  Queen  to 
be  removed  from  the  Court  and  sent  to 
another  place,  and  presently  after  the 
King  rode  on  progress  and  had  in  his  company 
Mistress  Anne  Boleyn,  in  which  time  Cardinal  Cam- 
peggio  asked  to  be  discharged  and  sent  home  to 
Rome ;  and  in  the  interim  returned  Mr.  Secretary, 
and  it  was  concluded  that  my  Lord  should  come 
to  the  King  to  Grafton  in  Northamptonshire,  as 
also  Cardinal  Campeggio,  being  a  stranger,  should 
be  conducted  thither  by  my  Lord  Cardinal.  And 
so  the  next  Sunday  there  were  divers  opinions 
that  the  King  should  not  speak  with  my  Lord  ; 
whereupon  there  were  many  great  wagers  laid. 

These  two  Prelates  being  come  to  the  Court, 
and  alighting,  expected  to  be  received  of  the  great 
officers,  as  the  manner  was,  but  they  found  the 


PASSAGES  CONDUCING   TO   HIS  FALL       137 

contrary.  Nevertheless,  because  the  Cardinal 
Campeggio  was  a  stranger,  the  officers  met  him 
with  staves  in  their  hands  in  the  outer  court,  and 
so  conveyed  him  to  his  lodging  prepared  for  him  ; 
and  after  my  Lord  had  brought  him  to  his  lodging, 
he  departed,  thinking  to  have  gone  to  his  chamber 
as  he  was  wont  to  do.  But  it  was  told  him  that 
he  had  no  lodging  or  chamber  appointed  for  him 
in  the  Court,  which  news  did  much  astonish  him. 
Sir  Henry  Norris,  who  was  then  Groom  of  the 
Stole,  came  unto  him  and  desired  him  to  take  his 
chamber  for  awhile  until  another  was  provided  for 
him. 

'  For  I  assure  you,'  quoth  he,  '  here  is  but  little 
room  in  this  house  for  the  King,  and  therefore  I 
humbly  beseech  your  Grace  accept  of  mine  for  a 
season.' 

My  Lord,  thanking  him  for  his  courtesy,  went 
to  his  chamber,  where  he  shifted  his  riding 
apparel. 

In  the  meantime  came  divers  noblemen  of 
his  friends  to  welcome  him  to  the  Court,  by  whom 
my  Lord  was  advertised  of  all  things  touching 
the  King's  favour  or  displeasure,  and  being  thus 
informed  of  the  cause  thereof,  he  was  the  more 
able  to  excuse  himself.  So  my  Lord  made  him 
ready  and  went  to  the  Chamber  of  Presence  with 
the  other  Cardinal,  where  the  Lords  of  the  Council 


138  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

stood  all  in  a  row  in  order  in  the  chamber,  and  all 
the  Lords  saluted  them  both.  And  there  were 
present  many  gentlemen  who  came  on  purpose  to 
see  the  meeting  and  countenance  of  the  King  to 
my  Lord  Cardinal.  Then  immediately  after  the 
King  came  into  the  Chamber  of  Presence,  standing 
under  the  cloth  of  State. 

Then  my  Lord  Cardinal  took  Cardinal  Cam- 
peggio  by  the  hand  and  knelt  down  before  the 
King,  but  what  he  said  unto  him  I  know  not,  but 
his  countenance  was  amiable,  and  His  Majesty 
stooped  down,  and  with  both  hands  took  him  up, 
and  then  took  him  by  the  hand  and  went  to  the 
window  with  him,  and  talked  with  him  a  good 
while. 

Then  to  have  beheld  the  countenance  of  the 
Lords  and  noblemen  that  had  laid  wagers,  it 
would  have  made  you  smile,  especially  those  that 
had  laid  their  money  that  the  King  would  not 
speak  with  him. 

Thus  were  they  deceived,  for  the  King  was  in 
earnest  discourse  with  him,  insomuch  that  I  heard 
the  King  say,  '  How  can  this  be  ?  Is  not  this  your 
hand  ?'  and  pulled  a  letter  out  of  his  own  bosom, 
and  showed  the  same  to  my  Lord.  And  as  I  per- 
ceived, my  Lord  so  answered  the  same  that  the 
King  had  no  more  to  say,  but  said  to  my  Lord 
Cardinal : 


PASSAGES  CONDUCING  TO   HIS  FALL        139 

'  Go  to  your  dinner,  and  take  my  Lord  Cardinal 
to  keep  you  company,  and  after  dinner  I  will 
speak  further  with  you.' 

And  so  they  departed,  and  the  King  that  day 
dined  with  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn  in  her  chamber. 

Then  there  was  set  up  in  the  Presence  Chamber 
a  table  for  my  Lord  and  other  Lords  of  the 
Council,  where  they  dined  together,  and  sat  at 
dinner  telling  of  divers  matters. 

'  The  King  should  do  well,'  quoth  my  Lord 
Cardinal,  '  to  send  his  Bishops  and  Chaplains 
home  to  their  cures  and  benefices.' 

'  Yea,  marry,'  quoth  my  Lord  of  Norfolk,  '  and 
so  it  were  meet  for  you  to  do  also/ 

'  I  would  be  well  contented  therewith,'  quoth  my 
Lord,  'if  it  were  the  King's  pleasure,  and  with  His 
Grace's  leave  to  go  to  my  cure  at  Winchester.' 

'  Nay/  quoth  my  Lord  of  Norfolk,  '  to  your 
benefice  at  York,  where  your  greatest  honour  and 
charge  is.' 

1  Even  as  it  shall  please  the  King,'  quoth  my 
Lord  Cardinal. 

And  so  they  fell  upon  other  discourses.  For, 
indeed,  the  nobility  were  loath  he  should  be  so 
near  the  King  as  to  continue  at  Winchester.  Im- 
mediately after  dinner  they  fell  to  counsel  till  the 
waiters  had  also  dined. 

I  heard  it  reported  by  those  that  waited  on  the 


140  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

King  at  dinner,  that  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn  was 
offended  as  much  as  she  dared,  that  the  King  did 
so  graciously  entertain  my  Lord  Cardinal,  saying : 

'  Sir,  is  it  not  a  marvellous  thing  to  see  into 
what  great  debt  and  danger  he  hath  brought  you 
with  all  your  subjects  ?' 

'  How  so  ?'  quoth  the  King. 

'  Forsooth,'  quoth  she, '  there  is  not  a  man  in  all 
your  whole  realm  of  England  worth  a  hundred 
pounds,  but  he  hath  indebted  you  to  him  '  (meaning 
of  loan  which  the  King  had  of  his  subjects). 

'Well,  well/ quoth  the  King,  'for  that  matter 
there  was  no  blame  in  him,  for  I  know  that  matter 
better  than  you  or  any  else.' 

'  Nay,'  quoth  she,  '  besides  that,  what  exploits 
hath  he  wrought  in  several  parts  and  places  of  this 
realm  to  your  great  slander  and  disgrace !  There 
is  never  a  nobleman  but  if  he  had  done  half  so 
much  as  he  hath  done,  were  well  worthy  to  lose  his 
head.  Yea,  if  my  Lord  of  Norfolk,  my  Lord  of 
Suffolk,  my  father  or  any  other  man  had  done 
much  less  than  he  hath  done,  they  should  have 
lost  their  heads  ere  this.' 

'  Then,  I  perceive,'  quoth  the  King,  '  you  are 
none  of  my  Lord  Cardinal's  friends.' 

'  Why,  sir,'  quoth  she,  '  I  have  no  cause  nor  any 
that  love  you,  no  more  hath  your  Grace,  if  you  did 
well  consider  his  indirect  and  unlawful  doings.' 


PASSAGES  CONDUCING  TO   HIS   FALL       141 

By  that  time  the  waiters  had  dined  and  were 
taking  up  the  table,  and  so  for  that  time  ended 
their  communication.  You  may  perceive  by  this 
how  the  old  malice  was  not  forgotten,  but  began  to 
kindle  and  be  set  on  fire,  which  was  stirred  by  the 
Cardinal's  ancient  enemies  whom  I  have  before 
mentioned  in  this  treatise. 

The  King  for  that  time  departed  from  Mistress 
Anne  Boleyn,  and  came  to  the  Chamber  of  Presence 
and  called  for  my  Lord,  and  in  the  great  window 
had  a  long  discourse  with  him,  but  of  what  I  know 
not.  Afterwards  the  King  took  him  by  the  hand 
and  led  him  into  the  Privy  Chamber,  and  sat  in 
consultation  with  him  all  alone  without  any  other 
of  the  Lords,  till  it  was  dark  night,  which  troubled 
all  his  enemies  very  sore,  who  had  no  other  way 
but  by  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn,  in  whom  was  all 
their  trust  and  confidence  for  the  accomplishment 
of  their  enterprises,  for  without  her  they  feared  all 
their  purposes  would  be  frustrated. 

Now,  at  night  was  warning  given  me  that  there 
was  no  room  for  my  Lord  to  lodge  in  the  Court, 
so  that  I  was  forced  to  provide  my  Lord  a  lodging 
in  the  country  about  Easton,  at  one  Mr.  Empston's 
house,  where  my  Lord  came  to  supper  by  torch- 
light, it  being  late  before  my  Lord  parted  from  the 
King,  who  willed  him  to  resort  to  him  in  the 
morning,  for  that  he  would  talk  further  with  him 


142  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

about  the  same  matter;  and  in  the  morning  my 
Lord  came  again,  at  whose  coming  the  King's 
Majesty  was  ready  to  ride,  desiring  my  Lord  to 
consult  with  the  Lords  in  his  absence,  and  saying 
he  would  not  talk  with  him.  He  commanded  my 
Lord  to  depart  with  Cardinal  Campeggio,  who 
had  already  taken  his  leave  of  the  King. 

This  sudden  departure  of  the  King  was  the 
special  work  of  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn,  who  rode 
with  him  purposely  to  draw  him  away,  so  that  he 
might  not  return  till  after  the  departure  of  the 
Cardinals. 

So  my  Lord  rode  away  after  dinner  with  Cardinal 
Campeggio,  who  took  his  journey  towards  Rome 
with  the  King's  reward,  but  what  it  was  I  am  not 
certain.  After  their  departure  it  was  told  the 
King  that  Cardinal  Campeggio  was  departed,  and 
had  great  treasure  with  him  of  my  Lord  Cardinal's 
to  be  conveyed  in  great  amount  to  Rome,  whither 
they  surmised  he  would  secretly  repair  out  of 
this  realm.  Insomuch  that  they  caused  a  post  to 
ride  after  the  Cardinal  to  search  him,  who  overtook 
him  at  Calais  and  detained  him  till  search  was 
made,  but  there  was  found  no  more  than  was 
received  of  the  King  for  a  reward. 

Now,  after  Cardinal  Campeggio  was  gone, 
Michaelmas  Term  drew  on,  against  which  my 
Lord  Cardinal  repaired  to  his  house  at  West- 


PASSAGES  CONDUCING  TO   HIS  FALL        143 

minster ;  and  when  the  Term  began,  he  went  into 
the  Hall  in  such  manner  as  he  was  accustomed 
to  do  and  sat  in  the  Chancery,  being  then  Lord 
Chancellor  of  England.  After  this  day  he  never 
sat  more.  The  next  day  he  stayed  at  home  for 
the  coming  of  the  Lords  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk, 
who  came  not  that  day  but  the  next,  and  did  then 
declare  unto  my  Lord  that  it  was  the  King's 
pleasure  that  he  should  surrender  up  the  Great 
Seal  of  England  into  their  hands,  and  that  he 
should  depart  unto  Asher,  which  is  a  house  near 
unto  Hampton  Court  belonging  to  the  Bishopric 
of  Winchester. 

