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
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
CARDINAL WOLSEY OB 1330. FROM THE ORIGINAL OF HOLBEIN IN THE COLLECTION AT CHRIST CHURCH OXFORD THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THOMAS WOOLSEY The great Cardinall of England Containing his life and Death viz. 1. The Originall of his promotion 2. The Continuance in his Magnificence 3. His Fall Death and Buriall Composed by one of his owne Servants being his Gentleman-Vsher LONDON Printed for William Sheeres 1641. THE PREFACE IT seemeth no wisedome to credit every light tale blazed abroad in the mouthes of vulgars for wee daily heare how with their blasphemous Trumpe they spread abroad innumerable Lyes without either shame or honesty which prima facie sheweth forth a visage of Truth as though it were an absolute verity though indeed nothing lesse And amongst the better sort those bablings are of no validity I have read the allegations of divers worthy Authours against such false rumours and opinions of the common people who delight in nothing more then to heare strange things and to see new alterations of Authority rejoycing sometimes in such Novelties which afterwards do produce Repentance Thus may all men of understanding conceive the madness of the rude multitude and not give too much credence to every sudden rumour untill the truth be perfectly knowne by the report of some approved and credible persons that commonly have the best Intelligence I have heard and also seen set forth in divers printed Books some untrue imaginations after the death of divers persons who in their lives were in great estimation invented rather to bring their honest names in question then otherwise Now forasmuch as I intend to write here some speciall proceedings of Cardinall Woolsey the great Archbishop his ascending unto honour and great promotion his continuance in it and sudden falling from the same A great part whereof shall be of mine owne knowledge and some part from credible persons informations This Cardinall was my Lord and Master whom in his life-time I served and so remained with him in his fall continually during the time of all his troubles both in the South and North parts untill hee dyed In all which time I punctually observed all his demeanours as also in his great Triumph and glorious estate And since his departure I have heard divers surmised and imagined Tales concerning his proceedings and dealings which I my selfe have certainly knowne to bee most untrue unto which I could have sufficiently answered according to truth But conceiving it to be much better to be silent then to reply against their untruths whereby I might perhaps have rather kindled a great flame of displeasure then have quenched one sparke of their untrue reports Therefore I did referre the truth thereof to the Almighty who knows the truth of all things Neverthelesse whatsoever any man hath conceived of him in his life or since his death Thus much I dare say without offence to any that in my judgement I never saw this Realme in better obedience and quiet then it was in the time of his Authority nor Iustice better administred without partiality as I could justly prove if I should not be taxed with too much affection I will therefore here desist to speake any further by the way of Apologie and proceed Now to speake of his Originall and ascending through Fortunes favour to high dignity and abundance of wealth An Advertisement to the Reader WHo pleaseth to reade this History advisedly may well perceive the immutability of honour the tottering state of earthly Dignity the deceipt of flattering friends and the instability of Princes favours This great Cardinall having experience of all this witnesse his fleeting from Honour the losse of Friends Riches and Dignities being forgotten of his Prince whilst Fortune smiled having saciety of all these And shee bending her brow deprived him of all Terrestiall Joyes who by twenty yeares study and paines had obtained so great wealth and dignitie and in lesse then one yeare lost all And thus was his honour laid in the Dust THE TABLE CHAP. I. OF the Cardinall his Originall and who hee was CHAP. II. Of the Cardinall his speedy dispatch to the Emperous Maximilian CHAP. III. Of King Henry his invading France in his owne person with the Cardinals assistance CHAP. IV. The Kings promoting his Almoner being made Cardinall and Lord Chancellor of England CHAP. V. Of the Order and Offices of his House and Chappell CHAP. VI Of his second Embassage to the Emperour Charles the fifth CHAP. VII Of the manner of his going to Westminster-Hall CHAP. VIII Of the Cardinals magnificence in his house CHAP. IX Of the originall Instrument of the Cardinals fall Mistris Anne Bullen CHAP. X. Of Mistris Anne Bullen her favour with the King CHAP. XI Of the variance betweene the French King and the Duke of Burbon c. CHAP. XII Of the Duke of Burbons stratagem and victory wherein the French King was taken prisoner CHAP. XIII Of the French Kings redemption out of captivity and the Cardinals Embassage into France CHAP. XIV Of the French Ambassadours entertainement and dispatch CHAP. XV Of the Kings discovery of