He promised at last, with rather more calmness, to inquire into the treatment of the merchants, if proper particulars were supplied to him.[538] If alarm was really felt in the English court at the Emperor's presence in Paris, Wyatt's report of this interview was not reassuring. Still less satisfactory was an intimation, which was not long in reaching England, that Francis, or one of his ministers, had betrayed to Charles a private article in the treaty of Calais, in 1532. Anticipating at this time a war with Spain, Henry had suggested, and Francis had acquiesced in a proposal, should Charles attack them, for a partition of the Flemish provinces. The opportunity of this visit was chosen by the French to give an evidence of unmistakeable goodwill in revealing an exasperating secret. Keeping these transactions so ominous of evil before our minds, let us now return to the events which were simultaneously taking place in England. [Sidenote: December 11. Anne of Cleves arrives at Calais,] [Sidenote: Where she remains weather-bound for a fortnight,] [Sidenote: And learns to play at cards.] On the 11th of December the Lady Anne of Cleves was conducted, under a German escort, to Calais, where Lord Southampton and four hundred English noblemen and gentlemen were waiting to receive her, and conduct her to her future country. The "Lion" and the "Sweepstake" were in the harbour--the ships which two years before had fought the Flemings in the Downs. As she rode into the town the vessels' yards were manned, the rigging was decorated with flags, and a salute of a hundred and fifty guns was fired in her honour. By her expectant subjects she was splendidly welcomed; but the weather was wild; fifteen days elapsed before she could cross with ease and expedition; and meanwhile she was left to the entertainment of the lords. Southampton, in despair at her absence of accomplishments, taught her, as a last resource, to play at cards. Meantime, he wrote to advertise the king of her arrival, and thinking, as he afterwards said, that he must make the best of a matter which it had become too late to remedy, he repeated the praises which had been uttered so loudly by others of the lady's appearance. He trusted that, "after all the debating, the success would be to the consolation of his Majesty, and the weal of his subjects and realm."[539] [Sidenote: Dec. 27. She lands in England.] [Sidenote: Dec 29. Monday. She is received by Cranmer at Canterbury.] [Sidenote: Wednesday Dec. 31. The king comes to meet her at Rochester.]