252 HISTORY OF KINO HENRY VII. 



He saw plainly the ambition of the French king was 

 to impatronise himself of the duchy ; but he won 

 dered he would bring into his house a litigious 

 marriage, especially considering who was his suc 

 cessor. But weighing one thing with another he 

 gave Britain for lost ; but resolved to make his 

 profit of this business of Britain, as a quarrel for 

 war ; and that of N aples, as a wrench and mean for 

 peace ; being well advertised, how strongly the king 

 was bent upon that action. Having therefore con 

 ferred divers times with his council, and keeping 

 himself somewhat close, he gave a direction to the 

 chancellor, for a formal answer to the ambassadors, 

 and that he did in the presence of his council. And 

 after calling the chancellor to him apart, bad him 

 speak in such language as was fit for a treaty that 

 was to end in a breach ; and gave him also a special 

 caveat, that he should not use any words to dis 

 courage the voyage of Italy. Soon after the ambas 

 sadors were sent for to the council, and the lord 

 chancellor spake to them in this sort : 



&quot; My lords ambassadors, I shall make answer, by 

 &quot; the king s commandment, unto the eloquent de- 

 tc claration of you, my lord prior, in a brief and plain 

 &quot; manner. The king forgetteth not his former love 

 &quot; and acquaintance with the king your master ; but 

 &quot; of this there needeth no repetition. For if it be 

 &quot; between them as it was, it is well ; if there be any 

 &quot; alteration, it is not words that will make it up. 



&quot; For the business of Britain, the king findeth it 

 &quot; a little strange that the French king maketh men- 



