of the dead, with the presumptuous boast "that
never had a son of France been known to die of the plague."]

[Footnote 518: See Brantome, Hommes illustres (Oeuvres, vii. 369,
370).]

[Footnote 519: This was as early as 1538. Memoires de Vieilleville (Ed.
Petitot), liv. v. c. 24, 25.]

[Footnote 520: "The king is a _goodly tall gentleman_, well made in all
the parts of his body, _a very grim countenance_, yet very gentle, meek,
and well beloved of all his people." The Journey of the queen's
ambassadors to Rome, anno 1555 (the last to pay reverence to the Pope,
under Mary), printed in Hardwick, State Papers, I. 68.]

[Footnote 521: "Non senza pericolo," says Matteo Dandolo, "perche
corrono molte volte alle sbarre con poco vedere, si che si abbatterono
un giorno a correre all' improvviso il padre (Francis) contra il figlio,
e diede lui alla buona memoria di quello un tal colpo nella fronte, che
gli levo la carne piu che se gli avesse dato una gran frignoccola."
Relazioni Venete, ii. 171.]

[Footnote 522: Relations Ven. (Ed. Tommaseo), i. 286.]

[Footnote 523: Histoire ecclesiastique, i., 43. The most striking
features of the character of Henry are well delineated by the Venetian
ambassadors who visited the court of France during the preceding and the
present reigns. Even the Protestants who had experienced his severity
speak well of his natural gentleness, and deplore the evils into which
he fell through want of self-reliance. The discriminating Regnier de la
Planche styles him "prince de doux esprit, mais de fort petit sens, et
du tout propre a se laisser mener en lesse" (Histoire de l'estat de
France, ed. Pantheon litt., 202). Claude de l'Aubespine draws a more
flattering portrait, as might be expected from one who served as
minister of state in the councils of Francis I. and the three succeeding
monarchs: "Ce prince estoit, a la verite, tres-bien nay, tant de corps
_que de l'esprit_.... Il avoit un air si affable et humain que, des le
premier aspect, il emportoit le coeur et la devotion d'un chacun.
Aussi a il este constamment chery et aime de tous ses subjets durant sa
vie, desire et regrette apres sa mort" (Histoire particuliere de la cour
du Roy Henry II., Cimber et Danjou, Archives curieuses, iii. 277).
Tavannes is less complimentary: "Le roy Henry eut les mesmes defauts de
son predecesseur, l'esprit plus foible, et se peut dire le regne du
connestable, de Mme. de Valentinois et de M. de Guise, non le sien."