[100] Sanga to Campeggi 2 Sept. 1528 in the Lettere di diversi autori eccellenti, Venetia 1556, p. 40. 'V. Sra. vedra l'esito che ha havuto l'impresa del regno.—Bisogna che S. Bne vedendo l'imperatore vittorioso non si precipiti a dare all'imperatore causa di nuova rottura.... Sia almanco avvertita di non lasciarsi costringere a pronuntiare senza nuova et expressa commissione di qua.'
[101] Falier says so very positively.
[102] Sanga 29 May. 'S. Bne ricorda che il procedere sia lento et in modo alcuno non si venghi al giudicio.' Of the same date is Bellay's letter in which those exhortations of Wolsey to the French Court are contained.
CHAPTER IV.
THE SEPARATION OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH.
Already at Orvieto Stephen Gardiner had told the Pope that, if the King did not obtain justice from him, he would do himself justice in his own kingdom. Later it was plainly declared to the Pope that, if they saw the Emperor had the ascendancy in his Council, the nobility of England with the King at their head would feel themselves compelled to cast off obedience to Rome. It seems as though the Roman Court however had no real fear of this. For the King, so they said, would do himself most damage by such a step.[103] The Papal Nuncio declared himself positively convinced, that it was necessary to deal with the English sharply and forcibly, if one would gain their respect.
But these tendencies were more deeply rooted among the English than was remembered at Rome. They went back as far as the Articles of Clarendon, the projects of King John, the antipapal agitation under Edward III; the present question which involved an exceptionable and personal motive, exposed to public disapprobation, nevertheless touched on the deepest interests of the country. The wish to make the succession safe was perfectly justifiable. According to Clement VII's own declarations, the English were convinced that he was only hindered by regard for the Emperor from coming to a decision which was essential to them. His vacillation is very intelligible, very natural: but it did not correspond to the idea of the dignity with which he was clothed. There was to be an independent supreme Pontiff for this very reason, that right might be done in the quarrels of princes, without respect of persons, according to the state of the case. It clashed with the idea of the Papacy that alterations of political relations exercised such a decisive influence as they did in this matter. There was indeed something degrading for the English in their being made to feel the reaction of the Emperor's Italian victory, and his preponderance, in their weightiest affairs.
Henry VIII had now made up his mind to throw off that ecclesiastical subjection, which was politically so disadvantageous; the circumstances were very favourable. It was the time at which some German principalities, and the kingdoms of the North, had given themselves a constitution which rested on the exclusion of the hierarchic influences of Rome: the King could reckon on many allies in his enterprise. Moreover he had no dangerous hostilities to fear, as long as the jealousy lasted between the Emperor and King Francis. Between them Henry VIII needed only to revert to his natural policy of neutrality.
And the accomplishment of the affair was already prepared in the country itself, through no one more than through Cardinal Wolsey.