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well with yourself, what thing of this, or any other that may best serve to the brief and good expedition of the King's Cause. So always that it be a thing sure, sufficient, and available to his Grace's Purpose, that may without any further tract be there had; and then by your Wisdom taking unto you the best Learned Counsel that ye can have there, leave you to the expedition of that which so may be most meet, as the times require and suffer, to the brief furnishing of the King's said Cause to this purpose, without tract or delay, and that ye may see is the thing, which as the matter stands, can speedily be obtained and sped, as is aforesaid. For whether the Decretal be better than this, or this better than that, or which soever be best, far it shall be from Wisdom to stick, and still to rest upon a thing that cannot be obtained; but since ye know the King's meaning, which is to have a way sufficient and good for the speedy finishing of this Cause to his Grace's purpose, note ye now, and consider with your self, by advice of Learned Counsel, as is aforesaid, how ye may bring that to pass, and shall ye deserve as high thanks as can be possible. So always that it be so well provided and looked upon, that in it be no such limitations or defaults, as shall compel us any more to write or send for reformation thereof: And coming to this Commission, tho percase ye can by no means or sticking have it in every point as the Copy, which I send you with the Annotations do purport; yet shall ye not therefore refuse it, but take it, or any other thing as can be had, after such form as may substantially serve, and as ye can by your wisdom and good sollicitations obtain, for the speedy finishing of the King's Cause to his purpose, as is aforesaid, which is the scope whereunto we must tend at this time; and therefore ye be not limited or coacted within any such bounds as ye should thereby be compelled or driven, for lack of obtaining any thing or point mentioned in these or other your instructions, or former Writings, to send hither again for further knowledg of the King's pleasure; but ye be put at liberty so to qualify, so to add, detray, immix, change, chuse or mend as ye shall think good; so always that ye take the thing that best can be had, being such as may as effectually as ye can bring about, serve to the King's purpose, and to put indelayed end to it, according to his Grace's desire, without further tract, or sending thither, which is as much as here can be said or devised. And therefore at the reverence of Almighty God, bring us out of this perplexity, that this Vertuous Prince may have this thing sped to the purpose desired, which shall be the most joyous thing that this day in VOL I, PART II.

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Earth may chance and succeed to my heart; and therefore I eftsoons beseech you to regard it accordingly: Howbeit if the Pope's Holiness refusing all your desires, shall make difficulty and delay therein, it is an evident sign and token, that his Holiness is neither favourable to the King's reasonable Petitions, nor indifferent, but should thereby show himself both partial, and expressly averse unto his Grace; wherefore in that case finding in his Holiness such unreasonableness, as it can in no wise be thought ye shall do, the King's pleasure is, that ye proceed to the Protestations mentioned in the first Instructions given to you Mr. Stevins, for you and the residue of your Collegues; and that ye not only be plain and round with the Pope's Holiness therein, if ye come to his speech, but also ye show and extend unto the Cardinals, and other that be your Friends, which may do any good with him, the great peril and danger imminent unto the Church and See Apostolick; thereby exhorting them, That they like vertuous Fathers have regard thereunto, and not to suffer the Pope's Holiness, if he would thus wilfully, without reason or discretion to precipitate himself and the said See, which by this refusal is like to suffer ten times more detriment, than it could do for any miscontentment that the Emperor could take with the contrary for ye shall say, sure they may be, and so I for my discharge declare, both to the Pope's Holiness and to them, If this Noble and Vertuous Prince, in this so great and reasonable a Cause, be thus extreamly denied of the grace and lawful favour of the Church, the Pope's Holiness shall not fail for the same to lose Him and his Realm, the French King and his Realm, with many other their Confederates; besides those that having particular Quarrels to the Pope, and so aforesaid will not fail, with diverse other, as they daily seek occasions, and provoke the King's Highness thereunto, which will do the semblable, being a thing of another sort to be regarded, than the respect to the Emperor for two Cities, which nevertheless shall be had well enough, and the Emperor neither so evil contented, nor so much to be doubted herein, as is there supposed. This, with other words mentioned in your Instructions concerning like matter, ye shall declare unto his Holiness, and to the said Cardinals, and other being your Friends, if it come to that point; whereby it is not to be doubted, but they perceiving the dangers aforesaid, shall be glad to exhort and induce his Holiness, for the well of himself and the Church, to condescend to the King's desire, which is as much as can be here thought or devised, to be by you done in all Events and Chances: And therefore I pray you, eft-soons, and most instantly re

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quire you, as afore, to handle this matter with all effect possible. Coming to this new Commission, when you shall have once attained such thing as shall be sufficient for the King's purpose, as is aforesaid; and that ye have it in your hands and custody, and not afore, lest thereby ye might hinder the expedition thereof, ye shall by all ways and means possible, labour and insist, that the King's Highness, as need shall be, may use and enjoy the benefit of the Decretal, being already in my Lord Cardinal Campegius's hands, wherunto his Highuess and I desire you to put all your effectual labour for the attaining of the Pope's consent thereunto accordingly.

