re, change this act, or any provision in it. By this
clause, both parties were retained in subjection: so far as regarded
religion, the king was invested, in the fullest manner, with the sole
legislative authority in his kingdom; and all his subjects were, under
the severest penalties, expressly bound to receive implicitly whatever
doctrine he should please to recommend to them.

* Collier, vol. ii. p. 176.

** Burnet, vol. i. p. 322.

*** 34 and 35 Henry VIII. c. 1.

The reformers began to entertain hopes that this great power of the
crown might still be employed in their favor. The king married Catharine
Par, widow of Nevil, Lord Latimer; a woman of virtue, and somewhat
inclined to the new doctrine. By this marriage Henry confirmed what had
formerly been foretold in jest, that he would be obliged to espouse a
widow. The king's league with the emperor seemed a circumstance no less
favorable to the Catholic party; and thus matters remained still nearly
balanced between the factions.

The advantages gained by this powerful confederacy between Henry and
Charles, were inconsiderable during the present year. The campaign was
opened with a victory gained by the duke of Cleves, Francis's ally, over
the forces of the emperor:[*] Francis, in person, took the field early;
and made himself master, without resistance, of the whole duchy of
Luxembourg: he afterwards took Landrecy, and added some fortifications
to it. Charles, having at last assembled a powerful army, appeared in
the Low Countries; and after taking almost every fortress in the duchy
of Cleves, he reduced the duke to accept of the terms which he was
pleased to prescribe to him. Being then joined by a body of six thousand
English, he sat down before Landrecy, and covered the siege with an army
of above forty thousand men. Francis advanced at the head of an army not
much inferior; as if he intended to give the emperor battle, or oblige
him to raise the siege: but while these two rival monarchs were facing
each other, and all men were in expectation of some great event, the
French king found means of throwing succor into Landrecy; and having
thus effected his purpose, he skilfully made a retreat. Charles, finding
the season far advanced, despaired of success in his enterprise, and
found it necessary to go into winter quarters.

* Mem. du Bellai, lib. x.

The vanity of Henry was flattered by the figure which he made in the
great transactions o