yesternygth at London wer delyveryd unto me; by the contynue wherof I
undyrstand, that the kyng's hyhnes, of hys excellent goodnes & cheryte
ys contentyd, that I shall injoy & have the admynystracion of Yorke
merly, with the gyftts of the promocyons spiritual & temporall of the
same, reservyd onely onto his nobyll grace the gyft of v or vj of the
best promocions. And that hys pleasure ys, I shal leve Wynchester
& Saynt Albons. As hereonto Mr. Secretary, I can nat expresse howe
moche I am bowndyn to the kyng's royal majeste for thys hys gret &
bowntawse liberalyte, reputyng the same to be moche more then I shal
ever be abyl to deserve. Howbeyt yf hys majeste, consyderyng the short
& lyttyl tyme that I shal lyve here in thys world, by the reason of
such hevynes as I have conceyved in my hert, with the ruinyuose of the
olde howsys & the decay of the said archbyshopryck at the best to the
sum of viii C Marcke yearly, by the reason of the act passyd for Fynys
of Testaments, wth also myn long paynful servys and poore degre; and
for the declaration of hys grace's excellent cheryte, yf hys hyhnes be
myndyd I shal leve Wynchester & Saynt Albon's, wych I supposyd, when
I maid my submyssyon, not offendying in my trewth towards hys royal
parson, dygnyte, or majeste royal, I should not now have desyrvyd to
have left; and much the more knowyng his grace's excellent propensyon
to pyte & mercy, & rememberyng the francke departyng with of all that
I had in thys world, that I may have summe convenyent pension reservyd
unto me, suche as the kyng's hyhnes of hys nobyll charite shal thynke
mete, so orderyng his that shal succede and my lyvyng, that the same
may be of lyck valew yeerly and exstent. Whereat my trust ys, and my
herte so gevyth me, that hys majeste wold make no dyffyculte, yf yt
may lycke yow friendly to propone the same, assuryng yow that I desyre
not thys for any mynde (God ys my judge), that I have to accumulate
good, or desyre that I have to the muke of world; for, God be thankyd,
at thys ower I set no more by the ryches & promocyons of the world,
then by the roshe undyr my fote; but onely for the declaration of the
kyng's favor & hyhe cheryte, & to have wherewith to do good dedys, &
to helpe my poore servants and kynnysfolks. And furthermore that yt
wold please the kyng's excellent goodnes by your freindly medyacion,
consyderyng how slendyrly I am furnyshyed in my howse, nowe specially
that the apparell of Wynchester and Saynt Albons shal be takyn from me,
to geve and appoynt unto me a convenyent fernyture for the same, _non
ad pompam, sed necessariam honestatem_. And yf I may have the free gyft
and dysposycion of the benefyces, yt shalbe gretly to my comfort. And
yet when any of the v or vi pryncypall shal fortune to be voyd, the
kyng's grace being myndyd to have any of them, hys hyhnes shalbe as
sure of the same, as though they wer reservyd. And thus by his nobyl &
mercyful goodnes delyvered owt of extreme calamite, & restoryd to a
newe fredome, I shal, with God's mercy & help, so ordyr my lyff, that I
trust hys majeste shal take special comfort therin, & be pleasyd with
the same: _Spero quod hoc, quæ peto, non videbitur magna_. Howbeyt I
most humbly submyt and referre all my petytions, _immo ipsam vitam_,
to his gracyous ordynance & pleasure, praying yow to declare & sygnify
the same, supplying myn indysposycion & lacke of wyt, conceyvyd by
reason of my extreme sorowe & hevynes, that the same may be to the
kyng's contentacion, wherin I had lever be ded then to offende in word,
thowght, or dede, and as towching the grantyng of the fee of one c li.
for Mr. Nores duryng hys lyff for hys good servys done unto the kyng's
hyhnes, for the wych I have always lovyd him, and for the singuler
good hert and mynde, that I knowe he hath alweys borne unto me, I am
content to make out my grawnte upon the same, ye & it wol please the
kyng to inlarge it one c. li. more; and semblably cause Mr. Thesauror
hath the kepyng of the kyng's game nygh to Fernam, I wold gladly, if
it may stand with the kyng's pleasure, grawnte unto hym the reversion
of such thinges as the Lord Sands hath there, with the ampliacon of
the fee above that wych is oldely accustomyd, to the sum of xl. li.
by the yeere; & also I wold gladly geve to Mr. Comptroller a lycke
fee, & to Mr. Russel, another of xx. li. by the yeere. Remyttyng thys
and all other my sutes to the kyng's hyhnes pleasure, mercy, pity, &
compassion, moste holly. Beseechyng hys Hyhnes so nowe gracyously to
ordyr me, that I may from hensforth serve God quietly & with repose
of mynd, & pray as I am most bowndyn, for the conservacyon & increase
of his most nobyll and royal astate. And thus with my dayly prayer I
byd yow farewell. From Asher hastely with the rude hand and moste hevy
herte of
Yowr assuryd frende & bedysman,
T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR.
