Lord his name was Iohn Iokin who was kept as secretly as might be no man having intelligence of his arrivall For hee was no French man borne but an Italian a man of no great estimation in France nor knowne to bee much in his Masters favour but taken to be a Merchant And for his subtile wit was elected to treate of such an Embassage as the French King had given him in Commission This Iokin was secretly conveyed to Richmond and there stayed untill such time as the Cardinall resorted thither to him where after Easter terme was ended he kept his feast of Whitsontide very solemnely In which season my Lord Cardinall caused this Iokin divers times to dine with him who seemed to bee both witty and of good behaviour he continued long in England after this till at the last as it should seeme hee had brought the matter which he had in Commission to passe Whereupon the King sent out immediatly a restraint unto Sir Iohn Russell that he should retaine that moneth pay still in his hands untill the Kings pleasure should bee further made knowne which should have beene paid to the Duke being then encamped within the Towne of Pavia For want of which money the Duke and his men were much dismayed when they saw no money come as it was wont to doe and being in this dangerous case where victuals began to be scant and very deare they imagined many wayes what should be the reason that the Kings money came not some said this and some said that mistrusting nothing lesse then the true cause thereof CHAP. XII Of the Duke of Burbons Stratagem and Victorie wherein the French King was taken prisoner NOw the Duke and his Souldiers were in great miserie for want of Victuals and other necessaries which they could by no meanes get within the Towne Hereupon the Captaines and Souldiers began to grudge and murmure being for want of Victuals all like to perish and being in this extremitie came before the Duke and said Sir we must of force and necessitie yeeld to our enemies And better were it for us so to doe then to starve like dogges But when the Duke heard this he replied with weeping teares Sirs quoth he you have proued your selves valiant men and of noble hearts in this service and for your necessitie whereof I my selfe doe participate I do not a little lament But I shall desire you as you are noble in heart and courage so to take patience for two or three dayes and if succour come not then from the King of England as I doubt nothing lesse 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 dayes were past expecting reliefe from the King Then the Duke seeing no remedy called his noble Captaines and Souldiers before him and weeping said You Noblemen and Captaines we must yeeld our selves unto our Enemies or else famish and to yeeld the Towne and our selves I know well the crueltie of our Enemies as for my part I passe 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 my selfe that I doe lament it is for your sakes it is for your lives and for the safegard of your persons for so that you might escape your enemies hands I would willingly suffer death good Companions and noble Souldiers I doe require you all considering the miserable calamities and dangers we are in at this present to sell our lives most dearely rather then to 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 meanes we may either escape or else give them an overthrow for it were better to dye in the field like men then to live prisoners miserably in captivity to which they all agreed Then quoth the Duke you all perceive the enemies Campe is strong and there is no way to enter upon them but one and that entrie is planted with great Ordnance and strength of men so that it is impossible to attaine to our enemies that way to fight with them in their Campe And also now of late you perceive they have had but small doubt of us in regard they have kept but slender Watch Therefore mine advise is there shall issue out of the Towne in the dead time of the night from us a certaine number of you that bee the most likely to assault the Campe 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 bee to them of the Campe so doubtfull that they will turne the strength of the entry that lyeth ouer against your assault to beate you from your purpose Then will I enter out at the Posterne 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 Campe and win their Ordnance which they have newly turned and beat them with their owne peeces and then may you come and joyne with me in the field So this devise pleased them all wonderfull wel they did then prepare themselves al that day for that devise and kept themselves secret and close without any noyse or shot of peeces in the Towne which gave the enemie the lesse feare of the assault for at night they went all to their Tents and couched quietly nothing mistrusting what after happened So in the dead of the night when they all were at rest the assailents issued out of the Towne and there according to the Dukes appointment they gave so cruell and fierce an assault that they in the Campe had much adoe to withstand them And then as the Duke before declared they within were compelled to turne the shot that lay at the entry against the assault Then issued out the Duke and with him about fifteene or sixteene hundred men or more secretly in the night The enemy being ignorant of his comming untill he entred the Field and at his entry he tooke all the Ordnance that lay there and slew the Gunners then charged the Peeces against the enemies and slew them wonderfully and cut downe their Tents and Pavillions and murthered many therein ere they were aware of his comming suspecting nothing lesse then his entry so that hee wonne the field ere the King could arise So the King was taken in his lodging before he was harnessed And when the Duke had won the field the French King taken and his men slaine his Tents robbed and spoiled and the Kings coffers searcht The Duke of Burbon found the league under the great Seale of England newly made betweene the King of England and the French King whereby hee perceived the impediment of his money which should have come to him from the King having upon due
