CHAPTER IV
1501–1506
Ludovico Sforza—Shipbuilding—Queen’s gardens—Library—Treasures—Dress—Betrothal of Claude de France—Archduke and Archduchess—Illness of King—Maréchal de Gié—Second illness of King—Queen in Bretagne—Second betrothal of Princess Claude.
Ludovico Sforza was imprisoned at Loches, at first rigorously, but afterwards with indulgence, being allowed books, paper, ink, cards, paume, &c. He died in captivity.
Louis had a project for the conquest of Naples, which displeased the Queen, by whom he was in most matters greatly influenced, and whom he called “Ma Bretonne.” She saw that these expeditions always caused disasters to France, and had much more sympathy with his desire for a crusade against the Turks, who had invaded Greece. Out of her own revenues she raised soldiers and sailors and had twelve large ships built in the seaports of Bretagne. The largest, Marie la Cordelière, of 2,000 tons, carried 100 guns.[317] Anne took the deepest interest in the navy, upon which she spent large sums, but managed her affairs so well that in spite of her princely generosity she had no debts but always plenty of money.
{1501}
This crusade was unsuccessful, the ships being damaged by a tempest.
BLOIS.
Anne filled her household with her faithful Bretons. Her guard of gentlemen assembled always on the terrace at Blois, called “la Perche aux Bretons.” She never kept them waiting, but would rise and hasten towards them saying, “There are my Bretons on their perch expecting me.”[318] To her the French queens owed the right to have their especial guard, also the right to receive separately all foreign ambassadors.