Ye shall furthermore understand, That it is thought here, in case, as God forbid, the Pope should die before ye should have impetrate any thing that may serve to the absolution of the King's Matter, That the Colledg of Cardinals have Authority, Power, and Jurisdiction, sede vacante, to inhibit, avoke, et ex consequenti, to pass and decide the King's matter, seeing that the same is of so high moment and importance, concerning the surety of a Prince and his Realm, as more amply ye shall perceive in the Chapters ubi Periculum de Electione, ne Romani, de Jurejurando, et capite primo de Scismaticis; Wherefore the King's pleasure is, That ye Mr. Stevins shall diligently weigh and ponder the effect of the said Chapters, not only with your self, but also with such the King's Learned Counsel as ye and your Collegues have conducted there; and what Jurisdiction, sede vacante, the Colledg of Cardinals have, either by the Common Law, usage or prescription, which may far better be known there than here: And if ye find that the Cardinals have in this the King's Cause, and such other like, Authority and Jurisdiction to inhibite, avoke and decern, then, in casu mortis Pontificis, quod Deus avertat, ye shall specially forsee and regard that for none Intercession or pursute made by the Emperor and his Adherents, they shall either inhibit or avoke: And also if before such Death, ye shall not have obtained such thing to the King's desire and purpose, as these present Letters before do purport, his Grace's pleasure is, That ye shall pursue the effectual expedition of the same, at the hands of the said Colledg, Sede vacante, ne res quæ nullam dilationem exposcit, tantopere usque ad Electionem novi Pontificis quoquam modo differatur; using for this purpose all such Reasons, Allegations, and Persuasions mentioned in those Letters, and your former Instructions, as ye shall see and perceive to serve to that effect; and so to endeavour and acquit your self, that such things may be attained there, as may absolve

this the King's Matter, without any further tract or delay; whereby ye shall as afore highly deserve the King's and my special thanks, which shall be so acquitted, as ye shall have cause to think your pains and diligences therein in the best wise imployed, trusting in God that howsoever the World shall come, ye shall by one means or other bring the King's Matter, which so highly toucheth his Honour and quiet of Mind, unto the desired end and perfection.

Finally; Ye shall understand that the French King, among other things, doth commit at this time to the Bishop of Bayon, and Mr. John Joachim to treat and conclude the Confederation heretofore spoken of between his Holiness and the King's Highness, the French King, the Venetians, and other Potentates of Italy, for a continual Army to be entertained to invade Spain in case it stand by the Emperor, that the Peace shall not take effect: Wherefore the King's pleasure is, That ye having conference with them at good length in that matter, do also for your parts, sollicite, procure, and set forth the same; entering also on the King's behalf unto the Treaty, and conclusion thereof, after such manner as your former Instructions and Writings do purport. So as like as the French King is determined, that his Agents shall join and concur with you in the King's Pursuits and Causes; So ye must also concur with them in advancement of their Affairs, the successes whereof, and of all other your doings there, it shall be expedient ye more often notify hitherto than ye do, for many times in one whole month no knowledg is had from you, which is not meet in those so weighty Matters, specially considering that sometime by such as pass to Lyons, ye might find the means to send your Letters, which should be greatly to the king's and my consolation, in hearing thereby from time to time, how the things succeed there; I pray you therefore to use more diligence therein, as the King's and my special trust is in you. And heartily fare you well. From my Palace besides Westminster, the sixth day of April.

The French King hath sent hither an Ambassiate, Monsieur de Langes, Brother to the said Bishop of Bayon, with certain clauses in his Instructions, concerning the said Treaty of Confederation, the Copy whereof ye shall receive herewith, for your better carrying on that Matter. Praying God to speed you well, and to give you grace to make a good and short end in your Matters. And eft-soons fare ye well.

Your Loving Friend,

T. CARDIN. EBORAC.

XXIII.

Another Dispatch to the Ambassadors to the same purpose. A Duplicate.

(Cotton Libr. Vitell. B. 11.)

RIGHT well beloved Friends, I commend me unto you in my hearty manner, letting you wit, that by the hands of Thadeus bearer hereof, the King's Highness hath received your several Letters to the same, directed with the Pope's Pollicitation mentioned in the same, and semblablie I have received your Conjunct and several Letters of the date of the 18 and 29 days of March; the 8, 19, 20, and 22 of April, to me directed, wherein ye at right good length have made mention of such Discourses, Conferences, Audiences and Communications as ye have had concerning your Charge, since the time of your former Advertisements made in that behalf, with all such Answers and Replications as have been made unto you by the Pope's Holiness, and other on his behalf concerning the same. In the Circumstances whereof ye have so diligently, discreetly, and substantially, acquitted your selves, as not only your firm and fervent desire, to do unto the King's Highness special and singular service in this his great and weighty Cause, but also your Wisdom, Learning, and perfect dexterities. heretofore well known, hath every one for his part thereby been largely of new shewed, comprobate and declared to the King's good contentment, my rejoice and gladness, and to your great laud and praise. For the which his Grace giveth unto you right hearty thanks, and I also for my part do the semblable; assuring you, in few words, though the time and state of things hath not suffered that your desires might at this time be brought unto effect, yet the King's Grace well knoweth, perceiveth, and taketh, that more could not have been done, excogitated, or devised, than ye have largely endeavoured your self unto for conducting the King's purpose, which his Grace accepteth, as touching your merits and acquittal, in no less good and thankful part, than if ye finding the disposition of things in more direct state, had consecute all your pursuits and desires: Nor ye shall doubt or think, that either the King's Highness or I have conceived, or thought any manner negligence in you for such things as were mentioned, in the last Letters sent unto you by Alexander, Messenger, but that albeit his Highness had cause, as the same wrote, to marvel of your long demor, and lack of expedition of one or

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