Page:ThePrincessofCleves.djvu/69

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Part II.
THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES.
57

marriage, that he sent him express orders to Calais not to speak of it.

Cardinal Wolsey, at his return from France, was received with as great honours as could have been paid to the king himself; never did any favourite carry his pride and vanity to so great a height; he managed an interview between the two kings at Bologne, when Francis I. would have given the upper-hand to Henry VIII; but he refused to accept it. They treated one another by turns with the utmost magnificence, and presented to each habits of the same sort with those they wore themselves. I remember to have heard say, that those the late king sent to the king of England, were of crimson sattin beset all over with pearls and diamonds, and a robe of white velvet embroidered with gold. After having stayed some time at Bologne, they went to Calais. Anne Bullen was lodged in Henry VIIIth's court with the train of a queen; and Francis I. made her the same presents, and paid her the same honours as if she had been really so. In a word, after a passion of nine year's continuance king Henry married her, without waiting for the dissolving of his first marriage. The Pope precipitately thundered out excommunications against him, which so provoked king Henry, that he declared himself head of the church, and drew after him all England into the unhappy change in which you see it.

Anne Bullen did not long enjoy her greatness; for when she thought herself most secure of it by the death of queen Catherine, one day as she was seeing a match of running at the ring made by the viscount Rochefort her brother, the king was struck with such a jealousy, that he abruptly left the show, went away to London, and gave orders for arresting the queen, the viscount Rochefort, and several others whom he believed to be the lovers or confidants of that princess. Though this jealousy in appearance had its birth that moment, the king had been long possessed with it by the viscountess