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
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
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
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
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