Neapolitan
officer named Castaldo, when a Spaniard, jealous of the Italian's good fortune,
blew out the distinguished prisoner's brains with an arquebus.
(33)
"Et là je fuz longuement combattu,
Et mon cheval mort soubz moy abattu."
— Epître de François I er , in Champollion,
Captivité
du roi François I
er .
(34) He was a natural son
of Philip, Duke of Savoy, by Bona da Romagnano, a Piedmontese
lady, and therefore half-brother of Louise of Savoy.
(35) The King of Navarre
and Saint-Pol subsequently succeeded in effecting their escape.
Chapter III
François in captivity — His letter to his mother — Critical situation of France:
energetic measures of Louise of Savoy — Demands of Charles V — The King is
removed to Spain— Truce of six months granted by the Emperor — François's
journey to Madrid — His rigorous imprisonment in the Alcazar — He falls seriously
ill, and is visited by Charles V — Arrival of the Duchesse d'Alencon (Marguerite
d'Angoulême) — The King is believed to be dying: scene at his bedside — His
recovery — Negotiations at Toledo: the Emperor insists on the cession of Burgundy — François announces his intention of abdicating in favour of the Dauphin,
but changes his mind and directs the French envoys to accede to the Emperor's
demands — Treaty of Madrid — Stipulation that the two elder sons of the King, or
the Dauphin and twelve of the principal personages of the kingdom, are to be
delivered up as hostages — Charles V's reasons for consenting to the release of
his rival considered — François swears to execute the treaty, but makes a formal
protest 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 Queen
Eleanor at Illescas — François 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 his
sons takes place on the Bidassoa — Joy of François on regaining his freedom —
Departure of the princes for Vittoria
T HE day after the battle, François I was conducted to
the citadel of Pizzighitone, there to await the Emperor's pleasure.
Before leaving the Imperialists'
camp, the captive monarch wrote to his mother the letter in
which occurs that phrase which tradition reshaped for him
into the famous "
Tout est perdu fors l'honneur
." Here is the
actual text:
"Madame, in order that you may be acquainted with the
rest of my misfortunes, know that
of all things there remains to
me naught save honour and life, which are safe.
"
And he adds:
"And, so that in your adversity this news may bring you a
little consolation, I have requested permission to write you
this letter, which has been readily accorded me; begging
you not to despair, but to employ your usual prudence; for Ihave hopes that in the end God will not abandon me; recommending your grandchildren and my children to your care
and requesting you to give a safe-conduct to the bearer of
this to go to and to return from Spain, for he journeys to
the Emperor, to learn in what manner he wishes me to be
treated." 01
For the moment, it certainly seemed that François had not
exaggerated the gravity of the situation. The overwhelming
disaster of Pavia not only rendered the loss of Italy certain,
but it exposed France herself to the gravest peril. With her
King a prisoner, the troops to whom she looked for her
defence against foreign aggression destroyed or dispersed,
her best generals dead or in captivity, her treasury exhausted,
it was difficult to see how she could escape dismemberment,
if her enemies prosecuted the war with vigour before she had
time to recover from the blow which she had received; while,
even if they stayed their hands, the disturbed condition of the
country and the
officer named Castaldo, when a Spaniard, jealous of the Italian's good fortune,
blew out the distinguished prisoner's brains with an arquebus.
(33)
"Et là je fuz longuement combattu,
Et mon cheval mort soubz moy abattu."
— Epître de François I er , in Champollion,
Captivité
du roi François I
er .
(34) He was a natural son
of Philip, Duke of Savoy, by Bona da Romagnano, a Piedmontese
lady, and therefore half-brother of Louise of Savoy.
(35) The King of Navarre
and Saint-Pol subsequently succeeded in effecting their escape.
Chapter III
François in captivity — His letter to his mother — Critical situation of France:
energetic measures of Louise of Savoy — Demands of Charles V — The King is
removed to Spain— Truce of six months granted by the Emperor — François's
journey to Madrid — His rigorous imprisonment in the Alcazar — He falls seriously
ill, and is visited by Charles V — Arrival of the Duchesse d'Alencon (Marguerite
d'Angoulême) — The King is believed to be dying: scene at his bedside — His
recovery — Negotiations at Toledo: the Emperor insists on the cession of Burgundy — François announces his intention of abdicating in favour of the Dauphin,
but changes his mind and directs the French envoys to accede to the Emperor's
demands — Treaty of Madrid — Stipulation that the two elder sons of the King, or
the Dauphin and twelve of the principal personages of the kingdom, are to be
delivered up as hostages — Charles V's reasons for consenting to the release of
his rival considered — François swears to execute the treaty, but makes a formal
protest 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 Queen
Eleanor at Illescas — François 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 his
sons takes place on the Bidassoa — Joy of François on regaining his freedom —
Departure of the princes for Vittoria
T HE day after the battle, François I was conducted to
the citadel of Pizzighitone, there to await the Emperor's pleasure.
Before leaving the Imperialists'
camp, the captive monarch wrote to his mother the letter in
which occurs that phrase which tradition reshaped for him
into the famous "
Tout est perdu fors l'honneur
." Here is the
actual text:
"Madame, in order that you may be acquainted with the
rest of my misfortunes, know that
of all things there remains to
me naught save honour and life, which are safe.
"
And he adds:
"And, so that in your adversity this news may bring you a
little consolation, I have requested permission to write you
this letter, which has been readily accorded me; begging
you not to despair, but to employ your usual prudence; for Ihave hopes that in the end God will not abandon me; recommending your grandchildren and my children to your care
and requesting you to give a safe-conduct to the bearer of
this to go to and to return from Spain, for he journeys to
the Emperor, to learn in what manner he wishes me to be
treated." 01
For the moment, it certainly seemed that François had not
exaggerated the gravity of the situation. The overwhelming
disaster of Pavia not only rendered the loss of Italy certain,
but it exposed France herself to the gravest peril. With her
King a prisoner, the troops to whom she looked for her
defence against foreign aggression destroyed or dispersed,
her best generals dead or in captivity, her treasury exhausted,
it was difficult to see how she could escape dismemberment,
if her enemies prosecuted the war with vigour before she had
time to recover from the blow which she had received; while,
even if they stayed their hands, the disturbed condition of the
country and the
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