THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAP. X. Continuation of the Reign of Henry VIII. TH HUS, mutual recriminations taking place, which dissolved their former ties, Henry hesitated not to conclude an alliance with the regent of France, and engaged to procure her son his liberty on reasonable conditions. The regent also, in another treaty, acknowledged the kingdom Henry's debtor, for one million eight hundred thousand crowns, to be discharged in halfyearly payments of fifty thousand crowns; after which the king of England was to receive, during life, a yearly pension of a hundred thousand. Å large present of a hundred thousand crowns was also made to Wolsey for his good offices, but covered under the pretence of arrears due on the pension granted him, for relinquishing the administration of Iournay. To support the approaching war with the emperor, henry again renewed his impositions by way of benevolence; but the people bore not these exactions with their usual patience. The odium against the cardinal, to whom these oppressive counsels were attributed, increased; and he endeavoured VOL. XX. deavoured to lessen it, by making his master a present of a splendid palace, which he had buil at Hampton-court, but which he was afraid to inhabit himself, in the present temper of the nation. In the mean time, the transactions on the continent claimed the constant attention of Henry. Soon after the defeat of Pavia, Francis had been removed to the castle of Madrid; but the terms demanded as the price of his liberty were such, that he declared himself determined to die, rather than submit to them. At last the emperor, dreading a general combination againt him, was willing to abate somewhat of his rigour; and the treaty of Madrid was signed, by which it was hoped an end would be finally put to the differences between these great monarchs. Th principal condition, was the restoring of Francis's liberty, and the delivery of his two eldest sons, as hostages to the emperor for the cession of Burgundy. If any difficulty should afterward occur in the execution of this last article, from the opposition of the states, either of France or of that province, Francis stipulated, that in six weeks time he should return to his prison, and remain there till the full performance of the treaty. There were many other articles in this famous convention, all of them extremely severe upon the captive monarch. A. D. 1524. Charles's ministers foresaw that Francis would never execute a treaty so destructive to himself and his country ; and they were not mistaken in their judgment. Franeis, on entering his own doniinions, delivered his two eldest sons as hostages into the hands of the Spaniards. He then mounted a Turkish horse, |