nd favorites, to
make advantage of the present opportunity, he conducted the emperor
safely out of his dominions and would not so much as speak to him of
business during his abode in France, lest his demands should bear the
air of violence upon his royal guest.

Henry, who was informed of all these particulars, believed that an
entire and cordial union had taken place between these princes; and that
their religious zeal might prompt them to fall with combined arms upon
England.[*] An alliance with the German princes seemed now more than
ever requisite for his interest and safety; and he knew that if he sent
back the princess of Cleves, such an affront would be highly resented by
her friends and family.

* Stowe, p. 579.

{1540.} He was therefore resolved, notwithstanding his aversion to her,
to complete the marriage; and he told Cromwell, that, since matters had
gone so far, he must put his neck into the yoke. Cromwell, who knew how
much his own interests were concerned in this affair, was very anxious
to learn from the king, next morning after the marriage, whether he now
liked his spouse any better. The king told him, that he hated her worse
than ever; and that her person was more disgusting on a near approach;
he was resolved never to meddle with her: and even suspected her not to
be a true maid: a point about which he entertained an extreme delicacy.
He continued, however, to be civil to Anne; he even seemed to repose his
usual confidence in Cromwell; but though he exerted this command over
himself, a discontent lay lurking in his breast, and was ready to burst
out on the first opportunity.

A session of parliament was held; and none of the abbots were now
allowed a place in the house of peers. The king, by the mouth of the
chancellor, complained to the parliament of the great diversity of
religions which still prevailed among his subjects; a grievance, he
affirmed, which ought the less to be endured, because the Scriptures
were now published in English, and ought universally to be the standard
of belief to all mankind. But he had appointed, he said, some bishops
and divines to draw up a list of tenets to which his people were to
assent; and he was determined, that Christ, the doctrine of Christ, and
the truth, should have the victory. The king seems to have expected more
effect in ascertaining truth from this new book of his doctors, than
had ensued from the publication of the Scriptures. Cromwell, as
vic