History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century Volume V Part 58

This seemed to Henry rather strong language.

"The pope hath received no other authority of Christ than to preach G.o.d's word. Now, this word should rule only, and not bishops' decrees or the pope's pleasure. _In praesentia majoris cessat potestas minoris_, in the presence of the greater, the less hath no power.[1025] The pope, against all the doctrine of Christ, which saith, _My kingdom is not of this world_, hath usurped the right of the emperor. Kings must make account of their doings only to G.o.d.[1026] No person may be exempt from this ordinance of G.o.d; neither can the profession of monks and friars, or anything that the popes or bishops can lay for themselves, except them from the sword of the emperor or king, if they break the laws. For it is written, (Rom.

xiii.) Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers."[1027]

[1025] Tyndale's Works, p. 243.

[1026] Ibid. p. 220.

[1027] Ibid. p. 213.

"What excellent reading!" exclaimed Henry, when he had finished; "this is truly a book for all kings to read, and for me particularly."[1028]

[1028] Strype, i. p. 172.

Captivated by Tyndale's work, the king began to converse with Anne about the church and the pope; and she who had seen Margaret of Valois una.s.sumingly endeavour to instruct Francis I strove in like manner to enlighten Henry VIII. She did not possess the influence over him she desired; this unhappy prince was, to the very end of his life, opposed to the evangelical reformation; protestants and catholics have been equally mistaken when they have regarded him as being favourable to it. "In a short time," says the annalist quoted by Strype at the end of his narrative, "the king, by the help of this virtuous lady, had his eyes opened to the truth. He learned to seek after that truth, to advance G.o.d's religion and glory, to detest the pope's doctrine, his lies, his pomp, and pride, and to deliver his subjects from the Egyptian darkness and Babylonian bonds that the pope had brought him and his subjects under. Despising the rebellions of his subjects and the rage of so many mighty potentates abroad, he set forward a religious reformation, which, beginning with the triple-crowned head, came down to all the members of the hierarchy." History has rarely delivered a more erroneous judgment. Henry's eyes were never opened to the truth, and it was not he who made the Reformation. It was accomplished first of all by Scripture, and then by the ministry of simple and faithful men baptized of the Holy Ghost.

[Sidenote: THE COURT AT WOODSTOCK.]

Yet Tyndale's book and the conduct of the legates had given rise in the king's mind to new thoughts which he sought time to mature. He desired also to conceal his anger from Wolsey and Campeggio, and dissipate his _spleen_, says the historian Collyer; he therefore gave orders to remove the court to the palace of Woodstock. The magnificent park attached to this royal residence, in which was the celebrated bower constructed (it is said) by Henry II to conceal the fair Rosamond, offered all the charms of the promenade, the chase, and solitude.[1029] Hence he could easily repair to Langly, Grafton, and other country seats. It was not long before the entertainments, horse-races, and other rural sports began. The world with its pleasures and its grandeur, were at the bottom the idols of Anne Boleyn's heart; but yet she felt a certain attraction for the new doctrine, which was confounded in her mind with the great cause of all knowledge, perhaps even with her own. More enlightened than the generality of women, she was distinguished by the superiority of her understanding not only over her own s.e.x, but even over many of the gentlemen of the court. While Catherine, a member of the third order of St. Francis, indulged in trifling practices, the more intelligent, if not more pious Anne, cared but little for amulets which the friars had blessed, for apparitions, or visions of angels. Woodstock furnished her with an opportunity of curing Henry VIII of the superst.i.tious ideas natural to him. There was a place in the forest said to be haunted by evil spirits; not a priest or a courtier dared approach it. A tradition ran that if a king ventured to cross the boundary, he would fall dead. Anne resolved to take Henry there.

Accordingly, one morning she led the way in the direction of the place where these mysterious powers manifested their presence (as it was said) by strange apparitions; they entered the wood; they arrived at the so much dreaded spot; all hesitated; but Anne's calmness rea.s.sured her companions; they advanced; they found ... nothing but trees and turf, and, laughing at their former terrors, they explored every corner of this mysterious resort of the evil spirits. Anne returned to the palace, congratulating herself on the triumph Henry had gained over his imaginary fears.[1030] This prince, who could as yet bear with superiority in others, was struck with Anne Boleyn's.

[1029] The letters from the king's secretaries Gardiner and Tuke to Wolsey, dated Woodstock, run from 4th August to 8th September. State Papers, i. p. 335-347.

[1030] Foxe, v. p. 136; Miss Benger's life of Anne Boleyn, p. 299.

Never too gay nor yet too melancholy, A heavenly mind is hers, like angels holy.

None purer ever soared above the sky.

O mighty Marvel, thus may every eye See of what monster strange the humble serf am I;

Monster indeed, for in her frame divine A woman's form, man's heart, and angel's head combine.[1031]

[1031]

Jamais trop gay, ne trop melancolique, Elle a au chef un esprit angelique, Le plus subtil qui onc au ciel vola.

