Proceedings in relation to the Divorce, and opened the Way to a moft furprizing Change in the King's the IIId, because they were alled in the 3d Degree, and Charles had contracted to marry her when he was under Age. After his Death, King Philip defirous of preferving his Intereft in England, feriously treated concerning a Marriage with Queen Elizabeth, Sifter to his late Wife, with a Promife that he would obtain a fpecial Difpenfation from the Pope, which the French King fecretly oppofed; but, as the Queen gave Philip a Repulfe, Francis might have faved himself that Trouble. Notwithstanding this Repulfe, if Credit may be given to certain Hiftorians, King Philip was the Occafion, as herself acknowledged, of preferving the Life of this Queen: For, when it was propofed under the Reign of Queen Mary, and during her Confinement in the Tower, that fhe fhould be put to Death, upon a Sufpition, which the Event proved not to be ill-grounded, that on her fucceeding to the Crown, fhe would extirpate the Romish Religion, King Philip oppofed the Execution of fo cruel and unjust a Defign; but upon what Motive it is not eafy to refolve with Certainty: Some have thought what he had principally in View was to prevent the Acceffion of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, (then married to Francis the IId) to the Crown of England, because the Union of fo many Kingdoms under one Power, might render them an Over-ballance for the Houfe of Auftria, and quite fruf Con trate the vast Designs of univerfal Empire then forming; and indeed, from the Time of Henry the VIIIth, nothing has more contributed to preserve and fupport the Proteftant Religion, than the mutual and fucceffive Jealoufies between the two Popish Powers of the Empire and France. By Virtue of Difpenfations the Houfe of Auftria, for certain Reafons of State, marry among themfelves, and fo incorporate into one Family as Members of the fame Body. Philip the IId of Spain might call the Arch-duke, Albert, Brother, Coufin, Nephew, and Son; for, either by Blood or Affinity, he stood in one or other of thefe Relations to him, being Uncle to himself, Coufingerman to his Father, Husband to his Sifter, and Father to his Wife: And fo it happened; by Reafon of the Canonical Reftraints and Limitations made by feveral of the Popes, few of the Princes, or their Families, in Europe could then inter-marry without obtaining a Difpenfation from one or more Canons, which gave an Opportunity for thofe holy Fathers, who would traffick with the Powers committed to them, to make their own Terms with the Parties concerned. The Pope's Power of granting Difpenfations might perhaps be controverted, yet, that thofe, who profeffed Obedience to his Holinefs did in general acknowledge fuch a Power in him, and fubmit to it when executed by him, can bear no Dif. pute. Conduct, and in particular, as to bringing on the Cardinal's Difgrace. Anna Bulleyn recalled to Court. For now the Lady Anna Bulleyn was recalled to Court, and, according to the general Report, the King's Affection for her, which had been concealed, began to break out, from which the Cardinal, when he perceived what was likely to enfue, endeavoured to divert him as much as poffible, by repeated Perfuafions upon his Knees: However, it is but too probable, that this very Inftance of his Zeal, as a faithful Servant, was not very acceptable to his Master, whofe violent Temper could not bear any Thing like a Reftraint, efpecially when the Enjoyment of a fresh Lady was in View. Notwithftanding all this when that Lady was introduced a fecond Time to Court, she at first carried on a very friendly Correfpondence with Wolfey, as appears from the following Letters. ANNA BULLEYN to Cardinal WOLSEY. My Lord, IN N my moft humble wife that my Heart can think, I defire you to pardon me that am fo bold "to trouble you with my fimple and rude Writing, "efteeming it to proceed from her that does much "defire to know that your Grace does well, as I per"ceive by this Bearer that you do, the which I pray "God long to continue as I am most bound to pray "for. I do know the great Pains and Troubles that you have taken for me, both Day and Night, is ne"ver like to be recompenced on my Part but only in loving you, next unto the King's Grace, above all "Creatures living; and I do not doubt but the daily "Proofs of my Deeds fhall manifeftly declare and af"firm my Writing to be true, and I truft you do "think the fame. My My Lord, I do affure you, I do long to hear "from you the News of the Legate; for I do hope, "if they come from you they shall be very good, and "I am fure you defire it as much as I, and more, "if it were poffible, as I know 'tis not. And thus, "remaining in my ftedfaft Hope, I make an End of ઃઃ my Letter. Written with the Hand of her