H 
A.D, 1524, 
FRANCE. 
immediately perceived to be mortal. 
of sitting on horseback, he was 
ground, with his face towards the enemy, 
and his eyes fixed on the of his sword, which he 
instead of a cross. In this posture, he address- 
ed his prayers to God, and 
where he lay, and his sorrow at his fate— 
“ Grieve not for me (said the hero), I die, as I lived, 
true tomy king; but I pity you, who fight against 
your king, your country, and your oath !” 
In consequence of retreat of Bonnivet, which 
was continued into France, the whole of Italy was 
wrested from his master. The Cardinal Bourbon, eager 
who advised or commanded him to lay siege to Mar- 
seilles. In this siege, forty days were unprofitably 
consumed. The King of France advanced to its de- 
fence, and Bourbon retired into Italy. Francis, again 
elated by his success, and untaught by all the reverses 
which his as well as himself, had suffered 
in their attempts against Italy, resolved to enter that 
country, and endeavour to regain the Milanese. From 
this attempt he was in vain dissuaded by the most pru- 
donkee eenennrs Se anges as well as by his 
mother. He persevered, success seemed to sanc- 
tion his design. The city of Milan opened its gates; 
the army of fled ; but Francis did not improve 
his successes, He consumed the precious time in be- 
sieging Pavia, when he ought to have pursued and at- 
the enemy in the moment of their consterna- 
tion and flight. He was still further elated by the Pope 
and the republic of Florence Sonning his adversary, 
and uniting themselves to his cause. It seemed to him 
as if the period were at come, at which it was 
decreed the French should be universally and per- 
manently successful in Italy. Regarding the Milanese 
as secure, he dispatched men into Naples, while 
he himself forward the siege of Pavia. This 
city; defended with the utmost try, must 
have fallen, as it was reduced to the last extremity, 
when an imperial army advanced to its relief. 
The battle of Pavia decided the fate of that city and 
of Francis. Lannoy and» Pescara, the generals who 
advanced to its relief, were reinforced by 12,000 Ger- 
mans, dispatched by Bourbon. Still Francis would not 
haye been unfortunate, had he either raised the siege, 
or continued in his intrenchments ; but a false shame 
Sieg pom pina ing the first measure, and the 
bei and rash advice Papel fet i induced him to leave 
agag ss heer position, battle to his adver- 
saries. was what they wished for, but hardly ex- 
pected. Even after the imperialists had their adversary 
meen circumstances most srvumble to themselves, 
ir success was extremely doubtful; and, in all pro- 
bability, Francis would have witnessed a drawn and in- 
decisive battle, or at least would not have suffered such 
a severe and fatal loss, had it not been for the treachery 
of part of his own army. In the midst of the 
ment, the Duke of Alengon, with the ek 
immediate command, that formed part of the left win 
went over to the enemy. ‘Abeut.(the duane: tite, the 
garrison of Pavia sallied out on the rear of the French ; 
and the cavalry of the latter, unable to withstand the 
imperial i gave way. Under these circumstances, 
559 
notwithstanding the exhortations, the example, and 
the exertions of Francis, the rout became general. The 
king was himself wounded, and thrown from 
yet he defended himself bravely, till at length, ex- 
hausted by — and his wounds, he was under the 
necessity of delivering his sword to Lannoy. On the 
several day after the battle, Francis was conducted to a strong 
castle near Cremona, and committed to the charge of 
an officer of great vigilance and integrity. 
As soon as the regent Louisa was acquainted with 
the disastrous battle of Pavia, by a letter from her son, 
containing these words, ‘ Madam, all is lost except our 
honour,” she put forth all her talents, which had hi- 
therto been expended on useless or dangerous objects, 
towards the safety of the kingdom; and that it was 
saved in this hour of unparalleled and imminent dan-~ 
ger, must be ascribed to her exertions and talents. She 
immediately assembled the nobles at Lyons ; collected 
the remains of the army, and recruited it so as to render 
it fit again to take the field; levied new troops; and, 
above all, endeavoured to conciliate the King of Eng- 
land. Henry had long been jealous, or afraid of Charles ; 
and Wolsey had not forgotten the promises of the papal 
dignity, with which the emperor had deceived him. 
But it was evident, that whatever steps the King of 
England might be induced to take, immediate measures 
on the part of France itself were indispensably neces 
sary ; and when the storm had passed away for a little 
time, it was discovered that it was not in the power of 
the Imperialists to profit so much the victory of 
Pavia ab had lagi and tnahe had teended: 
Lannoy found himself under the necessity of disband- 
ing the t part of his army for want of money. 
The character of Charles in a great measure saved 
France ; for, instead of pursuing his advantages by the 
same means by which he had acquired them ; instead 
of a ting his armies and pushing his conquests 
into France,—he scr We to gain “ayo his ro om 
captive, by intrigue negociation; what y 
could have arcand force. But Francis indi tly 
a the base and dishonourable terms, and oe a 
, on the occasion, such spirit, that Lannoy thoug 
it more prudent to send him into Spain, for the 
of a interview between him and Charles. But 
this interview, at first, was productive of no effect. 
Charles behaved to him with so much duplicity, and 
evidently endeavoured to extort from him such disho- 
nourable terms, that Francis, in despair, entrusted to 
his sister, the Duchess of Alencon,, a deed, by which 
he resigned his kingdom to the Dauphin. is cir- 
cumstance at last induced Charles to behave with more 
nness and honour towards his captive. He was also 
threatened with a confederacy against him, which had 
for its objects to liberate Francis, and to humble and 
curtail the power of his conqueror. By the treaty of 
Madrid, Francis regained his liberty, and, as the price 
of it, restored Burgundy to the emperor in full sove- 
reignty, as well as Artois and Flanders. As hostages 
for the regular and honourable fulfilment of these con- 
ditions, Francis gave his two eldest sons. In order to 
History. 
—_— 
his horse ; Francis te 
? ken prison- 
Vigorous 
and wise 
conduct of 
the Regent. 
Behaviour 
of Charles 
to his cap- 
tive, 
who reco- 
vers his li- 
berty on 
certain con- 
render the union between him and the emperor more ditions, 
binding and lasting, he was to marry the 8 sis- 
ter, the queen-dowager of Portugal, and to. cause all 
the articles to be ratified and registered by the states. 
Even these terms did not satisfy the em ; for, sus- 
picious of the integrity of Francis, he bound him by 
an oath to return as a prisoner into Spain, if, within a 
limited time, all the stipulations were not fulfilled. It 
was not indeed probable, that the French sovereign 
