[241] L. and P. H. VIII., i. 5126; Vitell. B., xviii. 85.
[242] L. and P. H. VIII., i. 5076; Galba B., iii. 190.
[245] L. and P. H. VIII., i. 4902; Calig. B., ii. 323.
[246] _Ibid._, i. 5282; Rymer's "Fœdera," xiii. 409.
[247] _Ibid._, i. 5292; Galba B., iii. 211.
[248] _Ibid._, i. 5327; Galba B., iii. 199.
[249] L. and P. H. VIII., i. 5341; Galba B., iii. 213.
[250] _Ibid._, i. 5675; Galba B., iii. 168.
[251] _Ibid._, i. 5362; Galba B., iii. 212*.
[253] L. and P. H. VIII., ii. 876; Galba B., vi. 205.
[Illustration: CHARLES, PRINCE OF CASTILE FROM THE PAINTING IN THE LOUVRE (FLEMISH SCHOOL)]
Charles is said to have used strong language on hearing that he had been jilted. "It was said that when the Prince of Castile heard that his promised bride had been given to France, he went immediately into his council chamber and said to his Councillors, "Well, am I to have my wife as you promised me," with other words to that effect; whereupon his Councillors answered him: "You are young, but the King of France is the first King in Christendom, and, having no wife, it rests with him to take for his queen any woman he pleases." Thus did they seek to excuse themselves. During this conversation Duke Charles, looking out of the window, saw a man with a hawk on his fist, and calling one of his Councillors, who was his chief friend, said to him, "I prithee go buy me that hawk." The Councillor replied, "I know that hawk: he is a young bird and does not yet know how to quarry: he is not a bird for your lordship." The Prince again said, "I prithee go and buy it." The Councillor, still seeking to excuse himself, the Duke at length exclaimed, "Come with me." So he bought it himself and put it on his fist. Then, having returned to the council chamber, he seated himself and began plucking the hawk, the Councillor meanwhile inquiring, "Sir! what are you doing?" The Duke still continued plucking the bird, and when he had done so to his heart's content, made answer: "Thou askest me why I plucked this hawk! he is young you see, and has not yet been trained, and because he is young he is held in small account, and because he is young he squeaked not when I plucked him. Thus have you done by me: I am young, you have plucked me at your good pleasure, and because I was young I knew not how to complain, but bear in mind that for the future I shall pluck you."[254] This tale is regarded as apocryphal, or at least impossible, but the date is September 24, about six weeks after the publication in London of the treaty with France, and indifference to suffering in animals is not unheard-of in the sixteenth century. Maximilian sorrowed too at the thought that the original of the picture he had admired at Therouenne, "the fair and virtuous princess, should come to an impotent, indisposed and so malicious a prince as is the French King,"[255] and, like St George, his favourite saint, would have liked to rescue the maiden from the dragon.
