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
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
the Court Gate upon Alholland-day towards my Lord of Northumberland Now will I declare what I promised before of a certaine signe or token of my Lords trouble ensuing Upon All-hallow-day my Lord sitting at dinner having at his Boards end divers of his Chaplaines to beare him Company for want of other Guests you shall now understand that my Lords great Crosse which stood by fell and in the fall broke Doctor Bonners head inasmuch that some blood ran downe My Lord perceiving the fall thereof demaunded of those that stood by him what was the matter that they stood so amazed I shewed him of the fall of his great crosse upon Dr. Bonners head Quoth my Lord hath it drawne any blood yea quoth I with that he cast his head aside and soberly said Malum Omen and thereupon suddenly said grace and rose from table and went to his Bed-chamber but what he did there I cannot tell Now marke how my Lord expounded the meaning thereof in his fancie to meat Pontefract after his fall First that the great Crosse that he bare as Archbishop of Yorke betokened himselfe and Doctor Austin the Physitian who overthrew the Crosse was hee that accused my Lord whereby his enemies caught an occasion to overthrowe him it fell on Doctor Bonners head who was then master of my Lords faculties and spirituall jurisdiction who was then dampnified by the fall thereof and moreover the drawing of blood betokeueth death which did suddenly after follow Now the appointed time drew neere for Installation and sitting at dinner the friday before the monday that he should have been installed at Yorke The Earle of Northumberland and M. Welsh with a great company of Gent of the Earls house and of the Country whom they had gathered in the Kings name to accompany them yet not knowing to what end came to the hall of Caywood the Officers being at dinner and my Lord not fullie dined nor knowing any thing of the Earles being come The first thing that the Earle did after hee had set the hall in order he commanded the Porter to deliver the keyes of the gates to him which he would in no wise doe although he was threatned and commanded in the Kings name to make deliverance thereof to one of the Earles servants which he still refused saying to the Earle that the keyes were delivered to him by his Lord and master both by oath and other command Now some of the Gent. that stood by the Earle hearing the porter speake so stoutly said hee is a good fellow and a faithfull servant to his master and speaks like an honest man therefore give him your charge and let him keep the keyes still then said my L. thou shalt wel and truly keep the keys to the use of our Soveraigne Lord the King and you shall let none passe in nor out of the Gates but such as from time to time you shal be commanded by us being the Kings Commissioners during our stay here and with that oath he received the keyes of the Earle and Master Welches hands but of all these doings knew my Lord nothing for they had stopped the stayers that none should goe to my L. chamber and they that came down could not goe up againe At the length one escaped up and shewed my Lord that the Earle of Northumberland was in the hall whereat my Lord wondred and at the first believed him not till he heard it confirmed by another Then quoth my Lord I am sorry wee have dined for I feare our Officers have not provided fish enough for the entertainment of him with some honourable cheere fitting his estate and Dignity And with that my Lord arose from the Table and commanded to let the cloath lye that the Earle might see how far forth they were at their dinners and as he was going downe stayres he encountred with my Lord of Northumberland to whom my Lord said you are heartily welcome my Lord and so they embraced each other Then quoth my Lord Cardinal if you had loved mee you would have sent me word before of your comming that I might have entertained you according to your honour Notwithstanding you shal have such cheer as I can make you for the present with a right good will trusting you will accept thereof in good part hoping hereafter to see you oftner when I shal be more able to entertain you this said my Lord tooke him by the hand and led him to his Chamber whom followed all the Earls servants and they being there all alone saving I which kept the doore as my Office required being Gentleman-vsher these two Lords standing at a window the Earle trembling said I arrest you of high Treason with which words my Lord was well nigh astonished standing still a good space without speaking one word But at the last quoth my Lord what authority have you to arrest mee quoth the Earle I have a Commission so to doe shew it me quoth my Lord that I may see the contents therof nay Sir that you may not quoth the Earle Then quoth my Lord hold you contented for I will not obey your arrest for there hath been between your Ancestors and my Predecessors great contentions and debate and therefore unlesse I see your authority I will not obey you Even as they were debating the matter in the Chamber so likewise was Master Welsh busie in arresting Dr. Austine at the door saying go in thou Traytor or I shall make thee with that I opened the Portal dore and did thrust in Doctor Austine before him with violence The matter on both sides astonished me very much marveyling what all this should meane untill at the last Master Welsh being entered my Lord Chamber began to pluck of his hood being of the same cloath his cloake was which hood he wore to the intent hee should not be known who kneeled down to my Lord to whom my Lord said come hither Gentleman and let me speake with you commanding him to stand up and said thus My Lord of Northumberland hath arrested mee but by what authority I know not if you be privie thereunto joyned with him therein I pray you shew me Indeed my Lord if it please your Grace quoth Master Welsh I pray have me excused there is annexed to our Commission certain instructions as you may not see nor be privie too why quoth my Lord be your Instructions such as I may not see nor be privie thereunto yet paradventure if I be privie unto them I may helpe you the better to performe them for it is not unknown to you that I have been of Counsell in as weity matters as these are and I doubt not but I shall doe well enough for my part prove my selfe a true man against the expectations of my cruel enemies I see the matter whereupon it groweth well there is no more to doe I trowe you art of the Privie Chamber your name is Mr. Welsh I am contented to yeeld to
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
necke holding in his hand an Orenge the meate or substance thereof being taken out and filled againe with a part of Sponge with Vineger and other Confections against pestilent Aires the which hee most commonly held to his nose when he came to the presses or when he was pestered with many suitors And before him was borne the broad Seale of England and the Cardinalls Hat by some Lord or some Gentleman of worship right solemnly And as soone as he was entered into his Chamber of Presence where there were daily attending on him aswell Noblemen of this Realme as other worthy Gentlemen of his owne Familie his two great Crosses were there attending upon him Then cry the Gentlemen Vshers that goe before him bare-headed On Masters before and make roome for my Lord Thus went he downe into the Hall with a Serjeant of Armes before him bearing a great Mase of Siluer and two Gentlemen carrying two great Plates of Silver And when he came to the Hall doore there his Mule stood trapped all in crimson Velvet with a Saddle of the same Then was attending him when he was mounted his two Crosse-bearers his two Pillow-bearers all upon great horses all in fine Scarlet then he marched on with a traine of Gentrie having foure Foot-men about him bearing every one of them a Pole-axe in his hand And thus passed he forth till he came to Westminster and there alighted and went in this manner up to the Chancerie and stayed a while at a Barre made for him beneath the Chancery and there he communed sometimes with the Judges and sometimes with other persons and then went up to the Chancerie and sate there till eleven of the clocke to heare suits and to determine causes And from thence he would goe into the Starre-chamber as occasion served him hee neither spared high nor low but did judge every one according to right Every Sunday hee would resort to the Court being then at Greenwich with his former rehearsed traine and Triumph taking his Barge at his owne staires furnished with Yeomen standing upon the sayles and his Gentlemen within and about and landed at the three Cranes in the Vine-tree and from thence he rode upon his Mule with his Crosses his Pillars his Hat and his broad Seale carryed before him on horse-backe along Thames-street untill he came to Billingsgate and there hee tooke his Barge and so went to Greenwich where hee was Nobly entertained of the Lords in the Kings house being there with staves in their hands as the Treasurer Comptroller with many others and conveyed into the Kings Chamber and so went home againe in the like Triumph CHAP. VIII Of the Cardinals magnificence in his houses HEe lived a long season Ruling all things in this Realme appertaining to the King by his wisedome and all other matters of forraine Regions with whom the King had any occasion to meddle All Ambassadours of forraine Potentates were ever disposed by the Cardinals wisdome to whom they had continuall accesse for their dispatch His house was alwayes resorted unto like a Kings house with Noblemen and Gentlemen And when it pleased the Kings Majestie as many times it did hee would for his recreation resort unto the Cardinals house against whose comming there wanted no preparation or goodly furnitures with victuals of the finest sort that could be had for money or friendship Such pleasures were here devised for the Kings delight as could be invented or imagined Banquets set with Masquers and Mummers in such costly manner that it was glorious to behold there wanted no Damsells meete to dance with the Masquers or to garnish the place for the time with variety of other pastimes Then was there divers kinds of Musick and many choyce men and women Singers appointed to sing who had excellent voyces I have seene the King come suddenly thither in a Masque with a dozen Masquers all in garments like Shepheards made of fine cloth of gold and silver wyre and six Torch-bearers besides their drummers and others attending on them with Vizards and clothed all in Sattin And before his entring into the Hall you shall understand that hee came by water to the water-gate without any noise where were laid divers Chambers and Gunnes charged with shott and at his landing they were discharged which made such a rattling noyse in the Ayre that it was like thunder It made all the Noblemen Gentlemen and Ladies to muse what it should meane comming so suddenly they sitting quietly at a Banquet In this sort you shall understand that the Tables were set in the Chamber of Presence covered and my Lord Cardinall sitting under his cloth of State and there having all his service alone And then was there set a Lady and a Nobleman a Gentleman and a Gentlewoman throughout all the Tables in the Chambers on the one side which were made all joyning as it were but one Table All which order was done by my Lord Sands then Lord Chamberlaine to the King and by Sir Henry Guilford then Comptroller of the Kings house Then immediatly after this great shot of Gunnes the Cardinall desired the Lord Chamberlaine to see what it did meane as though he knew nothing of the matter They then looked out of the window into the Thames and returning againe told him that they thought they were Noblemen and strangers arrived at the Bridge and comming as Ambassadours from some forraine Prince With that said the Cardinall I desire you because you can speake French to take the paines to goe into the Hall there to receive them into the Chamber where they shall see us and all those Noble personages being merry at our Banquet desiring them to sit downe with us and take part of our Fare Then went they incontinently into the Hall where they were received with twenty Torches and conveyed up into the Chamber with such a number of Drums and Flutes as I have seldome seene together at one time and place Then at their arrivall into the Chamber they went two and two together directly before the Cardinall where he sate and saluted them very reverently To whom the Lord Chamberlaine for them said Sir forasmuch as they are strangers and cannot speake English they have desired mee to declare unto you that they having understanding of this your triumphant Banquet were assembled such a number of faire Dames they could doe no lesse under the supportation of your Grace then to view as well their incomparable beauties as to accompany them at Mumchance and after that to dance with them so to beget their better acquaintance And furthermore they require of your Grace lycence to accomplish this cause of their comming When the Cardinall said he was willing and very well content they should doe so Then went the Masquers and first saluted all the Dames and then returned to the most worthiest and there opened the great Cup of gold filled with crownes and other peeces to cast at Thus perusing all the Gentlewomen
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
