Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

50
HAMPTON COURT
Every chamber had a bason and an ewer of silver, a
great livery pot of silver, and some gilt; yea, and
some chambers had two livery pots of wine and beer,
a bowl and a goblet, and a pot of silver to drink in
both for their beer and wine; a silver candlestick both
white and plain, having in it two sizes; and a staff
torch of wax; a fine manchet, and a cheat loaf.
Thus was every chamber furnished throughout all the
house, and yet the cupboards in the two banqueting
chambers not once touched. Thus when it was more
than time convenient they were conveyed to their
lodgings, where they rested at ease for the night. lithe
morning, after they had heard mass, they dined
with my Lord, and so departed towards Windsor.
They being then departed, my Lord returned again
to London, because it was in the midst of the
term."
This was the most famous entertainment that the
great Cardinal ever gave at his Palace, and it was
well-nigh the last. For many months he still continued
to transact business of state therein and to
receive royal visits. There the first steps of the
divorce were anxiously debated. There Wolsev meditated
in misery over the first signs of the disgrace
that was coming upon him.
On the 26th of November 1529 Campeggio left
England, and the divorce proceedings were seen to
have broken down. By the same date Wolsey's fall
had come. " His misfortunes are such," wrote the
French Ambassador, " that his enemies, even though