The  Cardinal  demanded  of  them  to  see  their 
commission  that  gave  them  such  authority.  They 
answered  that  they  were  sufficient  Commissioners, 
and  had  authority  to  do  no  less  from  the  King's 
own  mouth.  Notwithstanding,  he  would  in  nowise 
agree  to  their  demand  without  further  knowledge 
of  their  authority,  telling  them  that  the  Great  Seal 
was  delivered  to  him  by  the  King's  own  person,  to 
enjoy  the  ministration  thereof,  together  with  the 
Chancellorship  during  the  term  of  his  life,  whereof 
for  surety  he  had  the  King's  Letters  Patent  to 
show.  This  matter  was  much  debated  between 
him  and  the  Dukes,  with  many  angry  words, 
which  he  took  patiently,  insomuch  that  the  Dukes 
were  obliged  to  depart  without  their  purpose  at 


144  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

that  time,  and  returned  to  Windsor  to  the  King, 
and  the  next  day  they  returned  to  my  Lord  with 
the  King's  Letters.  Whereupon,  in  obedience  to 
the  King's  command,  my  Lord  delivered  to  them 
the  Broad  Seal,  which  they  brought  to  Windsor 
to  the  King. 

Then  my  Lord  called  his  officers  before  him  and 
took  account  of  all  things  they  had  in  their  charge, 
and  in  his  gallery  were  set  divers  tables,  upon 
which  were  laid  divers  and  great  store  of  rich 
stuffs,  as  whole  pieces  of  silk  of  all  colours, 
velvets,  satins,  damask,  taffeta,  grograine,  scarlets 
and  divers  rich  commodities.  Also  there  were  a 
thousand  pieces  of  fine  holland.  The  hangings  of 
the  gallery  were  cloth  of  gold  and  cloth  of  silver 
and  rich  cloth  of  baudkin  of  divers  colours,  which 
were  hung  in  expectation  of  the  King's  coming. 
Also  on  one  side  of  the  gallery  were  hung  rich 
suits  of  copes  of  his  own  provision,  which  were 
made  for  the  colleges  at  Oxford  and  Ipswich  ; 
they  were  the  richest  that  ever  I  saw  in  all  my 
life. 

Then  had  he  two  chambers  adjoining  the  gallery, 
the  one  most  commonly  called  the  Gilt  Chamber, 
the  other  the  Council  Chamber,  wherein  were  set 
two  broad  and  long  tables,  whereupon  was  set 
such  abundance  of  plate  of  all  sorts  as  was  almost 
incredible.  A  great  part  were  all  of  clean  gold, 


PASSAGES  CONDUCING  TO   HIS  FALL  145 

and  upon  every  table  and  cupboard  where  the 
plate  was  set  were  books  reporting  every  kind  of 
plate  and  every  piece,  with  the  contents  and  the 
weight  thereof. 

Thus  were  all  things  furnished  and  prepared, 
and  he  gave  the  charge  of  the  said  stuff,  with  other 
things  remaining  in  every  office,  to  be  delivered  to 
the  King  as  he  gave  charge.  All  things  being 
ordered  as  is  before  rehearsed,  my  Lord  prepared 
to  depart,  and  resolved  to  go  by  water.  But  before 
his  going,  Sir  W.  Gascoigne,  being  his  treasurer, 
came  unto  him,  and  said  : 

'  Sir,  I  am  sorry  for  your  Grace,  for  I  hear  you 
are  to  go  straight  to  the  Tower.' 

1  Is  this  the  best  comfort,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  you 
can  give  to  your  master  in  adversity?  It  hath 
always  been  your  inclination  to  be  light  of  credit, 
and  much  lighter  in  reporting  of  lies.  I  would 
you  should  know,  Sir  William,  and  all  those  re- 
porters too,  that  it  is  untrue,  for  I  never  deserved 
to  come  there.  Although  it  hath  pleased  the  King 
to  take  my  house  ready  furnished  for  his  pleasure, 
at  this  time  I  would  all  the  world  should  know 
that  I  have  nothing  but  it  is  of  right  from  him,  and 
of  him  I  received  all  that  I  have.  It  is  therefore 
convenient  and  reason  that  I  tender  the  same  to 
him  again.' 

Then  my  Lord,  with  his  train  of  gentlemen  and 

10 


146  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

yeomen,  which  was  no  small  company,  took  his 
barge  at  his  private  stairs  and  went  by  water  to 
Putney,  at  which  time  upon  the  water  were  abund- 
ance of  boats  filled  with  people,  expecting  to  have 
seen  my  Lord  Cardinal  go  to  the  Tower,  which 
they  longed  to  see.  O  wondering  and  new-fangled 
world  !  Is  it  not  a  time  to  consider  the  mutability 
of  this  uncertain  world  ?  For  the  common  people 
ever  desire  things  for  the  sake  of  novelty  which 
after  turn  to  their  small  profit  and  advantage. 
For  if  you  mark  the  sequel,  they  had  small  cause 
to  rejoice  at  his  fall.  I  cannot  but  see  that  all  men 
in  favour  are  envied  by  the  common  people,  though 
they  do  minister  justice  truly. 

Thus  continued  my  Lord  at  Asher  three  or  four 
weeks  without  either  beds,  sheets,  tablecloths,  or 
dishes  to  eat  their  meat  in,  or  wherewith  to  buy 
any.  But  there  was  good  store  of  all  kinds  of 
victuals,  and  of  beer  and  wine  plenty,  but  after- 
wards my  Lord  borrowed  some  plate  and  dishes 
of  the  Bishop  of  Carlisle.  Thus  continued  my 
Lord  in  this  strange  state  till  after  All-hallown 
tide,  and  being  one  day  at  dinner  Mr.  Cromwell 
told  him  he  ought  in  conscience  to  consider  the 
true  and  good  service  that  he  and  other  of  his  ser- 
vants had  done  who  never  forsook  him  in  weal  and 
woe.  Then  quoth  my  Lord  : 

'Alas!  Tom,  you  know  I  have  nothing  to  give 


PASSAGES  CONDUCING  TO   HIS  FALL         147 

you  nor  them,  which  makes  me  both  ashamed  and 
sorry  that  I  have  nothing  to  requite  your  faithful 
services.'  Whereupon  Mr.  Cromwell  told  my  Lord 
that  '  he  had  abundance  of  chaplains  that  were  pre- 
ferred by  his  Grace  to  benefices  of  some  thousand 
pounds,  and  others  five  hundred  pounds,  some 
more,  some  less,  and  we,  your  poor  servants,  take 
more  pains  in  one  day's  service  than  all  your  idle 
chaplains  have  done  in  a  year.  Therefore,  if  they 
will  not  impart  liberally  to  you  in  your  great 
indigence,  it  is  a  pity  they  should  live,  and  all  the 
world  will  have  them  in  indignation  for  their  great 
ingratitude  to  their  master.' 

Afterwards  my  Lord  commanded  me  to  call  all 
his  gentlemen  and  yeomen  up  into  the  great 
chamber,  commanding  all  the  gentlemen  to  stand 
on  the  right  hand  and  the  yeomen  on  the  left.  At 
last  my  Lord  came  out  in  his  rochet  upon  a  violet 
gown  like  a  bishop's,  who  went  with  his  chaplains 
to  the  upper  end  of  the  chamber,  where  was  a 
great  window.  Beholding  his  goodly  number  of 
servants,  he  could  not  speak  to  them,  while  the 
tears  ran  down  his  cheeks,  which  being  perceived 
by  the  servants,  caused  fountains  of  tears  to  gush 
out  of  their  sorrowful  eyes  in  such  sort  as  to  cause 
my  heart  to  lament.  At  last  my  Lord  spoke  to 
them  to  this  effect  and  purpose,  saying  : 

'  Most  faithful  gentlemen  and  true-hearted  yeo- 

10 — 2 


148  LIFE  OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

men,  I  much  lament  that  in  prosperity  I  did  not 
do  so  much  for  you  as  I  might  have  done  and  was 
in  my  power  to  do.  I  consider  that  if  in  my  pros- 
perity I  should  have  commended  you  to  the  King 
then  I  should  have  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the 
King's  servants,  who  would  not  spare  to  report 
behind  my  back  that  there  could  escape  the 
Cardinal  and  his  servants  no  office  in  the  Court, 
and  by  that  means  I  should  have  run  into  open 
slander  of  all  the  world  ;  but  now  it  is  come  to  pass 
that  it  hath  pleased  the  King  to  take  all  that  I 
have  into  his  hands,  so  that  I  have  now  nothing  to 
give  you,  for  I  have  nothing  left  me  but  the  bare 
clothes  on  my  back.' 

So  he,  giving  them  all  hearty  thanks,  went 
away,  and  afterwards  many  of  his  servants  departed 
from  him,  some  to  their  wives,  some  to  their 
friends,  Master  Cromwell  to  London,  it  being  then 
the  beginning  of  Parliament. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE  CARDINAL  IS  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON 
IN  THE  PARLIAMENT  HOUSE,  AGAINST  WHICH 
ACCUSATION  MR.  CROMWELL  (LATE  SER- 
VANT TO  HIM),  BEING  A  BURGESS  IN  THE 
PARLIAMENT,  MADE  DEFENCE 

]HE  aforesaid  Master  Cromwell,  [after  his 
departure  from  my  Lord,[  devised  with 
himself  to  be  one  of  the  Burgesses  of 
the  Parliament.  Being  in  London,  he  chanced  to 
meet  one  Sir  Thomas  Russell,  Knight,  a  special 
friend  of  his,  whose  son  was  one  of  the  Burgesses 
of  the  Parliament,  of  whom  he  obtained  his  room, 
and  by  that  means  put  his  foot  into  the  Parliament 
House.  Three  days  after  his  departure  from  my 
Lord  he  came  again  to  Asher,  and  I  being  there 
with  my  Lord,  he  said  unto  me  with  a  pleasant 
countenance : 

'  I  have   adventured    my  feet  where  I  will   be 
better  regarded  ere  the  Parliament  be  dissolved.' 


150  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

And  after  he  had  some  talk  with  my  Lord,  he 
made  haste  to  London,  because  he  would  not  be 
absent  from  the  Parliament,  to  the  intent  he  might 
acquaint  my  Lord  what  was  there  objected  against 
him,  thereby  the  better  to  make  his  defence,  inso- 
much that  there  was  nothing  at  any  time  objected 
against  my  Lord  but  he  was  ready  to  make  answer 
thereunto.  Being  thus  earnest  in  his  master's 
behalf,  he  was  reputed  the  most  faithful  servant  to 
his  master  of  all  others,  and  was  generally  of  all 
men  highly  commended. 

Then  was  there  brought  a  Bill  of  Articles  into 
the  Parliament  House  to  have  my  Lord  condemned 
of  high  treason,  against  which  Master  Cromwell 
did  inveigh,  so  discreetly  and  with  such  witty  per- 
suasions, that  the  same  would  take  no  effect.  Then 
were  his  enemies  constrained  to  indict  him  of  a 
Praemunire,  to  entitle  the  King  to  all  his  goods 
and  possessions  which  he  had  obtained  and  pur- 
chased for  the  maintenance  of  his  Colleges  of 
Oxford  and  Ipswich,  which  were  both  most 
sumptuous  buildings.  To  the  Judges  that  were 
sent  to  take  my  Lord's  answer  herein  he  thus 
answered : 

'  My  Lord  Judges,  the  King  knoweth  whether  I 
have  offended  or  no  in  using  my  prerogative,  for 
the  which  I  am  indicted.  I  have  the  King's  license 
in  my  coffer,  under  his  hand  and  Broad  Seal,  for 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    !$! 

the  executing  and  using  thereof  in  most  large 
manner,  the  which  now  are  in  the  hands  of  mine 
enemies.  Therefore,  because  I  will  not  here  stand 
to  contend  with  His  Majesty  in  his  own  case,  I  will 
here  presently  before  you  confess  the  indictment, 
and  put  myself  wholly  at  the  mercy  and  grace  of 
the  King,  trusting  that  he  hath  a  conscience  and 
reason  to  consider  the  truth,  and  my  humble  sub- 
mission and  obedience  wherein  I  might  well  stand 
to  my  trial  with  justice.  Thus  much  may  you  say 
to  His  Highness,  that  I  wholly  submit  myself 
under  his  obedience  in  all  things  to  his  princely 
will  and  pleasure,  whom  I  never  disobeyed  or 
repugned,  but  was  always  contented  and  glad  to 
please  him  before  God,  whom  I  ought  most  chiefly 
to  have  believed  and  obeyed,  which  I  now  repent. 
I  most  heartily  desire  you  to  have  me  commended 
to  him,  for  whom  I  shall,  during  my  life,  pray  to 
God  to  send  him  much  prosperity,  honour,  and 
victory  over  his  enemies.' 

