Volume II Part 39 (2/2)

[459] If this was the const.i.tutional theory, ”divine right” was a Stuart fiction.

[460] More's _Life of More_, p. 271

[461] More's _Life of More_, pp. 276, 277.

[462] ”And, further to put him from his melancholy, Sir Thomas More did take his urinal, and cast his water, saying merrily, 'I see no danger but the man that owns this water may live longer, if it please the king.'”--More's _Life_, p. 283. I cannot allow myself to suppress a trait so eminently characteristic.

[463] More's _Life of More_, p. 287.

[464] _State Papers_, Vol. VII. p. 606.

[465] Ca.s.salis to Cromwell: _State Papers_, Vol. VII. pp. 620, 621.

[466] _State Papers_, Vol. VII. pp. 620, 621.

[467] Strype's _Memor. Eccles._, Vol. I., Appendix, p. 211. These words are curious as directly attributing the conduct of the monks to the influence of More and Fisher.

[468] Cromwell to Gardiner: Burnet's _Collectanea_, pp. 460, 461.

[469] ”If the Duke of Saxe, or any of the other princes, shall in their conference with him, expostulate or show themselves displeased with such information as they may percase have had, touching the attainder and execution of the late Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More, the said Bishop shall thereunto answer and say, that the same were by order of his laws found to be false traitors and rebels to his Highness and his crown. The order of whose attainder with the causes thereof, he may declare unto them, saying that in case the King's Highness should know that they would conceive any sinister opinion of his Grace, for the doing of any act within his realm, his Grace should not only have cause to think they used not with him the office of friends.h.i.+p, which would not by any report conceive other opinion of so n.o.ble a prince as he is than were both just and honourable; but also to note in them less constancy of judgment than he verily thinketh they have. And hereupon the said Bishop shall dissuade them from giving credit to any such report, as whereby they shall offend G.o.d in the judgment of evil upon their neighbour; and cause his Majesty to muse that they would of him, being a prince of honour, conceive any other opinion than his honour and friends.h.i.+p towards them doth require. Setting this forth with such a stomach and courage as they may not only perceive the false traitorous dealings of the said persons; but consider what folly it were in them upon light report to judge of another prince's proceedings otherwise than they would a foreign prince should judge of them.”--Instructions to the Bishop of Hereford by the King's Highness: _Rolls House MS._

[470] It will be observed that many important facts are alluded to in this letter, of which we have no other knowledge.

[471] Cromwell to Ca.s.salis: _State Papers_, Vol. VII. p. 633.

[472] Paul himself said that it was reserved at the intercession of the Princes of Europe. Intercession is too mild a word for the species of interference which was exerted. The pope sent a draft of the intended bull to France; and the king having no disposition to countenance exaggerated views of papal authority, spoke of it as _impudentissimum quoddam breve_; and said that he must send the Cardinal of Lorraine to Rome, to warn his Holiness that his pretence of setting himself above princes could by no means be allowed; by such impotent threats he might not only do no good, but he would make himself a laughing-stock to all the world.--Christopher Mount to Henry VIII.: _State Papers_, Vol. VII.

p. 628

[473] His sub excommunicationis poena mandamus ut ab ejusdem Henrici regis, suorumque officialium judicium et magistratuum quorumcunque obedientia, penitus et omnino recedant, nec illos in superiores recognoscant neque illorum mandatis obtemperent.--Bull of Pope Paul against Henry VIII.

[474] The Venetian Amba.s.sador told Mount that the first article stood thus, ”Admitt.i.tur Protestas Pontificis Maximi absolute;” to which Mount says he answered, ”Hoc Latinum magis sapit Sorbonam Parisiensem quam Witenbergensem Minervam.” Du Bellay afterwards said that the saving clause was attached to it, ”Modo secundum verb.u.m Dei omnia judicet;” and that this had been added at the desire of the French king; which Mount did not believe--and indeed found great difficulty in discovering any credible account of what was really taking place, beyond the fact that the Lutherans were so anxious for an agreement, that they were walking with open eyes into a net which would strangle them.--See _State Papers_, Vol. VII. p. 630, &c.

[475] Ibid.

[476] Ego colendissime Patrone (si scribere licet quod sentio) non nihil nocere puto amicitiae ineundae et confirmandae inter serenissimum Regem nostrum et Principes Germanos, nimiam serenissimi Regis nostri prudentiam. Germanorum animi tales sunt ut apertam et simplicem amicitiam colant et expetant. Ego quoque Germanos Principes super hac causa saepius expostulantes audivi, ut qui suspensam hanc et causariam amicitiam not satis probarent. Dixerunt enim hac re fieri ut plerique alii foedus sec.u.m inire detrectarent et refugerunt qui id ultro factum fuerant si serenissimum Angliae Regem aperte stare cernerent.--Mount to Cromwell: _State Papers_, Vol. VII. p. 625.

[477] This was Lord Burleigh's word for the const.i.tution of the English Church.

[478] Instructions to the Bishop of Hereford: _Rolls House MS._

[479] In case they shall require that the King's Majesty shall receive the whole confession of Germany as it is imprinted, the bishop shall say that when the King's Highness shall have seen and perused the articles of the league, and shall perceive that there is in it contained none other articles but such as may be agreeable with the Gospel, and such as his Highness ought and conveniently may maintain, it is not to be doubted, and also, ”I durst boldly affirm,” the said bishop shall say, ”that the King's Highness will enter the same [league].” But it shall be necessary for the said duke and the princes confederate to send to the King's Highness such personages as might devise, conclude, and condescend in every article.--Instructions to the Bishop of Hereford: _Rolls House MS._

CHAPTER X.

THE VISITATION OF THE MONASTERIES.

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