Hauing so doone, he passed foorth with such spéed, that he arriued at Graues end within little more than thrée houres, where he tarried no longer than his post horsses were a prouiding, and then trauelled so spéedily that he came to Douer the next morning, whereas the passengers were readie vnder saile to Calis, into the which passenger, without tarrieng, he entered, and sailed foorth with them, that long before noone he arriued at Calis, and hauing post horsses,The [...] verie [...] and readie [...] his ambas|sage. departed from thense with such speed, that he was that night with the emperor, and disclosed the whole summe of his ambassage to the emperor, of whome he required speedie expedition, the which was granted him by the emperor; so that the next daie he was cléerlie dispatched with all the kings requests fullie accomplished.

At which time he made no longer delaie, but tooke post horsses that night, and rode toward Calis, con|ducted thither with such persons as the emperor had appointed; and at the opening of the gates of Calis, he came thither, where the passengers were as readie to returne into England, as they were before at his iournie forward, insomuch that he arriued at Douer by ten of the clocke before noone, and hauing post horsses,His return [...] into Engla [...] after his a [...]bassage dis|charged. came to the court at Richmond the same night, where he taking some rest vntill the morning, repaired to the king at his first comming from his bedchamber to his closet, whom when the king saw, he checked him, for that he was not on his iournie: Sir (quoth he) if it may please your highnesse, I haue alreadie béene with the emperor, and dispatched your affaires (I trust to your graces contentation) and with that presented vnto the king his letters of credence from the emperor.

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.