And  so  they  left  him. 

After  this  Mr.  Shelley,  the  Judge,  was  sent  to 
speak  with  my  Lord,  who  understanding  he  had 
come,  issued  out  of  his  Privy  Chamber  and  came 
to  him  to  know  his  business.  He,  after  due  saluta- 
tion, did  declare  unto  him  that  the  King's  pleasure 
was  to  demand  my  Lord's  house,  called  York 
Place,  near  Westminster,  belonging  to  the  Bishopric 


152  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

of  York,  and  to  possess  the  same  according  to  the 
laws  of  his  realm. 

f  His  Highness  hath  sent  for  all  his  Judges  and 
learned  Counsel  to  know  their  opinions  for  your 
assurance  thereof,  who  be  fully  resolved  that  your 
Grace  must  make  a  recognition,  and  before  a  Judge 
acknowledge  and  confess  the  right  thereof  to 
belong  to  the  King  and  his  successors,  and  so  His 
Highness  shall  be  assured  thereof. 

'  Wherefore  it  hath  pleased  the  King  to  send  me 
hither  to  take  of  you  the  recognizance,  having  in 
your  Grace  such  confidence  that  you  will  not  refuse 
to  do  so;  therefore  I  do  desire  to  know  your 
Grace's  pleasure  therein/ 

'  Master  Shelley,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  I  know  the 
King  of  his  own  nature  is  a  royal  spirit,  not  re- 
quiring more  than  reason  shall  lead  him  to  by  the 
law.  And  therefore  I  counsel  you  and  all  other 
Judges  and  learned  men  of  his  Council  to  put  no 
more  into  his  head  than  law,  that  may  stand  with 
conscience,  for  when  you  tell  him  that  this  is  law, 
it  were  well  done  you  should  tell  him  that,  although 
this  is  law, yet  it  is  not  conscience;  for  law  without 
conscience  is  not  good  to  be  ministered  by  a  King 
or  his  Council  nor  by  any  of  his  ministers,  for  every 
Council  to  a  King  ought  to  have  respect  to  con- 
science before  the  rigour  of  the  law,  for  "  laus  est 
facere  quod  decet  non  quod  licet."  The  King 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    153 

ought  for  his  royal  dignity  and  prerogative  to 
mitigate  the  rigour  of  the  law,  and  therefore  in 
his  princely  place  he  hath  constituted  a  Chan- 
cellor to  order  for  him  the  same,  and  therefore  the 
Court  of  Chancery  hath  been  commonly  called  the 
Court  of  Conscience,  for  that  it  hath  jurisdiction 
to  command  the  law  in  every  case  to  desist  from 
the  rigour  of  the  execution.  And  now  I  say  to 
you,  Master  Shelley,  have  I  a  power  or  may  I 
with  conscience  give  that  away  which  is  now  mine 
for  me  and  my  successors?  If  this  be  law  and 
conscience,  I  pray  you  show  me  your  opinion.' 

'  Forsooth,'  quoth  he,  '  there  is  no  great  con- 
science in  it,  but  having  regard  to  the  King's  great 
power,  it  may  the  better  stand  with  conscience, 
who  is  sufficient  to  recompense  the  Church  of  York 
with  the  double  value.' 

'  That  I  know  well,'  quoth  my  Lord ;  '  but 
there  is  no  such  condition,  but  only  a  bare  and 
simple  seizure  of  another's  right ;  if  every  Bishop 
should  do  so,  then  might  every  Prelate  give  away 
the  patrimony  of  the  Church,  and  so  in  process  of 
time  leave  nothing  for  their  successors  to  maintain 
their  dignities,  which  would  be  but  little  to  the 
King's  honour.  Well,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  let  me 
see  your  commission,'  which  was  shown  to  him. 
1  Then,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  tell  His  Highness  that  I 
am  his  most  faithful  subject  and  obedient  beads- 


154  LJFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

man,  whose  command  I  will  in  no  wise  disobey, 
but  will  in  all  things  fulfil  his  pleasure,  as  you,  the 
fathers  of  the  law,  say  I  may.  Therefore  I  charge 
your  conscience  to  discharge  me,  and  show  His 
Highness  from  me,  that  I  must  desire  His  Majesty 
to  remember  there  is  both  Heaven  and  Hell.' 

And  thereupon  the  clerk  took  and  wrote  the 
recognizance,  and  after  some  secret  talk  they 
departed. 

Thus  continued  my  Lord  at  Asher,  receiving 
daily  messages  from  the  Court,  some  good,  some 
bad,  but  more  ill  than  good,  for  his  enemies,  per- 
ceiving the  good  affection  the  King  always  bore 
towards  him,  devised  a  means  to  disquiet  his 
patience,  thinking  thereby  to  give  him  occasion 
to  fret  and  chafe,  that  death  should  rather  ensue 
than  increase  of  health  or  life,  which  they  most 
desired,  for  they  feared  him  more  after  his  fall 
than  they  did  in  prosperity,  fearing  that  he  should, 
by  reason  of  the  King's  favour,  rise  again  and  be 
again  in  favour  and  great  at  the  Court ;  for  then 
they  his  enemies  might  be  in  danger  of  their  lives 
for  their  cruelty  wrongfully  ministered  unto  him, 
and  by  their  malicious  surmises  invented  and 
brought  to  pass  against  him.  Therefore  they  did 
continually  find  new  matters  against  him  to  vex 
him  and  make  him  fret,  but  he  was  a  wise  man 
and  did  arm  himself  with  much  patience. 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    155 

At  Christmas  he  fell  very  sore  sick,  most  likely 
to  die.  The  King,  hearing  thereof,  was  very  sorry 
and  sent  Dr.  Butts,  his  physician,  unto  him,  who 
found  him  very  dangerously  sick  in  bed,  and  re- 
turned to  the  King.  The  King  demanded,  saying: 

'  Have  you  seen  yonder  man  ?' 

'  Yes,  sir,'  quoth  he. 

*  How  do  you  find  him  ?'  quoth  the  King. 

'  Sir,'  quoth  he,  '  if  you  will  have  him  dead, 
I  will  warrant  you  he  will  be  dead  within  these 
four  days,  if  he  receive  no  comfort  from  you 
shortly.' 

'  Marry,  God  forbid,'  quoth  the  King,  '  that  he 
should  die,  for  I  would  not  lose  him  for  twenty 
thousand  pounds.  I  pray  you  go  to  him  and  do 
your  cure  upon  him.' 

'  Then  must  your  Grace  send  him  some  com- 
fortable message,'  quoth  Dr.  Butts. 

'  So  I  will  by  you,'  quoth  the  King ;  '  therefore 
make  speed  to  him  again  and  you  shall  deliver 
him  this  ring  from  me  for  a  token  '  (in  the  which 
ring  was  engraved  the  King's  image  with  a  ruby, 
as  like  the  King  as  was  possible  to  be  devised). 
'  This  ring  he  knoweth  well,  for  he  gave  me  the 
same,  and  tell  him  that  I  am  not  offended  with 
him  in  my  heart  for  anything,  and  that  shall  be 
known  shortly ;  therefore  bid  him  pluck  up  his 
heart  and  be  of  good  comfort.  And  I  charge  you 


156  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

come  not  from  him  till  you  have  brought  him  out 
of  the  danger  of  death,  if  it  be  possible.' 

Then  spake  the  King  to  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn  : 

'  Good  sweetheart,  as  you  love  me  send  the 
Cardinal  a  token  at  my  request,  and  in  so  doing 
you  shall  deserve  our  thanks.' 

She  being  disposed  not  to  offend  the  King, 
would  not  disobey  his  loving  request,  but  took 
immediately  her  tablet  of  gold  that  hung  at  her 
side,  and  delivered  it  to  Dr.  Butts,  with  very 
gentle  and  loving  words.  And  so  he  departed  to 
Asher  with  speed,  and  after  him  the  King  sent 
Dr.  Cromer,  Dr.  Clement,  and  Dr.  Wotton,  to 
consult  and  advise  with  Dr.  Butts  for  my  Lord's 
recovery. 

Now,  after  Dr.  Butts  had  been  with  him  and 
delivered  him  the  tokens  from  the  King  and 
Mistress  Anne  Boleyn,  with  the  most  comfortable 
words  he  could  devise  on  the  King's  and  Mistress 
Anne's  behalf,  he  raised  himself  in  his  bed  and 
received  the  tokens  very  joyfully,  giving  him 
many  thanks  for  his  trouble  and  good  comfort. 
Dr.  Butts  told  him  further  that  the  King's 
pleasure  was  that  he  should  minister  unto  him 
for  his  health,  and  for  the  better  and  more 
assured  ways  he  hath  also  sent  Dr.  Cromer,  Dr. 
Clement  and  Dr.  Wotton,  all  to  join  for  his 
recovery. 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    157 

'  Therefore,  my  Lord,'  quoth  Dr.  Butts,  '  it  were 
well  they  were  called  to  visit  you,  and  to  consult 
for  your  disease.' 

At  which  my  Lord  was  contented,  and  sent  for 
them  to  hear  their  judgments,  but  he  trusted  more 
to  Dr.  Cromer  than  all  the  rest,  because  he  was 
the  very  means  of  bringing  him  from  Paris  to 
England  and  of  giving  him  partly  his  exhibition 
in  Paris. 

To  be  short,  in  four  days  they  set  him  again 
upon  his  feet,  and  got  him  a  good  stomach  to  his 
meat. 

All  this  done  and  my  Lord  in  a  right  good  way 
of  amendment,  they  took  their  leaves  and  departed, 
to  whom  my  Lord  offered  his  reward,  but  they 
refused,  saying  the  King  had  given  a  special  com- 
mandment that  they  should  take  nothing  of  him, 
for  at  their  return  he  would  reward  them  of  his 
own  cost. 

After  this  my  Lord  continued  at  Asher  till 
Candlemas,  before  and  against  which  feast  the 
King  caused  to  be  sent  to  my  Lord  three  or  four 
loads  of  stuff,  and  most  thereof,  except  beds  and 
kitchen-stuff,  was  loaded  in  standards,  wherein  was 
both  plate  and  rich  hangings  and  chapel  stuff, 
which  was  done  without  the  knowledge  of  the 
Lords  of  the  Council,  for  all  which  he  rendered 
the  King  most  humble  and  hearty  thanks,  and 


158  LIFE  OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

afterwards  he  made  suit  unto  the  King  to  be 
removed  from  Asher  to  Richmond,  which  request 
was  granted. 

The  house  of  Richmond  a  little  before  was 
repaired  by  my  Lord  to  his  great  cost,  for  the 
King  had  made  an  exchange  with  him  for 
Hampton  Court.  Had  the  Lords  of  the  Council 
known  of  these  favours  from  the  King  to  the 
Cardinal,  they  would  have  persuaded  the  King  to 
the  contrary,  for  they  feared  lest  his  present  abode 
near  the  King  might  move  the  King  at  some 
season  to  resort  unto  him,  and  to  call  him  home 
again,  considering  the  great  and  daily  affection 
the  King  bore  unto  him.  Therefore  they  moved 
the  King  that  my  Lord  might  go  down  to  the 
north  to  his  benefice  there,  where  he  might  be  a 
good  stay,  as  they  alleged,  to  the  country,  to 
which  the  King  condescended,  thinking  no  less 
but  that  all  had  been  true  according  as  they 
had  related,  being  with  such  seriousness  that  the 
King  was  straightway  persuaded  to  their  con- 
clusion. 

Thereupon  my  Lord  of  Norfolk  told  Master 
Cromwell,  who  daily  did  resort  to  my  Lord,  that 
he  should  say  to  him  that  he  must  go  home  to  his 
benefice. 

'  Well,  then,  Thomas,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  we  will 
go  to  Winchester.' 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    159 

'  I  will,  then,'  quoth  Master  Cromwell,  '  tell  my 
Lord  of  Norfolk  what  you  say ;'  and  so  he  did  at 
his  next  meeting  of  him. 

