He often had a meeting, in the evening, of poets, men of letters, and artists--Ronsard, Amadis Jamin, Jodelle, Daurat, Baif; in 1570 he gave them letters patent for the establishment of an Academy of poetry and music, the first literary society founded in France by a king; but it disappeared amidst the civil wars.

Charles IX.
himself sang in the choir, and he composed a few hunting-airs.

Ronsard was a favorite, almost a friend, with him; he used to take him with him on his trips, and give him quarters in his palace, and there was many an interchange of verse between them, in which Ronsard did not always have the advantage.

Charles gave a literary outlet to his passion for hunting; he wrote a little treatise entitled La Chasse royale, which was not published until 1625, and of which M.Henry Chevreul brought out, in 1857, a charming and very correct edition.

Charles IX.