VIII. Libr. Vitel. May 7, 1528. that he did not design to begin any process upon it: that the HENRY only use he intended to make of it, was to have it in his possession as a mark of his holiness's kind intentions to the king: that by this means his own interest would rise, and he should be in a better condition to serve his holiness with the king. Cotton. Afterwards the cardinal was acquainted the pope had b. 10. granted a bull, but not of the English form: for the cardinal does not call it a decretal commission, which was the expression he used for that last mentioned. However, he seems contented with what could be gained; and only desires that this decretal bull, which the legate Campegio was now bringing over, might be privately shown to some of the council; not that it was designed to bring it into the court, or make use of it for trying the cause, but only as a testimony of Wolsey's diligence, and that his holiness was willing to grant any reasonable request for the king's satisfaction, and the settlement of the government and succession. 32. Cotton. Cardinal arrives in England. Towards the latter end of this year, cardinal Campegio b. 10. arrived at London. The king proposed his being received by Oct. 9, 1528. the city, with all the public marks of respect: but this legate Campegio being troubled with the gout, declined the ceremony, and made a private entry. After a repose of some few days, he had an audience of the king, where in a Latin speech made by his secretary, he acquainted his highness with the barbarities committed by the imperial forces in Italy: how they stormed and plundered Rome: that the king's interposing for the apostolic in this distress, was received with a very grateful sense by the pope and cardinals. To this speech Edward Fox, afterwards bishop of Hereford, making a reply in the same language, told him, the king had been very much afflicted at the pope's misfortune that common compassion carried him thus far. But over and above this natural sympathy, his majesty had taken care to perform the part of a friend, and proceeded to those good offices which the vicar of Christ might expect from a Christian prince. And since his majesty had shown himself thus remarkably dutiful to the holy see, he hoped his services would be remembered when occasion required. Afterwards Godwin, the king and the legates discoursed the matter privately. And Annal. p. 36. here Campegio gave the king all the assurance imaginable of the pope's approbation and favour. It seems this legate believed WAR- nothing less: for the pope was not willing to discover his whole Abp. Cant. mind, nor lodge so great a secret with this cardinal. НАМ, 1528. Campegio taxes the queen with retire to a Soon after this, Campegio, at an audience with the queen, took occasion to acquaint her with the danger of the present dispute, and endeavoured to persuade her to retire to a monasmisconduct, and pertery. He seemed to charge her with something of unseasonsuades her to able freedom and misconduct in her behaviour. For since the monastery. granting of the legate's commission, she was observed to allow dancing and court diversions more than before. It was likewise taken notice of, that she appeared publicly with an unusual air of cheerfulness and spirit. Whereas the condition of her circumstances ought to have made her more grave and recollected. That the perplexity of the king's conscience, not to mention other gloomy appearances, were no motives for satisfaction. The queen, by no means pleased with this discourse, replied positively, that she was resolved to stand by the marriage, so solemnly allowed by the apostolic see: and in case successful. the matter should be drawn into question, she would by no means refer the cause to such partial judges as this legate and Ld. Herbert, Wolsey. Campegio, finding her thus averse, informed the pope of her resolution. His dis course un p. 225. Bishop Fox's death and pt. 1. This year, Richard Fox, bishop of Winchester, departed this character. life. I have already observed, how much this bishop was conEccles. Hist. sidered in the court of Henry VII., and what share he had in public negociations. That prince, amongst other marks of his favour, did him the honour of making him godfather to the present king. He was first preferred to the see of Exeter, from thence translated to Bath and Wells, from thence to Durham, where after having sat six years, he was removed to Winchester. Some years before his death, he was blind, which seemed the only misfortune of his life. Being resolved upon some public benefaction, his first thoughts were the founding a monastery but Oldham, bishop of Exeter, diverted him from this design: he told him his bounty would be in danger of being lost this way; for, in his opinion, the monks had more endowments already than they would be able to keep. Upon this, Fox changed his scheme, and founded Corpus Christi in A. D. 1516. Oxford; where, besides the charge of the buildings, he made a settlement for a president, twenty fellows, twenty scholars, Godwin, de Præsul. Angl. &c., to the number of threescore and ten, and endowed the VIII. Ch. Hist. house with four hundred and one pounds per annum. He HENRY likewise founded two free schools, one at Taunton in Somersetshire, and the other at Grantham in Lincolnshire. He likewise Fuller's expended great sums of money in repairing and ornamenting his cathedral at Winchester. He sat twenty-seven years in Godwin, ib. this see, and governed to great commendation. To proceed: Campegio and Wolsey were now employed in pitching upon the form of the trial, and preparing for it. Half a year was spent in adjusting this matter. In this interval, little remarkable occurred, excepting a public declaration made by the king, with reference to his marriage. He found the moving for a divorce, made him suffer in his reputation: that the women especially charged him with inconstancy; and