The Life And Death of Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal: Once Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor of England

The Life And Death of Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal: Once Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor of England written by Sir William Cavendish who was one of His Own Servants, Being His Gentleman Usher was published in London in 1901. This book was edited by Grace H. M. Simpson. (208 pages)

The Publisher has copy-edited this book to improve the formatting, style and accuracy of the text to make it readable. This did not involve changing the substance of the text.

Containing:

1. The Origin Of His Promotion, And The Way He Took To Obtain It
2. The Continuance In His Magnificence
3. His Negotiations Concerning The Peace With France And The Netherlands
4. His Fall, Death, And Burial

The Preface:

.....IT seemeth no wisdom to credit every light tale, blazed about in the mouths of vulgars, for we daily hear how with their blasphemous trump they spread abroad innumerable lies, without either shame or honesty; which primâ facie sheweth forth a visage of truth, as though it were an absolute verity, though indeed nothing less, and amongst the better sort those babblings are of no validity.
.....I have read the allegations of divers worthy authors against such false rumors and opinions of the common people, who delight in nothing more than to hear strange things and to see new alterations of authority, rejoicing sometimes in such novelties, which afterwards do produce repentance. Thus may all men of understanding conceive the madness of the rude multitude, and not give too much credence to every sudden rumor, until the truth be perfectly known, by the report of some approved and credible persons, that commonly have the best intelligence. I have heard, and also seen set forth in divers printed books, some untrue imaginations, after the death of divers persons (who in their lives were in great estimation), invented rather to bring their honest names in question than otherwise.
.....Now I intend to write here some special proceedings of Cardinal Wolsey, the great Archbishop, his ascending into honour and great promotion, his continuance in it and sudden falling from the same, a great part whereof shall be of mine own knowledge and some part from credible persons' informations. This Cardinal was my Lord and master, whom in his lifetime I served and so remained with him in his fall continually, during the time of all his troubles, both in the south and north parts until he died.
.....In all which time I punctually observed all his demeanors, as also in his great triumph and glorious estate. And since his departure, I have heard divers surmised and imagined tales concerning his proceedings and dealings, which I myself have certainly known to be most untrue, unto which I could have sufficiently answered according to truth; but conceiving it to be much better to be silent than to reply against their untruths, whereby I might perhaps have rather kindled a great flame of displeasure than have quenched one spark of their untrue reports, therefore I did refer the truth thereof to the Almighty, Who knows the truth of all things.
.....Nevertheless, whatsoever any man hath conceived of him in his life or since his death, thus much I dare say without offence to any, that in my judgment I never saw this realm in better obedience and quiet than it was in the time of his authority, nor justice better administered without partiality, as I could justly prove, if I should not be taxed with too much affection.
.....I will therefore here desist to speak any further by the way of apology, and proceed now to speak of his origin and of ascending through fortune's favour to high dignity and abundance of wealth.

An Advertisement To The Reader:

WHO pleaseth to read this history advisedly may well perceive the mutability of honour, the tottering state of earthly dignity, the deceit of flattering friends, and the instability of Princes' favors.
This great Cardinal having experience of all this, witness his fleeting from honour, the loss of friends, riches, dignities, being forgotten of his Prince, whilst Fortune smiled; having satiety of all these, and she bending her brow, deprived him of all terrestrial joys, who by twenty years' study and pains had obtained so great wealth and dignity and in less than one year lost all. And thus was his honour laid in the dust.