Hampton.j LEASE OF HAMPTON COURT TO WOLSEY. 143 all suche title and interest as they or any of theym have or may have, by reason of this formar lease at all tymes after suche surrendre and newe lesse made utterly to be voide and of no effecte. In witnesse whereof to the oone part of theis presente endenturs towardes the seid Archebusshop re common seale. And to that othre part of the same endenturs towardes the seid priour and his bredren remaynyng the seid Archebusshop hath put his seale. Yeven in our Chapitur holden in oure house of Seynt John's of Clarkenwell beside London, the xj day of Januarie, in the yere of our lord god a thousand fyve hundreth and fourteene, the sixt yere of the reigne of our soveraigne lord king Henry the Eight. "In the Chapel, First, a chalesse of silver, a pix of copur for the sacrament, ij alter clothes, a corporaxe, ij candlestikes of laton, a massebook, a porteux, a pewter botil for wyne, a crewet of pewter, a crosse of tynne, a paxbrede of tree, an alter clothe of whyte and blue lyke unto armyn, an ymage of our lord of tree, an ymage of our lady of tree, an ymage of seynt John, an ymage of seynt Nicholas, an ymage of the crosse paynted on a borde, ij alte clothes, ij pewes with a chest of wynscott, an holy waterstok of laton with a stryngel of laton, ij bells in the towre, one of them broken.-Of bedsteddis in all xxti, ii towrned chyars.-In the parlour, a table of Estriche bourde with ij tristells. -In the haule, ij tables dormant, and oon long table with ij tristells, a close cupbourde, iiij fourmes, iiij barres of yron about the harthe.--In the kechen, a pot of bras cont. v galons, a cadron sett in the fournace cont. xx.galons, a spyt of yron, ij awndyrons, a trevet, ij morters of marbil, a cawdron of iij galons, di. a stomer of laton, a flesshehoke, a frying pan, ij pailes, a barre of yron in the kechen to hange on pottes, a grete salting troughe, a steping fatte, an heire of the kyln of xxiij yerdes, ij grate byunes in the kechen, a byune in the buttry, a knedyng troghe.—In the stable, a pitchfork, a dongfork.-A presse in the towrechambre, a great coffar in oon of the towre chambres; a parclose in the towre, a parclose in the parloure." iiiji. xiijs. iiijd. sterling, at the ffestes aforeseid, by even porcions, towards and for the exhibition of a preste for to mynister divine service within the Chapell of the seid manor. And the seid priour and his brethren for them and their successors graunten the seid Archebusshop and his assignes yerely during the seid terme shal have and take at their | maynyng, the said priour and his bredren have put their libertie foure loades of woode and tymber able for pyles for the reparacion and sustentacion of the were called Hampton were, the same woodes and tymber to be felled and conveyed at the costes of the seid Archebusshop, and his assignes at their libertie at all tymes during the seid terme shall take down, alter, transpose, chaunge, make, and new byeld at theire propre costes any howses, walles, mootes, diches, warkis, or other things within or aboute the seid manour of hamptoncourte, with the appurtenaunces, without empechement of wast and without any payne or punysshment to be or ensue to the seid Archebusshop and his assignes during the seid terme. And the seid Archebusshop and his assignes shall bere all manner of reparacions of the seid manour with the appurtenaunces during the seid terme, and in thend of the seid terme all the same shall leve to the seid priour and bredren and to theire successours sufficiently repared. Ffurthermore, the seid Archebusshop and his assignes shall leve the seid priour and his successours m1 couple of conys in the waren of the seid manour, or elles for every couple that shall want iiijd And moreover the seid priour and his bredren graunted that the seid Archebusshop and his assignes shall have and occupie during the seid terme all suche parcells as be conteyned upon the bak of this endenture, and in thend of the same terme all the same shall leve and delyver to the seid priour and his successours, or the value of the same. And if it happen the seid yerely fferme or rent of vli. during the seid terme of lxxxxix yeres, to be behynde and not pade in part or in the hole after eny terme of payment befor specified which it ought to be paid by the space of two hole yeres, that then it shalbe lawful to the seid priour and his successours to re-enter into the same manour and othre the premisses dismised, and theym to have ayen as in their first and pristinat estate, this endenture or eny therin conteigned notwithstandyng. And the seid prior and his bredren promitte and graunte for theym and theire successours, and theym bynde by thies presentes to the seid Archebisshop, that when so ever the said Archebisshop or his assignes at any oone tyme within the terme of this present leas shall come to the seid priour and his bredren, or to their successours, and demaunde to have a newe graunte and lesse of the saide manour of hamptoncourte with the appurtenaunces to theym to be graunted under their commen seale of the seid hospitall for the terme of other lxxxxix yeres next ensuying this present terme, that then the seid priour and his bredren nowe being or their successours than for tyme beyng for that oone tyme shall graunte and make a newe leesse of the seid manour of hamptoncourte with the appurtenaunces to the seid Archebisshop and to his assignes under the