that there was more passion than conscience in soliciting this matter. To remove this construction, his majesty made a speech to the lords spiritual and temporal; the judges and other persons of condition being present. Nov. 8. clamours divorce. His majesty told them, "That since his accession to the The king's throne, which was about twenty years, his reign, by the lords, &c. speech to the blessing of God, had been so prosperous, that neither his sub- to silence the jects had reason to complain, nor his enemies to boast of any about the advantage. That he had never yet been attacked, without damage to the aggressor: and as for the wars begun by himself, they always terminated in victory. Insomuch, that whether the wealth consequent upon peace, or the glory of military exploits were considered, he might modestly say, his reign might stand a comparison with the most successful of his predecessors. But when he considered his own mortality, he said, he could not but be apprehensive the succeeding reigns might prove very unfortunate: that they would bear no resemblance to the present happiness. And that his subjects should be brought to the condition of the Romans upon Augustus's death: and either wish that he had never been born, or had always lived amongst them." Then his majesty touches briefly upon the miseries the kingdom had lately felt in the competitions between the houses of York and Lancaster: but this has been mentioned already. His majesty goes on to apply this remark, and tells them, "the princess Mary being his only child, had a more than ordinary share in his affection. That he had lately treated a match for her, with the house of France; and that one of the French 33. HAM, WAR king's privy council had questioned her legitimacy: that, God Abp. Cant. knows, the report of this matter touched his highness very sensibly. That the French had supported their scruples with such authorities from Scripture, that he thought himself bound, at the peril of his soul, to endeavour the disentangling the question. That to this purpose, he had first consulted his friends, and afterwards the most eminent in the civil and canon law. But here the contrariety of opinions making him more unresolved than before, he concluded there was no remaining expedient, but to apply to the apostolic see, in whose judgment both himself and all other Christians, ought to acquiesce. To this end, he calls God to witness, he had procured the arrival of the venerable legate. For, the murmuring of malcontents, and the discourses of idle women apart, I shall freely declare," says the king, "my thoughts of my dear consort, the queen. A person, though royally descended, yet more illustrious in her virtue than in her family: a princess so valuable, that, as God shall help me, if I were now to marry, I should make choice of her as soon as any lady living, provided it could lawfully be done. For, as to piety, conjugal affection, sweetness of disposition, prudence, and all other branches of unexceptionable conduct, I am fully satisfied, there is no meeting with one equal to her. But since we are not born only for ourselves, and to please our own fancy, I thought it much better to have the matter judicially examined, than to seem regardless of my duty to God, to neglect the interest of my subjects, which every honest man ought to prefer to all private considerations. I hope after you have heard me declare my mind after this manner, neither the little stories of the vulgar, nor the calumnies of the seditious, will make any impression upon you." ence between the king and Anne Boleyn. Notwithstanding this declaration of affection to the queen, and the agreeableness of her person, it is pretty evident, the A particular king's fancy had been some time engaged to Mrs. Anne Boleyn. correspond- For proof of this, we have two original letters of her's to the cardinal; which not only discover a particular correspondence between his highness and this lady, but that the cardinal was acquainted with it. There is no date upon them, but by the contents, we may conclude them written after the end of May, when the sweating sickness began, and about the time the pt. 1. p. 55, legate Campegio was expected. I shall transcribe them as they stand in bishop Burnet. Bp. Burnet, 56. "MY LORD, HENRY Two letters of Anne to Wolsey. "In my most humblest wise that my heart can think, I desire you to pardon me that I am so bold to trouble you with my simple and rude writing; esteeming it to proceed from her, Boleyn's that does much desire to know that your grace does well, as I perceive, by this bearer that you do: the which I pray God long to continue, as I am most bound to pray; for I do know the great pains and troubles that you have taken for me both by day and night, is never like to be recompensed on my part, but alonely 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 affirm my writing to be true. And I do trust you do think the same. "My Lord, I do assure you, I do long to hear from you the news of the legate: for I do hope, and they come from you, they shall be very good and I am sure you desire it as much as I, and more, and it were possible, as, I know, it is not. And thus, remaining in a stedfast hope, I make an end of my letter. Written with the hand of her that is most bound to be "your humble servant, "ANNE BOLEYN." "The writer of this letter would not cease till she had caused The king's me likewise to set my hand. Desiring you, though it be short, him. postscript to to take it in good part. I insure you, there is neither of us, but that greatly desires to see you, and much more joyous to hear that 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 assistance of Almighty God) shortly to be eased out of that trouble. No more to you at this time; but that I pray God send you as good health and prosperity as the writer would, "by your "loving sovereign and friend, "HENRY K." |