mee a woman destitute of friendshippe heere in a forraigne Region and your Counsell I also shall bee glad to heare and therewith shee tooke my Lord by the hand and led him into her Privie Chamber with the other Cardinall where they stayed a while and I heard her voice loud but what shee said I know not This done they went to the King and made a Relation unto him of the passages betweene the Queene and them and so they departed This strange case proceeded and went forwards from Court day to Court day untill it came to that that every man expected to hear Iudgement given at which time all their proceedings were openly read in Lattin That done the Kings Counsell at the Barre mooved for Iudgement quoth Cardinall Campaines I will not give judgement untill I have related the whole proceedings to the Pope whose Counsell and Commandment I will in this Case observe The matter is too high for us to give hasty judgement considering the persons and the doubtfull occasions alleadged and also whose Commissioners wee are by whose authority we sit It is good reason therefore that wee make our chiefe Lord of Counsell in the same before wee proceede to judgement definitive I came not to please for any Favour Reward or feare 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 answere here but rather doth appeale from us I am an old man both weake and sickly and looke every day for Death what shal it avayle me to put my Soule in danger of Gods displeasure to my utter damnation for the favour of any Prince in this World My being here is onely to see Justice administred according to my Conscience The Defendant supposeth that wee bee not indifferent Judges considering the Kings high dignity and authority within his Realme And wee beeing both his Subjects shee thinkes wee will not doe her justice and therefore to avoyd all these Ambiguities I adjourn the Court for the Time according to the Court of Rome from whence our jurisdiction is derived For if wee should goe further then our Commission doth warrant us it were but a folly and blame worthy because then wee shal be breakers of the Orders from whom we have as I sayd our authority derived and so the Court was dissolved and no more done Thereupon by the Kings Commandment stept up the Duke of Suffolke and with a haughty countenance uttered these words It was never thus in England untill we had Cardinals amongst us Which Words were set forth with such vehemency that all men marvailed what he intended the Duke further expressing some opprobrious Words My Lord Cardinall perceiving his vehemency soberly sayd Sir of all men in this Realme you have least cause to disprayse Cardinals for if I poore Cardinall had not beene you should not at this present have had a head on your shoulders wherewith to make such a brag in dispute of us who wish you no harme neyther have given you such cause to be offended with us I would have you thinke my Lord I and my Brother wish the King as much happinesse and the Realme as much honour Wealth and peace as you or any other Subject of what degree soever hee be within this Realme and would as gladly accomplish his lawfull desires And now my Lord I pray you shew mee what you would doe in such a Case as this if you were one of the Kings Commissioners in a forraigne Region about some weighty matter the consultation whereof was very doubtfull to be decided would you not advertise the Kings Majesty ere you went through with the same I doubt not but you would and therefore abate your malice and spight and consider wee are Commissioners for a Time and cannot by vertue of a Commission proceed to judgement without the knowledge and consent of the head of the authority and lycence obtayned from him who is the Pope Therefore doe wee neyther more nor lesse then our Commission allows us and if any man wil be offended with us hee is an unwise man Therefore pacifie your selfe my Lord and speake like a man of Honour and Wisedome or hold your peace speake not reproachfully of your friends you best know what friendship I have showne you I never did reveale to any person till now eyther to mine owne prayse or your dishonour Whereupon the Duke went his way and sayd no more being much discontented This matter continued thus a long Season and the King was in displeasure against my Lord Cardinal because his Suit had no better successe to his purpose Notwithstanding the Cardinal excused himself by his Commission which gave him no authority to proceed to judgement 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 untill his Councell were opened which should not be til Bartholmew-tide next The king thinking it would be too long ere it would bee determined sent an Ambassador to the Pope to perswade him to shew so much favor to his Majesty as that it might be sooner determined On this Embassage went Doctor Stephen Gardener then called by the name of Doctor Steven Secretary to the King afeer wards Bishop of Winchester This Ambassadour stayed there till the latter end of Summer of whose returne you shall hereafter heare CHAP. 17. Of certaine passages conducing to the Cardinals fall NOW the King commaunded the Queene to be removed from the Court and sent to another place presently after the King rod on Progresse and had in his Company Mistris Anne Bolloigne in which time Cardinall Campadnes made suite to bee discharged and sent home to Rome in the interim returned Mr. Secretary and it was concluded that my Lord should come to the King to Grafton in Northampton-shire as also Cardiall Campaines beeing a stranger should bee conducted thither by my Lord Cardinall And so the next Sunday there were divers opinions that the King would not speak with my Lord whereupon there were many great Wagers layd These two Prelates being come to the Court and lighting expected to be received of the great Officers as the manner was but they found the contrary Neverthelesse because the Cardinall Campaine was a stranger the Officers met him with staves in their hands in the outward 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 hee was wont to do But it was told him hee had no lodging or Chamber appoynted for him in the Court which newes did much astonish him Sir Henry Norris who was then Groome of the stoole came unto him and desired him to take his Chamber for a while untill an other was provided for him for I assure
