believe the Cardinal meant to give the chair to Isabel. Like other young men in the closet, Carey disliked the Cardinal. Yet Carey had no easy task in fighting him on such a ground. To put the Cardinal's client out of court, he had to find some reason to believe Isabel Jordan unfitted by her reputation for the government of a house of nuns. Unhappily, the convent had a bad repute; a dozen scandalous tales were whispered in the town; and Isabel seemed by public rumour no less guilty than the rest.

3. Armed with some tale against the Prioress, Carey applied to Henry, and got his brotherly petition backed by Anne. No proofs were given against the Prioress, for no inquiry had been held; and charity in such a case might think the best ; yet, in an age and country eager for reform, it seemed unwise to place a woman in the highest seat of a religious house whose character was publicly defamed. Anne spoke to Henry, and the King forbade the Cardinal's chaplain to proceed. 'Isabel Jordan shall not be Abbess,' he said to his groom; 'Isabel shall not be Abbess,' he repeated to a dozen persons. Now, if Isabel failed, Carey supposed his sister sure to win. The Cardinal heard of Henry's words; but in his fancy that Anne Boleyn's reign was past, he ventured to go on with the election. Another candidate was started for the chair, in Elinor's elder sister and superior in the convent. Every one could see the Cardinal's and Henry,

game,

quick to feel and to resent such moves, declared in yet more menacing terms that Isabel Jordan should never be elected Abbess. The affair was pending when the sickness came and Carey died.

4. That Anne should try to comfort her sister Mary in her weak and widowed state, by doing what she could for Carey's sister, was a thing of course. No one ever came to her in grief without receiving help. Anne knew the sister of William Carey only from report, and never dreaming that the vices which had tainted others in her convent might be found in her, Anne pressed her claim for Mary's sake. Henry took the charge of Elinor Carey's fortunes on himself; but Wolsey was not beaten off even now. Of Elinor, a more comely person than the aged Isabel, there were also tales. These tales were carried to the King. This sister of his dead servant was, it seemed, a shameless woman, who had lived in sin, not only with a priest but with a layman. Henry was annoyed, but having heard these stories, he postponed the election till inquiry had been made. Wolsey was enjoined to call the nuns before him, to compel them to disclose their secrets, and to make report of what he learned. To guard against deceit, the nuns were all examined in the presence of the royal chaplain, Dr. Bell.

5. These measures brought the truth to light. Elinor confessed. It was a bitter piece of news for the poor invalid at Hever; but the story could not be concealed from Anne; and Henry told her what had

happened in a tone as honourable to the man who wrote as to the woman who had to read his words. 'As touching the matter of Wilton, my Lord Cardinal hath had the nuns before him, and examined them, Master Bell being present; which hath certified me for a truth, that she hath confessed herself (which we would have had Abbess) to have had two children by two sundry priests; and, further, since hath been keeped by a servant of the Lord Brooke that was, and that not long ago. Wherefore, I would not for all the gold in the world, clog your conscience, nor mine, to make her ruler of a house which is of so ungodly demeanour. Nor I trust you would not that, neither for brother nor sister, I should so destain mine honour or conscience. And as touching the Prioress or dame Elinor's eldest sister, though there is not any evident case proved against them, and that the Prioress is so old that of many years she could not be as she was named; yet, notwithstanding, to do your pleasure, I have done that neither of them shall have it; whereby the house shall be the better reformed (whereof, I ensure you, it hath much need), and God much the better served.' He added some few words about herself: 'As touching abode at Hever, do therein as best shall like you; for you know best what air doth best with you. But I would it were come thereto, (if it pleased God) that neither of us need care for that, for I ensure you I think it long.'

6. Anne was content to set both Prioress and her

rival on one side, and get a more sedate and honest woman chosen for the place; but Wolsey, with the madness that precedes a fall, instructed Benet to prepare a chapter and decide the vote for Isabel Jordan. Benet obeyed, and Isabel was elected. Then the royal rage broke out. 'It is not the part,' said Henry, of a loving friend and trusty servant to elect and choose a person by him forbidden; but your cloaking your offence by saying that you did not know my mind, displeases me still more. It is a double offence, first to do ill, and then to colour it. Do it no more. For there is no man living that hateth it more than I do. . . As a master and friend, I must desire you to take what I say in good part; for I do it upon no other ground, but the wealth of your soul and mine.' Wolsey, on seeing the greatness of his error, made an abject answer. He was afraid, he said; his servants were unwell; and the affair had overslipt his memory. Yet the evil was not done; for the election was conditional only; and the matter in his Majesty's hands. Seeing the humbleness of your submission, I am content to remit it,' said the King with high disdain. But he reminded Wolsey that the monks accused him of robbing convents, that the peers resented his arrogance, that every one exclaimed against his pride and waste. The charm of his ascendancy was broken, and the hour of Isabel's success at Wilton Abbey was the hour in which the Cardinal began to fall.

95

CHAPTER VII.

THE TWO LEGATES.

1528.

1. WOLSEY had cause for much alarm. The French were losing time in Italy; and Henry was impatient for the papal answer. Suffolk and Mary were against him. He had nothing to expect from Rochford; nor could he easily conceal his treacheries much longer from the eyes of Lady Anne. Cranmer was writing on the dispensation in a sense to widen the dispute with Rome, and ruin the Cardinal's chances of succeeding to the triple crown. All parties were in league against him. In his dread of losing what he had, he clutched at more and more. Fox died; he took the See of Winchester into his hands. As if to test his power, he asked the King to give the See of Durham to his son, Tom Winter. Henry had lately made this youngster, who was still at school in Paris, Warden of St. Leonard's Hospital. He refused to make him one of his bishops, and the Cardinal of York was in despair.

2. In speaking to the Bishop of Bayonne, Wolsey