'  What  should  he  do  there  ?'  quoth  the  Duke. 
'  Let  him  go  to  the  rich  Bishopric  of  York,  where 
his  greatest  honour  and  charge  lieth.' 

The  Lords  who  were  not  his  friends,  perceiving 
that  my  Lord  was  disposed  to  plant  himself  so 
nigh  the  King,  thought  then  to  withdraw  his 
appetite  from  Winchester,  and  moved  the  King 
to  give  my  Lord  a  pension  of  4,000  marks  out  of 
Winchester,  and  to  distribute  all  the  rest  amongst 
the  nobility  and  his  servants,  and  so  likewise  to 
divide  the  revenues  of  St.  Albans,  whereof  some 
had  two  hundred  pounds.  All  the  revenues  of 
his  lands  belonging  to  his  College  at  Oxford  and 
Ipswich  the  King  took  into  his  own  hands, 
whereof  Master  Cromwell  had  the  government 
by  my  Lord's  assignment,  and  it  was  thought 
very  necessary  that  he  should  have  the  same  still 
who  executed  all  things  so  well  and  exactly,  that 
he  was  had  in  great  estimation  for  his  behaviour 
therein. 

Now,  it  came  to  pass  that  any  annuities  or  fees 
given  by  the  King  for  term  of  life  or  by  patent 
could  not  be  good  but  only  for  and  during  my 
Lord's  life,  forasmuch  as  the  King  had  no  longer 
estate  therein,  but  what  he  had  by  my  Lord's 


l6o  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

attainder  in  the  Praemunire  ;  and  to  make  their 
estate  good  and  sufficient  there  was  no  other  way 
but  to  obtain  my  Lord's  confirmation  of  their 
patents.  To  bring  this  about  there  was  no  other 
means  but  by  Master  Cromwell,  who  was  thought 
the  fittest  instrument  for  this  purpose,  and  for  his 
pains  therein  he  was  worthily  rewarded,  and  his 
demeanour,  his  honesty  and  wisdom  was  such  that 
the  King  took  great  notice  of  him,  as  you  shall 
hereafter  hear. 

Still,  the  Lords  thought  long  till  my  Lord  was 
removed  further  off  from  the  King,  wherefore, 
among  others  of  the  Lords,  my  Lord  of  Norfolk 
said  : 

'  Master  Cromwell,  methinks  the  Cardinal  thy 
master  makes  no  haste  to  go  northwards.  Tell  him, 
if  he  go  not  away,  I  will  tear  him  with  my  teeth. 
Therefore  I  would  advise  him  to  prepare  with 
speed,  or  I  will  set  him  forwards.' 

These  words  reported  Mr.  Cromwell  to  my 
Lord  at  his  next  visit,  which  was  to  Richmond, 
the  Cardinal  having  obtained  license  of  the  King 
to  remove  from  Asher  to  Richmond.  In  the 
evening,  being  accustomed  to  walk  in  the  garden, 
and  I  being  with  him  standing  in  an  alley,  I 
espied  certain  images  of  beasts  counterfeited  in 
timber,  which  I  went  nearer  to  take  the  better 
view  of  them.  Among  them  I  saw  standing  a 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    l6l 

dun  cow,  at  which  I  mused  most  of  all.  My 
Lord  then  suddenly  came  to  me  unawares,  and 
speaking  to  me,  said  : 

'  What  have  you  spied  there  whereat  you  look  so 
earnestly  ?' 

'  Forsooth,'  quoth  I,  '  if  it  please  your  Grace,  I 
here  behold  these  images  which  I  suppose  were 
ordained  to  be  set  up  in  the  King's  palace,  but 
amongst  them  all  I  have  most  considered  this 
cow,  which  seems  to  me  the  artificer's  master- 
piece.' 

'  Yea,  marry,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  upon  this  cow 
there  hangs  a  certain  prophecy  which  perhaps  you 
never  heard  of.  There  is  a  saying  that 

' "  When  the  cow  doth  ride  the  bull, 
Then,  priest,  beware  thy  skull," ' 

of  which  saying  neither  my  Lord,  that  declared  it, 
nor  I,  that  heard  it,  understood  the  meaning, 
although  the  prophecy  was  then  working  to  be 
brought  to  pass.  This  cow  the  King  gave  as  one 
of  his  beasts  appertaining  from  antiquity  unto  his 
earldom  of  Richmond,  which  was  his  ancient 
inheritance.  This  prophecy  was  afterwards  ex- 
pounded in  this  manner.  The  dun  cow,  because 
it  is  the  King's  beast,  betokens  the  King,  and  the 
bull  Mistress  Anne  Boleyn,  who  after  was  Queen, 
because  that  her  father  gave  the  same  beast  in  his 

II 


1 62  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

cognizance,  so  that  when  the  King  had  married 
Queen  Anne  the  prophecy  was  thought  of  all  men 
to  be  fulfilled,  for  what  a  number  of  priests,  religious 
and  seculars,  lost  their  heads  for  offending  of  those 
laws  made  to  bring  this  matter  to  pass  is  not  un- 
known to  all  the  world,  therefore  it  may  well  be 
judged  that  this  prophecy  is  fulfilled. 

You  have  heard  what  words  the  Duke  of  Norfolk 
spoke  to  Master  Cromwell  touching  my  Lord's 
going  into  the  north.  Then  said  my  Lord : 

'Thomas,  it  is  time  to  be  going,  therefore  I 
pray  you  go  to  the  King  and  tell  him  I  would  go 
to  my  benefice  at  York  but  for  lack  of  money,  and 
desire  his  Grace  to  help  me  to  some,  for  you  may 
say  the  last  money  I  had  from  his  Grace  was  too 
little  to  pay  my  debts,  and  to  compel  me  to  pay 
the  rest  of  my  debts  is  too  much  extremity,  seeing 
all  my  goods  are  taken  from  me.  Also  show  my 
Lord  of  Norfolk  and  the  rest  of  the  Council  that  I 
would  depart  if  I  had  money.' 

'  Sir,'  quoth  Master  Cromwell,  '  I  shall  do  my 
best.' 

And  so,  after  other  communication,  departed, 
and  came  to  London.  Then  at  the  beginning  of 
Lent  my  Lord  removed  his  lodging  into  the 
Charterhouse  at  Richmond,  where  he  lay  in  a 
lodging  that  Dr.  Collet  made  for  himself,  and 
every  afternoon  for  the  time  of  his  residence  there 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    163 

would  he  sit  in  contemplation  with  some  one  of  the 
most  ancient  Fathers  there,  who  converted  him  to 
despise  the  vainglory  of  this  world,  and  there  they 
gave  unto  him  shirts  of  hair  to  wear  next  his  body, 
which  he  wore  divers  time  after. 

The  Lords  assigned  that  my  Lord  should  have 
1,000  marks  pension  out  of  Winchester  for  his 
going  down  into  the  north,  which,  when  the  King 
heard  of,  he  commanded  it  should  be  forthwith 
paid  unto  Master  Cromwell.  And  the  King  com- 
manded Master  Cromwell  to  repair  to  him  again 
when  he  had  received  the  said  sum,  which  accord- 
ingly he  did,  to  whom  His  Majesty  said  : 

*  Show  your  Lord  that  I  have  sent  him  £10,000 
of  my  benevolence,  and  tell  him  he  shall  not  lack  ; 
bid  him  be  of  good  comfort.' 

Master  Cromwell,  on  my  Lord's  behalf,  thanked 
the  King  for  his  royal  liberality  towards  my  Lord, 
and  with  that  departed  and  delivered  the  money 
and  joyful  tidings  to  the  Cardinal  at  Richmond, 
wherein  my  Lord  did  not  a  little  rejoice.  Forth- 
with there  was  preparation  made  for  his  going. 
He  had  with  him  in  his  train  150  persons  and 
twelve  carts  to  carry  his  goods,  which  he  sent  from 
his  college  at  Oxford,  besides  other  carts  for  the 
carriage  of  his  necessaries  for  his  buildings.  He 
kept  his  solemn  feast  of  Easter  at  Peterborough, 
and  upon  Palm  Sunday  he  bore  his  palm  and  went 

II — 2 


164  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

in  procession  with  the  monks,  and  upon  Thursday 
he  made  his  Maundy,  having  fifty  poor  men,  whose 
feet  he  washed  and  kissed,  and  after  he  had  dried 
them,  he  gave  every  one  of  them  twelve  pence  and 
three  ells  of  good  canvas  to  make  them  shirts,  and 
each  of  them  had  a  pair  of  new  shoes  and  a  cask 
of  red  herrings.  Upon  Easter  Day  he  rode  to  the 
Resurrection,  and  that  day  he  went  in  procession 
in  his  Cardinal's  vestments,  and  having  his  hat  on 
his  head,  and  sung  the  High  Mass  there  himself 
solemnly.  After  his  Mass  he  gave  his  benediction 
to  all  the  hearers,  and  clean  remission.  From 
Peterborough  he  took  his  journey  into  the  north, 
but  made  some  stay  by  the  way,  and  many  things 
happened  in  his  journey  too  tedious  here  to  relate. 
At  the  last  he  came  to  Scroby,  where  he  continued 
till  Michaelmas,  exercising  many  deeds  of  charity. 
Most  commonly  every  Sunday,  if  the  weather 
served,  would  he  go  to  some  poor  parish  church 
thereabouts,  and  there  would  say  the  Divine 
Service,  and  either  said  or  heard  Mass,  and  then 
caused  one  of  his  Chaplains  to  preach  the  Word  of 
God  to  the  people,  and  afterwards  he  would  dine 
in  some  honest  house  in  the  town,  where  was  dis- 
tributed to  the  poor  alms  as  well  of  meat  and 
drink,  and  money  to  supply  the  want  of  meat  and 
drink  if  the  number  of  poor  did  exceed.  About 
Michaelmas  next  he  removed  from  thence  to 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    165 

Cawood  Castle,  within  seven  miles  of  the  city  of 
York,  where  we  had  much  honour  and  love  from 
all  men,  high  and  low,  and  where  he  kept  a 
plentiful  house  for  all  comers.  Also  he  built  and 
repaired  the  Castle,  which  was  much  decayed, 
having  at  the  least  300  persons  daily  in  work  to 
whom  he  paid  wages.  And  while  there  all  the 
Doctors  and  Prebends  of  the  Church  of  York  did 
repair  to  my  Lord  according  to  their  duties,  as 
unto  the  chief  head,  patron  and  father  of  their 
spiritual  dignities,  who  did  joyfully  welcome  him 
into  those  parts,  saying  it  was  no  small  comfort 
unto  them  to  see  their  Head  among  them,  who  had 
been  so  long  absent  from  them,  being  all  that  while 
like  fatherless  and  comfortless  children  for  want  of 
his  presence,  and  that  they  trusted  shortly  to  see 
him  amongst  them  in  his  own  church— to  whom 
he  made  answer  that  it  was  the  especial  cause  of 
his  coming  to  be  amongst  them  as  a  father  and  a 
natural  brother. 

'  Sir/  quoth  they,  '  you  must  understand  the 
ordinances  and  rules  of  our  Church,  whereof, 
although  you  be  the  head  and  sole  governor,  yet 
you  are  not  so  well  acquainted  as  we  be  therein. 
Therefore,  if  it  please  your  Grace,  we  shall  (under 
favour)  open  unto  you  some  part  of  the  ancient 
laws  of  our  Church.  The  old  law  and  custom 
hath  been  that  our  head  Prelate  and  Pastor,  as 


1 66  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

you  now  are,  may  not  come  above  our  choir  door, 
until  by  due  order  he  be  installed.  Nor  if  you 
should  happen  to  die  before  your  installation,  you 
should  not  be  buried  above  in  the  choir,  but  in 
the  body  of  the  church  beneath.  Therefore,  we 
humbly  desire  and  beseech  you,  in  the  name  of 
all  our  brethren,  that  you  would  vouchsafe  to  do 
therein,  as  our  ancient  Fathers,  your  predecessors, 
have  done,  and  that  you  would  not  break  the 
laudable  customs  of  our  Church,  to  the  which  we 
are  obliged  by  oath  at  our  first  admittance  to 
observe  with  divers  others,  which  in  our  Chapter 
doth  remain  upon  record.' 

