seriousness
were to match, so that there was none but feared to accost her excepting
the King, who loved her exceedingly. That he might have still more
intimate converse with her, he gave some mission to the Count, her
husband, which kept him away for a long time, and meanwhile the King
made right good cheer with his wife.

1 The incidents here related must have occurred during the
reign of Charles VIII., probably in or about 1490.--L.

2 This Countess cannot be identified. She was probably the
wife of one of the many Italian noblemen, like the
Caraccioli and San Severini, who entered the French service
about the time of the conquest of Naples. Brantome alludes
to the story in his _Dames Galantes_ (Fourth Discourse) but
gives no names.--Ed.

Several of the King's gentlemen, knowing that their master was well
treated by her, took courage to speak to her, and among the rest was one
called Astillon, (3) a bold man and graceful of bearing.

3 This is James de Chastillon, not, however, J. Gaucher de
Chastillon, "King of Yvetot," as M. de Lincy supposes, but
J. de Coligny-Chastillon, as has been pointed out by M.
Frank. Brantome devotes the Nineteenth Discourse of his
_Capitaines francois_ to this personage, and says: "He had
been one of the great favourites and _mignons_ of King
Charles VIII., even at the time of the journey to the
kingdom of Naples; and 'twas then said, 'Chastillon,
Bourdillon and Bonneval [see post, note 5] govern the royal
blood.'" Wounded in April 1512 at the battle of Ravenna,
"the most bloody battle of the century," he was removed to
Ferrara, where he died (May 25). He was the second husband
of Blanche de Tournon, Lady of Honour to Queen Margaret,
respecting whom see _ante_, vol. i. pp. 84-5, 122-4, and
vol. iv. p. 144, note 2.--L., F. and Ed.

At first she treated him so seriously, threatening to tell of him to the
King his master, that he well-nigh became afraid of her. However, as
he had not been wont to fear the threats even of the most redoubtable
captains, he would not suffer himself to be moved by hers, but pressed
her so closely that she at last consented to speak with him in private,
and taught him the manner in which he should come to her apartment.
This he failed not to do, and, in order that the King might be without
suspicion of the truth, he craved permission to go