Page:Margaret of Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (Robinson 1886).djvu/22

Rh her name. Lastly, the unfortunate Charles de Montpensier, the Bourbon cadet, whose passionate vindictive character and tragic Italian face betrayed the Gonzaga adventurer that doubled this French noble.

These boys were taught all things that befit young princes. Latin, courtly languages, hunting, the dance (music was as yet in embryo, a mere thrum of the lute or burr of the organ), jousting, tennis, tilting at the ring, fencing, and wrestling. At all their games there was one deeply interested looker on, one whom all strove to please, the Queen of the little court; this was Mademoiselle d’Angoulême.

At this time there was some talk of affiancing the little girl to the young Prince of Wales, afterwards Henry of England, eighth of the name. King Louis sent an embassy to the English court; Henry VII. despatched a special envoy to Paris; but though the English ambassador reported the little Princess "très belle et fort saige de son aage," nothing came of these negotiations. For Henry declared that though a daughter of Louis would be the alliance nearest to his heart, yet, while the King and Queen were still so young and vigorous, he could not consider Mademoiselle d'Angoulême as sister to the heir of France.

Nevertheless, with every day Francis became more evidently the heir, and at Plessis, on May 22nd, 1507, he married the little girl born at his mother's castle, in order to unite her inheritance of Brittany and Orleans with the crown. This was ample recognition, and yet the triumph of Louisa was not all sweetness, for we find her writing in her journal: "The 3rd August 1508, my son went from Amboise to live at court, and left me all alone."

Within the year the little Charles of Spain sent an