+Source.+--Cavendish's _Life of Wolsey_, p. 229.
"I will give no judgement herein until I have made relation unto the
Pope of all our proceedings, whose counsel and commandment in this
high case I will observe. The case is too high and notable known
throughout the world, for us to give any hasty judgement, considering
the highness of the persons and the doubtful allegations; and also
whose commissioners we be, and under whose authority we sit here. It
was therefore reason, that we should make our chief head of counsel in
the same, before we proceed to judgement definitive. I come not so far
to please any man, for fear, meed, or favour, be he king or any other
potentate. I have no such respect to the persons that I will offend my
conscience. I will not for favour or displeasure of any high estate or
mighty prince do that thing that should be against the law of God. I
am an old man, both sick and impotent, looking daily for death. What
should it then avail me to put my soul in the danger of God's
displeasure, to my utter damnation, for the favour of any prince or
high estate in this world? My coming and being here is only to see
justice ministered according to my conscience, as I thought thereby
the matter either good or bad. And for as much as I do understand, and
having perceivance by the allegations and negations in this matter
laid for both the parties, that the truth in this case is very
doubtful to be known, and also that the party defendant will make no
answer thereunto, but doth rather appeal from us, supposing that we be
not indifferent, considering the king's high dignity and authority
within his own realm which he hath over his own subjects; and we being
his subjects, and having our livings and dignities in the same, she
thinketh that we cannot minister true and indifferent justice for fear
of his displeasure. Therefore to avoid all these ambiguities and
obscure doubts, I intend not to damn my soul for no prince nor
potentate alive. I will therefore, God willing, wade no farther in
this matter, unless I have the just opinion and judgement, with the
assent of the pope, and such other of his counsel as hath more
experience and learning in such doubtful laws than I have. Wherefore I
will adjourn this court for this time, according to the order of the
court in Rome, from whence this court and jurisdiction is derived. And
if we should go further than our commission doth warrant us, it were
folly and vain, and much to our slander and blame; and we might be
accounted the same breakers of this order of the higher court from
whence we have (as I said) our original authorities."