CHAPTER CCXXXV.—THE KING OF SCOTLAND ENTERS ENGLAND WITH A POWERFUL ARMY.HE IS SLAIN-PEACE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE KING OF FRANCE AND THE VENETIANS.

WHILE king Henry of England was engaged in his war abroad, the noble and gallant king of Scotland invaded England with a large army, on pretence of a claim to that crown in right of his queen, and also from his alliance with the king of France, to make a diversion in his favour, now he was attacked, and force his enemies to quit France, to avoid greater inconveniences. The king of Scotland, on entering England, did great mischiefs. A battle took place, in which very many English fell, as well as Scots, but the greatest loss to France was the death of the king of Scotland, who was killed valiantly fighting. It is rare to find such friends as will put their lives and fortunes to the chance of war in the support of a friend, especially when absent *.

The Scots gained the field, although numbers of them were slain,-for as both nations had been long desirous of coming to blows, it may be supposed that hard ones were exchanged on each side. May God pardon those who fell! †

On Friday, the 3d of June, in the year 1513, peace was published on the marble table in the Palace, between the most Christian king Louis XII. and the republic of Venice, and between them and their successors for ever. By this treaty, the gallant knights, sir Bartholomew d'Alviano and sir Andrew Gritti, with others, obtained their liberty; and the king made them many rich gifts on their departure.

CHAPTER CCXXXVI. THE TOWNS OF THEROUENNE AND TOURNAY SURRENDER TO THE ENGLISH ON CAPITULATION.

To return to the wars of the English in Picardy: they were long encamped before Therouenne, and made several attacks on it; but those within the town showed good courage, and defended it valiantly,—at length provision again failed them, and they were forced to capitulate for its surrender. The enemy entered Therouenne, but did not keep the promises they had made; for they had no sooner gained admission than they began to illtreat and plunder the poor inhabitants, insomuch that they were obliged to seek out another place for a habitation, which was great pity; but this did not satisfy the enemy, for they burnt part of the town, and threw down the walls to the ground.

We must not be astonished that the English so boldly invaded France, particularly Picardy, considering the evident good understanding that subsisted between them and the Flemings, who at this day raise their hands, and tell those of Tournay that they have never changed sides, notwithstanding they had settled the chapter de Venditionibus, before the English would embark. This was not handsomely done in them, considering they had a resident lord, and they have derogated shamefully from their former engagements: should they, therefore, find themselves the worse for it, they have only themselves to thank. Shortly after the English had gained Therouenne by capitulation, they advanced before Tournay, which was surrendered to them by the principal inhabitants, according to an agreement among themselves, without striking a blow.

The king of England and the king of the Romans, after these conquests, returned to their own countries, leaving a garrison in Tournay. The king of France likewise quitted Picardy with his queen, and went to Blois.

While the war was carrying on in Picardy, and a little before the siege of Therouenne, an engagement at sea took place between Pregent, a French captain, and the lord Howard,

* James professed himself the knight of Anne of Bretagne, queen of France, who wrote him an heroic letter to claim his assistance, sending him, at the same time, a ring off her finger and 14,000 francs.-ANDREWS, The celebrated battle of Flodden.

I believe this town was gained by a ruse de guerre.

Henry drew up before the walls a large train of what appeared battering cannon (but were only of wood painted, and are now shown in the Tower), which frightened the inhabitants into an instant surrender. This is the popular story.

lord admiral of England, on the 22nd and 25th days of April. Pregent, thinking to join the French fleet in Brest harbour, was met at sea on the vigil of St. George's day, by a fleet of forty or fifty sail, and was instantly attacked by two galeasses and four or five other vessels. The combat lasted two hours, with great slaughter on both sides; but at length the English were forced to retire, with the loss of two vessels sunk. On the Monday following, which was the feast of St. Mark, Pregent and his fleet fell in again with that of the English, amounting to twenty or thirty vessels, and about thirty large boats. The galley of Pregent was attacked by two galeasses and three ships, but he fought well, and all on board the first galeass were killed by pikes, or drove into the sea, excepting two prisoners, one of whom was thrown overboard. In this combat sir Edward Howard was killed, whose body was embalmed, to carry to England for interment *. The captains of the other ships, seeing that these five vessels had not made any impression on the galley of Pregent, whom they had courageously attacked, held a council, and afterwards made sail, leaving the sea open to Pregent. A large fleet had been collected at Honnefleur, to attack the king of England as he crossed the Channel, and cut off his return; but when they were at sea, a violent storm arose that separated this fleet, and some of the vessels were sunk.

