Page:Margaret of Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (Robinson 1886).djvu/37

22 his deadly jealousy. The whole court of either country was present on the field, "All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods." The two sad neglected queens encountered there, and there Henry met in the French camp Margaret's beautiful English maid of honour, the black-eyed, slim Anne Boleyn. There met two rivals no less potent than their masters: Wolsey of Canterbury, with his retinue of colossals, and Charles de Montpensier, Constable Bourbon, bearing in his hand the sword of France. Henry of England looked on the Constable, noted the tragic face, wedged like a knife in the hilt between the black masses of his hair, and said to Francis: "Were he my servant, I would cut off his head!" Had Francis taken this advice, he had not paid too dear for the Field of the Cloth of Gold.

But no end, none, did reward that vast expense. Henry would give no promise of alliance, and when the splendid camps were struck, and the French court were journeying home to Paris, Francis was overtaken by the news that Henry had gone to meet the Emperor at Wael. Without flourish or display the secret Charles had gained his ends. In a plain soldier's tent he arranged his business with England. Almost directly after, war was declared between France and the Empire, on the vexed questions of Milan and Navarre. England remained neutral for the nonce; but it was reported that Henry would bring forward his claim to the crown of France when Charles invaded Burgundy. So, in wars and rumours of wars, ended the tourneys of the Field of Gold.