1 The incidents of this story are historical.  Francis I. is
     known to have sojourned at Dijon in June and July 1521.—­L.

2 This is William, eldest son of Wolfgang von Furstemberg, chamberlain to Maximilian I., and privy counsellor to Philip of Austria.—­B.  J. Various particulars concerning him are given in the Appendix to this volume, E.

Now the Lord de la Tremoille, (3) Governor of Burgundy, an old knight and a loyal servant to the King, was ever jealous and anxious for his master’s safety, and was wont to have spies at all points to learn what the King’s enemies were doing; and so prudently did he contrive matters, that but few things were hidden from him.  Among his informations there came to him one day a letter from a friend telling him that Count William had received a sum of money, with promise of more, for putting the King to death in any such manner as he might find possible. (4)

3 This is Louis II., Sire de la Tremoille, Viscount of Thouars and Prince of Talmont, born in 1460.  The son of Louis I. de la Tremoille and of Margaret d’Amboise, he became one of the most remarkable men of his time.  Favoured by Anne de Beaujeu, who arranged his marriage with Gabrielle de Bourbon, he commanded the royal troops at the battle of St. Aubin du Cormier, in Brittany (1488), at which the rebellious Duke of Orleans (afterwards Louis XII.) and the Prince of Orange, with a large number of the nobles, their partisans, were made prisoners.  They were all invited to La Tremoille’s table after the engagement, and, according to Godefroi’s Latin history of Louis XII., at the close of the repast two Franciscan monks entered the hall, whereupon La Tremoille rose and said:  “Princes, I refer your judgments to the King, but as for you, Knights, who have broken your faith and falsified your knightly oath, you shall pay for your crime with your heads.  If you have any remorse on your consciences, here are monks who will shrive you.”  The hall resounded with lamentations, but the unhappy nobles were promptly dragged into the courtyard, and there put to death; both Orleans and Orange being too terror-stricken to intercede for them.  When the former came to the throne, he forgave La Tremoille for his conduct in this affair, and showed him great favour, appointing him Governor of Burgundy in 1501.  La Tremoille also became Admiral of Guienne and Brittany, and figured conspicuously in the various Italian campaigns of the period.  He was killed at Pavia in 1525.  Jean Bouchet, a contemporary, wrote a curious life of this remarkable man, entitled Panegyric du Chevalier sans reproche.  It will be found in Michaud and Poujoulat’s Collection de Mitnoires,—­L. and Ed.

     4 It has been suggested that the instigator of this plot
     was Charles V.’s famous minister, Cardinal Granvelle.—­Ed.

The Lord de la Tremoille failed not to give speedy notice of the affair to the King, and further made it known to the King’s mother, Louise of Savoy, who, forgetting that she and this German were akin, begged the King to banish him forthwith.  But the King bade her speak no more of it, saying that it was impossible so upright and honourable a gentleman would undertake so vile a deed.