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
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
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
is ten pounds is not it so quoth the King Yea forsooth and if it please your Grace quoth I. And withall said the King you shall receive a reward the Duke of Norfolke So I received tenne pounds of the Duke for my wages and twenty pounds for my reward and his Majestie gave me a Cart and six horses the best that I could chose out of my Lords horses to carry my goods and five marks for my charge homewards FINIS He was Batchelour of Arts at 15. years of Age He was naturally eloquent King Henry in the fifth yeare of his raigne invaded France The King relieth upon the Almaners policie He besieged the strong Towne of Turwine He besiegeth the Towne of Turney The Scots in the Kings absence invade England The Officers of his Chappell Officersin his privie Chamber Great resort to his house as to the King His entertainment of the King in a Masque The King his Company conducted into the chamber The Masquers salute the Ladies The Cardinall casts at two hundred crownes The Cardinall mistaken The Earle come to the Cardinall His sharpe reproofe of his Sonne The Earle doth intend to dis-inheâ—it him He speakes to the servants He goes to the King The Contract between Lord Percy and Mistris Anne Bullen dissolved She much displeased therat Shee is discharged the Court Her admittance againe to Court Queene Katherine her patience A plot of the Nobility against the Cardinall The Cardinall endevours to get her favour A plot of the Cardinall The Duke of Burbon fled to the Emperour King Henry joyneth his forces with the Emperor against the French King The Duke the King of Englands Generall The French King in person with an Army The Duke flies to Pavia and is there besieged by the French King The French Ambassadour treats of peace with England Command sent to Sir Iohn Russell to detaine the Kings pay The Duke his souldiers in extreme want The Dukes loving advise A generall consent The Dukes subtile devise They issue out in the night The Duke issues out with 150. or 160. men He flew the enemies and tooke the gunnes He wonne the field He intended to sack Rome but was there slaine Easie to invade France King Henry ought to have the French King captive Divers Ambassadours from Fuance to King Henry to take order for their Kings release The Cardinall endevoureth the peace of the Pope and the French King The Counsell advised the Cardinal to goe of the Embassage to France This was a plot The Cardinall doth prepare for his Iourney See his Magnificence He came to Canterbury The Cardinall commandeth the Monkes to pray for the Pope The Cardinall wept He arrived at Callice He gave the people pardon The Cardicalls all his followers into his privy Chamber The Cardinalls instructions to his followers Their duty to him expressed The nature of the Frenchmen The Cardinall and his traine goe from Callis His troops 3. inranke extended three quarters of a mile The Cardinall of Lorraine meets my Lord Captaine of Picardy The French king sent a Convoy His entertainment in Bulloigne Also at Muterell A Latine Oration Pageants made for joy His entertainment at Abovile I left my Lord and rode to Amience to see the King First came Madam Regent Two dayes after the King attended by Swithers Burgonians French and Scottish The Cardinall put on rich raiments The French King and the Cardinall meet They March the Cardinall on the Kings right hand The King and Cardinall at Amience 14. dayes They removed from Amience to Campaines Monsieur Crookesley his going to invite the King and the Cardinall to his Castle The Cardinals servant nobly entertained The Lady salutes him her selfe The French King the Lord Cardinall and the Queene Regent lodged all in one Castle The Cardinall fell out with the Chancellour of France The Cardinal departs in anger Great means used to bring him again to consultation The Cardinall writes Letters into England He sends post into England The Cardinall feasts two Queens In comes the French King and the King of Navarre The French King much taken with my Lords Musicke The French King hunted the wild Boare Preparation to returne into Bngland The Cardinal that morning he came away made the Chancellour of France a Cardinall He arrives at the court The Cardinall maketh an oration in the Star-chamber A perpetuall peace made with France The Embassadours establish our King in the order of France The King of England sent Ambasse into France to establish the French King in the order of the Garter The King of England and France Ambassadours receive the Sacraments to confirme the perpetual peace The Articles of peace read by the Cardinall The King subscribeth and sealeth The French Nobility conveyed to Richmond The rooms richly hung 200. and 80. beds prepared The ordering of the banquetting rooms The Frenchmen conducted to supper The Cardinall comes in ere the second course The Cardinall drinks a health to both Kings His Majestie invites the Stangers to the Court Their preparation for France They take leave of the King The Kings reward And also of the Cardinall The Kings Case discussed by an assembly of Bishops CoÌ„missioners sent to all the forraigne Vniversities The Cardinal sends againe for the bishop Embassadors sent to th' pope The Pope doth grant their suite The Pope sends his Legate into England Kings Councell Queenes Counsell The Bishop of Rochester lost his head for the Queens sake The King and Queene called by the Cryer The Queene on her knees pleads for her selfe She commendeth K