of food and ammunition, he compelled the Pontiff to accept humiliating terms of truce. Clement was obliged to desert his allies; to withdraw his troops below the Tiber; to abandon Genoa to her enemies; and withdraw his countenance from the League.

6. Moncada's insult to the Pontiff led to more confidential talk between the courts of France and England. François raised no objection to Mary's person, but his cabinet said her birth was subject to canonical doubts. "Your Highness has good cause to trust the King,' said Clerk to François, ' since he is ready to give you his daughter, the jewel of his kingdom, and the pearl of the world, esteemed by him more than anything on earth.' 'Well,' cried François, 'on the faith of a gentleman, I had a mind to marry her before I went to Italy.' 'At what, sir, 'At what, sir, do you stick then?' asked the English bishop: 'it standeth only with yourself that it is not performed, for she is offered to you under those conditions that you cannot wish them better; and she is, besides, of that beauty and virtue- 'Stay!' exclaimed the King, I pray you speak no more. I know well enough her education, her form and fashion, her beauty and virtue, and what father and mother she cometh of, and how expedient and necessary it is. for me and for my realm that I shall marry her.' Louise of Savoy held a similar language. She told the bishop that her son's mind had long 'been clearly fixed' on marrying the King's daughter, 'as the thing most profitable to his realm.' Acute ob

servers thought the King of France would end by marrying Mary. Rosso wrote from Paris to the Signory, 'He will wed the King of England's daughter, and is sending two ambassadors to conclude the match.'

7. Henry was deeply moved by what had taken place in Rome; the more so as events were throwing the Pontiff more completely under Charles's feet. Clement, if left alone, seemed willing to do right. The Emperor was pressing him to cite the King and Queen of England to appear in Rome; but Clement told him such a thing could not be done, unless the Queen made oath that justice was denied her in the English courts. On hearing of the Pope's distress, Henry sent money, and the cardinals in Rome were loud in their appreciation of his gift. Russell and Wyat took out no less than thirty thousand ducats in English gold; and they had orders to obtain and add to this amount the tribute due from France. Henry was more than popular with the Roman priests and cardinals. He was their prince, their pillar, their defence. Cardinal Campeggio wrote to say the Pontiff was expressing his sense of the King's bounty in full conclave, calling him a true Defender of the Faith. Wolsey, wishing to take advantage of this leaning in the Pope to push the secret matter and the French marriage, dropt a hint that England could not join the French league until the match had been arranged. This match required the Pope's assistance. Mary and Charles were pledged, according to the canon law; Elinor and

VOL. IV.

C

François were pledged according to the canon law; and those whom God had sealed could be separated only by the Pope. Two bulls were therefore wanted from the Vatican. Yet underneath these open topics, and of nearer moment to the Cardinal, since his master was beginning to suspect him of lukewarmness, lay the secret matter' of the King.

19

CHAPTER IV.

SACK OF ROME.

1527.

1. SPURRING from London as the Cardinal's guests were reeling home, Russell and Wyat crossed the Straits, and got to Paris on the tenth of January. François was hunting, and the envoys were detained. Rosso learnt that they were carrying thirty thousand ducats to the Pope; that they were charged to make him promises of support; that they were going to Lannoi, Viceroy of Naples, and warn him not to raise his hand against the Holy See. Five days they spent at Poissy and St. Germain, waiting for the King and talking with Louise. The envoys, wishing to go forward, hinted to the King that it was time for him to give up hunting swine, without being able to procure the French arrears, they leaped into the saddle, rode to Lyons, and ascending by the Rhone, arrived at Chambery, where they found Duke Charles of Savoy, half-brother of Louise. Charles offered them his service; but he told them the roads were bad, the passes of Mont Cenis deep

in snow. The Alpine towns were much disturbed, and gangs of ruffians lurked among the rocks. To get the thirty thousand English ducats safely through the Alps would be no easy job.

2. An embassy from the King of England, moving with a train of mules and lancers, would be sure to draw attention. What protection could a Duke of Savoy, living at Chambery, give them in such Alpine gorges as St. Michel and Molaret? Listening to good advice, Russell and Wyat resolved to leave their servants at Chambery, and taking a single herald in their company, go up the snowy wastes alone. Outside the city gates they met a horseman spurring in with news from Milan. 'Push on fast!' he cried to them; the enemy is seizing all the roads; in a few days no one will be allowed to pass.' Plunging into the snow, the horsemen clomb the mountain, crossed the summit, dropped into Turin, and reached Savona on the twenty-eighth. Here they found Count Pedro de Navarre, who had deserted Charles and taken service with the King of France. His galleys being at sea, they had to lose some days in waiting their return; yet early in February they got away, and making for Civita Vecchia, landed on the fourth. No horses could be hired in the old papal port, and after waiting thirty hours they started on two wretched nags, attended by some footmen armed with guns. Near Castel di Guido they were met by Papal officers, bringing two good Arab horses from the Pope's own stables. Russell