He vsed also euerie sundaie to resort to the court, then being for the most part of all the yeare at Gréenewich, with his former triumphs,His order of going to and cõming from the court. taking his barge at his owne staires, furnished with yeomen standing vpon the bails, and his gentlemen being within about him, and landed againe at the thrée cranes in the Uintrie: and from thense he rode vpon his mule with his crosse, his pillers, his hat and broad seale carried afore him on horssebacke through Thames street, vntill he came to Billingsgate, and there tooke his barge againe, and so was rowed to Gréenewich, where he was receiued of the lords and chiefe officers of the kings house, as the treasuror, comptrollor and others, and so conueied vnto the kings chamber. Then the court was woonderfullie furnished with noblemen and gentlemen: and after dinner among the lords, hauing some consultation with the king or with the councell, he would depart homeward with the like triumph.

Thus in great honour, triumph, and glorie, he reigned a long season, ruling all things within the realme apperteining vnto the king. His house was resorted to with noblemen and gentlemen,The cardi|nals house like a princes court for all kind of bra|uerie & sump|tuousnesse. feasting and banketting ambassadors diuerse times, and all other right noblie. And when it pleased the king for his recreation to repaire to the cardinals house (as he did diuerse times in the yeare) there wanted no preparations or furniture: bankets were set foorth with maskes and mummeries, in so gorgeous a sort and costlie maner, that it was an heauen to behold. There wanted no dames or damosels meet or apt to danse with the maskers, or to garnish the place for the time: then was there all kind of musike and har|monie, with fine voices both of men and children.

On a time the king came suddenlie thither in a maske with a dozen maskers all in garments like shéepheards, made of fine cloth of gold,A maske and banket, the king in person present at the cardinals house. and crimosin sattin paned, & caps of the same, with visards of good physnomie, their haires & beards either of fine gold|wire silke, or blacke silke, hauing sixtéene torch-bea|rers, besides their drums and other persons with vi|sards, all clothed in sattin of the same color. And be|fore his entring into the hall, he came by water to the water gate without anie noise, where were laid diuerse chambers and guns charged with shot, and at his landing they were shot off, which made such a rumble in the aire, that it was like thunder: it made all the noblemen, gentlemen, ladies, and gentlewo|men, to muse what it should meane, comming so sud|denlie, they sitting quiet at a solemne banket, after this sort.