The great constable of France, Anne de Montmorency, a man whose valour
and military skill was only exceeded by his pride, his cruelty, and his
bigotry, was ordered by Francis I. to carry on his shoulders, or any way
that he could contrive it, his niece, the princess of Navarre, to the
altar, where she was, against her will, to be married to the duc de
Cleves. Brantome observes, that this was a hard task, as the little lady
was so loaded with jewels, and rich brocade of gold and silver, that she
could scarcely walk. The whole court were amazed at the king’s command;
the queen of Navarre was pleased, as she wished her daughter to be
humbled, on account of her having imbibed Lutheran principles; but the
constable was much hurt, at being exposed to the ridicule of the whole
world, and said, “It is henceforward over with me; my favour at court is
passed away:” accordingly, he was dismissed as soon as the wedding was
over.
[Illustration: ~The Quintain.~]
Running at the “Quintain,” an old sport formerly common in England,
unexpectedly occurs, and is sufficiently described, in the following
report of a recent fashionable entertainment:--