buried the next day following; for Master Kingston would not tarry the
return of the empost. And it was further thought good that the mayor
of Leicester and his brethren should be sent for, to see him personally
dead, in avoiding of false rumours that might hap to say that he was
not dead but still living. Then was the mayor and his brethren sent
for; and in the mean time the body was taken out of the bed where he
lay dead; who had upon him, next his body, a shirt of hair, besides his
other shirt, which was of very fine linen Holland cloth; this shirt
of hair was unknown to all his servants being continually attending
upon him in his bedchamber, except to his chaplain, which was his
Ghostly Father; wherein he was buried, and laid in a coffin of boards,
having upon his dead corpse all such vestures and ornaments as he was
professed in when he was consecrated bishop and archbishop, as mitre,
crosses, ring, and pall, with all other things appurtenant to his
profession. And lying thus all day in his coffin open and barefaced,
that all men might see him lie there dead without feigning; then when
the mayor, his brethren, and all other had seen him, lying thus until
four or five of the clock at night, he was carried so down into the
church with great solemnity by the abbot and convent, with many torches
light, singing such service as is done for such funerals.
And being in the church the corpse was set in our lady chapel, with
many and divers tapers of wax burning about the hearse, and divers
poor men sitting about the same, holding of torches light in their
hands, who watched about the dead body all night, whilst the canons
sang dirige, and other devout orisons. And about four of the clock
in the morning they sang mass. And that done, and the body interred,
Master Kingston, with us, being his servants, were present at his said
funeral, and offered at his mass. And by that time that all things were
finished, and all ceremonies that to such a person were decent and
convenient, it was about six of the clock in the morning.
Then prepared we to horseback, being St. Andrew's Day the Apostle, and
so took our journey towards the court[200], being at Hampton Court;
where the king then lay. And after we came thither, which was upon St.
Nicholas' Eve, we gave attendance upon the council for our depeche.
Upon the morrow I was sent for by the king to come to his grace; and
being in Master Kingston's chamber in the court, had knowledge thereof,
and repairing to the king, I found him shooting at the rounds in the
park, on the backside of the garden. And perceiving him occupied in
shooting, thought it not my duty to trouble him: but leaned to a tree,
intending to stand there, and to attend his gracious pleasure. Being in
a great study, at the last the king came suddenly behind me, where I
stood, and clapped his hand upon my shoulder; and when I perceived him,
I fell upon my knee. To whom he said, calling me by name, "I will,"
quoth he, "make an end of my game, and then will I talk with you:" and
so departed to his mark, whereat the game was ended.
Then the king delivered his bow unto the yeoman of his bows, and went
his way inward to the palace, whom I followed; howbeit he called for
Sir John Gage, with whom he talked, until he came at the garden postern
gate, and there entered; the gate being shut after him, which caused me
to go my ways.
And being gone but a little distance the gate was opened again, and
there Sir Harry Norris called me again, commanding me to come in to
the king, who stood behind the door in a nightgown of russet velvet,
furred with sables; before whom I kneeled down, being with him there
all alone the space of an hour and more, during which time he examined
me of divers weighty matters, concerning my lord, wishing that liever
than twenty thousand pounds that he had lived. Then he asked me for the
fifteen hundred pounds, which Master Kingston moved to my lord before
his death. "Sir," said I, "I think that I can tell your grace partly
where it is." "Yea, can you?" quoth the king; "then I pray you tell me,
and you shall do us much pleasure, nor it shall not be unrewarded."
"Sir," said I, "if it please your highness, after the departure of
David Vincent from my lord at Scroby, who had then the custody thereof,
leaving the same with my lord in divers bags, sealed with my lord's
seal, [he] delivered the same money in the same bags sealed unto a
certain priest (whom I named to the king), safely to keep to his use."
"Is this true?" quoth the king. "Yea, sir," quoth I, "without all
doubt. The priest shall not be able to deny it in my presence, for I
was at the delivery thereof[201]." "Well then," quoth the king, "let me
alone, and keep this gear secret between yourself and me, and let no
man be privy thereof; for if I hear any more of it, then I know by whom
it is come to knowledge."
"Three may," quoth he, "keep counsel, if two be away; and if I thought
that my cap knew my counsel, I would cast it into the fire and burn
it. And for your truth and honesty ye shall be one of our servants,
and in that same room with us, that ye were with your old master.
