tor of Saxony was at
last concluded; and Anne was sent over to England. The king, impatient
to be satisfied with regard to the person of his bride, came privately
to Rochester and got a sight of her. He found her big, indeed, and tall
as he could wish; but utterly destitute both of beauty and grace; very
unlike the pictures and representations which he had received: he swore
she was a great Flanders mare; and declared that he never could possibly
bear her any affection. The matter was worse when he found that she
could speak no language but Dutch, of which he was entirely ignorant;
and that the charms of her conversation were not likely to compensate
for the homeliness of her person. He returned to Greenwich very
melancholy; and he much lamented his hard fate to Cromwell, as well
as to Lord Russel, Sir Anthony Brown, and Sir Anthony Denny. This last
gentleman, in order to give him comfort, told him, that his misfortune
was common to him with all kings, who could not, like private persons,
choose for themselves, but must receive their wives from the judgment
and fancy of others.

It was the subject of debate among the king's counsellors, whether the
marriage could not yet be dissolved, and the princess be sent back to
her own country. Henry's situation seemed at that time very critical.
After the ten years' truce concluded between the emperor and the king
of France, a good understanding was thought to have taken place between
these rival monarchs; and such marks of union appeared, as gave great
jealousy to the court of England. The emperor, who knew the generous
nature of Francis, even put a confidence in him which is rare to that
degree among great princes. An insurrection had been raised in the Low
Countries by the inhabitants of Ghent, and seemed to threaten the most
dangerous consequences. Charles, who resided at that time in Spain,
resolved to go in person to Flanders, in order to appease those
disorders; but he found great difficulties in choosing the manner of his
passing thither. The road by Italy and Germany was tedious: the voyage
through the channel dangerous, by reason of the English naval power:
he asked Francis's permission to pass through his dominions; and he
entrusted himself into the hands of a rival, whom he had so mortally
offended. The French monarch received him at Paris with great
magnificence and courtesy; and though prompted both by revenge and
interest, as well as by the advice of his mistress a