Of the Tables and Formes, one or two only were of cypress wood; the generality were of wainscot or fir.

Of smaller implements of household use, we find eight pair of Andirons of brass and iron, having roses and my Lord's Arms; six pair of Andirons with my Lorde's Arms and Cardinal's Hats at the tops; eighty four plates of latten and iron "to set candels in; fyre forkes, fyre-pans, and tonges; pewter basins for chambers, some bought against the Kings, and some against the Emperor's coming to Hampton Court. One fire skreen of wicker occurs; and, at Hampton Court, " a Clok with all things thereunto belonging," with "an Instrumente of Musyke for my Lordes grete dyenyng chamber."

This Volume contains also an Inventory of what is called the "Chapell Stuffe," among which a great pair of Organs, and two smaller pair, occur; with a table of wainscot and a pair of tressels to set the Organs on: Images of Saints; Candlesticks; Bells; Censers; Vestments; &c. The whole forming an enumeration of Furniture, of equal if not superior magnificence to any thing which could then be found in the King's own Palaces. The rigour with which the forfeiture of all this fell upon Wolsey may be imagined better than described.

LETTER CVI.

King Henry the Eighth to William Lord Dacre.

A. D. 1530.

[MS. COTTON. CALIG. B. VII. fol. 156. Orig.]

When the Courtiers had persuaded Henry to banish Wolsey to the North, the King's favor had not entirely forsaken him. The following was one of the circular Letters sent upon the occasion to the greater nobility of the Country. The Signature at the top was impressed by one of the Stamps, already mentioned, in imitation of Henry's hand.

Nor must it be forgotten that, at the time of Wolsey's departure, the

It is believed that the only fragments of Wolsey's Tapestry now remaining, are those which decorate a large Room known by the name of the Board of Green Cloth Room, at the east end of the Great Hall at Hampton Court. The subjects are chiefly allegorical. Wolsey's Arms occur upon these pieces two or three times: once with the Cardinal's Hat and usual cordons above; and once impaling the old Arms of the See of York.

King furnished him with money. "Shewe my Lord," said the King to Cromwell, that "althoughe our Counsell have assigned no somme of money, for to beare his charge, yet ye shall shewe him in my behalfe, that I have sent a thowsand poundes of my benevolence; and tell him that he shall not lacke; and bid him be of good cheare."

"a

RIGHT trusty and welbeloved we grete you well: and forasmoche as the most reverend fader in God our right trustly and right entierly welbeloved the Lord Cardinall Archebisshop of York dothe now repayre into those partyes, mynding to reside in that his Province for the bettre administration of the cure to hym committed, which now of long season hathe ben orbate b and destitute of an archebisshop there resident; and consequently it shalbe the more nedeful unto hym to have the favorable and lovyng assistance of the noble men and other in those partyes: We therfor wol and desyre youe not oonely to shewe yourself unto hym from tyme to tyme of toward and benevolent mynde, using, entreatyng, and accepting hym as to his dignitie dothe apperteyn, but also in suche things as shall concerne either the administration of hys sayd cure or the fortheraunce of hys owne reasonnable causes, with the good ordre of hys church, and things apperteynyng to the same, ye woll be to hym conforting, ayding, helping, and assisting, as we specyally

■ Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, Wordesw. edit. p. 433.

VOL. II.

C

b bereaved.

trust youe. Yeven under our Signet at our Castell of Wyndesore the xxviijti daye of Marche,

To the richt trusty and welbiloved the Lord Dacre our Counsaillor.

WOLSEY in retirement appears to have been, for a short time, a happier man than Wolsey in his grandeur. He laid aside all proud demeanor, while those blandishments which in early days had made him so acceptable at Court, in his latter days rendered him popular in the Country among people who had, till that time, only heard his name to hate him.