favour with the King OH Lord what a great God art thou that workest thy wonders so secretly that they are not perceived untill they bee brought to passe and finished Attend now good Reader to this story following and note every circumstance and thou shalt at the end perceive a wonderfull worke of God against such as forget him and his benefits Therefore I say consider after this my Lord Percyes troublesome businesse was over and all things brought to an end Then Mistris Anne Bullen was againe admitted to the Court where she flourished in great estimation and favour having alwayes a prime grudge against my Lord Cardinall for breaking the Contract betweene the Lord Peircy and her selfe supposing it had beene his owne devise and no others And she at last knowing the Kings pleasure and the depth of his secrets then began to looke very haughtily and stout lacking no manner of rich apparell or Jewels that money could purchase It was therefore imagined by many through the Court that she being in such favour might doe much with the King and obtaine any suit of him for her friends All this while she being in this estimation in all places there was no doubt but good Queene Katherine having this Gentlewoman daily attending upon her both heard by report and saw with her eyes how all things tended against her good Ladiship although she seemed neither to Mistris Anne Bullen nor the King to carry any sparke of discontent or displeasure but accepted all things in good part and with great wisdome and much patience dissembled the same having Mistris Anne Bullen in more estimation for the Kings sake then when she was with her before declaring her selfe indeed to be a very patient Grissell as by her long patience in all her troubles shall hereafter most plainly appeare For the King was now 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 Cardinall for that they could not rule in the Kingdome as they would for him because he was Dominus fac totum with the King and rul'd aswell the great Lords as the meane subjects whereat they tooke an occasion to worke him out of the Kings favour and consequently themselves into more estimation And after long and secret consultation with themselves how to bring this matter to passe They knew very well that it was somewhat difficult for them to doe absolutely of themselves Wherefore they perceiving the great affection and love the King bare to Mistris Anne Bullen supposing in their judgements that she would be a fit Instrument to bring their earnest intentions to passe 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 Cardinall was ever as ready to accomplish their desires as they were themselves wherefore there was no more to doe but onely to imagine an occasion to worke their malice by some pretended circumstances Then did they daily invent divers devises how to effect their purpose but the enterprise thereof was so dangerous that though they would faine have attempted the matter with the King yet durst they not for they knew the great zeale the King did beare unto the Cardinall 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 Kings love was such towards him and his wit such withall that hee could with his policie vanquish all their enterprises and then after that requite them in the like nature to their utter ruine Therefore they were compelled to forbeare their plots till they might have some better ground to worke upon And now the Cardinall perceiving the great zeale the King bore to this Gentlewoman framed himselfe to please her as well as the King To that end therefore hee prepares great Banquets and Feasts to entertaine the King and her at his owne house Shee all this while dissembling the secret grudge in her breast Now the Cardinall began to grow into wonderfull inuentions not heard of before in England and the love betweene this glorious Lady and the King grew to such perfection that divers things were imagined whereof I forbeare here to speake untill I come to the proper place CHAP. XI Of the Variance betweene the French King and the Duke of Burbon who fled to the Citie of Pavia where the King besieged him THen began a certaine grudge betweene the French King and the Duke of Burbon to breake out Insomuch that the Duke being now at variance with the house of France was compelled for safeguard of his life to flye and forsake his Countrie fearing the Kings malice and indignation The Cardinall having intelligence hereof contrived that the King our Soveraigne Lord should obtaine the Duke to be his Generall in his warres against the French King with whom our King had then an occasion of warre and the rather because the Duke of Burbon was fled to the Emperour to invite him unto a like purpose where he moved the King in this matter And after the King was advised thereof and conceived the Cardinals invention he mused more and more of this matter untill it came into a Consultation amongst the Councell so that it was concluded that an Ambassadour should be sent to the Emperour about this matter And it was further concluded that the King and the Emperour should joyne in those wars against the French King and that the Duke of Burbon should be the King of Englands Champion and Generall in the field who had a number of good souldiers over and besides the Emperours Army which was not small and that the King should pay the Duke monethly wages for himselfe and his retinue For which purpose Iohn Russell who was afterwards Created Earle 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 warres with the French King in his owne Territories and Dukedome which the King had gotten into his owne hands being not perfectly knowne to the Dukes enemies that he had any aide from our Soveraigne Lord and thus hee wrought the French King much displeasure in asmuch that the French King was constrained to prepare a present Army and in his owne person to resist the Dukes power And battell being joyned the King drove him to take Pavia a strong Towne in Italie with his hoast of men for his securitie where the King encamped himselfe wonderfully strong intending to close the Duke within the Towne lest hee should issue out and skirmish with him The French King in his Campe sent secretly into England a private person being a very witty man to treat of a Peace between his Master and our Soveraigne
countrey The fourth day he rode to Canterbury where he was kindly entertained by the Bishop of the Citie and there he continued foure or five dayes In which season was the Iubilee and a great Faire in the Towne by reason it was the feast of Saint Thomas their Patron upon which day there was a solemne procession wherein my Lord Cardinall was in his Legantine Ornaments with his hat upon his head who commanded the Monks and the Quire to sing the Latine after this sort Sancta Maria or a pro Papa nostra Clemente and in this manner perused the Latine through My Lord Cardinall kneeling at a stoole before the Quire doore prepared for him with Carpets and Cushions All the Monkes and the Quire stood in the body singing the Letany At which time I saw my Lord Cardinall weepe tenderly the which James I and others conceived to bee for griefe 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 Cardinall in Callice in post so that I was the same night in Callice At my arrivall I found standing upon the Peere without the