Page:History of england froude.djvu/423

1532.] to a voice upon the matter. If some lawful means could be discovered by which your Majesty could furnish yourself with male offspring, the Emperor could no more justly complain than if the Queen were to die and the prospects of the princess were interfered with by a second marriage of an ordinary kind. To this the Pope made no answer. I cannot tell what your Majesty will think, nor how far this suggestion of the Pope would be pleasing to your Majesty. Nor indeed can I feel sure, in consequence of what he said about the Emperor, that he actually would grant the dispensation of which he spoke. I have thought it right, however, to inform you of what passed.'

This letter is undated, but it was written, as appears from internal evidence, some time in the year 1532.