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Wolsey and Henry VIII pursued an aggressive continental foreign policy. Although at war in the early 1510s, by later that same decade a grand alliance between England, France, Spain, the Papacy and the Empire was envisaged. Although the diplomacy ultimately foundered, one of the high points in discussion was the meeting of Henry VIII and Francis I of France at the Field of the Cloth of Gold outside Calais in 1520. The meeting lasted over two weeks, with temporary pavilions and sumptuous tents bedecked in cloth of gold material. Tilts, jousts and other chivalric entertainment occurred daily and temporary fountains were plumbed to flow with red wine for the duration of the meeting.
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