Chapter I: Front Matter

THE DIVORCE OF CATHERINE OF ARAGON

THE DIVORCE
OF
CATHERINE OF ARAGON

THE STORY AS TOLD BY THE IMPERIAL AMBASSADORS
RESIDENT AT THE COURT OF
HENRY VIII.

_IN USUM LAICORUM_

BY
J. A. FROUDE

_BEING A SUPPLEMENTARY VOLUME TO THE
AUTHOR'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND_

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1891

[_All rights reserved_]

Copyright, 1891,
BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS.

_The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A._
Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Company.

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER I.

Prospects of a disputed succession to the crown--Various
claimants--Catherine incapable of having further children--
Irregularity of her marriage with the King--Papal dispensations--
First mention of the divorce--Situation of the Papacy--Charles
V.--Policy of Wolsey--Anglo-French alliance--Imperial troops in
Italy--Appeal of the Pope--Mission of Inigo de Mendoza--The
Bishop of Tarbes--Legitimacy of the Princess Mary called in
question--Secret meeting of the Legates' court--Alarms of
Catherine--Sack of Rome by the Duke of Bourbon--Proposed reform
of the Papacy--The divorce promoted by Wolsey--Unpopular in
England---Attempts of the Emperor to gain Wolsey 21

CHAPTER II.

Mission of Wolsey to Paris--Visits Bishop Fisher on the way--
Anxieties of the Emperor--Letter of the Emperor to Henry VIII.--
Large offers to Wolsey--Address of the French Cardinals to the
Pope--Anne Boleyn chosen by Henry to succeed Catherine--Surprise
and displeasure of Wolsey--Fresh attempts of the Emperor to bribe
him--Wolsey forced to continue to advocate the divorce--Mission
of Dr. Knight to Rome--The Pope at Orvieto--The King applies for
a dispensation to make a second marriage--Language of the
dispensation demanded--Inferences drawn from it--Alleged intrigue
between the King and Mary Boleyn 41

CHAPTER III.

Anxiety of the Pope to satisfy the King--Fears of the Emperor--
Proposed alternatives--France and England declare war in the
Pope's defence--Campeggio to be sent to England--The King's
account of the Pope's conduct--The Pope's distress and alarm--The
secret decretal--Instructions to Campeggio 62

CHAPTER IV.

Anne Boleyn--Letters to her from the King--The Convent at
Wilton--The Divorce--The Pope's promises--Arrival of Campeggio
in England--Reception at the Bridewell Palace--Proposal to
Catherine to take the veil--Her refusal--Uncertainty of the
succession--A singular expedient--Alarms of Wolsey--The true
issue--Speech of the King in the City--Threats of the Emperor--
Defects in the Bull of Pope Julius--Alleged discovery of a brief
supplying them--Distress of Clement 70

CHAPTER V.

Demands of the Imperial Agent at Rome--The alleged Brief--Illness
of the Pope--Aspirations of Wolsey--The Pope recovers--Imperial
menaces--Clement between the anvil and the hammer--Appeal of
Henry to Francis--The trial of the cause to proceed--Instructions
to Campeggio--Opinion at Rome--Recall of Mendoza--Final interview
between Mendoza and the King 86

CHAPTER VI.

The Court at Blackfriars--The point at issue--The Pope's
competency as judge--Catherine appeals to Rome--Imperial pressure
upon Clement--The Emperor insists on the Pope's admission of the
appeal--Henry demands sentence--Interference of Bishop Fisher--
The Legates refuse to give judgment--The Court broken up--Peace
of Cambray 99

CHAPTER VII.

Call of Parliament--Wolsey to be called to account--Anxiety of
the Emperor to prevent a quarrel--Mission of Eustace Chapuys--
Long interview with the King--Alarm of Catherine--Growth of
Lutheranism--The English clergy--Lord Darcy's Articles against
Wolsey--Wolsey's fall--Departure of Campeggio--Letter of Henry to
the Pope--Action of Parliament--Intended reform of the Church--
Alienation of English feeling from the Papacy 110

CHAPTER VIII.

Hope of Wolsey to return to power--Anger of Anne Boleyn and the
Duke of Norfolk--Charles V. at Bologna--Issue of a prohibitory
brief--The Pope secretly on Henry's side--Collection of
opinions--Norfolk warns Chapuys--State of feeling in England--
Intrigues of Wolsey--His illness and death 131

CHAPTER IX.