Lanthorne-gate all the Councell of the Towne to whom I delivered up my message and my Letters before I entered the Towne where I lay untill my Lord came thither who arrived two dayes after my comming thither before eight of the clock in the morning and was received of all the noble Officers and Councell of the Towne and the Major of the staple with procession the Clarkes being in rich Copes having many rich Crosses In the Lanthorne-gate a stoole with Cushions and Carpets was set for him where hee kneeled and made his prayers At which time they fenced him in with Seizures of silver and sprinkled water that done they passed on before him in procession untill hee came unto Saint Maries Church where at the high Altar turning him to the people hee gave them his Benediction and pardon and then hee repaired with a great number of Noblemen and Gentlemen to a place in the Towne called the Chequer where he kept his house so long as he abode in the Towne going immediatly into his naked Bed because he was some what troubled with sicknesse by reason of his passage by Sea That night he called unto him Mounsier de Bees Captaine of Bulloigne with divers other Gallants and Gentlemen who had dyned with him that day and having some further consultation with my Lord Cardinall he and the rest of the Gentlemen departed againe to Bulloigne Thus my Lord was daily visited with one or other of the French Nobility When all his traine and carriage was landed and all things prepared for his journey his Grace called all his Noblemen and Gentlemen into the Privie 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 dutie you owe to me and the good will I semblably beare to you for the same Your intendment of service is to further the Authority I have by Commission from the King which diligent observance of yours I will hereafter recommend to his Majestie as also to shew you the Nature of the French-men and withall to instruct you with Reverence you shall use me for the high honour of the Kings Majestie and to informe you how you shall entertaine and accompany the Frenchmen when you meet at any time Concerning the first point you shall understand for divers weighty affaires of his graces and for meere advancement of his royall dignity hee hath assigned mee in this Journey to bee his Lieutenant what reverence therefore belongeth to mee for the same I will shew you By vertue therefore of my Commission and Lieutenantship I assume and take upon mee to bee esteemed in all honour and degrees of service as unto his highnes is meet and due and that by mee nothing bee neglected that to his State is due and appertinent for my part you shall see that I will not omit one jot thereof Therefore one of your chiefe causes of your Assembly at this time is to informe you that you bee not ignorant of your duty in this I wish you therefore as you would have my favour and also charge you all in the Kings name that you doe not forget the same in time and place but that every of you doe observe his duty to mee according as you will at your returne avoide the Kings indignation or deserve his Highnesse thankes the which I will set forth at our returne as each of you shall deserve Now to the second point the nature of the Frenchmen is such that at their first meeting they will bee as familiar with you as if they had knowne you by long acquaintance and will commune with you in their French tongue as if they knew every word therefore use them in a kind manner and bee as familiar with them as they are with you if they speake to you in their naturall tongue speake to them in English for if you understand not them no more shall they you Then speaking merrily to one of the Gentlemen being a Welshman Rice quoth hee speake thou welsh to them and doubt not but thy speech will be more difficult to them then their French shall bee to thee Moreover hee said unto them all let your entertainement and behaviour bee according to all Gentlemens in humility that it may bee reported after our departure 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 onely obtaine to your selves great commendations and praises But also greatly advance your Prince and Countrey Now being admonished of these things prepare your selves against tomorrow for then we purpose to set forward Therefore we his servants being thus instructed and all things being in a readinesse proceeded forwards the next day being Mary Magdalens day my Lord Cardinall advanced out of Callis with such a number of black Coats as hath beene seldome seene with the Ambassadour went all the Peeres of Callis and Groynes All other Gentlemen besides those of his traine were garnished with black Velvet coats and Chaines of gold Thus passed he forward with his troope before three in a Ranke which compasse extended three quarters of a mile in length having his Crosses and all other his accustomed glorious furniture carried before him as I have formerly related except the Broad Seale the which hee left with Doctor Taylor then Master of the Rolls untill his returne Thus passing on his way we had scarce gone a mile but it began to raigne so vehemently that I have not seen the like for the time which endured untill we came to Bulloigne and ere we came to Standingfield the Cardinall of Lorraine a goodly young Gentleman gave my Lord
Court The King being then in his progresse at Sir Henry Wyats house in Kent of whom I and other of his servants thought hee should have beene nobly entertained as well of the King himselfe as of the Nobles But wee were all deceived in our expectations Notwithstanding he went immediatly to the King after his returne with whom hee had long talke and continued two or three dayes after in the Court and then retyred to his house at Westminster where he remained till Michaelmas Term which was within a fort-night after and there hee exercised his place of Chancellorship as hee had done before And immediatly after the beginning of the Terme hee caused to be assembled in the Starre-chamber all the noble men Iudges and Iustices of the peace of every shire throughout England and were at Westminster-Hall then present And there hee made a long Oration declaring the cause of his Embassage into France and of his proceedings therein saying that hee had concluded such an Amity and peace as never was heard of in this Realme betweene our Soveraigne Lord the Kings Majesty the Emperour and the French King for a perpetuall peace which shall bee confirmed in writing under the seales of both Realmes engraven in gold Offering further that our King should receive yearly by that name out of the dutchy of Normandy all