DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61669#0196
HOLBEIN’S “AMBASSADORS”
Selve reached Avignon on the 14th May,1 three days after his
departure from Savona,2 having probably taken ship as far as Marseilles
to accelerate his journey. In the conditions of those times and the bad
state of the coast-roads of the Riviera, it would hardly have been
possible to cover the distance by land in so short a period.
We are left in ignorance as to the results of the communication he
had to make to his sovereign. The proposed meeting duly came off at
Nice in the following month.3 But all the efforts of the Pontiff proved
unavailing to effect a permanent treaty of peace. The most that could
be achieved was a suspension of arms for ten years, known in history
as the Truce of Nice.4
Francis and Charles did not, in point of fact, see each other at all
until the agreement was signed and the Pope had departed. They
then arranged an interview at Aigues-Mortes which led to conversations
of some apparent cordiality, and seemed to promise greater practical
results.
The Duchy of Milan was, as usual, the central topic of discussion
between the two sovereigns. A marriage had been discussed at Nice,
to take place between the Duke of Orleans and the Infanta of Spain.
Francis now parted from his rival at Aigues-Mortes persuaded that the
fulfilment of this project would at last restore the Milanese territory to
the House of Valois, as part of the dowry of the Emperor’s daughter.
The termination of the conference at Nice saw the conclusion of
Selve’s mission to the Papal Court. Intrigue of the type which marked
the final period of his embassy must have been peculiarly noxious to a
man of his sternly upright disposition, who, at the best, bestowed his
time on secular matters only from a sense of duty towards his sovereign,
1 Letters and Papers, vol. xiii., part i., No. 1004, Montmorency to Castillon, Avignon,
14th May, 1538.
2 “ Monseigneur de Lavaur . . . est parti ce jourd’huy matin en diligence, pour aller
trouver le Roy . . .”—Ribier, “Lett, et Mem. d’Estat,” vol. i., page 154. Cardinal
Mascon to the Connetable, Savona, nth May, 1538.
3 June, 1538.
4 Which was broken at the end of four years (1542), when war was again declared
between France and the Empire.
166
Selve reached Avignon on the 14th May,1 three days after his
departure from Savona,2 having probably taken ship as far as Marseilles
to accelerate his journey. In the conditions of those times and the bad
state of the coast-roads of the Riviera, it would hardly have been
possible to cover the distance by land in so short a period.
We are left in ignorance as to the results of the communication he
had to make to his sovereign. The proposed meeting duly came off at
Nice in the following month.3 But all the efforts of the Pontiff proved
unavailing to effect a permanent treaty of peace. The most that could
be achieved was a suspension of arms for ten years, known in history
as the Truce of Nice.4
Francis and Charles did not, in point of fact, see each other at all
until the agreement was signed and the Pope had departed. They
then arranged an interview at Aigues-Mortes which led to conversations
of some apparent cordiality, and seemed to promise greater practical
results.
The Duchy of Milan was, as usual, the central topic of discussion
between the two sovereigns. A marriage had been discussed at Nice,
to take place between the Duke of Orleans and the Infanta of Spain.
Francis now parted from his rival at Aigues-Mortes persuaded that the
fulfilment of this project would at last restore the Milanese territory to
the House of Valois, as part of the dowry of the Emperor’s daughter.
The termination of the conference at Nice saw the conclusion of
Selve’s mission to the Papal Court. Intrigue of the type which marked
the final period of his embassy must have been peculiarly noxious to a
man of his sternly upright disposition, who, at the best, bestowed his
time on secular matters only from a sense of duty towards his sovereign,
1 Letters and Papers, vol. xiii., part i., No. 1004, Montmorency to Castillon, Avignon,
14th May, 1538.
2 “ Monseigneur de Lavaur . . . est parti ce jourd’huy matin en diligence, pour aller
trouver le Roy . . .”—Ribier, “Lett, et Mem. d’Estat,” vol. i., page 154. Cardinal
Mascon to the Connetable, Savona, nth May, 1538.
3 June, 1538.
4 Which was broken at the end of four years (1542), when war was again declared
between France and the Empire.
166