We daily and hourly musing and thinking on your Grace's great and secret affair, and how the same may come to good effect and desired end, as well for the deliverance of your Grace out of the thrauld,[40] pensive, and dolorous life that the same is in, as for the continuance of your health and the surety of your realm and succession, considering also that the Pope's consent, or his Holiness detained in captivity, the authority of the cardinals now to be convoked into France equivalent thereunto, must concur for approbation of such process as I shall make in that behalf; and that if the Queen shall fortune, which it is to be supposed she will do, either appeal or utterly decline from my Jurisdiction (one of the said authorities is also necessarily requisite). I have none other thought nor study but how in available manner the same may be attained. And after long discussion and debating with myself, I finally am reduced and resolved to two points; the one is that the Pope's consent cannot be obtained and had in this case, unless his deliverance out of captivity be first procured; the other is that the Cardinals can nothing do in this behalf, unless there be by them consultation and order taken, what shall be done _in Administratione rerum Ecclesiasticarum durante dicta captivitate summi Pontificis_. As touching the restitution of the Pope to liberty, the state of the present affairs considered the most prompt sure and ready way is, by conclusion of the peace betwixt the Emperor and the French King: for the advancement and setting forward whereof I shall put myself in extreme devour, and by all possible means induce and persuade the said French King to strain himself and condescend to as much of the Emperor's demands as may stand with reason and surety of his and your Grace's affairs; moving him further, that forasmuch as the Emperor taketh your Highness as a Mediator making fair demonstration in words, that he will at your contemplation and arbitre, not only declare the bottom of his mind concerning his demand, but also remit and relent in the same, he will be contented that your Grace forbearing the intimation of hostility may in the managing of the said Peace and inducing the Emperor to reasonable conditions, be so taken and reputed of him, without any outward declaration to the contrary until such time as the conducing of the said peace shall be clearly desperate. Whereby if the said French King can be induced thereunto, may in the mean season use the benefit of their intercourse in the Emperor's Low-Countries: not omitting nevertheless for the time of soliciting the said peace, the diligent zeal and effectual execution of the sword by Monsieur de Lautrek in the parties of Italy: whereby your Grace's said mediation shall be the more set by and regarded.