the charges and losses hee had sustained in the warres And also for as much as there was a restraint made of the French Queenes Dowry whom the Duke of Suffolke had married for many yeares together during the warres It was concluded that shee should not onely receive the same according to her just right but also the Arrerages being unpaid during the said restraint should be perfected shortly after The resort of Ambassadours out of France should bee such a great number of Noblemen and Gentlemen to confirme the same as hath not bin seene heretofore repaire hither out of one Realme This peace thus concluded there shall be such an amity betweene them of each Realme and entercourse of Merchandise that it shall bee seene to all men to bee but one Monarchie Gentlemen and others may travell from one countrey to an other for their recreations and pleasure And Merchants of either countrey may traffike safely without feare of danger So that this Realme shall ever after flourish Therefore may all Englishmen well rejoyce and set forth the truth of this Embassie in the Countrey Now my Masters I beseech you and require you in the Kings behalfe that you shew your selves as loving and obedient subjects in whom the King may much rejoyce c. And so hee ended his Oration and brake up the Court for that time CHAP. XIIII Of the French Ambassadours entertainment and dispatch NOw the great long looked for Ambassadours are arrived being in number eight persons of the Noblest and most worthy Gentlemen in all France who were nobly received from place to place and so conveyed through London to the Bishops Palace in Pauls Church-yard where they were lodged to whom divers Noblemen resorted and gave them noble presents especially the Maior of the Citie of London as Wines Sugars Beeves Muttons Capons wild Fowle waxe and other necessary things in abundance for the expences of his house They resorted to the Court being then at Greenewich on Sunday and were received of the Kings Majestie of whom they were entertained highly They had a Commission to establish our Kings Highnesse in the order of France to whom they brought for that intent a coller of fine gold with a Michell hanging thereat and Robes to the said order appertaining which were of blew velvet and richly embroydered wherein I saw the King passe to the Closet and after in the same to Masse And to gratifie the French King for his great honour hee sent incontinently noblemen here in England of the order of the Garter which Garter the Herauld carried into France unto the French King to establish him in the order of the Garter with a rich Coller and Garter and Robes according to the same The French Ambassadors still remayning here untill the returne of the English All things being then determined and concluded concerning the perpetuall peace upon solemne Ceremonies and Oathes contained in certaine Instruments concerning the same It was concluded there should be a solemne Masse song in the Cathedrall Church of Pauls in London by the Cardinall the King being present at the same in his traverse to performe all things determined And for the preparation thereof there was a Gallery from the West-doore of Pauls Church through the body of the same up to the Quite and so to the high Altar into the Traverse My Lord Cardinall prepared himselfe to sing the Masse associated with twenty foure Miters of Bishops and Abbots who attended him with such Ceremonies as to him were then due by reason of his Legative 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 chiefe Ambassadour that here presented the Kings person of France betweene whom the Lord Cardinall divided the blessed Sacrament as a perfect oath and bond for security of the said Covenants of the said perpetual peace That done the King went againe into the Travers this Masse being ended which was solemnely sung both by the Quite of the same Church and all the Kings Chappell Then my Lord tooke and read the Articles of peace openly before the King and all other both English and French and there in sight of all the people the King put his hand to the gold Seale and subscribed with his owne hand and delivered the same to the grand Maste of France as his deed who semblably did the like that done they departed and rode home with the Cardinall and dined with him passing all the day after in consultation of weighty affaires 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 Kings devise that all the Frenchmen should remove to Richmond and hunt there And from thence to Hampton Court and there to hunt likewise And the Lord Cardinall there to make a Banquet or Supper or both and from thence they should ride to Windsor and there hunt And after returne 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 doe but to make preparation in all things for the entertainment of this great Assembly at Hampton Court at the time appointed by my Lord Cardinall who called before him all his chiefe Officers as Stewards Treasurers Clarkes and Comptrollers of his Kitchin to whom hee declared his whole mind touching the entertainment of the French-men at Hampton court to whom hee also gave command neither to spare for any
to leane upon These proceedings being declared unto my Lord Cardinall hee sent agayne for the Bishops to whom he declared the effect of these Commissioners paynes and for assurance thereof shewed them the instruments of each Vniversity under their severall Seales and the businesse being thus handled they went agayne to consultation how things should bee ordered At last it was concluded that it was very meete the King should send unto the Pope his Holinesse the opinions of both Vniversities of England and also Forraigne Vniversities which were manifestly authorized by their common Seales And it was also thought fit the opinions of the worthy Prelates of England should be sent to the Pope comprised in an Instrument which was not long time in finishing Nor was it long after that the Ambassadours were assigned for this designe who tooke their journey accordingly having certayne instruments that if the Pope would not thereupon consent to give judgement definitively in the Kings Case then to require an other Commission from his Holinesse to be granted to his Legate to establish a Court heere in England for that purpose only to be directed to my Lord Cardinall Legate of England and to Cardinall Campain Bishop of Bath which the King gave him at a certayne time when hee was sent Embassdour hither from the Pope his Holinesse to determine and rightly judge according to their Consciences To the which after long suite made and for the good will