Nicholas Bourbon was born in 1503 in the small French town of Vendeuvre-sur-Barse, a place better known for its cannonball forges than for producing literary giants. By the age of 26, he had already earned enough notoriety to be imprisoned for his poetry, a crime that would eventually force him to flee his homeland for England. His early work, De Ferraria, revealed a deep connection to his native city, yet it was his willingness to challenge religious orthodoxy that defined his career. In 1529, he published his first collection, Vandoperani, campani, epigrammata, a mix of epigrams, canticles, dialogues, and epistles that showcased his precocious talent. However, it was the 1533 edition of his most famous work, Nugae, that landed him in jail. The epigram In lauduem Dei optimi maximi, which appeared favorable to religious reform, and subtle criticisms of the theologian Noël Béda, sparked the wrath of religious authorities. Despite appeals to protectors and a royal commandment to release him, Bourbon remained incarcerated until King Francis I freed him in 1535.
Flight to the English Court
Upon his release in 1535, Bourbon traveled to England to pay homage to King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. This journey was not merely a diplomatic courtesy but a desperate act of gratitude for the protection Anne Boleyn had offered him while he was under persecution in France. Anne Boleyn, a proponent of moderate evangelical reform, had previously served as a lady-in-waiting to Claude of France before becoming Queen. Her influence was so profound that Bourbon later wrote a series of poems describing her as one of God's beloved servants. During his time in England, Bourbon found himself in the company of Hans Holbein the Younger, who was making his second stay at the Court of England. Holbein, whom Bourbon greatly admired and called the Apelles of our time, created a portrait of the poet in 1535. This image remains one of the few visual records of the man who would become a central figure in the French humanist movement.The Lyonnaise Circle
Returning to France in 1536, Bourbon settled in Lyon, where he became a regular participant in the group of poets and humanists loyal to Étienne Dolet, known as the école lyonnaise. This circle included notable figures such as Jean Visagier, Eustorg de Beaulieu, Gilbert Ducher, and Symphorien Champier. It was within this vibrant intellectual community that Bourbon met François Rabelais, a writer who had also been targeted by religious authorities for his work Pantagruel. The group's shared commitment to humanist ideals and their opposition to conservative theological forces created a fertile ground for literary innovation. In 1538, Bourbon released a second edition of Nugae, which contained many new pieces but deliberately omitted the more controversial epistles that had previously caused him trouble. This strategic revision allowed him to continue his work without immediate persecution, though the shadow of his earlier imprisonment never fully lifted.