patches being read to him Rochford seemed no less confused. The Cardinal's end was gained. As Rochford was impressed with an idea that the breve was not enough, and they would have to send once more to Italy, some months were gained by Wolsey, who would now have time to see how Lautrec sped, and watch until the royal whim should change. Annoyed by what he heard was a mistake of words, Henry gave orders that his ministers should ask the Pope for a decretal in the very words sent out by Wolsey. If the Pope refused, they were to tell his Holiness that a denial of his just request would drive the King and kingdom into variance with the Holy See.

5. Early in June the King rode out to Waltham Abbey, leaving Rochford and his family at Greenwich Park. The sickness hung about in many places. It was bad in Cambridge, and the doctors and their pupils had been scattered up and down the country. Cranmer sought a refuge with his pupils, sons of Mr. Cressy, of Waltham, at whose table Gardiner and Fox met him. Cranmer was shy, and spoke but rarely, yet Gardiner and Fox, hearing that he was a fine scholar, who had given the secret matter much attention, pressed him to explain his views. At length they forced his lips, when the official doctors were astonished by the boldness and the clearness of his speech.

6. In Cranmer's view, the question was not one for Rome to hear and judge. The point had been decided long ago, and there was no occasion for the

VOL. IV.

G

Pope to speak. Some hints had been already dropt of going to the universities of Europe with the question,-Can a man legally contract a union with his dead brother's wife? Cranmer was of opinion that this question should be put. They should begin, he thought, with Cambridge and Oxford; they should go to Paris, Padova, Bologna, and other universities not within the Emperor's territories. Cranmer had no doubt of their reply:-the universities would say that such a union was forbidden by the text of Holy Writ. If that were so, asked Gardiner, what course would he advise the Crown to take? Again the timid priest drew back; but his superiors in the Church constrained him to go on. Well, then, he said, the course to take was clear. The match being lawless, there had never been a binding rite. No sacrament had been given. The King and Queen had lived in sin, not knowing it; but they had never changed their single state. The man remained a bachelor, the woman a widow. There was nothing to annul, and little to undo. The royal pair must part; and on the day they ceased to live in sin, each would be free to form another tie.

7. Gardiner and Fox repeated Cranmer's words next day at Waltham Abbey. Who is this Doctor Cranmer?' cried the King; a new light breaking on his mind. Where is he? Is he still at Waltham? Marry, I will speak to him. This man, I trow, has got the right sow by the ear.' Cranmer was fetched to Greenwich, and Henry, noting his

timidity, urged him in the warmest words to give up teaching lads, and undertake the business he knew so well. Henry was aware that many laymen held the views of Cranmer, but the views of laymen were not all in all to Anne. Here was a learned man, a priest in orders, a doctor of divinity, who taught the doctrine that he had never been a married man and had no need for a divorce. 'Come, master doctor,' said the King, in his cajoling way, 'I pray you, and as you are a subject I command you, other business being set apart, to take some pains to see this my cause to be furthered by your advice, so that I may shortly understand whereunto I may trust.' Cranmer was overpowered. Henry gave him letters to Lord Rochford, who, on finding what sort of man he was, engaged him as his chaplain, took him to his house, and made him tutor to his daughter Anne.

CHAPTER V.

THE SWEAT.

1528.

1. As the summer warmed, the sickness broke out everywhere. The royal household was invaded, and the 'secret matter' was forgotten in a panic of dismay. Anne suffered from a slight attack, but rallied quickly, and her friends were hoping that the worst was over. George fell down, and sickened to the point of death; and other gentlemen of the chamber took their beds. Waltham being infected, Henry had to seek a change of air. George invited his master to remove to Hunsdon, the great house which had formerly been occupied by Norfolk. Here he found a fresh and wholesome air.

2. From Hunsdon Henry wrote to Anne: The doubts which haunt me as to your state of health worry and frighten me very much; nor should I have been able to rest at all had I not received a good and sure account of you. felt no symptoms, I hope you are as free from it as myself. When we were at Waltham, two ushers, two grooms of the chamber, and your

Since you

have

brother fell sick. They are now out of danger. Since we came to your house at Hunsdon we have been quite well, thank God, and have not a single person sick amongst us. If would leave you the Surrey side as we have done, you would escape all risk. One other thing should comfort you; few, if any, women have been taken ill; no one of our Court, and not many beyond it, have died. I entreat you, my beloved, to have no fear, and not to tease yourself about our absence; for, let me be where I may, I shall be always yours. We must sometimes bow to our destiny. He who fights against his fate mostly comes off badly in the end; for this reason bear up bravely. Treat the evil as lightly as you can; ere long I hope to make you sing our happy meeting. I wish I had you arms, that I might chase away your credulous fears.' Henry was to find ere long that even his manly heart was hardly proof against such fears.

in my

3. This sweating-sickness was no stranger to the soil; in fact, the French and Germans called it 'the English Sweat;' but science had neither traced a cause nor found a remedy for the disease. Sir William Butts, the King's physician, had an opportunity of studying it in a personal attack. A flush of fire ran through his veins; then came a sudden faintness, followed by cramp in the stomach, pain in the head, a sleepy stupor in the body, and a fœtid ooze from every pore. Five or six hours the agony lasted. If the patient lived so long, he had a chance