s which were soon to overshadow
her, and to form the school of the great nature which in its maturity would
re-mould the world.

Leaving Elizabeth for the present, we return to the continent, and to the
long-promised interview, which was now at last approaching. Henry made no
further attempt to remonstrate with Francis; and Francis assured him, and
with all sincerity, that he would use his best efforts to move the pope to
make the necessary concessions. The English embassy meanwhile was
withdrawn. The excommunication had been received as an act of hostility, of
which Henry would not even condescend to complain; and it was to be
understood distinctly that in any exertions which might be made by the
French king, the latter was acting without commission on his own
responsibility. The intercession was to be the spontaneous act of a mutual
friend, who, for the interests of Christendom, desired to heal a dangerous
wound; but neither directly nor indirectly was it to be interpreted as an
expression of a desire for a reconciliation on the English side.

It was determined further, on the recal of the Duke of Norfolk, that the
opportunity of the meeting should be taken to give a notice to the pope of
the king's appeal to the council; and for this purpose, Bennet and Bonner
were directed to follow the papal court from Rome. Bennet never
accomplished this journey, dying on the route, worn out with much
service.[623] His death delayed Bonner, and the conferences had opened for
many days before his arrival. Clement had reached Marseilles by ship from
Genoa, about the 20th of October. As if pointedly to irritate Henry, he had
placed himself under the conduct of the Duke of Albany.[624] He was
followed two days later by his fair niece, Catherine de Medici; and the
preparations for the marriage were commenced with the utmost swiftness and
secrecy. The conditions of the contract were not allowed to transpire, but
they were concluded in three days; and on this 25th of October the pope
bestowed his precious present on the Duke of Orleans, he himself performing
the nuptial ceremony, and accompanying it with his paternal benediction on
the young pair, and on the happy country which was to possess them for its
king and queen. France being thus securely riveted to Rome, other matters
could be talked of more easily. Francis made all decent overtures to the
pope in behalf of Henry; if the pope was to be believed indeed, he was
vehemently urgent.