thanks to the Rev. D. B. Binney, M.A., of St. Mary's, Limington, for taking much trouble to provide a picture of Wolsey's first Parish Church; also to Everard Green, Esq., Rouge Dragon, for allowing me to use his interesting reading of Wolsey's coat of arms.

August 6th, 1901.

E. L. T.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

Prejudice against Wolsey-Fiddes quoted-A new spirit abroad-A

true portrait of Wolsey now possible—The Cardinalis Pacificus

-How Henry VIII. was regarded-Wolsey's secular work-Mr.

Brewer on his character-A more "rigid and more dispassionate

examination"-Wolsey's ecclesiastical side strangely forgotten-

The Eve of the Reformation-The popes of Wolsey's period-

Savonarola-Cæsar the master-Its effect upon the Church—

Wolsey's opinion.

PAGE

CHAPTER II

WOLSEY'S EARLY YEARS

His parentage-Date of his birth-The Grammar School at Ipswich

-Goes to Oxford-His progress-Bachelor of Arts at fifteen-

Old-world system of education — Studies divinity — Polydore

Vergil-Fellow of his College-Bursar-Schoolmaster-The

Marquis of Dorset-Wolsey's father's will-His ordination-

Becomes parish priest of Limington-Is put into the stocks-Sir

Amyas Pawlet-The alleged reasons of the indignity-Examina-

tion thereof-Wolsey's behaviour-The knight's repentance-A

noted pluralist-The Avignon System of Finance-England and

the exactions of the Curia-The wars of the Popes-Wolsey

chaplain to Archbishop Deane-Goes to Calais-Sir John Nan-

phant-Becomes one of the royal chaplains-A born adminis-

trator-No false humility-Professional moralists-Wolsey at

Court-His friends-Fox of Winchester-Mission to Flanders-

His preferments-The new king-Wolsey's dignity of manner

-A scholar-More preferments-Three bishoprics in a year-Pay-

ment for Bulls-Leo X.-Giulio, Cardinal de' Medici-The

victim of his age-Elect of Lincoln-England a storehouse of

delights-Rome clings to annates-Enormous sums for expediting

Bulls-Archbishop of York-The cost of the Pall

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CHAPTER III

CARDINAL AND LEGATE

The first negotiations for the Hat-Polydore Vergil at work-Leo

entertains the idea-Wolsey's plans for reformation-Henry VIII.

and the Cardinalate-Wolsey his dearest friend-Leo demurs--

The real reason-The Curia fear for their influence-The

"barbarians" will want a Legate-A reform of abuses dreaded

at Rome-Pastor on the abuses of the Italians--Wolsey hated

and feared at Rome-His duty to England imperative—The

only argument-Leo X. dislikes Wolsey-Shifts and expedients

-Politics influence the Pope-The French King invades Italy-

The "King's Grace" marvels at the delay-Leo gives way-

Summons a consistory - Creates Wolsey Cardinal - S.D.N.

Scutifer-Wolsey asks to be made Legate-A visitation of

monasteries-Legatus a latere: no vulgar love of power-A

work to be done-Leo's political shifts-England and Rome-

Wolsey's overtures rejected at Rome-Leo driven mad with fear

-His feelings against Wolsey-Lord Chancellor of England-

Wolsey and Warham-No rivalry between the two--The build-

ing of St. Peter's at Rome-Negotiation for percentage-Leo's

pecuniary difficulties-Proposes to send a Legate to England-

Wolsey's chance-Henry refuses to allow a Legate unless Wolsey

becomes one-Campeggio--Wolsey conqueror-His ecclesiasti-

cal power now supreme

40

Wolsey's aim

CHAPTER IV

THE PROJECT OF REFORM

The cause of the alarm-The effects of the

Renascence - The English Church - Need of an educated

clergy-Wolsey's measures--He tries to get the Legateship ex-

tended-Leo refuses-His extraordinary reason-He yields—

Henry VIII. and the Legateship-Wolsey the Reformer-The

need and hope of a reformation-Canon Dixon on the need—

How Fox of Winchester regarded Wolsey's projects-An admir-

able letter--A great hope-His proposed scheme-Had Wolsey

been Pope!

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57

CHAPTER V

REFORMING THE ENGLISH CHURCH

"Reformation" a bad-sounding word-It does not connote immorality

-Need for reform-A natural effect-Human nature-The Black

Death-The Civil Wars-Reforming the Religious-The English

Benedictines-The Augustinians or Black Canons-The various

existing bodies of monks and friars-Wolsey and the Benedictines

-A Tudor tradition-Their trust in him-The visitation of the

monasteries-His address to the religious orders-Visits West-

minster Abbey-Wolsey and the Augustinians -- The Bulla

Benedictina - His regulations - Plain-song to be used - Ap-

points the new Abbat of Glaston-Richard Whiting an excellent

choice - Appoints other superiors-The Abbess of Wilton-

The Abbats of Hyde and Peterborough-Summons a General

Chapter of the Black Monks-Other Legates and the monks—

The question of perpetual abstinence-Wolsey draws up consti-

tutions for the monks-The reply of the monks-Benedictines and

the day-Commissions other bishops to hold visitations-The

smaller houses of women-Bromehall Priory-Wolsey Legate

for life-The Friars-The Dominicans accept the visitation

-The Grey Friars raise an outcry-Rome and the Friars-

Conventuals and Observants-Clement VII. fears them-The

Cardinal Protector of the order-The Friars "desperate beasts"

-Wolsey's firmness-The Friars' resistance-Their action in the

Divorce Reforming the clergy-Constitution for the diocese of

York-Religious instruction provided for-The National Visita-

tion-Warham tries to be beforehand-Wolsey asserts his pre-

rogative-A Legatine Synod - Obstacles in Wolsey's way-

Hadrian VI.'s confidence in Wolsey-Wolsey and the clergy--

Masses of the Holy Ghost-A Laudator temporis acti-Visitation

of St. Paul's-Wolsey and the Bishops-The statutes of Lichfield

-Reforms of the spiritual courts-How Wolsey proposed to

reform the clergy

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