LETTER XIV.
_Cardinal Wolsey to Dr. Stephen Gardener._
This Letter was also communicated to Mr. Grove by Mr. Littleton. It is
now in the Ashmole Museum at Oxford.
MY OWNE GOODE MASTYR SECRETARY,
Aftyr my moste herty commendacions I pray yow at the reverens of God
to helpe, that expedicion be usyd in my persuts, the delay wherof so
replenyshyth my herte with hevynes, that I can take no reste; nat
for any vayne fere, but onely for the miserable condycion, that I am
presently yn, and lyclyhod to contynue yn the same, onles that yow,
in whom ys myn assuryd truste, do help & releve me therin; For fyrst,
contynuyng here in this mowest & corrupt ayer, beyng enteryd into
the passyon of the dropsy. _Cum prostatione appetitus et continuo
insomnio._ I cannat lyve: Wherfor of necessyte I must be removyd
to some other dryer ayer and place, where I may have comodyte of
physycyans. Secondly, havyng but Yorke, wych is now decayd, by viii C.
li. by the yeere, I cannot tell how to lyve, & kepe the poore nombyr of
folks wych I nowe have, my howsys ther be in decay, and of evry thyng
mete for howssold onprovydyd and furnyshyd. I have non apparell for my
howsys ther, nor money to bring me thether, nor to lyve wyth tyl the
propysse tyme of the yeere shall come to remove thether. Thes thyngs
consyderyd, Mr. Secretary, must nedys make me yn agony and hevynes,
myn age therwith & sycknes consyderyd, alas Mr. Secretary, ye with
other my lordys shewyd me, that I shuld otherwyse be furnyshyd & seyn
unto, ye knowe in your lernyng & consyens, whether I shuld forfet my
spiritualties of Wynchester or no. Alas! the qualytes of myn offencys
consyderyd, with the gret punishment & losse of goodes that I have
sustaynyd, owt to move petyfull hertys; and the moste nobyl kyng, to
whom yf yt wold please yow of your cherytable goodnes to shewe the
premyses aftyr your accustomable wysdome & dexteryte, yt ys not to
be dowbtyd, but his highnes wold have consyderacyon & compassyon,
aggmentyng my lyvyng, & appoyntyng such thyngs as shuld be convenient
for my furniture, wych to do shalbe to the kyng's high honor, meryte,
& dyscharge of consyens, & to yow gret prayse for the bryngyng of the
same to passe for your olde brynger up and lovying frende. Thys kyndnes
exibite from the kyng's hyghnes shal prolong my lyff for some lytyl
whyl, thow yt shall nat be long, by the meane whereof hys grace shal
take profygtt, & by my deth non. What ys yt to hys hyhnes to give some
convenyent porcion owt of Wynchester, & Seynt Albons, hys grace takyng
with my herty good wyl the resydew. Remember, good Mr. Secretary, my
poore degre, & what servys I have done, and how nowe approchyng to
deth, I must begyn the world ageyn. I besech you therfore, movyd with
pity and compassyon soker me in thys my calamyte, and to your power
wych I knowe ys gret, releve me; and I wyth all myn shal not onely
ascrybe thys my relef unto yow, but also praye to God for the increase
of your honor, & as my poore shal increase, so I shal not fayle to
requyte your kyndnes. Wryttyn hastely at Asher, with the rude and
shackyng hand of
Your dayly bedysman,
And assuryd frend,
T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR.
To the ryght honorable and my assuryd frende Mastyr Secretary.
LETTER XV.
_Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener_,
Desiring him to write to him and give him an account of the king's
intentions with regard to him. (_From Strype._)
Myn own good mastyr secretary, albeit I am in such altiration and
indisposition of my hede & body, by the meansse of my dayly sorowe &
hevynesse, that I am fen omit to writ any long l[=re]s. Yet my trustyng
frend, Thomas Crowmwel, retornyng & reparyng unto yow, I cowde nat
forbere, but brively to put yow in remembrance: how that aftyr the
consultation takyn by the kyngs hyghnes opon myn orderyng, which ye
supposyd shulde be on Sunday was sevennyght, ye wolde not fayle to
advertyse me at the length of the specialties thereof. Of the [=w]ch to
here & have knowleg, I have & dayly do looke for. I pray yow therefore
at the reverens of God, & of this holy tyme, & as ye love & tendyr my
poore lyf, do so moche as to wrytt onto me your seyd l[=re]s: wherby
I may take some cumfort & rest: nat dowting but your hert is so gentyl
& pityful, that havyng knowleg in what agony I am yn, ye wole take the
payne to send onto me your seyd consollatory l[=re]s. Wherby ye shal
nat onely deserve toward God, but also bynde me to be as I am, your
contynual bedysman. Wrytten this mornyng at Asher, with the rude hand
and sorroweful hert of yours with hert and prayer.
T. CARDINALIS EBOR. Miserrimus.
To the right honorable Mr. Secretary.
LETTER XVI.
_Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener._
To draw up his pardon. (_From Strype._)
MYN OWNE GOOD MASTYR SECRETARY,
Aftyr my moste herty recommendations, with lycke thanks for your
goodnes towards me, thes shal be to advertyse yow that I have beyn
informyd by my trusty frend Thomas Cromwell that ye have signifyed onto
hym to my syngular consolation how that the kynges highnes movyd with
pety & compassyon, & of hys excellent goodnes & cheryte consyderyng
the lamentable condition & stat that I stand yn, hath wyllyd yow
with other lords and mastyrs of hys honorable cownsell, to intende
to the perfyghtyng & absolvyng without further tract or delay of myn
end & appoyntement; and that my pardon shulde be made in the moste
ample forme that my counsell cowde devise. For thys the kyngs moste
gracyous remembrance, procedyng of hymself, I accompt my sylf not onely
moste bowndyn to serve & pray for the preservation of hys moste royal
majestie, but also thancke God that ye have occasion given onto you to
be a sollycyter & setter forth of such thynges as do & shall conserve
my seyde ende. In the makyng & compowndyng wherof myn assured truste
is, that ye wole shewe the love & affection wych ye have & bere towards
me, your olde lover & frende: so declaryng your self therin, that the
worlde may parceyve that by your good meanys the kyng ys the bettyr
goode lorde unto me; & that nowe newly in maner comyng to the world,
ther maye be such respect had to my poore degree, olde age & longe
contynued servys, as shal be to the kyngs hygh honor & your gret prayse
& laude. Wych ondowtydly shall folowe yf ye optinde yowre benyvolens
towards me, & men perceive that by your wisdome & dexterite I shalbe
relevyd, & in this my calamyte holpen. At the reverens therefore of God
myn owne goode Mr. Secretary, & refugy, nowe set to your hande, that I
may come to a laudable end & repos, seyng that I may be furnyshyd aftyr
such a sorte & maner as I may ende my short tyme & lyff to the honor of
Crystes churche & the prince. And besides my dayly prayer & true hert
I shal so requyte your kyndnes, as ye shall have cause to thyncke the
same to be well imployde, lycke as my seyd trusty frende shall more
amply shewe onto you. To whom yt may please yow to geve firme credens
and lovyng audyens. And I shall pray for the increase of your honour.
Wryttyn at Assher with the tremyllyng hand & hevy hert of your assuryd
lover & bedysman
T. CARD^{LIS} EBOR.
To the ryght honorable and my singular good frende Mayster Secretary.
LETTER XVII.
_Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener_,
Desiring him to favour the cause of the Provost of Beverly, and to
intercede with the king for him and his colleges. (_From Strype._)
MYNE AWNE GENTIL MAISTER SECRETARY,
After my mooste herty recommendations, these shal be to thanke you for
the greate humanite, lovyng & gentil recule, that ye have made unto the
poore Provost of Beverly: & specialy, for that ye have in such wise
addressed hym unto the kings highnes presence, that his grace not onely
hath shewed unto hym, that he is his goode & gracious lorde, but also
that it hath pleased hys majeste to admitte & accepte hym as his poore
orator & scholer. Wherby both he & I accompte our selfs so bounden
unto you, that we cannot telle how to requite this your gratitude &
kyndenes; mooste hartely praying you to contynue in your good favour
towards hym, & to take hym & his pore causis into your patrocynye &
protection. And, as myne assured expectation & trust is, to remember
the poor state & condition that I stond in, & to be a meane to the
kyngs highness for my relefe in the same. In doyng wherof ye shal not
onely deserve thanks of God, but also declare to your perpetual laud
and prayse, that ye beyng in auctorite, have not forgoten your olde
maister & frynde. And in the wey of charite, & for the love that ye
bere to virtue, & _ad bona studia_, be meane to the kyngs highnes for
my poore colleges; and specially for the college of Oxford. Suffer not
the things, which by your greate lernyng, studie, counsaile & travaile,
hath bene erected, founden, & with good statutes & ordinances, to
the honour of God, increase of vertue & lernyng established, to be
dissolved or dismembred. Ye do know, no man better, to what use the
monasteries, suppressed by the popis licence, the kyngs consente
concurryng with the same, & a pardon for the premoneri[242], be
converted. It is nat to be doubted, but the kyngs highnes, of his high
vertue & equite, beyng informed how every thing is passed, his mooste
gracious license & consente (as is aforesaid) adhibited therunto, wol
never go aboute to dissolve the said incorporations or bodyes, wherof
so greate benefite & commodite shal insue unto his realme & subjects.
Superfluities, if any such shal be thought & founden, may be resecat;
but to destroy the hole, it were to greate pitie.
Eftsones therefore, good Maister Secretaire, I beseche you to be good
maister & patrone to the said colleges: "Et non sinas opus manuum
tuarum perire, aut ad nihilum redige." Thus doyng, both I, & they shal
not onely pray for you, but in such wise deserve your paynes, as ye
shal have cause to thinke the same to be wel bestowed & imployed, like
as this present berer shal more at the large shewe unto you. To whom
it may please the same to geve firme credence. And thus mooste hartely
fare ye wel. From Sothewell, the xxiij^{th} day of July.
Your lovyng frende,
T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR.
To the right honorable & my singular good frende M^r Doctor Stephyns,
Secretory to the Kings Highnes.
LETTER XVIII.
_Cardinal Wolsey to Secretary Gardener_,
Desiring his favour in a suit against him for a debt of 700_l._ by one
Strangwish. (_From Strype._)
MYNE AWNE GOOD MAISTER SECRETARY,
After my mooste harty recommendations, these shal be to desire, &
mooste effectuelly to pray you to be good maister & friende unto me,
concernyng the uncharitable sute of Strangwishe for vij C li., which
he pretendith that I shulde owe unto hym, for the ward of Bowes. And
albeit there was at his fyrste comyng to my service, by our mutual
consents, a perfecte end made between hym & me for the same, yet nowe
digressyng therfrom, perceyvyng that I am out of favour, destitute of
socour, & in calamite, he not onely newly demaundyth the said vij C li.
but also hath made complaint unto the kyngs highnes, surmittyng, that
I shulde, contrary to justice, deteyne from hym the said vij C li. For
the redresse whereof, it hath pleased the kyngs majeste to direct his
mooste honorable letters unto me; the contents wherof I am sure be nat
unknown unto you. And insuing the purporte therof, & afore the delyvere
of the same thre days by past, notwithstanding my greate necessite
& poverte, onely to be out of his exclamation & inquietnes, I have
written to my trusty friende, M^r Cromwel, to make certeyn reasonable
offres unto hym for that intent and purpose; moost hartely beseching
you to helpe, that upon declaration of such things, as upon my part
shal be signified unto you by the said Maister Cromwell, some such end,
by your friendely dexterite, may bee made betwixt us, as shal accorde
with good congruence, & as I may supporte & be hable (myne other debts
and charges considered) to bere. In the doyng wherof, ye shall bynde me
to be your dayly bedesman, as knoweth God, who alwayes preserve you.
From Sothewell, the xxv^{th} day of August.
Yours with hert & prayer,
T. CAR^{LIS} EBOR.
To my right entierly welbiloved frende M^r Stephyn Gardener, Secretory
to kyngs highnes.
LETTER XIX.
_Lettre de Monsieur de Bellay Evesque de Bayonne à M^r le Grant
Maistre._ De Londres le xvij Oct. 1529.
[MSS. DE BETHUNE BIBLIOTH. DU ROY, V. 8603. f. 113.]
