XXVII. 1514. for this egregious treachery and breach of faith". CHA P. But he lost all patience when informed of the other negociation, by which Maximilian was alfo feduced from his alliance, and in which propofals had been agreed to, for the marriage of the prince of Spain with the daughter of France. Charles, during the lifetime of the late king, had been affianced to Mary, Henry's younger fifter; and as the prince now approached the age of puberty, the king had expected the immediate completion of the marriage, and the honorable fettlement of a fifter, for whom he had entertained a tender affection. Such a complication, therefore, of injuries gave him the highest displeasure, and inspired him with a defire of expreffing his difdain towards those who had impofed on his youth and inexperience, and had abused his too great facility. THE duke of Longueville, who had been made prisoner at the battle of Guinegate, and who was ftill detained in England, was ready to take advantage of all these difpofitions of Henry, in order to procure a peace and even an alliance, which he knew to be paffionately defired by his mafter. He reprefented to the king, that Anne, queen of France, being lately dead, a door was thereby opened for an affinity, which might tend to the advantage of both kingdoms, and which would ferve to terminate honorably all the differences between them: That he had left Lewis no male children; and as he had ever entertained 1514. CHAP. a strong defire of having heirs to the crown, no XXVII. marriage feemed more fuitable to him than that with the princefs of England, whofe youth and beauty afforded the moft flattering hopes in that particular: That though the marriage of a princefs of fixteen, with a king of fifty-three, might feem unfuitable; yet the other advantages, attending the alliance, were more than a fufficient compenfation for this inequality: And that Henry, in loofening his connexions with Spain, from which he had never reaped any advantage, would contract a close affinity with Lewis, a prince, who, through his whole life, had invariably maintained. the character of probity and honor. Peace with As Henry feemed to hearken to this difcourfe with willing ears, Longueville informed his mafter of the probability, which he discovered of bringing the matter to a happy conclufion; and he received full powers for negociating the treaty. The articles were eafily adjusted between the monarchs. Lewis agreed that Tournay should remain in the hands of the English; that Richard 7th Auguft. de la Pole fhould be banished to Metz, there to live on a penfion affigned him by Lewis; that Henry should receive payment of a million of crowns, being the arrears due by treaty to his father and himself; and that the princefs Mary fhould bring four hundred thousand crowns as her portion, and enjoy as large a jointure as any queen of France, even the former, who was heiress of Britanny. The two princes alfo agreed on the fuccours, with which they should mutually fupply each other, in cafe either of them were attacked c HA P. by an enemy 41 XXVII. 9th O&ob. IN confequence of this treaty, Mary was fent over to France with a fplendid retinue, and Lewis met her at Abbeville, where the efpoufals were celebrated. He was enchanted with the beauty, grace, and numerous accomplishments of the young princefs; and being naturally of an amorous difpofition, which his advanced age had not entirely cooled, he was seduced into fuch a course of gaiety and pleasure, as proved very unfuitable He died in to his declining state of health **. lefs than three months after the marriage, to the ft Jan. extreme regret of the French nation, who fenfible of his tender concern for their welfare, gave him with one voice the honorable appellation of father of his people. 42 FRANCIS, duke of Angouleme, a youth of one and twenty, who had married Lewis's elder daughter, fucceeded him on the throne; and by his activity, valor, generofity, and other virtues, gave prognoftics of a happy and glorious reign. This young monarch had been extremely ftruck with the charms of the English princefs; and even during his predeceffor's life-time, had payed her fuch affiduous court, as made fome of his friends apprehend, that he had entertained views of gallantry towards her. But being warned, that, by indulging this paffion, he might probably exclude himself from the throne, he forbore all 41 Du Tillet. 42 Brantome, Eloge de Louis XII. 1 1515. CHAP. farther addreffes; and even watched the young XXVII. dowager with a very careful eye during the first months of her widowhood. Charles Brandon duke of Suffolk, was at that time in the court of France, the moft comely perfonage of his time, and the most accomplished in all the exercises, which were then thought to befit a courtier and a foldier. He was Henry's chief favorite; and that monarch had even once entertained thoughts of marrying him to his fifter, and had given indulgence to the mutual paffion, which took place between them. The queen asked Suffolk, whether he had now the courage, without farther reflection, to espouse her; and fhe told him, that her brother would more eafily forgive him for not afking his confent, than for acting contrary to his orders. Suffolk declined not fo inviting an offer; and their nuptials were fecretly celebrated at Paris. Francis, who was pleafed with this marriage, as it prevented Henry from forming any powerful alliance by means of his fifter " interpofed his good offices in appeafing him: And even Wolfey, having entertained no jealousy of Suffolk, who was content to participate in the king's pleasures, and had no ambition to engage in public bufinefs, was active in reconciling the king to his fifter and brother-in-law; and he obtained them permiffion to return to England. 43 CHAP. 2 to France Wolfe appointed legate His manner of exercising that office - Death of the emperor Maxi- - Interview between Henry and Francis near Calais Mediation of Henry Trial and condemnation of the duke of Fuckingham. THE numerous enemies, whom Wolfey's fudden c A P.. elevation, his aspiring character, and his haughty E xxvIII. ISIS. adminiftra Wolfey's tion. |