CHA P. agreed to pay this compliment to Henry, in confideration XXVIII. of that prince's paffing the fea, that he might be present at the interview. Wolfey, to whom both kings had en1520 trusted the regulation of the ceremonial, contrived this circumstance, in order to do honour to his master. THE two monarchs, after faluting each other in the most cordial manner, retired into a tent which had been erected on purpose, and they held a fecret conference together. Henry here propofed to make some amendments on the articles of their former alliance; and he began to read the treaty, I Henry, King: Thefe were the first words; and he ftopt a moment. He fubjoined only the words, of England, without adding, France, the ufual ftyle of the English monarchs L. Francis remarked this delicacy, and expressed by a smile his approbation ⚫ of it. He took an 'opportunity foon after of paying a compliment to Henry of a more flattering nature. That generous prince, full of honour himself, and incapable of diftrufting others, was fhocked at all the precautions which were observed, whenever he had an interview with the English monarch: The number of their guards and attendants was carefully counted on both fides: Every step was fcrupulously measured and adjufted: And if the two kings proposed to pay a visit to the queens, they departed from their feveral quarters at the fame inftant, which was marked by the firing of a culverin; they paffed each other in the middle point between the places; and at the fame instant that Henry entered Ardres, Francis put himfelf into the hands of the English at Guifnes. In order to break off this tedious ceremony, which contained fo many dishonourable implications, Francis, one day, took with him two gentleman and a page, and rode directly into Guifnes. The guards were furprized at the presence of the monarch, who called aloud to them, You are all my prifoners: Carry me to your mafter. Henry was equally aftonished at the appearance of Francis; and taking him in his arms, "My brother," faid he, " you have "here played me the most agreeable trick in the world, "and have fhewed me the full confidence I may place "in you: I furrender myself your prifoner from this "moment." 22 He took from his neck a collar of pearls, L Memoirs de Fleuranges. worth 15 20. worth 15000 angels M; and putting it about Francis's, C H A P. begged him to wear it for the fake of his prisoner. Fran- XXVIII. cis agreed, but on condition that Henry fhould wear a bracelet, of which he made him a prefent, and which was double in value to the collar ". The king went next day to Ardres, without guards or attendants; and confidence being now fully established between the monarchs, they employed the rest of the time entirely in tournaments and feftivals. A DEFIANCE had been fent by the two Kings to each other's court, and through all the chief cities of Europe, importing, that Henry and Francis, with fourteen aids, would be ready, in the plains of Picardy, to answer all comers, that were gentlemen, at tilt, tourney, and barriers. The monarchs, in order to fulfil this challenge, advanced into the field on horseback, Francis furrounded with Henry's guards, and Henry with thofe of Francis. They were gorgeoufly apparelled; and were both of them the most comely perfonages of their age, as well as the most expert in every military exercife. They carried away the prize at all trials in thofe rough and dangerous paftimes; and feveral horfes and riders were overthrown by their vigour and dexterity. The ladies were the judges in these feats of chivalry, and put an end to the rencounter, whenever they judged it expedient. Henry erected a fpacious houfe of wood and canvas, which had been framed in London; and he here feafted the French monarch. He had placed a motto on this fabric, under the figure of an English archer embroidered on it, Cui adhæreo præeft; He prevails whom I favour: Expreffing his own fituation, as holding in his hands the balance of power among the potentates of Europe. In these entertainments more than in any ferious business, did the two kings pafs their time, till their departure. HENRY, after his return to Calais, paid a visit to 24th June. the emperor and Margaret of Savoy at Gravelines, and engaged them to go along with him to Calais, and pafs fome days in that fortrefs. The artful and politic Charles here compleated the impreffion, which he had begun to make on Henry and his favourite, and effaced all the friendship, M An angel was then estimated at seven shillings, or near twelve of our present money. N Memoires de Fleuranges. • Mezeray. 1 CHA P. friendship, to which the frank and liberal nature of XXVIII. Francis had given birth. As the house of Auftria began fenfibly to take the afcendant over the French monarchy, 1521. the interests of England required, that fome fupport should be given to the latter, and above all, that any important wars fhould be prevented, which might bestow on either of them a decifive fuperiority over the other. But the jealoufy of the English against France has ever prevented a cordial union between these nations: And Charles, fenfible of this hereditary animofity, and defirous farther to flatter Henry's vanity, had made him an offer, (an offer in which Francis was afterwards obliged to concur) that he should be entire arbiter in any difpute or difference that should arise between the monarchs. But the great masterpiece of Charles's politics was the fecuring Wolfey in his interefts, by very important fervices, and still higher promifes. He renewed affurances of affifting him in obtaining the papacy; and he put him in prefent poffeffion of the revenues, belonging to the fees of Badajox and Palencia in Caftile. The acquifitions of Wolfey were now become fo exorbitant, that, joined to the penfions from foreign powers, which Henry allowed him to poffefs, his