CARDINAL WOLSEY OB 1330. FROM THE ORIGINAL OF HOLBEIN IN THE COLLECTION AT CHRIST CHURCH OXFORD THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THOMAS WOOLSEY The great Cardinall of England Containing his life and Death viz. 1. The Originall of his promotion 2. The Continuance in his Magnificence 3. His Fall Death and Buriall Composed by one of his owne Servants being his Gentleman-Vsher LONDON Printed for William Sheeres 1641. THE PREFACE IT seemeth no wisedome to credit every light tale blazed abroad in the mouthes of vulgars for wee daily heare how with their blasphemous Trumpe they spread abroad innumerable Lyes without either shame or honesty which prima facie sheweth forth a visage of Truth as though it were an absolute verity though indeed nothing lesse And amongst the better sort those bablings are of no validity I have read the allegations of divers worthy Authours against such false rumours and opinions of the common people who delight in nothing more then to heare strange things and to see new alterations of Authority rejoycing sometimes in such Novelties which afterwards do produce Repentance Thus may all men of understanding conceive the madness of the rude multitude and not give too much credence to every sudden rumour untill the truth be perfectly knowne by the 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 then otherwise Now forasmuch as I intend to write here some speciall proceedings of Cardinall Woolsey the great Archbishop his ascending unto honour and great promotion his continuance in it and sudden falling from the same A great part whereof shall be of mine owne knowledge and some part from credible persons informations This Cardinall was my Lord and Master whom in his life-time 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 untill hee dyed 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 concerning his proceedings and dealings which I my selfe have certainly knowne to bee most untrue unto which I could have sufficiently answered according to truth But conceiving it to be much better to be silent then to reply against their untruths whereby I might perhaps have rather kindled a great flame of displeasure then have quenched one sparke of their untrue reports Therefore I did referre the truth thereof to the Almighty who knows the truth of all things Neverthelesse whatsoever any man hath conceived of him in his life or since his death Thus much I dare say without offence to any that in my judgement I never saw this Realme in better obedience and quiet then it was in the time of his Authority nor Iustice better administred without partiality as I could justly prove if I should not be taxed with too much affection I will therefore here desist to speake any further by the way of Apologie and proceed Now to speake of his Originall and ascending through Fortunes favour to high dignity and abundance of wealth An Advertisement to the Reader WHo pleaseth to reade this History advisedly may well perceive the immutability of honour the tottering state of earthly Dignity the deceipt of flattering friends and the instability of Princes favours This great Cardinall having experience of all this witnesse his fleeting from Honour the losse of Friends Riches and Dignities being forgotten of his Prince whilst Fortune smiled having saciety of all these And shee bending her brow deprived him of all Terrestiall Joyes who by twenty yeares study and paines had obtained so great wealth and dignitie and in lesse then one yeare lost all And thus was his honour laid in the Dust THE TABLE CHAP. I. OF the Cardinall his Originall and who hee was CHAP. II. Of the Cardinall his speedy dispatch to the Emperous Maximilian CHAP. III. Of King Henry his invading France in his owne person with the Cardinals assistance CHAP. IV. The Kings promoting his Almoner being made Cardinall and Lord Chancellor of England CHAP. V. Of the Order and Offices of his House and Chappell CHAP. VI Of his second Embassage to the Emperour Charles the fifth CHAP. VII Of the manner of his going to Westminster-Hall CHAP. VIII Of the Cardinals magnificence in his house CHAP. IX Of the originall Instrument of the Cardinals fall Mistris Anne Bullen CHAP. X. Of Mistris Anne Bullen her favour with the King CHAP. XI Of the variance betweene the French King and the Duke of Burbon c. CHAP. XII Of the Duke of Burbons stratagem and victory wherein the French King was taken prisoner CHAP. XIII Of the French Kings redemption out of captivity and the Cardinals Embassage into France CHAP. XIV Of the French Ambassadours entertainement and dispatch CHAP. XV Of the Kings discovery of his love to Mistris Anne Bullen to the Cardinall with his dislike c. CHAP. XVI A new Court erected to determine the Kings case two Cardinals being Iudges and of the issue CHAP. XVII Of certaine passages conducing to the Cardinals fall CHAP. XVIII The Cardinall accused of high treason in the Parliament house and Master Cromwels defence for him CHAP. XIX Of the Cardinals fall and how hee was arrested of high treason CHAP. XX Of the Cardinals entertainement by the Earle of Shrewsbury and of his death and buriall CHAP. I. Of the Cardinall his Originall and who he was TRuth it is Cardinall Woolsey was an honest poore mans sonne in the towne of Ipswich in the county of Suffolke and there borne who being but a child was very apt to learne wherefore by means of his parents and other his good friends hee was maintained at the Vniversitie of Oxford where in a short time hee prospered so well