Danger of challenging the Papal dispensing power--The Royal
family of Spain--Address of the English Peers to the Pope--
Compromise proposed by the Duke of Norfolk--The English Agents at
Rome--Arrival of a new Nuncio in England--His interview with the
King--Chapuys advises the King's excommunication--Position of the
English clergy--Statute of Provisors--The clergy in a Praemunire--
Remonstrances of the Nuncio--Despair of Catherine--Her letter to
the Pope--Henry prepares for war--The introduction of briefs from
Rome forbidden--Warnings given to the Spanish Ambassador and the
Nuncio 141

CHAPTER X.

State of feeling in England--Clergy and laity--The Clergy in a
Praemunire--The Royal Supremacy--Hesitation at Rome--Submission of
the Clergy--The meaning of the new title--More and Fisher--Alarm
of the Emperor--Appeal of Catherine to him--Unpopularity of Anne
Boleyn--Threats of excommunication--Determination of Henry--
Deputation of Peers to Catherine--Catherine's reply--Intolerable
pretensions of the Emperor--Removal of Catherine from the Court 157

CHAPTER XI.

Proposals for the reunion of Christendom--Warning addressed to
the Pope--Address of the English nobles to Queen Catherine--
Advances of Clement to Henry--Embarrassments of the Pope and the
Emperor--Unwillingness of the Pope to decide against the King--
Business in Parliament--Reform of the English Church--Death of
Archbishop Warham--Bishop Fisher and Chapuys--Question of
annates--Papal Briefs--The Pope urged to excommunicate Henry--The
Pope refuses--Anger of Queen Catherine's Agent 175

CHAPTER XII.

Henry advised to marry without waiting for sentence--Meeting of
Henry and Francis--Anne Boleyn present at the interview--Value of
Anne to the French Court--Pressure on the Pope by the Agents of
the Emperor--Complaints of Catherine--Engagements of Francis--
Action of Clement--The King conditionally excommunicated--Demand
for final sentence--Cranmer appointed Archbishop of Canterbury--
Marriage of Henry and Anne Boleyn--Supposed connivance of the
Pope--The Nuncio attends Parliament--The Act of Appeals--The
Emperor entreated to intervene--Chapuys and the King 192

CHAPTER XIII.

The King's claim--The obstinacy of Catherine--The Court at
Dunstable--Judgment given by Cranmer--Debate in the Spanish
Council of State--Objections to armed interference--The English
opposition--Warning given to Chapuys--Chapuys and the Privy
Council--Conversation with Cromwell--Coronation of Anne Boleyn--
Discussions at Rome--Bull supra Attentatis--Confusion of the
Catholic Powers--Libels against Henry--Personal history of
Cromwell--Birth of Elizabeth--The King's disappointment--Bishop
Fisher desires the introduction of a Spanish army into England--
Growth of Lutheranism 218

CHAPTER XIV.

Interview between the Pope and Francis at Marseilles--Proposed
compromise--The divorce case to be heard at Cambray--The Emperor
consents--Catherine refuses--The story of the Nun of Kent--Bishop
Fisher in the Tower--Imminent breach with the Papacy--Catherine
and the Princess Mary--Separation of the Princess from her
mother--Catherine at Kimbolton--Appeals to the Emperor--
Encouragement of Lutheranism--Last efforts at Rome--Final
sentence delivered by the Pope--The Pope's authority abolished in
England 243

CHAPTER XV.

The Papal curse--Determined attitude of the Princess Mary--
Chapuys desires to be heard in Parliament--Interview with the
King--Permission refused--The Act of Succession--Catherine loses
the title of Queen--More and Fisher refuse to swear to the
statute--Prospects of rebellion in Ireland--The Emperor unwilling
to interfere--Perplexity of the Catholic party--Chapuys before
the Privy Council--Insists on Catherine's rights--Singular
defence of the Pope's action--Chapuys's intrigues--Defiant
attitude of Catherine--Fears for her life--Condition of Europe--
Prospect of war between France and the Empire--Unwillingness of
the Emperor to interfere in England--Disappointment of
Catherine--Visit of Chapuys to Kimbolton 260

CHAPTER XVI.

Prosecution of Lord Dacre--Failure of the Crown--Rebellion in
Ireland--Lord Thomas Fitzgerald--Delight of the Catholic party--
Preparations for a rising in England--The Princess Mary--Lord
Hussey and Lord Darcy--Schemes for insurrection submitted to
Chapuys--General disaffection among the English Peers--Death of
Clement VII.--Election of Paul III.--Expectation at Rome that
Henry would now submit--The expectation disappointed--The Act of
Supremacy--The Italian conjuror--Reginald Pole--Violence and
insolence of Anne Boleyn--Spread of Lutheranism--Intended escape
of the Princess Mary out of England 283

CHAPTER XVII.

