DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.69603#0034
ANNE OF CLEVES. [England,
but the gallant spirit of Francis revolted at so indelicate
a proposal. He was impressed with too much respect,
he said, for the fair sex, to carry ladies of the first rank,
like geldings to a market, there to be chosen, or reject-
ed, by the humour of the purchaser. Thus disappointed
on the side of France, Henry turned his eyes to the fa-
milies of Germany, being desirous of consolidating the
protestant interest, by an alliance with the Princes of the
Smalcaldic league—Cromwell, at length, proposed to
him a marriage with the Princess Anne of Cleves, to which
the King assented.
She was the daughter of John, Duke of Cleves, She
seems to have excited little curiosity or interest, previous
to her arrival in England. The treaty of marriage had
begun with her father; but some difficulties intervening,
the negociation was suspended. It was revived, and
completed, with Duke William, her brother. The match
was opposed by the Elector of Saxony, who had married
Sybilla, the elder sister of Anne; but Henry, who had
been seduced by a flattering picture of Hans Holbein,
was the more peremptory in carrying on his suit. His
taste either led him to the admiration of tall and robust
women; or he might imagine, that they were better
suited to him, who was now grown somewhat corpulent.
By those who had seen the Princess of Cleves, he was
informed, that she possessed those essential requisites;
he therefore gave orders for her immediate journey to
England. Impatient to be satisfied with regard to the
person of his bride, he went privately to Rochester,
where he could examine her unobserved, and unknown;
but his expectations were cruelly damped—he found
her tall, indeed, and her proportions were as striking
but the gallant spirit of Francis revolted at so indelicate
a proposal. He was impressed with too much respect,
he said, for the fair sex, to carry ladies of the first rank,
like geldings to a market, there to be chosen, or reject-
ed, by the humour of the purchaser. Thus disappointed
on the side of France, Henry turned his eyes to the fa-
milies of Germany, being desirous of consolidating the
protestant interest, by an alliance with the Princes of the
Smalcaldic league—Cromwell, at length, proposed to
him a marriage with the Princess Anne of Cleves, to which
the King assented.
She was the daughter of John, Duke of Cleves, She
seems to have excited little curiosity or interest, previous
to her arrival in England. The treaty of marriage had
begun with her father; but some difficulties intervening,
the negociation was suspended. It was revived, and
completed, with Duke William, her brother. The match
was opposed by the Elector of Saxony, who had married
Sybilla, the elder sister of Anne; but Henry, who had
been seduced by a flattering picture of Hans Holbein,
was the more peremptory in carrying on his suit. His
taste either led him to the admiration of tall and robust
women; or he might imagine, that they were better
suited to him, who was now grown somewhat corpulent.
By those who had seen the Princess of Cleves, he was
informed, that she possessed those essential requisites;
he therefore gave orders for her immediate journey to
England. Impatient to be satisfied with regard to the
person of his bride, he went privately to Rochester,
where he could examine her unobserved, and unknown;
but his expectations were cruelly damped—he found
her tall, indeed, and her proportions were as striking