nce to him,
either to produce it or to suppress it. The French and English ambassadors
then combined, and bid again with church benefices in the two countries, of
equal value with those offered by Charles, with a promise of the next
English bishopric which fell vacant, and the original 3000 ducats as an
initiatory fee. There was a difficulty in the transaction, for the cardinal
would not part with the paper till he had received the ducats, and the
ambassadors would not pay the ducats till they had possession of the paper.
The Italian, however, proved an overmatch for his antagonists. He got his
money, and the judgment was not produced after all.--_State Papers_, vol.
vii. pp. 397-8, 464. BURNET, vol. iii. p. 108.

[399] Bennet to Henry VIII.: _State Papers_, vol. vii. p. 402.

[400] Sir Gregory Cassalis to the King: _Rolls House M.S._, endorsed by
Henry, Litterae in Pontificis dicta declaratoriae quae maxime causam
nostram probant.

[401] There was a tradition (it cannot be called more), that no Englishman
could be compelled against his will to plead at a foreign tribunal. "Ne
Angli extra Angliam litigare cogantur."

[402] Henry VIII. to the Ambassadors with the Pope: _Rolls House M.S._

[403] Ibid.

[404] So at least the English government was at last convinced, as appears
in the circular to the clergy, printed in BURNET'S _Collectanea_, p. 447,
etc. I try to believe, however, that the pope's conduct was rather weak
than treacherous.

[405] So at least Cranmer says; but he was not present, nor was he at the
time informed that it was to take place.--ELLIS, first series, vol. ii. p.
32. The belief, however, generally was, that the marriage took place in
November; and though Cranmer's evidence is very strong, his language is too
vague to be decisive.

[406] Individual interests have to yield necessarily and justly to the
interests of a nation, provided the conduct or the sacrifice which the
nation requires is not sinful. That there would have been any sin on Queen
Catherine's part if she had consented to a separation from the king, was
never pretended; and although it is a difficult and delicate matter to
decide how far unwilling persons may be compelled to do what they ought to
have done without compulsion, yet the will of a single man or woman cannot
be allowed to constitute itself an irremovable obstacle to a great national
good.

[407] It is printed by LORD HERBERT, and in LEGRAND, vol. iii.

[408] LEGRAND