“Most Holy Father, we have written several times to you, especially of late from St. Cloud, and afterwards from Chantilly, in our good brother’s behalf; and we have further entreated you, through our ambassador residing at your Court, to put an end to this business as nearly according to the wishes of our said good brother as is compatible with the honour of Almighty God.  We have made this request of you as well for the affection and close alliance which exist between ourselves and our brother, as for the filial love and duty with which we both in common regard your Holiness.

“Seeing, nevertheless, Most Holy Father, that the affair in question is still far from settlement, and knowing our good brother to be displeased and dissatisfied, we fear that some great scandal and inconvenience may arise at last which may cause the diminution of your Holiness’s authority.  There is no longer that ready obedience to the Holy See in England which was offered to your predecessors; and yet your Holiness persists in citing my good brother the King of England to plead his cause before you in Rome.  Surely it is not without cause that he calls such treatment of him unreasonable.  We have ourselves examined into the law in this matter, and we are assured that your Holiness’s claim is unjust and contrary to the privilege of kings.  For a sovereign to leave his realm and plead as a suitor in Rome, is a thing wholly impossible,[377] and therefore, Holy Father, we have thought good to address you once more in this matter.  Bear with us, we entreat you.  Consider our words, and recall to your memory what by letter and through our ministers we have urged upon you.  Look promptly to our brother’s matter, and so act that your Holiness may be seen to value and esteem our friendship.  What you do for him, or what you do against him, we shall take it as done to ourselves.

“Holy Father, we will pray the Son of God to pardon and long preserve your Holiness to rule and govern our Holy Mother the Church.—­FRANCIS.”

[376] State Papers, vol. vii. p. 428.  LEGRAND, vol. iii.

[377] Chose beaucoup plus impossible que possible.

[378] LORD HERBERT, p. 160.  RYMER, vol. vi. part ii. p. 171.

[379] Francis seems to have desired that the intention of the interview should be kept secret.  Henry found this impossible.  “Monseigneur,” wrote the Bishop of Paris to the Grand Master, “quant a tenir la chose secrette comme vous le demandez, il est mal aise; combien que ce Roy fust bien de cest advis, sinon qu’il le treuve impossible; car a cause de ces provisions et choses, qu’il fault faire en ce Royaulme, incontinent sera sceu a Londres, et de la par tout le monde.  Pourquoy ne faictes vostre compte qu’on le puisse tenir secret.

“Monseigneur, je scay veritablement et de bon lieu que le plus grant plaisir que le Roy pourroit faire au Roy son frere et a Madame Anne, c’est que le dit seigneur m’escripre que je requiere le Roy son dit frere qu’il veuille mener la dicte Dame Anne avec luy a Callais pour la veoir et pour la festoyer, afin qu’ils ne demeurrent ensembles sans compagnie de dames, pour ce que les bonnes cheres en sont tous jours meilleures:  mais il fauldroit que en pareil le Roy menast la Royne de Navarre a Boulogne, pour festoyer le Roy d’Angleterre.