Henry the 7. She goes out of the Court The Kings commendations of his Qu. in her absence The King declares himself to the whole Court All the Kings Issue Male by the Queen dyed The chiefe point in the Kings case The King affirmes he hath no dislike of the Queene The King produceth the Licence sealed by the Card. and the rest of the Bishops The Bishop of Rochester doth denie that he ever sealed or subscribed The Court adiourn'd The Kings counsel alledg the Matrimony not good nor lawfull The Queenes Counsel speak Bishop of Rochester Doctor Ridley The King sent for the Cardinall The Cardinal returnes and goes home to bed The two Cardinalls went on a message from the King to the Queen The Cardinal declares the cause of their going Queens answer Cardinall Campains refused to give Iudgement He makes a speech The Duke of Suffolke confronts the Cardinals The Cardinals mild answere His reason why hee proceeds not to Iudgment The Duke deharted discontented The King offended The Cardinals commission his excuse Dr. Gardener sent Embassador to th' pope The Cardinal sent for to the Court He found but small content Great supposition of the K. displeasure Mistris Anne Bulloigne offended for the Cardinalls intertaynment She complains of him The King would not talke with the Cardinall They search the Cardinall at Callis The King sends for the great Seale He refuseth to deliver up the broad Seal The Card. sets his house in order He speaks to them all He informed his Lord what was objected against him Articles against the Cardinall disannulled by Mr. Cromwell They charge him with a Premunire Iudges sent to examine the Cardinall His answere The Cardinal doth submit to the King The King demands Yorke house The Cardinals answere He fell sicke The King sends his Physition Th' King sends his ring in token of favour And mistris Anne Bulloign her Tablet In foure dayes they cured him The Kingsent three or foure loads of houshold stuffe A Prophesie When the cow rides the bull Then Priest beware thy scull The Prophesies expounded And fulfilled by the Cardinalls fall Shirt of hair A thousand mark pension to the Cardinall The King sent him 10000. p. The Cardinal goeth to his Bishoprick of Yorke At Peterborowe hee did wash 59. poor mens feete Charity to the poore Order in the Cathedral at Yorke Preparation for the Cardinals instalment at York Store of good provision sent in by the Country The Cardnals crosse in the fall brake Dr. Bonners head The Earle of Northumberland and Mr. Welsh come to Caywood-hal The Cardinal and the Earle meete The Earl doth arrest the Cardinall Master Welsh arrests Doctor Austin of high Treason The Earle takes the keys from my L. The Cardinalls causlesse feares Enemies The Cardinall salutes Mr. Kingston Mr. Kingston tells him he is in the Kings favour The Cardinal near death Divers soms of money borrowed by the Cardnal a little before hee dyed The Cardinal desires meate The Cardinals advise The Cardinall gave up the Ghost The Cardinal is buried in St Maries Chappell in Leicester
Vniversity and hee having the presentation thereof repaired to the ordinary for his Institution And being then furnished with all his Instruments at the Ordinaries hands for his preferment made hast without any further delay to his Benefice to take possession thereof Now you shall understand that the Schoole-master had not beene long there but one Sir Iames Pawlet Knight dwelling in the Country thereabouts tooke an occasion of displeasure against him but upon what ground I know not Insomuch that Sir Iames was so bold as to set the Schoolmaster by the heeles during his displeasure which affront was afterwards neither forgotten nor forgiven For when the Schoolemaster mounted so high as to be Lord Chancellour of England hee was not forgetfull of his old displeasure most cruelly ministred unto him by Sir Iames but sent for him and after a very sharpe reproofe enjoyned him not to depart out of London without license first obtained so that he continued in the middle Temple the space of five or six yeares who afterwards lay in the Gatehouse next the Stayres which he re-edefied and sumptuously beautified the same all over on the outside with the Cardinalls Armes his hat his Cognizance and Badges with other devises in so glorious a manner as hee thought thereby to have appeased his old displeasure This may be a good president for men in Authoritie which worke their owne wills without wit to remember that greatnesse may decay And those whom they doe punish more of humour then justice may afterwards he advanced to great honour as this Cardinall was and they abased as low as this Sir Iames was which seeke revenge Who would have thought that when Sir Iam's Pawlet punished this poore Schoolemaster that ever hee should have mounted to so great dignitie as to bee Chancellour of England considering his meane parentage and friends These be the wonderfull workes of Gods providence And I would wish that all men in authoritie would feare God in all ages in the time of their triumph and greatnesse considering that advancement and authoritie are not permanent but many times slide and vanish suddenly away as Princes pleasures alters and change or as all living creatures must of necessitie pay the debt due to nature which no earthly creature can resist Shortly after it chanced the sayd Lord Marquesse dyed after whose decease the Schoole-master thinking himselfe but a weake beneficed man and that hee had left his fellowship in the Colledge for as I understand if a fellow of that house be once promoted to a Benefice hee shall by the rules of the same