History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century Volume V Part 23

[400] Qui tantum ideo lambit ut mordeat. a.s.sertio Sept. Sacram.

[401] Sed animo Turcis omnibus Sarracenis omnibus usquam infidelibus nocentiorem fraterculum. Ibid. p. 147.

[Sidenote: PRUDENCE OF MORE.]

He had skilfully chosen the ground on which he gave battle: sacramentalism and tradition are in fact the two essential features of the papal religion; just as a lively faith and Holy Scripture are of the religion of the Gospel. Henry did a service to the Reformation, by pointing out the principles it would mainly have to combat; and by furnis.h.i.+ng Luther with an opportunity of establis.h.i.+ng the authority of the Bible, he made him take a most important step in the path of reform. "If a teaching is opposed to Scripture," said the Reformer, "whatever be its origin--traditions, custom, kings, Thomists, sophists, Satan, or even an angel from heaven,--all from whom it proceeds must be accursed. _Nothing can exist contrary to Scripture_, and every thing must exist for it."

Henry's book being terminated by the aid of the bishop of Rochester, the king showed it to Sir Thomas More, who begged him to p.r.o.nounce less decidedly in favour of the papal supremacy. "I will not change a word," replied the king, full of servile devotion to the popedom.

"Besides, I have my reasons," and he whispered them in More's ear.

Doctor Clarke, amba.s.sador from England at the court of Rome, was commissioned to present the pope with a magnificently bound copy of the king's work. "The glory of England," said he, "is to be in the foremost rank among the nations in obedience to the papacy."[402]

Happily Britain was ere long to know a glory of a very different kind.

The amba.s.sador added that his master, after having refuted Luther's errors with the _pen_, was ready to combat his adherents with the _sword_.[403] The pope, touched with this offer, gave him his foot, and then his cheek to kiss, and said to him: "I will do for your Master's book as much as the church has done for the works of St.

Jerome and St. Augustine."

[402] Fiddes' Life of Wolsey. p. 249.

[403] Totius regni sui viribus et armis. (Rymer, Fdera, VI. p. 199.) By the strength and arms of his whole kingdom.

[Sidenote: DEFENDER OF THE FAITH.]

The enfeebled papacy had neither the power of intelligence, nor even of fanaticism. It still maintained its pretensions and its pomp, but it resembled the corpses of the mighty ones of the earth that lie in state, clad in their most magnificent robes: splendour above, death and corruption below. The thunder-bolts of a Hildebrand ceasing to produce their effect, Rome gratefully accepted the defence of laymen, such as Henry VIII and Sir Thomas More, without disdaining their judicial sentences and their scaffolds. "We must honour those n.o.ble champions," said the pope to his cardinals, "who show themselves prepared to cut off with the sword the rotten members of Jesus Christ.[404] What t.i.tle shall we give to the virtuous king of England?"--_Protector of the Roman church_, suggested one; _Apostolic king_, said another; and finally, but not without some opposition, Henry VIII was proclaimed _Defender of the Faith_. At the same time the pope promised ten years' indulgence to all readers of the king's book. This was a lure after the fas.h.i.+on of the middle ages, and which never failed in its effect. The clergy compared its author to the wisest of kings; and the book, of which many thousand copies were printed, filled the Christian world (Cochlus tells us) with admiration and delight.

[404] Putida membra...ferro et materiali gladio abscindere. (Rymer, Fdera, vi, p. 199.) To cut off the rotten members with iron and the material sword.

Nothing could equal Henry's joy. "His majesty," said the vicar of Croydon, "would not exchange that name for all London and twenty miles round."[405] The king's fool, entering the room just as his master had received the bull, asked him the cause of his transports. "The pope has just named me _Defender of the Faith_!"--"Ho! ho! good Harry,"

replied the fool, "let you and me defend one another; but ... take my word for it ... _let the faith alone to defend itself_."[406] An entire modern system was found in those words. In the midst of the general intoxication, the fool was the only sensible person. But Henry could listen to nothing. Seated on an elevated throne, with the cardinal at his right hand, he caused the pope's letter to be read in public. The trumpets sounded: Wolsey said Ma.s.s; the king and his court took their seats around a sumptuous table, and the heralds at arms proclaimed: _Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae et Franciae, Defensor Fidei et Dominus Hiberniae!_

[405] Foxe, Acts, iv, p. 596.

