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and disposed unto Parties and Factions. The Realm of England would not only enter into their accustomed Divisions, but also would owe or do small devotion unto the Church; Wherefore his Holiness was right well content and ready to adhibit all Remedy that in him was possible, as this time would serve. And because he was not expert in making of Commissions, he would consult with the Cardinal Sanctorum Quatuor, and use his advice, which we should shortly know.

We perceiving that the obtaining of our Charges after the King's and your Graces pleasure, depended much upon the Advice of Sanctorum Quatuor, did prevent his going unto the Pope; and delivering your Grace's Letters with Recommendations accordingly, we desired him to be good and favourable unto our Requests in the King's behalf; and for the better obtaining of our desires, we promised to see unto him with a competent reward. And this communication had, we shewed unto him the Commission, which he said could not pass without perpetual dishonour unto the Pope, the King and your Grace; and a great part of such Clauses as be omitted, he hath touched and laid reason for the same in a Writing, which I do send unto your Grace with this. Considering his great Experience, Wisdom, Learning, and the entire affection that he beareth unto the King and your Grace; and that it was far from the King's desire, and nothing for your purposes, that I should first have sent the said Cardinal's Sayings unto your Grace, and abide answer, and eft-soons prevent to do the same: Considering also that the said King desireth a Commission convenient and sufficient, we desired him to make the minute of one, which he gladly did: When it was made, the Pope said, That at his being in the Castle of St. Angelo, the General of the Observants in Spain required his Holiness, in the Emperor's Name, not to grant unto any Act that might be preparative, or otherwise, to Divorce to be made between the King and the Queen: and moreover desired an Inhibition, that the said Cause should not come in knowledge before any Judg within the King's Dominions. The Pope answered that Inhibitio non datur nisi post litem motam. And as unto the first his Holiness was content, if any like thing were demanded, to advertise the Emperor before that he did let it pass; and this was in a manner for his Holiness being in Captivity. But his Holiness being yet in Captivity, as your Grace reports, and esteemeth him to be as long as the Almaines and Spaniards continueth in Italy; he thought if he should grant this Commission, that he should have the Emperor

his perpetual Enemy, without any hope of reconciliation: Notwithstanding he was content rather to put himself in evident ruine, and utter undoing, then the King, or your Grace should suspect any point of ingratitude in him, heartily desiring cum suspiriis & lachrimis, that the King and your Grace, which have always been fast and good unto him, will not now suddenly precipitate him for ever; which should be done, if immediately upon delivering of the Commission your Grace should begin Process. He intendeth to save all upright thus: If Monsieur de Lautrech would set forwards, which he saith daily that he will do, but yet he doth not, at his coming the Pope's Holiness may have good colour to say, He was required by the Ambassadour of England of a like Commission. And denying the same, because of his promise unto the General, he was eft-soons by Monsieur de Lautrech, to grant the said Commission, inasmuch as it was but a Letter of Justice. And by this colour he would cover the Matter, so that it might appear unto the Emperor, That the Pope did it not as he that would gladly do displeasure unto the Emperor, but as an indifferent Prince that could not nor might deny Justice, specially being required by such Personages! and immediately he would dispatch a Commission, bearing date after the time that Monsieur Lautrech had been with him or nigh unto him. The Pope most instantly beseecheth your Grace, to be a mean that the King's Highness may accept this in a good part, and that he will take patience for this little time, which as it is supposed will be but short, and (in omnem eventum) I do bring a commission with me, and à Dispensation, which I trust the King and your Grace will like well.

We have given unto my Lord Cardinal Sanctorum Quatuor 4000 Crowns, and unto the Secretary 30 Crowns.

With this Your Grace shall receive a Letter from the Pope's Holiness, Item, a Counsel of Oldrand, that giveth light unto the King's Cause. I shall make the most diligence homeward that I can. Our Lord Jesus preserve Your Grace.

At Orvieto, this first day of January.

Your most humble Servant and Chaplain,

W. KNIGHT.

TO THE KING.

Rome, Jan. 1, 1528.

PLEASE it your Highness to understand, That as soon as the Pope was at liberty, and came unto Orvieto, I resorted