house bee dismissed of his fellowship and now being also destitute of his singuler good Lord as well as of his fellowship which was most of his reliefe thought long to be provided of some other helpe to defende him from all such stormes as hee might meet with In his travell thereabouts hee grew acquainted with a very great and ancient Knight who had a great place in Callis under King Henry the seventh This Knight he served and behaved himselfe so discreetly that he obtained the speciall favour of his said Master In so much that for his wit and gravitie hee committed all the care and charge of his said office to his said Chaplaine And as I understand his office was the Treasurer-ship of Callis who in regard of his great age shortly after was discharged of his said office and so returned into England intending to live a more private life But through his instant labour and good favour his Chaplaine was preferred to bee the Kings Chaplaine And when hee had once cast Anchor in the Port of promotion how hee then bestirred himselfe I shall now declare Hee having then just occasion to be daily in sight of the King in his Closet not spending the rest of the day in idlenesse would attend those men whom hee thought to beare most rule in the councell and were most in favour with the King which at that time was Doctor Fox Bishop of Winchester and Lord Privie Seale And also Sir Thomas Lovell Knight a very sage and wise Councellour being Master of the Wardes and Constable of the Tower These ancient and grave Councellours in processe of time perceiving this Chaplaine to be a man of a very accute wit thought him a meete Instrument to be imployed in greater affaires Not long after it happened that the King had an urgent occasion to send an Ambassadour to Maximillian the Emperour who lay at that present in the Low Countries at Flanders and not farre from Callis Now the Bishop of Winchester and Sir Thomas Lovell whom the King most esteemed as the chiefest of his Counsell one day advising and debating with themselves upon this Ambassage and by this time they saw they had a convenient occasion to preferre the Kings Chaplaine whose excellent eloquence and learning they highly commended unto the Kings highnesse who giving eare unto them and being a Prince of an excellent judgement and modesty hee commanded them to bring his Chaplaine whom they so commended before his Grace and being come his Majestie to prove his ability entered into discourse with him concerning matters of State whereby the King had so well informed himselfe that he found him to be a man of a sharpe with and of such excellent parts that hee thought him worthy to bee put in trust with matters of greater consequence CHAP. II. Of the Cardinall his speedy dispatch in his first Ambassage to the Emperour Maximillian THe King being now resolved to imploy him in this Ambassage commanded him thereupon to prepare himselfe for his journey and for his dispatch wisht him to repaire to his Grace and his Councell of whom he should receive his Commission and instruction By meanes whereof hee had then a fit occasion to repaire from time to time into the Kings presence who had thereby daily experience of his singular wisedome and sound judgement Thus having his dispatch he tooke his leave of the King at Richmond about foure of the clocke in the afternoone where he lancheth forth in Graves-end Barge with a prosperous winde and tyde and his happie speed was such that hee arrived at Graves-end in little more then three houres where he tarried no longer then the Post-horses were provided and he travelled so speedily that he came to Dover the next morning where the Passengers were under saile to passe to Callis So that long before noone he arrived there and having Post-horses prepared departed from thence without tarrying making such hastie speede that he was that night with the Emperour who understanding of the arrivall of the King of Englands Ambassadour would in no wise delay time but sent for him incontinently for his affection to the King of England was such that he was glad of any opportunitie to doe him a curtesie The Ambassadour declares the summe of his Embassie unto the Emperour of whom he craved speedie expedition which was granted him so that the next day hee was clearely dispatched and
of excellent learning and a sub-Deane a Repeatout of the Quire a Gospeller an Epistler of the singing Priests a Master of the children In the Vestrey a yeoman and two groomes besides other Retainers that came thither at principall Feasts And for the furniture of his Chappell it passeth my weake capacitie to declare the number of the costly Ornaments and rich Iewels that were occupied in the same For I have seene in procession about the Hall fortie foure rich Copes of one settle worne besides the rich Candlesticks and other necessarie Ornaments to the furniture of the same Now you shall understand that hee had two Crosse-bearers and two Pillar-bearers in his great Chamber and his privie Chamber all these persons The chiefe Chamberlaine a Vice-chamberlaine a gentleman Vsher beside one of his privie Chamber Hee had also twelve Wayters and six gentlemen Wayters Also he had nine or tenne Lords who had each of them two or three men to waite upon him except the Earle of Darby who had five men Then he had gentlemen-Cup-bearers and Carvers and of the Sewers both of the great Chamber and of the Privie chamber fortie persons Sixe yeomen Vshers eight groomes of his Chamber Also he had of Almes who were daily wayters of his Boord at Dinner Twelve Doctors and Chaplaines besides them of his