Biography of Christopher Urswick 1448-1522

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. After that, all this army was arrayed and even ready to set forward whereof were chieftains and leaders, Jasper Duke of Bedford [aged 61], and John, Earl of Oxford [aged 50] beside other the King [aged 35] sent Christopher Urswick [aged 44] almoner, and syr John Wriothesley knight to Maximilia [aged 33], to certify him that the King was all in a readiness, and would shortly arrive in the continent land, as soon as he were advertised that Maximilian and his men, were ready and prepared to join with him. The Ambassadors sailed into Flanders, and after their message done, they sent two letters in all hast to King Henry, the which not only sore unquieted and vexed him, but also caused him to take more thought, care and study on him then he did before: for they declared that no prince could be more unprovided or more destitute of men and armure, no more lacking all things, appertaining to war than was Maximilian, and that he lay lurking in a corner, sore sick of the flux of the purse, so that he had neither men, horses, munitions, armour nor money, nevertheless his mind and will was good, if his power and ability had been correspondent and therefore there was no trust to be put in his aide or puissance. Their letters both appalled and made sorrowful the King of England, which like a prudent prince did well consider and ponder, that it were both jeopardous and costly, for him alone to enterprise so great a war. And on the other part, if he should desist and leave of his pretended purpose, all me might call him coward and recreant prince. Beside this, he thought that his own nation would not take his tarrying at home in good nor favourable part, considering that syth they had given so large money for the preparation of all things necessary and convenient for the same, they might conceive in their heads and imagine, that under colour and pretence of a dissimulated war he had exacted of the notable sums of money, and now the treasure was once paid, then the war was done, and his coffers well enriched, and the commons impoverished. So that at this time he doubted and cast perils on every side and part, and beside this he was not a little sorry that Maximilia author of this war did absent himself and defraud him of his society and assistance. And while he studied and mused what counsel he should best take in such a doubtful and sudden case, he like a grave prince, remembering the saying of the wise man, work by counsel and thou shall not repent the, assembled together all his lords and other of his private counsel, by whose minds it was concluded and determined, that he should manfully and courageously persevere and precede in this broached and begun enterprise, recording well with themselves, and affirming plainly that all chivalry and martial prowess, the more difficult and heard that it is to attain to, the more renowned is the glory, and the fame more immortal of the vanquisher and obtainer. Therefore by this counsel of his friends and senate, he made Proclamation that every man should set forward into France, and yet not opening how Judasly Maximilian had deceived him, least that they knowing the whole fact, should not be so courageous to go toward that battle and precede forward on their journey. And therefore, to provide and force all perils and dangers that might accidentally ensue, he so strengthened, multiplied and augmented his army in such number before he took ship, that he with his own power might discourage and overcome the whole puissance of his adversaries.

Historia Regis Henrici Septimi by Bernado Andrea. The victory having been happily won by the Earl of Richmond through the divine ordering of God Almighty and Most High, and the tyrant having been slain according to his deserts, the shrill cry of trumpets and the blare of horns strikes the stars. Moreover, all those of the ecclesiastical order who had come with that most fortunate Earl of Richmond lift their voices from the depths of their hearts to heaven with most devout prayers. Among them was that reverend and most faithful man, then Keeper of the Secrets, now Keeper of the Privy Seal and Bishop of Winchester¹, my lord and most honoured patron, set at the head of the companies of the heavenly soldiery, together with his brother of happy memory, Michael Deacon² and Bishop of St Asaph, sometime the king’s confessor, and also Lord Christopher Urswick³, Dean of Windsor, then the king’s almoner. But the most Christian prince, not as many mortals are wont to be in prosperity, showed himself most humble; and, commanding silence of all with his hand, thus he began to speak:

Parta Dei Optimi Maximique divina dispositione a Richemundiæ comite feliciter victoria, tyrannoque pro meritis trucidato, stridor lituum clangorque tubarum astra ferit. Ecclesiastici præterea ordinis omnes qui cum illo faustissimo Richemundiæ comite advenerant voces imo pectore ad cœlum usque cum pientissimis eunt precibus. Inter quos ille reverendus fidissimusque, tunc Secretorum, nunc vero Privati Sigilli Custos et Wyntoniensis præsul, dominus ac Mæcenas meus observandissimus, coelestis militiæ copiis, unacum felicis recordationis fratre Michaele Dyaconi Assavensi episcopo Francicastro, regio quondam confessore, item domino Christoforo Wrsouyt, decano Wyndezoræ, regio tunc eleemosinario, prælatus erat. Princeps autem Christianissimus, non ut plerique mortalium solent, in prosperis humillimus extitit, manuque cunctis silentium imperante sic exorsus est:

Note 1. Peter Courtenay, died 1492. He was elected Bishop of Exeter in 1478. Following the death of King Edward IV he and his brother Walter fled to Henry Tudor in Brittany. He was translated to Winchester in 1487.

Note 2. Michael Deacon, died 1500, was appointed Bishop of St Asaph in 1495.

Note 3. Christopher Urswick, 1448-1522, Dean of York, Archdeacon of Richmond, Norwich and Oxford, and confessor of King Henry VII's mother Margaret Beaufort.