last opportunity to inculcate on him the importance of his
religious duty, and the comparative emptiness of all human grandeur and
enjoyment; that though his fondness towards these perishable advantages
had thrown her into many calamities, as well as created to himself
much trouble, she yet forgave him all past injuries, and hoped that his
pardon would be ratified in Heaven; and that she had no other request
to make, than to recommend to him his daughter, the sole pledge of
their loves; and to crave his protection for her maids and servants. She
concluded with these words: "I make this vow, that mine eyes desire
you above all things."[*] The king was touched, even to the shedding
of tears, by this last tender proof of Catharine's affection; but Queen
Anne is said to have expressed her joy for the death of a rival beyond
what decency or humanity could permit.[**]

The emperor thought that, as the demise of his aunt had removed all
foundation of personal animosity between him and Henry, it might not now
be impossible to detach him from the alliance of France, and to renew
his own confederacy with England, from which he had formerly reaped so
much advantage. He sent Henry proposals for a return to ancient amity,
upon these conditions:[***] that he should be reconciled to the see of
Rome, that he should assist him in his war with the Turk, and that he
should take part with him against Francis, who now threatened the duchy
of Milan. The king replied, that he was willing to be on good terms
with the emperor, provided that prince would acknowledge that the former
breach of friendship came entirely from himself: as to the conditions
proposed, the proceedings against the bishop of Rome were so just, and
so fully ratified by the parliament of England, that they could not
now be revoked; when Christian princes should have settled peace among
themselves, he would not fail to exert that vigor which became him,
against the enemies of the faith; and after amity with the emperor
was once fully restored, he should then be in a situation, as a common
friend both to him and Francis, either to mediate an agreement between
them, or to assist the injured party.

* Herbert, p. 403.

** Burnet, vol. i. p. 192

*** Du Bellai, liv. v. Herbert. Burnet, vol. iii. in Coll.
No. 60.

What rendered Henry more indifferent to the advances made by the emperor
was, both his experience of the usual duplicity and insincerity of
th