doubt how to quiet him to the counsell who was then departed in a great fury Now here was sending here was comming here was intreating and here was great submission and intercession made unto him to reduce him to his former communication who would in no wayes relent untill Madame Regent came to him her selfe who handled the matter so well that shee brought him to his former communication and by that meanes hee brought all things to passe that before hee could not compasse which was more out of feare then affection the French King had to the matter in hand for now hee had got the heades of all the Councell under his girdle The next morning early after this conflict the Cardinall arose about 4. of the clock and sate him downe to write Letters into England unto the King commanding one of his Chaplaines to prepare him ready Insomuch that the Chaplaine stood ready in his Vestures untill foure of the clocke in the afternoone All which season my Lord never rose to eate any meate but continually writ Letters with his owne hand And about foure of the clocke in the afternoone he made an end of writing commanding one Christopher Gunner the Kings Serjeant to prepare himselfe without delay to ride Post into England with his Letters whom he dispatcht away ere ever he dranke That done he went to Masse and Mattins and other devotions with his Chaplaine as he was accustomed to doe and then went to walke in a Garden the space of an houre and more and then said Evening song and so went to dinner and supper making no long stay and so went to bed The next night following my Lord caused a great supper to be made or rather a Banquet for Madam Regent and the Queene of Navarre and other Noble Personages Lords and Ladies At which supper was Madam Lewis one of the Daughters of Lewis the last King whose sister lately dyed these two Sisters were of their Mother Inheritours of the Dutchie of Brittaine And forasmuch as King Francis had married one of the Sisters by which he had one Moytie of the said Dutchie hee kept the said Madam Lewis the other Sister without Mariage to the intent the whole Dutchie might descend to him or his successours after his death for lacke of issue of her But now let us returne to the Supper or Banquet where all those noble personages were highly feasted And at the middest of the said Banquet the French King and the King of Navarre came suddenly in who tooke their places in the lowest part thereof There was not onely plenty of fine meates but also much mirth and solace aswell in merry communication as also the noyse of my Lords Musique who played there all that night so cunningly that the two Kings tooke great delight therein insomuch that the French King desired my Lord to lend them unto him for the next night And after the Supper or Banquet ended the Lords fell to dancing amongst whom one Madam Fountaine had the praise And thus passed they the most part of the night ere they parted The next day the King tooke my Lords Musicke and rode to a Noblemans house where was some living Image to whom he had vowed a nights pilgrimage And to performe his devotion when he came there which was in the night he danced and caused others to doe the same and the next morning he returned to Campanie The King being at Campanie gave order that a wild Bore should be lodged for him in the Forrest whether my Lord Cardinall went with him to see him hunt the wild Bore where the Lady Regent with a number of Ladies and Damsels were standing in Chariots looking upon the toyle amongst these Ladyes stood my Lord Cardinall to regard the hunting in the Lady Regents Chariot And within the Toyle was the King with divers Ladyes of France ready furnished for the high and dangerous enterprize of hunting of this perilous wilde Swine The King being in his Doublet and Hose all of sheepes colour cloth richly trimmed in his slippe a brace of very great Gray-hounds who were armed as their manner there is to defend them from the violence of the Beasts tuskes And the rest of the Kings Gentlemen that were appointed to hunt were likewise in their Doublets and Hose holding each of them a very sharpe Bores speare Then the King commanded the Keepers to uncouch the Boare And that every person within the Toyle should goe to a standing among whom were divers Gentlemen of England The Boare presently issued out of his denne and being pursued by a hound came into the plaine where he stayed a while gazing upon the people and the hound drawing neere him he espied a Bush upon a Banke under the bush lay two Frenchmen who fled thither thinking there to be safe But the Bore smelling them and thrusting his head into the Bush these two men came away from thence as men use to fly from the danger of death Then was the Boare by violence of the Hunters driven from thence who ' ran straite to one of my Lords Footmen being a very tall man who had in his hand an English Javelin with which he defended himselfe a great while But the Bore continued foaming at him with his great Tuskes at the last the Boare broke in sunder his Javelin so that he was glad to draw his sword and therewith stood upon his guard untill the Hunters came and rescued him and put the Boare once againe to flight to an other Gentleman of England one Master Ratcliffe who was sonne and heire to the Lord Fitzwalter now Earle of Sussex who by his Boares speare rescued himselfe There were many other passages but I forbeare prolixitie and returne to the matter in hand Many dayes were spent in consultation and expectation of Christopher Gunners returne who was formerly sent post into England with Letters as I said before At last he returned with Letters upon receipt whereof my Lord prepared with all expedition to returne to England That mourning that my Lord intended to remove being at Masse in his Closet he Consecrated the Chancellour of France a Cardinall and put his Hat on his head and his cap of Scarlet and then tooke his journey and returned into England with all the expedition hee could and came to Sayne and was there nobly entertained of my Lord Stanes who was captaine of that place and from thence went to Callis where he stayed a while for shipping of his goods And in the meane time hee established a worke to be there kept for all Nations But how long or in what sort it continued I know not For I never heard of any great good it did or of any Assembly of Merchants or traffique of Merchandize that were brought thither for so great and mighty a matter as was intended for the good of the Towne This being established he tooke shipping for Dover and from thence rode post to
to leane upon These proceedings being declared unto my Lord Cardinall hee sent agayne for the Bishops to whom he declared the effect of these Commissioners paynes and for assurance thereof shewed them the instruments of each Vniversity under their severall Seales and the businesse being thus handled they went agayne to consultation how things should bee ordered At last it was concluded that it was very meete the King should send unto the Pope his Holinesse the opinions of both Vniversities of England and also Forraigne Vniversities which were manifestly authorized by their common Seales And it was also thought fit the opinions of the worthy Prelates of England should be sent to the Pope comprised in an Instrument which was not long time in finishing Nor was it long after that the Ambassadours were assigned for this designe who tooke their journey accordingly having certayne instruments that if the Pope would not thereupon consent to give judgement definitively in the Kings Case then to require an other Commission from his Holinesse to be granted to his Legate to establish a Court heere in England for that purpose only to be directed to my Lord Cardinall Legate of England and to Cardinall Campain Bishop of Bath which the King gave him at a certayne time when hee was sent Embassdour hither from the Pope his Holinesse to determine and rightly judge according to their Consciences To the which after long suite made and for the good will of the said Cardinall the Pope granted their Suite Then they returned into England relating unto the King that his Graces pleasure should be now brought to passe substantially being never more likely considering the state of the Iudges Long was the expectation on both sides for the comming over of the Legat from Rome who at last arrived in England with his Commission and beeing much troubled with the Gout his journey was long and tedious ere hee could get to London who should have beene most solemnly received at Black-heath but hee desired not to bee so entertained with Pompe and vaine-glory and therefore he came very privately on his owne Horse without Temple-Barre called Bath-place where he lay The House being farnished of all manner of Provision of my Lords So after some deliberation and consultation in the ordering of the Kings businesse now in hand by his Commission and Articles of his Ambassage which beeing read it was determined that the King and the good Queene his lawfull Wife should be judged at Bride-wel and in Blackfriers and some place thereabouts the Court to bee kept for the disputation and determination of the causes and differences betweene the King and the Queene where they were to repaire before these two Legates who sat as Iudges before whom the King and Queene were cited and summoned to appeare which was a strange sight and the newest devise that ever was heard or read of in any Story or Chronicle A King and a Queene to be compelled to appear in a Court as common persons within their owne Realme and Dominions and to abide the judgments and decrees of their Subjects beeing a Prerogative belonging to the royall Diadem CHAP. 16. A new Court erected to determine the Kings case two Cardinals being Iudges having power to convent the King and Queene the issue thereof IT is a wonderfull thing to consider the strength of Princes Wils when they are bent to have their pleasure fulfilled wherin no reasonable perswasions wil serve the turne how little doe they regard the dangerous sequels that may ensue aswell to themselves as to their Subjects And amongst all things there is nothing that makes them more wilful then Carnall Love and various affecting of voluptuous desires wherein nothing could be of greater experience then to see what inventions were furnished what Lawes were enacted what costly Edifices of noble and ancient Monasteries were there over-throwne what diversities of opinions then arose what extortions were then cōmitted how many learned and good men were then put to Death and what alterations of good ancient Lawes Customes and Charitable foundations were turned from the reliefe of the poore to the utter destruction and desolation almost to the subversion of this noble Realme It is a thousand pitties to understand the things that since have hapned to this Land the proofe whereof hath taught all us English-men lamentable experience If mens eyes be not blind they may see and if their eares be not stopped they may heare and if pitty bee not exiled their hearts may relent and lament at the sequell of this inordinate Love although it lasted but a while O Lord God with-hold thine indignation from us You shall understand as I sayd before that there was a Court erected at Black-Fryers London where these two Cardinals sate as Judges Now will I describe unto you the order of the Court First there were many tables and benches set in manner of a Consistory one seate beeing higher than another for the Judges aloft above them three degrees high was a Cloth of Estate hanged and a Chaire Royall under the same wherein sate the King and some distance off sate the Queene and at the Iudges feete sate the Scribes and Officers for the execution of the Processe the chiefe Scribe was Doctor Stevens after Bishop of Winchester and the Apparatour who was called Doctor of the Court who was one Cooke of Westminster Then before the King and the Iudges sate the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Doctor Warham and all other Bishops there stood at both ends within Counsellors Learned in the Spirituall Lawes as well on the Kings side as the Queenes side Doctor Sampson afterwards Bishop of Chichester and Doctor Hall after Bishop of Worcester with divers others and Proctors in the same Law were Doctor Peter who was afterwards chiefe Secretarie and Doctor Tregunmill with divers others Now on the other side there were Counsell for the Queene Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Dr. Standish Bishop of St. Asaph in Wales two brave Noble Divines especially the Bishop of Rochester a very Godly man whose death many Noble men and many worthy Divines much lamented who lost his head about this cause ere it was ended upon Tower hill as also another ancient Doctor called Doctor Ridley a little man but a great Divine The Court being thus ordred as is before expressed the Iudges commanded the cryer to proclaim silence whilst the commission was both read to the Court to the people there assembled that done and silence beeing agayne proclaimed the Scribes commaunded the Cryer to call King Henry of England whereunto the King answered and sayd here Then called he agayne the Queene of England by the name of Katherine Queene of England come into the Court c. Who made no answer thereunto but rose immediately out of her Chayre where she sate and because shee could not come to the King directly by reason of the distance therefore shee came round about the Court to the
not this your hand and Seale and shewed it to him in the Instrument with Seales no forsooth quoth the Bishop how say you to that quoth the King to the Bishop of Canterburie Sir It is his hand and Seale quoth the Bishop of Canterbury No my Lord quoth the Bishop of Rochester indeed you were in hand with mee to have both my hand and Seale as other of the Lords had done but I answered that I would never consent to any such act for it was much against my Conscience And therefore my hand and Seale shall never bee set to such an instrument God willing with many other words to that purpose You say truth quoth the Bishop of Cantorbury such words you used but you were fully resolved at the last that I should subscribe your name and put to your seale and you would allow of the same all which quoth the Bishop of Rochester under correction my Lord is untrue Well quoth the King wee will not stand in argument with you you are but one And so the King arose up and the Court was adjourned until the next day at which time the Cardinalls sate again and the Counsell on both sides were there present to answere The Kings Counsell alleadge the matrimonie not good nor lawful at the beginning Because of the Carnall copulation that Prince Arthur had with the Queene This matter was very narrowly scanned on that side and to prove the Carnall Copulation they had many Reasons and fimilitudes of truth and beeing answered negatively againe on the other side it seemed that al their former allegations were doubtfull to bee tryed and that no man knew Yes quoth the Bishop of Rochester I know the truth how can you know the truth quoth the Cardinall more than any other person Yes forsooth my Lord quoth hee I know that God is the Truth it selfe and never saith but truth and he saith thus Quos Deus conjunxit homo non separet And for as much as this marriage was joyned and made by God to a good intent therefore I sayd I knew the truth and that man cannot breake upon any wilfull action that which God hath made and constituted So much doe all faithfullmen know quoth my Lord Cardinall aswell as you therefore this reason is not sufficient in this case for the Kings Counsell doe alleadge many presumptions to prove that it was not lawfull at the beginning Ergo it was not ordained by God for God doth nothing without a good end Therefore it is not to be doubted but if the presumptions be true which they alleadge to be most true then the Conjunction neither was nor could bee of God Therefore I say unto you my Lord of Rochester you know not the truth unlesse you can avoide their presumptions upon just reasons Then quoth Doctor Ridley it is a great shame and dishonour to this honourable presence that any