An Ecclesiastical History of Great Britain

UPON the death of king Henry VII., his son of the same HENRY name succeeded to his dominions. This Henry was the only surviving issue male, and about eighteen years of age, at his accession to the throne. He was a very promising prince, both as . Henry 8 to person, capacity, and improvement. He was tall, strong built a learned and proportioned, and had an air of authority and empire. His ing prince. genius was lively, and his education extensive and well managed: for, besides the customary exercises and accomplishments of a prince, he had made considerable advances in learning. He was a good Latinist, a philosopher, and divine: and as for music, his progress in that science was so unusual, that two entire masses of his own composing were sung in his chapel. Lord HerHis inclination to letters was early perceived: and if his elder bert. F. Paul, brother had lived, it is said his father designed him for the see Hist. of the of Canterbury. But Arthur, prince of Wales, dying, the late king contracted He is conhis son Henry to Catherine of Spain. The motive of engaging Catherine of in so exceptionable a relationship, was to prevent the parting Spain in his father's with the princess's dower: this amounting to a great revenue, reign. they were afraid might break the balance; especially if this lady happened to marry with the house of France. Besides, the preserving the alliance with Spain, was looked on as a serviceable expedient.

VOL. IV.

Council of
Trent.

tracted to

Lord Her

bert, p. 8.

WAR-
HAM,

And here, to silence the censures for marrying the brother's Abp. Cant, wife, and secure the issue from blemish and inconvenience, it was thought necessary to apply to the pope for a dispensation. Pope Julius II. complied with the request, and granted a bull See Records, and a brief for this purpose. They were both dated December 26, 1503.

num. 1.

The pope's dispensation

in favour of

the marriage.

Lord Her

bert, p. 8.

Morisin was

employed in

bassies in

In these instruments, the impediments of affinity, the objections of Catherine's cohabitation with Arthur, the supposition of her being already married to prince Henry, are all overruled and dispensed with. For though there was no matter of fact to rest the last case upon, yet the court of Rome was resolved to make all sure. But here it must be said, the pope proceeded against the opinion of many of his cardinals.

How agreeable soever this alliance might be at first to king Henry VII., he afterwards, it seems, repented its being This sir R. made. For, as sir Richard Morisin reports, he charged his son to break the contract. This advice was given, as this several em- author continues, upon principles of conscience; and a full perthe reigns of suasion of the engagement being unlawful. And because Henry 8 and Edw. 6. affection takes its rise from conversation, and sometimes grows unmanageable in young people; for this reason the king would Calumnia- not suffer his son to visit the princess, or hold any correspondp. 13. ence with her.

Morisin's

Apomaxis

rum, &c.

fa. p. 14.

And therefore, the protestation made by prince Henry about two years after, was done without doubt by his father's direcId. p. 13. tion. For this protest in form against the lawfulness of the See Records, contract, could not be any suggestion of scruple in the young He protests prince. He wanted something of fourteen years, when he thus publicly declared his dislike. Now this was an age too young for cases of conscience and debates about marriage.

num. 2.

against the contract

when prince of Wales.

He was born
June 28,

1491, and

tion bears

date, June 27, 1505.

But after wards mar

And that he was swayed by his father in this affair, is pretty evident by the change of his mind not long after.

For before the protesta- he had reigned two months, he was solemnly married to the princess Catherine. When he came into his own guidance, his fancy governed the matter, and made him forget his father's instructions. Now, as sir Richard Morisin observes, he began to reason from his inclination, and to conclude, that pope Julius would never have allowed the marriage, had it been repugnant to the laws of God, or above his holiness's dispensation. Thus when the heart is once gained, the objections commonly vanish.

ries the
princess.
June 3,
1509.

Holinshed.
Morisin,

P. 14.

Id.

VIII.

A. D. 1510.

The next year, pope Julius II. made his court to king HENRY Henry he sent him a golden rose dipped in chrism, and perfumed with musk. It was directed to archbishop Warham, The pope who had instructions to present it at high mass, with the pope's sends the king a prebenediction.

sent.

Spelman,

deavours to

France.

This Julius, who was a warlike prelate, having carried his Concil. point in Italy the last campaign, was willing to accept the vol.2. p.725. submission of the Venetians. He made a peace with this state, February 24; and being uneasy at the progress of the French arms in Italy, he endeavoured to oppose their success. For this purpose he brought Ferdinand of Spain into his interest, by giving him the investiture of Naples. He likewise endea- And envoured to draw the king of England into a war against France, make him by putting him in mind of the victories of his ancestors, and break with the great patrimonial dominions they had in that country. And to solicit him more effectually, he offered king Henry the honour of being head of the league with the Italian princes. The king closing with the proposal, dispatched Bambridge, archbishop of York, to Rome, with instructions to treat this affair. In the mean time, the pope and the Venetians made an attempt upon Ferrara and Genoa. But failing of success, the pope applied to the censures of the Church, and excommunicated the duke of Ferrara, with all his adherents. On the other side, to make this expedient unserviceable, Louis XII. convened a synod of the Gallican Church at Tours. At this assembly the pope's late management was censured, and his excommunication declared void. It was likewise resolved a remonstrance should be drawn up, and an admonition sent to persuade him to peace, and gentler measures. And if these terms were refused, he should be put in mind of the decree of the council of Basil, and requested to call a general council. Louis, the French king, having made this step, prevailed with the emperor Maximilian, and some of the cardinals, to join him Dupleix. in the motion. By this assumption of authority, a council Lord Herwas summoned to Pisa, and the pope required to appear there. Sept. 1, While this business was transacting, the French forces under 1511. Chaumont, sat down before Bononia. The pope being surprised, summoned and lying sick in the town, was forced upon harsh conditions. This besieging his holiness sounded ill, and was looked on as a very hardy enterprise; insomuch, that king Henry presently entered into a league with Ferdinand in Julius's defence.

bert.

A council

at Pisa.

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An Ecclesiastical History of Great Britain: Chiefly of England, from ..., Band 4