II. i BOOK indelayed end to it, according to his Grace's desire, without further tract, or sending thither, which is as much as here can be said or devised. And therefore at the reverence of Almighty God, bring us out of this perplexity, that this Vertuous Prince may have his thing sped to the purpose desired, which shall be the most joyous thing that this day in Earth may chance and succeed to my heart; and therefore I eftsoons beseech you to regard it accordingly: Howbeit if the Pope's Holiness refusing all your desires, shall make difficulty and delay & therein, it is an evident sign and token, that his Holiness is neither favourable to the King's reasonable Petitions, nor indifferent, but should thereby show himself both partial, and expresly hadverse unto his Grace; wherefore in that case finding in his Holiness such unreasonableness, as it can in no wise be thought ye shall do, The King's pleasure is, that ye then proceed to the Protestations mentioned in the first Instructions given to Mr. Stevins, for you and the residue of your Collegues; and that ye not only be plain and round with the Pope's Holiness therein, if ye come to his Speech; but also ye show and extend unto the Cardinals, and other that be your Friends, which may do any good with him, the great peril and danger imminent unto the Church and See Apostolick; thereby exhorting them, That they like vertuous Fathers have regard thereunto, and not to suffer the Pope's Holiness, if he would thus wilfully, without reason or discretion to precipitate himself and the said See, which by this refusal is like to suffer ten times more detriment, than it could do for any miscontentment that the Emperor could take with the contrary: for ye shall say, sure they may be, and so I for my discharge declare, both to the Pope's Holiness and to them, If this Noble and Vertuous Prince, in this so great and so reasonable a Cause, be thus extreamly denied of the grace and lawful favour of the Church, the Pope's Holiness shall not fail for the same to lose Him and his Realm, the French King and his Realm, with many other their Confederates; besides those that having particular Quarrels to the Pope, and See aforesaid will not fail, with diverse other, as II. they daily seek occasions, and provoke the King's Highness BOOK thereunto, which will do the semblable, being a thing of another sort to be regarded, than the respect to the Emperor, for two Cities, which nevertheless shall be had well enough, and the Emperor, neither so evil contented, 'ne so much to be doubted herein, as is there supposed. This, with other words mentioned in your Instructions concerning like matter, ye shall declare unto his Holiness, and to the said Cardinals, and others being your Friends, if it come to that point; whereby it is not to be doubted, but they perceiving the danger aforesaid, shall be glad to exhort and induce his Holiness, for the mweale of himself and the Church, to condescend to the King's n desires; which is as much as can be here thought or devised, to be by you done in all Events and Chances: And therefore I pray you, eftsoons, and most instantly require you, as afore, to handle this Matter with all effect possible. Coming to this new Commission, when you shall have once attained such things as shall be sufficient for the King's purpose as is aforesaid; and that you have it in your hands and custody, and not afore, lest thereby ye might hinder the expedition thereof, ye shall by all ways and means possible, labour and insist, that the King's Highness, as need shall be, may use and enjoy the benefit of the Decretal, being already in my Lord Cardinal Campegius's hands, whereunto the King's Highness and I desire you to put all your effectual labour for the attaining of the Pope's consent thereunto accordingly. Ye shall furthermore understand, That it is thought here, in case, as God forbid, the Pope should die before ye should have impetrate any thing that may serve to the absolution of the King's Matter, That the Colledge of Cardinals have Authority, Power, and Jurisdiction, sede vacante, to inhibit, P advoke, et ex consequenti, to pass and decide the King's Matter, seeing that the same is of so high moment and importance concerning the surety of a Prince and his Realm, as more amply ye shall perceive in the Chapters, ubi Periculum de Electione, ne Romani, 1 nor m well n desire; • his Highness P avoke, BOOK de Jurejurando, et capite primo de Schismaticis; Wherefore the II. King's Pleasure is, That ye Mr. Stevins shall diligently weigh and ponder the effect of the said Chapters, not only with your self, but also with such the King's Learned Counsel as ye and your Collegues have conducted there; and what Jurisdiction, sede vacante, the Colledge of Cardinals have either by the Common Law, usage or prescription, which may far better be known there than here: And if ye find that the Cardinals have in this the King's Cause, and such other like Authority and Jurisdictions to inhibit, 9 advoke and decern, then, in casu mortis Pontificis, quod Deus avertat, ye shall specially foresee and regard that for none intercession or pursute made by the Emperor and his Adherents, they shall either inhibit or advoke: And also