Proceedings in relation to the Divorce, and opened the Way to a most surprizing Change in the King's

Con

the IIId, because they were al- trate the vast Designs of univerlied in the 3d Degree, and Charles sal Empire then forming; and had contracted to marry her when indeed, from the Time of Henry he was under Age. After his the VIIIth, nothing has more

, Death, King Philip desirous of contributed to preserve and suppreserving his Interest in Eng- port the Protestant Religion, than land, seriously created concern- the mutual and successive Jeaing à Marriage with Queen Eli- loufies between the two Popish zabeth, Sister to his late Wife, Powers of the Empire and France. with a Promise that he would By Virtue of Dispenfations the obtain a special Dispensation House of Austria, for certain Reafrom the Pope, which the French fons of State, marry among themKing secretly opposed; but, as selves, and so, incorporate into the Queen gave Philip a Repulse, one Family as Members of the Francis might have saved himself fame Body. Philip the IId of Spain that Trouble.

might call the Arch-duke, AlNotwithstanding this Repulse, bert, Brother, Cousin, Nephew, if Credit may be given to cer. and Son ; for, either by Blood tain Historians, King Philip was or Affinity, he stood in one or the Occasion,

as herself ac- other of these Relations to him, knowledged, of preserving the being Uncle to himself, CousinLife of this Queen : For, when german to his Father, Husband it was proposed under the Reign to his Sister, and Father to his of Queen Mary, and during her Wife: And so it happenad; by Confinement in the Tower, that Reason of the Canonical Reshe should be put to Death, straints and Limitations made upon a Sufpition, which the E- by several of the Popes, few of vent proved not to be ill-ground- the Princes, or their families, in ed, that on her fucceeding to Europe could then inter-marry the Crown, she would extirpate without obtaining a Dispensathe Romißh Religion, King Phi- tion from one or more Canons, lip opposed the Execution of so which gave an Opportunity for cruel and unjust a Design ; but those holy Fathers, who would upon what Motive it is not easy traffick with the Powers comto resolve with Certainty : Some mitted to them, to make their have thought what he had prin- own Terms with the Parties concipally in View was to prevent cerned. The Pope's Power of the Accession of Mary Stuart, granting Dispensations might perQueen of Scotland, (then mar- haps be controverted, yet, that ried to Francis the Id) to the those, who professed Obedience Crown of England, because the to his Holiness did in general Union of so many Kingdoms acknowledge such a Power in under one Power, might render him, and submit to it when exethem an Over-ballance for the cuted by him, can bear no Dif. House of Austria, and quite fruf pute.

Conduct, and in particular, as to bringing on the Cardinal's Disgrace.

For now the Lady Anna Bulleyn was Anna Bulleyn recalled to Court, and, according to

recalled to

Court. the general Report, the King's Affection for her, which had been concealed, began to break out, from which the Cardinal, when he perceived what was likely to ensue, endeavoured to divert him as much as possible, by repeated Perfuasions upon his Knees : However, it is but too probable, that this very Instance of his Zeal, as a faithful Servant, was not very acceptable to his Master, whose violent Temper could not bear any Thing like a Restraint, especially when the Enjoyment of a fresh Lady was in View. Notwithstanding all this when that Lady was introduced a second Time to Court, she at first carried on a very friendly Correspondence with Wolfey, as appears from the following Letters.

ANNA BULLEYN to Cardinal WOLSEY.

Ich

My Lord,
N my most humble wise that my Heart can

think, I desire you to pardon me that am so bold to trouble you with my simple and rude Writing,

esteeming it to proceed from her that does much “ desire to know that your Grace does well, as I per“ ceive by this Bearer that you do, the which I pray “ God long to continue as I am moft bound to pray “ for. I do know the great Pains and Troubles that you have taken for me, both Day and Night, is ne

ver lıke to be recompenced on my Part but only in “ loving you, next unto the King's Grace, above all “ Creatures living; and I do not doubt but the daily ". Proofs of my Deeds shall manifestly declare and af“ firm my Writing to be true, and I trust you do " think the same.

My

My Lord, I do assure you, I do long to hear " from you the News of the Legate ; for I do hope, " if they come from you they shall be very good, and “ I am sure you desire it as much as I, and more, “ if it were possible, as I know 'tis not. And thus, “ remaining in my stedfast Hope, I make an End of my

Letter. Written with the Hand of her that is “ most bound to be.

