392
REIGN OF HENRY THE EIGHTH.
[ch. 18.
after being tempted into a participation in the quarrel, be left exposed to English vengeance.[1] The information was the more important from the caution with which it was given. It spoke of likelihood, not of certainty, and recommended the application of a test to prove its accuracy. 'Let the Duke of Norfolk send to the King of Scots,' the informants added, 'and say by his writings that he trusts the King of Scots will not suffer any men of war to land in his realm against England; and by the King's answer shall be known whether these sayings be true or not.'[2] The communication was laid before Henry, who adopted the last advice; and the skilful Sir Ralph Sadler was again commissioned to Edinburgh, if possible to pour oil over the waters, or at least to ascertain the truth.[3] March.The language of his instructions was courteous, but plain. The King said he knew by good authority the efforts which were made by the Pope to create a coalition of
- ↑ Duke of Norfolk to Cromwell: State Papers, vol. v. p. 154. Sir Thomas Wharton to the Duke of Norfolk: ibid. p. 156.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 156.
- ↑ His instructions are printed in the first volume of the Sadler Papers, and in the fifth volume of the State Papers, p. 81. The date of the document, as usual, must be determined by internal evidence; and the editor of the Sadler Papers has given it to the year 1541: the editor of the State Papers, to 1537. The latter has shown that the first date is wrong. I believe it is as certain that he is mistaken himself. From the matter of the instructions, it is clear that the Papal Bull had been published, which was not till the close of 1538. It was at a time when an invasion was looked for, when Pole, in the Pope's name, was urging the Emperor to declare war against England, and the Emperor's refusal was not yet known. It was, therefore, before the breaking up of the Flanders fleet in April, 1539, and Pole's disappointment at Toledo.
