been selected to drive cattle a distance of thirty or forty miles. A little while after, the "boy batchelor," as he was termed, became fellow of Magdalen College, of which college he appears to have misappropriated the funds for the purpose of finishing the tower, and tutor to the three sons of the Marquis of Dorset. From the father he obtained his first preferment, the rectory of Lymington, in Somersetshire. There a neighbouring justice subjected him to the disgraceful punishment of confinement in the stocks, in consequence of a riot at a fair, in which our young divine took a somewhat unclerical part. Years afterwards, when Wolsey became Lord Chancellor, Sir Amias Paulet found that his discharge of the duties of his office had neither been forgotten nor forgiven. For this indignity to the imperious Wolsey, the poor justice was confined for five or six years in London. This affair, we can easily believe, made Lymington a very undesirable residence for Wolsey. He left it, and became one of the domestic chaplains of Archbishop Dean. At the death of that prelate, he went to Calais, where Sir Richard Naufan, the treasurer, was so struck with his talents for business as to recommend him to the patronage of the king. This recommendation was not in vain. Wolsey became one of the chaplains of the court. Soon after, the living of Redgrave, in the diocese of Norwich, was given him, and what was better still, he obtained the friendship of Fox, Bishop of Winchester, who, at that time, held the privy seal, and of Sir Thomas Lovell, then Chancellor of the Exchequer. The career of our hero seems to have been prosperous from the very commencement. Before some men rise, they are brought down almost to the depths of despair; they have to struggle with every thing that can break the heart. The great Samuel Johnson walked the streets of London with an empty stomach, and a yet emptier purse. So have done many of our illustrious great. On the contrary, the only disappointment Wolsey ever seems to have had was that which left him to die broken-hearted in Leicester Abbey. But we must not anticipate.

Hitherto Wolsey had had no opportunity of presenting to the king his talent for public business. That desired time had now arrived. A treaty of marriage was pending between Henry and Margaret, the dowager Queen of Savoy. It was necessary to send some one to her father, Maximilian, the Emperor, on that business. Fox and Lovell recommended Wolsey, who, accordingly, was sent. Fortunately for Wolsey, the business proved what in theatrical language is termed "a hit." Mr. Galt says,"The court was then at Richmond, from which Wolsey proeeeded with his despatches to London, where he arrived about four o'clock in the afternoon. He had a boat waiting, and in less than three hours, was at Gravesend. With post horses he got next morning to Dover, reached Calais in the course of the forenoon, and arrived the same night at the imperial court. The emperor,

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informed that an extraordinary ambassador had come from England, immediately admitted him, and the business being agreeable, was quickly concluded. Wolsey, without delay, returned. He reached Calais at the opening of the gates, found the passengers going on board the vessel that brought him from England, embarked, aud, about ten o'clock, was landed at Dover. Relays of horses having been procured, he reached Richmond the same evening. Reposing some time, he rose and met the king as he came from his chamber to hear the morning service. His majesty surprised, rebuked him for neglecting the orders with which he had been charged. May it please your highness,' said Wolsey, 'I have been with the emperor, and executed my commission to the satisfaction, I trust, of your grace.' He then knelt and presented Maximilian's letters. Dissembling the admiration which such unprecedented expedition excited, the king inquired if he had received no orders by a pursuivant sent after him? Wolsey answered that he had met the messenger as he returned; but having preconceived the purpose for which he had been sent, he had presumed, of his own accord, to supply the defect in his credentials, for which he solicited his majesty's pardon. The king, pleased with this foresight, and gratified with the result of the negociation, readily forgave his temerity, and commanding him to attend the council in the afternoon, he desired that, in the meantime, he would refresh himself with repose. Wolsey, at the time appointed, reported the business of his mission with so much clearness and propriety, that he received the applause of all present; and the king, when the deanery of Lincoln became vacant, bestowed it on him unsolicited."

On the 22nd of April, 1509, died Henry VII., and his only surviving son, Henry VIII., in whom were united the claims of York and Lancaster,-on whom a nation's hopes were bent, then but eighteen, ascended the throne. The favour shown Wolsey by the father was continued by the son. In the war with France, which was shortly after undertaken at the instigation of the restless Julius II., Wolsey accompanied his royal master in the humble but useful office of commissariat (indeed, for Wolsey's love of power, no office was too low-none too high), and when Tournay yielded to the arms of the English, Wolsey was made its bishop.

