The Emperor, who was at Madrid when the battle of Pavia was fought, received the news of his extraordinary and unexpected success with apparent moderation.
In France, on the other hand, the intelligence of the King’s disaster struck the people with consternation. The Parliament of Paris immediately assembled; the Archbishop of Aix and the principal magistrates met to consult about the safety of the capital; and the old Duke of Montmorency, whose two sons had fought at Pavia, was summoned to take the command. The enemy seemed already at the gates, of which all but five were closed, and those left open were constantly guarded by counselors of the Parliament assisted by some of the principal citizens. Chains were stretched across the Seine, and others were prepared to be thrown across the streets. Similar precautions were adopted in all the principal towns of France, even in those the furthest from danger; as, for instance, Poitiers. Normandy, at the northern extremity of France, levied 500 lances and 8,000 foot for the defence of the province. These alarms show how completely the King was then identified with the State. An army of 20,000 men had been routed, and 8,000 slain; but of these not more than an eighth were French. Yet, though the consternation was extravagant, the danger was menacing enough. Many of the foremost men and best captains of France had fallen. The Kingdom, which seemed to be in the throes of a financial crisis, was thrown into the hands of a woman...
