Page:The Queens of England.djvu/297

KATHARINE OF ARRAGON. 257 effect on the king than that made by the recorder and aldermen, who came in mourning to the court to plead in favor of the guilty. Nevertheless, he only accorded them pardon when, sitting at Westminster Hall, and surrounded by his principal nobility and officers, the culprits came before him in white shirts, and with halters about their necks, and did on their knees crave mercy. Still, no less than fourteen— and these were the ringleaders, among whom was Lincoln — were executed, a proof that Henry already began to reveal the sanguinary nature he afterwards displayed. The terrible malady known by the name of Sudor Anglicus appeared in 1517, and was of so malignant a character as to cause death in three hours. Many persons of note died of this disease, while it fell so heavily on the lower class as to depopulate not only villages, but in some places towns. Henry left London, and, adjourning three terms, re- moved Trinity term, in 15 18, to Oxford, whence it was ad- journed to Westminster. In this year, urged on by political motives, Francis the First, of France, proposed a treaty with Henry, one of the conditions of which was to be the marriage of his son, the dauphm, and the Princess Mary, only then in her second year, and the dauphin in his first. This treaty, proposed in September, 15 18, was concluded in October following ; and on the 16th of Decem- ber, the King and Oueen of France, acting on behalf of their son, and the Earl of Worcester on the part of the Princess Mary, the children were solemnly affianced. The influence of Wolsey with Henry the Eighth had so greatly increased, that the sovereigns who wished to stand well with England found it their interest to conciliate this proud and selfish upstart by administering to his vanity. He was alternately bribed by Francis the First and Charles the Fifth, whenever they deemed it expedient, either by using their medi- ation with Leo the Tenth to forward Wolsey 's ambitious views, or by costly gifts. They condescended to flatter him as well as to serve his projects. In their letters they extravagantly lauded him for qualities which he did not possess, while they greatly exaggerated those to which he laid claim, and even addressed him as their "friend," their "father." Vain of these proofs of the high consideration in which he was held by two such powerful monarchs, Wolsey, now archbishop of York, omitted not to make Henry aware of it ; and Henry, no less vainglorious, received these proofs of the favor shown to