is allegiance to France,
and on lending the aid of his sword and military skill to her hereditary
foes.

For a month Bourbon and his followers wandered around the provinces of
southern France. Incessantly he changed his road, his costume, his
companions, his resting-place, occasionally falling in with soldiers of
the king who were on their way to take part in the wars in Italy,
seeking in vain for adherents to his cause, and feeling his way by
correspondence to an understanding with the enemies of France. In early
October he entered the domains of the emperor, Charles V., and
definitely cut loose from his allegiance to the king.

The news of this defection filled Francis with alarm. He had, by his
injustice, driven his greatest soldier from the realm, and now sought to
undo the perilous work he had done. He put off his journey to join the
army marching to Italy, and sent a messenger to the redoubtable
fugitive, offering restitution of his property, satisfaction in full of
his claims, and security for good treatment and punctual payment.
Bourbon curtly refused.

"It is too late," he said.

"Then," said the envoy, "I am bidden by the king to ask you to deliver
up the sword of constable and the collar of the order of St. Michael."

"You may tell the king," answered Bourbon, shortly, "that he took from
me the sword of constable on the day that he took from me the command
of the advanced guard to give it to M. d'Alencon. As for the collar of
his order, you will find it at Chantelle under the pillow of my bed."

Francis made further efforts to win back the powerful noble whom he had
so deeply offended, but equally in vain. Bourbon had definitely cut
loose from his native land and was bent on joining hands with its mortal
foes. Francis had offended him too deeply to be so readily forgiven as
he hoped.

It is not the story of the life of this notable traitor that we propose
to tell, but simply to depict some picturesque scenes in his career.
Charles V. gladly welcomed him, and made him his lieutenant-general in
Italy, so that he became leader against the French in their invasion of
that land. We next find him during the siege of Milan by the army of
Francis I., one of whose leaders was Chevalier Bayard, "the good
knight," who was the subject of our last story. The siege was destined
to prove a fatal affair for this noble warrior. The French found
themselves so hard pressed by the imperial army under the Constable de
Bo