"like Depofit into the fame King's Hands, as a Pledge, That the Hoftages fhould be reftored on "the Conclufion of the Peace." This not being approved of, War was the only Refourse. Poland. Cardinal Wolfey, through his whole Miniftry, was for preferving Christendom from Affairs of the Infults and cruel Treatment of the Turks and Infidels, of which the King of 1527. Poland was fo fenfible, that he wrote him the following Letter, to acquaint him of the Condition Rhodes, Hungary, &c. were in. SIGISMOND to the Cardinal of YORK. "Dear and Honoured Friend, WH HEN the magnificent John Wallop, Great Marshal of Calais, refided here, he fignified to us your Moft Reverend Lordship's great Friendfhip for us, as likewise your great Care and Study "of the good State of Christianity, and the Defence "thereof against the Infidels, which we the more agreeably heard, as we understand your Most Rev. Lordship's Authority to be in the greatest Credit, as it deferves, with the renowned King our most "dear Brother, and the whole Nation: Wherefore cc we return you no fmall Thanks, and congratulate " with Ourselves and the afflicted Chriftian Intereft, "to which we may promise fome Hopes of Safety. 66 "That great Regard we have on our Part for the "most Serene King our Brother and Coufin, as well as for your moft Rev. Lordship, and also what the "Situation and Condition of thofe Kingdoms are ❝ which now alone bear the Shock of all the Strength "of the Infidels, though not able long fo to do, the "faid Mr. Wallop will reprefent to you, and we entreat your most Rev. Lordship to be prefent with Rym. Fad. Vol. XIV. 66 us, us, and the Kingdom of Hungary, in your Advice "and Favour, that our moft Serene Brother, toge"ther with the reft of the chief Princes, may be "moved to fuccour us in our extreme Diftrefs. Those "who live North Eaft of us afford us little Hopes, for they themselves vex and afflict the Chriftian Religion with their Ignominy abundantly more than any Infidels, not knowing what Calamity may fall on them equally with feveral others, on account "of our fhattered State. 66 66 "We heartily commend Ourselves, and our Sub"jects, who trade to the Kingdom of England, to your "Rev. Lordship, as our moft particular Friend, whom we are willing to gratify in every respect that we "fhall be capable of, and never to be wanting to you " in any friendly Office. The Lord always preserve you in Health and Happiness. "Given at Cracow, on the 7th of May, in the "Year of our Lord 1527, and in the 21st "Year of our Reign. "SIGISMOND R." Befides this there are many Letters in the Cotton Library to King Henry and Wolfey, relating to the lofing of Rhodes, and the imminent Danger Chriftendom was in from the Turks, and other Enemies of the Christian Faith; and from what appears the King, during the whole Courfe of the Cardinal's Ministry, notwithstanding the Distance of England from these Countries, was always ready to contribute the utmost Affiftance in his Power. Affairs of Cardinal Wolfey and the French AmbaffaEngland. dors had been for fome time employed in 1527. forming feveral Treaties between their Mafters, and, to affift those who were already in England, Francis fent over the Bishop of Tarba, Gabriel Gra mont, and the Viscount Turenne. Soon Soon after their Arrival, they concluded with the Cardinal, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Thomas More, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster,* and other Commiffioners, three Treaties, which were figned the 30th of April, 1527, at the very Time the Duke of Bourbon was marching to Rome. "That Treaties between The first Treaty fetlted, "the two Kings fhould jointly fend England and "Ambaffadors to the Emperor, with France. "Offers concerning the Ranfom of the two Hoftages, and to demand the Payment of what was "due to the King of England: That if he rejected the Offers, or gave no Answer within 20 Days, the two Kings fhould proclaim War against "him: That Francis fhould chufe, whether he or "his Son, the Duke of Orleans, fhould marry the "Princefs Mary." By the 2d Treaty it was agreed, "In Cafe the Emperor rejected their Proposals, or deferred his Anfwer, all Commerce with him fhould be forbidden 66 by both Monarchs: That they should raise and march against him with an Army of 30,000 Foot, and 1500 "Men at Arms; and that two Thirds of the Foot, and "all the Horse should be found by the King of France: "That they should equip a Fleet with 15,000 Men, "whereof the King of France fhould find 10,000: "That if the King of Portugal, or any other Prince, "fhould join with the Emperor, they should be declared "Enemies to both Kings: That the Pope and Ve"netians