THE

'FAVOURITES

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

OF

"

BY

LE

PETIT

HOMME
AUTHOR

"THE

COURT

OF

ROUGE
OF

THE

.TUILERIES,

SIX

PORTRAITS

WITH

LONDON

CHATTO

fc?
1910

WINDUS

1852-1870"

rseud

DC'2-A-

Lightlyfrom
And
Suit
For

fair to fair he flew,

plead,lament, and sue ;

lightly
won, and short-lived pain,
Marmion.
seldom sighin vain."
monarchs
loved to

"

"

All

rightsreserved

THE

HENRY

THE

FAVOURITES

THE

FRENCH

COURT

OF

FAVOURITES
OF

OF

NAVARRE

KARMA

EVM

NOS1

h,.*,yiNcis
HENRY

IV.,

IPSE

ROBVR.

KING

OF

FRANCE

TVETVK

iTTa.

ORB

AND

NAVARRE,

IN

1595.

LA

DAME

"

toutes

L'amour
les

est

autres

PENSEES

MES

DE

line

passion

IV.

laquelle

obeissance."

doivent

Henri

la

Reine

Elisabeth,
le

255200

26

Octobre,

1596.

PREFACE

Three

years

reception
Court
He

to

different

his

though

these

Rouge's

in

they

pages,

work.

earlier

more

particularlyWoman

holds

the

the

view

Salic

Law

more

whom
of

the

certain

and

history.
of

that

was

vested
book

The

famous

will

to

present

who

his

life, and

at

Kingdom

entanglements

then,
de

Navarre

or

that

mistress, the
his

personal

profoundly

were

with

for

women.

days

portant
evil, imof

account

by

the

and

deliberatelyentrusted
wife

the

in

taken

of

treats

with

creatures,

due

be

country.

right understanding of

Henri

either

other

or

that

therefore
a

volume,

probably recognize
of

good

by

cised
really exer-

infatuated
for

He

debarred

have

frail

is

theme

History.

in any

and

became

should

never

to

than

fair

his

been

they

author

the

whom

with

Petit

Le

quently
offering fre-

moreover,

France,

proved,

arrive

about

other

the

on

ago,

have

there

national

monarch,

in himself

fortunes
numerous

desires

ruler

the

influence

their

who

student

in

long

time,

the

often

of

women

Sovereign

monarchy,

factors
them

that

another

or

old

influence

while,

again throng

connection

in

reigning

and

power

one

in

that, although
from

is, indeed,

It

This

and

those

to

volume

ceremonial,

life and

Court

men

others

in

instance, this

statesmen
are

Empire.

and

to

the

on

French

similar

with

nattering

Rouge

Second

For

descriptionsof

and

Homme

of the

effort.

little resemblance

his

Petit

public gave

respects

some

nobles,

monarchs,

wrote

Le

incidentallydealt

are

but

the

days

previous

elaborate

no

Homme

in

and

by

in the

work

from

contains

hand,

written

Tuileries

offers

now

book

of the

reviewers

the

ago

every

French

Favourites

although
the

authority

readers
career

influenced

he

of

this

and

the

by

his

viii

PREFACE

gathered togetherin a
of information
of moderate
length a largeamount
sible,
accesscattered here and there,and often not easily
believes that

author

The
volume
hitherto

while

at

with

times

he

has

details that offer little if any

British reader.

the

At

also

them.

An

volume

anonymous

Amsterdam

in

1743, and

of

de

nearlyfifty
years

Navarre,
of all of

accounts

kind

the

the

hitherto

been

of Henri

detailed
to give fairly
professing

burdened
over-

interest to

time, there have

same

very few books limited to the Favourites

yet

works

only been conveyedin

it has

issued at

was

de Lescure

M.

ago

elaborate one, which

is frequently
producedin Paris a more
be said,however, that
It must
quoted in this presentwork.
the
research in many
directions has demonstrated
latter-day
of a good many
of Lescure's facts and a good many
inaccuracy
of his conclusions.
similar to

the

At

presenttime

the curate's egg^ that

for,since it
many

was

his book

is somewhat
r"

is," excellent in parts only;

written,publicand privatearchives have

of their secrets,and

documents

have

come

to

closed
dis-

light

much
which was
once
invalidating
regardedas being probable
if not altogether
beyonddispute.
In the following
pages the author has availed himself of
this great advance
historical knowledge,and hopes to
in our
have attained to a higherdegreeof accuracy than was
formerly
whilst,by carefully
evidence,
possible;
examining and sifting
he thinks that he may
have elucidated certain pointswhich
had

hitherto remained
has

He
British
who

not

frail as

well

conscientious

writingis valueless
he
any
he

does

not

not

he recounts

as

less obscure.
his book
has much

fair,and

claims

is intended

the

rightsto
"

unless it
he

for the

to say about

historical writer is entitled

think that

reasonable
has

or

forgottenthat
and althoughhe
public,

were

every

more

women

which

for historical

sets forth the truth

adequately
word to which
has written a single
"

exceptioncan be taken. On the other hand,

for he holds that the facts
indulgedin moralizing,
speak amply for themselves,and that his readers

ix

PREFACE

__

will

easily

makes

draw
claim

no

de

Navarre's

position

at

affairs.

