Wolsey was despatched on a solemn embassy to Francis to promise an English subsidy on the despatch of a French army across the Alps.

But he aimed at turning the Pope's situation to the profit of the divorce.

Clement was virtually a prisoner in the Castle of St.Angelo; and as it was impossible for him to fulfil freely the function of a Pope, Wolsey proposed in conjunction with Francis to call a meeting of the College of Cardinals at Avignon which should exercise the papal powers till Clement's liberation.

As Wolsey was to preside over this assembly, it would be easy to win from it a favourable answer to Henry's request.
[Sidenote: The Legatine Commission] But Clement had no mind to surrender his power, and secret orders from the Pope prevented the Italian Cardinals from attending such an assembly.

Nor was Wolsey more fortunate in another plan for bringing about the same end by inducing Clement to delegate to him his full powers westward of the Alps.