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
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
Vniversity and hee having the presentation thereof repaired to the ordinary for his Institution And being then furnished with all his Instruments at the Ordinaries hands for his preferment made hast without any further delay to his Benefice to take possession thereof Now you shall understand that the Schoole-master had not beene long there but one Sir Iames Pawlet Knight dwelling in the Country thereabouts tooke an occasion of displeasure against him but upon what ground I know not Insomuch that Sir Iames was so bold as to set the Schoolmaster by the heeles during his displeasure which affront was afterwards neither forgotten nor forgiven For when the Schoolemaster mounted so high as to be Lord Chancellour of England hee was not forgetfull of his old displeasure most cruelly ministred unto him by Sir Iames but sent for him and after a very sharpe reproofe enjoyned him not to depart out of London without license first obtained so that he continued in the middle Temple the space of five or six yeares who afterwards lay in the Gatehouse next the Stayres which he re-edefied and sumptuously beautified the same all over on the outside with the Cardinalls Armes his hat his Cognizance and Badges with other devises in so glorious a manner as hee thought thereby to have appeased his old displeasure This may be a good president for men in Authoritie which worke their owne wills without wit to remember that greatnesse may decay And those whom they doe punish more of humour then justice may afterwards he advanced to great honour as this Cardinall was and they abased as low as this Sir Iames was which seeke revenge Who would have thought that when Sir Iam's Pawlet punished this poore Schoolemaster that ever hee should have mounted to so great dignitie as to bee Chancellour of England considering his meane parentage and friends These be the wonderfull workes of Gods providence And I would wish that all men in authoritie would feare God in all ages in the time of their triumph and greatnesse considering that advancement and authoritie are not permanent but many times slide and vanish suddenly away as Princes pleasures alters and change or as all living creatures must of necessitie pay the debt due to nature which no earthly creature can resist Shortly after it chanced the sayd Lord Marquesse dyed after whose decease the Schoole-master thinking himselfe but a weake beneficed man and that hee had left his fellowship in the Colledge for as I understand if a fellow of that house be once promoted to a Benefice hee shall by the rules of the same house bee dismissed of his fellowship and now being also destitute of his singuler good Lord as well as of his fellowship which was most of his reliefe thought long to be provided of some other helpe to defende him from all such stormes as hee might meet with In his travell thereabouts hee grew acquainted with a very great and ancient Knight who had a great place in Callis under King Henry the seventh This Knight he served and behaved himselfe so discreetly that he obtained the speciall favour of his said Master In so much that for his wit and gravitie hee committed all the care and charge of his said office to his said Chaplaine And as I understand his office was the Treasurer-ship of Callis who in regard of his great age shortly after was discharged of his said office and so returned into England intending to live a more private life But through his instant labour and good favour his Chaplaine was preferred to bee the Kings Chaplaine And when hee had once cast Anchor in the Port of promotion how hee then bestirred himselfe I shall now declare Hee having then just occasion to be daily in sight of the King in his Closet not spending the rest of the day in idlenesse would attend those men whom hee thought to beare most rule in the councell and were most in favour with the King which at that time was Doctor Fox Bishop of Winchester and Lord Privie Seale And also Sir Thomas Lovell Knight a very sage and wise Councellour being Master of the Wardes and Constable of the Tower These ancient and grave Councellours in processe of time perceiving this Chaplaine to be a man of a very accute wit thought him a meete Instrument to be imployed in greater affaires Not long after it happened that the King had an urgent occasion to send an Ambassadour to Maximillian the Emperour who lay at that present in the Low Countries at Flanders and not farre from Callis Now the Bishop of Winchester and Sir Thomas Lovell whom the King most esteemed as the chiefest of his Counsell one day advising and debating with themselves upon this Ambassage and by this time they saw they had a convenient occasion to preferre the Kings Chaplaine whose excellent eloquence and learning they highly commended unto the Kings highnesse who giving eare unto them and being a Prince of an excellent judgement and modesty hee commanded them to bring his Chaplaine whom they so commended before his Grace and being come his Majestie to prove his ability entered into discourse with him concerning matters of State whereby the King had so well informed himselfe that he found him to be a man of a sharpe with and of such excellent parts that hee thought him worthy to bee put in trust with matters of greater consequence CHAP. II. Of the Cardinall his speedy dispatch in his first Ambassage to the Emperour Maximillian THe King being now resolved to imploy him in this Ambassage commanded him thereupon to prepare himselfe for his journey and for his dispatch wisht him to repaire to his Grace and his Councell of whom he should receive his Commission and instruction By meanes whereof hee had then a fit occasion to repaire from time to time into the Kings presence who had thereby daily experience of his singular wisedome and sound judgement Thus having his dispatch he tooke his leave of the King at Richmond about foure of the clocke in the afternoone where he lancheth forth in Graves-end Barge with a prosperous winde and tyde and his happie speed was such that hee arrived at Graves-end in little more then three houres where he tarried no longer then the Post-horses were provided and he travelled so speedily that he came to Dover the next morning where the Passengers were under saile to passe to Callis So that long before noone he arrived there and having Post-horses prepared departed from thence without tarrying making such hastie speede that he was that night with the Emperour who understanding of the arrivall of the King of Englands Ambassadour would in no wise delay time but sent for him incontinently for his affection to the King of England was such that he was glad of any opportunitie to doe him a curtesie The Ambassadour declares the summe of his Embassie unto the Emperour of whom he craved speedie expedition which was granted him so that the next day hee was clearely dispatched and
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
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
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