In the forty-fifth year of his age, 22nd of December, 1515, Wolsey was advanced to the rank of cardinal, and was installed in Westminster Abbey with more than regal pomp. About the same time, the great seal was given him for life, with the dignity of chancellor of the realm. His power now became immense; in fact, he was the real monarch. Henry's will was but a reflection of his own. There were times, however, when Henry differed from the cardinal. In the correspondence between Wolsey and the monarch, published in the first volume of "State Papers," two May, 1847.-VOL. XLIX.-NO. CXCI.

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instances of this are given. One was when Wolsey offered to put himself at the head of 6,000 archers, which were to have been placed at the service of the emperor, but which Henry would not permit. And, again, when Henry suffered the English fleet to sail as usual to Bordeaux, though Wolsey strongly dissuaded him from it. The sequel showed that the cardinal was right; for the English fleet was captured, as Wolsey had predicted. But, with a few exceptions, Henry indulged himself in the pleasures of the court and of the chase, while Wolsey directed the affairs of state. Cavendish, his faithful friend and ardent admirer, describes him as he was in the full blaze of his glory, and the passage is well worthy of transcription:

"Now, he being in the chancellorship, and endowed with the promotions of Archbishop and Cardinal de Latere, thought himself so fully furnished, that he was able to surmount Canterbury in all jurisdiction, and with power to convoke Canterbury and all other bishops and spiritual persons to assemble at his convocations wherever he would assign, and to take upon him the correction of ministers and matters within their jurisdictions; and he visited all spiritual houses within their dioceses; and he had all manner of spiritual ministers there as commissioners, scribes, apparitors, and all other necessary officers to furnish his court; and did present what ministers he pleased wherever he liked throughout the realm and dominion. Then he had two great crosses of silver, whereof one was of his archbishopric, and the other of his legatcy, borne before him wheresoever he rode or went, by two of the tallest and comeliest priests that he could get in the realm.

"And, to the increase of his gains, he had in his hand the bishopric of Durham and St. Albans, in commendam. When Dr. Fox, bishop of Winchester died, he did surrender Durham to the king, and took Winchester to himself. He had also as it were, in farm, the bishoprics of Bath, Worcester, and Hereford; for the incumbents of these were foreigners, dwelling abroad, and who permitted the cardinal to have their benefices for a convenient yearly sum. He had also attending on him men of great possessions, and for his guard the tallest yeomen in the realm.

"And for his household, you shall understand that he had in his hall three wards, kept with three several officers; that is to say, a steward that was always a priest, a treasurer that was ever a knight, and a comptroller that was an esquire; also, a cofferer, three marshals, two ushers in the hall, besides two almoners and grooms. Then he had in his hall kitchen two clerks, a clerk-comptroller, and a surveyor over the dresser, and a clerk of the spicery, which kept continually a mess together in the hall. Also, he had in the hall kitchen two cooks, and labourers, and children, twelve persons; two yeomen of the scullery, two yeomen of the pastry, with two other paste layers under the yeomen. Then had he in his own

kitchen a master cook, who went daily in velvet or satin, with a gold chain, besides two other cooks and six labourers in the same room. In the larder, one yeoman and a groom; in the scaldinghouse, a yeoman and two grooms; in the scullery, one yeoman and two grooms; in the butlery, two yeomen and two grooms; in the pantry, two yeomen, two grooms, and two other pages; in the ewry, as many; in the cellar, three yeomen, two grooms, and pages; in the chandery, two yeomen; in the wafery, two yeomen; in the wardrobe of beds the master of the wardrobe, and twenty persons beside; in the laundry, a yeoman and a groom, and three pages; there were two yeomen purveyors, and one groom purveyor; in the bake-house, a yeoman and two grooms; in the woodyard, one yeoman and a groom; in the garner, one yeoman; in the garden, a yeoman and two labourers; porters at the gate, two yeomen and two grooms; a yeoman of his barge, and a master of his horse; a clerk of the stables, and a yeoman of the same; a farrier, and a yeoman of the stirrup; a muleteer, and sixteen grooms, every one of them keeping four geldings.

