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

44
HAMPTON COURT
them. No other passage in the literature of the
time gives so clear a description of what the Palace
was like at this date, or of Wolsey's manner of entertaining
in it, and even now much of the course
of the festivities can be traced as we walk through
the rooms and the cloisters. Cavendish speaks of what
was chiefly his own business, and with a relish which
time had not made him forget for the magnificence of
the " honest poor man's son," whom " in his lifeI
served." When the King's orders were given, he
says, " Then was there no more to do but to make
preparation of all things for this great assembly at
Hampton Court the dayappointed. MyLord Cardinal
called before him his principal officers — steward,
treasurer, controller, and the clerks of his kitchen,
to whom he declared his full mind touching the entertainment
of the Frenchmen at Hampton Court;
whom he commanded neither to spare for any costs,
expenses, or travail, to make them such a triumphant
banquet, as they may not only wonder at it here, but
also make a glorious report thereof in their country,
to the great honour of the King and his realm. His
pleasure to them known, to accomplish his commandment
they sent out all the caterers, purveyors, and
divers other persons to my Lord's friends, to prepare.
Also they sent for all their expert cooks and cunning
persons in the art of cookery, which were within
London or elsewhere, that might be gotten, to beautify
this noble feast.
" Then the purveyors provided, and my Lord his