their income, that the discontent became so loud and general, that he was obliged to desist.

About this time Henry's scruples increased respecting the validity of his marriage with the widow of his brother Arthur, and the legitimacy of his daughter Mary; concerning which doubts had been expressed on that account. Many affirmed that the Pope could not grant a dispensation from the divine law which prohibited such a marriage. However, this theological view of the subject which had been so long disregarded, had probably less weight with the King, than that Catharine, a woman of the purest morals, was gradually getting older; that her weak health allowed no hope of a male heir; that her Spanish dignity, as well as the excess and the severity of her religious exercises, was doubly disagreeable to a man of pleasure like Henry, (8) since he had fallen in love with her maid of honour, the young, sprightly, and accomplished Anne Boleyn. Catharine not only thought it unworthy of her dignity to yield to such a rival, but also resisted a divorce, because she would thereby cast blame upon her parents and Pope Julius, and declare her own daughter illegitimate. The same reasons partly prevented Pope Clement VII. from annulling the Bull of Julius II.; and the Emperor, Catharine's nephew, declared that he would not indeed defend what was contrary to the law of God, and would yield to the decision of the

Church; but it appeared to him that the preceding dispensation was sufficient for the validity of the marriage, and he requested the Pope and Cardinals to abide by it. Clement, pressed on two sides and at that time at variance with the Emperor, commissioned Cardinal Wolsey, and Warham, archbishop of Canterbury, to investigate the validity of the marriage, and sent a preliminary licence for the King to contract a second marriage. All this, however, was to be kept a profound secret, and no use made of it, except at the most favorable moment, and under certain circumstances. The Pope too, as it is said, intimated with respect to a second marriage, that it was easier to recognise and confirm a thing after it was done, than to give permission and full power to do it. Henry and his counsellors, however, were sensible that Clement, if his dependence on the Emperor were increased, might refrain from observing what he had appeared to promise, and might throw the King into the greatest embarrassments. For this reason Henry sent a fresh Embassy to Rome, to obtain from the Pope the assurance that he would absolutely ratify the decision of his Commissioners. Instead of this, Clement sent to Cardinals Campeggio and Wolsey new instructions, and it was not till neither the King could be persuaded to give up his project of a divorce, nor the Queen to retire into a convent, that the Commissioners really opened the

investigation, and Campeggio shewed to Henry, who was incensed at so many delays, a Bull, by which the marriage was declared invalid, and which he would produce as soon as every thing was prepared.

On the first day of the trial, the King stated his scruples; the Queen, on the other hand, fell at his feet, and made an impressive speech, to the effect that two such wise Kings as Ferdinand and Henry VII. would never have favoured the conclusion of an illegal marriage, and that her marriage with Arthur had never been consummated. With respect to her blameless life, she appealed to the King's own testimony, and should have recourse to the Pope at Rome against this partial tribunal. The King, hereupon, gave her indeed the testimony of having been an excellent wife, but alleged his scruples, and expected a fully favorable decision from the Papal Commissioners. Now, though these were of opinion that the Queen, for many reasons, should be declared guilty, yet Campeggio, after the appeal had been made, would not give a final sentence: accordingly the whole matter, without consideration of the possible consequences, was referred to Rome, on the 15th of July, 1529,-a proceeding which was undoubtedly conformable to the ecclesiastical law, but not to prudence at this moment. With this unexpected result, Henry did not know whether he should break with Rome, or endeavour at any rate

to gain the Emperor; for the present he resolved to leave the Parliament more liberty in its complaints of the Roman Court, and to humble Wolsey.

The latter had, at first, seriously considered the marriage as invalid, and thereby offended Queen Catharine. Anne Boleyn was no less displeased when he caused some books, favorable to the new doctrine, which belonged to her, to be taken away from one of her ladies, which he retained with insinuations of blame. Finally, the King was enraged because Wolsey would not (unmindful of his ecclesiastical position,) absolutely yield to his will, but kept up a connection with Rome (9), and, (so at least it was affirmed,) wrote to the Pope that he had better not consent to the divorce, because, in that case, a friend of the Reformers would become Queen. Wolsey either did not suspect the danger which threatened him, or, from pride, manifested no fear. When he went in full state, on the 18th of October, 1529, to the Court of Chancery, he was required to give up the Great Seal; and this was followed not only by such a rigorous sequestration of his property that he was often destitute of necessaries, but also, on the 1st of December, by an impeachment by the Parliament. This impeachment says he has accepted the office of Legate, to the prejudice of the royal and ecclesiastical rights, robbed churches, suppressed monasteries, and levied taxes. He has done many improper things during his Embassies,

and placed himself on a level with the King, by saying and writing "The King and I believe." He required an oath of allegiance from his servants, without at the same time making them take an oath to the King. He presumed, at a time when he was labouring under a bad disease, to speak to the King, not considering the danger of infection. He was proud and covetous, endeavoured to sow dissension among the Barons, hindered free discussion in the councils, and decided many things without the King, &c.

These and similar points were of such a nature that Wolsey was able to allege, in reply to them, either the tacit consent of the Parliament, or the express permission of the King, or that his conduct had been conformable to the established regulations. Other accusations were either quite indefinite, or were not at all calculated for public examination and enquiry. Hence his friend and pupil, Thomas Cromwell, his private secretary, succeeded in defending him in the Lower House with such powerful eloquence and convincing arguments, that the accusation fell to the ground; nay, on the 12th of February, 1530, the King pronounced his entire pardon, confirmed him in the possession of the Archbishopric of York, and sent him money and household furniture. Wolsey, by his very humble behaviour, might probably have regained the entire favour of Henry and Anne; but, as he was