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Henry

VIII.

A.D.

1538.

but said this to me: 'Master Bonner! your servant was yesterday with me, and as I told him, I will tell you: In good faith you can have nothing of me.' 'Nothing, my lord!' quoth I, merrily speaking, 'marry, God forbid! that is a heavy word, and much uncomfortable to him that wanteth all things, and trusteth much upon your goodness that hath a great deal.' 'In faith,' quoth he, 'ye shall have nothing of me: marry, ye shall have of Master Thirleby, his Dialogue carriage, mules, his bed, and divers other things, that he may spare; and which Bonner he hath kept for you.' 'Well, my lord!' quoth I, if I shall have nothing of and Winyou, I must make as good shift as I can for myself otherwise, and provide it it where I may get it.'

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Bonner

to Win

And here the bishop, because I would not give him thanks for that thing Wincheswhich was not worthy thanks, and that also I would not show myself greatly nothing contented and pleased, though I received nothing at his hands, he began some- for Bonwhat to kindle, and asked what I wanted. I told him again, that I wanted all ner, and things saving money and good will to serve the king's highness. 'Tell me one will give thing,' quoth he, that you want.' 'One thing,' quoth I, 'marry, amongst no thanks many things that I want, I want napery.' 'That shall ye not need,' quoth he, chester. 'here in this country:' and here he began to tell a long tale, that none used that, but Master Wallop and he, in the beginning: which is not true generally. And from this he began to go, descending by his negatives: My mulets,' said Wincheshe, 'ye cannot have, for if ye should, I must needs provide others for them ter's again my mulet-cloths ye cannot have, because mine arms are on them, not tives. meet for you to bear: my raiment (I being bishop), that is not meet for you.' And so proceeding forth in the rest, nothing had he for me, and nothing should I have.

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And here came Master Thirleby, who welcomed me very gently, and after Thirleby an honest sort to whom the bishop rehearseth again his negatives, and present. maketh a long discourse, bringing in conclusion, for all that he could do, that The pinothing I should have of him: and this rehearsed he still on end I am sure of Winabove a dozen times, and that with a pilot's voice; so that all his standing more than three or four pair of butt lengths off, heard him. When I saw that he would make no end, but ever rehearsed one thing still, I said to him, 'My lord! I beseech you, seeing I shall have nothing of you, but of master doctor here, let me give him thanks that deserveth it, and trouble you therein no more: but leaving communication therein, let me desire and pray you, that we may commune of the king's matters; and that I may have therein knowledge, as well of the state thereof, as also of your counsel in that behalf.'

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The bishop was so hot and warm in his own matters, that he would not hear, Winchesbut needs would return again, and show why that I could have nothing of him. ter more 'My lord!' quoth I, here is still on end one tale, which methinketh, tive to his seeing that I understand it, ye need not so oft repeat it, especially seeing that it own, than cometh always to this conclusion, that I shall have nothing of you.' Ye lie,' to the quoth he, I said not so.' 'I report me,' quoth I, 'to Master Thirleby here affairs. present, whom I shall desire to bear record of your sad and discreet honest 'Ye lie' behaviour with me.' 'I say you lie,' quoth he. My lord!' quoth I, I thank quot you.' 'I do not say,' quoth he, 'that ye shall have nothing of me; but I say ter. you can have nothing of me. And though the one here comprehendeth the other, yet there is a great diversity between these two manners of speaking :- His old I can spare nothing unto you, and therefore ye shall have nothing; and though sophistiI can spare you, yet you shall have nothing;-for in the one is an honesty in the speaker, which would, if he could, do pleasure; and in the other there lacketh that honesty.'

'My lord!' quoth I, 'to examine whether I shall have nothing, because ye can spare nothing or shall have nothing, though ye have plenty, because ye will I shall have nothing, it shall not much help me in my journey. Wherefore, seeing ye bide upon this, that I shall have nothing, I will thank you for nothing, and provide otherwise for myself.' 'Dirt in your teeth!" quoth he, and provide as ye will.' 'Bishop-like spoken, by my faith,' quoth I, and well it becometh you to speak thus to me.' Yea marry! doth it become me,' quoth he: and repeating the words again, said with a sharp accent, Have nothing of me? Dirt in your teeth!" Well, my lord!' quoth I, 'this needeth not, saving that ye have a full stomach, and your wit abroad, willingly hereby to ease your stomach against me." Yes marry,' quoth he, 'it needeth for me, though it (1) Bishop-like spoken.

