Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/507

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HISTORY OF KING HKNHY VII.

and loving demonstrations that were possible. And the King of Castile said pleasantly to the king, " That he was now punished for that he would not come within his walled town of Calais, when they met last." But the king answered, "That walls and seas were nothing where hearts were open ; and that he was here no otherwise but to be served." After a day or two s refresh ing, the kings entered into speech of renewing the treaty ; the king saying, that though King Philip s person were the same, yet his fortunes and state were raised : in which case a renovation of treaty was used amongst princes. But while these things were in handling, the king choosing a fit time, and drawing- the King of Castile into a room, where they two only were private, and lay ing his hand civilly upon his arm, and changing his countenance a little from a countenance of entertainment, said to him, " Sir, you have been saved upon my coast, I hope you will not suffe me to wreck upon yours." The King of Castile asked him what he meant by that speech ] "I mean it," saith the king, " by that same harebrain wild fellow, my subject, the Earl of Suffolk, who is protected in your country, and begins to play the fool, when all others are weary of it." The King of Castile answered, " I had thought, sir, your felicity had been above those thoughts ; but if it trouble you, I will banish him." The king replied, "Those hornets were best in their nest, and worst when they did fly abroad; and that his desire was to have him delivered to him." The King of Castile, herewith a little confused, and in a study, said, "That can I not do with my honour, and less with yours; for you will be thought to have used me as a prisoner." The king presently said, "Then the matter is at end, for I will take that dishonour upon me, and so your honour is saved." The King of Castile, who had the king in great estimation, and besides re membered where he was, and knew not what use he might .have of the king s amity, for that him self was new in his estate of Spain, and unsettled both with his father-in-law and with his people, composing his countenance, said, " Sir, you give law to me, but so will I to you. You shall have him, but, upon your honour, you shall not take his life." The king embracing him said, "Agreed." Saith the King of Castile, " Neither shall it dis like you, if I send to him"in such a fashion, as he may partly come with his own good will." The king said, "It was well thought of; and if it pleased him, he would join with him, in sending to the earl a message to that purpose " They both sent severally, and mean while they con tinued feasting and pastimes. The king being, on his part, willing to have the earl sure before the King of Castile went ; and the King of Castile being as will ing to seem to be enforced. The king also, with many wise and excellent persuasions, did advise the King of Castile to be ruled by the CHUIISI 1 of liis !;it!u r-in-law Ferdinando ; a prince so prudent, so experienced, so fortunate. The King of Castile, who was in no very good terms with his said father-in-law, answered, "That if his t ;ither-iii-law would suffer him to govern hi.-* Ivinniluiiis, he should govern him." There were immediately messengers sent from both kings to recall the Earl of Suffolk ; who upon gentle words used to him, was soon charm ed, and willing enough to return ; assured of his life, and hoping of his liberty. He was brought through Flanders to Calais, and thence landed at Dover, and with sufficient guard delivered and re ceived at the Tower of London. Meanwhile, King Henry, to draw out the time, continued his feastings and entertainments, and after he had re ceived the King of Castile into the fraternity of the Garter, and for a reciprocal had his son, the prince, admitted to the order of the Golden Fleece, he accompanied King Philip and his queen to the city of London, where they were entertained with the greatest magnificence and triumph that could be upon no greater warning. And as soon as the Earl of Suffolk had been conveyed to the Tower, which was the serious part, the jollities had an end, and the kings took leave. Neverthe less, during their being here, they in substance concluded that treaty, which the Flemings term " intercursus malus," and bears date at Windsor ; for that there be some things in it, more to the- advantage of the English than of them ; especially, for that the free-fishing of the Dutch upon the coasts and seas of England grant ed in the treaty of " undecimo," was not by this treaty confirmed. All articles that confirm former treaties being precisely and warily limited and confirmed to matter of commerce only, and not otherwise. It was observed, that the great tempest which drove Philip into England, blew down the golden eagle from the spire of Paul s, and in the fall it fell upon a sign of the black eagle, which was in Paul s church-yard, in the place where the school- house now standeth, and battered it, and brake it down : which was a strange stooping of a hawk upon a fowl. This the people interpreted to be an ominous prognostic upon the imperial house, which was, by interpretation also, fulfilled upon Philip, the emperor s son, not only in the present disaster of the tempest, but in that that followed. For Philip arriving into Spain, and attaining the possession of the kingdom of Castile without re sistance, insomuch as Ferdinando, who had spoke so great before, was with difficulty admitted to the speech of his son-in-law, sickened soon after, and deceased. Yet after such time, as there was an observation by the wisest of that court, that if he had lived, his father would have gained upon him in that sort, as he would have governed his councils and designs, if not his affections. Bv this all Spain returned into the power of Fedri-