England inside the early years of Henry VIII can be visible as a newly risen energy, with continental commitments; a rich united states of America, way to the economies of the King's father, and for this reason sought as an ally with the aid of the more considerable States. Her traditional friendships were in Spain and Portugal. her enmities with Scotland and France; of those latter, Scotland, overwhelmed with the aid of the victory of Flodden in 1513, gave little trouble throughout Henry's reign.

The Empire was a sprawling internet of territories that covered Spain, the Netherlands, Burgundy, Sicily, and Naples, with a host of small principalities, electorates, and bishoprics in Central Europe, now drawing collectively towards the advancing risk of the Turk. These territories encircled France and forever threatened, in line with the temper of their masters, that compact nation. In 1521, Charles, grandson of Ferdinand of Aragon, turned into elected to the imperial throne, and thereby observed himself heir to an alliance with England, collectively with a vast debt; Henry VIII had lent money to his spouse's household for wars in Barbary and the quieting of the Low Countries. Charles becomes prepared to accept and similarly this alliance, without any want to add to his responsibilities by using conquest, and to pay the debt using any method which did no longer involves the passing of cash. The New World had not but began to yield its treasures. The Emperor, for all his energy, becomes bad.