pon him the Order of St. Michael. It was during this
Italian expedition that his mother negotiated his marriage with Margaret
of Angouleme. The alliance was openly countenanced by Louis XII.,
and the young Duke of Valois--as Francis of Angouleme was now
called--readily acceded to it. Margaret brought with her a dowry of
sixty thousand livres, payable in four instalments, and Charles, who was
on the point of attaining his twenty-first year, was declared a major
and placed in possession of his estates. (1) The marriage was solemnised
at Blois in October 1509.

1 Odolant Desnos's _Memoires historiques sur Alencon_,
vol. ii. p. 231

Margaret did not find in her husband a mind comparable to her own.
Differences of taste and temper brought about a certain amount of
coolness, which did not, however, hinder the Duchess from fulfilling
the duties of a faithful, submissive wife. In fact, although but little
sympathy would appear to have existed between the Duke and Duchess
of Alencon, their domestic differences have at least been singularly
exaggerated.

During the first five years of her married life Margaret lived in
somewhat retired style in her duchy of Alencon, while her husband took
part in various expeditions, and was invested with important functions.
In 1513 he fought in Picardy against the English and Imperialists,
commanded by Henry VIII., being present at the famous "Battle of Spurs;"
and early in 1514 he was appointed Lieutenant-General and Governor of
Brittany. Margaret at this period was not only often separated from her
husband, but she also saw little of her mother, who had retired to her
duchy of Angouleme. Louise of Savoy, as mother of the heir-presumptive,
was the object of the homage of all adroit and politic courtiers, but
she had to behave with circumspection on account of the jealousy of
the Queen, Anne of Brittany, whose daughters, Claude and Renee, were
debarred by the Salic Law from inheriting the crown. Louis XII. wished
to marry Claude to Francis of Angouleme, but Anne refusing her consent,
it was only after her death, in 1514, that the marriage was solemnised.

It now seemed certain that Francis would in due course ascend the
throne; but Louis XII. abruptly contracted a third alliance, marrying
Mary of England, the sister of Henry VIII. Louise of Savoy soon deemed
it prudent to keep a watch on the conduct of this gay young Queen, and
took up her residence at the Court in November 15