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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
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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,
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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