Clergyman of that Age.'-The great Lord BACON does not, in his Hiftory of Henry the VIIth, mention Wolfey's Parents; but only fays, Wolfey was Chaplain, and employed by Henry the VIIth. The various Accounts, that have been given of Wolfey's Original, occafioned one of our English Poets to make the following witty Remark : "Great Prieft, whoever was thy Sire by Kind, Wolfey of Ipswich ne'er begot thy Mind. The The SECRET HISTORY of the CARDINAL, by GEORGE CAVENDISH, Efq; his GentlemanUsher. CHA P. I. From the CARDINAL's Birth, to the Death of King HENRY T the VIIth. RUTH it is, Cardinal Wolfey was an honeft 95 Poor Man's Son in the Town of Ipfwich, in the County of Suffolk, and there born, who, being but a Child, was very apt to learn; wherefore, by means of his Parents, ' and other his good Friends, he was maintained at the Univerfity of Oxford, where in a 'fhort time he profpered fo well, that in a small time (as he told me with his own Mouth) he was made a Batch⚫elor of Arts when he was but 'fifteen Years of Age, and was moft commonly called the Boy. Batchelor. Thus, profpering in Learning, he was made Fellow of Magdalen College in Oxford, after that he was made • Mafter of Magdalen School, at 'which time were the Lord Marquefs of Dorfet's Sons there at School, committing unto him as well their Education as their Inftruction and Learning. It pleafed this Lord Marquefs against Christmas, to fend as well for the School-mafter as for the Scholars home to his House, for their Recreation in that pleasant and honourable Foreft. They being a while there, the Lord Marquess their Father perceiving them to be well improved in Learning for the Time, he was fo well contented, that he, having a Be ncfice in his Gift, (being at that prefent void) gave the School-mafter the fame, in regard of his Diligence. After Christmas B 2 The Authors we have mentioned having not agreed what Wolfey's Father's Profeffion or Bufinefs was, it will be neceffary to purfue our Enquiry farther. Dr. Fiddes, who wrote the Cardinal's Life, admits the common Tradition, that Wolfey was the Son of a Butcher; but he avers he can difcover no more authentick Grounds for fuch a Tradition, than for the other Report, that his Parents were in mean and indigent This may be a good Precedent for Men in Authority, which work their own Wills without Wit, to remember that. Greatness may decay. And those whom they do punish, ⚫ more of Humour than Juftice, may afterwards be advanced to great Honour, (as this Cardinal was) and they abafed as low as this Sir Amias was, which feek Revenge. Who would have thought, that when Sir Amias Pawlet punished this poor School-master, that ever he fhould have mounted to fo great had not been long there, but one Sir Amias Pawlet, Kt. dwelling in the Country therea'bouts, took an Occafion of Difpleafure against him, but upon what ground I know not; infomuch that Sir Amias was fo bold as to lay the School-mafter by the Heels during his Difpleasure, which Affront was afterwards neither forgotten, nor forgiven; for when the Schoolmaiter mounted fo high as to be Lord Chancellor of England, he was not forgetful of his old Difpleafure, moft cruelly mi-a nittred unto him by Sir Amias, Dignity as to be Chancellor of England, confidering his mean Parentage and Friends? Thefe be the wonderful Works of God's Providence. And I would wifh, that all Men in Authority would fear God in all Ages in the Time of their Triumph and Greatnefs; con- ⚫ fidering gent Circumstances; notwithstanding several Authors have related it, yet that learned Divine does not inform us what Bufinefs Wolfey's Father followed, or profeffed, fave what he gathered from fome of the before-mentioned Authors. Still it is allowed, the Doctor has gone farther than any other Author, in refpect to his oppofing what fidering that Advancement and of his faid Mafter; infomuch, Authority are not permanent, 'but many times flide and vanifh 'fuddenly away, as Princes Plea'fures alter and change, or as all living Creatures muft of Neceffity pay the Debt due to 'Nature, which no earthly Creature can refift. • Shortly after it chanced the faid Lord Marquefs died, after 'whofe Decease the School mafter thinking himself but a 'weak beneficed Man, and that he had left bis Fellowship in the College, for (as I underftand) if a Fellow of that House be once promoted to a Benefice, he fall by the Rules of the fame Houfe be difmiffed of his Fellowship; and now being alfo deftitute of his fingular good Lord, as well as of his Fellowship, which was moft of his Relief, thought long to be provided of fome other Help to defend him from all fuch Storms as he might meet with. In his Travel thereabouts he grew acquainted with a very great and ancient Knight, who had a great Place in Calais, under King Henry the VIIth. This Knight he ferved, and behaved himself fo difcreetly, that he obtained the efpecial Favour that for his Wit and Gravity he committed all the Care and Charge of his faid Office to his faid Chaplain. And, as I urderftand, his Office was the Treasurerfhip of Calais, who, in regard of his great Age, fhortly after was dilcharged of his faid Office, and fo returned into England, intending to live a more private Life. But, through his inftant Labour and good Favour, his Chaplain was preferred to be the King's Chaplain: And when he had once caft Anchor in the Port of Promotion, how he then beftirred himself I fhall now declare. 