THE WORKS OF WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D.D. FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY, AND PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY, OF EDINBURGH; HISTORIOGRAPHER TO HIS MAJESTY FOR SCOTLAND; AND MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF HISTORY AT MADRID. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, An Account of his Life and Writings, BY THE REV. ROBERT LYNAM, A. M. Assistant Chaplain of the Magdalen, &c. A NEW EDITION, WITH PORTRAIT AND MAPS. IN TWELVE VOLUMES. VOL. VI. LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM BAYNES AND SON, PATERNOSTER ROW: J. BAIN, MEWS' GATE; J. ARNOULD, SPRING GARDENS; G. MACKIE, 941 R5A THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CHARLES V. 1527. against the emperor. BOOK V. THE account of the cruel manner in which General in- the pope had been treated, filled all Europe dignation with astonishment or horror. To see a Chrisexcited tian emperor, who, by possessing that dignity, ought to have been the protector and advocate of the Holy See, lay violent hands on him who represented Christ on earth, and detain his sacred person in a rigorous captivity, was considered as an impiety that merited the severest vengeance, and which called for the immediate interposition of every dutiful son of the church. Francis and Henry, alarmed at the progress of the Imperial arms in Italy, had, even before the taking of Rome, entered into a closer alliance; and, in order to give some check to the emperor's ambition, had agreed to make a vigorous diversion in the Low Countries. The force of every motive which had influenced them at that time was now increased; and to these was added the desire of rescuing the pope out of the emperor's hands, a measure no less politic than it appeared to be pious. This, how ever, rendered it necessary to abandon their hostile intentions against the Low Countries, and to make Italy the seat of war; as it was by vigorous operations there they might contribute most effectually towards delivering Rome, and setting Clement at liberty. Francis being now sensible that, in his system with regard to the affairs of Italy, the spirit of refinement had carried him too far; and that, by an excess of remissness, he had allowed Charles to attain advantages which he might easily have prevented, was eager to make reparation for an error of which he was not often guilty, by an activity more suitable to his temper. Henry thought his interposition necessary, in order to hinder the emperor from becoming master of all Italy, and acquiring by that means such superiority of power, as would enable him, for the future, to dictate without control to the other princes of Europe. Wolsey, whom Francis had taken care to secure by flattery and presents, the certain methods of gaining his favour, neglected nothing that could incense his master against the emperor. Besides all these public considerations, Henry was influenced by one of a more private nature; having begun, about this time, to form his great scheme of divorcing Catherine of Aragon, towards the execution of which he knew that the sanction of papal authority would be necessary, he was desirous to acquire as much merit as possible with Clement, by appearing to be the chief instrument of his deliverance. Confede him. July 11. The negotiation between princes thus disposed was not tedious. Wolsey himself racy against conducted it, on the part of his sovereign, with unbounded powers. Francis treated with him in person at Amiens, where the cardinal appeared, and was received with royal magnificence. A marriage between the duke of Orleans and the princess Mary was agreed to as the basis of the confederacy; it was resolved that Italy should be the theatre of war; the strength of the army which should take the field, as well as the contingent of troops or of money which each prince should furnish, were settled; and if the emperor did not accept of the proposals which they were jointly to make him, they bound themselves immediately to declare war, and to begin hostilities. Henry, who took every resoluAugust 18. tion with impetuosity, entered so eagerly into this new alliance, that, in order to give Francis the strongest proof of his friendship and respect, he formally renounced the ancient claim of the English monarchs to the crown of France, which had long been the pride and ruin of the nation; as a full compensation for which he accepted a pension of fifty thousand crowns, to be paid annually to himself and his suc cessors.a The Flo rentines recover their freedom. The pope being unable to fulfil the conditions of his capitulation, still remained a prisoner under the severe custody of Alarcon. The Florentines no sooner heard of what had happened at Rome, than they ran to arms in a tumultuous manner; expelled the cardinal di Cortona, who governed their city in the pope's name; defaced the arms of the Medici; broke in pieces the statues of Leo and Clement; and declaring themselves a free state, re-established their ancient popular government. The Venetians, taking advantage of the calamity of their ally the pope, seized Ravenna, and other places belonging to the church, under pretext of keeping them in deposit. The dukes of Urbino and Ferrara laid hold likewise on part of the spoils of the unfortunate pontiff, whom they considered as irretrievably ruined." Lannoy, on the other hand, laboured to The Impe- derive some solid benefit from that unforerial troops inactive. seen event which gave such splendour and superiority to his master's arms. For this purpose he marched to Rome, together with Moncada, and the marquis del Guasto, at the head of all the a Herbert, 83, &c. Rym. Fad. xiv. 203. b Guic. I. xviii, 453. |