at the ordinary commerce of life among great princes
is so obstructed by ceremony and numerous attendants, that no ill
consequence would result among them from marrying a brother's widow;
especially if the dispensation of the supreme priest be previously
required, in order to justify what may in common cases be condemned, and
to hinder the precedent from becoming too common and familiar. And
as strong motives of public interest and tranquillity may frequently
require such alliances between the foreign families, there is the less
reason for extending towards them the full rigor of the rule which has
place among individuals.[*] [7]

* See note G, at the end of the volume.

But in opposition to these reasons, and many more which might be
collected, Henry had custom and precedent on his side, the principle by
which men are almost wholly governed in their actions and opinions. The
marrying of a brother's widow was so unusual, that no other instance of
it could be found in any history or record of any Christian nation;
and though the popes were accustomed to dispense with more essential
precepts of morality, and even permitted marriages within other
prohibited degrees, such as those of uncle and niece, the imaginations
of men were not yet reconciled to this particular exercise of his
authority.

{1530.} Several universities of Europe, therefore, without hesitation,
as well as without interest or reward,[*] gave verdict in the king's
favor; not only those of France, Paris, Orleans, Bourges, Toulouse,
Angiers, which might be supposed to lie under the influence of their
prince, ally to Henry; but also those of Italy, Venice, Ferrara, Padua;
even Bologna itself, though under the immediate jurisdiction of Clement.
Oxford alone[**] and Cambridge* made some difficulty; because these
universities, alarmed at the progress of Lutheranism, and dreading a
defection from the holy see, scrupled to give their sanction to
measures whose consequences they feared would prove fatal to the ancient
religion. Their opinion, however, conformable to that of the other
universities of Europe, was at last obtained; and the king, in order to
give more weight to all these authorities, engaged his nobility to write
a letter to the pope, recommending his cause to the holy father, and
threatening him with the most dangerous consequences in case of a denial
of justice.[***] The convocations, too, both of Canterbury and York,
pronounced the king's mar