The Cardinal's Angels (36 page)

10 May
1529

Cardinals’ Campeggio and Wolsey finally convene the
Legatine
court to hear Henry’s petition of divorce. All attempts at delay are now exhausted. Though the proceedings are so slow it is not until mid June did any witnesses appear.

Queen Catherine of Aragon makes a dramatic appearance and statement then refuses to return or take any part. There are records of her letters to Emperor Charles V calling for his assistance in any way possible to stop the divorce or annulment.

25 July
1529

Papal legate Campeggio adjourns the court hearing Henry’s petition of annulment, proposing to reconvene in October and give judgement. The Cardinal claimed that he was following the normal sitting dates of Rome (not really appropriate in England). This outrages Henry and others including the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk.

19–20 September
1529

The Lord Chancellor Cardinal Wolsey and Cardinal Campeggio ride from London to seek an urgent audience with King Henry at Grafton Regis in Northamptonshire. Cardinal Wolsey was sidelined while Campeggio is ordered to leave England within the next few days. His luggage is searched at Dover for the missing correspondence. However his son Rodolpho has already left for Rome with the crucial letters.