of the said Cardinall the Pope granted their Suite Then they returned into England relating unto the King that his Graces pleasure should be now brought to passe substantially being never more likely considering the state of the Iudges Long was the expectation on both sides for the comming over of the Legat from Rome who at last arrived in England with his Commission and beeing much troubled with the Gout his journey was long and tedious ere hee could get to London who should have beene most solemnly received at Black-heath but hee desired not to bee so entertained with Pompe and vaine-glory and therefore he came very privately on his owne Horse without Temple-Barre called Bath-place where he lay The House being farnished of all manner of Provision of my Lords So after some deliberation and consultation in the ordering of the Kings businesse now in hand by his Commission and Articles of his Ambassage which beeing read it was determined that the King and the good Queene his lawfull Wife should be judged at Bride-wel and in Blackfriers and some place thereabouts the Court to bee kept for the disputation and determination of the causes and differences betweene the King and the Queene where they were to repaire before these two Legates who sat as Iudges before whom the King and Queene were cited and summoned to appeare which was a strange sight and the newest devise that ever was heard or read of in any Story or Chronicle A King and a Queene to be compelled to appear in a Court as common persons within their owne Realme and Dominions and to abide the judgments and decrees of their Subjects beeing a Prerogative belonging to the royall Diadem CHAP. 16. A new Court erected to determine the Kings case two Cardinals being Iudges having power to convent the King and Queene the issue thereof IT is a wonderfull thing to consider the strength of Princes Wils when they are bent to have their pleasure fulfilled wherin no reasonable perswasions wil serve the turne how little doe they regard the dangerous sequels that may ensue aswell to themselves as to their Subjects And amongst all things there is nothing that makes them more wilful then Carnall Love and various affecting of voluptuous desires wherein nothing could be of greater experience then to see what inventions were furnished what Lawes were enacted what costly Edifices of noble and ancient Monasteries were there over-throwne what diversities of opinions then arose what extortions were then cōmitted how many learned and good men were then put to Death and what alterations of good ancient Lawes Customes and Charitable foundations were turned from the reliefe of the poore to the utter destruction and desolation almost to the subversion of this noble Realme It is a thousand pitties to understand the things that since have hapned to this Land the proofe whereof hath taught all us English-men lamentable experience If mens eyes be not blind they may see and if their eares be not stopped they may heare and if pitty bee not exiled their hearts may relent and lament at the sequell of this inordinate Love although it lasted but a while O Lord God with-hold thine indignation from us You shall understand as I sayd before that there was a Court erected at Black-Fryers London where these two Cardinals sate as Judges Now will I describe unto you the order of the Court First there were many tables and benches set in manner of a Consistory one seate beeing higher than another for the Judges aloft above them three degrees high was a Cloth of Estate hanged and a Chaire Royall under the same wherein sate the King and some distance off sate the Queene and at the Iudges feete sate the Scribes and Officers for the execution of the Processe the chiefe Scribe was Doctor Stevens after Bishop of Winchester and the Apparatour who was called Doctor of the Court who was one Cooke of Westminster Then before the King and the Iudges sate the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Doctor Warham and all other Bishops there stood at both ends within Counsellors Learned in the Spirituall Lawes as well on the Kings side as the Queenes side Doctor Sampson afterwards Bishop of Chichester and Doctor Hall after Bishop of Worcester with divers others and Proctors in the same Law were Doctor Peter who was afterwards chiefe Secretarie and Doctor Tregunmill with divers others Now on the other side there were Counsell for the Queene Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Dr. Standish Bishop of St. Asaph in Wales two brave 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 upon Tower hill as also another ancient Doctor called Doctor Ridley a little man but a great Divine The Court being thus ordred as is before expressed the Iudges commanded the cryer to proclaim silence whilst the commission was both read to the Court to the people there assembled that done and silence beeing agayne proclaimed the Scribes commaunded the Cryer to call King Henry of England whereunto the King answered and sayd here Then called he agayne the Queene of England by the name of Katherine Queene of England come into the Court c. Who made no answer thereunto but rose immediately out of her Chayre where she sate and because shee could not come to the King directly by reason of the distance therefore shee came round about the Court to the
King and kneeled downe at his feete saying these words in broken English as followeth viz. Sir quoth shee I beseech you doe mee Iustice and right and take some pitty upon mee for I am a poore woman and a stranger borne out of your Dominions having here no indifferent Counsell and lesse assurance of friendship alas Sir how have I offended you what offence have I given you intending to abridge me of life in this sort I take God to witnes I have been to you a true and loyall wife ever conformable to your will and Pleasure never did I contrary or gainsay your minde but alwayes submitted my selfe in all things wherein you had any delight or dalliance whether it were little or much without grudging or any signe of discontent 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 beene your wife this twenty yeares by whom you had many Children And when I first came to your Bed I take God to witnesse I was a Virgin whether it were true or no I put it to your Conscience if there bee any cause that you can alleadge either of dishonesty or of any other matter lawfull to put mee from you I am willing to depart with shame and rebuke but if there bee none then I pray you let me have Iustice at your hands The King your Father was a man of such an excellent wit in his time