ANNO DOM. 1532. REG. 24.

ON the three and twentieth of August died William Warham [ 1532] Archbishop of Canterbury, to whom Thomas Cranmer at that time in Germany about the King's affairs, was appointed Suc∣cessor.* He was not so ambitious as to aspire to such a dignity; and some reasons made him unwilling to accept it being offered: He knew before he could be consecrated he must swear obedience to the Pope, which with a safe conscience he could not. He feared what would be the issue of this abrupt separation from the See of Rome. He knew the King's disposition to be violent, such sudden changes to be full of danger, and the Court (although he had not yet purchased the acquaintance of it) to be a meer School of fraud and dissembling. The King's pleasure must ne∣cessarily be obeyed, and if he slipped never so little, envy, the mischievous attendant of great felicity, would help him forward to a break-neck. Cranmer also having long since lost his Wife whom he had married in his youth, had taken a liking to a cer∣tain maid, Niece to Osiander's Wife, whom he intended to make his second Wife: yet he knew that the Canon Law permitted not Priests to marry, and made them uncapable of holy Orders, who had been twice married. These considerations made him linger in Germany six whole months after the dispatch of his bu∣siness, hoping that his absence might afford means to some other to work a way to the Archbishoprick. But the times were such, that they to whom desert might give greatest hopes of attaining it, did abhor this still tottering and slippery dignity: and even they who were already advanced to the like, endeavoured to betake themselves to the safety of meaner fortune; As did Sir Thomas More the Lord Chancellour, who by his continual earnest* petitions obtained leave of the King on the fifteenth of May to resign his place; and Sir Thomas Awdley on the fourth of June was in his stead made Lord Keeper. Cranmer having privately married his Wife at Norimberg, at length returned into England, where the King's importunity prevailing beyond all scrupulous difficulties, Cranmer is (though much against his will) made Archbishop of Canterbury, the Pope also by his Bull confirming the Election. He refusing the Archbishoprick, because he must take an Oath to the Pope, delivered the Bull to the King, pro∣testing that he would never accept of any Bishoprick in England, but from the King, who was Supreme Head of the Church of England; and that he would not take any Oath that should any way derogate from the King's Authority. At length the subtil heads of the Lawyers found out a quirk whereby to salve all: He must first by a previous Protestation except against this Oath (which was to be taken pro formâ) that it should not hereafter be Page  71 any way prejudicial to him. Thus ascended Cranmer to the Ar∣chiepiscopal [ 1532] See, where he sate near about twenty years, until Queen Mary the Daughter of repudiated Catharine not only thrust this most innocent, grave, learned man out of his Bishoprick, but with a barbarous cruelty condemned him to the fire, as hereafter in its place we shall declare.

For the Treatise of a more strict League between the two Kings of England and France, an interview is appointed between them. To this end on the eleventh October the King with a mighty train passed to Calais. The tenth day, after going to Boloigne,* he was met half way by the French King and his Sons, and con∣ducted to Boloigne, where the two Kings divided the Abbey be∣tween them. Henry staid there four days, and then brought Francis (in whose company were the King of Navarre, some Dukes, and Cardinals, a great number of Noblemen, and of others at least twelve hundred) to Calais. At St. Joquebert the Duke of Richmond (who was not at Boloigne with the King his Father) received them. After much solemn entertainment, and the interchangeable favours from each King to the Princes of each others company, from Henry to the King of Navarre (or as the French write, to Montmorency) and Chabot the Admiral by the Order of the Garter; From Francis to the Dukes of Narfolk and Suffolk by that of St. Michael, these great Monarchs parted.

Jealousie of the Emperour's still increasing power had now united these Princes, and their natural dispositions wonderful agreeable had made them always prone to a mutual love, which by this interview took such deep root, that even in their own opinions they rested assured of each other. And indeed had they been private persons, their friendship in all likelihood had conti∣nued inviolable. But Princes are not so much to be swayed by their own affections, as the consideration of the publick Utility. The effect of this interview was an agreement to repress the Turk about that time wasting Hungary, to which end they should as∣semble together by their joint forces an Army of fourscore thou∣sand men, whereof there should be ten thousand horse, with Artillery requisite for the said Camp: A specious pretext: For they both knew, that the Turk had already retreated. But in private they treated of other matters. They had both many causes of discontent. Francis not without cause was displeased with the Pope, and Henry thinking it best to strike while the Iron was hot, endeavoured an utter alienation between them. Henry complains first of the wrong the Court of Rome did him touching the matter of his Divorce, in the suit whereof full six years were now spent: and yet at length after all their deceits and mockeries, they seek to force him, either to go in person to Rome, or in a matter of so great importance to send Deputies, who should in the King's behalf follow the Suit. An insolent proceeding, and Page  72 injury without example, which did concern the French and all [ 1532] other Princes of Christendom. For in like cases hapning among Sovereign Princes, especially touching the conscience so near, it was the usual custom of other Popes to send Judges to the place, it being reasonable that the Persons should speak personally, and not by their Attorneys; and very unreasonable, that a Sovereign Prince leaving the rule and government of his Estates should go and plead his cause at Rome. Moreover he did complain of the intolerable exactions of the Church of Rome over the Clergy and people of England; whereby the yoak, before too heavy, was now become insupportable: neither did he doubt, but the same courses were taken in France. Germany had begun the way of freedom to the rest of Christendom: why should not other Princes follow their example? To conclude, he did instantly require, that they two should send their Ambassadors jointly together to the Pope to summon him to appear at the next general Council, there to answer his extortions, and by the authority and judge∣ment of the Council to force him to a reformation; affirming, that there was no Nation in Christendom, which did not desire, that the insolencies of the Romanists should be repressed. To this the French answered, that he acknowledged these things to be true, but it was not in his power to yield to the King's request, yet for the brotherly love which he did bear unto him, and the charitable regard of his own Countrey, he professed himself ready to undergo all difficulties. He wanted not sufficient injuries whereof to complain, considering that he having so well deserved of the Apostolick See, but more especially of this Pope, yet he certainly found, that Clement, all this notwithstanding, was not well affected towards him. Clement had very lately suffered his reputation to be violated in his presence, and by the Bishop of Verulo had secretly endeavoured to alienate the Suisses his Allies from him. France groaned under the burthen of the new and undutiful exactions of the Pope's Officers, by means whereof all the treasure was carried out of the Kingdom, to the prejudice of his Subjects (the Clergy especially) who grew poor, the Churches were unrepaired, and the poor neither cloathed nor fed: and if he himself levied any great summ of money, the Tributes are longer coming in than usually they were wont. But he thought it best, before they proceeded to that harsh course, to use some milder means, whereto there was a fair occasion offered, the Pope having by the Cardinal of Grandmont made him a promise of an interview at Nice or Avignon; where if he could not obtain reason of him in the behalf of both; he would endeavour to pre∣vail by force where he could not by just intreaties: In the mean time he desired him to attend the issue of their parley.

But Francis concealed the true cause of this intended interview, for fear lest our Henry not approving it, should seek to disswade Page  73 him from it. The French was implacable towards the Emperour, [ 1532] against whom to strengthen himself, he means to win the Pope by the marriage of his younger Son Henry Duke of Orleans (who after reigned) with Catharine de Medices Duchess of Urbin, the* Pope's Niece. The Pope could not at first believe this potent Prince intended him so much honour: but perceiving the French to be real, he most eagerly farthered it, appointing time and place for the consummation of it, which was after done at Mar∣seilles by Clement himself in the presence of the French King.