such presumtions should be alleadged in this open Court what quoth my Lord Cardinall Domine Doctor Reverende No my Lord there belongs no reverence to this matter for an unreverent matter may bee unreverently answered And so left off and then they proceeded to other matters Thus passed this Court from Session to Session and day to day till a certaine day the King sent for the Cardinal to Bridewell who went into the privie Chamber to him where hee was about an hower and then departed from the King and went to Westminster in his Barge the Bishop of Carlile being with him sayed it is a hot day today yea quoth the Cardinall if you had been as well chafed as I have beene within this hower you would say you were very hot my Lord no sooner came home but he went to bed where he had not lyen above two howers but my Lord of Wiltshire Mistris Anne Bullens Father came to speake with him from the King my Lord commanded he should be broght to his beds side who told him it was the Kings minde he should foorthwith goe with the Cardinall to the Queene being then at Bridewell in her chamber and to perswade her through their wisedomes to put the whole matter into the Kings own hands by her consent which should be much better for her honour then stand to the tryall at Law and thereby bee condemned which would tend much to her dishonour and discredit To performe the Kings pleasure my Lord said hee was ready and so prepared to goe but quoth he further to my Lord of Wiltshire you and others of the Lords of the Counsell have put fancies into the head of the King whereby you trouble all the Realme but at the length you will get but small thanks both of God and the world with many other earnest words and reasons which did cause my Lord of Wiltshire to bee silent kneeling by my Lords beds-side and in conclusion departed And then my Lord rose and tooke his barge and went to Bathhouse to Card. Campaines and so went together to Bridewell to the Queenes lodgings she being then in her Chamber of Presence they told the Gentleman-Usher that they came to speake with the Queens grace who told the Queen the Cardinalls were come to speak with her then shee rose up having a scane of red silke about her neck beeing at worke with her maides and came to the Cardinalls where they staied attending her comming at whose approach quoth she Alack my Lords I am sorrie that you have atended on me so long what is your pleasures with me If it please your grace quoth the Cardinall to go to your privie Chamber we will shew you the cause of our comming My Lord said shee if you have any thing to say to mee speak it openly before all these folke for I feare nothing that you can say to me or against mee but that I am willing all the world should both see heare it and therefore speake your mindes openly Then began my Lord to speake to her in Latin nay good my Lord speak to me in English quoth she although I doe understand some Latin Forsooth quoth my Lord good Madam if it please your Grace wee come both to know your mind what you are disposed to do in this matter and to declare to you secretly our Counsels and opinions which wee doe for very zeale and obedience to your Grace My Lords quoth shee I thanke you for your good wills but to make answer to your requests I cannot so suddenly for I was set amongst my maids at worke little thinking of any such matter wherein is requisite some deliberation and a better head then mine to make answere for I need Counsell in this case which concernes me so neare and friends here I have none they are in Spaine in my owne Countrey Also my Lords I am a poore woman of too weake Capacitie to answere such noble persons of wisedome as you are in so weighty a matter And therefore I pray you be good to
mee a woman destitute of friendshippe heere in a forraigne Region and your Counsell I also shall bee glad to heare and therewith shee tooke my Lord by the hand and led him into her Privie Chamber with the other Cardinall where they stayed a while and I heard her voice loud but what shee said I know not This done they went to the King and made a Relation unto him of the passages betweene the Queene and them and so they departed This strange case proceeded and went forwards from Court day to Court day untill it came to that that every man expected to hear Iudgement given at which time all their proceedings were openly read in Lattin That done the Kings Counsell at the Barre mooved for Iudgement quoth Cardinall Campaines I will not give judgement untill I have related the whole proceedings to the Pope whose Counsell and Commandment I will in this Case observe The matter is too high for us to give hasty judgement considering the persons and the doubtfull occasions alleadged and also whose Commissioners wee are by whose authority we sit It is good reason therefore that wee make our chiefe Lord of Counsell in the same before wee proceede to judgement definitive I came not to please for any Favour Reward or feare of any person alive be he King or otherwise I have no such respect to the person that I should offend my Conscience And the party Defendant will make no answere here but rather doth appeale from us I am an old man both weake and sickly and looke every day for Death what shal it avayle me to put my Soule in danger of Gods displeasure to my utter damnation for the favour of any Prince in this World My being here is onely to see Justice administred according to my Conscience The Defendant supposeth that wee bee not indifferent Judges considering the Kings high dignity and authority within his Realme And wee beeing both his Subjects shee thinkes wee will not doe her justice and therefore to avoyd all these Ambiguities I adjourn the Court for the Time according to the Court of Rome from whence our jurisdiction is derived For if wee should goe further then our Commission doth warrant us it were but a folly and blame worthy because then wee shal be breakers of the Orders from whom we have as I sayd our authority derived and so the Court was dissolved and no more done Thereupon by the Kings Commandment stept up the Duke of Suffolke and with a haughty countenance uttered these words It was never thus in England untill we had Cardinals amongst us Which Words were set forth with such vehemency that all men marvailed what he intended the Duke further expressing some opprobrious Words My Lord Cardinall perceiving his vehemency soberly sayd Sir of all men in this Realme you have least cause to disprayse Cardinals for if I poore Cardinall had not beene you should not at this present have had a head on your shoulders wherewith to make such a brag in dispute of us who wish you no harme neyther have given you such cause to be offended with us I would have you thinke my Lord I and my Brother wish the King as much happinesse and the Realme as much honour Wealth and peace as you or any other Subject of what degree soever hee be within this Realme and would as gladly accomplish his lawfull desires And now my Lord I pray you shew mee what you would doe in such a Case as this if you were one of the Kings Commissioners in a forraigne Region about some weighty matter the consultation whereof was very doubtfull to be decided would you not advertise the Kings Majesty ere you went through with the same I doubt not but you would and therefore abate your malice and spight and consider wee are Commissioners for a Time and cannot by vertue of a Commission proceed to judgement without the knowledge and consent of the head of the authority and lycence obtayned from him who is the Pope Therefore doe wee neyther more nor lesse then our Commission allows us and if any man wil be offended with us hee is an unwise man Therefore pacifie your selfe my Lord and speake like a man of Honour and Wisedome or hold your peace speake not reproachfully of your friends you best know what friendship I have showne you I never did reveale to any person till now eyther to mine owne prayse or your dishonour Whereupon the Duke went his way and sayd no more being much discontented This matter continued thus a long Season and the King was in displeasure against my Lord Cardinal because his Suit had no better successe to his purpose Notwithstanding the Cardinal excused himself by his Commission which gave him no authority to proceed to judgement without the knowledge of the Pope who reserved the same to himself At last they were advertised by a Post that they should take deliberation in the matter untill his Councell were opened which should not be til Bartholmew-tide next The king thinking it would be too long ere it would bee determined sent an Ambassador to the Pope to perswade him to shew so much favor to his Majesty as that it might be sooner determined On this Embassage went Doctor Stephen Gardener then called by the name of Doctor Steven Secretary to the King afeer wards Bishop of Winchester This Ambassadour stayed there till the latter end of Summer of whose returne you shall hereafter heare CHAP. 17. Of certaine passages conducing to the Cardinals fall NOW the King commaunded the Queene to be removed from the Court and sent to another place presently after the King rod on Progresse and had in his Company Mistris Anne Bolloigne in which time Cardinall Campadnes made suite to bee discharged and sent home to Rome in the interim returned Mr. Secretary and it was concluded that my Lord should come to the King to Grafton in Northampton-shire as also Cardiall Campaines beeing a stranger should bee conducted thither by my Lord Cardinall And so the next Sunday there were divers opinions that the King would not speak with my Lord whereupon there were many great Wagers layd These two Prelates being come to the Court and lighting expected to be received of the great Officers as the manner was but they found the contrary Neverthelesse because the Cardinall Campaine was a stranger the Officers met him with staves in their hands in the outward Court and so conveyed him to his lodging prepared for him and after my Lord had brought him to his lodging he departed thinking to have gone to his Chamber as hee was wont to do But it was told him hee had no lodging or Chamber appoynted for him in the Court which newes did much astonish him Sir Henry Norris who was then Groome of the stoole came unto him and desired him to take his Chamber for a while untill an other was provided for him for I assure
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
sort as would cause my heart to relent At last my Lord spake to them to this effect and purpose saying most faithfull Gentlemen and true-hearted Yeomen I much lament that in my prosperity I did not so much for you as I might have done and was in my power to doe I consider that if in my prosperity I should have preferred you to the King then should I have incurred the Kings Servants displeasure who would not spare to report behinde my back that there could no office in the Court escape the Cardinall and his servants and by that meanes I should have run into open slander of all the world but now it is come to passe that it hath pleased the King to take all that I have into his hands so that I have now nothing to give you for I have nothing left me but the bare cloaths on my back with many other words in their phrase and so he giving them all hearty thanks went away and afterwards many of his servants departed from him some to their wives some to their friends Master Cromwell to London it beeing then the beginning of the Parliament CHAP. 18. The Cardinall is accused of high Treason in the Parliament House against which accusation Mr. Cromwell late servant to him being a Burgesse in the Parliament made defence THe aforesaid Master Cromwell after his departure from my Lord devised with himselfe to bee one of the Burgesses of the Parliament And being at London hee chanced to meete one Sir Thomas Russell Knight a speciall friend of his whose son was one of the Burgesses of the Parliament of whom by meanes he obteyned his roome and so put his feete into the Parliament house and 3. dayes after his depature from my Lord hee came againe to Ashur and I beeing there with my Lord he said unto mee with a pleasant Countenance I have adventured my feet where I will bee better regarded ere the Parliament be dissolved And after hee had some talke with my Lord he made haste to London because he would not bee absent from the Parliament to the intent he might acquaint my Lord what was there objected against him thereby the better to make his defence insomuch that there was nothing at any time objected against my Lord but hee was readie to make answere thereunto by meanes whereof he beeing earnest in his Masters behalfe was reputed the most faithfull servant to his Master of all other and was generally of all men highly commended Then was there brought a Bill of Articles into the Parliament house to have my Lord condempned of high Treason against which Bill Master Cromwell did inveigh so discreetly and with such witty perswasions that the same would take no effect Then were his enemies constrained to indite him of a Premunire al was to intitle the King to all his goods and possessions which hee had obteyned and purchased for the maintenance of his Colledges of Oxford and Ipswich which were both most sumptuous buildings To the Judges that were sent to take my Lords answere here in hee thus answered My Lords Judges quoth hee the King knoweth whether I have offended or no in using my Preogative for the which I am indicted I have the Kings licence in my Coffer to shew under his hand and broad Seale for the executing and using thereof in most large manner the which now are in the hands of mine enemies but because I wil not here stand to contend with his Majesty in his owne case I will here presently before you confesse the Indictment and put my selfe wholy to the mercy and grace of the King trusting that he hath a conscience and reason to consider the truth and my humble submission and obedience wherein I might wel stand to my triall with Justice Thus much may you say to his Highnesse that I wholie submit my selfe under his obedience in all things to his Princely will and pleasure whom I never disobeyed or repugned but was alwaies contented and glad to please him before God whom I ought most chiefly to have believed and obeyed which I now repent I most heartily desire you to have me commended to him for whom I shall during my life pray to God to send him much prosperitie honour and victory over his enemies And so they left him After which Mr. Shelley the Judge was sent to speak with my Lord who understanding he was come issued out of his privie Chamber and came to him to know his businesse who after due salutation did declare unto him that the Kings pleasure was to demand my Lords house called Yorke-place neare Westminster belonging to the Bishopricke of Yorke And that you doe passe the same according to the Lawes of this Realme his Highnesse hath sent for all his Iudges and learned Counsell to know their opinions for your assurance thereof who bee fully resolved that your grace must make a Recognizance and before a Iudge acknowledge and confesse the right thereof to belong to the King and his Successors and so his Highnesse shall bee assured thereof Wherefore it hath pleased the King to send mee hither to take of you the Recognizance having in your Grace such affiance that you will not refuse to doe so therefore I doe desire to know your Graces pleasure therein Master Shelley quoth my Lord I know the King of his owne nature is of a Royall spirit not requiring more then reason shall leade him to by the Lawe And therefore I counsell you and all other Iudges and learned men of his Counsell to put no more into his head then Law that may stand with Conscience for when you tell him that although this bee Lawe yet it is not Conscience for Law without conscience is not fit to bee ministred by a King nor his Counsell nor by any of his Ministers for every Counsell to a King ought to have respect to Conscience before the rigour of the Law Laus est facere quod decet non quod licet The King ought for his Royall dignitie and prerogative to mitigate the rigour of the Lawe and therefore in his Princely place hee hath constituted a Chancellour to order for him the same and therefore the Court of Chauncery hath beene commonly called the Court of Conscience for that it hath jurisdiction to command the Law in every case to desist from the rigour of the execution And now I say to you Master Shelley have I a power or may I with Conscience give that away which is now mine for mee and my Successors if this bee Law and Conscience I pray you shew me your opinion Forsooth quoth hee there is no great conscience in it but having regard to the Kings great power it may the better stand with Conscience who is sufficient to rcompence the Church of Yorke with the double value That I know well quoth my Lord but there is no such condition but onely a bare and simple departure of others
