In a poetic epistle sent by Margaret to Francis I. in January 1543, to
celebrate the New Year, there is an allusion to a “Conte Guillaume,”
whom Messrs. de Lincy and Montaiglon conjecture to be Furstemberg,
though other commentators think that the Queen refers to William Poyet,
the dishonest chancellor, who was sent to the Bastille in 1542 for
peculation. We share, however, the opinion of Messrs. de Lincy and
Montaiglon, as in various contemporary MSS. which we have referred to,
we have frequently found Furstemberg alluded to as “Conte” and
“Comte Guillaume,” without any mention of his surname. The passage in
Margaret’s epistle alluded to above may be thus rendered in prose:--
“God, fighting for the King in every spot, curses his enemies and brings
them to shame and ruin, so that none hold them of account; as witness
‘Compte [“Conte” in the MS.] Guillaume,’ who, in serving the King and
the kingdom, became rich, feared and highly esteemed. Now, however, a
fugitive, poor and contemned, he may well meditate as to whence came his
honours, who it was that maintained him wealthy, happy and feared;
and thus it is that all the King’s enemies are cursed by God in
Paradise.”--_Les Marguerites de la Marguerite_, 1873, vol. ii. p. 203.
Apropos of Furstemberg the following entry occurs in M. de Laborde’s
_Comptes des Bâtiments du Roi_ (vol. ii. p. 229):--
“Paid to Francis de Cadenet, doctor to Count William of Furstemberg,
as a gift and favour for his services, 30 crowns, value 67 livres 10
sols.”--L., M. and Ed.