vation of his favour to entertain his Holiness in the best manner that may be, without medling in any other Protestation, but only to look what may be done touching such Protestations apart, as is mentioned in the said Instructions given to Mr. Bennet, which with these Letters shall be a sufficient information of you all what to do in the Causes to you committed, not doubting but in all other particular suits of Bulls, and other things committed unto you, ye Mr. Stevins and Sir Francis Brian, have or will do your best to bring the same with you; the expedition whereof, if they be not sped already, the King's Highness committeth to the Wisdoms of such of you as shall fortune to be in the Court of Rome at the Receipt hereof; wherein, and in all other things, his Highness trusteth, and I do the semblable, that ye will order your selves with all effectual diligence, as the special confidence that is put in you doth appertain.

And forasmuch as the greatest thing that is to be looked unto is the importune Suit of the Cæsareans, not only to stop any further things to be granted to the King's Highness, but also to revoke the Commission given to the Lord Legate Campegius and to me, which should be a clear disappointment and frustration of the King's Cause; ye shall therefore look substantially by all politick means to withstand, that no such thing be granted; assuring the Pope and all the Cardinals, and such other as have respect to the well of the See Apostolick, that if he should do such an high injury to the King and his Realm, and an Act so contumelious to us his Legates, and so contrarious to his Faith and Promise, he should thereby not fail so highly to irritate the King and all the Nobles of this Realm, that undoubtedly they should decline from, the obedience of the See Apostolick, and consequently all other Realms should do the semblable, forasmuch as they should find in the Head of the same, neither justness, uprightness, nor truth; and this shall be necessary, as the case shall require, well to be inculked and put in his head, to the intent his Holiness by the same may be preserved from granting, passing, or condescending to any such thing.

After these Letters perfected hither, and read unto the King's Highness, albeit that mention is made in sundry places heretofore, that as well ye Mr. Stevins, and Sir Francis Brian, if ye be not returned from the Court of Rome, as also the rest of the King's Ambassadors, which at the arrival of Mr. Doctor Bennet shall fortune to be there, shall forbear to make any further means or pursuit for the

New Commission and Pollicitation, but clearly to use silence therein; yet nevertheless regarding, and more profoundly considering the effect of your Letters last sent, it doth plainly appear, that tho after the overture made to the Pope's Holiness of the said New Commission, the Business chanced to be made by the Emperor's Ambassador, upon preferring a Supplication for advocation of the Cause; which thing by your writing, Mr. Stevins, to Capisuke was well avoided; yet was there none express refusal made by the Pope's Holiness to condescend unto the said New Commission, but order given that you should consult and confer with the Cardinal Anconitane and Symonette upon the same; which Conference, by mean of the said Business, was deferred and disappointed, without any final conclusion or resolution taken thereupon. Wherefore, inasmuch as yet there appeareth none utter despair of obtaining the said New Commission and Pollicitation, with some more fat, pregnant, and effectual Clauses than the other hath; The King's pleasure is, that notwithitanding any words before mentioned, both ye the said Mr. Stevins, and Sir Francis Brian, if ye be not departed from the Court of Rome, do for the time of your demur there, which the King's pleasure is shall not be long, but only for taking of your leave; and also the rest of the King's said Orators, after your departure, shall, as ye shall see the case require, endeavour your selves as much as may be, to obtain the said New Commission and Pollicitation, foreseeing always that you handle the matter after such manner, as thereby the Pope be not the rather induced to hearken and incline to any pursuites of the Imperials for advocation of the Cause, which were a total frustration of all the King's intent, but so to use your selves, as ye shall see to be the benefit, and not to the hindrance thereof: Which done, the King's Grace doth refer the good handling of this thing to your wisdoms and discretions, neither to leave the pursuit for the said Commission and Pollicitation, if it may without dammage be followed; nor to follow it, if thereby you shall see apparent danger of any such Advocation, or advantage to ensue to the purpose of the Imperialists, like as his Highness doubteth not, knowing now the King's mind and pleasure, you will with wisdom and dexterity, order your selves herein accordingly.

And furthermore, you shall in any wise dissuade the Pope for sending either by his Nuntio, to be sent unto Spain, or otherwise, for the Original Brief. And if the Nuntio be already passed, having charge to speak for

sending the same to the Court of Rome, then to find the means that a Commandment be by the Pope's Holiness sent after him, not to make any mention thereof: Which done to you, the King's said Ambassador shall have a good colour to induce the Pope's Holiness, saying, as of yourself, That you have well considered your own pursuits for producing the Brief at Rome; and because the Emperor might percase think that the Pope were about to arect unto him the falsity of the said Brief, therefore you can be contented that that matter be put off, and no mention to be made thereof by his Nuntio, or otherwise; whereunto it is not to be doubted but the Pope's Holiness will have special regard, and facilly condescend to your desires in that behalf.

Finally; It appeareth also by certain your Letters sent, as well to the King's Highness as to me, that the Pope's Holiness is much desirous to study and find a mean and way to satisfy the King's Highness in this behalf: Amongst which one clause in his Letters to me is this; Tametsi enim jurisperitorem consilium quæsiverimus, sed nihil reperimus, quod bonis oratoribus simul et justitiæ ac honori nostro satisfaceret; sed tamen agimus omnia, et tentamus omnes modos Regia sua Serenitati, ac circumspectioni tuæ satisfaciendi. (And it is added in the Margin, with Wolsey's hand;

Mi Petre, referas tuis literis pervelim quid tibi et mihi Pontifex dixerit de modis excogitandis, et quomodo subridens dicebat, In nomine Patris, &c.)

