and this high Office was immediately given to Charles Poyet, Prefident of the Parliament. Duke of Milan dies without 1536. In the mean time Duke Sforza of Milan died without leaving any Children behind him, and, being the last of the famous and unfortunate Sforza Family, the Emperor took Poffeffion of the Dutchy, and, having it now in his Power, he made use of it afterwards as a Bait and Amusement, to allure Francis the Remainder of his Life, tho' he never intended he fhould have it. The Emperor arrives at Rome. The Emperor challenges to fight K. Fran The Emperor, on the Return from his Expedition to Tunis, repaired to the City of Rome, where he was very grandly entertained by that Court; and, being informed what Francis had been doing in Savoy, in his Abfence, he expreffed great Refentment; nay, he was in fuch a Fury, that, in the Presence of the Pope, the Court of Rome, and the French Ambaffadors, he offered (to prevent any further Effufion of Blood) to decide the Quarrel between him and Francis, by a fingle Combat, in an Island, on a Bridge, or in a Boat. Bold Warriers indeed! "But the French "Ambaffadors, fays a wife Hiftorian, had the good Sense not to inform their Master of it, so that this "Challenge likewife fubfided." CIS. France. The EmpeBut after this, when the Emperor ror invades had got his own Forces together, with the Affiftance of feveral Italian Princes, he actually invaded France in Perfon, threatning nothing but Fire and Sword, and began with befieging Marseilles; though, meeting with a Repulfe, he was at last obliged to raise the Siege, and retire. Francis proclaims the Emperor a Rebel, 1537. The next Year Francis in his Turn fell upon the Emperor, but not by way of Challenge; he took the Means of Law, Law, fummoning Charles as his Vaffal, to do Homage for the Counties of Flanders, Artois, and Charalois, which he held of the Crown of France: This the Emperor not thinking proper to comply with, Francis caused him to be proclaimed a Rebel; but, before this Year expired, both Princes begun to be in a better Humour with each other. For an Interview between Charles and Francis was agreed on at Nice, which was brought about by the Pope, who was prefent, and mediated a Truce between 20 Years, which put an end to the War. King Francis, having by this restored Peace to his Country, made feveral excellent Edicts, particularly one, "That Cu At laft become Friends. 1538. them for King Francis makes feveral good Edicts. rates should keep a Register of all Chriftnings;' which the French Authors allow was taken from the English, who had fet up the fame Course by the Advice of the great Lord Cromwell. The Emperor paffes through France. 1539. himself. Makes his En try into Paris. 1540. The Emperor, having an Occafion to go into Spain, obtained a Permiffion to pass through France, the King giving Orders, that his Imperial Majefty should be most honourably received at every City, and that he might exercife the fame Authority as January the Ift, the Emperor made his publick Entry into Paris in great State, the two Sons of France riding on each Side of him; and, at his Departure, the King accompanied him to St. Quintin, and the young Princes as far as Valenciennies. The Emperor follicited the King to reftore the Duke of Savoy to his Te- ed by Favou ritories, which Francis at laft complied rites with. But he foon grew jealous of 1541. thofe about him, and, though three Noblemen had principally engroffed his Favour, the Constable, the France govern Car Cardinal of Lorain, and Admiral Brion; yet the laft, having got the Start of the other two, they contrived to ruin him, got him imprifoned, and, by the Means of Chancellor Poyet, was brought to his Trial, by which he was fo far condemned, that he was divefted of his Offices, and declared unworthy of holding any for the future, fined 70,000 Crowns, and fhut up in the Baftile. Admiral Brion dies of Grief. 