The King continued, however, to be a staunch Catholic, and certainly had no thought at this period of doing anything which should tend to undermine the authority of that ancient form of worship.  In Germany, Martin Luther was making ready to begin his tremendous battle against the power and teachings of the Papacy.  In 1517 he nailed to the door of the church of Wittenberg that famous series of denunciations which started the movement that ultimately protested against the authority of Rome, and gave the name of Protestant to all who joined it.

A few years later Henry published a reply to one of Luther’s books, and sent a copy bound in cloth of gold to the Pope.  The Pope was so delighted with what he termed Henry’s “angelic spirit” that he forthwith conferred on him the title of “Defender of the Faith.”  The English sovereigns have persisted in retaining this title to the present time, though for what reason, and with what right, even a royal intellect might be somewhat puzzled to explain.

With this new and flattering title the Pope also sent the King a costly two-handed sword, intended to represent Henry’s zeal in smiting the enemies of Rome.  But it was destined by fate to become to tsymbol of the King’s final separation from the power that bestowed it (S349).

341.  Victory of Flodden (1513); “Field of the Cloth of Gold” (1520).

Politically, Henry was equally fortunate.  The Scotch had ventured to attack the kingdom during the King’s absence on the Continent.  At Flodden, on the borders of Scotland and England, they were defeated by the Earl of Surrey, with great slaughter. (See map facing p. 120.) This victory placed Scotland at Henry’s feet.[1]

[1] See Scott’s “Marmion.”

The King of France and the Emperor Charles V of Germany now vied with each other in seeking Henry’s alliance.  The Emperor visited England in order to meet the English sovereign, while the King of France arranged an interview in his own dominions, known, from the magnificence of its appointments, as the “Field of the Cloth of Gold.”  Henry held the balance of power by which he could make France or Germany predominate as he saw fit.  It was owing to his able diplomatic policy, or to that of Cardinal Wolsey, his chief counsellor, that England reaped advantages from both sides, and advanced from a comparatively low position to one that was fully abreast of the foremost nations of Europe.

342.  Henry’s Marriage with his Brother’s Widow.

Such was the King at the outset.  In less than twenty years he had become another man.  At the age of twelve he had married at his father’s command, and solely for political and mercenary reasons, Catharine of Aragon, his brother Arthur’s widow (S333), who was six years his senior.  Such a marriage was forbidden, except in certain cases, by the Old Testament and by the ordinances of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Pope, however, had granted his permission, and when Henry ascended the throne, the ceremony was performed a second time.  Several children were the fruit of this union, all of whom died in infancy, except one daughter, Mary, unhappily fated to figure as the “Bloody Mary” of later history (S374).