ive power and great capacity,
rejected the information. Being now satiated with punishing the rebels,
he published anew a general pardon, to which he faithfully adhered;
[*] and he erected, by patent, a court of justice at York, for deciding
lawsuits in the northern counties; a demand which had been made by the
rebels.

Soon after this prosperous success, an event happened which crowned
Henry's joy--the birth of a son, who was baptized by the name of
Edward. Yet was not his happiness without alloy: the queen died two days
after.**

* Herbert, p. 428.

** Strype, vol. ii. p. 6.

But a son had so long been ardently wished for by Henry, and was now
become so necessary, in order to prevent disputes with regard to the
succession, after the acts declaring the two princesses illegitimate,
that the king's affliction was drowned in his joy, and he expressed
great satisfaction on the occasion. The prince, not six days old, was
created prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall, and earl of Chester. Sir
Edward Seymour, the queen's brother, formerly made Lord Beauchamp, was
raised to the dignity of earl of Hertford. Sir William Fitz-Williams,
high admiral, was created earl of Southampton; Sir William Paulet, Lord
St. John; Sir John Russel, Lord Russel.

{1538.} The suppression of the rebellion and the birth of a son, as they
confirmed Henry's authority at home, increased his consideration among
foreign princes, and made his alliance be courted by all parties. He
maintained, however, a neutrality in the wars which were carried on with
various success, and without any decisive event, between Charles and
Francis; and though inclined more to favor the latter, he determined not
to incur, without necessity, either hazard or expense on his account. A
truce concluded about this time between these potentates, and afterwards
prolonged for ten years, freed him from all anxiety on account of his
ally, and reestablished the tranquillity of Europe.

Henry continued desirous of cementing a union with the German
Protestants; and for that purpose he sent Christopher Mount to a
congress which they held at Brunswick; but that minister made no great
progress in his negotiation. The princes wished to know what were the
articles in their confession which Henry disliked; and they sent new
ambassadors to him, who had orders both to negotiate and to dispute.
They endeavored to convince the king, that he was guilty of a mistake
in administering the