1552. Some Months after the Admiral obtained a Review of the Cause, and was cleared from the Charge brought against him; but, being a Man of a haughty Spirit, the Affront ftuck fo close to him, that he died of Grief before the Year expired. The Chancellor The Chancellor not long after had difgraced. his Turn, and was difgraced, occafioned by his refufing to fet the Seals to an Order, for removing a Caufe from one Court to another; and, his Conduct being examined into, he was found fo faulty, that he was first stript of his Office, and then confined to the Tower of Bourges,* from whence he obtained his Liberty on no other Terms, than giving up his All for his Ranfom. At laft he died in the City of Paris, oppreffed with Poverty, Ignomy, and old Age; fo unhappy, that, even in this lamentable Condition, he was not pitied. This is not an improper Mirrour for great Men to fee in what flippery Places they tand. Though, with Pleasure we can fay upon examining the Accounts, given by the English Hiftorians of our Lord Chancellors for above 200 Years, they have generally behaved worthy that high Office. Dies for Want. The Conftable difgraced. As to the Conftable, his Favour with the King did not last long after Poyet's Difgrace, for his Majefty foon forbid *The fame Place where Lewis D. of Orleans, afterwards Levis the XIIth, was confined, upon him his being taken Prifoner at the memorable Battle of St. Albins, See Vol. I. him the Court, and never more recalled him. Upon thefe Alterations he intrufted his Affairs with Cardinal Turnon and Admiral Annebant, Perfons of no extraordinary Genius, but of Affection lefs interested, and wholly devoted to their Master. The Emperor and Francis fall out. Though the Emperor and Francis had been reconciled this Year, yet Charles joined with England against France, and both declared War; fo that each Prince turned his Mind to making the neceffary Prepara tions. In Confequence of this Henry the VIIIth landed at Calais, at the Head of 30,000 Men, and begun his Operations by laying Siege to Bologn, which he took, and then returned to England. 1543. Henry and Francis at 1544. continued. The King of France employed part The War of this Year in endeavouring to recover Bologn by Force of Arms, but he miscar 1545. ried, which put him upon projecting to attack King Henry in his own Kingdom, and for that Purpofe fitted out a Fleet: But this Way of proceeding did not by any means answer what was propofed, (for Free Britons were ever alarmed at a French Government) which caufed Francis feriously to think of fettling the Matters in Difference with the English in an amicable Way. This Year a Peace was made between Henry and Francis, by which the French was to pay 800,000 Crowns to the English, who agreed thereon to logn, &c. Peace reflored. 1546. reftore Bo A Recapitula tion of Francis's Actions. The latter Years of Francis's Life were grievous to him, the Remembrance of the Misfortunes, which the ill Conduct of his Minifters had brought upon him, plunged him into a deep Melancholy, though fome Authors relate, that the Occafion of this moody VOL. IV. Eee Dif Difpofition was a Difeafe he catched from one of his Miftreffes. It seems he fell in Love with the Wife of a noted Counsellor in Paris, a very beautiful and graceful Woman, who could not be prevailed upon to indulge the King's Wishes, but difmiffed him with very harsh Words, which grieved the King exceedingly. But fome of the Pimps Royal hearing of it, they told the King, that he might force her away by his Authority. Upon this one of them informed the Lady, who imparted it to her Hufband. The Counsellor, perceiving that both himself and his Wife would be obliged to leave the Kingdom, and were not sure of efcaping unless they obeyed the Monarch, at laft gave his Wife leave to indulge the King in all his Wishes, and, that he might be no Obftacle, pretended to have Business in the Country for eight or ten Days. In the mean time he kept himself private in Paris, and, by frequenting Bawdy-houses, endeavoured to catch the Venereal Difeafe, in order to give it his Wife, that the might infect the King. He foon found what he fought, effectually infected his Wife, the King catched the Diftemper of her, and he gave it afterwards to several of his Miftreffes, though himself was never throughly cured; for, during the Remainder of his Days, he was unhealthy, peevish, troublesome, and inacceffible. His Children alfo brought great Afflictions upon him; his eldest Son, who was called after his own Name, was poifoned with fomewhat infused into a Cup of Water, and died in the Castle of Turnon, the Lofs of whom gave Francis great Uneafinefs. His fecond fwayed the Sceptre after him by the Name of Henry the IId, who afflicted his Father greatly, not only in holding a Correfpondence with Montmorency, who was in Difgrace, but by making a Cabal against the Dutchefs D'Estampes, Some |