Note 417 — Chapter I · General Description of the Picture—The Death’s-Head—The Dagger—The Order of St. Michael—The Celestial Globe—The Terrestrial Globe

Brantôme, “Hommes Illustres François,” Discours xlv. (François I.), Digression contre les ambassadeurs de robe longue. “One thing I should like much to know; if there had been present some brave and valiant knight of the King’s Order, or a captain of gensdarmes, or any other valorous gentleman with a good sword and bravado, whatever the Emperor might have advanced in words, whether he would not have thought twice on seeing the other speak and reply to him bravely; sometimes putting his hand on the hilt of his sword, sometimes to his side as though to draw his dagger, sometimes making a defiant gesture, sometimes drawing himself up proudly, now with his cap drawn down, now raised up with its feather, now placed on one side, now forward, now backward, now letting his cape hang half-way as one who is about to twist it round his arm, in order to draw his sword.... Instead of which M. de Mascon and M. de Vely, although he (sic) replied fairly well for his calling and profession, could show no other front than to smooth his square cap from time to time with his fingers; to re-dispose his skull-cap of taffetas, to listen well, with his two hands clasped and his thumbs extended, to gather up the sides of his long gown of velvet or satin: all this could not inspire the smallest terror in the world, nor instil any thought of fear into any soul....”