was graciously granted by the Holy See, inasmuch as James had shown signs of repentance before his death.(a) The Scotch, unwilling to credit the report of their sovereign's death, therein imitating the ancient Britons, who could never be persuaded that King Arthur had fallen at Camelot, circulated a report that James had gone on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, in accomplishment of a vow taken before the battle of Flodden. Buchanan(b) affirms that one Telfair, a man of known probity, and who was present at the engagement, saw James cross the Tweed on horseback; others stated that he had been slain by some of Lord Hume's retainers(c) Scotland mourned for the death of her unfortunate monarch, who had, however, been favoured with several warnings from Heaven. It is said that the saintly patron of Scotland appeared to him while at his devotion in Linlithgow Church, and predicted to him the unhappy issue of his contest with Henry; a voice was also heard at midnight near the cross in Edinburgh, summoning the first lords of the kingdom to appear before the infernal tribunal. James was perfectly heedless of these celestial warnings, the remonstrances of his councillors, and the prayers and entreaties of his wife (d) An English monk, Skelton, had the heart to insult the Scotch who fell at the battle of Flodden Field he spared not in his gibes and sneers even the fallen monarch,(e) whom

(a) Leo's letter is to be found in Rymer. His Holiness moreover wrote to Henry, congratulating him on the victory his arms had gained at Flodden Field. -Bembi Ep.

(b) "Probus et doctus."-Buchanan, Hist. Rer. Scot. XIII., 41.

(c) Hume.

(d) Vide Galt, who in his Appendix to the "Life of Wolsey," has given us an exact account of this battle from a contemporary. The best description of the battle of Flodden Field is to be met with in Hall.-Pinkerton's

History of Scotland. Polydore Virgil gives the number of Scotch that fell in this engagement as about 10,000; Buchanan, 5,000. Galt estimates the loss of the English to have been about 1,200.

(e) Skelton thus speaks of James:—
Ye were stark mad to make a fray
His grace being then out of the way.
Ye wanted wit, sir, at a word,

Ye lost your spurs, ye lost your sword.
Ye might have boune to Huntley Branks,
Your pride was peevish to play such pranks. }

he accused of cowardice.(f) Henry would have acted honourably had he expelled this maligner from his court, but he allowed him to continue his petty and hateful trade; while the poet-laureate was thus prostituting the God-like harmony of poesy, a mountaineer of Ben Lomond was sitting on the banks of the Clyde, and, like to the daughter of Zion, weeping over Caledonia and her loss.(g) Katharine showed great skill in the manner in which she governed England during the king's absence. The queen regent was exeeedingly guarded with her correspondence with Wolsey, yet at the same time displaying the energy of her Spanish blood. Was Henry indisposed, she was ill at rest and could not sleep. Henry was her pride, and without him there was no longer any happiness for her in the world.(h) She was delighted on hearing of the defeat of the Scotch at Flodden, and in her enthusiasm wrote to Henry, boasting that this victory had gained him more credit than if he had won the crown of France.(i) This intimate acquaintance with the queen's manner is essentially necessary for the reader, to give him an insight into Katharine's character. She is no longer the person described by Protestant historians, one absorbed in the ecstasy of prayer, she is the Christian wife and queen. Henry, however, had completely forgotton her. He had met with Lady Talbois, at Calais, wife of Sir Gilbert Tailbois, to whom he showed marked attention. This lady left her husband's residence, and took up her abode at Jericho, in the vicinity of New Hall, Essex, one of the royal country residences.(3) All, save Katharine, who pretended to be ignorant of her husband's gallantry, spoke of the king's frequent visits to Lady Tailbois.

(f) James's sword was picked up by the Earl of Surrey, and was for a length of time preserved in the family of the Howards. It is now at the Heralds' College.

(5) This beautiful song is entitled "The Flowers of the Forest."

(h) With his life and health there is nothing in the world that shall come amiss; and without that, I can see no manner of good thing, &c., &c.-Ellis, MSS. Cott., Cal. D. VI.

(i) That the victory was more honour than if he should win all the crown of France.-Ellis. (j) Miss Strickland's Lives of the Queens of England. IV., 95.

