HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH - ( CHAPTER 2 ) - { PT. 21 }


 ( CHAPTER  2 )  -  { PT.  21 } - When Parliament had done enough to show the bishops and the Roman court what might be expected in case Henry's wishes were not complied with it was prorogued ( Dec,  1592 ), and in the following month a solemn embassy headed by the Earl of Witshire, Anne Boleyn's father, was dispatched to interview the Pope and Charles V. at Bologna. The envoys were instructed to endeavour to win over the Emperor to king's plans, but Charles V. regarded their advances with indignation and refused to sacrifice the honour of his aunt to the friendship of England. The only result of the embassy was that a formal citation of Henry to appear at Rome was served on the Earl of Wiltshire, but at the request of the latter a delay of some weeks was granted. Unless some serious measures were taken immediately, Henry had every reason to expect that judgment might be given against him at Rome, and that he would find himself obliged either to submit unconditionally or to defend himself against the combined forces of the Emperor and the King of France. To prevent or at least to delay such a result and the strengthen the hands of the English agents at Roman, he determined to follow the advice that had been given him by Thomas Cranmer, namely, to obtain for the separation from Catharine the approval of the universities and learned canonists of the world. Agents were dispatched of Cambridge and Oxford to obtain a verdict in favour of the king.

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