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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.06/12/01*END* +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of each +section for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making +an entire meal of them. D.W.] + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS QUEEN OF NAVARRE + +Written by Herself + +Being Historic Memoirs of the Courts of France and Navarre + + + + +PUBLISHER'S NOTE. + +The first volume of the Court Memoir Series will, it is confidently +anticipated, prove to be of great interest. These Letters first appeared +in French, in 1628, just thirteen years after the death of their witty +and beautiful authoress, who, whether as the wife for many years of the +great Henri of France, or on account of her own charms and +accomplishments, has always been the subject of romantic interest. + +The letters contain many particulars of her life, together with many +anecdotes hitherto unknown or forgotten, told with a saucy vivacity which +is charming, and an air vividly recalling the sprightly, arch demeanour, +and black, sparkling eyes of the fair Queen of Navarre. She died in +1615, aged sixty-three. + +These letters contain the secret history of the Court of France during +the seventeen eventful years 1565-82. + +The events of the seventeen years referred to are of surpassing interest, +including, as they do, the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, the formation of +the League, the Peace of Sens, and an account of the religious struggles +which agitated that period. They, besides, afford an instructive insight +into royal life at the close of the sixteenth century, the modes of +travelling then in vogue, the manners and customs of the time, and a +picturesque account of the city of Liege and its sovereign bishop. + +As has been already stated, these Memoirs first appeared in French in +1628. They were, thirty years later, printed in London in English, and +were again there translated and published in 1813. + + + + +TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. + +The Memoirs, of which a new translation is now presented to the public, +are the undoubted composition of the celebrated princess whose name they +bear, the contemporary of our Queen Elizabeth; of equal abilities with +her, but of far unequal fortunes. Both Elizabeth and Marguerite had been +bred in the school of adversity; both profited by it, but Elizabeth had +the fullest opportunity of displaying her acquirements in it. Queen +Elizabeth met with trials and difficulties in the early part of her life, +and closed a long and successful reign in the happy possession of the +good-will and love of her subjects. Queen Marguerite, during her whole +life, experienced little else besides mortification and disappointment; +she was suspected and hated by both Protestants and Catholics, with the +latter of whom, though, she invariably joined in communion, yet was she +not in the least inclined to persecute or injure the former. Elizabeth +amused herself with a number of suitors, but never submitted to the yoke +of matrimony. Marguerite, in compliance with the injunctions of the +Queen her mother, and King Charles her brother, married Henri, King of +Navarre, afterwards Henri IV. of France, for whom she had no inclination; +and this union being followed by a mutual indifference and dislike, she +readily consented to dissolve it; soon after which event she saw a +princess, more fruitful but less prudent, share the throne of her +ancestors, of whom she was the only representative. Elizabeth was +polluted with the blood of her cousin, the Queen of Scots, widow of +Marguerite's eldest brother. Marguerite saved many Huguenots from the +massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day, and, according to Brantome, the life +of the King, her husband, whose name was on the list of the proscribed. +To close this parallel, Elizabeth began early to govern a kingdom, which +she ruled through the course of her long life with severity, yet +gloriously, and with success. Marguerite, after the death of the Queen +her mother and her brothers, though sole heiress of the House of Valois, +was, by the Salic law, excluded from all pretensions to the Crown of +France; and though for the greater part of her life shut up in a castle, +surrounded by rocks and mountains, she has not escaped the shafts of +obloquy. + +The Translator has added some notes, which give an account of such places +as are mentioned in the Memoirs, taken from the itineraries of the time, +but principally from the "Geographie Universelle" of Vosgien; in which +regard is had to the new division of France into departments, as well as +to the ancient one of principalities, archbishoprics, bishoprics, +generalities, chatellenies, balliages, duchies, seigniories, etc. + +In the composition of her Memoirs, Marguerite has evidently adopted the +epistolary form, though the work came out of the French editor's hand +divided into three (as they are styled) books; these three books, or +letters, the Translator has taken the liberty of subdividing into twenty- +one, and, at the head of each of them, he has placed a short table of the +contents. This is the only liberty he has taken with the original +Memoirs, the translation itself being as near as the present improved +state of our language could be brought to approach the unpolished +strength and masculine vigour of the French of the age of Henri IV. + +This translation is styled a new one, because, after the Translator had +made some progress in it, he found these Memoirs had already been made +English, and printed, in London, in the year 1656, thirty years after the +first edition of the French original. This translation has the following +title: "The grand Cabinet Counsels unlocked; or, the most faithful +Transaction of Court Affairs, and Growth and Continuance of the Civil +Wars in France, during the Reigns of Charles the last, Henry III., and +Henry IV., commonly called the Great. Most excellently written, in the +French Tongue, by Margaret de Valois, Sister to the two first Kings, and +Wife of the last. Faithfully translated by Robert Codrington, Master of +Arts;" and again as "Memorials of Court Affairs," etc., London, 1658. + +The Memoirs of Queen Marguerite contained the secret history of the Court +of France during the space of seventeen years, from 1565 to 1582, and +they end seven years before Henri III., her brother, fell by the hands of +Clement, the monk; consequently, they take in no part of the reign of +Henri IV. (as Mr. Codrington has asserted in his title-page), though +they relate many particulars of the early part of his life. + +Marguerite's Memoirs include likewise the history nearly of the first +half of her own life, or until she had reached the twenty-ninth year of +her age; and as she died in 1616, at the age of sixty-three years, there +remain thirty-four years of her life, of which little is known. In 1598, +when she was forty-five years old, her marriage with Henri was dissolved +by mutual consent,--she declaring that she had no other wish than to give +him content, and preserve the peace of the kingdom; making it her +request, according to Brantome, that the King would favour her with his +protection, which, as her letter expresses, she hoped to enjoy during the +rest of her life. Sully says she stipulated only for an establishment +and the payment of her debts, which were granted. After Henri, in 1610, +had fallen a victim to the furious fanaticism of the monk Ravaillac, she +lived to see the kingdom brought into the greatest confusion by the bad +government of the Queen Regent, Marie de Medici, who suffered herself to +be directed by an Italian woman she had brought over with her, named +Leonora Galligai. This woman marrying a Florentine, called Concini, +afterwards made a marshal of France, they jointly ruled the kingdom, and +became so unpopular that the marshal was assassinated, and the wife, who +had been qualified with the title of Marquise d'Ancre, burnt for a witch. +This happened about the time of Marguerite's decease. + +It has just before been mentioned how little has been handed down to +these times respecting Queen Marguerite's history. The latter part of +her life, there is reason to believe, was wholly passed at a considerable +distance from Court, in her retirement (so it is called, though it +appears to have been rather her prison) at the castle of Usson. This +castle, rendered famous by her long residence in it, has been demolished +since the year 1634. It was built on a mountain, near a little town of +the same name, in that part of France called Auvergne, which now +constitutes part of the present Departments of the Upper Loire and Puy- +de-Dome, from a river and mountain so named. These Memoirs appear to +have been composed in this retreat. Marguerite amused herself likewise, +in this solitude, in composing verses, and there are specimens still +remaining of her poetry. These compositions she often set to music, and +sang them herself, accompanying her voice with the lute, on which she +played to perfection. Great part of her time was spent in the perusal of +the Bible and books of piety, together with the works of the best authors +she could procure. Brantome assures us that Marguerite spoke the Latin +tongue with purity and elegance; and it appears, from her Memoirs, that +she had read Plutarch with attention. + +Marguerite has been said to have given in to the gallantries to which the +Court of France was, during her time, but too much addicted; but, though +the Translator is obliged to notice it, he is far from being inclined to +give any credit to a romance entitled, "Le Divorce Satyrique; ou, les +Amours de la Reyne Marguerite de Valois," which is written in the person +of her husband, and bears on the title-page these initials: D. R. H. Q. +M.; that is to say, "du Roi Henri Quatre, Mari." This work professes to +give a relation of Marguerite's conduct during her residence at the +castle of Usson; but it contains so many gross absurdities and +indecencies that it is undeserving of attention, and appears to have been +written by some bitter enemy, who has assumed the character of her +husband to traduce her memory. + + ["Le Divorce Satyrique" is said to have been written by Louise + Marguerite de Lorraine, Princesse de Conti, who is likewise the + reputed author of "The Amours of Henri IV.," disguised under the + name of Alcander. She was the daughter of the Due de Guise, + assassinated at Blois in 1588, and was born the year her father + died. She married Francois, Prince de Conti, and was considered one + of the most ingenious and accomplished persons belonging to the + French Court in the age of Louis XIII. She was left a widow in + 1614, and died in 1631.] + +M. Pierre de Bourdeille, Seigneur de Brantome, better known by the name +of Brantome, wrote the Memoirs of his own times. He was brought up in +the Court of France, and lived in it during the reigns of Marguerite's +father and brothers, dying at the advanced age of eighty or eighty-four +years, but in what year is not certainly known. He has given anecdotes-- + + [The author of the "Tablettes de France," and "Anecdotes des Rois + de France," thinks that Marguerite alludes to Brantome's "Anecdotes" + in the beginning of her first letter, where she says: "I should + commend your work much more were I myself not so much praised in + it." (According to the original: "Je louerois davantage votre + oeuvre, si elle ne me louoit tant.") If so, these letters were + addressed to Brantome, and not to the Baron de la Chataigneraie, as + mentioned in the Preface to the French edition. In Letter I. + mention is made of Madame de Dampierre, whom Marguerite styles the + aunt of the person the letter is addressed to. She was dame + d'honneur, or lady of the bedchamber, to the Queen of Henri III., + and Brantome, speaking of her, calls her his aunt. Indeed, it is + not a matter of any consequence to whom these Memoirs were + addressed; it is, however, remarkable that Louis XIV. used the same + words to Boileau, after hearing him read his celebrated epistle upon + the famous Passage of the Rhine; and yet Louis was no reader, and is + not supposed to have adopted them from these Memoirs. The thought + is, in reality, fine, but might easily suggest itself to any other. + "Cela est beau," said the monarch, "et je vous louerois davantage, + si vous m'aviez moins loue." (The poetry is excellent, and I should + praise you more had you praised me less.)] + +of the life of Marguerite, written during her before-mentioned retreat, +when she was, as he says ("fille unique maintenant restee, de la noble +maison de France"), the only survivor of her illustrious house. Brantome +praises her excellent beauty in a long string of laboured hyperboles. +Ronsard, the Court poet, has done the same in a poem of considerable +length, wherein he has exhausted all his wit and fancy. From what they +have said, we may collect that Marguerite was graceful in her person and +figure, and remarkably happy in her choice of dress and ornaments to set +herself off to the most advantage; that her height was above the middle +size, her shape easy, with that due proportion of plumpness which gives +an appearance of majesty and comeliness. Her eyes were full, black, and +sparkling; she had bright, chestnut-coloured hair, and a complexion fresh +and blooming. Her skin was delicately white, and her neck admirably well +formed; and this so generally admired beauty, the fashion of dress, in +her time, admitted of being fully displayed. + +Such was Queen Marguerite as she is portrayed, with the greatest +luxuriance of colouring, by these authors. To her personal charms were +added readiness of wit, ease and gracefulness of speech, and great +affability and courtesy of manners. This description of Queen Marguerite +cannot be dismissed without observing, if only for the sake of keeping +the fashion of the present times with her sex in countenance, that, +though she had hair, as has been already described, becoming her, and +sufficiently ornamental in itself, yet she occasionally called in the aid +of wigs. Brantome's words are: "l'artifice de perruques bien gentiment +faconnees." + + [Ladies in the days of Ovid wore periwigs. That poet says to + Corinna: + + "Nunc tibi captivos mittet Germania crines; + Culta triumphatae munere gentis eris." + + (Wigs shall from captive Germany be sent; + 'Tis with such spoils your head you ornament.) + + These, we may conclude, were flaxen, that being the prevailing + coloured hair of the Germans at this day. The Translator has met + with a further account of Marguerite's head-dress, which describes + her as wearing a velvet bonnet ornamented with pearls and diamonds, + and surmounted with a plume of feathers.] + + +I shall conclude this Preface with a letter from Marguerite to Brantome; +the first, he says, he received from her during her adversity ('son +adversite' are his words),--being, as he expresses it, so ambitious +('presomptueux') as to have sent to inquire concerning her health, as she +was the daughter and sister of the Kings, his masters. ("D'avoir envoye +scavoir de ses nouvelles, mais quoy elle estoit fille et soeur de mes +roys.") + +The letter here follows: "From the attention and regard you have shown me +(which to me appears less strange than it is agreeable), I find you still +preserve that attachment you have ever had to my family, in a +recollection of these poor remains which have escaped its wreck. Such as +I am, you will find me always ready to do you service, since I am so +happy as to discover that my fortune has not been able to blot out my +name from the memory of my oldest friends, of which number you are one. +I have heard that, like me, you have chosen a life of retirement, which I +esteem those happy who can enjoy, as God, out of His great mercy, has +enabled me to do for these last five years; having placed me, during +these times of trouble, in an ark of safety, out of the reach, God be +thanked, of storms. If, in my present situation, I am able to serve my +friends, and you more especially, I shall be found entirely disposed to +it, and with the greatest good-will." + +There is such an air of dignified majesty in the foregoing letter, and, +at the same time, such a spirit of genuine piety and resignation, that it +cannot but give an exalted idea of Marguerite's character, who appears +superior to ill-fortune and great even in her distress. If, as I doubt +not, the reader thinks the same, I shall not need to make an apology for +concluding this Preface with it. + +The following Latin verses, or call them, if you please, epigram, are of +the composition of Barclay, or Barclaius, author of "Argenis," etc. + + + ON MARGUERITE DE VALOIS, + QUEEN OF NAVARRE. + + Dear native land! and you, proud castles! say + (Where grandsire,[1] father,[2] and three brothers[3] lay, + Who each, in turn, the crown imperial wore), + Me will you own, your daughter whom you bore? + Me, once your greatest boast and chiefest pride, + By Bourbon and Lorraine,[4] when sought a bride; + Now widowed wife,[5] a queen without a throne, + Midst rocks and mountains [6] wander I alone. + Nor yet hath Fortune vented all her spite, + But sets one up,[7] who now enjoys my right, + Points to the boy,[8] who henceforth claims the throne + And crown, a son of mine should call his own. + But ah, alas! for me 'tis now too late [9] + To strive 'gainst Fortune and contend with Fate; + Of those I slighted, can I beg relief [10] + No; let me die the victim of my grief. + And can I then be justly said to live? + Dead in estate, do I then yet survive? + Last of the name, I carry to the grave + All the remains the House of Valois have. + +1. Francois I. +2. Henri II. +3. Francois II., Charles IX., and Henri III. +4. Henri, King of Navarre, and Henri, Duc de Guise. +5. Alluding to her divorce from Henri IV.. +6. The castle of Usson +7. Marie de' Medici, whom Henri married after his divorce from + Marguerite. +8. Louis XIII., the son of Henri and his queen, Marie de' Medici. +9. Alluding to the differences betwixt Marguerite and Henri, her husband. +10.This is said with allusion to the supposition that she was rather + inclined to favour the suit of the Due de Guise and reject Henri for a + husband. + + + + + +MARGUERITE DE VALOIS. + + + +BOOK 1. + + +LETTER I. + +Introduction.--Anecdotes of Marguerite's Infancy.--Endeavours Used to +Convert Her to the New Religion.--She Is Confirmed in Catholicism.-- +The Court on a Progress.--A Grand Festivity Suddenly Interrupted.-- +The Confusion in Consequence. + +I should commend your work much more were I myself less praised in it; +but I am unwilling to do so, lest my praises should seem rather the +effect of self-love than to be founded on reason and justice. I am +fearful that, like Themistocles, I should appear to admire their +eloquence the most who are most forward to praise me. It is the usual +frailty of our sex to be fond of flattery. I blame this in other women, +and should wish not to be chargeable with it myself. Yet I confess that +I take a pride in being painted by the hand of so able a master, however +flattering the likeness may be. If I ever were possessed of the graces +you have assigned to me, trouble and vexation render them no longer +visible, and have even effaced them from my own recollection. So that I +view myself in your Memoirs, and say, with old Madame de Rendan, who, not +having consulted her glass since her husband's death, on seeing her own +face in the mirror of another lady, exclaimed, "Who is this?" Whatever +my friends tell me when they see me now, I am inclined to think proceeds +from the partiality of their affection. I am sure that you yourself, +when you consider more impartially what you have said, will be induced to +believe, according to these lines of Du Bellay: + + "C'est chercher Rome en Rome, + Et rien de Rome en Rome ne trouver." + + ('Tis to seek Rome, in Rome to go, + And Rome herself at Rome not know.) + +But as we read with pleasure the history of the Siege of Troy, the +magnificence of Athens, and other splendid cities, which once flourished, +but are now so entirely destroyed that scarcely the spot whereon they +stood can be traced, so you please yourself with describing these +excellences of beauty which are no more, and which will be discoverable +only in your writings. + +If you had taken upon you to contrast Nature and Fortune, you could not +have chosen a happier theme upon which to descant, for both have made a +trial of their strength on the subject of your Memoirs. What Nature did, +you had the evidence of your own eyes to vouch for, but what was done by +Fortune, you know only from hearsay; and hearsay, I need not tell you, is +liable to be influenced by ignorance or malice, and, therefore, is not to +be depended on. You will for that reason, I make no doubt, be pleased to +receive these Memoirs from the hand which is most interested in the truth +of them. + +I have been induced to undertake writing my Memoirs the more from five or +six observations which I have had occasion to make upon your work, as you +appear to have been misinformed respecting certain particulars. For +example, in that part where mention is made of Pau, and of my journey in +France; likewise where you speak of the late Marechal de Biron, of Agen, +and of the sally of the Marquis de Camillac from that place. + +These Memoirs might merit the honourable name of history from the truths +contained in them, as I shall prefer truth to embellishment. In fact, to +embellish my story I have neither leisure nor ability; I shall, +therefore, do no more than give a simple narration of events. They are +the labours of my evenings, and will come to you an unformed mass, to +receive its shape from your hands, or as a chaos on which you have +already thrown light. Mine is a history most assuredly worthy to come +from a man of honour, one who is a true Frenchman, born of illustrious +parents, brought up in the Court of the Kings my father and brothers, +allied in blood and friendship to the most virtuous and accomplished +women of our times, of which society I have had the good fortune to be +the bond of union. + +I shall begin these Memoirs in the reign of Charles IX., and set out with +the first remarkable event of my life which fell within my remembrance. +Herein I follow the example of geographical writers, who, having +described the places within their knowledge, tell you that all beyond +them are sandy deserts, countries without inhabitants, or seas never +navigated. Thus I might say that all prior to the commencement of these +Memoirs was the barrenness of my infancy, when we can only be said to +vegetate like plants, or live, like brutes, according to instinct, and +not as human creatures, guided by reason. To those who had the direction +of my earliest years I leave the task of relating the transactions of my +infancy, if they find them as worthy of being recorded as the infantine +exploits of Themistocles and Alexander,--the one exposing himself to be +trampled on by the horses of a charioteer, who would not stop them when +requested to do so, and the other refusing to run a race unless kings +were to enter the contest against him. Amongst such memorable things +might be related the answer I made the King my father, a short time +before the fatal accident which deprived France of peace, and our family +of its chief glory. I was then about four or five years of age, when the +King, placing me on his knee, entered familiarly into chat with me. +There were, in the same room, playing and diverting themselves, the +Prince de Joinville, since the great and unfortunate Duc de Guise, and +the Marquis de Beaupreau, son of the Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon, who died +in his fourteenth year, and by whose death his country lost a youth of +most promising talents. Amongst other discourse, the King asked which of +the two Princes that were before me I liked best. I replied, "The +Marquis." The King said, "Why so? He is not the handsomest." The +Prince de Joinville was fair, with light-coloured hair, and the Marquis +de Beaupreau brown, with dark hair. I answered, "Because he is the best +behaved; whilst the Prince is always making mischief, and will be master +over everybody." + +This was a presage of what we have seen happen since, when the whole +Court was infected with heresy, about the time of the Conference of +Poissy. It was with great difficulty that I resisted and preserved +myself from a change of religion at that time. Many ladies and lords +belonging to Court strove to convert me to Huguenotism. The Duc d'Anjou, +since King Henri III. of France, then in his infancy, had been prevailed +on to change his religion, and he often snatched my "Hours" out of my +hand, and flung them into the fire, giving me Psalm Books and books of +Huguenot prayers, insisting on my using them. I took the first +opportunity to give them up to my governess, Madame de Curton, whom God, +out of his mercy to me, caused to continue steadfast in the Catholic +religion. She frequently took me to that pious, good man, the Cardinal +de Tournon, who gave me good advice, and strengthened me in a +perseverance in my religion, furnishing me with books and chaplets of +beads in the room of those my brother Anjou took from me and burnt. + +Many of my brother's most intimate friends had resolved on my ruin, and +rated me severely upon my refusal to change, saying it proceeded from a +childish obstinacy; that if I had the least understanding, and would +listen, like other discreet persons, to the sermons that were preached, +I should abjure my uncharitable bigotry; but I was, said they, as foolish +as my governess. My brother Anjou added threats, and said the Queen my +mother would give orders that I should be whipped. But this he said of +his own head, for the Queen my mother did not, at that time, know of the +errors he had embraced. As soon as it came to her knowledge, she took +him to task, and severely reprimanded his governors, insisting upon their +correcting him, and instructing him in the holy and ancient religion of +his forefathers, from which she herself never swerved. When he used +those menaces, as I have before related, I was a child seven or eight +years old, and at that tender age would reply to him, "Well, get me +whipped if you can; I will suffer whipping, and even death, rather than +be damned." + +I could furnish you with many other replies of the like kind, which gave +proof of the early ripeness of my judgment and my courage; but I shall +not trouble myself with such researches, choosing rather to begin these +Memoirs at the time when I resided constantly with the Queen my mother. + +Immediately after the Conference of Poissy, the civil wars commenced, +and my brother Alencon and myself, on account of our youth, were sent to +Amboise, whither all the ladies of the country repaired to us. + +With them came your aunt, Madame de Dampierre, who entered into a firm +friendship with me, which was never interrupted until her death broke it +off. There was likewise your cousin, the Duchesse de Rais, who had the +good fortune to hear there of the death of her brute of a husband, killed +at the battle of Dreux. The husband I mean was the first she had, named +M. d'Annebaut, who was unworthy to have for a wife so accomplished and +charming a woman as your cousin. She and I were not then so intimate +friends as we have become since, and shall ever remain. The reason was +that, though older than I, she was yet young, and young girls seldom take +much notice of children, whereas your aunt was of an age when women +admire their innocence and engaging simplicity. + +I remained at Amboise until the Queen my mother was ready to set out on +her grand progress, at which time she sent for me to come to her Court, +which I did not quit afterwards. + +Of this progress I will not undertake to give you a description, being +still so young that, though the whole is within my recollection, yet the +particular passages of it appear to me but as a dream, and are now lost. +I leave this task to others, of riper years, as you were yourself. +You can well remember the magnificence that was displayed everywhere, +particularly at the baptism of my nephew, the Duc de Lorraine, at Bar-le- +Duc; at the meeting of M. and Madame de Savoy, in the city of Lyons; the +interview at Bayonne betwixt my sister, the Queen of Spain, the Queen my +mother, and King Charles my brother. In your account of this interview +you would not forget to make mention of the noble entertainment given by +the Queen my mother, on an island, with the grand dances, and the form of +the salon, which seemed appropriated by nature for such a purpose, it +being a large meadow in the middle of the island, in the shape of an +oval, surrounded on every aide by tall spreading trees. In this meadow +the Queen my mother had disposed a circle of niches, each of them large +enough to contain a table of twelve covers. At one end a platform was +raised, ascended by four steps formed of turf. Here their Majesties were +seated at a table under a lofty canopy. The tables were all served by +troops of shepherdesses dressed in cloth of gold and satin, after the +fashion of the different provinces of France. These shepherdesses, +during the passage of the superb boats from Bayonne to the island, were +placed in separate bands, in a meadow on each side of the causeway, +raised with turf; and whilst their Majesties and the company were passing +through the great salon, they danced. On their passage by water, the +barges were followed by other boats, having on board vocal and +instrumental musicians, habited like Nereids, singing and playing the +whole time. After landing, the shepherdesses I have mentioned before +received the company in separate troops, with songs and dances, after the +fashion and accompanied by the music of the provinces they represented,-- +the Poitevins playing on bagpipes; the Provencales on the viol and +cymbal; the Burgundians and Champagners on the hautboy, bass viol, and +tambourine; in like manner the Bretons and other provincialists. After +the collation was served and the feast at an end, a large troop of +musicians, habited like satyrs, was seen to come out of the opening of a +rock, well lighted up, whilst nymphs were descending from the top in rich +habits, who, as they came down, formed into a grand dance, when, lo! +fortune no longer favouring this brilliant festival, a sudden storm of +rain came on, and all were glad to get off in the boats and make for town +as fast as they could. The confusion in consequence of this precipitate +retreat afforded as much matter to laugh at the next day as the splendour +of the entertainment had excited admiration. In short, the festivity of +this day was not, forgotten, on one account or the other, amidst the +variety of the like nature which succeeded it in the course of this +progress. + + + + +LETTER II. + +Message from the Duc d'Anjou, Afterwards Henri III., to King Charles His +Brother and the Queen-mother.--Her Fondness for Her Children.--Their +Interview.--Anjou's Eloquent Harangue.--The Queen-mother's Character. +Discourse of the Duc d'Anjou with Marguerite.--She Discovers Her Own +Importance.--Engages to Serve Her Brother Anjou.--Is in High Favour with +the Queenmother. + +At the time my magnanimous brother Charles reigned over France, and some +few years after our return from the grand progress mentioned in my last +letter, the Huguenots having renewed the war, a gentleman, despatched +from my brother Anjou (afterwards Henri III. of France), came to Paris +to inform the King and the Queen my mother that the Huguenot army was +reduced to such an extremity that he hoped in a few days to force them to +give him battle. He added his earnest wish for the honour of seeing them +at Tours before that happened, so that, in case Fortune, envying him the +glory he had already achieved at so early an age, should, on the so much +looked-for day, after the good service he had done his religion and his +King, crown the victory with his death, he might not have cause to regret +leaving this world without the satisfaction of receiving their +approbation of his conduct from their own mouths, a satisfaction which +would be more valuable, in his opinion, than the trophies he had gained +by his two former victories. + +I leave to your own imagination to suggest to you the impression which +such a message from a dearly beloved son made on the mind of a mother who +doted on all her children, and was always ready to sacrifice her own +repose, nay, even her life, for their happiness. + +She resolved immediately to set off and take the King with her. She had, +besides myself, her usual small company of female attendants, together +with Mesdames de Rais and de Sauves. She flew on the wings of maternal +affection, and reached Tours in three days and a half. A journey from +Paris, made with such precipitation, was not unattended with accidents +and some inconveniences, of a nature to occasion much mirth and laughter. +The poor Cardinal de Bourbon, who never quitted her, and whose temper of +mind, strength of body, and habits of life were ill suited to encounter +privations and hardships, suffered greatly from this rapid journey. + +We found my brother Anjou at Plessis-les-Tours, with the principal +officers of his army, who were the flower of the princes and nobles of +France. In their presence he delivered a harangue to the King, giving a +detail of his conduct in the execution of his charge, beginning from the +time he left the Court. His discourse was framed with so much eloquence, +and spoken so gracefully, that it was admired by all present. It +appeared matter of astonishment that a youth of sixteen should reason +with all the gravity and powers of an orator of ripe years. The +comeliness of his person, which at all times pleads powerfully in favour +of a speaker, was in him set off by the laurels obtained in two +victories. In short, it was difficult to say which most contributed to +make him the admiration of all his hearers. + +It is equally as impossible for me to describe in words the feelings of +my mother on this occasion, who loved him above all her children, as it +was for the painter to represent on canvas the grief of Iphigenia's +father. Such an overflow of joy would have been discoverable in the +looks and actions of any other woman, but she had her passions so much +under the control of prudence and discretion that there was nothing to be +perceived in her countenance, or gathered from her words, of what she +felt inwardly in her mind. She was, indeed, a perfect mistress of +herself, and regulated her discourse and her actions by the rules of +wisdom and sound policy, showing that a person of discretion does upon +all occasions only what is proper to be done. She did not amuse herself +on this occasion with listening to the praises which issued from every +mouth, and sanction them with her own approbation; but, selecting the +chief points in the speech relative to the future conduct of the war, she +laid them before the Princes and great lords, to be deliberated upon, in +order to settle a plan of operations. + +To arrange such a plan a delay of some days was requisite. During this +interval, the Queen my mother walking in the park with some of the +Princes, my brother Anjou begged me to take a turn or two with him in a +retired walk. He then addressed me in the following words: "Dear sister, +the nearness of blood, as well as our having been brought up together, +naturally, as they ought, attach us to each other. You must already have +discovered the partiality I have had for you above my brothers, and I +think that I have perceived the same in you for me. We have been +hitherto led to this by nature, without deriving any other advantage from +it than the sole pleasure of conversing together. So far might be well +enough for our childhood, but now we are no longer children. You know +the high situation in which, by the favour of God and our good mother the +Queen, I am here placed. You may be assured that, as you are the person +in the world whom I love and esteem the most, you will always be a +partaker of my advancement. I know you are not wanting in wit and +discretion, and I am sensible you have it in your power to do me service +with the Queen our mother, and preserve me in my present employments. +It is a great point obtained for me, always to stand well in her favour. +I am fearful that my absence may be prejudicial to that purpose, and I +must necessarily be at a distance from Court. Whilst I am away, the King +my brother is with her, and has it in his power to insinuate himself into +her good graces. This I fear, in the end, may be of disservice to me. +The King my brother is growing older every day. He does not want for +courage, and, though he now diverts himself with hunting, he may grow +ambitious, and choose rather to chase men than beasts; in such a case I +must resign to him my commission as his lieutenant. This would prove the +greatest mortification that could happen to me, and I would even prefer +death to it. Under such an apprehension I have considered of the means +of prevention, and see none so feasible as having a confidential person +about the Queen my mother, who shall always be ready to espouse and +support my cause. I know no one so proper for that purpose as yourself, +who will be, I doubt not, as attentive to my interest as I should be +myself. You have wit, discretion, and fidelity, which are all that are +wanting, provided you will be so kind as to undertake such a good office. +In that case I shall have only to beg of you not to neglect attending her +morning and evening, to be the first with her and the last to leave her. +This will induce her to repose a confidence and open her mind to you. + +"To make her the more ready to do this, I shall take every opportunity, to +commend your good sense and understanding, and to tell her that I shall +take it kind in her to leave off treating you as a child, which, I shall +say, will contribute to her own comfort and satisfaction. I am well +convinced that she will listen to my advice. Do you speak to her with +the same confidence as you do to me, and be assured that she will approve +of it. It will conduce to your own happiness to obtain her favour. You +may do yourself service whilst you are labouring for my interest; and you +may rest satisfied that, after God, I shall think I owe all the good +fortune which may befall me to yourself." + +This was entirely a new kind of language to me. I had hitherto thought +of nothing but amusements, of dancing, hunting, and the like diversions; +nay, I had never yet discovered any inclination of setting myself off to +advantage by dress, and exciting an admiration of my person and figure. +I had no ambition of any kind, and had been so strictly brought up under +the Queen my mother that I scarcely durst speak before her; and if she +chanced to turn her eyes towards me I trembled, for fear that I had done +something to displease her. At the conclusion of my brother's harangue, +I was half inclined to reply to him in the words of Moses, when he was +spoken to from the burning bush: "Who am I, that I should go unto +Pharaoh? Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send." + +However, his words inspired me with resolution and powers I did not think +myself possessed of before. I had naturally a degree of courage, and, as +soon as I recovered from my astonishment, I found I was quite an altered +person. His address pleased me, and wrought in me a confidence in +myself; and I found I was become of more consequence than I had ever +conceived I had been. Accordingly, I replied to him thus: "Brother, if +God grant me the power of speaking to the Queen our mother as I have the +will to do, nothing can be wanting for your service, and you may expect +to derive all the good you hope from it, and from my solicitude and +attention for your interest. With respect to my undertaking such a +matter for you, you will soon perceive that I shall sacrifice all the +pleasures in this world to my watchfulness for your service. You may +perfectly rely on me, as there is no one that honours or regards you more +than I do. Be well assured that I shall act for you with the Queen my +mother as zealously as you would for yourself." + +These sentiments were more strongly impressed upon my mind than the words +I made use of were capable of conveying an idea of. This will appear +more fully in my following letters. + +As soon as we were returned from walking, the Queen my mother retired +with me into her closet, and addressed the following words to me: "Your +brother has been relating the conversation you have had together; he +considers you no longer as a child, neither shall I. It will be a great +comfort to me to converse with you as I would with your brother. For the +future you will freely speak your mind, and have no apprehensions of +taking too great a liberty, for it is what I wish." These words gave me +a pleasure then which I am now unable to express. I felt a satisfaction +and a joy which nothing before had ever caused me to feel. I now +considered the pastimes of my childhood as vain amusements. I shunned +the society of my former companions of the same age. I disliked dancing +and hunting, which I thought beneath my attention. I strictly complied +with her agreeable injunction, and never missed being with her at her +rising in the morning and going to rest at night. She did me the honour, +sometimes, to hold me in conversation for two and three hours at a time. +God was so gracious with me that I gave her great satisfaction; and she +thought she could not sufficiently praise me to those ladies who were +about her. I spoke of my brother's affairs to her, and he was constantly +apprised by me of her sentiments and opinion; so that he had every reason +to suppose I was firmly attached to his interest. + + + + +LETTER III. + +Le Guast.--His Character.--Anjou Affects to Be Jealous of the Guises.-- +Dissuades the Queen-mother from Reposing Confidence in Marguerite.-- +She Loses the Favour of the Queen-mother and Falls Sick.-- +Anjou's Hypocrisy.--He Introduces De Guise into Marguerite's Sick +Chamber.--Marguerite Demanded in Marriage by the King of Portugal.-- +Made Uneasy on That Account.--Contrives to Relieve Herself.-- +The Match with Portugal Broken off. + +I continued to pass my time with the Queen my mother, greatly to my +satisfaction, until after the battle of Moncontour. By the same despatch +that brought the news of this victory to the Court, my brother, who was +ever desirous to be near the Queen my mother, wrote her word that he was +about to lay siege to St. Jean d'Angely, and that it would be necessary +that the King should be present whilst it was going on. + +She, more anxious to see him than he could be to have her near him, +hastened to set out on the journey, taking me with her, and her customary +train of attendants. I likewise experienced great joy upon the occasion, +having no suspicion that any mischief awaited me. I was still young and +without experience, and I thought the happiness I enjoyed was always to +continue; but the malice of Fortune prepared for me at this interview a +reverse that I little expected, after the fidelity with which I had +discharged the trust my brother had reposed in me. + +Soon after our last meeting, it seems, my brother Anjou had taken Le +Guast to be near his person, who had ingratiated himself so far into his +favour and confidence that he saw only with his eyes, and spoke but as he +dictated. This evil-disposed man, whose whole life was one continued +scene of wickedness, had perverted his mind and filled it with maxims of +the most atrocious nature. He advised him to have no regard but for his +own interest; neither to love nor put trust in any one; and not to +promote the views or advantage of either brother or sister. These and +other maxims of the like nature, drawn from tho school of Machiavelli, +he was continually suggesting to him. He had so frequently inculcated +them that they were strongly impressed on his mind, insomuch that, upon +our arrival, when, after the first compliments, my mother began to open +in my praise and express the attachment I had discovered for him, this +was his reply, which he delivered with the utmost coldness: + +"He was well pleased," he said, "to have succeeded in the request he had +made to me; but that prudence directed us not to continue to make use of +the same expedients, for what was profitable at one time might not be so +at another." She asked him why he made that observation. This question +afforded the opportunity he wished for, of relating a story he had +fabricated, purposely to ruin me with her. + +He began with observing to her that I was grown very handsome, and that +M. de Guise wished to marry me; that his uncles, too, were very desirous +of such a match; and, if I should entertain a like passion for him, there +would be danger of my discovering to him all she said to me; that she +well knew the ambition of that house, and how ready they were, on all +occasions, to circumvent ours. It would, therefore, be proper that she +should not, for the future, communicate any matter of State to me, but, +by degrees, withdraw her confidence. + +I discovered the evil effects proceeding from this pernicious advice on +the very same evening. I remarked an unwillingness on her part to speak +to me before my brother; and, as soon as she entered into discourse with +him, she commanded me to go to bed. This command she repeated two or +three times. I quitted her closet, and left them together in +conversation; but, as soon as he was gone, I returned and entreated her +to let me know if I had been so unhappy as to have done anything, through +ignorance, which had given her offence. She was at first inclined to +dissemble with me; but at length she said to me thus: "Daughter, your +brother is prudent and cautious; you ought not to be displeased with him +for what he does, and you must believe what I shall tell you is right and +proper." She then related the conversation she had with my brother, as I +have just written it; and she then ordered me never to speak to her in my +brother's presence. + +These words were like so many daggers plunged into my breast. In my +disgrace, I experienced as much grief as I had before joy on being +received into her favour and confidence. I did not omit to say +everything to convince her of my entire ignorance of what my brother had +told her. I said it was a matter I had never heard mentioned before; and +that, had I known it, I should certainly have made her immediately +acquainted with it. All I said was to no purpose; my brother's words had +made the first impression; they were constantly present in her mind, and +outweighed probability and truth. When I discovered this, I told her +that I felt less uneasiness at being deprived of my happiness than I did +joy when I had acquired it; for my brother had taken it from me, as he +had given it. He had given it without reason; he had taken it away +without cause. He had praised me for discretion and prudence when I did +not merit it, and he suspected my fidelity on grounds wholly imaginary +and fictitious. I concluded with assuring her that I should never forget +my brother's behaviour on this occasion. + +Hereupon she flew into a passion and commanded me not to make the least +show of resentment at his behaviour. From that hour she gradually +withdrew her favour from me. Her son became the god of her idolatry, +at the shrine of whose will she sacrificed everything. + +The grief which I inwardly felt was very great and overpowered all my +faculties, until it wrought so far on my constitution as to contribute to +my receiving the infection which then prevailed in the army. A few days +after I fell sick of a raging fever, attended with purple spots, a malady +which carried off numbers, and, amongst the rest, the two principal +physicians belonging to the King and Queen, Chappelain and Castelan. +Indeed, few got over the disorder after being attacked with it. + +In this extremity the Queen my mother, who partly guessed the cause of my +illness, omitted nothing that might serve to remove it; and, without fear +of consequences, visited me frequently. Her goodness contributed much to +my recovery; but my brother's hypocrisy was sufficient to destroy all the +benefit I received from her attention, after having been guilty of so +treacherous a proceeding. After he had proved so ungrateful to me, he +came and sat at the foot of my bed from morning to night, and appeared as +anxiously attentive as if we had been the most perfect friends. My mouth +was shut up by the command I had received from the Queen our mother, so +that I only answered his dissembled concern with sighs, like Burrus in +the presence of Nero, when he was dying by the poison administered by the +hands of that tyrant. The sighs, however, which I vented in my brother's +presence, might convince him that I attributed my sickness rather to his +ill offices than to the prevailing contagion. + +God had mercy on me, and supported me through this dangerous illness. +After I had kept my bed a fortnight, the army changed its quarters, and +I was conveyed away with it in a litter. At the end of each day's march, +I found King Charles at the door of my quarters, ready, with the rest of +the good gentlemen belonging to the Court, to carry my litter up to my +bedside. In this manner I came to Angers from St. Jean d'Angely, sick in +body, but more sick in mind. Here, to my misfortune, M. de Guise and his +uncles had arrived before me. This was a circumstance which gave my good +brother great pleasure, as it afforded a colourable appearance to his +story. I soon discovered the advantage my brother would make of it to +increase my already too great mortification; for he came daily to see me, +and as constantly brought M. de Guise into my chamber with him. He +pretended the sincerest regard for De Guise, and, to make him believe it, +would take frequent opportunities of embracing him, crying out at the +same time, "would to God you were my brother!" This he often put in +practice before me, which M. de Guise seemed not to comprehend; but I, +who knew his malicious designs, lost all patience, yet did not dare to +reproach him with his hypocrisy. + +As soon as I was recovered, a treaty was set on foot for a marriage +betwixt the King of Portugal and me, an ambassador having been sent for +that purpose. The Queen my mother commanded me to prepare to give the +ambassador an audience; which I did accordingly. My brother had made her +believe that I was averse to this marriage; accordingly, she took me to +task upon it, and questioned me on the subject, expecting she should find +some cause to be angry with me. I told her my will had always been +guided by her own, and that whatever she thought right for me to do, +I should do it. She answered me, angrily, according as she had been +wrought upon, that I did not speak the sentiments of my heart, for she +well knew that the Cardinal de Lorraine had persuaded me into a promise +of having his nephew. I begged her to forward this match with the King +of Portugal, and I would convince her of my obedience to her commands. +Every day some new matter was reported to incense her against me. All +these were machinations worked up by the mind of Le Guast. In short, I +was constantly receiving some fresh mortification, so that I hardly +passed a day in quiet. On one side, the King of Spain was using his +utmost endeavours to break off the match with Portugal, and M. de Guise, +continuing at Court, furnished grounds for persecuting me on the other. +Still, not a single person of the Guises ever mentioned a word to me on +the subject; and it was well known that, for more than a twelvemonth, +M. de Guise had been paying his addresses to the Princesse de Porcian; +but the slow progress made in bringing this match to a conclusion was +said to be owing to his designs upon me. + +As soon as I made this discovery I resolved to write to my sister, Madame +de Lorraine, who had a great influence in the House of Porcian, begging +her to use her endeavours to withdraw M. de Guise from Court, and make +him conclude his match with the Princess, laying open to her the plot +which had been concerted to ruin the Guises and me. She readily saw +through it, came immediately to Court, and concluded the match, which +delivered me from the aspersions cast on my character, and convinced the +Queen my mother that what I had told her was the real truth. This at the +same time stopped the mouths of my enemies and gave me some repose. + +At length the King of Spain, unwilling that the King of Portugal should +marry out of his family, broke off the treaty which had been entered upon +for my marriage with him. + + + + +LETTER IV. + +Death of the Queen of Navarre--Marguerite's Marriage with Her Son, the +King of Navarre, Afterwards Henri IV. of France.