at monarch, and the intelligence which he received of the present
transactions in Europe. Francis Sforza, duke of Milan, had died without
issue; and the emperor maintained that the duchy, being a fief of the
empire, was devolved to him, as head of the Germanic body: not to give
umbrage, however, to the states of Italy, he professed his intention of
bestowing that principality on some prince who should be obnoxious to no
party, and he even made offer of it to the duke of Angouleme, third
son of Francis. The French monarch, who pretended that his own right to
Milan was now revived upon Sforza's death, was content to substitute his
second son, the duke of Orleans, in his place; and the emperor pretended
to close with this proposal. But his sole intention in that liberal
concession was to gain time till he should put himself in a warlike
posture, and be able to carry an invasion into Francis's dominions. The
ancient enmity between these, princes broke out anew in bravadoes, and
in personal insults on each other, ill becoming persons of their rank,
and still less suitable to men of such unquestioned bravery. Charles
soon after invaded Provence in person, with an army of fifty thousand
men; but met with no success. His army perished with sickness, fatigue,
famine, and other disasters; and he was obliged to raise the siege of
Marseilles, and retire into Italy with the broken remains of his forces.
An army of imperialists, near thirty thousand strong, which invaded
France on the side of the Netherlands, and laid siege to Peronne, made
no greater progress, but retired upon the approach of a French army. And
Henry had thus the satisfaction to find, both that his ally Francis was
likely to support himself without foreign assistance, and that his own
tranquillity was fully insured by these violent wars and animosities on
the continent.

If any inquietude remained with the English court, it was solely
occasioned by the state of affairs in Scotland. James, hearing of the
dangerous situation of his ally Francis, generously levied some forces;
and embarking them on board vessels which he had hired for that purpose,
landed them safely in France. He even went over in person; and making
haste to join the camp of the French king, which then lay in Provence,
and to partake of his danger, he met that prince at Lyons, who, having
repulsed the emperor, was now returning to his capital. Recommended by
so agreeable and seasonable an instance of f