DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61669#0182
HOLBEIN’S “AMBASSADORS
asking him to bear to Montmorency some news of the Court and of
herself.1 But these words are merely a pretext for the warm expressions
with which the queen recommends to her correspondent the bearer of her
letter. “ You know, as well as I do,” she continues, “ the services of the
father and the greatness of his merits ; and what gratitude they deserve
towards the members of his family.” It would seem from this that
Montmorency was at this time not acquainted, or but slightly acquainted,
with the young bishop.
Both these letters are dated from Blois, where Selve had doubtless
paused to visit the Court on his way to Lavaur.
Beyond such scattered hints there are no means of judging of his
movements in the years which now elapsed.
In the month of November, 1532, another sorrow fell upon him
in the death of his mother.2 The following spring saw him in England,
the guest of his friend, the Bailly of Troyes.
The visit of the Bishop of Lavaur to this country began at some
period before Easter, 1533,3 and terminated before the end of May. It
is not necessary to repeat here the few facts concerning that event
which have already been narrated in previous chapters.4
In December of the same year he was appointed French ambassa-
dor at Venice. To judge by the wording of the Treasury grant which
records the first payment made to him, he had already been sent on a
short mission to that city at a previous time.5
The grant is dated from Lyons, where the Court was now sojourn-
1 Archives of the Chateau de Villiers (Marquis de Selve); and Paris, Bibl. Nat.,
Carres d’Hozier, vol. 579, f. 341. Marguerite, Queen of Navarre, to the Grand-Maitre de
Montmorency, Blois, 18th April.
2 Paris, Bibl. de 1’Institut, Coll. Godefroy, f. 414. Obseques de la femme du premier
president de Selve, 27th November, 1532.
3 Easter fell in this year on the 13th April.
4 See pp. 11, 19, 20, 77-78, 80.
5 “ A Mre George de Selve, evesque de Lavaur, . . . pour aller comme ambassadeur
devers le due et seigneurie de Venise, et illec . . . devant ledit temps, pour leur com.
muniquer les choses dont il lui a donne charge et celles qui adviendroient ci apres.”—
Lyons, 2nd December, 1533. Paris, Bibl. Nat., Cabinet d’Hozier, vol. 304 (Dossier Selve),
f. 15, Extraits de Comptes, etc. See also page 151.
154
asking him to bear to Montmorency some news of the Court and of
herself.1 But these words are merely a pretext for the warm expressions
with which the queen recommends to her correspondent the bearer of her
letter. “ You know, as well as I do,” she continues, “ the services of the
father and the greatness of his merits ; and what gratitude they deserve
towards the members of his family.” It would seem from this that
Montmorency was at this time not acquainted, or but slightly acquainted,
with the young bishop.
Both these letters are dated from Blois, where Selve had doubtless
paused to visit the Court on his way to Lavaur.
Beyond such scattered hints there are no means of judging of his
movements in the years which now elapsed.
In the month of November, 1532, another sorrow fell upon him
in the death of his mother.2 The following spring saw him in England,
the guest of his friend, the Bailly of Troyes.
The visit of the Bishop of Lavaur to this country began at some
period before Easter, 1533,3 and terminated before the end of May. It
is not necessary to repeat here the few facts concerning that event
which have already been narrated in previous chapters.4
In December of the same year he was appointed French ambassa-
dor at Venice. To judge by the wording of the Treasury grant which
records the first payment made to him, he had already been sent on a
short mission to that city at a previous time.5
The grant is dated from Lyons, where the Court was now sojourn-
1 Archives of the Chateau de Villiers (Marquis de Selve); and Paris, Bibl. Nat.,
Carres d’Hozier, vol. 579, f. 341. Marguerite, Queen of Navarre, to the Grand-Maitre de
Montmorency, Blois, 18th April.
2 Paris, Bibl. de 1’Institut, Coll. Godefroy, f. 414. Obseques de la femme du premier
president de Selve, 27th November, 1532.
3 Easter fell in this year on the 13th April.
4 See pp. 11, 19, 20, 77-78, 80.
5 “ A Mre George de Selve, evesque de Lavaur, . . . pour aller comme ambassadeur
devers le due et seigneurie de Venise, et illec . . . devant ledit temps, pour leur com.
muniquer les choses dont il lui a donne charge et celles qui adviendroient ci apres.”—
Lyons, 2nd December, 1533. Paris, Bibl. Nat., Cabinet d’Hozier, vol. 304 (Dossier Selve),
f. 15, Extraits de Comptes, etc. See also page 151.
154