rights if every Bishop should doe so then might every Prelate give away the Patrimony of the Church and so in proces of timeleave nothing for their Successors to maintain their dignities which would be but little to the Kings honour Well quoth my Lord let me see your Commission which was shewed to him then quoth my Lord tell his Highnesse that I am his most faithfull Subject and obedient beadesman whose command I will in no wife disobey but will in all things fulfill his pleasure as you the Fathers of the Law say I may Therefore I charge your Conscience to discharge mee and shew his Highnes from mee that I must desire his Majesty to remember there is both heaven and hell and thereupon the Clarke took and wrote the Recognizance and after some secret talke they departed Thus continued my Lord at Ashur receiving dayly messages from the Court some good and some bad but more ill then good for his enemies perceiving the good affection the King bare alwaies to him devised a means to disquiet his patience thinking thereby to give him occasion to fret and chafe that death should rather ensue then otherwise which they most desired for they feared him more after his fall then they did in his prosperitie Fearing hee should by reason of the Kings favour rise againe and bee againe in favour and great at the Court they his enemies might bee in danger of their lives for their cruelty wrongfully ministered unto him and by their malitious surmises invented and brought to passe against him And did continually finde new matters against him to make him vexe and frett but hee was a wise man and did arme himselfe with much patience At Christmas hee fell very sore sicke most likely to dye the King hearing thereof was very sorry and sent Doctor Butts his Physitian unto him who found him very dangerously sicke in Bedde and returned to the King The King demanded saying have you seene yonder man yes Sir quoth hee how doe you like him quoth the King Sir quoth he if you will have him dead I will warrant you he wil be dead within these foure dayes if hee receive no comfort from you shortly Marry God forbid quoth the King that hee should dye for I would not loose him for twenty Thousand pounds I pray you goe to him and doe youre care to him Then must your Grace quoth Doctor Buts send him some comfortable message So I will quoth the King by you therefore make speed to him againe and you shall deliver him this Ring from me for a Token In the which Ring was the Kings Image engraven with a Ruby as like the King as might be devised This Ring hee knoweth well for hee gave mee the same and tell him that I am not offended with him in my heart for any thing And that shal be known shortly therefore bid him pluck up his heart be of good comfort And I charge you come not from him till you have brought him out of the danger of Death if it bee possible Then spake the King to Mistris Anne Bulloign good Sweet heart as you love me send the Cardinall a Token at my Request and in so doing you shall deserve our Thankes Shee being disposed not to offend the King would not disobey his loving Request but tooke incontinently her Tablet of gold that hung at her side and delivered it to Doctor Buts with very gentle and loving Words and so hee departed to Ashur with speed and after him the King sent Doctor Cromer Doctor Clement and Doctor Wotton to consult and advise with Doctor Buts for my Lords recovery Now after Doctor Buts had beene with him and delivered him the Tokens from the King and Mistris Anne Bulloigne with the most comfortable Words he could devise on the Kings and Mistris Annes behalfe Hee advanced himselfe in his Bed and received the Tokens very joyfully giving him many thankes for his paines and good comfort Hee told him further that the Kings pleasure was that hee should minister unto him for his Health And for the better and more assured wayes hee hath also sent Doctor Cromer Doctor Clement and Doctor Wotton all to joyne for your recovery Therefore my Lord quoth Doctor Buts it were well they were called to visite you and to consult with them for your disease At which motion my Lord was contented and sent for them to heare their judgements but hee trusted more to Doctor Cromer then all the rest because hee was the very meanes to bring him from Paris to England and gave him partly his exhibition in Paris To be short in foure dayes they set him againe upon his feete and hee had gotten him a good stomacke to meate All this done and my Lord in a right good way of amendment they tooke their leaves and departed to whom my Lord offered his Reward but they refused saying the King hath given a speciall Commandment that they should take nothing of him for at their returne he would reward them of his owne cost After this my Lord continued at Ashur till Candle-masse before and against which Feast the King caused to be sent to my Lord three or foure loads of stuffe and most thereof except Beds and Kitchin-stuffe was loaded in Standars wherein was both plate and rich Hangings and Chappell stuffe which was done without the knowledge of the Lords of the Councell for all which hee rendered the King most humble and hearty thankes And afterwards made suite unto the King to be removed from Ashur to Richmond which request was granted The House of Richmond a little before was repaired by my L. to his great cost for the K. had made an exchang with him for Hampton-court Had the Lords of the Counsell knowne of these favours from the King to the Cardinall they would have perswaded the King to the contrary for they feared least his now abode neere the King might move the King at some season to resort unto him and to call him home againe considering the great and daily affection the King bare unto him Therfore they moved the King that my Lord might goe downe to the North to his benefice there where hee might bee a good stay as they alleadged to the Countrey to which the King condiscended thinking no lesse but that all had been true according to their relation beeing with such colour of deep consideration that the King was straitway perswaded to their conclusion whereupon my Lord of Norfolke by Master Cromwell who daily did resort to my Lord that hee should say to him that he must goe home to his Benefice well then Thomas quoth my Lord wee will goe then to Winchester I will then quoth Master Cromwell tell my Lord of Norfolke what you say and so hee did at his next meeting of him what should he doe there quoth the Duke let him goe to the rich Bishoprick of Yorke where his greatest honour and charge lyeth and so shew
to him The Lords who were not his friends perceiving that my Lord was disposed to plant himselfe so nigh the King thought then to withdraw his appetite from Winchester moved the King to give my Lord a pension of fowre thousand markes out of Winchester and all the rest to be distributed amongst the Nobilitie and his servants And so likewise to divide the Revenues of Saint Albons whereof some had 200. pound and al his Revenues of his Lands belonging to his Colledge at Oxford and Ipswich the King tooke into his owne hands whereof Master Cromwell had the receit and government before by my Lords assignment wherfore it was thought very necessary that he should have the same still who executed all things so well and exactly that he was had in great estimation for his behaviour therein Now it came to passe that those to whom the King had given any annuities or fees for term of life or by patent could not be good but onely for and during my Lords life for as much as the King had no longer estate therein but what hee had by my Lords attainder in the Premunire And to make their estate good and sufficient there was no other way but to obtaine my Lords confirmation of their patents And to bring this about there was no other meanes but by Master Cromwell who was thought the fittest Instrument for this purpose and for his paines therein he was worthily rewarded and his demeanor his honesty and wisedome was such that the King tooke great notice of him as you shall hereafter heare Still the Lords thought long till my Lord was removed further off the Kings way wherefore among others of the Lords my Lord of Norfolke said Master Cromwell me thinkes the Cardinall thy Master makes no hast to goe Northwards tell him if hee goe not away I will tear him with my teeth Therefore I would advise him to prepare away with speed or else I will set him forwards These words reported Mr. Cromwel to my Lord at his next repaire which was then at Richmond having obteyned licence of the King to remove from Ashur to Richmond and in the evening my Lord being accustomed to walke in the Garden and I being with him standing in an Alley I espied certaine Images of Beasts counterfeited in Timber which I went nearer to take the better view of them among whom I there saw stand a dunne Cow whereat I most mused of all those beasts My Lord then suddenly came upon mee unawares and speaking to me said what have you spied there whereat you looke so earnestly Forsooth quoth I if it please your Grace I here behold these Images which I suppose were ordained to be set up in the kings Palace but amongst them all I have most considered this Cowe which seemes to mee the Artificers Master-piece Yea marry quoth my Lord upon this Cowe hangs a certaine Prophesie which perhaps you never heard of I will shew you there is a saying When the Cowe doth ride the Bull Then Priest beware thy Scull Which saying neither my Lord that declared it nor I that heard it understood the effect although the compasse thereof was working and then like to bee brought to passe this Cowe the King gave by reason of the Earledome of Richmond which was Inheritance This Prophesie was afterwards expounded in this manner The dunne Cow because it is the Kings beast betokens the King and the Bull betokens Mistris Anne Bulloigne who after was Queene her Father gave the blacke Bulls head in his Cognizance and was his Beast so that when the King had marryed Queene Anne it was thought of all men to bee fulfilled for what a number of Priests Religious and secular lost their heads for offending of those Lawes made to bring this matter to passe is not unknowne to all the world therefore it may well be judged that this prophesie is fulfilled You have heard what words the Duke of Norfolke spake to Master Cromwell touching my Lords going into the North then said my Lord Tom It is time to bee going therefore I pray you goe to the King and tell him I would goe to my Benefice at Yorke but for lacke of moneyes desiring his Grace to helpe him to some and you may say that the last mony I had from his Grace was too little to pay my debts and to compell me to pay the rest of my debts were too much extremitie seeing all my goods are taken from mee Also shew my Lord of Norfolk and the rest of the Counsell that I would depart if I had money Sir quoth Master Cromwell I shall doe my best so after other communication departed and came to London then in the beginning of Lent my Lord removed his lodging into the Charterhous at Richmond where he lay in a lodging that Dr. Collet made for himselfe and every after-noon for the time of his residence there would he sit in contemplation with some one of the most auncient Fathers there who converted him to dispose the vain glory of this world and there they gave unto him shirts of haire to wear next his bodie which hee were divers times after The Lords assigned that my Lord should have 1000. Markes pension out of Winchester for his going downe into the North which when the King heard of hee commanded that it should be forthwith paid unto Mr. Cromwell And the King commanded Master Cromwell to repaire to him againe when he had received the said Sum which he accordingly did To whom his Majestie said shew your Lord that I have sent him tenne thousand pounds of my benevolence and tell him hee shall not lacke bid him bee of good comfort Master Cromwell on my Lords behalfe thanked the King for his royall liberalitie towards my Lord and with that departed to Richmond to whom he delivered the mony and the joyfull tidings wherein my Lord did not a little rejoyce forthwith there was a preparation made for his going hee had with him in his traine one hundred and sixtie persons having with him twelve Cartes to carrie his goods which hee sent from his Colledge at Oxford besides other Cartes of his daily carriage of his necessaries for his buildings hee kept his solempne feast of Easter at Peterborow and upon Palme-Sunday he bare his palm and went on procession with the Monkes and upon Thursday hee made his Mandy having 59 poor people whose feete hee washed and kissed and after he had dried them hee gave every one of them twelve pence and three ells of good Canvas to make them shirts and each of them a paire of new shooes and a caske of Red-herring on Easter-day hee rose to the Resurrection and that day he went in procession in his Cardinals vestments and having his hat on his head and sung the high masse there himselfe solempnlie after his masse he gave his Benediction to all the hearers with cleane remission From Peterborow hee tooke his journey