The Chancellor is chief Judge of this Court, who is affifted by the Attorney General of the Dutchy, and it is called the Dutchy Court, which takes Cognizance of all Caufes any ways relating to the Revenue of the Dutchy of Lancaster, which VOL. IV. hath long fince been annext to the Crown. This Court is held at Westminster-hall in the lower Exchequer, near the Tally Court. The prefent Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster, is the Right Hon. George, Earl of Cholmondeley. R 66 "netians fhould be included in the League, provided they continued the War in Italy: That the King "of France fhould endeavour to perfuade the King "of Navarre and the Duke Guelders to make War on "the Emperor: That the League should be noti"fied to the Princes of the Empire, and Endeavours "ufed to prevent their affifting him" "That The Substance of the third Treaty was, "this Treaty fhould not derogate from that of "Moore: That there fhould be a perpetual Peace "between Francis and Henry, and their refpective Subjects." Henry renounced for himself and Succeffors, all Right and Title to the Kingdom of France, and in general whatever Francis now poffeffed. In Confideration whereof Francis bound himself and Succeffors to pay to Henry's Succeffors an Annual Penfion for ever of 50,000 Crowns at two Payments; and the Payment of the reft, to commence the Day after Henry's Death, without Deduction of what fhall remain to be paid after Henry's Decease of the Money ftipulated by the Treaty of Moore. Thefe Treaties were approved and confirmed by the great Men of the two Kingdoms, whofe Names are inferted in the Articles, under Forfeiture of all their Goods, and by the Parliaments of France, as well as the Courts of Justice in England. Hall fays, "The People were much against the "Princefs's marrying a French Prince, because, being the King's prefumptive Heir, if the fucceeded to "the Crown of England, the might in fuch Cafe be too much under the Influence of France." In the Progress of the Treaty between the Cardinal and the King's other Ministers, and the French Ambaffadors, concerning the Efpoufals of the Princefs Mary to the French King, or the Duke of Orleans, (for which it was not as yet determined) the Bishop Bishop of Tarbe raised * Objections against the Legitimacy of this Princefs Mary, upon account of her being Daughter to Queen Catherine; who had formerly married Prince Arthur, and therefore he infinuated, that it was not lawful for the King to marry the Widow of his deceafed Brother, which was the first Rife, as many Hiftorians affirm, of the famous Pro *The Legitimacy of the Princefs Mary was not only queftioned by the Ministers of France, and probably by exprefs Direction of that Court, out of regard to the Nicety and Importance of the Affair in general, as well as for the Reasons above fpecified; but the like Exception was alfo made to her Birth by the Emperor and Council of Spain, upon which they grounded the Reasons of diffolving the Contract of Marriage between her and his Imperial Majefty, alledging the unlawful Marriage of King Henry to the Relict of his Brother Ar thur, of whom this Princefs was born. Upon this was questioned not only her own Birth, but whether her Children would be legitimate. Though it is highly probable, that the Exceptions did not proceed fo much from any religious Conflicts of Mind, as from Confiderations purely political in the Spaniards, that the Emperor might be at Liberty to marry a Daughter of Portugal, where his Intereft, and perhaps his Affection, might then more encline him; and in the French Minifter, that the King of England, in regard to this Difficulty, might condefcend to more fa vourable Conditions on the Behalf of his Mafter. Yet nothing is more evident, than that Difpenfations for Marriages, within the prohibited Degrees, were frequently granted by the Popes, and that this was one of the Means that contribu ted much to replenish the Papal Exchequer. The very Bull, Henry the VIIIth follicited from Clement the VIIth, in order to dif folve his Marriage with Queen Catherine, doth fuppofe fuch a difpenfing Power in his Holiness for it allows, The King to contract Marriage with any other Woman, though nearly allied to him, either in the 2d or more remote Degree of Confanguinity, or in the first Degree of Affinity, or joining to him by lawful or unlawful Commerce, provided the be not the Relict of his Brother.' And the Exception even as to her is not made on Account of any abfolutely moral Incapacity of their marrying together, but upon a Suggeftion, that a Li cenfe to that End had not been canonically obtained, or confirmed with full and fufficient Powers. 6 |