the People, with great Lamentations, expressed their Concern at being likely to lose so humane, so pious, so exemplary a Benefactor and Father; and with bitter Eclamations wished, That a Judgment might attend those that were the Cause of his being taken away from them! and thus they followed him for several Miles, until the Cardinal, with his usual Serenity, desired them to be patient, for that he feared not bis Enemies, þut entirely submitted to the Will of Heaven. The first Night he lodged at Pomfret- Arrives at Abbey ; the next night with the Black Pomfret. Friars at Doncaster ; and the Night following at Sheffield-park, where he remained eighteen Days. Here he was kindly entertained by the Earl of Shrewsbury, had great Respect shewn him by the neighbouring Gentlemen, who flocked in to visit him; and among others his very honourable and grateful Friend William Fitz-williams, Esq; paid his Respects to him, which gave his Eminence great Satisfaction. Whilst at Sheffield, the Cardinal was taken very ill one Day at Dinner, insomuch that he found a sudden Coldnefs at his Stomach, which instantly spread is taken ill. itself through his whole Body; and, as he apprehended it to be an Oppression occasioned by Wind, he immediately sent for something to expel it; when the Earl of Shrewsbury ordered his own Apothecary to prepare the Medicine, which gave him Ease, and, finding himself afterwards pretty well recovered, he retired to his Chamber. When Cromwell was informed, that his Master was taken into Custody, he expressed great Uneasiness, and spoke to the King in his Favour, who assured him, that, though he had caused him to be arrested at the Importunity of some of his Coun * Quere, Whether this Apo- ful Mistake in preparing the Me. thecary did not make some wil. dicine. Council, he should be fairly heard before any Sentence Mr. Kingston, upon his Coming to the Earl's ing: Nevertheless he cold his Eminence, “ Misfortunes ; that he had wrote to the King in his Behalf, and would omit “ nothing that lay in his Power to assist " him against his Enemies; that he would have him “ be of good Chear; and that, as he had often wished to appear before the King, he now seemed to have an Opportunity, and he did not in the least quef« tion but he would clear himself of the Accusations against him:” Acquainting him also, “ That Mr. Kingston was just arrived, attended with twenty“ four Horsemen, who had been his old Servants “ and Attendants, in order to conduct him to Lon“ don.” The Cardinal at first expressed some Uneasness at mentioning Kingston's Name, because he was Lieutenant of the Tower ; but the Earl begged, “ He “ would be under no particular Concern on that Ac“ count; for he was fure Kingston was sent down to serve him, and that he himself knew he was one Mr. Kingston “ of his Friends." Upon this his Emiintroduced, nence replied, I should be glad to see him,” and immediately Mr. Kingston was in troduced to him, where, after proper Sa luta. lutations on both sides, Mr. Kingston assured him, in the King's Name, “ That his Majesty had still an o entire Affection for him, but he could not help bringing him to his Trial, such was the Importu nities of his Enemies, though the King did not « in the least question but he was able to clear him" felf, and would come off with Honour: That his « Örders were to permit him to set out for London, “ when he thought proper, and to take what Time he “ pleased upon his Journey.” To this the Cardinal replied, I have a Diftemper which will not The Cardis permit me to make very much haste; how nal's Reply. ever, I will endeavour to be ready for the Journey to-morrow Morning: But the Purging was so violent upon him in the Night, that he had near 50 Stools, which obliged him to remain there the next Day. The Morning following he He leaves the began his Journey, though very weak Earl of and full of Pain, and by gentle Pro- Shrewsbury. gress reached Hardwicke-ball, another Seat belonging to the Earl of Shrewsbury ; the next Day he arrived at Nottingham, his Distemper still increasing ; and the Day following came to Leicefter-abbey, at which Time he could scarce sit on his Mule. The Abbot and all the Convent received him honourably, and bid him welcome with great Reverence: To whom he made only this short but mova ing Speech, Father Abbot, I am come to His Speech to lay my Bones among you; and with great the Abbot at Difficulty he dismounted his Mule. Be- Leicester. ing got to his Apartment he went to Bed, and with much Resignation he submitted to the Will of Heaven. On Monday his Illness was so far increased, that he could not live long. On Tuesday Morning early Mr. Kingston went into his Room, and asked him, How he had rested? The Cardinal devoutly Vol. IV. Y y an His dying answered, I only wait the Pleasure of Words. Heaven to render my poor Soul into the Hands of my Creator. Upon which Mr. Kingston would have comforted him, but the Cardinal gave him to understand, That he had himself fome Knowledge in Physick, and that his Diftemper being a Flux joined, with a continual Fever, it was impossible for Nature to hold out much longer, considering it had attended him eight Days, and, as he had not during that Time bad any Ease, he expeeted nothing but a Disolution. Mr. Kingston on this intimated, that he feared he wanted Courage to withstand what he might expect. To this his Eminence replied, which Cavendish relates, con cluding with these Expressions, Mr. KingAnd Death. ston, farewel, I can no more say, but I wish all Things to have good Success ; my Time draweth on fast. Having uttered these Words his Speech failed him, whereupon the Guards were called in to see him expire ; and about eight of the Clock he died, being affifted in his last Moments with the Prayers of the Abbot and the rest of the Convent; and thus finished his Days this great Prelate and Statesman, November 29, 1530, being Sixty Years of Age, wanting four Months. As soon as dead he was put into a Exposed to Coffin, and the next Day laid with his Publick View, tho privately Face uncovered, Liberty being given to buried. all Persons to view him, in order to prevent false Reports, as to his not being really dead : But, if the Cardinals Enemies will have it, that he had taken Poison, though there were no Symptoms of it, It is most probable, (says the Author of the Church History, and Dr. Fiddes) that it was administred by some other Hand. After he had been publickly viewed for some time, and the Curiosity of the People sufficiently satisfied, he ter. he was, early in the Morning, on St. Andrew's Day, buried in the Middle of a Chapel at the Abbey in Leicester. Since the Diffolution of the Abbey, His Remains even within these forty Years, great Pains searched afhave been taken to find whereabouts he was buried, several Parts of the Abbey has been dug, but to no Purpose, they having not been able to find his Bones. Upon the Cardinal's being so privately A Soliloque on buried Bishop Corbet, one of his College, bis private gives us the following Lines, Burial. Polydor Virgil, the Cardinal's impla- Observations cable Enemy, when he comes to speak on Polydor Vir gil's Character of his Disgrace and End, delivers him of Wolsey. self in the most extravagant Terms, contrary to the Attestation of those who attended him from his Adversity to his Death. Rapin and other Authors, who have danced after Polydor's Pipe, have not been much less virulent, and all this, truly, because he was not to be cajoled into that good Opinion of Polydor he so much laboured for, (after he obtained his Liberty) by writing one of the Y y 2 most |