--The Preparations for +That Solemnisation Described.--The Circumstances Which Led to the +Massacre of the Huguenots on St. Bartholomew's Day. + +Some short time after this a marriage was projected betwixt the Prince of +Navarre, now our renowned King Henri IV., and me. + +The Queen my mother, as she sat at table, discoursed for a long time upon +the subject with M. de Meru, the House of Montmorency having first +proposed the match. After the Queen had risen from table, he told me she +had commanded him to mention it to me. I replied that it was quite +unnecessary, as I had no will but her own; however, I should wish she +would be pleased to remember that I was a Catholic, and that I should +dislike to marry any one of a contrary persuasion. + +Soon after this the Queen sent for me to attend her in her closet. She +there informed me that the Montmorencys had proposed this match to her, +and that she was desirous to learn my sentiments upon it. + +I answered that my choice was governed by her pleasure, and that I only +begged her not to forget that I was a good Catholic. + +This treaty was in negotiation for some time after this conversation, and +was not finally settled until the arrival of the Queen of Navarre, his +mother, at Court, where she died soon after. + +Whilst the Queen of Navarre lay on her death-bed, a circumstance happened +of so whimsical a nature that, though not of consequence to merit a place +in the history, it may very well deserve to be related by me to you. +Madame de Nevers, whose oddities you well know, attended the Cardinal de +Bourbon, Madame de Guise, the Princesse de Conde, her sisters, and myself +to the late Queen of Navarre's apartments, whither we all went to pay +those last duties which her rank and our nearness of blood demanded of +us. We found the Queen in bed with her curtains undrawn, the chamber not +disposed with the pomp and ceremonies of our religion, but after the +simple manner of the Huguenots; that is to say, there were no priests, +no cross, nor any holy water. We kept ourselves at some distance from +the bed, but Madame de Nevers, whom you know the Queen hated more than +any woman besides, and which she had shown both in speech and by actions, +--Madame de Nevers, I say, approached the bedside, and, to the great +astonishment of all present, who well knew the enmity subsisting betwixt +them, took the Queen's hand, with many low curtseys, and kissed it; after +which, making another curtsey to the very ground, she retired and +rejoined us. + +A few months after the Queen's death, the Prince of Navarre, or rather, +as he was then styled, the King, came to Paris in deep mourning, attended +by eight hundred gentlemen, all in mourning habits. He was received with +every honour by King Charles and the whole Court, and, in a few days +after his arrival, our marriage was solemnised with all possible +magnificence; the King of Navarre and his retinue putting off their +mourning and dressing themselves in the most costly manner. The whole +Court, too, was richly attired; all which you can better conceive than I +am able to express. For my own part, I was set out in a most royal +manner; I wore a crown on my head with the 'coet', or regal close gown of +ermine, and I blazed in diamonds. My blue-coloured robe had a train to +it of four ells in length, which was supported by three princesses. +A platform had been raised, some height from the ground, which led from +the Bishop's palace to the Church of Notre-Dame. It was hung with cloth +of gold; and below it stood the people in throngs to view the procession, +stifling with heat. We were received at the church door by the Cardinal +de Bourbon, who officiated for that day, and pronounced the nuptial +benediction. After this we proceeded on the same platform to the tribune +which separates the nave from the choir, where was a double staircase, +one leading into the choir, the other through the nave to the church +door. The King of Navarre passed by the latter and went out of church. + +But fortune, which is ever changing, did not fail soon to disturb the +felicity of this union. This was occasioned by the wound received by the +Admiral, which had wrought the Huguenots up to a degree of desperation. +The Queen my mother was reproached on that account in such terms by the +elder Pardaillan and some other principal Huguenots, that she began to +apprehend some evil design. M. de Guise and my brother the King of +Poland, since Henri III. of France, gave it as their advice to be +beforehand with the Huguenots. King Charles was of a contrary opinion. +He had a great esteem for M. de La Rochefoucauld, Teligny, La Noue, and +some other leading men of the same religion; and, as I have since heard +him say, it was with the greatest difficulty he could be prevailed upon +to give his consent, and not before he had been made to understand that +his own life aid the safety of his kingdom depended upon it. + +The King having learned that Maurevel had made an attempt upon the +Admiral's life, by firing a pistol at him through a window,--in which +attempt he failed, having wounded the Admiral only in the shoulder,--and +supposing that Maurevel had done this at the instance of M. de Guise, to +revenge the death of his father, whom the Admiral had caused to be killed +in the same manner by Poltrot, he was so much incensed against M. de +Guise that he declared with an oath that he would make an example of him; +and, indeed, the King would have put M. de Guise under an arrest, if he +had not kept out of his sight the whole day. The Queen my mother used +every argument to convince King Charles that what had been done was for +the good of the State; and this because, as I observed before, the King +had so great a regard for the Admiral, La Noue, and Teligny, on account +of their bravery, being himself a prince of a gallant and noble spirit, +and esteeming others in whom he found a similar disposition. Moreover, +these designing men had insinuated themselves into the King's favour by +proposing an expedition to Flanders, with a view of extending his +dominions and aggrandising his power, knew would secure to themselves an +influence over his royal and generous mind. + +Upon this occasion, the Queen my mother represented to the King that the +attempt of M. de Guise upon the Admiral's life was excusable in a son +who, being denied justice, had no other means of avenging his father's +death. Moreover, the Admiral, she said, had deprived her by +assassination, during his minority and her regency, of a faithful servant +in the person of Charri, commander of the King's body-guard, which +rendered him deserving of the like treatment. + +Notwithstanding that the Queen my mother spoke thus to the King, +discovering by her expressions and in her looks all the grief which she +inwardly felt on the recollection of the loss of persons who had been +useful to her; yet, so much was King Charles inclined to save those who, +as he thought, would one day be serviceable to him, that he still +persisted in his determination to punish M. de Guise, for whom he ordered +strict search to be made. + +At length Pardaillan, disclosing by his menaces, during the supper of the +Queen my mother, the evil intentions of the Huguenots, she plainly +perceived that things were brought to so near a crisis, that, unless +steps were taken that very night to prevent it, the King and herself were +in danger of being assassinated. She, therefore, came to the resolution +of declaring to King Charles his real situation. For this purpose she +thought of the Marechal de Rais as the most proper person to break the +matter to the King, the Marshal being greatly in his favour and +confidence. + +Accordingly, the Marshal went to the King in his closet, between the +hours of nine and ten, and told him he was come as a faithful servant to +discharge his duty, and lay before him the danger in which he stood, if +he persisted in his resolution of punishing M. de Guise, as he ought now +to be informed that the attempt made upon the Admiral's life was not set +on foot by him alone, but that his (the King's) brother the King of +Poland, and the Queen his mother, had their shares in it; that he must be +sensible how much the Queen lamented Charri's assassination, for which +she had great reason, having very few servants about her upon whom she +could rely, and as it happened during the King's minority,--at the time, +moreover, when France was divided between the Catholics and the +Huguenots, M. de Guise being at the head of the former, and the Prince de +Conde of the latter, both alike striving to deprive him of his crown; +that through Providence, both his crown and kingdom had been preserved by +the prudence and good conduct of the Queen Regent, who in this extremity +found herself powerfully aided by the said Charri, for which reason she +had vowed to avenge his death; that, as to the Admiral, he must be ever +considered as dangerous to the State, and whatever show he might make of +affection for his Majesty's person, and zeal for his service in Flanders, +they must be considered as mere pretences, which he used to cover his +real design of reducing the kingdom to a state of confusion. + +The Marshal concluded with observing that the original intention had been +to make away with the Admiral only, as the most obnoxious man in the +kingdom; but Maurevel having been so unfortunate as to fail in his +attempt, and the Huguenots becoming desperate enough to resolve to take +up arms, with design to attack, not only M. de Guise, but the Queen his +mother, and his brother the King of Poland, supposing them, as well as +his Majesty, to have commanded Maurevel to make his attempt, he saw +nothing but cause of alarm for his Majesty's safety,--as well on the part +of the Catholics, if he persisted in his resolution to punish M. de +Guise, as of the Huguenots, for the reasons which he had just laid before +him. + + + + +LETTER V. + +The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day. + +King Charles, a prince of great prudence, always paying a particular +deference to his mother, and being much attached to the Catholic +religion, now convinced of the intentions of the Huguenots, adopted a +sudden resolution of following his mother's counsel, and putting himself +under the safeguard of the Catholics. It was not, however, without +extreme regret that he found he had it not in his power to save Teligny, +La Noue, and M. de La Rochefoucauld. + +He went to the apartments of the Queen his mother, and sending for M. de +Guise and all the Princes and Catholic officers, the "Massacre of St. +Bartholomew" was that night resolved upon. + +Immediately every hand was at work; chains were drawn across the streets, +the alarm-bells were sounded, and every man repaired to his post, +according to the orders he had received, whether it was to attack the +Admiral's quarters, or those of the other Huguenots. M. de Guise +hastened to the Admiral's, and Besme, a gentleman in the service of the +former, a German by birth, forced into his chamber, and having slain him +with a dagger, threw his body out of a window to his master. + +I was perfectly ignorant of what was going forward. I observed every one +to be in motion: the Huguenots, driven to despair by the attack upon the +Admiral's life, and the Guises, fearing they should not have justice done +them, whispering all they met in the ear. + +The Huguenots were suspicious of me because I was a Catholic, and the +Catholics because I was married to the King of Navarre, who was a +Huguenot. This being the case, no one spoke a syllable of the matter to +me. + +At night, when I went into the bedchamber of the Queen my mother, I +placed myself on a coffer, next my sister Lorraine, who, I could not but +remark, appeared greatly cast down. The Queen my mother was in +conversation with some one, but, as soon as she espied me, she bade me +go to bed. As I was taking leave, my sister seized me by the hand and +stopped me, at the same time shedding a flood of tears: "For the love of +God," cried she, "do not stir out of this chamber!" I was greatly +alarmed at this exclamation; perceiving which, the Queen my mother called +my sister to her, and chid her very severely. My sister replied it was +sending me away to be sacrificed; for, if any discovery should be made, +I should be the first victim of their revenge. The Queen my mother made +answer that, if it pleased God, I should receive no hurt, but it was +necessary I should go, to prevent the suspicion that might arise from my +staying. + +I perceived there was something on foot which I was not to know, but what +it was I could not make out from anything they said. + +The Queen again bade me go to bed in a peremptory tone. My sister wished +me a good night, her tears flowing apace, but she did not dare to say a +word more; and I left the bedchamber more dead than alive. + +As soon as I reached my own closet, I threw myself upon my knees and +prayed to God to take me into his protection and save me; but from whom +or what, I was ignorant. Hereupon the King my husband, who was already +in bed, sent for me. I went to him, and found the bed surrounded by +thirty or forty Huguenots, who were entirely unknown to me; for I had +been then but a very short time married. Their whole discourse, during +the night, was upon what had happened to the Admiral, and they all came +to a resolution of the next day demanding justice of the King against M. +de Guise; and, if it was refused, to take it themselves. + +For my part, I was unable to sleep a wink the whole night, for thinking +of my sister's tears and distress, which had greatly alarmed me, although +I had not the least knowledge of the real cause. As soon as day broke, +the King my husband said he would rise and play at tennis until King +Charles was risen, when he would go to him immediately and demand +justice. He left the bedchamber, and all his gentlemen followed. + +As soon as I beheld it was broad day, I apprehended all the danger my +sister had spoken of was over; and being inclined to sleep, I bade my +nurse make the door fast, and I applied myself to take some repose. In +about an hour I was awakened by a violent noise at the door, made with +both hands and feet, and a voice calling out, "Navarre! Navarre!" My +nurse, supposing the King my husband to be at the door, hastened to open +it, when a gentleman, named M. de Teian, ran in, and threw himself +immediately upon my bed. He had received a wound in his arm from a +sword, and another by a pike, and was then pursued by four archers, +who followed him into the bedchamber. Perceiving these last, I jumped +out of bed, and the poor gentleman after me, holding me fast by the +waist. I did not then know him; neither was I sure that he came to do me +no harm, or whether the archers were in pursuit of him or me. In this +situation I screamed aloud, and he cried out likewise, for our fright was +mutual. At length, by God's providence, M. de Nangay, captain of the +guard, came into the bed-chamber, and, seeing me thus surrounded, though +he could not help pitying me, he was scarcely able to refrain from +laughter. However, he reprimanded the archers very severely for their +indiscretion, and drove them out of the chamber. At my request he +granted the poor gentleman his life, and I had him put to bed in my +closet, caused his wounds to be dressed, and did not suffer him to quit +my apartment until he was perfectly cured. I changed my shift, because +it was stained with the blood of this man, and, whilst I was doing so, +De Nangay gave me an account of the transactions of the foregoing night, +assuring me that the King my husband was safe, and actually at that +moment in the King's bedchamber. He made me muffle myself up in a cloak, +and conducted me to the apartment of my sister, Madame de Lorraine, +whither I arrived more than half dead. As we passed through the +antechamber, all the doors of which were wide open, a gentleman of the +name of Bourse, pursued by archers, was run through the body with a pike, +and fell dead at my feet. As if I had been killed by the same stroke, +I fell, and was caught by M. de Nangay before I reached the ground. +As soon as I recovered from this fainting-fit, I went into my sister's +bedchamber, and was immediately followed by M. de Mioflano, first +gentleman to the King my husband, and Armagnac, his first valet de +chambre, who both came to beg me to save their lives. I went and threw +myself on my knees before the King and the Queen my mother, and obtained +the lives of both of them. + +Five or six days afterwards, those who were engaged in this plot, +considering that it was incomplete whilst the King my husband and the +Prince de Conde remained alive, as their design was not only to dispose +of the Huguenots, but of the Princes of the blood likewise; and knowing +that no attempt could be made on my husband whilst I continued to be his +wife, devised a scheme which they suggested to the Queen my mother for +divorcing me from him. Accordingly, one holiday, when I waited upon her +to chapel, she charged me to declare to her, upon my oath, whether I +believed my husband to be like other men. "Because," said she, "if he is +not, I can easily procure you a divorce from him." I begged her to +believe that I was not sufficiently competent to answer such a question, +and could only reply, as the Roman lady did to her husband, when he chid +her for not informing him of his stinking breath, that, never having +approached any other man near enough to know a difference, she thought +all men had been alike in that respect. "But," said I, "Madame, since +you have put the question to me, I can only declare I am content to +remain as I am;" and this I said because I suspected the design of +separating me from my husband was in order to work some mischief against +him. + + + + +LETTER VI. + +Henri, Duc d'Anjou, Elected King of Poland, Leaves France.-- +Huguenot Plots to Withdraw the Duc d'Alencon and the King of Navarre from +Court.--Discovered and Defeated by Marguerite's Vigilance.--She Draws Up +an Eloquent Defence, Which Her Husband Delivers before a Committee from +the Court of Parliament.--Alencon and Her Husband, under a Close Arrest, +Regain Their Liberty by the Death of Charles IX. + +We accompanied the King of Poland as far as Beaumont. For some months +before he quitted France, he had used every endeavour to efface from my +mind the ill offices he had so ungratefully done me. He solicited to +obtain the same place in my esteem which he held during our infancy; and, +on taking leave of me, made me confirm it by oaths and promises. His +departure from France, and King Charles's sickness, which happened just +about the same time, excited the spirit of the two factions into which +the kingdom was divided, to form a variety of plots. The Huguenots, on +the death of the Admiral, had obtained from the King my husband, and my +brother Alencon, a written obligation to avenge it. Before St. +Bartholomew's Day, they had gained my brother over to their party, by the +hope of securing Flanders for him. They now persuaded my husband and him +to leave the King and Queen on their return, and pass into Champagne, +there to join some troops which were in waiting to receive them. + +M. de Miossans, a Catholic gentleman, having received an intimation of +this design, considered it so prejudicial to the interests of the King +his master, that he communicated it to me with the intention of +frustrating a plot of so much danger to themselves, and to the State. +I went immediately to the King and the Queen my mother, and informed them +that. I had a matter of the utmost importance to lay before them; but +that I could not declare it unless they would be pleased to promise me +that no harm should ensue from it to such as I should name to them, and +that they would put a stop to what was going forward without publishing +their knowledge of it. Having obtained my request, I told them that my +brother Alencon and the King my husband had an intention, on the very +next day, of joining some Huguenot troops, which expected them, in order +to fulfil the engagement they had made upon the Admiral's death; and for +this their intention, I begged they might be excused, and that they might +be prevented from going away without any discovery being made that their +designs had been found out. All this was granted me, and measures were +so prudently taken to stay them, that they had not the least suspicion +that their intended evasion was known. Soon after, we arrived at St. +Germain, where we stayed some time, on account of the King's +indisposition. All this while my brother Alencon used every means he +could devise to ingratiate himself with me, until at last I promised him +my friendship, as I had before done to my brother the King of Poland. +As he had been brought up at a distance from Court, we had hitherto known +very little of each other, and kept ourselves at a distance. Now that he +had made the first advances, in so respectful and affectionate a manner, +I resolved to receive him into a firm friendship, and to interest myself +in whatever concerned him, without prejudice, however, to the interests +of my good brother King Charles, whom I loved more than any one besides, +and who continued to entertain a great regard for me, of which he gave me +proofs as long as he lived. + +Meanwhile King Charles was daily growing worse, and the Huguenots +constantly forming new plots. They were very desirous to get my brother +the Duc d'Alencon and the King my husband away from Court. I got +intelligence, from time to time, of their designs; and, providentially, +the Queen my mother defeated their intentions when a day had been fixed +on for the arrival of the Huguenot troops at St. Germain. + +To avoid this visit, we set off the night before for Paris, two hours +after midnight, putting King Charles in a litter, and the Queen my mother +taking my brother and the King my husband with her in her own carriage. + +They did not experience on this occasion such mild treatment as they had +hitherto done, for the King going to the Wood of Vincennes, they were not +permitted to set foot out of the palace. This misunderstanding was so +far from being mitigated by time, that the mistrust and discontent were +continually increasing, owing to the insinuations and bad advice offered +to the King by those who wished the ruin and downfall of our house. +To such a height had these jealousies risen that the Marechaux de +Montmorency and de Cosse were put under a close arrest, and La Mole and +the Comte de Donas executed. Matters were now arrived at such a pitch +that commissioners were appointed from the Court of Parliament to hear +and determine upon the case of my brother and the King my husband. + +My husband, having no counsellor to assist him, desired me to draw up +his defence in such a manner that he might not implicate any person, +and, at the same time, clear my brother and himself from any criminality +of conduct. With God's help I accomplished this task to his great +satisfaction, and to the surprise of the commissioners, who did not +expect to find them so well prepared to justify themselves. + +As it was apprehended, after the death of La Mole and the Comte de Donas, +that their lives were likewise in danger, I had resolved to save them at +the hazard of my own ruin with the King, whose favour I entirely enjoyed +at that time. I was suffered to pass to and from them in my coach, with +my women, who were not even required by the guard to unmask, nor was my +coach ever searched. This being the case, I had intended to convey away +one of them disguised in a female habit. But the difficulty lay in +settling betwixt themselves which should remain behind in prison, they +being closely watched by their guards, and the escape of one bringing the +other's life into hazard. Thus they could never agree upon the point, +each of them wishing to be the person I should deliver from confinement. + +But Providence put a period to their imprisonment by a means which proved +very unfortunate for me. This was no other than the death of King +Charles, who was the only stay and support of my life,--a brother from +whose hands I never received anything but good; who, during the +persecution I underwent at Angers, through my brother Anjou, assisted me +with all his advice and credit. In a word, when I lost King Charles, I +lost everything. + + + + +LETTER VII. + +Accession of Henri III.--A Journey to Lyons.--Marguerite's +Faith in Supernatural Intelligence. + +After this fatal event, which was as unfortunate for France as for me, +we went to Lyons to give the meeting to the King of Poland, now Henri +III. of France. The new King was as much governed by Le Guast as ever, +and had left this intriguing, mischievous man behind in France to keep +his party together. Through this man's insinuations he had conceived the +most confirmed jealousy of my brother Alencon. He suspected that I was +the bond that connected the King my husband and my brother, and that, to +dissolve their union, it would be necessary to create a coolness between +me and my husband, and to work up a quarrel of rivalship betwixt them +both by means of Madame de Sauves, whom they both visited. This +abominable plot, which proved the source of so much disquietude and +unhappiness, as well to my brother as myself, was as artfully conducted +as it was wickedly designed. + +Many have held that God has great personages more immediately under his +protection, and that minds of superior excellence have bestowed on them +a good genius, or secret intelligencer, to apprise them of good, or warn +them against evil. Of this number I might reckon the Queen my mother, +who has had frequent intimations of the kind; particularly the very night +before the tournament which proved so fatal to the King my father, she +dreamed that she saw him wounded in the eye, as it really happened; upon +which she awoke, and begged him not to run a course that day, but content +himself with looking on. Fate prevented the nation from enjoying so much +happiness as it would have done had he followed her advice. Whenever she +lost a child, she beheld a bright flame shining before her, and would +immediately cry out, "God save my children!" well knowing it was the +harbinger of the death of some one of them, which melancholy news was +sure to be confirmed very shortly after. During her very dangerous +illness at Metz, where she caught a pestilential fever, either from the +coal fires, or by visiting some of the nunneries which had been infected, +and from which she was restored to health and to the kingdom through the +great skill and experience of that modern Asculapius, M. de Castilian, +her physician--I say, during that illness, her bed being surrounded by my +brother King Charles, my brother and sister Lorraine, several members of +the Council, besides many ladies and princesses, not choosing to quit +her, though without hopes of her life, she was heard to cry out, as if +she saw the battle of Jarnac: "There! see how they flee! My son, follow +them to victory! Ah, my son falls! O my God, save him! See there! the +Prince de Conde is dead!" All who were present looked upon these words +as proceeding from her delirium, as she knew that my brother Anjou was on +the point of giving battle, and thought no more of it. On the night +following, M. de Losses brought the news of the battle; and, it being +supposed that she would be pleased to hear of it, she was awakened, at +which she appeared to be angry, saying: "Did I not know it yesterday?" +It was then that those about her recollected what I have now related, and +concluded that it was no delirium, but one of those revelations made by +God to great and illustrious persons. Ancient history furnishes many +examples of the like kind amongst the pagans, as the apparition of Brutus +and many others, which I shall not mention, it not being my intention to +illustrate these Memoirs with such narratives, but only to relate the +truth, and that with as much expedition as I am able, that you may be the +sooner in possession of my story. + +I am far from supposing that I am worthy of these divine admonitions; +nevertheless, I should accuse myself of ingratitude towards my God for +the benefits I have received, which I esteem myself obliged to +acknowledge whilst I live; and I further believe myself bound to bear +testimony of his goodness and power, and the mercies he hath shown me, +so that I can declare no extraordinary accident ever befell me, whether +fortunate or otherwise, but I received some warning of it, either by +dream or in some other way, so that I may say with the poet + + "De mon bien, on mon mal, + Mon esprit m'est oracle." + + (Whate'er of good or ill befell, + My mind was oracle to tell.) + +And of this I had a convincing proof on the arrival of the King of +Poland, when the Queen my mother went to meet him. Amidst the embraces +and compliments of welcome in that warm season, crowded as we were +together and stifling with heat, I found a universal shivering come over +me, which was plainly perceived by those near me. It was with difficulty +I could conceal what I felt when the King, having saluted the Queen my +mother, came forward to salute me. This secret intimation of what was to +happen thereafter made a strong impression on my mind at the moment, +and I thought of it shortly after, when I discovered that the King had +conceived a hatred of me through the malicious suggestions of Le Guast, +who had made him believe, since the King's death, that I espoused my +brother Alencon's party during his absence, and cemented a friendship +betwixt the King my husband and him. + + + + +LETTER VIII. + +What Happened at Lyons. + +An opportunity was diligently sought by my enemies to effect their design +of bringing about a misunderstanding betwixt my brother Alencon, the King +my husband, and me, by creating a jealousy of me in my husband, and in my +brother and husband, on account of their mutual love for Madame de +Sauves. + +One afternoon, the Queen my mother having retired to her closet to finish +some despatches which were likely to detain her there for some time, +Madame de Nevers, your kinswoman, Madame de Rais, another of your +relations, Bourdeille, and Surgeres asked me whether I would not wish to +see a little of the city. Whereupon Mademoiselle de Montigny, the niece +of Madame Usez, observing to us that the Abbey of St. Pierre was a +beautiful convent, we all resolved to visit it. She then begged to go +with us, as she said she had an aunt in that convent, and as it was not +easy to gain admission into it, except in the company of persons of +distinction. Accordingly, she went with us; and there being six of us, +the carriage was crowded. Over and above those I have mentioned, there +was Madame de Curton, the lady of my bedchamber, who always attended me. +Liancourt, first esquire to the King, and Camille placed themselves on +the steps of Torigni's carriage, supporting themselves as well as they +were able, making themselves merry on the occasion, and saying they would +go and see the handsome nuns, too. I look upon it as ordered by Divine +Providence that I should have Mademoiselle de Montigny with me, who was +not well acquainted with any lady of the company, and that the two +gentlemen just mentioned, who were in the confidence of King Henri, +should likewise be of the party, as they were able to clear me of the +calumny intended to be fixed upon me. + +Whilst we were viewing the convent, my carriage waited for us in the +square. In the square many gentlemen belonging to the Court had their +lodgings. My carriage was easily to be distinguished, as it was gilt and +lined with yellow velvet trimmed with silver. We had not come out of the +convent when the King passed through the square on his way to see Quelus, +who was then sick. He had with him the King my husband, D'O------ , +and the fat fellow Ruff. + +The King, observing no one in my carriage, turned to my husband and said: +"There is your wife's coach, and that is the house where Bide lodges. +Bide is sick, and I will engage my word she is gone upon a visit to him. +Go," said he to Ruff, "and see whether she is not there." In saying +this, the King addressed himself to a proper tool for his malicious +purpose, for this fellow Ruffs was entirely devoted to Le Guast. +I need not tell you he did not find me there; however, knowing the King's +intention, he, to favour it, said loud enough for the King my husband to +hear him: "The birds have been there, but they are now flown." This +furnished sufficient matter for conversation until they reached home. + +Upon this occasion, the King my husband displayed all the good sense and +generosity of temper for which he is remarkable. He saw through the +design, and he despised the maliciousness of it. The King my brother was +anxious to see the Queen my mother before me, to whom he imparted the +pretended discovery, and she, whether to please a son on whom she doted, +or whether she really gave credit to the story, had related it to some +ladies with much seeming anger. + +Soon afterwards I returned with the ladies who had accompanied me to St. +Pierre's, entirely ignorant of what had happened. I found the King my +husband in our apartments, who began to laugh on seeing me, and said: +"Go immediately to the Queen your mother, but I promise you you will not +return very well pleased." I asked him the reason, and what had +happened. He answered: "I shall tell you nothing; but be assured of +this, that I do not give the least credit to the story, which I plainly +perceive to be fabricated in order to stir up a difference betwixt us +two, and break off the friendly intercourse between your brother and me." + +Finding I could get no further information on the subject from him, +I went to the apartment of the Queen my mother. I met M. de Guise in the +antechamber, who was not displeased at the prospect of a dissension in +our family, hoping that he might make some advantage of it. He addressed +me in these words: "I waited here expecting to see you, in order to +inform you that some ill office has been done you with the Queen." He +then told me the story he had learned of D'O------ , who, being intimate +with your kinswoman, had informed M. de Guise of it, that he might +apprise us. + +I went into the Queen's bedchamber, but did not find my mother there. +However, I saw Madame de Nemours, the rest of the princesses, and other +ladies, who all exclaimed on seeing me: "Good God! the Queen your mother +is in such a rage; we would advise you, for the present, to keep out of +her sight." + +"Yes," said I, "so I would, had I been guilty of what the King has +reported; but I assure you all I am entirely innocent, and must therefore +speak with her and clear myself." + +I then went into her closet, which was separated from the bedchamber by a +slight partition only, so that our whole conversation could be distinctly +heard. She no sooner set eyes upon me than she flew into a great +passion, and said everything that the fury of her resentment suggested. +I related to her the whole truth, and begged to refer her to the company +which attended me, to the number of ten or twelve persons, desiring her +not to rely on the testimony of those more immediately about me, but +examine Mademoiselle Montigny, who did not belong to me, and Liancourt +and Camille, who were the King's servants. + +She would not hear a word I had to offer, but continued to rate me in a +furious manner; whether it was through fear, or affection for her son, or +whether she believed the story in earnest, I know not. When I observed +to her that I understood the King had done me this ill office in her +opinion, her anger was redoubled, and she endeavoured to make me believe +that she had been informed of the circumstance by one of her own valets +de chambre, who had himself seen me at the place. Perceiving that I gave +no credit to this account of the matter, she became more and more +incensed against me. + +All that was said was perfectly heard by those in the next room. At +length I left her closet, much chagrined; and returning to my own +apartments, I found the King my husband there, who said to me: + +"Well, was it not as I told you?" + +He, seeing me under great concern, desired me not to grieve about it, +adding that "Liancourt and Camille would attend the King that night in +his bedchamber, and relate the affair as it really was; and to-morrow," +continued he, "the Queen your mother will receive you in a very different +manner." + +"But, monsieur," I replied, "I have received too gross an affront in +public to forgive those who were the occasion of it; but that is nothing +when compared with the malicious intention of causing so heavy a +misfortune to befall me as to create a variance betwixt you and me." + +"But," said he, "God be thanked, they have failed in it." + +"For that," answered I, "I am the more beholden to God and your amiable +disposition. However," continued I, "we may derive this good from it, +that it ought to be a warning to us to put ourselves upon our guard +against the King's stratagems to bring about a disunion betwixt you and +my brother, by causing a rupture betwixt you and me." + +Whilst I was saying this, my brother entered the apartment, and I made +them renew their protestations of friendship. But what oaths or promises +can prevail against love! This will appear more fully in the sequel of +my story. + +An Italian banker, who had concerns with my brother, came to him the next +morning, and invited him, the King my husband, myself, the princesses, +and other ladies, to partake of an entertainment in a garden belonging to +him. Having made it a constant rule, before and after I married, as long +as I remained in the Court of the Queen my mother, to go to no place +without her permission, I waited on her, at her return from mass, +and asked leave to be present at this banquet. She refused to give any +leave, and said she did not care where I went. I leave you to judge, +who know my temper, whether I was not greatly mortified at this rebuff. + +Whilst we were enjoying this entertainment, the King, having spoken with +Liancourt, Camille, and Mademoiselle Montigny, was apprised of the +mistake which the malice or misapprehension of Ruff had led him into. +Accordingly, he went to the Queen my mother and related the whole truth, +entreating her to remove any ill impressions that might remain with me, +as he perceived that I was not deficient in point of understanding, and +feared that I might be induced to engage in some plan of revenge. + +When I returned from the banquet before mentioned, I found that what the +King my husband had foretold was come to pass; for the Queen my mother +sent for me into her back closet, which was adjoining the King's, and +told me that she was now acquainted with the truth, and found I had not +deceived her with a false story. She had discovered, she said, that +there was not the least foundation for the report her valet de chambre +had made, and should dismiss him from her service as a bad man. As she +perceived by my looks that I saw through this disguise, she said +everything she could think of to persuade me to a belief that the King +had not mentioned it to her. She continued her arguments, and I still +appeared incredulous. At length the King entered the closet, and made +many apologies, declaring he had been imposed on, and assuring me of his +most cordial friendship and esteem; and thus matters were set to rights +again. + + + + +LETTER IX. + +Fresh Intrigues.--Marriage of Henri III.--Bussi Arrives at Court and +Narrowly Escapes Assassination. + +After staying some time at Lyons, we went to Avignon. Le Guast, not +daring to hazard any fresh imposture, and finding that my conduct +afforded no ground for jealousy on the part of my husband, plainly +perceived that he could not, by that means, bring about a +misunderstanding betwixt my brother and the King my husband. He +therefore resolved to try what he could effect through Madame de Sauves. +In order to do this, he obtained such an influence over her that she +acted entirely as he directed; insomuch that, by his artful instructions, +the passion which these young men had conceived, hitherto wavering and +cold, as is generally the case at their time of life, became of a sudden +so violent that ambition and every obligation of duty were at once +absorbed by their attentions to this woman. + +This occasioned such a jealousy betwixt them that, though her favours +were divided with M. de Guise, Le Guast, De Souvray, and others, any one +of whom she preferred to the brothers-in-law, such was the infatuation of +these last, that each considered the other as his only rival. + +To carry on De Guast's sinister designs, this woman persuaded the King my +husband that I was jealous of her, and on that account it was that I +joined with my brother. As we are ready to give ear and credit to those +we love, he believed all she said. From this time he became distant and +reserved towards me, shunning my presence as much as possible; whereas, +before, he was open and communicative to me as to a sister, well knowing +that I yielded to his pleasure in all things, and was far from harbouring +jealousy of any kind. + +What I had dreaded, I now perceived had come to pass. This was the loss +of his favour and good opinion; to preserve which I had studied to gain +his confidence by a ready compliance with his wishes, well knowing that +mistrust is the sure forerunner of hatred. + +I now turned my mind to an endeavour to wean my brother's affection from +Madame de Sauves, in order to counterplot Le Guast in his design to bring +about a division, and thereby to effect our ruin. I used every means +with my brother to divert his passion; but the fascination was too +strong, and my pains proved ineffectual. In anything else, my brother +would have suffered himself to be ruled by me; but the charms of this +Circe, aided by that sorcerer, Le Guast, were too powerful to be +dissolved by my advice. So far was he from profiting by my counsel that +he was weak enough to communicate it to her. So blind are lovers! + +Her vengeance was excited by this communication, and she now entered more +fully into the designs of Le Guast. In consequence, she used all her art +to, make the King my husband conceive an aversion for me; insomuch that +he scarcely ever spoke with me. He left her late at night, and, to +prevent our meeting in the morning, she directed him to come to her at +the Queen's levee, which she duly attended; after which he passed the +rest of the day with her. My brother likewise followed her with the +greatest assiduity, and she had the artifice to make each of them think +that he alone had any place in her esteem. Thus was a jealousy kept up +betwixt them, and, in consequence, disunion and mutual ruin. + +We made a considerable stay at Avignon, whence we proceeded through +Burgundy and Champagne to Rheims, where the King's marriage was +celebrated. From Rheims we came to Paris, things going on in their usual +train, and Le Guast prosecuting his designs, with all the success he +could wish. At Paris my brother was joined by Bussi, whom he received +with all the favour which his bravery merited. He was inseparable from +my brother, in consequence of which I frequently saw him, for my brother +and I were always together, his household being equally at my devotion as +if it were my own. Your aunt, remarking this harmony betwixt us, has +often told me that it called to her recollection the times of my uncle, +M. d'Orleans, and my aunt, Madame de Savoie. + +Le Guast thought this a favourable circumstance to complete his design. +Accordingly, he suggested to Madame de Sauves to make my husband believe +that it was on account of Bussi that I frequented my brother's apartments +so constantly. + +The King my husband, being fully informed of all my proceedings from +persons in his service who attended me everywhere, could not be induced +to lend an ear to this story. Le Guast, finding himself foiled in this +quarter, applied to the King, who was well inclined to listen to the +tale, on account of his dislike to my brother and me, whose friendship +for each other was unpleasing to him. + +Besides this, he was incensed against Bussi, who, being formerly attached +to him, had now devoted himself wholly to my brother,--an acquisition +which, on account of the celebrity of Bussi's fame for parts and valour, +redounded greatly to my brother's honour, whilst it increased the malice +and envy of his enemies. + +The King, thus worked upon by Le Guast, mentioned it to the Queen my +mother, thinking it would have the same effect on her as the tale which +was trumped up at Lyons. But she, seeing through the whole design, +showed him the improbability of the story, adding that he must have some +wicked people about him, who could put such notions in his head, +observing that I was very unfortunate to have fallen upon such evil +times. "In my younger days," said she, "we were allowed to converse +freely with all the gentlemen who belonged to the King our father, the +Dauphin, and M. d'Orldans, your uncles. It was common for them to +assemble in the bedchamber of Madame Marguerite, your aunt, as well as in +mine, and nothing was thought of it. Neither ought it to appear strange +that Bussi sees my daughter in the presence of her husband's servants. +They are not shut up together. Bussi is a person of quality, and holds +the first place in your brother's family. What grounds are there for +such a calumny? At Lyons you caused me to offer her an affront, which I +fear she will never forget." + +The King was astonished to hear his mother talk in this manner, and +interrupted her with saying: + +"Madame, I only relate what I have heard." + +"But who is it," answered she, "that tells you all this? I fear no one +that intends you any good, but rather one that wishes to create divisions +amongst you all." + +As soon as the King had left her she told me all that had passed, and +said: "You are unfortunate to live in these times." Then calling your +aunt, Madame de Dampierre, they entered into a discourse concerning the +pleasures and innocent freedoms of the times they had seen, when scandal +and malevolence were unknown at Court. + +Le Guast, finding this plot miscarry, was not long in contriving another. +He addressed himself for this purpose to certain gentlemen who attended +the King my husband. These had been formerly the friends of Bussi, but, +envying the glory he had obtained, were now become his enemies. Under +the mask of zeal for their master, they disguised the envy, which they +harboured in their breasts. They entered into a design of assassinating +Bussi as he left my brother to go to his own lodgings, which was +generally at a late hour. They knew that he was always accompanied home +by fifteen or sixteen gentlemen, belonging to my brother, and that, +notwithstanding he wore no sword, having been lately wounded in the right +arm, his presence was sufficient to inspire the rest with courage. + +In order, therefore, to make sure work, they resolved on attacking him +with two or three hundred men, thinking that night would throw a veil +over the disgrace of such an assassination. + +Le Guast, who commanded a regiment of guards, furnished the requisite +number of men, whom he disposed in five or six divisions, in the street +through which he was to pass. Their orders were to put out the torches +and flambeaux, and then to fire their pieces, after which they were to +charge his company, observing particularly to attack one who had his +right arm slung in a scarf. + +Fortunately they escaped the intended massacre, and, fighting their way +through, reached Bussi's lodgings, one gentleman only being killed, who +was particularly attached to M. de Bussi, and who was probably mistaken +for him, as he had his arm likewise slung in a scarf. + +An Italian gentleman, who belonged to my brother, left them at the +beginning of the attack, and came running back to the Louvre. As soon as +he reached my brother's chamber door, he cried out aloud: + +"Busai is assassinated!" My brother was going out, but I, hearing the +cry of assassination, left my chamber, by good fortune not being +undressed, and stopped my brother. I then sent for the Queen my mother +to come with all haste in order to prevent him from going out, as he was +resolved to do, regardless of what might happen. It was with difficulty +we could stay him, though the Queen my mother represented the hazard he +ran from the darkness of the night, and his ignorance of the nature of +the attack, which might have been purposely designed by Le Guast to take +away his life. Her entreaties and persuasions would have been of little +avail if she had not used her authority to order all the doors to be +barred, and taken the resolution of remaining where she was until she had +learned what had really happened. + +Bussi, whom God had thus miraculously preserved, with that presence of +mind which he was so remarkable for in time of battle and the most +imminent danger, considering within himself when he reached home the +anxiety of his master's mind should he have received any false report, +and fearing he might expose himself to hazard upon the first alarm being +given (which certainly would have been the case, if my mother had not +interfered and prevented it), immediately despatched one of his people to +let him know every circumstance. + +The next day Busai showed himself at the Louvre without the least dread +of enemies, as if what had happened had been merely the attack of a +tournament. My brother exhibited much pleasure at the sight of Busai, +but expressed great resentment at such a daring attempt to deprive him of +so brave and valuable a servant, a man whom Le Guast durst not attack in +any other way than by a base assassination. + + + + +LETTER X. + +Bussi Is Sent from Court.--Marguerite's Husband Attacked with a Fit of +Epilepsy.--Her Great Care of Him.--Torigni Dismissed from Marguerite's +Service.