pletion of
the schism, assured d'Inteville, the French ambassador, that for themselves
they considered Francis was doing the best for England which could be done,
and that they deprecated violent measures as much as possible; but in all
this party there was a secret leaning to Queen Catherine, a dislike of
Queen Anne and the whole Boleyn race, and a private hope and belief that
the pope would after all be firm. Their tongues were therefore tied. They
durst not speak except alone in whispers to each other; and the French
ambassador, who did dare, only drew from Henry a more determined expression
of his resolution.

As to his measures in England, the king said, the pope had begun the
quarrel by issuing censures and by refusing to admit his reasons for
declining to plead at Rome. He was required to send a proctor, and was told
that the cause should be decided in favour of whichever party was so
represented there. For the sake of all other princes as well as himself, he
would send no proctor, nor would he seem to acquiesce in the pretences of
the papal see. The King of France told him that the pope admitted the
justice of his cause. Let the pope do justice, then. The laws passed in
parliament were for the benefit of the commonwealth, and he would never
revoke them. He demanded no reparation, and could make no reparation. He
asked only for his right, and if he could not obtain it, he had God and
truth on his side, and that was enough. In vain d'Inteville answered
feebly, that his master had done all that was in his power; the king
replied that the French council wished to entangle him with the pope; but
for his own part he would never more acknowledge the pope in his pretended
capacity. He might be bishop of Rome, or pope also, if he preferred the
name; but the see of Rome should have no more jurisdiction in England, and
he thought he would be none the worse Christian on that account, but rather
the better. Jesus Christ he would acknowledge, and him only, as the true
Lord of Christian men, and Christ's word only should be preached in
England. The Spaniards might invade him as they threatened. He did not fear
them. They might come, but they might not find it so easy to return.[632]

The King had taken his position and was prepared for the consequences. He
had foreseen for more than a year the possibility of an attempted invasion;
and since his marriage, he had been aware that the chances of success in
the adventure had been d