well for I assure you that the King is his very good Lord and hath given me most hearty thanks for his entertainment And therefore goe your way to him and perswade him I may find him in quiet at my comming for I will not tarry long after you Sir quoth I and if it please your Lordship I shall endeavor to the best of my Power to accomplish your Lordships command But Sir I doubt when I name this Sir William Kingston that he will mistrust some il because he is Constable of the Tower and Captaine of the guard having in his company 24. of the Guard to accompanie him That is nothing quoth the Earle what if he be Constable of the Tower and Captaine of the Guard he is the fittest man for his wisedome and discretion to be sent about such a businesse and for the Guard it is onely to defend him from those that might intend him any ill Besides that the Guard are for the most part such of his old servants as the King hath tooke into his service to attend him most justly Well Sir quoth I I shall doe what I can and so departed and went to my Lord and found him in the Gallery with his Staffe and his Beades in his hands and seeing mee come he asked me what newes forsooth quoth I the best newes that ever you heard if you can take it well I pray God it bee true â— then quoth hee my Lord of Shrewsbury said I your most assured friend hath so provided by his letters to the King that his Majestie hath sent for you by Master Kingston and 24. of the Guard to conduct you to his Highnesse Master Kingston quoth hee and clapped his hand on his Thigh and gave a great sigh May it please your Grace quoth I I would you would take all things well it would be much better for you content your selfe for Gods sake and thinke that God and your good friends have wrought for you according to your own desires And as I conceive you have much more cause to rejoyce then lament or mistrust the matter for I assure you that your friends are more affraid of you then you need be of them And his Majestie to shew his love to you hath sent Master Kingston to honour you with as much honour as is your Graces due and to convey you in such easie journeys as is fitting for you and you shall command him to do and that you shall have your request And I humbly entreat you to imprint this my perswasion in your Highnesse discretion and to be of good cheere wherewith you shall comfort your selfe and give your frinds and poore servants great comfort and content Well quoth he I perceive more then you can imagine or doe know presently after came my Lord to acquaint him with that I had so lately related my L. Cardinall thanked the Earle for his great love and called for Master Kingston who came to him presently and kneeling down before him saluted him in the kings behalfe whom my Lord bareheaded offered to take up but he would not then quoth my Lord Master Kingston I pray you stand up and leave your kneeling to me for I am a wretch repleat with misery not esteeming my selfe but as a meere abject utterly cast away but without desert God he knowes therefore good Master Kingston stand up Then Master Kingston said the Kings Majestie hath him commended unto you I thanke his Highnesse quoth my Lord I hope he is in good health Yea quoth Master Kingston and he hath him commended unto you and commanded me to bid you be of good cheere for hee beareth you as much good will as ever hee did And whereas Report hath been made unto him that you should commit against his Majestie certain heynos crimes which he thinketh to be but yet hee for ministration of Justice in such Cases requisite could doe no lesse then send for you that you might have your triall mistrusting nothing your truth and wisedome but that you shall be able to acquit your selfe of all complaints and accusations extended against you And you may take your journey to him at your pleasure commanding me to attend you Master Kingston quoth my Lord I thanke you for your good newes And Sir hereof assure your selfe if I were as able and lusty as ever I was to ride I would goe with you post But alas I am a diseased man having a sluxe at which time it was apparant that he had poisoned himself it hath made me very weake but the Comfortable news you bring is of purpose I doubt to bring me into a fooles Paradise for I know what is provided for me Notwithstanding I thanke you for your good will and paines taken about mee and I shall with speed make readie to ride with you After this I was commanded to make all things readie for our departure the morrow after When my Lord went to bed he fell very sick of the Laske which caused him to goe to stoole from time to time all that night insomuch that from that time till morning hee had 50. stooles And the matter that he voided was very blacke which the Physitians called Adustine whose opinions were that he had not above 4. or 5. daies to live Notwithstanding he would have ridden with Mr. Kingston the next day had not the Earle of Shrewsbury advised him to the contrarie but the next day hee took his journey with Master Kingston and them of the Guard who espying him could not abstaine from weeping considering he was their old Master and now in such a miserable case whom my Lord tooke by the hand and would as hee rode by the way sometimes talke with one and sometimes with an other till he came to a house of my Lords standing in the way called Hardwick hall where he lay all that night very ill at case The next day he came to Nottingham and the next day to Leicester abbey and the next day he waxed very sick that he had almost fallen from his horse so that it was night ere he got to Leicester abbey where at his comming in at the Gates the Abbot with all their Covent met him with many lighted Torches whom they honourably received and welcommed with great reverence To whom my Lord said Father Abbot I am come to lay my bones amongst you riding still on his mule till he came to the stairs of his Chamber where hee alighted Master Kingston holding him by the arme led him up the staires who told me afterwards that he never felt so heavie a burthen in all his life and as soone as he was in his Chamber he went straight to bed this was upon Satterday and so he continued On Monday in the morning as I stood by is bedside about eight of the clock in the morning the windowes being close shut and having wax lights burning upon the Cupboard I thought I perceived him drawing on towards death Hee perceiving
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 some they wonne and to some they lost And having viewed all the Ladyes they returned to the Cardinall with great Reverence pouring downe all their gold which was above two hundred crownes At all quoth the Cardinall and casting the Dye he wonne it whereat was made great joy Then quoth the Cardinall to my Lord Chamberlaine I pray you goe tell them that to me it seemeth that there should be a Nobleman amongst them that better deserves to sit in this place then I to whom I should gladly surrender the same according to my duty if I knew him Then spake my Lord Chamberlaine to them in French declaring my Lord Cardinalls words and they rounding him againe in the eare the Lord Chamberlaine said unto my Lord Cardinall Sir quoth he they confesse that among them is such a Noble personage whom if your Grace can point out from the rest he is contented to disclose himselfe and to accept of your place most willingly With that the Cardinall taking good advise went amongst them and at the last quoth he it seemeth to mee that the Gentleman with the blacke beard should be he and with that he rose out of his Chaire and offered the same to the Gentleman with the blacke Beard with the Cup in his hand But the Cardinall was mistaken for the person to whom he then offered his Chaire was Sir Edward Nevill a comely Knight and of a goodly personage who did more resemble his Majesties person then any other in that Masque Then the King tooke his seat under the cloath of Estate commanding every person to sit still as they did before And then came in a new Banquet before his Majestie of two hundred dishes and so they passed the night in Banquetting and dancing untill morning which much rejoyced the Cardinall to see his Soveraigne Lord so pleasant at his house CHAP. IX Of the originall Instrument of the Cardinalls fall Mistris Anne Bullen NOw you shall understand that the young Lord of Northumberland attended upon my Lord Cardinall who when the Cardinall went to Court would ever have conference with Mistris Anne Bullen who then was one of the Maides of Honour to Queene Katharine insomuch that at last they were contracted together which when the King heard he was much moved thereat for hee had a private affection to her himselfe which was not yet discovered to any and then advised the Cardinall to send for the Earle of Northumberland his Father and take order to dissolve the Contract made betweene the said parties which the Lord Cardinall did after a sharpe reprehension in regard he was Contracted without the King and his Fathers knowledge Hee sent for his Father who came up to London very speedily and came first to my Lord Cardinall as all great Personages did that in such sort were sent for of whom they were advertised of the cause of their sending for And when the Earle was come hee was presently brought to the Cardinall into the Gallery After whose meeting my Lord Cardinall and he were in secret communication a long space after their long discourse and drinking a cup of Wine the Earle departed and at his going away he sate downe at the Gallery end in the Hall upon a forme and being set called his Sonne unto him and said Sonne quoth he even as thou art and ever hast been a proud disdainfull and very unthrifty Master so thou hast now declared thy selfe wherefore what joy what pleasure what comfort or what solace can I conceive in thee That thus without discretion hast abused thy selfe having neither regard to me thy Naturall Father nor unto thy naturall Soveraigne Lord to whom all honest and loyall Subjects beare faithfull obedience nor yet to the prosperitie of thy owne estate But hast so unadvisedly ensnared thy selfe to her for whom thou hast purchased the Kings high displeasure intollerable for any Subject to susteine And but that the King doth consider the lightnesse of thy head and wilfull qualities of thy person his displeasure and indignation were sufficient to cast me and all my posteritie into utter ruine and destruction But hee being my singular good Lord and favourable Prince and my Lord Cardinall my very good friend hath and doth cleerely excuse me in thy lewdnesse and doe rather lament thy folly then maligne thee and hath advised an order to be taken for thee to whom both I and you are more bound then we conceive of I pray to God that this may be a sufficient Admonition unto thee to use thy selfe more wisely hereafter For assure thy selfe that if thou dost not amend thy prodigalitie Thou wilt be the last Earle of our house For thy naturall inclination thou art Masterfull and prodigall to consume all that thy Progenitors have with great travell gathered and kept together with honour But having the Kings Majestie my singular good Lord I trust I assure thee so to order my succession that thou shalt consume thereof but a little For I doe not intend I tell thee truly to make thee Heire for thankes be to God I have more boyes that I trust will use themselves much better and prove more like to wise and honest men of whom I will choose the most likely to succeed mee Now good Masters and Gentlemen quoth he unto us it may be your chances hereafter when I am dead to see those things that I have spoken to my Sonne prove as true as I now speake them yet in the meane time I desire you all to be his friends and tell him his faults in what he doth amisse wherein you shall shew your selves friendly to him and so I take my leave of you And son goe your wayes unto my Lord your Master and serve him diligently And so parted and went downe into the Hall and so tooke his Barge Then after long and large debating the matter about the Lord Percies assurance to Mistris Anne Bullen it was devised that the Contract should bee infringed and dissolved And that the Lord Piercy should marry one of the Earle of Shrewsburies Daughters And so indeed not long after he did whereby the former Contract was broken and dissolved wherewith Mistris Anne was greatly displeased promising that if ever it lay in her power she would doe the Cardinall some displeasure which indeed she afterwards did But yet he was not altogether to be blamed for he did nothing but what the King commanded whereby the Lord Piercy was charged to avoyd her company And so was she for a time discharged the Court and sent home to her Father whereat she was much troubled and perplexed For all this time she knew nothing of the Kings intended purpose But wee may see when Fortune doth begin to frowne how shee can compasse a matter of displeasure through a farre fetcht Marke Now therefore of the grudge how it began that in processe of time wrought the Cardinals utter destruction CHAP. X. Of Mistris Anne Bullen her
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
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
