After whose returne, immediatlie the sée of Lin|colne fell void, by the death of doctor Smith late bi|shop there, the which benefice his grace gaue to his almoner, late bishop of Torneie elect, who was not negligent to take possession therof,Thomas Wolseie bi|shop of Lin|colne. and made all the spéed he could for his consecration: the solemnization whereof ended, he found meanes that he gat the pos|session of all his predecessors goods into his hands. It was not long after that doctor Benbrike archbi|shop of Yorke died at Rome,Sée pag. 835. being there the kings ambassador, vnto the which sée the king immediatlie presented his late and new bishop of Lincolne; so that he had thrée bishopriks in his hands in one yeere giuen him.

Then prepared he for his translation from the see of Lincolne, vnto the sée of Yorke,Thomas Wolseie arch|bishop of Yorke. after which solem|nization doone, he being then an archbishop Primas Angliae, thought himselfe sufficient to compare with Canturburie, and therevpon erected his crosse in the court, and euerie other place,Note the pride of Wol|seie and his ambition as well within the pre|cinct and iurisdiction of Canturburie, as in anie o|ther place. And forsomuch as Canturburie claimeth a superoritie ouer Yorke, as ouer all other bishop|riks within England, and for that cause claimeth as a knowledge of an ancient obedience of Yorke, to abate the aduancing of his crosse, in presence of the crosse of Canturburie: notwithstanding, the archbishop of Yorke nothing minding to desist from bearing thereof, in maner as I said before, cau|sed his crosse to be aduanced, as well in the pre|sence of Canturburie as elsewhere. Wherefore Can|turburie being mooued therewith, gaue vnto Yorke a certeine checke for his presumption,The two archbishops at strife for the preroga|tiue. by reason whereof, there ingendered some grudge betwéene Yorke and Canturburie; Yorke intending to pro|uide some such meanes, that he would be rather su|perior in dignitie to Canturburie, than to be either obedient or equall to him. Wherefore he obteined to be made priest cardinall, and Legatus de latere: Thomas Wolseie car|dinall, see pag. 837. vnto whome the pope sent a cardinals hat with certeine buls for his authoritie in that behalfe. Yet you shall vnderstand, that the pope sent him this woorthie hat of dignitie, as a iewell of his honor and authoritie, the which was conueied in a varlets budget, who see|med to all men to be but a person of small estima|tion.

Wherefore Yorke being aduertised of the basenes of this messenger, & of the peoples opinion, thought it meete for his honor, that this iewell should not be conueied by so simple a person, and therefore caused him to be stopped by the waie immediatlie after his arriuall in England, where he was newlie furnished in all maner of apparell, with all kind of costlie silks,The cardinall in all his ac|tions standeth vp on his re|putation. which séemed decent for such an high ambassador, and that doone, he was incountered vpon Blackeheath, and there receiued with a great assemblie of prelats, and lustie gallant gentlemen, and from thense con|ducted thorough London with great triumph. Then was great and spéedie preparation made in West|minster abbeie, for the confirmation and acceptance of this high order and dignitie, the which was execu|ted by all the bishops and abbats about or nigh Lon|don, with their rich miters and copes, and other orna|ments, which was doone in so solemne wise, as had not béene seene the like, vnlesse it had béene at the co|ronation of a mightie prince or king. Obteining this dignitie, he thought himselfe méet to beare rule a|mong the temporall power, & among the spirituall iurisdiction: wherfore, remembring as well the taunts susteined of Canturburie, as hauing respect to the ad|uancement of worldlie honor & promotion, he found the meanes with the king,Thomas Wolseie lord chancellor ar|rogateth all that he may to himselfe by vertue of his promotions, that he was made lord chancellor of England, and Canturburie which was chancellor dismissed, who had continued in that roome long since before the deceasse of Henrie the seuenth. Now being in possession of the chancellorship, and indued with the promotions of the archbishop, & car|dinall EEBO page image 920 De Latere, hauing power to correct Canturbu|rie, and all other bishops and spirituall persons, to as|semble his conuocation when he would assigne, he tooke vpon him the correction of matters in all their iurisdictions, and visited all the spirituall hou|ses, hauing in euerie diocesse all maner of spirituall ministers, as commissaries, scribes, apparators, and all other officers to furnish his courts, and presented by preuention whome he pleased vnto all benefices thoroughout all this realme.