--The King of Navarre and the Duc d'Alencon Secretly Leave the +Court. + +The Queen my mother, a woman endowed with the greatest prudence and +foresight of any one I ever knew, apprehensive of evil consequences from +this affair, and fearing a dissension betwixt her two sons, advised my +brother to fall upon some pretence for sending Bussi away from Court. +In this advice I joined her, and, through our united counsel and request, +my brother was prevailed upon to give his consent. I had every reason to +suppose that Le Guast would take advantage of the rencounter to foment +the coolness which already existed betwixt my brother and the King my +husband into an open rupture. Bussi, who implicitly followed my +brother's directions in everything, departed with a company of the +bravest noblemen that were about the latter's person. + +Bussi was now removed from the machinations of Le Guast, who likewise +failed in accomplishing a design he had long projected,--to disunite the +King my husband and me. + +One night my husband was attacked with a fit, and continued insensible +for the space of an hour,--occasioned, I supposed, by his excesses with +women, for I never knew anything of the kind to happen to him before. +However, as it was my duty so to do, I attended him with so much care and +assiduity that, when he recovered, he spoke of it to every one, declaring +that, if I had not perceived his indisposition and called for the help of +my women, he should not have survived the fit. + +From this time he treated me with more kindness, and the cordiality +betwixt my brother and him was again revived, as if I had been the point +of union at which they were to meet, or the cement that joined them +together. + +Le Guast was now at his wit's end for some fresh contrivance to breed +disunion in the Court. + +He had lately persuaded the King to remove from about the person of the +Queen-consort a princess of the greatest virtue and most amiable +qualities, a female attendant of the name of Changi, for whom the Queen +entertained a particular esteem, as having been brought up with her. +Being successful in this measure, he now thought of making the King my +husband send away Torigni, whom I greatly regarded. + +The argument he used with the King was, that young princesses ought to +have no favourites about them. + +The King, yielding to this man's persuasions, spoke of it to my husband, +who observed that it would be a matter that would greatly distress me; +that if I had an esteem for Torigni it was not without cause, as she had +been brought up with the Queen of Spain and me from our infancy; that, +moreover, Torigni was a young lady of good understanding, and had been of +great use to him during his confinement at Vincennes; that it would be +the greatest ingratitude in him to overlook services of such a nature, +and that he remembered well when his Majesty had expressed the same +sentiments. + +Thus did he defend himself against the performance of so ungrateful an +action. However, the King listened only to the arguments of Le Guast, +and told my husband that he should have no more love for him if he did +not remove Torigni from about me the very next morning. + +He was forced to comply, greatly contrary to his will, and, as he has +since declared to me, with much regret. Joining entreaties to commands, +he laid his injunctions on me accordingly. + +How displeasing this separation was I plainly discovered by the many +tears I shed on receiving his orders. It was in vain to represent to him +the injury done to my character by the sudden removal of one who had been +with me from my earliest years, and was so greatly, in my esteem and +confidence; he could not give an ear to my reasons, being firmly bound by +the promise he had made to the King. + +Accordingly, Torigni left me that very day, and went to the house of a +relation, M. Chastelas. I was so greatly offended with this fresh +indignity, after so many of the kind formerly received, that I could not +help yielding to resentment; and my grief and concern getting the upper +hand of my prudence, I exhibited a great coolness and indifference +towards my husband. Le Guast and Madame de Sauves were successful in +creating a like indifference on his part, which, coinciding with mine, +separated us altogether, and we neither spoke to each other nor slept in +the same bed. + +A few days after this, some faithful servants about the person of the +King my husband remarked to him the plot which had been concerted with so +much artifice to lead him to his ruin, by creating a division, first +betwixt him and my brother, and next betwixt him and me, thereby +separating him from those in whom only he could hope for his principal +support. They observed to him that already matters were brought to such +a pass that the King showed little regard for him, and even appeared to +despise him. + +They afterwards addressed themselves to my brother, whose situation was +not in the least mended since the departure of Bussi, Le Guast causing +fresh indignities to be offered him daily. They represented to him that +the King my husband and he were both circumstanced alike, and equally in +disgrace, as Le Guast had everything under his direction; so that both of +them were under the necessity of soliciting, through him, any favours +which they might want of the King, and which, when demanded, were +constantly refused them with great contempt. Moreover, it was become +dangerous to offer them service, as it was inevitable ruin for any one to +do so. + +"Since, then," said they, "your dissensions appear to be so likely to +prove fatal to both, it would be advisable in you both to unite and come +to a determination of leaving the Court; and, after collecting together +your friends and servants, to require from the King an establishment +suitable to your ranks." They observed to my brother that he had never +yet been put in possession of his appanage, and received for his +subsistence only some certain allowances, which were not regularly paid +him, as they passed through the hands of Le Guast, and were at his +disposal, to be discharged or kept back, as he judged proper. They +concluded with observing that, with regard to the King my husband, the +government of Guyenne was taken out of his hands; neither was he +permitted to visit that or any other of his dominions. + +It was hereupon resolved to pursue the counsel now given, and that the +King my husband and my brother should immediately withdraw themselves +from Court. My brother made me acquainted with this resolution, +observing to me, as my husband and he were now friends again, that I +ought to forget all that had passed; that my husband had declared to him +that he was sorry things had so happened, that we had been outwitted by +our enemies, but that he was resolved, from henceforward, to show me +every attention and give me every proof of his love and esteem, and he +concluded with begging me to make my husband every show of affection, and +to be watchful for their interest during their absence. + +It was concerted betwixt them that my brother should depart first, making +off in a carriage in the best manner he could; that, in a few days +afterwards, the King my husband should follow, under pretence of going on +a hunting party. They both expressed their concern that they could not +take me with them, assuring me that I had no occasion to have any +apprehensions, as it would soon appear that they had no design to disturb +the peace of the kingdom, but merely to ensure the safety of their own +persons, and to settle their establishments. In short, it might well be +supposed that, in their present situation, they had danger to themselves +from such reason to apprehend as had evil designs against their family. + +Accordingly, as soon as it was dusk, and before the King's supper-time, +my brother changed his cloak, and concealing the lower part of his face +to his nose in it, left the palace, attended by a servant who was little +known, and went on foot to the gate of St. Honore, where he found Simier +waiting for him in a coach, borrowed of a lady for the purpose. + +My brother threw himself into it, and went to a house about a quarter of +a league out of Paris, where horses were stationed ready; and at the +distance of about a league farther, he joined a party of two or three +hundred horsemen of his servants, who were awaiting his coming. My +brother was not missed till nine o'clock, when the King and the Queen my +mother asked me the reason he did not come to sup with them as usual, and +if I knew of his being indisposed. I told them I had not seen him since +noon. Thereupon they sent to his apartments. Word was brought back that +he was not there. Orders were then given to inquire at the apartments of +the ladies whom he was accustomed to visit. He was nowhere to be found. +There was now a general alarm. The King flew into a great passion, and +began to threaten me. He then sent for all the Princes and the great +officers of the Court; and giving orders for a pursuit to be made, and to +bring him back, dead or alive, cried out: + +"He is gone to make war against me; but I will show him what it is to +contend with a king of my power." + +Many of the Princes and officers of State remonstrated against these +orders, which they observed ought to be well weighed. They said that, +as their duty directed, they were willing to venture their lives in the +King's service; but to act against his brother they were certain would +not be pleasing to the King himself; that they were well convinced his +brother would undertake nothing that should give his Majesty displeasure, +or be productive of danger to the realm; that perhaps his leaving the +Court was owing to some disgust, which it would be more advisable to send +and inquire into. Others, on the contrary, were for putting the King's +orders into execution; but, whatever expedition they could use, it was +day before they set off; and as it was then too late to overtake my +brother, they returned, being only equipped for the pursuit. + +I was in tears the whole night of my brother's departure, and the next +day was seized with a violent cold, which was succeeded by a fever that +confined me to my bed. + +Meanwhile my husband was preparing for his departure, which took up all +the time he could spare from his visits to Madame de Sauves; so that he +did not think of me. He returned as usual at two or three in the +morning, and, as we had separate beds, I seldom heard him; and in the +morning, before I was awake, he went to my mother's levee, where he met +Madame de Sauves, as usual. + +This being the case, he quite forgot his promise to my brother of +speaking to me; and when he went, away, it was without taking leave of +me. + +The King did not show my husband more favour after my brother's evasion, +but continued to behave with his former coolness. This the more +confirmed him in the resolution of leaving the Court, so that in a few +days, under the pretence of hunting, he went away. + + + + +LETTER XI. + +Queen Marguerite under Arrest.--Attempt on Torigni's Life.--Her Fortunate +Deliverance. + +The King, supposing that I was a principal instrument in aiding the +Princes in their desertion, was greatly incensed against me, and his rage +became at length so violent that, had not the Queen my mother moderated +it, I am inclined to think my life had been in danger. Giving way to her +counsel, he became more calm, but insisted upon a guard being placed over +me, that I might not follow the King my husband, neither have +communication with any one, so as to give the Princes intelligence of +what was going on at Court. The Queen my mother gave her consent to this +measure, as being the least violent, and was well pleased to find his +anger cooled in so great a degree. She, however, requested that she +might be permitted to discourse with me, in order to reconcile me to a +submission to treatment of so different a kind from what I had hitherto +known. At the same time she advised the King to consider that these +troubles might not be lasting; that everything in the world bore a double +aspect; that what now appeared to him horrible and alarming, might, upon +a second view, assume a more pleasing and tranquil look; that, as things +changed, so should measures change with them; that there might come a +time when he might have occasion for my services; that, as prudence +counselled us not to repose too much confidence in our friends, lest they +should one day become our enemies, so was it advisable to conduct +ourselves in such a manner to our enemies as if we had hopes they should +hereafter become our friends. By such prudent remonstrances did the +Queen my mother restrain the King from proceeding to extremities with me, +as he would otherwise possibly have done. + +Le Guast now endeavoured to divert his fury to another object, in order +to wound me in a most sensitive part. He prevailed on the King to adopt +a design for seizing Torigni, at the house of her cousin Chastelas, and, +under pretence of bringing her before the King, to drown her in a river +which they were to cross. The party sent upon this errand was admitted +by Chastelas, not suspecting any evil design, without the least +difficulty, into his house. As soon as they had gained admission they +proceeded to execute the cruel business they were sent upon, by fastening +Torigni with cords and locking her up in a chamber, whilst their horses +were baiting. Meantime, according to the French custom, they crammed +themselves, like gluttons, with the best eatables the house afforded. + +Chastelas, who was a man of discretion, was not displeased to gain time +at the expense of some part of his substance, considering that the +suspension of a sentence is a prolongation of life, and that during this +respite the King's heart might relent, and he might countermand his +former orders. With these considerations he was induced to submit, +though it was in his power to have called for assistance to repel this +violence. But God, who hath constantly regarded my afflictions and +afforded me protection against the malicious designs of my enemies, was +pleased to order poor Torigni to be delivered by means which I could +never have devised had I been acquainted with the plot, of which I was +totally ignorant. Several of the domestics, male as well as female, had +left the house in a fright, fearing the insolence and rude treatment of +this troop of soldiers, who behaved as riotously as if they were in a +house given up to pillage. Some of these, at the distance of a quarter +of a league from the house, by God's providence, fell in with Ferte and +Avantigni, at the head of their troops, in number about two hundred +horse, on their march to join my brother. Ferte, remarking a labourer, +whom he knew to belong to Chastelas, apparently in great distress, +inquired of him what was the matter, and whether he had been ill-used by +any of the soldiery. The man related to him all he knew, and in what +state he had left his master's house. Hereupon Ferte and Avantigni +resolved, out of regard to me, to effect Torigni's deliverance, returning +thanks to God for having afforded them so favourable an opportunity of +testifying the respect they had always entertained towards me. + +Accordingly, they proceeded to the house with all expedition, and arrived +just at the moment these soldiers were setting Torigni on horseback, for +the purpose of conveying her to the river wherein they had orders to +plunge her. Galloping into the courtyard, sword in hand, they cried out: +"Assassins, if you dare to offer that lady the least injury, you are dead +men!" So saying, they attacked them and drove them to flight, leaving +their prisoner behind, nearly as dead with joy as she was before with +fear and apprehension. After returning thanks to God and her deliverers +for so opportune and unexpected a rescue, she and her cousin Chastelas +set off in a carriage, under the escort of their rescuers, and joined my +brother, who, since he could not have me with him, was happy to have one +so dear to me about him. She remained under my brother's protection as +long as any danger was apprehended, and was treated with as much respect +as if she had been with me. + +Whilst the King was giving directions for this notable expedition, for +the purpose of sacrificing Torigni to his vengeance, the Queen my mother, +who had not received the least intimation of it, came to my apartment as +I was dressing to go abroad, in order to observe how I should be received +after what had passed at Court, having still some alarms on account of my +husband and brother. I had hitherto confined myself to my chamber, not +having perfectly recovered my health, and, in reality, being all the time +as much indisposed in mind as in body. + +My mother, perceiving my intention, addressed me in these words: "My +child, you are giving yourself unnecessary trouble in dressing to go +abroad. Do not be alarmed at what I am going to tell you. Your own good +sense will dictate to you that you ought not to be surprised if the King +resents the conduct of your brother and husband, and as he knows the love +and friendship that exist between you three, should suppose that you were +privy to their design of leaving the Court. He has, for this reason, +resolved to detain you in it, as a hostage for them. He is sensible how +much you are beloved by your husband, and thinks he can hold no pledge +that is more dear to him. On this account it is that the King has +ordered his guards to be placed, with directions not to suffer you to +leave your apartments. He has done this with the advice of his +counsellors, by whom it was suggested that, if you had your free liberty, +you might be induced to advise your brother and husband of their +deliberations. I beg you will not be offended with these measures, +which, if it so please God, may not be of long continuance. I beg, +moreover, you will not be displeased with me if I do not pay you frequent +visits, as I should be unwilling to create any suspicions in the King's +mind. However, you may rest assured that I shall prevent any further +steps from being taken that may prove disagreeable to you, and that I +shall use my utmost endeavours to bring about a reconciliation betwixt +your brothers." + +I represented to her, in reply, the great indignity that was offered to +me by putting me under arrest; that it was true my brother had all along +communicated to me the just cause he had to be dissatisfied, but that, +with respect to the King my husband, from the time Torigni was taken from +me we had not spoken to each other; neither had he visited me during my +indisposition, nor did he even take leave of me when he left Court. +"This," says she, "is nothing at all; it is merely a trifling difference +betwixt man and wife, which a few sweet words, conveyed in a letter, will +set to rights. When, by such means, he has regained your affections, he +has only to write to you to come to him, and you will set off at the very +first opportunity. Now, this is what the King my son wishes to prevent." + + + + +LETTER XII. + +The Peace of Sens betwixt Henri III. and the Huguenots. + +The Queen my mother left me, saying these words. For my part, I remained +a close prisoner, without a visit from a single person, none of my most +intimate friends daring to come near me, through the apprehension that +such a step might prove injurious to their interests. Thus it is ever in +Courts. Adversity is solitary, while prosperity dwells in a crowd; the +object of persecution being sure to be shunned by his nearest friends and +dearest connections. The brave Grillon was the only one who ventured to +visit me, at the hazard of incurring disgrace. He came five or six times +to see me, and my guards were so much astonished at his resolution, and +awed by his presence, that not a single Cerberus of them all would +venture to refuse him entrance to my apartments. + +Meanwhile, the King my husband reached the States under his government. +Being joined there by his friends and dependents, they all represented to +him the indignity offered to me by his quitting the Court without taking +leave of me. They observed to him that I was a princess of good +understanding, and that it would be for his interest to regain my esteem; +that, when matters were put on their former footing, he might derive to +himself great advantage from my presence at Court. Now that he was at a +distance from his Circe, Madame de Sauves, he could listen to good +advice. Absence having abated the force of her charms, his eyes were +opened; he discovered the plots and machinations of our enemies, and +clearly perceived that a rupture could not but tend to the ruin of us +both. + +Accordingly, he wrote me a very affectionate letter, wherein he entreated +me to forget all that had passed betwixt us, assuring me that from +thenceforth he would ever love me, and would give me every demonstration +that he did so, desiring me to inform him of what was going on at Court, +and how it fared with me and my brother. My brother was in Champagne and +the King my husband in Gascony, and there had been no communication +betwixt them, though they were on terms of friendship. + +I received this letter during my imprisonment, and it gave me great +comfort under that situation. Although my guards had strict orders not +to permit me to set pen to paper, yet, as necessity is said to be the +mother of invention, I found means to write many letters to him. +Some few days after I had been put under arrest, my brother had +intelligence of it, which chagrined him so much that, had not the love of +his country prevailed with him, the effects of his resentment would have +been shown in a cruel civil war, to which purpose he had a sufficient +force entirely at his devotion. He was, however, withheld by his +patriotism, and contented himself with writing to the Queen my mother, +informing her that, if I was thus treated, he should be driven upon some +desperate measure. She, fearing the consequence of an open rupture, and +dreading lest, if blows were once struck, she should be deprived of the +power of bringing about a reconciliation betwixt the brothers, +represented the consequences to the King, and found him well disposed to +lend an ear to her reasons, as his anger was now cooled by the +apprehensions of being attacked in Gascony, Dauphiny, Languedoc, and +Poitou, with all the strength of the Huguenots under the King my husband. +Besides the many strong places held by the Huguenots, my brother had an +army with him in Champagne, composed chiefly of nobility, the bravest and +best in France. The King found, since my brother's departure, that he +could not, either by threats or rewards, induce a single person among the +princes and great lords to act against him, so much did every one fear to +intermeddle in this quarrel, which they considered as of a family nature; +and after having maturely reflected on his situation, he acquiesced in my +mother's opinion, and begged her to fall upon some means of +reconciliation. She thereupon proposed going to my brother and taking me +with her. To the measure of taking me, the King had an objection, as he +considered me as the hostage for my husband and brother. She then agreed +to leave me behind, and set off without my knowledge of the matter. +At their interview, my brother represented to the Queen my mother that +he could not but be greatly dissatisfied with the King after the many +mortifications he had received at Court; that the cruelty and injustice +of confining me hurt him equally as if done to himself; observing, +moreover, that, as if my arrest were not a sufficient mortification, +poor Torigni must be made to suffer; and concluding with the declaration +of his firm resolution not to listen to any terms of peace until I was +restored to my liberty, and reparation made me for the indignity I had +sustained. The Queen my mother being unable to obtain any other answer, +returned to Court and acquainted the King with my brother's +determination. Her advice was to go back again with me, for going +without me, she said, would answer very little purpose; and if I went +with her in disgust, it would do more harm than good. Besides, there was +reason to fear, in that case, I should insist upon going to my husband. +"In short," says she, "my daughter's guard must be removed, and she must +be satisfied in the best way we can." + +The King agreed to follow her advice, and was now, on a sudden, as eager +to reconcile matters betwixt us as she was herself. Hereupon I was sent +for, and when I came to her, she informed me that she had paved the way +for peace; that it was for the good of the State, which she was sensible +I must be as desirous to promote as my brother; that she had it now in +her power to make a peace which would be as satisfactory as my brother +could desire, and would put us entirely out of the reach of Le Guast's +machinations, or those of any one else who might have an influence over +the King's mind. She observed that, by assisting her to procure a good +understanding betwixt the King and my brother, I should relieve her from +that cruel disquietude under which she at present laboured, as, should +things come to an open rupture, she could not but be grieved, whichever +party prevailed, as they were both her sons. She therefore expressed her +hopes that I would forget the injuries I had received, and dispose myself +to concur in a peace, rather than join in any plan of revenge. She +assured me that the King was sorry for what had happened; that he had +even expressed his regret to her with tears in his eyes, and had declared +that he was ready to give me every satisfaction. I replied that I was +willing to sacrifice everything for the good of my brothers and of the +State; that I wished for nothing so much as peace, and that I would exert +myself to the utmost to bring it about. + +As I uttered these words, the King came into the closet, and, with a +number of fine speeches, endeavoured to soften my resentment and to +recover my friendship, to which I made such returns as might show him I +harboured no ill-will for the injuries I had received. I was induced to +such behaviour rather out of contempt, and because it was good policy to +let the King go away satisfied with me. + +Besides, I had found a secret pleasure, during my confinement, from the +perusal of good books, to which I had given myself up with a delight I +never before experienced. I consider this as an obligation I owe to +fortune, or, rather, to Divine Providence, in order to prepare me, by +such efficacious means, to bear up against the misfortunes and calamities +that awaited me. By tracing nature in the universal book which is opened +to all mankind, I was led to the knowledge of the Divine Author. Science +conducts us, step by step, through the whole range of creation, until we +arrive, at length, at God. Misfortune prompts us to summon our utmost +strength to oppose grief and recover tranquillity, until at length we +find a powerful aid in the knowledge and love of God, whilst prosperity +hurries us away until we are overwhelmed by our passions. My captivity +and its consequent solitude afforded me the double advantage of exciting +a passion for study, and an inclination for devotion, advantages I had +never experienced during the vanities and splendour of my prosperity. + +As I have already observed, the King, discovering in me no signs of +discontent, informed me that the Queen my mother was going into Champagne +to have an interview with my brother, in order to bring about a peace, +and begged me to accompany her thither and to use my best endeavours to +forward his views, as he knew my brother was always well disposed to +follow my counsel; and he concluded with saying that the peace, when +accomplished, he should ever consider as being due to my good offices, +and should esteem himself obliged to me for it. I promised to exert +myself in so good a work, which I plainly perceived was both for my +brother's advantage and the benefit of the State. + +The Queen my mother and I set off for Sens the next day. The conference +was agreed to be held in a gentleman's chateau, at a distance of about a +league from that place. My brother was waiting for us, accompanied by a +small body of troops and the principal Catholic noblemen and princes of +his army. Amongst these were the Duc Casimir and Colonel Poux, who had +brought him six thousand German horse, raised by the Huguenots, they +having joined my brother, as the King my husband and he acted in +conjunction. + +The treaty was continued for several days, the conditions of peace +requiring much discussion, especially such articles of it as related to +religion. With respect to these, when at length agreed upon, they were +too much to the advantage of the Huguenots, as it appeared afterwards, +to be kept; but the Queen my mother gave in to them, in order to have a +peace, and that the German cavalry before mentioned might be disbanded. +She was, moreover, desirous to get my brother out of the hands of the +Huguenots; and he was himself as willing to leave them, being always a +very good Catholic, and joining the Huguenots only through necessity. +One condition of the peace was, that my brother should have a suitable +establishment. My brother likewise stipulated for me, that my marriage +portion should be assigned in lands, and M. de Beauvais, a commissioner +on his part, insisted much upon it. My mother, however, opposed it, and +persuaded me to join her in it, assuring me that I should obtain from the +King all I could require. Thereupon I begged I might not be included in +the articles of peace, observing that I would rather owe whatever I was +to receive to the particular favour of the King and the Queen my mother, +and should, besides, consider it as more secure when obtained by such +means. + +The peace being thus concluded and ratified on both sides, the Queen my +mother prepared to return. At this instant I received letters from the +King my husband, in which he expressed a great desire to see me, begging +me, as soon as peace was agreed on, to ask leave to go to him. +I communicated my husband's wish to the Queen my mother, and added my own +entreaties. She expressed herself greatly averse to such a measure, +and used every argument to set me against it. She observed that, when I +refused her proposal of a divorce after St. Bartholomew's Day, she gave +way to my refusal, and commended me for it, because my husband was then +converted to the Catholic religion; but now that he had abjured +Catholicism, and was turned Huguenot again, she could not give her +consent that I should go to him. When I still insisted upon going, +she burst into a flood of tears, and said, if I did not return with her, +it would prove her ruin; that the King would believe it was her doing; +that she had promised to bring me back with her; and that, when my +brother returned to Court, which would be soon, she would give her +consent. + +We now returned to Paris, and found the King well satisfied that we had +made a peace; though not, however, pleased with the articles concluded in +favour of the Huguenots. He therefore resolved within himself, as soon +as my brother should return to Court, to find some pretext for renewing +the war. These advantageous conditions were, indeed, only granted the +Huguenots to get my brother out of their hands, who was detained near two +months, being employed in disbanding his German horse and the rest of his +army. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Adversity is solitary, while prosperity dwells in a crowd +Comeliness of his person, which at all times pleads powerfully +Everything in the world bore a double aspect +Hearsay liable to be influenced by ignorance or malice +Hopes they (enemies) should hereafter become our friends +I should praise you more had you praised me less +It is the usual frailty of our sex to be fond of flattery +Mistrust is the sure forerunner of hatred +Necessity is said to be the mother of invention +Never approached any other man near enough to know a difference +Not to repose too much confidence in our friends +Prefer truth to embellishment +Rather out of contempt, and because it was good policy +The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day +To embellish my story I have neither leisure nor ability +Troubles might not be lasting +Young girls seldom take much notice of children + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext Memoirs of Marguerite de Navarre, v1 +by Herself + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS QUEEN OF NAVARRE, v2 + +Written by Herself + +Being Historic Memoirs of the Courts of France and Navarre + + + + +LETTER XIII. + +The League.--War Declared against the Huguenots.-- +Queen Marguerite Sets out for Spa. + +At length my brother returned to Court, accompanied by all the Catholic +nobility who had followed his fortunes. The King received him very +graciously, and showed, by his reception of him, how much he was pleased +at his return. Bussi, who returned with my brother, met likewise with a +gracious reception. Le Guast was now no more, having died under the +operation of a particular regimen ordered for him by his physician. He +had given himself up to every kind of debauchery; and his death seemed +the judgment of the Almighty on one whose body had long been perishing, +and whose soul had been made over to the prince of demons as the price of +assistance through the means of diabolical magic, which he constantly +practised. The King, though now without this instrument of his malicious +contrivances, turned his thoughts entirely upon the destruction of the +Huguenots. To effect this, he strove to engage my brother against them, +and thereby make them his enemies and that I might be considered as +another enemy, he used every means to prevent me from going to the King +my husband. Accordingly he showed every mark of attention to both of us, +and manifested an inclination to gratify all our wishes. + +After some time, M. de Duras arrived at Court, sent by the King my +husband to hasten my departure. Hereupon, I pressed the King greatly to +think well of it, and give me his leave. He, to colour his refusal, told +me he could not part with me at present, as I was the chief ornament of +his Court; that he must, keep me a little longer, after which he would +accompany me himself on my way as far as Poitiers. With this answer and +assurance, he sent M. de Duras back. These excuses were purposely framed +in order to gain time until everything was prepared for declaring war +against the Huguenots, and, in consequence, against the King my husband, +as he fully designed to do. + +As a pretence to break with the Huguenots, a report was spread abroad +that the Catholics were dissatisfied with the Peace of Sens, and thought +the terms of it too advantageous for the Huguenots. This rumour +succeeded, and produced all that discontent amongst the Catholics +intended by it. A league was formed: in the provinces and great cities, +which was joined by numbers of the Catholics. M. de Guise was named as +the head of all. This was well known to the King, who pretended to be +ignorant of what was going forward, though nothing else was talked of at +Court. + +The States were convened to meet at Blois. Previous to the opening of +this assembly, the King called my brother to his closet, where were +present the Queen my mother and some of the King's counsellors. He +represented the great consequence the Catholic league was to his State +and authority, even though they should appoint De Guise as the head of +it; that such a measure was of the highest importance to them both, +meaning my brother and himself; that the Catholics had very just reason +to be dissatisfied with the peace, and that it behoved him, addressing +himself to my brother, rather to join the Catholics than the Huguenots, +and this from conscience as well as interest. He concluded his address +to my brother with conjuring him, as a son of France and a good Catholic, +to assist him with his aid and counsel in this critical juncture, when +his crown and the Catholic religion were both at stake. He further said +that, in order to get the start of so formidable a league, he ought to +form one himself, and become the head of it, as well to show his zeal for +religion as to prevent the Catholics from uniting under any other leader. +He then proposed to declare himself the head of a league, which should be +joined by my brother, the princes, nobles, governors, and others holding +offices under the Government. Thus was my brother reduced to the +necessity of making his Majesty a tender of his services for the support +and maintenance of the Catholic religion. + +The King, having now obtained assurances of my brother's assistance in +the event of a war, which was his sole view in the league which he had +formed with so much art, assembled together the princes and chief +noblemen of his Court, and, calling for the roll of the league, signed it +first himself, next calling upon my brother to sign it, and, lastly, upon +all present. + +The next day the States opened their meeting, when the King, calling upon +the Bishops of Lyons, Ambrune, Vienne, and other prelates there present, +for their advice, was told that, after the oath taken at his coronation, +no oath made to heretics could bind him, and therefore he was absolved +from his engagements with the Huguenots. + +This declaration being made at the opening of the assembly, and war +declared against the Huguenots, the King abruptly dismissed from Court +the Huguenot, Genisac, who had arrived a few days before, charged by the +King my husband with a commission to hasten my departure. The King very +sharply told him that his sister had been given to a Catholic, and not to +a Huguenot; and that if the King my husband expected to have me, he must +declare himself a Catholic. + +Every preparation for war was made, and nothing else talked of at Court; +and, to make my brother still more obnoxious to the Huguenots, he had the +command of an army given him. Genisac came and informed me of the rough +message he had been dismissed with. Hereupon I went directly to the +closet of the Queen my mother, where I found the King. I expressed my +resentment at being deceived by him, and at being cajoled by his promise +to accompany me from Paris to Poitiers, which, as it now appeared, was a +mere pretence. I represented that I did not marry by my own choice, but +entirely agreeable to the advice of King Charles, the Queen my mother, +and himself; that, since they had given him to me for a husband, they +ought not to hinder me from partaking of his fortunes; that I was +resolved to go to him, and that if I had not their leave, I would get +away how I could, even at the hazard of my life. The King answered: +"Sister, it is not now a time to importune me for leave. I acknowledge +that I have, as you say, hitherto prevented you from going, in order to +forbid it altogether. From the time the King of Navarre changed his +religion, and again became a Huguenot, I have been against your going to +him. What the Queen my mother and I are doing is for your good. I am +determined to carry on a war of extermination until this wretched +religion of the Huguenots, which is of so mischievous a nature, is no +more. Consider, my sister, if you, who are a Catholic, were once in +their hands, you would become a hostage for me, and prevent my design. +And who knows but they might seek their revenge upon me by taking away +your life? No, you shall not go amongst them; and if you leave us in the +manner you have now mentioned, rely upon it that you will make the Queen +your mother and me your bitterest enemies, and that we shall use every +means to make you feel the effects of our resentment; and, moreover, you +will make your husband's situation worse instead of better." + +I went from this audience with much dissatisfaction, and, taking advice +of the principal persons of both sexes belonging to Court whom I esteemed +my friends, I found them all of opinion that it would be exceedingly +improper for me to remain in a Court now at open variance with the King +my husband. They recommended me not to stay at Court whilst the war +lasted, saying it would be more honourable for me to leave the kingdom +under the pretence of a pilgrimage, or a visit to some of my kindred. +The Princesse de Roche-sur-Yon was amongst those I consulted upon the +occasion, who was on the point of setting off for Spa to take the waters +there. + +My brother was likewise present at the consultation, and brought with him +Mondoucet, who had been to Flanders in quality of the King's agent, +whence he was just returned to represent to the King the discontent that +had arisen amongst the Flemings on account of infringements made by the +Spanish Government on the French laws. He stated that he was +commissioned by several nobles, and the municipalities of several towns, +to declare how much they were inclined in their hearts towards France, +and how ready they were to come under a French government. Mondoucet, +perceiving the King not inclined to listen to his representation, as +having his mind wholly occupied by the war he had entered into with the +Huguenots, whom he was resolved to punish for having joined my brother, +had ceased to move in it further to the King, and addressed himself on +the subject to my brother. My brother, with that princely spirit which +led him to undertake great achievements, readily lent an ear to +Mondoucet's proposition, and promised to engage in it, for he was born +rather to conquer than to keep what he conquered. Mondoucet's +proposition was the more pleasing to him as it was not unjust, it being, +in fact, to recover to France what had been usurped by Spain. + +Mondoucet had now engaged himself in my brother's service, and was to +return to Flanders' under a pretence of accompanying the Princesse de +Roche-sur-Yon in her journey to Spa; and as this agent perceived my +counsellers to be at a loss for some pretence for my leaving Court and +quitting France during the war, and that at first Savoy was proposed for +my retreat, then Lorraine, and then Our Lady of Loretto, he suggested to +my brother that I might be of great use to him in Flanders, if, under the +colour of any complaint, I should be recommended to drink the Spa waters, +and go with the Princesse de Roche-sur-Yon. My brother acquiesced in +this opinion, and came up to me, saying: "Oh, Queen! you need be no +longer at a loss for a place to go to. I have observed that you have +frequently an erysipelas on your arm, and you must accompany the Princess +to Spa. You must say, your physicians had ordered those waters for the +complaint; but when they, did so, it was not the season to take them. +That season is now approaching, and you hope to have the King's leave to +go there." + +My brother did not deliver all he wished to say at that time, because the +Cardinal de Bourbon was present, whom he knew to be a friend to the +Guises and to Spain. However, I saw through his real design, and that he +wished me to promote his views in Flanders. + +The company approved of my brother's advice, and the Princesse de Roche- +sur-Yon heard the proposal with great joy, having a great regard for me. +She promised to attend me to the Queen my mother when I should ask her +consent. + +The next day I found the Queen alone, and represented to her the extreme +regret I experienced in finding that a war was inevitable betwixt the +King my husband and his Majesty, and that I must continue in a state of +separation from my husband; that, as long as the war lasted, it was +neither decent nor honourable for me to stay at Court, where I must be in +one or other, or both, of these cruel situations either that the King my +husband should believe that I continued in it out of inclination, and +think me deficient in the duty I owed him; or that his Majesty should +entertain suspicions of my giving intelligence to the King my husband. +Either of these cases, I observed, could not but prove injurious to me. +I therefore prayed her not to take it amiss if I desired to remove myself +from Court, and from becoming so unpleasantly situated; adding that my +physicians had for some time recommended me to take the Spa waters for an +erysipelas--to which I had been long subject--on my arm; the season for +taking these waters was now approaching, and that if she approved of it, +I would use the present opportunity, by which means I should be at a +distance from Court, and show my husband that, as I could not be with +him, I was unwilling to remain amongst his enemies. I further expressed +my hopes that, through her prudence, a peace might be effected in a short +time betwixt the King my husband and his Majesty, and that my husband +might be restored to the favour he formerly enjoyed; that whenever I +learned the news of so joyful an event, I would renew my solicitations to +be permitted to go to my husband. In the meantime, I should hope for her +permission to have the honour of accompanying the Princesse de Roche-sur- +Yon, there present, in her journey to Spa. + +She approved of what I proposed, and expressed her satisfaction that I +had taken so prudent a resolution. She observed how much she was +chagrined when she found that the King, through the evil persuasions of +the bishops, had resolved to break through the conditions of the last +peace, which she had concluded in his name. She saw already the ill +effects of this hasty proceeding, as it had removed from the King's +Council many of his ablest and best servants. This gave her, she said, +much concern, as it did likewise to think I could not remain at Court +without offending my husband, or creating jealousy and suspicion in the +King's mind. This being certainly what was likely to be the consequence +of my staying, she would advise the King to give me leave to set out on +this journey. + +She was as good as her word, and the King discoursed with me on the +subject without exhibiting the smallest resentment. Indeed, he was well +pleased now that he had prevented me from going to the King my husband, +for whom he had conceived the greatest animosity. + +He ordered a courier to be immediately despatched to Don John of +Austria,--who commanded for the King of Spain in Flanders,--to obtain +from him the necessary passports for a free passage in the countries +under his command, as I should be obliged to cross a part of Flanders to +reach Spa, which is in the bishopric of Liege. + +All matters being thus arranged, we separated in a few days after this +interview. The short time my brother and I remained together was +employed by him in giving me instructions for the commission I had +undertaken to execute for him in Flanders. The King and the Queen my +mother set out for Poitiers, to be near the army of M. de Mayenne, then +besieging Brouage, which place being reduced, it was intended to march +into Gascony and attack the King my husband. + +My brother had the command of another army, ordered to besiege Issoire +and some other towns, which he soon after took. + +For my part, I set out on my journey to Flanders accompanied by the +Princesse de Roche-sur-Yon, Madame de Tournon, the lady of my bedchamber, +Madame de Mouy of Picardy, Madame de Chastelaine, De Millon, Mademoiselle +d'Atric, Mademoiselle de Tournon, and seven or eight other young ladies. +My male attendants were the Cardinal de Lenoncourt, the Bishop of +Langres, and M. de Mouy, Seigneur de Picardy, at present father-in-law +to the brother of Queen Louise, called the Comte de Chalingy, with my +principal steward of the household, my chief esquires, and the other +gentlemen of my establishment. + + + + +LETTER XIV. + +Description of Queen Marguerite's Equipage.--Her Journey to Liege +Described.--She Enters with Success upon Her Mission.-- +Striking Instance of Maternal Duty and Affection in a Great Lady.