after the King had taken this strong Towne and taken possession thereof set all things in good order for the defence and preservation thereof to his Majesties use then hee retyred from thence and marched towards Turney and there layd siege in like manner to which he gave so fierce assault that the Enemies were constrained to render the Towne to his Majestie At which time the King gave unto the Almoner the Bishopricke of the same Sea towards his paines and diligence susteined in that journey And when he had established all things according to his princely minde and pleasure and furnished the same with men and Captaines of Warre for the safegard of the Towne hee prepared for his returne to England But now you shall understand by the way that whilst the King was absent with a great power in France the Scottish King invaded England against whom the Queene sent a great Army the Earle of Surrey being generall where he overthrew the Scots at Blamston called Hoddenfield where the King of Scots was slaine with divers of his Nobility and eighteene thousand men and they tooke all his munition for warre By this time the King returned into England and tooke with him divers Noble personages of France being prisoners As the Duke of Longuido Viscount Clerimond with divers others that were taken in a skirmish And thus God gave him victory at home and victory abroad being in the fift yeere of his raigne Anno Dom. one thousand five hundred and thirteene CHAP. IIII. The Kings promoting his Almoner being made Cardinall and Lord Chancellor of England THe King being returned into England the Sea of Lincolne became voyd by the death of Doctor Smith late Bishop there which Bishopricke the King gave to the Almoner Elect of Turney who was not negligent to take possession thereof but made all speed for his Consecration the solemnization thereof being ended hee found a way to get into his hands all his predecessors goods whereof I have seene divers parts that furnished his house It was not long after but Doctor Bambrige Archbishop of Yorke dyed at Rohan in France being there the Kings Ambassadour unto which Sea the King presented the last new Bishop of Lincolne so that he had three Bishopricks in his hands at one time all in one yeare given him Then prepared he againe for his translation from the Sea of Lincolne to that of Yorke as he did before to his Installation After which Solemnization done and being then Archbishop and Primus Angliae thought himselfe sufficient to compare with that of Canterbury and did thereupon advance his Crosses in the Courts and every other place aswell in the Precinct and Iurisdiction of Canterbury as any other place And forasmuch as Canterbury claimeth a superioritie over Yorke aswell as over any other Bishopricke within England and for that cause claimeth an acknowledgement as in ancient obedience of Yorke to abate advancement of his Crosses to the Crosses of Canterbury Notwithstanding Yorke not desisting to beare the same although Canterburie gave Yorke a cheeke for the same and told him it was presumption by reason whereof there ingendered some grudge betweene them But shortly after he obtained to be made Cardinall and Legatus de Literis unto whom the Pope sent the Cardinalls Cap and certaine Bulls for his authority in that behalfe whereupon he was Installed at Westminster in great Triumph which was executed by all bishops with their Mitres Cappes and other ornaments And after all this he was made Chancellour of England and Canterbury who was the Chancellour was dismissed Now he being in the Chancelourship and endowed with the promotions of Archbishop and Cardinall de Litera thought himselfe so fully furnished that he was now able to surmount Canterbury in all Iurisdictions And in all Ecclesiastical powers to Convocate Canterbury and all other Bishops spiritual persons to assemble at his Convocations where he would assigne and take upon him the conversion of all Ministers and others within their Iurisdictions and visited all the spirituall houses in their Diocesse and all manner of spirituall Ministers as Commissioners Scribes Apparators and all other necessarie Officers to furnish his Courts and did convent by convention whom he pleased through this Realme and Dominion and all other persons to the glory of his Dignitie Then had he two great Crosses of silver whereof one was of his Archbishopricke and the other of his Legasie borne before him wheresoever he rode or went by two of the tallest Priests that he could get in this Realme And to the increase of his gaine he had in his hand the Bishopricke of Durham and S. Albons in Commendum Also when Doctor Fox Bishop of Winchester dyed he did surrender Durham to the King and took himselfe to Winchester He had also as it were in Farme the Bishopricks of Bath Worcester and Hereford for the Incumbents of them were strangers Hee had also attending upon him men of great possessions and the tallest Yeomen for his guard in the Realme CHAP. V. Of the Orders and Offices of his house and Chappell ANd first for his House you shall understand that he had in his Hall three Boards kept with three severall Officers that is to say a Steward that was alwayes a Priest a Treasurer that was ever a Knight and a Controller that was an Esquire Also a Confessor a Doctor Three Marshalls three Vshers in the Hall besides two Almoners and Groomes Then had he in the hall-kitchin two Clarkes a Clarke Comptroller and a Surveyor over the Dresser A Clarke in the Spycerie which kept continually a Messe together in the Hall Also he had in the Hall-kitchin two Cookes and labourers and children twelve persons Foure men of the Scullery two yeomen of the Pastry with two other Past-layers under the yeomen Then had he in his Kitchin a master Cooke who went daily in Velvet or Satin with a gold chaine besides two other Cookes and six Labourers in the same Roome In the Larder one Yeoman and a Groome In the Scullery one Yeoman and two Groomes In the Buttery two yeomen and two groomes In the Ewry so many In the Sellar three Yeomen three Pages In the Chandery two yeomen In the Wayfary two yeomen In the Wardrop of Beds the Master of the Wardrop and twenty persons besides in the Laundery a yeoman and a groome and thirteene Pages two yeomen Purveyours and a groome Purveyor In the Bakehouse two yeomen and groomes In the Woodyard one yeoman and a groome In the Barne one yeoman Porters at the Gate two Yeomen and two Groomes A Yeoman in his Barge and a Master of his Horse a Clarke of the Stables and a Yeoman of the same a Farrier and a yeoman of the Stirrop a Maltlour and sixteene Groomes every one of them keeping foure Geldings Now will I declare unto you the Officers of his Chappell and singing men of the same First hee had there a Deane a great Divine and a man
of excellent learning and a sub-Deane a Repeatout of the Quire a Gospeller an Epistler of the singing Priests a Master of the children In the Vestrey a yeoman and two groomes besides other Retainers that came thither at principall Feasts And for the furniture of his Chappell it passeth my weake capacitie to declare the number of the costly Ornaments and rich Iewels that were occupied in the same For I have seene in procession about the Hall fortie foure rich Copes of one settle worne besides the rich Candlesticks and other necessarie Ornaments to the furniture of the same Now you shall understand that hee had two Crosse-bearers and two Pillar-bearers in his great Chamber and his privie Chamber all these persons The chiefe Chamberlaine a Vice-chamberlaine a gentleman Vsher beside one of his privie Chamber Hee had also twelve Wayters and six gentlemen Wayters Also he had nine or tenne Lords who had each of them two or three men to waite upon him except the Earle of Darby who had five men Then he had gentlemen-Cup-bearers and Carvers and of the Sewers both of the great Chamber and of the Privie chamber fortie persons Sixe yeomen Vshers eight groomes of his Chamber Also he had of Almes who were daily wayters of his Boord at