Henry VIII

Chapter VI

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FROM CALAIS TO ROME.

Such was the result of Wolsey's policy since 1521, Francis a prisoner, Charles a dictator, and Henry vainly hoping that he might be allowed some share in the victor's spoils. But what claim had he? By the most extraordinary misfortune or fatuity, England had not merely helped Charles to a threatening supremacy, but had retired from the struggle just in time to deprive herself of all claim to benefit by her mistaken policy. She had looked on while Bourbon invaded France, fearing to aid lest Charles would reap all the fruits of success. She had sent no force across the channel to threaten Francis's rear. Not a single French soldier had been diverted from attacking Charles in Italy through England's interference. One hundred thousand crowns had been promised the imperial troops, but the money was not paid; and secret negotiations had been going on with France. In spite of all, Charles had won, and he was naturally not disposed to divide the spoils. England's policy since 1521 had been disastrous to herself, to Wolsey, to the Papacy, and even to Christendom. For the falling out of Christian princes seemed to the Turk to afford an excellent opportunity for the faithful to come by his own. After an heroic defence by the knights of St. John, Rhodes, the bulwark of Christendom, had surrendered to Selim. Belgrade, the strongest citadel in Eastern Europe, followed. In August, 1526, the King and the flower of Hungarian nobility perished at the battle of Mohacz; and the internecine strife of Christians seemed doomed to be sated only by their common subjugation to the Turk.

So low was brought the proud city of the Seven Hills, the holy place, watered with the blood of the martyrs and hallowed by the steps of the saints, the goal of the earthly pilgrim, the seat of the throne of the Vicar of God. No Jew saw the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not with keener anguish than the devout sons of the Church heard of the desecration of Rome. If a Roman Catholic and an imperialist could term it the just judgment of God, heretics and schismatics, preparing to burst the bonds of Rome and "deny obedience to the said See," saw in it the fulfilment of the woes pronounced by St. John the Divine on the Rome of Nero, and by Daniel the Prophet on Belshazzar's Babylon. Babylon the great was fallen, and become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit; her ruler was weighed in the balances and found wanting; his kingdom was divided and given to kings and peoples who came, like the Medes and the Persians, from the hardier realms of the North.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · The wonderful success that had attended Wolsey's policy during his seven years' tenure of power, and the influential position to which he ha Note 2 · By the Treaty of London Henry was bound to assist the aggrieved against the aggressor. But that treaty had been concluded between England an Note 3 · The delay came from England; the meeting with Francis would be a one-sided pronouncement without some corresponding favour to Charles. Some Note 4 · On the last day of May Charles took ship at Sandwich for Flanders. Henry embarked at Dover for France. The painting at Hampton Court depicti Note 5 · The Field of Cloth of Gold was the last and most gorgeous display of the departing spirit of chivalry; it was also perhaps the most portento Note 6 · That consummation could not be far off. Charles had scarcely turned his back upon Spain when murmurs of disaffection were heard through the Note 7 · War between Emperor and King soon spread from Navarre to the borders of Flanders and to the plains of Northern Italy. Both sovereigns claime Note 8 · The conference at Calais was in fact a monument of perfidy worthy of Ferdinand the Catholic. The plan was Wolsey's, but Henry had expressed Note 9 · Wolsey returned from Calais at the end of November, having failed to establish the truce to which the negotiations had latterly been in appe Note 10 · The real motives of England's policy do not appear on the surface. "The aim of the King of England," said Clement VII. in 1524,[412] "is as Note 11 · Yet if these were not Wolsey's aims, what were his motives? The essential thing for England was the maintenance of a fairly even balance bet Note 12 · No possible advantage could accrue to England from such a destruction of the balance of power; her position as mediator was only tenable so Note 13 · However that may be, it was not for Clement VII. to deride England's conduct. The keen-sighted Pace had remarked in 1521 that, in the event Note 14 · Leo, meanwhile, had gone to his account on the night of 1st-2nd December, 1521, singing "Nunc dimittis" for the expulsion of the French from Note 15 · Neither the expulsion of the French from Milan, nor the election of Charles's tutor as Pope, opened Wolsey's eyes to the danger of further i Note 16 · Nothing came of this last nefarious suggestion. In July Surrey captured and burnt Morlaix;[443] but, as he wrote from on board the Mary Rose Note 17 · The results of the war from the English point of view had as yet been contemptible, but great things were hoped for the following year. Bour Note 18 · The usual delays postponed Suffolk's invasion till late in the year. They were increased by the emptiness of Henry's treasury. His father's Note 19 · Meanwhile there was another papal election. Adrian, one of the most honest and unpopular of Popes, died on 14th September, 1523, and by orde Note 20 · Suffolk's invasion was the last of England's active participation in the war. Exhausted by her efforts, discontented with the Emperor's fail Note 21 · Henry and Wolsey began to pay the price of their policy at home as well as abroad. War was no less costly for being ineffective, and it nece Note 22 · Whether Wolsey was now anxious to repair his blunder by siding with Francis against Charles, or to snatch some profit from the Emperor's vic Note 23 · Wolsey, on his part, was secretly negotiating with Louise of Savoy during her son's imprisonment in Spain. In August, 1525, a treaty of amit Note 24 · The policy of Clement, of Venice, and of other Italian States had been characterised by as much blindness as that of England. Almost without Note 25 · Charles received the news of that victory with astonishing humility. But he was not likely to forget that at the critical moment he had been Note 26 · It was soon thrown into the shade by an outrage at which the whole world stood aghast. Charles's object was merely to render the Pope his ob