mmendations given by the
Cardinal to the King's book, though Henry does not think it worthy
such great praise as it has had from him and from all other "great
learned" men, yet he says he is very glad to have "noted in your (p. 124)
grace's letters that his reasons be called inevitable, considering
that your grace was sometime his adversary herein and of contrary
opinion".[344] It is obvious that this "book," whatever it may have
been, was the fruit of Henry's own mind, and that he adopted a line of
argument not entirely relished by Wolsey. But, if it was the book
against Luther, it was laid aside and rewritten before it was given to
the world in its final form. Nothing more is heard of it for three
years. In April, 1521, Pace explains to Wolsey the delay in sending
him on some news-letters from Germany "which his grace had not read
till this day after his dinner; and thus he commanded me to write unto
your grace, declaring he was otherwise occupied; _i.e., in scribendo
contra Lutherum,_ as I do conjecture".[345] Nine days later Pace found
the King reading a new book of Luther's, "which he dispraised"; and he
took the opportunity to show Henry Leo's bull against the Reformer.
"His grace showed himself well contented with the coming of the same;
howbeit, as touching the publication thereof, he said he would have it
well examined and diligently looked to afore it were published."[346]
Even in the height of his fervour against heresy, Henry was in no mood
to abate one jot or one tittle of his royal authority in
ecclesiastical matters.

[Footnote 337: _L. and P._, ii., 4115.]

[Footnote 338: _L. and P._, iii., 226.]

[Footnote 339: _Ibid._, iii., 251.]

[Footnote 340: _Ibid._, ii., 4340.]

[Footnote 341: _Ibid._, iv., 5412; for the freedom
with which Cranmer in later days debated with Henry
see the present writer's _Cranmer_, p. 169.]

[Footnote 342: _Ibid._, iii., 1659, 1772.]

[Footnote 343: _Ibid._, ii., 3673.]

[Footnote 344: _L. and P._, ii., 4257.]

[Footnote 345: _Ibid._, iii., 1220.]

[Footnote 346: _Ibid._, 1233.]

His book was finished before 21st May, 1521, when the King wrote to
Leo, saying that "ever since he knew Luther's heresy in Germany, he
had made it his study how to