countrey The fourth day he rode to Canterbury where he was kindly entertained by the Bishop of the Citie and there he continued foure or five dayes In which season was the Iubilee and a great Faire in the Towne by reason it was the feast of Saint Thomas their Patron upon which day there was a solemne procession wherein my Lord Cardinall was in his Legantine Ornaments with his hat upon his head who commanded the Monks and the Quire to sing the Latine after this sort Sancta Maria or a pro Papa nostra Clemente and in this manner perused the Latine through My Lord Cardinall kneeling at a stoole before the Quire doore prepared for him with Carpets and Cushions All the Monkes and the Quire stood in the body singing the Letany At which time I saw my Lord Cardinall weepe tenderly the which James I and others conceived to bee for griefe that the Pope was in such calamity and danger of the Lance Knights The next day I was sent with Letters from my Lord to a Cardinall in Callice in post so that I was the same night in Callice At my arrivall I found standing upon the Peere without the Lanthorne-gate all the Councell of the Towne to whom I delivered up my message and my Letters before I entered the Towne where I lay untill my Lord came thither who arrived two dayes after my comming thither before eight of the clock in the morning and was received of all the noble Officers and Councell of the Towne and the Major of the staple with procession the Clarkes being in rich Copes having many rich Crosses In the Lanthorne-gate a stoole with Cushions and Carpets was set for him where hee kneeled and made his prayers At which time they fenced him in with Seizures of silver and sprinkled water that done they passed on before him in procession untill hee came unto Saint Maries Church where at the high Altar turning him to the people hee gave them his Benediction and pardon and then hee repaired with a great number of Noblemen and Gentlemen to a place in the Towne called the Chequer where he kept his house so long as he abode in the Towne going immediatly into his naked Bed because he was some what troubled with sicknesse by reason of his passage by Sea That night he called unto him Mounsier de Bees Captaine of Bulloigne with divers other Gallants and Gentlemen who had dyned with him that day and having some further consultation with my Lord Cardinall he and the rest of the Gentlemen departed againe to Bulloigne Thus my Lord was daily visited with one or other of the French Nobility When all his traine and carriage was landed and all things prepared for his journey his Grace called all his Noblemen and Gentlemen into the Privie Chamber where being assembled before him he said I have called you hither to declare unto you that I would have you both consider the dutie you owe to me and the good will I semblably beare to you for the same Your intendment of service is to further the Authority I have by Commission from the King which diligent observance of yours I will hereafter recommend to his Majestie as also to shew you the Nature of the French-men and withall to instruct you with Reverence you shall use me for the high honour of the Kings Majestie and to informe you how you shall entertaine and accompany the Frenchmen when you meet at any time Concerning the first point you shall understand for divers weighty affaires of his graces and for meere advancement of his royall dignity hee hath assigned mee in this Journey to bee his Lieutenant what reverence therefore belongeth to mee for the same I will shew you By vertue therefore of my Commission and Lieutenantship I assume and take upon mee to bee esteemed in all honour and degrees of service as unto his highnes is meet and due and that by mee nothing bee neglected that to his State is due and appertinent for my part you shall see that I will not omit one jot thereof Therefore one of your chiefe causes of your Assembly at this time is to informe you that you bee not ignorant of your duty in this I wish you therefore as you would have my favour and also charge you all in the Kings name that you doe not forget the same in time and place but that every of you doe observe his duty to mee according as you will at your returne avoide the Kings indignation or deserve his Highnesse thankes the which I will set forth at our returne as each of you shall deserve Now to the second point the nature of the Frenchmen is such that at their first meeting they will bee as familiar with you as if they had knowne you by long acquaintance and will commune with you in their French tongue as if they knew every word therefore use them in a kind manner and bee as familiar with them as they are with you if they speake to you in their naturall tongue speake to them in English for if you understand not them no more shall they you Then speaking merrily to one of the Gentlemen being a Welshman Rice quoth hee speake thou welsh to them and doubt not but thy speech will be more difficult to them then their French shall bee to thee Moreover hee said unto them all let your entertainement and behaviour bee according to all Gentlemens in humility that it may bee reported after our departure from thence that you were Gentlemen of very good behaviour and humility That all men may know you understand your duties to your King and to your Master Thus shall you not onely obtaine to your selves great commendations and praises But also greatly advance your Prince and Countrey Now being admonished of these things prepare your selves against tomorrow for then we purpose to set forward Therefore we his servants being thus instructed and all things being in a readinesse proceeded forwards the next day being Mary Magdalens day my Lord Cardinall advanced out of Callis with such a number of black Coats as hath beene seldome seene with the Ambassadour went all the Peeres of Callis and Groynes All other Gentlemen besides those of his traine were garnished with black Velvet coats and Chaines of gold Thus passed he forward with his troope before three in a Ranke which compasse extended three quarters of a mile in length having his Crosses and all other his accustomed glorious furniture carried before him as I have formerly related except the Broad Seale the which hee left with Doctor Taylor then Master of the Rolls untill his returne Thus passing on his way we had scarce gone a mile but it began to raigne so vehemently that I have not seen the like for the time which endured untill we came to Bulloigne and ere we came to Standingfield the Cardinall of Lorraine a goodly young Gentleman gave my Lord
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
and so alighted and in humble reverence did his Message to my Lord that done hee repaired to the King And then the King advanced forwards seeing my Lord doe the like and in the mid way they meet embracing each other with amiable countenances Then came into the place all Noblemen and Gentlemen on both parts who made a mighty presse Then the Kings Officers cried penant de la vant march march So the King with the Lord Cardinall on his right hand rode towards Amience Every English Gentleman being accompained with an other of France The traine of these two great Princes was two miles in length that is to say from the place of their meeting unto Amience where they were nobly received with Gunnes and Pageants untill the King had brought my Lord to his lodging and then departed for that night The King being lodged in the Bishops Pallace And the next day after dinner my Lord rode with a great traine of English Noblemen and Gentlemen unto the Court to the King at which time the King kept his Bed yet neverthelesse my Lord came into his Bedchamber where on the one side of the Bed sat the Kings Mother and on the other side the Cardinall of Lorraine accompanied with divers other Gentlemen of France and after some communication and drinking of wine with the Kings Mother my Lord departed and returned to his owne lodging accompanied with divers other Lords and Gentlemen Thus continued my Lord at Amience and also the King 14. dayes feasting each other divers times and there one day at Masse the King and my Lord received the holy Sacrament as also the Queene Regent and the Queene of Navarre after that it was determined that the King and my Lord should remove and so they rode to a City called Campaine which was more then 20. miles from Amience unto which Towne I was sent to provide lodging for my Lord and in my travell I having occasion to stay by the way at a little Village to shoe my horse There came to me a servant from the Castle there perceiving mee to bee an Englishman and one of my Lord Legates servants as they then called my Lord desired mee to goe into the Castle to the Lord his Master whom hee thought would bee very glad to see mee to whom I consented because I desired acquaintance with strangers especially with men of authority and honourable ranck so I went with him who conducted mee to the Castle and at my first entrance I was among the Watchmen who kept the first ward being very tall men and comely persons who saluted me very kindly and knowing the cause of my comming they advertised their Lord and Master and forthwith the Lord of the Castle came out unto mee whose name was Monsieur Crookesly a Nobleman borne and at his comming hee embraced mee saying that I was heartily welcome and thanked mee that was so gentle as to visit him and his Castle saying that hee was preparing to meet the King and my Lord Cardinall and to invite them to his Castle and when hee had shewed mee the strength of his Castle and the Walls which were 14. foot broad and I had seeh all the houses hee brought mee downe into a faire inner Court where his Jennet stood ready for him with 12. other of the fairest Jennets that ever I saw especcially his owne which was a Mare which Jennet he told mee hee had 400. crownes offered for her Upon these 12. Jennets were mounted 12. goodly Gentlemen called Pages of honour they rode all bare-headed in Coates of cloath of gold guarded with black velvet and they had all of them boots of read Spanish leather Then tooke he his leave of me commanding his Steward and other of his Gentlemen to conduct me to his Lady to dinner So they led me up to the Gatehouse wher then their Lady and Mistris lay for the time that the King and the Cardinall should tarry there And after a short time the Lady Crookesley came out of her Chamber into the dyning roome where I attended her comming who did receive me very Nobly like her selfe she having a traine of twelve Gentlemen that did attend on her Forasmuch quoth she as you are an English Gentleman whose custome is to kisse all Ladies and Gentlewomen in your Countrey without offence yet it is not so in this Realme Notwithstanding I will be so bold as to kisse you and so shall you salute all my Maides After this we went to dinner being as nobly served as ever I saw any in England passing all dinner time in pleasing discourses And shortly after dinner I tooke my leave and was constrained that night to lye short of Campanie at a great walled Towne called Moundrodrey the Suburbes whereof my Lord of Suffolke had lately burned and early in the morning I came to Campanie being Saturday and Market day where at my first comming I tooke up my Inne over against the Market place and being set at dinner in a faire Chamber that looked out into the street I heard a great noise and clattering of Bills and looking out I saw the Officers of the Towne bringing a Prisoner to execution and with a Sword cut off his head I demanded what was the offence they answered me for killing of Red Deare in the Forrest neere adjoyning And incontinently they held the poore mans head upon a Pole in the Market place betweene the Stagges hornes and his foure quarters set up in foure places of the Forrest Having prepared my Cardinals lodgings in the great Castle of the Towne and seene it furnished my Lord had the one halfe assigned and the King the other halfe and in like manner they divided the Gallery betweene them And in the middest thereof there was made a strong Wall with a Window and a Doore where the King and my Lord did often meet and talke and divers times goe one to the other through the same Doore Also there was lodged in the same Castle Madam Regent the Kings Mother and all the Ladies and Gentlewomen that did attend on her Not long after came the Lord Chancellour of France a very witty man with all the Kings grave Councellours where they tooke great paines daily in consultation At which time I heard my Lord Cardinall fall out with the Chancellour of France laying to his charge that he went about to hinder the League which was before his comming concluded upon by the King our Soveraigne Lord and the French King their Master Insomuch that my Lord stomacked him stoutly and told him it was not he that should infringe the amiable friendship And if the French King his Master being there present would follow his the Chancellours counsell hee should not faile shortly after his returne to feele the smart what it was to maintaine Warre against the King of England and thereof hee should be well assured insomuch that his angry speech and bold countenance made them all
cost or expence nor paines to make them such a triumphant Banquet as they might not onely wonder at it here but also make a glorious report to the great honour of our King and this Realme Thus having made knowne his pleasure to accomplish his commandement they sent out all the Carriers Purveyors and other persons to my Lords friends to prepare Also they sent to all expert Cooks and cunning persons in the art of cookery in London or else where that might be gotten to beautifie the noble Feast Then the Purveyours provided and my Lords friends sent in such provision that it was a wonder to see it The Cooks they wrought both day and night in many curious devises where was no lacke of gold silver or any other costly thing the Yeomen and Grooms of his Wardrobe were busied in hanging the Chambers with costly Hangings and furnishing the same with beds of silke and other furniture for the same in every degree Then my Lord sent mee being his Gentleman Vsher and two other of my fellowes to foresee all things touching our roomes to bee richly garnished wherein our paines was not small But daily wee travelled up and downe from Chamber to Chamber to see things fitted Then wrought Ioyners Carpenters Painters and all other Artificers needfull that there was nothing wanting to adorne this noble Feast There was carriage and re-carriage of plate stuffe and other rich emploiments so that there was nothing lacking that could be devised or imagined for the purpose There were also provided two hundred and eighty beds with all manner of furniture to them too long here to be related The day assigned to the French-men being come they were ready assembled before the houre of their appointment wherfore the Officers caused them to ride to Hannorth a Parke of the Kings within three miles of Hampton Court there to spend the time in hunting till night which they did and then returned and every of them were conveyed to their severall Chambers having in them good fires and store of wine where they remayned till Supper was ready The Chambers where they supped and banquetted were adorned thus First the great wayting Chamber was hung with very rich cloath of Arras and so all the rest some better then others and furnished with tall yeomen to serve There were set Tables round about the Chambers Banquetwise covered Also a Cubbard garnished with white plate having also in the same chamber foure great plates to give the more light set with great lights agreat fire of wood and coales The next Chamber was the Chamber of presence richly hanged also with cloath of Arras and a sumptuous cloath of State furnished with many goodly Gentlemen to serve The Tables were ordered in manner as the other were save onely the high table was removed beneath the cloath of State towards the midst of the Chamber with six desks of plate garnished all over with fine gold saving one paire of Candlesticks