Neal - Houston-Packer Collection BX9333 .N4 1754 v1

Chap. I. The HISTORY of the PURITANS. 7 All the univerfities, and molt of the learned men of Europe both,Zu- King therans and Papifls, except thofe at Rome, declared for the negative of HT ,v0.111 the two queftions. The king laid their determinations before the parlia- ment and convocation, who agreed with the foreign univerfities. In the convocation of Englifh clergy, 253 were for the divorce, and only rg againft it. Sundry learned books were writ for and againft the lawful- nefs of the marriage ; one party being encouraged by the king, and the other by the pope and emperor. The pope cited the king to Rome, but his majefty ordered the Earl of Wiltfhire to proteft againft the citation, as contrary to the prerogative of his crown ; and fent a letter figned by the cardinal, the archbifhop of Canterbury, 4 bifhops, 2 dukes, 2 marquifes, 13 earls, 2 vifcounts, 23 barons, 22 abbots, and as commoners, exhort- ing his holinefs to confirm the judgment of the learned men, and of the univerfities of Europe, by annulling his marriage, or elfe he fhould be obliged to take other meafures. The Pope in his anfwer, after having acknowledged his majefty's favours, told him that the queen's appeal and avocation of the caufe to Rome muff be granted. The king feeing him- felf abufed, and that the affair of his marriage which had been already determined by the molt learned men in Europe, and had been argued be- fore the legates Campegio and Woolfèy, muff commence again, began to fufpe&Woolfey's fincerity ; upon which his majefty lent for the feals from him, and foon after commanded his attorney general to exhibit an infor- mation againft him in the King's Bench, becaufe that notwithftanding the ftatute of Richard II. againft procuring bulls from Rome, under the pains of a preemunire, he had received bulls for his legantine power, which for many years he had executed. The cardinal pleaded ignorance of the fta- tute, and fubmitted to the king's mercy; upon which he was declared to be out of the king's prote&ion, to have forfeited his goods and chattels, and that his perfon might be feized. The haughty cardinal not knowing how to bear his difgrace, foon after fell fick and died, declaring That if he hadferved God as well ashe had done his prince, he would not have given him over in hisgray hairs. But the king not fatisfied with his refentments againft the cardinal, re- King brew s folved to be revenged on the pope himfeif, and accordinglySeptember igth, with the a week before the cardinal's death, he publifhed a proclamation forbidding all perfons to purchafe any thing from Rome under the fevereft penalties; and refolved to annex the ecclfafticál fupremacy to his own crown for the future. It was eafy to forelee.that the clergy would (tart at the king's afl'uming to himfelf the pope's fupremacy, but his majefty had them at his mercy ; for having acknowledged Cardinal Woolfey's legantine power, and fubmitted to his jurifdiaion, his majefty caufed an indiament to be preferred againft them in Weßminfler-hall, and obtained judgment upon

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