[Sidenote: FEB., 1538] A PERFECT KNIGHT] Among them was one whom the young Duchess regarded with especial interest. This was the hero of S. Pol, René, Prince of Orange. The only son and heir of the great House of Nassau, René had inherited the principality of Orange, in the South of France, from his uncle Philibert of Châlons, the Imperialist leader who fell at the siege of Florence, and whose sister Claude was Henry of Nassau's first wife. As a child René had been Prince John of Denmark's favourite playmate, and Christina had not forgotten her brother's old friend. Now he had grown up a handsome and chivalrous Prince, skilled in all knightly exercises. He had won his first laurels in the recent campaign, and was the foremost of the valiant band which surprised the citadel of S. Pol. The Queen honoured him with her especial favour, and, as the Nassau house stood close to the palace, the young Prince was often in her company. When, on Shrove Sunday, a grand tournament was held at Court, one troop, clad in blue, was led by Count Büren's eldest son, Floris d'Egmont; and the other by René, wearing the orange colours of his house, with the proud motto, _Je maintiendrai_. Christina looked down from her place at the Queen's side on the lists where the gallant Prince challenged all comers, and it was from her hand that the victor received the prize. Neither of them ever forgot that carnival.[163] FOOTNOTES: [128] Potenze Sovrane, 1535. Archivio di Stato. [129] Burigozzo, 528. [130] G. de Leva, "Storia Documentata di Carlo V.," etc., iii. 152. [131] Granvelle, "Papiers d'État," ii. 407, 446, 435. [132] Granvelle, ii. 407. [133] Calendar of Spanish State Papers, v. 1, 586; Granvelle, ii. 417. [134] Burigozzo, 532. [135] Museo Civico di Storia Patria, Pavia, 546. [136] L. Gachard, "Voyages des Souverains des Pays-Bas," ii. 133. [137] Calendar of Spanish State Papers, v. 2, 230. [138] Autografi di Principi, Archivio di Stato (see Appendix II.). [139] Aretino, "Lettere," i. 45. [140] "Correspondance de Charles V. avec J. de Montmorency, Seigneur de Courrières," Papiers d'État de l'Audience, No. 82, p. 1, Archives du Royaume, Bruxelles. [141] Carteggio con Montmorency, Archivio di Stato, Milan. [142] Autografi di Principi, Archivio di Stato, Milan (see Appendix III.). [143] Papiers d'État, 82. 2, 12, Archives du Royaume. [144] Calendar of Spanish State Papers, v. 2, 353. [145] Papiers d'État, 82, 8-10. [146] Papiers d'État. 82, 12. [147] Autografi di Principi, Archivio di Stato, Milan. [148] "Carteggio con Montmorency, Conte di Corea," 1537-38, Archivio di Stato, Milan. [149] L. Pastor, "Geschichte d. Papste," iv. 375; M. Guazzo, 371. [150] Papiers d'État, 82, 13, Archives du Royaume, Bruxelles. [151] Papiers d'État, 82, 19; State Papers, Record Office, viii. 6; Calendar of State Papers, xii. 2, 415, 419. [152] Lanz, ii. 657. [153] Lanz, iii. 667, 677. [154] State Papers, Record Office, vii. 695. [155] Lanz, ii. 675.