I remember to have heard say, that those the late
King sent to the King of England were of crimson satin beset all over
with pearls and diamonds, and a robe of white velvet embroidered with
gold; after having stayed some time at Boulogne, they went to Calais.
Anne Boleyn was lodged in Henry the Eighth's Court with the train of a
Queen; and Francis the First made her the same presents, and paid her
the same honours as if she had been really so: in a word, after a
passion of nine year's continuance King Henry married her, without
waiting for the dissolving of his first marriage. The Pope
precipitately thundered out excommunications against him, which so
provoked King Henry, that he declared himself head of the Church, and
drew after him all England into the unhappy change in which you see it.
"Anne Boleyn did not long enjoy her greatness; for when she thought
herself most secure of it by the death of Queen Catherine, one day as
she was seeing a match of running at the ring made by the Viscount
Rochefort her brother, the King was struck with such a jealousy, that
he abruptly left the show, went away to London, and gave orders for
arresting the Queen, the Viscount Rochefort, and several others whom he
believed to be the lovers or confidants of that Princess. Though this
jealousy in appearance had its birth that moment, the King had been
long possessed with it by the Viscountess Rochefort, who not being able
to bear the strict intimacy between her husband and the Queen,
represented it to the King as a criminal commerce; so that that Prince,
who was besides in love with Jane Seymour, thought of nothing but
ridding himself of Anne Boleyn; and in less than three weeks he caused
the Queen and her brother to be tried, had them both beheaded, and,
married Jane Seymour.
He had afterwards several wives, whom he
divorced or put to death; and among others Catherine Howard, whose
confidant the Viscountess Rochefort was, and who was beheaded with her:
thus was she punished for having falsely accused Anne Boleyn. And
Henry the Eighth died, being become excessive fat."
All the ladies, that were present when the Queen-Dauphin made this
relation, thanked her for having given them so good an account of the
Court of England; and among the rest Madam de Cleves, who could not
forbear asking several questions concerning Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen-Dauphin caused pictures in miniature to be drawn of all the
beauties of the Court, in order to send them to the Queen her mother.
One day, when that of Madam de Cleves was finishing, the Queen-Dauphin
came to spend the afternoon with her; the Duke de Nemours did not fail
to be there; he let slip no opportunities of seeing Madam de Cleves,
yet without appearing to contrive them. She looked so pretty that day,
that he would have fell in love with her, though he had not been so
before: however he durst not keep his eyes fixed upon her, while she
was sitting for her picture, for fear of showing too much the pleasure
he took in looking at her.