A.D. 1539 Charles V. CH. 17. newed his offer of the Duchess of Milan. The reply was a cold and peremptory refusal;* and Sept. 17. the Emperor seeing that the English government endeavours would not be again trifled with, determined to the German repair into Flanders, in order to be at hand, should marriage, important movements take place in Germany.† to prevent He proposes a visit to Paris. To give menace and significance to his journey, he resolved, if possible, to pass through France on his way, and in a manner so unformal and confidential as, perhaps, might contribute towards substantiating his relations with Francis, or, at least, might give the world the impression of their entire cordiality. The proposal of a visit from the Emperor, when made known at Paris, was met with a warm and instant assent; and many were the speculations to which an affair so unexpected gave occasion in Europe. But the minds of men were not long at a loss, and Henry's intended marriage was soon accepted as an adequate ex for the mutiny of certain cities which were dread in time to allure and stir all or the more part of the other cities to the *As to the matter concerning the Duchess of Milan, when his Highness had heard it, he paused a good while, and at the last said, smiling, 'Have they remem-like; the second, for the alliance bered themselves now ?' To the which I said, 'Sir, we that be your servants are much bound to God, they to woo you whom ye have wooed so long.' He answered coldly: They that would not when they might, percase shall not when they would.''-Southampton to Cromwell, Sept. 17, 1539: State Papers, vol. i. There should be three causes why the Emperor should come into these parts-the one which the King's Majesty hath made with the house of Cleves, which he greatly stomacheth; the third, for the confederacy, as they here call it, between his Majesty and the Almayns. The fear which the Emperor hath of these three things hath driven him to covet much the French king's amity.' Stephen Vaughan to Cromwell: State Papers, vol. viii. p. 203. Pole sub paper to on the con planation. The danger of a Protestant league CH. 17. compelled the Catholic powers to bury their A.D. 1539. rivalries; and a legate was despatched from Rome October. to be present at the meeting at Paris.* Reginald Reginald Pole, ever on the watch for an opportunity to mits a strike a blow at his country, caught once more at the Pope the opening, and submitted a paper on the con- dition of dition of England to the Pope, showing how the England. occasion might be improved. The Emperor was aware, Pole said, that England had been lost to the Holy See in a Spanish quarrel, and for the sake of a Spanish princess; and he knew himself to be bound in honour, however hitherto he had made pretexts for delay, to assist in its recovery. His Imperial oaths, the insults to his family, the ancient alliance between England and the house of Burgundy, with his own promises so often repeated, alike urged the same duty upon him; and now, at last, he was able to act without difficulty. The rivalry between France and Spain had alone France and encouraged Henry to defy the opinion of Europe. at last That rivalry was at an end. The two sove- Let them reigns had only to unite in a joint remonstrance proclaim against his conduct, with a threat that he should public be declared a public enemy if he persisted in *There is great suspicion | France. The contrary part and jealousy to be taken to see these two great princes so familiar together, and to go conjointly in secret practices, in which the Bishop of Rome seemeth to be intelligent, who hath lately sent his nephew, Cardinal Farnese, to be present at the parlement of the said princes in cannot brook the King's Majesty Spain are united. the king a enemy. A.D. 1539. CH. 17. his course, and his submission would be instant. He would not dare to refuse. He could not trust October. his subjects: they had risen once of themselves, and he knew too well the broken promises, the treachery and cruelty with which he had restored order, to risk their fury, should they receive effective support from abroad. Without striking a single blow, the Catholic powers might achieve a glorious triumph, and heal the gaping wound in the body of Christ.* So wrote, and so thought the English traitor, with all human probabilities in his favour, and only the Eternal Powers on the other side. The same causes which filled Pole with hope struck terror into weak and in Eng land. Alarm felt agitated hearts in the country which he was seeking to betray; the wayfarers on the highroads talked to each other in despair of the impending ruin of the kingdom, left naked without an ally to the attacks of the world.† Charles enters France. Spreading round him such panics and such expectations, the Emperor entered France almost simultaneously with the departure of Anne of Epist. Reginaldi Poli, vol. v. p. 150. In this paper Pole says that the Duke of Norfolk stated to the king in a despatch from Doncaster, when a battle seemed imminent, 'that his troops could not be trusted, their bodies were with the king but their minds with the rebels.' His information was, perhaps, derived from his brother Geoffrey, who avowed an intention of deserting. The said Helyard said to me that the Emperor was come into France, and should marry the Rolls Cleves from her mother's side to the shores of CH. 17. England. Pity that, in the game of diplomacy, A.D. 1539. statesmen are not compelled to use their own persons for their counters! are not forbidden to cast on others the burden of their own failures! he received splendid Francis, in order to show Charles the highest courtesy, despatched the constable Montmorency, with the Dauphin and the Duke of Orleans, to Bayonne, and offered, if the Emperor distrusted him, that his sons should be detained as pledges for his good faith. Charles would not be outdone in generosity-when he gave his confidence gave it without reserve; and, without accepting the security, he crossed the frontier, attended He is only by his personal train, and made his way to with the capital, with the two princes at his side, courtesy, through a succession of magnificent entertainments. On the 1st of January he entered Paris, where he was to remain for a week; and Henry, at once taking the initiative, made an opportunity to force him, if possible, to a declaration of his intentions. Attached to the Imperial house- And brings hold was a Welshman named Brancetor, uncle of an English 'young Rice,' who had been executed for a con- named spiracy against Henry's life in 1531. This man, having been originally obliged to leave England for debt, had contrived, while on the Continent, by assiduity of treason, to assume the more interesting character of a political refugee. He had attached himself to Pole and to Pole's fortunes; he had exerted himself industriously in Spain in persuading English subjects to violate their allegiance; and in the parliament of the previous in his train traitor Brancetor. CH. 17. spring he had been rewarded by the distinction. of a place in the list of attainted traitors. A.D. 1539. is taken by police, in Analogous occupations had brought him to Paris; and, in conformity with treaties, Henry instructed Sir Thomas Wyatt, who was then in England, to repair to the French court, and require his extradition. Wyatt imprudently affected to consider that the affair belonged rather Brancetor to the police than to the government, and apthe French plied to the constable for Brancetor's arrest. compliance Montmorency was unaware of the man's conwith a de- nexion with the Emperor. Wyatt informed him Sir Thomas merely that an English subject who had robbed his master, and had afterwards conspired against the king, was in Paris, and requested his apprehension. He had been watched to his lodgings by a spy; and the provost-marshal was placed without difficulty at Wyatt's disposal, and was directed to attend him. mand of Wyatt The police surrounded the house where Brancetor was to be found. It was night. The English minister entered, and found his man writing at a table. 'I told him,' Wyatt reported in his account of the story, that, since he would not come to visit me, I was come to seek him. His colour changed as soon as he heard my voice; and with that came in the provost, and set hand on him. I reached to the letters that he was writing, but he caught them afore me, and flung them backwards into the fire. I overthrew him, and cracked them out; Brancetor but the provost got them.' Brancetor Brancetor upon this the Empe declared himself the Emperor's servant. appeals to ror. He |