A catalogue of the bishops of England, since the first planting of Christian religion in this island together with a briefe history of their liues and memorable actions, so neere as can be gathered out of antiquity. By F.G. subdeane of Exceter.

57. Thomas Woolsey.

THat famous Cardinall Thomas Woolsey ( of whom we are next to discourse) was borne in Ipswich, being the sonne of a poore man, and (as I haue often heard) a butcher. He was sent to Oxford very yoong, & was brought vp there in Magdalene Colledge: He was first schoolemaster of the Grammer schoole belonging to Magdalene Colledge, and preferred to a Benefice in Somersetshire called Lym∣myngton, by the Marques Dorset, vnto whose sonnes he had beene Tutor in Oxford. Being there, Sir Amyas Pawlet a knight of that country, did him a great disgrace, setting him in the stocks, vpon what occasion I know not. Of that iniurie the knight much repented him afterward, at what time this poore scholler being aduanced to the high honor of Lorde Chauncellor, not onely rebuked him sharpely in words (as there was great cause) but also made him daunce attendance 5. or 6. yéeres in London, vntill by great sute he obtained li∣cense

of departure. His Lord and Patrone the Marques dy∣ing, he sawe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without all likelihood of further prefer∣ment, especially if he should settle himselfe vpon his 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Leauing it therefore and determining to seeke some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fortune, abroad in the world, he happened to be entertai∣ned of an ancient 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iohn Naphaunt, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an office, of importance in Callis, wherein (being very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himselfe) he altogether 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this Woolsey his chaplaine, vntill such time, as weary of it, in regard of his owne weak∣nesse and impotencie, he gaue it ouer. But mindfull of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chaplaines good seruice, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 left him till he had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meanes to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him the kings chaplaine. Now was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 where he would be. Many times he was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to say (〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 heard) if he could once set but one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Court, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would not doubt but attaine what he 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And to speake but the truth, it was not onely his good fortune that exalted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatnesse, but much deale his owne 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and many extraordinarie parts in him. He was mar∣uellous wittie, well learned, faire spoken, and passing cun∣ning in winning the harts of those whose fauor he affected. The first thing he endeuored (being now a courtier) was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make himselfe knowne vnto such as were néerest about the king: and the man he specially followed, was Richard 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bishop of Winchester, vpon whose councell he sawe the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did most relie. He soone perceiued what was in Woolsey: & at a time whē the king bethought him of some witty 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to dispatch certaine affaires with the Emperor, mentioned him as a fitte man. The king vpon his commendation, sent for this chaplaine, and committed the busines vnto him. The Emperor lay then in the Low Countries, whether 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Woolsey made such haste (winde and weather fauouring him) as within lesse then 4. daies after his dispatch, he was backe at the court againe, hauing ordered all the kings busi∣nesses to his contentment. By this time, the king sawe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be a man méete for imploiment, and determined 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to vse him. It was not long then before he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Deanrie of Lincolne, and a little before his death 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him Almoner. That wise and excellent Prince being taken away, he soone crept so farre into the fauor of the yoong 〈◊〉〈◊〉,

as he made him one of his priuie Counsell. In which place, he so applied himselfe to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 humor, as in short time he possessed him altogether. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and well spo∣ken, the rest of y^t Counsel vsed him many times as their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their determinations vnto the king. He then hauing this oportunity of perceiuing the kings inclina∣tion, followed euer that course which he saw him willing to haue taken, and aduanced earnestly that part whereunto the king inclined, without respect vnto the matter otherwise. A∣game, whereas the rest of the Counsell called oft vpon the the king, to acquaint himselfe with matters of state, by resor∣ting to the Counsell, and affoording his presence at their deli∣berations; he would aduise him to follow his pleasures, & let Counsell matters alone to him, assuring him, that at night he should heare as much of him in one quarter of an houre, as if he had been present all day at those tedious & wearisome con∣sultations. By this trick he won himselfe such authority with the king, as he did euen what he list a long time. No maruell now if what preferment soeuer fell stood at his refusall. The Bishopricke of Tourney in France (which city the king had lately taken) falling voide, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was elected thereunto. Within lesse then one yéere after, fell first Lincolne (whereunto he was preferred the yeere 1514.) and then immediately after Yorke; which also was presently bestowed vpon him. Fol∣lowing the streame still of this good fortune, and thinking it best to take his time, he procured the Pope to make him first his legate a Latere, and soone after (viz. the yeere 1515) Cardi∣nall. He handled the matter also in such sort with the king, as he was content to discharge the Archbishop of Canterbury from the office of Chauncellor and bestowed it vpon him. Then as though the Archbishopricke of Yorke and Chaun∣cellorship of England were not sufficient for maintenance of a Cardinall, he tooke also vnto him the Bishopricke of Bathe the yéere 1518 holding it and the abbey of Saint Al∣bons with diuers other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 liuings in Commēdam. Fower yéeres, and seuen monethes, he held Bathe and then resigned it to take Durham. Durham also he lastly gaue ouer the yéere 1529. in exchange for Winchester. Now yow sée him at the highest. It was impossible this greatnesse should