[406] Fuller, book v, p. 168.

Thus was the king of England more than ever united to the pope: whoever brings the Holy Scriptures into his kingdom shall there encounter that material sword, _ferrum et materialem gladium_, in which the papacy so much delighted.

CHAPTER VI.

Wolsey's Machinations to obtain the Tiara--He gains Charles V--Alliance between Henry and Charles--Wolsey offers to command the Troops--Treaty of Bruges--Henry believes himself King of France--Victories of Francis I--Death of Leo X.

[Sidenote: WOLSEY DESIRES THE TIARA.]

One thing only was wanting to check more surely the progress of the Gospel: Wolsey's accession to the pontifical throne. Consumed by the desire of reaching "the summit of sacerdotal unity,"[407] he formed, to attain this end, one of the most perfidious schemes ambition ever engendered. He thought with others: "The end justifies the means."

[407] Unitatis sacerdotalis fastigium conscendere. Sanders, De Schism.

Ang. 8.

The cardinal could only attain the popedom through the emperor or the king of France; for then, as now, it was the secular powers that really elected the chief of catholicity. After carefully weighing the influence of these two princes, Wolsey found that the balance inclined to the side of Charles, and his choice was made. A close intimacy of long standing united him to Francis I, but that mattered little; he must betray his friend to gain his friend's rival.

But this was no easy matter. Henry was dissatisfied with Charles the Fifth.[408] Wolsey was therefore obliged to employ every imaginable delicacy in his manuvres. First he sent Sir Richard Wingfield to the emperor; then he wrote a flattering letter in Henry's name to the princess-regent of the Low Countries. The difficulty was to get the king to sign it. "Have the goodness to put your name," said Wolsey, "even if it should annoy your Highness.... You know very well ... that women like to be pleased."[409] This argument prevailed with the king, who still possessed a spirit of gallantry. Lastly, Wolsey being named arbitrator between Charles and Francis, resolved to depart for Calais, apparently to hear the complaints of the two princes; but in reality to betray one of them. Wolsey felt as much pleasure in such practices, as Francis in giving battle.

[408] Hys owne affayris doith not succede with th'Emperour. State Papers, vol. i, p. 10.

[409] Ibid. p. 12.

[Sidenote: THE EMPEROR'S PROMISES.]

The king of France rejected his arbitration: he had a sharp eye, and his mother one still sharper. "Your master loves me not," said he to Charles's amba.s.sador, "and I do not love him any more, and am determined to be his enemy."[410] It was impossible to speak more plainly. Far from imitating this frankness, the politic Charles endeavoured to gain Wolsey, and Wolsey, who was eager to sell himself, adroitly hinted at what price he might be bought. "If the king of England sides with me," Charles informed the cardinal, "you shall be elected pope at the death of Leo X."[411] Francis, betrayed by Wolsey, abandoned by the pope, and threatened by the emperor, determined at last to accept Henry's mediation.

[410] He was utterly determined to be his enemy. Cotton MSS. Galba, B.

7, p. 35.

[411] Ut Wolseus mortuo Leone decimo fieret summus pontifex.

But Charles was now thinking of very different matters. Instead of a mediation, he demanded of the king of England 4000 of his famous bowmen. Henry smiled as he read the despatch and looking at Pace his secretary, and Marney the captain of his guards, he said: "_Beati qui audiunt et non intelligunt!_" thus forbidding them to understand, and above all to bruit abroad this strange request. It was agreed to raise the number of archers to 6000; and the cardinal, having the tiara continually before his eyes, departed to perform at Calais the odious comedy of a hypocritical arbitration. Being detained at Dover by contrary winds, the mediator took advantage of this delay to draw up a list of the 6000 archers and their captains, not forgetting to insert in it, "certain obstinate deer," as Henry had said, "that must of necessity be hunted down."[412] These were some gentlemen whom the king desired to get rid of.