that is "moft bound to be. "Your bumble Servant, ANN BULLEYN. "The Writer of this Letter would not cease, till "fhe had caufed me likewife to fet my Hand, defiring you, though it be fhort, to take in good Part. "I affure you there is neither of us but that greatly "defire to see you, so much more joyous to hear that you have escaped this Plague fo well, trufting the Fury thereof to be paffed, efpecially with them "that keep a good Diet, as I truft you do. The not hearing of the Legate's Arrival in France caufes us, fomewhat to mufe, notwithstanding we truft by your Diligence and Vigilancy, with the Affiftance "of Almighty God, fhortly to be eafed out of that "Trouble. No more to you at this Time, but that "I pray God fend you as good Health and Profperity as the Writer would. 66 66 "By your loving Sovereign and Friend, ANNA BULLEYN to the CARDINAL. MY LORD, IN N my moft humble wife that my poor Heart can think, I do thank your Grace for your kind "Letter, and for your rich and goodly Prefent, the "which I fhall be never able to deferve without your Help, of the which I have hitherto had fo great "Plenty, that all the Days of my Life I am most "bound of all Creatures, next to the King's Grace, to love and ferve your Grace, of the which, I be“feech you never to doubt, that I fhall vary from "this "this Thought as long as any Breath is in my Body; "and as touching your Grace's Trouble with the "Sweat, O thank our Lord, that them that I defired "and prayed for are escaped, that is, the King and you, not doubting but God has preferved you both "for great Causes, known only of his high Wifdom: "And as for the Coming of the Legate I defire that "much, if it be God's Pleasure, I pray him to fend "this Matter shortly to a good End; and then I trust, my Lord, to recompence Part of your great Pains, "in which I must require you, in the mean Time to accept my good Will instead of the Power, the "which must proceed partly from you, as our Lord "knows; to whom I befeech to fend you long Life, "with Continuance in Honour. Written with the "Hand of her that is most bound to be "Your bumble and obedient Servant, ANN BULLEYN." Though thefe Letters are full of Respect for the Cardinal, yet it is plain, that his Eminency by no Means approved of the King's marrying this Lady; and that her fubfequent Behaviour to Wolfey, at Grafton in Northamptonshire, gives us Ground to believe, the Profpect of fharing in the Glories of a Throne, with one of the greateft Monarchs in that Time, foon rendered her difpofed to fupplant a Perfon, whom fhe was informed, had declared himself an Enemy to her Exaltation: Therefore, it is not to be wondered at, that the Cardinal's fecret Enemies at Court laid Hold of fo favourable an Opportunity of engaging her in their Defigns, when they understood she was offended with him. Bishop Burnet infinuates, "That there was Cause "to fufpect the Demur of the Bishop of Tarbe, was previously concerted between the French and Engligh 66 "lish Courts, that his Majefty might have the better "Colour from fo open and publick an Exception "against his Marriage, firft to follicit a Divorce:" But then we think it could not answer the French Miniftry's Views for Henry to marry Anna Bulleyn; they having a Design to fecure him for one of their Princeffes : "Certain it is, fays Heylin, That he suf"fered himself to be so far transported in Affections "towards her, that he could think of nothing else "but what had a Tendency to the Accomplishment "of his Defires; fo that the Separation from the Bed " of Catherine, which was but coldly followed, upon "the Cafe of Confcience, was now more hotly purfued "in the Heat of Concupifcence." The Author of the Church Hiftory, tells us, "That Queen Catherine's "Years added to her Temper, which was naturally 66 grave, daily become more and more diftaftful to "King Henry, who was never easy but when in "the midft of gay and revelling Company. That "it was not in his Power to conceal his Love fo " artfully, as he did his Averfion; for, among all "the Motives he had to drive on the Divorce, "his Affection for Anna Bulleyn appeared upper"moft. That all this Procefs was moved by the "unfeen Spring of that fecret Affection; for his "Paffion was ungovernable in that Regard. That "Anna Bulleyn's Wit and Behaviour had charmed "the King to the utmoft Excefs, there being no "Perfection of a worldly Kind but what, he "imagined, fhe was entirely Miftrefs of, as Sing ing, Dancing, mufical Inftruments, pleasant Con"verfation, &c. By thefe Attractions fhe manag"ed the King fo artfully, in regard to his Amours, "that she always appeared fhy and reserved, when "her Virtue feemed to be attached; and yet by "her free and coquet Carriage, often made him "believe he was Master of his Prey; however, upon a near |