340 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. being a monk and a philosopher, and better rend in the Alcoran and Averroes than able to wield the sceptre of so warlike an empire. This the re- fore is the king our master s memorable and hc- roical resolution for a holy war. And because he carrieth in this the person of a Christian soldier, as well as of a great temporal monarch, he begin- neth with humility, and is content for this cause to beg peace at the hands of other Christian kings. There remaineth only rather a civil request than any essential part of our negotiation, which the king maketh to the king your sovereign. The king, as all the world knoweth, is lord in chief of the duchy of Britain. The marriage of the heir belongeth to him as guardian. This is a private patrimonial right, and no business of estate : yet nevertheless, to run a fair course with your king, whom he desires to make another himself, and to be one and the same tiling with him, his request
- s, that with the king s favour and consent he may
dispose of her marriage, as he thinketh good, and make void the intruded and pretended marriage of Maximilian, according to justice. This my lords is all that I have to say, desiring your pardon for my weakness in the delivery." Thus did the French ambassadors with great show of their king s affection, and many sugared words, seek to addulce all matters between the
- wo king s, having two things for their ends ; the
one to keep the king quiet till the marriage with Britain was past ; and this was but a summer fruit, which they thought was almost ripe, and would be soon gathered. The other was more lasting; and that was to put him into such a temper as he might be no disturbance or impedi ment to the voyage for Italy. The lords of the council were silent and said only, "That they knew the ambassadors would look fo r no answer, till they had reported to the king :" and so they rose from council. The king could not well tell what to think of the marriage of Britain. He saw plainly the ambition of the French king was to impatronise himself of the duchy; but he wondered he would bring into his house a litigious marriage, especially considering who was his successor. But weighing one thing with another he gave Britain for lost; but resolved to make his profit of this business of Britain, as a quarrel for war; and that of Naples as a wrench and mean for peace; being well advertised, how strongly the king was bent upon that action. Having therefore conferred divers times with his council, and keeping himself somewhat close, he gave a direction to the chancellor, for a formal answer to the ambassadors, and that he did in the presence of his council. And after calling the chancellor to him apart, bade him speak in such language as was fit for a treaty that was to end in ii breach ; and gave him also a special caveat, that he should not use any words to discourage tlio voyago of Italy Soon after the ambassadors ; were sent for to the council, and the lord chancel lor spake to them in this sort: " My lords ambassadors, I shall make answer, by the king s commandment, unto the eloquent declaration of you, my lord prior, in a brief and plain manner. The king forgetteth not his former love and acquaintance with the king your master; but of this there needeth no repetition. For if it be between them as it was, it is well ; if there be any alteration, it is not words that will make it up. " For the business of Britain, the king findeth it a little strange that the French king maketh mention of it as matter well deserving at his hand : for that deserving was no more but to make him his instrument to surprise one of his best confederates. And for the marriage, the king would not meddle in it, if your master would marry by the book, and not by the sword. " For that of Flanders, if the subjects of Bur gundy had appealed to your king as their chief lord, at first by way of supplication, it might have had a show of justice : but it was a new form of process, for subjects to imprison their prince first, and to slay his officers, and then to be complain ants. The king saith, That sure he is, when the French king and himself sent to the subjepts of Scotland, that had taken arms against their king, they both spake in another style, and did in princely manner signify their detestation of po pular attentates upon the person and authority of princes. But, my lords ambassadors, the king leaveth these two actions thus : that on the one side he hath not received any manner of satisfac tion from you concerning them ; and on the other, that he doth not apprehend them so deeply, as in respect of them to refuse to treat of peace, if othei things may go hand in hand. As for the war of Naples, and the design against the Turk: the king hath commanded me expressly to say, that he doth wish with all his heart to his good brother the French king, that his fortunes may succeed according to his hopes and honourable intentions. And whensoever he shall hear that he is prepared for Grecia, as your master is pleased now to say that he beggeth a peace of the king, so the king will then beg of him a part in that war. " But now, my lords ambassadors, I am to pro pound unto you somewhat on the king s part : the king your master hath taught our king what to say and demand. You say, my lord prior, that your king is resolved to recover his right to Naples, wrongfully detained from him. And that if he should not thus do he could not acquit his honour, nor answer it to his people. Think, my lords, that the king our master saith the same thing over again to you touching Normandy, Guienne, Anjou, yea, and the kingdom of France itself. I cannot express it better than in your own words : If therefore the French king shall
