Charles the Rash, = (1) Isabel of Portugal. Duke of Burgundy, | (2) Margaret of York. Holland, and Brabant, | Count of Flanders, | Luxemburg, and Namur, | slain 1477. | | +------------------+ | (1) Mary of = Maximilian of Ferdinand, = Isabella, Burgundy | Hapsburg, Archduke King of | Queen of Castile, | of Austria, and Aragon, | 1474-1504. | Emperor, 1493-1519. 1479-1516. | | | | +--------------------+--+ | | | Philip, = Joanna. Catherine = (1) Arthur, Archduke | | Prince of of Austria, | | Wales. died 1506. | | (2) Henry VIII. | | +------------+-------------+ Mary, | | Queen of England, Charles, Ferdinand I., 1553-1558. King of Spain, Emperor, 1516; Emperor, 1556-1564. 1519-1556. | Philip II., = Mary, King of Spain, Queen of England. 1556-1598. [Sidenote: =The balance of power.=] Henry and Wolsey, therefore, fell back on the idea that a balance of power in Europe was the best thing for England. It would be a misfortune if either Francis I. or Charles V. should grow so powerful as to dominate the whole continent. England accordingly would do well to see that neither obtained complete success, and to make a rule of helping the weaker party from time to time. For the next ten years, therefore, Henry was always trimming the scales, and transferring his weight from one side to the other. Such a policy made him much courted by both parties, and won him much flattery, and an occasional subsidy or treaty of commerce. But, on the other hand, it prevented either Francis or Charles from looking upon him as a trustworthy ally, or dealing fairly with him in the hours of their success. For they argued that there was no object in serving a friend who might turn into an enemy at the shortest notice. Thus Henry and Wolsey, with all their astuteness, got no profit for England or for themselves, for they were never trusted, and promises made to them in the hour when their help was needed were never fulfilled when their aid was no longer necessary. There was something false, insincere, and degrading in this trimming policy. It is disgusting to read how Henry greeted his neighbour Francis in 1520 at the celebrated "Field of the Cloth of Gold" near Calais, with all manner of pomp and pageantry, and profuse protestations of brotherly love, and then within a month had met Charles at Gravelines, and concluded a secret treaty of alliance with