[143] This determination of Campeggio was in consequence of secret instructions from the pope (unknown to Wolsey), at the instance of the emperor, who had prevailed upon the pontiff to adjourn the court and remove the cause to Rome.
[144] These proceedings led the way to the next great step in the progress of the Reformation, the renunciation of the pope’s authority, and the establishment of the regal supremacy. The following account, from an unpublished treatise, of the manner in which these questions were first brought to the king’s mind (whether authentic or not) may not be unacceptable to my readers.
"Now unto that you say, that because Pope Clement would not dispense with his second matrimonie, his majestie extirped out of England the papal authoritie, a thinge of most auncient and godly reverence as you take it, I aunsweare that after the kinges highness had so appeared in person before the Cardinal Campegio, one of the princes of his realm, named the Duke of Suffolk, a great wise man, and of more familiaritie with the kinge than any other person, asked his majestie, ‘how this matter might come to passe, that a prince in his own realme should so humble himself before the feet of a vile, strange, vitious priest,’ (for Campegio there in England demeaned himself in very deed most carnally — —). Whereunto the king aunswered, “he could not tell; but only that it seemed unto him, the spiritual men ought to judge spiritual matters; and yet as you saye (said the king) me seemeth there should be somewhat in it, and I would right gladly understand, why and how, were it not that I would be loth to appeare more curious than other princes.” “Why, sir (sayd the duke), your majestie may cause the matter to be discussed secretly by your learned men, without any rumour at all.” “Very well (sayd the kinge), and so it shall be.” And thus inspired of God, called he diverse of his trusty and great doctours unto him; charging them distinctly to examine, what lawe of God should direct so carnal a man as Campegio, under the name of spiritual, to judge a king in his owne realme. According unto whose commandment, these doctors resorting together unto an appointed place, disputed this matter large et stricte, as the case required. And as the blacke by the white is knowen, so by conferring the oppositions together, it appeared that the evangelical lawe varied much from the canon lawes in this pointe. So that in effect, because two contraries cannot stand in uno subjecto, eodem casu et tempore, they were constrained to recurre unto the kinges majesties pleasure, to knowe whether of these two lawes should be preferred: who smiling at the ignorance of so fonde a question aunsweared, that the Gospell of Christ ought to be the absolute rule unto all others; commanding them therefore to followe the same, without regard either to the civile, canon, or whatsoever other lawe. And here began the quicke: for these doctours had no sooner taken the Gospel for their absolute rule, but they found this popish authoritie over the kinges and princes of this earth to be usurped." William Thomas’s Apology for King Henry the Eighth, written A. D. 1547. p. 34. Lambeth Library. MSS. No. 464. W.
[145] The history and occasion of this great obligation of the Duke of Suffolk to the cardinal, who plainly intimates that but for his interposition the duke must have lost his life, does not appear to be known to the historians. See Fiddes’s Life of Wolsey. p. 454. W.
A writer in the Gentleman’s Magazine for 1755 (Dr. Pegge), who appears to have paid much attention to the Cardinal Wolsey’s history, suggests that Wolsey was the means of abating the anger of Henry at the marriage of Suffolk with his sister Mary Queen of France, which might have been made a treasonable offence. A letter from Mary to Wolsey, dated March 22, 1515, after her marriage with Suffolk, which is still extant in the Cotton Collection, gives some probability to this conjecture.
[146] i. e. Dr. Stephen Gardiner.
[147] i. e. The season of hunting, when the hart is in grease or full season. Dr. Wordsworth’s edition and the more recent manuscripts read—‘all that season.’
[148] The following additional particulars of the route are found in more recent MSS. “And were lodged the first night at a towne in Bedfordshire, called Leighton Bussarde, in the parsonage there, being Mr. Doctor Chambers’s benefice, the kings phisitian. And from thence they rode the next day.”
[149] The king had listened to their suggestions against the cardinal, and they felt assured of success; they are represented by an eyewitness, as boasting openly that they would humble him and all churchmen, and spoil them of their wealth: “La faintaisie de ces seigneurs est, que lui mort ou ruiné ils déferrent incontinent icy l’estat de l’eglise, et prendront tous leurs biens; qu’il seroit ja besoing que je le misse en chiffre, car ils le crient en plaine table.”
L’Evesque de Bayonne, Le Grand, Tom. iii. p. 374.