HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 273 



sioners, to continue for both the kings lives. Where 

 there was no article of importance ; being in effect 

 rather a bargain than a treaty. For all things 

 remained as they were, save that there should be 

 paid to the king seven hundred forty-five thousand 

 ducats in present, for his charges in that journey ; 

 and five and twenty thousand crowns yearly, for his 

 charges sustained in the aids of the Britons. For 

 which annual, though he had Maximilian bound 

 before for those charges, yet he counted the altera 

 tion of the hand as much as the principal debt. And 

 besides, it was left somewhat indefinitely when it 

 should determine or expire ; which made the Eng 

 lish esteem it as a tribute carried under fair terms. 

 And the truth is, it was paid both to the king and 

 to his son King Henry the Eighth, longer than it 

 could continue upon any computation of charges. 

 There was also assigned by the French king, unto 

 all the king s principal counsellors, great pensions, 

 besides rich gifts for the present. Which whether 

 the king did permit, to save his own purse from 

 rewards, or to communicate the envy of a business, 

 that was displeasing to his people, was diversly in 

 terpreted. For certainly the king had no great 

 fancy to own this peace. And therefore a little 

 before it was concluded, he had under-hand procured 

 some of his best captains and men of war to advise 

 him to a peace, under their hands, in an earnest 

 manner, in the nature of a supplication. But the 

 truth is, this peace was welcome to both kings. To 

 Charles, for that it assured unto him the possession 



