558 FRANCE. 
Histery. time he was seriously ill; and, during the cure of his jealousy of the king with regard to the Constable 
=-— ‘wound, it was doomed neseseary t0 cut of bis hair, which bony ne Leena This nobleman, on 
he never would permit to grow again, but introduced the _ part, could not but indignant at the treatment 
fashion of wearing it short. ; . 
aed the As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, he prepared cially at the famous battle of Marignano, had never 
Lew Coum- for hostilities; and, taking the field with a numerous requited; on the ane the king, in more 
__ army, spread terror through the Low Countries. Charles, instance, had purposely slighted him, © Perhaps, 
on his part, was not slow in meeting his an ist; and ver, the feelings which this conduct on the part of 
near Valenciennes, the two monarchs, at head of king produced, would not have stirred up the Constable 
their respective forces, were opposed to each other. A to rebellion, had it not been for another : 
thick fog at this time prevailed, and the Constable Bour- The mother of Francis, forgetting her ge fell in love 
bon entreated his sovereign to take advantage of it, and with him. She offered him e 
commence the attack. Francis, however, jealous of the Her love was thus converted into the most hatred |. 
military reputation of the Constable, refused to listen to and revenge. A law-suit was commenced him a 
: 
z 
& 
z 
e1ag 
A 
Hi 
eficee. 
Hi 
his advice, and even manifested his jealousy, by bestow- for the estates, which he held in right of his deceased 
ing the command of the van, to which the Constable, by wife. The issue was such as might be ageiels 
virtue of his office, had an undoubted right, a myo justly ves rp no} Me pe the pr i 
D'Alencon, the first prince of the blood. From this found himself depri greatest part of his proper- 
pa the Constable's dislike of Francis may naturally ty. In this state, he began or renewed his intrigues with 
be deted. Henry and Charles, who gladly embraced his alliance, 
Nothing of consequence occurred in the Netherlands ; and formed an actual treaty with him, according to which 
but Charles, who trusted as much, or more, to his in- ‘the conquest of France was projected, and if it were ef- 
trigues as to his army, contrived to engage Henry VIII. fected, Provence and Dauphine were to be assigned to 
the Pope on his side. By the treaty entered into by the constable, with the title of King. In furtherance of 
them, it was agreed, that Pope and the Emperor this plan, the English monarch was to invade. Picardy; 
should unite their forces, for the purpose of driving the the emperor was to enter France by the Pyrenees; and newt 
French from the Milanese, which was to be restored to Bourbon was to penetrate with an army of Germans into nN 
Francisco Sforza; that Parma and Placentia should be Burgundy, where he expected to be joined by his nume- 
restored to the Pope, whom the Emperor should also as- ous and powerful adherents... The period for carrying 
sist in conquering Ferrara. Henry, on his part, agreed these enterprises into execution was fixed; as soon as 
to invade France on the side of Picardy with 40,000 Francis had crossed the Alps, the confederates were to 
men, and to bestow on Charles his only daughter, the put their respective armies into motion. waar 
Princess Mary. As soon as Francis was informed of this iracy, he which de- 
As soon as Francis was apprised of the storm which attempted to seize Bourbon; but he escaped, and fled’ in- apg 
threatened his Italian dominions, he prepared for their to Italy. Not deeming it prudent’ to leave his kingdom 
defence ; but as his forces were either employed in the at this juncture, he entrusted the command of the army 
Low Countries, or assembling on the frontiers of Spain, destined for the invasion of Italy to Admiral Bonnivet, 
he was obliged to hire a body of men from the Swiss. who was totally unfit for his station. The general of the 
For this purpose, he raised a large sum of money, which, Pope, however, being much inferior in. force, was com- 
however, his mother intercepted ; and, in consequence pelled toretire. The greatest part of the duchy of Mi- 
of the Swiss troops not receiving their pay, they retired lan submitted to the arms of France; and had Bonnivet 
Francis from the standard of Francis. At this juncture, Milin known how to act, Milan itself must have fallen. But: 
meh was betrayed to the general of the Pope; the other ci- he delayed attacking it till it was too late; the winter. 
sae” ties of the duchy followed its example; and the castle set in, and Bonnivet was obliged to protect his troops 
of Milan, with a few inconsiderable forts, alone remain- from its inclemency in quarters, In Burgundy and Gui- 
ed to Francis. This great success, however, was if@i- enne, the success of Francis was more complete; the 
rectly the cause of the dissolution of the confederacy; Spaniards and Germans were repulsed. Paris, however, 
for ae X. received the news with such transports of was threatened by the angiah, who, having landed in 
joy, as brought on a fever and occasioned his death. He Picardy, advanced to within 11 of the capital. 
had kept alive the confederacy, which expired with him. their career was, however, soon by the Duke of 
But Francis was still unable to reconquer his territories in Vendome ; and they were driven out of the French terri« 
the Milanese ; and in 1522, Francisco Sforza was re- tories with disgrace. . ; ais al 
stored to the whole of his paternal dominions. At the commencement of the next. campaign, the af- 
The loss of the Milanese was not the only misfortune fairs of Francis in Italy wore a very unfavourable aspect. 
which assailed Francis at this time. Genoa expelled the A numerous army of the allies threatened that part of 
French troops, and opened her gates to the army of the Milanese which the French had conquered; and Bon- 
Charles. Henry of England openly declared war; and nivet was quite unable to contend, either with the supe- 
: : : : 
of the invaders, by adhering to the politic plan of not his entrenched camp, and crossing the river. During 
Sgiion s narthas ot kot the nglish and Flemings were this latter movement, he received a wound in his arm, 
Resolves to COmpelied to retreat. As soon as Francis saw his which obliged him to quit the field. ous 
march into territories were secure on the side of Flanders, he resol- Chevalier Bayard was entrusted with the command du- 
the Mi- ved to march himself into the Milanese. Before, how- ring the absence of Bonnivet. He animated the cavalry 
ever, be could put this plan into execution, he was alarm- by his presence and example, to withstand the whole of 
a conspiracy formed against him at home, The the enemy's troops; but in this ae 
