His generous illusions soon vanished before the sordid realities of European statecraft; and the defence of Christendom (p.

055) became with him, as with others, a hollow pretence, a diplomatic fiction, the infinite varieties of which age could not wither nor custom stale.

Did a monarch wish for peace?
Peace at once was imperative to enable Christian princes to combine against the Turk.
Did he desire war?
War became a disagreeable necessity to restrain the ambition of Christian princes who, "worse than the infidel," disturbed the peace of Christendom and opened a door for the enemies of the Church.

Nor did the success of Henry's first crusade encourage him to persist in similar efforts.

It sailed from Plymouth in May, 1511, to join in Ferdinand's attack on the Moors, but it had scarcely landed when bickerings broke out between the Christian allies, and Ferdinand informed the English commanders that he had made peace with the Infidel, to gird his loins for war with the Most Christian King.
[Footnote 100: _L.