Prospects of civil war--England and Spain--Illness of the
Princess Mary--Plans for her escape--Spirit of Queen Catherine--
The Emperor unwilling to interfere--Negotiations for a new treaty
between Henry and Charles--Debate in the Spanish Council of
State--The rival alliances--Disappointment of the confederate
Peers--Advance of Lutheranism in England--Cromwell and Chapuys--
Catherine and Mary the obstacles to peace--Supposed designs on
Mary's life 301

CHAPTER XVIII.

Negotiations for a treaty--Appeal of Catherine to the Emperor--
Fresh plans for the escape of Mary--Forbidden by the Emperor--
The King and his daughter--Suggestion of Dr. Butts--The clergy
and the Reformation--The Charterhouse monks--More and Fisher in
the Tower--The Emperor in Africa--The treaty--Rebellion in
Ireland--Absolution of Lord Thomas Fitzgerald for the murder of
the Archbishop of Dublin--Treason of Lord Hussey--Fresh debates
in the Spanish Council--Fisher created cardinal--Trial and
execution of Fisher and More--Effect in Europe 318

CHAPTER XIX.

Campaign of the Emperor in Africa--Uncertainties at Rome--Policy
of Francis--English preparations for war--Fresh appeals to the
Emperor--Delay in the issue of the censures--The Princess Mary--
Letter of Catherine to the Pope--Disaffection of the English
Catholics--Libels against Henry--Cromwell and Chapuys--Lord
Thomas Fitzgerald--Dangerous position of Henry--Death of the Duke
of Milan--Effect on European policy--Intended Bull of Paul III.--
Indecision of Charles--Prospect of war with France--Advice of
Charles to Catherine--Distrust of the Emperor at the Papal
Court--Warlike resolution of the Pope restrained by the Cardinals 347

CHAPTER XX.

Illness of Queen Catherine--Her physicians' report of her
health---Her last letter to the Emperor--She sends for Chapuys--
Interview between Chapuys and Henry--Chapuys at Kimbolton--Death
of Catherine--Examination of the body--Suspicion of poison--
Chapuys's opinion--Reception of the news at the Court--Message of
Anne Boleyn to the Princess Mary--Advice of Chapuys--Unpopularity
of Anne--Court rumours 371

CHAPTER XXI.

Funeral of Catherine--Miscarriage of Anne--The Princess Mary and
the Act of Supremacy--Her continued desire to escape--Effect of
Catherine's death on Spanish policy--Desire of the Emperor to
recover the English alliance--Chapuys and Cromwell--Conditions of
the treaty--Efforts of the Emperor to recover Henry to the
Church--Matrimonial schemes--Likelihood of a separation of the
King from Anne--Jane Seymour--Anne's conduct--The Imperial
treaty--Easter at Greenwich--Debate in Council--The French
Alliance or the Imperial--The alternative advantages--Letter of
the King to his Ambassador in Spain 389

CHAPTER XXII.

Easter at Greenwich--French and Imperial factions at the English
court--Influence of Anne Boleyn--Reports of Anne's conduct
submitted to the King--Flying rumours--Secret Commission of
Enquiry--Arrests of various persons--Sir Henry Norris and the
King--Anne before the Privy Council--Sent to the Tower--Her
behaviour and admissions--Evidence taken before the Commission--
Trials of Norris, Weston, Brereton, and Smeton--Letter of
Weston--Trial of Anne and her brother--Executions--Speech of
Rochford on the scaffold--Anne sentenced to die--Makes a
confession to Cranmer--Declared to have not been the King's
lawful wife--Nature of the confession not known--Execution 412

CHAPTER XXIII.

Competition for Henry's hand--Solicitations from France and from
the Emperor--Overtures from the Pope--Jane Seymour--General
eagerness for the King's marriage--Conduct of Henry in the
interval before Anne's execution--Marriage with Jane Seymour--
Universal satisfaction--The Princess Mary--Proposal for a General
Council--Neutrality of England in the war between France and the
Empire 436

CHAPTER XXIV.

Expectation that Henry would return to the Roman Communion--Henry
persists in carrying out the Reformation--The Crown and the
clergy--Meeting of a new Parliament--Fresh repudiation of the
Pope's authority--Complications of the succession--Attitude of
the Princess Mary--Her reluctant submission--The King empowered
to name his successor by will--Indication of his policy--The
Pilgrimage of Grace--Cost of the Reformation--The martyrs,
Catholic and Protestant 450

INDEX 465

THE DIVORCE OF CATHERINE OF ARAGON.