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"tract of Marriage to us. But if, by this Sentence,

our Marriage fhould be declared prohibited by Di"vine Right, and to have been null and void from "the Beginning, this our unhappy Cafe is to be deplored and lamented by a Flood of Tears, not only "because I am to be feparated from the Society and "Company of fo illuftrious and lovely a Woman, but "much more fo, for that, being deceived by the Shew or Likeness of Matrimony, we enjoyed one another "for many Years in Embraces more than vitious, "without any lawful Iffue, upon our Demife, to fuc"ceed in this renowned Kingdom,

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"Thefe are our Cares, these our Solitudes, which "Day and Night vex and torment our Mind and "Confcience; for the removing and difperfing of

which, we feek for a feasonable Remedy from this "Legation and Judgment: Therefore we entreat you,

in whofe Honour and Fidelity we have great Confi"dence, that you declare our true and genuine In"tention and Meaning with regard to this Affair, "which you have had now from our own Difcourfe, "to the People; and that you excite them to join in "Prayer with us, for the Appearance of Truth in "the Sentence, which has been this many Years "wrapped up in Darkness, whereby Peace and Tranquillity may be restored to our troubled Confcience.”

The Speech was differently relished, fome pitied the King, but the Queen's Cafe had much more Compaffion; fome ambitious People, who, its like, had the Profpect of mending their Fortunes, were pleased to fee the Waters difturbed, applauded the King's Proceedings, and pretended that his Highness's Refolutions were very pious, and serviceable to the Publick.

In the Course of these Tranfactions, several Applications had been made to the Court of Rome, by Fox, Gardiner, and Sir Gregory Caffali, to obtain a Decretal Bult to afcertain the Divorce, in Cafe the Legatine

Court

Court should be of Opinion his Majefty's firft Marriage was invalid, his Holiness accordingly directed it to be made out, and committed it to the Truft of Cardinal Campeius; but as he did not, when requefted, produce it, Complaint was made to the Court of Rome, in a Letter from Wolfey to Caffali, dated Dec. the 17th, 1528; to which he replied, "That he had attended "his Holiness on the Complaint, who delivered for "Answer, — Had not his Request been out of "the common Course it fhould have been complied "with at first, without giving the King and him fo "much Trouble; and bid him not infift any fur"ther upon it." However, the Application had this Effect, Campeius gave the King a Sight of the Decretal Bull, but would not be prevailed with to leave it for a Minute either with his Highness or Wolfey; and the Pope, for fear of worfe Confequences, and to keep fair with the English Court, fent Francis Campana to England to give the King Expectations of further Favours from Rome, and to deliver the following Letter to the Cardinal.

The POPE'S Letter to WOLSEY, for giving Credence to CAMPANÀ.

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"Beloved Son,

WE

E have not judged it convenient to answer by Letters, the Matters lately laid before us "by the Ambassadors of the King, our most beloved "Son in CHRIST; wherefore, we have se our "trufty Friend, Francis Campana, over, from whom "his Serenity and you may fully understand our

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Thoughts, as well with regard to the Peace of all "Christendom, as his Majesty's private Affair, which we have very much at heart; and we recommend "it to your Care, to perfuade his Majefty as well as "yourself, that we have, and fhall proceed with pa"ternal Benevolence toward his Serenity; and that whatever We have hitherto fignified to him has *s flowed

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ແ flowed from a Motive of Affection, which our be "loved Sons Cardinal Campeius and the faid Francis, "will deliver more at large to you, to whom we de"fire you would give moft ample Credit. Given at "Rome the 15th of February,

"CLEMENT, with his own Hand."

It seems plain Campana's Coming and smooth Meffage gave but little Satisfaction; yet the Preparations for opening the Legatine Court was carried on with great Diligence, though it was fome time before they were compleated.

The Legatine
Court opened.
First Day.
1529

The Measures being now adjusted for hearing the Caufe relating to the Divorce, the Legate's Court was prepared at Black fryars, and the King having, by a Warrant under his Great Seal, given them Leave to execute their Commiffion, they fat on the 31ft of May, which was exhibited by Longland, Bishop of Lincoln.

* Concerning this Court hear Shakespear.

SCEN E.

