s of smaller importance, Henry gave him an opportunity
of proving the sincerity of this language; and the result was such as he
expected it to be. As yet, however, he had not relinquished the hope of
succeeding by a more open course.

In March, 1529-30, the English ambassadors appeared at Bologna. Their
instructions were honest, manly, and straightforward. They were directed to
explain, _ab initio_, the grounds of the king's proceedings, and to appeal
to the emperor's understanding of the obligations of princes. Full
restitution was to be offered of Catherine's dowry, and the Earl of
Wiltshire was provided with letters of credit adequate to the amount.[256]
If these proposals were not accepted, they were to assume a more peremptory
tone, and threaten the alienation of England; and if menaces were equally
ineffectual, they were to declare that Henry, having done all which lay
within his power to effect his purpose with the goodwill of his friends,
since he could not do as he would, must now do as he could, and discharge
his conscience. If the emperor should pretend that he would "abide the law,
and would defer to the pope," they were to say, "that the sacking of Rome
by the Spaniards and Germans had so discouraged the pope and cardinals,
that they feared for body and goods," and had ceased to be free agents; and
concluding finally that the king would fear God rather than man, and would
rely on comfort from the Saviour against those who abused their authority,
they were then to withdraw.[257] The tone of the directions was not
sanguine, and the political complications of Europe, on which the emperor's
reply must more or less have depended, were too involved to allow us to
trace the influences which were likely to have weighed with him. There
seems no prima facie reason, however, why the attempt might not have been
successful. The revolutionary intrigues in England had decisively failed,
and the natural sympathy of princes, and a desire to detach Henry from
Francis, must have combined to recommend a return of the old cordiality
which had so long existed between the sovereigns of England and Flanders.
But whatever was the cause, the opening interview assured the Earl of
Wiltshire that he had nothing to look for. He was received with distant
courtesy; but Charles at once objected even to hearing his instructions, as
an interested party.[258] The earl replied that he stood there, not as the
father of the queen's rival, but as t