6'34 
eng: 
the \ifual title of the EngliHi monarchs. Francis remarked 
this delicacy, and expreffed his approbation by a Anile. 
Nothing could exceed the magnificence of the nobility 
of both courts on this occafion. Many of them involved 
themfelves in large debts; and the penury of a whole 
life was fcarcely fufficient to reimburse the extravagance 
of a few days. There was however fomething illiberal 
in the mutual diftrufts that were confpicuous on this 
occafion : the two kings never met without having the 
number of their guards counted on both Tides ; every 
Hep w'as carefully adjufted ; they patTed each other in 
the middle point between both places, when they went 
to vilit their queens ; and at the fame inftant that Henry 
entered Ardres, Francis put himfelf into the hands of 
the Englifh at Guifnes. But Francis, who is confidered 
as the firft reftorer of genuine politenefs in Europe, put 
an end to this low and fufpicious dealing. Taking with 
him two gentlemen and a page, he rode diredtly into 
Guifnes, crying out to the Englith guards, that they 
were their prifoners, and defired to be carried before 
the king their matter. Henry was fenfibly affetted with 
the manly condudt and candour of Francis; and, taking 
him in his arms, “ My brother (faid he) you have given 
me the mod agreeable furprife ; you have convinced me 
of the full confidence I may place in you ; I furrender 
myfelf your prifoner from this moment.” He then took 
from his neck a collar of pearls of great value, and 
putting it on Francis, begged him to wear it for the fake 
of his prifoner. Francis accepted the noble prefent; and 
giving him a bracelet of double the value of the former, 
infifted on his wearing it for his fake. Henry went the 
next day to Ardres, without guards or attendants; and 
confidence being now fufficiently eftablithed between thefe 
monarchs, they employed the red: ofthe time in fumptuous 
feafts and tournaments. So gorgeous and (lately was this 
tournament kept, that a defiance had been fent through 
all the chief cities of Europe, importing, that Henry and 
Francis, with fourteen aids, would be ready in the plains 
of Picardy to anfwer all comers that were gentlemen, at 
tilt and tourney. Accordingly the monarchs, richly ap¬ 
pareled, entered the lifts on horfeback ; Francis fur- 
rounded with Henry’s guards, and Henry with thofe of 
Francis. They were both at that time the mod comely 
perfonages of their age, and prided themfelves on their 
expertnefs in the military exercifes. The ladies were 
always the umpires in thefe feats of chivalry ; and they 
put an end to the encounter whenever they thought 
proper. It is fuppofed that the crafty French monarch 
was willing to gratify Henry’s vanity by allowing him to 
enjoy a pre-eminence in thefe paftimes. He ran a tilt 
againft monfieur Grandeval, whom he difabled at the firft 
encounter. He engaged the valiant Montmorency, whom, 
however, he could not throw from his faddle. He fought 
at faulchion with a French nobleman, who gave up his 
courfer, in token of fubmiffion. 
But fuch unmeaning fplendours were not calculated to 
appeafe the jealoufy of the nobles at home, or quiet the 
murmurs of the people. The duke of Buckingham, a 
fon of him who loft his life in the reign of Richard III. 
was the foremoft to complain. He had often been heard 
to treat the cardinal’s pride and profufion with contempt; 
but carrying his refentment perhapsto an improper length, 
fome court hirelings took care that Wolfey fhould be 
apprifed of it. The fubftance of his impeachment was, 
that he had confulted a fortune-teller concerning his fuc- 
ceftion to the crown. This was but a weak pretext to 
take away the life of a nobleman, whofe father had 
died in defence of the late king: but he was brought to 
a trial; and the duke of Norfolk, whofe fon had married 
his daughter, was created lord high fteward, to prefide at 
this folemn procedure. He was condemned as a traitor, 
by a jury, confiding of a duke, a marquis, feven earls, 
and twelve barons ; and was executed on Tower-hill, 
A.D. 1521. 