'He having then just Occafion to be daily in Sight of the King in his Chofet, not spending the reft of the Day in Idleness, would attend thofe Men whom he thought to bear most Rule in the Council, and were most in Favour with the King, which at that time was Dr. Fox, Bishop of Winchester, and 'Lord Privy-Seal; and alfo Sir Thomas Lovell, Kt. a very fage and wife Counsellor, being Mafter of the Wards, and • Conftable of the Tower. what has been fo often advanced by different Hiftorians, as to Wolfey's Father being a Butcher and poor, and for that End he mentions a Will, faid to be made by Robert, the Father; the Subftance of which here follows, in truft with Matters of greater Confequence. The King, being now refolved to imploy him in this Embaffage, commanded him thereupon to prepare himself for his Journey; and, for his Difpatch, wished him to repair to his Grace and his Council, of whom he should receive his Commiffion and Inftruction. By means whereof he had then a fit Occafion to repair from ⚫ time to time into the King's Prefence, who had thereby daily Experience of his fingular Wif one Day, advifing and debatingdom and found Judgment. with themselves upon this Embaffage, and by this time they faw they had a convenient Occafion to prefer the King's Chaplain, whofe excellent Eloquence and Learning they highly commended unto the King's Highness, who giving ear unto them, and being a • Prince of an excellent Judgment and Modefty, he commanded them to bring his Chaplain (whom they fo commended) before his Grace; and, being come, his Majefty (to prove his Ability) entered into Difcourfe with him, concerning Matters of State, whereby the King had fo well informed himfelf, that he found him to be a Man of a fharp Wit, and of fuch excellent Parts, that he thought him worthy to be Thus having his Difpatch, he took his Leave of the King at Richmond, about Four of the Clock in the Afternoon, where he launcheth forth in a Graveend Barge with a profperous • Wind and Tide; and his happy Speed was fuch, that he arrived at Gravesend in a little more than three Hours, where he 'tarried no longer than the Pofthorfes were provided, and he travelled fo fpeedily, that he came to Dover next Morning, where the Paffengers were under Sail to pafs to Calais; fo that long before Noon he arrived there, and, having Posthorfes prepared, departed from thence without tarrying, making fuch hafty Speed, that he was that Night with the Emput peror: Who, understanding of the 6 Item, will, that if Thomas my Son be a Priest within a Dear nert after my Decease, then I will that he sing foz me and my Friends by the Space of a year, and he to have for his Salary ten Marks; and if Thomas my Son be not a Pziest, then I will that another honest Priest sing for me and my Friends for the Term aforesaid, and he to have the Salary of ten Marks. Item, will that Joan my Wife have all my Lands and Te nements in the Parish of St. Nicholas in Ipfwich, and my free and Bond Lands in the Psiche of St. Stoke. The Residue of my Goods, not bequeathed, I give and bequeath to Joan mp Dife, Thomas my Son, and Thomas Cady, who I make Executozs of this my Testament, and do oder Richard Farrington Superviso? thereof. land's Embaffador, would in no wife delay Time, but fent for him incontinently; for his Affection to the King of England was fuch, that he was glad of any Opportunity to do him a Courtesy. The Embaffador declares the Sum of his Embaffy to the Em'peror, of whom he craved fpeedy Expedition, which 6 was granted him; fo that the next Day he was clearly dispatched, and all the King's Requests fully accomplished and granted. At which Time he made no further Stay, but took Pofthorfes that Night, and rode without Intermiffion to Calais, being conducted thither by divers Nobles appointed by the Emperor; and at the opening of the Gates of Calais he came thither, where the Paffengers were ready to return for • England; infomuch that he arrived at Dover between Ten and Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon. • This Sir, (quoth he) If it may pleafe your Highness, I have already been with the Emperor, and difpatched your Affairs, 1 truft to your Grace's Contentation: And thereupon prefented the King with his Letters of • Credence from the Emperor. The King wondering at his fpeedy Return, (he being fo 'well furnished with all his Proceedings) for the prefent diffembled his Admiration and Imagination in that Matter; and demanding of him, whether he ⚫ encountred with his Purfuivant, which he fent unto him with Letters, imagining him to be fcarce out of London, which concerned very material PalaB 4 |