Therefore go to Sir John Gage our vice chamberlain, to whom I have
spoken already to give you your oath, and to admit you our servant in
the same room; and then go to my Lord of Norfolk, and he shall pay you
all your whole year's wages, which is ten pounds, is it not so?" quoth
the king. "Yes, forsooth, sire," quoth I, "and I am behind thereof for
three quarters of a year." "That is true," quoth the king, "for so we
be informed, therefore ye shall have your whole year's wages, with our
reward delivered you by the Duke of Norfolk." The king also promised
me furthermore, to be my singular good and gracious lord, whensoever
occasion should serve. And thus I departed from him.
And as I went I met with Master Kingston coming from the council, who
commanded me in their names to go straight unto them, whom they had
sent for by him, "And in any wise," quoth he, "for God's sake, take
good heed what ye say; for ye shall be examined of such certain words
as my lord your late master had at his departure, and if you tell
them the truth," quoth he, "what he said, you shall undo yourself;
for in any wise they would not hear of it: therefore be circumspect
what answer ye make to their demands." "Why, sir," quoth I, "how have
ye done therein yourself?" "Marry," quoth he, "I have utterly denied
that ever I heard any such words; and he that opened the matter first
is fled for fear; which was the yeoman of the guard that rode empost
to the king from Leicester. Therefore go your ways, God send you good
speed; and when you have done, come to me into the chamber of presence,
where I shall tarry your coming to see how you speed, and to know how
ye have done with the king."
Thus I departed, and went directly to the council chamber door; and as
soon as I was come, I was called in among them. And being there, my
Lord of Norfolk spake to me first, and bade me welcome to the court,
and said, "My lords, this gentleman hath both justly and painfully
served the cardinal his master like an honest and diligent servant;
therefore I doubt not but of such questions as ye shall demand of him,
he will make just report, I dare undertake the same for him. How say
ye, it is reported that your master spake certain words, even before
his departure out of this life; the truth whereof I doubt not ye know;
and as ye know, I pray you report; and fear not for no man. Ye shall
not need to swear him, therefore go to, how say you, is it true that
is reported?" "Forsooth, sir," quoth I, "I was so diligent attending
more to the preservation of his life than I was to note and mark every
word that he spake: and, sir, indeed, he spake many idle words, as men
in such extremities do, the which I cannot now remember. If it please
your lordships to call before you Master Kingston, he will not fail to
show you the truth." "Marry, so have we done already," quoth they, "who
hath been here presently before us, and hath denied utterly that ever
he heard any such words spoken by your master at the time of his death,
or at any time before." "Forsooth, my lords," quoth I, "then I can say
no more; for if he heard them not, I could not hear them; for he heard
as much as I, and I as much as he. Therefore, my lords, it were much
folly for me to declare any thing of untruth, which I am not able to
justify." "Lo!" quoth my Lord of Norfolk, "I told you as much before;
therefore go your ways:" quoth he to me, "you are dismissed, and come
again to my chamber anon, for I must needs talk with you."
I most humbly thanked them, and so departed; and went into the chamber
of presence to meet with Master Kingston, whom I found standing in
communication with an ancient gentleman, usher of the king's privy
chamber, called Master Radcliffe. And at my coming, Master Kingston
demanded of me, if I had been with the counsel; and what answer I made
them. I said again, that I had satisfied them sufficiently with my
answer; and told him the manner of it. And then he asked me how I sped
with the king; and I told him partly of our communication; and of his
grace's benevolence and princely liberality; and how he commanded me
to go to my Lord of Norfolk. As we were speaking of him, he came from
the council into the chamber of presence; as soon as he espied me, he
came unto the window, where I stood with Master Kingston and Master
Radcliffe; to whom I declared the king's pleasure. These two gentlemen
desired him to be my good lord. "Nay," quoth he, "I will be better unto
him than ye wene; for if I could have spoken with him before he came
to the king, I would have had him to my service; (the king excepted)
he should have done no man service in all England but only me. And
look, what I may do for you, I will do it with right good will." "Sir,
then," quoth I, "would it please your grace to move the king's majesty
in my behalf, to give me one of the carts and horses that brought up
my stuff with my lord's (which is now in the tower), to carry it into
my country." "Yea, marry, will I," quoth he, and returned again to
the king; for whom I tarried still with Master Kingston. And Master
Radcliffe, who said, that he would go in and help my lord in my suit
with the king. And incontinent my lord came forth, and showed me, how
the king was my good and gracious lord; and had given me six of the
best horses that I could choose amongst all my lord's cart horses,
with a cart to carry my stuff, and five marks for my costs homewards;
and "hath commanded me," quoth he, "to deliver you ten pounds for
your wages; being behind unpaid; and twenty pounds for a reward;"
who commanded to call for Master Secretary to make a warrant for all
these things. Then was it told him, that Master Secretary was gone to
Hanworth for that night. Then commanded he one of the messengers of the
chamber to ride unto him in all haste for those warrants; and willed
me to meet with him the next day at London; and there to receive both
my money, my stuff, and horses, that the king gave me: and so I did;
of whom I received all things according, and then I returned into my
country.
