[Footnote 196: _Ibid._, ii., 367, 226. The letters
relating to this episode in _L. and P._ are often
undated and sometimes misplaced; _e.g._, this last
is placed under March, although from Nos. 295, 296,
319, 327, 331, we find that Mary did not leave
Paris till 16th April.]
[Footnote 197: _L. and P._, ii., 468.]
[Footnote 198: _Ven. Cal._, ii., 618.]
[Footnote 199: _Ven. Cal._, ii., 638.]
[Footnote 200: _L. and P._, ii., 436.]
[Footnote 201: Brewer's view is that Wolsey saved
Suffolk from ruin on this occasion.]
[Footnote 202: _Ven. Cal._, ii., 919.]
[Footnote 203: _L. and P._, ii., 4057, 4308; iii.,
1.]
* * * * *
This episode threw into the shade the main purpose of Suffolk's
embassy to France. It was to renew the treaty concluded the year
before, and apparently also the discussions for war upon Spain.
Francis was ready enough to confirm the treaty, particularly as it
left him free to pursue his designs on Milan. With a similar object he
made terms with the Archduke Charles, who this year assumed the
government of the Netherlands, but was completely under the control of
Chievres, a Frenchman by birth and sympathy, who signed his letters to
Francis "your humble servant and vassal".[204] Charles bound himself
to marry Louis XII.'s daughter Renee, and to give his grandfather
Ferdinand no aid unless he restored Navarre to Jean d'Albret. Thus
safeguarded from attack on his rear, Francis set out for Milan. The
Swiss had locked all the passes they thought practicable; but the
French generals, guided by chamois hunters and overcoming almost
insuperable obstacles, transported their artillery over the Alps (p. 086)
near Embrun; and on 13th September, at Marignano, the great "Battle of
the Giants" laid the whole of Northern Italy at the French King's
feet. At Bologna he met Leo X., whose lifelong endeavour was to be
found on both sides at once, or at least on the side of the bigger
battalions; the Pope recognised Francis's claim to Milan, while
Francis undertook to support the Medici in Florence, and to
countenance Leo's project for securing the Duchy of Urbino to his
nephew Lorenzo.
[Footnote 204: _Sp. Cal_., ii., 246.]
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