The history of the reigns of Henry the Seventh, Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, and Queen Mary the first written by the Right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban ; the other three by the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God, Francis Godwyn, Lord Bishop of Hereford.

ANNO DOM. 1528. REG. 20.

POpe Clement was of himself naturally slow; but his own [ 1528] ends made him beyond the infirmity of his nature protract* 1.1 time in this cause concerning the King's Divorce. Bearing him∣self as neuter between the Emperour and the French King, he makes them both become jealous of him. And War being re∣newed in Italy, he perceives himself likely again to become a prey to the Conquerour. Which if it should happen, he must betake himself to the King of England, of whose help he was certain, as long as his cause did uncertainly hang in suspence. But if he should determine in the behalf of the King, would he in grati∣tude be as beneficial, as hope (or fear of offending) had made him? That he much doubted.

These thoughts possessing the Pope, Caesar's affairs in Italy began to decline, almost all the Towns throughout the Realm of Naples out of hatred to the insolent Spaniard, and affection to the French, making offer of their Keys, and receiving Garrisons of French. Clement therefore did not now much stand in awe of the Emperour,* 1.2 much against whose mind he was intreated to send a Legate into England, Lawrence Campegius, Cardinal and Bishop of Sulisbury,

who together with the Cardinal of York should have the hearing [ 1528] of this Cause so long controverted to no purpose. And the more to testifie his affection to the King, he did by a Decretal Bull (but privately drawn) pronounce the King's Marriage with Ca∣tharine to be void. This Bull was committed to the Legate, with these instructions, That having shewed it to the King and the Cardinal of York. He should withal signifie to them, that he had authority to publish it: but not to give sentence, until he received new instructions; telling him, that he was content the King should enjoy the benefit of it (and it may be he was then so minded) but that it stood him upon to have this business delayed, until he had sufficiently secured himself from the Emperour. These were the pretences of the old Fox to the Legate. But his meaning was to make use of all seasons, and to turn with the weather. The ninth of October to London comes the Legate, the King having given order to the City for his solemn entertainment. But the old man's infirmity frustrated their preparations: he was grievously tormented with the Gout, and would be privately brought into the City. After a few days rest, catried in a Chair, he was brought to the King's presence, to whom his Secretary made a Latin Oration, wherein having much complained of the extreme cruelty of the Imperials in the sacking of Rome; he used many words to signifie, that the King's pious bounty shewed in his liberally relieving him in so needful a season was most acce∣ptable to the Pope and the whole College of Cardinals. To this speech Edward Fox (afterward Bishop of Hereford) returned an answer in Latin, wherein he declared, That his Majesty was much grieved at his Holiness calamity, for as much as man is naturally touched with a feeling of anothers miseries. That He had not only performed what could be expected from him as a man; but had also done the part of a friend for a friend, and what was due from a Prince to Christ's Vicar on earth. He did therefore hope, that in regard of his filial obedience to the Holy See, if it should happen that He should stand in need of its assistance and authority, his Holiness would be pleased readily to grant those things, which it might beseem a Son to crave of the common Mother. Thus much passed in publick. The King and the Le∣gates conferring in private, Campegius assured the King of the Pope's forwardness to pleasure him. Campegius was indeed no bad man, and spake truly, what he thought. For Clement knowing how difficult a matter it was to deceive a man that was no fool, by one conscious of the guile, and that was not deceived himself; made the Legate believe, that in this matter of the Divorce he would be ready to do for the King whatsoever he should demand.

After these passages, the Legates spent six, whole months in con∣fultation only concerning their manner of proceeding in the King's Divorce. In the mean time the King understanding, that among his Subjects, but especially the women kind, this his action was

much traduced, as if he took this course more to satisfie his Lust, [ 1528] than his Conscience; to give a stop to all farther rumours, having assembled all the Nobles of the Realm, Judges, Lawyers, and as many of the better fort of Commons as could conveniently attend, upon the eighth of November made an Oration to this effect:

