of the queen our wife, the revocation of the Bishop of Canterbury’s sentence, the statute of our realm, or our late proclamation, which be as it were one—­and as walls, covering, the foundation make a house, so they knit together, establish, and make one matter—­ye be well assured, and be so ascertained from us, that in no wise we will relent, but will, as we have before written, withstand the same.  Whereof ye may say that ye have thought good to advertise him, to the intent he make no farther promise to the pope therein than may be performed.”

The ambassadors were the more emphatically to insist on the king’s resolution, lest Francis, in his desire for conciliation, might hold out hopes to the pope which could not be realised.  They were to say, however, that the King of England still trusted that the interview would not take place.  The see of Rome was asserting a jurisdiction which, if conceded, would encourage an unlimited usurpation.  If princes might be cited to the papal courts in a cause of matrimony, they might be cited equally in other causes at the pope’s pleasure; and the free kingdoms of Europe would be converted into dependent provinces of the see of Rome.  It concerned alike the interest and the honour of all sovereigns to resist encroachments which pointed to such an issue; and, therefore, Henry said he hoped that his good brother would use the pope as he had deserved, “doing him to understand his folly, and [that] unless he had first made amends, he could not find in his heart to have further amity with him.”

If notwithstanding, the instructions concluded, “all these persuasions cannot have place to let the said meeting, and the French king shall say it is expedient for him to have in his hands the duchess,[614] under pretence of marriage for his son, which he cannot obtain but by this means, ye shall say that ye remember ye heard him say once he would never conclude that marriage but to do us good, which is now infaisible; and now in the voice of the world shall do us both more hurt in the diminution of the reputation of our amity than it should do otherwise profit.  Nevertheless, [if] ye cannot let his precise determination, [ye] can but lament and bewail your own chance to depart home in this sort; and that yet of the two inconvenients, it is to you more tolerable to return to us nothing done, than to be present at the interview and to be compelled to look patiently upon your master’s enemy.”

After having entered thus their protest against the French king’s conduct, the embassy was to return to England, leaving a parting intimation of the single condition under which Henry would consent to treat.  If the pope would declare that “the matrimony with the Lady Catherine was and is nought, he should do somewhat not to be refused;” except with this preliminary, no offer whatever could be entertained.[615]