autrenecherche:

“There isn’t a way to know how much of it Henry wrote himself, but it is definite that this detraction of his scholarship originates from Luther himself, and is more political than genuine. While the love fest between Henry VIII and the Catholic Church continued unabated, Luther read and countered Henry’s Defense with a simple and effective tool. He claimed that Henry was not the author of the treatise and hence, it must not be taken seriously.

However, a little after this time, Luther apparently extended a hand of friendship to Henry. In a letter in 1525, Luther wrote to Henry apologizing for his attack on the King and for claiming that the book was not his work. The only way it could be done, he puts the blame squarely on Wolsey’s shoulders.

“præsertim illud monstrum et publicum odium Dei et hominum, cardinalis Eboracensis, pestis illa regni tui”/ “especially a monster and the public menace  to God and man, the cardinal of York, the scourge of thy kingdom”

At this time, Wolsey’s influence over Henry still held, and the King wrote back to Luther in fierce defence of his minister, claiming that Wolsey would be dearer to the King the more he is hated by Luther and other heretics. He also praises the Cardinal and credits him with many advantages incurred by the Kingdom due to the Cardinal, especially opposition to heresy.

Claiming that he had been influenced by Henry’s enemies, Luther gave his excuses for such an action and begged for the King’s friendship and forgiveness. Luther had also offered to publicly recant on his take of the authorship of this book and expressed his wish to write a book in praise of King Henry, which offer Henry declines in this letter.

After such consistent refusal of friendship on Henry’s part, it was not surprising that Luther later refused to stand by him in his hour of need. When the Catholic Church was unable to grant a divorce to Henry, he turned elsewhere for support. Martin Luther, while not influenced by the endless debate on papal dispensations, claimed to believe in the sanctity of marriage and supported Catherine of Aragon in this feud.”  

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