if before such Death, ye shall not have obtained such thing to the King's desire and purpose, as these present Letters before do purport, his Grace's pleasure is, That ye shall pursue the effectual expedition of the same, at the hands of the said Colledge, Sede vacante, ne res quæ nullam dilationem exposcit, tantopere usque ad Electionem novi Pontificis quoquo modo differatur; using for this purpose all such Reasons, Allegations, and Perswasions mentioned in " these Letters, and your former Instructions, as ye shall see and perceive to serve to that effect; and so to endeavour and acquit your self, that such things may be attained there, as may absolve this the King's Matter, without any further tract or delay; whereby ye shall as afore highly deserve the King's and my special thanks, which shall be so acquitted and decerned, as ye shall have cause to think your pains and diligences therein in the best wise imployed, trusting in God that howsoever the World shall come, ye shall by one means or other bring the King's Matter, which so highly toucheth his Honour and quiet of Mind, unto the desired end and perfection. S Finally; Ye shall understand that the French King, among other things, doth commit at this time to the Bishop of Bayon, and Mr. John Joakim to treat and conclude the Confederation q avoke ravoke: S диодиат t Reason, " those x and decerned om. II. heretofore spoken of, between his Holiness, and the King's BOOK Highness, the French King, the Venetians, and other Potentates of Italy, for a continual Army to be entertained to invade Spain in case it stand by the Emperor, that the Peace shall not take effect: Wherefore the King's pleasure is, That ye having conference with them at good length in that Matter, do also for your parts, sollicite, procure, and set forth the same; entring also on the King's behalf y into the Treaty, and conclusion thereof, after such manner as your former Instructions and Writings do purport. So as like as the French King is determined, that his Agents shall join and concur with you in the King's Pursuits and Causes; So ye must also concur with them in advancement of their Affairs, the successes whereof, and of all other your doings there, it shall be expedient ye more often notify hitherto than ye do, for many times in one whole month no knowledge is had from you, which is not meet in these so weighty Matters, specially considering that sometime by such as pass to Lyons, ye might find the means to send your Letters, which should be greatly to the King's and my consolation, in hearing thereby from time to time, how the things succeed there; I pray you therefore to use more diligence therein, as the King's and my special trust is in you. And heartily fare you well. From my a Place besides Westminster, the sixth day of April. The French King hath sent hither an Ambassiate, Monsieur de Langes, Brother to the said Bishop of Bayon, with certain clauses in his Instructions, concerning the said Treaty of Confederation, the Copy whereof ye shall receive herewith, for your better briping in that Matter. Praying God to speed you well, and to give you grace to make a good and short end in your And eft-soons fare ye well. Matters. Your Loving Friend, T. Cardin. Eborac. Junto z those a Palace ⚫ carrying on BOOK II. XXIII. Another Dispatch to the Ambassadours, to the same purpose. A Duplicate. Cotton Lib. RIGHT well beloved Friends, I commend me unto you in my Vitell. B. 11. Fol. 126. hearty manner letting you wit, that by the hands of Thadeus bearer hereof, the King's Highness hath received your several Letters to the same directed with the Pope's Pollicitation mentioned in the same, and semblably I have received your Conjunct and several Letters of the dates of the 18. and 29. days of March; the 8, 19, 20, and d 21. of April, to me directed, wherein ye at right good length have made mention of such Discourses, Conferences, Audiences, and Communications as ye have had concerning your Charge, since the time of your former Advertisements made in that behalf, with all such Answers and Replications as have been made unto you by the Pope's Holiness, and other on his behalf concerning the same. In the Circumstances whereof ye have so diligently, discreetly, and substantially, acquitted your selves, as not only your firm and fervent desire, to do unto the King's Highness special and, singular service in this his great and weighty Cause; but also your Wisdomes, Learning, and perfect dexterities, heretofore well known, hath every one for his part thereby been largely of new shewed, comprobate and declared to the King's good contentment, my rejoice and gladness, and to your great laud and praise. For the which his Grace giveth unto you right hearty thanks, and I also for my part do the semblable; assuring you, in few words, tho' the time and state of things hath not suffered that your desires might at this time be brought unto effect; yet the King's Grace well knoweth, perceiveth, and taketh, that more could not have been done, excogitated, or devised, than ye have largely endeavoured your self unto for conducing the King's purpose, which his Grace accepteth, as touching your merits and acquittal in no less good and thankful e : |