'  These  records,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  would  I  fain 
see,  and  then  you  shall  know  further  of  my  advice 
and  mind  in  this  business.' 

A  day  was  fixed  to  bring  their  records  to  my 
Lord,  at  which  time  they  resorted  to  my  Lord 
with  their  register  and  books  of  records,  wherein 
were  fairly  written  their  institutions  and  rules, 
which  every  minister  of  their  Church  was  most 
principally  and  chiefly  bound  to  observe  and  safely 
keep  and  maintain. 

When  my  Lord  had  read  the  records  he  deter- 
mined to  be  at  the  Cathedral  Church  of  York 
the  next  Monday  after  All-hallown-tide,  against 
which  time  due  preparation  was  made  for  the 
same,  but  not  in  so  sumptuous  a  manner  as  was 


THE  CARDINAL  ACCUSED  OF  HIGH  TREASON    167 

done  for  his  predecessors  before  him,  nor  yet  in 
such  sort  as  the  fame  and  common  report  was 
afterwards  made  of  him,  to  his  great  slander.  I 
myself  was  sent  by  my  Lord  of  York  to  see  that 
all  things  there  should  be  ordered  and  provided 
for  that  solemnity  in  a  very  decent  form,  to  the 
honour  of  that  ancient  and  worthy  monastery  of 
York. 

It  came  to  pass  that  upon  All-hallows  Day 
one  of  the  head  and  principal  officers  of  the  said 
Cathedral  Church,  which  should  have  had  most 
doing  at  my  Lord's  installation,  was  with  my  Lord 
at  Cawood,  and  sitting  at  dinner,  they  fell  into 
communication  of  this  matter,  and  the  order  and 
ceremony  thereof,  he  saying  that  my  Lord 
Cardinal  should  go  on  foot  from  a  chapel  which 
stands  without  the  gates  of  the  city,  called  St. 
James's  Chapel,  unto  the  minster,  upon  cloth, 
which  should  be  distributed  to  the  poor  after  his 
said  passage  to  the  church.  My  Lord  hearing 
this,  replied  and  said  : 

'  Although  perhaps  our  predecessors  have  gone 
upon  cloth,  yet  we  intend  to  go  on  foot  without 
any  such  pomp  or  glory.'  And  therefore  he  gave 
order  to  his  servants  to  go  as  humbly  thither  as 
might  be,  without  any  sumptuous  apparel.  '  For,' 
said  he,  '  I  intend  to  come  to  you  on  Sunday  to 
be  installed,  and  to  make  but  one  dinner  for  you 


1 68  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

at  the  close,  and  the  next  day  to  dine  with  the 
Mayor,  and  so  return  hither  again.' 

The  day  being  not  unknown  to  all  the  country, 
the  gentlemen,  Abbots,  and  Priors  sent  such  pro- 
vision in  that  it  was  almost  incredible  for  store 
and  variety.  The  common  people  held  my  Lord 
in  great  estimation  for  his  purity  and  liberality, 
and  also  for  his  familiar  manners  and  good 
behaviour  amongst  them,  and  by  means  thereof 
he  gained  much  love  of  all  the  people  in  the 
northern  parts  of  England. 


XIX 

OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  FALL,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS 
ARRESTED  OF  HIGH  TREASON 


happened  before  his  last  troubles  at 
Cawood  is  a  sign  or  token  from  God  of 
^****  that  which  should  follow.  I  will  now 
declare,  God  willing,  how  my  Lord's  enemies,  being 
then  at  the  Court  about  the  King  in  good  estima- 
tion and  honourable  dignities  —  how,  seeing  now  my 
Lord  in  great  favour,  and  fearing  the  King  would 
now  call  him  home  again,  they  therefore  did  plot 
among  themselves  to  despatch  him  by  means  of 
some  sinister  treason,  or  to  bring  him  into  the 
King's  indignation  by  some  other  means. 

This  was  their  daily  study  and  consultation, 
having  for  their  especial  help  and  furtherance  as 
many  vigilant  attendants  upon  him  as  the  poets 
say  Argus  had  eyes. 

The  King  with  these  their  continual  complaints 
was  moved  to  much  indignation,  and  thought  it 


I/O  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

good  that  the  Cardinal  should  come  up  and  to 
stand  trial  in  his  own  person,  which  his  enemies 
did  not  like,  notwithstanding  he  was  sent  for,  and 
after  this  sort. 

First  they  devised  that  Sir  Walter  Walshe, 
Knight,  one  of  the  King's  Privy  Chamber,  should 
be  sent  down  with  a  commission  into  the  north, 
and  the  Earl  of  Northumberland,  who  was  some- 
time brought  up  in  the  house  of  my  Lord,  being 
joined  in  commission  with  him,  should  arrest  my 
Lord  of  high  treason.  This  being  resolved  on,  Sir 
Walter  Walshe  prepared  for  his  journey  with  his 
commission  and  certain  documents  annexed  to  the 
same,  and  took  horse  at  the  Court  gate  upon  All- 
hallows  Day  towards  my  Lord  of  Northumber- 
land. Now  I  will  declare  what  I  promised  before 
concerning  a  sign  or  token  of  the  trouble  that 
ensued  for  my  Lord. 

Upon  All-hallows  Day  my  Lord  was  sitting  at 
dinner,  having  at  his  board  divers  of  his  Chaplains 
to  bear  him  company  for  want  of  other  guests. 
You  shall  now  understand  that  my  Lord's  great 
cross  which  stood  by  fell,  and  in  the  fall  broke 
Doctor  Bonner's  head,  insomuch  that  some  blood 
ran  down.  My  Lord,  perceiving  the  fall  thereof, 
demanded  of  those  that  stood  by  him  why  they 
were  so  amazed.  I  showed  him  how  the  cross  had 
fallen  upon  Doctor  Bonner's  head.  Quoth  my  Lord  : 


THE  CARDINAL'S  FALL  171 

'  Hath  it  drawn  any  blood  ?' 

1  Yea,'  quoth  I. 

With  that  he  cast  down  his  head  and  soberly 
said  '  Malum  omen,'  aad  thereupon  suddenly  said 
grace,  rose  from  table  and  went  to  his  bedchamber, 
but  what  he  did  there  I  cannot  tell.  Now  mark  how 
my  Lord  expounded  the  meaning  thereof  to  me  at 
Pontefract  after  his  fall.  First  that  the  great  cross 
that  he  bore  as  Archbishop  of  York  betokened 
himself,  and  Doctor  Augustine  the  Physician,  who 
overthrew  the  cross,  was  he  that  accused  my 
Lord,  whereby  his  enemies  caught  an  occasion  to 
overthrow  him.  It  fell  on  Doctor  Bonner's  head, 
who  was  then  master  of  my  Lord's  faculties  and 
spiritual  jurisdiction,  and,  moreover,  the  drawing 
of  blood  betokeneth  death,  which  did  suddenly 
after  follow. 

Now  the  appointed  time  drew  near  for  Installa- 
tion. Sitting  at  dinner  the  Friday  before  the 
Monday  that  he  should  have  been  installed  at 
York,  the  Earl  of  Northumberland  and  Mr.  Walshe 
with  a  great  company  of  gentlemen  of  the  Earl's 
house  and  of  the  country  whom  they  had  gathered 
in  the  King's  name  to  accompany  them,  came  to 
the  hall  of  Cawood  (the  officers  being  then  at 
dinner),  and  my  Lord,  not  having  fully  dined,  knew 
nothing  of  the  Earl's  coming. 

The  first  thing  that  the  Earl  did  after  he  had  set 


1/2  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

the  hall  in  order  was  to  command  the  porter  to 
deliver  the  keys  of  the  gate  to  him,  which  he 
would  in  no  wise  do,  although  he  was  threatened 
and  commanded  in  the  King's  name  to  make 
deliverance  thereof  to  one  of  the  Earl's  servants, 
which  he  still  refused  to  do,  saying  to  the  Earl 
that  the  keys  were  delivered  to  him  by  his  Lord 
and  Master  both  by  oath  and  under  command. 

Now,  some  of  the  gentlemen  that  stood  by  the 
Earl,  hearing  the  porter  speak  so  stoutly,  said :  '  He 
is  a  good  fellow  and  a  faithful  servant  to  his 
master,  and  speaks  like  an  honest  man,  therefore 
give  him  your  charge  and  let  him  keep  the  keys 
still.'  Then  said  the  Earl :  '  Thou  shalt  well  and 
truly  keep  the  keys  to  the  use  of  our  Sovereign 
Lord  the  King,  and  you  shall  let  none  pass  in  or 
out  of  the  gates  but  such  as  from  time  to  time  you 
shall  be  commanded  by  us,  being  the  King's  Com- 
missioners, during  our  stay  here  ;'  and  with  that 
oath  he  received  the  keys  of  the  Earl  at  Master 
Walshe's  hands.  But  of  all  these  doings  knew  my 
Lord  nothing,  for  they  had  stopped  the  stairs  that 
none  should  go  to  my  Lord's  chamber,  and  they 
that  came  down  could  not  go  up  again.  At  length 
one  escaped  up  and  showed  my  Lord  that  the 
Earl  of  Northumberland  was  in  the  hall,  whereat 
my  Lord  wondered,  and  at  first  believed  not  till  he 
heard  it  confirmed  by  another.  Then  quoth  my 


THE  CARDINAL'S   FALL  173 

Lord  :  '  I  am  sorry  we  have  dined,  for  I  fear  our 
officers  have  not  provided  fish  enough  for  his 
entertainment  with  some  honourable  cheer  fitting 
his  estate  and  dignity.'  But  with  that  my  Lord 
rose  from  the  table  and  commanded  to  let  the  cloth 
lie  that  the  Earl  might  see  how  far  forward  they 
were  at  their  dinners,  and  as  he  was  going  down 
the  stairs  he  encountered  with  my  Lord  of  North- 
umberland, to  whom  my  Lord  said  : 

'  You  are  heartily  welcome,  my  Lord  ;'  and  so 
they  embraced  each  other. 

Then  quoth  my  Lord  Cardinal : 

'  If  you  had  loved  me,  you  would  have  sent  me 
word  before  of  your  coming,  that  I  might  have 
entertained  you  according  to  your  honour.  Not- 
withstanding, you  shall  have  such  cheer  as  I  can 
make  you  for  the  present  with  a  right  good  will, 
trusting  you  will  accept  thereof  in  good  part,  and 
hoping  hereafter  to  see  you  oftener,  when  I  shall  be 
more  able  to  entertain  you.' 

This  said,  my  Lord  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
led  him  to  his  chamber,  followed  by  all  the  Earls 
and  servants  ;  and  they  were  there  all  alone,  saving 
I,  which  kept  the  door  as  my  office  required,  being 
Gentleman  Usher.  While  these  two  Lords  stood 
at  the  window,  the  Earl,  trembling,  said  : 

'  I  arrest  you  of  high  treason.' 

With   which    words    my   Lord     was   well-nigh 


174  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

astonished,  standing  still  a  good  space  without 
speaking  a  word.  But  at  the  last  quoth  my  Lord  : 

'  What  authority  have  you  to  arrest  me  ?' 

Quoth  the  Earl  : 

'  I  have  a  commission  so  to  do.' 

'  Show  it  me,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  that  I  may  see 
the  contents  thereof.' 

'  Nay,  sir,  that  you  may  not,'  quoth  the  Earl. 

Then  quoth  my  Lord  : 

'  Hold  you  contented,  for  I  will  not  obey  your 
arrest,  for  there  hath  been  between  your  ancestors 
and  my  predecessors  great  contentions  and  debate. 
Therefore,  unless  I  see  your  authority,  I  will  not 
obey  you.' 

Even  as  they  were  debating  the  matter  in  the 
chamber,  so  likewise  was  Mr.  Walshe  busy  in 
arresting  Doctor  Augustine  at  the  door,  saying  : 

'  Go  in,  thou  traitor,  or  I  shall  make  thee  !' 

