So Mr. Kingston departed, for that time, my lord being very weak, and about four of the clock, the next morning, as I conceived, I asked him how he did. Well, quoth he, if I had any meat, I pray you give

me some.

Sir, quoth I, there is none ready; then he said, you are much to blame, for you should have always meat for me in readiness, whensoever that my stomach serves me; I pray you get some ready for me; for I mean to make myself strong to-day, to the intent I may go confession, and make me ready for God; quoth I, I will call up the cooks to prepare some meat, and also I will call Mr. Palmer, that he may discourse with you, till your meat be ready. What a good-will, quoth my lord, and so I called Mr. Palmer, who rose and came to my lord.

Then I went and acquainted Mr. Kingston, that my lord was very sick, and not like to live. In good faith, quoth Mr. Kingston, you are much to blame, to make him believe he is sicker than he is. Well, Sir, quoth 1, you cannot say, but I gave you warning, as I am bound to do; upon which words he arose, and came unto him, but before he came, my lord cardinal had eaten a spoonful or two of callis made of chickin, and after that he was in his confession, the space of an hour: And then Mr. Kingston came to him, and bade him good-morrow, and asked him how he did, Sir, quoth he, I watch but God's pleasure, to render up my poor soul to him. I pray you, have me heartily commended unto his Royal Majesty, and beseech him on my behalf to call to his princely remembrance all matters that have been between us from the beginning and the progress: And especially between good Queen Catherine, and him, and then shall his grace's conscience know whether I have offended him, or not.

He is a prince of a most royal carriage, and hath a princely heart, and, rather than he will miss or want any part of his will, he will endanger the one half of his kingdom.

I do assure you, I have often kneeled before him, sometimes three hours together, to persuade him from his will and appetite, but could not prevail: And, Master Kingston, if I had but served God, as diligently as I have served the King, he would not have given me over in my grey hairs. But this is the just reward that I must receive for my diligent pains and study, not regarding my service to God, but only to my prince. Therefore, let me advise you, if you be one of the privycouncil, as by your wisdom you are fit, take heed what you put in the King's head, for you can never put it out again.

And I desire you further, to request his grace in God's name, that he have a vigilant eye to suppress the hellish Lutherans, that they increase not through his great negligence, in such a sort, as he be compelled to take up arms to subdue them, as the King of Bohemia was; whose commons being infected with Wickliff's heresies, the King was forced to take that course.

Let him consider the story of King Richard the Second, the second son of his progenitor; who lived in the time of Wickliff's seditions and heresies: did not the commons, I pray you, in his time, rise against the nobility and chief governors of this realm; and, at the last, some of them were put to death, without justice or mercy, and, under

pretence of having all things common, did they not fall to spoiling or robbing, and, at last, took the King's person, and carried him about the city, making him obedient to their proclamations?

Did not also the traiterous heretick, Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, pitch a field with hereticks against King Henry the Fourth, where the King was in person, and fought against them, to whom God gave the victory?

Alas! If these be not plain precedents and sufficient persuasions to admonish a prince: Then God will take away from us our prudent rulers, and leave us to the hands of our enemies. And then will ensue mischief upon mischief, inconveniencies, barrenness and scarcity, for want of good orders, in the common wealth, from which God of his tender mercy defend us,

Master Kingston, farewell; I wish all things may have good success, my time draws on; I may not tarry with you, I pray you remember my words.

Now began the time to draw near, for he drew his speech at length; his tongue began to fail him, his eyes perfectly set in his head, and his sight failed him. Then we began to put him in mind, of Christ's passion, and caused the yeoman of the guard, to stand by privately, to see him die, and bear witness of his words and departure, who heard all his communications.

And then presently the clock struck eight, at which time he gave up the ghost; and thus departed he this life, one of us looking upon another, supposing he prophesied of his departure.

We sent for the abbot of the house to anoint him, who speedily came as he was ending his life, who said certain prayers before that the life was out of his body.

