Lancelot de Carle
Lancelot de Carle entered the world around 1508 in Bordeaux, France. His father Jean de Carle served as a lawyer and second president of the Parlement Bordeaux from 1519 to 1521. Jacquette, his mother, was the daughter of Baude de Constantin. The couple married in 1500 and raised three sons and one daughter together. Pierre and Francois distinguished themselves through local government service while Marguerite became the widow of Jean Arsac before marrying Étienne de La Boétie. This marriage connected Lancelot by blood to Montaigne and Étienne de La Boétie. His parents died within months of each other near the end of 1556. Jean passed away before that year while Jacquette died around December 1556.
In 1536 Lancelot de Carle stood in London serving as secretary to Antoine de Castelnau. Castelnau held the position of French Ambassador to the court of Henry VIII. De Carle witnessed the trial and execution of Anne Boleyn firsthand during May 1536. He wrote a poem shortly after these events detailing her life and death circumstances. Francis I soon learned about the situation surrounding the poem's creation. The work may have begun as an official diplomatic report rather than pure poetry. Henry VIII later complained to Stephen Gardiner about the book written inside his ambassador's house. The King expressed grief over copies spreading abroad and ordered their suppression. No record exists confirming whether anyone faced punishment from the French king for this incident.
Carle received appointment as Bishop of Riez in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence during 1550. Pope Julius III granted his bulls on the 28th of September 1550 referring him as clericus Councillor and Almoner of Henri II. He established a Theologus office within his cathedral chapter following Council of Trent decrees. Paintings decorated the sanctuary and apse before Huguenots destroyed them a decade after his death. Unlike many bishops he spent significant time in his diocese while quelling civil unrest in Provence. In October and November 1564 Bishop de Carle participated in the Colloquy of Poissy. This futile attempt sought agreement between Catholics and Huguenots under Crown direction. His final years involved retirement to Paris which harmed his diocese according to Joseph-Hyacinthe Albanès. Heresy grew unchecked due to the bishop's prolonged absence from his see.
Antoine du Verdier described Lancelot de Carle as excellent
poet in Latin and French well learned in Greek. La Croix du Main attributed a translation of Homer's Odyssey into French to Carle. He collaborated with Clément Marot and Michel d'Amboise on Les Blasons du Corps Féminin published in Paris during 1543. A collection spanning 1536, 1544 contains anonymous texts plus poems about Anne Boleyn. Exhortation ou Parénèse en Vers Héroïques Latins et Français appeared in Paris through Vascosan in 1560. This work addressed his nephew Jean de Carle in both Latin and heroic verse. Cantiques de la Bible and Cantique des Cantiques emerged in 1562 alongside La Paraphrase en Vers François de l'Ecclésiaste de Salomon in 1561. Letters to Charles IX detailing events surrounding M. de Guyse appeared in 1563. Pierre de Ronsard and Joachim du Bellay dedicated works to
him recognizing his literary stature.
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Common questions
When and where was Lancelot de Carle born?
Lancelot de Carle entered the world around 1508 in Bordeaux, France. His father Jean de Carle served as a lawyer and second president of the Parlement Bordeaux from 1519 to 1521.
What role did Lancelot de Carle play during the execution of Anne Boleyn?
In May 1536 Lancelot de Carle stood in London serving as secretary to Antoine de Castelnau while witnessing the trial and execution of Anne Boleyn firsthand. He wrote a poem shortly after these events detailing her life and death circumstances which Henry VIII later ordered suppressed.
Who appointed Lancelot de Carle as Bishop of Riez and when did this occur?
Pope Julius III granted his bulls on the 28th of September 1550 appointing Lancelot de Carle as Bishop of Riez in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The Pope referred him as clericus Councillor and Almoner of Henri II during this appointment.
Which literary works did Lancelot de Carle publish between 1543 and 1563?
Lancelot de Carle collaborated with Clément Marot and Michel d'Amboise on Les Blasons du Corps Féminin published in Paris during 1543. His other publications include Exhortation ou Parénèse en Vers Héroïques Latins et Français appearing in 1560, Cantiques de la Bible emerging in 1562, and Letters to Charles IX detailing events surrounding M. de Guyse appearing in 1563.
How did the death of Lancelot de Carle's parents affect his family connections?
Jean passed away before the end of 1556 while Jacquette died around December 1556 leaving their children without parents within months of each other. This loss occurred after Marguerite became the widow of Jean Arsac before marrying Étienne de La Boétie which connected Lancelot by blood to Montaigne and Étienne de La Boétie.