be able to beare his owne burthen. Presently after his accep∣tation of Winchester, he began to fall, and fell so fast, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 death had not happily staid him, he had quickly fallen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much, to much lesse then nothing. The king vpon a displea∣sure (how iust God knoweth) discharged him sodainly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the office of Chauncellor. His goods were all seased to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kings vse, and himselfe ready to be attaint by parliament, had not Thomas Cromwell after Earle of Essex, then his ser∣uant, taken great paines in defending him. When that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 succéeded not, he was charged to haue fallen into a Premunire by exercising his power Legantine without the kings licence. Hereunto he answered, that he had authority thereunto front the king vnder his broad seale (as it was well ynough kno∣wen he could prooue) though that, amongst the rest of his writings were now in the hands of his enemies. But (quoth he) I will neuer stand vpon that point. Whatso∣euer I haue, I haue it from the king, if it be his pleasure to haue me in a Premunire, let it be so, I must and will be at his mercie. Almost halfe a yéere he liued néere London in great penurie; one while at Asher (a house belonging to the Bi∣shopricke of Winchester) and an other while at Richmond; the which house, the king had lately giuen him in exchange for Hampton court. All which time, he had scarce a cuppe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 drinke in, or a bed to lie in, but what was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him; for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mooueables and houshold stuffe of inestimable valew, were all taken away to the kings vse. At last he was sent downe into Yorkeshire, and there liued all a sommer in reasonable good sort. About the beginning of Nouember that yéere, which was 1530. the Earle of Northumberland 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him of high treason, and tooke order to haue him brought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to London: but he fell sicke by the way and died in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Leicester, (as it should séeme) of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉; whereunto a conti∣nuall feauer was ioyned. When he had béene sicke the space of 8. daies, he died Nouember 29. 1530. hauing beene Archbi∣shop 15. yeeres, and being within a 4. moneths of 60. yéeres of age. His last words are said to be these. If I had serued 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as diligently as I haue done the king, he would not haue gi∣uen me ouer in my gray haires; but this is the iust 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that I must receiue, for the paines and study that I haue had,

to do him seruice, not regarding my seruice to God, but onely to satisfie his pleasure. In his flourishing time, he began the building of two most stately colledges, one at Ipswich, the other at Oxford; and it is great pittie he finished them not. Had they beene perfected, I thinke they woulde haue béene two of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 monuments of the world. And surely it were a woonder that any priuate man should take two such péeces of worke in hand at one time, whereof any one might seeme a great matter for a prince to finish; had not his receits beene infinite, and his helpes otherwise very great. I thinke verily (and am able to yéeld good reason of my 〈◊〉〈◊〉) that if one man had now in his hands the reuenues of all the Bi∣shopricks and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also in England, his rents 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not arise to so high a reconing, as the yeerely receits of this Cardinall. Yet was it not his owne purse that gaue him courage to so great an enterprise: for his bounty was such as he could not but spend all he receiued. The number of his seruants daily attending in his house were well néere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hundred, of which there were one Earle, nine Lords, a great number of Knights and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. I reckon not all this while his seruants seruants, which it is though grew to a far greater number. He obtayned leaue of the Pope to dissolue forty small monasteries, the spoile whereof furnished him principally for the building of his colledges, but opened a gap withall to king Henry, to destroy all the rest, as soone after he did. The lands he had prouided for his colledge in Oxford (though confiscate by his 〈◊〉〈◊〉) the king was content to leaue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that colledge (or at least wise other for them) and became the founder thereof, calling it, Collegium 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ex 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉. Who so desireth to know more of this great and famous Cardinall, let him haue recourse vnto master Stowes Annales of England, where his whole life and actions are largely described. And I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 myselfe beholding to him, amongst many other helpes, for the greatest part of this discourse, which I haue much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gathered thence, and would gladly haue inserted the whole, but that it very much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my determined proportion. To make an end, this our Cardinal was buried in the Abbey of Lecester (where he died) in the body of the church before the quier doore.