Here is the end and fall of pride; for, I assure you, he was the proudest man alive, having more regard to the honour of his person, than to his spiritual function, wherein he should have expressed more meekness and humility: For pride and ambition are both linked together; and ambition is like choler, which is an humour that makes men active, earnest, and full of alacrity and stirring, if it be not stopped or hindered in its course; but, if it be stopped, and cannot have its way, it becometh dust, and thereby malign and venomous. So ambitious and proud men, if they find the way open for their rising and advancement, and still get forwards, they are rather busy than dangerous; but, if they be checked in their desires, they become secretly discontented, and look upon men and matters with an evil eye, and are best pleased when things go backwards: But I forbear to speak any further therein.

The cardinal being departed, Mr. Kingston sent post to London one of the guard; then were Mr. Kingston and the abbot in consultation about the funeral, which was solemnised the day after, for Mr. Kingston would not stay the return of the post.

They thought good, that the mayor of Leicester and his brethren should see him personally dead, to prevent false reports that he was alive. And, in the interim, whilst the mayor was sent for, his bones were laid in the coffin, and his shirt of hair, and his over-shirt of

fine holland, were taken off, and put into the coffin, together with all such ornaments wherewith he was invested, when he was made archbishop, as mitre, cross, ring, and pall, with all other things due to his orders.

Thus he lay all that day with his coffin open and bare-faced, that all that desired might see him; and about three of the clock he was buried by the abbot with great solemnity. And being in the church, his corpse was set in the Lady's-Chapel with many tapers, and poor men about him, holding torches in their hands, who watched the corpse all that night, whilt the canons sung divers dirges, and other divine orisons.

'And, at four of the clock the next morning, the cardinal's servants and Mr. Kingston came to the church to the execution of many ceremonies, in such manner as is usual at bishops burials; and so he went to mass, where the abbot did offer, and divers others; and then went to bury the corpse in the middle of the said chapel; by this time it was six of the clock, being St. Andrew's day.

Then we prepared for our journey to the court, where we attended his Majesty. The next day I was sent for to the King, conducted by Mr. Norris, where the King was in his night-gown of Rochet velvet, furred with sables, before whom I kneeled the space of an hour, during which time his Majesty examined me of divers particulars concerning my lord cardinal, wishing, rather than twenty-thousand pounds, that he had lived.

He asked me concerning the fifteen-hundred pounds, which Mr. Kingston moved to my lord. Quoth I, I think I can perfectly tell your grace where it is, and who hath it. Can you, quoth the King, I pray you tell me, and you shall not be unrewarded?

Sir, quoth I, after the departure of Mr. Vincent from my lord at Scrooby, who had the custody thereof, leaving it with my lord in divers bags, he delivered it to a certain priest, safely to be kept for his use. Is this true, quoth the King? Yea, quoth I, without doubt, the priest will not deny it before me, for I was at the delivery thereof, who hath gotten divers other rich ornaments, which are not registered in the book of myLord's inventory, or other writings, whereby any man is able to charge him therewith, but myself.

Then said the King, let me alone for keeping this secret between me and you. Howbeit, three may keep counsel, if two be away; and, if I knew my cap was privy to my counsel, I would cast it into the fire and burn it; and, for your honesty and truth, you shall be our servant in our chamber, as you were with your master.

Therefore, go you your ways to Sir John Gage, our vice-chamberlain, to whom we have spoken already, to admit you our servant in our chamber, and then go to the Lord of Norfolk, and he shall pay you your whole year's wages, which is ten pounds: Is not it so, quoth the King? Yea, forsooth, and if it please your grace, quoth I: And withal, said the King, you shall receive a reward from the Duke of Norfolk.

So I received ten pounds of the duke for my wages, and twenty pounds for my reward; and his Majesty gave me a cart and six horses, the best that I could chuse out of my lord's horses, to carry my goods, and five marks for my charges homewards.