With  that  I  opened  the  portal  door,  and  he 
did  thrust  Doctor  Augustine  in  before  him  with 
violence.  The  matter  on  both  sides  astonished  me 
very  much,  marvelling  what  all  this  should  mean, 
until  at  last  Master  Walshe,  having  entered  my 
Lord's  chamber,  began  to  pluck  off  his  hood, 
being  of  the  same  cloth  as  his  coat,  which  hood  he 
wore  to  the  intent  he  should  not  be  known,  who 
kneeled  down  to  my  Lord,  to  whom  my  Lord 
said: 


THE   CARDINAL'S   FALL  175 

'  Come  hither,  sir,  and  let  me  speak  with  you ;' 
and  commanding  him  to  stand  up,  said  thus  : 
'  My  Lord  of  Northumberland  hath  arrested  me, 
but  by  what  authority  I  know  not.  If  you  be 
privy  thereunto  and  joined  with  him  therein,  I  pray 
you  show  me.' 

'  Indeed,  my  Lord,  if  it  please  your  Grace,  I 
pray  have  me  excused.  There  is  annexed  to  our 
commission  certain  instructions  such  as  you  may 
not  see  nor  be  privy  to.' 

1  Why,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  be  your  instructions 
such  as  I  may  not  see  nor  be  privy  thereunto,  yet 
peradventure  if  I  be  privy  unto  them  I  may  help 
you  the  better  to  perform  them,  for  it  is  not  un- 
known to  you  that  I  have  been  of  counsel  in  as 
weighty  matters  as  these  are,  and  I  doubt  not  I 
shall  prove  myself  to  be  a  true  man  against  the 
expectation  of  my  cruel  enemies.  I  have  an 
understanding  whereupon  all  this  matter  groweth. 
Well,  there  is  no  more  to  do,  I  trow.  You  are  of 
the  Privy  Chamber ;  your  name  is  Master  Walshe. 
I  am  contented  to  yield  to  you,  but  not  to  the  Earl 
without  I  see  his  commission,  and  you  are  also  a 
sufficient  Commissioner  in  this  behalf,  being  one  of 
the  Privy  Chamber.  Therefore,  put  your  commis- 
sion in  execution  ;  spare  me  not.  I  will  obey  you 
and  the  King,  for  I  fear  not  the  cruelty  of  mine 
enemies  no  more  than  I  do  the  truth  of  my 


I  ?6  LIFE   OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

allegiance,  wherein  I  take  God  to  witness  I  never 
offended  His  Majesty  in  word  or  deed,  and  therein 
I  dare  stand  face  to  face  with  any  having  a  differ- 
ence without  partiality.' 

Then  came  my  Lord  of  Northumberland  and 
commanded  me  to  avoid  the  chamber,  and  being 
loath  to  depart  from  my  master,  I  stood  still  and 
would  not  remove.  Then  he  spake  again,  and 
said  : 

1  There  is  no  remedy ;  you  must  depart.' 

With  that  I  looked  upon  my  master  as  one  who 
would  have  said, '  Shall  I  go  ?'  and  perceiving  by 
his  countenance  that  it  was  not  for  me  to  stay,  I 
departed  and  went  into  another  chamber,  where 
there  were  many  gentlemen  and  others  to  hear 
news,  to  whom  I  made  a  report  of  what  I  heard 
and  saw,  which  was  great  heaviness  to  them  all. 

Then  the  Earl  called  into  his  chamber  divers  of 
his  own  servants,  and  after  he  and  Master  Walshe 
had  taken  the  keys  from  my  Lord,  he  committed 
the  keeping  of  my  Lord  unto  five  gentlemen,  and 
then  they  went  about  the  house  and  put  all  things 
in  order,  intending  to  depart  next  day  and  to 
certify  to  the  King  and  the  rest  of  the  Lords  what 
they  had  done. 

Then  went  they  busily  about  to  convey  Doctor 
Augustine  away  to  London,  with  as  much  speed 
and  privacy  as  possible,  sending  with  him  divers 


THE  CARDINAL'S  FALL  177 

persons  to  conduct  him,  who  was  bound  to  his 
horse  like  a  traitor. 

And  this  being  done,  when  it  was  near  night, 
the  Commissioners  sending  two  grooms  of  my 
Lord's  to  attend  him  to  his  chamber  (where  he  lay 
all  night),  the  rest  of  the  Earl's  men  watched  in 
the  chamber,  and  all  the  house  was  watched  and 
the  gates  safe  kept,  that  no  man  could  pass  or 
repass  until  the  next  morning. 

About  eight  of  the  clock  next  morning  the 
Earl  sent  for  me  into  his  chamber,  and  commanded 
me  to  go  to  my  Lord,  and  as  I  was  going,  I  met 
with  Master  Walshe,  who  called  me  unto  him  and 
showed  me  how  the  King's  Majesty  bore  unto  me 
his  principal  favour  for  my  love  and  diligent 
service  that  I  had  performed  to  my  Lord.  '  Where- 
fore,' quoth  he,  '  the  King's  pleasure  is  that  you 
shall  be  about  him  as  chief,  in  whom  His  High- 
ness putteth  great  confidence  and  trust.'  And 
thereupon  he  gave  me  in  writing  the  Articles, 
which,  when  I  had  read,  I  said  I  was  content  to 
obey  His  Majesty's  pleasure,  and  would  be  sworn 
to  the  performance  thereof,  whereupon  he  gave  me 
my  oath. 

That  done,  I  resorted  to  my  Lord,  whom  I 
found  sitting  in  a  chair,  the  table  being  ready 
spread  for  him.  But  so  soon  as  he  perceived  me 
come  in,  he  fell  into  such  a  woeful  lamentation, 

T2 


1/8  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

that  would  have  forced  a  flinty  heart  to  mourn.  I 
then  comforted  him  as  well  as  I  could,  but  he 
would  not. 

'  For,'  quoth  he, '  I  am  much  grieved  that  I  have 
nothing  with  which  to  reward  you  and  the  rest  of 
my  true  and  faithful  servants,  for  all  the  good 
service  they  and  you  have  done  me,  for  which  I 
do  much  lament.' 

Upon  Sunday  following,  the  Earl  and  Master 
Walshe  appointed  to  set  forward,  for  my  Lord's 
horse  and  ours  were  brought  ready  into  the  inner 
court,  where  we  mounted  and  came  towards  the 
gate  ready  to  ride  out.  The  porter  had  no  sooner 
opened  the  same,  but  we  saw  without  ready 
attending  a  great  number  of  gentlemen  and  their 
servants,  such  as  the  Earl  had  appointed  for  that 
service,  to  attend  and  conduct  my  Lord  to  Pomfret 
that  night. 

But  to  tell  you  the  truth,  there  were  also  many 
of  the  rich  people  of  the  country  assembled  at  the 
gate,  lamenting  his  departure,  in  number  about 
3,000,  who  after  they  had  a  sight  of  him,  cried  out 
with  a  loud  voice,  '  God  save  your  Grace !  God 
save  your  Grace !  The  foul  evil  take  them  that 
have  taken  you  from  us !  We  pray  God  that 
vengeance  may  come  upon  them  !'  And  thus  they 
ran  after  him  through  the  town  of  Cawood,  for  he 
was  very  well-beloved  there,  both  of  rich  and  poor. 


XX 

OF  THE  CARDINAL'S  ENTERTAINMENT  AT  THE 
EARL  OF  SHREWSBURY'S,  AND  OF  HIS  DEATH 
AND  BURIAL  AT  LEICESTER 

JFTER  our  departure  from  Cawood  we 
came  to  Doncaster ;  the  third  day  we 
came  to  Sheffield  Park,  where  my  Lord 
of  Shrewsbury  lived  within  the  Lodge,  and  the 
Earl  and  his  lady  and  a  great  company  of  gentle- 
women and  servants  stood  without  the  gate  to 
attend  my  Lord's  coming,  at  whose  alighting  the 
Earl  received  him  with  much  honour,  and  em- 
bracing him,  said  these  words  : 

4  My  Lord,  you  are  most  heartily  welcome  to 
my  poor  Lodge,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  you.' 

Here  my  Lord  stayed  a  fortnight,  and  was  most 
nobly  entertained  ;  he  spent  most  of  his  time  and 
applied  his  mind  to  prayers  continually,  in  great 
devotion.  It  came  to  pass  as  he  sat  one  day  at 
dinner,  I,  being  there,  perceived  his  colour  divers 

12 — 2 


180  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

times  to  change.  I  asked  if  he  was  not  well.  He 
answered  me  with  a  loud  voice  : 

'  I  am  suddenly  taken  with  a  thing  at  my 
stomach,  and  am  not  well.  Therefore  take  up  the 
table  and  make  a  short  dinner,  and  return  to  me 
again  at  once.' 

I  made  but  little  stay,  but  came  to  him  again, 
and  found  him  still  sitting  very  ill  at  ease.  He 
desired  me  to  go  to  the  apothecary  and  ask  him 
if  he  had  anything  that  would  break  wind  upwards. 
He  told  me  he  had  ;  then  I  went  and  showed  the 
same  to  my  Lord,  who  did  command  me  to  give 
him  some  thereof,  and  so  I  did,  and  it  made  him 
break  wind  exceedingly. 

'  Lo,'  quoth  he,  '  you  may  see  it  was  but  the 
wind,  for  now  I  thank  God  I  am  well  eased.' 

And  so  he  arose  from  the  table  and  went  to 
prayers,  as  he  used  every  day  after  dinner. 

In  the  afternoon  my  Lord  of  Shrewsbury  sent 
for  me  to  him  and  said  : 

'  Forasmuch  as  I  have  always  perceived  you  to 
be  a  man  in  whom  my  Lord  putteth  great  confi- 
dence, and  I  myself  knowing  you  to  be  a  very 
honest  man  '  (with  many  words  of  commendations 
and  praise  more  than  becometh  me  to  rehearse), 
'  I  would  tell  you  that  your  Lord  and  Master  hath 
often  desired  me  to  write  unto  the  King,  that  he 
might  answer  his  accusations  before  his  enemies. 


THE  CARDINAL'S  ENTERTAINMENT       181 

And  this  day  I  have  received  letters  from  His 
Majesty  by  Sir  William  Kingston,  whereby  I 
perceive  that  the  King  hath  him  in  good  opinion, 
and  upon  my  request  hath  sent  for  him  by  the 
said  Sir  William  Kingston.  Therefore  now  I 
would  have  you  play  your  part  wisely  with  him, 
in  such  sort  as  he  may  take  it  quietly  and  in  good 
part,  for  he  is  always  full  of  sorrow  and  heaviness 
at  my  being  with  him,  that  I  fear  he  would  take 
it  ill  if  I  bring  him  tidings  thereof.  And  therein 
doth  he  not  well,  for  I  assure  you  that  the  King 
is  his  very  good  Lord,  and  hath  given  me  most 
hearty  thanks  for  his  entertainment.  Therefore 
go  your  way  to  him  in  quiet  till  my  coming,  for 
I  will  not  tarry  long  after  you.' 

'  Sir,'  quoth  I,  '  if  it  please  your  Lordship,  I  shall 
endeavour  to  the  best  of  my  power  to  accomplish 
your  Lordship's  command.  But,  sir,  I  doubt 
when  I  name  this  Sir  William  Kingston  that  he 
will  guess  some  ill,  because  he  is  Constable  of  the 
Tower  and  Captain  of  the  Guard,  having  in  his 
company  twenty-four  of  the  Guard  to  accompany 
him.' 

'  That  is  nothing,'  quoth  the  Earl.  'What  if  he 
be  Constable  of  the  Tower  and  Captain  of  the 
Guard,  he  is  the  fittest  man  for  his  wisdom  and 
discretion  to  be  sent  about  such  a  business ;  and 
as  for  the  Guard,  it  is  only  to  defend  him  from 


1 82  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

those  that  might  intend  him  any  ill.  Besides  that, 
the  Guard  are  for  the  most  part  such  of  his  old 
servants  as  the  King  hath  taken  into  his  service  to 
attend  him  most  justly.' 

