"voke a Hornet's * Neft."--- And as they refufed to comply with his Requeft, the King did not forget to make them fenfible of his Refentment. When the Point came to be debated in the Univerfity of Cambridge, fome Art was made ufe of before the King could obtain a Subfcription. When Gardiner and Fox, who were fent thither purpofely to manage the Members, found Matters could not be carried to their Liking in a full Congregation, with great Difficulty brought the Thing within the Compafs of a fmall Committee of twenty-nine Perfons, viz. Dr. Edmonds, the Vice-chancellor, ten Doctors, fixteen Batchellors, and the two Proctors. Many of the Univerfity forefaw the Danger of this Method, and therefore they moved the Queftion," Whether "or no it fhould be followed?" Collier fays, "That, "the fecond Time the Queftion was put, the Votes "were equal; the third Time, by prevailing with "fome of the contrary Opinion to quit the Houfe, "the Order of the Committee paffed." Gardiner and Fox having gained this Point, gave the King an Account, and fent up the Names of the Committee, acquainting the King with the good Condition of the Affair, and that they hoped in a fhort Time to procure a Majority, which happened accordingly. And thus with a good deal of Management the King gained his Point, and the Marriage was declared unlawful. The Cardinal begins visibly to decline in the King's Favour. As the Court for trying the King's Caufe was diffolved, the Cardinal begun fenfibly to decline in the King's Favour, though he had done every thing that could in Reason be expected from him, except betraying the Truft repofed in him by the See of Rome; in the Difcharge of which he made no inconfiderable Figure; yet gave place to his Collegué in *His Majefty, we think, has Name here; for he was a Stinger not given himfelf an improper fure enough. in every thing, and fuffered him to act as he pleased: From whence we may infer, notwithstanding his Enemies Infinuations to the contrary, that he was determined to act with the utmost Impartiality, whatever the Event might be, valuing his Honour and Reputation more than any worldly Advantages. Yet Bishop Burnet would have it, "That the King re"ceived Information of Wolfey's having juggled with "him in the Bufinefs of the Divorce, and had fecretly advised the Pope to what he had done:" For which he produces no Authority. Whereas there is nothing appears more manifeft, than that he always acted without Diffimulation; it being a remarkable Part of his Character, that he was above promif ing, where he did not intend to perform; and the chief Reason of Anna Bulleyn's firft Prejudice against him, as before obferved, was, becaufe fhe could not prevail on him to promife to be in her Intereft refpecting her Exaltation to the Throne; and therefore she took all the Ways poffible to ruin him. For, Rapin fays, " Anna Bulleyn was perfuaded, if Wolfey "had pleased, the Affair of the Divorce would have "taken another Turn; but that he had altered "his Refolution: Whether her Opinion was well "grounded, or the Vexation to fee herfelf ftill re"mote from her Hopes, was the Occafion of ex"afperating her against Wolfey, does not fully ap 66 pear Other than true it is fhe looked upon him "as an Enemy, that deferved her whole Vengeance; "and, finding the King to give Ear to whatsoever "was faid against his Minifter, fhe neglected nothing "that could help to ruin him: And in this fhe "was affifted by feveral Perfons of the highest "Rank." If this was the Cafe in refpect to the King's favourite Lady, why fhould we wonder at his Majefty's Conduct? whofe Uneafinefs muft needs be much VOL. IV. K k height heightened, on seeing himself thus difappointed by Queen Catharine's continuing obftinate, and refufing to accept of any Expedient, that might debar her from being his Wife, and facilitate his flying into his beloved Anna's Arms: - For though, even after Campeius's Arrival in England, the King and Queen eat at one Table and lodged in one Bed, there being no vifible Sign of any Breach between them; yet, after the Legantine Court was opened, they parted, and Anna Bulleyn was upon that Occafion removed fome time from Court; but no fooner was an End put to the Legatine Commiffion, than Anna Bulleyn was recalled, and thereupon much more waited on than the Queen, at which feveral Perfons expreffed great Uneafinefs, and among others Wolfey was one of the firft. Anna Bulleyn Upon the great Favour fhewn to greatly in Fa- Anna Bulleyn by the King, and her being introduced to Court in fo pompous a Manner, a fine Reprefentation has been given us in a Print, wherein Henry appears leading Anna Bulleyn by the Hand; Queen Catherine, fitting in a mournful Pofture; Lord Piercy, Mrs. Anna's first Lover, ftanding by the Queen's Chair; and Wolfey, leaning on his Throne of State, in a thoughtful Mood: Under which are the following Lines, vour. Here fruts old pious HARRY, once the Great Whilft |
