The First Governess of the Netherlands, Margaret of AustriaTremayne, Eleanor E.
History
The First Governess of the Netherlands, Margaret of Austria
Tremayne, Eleanor E.
Margaret, of Austria, Regent of the Netherlands, 1480-1530; Netherlands -- History -- Charles V, 1506-1555
Shortly after, the long-delayed marriage between Francis and Eleanor
was consummated, the king receiving his sons from the hands of his
bride at Bayonne, where he met them at the frontier. The Marshal of
Montmorency, who accompanied King Francis, thus writes to Margaret
from St. Jean de Luz:--'Madame, I found the queen, whom I have been to
see the last few days since her arrival at the frontier, so wise,
beautiful, and honest a lady, who conversed with me in as kind and
pleasant a manner as possible... and we ought again to thank God for
having given us so good and virtuous a lady, of whom it seems to me
that I cannot express to you a third part of the good and _honesteté_
that I found in her.'
Margaret also received constant news from England concerning the
progress of Queen Katharine's affairs. In September 1529 Eustace
Chapuys had written to her from London telling her of an audience he
had had with King Henry, and later with Queen Katharine. The
conference with the king, he said, would have been much longer and
more to the purpose had not his Majesty been in a hurry to go to
dinner in order to repair afterwards to the hunting-field... as he is
in the habit of doing at this season of the year. As usual the
conversation turned chiefly on the queen's business, the king treating
the matter as one in which he was deeply concerned, and which he had
much at heart, and trying to appear very learned in canon law. After
dinner the king gave permission for Chapuys to be conducted to the
queen's apartments in order that he might deliver the emperor's letter
to her. During the interview her Majesty thanked him for all he had
said in her favour. On the 27th of September Chapuys wrote another
long despatch to Margaret giving lengthy details of a further audience
with the king, in which the subject of the queen's divorce was once
more fully discussed.[141]
[141] _Calendar of Spanish State Papers_, vol. iv.
Immediately after the ratification of the Treaty of Cambray Margaret
and Louise entered into a negotiation to consolidate the peace by a
double marriage between the emperor's children and those of King
Francis. From Bologna, where he had gone for his double coronation,
Charles sent Margaret the necessary powers to treat in his name. In
this document, which is published amongst the State papers of the
Cardinal of Granvelle, he says:--'Because of the very great, perfect,
and entire confidence which we have in our said lady and aunt, as in
ourselves, and in her experience and prudence, which was shown in the
conducting, concluding, and perfecting of the said peace made at
Cambray, we have by these presents constituted and made our aunt our
general and special proxy, etc....'
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