Retrospect of French Literature— History. 
The © Cartel de Défide Francois I. 
a l’Empereur Charles Quint,” commences 
as follows: 
“ Nous, par le grace Dieu, Roi de 
France, Seigneur de Génes, &c. a vous, 
Charles, par le grace de Dieu, Empereur 
des Romains, and Roi des Espagnes 
savoir, faisons: 
“ Qu’ayant été informé de quelques 
réponses que vous avez faites aux am- 
bassadeurs et hérauts, que nous avions 
_envoyés aupres de vous, pour le bien de 
Ja paix a laquelle vous vous refusiez; ré- 
ponses dans lesquelles,” &c. &c. 
In this famous challenge, which was 
read in a loud voice, first in French, and 
then iu Spanish, the King of France 
- accuses the Emperor, 
ist. Of having refused to consent to a 
peace ; and 
2d. Of having publicly asserted, that 
Francis had not accomplished his pro- 
Mises and engagements. 
He then adds, that in order to defend 
our honour, which might’ be affected in 
opposition to truth, we have transmitted 
you this Cartel, although (continues he) 
according to the laws of your own states, 
a inan detained a, force shall not be 
ébliged to perform what he may have 
promised for the recovery of his liberty, 
which principle would of itself be deemed 
a sufficient excuse. 
«Yet being resolved to satisfy all 
and every one, in whatsoever concerns 
our honour, which we have always main- 
tained unsuspected until now, and which 
we shall always preserve so (God willing, 
until the end of our life, we hereby let 
you know, that if you will not avow, and 
defend, what you have said respecting 
our engagements, and our deliverance, 
and if you shall pretend, that we have 
€ver coinmitted any action which a gen- 
tleman firmly attached to his honour 
would not do, we tell you, that you have 
fied im your throat, (que vous en avez 
menti par la gorge,* et que vous nentirez 
toutes les fois gu’il vous arrivera de le 
dive), and that you le every time that 
you say so, 
** And as we have always determined 
to defend our honour until the latest 
moment of our life, we wish you not to 
persist in your assertions, which are con- 
trary to the truth; and request that you 
will not henceforth write any more, 
but assure us of your ,presence in 
* The Spanish text is gce/a. When Charles 
_ ¥. heard this passage, he observed, with an 
ais of irony, ** Que le seul menteur étoit 
Yauteur du cartel.” 
Moniury Mac No. 187, 
687 
the field of battle, We ourselves 
shall be ready; and when all the cere- 
monies have been duly observed, we 
shall assume our arms, and try the event, 
if it is so permitted; protesting, at the 
same time, that if, after this declaration, 
you write, or say any thing, the shame of - 
delay will entirely attach to you, as this 
combat is the end and aim of our corre- 
spondence, 
ff Given i in our good city of Paris, on 
the 28th of May, 1528. 
« Francrs.” 
After the Secretary had concluded, the 
Emperor addressed his court, which had 
been assembled on this occasion, in an 
animated discourse, wherein he recapitus 
lated all the transactions that had passed 
between him and the King of France. 
He concluded, by manifesting his “ firm 
resolution to fight witb him, body to body, 
and take away his life, if it pleased 
God!” The animosity with which his 
Majesty pronounced these last words, 
manifested the rage with which his royal 
bosom was filled upon thisoceasion, ~ 
On the 10th of June, his Imperial Ma- 
jesty assembled his council, consisting of 
eleven persons, viz. the Archbishop of 
Tarragona, the Chancellor of Aragon, 
the Bishop of Barcelona, the Archbishop 
of Saragossa, the Bishop of Siguenza, the 
Duke Dan Hernando of Aragon, Viceroy 
of Valentia, the Dake de Cordova, the 
Marquis de Pallas, and the Counts de 
Bénavente, d’Aranda, de Ribagorza, and 
de Fuentes. He then recited a concise 
discourse to them, in the course of which 
he demanded the advice of each in 
writing, within the term of eight days, 
Ilis Majesty, at the same time, tise 
a Jetter to the Duke de PInfantado, 
whom he observed, that be had mia 
tarily determined to expose lis person, 
in single combat, with King Francis, 
over whom, with the aid of God, and hy 
means of the Justice ot his cause, which 
was manifest to ak the world, he hoped 
to be able to obtain the victory.’ gosh 
The reply of the Duke d’Infantado 
abounds with good sense, and exlibits 
an uncommon share of discretion. After 
stating the honour done him, and the 
embarassments into which he had been 
thrown, by the demand of giving advice 
ona subject, in which the character of 
the greatest Sovereign in the universe was 
interested, he proceeds to state his own 
sentiments, with a noble ardour and sinis 
plicity, leaving it ‘* to the courageous 
mind af his Sovereign finally to deter- 
mive.’ 
© Supposing, Bays he, “ that my ad- 
4U veisary 
33 
