Henri II was of a beautiful imposing presence and a great bravery, like his François father 1st; there was not at the court of more skilful player of palm nor of rider more consumed, but its spirit was as heavy as its body was flexible: not very able to act itself, it was dominated all its life by its advisers, especially by Montmorency, François de Guise and Saint-Andrew.

Lower than his father by the intelligence, Henri II was however happier than him in his wars in his policy.

Catherine de Médicis, who was to play a so great part during the reigns of her sons Charles IX and Henri III, did not have any influence of living of her husband, in spite of her intelligence and her beauty.

Girl of Laurent II of Médicis, it had been chosen by Henri II only for her richness.

The long humiliation where it lived contributed to desiccate the heart to him, and when it had the capacity between the hands, it put the policy of Machiavel into practice, i.e.

the policy which makes fun of any principle and which does not move back in front of the crime.

Jarnac and Chataignerie, which had to empty an affair of honour, obtained new king Henri II the permission to fight: the duel take place with Saint-Germain in front of a many assistance.

The king and the courtiers, who had insulted Jarnac, made wishes for Chataignerie, and, trustful in its force with the fencing, they did not doubt its victory; they had even made prepare a great feast.

But the exit of the combat misled their forecasts; Jarnac, by a skilful response, sliced the bulge of its adversary, and made him grace of the life.

Henri II, constrained to conform to the uses, kissed the winner; but it enrageait of spite, and made violently disperse the crowd, which pushed cries of joy for narguer the court (1547).

The peasants of the Angoumois, Saintonge and Of Bordeaux, tyrannized by the agents of gabelle, had raised themselves with the cry of "Died to the gabeleurs", had plundered Saintes, Cognac and Ruffec, and had terribly tortured the receivers of the gabelle one.

The constable of Montmorency, charged to restore the order in Guyenne, announced himself by his cruelties: in Bordeaux, more than one hundred forty people were decapitated, hung, burned, dismembered, impaled (1548).

The Constable excited itself his soldiers: "Hang to me this one; connect that one ", said me it by reciting its chain.

The people hate it as it hated the torturers, and one repeated a long time in proverb: "God keeps us patenôtres of Mr.

the Constable"