your royal authority." He then cunningly insinuated, that by his will he left all his property to the king. Henry was satisfied: he had a share in the business. [514] Very forward and industrious. Foxe, Acts. v. p. 366. [515] Collier's Eccles. Hist. x, p. 20. Events of very different importance drew the king's attention to another quarter. The two armies, of the empire and of France, were in presence before Pavia. Wolsey, who openly gave his right hand to Charles V, and secretly his left to Francis, repeated to his master: "If the emperor gains the victory, are you not his ally? and if Francis, am I not in secret communication with him?"[516] "Thus," added the cardinal, "whatever happens, your Highness will have great cause to give thanks to Almighty God." [516] By such communications as he set forth with France apart. State Papers, i, p. 158. [Sidenote: ALLIANCE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND.] On the 24th of February 1525, the battle of Pavia was fought, and the imperialists found in the French king's tent several of Wolsey's letters, and in his military chest and in the pockets of his soldiers the cardinal's corrupting gold. This alliance had been contrived by Giovanni Gioacchino, a Genoese master of the household to Louisa, regent of France, who passed for a merchant of Bologna, and lived in concealment at Blackfriars. Charles now saw what he had to trust to; but the news of the battle of Pavia had scarcely reached England, when, faithful in perfidy, Wolsey gave utterance to a feigned pleasure. The people rejoiced also, but they were in earnest. Bonfires were lighted in the streets of London; the fountains ran wine, and the lord-mayor, attended by the aldermen, passed through the city on horseback to the sound of the trumpet. The cardinal's joy was not altogether false. He would have been pleased at his enemy's defeat; but his victory was perhaps still more useful to him. He said to Henry: "The emperor is a liar observing neither faith nor promise: the Archduchess Margaret is a woman of evil life;[517] Don Ferdinand is a child, and Bourbon a traitor. Sire, you have other things to do with your money than to squander it on these four individuals. Charles is aiming at universal monarchy; Pavia is the first step of this throne, and if England does not oppose him, he will attain it." Joachim having come privily to London, Wolsey prevailed upon Henry to conclude between England and France an "_indissoluble peace_ by land and sea."[518] At last then he was in a position to prove to Charles that it is a dangerous thing to oppose the ambition of a priest. [517] Milady Margaret was a ribaud. Cotton MSS. Vesp. C. 3, p. 55. [518] Sincera fidelis, firma et indissolubilis pax. (Rymer, Fœdera, p. 32, 33.) A sincere, faithful, firm and indissoluble peace. [Sidenote: NEW TAXES AND INSURRECTION.]