There was attending on his boord of doctors and chapleins, besides them of his chappell, sixtéene dailie:Attendants on his boord. a clearke of his closet: secretaries two: and two clearks of his signet: and foure counsellers learned in the law. And forsomuch as it was necessarie to haue diuerse officers of the Chancerie to attend vp|on him, that is to saie, the clerke of the crowne:Officers of the Chancerie a ri|ding clearke: a clearke of the hamper: and a chafer of the wax: then a clearke of the checke, aswell vp|on the chapleins, as of the yeoman of his chamber: he had also foure footmen which were garnished in rich running coats,His footmen. whensoeuer he rode in anie iour|neie: then had he an herald of armes: and a sarge|ant of armes: a physician: an apothecarie:His herald at armes & other officers. foure min|strels: a kéeper of his tents: an armorer: an in|structor of his wards: two yeomen of the wardrobe of his robes: and a keeper of his chamber continual|lie in the court: he had also in his house the surueior of Yorke, and a clearke of the gréene cloth.

All these were dailie attending, downe lieng and vprising, and at meales: he kept in his great cham|ber a continuall boord for the chamberers and gentle|men officers, hauing with them a messe of the yoong lords, and another of gentlemen. Besides all these, there was neuer an officer, gentleman, or worthie person, but he was allowed in the house, some thrée, some two, and all other one at the least, which grew to a great number of persons. Thus farre out of the checker roll, besides other officers, seruants, retei|ners, and suters,Thomas Wolseie twise ambassador to the emperour Charles. that most commonlie dined in the hall. After that he was thus furnished, he was sent twise in ambassage to the emperour Charles the fift, for diuerse vrgent causes touching the kings EEBO page image 921 maiestie, it was thought, that so noble a prince (the cardinall) was most méet to be sent: wherfore being readie to take vpon him the charge thereof, hée was furnished in all degrées and purposes, most like a great prince.

For first he procéeded foorth furnished like a cardi|nall: his gentlemen being verie manie in num|ber, were clothed in liuerie coats of crimsin veluet of the best, with chaines of gold about their necks, and his yeomen and meane officers in coats of fine scar|let, garded with blacke veluet an hand broad. Thus furnished, he was twise sent into Flanders to the emperour then lieng in Bruges, whome he did most highlie interteine, discharging all his charges and his mens. There was no house within the towne of Bruges, wherein anie gentleman of the cardinals was lodged, or had recourse, but that the owners were commanded by the emperours officers, that they,The empe|rors munifi|cence notable and worthie his imperiall person. vpon paine of their liues, should take no monie for anie thing that the cardinals seruants did take of anie kind of vittels, no although they were dispo|sed to make anie costlie bankets.