use. Tiberius could not have been more suspicious in the Isle of Capræa.(a) Wolsey must, however, be pardoned for his suspicions, as he was not yet sufficiently acquainted with the chivalric King of France. When Henry visited Francis for the first time, (both monarchs had mounted their steeds at the same moment,) he imagined, from the cloud of dust in Francis's train, that his brother was accompanied by a larger suite than had been agreed on, and hesitated as to whether he should proceed to the rendezvous; but ashamed at his irresolution, Henry proceeded and halted on the banks of the Andern, while the King of France, spurring his horse, galloped on to a hill in the vicinity.(b) Hall, Henry's official historian, was there, in order that none of the details of the circumstances connected with the interview might be forgotten. He never lost sight of Francis, whom he describes as a prince of jovial manners, a dark complexion, with fine sparkling eyes, a long nose, thick lips, wide chest, broad shoulders, and broad feet.(c) Francis was the first to speak:— "In truth, brother and cousin, I have long wished to see you; I am certain that our love is mutual, and I assure you that I am not unworthy of your alliance. By my troth, my kingdom is lovely."(d) Sire," replied the King of England, with great courtesy, "I have not, I can assure you, cast a wistful eye on your kingdom, and only came to see you in fulfilment of my promise; nor have I ever, in my life, seen one whom my heart seems more predisposed to love;" and dismounting, they entered arm in arm, into the tent covered with gold cloth. During dinner, Henry proposed some additional articles to the treaty originally signed. After having perused the French king's titles, he continued: "And I King of England," then suddenly stopping said: I was about to add, and of France, but since you are here, I shall not say so, or else I should lie." Francis merely bowed his head and smiled.(e) A few

Rymer, XIII., 735.-Hall. Memoires de Fleurenges. Hall.-Tytler.

Hall.

Gaillard.

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weeks before the meeting at Ardres, challenges had been sent to all the foreign courts, stating that the Kings of England and France, with fourteen other champions, would be ready to fight with all comers in the plains of Picardy at tilting, and other knightly amusements;(f) an arena, consequently, encircled by palisades, had been prepared.

In the midst of this enclosure were two trees: a red hawthorn in honour of Henry, and a raspberry in honour of Francis. The artist had done all he could to give them the appearance of nature; round their trunks were entwined damask and green ribands. Their delicately-cut leaves bent to the slightest breath of wind, and their flowers were so manufactured as to deceive the most skilful eye. As soon as their majesties had taken their seats under the shade of these trees, the air resounded with music of every kind, mingled with the enthusiastic acclamations of the people, collected on the green sward of an artificial mound in the neighbourhood. Around the field was a raised platform, covered with rich embroidery of gold and silver, reserved for the two queens with their suitė. Anne Boleyn, at the acme of her beauty, far surpassed all the other maids of honour in the suite of Queen Claude.(g) At one of the extremities of the arena were two tents, where the kings, on dismounting, might repose themselves; and at hand were two cellars where the combatants could quench their thirst. Henry's champions were the Duke of Suffolk, the Marquis of Dorset, Sir William Kingston, Sir Richard Jernyngham, Sir Giles Capel, Sir Nicholas Carew, and Sir Anthony Knevet. Francis's knights were the Duke of Vendôme, the Seigneurs de Saint-Pol, de Montmorency, Byroa, St. Mesme, and Tavanes; a largė number of foreigners had also assembled

(f) Hume. For the greater magnificence, the king-at-arms was sent to the English on the part of the French king, with a proclamation declaring, that in June next, the two kings, Henry and Francis, with fourteen aids, would, in a camp between Guisnes and Ardres, answer all comers, at tilt, tournay and barriers; and the like proclamation was made by Clarenceaux in the French court.-Echard.

(8) Agnes Strickland, IV., 101.-Herbert.

G

It

to witness the royal jousts.(a) The lists were opened on the 11th of June; and the queens, accompanied by the ladies of their respective courts, occupied the places allotted for them. Katharine's foot-carpet was ornamented with pearls.(b) The clarions sounded, and the two royal knights entered the lists, with helmets and vizors, their lances ready poised, and both wellmounted on steeds richly caparisoned. They saluted the ladies, who were the judges of the combat, by gently lowering their lances. At the first pass, Francis broke his lance on his opponent's breast; but Henry kept his seat. At the second joust, Henry aimed so rude a blow at his adversary as to disarm him, but he was not unhorsed. The ladies waved their banners as a signal for the combatants to cease. was renewed on the morrow and the following days, with various chances; and at their last encounter, his grace's horse, worn out with fatigue, fell a victim to his adversary's lance. (c) To the fight on horseback succeeded the one on foot. "See," remarked Henry to Francis, "how well my bowmen fight!" "If I had some of my Bretons here," retorted Francis, "we should soon see which were the best."(d) "To your health," exclaimed Henry, quaffing off a glass of Burgundy, "my English are still the conquerors." "My Bretons would beat them as if they were children," replied Francis. "To your health, brother; shall we fight?" added Henry.(e) "Brother, I challenge you."(f) The combatants were far from being equally matched. Henry, short and stout, resembled in his make the Burgundians, who wielded with remarkable dexterity swords so heavy that a man nowa-days could scarcely raise them from the ground. Francis, if Hall be a faithful painter, with his slender limbs, his delicate skin, and his slight figure, must have appeared a paltry foot-soldier. He, however, accepted the challenge, and made up for his corporeal deficiency by his remarkable agility. The combatants had scarcely closed

Echard. (b) Hall. Turner.

