done at Master Fitzwilliams before his departure from thence, between
[my lord] and me, the which was this: Sir, my lord being in the
garden at Master Fitzwilliams, walking, saying of his evensong with
his chaplain, I being there giving attendance upon him, his evensong
finished, [he] commanded his chaplain that bare up the train of his
gown whilst he walked, to deliver me the same, and to go aside when he
had done; and after the chaplain was gone a good distance, he said unto
me in this wise, "Ye have been late at London," quoth he; "Forsooth,
my lord," quoth I, "not since that I was there to buy your liveries
for your servants." "And what news was there then," quoth he; "heard
you no communication there of me? I pray you tell me." Then perceiving
that I had a good occasion to talk my mind plainly unto him, [I] said,
"Sir, if it please your grace, it was my chance to be at a dinner in
a certain place within the city, where I, among divers other honest
and worshipful gentlemen happed to sit, which were for the most part
of my old familiar acquaintance, wherefore they were the more bolder
to enter in communication with me, understanding that I was still your
grace's servant; [they] asked me a question, which I could not well
assoil them." "What was that?" quoth my lord. "Forsooth, sir," quoth I,
"first they asked me how ye did, and how ye accepted your adversity,
and trouble, and the loss of your goods; to the which I answered, that
you were in health (thanks be to God), and took all things in good
part; and so it seemed me, that they were all your indifferent friends
lamenting your decay, and loss of your room and goods, doubting much
that the sequel thereof could not be good in the commonwealth. For
often changing of such officers which be fat fed, into the hands of
such as be lean and hungry for riches, [they] will sure travail by
all means to get abundance, and so the poor commons be pillaged and
extorted for greedy lucre of riches and treasure: they said that ye
were full fed, and intended now much to the advancement of the king's
honour and the commonwealth. Also they marvelled much that ye, being
of so excellent a wit and high discretion, would so simply confess
yourself guilty in the premunire, wherein ye might full well have stood
in the trial of your case. For they understood, by the report of some
of the king's learned counsel, that your case well considered, ye had
great wrong: to the which I could make, as me thought, no sufficient
answer, but said, "That I doubt not your so doing was upon some greater
consideration than my wit could understand." "Is this," quoth he,
"the opinion of wise men?" "Yea, forsooth, my lord," quoth I, "and
almost of all other men." "Well, then," quoth he, "I see that their
wisdoms perceive not the ground of the matter that moved me so to do.
For I considered, that my enemies had brought the matter so to pass
against me, and conveyed it so, that they made it the king's case, and
caused the king to take the matter into his own hands and quarrel, and
after that he had upon the occasion thereof seized all my goods and
possessions into his demayns, and then the quarrel to be his, rather
than yield, or take a foil in the law, and thereby restore to me all
my goods again, he would sooner (by the procurement of my enemies and
evil willers) imagine my utter undoing and destruction; whereof the
most ease therein had been for me perpetual imprisonment. And rather
than I would jeopard so far, or put my life in any such hazard, yet had
I most liefest to yield and confess the matter, committing the sole
sum thereof, as I did, unto the king's clemency and mercy, and live
at large, like a poor vicar, than to lie in prison with all the goods
and honours that I had. And therefore it was the most best way for me,
all things considered, to do as I have done, than to stand in trial
with the king, for he would have been loath to have been noted a wrong
doer, and in my submission, the king, I doubt not, had a great remorse
of conscience, wherein he would rather pity me than malign me. And
also there was a continual serpentine enemy about the king that would,
I am well assured, if I had been found stiff necked, [have] called
continually upon the king in his ear (I mean the night-crow) with
such a vehemency that I should with the help of her assistance [have]
obtained sooner the king's indignation than his lawful favour: and his
favour once lost (which I trust at this present I have) would never
have been by me recovered. Therefore I thought it better for me to keep
still his loving favour, with loss of my goods and dignities, than
to win my goods and substance with the loss of his love and princely
favour, which is but only death: _Quia indignatio principis mors est_.
And this was the special ground and cause that I yielded myself guilty
in the _premunire_; which I perceive all men knew not, wherein since I
understand the king hath conceived a certain prick of conscience; who
took to himself the matter more grievous in his secret stomach than all
men knew, for he knew whether I did offend him therein so grievously
as it was made or no, to whose conscience I do commit my cause, truth,
and equity." And thus we left the substance of all this communication;
although we had much more talk: yet is this sufficient to cause you to
understand as well the cause of his confession in his offence, as also
the cause of the loss of all his goods and treasure.
