Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 2.djvu/168

154 Still him in praise: and being present both, 'Twas said they saw but one; and no discerner Durst wag his tongue in censure. "When these suns (For so they phrase them) by their heralds challenged The noble spirits to arms, they did perform Beyond thought's compass: that former, fabulous story, Being now seen possible enough, got credit." King Henry VIII., Act 1, Scene 1.

The end of all these international spectacles—of all these sports and banquetings, and social amusements-shows how little such things can do to bind together the hearts of rival people.



The enormous expenditure, followed by years of difficulty, and, in many cases, of utter ruin, by the actors in them, should have produced some national good. They produced none. The whole was hollow, and left no trace behind more than the glories of a Fata Morgana, which, pictured upon vapour, is blown away by the next breeze. The Field of the Cloth of Gold was immediately preceded by the emperor's visit, exciting deep jealousy in the minds of Francis and the French; and the moment the French retired, the coqueting with the emperor was renewed, and he was actually brought upon the scene as if purposely to give him the closing effect. On the 23rd of June the tournaments closed; on the 24th, Francis spent the day at Guisnes, with the Queen and Court of England, and Henry at Ardres, with the "good queen Claude" and the Court of France. On their way back the two kings met, spent some time in familiar conversation, made many warm expressions of their mutual and lasting regards, embraced, and parted. On the 25th,