“ conferred by Christ on the Pope, can deny that his “ Holiness inay dispense, for some arduous Cause, , " with one to take to wife the Relict of his deceased “ Brother by whom he had no issue. However, “ should I allow the Arguments on both sides to be of “ equal Force, and none to out-weigh the other, but to “ stand as it were suspended in a Ballance, that both

might be easily solved, yet what would always oblige me to be more inclined to acquiesce to the Pope's

Determination, is, that both Parties attribute the Ful“ ness of his Highness's Power, an Authority for “ interpreting the ambiguous Passages of Scripture, " having firlt heard the Opinions of Divines and " Civilians therein ; otherwise CHRIST would in vain “ have said to him, Whatever ye bind on Earth shall “ be bound in Heaven. Therefore, since it has plainly “ appeared, that the Pope has more than once de" clared, That it was lawful, in the aforesaid Cafe, to

grant a Dispensation to the second Brother, this " alone, if no further Motives had been advanced, “ but were equal in their Allegations, as I have “ faid, would unavoidably engage my Assent.

“ But now, when I plainly see the Party which to support the Pope's Authority in this Affair, to “ have more efficacious Reasons on their Side ; be“ fides, when I reflect with what Words and how " amply the Power was conferred by Christ on “ the Pope ; and lastly, when I learn from the best “ of Testimonies, that such Dispensation was often “ recommended to take effect, I can no longer have

any Scruple with regard to the Authority in Question, but that it is lawful for the Pope to

dispence with one Brother to take to wife the Wi“ dow of a deceased Brother, by whom he had no Issue.

“ Your Highness has my Thoughts on this Affair « in a few Words, to whom I wish long Life, in Prosperity and Safety.

« Jo. ROCHESTER."

But

66

But the main Matter, says the Church Historian,

was to know how the See of Rome stood affected, " the Pope being regarded and applied to by all con

cerned, as the dernier Resort of the Controversy :

Wherefore Dr. Knight, Secretary of State, and Stephen “ Gardiner, the Cardinal's Secretary, were dispatched

to make Interest with the Pope, to obtain what the King had now so much at heart , besides, his Ma

jesty had other very able Persons, both at Home and “ Abroad, to manage the Cause in Italy, particularly “

Sir Gregory Cassali, * (who had great Power with the “ Court of Rome, was well skilled in Affairs, and, “ though a Foreigner, entirely in the King's Interest) “ and Mr. Peter Vannes. These received Instruc

. “ tions from Cardinal Wolsey, who was indefatigable “ in promoting every Thing that was agreeable to his « Prince.”

But, notwithstanding what this learned Author has been pleased to affert, it will appear in the Sequel of this History, that the Cardinal was so far from coming up in every Point to his Master's Desire, that he never gave any definitive Judgment in this Affair, though no one will doubt, if he had waved his own Opinion, it was in his Power.

On the other hand the Queen was not backward in acquainting the Emperor with the whole Proceedings, sending an express Messenger to him, in order that he might take care of her Interest at the Court of Rome.

Fox and Gardiner, having their Instructions, set forward for the Court of Romne, and on their way thither sent and received divers Dispatches from his Eminence, relating to the Matters under their Care, as may be seen in the Exchequer Record-office. Being ar

rived

* The Family of the Casali, gents in Italy, and other places, being three Brothers, were enter- who discharged their Trults with tained by the King as his A. great Honour.

rived at Rome, they delivered their Credentials, which were well received by his Holiness, who, to expedite their business, shortly after appointed Cardinal Campeius to go over into England, that he, in Conjunction with Cardinal Wolsey, might fit in Judgment on the Dispute about the Divorce.

After Campeius was furnished with proper Instructions, he set out from Rome, in the Month of July, 1528, and in Oetober following arrived in London, being six or seven Months after he was appointed Legate; and, whilst he was upon the Road, the Emperor's Ministers raised a fresh Obstacle against the Divorce.

Before the Legatine Court fat in England, Dr. Knight, Secretary of State, Mr. Stephen Gardiner, and Dr. Fox returned to England, having left the Business relating to the Divorce, to be transacted at Rome by Sir Gregory Casali, and Mr. Peter Vannes, the King's Ambassador there: And his Majesty was so well pleased with Gardiner and Fox's Behaviour at Rome, that he took them both into his Service, and made Steppen one of his Secretaries ; but buth attended him wherever he refided.

