HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH - ( CHAPTER 2 ) - { PT. 23 }


 ( CHAPTER  2 )  -  { PT.  23 } - To this Clement VII. sent a dignified reply ( Sept. ), in which he pointed out that throughout the whole proceedings he had shown the greatest regard for Henry, and that any delay that had occurred at arriving at a verdict was due to the fact that the king had appointed no legal representatives at the Roman courts. [ 17 ] The French ambassador also took energetic measures to support the English agents threatening that his master might be forced to join hands with Henry if necessary; but even this threat was without result, and the king's agents was obliged to report that his case at Rome was practically hopeless, and that at any moment the Pope might insist in proceeding with the trial. When Henry realised that marriage with Ann Boleyn meant defiance of Roman he was inclined to hesitate. Both from the point of view of religion and of public policy separation from the Holy See was decidedly objectionable. Whilehe was in this frame of mind, a prey to passion and anxiety, it was suggested to him, probably by Thomas Cromwell, the former disciple of the fallen cardinal, tat he should seize this opportunity to strengthen the royal power in  England by challenging the authority of the Pope, and by taking into his own hands the control of the wealth and patronage of the Church. 

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