paying of court, by presents and flattery, to
the haughty cardinal.

{1518.} Bonnivet, admiral of France, was despatched to London, and he
was directed to employ all his insinuation and address, (qualities in
which he excelled,) to procure himself a place in Wolsey's good
graces. After the ambassador had succeeded in his purpose, he took an
opportunity of expressing his master's regret that, by mistakes and
misapprehensions, he had been so unfortunate as to lose a friendship
which he so much valued as that of his eminence. Wolsey was not deaf to
these honorable advances from so great a monarch and he was thenceforth
observed to express himself, on all occasions, in favor of the French
alliance. The more to engage him in his interests, Francis entered into
such confidence with him, that he asked his advice even in his most
secret affairs; and had recourse to him in all difficult emergencies, as
to an oracle of wisdom and profound policy. The cardinal made no
secret to the king of this private correspondence; and Henry was so
prepossessed in favor of the great capacity of his minister, that he
said he verily believed he would govern Francis as well as himself.[*]

When matters seemed sufficiently prepared, Bonnivet opened to the
cardinal his master's desire of recovering Tournay; and Wolsey
immediately, without hesitation, engaged to effect his purpose. He took
an opportunity of representing to the king and council, that Tournay
lay so remote from Calais, that it would be very difficult, if not
impossible, in case of war, to keep the communication open between these
two places; that as it was situated on the frontiers both of France and
the Netherlands, it was exposed to attacks from both these countries,
and must necessarily, either by force or famine, fall into the hands
of the first assailant; that even in time of peace it could not be
preserved without a large garrison, to restrain the numerous and
mutinous inhabitants, ever discontented with the English government; and
that the possession of Tournay, as it was thus precarious and expensive,
so was it entirely useless, and afforded little or no means of annoying,
on occasion, the dominions either of Charles or of Francis.

These reasons were of themselves convincing, and were sure of meeting
with no opposition when they came from the mouth of the cardinal. A
treaty therefore was catered into for the ceding of Tournay; and in
order to give to that measure a more grac