The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HISTORY OF KING tIENRY VII. 341
consent that the king our master's title to France, made in like verse; and that as speaking in his
at least tribute for the same, be handled in the own person, but in a style of scorn and sport.
treaty, the king is content to go on with the rest, About this time also was born the king's second
otherwise he refuseth to treat." son Henry, who afterward reigned. And soon
Thile ambassadors being somewhat abashed after followed the solemnization of the marriage
with this demand, answered in some heat: That between Charles, and Anne, Duchess of Britain,
they doubted not, but the king their sovereign's with whom he received the duchy of Britain as her
sword would be able to maintain his sceptre: and dowry, the daughter of Maximilian being a little
they assured themselves, he neither could nor before sent home. Which when it came to the ears
would yield to any diminution of the crown of of Maximilian, who would never believe it till it
France either in territory or regality: but, how- was done, being ever the principal in deceiving
soever, they were too great matters for them to himself, though in this the French king did very
speak of, having no commission. It was replied, handsomely second it, and tumbling it over and
that the king looked for no other answer from over in his thoughts, that he should at one blow,
them, but would forthwith send his own ambas- with such a double scorn, be defeated both of the
sadors to the French king. There was a question marriage of his daughter, and his own, upon both
also asked at the table; whether the French king which he had fixed high imaginations, he lost all
would agree to have the disposing of the marriage patience, and casting off the respects fit to be
of Britain, with an exception and exclusion that continued between great kings, even when their
he should not marry her himself l To which the blood is hottest, and most risen, fell to bitter inambassadors answered: That it was so far out of vectives against the person and actions of the
their king's thoughts, as they had received no French king. And, by how much he was the
instructions touching the same. Thus were the less able to do; talking so much the more, spake
ambassadors dismissed, all save the prior; and all the injuries he could devise of Charles, saywere followed immediately by Thomas, Earl of ing: That he was the most perfidious man upon
Ormond, and Thomas Goldenston, Prior of Christ the earth, and that he had made a marriage comChurch in Canterbury, who were presently sent pounded between an advowtry and a rape; which
over into France. In the mean space Lionel, was done, he said, by the just judgment of God;
Bishop of Concordia, was sent as nuncio from to the end that, the nullity thereof being so apPope Alexander the Sixth, to both kings, to move parent to all the world, the race of so unworthy
a peace between them. For Pope Alexander, a person might not reign in France. And forthfinding himself pent and locked up by a league with he sent ambassadors as well to the King of
and association of the principal states of Italy, England, as to the King of Spain, to incite them
that he could not make his way for the advance- to war, and to treat a league offensive against
ment of his own house, which he immoderately France, promising to concur with great forces of
thirsted after, was desirous to trouble the waters his own. Hereupon, the King of England, going
in Italy, that he might fish the better; casting the nevertheless his own way, called a parliament, it
net not out of St. Peter's, but out of Borgia's being the seventh year of his reign; and the first
bark. And doubting lest the fears from England day of opening thereof, sitting under his cloth of
might stay the French king's voyage into Italy, estate, spake himself unto his lords and commons
despatched this bishop to compose all matters in this manner.
between the two king's if he could: who first 1" My lords, and you the commons, when I purrepaired to the French king, and finding him well posed to make a war in Britain by my lieutenant,
inclined, as he conceived, took on his journey I made declaration thereof to you by my chantowards England, and found the English ambas- cellor. But now that I mean to make war upon
sadors at Calais, on their way towards the French France in person, I will declare it to you myself.
king. After some conference with them, he was That war was to defend another man's right, but
in honourable manner transported over into Eng- this is to recover our own; and that ended by
land, where he had audience of the king. But accident, but we hope this shall end in victory.
notwithstanding he had a good ominous name to ",The French king troubles the Christian
have made a peace, nothing followed: for in the world: that which he hath is not his own, and
mean time, the purpose of the French king to yet he seeketh more. He hath invested himself
marry the duchess could be no longer dissembled. of Britain: he maintaineth the rebels in Flanders:
Wherefore the English ambassadors finding how and he threateneth Italy. For ourselves, he hath
things went, took their leave, andreturned. And proceeded from dissimulation to neglect; and
the prior also was warned from hence to depart from neglect to contumely. He hath assailed
out of England. VWho when he turned his back, our confederates; he denieth our tribute: in a
more like a pedant than an ambassador, dispersed word, he seeks war: so did not his father, but
a bitter libel, in Latin verse, against the king; sought peace at our hands; and so perhaps will
unto which the king, though he had nothing of a he, when good counsel or time shall make hirr
pedant, yet was content to cause an answer to be Isee as much as his father did.
2 F 2'