the

English

also

when

or

at

another

footnotes,

variety

characters,

in

order

said,

Le

supply,

to

of

information

that

no

and

military

good

many

may

in

or

his

subordinate

those
in

arise

while

therefore

has
text

relationship

of

his

whom

another

by

author

to

instances
for

known

in

of

are

figuring

respecting

confusion

stood,
under-

incidentally

questions

either

better

There

The

King's

refer

becomes

important

themselves.

pains

after

personage,

less

present

some

with

title, suddenly
or

to

familiar.

scarcely

the

the

political

at

had

has

characters,

is

more

occasionally

glances

that

be

may

Henri

of

history

order

in

period

writer

of

particular

further,

been

the

complete

book

The

them.

from

but,

infrequent

not

reader

one

rule;

another

number

some

and,

and

are

be

to

and

one

large

under

whatever

Moreover,

very

conclusions

own

career

there

their

the

reader's

mind.

That
work

to

hope

that

was

the
it

judgment
may

generously

so

Paris,
Easter,

Petit

1910.

meet

extended

Homme
of

the

with

some

to

his

Rouge

respectfully

critics

and

at

least

previous

the
of

the

volume.

submits

public,
favour

his
in

the

which

CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER

II.

III.

INTRODUCTION

I.

CHARLOTTE

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

BEAUTIES

OF

QUARTETTE

48

71

SEPARATION

ROYAL

88

CORISANDA

WOOED

AND

GABRIELLE

PALMY

DAYS

GABRIELLE

DISAPPOINTMENT

LA

BELLE

GABRIELLE

LA

BELLE

LA

BELLE

"

IX.

HENRIETTE

d'eNTRAGUES

THE

X.

HENRIETTE

d'eNTRAGUES

AMBITION

XI.

DAYELLE,

TIGNONVILLE,

FOSSEUX

AND

REBOURS,

25

SAUVES

DE

PRINCESS

THE

KING

AND

CONDE

DE

"

116

WON

145

AND

212

FAVOURITE

FELINE

AND

238

FALL

ASSASSINATION

THE

173

DEATH

OF

THE

276

AFTERWARDS

APPENDIX

A.

WOMEN

B.

NATURAL

ASSOCIATED

HENRI

WITH

CHILDREN

OF

DE

HENRI

NAVARRE

SONGS

INDEX

ATTRIBUTED

AND

THEIR

294

DESCENDANTS

C.

291

NAVARRE

DE

TO

HENRI

DE

NAVARRE

301

307

ILLUSTRATIONS

HENRI

DE

NAVARRE

Frontispiece

QUEEN

MARGUERITE

To

face

24
page

CORISANDA

g8

d'eSTREES
GABRIELLE

-jog

d'eNTRAGUES
HENRIETTE

216

PRINCESSE

DE

CONDE

280

fcp:

"

FAVOURITES
in these

Even
well

appealto

OF

de

la

wrote
Brenellerie,

of

him

that

was
"

NAVARRE

OF

republican
daysthat sovereign's
may
memory
Frenchmen.
A forgotteneighteenthmany

century writer,Gudin
he

HENRY

Le

seul Roi

dont

1g pauvre

the authorship
of
line,

famous

is almost

ait

garde la

which

"

memoire

"

is littleknown

alwaysmisquoted,the practice
being to

peuple for

pauvre.
when
that

occasions

But,

as

error

was

Gudin

in

to

substitute

explainon

in
perpetrated

peuple(which,in his time, meant

inferior or
working classes)had
monarchs

wont

was

and which

his presence, the

nation,not merelythe

the

to

reason

favourable sense, among

remember

other

them

beingLouis XII,
the appellation
of
Pere du
on
whom, as will be recollected,
Peuple,"was bestowed. When, however, Gudin penned the
line which alone, of all his writings,
has survived, he was
he said,of Henri's desire to improve the lot of his
thinking,
lowlier subjects,
and
introduce
plentyinto their homes, a
desire he expressed
by the wish that the humblest peasant in
France might have a fowl in his pot on Sundays.
But it is not merelyon account
of Henri's kindly
thoughts
a

"

for the poor that his memory

has remained
green in France.
the living
of the French race
It is because he was
in
synthesis
all that

appealsto

the

imagination.He

tolerant and clement

victorious,

monarch,

Man.
a
great one, and also,pre-eminently

was
a

skilful,
brave,

good King and a

His passions
and

his virtues to his popularity.

contributed as much
as
failings
A King who can
be as intrepid,
as
hardy,as adventurous,as
fond of women,
as
big a sportsman,drinker,gambler,jester,
and railer as men
who
not Kings,appeals
to the primal
are
well understand the vogue enjoyedby
instincts; and one
can

the song

"

"

Vive

Henri

Vive

ce

Ce

quatre !

roi vaillant,

diable-a-quatre,
eut le triple
talent

Qui

Henri's

boire,et de battre,

Et

d'etre vert-galant
!"

