able objections which he
assures us that he has urged upon your Holiness's consideration.

"Most Holy Father, we have written several times to you, especially of late
from St. Cloud, and afterwards from Chantilly, in our good brother's
behalf; and we have further entreated you, through our ambassador residing
at your Court, to put an end to this business as nearly according to the
wishes of our said good brother as is compatible with the honour of
Almighty God. We have made this request of you as well for the affection
and close alliance which exist between ourselves and our brother, as for
the filial love and duty with which we both in common regard your Holiness.

"Seeing, nevertheless, Most Holy Father, that the affair in question is
still far from settlement, and knowing our good brother to be displeased
and dissatisfied, we fear that some great scandal and inconvenience may
arise at last which may cause the diminution of your Holiness's authority.
There is no longer that ready obedience to the Holy See in England which
was offered to your predecessors; and yet your Holiness persists in citing
my good brother the King of England to plead his cause before you in Rome.
Surely it is not without cause that he calls such treatment of him
unreasonable. We have ourselves examined into the law in this matter, and
we are assured that your Holiness's claim is unjust and contrary to the
privilege of kings. For a sovereign to leave his realm and plead as a
suitor in Rome, is a thing wholly impossible,[377] and therefore, Holy
Father, we have thought good to address you once more in this matter. Bear
with us, we entreat you. Consider our words, and recall to your memory what
by letter and through our ministers we have urged upon you. Look promptly
to our brother's matter, and so act that your Holiness may be seen to value
and esteem our friendship. What you do for him, or what you do against him,
we shall take it as done to ourselves.

"Holy Father, we will pray the Son of God to pardon and long preserve your
Holiness to rule and govern our Holy Mother the Church.--FRANCIS."

[376] _State Papers_, vol. vii. p. 428. LEGRAND, vol. iii.

[377] Chose beaucoup plus impossible que possible.

[378] LORD HERBERT, p. 160. RYMER, vol. vi. part ii. p. 171.

[379] Francis seems to have desired that the intention of the interview
should be kept secret. Henry found this impossible. "Monseigneur," wrote
the Bishop of Paris to the Grand Ma