Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 3.djvu/618

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598
REIGN OF HENRY THE EIGHTH.
[ch. 20.

that other had any outstanding claims unsettled.'[1]

They were to swear, each on the word of a prince, and by oath upon the Gospels, to observe all the articles of their engagements bonâ fide and inviolably. If they broke faith they consented to be held infamous both by God and man. The treaty was to be taken in its plain and obvious signification, 'without those subtleties or oblique interpretations which would, or which might, subvert the just understanding between the contracting princes.'

Henry had thus bound Charles down with as much solemnity and distinctness as words could bind him, to be true to his faith as a man and as a king, and not to avail himself of the evasions which the Pope, in the name of religion, might urge upon him. He was now satisfied and confident; and the treaty concluded with a resolution to present joint demands to Francis, in the following terms:—

'Forasmuch as the Turk, the inveterate enemy of the Christian name and faith, has invaded Christendom, trusting to the support of the King of France; and forasmuch as with the like encouragement the said Turk is now notoriously devising fresh enterprises, to the destruction of all good men, the high contracting powers do require the King of France to desist from his intelligence with the said Turk, to treat him as an enemy, and to recall his ambassadors now residing at that Court. The King of France shall make satisfaction for

  1. Cutting off Charles from the Pope on one side, and Henry from the German princes on the other.