(2) Mark the mellifluous and honey-mouthed words of Winchester to Bonner.

Winches

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1538.

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Henry needeth not for you; for I intend,' quoth he, 'I would ye should know it, to VIII. justify myself to the king in all things.' 'If ye do so,' quoth I, 'ye shall do the better.' Nay,' quoth he, 'I do it, and will do it.' Well,' quoth I, 'ye are the more to be commended, if ye so can do.' 'Yes,' quoth he, I can do it.' 'Now, by my troth,' quoth I, 'seeing the king's highness hath written so tenderly for me unto you, as appeareth by his highness's letters that his grace hath done, me thinketh, ye having so great plenty of all things, and I so great need thereof, coming post, as I do, ye go about as evil to justify yourself to the king, as any one that I have seen. And I wiss, my lord,' quoth I, I would have reckoned, that coming as I do come, I should have been both better welcome, and better entreated of you, than now I am, even and it had been for no other respect, than because I am an Englishman.'

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'I shall tell you,' quoth he, 'for the king's sake, ye may look to have: but for your own sake, ye get nothing.' 'Well,' quoth I, then having nothing, I will give no thanks at all; and having any thing, I shall give thanks to the king, and none to you.' 'I tell you,' quoth he, 'ye get nothing and I tell you again,' quoth I, that I will thank you for nothing.' And here the flesh of his cheek began to swell and tremble,1 and he looked upon me as he would have run me through; and I came and stood even by him, and said, 'Trow you, my lord!' quoth I, that I fear your great looks? Nay, faith! do I not. Ye had need to get another stomach to whet upon than mine, and a better whetstone than any ye have; for, I assure you, you shall not whet me to your purpose and if ye knew how little I do set by this unloving and indiscreet behaviour of yours, ye would not use it upon me. And I shall tell you,' quoth I, 'if I were not bridled, and had not other respects both to the king's highness, my sovereign lord, and also unto others that may command me, I would have told you, ere this time, my mind after another sort.' 'Tell me?' quoth he, dirt in your teeth! Well, my lord!' quoth I, 'ye would, I perceive by you, and by your words, provoke me to speak as indiscreetly and bedlamly, as ye do:2 but surely ye shall not, howsoever ye shall speak. But this will I tell you, I shall show how I am handled of you.' Marry, spare not,' quoth he. Well, my lord!' quoth I, 'you have here full well played the part of a bishop, and it is great joy of you, that with this your furious anger and choler, ye can make all the company here about you to be ashamed of you, as I am sure they are. And for my part, if ye yourself be not ashamed, or, coming to yourself (for now your ashamed anger is such that you hear not yourself), be not displeased, I shall be ashamed, and pity this your doing without wisdom; and the oftener you use this manner, talk. the more shall it be to your dishonesty.'

All the

company

of Winchester's

for nothing.

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Lo!' quoth he, 'how fondly he speaketh, as who saith, I were all in the blame. Will you not hear,' quoth he, this wise man?' My Lord!' quoth I, 'I would you could hear with indifferent ears, and see with indifferent eyes, Brabling yourself. Ye have made a brabling here for nothing, and would that I should give you thanks for that thing which Master Thirleby hath done for me.' 'I Spiteful look for no thanks of you,' quoth he; and said withal, looking spitefully, that looks of he knew me well enough; and that he was not deceived in me. Well!' quoth Winches I, and methinks I know you well enough too; wherefore, as ye say you are not deceived in me, so I trust I will not be deceived by you. But I pray you, sir,' quoth I, because ye say ye know me well enough, and that ye be not deceived in me, How do you know me? for honest and true, or otherwise? If you do, say it, and I shall make answer.'

ter.

I could not drive him to answer hereunto; so that I suppose, either of his own naughty nature he hath made me an image after his own fantasy, or else believed the report of such in conditions, as he is himself, who, in malice, I suppose, and disdain, may be compared to the devil in hell, not giving place to him in pride at all. In communication he repeated oft the provision of the thousand crowns. I told him they went in my diets, and that it would be a good while afore they were come out. And further I said, that seeing they had been simpliciter' given to me, I would never thank him for them, but the king's highness; and I said, that if they were twenty thousand, he should break so many sleeps, afore he should have any part thereof, entreating me as he did. 'Well,' quoth he, 'you have them.' That is truth,' quoth I, and nothing thankful to you.' Why then,' quoth he, 'seeing you have here divers (1) The like trembling and leaping of his veins and flesh for anger, did Bonner also note in this Winchester's disputing with him in Germany. Vide Bucer. De Cœlibatu.

