Various biographers express the opinion that this retirement took place
in 1529, shortly after the Peace of Cambray, and others give 1530 as the
probable date. Margaret, we find, paid a flying visit to Bearn with her
husband in 1527; on January 7th, 1528, she was confined of her first
child, Jane, at Fontainebleau, and the following year she is found with
her little daughter at Longray, near Alençon. In 1530 she is confined at
Blois of a second child, John, Prince of Viana, who died at Alençon on
Christmas Day in the same year, when but five and a half months old.
Then in 1531 her letters show her with her mother at Fontainebleau; and
Louise of Savoy being stricken with the plague, then raging in
France, Margaret closes her eyes at Gretz, a little village between
Fontainebleau and Nemours, on September 22nd in that year.
It was after this event that the King and Queen of Navarre determined
to proceed to Bearn, but so far as Margaret herself is concerned, it is
certain that retirement was never of long duration whilst her brother
lived. She is constantly to be found at Alençon, Fontainebleau, and
Paris, being frequently with the King, who did not like to remain
separated from her for any length of time. He was wont to initiate her
into his political intrigues in view of availing himself of her keen
and subtle mind. Brantôme, referring to this subject, remarks that her
wisdom was such that the ambassadors who “spoke to her were greatly
charmed by it, and made great report of it to those of their nation on
their return; in this respect she relieved the King her brother, for
they (the ambassadors) always sought her after delivering the chief
business of their embassy, and often when there was important business
the King handed it over to her, relying upon her for its definite
resolution. She understood very well how to entertain and satisfy the
ambassadors with fine speeches, of which she was very lavish, and also
very clever at worming their secrets out of them, for which reason the
King often said that she helped him right well and relieved him of a
great deal.” (1)