The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-19
the Csns,ab.e de- bourbon.

10 the historian there are lew more
tragic figures than that of Charles de
Bourbon. nearly the equal OF three abso-
lutte monarchr, Francis |. Henry VIII
and Charles V who died a. IN. homeless
leader Of rierCenary band Will. stormiug
the walls Of Rome In ability he sur
I'assed the three: he made NO mistakes
and hls misforrunes were forced upon
him by tho changes IN the times SO
near was h. 10 escaping from them that
II Francis had died without a family.
he would have been Ming Of France
He came upon the stage after Louis Xl
had destroyed f.udai power IN France.
when the idea Of nationality and OF the
Kings prominence had been fixed firmly
in France and England II. possessed by
inheritance and through marriage
compact body 81 provinces in which
feudal traditions survived situated clos.
to IN. eastern frontier He was the nearest
blood relation 10 King who had seemed
no further removed from the throne than
he century earlier he could have
played the part of an independent ruler
lik. tho Dukes Of Burgundy or Of Orleans.
On the accession of Francis | Charles
Of Bourbon accepted the existing condi-
tons and tried TO he his loyal friend: he
accompanied the King 10 Italv. helped
him win the battle Of Marignano and
showed remarkable gifts as IA commander
and a. an administrator He hoped to be
allowed 10 rule his domains in peace
But he was too rich, too powerful and TOO
near the throne for subject and Francis
undertook 10 deprive him Of his posses
SONS bv legal chicanery Rourbon Was
to turn again@, Francis. but refused until
he found that the courts wer" TO be- forced
TO decide against him He might have
held true and have been imprisoned or
executed: he chose TO escape and entered
the service Of Charles abandoning all
his posses@ions II was self preservation
a. well a. greed that inspired Francis.
bur Bourbon had his revenge by helping
10 defeat him at Pavia. After that Bour-
bon was unable TO obtain from Charles
money 10 pay his mercenarie- with: they
forced him TO lead them to sack some
great city. luck turned them aside from
Florence. 40 they attacked Rome Bour-
bon. the only man who could have con-
troll.d them. was killed a. they entered
the city and the sack of Rom. became
memorable for ages.
In trying 10 tell this romantic true
story in Charles de Bourbon. Constable
Of France John Lane Company. Mr.
Christopher Hare has undertaken n task
entirely beyond hls powers. His general
knowledge Of history seems scan'y.
he has no idea 81 perspective and IL even
unable to max. the commonplaccs Of
French genealogy and history clear.
H.. il unaware Of the strength Of Bour-
hons cas-. and IL apoloRetic where he
should be aggressive. His attitude Is jus
tilted, IL IL true. by the verdict 81 history
for the sense 81 French nationality was
strong enough to sanction the attitude
Of Francis and To brand Bourbon as a
traitor for all time in spite al his wrongs
But the broad currents Of history are
hidden from Mr.. Hare. ne can only follow
the chronicl.rs blindly. saying whatever
he can in favor 81 his hero. The story
ia too exciting 10 he spoiled wholly even
hy in.xpert handling and tho book will
he. read with interest for Mr.. Hare doe
follow his authorities What "a story
h,. might have. made - il n he had had
.orn. real knowledge ~ the period and
the men. II hs. had made the remarkable.
and important genealogical compiled
,ions clear and II he had not looked on
bourbon and his career AZ "a mere Incl
lent in the life and art 81 the Renaissance.