Dinner Twelve Doctors and Chaplaines besides them of his which I never rehearsed a Clarke of his Closet and two Secretaries and two clarkes of his Signet Foure Councellours learned in the Law And for that he was Chancellour of England it was necessarie to have officers of the Chancerie to attend him for the better furniture of the same First he had a Ryding Clarke a clerke of the Crowne a clarke of the Hamper a Chafer Then had hee a clarke of the Checke aswell upon the Chaplaines as upon the yeomen of the Chamber He had also foure Foot-men garnished with rich running Coates whensoever he had any journey Then he had a Herauld of Armes a Serjeant of armes a Phisitian an Apothecarie Foure Minstrells a keeper of his Tents an Armourer An Instructor of his Wards an Instructor of his Wardrop of Roabes a Keeper of his Chamber continually Hee had also in his house a Surveyor of Yorke a Clerke of the Greene-cloth All these were daily attending downe-lying and uprising And at meat hee had Eight continuall Boards for the Chamberlaines and gentlemen Officers having a Mease of young Lords and another of Gentlemen Besides this there was never a Gentleman or Officer or other worthy person but hee kept some two some three persons to waite upon them And all other at the least had one which did amount to a great number of persons Now having declared the order according to the Cheine Roll use his house and what Officers he had daily attending to furnish the same besides retainers and other persons being suitors dined in the Hall And when shall wee see any more such Subjects that shall keepe such a Noble house Therefore here is an end of his houshold the number of persons in the Cheyne were Eight hundred persons CHAP. VI Of his second Embassage to the Emperour Charles the Fifth A After he was thus furnished in manner as I have before rehearsed unto you Hee was sent twice on Embassage to the Emperour Charles the Fifth that now raigneth and Father to King Philip now our Lord and Soveraigne Forasmuch as the old Emperour Maximillian was dead and for divers other urgent occasions touching his Majestie It was thought fit that about such weightie matters and to so noble a Prince the Cardinall was most meete to be sent on this Embassage and he being one ready to take the charge thereof upon him was furnished in every respect most like a great Prince which was much to the honour of his Majestie and of this Realme For first he proceeded forth like to a Cardinall having all things correspondent his Gentlemen being very many in number were clothed in livery Coats of Crimson Velvet of the best and chaines of gold about their necks And his yeomen and all his meane officers were clad in fine Scarlet guarded with blacke Velvet one hand breadth Thus furnished he was twice sent in this manner to the Emperour in Flanders then lying at Bridges whom he did most nobly entertaine discharging all his owne charges and his mens There was no house in the Towne of Bridges wherein any of my Lords Gentlemen were lodged or had recourse but that the owners of the houses were commanded by the Emperours Officers upon the paine of their lives to take no money for any thing that the Cardinals men did take of any kind of victuals No although they were disposed to make costly Banquets further commanding their said hoasts that they should want nothing which they honestly required or desired to have Also the Emperours Officers every night went through the Towne from house to house where any Englishmen had recourse or lodged and served their Livery for all night which was done on this manner First the Officers brought into the house a Casteele of fine Manchet then two silver pots of Wine and a pound of Sugar white lights and yellow lights a Bowle of silver and a Goblet to drinke in and every night a staffe Torch This was their order of their Livery every night And then in the morning when the Officers came to fetch away their stuffe they would accompt for the Gentlemens costs the day before Thus the Emperour entertained the Cardinall and his traine during the time of his Embassie And that done he returned into England with great Triumph being no lesse in estimation with the King then he was before but rather much more for he encreased daily in the Kings favour by reason of wits and readinesse to doe the King pleasure in all things In the one and twentieth yeare of King Henry the Eighths raine Anno Dom. 1529. This Emperour Charles the Fifth came into England who was nobly entertained CHAP. VII Of the manner of his going to Westminster Hall NOw must I declare the manner of his going to Westminster Hall in the Terme time First when he came out of his privie Chamber hee most commonly heard two Masses in his Chappell or Chamber And I heard one of his Chaplaines say since that was a man of credit and excellent learning that what businesse soever the Cardinall had in the day time that hee never went to bed with any part of his service unsaid no not so much as one Collect in which I thinke he deceived many a man then going into his Chamber againe hee demanded of some of his servants if they were in readinesse and had furnished his chamber of Presence and wayting Chamber he being then advertised came out of his Privie Chamber about eight of the clocke readie apparelled and in Red like a Cardinall his upper vesture was all of Scarlet or else of fine Crimson Taffata or crimson Sattin ingraned his Pillion Scarlet with a blacke Velvet tippet of Sables about his
search of this matter further intelligence that all this businesse was devised by the Cardinall of England Whereupon the Duke conceived such indignation against the Cardinall that he went immediatly to Rome and there intended to sacke the Towne and to have taken the Pope But at the first assault of the Towne the Duke was the first man that was there slaine notwithstanding the Captaines continued their assaults And at last many of the Towne fled with the Pope to the Castle of Angell where hee continued in great calamity I have written this Historie more at large because it was thought of all this mischiefe wherefore you may see whatsoever a man doth purpose be he Prince or Prelate yet God dispatcheth all things at his pleasure and will It being a folly for any wise man to take upon him any weighty enterprise of his owne will without calling upon God for his grace and assistance in all his proceedings I have seene Princes either when they would call a Parliament or any other great Assembly that they would first call to God most reverently for his grace therein And now I see the contrarie as it seemes they trust more to their owne mindes and wills then to Gods good grace And even thereafter oftentimes doe their matters take effect Wherefore not onely in this History but divers others may be perceived most evident examples Yet I see no man almost in authoritie or high estate regard the same which is the greater pitty and the more to be lamented Now here I desist to speake any further of this matter and to proceed to others CHAP. XIII Of the French Kings redemption out of captivity and the Cardinals Embassage into France Vpon the taking of the French King there were divers Consultations and various opinions amongst the Counsell Some hold that our Soveraigne Lord the King could invade the Realme of France he might easily conquer the same for as much as the King with the most part of the Noble-men of France were in captivity Some said againe that the King our Master ought to have had the French King prisoner forasmuch as hee was taken by our Kings Champion and Captaine