that in a small time as hee told mee with his owne mouth he was made Batchelour of Arts when he was but fifteene yeares of age and was most commonly called the Boy Batchelour Thus prospering in learning he was made fellow of Magdalene Colledge in Oxford after that he was made Master of Magdalene Schoole at which time were the Lord Marquesse Dorset sons there at Schoole committing unto him as well their education as their instructions and learning It pleased this Lord Marquesse against Christmas to send as well for the Schoolemaster as for the Schollers home to his house for their recreation in that pleasant and honorable Forrest They being a while there the Lord Marquesse their Father perceiving them to bee well improved in learning for the time Hee was so well contented that he having a Benefice in his gift being at that present voyd gave the Schoole Master the same in regard of his diligence After Christmas at his departure to the
all the Kings requests fully accomplished and granted At which time hee made no further stay but tooke Post-horses that night and rode without intermission to Callis being conducted thither by divers Nobles appointed by the Emperour and at the opening of the gates of Callis he came thither where the Passengers were readie to returne for England insomuch that he arrived at Dover betweene tenne and eleaven of the clock in the fore-noone And having Post-horses in a readinesse came to the Court at Richmond that same night where taking his repose untill morning he presented himselfe unto his Majestie at his first comming out of his Bed-chamber to his Closet to Masse whom when he saw he checked for that he was not in his journey Sir quoth hee If it may please your Highnesse I have alreadie beene with the Emperour and dispatched your affaires I trust to your Graces contentation and thereupon presented the King with his Letters of Credence from the Emperour The King wondring at his speedie returne he being so well furnished with all his proceedings for the present dissembled his admiration and imagination in that matter and demaunding of him whether he encountred with his Pursevant which he sent unto him with Letters imagining him to be scarce out of London which concerned very materiall passages which were omitted in their Consultation which the King earnestly desired should have been dispatched in his Ambassage Yes forsooth quoth he I met with him yesterday by the way and though I had no knowledge thereof yet notwithstanding I have beene so bold upon mine owne discretion perceiving the matter to be very necessary in that behalfe I dispatched the same And forasmuch as I have beene so bold to exceede my Commission I most humbly crave your Royall remission and pardon The King inwardly rejoycing replyed We doe not onely pardon you but give you our Princely thankes both for your good exploit and happie expedition And dismissed him for that present and bad him returne to him againe after dinner for a further relation of his Ambassage and so the King went to Masse It is not to be doubted but this Ambassadour 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 Majesties commendations of him did not a little rejoyce the worthy Counsellours forasmuch as he was of their preferment And shortly after the King gave him for his diligent service the Deanrie of Lincolne which was in those dayes one of the greatest promotions that he gave under the degree of a Bishop And he grew more and more in estimation and authoritie and was afterwards promoted to be Almaner Now not long after when Death that favoureth no Estates nor King nor Kezar had taken away the wise King Henry the Seaventh out of this present life It was a wonder to see what practices and devices were then used about the young Prince Henry the Eight The great provision that was then made for the Funerall of the one and for the Coronation of the other by the now-Queene Katharine and Mother after the Queenes Highnesse that now is whose vertuous life Iesu long preserve After the solemnizations and costly tryumphes our naturall young couragious lusty Prince and Soveraigne Lord King Henry the Eight entring into his flower and lusty youth tooke upon him the Royall Scepter and Imperiall Diademe of this fertile Nation the two and twentieth of Aprill Anno Dom 1509. which at that time flourished with all abundance of riches whereof the King was most inestimably furnished called then the golden world Now shortly after the Almaner seeing he had a plaine path-way to promotion behaved himselfe so politickly that he was made one of the Kings Privie Councell and increased in favour daily to whom he gave a house at Bridewell neer Fleete-street where he kept his house for his family and so he daily attended upon the King being in speciall favour His sentences in the Star-chamber were ever so pithie wittie that upon all occasions they assigned him for the fluent eloquence of his tongue to be the Expositor to the King in all their proceedings In whom the King received so great content that he called him still nearer to his person and the rather because he was most ready to advance the Kings owne will and pleasure having no respect to the Case Now the King being young and much given to his pleasure his old Councellors advised him to have recourse sometimes to the Councell about his weightie affaires but the Almaner on the contrary perswaded him to mind his pleasure and he would take his care and charge upon himselfe if his Majestie would countenance him with his authoritie which