But, if it was the book against Luther, it was laid aside and rewritten before it was given to the world in its final form.

Nothing more is heard of it for three years.

In April, 1521, Pace explains to Wolsey the delay in sending him on some news-letters from Germany "which his grace had not read till this day after his dinner; and thus he commanded me to write unto your grace, declaring he was otherwise occupied; _i.e., in scribendo contra Lutherum,_ as I do conjecture".[345] Nine days later Pace found the King reading a new book of Luther's, "which he dispraised"; and he took the opportunity to show Henry Leo's bull against the Reformer.
"His grace showed himself well contented with the coming of the same; howbeit, as touching the publication thereof, he said he would have it well examined and diligently looked to afore it were published."[346] Even in the height of his fervour against heresy, Henry was in no mood to abate one jot or one tittle of his royal authority in ecclesiastical matters.
[Footnote 337: _L.

and P._, ii., 4115.] [Footnote 338: _L.

and P._, iii., 226.] [Footnote 339: _Ibid._, iii., 251.] [Footnote 340: _Ibid._, ii., 4340.] [Footnote 341: _Ibid._, iv., 5412; for the freedom with which Cranmer in later days debated with Henry see the present writer's _Cranmer_, p.