Source.—Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, p. 229.
"I will give no judgement herein until I have made relation unto the Pope of all our proceedings, whose counsel and commandment in this high case I will observe. The case is too high and notable known throughout the world, for us to give any hasty judgement, considering the highness of the persons and the doubtful allegations; and also whose commissioners we be, and under whose authority we sit here. It was therefore reason, that we should make our chief head of counsel in the same, before we proceed to judgement definitive. I come not so far to please any man, for fear, meed, or favour, be he king or any other potentate. I have no such respect to the persons that I will offend my conscience. I will not for favour or displeasure of any high estate or mighty prince do that thing that should be against the law of God. I am an old man, both sick and impotent, looking daily for death. What should it then avail me to put my soul in the danger of God's displeasure, to my utter damnation, for the favour of any prince or high estate in this world? My coming and being here is only to see justice ministered according to my conscience, as I thought thereby the matter either good or bad. And for as much as I do understand, and having perceivance by the allegations and negations in this matter laid for both the parties, that the truth in this case is very doubtful to be known, and also that the party defendant will make no answer thereunto, but doth rather appeal from us, supposing that we be not indifferent, considering the king's high dignity and authority within his own realm which he hath over his own subjects; and we being his subjects, and having our livings and dignities in the same, she thinketh that we cannot minister true and indifferent justice for fear of his displeasure. Therefore to avoid all these ambiguities and obscure doubts, I intend not to damn my soul for no prince nor potentate alive. I will therefore, God willing, wade no farther in this matter, unless I have the just opinion and judgement, with the assent of the pope, and such other of his counsel as hath more experience and learning in such doubtful laws than I have. Wherefore I will adjourn this court for this time, according to the order of the court in Rome, from whence this court and jurisdiction is derived. And if we should go further than our commission doth warrant us, it were folly and vain, and much to our slander and blame; and we might be accounted the same breakers of this order of the higher court from whence we have (as I said) our original authorities."
ANNE BOLEYN'S HATRED OF WOLSEY (1529).
Source.—Cavendish's Life of Wolsey (published by Harding and Lepard, 1827), p. 241.
And as I[42] heard it reported by them that waited upon the king at dinner, that Mistress Anne Boleyn was much offended with the King, as far as she durst, that he so gently entertained my lord, saying, as she sat with the King at dinner, in communication of him, "Sir," quoth she, "is it not a marvellous thing to consider what debt and danger the cardinal hath brought you in with all your subjects?" "How so, sweetheart?" quoth the King. "Forsooth," quoth she, "there is not a man in all your realm, worth five pounds, but he hath indebted you unto him," (meaning by a loan that the king had but late of his subjects). "Well, well," quoth the King, "as for that there is in him no blame; for I know that matter better than you, or any other." "Nay, Sir," quoth she, "besides all that, what things hath he wrought within this realm to your great slander and dishonour? There is never a nobleman within this realm that if he had done but half so much as he hath done, but he were well worthy to lose his head. If my Lord of Norfolk, my Lord of Suffolk, my lord my father, or any other noble person within your realm, had done much less than he, but they should have lost their heads ere this." "Why, then, I perceive," quoth the king, "ye are not the Cardinal's friend?" "Forsooth, Sir," then quoth she, "I have no cause, nor any other that loveth your grace, no more have your grace if ye consider well his doings."
[42] "I" refers to Cavendish, who was Wolsey's Gentleman Usher.
WOLSEY'S FALL (1529).
Source.—Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, p. 246.
After Cardinal Campeggio was thus departed and gone, Michaelmas Term drew near, against the which my lord returned unto his house at Westminster; and when the Term began, he went to the Hall in such like sort and gesture as he was wont most commonly to do, and sat in the Chancery, being Chancellor. After which day he never sat there more. The next day he tarried at home, expecting the coming of the Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk, who came not that day: but the next day they came thither unto him: to whom they declared how the king's pleasure was that he should surrender and deliver up the great seal into their hands, and to depart simply unto Asher, (Esher) a house situate nigh Hampton Court, belonging to the Bishoprick of Winchester. My lord, understanding their message, demanded of them what commission they had to give him any such commandment, who answered him again, that they were sufficient commissioners in that behalf, having the King's commandment by his mouth so to do. "Yet," quoth he, "that is not sufficient for me, without further commandment of the King's pleasure; for the great seal of England was delivered me by the King's own person, to enjoy during my life, with the ministration of the office and high room of Chancellorship of England: for my surety whereof, I have the King's letters patent to show." Which matter was greatly debated between the Dukes and him, with many stout words between them; whose words and checks he took in patience for the time; in so much that the dukes were fain to depart again, without their purpose at that present: and returned again unto Windsor to the King: and what report they made I cannot tell; howbeit the next day they came again from the King, bringing with them the King's letters. After the receipt and reading of the same by my lord, which was done with much reverence, he delivered unto them, the great seal, contented to obey the King's high commandment: and seeing that the King's pleasure was to take his house, with the contents, was well pleased simply to depart to Asher, taking nothing but only some provision for his house.