Your daily bedesman and assured friend, T. CARLIS EBOR. To the right honourable and my assured friend, Master Secretary. [Footnote 43: Esher.] THE KING'S LAST LETTER TO THE POPE (1532). +Source.+--Burnet's _History of the Reformation_, Part I.; _Collection of Records_, Book II. xlii. "After most humble commendations, and most devout kissing of your blessed feet. Albeit that we have hitherto deferred to make answer to those letters dated at Bonony, the 7th day of October; which letters of late were delivered unto us by Paul of Casali. Yet when they appear to be written for this cause, that we deeply considering the contents of the same, should provide for the tranquillity of our own conscience, and should purge such scruples and doubts conceived of our cause of Matrimony. We could neither neglect those letters sent for such a purpose, nor after that we had diligently examined and perpended the effects of the same, which we did very diligently, noting, conferring and revolving every thing in them contained, with deep study of mind, pretermit nor leave to answer unto them. For since that your Holiness seemeth to go about that thing chiefly, which is to vanquish those doubts, and to take away inquietations which daily do prick our conscience: and insomuch as it doth appear at the first sight to be done of zeal, love and piety, we therefore do thank you of your good will. Howbeit since it is not performed in deed, that you pretend, we have thought it expedient to require your Holiness to provide us other remedies: wherefore forasmuch as your Holiness would vouchsafe to write unto us concerning this matter, we heartily thank you greatly lamenting also both the chance of your Holiness and also ours, unto whom both twain it hath chanced in so high a matter of so great moment to be frustrated and deceived: that is to say, that your Holiness not being instructed, nor having knowledge of the matter, of your self should be compelled to hang upon the judgement of others, and so put forth and make answers, gathered of other men, being variable and repugnant among themselves. And that we being so long sick and exagitate with this same sore, should so long time in vain look for remedy: which when we have augmented our aegritude and distress, by delay and protracting of time, you do so cruciate the patient and afflicted as who seeth it should much avail to protract the cause, and thorough vain hope of the end of our desire to lead us whither you will. But to speak plainly to your Holiness; forasmuch as we have suffered many injuries, which with great difficulty we do sustain and digest; albeit that among all things passed by your Holiness, some cannot be laid, alleged, nor objected against your Holiness, yet in many of them some default appeareth to be in you, which I would to God we could so diminish as it might appear no default; but it cannot be hid, which is so manifest and though we could say nothing, the thing itself speaketh.