Now let us return where we left, my lord being in the castle of Newark,
intending to ride to Southwell, which was four miles from thence, took
now his journey thitherward against supper. Where he was fain for lack
of reparation of the bishop's place, which appertained to the see of
York, to be lodged in a prebendary's house against the said place, and
there kept house until Whitsuntide next, against which time he removed
into the place, newly amended and repaired, and there continued the
most part of the summer, surely not without great resort of the most
worshipfullest gentlemen of the country, and divers other, of whom they
were most gladly entertained, and had of him the best cheer he could
devise for them, whose gentle and familiar behaviour with them caused
him to be greatly beloved and esteemed through the whole country.
He kept a noble house, and plenty of both meat and drink for all
comers, both for rich and poor, and much alms given at his gates. He
used much charity and pity among his poor tenants and other; although
the fame thereof was no pleasant sound in the ears of his enemies, and
of such as bare him no good will, howbeit the common people will report
as they find cause; for he was much more familiar among all persons
than he was accustomed, and most gladdest when he had an occasion to
do them good. He made many agreements and concords between gentleman
and gentleman, and between some gentlemen and their wives that had
been long asunder, and in great trouble, and divers other agreements
between other persons; making great assemblies for the same purpose,
and feasting of them, not sparing for any costs, where he might make a
peace and amity; which purchased him much love[179] and friendship in
the country.
It chanced that upon Corpus Christi eve, after supper, [my lord]
commanded me to prepare all things for him in a readiness against the
next day, for he intended to sing high mass in the minster that day;
and I, not forgetting his commandments, gave like warning to all his
officers of his house, and other of my fellows, to foresee that all
things appertaining to their rooms were fully furnished to my lord's
honour. This done I went to my bed, where I was scantly asleep and
warm, but that one of the porters came to my chamber door, calling
upon me, and said, there was two gentlemen at the gate that would
gladly speak with my lord from the king. With that I arose up and went
incontinent unto the gate with the porter, demanding what they were
that so fain [would] come in. They said unto me, that there was Master
Brereton, one of the gentlemen of the king's privy chamber, and Master
Wrotherly, who were come from the king empost, to speak with my lord.
Then having understanding what they were, I caused the porter to let
them in. And after their entry they desired me to speak with my lord
without delay, for they might not tarry; at whose request I repaired to
my lord's chamber, and waked him, who was asleep. But when he heard me
speak, he demanded of me what I would have. "Sir," quoth I, "there be
beneath in the porter's lodge, Master Brereton, gentleman of the king's
privy chamber, and Master Wrotherly, come from the king to speak with
you: they will not tarry; therefore they beseech your grace to speak
with you out of hand." "Well then," quoth my lord, "bid them come up
into my dining chamber, and I will prepare myself to come to them."
Then I resorted to them again, and showed them that my lord desired
them to come up unto him, and he would talk with them, with a right
good will. They thanked me, and went with me unto my lord, and as soon
as they perceived him, being in his night apparel, did to him humble
reverence; whom he took by the hands, demanding of them, how the king
his sovereign lord did. "Sir," said they, "right well in health and
merry, thanks be unto our Lord." "Sir," quoth they, "we must desire
you to talk with you apart." "With a right good will," quoth my lord,
who drew them aside into a great window, and there talked with them
secretly; and after long talk they took out of a male a certain coffer
covered with green velvet, and bound with bars of silver and gilt, with
a lock of the same, having a key which was gilt, with the which they
opened the same chest; out of the which they took a certain instrument
or writing, containing more than one skin of parchment, having many
great seals hanging at it, whereunto they put more wax for my lord's
seal; the which my lord sealed with his own seal, and subscribed his
name to the same; and that done they would needs depart, and (forasmuch
as it was after midnight) my lord desired them to tarry, and take a
bed. They thanked him, and said they might in no wise tarry, for they
would with all speed to the Earl of Shrewsbury's directly without let,
because they would be there or ever he stirred in the morning. And
my lord, perceiving their hasty speed, caused them to eat such cold
meat as there was in store within the house, and to drink a cup or
two of wine. And that done, he gave each of them four old sovereigns
of gold, desiring them to take it _in gree_, saying, that if he had
been of greater ability, their reward should have been better; and so
taking their leave they departed. And after they were departed, as I
heard say, they were not contented with their reward. Indeed they were
not none of his indifferent friends, which caused them to accept it
so disdainously. Howbeit, if they knew what little store of money he
had at that present, they would I am sure, being but his indifferent
friends, have given him hearty thanks: but nothing is more lost or cast
away than is such things which be given to such ingrate persons. My
lord went again to bed; and yet, all his watch and disturbance that he
had that night notwithstanding, he sang High Mass the next day as he
appointed before. There was none in all his house [besides myself and
the porter] that knew of the coming or going of these two gentlemen;
and yet there lay within the house many worshipful strangers.