-- +Disasters near the Close of the Journey. + +The cavalcade that attended me excited great curiosity as it passed +through the several towns in the course of my journey, and reflected no +small degree of credit on France, as it was splendidly set out, and made +a handsome appearance. I travelled in a litter raised with pillars. The +lining of it was Spanish velvet, of a crimson colour, embroidered in +various devices with gold and different coloured silk thread. + +The windows were of glass, painted in devices. The lining and windows +had, in the whole, forty devices, all different and alluding to the sun +and its effects. Each device had its motto, either in the Spanish or +Italian language. My litter was followed by two others; in the one was +the Princesse de Roche-sur-Yon, and in the other Madame de Tournon, my +lady of the bedchamber. After them followed ten maids of honour, on +horseback, with their governess; and, last of all, six coaches and +chariots, with the rest of the ladies and all our female attendants. + +I took the road of Picardy, the towns in which province had received the +King's orders to pay me all due honours. Being arrived at Le Catelet, +a strong place, about three leagues distant from the frontier of the +Cambresis, the Bishop of Cambray (an ecclesiastical State acknowledging +the King of Spain only as a guarantee) sent a gentleman to inquire of me +at what hour I should leave the place, as he intended to meet me on the +borders of his territory. + +Accordingly I found him there, attended by a number of his people, who +appeared to be true Flemings, and to have all the rusticity and +unpolished manners of their country. The Bishop was of the House of +Barlemont, one of the principal families in Flanders. All of this house +have shown themselves Spaniards at heart, and at that time were firmly +attached to Don John. The Bishop received me with great politeness and +not a little of the Spanish ceremony. + +Although the city of Cambray is not so well built as some of our towns in +France, I thought it, notwithstanding, far more pleasant than many of +these, as the streets and squares are larger and better disposed. The +churches are grand and highly ornamented, which is, indeed, common to +France; but what I admired, above all, was the citadel, which is the +finest and best constructed in Christendom. + +The Spaniards experienced it to be strong whilst my brother had it in his +possession. The governor of the citadel at this time was a worthy +gentleman named M. d'Ainsi, who was, in every respect, a polite and well- +accomplished man, having the carriage and behaviour of one of our most +perfect courtiers, very different from the rude incivility which appears +to be the characteristic of a Fleming. + +The Bishop gave us a grand supper, and after supper a ball, to which he +had invited all the ladies of the city. As soon as the ball was opened +he withdrew, in accordance with the Spanish ceremony; but M. d'Ainsi did +the honours for him, and kept me company during the ball, conducting me +afterwards to a collation, which, considering his command at the citadel, +was, I thought, imprudent. I speak from experience, having been taught, +to my cost, and contrary to my desire, the caution and vigilance +necessary to be observed in keeping such places. As my regard for my +brother was always predominant in me, I continually had his instructions +in mind, and now thought I had a fair opportunity to open my commission +and forward his views in Flanders, this town of Cambray, and especially +the citadel, being, as it were, a key to that country. Accordingly I +employed all the talents God had given me to make M. d'Ainsi a friend to +France, and attach him to my brother's interest. Through God's +assistance I succeeded with him, and so much was M. d'Ainsi pleased with +my conversation that he came to the resolution of soliciting the Bishop, +his master, to grant him leave to accompany me as, far as Namur, where +Don John of Austria was in waiting to receive me, observing that he had a +great desire to witness so splendid an interview. This Spanish Fleming, +the Bishop, had the weakness to grant M. d'Ainsi's request, who continued +following in my train for ten or twelve days. During this time he took +every opportunity of discoursing with me, and showed that, in his heart, +he was well disposed to embrace the service of France, wishing no better +master than the Prince my brother, and declaring that he heartily +despised being under the command of his Bishop, who, though his +sovereign, was not his superior by birth, being born a private gentleman +like himself, and, in every other respect, greatly his inferior. + +Leaving Cambray, I set out to sleep at Valenciennes, the chief city of a +part of Flanders called by the same name. Where this country is divided +from Cambresis (as far as which I was conducted by the Bishop of +Cambray), the Comte de Lalain, M. de Montigny his brother, and a number +of gentlemen, to the amount of two or three hundred, came to meet me. + +Valenciennes is a town inferior to Cambray in point of strength, but +equal to it for the beauty of its squares, and churches,--the former +ornamented with fountains, as the latter are with curious clocks. The +ingenuity of the Germans in the construction of their clocks was a matter +of great surprise to all my attendants, few amongst whom had ever before +seen clocks exhibiting a number of moving figures, and playing a variety +of tunes in the most agreeable manner. + +The Comte de Lalain, the governor of the city, invited the lords and +gentlemen of my train to a banquet, reserving himself to give an +entertainment to the ladies on our arrival at Mons, where we should find +the Countess his wife, his sister-in-law Madame d'Aurec, and other ladies +of distinction. Accordingly the Count, with his attendants, conducted us +thither the next day. He claimed a relationship with the King my +husband, and was, in reality, a person who carried great weight and +authority. He was much dissatisfied with the Spanish Government, and had +conceived a great dislike for it since the execution of Count Egmont, who +was his near kinsman. + +Although he had hitherto abstained from entering into the league with the +Prince of Orange and the Huguenots, being himself a steady Catholic, yet +he had not admitted of an interview with Don John, neither would he +suffer him, nor any one in the interest of Spain, to enter upon his +territories. Don John was unwilling to give the Count any umbrage, lest +he should force him to unite the Catholic League of Flanders, called the +League of the States, to that of the Prince of Orange and the Huguenots, +well foreseeing that such a union would prove fatal to the Spanish +interest, as other governors have since experienced. With this +disposition of mind, the Comte de Lalain thought he could not give me +sufficient demonstrations of the joy he felt by my presence; and he could +not have shown more honour to his natural prince, nor displayed greater +marks of zeal and affection. + +On our arrival at Mons, I was lodged in his house, and found there the +Countess his wife, and a Court consisting of eighty or a hundred ladies +of the city and country. My reception was rather that of their sovereign +lady than of a foreign princess. The Flemish ladies are naturally +lively, affable, and engaging. The Comtesse de Lalain is remarkably so, +and is, moreover, a woman of great sense and elevation of mind, in which +particular, as well as in air and countenance, she carries a striking +resemblance to the lady your cousin. We became immediately intimate, and +commenced a firm friendship at our first meeting. When the supper hour +came, we sat down to a banquet, which was succeeded by a ball; and this +rule the Count observed as long as I stayed at Mons, which was, indeed, +longer than I intended. It had been my intention to stay at Mons one +night only, but the Count's obliging lady prevailed on me to pass a whole +week there. I strove to excuse myself from so long a stay, imagining it +might be inconvenient to them; but whatever I could say availed nothing +with the Count and his lady, and I was under the necessity of remaining +with them eight days. The Countess and I were on so familiar a footing +that she stayed in my bedchamber till a late hour, and would not have +left me then had she not imposed upon herself a task very rarely +performed by persons of her rank, which, however, placed the goodness of +her disposition in the most amiable light. In fact, she gave suck to her +infant son; and one day at table, sitting next me, whose whole attention +was absorbed in the promotion of my brother's interest,--the table being +the place where, according to the custom of the country, all are familiar +and ceremony is laid aside,--she, dressed out in the richest manner and +blazing with diamonds, gave the breast to her child without rising from +her seat, the infant being brought to the table as superbly habited as +its nurse, the mother. She performed this maternal duty with so much +good humour, and with a gracefulness peculiar to herself, that this +charitable office--which would have appeared disgusting and been +considered as an affront if done by some others of equal rank--gave +pleasure to all who sat at table, and, accordingly, they signified their +approbation by their applause. + +The tables being removed, the dances commenced in the same room wherein +we had supped, which was magnificent and large. The Countess and I +sitting side by side, I expressed the pleasure I received from her +conversation, and that I should place this meeting amongst the happiest +events of my life. "Indeed," said I, "I shall have cause to regret that +it ever did take place, as I shall depart hence so unwillingly, there +being so little probability, of our meeting again soon. Why did Heaven +deny, our being born in the same country!" + +This was said in order to introduce my brother's business. She replied: +"This country did, indeed, formerly belong to France, and our lawyers now +plead their causes in the French language. The greater part of the +people here still retain an affection for the French nation. For my +part," added the Countess, "I have had a strong attachment to your +country ever since I have had the honour of seeing you. This country has +been long in the possession of the House of Austria, but the regard of +the people for that house has been greatly, weakened by the death of +Count Egmont, M. de Horne, M. de Montigny, and others of the same party, +some of them our near relations, and all of the best families of the +country. We entertain the utmost dislike for the Spanish Government, and +wish for nothing so much as to throw off the yoke of their tyranny; but, +as the country is divided betwixt different religions, we are at a loss +how to effect it if we could unite, we should soon drive out the +Spaniards; but this division amongst ourselves renders us weak. Would to +God the King your brother would come to a resolution of reconquering this +country, to which he has an ancient claim! We should all receive him +with open arms." + +This was a frank declaration, made by the Countess without premeditation, +but it had been long agitated in the minds of the people, who considered +that it was from France they were to hope for redress from the evils with +which they were afflicted. I now found I had as favourable an opening as +I could wish for to declare my errand. I told her that the King of +France my brother was averse to engaging in foreign war, and the more so +as the Huguenots in his kingdom were too strong to admit of his sending +any large force out of it. "My brother Alencon," said I, "has sufficient +means, and might be induced to undertake it. He has equal valour, +prudence, and benevolence with the King my brother or any of his +ancestors. He has been bred to arms, and is esteemed one of the bravest +generals of these times. He has the command of the King's army against +the Huguenots, and has lately taken a well-fortified town, called +Issoire, and some other places that were in their possession. You could +not invite to your assistance a prince who has it so much in his power +to give it; being not only a neighbour, but having a kingdom like France +at his devotion, whence he may expect to derive the necessary aid and +succour. The Count your husband may be assured that if he do my brother +this good office he will not find him ungrateful, but may set what price +he pleases upon his meritorious service. My brother is of a noble and +generous disposition, and ready to requite those who do him favours. He +is, moreover, an admirer of men of honour and gallantry, and accordingly +is followed by the bravest and best men France has to boast of. I am in +hopes that a peace will soon be reestablished with the Huguenots, and +expect to find it so on my return to France. If the Count your husband +think as you do, and will permit me to speak to him on the subject, +I will engage to bring my brother over to the proposal, and, in that +case, your country in general, and your house in particular, will be well +satisfied with him. If, through your means, my brother should establish +himself here, you may depend on seeing me often, there being no brother +or sister who has a stronger affection for each other." + +The Countess appeared to listen to what I said with great pleasure, and +acknowledged that she had not entered upon this discourse without design. +She observed that, having perceived I did her the honour to have some +regard for her, she had resolved within herself not to let me depart out +of the country without explaining to me the situation of it, and begging +me to procure the aid of France to relieve them from the apprehensions of +living in a state of perpetual war or of submitting to Spanish tyranny. +She thereupon entreated me to allow her to relate our present +conversation to her husband, and permit them both to confer with me on +the subject the next day. To this I readily gave my consent. + +Thus we passed the evening in discourse upon the object of my mission, +and I observed that she took a singular pleasure in talking upon it in +all our succeeding conferences when I thought proper to introduce it. +The ball being ended, we went to hear vespers at the church of the +Canonesses, an order of nuns of which we have none in France. These are +young ladies who are entered in these communities at a tender age, in +order to improve their fortunes till they are of an age to be married. +They do not all sleep under the same roof, but in detached houses within +an enclosure. In each of these houses are three, four, or perhaps six +young girls, under the care of an old woman. These governesses, together +with the abbess, are of the number of such as have never been married. +These girls never wear the habit of the order but in church; and the +service there ended, they dress like others, pay visits, frequent balls, +and go where they please. They were constant visitors at the Count's +entertainments, and danced at his balls. + +The Countess thought the time long until the night, when she had an +opportunity of relating to the Count the conversation she had with me, +and the opening of the business. The next morning she came to me, and +brought her husband with her. He entered into a detail of the grievances +the country laboured under, and the just reasons he had for ridding it of +the tyranny of Spain. In doing this, he said, he should not consider +himself as acting against his natural sovereign, because he well knew he +ought to look for him in the person of the King of France. He explained +to me the means whereby my brother might establish himself in Flanders, +having possession of Hainault, which extended as far as Brussels. He +said the difficulty lay in securing the Cambresis, which is situated +betwixt Hainault and Flanders. It would, therefore, be necessary to +engage M. d'Ainsi in the business. To this I replied that, as he was his +neighbour and friend, it might be better that he should open the matter +to him; and I begged he would do so. I next assured him that he might +have the most perfect reliance on the gratitude and friendship of my +brother, and be certain of receiving as large a share of power and +authority as such a service done by a person of his rank merited. +Lastly, we agreed upon an interview betwixt my brother and M. de +Montigny, the brother of the Count, which was to take place at La Fere, +upon my return, when this business should be arranged. During the time +I stayed at Mons, I said all I could to confirm the Count in this +resolution, in which I found myself seconded by the Countess. + +The day of my departure was now arrived, to the great regret of the +ladies of Mons, as well as myself. The Countess expressed herself in +terms which showed she had conceived the warmest friendship for me, and +made me promise to return by way of that city. I presented the Countess +with a diamond bracelet, and to the Count I gave a riband and diamond +star of considerable value. But these presents, valuable as they were, +became more so, in their estimation, as I was the donor. + +Of the ladies, none accompanied me from this place, except Madame +d'Aurec. She went with me to Namur, where I slept that night, and where +she expected to find her husband and the Duc d'Arscot, her brother-in- +law, who had been there since the peace betwixt the King of Spain and the +States of Flanders. For though they were both of the party of the +States, yet the Duc d'Arscot, being an old courtier and having attended +King Philip in Flanders and England, could not withdraw himself from +Court and the society of the great. The Comte de Lalain, with all his +nobles, conducted me two leagues beyond his government, and until he saw +Don John's company in the distance advancing to meet me. He then took +his leave of me, being unwilling to meet Don John; but M. d'Ainsi stayed +with me, as his master, the Bishop of Cambray, was in the Spanish +interest. + +This gallant company having left me, I was soon after met by Don John of +Austria, preceded by a great number of running footmen, and escorted by +only twenty or thirty horsemen. He was attended by a number of noblemen, +and amongst the rest the Duc d'Arscot, M. d'Aurec, the Marquis de +Varenbon, and the younger Balencon, governor, for the King of Spain, of +the county of Burgundy. These last two, who are brothers, had ridden +post to meet me. Of Don John's household there was only Louis de Gonzago +of any rank. He called himself a relation of the Duke of Mantua; the +others were mean-looking people, and of no consideration. Don John +alighted from his horse to salute me in my litter, which was opened for +the purpose. I returned the salute after the French fashion to him, the +Duc d'Arscot, and M. d'Aurec. After an exchange of compliments, he +mounted his horse, but continued in discourse with me until we reached +the city, which was not before it grew dark, as I set off late, the +ladies of Mons keeping me as long as they could, amusing themselves with +viewing my litter, and requiring an explanation of the different mottoes +and devices. However, as the Spaniards excel in preserving good order, +Namur appeared with particular advantage, for the streets were well +lighted, every house being illuminated, so that the blaze exceeded that +of daylight. + +Our supper was served to us in our respective apartments, Don John being +unwilling, after the fatigue of so long a journey, to incommode us with a +banquet. The house in which I was lodged had been newly furnished for +the purpose of receiving me. It consisted of a magnificent large salon, +with a private apartment, consisting of lodging rooms and closets, +furnished in the most costly manner, with furniture of every kind, and +hung with the richest tapestry of velvet and satin, divided into +compartments by columns of silver embroidery, with knobs of gold, all +wrought in the most superb manner. Within these compartments were +figures in antique habits, embroidered in gold and silver. + +The Cardinal de Lenoncourt, a man of taste and curiosity, being one day +in these apartments with the Duc d'Arscot, who, as I have before +observed, was an ornament to Don John's Court, remarked to him that this +furniture seemed more proper for a great king than a young unmarried +prince like Don John. To which the Duc d'Arscot replied that it came to +him as a present, having been sent to him by a bashaw belonging to the +Grand Seignior, whose son she had made prisoners in a signal victory +obtained over the Turks. Don John having sent the bashaw's sons back +without ransom, the father, in return, made him a present of a large +quantity of gold, silver, and silk stuffs, which he caused to be wrought +into tapestry at Milan, where there are curious workmen in this way; and +he had the Queen's bedchamber hung with tapestry representing the battle +in which he had so gloriously defeated the Turks. + +The next morning Don John conducted us to chapel, where we heard mass +celebrated after the Spanish manner, with all kinds of music, after which +we partook of a banquet prepared by Don John. He and I were seated at a +separate table, at a distance of three yards from which stood the great +one, of which the honours were done by Madame d'Aurec. At this table the +ladies and principal lords took their seats. Don John was served with +drink by Louis de Gonzago, kneeling. The tables being removed, the ball +was opened, and the dancing continued the whole afternoon. The evening +was spent in conversation betwixt Don John and me, who told me I greatly +resembled the Queen his mistress, by whom he meant the late Queen my +sister, and for whom he professed to have entertained a very high esteem. +In short, Don John manifested, by every mark of attention and politeness, +as well to me as to my attendants, the very great pleasure he had in +receiving me. + +The boats which were to convey me upon the Meuse to Liege not all being +ready, I was under the necessity of staying another day. The morning was +passed as that of the day before. After dinner, we embarked on the river +in a very beautiful boat, surrounded by others having on board musicians +playing on hautboys, horns, and violins, and landed at an island where +Don John had caused a collation to be prepared in a large bower formed +with branches of ivy, in which the musicians were placed in small +recesses, playing on their instruments during the time of supper. The +tables being removed, the dances began, and lasted till it was time to +return, which I did in the same boat that conveyed me thither, and which +was that provided for my voyage. + +The next morning Don John conducted me to the boat, and there took a most +polite and courteous leave, charging M. and Madame d'Aurec to see me safe +to Huy, the first town belonging to the Bishop of Liege, where I was to +sleep. As soon as Don John had gone on shore, M. d'Ainsi, who remained +in the boat, and who had the Bishop of Cambray's permission to go to +Namur only, took leave of me with many protestations of fidelity and +attachment to my brother and myself. + +But Fortune, envious of my hitherto prosperous journey, gave me two omens +of the sinister events of my return. + +The first was the sudden illness which attacked Mademoiselle de Tournon, +the daughter of the lady of my bedchamber, a young person, accomplished, +with every grace and virtue, and for whom I had the most perfect regard. +No sooner had the boat left the shore than this young lady was seized +with an alarming disorder, which, from the great pain attending it, +caused her to scream in the most doleful manner. The physicians +attributed the cause to spasms of the heart, which, notwithstanding the +utmost exertions of their skill, carried her off a few days after my +arrival at Liege. As the history of this young lady is remarkable, I +shall relate it in my next letter. + +The other omen was what happened to us at Huy, immediately upon our +arrival there. This town is built on the declivity of a mountain, at the +foot of which runs the river Meuse. As we were about to land, there fell +a torrent of rain, which, coming down the steep sides of the mountain, +swelled the river instantly to such a degree that we had only time to +leap out of the boat and run to the top, the flood reaching the very +highest street, next to where I was to lodge. There we were forced to +put up with such accommodation as could be procured in the house, as it +was impossible to remove the smallest article of our baggage from the +boats, or even to stir out of the house we were in, the whole city being +under water. However, the town was as suddenly relieved from this +calamity as it had been afflicted with it, for, on the next morning, the +whole inundation had ceased, the waters having run off, and the river +being confined within its usual channel. + +Leaving Huy, M. and Madame d'Aurec returned to Don John at Namur, and I +proceeded, in the boat, to sleep that night at Liege. + + + + +LETTER XV. + +The City of Liege Described.--Affecting Story of Mademoiselle de +Tournon.--Fatal Effects of Suppressed Anguish of Mind. + +The Bishop of Liege, who is the sovereign of the city and province, +received me with all the cordiality and respect that could be expected +from a personage of his dignity and great accomplishments. He was, +indeed, a nobleman endowed with singular prudence and virtue, agreeable +in his person and conversation, gracious and magnificent in his carriage +and behaviour, to which I may add that he spoke the French language +perfectly. + +He was constantly attended by his chapter, with several of his canons, +who are all sons of dukes, counts, or great German lords. The bishopric +is itself a sovereign State, which brings in a considerable revenue, and +includes a number of fine cities. The bishop is chosen from amongst the +canons, who must be of noble descent, and resident one year. The city is +larger than Lyons, and much resembles it, having the Meuse running +through it. The houses in which the canons reside have the appearance of +noble palaces. + +The streets of the city are regular and spacious, the houses of the +citizens well built, the squares large, and ornamented with curious +fountains. The churches appear as if raised entirely of marble, of which +there are considerable quarries in the neighbourhood; they are all of +them ornamented with beautiful clocks, and exhibit a variety of moving +figures. + +The Bishop received me as I landed from the boat, and conducted me to his +magnificent residence, ornamented with delicious fountains and gardens, +set off with galleries, all painted, superbly gilt, and enriched with +marble, beyond description. + +The spring which affords the waters of Spa being distant no more than +three or four leagues from the city of Liege, and there being only a +village, consisting of three or four small houses, on the spot, the +Princesse de Roche-sur-Yon was advised by her physicians to stay at Liege +and have the waters brought to her, which they assured her would have +equal efficacy, if taken after sunset and before sunrise, as if drunk at +the spring. I was well pleased that she resolved to follow the advice of +the doctors, as we were more comfortably lodged and had an agreeable +society; for, besides his Grace (so the bishop is styled, as a king is +addressed his Majesty, and a prince his Highness), the news of my arrival +being spread about, many lords and ladies came from Germany to visit me. +Amongst these was the Countess d'Aremberg, who had the honour to +accompany Queen Elizabeth to Mezieres, to which place she came to marry +King Charles my brother, a lady very high in the estimation of the +Empress, the Emperor, and all the princes in Christendom. With her came +her sister the Landgravine, Madame d'Aremberg her daughter, M. d'Aremberg +her son, a gallant and accomplished nobleman, the perfect image of his +father, who brought the Spanish succours to King Charles my brother, and +returned with great honour and additional reputation. This meeting, so +honourable to me, and so much to my satisfaction, was damped by the grief +and concern occasioned by the loss of Mademoiselle de Tournon, whose +story, being of a singular nature, I shall now relate to you, agreeably +to the promise I made in my last letter. + +I must begin with observing to you that Madame de Tournon, at this time +lady of my bedchamber, had several daughters, the eldest of whom married +M. de Balencon, governor, for the King of Spain, in the county of +Burgundy. This daughter, upon her marriage, had solicited her mother to +admit of her taking her sister, the young lady whose story I am now about +to relate, to live with her, as she was going to a country strange to +her, and wherein she had no relations. To this her mother consented; and +the young lady, being universally admired for her modesty and graceful +accomplishments, for which she certainly deserved admiration, attracted +the notice of the Marquis de Varenbon. The Marquis, as I before +mentioned, is the brother of M. de Balencon, and was intended for the +Church; but, being violently enamoured of Mademoiselle de Tournon (whom, +as he lived in the same house, he had frequent opportunities of seeing), +he now begged his brother's permission to marry her, not having yet taken +orders. The young lady's family, to whom he had likewise communicated +his wish, readily gave their consent, but his brother refused his, +strongly advising him to change his resolution and put on the gown. + +Thus were matters situated when her mother, Madame de Tournon, a virtuous +and pious lady, thinking she had cause to be offended, ordered her +daughter to leave the house of her sister, Madame de Balencon, and come +to her. The mother, a woman of a violent spirit, not considering that +her daughter was grown up and merited a mild treatment, was continually +scolding the poor young lady, so that she was for ever with tears in her +eyes. Still, there was nothing to blame in the young girl's conduct, +but such was the severity of the mother's disposition. The daughter, +as you may well suppose, wished to be from under the mother's tyrannical +government, and was accordingly delighted with the thoughts of attending +me in this journey to Flanders, hoping, as it happened, that she should +meet the Marquis de Varenbon somewhere on the road, and that, as he had +now abandoned all thoughts of the Church, he would renew his proposal of +marriage, and take her from her mother. + +I have before mentioned that the Marquis de Varenbon and the younger +Balencon joined us at Namur. Young Balencon, who was far from being so +agreeable as his brother, addressed himself to the young lady, but the +Marquis, during the whole time we stayed at Namur, paid not the least +attention to her, and seemed as if he had never been acquainted with her. + +The resentment, grief, and disappointment occasioned by a behaviour so +slighting and unnatural was necessarily stifled in her breast, as decorum +and her sex's pride obliged her to appear as if she disregarded it; but +when, after taking leave, all of them left the boat, the anguish of her +mind, which she had hitherto suppressed, could no longer be restrained, +and, labouring for vent, it stopped her respiration, and forced from her +those lamentable outcries which I have already spoken of. Her youth +combated for eight days with this uncommon disorder, but at the +expiration of that time she died, to the great grief of her mother, +as well as myself. I say of her mother, for, though she was so rigidly +severe over this daughter, she tenderly loved her. + +The funeral of this unfortunate young lady was solemnised with all proper +ceremonies, and conducted in the most honourable manner, as she was +descended from a great family, allied to the Queen my mother. When the +day of interment arrived, four of my gentlemen were appointed bearers, +one of whom was named La Boessiere. This man had entertained a secret +passion for her, which he never durst declare on account of the +inferiority of his family and station. He was now destined to bear the +remains of her, dead, for whom he had long been dying, and was now as +near dying for her loss as he had before been for her love. The +melancholy procession was marching slowly, along, when it was met by the +Marquis de Varenbon, who had been the sole occasion of it. We had not +left Namur long when the Marquis reflected upon his cruel behaviour +towards this unhappy young lady; and his passion (wonderful to relate) +being revived by the absence of her who inspired it, though scarcely +alive while she was present, he had resolved to come and ask her of her +mother in marriage. He made no doubt, perhaps, of success, as he seldom +failed in enterprises of love; witness the great lady he has since +obtained for a wife, in opposition to the will of her family. He might, +besides, have flattered himself that he should easily have gained a +pardon from her by whom he was beloved, according to the Italian proverb, +"Che la forza d'amore non riguarda al delitto" (Lovers are not criminal +in the estimation of one another). Accordingly, the Marquis solicited +Don John to be despatched to me on some errand, and arrived, as I said +before, at the very instant the corpse of this ill-fated young lady was +being borne to the grave. He was stopped by the crowd occasioned by this +solemn procession. He contemplates it for some time. He observes a long +train of persons in mourning, and remarks the coffin to be covered with a +white pall, and that there are chaplets of flowers laid upon the coffin. +He inquires whose funeral it is. The answer he receives is, that it is +the funeral of a young lady. Unfortunately for him, this reply fails to +satisfy his curiosity. He makes up to one who led the procession, and +eagerly asks the name of the young lady they are proceeding to bury. +When, oh, fatal answer! Love, willing to avenge the victim of his +ingratitude and neglect, suggests a reply which had nearly deprived him +of life. He no sooner hears the name of Mademoiselle de Tournon +pronounced than he falls from his horse in a swoon. He is taken up for +dead, and conveyed to the nearest house, where he lies for a time +insensible; his soul, no doubt, leaving his body to obtain pardon from +her whom he had hastened to a premature grave, to return to taste the +bitterness of death a second time. + +Having performed the last offices to the remains of this poor young lady, +I was unwilling to discompose the gaiety of the society assembled here on +my account by any show of grief. Accordingly, I joined the Bishop, or, +as he is called, his Grace, and his canons, in their entertainments at +different houses, and in gardens, of which the city and its neighbourhood +afforded a variety. I was every morning attended by a numerous company +to the garden, in which I drank the waters, the exercise of walking being +recommended to be used with them. As the physician who advised me to +take them was my own brother, they did not fail of their effect with me; +and for these six or seven years which are gone over my head since I +drank them, I have been free from any complaint of erysipelas on my arm. +From this garden we usually proceeded to the place where we were invited +to dinner. After dinner we were amused with a ball; from the ball we +went to some convent, where we heard vespers; from vespers to supper, and +that over, we had another ball, or music on the river. + + + + +LETTER XVI. + +Queen Marguerite, on Her Return from Liege, Is in Danger of Being Made a +Prisoner.--She Arrives, after Some Narrow Escapes, at La Fere. + +In this manner we passed the six weeks, which is the usual time for +taking these waters, at the expiration of which the Princesse de Roche- +sur-Yon was desirous to return to France; but Madame d'Aurec, who just +then returned to us from Namur, on her way to rejoin her husband in +Lorraine, brought us news of an extraordinary change of affairs in that +town and province since we had passed through it. + +It appeared from this lady's account that, on the very day we left Namur, +Don John, after quitting the boat, mounted his horse under pretence of +taking the diversion of hunting, and, as he passed the gate of the castle +of Namur, expressed a desire of seeing it; that, having entered, he took +possession of it, notwithstanding he held it for the States, agreeably to +a convention. Don John, moreover, arrested the persons of the Duc +d'Arscot and M. d'Aurec, and also made Madame d'Aurec a prisoner. After +some remonstrances and entreaties, he had set her husband and brother-in- +law at liberty, but detained her as a hostage for them. In consequence +of these measures, the whole country was in arms. The province of Namur +was divided into three parties: the first whereof was that of the States, +or the Catholic party of Flanders; the second that of the Prince of +Orange and the Huguenots; the third, the Spanish party, of which Don John +was the head. + +By letters which I received just at this time from my brother, through +the hands of a gentleman named Lescar, I found I was in great danger of +falling into the hands of one or other of these parties. + +These letters informed me that, since my departure from Court, God had +dealt favourably with my brother, and enabled him to acquit himself of +the command of the army confided to him, greatly to the benefit of the +King's service; so that he had taken all the towns and driven the +Huguenots out of the provinces, agreeably to the design for which the +army was raised; that he had returned to the Court at Poitiers, where the +King stayed during the siege of Brouage, to be near to M. de Mayenne, in +order to afford him whatever succours he stood in need of; that, as the +Court is a Proteus, forever putting on a new face, he had found it +entirely changed, so that he had been no more considered than if he had +done the King no service whatever; and that Bussi, who had been so +graciously looked upon before and during this last war, had done great +personal service, and had lost a brother at the storming of Issoire, was +very coolly received, and even as maliciously persecuted as in the time +of Le Guast; in consequence of which either he or Bussi experienced some +indignity or other. He further mentioned that the King's favourites had +been practising with his most faithful servants, Maugiron, La Valette, +Mauldon, and Hivarrot, and several other good and trusty men, to desert +him, and enter into the King's service; and, lastly, that the King had +repented of giving me leave to go to Flanders, and that, to counteract my +brother, a plan was laid to intercept me on my return, either by the +Spaniards, for which purpose they had been told that I had treated for +delivering up the country to him, or by the Huguenots, in revenge of the +war my brother had carried on against them, after having formerly +assisted them. + +This intelligence required to be well considered, as there seemed to be +an utter impossibility of avoiding both parties. I had, however, the +pleasure to think that two of the principal persons of my company stood +well with either one or another party. The Cardinal de Lenoncourt had +been thought to favour the Huguenot party, and M. Descarts, brother to +the Bishop of Lisieux, was supposed to have the Spanish interest at +heart. I communicated our difficult situation to the Princesse de Roche- +sur-Yon and Madame de Tournon, who, considering that we could not reach +La Fere in less than five or six days, answered me, with tears in their +eyes, that God only had it in his power to preserve us, that I should +recommend myself to his protection, and then follow such measures as +should seem advisable. They observed that, as one of them was in a weak +state of health, and the other advanced in years, I might affect to make +short journeys on their account, and they would put up with every +inconvenience to extricate me from the danger I was in. + +I next consulted with the Bishop of Liege, who most certainly acted +towards me like a father, and gave directions to the grand master of his +household to attend me with his horses as far as I should think proper. +As it was necessary that we should have a passport from the Prince of +Orange, I sent Mondoucet to him to obtain one, as he was acquainted with +the Prince and was known to favour his religion. Mondoucet did not +return, and I believe I might have waited for him until this time to no +purpose. I was advised by the Cardinal de Lenoncourt and my first +esquire, the Chevalier Salviati, who were of the same party, not to stir +without a passport; but, as I suspected a plan was laid to entrap me, I +resolved to set out the next morning. + +They now saw that this pretence was insufficient to detain me; +accordingly, the Chevalier Salviati prevailed with my treasurer, who was +secretly a Huguenot, to declare he had not money enough in his hands to +discharge the expenses we had incurred at Liege, and that, in +consequence, my horses were detained. I afterwards discovered that this +was false, for, on my arrival at La Fere, I called for his accounts, and +found he had then a balance in his hands which would have enabled him to +pay, the expenses of my family for six or seven weeks. The Princesse de +Roche-sur-Yon, incensed at the affront put upon me, and seeing the danger +I incurred by staying, advanced the money that was required, to their +great confusion; and I took my leave of his Grace the Bishop, presenting +him with a diamond worth three thousand crowns, and giving his domestics +gold chains and rings. Having thus taken our leave, we proceeded to Huy, +without any other passport than God's good providence. + +This town, as I observed before, belongs to the Bishop of Liege, but was +now in a state of tumult and confusion, on account of the general revolt +of the Low Countries, the townsmen taking part with the Netherlanders, +notwithstanding the bishopric was a neutral State. On this account they +paid no respect to the grand master of the Bishop's household, who +accompanied us, but, knowing Don John had taken the castle of Namur in +order, as they supposed, to intercept me on my return, these brutal +people, as soon as I had got into my quarters, rang the alarm-bell, drew +up their artillery, placed chains across the streets, and kept us thus +confined and separated the whole night, giving us no opportunity to +expostulate with them on such conduct. In the morning we were suffered +to leave the town without further molestation, and the streets we passed +through were lined with armed men. + +From there we proceeded to Dinant, where we intended to sleep; but, +unfortunately for us, the townspeople had on that day chosen their +burghermasters, a kind of officers like the consuls in Gascony and +France. In consequence of this election, it was a day of tumult, riot, +and debauchery; every one in the town was drunk, no magistrate was +acknowledged. In a word, all was in confusion. To render our situation +still worse, the grand master of the Bishop's household had formerly done +the town some ill office, and was considered as its enemy. The people of +the town, when in their sober senses, were inclined to favour the party +of the States, but under the influence of Bacchus they paid no regard to +any party, not even to themselves. + +As soon as I had reached the suburbs, they were alarmed at the number of +my company, quitted the bottle and glass to take up their arms, and +immediately shut the gates against me. I had sent a gentleman before me, +with my harbinger and quartermasters, to beg the magistrates to admit me +to stay one night in the town, but I found my officers had been put under +an arrest. They bawled out to us from within, to tell us their +situation, but could not make themselves heard. At length I raised +myself up in my litter, and, taking off my mask, made a sign to a +townsman nearest me, of the best appearance, that I was desirous to speak +with him. As soon as he drew near me, I begged him to call out for +silence, which being with some difficulty obtained, I represented to him +who I was, and the occasion of my journey; that it was far from my +intention to do them harm; but, to prevent any suspicions of the kind, I +only begged to be admitted to go into their city with my women, and as +few others of my attendants as they thought proper, and that we might be +permitted to stay there for one night, whilst the rest of my company +remained within the suburbs. + +They agreed to this proposal, and opened their gates for my admission. +I then entered the city with the principal persons of my company, and the +grand master of the Bishop's household. This reverend personage, who was +eighty years of age, and wore a beard as white as snow, which reached +down to his girdle, this venerable old man, I say, was no sooner +recognised by the drunken and armed rabble than he was accosted with the +grossest abuse, and it was with difficulty they were restrained from +laying violent hands upon him. At length I got him into my lodgings, but +the mob fired at the house, the walls of which were only of plaster. +Upon being thus attacked, I inquired for the master of the house, who, +fortunately, was within. I entreated him to speak from the window, to +some one without, to obtain permission for my being heard. I had some +difficulty to get him to venture doing so. At length, after much bawling +from the window, the burghermasters came to speak to me, but were so +drunk that they scarcely knew what they said. I explained to them that I +was entirely ignorant that the grand master of the Bishop's household was +a person to whom they had a dislike, and I begged them to consider the +consequences of giving offence to a person like me, who was a friend of +the principal lords of the States, and I assured them that the Comte de +Lalain, in particular, would be greatly displeased when he should hear +how I had been received there. + +The name of the Comte de Lalain produced an instant effect, much more +than if I had mentioned all the sovereign princes I was related to. +The principal person amongst them asked me, with some hesitation and +stammering, if I was really a particular friend of the Count's. +Perceiving that to claim kindred with the Count would do me more service +than being related to all the Powers in Christendom, I answered that I +was both a friend and a relation. They then made me many apologies and +conges, stretching forth their hands in token of friendship; in short, +they now behaved with as much civility as before with rudeness. + +They begged my pardon for what had happened, and promised that the good +old man, the grand master of the Bishop's household, should be no more +insulted, but be suffered to leave the city quietly, the next morning, +with me. + +As soon as morning came, and while I was preparing to go to hear mass, +there arrived the King's agent to Don John, named Du Bois, a man much +attached to the Spanish interest. He informed me that he had received +orders from the King my brother to conduct me in safety on my return. +He said that he had prevailed on Don John to permit Barlemont to escort +me to Namur with a troop of cavalry, and begged me to obtain leave of the +citizens to admit Barlemont and his troop to enter the town that; they +might receive my orders. + +Thus had they concerted a double plot; the one to get possession of the +town, the other of my person. I saw through the whole design, and +consulted with the Cardinal de Lenoncourt, communicating to him my +suspicions. The Cardinal was as unwilling to fall into the hands of the +Spaniards as I could be; he therefore thought it advisable to acquaint +the townspeople with the plot, and make our escape from the city by +another road, in order to avoid meeting Barlemont's troop. It was agreed +betwixt us that the Cardinal should keep Du Bois in discourse, whilst I +consulted the principal citizens in another apartment. + +Accordingly, I assembled as many as I could, to whom I represented that +if they admitted Barlemont and his troop within the town, he would most +certainly take possession of it for Don John. I gave it as my advice. +to make a show of defence, to declare they would not be taken by +surprise, and to offer to admit Barlemont, and no one else, within their +gates. They resolved to act according to my counsel, and offered to +serve me at the hazard of their lives. They promised to procure me a +guide, who should conduct me by a road by following which I should put +the river betwixt me and Don John's forces, whereby I should be out of +his reach, and could be lodged in houses and towns which were in the +interest of the States only. + +This point being settled, I despatched them to give admission to M. de +Barlemont, who, as soon as he entered within the gates, begged hard that +his troop might come in likewise. Hereupon, the citizens flew into a +violent rage, and were near putting him to death. They told him that if +he did not order his men out of sight of the town, they would fire upon +them with their great guns. This was done with design to give me time to +leave the town before they could follow in pursuit of me. M. de +Barlemont and the agent, Du Bois, used every argument they could devise +to persuade me to go to Namur, where they said Don John waited to receive +me. + +I appeared to give way to their persuasions, and, after hearing mass and +taking a hasty dinner, I left my lodgings, escorted by two or three +hundred armed citizens, some of them engaging Barlemont and Du Bois in +conversation. We all took the way to the gate which opens to the river, +and directly opposite to that leading to Namur. Du Bois and his +colleague told me I was not going the right way, but I continued talking, +and as if I did not hear them. But when we reached the gate I hastened +into the boat, and my people after me. M. de Barlemont and the agent Du +Bois, calling out to me from the bank, told me I was doing very wrong and +acting directly contrary to the King's intention, who had directed that I +should return by way of Namur. + +In spite of all their remonstrances we crossed the river with all +possible expedition, and, during the two or three crossings which were +necessary to convey over the litters and horses, the citizens, to give me +the more time to escape, were debating with Barlemont and Du Bois +concerning a number of grievances and complaints, telling them, in their +coarse language, that Don John had broken the peace and falsified his +engagements with the States; and they even rehearsed the old quarrel of +the death of Egmont, and, lastly, declared that if the troop made its +appearance before their walls again, they would fire upon it with their +artillery. + +I had by this means sufficient time to reach a secure distance, and was, +by the help of God and the assistance of my guide, out of all +apprehensions of danger from Barlemont and his troop. + +I intended to lodge that night in a strong castle, called Fleurines, +which belonged to a gentleman of the party of the States, whom I had seen +with the Comte de Lalain. Unfortunately for me, the gentleman was +absent, and his lady only was in the castle. The courtyard being open, +we entered it, which put the lady into such a fright that she ordered the +bridge to be drawn up, and fled to the strong tower.--[In the old French +original, 'dongeon', whence we have 'duugeon'.]--Nothing we could say +would induce her to give us entrance. In the meantime, three hundred +gentlemen, whom Don John had sent off to intercept our passage, and take +possession of the castle of Fleurines; judging that I should take up my +quarters there, made their appearance upon an eminence, at the distance +of about a thousand yards. They, seeing our carriages in the courtyard, +and supposing that we ourselves had taken to the strong tower, resolved +to stay where they were that night, hoping to intercept me the next +morning. + +In this cruel situation were we placed, in a courtyard surrounded by a +wall by no means strong, and shut up by a gate equally as weak and as +capable of being forced, remonstrating from time to time with the lady, +who was deaf to all our prayers and entreaties. + +Through God's mercy, her husband, M. de Fleurines, himself appeared just +as night approached. We then gained instant admission, and the lady was +greatly reprimanded by her husband for her incivility and indiscreet +behaviour. This gentleman had been sent by the Comte de Lalain, with +directions to conduct me through the several towns belonging to the +States, the Count himself not being able to leave the army of the States, +of which he had the chief command, to accompany me. + +This was as favourable a circumstance for me as I could wish; for, M. de +Fleurines offering to accompany me into France, the towns we had to pass +through being of the party of the States, we were everywhere quietly and +honourably received. I had only the mortification of not being able to +visit Mons, agreeably to my promise made to the Comtesse de Lalain, not +passing nearer to it than Nivelle, seven long leagues distant from it. +The Count being at Antwerp, and the war being hottest in the +neighbourhood of Mons, I thus was prevented seeing either of them on my +return. I could only write to the Countess by a servant of the gentleman +who was now my conductor. As soon as she learned I was at Nivelle, she +sent some gentlemen, natives of the part of Flanders I was in, with a +strong injunction to see me safe on the frontier of France. + +I had to pass through the Cambresis, partly in favour of Spain and partly +of the States. Accordingly, I set out with these gentlemen, to lodge at +Cateau Cambresis. There they took leave of me, in order to return to +Mons, and by them I sent the Countess a gown of mine, which had been +greatly admired by her when I wore it at Mons; it was of black satin, +curiously embroidered, and cost nine hundred crowns. + +When I arrived at Cateau-Cambresis, I had intelligence sent me that a +party of the Huguenot troops had a design to attack me on the frontiers +of Flanders and France. This intelligence I communicated to a few only +of my company, and prepared to set off an hour before daybreak. When I +sent for my litters and horses, I found much such a kind of delay from +the Chevalier Salviati as I had before experienced at Liege, and +suspecting it was done designedly, I left my litter behind, and mounted +on horseback, with such of my attendants as were ready to follow me. By +this means, with God's assistance, I escaped being waylaid by my enemies, +and reached Catelet at ten in the morning. From there I went to my house +at La Fere, where I intended to reside until I learned that peace was +concluded upon. + +At La Fere I found a messenger in waiting from my brother, who had orders +to return with all expedition, as soon as I arrived, and inform him of +it. My brother wrote me word, by that messenger, that peace was +concluded, and the King returned to Paris; that, as to himself, his +situation was rather worse than better; that he and his people were daily +receiving some affront or other, and continual quarrels were excited +betwixt the King's favourites and Bussi and my brother's principal +attendants. This, he added, had made him impatient for my return, that +he might come and visit me. + +I sent his messenger back, and, immediately after, my brother sent Bussi +and all his household to Angers, and, taking with him fifteen or twenty +attendants, he rode post to me at La Fere. It was a great satisfaction +to me to see one whom I so tenderly loved and greatly honoured, once +more. I consider it amongst the greatest felicities I ever enjoyed, +and, accordingly, it became my chief study to make his residence here +agreeable to him. He himself seemed delighted with this change of +situation, and would willingly have continued in it longer had not the +noble generosity of his mind called him forth to great achievements. The +quiet of our Court, when compared with that he had just left, affected +him so powerfully that he could not but express the satisfaction he felt +by frequently exclaiming, "Oh, Queen! how happy I am with you. My God! +your society is a paradise wherein I enjoy every delight, and I seem to +have lately escaped from hell, with all its furies and tortures!" + + + + +LETTER XVII. + +Good Effects of Queen Marguerite's Negotiations in Flanders.-- +She Obtains Leave to Go to the King of Navarre Her Husband, but Her +Journey Is Delayed.