Generall the Duke of Burbon and the Emperour Insomuch that the King was advised thereby to occasion of warre against the Emperour because hee kept the King of France out of our Kings possession with divers imaginations and devises as their fantasies served which were too long here to relate Thus were they in long consideration whereof every man in the Court talked as his fansie served him untill at the last divers Ambassadours from the Realme of France came to the King our Lord desiring him to take order with the Emperour for the French Kings delivery as his Highnesse wisdome should thinke best wherein my Lord Cardinall bore great rule So that after great deliberation and advise taken it was thought good by the Cardinall that the Emperour should deliver the French King out of his ward upon sufficient pledges And afterwards it was thought meet that the Kings two sonnes that is to say the Dolphin and the Duke of Orleans should be delivered in hostage for security of the Emperour and the King our Soveraigne Lord upon all such demands and requests as should bee demanded of the French King as well by the Emperour as by our Soveraigne Lord The Cardinall lamenting the French Kings captivity and the Popes great adversity who yet remained in the Castle Angell either as prisoner or else for defence against his enemies endeavored and laboured all that hee could with the King and his Counsell to take some order for the quietnesse of them both At the last as you heard before divers of the great States and Lords of the Councell with my Lady Anne lay in continuall waite to spy a convenient occasion to take the Cardinall in a snare Therefore they consulted with the Cardinall and informed him that they thought it a necessary time for him to take upon him the Kings Commission to travell beyond the seas and by his wisdome to compasse a present peace amongst these great Princes and Potentates encouraging him thereto and alleadging that it was more meet for his wisdome discretion and authority to bring so weighty a matter to passe then any other within this Realme their intent was no other but to get him from the King that they might adventure by the helpe of their chiefe Mistresses to deprave him unto the King and so in his absence bring him into his disgrace or at the least to be in lesse estimation Well the matter was so handled that the Cardinall was commanded to prepare himselfe for the journey which hee tooke upon him but whether willingly or not I cannot say But this I know that hee made so short abode after the perfect resolution thereof that hee caused all things to be prepared speedily for his journey And every one of his servants were appointed that should attend him in the same When all things were concluded and provided for this noble Iourney hee advanced forwards in the name of God My Lord had with him such of the Lords and Bishops as were not of the Conspiracie Then marched hee forward from his new house at Westminster through all London over London bridge having a great many of Gentlemen in a ranke before him in Velvet Coats and the most part of them with chains of gold about their necks And all his yeomen followed him with noble men and great mens servants all in Oringe-tawny coats and the Cardinals hat with T. and C. for Thomas Cardinall embroydered upon them as well upon his owne servants coats as all the rest of the Gentlemen and his sumpter Mules which were twenty and more in number And when all his carriages and carts and other his traine were passed before he rode very sumptuously like a Cardinall with the rest of his traine on his Mule with his spare Mule and his spare horse covered with crimson Velvet and gilt stirrops following him And before him hee had his two great silver Crosses his two Pillars of silver the Kings broad Seale of England and his Cardinals hat and a Gentleman carrying his Ballance otherwise called his Cloak-bagge which was made of fine scarlet all embroydered very richly with gold Thus hee passed through London as I said before and all the way in his said Iourney hee was thus furnished having his Harbengers in every place before which prepared lodgings for him and his said traine The first Iourney hee made was two miles beyond Debtford in Kent unto Sir Richard Wiltshires house the rest of his traine were lodged in Debtford and in the countrey thereabouts The next day hee marched to Rochester where hee lay in the Bishops Pallace and the rest were lodged in the Citie The third day hee rode from thence to Feversham and there lodged in the Abbey and his traine in the Towne and some about in the
a meeting and received him with much joy and reverence and so passed forth with my Lord in communication untill wee came neere the said Standingfield which is a religious place standing betweene the English French and Imperiall Dominions being a Newter holding of neither of them Then there we waited for my Lord le Count Brian Captaine of Picardy with a great number of Stradigatts or Arboncies standing in array in a great peece of greene Oates all in harnesse upon light horses passing on with my Lord in a wing into Bulloigne and so after into Picardy for my Lord doubted that the Emperour would lay some Ambushment to betray him for which cause he commanded them to attend my Lord for the safety of his owne person to conduct him from the danger of his enemies Thus rode hee accompanied untill hee came nigh to Bulloigne within an English mile where all the worshipfull Citizens of Bulloigne came and met him having a learned man that made an Oration in Latine to him unto the which my Lord made answer and that done Monsieur de Bees Captaine of Bulloigne with his retinue met him on horseback with all his Assemblie Thus he marched into the Towne lighting at the Abbey gate from whence he was conveyed into the Abbey with procession and there they presented him with the Image of our Lady commonly called our Lady of Bulloigne where was alwayes great offerings That done he gave his blessing to the people with certaine dayes of pardon Then went he into the Abbey to his lodging but all his traine were lodged in the high base Towne The next day after he had heard Masse he rode to Muterell where he was in like manner saluted by the worshipfull of the Towne all in livery alike where also a learned Oration was made to him in Latine which his Grace answered againe in Latine And as hee entered in at the gate there was a Canopie of Silke imbroydered with like Letters as his men had on their coates And when he was alighted his Footmen had it as due to their Office There was also made Pageants for joy of his comming who was called in the French tongue whither ever he rode or came Le Cardinall de Patifagus and in Latine Cardinalus Patifagus who was accompanied all that night with the Gentlemen of the Country thereabouts The next day he tooke his journey towards Abovile where he was in like manner entertained and conveyed into the Towne and most honourably welcommed with divers kindes of Pageants both costly and wittily contrived to every turning of the streetes as he rode through the Towne having a Canopie borne over him richer then at Muterill and so conveyed him to his lodging which was a faire house newly built with Brick at which house the French King Lowis was married to the Kings Sister which was married after to the Duke of Suffolke In this Towne of Abovile hee remained eight or nine dayes where resorted unto him divers of the French Kings Counsell every day continually feasting and entertaining him and the other Lords At the time of his departing out