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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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