XXI
As Francis the first of France was one winterly night warming himself over the embers of a wood fire, and talking with his first minister of sundry things for the good of the stateвБ†вАФIt would not be amiss, said the king, stirring up the embers with his cane, if this good understanding betwixt ourselves and Switzerland was a little strengthened.вБ†вАФThere is no end, Sire, replied the minister, in giving money to these peopleвБ†вАФthey would swallow up the treasury of France.вБ†вАФPoo! poo! answered the kingвБ†вАФthere are more ways, Mons. le Premier, of bribing states, besides that of giving moneyвБ†вАФIвАЩll pay Switzerland the honour of standing godfather for my next child.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Your majesty, said the minister, in so doing, would have all the grammarians in Europe upon your back;вБ†вЄЇвБ†Switzerland, as a republick, being a female, can in no construction be godfather.вБ†вАФShe may be godmother, replied Francis hastilyвБ†вАФso announce my intentions by a courier tomorrow morning.
I am astonished, said Francis the First, (that day fortnight) speaking to his minister as he entered the closet, that we have had no answer from Switzerland.вБ†вЄЇвБ†Sire, I wait upon you this moment, said Mons. le Premier, to lay before you my dispatches upon that business.вБ†вАФThey take it kindly, said the king.вБ†вАФThey do, Sire, replied the minister, and have the highest sense of the honour your majesty has done themвБ†вЄЇвБ†but the republick, as godmother, claims her right, in this case, of naming the child.
In all reason, quoth the kingвБ†вЄЇвБ†she will christen him Francis, or Henry, or Lewis, or some name that she knows will be agreeable to us. Your majesty is deceived, replied the ministerвБ†вЄЇвБ†I have this hour received a dispatch from our resident, with the determination of the republick on that point also.вБ†вЄЇвБ†And what name has the republick fixed upon for the Dauphin?вБ†вЄЇвБ†Shadrach, Meshech, Abed-nego, replied the minister.вБ†вАФBy Saint PeterвАЩs girdle, I will have nothing to do with the Swiss, cried Francis the First, pulling up his breeches and walking hastily across the floor.
Your majesty, replied the minister calmly, cannot bring yourself off.
WeвАЩll pay them in moneyвБ†вЄїsaid the king.
Sire, there are not sixty thousand crowns in the treasury, answered the minister.вБ†вЄЇвБ†IвАЩll pawn the best jewel in my crown, quoth Francis the First.
Your honour stands pawnвАЩd already in this matter, answered Monsieur le Premier.
Then, Mons. le Premier, said the king, byвБ†вЄїweвАЩll go to war with вАЩem.