common seale of the seid hospitall for the terme of othre lxxxxix yeres after the forme, tenour, and effecte of the seid covenauntes and agrementes conteyned in this present endenture, the substaunce thereof in nowise chaunged nor mynyshed. And at the delyverie of the same new endenture this endenture to be cancelled if it shall than rest and be in the keeping of the seid Archebisshop or his assignes. And if the seid endenture fortune to be lost, and be not in the keping of the seid Archebisshop or his assignes, nor in the kepyng of any person or their uses, then the seid Archebisshop or his assignes, before the seid newe graunte or lesse to be made, shall surrendre and so promytte by thies presentes to surrendre Wolsey had no sooner taken possession of the manor than he set about rebuilding the manor-house in a style of grandeur that was, perhaps, unsurpassed at that time by few mansions in England, and upon a scale of unparalleled magnificence. Of that building, however, there is now but little or any portion left standing; for after the cardinal's 'fall," Henry VIII., with a view, no doubt, to remove from the palace some portion of its founder's prestige, demolished the great hall and chapel, and replaced them with erections of his own. The popular belief which attributes to the cardinal the erection of the present hall is therefore incorrect. The present hall was the work of Henry, and was in all probability in no way superior, but rather the contrary, to that of the cardinal, whose taste and architectural skill were notorious. The design of Wolsey's building appears to have comprehended five distinct courts, the whole composed of brick, and highly ornamented; and the interior was so capacious that it is said to have been provided with two hundred and eighty beds for visitors of superior rank. Only two of the courts of Wolsey's palace now remain, so that but little idea can be formed of the extent of the building as he left it. Mr. Jesse, in his work on Hampton Court, observes that Wolsey "had evidently meant to construct at Hampton such a splendid specimen of Grecian correctness as might give a new bias to the architecture of this island. It is probable that he was unable to contend with the still lingering relics of prejudice, and therefore we have to regret that the Gothic and Grecian styles were blended in the cardinal's magnificent building with equal bad taste and impropriety." These ancient buildings-or, at least, such of them as remain-are extremely interesting. Their The clerk of the works received 8d. per diem, and his writing clerks 6d. each. In 1838, whilst removing one of the old towers built by Wolsey, the workmen came upon a number of glass bottles which lay among the foundation. They were of a curious shape; and it has been suggested that they were buried to denote the date of the building. Here Wolsey lived in more than regal splendour; and when it is considered that he had nearly one thousand persons in his suite, we shall be less surprised at the vastness of his palace. Before proceeding with a more detailed account of the building, it will be best to give a time. structure is of red brick, interlaced with dark- | short biographical sketch of Wolsey, and to deal coloured bricks in diagonal lines, the windows, with the history of the palace since Wolsey's cornices, and dressings being of stone. Wolsey appears to have employed the Warden and certain members of the Freemasons as his architects in building his palace, as he did also at Christ Church, Oxford, originally called Cardinal's College. In an article in the Edinburgh Review, by Sir F. Palgrave, on the "Architecture of the Middle Ages," are given some curious accounts of the expenses of the fabric of Hampton Court Palace, extant amongst the public records of London. The following items are extracted from the entries of the works performed between the 26th February, 27 Henry VIII., to March 25th, then next ensuing :Freemasons. Master, at 12d. the day, John Molton, 6s. Lodgemen, at 3s. 4d. the week, Richard Watchet (and twenty-eight others), 13s. 4d. Thomas Wolsey, afterwards "Archbishop of York, Chancellor of England, Cardinal Priest of Cicily, and Legate a latere," was born at Ipswich, in Suffolk, in 1471. He was descended, according to some of our best historians, from poor but honest parents, and of good reputation; the common tradition is that he was the son of a butcher. Feeling a stronger inclination for the disputations of the schools than for the business of his father, he acquired the rudiments of grammar, and received a learned education; and entering the University of Oxford at a very early age, he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts when he was fourteen years old, and in consequence was commonly called the "Boy Bachelor." He was soon after elected a Fellow of Magdalen College. His next step was to have the care of the school adjoining that college committed to him, and to Hampton Court.] WOLSEY IN THE STOCKS. 