the King liked well And thus none was like to the Almaner in favour with the King CHAP. III. Of King Henries invading France in his owne person with the Cardinals assistance This Almoner clyming up Fortunes wheele that no man was in estimation with the King but onely he for his witty qualities and wisdome Hee had an especiall gift of Naturall Eloquence and a fyled tongue to pronounce the same that hee was able therewith to perswade and allure all men to his purposes in the time of his continuance in fortunes favour In the fift yeare of the raigne of King Henry the Eight it chanced that the Realme of England and France was at variance but upon what ground or occasion I know not Insomuch that the King was fully resolved in his owne person to invade France with a puissant Army It was therefore thought very necessary that his royall enterprises should be speedily provided and furnished in every degree in things apt and convenient for the same For expedition thereof the King thought no mans wit so meete for policie and painfull travell as the Almoner to whom he committed his whole affiance and trust therein And he being nothing scrupulous in any thing that the King would command although it seemed very difficult tooke upon him the whole charge of the businesse and proceeded so therein that he brought all things to good effect in direct order for all manner of victuals and provision 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 his royall enterprize passed the Seas betweene Dover and Callis where hee prosperously arrived And after he had there made his arrivall and landed all his provision and munition and sate in Consultation about his weighty affaires marched forth in good order of battell till he came to the strong Towne of Turwine to the which hee laid strong siege and made a sharpe assault so that in short space it was yeelded unto him unto which place the Emperour Maximillian resorted unto him with a great Army like a mighty Prince taking of the King wages Thus
doubt how to quiet him to the counsell who was then departed in a great fury Now here was sending here was comming here was intreating and here was great submission and intercession made unto him to reduce him to his former communication who would in no wayes relent untill Madame Regent came to him her selfe who handled the matter so well that shee brought him to his former communication and by that meanes hee brought all things to passe that before hee could not compasse which was more out of feare then affection the French King had to the matter in hand for now hee had got the heades of all the Councell under his girdle The next morning early after this conflict the Cardinall arose about 4. of the clock and sate him downe to write Letters into England unto the King commanding one of his Chaplaines to prepare him ready Insomuch that the Chaplaine stood ready in his Vestures untill foure of the clocke in the afternoone All which season my Lord never rose to eate any meate but continually writ Letters with his owne hand And about foure of the clocke in the afternoone he made an end of writing commanding one Christopher Gunner the Kings Serjeant to prepare himselfe without delay to ride Post into England with his Letters whom he dispatcht away ere ever he dranke That done he went to Masse and Mattins and other devotions with his Chaplaine as he was accustomed to doe and then went to walke in a Garden the space of an houre and 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 Queene of Navarre and other Noble Personages Lords and Ladies At which supper was Madam Lewis one of the Daughters of Lewis the last King whose sister lately dyed these two Sisters were of their Mother Inheritours of the Dutchie of Brittaine And forasmuch as King Francis had married one of the Sisters by which he had one Moytie of the said Dutchie hee kept the said Madam Lewis the other Sister without Mariage to the intent the whole Dutchie might descend to him or his successours after his death for lacke of issue of her But now let us returne to the Supper or Banquet where all those noble personages were highly feasted And at the middest of the said Banquet the French King and the King of Navarre came suddenly in who tooke their places in the lowest part thereof There was not onely plenty of fine meates but also much mirth and solace aswell in merry communication as also the noyse of my Lords Musique who played there all that night so cunningly that the two Kings tooke 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 ended the Lords fell to dancing amongst whom one Madam Fountaine had the praise And thus passed they the most part of the night ere they parted The next day the King tooke my Lords Musicke and rode to a Noblemans house where was some living Image to whom he had vowed a nights pilgrimage And to performe his devotion when he came there which was in the night he danced and caused others to doe the same and the next morning he returned to Campanie The King being at Campanie gave order that a wild Bore should be lodged for him in the Forrest whether my Lord Cardinall went with him to see him hunt the wild Bore where the Lady Regent with a number of Ladies and Damsels were standing in Chariots looking upon the toyle amongst these Ladyes stood my Lord Cardinall to regard the hunting in the Lady Regents Chariot And within the Toyle was the King with divers Ladyes of France ready furnished for the high and dangerous enterprize of hunting of this perilous wilde Swine The King being