of silver and guilt with lights in the same the Cubberd was barred about that no man could come very neere it for there were divers peeces of great store of plate to use besides the plates that hung on the Walles to give light were silver and guilt with wax lights Now were all things in readines and supper fit the principall Officers caused the Trumpets to blow to warne them to supper Then the Officers conducted the Noblemen where they were to sup and they being set the service came up in such aboundance both costly and full of devises with such a pleasant noise of musique that the Frenchmen as it seemed were wrapt up in a heavenly Paradice You must understand that my Lord Cardinall was not there all this while But the French Monsieurs were very merry with their rich fare and curious cates and knackes But before the second course my Lord Cardinall came in booted and spurred suddenly amongst them at whose comming there was great joy every man rising from his place whom my Lord Cardinall caused to sit still and keepe their places and being in his riding apparrell called for his chaire and sat him downe in the midst of the high Table and was there as merry and pleasant as ever I saw him in my life Presently after came up the second course which was above 100. severall devises which were so goodly and costly that I thinke the Frenchmen never saw the like But the rarest curiosity of all the rest they all wondred at which indeed was worthy of wonder were castles with Images in the same like Saint Paules Church for the Modell of it there were beasts birdes fowles personages most excellently made some fighting with swordes some with gunnes other with crosbowes some dancing with Ladies some on horseback with compleat armour justling with long and sharpe speares with many more strange devises which I cannot describe Amongst all I noted there was a chesboard made of spice plate with men of the same and of good proportion And because the Frenchmen are very expert at that sport My Lord Cardinall gave that same to a French Gentleman commanding that there should bee made a good case to convey the same into his Country Then called my Lord for a great boule of gold filled with Hipocras and putting of his cap said I drinke a health to the King my Soveraigne Lord and next unto the King your Master And when hee had drunke a harty draught hee desired the grand Master to pledge him a cup which cup was worth 500. Markes And so all the Lords in order pledged these great Princes Then went the cup merrily about so that many of the Frenchmen were led to their beds then went my Lord into his privy Chamber making a short supper or rather a short repast and then returned againe into the presence Chamber amongst the Frenchmen behaving himselfe in such a loving sort and so familiarly towards them that they could not sufficiently commend him And while they were in communication and pastime all their livery were served to theirs Chambers every Chamber had a Bason and Ewer of silver a great livery pot with plenty of wine and sufficient of every thing Thus furnished was every roome about the house when all was done then were they conducted to their lodgings In the morning after they had heard Masse they stayed dyned with my Lord and so departed towards Windsor And as soone as they were gone my Lord returned to London because it was the midst of the Tearme You must conceive the King was privy to this magnificent feast who then intended farre to exceede the same which I referre to the French mens returne Now the King had given command to his Officers to provide a farre more sumptuous Banquet for the Strangers then they had at the Cardinals which was not neglected After the return of these Strangers from Windsor which place they much commended for the scituation thereof the King invited them to the Court
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
King and kneeled downe at his feete saying these words in broken English as followeth viz. Sir quoth shee I beseech you doe mee Iustice and right and take some pitty upon mee for I am a poore woman and a stranger borne out of your Dominions having here no indifferent Counsell and lesse assurance of friendship alas Sir how have I offended you what offence have I given you intending to abridge me of life in this sort I take God to witnes I have been to you a true and loyall wife ever conformable to your will and Pleasure never did I contrary or gainsay your minde but alwayes submitted my selfe in all things wherein you had any delight or dalliance whether it were little or much without grudging or any signe of discontent I have loved for your sake all men whom you have loved whether I had cause or not were they friends or foes I have beene your wife this twenty yeares by whom you had many Children And when I first came to your Bed I take God to witnesse I was a Virgin whether it were true or no I put it to your Conscience if there bee any cause that you can alleadge either of dishonesty or of any other matter lawfull to put mee from you I am willing to depart with shame and rebuke but if there bee none then I pray you let me have Iustice at your hands The King your Father was a man of such an excellent wit in his time that he was accounted a second Salomon and the King of Spaine my father Ferdinand was taken for one of the wisest Kings that raigned in Spaine these many yeares So they were both wise men and noble Princes and it is no question but they had wise Counsellours of eyther Realme as be now at this day who thought at the marriage of you and me to heare what new devises are now invented against me to cause me to stand to the order of this Court And I conceive you doe mee much wrong may you condemne me for not answering having no Councell but such as you have assigned me You must consider that they cannot be indifferent on my part being your owne Subjects and such as you have made choyce of out off your owne Councell whereunto they are privy and dare not disclose your pleasure Therefore I most humbly beseech you to spare me untill I know how my friends in Spaine will advise me But if you will not then let your pleasure be done And with that she rose making a low Curtesie to the King and departed from thence all the people thinking she would have returned againe to her former Seate but she went presently out of the Court leaning upon the arme of one of her Servants who was her generall receiver one Mr. Griffith The King seeing that we was ready to goe out of the Court commaunded the Cryer to call her againe by these words Katherine Queene of England come into the Court Loe quoth M. Griffith you are called again Goe on quoth she it is no matter It is no indifferent Court for me therefore I will not tarry goe on your way and so they departed without any further answer at that time or any appearance in any other Court after that The King seeing she was departed thus and considering her words sayd to the Audience these few words in effect Forasmuch quoth hee as the Queene is gone I wil in her absence declare unto you all shee hath beene to me a true obedient wife and as comfortable as I could wish or desire shee hath all the virtues and good qualities that belong to a woman of her Dignity or in any of meaner estate her conditions will well declare the same Then quoth my Lord Cardinal I humbly beseech your Highnesse to declare unto this Audience whether I have been the first and chiefe moover of this matter unto your Highnesse or no for I am much suspected of all men My Lord Cardinall quoth the King you have rather advised me to the contrary then been any mover of the same The speciall cause that moved me in this matter is a certaine scruple that pricked my conscience upon certaine words spoken by the Bishop of Bayon the French Ambassadour who came hither to consult of a Marriage between the Princesse our daughter the Lady Mary and the Duke of Orleans second Sonne to the King of Fraunce and upon resolution and determination hee desired respite to advertise the King his Master thereof whether our daughter Mary should be legitimate in respect of my marriage with this woman beeing sometimes my Brothers wife which words I pondering begot such a scruple in my conscience that I was much troubled at it whereby I thought my selfe in danger of Gods heavie displeasure and indignation and the rather because he sent us no issue Male for all the issue Male that I have had by my wife dyed incontinently after they came into the world which caused me to feare Gods displeasure in the particular Thus my conscience being tossed in that waves of troublesome doubts and partly in despaire to have any other issue then I had already by this Lady my now wife It behooved mee to consider the estate of this Realme and the danger it stands in for lack of a Prince to succeed mee I thought it therefore good in release of this mighty burthen on my Conscience as also for the quiet estate of this Realme to attempt a tryall in the Law herein Whether I might lawfully take another wife without staine of carnal concupiscence by which God may send more issue in case this my first copulation was not good I not having any displeasure in the person or age of the Queen with whom I could bee well contented to continue if our Marriage may stand with the Law of God as with any woman alive in which point consisteth all the doubt that wee goe about now to know by the Learned wisedome of you our Prelates and Pastors of this Realm and Dominion now here assembled for that purpose to whose Consciences and learning I have committed the care and Judgement according to which I will God willing bee well contented to submit my selfe and obey the same And when my Conscience was so troubled I moved it to you my Lord of Lincolne in confession then beeing my Ghostly Father And forasmuch as you were then in some doubt you moved me to aske Counsell of the rest of the Bishops whereupon I moved it to you my Lord Cardinall to have your licence forasmuch as you are Metropolitan to put this matter in question and so I did to all you my Lords to which you all granted under your Seales which is heere to shew that is truth quoth the Bishop of Canterbury and I doubt not but my Brothers will acknowledge the same No Sir not so under correction quoth the Bishop of Rochester for you have not my hand and Seale no quoth the King is
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
you but not to the Earle without I see his Commission and also you are a sufficient Commissioner in this behalf being one of the privie Chamber Therefore put your Commission in execution spare me not I will obey you and the King for I feare not the crueltie of mine enemies no more then I doe the truth of my Allegiance wherein I take God to witnesse I never offended his Majesty in word or deede and therein I dare stand face to face with any having a difference without partiality Then came my Lord of Northumberland and commanded mee to avoide the Chamber And being loath to depart from my Master I stood still and would not remove to whom he spake againe and said there is no remedie you must depart with that I looked upon my Master as who would have said shall I goe and perceiving by his countenance that it was not for me to stay I departed and went into an other chamber where were many Gentlemen and others to heare newes to whom I made a report of what I heard and saw which was great heauinesse to them all Then the Earle called into his Chamber diuers of his owne servants and after he and Master Welsh had taken the keyes from my Lord hee committed the keeping of my Lord unto five Gentlemen and then they went about the house and put all things in order intending to depart the next day and to certifie the King and the rest of the Lords what they had done Then went they busie about to Convey Doctor Austine away to London with as much speede and privacy as they could possible sending with him divers persons to conduct him who was bound to his horse like a Traytor And this being done when it was neere night the Commissioners sending two Groomes of my Lords to attend him in his Chamber where hee lay all night the rest of the Earles men watched in the Chamber and all the house was watched and the gates safe kept that no man could passe or repasse untill next morning About eight of the clocke next morning the Earle sent for me into his Chamber and commaunded mee to goe to my Lord and as I was going I met with Master Welsh who called me unto him and shewed me how the Kings Majesty bare unto me his principall favour for my love and diligent Service that I had performed to my Lord wherefore quoth hee the Kings pleasure is that you shal be about him as chiefe in whom his Highnesse putteth great confidence and trust and thereupon gave mee in Writing the Articles Which when I had read I sayd I was content to obey his Majesties pleasure and would bee sworne to the performance thereof whereupon hee gave mee my Oath That done I resorted to my Lord whom I found sitting in a Chaire the Table being ready spread for him But so soone as hee perceived me come in he fell into such a wofull lamentation that would have forced a flinty-heart to mourne I then comforted him aswell as I could but hee would not for quoth hee I am much grieved that I have nothing to reward you and the rest of my true and faithfull Servants for all the good Service that they and you have done mee for which I doe much lament Upon Sunday following the Earle and Master Welsh appoynted to set forward for my Lords Horse and ours were brought ready into the inner Court where we mounted and comming towards the Gate ready to ride out the Porter had no sooner opened the same but we saw without ready attending a great number of Gentlemen and their Servants such as the Earle had appointed for that Service to attend and Conduct my Lord to Pomfrait that night But to tell you the Truth there were also many of the people of the Country assembled at the Gate lamenting his departure in number above three Thousand who after the opening of the Gate that they had a sight of him cryed out with a loud voyce God save your Grace God save your Grace the foule Evil take them that have taken you from us wee pray God that vengeance may light upon them And thus they ran after him through the Towne of Caywood for he was there very well beloved both of rich and poore CHAP. 20. Of the Cardinals entertainment at the Earle of Shrewsburies and of his death and buriall at Leicester AFter our departure from Cawood we came to Doncaster the third day wee came to Sheffield-parke where my Lord of Shrewsbury lived within the lodge and the Earle and his Lady and a great company of Gentlewomen and Servants stood without the Gate to attend my Lords comming at whose alightning the Earle received him with much honour and imbraced him saying these words My Lord you are most heartily welcome to my poore lodge and I am glad to see you Here my Lord stayed a fortnight and was most nobly entertayned he spent most of his time and applyed his minde to prayers continually in great devotion It came to passe as hee sate one day at dinner I beeing there perceived his colour divers times to change I asked him if hee was not well who answered me with a loud voyce I am suddenly taken with a Thing at my stomacke as cold as a Whet-stone and am not well Therefore take up the Table and make a short dinner and returne to mee againe suddainly I made but a little stay but came to him agayne where I found him still sitting very ill at ease Hee desired me to goe to the Apothecarie and aske him if hee had any thing would breake Winde upwards Hee told me hee had Then I went and shewed the same to my Lord who did command mee to give him some thereof and so I did and it made him breake winde exceedingly Loe quoth he you may see it was but winde for now I thanke God I am well eased and so he arose from the Table and went to praiers as hee used every day after dinner In the afternoon my Lord of Shrewsbury sent for mee to him to whom he said forasmuch as I have always perceived you to be a man in whom your Lord putteth great affiance and I my selfe knowing you to bee a man very honest with many words of commendations and praise more then becommeth mee to rehearse he said your Lord and Master hath often desired me to write unto the King that he might answere his accusations before his enemies And this day I have received Letters from his Majestie by Sir William Kingston whereby I perceive that the King hath him in good opinion and upon my request hath sent for him by the said Sr. William Kingston Therfore now I would have you play your part wisely with him in such sort as he may take it quietly and in good part for he is alwaies full of sorrow and much heavinesse at my being with him that I fear he would take it ill if I bring him tidings thereof And therein doth hee not
