The Holinshed Texts (1587, Volume 6, p. 917)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This cardinall (as Edmund Campian in his histo|rie of Ireland describeth him) was a man vndoub|tedly borne to honor:The descrip|tion of cardi|nall Wolseie, set downe by Edmund Campian. I thinke (saith he) some princes bastard, no butchers sonne, excéeding wise, faire spo|ken, high minded, full of reuenge, vitious of his bo|die, loftie to his enimies, were they neuer so big, to those that accepted and sought his fréendship woon|derfull courteous, a ripe schooleman, thrall to affec|tions, brought a bed with flatterie, insatiable to get, and more princelie in bestowing, as appeareth by his two colleges at Ipswich and Oxenford, the one o|uerthrowne with his fall, the other vnfinished, and yet as it lieth for an house of students, considering all the appurtenances incomparable thorough Chri|stendome, whereof Henrie the eight is now called founder, bicause he let it stand. He held and inioied at once the bishopriks of Yorke, Duresme, & Win|chester, the dignities of lord cardinall, legat, & chan|cellor, the abbeie of saint Albons, diuerse priories, sundrie fat benefices In commendam, a great preferrer of his seruants, an aduancer of learning, stout in euerie quarell, neuer happie till this his ouerthrow. Wherein he shewed such moderation, and ended so perfectlie, that the houre of his death did him more honor, than all the pompe of his life passed. Thus far Campian. Here it is necessarie to adde that notable discourse, which I find in Iohn Stow, concerning the state of the cardinall, both in the yeares of his youth, and in his settled age: with his sudden comming vp from preferment to preferment; till he was aduan|ced to that step of honor, which making him insolent, brought him to confusion.

¶This Thomas Wolseie was a poore mans sonne of Ipswich, in the countie of Suffolke, & there borne

Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 904, 905, &c.

The ascen|ding of Tho|mas Wolseie. Bachellor of art at fiftéene yeares old.

and being but a child, verie apt to be learned, by the meanes of his parents he was conueied to the vni|uersitie of Oxenford, where he shortlie prospered so in learning, as he was made bachellor of art, when he passed not fiftéene yeares of age, and was called most commonlie thorough the vniuersitie the boie bachellor. Thus prospering in learning, he was made fellow of Mawdeline college, and afterward appointed to be schoolemaster of Mawdelin schoole, at which time the lord marquesse Dorset had thrée of his sonnes there at schoole, committing vnto him as well their education as their instruction.Schoolema|ster to the marquesse Dorsets children It pleased the said lord marquesse against a Christmas season to send as well for the schoolemaster, as for his chil|dren home to his house for their recreation, in that pleasant and honorable feast.

Then being there, the lord their father, perceiuing them to be right well imploied in learning for their time, he hauing a benefice in his gift, being at that time void, gaue the same to the schoolemaster in re|ward of his diligence at his departure after Christ|mas EEBO page image 918 to the vniuersitie,Thomas Wolseie gat a benefice. and hauing the presentation thereof, repaired to the ordinarie for his induction, and being furnished of his instruments, made spéed to the benefice to take possession, and being there for that intent, one sir Iames Paulet knight dwelling thereabouts,Thomas Wolseie set in the stocks by sir Iames Paulet. Wolseies im|prisonment reuenged. tooke occasion against him, and set the schoolemaster by the héeles during his pleasure, which after was neither forgotten nor forgiuen.