O grand' merveille! on peut voir par cela Que je suis serf d'un monstre fort etrange: Monstre je dy, car pour tout vray elle a Corps feminin, cur d'homme et tete d'ange

These verses of Clement Marot, written in honour of Margaret of Valois, faithfully express what Henry then felt for Anne, who had been with Marot in the household of that princess. Henry's love may perhaps have deceived him, as to Anne's excellencies.

CHAPTER XI.

Embarra.s.sment of the pope--The Triumphs of Charles decide him--He traverses the Cause to Rome--Wolsey's Dejection--Henry's Wrath--His fears--Wolsey obtains comfort--Arrival of the two Legates at Grafton--Wolsey's reception by Henry--Wolsey and Norfolk at Dinner--Henry with Anne--Conference between the King and the Cardinal--Wolsey's Joy and Grief--The Supper at Euston--Campeggio's Farewell Audience--Wolsey's Disgrace--Campeggio at Dover--He is accused by the courtiers--Leaves England--Wolsey foresees his own Fall and that of the Papacy.

[Sidenote: EMBARRa.s.sMENT OF THE POPE.]

While the court was thus taking its pleasure at Woodstock, Wolsey remained in London, a prey to the acutest anguish. "This avocation to Rome," wrote he to Gregory De Casale, "will not only completely alienate the king and his realm from the apostolic see, but will ruin me utterly."[1032] This message had hardly reached the pope, before the imperial amba.s.sadors handed to him the queen's protest, and added in a very significant tone: "If your holiness does not call this cause before you, the emperor, who is determined to bring it to an end, will have recourse to _other arguments_." The same perplexity always agitated Clement: Which of the two must be sacrificed, Henry or Charles? Anthony de Leyva, who commanded the imperial forces, having routed the French army, the pope no longer doubted that Charles was the elect of Heaven. It was not Europe alone which acknowledged this prince's authority; a new world had just laid its power and its gold at his feet. The formidable priest-king of the Aztecs had been unable to withstand Cortez; could the priest-king of Rome withstand Charles V? Cortez had returned from Mexico, bringing with him Mexican chiefs in all their barbarous splendour, with thousands of _pesos_, with gold and silver and emeralds of extraordinary size, with magnificent tissues and birds of brilliant plumage. He had accompanied Charles, who was then going to Italy, to the place of embarkation, and had sent to Clement VII costly gifts of the precious metals, valuable jewels, and a troop of Mexican dancers, buffoons, and jugglers, who charmed the pope and the cardinal above all things.[1033]

[1032] Non solum regium animum et totum hoc regnum a sedis apostolicae devotione penitus abalienabit, ac me omnino perdet et funditus destruet. State Papers, vii, p. 189.

[1033] Prescott's Conquest of Mexico, book vii, chap. iv.

[Sidenote: PEACE BETWEEN CLEMENT AND CHARLES.]

Clement, even while refusing Henry's prayer, had not as yet granted the emperor's. He thought he could now resist no longer the star of a monarch victorious over two worlds, and hastened to enter into negotiations with him. Sudden terrors still a.s.sailed him from time to time: My refusal (he said to himself) may perhaps cause me to lose England. But Charles, holding him in his powerful grasp, compelled him to submit. Henry's antecedents were rather encouraging to the pontiff.

How could he imagine that a prince, who alone of all the monarchs of Europe had once contended against the great reformer, would now separate from the popedom? On the 6th of July Clement declared to the English envoys that he _avoked to Rome_ the cause between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. In other words, this was refusing the divorce. "There are twenty three points in this case," said the courtiers, "and the debate on the first has lasted a year; before the end of the trial, the king will be not only past marrying but past living."[1034]

[1034] Fuller, p. 178.

When he learned that the fatal blow had been struck, Bennett in a tone of sadness exclaimed: "Alas! most holy father, by this act the Church in England will be utterly destroyed; the king declared it to me with tears in his eyes."[1035]--"Why is it my fortune to live in such evil days?" replied the pope, who, in his turn, began to weep;[1036] "but I am encircled by the emperor's forces, and if I were to please the king, I should draw a fearful ruin upon myself and upon the church....

G.o.d will be my judge."

[1035] Burnet, Records, ii, p. 37.

[1036] Ibid.

[Sidenote: HENRY'S ANGER.]

On the 15th of July Da Casale sent the fatal news to the English minister. The king was cited before the pope, and in case of refusal condemned in a fine of 10,000 ducats. On the 18th of July peace was proclaimed at Rome between the pontiff and the emperor, and on the next day (these dates are important) Clement, wis.h.i.+ng still to make one more attempt to ward off the blow with which the papacy was threatened, wrote to Cardinal Wolsey: "My dear son, how can I describe to you my affliction? Show in this matter the prudence which so distinguishes you, and preserve the king in those kindly feelings which he has ever manifested towards me."[1037] A useless attempt! Far from saving the papacy, Wolsey was to be wrecked along with it.

[1037] Ut dictum regem in solita erga nos benevolentia retinere velis.

Burnet, Records, ii. p. x.x.xviii.

