535
CHAPTER XX.
THE FRENCH WAR.
THE King of England, determining, in spite of the Papal excommunication, to assert his place in the European system as a Christian sovereign; to assist in the defence of Europe against the Ottomans; to tempt Charles to follow the English example—to break with the Papacy, and unite with himself in calling a council, where the religious differences could be settled with a reasonable liberality—determining, also, whether the greater object could be achieved or not, to introduce order into the length and breadth of his own land; if possible, to conciliate Scotland; if Scotland would not be conciliated, no longer to permit the back gate of his kingdom to lie open to the intrigues of the enemies of England, and to compel the people to fear the power which they rejected as an ally:—
The King of France, careless of religion, careless of honour, careless of Europe, caring only to humiliate the Emperor, to annex Milan, to escape payment of his debts; on the one hand inviting the Turks into Germany