The winter of this year was very long and severe, so that the Seine and other river were frozen hard enough for carriages to pass over them with safety; and when the thaw came, numbers of houses and mills were destroyed by the floods.

About this time, news was brought that the Swiss had intentions of again entering Burgundy, when the king ordered thither the lord of Bourbon with a large force of men-atarms, infantry and artillery,-but the Swiss did not come. This same year, the garrisons that had guarded different places in Italy returned to France, in consequence of the treaty concluded with the Swiss before Dijon,—namely, those from the castle of Milan; the lord of Aubigny, his lance on his thigh, with his garrison, from the castle of Brescia. When these garrisons marched away, the Spaniards took possession of the castles, which the Venetians thought had been done for them; but when the Spaniards had established themselves securely, they chaunted to the Venetians the Evangile des Vièrges. Such are the chances of war.

CHAPTER CCXXXVII.—OF THE DEATH AND INTERMENT OF THE MOST CHRISTIAN QUEEN OF FRANCE, ANNE OF BRITTANY.

AT the time of the arrival of the above unfortunate intelligence, the most noble queen of France, Anne duchess of Brittany, &c. lay dangerously ill at the castle of Blois. This was on the 2d day of January, and her illness so much increased that the good lady, on Monday the 9th instant, departed this life, most devoutly, in the faith of JESUS CHRIST, our sovereign Lord, to whom she most humbly resigned her soul. Great lamentations and grief were shown for this loss. When the body had been embalmed, it was put into a rich coffin, and carried, with an immense number of lighted torches, from Blois to the abbey of St. Denis, where it was interred with the usual honours due to her rank, and followed with the tears of all her officers and attendants. The funeral service was solemn and magnificent, becoming such a lady, whose soul may God pardon!

In the month of April of this year 1513, and just before Easter, a truce was proclaimed in Paris between the kings of France and Arragon.

* Sir Edward Howard boarded Pregent's ship, although it was sheltered by the rocks of Conquet lined with cannon, accompanied only by Carroz, a Spanish knight,

and seventeen Englishmen. Overpowered by numbers, Howard was forced overboard by pikes, and perished in the waves.—ANDREWS.

CHAPTER CCXXXVIII.-THE KING OF FRANCE MARRIES THE PRINCESS MARY, SISTER TO KING HENRY OF ENGLAND.-FRANCIS DUKE OF VALOIS AND COUNT OF ANGOULEME MARRIES THE PRINCESS CLAUDE, DAUGHTER TO THE KING OF FRANCE.-THE NEW QUEEN MAKES HER PUBLIC ENTRY INTO FRANCE.

AFTER the funeral of the late queen of France, the king came to Paris, and was lodged at the hôtel of the Tournelles, and would not that any one should appear in his presence but in mourning. He sent for his two daughters, the princesses Claude and Renée, who were conducted to him from Blois by madame d'Angoulême, and shortly after summoned the princes and great barons of his realm to a council on the present state of affairs, and respecting a peace with England. In consequence of what had been resolved on in this council, the king sent, as his ambassadors to king Henry, the governor of Normandy, the president of Rouen, and the lord Longueville, then a prisoner of war in England, was added to them, to treat of a peace.

While this was passing, the king was taken very ill at the castle of Vincennes, and had ordered, for his recovery, that "O Salutaris Hostia" should be chanted daily in all the churches of France, at the elevation of the holy sacrament, which had been of the utmost benefit to him. On his recovery, the king went thence to St. Germain-en-Laye, to recreate himself, and to temper the melancholy of his mourning; for it was a pleasant country, interspersed with woods and dales, and full of game.

