our. Guildeford to live with her in France, as one of her ladies of honOn the death of her husband, she communicates the intelligence to Wolsey, saying, "My Lord, my trust is in you for to remember me to the Kyng my brother, for now I have none to put my trust in but the Kyng my brother, and you. And so I pray you, my Lord, to show hys Grace, saying, that the Kyng, my housebande, ys departed to God, of whos sole God pardon. And wher as you avyse me that I shoulde make no promas, my Lord, I trust the Kyng my brother and you wole not reckon in me soche chyldhode." In spite of the pledge here given against her well-known inclination for her lover, Sir Charles Brandon, afterwards Duke of Suffolk, she married him in a few weeks, but as he was a person exciting no political jealousy, Wolsey pardoned them, and they were kindly received in England. The homage universally paid to the Chancellor had such an effect upon him, that he gradually in his own letters assumed an equality with the King, which was afterwards made a subject of his impeachment.* The fame of his influence was so great that he had many solicitations from other countries for his patronage. Thus, the Earl of Argyle wrote him a very humble letter, asking his interest with the Pope, that Dougall Campbell, the Earl's brother, might be appointed Abbot of Cowper: "I beseech ye to forther ye promotionne of my saed brother in the best manner as your Grace thinks expedient; and my lord, geif that there be any service or labore that I canne do your Graice in this realme, truly there shalbe nane in it yat sall accompleis ye same wt bettir hart nor mynd nor I sall." This Dougall Campbell was appointed Abbot of Cowper accordingly, although before entering into religion he had been married, and had a surviving son. Wolsey's manner of living now eclipsed the splendour of the King's court. His household consisted of eight hundred persons, comprehending one Earl (the Earl of Derby), nine barons, and many knights and squires of great figure and worship. He had a high-chamberlain, a vice-chamberlain, a treasurer, a controller, and other officers corresponding to those of royalty, bearing white staves. He had in his hall-kitchen two master cooks, with many assistants, and in his private kitchen, a master cook, who went daily in damask, satin, or velvet, with a chain of gold about his neck. We should never finish if we were to enumerate all the yeomen, grooms, pages, and purveyors that he had in his larder, *Thus, in his correspondence with Pace, the secretary, and others, he says, “His Highness and I give you hearty thanks." "Neither the King's Highness nor I will advise them." "Much it is to the King's and my comfort." “The King's Highness and I abide daily knowledge." Arrived here the Archbishop of Capua, whom the King's Highness and I like." "The King's Highness and I be always of the same mind that the Emperor is." "The King's Highness and I gave my own lodgings to him.". MS. Letters in British Museum. f MSS. Cott. Lib. scalding house, scullery, buttery, pantry, ewery, cellar, chaundery, wafery, wardrobe, laundry, bakehouse, wood-yard, garner, garden, stable, and almoserie, with the yeoman of his barge, yeoman of his chariot, his master of the horse, saddler, farrier, and muleteer. "Also he had two secretaries, and two clerks of his signet, and four councillors learned in the laws of the realm."* Now that he was Chancellor, he was constantly attended by all the officers of the Court, and by four footmen apparelled in rich ermine coats,— and whensoever he took any journey, by a herald at arms, a serjeant at arms, a physician, an apothecary, four minstrels, a keeper of his tents, and an armourer. Three great tables were daily laid in his hall for this numerous retinue. Many of the nobility placed their children in his family, and for the purpose of winning his favour, allowed them to act as his servants, although they had a separate table, called the mess of lords," and had nume rous menials to attend them. "When it pleased the King's Majesty, for his recreation, to repair unto the Cardinal's house, such pleasures were then devised for the King's comfort and consolation as might be invented or by man's wit imagined. The banquets were set forth with masks and mummeries, in so gorgeous a sort and costly manner, that it was a heaven to behold. There wanted no dames or damsels meet or apt to dance with the maskers, or to garnish the place for the time with other goodly disports. There was there all kinds of music and harmony set forth, with excellent voices, both of men and children."