It was at Chatelherault on this occasion that Margaret triumphed over the Constable de Montmorency, who in earlier years had been her close friend, and with whom she had carried on such a voluminous correspondence.  Montmorency had requited her good services with ingratitude, repeatedly endeavouring to estrange Francis from her.  Brantome gives an instance of this in the following passage:—­“I have heard related,” he says, “by a person of good faith that the Constable de Montmorency, then in the highest favour, speaking of this matter of religion one day with the King, made no difficulty or scruple about telling him, that ’if he really wished to exterminate the heretics of his kingdom, he ought to begin at his Court and with his nearest relatives, mentioning the Queen his sister,’ to which the King replied, ’Do not speak of her; she loves me too much.  She will never believe anything save what I believe, and will never take up a religion prejudicial to the State.’” (1)

     1 OEuvres de Brantome, 8vo, vol. v. (Dames illustres),
     p. 219.

As soon as Margaret became aware of Montmorency’s conduct she ceased all correspondence with him and steadily endeavoured to effect his overthrow, which was brought about on the occasion of Jane’s marriage.  “It was necessary to carry the little bride to the church,” says Brantome, “as she was laden with jewels and a dress of gold and silver, and owing to this and the weakness of her body, was not able to walk.  So the King ordered the Constable to take his little niece and carry her to the church, at which all the Court were greatly astonished, for at such a ceremony this was a duty little suited and honourable for a Constable, and might very well have been given to another.  However, the Queen of Navarre was in no way displeased, but said, ’Behold! he who wished to ruin me with the King my brother now serves to carry my daughter to church.’  The Constable,” adds Brantome, “was greatly displeased at the task, and sorely vexed to serve as such a spectacle to every one; and he began to say, ‘It is now all over with my favour.  Farewell to it.’  Thus it happened, for after the wedding festival and dinner he had his dismissal and left at once.” (1)

After the marriage of her daughter Margaret returned to Paris, and thence repaired to Mont-de-Marsan to spend the winter of 1540-41.  Late in the following spring she went to Cauterets in the Pyrenees to take the baths.  Writing during Lent to her brother she states that her husband having had a fall will repair to Cauterets by the advice of his doctors,(2) and that she intends to accompany him to prevent him from worrying and to transact his business for him, “for when one is at the baths one must live like a child without any care.” (3)

     1 OEuvres de Brantome, 8vo, vol. v. (Dames illustres),
     p. 220.

     2 Henry d’Albret had already undergone treatment at the
     Pyrenean baths after his escape from Pavia, when, however,
     he stayed at Eaux-Bonnes.