of the Towne he rode to a Castle beyond the water called by some Le Channell Percequeine standing adjoyning to the said water upon a great Hill and Rock within the which there was a Coledge of Priests The scituation whereof was much like to the Castle of Windsor in England and there he was received with a solemne procession conveying him first to the Church and then to the Castle upon the Bridge over the water of Some where King Edward the Fourth met with the French King as you may reade at large in the Chronicles of England My Lord was no sooner seated in his lodging but I heard that the French King would come that day to the City of Amience which was not above six English miles from thence And being desirous to see his comming thither I tooke with mee two of my Lords Gentlemen and rode presently thither And being but strangers wee tooke up our lodging at the signe of the Angell directly over against the west dore of the Cathedrall Church de nostre Dame where wee stayed in expectation of the Kings comming And about foure of the clock came Madame Regent the Kings Mother riding in a very rich Charriot and with her within was the Queene of Navarre her Daughter attended with a hundred or more of Ladies and Gentlewomen following every one riding upon a white Palfrey also her guard which was no small number And within two dayes after the King came in with a great Shot of Gunnes there was divers Pageants made onely for joy of his comming having about his person and before him a great number of Noblemen and Gentlemen in three companies The first were of Swithers and Burgonians with gunnes The second were Frenchmen with Bowes The third were le Carpe-fall Scottishmen who were more comely persons then all the rest The French guard and Scottish had all one Livery being apparalled with rich Coates of white Cloath with a rich guard of silver Bullione of a handfull broad The King came riding on a rich Jennet and did alight at the said great Church and was conveyed with procession to the Bishops Pallace where hee was lodged The next morning I rode againe to Picegueny to attend upon my Lord and when I came my Lord was ready to goe on horsebacke to ride towards Amience and passing on his way hee was saluted by divers Noble personages making him Orations in Latine to whom my Lord made answer ex tempore Then was word brought him that the King was ready to meete him wherefore hee had no other shift but to light at an old Chappell that stood hard by the high way and there hee newly apparrelled himselfe in rich array and so mounted againe upon an other Mule very richly trapped with a foote cloath of crimson velvet purled with gold and fringed about the edges with a fringe of gold very costly his stirrops of silver guilt the Bosses of the same and the checkes of his Mules bit were all guilt with fine gold and by that time hee was mounted againe in this gorgious manner the King was come very neere within lesse then an English quarter of a mile his guard standing in array upon the top of an high hill expecting my Lords comming to whom my Lord made as much hast as conveniently hee could untill hee came within a paire of Buts length and there hee stayed The King perceiving that caused Monsieur van de Mount to issue from him and to ride to my Lord Cardinall to know the cause of his tarrying and so Monsieur van de Mount being mounted upon a very faire Jennet tooke his race with his horse till hee came even to my Lord and then hee caused his horse to come aloft twice or thrice so neere my Lords Mule that hee was in doubt of his horse
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
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
where they dyned and after dynner they danced and had their pastime till supper time Then was the Banquet Chamber in the little Yard at Greenewich furnished for the entertainement of these Strangers to which place they were conducted by the greatest personages then being in the Court where they did both sup and banquet but to describe to you the order hereof the variety of costly dishes and the curious devises my weake ability and shallow capacity would much ecclipse the magnificence thereof But thus much take notice of that although that Banquet at Hampton Court was marveilous sumptuous yet this Banquet excelled the same as much as gold doth silver in value And for my part I never saw the like In the midst of the Banquet there was turning at the Barriers of lusty gent in compleat Armour very gorgious on foote and the like on horsebacke And after all this there was such an excellent interlude made in Latine that I never saw nor heard the like the Actours Apparrell being so gorgious and of such strange devises that it passeth my poore capacity to relate them This being ended there came a great company of Ladies and Gentlewomen the chiefest beauties in the Realme of England being as richly attired as cost could make or art devise to set forth their gestures proportions or beauties that they seemed to the Beholders rather like celestiall Angels then terrestiall Creatures and in my judgement worthy of admiration with whom the gent of France danced and masked every man choosing his Lady as his fancy served That done and the Masquers departed came in an other Masque of Ladies and Gentlewomen so richly attired as I cannot expresse These Ladies Masquers tooke each of them one of the French men to dance and here note that these Noble women spoke all of them good French which delighted them much to heare the Ladies speake to them in their owne language Thus triumphantly did they spend the whole night from five of the clocke at the night unto two or three of the clock in the morning at which time the Gallants drew all to their lodgings to take their rest As neither health wealth nor pleasure can alwayes last so ended this triumphant Banquet which being past seemed in the morning to the Beholders as a phantastique dreame Now after all this solemne banquetting they prepared with Bagge and Baggage to returne And thereupon repaired to the King and in order every man tooke his leave of his Majesty and the Nobles by whom the King sent his princely pleasure and commendations to the King their Master thanking them for their paines And after great communication had with the great Master of that Ambassage hee bad them adue Then they came to Westminster to my Lord Cardinall to doe the like of whom hee received the Kings reward which I shall hereafter relate First every man of honour and estimation had plate some to the value of 2. or 300. pounds and some of 400. pounds besides the great guifts before received of his Majesty As gownes of velvet with rich furres great chaines of gold and some had goodly horses of great value with divers other guifts of great value which I cannot call to remembrance but the worst of them had the summe of 20. crownes and thus being nobly rewarded my Lord after humble commendations to the French King bad them farewell and so they departed The next day they were conveyed to Dover to the Sea side withall their furniture being accompanied with many English yong gallants and what report of their royall entertainement they made in their owne Country I never heard CHAP. 15. Of the Kings discovery of his love to Mistris Anne Bulloigne to the Cardinall with the Cardinals dislike and also the opinions of all the learned Bishops in England and forraigne Vniversities AFter this beganne new matters which troubled the heads and imaginations of all the Court wherewith all their stomacks were full but little digestion viz. the long concealed