1-272-838 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Letter from Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York to Dr Stephen Gardiner, February or March 1530. Letter, written from Esher, shortly after Wolsey's disgrace, to Gardiner, secretary to Henry VIII, making arrangements as to the benefices in the province of York, and appealing to the King's compassion on account of his advanced age and long service. Gardiner, as was frequently the case at this period of his life, is addressed as 'Mr Stevens'. The 'late poor Dean of Wells' mentioned in the letter was Thomas Winter, Wolsey's natural son. Evidence of the writer's weakness and agitation may be seen in his inability to keep the pen from dotting the paper between the words. From the second series of Facsimiles of royal, historical, literary and other autographs in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum: Series I-V. (London, 1899).