usage of centuries, and if when the case was first sub-
mitted to him he had unequivocally answered that a
marriage contracted bonâ fide under his predecessor's
sanction could not be broken, English opinion, it is
likely, would have sustained him, even at the risk of
a disputed succession, and the King himself would
have dropped his suit. But the Pope, as a weak mor-
tal, had wished to please a powerful sovereign. He
had entertained the King's petition; he had hesitated,
had professed inability to come to a conclusion,
finally had declared that justice was on the King's
side, and had promised that it should be so declared.
If he now drew back, broke his engagements, and
raised new difficulties in the settlement of a doubt
which the long discussion of it had made serious; if
he allowed it to be seen that his change of purpose
was due to the menaces of another secular Prince,
was such a judge to be any longer tolerated? Was
not the Papacy itself degenerate, and unfit to exercise
any longer the authority which it had been allowed
to assume? This aspect of the matter was not a
farce at all. The Papal supremacy itself was on its
trial.

On the 16th of June the King and Queen were
cited to appear in court. Catherine was unprepared.
She had been assured by the Emperor that her cause
should not be tried in England. She called on Cam-
peggio to explain. Campeggio answered that the Pope,
having deputed two Legates for the process, could not
revoke their commission without grave consideration.
He exhorted her to pray God to enlighten her to take
some good advice, considering the times. He was not
without hope that, at the last extremity, she would
yield and take the vows. But she did not in the least
accede to his hints, and no one could tell what she

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