ROCHEFOUCAULT, FRANCIS EARL OF, descended of an illustrious family, next in dignity to that of the sovereigns, was chamberlain to King Charles VIII. and Louis XII. His character at court was admired as obliging, generous, upright, and sincere. In 1494 he stood godfather to Francis I. who, when he came to the throne, continued to pay great respect to that spiritual relation. He made him his chamberlain in ordinary, and erected, in 1515, the barony of Rochefoucault into an earldom; and, in his writ of erection, observes, that he did this in memory of the great, honourable, highly useful, and commendable services which the said Francis had done to his predecessors, to the crown of France, and to himself. The earl of Rochefoucault died in 1517, leaving behind him an illustrious memory, and a character universally respected. Since his time all the eldest sons of that family have taken the name of Francis.