+ *Cavendish, 97. † Cavendish, who goes on to give an account of the King's coming with maskers like shepherds, from which Shakspeare has taken the 4th scene of the 1st act of Hen. VIII. In one particular the dramatist differs from the biographer. (The twelve maskers, habited like shepherds, being ushered in as foreigners who could not speak English.) "Wolsey. Pray tell them thus much from me: I would surrender it. Chamberlain. Such a one they all confess There is indeed, which they would have your Grace Wolsey. Let me see then; here I'll make My royal choice. King Henry (unmasking.) You have found him, Cardinal." But Cavendish relates, "My Lord Chancellor said to my Lord Cardinal," Sir, they confess that among them there is such a noble personage, whom if your Grace can appoint him from the others, he is contented to disclose himself and to accept your place most worthily." With that the Cardinal, taking a good advisement among them, at the last quoth he, 'Me seemeth the gentlemen with the black beard should be even he." And with that he arose out of his chair and offered the same to the gentleman in the black beard, with his cap in his hand. This turned out to be Sir Edward Neville, a comely knight of a goodly personage, that much resembled the King's person in that mask. The King, perceiving the cardinal so deceived in his estimation and choice, could not forbear laughing, but plucked down his visor, We have likewise very picturesque descriptions of his march to the Court at Greenwich on Sundays,-riding through Thames Street on his mule, with his crosses, his pillars, his hat, and the Great Seal, till he came to Billingsgate, where he took his barge, -and of the gorgeous celebration of mass in his chapel, where he was attended by Bishops and Abbots. Such was his haughtiness, that he made Dukes and Earls to serve him with wine, and to hold the bason and lavatories. But for our purpose, the most interesting pageant he exhibited was his procession from York House to the Court of Chancery in Westminster Hall, which is minutely described to us by an eyewitness. Having risen by day-break, and heard mass, he returned to his private chamber; and his public rooms being now filled with noblemen and gentlemen attending his levee, "He issued out unto them apparaled all in red, in the habit of a cardinal, which was either of fine scarlet, or else of crimson satin, taffety damask, or caffa, the best that he could get for money; and upon his head a round pillion, with a noble of black velvet set to the same in the inner side; he had also a tippet of fine sables about his neck; holding in his hand a very fine orange, whereof the meat or substance within was taken out, and filled up again with the part of a sponge, wherein was vinegar and other confections against the pestilent airs, the which he most commonly smelt unto passing among the press, or else when he was pestered with many suitors. There was also borne before him-first, the Great Seal of England, and then his Cardinal's hat, by a nobleman or some worthy gentleman, right solemnly, bare-headed. And as soon as he was entered into his chamber of presence, where there was attending his coming to wait upon him to Westminster Hall, as well noblemen and other worthy gentlemen, as noblemen and gentlemen of his own family; thus passing forth with two great crosses of silver borne before him; with also two great pillars of silver, and his pursuivant at arms with a great mace of silver gilt. Then his gentlemen ushers* cried, and said, On my Lords and Masters, on before; make way for my Lord's Grace.' Thus pass ed he down from his chamber to the Hall; and when he came to the Hall door, there was attendant for him his mule, trapped altogether in crimson velvet and gilt stirrups. When he was mounted, with his cross-bearers and pillar-bearers, also upon great horses trapped with fine scarlet. Then marched he forward, with his train and furniture in manner as I have declared, having about him four footmen with gilt poll-axes in their hands; and thus he went until he came to Westminster Hall door. And there he alighted, and went after this manner up through the Hall into the Chancery; howbeit, he would most commonly stay awhile at a and Master Neville's also, and dashed out with such a pleasant countenance and cheer, that all noble estates there assembled, seeing the King to be there amongst them. rejoiced very much.". Cavendish, 112. *Cavendish