--Court Intrigues and Plots.--The Duc d'Alencon Again +Put under Arrest. + +We passed nearly two months together, which appeared to us only as so +many days. I gave him an account of what I had done for him in Flanders, +and the state in which I had left the business. He approved of the +interview with the Comte de Lalain's brother in order to settle the plan +of operations and exchange assurances. Accordingly, the Comte de +Montigny arrived, with four or five other leading men of the county of +Hainault. One of these was charged with a letter from M. d'Ainsi, +offering his services to my brother, and assuring him of the citadel of +Cambray. M. de Montigny delivered his brother's declaration and +engagement to give up the counties of Hainault and Artois, which included +a number of fine cities. These offers made and accepted, my brother +dismissed them with presents of gold medals, bearing his and my effigies, +and every assurance of his future favour; and they returned to prepare +everything for his coming. In the meanwhile my brother considered on the +necessary measures to be used for raising a sufficient force, for which +purpose he returned to the King, to prevail with him to assist him in +this enterprise. + +As I was anxious to go to Gascony, I made ready for the journey, and set +off for Paris, my brother meeting me at the distance of one day's +journey. + +At St. Denis I was met by the King, the Queen my mother, Queen Louise, +and the whole Court. It was at St. Denis that I was to stop and dine, +and there it was that I had the honour of the meeting I have just +mentioned. + +I was received very graciously, and most sumptuously entertained. I was +made to recount the particulars of my triumphant journey to Liege, and +perilous return. The magnificent entertainments I had received excited +their admiration, and they rejoiced at my narrow escapes. With such +conversation I amused the Queen my mother and the rest of the company in +her coach, on our way to Paris, where, supper and the ball being ended, I +took an opportunity, when I saw the King and the Queen my mother +together, to address them. + +I expressed my hopes that they would not now oppose my going to the King +my husband; that now, by the peace, the chief objection to it was +removed, and if I delayed going, in the present situation of affairs, +it might be prejudicial and discreditable to me. Both of them approved +of my request, and commended my resolution. The Queen my mother added +that she would accompany me on my journey, as it would be for the King's +service that she did so. She said the King must furnish me with the +necessary means for the journey, to which he readily assented. I thought +this a proper time to settle everything, and prevent another journey to +Court, which would be no longer pleasing after my brother left it, who +was now pressing his expedition to Flanders with all haste. I therefore +begged the Queen my mother to recollect the promise she had made my +brother and me as soon as peace was agreed upon, which was that, before +my departure for Gascony, I should have my marriage portion assigned to +me in lands. She said that she recollected it well, and the King thought +it very reasonable, and promised that it should be done. I entreated +that it might be concluded speedily, as I wished to set off, with their +permission, at the beginning of the next month. This, too, was granted +me, but granted after the mode of the Court; that is to say, +notwithstanding my constant solicitations, instead of despatch, I +experienced only delay; and thus it continued for five or six months in +negotiation. + +My brother met with the like treatment, though he was continually urging +the necessity for his setting out for Flanders, and representing that his +expedition was for the glory and advantage of France,--for its glory, as +such an enterprise would, like Piedmont, prove a school of war for the +young nobility, wherein future Montlucs, Brissacs, Termes, and +Bellegardes would be bred, all of them instructed in these wars, and +afterwards, as field-marshals, of the greatest service to their country; +and it would be for the advantage of France, as it would prevent civil +wars; for Flanders would then be no longer a country wherein such +discontented spirits as aimed at novelty could assemble to brood over +their malice and hatch plots for the disturbance of their native land. + +These representations, which were both reasonable and consonant with +truth, had no weight when put into the scale against the envy excited by +this advancement of my brother's fortune. Accordingly, every delay was +used to hinder him from collecting his forces together, and stop his +expedition to Flanders. Bussi and his other dependents were offered a +thousand indignities. Every stratagem was tried, by day as well as by +night, to pick quarrels with Bussi,--now by Quelus, at another time by +Grammont, with the hope that my brother would engage in them. This was +unknown to the King; but Maugiron, who had engrossed the King's favour, +and who had quitted my brother's service, sought every means to ruin him, +as it is usual for those who have given offence to hate the offended +party. + +Thus did this man take every occasion to brave and insult my brother; +and relying upon the countenance and blind affection shown him by the +King, had leagued himself with Quelus, Saint-Luc, Saint-Maigrin, +Grammont, Mauleon, Hivarrot, and other young men who enjoyed the King's +favour. As those who are favourites find a number of followers at Court, +these licentious young courtiers thought they might do whatever they +pleased. Some new dispute betwixt them and Bussi was constantly +starting. Bussi had a degree of courage which knew not how to give way +to any one; and my brother, unwilling to give umbrage to the King, +and foreseeing that such proceedings would not forward his expedition, +to avoid quarrels and, at the same time, to promote his plans, resolved +to despatch Bussi to his duchy of Alencon, in order to discipline such +troops as he should find there. My brother's amiable qualities excited +the jealousy of Maugiron and the rest of his cabal about the King's +person, and their dislike for Bussi was not so much on his own account +as because he was strongly attached to my brother. The slights and +disrespect shown to my brother were remarked by every one at Court; but +his prudence, and the patience natural to his disposition, enabled him to +put up with their insults, in hopes of finishing the business of his +Flemish expedition, which would remove him to a distance from them and +their machinations. This persecution was the more mortifying and +discreditable as it even extended to his servants, whom they strove to +injure by every means they could employ. M. de la Chastre at this time +had a lawsuit of considerable consequence decided against him, because he +had lately attached himself to my brother. At the instance of Maugiron +and Saint-Luc, the King was induced to solicit the cause in favour of +Madame de Senetaire, their friend. M. de la Chastre, being greatly +injured by it, complained to my brother of the injustice done him, with +all the concern such a proceeding may be supposed to have occasioned. + +About this time Saint-Luc's marriage was celebrated. My brother resolved +not to be present at it, and begged of me to join him in the same +resolution. The Queen my mother was greatly uneasy on account of the +behaviour of these young men, fearing that, if my brother did not join +them in this festivity, it might be attended with some bad consequence, +especially as the day was likely to produce scenes of revelry and +debauch; she, therefore, prevailed on the King to permit her to dine on +the wedding-day at St. Maur, and take my brother and me with her. This +was the day before Shrove Tuesday; and we returned in the evening, the +Queen my mother having well lectured my brother, and made him consent to +appear at the ball, in order not to displease the King. + +But this rather served to make matters worse than better, for Maugiron +and his party began to attack him with such violent speeches as would +have offended any one of far less consequence. They said he needed not +to have given himself the trouble of dressing, for he was not missed in +the afternoon; but now, they supposed, he came at night as the most +suitable time; with other allusions to the meanness of his figure and +smallness of stature. All this was addressed to the bride, who sat near +him, but spoken out on purpose that he might hear it. My brother, +perceiving this was purposely said to provoke an answer and occasion his +giving offence to the King, removed from his seat full of resentment; +and, consulting with M. de la Chastre, he came to the resolution of +leaving the Court in a few days on a hunting party. He still thought his +absence might stay their malice, and afford him an opportunity the more +easily of settling his preparations for the Flemish expedition with the +King. He went immediately to the Queen my mother, who was present at the +ball, and was extremely sorry to learn what had happened, and imparted +her resolution, in his absence, to solicit the King to hasten his +expedition to Flanders. M. de Villequier being present, she bade him +acquaint the King with my brother's intention of taking the diversion of +hunting a few days; which she thought very proper herself, as it would +put a stop to the disputes which had arisen betwixt him and the young +men, Maugiron, Saint-Luc, Quelus, and the rest. + +My brother retired to his apartment, and, considering his leave as +granted, gave orders to his domestics to prepare to set off the next +morning for St. Germain, where he should hunt the stag for a few days. +He directed the grand huntsman to be ready with the hounds, and retired +to rest, thinking to withdraw awhile from the intrigues of the Court, and +amuse himself with the sports of the field. M. de Villequier, agreeably +to the command he had received from the Queen my mother, asked for leave, +and obtained it. The King, however, staying in his closet, like +Rehoboam, with his council of five or six young men, they suggested +suspicions in his mind respecting my brother's departure from Court. +In short, they worked upon his fears and apprehensions so greatly, +that he took one of the most rash and inconsiderate steps that was ever +decided upon in our time; which was to put my brother and all his +principal servants under an arrest. This measure was executed with as +much indiscretion as it had been resolved upon. The King, under this +agitation of mind, late as it was, hastened to the Queen my mother, and +seemed as if there was a general alarm and the enemy at the gates, for he +exclaimed on seeing her: "How could you, Madame, think of asking me to +let my brother go hence? Do you not perceive how dangerous his going +will prove to my kingdom? Depend upon it that this hunting is merely a +pretence to cover some treacherous design. I am going to put him and his +people under an arrest, and have his papers examined. I am sure we shall +make some great discoveries." + +At the time he said this he had with him the Sieur de Cosse, captain of +the guard, and a number of Scottish archers. The Queen my mother, +fearing, from the King's haste and trepidation, that some mischief might +happen to my brother, begged to go with him. Accordingly, undressed as +she was, wrapping herself up in a night-gown, she followed the King to my +brother's bedchamber. The King knocked at the door with great violence, +ordering it to be immediately opened, for that he was there himself. My +brother started up in his bed, awakened by the noise, and, knowing that +he had done nothing that he need fear, ordered Cange, his valet de +chambre, to open the door. The King entered in a great rage, and asked +him when he would have done plotting against him. "But I will show you," +said he, "what it is to plot against your sovereign." Hereupon he +ordered the archers to take away all the trunks, and turn the valets de +chambre out of the room. He searched my brother's bed himself, to see if +he could find any papers concealed in it. My brother had that evening +received a letter from Madame de Sauves, which he kept in his hand, +unwilling that it should be seen. The King endeavoured to force it from +him. He refused to part with it, and earnestly entreated the King would +not insist upon seeing it. This only excited the King's anxiety the more +to have it in his possession, as he now supposed it to be the key to the +whole plot, and the very document which would at once bring conviction +home to him. At length, the King having got it into his hands, he opened +it in the presence of the Queen my mother, and they were both as much +confounded, when they read the contents, as Cato was when he obtained a +letter from Caesar, in the Senate, which the latter was unwilling to give +up; and which Cato, supposing it to contain a conspiracy against the +Republic, found to be no other than a love-letter from his own sister. + +But the shame of this disappointment served only to increase the King's +anger, who, without condescending to make a reply to my brother, when +repeatedly asked what he had been accused of, gave him in charge of M. de +Cosse and his Scots, commanding them not to admit a single person to +speak with him. + +It was one o'clock in the morning when my brother was made a prisoner in +the manner I have now related. He feared some fatal event might succeed +these violent proceedings, and he was under the greatest concern on my +account, supposing me to be under a like arrest. He observed M. de Cosse +to be much affected by the scene he had been witness to, even to shedding +tears. As the archers were in the room he would not venture to enter +into discourse with him, but only asked what was become of me. M. de +Cosse answered that I remained at full liberty. My brother then said it +was a great comfort to him to hear that news; "but," added he, "as I know +she loves me so entirely that she would rather be confined with me than +have her liberty whilst I was in confinement, I beg you will go to the +Queen my mother, and desire her to obtain leave for my sister to be with +me." He did so, and it was granted. + +The reliance which my brother displayed upon this occasion in the +sincerity of my friendship and regard for him conferred so great an +obligation in my mind that, though I have received many particular +favours since from him, this has always held the foremost place in my +grateful remembrance. + +By the time he had received permission for my being with him, daylight +made its appearance. Seeing this, my brother begged M. de Cosse to send +one of his archers to acquaint me with his situation, and beg me to come +to him. + + + + +LETTER XVIII. + +The Brothers Reconciled.--Alencon Restored to His Liberty. + +I was ignorant of what had happened to my brother, and when the Scottish +archer came into my bedchamber, I was still asleep. He drew the curtains +of the bed, and told me, in his broken French, that my brother wished to +see me. I stared at the man, half awake as I was, and thought it a +dream. After a short pause, and being thoroughly awakened, I asked him +if he was not a Scottish archer. He answered me in the affirmative. +"What!" cried I, "has my brother no one else to send a message by?" He +replied he had not, for all his domestics had been put under an arrest. +He then proceeded to relate, as well as he could explain himself, the +events of the preceding night, and the leave granted my brother for my +being with him during his imprisonment. + +The poor fellow, observing me to be much affected by this intelligence, +drew near, and whispered me to this purport: "Do not grieve yourself +about this matter; I know a way of setting your brother at liberty, and +you may depend upon it, that I will do it; but, in that case, I must go +off with him." I assured him that he might rely upon being as amply +rewarded as he could wish for such assistance, and, huddling on my +clothes, I followed him alone to my brother's apartments. In going +thither, I had occasion to traverse the whole gallery, which was filled +with people, who, at another time, would have pressed forward to pay +their respects to me; but, now that Fortune seemed to frown upon me, +they all avoided me, or appeared as if they did not see me. + +Coming into my brother's apartments, I found him not at all affected by +what had happened; for such was the constancy of his mind, that his +arrest had wrought no change, and he received me with his usual +cheerfulness. He ran to meet me, and taking me in his arms, he said, +"Queen! I beg you to dry up your tears; in my present situation, nothing +can grieve me so much as to find you under any concern; for my own part, +I am so conscious of my innocence and the integrity of my conduct, that I +can defy the utmost malice of my enemies. If I should chance to fall the +victim of their injustice, my death would prove a more cruel punishment +to them than to me, who have courage sufficient to meet it in a just +cause. It is not death I fear, because I have tasted sufficiently of the +calamities and evils of life, and am ready to leave this world, which I +have found only the abode of sorrow; but the circumstance I dread most +is, that, not finding me sufficiently guilty to doom me to death, I shall +be condemned to a long, solitary imprisonment; though I should even +despise their tyranny in that respect, could I but have the assurance of +being comforted by your presence." + +These words, instead of stopping my tears, only served to make them +stream afresh. I answered, sobbing, that my life and fortune were at his +devotion; that the power of God alone could prevent me from affording him +my assistance under every extremity; that, if he should be transported +from that place, and I should be withheld from following him, I would +kill myself on the spot. + +Changing our discourse, we framed a number of conjectures on what might +be the probable cause of the King's angry proceedings against him, but +found ourselves at a loss what to assign them to. + +Whilst we were discussing this matter the hour came for opening the +palace gates, when a simple young man belonging to Bussi presented +himself for entrance. Being stopped by the guard and questioned as to +whither he was going, he, panic-struck, replied he was going to M. de +Bussi, his master. This answer was carried to the King, and gave fresh +grounds for suspicion. It seems my brother, supposing he should not be +able to go to Flanders for some time, and resolving to send Bussi to his +duchy of Alencon as I have already mentioned, had lodged him in the +Louvre, that he might be near him to take instructions at every +opportunity. + +L'Archant, the general of the guard, had received the King's commands to +make a search in the Louvre for him and Simier, and put them both under +arrest. He entered upon this business with great unwillingness, as he +was intimate with Bussi, who was accustomed to call him "father." +L'Archant, going to Simier's apartment, arrested him; and though he +judged Bussi was there too, yet, being unwilling to find him, he was +going away. Bussi, however, who had concealed himself under the bed, +as not knowing to whom the orders for his arrest might be given, finding +he was to be left there, and sensible that he should be well treated by +L'Archant, called out to him, as he was leaving the room, in his droll +manner: "What, papa, are you going without me? Don't you think I am as +great a rogue as that Simier?" + +"Ah, son," replied L'Archant, "I would much rather have lost my arm than +have met with you!" + +Bussi, being a man devoid of all fear, observed that it was a sign that +things went well with him; then, turning to Simier, who stood trembling +with fear, he jeered him upon his pusillanimity. L'Archant removed them +both, and set a guard over them; and, in the next place, proceeded to +arrest M. de la Chastre, whom he took to the Bastille. + +Meanwhile M. de l'Oste was appointed to the command of the guard which +was set over my brother. This was a good sort of old man, who had been +appointed governor to the King my husband, and loved me as if I had been +his own child. Sensible of the injustice done to my brother and me, and +lamenting the bad counsel by which the King was guided, and being, +moreover, willing to serve us, he resolved to deliver my, brother from +arrest. In order to make his intention known to us he ordered the +Scottish archers to wait on the stairs without, keeping only, two whom he +could trust in the room. Then taking me aside, he said: + +"There is not a good Frenchman living who does not bleed at his heart to +see what we see. I have served the King your father, and I am ready to +lay down my life to serve his children. I expect to have the guard of +the Prince your brother, wherever he shall chance to be confined; and, +depend upon it, at the hazard of my life, I will restore him to his +liberty. But," added he, "that no suspicions may arise that such is my +design, it will be proper that we be not seen together in conversation; +however, you may, rely upon my word." + +This afforded me great consolation; and, assuming a degree of courage +hereupon, I observed to my brother that we ought not to remain there +without knowing for what reason we were detained, as if we were in the +Inquisition; and that to treat us in such a manner was to consider us as +persons of no account. I then begged M. de l'Oste to entreat the King, +in our name, if the Queen our mother was not permitted to come to us, to +send some one to acquaint us with the crime for which we were kept in +confinement. + +M. de Combaut, who was at the head of the young counsellors, was +accordingly sent to us; and he, with a great deal of gravity, informed +us that he came from the King to inquire what it was we wished to +communicate to his Majesty. We answered that we wished to speak to some +one near the King's person, in order to our being informed what we were +kept in confinement for, as we were unable to assign any reason for it +ourselves. He answered, with great solemnity, that we ought not to ask +of God or the King reasons for what they did; as all their actions +emanated from wisdom and justice. We replied that we were not persons to +be treated like those shut up in the Inquisition, who are left to guess +at the cause of their being there. + +We could obtain from him, after all we said, no other satisfaction than +his promise to interest himself in our behalf, and to do us all the +service in his power. At this my brother broke out into a fit of +laughter; but I confess I was too much alarmed to treat his message with +such indifference, and could scarcely, refrain from talking to this +messenger as he deserved. + +Whilst he was making his report to the King, the Queen my mother kept her +chamber, being under great concern, as may well be supposed, to witness +such proceedings. She plainly foresaw, in her prudence, that these +excesses would end fatally, should the mildness of my brother's +disposition, and his regard for the welfare of the State, be once wearied +out with submitting to such repeated acts of injustice. She therefore +sent for the senior members of the Council, the chancellor, princes, +nobles, and marshals of France, who all were greatly scandalised at the +bad counsel which had been given to the King, and told the Queen my +mother that she ought to remonstrate with the King upon the injustice of +his proceedings. They observed that what had been done could not now be +recalled, but matters might yet be set upon a right footing. The Queen +my mother hereupon went to the King, followed by these counsellors, and +represented to him the ill consequences which might proceed from the +steps he had taken. + +The King's eyes were by this time opened, and he saw that he had been ill +advised. He therefore begged the Queen my mother to set things to +rights, and to prevail on my brother to forget all that had happened, and +to bear no resentment against these young men, but to make up the breach +betwixt Bussi and Quelus. + +Things being thus set to rights again, the guard which had been placed +over my brother was dismissed, and the Queen my mother, coming to his +apartment, told him he ought to return thanks to God for his deliverance, +for that there had been a moment when even she herself despaired of +saving his life; that since he must now have discovered that the King's +temper of mind was such that he took the alarm at the very imagination of +danger, and that, when once he was resolved upon a measure, no advice +that she or any other could give would prevent him from putting it into +execution, she would recommend it to him to submit himself to the King's +pleasure in everything, in order to prevent the like in future; and, for +the present, to take the earliest opportunity of seeing the King, and to +appear as if he thought no more about the past. + +We replied that we were both of us sensible of God's great mercy in +delivering us from the injustice of our enemies, and that, next to God, +our greatest obligation was to her; but that my brother's rank did not +admit of his being put in confinement without cause, and released from it +again without the formality of an acknowledgment. Upon this, the Queen +observed that it was not in the power even of God himself to undo what +had been done; that what could be effected to save his honour, and give +him satisfaction for the irregularity of the arrest, should have place. +My brother, therefore, she observed, ought to strive to mollify the King +by addressing him with expressions of regard to his person and attachment +to his service; and, in the meantime, use his influence over Bussi to +reconcile him to Quelus, and to end all disputes betwixt them. She then +declared that the principal motive for putting my brother and his +servants under arrest was to prevent the combat for which old Bussi, the +brave father of a brave son, had solicited the King's leave, wherein he +proposed to be his son's second, whilst the father of Quelus was to be +his. These four had agreed in this way to determine the matter in +dispute, and give the Court no further disturbance. + +My brother now engaged himself to the Queen that, as Bussi would see he +could not be permitted to decide his quarrel by combat, he should, in +order to deliver himself from his arrest, do as she had commanded. + +The Queen my mother, going down to the King, prevailed with him to +restore my brother to liberty with every honour. In order to which the +King came to her apartment, followed by the princes, noblemen, and other +members of the Council, and sent for us by M. de Villequier. As we went +along we found all the rooms crowded with people, who, with tears in +their eyes, blessed God for our deliverance. Coming into the apartments +of the Queen my mother, we found the King attended as I before related. +The King desired my brother not to take anything ill that had been done, +as the motive for it was his concern for the good of his kingdom, and not +any bad intention towards himself. My brother replied that he had, as he +ought, devoted his life to his service, and, therefore, was governed by +his pleasure; but that he most humbly begged him to consider that his +fidelity and attachment did not merit the return he had met with; that, +notwithstanding, he should impute it entirely to his own ill-fortune, +and should be perfectly satisfied if the King acknowledged his innocence. +Hereupon the King said that he entertained not the least doubt of his +innocence, and only desired him to believe he held the same place in his +esteem he ever had. The Queen my mother then, taking both of them by the +hand, made them embrace each other. + +Afterwards the King commanded Bussi to be brought forth, to make a +reconciliation betwixt him and Quelus, giving orders, at the same time, +for the release of Simier and M. de la Chastre. Bussi coming into the +room with his usual grace, the King told him he must be reconciled with +Quelus, and forbade him to say a word more concerning their quarrel. +He then commanded them to embrace. "Sire," said Bussi, "if it is your +pleasure that we kiss and are friends again, I am ready to obey your +command;" then, putting himself in the attitude of Pantaloon, he went up +to Queus and gave him a hug, which set all present in a titter, +notwithstanding they had been seriously affected by the scene which had +passed just before. + +Many persons of discretion thought what had been done was too slight a +reparation for the injuries my brother had received. When all was over, +the King and the Queen my mother, coming up to me, said it would be +incumbent on me to use my utmost endeavours to prevent my brother from +calling to mind anything past which should make him swerve from the duty +and affection he owed the King. I replied that my brother was so +prudent, and so strongly attached to the King's service, that he needed +no admonition on that head from me or any one else; and that, with +respect to myself, I had never given him any other advice than to conform +himself to the King's pleasure and the duty he owed him. + + + + +LETTER XIX. + +The Duc d'Alencon Makes His Escape from Court.--Queen Marguerite's +Fidelity Put to a Severe Trial. + +It was now three o'clock in the afternoon, and no one present had yet +dined. The Queen my mother was desirous that we should eat together, +and, after dinner, she ordered my brother and me to change our dress (as +the clothes we had on were suitable only to our late melancholy +situation) and come to the King's supper and ball. We complied with her +orders as far as a change of dress, but our countenances still retained +the impressions of grief and resentment which we inwardly felt. + +I must inform you that when the tragi-comedy I have given you an account +of was over, the Queen my mother turned round to the Chevalier de Seurre, +whom she recommended to my brother to sleep in his bedchamber, and in +whose conversation she sometimes took delight because he was a man of +some humour, but rather inclined to be cynical. + +"Well," said she, "M. de Seurre, what do you think of all this?" + +"Madame, I think there is too much of it for earnest, and not enough for +jest." + +Then addressing himself to me, he said, but not loud enough for the Queen +to hear him: "I do not believe all is over yet; I am very much mistaken +if this young man" (meaning my brother) "rests satisfied with this." +This day having passed in the manner before related, the wound being only +skinned over and far from healed, the young men about the King's person +set themselves to operate in order to break it out afresh. + +These persons, judging of my brother by themselves, and not having +sufficient experience to know the power of duty over the minds of +personages of exalted rank and high birth, persuaded the King, still +connecting his case with their own, that it was impossible my brother +should ever forgive the affront he had received, and not seek to avenge +himself with the first opportunity. The King, forgetting the ill-judged +steps these young men had so lately induced him to take, hereupon +receives this new impression, and gives orders to the officers of the +guard to keep strict watch at the gates that his brother go not out, +and that his people be made to leave the Louvre every evening, except +such of them as usually slept in his bedchamber or wardrobe. + +My brother, seeing himself thus exposed to the caprices of these +headstrong young fellows, who led the King according to their own +fancies, and fearing something worse might happen than what he had yet +experienced, at the end of three days, during which time he laboured +under apprehensions of this kind, came to a determination to leave the +Court, and never more return to it, but retire to his principality and +make preparations with all haste for his expedition to Flanders. +He communicated his design to me, and I approved of it, as I considered +he had no other view in it than providing for his own safety, and that +neither the King nor his government were likely to sustain any injury by +it. + +When we consulted upon the means of its accomplishment, we could find no +other than his descending from my window, which was on the second story +and opened to the ditch, for the gates were so closely watched that it +was impossible to pass them, the face of every one going out of the +Louvre being curiously examined. He begged of me, therefore, to procure +for him a rope of sufficient strength and long enough for the purpose. +This I set about immediately, for, having the sacking of a bed that +wanted mending, I sent it out of the palace by a lad whom I could trust, +with orders to bring it back repaired, and to wrap up the proper length +of rope inside. + +When all was prepared, one evening, at supper-time, I went to the Queen +my mother, who supped alone in her own apartment, it being fast-day and +the King eating no supper. My brother, who on most occasions was patient +and discreet, spurred on by the indignities he had received, and anxious +to extricate himself from danger and regain his liberty, came to me as I +was rising from table, and whispered to me to make haste and come to him +in my own apartment. M. de Matignon, at that time a marshal, a sly, +cunning Norman, and one who had no love for my brother, whether he had +some knowledge of his design from some one who could not keep a secret, +or only guessed at it, observed to the Queen my mother as she left the +room (which I overheard, being near her, and circumspectly watching every +word and motion, as may well be imagined, situated as I was betwixt fear +and hope, and involved in perplexity) that my brother had undoubtedly an +intention of withdrawing himself, and would not be there the next day; +adding that he was assured of it, and she might take her measures +accordingly. + +I observed that she was much disconcerted by this observation, and I had +my fears lest we should be discovered. When we came into her closet, she +drew me aside and asked if I heard what Matignon had said. + +I replied: "I did not hear it, Madame, but I observe that it has given +you uneasiness." + +"Yes," said she, "a great deal of uneasiness, for you know I have pledged +myself to the King that your brother shall not depart hence, and Matignon +has declared that he knows very well he will not be here to-morrow." + +I now found myself under a great embarrassment; I was in danger either of +proving unfaithful to my brother, and thereby bringing his life into +jeopardy, or of being obliged to declare that to be truth which I knew to +be false, and this I would have died rather than be guilty of. + +In this extremity, if I had not been aided by God, my countenance, +without speaking, would plainly have discovered what I wished to conceal. +But God, who assists those who mean well, and whose divine goodness was +discoverable in my brother's escape, enabled me to compose my looks and +suggested to me such a reply as gave her to understand no more than I +wished her to know, and cleared my conscience from making any declaration +contrary to the truth. I answered her in these words: + +"You cannot, Madame, but be sensible that M. de Matignon is not one of my +brother's friends, and that he is, besides, a busy, meddling kind of man, +who is sorry to find a reconciliation has taken place with us; and, as to +my brother, I will answer for him with my life in case he goes hence, of +which, if he had any design, I should, as I am well assured, not be +ignorant, he never having yet concealed anything he meant to do from me." + +All this was said by me with the assurance that, after my brother's +escape, they would not dare to do me any injury; and in case of the +worst, and when we should be discovered, I had much rather pledge my life +than hazard my soul by a false declaration, and endanger my brother's +life. Without scrutinising the import of my speech, she replied: +"Remember what you now say,--you will be bound for him on the penalty of +your life." + +I smiled and answered that such was my intention. Then, wishing her a +good night, I retired to my own bedchamber, where, undressing myself in +haste and getting into bed, in order to dismiss the ladies and maids of +honour, and there then remaining only my chamber-women, my brother came +in, accompanied by Simier and Cange. Rising from my bed, we made the +cord fast, and having looked out, at the window to discover if any one +was in the ditch, with the assistance of three of my women, who slept in +my room, and the lad who had brought in the rope, we let down my brother, +who laughed and joked upon the occasion without the least apprehension, +notwithstanding the height was considerable. We next lowered Simier into +the ditch, who was in such a fright that he had scarcely strength to hold +the rope fast; and lastly descended my brother's valet de chambre, Cange. + +Through God's providence my brother got off undiscovered, and going to +Ste. Genevieve, he found Bussi waiting there for him. By consent of the +abbot, a hole had been made in the city wall, through which they passed, +and horses being provided and in waiting, they mounted, and reached +Angers without the least accident. + +Whilst we were lowering down Cange, who, as I mentioned before, was the +last, we observed a man rising out of the ditch, who ran towards the +lodge adjoining to the tennis-court, in the direct way leading to the +guard-house. I had no apprehensions on my own account, all my fears +being absorbed by those I entertained for my brother; and now I was +almost dead with alarm, supposing this might be a spy placed there by +M. de Matignon, and that my brother would be taken. Whilst I was in this +cruel state of anxiety, which can be judged of only by those who have +experienced a similar situation, my women took a precaution for my safety +and their own, which did not suggest itself to me. This was to burn the +rope, that it might not appear to our conviction in case the man in +question had been placed there to watch us. This rope occasioned so +great a flame in burning, that it set fire to the chimney, which, being +seen from without, alarmed the guard, who ran to us, knocking violently +at the door, calling for it to be opened. + +I now concluded that my brother was stopped, and that we were both +undone. However, as, by the blessing of God and through his divine mercy +alone, I have, amidst every danger with which I have been repeatedly +surrounded, constantly preserved a presence of mind which directed what +was best to be done, and observing that the rope was not more than half +consumed, I told my women to go to the door, and speaking softly, as if I +was asleep, to ask the men what they wanted. They did so, and the +archers replied that the chimney was on fire, and they came to extinguish +it. My women answered it was of no consequence, and they could put it +out themselves, begging them not to awake me. This alarm thus passed off +quietly, and they went away; but, in two hours afterward, M. de Cosse +came for me to go to the King and the Queen, my mother, to give an +account of my brother's escape, of which they had received intelligence +by the Abbot of Ste. Genevieve. + +It seems it had been concerted betwixt my brother and the abbot, in order +to prevent the latter from falling under disgrace, that, when my brother +might be supposed to have reached a sufficient distance, the abbot should +go to Court, and say that he had been put into confinement whilst the +hole was being made, and that he came to inform the King as soon as he +had released himself. + +I was in bed, for it was yet night; and rising hastily, I put on my +night-clothes. One of my women was indiscreet enough to hold me round +the waist, and exclaim aloud, shedding a flood of tears, that she should +never see me more. M. de Cosse, pushing her away, said to me: "If I were +not a person thoroughly devoted to your service, this woman has said +enough to bring you into trouble. But," continued he, "fear nothing. +God be praised, by this time the Prince your brother is out of danger." + +These words were very necessary, in the present state of my mind, to +fortify it against the reproaches and threats I had reason to expect from +the King. I found him sitting at the foot of the Queen my mother's bed, +in such a violent rage that I am inclined to believe I should have felt +the effects of it, had he not been restrained by the absence of my +brother and my mother's presence. They both told me that I had assured +them my brother would not leave the Court, and that I pledged myself for +his stay. I replied that it was true that he had deceived me, as he had +them; however, I was ready still to pledge my life that his departure +would not operate to the prejudice of the King's service, and that it +would appear he was only gone to his own principality to give orders and +forward his expedition to Flanders. + +The King appeared to be somewhat mollified by this declaration, and now +gave me permission to return to my own apartments. Soon afterwards he +received letters from my brother, containing assurances of his +attachment, in the terms I had before expressed. This caused a cessation +of complaints, but by no means removed the King's dissatisfaction, who +made a show of affording assistance to his expedition, but was secretly +using every means to frustrate and defeat it. + + + + +LETTER XX. + +Queen Marguerite Permitted to Go to the King Her Husband.--Is Accompanied +by the Queenmother.--Marguerite Insulted by Her Husband's Secretary.-- +She Harbours Jealousy.--Her Attention to the King Her Husband during an +Indisposition.--Their Reconciliation.--The War Breaks Out Afresh.-- +Affront Received from Marechal de Biron. + +I now renewed my application for leave to go to the King my husband, +which I continued to press on every opportunity. The King, perceiving +that he could not refuse my leave any longer, was willing I should depart +satisfied. He had this further view in complying with my wishes, that by +this means he should withdraw me from my attachment to my brother. +He therefore strove to oblige me in every way he could think of, and, +to fulfil the promise made by the Queen my mother at the Peace of Sens, +he gave me an assignment of my portion in territory, with the power of +nomination to all vacant benefices and all offices; and, over and above +the customary pension to the daughters of France, he gave another out of +his privy purse. + +He daily paid me a visit in my apartment, in which he took occasion to +represent to me how useful his friendship would be to me; whereas that of +my brother could be only injurious,--with arguments of the like kind. + +However, all he could say was insufficient to prevail on me to swerve +from the fidelity I had vowed to observe to my brother. The King was +able to draw from me no other declaration than this: that it ever was, +and should be, my earnest wish to see my brother firmly established in +his gracious favour, which he had never appeared to me to have forfeited; +that I was well assured he would exert himself to the utmost to regain it +by every act of duty and meritorious service; that, with respect to +myself, I thought I was so much obliged to him for the great honour he +did me by repeated acts of generosity, that he might be assured, when I +was with the King my husband I should consider myself bound in duty to +obey all such commands as he should be pleased to give me; and that it +would be my whole study to maintain the King my husband in a submission +to his pleasure. + +My brother was now on the point of leaving Alencon to go to Flanders; the +Queen my mother was desirous to see him before his departure. I begged +the King to permit me to take the opportunity of accompanying her to take +leave of my brother, which he granted; but, as it seemed, with great +unwillingness. When we returned from Alencon, I solicited the King to +permit me to take leave of himself, as I had everything prepared for my +journey. The Queen my mother being desirous to go to Gascony, where her +presence was necessary for the King's service, was unwilling that I +should depart without her. When we left Paris, the King accompanied us +on the way as far as his palace of Dolinville. There we stayed with him +a few days, and there we took our leave, and in a little time reached +Guienne, which belonging to, and being under the government of the King +my husband, I was everywhere received as Queen. My husband gave the +Queen my mother a meeting at Wolle, which was held by the Huguenots as a +cautionary town; and the country not being sufficiently quieted, she was +permitted to go no further. + +It was the intention of the Queen my mother to make but a short stay; but +so many accidents arose from disputes betwixt the Huguenots and +Catholics, that she was under the necessity of stopping there eighteen +months. As this was very much against her inclination, she was sometimes +inclined to think there was a design to keep her, in order to have the +company of her maids of honour. For my husband had been greatly smitten +with Dayelle, and M. de Thurene was in love with La Vergne. However, I +received every mark of honour and attention from the King that I could +expect or desire. He related to me, as soon as we met, the artifices +which had been put in practice whilst he remained at Court to create a +misunderstanding betwixt him and me; all this, he said, he knew was with +a design to cause a rupture betwixt my brother and him, and thereby ruin +us all three, as there was an exceeding great jealousy entertained of the +friendship which existed betwixt us. + +We remained in the disagreeable situation I have before described all the +time the Queen my mother stayed in Gascony; but, as soon as she could +reestablish peace, she, by desire of the King my husband, removed the +King's lieutenant, the Marquis de Villars, putting in his place the +Marechal de Biron. She then departed for Languedoc, and we conducted her +to Castelnaudary; where, taking our leave, we returned to Pau, in Bearn; +in which place, the Catholic religion not being tolerated, I was only +allowed to have mass celebrated in a chapel of about three or four feet +in length, and so narrow that it could scarcely hold seven or eight +persons. During the celebration of mass, the bridge of the castle was +drawn up to prevent the Catholics of the town and country from coming to +assist at it; who having been, for some years, deprived of the benefit of +following their own mode of worship, would have gladly been present. +Actuated by so holy and laudable a desire, some of the inhabitants of +Pau, on Whitsunday, found means to get into the castle before the bridge +was drawn up, and were present at the celebration of mass, not being +discovered until it was nearly over. At length the Huguenots espied +them, and ran to acquaint Le Pin, secretary to the King my, husband, who +was greatly in his favour, and who conducted the whole business relating +to the new religion. Upon receiving this intelligence, Le Pin ordered +the guard to arrest these poor people, who were severely beaten in my +presence, and afterwards locked up in prison, whence they were not +released without paying a considerable fine. + +This indignity gave me great offence, as I never expected anything of the +kind. Accordingly, I complained of it to the King my husband, begging +him to give orders for the release of these poor Catholics, who did not +deserve to be punished for coming to my chapel to hear mass, +a celebration of which they had been so long deprived of the benefit. +Le Pin, with the greatest disrespect to his master, took upon him to +reply, without waiting to hear what the King had to say. He told me that +I ought not to trouble the King my husband about such matters; that what +had been done was very right and proper; that those people had justly +merited the treatment they met with, and all I could say would go for +nothing, for it must be so; and that I ought to rest satisfied with being +permitted to have mass said to me and my servants. This insolent speech +from a person of his inferior condition incensed me greatly, and I +entreated the King my husband, if I had the least share in his good +graces, to do me justice, and avenge the insult offered me by this low +man. + +The King my husband, perceiving that I was offended, as I had reason to +be, with this gross indignity, ordered Le Pin to quit our presence +immediately; and, expressing his concern at his secretary's behaviour, +who, he said, was overzealous in the cause of religion, he promised that +he would make an example of him. As to the Catholic prisoners, he said +he would advise with his parliament what ought to be done for my +satisfaction. + +Having said this, he went to his closet, where he found Le Pin, who, +by dint of persuasion, made him change his resolution; insomuch that, +fearing I should insist upon his dismissing his secretary, he avoided +meeting me. At last, finding that I was firmly resolved to leave him, +unless he dismissed Le Pin, he took advice of some persons, who, having +themselves a dislike to the secretary, represented that he ought not to +give me cause of displeasure for the sake of a man of his small +importance,--especially one who, like him, had given me just reason to be +offended; that, when it became known to the King my brother and the Queen +my mother, they would certainly take it ill that he had not only not +resented it, but, on the contrary, still kept him near his person. + +This counsel prevailed with him, and he at length discarded his +secretary. The King, however, continued to behave to me with great +coolness, being influenced, as he afterwards confessed, by the counsel of +M. de Pibrac, who acted the part of a double dealer, telling me that I +ought not to pardon an affront offered by such a mean fellow, but insist +upon his being dismissed; whilst he persuaded the King my husband that +there was no reason for parting with a man so useful to him, for such a +trivial cause. This was done by M. de Pibrac, thinking I might be +induced, from such mortifications, to return to France, where he enjoyed +the offices of president and King's counsellor. + +I now met with a fresh cause for disquietude in my present situation, +for, Dayelle being gone, the King my husband placed his affections on +Rebours. She was an artful young person, and had no regard for me; +accordingly, she did me all the ill offices in her power with him. +In the midst of these trials, I put my trust in God, and he, moved with +pity by my tears, gave permission for our leaving Pau, that "little +Geneva;" and, fortunately for me, Rebours was taken ill and stayed +behind. The King my husband no sooner lost sight of her than he forgot +her; he now turned his eyes and attention towards Fosseuse. She was much +handsomer than the other, and was at that time young, and really a very +amiable person. + +Pursuing the road to Montauban, we stopped at a little town called Eause, +where, in the night, the King my husband was attacked with a high fever, +accompanied with most violent pains in his head. This fever lasted for +seventeen days, during which time he had no rest night or day, but was +continually removed from one bed to another. I nursed him the whole +time, never stirring from his bedside, and never putting off my clothes. +He took notice of my extraordinary tenderness, and spoke of it to several +persons, and particularly to my cousin M-----, who, acting the part of an +affectionate relation, restored me to his favour, insomuch that I never +stood so highly in it before. This happiness I had the good fortune to +enjoy during the four or five years that I remained with him in Gascony. + +Our residence, for the most part of the