The immenfe treafutes of Henry VII. were at length 
* A N D. 
exhaufted on empty pageants, guilty pleafures, or vain 
treaties and expeditions. But the king relied on Wolfev 
alone for replenifiiing his coffers. A treaty with France, 
which threatened a breach with the emperor, induced 
Henry to demand fupplies; but as the parliament tefti. 
tied a reluctance to indulge his wifhes, he followed the 
advice of Wolfey, and made life of his prerogative alone 
for that purpofe. He iffued out commiftions to all the 
counties of England, for levying four (hillings in the 
pound on the clergy, and three (hillings and four-pence 
from the laity; non did he attempt to cover the violence 
of the meafure by giving it the name either of benevo¬ 
lence or loan. This unwarrantable ftretch of royal power 
was foon oppofed by the people; they were unwilling 
to fubmit to impofitions unknown till now j cind ct o’cnc- 
ral infurreaion threatened to enfue. Henry had the°pru- 
dence to ftop (hort in that dangerous path into which he 
had entered ; and declared, by circular letters to all the 
counties, that what was demanded was only by way of 
benevolence. But the fpirit of oppofition, once roufed, 
was not fo eafily allayed ; the citizens of London befi¬ 
tted at the demand ; and in fome parts of the country 
infurredtions were actually begun, which were fupprelfed 
by the duke of Suffolk. Thefe imports, firft advifed by 
Wolfey, not fucceeding, he began to lofe a little of his 
favour with the king; and this difpleafure was (till more 
increafed by the complaints of the clergy, who accufed 
him ot extortion. Henry feverely reproved W^olfey, 
which rendered him more cautious and artful for the 
future. As an inftance of his cunning, having built a 
noble palace, called York-place, at Weftminfter, for his 
own ufe, fearing now the general cenfure againft him, he 
made a prefent of it to the king, alluring him that from 
the moment the firft (tone was laid, he intended it as a 
prefent to his majefty. Thus Wolfey’s impunity ferved 
to pave the way to greater extortions. In order to have 
a pretext for amaffmg fuch fums, he undertook to found 
two new colleges in Oxford, for which he received frefh 
grants front the pope and the king. To execute this 
favourite fcherne, he obtained a liberty of fuppreflino- 
feveral monafteries, and converting their revenues to the 
benefit of his new foundation. Whatever might have 
been the pope’s inducement to grant him thefe privi¬ 
leges, nothing could be more fatal to the pontiff’s inte- 
refts ; for Henry was thus himfelf taught (liortly after¬ 
wards to imitate what he had feen a fubjedt perform with 
impunity. 
Hitherto the adminiftration of affairs was carried on by 
Wolfey; for the king was contented to lofe, in the em¬ 
braces of his women, all the complaints of his fubjedts; 
and the cardinal undertook to keep him ignorant, in or¬ 
der to continue his own uncontrouled authority. But a 
period was approaching, that was to put an end to this 
minifter’s exorbitant power. One of the mod extraordi¬ 
nary and important revolutions that ever employed the 
attention of man, was now ripe for execution. This was 
no other than the glorious Reformation, which (hook off' 
the fetters of Rome. To have an adequate idea of the 
rife of this memorable event, it will be proper to take a 
curfory view of the date of the church at that time", and 
to obferve by what feemingly contradidtory means Pro¬ 
vidence produces the moft happy events. 
The church of Rome had, for more than a thoufand 
years, been corrupting the ancient fimplicity of the gof- 
pel, and converting into a temporality the kingdom of 
another world. The popes had been frequently feen at 
the head of their own armies, fighting for their dominions 
with the arm of fie(h, and forgetting, in cruel maxims of 
date, all the fandtity of religion. The cardinals, pre¬ 
lates, and dignitaries of the church, lived like volup¬ 
tuous princes, and fome of them poffeffed eight or nine 
bilhoprics at once. Wherever the church governed, its 
power was marked with cruelty ; fo that to their luxu¬ 
ries, were added the crime of tyranny. But what moft 
increafed the hatred of the people againft them, was the 
felling 