[412] Sayyinge that certayne hartes were so toggidde for hym, that he must neadys hunte them. State Papers, i, p. 26.

While the amba.s.sadors of the king of France were received at Calais on the 4th of August with great honours, by the lord high chamberlain of England, the cardinal signed a convention with Charles's ministers that Henry should withdraw his promise of the Princess Mary's hand to the dauphin, and give her to the emperor. At the same time he issued orders to destroy the French navy, and to invade France.[413] And finally he procured by way of compensating England for the pension of 16,000 pounds. .h.i.therto received from the court of St. Germains, that the emperor should pay henceforward the annual sum of 40,000 marks.

Without ready money the bargain would not have been a good one.

[413] Ibid. i, p. 23.

[Sidenote: THE TREATY OF BRUGES.]

This was not all. While Wolsey was waiting to be elected pope, he conceived the idea of becoming a soldier. A commander was wanted for the 6000 archers Henry was sending against the king of France; and why should he not be the cardinal himself? He immediately intrigued to get the n.o.blemen set aside who had been proposed as generals in chief.

"Shrewsbury," he said to the king, "is wanted for Scotland--Worcester by his experience is worthy that ... you should keep him near you. As for Dorset ... he will be very dear." Then the priest added: "Sire, if during my sojourn on the other side of the sea, you have good reason to send your archers.... I hasten to inform you that whenever the emperor takes the command of his soldiers, I am ready, although an ecclesiastic,[414] to put myself at the head of yours." What devotedness! Wolsey would cause his cross of cardinal _a latere_ to be carried before him (he said); and neither Francis nor Bayard would be able to resist him. To command at the same time the state, the church, and the army, while awaiting the tiara,--to surround his head with laurels: such was this man's ambition. Unfortunately for him, they were not of that opinion at court. The king made the earl of Ess.e.x commander-in-chief.

[414] Though I be a spiritual man. State Papers, i, p. 31.

As Wolsey could not be general, he turned to diplomacy. He hastened to Bruges; and as he entered at the emperor's side, a voice was heard above the crowd, exclaiming: _Salve, Rex regis tui atque regni sui!_[415]--a sound most pleasing to his ears. People were very much astonished at Bruges by the intimacy existing between the cardinal and the emperor. "There is some mystery beneath it all," they said.[416]

Wolsey desired to place the crown of France on Henry's head, and the tiara on his own. Such was the mystery, which was well worth a few civilities to the mighty Charles V. The alliance was concluded, and the contracting parties agreed "to avenge the insults offered to the throne of Jesus Christ," or in other words, to the popedom.

[415] Hail, both king of thy king and also of his kingdom. Tynd.

Expos. p. 314.

[416] There was a certain secret whereof all men knew not. Ibid. 315.

[Sidenote: WOLSEY'S PRACTICES.]

Wolsey, in order to drag Henry into the intrigues which were to procure him the tiara, had reminded him that he was _king of France_, and the suggestion had been eagerly caught at. At midnight on the 7th of August, the king dictated to his secretary a letter for Wolsey containing this strange expression: _Si ibitis parare regi loc.u.m in regno ejus hereditario, Majestas ejus_ _quum tempus erit opportunum, sequetur_.[417] The theologian who had corrected the famous latin book of the king's against Luther, most certainly had not revised this phrase. According to Henry, France was his hereditary kingdom, and Wolsey was going to prepare the throne for him.... The king could not restrain his joy at the mere idea, and already he surpa.s.sed in imagination both Edward III and the Black Prince. "I am about to attain a glory superior to that which my ancestors have gained by so many wars and battles."[418] Wolsey traced out for him the road to his palace on the banks of the Seine: "Mezieres is about to fall; afterwards there is only Rheims, which is not a strong city; and thus your grace will very easily reach Paris."[419] Henry followed on the map the route he would have to take: "Affairs are going on well,"

wrote the cardinal, "the Lord be praised." In him this Christian language was a mere official formality.

[417] If you go to prepare a place for the king in his hereditary kingdom, his Majesty will follow you at a fitting season. State Papers, i, 36.

[418] Majora a.s.sequi quam omnes ipsius progenitores tot bellis et praeliis. Ibid. 45.