in his Doublet and Hose all of sheepes colour cloth richly trimmed in his slippe a brace of very great Gray-hounds who were armed as their manner there is to defend them from the violence of the Beasts tuskes And the rest of the Kings Gentlemen that were appointed to hunt were likewise in their Doublets and Hose holding each of them a very sharpe Bores speare Then the King commanded the Keepers to uncouch the Boare And that every person within the Toyle should goe to a standing among whom were divers Gentlemen of England The Boare presently issued out of his denne and being pursued by a hound came into the plaine where he stayed a while gazing upon the people and the hound drawing neere him he espied a Bush upon a Banke under the bush lay two Frenchmen who fled thither thinking there to be safe But the Bore smelling them and thrusting his head into the Bush these two men came away from thence as men use to fly from the danger of death Then was the Boare by violence of the Hunters driven from thence who ' ran straite to one of my Lords Footmen being a very tall man who had in his hand an English Javelin with which he defended himselfe a great while But the Bore continued foaming at him with his great Tuskes at the last the Boare broke in sunder his Javelin so that he was glad to draw his sword and therewith stood upon his guard untill the Hunters came and rescued him and put the Boare once againe to flight to an other Gentleman of England one Master Ratcliffe who was sonne and heire to the Lord Fitzwalter now Earle of Sussex who by his Boares speare rescued himselfe There were many other passages but I forbeare prolixitie and returne to the matter in hand Many dayes were spent in consultation and expectation of Christopher Gunners returne 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 expedition to returne to England That mourning that my Lord intended to remove being at Masse in his Closet he Consecrated the Chancellour of France a Cardinall and put his Hat on his head and his cap of Scarlet and then tooke his journey and returned into England with all the expedition hee could and came to Sayne and was there nobly entertained of my Lord Stanes who was captaine of that place and from thence went to Callis where he stayed a while for shipping of his goods And in the meane time hee established a worke 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 great good it did or of any Assembly of Merchants or traffique of Merchandize that were brought thither for so great and mighty a matter as was intended for the good of the Towne This being established he tooke shipping for Dover and from thence rode post to
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
rights if every Bishop should doe so then might every Prelate give away the Patrimony of the Church and so in proces of timeleave nothing for their Successors to maintain their dignities which would be but little to the Kings honour Well quoth my Lord let me see your Commission which was shewed to him then quoth my Lord tell his Highnesse that I am his most faithfull Subject and obedient beadesman whose command I will in no wife disobey but will in all things fulfill his pleasure as you the Fathers of the Law say I may Therefore I charge your Conscience to discharge mee and shew his Highnes from mee that I must desire his Majesty to remember there is both heaven and hell and thereupon the Clarke took and wrote the Recognizance and after some secret talke they departed Thus continued my Lord at Ashur receiving dayly messages from the Court some good and some bad but more ill then good for his enemies perceiving the good affection the King bare alwaies to him devised a means to disquiet his patience thinking thereby to give him occasion to fret and chafe that death should rather ensue then otherwise which they most desired for they feared him more after his fall then they did in his prosperitie Fearing hee should by reason of the Kings favour rise againe and bee againe in favour and great at the Court they his enemies might bee in danger of their lives for their cruelty wrongfully ministered unto him and by their malitious surmises invented and brought to passe against him And did continually finde new matters against him to make him vexe and frett but hee was a wise man and did arme himselfe with much patience At Christmas hee fell very sore sicke most likely to dye the King hearing thereof was very sorry and sent Doctor Butts his Physitian unto him who found him very dangerously sicke in Bedde and returned to the King The King demanded saying have you seene yonder man yes Sir quoth hee how doe you like him quoth the King Sir quoth he if you will have him dead I will warrant you he wil be dead within these foure dayes if hee receive no comfort from you shortly Marry God forbid quoth the King that hee should dye for I would not loose him for twenty Thousand pounds I pray you goe to him and doe youre care to him Then must your Grace quoth Doctor Buts send him some comfortable message So I will quoth the King by you therefore make speed to him againe and you shall deliver him this Ring from me for a Token In the which Ring was the Kings Image engraven with a Ruby as like the King as might be devised This Ring hee knoweth well for hee gave mee the same and tell him that I am not offended with him in my heart for any thing And that shal be known shortly therefore bid him pluck up his heart be of good comfort And I charge you come not from him till you have brought him out