Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 3.djvu/615

1543.] in scorn, 'you declare a rupture of war against us. If the King my master would have believed some of us, we should have begun with you long ere this, for you have given many good occasions; but no man can put it out of his head that the King your master loveth him in his heart naturally. If you be disposed to begin with us, you shall find us ready, and not unprovided, to receive Emperor, Turk, Soldan, and all the devils in hell if they come.' It was ungracious to include so good a friend as Solyman in the possible list of enemies. But the French council would perhaps have been less peremptory, had they known that four days previously an alliance which they had believed impossible had been really accomplished. The difficulty of the terms had been overcome; the necessities of both England and the Empire had driven them to a compromise; and Henry had consented not to press Charles with an obnoxious word, if Charles on his part would accept the meaning of it when concealed under a general phrase. On the 11th of February a treaty had been concluded contra Franciscum cum Turchâ confœderatum—against Francis, the confederate of the Turk: painful subjects and painful reminiscences were declared to be buried; and the Emperor and the King of England, with their subjects of all degrees, were for ever after to be friends. The conditions which were agreed upon were so important in their consequences, that they require to be detailed in their fulness.