his love to Mistris Anne Bullen to the Cardinall with his dislike c. CHAP. XVI A new Court erected to determine the Kings case two Cardinals being Iudges and of the issue CHAP. XVII Of certaine passages conducing to the Cardinals fall CHAP. XVIII The Cardinall accused of high treason in the Parliament house and Master Cromwels defence for him CHAP. XIX Of the Cardinals fall and how hee was arrested of high treason CHAP. XX Of the Cardinals entertainement by the Earle of Shrewsbury and of his death and buriall CHAP. I. Of the Cardinall his Originall and who he was TRuth it is Cardinall Woolsey was an honest poore mans sonne in the towne of Ipswich in the county of Suffolke and there borne who being but a child was very apt to learne wherefore by means of his parents and other his good friends hee was maintained at the Vniversitie of Oxford where in a short time hee prospered so well that in a small time as hee told mee with his owne mouth he was made Batchelour of Arts when he was but fifteene yeares of age and was most commonly called the Boy Batchelour Thus prospering in learning he was made fellow of Magdalene Colledge in Oxford after that he was made Master of Magdalene Schoole at which time were the Lord Marquesse Dorset sons there at Schoole committing unto him as well their education as their instructions and learning It pleased this Lord Marquesse against Christmas to send as well for the Schoolemaster as for the Schollers home to his house for their recreation in that pleasant and honorable Forrest They being a while there the Lord Marquesse their Father perceiving them to bee well improved in learning for the time Hee was so well contented that he having a Benefice in his gift being at that present voyd gave the Schoole Master the same in regard of his diligence After Christmas at his departure to the
Court The King being then in his progresse at Sir Henry Wyats house in Kent of whom I and other of his servants thought hee should have beene nobly entertained as well of the King himselfe as of the Nobles But wee were all deceived in our expectations Notwithstanding he went immediatly to the King after his returne with whom hee had long talke and continued two or three dayes after in the Court and then retyred to his house at Westminster where he remained till Michaelmas Term which was within a fort-night after and there hee exercised his place of Chancellorship as hee had done before And immediatly after the beginning of the Terme hee caused to be assembled in the Starre-chamber all the noble men Iudges and Iustices of the peace of every shire throughout England and were at Westminster-Hall then present And there hee made a long Oration declaring the cause of his Embassage into France and of his proceedings therein saying that hee had concluded such an Amity and peace as never was heard of in this Realme betweene our Soveraigne Lord the Kings Majesty the Emperour and the French King for a perpetuall peace which shall bee confirmed in writing under the seales of both Realmes engraven in gold Offering further that our King should receive yearly by that name out of the dutchy of Normandy all the charges and losses hee had sustained in the warres And also for as much as there was a restraint made of the French Queenes Dowry whom the Duke of Suffolke had married for many yeares together during the warres It was concluded that shee should not onely receive the same according to her just right but also the Arrerages being unpaid during the said restraint should be perfected shortly after The resort of Ambassadours out of France should bee such a great number of Noblemen and Gentlemen to confirme the same as hath not bin seene heretofore repaire hither out of one Realme This peace thus concluded there shall be such an amity betweene them of each Realme and entercourse of Merchandise that it shall bee seene to all men to bee but one Monarchie Gentlemen and others may travell from one countrey to an other for their recreations and pleasure And Merchants of either countrey may traffike safely without feare of danger So that this Realme shall ever after flourish Therefore may all Englishmen well rejoyce and set forth the truth of this Embassie in the Countrey Now my Masters I beseech you and require you in the Kings behalfe that you shew your selves as loving and obedient subjects in whom the King may much rejoyce c. And so hee ended his Oration and brake up the Court for that time CHAP. XIIII Of the French Ambassadours entertainment and dispatch NOw the great long looked for Ambassadours are arrived being in number eight persons of the Noblest and most worthy Gentlemen in all France who were nobly received from place to place and so conveyed through London to the Bishops Palace in Pauls Church-yard where they were lodged to whom divers Noblemen resorted and gave them noble presents especially the Maior of the Citie of London as Wines Sugars Beeves Muttons Capons wild Fowle waxe and other necessary things in abundance for the expences of his house They resorted to the Court being then at Greenewich on Sunday and were received of the Kings Majestie of whom they were entertained highly They had a Commission