Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But howsoeuer it came about, Edw. Hall that the king was thus troubled in conscience concerning his mariage, this followed, that like a wise & sage prince, to haue the doubt cleerelie remooued, he called togither the best learned of the realme,The king is desirous to be resolued by the opinions of the learned touching his marriage. which were of seuerall o|pinions. Wherfore he thought to know the truth by indifferent iudges, least peraduenture the Spani|ards, and other also in fauour of the quéene would saie, that his owne subiects were not indifferent iud|ges in this behalfe. And therefore he wrote his cause to Rome, and also sent to all the vniuersities in Ita|lie and France, and to the great clearkes of all chri|stendome, to know their opinions, and desired the court of Rome to send into his realme a legat, which should be indifferent, and of a great and profound iudgement, to heare the cause debated. At whose re|quest the whole consistorie of the college of Rome sent thither Laurence Campeius, a préest cardinall,Cardinall Campeius sent into England. a man of great wit and experience, which was sent hither before in the tenth yeare of this king, as yée haue heard, and with him was ioined in commission the cardinall of Yorke and legat of England.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This cardinall came to London in October, and did intimate both to the king & queene the cause of his comming: which being knowne,The matter touching the kings mar|riage debated. great talke was had thereof. The archbishop of Canturburie sent for the famous doctors of both the vniuersities to Lam|beth, EEBO page image 907 and there were euerie daie disputations and communings of this matter. And bicause the king meant nothing but vprightlie therein, and knew well that the quéene was somewhat wedded to hir owne opinion, and wished that she should do nothing without counsell, he bad hir choose the best clearks of his realme to be of hir counsell, and licenced them to doo the best on hir part that they could, according to the truth. Then she elected William Warham arch|bishop of Canturburie,The quéene chooseth law|yers for hir part. and Nicholas Weast bishop of Elie, doctors of the laws; and Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester, and Henrie Standish bishop of saint Assaph, doctors of diuinitie, and manie o [...]her doctors and well learned men, which for suertie like men of great learning defended hir cause, as farre as lear|ning might mainteine and hold it vp.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 This yeare was sir Iames Spenser maior of London, Polydor. in whose time the watch in London on Midsummer night was laid downe. About this time the king receiued into fauour doctor Stephan Gar|diner,Doctor Ste|phã Gardner. whose seruice he vsed in matters of great se|crecie and weight, admitting him in the roome of doctor Pace,Doctor Pace falleth out of his wits. the which being continuallie abroad in ambassages, and the same oftentimes not much ne|cessarie, by the cardinals appointment, at length he tooke such gréefe therewith, that he fell out of his right wits. The place where the cardinals should sit to heare the cause of matrimonie betwixt the king and the quéene, Anno Reg. 21. Edw. Hall. was ordeined to be at the Blacke friers in London, where in the great hall was preparation made of seats, tables, and other furniture, accor|ding to such a solemne session and roiall apparance. The court was platted in tables and benches in manner of a consistorie, Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 959. The maner of the session, e|uerie perso|nage of ac|count in his place. one seat raised higher for the iudges to sit in. Then as it were in the midst of the said iudges aloft aboue them three degrées high, was a cloth of estate hanged, with a chaire roiall vnder the same, wherein sat the king; and besides him, some distance from him sat the quéene, and vnder the iud|ges feet sat the scribes and other officers: the chéefe scribe was doctor Stéeuens, and the caller of the court was one Cooke of Winchester.