145 receive as pupils three of the sons of the Marquis was presented. In the early part of the reign of of Dorset, who, in reward for the progress which Henry VIII., Fox, Bishop of Winchester resolved to they made under his tuition, presented him to the introduce Wolsey to royal favour, and in a very rectory of Limington, in Somerset, which happened little time he obtained such a footing in Henry's to be vacant at that time, and was in his lordship's good graces that he was appointed to the most patronage. During his residence in that locality a trusty and confidential posts. Notwithstanding his piece of ill-luck appears to have befallen "Mr." | sacred calling, we are told that Wolsey participated Wolsey. He was put in the stocks, as some say, on a charge of drunkenness, by Sir Amias Paulet, an affront which he is reported to have resented somewhat unmercifully in after life, when Sir Amias happening to come within his clutches, he sentenced him to keep within the bounds of the Temple for five or six years. Wolsey was next appointed chaplain to Henry VII., who employed him in a secret negotiation for his proposed marriage with Margaret of Savoy. His reward for the talent he displayed in that business was the Deanery of Lincoln, to which he in the dissipations of the youthful Henry, which afforded him numerous opportunities "to introduce business and State affairs, to insinuate those political maxims and that line of conduct he wished his monarch to adopt." In due course Wolsey became a member of the Council, and subsequently sole and absolute minister. He was now made almoner to the king, and other honours flowed thick and fast upon him. In 1513 he obtained the Bishopric of Tournay, in Flanders, and before the end of the year succeeded to that of Lincoln. In 1515 he reached the height of his ambition, being created a cardinal, by the title of "Cardinal of St. Cecilia beyond the Tiber." He was also Chancellor of England. "And now," writes his biographer, "the splendour of retinue and magnificence of living he so loved began to distinguish his establishment, which might be said to have been almost more than royal; his train consisted of eight hundred servants, many of whom were knights and gentlemen; some even of the nobility put their children into his family as a place of education, and, in order to ingratiate them with their patron, allowed them to bear offices as his servants." Of the pomp and state of the cardinal at this time the following account is given by Mr. G. Howard, in his "Wolsey and his Times ":" The cardinal rose early, and as soon as he came out of his bedchamber he generally heard two masses, either in his ante-chamber or chapel. Returning to his private apartments, he made various necessary arrangements for the day; and about eight o'clock left his privy chamber ready dressed, in the red robes of a cardinal, his upper garment being of scarlet, or else of fine crimson taffeta or crimson satin, with a black velvet tippet of sables about his neck, and holding in his hand an orange, deprived of its internal substance, and filled with a piece of sponge, wetted with vinegar and other confections against pestilent airs, the which he most commonly held to his nose when he came to the presses, or when he was pestered with many suitors.' This may account for so many of his portraits being painted with an orange in the hand. The Great Seal of England and the cardinal's hat were both borne before him 'by some lord, or some gentleman of worship right solemnly;' and as soon as he entered the presence-chamber, the two tall priests, with the two tall crosses, were ready to attend upon him, with gentlemen ushers going before him bareheaded, and crying, 'On masters before, and make room for my lord.' The crowd thus called on consisted not only of common suitors, or the individuals of his own family, but often of peers of the realm, who chose, or were perhaps obliged, thus to crouch to an upstart-a character not in very great repute in those days. In this state the proud cardinal proceeded down his hall, with a sergeant-at-arms before him, carrying a large silver mace, and two gentlemen, each bearing a large plate of silver. On his arrival at the gate, or hall door, he found his mule ready, covered with crimson velvet trappings. When mounted, his attendants consisted of his two cross-bearers and his two pillar-bearers, dressed in risoned in like colour, of four men on foot, with each a pole axe in his hand, and a long train of gentry, who came to swell his triumph as he proceeded to the Court of Chancery, where he generally sat until eleven o'clock to hear suits and to determine causes. With all this state he seems to have affected some degree of familiarity; for, previous to taking his seat in the court, he generally stopped at a bar made for him below the chancery, conversing with the other judges, and sometimes with individuals of less apparent consequence. As soon as his chancery business was over, he commonly proceeded to the Star-chamber, where, as has been— we hope truly-reported of him, 'hee neither spared high nor low, but did judge every one according to right.'" Dr. Johnson has drawn the character of the cardinal in the following energetic lines:"In full-blown dignity see Wolsey stand, Law in his voice and fortune in his hand; Among the younger scions of the nobility who were placed under the guidance of Wolsey was the youthful Lord Percy, who, accompanying the cardinal to court, had frequent opportunities of seeing and conversing with the beautiful and unfortunate Anne Boleyn, whose affections he gained, and whom he privately agreed to marry. This coming to the ears of the king, the cardinal was forthwith charged to summon his pupil's father to the presence of his royal master, and the contract was formally broken. The Lady Anne, as readers of English history know, was soon after