the Holy See. To this the King anfwered, on the 22d of O. "His Officers had only done their Duty, in "executing Orders long fince eftablished, with regard έσ to Perfons going out of the Kingdom: That he "was furprized he fhould talk of being Legate when "recalled; and much more at his being fo ignorant, " in regard he was Bishop of Salisbury, of the Laws "of the Land, as to dare to affume that Title without "his Licenfe." Nevertheless, Wolfey was afterwards destroyed, tho' he acted as Legate with his License.

Campeius, perceiving by this Anfwer that the King intended not to give him Satisfaction, thought himfelf very happy that he was even suffered to depart. Indeed, he had good Reafon to wish himself out of the Kingdom, fince he could not be unacquainted how angry the King was at the Difappointment he had met with.

Campeius jaf

tified from fome unfair Reflections.

And, now we are fpeaking of Campeius, we think it here incumbent on us to do an Act of Juftice to the Memory of this great Man, who has been reprefented by Bishop Burnet, upon the Authority of an obfcure Libel, as leading at that Time a very diffolute Life," Hunting and Gaming all the Day long, and "following Whores at Night, as a vile, vicious "Stranger and Prieft, who lived in England in all "manner of Disorders, in which both he and his Bastard-fon were guilty."

In the firft Place it was not his Baftard, but his legitimate Son, who was knighted by the King that Cardinal, being at firft a married Man, had had five Children; but, his Wife dying, he took Orders, and was in time promoted to the Purple.

Whether any Liberties taken by the young Knight, or Campana, who the Pope fent over to Campeius, and was one of his Bed-chamber when in England, might occafion this Scandal is uncertain: It is, how

every

ever, ungenerous to determine any thing with Affu rance, concerning the Matter, on the fingle Evidence of a Traveller in a foreign Country, afterwards hanged for Treafon in his own: Neither does the Cardinal's Age, or the State of his Health at that Time, agree with this Character; but, allowing our English Air fo healthful and restorative, that it might contribute to make an old Gentleman (fo violently afflicted with the Gout upon his first coming over, that he could neither go nor ftand) in a few Months vigorous and luxuriant, it may ftill become us to confider a little, what fort of Character he bore in the World, among feveral Perfons of Probity and Credit, before we pafs fuch a grofs Cenfure on him.

66

Hall, who lived at that Time in London, and was no Stranger to this Legate's Courfe of Life, and rarely fuffers any Opportunity of expofing the Clergy to efcape him, fays, Campeius was a Man of great "Wit and Experience; better learned in the Papal "Laws than in Divinity."--- Father Paul ftiles him, a "Man of Wisdom and Authority."--- Godwin, "No bad "Man, and a fincere Speaker;'--- Fuller, a good, heavy "Man."-- Polydor Virgil has thefe Words, Inter juris confultos jure confultiffimus !--- Erafmus thefe, Reverendiffime Domine, virtutum tuarum infignium, & eruditionis rariffima fama, inflammatus jampridem geftio, & noffe propius & coram adorare,--- Infignem beroa & ecclefiæ Romanæ columen.- After feeing these, what can we think of our learned Prelate's Character ?

The only Ground of Complaint Fox had against him, was for his Reply to the People of Straßburg, which at moft only argues his ftrict Adherence to the Doctrine of the Romish Church, and the more likely he fhould incline to punish than encourage Incontinency in the Clergy; which, if he had notoriously exemplified, as he is reprefented to have done in his own Conduct, the Succefs of his Miffions, twice into Germany, and once into England, had been not only

unlike

unlikely, but the Confiftency of deputing fuch a one, from a Court fo refined and fo cautious in its Meafures, as that of Rome, altogether incompatible. But, to return, the King's Anger against Wolfey was fo great, that he had scarce Patience to stay till Campeius was gone out of the Kingdom, before he caufed Profecutions to be publickly fet on foot against him. The Writer of the Church History gives us this Account of the Steps taken to difgrace the Cardinal.

The King orders Wolfey to be profecuted at Law.

"Wolfey's Honours were gradually obtained, but "his Fall was fudden, and without any apparent "Misbehaviour against the Prince whom he had "always laboured to ferve. The King, being very "much out of Temper upon Account of the Avocation "of his Caufe, from the Legatine Court in England ' to the Confiftorial Court at Rome, and having given "ear to a great many differviceable Reports against "the Cardinal, ordered his two fworn Enemies, the "Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk, to go to him, October "the 18th, and in the King's Name to ❝ demand the Great Seal* from him, and "let him know, that it was his Majefty's "Pleasure, that he should immediately

Dififfes him from his Office

of Chancellor.