which I never rehearsed a Clarke of his Closet and two Secretaries and two clarkes of his Signet Foure Councellours learned in the Law And for that he was Chancellour of England it was necessarie to have officers of the Chancerie to attend him for the better furniture of the same First he had a Ryding Clarke a clerke of the Crowne a clarke of the Hamper a Chafer Then had hee a clarke of the Checke aswell upon the Chaplaines as upon the yeomen of the Chamber He had also foure Foot-men garnished with rich running Coates whensoever he had any journey Then he had a Herauld of Armes a Serjeant of armes a Phisitian an Apothecarie Foure Minstrells a keeper of his Tents an Armourer An Instructor of his Wards an Instructor of his Wardrop of Roabes a Keeper of his Chamber continually Hee had also in his house a Surveyor of Yorke a Clerke of the Greene-cloth All these were daily attending downe-lying and uprising And at meat hee had Eight continuall Boards for the Chamberlaines and gentlemen Officers having a Mease of young Lords and another of Gentlemen Besides this there was never a Gentleman or Officer or other worthy person but hee kept some two some three persons to waite upon them And all other at the least had one which did amount to a great number of persons Now having declared the order according to the Cheine Roll use his house and what Officers he had daily attending to furnish the same besides retainers and other persons being suitors dined in the Hall And when shall wee see any more such Subjects that shall keepe such a Noble house Therefore here is an end of his houshold the number of persons in the Cheyne were Eight hundred persons CHAP. VI Of his second Embassage to the Emperour Charles the Fifth A After he was thus furnished in manner as I have before rehearsed unto you Hee was sent twice on Embassage to the Emperour Charles the Fifth that now raigneth and Father to King Philip now our Lord and Soveraigne Forasmuch as the old Emperour Maximillian was dead and for divers other urgent occasions touching his Majestie It was thought fit that about such weightie matters and to so noble a Prince the Cardinall was most meete to be sent on this Embassage and he being one ready to take the charge thereof upon him was furnished in every respect most like a great Prince which was much to the honour of his Majestie and of this Realme For first he proceeded forth like to a Cardinall having all things correspondent his Gentlemen being very many in number were clothed in livery Coats of Crimson Velvet of the best and chaines of gold about their necks And his yeomen and all his meane officers were clad in fine Scarlet guarded with blacke Velvet one hand breadth Thus furnished he was twice sent in this manner to the Emperour in Flanders then lying at Bridges whom he did most nobly entertaine discharging all his owne charges and his mens There was no house in the Towne of Bridges wherein any of my Lords Gentlemen were lodged or had recourse but that the owners of the houses were commanded by the Emperours Officers upon the paine of their lives to take no money for any thing that the Cardinals men did take of any kind of victuals No although they were disposed to make costly Banquets further commanding their said hoasts that they should want nothing which they honestly required or desired to have Also the Emperours Officers every night went through the Towne from house to house where any Englishmen had recourse or lodged and served their Livery for all night which was done on this manner First the Officers brought into the house a Casteele of fine Manchet then two silver pots of Wine and a pound of Sugar white lights and yellow lights a Bowle of silver and a Goblet to drinke in and every night a staffe Torch This was their order of their Livery every night And then in the morning when the Officers came to fetch away their stuffe they would accompt for the Gentlemens costs the day before Thus the Emperour entertained the Cardinall and his traine during the time of his Embassie And that done he returned into England with great Triumph being no lesse in estimation with the King then he was before but rather much more for he encreased daily in the Kings favour by reason of wits and readinesse to doe the King pleasure in all things In the one and twentieth yeare of King Henry the Eighths raine Anno Dom. 1529. This Emperour Charles the Fifth came into England who was nobly entertained CHAP. VII Of the manner of his going to Westminster Hall NOw must I declare the manner of his going to Westminster Hall in the Terme time First when he came out of his privie Chamber hee most commonly heard two Masses in his Chappell or Chamber And I heard one of his Chaplaines say since that was a man of credit and excellent learning that what businesse soever the Cardinall had in the day time that hee never went to bed with any part of his service unsaid no not so much as one Collect in which I thinke he deceived many a man then going into his Chamber againe hee demanded of some of his servants if they were in readinesse and had furnished his chamber of Presence and wayting Chamber he being then advertised came out of his Privie Chamber about eight of the clocke readie apparelled and in Red like a Cardinall his upper vesture was all of Scarlet or else of fine Crimson Taffata or crimson Sattin ingraned his Pillion Scarlet with a blacke Velvet tippet of Sables about his
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
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
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