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.

And whereas the other councellors would diuerse times persuade the king to haue sometime recourse into the councell chamber, there to heare what was doone; the almoner would persuade him to the con|trarie, which delited him much: and thus the almo|ner ruled all them that were before him, such did his policie and wit bring to passe. Who was now in high fauor but master almoner? And who ruled all vnder the king, but master almoner? Thus he perseuered in fauor, vntill at last in came presents, gifts, and re|wards so plentifullie, that he lacked nothing that might either please his fantasie, or inrich his coffers.