HENRY was not long in discovering that his success was owing to Louis' best troops being engaged in Italy. Abandoned by the Sovereign Pontiff, deceived by the emperor, betrayed by Ferdinand, how could he, with only 25,000 men, retain his position in an enemy's country? He was indebted rather to chance for his success than either to the skill or bravery displayed by his forces, and being unable to reckon further on the sincere co-operation of his allies, he felt a desire to come to favourable terms with his rival. He had been spending his time, on his return to London, in levying troops, training them in for war, praying for subsidies to Parliament, which granted him £160,000, and generously rewarding those who had distinguished themselves during the late campaign. The Earl of Surrey was created Duke of Norfolk, his eldest son, Earl of Surrey; Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; Lord Herbert, Earl of Somerset ; and Sir Edward Stanley, Viscount Monteagle. If the assembling of a schismatic council was a stain on the escutcheon of Louis XII., yet we must in candour acknowledge, that he evinced no little courage in opposing the allied powers for the space of ten years. Excommunicated by Rome, harassed by the mountaineers of Switzerland, deserted by Venice, pursued from north to south by England, Spain, and Germany, he never flinched for a moment; for while England was expecting the downfall of France, Louis, buoyed up with the hope of reconquering the duchy of Milan,

was beyond the Alps, though Europe was filled with daily accounts that Henry was marching upon Paris. Louis was compelled at last to yield, but in so doing he borrowed the Fox's skin, and succeeded in dissolving the league. (a) On the dissolution of the Council of Pisa, Leo X. besought the allies to forego all hostilities with France, and removed the ban of excommunication fulminated by his predecessor: thus Rome detached herself from the league, the other powers were only waiting for a favourable opportunity to follow her example. Ferdinand, who was advancing in years, made peace with Louis XII., on the proviso that he guaranteed him the possession of Navarre. Louis, knowing how to flatter the vanity of the Spanish sovereign, offered his second daughter Renée in marriage either to the Infant Don Carlos or his brother Don Ferdinand, both grandsons of the reigning sovereign. The dowry of the princess was to be the duchy of Milan, which had been so long a bone of contention between the Pope, the emperor, and Louis. Ferdinand made no objection to this proposition, and promised to exert his influence with the emperor to withdraw from the league.(b)

(a) Louis, says Macchiavelli, committed five faults in Italy, which ought to have led to his utter defeat. He increased the strength of a great by destroying the minor states. He appealed to a powerful foreign aid; did not remain in Italy, and founded no colony.

(b) Peter Martyr.-Audin's Histoire de Calvin.

Godwin has thus briefly pourtrayed Maxmilian's character: "This emperor, better adapted for the council chamber than the field of battle, was ever imagining plans, but no one could be more feeble in action. Whether in contending against calamities or in any other matter, he was sure to allow the most favourable opportuuity to elapse."(a) We can imagine the anger of the conqueror of Terouanne, who was buoying himself up with the hope that he was master of France. On seeing his prey thus snatched out of his grasp, owing to the policy of the Vatican, the weakness of Ferdinand, and the fickleness of Maximilian, Henry would in all probability have yielded to his anger, had not Wolsey with a master-mind discovered a method whereby he could disconcert this powerful rival with whom England was called on to contend. Among the prisoners taken at the battle of Guinegate was Louis d'Orleans, Duke de Longueville, the confidential adviser of the French sovereign. To him Wolsey confided his plan. Anne, Queen of France, had just died without issue. Mary, the sister of Henry VIII., was to be the peace offering.(b)

Flattered by the confidence reposed in him by the almoner, the Duke de Longueville willingly promised to use his interest with his sovereign, and accordingly wrote on the subject to Louis, who immediately authorised him to carry on the negotiation. Louis, who perceived no disparity of age between a girl of fifteen and a man of fifty-three, worn out with the fatigue of war, imagined himself the father of a numerous posterity. The conditions of the treaty were drawn up in a few weeks between Wolsey and the Duke de Longueville. Louis, in exchange for Mary's hand, was to leave Tournay in possession of England, to banish Richard de la Pole, one of the pretenders to the English crown, from France, to pay a million of crowns due for arrears from Charles VIII., by virtue of an ancient treaty, (c) and to accept, in exchange for a dowry of 40,000 crowns promised by Henry, the diamonds and precious stones

which composed the Princess Mary's trousseau.(d)

Mary, on her part, by a public act, refused to ratify the contract made during her minority with Charles of Spain,(e) whom she had never loved, as she acnowledged with perfect simplicity,(f) and was married on the 13th of August, 1513, to Louis at Greenwich, where the Duke de Longueville acted as proxy for his sovereign. The duke on receiving the princess's hand pronounced the usual vow. (8) Henry promised in writing to send Mary to her husband within two months after the ceremony.(h) Louis was anxious that the time should be abridged, and wrote to his good friend the Archbishop of York, in the style of an amorous youth of twenty, urging that he wanted Mary as soon as possible (i) Wolsey was equally anxious for the departure of the young queen, knowing that he would then receive his recompense; but he had two powerful opponents to contend with. Henry, who was unwilling to be separated from one whom he had always loved with great affection, and the young bride herself who felt great reluctance in leaving one (the Duke of Suffolk) to whom she had plighted her hand and heart. Louis, unacquainted with these obstacles,

(d) Rymer XIII., 424. (e) Rymer, XIII., 411

(f) Rymer XIII., 407. Mary had been affianced to Charles, Prince of Castille, in 1507, when only ten years of age. Among the presents which she had received from him was a jewel in the shape of a K, (Karolus,) with a device commemorative of a wedding.-Ellis. I., 113.