that he was accounted a second Salomon and the King of Spaine my father Ferdinand was taken for one of the wisest Kings that raigned in Spaine these many yeares So they were both wise men and noble Princes and it is no question but they had wise Counsellours of eyther Realme as be now at this day who thought at the marriage of you and me to heare what new devises are now invented against me to cause me to stand to the order of this Court And I conceive you doe mee much wrong may you condemne me for not answering having no Councell but such as you have assigned me You must consider that they cannot be indifferent on my part being your owne Subjects and such as you have made choyce of out off your owne Councell whereunto they are privy and dare not disclose your pleasure Therefore I most humbly beseech you to spare me untill I know how my friends in Spaine will advise me But if you will not then let your pleasure be done And with that she rose making a low Curtesie to the King and departed from thence all the people thinking she would have returned againe to her former Seate but she went presently out of the Court leaning upon the arme of one of her Servants who was her generall receiver one Mr. Griffith The King seeing that we was ready to goe out of the Court commaunded the Cryer to call her againe by these words Katherine Queene of England come into the Court Loe quoth M. Griffith you are called again Goe on quoth she it is no matter It is no indifferent Court for me therefore I will not tarry goe 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 sayd to the Audience these few words in effect Forasmuch quoth hee as the Queene is gone I wil in her absence declare unto you all shee hath beene to me a true obedient wife and as comfortable as I could wish or desire shee hath all the virtues and good qualities that belong to a woman of her Dignity or in any of meaner estate her conditions will well declare the same Then quoth my Lord Cardinal I humbly beseech your Highnesse to declare unto this Audience whether I have been the first and chiefe moover of this matter unto your Highnesse or no for I am much suspected of all men My Lord Cardinall quoth the King you have rather advised me to the contrary then been any mover of the same The speciall cause that moved me in this matter is a certaine scruple that pricked my conscience upon certaine words spoken by the Bishop of Bayon the French Ambassadour who came hither to consult of a Marriage between the Princesse our daughter the Lady Mary and the Duke of Orleans second Sonne to the King of Fraunce and upon resolution and determination hee desired respite to advertise the King his Master thereof whether our daughter Mary should be legitimate in respect of my marriage with this woman beeing sometimes my Brothers wife which words I pondering begot such a scruple in my conscience that I was much troubled at it whereby I thought my selfe in danger of Gods heavie displeasure and indignation and the rather because he sent us no issue Male for all the issue Male that I have had by my wife dyed incontinently after they came into the world which caused me to feare Gods displeasure in the particular Thus my conscience being tossed in that waves of troublesome doubts and partly in despaire to have any other issue then I had already by this Lady my now wife It behooved mee to consider the estate of this Realme and the danger it stands in for lack of a Prince to succeed mee I thought it therefore good in release of this mighty burthen on my Conscience as also for the quiet estate of this Realme to attempt a tryall in the Law herein Whether I might lawfully take another wife without staine of carnal concupiscence by which God may send more issue in case this my first copulation was not good I not having any displeasure in the person or age of the Queen with whom I could bee well contented to continue if our Marriage may stand with the Law of God as with any woman alive in which point consisteth all the doubt that wee goe about now to know by the Learned wisedome 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 Judgement according to which I will God willing bee well contented to submit my selfe and obey the same And when my Conscience was so troubled I moved it to you my Lord of Lincolne in confession then beeing my Ghostly Father And forasmuch as you were then in some doubt you moved me to aske Counsell of the rest of the Bishops whereupon I moved it to you my Lord Cardinall to have your licence forasmuch as you are Metropolitan to put this matter in question and so I did to all you my Lords to which you all granted under your Seales which is heere to shew 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 Seale no quoth the King is
is ten pounds is not it so quoth the King Yea forsooth and if it please your Grace quoth I. And withall said the King you shall receive a reward the Duke of Norfolke So I received tenne pounds of the Duke for my wages and twenty pounds for my reward and his Majestie gave me a Cart and six horses the best that I could chose out of my Lords horses to carry my goods and five marks for my charge homewards FINIS He was Batchelour of Arts at 15. years of Age He was naturally eloquent King Henry in the fifth yeare of his raigne invaded France The King relieth upon the Almaners policie He besieged the strong Towne of Turwine He besiegeth the Towne of Turney The Scots in the Kings absence invade England The Officers of his Chappell Officersin his privie Chamber Great resort to his house as to the King His entertainment of the King in a Masque The King his Company conducted into the chamber The Masquers salute the Ladies The Cardinall casts at two hundred crownes The Cardinall mistaken The Earle come to the Cardinall His sharpe reproofe of his Sonne The Earle doth intend to dis-inheâ—it him He speakes to the servants He goes to the King The Contract between Lord Percy and Mistris Anne Bullen dissolved She much displeased therat Shee is discharged the Court Her admittance againe to Court Queene Katherine her patience A plot of the Nobility against the Cardinall The Cardinall endevours to get her favour A plot of the Cardinall The Duke of Burbon fled to the Emperour King Henry joyneth his forces with the Emperor against the French King The Duke the King of Englands Generall The French King in person with an Army The Duke flies to Pavia and is there besieged by the French King The French Ambassadour treats of peace with England Command sent to Sir Iohn Russell to detaine the Kings pay The Duke his souldiers in extreme want The