“ Your humble Servant, ANN BULLEYN. " The Writer of this Letter would not cease, till " she had caused me likewise to set my Hand, defir

ing you, though it be short, to take in good Part. “ I assure you there is neither of us but that greatly “ desire to see you, so much more joyous to hear thať you have escaped this Plague so well

, trusting the Fury thereof to be passed, especially with them " that keep a good Diet, as I trust you do. The not

hearing of the Legate's Arrival in France causes

us, somewhat to muse, notwithstanding we trust by “ your Diligence and Vigilancy, with the Asistance “ of Almighty God, shortly to be eased out of that ** Trouble. No more to you at this Time, buč that 1 pray

God send you as good Health and Prosperity as the Writer would. By your loving Savereign and Friend,

« HENRY R." ANNA BULLEYN to the CARDINAL. My LORD,

N my most humble wife that my poor Heart

can think, I do thank your Grace for your kind “ Letter, and for your rich and goodly Present, the “ which I shall be never able to deserve without your “ Help, of the which I have hitherto had so great “ Plenty, that all the Days of my Life I am most “ bound of all Creatures, next to the King's Grace, " to love and serve your Grace, of the which, I be“ feech you never to doubt, that I fall vary from

" this

IM

" this Thought as long as any Breath is in my Body; “ and as touching your Grace's Trouble with the “ Sweat, О thank our Lord, that them that I desired " and prayed for are escaped, that is, the King and

you, nut doubting but God has preserved you both “ for great Causes, known only of his high Wisdom: “ And as for the Coming of the Legate I desire that “ much, if it be God's Pleasure, I pray him to send as this Matter shortly to a good End, and then I trust,

my Lord, to recompence Part of your great Pains, “ in which I must require you, in the mean Time to

accept my good Will instead of the Power, the “ which must proceed partly from you, as our Lord “ knows; to whom I beseech to send you long Life, “ with Continuance in Honour. Written with the “ Hand of her that is most bound to be

“ Your bumble and obedient Servant,

ANN BULLEYN."

Though these Letters are full of Respect for the Cardinal, yet it is plain, that his Eminency by no Means approved of the King's marrying this Lady; and that her subsequent Behaviour to Wolsey, at Grafton in Northamptonshire, gives us Ground to believe, the Prospect of sharing in the Glories of a Throne, with one of the greatest Monarchs in that Time, soon rendered her disposed to supplant a Person, whom she was informed, had declared himself an Enemy to her Exaltation: Therefore, it is not to be wondered at, that the Cardinal's secret Enemies at Court laid Hold of fo favourable an Opportunity of engaging her in their Designs, when they understood she was offended with him.

Bishop Burnet insinuates, " That there was Cause

to suspect the Demur of the Bishop of Tarbe, was “ previously concerted between the French and Erg

lis

a

a

“ lish Courts, that his Majesty might have the better « Colour from so open and publick an Exception “ against his Marriage, first to follicit a Divorce:" But then we think it could not answer the French Miniftry's Views for Henry to marry Anna Bulleyn; they having a Design to secure him for one of their Princelles : “ Certain it is, says Heylin, That he suf« fered himself to be so far transported in Affections “ towards her, that he could think of nothing else “ but what had a Tendency to the Accomplishment “ of his Desires; so that the Separation from the Bed “ of Catherine, which was but coldly followed, upon & the Case of Conscience, was now more hotly pursued “ in the Heat of Concupiscence.” The Author of the Church History, tells us, “ That Queen Catherine's « Years added to her Temper, which was naturally

grave, daily become more and more diftaftful to

King Henry, who was never easy but when in “ the midst of gay and revelling Company: That cc it was not in his power to conceal his Love so us artfully, as he did his Aversion ; for, among all - the Motives he had to drive on the Divorce, « his Affection for Anna Bulleyn appeared upper“ most. That all this Process was moved by the “ unseen Spring of that secret Affection ; for his “ Passion was ungovernable in that Regard. That " Anna Bulleyn's Wit and Behaviour had charmed 66 the King to the utmost Excess, there being no « Perfection of a worldly Kind but what, he

imagined, she was entirely Mistress of, as Sing“ ing, Dancing, musical Instruments, pleasant Con“ versation, &c. By these Attractions The manag“ed the King so artfully, in regard (to his Amours, " that she always appeared shy and reserved, when “ her Virtue seemed to be attached ; and yet by “ her free and coquet Carriage, often made him 66 believe he was Master of his Prey , however, upon

.