The Holinshed Texts (1587, Volume 6, p. 887)

And to the end there might be interposed in the negociation a personage honorable, & almost equall with the king, Montmerancie was sent in great di|ligence into France, to bring the duchesse of Alan|son the kings sister and a widow, with fulnesse of au|thoritie to debate and contract. And to the end this negociation of accord were not hindered by new dif|ficulties,A truce for a time betwéene the emperour and the gouer|nors of Frãce. there was made a little afterwards a truce vntil the end of December, betweene the emperour and such as administred the gouernment of France. Moreouer the emperour gaue order that one part of those gallies which were come with the viceroy, should returne into Italie to bring the duke of Bur|bon into Spaine, without whose presence and priui|tie he gaue out that he would make no conuention: and yet the gallies what for want of monie, and o|ther impediments, were prepared but with slow di|ligence.

Whiles the case of the French king was in de|mand, but not yet determined,

The French king extreme|lie sicke in the castell of Ma|drill.

Guic. pag. 937.

by means of sundrie ouerthwarts that ouerthrew the foundation of eue|rie purpose tending to his deliuerance; it fortuned that the French king falling sicke in the castell of Madrill, and hauing in vaine desired the presence of EEBO page image 888 the emperour, was caried by his discontentment and melancholie into such extremitie and danger of his life, that the physicians appointed for his cure, told the emperour that they stood desperate of his recoue|rie, if himselfe in person came not to comfort him with some hope of his deliuerie. The emperour obei|eng more compassion than the reason of things, was not curious to condescend to performe so good an of|fice, and as he prepared to visit him accordinglie, his high chancellor séeking to turne him from the ior|neie, told him with manie strong reasons, that he could not go to him in honour, but with intention to deliuer him presentlie and without anie couenant: otherwise as it would be a humanitie not roiall but mercenarie, so it would disclose a desire to recouer him, not mooued of charitie, but pushed on by his pro|per interest, as not to loose by his death the occasion of the profit hoped for by the victorie.

This counsell assuredlie was graue and honoura|ble touching the man that gaue it, and no lesse wor|thie to be followed by so great a prince as the empe|rour: and yet being more caried by the reasons of o|thers,The emperor visiteth the French king in durance. he tooke post to go to him. But for the danger of the king being almost at the extremitie, the visita|tion was short, and yet for the time accompanied with gratious words ful of hope that he would deli|uer him immediatlie vpon his returning to health: in so much that whether it was by the comfort that he breathed into him (in the sicknesse of captiuitie) the promise of libertie excéedeth all medicines) or by the benefit of his youth, which with the fauour of na|ture was stronger than the maladie, he began after this visitation to resume so good disposition, that with|in few daies he was out of danger, notwithstanding he could not recouer his former health but with verie slowe time.