The Reign of Henry the Eighth, Volume 1 (of 3) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 715 pages of information about The Reign of Henry the Eighth, Volume 1 (of 3).

The Reign of Henry the Eighth, Volume 1 (of 3) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 715 pages of information about The Reign of Henry the Eighth, Volume 1 (of 3).

“His Holiness answering the same, as touching the first point, said that if the queen (meaning the late wife of Prince Arthur, calling her always in his conversation the queen) had not given an oath refusing the judges as suspect, he would not have advoked the matter at all, but been content that it should have been determined and ended in your realm.  But seeing she gave that oath, appealing also to his court, he might and ought to hear her, his promise made to your Highness, which was qualified, notwithstanding.  As touching the second point, his Holiness said that your Highness only was the default thereof, because ye would not send a proxy to the cause.  These matters, however, he said, had been many times fully talked upon at Rome; and therefore [he] willed me to omit further communication thereupon, and to proceed to the doing of such things that I was specially sent for.

“Whereupon making protestation of your Highness’s mind and intent towards the see apostolic—­not intending anything to do in contempt of the same—­I exhibited unto his Holiness the commission which your Highness had sent unto me; and his Holiness delivering it to the datary, commanded him to read it; and hearing in the same the words (referring to the injuries which he had done to your Highness), he began to look up after a new sort, and said, ‘O questo et multo vero! (this is much true!)’ meaning that it was not true indeed.  And verily, sure not only in this, but also in many parts of the said commission, he showed himself grievously offended; insomuch that, when those words, ’To the next general council which shall be lawfully held in place convenient,’ were read, he fell in a marvellous great choler and rage, not only declaring the same by his gesture and manner, but also by words:  speaking with great vehemence, and saying, ’Why did not the king, when I wrote to my nuncio this year past, to speak unto him for this general council, give no answer unto my said nuncio, but referred him for answer to the French king? at what time he might perceive by my doing, that I was very well disposed, and much spake for it.’  ’The thing so standing, now to speak of a general council!  Oh, good Lord! but well! his commission and all his other writings cannot be but welcome unto me;’ which words methought he spake willing to hide his choler, and make me believe that he was nothing angry with their doings, when in vary deed I perceived, by many arguments, that it was otherwise.  And one among others was taken here for infallible with them that knoweth the pope’s conditions, that he was continually folding up and unwinding of his handkerchief, which he never doth but when he is tickled to the very heart with great choler.”

At length the appeal was read through; and at the close of it Francis entered, and talked to the pope for some time, but in so low a voice that Bonner could not hear what was passing.  When he had gone, his Holiness said that he would deliberate upon the appeal with the consistory, and after hearing their judgments would return his answer.

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The Reign of Henry the Eighth, Volume 1 (of 3) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.