to establish our Kings Highnesse in the order of France to whom they brought for that intent a coller of fine gold with a Michell hanging thereat and Robes to the said order appertaining which were of blew velvet and richly embroydered wherein I saw the King passe to the Closet and after in the same to Masse And to gratifie the French King for his great honour hee sent incontinently noblemen here in England of the order of the Garter which Garter the Herauld carried into France unto the French King to establish him in the order of the Garter with a rich Coller and Garter and Robes according to the same The French Ambassadors still remayning here untill the returne of the English All things being then determined and concluded concerning the perpetuall peace upon solemne Ceremonies and Oathes contained in certaine Instruments concerning the same It was concluded there should be a solemne Masse song in the Cathedrall Church of Pauls in London by the Cardinall the King being present at the same in his traverse to performe all things determined And for the preparation thereof there was a Gallery from the West-doore of Pauls Church through the body of the same up to the Quite and so to the high Altar into the Traverse My Lord Cardinall prepared himselfe to sing the Masse associated with twenty foure Miters of Bishops and Abbots who attended him with such Ceremonies as to him were then due by reason of his Legative Prerogative And after the last Agnus the King rose out of the Travers and kneeled upon a Carpet and Cushions before the high Altar and the like did the great Master of France chiefe Ambassadour that here presented the Kings person of France betweene whom the Lord Cardinall divided the blessed Sacrament as a perfect oath and bond for security of the said Covenants of the said perpetual peace That done the King went againe into the Travers this Masse being ended which was solemnely sung both by the Quite of the same Church and all the Kings Chappell Then my Lord tooke and read the Articles of peace openly before the King and all other both English and French and there in sight of all the people the King put his hand to the gold Seale and subscribed with his owne hand and delivered the same to the grand Maste of France as his deed who semblably did the like that done they departed and rode home with the Cardinall and dined with him passing all the day after in consultation of weighty affaires touching the Articles and conclusion of the said peace Then the King departed to Greenwich by water at whose departure it was concluded by the Kings devise that all the Frenchmen should remove to Richmond and hunt there And from thence to Hampton Court and there to hunt likewise And the Lord Cardinall there to make a Banquet or Supper or both and from thence they should ride to Windsor and there hunt And after returne to the King at Greenwich and there to banquet with him before their departure This determined they all repaired to their lodgings then was there no more to doe but to make preparation in all things for the entertainment of this great Assembly at Hampton Court at the time appointed by my Lord Cardinall who called before him all his chiefe Officers as Stewards Treasurers Clarkes and Comptrollers of his Kitchin to whom hee declared his whole mind touching the entertainment of the French-men at Hampton court to whom hee also gave command neither to spare for any
to leane upon These proceedings being declared unto my Lord Cardinall hee sent agayne for the Bishops to whom he declared the effect of these Commissioners paynes and for assurance thereof shewed them the instruments of each Vniversity under their severall Seales and the businesse being thus handled they went agayne to consultation how things should bee ordered At last it was concluded that it was very meete the King should send unto the Pope his Holinesse the opinions of both Vniversities of England and also Forraigne Vniversities which were manifestly authorized by their common Seales And it was also thought fit the opinions of the worthy Prelates of England should be sent to the Pope comprised in an Instrument which was not long time in finishing Nor was it long after that the Ambassadours were assigned for this designe who tooke their journey accordingly having certayne instruments that if the Pope would not thereupon consent to give judgement definitively in the Kings Case then to require an other Commission from his Holinesse to be granted to his Legate to establish a Court heere in England for that purpose only to be directed to my Lord Cardinall Legate of England and to Cardinall Campain Bishop of Bath which the King gave him at a certayne time when hee was sent Embassdour hither from the Pope his Holinesse to determine and rightly judge according to their Consciences To the which after long suite made and for the good will of the said Cardinall the Pope granted their Suite Then they returned into England relating unto the King that his Graces pleasure should be now brought to passe substantially being never more likely considering the state of the Iudges Long was the expectation on both sides for the comming over of the Legat from Rome