(2) Stephen Gardiner, 'bedlam-like.'

VIII.

A. D.

1538.

ter put

things of Master Thirleby's, and all other things are "parabilia pecunia," which Henry you have, ye may make thereby good provision for yourself.' That is truth,' quoth I; and that can I and will do, though ye tell me not, seeing I have nothing of you, and afore this had provided at Lyons for all things necessary, if ye without necessity had not made that great haste to depart thence, enforcing me thereby to follow you. And yet, quoth I, 'one thing may I tell Winchesyou ye are very desirous I should be provided well for, as appeareth in that teth Bonyou have taken away at Lyons one horse that Francis had provided for me, and ner to his also your servant Mace, having a horse to sell, and knowing my need, by your shifts. consent hath sold his horse to a stranger, rather than he would sell him to me. So that nothing suffering me to have of you, and taking away that provision which I make, and go about to make, you well declare how heartily you desire I should be provided for.' 'In faith,' quoth he, choose you, ye may provide and you will; and seeing your journey hither from Lyons is vain, you may thither return again, and make there provision for yourself.' 'I thought,' quoth he, departing from Lyons, to have made easy journeys, and to have Churlish followed the court till you had come, and now come you, squirting in post, and dealing of trouble all.' 'I came forth in post,' quoth I, by the commandment of the king my master, and had liberty to return at pleasure by his grace's letters; and seeing that I had no horses for the journey, methought better to ride in

Winches

ter.

post than go afoot.' 'Well,' quoth he, I will not depart hence this twelve- Angry month, except ye be otherwise provided.' 'Provided?' quoth I, 'I must tarry that Bontill 1 may be provided for horses, if ye speak of that provision: and seeing that ner this riding in post grieveth you, it causeth me to think you are loth to depart, succeed and angry that I shall succeed you. I have here already two gowns and a him. velvet jacket, so that you shall not be letted an hour by me.'

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'I tell you,' quoth he, ye shall otherwise provide, or else I will not depart. For I tell you,' quoth he, though you care not for the king's honour, but wretchedly do live with ten shillings a-day, as ye did in yonder parts, you and your companion, I must and will consider the king's honour.' 'And I tell

you again,' quoth I, I will and do consider the king's honour as much as ye at any time will do, and as sorry will be, that it should be touched by any negligence or default in me: yea, and I say more to you,' quoth I, ‘though ye may spend far above me, I shall not stick, if any thing be to be spent for the king's honour, to spend as liberally as you, so long as either I have it, or can get it to spend. And whosoever informed you of the wretchedness and spending scarcely of my companion and me in the parts where we have been, made a false lie, and ye show your wisdom full well in so lightly believing and rehearsing such a tale.' 'I cannot tell,' quoth he, but this was openly rehearsed by Master Brian's servants at my table.' 'Yea, was?' quoth I. Yea, marry, was it,' quoth he. Now, by my troth,' quoth I, then was the fare that was bestowed upon them very well cast away: for, of my fidelity, that week that Master Brian and his servants were with us at Villa Franca, it cost my companion and me five and twenty pounds in the charges of the house!' This, they say,' quoth he. Yea,' quoth I, and therein they lie.'

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And here I showed him, that being well settled at Nice, and having made Reproved there good and honest provision, to our no little charges, Master Wyat would to his face not rest till he had gotten us to Villa Franca, where, even upon the first words of Master Heynes, he was right well content to take of us twenty shillings by the day; which was not during ten days: whereas, at his coming to us to Nice, himself and all his servants, and then tarrying with us two days, we took not one penny of him. And moreover, at the departing of Master Wyat from Villa Franca, in post, into England, we found ourselves, our servants, all Master Wyat's servants, to the number of sixteen, all his acquaintance, who, dinner and supper, continually came to us; sometime twelve, sometimes ten, and, when they were least, six or eight; and for this we had not one penny of Master Wyat. And yet at our coming from Barcelona, where we tarried about eight days, we gave to Master Wyat twenty-eight livres, and to his servants five livres, besides forty shillings that privately I gave to some, being of gentle fashion, out of mine own purse: so that I told him, it was neither Master Wyat, nor Mason, that found us and our servants, but we paid for the finding of them and here it chanced to us to have all the charge, and other men to have all the thanks.

