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

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.

And now neither the difficulties that were shew|ed on the emperours side, nor the hopes which were giuen by the Italians, nor anie other nature of im|pediments whatsoeuer, could staie the voiage of the ladie Alanson into Spaine. For that as nothing was more hard or heauie to the Frenchmen than to leaue off the practises and negociations of accord be|gun with those that had power to restore their king: so nothing was more easie to the emperour, than fée|ding the French with hopes, to draw their minds from taking armes; and by that meane so to kéepe the Italians in suspense, as not to dare to enter in|to new deliberations. And in that cunning maner, sometimes vsing delaies, and sometimes pressing for|ward the affaires, he thought to keepe the minds of all men confused and intangled.The ladie A|lanson trea|teth with the emperour for the kings de|liuerie. The ladie Alanson was receiued by the emperour with verie gratious demonstrations and hopes: but the effects fell out both hard and heauie. For when the ministred speech to him for the mariage of his sister the widowe with the king: he made answer; that it was a matter which could not be doone without the consent of the duke of Burbon.