DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63221#0217
THE QUEEN OF NAVARRE 175
successor of Bourbon as Constable of France. Their relations
were complicated. He was her cousin, the playmate of
Francis at Amboise, the friend of her early days, and the
correspondent to whom all her first letters were addressed.
They were on the most intimate terms; she confides in him,
scolds him, rallies him about his flirtations, as the mood
takes her. It is charming to catch her in her lighter moods.
“I showed your letter (she writes) to Mistress Margaret
of Lorraine, who, in spite of her grey nun’s habit, has never
ceased to remember old days; she assures you that she
acquits herself so well in praying for you, that if all the
ladies who have sported with you did as much, you would
have no cause to regret the past; for their prayers would
carry you to Paradise, where (after a long and a pleasant
life) wishes to see you,
“ Your kindly cousin and friend,
“ Margaret.”
There are graver and more political letters written to
him after Pavia and during the Spanish journey. Her trust
in his judgment seems unbounded. He was clever, but
reckless in his arrogance. He was like the Constable Bour-
bon in his superbness. His Palace of Ecouen, built by
Philibert de 1’Orme, outrivalled the Chateau de Madrid.
Chantilly was also his, besides a third estate; and his hunting
array of Arab horses, Turkish hounds, and falcons from
Tunis—sent him by Soliman—were the talk of France.
He filled eleven different offices, and his income was nearly
double Margaret’s own. A keen soldier and a potent ally
successor of Bourbon as Constable of France. Their relations
were complicated. He was her cousin, the playmate of
Francis at Amboise, the friend of her early days, and the
correspondent to whom all her first letters were addressed.
They were on the most intimate terms; she confides in him,
scolds him, rallies him about his flirtations, as the mood
takes her. It is charming to catch her in her lighter moods.
“I showed your letter (she writes) to Mistress Margaret
of Lorraine, who, in spite of her grey nun’s habit, has never
ceased to remember old days; she assures you that she
acquits herself so well in praying for you, that if all the
ladies who have sported with you did as much, you would
have no cause to regret the past; for their prayers would
carry you to Paradise, where (after a long and a pleasant
life) wishes to see you,
“ Your kindly cousin and friend,
“ Margaret.”
There are graver and more political letters written to
him after Pavia and during the Spanish journey. Her trust
in his judgment seems unbounded. He was clever, but
reckless in his arrogance. He was like the Constable Bour-
bon in his superbness. His Palace of Ecouen, built by
Philibert de 1’Orme, outrivalled the Chateau de Madrid.
Chantilly was also his, besides a third estate; and his hunting
array of Arab horses, Turkish hounds, and falcons from
Tunis—sent him by Soliman—were the talk of France.
He filled eleven different offices, and his income was nearly
double Margaret’s own. A keen soldier and a potent ally