Henry
VIII.

6

The bishop when he heard this was amazed, and stood still, finally saying, 'By my troth,' quoth he, 'I tell you as it was told me, and master doctor here A. D. can tell whether it was so or no. Yea, and I will tell you more,' quoth he, "they said that Master Heynes would have been more liberal a great deal, if you had not been.' 'Now, by my troth,' quoth I, I shall therein make Master Heynes himself judge thereof, who can best tell what communication hath been between him and me therein.'

1538.

Winches

head.

Thinking that this communication had driven the other matters out of the ter's wild bishop's wild head, I held my peace; and by and by was he in hand again with them, as hot as ever he was. 'My lord!' quoth I, I desired ere while your lordship to make an end of this communication, wherein the longer ye talk, the more ye make me believe that you would (where ye have spoken undiscreetly, He reyea, and unkindly, not regarding the king's letters), with multitude of words, gardeth and great countenance, I should think ye had not done amiss. But surely you not the king's lose your labour, for ye shall never make me think that ye are desirous to do letters. me pleasure, neither for mine own sake, nor for the king's: for if your words be well weighed, I have as much of you indeed for mine own sake, as I have for the king's sake: that is, nothing at all.'

Bonner outscolded

Here both of us were talking together; but I held on still, and ever enforced him to this: My lord!' quoth I, this is the only thing that I shall desire of by Win- you; that whereas the king's grace hath here, in the French Court, divers affairs chester, (as I take it), ye would therein instruct me in the state thereof, and give me ven to si- your best counsel and advice: and this I protest unto you, that if ye this will do, I will attentively hear you; and if ye will not, I shall with pain hear you your other things, but I will make no answer at all.'

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Bonner taketh

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in

For all this the bishop ended not; but in conclusion, when he saw that he could by no means induce me to answer, he returned homewards, and I brought him unto his lodging and chamber.

It being dinner time, and all things provided, and standing afore him, and he turning his back from me into a window-I, at his turning towards me again, of Win- put off my bonnet, and said, 'God be with you, my lord!' He gave no answer to me at all, nor countenance, but suffered me to go. Whereupon, returning to my lodging, which was in Master Thirleby's chamber, I caused my dinner to be provided; and when it was almost ready, the bishop's steward, called Myrrel, came for me (whether sent from the bishop or not, I cannot tell), and I told him my dinner was provided for, and withal, that my lord his master had given me such a breakfast, that I needed no dinner nor supper; and so the steward, drinking with me, returned again, and I went to dinner at Master Thirleby's lodging, and after dinner I went to the bishop's lodging, who, at Winches- my coming, very gently put off his bonnet, and so we walked together quietly ter's good awhile; and shortly after, the bishop began after this manner: 'Master Bonner! to-day we communed of provision for you, and because ye shall lay no blame upon me, I will tell you what I will do for you: I will provide and make ready for you mules, mulets, horses, servants, money; yea, and all things that shall be necessary.'

will cometh upon him at last.

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'My Lord!' quoth I, 'here is a large offer, and a great kindness come upon you; I marvel,' quoth I, that I could hear nothing of this to-day in the morning.' 'I tell you,' quoth he, this will I do; for know you, that I will consider the king's honour and pleasure, and doubt not but the king will pay me again.' 'My lord!' quoth I, I have sent my servant already to Lyons, to make provision for me, and I have sent others abroad here in the town and country, to do the same: ye shall never need to trouble yourself herewith.' 'I will,' quoth he, you shall not say, another day, that ye could not be provided for. My lord!' quoth I, 'let me have instructions in the king's matters, and as for other things I shall not ask of you, because this day ye made me so plain answer.' After much communication I departed from him lovingly, telling him that I ter's offer would be at Ferrara that night, where he intended to be lodged. And so the being bishop, bidding me farewell, took soon after his horse, riding to Ferrara to bed; refused, and by the way I overtook him, and passing by, doing my duty to him and his they part. company, I came to Ferrara, lodging at the post-house, and even as the bishop came into the town, stood at the post-house door; to whom the bishop said, 'We shall see you soon, Master Bonner!' 'Yea, my lord!' quoth I, thinking that thereby he had desired me to supper, and at supper-time I went to his

