In the Cardinal's presence no one dared to speak of
slaughter or the like, for he was hated by the people, and often
called "The Butcher." Cromwell, however, was above suspicion, and
the Cardinal did not take his remark ill, but saved the situation.
"Moreover," he continued, "my present was well received by the King;
Hampton Court is also a treasure, and has the advantage of being
near Richmond and Windsor, but can naturally not bear comparison
with York Place."
The galley was rowed up the river, on whose banks stood the most
stately edifices which existed at the time. They passed by
customhouses and warehouses, fishmarkets, and fishers'
landing-places; the pinnacles of the Guildhall or Council House;
the Convent of Blackfriars, the old Church of St. Paul's; the Temple,
formerly inhabited by the Templars, now a court of justice; the
Hospital of St. James, subsequently appropriated by Henry VIII and
made a palace. Finally they reached York Place (Whitehall) by
Westminster, where Wolsey, the Cardinal and Papal Legate, Archbishop
of York and Keeper of the Great Seal, dwelt with his court,
comprising about eight hundred persons, including court ladies.
Then they disembarked after conversing on ordinary topics; for the
Cardinal preferred discussing trifles when he had great schemes in
hand, and that which occupied him especially just now was his
candidature for the papacy.
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