Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/503

Rh, tried by partial judges, and at length expired on a gibbet. Her affections had long been fixed on the Duke of Bourbon, but finding her love rejected by a prince sincerely attached to his wife, her love was converted into hatred, and she prejudiced the king against him. But the death of the duchess of Bourbon revived her former tenderness, she sacrificed her resentment to love, and offered her hand to the disconsolate duke. This offer being rejected with contempt, the insult was deemed irreparable; the resentment of slighted love and wounded vanity raged with increased violence, and Bourbon was doomed to destruction by this implacable princess. A law suit was commenced against him, to recover some possessions he held in right of his deceased wife, and the criminal judges, over-awed by Louisa's authority, pronounced a sentence, by which his estates were sequestered. Bourbon, inflamed by a repetition of injuries, and driven to desperation, entered into a treaty with Henry VIII. of England, and Charles V. of Germany, against the King of France.

At first, Francis was successful in repelling the confederated Princes, which encouraged him to attempt in person the recovery of the Milanese; in vain did his mother and his wisest ministers dissuade him from it, he was determined, and leaving the Duchess regent of the kingdom departed. After the fatal battle of Pavia, at which, after the most valorous exertions, he lost both his army and liberty, he addressed Louisa in this laconic, but expressive note, "Madame, all is lost, except our honour." The kingdom was now reduced to a situation pregnant with dangers; the captivity of the king, the loss of a flourishing army, added to a discontent prevailing through the kingdom, seemed to threaten a general insurrection. The people murmured, the