Anne Boleyn (x-y), who became the 6th wife of King Henry VIII of England, was once lady-in-waiting to Marguerite d'Angoulême. The manuscript of this poem, Miroir de l'âme pécheresse , translated by the young Elizabeth, was found among the possessions of Anne Boleyn.

In 1520, Marguerite's brother, King François I of France, met King Henry VIII of Egnland in a field near Calais, in the northwest of France, wich became known as "The Field of the Cloth of Gold".

François hoped for English support against the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, and wanted to use all his diplomatic skills to persuade Henry to form an alliance with him.

At the meeting, the two kings tried to impress each other with a brilliant display of their wealth. Amid a forest of gilded tents, hence the name "Field of the Cloth of Gold".

They enjoyed a spectacle of glittering processions, banquets, plays, tournaments, and fireworks. All the courtiers wore garments made from cloth of gold.

After the fun had finished, the two kings retired beneath one of the tents, where they joked together for a while.

But then Henry seized François by the collar (as in the drawing below) and said "My brother, it is necessary that I fight with you."

Henry went on to join forces with Charles V against the French king.