of the danger of Death if it bee possible Then spake the King to Mistris Anne Bulloign good Sweet heart as you love me send the Cardinall a Token at my Request and in so doing you shall deserve our Thankes Shee being disposed not to offend the King would not disobey his loving Request but tooke incontinently her Tablet of gold that hung at her side and delivered it to Doctor Buts with very gentle and loving Words and so hee departed to Ashur with speed and after him the King sent Doctor Cromer Doctor Clement and Doctor Wotton to consult and advise with Doctor Buts for my Lords recovery Now after Doctor Buts had beene with him and delivered him the Tokens from the King and Mistris Anne Bulloigne with the most comfortable Words he could devise on the Kings and Mistris Annes behalfe Hee advanced himselfe in his Bed and received the Tokens very joyfully giving him many thankes for his paines and good comfort Hee told him further that the Kings pleasure was that hee should minister unto him for his Health And for the better and more assured wayes hee hath also sent Doctor Cromer Doctor Clement and Doctor Wotton all to joyne for your recovery Therefore my Lord quoth Doctor Buts it were well they were called to visite you and to consult with them for your disease At which motion my Lord was contented and sent for them to heare their judgements but hee trusted more to Doctor Cromer then all the rest because hee was the very meanes to bring him from Paris to England and gave him partly his exhibition in Paris To be short in foure dayes they set him againe upon his feete and hee had gotten him a good stomacke to meate All this done and my Lord in a right good way of amendment they tooke their leaves and departed to whom my Lord offered his Reward but they refused saying the King hath given a speciall Commandment that they should take nothing of him for at their returne he would reward them of his owne cost After this my Lord continued at Ashur till Candle-masse before and against which Feast the King caused to be sent to my Lord three or foure loads of stuffe and most thereof except Beds and Kitchin-stuffe was loaded in Standars wherein was both plate and rich Hangings and Chappell stuffe which was done without the knowledge of the Lords of the Councell for all which hee rendered the King most humble and hearty thankes And afterwards made suite unto the King to be removed from Ashur to Richmond which request was granted The House of Richmond a little before was repaired by my L. to his great cost for the K. had made an exchang with him for Hampton-court Had the Lords of the Counsell knowne of these favours from the King to the Cardinall they would have perswaded the King to the contrary for they feared least his now abode neere the King might move the King at some season to resort unto him and to call him home againe considering the great and daily affection the King bare unto him Therfore they moved the King that my Lord might goe downe to the North to his benefice there where hee might bee a good stay as they alleadged to the Countrey to which the King condiscended thinking no lesse but that all had been true according to their relation beeing with such colour of deep consideration that the King was straitway perswaded to their conclusion whereupon my Lord of Norfolke by Master Cromwell who daily did resort to my Lord that hee should say to him that he must goe home to his Benefice well then Thomas quoth my Lord wee will goe then to Winchester I will then quoth Master Cromwell tell my Lord of Norfolke what you say and so hee did at his next meeting of him what should he doe there quoth the Duke let him goe to the rich Bishoprick of Yorke where his greatest honour and charge lyeth and so shew
the Court Gate upon Alholland-day towards my Lord of Northumberland Now will I declare what I promised before of a certaine signe or token of my Lords trouble ensuing Upon All-hallow-day my Lord sitting at dinner having at his Boards end divers of his Chaplaines to beare him Company for want of other Guests you shall now understand that my Lords great Crosse which stood by fell and in the fall broke Doctor Bonners head inasmuch that some blood ran downe My Lord perceiving the fall thereof demaunded of those that stood by him what was the matter that they stood so amazed I shewed him of the fall of his great crosse upon Dr. Bonners head Quoth my Lord hath it drawne any blood yea quoth I with that he cast his head aside and soberly said Malum Omen and thereupon suddenly said grace and rose from table and went to his Bed-chamber but what he did there I cannot tell Now marke how my Lord expounded the meaning thereof in his fancie to meat Pontefract after his fall First that the great Crosse that he bare as Archbishop of Yorke betokened himselfe and Doctor Austin the Physitian who overthrew the Crosse was hee that accused my Lord whereby his enemies caught an occasion to overthrowe him it fell on Doctor Bonners head who was then master of my Lords faculties and spirituall jurisdiction who was then dampnified by the fall thereof and moreover the drawing of blood betokeueth death which did suddenly after follow Now the appointed time drew neere for Installation and sitting at dinner the friday before the monday that he should have been installed at Yorke The Earle of Northumberland and M. Welsh with a great company of Gent of the Earls house and of the Country whom they had gathered in the Kings name to accompany them yet not knowing to what end came to