oyed
every expedient of money or intrigue, which promised them success in
so great a point of ambition. Henry also was encouraged to advance his
pretensions; but his minister Pace, who was despatched to the electors,
found that he began to solicit too late, and that the votes of all these
princes were already preengaged either on one side or the other.

Francis and Charlea made profession from the beginning of carrying on
this rivalship with emulation, but without enmity.

This whole narrative has been copied by all the historians from
the author here cited: there are many circumstances, however, very
suspicious, both because of the obvious partiality of the historian, and
because the parliament, when they afterwards examined Wolsey's conduct,
could find no proof of any material offence he had ever committed, and
Francis in particular declared, that his brother Charles and he were,
fairly and openly, suitors to the same mistress; the more fortunate,
added he, will carry her; the other must rest contented.[*]

* Belcario, lib. xvi. Guicciard. lib. xiii.

But all men apprehended that this extreme moderation, however
reasonable, would not be of long duration; and that incidents would
certainly occur to sharpen the minds of the candidates against each
other. It was Charles who at length prevailed, to the great disgust of
the French monarch, who still continued to the last in the belief that
the majority of the electoral college was engaged in his favor. And as
he was some years superior in age to his rival, and, after his victory
at Marignan and conquest of the Milanese, much superior in renown, he
could not suppress his indignation at being thus, in the face of the
world, after long and anxious expectation, disappointed in so important
a pretension. From this competition, as much as from opposition of
interests, arose that emulation between those two great monarchs, which,
while it kept their whole age in movement, sets them in so remarkable
a contrast to each other: both of them princes endowed with talents and
abilities; brave, aspiring, active warlike; beloved by their servants
and subjects, dreaded by their enemies, and respected by all the world:
Francis, open, frank, liberal, munificent, carrying these virtues to an
excess which prejudiced his affairs: Charles, political, close, artful,
frugal; better qualified to obtain success in wars and in negotiations,
especially the latter. The one the more amiable man;