Twenty years have almost run their course (faithful and loving* 1.3 Subjects) since We first began Our Reign among you: In all which tract of time we have by God's assistance so behaved Our Self, that We hope We have neither given you cause to complain, nor our Enemies to glory. No forein power hath endeavoured ought against you, but to his own loss; neither have We employed Our Arms any where, but We have trium∣phantly erected Our glorious Trophies. So that whether you consider the sweet fruits of plentiful Peace, or the glory of Our Warlike ex∣ploits, We dare boldly avouch, We have shewed Our Self not unworthy of Our Ancestors, whom (without offence be it spoken) We have in all points equalled. But when we reflect upon the necessary end of Our frail life, We are surprized with fear, lest the miseries of future times should so obscure the splendour and memory of Our present felicity, that as the Romans did after the death of Augustus, so you may hereafter be forced to wish with tears, either that We had never been, or might have perpetually lived to govern you. We see many here present, who in regard of their age might have been parties in the late Civil Wars, which for eighty years together so miserably rended this Realm, no man knowing whom to acknowledge for his Sovereign, until the happy Con∣junction of Our Parents did not resolve, but took away all cause of far∣ther doubt. Consider then, whether after Our death you can hope for better days, than when the factions of York and Lancaster distracted this Realm. We have a Daughter, whom we the more affectionately tender, because she is Our sole Issue. But we would have you know, that having lately treated with Our dear Brother of France, concerning a match between this Our Daughter, and Henry Duke of Orleans his younger Son, both of Us were well pleased with this alliance, until one of his Privy Council made a question of Our Daughter's birth; for it was much to be doubted, lest she were to be held illegitimate, being begotten of Us and that Mother, who had before been married to Our deceased Brother: saying, it was utterly repugnant to the Word of God, that any one should marry his Brother's Widow; wherefore he was of opinion, that this match with Our most beloved Spouse was to be deemed no other than incestuous. How grievously this relation afflicted Us, God the Searcher of Our hearts knows. For these words did seem to question, not only Our dear Con∣sort, and Our Daughter, but even the very estate of Our Soul, which after death must necessarily undergo eternal and inevitable torments, if being admonished of so horrible an Incest, We should not endeavour an amendment; And for your parts, you cannot but foresee how great dangers by reason of this doubt do threaten you and your Posterity. Being therefore desirous (as the case indeed required) to be resolved in this

point, We first conferred with Our Friends, and then with the most [ 1528] learned in the Laws both Divine and Humane; who indeed were so far from satisfying Us; that they left Us more perplexed. 'We therefore had recourse to the Holy Apostolick See, to the Decree whereof we think it fitting, that Our Self and all others should be obedient. To this and no other end (We call immortal God to witness) have We procured this Venerable Legate. As for the Queen Our most beloved Consort, what∣soever women may tattle, or ill willers mutter in private, We do wil∣lingly and ingenuously profess, that in nobleness of Mind she far tran∣scends the greatness of her Birth: So that if We were now at liberty and free for a second choice, We take God to witness, among all the plenty of the worlds Beauties we would not make choice of any other (if lawfully we might) than of this Our now Queen, one in regard of her mildness, wisdom, humility, sanctity of mind, and conversation (We are verily perswaded) not to be paralleled. But when We consider, that We are bestowed on the world to other ends, than the pursuit of Our own pleasures: We have thought it meet rather to undergo the hazard of an uncertain judgment, than to commit impiety against God the liberal Giver of all blessings, and ingratitude against Our Countrey, the weal and safety whereof each one should prefer before his private life or fortunes. Thus much have you heard from Our own mouth. And we hope, that you will hereafter give no heed either to seditious detractions, or idle ru∣mours of the people.

This Oration took according to the divers dispositions of the hearers: some lamenting the Kings, but many more the Queens case, every one doubting, and fearful of the event. Some few weary of the present estate desired a change even to worse, rather than a continuance of the present. And by these the course the King had taken (not approved by the vulgar) as pious, and im∣posed on him by his own and the publick necessity, was according to the nature of hopeful flattery, most highly applauded.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The inconstancy of the Pope.
• * 1.2

  Cardinal Campegius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sens into Eng∣land.
• * 1.3

  The King's Speech concer∣ning his Di∣vorce.