MONSEIGNEUR, depuis les lettres du Roy & les aultres vostres que je
pensoye sur l'heure envoyer, cette depesche a estée retardé jusques
à présent, parce qu'il a fallu faire & refaire les lettres que je
vous envoyé tout plein de fois, & pour ce aller & venir souvent,
tant les Ducs mêmes qu'aultres de ce conseil à Windesore, dont toute
à cette heure ils les m'ont envoyées en la forme que verrez par le
double d'iceux. Ils me prient le plus fort du monde de faire qu'on ne
trouve mauvais si en ces expéditions, & mesmement en ce que touche
le principal de la depesche, je ne suis de tout satisfait comme je
vouldroye, & aussi eulx mesmes, s'excusans que leur manière de négocier
envers leur maistre n'est encore bien dressée, mais pour l'advenir
doibvent faire merveilles, & en baillent de si grands asseurances &
si bien jurées, que je ne puis me garder de les croire; je n'ay point
refreschy mes lettres au Roy, car je ne voy point qu'il y en ait
matière.
Au demourant, j'ay esté voir le Cardinal en ses ennuis, où j'ay trouvé
les plus grand exemple de fortune que on ne scauroit voir, il m'a
remonstré son cas en la plus mauvaise rhétorique que je viz jamais,
car cueur & parolle luy failloient entièrement; il a bien plouré &
prié que le Roy & Madame voulsissent avoir pitié de luy, s'ils avoyent
trouvé qu'il leur eust guardé promesse de leur estre bon serviteur
autant que son honneur & povoir se y est peu estendre, mais il me à
la fin laissé sans me pouvoir dire autre chose qui vallist mieux que
son visage, qui est bien descheu de la moitié de juste pris: & vous
promets, Monseigneur, que sa fortune est telle que ses ennemis, encore
qu'ils soyent Angloys, ne se scauroyent guarder d'en avoir pitié, ce
nonobstant ne le laisseront de le poursuivre jusques au bout, & ne
voyt de moyen de son salut, aussi ne fais-je sinon qu'il plaise au
Roy & à Madame de l'ayder. De légation, de sceau d'auctorité, de
crédit il n'en demande point, il est prest de laisser tout jusques à
la chemise, & que on le laisse vivre en ung hermitage, ne le tenant
ce Roy en sa mal grâce: Je l'ay reconforté au mieulx que j'ay peu,
mais je n'y ay sceu faire grant chose: Depuis par un en qui il se
fie, il m'a mandé ce qu'il vouldroit qu'on feist pour luy de la plus
grand partie, luy voyant qu'il ne touchoit au bien des affaires du
Roy qu'on luy accordast la plus raisonnable chose qui demande, c'est
que le Roy escripvist à ce Roy qu'il est un grand bruit de par delà
qu'il l'ait recullé d'autour de luy, & fort eslongé de la bonne grâce,
en sorte qu'on dict qu'il doibve estre destruict, ce que ne pense
totalement estre comme on le dict; toutefois pour la bonne fraternité,
qu'ils ont ensemble, & si grant communication de tous leurs plus grans
affaires, l'a bien voulu prier de y avoir égard, affin qu'il n'en
entre souldainement quelque mauvaise fantasie envers ceulx qui ont
veu qu'en si grant solemnité & auctorité, il ait servy d'instrument
en cette perpétuelle amitié tant renommée par toute la Chrétienté; &
que si d'adventure il estoit entré en quelque malcontentement de luy,
il veüille ung peu modérer son affection, comme il est bien sûr que
luy vouldront conseiller ceulx qui sont autour de sa personne & au
maniement de ses plus grandes affaires. Voilà, Monseigneur, la plus
raisonable de toutes ses demandes, en laquelle ne me veulx ingérer de
dire mon advis, si diray-je bien qu'il n'y a personne ici qui deust
prendre à mal telle lettre; & mesment là où ils considéreront, comme de
facit ils font, qu'il sont forcés de prendre & tenir plus que jamais
votre party, & d'advantage asseureray bien que la plus grant prinse
qu'ils ayent peû avoir suz luy du commencement, & qui plus leur a
servi à le brouiller envers le Roy, a esté qu'il déclara à ma venuë
decza trop ouvertement de vouloir aller à Cambray, car les aultres
persuaderent au maistre ce que c'estoient, seulement pour éviter
d'estre à l'expédition du mariage, & outre cela vous promets que sans
