An Ecclesiastical History of Great Britain

UPON the death of king Henry VII., his son of the same name succeeded to his dominions. This Henry was the only surviving issue male, and about eighteen years of age, at his accession to the throne. He was a very promising prince, both as K. Henry 8 to person, capacity, and improvement. He was tall, strong built a learned and promisand proportioned, and had an air of authority and empire. His ing prince. genius was lively, and his education extensive and well managed: for, besides the customary exercises and accomplishments of a prince, he had made considerable advances in learning. He was a good Latinist, a philosopher, and divine and as for music, his progress in that science was so unusual, that two entire masses of his own composing were sung in his chapel. Lord HerHis inclination to letters was early perceived: and if his elder bert. brother had lived, it is said his father designed him for the see Hist. of the of Canterbury. But Arthur, prince of Wales, dying, the late king contracted He is conhis son Henry to Catherine of Spain. The motive of engaging tracted to Catherine of in so exceptionable a relationship, was to prevent the parting Spain in his father's with the princess's dower: this amounting to a great revenue, reign. they were afraid might break the balance; especially if this lady happened to marry with the house of France. Besides, the preserving the alliance with Spain, was looked on as a serviceable expedient.

VOL. IV.

F. Panl,

Council of
Trent.

Lord Herbert, P. 8.

WAR-
HAM,

And here, to silence the censures for marrying the brother's Abp. Cant. wife, and secure the issue from blemish and inconvenience, it 2. was thought necessary to apply to the pope for a dispensation. Pope Julius II. complied with the request, and granted a bull See Records, and a brief for this purpose. They were both dated December 26, 1503.

num. 1.

The pope's dispensation

in favour of

the marriage.

Lord Her

bert, p. 8.

employed in

bassies in

In these instruments, the impediments of affinity, the objections of Catherine's cohabitation with Arthur, the supposition of her being already married to prince Henry, are all overruled and dispensed with. For though there was no matter of fact to rest the last case upon, yet the court of Rome was resolved to make all sure. But here it must be said, the pope proceeded against the opinion of many of his cardinals.

How agreeable soever this alliance might be at first to king Henry VII., he afterwards, it seems, repented its being This sir R. made. For, as sir Richard Morisin reports, he charged his Morisin was son to break the contract. This advice was given, as this several em- author continues, upon principles of conscience; and a full perthe reigns of suasion of the engagement being unlawful. And because Henry 8 and Edw. 6. affection takes its rise from conversation, and sometimes grows unmanageable in young people; for this reason the king would Calumnia- not suffer his son to visit the princess, or hold any correspondence with her.

Morisin's

Apomaxis

rum, &c.

13.

fd. p. 14.

Id. p. 13.

And therefore, the protestation made by prince Henry about two years after, was done without doubt by his father's direction. For this protest in form against the lawfulness of the See Records, contract, could not be any suggestion of scruple in the young He protests prince. He wanted something of fourteen years, when he thus publicly declared his dislike. Now this was an age too young when prince for cases of conscience and debates about marriage.

num. 2.

against the

contract

of Wales.

He was born

June 28,

1491, and

tion bears

date, June

27, 1505. But after wards mar

And that he was swayed by his father in this affair, is pretty evident by the change of his mind not long after. For before the protesta he had reigned two months, he was solemnly married to the princess Catherine. When he came into his own guidance, his fancy governed the matter, and made him forget his father's instructions. Now, as sir Richard Morisin observes, he began to reason from his inclination, and to conclude, that pope Julius would never have allowed the marriage, had it been repugnant to the laws of God, or above his holiness's dispensation. Thus when the heart is once gained, the objections commonly vanish.

ries the princess.

June 3,
1509.
Holinshed.
Morisin,

p. 14.

Id.

« Anterior Continuar »

Libros

An Ecclesiastical History of Great Britain: Chiefly of England ..., Volumen4