THE

ORDERS, PROCEEDINGS, PUNISHMENTS, AND PRIVILEGES

OF THE

COMMONS HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT

IN ENGLAND.

Printed Anno Dom. 1641. Quarto, containing thirty pages.

THE

CHAP. I.

What Persons may be Burgesses in Parliament, what not.

HF son and heir of an earl may be; and so was the Lord Russel,
Elis. 6,

He that hath no voice in the higher house; so the son and heir apparent of a baron; and so was Mr. Henry Brooke.

A prebendary may not be; and therefore Alexander Nowel was refused, because he was prebendary of Westminster; whereupon a writ was issued to chuse another for Leo in Cornwall.

Sir Henry Piercy was chosen knight for two several counties; and thereupon it was adjudged by the house, that he should serve for that county which first chose him, 13 Elis.

If a burgess be incurably sick, another may be chosen in his place, by license of the house; but not if he be easily sick, or sent in his Majesty's service, unless the house will allow of a new election, 18 Martii, 23 Elis.

And it was then ordered, that, during the session, no writs should issue to chuse knights or burgesses, but by warrant of the house to the clerk of the crown, according to the ancient usage.

The burgesses of Sandwich were kept out of the house, until the perfect return was known. 15 Edw. VI.

One Cavell was returned for Travayny and Ludders-hall; he appeared for Ludders-hall; and therefore a writ issued to chuse another for Travayny, 11 Mar. 7. Edw. VI.

William Gregham and were returned knights for Nor folk; and the writ, returned by the lord chancellor, suppressed it by great motion, and directed another writ to chuse others.

A burgess, indicted of felony, shall not be removed before conviction, 8 Feb. 23. Elis.

Walter Vaughan was received, notwithstanding an outlawry, because it appeared that it was for debt, and that he had compounded for it.

A burgess outlawed was denied the privilege of the house; but, upon the question, and upon a division of the house, he was allowed the privilege against an arrest in London, 24 Feb. 5 Elis.

CHAP. II.

The Choice of the Speaker, his Presentment, Placing, and Speech.

HE that shall be speaker, must be a knight, or a burgess returned, and cometh to the house, and taketh the ordinary oath, as others.

The fittest seat for him is the lowest row, and the midst thereof; for so he may be best heard, when he shall speak.

One of his Majesty's council doth use to propound, That it is his Majesty's pleasure, that they shall freely chuse a speaker for them; and yet commendeth, in his opinion, some person by name..

Then he, which is so recommended, standeth up, and prayeth to be heard, before they proceed to the choice of him, and, withal, disableth himself (giving them thanks for their good opinion of him) as being not equally learned in the laws with others, that have had the place.

Not being eloquent by nature, or art; nor experienced in the affairs of the commonwealth, or in the orders of the house, being of mean countenance, wealth, or credit.

Being careful for their credit, more than his own, and therefore bound to shew and discover his wants, which otherwise might be covered by their good opinion.

If they press him, he is to yield, and so is brought to the chair; and then they usually give two or three days respite, before he be presented to the King.

Upon the day of his presentment to the King, he cometh to the bar of the higher house, or other appointed place, where his Majesty shall assign; and, after their solemn courtesies, sheweth how he is elected, reneweth the reasons of his disability, desireth to be discharged, and that they of the commons house may have license to proceed to a new election of another.

Then the lord chancellor, receiving his Majesty's pleasure, enableth him.

Hereupon, the speaker gives thanks for that opinion conceived of him; promiseth to do his dutiful endeavour; and desireth, that his ready good-will may be accepted in place of all.

And so, with a low courtesy, beginneth his oration, which commonly standeth upon these parts, viz.

1. Entrance aptly taken from the time or person.

2. The praise of his Majesty's government, or laws of his time. 3. Thanksgiving for summoning the parliament, whereby the sores of the commonwealth may be prevented and remedied.