'Well,  sir/  quoth  I,  'I  shall  do  what  I  can;' 
and  so  I  departed  and  went  to  my  Lord,  and  found 
him  in  the  gallery  with  his  staff  and  his  beads  in 
his  hands.  Seeing  me  come,  he  asked  me  what 
news  I  had.  '  Forsooth,'  quoth  I,  '  the  best  news 
that  ever  you  heard,  if  you  can  take  it  well.' 

'  I  pray  God  it  be  true  then,'  quoth  he. 

'  My  Lord  of  Shrewsbury,'  said  I,  *  your  most 
assured  friend,  hath  so  provided  by  his  letters  to 
the  King  that  His  Majesty  hath  sent  for  you  by 
Master  Kingston  and  twenty-four  of  the  Guard  to 
conduct  you  to  His  Highness.' 

'  Master  Kingston !'  quoth  he,  while  he  clapped 
his  hand  on  his  thigh  and  gave  a  great  sigh. 

'May  it  please  your  Grace,'  quoth  I,  '  I  would 
you  would  take  all  things  well — it  would  be  much 
better  for  you ;  content  yourself,  for  God's  sake, 
and  think  that  God  and  your  good  friends  have 
wrought  for  you  according  to  your  desires.  And 
you  have  much  more  cause  to  rejoice  than  lament 
or  mistrust  the  matter,  for  I  assure  you  that  your 
friends  are  more  afraid  of  you  than  you  need  be  of 
them.  And  His  Majesty,  to  show  his  love  to  you, 
hath  sent  Master  Kingston  to  honour  you  with  as 


THE  CARDINAL'S  ENTERTAINMENT       183 

much  honour  as  is  your  Grace's  due,  and  to  convey 
you  in  such  easy  journeys  as  is  fitting  for  you  and 
as  you  shall  command.  And  I  humbly  entreat 
you  to  take  to  heart  this  my  persuasion  in  His 
Highness's  discretion,  and  to  be  of  good  cheer, 
wherewith  you  shall  comfort  yourself  and  give 
your  friends  and  poor  servants  great  comfort  and 
content.' 

'  Well,'  quoth  he,  *  I  perceive  more  than  you 
can  imagine  or  do  know.' 

Presently  after  came  my  Lord  to  acquaint  him 
with  that  I  had  so  lately  related.  My  Lord 
Cardinal  thanked  the  Earl  for  his  great  love  and 
called  for  Master  Kingston,  who  came  to  him 
presently,  and,  kneeling  down  before  him,  saluted 
him  in  the  King's  behalf,  whom  my  Lord  bare- 
headed offered  to  take  up,  but  he  would  not.  Then 
quoth  my  Lord  : 

'  Master  Kingston,  I  pray  you  stand  up  and 
leave  your  kneeling  to  me,  for  I  am  a  wretch,  full 
of  misery,  not  esteeming  myself  but  as  a  mere 
object  utterly  cast  away,  without  desert ;  therefore, 
good  Master  Kingston,  stand  up.' 

Then  Master  Kingston  said  : 

'The  King's  Majesty  hath  him  commended 
unto  you.' 

*  I  thank  His  Highness,'  quoth  my  Lord ;  '  I 
hope  he  is  in  good  health.' 


1 84  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

'  Yea/  quoth  Master  Kingston,  '  he  has  com- 
manded me  to  bid  you  be  of  good  cheer,  for  he 
beareth  you  as  much  goodwill  as  ever  he  did  ;  and 
whereas  report  hath  been  made  unto  him  that  you 
should  commit  against  His  Majesty  certain  heinous 
crimes  which  he  thinketh  to  be  untrue,  yet  he,  for 
the  ministration  of  justice  in  such  cases  requisite, 
could  do  no  less  than  send  for  you  that  you  might 
have  your  trial,  mistrusting  nothing  your  truth  and 
wisdom,  but  that  you  shall  be  able  to  acquit  your- 
self of  all  complaints  and  accusations  extended 
against  you.  You  may  take  your  journey  to 
him  at  your  pleasure,  commanding  me  to  attend 
you.' 

'  Master  Kingston,'  quoth  my  Lord,  '  I  thank 
you  for  your  good  news,  and,  sir,  hereof  assure 
yourself,  if  I  were  as  able  and  lusty  as  ever  I  was 
to  ride,  I  would  go  with  you  post,  but  alas !  I  am  a 
diseased  man,  having  a  flux,  that  maketh  me  very 
weak  ;  but  the  comfortable  news  you  bring  is  of 
purpose  to  bring  me  into  a  fool's  paradise,  for  I 
know  what  is  provided  for  me.  Notwithstanding, 
I  thank  you  for  your  goodwill  and  pains  taken 
about  me,  and  I  shall  with  speed  make  ready  to 
ride  with  you.' 

After  this  I  was  commanded  to  make  all  things 
ready  for  our  departure  the  morrow  after. 

When  my  Lord  went  to  bed  he  fell  very  sick, 


THE  CARDINAL'S  ENTERTAINMENT       185 

and  the  opinions  of  the  physicians  were  that  he 
had  not  above  four  or  five  days  to  live.  Not- 
withstanding, he  would  have  ridden  with  Master 
Kingston  next  day,  had  not  the  Earl  of  Shrews- 
bury advised  him  to  the  contrary ;  but  the  follow- 
ing day  after  he  took  his  journey  with  Master 
Kingston  and  them  of  the  Guard,  who,  seeing  him, 
could  not  abstain  from  weeping,  considering  he 
was  their  old  master  and  now  in  such  miserable 
case.  My  Lord  took  them  by  the  hand,  and 
would  as  he  rode  by  the  way  sometimes  talk  with 
one  and  sometimes  with  another,  till  he  came  to  a 
house  of  my  Lord's  standing  in  the  way  called 
Hardwick  Hall,  where  he  lay  all  that  night  very  ill 
at  ease. 

The  next  day  he  came  to  Nottingham,  and  the 
next  day  to  Leicester  Abbey.  The  following  day 
he  waxed  very  sick,  so  that  he  had  almost  fallen 
from  his  horse,  and  it  was  night  ere  he  got  to 
Leicester  Abbey,  where,  at  his  coming  in  at  the 
gates,  the  Abbot  with  all  the  convent  met  him 
with  many  lighted  torches,  whom  they  honourably 
received  and  welcomed  with  great  reverence. 

My  Lord  said,  '  Father  Abbot,  I  am  come  to  lay 
my  bones  amongst  you,'  he  meanwhile  riding  still 
on  his  mule  till  he  came  to  the  stairs  of  his 
chamber,  where  he  alighted. 

Master  Kingston,  holding  him  by  the  arm,  led 


1 86  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOLSEY 

him  upstairs,  who  told  me  after  that  he  never  felt 
so  heavy  a  burden  in  all  his  life.  And  as  soon  as 
my  Lord  was  in  his  chamber  he  went  straight  to 
bed.  This  was  upon  Saturday,  and  so  he  con- 
tinued. On  Monday  in  the  morning,  as  I  stood  by 
his  bedside  about  eight  of  the  clock,  the  windows 
being  close  shut,  and  having  wax-lights  burning 
upon  the  cupboard,  I  thought  I  perceived  him 
drawing  on  towards  death.  He,  perceiving  my 
shadow  at  the  bedside,  asked  who  was  there. 

'Sir,'  quoth  I,  'it  is  I.' 

'  How  do  you  ?'  quoth  he. 

'  Well,  sir,  if  I  might  see  your  Grace  well.' 

1  What  is  it  a  clock  ?'  quoth  he. 

I  answered  it  was  about  eight  of  the  clock. 

Quoth  he,  *  That  cannot  be,'  saying  the  same 
words  divers  time.  '  It  cannot  be  eight  of  the 
clock,  for  by  eight  of  the  clock  you  shall  see  your 
master's  time  draw  near  that  I  must  depart  this 
world.' 

With  that,  Doctor  Palmes,  a  worthy  gentleman 
standing  by,  bid  me  ask  him  if  he  would  be 
shriven  to  make  him  ready  for  God,  whatever 
chanced  to  fall  out.  This  I  did,  but  he  was  very 
angry  with  me,  and  asked  what  I  had  to  do  to  ask 
him  such  a  question,  till  at  last  Master  Doctor 
took  my  part  and  talked  with  him  in  Latin  and 
pacified  him. 


THE  CARDINAL'S  DEATH  187 

After  dinner  Master  Kingston  sent  for  me  and 
said: 

'Sir,  the  King  hath  sent  unto  me  letters  by 
Master  Vincent,  our  old  companion,  who  hath 
been  in  trouble  in  the  Tower  for  money  that  my 
Lord  should  have  at  his  departure,  a  great  part  of 
which  money  cannot  be  found,  wherefore  the  King, 
at  Master  Vincent's  request  for  the  declaration  of 
the  truth,  hath  sent  him  hither  with  His  Grace's 
letter  that  I  should  examine  my  Lord  and  have 
your  counsel  therein,  that  he  may  take  it  well  and 
in  good  part.  And  this  is  the  cause  of  my  sending 
for  you  ;  therefore  I  desire  your  counsel  therein  for 
acquittal  of  this  poor  gentleman,  Master  Vincent.' 

'Sir,'  quoth  I,  'according  to  my  duty  and  by 
my  advice,  you  shall  resort  unto  him  in  your  own 
person  to  visit  him,  and  in  communication  break 
the  matter  unto  him,  and  if  he  will  not  tell  you  the 
truth  therein,  then  you  may  certify  the  King 
thereof,  but  in  any  case  name  not  nor  speak  of 
my  fellow  Vincent.  Also  I  would  not  have  you 
delay,  for  he  is  very  sick,  and  I  fear  he  will  not 
live  past  a  day  or  two';  and  accordingly  Master 
Kingston  went  to  my  Lord  and  demanded  the 
money,  saying  that  '  my  Lord  of  Northumberland 
found  in  a  book  at  Cawood  House  that  you  had 
lately  borrowed  ^"1,000,  and  there  is  not  so  much 
as  one  penny  to  be  found.  Wherefore  the  King 


1 88  LIFE  OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

hath  written  to  me  to  know  what  is  become  thereof, 
for  it  were  pity  that  it  should  be  holden  from 
you  both.  Therefore  I  require  you  in  the  King's 
name  to  tell  me  the  truth,  that  I  may  make  a  just 
report  thereof  unto  His  Majesty  of  your  answer.' 

With  that  quoth  my  Lord  : 

'  O  good  Lord,  how  much  doth  it  grieve  me  that 
the  King  should  think  any  such  thing  of  me,  that 
I  should  deceive  him  of  one  penny,  seeing  I  have 
nothing  nor  ever  had  (God  be  my  judge)  that  I 
ever  esteemed  so  much  my  own  as  His  Majesty's, 
having  but  the  bare  use  of  it  during  my  life,  and 
after  my  death  to  leave  it  wholly  to  him,  wherein 
His  Majesty  hath  prevented  me.  But  for  this 
money  that  you  demand  of  me,  I  assure  you  it 
is  none  of  my  own,  for  I  borrowed  it  of  divers  of 
my  friends  to  bury  me,  and  to  bestow  amongst  my 
servants  who  have  taken  great  pains  about  me ; 
notwithstanding,  if  it  be  your  pleasure  to  know,  I 
must  be  content,  yet  I  beseech  His  Majesty  to  see 
them  satisfied  of  whom  I  borrowed  the  same,  for 
the  discharge  of  my  conscience.' 

1  Who  be  they  ?'  quoth  Master  Kingston. 

'That  shall  I  tell  you,'  quoth  my  Lord.  'I 
borrowed  two  hundred  pounds  of  John  Allen  of 
London,  another  two  hundred  pounds  of  Sir 
Richard  Gresham,  and  two  hundred  pounds  of 
Doctor  Hickden,  Dean  of  my  College  at  Oxford, 


THE  CARDINAL'S  DEATH  189 

two  hundred  pounds  of  Mr.  Ellis,  my  Chaplain, 
and  another  two  hundred  pounds  of  a  priest.  I 
hope  the  King  will  restore  it  again,  forasmuch  as 
it  is  none  of  mine.' 

'  Sir,'  quoth  Master  Kingston, '  there  is  no  doubt 
in  the  King,  whom  you  need  not  distrust ;  but,  sir, 
I  pray  you  where  is  the  money  ?' 

