Editing Thomas Wolsey (section)

===Field of the Cloth of Gold===
Another of Wolsey's diplomatic triumphs was the [[Field of the Cloth of Gold]] in 1520.{{sfn|Scarisbrick|1968|pp=74–80}} Wolsey organised much of this grandiose meeting between Francis I and Henry VIII, accompanied by 5,000 followers and involving court activities more than military discussion. Though it seemed to open the door to peaceful negotiations with France if the king wished, it was also a chance for a lavish display of English wealth and power before the rest of Europe, through flamboyant celebrations and events such as jousting, with the two kings competing, though not against each other. With France and Spain vying for England's allegiance, Wolsey could choose the ally that better suited his policies. Wolsey chose Charles mainly because England's economy would suffer from the loss of the lucrative cloth trade industry between England and the Netherlands had France been chosen instead.{{sfn|Mackie|1952|pp=310–312}}

Under Wolsey's guidance, Europe's chief nations sought to outlaw war among Christian nations. [[Garrett Mattingly]], who has studied the causes of wars in that era, found that treaties of non-aggression such as this one could never be stronger than their sponsors' armies. When those forces were about equal, the treaties typically widened the conflict. That is, diplomacy could sometimes postpone war, but could not prevent wars based on irreconcilable interests and ambitions. What was lacking, Mattingly concludes, was a neutral power whose judgements were generally accepted either by impartial justice or by overwhelming force.{{sfn|Mattingly|1938|pp=1–30}}