being one of them. bar made for him a little beneath the Chancery on the right hand, and there commune some time with the Judges, and some time with other persons. And that done he would repair into the Chancery, sitting there till eleven of the clock, hearing suitors, and determining of divers matters. And from thence he would divers times go into the Star Chamber, as occasion did serve; where he spared neither high nor low, but judged every one according to their merits and deserts." His crosses, pillars, and poll-axes are likewise celebrated by Cavendish in the metrical autobiography which he imputes to Wolsey: "My crossis twayne of silver long and greate With poll-axes gylt that no man durst come nyghe Ryding on my mule trapped in silver and golde."* *We have likewise a metrical description of the Cardinal's equipage from William Roy, styled by Bale, "vir ætatis suæ non ineruditus," in a satire published about 1530, in the form of a dialogue between two priests' servants, with the motto "Rede me and be not wrothe For I saye no thynge but trothe." "Wat. Doth he use then on mules to ryde ? More like a God celestiall Than any creature mortall With wordly pomp incredible. "Before hym rideth two prestes stronge, After theym followe two laymen secular "Then hath he servante fyve or six score, A marvellous great company: "Thus daily he proceedeth forthe, Whether he do right or wronge. Supp. to Harl. Misc. 1812. This pageantry, although regarded with great reverence by dependent courtiers, called forth many gibes from the vulgar; and it was a common saying, that "the two crosses showed that the Cardinal had twice as many sins to repent of as any other prelate." The pulpit likewise occasionally resounded with invectives against him. Doctor Barnes, afterwards burnt for heresy, having showed his independent spirit by inveighing against the pomp and luxury of the Cardinal, was summoned before him, and received this admonition: "What, Master Doctor! had you not a sufficient scope in the Scriptures to teach the people but yon; but that my golden shoes, my poll-axes, my pillars, my golden cushions, and my crosses did so far offend you, that you must make us ridiculum caput amongst the people? We were jollily that day laughed to scorn. Verily, it was a sermon more fitter to be preached on a stage than in a pulpit." Barnes answered, that he had spoken nothing but the truth out of the Scriptures, according to his conscience, and was for the time discharged. With the exception of his prosecution of Buckingham, Wolsey showed no inclination to blood or cruelty. We must now consider him in the capacity of a Judge. Unfortunately none of his decisions have come down to us; but it seems to be generally allowed that his elevation to the judgment-seat, by proving the extent of his capacity, seemed to cxalt his personal character;-that no Chancellor ever discovered greater impartiality;-that he showed much discrimination and shrewdness in discussing the principles of law and equity,-and that a strict administration of justice took place during his enjoyment of this high office.* We are rather at a loss to imagine how, with all his tact, he was able to get through the business without committing serious errors, and exposing himself to ridicule from his ignorance of legal distinctions. The fashion of a Chancellor having a Keeper of the Seal, or Vice-chancellor, to act for him had passed away,—and Wolsey, although he had probably paid some attention to the civil and canon law while resident at Oxford, had never, like Morton and many other ecclesiastical Chancellors, practised in the Arches, or been a clerk or master in Chancery, or assisted a prior Chancellor. The coming event of his Chancellorship had long cast its shadow before, and he probably had, by a course of study, in some degree prepared himself for his office; and he no doubt had the address to avail himself of the assistance of the four lawyers who formed a part of his establishment, as well as of the clerks and other officers of the court. "In examining cases," says Fiddes, "which came before the Cardinal as Chancellor, he would take He is extravagantly praised by Sir Thomas More, writing to Erasmus. "Ita se gerit ut spem quoque omnium, quanquam pro reliquis ejus virtutibus maximam, Jone tamen exsuperet; et, quod est difficillimum, post optimum prædecessorem valde probatur et placeat." And Ammonius, writing of the offie of Chancellor, coming to Wolsey, says, "Quem Magistratum Eboracensis pulcherime gerit." |