affection of the King to Mistris Anne Bulloigne now brake out which his Majesty disclosed to the Cardinall whose often perswasions on his knees tooke no effect My Lord thereupon being compelled to declare to his Majesty his opinion and wisedome in the advancement of the Kings desires thought it not safe for him to wade too farre alone or to give rash judgement in so weighty a matter but desired leave of the King to aske Counsell of men of ancient and famous learning both in the Divine and Civill Lawes Now this being obtained he by his Legatine Authority sent out his Commissions for the Bishops of this Realme who not long after assembled all at Westminster before my Lord Cardinall And not only these Prelates but also the most learned men of both Vniversities and some from divers Cathedrall Colledges in this Realme who were thought sufficiently able to resolve this doubtfull question At this learned assembly was the Kings Case consulted of debated argued and judged from day to day But in conclusion when these ancient Fathers of Law and Divinity parted they were all of one judgement and that contrary to the expectation of most men And I heard some of the most famous and learned amongst them say the Kings Case was too obscure for any man and the poynts therein were doubtfull to have any resolution therein and so at that time with a generall consent departed without any Resolution or judgement In this assembly of Bishops and divers other learned men it was thought very expedient that the King should send out his Commissioners into all Vniversities in Christendome as well heere in England as Forraigne Regions there to have this Case argued substantially and to bring with them from thence every definition of their opinions of the same under the Seale of every Vniversity and thus for this time were their determinations And thereupon divers Commissioners were presently appoynted for this designe So some were sent to Cambridge some to Oxford some to Lorraigne others to Paris some to Orleance others to Padua all at the proper costs and charges of the King which in the whole amounted to a great summe of mony and all went out of this Real me besides the charge of the Embassage to those famous and notable persons of all the Vniversities especially such as bare the rule or had the custody of the Vniversity Seales were fed by the Commissioners with such great summes of mony that they did easily condiscend to their requests and grant their desires By reason whereof all the Commissioners returned with their purpose furnished according to their Commissions under the Seale of every severall University whereat there was no small joy conceived of the principall parties Insomuch that ever after the Commissioners were had in great estimation and highly advanced and liberally rewarded farre beyond their worthy deserts Notwithstanding they prospered and the matter went still forward having now as they thought a sure staffe
you quoth he here is but little room in this House for the King and therefore I humbly beseech your Grace accept of mine for a Season My Lord thanking him for his curtesie went to his Chamber where hee shifted his riding apparrell In the meane time came divers Noblemen of his friends to welcome him to the Court by whom my Lord was advertised of all things touching the Kings favour or displeasure and being thus informed of the Cause thereof hee was more able to excuse himselfe So my Lord made him ready and went to the Chamber of Presence with the other Cardinall where the Lords of the Councell stood all of a Row in order in the Chamber and all the Lords saluted them both And there were present many Gentlemen which came on purpose to observe the meeting and countenance of the King to my Lord Cardinall Then immediatly after the King came into the Chamber of Presence standing under the Cloath of State Then my Lord Cardinall tooke Cardinall Campaine by the hand and kneeled downe before the King but what hee sayd unto him I know not but his Countenance was amiable and his Majesty stooped downe and with both his hands tooke him up and then tooke him by the hand and went to the Window with him and there talked with him a good while Then to have beheld the Countenance of the Lords and Noblemen that had layd Wagers it would have made you smile especially those that had layd their money that the King would not speake with him Thus were they deceived for the King was in earnest discourse with him insomuch that I could heare the King say how can this be is not this your hand and pulled a Letter out of his owne bosome and shewed the same to my Lord And as I perceived my Lord so answered the same that the King had no more to say but sayd to my Lord goe to your Dinner and take my Lord Cardinall to keepe you company and after Dinner I will speake further with you and so they departed And the King that day dined with Mistris Anne Bulloign in her Chamber Then was there set up in the Presence Chamber a Table for my Lord and other Lords of the Councell where they dined together and sitting at Dinner telling of divers matters The King should doe well quoth my Lord Cardinall to send his Bishops and Chaplaines home to their Cures and Benefices Yea marry quoth my Lord of Norfolke and so it were meete for you to doe also I would be very well contented therewith quoth my Lord if it were the Kings pleasure to lycence mee with his Graces leave to goe to my Cure at Winchester Nay quoth my Lord of Norfolke to your Benefice at Yorke where your greatest Honour and Charge is Even as it shall please the King quoth my Lord Cardinall and so they fell upon other Discourses For indeed the Nobility were loath hee should be so neere the King as to continue at Winchester Immediately after Dinner they fell to Councell till the Waiters had also dined I heard it reported by those that waited on the King at dinner that Mistres Anne Bulloigne was offended as much as she durst that the King did so graciously entertaine my Lord Cardinall Saying Sir Is it not a marvailous thing to see into what great debt and danger hee hath brought you with all your Subjects How so quoth the King Forsooth quoth shee there is not a man in all your whole Realme of England worth a hundred pounds but hee hath indebted you to him meaning of Loane which the King had of his Subjects Well well quoth the King for that matter there was no blame in him for I know that matter better then you or any else Nay quoth shee besides that what exploits hath hee wrought in severall parts and places of this Realme to your great slaunder and disgrace There is never a Nobleman but if hee had done halfe so much as hee hath done were well worthy to loose his head Yea if my Lord of Norfolke my Lord of Suffolke my Father or any other man had done much lesse then hee hath done they should have lost their heads ere this Then I perceive quoth the King you are none of my Lord Cardinals friends Why Sir quoth shee I have no cause nor any that love you No more hath your Grace if you did well consider his indirect and unlawfull doings By that time the Waiters had dyned and tooke up the Table and so for that time ended their Communication You may perceive by this how the old malice was not forgotten but begins to kindle and be set on fire which was stirred by his auncient enemies whom I have formerly named in this treatise The King for that time departed from Mistris Anne Bulloigne and came to the Chamber of Presence and called for my Lord and in the great window had a long discourse with hin but of what I know not afterwards the King tooke him by the