DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61669#0179
GEORGE DE SELVE
Lavaur in a diplomatic capacity. The first edition of the “ Gallia
Christiana ”1 states that George de Selve was sent as ambassador in
this year to both Charles V. and the republic of Venice; while a
manuscript biographical notice of the bishop, preserved at the Biblio-
theque Nationale at Paris, confirms this information as regards the
embassy to the Emperor.2 The mission to Venice appears also to
derive confirmation from the wording of the Treasury grant of
I533-3
The embassy of George de Selve to the Court of Charles V. in
1529 is of special interest to the student of Holbein’s “Ambassadors.”
It makes it seem highly probable that the young Bishop attended
the Diet of Spires as one of the representatives of France — a
mission which assorts well with the presence of the Lutheran hymn-
book placed near to him in Holbein’s picture. At the very outset
of his career he is thus seen occupied with those ideas of religious
reunion which absorbed so large a share of his attention throughout
his life.
His youth is indeed a striking circumstance in connection with so
important an occasion. But such were the Bishop’s precocity of mind
and gravity of temperament that he seems usually to have produced
the impression of a man considerably older than was actually the
case.4
Amongst the works of George de Selve, which were collected
and published after his death, are two orations, or “ Remonstrances,”
1 “ Gallia Christiana,” 1656, vol. iii., p. 1142. The notice there given respecting the
missions of 1529 is omitted in the edition of 1715 (hitherto quoted in this work), where
the article on George de Selve was rewritten and enlarged. This circumstance might
appear to throw doubt on the accuracy of the information conveyed in the earlier
edition. But as it receives confirmation from several other independent sources, it is
probable that the facts of the previous edition are correct; but that the early diplomatic
labours of the Bishop were thrown into shade by the more important work of his riper
years dwelt upon in the later edition.
2 Paris, Bibl. Nat., Cab. d’Hozier, vol. 304, f. 28.
3 See note at the end of this chapter.
4 Most observers will agree that the appearance of the Bishop of Lavaur in Holbein’s
portrait bears out this remark.
151
Lavaur in a diplomatic capacity. The first edition of the “ Gallia
Christiana ”1 states that George de Selve was sent as ambassador in
this year to both Charles V. and the republic of Venice; while a
manuscript biographical notice of the bishop, preserved at the Biblio-
theque Nationale at Paris, confirms this information as regards the
embassy to the Emperor.2 The mission to Venice appears also to
derive confirmation from the wording of the Treasury grant of
I533-3
The embassy of George de Selve to the Court of Charles V. in
1529 is of special interest to the student of Holbein’s “Ambassadors.”
It makes it seem highly probable that the young Bishop attended
the Diet of Spires as one of the representatives of France — a
mission which assorts well with the presence of the Lutheran hymn-
book placed near to him in Holbein’s picture. At the very outset
of his career he is thus seen occupied with those ideas of religious
reunion which absorbed so large a share of his attention throughout
his life.
His youth is indeed a striking circumstance in connection with so
important an occasion. But such were the Bishop’s precocity of mind
and gravity of temperament that he seems usually to have produced
the impression of a man considerably older than was actually the
case.4
Amongst the works of George de Selve, which were collected
and published after his death, are two orations, or “ Remonstrances,”
1 “ Gallia Christiana,” 1656, vol. iii., p. 1142. The notice there given respecting the
missions of 1529 is omitted in the edition of 1715 (hitherto quoted in this work), where
the article on George de Selve was rewritten and enlarged. This circumstance might
appear to throw doubt on the accuracy of the information conveyed in the earlier
edition. But as it receives confirmation from several other independent sources, it is
probable that the facts of the previous edition are correct; but that the early diplomatic
labours of the Bishop were thrown into shade by the more important work of his riper
years dwelt upon in the later edition.
2 Paris, Bibl. Nat., Cab. d’Hozier, vol. 304, f. 28.
3 See note at the end of this chapter.
4 Most observers will agree that the appearance of the Bishop of Lavaur in Holbein’s
portrait bears out this remark.
151