This, when the Parliament enregistered the king's letters patent, was expressly stated to be in consideration of Bourbon's extraordinary worth, combined with his quality as a prince of the blood, and not because of his office of constable." [_Histoire de la Maison de Bourbon,_ by M.Desormeaux, t.ii.

p.

437.] The constable showed that he was as capable of governing as of conquering.

He foiled all Emperor Maximilian's attempts to recover Milaness; and, not receiving from the king money for the maintenance and pay of his troops, he himself advanced one hundred thousand livres, opened a loan-account in his own name, raised an army-working-corps of six thousand men to repair the fortifications of Milan, and obtained from the Swiss cantons permission to enlist twelve thousand recruits amongst them.

His exercise of authority over the Lombard population was sometimes harsh, but always judicious and efficient.