And thus ended the life of my late lord and master, the rich and
triumphant legate and cardinal of England, on whose soul Jesu have
mercy! Amen.
_Finis quod G. C._
Who list to read and consider, with an indifferent eye, this history,
may behold the wondrous mutability of vain honours, the brittle
assurance of abundance; the uncertainty of dignities, the flattering of
feigned friends, and the tickle trust to worldly princes. Whereof this
lord cardinal hath felt both of the sweet and the sour in each degree;
as fleeting from honours, losing of riches, deposed from dignities,
forsaken of friends, and the inconstantness of princes favour; of all
which things he hath had in this world the full felicity, as long as
fortune smiled upon him: but when she began to frown, how soon was
he deprived of all these dreaming joys and vain pleasures. The which
in twenty years with great travail, study, and pains, obtained, were
in one year and less, with heaviness, care, and sorrow, lost and
consumed. O madness! O foolish desire! O fond hope! O greedy desire
of vain honours, dignities, and riches! Oh what inconstant trust and
assurance is in rolling fortune! Wherefore the prophet said full
well, _Thesaurizat, et ignorat, cui congregabit ea_. Who is certain
to whom he shall leave his treasure and riches that he hath gathered
together in this world, it may chance him to leave it unto such as
he hath purposed? but the wise man saith, _That an other person, who
peradventure he hated in his life, shall spend it out, and consume it_.
THE END.
FOOTNOTES:
[44] The autograph MS. begins here.
[45] He was born in the year 1471. See Fiddes's _Life of Wolsey_, p.
2. 1726. By some it has been said that his father was a _butcher_,
but the foundation for this assertion is not known. The zealous
biographer of the cardinal, Mr. Grove, made two successive journeys
to Ipswich for the purpose of obtaining information respecting him,
but the whole fruit of both expeditions was ascertaining the Christian
name of Wolsey's father, and that he was a man of some substance! He
printed, however, what he calls "The Life of Robert Wolsey, of Ipswich,
_Gentleman_," in 1761! The will of Wolsey's father was published by Dr.
Fiddes, and for its curiosity I shall give it a place in the Appendix.
[46] The place was Lymington, in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. He was
instituted October 10, A. D. 1500. _Fiddes_, p. 5.
[47] The tradition is, that Wolsey was set in the stocks by Sir Amyas
Pawlet's direction, for disorderly conduct at a fair where he had drunk
to excess. The ground for this assertion is not known, but it seems to
rest upon no earlier authority than that of Sir John Harrington. It may
be remarked that Storer, in his metrical Life of Wolsey, represents him
as the injured party:
"Wrong'd by a knight for no desert of mine."
[48] September, 1501.
[49] Fiddes asserts that Sir John Nanfan was a Somersetshire gentleman.
Nash, in his History of Worcestershire states, that the father and
the son have been confounded, and that it was Sir Richard Nanfan, a
gentleman of that county, who was captain of Calais about this time, i.
e. circa 1503. His son's name was Sir John; but it is evident that the
words _a very grave and ancient_ knight can only apply to Sir Richard.
[50] _Place_, or _office_.
[51] Wolsey had not only the address and good qualities necessary to
the acquisition of such friends, but also retained them to the last.
The affection of Bishop Fox is apparent in the last letter which he
wrote to him; and Sir Thomas Lovell's esteem was manifested to the
close of his life, for he leaves him in his will "a standing cup of
golde, and one hundred marks in golde."
[52] This mission related to the intended treaty of marriage between
Henry the Seventh, and the Duchess Dowager of Savoy.
