H Noel Williams - Henri II: His Court and Times

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Claude de France, first wife of Franois I Conduct of the King towardsher Hostility of his mother, Louise of Savoy Her retired life Her children Her vow to Saint-Franois de Paule Birth of a Dauphin Birth of Henri, Duc d'Orlans, afterwards Henri II Death of the Queen She is accounteda saint, and miracles are reported to have been performed at her tomb

First Italian campaign of Franois I Battle of Marignano and recovery of theMilanese The Concordat Treaties of Noyon and Cambrai Character of theKing Disastrous consequences of the government of Louise of Savoy and herfavourite Du Prat Beginning of the rivalry of Franois I and Charles ofAustria Charles elected Emperor Negotiations with England: the Field ofthe Cloth of Gold War between Franois and Charles V begins Earlysuccesses of the French Reverses in Italy League formed against France The Conntable de Bourbon A woman scorned Conspiracy of Bourbon Hisflight The French compelled to evacuate Italy: death of Bayard Invasion ofProvence by the Imperialists Siege of Marseilles Retreat of the Imperialists Franois again invades the Milanese He occupies Milan and lays siege to Pavia The Imperialists advance to the relief of the town Battle of Pavia, in whichthe French army is destroyed, and the King is taken prisoner

Franois in captivity His letter to his mother Critical situation of France:energetic measures of Louise of Savoy Demands of Charles V The King isremoved to Spain Truce of six months granted by the Emperor Franois'sjourney to Madrid His rigorous imprisonment in the Alcazar He falls seriouslyill, and is visited by Charles V Arrival of the Duchesse d'Alencon (Marguerited'Angoulme) The King is believed to be dying: scene at his bedside His recovery Negotiations at Toledo: the Emperor insists on the cession of Burgundy Franois announces his intention of abdicating in favour of the Dauphin,but changes his mind and directs the French envoys to accede to the Emperor'sdemands Treaty of Madrid Stipulation that the two elder sons of the King, orthe Dauphin and twelve of the principal personages of the kingdom, are to bedelivered up as hostages Charles V's reasons for consenting to the release ofhis rival considered Franois swears to execute the treaty, but makes a formalprotest against it privately Betrothal of the King to the Emperor's eldest sister,Eleanor, Queen-Dowager of Portugal He remains a prisoner in the Alcazar Meeting between him and the Emperor Visit of the two monarchs to QueenEleanor at Illescas Franois sets out for France Louise of Savoy decides to send Henri, as well as the Dauphin, as a hostage to Spain The English Ambassador's impressions of the young princes The exchange of the King for hissons takes place on the Bidassoa Joy of Franois on regaining his freedom Departure of the princes for Vittoria

Refusal of Franois I to execute the Treaty of Madrid His conduct severelycondemned by modern historians, but generally condoned by his contemporaries The League of Cognac formed against the Emperor Inaction ofFranois, who for more than a year leaves his Italian allies to shift forthemselves Fall and sack of Rome Franois concludes the Treaty of Westminster with England Lautrec invades the Milanese with an army subsidisedby England, and carries all before him Escape of Clement VII from Rome Contemplated duel between Franois and Charles Siege of Naples The follyof Franois causes the withdrawal of Andrea Doria's fleet from the blockade The French, weakened by disease, raise the siege, and are subsequentlyobliged to capitulate Genoa lost to France Battle of Landriano and defectionof the Pope Peace of Cambrai (la Paix des Dames), which contains a stipulationthat the young princes are to be released on payment of a ransom of two millioncrowns.

The usher Bodin despatched to Spain to visit the young princes His journeyto Pedraza, where he finds them deprived of their French attendants and subjected to the most rigorous confinement His interview with them Extraordinary precautions taken by the Spaniards to guard against the escape oftheir prisoners A copy of Bodin's report is sent to Margaret of Austria, thanksto whose intercession the boys' captivity is rendered more tolerable Franoismarries Eleanor of Austria by procuration at Toledo Arrival of Anne deMontmorency and the Cardinal de Tournon at Bayonne to make the finalarrangements for the release of the princes The counting and weighing of theransom Montmorency and the Constable of Castile Release of the Dauphinand the Duc d'Orlans Arrival of the Queen and the princes at Bayonne Meeting of Franois and Eleanor at the Convent of Veyrires, near Mont-de-Marsan

Change effected in the characters of the Dauphin and the Duc d'Orlans bytheir captivity in Spain Impatience of Franois I, who "does not care fordreamy, sullen, sleepy children" Eagerness of the King to regain a footing inItaly Charles V's Italian league Position and policy of Clement VII Catherinede' Medici Her early years Her adventures during the revolution in Florence Her suitors Franois I sends envoys to Rome to propose a marriage betweenher and the Duc d'Orlans Embarrassment of the Pope, who, while anxious forthe French alliance, fears to give umbrage to the Emperor Proposed interviewbetween Franois and Clement at Nice Duplicity of the Pope The intimacybetween Catherine and her cousin, the Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici, a sourceof disquietude to his Holiness Catherine is sent to Florence and Ippolito toHungary Interview between the Pope and Charles V at Bologna Clementskilfully outmanoeuvres the Emperor, and the marriage between Catherine andthe Duc d'Orlans is arranged

Dowry of Catherine de' Medici Her trousseau Her pearls A marvellous casket The Florentines compelled to defray the greater part of the expense incurred by the Pope Franois I's pensions to his son and future daughter-in- law Efforts of Charles V to prevent the Pope's journey to Nice Catherine's departure from Florence She receives the presents of Franois I and the Duc d'Orlans Objection of the Duke of Savoy to the marriage and the interviewtaking place at Nice necessitates the rendezvous being changed to Marseilles Clement sails from Leghorn Preparations at Marseilles Arrival and receptionof the Pope His ceremonial entry into Marseilles He is visited in secret byFranois I Entry of Catherine The marriage Personal appearance of thebride and bridegroom Presents given by the Pope and Franois to one another Result of the conference between the two sovereigns The death of Clementin the following year destroys the hopes which Franois has based on thisalliance

Early married life of Henri and Catherine de' Medici Unpopularity of themarriage Diplomacy of Catherine, who contrives to secure the favour ofFranois I and the friendship of Marguerite d'Angoulme and the King'smistress, Madame d'tampes Sketch of the last-named lady Execution ofFranois's agent, Maraviglia, at Milan The King prepares to invade theMilanese, but the death of Clement VII and the expedition of Charles V againstTunis cause him to suspend operations Death of Francesco Sforza Franoisdemands the Milanese for the Duc d'Orlans The French occupy Savoy andPiedmont, but the King allows the Emperor to delude him with negotiations Charles's speech to the Pope and the Sacred College Treachery of theMarchese di Saluzzo The Emperor invades Provence Devastation of thecountry by Montmorency Death of the Dauphin Franois makes Henri heir tothe throne Grief of the King The Conte Sebastiano Montecuculli arrested ona charge of having poisoned the prince He confesses, under torture, to havingbeen instigated by the Imperialists to poison the King and his three sons Hisexecution The Imperialists repudiate the charge and accuse Catherine de'Medici