the hall of Caywood the Officers being at dinner and my Lord not fullie dined nor knowing any thing of the Earles being come The first thing that the Earle did after hee had set the hall in order he commanded the Porter to deliver the keyes of the gates to him which he would in no wise doe although he was threatned and commanded in the Kings name to make deliverance thereof to one of the Earles servants which he still refused saying to the Earle that the keyes were delivered to him by his Lord and master both by oath and other command Now some of the Gent. that stood by the Earle hearing the porter speake so stoutly said hee is a good fellow and a faithfull servant to his master and speaks like an honest man therefore give him your charge and let him keep the keyes still then said my L. thou shalt wel and truly keep the keys to the use of our Soveraigne Lord the King and you shall let none passe in nor out of the Gates but such as from time to time you shal be commanded by us being the Kings Commissioners during our stay here and with that oath he received the keyes of the Earle and Master Welches hands but of all these doings knew my Lord nothing for they had stopped the stayers that none should goe to my L. chamber and they that came down could not goe up againe At the length one escaped up and shewed my Lord that the Earle of Northumberland was in the hall whereat my Lord wondred and at the first believed him not till he heard it confirmed by another Then quoth my Lord I am sorry wee have dined for I feare our Officers have not provided fish enough for the entertainment of him with some honourable cheere fitting his estate and Dignity And with that my Lord arose from the Table and commanded to let the cloath lye that the Earle might see how far forth they were at their dinners and as he was going downe stayres he encountred with my Lord of Northumberland 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 mee you would have sent me word before of your comming that I might have entertained you according to your honour Notwithstanding you shal have such cheer as I can make you for the present with a right good will trusting you will accept thereof in good part hoping hereafter to see you oftner when I shal be more able to entertain you this said my Lord tooke him by the hand and led him to his Chamber whom followed all the Earls servants and they being there all alone saving I which kept the doore as my Office required being Gentleman-vsher these two Lords standing at a window the Earle trembling said I arrest you of high Treason with which words my Lord was well nigh astonished standing still a good space without speaking one word But at the last quoth my Lord what authority have you to arrest mee quoth the Earle I have a Commission so to doe shew it me quoth my Lord that I may see the contents therof nay Sir that you may not quoth the Earle 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 and therefore unlesse I see your authority I will not obey you Even as they were debating the matter in the Chamber so likewise was Master Welsh busie in arresting Dr. Austine at the door saying go in thou Traytor or I shall make thee with that I opened the Portal dore and did thrust in Doctor Austine before him with violence The matter on both sides astonished me very much marveyling what all this should meane untill at the last Master Welsh being entered my Lord Chamber began to pluck of his hood being of the same cloath his cloake was which hood he wore to the intent hee should not be known who kneeled down to my Lord to whom my Lord said come hither Gentleman and let me speake with you commanding him to stand up and said thus My Lord of Northumberland hath arrested mee but by what authority I know not if you be privie thereunto joyned with him therein I pray you shew me Indeed my Lord if it please your Grace quoth Master Welsh I pray have me excused there is annexed to our Commission certain instructions as you may not see nor be privie too why quoth my Lord be your Instructions such as I may not see nor be privie thereunto yet paradventure if I be privie unto them I may helpe you the better to performe them for it is not unknown to you that I have been of Counsell in as weity matters as these are and I doubt not but I shall doe well enough for my part prove my selfe a true man against the expectations of my cruel enemies I see the matter whereupon it groweth well there is no more to doe I trowe you art of the Privie Chamber your name is Mr. Welsh I am contented to yeeld to
you but not to the Earle without I see his Commission and also you are a sufficient Commissioner in this behalf being one of the privie Chamber Therefore put your Commission in execution spare me not I will obey you and the King for I feare not the crueltie of mine enemies no more then I doe the truth of my Allegiance wherein I take God to witnesse I never offended his Majesty in word or deede and therein I dare stand face to face with any having a difference without partiality Then came my Lord of Northumberland and commanded mee to avoide the Chamber And being loath to depart from my Master I stood still and would not remove to whom he spake againe and said there is no remedie you must depart with that I looked upon my Master as who would have said shall I goe and perceiving by his countenance that it was not for me to stay I departed and went into an other chamber where were many Gentlemen and others to heare newes to whom I made a report of what I heard