(d) Voss.

Fleuranges.
Hall.

before Francis managed to trip up his adversary, and Henry rose purple with rage and panting for revenge, but for his honour, the judges decided that the combat should proceed no further.(8)

On the 22d of June, Francis took leave of Queen Katharine, and was returning to Ardres, when he met on his road a body of maskers, among whom was the King of England. Henry lowered his vizor, and threw a necklace of precious stones round Francis' neck, who in return presented his

66

good brother" of England with a bracelet of considerable value.(h) On the morrow, Wolsey offered up the adorable sacrifice of the Mass in the presence of their majesties, and granted indulgences to the noble assistants.(i) Amid these chivalric festivities, where, to use the words of Martin du Bellay, several of the courtiers of both countries carried their mills, their meadows, and their forests, on their shoulders,() Wolsey was not forgetful of his country and her interests. Francis had every reason to desire the continual neutrality of England, and obtained (as he imagined) his end by engaging to pay Henry, or his successor, 100,000 crowns annually, in the event of the marriage between the Dauphin and the Princess Mary taking place, and their issue being seated on the English throne.(k) Moreover, the cardinal consented to act as an arbitrator in any dispute that might arise between the two nations respecting Scotland. (1) Francis flattered himself that in this interview he had gained the English monarch's friendship, he was quickly undeceived, for Wolsey, while on his way to Guines with Henry, was meditating on the chances arising from a rupture with France.

If

tionately pressed the minister's hand, but Charles had humbly inclined before him at Dover as a courtier to a sovereign. Francis had had a private interview with the favourite, as if he was afraid that a stranger should observe the intimacy existing between him and the Lord High Chancellor of England; whereas, Charles had spoken with him openly at court, even in the royal presence. Francis, though indebted to the cardinal for his services, yet attributed his success to the justice of his cause. Charles, on the contrary, continued to act the part of the flatterer, though he had no favour to crave. Both Francis and Charles promised him the tiara; but Charles had sworn, in order to influence the conclave, that he intended drawing his sword against Luther. Francis was King of France and Duke of Milan; but Charles, in addition to the titles of King of Spain, Emperor of Germany, and Emperor Elect of the Romans, added master and lord of a world abounding in mines of gold. Which of these two should he prefer? Both might be of service to England as well as to himself. Wolsey therefore determined to wait awhile, and observe each narrowly.

The cardinal had, in one of his interviews with Francis, warmly defended Venice, as she was apprehensive that it would be a matter of utter impossibility for her to remain neutral in case of a war between Charles and Francis. The Venetian Republic, in a letter of thanks which she

addressed a few months after to Wolsey, spoke in flattering terms of the great wisdom and prudence he had displayed during these negotiations. In the eyes of Venice, he was the second king.(a) It was generally believed that Charles had intended to accept the challenge sent by the two sovereigns; but he not only refused himself to break a lance, but strictly forbade his subjects to be even present at Ardres. Francis immediately imagined that the emperor was insincere in his protestations of friendship; and these suspicions were not a little increased on being informed that Henry had visited his nephew at Wael,(b) accompanied him to Gravelines, and thence had reconducted him to Calais, where he was met by Wolsey. What had passed between them? Every artifice was resorted to by the French king to discover the real object of this second meeting. Spies, in disguise, insinuated themselves into Greenwich Palace, and the French ambassador Laroche, having obtained an audience, reminded the monarchs of the tripartite league concluded between them and Francis, and requested Charles to ratify it as emperor, but that prince dexterously evaded the request,() without either Henry or Wolsey inquiring into the reason of his refusal.

(a) And calling the interview a work of his consummate wisdom, besides frequently using the phrases, your most reverend power, and other part of his Majesty.-Howard.

(b) Schmidt.

(c) Lingard.-Hall.-l'eter Martyr.

