SUMMONS TO ROME.

53

have at once granted the divorce. He was inclined to oblige so powerful a petitioner, but feared to offend the Emperor Charles the Fifth, the nephew of the Queen, who exerted himself actively in her cause.

After a delay of several months, Cardinal Campeggio and Wolsey were appointed the Pope's legates to hold a court in England for the trial of the question of the King's marriage. Their report was to be made to the Pope, who retained in his own hands the ultimate decision of the matter.

Campeggio received his commission in April, but postponed his journey until October. Before the court had completed their labors, the Pope, acting under the influence of the Emperor, removed the court to Rome and summoned Henry to appear before it. This summons the King regarded as an offence to his dignity, and refused to comply with. He vented his anger upon Wolsey, whom he deprived of the chancellorship, appointing in his place Sir Thomas More. Negotiations were thus prolonged from months to years, when a slight circumstance changed the state of affairs.

Bishop Gardiner, the secretary of state,

and Fox, the royal almoner, met casually one evening with Dr. Thomas Cranmer, fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. Falling into conversation on the prevalent topic of the day, Cranmer suggested that it would be well to obtain the opinions of the leading universities of Europe on the subject; as, if they decided for the divorce, the Pope could hardly refuse to grant it, and if they maintained the lawfulness of the marriage, the King's doubts would be set at rest. The suggestion struck his auditors so favorably that they mentioned it to the King, who immediately sent for Cranmer and directed him to take measures to carry out his suggestion.

Application was formally made, and answers in due time returned from these seats of theological learning, condemning the marriage. The University of Bologna, in the Pope's own dominions, joined in the assent. Oxford and Cambridge sustained the union, fearing that an opposite decision would strengthen the Reformers, who, as the University authorities were aware, had already gained some hold within their walls.

The Pope continued to summon the King and protract the contest by temporizing.

Henry at last resolved to decide for himself. The convocations of York and Canterbury, the legal representation of the English clergy, had joined with the foreign universities in pronouncing the marriage illegal. Relying upon these decisions, he was privately married to Anne Boleyn. His former wife still. continued her opposition to the divorce and appeal to Rome. The Pope was urged to excommunicate Henry, but having suddenly, in consequence of a turn in Italian politics, formed an alliance with Francis the First of France, the rival of the Emperor, he was afraid to offend his new ally, who had all along supported Henry's application by so doing.

A way was now opened to a reconciliation through the mediation of Francis. The Pope promised to remove his court to Cambray and grant the divorce, if Henry would promise to appear there. Henry agreed to do so, and the affair was regarded as settled. The bearer of his written consent, however, failed to reach Rome on the appointed day. The intelligence arrived in his place that the Court of Rome had been ridiculed in a play performed before the King. This so incensed

the Pope and cardinals that they forthwith pronounced against the divorce, and declared Henry excommunicated if he persisted. The courier arrived ten days after, but the mischief was done. The King was soon after declared by Parliament the head. of the Church of England, and the separation from Rome was accomplished.

CHAPTER VI.

DR. BUTTS-LATIMER BEFORE HENRY VIII. THE DISCOMFITED VICE-CHANCELLOR OF CAMBRIDGE-THE FREE READING OF THE BIBLE--LATIMER'S LETTER TO THE KING-DUTY TO DECLARE THE TRUTH-OUR SAVIOUR'S LIFE AND TEACHING-COVETOUSNESS OF THE CLERGY

-PERSECUTION-KEEPING BACK THE GOSPEL-NEED

OF THE BIBLE-APPEAL.

W

He

E have now to return to Latimer. continued to preach at Cambridge until Dr. William Butts, a physician in high favor with the King, became one of his auditors. Dr. Butts visited Cambridge to sound the minds of the leading divines respecting the reforms now in progress, and gain adherents to the royal views. He was so pleased with Latimer's style that he introduced him to the King, and procured him the appointment of preacher to the court for the Lent of 1530. The bluff King was taken by the display of a. similar straightforwardness in the preacher. A little incident is recorded which exhibits