and saw which was great heauinesse to them all Then the Earle called into his Chamber diuers of his owne servants and after he and Master Welsh had taken the keyes from my Lord hee 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 the next day and to certifie the King and the rest of the Lords what they had done Then went they busie about to Convey Doctor Austine away to London with as much speede and privacy as they could possible sending with him divers persons to conduct him who was bound to his horse like a Traytor And this being done when it was neere night the Commissioners sending two Groomes of my Lords to attend him in his Chamber where hee lay all night the rest of the Earles men watched in the Chamber and all the house was watched and the gates safe kept that no man could passe or repasse untill next morning About eight of the clocke next morning the Earle sent for me into his Chamber and commaunded mee to goe to my Lord and as I was going I met with Master Welsh who called me unto him and shewed me how the Kings Majesty bare unto me his principall favour for my love and diligent Service that I had performed to my Lord wherefore quoth hee the Kings pleasure is that you shal be about him as chiefe in whom his Highnesse putteth great confidence and trust and thereupon gave mee in Writing the Articles Which when I had read I sayd I was content to obey his Majesties pleasure and would bee sworne to the performance thereof whereupon hee gave mee my Oath That done I resorted to my Lord whom I found sitting in a Chaire the Table being ready spread for him But so soone as hee perceived me come in he fell into such a wofull lamentation that would have forced a flinty-heart to mourne I then comforted him aswell as I could but hee would not for quoth hee I am much grieved that I have nothing to reward you and the rest of my true and faithfull Servants for all the good Service that they and you have done mee for which I doe much lament Upon Sunday following the Earle and Master Welsh appoynted to set forward for my Lords Horse and ours were brought ready into the inner Court where we mounted and comming 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 Earle had appointed for that Service to attend and Conduct my Lord to Pomfrait that night But to tell you the Truth there were also many of the people of the Country assembled at the Gate lamenting his departure in number above three Thousand who after the opening of the Gate that they had a sight of him cryed out with a loud voyce God save your Grace God save your Grace the foule Evil take them that have taken you from us wee pray God that vengeance may light upon them And thus they ran after him through the Towne of Caywood for he was there very well beloved both of rich and poore CHAP. 20. Of the Cardinals entertainment at the Earle of Shrewsburies and of his death and buriall at Leicester AFter our departure from Cawood we came to Doncaster the third day wee came to Sheffield-parke where my Lord of Shrewsbury lived within the lodge and the Earle and his Lady and a great company of Gentlewomen and Servants stood without the Gate to attend my Lords comming at whose alightning the Earle received him with much honour and imbraced him saying these words My Lord you are most heartily welcome to my poore lodge and I am glad to see you Here my Lord stayed a fortnight and was most nobly entertayned he spent most of his time and applyed his minde to prayers continually in great devotion It came to passe as hee sate one day at dinner I beeing there perceived his colour divers times to change I asked him if hee was not well who answered me with a loud voyce I am suddenly taken with a Thing at my stomacke as cold as a Whet-stone and am not well Therefore take up the Table and make a short dinner and returne to mee againe suddainly I made but a little stay but came to him agayne where I found him still sitting very ill at ease Hee desired me to goe to the Apothecarie and aske him if hee had any thing would breake Winde upwards Hee told me hee had Then I went and shewed the same to my Lord who did command mee to give him some thereof and so I did and it made him breake winde exceedingly Loe quoth he you may see it was but winde for now I thanke God I am well eased and so he arose from the Table and went to praiers as hee used every day after dinner In the afternoon my Lord of Shrewsbury sent for mee to him to whom he said forasmuch as I have always perceived you to be a man in whom your Lord putteth great affiance and I my selfe knowing you to bee a man very honest with many words of commendations and praise more then becommeth mee to rehearse he said your Lord and Master hath often desired me to write unto the King that he might answere his accusations before his enemies And this day I have received Letters from his Majestie 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 Sr. William Kingston Therfore 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 alwaies full of sorrow and much heavinesse at my being with him that I fear he would take it ill if I bring him tidings thereof And therein doth hee not