time I have mentioned, was at +Nerac, where our Court was so brilliant that we had no cause to regret +our absence from the Court of France. We had with us the Princesse de +Navarre, my husband's sister, since married to the Duc de Bar; there were +besides a number of ladies belonging to myself. The King my husband was +attended by a numerous body of lords and gentlemen, all as gallant +persons as I have seen in any Court; and we had only to lament that they +were Huguenots. This difference of religion, however, caused no dispute +among us; the King my husband and the Princess his sister heard a sermon, +whilst I and my servants heard mass. I had a chapel in the park for the +purpose, and, as soon as the service of both religions was over, we +joined company in a beautiful garden, ornamented with long walks shaded +with laurel and cypress trees. Sometimes we took a walk in the park on +the banks of the river, bordered by an avenue of trees three thousand +yards in length. The rest of the day was passed in innocent amusements; +and in the afternoon, or at night, we commonly had a ball. + +The King was very assiduous with Fosseuse, who, being dependent on me, +kept herself within the strict bounds of honour and virtue. Had she +always done so, she had not brought upon herself a misfortune which has +proved of such fatal consequence to myself as well as to her. + +But our happiness was too great to be of long continuance, and fresh +troubles broke out betwixt the King my husband and the Catholics, and +gave rise to a new war. The King my husband and the Marechal de Biron, +who was the King's lieutenant in Guienne, had a difference, which was +aggravated by the Huguenots. This breach became in a short time so wide +that all my efforts to close it were useless. They made their separate +complaints to the King. The King my husband insisted on the removal of +the Marechal de Biron, and the Marshal charged the King my husband, and +the rest of those who were of the pretended reformed religion, with +designs contrary to peace. I saw, with great concern, that affairs were +likely soon to come to an open rupture; and I had no power to prevent it. + +The Marshal advised the King to come to Guienne himself, saying that in +his presence matters might be settled. The Huguenots, hearing of this +proposal, supposed the King would take possession of their towns, and, +thereupon, came to a resolution to take up arms. This was what I feared; +I was become a sharer in the King my husband's fortune, and was now to be +in opposition to the King my brother and the religion I had been bred up +in. I gave my opinion upon this war to the King my husband and his +Council, and strove to dissuade them from engaging in it. I represented +to them the hazards of carrying on a war when they were to be opposed +against so able a general as the Marechal de Biron, who would not spare +them, as other generals had done, he being their private enemy. I begged +them to consider that, if the King brought his whole force against them, +with intention to exterminate their religion, it would not be in their +power to oppose or prevent it. But they were so headstrong, and so +blinded with the hope of succeeding in the surprise of certain towns in +Languedoc and Gascony, that, though the King did me the honour, upon all +occasions, to listen to my advice, as did most of the Huguenots, yet I +could not prevail on them to follow it in the present situation of +affairs, until it was too late, and after they had found, to their cost, +that my counsel was good. The torrent was now burst forth, and there was +no possibility of stopping its course until it had spent its utmost +strength. + +Before that period arrived, foreseeing the consequences, I had often +written to the King and the Queen my mother, to offer something to the +King my husband by way of accommodating matters. But they were bent +against it, and seemed to be pleased that matters had taken such a turn, +being assured by Marechal de Biron that he had it in his power to crush +the Huguenots whenever he pleased. In this crisis my advice was not +attended to, the dissensions increased, and recourse was had to arms. + +The Huguenots had reckoned upon a force more considerable than they were +able to collect together, and the King my husband found himself +outnumbered by Marechal de Biron. In consequence, those of the pretended +reformed religion failed in all their plans, except their attack upon +Cahors, which they took with petards, after having lost a great number of +men, M. de Vezins, who commanded in the town, disputing their entrance +for two or three days, from street to street, and even from house to +house. The King my husband displayed great valour and conduct upon the. +occasion, and showed himself to be a gallant and brave general. Though +the Huguenots succeeded in this attempt, their loss was so great that +they gained nothing from it. Marechal de Biron kept the field, and took +every place that declared for the Huguenots, putting all that opposed him +to the sword. + +From the commencement of this war, the King my husband doing me the +honour to love me, and commanding me not to leave him, I had resolved to +share his fortune, not without extreme regret, in observing that this war +was of such a nature that I could not, in conscience, wish success to +either side; for if the Huguenots got the upper hand, the religion which +I cherished as much as my life was lost, and if the Catholics prevailed, +the King my husband was undone. But, being thus attached to my husband, +by the duty I owed him, and obliged by the attentions he was pleased to +show me, I could only acquaint the King and the Queen my mother with the +situation to which I was reduced, occasioned by my advice to them not +having been attended to. I, therefore, prayed them, if they could not +extinguish the flames of war in the midst of which I was placed, at least +to give orders to Marechal de Biron to consider the town I resided in, +and three leagues round it, as neutral ground, and that I would get the +King my husband to do the same. This the King granted me for Nerac, +provided my husband was not there; but if he should enter it, the +neutrality was to cease, and so to remain as long as he continued there. +This convention was observed, on both sides, with all the exactness I +could desire. However, the King my husband was not to be prevented from +often visiting Nerac, which was the residence of his sister and me. +He was fond of the society of ladies, and, moreover, was at that time +greatly enamoured with Fosseuse, who held the place in his affections +which Rebours had lately occupied. Fosseuse did me no ill offices, so +that the King my husband and I continued to live on very good terms, +especially as he perceived me unwilling to oppose his inclinations. + +Led by such inducements, he came to Nerac, once, with a body of troops, +and stayed three days, not being able to leave the agreeable company he +found there. Marechal de Biron, who wished for nothing so much as such +an opportunity, was apprised of it, and, under pretence of joining M. de +Cornusson, the seneschal of Toulouse, who was expected with a +reinforcement for his army, he began his march; but, instead of pursuing +the road, according to the orders he had issued, he suddenly ordered his +troops to file off towards Nerac, and, before nine in the morning, his +whole force was drawn up within sight of the town, and within cannon-shot +of it. + +The King my husband had received intelligence, the evening before, of the +expected arrival of M. de Cornusson, and was desirous of preventing the +junction, for which purpose he resolved to attack him and the Marshal +separately. As he had been lately joined by M. de La Rochefoucauld, with +a corps of cavalry consisting of eight hundred men, formed from the +nobility of Saintonge, he found himself sufficiently strong to undertake +such a plan. He, therefore, set out before break of day to make his +attack as they crossed the river. But his intelligence did not prove to +be correct, for De Cornusson passed it the evening before. My husband, +being thus disappointed in his design, returned to Nerac, and entered at +one gate just as Marechal de Biron drew up his troops before the other. +There fell so heavy a rain at that moment that the musketry was of no +use. The King my husband, however, threw a body of his troops into a +vineyard to stop the Marshal's progress, not being able to do more on +account of the unfavourableness of the weather. + +In the meantime, the Marshal continued with his troops drawn up in order +of battle, permitting only two or three of his men to advance, who +challenged a like number to break lances in honour of their mistresses. +The rest of the army kept their ground, to mask their artillery, which, +being ready to play, they opened to the right and left, and fired seven +or eight shots upon the town, one of which struck the palace. The +Marshal, having done this, marched off, despatching a trumpeter to me +with his excuse. He acquainted me that, had I been alone, he would on no +account have fired on the town; but the terms of neutrality for the town, +agreed upon by the King, were, as I well knew, in case the King my +husband should not be found in it, and, if otherwise, they were void. +Besides which, his orders were to attack the King my husband wherever he +should find him. + +I must acknowledge on every other occasion the Marshal showed me the +greatest respect, and appeared to be much my friend. During the war my +letters have frequently fallen into his hands, when he as constantly +forwarded them to me unopened. And whenever my people have happened to +be taken prisoners by his army, they were always well treated as soon as +they mentioned to whom they belonged. + +I answered his message by the trumpeter, saying that I well knew what he +had done was strictly agreeable to the convention made and the orders he +had received, but that a gallant officer like him would know how to do +his duty without giving his friends cause of offence; that he might have +permitted me the enjoyment of the King my husband's company in Nerac for +three days, adding, that he could not attack him, in my presence, without +attacking me; and concluding that, certainly, I was greatly offended by +his conduct, and would take the first opportunity of making my complaint +to the King my brother. + + + + +LETTER XXI. + +Situation of Affairs in Flanders.--Peace Brought About by Duc d'Alencon's +Negotiation.--Marechal de Biron Apologises for Firing on Nerac.--Henri +Desperately in Love with Fosseuse.--Queen Marguerite Discovers Fosseuse +to Be Pregnant, Which She Denies.--Fosseuse in Labour. Marguerite's +Generous Behaviour to Her.--Marguerite's Return to Paris. + +The war lasted some time longer, but with disadvantage to the Huguenots. +The King my husband at length became desirous to make a peace. I wrote +on the subject to the King and the Queen my mother; but so elated were +they both with Marechal de Biron's success that they would not agree to +any terms. + +About the time this war broke out, Cambray, which had been delivered up +to my brother by M. d'Ainsi, according to his engagement with me, as I +have before related, was besieged by the forces of Spain. My brother +received the news of this siege at his castle of Plessis-les-Tours, +whither he had retired after his return from Flanders, where, by the +assistance of the Comte de Lalain, he had been invested with the +government of Mons, Valenciennes, and their dependencies. + +My brother, being anxious to relieve Cambray, set about raising an army, +with all the expedition possible; but, finding it could not be +accomplished very speedily, he sent forward a reinforcement under the +command of M. de Balagny, to succour the place until he arrived himself +with a sufficient force to raise the siege. Whilst he was in the midst +of these preparations this Huguenot war broke out, and the men he had +raised left him to incorporate themselves with the King's army, which had +reached Gascony. + +My brother was now without hope of raising the siege, and to lose Cambray +would be attended with the loss of the other countries he had just +obtained. Besides, what he should regret more, such losses would reduce +to great straits M. de Balagny and the gallant troops so nobly defending +the place. + +His grief on this occasion was poignant, and, as his excellent judgment +furnished him with expedients under all his difficulties, he resolved to +endeavour to bring about a peace. Accordingly he despatched a gentleman +to the King with his advice to accede to terms, offering to undertake the +treaty himself. His design in offering himself as negotiator was to +prevent the treaty being drawn out to too great a length, as might be the +case if confided to others. It was necessary that he should speedily +relieve Cambray, for M. de Balagny, who had thrown himself into the city +as I have before mentioned, had written to him that he should be able to +defend the place for six months; but, if he received no succours within +that time, his provisions would be all expended, and he should be obliged +to give way to the clamours of the inhabitants, and surrender the town. + +By God's favour, the King was induced to listen to my brother's proposal +of undertaking a negotiation for a peace. The King hoped thereby to +disappoint him in his expectations in Flanders, which he never had +approved. Accordingly he sent word back to my brother that he should +accept his proffer of negotiating a peace, and would send him for his +coadjutors, M. de Villeroy and M. de Bellievre. The commission my +brother was charged with succeeded, and, after a stay of seven months in +Gascony, he settled a peace and left us, his thoughts being employed +during the whole time on the means of relieving Cambray, which the +satisfaction he found in being with us could not altogether abate. + +The peace my brother, made, as I have just mentioned, was so judiciously +framed that it gave equal satisfaction to the King and the Catholics, and +to the King my husband and the Huguenots, and obtained him the affections +of both parties. He likewise acquired from it the assistance of that +able general, Marechal de Biron, who undertook the command of the army +destined to raise the siege of Cambray. The King my husband was equally +gratified in the Marshal's removal from Gascony and having Marechal de +Matignon in his place. + +Before my brother set off he was desirous to bring about a reconciliation +betwixt the King my husband and Mareohal de Biron, provided the latter +should make his apologies to me for his conduct at Nerac. My brother had +desired me to treat him with all disdain, but I used this hasty advice +with discretion, considering that my brother might one day or other +repent having given it, as he had everything to hope, in his present +situation, from the bravery of this officer. + +My brother returned to France accompanied by Marechal de Biron. By his +negotiation of a peace he had acquired to himself great credit with both +parties, and secured a powerful force for the purpose of raising the +siege of Cambray. But honours and success are followed by envy. The +King beheld this accession of glory to his brother with great +dissatisfaction. He had been for seven months, while my brother and I +were together in Gascony, brooding over his malice, and produced the +strangest invention that can be imagined. He pretended to believe (what +the King my husband can easily prove to be false) that I instigated him +to go to war that I might procure for my brother the credit of making +peace. This is not at all probable when it is considered the prejudice +my brother's affairs in, Flanders sustained by the war. + +But envy and malice are self-deceivers, and pretend to discover what no +one else can perceive. On this frail foundation the King raised an altar +of hatred, on which he swore never to cease till he had accomplished my +brother's ruin and mine. He had never forgiven me for the attachment I +had discovered for my brother's interest during the time he was in Poland +and since. + +Fortune chose to favour the King's animosity; for, during the seven +months that my brother stayed in Gascony, he conceived a passion for +Fosseuse, who was become the doting piece of the King my husband, as I +have already mentioned, since he had quitted Rebours. This new passion +in my brother had induced the King my husband to treat me with coldness, +supposing that I countenanced my brother's addresses. I no sooner +discovered this than I remonstrated with my brother, as I knew he would +make every sacrifice for my repose. I begged him to give over his +pursuit, and not to speak to her again. I succeeded this way to defeat +the malice of my ill-fortune; but there was still behind another secret +ambush, and that of a more fatal nature; for Fosseuse, who was +passionately fond of the King my husband, but had hitherto granted no +favours inconsistent with prudence and modesty, piqued by his jealousy of +my brother, gave herself up suddenly to his will, and unfortunately +became pregnant. She no sooner made this discovery, than she altered her +conduct towards me entirely from what it was before. She now shunned my +presence as much as she had been accustomed to seek it, and whereas +before she strove to do me every good office with the King my husband, +she now endeavoured to make all the mischief she was able betwixt us. +For his part, he avoided me; he grew cold and indifferent, and since +Fosseuse ceased to conduct herself with discretion, the happy moments +that we experienced during the four or five years we were together in +Gascony were no more. + +Peace being restored, and my brother departed for France, as I have +already related, the King my husband and I returned to Nerac. We were +no sooner there than Fosseuse persuaded the King my husband to make a +journey to the waters of Aigues-Caudes, in Bearn, perhaps with a design +to rid herself of her burden there. I begged the King my husband to +excuse my accompanying him, as, since the affront that I had received at +Pau, I had made a vow never to set foot in Bearn until the Catholic +religion was reestablished there. He pressed me much to go with him, +and grew angry at my persisting to refuse his request. He told me that +his little girl (for so he affected to call Fosseuse) was desirous to go +there on account of a colic, which she felt frequent returns of. I +answered that I had no objection to his taking her with him. He then +said that she could not go unless I went; that it would occasion scandal, +which might as well be avoided. He continued to press me to accompany +him, but at length I prevailed with him to consent to go without me, and +to take her with him, and, with her, two of her companions, Rebours and +Ville-Savin, together with the governess. They set out accordingly, and +I waited their return at Baviere. + +I had every day news from Rebours, informing me how matters went. This +Rebours I have mentioned before to have been the object of my husband's +passion, but she was now cast off, and, consequently, was no friend to +Fosseuse, who had gained that place in his affection she had before held. +She, therefore, strove all she could to circumvent her; and, indeed, she +was fully qualified for such a purpose, as she was a cunning, deceitful +young person. She gave me to understand that Fosseuse laboured to do me +every ill office in her power; that she spoke of me with the greatest +disrespect on all occasions, and expressed her expectations of marrying +the King herself, in case she should be delivered of a son, when I was to +be divorced. She had said, further, that when the King my husband +returned to Baviere, he had resolved to go to Pau, and that I should go +with him, whether I would or not. + +This intelligence was far from being agreeable to me, and I knew not what +to think of it. I trusted in the goodness of God, and I had a reliance +on the generosity of the King my husband; yet I passed the time I waited +for his return but uncomfortably, and often thought I shed more tears +than they drank water. The Catholic nobility of the neighbourhood of +Baviere used their utmost endeavours to divert my chagrin, for the month +or five weeks that the King my husband and Fosseuse stayed at Aigues- +Caudes. + +On his return, a certain nobleman acquainted the King my husband with the +concern I was under lest he should go to Pau, whereupon he did not press +me on the subject, but only said he should have been glad if I had +consented to go with him. Perceiving, by my tears and the expressions +I made use of, that I should prefer even death to such a journey, he +altered his intentions and we returned to Nerac. + +The pregnancy of Fosseuse was now no longer a secret. The whole Court +talked of it, and not only the Court, but all the country. I was willing +to prevent the scandal from spreading, and accordingly resolved to talk +to her on the subject. With this resolution, I took her into my closet, +and spoke to her thus: "Though you have for some time estranged yourself +from me, and, as it has been reported to me, striven to do me many ill +offices with the King my husband, yet the regard I once had for you, and +the esteem which I still entertain for those honourable persons to whose +family you belong, do not admit of my neglecting to afford you all the +assistance in my power in pour present unhappy situation. I beg you, +therefore, not to conceal the truth, it being both for your interest and +mine, under whose protection you are, to declare it. Tell me the truth, +and I will act towards you as a mother. You know that a contagious +disorder has broken out in the place, and, under pretence of avoiding it, +I will go to Mas-d'Agenois, which is a house belonging to the King my +husband, in a very retired situation. I will take you with me, and such +other persons as you shall name. Whilst we are there, the King will take +the diversion of hunting in some other part of the country, and I shall +not stir thence before your delivery. By this means we shall put a stop +to the scandalous reports which are now current, and which concern yon +more than myself." + +So far from showing any contrition, or returning thanks for my kindness, +she replied, with the utmost arrogance, that she would prove all those to +be liars who had reported such things of her; that, for my part, I had +ceased for a long time to show her any marks of regard, and she saw that +I was determined upon her ruin. These words she delivered in as loud a +tone as mine had been mildly expressed; and, leaving me abruptly, she +flew in a rage to the King my husband, to relate to him what I had said +to her. He was very angry upon the occasion, and declared he would make +them all liars who had laid such things to her charge. From that moment +until the hour of her delivery, which was a few months after, he never +spoke to me. + +She found the pains of labour come upon her about daybreak, whilst she +was in bed in the chamber where the maids of honour slept. She sent for +my physician, and begged him to go and acquaint the King my husband that +she was taken ill. We slept in separate beds in the same chamber, and +had done so for some time. + +The physician delivered the message as he was directed, which greatly +embarrassed my husband. What to do he did not know. On the one hand, +he was fearful of a discovery; on the other, he foresaw that, without +proper assistance, there was danger of losing one he so much loved. In +this dilemma, he resolved to apply to me, confess all, and implore my aid +and advice, well knowing that, notwithstanding what had passed, I should +be ready to do him a pleasure. Having come to this resolution, he +withdrew my curtains, and spoke to me thus: "My dear, I have concealed a +matter from you which I now confess. I beg you to forgive me, and to +think no more about what I have said to you on the subject. Will you +oblige me so far as to rise and go to Fosseuse, who is taken very ill? +I am well assured that, in her present situation, you will forget +everything and resent nothing. You know how dearly I love her, and I +hope you will comply with my request." I answered that I had too great a +respect for him to be offended at anything he should do, and that I would +go to her immediately, and do as much for her as if she were a child of +my own. I advised him, in the meantime, to go out and hunt, by which +means he would draw away all his people, and prevent tattling. + +I removed Fosseuse, with all convenient haste, from the chamber in which +the maids of honour were, to one in a more retired part of the palace, +got a physician and some women about her, and saw that she wanted for +nothing that was proper in her situation. It pleased God that she should +bring forth a daughter, since dead. As soon as she was delivered I +ordered her to be taken back to the chamber from which she had been +brought. Notwithstanding these precautions, it was not possible to +prevent the story from circulating through the palace. When the King my +husband returned from hunting he paid her a visit, according to custom. +She begged that I might come and see her, as was usual with me when any +one of my maids of honour was taken ill. By this means she expected to +put a stop to stories to her prejudice. The King my husband came from +her into my bedchamber, and found me in bed, as I was fatigued and +required rest, after having been called up so early. + +He begged me to get up and pay her a visit. I told him I went according +to his desire before, when she stood in need of assistance, but now she +wanted no help; that to visit her at this time would be only exposing her +more, and cause myself to be pointed at by all the world. He seemed to +be greatly displeased at what I said, which vexed me the more as I +thought I did not deserve such treatment after what I had done at his +request in the morning; she likewise contributed all in her power to +aggravate matters betwixt him and me. + +In the meantime, the King my brother, always well informed of what is +passing in the families of the nobility of his kingdom, was not ignorant +of the transactions of our Court. He was particularly curious to learn +everything that happened with us, and knew every minute circumstance that +I have now related. Thinking this a favourable occasion to wreak his +vengeance on me for having been the means of my brother acquiring so much +reputation by the peace he had brought about, he made use of the accident +that happened in our Court to withdraw me from the King my husband, and +thereby reduce me to the state of misery he wished to plunge me in. To +this purpose he prevailed on the Queen my mother to write to me, and +express her anxious desire to see me after an absence of five or six +years. She added that a journey of this sort to Court would be +serviceable to the affairs of the King my husband as well as my own; +that the King my brother himself was desirous of seeing me, and that if I +wanted money for the journey he would send it me. The King wrote to the +same purpose, and despatched Manique, the steward of his household, with +instructions to use every persuasion with me to undertake the journey. +The length of time I had been absent in Gascony, and the unkind usage I +received on account of Fosseuse, contributed to induce me to listen to +the proposal made me. + +The King and the Queen both wrote to me. I received three letters, in +quick succession; and, that I might have no pretence for staying, I had +the sum of fifteen hundred crowns paid me to defray the expenses of my +journey. The Queen my mother wrote that she would give me the meeting in +Saintonge, and that, if the King my husband would accompany me so far, +she would treat with him there, and give him every satisfaction with +respect to the King. But the King and she were desirous to have him at +their Court, as he had been before with my brother; and the Marechal de +Matignon had pressed the matter with the King, that he might have no one +to interfere with him in Gascony. I had had too long experience of what +was to be expected at their Court to hope much from all the fine promises +that were made to me. I had resolved, however, to avail myself of the +opportunity of an absence of a few months, thinking it might prove the +means of setting matters to rights. Besides which, I thought that, as I +should take Fosseuse with me, it was possible that the King's passion for +her might cool when she was no longer in his sight, or he might attach +himself to some other that was less inclined to do me mischief. + +It was with some difficulty that the King my husband would consent to a +removal, so unwilling was he to leave his Fosseuse. He paid more +attention to me, in hopes that I should refuse to set out on this journey +to France; but, as I had given my word in my letters to the King and the +Queen my mother that I would go, and as I had even received money for the +purpose, I could not do otherwise. + +And herein my ill-fortune prevailed over the reluctance I had to leave +the King my husband, after the instances of renewed love and regard which +he had begun to show me. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Envy and malice are self-deceivers +Honours and success are followed by envy +Lovers are not criminal in the estimation of one another +Situated as I was betwixt fear and hope +The pretended reformed religion +There is too much of it for earnest, and not enough for jest +Those who have given offence to hate the offended party + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext Memoirs of Marguerite de Navarre, v2 +by Herself + + + + + + +MARGUERITE DE VALOIS QUEEN OF NAVARRE, v3 + +HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF VALOIS. +[Author unknown] + + +CHARLES, COMTE DE VALOIS, was the younger brother of Philip the Fair, and +therefore uncle of the three sovereigns lately dead. His eldest son +Philip had been appointed guardian to the Queen of Charles IV.; and when +it appeared that she had given birth to a daughter, and not a son, the +barons, joining with the notables of Paris and the, good towns, met to +decide who was by right the heir to the throne, "for the twelve peers of +France said and say that the Crown of France is of such noble estate that +by no succession can it come to a woman nor to a woman's son," as +Froissart tells us. This being their view, the baby daughter of Charles +IV. was at once set aside; and the claim of Edward III. of England, if, +indeed, he ever made it, rested on Isabella of France, his mother, sister +of the three sovereigns. And if succession through a female had been +possible, then the daughters of those three kings had rights to be +reserved. It was, however, clear that the throne must go to a man, and +the crown was given to Philip of Valois, founder of a new house of +sovereigns. + +The new monarch was a very formidable person. He had been a great feudal +lord, hot and vehement, after feudal fashion; but he was now to show that +he could be a severe master, a terrible king. He began his reign by +subduing the revolted Flemings on behalf of his cousin Louis of Flanders, +and having replaced him in his dignities, returned to Paris and there +held high state as King. And he clearly was a great sovereign; the +weakness of the late King had not seriously injured France; the new King +was the elect of the great lords, and they believed that his would be a +new feudal monarchy; they were in the glow of their revenge over the +Flemings for the days of Courtrai; his cousins reigned in Hungary and +Naples, his sisters were married to the greatest of the lords; the Queen +of Navarre was his cousin; even the youthful King of England did him +homage for Guienne and Ponthieu. The barons soon found out their +mistake. Philip VI., supported by the lawyers, struck them whenever he +gave them opening; he also dealt harshly with the traders, hampering them +and all but ruining them, till the country was alarmed and discontented. +On the other hand, young Edward of England had succeeded to a troubled +inheritance, and at the beginning was far weaker than his rival; his own +sagacity, and the advance of constitutional rights in England, soon +enabled him to repair the breaches in his kingdom, and to gather fresh +strength from the prosperity and good-will of a united people. While +France followed a more restricted policy, England threw open her ports to +all comers; trade grew in London as it waned in Paris; by his marriage +with Philippa of Hainault, Edward secured a noble queen, and with her the +happiness of his subjects and the all-important friendship of the Low +Countries. In 1336 the followers of Philip VI. persuaded Louis of +Flanders to arrest the English merchants then in Flanders; whereupon +Edward retaliated by stopping the export of wool, and Jacquemart van +Arteveldt of Ghent, then at the beginning of his power, persuaded the +Flemish cities to throw off all allegiance to their French-loving Count, +and to place themselves under the protection of Edward. In return Philip +VI. put himself in communication with the Scots, the hereditary foes of +England, and the great wars which were destined to last 116 years, and to +exhaust the strength of two strong nations, were now about to begin. +They brought brilliant and barren triumphs to England, and, like most +wars, were a wasteful and terrible mistake, which, if crowned with +ultimate success, might, by removing the centre of the kingdom into +France, have marred the future welfare of England, for the happy +constitutional development of the country could never have taken place +with a sovereign living at Paris, and French interests becoming ever more +powerful. Fortunately, therefore, while the war evoked by its brilliant +successes the national pride of Englishmen, by its eventual failure it +was prevented from inflicting permanent damage on England. + +The war began in 1337 and ended in 1453; the epochs in it are the Treaty +of Bretigny in 1360, the Treaty of Troyes in 1422, the final expulsion of +the English in 1453. + +The French King seems to have believed himself equal to the burdens of a +great war, and able to carry out the most far-reaching plans. The Pope +was entirely in his hands, and useful as a humble instrument to curb and +harass the Emperor. Philip had proved himself master of the Flemish, +and, with help of the King of Scotland, hoped so to embarrass Edward III. +as to have no difficulty in eventually driving him to cede all his French +possessions. While he thought it his interest to wear out his antagonist +without any open fighting, it was Edward's interest to make vigorous and +striking war. France therefore stood on the defensive; England was +always the attacking party. On two sides, in Flanders and in Brittany, +France had outposts which, if well defended, might long keep the English +power away from her vitals. Unluckily for his side, Philip was harsh and +raw, and threw these advantages away. In Flanders the repressive +commercial policy of the Count, dictated from Paris, gave Edward the +opportunity, in the end of 1337, of sending the Earl of Derby, with a +strong fleet, to raise the blockade of Cadsand, and to open the Flemish +markets by a brilliant action, in which the French chivalry was found +powerless against the English yeoman-archers; and in 1338 Edward crossed +over to Antwerp to see what forward movement could be made. The other +frontier war was that of Brittany, which began a little later (1341). +The openings of the war were gloomy and wasteful, without glory. Edward +did not actually send defiance to Philip till 1339, when he proclaimed +himself King of France, and quartered the lilies of France on the royal +shield. The Flemish proved a very reed; and though the French army came +up to meet the English in the Vermando country, no fighting took place, +and the campaign of 1339 ended obscurely. Norman and Genoese ships +threatened the southern shores of England, landing at Southampton and in +the Isle of Wight unopposed. In 1340 Edward returned to Flanders; on his +way he attacked the French fleet which lay at Sluys, and utterly +destroyed it. The great victory of Sluys gave England for centuries the +mastery of the British channel. But, important as it was, it gave no +success to the land campaign. Edward wasted his strength on an +unsuccessful siege of Tournia, and, ill-supported by his Flemish allies, +could achieve nothing. The French King in this year seized on Guienne; +and from Scotland tidings came that Edinburgh castle, the strongest place +held by the English, had fallen into the hands of Douglas. Neither from +Flanders nor from Guienne could Edward hope to reach the heart of the +French power; a third inlet now presented itself in Brittany. On the +death of John III. of Brittany, in 1341, Jean de Montfort, his youngest +brother, claimed the great fief, against his niece Jeanne, daughter of +his elder brother Guy, Comte de Penthievre. He urged that the Salic law, +which had been recognised in the case of the crown, should also apply to +this great duchy, so nearly an independent sovereignty. Jeanne had been +married to Charles de Blois, whom John III. of Brittany had chosen as his +heir; Charles was also nephew of King Philip, who gladly espoused his +cause. Thereon Jean de Montfort appealed to Edward, and the two Kings +met in border strife in Brittany. The Bretons sided with John against +the influence of France. Both the claimants were made prisoners; the +ladies carried on a chivalric warfare, Jeanne de Montfort against Jeanne +de Blois, and all went favourably with the French party till Philip, with +a barbarity as foolish as it was scandalous, tempted the chief Breton +lords to Paris and beheaded them without trial. The war, suspended by a +truce, broke out again, and the English raised large forces and supplies, +meaning to attack on three sides at once,--from Flanders, Brittany, and +Guienne. The Flemish expedition came to nothing; for the people of Ghent +in 1345 murdered Jacques van Arteveldt as he was endeavouring to persuade +them to receive the Prince of Wales as their count, and Edward, on +learning this adverse news, returned to England. Thence, in July, 1346, +he sailed for Normandy, and, landing at La Hogue, overran with ease the +country up to Paris. He was not, however, strong enough to attack the +capital, for Philip lay with a large army watching him at St. Denis. +After a short hesitation Edward crossed the Seine at Poissy, and struck +northwards, closely followed by Philip. He got across the Somme safely, +and at Crecy in Ponthieu stood at bay to await the French. Though his +numbers were far less than theirs, he had a good position, and his men +were of good stuff; and when it came to battle, the defeat of the French +was crushing. Philip had to fall back with his shattered army; Edward +withdrew unmolested to Calais, which he took after a long siege in 1347. +Philip had been obliged to call up his son John from the south, where he +was observing the English under the Earl of Derby; thereupon the English +overran all the south, taking Poitiers and finding no opposition. Queen +Philippa of Hainault had also defeated and taken David of Scotland at +Neville's Cross. + +The campaign of 1346-1347 was on all hands disastrous to King Philip. He +sued for and obtained a truce for ten months. These were the days of the +"black death," which raged in France from 1347 to 1349, and completed the +gloom of the country, vexed by an arbitrary and grasping monarch, by +unsuccessful war, and now by the black cloud of pestilence. In 1350 King +Philip died, leaving his crown to John of Normandy. He had added two +districts and a title to France: he bought Montpellier from James of +Aragon, and in 1349 also bought the territories of Humbert, Dauphin of +Vienne, who resigned the world under influence of the revived religion of +the time, a consequence of the plague, and became a Carmelite friar. +The fief and the title of Dauphin were granted to Charles, the King's +grandson, who was the first person who attached that title to the heir to +the French throne. Apart from these small advantages, the kingdom of +France had suffered terribly from the reign of the false and heartless +Philip VI. Nor was France destined to enjoy better things under John +"the Good," one of the worst sovereigns with whom she has been cursed. +He took as his model and example the chivalric John of Bohemia, who had +been one of the most extravagant and worthless of the princes of his +time, and had perished in his old age at Crecy. The first act of the new +King was to take from his kinsman, Charles "the Bad" of Navarre, +Champagne and other lands; and Charles went over to the English King. +King John was keen to fight; the States General gave him the means for +carrying on war, by establishing the odious "gabelle" on salt, and other +imposts. John hoped with his new army to drive the English completely +out of the country. Petty war began again on all the frontiers,--an +abortive attack on Calais, a guerilla warfare in Brittany, slight +fighting also in Guienne. Edward in 1335 landed at Calais, but was +recalled to pacify Scotland; Charles of Navarre and the Duke of Lancaster +were on the Breton border; the Black Prince sailed for Bordeaux. In 1356 +he rode northward with a small army to the Loire, and King John, hastily +summoning all his nobles and fief-holders, set out to meet him. Hereon +the Black Prince, whose forces were weak, began to retreat; but the +French King outmarched and intercepted him near Poitiers. He had the +English completely in his power, and with a little patience could have +starved them into submission; instead, he deemed it his chivalric duty to +avenge Crecy in arms, and the great battle of Poitiers was the result +(19th September, 1356). The carnage and utter ruin of the French feudal +army was quite incredible; the dead seemed more than the whole army of +the Black Prince; the prisoners were too many to be held. The French +army, bereft of leaders, melted away, and the Black Prince rode +triumphantly back to Bordeaux with the captive King John and his brave +little son in his train. A two years' truce ensued; King John was +carried over to London, where he found a fellow in misfortune in David of +Scotland, who had been for eleven years a captive in English hands. The +utter degradation of the nobles, and the misery of the country, gave to +the cities of France an opportunity which one great man, Etienne Marcel, +provost of the traders at Paris, was not slow to grasp. He fortified the +capital and armed the citizens; the civic clergy made common cause with +him; and when the Dauphin Charles convoked the three Estates at Paris, it +was soon seen that the nobles had become completely discredited and +powerless. It was a moment in which a new life might have begun for +France; in vain did the noble order clamour for war and taxes,--they to +do the war, with what skill and success all men now knew, and the others +to pay the taxes. Clergy, however, and burghers resisted. The Estates +parted, leaving what power there was still in France in the hands of +Etienne Marcel. He strove in vain to reconcile Charles the Dauphin with +Charles of Navarre, who stood forward as a champion of the towns. Very +reluctantly did Marcel entrust his fortunes to such hands. With help of +Lecocq, Bishop of Laon, he called the Estates again together, and +endeavoured to lay down sound principles of government, which Charles the +Dauphin was compelled to accept. Paris, however, stood alone, and even +there all were not agreed. Marcel and Bishop Lecocq, seeing the critical +state of things, obtained the release of Charles of Navarre, then a +prisoner. The result was that ere long the Dauphin-regent was at open +war with Navarre and with Paris. The outbreak of the miserable +peasantry, the Jacquerie, who fought partly for revenge against the +nobles, partly to help Paris, darkened the time; they were repressed with +savage bloodshed, and in 1358 the Dauphin's party in Paris assassinated +the only great man France had seen for long. With Etienne Marcel's death +all hope of a constitutional life died out from France; the Dauphin +entered Paris and set his foot on the conquered liberties of his country. +Paris had stood almost alone; civic strength is wanting in France; the +towns but feebly supported Marcel; they compelled the movement to lose +its popular and general character, and to become a first attempt to +govern France from Paris alone. After some insincere negotiations, and a +fear of desultory warfare, in which Edward III. traversed France without +meeting with a single foe to fight, peace was at last agreed to, at +Bretigny, in May, 1360. By this act Edward III. renounced the French +throne and gave up all he claimed or held north of the Loire, while he +was secured in the lordship of the south and west, as well as that part +of Northern Picardy which included Calais, Guines, and Ponthieu. The +treaty also fixed the ransom to be paid by King John. + +France was left smaller than she had been under Philip Augustus, yet she +received this treaty with infinite thankfulness; worn out with war and +weakness, any diminution of territory seemed better to her than a +continuance of her unbearable misfortunes. Under Charles, first as +Regent, then as King, she enjoyed an uneasy rest and peace for twenty +years. + +King John, after returning for a brief space to France, went back into +his pleasant captivity in England, leaving his country to be ruled by the +Regent the Dauphin. In 1364 he died, and Charles V., "the Wise," became +King in name, as he had now been for some years in fact. This cold, +prudent, sickly prince, a scholar who laid the foundations of the great +library in Paris by placing 900 MSS. in three chambers in the Louvre, had +nothing to dazzle the ordinary eye; to the timid spirits of that age he +seemed to be a malevolent wizard, and his name of "Wise" had in it more +of fear than of love. He also is notable for two things: he reformed the +current coin, and recognised the real worth of Du Guesclin, the first +great leader of mercenaries in France, a grim fighting-man, hostile to +the show of feudal warfare, and herald of a new age of contests, in which +the feudal levies would fall into the background. The invention of +gunpowder in this century, the incapacity of the great lords, the rise of +free lances and mercenary troops, all told that a new era had arrived. +It was by the hand of Du Guesclin that Charles overcame his cousin and +namesake, Charles of Navarre, and compelled him to peace. On the other +hand, in the Breton war which followed just after, he was defeated by Sir +John Chandos and the partisans of Jean de Montfort, who made him +prisoner; the Treaty of Guerande, which followed, gave them the dukedom +of Brittany; and Charles V., unable to resist, was fair to receive the +new duke's homage, and to confirm him in the duchy. The King did not +rest till he had ransomed Du Guesclin from the hands of Chandos; he then +gave him commission to raise a paid army of freebooters, the scourge of +France, and to march with them to support, against the Black Prince, the +claims of Henry of Trastamare to the Crown of Castile. Successful at +first by help of the King of Aragon, he was made Constable of Spain at +the coronation of Henry at Burgos. Edward the Black Prince, however, +intervened, and at the battle of Najara (1367) Du Guesclin was again a +prisoner in English hands, and Henry lost his throne. Fever destroyed +the victorious host, and the Black Prince, withdrawing into Gascony, +carried with him the seeds of the disorder which shortened his days. +Du Guesclin soon got his liberty again; and Charles V., seeing how much +his great rival of England was weakened, determined at last on open war. +He allied himself with Henry of Trastamare, listened to the grievances of +the Aquitanians, summoned the Black Prince to appear and answer the +complaints. In 1369, Henry defeated Pedro, took him prisoner, and +murdered him in a brawl; thus perished the hopes of the English party in +the south. About the same time Charles V. sent open defiance and +declaration of war to England. Without delay, he surprised the English +in the north, recovering all Ponthieu at once; the national pride was +aroused; Philip, Duke of Burgundy, who had, through the prudent help of +Charles, lately won as a bride the heiress of Flanders, was stationed at +Rouen, to cover the western approach to Paris, with strict orders not to +fight; the Aquitanians were more than half French at heart. The record +of the war is as the smoke of a furnace. We see the reek of burnt and +plundered towns; there were no brilliant feats of arms; the Black Prince, +gloomy and sick, abandoned the struggle, and returned to England to die; +the new governor, the Earl of Pembroke, did not even succeed in landing: +he was attacked and defeated off Rochelle by Henry of Castile, his whole +fleet, with all its treasure and stores, taken or sunk, and he himself +was a prisoner in Henry's hands. Du Guesclin had already driven the +English out of the west into Brittany; he now overran Poitou, which +received him gladly; all the south seemed to be at his feet. The attempt +of Edward III. to relieve the little that remained to him in France +failed utterly, and by 1372 Poitou was finally lost to England. Charles +set himself to reduce Brittany with considerable success; a diversion +from Calais caused plentiful misery in the open country; but, as the +French again refused to fight, it did nothing to restore the English +cause. By 1375 England held nothing in France except Calais, Cherbourg, +Bayonne, and Bordeaux. Edward III., utterly worn out with war, agreed to +a truce, through intervention of the Pope; it was signed in 1375. In +1377, on its expiring, Charles, who in two years had sedulously improved +the state of France, renewed the war. By sea and land the English were +utterly overmatched, and by 1378 Charles was master of the situation on +all hands. Now, however, he pushed his advantages too far; and the cold +skill which had overthrown the English, was used in vain against the +Bretons, whose duchy he desired to absorb. Languedoc and Flanders also +revolted against him. France was heavily burdened with taxes, and the +future was dark and threatening. In the midst of these things, death +overtook the coldly calculating monarch in September, 1380. + +Little had France to hope from the boy who was now called on to fill the +throne. Charles VI. was not twelve years old, a light-wined, handsome +boy, under the guardianship of the royal Dukes his uncles, who had no +principles except that of their own interest to guide them in bringing up +the King and ruling the people. Before Charles VI. had reached years of +discretion, he was involved by the French nobles in war against the +Flemish cities, which, under guidance of the great Philip van Arteveldt, +had overthrown the authority of the Count of Flanders. The French cities +showed ominous signs of being inclined to ally themselves with the civic +movement in the north. The men of Ghent came out to meet their French +foes, and at the battle of Roosebek (1382) were utterly defeated and +crushed. Philip van Arteveldt himself was slain. It was a great triumph +of the nobles over the cities; and Paris felt it when the King returned. +All movement there and in the other northern cities of France was +ruthlessly repressed; the noble reaction also overthrew the "new men" +and the lawyers, by whose means the late King had chiefly governed. +Two years later, the royal Dukes signed a truce with England, including +Ghent in it; and Louis de Male, Count of Flanders, having perished at the +same time, Marguerite his daughter, wife of Philip of Burgundy, succeeded +to his inheritance (1384.) Thus began the high fortunes of the House of +Burgundy, which at one time seemed to overshadow Emperor and King of +France. In 1385, another of the brothers, Louis, Duc d'Anjou, died, with +all his Italian ambitions unfulfilled. In 1386, Charles VI., under +guidance of his uncles, declared war on England, and exhausted all France +in preparations; the attempt proved the sorriest failure. The regency of +the Dukes became daily more unpopular, until in 1388 Charles dismissed +his two uncles, the Dukes of Burgundy and Berri, and began to rule. For +a while all went much better; he recalled his father's friends and +advisers, lightened the burdens of the people, allowed the new ministers +free hand in making prudent government; and learning how bad had been the +state of the south under the Duc de Berri, deprived him of that command +in 1390. Men thought that the young King, if not good himself, was well +content to allow good men to govern in his name; at any, rate, the rule +of the selfish Dukes seemed to be over. Their bad influences, however, +still surrounded him; an attempt to assassinate Olivier de Clisson, the +Constable, was connected with their intrigues and those of the Duke of +Brittany; and in setting forth to punish the attempt on his favourite the +Constable, the unlucky young King, who had sapped his health by +debauchery, suddenly became mad. The Dukes of Burgundy and Berri at +once seized the reins and put aside his brother the young Duc d'Orleans. +It was the beginning of that great civil discord between Burgundy and +Orleans, the Burgundians and Armagnacs, which worked so much ill for +France in the earlier part of the next century. The rule of the uncles +was disastrous for France; no good government seemed even possible for +that unhappy land. + +An obscure strife went on until 1404, when Duke Philip of Burgundy died, +leaving his vast inheritance to John the Fearless, the deadly foe of +Louis d'Orleans. Paris was with him, as with his father before him; the +Duke entered the capital in 1405, and issued a popular proclamation +against the ill-government of the Queen-regent and Orleans. Much +profession of a desire for better things was made, with small results. +So things went on until 1407, when, after the Duc de Berri, who tried to +play the part of a mediator, had brought the two Princes together, the +Duc d'Orleans was foully assassinated by a Burgundian partisan. The Duke +of Burgundy, though he at first withdrew from Paris, speedily returned, +avowed the act, and was received with plaudits by the mob. For a few +years the strife continued, obscure and bad; a great league of French +princes and nobles was made to stem the success of the Burgundians; and +it was about this time that the Armagnac name became common. Paris, +however, dominated by the "Cabochians," the butchers' party, the party of +the "marrowbones and cleavers," and entirely devoted to the Burgundians, +enabled John the Fearless to hold his own in France; the King himself +seemed favourable to the same party. In 1412 the princes were obliged to +come to terms, and the Burgundian triumph seemed complete. In 1413 the +wheel went round, and we find the Armagnacs in Paris, rudely sweeping +away all the Cabochians with their professions of good civic rule. The +Duc de Berri was made captain of Paris, and for a while all went against +the Burgundians, until, in 1414, Duke John was fain to make the first +Peace of Arras, and to confess himself worsted in the strife. The young +Dauphin Louis took the nominal lead of the national party, and ruled +supreme in Paris in great ease and self-indulgence. + +The year before, Henry V. had succeeded to the throne of England,--a +bright and vigorous young man, eager to be stirring in the world, brave +and fearless, with a stern grasp of things beneath all,--a very sheet- +anchor of firmness and determined character. Almost at the very opening +of his reign, the moment he had secured his throne, he began a +negotiation with France which boded no good. He offered to marry +Catharine, the King's third daughter, and therewith to renew the old +Treaty of Bretigny, if her dower were Normandy, Maine, Anjou, not without +a good sum of money. The French Court, on the other hand, offered him +her hand with Aquitaine and the money, an offer rejected instantly; and +Henry made ready for a rough wooing in arms. In 1415 he crossed to +Harfleur, and while parties still fought in France, after a long and +exhausting siege, took the place; thence he rode northward for Calais, +feeling his army too much reduced to attempt more. The Armagnacs, who +had gathered at Rouen, also pushed fast to the north, and having choice +of passage over the Somme, Amiens being in their hands, got before King +Henry, while he had to make a long round before he could get across that +stream. Consequently, when, on his way, he reached Azincourt, he found +the whole chivalry of France arrayed against him in his path. The great +battle of Azincourt followed, with frightful ruin and carnage of the +French. With a huge crowd of prisoners the young King passed on to +Calais, and thence to England. The Armagnacs' party lay buried in the +hasty graves of Azincourt; never had there been such slaughter of nobles. +Still, for three years they made head against their foes; till in 1418 +the Duke of Burgundy's friends opened Paris's gates to his soldiers, and +for the time the Armagnacs seemed to be completely defeated; only the +Dauphin Charles made feeble war from Poitiers. Henry V. with a fresh +army had already made another descent on the Normandy coast; the Dukes of +Anjou, Brittany, and Burgundy made several and independent treaties with +him; and it seemed as though France had completely fallen in pieces. +Henry took Rouen, and although the common peril had somewhat silenced the +strife of faction, no steps were taken to meet him or check his course; +on the contrary, matters were made even more hopeless by the murder of +John, Duke of Burgundy, in 1419, even as he was kneeling and offering +reconciliation at the young Dauphin's feet. The young Duke, Philip, now +drew at once towards Henry, whom his father had apparently wished with +sincerity to check; Paris, too, was weary of the Armagnac struggle, and +desired to welcome Henry of England; the Queen of France also went over +to the Anglo-Burgundian side. The end of it was that on May 21,1420, was +signed the famous Treaty of Troyes, which secured the Crown of France to +Henry, by the exclusion of the Dauphin Charles, whenever poor mad Charles +VI., should cease to live. Meanwhile, Henry was made Regent of France, +promising to maintain all rights and privileges of the Parliament and +nobles, and to crush the Dauphin with his Armagnac friends, in token +whereof he was at once wedded to Catharine of France, and set forth to +quell the opposition of the provinces. By Christmas all France north of +the Loire was in English hands. All the lands to the south of the river +remained firmly fixed in their allegiance to the Dauphin and the +Armagnacs, and these began to feel themselves to be the true French +party, as opposed to the foreign rule of the English. For barely two +years that rule was carried on by Henry V. with inflexible justice, and +Northern France saw with amazement the presence of a real king, and an +orderly government. In 1422 King Henry died; a few weeks later Charles +VI. died also, and the face of affairs began to change, although, at the +first, Charles VII. the "Well-served," the lazy, listless prince, seemed +to have little heart for the perils and efforts of his position. He was +proclaimed King at Mehun, in Berri, for the true France for the time lay +on that side of the Loire, and the Regent Bedford, who took the reins at +Paris, was a vigorous and powerful prince, who was not likely to give way +to an idle dreamer. At the outset Charles suffered two defeats, at +Crevant in 1423, and at Verneuil in 1424, and things seemed to be come to +their worst. Yet he was prudent, conciliatory, and willing to wait; and +as the English power in France--that triangle of which the base was the +sea-line from Harfleur to Calais, and the apex Paris--was unnatural and +far from being really strong; and as the relations between Bedford and +Burgundy might not always be friendly, the man who could wait had many +chances in his favour. Before long, things began to mend; Charles wedded +Marie d'Anjou, and won over that great house to the French side; more and +more was he regarded as the nation's King; symptoms of a wish for +reconciliation with Burgundy appeared; the most vehement Armagnacs were +sent away from Court. Causes of disagreement also shook the friendship +between Burgundy and England. + +Feeling the evils of inaction most, Bedford in 1428 decided on a forward +movement, and sent the Earl of Salisbury to the south. He first secured +his position on the north of the Loire, then, crossing that river, laid +siege to Orleans, the key to the south, and the last bulwark of the +national party. All efforts to vex or dislodge him failed; and the +attempt early in 1429 to stop the English supplies was completely +defeated at Bouvray; from the salt fish captured, the battle has taken +the name of "the Day of the Herrings." Dunois, Bastard of Orleans, was, +wounded; the Scots, the King's body-guard, on whom fell ever the grimmest +of the fighting, suffered terribly, and their leader was killed. All +went well for Bedford till it suited the Duke of Burgundy to withdraw +from his side, carrying with him a large part of the fighting power of +the besiegers. Things were already looking rather gloomy in the English +camp, when a new and unexpected rumour struck all hearts cold with fear. +A virgin, an Amazon, had been raised up as a deliverer for France, and +would soon be on them, armed with mysterious powers. + +A young peasant girl, one Jeanne d'Arc, had been brought up in the +village of Domremy, hard by the Lorraine border. The district, always +French in feeling, had lately suffered much from Burgundian raids; and +this young damsel, brooding over the treatment of her village and her +country, and filled with that strange vision-power which is no rare +phenomenon in itself with young girls, came at last to believe with warm +and active faith in heavenly appearances and messages, all urging her to +deliver France and her King. From faith to action the bridge is short; +and ere long the young dreamer of seventeen set forth to work her +miracle. Her history is quite unique in the world; and though probably +France would ere many years have shaken off the English yoke, for its +strength was rapidly going, still to her is the credit of having proved +its weakness, and of having asserted the triumphant power of a great +belief. All gave way before her; Charles VII., persuaded doubtless by +his mother-in-law, Yolande of Aragon, who warmly espoused her cause, +listened readily to the maiden's voice; and as that voice urged only what +was noble and pure, she carried conviction as she went. In the end she +received the King's commission to undertake the relief of Orleans. Her +coming was fresh blood to the defence; a new spirit seemed to be poured +out on all her followers, and in like manner a deep dejection settled +down on the English. The blockade was forced, and, in eight days the +besiegers raised the siege and marched away. They withdrew to Jargeau, +where they were attacked and routed with great loss. A little later +Talbot himself, who had marched to help them, was also defeated and +taken. Then, compelling Charles to come out from his in glorious ease, +she carried him triumphantly with her to Rheims, where he was duly +crowned King, the Maid of Orldans standing by, and holding aloft the +royal standard. She would gladly have gone home to Domremy now, her +mission being accomplished; for she was entirely free from all ambitious +or secondary aims. But she was too great a power to be spared. Northern +France was still in English hands, and till the English were cast out her +work was not complete; so they made her stay, sweet child, to do the work +which, had there been any manliness in them, they ought to have found it +easy to achieve for themselves. The dread of her went before her,--a +pillar of cloud and darkness to the English, but light and hope to her +countrymen. Men believed that she was called of God to regenerate the +world, to destroy the Saracen at last, to bring in the millennial age. +Her statue was set up in the churches, and crowds prayed before her image +as before a popular saint. + +The incapacity and ill-faith of those round the King gave the English +some time to recover themselves; Bedford and Burgundy drew together +again, and steps were taken to secure Paris. When, however, Jeanne, +weary of courtly delays, marched, contemptuous of the King, as far as St. +Denis, friends sprang up on every side. In Normandy, on the English line +of communications, four strong places were surprised; and Bedford, made +timid as to his supplies, fell back to Rouen, leaving only a small +garrison in Paris. Jeanne, ill-supported by the royal troops, failed in +her attack on the city walls, and was made prisoner by the Burgundians; +they handed her over to the English, and she was, after previous +indignities, and such treatment as chivalry alone could have dealt her, +condemned as a witch, and burnt as a relapsed heretic at Rouen in 1431. +Betrayed by the French Court, sold by the Burgundians, murdered by the +English, unrescued by the people of France which she so much loved, +Jeanne d'Arc died the martyr's death, a pious, simple soul, a heroine of +the purest metal. She saved her country, for the English power never +recovered from the shock. The churchmen who burnt her, the Frenchmen of +the unpatriotic party, would have been amazed could they have foreseen +that nearly 450 years afterwards, churchmen again would glorify her name +as the saint of the Church, in opposition to both the religious liberties +and the national feelings of her country. + +The war, after having greatly weakened the noblesse, and having caused +infinite sufferings to France, now drew towards a close; the Duke of +Burgundy at last agreed to abandon his English allies, and at a great +congress at Arras, in 1435, signed a treaty with Charles VII. by which +he solemnly came over to the French side. On condition that he should +get Auxerre and Macon, as well as the towns on and near the river Somme, +he was willing to recognise Charles as King of France. His price was +high, yet it was worth all that was given; for, after all, he was of the +French blood royal, and not a foreigner. The death of Bedford, which +took place about the same time, was almost a more terrible blow to the +fortunes of the English. Paris opened her gates to her King in April, +1436; the long war kept on with slight movements now and then for several +years. + +The next year was marked by the meeting of the States General, and the +establishment, in principle at least, of a standing army. The Estates +petitioned the willing King that the system of finance in the realm +should be remodelled, and a permanent tax established for the support of +an army. Thus, it was thought, solidity would be given to the royal +power, and the long-standing curse of the freebooters and brigands +cleared away. No sooner was this done than the nobles began to chafe +under it; they scented in the air the coming troubles; they, took as +their head, poor innocents, the young Dauphin Louis, who was willing +enough to resist the concentration of power in royal hands. Their +champion of 1439, the leader of the "Praguerie," as this new league was +called, in imitation, it is said, of the Hussite movement at Prague, the +enthusiastic defender of noble privilege against the royal power, was the +man who afterwards, as Louis XI., was the destroyer of the noblesse on +behalf of royalty. Some of the nobles stood firmly by the King, and, +aided by them and by an army of paid soldiers serving under the new +conditions, Charles VII., no contemptible antagonist when once aroused, +attacked and overthrew the Praguerie; the cities and the country people +would have none of it; they preferred peace under a king's strong hand. +Louis was sent down to the east to govern Dauphiny; the lessons of the +civil war were not lost on Charles; he crushed the freebooters of +Champagne, drove the English out of Pontois in 1441, moved actively up +and down France, reducing anarchy, restoring order, resisting English +attacks. In the last he was loyally supported by the Dauphin, who was +glad to find a field for his restless temper. He repulsed the English at +Dieppe, and put down the Comte d'Armagnac in the south. During the two +years' truce with England which now followed, Charles VII. and Louis drew +off their free-lances eastward, and the Dauphin came into rude collision +with the Swiss not far from Basel, in 1444. Some sixteen hundred +mountaineers long and heroically withstood at St. Jacob the attack of +several thousand Frenchmen, fighting stubbornly till they all perished. + +The King and Dauphin returned to Paris, having defended their border- +lands with credit, and having much reduced the numbers of the lawless +free-lances. The Dauphin, discontented again, was obliged once more to +withdraw into Dauphiny, where he governed prudently and with activity. +In 1449, the last scene of the Anglo-French war began. In that year +English adventurers landed on the Breton coast; the Duke called the +French King to his aid. Charles did not tarry this time; he broke the +truce with England; he sent Dunois into Normandy, and himself soon +followed. In both duchies, Brittany and Normandy, the French were +welcomed with delight: no love for England lingered in the west. +Somerset and Talbot failed to defend Rouen, and were driven from point to +point, till every stronghold was lost to them. Dunois then passed into +Guienne, and in a few-months Bayonne, the last stronghold of the English, +fell into his hands (1451). When Talbot was sent over to Bordeaux with +five thousand men to recover the south, the old English feeling revived, +for England was their best customer, and they had little in common with +France. It was, however, but a last flicker of the flame; in July, 1453, +at the siege of Castillon, the aged Talbot was slain and the war at once +came to an end; the south passed finally into the kingdom of France. +Normandy and Guienne were assimilated to France in taxation and army +organisation; and all that remained to England across the Channel was +Calais, with Havre and Guines Castle. Her foreign ambitions and +struggles over, England was left to consume herself in civil strife, +while France might rest and recover from the terrible sufferings she had +undergone. The state of the country had become utterly wretched. + +With the end of the English wars new life began to gleam out on France; +the people grew more tranquil, finding that toil and thrift bore again +their wholesome fruits; Charles VII. did not fail in his duty, and took +his part in restoring quiet, order, and justice in the land. + +The French Crown, though it had beaten back the English, was still +closely girt in with rival neighbours, the great dukes on every frontier. +All round the east and north lay the lands of Philip of Burgundy; to the +west was the Duke of Brittany, cherishing a jealous independence; the +royal Dukes, Berri, Bourbon, Anjou, are all so many potential sources of +danger and difficulty to the Crown. The conditions of the nobility are +altogether changed; the old barons have sunk into insignificance; the +struggle of the future will lie between the King's cousins and himself, +rather than with the older lords. A few non-royal princes, such as +Armagnac, or Saint-Pol, or Brittany, remain and will go down with the +others; the "new men" of the day, the bastard Dunois or the Constables +Du Guesclin and Clisson, grow to greater prominence; it is clear that the +old feudalism is giving place to a newer order, in which the aristocracy, +from the King's brothers downwards, will group themselves around the +throne, and begin the process which reaches its unhappy perfection under +Louis XIV. + +Directly after the expulsion of the English, troubles began between King +Charles VII. and the Dauphin Louis; the latter could not brook a quiet +life in Dauphiny, and the King refused him that larger sphere in the +government of Normandy which he coveted. Against his father's will, +Louis married Charlotte of Savoy, daughter of his strongest neighbour in +Dauphiny; suspicion and bad feeling grew strong between father and son; +Louis was specially afraid of his father's counsellors; the King was +specially afraid of his son's craftiness and ambition. It came to an +open rupture, and Louis, in 1456, fled to the Court of Duke Philip of +Burgundy. There he lived at refuge at Geneppe, meddling a good deal in +Burgundian politics, and already opposing himself to his great rival, +Charles of Charolais, afterwards Charles the Bold, the last Duke of +Burgundy. Bickerings, under his bad influence, took place between King +and Duke; they never burst out into flame. So things went on +uncomfortably enough, till Charles VII. died in 1461 and the reign of +Louis XI. began. + +Between father and son what contrast could be greater? Charles VII., +"the Well-served," so easygoing, so open and free from guile; Louis XI., +so shy of counsellors, so energetic and untiring, so close and guileful. +History does but apologise for Charles, and even when she fears and +dislikes Louis, she cannot forbear to wonder and admire. And yet Louis +enslaved his country, while Charles had seen it rescued from foreign +rule; Charles restored something of its prosperity, while Louis spent his +life in crushing its institutions and in destroying its elements of +independence. A great and terrible prince, Louis XI. failed in having +little or no constructive power; he was strong to throw down the older +society, he built little in its room. Most serious of all was his action +with respect to the district of the River Somme, at that time the +northern frontier of France. The towns there had been handed over to +Philip of Burgundy by the Treaty of Arras, with a stipulation that the +Crown might ransom them at any time, and this Louis succeeded in doing in +1463. The act was quite blameless and patriotic in itself, yet it was +exceedingly unwise, for it thoroughly alienated Charles the Bold, and led +to the wars of the earlier period of the reign. Lastly, as if he had not +done enough to offend the nobles, Louis in 1464 attacked their hunting +rights, touching them in their tenderest part. No wonder that this year +saw the formation of a great league against him, and the outbreak of a +dangerous civil war. The "League of the Public Weal" was nominally +headed by his own brother Charles, heir to the throne; it was joined by +Charles of Charolais, who had completely taken the command of affairs in +the Burgundian territories, his father the old duke being too feeble to +withstand him; the Dukes of Brittany, Nemours, Bourbon, John of Anjou, +Duke of Calabria, the Comte d'Armagnac, the aged Dunois, and a host of +other princes and nobles flocked in; and the King had scarcely any forces +at his back with which to withstand them. His plans for the campaign +against the league were admirable, though they were frustrated by the bad +faith of his captains, who mostly sympathised with this outbreak of the +feudal nobility. Louis himself marched southward to quell the Duc de +Bourbon and his friends, and returning from that task, only half done for +lack of time, he found that Charles of Charolais had passed by Paris, +which was faithful to the King, and was coming down southwards, intending +to join the Dukes of Berri and Brittany, who were on their way towards +the capital. The hostile armies met at Montleheri on the Orleans road; +and after a strange battle--minutely described by Commines--a battle in +which both sides ran away, and neither ventured at first to claim a +victory, the King withdrew to Corbeil, and then marched into Paris +(1465). There the armies of the league closed in on him; and after a +siege of several weeks, Louis, feeling disaffection all around him, and +doubtful how long Paris herself would bear for him the burdens of +blockade, signed the Peace of Conflans, which, to all appearances, +secured the complete victory to the noblesse, "each man carrying off his +piece." Instantly the contented princes broke up their half-starved +armies and went home, leaving Louis behind to plot and contrive against +them, a far wiser man, thanks to the lesson they had taught him. They +did not let him wait long for a chance. The Treaty of Conflans had +given the duchy of Normandy to the King's brother Charles; he speedily +quarrelled with his neighbour, the Duke of Brittany, and Louis came down +at once into Normandy, which threw itself into his arms, and the whole +work of the league was broken up. The Comte de Charolais, occupied with +revolts at Dinan and Liege, could not interfere, and presently his +father, the old Duke Philip, died (1467), leaving to him the vast +lordships of the House of Burgundy. + +And now the "imperial dreamer," Charles the Bold, was brought into +immediate rivalry with that royal trickster, the "universal spider," +Louis XI. Charles was by far the nobler spirit of the two: his vigour +and intelligence, his industry and wish to raise all around him to a +higher cultivation, his wise reforms at home, and attempts to render his +father's dissolute and careless rule into a well-ordered lordship, all +these things marked him out as the leading spirit of the time. His +territories were partly held under France, partly under the empire: the +Artois district, which also may be taken to include the Somme towns, the +county of Rhetel, the duchy of Bar, the duchy of Burgundy, with Auxerre +and Nevers, were feudally in France; the rest of his lands under the +empire. He had, therefore, interests and means of interference on either +hand; and it is clear that Charles set before himself two different lines +of policy, according as he looked one way or the other. + +At the time of Duke Philip's death a new league had been formed against +Louis, embracing the King of England, Edward IV., the Dukes of Burgundy +and Brittany, and the Kings of Aragon and Castile. Louis strained every +nerve, he conciliated Paris, struck hard at disaffected partisans, and in +1468 convoked the States General at Tours. The three Estates were asked +to give an opinion as to the power of the Crown to alienate Normandy, the +step insisted upon by the Duke of Burgundy. Their reply was to the +effect that the nation forbids the Crown to dismember the realm; they +supported their opinion by liberal promises of help. Thus fortified by +the sympathy of his people, Louis began to break up the coalition. He +made terms with the Duc de Bourbon and the House of Anjou; his brother +Charles was a cipher; the King of England was paralysed by the antagonism +of Warwick; he attacked and reduced Brittany; Burgundy, the most +formidable, alone remained to be dealt with. How should he meet him?-- +by war or by negotiation? His Court was divided in opinion; the King +decided for himself in favour of the way of negotiation, and came to the +astonishing conclusion that he would go and meet the Duke and win him +over to friendship. He miscalculated both his own powers of persuasion +and the force of his antagonist's temper. The interview of Peronne +followed; Charles held his visitor as a captive, and in the end compelled +him to sign a treaty, of peace, on the basis of that of Conflans, which +had closed the War of the Public Weal. And as if this were not +sufficient humiliation, Charles made the King accompany him on his +expedition to punish the men of Liege, who, trusting to the help of +Louis, had again revolted (1469). This done, he allowed the degraded +monarch to return home to Paris. An assembly of notables of Tours +speedily declared the Treaty of Perrone null, and the King made some +small frontier war on the Duke, which was ended by a truce at Amiens, in +1471. The truce was spent in preparation for a fresh struggle, which +Louis, to whom time was everything, succeeded in deferring from point to +point, till the death of his brother Charles, now Duc de Guienne, in +1472, broke up the formidable combination. Charles the Bold at once +broke truce and made war on the King, marching into northern France, +sacking towns and ravaging the country, till he reached Beauvais. There +the despair of the citizens and the bravery of the women saved the town. +Charles raised the siege and marched on Rouen, hoping to meet the Duke of +Brittany; but that Prince had his hands full, for Louis had overrun his +territories, and had reduced him to terms. The Duke of Burgundy saw that +the coalition had completely failed; he too made fresh truce with Louis +at Senlis (1472), and only, deferred, he no doubt thought, the direct +attack on his dangerous rival. Henceforth Charles the Bold turned his +attention mainly to the east, and Louis gladly saw him go forth to spend +his strength on distant ventures; saw the interview at Treves with the +Emperor Frederick III., at which the Duke's plans were foiled by the +suspicions of the Germans and the King's intrigues; saw the long siege of +the Neusz wearing out his power; bought off the hostility of Edward IV. +of England, who had undertaken to march on Paris; saw Charles embark on +his Swiss enterprise; saw the subjugation of Lorraine and capture of +Nancy (1475), the battle of Granson, the still more fatal defeat of Morat +(1476), and lastly the final struggle of Nancy, and the Duke's death on +the field (January, 1477). + +While Duke Charles had thus been running on his fate, Louis XI. had +actively attacked the larger nobles of France, and had either reduced +them to submission or had destroyed them. + +As Duke Charles had left no male heir, the King at once resumed the duchy +of Burgundy, as a male fief of the kingdom; he also took possession of +Franche Comte at the same time; the King's armies recovered all Picardy, +and even entered Flanders. Then Mary of Burgundy, hoping to raise up a +barrier against this dangerous neighbour, offered her hand, with all her +great territories, to young Maximilian of Austria, and married him within +six months after her father's death. To this wedding is due the rise to +real greatness of the House of Austria; it begins the era of the larger +politics of modern times. + +After a little hesitation Louis determined to continue the struggle +against the Burgundian power. He secured Franche Comte, and on his +northern frontier retook Arras, that troublesome border city, the "bonny +Carlisle" of those days; and advancing to relieve Therouenne, then +besieged by Maximilian, fought and lost the battle of Guinegate (1479). +The war was languid after this; a truce followed in 1480, and a time of +quiet for France. Charles the Dauphin was engaged to marry the little +Margaret, Maximilian's daughter, and as her dower she was to bring +Franche Comte and sundry places on the border line disputed between the +two princes. In these last days Louis XI. shut himself up in gloomy +seclusion in his castle of Plessis near Tours, and there he died in 1483. +A great king and a terrible one, he has left an indellible mark on the +history of France, for he was the founder of France in its later form, +as an absolute monarchy ruled with little regard to its own true welfare. +He had crushed all resistance; he had enlarged the borders of France, +till the kingdom took nearly its modern dimensions; he had organised its +army and administration. The danger was lest in the hands of a feeble +boy these great results should be squandered away, and the old anarchy +once more raise its head. + +For Charles VIII., who now succeeded, was but thirteen years old, a weak +boy whom his father had entirely neglected, the training of his son not +appearing to be an essential part of his work in life. The young Prince +had amused himself with romances, but had learnt nothing useful. A head, +however, was found for him in the person of his eldest sister Anne, whom +Louis XI. had married to Peter II., Lord of Beaujeu and Duc de Bourbon. +To her the dying King entrusted the guardianship of his son; and for more +than nine years Anne of France was virtual King. For those years all +went well. + +With her disappearance from the scene, the controlling hand is lost, and +France begins the age of her Italian expeditions. + +When the House of Anjou came to an end in 1481, and Anjou and Maine fell +in to the Crown, there fell in also a far less valuable piece of +property, the claim of that house descended from Charles, the youngest +brother of Saint Louis, on the kingdom of Naples and Sicily. There was +much to tempt an ambitious prince in the state of Italy. Savoy, which +held the passage into the peninsula, was then thoroughly French in +sympathy; Milan, under Lodovico Sforza, "il Moro," was in alliance with +Charles; Genoa preferred the French to the Aragonese claimants for +influence over Italy; the popular feeling in the cities, especially in +Florence, was opposed to the despotism of the Medici, and turned to +France for deliverance; the misrule of the Spanish Kings of Naples had +made Naples thoroughly discontented; Venice was, as of old, the friend of +France. Tempted by these reasons, in 1494 Charles VIII. set forth for +Italy with a splendid host. He displayed before the eyes of Europe the +first example of a modern army, in its three well-balanced branches of +infantry, cavalry, and artillery. There was nothing in Italy to +withstand his onslaught; he swept through the land in triumph; Charles +believed himself to be a great conqueror giving law to admiring subject- +lands; he entered Pisa, Florence, Rome itself. Wherever he went his +heedless ignorance, and the gross misconduct of his followers, left +behind implacable hostility, and turned all friendship into bitterness. +At last he entered Naples, and seemed to have asserted to the full the +French claim to be supreme in Italy, whereas at that very time his +position had become completely untenable. A league of Italian States was +formed behind his back; Lodovico il Moro, Ferdinand of Naples, the +Emperor, Pope Alexander VI., Ferdinand and Isabella, who were now welding +Spain into a great and united monarchy, all combined against France; and +in presence of this formidable confederacy Charles VIII. had to cut his +way home as promptly as he could. At Fornovo, north of the Apennines, he +defeated the allies in July, 1495; and by November the main French army +had got safely out of Italy. The forces left behind in Naples were worn +out by war and pestilence, and the poor remnant of these, too, bringing +with them the seeds of horrible contagious diseases, forced their way +back to France in 1496. It was the last effort of the King. His health +was ruined by debauchery in Italy, repeated in France; and yet, towards +the end of his reign, he not merely introduced Italian arts, but +attempted to reform the State, to rule prudently, to solace the poor; +wherefore, when he died in 1498, the people lamented him greatly, for he +had been kindly and affable, brave also on the battle-field; and much is +forgiven to a king. + +His children died before him, so that Louis d'Orleans, his cousin, was +nearest heir to the throne, and succeeded as Louis XII. By his accession +in 1498 he reunited the fief of Orleans County to the Crown; by marrying +Anne of Brittany, his predecessor's widow, he secured also the great +duchy of Brittany. The dispensation of Pope Alexander VI., which enabled +him to put away his wife Jeanne, second daughter of Louis XI., was +brought into France by Caesar Borgia, who gained thereby his title of +Duke of Valentinois, a large sum of money, a French bride, and promises +of support in his great schemes in Italy. + +His ministers were men of real ability. Georges d'Amboise, Archbishop of +Rouen, the chief of them, was a prudent and a sagacious ruler, who, +however, unfortunately wanted to be Pope, and urged the King in the +direction of Italian politics, which he would have done much better to +have left alone. Louis XII. was lazy and of small intelligence; Georges +d'Amboise and Caesar Borgia, with their Italian ambitions, easily made +him take up a spirited foreign policy which was disastrous at home. + +Utterly as the last Italian expedition had failed, the French people were +not yet weary of the adventure, and preparations for a new war began at +once. In 1499 the King crossed the Alps into the Milanese, and carried +all before him for a while. The duchy at first accepted him with +enthusiasm; but in 1500 it had had enough of the French and recalled +Lodovico, who returned in triumph to Milan. The Swiss mercenaries, +however, betrayed him at Novara into the hands of Louis XII., who carried +him off to France. The triumph of the French in 1500 was also the +highest point of the fortunes of their ally, Caesar Borgia, who seemed +for a while to be completely successful. In this year Louis made a +treaty at Granada, by which he and Ferdinand the Catholic agreed to +despoil Frederick of Naples; and in 1501 Louis made a second expedition +into Italy. Again all seemed easy at the outset, and he seized the +kingdom of Naples without difficulty; falling out, however, with his +partner in the bad bargain, Ferdinand the Catholic, he was speedily swept +completely out of the peninsula, with terrible loss of honour, men, and +wealth. + +It now became necessary to arrange for the future of France. Louis XII. +had only a daughter, Claude, and it was proposed that she should be +affianced to Charles of Austria, the future statesman and emperor. This +scheme formed the basis of the three treaties of Blois (1504). In 1500, +by the Treaty of Granada, Louis had in fact handed Naples over to Spain; +now by the three treaties he alienated his best friends, the Venetians +and the papacy, while he in fact also handed Milan over to the Austrian +House, together with territories considered to be integral parts of +France. The marriage with Charles came to nothing; the good sense of +some, the popular feeling in the country, the open expressions of the +States General of Tours, in 1506, worked against the marriage, which had +no strong advocate except Queen Anne. Claude, on intercession of the +Estates, was affianced to Frangois d'Angouleme, her distant cousin, the +heir presumptive to the throne. + +In 1507 Louis made war on Venice; and in the following year the famous +Treaty of Cambrai was signed by Georges d'Amboise and Margaret of +Austria. It was an agreement for a partition of the Venetian +territories,--one of the most shameless public deeds in history. The +Pope, the King of Aragon, Maximilian, Louis XII., were each to have a +share. The war was pushed on with great vigour: the battle of Agnadello +(14th May, 1509) cleared the King's way towards Venice; Louis was +received with open arms by the North Italian towns, and pushed forward to +within eight of Venice. The other Princes came up on every side; the +proud "Queen of the Adriatic" was compelled to shrink within her walls, +and wait till time dissolved the league. This was not long. The Pope, +Julius II., had no wish to hand Northern Italy over to France; he had +joined in the shameless league of Cambrai because he wanted to wrest the +Romagna cities from Venice, and because he hoped to entirely destroy the +ancient friendship between Venice and France. Successful in both aims, +he now withdrew from the league, made peace with the Venetians, and stood +forward as the head of a new Italian combination, with the Swiss for his +fighting men. The strife was close and hot between Pope and King; Louis +XII. lost his chief adviser and friend, Georges d'Amboise, the splendid +churchman of the age, the French Wolsey; he thought no weapon better than +the dangerous one of a council, with claims opposed to those of the +papacy; first a National Council at Tours, then an attempted General +Council at Pisa, were called on to resist the papal claims. In reply +Julius II. created the Holy League of 1511, with Ferdinand of Aragon, +Henry VIII. of England, and the Venetians as its chief members, against +the French. Louis XII. showed vigour; he sent his nephew Gaston de Foix +to subdue the Romagna and threaten the Venetian territories. At the +battle of Ravenna, in 1512, Gaston won a brilliant victory and lost his +life. From that moment disaster dogged the footsteps of the French in +Italy, and before winter they had been driven completely out of the +peninsula; the succession of the Medicean Pope, Leo X., to Julius II., +seemed to promise the continuance of a policy hostile to France in Italy. +Another attempt on Northern Italy proved but another failure, although +now Louis XII., taught by his mishaps, had secured the alliance of +Venice; the disastrous defeat of La Tremoille, near Novara (1513), +compelled the French once more to withdraw beyond the Alps. In this same +year an army under the Duc de Longueville, endeavouring to relieve +Therouenne, besieged by the English and Maximilian, the Emperor-elect, +was caught and crushed at Guinegate. A diversion in favour of Louis +XII., made by James IV. of Scotland, failed completely; the Scottish King +was defeated and slain at Flodden Field. While his northern frontier was +thus exposed, Louis found equal danger threatening him on the east; on +this aide, however, he managed to buy off the Swiss, who had attacked the +duchy of Burgundy. He was also reconciled with the papacy and the House +of Austria. Early in 1514 the death of Anne of Brittany, his spouse, a +lady of high ambitions, strong artistic tastes, and humane feelings +towards her Bretons, but a bad Queen for France, cleared the way for +changes. Claude, the King's eldest daughter, was now definitely married +to Francois d'Angouleme, and invested with the duchy of Brittany; and the +King himself, still hoping for a male heir to succeed him, married again, +wedding Mary Tudor, the lovely young sister of Henry VIII. This marriage +was probably the chief cause of his death, which followed on New Year's +day, 1515. His was, in foreign policy, an inglorious and disastrous +reign; at home, a time of comfort and material prosperity. Agriculture +flourished, the arts of Italy came in, though (save in architecture) +France could claim little artistic glory of her own; the organisation of +justice and administration was carried out; in letters and learning +France still lagged behind her neighbours. + +The heir to the crown was Francois d'Angouleme, great-grandson of that +Louis d'Orleans who had been assassinated in the bad days of the strife +between Burgundians and Armagnacs, in 1407, and great-great-grandson of +Charles V. of France. He was still very young, very eager to be king, +very full of far-reaching schemes. Few things in history are more +striking than the sudden change, at this moment, from the rule of middle- +aged men or (as men of fifty were then often called) old men, to the rule +of youths,--from sagacious, worldly-prudent monarchs--to impulsive boys, +--from Henry VII. to Henry VIII., from Louis XII. to Frangois I, from +Ferdinand to Charles. + +On the whole, Frangois I. was the least worthy of the three. He was +brilliant, "the king of culture," apt scholar in Renaissance art and +immorality; brave, also, and chivalrous, so long as the chivalry involved +no self-denial, for he was also thoroughly selfish, and his personal aims +and ideas were mean. His reign was to be a reaction from that of Louis +XII. + +From the beginning, Francois chose his chief officers unwisely. In +Antoine du Prat, his new chancellor, he had a violent and lawless +adviser; in Charles de Bourbon, his new constable, an untrustworthy +commander. Forthwith he plunged into Italian politics, being determined +to make good his claim both to Naples and to Milan; he made most friendly +arrangements with the Archduke Charles, his future rival, promising to +help him in securing, when the time came, the vast inheritances of his +two grandfathers, Maximilian, the Emperor-elect, and Ferdinand of Aragon; +never was a less wise agreement entered upon. This done, the Italian war +began; Francois descended into Italy, and won the brilliant battle of +Marignano, in which the French chivalry crushed the Swiss burghers and +peasant mercenaries. The French then overran the north of Italy, and, in +conjunction with the Venetians, carried all before them. But the +triumphs of the sword were speedily wrested from him by the adroitness of +the politician; in an interview with Leo X. at Bologna, Francois bartered +the liberties of the Gallican Church for shadowy advantages in Italy. +The 'Pragmatic Sanction of Bourgea', which now for nearly a century had +secured to the Church of France independence in the choice of her chief +officers, was replaced by a concordat, whereby the King allowed the +papacy once more to drain the wealth of the Church of France, while the +Pope allowed the King almost autocratic power over it. He was to appoint +to all benefices, with exception of a few privileged offices; the Pope +was no longer to be threatened with general councils, while he should +receive again the annates of the Church. + +The years which followed this brilliantly disastrous opening brought +little good to France. In 1516 the death of Ferdinand the Catholic +placed Charles on the throne of Spain; in 1519 the death of Maximilian +threw open to the young Princes the most dazzling prize of human +ambition,--the headship of the Holy Roman Empire. Francois I., Charles, +and Henry VIII. were all candidates for the votes of the seven electors, +though the last never seriously entered the lists. The struggle lay +between Francois, the brilliant young Prince, who seemed to represent the +new opinions in literature and art, and Charles of Austria and Spain, who +was as yet unknown and despised, and, from his education under the +virtuous and scholastic Adrian of Utrecht, was thought likely to +represent the older and reactionary opinions of the clergy. After a long +and sharp competition, the great prize fell to Charles, henceforth known +to history as that great monarch and emperor, Charles V. + +The rivalry between the Princes could not cease there. Charles, as +representative of the House of Burgundy, claimed all that had been lost +when Charles the Bold fell; and in 1521 the war broke out between him and +Francois, the first of a series of struggles between the two rivals. +While the King wasted the resources of his country on these wars, his +proud and unwise mother, Louise of Savoy, guided by Antoine du Prat, +ruled, to the sorrow of all, at home. The war brought no glory with it: +on the Flemish frontier a place or two was taken; in Biscay Fontarabia +fell before the arms of France; in Italy Francois had to meet a new +league of Pope and Emperor, and his troops were swept completely out of +the Milanese. In the midst of all came the defection of that great +prince, the Constable de Bourbon, head of the younger branch of the +Bourbon House, the most powerful feudal lord in France. Louise of Savoy +had enraged and offended him, or he her; the King slighted him, and in +1523 the Constable made a secret treaty with Charles V. and Henry VIII., +and, taking flight into Italy, joined the Spaniards under Lannoy. The +French, who had again invaded the Milanese, were again driven out in +1524; on the other hand, the incursions of the imperialists into Picardy, +Provence, and the southeast were all complete failures. Encouraged by +the repulse of Bourbon from Marseilles, Francois I. once more crossed the +Alps, and overran a great part of the valley of the Po; at the siege of +Pavia he was attacked by Pescara and Bourbon, utterly defeated and taken +prisoner (24th February, 1525); the broken remnants of the French were +swept out of Italy at once, and Francois I. was carried into Spain, a +captive at Madrid. His mother, best in adversity, behaved with high +pride and spirit; she overawed disaffection, made preparations for +resistance, looked out for friends on every side. Had Francois been in +truth a hero, he might, even as a prisoner, have held his own; but he was +unable to bear the monotony of confinement, and longed for the pleasures +of France. On this mean nature Charles V. easily worked, and made the +captive monarch sign the Treaty of Madrid (January 14, 1526), a compact +which Francois meant to break as soon as he could, for he knew neither +heroism nor good faith. The treaty stipulated that Francois should give +up the duchy of Burgundy to Charles, and marry Eleanor of Portugal, +Charles's sister; that Francois should also abandon his claims on +Flanders, Milan, and Naples, and should place two sons in the Emperor's +hands as hostages. Following the precedent of Louis XI. in the case of +Normandy, he summoned an assembly of nobles and the Parliament of Paris +to Cognac, where they declared the cession of Burgundy to be impossible. +He refused to return to Spain, and made alliances wherever he could, with +the Pope, with Venice, Milan, and England. The next year saw the ruin of +this league in the discomfiture of Clement VII., and the sack of Rome by +the German mercenaries under Bourbon, who was killed in the assault. The +war went on till 1529, when Francois, having lost two armies in it, and +gained nothing but loss and harm, was willing for peace; Charles V., +alarmed at the progress of the Turks, was not less willing; and in +August, 1529, the famous Treaty, of Cambrai, "the Ladies' Peace," was +agreed to by Margaret of Austria and Louise of Savoy. Though Charles V. +gave up all claim on the duchy of Burgundy, he had secured to himself +Flanders and Artois, and had entirely cleared French influences out of +Italy, which now became firmly fixed under the imperial hand, as a +connecting link between his Spanish and German possessions. Francois +lost ground and credit by these successive treaties, conceived in bad +faith, and not honestly carried out. + +No sooner had the Treaty of Cambrai been effectual in bringing his sons +back to France, than Francois began to look out for new pretexts and +means for war. Affairs were not unpromising. His mother's death in 1531 +left him in possession of a huge fortune, which she had wrung from +defenceless France; the powers which were jealous of Austria, the Turk, +the English King, the members of the Smalkald league, all looked to +Francois as their leader; Clement VII., though his misfortunes had thrown +him into the Emperor's hands, was not unwilling to treat with France; and +in 1533 by the compact of Marseilles the Pope broke up the friendship +between Francois and Henry VIII., while he married his niece Catherine +de' Medici to Henri, the second son of Francois. This compact was a real +disaster to France; the promised dowry of Catherine--certain Italian +cities--was never paid, and the death of Clement VII. in 1534 made the +political alliance with the papacy a failure. The influence of Catherine +affected and corrupted French history for half a century. Preparations +for war went on; Francois made a new scheme for a national army, though +in practice he preferred the tyrant's arm, the foreign mercenary. From +his day till the Revolution the French army was largely composed of +bodies of men tempted out of other countries, chiefly from Switzerland or +Germany. + +While the Emperor strove to appease the Protestant Princes of Germany by +the Peace of Kadan (1534), Francois strengthened himself with a definite +alliance with Soliman; and when, on the death of Francesco Sforza, Duke +of Milan, who left no heirs, Charles seized the duchy as its overlord, +Francois, after some bootless negotiation, declared war on his great +rival (1536). His usual