CONTENTS. CHAP. XII. The Reign of Elizabeth. CHAP. XIII. The Reign of James I. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. T CHAP. X. Continuation of the Reign of Henry VIII. HUS, mutual recriminations taking place, which dissolved their former ties, Henry hesitated not to conclude an alliance with the regent of France, and engaged to procure her son his liberty on reasonable conditions. The regent also, in another treaty, acknowledged the kingdom Henry's debtor, for one million eight hundred thousand crowns, to be discharged in halfyearly payments of fifty thousand crowns; after which the king of England was to receive, during life, a yearly pension of a hundred thousand. A large present of a hundred thousand crowns was also made to Wolsey for his good offices, but covered under the pretence of arrears due on the pension granted him, for relinquishing the administration of l'ournay. To support the approaching war with the em peror, Henry again renewed his impositions by way of benevolence; but the people bore not these exactions with their usual patience. The odium against the cardinal, to whom these oppressive counsels were attributed, increased; and he endeavoured VOL. II. B deavoured to lessen it, by making his master a present of a splendid palace, which he had built at Hampton-court, but which he was afraid to inhabit himself, in the present temper of the nation. In the mean time, the transactions on the continent claimed the constant attention of Henry. Soon after the defeat of Pavia, Francis had been removed to the castle of Madrid; but the terms demanded as the price of his liberty were such, that he declared himself determined to die, rather than submit to them. At last the emperor, dreading a general combination againt him, was willing to abate somewhat of his rigour; and the treaty of Madrid was signed, by which it was hoped an end would be finally put to the differences between these great monarchs. The principal condition, was the restoring of Fran cis's liberty, and the delivery of his two eldest sons, as hostages to the emperor for the cession of Burgundy. If any difficulty should afterward occur in the execution of this last article, from the opposition of the states, either of France or of that province, Francis stipulated, that in six weeks time he should return to his prison, and remain there till the full performance of the treaty. There were many other articles in this famous convention, all of them extremely severe upon the captive monarch. A. D. 1524. Charles's ministers foresaw that Francis would never execute a treaty so destructive to himself and his country; and they were not mistaken in their judgment. Francis, on entering his own dominions, delivered his two eldest sons as hostages into the hands of the Spaniards. He then mounted a Turkish horse, horse, and immediately putting him to the gallop, waved his hand, and cried aloud several times, "I am yet a king." He soon reached Bayonne, where he was joyfully received by the regent and his whole court. He immediately wrote to Henry, acknowledging, that to his good offices alone he owed his liberty, and protesting that he should be entirely governed by his counsels, in all transactions with the emperor. The states of Burgundy soon met; and declaring against the clause which contained an engagement for alienating their province, they expressed their resolution of opposing, even by force of arms, the execution of so ruinous and unjust an article. The imperial minister then required that Francis, in conformity to the treaty of Madrid, should now return to his prison; but the French monarch, instead of complying, made public the treaty, which a little before he had secretly concluded at Cognac, against the ambitious schemes and usurpations of the emperor. Pope Clement, who suspected that this prince would never execute a treaty so hurtful to his interests, and even destructive of his independency, very frankly offered him a dispensation from all his oaths and engagements; and was instrumental in forming a confederacy in his favour. It was stipulated by Francis, the Pope, the Venetians, the Swiss, the Florentines, and the duke of Milan, among other articles, that they would oblige the emperor to deliver up the two young princes of France, on receiving a reason able sum of money. The king of England was invited to accede, not only as a contracting party, but as protector of the " holy league," as B 2 this |