my shadow upon the bedside asked who was there Sir quoth I t is I how doe you quoth he well I Sir quoth I if I might see your Grace well what is it a clock quoth hee I answered it was about eight of the Clock quoth he that cannot be rehearsing eight of the clocke so many times Nay quoth he that cannot be for at eight of the clock you shall see your masters time draw neere that I must depart this world with that quoth Doctor Palmes a worthy Gentleman standing by bid me aske him if hee would bee shriven to make him readie for God what ever chanced to fall out which I did but he was very angry with me and asked what I had to doe to aske him such a question till at the last Master Doctor took my part and talked with him in Lattin and pacified him After dinner M. Kingston sent for me and said Sir The King hath sent unto mee Letters by Mr. Vincent our old companion who hath bin in trouble in the Tower for mony that my Lord should have at his departure A great part of which money cannot bee found wherefore the King at Master Vincents request for the declaration of the truth hath sent him hither with his Graces Letters that I should examine my Lord have your Counsell therein that he may take it well and in good part And this is the cause of my sending for you therefore I desire your Counsel therein for acquitall of this poor Gentleman Master Vincent Sir quoth I according to my duty you shall and by my advise you shall resort unto him in your own person to visit him and in communication breake the matter unto him And if he will not tell you the truth therein then may you certifie the King thereof But in any case name not nor speake of my fellowe Vincent Also I would not have you to detract the time for hee is very sicke and I feare that he will not live past a day or two and accordingly Master Kingston went to my Lord and demanded the money saying that my Lord of Northumberland found a book at Caywood-house that you had but lately borrowed 10000. pounds there is not so much as one penny to be found who hath made the King privie to the same wherefore the King hath written to me to know what is become thereof for it were pitty that it should bee holden from you both Therefore I require you in the Kings name to tell me the truth that I may make a just report thereof unto his Majestie of your answer With that quoth my Lord oh good Lord how much doth it grieve me that the King should think any such thing in me that I should deceive him of one pennie seeing I have nothing nor never had God be my Iudge that I ever esteemed so much mine owne as his Majesties having but the bare use of it during my life and after my death to leave it wholy to him wherein his Majestie hath prevented mee But for this money that you demand of me I assure you it is none of my own for I borrowed it of diverse of my friends to bury me and to bestow amongst my servants who have taken great pains about mee notwithstanding if it bee your pleasure to know I must bee content yet I beseech his Majestie to see it satisfied for the discharge of my Conscience to them that I owed it to who be they quoth Master Kingston That shal I tell you quoth my Lord I borrowd two hundred pounds of Iohn Allen of London another 200. p. of Sir Richard Gresham and 200. pound of the Master of the Savoy and also 200. pound of Doctor Highden Dean of my Colledge at Oxford 200 pound of the Treasurer of the Church and 200. pound of Master Ellis my Chaplain And an other 200. pound of a Priest I hope the King will restore it againe forasmuch as it is none of mine Sir quoth Master Kingston there is no doubt in the King whom you need not distrust but Sir I pray you where is the money quoth hee I will not conceale it I warrant you but I will declare it unto you before I dye by the grace of God have a litle patience with me I pray you for the money is safe enough in an honest mans hands who will not keep one penny thereof from the King So Master Kingston departed for that time my Lord being very weake and about fowre of the clock in the next morning as I conceived I asked him how he did well quoth he if I had any meate I pray you give me some Sir quoth I there is none ready then he said you are much too blame for you should have alwaies meate for me in readinesse whensoever that my stomack serves me I pray you get some ready for mee for I meane to make my selfe strong to day to the intent I may goe to confession and make mee ready for God quoth I I will call up the Cookes to prepare some meate And also I will call Master Palmer that he may discourse with you till your meate be ready with a good will quoth my Lord and so I called Master Palmer who rose and came to my Lord Then I went and acquainted Master Kingston that my Lord was very sicke and not like to live In good faith quoth Master Kingston you are much too blame to make him beleeve he is sicker then he is Well Sir quoth I you cannot say but I gave you warning as I am bound to doe upon which words he arose and came unto him but before he came my Lord Cardinall had eaten a spoonfull or two of Callis made of Chickin and after that he was in his confession the space of an hower And then Master Kingston came to him and bad him good morrow and asked him how he did Sir quoth he I watch but Gods pleasure to render up my poore soule to him I pray you have me heartily commended unto his Royall Majestie and beseech him on my behalfe to call to his Princely remembrance all matters that have bin between us from the beginning and the progresse And especially betweene good Queene Katherin and him and then shall his Graces Conscience know whether I have offended him or not Hee is a Prince of a most Royall carriage and hath a Princely heart and rather then hee will misse or want any part of his will he will endanger the one halfe of his Kingdome I do assure you I have often kneeled before him sometimes three houres together to perswade him from his will and appetite but could not prevaile And Master Kingston had I but served God as diligently as I have served the King he would not have given me over in my gray haires But this is the just reward that I must receive for my diligent paines and studdy not regarding my service to God but onely to my Prince Therefore let me advise you if you
be one of the Privie Counsell as by your wisedome you are fit take heede what you put in the Kings head for you can never put it out againe And I desire you further to request his Grace in Gods name that he have a vigilant eye to suppresse the hellish Luthrans that they increas not through his great negligence in such a sort as he be compelled to take up Armes to subdue them as the King of Bohemia was whose Commons being infected with Wickliffs heresies the King was inforced to take that course Let him consider the Story of King Richard the Second the second sonne of his Progenitor who lived in the time of Wickliffs Seditions and heresies Did not the Commons I pray you in his time rise against the Nobilitie and chiefe governours of this Realme and at the last some of them were put to death without Justice or mercie and under pretence of having all things common did they not fall to spoyling and robbing and at last tooke the Kings person and carried him about the Citie making him obedient to their proclamations Did not also the Trayterous Heretiques Sir Iohn Old-Castle Lord Cobham pitch a field with Heretiques against King Henry the fourth where the King was in person and fought against them to whom God gave the victory Alas if these be not plaine presidents and sufficient perswasions to admonish a Prince Then God wil take away from us our prudent Rulers leave us to the hands of our enemies And then will ensue mischiefe upon mischiefe Inconveniences Barrennesse and scarcitie for want of good Orders in the Common-wealth from which God of his tender mercy defend us Master Kingston farewell I wish all things may have good successe my time drawes on I may not tarry with you I pray you remember my words Now began the time to draw neere for hee drew his speech at length and his tongue began to faile him his eyes perfectly set in his head his sight failed him Then wee began to put him in minde of Christs passion and caused the Yeoman of the Guard to stand by privately to see him dye and beare witnesse of his words and his departure who heard all his communications And then presentlie the clocke strooke eight at which time he gave up the Ghost and thus departed he this life one of us looking upon an other supposing he prophesied of his departure We sent for the Abbot of the house to annoint him who speedily came as hee was ending his life who said certaine praiers before that the life was out of his bodie Here is the end and fall of pride for I assure you he was in his time the proudest man alive having more regard to the honour of his Person then to his spirituall function wherein he should have expressed more meekenesse and humility For Pride and Ambition are both linked together and Ambition is like Choller which is an humor that makes men active earnest and full of alacrity stirring if it bee not stopped or hindred in its course But if it be stopped and cannot have its way it becommeth dust and thereby maligne and venemous So Ambitions and proud men if they find the way open for their rising and advancement and still get forwards they are rather busie then dangerous But if they bee checked in their desires they become secretly discontent and look upon men and matters with an evill eye and are best pleased when things goe backewards but I forbeare to speake any further herein The Cardinall beeing departed Master Kingston sent post to London one of the Guard then was Master Kingston and the Abbot in consultation about the Funerall which was solempnized the day after for Master Kingston would not stay the returne of the Post They thought good that the Major of Leicester and his Brethren should see him personally dead to prevent false reports that hee was alive And in the Interim whilst the Major was sent for his Bones were laid in the Coffin and his shirt of haire and his over shirt of fine holland were taken off and were put into the Coffin together with all such ornaments wherewith he was invested when hee was made Archbishop as Miter Crosse Ring and Pall with all other things due to his orders Thus hee lay all that day with his Coffin opon and bare faced that all that desired might see him And about 3. of the Clock he was buried of the Abbot with great solemnity And being in the Church his corpes were set in the Ladies Chappel with many Tapers or poor men about him holding Torches in their hands who watched the Corps all that night whilst the Canons sung divers dirges and other divine Orisons And at 4. of the Clock the next morning the Cardinalls servants and Master Kingston came to the Church to the execution of many Ceremonies in such manner as is usuall to Bishops burialls And so he went to Masse where the Abbot did offer and divers others And then went to burie the Corpes in the middle of the said Chappell by this time it was fire of the Clocke being St. Anâ—â—â—â—s day Then we prepared for our journey to the Court where wee attended his Majestie the next day I was sent for to the King conducted by Master Norris where the King was in his night gowne of Rochet velvet furred with sables before whom I kneeled the space of an houre during which time his Majestie examined me of divers particulars concerning my Lord Cardinall wishing rather then twenty thousand pounds that he had lived He asked me concerning the fifteen hundred pounds which Master Kingston moved to my Lord Quoth I I thinke I can perfectly tell your Grace where it is and who hath it can you quoth the K. I pray you tell mee and you shall not bee unrewarded Sir quoth I after the departure of Master Vincent from my Lord at Serâ—oby who had the custody thereof leaving it with my L. in divers baggs he delivered it to a certaine Priest safelie to bee kept to his use is this true quoth the King yea quoth I without doubt the Priest will not denie it before mee for I was at the deliverie thereof who hath gotten divers other rich Ornaments which are not Registred in the book of my Lords inventorie or other writings whereby any man is able to charghim there with but my selfe Then said the King let me alone for keeping this secret between me and you Howbeit three may keepe Counsell if two be away And if I knew my Cap were privie to my Counsell I would cast it into the fire and burne it And for your honesty and Truth you shall bee our servant in our Chamber as you were with your Master Therefore goe you your wayes to Sir Iohn Gage our Vice-Chamberlain to whom wee have spoken alreadie to admit you our servant in our Chamber and then goe to the Lord of Norfolke and hee shall pay you your whole yeares wages which