Mons. du Bouchage my friend, if you can gain this point, you will
place me in Paradise. Stay where you are until Monseigneur de
Lescun has arrived, and a good piece afterwards, even if you have
to play the invalid, and before you depart put our affair in
surety if you can, I implore you. And may God, Monseigneur du
Bouchage my friend, to whom I pray, and may Nostre Dame de Behuart
aid your negotiations. The women[10] of Mme. de Burgundy have
all been ill with the _mal chault,_ and it is reported that the
daughter is seriously afflicted and bloated. Some say that she is
already dead. I am not sure of the death but I am quite certain of
the malady.

"Written at Lannoy, Aug. 18th.

"LOYS.

"TILHART."

That the king's professed confidence in his brother did not remove all
suspicions of that young man's steadfastness from his mind is shown
by the following letter, written two days later than the above, to
Lorenzo de' Medici:

"Dear and beloved cousin, we have learned that our brother of
Guienne has sent to Rome to ask a dispensation from the oath he
swore to us, of which we send you a duplicate. Since you are a
great favourite with our Holy Father pray use your influence with
his Holiness so that our brother may not obtain his dispensation,
and that his messenger may not be able to do any negotiating. In
this you will do us a singular and agreeable pleasure which we