Much public business was transacted during the king's stay at St. Germain; and a marriage was concluded between the duke of Valois, count of Angoulême, and the princess Claude. They were married in their mourning, in the chapel of the castle, in the presence of the king, the princes of the blood, and many others of high rank, on the 18th of May, in the year 1513. About this period, and before the king had quitted St. Germain-en-Laye, his ambassadors sent him intelligence of their having concluded a peace with England, on condition of his marrying the princess Mary. King Henry sent ambassadors to Paris, to confirm the marriage between king Louis and his sister, and to ratify the treaty of peace that had been agreed on between the two kingdoms, which was now publicly proclaimed in both realms.

On Monday the 16th of August, in this year, a grand procession was made from the great hall of the palace, with trumpets and clarions, when the herald, called Mont-joye, proclaimed a magnificent tournament to be holden at Paris, by the duke of Valois, Brittany*, and count of Angoulême, to which he invited all princes, lords, and gentlemen, to assist. It was about this time that the princess Mary was escorted to France by many of the great nobles of England, in company with the lords of France who had gone thither to attend on her. The king left Paris, with his court, and went as far as Abbeville to meet the new queen, where she arrived on the 8th of October, and made her public entry very triumphantly, attended by the duke of Valois and numbers of nobles, as well English as French, all most richly dressed, with large golden chains, especially the English. The queen was most handsomely attired, and seated in a brilliant car: in short, the whole was a beautiful sight. She was preceded by a body of two hundred English archers, gallantly accoutred, with their bows in hand, and quivers full of arrows.

The king, hearing of her coming, mounted his horse, and, attended by his nobles, rode out into the plain, under pretence of hawking, but it was to meet her; and on his approaching her, he kissed her on horseback, paying her many fair compliments, as he knew well how to do. Her reception in Abbeville was most honourable, and the inhabitants exerted themselves who should surpass the other in testifying their joy at her arrival. On the morrow, the feast of St. Denis, the king of France was married to the princess Mary of England.

* Francis was duke of Brittany in right of the princess Claude, who succeeded to that duchy on the death of her mother queen Anne. For, although the two crowns, the royal and ducal, had been united in the person of Louis XII., yet the duchy remained distinct from the kingdom,

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and would have passed away from it again had the princess Claude not married the heir of the crown of France. The countries were not incorporated till the reign of Francis I., who procured an act of union and settlement to be passed.

LL

She was most magnificently dressed, with an immense quantity of diamonds and precious stones. A singular banquet succeeded, with a great variety of all sorts of amusements. Having staid a few days in Abbeville to solace themselves, they set out for Paris; and through the towns of Picardy they passed, the greatest honours were paid them. In every town, the queen gave liberty to the prisoners, by the king's command. On their arrival at St. Denis, the ceremony of the queen's coronation took place, which was very splendid, and numerously attended by archbishops, bishops, and nobility.

Monday, the 6th of November, the queen made her triumphant entry into the city of Paris, the clergy, courts of parliament, of exchequer, &c., and all the municipal officers, with crowds of people, having gone out in procession to meet her. She was seated on a rich litter, adorned with precious stones, and escorted by the duke of Valois, the lord of Alençon*, the lord of Bourbont, the lord of Vendôme‡, his brother the lord Francis, Louis de Nevers §, with other great lords, as well of England as of France, prelates and churchmen. Her litter was followed by those of the princess Claude, duchess of Valois, madame d'Angoulême, madame de Vendôme, madame de Nevers, and other princesses of both kingdoms. Thus was she conducted to the church of Notre-Dame, and took the usual oaths: she thence proceeded to the royal palace, where a most splendid banquet was provided. The king and queen lay that night at the royal palace, which served to shorten his days.

CHAPTER CCXXXIX.-OF THE TILTS PERFORMED AT PARIS.-THE DEATH AND INTERMENT OF LOUIS XII. KING OF FRANCE.

