termed the
Regent, he assigns the earlier incidents to the year 1524.
But Louise was Regent, for the first time, in 1515, and we
incline to the belief that Queen Margaret alludes to this
earlier period. Note the reference to a Court journey to
Normandy (post, p. 136), which was probably the journey that
Francis I. and his mother are known to have made to Rouen
and Alencon in the autumn of 1517. See vol. i. p. xxviii.--
Ed. 2 119

In the household of the Lady-Regent, mother of King Francis, there was
a very pious lady married to a gentleman of like mind with herself, and,
albeit her husband was old and she was young and pretty, she served and
loved him as though he had been the handsomest and youngest man in the
world. So that she might give him no cause for sorrow, she set herself
to live as though she were of the same age as himself, eschewing all
such company, dress, dances, and amusements as young women are wont to
love, and finding all her pleasure and recreation in the service of God;
on which account her husband so loved and trusted her, that she ruled
him and his household as she would.

One day it happened that the gentleman told his wife that from his youth
up he had desired to make a journey to Jerusalem, and asked her what she
thought of it. She, whose only wish was to please him, replied--

"Since God has withheld children from us, sweetheart, and has granted
us sufficient wealth, I would willingly use some portion of it in making
this sacred journey with you, for indeed, whether you go thither or
elsewhere, I am resolved never to leave you."

At this the good man was so pleased, that it seemed to him as though he
were already on Mount Calvary.

While they were deliberating on this matter, there came to the Court
a gentleman, the Captain of a galley, who had often served in the wars
against the Turks, (2) and was now soliciting the King of France to
undertake an expedition against one of their cities, which might yield
great advantage to Christendom. The old gentleman inquired of him
concerning this expedition, and after hearing what he intended to do,
asked him whether, on the completion of this business, he would make
another journey to Jerusalem, whither he himself and his wife had a
great desire to go. The Captain was well pleased on hearing of this
laudable desire, and he promised to conduct them thither, and to keep
the matter secret.

2 M. Paul L