made answer, That he would first go and fhift him. And thereupon went into the Cardinal's Bed-chamber, where was a great Fire prepar'd for him, and there he new apparell'd himself with rich and princely Garments: And, in the King's abfence, the Dishes of the Banquet was clean taken away, and the Tables coThe Tables ver'd again with new and perfum'd again with Cloaths, every Man fitting ftill until the King's Majefty with his Masquers came in among them, every Man new apparell'd.

furnish'd

a new Ban

quet.

Then the King took his Seat under the Cloath of Eftate, commanding every Perfon to fit ftill, as they did before; And then came in a new Banquet before his Majefty of 200 Difhes; and fo they pafs'd the Night in Banquetting and Dancing until Morning, which much rejoyc'd the Cardinal, to fee his Soveraign Lord fo pleasant at his House.

Now you fhall understand, that the young Lord of Northumberland, attended upon my Lord-Cardinal; who, when the Cardinal went to Court, would ever have conference with Mistress Anne Bullen, who then was one of the Maids of Honour to Queen Catherine, infomuch,

that

that at laft they were contracted together; which, when the King heard, he was much moved thereat, (for he had a private Affection to her himself) which was not yet difcover'd to any; and then advis'd the Cardinal to fend for the Earl of Northumberland, his Father, and take order to diffolve the Contract made between the faid Parties; which the LordCardinal did, after a fharp Reprehenfion, in regard he was contracted without the King and his Father's knowledge: He fent for his Father, who came up to London very speedily, and came firft to my Lord-Cardinal, as all great Perfonages did, that in fuch fort were fent for, of whom they were advertis'd of the cause of their fending for: And, The Earl when the Earl was come, he was pre- Cardinal. fently brought to the Cardinal into the Gallery. After whose meeting,my LordCardinal and he were in fecret Communication a long space; after their long Difcourfe, and drinking a Cup of Wine, the Earl departed; and, at his going away, he fate down at the Gallery-end in the Hall upon a Form, and, being fate, call'd his Son unto him, and faid,

come to the

Son, (quoth he) even as thou art, and His fharp

D 3

Reproof of ever his Son.

ever hast been a proud, difdainful, and very unthrifty Mafter, fo thou hast now declar'd thy felf; wherefore what Joy, what PleaJure, what Comfort, or what Solace can I conceive in thee, that thus, without Difcretion hast abused thy felf? having neither regard to me thy natural Father, nor unto thy natural Soveraign Lord, to whom all honest and loyal Subjects bear faithful Obedience, nor yet to the Profperity of thy own Eftate; but hast fo unadvifedly enfnar'd thy felf to her, for whom thou hast purchas'd the King's high Displeasure, intollerable for any Subject to fuftain: And, but that the King doth confider the Lightneẞ of thy Head, and wilful Qualities of thy Perfon, his Displeasure and Indignation were fufficient to cast me and all Pofterity into utter Ruine and Deftruction. But he, being my fingular good Lord and favourable Prince, and my Lord-Cardinal my very good Friend, hath, and doth clearly excufe me in thy Lewdneß, and do rather lament thy Folly,than malign thee, and hath advis'd an Order to be taken for thee, to whom both I and you are more bound, than we conceive of. I pray to God, that this may be a fufficient Admonition unto thee, to use thy felf more wifely hereafter; for affure

thy

my

thy felf, that if thou dost not amend thy Prodigality, thou wilt be the last Earl of our Houfe; For thy natural Inclination, thou art Masterful and Prodigal, to confume all that thy Progenitors have with great travel gather'd and kept together with Honour: But, having the King's Majefty my fingular good Lord, I trust (I affure thee) fo to order my Succeffion, that thou fbalt confume thereof but a little.

dothintend

For I do not intend (I tell thee) truly to The Earl make thee Heir, for (thanks be to God) I to difinhehave more Boys, that I trust will use them rit him. felves much better, and prove more like to wife and honest Men, of whom I will chuse the most likely to fucceed me.

to the Ser;

Now, good Masters and Gentlemen, He speaks (quoth he) unto us it may be be your Chances vants. hereafter, when I am dead, to fee those Things that I have spoken to my Son prove as true as I now speak them; yet in the mean time I defire you all to be his Friends, and tell him his Faults in what he doth amiß, wherein you shall fhew your felves friendly to him; and fo I take my leave of you: And, Son, go your ways unto my Lord your Mafter, and ferve him diligently: And fo parted, and went down into the Hall, and fo took his Barge.

D 4

Then,

He goes to the King.

tract be

Piercy and

folved.

She much

difpleafed thereat.

Then, after long and large debating the Matter about the Lord Piercy's Affurance to Mrs. Anne Bullen, it was devifed, that the Contract fhould be infringed, and diffolved; and that the Lord Piercy fhould marry one of the Earl of The Con- Shrewsbury's Daughters. And fo indeed, tweenLord not long after, he did, whereby the forMrs. Anne mer Contract was broken and diffolv'd, Bullen dif- wherewith Mrs. Anne was greatly dif pleas'd, promifing, that if ever it lay in her Power, fhe would do the Cardinal fome Displeasure, which indeed fhe afterwards did. But yet he was not altogether to be blamed, for he did nothing but what the King commanded; whereby the Lord Piercy was charged to aShe is dif- void her Company. And fo was fhe for the Court. a time difcharged the Court, and fent home to her Father, whereat she was much troubl'd and perplex'd. For all this time she knew nothing of the King's intended purpose. But we may fee,when Fortune doth begin to frown, how the can compass a Matter of Displeasure, thro' a far-fetch'd Mark: Now therefore of the Grudge how it began, that in process of time wrought the Cardinal's utter Destruction.

charged

Oh