140 Readings in Europe an History whole matter from Wolsey's control. He thereby forfeited the king's favor, and Sir Thomas More was appointed chancellor in his stead. A few months after the trial (October, 1529) we find Wolsey writing piteously to the disappointed monarch. 268..W0I- Most gracious and merciful Sovereign Lord : a ey eai P to e ° US Though that I, your poor, heavy, and wretched priest, do Henry Vlll daily pursue, cry, and call upon your Royal Majesty for grace, (October, mercy, remission, and pardon, yet in most humble wise I 1 beseech your Highness not to think that it proceedeth of any mistrust that I have in your merciful goodness, nor that I would encumber or molest your Majesty by any indiscreet or inopportune suit ; but that the same only cometh of an inward and ardent desire that I have continually to declare unto your Highness how that, wot unto God, I neither desire nor covet anything in this world but the attaining of your gracious favor and forgiveness of my trespass. And for this cause I cannot desist nor forbear, but to be a continual and most lowly suppliant to your benign grace. For surely, most gracious king, the remembrance of my folly, with the sharp word of your Highness' displeasure, hath so penetrated my heart that I cannot but lamentably cry and say, " It is sufficient." Now withhold thy hand, most merciful king. Forgive and ye shall be forgiven. . . . Your Grace's most prostrate, poor chaplain, creature, and beadsman, Thomas, Cardinal York, most unhappy. V. Henry VIII repudiates the Headship of the Pope The pope excommunicated Henry in 1533 for repu- diating Catherine. The king replied by extorting from the English bishops, abbots, and priests written acknowl- edgments that the Roman pontiff had no more authority than any other foreign bishop. In the spring of 1534 Parliament passed an act regulating the succession to