unto his Holiness with all diligence; and at my coming unto him, did make congratulation on your Highness behalf; forasmuch as he was restored unto his Liberty, which he accepted very joyfully and thankfully, giving unto your Highness manifold and high thanks for your great goodness, as well proved in his adversity, as when he was in his most felicity. After this he rehearsed my being at Rome, how dangerous it was, inasmuch as when my being there was detect, espial was made, and I was not passed out of Rome by the space of two hours, or two hundred Spaniards invaded and searched the House. He shewed also that he had received all such Letters as I at my being in Rome did send unto his Holiness; whereby he did perceive the Effect of your Highness desire concerning your Dispensation And albeit he did send me word that I should depart, and his Holiness would send unto me the said Dispensation fully speed, Nevertheless he trusted that your Highness would be content to tarry for a time: for the General of the Observants in Spain being lately in Rome, had required him, according unto his Instructions, that he should suffer nothing to pass that might be prejudicial or against the Queen, directly or indirectly, but that the Pope should first advertise thereof certain of the Cæsarians here. And forasmuch as this Dispensation might encourage your Grace to cause my Lord Legate Auctoritate Legationis to hear and decern in the Cause that your Highness intendeth, and his Holiness standeth as yet in manner in captivity and perplexity: His Holiness therefore besought your Grace to have patience for a time, and it should not be long e'er your Highness should have, not only that Dispensation, but any thing else that may lie in his power. I replied unto this, That his Holiness had once granted it, and that I had dispatched a Post, and made relation thereof, by my Writings, unto your Highness; so that I could not imagine by what reason I might perswade unto you that he would perform the promise that he had once broken. In conclusion; He was content that your Highness should have it, but he would have it delivered with this condition; That the Prothonotary Gambora and I, should beseech your Highness not to attempt any thing in your Cause against the Queen, till such time as the Pope were frankly at his Liberty; which could not be as long as the Almaynes and Spaniards did thus reign in Italy; and promise made, we should deliver the Dispensation: and in my poor judgment, it was best always to be in possession of this Dispensation. After this he showed the Minute unto the Cardinal Sanctorum Quatuor, willing him to reform

it according to the stile of this Court; which done, he showed it unto me, and after said, That he thought good I should depart, because I rode but competent Journies, and the Prothonotary Gambora should follow by Post and bring the Bull with him, which is of the same form and substance that your Highness's Minute is of: And if there be any thing omitted, or to be added, his Holiness is always content to reform it, and to put it under the same date that the same Dispensation now beareth; the Copy whereof I do send unto your Highness with this, the Commission General and Protestation being void, because they were conceived durante captivitate only. And here, on my behalf, none other thing being to be done, I took my leave of the Pope and departed. At my coming unto Scarperii near unto Bonony, I did meet with Thadeus this Courier, which brought certain Expeditions Triplicat; the one unto the Prothonotar Gambora, the other unto Gregory de Cassali, and the third unto me; among which was a general Commission Triplicat, the one to be committed to my Lord Legate; and if that could not be obtained, because my Lord Legate might be thought partial, then the same to be committed unto Staphileius. Item; There was a Copy of a Dispensation, where I perceived, by your Grace's Letter, that your pleasure was to have your Dispensation in form, after the minute that Barlow brought, which was then sped, and already passed; so remained nothing to be sped, but the Commission your Highness pleases. This knowing, I caused my Servants to continue their Journey, and with one Servant and this Courier, I returned unto Orvieto with Post-Horses; where Mr. Gregory and I, with much Business, have obtained a Commission directed unto my Lord Legate, not in the form that was conceived in England, but after such manner as is sufficient for the Cause, and as I trust shall content your Highness; wherein the Lord Cardinal Sanctorum Quatuor, hath taken great pains to pen, as well your Dispensation as the Commission; for which, and that hereafter he may do unto your Highness the better service, Mr. Gregory and I have rewarded him with 4000 Crowns, of such Money as your Highness hath caused to be made unto Venice for the furtherance of your Causes. But albeit that every thing is passed according to your Highness pleasure, I cannot see, but in case the same be put in execution at this time, the Pope is utterly undone, and so he saith himself. The Imperialists do daily spoil Castles and Towns about Rome; Monsieur de Lautrek is yet at Bonony, and small hope is of any great Act that he intends. The Cæsarians have taken within these three days, two Castles

lying within six miles of this: and the Pope being in this perplexity, not assured of any one Friend but of your Highness, that lieth too far off; if he do at this time any displeasure unto the Emperor, he thinketh he is undone for ever; wherefore he puts his Honour and Health wholly into your Highness Power and Disposition. This morning I return homewards, and Gregory de Cassali goeth in my Company as far as unto Florence; and from thence he goeth unto Monsieur de Lautrek, to sollicit him forwards, if it may be. The Holy Ghost send your Highness a prosperous New Year, and many.

At Orvieto, the first day of January.

Your most humble Subject,
Servant, and Chaplain.

W. KNIGHT.

V.

A part of an Original Letter from the same Person to Cardinal Wolsey, by which it appears that the Dispensation was then granted and sent over.

(Cotton Libr. Vitel. B. 10.)

Rome, 10 Jan. 1528. YOUR Grace commandeth, That I should send the Commission and Dispensation with diligence, in case they were sped, before the receit of your Graces Letters sent at this time. Wherefore the Prothonotar Gambora and I being commanded sub pœna Excommunicationis to deliver the same, with a certain Request to be made to the King's Highness and his Grace, at the time of delivery; I send the same at this time unto Gambora, requiring him in any wise to make diligence towards the King's Highness, and not to abide my coming; the Request and Cause thereof your Grace shall perceive by mine other Letters adjoined herewith. And supposing that when your Grace hath seen my Letters, and the Dispensations, and considered this time well, it may chance that the King and your Grace will be rather well content with that that is passed, without suing for any other thing that could not be obtained without long tract, and peradventure not so. Your Grace hathr committed as much unto Gregory de Cassali at this time, as unto me, which being near unto the Pope, will without fail do his best diligence: And if it shall be thought good unto the King's Highness, and your Grace, that I do return unto Orvieto, I shall do as much as my poor Carcase may endure, and thereby at Turine I shall abide the know

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