Реферат: Henry Viii 2 Essay Research Paper Henry

new reign by the attainder and execution of Empson and Dudley, the

instruments of the late king’s extortion. Besides this, it is unanimously

attested by contemporaries that the young sovereign possessed every gift

of mind and person which could arouse the enthusiasm of his people. His

skill in manly sports was almost equalled by his intelligence and his

devotion to letters. Of the complicated foreign policy which marked the

beginning of his reign no detail can be given here. Thanks partly to

Henry’s personality, but still more to the ability of Wolsey, who soon took

the first place in the council chamber, England for the first time became a

European power. In 1512 Henry joined Pope Julius II, Ferdinand of

Spain, and the Venetians in forming the “Holy League” against the King of

France. Julius was feverishly bent on chasing the “barbarians” (i.e. the

French and other foreigners) out of Italy, and Henry cooperated by

collecting ships and soldiers to attack the French king in his own

dominions. No very conspicuous success attended his arms, but there

was a victory at Guinegate outside Therouanne, and the Scotch, who, as

the allies of France, had threatened invasion, were disastrously defeated

at Flodden in 1513. During all this time Henry remained on excellent

terms with the Holy See. In April, 1510, Julius sent him the golden rose,

and in 1514 Leo X bestowed the honorific cap and sword, which were

presented with much solemnity at St. Paul’s.

The League having been broken up by the selfish policy of Ferdinand,

Henry VIII now made peace with France and for some years held the

balance of power on the Continent, though not without parting with a

good deal of money. Wolsey was made a cardinal in 1515 and exercised

more influence than ever, but it was somewhat against his advice that

Henry, in 1519, secretly became a candidate for the succession to the

empire, though pretending at the same time to support the candidature of

Francis, his ally. When, however, Charles V was successful, the French