After this sort and manner my lord continued at Southwell, until the
latter end of grease time; at which time he intended to remove to
Scroby, which was another house of the Bishoprick of York. And against
the day of his removing, he caused all his officers to prepare, as well
for provision to be made for him there, as also for carriage of his
stuff, and other matters concerning his estate. His removing and intent
was not so secret, but that it was known abroad in [the] country;
which was lamentable to all his neighbours about Southwell, and as it
was lamentable unto them, so was it as much joy to his neighbours about
Scroby.
Against the day of his removing divers knights and other gentlemen of
worship in the country came to him to Southwell, intending to accompany
and attend upon him in that journey the next day, and to conduct
him through the forest unto Scroby. But he being of their purpose
advertised, how they did intend to have lodged a great stag or twain
for him by the way, purposely to show him all the pleasure and disport
they could devise, and having, as I said, thereof intelligence, was
very loath to receive any such honour and disport at their hands, not
knowing how the king would take it; and being well assured that his
enemies would rejoice much to understand that he would take upon him
any such presumption, whereby they might find an occasion to inform the
king how sumptuous and pleasant he was, notwithstanding his adversity
and overthrow, and so to bring the king into a wrong opinion [of him,
and caused] small hope of reconcilement, but rather that he sought
a mean to obtain the favour of the country to withstand the king's
proceedings, with divers such imaginations, wherein he might rather
sooner catch displeasure than favour and honour. And also he was loath
to make the worshipful gentlemen privy to this his imagination, lest
peradventure they should conceive some toy or fantasy in their heads
by means thereof, and so to eschew their accustomed access, and absent
themselves from him, which should be as much to his grief as the other
was to his comfort. Therefore he devised this mean way, as hereafter
followeth, which should rather be taken for a laughing disport than
otherwise: first he called me unto him secretly at night, going to his
rest, and commanded me in anywise most secretly that night to cause
six or seven horses, besides his mule for his own person, to be made
ready by the break of the day for him and such persons as he appointed
to ride with him to an abbey called Welbeck[180], where he intended to
lodge by the way to Scroby, willing me to be also in a readiness to
ride with him, and to call him so early that he might be on horseback,
after he had heard mass, by the breaking of the day. Sir, what will you
more? All things being accomplished according to his commandment, and
the same finished and done, he, with a small number before appointed,
mounted upon his mule, setting forth by the breaking of the day towards
Welbeck, which is about sixteen miles from thence; whither my lord and
we came before six of the clock in the morning, and so went straight
to his bed, leaving all the gentlemen strangers in their beds at
Southwell, nothing privy of my lord's secret departure, who expected
his uprising until it was eight of the clock. But after it was known
to them and to all the rest there remaining behind him, then every man
went to horseback, galloping after, supposing to overtake him. But
he was at his rest in Welbeck or ever they rose out of their beds in
Southwell, and so their chief hunting and coursing of the great stag
was disappointed and dashed. But at their thither resort to my lord,
sitting at dinner, the matter was jested, and laughed out merrily, and
all the matter well taken.
My lord the next day removed from thence, to whom resorted divers
gentlemen of my lord the Earl of Shrewsbury's servants, to desire my
lord, in their master's name, to hunt in a park of the earl's called
Worksop Park, the which was within a mile of Welbeck, and the very
best and next[181] way for my lord to travel through on his journey,
where much plenty of game was laid in a readiness to show him pleasure.
Howbeit he thanked my lord their master for his gentleness, and them
for their pains; saying that he was no meet man for any such pastime,
being a man otherwise disposed, such pastimes and pleasures were meet
for such noblemen as delight therein. Nevertheless he could do no
less than to account my Lord of Shrewsbury to be much his friend, in
whom he found such gentleness and nobleness in his honourable offer,
to whom he rendered his most lowly thanks. But in no wise they could
entreat him to hunt. Although the worshipful gentlemen being in his
company provoked him all that they could do thereto, yet he would not
consent, desiring them to be contented; saying, that he came not into
the country, to frequent or follow any such pleasures or pastimes, but
only to attend to a greater care that he had in hand, which was his
duty, study, and pleasure. And with such reasons and persuasions he
pacified them for that time. Howbeit yet as he rode through the park,
both my Lord of Shrewsbury's servants, and also the foresaid gentlemen
moved him once again, before whom the deer lay very fair for all
pleasant hunting and coursing. But it would not be; but [he] made as
much speed to ride through the park as he could. And at the issue out
of the park he called the earl's gentlemen and the keepers unto him,
desiring them to have him commended to my lord their master, thanking
him for his most honourable offer and good will, trusting shortly to
visit him at his own house: and gave the keepers forty shillings for
their pains and diligence who conducted him through the park. And so
rode to another abbey called Rufford Abbey [to dinner]; and after he
rode to Blythe Abbey, where he lay all night. And the next day he came
to Scroby, where he continued until after Michaelmas, ministering many
deeds of charity. Most commonly every Sunday (if the weather did serve)
he would travel unto some parish church thereabout, and there would say
his divine service, and either hear or say mass himself, causing some
one of his chaplains to preach unto the people. And that done, he would
dine in some honest house of that town, where should be distributed to
the poor a great alms, as well of meat and drink as of money to supply
the want of sufficient meat, if the number of the poor did so exceed
of necessity. And thus with other good deeds practising and exercising
during his abode there at Scroby, as making of love-days and agreements
between party and party, being then at variance, he daily frequented
himself there about such business and deeds of honest charity.
