That Charles was sincere in his wish to gain the help of England against France on this, as on all other similar opportunities, did not require much penetration to understand; but when Moryson left the Imperial presence and came to close quarters with Charles’s minister de Granvelle, the wily ecclesiastic and future Cardinal tried what cajolery could do the further to persuade the Englishman of the goodwill of the Emperor, and his wish for England’s friendship. “He [the Emperor] only wished,” he said, “that he found in the rest of the Princes the like godly mind as in King Edward, his good brother, and did trust he should be a king of as great honour as hath been in England this hundred years. This and a hundred times as much he spake with such affection as, if words may be thought to mean what they say, there can be no more wished for than is to be hoped for.”[1] There was no thought yet of the young King’s premature death; but Northumberland had many bitter enemies at home, and to him it was a matter of policy to secure for himself a powerful supporter on the Continent. The Catholic and Spanish interest being naturally against him for his religious action and his treatment of the Princess Mary, he had always hitherto looked towards France as his friend; but the maritime aggression of the French and ancient prejudice had aroused a bitter feeling against them generally in England; and it behoved Northumberland at this juncture to make an appearance at least of conciliating the ancient ally of England, the Emperor-king of Spain and monarch of the Netherlands. To Northumberland in the circumstances this was a passing expediency: to Charles the alliance or benevolent neutrality of England was a permanent necessity if his cause and country were to prevail.