The popular history of England; an illustrated history of society and government from the earliest period to our own times . ays itwar] was declared. I do not find, however, that there was a positive declaration. 152S.] COMMISSION FROM THE POPE. 315 marriage with his brothers widow, and to pronounce accordingly upon tlievalidity or invalidity of that marriage. Wolsey shrank from this fearfulresponsibility; the more so that the king expressed himself satisfied. IIohad to encounter technical objections which in the ardour of his politicalviews he had overlooked. When Henry knew of his honest dou
The popular history of England; an illustrated history of society and government from the earliest period to our own times . ays itwar] was declared. I do not find, however, that there was a positive declaration. 152S.] COMMISSION FROM THE POPE. 315 marriage with his brothers widow, and to pronounce accordingly upon tlievalidity or invalidity of that marriage. Wolsey shrank from this fearfulresponsibility; the more so that the king expressed himself satisfied. IIohad to encounter technical objections which in the ardour of his politicalviews he had overlooked. When Henry knew of his honest doubts he chafedwith indignation. Wolsey obtained a new commission from the pope, datedin June, 1528, in which cardinal Campegius was associated with him to trythis great question of the legality of the marriage. The bishop of Bayonne,before the arrival of Campegius in England, says that VVolsey had to enduremuch anxiety in this matter, upon which Henry had set his heart. To thecardinal the king uses the most terrible terms, because he fancies he iscooling. The great minister is talking of retiring from the affairs of the. Chrifltchtirch :a the sixteenth world. He walks with the French ambassador, and tells him of the progressof his life to this hour, and by what means he had risen to such added, that if God should give him grace to behold the hatred ofthe two peoples [the French and English] removed; a firm and perpetualpeace accomplished between the sovereigns, as he hoped speedily to establish ;and the laws and customs of the country reformed, as he would do if peaceshould come ;—moreover, the succession of the kingdom assured, principallywhere this marriage is concerned and a heir male be born—then immediatelyhe would retire and serve God for the remainder of his life.* AVhat thereforms were that Wolsey pointed at in this remarkable exposition of his * Legrand, vol. iii. Letter of 20th August, pp. 157—1G8. Mr. Froude renders thisdeclaration thus
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