The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. 1 (of 5)Marguerite, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of Navarre
General
The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. 1 (of 5)
Marguerite, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of Navarre
Love stories, French -- Translations into English; Tales -- France -- Translations into English
The Duchess refused to follow her mother, and embracing her dying
husband, showed him the crucifix placed before his eyes. The Duke,
having summoned one of his gentlemen, M. de Chan-deniers, instructed him
to bid farewell on his part to all his servants, and to thank them for
their services, telling them that he had no longer strength to see them.
He asked God aloud to forgive his sins, received the extreme unction
from the Bishop of Lisieux, and raising his eyes to heaven, said
“Jesus,” and expired. (1)
Whilst tending her dying husband, Margaret was also deeply concerned
as to the fate of her captive brother, for whom she always evinced the
warmest affection. Indeed, so close were the ties uniting Louise
of Savoy and her two children that they were habitually called the
“Trinity,” as Clement Marot and Margaret have recorded in their poems.
(2)
1 From a MS. poem in the Bibliothèque Nationale entitled
_Les Prisons_, probably written by William Philander or
Filandrier, a canon of Rodez.
2 See _OEuvres de Clément Marot_, 1731, vol. v. p. 274; and
A. Champoîlion-Figeac’s _Poésies de François Ier, &c_.,
Paris, 1847, p. 80.
In this Trinity Francis occupied the highest place; his mother called
him “her Cæsar and triumphant hero,” while his sister absolutely
reverenced him, and was ever ready to do his bidding. Thus the
intelligence that he was wounded and a prisoner threw them into
consternation, and they were yet undecided how to act when they received
that famous epistle in which Francis wrote--not the legendary words,
“All is lost save honour,” but--“Of all things there have remained to me
but honour and life, which is safe.” After begging his mother and sister
to face the extremity by employing their customary prudence, the King
commended his children to their care, and expressed the hope that God
would not abandon him. (1) This missive revived the courage of the
Regent and Margaret, for shortly afterwards we find the latter writing
to Francis: “Your letter has had such effect upon the health of Madame
[Louise], and of all those who love you, that it has been to us as a
Holy Ghost after the agony of the Passion.... Madame has felt so great
a renewal of strength, that whilst day and evening last not a moment is
lost over your business, so that you need have no grief or care about
your kingdom and children.” (2)
1 See extract from the Registers of the Parliament of Paris
(Nov. 10, 1525) in Dulaure’s _Histoire de Paris_, Paris,
1837, vol. iii. p. 209; and Lalanne’s _Journal d’un
Bourgeois de Paris_, Paris, 1854, p. 234. The original of
the letter no longer exists, but the authenticity of the
text cannot be disputed, as all the more essential portions
are quoted in the collective reply of Margaret and Louise of
Savoy, which is still extant. See Champollion-Figeac’s
Captivité de François Ier, pp. 129, 130.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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