On the 26th of December, two days later, Sir Gregory Cassalis, who had also followed the papal court to Bologna, wrote to the same effect.  He, too, had been with the pope, who had been very open and confidential with him.  The emperor, the pope said, had complained of the delay in the process, but he had assured him that it was impossible for the consistory to do more than it had done.  The opinion of the theologians was on the whole against the papal power of dispensation in cases of so close relationship; of the canon lawyers part agreed with the theologians, and those who differed from them were satisfied that such a power might not be exercised unless there were most urgent cause, unless, that is, the safety of a kingdom were dependent upon it.  Such occasion he had declared that he could not find to have existed for the dispensation granted by his predecessor.  The emperor had replied that there had been such occasion:  the dispensation had been granted to prevent war between Spain and England; and that otherwise great calamities would have befallen both countries.  But this was manifestly untrue; and his Holiness said that he had answered, It was a pity, then, that these causes had not been submitted at the time, as the reason for the demand, which it was clear that they had not been:  as the case stood, it was impossible for him to proceed further.  Upon which he added, “Se vidisse Caesarem obstupefactum.”  “I write the words,” continued Sir Gregory, “exactly as the pope related them to me.  Whether he really spoke in this way, I cannot tell; of this, however, I am sure, that on the day of our conversation he had taken the blessed sacrament.  He assured me further, that he had laboured to induce the emperor to permit him to satisfy your Majesty.  I recommended him that when next the emperor spoke with him upon the subject, he should enter at greater length on the question of justice, and that some other person should be present at the conference, that there might be no room left for suspicion."[400]

The manner of Clement was so unlike what Cassalis had been in the habit of witnessing in him, that he was unable, as we see, wholly to persuade himself that the change was sincere:  the letter, however, was despatched to England, and was followed in a few days by Bonner, who brought with him the result of the pope’s good will in the form of definite propositions—­instructions of similar purport having been forwarded at the same time to the papal nuncio in England.  The pope, so Henry was informed, was now really well disposed to do what was required; he had urged upon the emperor the necessity of concessions, and the cause might be settled in one of two ways, to either of which he was himself ready to consent.  Catherine had appealed against judgment being passed in England, as a place which was not indifferent.  Henry had refused to allow his cause to be heard anywhere but in his own realm; pleading first his privilege as a sovereign prince; and secondly, his exemption