Quoth  he  : 

'  I  will  not  conceal  it,  I  warrant  you,  but  I  will 
declare  it  unto  you  before  I  die,  by  the  grace  of 
God.  Have  a  little  patience  with  me,  I  pray  you, 
for  the  money  is  safe  enough  in  an  honest  man's 
hands,  who  will  not  keep  one  penny  thereof  from 
the  King.' 

So  Master  Kingston  departed  for  that  time,  my 
Lord  being  very  weak,  and  about  four  of  the  clock 
next  morning  I  asked  him  how  he  did. 

'  Well,'  quoth  he,  '  if  I  had  any  meat.  I  pray 
you  give  me  some.' 

'  Sir,'  quoth  I,  '  there  is  none  ready.' 

Then  he  said  : 

'  You  are  much  to  blame ;  you  should  always 
have  meat  for  me  in  readiness,  whensoever  that 
my  stomach  serves  me.  I  pray  you  get  some 
ready  for  me,  for  I  mean  to  make  myself  strong 
to-day,  to  the  intent  I  may  go  to  confession  and 
make  me  ready  for  God.' 

Quoth  I,  '  I  will  call  up  the  cooks  to  prepare 


I QO  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

some  meat,  and  also  I  will  call  Mr.  Palmes,  that  he 
may  discourse  with  you  till  your  meat  be  ready.' 

'  With  a  good  will,'  quoth  he. 

And  so  I  called  Master  Palmes,  who  rose  and 
came  to  my  Lord.  Then  I  went  and  acquainted 
Master  Kingston  that  my  Lord  was  very  sick,  and 
not  like  to  live. 

'  In  good  faith  !'  quoth  Master  Kingston,  '  you 
are  much  to  blame  to  make  him  believe  he  is  sicker 
than  he  is.' 

'Well,  sir,'  quoth  I,  'you  cannot  but  say  I  gave 
you  warning,  as  I  am  bound  to  do.' 

Upon  which  words  he  arose  and  came  unto 
him  ;  but  before  he  came  my  Lord  Cardinal  had 
eaten  a  spoonful  or  two  of  cullis  made  of  chicken, 
and  after  that  he  was  at  his  confession  the  space 
of  an  hour.  And  then  Master  Kingston  came  to 
him  and  bid  him  good  morrow,  and  asked  him 
how  he  did. 

'  Sir,'  quoth  he,  '  I  watch  but  God's  pleasure  to 
render  up  my  poor  soul  to  Him.  I  pray  you  have 
me  heartily  commended  unto  his  royal  Majesty, 
and  beseech  him  on  my  behalf  to  call  to  his 
princely  remembrance  all  matters  that  have  been 
between  us  from  the  beginning,  and  the  progress, 
and  especially  between  good  Queen  Katherine 
and  him,  and  then  shall  His  Grace's  conscience 
know  whether  I  have  offended  him  or  not.  He 


THE   CARDINAL'S   DEATH  IQI 

is  a  Prince  of  a  most  royal  carriage,  and  hath  a 
princely  heart,  and  rather  than  he  will  miss  or 
want  any  part  of  his  will  he  will  endanger  the 
one-half  of  his  kingdom. 

'  I  do  assure  you  I  have  often  knelt  before  him, 
sometimes  three  hours  together,  to  persuade  him 
from  his  will  and  appetite,  and  could  not  prevail. 
And,  Master  Kingston,  had  I  but  served  God  as 
diligently  as  I  have  served  the  King,  He  would  not 
have  given  me  over  in  my  gray  hairs.  But  this  is 
the  just  reward  that  I  must  receive  for  my  diligent 
pains  and  study,  not  regarding  my  service  to  God, 
but  only  to  my  Prince.  Therefore,  let  me  advise 
you,  if  you  be  one  of  the  Privy  Council,  as  by  your 
wisdom  you  are  fit,  take  heed  what  you  put  in  the 
King's  head,  for  you  can  never  put  it  out  again. 

'  And  I  desire  you  further  to  request  His  Grace 
in  God's  name  that  he  have  a  vigilant  eye  to  sup- 
press the  hellish  Lutherans,  that  they  increase  not 
through  his  great  negligence,  in  such  a  sort  as  he 
be  compelled  to  take  up  arms  to  subdue  them,  as 
the  King  of  Bohemia  was,  whose  commons  being 
infected  with  WicklifFs  heresies,  the  King  was 
forced  to  take  that  course. 

'  Let  him  consider  the  story  of  King  Richard  II., 
the  second  son  of  his  progenitor,  who  lived  in  the 
time  of  Wickliff's  seditions  and  heresies.  Did  not 
the  commons,  I  pray  you,  in  his  time  rise  against 


LIFE   OF   CARDINAL   WOOLSEY 

the  nobility  and  chief  governors  of  this  realm,  and 
at  the  last  some  of  them  were  put  to  death  without 
justice  or  mercy;  and  under  pretence  of  having  all 
things  in  common,  did  they  not  fall  to  spoiling 
and  robbing,  and  at  last  took  the  King's  person 
and  carried  him  about  the  city,  making  him 
obedient  to  their  proclamations  ? 

'  Did  not  also  the  traitorous  heretic  Sir  John  Old- 
castle,  Lord  Cobham,  pitch  a  field  with  heretics 
against  Henry  IV.,  where  the  King  was  in  person, 
and  fought  against  them,  to  whom  God  gave  the 
victory. 

'  Alas !  if  these  be  not  plain  precedents  and 
sufficient  persuasions  to  admonish  a  prince,  then 
God  will  take  away  from  us  our  prudent  rulers, 
and  leave  us  to  the  hands  of  our  enemies.  And 
then  will  ensue  mischief,  inconveniences,  barren- 
ness, and  scarcity,  for  want  of  good  orders  in  the 
Commonwealth,  from  which  God  of  His  tender 
mercy  defend  us ! 

'  Master  Kingston,  farewell !  I  wish  all  things 
may  have  good  success.  My  time  draws  on ;  I 
may  not  tarry  with  you.  I  pray  you  remember 
my  words.' 

Now  began  the  time  to  draw  near,  and  his  tongue 
began  to  fail  him ;  his  eyes  were  perfectly  set  in  his 
head,  and  his  sight  failed  him.  Then  we  began 
to  put  him  in  mind  of  Christ's  Passion,  and  caused 


THE  CARDINAL'S  BURIAL  193 

the  Yeomen  of  the  Guard  to  stand  by  privately, 
to  see  him  die,  and  bear  witness  of  his  words  and 
his  departure,  who  heard  all  his  communications. 
And  then  presently  the  clock  struck  eight,  at 
which  time  he  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  thus  de- 
parted he  this  life,  each  of  us  looking  on  one 
another,  supposing  he  prophesied  of  his  departure. 
We  sent  for  the  Abbot  of  the  house  to  anoint  him, 
who  speedily  came  as  he  was  ending  his  life,  who 
said  certain  prayers  before  that  the  life  was  out 
of  his  body. 

The  Cardinal  being  departed,  Master  Kingston 
sent  post  to  London  one  of  the  Guard.  Then  was 
Master  Kingston  and  the  Abbot  in  consultation 
about  the  funeral,  which  was  solemnized  the  day 
after,  for  Master  Kingston  would  not  stay  the 
return  of  the  post. 

They  thought  good  that  the  Mayor  of  Leicester 
and  his  brethren  should  personally  see  him  dead,  to 
prevent  false  reports  that  he  was  alive.  And  in 
the  interim,  whilst  the  Mayor  was  sent  for,  his 
bones  were  laid  in  a  coffin,  and  his  shirt  of  hair 
and  his  over-shirt  of  fine  holland  were  taken  off 
and  were  put  into  the  coffin  together  with  all  such 
ornaments  wherewith  he  was  invested  when  he 
was  made  Archbishop,  as  mitre,  cross,  ring  and 
pall,  and  all  other  things  appertaining  to  his 
office. 

13 


194  LIFE   OF   CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

Thus  he  lay  all  that  day  with  his  coffin  open  and 
barefaced,  that  all  that  desired  might  see  him. 
And  about  three  of  the  clock  he  was  buried  by 
the  Abbot  with  great  solemnity  ;  and  his  corpse 
was  set  in  the  Lady-chapel  of  the  church  with 
many  tapers  and  poor  men  about  him  holding  the 
torches  in  their  hands,  who  watched  the  corpse  all 
that  night  whilst  the  Canons  sung  divers  dirges 
and  other  Divine  orisons. 

And  at  four  of  the  clock  next  morning  the 
Cardinal's  servants  and  Master  Kingston  came  to 
the  church  to  the  execution  of  many  ceremonies  in 
such  manner  as  is  usual  at  Bishops'  burials,  and 
that  done  Master  Kingston  went  to  Mass,  where 
the  Abbot  did  offer  and  divers  others  ;  and  then 
they  went  to  bury  the  corpse  in  the  middle  of  the 
said  Chapel.  By  this  time  it  was  six  of  the  clock, 
being  St.  Andrew's  Day. 

Then  we  prepared  for  our  journey  to  the  Court, 
where  we  attended  His  Majesty.  The  next  day  I 
was  sent  for  to  the  King,  conducted  by  Master 
Norris,  and  the  King  was  in  his  nightgown  of 
velvet  furred  with  sables,  before  whom  I  knelt  the 
space  of  an  hour,  during  which  time  His  Majesty 
examined  me  of  divers  particulars  concerning  my 
Lord  Cardinal,  wishing  rather  than  twenty  thou- 
sand pounds  that  he  had  lived. 

He  asked    me   concerning   the  fifteen    hundred 


THE   CARDINAL'S   BURIAL  195 

pounds  which  Master  Kingston  had  spoken  of  to 
my  Lord.  Quoth  I  : 

'  I  think  I  can  perfectly  tell  your  Grace  where  it 
is,  and  who  hath  it.' 

'  Can  you  ?'  quoth  the  King.  '  I  pray  tell  me, 
and  you  shall  not  be  unrewarded.' 

'  Sir,'  quoth  I,  'after  the  departure  of  Master 
Vincent  from  my  Lord  at  Scroby,  who  had  the 
custody  thereof,  leaving  it  with  my  Lord  in  divers 
bags,  he  delivered  it  to  a  certain  priest  safely  to 
be  kept  for  his  use.' 

'  Is  this  true  ?'  quoth  the  King. 

'  Yea/  quoth  I ;  '  without  doubt  the  priest  will 
not  deny  it  before  me,  for  I  was  at  the  delivery 
thereof,  who  hath  got  divers  other  rich  ornaments 
which  are  not  registered  in  the  book  of  my  Lord's 
inventory  or  other  writings  whereby  any  man  is 
able  to  charge  him  therewith  but  myself.' 

Then  said  the  King  : 

4  Let  me  alone,  and  keep  this  secret  between 
you  and  me,  and  let  no  man  be  privy  thereof; 
for  your  honesty  and  truth  you  shall  be  our 
servant  in  our  chamber  as  you  were  with  your 
master.  Therefore  go  your  ways  to  Sir  John 
Gage,  our  Vice-Chamberlain,  to  whom  we  have 
spoken  already  to  admit  you  our  servant,  in 
our  chamber,  and  then  go  to  the  Lord  of  Norfolk, 
and  he  shall  pay  you  your  whole  year's  was, 


196  LIFE  OF  CARDINAL  WOLSEY 

which  is  ten  pounds.  Is  it  not  so  ?'  quoth  the 
King. 

'  Yes,  forsooth,  and  if  it  please  your  grace,' 
quoth  I. 

And  said  the  King  : 

'  You  shall  receive  a  reward  of  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk.' 

So  I  received  ten  pounds  of  the  Duke  for  my 
wages  and  twenty  pounds  for  my  reward,  and  His 
Majesty  gave  me  a  cart  and  six  horses,  the  best 
that  I  could  choose  out  of  my  Lord's  horses,  to 
carry  my  goods,  and  five  marks  for  my  charge 
homewards. 


THE    END 


R.  &  T.  Washbottrne,  18  Paternoster  Row,  London 


DA  334  ,W8  C3  1901  SMC 


Cavendish,  George 
The  life  and 
Wolsey,  cardi 


th  of  Thomas