dismissed the Court, and sent to one of her father's estates in the country, the contract being dissolved by the cardinal, as having been made "without the king's or the young lord's father's knowledge,” Earl Percy soon after marrying a daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury. Hampton Court.) WOLSEY'S GREAT WEALTH, AND FALL. 147 "It has been conjectured, not without reason," improvements; and in return for the "present" of writes Mr. J. F. Murray, in his "Environs his palace, Henry VIII. bestowed upon Wolsey the of London," "that upon this apparently unim- manor-house of Richmond, an old and favourite portant incident depended the future of the residence of his predecessor, Henry VII., and also cardinal's power, Anne never having forgiven of Henry VIII. himself in the early part of his him for depriving her of Percy, though, to augment reign; or, as Stow quaintly puts it, "in recompense her rising influence with the king, it was necessary thereof, the king licensed him to lie in his manor that she should dissemble, and she accordingly, of Richmond at his pleasure, and so he lay there with womanly dissimulation, appeared to treat at certain times." Wolsey with the greatest external respect. "The determination of Henry to repudiate Katharine, his queen-the first fatal declension from his position as king and father of his people to that of a brutal and wanton tyrant—and the honest opposition of Wolsey to that iniquitous procedure, hastened the hour of his downfall. Anne Boleyn, now recalled to Court, industriously fostered the dislike to the cardinal which had grown up in the mind of Henry, and the crisis of Wolsey's fate had arrived." Although the cardinal thus relinquished the right of possession, he occasionally lived at Hampton Court Palace at a subsequent period. In 1527, in obedience to the desires of King Henry, Wolsey here feasted the ambassadors of the Court of France. An account of this entertainment is given in Cavendish's "Life of Wolsey," which, as it is well calculated to convey an idea of the magnificence with which this palace was furnished on State occasions, and is such an interesting feature in the history of the building, we may be par Long before this, however—namely, in 1526-doned for quoting it in these pages :— It has been suggested that it was in a vault of this palace that the incident occurred which opened | Henry's eyes to the wealth acquired by his favourite cardinal. As the story goes, the king's fool was paying a visit to the cardinal's fool, and the jocose couple went down into the wine vaults. For fun, one of them stuck a dagger or some other pointed instrument into the top of a cask, and, to his surprise, touched something that chinked like metal. The meddlesome pair upon this set to work, and pushed off the head of the cask, discovering that it was full of gold pieces. Other casks, by their sounds, indications that they held wine, and not gold. The king's fool stored up this secret, and one day, when Henry VIII. was boasting about his wine, the fool said, satirically, "You have not such wine, sire, as my Lord Cardinal, for he hath casks in his cellar worth a thousand broad pieces each;" and then he told what he had detected. Whether this be true or not, it is certain that Wolsey was so far awake to the fact that he was so suspected by the monarch as to deem it prudent to present him with Hampton Court. gave There was one memorable circumstance connected with Wolsey's palace, namely, that it did not present to the beholder a moat, a drawbridge, or loopholes, without which, up to that time, no nobleman thought of erecting a mansion. What Wolsey spent on Hampton Court can only be guessed at. After the great lord cardinal died Henry set himself to the carrying out of various "Then there was made great preparation of all things for this great assembly at Hampton Court; the Cardinall called before him his principal officers -as steward, treasurer, controller, and clerk of his kitchen-to whom he declared his mind touching the entertainment of the Frenchmen at Hampton Court, commanding them neither to spare for any cost, expense, or travayle, to make such a triumphant banquet, as they might not only wonder at it here, but also make a glorious report of it in their country, to the great honour of the king and his realm. To accomplish his commandment, they sent out caters, purveiors, and divers other persons, my lord's friends, to make preparation; also they sent for all the expert cookes and cunnyng persons in the art of cookerie which were within London or elsewhere, that might be gotten to beautify this noble feast. The purveiors provided, and my lord's friends sent in such provision as one would wonder to have seen. The cookes wrought both day and night with suttleties and many craftie devices, where lacked neither gold, silver, nor other costly thing meet for their purpose; the yeomen and groomes of the wardrobe were busied in hanging of the chambers, and furnishing the same with beds of silk and other furniture in every degree; then my Lord Cardinall sent me (Mr. Cavendish), being his gentleman usher, with two other of my fellows, thither, to foresee all thing touching our rooms to be nobly garnyshed: accordingly our pains were not small nor light, but daily travelling up and down from chamber to chambers. Then wrought the carpenters, joiners, masons, and all other artificers necessary to be had to glorify this |