THE next day, the king and queen went to the Tournelles, to see the tournaments, that had been before proclaimed. At the entrance of the lists was a triumphal arch surmounted with the shields of arms of the king and queen: below them were the emblazoned shields of the lords and princes, the tenants and defendants of the lists. The duke of Valois was the chief tenant, with his assistants, and many gallant courses were ran with lances, to the advantage of some, and to the loss of others. In short, it was a handsome spectacle, and all in compliment to, and for the love of, queen Mary; but her popularity would not have lasted long, for although the poor people were already heavily taxed, yet the king intended, had he lived longer, to have greatly increased the taxes. After these jousts and tourneys, the king carried the queen to St. Germain-en-Laye, where they spent some time, leading as joyous a life as he was able. He thence returned to his palace of the Tournelles at Paris, and was taken so dangerously ill that he made preparations becoming a good Christian, and rendered his soul to God on the 1st day of January, in the year 1514. His body was aromatically embalmed, and lay in state some days at the Tournelles, where everybody went to see it who pleased. The usual ceremonies on such occasions were then performed, but it would be tiresome to detail them. Some days after, the body was carried to the church of Notre-Dame, and placed in a chapel that had been purposely erected in the choir,—and a solemn service was performed by the bishop of Paris. The next day it was borne to a cross near to St. Denis, where the abbot and his monks of St. Denis met it, and was, by them, interred with great pomp, amidst the tears of his officers and domestics. He was buried beside his queen, Anne of Brittany. May God receive their souls! The principal mourners were, the lord of Alençon, the lord of Bourbon, the lord of Vendôme, and other princes and great lords.

It is of some moment when a king or great prince dies, who may, perhaps, have caused the deaths of numbers of human creatures like themselves; for I believe that in the other world they will have enough to do, more especially respecting this circumstance, that a poor

* Charles, the second duke of Alençon, son of René and grandson of John II., who was beheaded. He married Margaret the sister of Francis the First, afterwards wife of Henry d'Albret, king of Navarre.

+ Charles, duke of Bourbon, mentioned before.
Charles, duke of Vendôme, and Francis lord of St.

Pol, both mentioned before.

§ Count of Auxerre, second son of Engilbert of Cieves count of Nevers, who died in 1506.

|| Mary d'Albret, the wife of Charles, count of Nevers, eldest son of Engilbert of Cleves.

man, with six or seven small children, not worth twenty sols in the world, shall be taxed from ten to twenty sols, and when the collector shall come to receive the tax, finding the man worth nothing, and without means of raising the money, he commits him to prison, where he languishes out his days. Now I would like to have shown any written law for this injustice; but no one will attempt so to do, because every one is eager to push himself forward in this world. May God assist the poor people!

CHAPTER CCXL.-FRANCIS I., KING OF FRANCE, IS CONSECRATED AT RHEIMS.-HE MAKES HIS PUBLIC ENTRY INTO PARIS.-HE LEAVES FRANCE TO ATTACK THE SWISS IN THE MILANESE, WHO HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION OF THAT DUCHY.

AFTER the death of Louis XII., Francis, the first of the name, succeeded him on the throne, as the fifty-seventh king of France. He set out from Paris, to be consecrated king in the cathedral of Rheims, according to the custom of his ancestors kings of France, and was there anointed with the holy oil on the 25th day of January, in the year 1514. The twelve peers of France, or their substitutes, were present, exercising their functions in the usual manner on such occasions. Madame d'Angoulême, the king's mother, was present at the ceremony, accompanied by madame de Bourbon, madame de Vendôme, and other ladies and damsels. The king went from Rheims to be crowned at St. Denis, and on his return made triumphal public entries into Laon, Noyon, Compiégne, Senlis, and other towns. He continued his way towards Paris, very grandly attended, and made the most brilliant public entry into that city that had ever been seen. The accoutrements and trappings of the horses were of wrought silver, with frized cloth of gold; and, to sum up the whole in few words, the lords and gentlemen, with their horses, were covered with cloth of gold: some had their dresses interwrought with solid silver.

FRANCIS I. AND ATTENDANT NOBLES. Designed from the celebrated picture of the Field of the Cloth of Gold; and the sculpture in the Hotel de Bourgtheroulde, Rouen.

The king entered in triumph, dressed magnificently: the trappings of his horse were of worked silver, and his attendants equipped in cloth of silver brocade. He went, as usual,