Henry, therefore, by the advice of the council, wrote a despatch to Sir John Wallop, the ambassador at Paris, which was to be laid before the French court.  He explained the circumstances in which he was placed, with the suggestion which the council had made to him.  He gave a list of the princes with whom he had been desired by his ministers to connect himself—­and the object was nothing less than a coalition of Northern Europe.  He recapitulated the injuries which he had received from the pope, who at length was studying “to subvert the rest and peace of the realm;” “yea, and so much as in him was, utterly to destroy the same.”  The nobles and council, he said, for their own sake as well as for the sake of the kingdom, had entreated him to put an end, once for all, to the pope’s usurpation; and to invite the Protestant princes, for the universal weal of Christendom, to unite in a common alliance.  In his present situation he was inclined to act upon this advice.  “As concerning his own realm, he had already taken such order with his nobles and subjects, as he would shortly be able to give to the pope such a buffet as he never had heretofore;” but as a German alliance was a matter of great weight and importance, “although,” he concluded, “we consider it to be right expedient to set forth the same with all diligence, yet we intend nothing to do therein without making our good brother first privy thereunto.  And for this cause and consideration only, you may say that we have at this time addressed these letters unto you, commanding you to declare our said purpose unto our good brother, and to require of him on our behalf his good address and best advice.  Of his answer we require you to advertise us with all diligence, for according thereunto we intend to attemper our proceedings.  We have lately had advertisements how that our said good brother should, by the labour of divers affectionate Papists, be minded to set forth something with his clergy in advancement of the pope and his desires.  This we cannot believe that he will do."[672]

The meaning of this letter lies upon the surface.  If the European powers were determined to leave him no alternative, the king was prepared to ally himself with the Lutherans.  But however he might profess to desire that alliance, it was evident that he would prefer, if possible, a less extreme resource.  The pope had ceased to be an object of concern to him; but he could not contemplate, without extreme unwillingness, a separation from the orderly governments who professed the Catholic faith.  The pope had injured him; Francis had deceived him; they had tempted his patience because they knew his disposition.  The limit of endurance had been reached at length; yet, on the verge of the concluding rupture, he turned once more, as if to offer a last opportunity of peace.

The reply of Francis was an immediate mission of the Bishop of Bayonne (now Bishop of Paris), first into England, and from England to Rome, where he was to endeavour, to the best of his ability, to seam together the already gaping rent in the church with fair words—­a hopeless task—­the results of which, however, were unexpectedly considerable, as will be presently seen.