se
entertainments, more than in any serious business, did the two kings
pass their time, till their departure.

* Memoires de Fleuranges.

** Mezeray.

Henry paid then a visit to the emperor and Margaret of Savoy at
Gravelines, and engaged them to go along with him to Calais, and
pass some days in that fortress. The artful and politic Charles here
completed the impression which he had begun to make on Henry and his
favorite, and effaced all the friendship to which the frank and generous
nature of Francis had given birth. As the house of Austria began
sensibly to take the ascendant over the French monarchy, the interests
of England required that some support should be given to the latter,
and, above all, that any important wars should be prevented which might
bestow on either of them a decisive superiority over the other. But the
jealousy of the English against France has usually prevented a cordial
union between those nations; and Charles, sensible of this hereditary
animosity, and desirous further to flatter Henry's vanity, had made him
an offer, (an offer in which Francis was afterwards obliged to concur,)
that he should be entirely arbiter in any dispute or difference that
might arise between the monarchs. But the masterpiece of Charles's
politics was the securing of Wolsey in his interests, by very important
services, and still higher promises. He renewed assurances of assisting
him in obtaining the papacy; and he put him in present possession of the
revenues belonging to the sees of Badajoz and Paleneia in Castile. The
acquisitions of Wolsey were now become so exorbitant, that, joined to
the pensions from foreign powers which Henry allowed him to possess, his
revenues were computed nearly to equal those which belonged to the crown
itself; and he spent them with a magnificence; or rather an ostentation,
which gave general offence to the people; and even lessened his master
in the eyes of all foreign nations.[*]

* Polyd. Virg. Hall.

The violent personal emulation and political jealousy which had taken
place between the emperor and the French king, soon broke out in
hostilities. But while these ambitious and warlike princes were acting
against each other in almost every part of Europe, they still made
professions of the strongest desire of peace; and both of them
incessantly carried their complaints to Henry, as to the umpire between
them. The king, who pretended to be neutral, engaged them to s