Brantome's Encounters: Courtly Favor, Duels, and Political Intrigue

Brantome's connections and experiences allowed him access to the French Royal Court^[1]. Returning to Paris, he became attached to the Court (1559-60) as an adherent of the Guises, the Duke Francis being related to his unfortunate uncle, La Chastaigneraye, so often mentioned in the Duelling Stories^[1]. In 1567, at the call of Charles IX, he assisted in raising forces against the Huguenots and fought at St. Denis, occupied Chartres with his troops, and subsequently held Peronne, which, it appears, he refused to betray in spite of tempting offers made to him by his friend Theligny, on behalf of the Prince de Conde and Chatillon, a fidelity for which he was rewarded by a post in the Royal Household as Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the Duke of Orleans (afterwards Henry III), with a salary of six hundred livres^[1].

Brantome's acquaintance with duels goes beyond mere observation; he was deeply immersed in understanding their intricacies^[1]. His attention had long since been drawn in numerous discussions among specialists to the question of courtesies as practiced in duels—ought they to be allowed, or ought the rigour of the law to prevail^[1]? Attheclose of1574 Brantome and hisbrother the Vicomte were employed tonegotiate terms with the Huguenot party under La Noue^[1].

Brantome’s work also displays a detachment from moral problems, particularly regarding duels^[1]. His quasi-religious reflections, mainly ornamental, remind us that all this“Sacrement deI’assassinat,” ashisFrench editor calls it, belongs toareally pious and Christian age, orwhat would beso,but forthose Huguenot abominations^[1]. He hasthe orthodox eulogies for heroes oftheold-fashioned School ofBayard, butherecounts with unruffled cheerfulness anecdote afteranecdote ofartful andcold-blooded assassination thinly disguised byafew artificial formalities^[1].

Brantome lived during a time of complex political factions and religious civil wars, acknowledging that France was struggling through dark and stormy phases^[1]. He served (1562-3) at the taking of Blois and the sieges of Bourges, Rouen, and Orleans, where Francis, Duke of Guise (the brother of Brantome’s first patron) was assassinated^[1]. Being attached to the Court of Henry III, Brantome, residing in the Rue de Crenelle, was a witness of the quarrel between his relative Bussy and M. de St Fal^[1]. After this date he does not appear to have been mixed up in any affair of importance, and after the death of themuch-abused Queen Catherine in 1583 he appeared little at Court, having, it would seem, damaged hisposition by aninjudicious advocacy oftheclaims ofhisfriend Marguerite de Valois, which hesupported indefiance oftheSalic law^[1].

Late in life, as we learn from the opening pages of the Rodomontades Espagnolles, he was for a long period disabled by a fall from a white horse, of “ill-omened colour,” which rolled upon him, causing aserious injury, at last relieved by afamous physician, M. Christophle^[1]. His curious anecdotes of Spanish bravado and artificial witticism were put together during his convalescence^[1]. He died ataripeoldagein1614^[1].