(g) Rymer XIII., 423.

(h) Commissio pro traductione Mariæ francorum reginæ.-Rymer XIII., 449.

(i) Monsieur d'Ÿorci.-Pour ce que jay seu retour de ce porteur par delà, je n'ay voulu lasser partir sans vous porter lettres de moy.→ Et par icelles vous prier et affectueusment que vous veuillez faire mes bonnes et cordialles recommandations aux Roy et Royne mes bons frere et sœur, et aussy à la Royne ma femme. -En vous priant, en ouitre, tenir main à ce que ma femme parte de la plus tost que faire se pourra.-Car il ny a chose en ce monde que tant je desire de la veoir et me trover avecques elle. Et, en ce faist, vous me ferez plaisir et mobligerez de plus en plus à vous.-Priant dieu, Monsieur d'Yorci, quil vous ait en sa sainte garde. Escript a Estampes, le second jour Septembre, 1514. (Signée) Loys.British Museum, MSS. Cott., Cal. D. VI.

continued to complain to Wolsey. (a) Henry had acted against the usual policy of England in marrying his sister to the King of France; but he was influenced by the hope that he would himself have a family, as Katharine was at that time enceinte,(b) and the old age of Louis which seemed to promise barrenness in his sister.(c) At length, the preparations for her departure were completed and Mary sailed from England. Henry, to alleviate her sorrow, had given her several presents, and had put her under the care of the Duke of Norfolk, the Bishop of Ely, and Sir Thomas Boleyn. Anne Boleyn also accompanied her father as maid of honour to the queen, whose suite was in every way appropriate to the rank she was about to fill. There were also several lords and gentlemen, who conducted her as far as Abbeville, where she was married on the the 9th of October, 1514.(d) On the morrow, Lady Guildford, whom Mary loved as her mother, and all her English attendants, excepting Anne Boleyn, were commanded to return to England. This order deeply affected the

(a) Vous priant continuer et l'abreger le plus que vous pourrez, car le plus grand desyr que j'aye pour le present est de la veoyr deca la mer, et me trouver avecques elles, pourquoy en ce faisant et n'y perdent tems, comme vous me l'escripvez vous me ferez singulier plaisir et tel quil ne sera jamais que jen aye souvenance et obligacions avec vous.-September, 1514.-Rymer XIII., 456.-An autograph letter from Mary to Louis is preserved in the British Museum (MSS. Cott. Vitell., C. XI.), which we now give to the reader :"Monsieur bien humblement a vostre grace me recommende. Monsieur jay par Monseigneur levesque de Lencoln recu les tres affectueuses lettres quil vous a pleu de naguaires mescripre qui mont este a tres grant joye et confort. Vous asseurant Monsieur quil nya riens que tant je desire que de vous veoir. Et le Roy Monsieur, et frere fait toute extreme diligence pour mon aler de la la mer qui au plaisir de Dieu sera bresve, vous suppliant Monsieur me vouloir cependent pour ma tres singuliere consolacion souvent faire scavoir de vos nouvelles ensemble voz bons et agreables plaisirs pour vous y obeir et complair aidant nostre createur qui vous doibt Monsieur bonne vie et longuement bien prospére. De la main de votre bien humble compaigne Marie." (b) Miss Strickland, IV., 96.

(c) M. de Genoude. Histoire de France, XI., 230.

(d) Notice historique sur Anne Boleyn, en tête des lettres de Henri VIII. à Anne de Boleyn, par M. Crapelet.

queen, as she would be alone in a foreign land, without a friend to whom she could confide her secret thoughts. In vain did she complain to Wolsey of Louis' conduct; (e) but his reply was, that she was of an age to take care of herself, and did not stand in need of a governess. Mary, however, soon forgot her isolation amid the gaiety of the French court. She was crowned on the 5th of November, at St. Denis, and on the following day made a triumphant entry into Paris.(f) The young bride was delighted with the reception given her by the citizens.(g) as also at the

(e) The original is in the British Museum -MSS. Cott., Calig. D. VI., 143.

(f) The entry of Mary into Paris is represented in a beautiful MSS. in the British Museum. Vespas., No. II.

(8) The following is one of the songs composed on the marriage of Louis XII. with Mary of England :

CHANÇON FAICTE EN L'HONNEUR DE MADAME

MARIE.

1.

