and, by gentle progrefs, reached another feat of his lordship's that night. In this last stage the cardinal behaved with great patience and refignation. Though fcarcely able to fit his mule, he rode along without complaining; and at length, on the third night, arrived at Leicester-abbey.

Here the abbot and the whole convent came out to meet him, receiving him in the court with great reverence and respect; but the cardinal only faid, “ Father abbot, I am come to lay my bones among you;" and riding on his mule, till he came to the ftairs which led to his chamber, he was helped up with much difficulty, and put to bed.

This was on Saturday the 25th of November; and on the Monday his illness had so far increased, that it became vifible that he could not live long. On Tuesday morning early, the lieutenant of the tower went into his room, and afked him how he had rested? To which enquiry the cardinal devoutly anfwered, "I only wait the pleasure of Heaven, to render my poor foul into the hands my Creator."

of

After he had spent an hour in confeffion,

the

"have me

the lieutenant came into his room again; when Wolfey, finding his diffolution very nigh, made the following memorable speech, the fubftance of which Shakespear has given us in fo pleasing a manner: " I pray you," faid the Cardinal to Kingston, heartily recommended to his Royal Majefty, and befeech him on my behalf, to call to his remembrance all matters that have passed between us from the beginning, efpecially with regard to his bufinefs with the queen; and then he will know in his conscience, whether I have offended him. He is a prince of a moft royal carriage, and hath a princely heart; and, rather than he will mifs, or want any part of his will, he will endanger the one half of his kingdom. I do affure you, that I have often kneeled before him, fometimes for three hours together, to perfuade him from his will and appetite, but could not prevail. Had I but ferved my God as diligently as I have ferved my king, he would not have given me over in my grey hairs. But this is the just reward that I must receive for. my indulgent pains and ftudy, not regarding my fervice to my God, but only to my prince. Therefore, let me advise if you be one of the privy council, as by you wifyou are fit, take care what U 2

dom

you,

you put into

the

the King's head, for you can never get it out again."

This fpeech from the dying lips of the cardinal, marks as ftrongly as words can do, the character of the violent and impetuous Harry. And there is not the least doubt but that the whole is confiftent with truth; for, though Wolfey's own character has not efcaped the feverest cenfures, yet the impropriety of of his measures ought cermany tainly to be imputed to the violence of his master's temper, and the obstinacy which he so much complains of. And when we confider that the subsequent part of this monarch's reign was much more unfortunate and criminal than that which was directed by the cardinal's councils, we fhall be inclined to fufpect those hiftorians, of partiality, who have endeavoured to load his memory with fuch virulent reproaches. His ftatelinefs, oftentation, and arrogance, while he was in the zenith of his glory, were undoubtedly cenfurable; but where is the man who would not find his head grow giddy, and his prudence laid afleep, when raised from fo lowly an origin to fuch an extreme eleva◄ tion?

When

When Wolfey had uttered the foregoing words, his fpeech failed him, and he expired, about eight o'clock on the 25th of November 1538, being then ncar fixty years of age. After his death he was laid in an oaken coffin, with his face uncovered, that every one might be permitted to fee him; and early in the morning on St. Andrew's day, he was buried in one of the chapels of the abbey. Thus finished his days, this great prelaté and ftatesman.

In his perfon he was ftrongly made, tall as to his ftature, big-boned, and of a majestic prefence. His face was rather comely, but it seemed to be ftamped with legible indications of pride. The magnificent ftile in which he lived, has been already defcribed, and perhaps was never exceeded. He built feveral fuperb palaces, of which that of Hampton-court ftill remains as a proof of his tafte in architecture.

INSTANCE THE FIFTEENTH.

2

POPE SIXTUS*

THE FIFTH.

What will not art and perfeverance do

For those who keep their purpos'd point in view?
They gain, though oft denied, the proudest fair,
The ftudded crown, or e'en the papal chair.

O one has a greater claim to be includ

Ned
N°

ed in these Instances of the mutability of fortune, than the perfon whofe life is now the subject of confideration. His being exalted from a poor, half-ftarved, ragged boy, attending hogs in the field, to the rank of general of the order of Franciscan friars, and from thence, through the feveral intermediate functions, to that of pope, nay one of the greatest pontiffs that ever reigned, affords as ftriking an inftance of the mutability we are

* Letis. Life of Pope Sixtus the Fifth. Farneworth, &c.

recording,