When Jane was barely twelve years old Charles V. asked her in marriage
for his son Philip, but Francis, who was by no means anxious to see the
Spaniards established on the northern side of the Pyrenees, preferred
that the girl should marry William III., Duke of Cleves. It has
frequently been asserted that Francis on this occasion exercised
compulsion not only upon his niece, but also upon the King and Queen of
Navarre, who vainly protested against this abuse of power. The truth
is, that Margaret not only favoured the marriage, but threatened to have
Jane whipped if she persisted in her refusal. Moreover, the little bride
having declared to Francis I. that she protested against the alliance,
Margaret wrote to her brother as follows:--
“My Lord, in my extreme desolation, I have only one single comfort, it
is that of knowing with certainty that neither the King of Navarre nor
myself have ever had any other wish or intention than that of obeying
you, not only as regards a marriage, but in whatever you might order.
But now, my lord, having heard that my daughter, neither recognising the
great honour you do her in deigning to visit her, nor the obedience that
she owes you, nor that a girl should have no will of her own, has spoken
to you so madly as to say to you that she begged of you she might not be
married to M. de Cleves, I do not know, my lord, either what I ought to
think of it, or what I ought to say to you about it, for I am grieved to
the heart, and have neither relative nor friend in the world from whom
I can seek advice or consolation. And the King of Navarre is on his
part so amazed and grieved at it that I have never seen him before so
provoked. I cannot imagine whence comes this great boldness, of which
she had never spoken to us. She excuses herself towards us in that she
is more intimate with you than with ourselves, but this intimacy should
not give rise to such boldness, without ever as I know seeking advice
from any one, for if I knew any creature who had put such an idea into
her head, I would make such a demonstration that you, my lord, would
know that this madness is contrary to the will of the father and mother,
who have never had, and never will have, any other than your own.” (1)
The rebellion of Jane did not prevent the marriage, which was solemnised
at Châtelherault on July 15th, 1540. According to some authorities,
Francis was so determined upon the alliance that he required the Duke
of Cleves to enter his bride’s bed in the presence of witnesses, so that
the marriage should be deemed beyond annulment.(2)