The girls comprised Madeleine, afterwards the wife of
James V. of Scotland, Margaret, subsequently Duchess of Savoy, and the
Princess Charlotte. The latter was particularly beloved by her aunt
Margaret, who subsequently dedicated to her memory her poem _Le Miroir
de l'Ame Pecheresse_. While the other children recovered from their
illness, little Charlotte, as Margaret records in her letters to Bishop
Briconnet, was seized "with so grievous a malady of fever and flux,"
that after a month's suffering she expired, to the deep grief of her
aunt, who throughout her illness had scarcely left her side.
This affliction was but the beginning of Margaret's troubles. Soon
afterwards the Constable de Bourbon, in conjunction with Pescara
and Lannoy, avenged his grievances under the walls of Pavia. On this
occasion, as at Marignano, the Duke of Alencon commanded the French
reserves, and had charge of the fortified camp from which Francis,
listening to Bonnivet, sallied forth, despite the advice of his best
officers. The King bore himself bravely, but he was badly wounded and
forced to surrender, after La Palisse, Lescun, Bonnivet, La Tremoille,
and Bussy d'Amboise had been slain before his eyes.
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