and repeating to
him the fair words that had been used as to Milaness. Francis announced
to his council his intention of granting the emperor's request. Some of
his councillors pressed him to annex some conditions, such, at the least,
as a formal and written engagement instead of the vague and verbal
promises at Aigues-Mortes. "No," said the king, with the impulsiveness
of his nature, "when you do a generous thing, you must do it completely
and boldly." On leaving the council he met his court-fool Triboulet,
whom he found writing in his tablets, called Fools' Diary, the name of
Charles V., "A bigger fool than I," said he, "if he comes passing
through France." "What wilt thou say, if I let him pass?" said the king.
"I will rub out his name and put yours in its place." Francis I. was not
content with letting Charles V. pass; he sent his two sons, the dauphin
and the Duke of Orleans, as far as Bayonne to meet him, went in person to
receive him at Chatellerault, and gave him entertainments at Amboise, at
Blois, at Chambord, at Orleans, and Fontainebleau, and lastly at Paris,
which they entered together on the 1st of January, 1540. Orders had been
sent everywhere to receive him "as kings of France are received on their
joyous accession." "The king gave his guest," says Du Bellay, "all the
pleasures that can be invented, as royal hunts, tourneys, skirmishes,
fights a-foot and a-horseback, and in all other sorts of pastimes." Some
petty incidents, of a less reassuring kind, were intermingled with these
entertainments. One day the Duke of Orleans, a young prince full of
reckless gayety, jumped suddenly on to the crupper of the emperor's
horse, and threw his arms round Charles, shouting, "Your Imperial Majesty
is my prisoner." Charles set off at a gallop, without turning his head.

[Illustration: The Duke of Orleans and Charles V.----128]

Another day the king's favorite, the Duchess of Etampes, was present with
the two monarchs. "Brother," said Francis, "you see yonder a fair dame
who is of opinion that I should not let you out of Paris without your
having revoked the treaty of Madrid." "Ah! well," said Charles, "if the
opinion is a good one, it must be followed." Such freedom of thought and
speech is honorable to both sovereigns. Charles V., impressed with the
wealth and cheerful industry that met his eye, said, according to
Brantome, "There is not in the world any greatness such as that of a King
of France."