ndship, had rashly
revealed his secrets to that subtle and interested monarch. And he
complained that regular payments were never made of the sums due to him
by France, and of the pension which had been stipulated. Impelled by
all these motives, he alienated himself from his ancient friend and
confederate, and formed a league with the emperor, who earnestly courted
his alliance.

* Buchanan, lib. xv. Drummond.

** Pere Daniel.

This league, besides stipulations for mutual defence, contained a plan
for invading France; and the two monarchs agreed to enter Francis's
dominions with an army, each of twenty-five thousand men; and to require
that prince to pay Henry all the sums which he owed him, and to consign
Boulogne, Montreuil, Terouenne, and Ardres, as a security for the
regular payment of his pension for the future: in case these conditions
were rejected, the confederate princes agreed to challenge, for Henry,
the crown of France, or, in default of it, the duchies of Normandy,
Aquitaine, and Guienne; for Charles the duchy of Burgundy, and some
other territories.[*] That they might have a pretence for enforcing
these claims, they sent a message to Francis, requiring him to renounce
his alliance with Sultan Solyman, and to make reparation for all
the prejudice which Christendom had sustained from that unnatural
confederacy. Upon the French king's refusal, war was declared against
him by the allies. It may be proper to remark, that the partisans
of France objected to Charles's alliance with the heretical king of
England, as no less obnoxious than that which Francis had contracted
with Solyman: and they observed, that this league was a breach of the
solemn promise which he had given to Clement VII., never to make peace
or alliance with England.

While the treaty with the emperor was negotiating, the king summoned a
new session of parliament, in order to obtain supplies for his projected
war with France. The parliament granted him a subsidy, to be paid in
three years; it was levied in a peculiar manner; but exceeded not three
shillings in the pound upon any individual.[**]

* Rymer, vol. xiv. p. 768; vol. xv. p. 2.

** They who were worth, in goods, twenty shillings and
upwards to five pounds, paid fourpence of every pound; from
five pounds to ten pounds, eightpence; from ten pounds to
twenty pounds, sixteen pence; from twenty and upwards, two
shillings. Lands, fees, and annui