ONE alone among those who had accompanied Henry to Ardres had sufficient courage to express his marked disapprobation at such useless expense.(a) A few severe and biting remarks, uttered in an unguarded moment among friends, respecting Wolsey's extravagance, had been carried to that prelate. This thoughtless youth

inherited a title well known in the annals of English history; it was Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. His father had been sent to the scaffold during the reign of Richard III., for having conspired in favour of the Duke of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII. He was descended from Edward III. by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester. Descended from royal blood, he was beloved for his truly chivalric character, as well as for his frank, open, and generous disposition. Himself a man of property, the height of his ambition was to vie with the king. He lived in his castle as a prince, surrounded by his vassals, whose number equalled that of the prime minister; and more than once had he wounded the cardinal's vanity. His eminence, one day, while Buckingham, as lord in waiting, was holding the basin for his sovereign, dipped, according to custom, bis finger into the ewer, whereon the duke maliciously managed to spill the water on the cardinal's slippers. A severe look, accompanied with the following remark: My lord of Buckingham, if you do that (a) Thomson.

again, I shall wipe my slippers on the fur of your mantle;" was the only punishment inflicted on the imprudent peer for his temerity.(b) On the morrow, Buckinghamı appeared at court in a magnificent mantle, from which he had stripped the fur. On Henry jokingly inquiring if his grace desired to bring in the fashion of wearing mantles without furs: "No, sire," replied the duke; "I have taken this precaution against the scarlet shoes of the cardinal;"(c) imagining that Henry would have been pleased with his conduct ; but he was doomed to disappointment.(d)

Buckingham was a fine rider. Whenhe mounted his steed, with his scarlet velvet cap on his head, displaying to advantage his plume of ostrich feathers, and while riding on the drawbridge of his castle and passing through his numerous retainers, ambition had taken fast hold of the young nobleman's mind. He aspired to a throne, even that which Henry VIII. occupied. He flattered himself that he had enough of royal blood in his veins to assume England's crown without being guilty of pride. He was unhappily an imprudent young man, and never kept his intentions secret. Among his confidants was a religious of the name of Hopkins, Prior of the Carthusian Monastery at

(b) Grainger's Biographical History of England.-Dodd's History of the Church of England.

(c) Bishop of Hereford's Life of Henry VIII.-Tytler. (d) Godwin.

Hinton, who was looked on as a prophet.(a) At the time that Henry invaded France, Buckingham consulted Hopkins, who predicted that Henry would return crowned with laurels, whereas James of Scotland, should he venture to cross the borders, would never again see his mountains.(b)

It came to pass, as the monk had predicted, and Buckingham, more credulous than ever, again visited the sorcerer, at Hinton, by night, when the monk revealed to him his future destiny. He scanned his forehead carefully, and told him in the name of heaven, whose oracle he pretended to be, that the king would shortly die childless, and that the son of one of noble birth, even the son of the Duke of Buckingham, would ascend the throne, and the peer left the monk's presence, looking on himself as the future regent of his son. His first act as regent would be to banish Charles Knevet, Wolsey's steward. "As soon as I am master," said he, in confidence to his friends, "I shall think of my cousin Knevet; of that he may rest assured."(c) Knevet had been for some time Buckingham's steward, and had been expelled his service, in consequence of his having been convicted of several acts of dishonesty, when he was immediately received into the number of the cardinal's retinue.(d) Buckingham was surrounded by spies, even among his domestics, who had been bribed by Wolsey; and even the walls of the monks, all listened and reported the conversations of the young and ambitious peer, with Hopkins. The cardinal had been informed that Buckingham, in one of his nocturnal visits to Hinton, had inquired if the king would be long-lived, if he would die childless, and if the future regency would be troublesome.(e)

Had Hopkins really possessed any knowledge of the future, he would have been

able to have forewarned Buckingham t some great calamity was hanging over his head, when the Earl of Northumberland, his father-in-law, was arrested, and sent to the Tower, and the Earl of Surrey, his son-in-law, desired to absent himself from London.() These were warnings, which one even less on his guard than Buckingham might have taken; but he was so inflated with ambition that he imagined that the Earl of Northumberland's arrest arose from a pique on the part of Wolsey, and that the Earl of Surrey's exile to Ireland, of which province he was appointed governor, was on account of his having one day while disputing with the premier, imprudently laid his hand on his sword, and never for a moment imagined that his having royal blood in his veins was an unpardonable crime in the eyes of the sovereign.

At the termination of the festivities at Ardres, the duke came to reside on his property at Thornbury, in Gloucestershire,(8) and had been there but a few weeks, ridiculing before his dependants Wolsey's foolish extravagance, and waiting the accomplishment of Hopkins's prediction, when he received a royal message summoning him to court.(h) He obeyed, still dreaming of his future greatness, and occasionally turning round to admire his castle, which he was then building, a fit abode for royalty, surrounded by extensive parks, and where he hoped soon to enjoy the pleasure of a fox-hunt.(i) While en route, he remarked that he was followed by three armed men on horseback, to which he paid no attention at first; but as he was about to enter Windsor, he again perceived them, as if they had been his shadow. Buckingham now suspected foul play. On ascending the steps, he apprehended that some evil was nigh at hand, by finding that none of the attendants saluted him so courteously as before, and on asking for his majesty, was informed that he was absent.

(t) Thomson.-Voss. (g) Lingard. (b) Thomson. (i) Stowe.