The renowned Shakespear gives us this Scene lative to the Steps taken previous to the Divorce.

As

*

re

* Enter the Lord Chamberlain, the Dukes of Norfolk and

Suffolk.
Nor. Well met, my Lord Chamberlain !
Cham. Good Day to both your Graces.
Suff. How is the King employ'd ?

Cham. I left him private,
Full of fad Thoughts and Troubles.

Nor. What's the Cause ?

Cham. It seems the Marriage with his Brother's Wife
Has crept too near his Conscience.

Suff. No; his Conscience
Has crept too near another Lady.

Nor. 'Tis so ;
This is the Cardinal's doing ; the King-cardinal,
That blind Priest, like the eldest Son of Fortune,
Turns what he list. The King will know him one Day.

Suff

As soon as the News of Campeius's Arrival in England was known at London, great Preparations were

Ee 2

made

Suff. Pray God he do! he'll never know himself else.

Nor. How holily he works in all his Business,
And with what Zeal! for now he has crackt the League
'Tween us and the Emperor, the Queen's great Nephew,
He dives into the King's Soul, and there scatters
Doubts, Dangers, Wringing of the Conscience,
Fears and Despair, and all these for his Marriage,
And, out of all these to restore the King,
He counsels a Divorce, a Loss of her,
That, like a Jewel, has hung twenty Years
About his Neck, yet never lost her Luftre ;
Of her that loves him with that Excellence,
That Angels love good Men with; even of her,
That, when the greatest Stroke of Fortune falls,
Will bless the King : And is not this Course pious ?

Cham. Heav'n keep me from such Counse!! 'tis moit true,
This News is ev'ry where, every Tongue speaks it,
And every true Heart weeps for’t. All, that dare
Look into these Affairs, see his main End,
The French King's Sister. Heav'n will one Day open
The King's Eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold, bad Man.
Suf. And free us from his Slavery.

Nor. We had need pray, and heartily, for Deliverance ;
Or th'imperious Man will work us all
From Princes into Pages ; all Men's Horours
Lie like one Lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what Pitch he please.
Suff. For me, my Lords,
I love him not, nor fear him: There's my Creed:
As I am made without him, * so I'll stand,
If the King please ; his Curses and his Blessings
Touch me alike; their Breath I'll not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him ; so I leave him
To him that made him proud, the Pope.

Nor. Let's in ;
And, with some other Business, put the King
From these fad Thoughts that work too much upon him.
My Lord, you'll bear us Company !

Cham. Excuse me,
The King has sent me other-where ; besides,

You'll

* Yet he acknowledges in a Letter, that his chief Friend, nekt the King, was the Cardinal. See our IId Vol. p. 258.

made to receive him ; but, being much afflicted with the Gout, he chose to come to Town privately ; fo

that,

You'll find it a moft unfit Time to disturb him :
Health to Your Lordships!

[Exit Lord Chamberlain.
Nor. Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain.
The Scene draws, and discovers the King fitting and reading

pensively.
Suff. How sad he looks ! sure he is much afflicted.
King. Who's there? ha!
Nor. Pray God he be not angry.

King. Who's there, I say? how dare you thrust yourselves
Into my private Meditations ?
Who am I ? ha!

Nor. A gracious King, that pardons all Offences
Malice ne'er meant: Our Breach of Duty this Way
Is Business of th' State; in which we come
To know your royal Pleasure.

King. Ye are too bold !
Go to ; l'll make

ye
know
your

Times of Business :
Is this an Hour for temporal Affairs ? ha!

Enter Wolsey, and Campeius, the Pope's Legate, with a Come

million.
Who's there! my good Lord Cardinal ? O my Wolsey !
The Quiet of my wounded Conscience ;
Thou art a Cure fit for the King. You're welcome,
Most learned rev'rend Sir, into our Kingdom,
Use us, and it ; My good Lord, have great Care
I be not found a Talker.

Wol. Sir, you cannot:
I would your Grace would give us but an Haar
of private Conf'rence.

King. We are busy ; go.
Nor. This Priest has no Pride in him !

Suff. Not to speak of:
I would not be fo fick though for his Place :
But this cannot continue.

Nor. If it do,
I'll venture one Heave at him.
Suff. I another.

[Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk. Wol

. Your Grace has given a President of Wisdom
Above all Princes, in committing freely
Your Scruple to the Voice of Christendom:
Who can be angry now? What Envy reach you ?

The