Reveillez vous cuers endormis
Qui des Anglois estes amys
Chantons Ave MARIA.

La Thoison d'Or et le pourpris
Des chasteaulx, Aigles, et des litz
Joyra Dame Maria.

Reveillez vous, etc.

2.

Marie fille du vray litz
Henry Septiesme Roy de pris
Prince sur tous les Princes.
Reveillez vous, etc.

3.
Delyvrera de grans ennuys
Tout Flandres de ses ennemys
Remontant les Eglises.

Reveillez vous, etc.

4.

Rejoissez vous je vous diz, Chantez
Bourgunynons tous unis
A ce hault mariage.

Reveillez vous, etc.
5.
Car dicy a nulle foiz dix
Ne fera ny fut au pais
Tel paix, tel lignaige.

Reveillez vous, etc

6

Nous pryerons, grans et petits,
Que les Roys soient tous bons amys
Et paix par tout le monde.
Reveillez vous, etc.

7

Et que en la fin en Paradis Noel chantons teus rejouys De voix et de cueur munde. Reveillez vous, etc.

affection of her spouse. To please his wife, the good king changed his manner of living, for instead of dining at eight, he dined at twelve, and in lieu of going to bed at ten, it was often midnight before he retired to rest.(a) Louis turned a deaf ear to the remonstrances of his physicians, and in consequence of his obstinacy, he breathed his last three months after his marriage.(b)

A few days after the monarch's death, the Duke of Suffolk, Mary's first lover, was sent to France by her brother, to condole with her on her loss. Mary, who had already dried up her tears, felt her former love rekindle for one of the handsomest young men in Great Britain. There was a two-fold danger to be apprehended from Mary's remaining in France. She might prove enceinte, and give birth to a son who would one day dispute the throne with Francis I., or, being yet quite young, might captivate the heart of a youthful monarch. It was well known at Rome that Mary desired to return to England after a few weeks' widowhood. Henry also had advised her, in his letter of condolence, not to contract another engagement without his royal consent and approbation. The queen replied, that she had, in accordance with her brother's wish, married the King of France, but that should he again desire to thwart her inclination, she should enter a religious house. Henry feeling apprehensive of her putting her threat into execution, consented to her returning to England, and Sir Richard Wingfield and Dr. West were sent as ambassadors to congratulate Francis on his accession, and to escort the queen back to London. It was not long ere Suffolk discovered that he was still loved, as Mary in a private interview with the duke expressed her feelings on the happiness of those who are united in heart and soul in the married life. Suffolk was quiet; but the queen had sufficient candour to tell Francis that in case of her again marrying, her choice would fall on the duke. This intelligence the French monarch immediately conveyed to that nobleman, who, in return,

Henault, Histoire de Bayard. Godwin.

informed Francis of his unchanged affection for Mary, and besought him to plead their common cause with Henry, to which Francis courteously acceded, saying: "I promise to be your advocate, and I hope I shall succeed."(c) Suffolk, either impatient at Francis' delay, or imagining that Wolsey's influence would be greater with Henry, wrote to nim on the subject of his marriage with Queen Mary. The almoner took the earliest opportunity of mentioning the matter to his royal master, who was at first quite indignant at that nobleman's presumption, but became calmer after a while. Wolsey then counselled the duke to write himself to the king; his letter was very graciously received. Mary also addressed her brother: and thus concluded her note: 'Your grace is aware that I gave my hand to Louis to please you, and I now trust that you will permit me to bestow it on him whom I love." (d) Henry willingly gave his consent to their marriage.

Wolsey's nomination to the see of York was approved of by the Pope; and Leo X, announced the intelligence to the favourite in a letter which must have flattered that prelate not a little, as his Holiness speaks of the ability which the Almighty had condescended to bestow on him. On the day of his consecration, Wolsey took the oath of allegiance to the Holy See. Before putting on the mitre, he swore to defend the privi leges of the Holy Roman Church, to reveal to the Sovereign Pontiff all machinations that should come to his knowledge against his authority or person. The new archbishop did not, as Henry had done, retire to the ante-chamber and alter the oath.(e) The

(c) Let that alone to me; for I and the queen shall so solicit your master, that he shall be content. Howard.

(d) Your grace well knows what I did, as to my first marriage, was for your pleasure; and now, I trust, you will suffer me to do what I like.-Howard.

(e) To the Roman Papacy and the rights of St. Peter I will give aid, and will defend them against all men.

I will treat honourably, and assist in cases of necessity, the legates of the Apostolic see in going and returning. I will take care to preserve, defend, increase, and promote the rights, honours, privileges, and authority of the Roman Church, of our lord the Pope, and of his sucNor will I be engaged in any council

cessors.