Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/466

 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. find to end them by imagination; like ill archers, that draw not their arrows up to the head ; and who might as easily have bedded the lady himself, as to have made a play and disguise of it, thinking now all assured, neglected for a time his further proceeding, and intended his wars. Meanwhile the French king consulting with his divines, and finding that this pretended consummation was rather an invention of court, than any ways valid by the ]aws of the church, went more really to work, and by secret instruments and cunning agents, as well matrons about the young lady as counsellors, first sought to remove the point of religion and honour out of the mind of the lady herself, wherein there was double labour. For Maximilian was not only contracted unto the lady, but Maximilian s daughter was likewise contract ed to King Charles. So as the marriage halted upon both feet, and was not clear on either side. But for the contract with King Charles, the ex ception lay plain and fair; for that Maximilian s daughter was under years of consent, and so not bound by law, but a power of disagreement left to either part. But for the contract made by Maximilian with the lady herself, they were harder driven ; having nothing to allege, but that it was done without the consent of her sovereign lord King Charles, whose ward and client she was, and he to her in place of a father ; and there fore it was void and of no force for want of such consent. Which defect, they said, though it would not evacuate a marriage after cohabitation and actual consummation, yet it was enough to make void a contract. For as for the pretended consummation, they made sport with it and said, &quot; That was an argument that Maximilian was a widower, and a cold wooer, that could content himself to be a bridegroom by deputy, and would not make a little journey to put all out of ques tion.&quot; So that the young lady wrought upon by these reasons finely instilled by such as the French king, who spared for no rewards or pro mises, had made on his side; and allured like wise by the present glory and greatness of King Charles, being also a young king and a bachelor, and loath to make her country the seat of a long and miserable war, secretly yielded te accept of King Charles. But during this secret treaty with the lady, the better to save it fi am blasts of opposition and interruption., King Cnarles resort ing to his wonted arts, and thinking to carry the marriage as he had carried the wars, by entertain ing the King of England in vain belief, sent a so lemn ambassage by Francis Lord of Luxemburg, &amp;lt; Charles Marignian, and Robert Gagvien, general of the order of the &quot; Bons Hommes&quot; of the Tri nity, to treat a peace and league with the king, accoupling it with an article in the nature of a request, that the French king, might, with the k lngr s good will, according unto his right of seigniory and tutelage, dispose of the marriage of the young Duchess of Britain as he should think good; offering by a judicial proceeding to make void the marriage of Maximilian by proxy. Also all this while, the better to amuse the world, he did continue in his court and custody the daugh ter of Maximilian, who formerly had been sent unto him to be bred and educated in France ; not dismissing or renvoying her, but contrariwise professing and giving out strongly that he meant to proceed with that match. And that for the Duchess of Britain, he desired only to preserve his right of seigniory, and to give her in marriage to some such ally as might depend upon him. When the three commissioners came to the court of England, they delivered their ambassage unto the king, who remitted them to his council : where some days after they had audience, and made their proposition by the Prior of the Trinity, who though he were third in place, yet was held the best speaker of them, to this effect. &quot;My lords, the king our master, the greatest and mightiest king that reigned in France since Charles the Great, whose name he beareth, hath nevertheless thought it no disparagement to his greatness at this time to propound a peace, yea, and to pray a peace with the King of England. For which purpose he hath sent us his commis sioners, instructed and enabled with full and ample powers to treat and conclude ; giving us further in charge, to open in some other business the secrets of his own intentions. These be in deed the precious love-tokens between great kings, to communicate one with another the true state of their affairs, and to pass by nice points of honour, which ought not to give law unto affection. This I do assure your lordships ; it is not possible for you to imagine the true and cordial love that the king our master beareth to your sovereign, except you were near him as we are. He useth his name with so great respect ; he remembereth their first acquaintance at Paris with so great contentment; nay, he never speaks of him, but that presently he falls into discourse on the miseries of great kings in that they cannot converse with their equals but with servants. This affection to your king s persons and virtues God hath put into the heart of our master, no doubt for the good of Christendom, and for purposes yet unknown *o us all. For other root it cannot have, since it was the same to the Earl of Richmond, that it is now to the King of England. This is therefore the first motive that makes our king to desire peace and league with your sovereign : good affection, and somewhat that he finds in his own heart. This affection is also armed with reason of estate. For our king doth in all candour and frankness of dealing open himself unto you ; that having an honourable, yea, and a holy purpose, to make a voyage and war in remote parts, he considernh that it will be of no small effect, in point ot re putation to his enterprise, if it be known abroad