In the procession were commonly seen forty priests, all in rich
copes and other vestments of white satin, or scarlet, or crimson. The
altar was covered with massy plate, and blazed with jewels and precious
stones. But if such were his general establishment, not less was the array
of those who attended on his person. In his privy chamber he had his chief
chamberlain, vice-chamberlain, and two gentlemen-ushers. Six
gentlemen-waiters and twelve yeomen; and at their head nine or ten lords
to attend on him, each with their two or three servants, and some more, to
wait on them, the Earl of Derby having five. Three gentlemen-cupbearers,
gentlemen-carvers, and servers to the amount of forty in the great and the
privy chamber; six gentlemen-ushers and eight grooms. Attending on his
table were twelve doctors and chaplains, clerk of the closet, two clerks
of the signet, four counsellors learned in the law, and two secretaries.

He had his riding-clerk; clerk of the crown; clerk of the hamper and
chaffer; clerk of the cheque for the chaplains; clerk for the yeomen of
the chamber; and "fourteen footmen garnished with rich running-coates,
whensoever he had any journey;" besides these, a herald-at-arms,
sergeant-at-arms, a physician, an apothecary, four minstrels, a keeper of
the tents, an armorer; an instructor of his wards in chancery; "an
instructor of his wardrop of roabes;" a keeper of his chamber; a surveyor
of York, and clerk of the green cloth....

I am afraid the story of Henry VIII. coming to see this splendid palace on
its first being built, and saying in a jealous surprize, "My Lord
Cardinal, is this a dwelling for a subject?" and the courtly Cardinal
replying, "My gracious liege, it is not intended for a subject; it is
meant only for the greatest and most bounteous king in Christendom," is
too good to be true; for altho Wolsey did give up this favorite palace to
his royal master, it was long afterward, and only on the palpable outbreak
of his displeasure, as a most persuasive peace-offering; an offering
which, tho especially acceptable, failed nevertheless to ensure lasting
peace. The sun of the great Cardinal was already in its decline....

Henry VIII. used to keep his court here frequently in great state, and
here he used to celebrate Christmas in all its ancient festivity. Here he
lost his third wife, Jane Seymour, a few days after the birth of his son
Edward VI., and felt or affected much grief on that account, perha