Then about the feast of St. Michael next ensuing my lord took his
journey towards Cawood Castle, the which is within seven miles of
York; and passing thither he lay two nights and a day at St. Oswald's
Abbey, where he himself confirmed children in the church, from eight of
the clock in the morning until twelve of the clock at noon. And making
a short dinner, resorted again to the church at one of the clock, and
there began again to confirm more children until four of the clock,
where he was at the last constrained for weariness to sit down in a
chair, the number of the children was such. That done, he said his even
song, and then went to supper, and rested him there all that night. And
the next morning he applied himself to depart towards Cawood; and or
ever he departed, he confirmed almost a hundred children more; and then
rode on his journey. And by the way there were assembled at a stone
cross standing upon a green, within a quarter of a mile of Ferrybridge,
about the number of two hundred children, to confirm; where he
alighted, and never removed his foot until he had confirmed them all;
and then took his mule again and rode to Cawood, where he lay long
after with much honour and love of the country, both of the worshipful
and of the simple, exercising himself in good deeds of charity, and
kept there an honourable and plentiful house for all comers; and also
built and repaired the castle, which was then greatly decayed, having
a great multitude of artificers and labourers, above the number of
three hundred persons, daily in wages.
And lying there, he had intelligence by the gentlemen of the country,
that used to repair unto him, that there was sprung a great variance
and deadly hate between Sir Richard Tempest and Mr. Brian Hastings,
then being but a squire, but after made knight, between whom was
like to ensue great murder, unless some good mean might be found to
redress the inconvenience that was most likeliest to ensue. My lord
being thereof advertised, lamenting the case, made such means by his
wisdom and letters, with other persuasions, that these two gentlemen
were content to resort to my lord to Cawood, and there to abide his
order, high and low. Then was there a day appointed of their assembly
before my lord, at which day they came not without great number on
each part. Wherefore against [that] day, my lord had required many
worshipful gentlemen to be there present, to assist him with their
wisdoms to appease these two worthy gentlemen, being at deadly feud.
And to see the king's peace kept, commanding no more of their number
to enter into the castle with these two gentlemen than six persons
of each of their menial servants, and all the rest to remain without
in the town, or where they listed to repair. And my lord himself
issuing out of the gates, calling the number of both parties before
him, straightly charging them most earnestly to observe and keep the
king's peace, in the king's name, upon their perils, without either
bragging or quarreling either with other; and caused them to have
both beer and wine sent them into the town; and then returned again
into the castle, being about nine of the clock. And because he would
have these gentlemen to dine with him at his own table, thought it
good in avoiding of further inconvenience to appease their rancour
before. Whereupon he called them into his chapel; and there, with
the assistance of the other gentlemen, he fell into communication
with the matter, declaring unto them the dangers and mischiefs that
through their wilfulness and folly were most likeliest to ensue; with
divers other good exhortations. Notwithstanding, the parties laying
and alleging many things for their defence, sometime adding each to
other stout and despiteful words of defiance, the which my lord and
the other gentlemen had much ado to qualify, their malice was so
great. Howbeit, at length, with long continuance and wise arguments,
and deep persuasions made by my lord, they were agreed, and finally
accorded about four of the clock at afternoon; and so made them
friends. And, as it seemed, they both rejoiced, and were right well
contented therewith, to the great comfort of all the other worshipful
gentlemen, causing them to shake hands, and to go arm in arm to dinner;
and so went to dinner, though it was very late to dine[182], yet
notwithstanding they dined together with the other gentlemen at my
lord's table, where they drank lovingly each to other, with countenance
of great amity. After dinner my lord caused them to discharge their
routs and assembly that remained in the town, and to retain with them
no more servants than they were accustomed most commonly to ride with.
And that done, these gentlemen, fulfilling his commandment, tarried
at Cawood, and lay there all night; whom my lord entertained in such
sort that they accepted his noble heart in great worthiness [and
friendship,] trusting to have of him a special jewel in their country:
having him in great estimation and favour, as it appeared afterward by
their behaviour and demeanour towards him.