hand and led him into the privie Chamber and sate in Consultation with him all alone without any other of the Lords till it was darke night which blanked all his enemies very soer who had no other way but by Mistris Anne Bulloigne in whom was all their trust and affiance for the accomplishment of their enterprises for without her they feared all their purposes would bee frustrate Now at night was warning given me that there was no roome for my Lord to lodge in the Court so that I was forced to provide my Lord a lodging in the Countrey about Easton at one Mr. Empstons house where my Lord came to supper by torch-light beeing late before my Lord parted from the King who willed him to resort to him in the morning for that he would talke further with him about the same matter and in the morning my Lord came againe at whose comming the Kings Majesty was ready to ride willing my Lord to consult with the Lords in his absence and said he would not talke with him commanding my Lord to depart with Cardinall Campaine who had already taken his leave of the King This suddaine departure of the Kings was the especiall labour of Mistris Anne Bulloigne who rode with him purposely to draw him away because he should not returne till the departure of the Cardinalls The King rode that morning to viewe a peice of ground to make a Parke of which was afterwards and is at this time called Harewell Parke where Mistris Anne had provided him a place to dine in fearing his returne before my Lord Cardinals departure So my Lord rode away after dinner with Cardinall Campaine who tooke his jorney towards Rome with the Kings reward but what it was I am not certaine After their departure it was told the King that Cardinall Campaine was departed and had great Treasure with him of my Lord Cardinalls of England to bee conveyed in great sums to Rome whither they surmised
hee would secretly repaire out of this Realme Insomuch that they caused a Post to ride after the Cardinall to search him who overtooke him at Callis and stayed him untill search was made but there was found no more then was received of the King for a reward Now after Cardinall Campaine was gone Michaellmas terme drew on against which time my Lord Cardinall repaired to his house at Westminster and when the Terme began hee went into the Hall in such manner as he was acustomed to doe and sate in the Chancery being then Lord Chancellor of England after which day he never sate more the next day hee stayed at home for the comming of my Lord of Norfolk and Suffolke who came not that day but the next And did declare unto my Lord that it was the Kings pleasure he should surrender up the great Seale of England into their hands and that he should depart unto Ashur which is a house near unto Hampton Court belonging unto the Bishopricke of Winchester The Cardinall demanded of them to see their Commission that gave them such authority who answered again they were sufficient Commissioners and had Authority to doe no lesse from the Kings owne mouth notwithstanding he would in no wise agree to their demand in that behalfe without further knowledge of their Authority telling them that the great Seale was delivered to him by the Kings owne person to enjoy the Ministration thereof together with the Chancellorship during the term of his life whereof for surety he had the Kings Letters Patents to shew which matter was much debated between him and the Dukes with many great words which he tooke patiently insomuch that the Dukes were faine to depart without their purpose at that time and returned to Windsor to the King and the next day they returned to my Lord with the Kings Letters whereupon in obedience to the Kings command my Lord delivered to them the broad Seale which they brought to Windsor to the King Then my Lord called his Officers before him and tooke account of all things they had in their charge and in his Gallery were set divers Tables upon which were layed divers and great store of rich stuffes as whole pieces of silke of all colours Velvets Sattins Muskes Taffaties Grogarams Scarlets and divers rich Commodities Also there were 1000. pieces of fine Hollands and the hangings of the Gallery with cloath of Gold and cloath of Silver and rich cloath of Bodkin of divers colours which were hanged in expectation of the Kings comming Also of one side of the Gallery were hanged the rich suits of Copes of his owne providing which were made for Colledges at Oxford and Ipswich they were the richest that ever I saw in all my life Then had he two chambers adjoyning to the Gallery the one most commonly called the guilt Chamber the other the Councell Chamber wherein were set two broad and long Tables whereupon was set such abundance of Plate of all sorts as was almost incredible to be believed a great part being al of clean gold and upon every table and cupboard where the Plate was set were bookes importing every kinde of plate and every piece with the contents and the weight thereof Thus were all things furnished and prepared giving the charge of the said stuffe with other things remayning in every office to be delivered to the King as he gave charge all things beeing ordered as is before rehearsed my Lord prepared to depart and resolved to goe by water but before his going Sir William Gascoigne beeing his Treasurer came unto him and said Sir quoth he I am sorry for your Grace for I heare you are straight to goe to the Tower Is this the best comfort quoth my Lord you can give to your master in adversity It hath alwaies beene your inclination to bee light of credit and much lighter in reporting of lyes I would you should know Sir William and all those reporters too that it is untrue for I never deserved to come there Although it hath pleased the King to take my house ready furnished for his pleasure at this time I would all the world should know I have nothing but it is of right for him and of him I received all that I have It is therefore convenient and reason to tender the same to him againe Then my Lord with his traine of Gentlemen and yeomen which was no small company took his barge at his privie stairs and went by water to Putney at which time upon the water were abundance of boates filled with people expecting to have seene my Lord Cardinall goe to the Tower which they longed to see Oh wondring and new-fangled world is it not a time to consider the mutability of this uncertaine world for the common people ever desire things for novelties sake which after turne to their small profit or advantage For if you mark the sequell they had small cause to rejoyce at his fall I cannot see but all men in favour are envyed by the common people though they doe minister Iustice truly Thus continued my Lord at Ashur 3. or 4. weekes without either Beds sheets Table-cloaths or dishes to eate their meate in or wherewith to buy any But there was good store of all kind of victualls of beere and wine plenty but afterwards my Lord borrowed some Plate and dishes of the Bishop of Carlile Thus continued my Lord in this strange estate till after Alhollantide and beeing one day at dinner Mr. Crumwell told him that he ought in Conscience to consider the true and good service that he and other of his servants had done him who never forsooke him in weale nor woe then quoth my Lord alas Tom you know I have nothing to give you nor them which makes me both ashamed and sorry that I have nothing to requite your faithfull services whereupon Master Cromwell told my Lord that he had abundance of Chaplaines that were preferred by his Grace to Benefices of some 1000. pound and others 500 pound some more and some lesse and wee your poore servants who take more paines in one dayes service then all your idle Chaplains have done in a yeare and therefore if they will not impart liberally to you in your great indigence it is pitty they should live and all the world will have them in iudignation for their great ingratitude to their Master Afterwards my Lord commanded me to call all his Gentlemen and Yeomen up into the great Chamber commanding all the Gentlemen to stand on the right hand and the Yeomen on the left side at last my Lord came out in his Rochet upon a Violet gowne like a Bishop who went with his Chaplins to the upper end of the Chamber where was a great windowe beholding his goodly number of servants who could not speake to them untill the tears ran downe his checks which beeing perceived of his servants caused fountaines of teares to gush out of their sorrowfull eyes in such
