The king being in a great maze and woonder of his speedie returne and procéedings,The king maruelleth at the cardinals spéedie re|turne. dissembled all his woonder, and demanded of him whether he in|countered not his pursiuant the which he sent vnto him, supposing him not to be out of London, with letters concerning a verie necessarie matter, ne|glected in their consultation; Yea forsooth (quoth the chapleine) I met with him yesterdaie by the waie, and hauing no vnderstanding by your graces let|ters of your pleasure, haue notwithstanding béene so bold vpon mine owne discretion (perceiuing that matter to be verie necessarie in that behalfe) to di|spatch the same. And forsomuch as I haue excéeded your graces commission, I most humblie require your graces pardon. The king reioising not a little, said; We doo not onelie pardon you thereof, but also giue you our princelie thanks, both for the procéeding therein, and also for your good and speedie exploit, commanding him for that time to take his rest, and repaire againe after dinner for the further relation of his ambassage.

The ambassador, when he saw time, repaired before the king and councell, where he declared the effect of all his affaires so exactlie, with such grauitie and eloquence, that all the councell that heard him, commended him, estéeming his expedition to be al|most beyond the capacitie of man.Thomas Wolseie dea [...] of Lincolne. Thomas Wolseie the kings almo|ner. The king gaue him at that time the deanrie of Lincolne. From thense forward he grew more and more into estima|tion and authoritie, and after was promoted by the king to be his almoner. After the death of king Hen|rie the seuenth, and in the florishing youth of king Henrie the eight, this almoner handled himselfe so politiklie, that he soone found the meanes to be made one of the kings councell,Thomas Wolseie of the priuie coun|cell vnto Henrie the eight. and to grow in fauor with the king, to whome the king gaue an house at Bride|well in Fleetstréet, sometime sir Richard Empsons, where he kept house for his familie; and so dailie at|tended vpon the king, and in his especiall fauor, who had great sute made vnto him.

His sentences & wittie persuasions in the coun|cell chamber were alwaies so pithie, that the councell (as occasion mooued them) continuallie assigned him EEBO page image 919 to be the expositor to the king in all their procée|dings, in whome the king receiued such a leaning fantasie, for that he was most earnest and readiest of all the councell to aduance the kings will and plea|sure: the king therefore estéemed him so highlie, that all the other councellors were put from the great fa|uor that they before were in, insomuch that the king committed all his will vnto his disposition, which the almoner perceiuing,The cardinall presumeth too [...]re vpon a conceit and flattering opi|nion of his owne quali|t [...]s and the [...] f [...]uor. tooke vpon him therefore to dis|charge the king of the weightie and troublesome bu|sinesse, persuading the king that he should not néed to spare anie time of his pleasure for anie businesse that should happen in the councell.