who at last arrived in England with his Commission and beeing much troubled with the Gout his journey was long and tedious ere hee could get to London who should have beene most solemnly received at Black-heath but hee desired not to bee so entertained with Pompe and vaine-glory and therefore he came very privately on his owne Horse without Temple-Barre called Bath-place where he lay The House being farnished of all manner of Provision of my Lords So after some deliberation and consultation in the ordering of the Kings businesse now in hand by his Commission and Articles of his Ambassage which beeing read it was determined that the King and the good Queene his lawfull Wife should be judged at Bride-wel and in Blackfriers and some place thereabouts the Court to bee kept for the disputation and determination of the causes and differences betweene the King and the Queene where they were to repaire before these two Legates who sat as Iudges before whom the King and Queene were cited and summoned to appeare which was a strange sight and the newest devise that ever was heard or read of in any Story or Chronicle A King and a Queene to be compelled to appear in a Court as common persons within their owne Realme and Dominions and to abide the judgments and decrees of their Subjects beeing a Prerogative belonging to the royall Diadem CHAP. 16. A new Court erected to determine the Kings case two Cardinals being Iudges having power to convent the King and Queene the issue thereof IT is a wonderfull thing to consider the strength of Princes Wils when they are bent to have their pleasure fulfilled wherin no reasonable perswasions wil serve the turne how little doe they regard the dangerous sequels that may ensue aswell to themselves as to their Subjects And amongst all things there is nothing that makes them more wilful then Carnall Love and various affecting of voluptuous desires wherein nothing could be of greater experience then to see what inventions were furnished what Lawes were enacted what costly Edifices of noble and ancient Monasteries were there over-throwne what diversities of opinions then arose what extortions were then cōmitted how many learned and good men were then put to Death and what alterations of good ancient Lawes Customes and Charitable foundations were turned from the reliefe of the poore to the utter destruction and desolation almost to the subversion of this noble Realme It is a thousand pitties to understand the things that since have hapned to this Land the proofe whereof hath taught all us English-men lamentable experience If mens eyes be not blind they may see and if their eares be not stopped they may heare and if pitty bee not exiled their hearts may relent and lament at the sequell of this inordinate Love although it lasted but a while O Lord God with-hold thine indignation from us You shall understand as I sayd before that there was a Court erected at Black-Fryers London where these two Cardinals sate as Judges Now will I describe unto you the order of the Court First there were many tables and benches set in manner of a Consistory one seate beeing higher than another for the Judges aloft above them three degrees high was a Cloth of Estate hanged and a Chaire Royall under the same wherein sate the King and some distance off sate the Queene and at the Iudges feete sate the Scribes and Officers for the execution of the Processe the chiefe Scribe was Doctor Stevens after Bishop of Winchester and the Apparatour who was called Doctor of the Court who was one Cooke of Westminster Then before the King and the Iudges sate the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Doctor Warham and all other Bishops there stood at both ends within Counsellors Learned in the Spirituall Lawes as well on the Kings side as the Queenes side Doctor Sampson afterwards Bishop of Chichester and Doctor Hall after Bishop of Worcester with divers others and Proctors in the same Law were Doctor Peter who was afterwards chiefe Secretarie and Doctor Tregunmill with divers others Now on the other side there were Counsell for the Queene Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Dr. Standish Bishop of St. Asaph in Wales two brave Noble Divines especially the Bishop of Rochester a very Godly man whose death many Noble men and many worthy Divines much lamented who lost his head about this cause ere it was ended upon Tower hill as also another ancient Doctor called Doctor Ridley a little man but a great Divine The Court being thus ordred as is before expressed the Iudges commanded the cryer to proclaim silence whilst the commission was both read to the Court to the people there assembled that done and silence beeing agayne proclaimed the Scribes commaunded the Cryer to call King Henry of England whereunto the King answered and sayd here Then called he agayne the Queene of England by the name of Katherine Queene of England come into the Court c. Who made no answer thereunto but rose immediately out of her Chayre where she sate and because shee could not come to the King directly by reason of the distance therefore shee came round about the Court to the
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