2 Henri Martin’s _Histoire de France_. The marriage,
however, was not really consummated (_Nouvelles Lettres,
&c._, pp. 236, 237), and it was eventually annulled by Pope
Paul III., to whom Francis applied for a divorce when the
Duke of Cleves deserted his cause for that of Charles V.
It was at Châtelherault 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.
Brantôme 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 Brantôme_, 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
Brantôme, “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 Brantôme, “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 Brantôme_, 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.