my shadow upon the bedside asked who was there Sir quoth I t is I how doe you quoth he well I Sir quoth I if I might see your Grace well what is it a clock quoth hee I answered it was about eight of the Clock quoth he that cannot be rehearsing eight of the clocke so many times Nay quoth he that cannot be for at eight of the clock you shall see your masters time draw neere that I must depart this world with that quoth Doctor Palmes a worthy Gentleman standing by bid me aske him if hee would bee shriven to make him readie for God what ever chanced to fall out which I did but he was very angry with me and asked what I had to doe to aske him such a question till at the last Master Doctor took my part and talked with him in Lattin and pacified him After dinner M. Kingston sent for me and said Sir The King hath sent unto mee Letters by Mr. Vincent our old companion who hath bin in trouble in the Tower for mony that my Lord should have at his departure A great part of which money cannot bee found wherefore the King at Master Vincents request for the declaration of the truth hath sent him hither with his Graces Letters that I should examine my Lord have your Counsell 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 acquitall of this poor Gentleman Master Vincent Sir quoth I according to my duty you shall and by my advise you shall resort unto him in your own person to visit him and in communication breake the matter unto him And if he will not tell you the truth therein then may you certifie the King thereof But in any case name not nor speake of my fellowe Vincent Also I would not have you to detract the time for hee is very sicke and I feare that 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 a book at Caywood-house that you had but lately borrowed 10000. pounds there is not so much as one penny to be found who hath made the King privie to the same wherefore the King hath written to me to know what is become thereof for it were pitty that it should bee holden from you both Therefore I require you in the Kings name to tell me the truth that I may make a just report thereof unto his Majestie of your answer With that quoth my Lord oh good Lord how much doth it grieve me that the King should think any such thing in me that I should deceive him of one pennie seeing I have nothing nor never had God be my Iudge that I ever esteemed so much mine owne as his Majesties having but the bare use of it during my life and after my death to leave it wholy to him wherein his Majestie hath prevented mee But for this money that you demand of me I assure you it is none of my own for I borrowed it of diverse of my friends to bury me and to bestow amongst my servants who have taken great pains about mee notwithstanding if it bee your pleasure to know I must bee content yet I beseech his Majestie to see it satisfied for the discharge of my Conscience to them that I owed it to who be they quoth Master Kingston That shal I tell you quoth my Lord I borrowd two hundred pounds of Iohn Allen of London another 200. p. of Sir Richard Gresham and 200. pound of the Master of the Savoy and also 200. pound of Doctor Highden Dean of my Colledge at Oxford 200 pound of the Treasurer of the Church and 200. pound of Master Ellis my Chaplain And an other 200. pound of a Priest I hope the King will restore it againe 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 hee I will not conceale it I warrant you but I will declare it unto you before I dye by the grace of God have a litle patience with me I pray you for the money is safe enough in an honest mans hands who will not keep one penny thereof from the King So Master Kingston departed for that time my Lord being very weake and about fowre of the clock in the next morning as I conceived I asked him how he did well quoth he if I had any meate I pray you give me some Sir quoth I there is none ready then he said you are much too blame for you should have alwaies meate for me in readinesse whensoever that my stomack serves me I pray you get some ready for mee for I meane to make my selfe strong to day to the intent I may goe to confession and make mee ready for God quoth I I will call up the Cookes to prepare some meate And also I will call Master Palmer that he may discourse with you till your meate be ready with a good will quoth my Lord and so I called Master Palmer who rose and came to my Lord Then I went and acquainted Master Kingston that my Lord was very sicke and not like to live In good faith quoth Master Kingston you are much too blame to make him beleeve he is sicker then he is Well Sir quoth I you cannot say but I gave you warning as I am bound to doe upon which words he arose and came unto him but before he came my Lord Cardinall had eaten a spoonfull or two of Callis made of Chickin and after that he was in his confession the space of an hower And then Master Kingston came to him and bad him good morrow and asked him how he did Sir quoth he I watch but Gods pleasure to render up my poore soule to him I pray you have me heartily commended unto his Royall Majestie and beseech him on my behalfe to call to his Princely remembrance all matters that have bin between us from the beginning and the progresse And especially betweene good Queene Katherin and him and then shall his Graces Conscience know whether I have offended him or not Hee is a Prince of a most Royall carriage and hath a Princely heart and rather then hee will misse or want any part of his will he will endanger the one halfe of his Kingdome I do assure you I have often kneeled before him sometimes three houres together to perswade him from his will and appetite but could not prevaile 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 haires But this is the just reward that I must receive for my diligent paines and studdy not regarding my service to God but onely to my Prince Therefore let me advise you if you