Dukes loving advise A generall consent The Dukes subtile devise They issue out in the night The Duke issues out with 150. or 160. men He flew the enemies and tooke the gunnes He wonne the field He intended to sack Rome but was there slaine Easie to invade France King Henry ought to have the French King captive Divers Ambassadours from Fuance to King Henry to take order for their Kings release The Cardinall endevoureth the peace of the Pope and the French King The Counsell advised the Cardinal to goe of the Embassage to France This was a plot The Cardinall doth prepare for his Iourney See his Magnificence He came to Canterbury The Cardinall commandeth the Monkes to pray for the Pope The Cardinall wept He arrived at Callice He gave the people pardon The Cardicalls all his followers into his privy Chamber The Cardinalls instructions to his followers Their duty to him expressed The nature of the Frenchmen The Cardinall and his traine goe from Callis His troops 3. inranke extended three quarters of a mile The Cardinall of Lorraine meets my Lord Captaine of Picardy The French king sent a Convoy His entertainment in Bulloigne Also at Muterell A Latine Oration Pageants made for joy His entertainment at Abovile I left my Lord and rode to Amience to see the King First came Madam Regent Two dayes after the King attended by Swithers Burgonians French and Scottish The Cardinall put on rich raiments The French King and the Cardinall meet They March the Cardinall on the Kings right hand The King and Cardinall at Amience 14. dayes They removed from Amience to Campaines Monsieur Crookesley his going to invite the King and the Cardinall to his Castle The Cardinals servant nobly entertained The Lady salutes him her selfe The French King the Lord Cardinall and the Queene Regent lodged all in one Castle The Cardinall fell out with the Chancellour of France The Cardinal departs in anger Great means used to bring him again to consultation The Cardinall writes Letters into England He sends post into England The Cardinall feasts two Queens In comes the French King and the King of Navarre The French King much taken with my Lords Musicke The French King hunted the wild Boare Preparation to returne into Bngland The Cardinal that morning he came away made the Chancellour of France a Cardinall He arrives at the court The Cardinall maketh an oration in the Star-chamber A perpetuall peace made with France The Embassadours establish our King in the order of France The King of England sent Ambasse into France to establish the French King in the order of the Garter The King of England and France Ambassadours receive the Sacraments to confirme the perpetual peace The Articles of peace read by the Cardinall The King subscribeth and sealeth The French Nobility conveyed to Richmond The rooms richly hung 200. and 80. beds prepared The ordering of the banquetting rooms The Frenchmen conducted to supper The Cardinall comes in ere the second course The Cardinall drinks a health to both Kings His Majestie invites the Stangers to the Court Their preparation for France They take leave of the King The Kings reward And also of the Cardinall The Kings Case discussed by an assembly of Bishops CoÌ„missioners sent to all the forraigne Vniversities The Cardinal sends againe for the bishop Embassadors sent to th' pope The Pope doth grant their suite The Pope sends his Legate into England Kings Councell Queenes Counsell The Bishop of Rochester lost his head for the Queens sake The King and Queene called by the Cryer The Queene on her knees pleads for her selfe She commendeth K Henry the 7. She goes out of the Court The Kings commendations of his Qu. in her absence The King declares himself to the whole Court All the Kings Issue Male by the Queen dyed The chiefe point in the Kings case The King affirmes he hath no dislike of the Queene The King produceth the Licence sealed by the Card. and the rest of the Bishops The Bishop of Rochester doth denie that he ever sealed or subscribed The Court adiourn'd The Kings counsel alledg the Matrimony not good nor lawfull The Queenes Counsel speak Bishop of Rochester Doctor Ridley The King sent for the Cardinall The Cardinal returnes and goes home to bed The two Cardinalls went on a message from the King to the Queen The Cardinal declares the cause of their going Queens answer Cardinall Campains refused to give Iudgement He makes a speech The Duke of Suffolke confronts the Cardinals The Cardinals mild answere His reason why hee proceeds not to Iudgment The Duke deharted discontented The King offended The Cardinals commission his excuse Dr. Gardener sent Embassador to th' pope The Cardinal sent for to the Court He found but small content Great supposition of the K. displeasure Mistris Anne Bulloigne offended for the Cardinalls intertaynment She complains of him The King would not talke with the Cardinall They search the Cardinall at Callis The King sends for the great Seale He refuseth to deliver up the broad Seal The Card. sets his house in order He speaks to them all He informed his Lord what was objected against him Articles against the Cardinall disannulled by Mr. Cromwell They charge him with a Premunire Iudges sent to examine the Cardinall His answere The Cardinal doth submit to the King The King demands Yorke house The Cardinals answere He fell sicke The King sends his Physition Th' King sends his ring in token of favour And mistris Anne Bulloign her Tablet In foure dayes they cured him The Kingsent three or foure loads of houshold stuffe A Prophesie When the cow rides the bull Then Priest beware thy scull The Prophesies expounded And fulfilled by the Cardinalls fall Shirt of hair A thousand mark pension to the Cardinall The King sent him 10000. p. The Cardinal goeth to his Bishoprick of Yorke At Peterborowe hee did wash 59. poor mens feete Charity to the poore Order in the Cathedral at Yorke Preparation for the Cardinals instalment at York Store of good provision sent in by the Country The Cardnals crosse in the fall brake Dr. Bonners head The Earle of Northumberland and Mr. Welsh come to Caywood-hal The Cardinal and the Earle meete The Earl doth arrest the Cardinall Master Welsh arrests Doctor Austin of high Treason The Earle takes the keys from my L. The Cardinalls causlesse feares Enemies The Cardinall salutes Mr. Kingston Mr. Kingston tells him he is in the Kings favour The Cardinal near death Divers soms of money borrowed by the Cardnal a little before hee dyed The Cardinal desires meate The Cardinals advise The Cardinall gave up the Ghost The Cardinal is buried in St Maries Chappell in Leicester