into the North but made some stay by the way and many passages hapned in his journey too tedious here to relate At the last he came to Stoby where he continued til after Michaelmas exercising many deeds of charity most commonly every sunday if the weather served would he goe to some poor Parish-church thereabouts and there would say the divine service and either said or heard masse then caused one of his Chaplins to preach the word of God to the people afterwards hee would dine in some honest house in the Town where should be distributed to the poor alms aswell of meat and drinke as mony to supply the want of meat and drink if the number of poor did exceed thus with other good deeds practising himselfe during the time of his abode there between partie and partie being at variance About Michaelmas after heremoved from thence to Caywod Castle within 7. miles of the City of Yorke where he had much honour and love from all men high and lowe where he kept a plentifull house for all commers also hee builded and repaired the Castle which was much decayed having at the least three hundred persons daily in worke to whom he paid Wages lying there Where all the Doctors and Prebends of the Church of Yorke did repaire to my Lord according to their duties as unto the chiefe Head Patron and Father of their Spirituall dignities who did most joyfully wellcome him into those parts Saying it was no small comfort unto them to see their Head among them who had beene so long absent from them being like unto Fatherlesse and comfortlesse Children for want of his Presence and that they trusted shortly to see him amongst them in his owne Church To whom hee made answere That it was the most especiall cause of his comming to bee amongst them as a Father and a naturall brother Sir quoth they you must understand the Ordinances and Rules of our Church whereof although you bee the Head and sole Governour yet you are not so well acquainted as we be therein Therfore if it please your Grace wee shall under favour open unto you some part of our ancient Lawes and Customes of our Church that our head Prelate and Pastor as you now are might not come above our Quire doore untill by due Order he be installed Nor if you should happen to dye before your installation you should not be buried above in the Quire but below in the neather part of the body of the Church Therefore wee humbly desire and beseech you in the name of all our Brethren that you would vouchsafe to doe therein as our ancient Fathers your Predecessours have done and that you will not breake the laudable Customs of our Church To the which we are obliged by Oath at our first admittance to observe that and divers others which in our Chapter doth remaine upon Record These Records quoth my Lord would I faine see and then shall you know further of mine advise and mind in this businesse A day was signed to bring their Records to my Lord at which time they resorted to my Lord with their Register and Bookes of Records wherein were fairely Written their Institutions and Rules which every Minister of their Church was most principally and chiefly bound to observe and infallibly keepe and maintaine When my Lord had read the Records hee did intend to be at the Cathedrall Church of Yorke the next Munday after Alholland-tide against which Time due preparation was made for the same but not in so sumptuous a wise as were his predecessors before him Nor yet in such sort as the fame and common report was afterwards made of him to his great slander And to the false Reporters no small dishonesty to become a divulger of such notorious lies I am sure they did For I my selfe was sent by my Lord to Yorke to see that all things there should bee ordered and provided for that Solemnity in a very decent forme to the honour of that ancient and worthy Monastery of Yorke It came to passe that upon Alholland-day one of the head and principall Officers of the said Cathedrall Church which should have had most doing at my Lords Installation was with my Lord at Caywood and sitting at Dinner they fell into Communication of this matter and the Order and Ceremony thereof Hee saying that my Lord Cardinall should goe a foote from a Chappell which stands without the Gates of the City called Saint Iames his Chappell unto the Minster upon cloath which should bee distributed to the poore after his said passage to the Church Which my Lord hearing replied and said although perhaps our Predecessors have gone upon cloath yet we intend to go on foot without any such Pompe or glory in the vampes of our hosen And therfore gave order to his Servants to goe as humbly thither as might bee without any sumptuous apparrell for I intend on Sunday to come to you to bee installed and to make but one Dinner for you at the close and the next day to dine with the Major and so returne againe hither The day beeing not unknowne to all the Country the Gentlemen Abbots and Priors such provision sent in that it was almost incredible for store and variety The Common people held my Lord in great estimation for his purity and liberality and also for his familiar gesture and good behaviour amongst them By meanes whereof hee gained much love of all the people in the North parts of England CHAP. 19. Of the Cardinals fall and how hee was arrested of high Treason WHat chanced before his last troubles at Caywood as a signe or token from God of that which should follow I will now God willing declare My L. enemies being then at Court about the King in good estimation and honorable dignities seeing now my Lord in great favour and fearing the King would now call him home againe they therefore did plot amongst themselves to dispatch him by meanes of some sinister Treason or to bring him into the Kings great indignation by some other meanes This was their daily study and consultation having for their especiall helpe and furtherance as many vigilant attendants upon him as the Poets faine Argus had eyes The King with these their continuall complaints was mooved to much indignation and thought it good that the Cardinall should come up and to stand to his Triall in his owne person which his enemies did not like of Notwithstanding hee was sent for and after this sort First they devised that Sir Walter Welch Knight one of the Kings privy Chamber should bee sent downe with a Commission into the North and the Earle of Northumberland who was sometimes brought up in the House of my Lord being joyned in Commission with him should arrest my Lord of high Treason This being resolved upon Sir Walter Welch prepared for his journy with his Commission and certaine instruments annexed to the same and tooke horse at