CLE

Trumpets, Sonnet, and Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with fhort Silver Wands; next them two Scribes in the Habits of Doctors; after them, the Bishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochefter, and St. Afaph; next them, with fome Small Diftance, follows a Gentleman bearing the Purfe with the Great Seal, and the Cardinal's Hat; then two Priefts, bearing each a Silver Crofs; then a Gentleman-ufher bare-headed, accompanied with a Serjeant at Arms, bearing a Mace; then two Gentlemen bearing two Silver Pillars; after them, fide by fide, the two Cardinals, two Noblemen with the Sword and Mace. The King takes Place under the Cloth of State; the two Cardinals fit under him as Judges. The Queen takes Place fome Diftance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each fide the Court in Manner of a Confiftory; below them, the Scribes. The Lords fit next the Bishops. The reft of the Attendants ftand in convenient Order about the Court.

Wol. W

Hilft our Commiffion from Rome is read,
Let Silence be commanded.

King.

CLEMENT the VIIth's Commission for trying the Caufe of the DIVORCE.

"Clement, Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God, to "our beloved Sons, Thomas of St. Cecile and York, "and Laurence Campeius of St. Mary beyond Ty"ber, Cardinal Priefts, Legates a Latere, from us "and the Apoftolick See, in the Kingdom of England, "Health and Apoftolick Benediction.

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WE

E have often heard, from Perfons worthy of Credit, of the Dispute lately raised, re"lating to the Validity of that Marriage which Henry, our most beloved Son, King of England, "and Lord of Ireland, acknowledges to have been "contracted and confummated with our most beloved "Daughter, Queen Catherine, in Virtue of a Difpen"fation from the apoftolick See, which has not as yet "been brought before the Tribunal of the Church; "but, as the Iffue, which Juftice and Equity fhall give to fo great and important a Caufe, keeps the "Minds

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King. What's the need?

It hath already publickly been read,
And on all fides th'Authority allow'd,

You may then fpare that Time.

Wol. Be't fo, proceed.

Scribe. Say, Henry, King of England, come into the Court:
Cryer. Henry, King of England, &c.

King. Here!

Scribe. Say, Katherine, Queen of England, come into the Court, Cryer. Katherine, Queen of England, &c.

[The Queen makes no Answer, rifes out of her Chair, goes about the Court, comes to the King, and kneels at his Feet, then speaks ;] Sir, I defire you do me Right and Juftice,

And to bestow your Pity, on me; for

I am a moft poor Woman, and a Stranger,
Born out of your Dominions; having here.
No Judge indiff'rent, and no more Affurance
Of equal Friendship and Proceeding. Alas! Sir,
In what have I offended you? what Cause
Hath my Behaviour, given to your Displeasure ?
That thus you should proceed to put me off,

And take your good Grace from me. Heaven witness,

I've

"Minds of all the People there in fuch Sufpence, that "it requires a mature and deliberate Definition, and "to be managed with the utmoft Nicety and Care: "Wherefore, We, whom God hath appointed the "Servant of Servants, to adminifter Juftice in Judg"ment, and Truth impartially to all, not being able "of ourselves to examine and come at the Truth "of the Fact; and confidering befides, that the "Fact, which gives Birth to this Affair, may be "known with greater Truth and Expedition there "than

I've been to you a true and humble Wife,
At all times to your Will conformable ;
Ever in fear to kindle your Diflike,

Yea, fubject to your Count'nance, glad or forry,
As I faw it inclined. When was the Hour

I ever contradicted your Defire ?

Or made it not mine too? Which of your Friends
Have not I ftrove to love, although I knew
He were mine Enemy? What Friend of mine,
That had to him deriv'd your Anger, did I
Continue in my Liking? Nay, give notice
He was from thence difcharg'd? Sir, call to mind,
That I have been your Wife, in this Obedience,
Upward of twenty Years, and have been bleft
With many Children by you. If in the Course
And Procefs of the Time you can report,
And prove it too, against mine Honour aught,
My Bond of Wedlock, or my Love and Duty
Against your facred Perfon; in God's Name
Turn me away, and let the foul'it Contempt
Shut Door upon me, and fo give me up
To the fharpeft Kind of Juftice. Please you, Sir,
The King your Father was reputed for
A Prince most prudent, of an excellent
And unmatch'd Wit and Judgment. Ferdinand,
My Father, King of Spain, was reckon'd one
The wifeft Princes, that there had reign'd, by many
A Year before. It is not to be question'd,
That they had gathered a wife Council to them
Of every Realm, that did debate this Bufinefs,
Who deem'd our Marriage lawful. Wherefore humbly,
Sir, I beseech you, fpare me, 'till I may

Be by my Friends in Spain advis'd; whofe Counsel
I will implore, If not, i'th' Name of God,

Your

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