eful appearance, it was agreed,
that the dauphin and the princess Mary, both of them infants, should be
betrothed, and that this city should be considered as the dowry of the
princess. Such kinds of agreement were then common among sovereigns;
though it was very rare that the interests and views of the parties
continued so steady as to render the intended marriages effectual.
But as Henry had been at considerable expense in building a citadel at
Tournay, Francis agreed to pay him six hundred thousand crowns at twelve
annual payments, and to put into his hands eight hostages, all of them
men of quality, for the performance of the article.[**] And lest the
cardinal should think himself neglected in these stipulations,
Francis promised him a yearly pension of twelve thousand livres, as an
equivalent for his administration of the bishopric of Tournay.

* Polyd. Virg. lib. xxvii.

** Memoires du Bellal, lib. i.

The French monarch, having succeeded so well in this negotiation, began
to enlarge his views, and to hope for more considerable advantages by
practising on the vanity and self-conceit of the favorite. He redoubled
his flatteries to the cardinal, consulted him more frequently in every
doubt or difficulty, called him in each letter "father," "tutor,"
"governor," and professed the most unbounded deference to his advice and
opinion. All these caresses were preparatives to a negotiation for the
delivery of Calais, in consideration of a sum of money to be paid
for it; and if we may credit Polydore Virgil, who bears a particular
ill-will to Wolsey, on account of his being dispossessed of his
employment and thrown into prison by that minister, so extraordinary a
proposal met with a favorable reception from the cardinal. He ventured
not, however, to lay the matter before the council: he was content to
sound privately the opinion of the other ministers, by dropping hints
in conversation, as if he thought Calais a useless burden to the
kingdom:[*] but when he found that all men were strongly riveted in a
contrary persuasion, he thought it dangerous to proceed any further in
his purpose; and as he fell soon after into new connections with the
king of Spain, the great friendship between Francis and him began
gradually to decline.

* Polyd. Virg. lib. xxvii.

The pride of Wolsey was now further increased by a great accession
of power and dignity. Cardinal Campeggio had been sent as legate into
England, in orde