served to reconcile the parties, but the Constable having rejected the proposed alliance—­with disdain, so it is said—­the suit was brought before the Parliament and decided in favour of Louise.  Such satisfaction as she may have felt was not, however, of long duration, for Charles de Bourbon left France, entered the service of Charles V., and in the following year (1524) helped to drive the French under Bonnivet out of Italy.

II.

The Regency of Louise of Savoy—­Margaret and the royal children—­The defeat of Pavia and the death of the Duke of Alencon—­The Royal Trinity—­“All is lost save honour”—­ Margaret’s journey to Spain and her negotiations with Charles V.—­Her departure from Madrid—­The scheme to arrest her, and her flight on horseback—­Liberation of Francis I.—­ Clever escape of Henry of Navarre from prison—­Margaret’s secret fancy for him—­Her personal appearance at this period—­Marriage of Henry and Margaret at St. Germain.

The most memorable events of Margaret’s public life date from this period.  Francis, who was determined to reconquer the Milanese, at once made preparations for a new campaign.  Louise of Savoy was again appointed Regent of the kingdom, and as Francis’s wife, Claude, was dying of consumption, the royal children were confided to the care of Margaret, whose husband accompanied the army.  Louise of Savoy at first repaired to Lyons with her children, in order to be nearer to Italy, but she and Margaret soon returned to Blois, where the Queen was dying.  Before the royal army had reached Milan Claude expired, and soon afterwards Louise was incapacitated by a violent attack of gout, while the children of Francis also fell ill.  The little ones, of whom Margaret had charge, consisted of three boys and three girls, the former being Francis, the Dauphin, who died in 1536, Charles, Duke of Orleans, who died in 1545, and Henry, Count of Angouleme, who succeeded his father on the throne.  The girls comprised Madeleine, afterwards the wife of James V. of Scotland, Margaret, subsequently Duchess of Savoy, and the Princess Charlotte.  The latter was particularly beloved by her aunt Margaret, who subsequently dedicated to her memory her poem Le Miroir de l’Ame Pecheresse.  While the other children recovered from their illness, little Charlotte, as Margaret records in her letters to Bishop Briconnet, was seized “with so grievous a malady of fever and flux,” that after a month’s suffering she expired, to the deep grief of her aunt, who throughout her illness had scarcely left her side.