142 THE HORSE IN HISTORY 



After pondering the proposal for some moments, 

 Henry accepted the offer, and a little later handed 

 to Wolsey a sealed packet, urging him to convey 

 it with all speed and not be hindered by anybody. 

 This took place, we are told, at Richmond, at 

 about noon. Then and there the chaplain 

 mounted the horse he had ready, and rode 

 away. 



That he must have galloped almost all the 

 way to Dover, changing horses several times, is 

 certain, for he arrived there on the following 

 morning before daylight. By noon on the day 

 after he was at Calais, and at nightfall he per- 

 sonally handed King Henry's sealed dispatch to 

 to the Emperor Maximilian. Having received 

 Maximilian's reply, Wolsey at once mounted a 

 fresh horse that had been saddled for him and 

 set out once more for Calais, which town he 

 reached on the same night, so that by the follow- 

 ing evening he was again at Richmond. 



The king, however, had already retired to 

 rest, and Wolsey therefore was compelled to 

 wait until the morning to deliver Maximilian's 

 reply. It so happened that he was walking in 

 the park when presently the king overtook him 

 and at once began to upbraid him for his delay 

 in starting for France. Wolsey remained silent 

 and collected until the king had stopped speak- 

 ing, then, without a word, he produced the des- 

 patch that he had brought from Maximilian. 