luy les aultres mectoyent ce Roy en ung terrible train de rompre la
pratique de paix dont vous escripvis quelque mot en ce temps-la, mais
j'en laissay dix fois en la plume, voyant que tout estoit rabillé,
je vous les diray estant là, & je suis seur que le trouverez fort
estrange: Il me semble, Monsieur, que à tout cela, & plusieurs aultres
choses que bien entendez de vous-mesmes, on doibt avoir quelque égard,
vous donnerez, s'il vous plaist, advis au Roy & à Madame de tout cecy,
affin qu'ils advisent ce qu'il leur plaira en faire, s'ils pensent
n'empirer par cela leurs affaires, je croy que voulentiers, outre ce
que sera quelque charité, ils vouldront qu'on cognoisse qu'ils ayent
retiré ung leur affectionné serviteur, & tenu pour tel par chescun, des
portes d'enfer; mais sur tout, Monseigneur, il desire que ce Roy ne
connoisse qu'ils en ayent esté requis, & que il les en ay fait requerir
en façon du monde, cela l'acheveroit d'affoller; car pour vous dire
le vray, & hormis toute affection, je vous asseure que la plus grant
prinse que ses ennemis ayent euë sur luy, outre celle du mariage, ce
a esté de persuader ce Roy que il avoit tousjours eu en temps de paix
et de guerre intelligence secrette à Madame, de laquelle ladite guerre
durant il avoit eu des grants presens, qui furent cause que Suffolc
estant à Montdidier, il ne le secourut d'argent comme il debvoit, dont
avint que il ne prit Paris; mais ils en parlent en l'oreille de ce
propos, afin que je n'en soy adverty. Quant auxdits presens, il espère
que Madame ne le nuyra où il en sera parlé, de toutes aultres choses
il s'en recommande en sa bonne grâce. La fantaisie de ces seigneurs
est que luy mort ou ruiné, il deffèrent incontinent icy l'estat de
l'Eglise, & prendront tous leurs biens, qu'il seroit ja besoing que je
misse en chiffre, car ils le crient en plaine table; je croy qu'ils
feront de beaux miracles, si m'a dict vostre grant prophète au visaige
bronsé, que ce Roy ne vivre gueres plus que........ au quel, comme
vous sçavez, à ce que je voy par ses escriptures, il n'a baillé terme
que de la monstre de May. Je ne veulx oublier à vous dire que si le
Roy & Madame veullent faire quelque chose pour le Légat, il faudroit
se haster, encores ne seront jamais icy ses lettres que il n'ait
perdu le sceau, toutefois il ne pense plus à cela, elles serviront
pour le demourant, aussi venant icy mon successeur, comme chascun
s'attend qu'il viendra dans peu des jours, ils luy donnassent charge
d'en parler; le pis de son mal est que Mademoiselle de Boulen a faict
promettre à son amy que il ne l'escoutera jamais parler; car elle pense
bien qu'il ne le pourrait garder d'en avoir pitié.
Monseigneur, tout ce qui sera de bon en tout ce discours, vous le
sçaurez prendre comme tel; s'il y aura riens qui semble party de trop
d'affection, je vous supplie m'ayder à en excuser, & qu'il soit pris
de bon part, car là où la matière seroit mauvaise si vous assureray-je
bien que l'intention n'est telle, et la dessus est bien temps pour vous
& pour moy que je facze fin à la présente, me recommande humblement en
vostre bonne grâce, & pryant nostre Seigneur qu'il vous doint bonne vie
& longue.
Vostre humble Serviteur,
J. DU BELLAY,
Evesque de Bayonne.
De Londres, le xvij d'Octobre.
à Monsiegneur
Monseigneur
Le Grant Maistre & Marechal de France.
LETTER XX.
_Thomas Alward to Thomas Cromwell._ A. D. 1529.
[MS. COTTON. VITELLIUS B. XII. fol. 173. _Orig._]
"The following Letter (says Mr. Ellis), though mutilated, presents a
genuine picture of one of the last interviews with which Wolsey was
favoured by his Sovereign. It is dated on the 23^d. of September;
sixteen days after which the King's attorney presented the indictment
against him in the Court of King's Bench upon the Statute of Provisors.
"Thomas Alward, the writer of this Letter, appears to have been the
Keeper of Wolsey's Wardrobe. He has been already incidentally named in
the Letter which relates to the foundation of Ipswich College."
MAISTER CROMWEL,