The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary
David Hume · en
disposed her to a belief of the new doctrines. But notwithstanding these
inducements, Henry had strong motives still to desire a good agreement
with the sovereign pontiff. He apprehended the danger of such great
innovations: he dreaded the reproach of heresy: he abhorred all
connections with the Lutherans, the chief opponents of the papal power;
and having once exerted himself with such applause, as he imagined, in
defence of the Romish communion, he was ashamed to retract his former
opinions, and betray from passion such a palpable inconsistency. While
he was agitated by these contrary motives, an expedient was proposed,
which, as it promised a solution of all difficulties, was embraced by
him with the greatest joy and satisfaction.
Dr. Thomas Cranmer, fellow of Jesus College in Cambridge, was a man
remarkable in that university for his learning, and still more for
the candor and disinterestedness of his temper. He fell one evening by
accident into company with Gardiner, now secretary of state, and Fox,
the king’s almoner; and as the business of the divorce became the
subject of conversation, he observed that the readiest way either to
quiet Henry’s conscience, or extort the pope’s consent, would be to
consult all the universities of Europe with regard to this controverted
point: if they agreed to approve of the king’s marriage with Catharine,
his remorses would naturally cease; if they condemned it, the pope would
find it difficult to resist the solicitations of so great a monarch,
seconded by the opinion of all the learned men in Christendom.[*] When
the king was informed of the proposal, he was delighted with it; and
swore, with more alacrity than delicacy that Cranmer had got the right
sow by the ear: he sent for that divine; entered into conversation with
him; conceived a high opinion of his virtue and understanding; engaged
him to write in defence of the divorce; and immediately, in prosecution
of the scheme proposed, employed his agents to collect the judgments of
all the universities in Europe.
* Fox, p. 1860 2d edit. Burnet, vol. i. p. 79. Speed, p.
769. Heylin, p. 5