Wolsey was thunderstruck. At the very time he was a.s.suring Henry of the attachment of Clement and Francis, both were deserting him. The "politic handling" failed, which the cardinal had thought so skilful, and which had been so torturous. Henry now had none but enemies on the continent of Europe, and the Reformation was daily spreading over his kingdom. Wolsey's anguish cannot be described. His power, his pomp, his palaces were all threatened; who could tell whether he would even preserve his liberty and his life.--A just reward for so much duplicity.

[Sidenote: HENRY CONCEALS HIS AFFRONT.]

But the king's wrath was to be greater than even the minister's alarm.

His terrified servants wondered how they should announce the pontiff's decision. Gardiner, who, after his return from Rome, had been named secretary of state, went down to Langley on the 3rd of August to communicate it to him. What news for the proud Tudor! The decision on the divorce was forbidden in England; the cause avoked to Rome, there to be buried and unjustly lost; Francis I treating with the emperor; Charles and Clement on the point of exchanging at Bologna the most striking signs of their unchangeable alliance; the services rendered by the king to the popedom repaid with the blackest ingrat.i.tude; his hope of giving an heir to the crown disgracefully frustrated; and last, but not least, Henry VIII, the proudest monarch of Christendom, summoned to Rome to appear before an ecclesiastical tribunal ... it was too much for Henry. His wrath, a moment restrained, burst forth like a clap of thunder,[1038] and all trembled around him. "Do they presume," he exclaimed, "to try my cause elsewhere than in my own dominions? I, the king of England, summoned before an Italian tribunal!... Yes, ... I will go to Rome, but it shall be with such a mighty army that the pope, and his priests, and all Italy shall be struck with terror.[1039]--I forbid the letters of citation to be executed," he continued; "I forbid the commission to consider its functions at an end." Henry would have desired to tear off Campeggio's purple robes, and throw this prince of the Roman church into prison, in order to frighten Clement; but the very magnitude of the insult compelled him to restrain himself. He feared above all things to appear humbled in the eyes of England, and he hoped, by showing moderation, to hide the affront he had received. "Let everything be done," he told Gardiner, "to conceal from my subjects these letters of citation, which are so hurtful to my glory. Write to Wolsey that I have the greatest confidence in his dexterity, and that he ought, by good handling, to win over Campeggio[1040] and the queen's counsellors, and, above all, prevail upon them at any price not to serve these citatory letters on me." But Henry had hardly given his instructions when the insult of which he had been the object recurred to his imagination; the thought of Clement haunted him night and day, and he swore to exact a striking vengeance from the pontiff. Rome desires to have no more to do with England.... England in her turn will cast off Rome. Henry will sacrifice Wolsey, Clement, and the church; nothing shall stop his fury. The crafty pontiff has concealed his game, the king shall beat him openly; and from age to age the popedom shall shed tears over the imprudent folly of a medici.

[1038] He became much incensed. Herbert, p. 187. Supra quam dici potest excanduit Sanders, p. 50.

[1039] He would do the same with such a mayn [great] and army royal, as should be formidable to the pope and all Italy. State Papers, vii.

p. 194; Burnet, Records, p. x.x.xvii.

[1040] Your grace's dexterity ... by good handling of the cardinal Campeggio. State Papers, vol. 1. p. 336.

[Sidenote: WOLSEY'S DISFAVOUR.]

Thus after insupportable delays which had fatigued the nation, a thunderbolt fell upon England. Court, clergy, and people, from whom it was impossible to conceal these great events, were deeply stirred, and the whole kingdom was in commotion. Wolsey, still hoping to ward off the ruin impending over both himself and the papacy, immediately put in play all that dexterity which Henry had spoken of; he so far prevailed that the letters citatorial were not served on the king, but only the brief addressed to Wolsey by Clement VII.[1041] The cardinal, all radiant with this trivial success, and desirous of profiting by it to raise his credit, resolved to accompany Campeggio, who was going down to Grafton to take leave of the king. When the coming of the two legates was heard of at court, the agitation was very great. The dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk regarded this proceeding as the last effort of their enemy, and entreated Henry not to receive him. "The king will receive him," said some. "The king will not receive him," answered others. At length one Sunday morning it was announced that the prelates were at the gates of the mansion. Wolsey looked round with an anxious eye for the great officers who were accustomed to introduce him. They appeared, and desired Campeggio to follow them. When the legate had been taken to his apartments, Wolsey waited his turn; but great was his consternation on being informed that there was no chamber appointed for him in the palace. Sir Henry Norris, groom of the stole, offered Wolsey the use of his own room, and the cardinal followed him, almost sinking beneath the humiliation he had undergone.[1042] He made ready to appear before the king, and summoning up his courage, proceeded to the presence-chamber.

[1041] Ibid. p. 343.

[1042] Cavendish, p. 237-245.

The lords of the council were standing in a row according to their rank; Wolsey, taking off his hat, pa.s.sed along saluting each of them with affected civility. A great number of courtiers arrived, impatient to see how Henry would receive his old favourite; and most of them were already exulting in the striking disgrace of which they hoped to be witnesses. At last the king was announced.