ent. The close intimacy which had taken place between
Francis and Charles had subsisted during a very short time: the
dissimilarity of their characters soon renewed, with greater violence
than ever, their former jealousy and hatred. While Charles remained at
Paris, Francis had been imprudently engaged, by his open temper, and
by that satisfaction which a noble mind naturally feels in performing
generous actions, to make in confidence some dangerous discoveries to
that interested monarch; and having now lost all suspicion of his rival,
he hoped that the emperor and he, supporting each other, might neglect
every other alliance. He not only communicated to his guest the state
of his negotiations with Sultan Solyman and the Venetians; he also laid
open the solicitations which he had received from the court of England
to enter into a confederacy against him.[*] Charles had no sooner
reached his own dominions, than he showed himself unworthy of the
friendly reception which he had met with. He absolutely refused to
fulfil his promise, and put the duke of Orleans in possession of the
Milanese; he informed Solyman and the senate of Venice of the treatment
which they had received from their ally; and he took care that Henry
should not be ignorant how readily Francis had abandoned his ancient
friend, to whom he owed such important obligations, and had sacrificed
him to a new confederate: he even poisoned and misrepresented many
things which the unsuspecting heart of the French monarch had disclosed
to him. Had Henry possessed true judgment and generosity, this incident
alone had been sufficient to guide him in the choice of his ally. But
his domineering pride carried him immediately to renounce the friendship
of Francis, who had so unexpectedly given the preference to the emperor;
and as Charles invited him to a renewal of ancient amity, he willingly
accepted of the offer; and thinking himself secure in this alliance, he
neglected the friendship both of France and of the German princes.

* Pere Daniel. Du Tillet.

The new turn which Henry had taken with regard to foreign affairs was
extremely agreeable to his Catholic subjects; and as it had perhaps
contributed, among other reasons, to the ruin of Cromwell, it made
them entertain hopes of a final prevalence over their antagonists. The
marriage of the king with Catharine Howard, which followed soon after
his divorce from Anne of Cleves, was also regarded as a favorable
incide