Upon his first arrival at York, he was compelled to reside in one of the prebendary's houses, while the Palace underwent repair; but removing into it a little before Whitsuntide 1530, he "there continued," says Cavendish" all the most parte of that summer, not without great resorte of the most worshipful of the country. And diverse noblemen, having occasion to repaire into the same country then, thought it good to visit my lord as they travailed through the country, of whom they were most gladly entertained, and had right good cheer; whose noble and gentle behaviour caused him to have much love in the country of all kinde of people. He kept there a noble house, where was bothe plenty of meat and drinke for all comers, and also much almes given at the gate to the poore of the towne and country. He used much charity and clemency among his tenants, and other of the King's subjects. Although the hearinge thereof were not pleasant in the eares of such as bare him no good will, yet the country and common people will say as they find cause; for now he was very much familiar among all persons who then accustomably kept him company, and glad at any time when he might do them any good. He made many agreements and concords betweene gentleman and gentleman, and betweene some gentlemen and their wives, and other meane persons, the which had been long before asunder in great trouble; making for every of them, as occasion did serve, great assemblies and feastes; not sparing his purse, when he might make a peace and amity; which gat him much love and friendship in the country."

The truth of this favourable representation is confirmed in an extract which Dr. Wordsworth has quoted from a Work intitled "A Remedy for Sedition," printed in 1536, and which is too curious to be omitted here. "Who was less beloved in the Northe than My Lord Cardynall, God have his sowle, before he was amonges them? Who better beloved, after he had

ben there a while? We hate oft times whom we have good cause to love. It is a wonder to see how they were turned; howe of utter enemyes, they becam his dere friends. He gave byshops a right good ensample howe they might win mens hartes. There was few holy dayes but he would ryde five or six myles from his howse, now to thys parishe churche, nowe to that, and there cause one or other of his doctors to make a sermon unto the people. He sat amonges them, and sayde masse before all the paryshe. He sawe why Churches were made. He began to restore them to their ryght and propre use. He brought his dinner with hym, and bad dyvers of the parish to it. He enquired whether there was any debate or grudge between any of them; yf there were, after dinner he sente for the parties to the Churche, and made them all one. Men say well that doe well."

Wolsey's subsequent catastrophe is sufficiently known. He died Nov. 29th, 1530; not without the suspicion of his contemporaries that he had taken poison.

LETTER CVII.

Quene Catherine of Arragon to her daughter the Princess Mary.

[MS. COTTON. VESP. F. XIII. fol. 72. Orig.]

DOUGHTER

I pray you thinke not that any forgetfulnes hathe caused me to kepe Charles so long here, and aunswerd not to your good Letter, in the whiche perceyve ye wold knowe howe I doo. I am in that caas that the long absence of the King and you troublethe me. My helthe is metely good: and I trust in God, he that sent me the last dothe it to the best, and woll shortly torne it to the fyrst to come to good effecte. And in the meane tyme I am veray glad to

here from You, specially when they shewe me that ye be well amended. I pray God to contynue it to hys pleasour. As for your writing in Lattine I am glad that ye shall chaunge frome me to Maister Federston, for that shall doo you moche good, to lerne by him to write right. But yet some tymes I wold be glad when ye doo write to Maister Federston of your owne enditing when he hathe rede it that I may se it. For it shalbe a grete comfort to me to see You kepe your Latten and fayer writing and all. And soo I pray You to recommaunde me to my Lady of Salisbury. At Oborne a this Fryday night.

Your lovyng mother

KATHERINE THE QWENE.

LETTER CVIII.

Thomas Frysby to Thomas Cromwell.

[MS. COTTON. TITUS B. I. fol. 353. Orig.]

The following Letter to Secretary Cromwell, from Thomas Frysby one of the canons of Laund abbey in Leicestershire, indicates at least that he was considered accessible to his old acquaintances after he had attained to power. Fox, in his Acts and Monuments of the Church, says much of Cromwell's recollection of those who had treated him kindly when in humble condition; more especially in the case of a poor man who swept the Cells of Shene Priory, whose father had given him " many a meale's meat;" and in that of Francis Frescobald by whose generous assistance

■ Woburn.