The Divorce of Catherine of Aragon

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.