ramed to take the ascendant in every intercourse with others, but
exerted this superiority of nature with such ostentation as exposed him
to envy, and made every one willing to recall the original inferiority,
or rather meanness, of his fortune.

The branch of administration in which Henry most exerted himself, while
he gave his entire confidence to Wolsey, was the military; which, as it
suited the natural gallantry and bravery of his temper, as well as the
ardor of his youth, was the principal object of his attention. Finding
that Lewis had made great preparations both by sea and land to resist
him, he was no less careful to levy a formidable army and equip a
considerable fleet for the invasion of France. The command of the fleet
was intrusted to Sir Edward Howard; who, after scouring the Channel for
some time, presented himself before Brest, where the French navy
then lay; and he challenged them to a combat. The French admiral, who
expected from the Mediterranean a reenforcement of some galleys under
the command of Prejeant de Bidoux, kept within the harbor, and saw with
patience the English burn and destroy the country in the neighborhood.
At last Prejeant arrived with six galleys, and put into Conquet, a place
within a few leagues of Brest; where he secured himself behind some
batteries, which he had planted on rocks that lay on each side of him.
Howard was, notwithstanding, determined to make an attack upon him; and
as he had but two galleys, he took himself the command of one, and gave
the other to Lord Ferrars. He was followed by some row-barges and some
crayers under the command of Sir Thomas Cheyney, Sir William Sidney,
and other officers of distinction. He immediately fastened on Prejeant's
ship, and leaped on board of her, attended by one Carroz, a Spanish
cavalier, and seventeen Englishmen. The cable, meanwhile, which fastened
his ship to that of the enemy, being cut, the admiral was thus left in
the hands of the French; and as he still continued the combat with great
gallantry, he was pushed overboard by their pikes.[*] Lord Ferrars,
seeing the admiral's galley fall off, followed with the other small
vessels; and the whole fleet was so discouraged by the loss of their
commander, that they retired from before Brest.[**] The French navy came
out of harbor, and even ventured to invade the coast of Sussex. They
were repulsed, and Prejeant, their commander, lost an eye by the shot of
an arrow. Lord Howard, brothe