4

affift the Venetians in the Siege of Breffia, which in a few Days furrendered upon Articles. Encouraged with this Succefs, they next laid Siege to Verona; but here they found a fenfible Change of Fortune, being repulfed with much Slaughter and Lofs, which caused them to retire to their respective Governments.

Maximilian, hearing of this ill Succefs of his Enemies, recovered his loft Spirits, and talked big of renewing the War; and firft he begun with founding the Pope, but found that his private Views would not fuffer him to break openly with Francis. He also tried Charles, but found his Council would by no means liften to his Propofal of joining against France, alledging, for a Reason, that Charles had much greater Affairs to fettle in refpect to the Government of the different States lately fallen to him. His laft Hopes were to engage Henry to become a Principal in the War, and therefore fent his chief Minifter to implore his Aid, and at the fame time to excuse his Mafter's late fcandalous Retreat, by laying the Blame on the Swifs; who, meeting with a favourable Audience, foon dispatched what he was charged with, and returned to his Master.

But Pace, in his Letter to the King, which was entirely agreeable to our Minifter's Sentiments at Home, plainly tells his Majefty, "That the Empe"ror's Negligence loft the Victory, and that the Sol"diers ran away without Caufe: That the Emperor "promifes to fet forward again into Italy, but that

he could not believe his Words any farther than "Deeds fhould confirm them."

This Letter, and what Sir Robert Wingfield wrote to the King, prevented his Majefty's thinking to affift the Emperor in his Italian Expedition. Notwithftanding the Emperor's prefent Negotiations for carrying on a War, that he might not recede from what he had from the Beginning acted, he was then priyately treating with France about a Peace; though it

was

was not carried on fo fecretly, but the Cardinal had. Notice of it; of which he acquaints Tunftal, then in the Low Countries, that, when this Intelligence was brought to the King, it was not fuppofed to be true, though he well knew it was no new thing for the Emperor to act a double Part; and therefore adwifes Tunftal to enquire, whether there was any Truth in the Report.

Tunftal was fo affiduous in answering this Charge, that he immediately gave the Cardinal an Answer, and fatisfied him, that there was Truth in the Report; and withal expreffed his Diflike of a League proposed between the King and young King Charles, for this Reafon, he would not have his Majesty involve bimfelf in foreign Affairs, to mentain the Interests of other Princes; * which he enforces by reprefenting the ill State of those with whom the King was to contract, and faith, "The Emperor is poor, and not

able to defend himself, and therefore his Affistance “could not be of any Significancy: That the Catholick King was out of his Realm, and as poor as his Grandfather; and that, if any Invasion fhould happen, all the Burthen must lie upon the King of England." Thefe Remonftrances had a good Effect, and stayed the English Court from engaging too deeply either with Spain or the Emperor.

Francis in the mean time was well pleafed with what had happened in Italy, as the Emperor was retreated from thence, though he had met with fome. Disappointment in the Siege of Verona; and, as Ferdinand was dead, he begun now to form the Project of conquering Naples ; but, just as he was going to put his Defign in Execution, he was disappointed : For, apprehending he had firmly attached the Pope to his Intereft, by the laft Interview, he found himself grofly mistaken, the Pope's prefent View being

We wish this weighty Reason may more and more prevail,

to

to make use of Francis to deprive the Duke of Urbino of his Dominions, and to fettle it upon one of his own Family, which he foon accomplished.

After this was obtained the Pope forgot to thank Francis for the Service he had done him. On the contrary, his Thoughts were taken up how he could affist others in driving the French out of Italy; and, to pave the Way for fucceeding in this Defign, he fettled a fecret Correfpondence with the Emperor, the King of England, and the new King of Spain, which, however, did not then take place, though the Pope carried on his Scheme against Francis with the utmost Precaution and Secrecy; yet Francis got the Knowledge of it, though he pretended to be ignorant: But, as he was fully fatisfied of the Pope's Infincerity, and that he was not to be depended upon, it made him intirely give over the Thoughts of the Conqueft of Naples.