revenues were computed nearly to equal those which belonged to the crown itself; and he fpent them with a magnificence, or rather an oftentation, which gave general offence to the people; and much leffened his mafter in the eyes of all foreign nations. THE violent perfonal emulation and political jealoufy, which had taken place between the emperor and the French king, foon broke out in action. Francis sent an army into Navarre under the command of de Foix, in order to replace the family of Albert in poffeffion of that kingdom; and this enterprize could not have been complained of as a breach of treaty, had de Foix confined himself to that equitable undertaking. But after he had fubdued Navarre, finding Spain in great disorder from the infurrections of the people, he thought the opportunity favourable, and he ventured, with Francis's approbation, to lay fiege to Logrogno in Caftile. This inva fion, contrary to what was expected, put an end to the domeftic diffentions of the Caftilians; who attacked the French, obliged them to raise the siege, purfued the advantage Polydore Virgil. Hall. vantage, and entirely expelled them from Navarre, which CHA P. has ever fince remained united with the Spanish monar- XXVIII. chy Robert de la Marck, duke of Bouillon, and prince of Sedan, having received fome difguft from the gover- 1521. nefs of the Low Countries, had taken arms and invaded thofe provinces; and had even fent a challenge or defiance to the emperor himself R: A boldness, which feemed entirely unaccountable, except on the fuppofition that this petty prince received fecret encouragement from Francis. On the other hand, Charles, in order to chaftife the infolence of Robert, had levied a powerful army, and advanced to the frontiers of France, which he threatened with an invafion. Hoftilities were foon carried farther; his generals befieged Moufon, which they took; they invested Mezieres, where they met with a repulse. In Italy likewife the two monarchs were not inactive. Francis negociated with the pope, in order to engage him to concur in expelling the imperialists from Naples : But Charles had the addrefs to finish his league with the fame power for expelling the French from Milan; and the united arms of the allies had invaded that dutchy, and had almost entirely finished their enterprize. WHIE these ambitious and warlike princes were acting in a hostile manner against each other in every part of Europe, they still made profeffions of the strongest defire of peace; and both of them carried inceffantly their complaints to Henry, as to the umpire between them. The Mediation king, who appeared neutral, engaged them to fend their of Henry. ambaffadors to Calais, there to negociate a peace under the mediation of Wolfey and the pope's nuncio. The emperor was well acquainted with the partiality of these mediators; and his demands in the conference were fo unreasonable, as plainly proved him confcious of this advantage. He required the reftitution of Burgundy, a province, which many years before had been ceded to France by treaty, and which, if in his poffeffion, would have given him accefs into the midst of that kingdom: And he demanded to be freed from the homage, which his ancestors had ever paid for Flanders and Artois, and which he himself had, by the treaty of Noyon, promifed to renew. On Francis's rejecting thofe terms, the congrefs Vera, hift, de Charl. V. R Memoires de Bellay, lib. 1. CHA P. grefs at Calais broke up, and Wolfey, foon after, took XXVIII. a journey to Bruges, where he met with the emperor. He was received with the fame ftate, magnificence, and 1521 respect, as if he had been the king of England himself; 24th Nov. and he concluded in his master's name an offenfive alliance with the pope and the emperor against France. He engaged, that England fhould next fummer invade that kingdom with forty thoufand men; and he betrothed to Charles the princefs Mary, the king's only child, who had now fome profpect of inheriting the crown. This extravagant alliance, which was prejudicial to the interefts, and might have proved fatal to the liberty and independence of the kingdom, was the refult of the humours and prejudices of the king, and the private views and expectations of the cardinal. THE people faw every day new inftances of the uncontrouled authority of this minifter. The duke of Buckingham, conftable of England, the first nobleman both for family and fortune in the kingdom, had been fo unfortunate as to give difguft to the cardinal; and it was not long before he found reason to repent his indifcretion. He feems to have been a man full of levity and rafh projects; and being infatuated with judicial aftrology, he nation of entertained commerce with one Hopkins, a Carthufiant the duke of friar, who encouraged him in the notion of his mountBucking- ing one day the throne of England. He was defcend Trial and condem bam. ed by a female from the duke of Glocefter, youngest fon of Edward the third; and though his claim to the crown was thereby very remote, he had been fo imprudent as to let fall fome expreffions, as if he thought himfelf beft intitled, in cafe the king should die without iffue, to poffefs the royal dignity. He had not even abstained from threats against the king's life, and had provided himself of arms, which he intended to employ, in cafe a favourable opportunity fhould offer. He was brought to a trial; and the duke of Norfolk, whofe fon, the earl of Surrey, had married Buckingham's daughter, was created lord fteward, in order to prefide at this folemn procédure. The jury confifted of a duke, a marquis, feven earls, and twelve barons; and they gave their verdict against Buckingham, which was foon after carried into execution. There is no reafon to think the fentence unjust s; but as Buckingham's Herbert. Hall. Stowe, 513. Holingfhed, p. 862. |