"Now will I declare unto you the officers of his chapel, and singing men of the same. First, he had there a dean, a great divine, and a man of excellent learning; a repeater of the choir; a gospeller; an epistoler; of singing priests, twelve; a master of the children; twelve singing children; sixteen singing men. In the vestry, a yeoman and two grooms, besides divers retainers that came thither at principal feasts.

"As for the furniture of his chapel, it passeth my weak capacity to declare the number of the costly vestments and rich jewels that were occupied in the same. For I have seen in procession about the hall forty-four copies of one settlement, besides the rich candlesticks and other necessary ornaments to the furniture of the

same.

"Now, you shall understand, that he had two cross-bearers and two pillar-bearers. In his great chamber and in his privy chamber, all these persons: the chief chamberlain, vice-chamberlain, a gentleman usher, besides one of his other chamberlains; he had also twelve ushers, and six gentlemen waiters; also, he had nine or ten lords, who had each of them two or three men to wait upon him, except the Earl of Derby, who had five men. Then had he gentlemen cup-bearers, and carvers, and servers; and of the privy chamber, forty persons, six yeomen ushers, eight grooms of his chamber; also, an almoner, who waited daily at his board at dinner, twelve doctors and chaplains, a clerk of his closet, two secretaries, and two clerks of his signet.

"And for that he was chancellor of England, it was necessary to have officers of the chancery to attend him for the better furniture of the same. First, he had a riding clerk, a clerk of the crown, a clerk of the hamper, a chafer; then had he a clerk of the check,

as well upon the chaplains as upon the yeomen of his chamber. He had also four footmen garnished with rich running coats whenever he had any journey. Then had he an herald-at-arms, a sergeant-at-arms, a physician, an apothecary, four minstrels, a keeper of his tents, an armourer, a director of his wardrobe, an instructor of his wards, and a keeper of his chamber. He had also daily in his house the surveyor of York, a clerk of the green cloth, and an auditor of York. All these were daily attending, downlying and uprising. And at meat, he had eight continual boards for the chamberlains and gentlemen officers, having a mess for the young lords, and others for the gentlemen. Besides these, there never was an officer, or a gentleman, or other worthy person with him but he kept some two or three persons to wait upon them, and all others with him at the least had one, which did amount to a great number of persons,-in all 180 persons."* In this princely style lived the cardinal. No wonder that Salisbury Square takes up but a part of the ground on which stood his mansion, at one time belonging to Empson, but given Wolsey by the master he served so well. Subsequently, Wolsey appears to have lived in York Place, near Whitehall,—a palace belonging to the see of York, borrowed by Henry when Anne Boleyn lived at Suffolk House next door, and which, owing to a defect in the king's memory, has been ever since retained by the crown.

The external policy of England at that time has now become matter of but little interest. Indeed, we have come to be sick of all external policy whatever; for it has always cost us more than it is worth. Louis Philippe is not the first foreigner by whom we have been outwitted; nor is Queen Victoria the first English sovereign who has been made a dupe. One of our earliest reformers has noted the fact of our mortifying inferiority in our diplomatic relations. William Tindall, in his Practices of Popish Prelates, says, that "the Frenchmen of late days made a play, or a disguising, at Paris, in which the emperor daunced with the pope and the French king, and wearied them; the king of England sitting on a high bench and looking on. And when it was asked why he daunced not, it was answered that he sate there but to pay the minstrels their wages only; as who should say we paid for all men's dauncing." Henry and his minister seem to have shifted with amazing agility from one continental alliance to the other. This year at peace with France, the next at war; now embracing the cause of Francis, now that of Charles. Henry felt himself specially called on to maintain the balance of power, and for this phantom he cared not what sacrifices of treasure or of human life were made. Wolsey, condemned in these matters, has, we believe, been somewhat misrepresented. Mr. Galt shows that he was not actuated by * The edition of Wordsworth says 800; Mr. Singers, 500. The latter is nearer the mark.