NOTE.

THE text here given is taken from The Life of Cardinal Wolsey by George Cavendish, edited by Samuel Weller Singer [2nd edit., I vol., 1827]. Large omissions being necessary for reasons of space, it has seemed best to leave out the long passages bearing upon foreign affairs and Wolsey's diplomatic work. It may appear unfortunate to omit that side of Wolsey's activities to which he devoted the greater part of his attention; but, both because Cavendish's evidence is on the whole more valuable in personal than in political affairs, and because his account of England's foreign relations presupposes on the reader's part a good general knowledge of the intricate history of Europe at the time, it seemed wiser to touch only slightly this side of his work, rather than to sacrifice part of the Cardinal's personal history or that of the dramatic divorce case which was the turning point of his destiny and the crisis of the history of England's relation to the Papacy. In the chronological tables an outline list is given of the main events of our foreign affairs during the time when Wolsey was in power.

THE LIFE OF WOLSEY.

CHAPTER I.

WOLSEY'S RISE TO THE HEIGHT OF POWER.

RUTH it is, Cardinal Wolsey, sometime

TRU

Archbishop of York, was an honest poor man's son, born in Ipswich, within the county of Suffolk; and being but a child, was very apt to learning; by means whereof his parents, or his good friends and masters, conveyed him to the University of Oxford, where he prospered so in learning, that, as he told me in his own person, he was called the boy-bachelor, forasmuch as he was made Bachelor of Arts at fifteen years of age, 10 which was a rare thing, and seldom seen.

Thus prospering and increasing in learning, he was made Fellow of Magdalen College, and after appointed, for his learning, to be schoolmaster there; at which time the Lord Marquess Dorset had three of his sons there at school with him, committing as well unto him their virtuous education, as their instruction and learning. It pleased the said Marquess against a Christmas season, to

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send as well for the schoolmaster as for his children, home to his house, for their recreation in that pleasant and honourable feast. They being then there, my lord their father perceived them to be right well employed in learning: which contented him so well, that he having a benefice in his gift, being at that time void, gave the same to the schoolmaster, in reward for his diligence, at his departing after Christmas upon his return to 10 the University.

Lord Marquess to

After whose death

Then it chanced my said depart out of this present life. this schoolmaster, considering then with himself to be but a small beneficed man, and to have lost his fellowship in the College, thought not to be long unprovided of some other succour or staff, to defend him from all such harms, as he lately sustained.

And in his travail thereabout, he fell in 20 acquaintance with one Sir John Nanphant, a very grave and ancient knight, who had a great room in Calais under King Henry the Seventh. This knight he served, and behaved him so discreetly, and justly, that he obtained the especial favour of his said master; insomuch that for his wit, gravity, and just behaviour, he committed all the charge of his office unto his chaplain. And the office was the treasurership of Calais. was, in consideration of his great age, returned 30 again into England, intending to live more at quiet. And through his instant labour and

He