[53] Shakspeare represents the cardinal as "Exceeding wise, fair spoken
and persuading;" and one of the charges exhibited against him was,
that "at the privy council he would have all the words to himself, and
consumed the time with a fair tale!"
[54] _Dispatch._
[55] _Understanding._
[56] Wordsworth's Ed.
[57] By _passengers_ the reader will see by the context that the
_passage boats_ are meant. It was the usual phrase to signify a
ferryman, and also his boat, from _passager_, Fr. Thus in Baret's
Alvearie, "A _passenger_, one that conveyeth over many, convector."
[58] Thomas Storer, in his metrical Life of Wolsey, 1599, has the
following stanza, in which the expedition Wolsey used on this occasion
is not unpoetically alluded to:
"The Argonautic vessel never past
With swifter course along the Colchian main,
Than my small bark with fair and speedy blast
Convey'd me forth, and reconvey'd again;
Thrice had Arcturus driv'n his restless wain,
And heav'n's bright lamp the day had thrice reviv'd
From first departure, till I last arriv'd."
This poem was reprinted by Mr. Park in the Supplement to the Harleian
Miscellany. There are extracts from it in the Retrospective Review,
Vol. v. p. 275.
[59] He was collated Feb. 2. A. D. 1508. Le Neve's _Fasti_. p. 146.
[60] These words follow in most of the manuscripts, but are probably an
interpolation: "and mother afterwards of the queen's highness, that now
is, (whose virtuous life and godly disposition Jesu long preserve, and
continue against the malignity of her corrupt enemies!)"
[61] This house merged to the crown by the attainder of Empson, and
appears to have been a princely dwelling, for in the patent, an orchard
and twelve gardens are enumerated as belonging to it. The grant bears
date in 1510. It stood upon the ground which is now occupied by
Salisbury Square and Dorset Street, its gardens reaching to the banks
of the river.
[62] _Who had._ MS. L.
[63] _Was._ MS. L.
[64] Dr. Wordsworth has cited a passage from Sir Thomas More, in his
_Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation_, in which is a lively and
characteristic picture, "designed, no doubt, to represent the cardinal
at the head of his own table." I could not refuse myself the pleasure
of laying it before the reader.
"_Anthony._ I praye you, cosyn, tell on. _Vincent._ Whan I was fyrste
in Almaine, uncle, it happed me to be somewhat favoured with a great
manne of the churche, and a great state, one of the greatest in all
that country there. And in dede whosoever might spende as muche as
hee mighte in one thinge and other, were a ryght great estate in anye
countrey of Christendom. But glorious was hee verye farre above all
measure, and that was great pitie, for it dyd harme, and made him abuse
many great gyftes that God hadde given him. Never was he saciate of
hearinge his owne prayse.
So happed it one daye, that he had in a great audience made an oracion
in a certayne matter, wherein he liked himselfe so well, that at his
diner he sat, him thought, on thornes, tyll he might here how they that
sat with hym at his borde, woulde commend it. And whan hee had sitte
musing a while, devysing, as I thought after, uppon some pretty proper
waye to bring it in withal, at the laste, for lacke of a better, lest
he should have letted the matter too long, he brought it even blontly
forth, and asked us al that satte at his bordes end (for at his owne
messe in the middes there sat but himself alone) howe well we lyked
his oracyon that he hadde made that daye. But in fayth Uncle, whan
that probleme was once proponed, till it was full answered, no manne
(I wene) eate one morsell of meate more. Every manne was fallen in so
depe a studye, for the fyndynge of some exquisite prayse. For he that
shoulde have brought oute but a vulgare and a common commendacion,
woulde have thoughte himself shamed for ever. Than sayde we our
sentences by rowe as wee sat, from the lowest unto the hyghest in good
order, as it had bene a great matter of the comon weale, in a right
solemne counsayle. Whan it came to my parte, I wyll not saye it, Uncle,
for no boaste, mee thoughte, by oure Ladye, for my parte, I quytte
my selfe metelye wel. And I lyked my selfe the better beecause mee
thoughte my wordes beeinge but a straungyer, wente yet with some grace
in the Almain tong wherein lettyng my latin alone me listed to shewe
my cunnyng, and I hoped to be lyked the better, because I sawe that
he that sate next mee, and should saie his sentence after mee, was an
unlearned Prieste, for he could speake no latin at all. But whan he
came furth for hys part with my Lordes commendation, the wyly Fox,
hadde be so well accustomed in courte with the crafte of flattry that
he wente beyonde me to farre.
