The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary — David Hume — John Shaqi
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary
David Hume · en
The success and glory of the French monarch began to excite jealousy in
Henry; and his rapid progress, though in so distant a country, was
not regarded without apprehensions by the English ministry. Italy was,
during that age, the seat of religion, of literature, and of commerce;
and as it possessed alone that lustre which has since been shared out
among other nations, it attracted the attention of all Europe, and every
acquisition which was made there appeared more important than its weight
in the balance of power was, strictly speaking, entitled to. Henry also
thought that he had reason to complain of Francis for sending the duke
of Albany into Scotland, and undermining the power and credit of his
sister the queen dowager.[***] The repairing of the fortifications of
Terouenne was likewise regarded as a breach of treaty. But, above all,
what tended to alienate the court of England, was the disgust which
Wolsey had entertained against the French monarch.
* Mémoires du Bellai, lib. i. Guicciard. lib. xii.
** Histoire de la Ligue de Cambray.
*** Père Daniel, vol. iii. p. 31.
Henry, on the conquest of Tournay had refused to admit Lewis Gaillart,
the bishop elect, to the possession of the temporalities, because that
prelate declined taking the oath of allegiance to his new sovereign; and
Wolsey was appointed as above related, administrator of the bishopric.
As the cardinal wished to obtain the free and undisturbed enjoyment
of this revenue, he applied to Francis, and desired him to bestow
on Gaillart some see of equal value in France, and to obtain his
resignation of Tournay. Francis, who still hoped to recover possession
of that city, and who feared that the full establishment of Wolsey
in the bishopric would prove an obstacle to his purpose, had hitherto
neglected to gratify the haughty prelate; and the bishop of Tournay, by
applying to the court of Rome, had obtained a bull for his settlement in
the see. Wolsey, who expected to be indulged in every request, and who
exacted respect from the greatest princes, resented the slight put upon
him by Francis and he pushed his master to seek an occasion of quarrel
with that monarch.[*]