s,
which were not commonly open to complaints against his favorite.
Wolsey had built a splendid palace at Hampton Court, which he probably
intended, as well as that of York Place, in Westminster, for his
own residence; but fearing the increase of envy on account of this
magnificence, and desirous to appease the king, he made him a present of
the building, and told him that, from the first, he had erected it for
his use.

The absolute authority possessed by the king rendered his domestic
government, both over his people and his ministers, easy and
expeditious: the conduct of foreign affairs alone required effort and
application; and they were now brought to such a situation, that it
was no longer safe for England to remain entirely neutral. The feigned
moderation of the emperor was of short duration; and it was soon obvious
to all the world, that his great dominions, far from gratifying
his ambition, were only regarded as the means of acquiring an more
extensive. The terms which he demanded of his prisoner were such as must
forever have annihilated the power of France, and destroyed the balance
of Europe. These terms were proposed to Francis soon after the battle
of Pavia, while he was detained in Pizzichitone; and as he had hitherto
trusted somewhat to the emperor's generosity, the disappointment excited
in his breast the most lively indignation. He said, that he would rather
live and die a prisoner than agree to dismember his kingdom; and that
even were he so base as to submit to such conditions, his subjects would
never permit him to carry them into execution.

Francis was encouraged to persist in demanding more moderate terms by
the favorable accounts which he heard of Henry's disposition towards
him, and of the alarm which had seized all the chief powers in Italy
upon his defeat and captivity. He was uneasy, however, to be so far
distant from the emperor, with whom he must treat; and he expressed his
desire (which was complied with) to be removed to Madrid, in hopes that
a personal interview would operate in his favor, and that Charles, if
not influenced by his ministers, might be found possessed of the same
frankness of disposition by which he himself was distinguished. He was
soon convinced of his mistake. Partly from want of exercise, partly
from reflections on his present melancholy situation, he fell into a
languishing illness; which begat apprehensions in Charles, lest the
death of his captive should bereave