And that might I see by hym, what excellence a right meane witte may
come to in one crafte, that in al his whole life studyeth and busyeth
his witte about no mo but that one. But I made after a solempne vowe
unto my selfe, that if ever he and I were matched together at that
boarde agayne: when we should fall to our flattrye, I would flatter in
latin, that he should not contende with me no more. For though I could
be contente to be out runne by an horse, yet would I no more abyde it
to be out runne of an asse. But Uncle, here beganne nowe the game, he
that sate hygheste, and was to speake, was a great beneficed man, and
not a Doctour onely, but also somewhat learned in dede in the lawes of
the Churche. A worlde it was to see howe he marked every mannes worde
that spake before him. And it semed that every worde the more proper it
was, the worse he liked it, for the cumbrance that he had to study out
a better to passe it. The manne even swette with the laboure, so that
he was faine in the while now and than to wipe his face. Howbeit in
conclusion whan it came to his course, we that had spoken before him,
hadde so taken up al among us before, that we hadde not lefte hym one
wye worde to speake after.
_Anthony._ Alas good manne! amonge so manye of you, some good felow
shold have lente hym one. _Vincent._ It needed not as happe was Uncle.
For he found out such a shift, that in hys flatteryng he passed us
all the mayny. _Anthony._ Why, what sayde he Cosyn? _Vyncent._ By our
Ladye Uncle not one worde. But lyke as I trow Plinius telleth, that
whan Appelles the Paynter in the table that he paynted of the sacryfyce
and the death of Iphigenia, hadde in the makynge of the sorowefull
countenances of the other noble menne of Greece that beehelde it,
spente oute so much of his craft and hys cunnynge, that whan he came to
make the countenance of King Agamemnon her father, whiche hee reserved
for the laste, ... he could devise no maner of newe heavy chere and
countenance--but to the intent that no man should see what maner
countenance it was, that her father hadde, the paynter was fayne to
paynte hym, holdyng his face in his handkercher. The like pageant in
a maner plaide us there this good aunciente honourable flatterer. For
whan he sawe that he coulde fynde no woordes of prayse, that woulde
passe al that hadde bene spoken before all readye, the wyly Fox woulde
speake never a word, but as he that were ravished unto heavenwarde
with the wonder of the wisdom and eloquence that my Lordes Grace hadde
uttered in that oracyon, he fette a long syghe with an Oh! from the
bottome of hys breste, and helde uppe bothe hys handes, and lyfte uppe
bothe his handes and lift uppe his head, and caste up his eyen into
the welkin and wepte. _Anthony._ Forsooth Cosyn, he plaide his parte
verye properlye. But was that greate Prelates oracion Cosyn, any thyng
prayseworthye?" _Sir Thomas More's Works_, p. 1221, 1222.
[65] _i.e._ haughty.
[66] June 1513.
[67] 100 crowns a day.
[68] "Heaven and happiness eternal is τὸ ξητόυμενον, that
which is joined in issue, to which we are intituled, for which we
plead, to which we have right; from whence by injury and treachery we
have been ejected, and from whence _by fine force_ we are kept out: for
this we do _clamare_, by the Clergy, our Counsel, in the view of God
and Angels." _Montague's Diatribe upon Selden's History of Tithes_, p.
130. _W._
[69] He was consecrated bishop of Lincoln, March 26, A. D. 1514. _Le
Neve's Fasti_, p. 141. _W._
[70] Bambridge was poisoned (according to Stow) by Rinaldo da Modena,
his chaplain, who was incited to the act by revenge, having suffered
the indignity of a blow from the archbishop.
[71] Dr. Robert Barnes preached a Sermon on the 24th of December,
1525, at St. Edward's Church in Cambridge, from which Sermon certain
Articles were drawn out upon which he was soon after called to make
answer before the Cardinal. Barnes has left behind him a description of
this examination. The sixth of these Articles was as follows. "I wyll
never beleeve that one man may be, by the lawe of God, a Byshop of two
or three cities, yea of an whole countrey, for it is contrarye to St.
Paule, which sayth, _I have left thee behynde, to set in every citye a
byshop_."