elt by the people at the breach of an old friendship; while
the league with France in behalf of the Roman church had been barren of
results, and was made ridiculous by the obvious preference of the pope for
the enemy from whom it was formed to deliver him. If Charles had understood
the English temper, therefore, and had known how to avail himself of the
opportunity, events might have run in a very different channel. But he was
not aware of the earnestness with which the people were bent upon securing
the succession, nor of their loyal attachment to Henry. He supposed that
disapproval of the course followed by Wolsey to obtain the divorce implied
an aversion to it altogether; and trusting to his interest in the privy
council, and to his commercial connection with the city, he had attempted
to meet menace with menace; he had replied to the language addressed by
Henry to the pope with an attempt to feel the pulse of English
disaffection, and he opened a correspondence with the Earl of Desmond for
an Irish revolt.[161]

The opportunity for a movement of this kind had not yet arrived. There was,
in England at least, as yet no wide disaffection; but there was a chance of
serious outbreaks; and Henry instantly threw himself upon the nation. He
summoned the peers by circular to London, and calling a general meeting,
composed of the nobility, the privy council, the lord mayor, and the great
merchants of the city, he laid before them a specific detail of his objects
in desiring the divorce;[162] and informed them of the nature of the
measures which had been taken.[163] This, the French ambassador informs us,
gave wide satisfaction and served much to allay the disquiet; but so great
was the indignation against Wolsey, that disturbances in London were every
day anticipated; and at one time the danger appeared so threatening, that
an order of council was issued, commanding all strangers to leave the city,
and a general search was instituted for arms.[164] The strangers aimed at
were the Flemings, whose numbers made them formidable, and who were,
perhaps, supposed to be ready to act under instruction from abroad. The
cloud, however, cleared away; the order was not enforced; and the
propitious moment for treason had not yet arrived. The emperor had felt so
confident that, in the autumn of 1528, he had boasted that, "before the
winter was over, he would fling Henry from his throne by the hands of his
own Subjects." The words had been rep