Nicholas Bourbon (the elder)

In an early poem titled De Ferraria, Bourbon wrote about his origins and his native city of Vandeuvre, known in the 15th century for cannonball forges.

His first poems were published in 1529 in a collection called Vandoperani, campani, epigrammata, which contained a mixture of epigrams, canticles, dialogues, and epistles.

It is also claimed that this work contains subtle criticisms of Noël Béda, a noted theologian and ideological opponent of humanist thinkers.

Despite many appeals to his various protectors, a royal commandment to "take Borbonius out of prison," and a petition to Cardinal Jean de Lorraine, Bourbon would remain imprisoned until released by Francis I in 1535.

Bourbon subsequently left for England, where he benefited from the protection of Anne Boleyn, the former lady-in-waiting to Claude of France and the second wife of Henry VIII.