DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61669#0174
HOLBEIN’S “AMBASSADORS”
The translation from Plutarch’s “ Lives ” at once brought the name
of George de Selve into prominence. He states indeed in his preface,
with laudable modesty, that he could not have completed his work
“ without the aid of Maistre Pierre Danes.” Nevertheless, the achieve-
ment was considered a remarkable one for so young a scholar; and
later writers mention Selve as the worthy precursor of Amyot.1
The year 1525 saw the long negotiations between France and
Spain which succeeded the defeat of Pavia, and led up to the release
of Francis I. The Archbishop of Embrun, better known at a later
date as Cardinal Tournon, Philippe de Chabot, Admiral de Brion,
and Jean de Selve, Premier President of the Parliament of Paris, were
the three principal emissaries deputed by the Regent, Louise of Savoy,
to represent France at the conferences held at Toledo. Montmorency
joined them occasionally from Madrid, where he was in attendance on
the captive king; while Gabriel de Grammont, Bishop of Tarbes,
another future cardinal, was later on added to the list of negotiators.
Their efforts were crowned in January, 1526, by the signature of
the Treaty of Madrid. The settlement was humiliating enough for
the King of France, but it was due to the skill of the ambassadors that
even such measure of success was obtained. At least, it restored him
to his subjects, and enabled him, in the following March, to cross the
Bidassoa on his way back to France.
The capacity displayed on this occasion by Jean de Selve, and
the profound knowledge of constitutional law which lent force to his
diplomatic skill, made a deep impression on the French Court. It
was desired that the recognition of his great services should assume
some practical form. Francis therefore determined to reward the
father, who had already attained every honour that could be bestowed,
in the person of his son. In the month of May following the king’s
release, the Papal licence was penned with which we are already
acquainted. At the end of October in the same year (1526), the see
1 Jacques Amyot, author of a famous translation of Plutarch’s “Lives,” was born
1513, and died 1593. He was tutor to the sons of Henri II., was sent on a mission to
the Council of Trent, and was Bishop of Auxerre from 1571 until his death.
146
The translation from Plutarch’s “ Lives ” at once brought the name
of George de Selve into prominence. He states indeed in his preface,
with laudable modesty, that he could not have completed his work
“ without the aid of Maistre Pierre Danes.” Nevertheless, the achieve-
ment was considered a remarkable one for so young a scholar; and
later writers mention Selve as the worthy precursor of Amyot.1
The year 1525 saw the long negotiations between France and
Spain which succeeded the defeat of Pavia, and led up to the release
of Francis I. The Archbishop of Embrun, better known at a later
date as Cardinal Tournon, Philippe de Chabot, Admiral de Brion,
and Jean de Selve, Premier President of the Parliament of Paris, were
the three principal emissaries deputed by the Regent, Louise of Savoy,
to represent France at the conferences held at Toledo. Montmorency
joined them occasionally from Madrid, where he was in attendance on
the captive king; while Gabriel de Grammont, Bishop of Tarbes,
another future cardinal, was later on added to the list of negotiators.
Their efforts were crowned in January, 1526, by the signature of
the Treaty of Madrid. The settlement was humiliating enough for
the King of France, but it was due to the skill of the ambassadors that
even such measure of success was obtained. At least, it restored him
to his subjects, and enabled him, in the following March, to cross the
Bidassoa on his way back to France.
The capacity displayed on this occasion by Jean de Selve, and
the profound knowledge of constitutional law which lent force to his
diplomatic skill, made a deep impression on the French Court. It
was desired that the recognition of his great services should assume
some practical form. Francis therefore determined to reward the
father, who had already attained every honour that could be bestowed,
in the person of his son. In the month of May following the king’s
release, the Papal licence was penned with which we are already
acquainted. At the end of October in the same year (1526), the see
1 Jacques Amyot, author of a famous translation of Plutarch’s “Lives,” was born
1513, and died 1593. He was tutor to the sons of Henri II., was sent on a mission to
the Council of Trent, and was Bishop of Auxerre from 1571 until his death.
146