Francis falls gravely ill in September, and his sister, Marguerite de Navarre, rides from Paris to join him in Spain.

The Imperial doctors examining the king believe that his illness is caused by his sorrow at not being received by the Emperor, and urge Charles to visit him.

Charles, against the advice of his Grand Chancellor, Mercurino Gattinara, who argues that seeing Francis on his deathbed is an action motivated by mercenary concerns rather than by compassion, and is thus unworthy of the Emperor, consents; and Francis soon makes a complete recovery.

An attempt to escape, however, proves fruitless, and succeeds only in getting Marguerite sent back to France.