Wherefore since his Holiness so plainly declared, that he seeketh the ways and means to satisfie the King's Highness, it shall be in any wise expedient, that you the said Ŏrators perceiving any towardness of Advocation, lay this to the Pope's Holiness, saying, that that is not the way to satisfy his Grace; and yet besides that, by your Wisdoms to find the means to understand and know of his Holiness what be the ways and means, which his Holiness hath studied or can study to satisfie the King according to his writing in this behalf, whereof they shall say his Grace is glad, and is very desirous to know and understand the same; and as you shall perceive any towardness or untowardness in the Pope in that behalf, so to set forth your pursuits to the best purpose accordingly. And thus heartily fare you well. From Richmond, the 21 day of May.

Your loving Friend,

T. CARDINALIS EBORAC.

XXVI.

A Letter of the Pope's to the Cardinal. An Original.
(Cotton Libr. Vitel. B. 11.)

May 31. Romæ 1529.

Dilecto Filio nostro Thomæ tituli Sanctæ Cecilia Presbytero Cardinali Eboracensi, nostro et sedis Apostolicæ Legato de latere.

Clemens manu propria.

DILECTE Fili noster, salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem. Cum Angliæ Rex ac Circumspectio vestra, vetera erga nos et Sedem Apostolicam merita novis officiis augeretis, optabamus occasionem, in qua et vos nostrum amorem cognoscere possetis; sed molestissime tulimus eam primum esse oblatam, in qua circumsepti angustis terminis Justitiæ, non possemus progredi quantum vellemus, studio vobis gratificandi, multis ac rationabilibus Causis desiderium vestrum impedientibus, quod quidem Regiis Oratoribus istuc redeuntibus demonstrare conati tumus. Sed super his et publicis negotiis copiosius vobiscum loquetur Dilectus Filius noster Cardinalis Campegius. Datum Romæ die ultima Maii, 1529.

J.

XXVII.

The King's Letter to his Ambassadors, to hinder an Avocation of the Suit. An Original.

HENRY REX,

(Cotton Libr. Vitel. B. 11).

BY THE KING.

April 6, 1529. TRUSTY and right well-beloved we greet you well. Since your departure from hence, we have received sundry your Letters to us directed, whereof the last beareth date at Rome, the 4th day of the last month; and have also seen such other as from time to time ye have sent to the most Reverend Father in God, our most entirely well-beloved Counsellor the Lord Legate, Cardinal, Archbishop of York, Primate of England, and our Chancellour; By continue whereof we have been advertised of the Successes as well of your Journey thitherwards, as of such things as ye to that time had done in our Causes to you committed; for the which your diligent advertisement, and good acquittal, we give unto you condign thanks: ascertaining you, We do

not a little marvel, that in your said last Letters you shew
so much desperation of any great favour to be had at the
Pope's hand in our said Causes; considering that neither
ye then had spoken with his Holiness in the same, nor by
such Conferences as ye had had with Mr. Jacobo Salviati,
or other on his behalf, we can perceive but all good
favour and towardness; tho per-case the superiority of
the Imperials, and the common fame, led you to think
the contrary: Howbeit as you know no credence is to be
given unto such common report, nor we trust the same
shall prove more true, than hath done the Opinion that was
of the Lord Legate Campegius now here Resident, whom
we find and certainly know to be of a far other sort in his
love and inclination towards us, than was spoken, not
having such affection towards the Emperor, as in him was
suspected. And to be plain with you, if ever he had been
of other mind, we have said somewhat to him after such
manner as might soon change that intention. So that little
Faith is to be given to the outward Sayings and Opinions
of such People as measure every thing at their pleasure;
which we doubt not but ye right wisely do consider, and
that ye have before this time, by your diligent sollicitation
made to speak with the Pope's Holiness for declaration of
your Charge, proved the contrary. Whereof we shall be
glad and joyous to hear; willing and desiring you there-
fore, according to the great and special confidence that we
have in you, to pretermit no time in the diligent handling
and execution of your said Charge, but by one good way
or other to find the mean, if you have not already done it,
to declare the same unto the Pope, wherein the good advice
and address of the Bishop of Verone shall, We trust, do you
great furtherance; and by whose means, if ye for the
Pope's extreme debility or sickness might in no wise be
often admitted unto his presence, ye may signify unto him
at great length, our whole Mind, Desire, and Intent, after
such form as your Instructions and Letters given and sent
unto you in that behalf do purport: For sure ye may be, it
shall highly confer unto the benefit of our Causes, that ye
have there present one so fast and assured Friend unto us
as we trust the Bishop of Verone is, who shall be able right
largely to countervail, and meet with the malicious prac-
tices of the Archbishop of Capua, who is thought to be one
of the chief Authors and Contrivers of the Falsities, Crafts,
and Abuses, set forth to the hindrance of our said Causes;
which no Man shall more politickly and facilly deprehend,
than the said Bishop of Verone may do; And therefore h
is by you, with all good means and ways possible, to be
VOL. I, PART II.
K

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