A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 4Guizot, François
History
A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 4
Guizot, François
France -- History
and the Duke of Orleans, as far as Bayonne to meet him, went in person to
receive him at Chatellerault, and gave him entertainments at Amboise, at
Blois, at Chambord, at Orleans, and Fontainebleau, and lastly at Paris,
which they entered together on the 1st of January, 1540. Orders had been
sent everywhere to receive him “as kings of France are received on their
joyous accession.” “The king gave his guest,” says Du Bellay, “all the
pleasures that can be invented, as royal hunts, tourneys, skirmishes,
fights a-foot and a-horseback, and in all other sorts of pastimes.” Some
petty incidents, of a less reassuring kind, were intermingled with these
entertainments. One day the Duke of Orleans, a young prince full of
reckless gayety, jumped suddenly on to the crupper of the emperor’s
horse, and threw his arms round Charles, shouting, “Your Imperial Majesty
is my prisoner.” Charles set off at a gallop, without turning his head.
[Illustration: The Duke of Orleans and Charles V.----128]
Another day the king’s favorite, the Duchess of Etampes, was present with
the two monarchs. “Brother,” said Francis, “you see yonder a fair dame
who is of opinion that I should not let you out of Paris without your
having revoked the treaty of Madrid.” “Ah! well,” said Charles, “if the
opinion is a good one, it must be followed.” Such freedom of thought and
speech is honorable to both sovereigns. Charles V., impressed with the
wealth and cheerful industry that met his eye, said, according to
Brantome, “There is not in the world any greatness such as that of a King
of France.” After having passed a week at Paris he started for the Low
Countries, halted at Chantilly, at the Constable de Montmorency’s, who,
as well as the king’s two sons, the dauphin and the Duke of Orleans, was
in attendance upon him, and did not separate from his escort of French
royalty until he arrived at Valenciennes, the first town in his Flemish
dominions. According to some historians there had been at Chantilly,
amongst the two young princes and their servants, some idea of seizing
the emperor and detaining him until he had consented to the concessions
demanded of him; others merely say that the constable, before leaving
him, was very urgent with him that he should enter into some positive
engagement as to Milaness. “No,” said Charles, “I must not bind myself
any more than I have done by my words as long as I am in your power; when
I have chastised my rebellious subjects I will content your king.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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