fortunes prevailed so long as he was the +attacking party: his forces were soon swept out of Piedmont, and the +Emperor carried the war over the frontier into Provence. That also +failed, and Charles was fain to withdraw after great losses into Italy. +The defence of Provence--a defence which took the form of a ruthless +destruction of all its resources--had been entrusted to Anne de +Montmorency, who henceforward became Constable of France, and exerted +great influence over Francois I. Though these two campaigns, the French +in Italy and the imperialist in Provence, had equally failed in 1536, +peace did not follow till 1538, when, after the terrible defeat of +Ferdinand of Austria by the Turks, Charles was anxious to have free hand +in Germany. Under the mediation of Paul III. the agreement of Nice was +come to, which included a ten years' truce and the abandonment by +Francois of all his foreign allies and aims. He seemed a while to have +fallen completely under the influence of the sagacious Emperor. He gave +way entirely to the Church party of the time, a party headed by gloomy +Henri, now Dauphin, who never lost the impress of his Spanish captivity, +and by the Constable Anne de Montmorency; for a time the artistic or +Renaissance party, represented by Anne, Duchesse d'Etampes, and Catherine +de' Medici, fell into disfavour. The Emperor even ventured to pass +through France, on his way from Spain to the Netherlands. All this +friendship, however, fell to dust, when it was found that Charles refused +to invest the Duc d'Orleans, the second son of Francois, with the duchy +of Milan, and when the Emperor's second expedition against the sea-power +of the Turks had proved a complete failure, and Charles had returned to +Spain with loss of all his fleet and army. Then Francois hesitated no +longer, and declared war against him (1541). The shock the Emperor had +suffered inspirited all his foes; the Sultan and the Protestant German +Princes were all eager for war; the influence of Anne de Montmorency had +to give way before that of the House of Guise, that frontier family, half +French, half German, which was destined to play a large part in the +troubled history of the coming half-century. Claude, Duc de Guise, a +veteran of the earliest days of Francois, was vehemently opposed to +Charles and the Austro-Spanish power, and ruled in the King's councils. +This last war was as mischievous as its predecessors no great battles +were fought; in the frontier affairs the combatants were about equally +fortunate; the battle of Cerisolles, won by the French under Enghien +(1544), was the only considerable success they had, and even that was +almost barren of results, for the danger to Northern France was imminent; +there a combined invasion had been planned and partly executed by Charles +and Henry VIII., and the country, almost undefended, was at their mercy. +The two monarchs, however, distrusted one another; and Charles V., +anxious about Germany, sent to Francois proposals for peace from Crespy +Couvrant, near Laon, where he had halted his army; Francois, almost in +despair, gladly made terms with him. The King gave up his claims on +Flanders and Artois, the Emperor his on the duchy of Burgundy; the King +abandoned his old Neapolitan ambition, and Charles promised one of the +Princesses of the House of Austria, with Milan as her dower, to the Duc +d'Orleans, second son of Francois. The Duke dying next year, this +portion of the agreement was not carried out. The Peace of Crespy, which +ended the wars between the two great rivals, was signed in autumn, 1544, +and, like the wars which led to it, was indecisive and lame. + +Charles learnt that with all his great power he could not strike a fatal +blow at France; France ought to have learnt that she was very weak for +foreign conquest, and that her true business was to consolidate and +develop her power at home. Henry VIII. deemed himself wronged by this +independent action on the part of Charles, who also had his grievances +with the English monarch; he stood out till 1546, and then made peace +with Francois, with the aim of forming a fresh combination against +Charles. In the midst of new projects and much activity, the marrer of +man's plots came on the scene, and carried off in the same year, 1547, +the English King and Francois I., leaving Charles V. undisputed arbiter +of the affairs of Europe. In this same year he also crushed the +Protestant Princes at the battle of Muhlberg. + +In the reign of Francois I. the Court looked not unkindly on the +Reformers, more particularly in the earlier years. + +Henri II., who succeeded in 1547, "had all the faults of his father, with +a weaker mind;" and as strength of mind was not one of the +characteristics of Francois I., we may imagine how little firmness there +was in the gloomy King who now reigned. Party spirit ruled at Court. +Henri II., with his ancient mistress, Diane de Poitiers, were at the head +of one party, that of the strict Catholics, and were supported by old +Anne de Montmorency, most unlucky of soldiers, most fanatical of +Catholics, and by the Guises, who chafed a good deal under the stern rule +of the Constable. This party had almost extinguished its antagonists; in +the struggle of the mistresses, the pious and learned Anne d'Etampes had +to give place to imperious Diane, Catherine, the Queen, was content to +bide her time, watching with Italian coolness the game as it went on; of +no account beside her rival, and yet quite sure to have her day, and +ready to play parties against one another. Meanwhile, she brought to her +royal husband ten sickly children, most of whom died young, and three +wore the crown. Of the many bad things she did for France, that was +perhaps among the worst. + +On the accession of Henri II. the duchy of Brittany finally lost even +nominal independence; he next got the hand of Mary, Queen of Scots, then +but five years old, for the Dauphin Francois; she was carried over to +France; and being by birth half a Guise, by education and interests of +her married life she became entirely French. It was a great triumph for +Henri, for the Protector Somerset had laid his plans to secure her for +young Edward VI.; it was even more a triumph for the Guises, who saw +opened out a broad and clear field for their ambition. + +At first Henri II. showed no desire for war, and seemed to shrink from +rivalry or collision with Charles V. He would not listen to Paul III., +who, in his anxiety after the fall of the Protestant power in Germany in +1547, urged him to resist the Emperor's triumphant advance; he seemed to +show a dread of war, even among his neighbours. After he had won his +advantage over Edward VI., he escaped the war which seemed almost +inevitable, recovered Boulogne from the English by a money payment, and +smoothed the way for peace between England and Scotland. He took much +interest in the religious question, and treated the Calvinists with great +severity; he was also occupied by troubles in the south and west of +France. Meanwhile, a new Pope, Julius III., was the weak dependent of +the Emperor, and there seemed to be no head left for any movement against +the universal domination of Charles V. His career from 1547 to 1552 was, +to all appearance, a triumphal march of unbroken success. Yet Germany +was far from acquiescence; the Princes were still discontented and +watchful; even Ferdinand of Austria, his brother, was offended by the +Emperor's anxiety to secure everything, even the imperial crown for his +son Philip; Maurice of Saxony, that great problem of the age, was +preparing for a second treachery, or, it may be, for a patriotic effort. +These German malcontents now appealed to Henri for aid; and at last Henri +seemed inclined to come. He had lately made alliance with England, and +in 1552 formed a league at Chambord with the German Princes; the old +connection with the Turk was also talked of. The Germans agreed to +allow' him to hold (as imperial vicar, not as King of France) the "three +bishoprics," Metz, Verdun, and Toul; he also assumed a protectorate over +the spiritual princes, those great bishops and electors of the Rhine, +whose stake in the Empire was so important. The general lines of French +foreign politics are all here clearly marked; in this Henri II. is the +forerunner of Henri IV. and of Louis XIV.; the imperial politics of +Napoleon start from much the same lines; the proclamations of Napoleon +III. before the Franco-German war seemed like thin echoes of the same. + +Early in 1552 Maurice of Saxony struck his great blow at his master in +the Tyrol, destroying in an instant all the Emperor's plans for the +suppression of Lutheran opinions, and the reunion of Germany in a +Catholic empire; and while Charles V. fled for his life, Henri II. with +a splendid army crossed the frontiers of Lorraine. Anne de Montmorency, +whose opposition to the war had been overborne by the Guises, who warmly +desired to see a French predominance in Lorraine, was sent forward to +reduce Metz, and quickly got that important city into his hands; Toul and +Verdun soon opened their gates, and were secured in reality, if not in +name, to France. Eager to undertake a protectorate of the Rhine, Henri +II. tried also to lay hands on Strasburg; the citizens, however, +resisted, and he had to withdraw; the same fate befell his troops in an +attempt on Spires. Still, Metz and the line of the Vosges mountains +formed a splendid acquisition for France. The French army, leaving +strong garrisons in Lorraine, withdrew through Luxemburg and the northern +frontier; its remaining exploits were few and mean, for the one gleam of +good fortune enjoyed by Anne de Montmorency, who was unwise and arrogant, +and a most inefficient commander, soon deserted him. Charles V., as soon +as he could gather forces, laid siege to Metz, but, after nearly three +months of late autumnal operations, was fain to break up and withdraw, +baffled and with loss of half his army, across the Rhine. Though some +success attended his arms on the northern frontier, it was of no +permanent value; the loss of Metz, and the failure in the attempt to take +it, proved to the worn-out Emperor that the day of his power and +opportunity was past. The conclusions of the Diet of Augsburg in 1555 +settled for half a century the struggle between Lutheran and Catholic, +but settled it in a way not at all to his mind; for it was the safeguard +of princely interests against his plans for an imperial unity. Weary of +the losing strife, yearning for ease, ordered by his physicians to +withdraw from active life, Charles in the course of 1555 and 1556 +resigned all his great lordships and titles, leaving Philip his son to +succeed him in Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, and his brother +Ferdinand of Austria to wear in his stead the imperial diadem. These +great changes sundered awhile the interests of Austria from those of +Spain. + +Henri endeavoured to take advantage of the check in the fortunes of his +antagonists; he sent Anne de Montmorency to support Gaspard de Coligny, +the Admiral of France, in Picardy, and in harmony with Paul IV., +instructed Francois, Duc de Guise, to enter Italy to oppose the Duke of +Alva. As of old, the French arms at first carried all before them, and +Guise, deeming himself heir to the crown of Naples (for he was the eldest +great-grandson of Rene II., titular King of Naples), pushed eagerly +forward as far as the Abruzzi. There he was met and outgeneraled by +Alva, who drove him back to Rome, whence he was now recalled by urgent +summons to France; for the great disaster of St. Quentin had laid Paris +itself open to the assault of an enterprising enemy. With the departure +of Guise from Italy the age of the Italian expeditions comes to an end. +On the northern side of the realm things had gone just as badly. +Philibert of Savoy, commanding for Philip with Spanish and English +troops, marched into France as far as to the Somme, and laid siege to St. +Quentin, which was bravely defended by Amiral de Coligny. Anne de +Montmorency, coming up to relieve the place, managed his movements so +clumsily that he was caught by Count Egmont and the Flemish horse, and, +with incredibly small loss to the conquerors, was utterly routed (1557). +Montmorency himself and a crowd of nobles and soldiers were taken; the +slaughter was great. Coligny made a gallant and tenacious stand in the +town itself, but at last was overwhelmed, and the place fell. Terrible +as these mishaps were to France, Philip II. was not of a temper to push +an advantage vigorously; and while his army lingered, Francois de Guise +came swiftly back from Italy; and instead of wasting strength in a +doubtful attack on the allies in Picardy, by a sudden stroke of genius he +assaulted and took Calais (January, 1558), and swept the English finally +off the soil of France. This unexpected and brilliant blow cheered and +solaced the afflicted country, while it finally secured the ascendency of +the House of Guise. The Duke's brother, the Cardinal de Lorraine, +carried all before him in the King's councils; the Dauphin, betrothed +long before, was now married to Mary of Scots; a secret treaty bound the +young Queen to bring her kingdom over with her; it was thought that +France with Scotland would be at least a match for England joined with +Spain. In the same year, 1558, the French advance along the coast, after +they had taken Dunkirk and Nieuport, was finally checked by the brilliant +genius of Count Egmont, who defeated them at Gravelinea. All now began +to wish for peace, especially Montmorency, weary of being a prisoner, and +anxious to get back to Court, that he might check the fortunes of the +Guises; Philip desired it that he might have free hand against heresy. +And so, at Cateau-Cambresis, a peace was made in April, 1559, by which +France retained the three bishoprics and Calais, surrendering Thionville, +Montmedy, and one or two other frontier towns, while she recovered Ham +and St. Quentin; the House of Savoy was reinstated by Philip, as a reward +to Philibert for his services, and formed a solid barrier for a time +between France and Italy; cross-marriages between Spain, France, and +Savoy were arranged;--and finally, the treaty contained secret articles +by which the Guises for France and Granvella for the Netherlands agreed +to crush heresy with a strong hand. As a sequel to this peace, Henri II. +held a great tournament at Paris, at which he was accidentally slain by a +Scottish knight in the lists. + +The Guises now shot up into abounded power. On the Guise side the +Cardinal de Lorraine was the cleverest man, the true head, while +Francois, the Duke, was the arm; he showed leanings towards the +Lutherans. On the other side, the head was the dull and obstinate Anne +de Montmorency, the Constable, an unwavering Catholic, supported by the +three Coligny brothers, who all were or became Huguenots. The Queen- +mother Catherine fluctuated uneasily between the parties, and though +Catholic herself, or rather not a Protestant, did not hesitate to +befriend the Huguenots, if the political arena seemed to need their +gallant swords. Their noblest leader was Coligny, the admiral; their +recognised head was Antoine, King of Navarre, a man as foolish as +fearless. He was heir presumptive to the throne after the Valois boys, +and claimed to have charge of the young King. Though the Guises had the +lead at first, the Huguenots seemed, from their strong aristocratic +connections, to have the fairer prospects before them. + +Thirty years of desolate civil strife are before us, and we must set it +all down briefly and drily. The prelude to the troubles was played by +the Huguenots, who in 1560, guided by La Renaudie, a Perigord gentleman, +formed a plot to carry off the young King; for Francois II. had already +treated them with considerable severity, and had dismissed from his +councils both the princes of the blood royal and the Constable de +Montmorency. The plot failed miserably and La Renaudie lost his life; +it only secured more firmly the authority of the Guises. As a +counterpoise to their influence, the Queen-mother now conferred the +vacant chancellorship on one of the wisest men France has ever seen, her +Lord Bacon, Michel de L'Hopital, a man of the utmost prudence and +moderation, who, had the times been better, might have won constitutional +liberties for his country, and appeased her civil strife. As it was, he +saved her from the Inquisition; his hand drew the edicts which aimed at +enforcing toleration on France; he guided the assembly of notables which +gathered at Fontainebleau, and induced them to attempt a compromise which +moderate Catholics and Calvinists might accept, and which might lessen +the power of the Guises. This assembly was followed by a meeting of the +States General at Orleans, at which the Prince de Conde and the King of +Navarre were seized by the Guises on a charge of having had to do with La +Renaudie's plot. It would have gone hard with them had not the sickly +King at this very time fallen ill and died (1560). + +This was a grievous blow to the Guises. Now, as in a moment, all was +shattered; Catherine de Medici rose at once to the command of affairs; +the new King, Charles IX., was only, ten years old, and her position as +Regent was assured. The Guises would gladly have ruled with her, but she +had no fancy for that; she and Chancellor de L'Hopital were not likely to +ally themselves with all that was severe and repressive. It must not be +forgotten that the best part of her policy was inspired by the Chancellor +de L'Hopital. + +Now it was that Mary Stuart, the Queen-dowager, was compelled to leave +France for Scotland; her departure clearly marks the fall of the Guises; +and it also showed Philip of Spain that it was no longer necessary for +him to refuse aid and counsel to the Guises; their claims were no longer +formidable to him on the larger sphere of European politics; no longer +could Mary Stuart dream of wearing the triple crown of Scotland, France, +and England. + +The tolerant language of L'Hopital at the States General of Orleans in +1561 satisfied neither side. The Huguenots were restless; the Bourbon +Princes tried to crush the Guises, in return for their own imprisonment +the year before; the Constable was offended by the encouragement shown to +the Huguenots; it was plain that new changes impended. Montmorency began +them by going over to the Guises; and the fatal triumvirate of Francois, +Duc de Guise, Montmorency, and St. Andre the marshal, was formed. We +find the King of Spain forthwith entering the field of French intrigues +and politics, as the support and stay of this triumvirate. Parties take +a simpler format once, one party of Catholics and another of Huguenots, +with the Queen-mother and the moderates left powerless between them. +These last, guided still by L'Hopital, once more convoked the States +General at Pontoise: the nobles and the Third Estate seemed to side +completely with the Queen and the moderates; a controversy between +Huguenots and Jesuits at Poissy only added to the discontent of the +Catholics, who were now joined by foolish Antoine, King of Navarre. The +edict of January, 1562, is the most remarkable of the attempts made by +the Queen-mother to satisfy the Huguenots; but party-passion was already +too strong for it to succeed; civil war had become inevitable. + +The period may be divided into four parts: (1) the wars before the +establishment of the League (1562-1570); (2) the period of the St. +Bartholomew (1570-1573); (3) the struggle of the new Politique party +against the Leaguers (1573-1559); (4) the efforts of Henri IV. to crush +the League and reduce the country to peace (1589-1595). The period can +also be divided by that series of agreements, or peaces, which break it +up into eight wars: + +1. The war of 1562, on the skirts of which Philip of Spain interfered on +one side, and Queen Elizabeth with the Calvinistic German Princes on the +other, showed at once that the Huguenots were by far the weaker party. +The English troops at Havre enabled them at first to command the lower +Seine up to Rouen; but the other party, after a long siege which cost +poor Antoine of Navarre his life, took that place, and relieved Paris of +anxiety. The Huguenots had also spread far and wide over the south and +west, occupying Orleans; the bridge of Orleans was their point of +junction between Poitou and Germany. While the strength of the Catholics +lay to the east, in Picardy, and at Paris, the Huguenot power was mostly +concentrated in the south and west of France. Conde, who commanded at +Orleans, supported by German allies, made an attempt on Paris, but +finding the capital too strong for him, turned to the west, intending to +join the English troops from Havre. Montmorency, however, caught him at +Dreux; and in the battle that ensued, the Marshal of France, Saint-Andre, +perished; Conde was captured by the Catholics, Montmorency by the +Huguenots. Coligny, the admiral, drew off his defeated troops with great +skill, and fell back to beyond the Loire; the Duc de Guise remained as +sole head of the Catholics. Pushing on his advantage, the Duke +immediately laid siege to Orleans, and there he fell by the hand of a +Huguenot assassin. Both parties had suffered so much that the Queen- +mother thought she might interpose with terms of peace; the Edict of +Amboise (March, 1563) closed the war, allowing the Calvinists freedom of +worship in the towns they held, and some other scanty privileges. A +three years' quiet followed, though all men suspected their neighbours, +and the high Catholic party tried hard to make Catherine sacrifice +L'Hopital and take sharp measures with the Huguenots. They on their side +were restless and suspicious, and it was felt that another war could not +be far off. Intrigues were incessant, all men thinking to make their +profit out of the weakness of France. The struggle between Calvinists +and Catholics in the Netherlands roused much feeling, though Catherine +refused to favour either party. She collected an army of her own; it was +rumoured that she intended to take the Huguenots by surprise and +annihilate them. In autumn, 1567, their patience gave way, and they +raised the standard of revolt, in harmony with the heroic Netherlanders. +Conde and the Chatillons beleaguered Paris from the north, and fought the +battle of St. Denis, in which the old Constable, Anne de Montmorency, was +killed. The Huguenots, however, were defeated and forced to withdraw, +Conde marching eastward to join the German troops now coming up to his +aid. No more serious fighting followed; the Peace of Longjumeau (March, +1568), closed the second war, leaving matters much as they were. The +aristocratic resistance against the Catholic sovereigns, against what is +often called the "Catholic Reaction," had proved itself hollow; in +Germany and the Netherlands, as well as in France, the Protestant cause +seemed to fail; it was not until the religious question became mixed up +with questions as to political rights and freedom, as in the Low +Countries, that a new spirit of hope began to spring up. + +The Peace of Longjumeau gave no security to the Huguenot nobles; they +felt that the assassin might catch them any day. An attempt to seize +Condo and Coligny failed, and served only to irritate their party; +Cardinal Chatillon escaped to England; Jeanne of Navarre and her young +son Henri took refuge at La Rochelle; L'Hopital was dismissed the Court. +The Queen-mother seemed to have thrown off her cloak of moderation, and +to be ready to relieve herself of the Huguenots by any means, fair or +foul. War accordingly could not fail to break out again before the end +of the year. Conde had never been so strong; with his friends in England +and the Low Countries, and the enthusiastic support of a great party of +nobles and religious adherents at home, his hopes rose; he even talked of +deposing the Valois and reigning in their stead. He lost his life, +however, early in 1569, at the battle of Jarnac. Coligny once more with +difficulty, as at Dreux, saved the broken remnants of the defeated +Huguenots. Conde's death, regarded at the time by the Huguenots as an +irreparable calamity, proved in the end to be no serious loss; for it +made room for the true head of the party, Henri of Navarre. No sooner +had Jeanne of Navarre heard of the mishap of Jarnac than she came into +the Huguenot camp and presented to the soldiers her young son Henri and +the young Prince de Conde, a mere child. Her gallant bearing and the +true soldier-spirit of Coligny, who shone most brightly in adversity, +restored their temper; they even won some small advantages. Before long, +however, the Duc d'Anjou, the King's youngest brother, caught and +punished them severely at Moncontour. Both parties thenceforward wore +themselves out with desultory warfare. In August, 1570, the Peace of St. +Germain-en-Laye closed the third war and ended the first period. + + +2. It was the most favourable Peace the Huguenots had won as yet; it +secured them, besides previous rights, four strongholds. The Catholics +were dissatisfied; they could not sympathise with the Queen-mother in her +alarm at the growing strength of Philip II., head of the Catholics in +Europe; they dreaded the existence and growing influence of a party now +beginning to receive a definite name, and honourable nickname, the +Politiques. These were that large body of French gentlemen who loved the +honour of their country rather than their religious party, and who, +though Catholics, were yet moderate and tolerant. A pair of marriages +now proposed by the Court amazed them still more. It was suggested that +the Duc d'Anjou should marry Queen Elizabeth of England, and Henri of +Navarre, Marguerite de Valois, the King's sister. Charles II. hoped thus +to be rid of his brother, whom he disliked, and to win powerful support +against Spain, by the one match, and by the other to bring the civil wars +to a close. The sketch of a far-reaching resistance to Philip II. was +drawn out; so convinced of his good faith was the prudent and sagacious +William of Orange, that, on the strength of these plans, he refused good +terms now offered him by Spain. The Duc d'Alencon, the remaining son of +Catherine, the brother who did not come to the throne, was deeply +interested in the plans for a war in the Netherlands; Anjou, who had +withdrawn from the scheme of marriage with Queen Elizabeth, was at this +moment a candidate for the throne of Poland; while negotiations +respecting it were going on, Marguerite de Valois was married to Henri of +Navarre, the worst of wives [?? D.W.] to a husband none too good. +Coligny, who had strongly opposed the candidature of Anjou for the throne +of Poland, was set on by an assassin, employed by the Queen-mother and +her favourite son, and badly wounded; the Huguenots were in utmost alarm, +filling the air with cries and menaces. Charles showed great concern for +his friend's recovery, and threatened vengeance on the assassins. What +was his astonishment to learn that those assassins were his mother and +brother! Catherine worked on his fears, and the plot for the great +massacre was combined in an instant. The very next day after the King's +consent was wrung from him, 24th August, 1572, the massacre of St. +Bartholomew's day took place. The murder of Coligny was completed; his +son-in-law Teligny perished; all the chief Huguenots were slain; the +slaughter spread to country towns; the Church and the civil power were at +one, and the victims, taken at unawares, could make no resistance. The +two Bourbons, Henri and the Prince de Conde, were spared; they bought +their lives by a sudden conversion to Catholicism. The chief guilt of +this great crime lies with Catherine de' Medici; for, though it is +certain that she did not plan it long before, assassination was a +recognised part of her way of dealing with Huguenots. + +A short war followed, a revolt of the southern cities rather than a war. +They made tenacious and heroic resistance; a large part of the royal +forces sympathised rather with them than with the League; and in July, +1573, the Edict of Boulogne granted them even more than they, had been +promised by the Peace of St. Germain. + + +3. We have reached the period of the "Wan of the League," as the four +later civil wars are often called. The last of the four is alone of any +real importance. + +Just as the Peace of La Rochelle was concluded, the Duc d'Anjou, having +been elected King of Poland, left France; it was not long before troubles +began again. The Duc d'Alencon was vexed by his mother's neglect; as +heir presumptive to the crown he thought he deserved better treatment, +and sought to give himself consideration by drawing towards the middle +party; Catherine seemed to be intriguing for the ruin of that party-- +nothing was safe while she was moving. The King had never held up his +head since the St. Bartholomew; it was seen that he now was dying, and +the Queen-mother took the opportunity of laying hands on the middle +party. She arrested Alencon, Montmorency, and Henri of Navarre, together +with some lesser chiefs; in the midst of it all Charles IX. died (1574), +in misery, leaving the ill-omened crown to Henri of Anjou, King of +Poland, his next brother, his mother's favourite, the worst of a bad +breed. At the same time the fifth civil war broke out, interesting +chiefly because it was during its continuance that the famous League was +actually formed. + +Henri III., when he heard of his brother's death, was only too eager to +slip away like a culprit from Poland, though he showed no alacrity in +returning to France, and dallied with the pleasures of Italy for months. +An attempt to draw him over to the side of the Politiques failed +completely; he attached himself on the contrary to the Guises, and +plunged into the grossest dissipation, while he posed himself before men +as a good and zealous Catholic. The Politiques and Huguenots therefore +made a compact in 1575, at Milhaud on the Tarn, and chose the Prince de +Conde as their head; Henri of Navarre escaped from Paris, threw off his +forced Catholicism, and joined them. Against them the strict Catholics +seemed powerless; the Queen-mother closed this war with the Peace of +Chastenoy (May, 1576), with terms unusually favourable for both +Politiques and Huguenots: for the latter, free worship throughout France, +except at Paris; for the chiefs of the former, great governments, for +Alencon a large central district, for Conde, Picardy, for Henri of +Navarre, Guienne. + +To resist all this the high Catholic party framed the League they had +long been meditating; it is said that the Cardinal de Lorraine had +sketched it years before, at the time of the later sittings of the +Council of Trent. Lesser compacts had already been made from time to +time; now it was proposed to form one great League, towards which all +should gravitate. The head of the League was Henri, Duc de Guise the +second, "Balafre," who had won that title in fighting against the German +reiters the year before, when they entered France under Condo. He +certainly hoped at this time to succeed to the throne of France, either +by deposing the corrupt and feeble Henri III., "as Pippin dealt with +Hilderik," or by seizing the throne, when the King's debaucheries should +have brought him to the grave. The Catholics of the more advanced type, +and specially the Jesuits, now in the first flush of credit and success, +supported him warmly. The headquarters of the movement were in Picardy; +its first object, opposition to the establishment of Conde as governor of +that province. The League was also very popular with the common folk, +especially in the towns of the north. It soon found that Paris was its +natural centre; thence it spread swiftly across the whole natural France; +it was warmly supported by Philip of Spain. The States General, convoked +at Blois in 1576, could bring no rest to France; opinion was just as much +divided there as in the country; and the year 1577 saw another petty war, +counted as the sixth, which was closed by the Peace of Bergerac, another +ineffectual truce which settled nothing. It was a peace made with the +Politiques and Huguenots by the Court; it is significant of the new state +of affairs that the League openly refused to be bound by it, and +continued a harassing, objectless warfare. The Duc d'Anjou (he had taken +that title on his brother Henri's accession to the throne) in 1578 +deserted the Court party, towards which his mother had drawn him, and +made friends with the Calvinists in the Netherlands. The southern +provinces named him "Defender of their liberties;" they had hopes he +might wed Elizabeth of England; they quite mistook their man. In 1579 +"the Gallants' War" broke out; the Leaguers had it all their own way; but +Henri III., not too friendly to them, and urged by his brother Anjou, to +whom had been offered sovereignty over the seven united provinces in +1580, offered the insurgents easy terms, and the Treaty of Fleix closed +the seventh war. Anjou in the Netherlands could but show his weakness; +nothing went well with him; and at last, having utterly wearied out his +friends, he fled, after the failure of his attempt to secure Antwerp, +into France. There he fell ill of consumption and died in 1584. + +This changed at once the complexion of the succession question. +Hitherto, though no children seemed likely to be born to him, Henri III. +was young and might live long, and his brother was there as his heir. +Now, Henri III. was the last Prince of the Valois, and Henri of Navarre +in hereditary succession was heir presumptive to the throne, unless the +Salic law were to be set aside. The fourth son of Saint Louis, Robert, +Comte de Clermont, who married Beatrix, heiress of Bourbon, was the +founder of the House of Bourbon. Of this family the two elder branches +had died out: John, who had been a central figure in the War of the +Public Weal, in 1488; Peter, husband of Anne of France, in 1503; neither +of them leaving heirs male. Of the younger branch Francois died in 1525, +and the famous Constable de Bourbon in 1527. This left as the only +representatives of the family, the Comtes de La Marche; of these the +elder had died out in 1438, and the junior alone survived in the Comtes +de Vendome. The head of this branch, Charles, was made Duc de Vendome by +Francois I. in 1515; he was father of Antoine, Duc de Vendome, who, by +marrying the heroic Jeanne d'Albret, became King of Navarre, and of +Louis, who founded the House of Conde; lastly, Antoine was the father of +Henri IV. He was, therefore, a very distant cousin to Henri III; the +Houses of Capet, of Alencon, of Orleans, of Angouleme, of Maine, and of +Burgundy, as well as the elder Bourbons, had to fall extinct before Henri +of Navarre could become heir to the crown. All this, however, had now +happened; and the Huguenots greatly rejoiced in the prospect of a +Calvinist King. The Politique party showed no ill-will towards him; both +they and the Court party declared that if he would become once more a +Catholic they would rally to him; the Guises and the League were +naturally all the more firmly set against him; and Henri of Navarre saw +that he could not as yet safely endanger his influence with the +Huguenots, while his conversion would not disarm the hostility of the +League. They had before, this put forward as heir to the throne Henri's +uncle, the wretched old Cardinal de Bourbon, who had all the faults and +none of the good qualities of his brother Antoine. Under cover of his +name the Duc de Guise hoped to secure the succession for himself; he also +sold himself and his party to Philip of Spain, who was now in fullest +expectation of a final triumph over his foes. He had assassinated +William the Silent; any day Elizabeth or Henri of Navarre might be found +murdered; the domination of Spain over Europe seemed almost secured. The +pact of Joinville, signed between Philip, Guise, and Mayenne, gives us +the measure of the aims of the high Catholic party. Paris warmly sided +with them; the new development of the League, the "Sixteen of Paris," one +representative for each of the districts of the capital, formed a +vigorous organisation and called for the King's deposition; they invited +Henri, Duc de Guise, to Paris. Soon after this Henri III. humbled +himself, and signed the Treaty of Nemours (1585) with the Leaguers. He +hereby became nominal head of the League and its real slave. + +The eighth war, the "War of the Three Henries," that is, of Henri III. +and Henri de Guise against Henri of Navarre, now broke out. The Pope +made his voice heard; Sixtus excommunicated the Bourbons, Henri and +Conde, and blessed the Leaguers. + +For the first time there was some real life in one of these civil ware, +for Henri of Navarre rose nobly to the level of his troubles. At first +the balance of successes was somewhat in favour of the Leaguers; the +political atmosphere grew even more threatening, and terrible things, +like lightning flashes, gleamed out now and again. Such, for example, +was the execution of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, in 1586. It was known +that Philip II. was preparing to crush England. Elizabeth did what she +could to support Henri of Navarre; he had the good fortune to win the +battle of Contras, in which the Duc de Joyeuse, one of the favourites of +Henri III., was defeated and killed. The Duc de Guise, on the other +hand, was too strong for the Germans, who had marched into France to join +the Huguenots, and defeated them at Vimroy and Auneau, after which he +marched in triumph to Paris, in spite of the orders and opposition of. +the King, who, finding himself powerless, withdrew to Chartres. Once +more Henri III. was obliged to accept such terms as the Leaguers chose to +impose; and with rage in his heart he signed the "Edict of Union" (1588), +in which he named the Duc de Guise lieutenant-general of the kingdom, and +declared that no heretic could succeed to the throne. Unable to endure +the humiliation, Henri III. that same winter, assassinated the Duc and +the Cardinal de Guise, and seized many leaders of the League, though he +missed the Duc de Mayenne. This scandalous murder of the "King of +Paris," as the capital fondly called the Duke, brought the wretched King +no solace or power. His mother did not live to see the end of her son; +she died in this the darkest period of his career, and must have been +aware that her cunning and her immoral life had brought nothing but +misery to herself and all her race. The power of the League party seemed +as great as ever; the Duc de Mayenne entered Paris, and declared open war +on Henri III., who, after some hesitation, threw himself into the hands +of his cousin Henri of Navarre in the spring of 1589. The old Politique +party now rallied to the King; the Huguenots were stanch for their old +leader; things looked less dark for them since the destruction of the +Spanish Armada in the previous summer. The Swiss, aroused by the threats +of the Duke of Savoy at Geneva, joined the Germans, who once more entered +northeastern France; the leaguers were unable to make head either against +them or against the armies of the two Kings; they fell back on Paris, and +the allies hemmed them in. The defence of the capital was but languid; +the populace missed their idol, the Duc de Guise, and the moderate party, +never extinguished, recovered strength. All looked as if the royalists +would soon reduce the last stronghold of the League, when Henri III. was +suddenly slain by the dagger of a fanatical half-wined priest. + +The King had only time to commend Henri of Navarre to his courtiers as +his heir, and to exhort him to become a Catholic, before he closed his +eyes, and ended the long roll of his vices and crimes. And thus in crime +and shame the House of Valois went down. For a few years, the throne +remained practically vacant: the heroism of Henri of Navarre, the loss of +strength in the Catholic powers, the want of a vigorous head to the +League,--these things all sustained the Bourbon in his arduous struggle; +the middle party grew in strength daily, and when once Henri had allowed +himself to be converted, he became the national sovereign, the national +favourite, and the high Catholics fell to the fatal position of an +unpatriotic faction depending on the arm of the foreigner. + + +4. The civil wars were not over, for the heat of party raged as yet +unslaked; the Politiques could not all at once adopt a Huguenot King, the +League party had pledged itself to resist the heretic, and Henri at first +had little more than the Huguenots at his back. There were also +formidable claimants for the throne. Charles II. Duc de Lorraine, who +had married Claude, younger daughter of Henri IL, and who was therefore +brother-in-law to Henri III., set up a vague claim; the King of Spain, +Philip II., thought that the Salic law had prevailed long enough in +France, and that his own wife, the elder daughter of Henri III. +had the best claim to the throne; the Guises, though their head was gone, +still hoping for the crown, proclaimed their sham-king, the Cardinal de +Bourbon, as Charles X., and intrigued behind the shadow of his name. The +Duc de Mayenne, their present chief, was the most formidable of Henri's +opponents; his party called for a convocation of States General, which +should choose a King to succeed, or to replace, their feeble Charles X. +During this struggle the high Catholic party, inspired by Jesuit advice, +stood forward as the admirers of constitutional principles; they called +on the nation to decide the question as to the succession; their Jesuit +friends wrote books on the sovereignty of the people. They summoned up +troops from every side; the Duc de Lorraine sent his son to resist Henri +and support his own claim; the King of Spain sent a body of men; the +League princes brought what force they could. Henri of Navarre at the +same moment found himself weakened by the silent withdrawal from his camp +of the army of Henri III.; the Politique nobles did not care at first to +throw in their lot with the Huguenot chieftain; they offered to confer on +Henri the post of commander-in-chief, and to reserve the question as to +the succession; they let him know that they recognised his hereditary +rights, and were hindered only by his heretical opinions; if he would but +be converted they were his. Henri temporised; his true strength, for the +time, lay in his Huguenot followers, rugged and faithful fighting men, +whose belief was the motive power of their allegiance and of their +courage. If he joined the Politiques at their price, the price of +declaring himself Catholic, the Huguenots would be offended if not +alienated. So he neither absolutely refused nor said yes; and the chief +Catholic nobles in the main stood aloof, watching the struggle between +Huguenot and Leaguer, as it worked out its course. + +Henri, thus weakened, abandoned the siege of Paris, and fell back; with +the bulk of his forces he marched into Normandy, so as to be within reach +of English succour; a considerable army went into Champagne, to be ready +to join any Swiss or German help that might come. These were the great +days in the life of Henri of Navarre. Henri showed himself a hero, who +strove for a great cause--the cause of European freedom--as well as for +his own crown. + +The Duc de Mayenne followed the Huguenots down into the west, and found +Henri awaiting him in a strong position at Arques, near Dieppe; here at +bay, the "Bearnais" inflicted a heavy blow on his assailants; Mayenne +fell back into Picardy; the Prince of Lorraine drew off altogether; and +Henri marched triumphantly back to Paris, ravaged the suburbs and then +withdrew to Tours, where he was recognised as King by the Parliament. +His campaign of 1589 had been most successful; he had defeated the League +in a great battle, thanks to his skilful use of his position at Arques, +and the gallantry of his troops, which more than counterbalanced the +great disparity in numbers. He had seen dissension break out among his +enemies; even the Pope, Sixtus, had shown him some favour, and the +Politique nobles were certainly not going against him. Early in 1590 +Henri had secured Anjou, Maine, and Normandy, and in March defeated +Mayenne, in a great pitched battle at Ivry, not far from Dreux. The +Leaguers fell back in consternation to Paris. Henri reduced all the +country round the capital, and sat down before it for a stubborn siege. +The Duke of Parma had at that time his hands full in the Low Countries; +young Prince Maurice was beginning to show his great abilities as a +soldier, and had got possession of Breda; all, however, had to be +suspended by the Spaniards on that side, rather than let Henri of Navarre +take Paris. Parma with great skill relieved the capital without striking +a blow, and the campaign of 1590 ended in a failure for Henri. The +success of Parma, however, made Frenchmen feel that Henri's was the +national cause, and that the League flourished only by interference of +the foreigner. Were the King of Navarre but a Catholic, he should be a +King of France of whom they might all be proud. This feeling was +strengthened by the death of the old Cardinal de Bourbon, which reopened +at once the succession question, and compelled Philip of Spain to show +his hand. He now claimed the throne for his daughter Elisabeth, as +eldest daughter of the eldest daughter of Henri II. All the neighbours +of France claimed something; Frenchmen felt that it was either Henri IV. +or dismemberment. The "Bearnais" grew in men's minds to be the champion +of the Salic law, of the hereditary principle of royalty against feudal +weakness, of unity against dismemberment, of the nation against the +foreigner. + +The middle party, the Politiques of Europe,--the English, that is, and +the Germans,--sent help to Henri, by means of which he was able to hold +his own in the northwest and southwest throughout 1591. Late in the year +the violence of the Sixteen of Paris drew on them severe punishment from +the Duc de Mayenne; and consequently the Duke ceased to be the recognised +head of the League, which now looked entirely to Philip II. and Parma, +while Paris ceased to be its headquarters; and more moderate counsels +having taken the place of its fierce fanaticism, the capital came under +the authority of the lawyers and citizens, instead of the priesthood and +the bloodthirsty mob. Henri, meanwhile, who was closely beleaguering +Rouen, was again outgeneralled by Parma, and had to raise the siege. +Parma, following him westward, was wounded at Caudebec; and though he +carried his army triumphantly back to the Netherlands, his career was +ended by this trifling wound. He did no more, and died in 1592. + +In 1593, Mayenne, having sold his own claims to Philip of Spain, the +opposition to Henri looked more solid and dangerous than ever; he +therefore thought the time was come for the great step which should rally +to him all the moderate Catholics. After a decent period of negotiation +and conferences, he declared himself convinced, and heard mass at St. +Denis. The conversion had immediate effect; it took the heart out of the +opposition; city after city came in; the longing for peace was strong in +every breast, and the conversion seemed to remove the last obstacle. The +Huguenots, little as they liked it, could not oppose the step, and hoped +to profit by their champion's improved position. Their ablest man, +Sully, had even advised Henri to make the plunge. In 1594, Paris opened +her gates to Henri, who had been solemnly crowned, just before, at +Chartres. He was welcomed with immense enthusiasm, and from that day +onwards has ever been the favourite hero of the capital. By 1595 only +one foe remained,--the Spanish Court. The League was now completely +broken up; the Parliament of Paris gladly aided the King to expel the +Jesuits from France. In November, 1595, Henri declared war against +Spain, for anything was better than the existing state of things, in +which Philip's hand secretly supported all opposition: The war in 1596 +was far from being successful for Henri; he was comforted, however, by +receiving at last the papal absolution, which swept away the last +scruples of France. + +By rewards and kindliness,--for Henri was always willing to give and had +a pleasant word for all, most of the reluctant nobles, headed by the Duc +de Mayenne himself, came in in the course of 1596. Still the war pressed +very heavily, and early in 1597 the capture of Amiens by the Spaniards +alarmed Paris, and roused the King to fresh energies. With help of Sully +(who had not yet received the title by which he is known in history) +Henri recovered Amiens, and checked the Spanish advance. It was noticed +that while the old Leaguers came very heartily to the King's help, the +Huguenots hung back in a discontented and suspicious spirit. After the +fall of Amiens the war languished; the Pope offered to mediate, and Henri +had time to breathe. He felt that his old comrades, the offended +Huguenots, had good cause for complaint; and in April, 1598, he issued +the famous Edict of Nantes, which secured their position for nearly a +century. They got toleration for their opinions; might worship openly in +all places, with the exception of a few towns in which the League had +been strong; were qualified to hold office in financial posts and in the +law; had a Protestant chamber in the Parliaments. + +Immediately after the publication of the Edict of Nantes, the Treaty of +Vervins was signed. Though Henri by it broke faith with Queen Elizabeth, +he secured an honourable peace for his country, an undisputed kingship +for himself. It was the last act of Philip II., the confession that his +great schemes were unfulfilled, his policy a failure. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +From faith to action the bridge is short +Much is forgiven to a king +Parliament aided the King to expel the Jesuits from France +The record of the war is as the smoke of a furnace + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext Memoirs of Marguerite de Navarre, v3 +(History of the House of Valois, author unknown) + + + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS FOR THE COMPLETE FILE: + +Adversity is solitary, while prosperity dwells in a crowd +Comeliness of his person, which at all times pleads powerfully +Envy and malice are self-deceivers +Everything in the world bore a double aspect +From faith to action the bridge is short +Hearsay liable to be influenced by ignorance or malice +Honours and success are followed by envy +Hopes they (enemies) should hereafter become our friends +I should praise you more had you praised me less +It is the usual frailty of our sex to be fond of flattery +Lovers are not criminal in the estimation of one another +Mistrust is the sure forerunner of hatred +Much is forgiven to a king +Necessity is said to be the mother of invention +Never approached any other man near enough to know a difference +Not to repose too much confidence in our friends +Parliament aided the King to expel the Jesuits from France +Prefer truth to embellishment +Rather out of contempt, and because it was good policy +Situated as I was betwixt fear and hope +The pretended reformed religion +The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day +The record of the war is as the smoke of a furnace +There is too much of it for earnest, and not enough for jest +Those who have given offence to hate the offended party +To embellish my story I have neither leisure nor ability +Troubles might not be lasting +Young girls seldom take much notice of children + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext Memoirs of Marguerite de Navarre, v4, +and History of the House of Valois, author unknown + |