Winches

to Bonner

Henry

VIII.

lodging, having others to eat my supper at home, and glad he appeared to be that I was come, making merry communication all supper while, but nothing at all yet speaking to me, or giving any thing to me, saving, at the coming of A. D. the fruit, he gave me a pear, I trow, because I should remember mine own country, After supper, he walked, taking Master Thirleby with him, and I walked with an Italian, being ambassador for the count Mirandula; and after a good space we returned, and bade the bishop good night.

1538.

I did not after that night dine or sup with the bishop, till he came to Bourges in Berry, where, upon the depeach of Francis, and closing up of our letters sent to the king's highness, the supper was so provided, and set upon the board; and the bishop in washing, standing so between me and the door that I could not get out; and there would he needs that I should wash with him and sup. And I suppose, all the way from Barella to Blois, he talked not above four times with me, and at every time, saving at Moulines (where he by mouth told me somewhat of the king's affairs here in France), and at Varron (when Wincheshe, answering to my requests in writing, delivered me his book of his own hand ter's book for mine instructions, the copy whereof is now sent herewithal), there was quick communication between us. His talking by the way was with Master Thirleby, tions who, I think, knoweth a great deal of his doing, and will, if he be the man I take him for, tell it plainly to your lordship. I myself was out of credence ner. with the bishop, not being appliable to his manners and desires.

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Thirleby.

into

And surely, as Master Thirleby told me at his first coming to Lyons, and Winchesthen speaking with the bishop, the bishop seemed to be so well content to return, and so glad of his coming to succeed him, that his flesh in his face began trembleth all to tremble, and yet would the bishop make men believe, that he would at the gladly come home which thing, believe it who will, I will never believe; for coming of ever he was looking for letters out of England, from Master Wallop and Master Loth to Brian, whom he taketh for his great friends. And Master Wyat himself return reckoned, that the bishop should have come into Spain, or else my lord of England. Durham; so that the bishop of Winchester ever coveted to protract the time, desiring yet withal to have some shadow to excuse and hide himself; as tarrying at Barella, he made excuse by my not coming to Lyons: and coming to Varennes, and there, hearing by the ambassadors of the Venetians a flying tale of the going of the French king towards Bayonne, to meet the emperor, by and by he said, 'Lo! where is Master Diligence now? If he were now Bonner here (as then I was that night), we would to the Court and present him, and called take our leave.' But when I in the morning was up afore him, and ready to Diligence. horse, he was nothing hasty. No; coming to Moulines afore him, and there tarrying for him, the French king lying at Schavenna, three small leagues off, he made not half the speed and haste that he pretended.

Master

com

I mislike in the bishop of Winchester, that he cannot be content that any, The joined in commission with him, should keep house, but to be at his table. second Wherein either he searcheth thereby a vain glory and pride to himself, with plaint: some dishonour to the king, as who saith, there was among all the king's am- Winchesbassadors but one able to maintain a table, and that were he; or else he doth ter the same for an evil intent and purpose, to bring them thereby into his danger, be alone. that they shall say and do as liketh him alone; which, I suppose verily, hath been his intent

would

I mislike in the said bishop, that whereas he, for his own pomp and glory, The third: hath a great number of servants in their velvets and silks, with their chains the pomp and glory about their necks, and keepeth a costly table with excessive fare, and exceeding of Winexpenses many other ways, he doth say, and is not ashamed to report, that he chester. is so commanded to do by the king's grace; and that is his answer commonly, when his friends tell him of his great charges; and so, under colour of the king's commandment and honour, he hideth his pride, which is here disdained.

more to

I mislike in the said bishop, that he, having private hatred against a man, The will rather satisfy his own stomach and affection, hindering and neglecting the fourth: king's affairs, than, relenting in any part of his sturdy and stubborn will, give given familiar and hearty counsel (whereby the king's highness' matters and business his own may be advanced and set forth) to him that he taketh for his adversary. I mislike in the said bishop that he ever continually, here in this court of France, made incomparably more of the emperor's, king of Portugal's, Vene- affairs."

(1) Bonner seemeth by this pear, to be a Worcestershire man.

affections than to the king's

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