* Shakespear defcribes the Manner of the King's fending for the Great Seal, and what enfued, in the following moving Relation.

Enter to Wolfey the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surry, and the Lord Chamberlain.

Nor. Hear the King's Pleafure, Cardinal, who commands you To render up the Great Seal presently

Into our Hands, and to confine yourself

To Afber-boufe, my Lord of Winchester's,

'Till you hear further from his Highness. Wolf. Stay:

Where's your Commiffion, Lords? Words cannot carry

Authority fo mighty.

Suff

"depart from his Palace, called York-boufe, and retire to Efner, a Country-feat near Hampton-court, and belonging to the Bishop of Winchester, the Tempo"ralities

Suff. Who dare crofs 'em,

Bearing the King's Will from his Mouth exprefly?

Wolf. Till I find more than Will, or Words to do it, I mean your Malice, know, officious Lords,

-Envy:

I dare, and muft deny it. Now I feel
Of what coarfe Metal ye are molded,
How cagerly ye follow my Difgrace!
As if it fed ye, and how fleek and wanton
Y'appear in every Thing may bring my Ruin!
Follow your envious Courfes, Men of Malice!
You have a Chriftian Warrant for 'em, and
In time will find their fit Rewards. That Seal,
You afk with fuch a Violence, the King

(Mine and your Mafter) with his own Hand gave me ;
Bad me enjoy it, with the Place and Honours,
During my Life; and, to confirm his Goodness,
Ty'd it by Letters Patent. Now who'll take it?
Sar. The King that gave it.

Wolf. It must be himself then.

Sur. Thou'rt a proud Traitor, Prieft!
Wolf. Proud Lord, thou lyeft!

Within thefe forty Hours Surry durft better

Have burnt that Tongue, than faid fo.
Sur. Thy Ambition,

Thou fcarlet Sin, robb'd this bewailing Land

Of noble Buckingham,

* my Father in-law;

The Heads of all thy Brother Cardinals,

With thee and all thy beft Parts bound together,
Weigh'd not a Hair of his. Plague of your Policy!
You sent me Deputy for Ireland,

Far from his Succour from the King, from all

}

That might have Mercy on the Fault thou gav'ft him :
Whilst your great Goodnefs, out of holy Pity,
Abfolv'd him with an Ax.

Wolf. This, and all elfe

This talking Lord can lay upon my Credit,
I answer is moft falfe. The Duke by Law
Found his Deferts. How innocent I was
From any private Malice in his End,
His noble Jury and foul Caufe can witness,

If

Yet Norfolk, Surry's own Father, fat as Lord High Steward,

and paffed Sentence of Death on him.

"ralities whereof had lately been conferr'd on the "Cardinal. Upon the Delivery of this Meffage, "the Cardinal refufed to obey, unless they could "fhew

If I lov'd many Words, Lord, I should tell you,
You have as little Honefty as Honour ;
That, in the Way of Loyalty and Truth
Toward the King, my ever Royal Master,
Dare mate a founder Man than Surry can be,
And all that love his Follies.

Sur. By my Soul,

My Lords,

Your long Coat, Prieft, protects you, thou shouldft feel
My Sword i'th' Life-blood of thee else!
Can you endure to hear this Arrogance?
And from this Fellow? If we live thus tamely,
To be thus jaded by a Piece of Scarlet,
Farewel Nobility, let his Grace go forward,
And dare us with his Cap, like Larks.
Wolf. All Goodness

Is poifon to thy Stomach.

Sur. Yes, that Goodness

Of gleaning all the Land's Wealth into one,

Into your own Hands, Card'nal, by Extortion:

The Goodness of your intercepted Packets,

You writ to th' Pope, against the King; your Goodness,
Since you provoke me, fhall be most notorious.
My Lord of Norfolk, as you're truly noble,
As you refpect the Common Good, the State
Of our defpis'd Nobility, our Iffues,
Who, if he live, will fcarce be Gentlemen,
Produce the grand Sum of his Sins, the Articles
Collected from his Life. I'll startle you

Worfe than the scaring Bell, when the brown Wench
Lay kiffing in your Arms, Lord Cardinal.

Wolf. How much methinks I could defpife this Man,

But that I'm bound in Charity against it.

Nor. Those Articles, my Lord, are in th' King's Hand : But thus much, they are foul one's.

Wolf. So much fairer

And Spotlefs fhall mine Innocence arife,

When the King knows my Truth.

Sur. This cannot fave you :

I thank my Memory, yet I remember

Some of these Articles, and out they fhall.

Now, if you can, blufh, and cry, Guilty, Cardinal,

You'll fhew a little Honesty.

VOL. IV.

M m

Wolf.