As to Charles, his Affairs obliged him to go over to Spain, and Francis, being thus difappointed of the Pope's Affiftance, at laft came to a Refolution to enter into a Treaty with the King of Spain, who, in the prefent Situation of his Affairs, could not but wifh to live in good Understanding with him. Thus the two Kings being equally inclined to a Peace, without further Ceremony they concluded a Treaty,

which was figned the 26th of August; The Treaty of Contents of which was, "That Charles fhould

Noyon. "efpoufe Louifa, Francis's Daughter, then

"about a Year old. That he fhould have with her "the King of France's Pretenfions to the Kingdom "of Naples; and, till the Marriage fhould be con"fummated, he should give for the young Princess's "Maintenance, a hundred thousand Crowns a Year. "That, within fix Months, Charles fhould refign "the Kingdom of Navarre to Henry d'Albert, Son of "John d'Albert and Catherine his Confort, King and

nand; and, in Cafe Charles fhould not perform this "Article, Francis fhould be allowed to affift the King "of Navarre. Lastly, that the Emperor fhould re"ftore Verona to the Venetians, who, in return, should 66 pay him two hundred thoufand Crowns, and "Francis fhould give him a full Discharge for the "Sum of three hundred thousand. Crowns, lent him by King Lewis the XIIth, to maintain the War against Venice."

Rapin's

Remarks.

On the concluding this Treaty Rapin makes the following Remarks: "The Peace "of Noyon was directly contrary to the De"figns of the Pope, the Emperor, and the King of

England. The Pope was extremely defirous the "French fhould be expelled out of Italy. Maxi"milian was wholly intent upon raifing Enemies to "Francis, to hinder his affifting the Venetians. He "faw he must refolve either to ratify the Treaty of

Noyon, and confequently reftore Verona, or defend "his Conqueft without the Affiftance of any Ally. "To avoid both thefe Extremes he tried all poffible "Ways to embroil Affairs, and kindle a new War, "which might occafion a League against France. "He hoped thereby to be able to reject, without "Danger, the Treaty of Noyon, which he believed 66 very prejudicial to his Interefts. It is true, the "Reftitution of Verona would be worth to him five "hundred thoufand Crowns: But out of that Sum were deducted the three hundred thousand he owed "the King of France but never intended to pay him: "So, for the Sum of two hundred thousand Crowns,

he was bound to restore Verona; that is to say, he was to be shut out of Italy, the only thing that made " him confiderable in the present Situation of the Af"fairs in Europe. Henry the VIIIth was no less de"firous of a War with France, being prompted thereto " by Cardinal Wolfey, or by his Jealoufy of Francis. "But it was not the fame with the Arch-duke, to whom

a

"a Peace for fome time was very advantageous." On which we shall only obferve, that Monf. Rapin feems to be at a Lofs to fix, whether Henry's own Defire of War with France, or his own Jealousy of Francis, or his having been prompted thereto by CardinalWolfey most prevailed.

But, to return, Henry could not but be alarmed at the concluding this Treaty at Noyon, without his being included in it, which might expofe him to be attacked by the Parties united by that Treaty. This, no doubt, made Henry seriously endeavour to renew the Negotiation, that had been fome time but flowly carried on at London, between the Emperor, himself, and young King Charles of Spain, for concluding a Treaty of Alliance, for the Defence of each other's Dominions; yet, as the Treaty at Noyon was concluded, both the former and the latter did not feem over fond of coming into fuch Treaty: However, at laft it was concluded at London, on the 29th of October, whereby these three Princes undertook to assist each other, in cafe either of their Dominions fhould be attacked by any Power whatsoever; and Rapin confeffes, "That, when the English Ambaffador preffed

King Charles, to ratify the League of London, he "deferred it on divers Pretences, because he was "afraid of offending the King of France; but rati"fied it after fome Alterations."

And

As to the Emperor, he foon ratified the Treaty of Noyon, and concluded a Truce with the Venetians, whereby he undertook to restore to them Verona, for the fake of the two hundred thoufand Crowns. thus the Reader may perceive, that all the Emperor's fine Propofals to our King, relating to the procuring him Milan, and getting him elected Emperor, vanifhed in a Trice.

Whilft the different Princes in Europe, concerned with England, were bufying themselves about their Temporal Affairs, the Council of Lateran continue'd their Seffion, without answering the End they feemed

to*