But he sacrificed the advantage he had over France to a desire far nearer his heart, that of crushing his rebellious Protestant subjects.

Already planning war with the League of Schmalkalden he wished only to secure his own safety from attack by his great rival.

[Sidenote: Treaty of Crepy, 1544] The treaty made at Crepy was moderate in its terms and left things largely as they were.
[Sidenote: Henry II, 1547-59] On March 31, 1547, Francis I died and was succeeded by his son, Henry II, a man of large, strong frame, passionately fond of all forms of exercise, especially of hunting and jousting.

He had neither his father's versatility nor his fickleness nor his artistic interests.
His policy was influenced by the aim of reversing his father's wishes and of disgracing his father's favorites.
[Sidenote: 1533] While his elder brother was still alive, Henry had married Catharine de' Medici, a daughter of Lorenzo {199} II de' Medici of Florence.

The girl of fourteen in a foreign country was uncomfortable, especially as it was felt, after her husband became Dauphin, that her rank was not equal to his.