worshipat the shrine

perpetual
than anythingelse,to
more
helped,perhaps,

amorousness,

beauty,has

De

his

of
fix

INTRODUCTION

What

in the popular mind.

personality

his

and

Sullywas,

ask

But

answer.

will

of the

be

it must

government
could

who

"

was

of

to any

la belle

was

the

neither

he

The
names
accurately.
but
Kings are forgotten,

of

did

not

In the

surrender

XIV

nor

the

of Henri

case

IV,

the reins of

great might be

Louis

wrote

Gabrielle,"and

however

woman,

He

refuse

he

that

Lescure

average Frenchman
he will hesitate to

an

that

are

mistresses abide.
Kings'

conceded

her.

to

him

greatestministers

of those

names

chances

the

and
immediately

replyboth

many

to-day. Ask

is stilltrue

years ago

many
who

He

his attachment
Louis

XV.

and
requestsof Gabrielle d'Estrees,

he

placedHenriette d'Entraguesunder arrest.

One
day Henri asked the ambassador of the Emperor
If
had any mistresses.
Rodolph II, whether that monarch
he has," the envoy replied, they are keptsecret."
It is true,"
the King retorted, that some
have not sufficientgreat
men
their failings."
After he had selected
to cast over
qualities
Pierre Mathieu
of himself for his son
to write a history
(the
read to him
future Louis XIII), Mathieu
one
day a passage
"What
is the use
for women.
of
respectinghis partiality
that weakness ?
It will be a lesson
asked Henri.
revealing
for your son," said Mathieu
; whereupon the King after a pause
replied,Yes, yes, the whole truth must be told. If you
silent about
to remain
were
failings,
peoplewould not
my
believe you respecting
the rest.
Well, set them down, then,so
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

that my

son

Henri's
those
XV.

may know and avoid them."

love-affairs were
probably more

of any other King of France, not even

of his earlyyouth are
The
escapades

exceptingLouis
not worthy of

mention, but in the appendixto the presentvolume

fair
many
attracted his attention from the
found

In the

list of the

body

influence

of the work

on

happens,are
volume

should

his

be

enough.
either

time

who

appear

of his

will be
to

have

marriageonward.

exercised
really
spoken of, and they,as

those
chiefly

will be

career

numerous

women

than

numerous

who

It is not

intended

completebiographyof

that
the

an

it
this

great

will it
in no sense
a full studyof his times,and
or
soldier-king
will be set forth
be a panegyric
; but by the lightof what
incidents neglected
by grave historians as beneath their notice,
"

so

as

to have

to

OF

NAVARRE

and others,
disfigured
by novelists,
playwrights,
it may be easier,
littlelikeness to the truth
perhaps,

altered

or

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

or

"

understand

of

one

the world
personalities

known, as

has

well

his

marked

changeswhich

momentous

remarkable

the most

as

and

interesting
of the most

some

period.

Henri, Prince of Beam, later King of Navarre,and ultimately

King of France, was born at the chateau of Pau on December
de Bourbon, was
of three
His father,Antoine
one
12, 1553.
first himself,secondly
brothers
Charles,Cardinal de Bourbon,
who traced their line and
and thirdly
Louis, Prince de Conde
"

"

kinshipwith

back

of France

Royal House

the

Robert

to

de

Clermont, youngest son of St. Louis, and husband of Beatrice

of Burgundy,heiress,
throughher mother,of the old Lords of
descended from one
of the
Bourbon, who on their side were
father. Robert de
captainsof Pepin le Bref, Charlemagne's
the

assumed

Clermont

of Bourbon

name

barony,for such it
of a duchy. The
to the rank
conspicuousparts in national
the

in 1327

VI, and

Charles V, Charles
I the house

Francis

known

as

hitherto

Dukes
affairs

Charles

to universal

rose

de

marriage,and

been, was
Bourbon

VII, and

the

at

raised

played
reignsof

during the

of

time

of the

by reason
celebrity

Duke
great soldier,

that

of

chequered career

had

his

on

Charles,best

the Constable de Bourbon.

Antoine, the father of the Prince who became Henri IV

of France,bore the title of Duke de Vendome, when in October,
d'Albret, daughter of
1548, he espousedPrincess Jeanne
Henri
II, King of Navarre, by his marriagewith Marguerite
d'Angouleme,sister of Francis I,and author of The Heptameron.
Jeanne, then not yet in her teens, had
Eight years previously,
of Cleves,
to William III,Duke
been married,almost perforce,
that Prince

with the

alliance between

and

latter insisted that

objectof cementingan
Francis I ; but althoughthe
be

should
whole

bedded

court, in order

it
indissoluble,
annulled

that

of

that

Paul

in 1543

the

his child-bride
the

in

III

the

Emperor

at

Duke

presence

marriagemight

consummated, but

never

was

by Pope

himself,when
for

with

the Duke

was

be

reputed
Francis

of Cleves deserted his

Charles

V.

Jeanne's

the

obligingly

of
instigation

the

of

cause

subsequent

INTRODUCTION

boundless.

did

Bourbon

not

prove
satisfaction
the time of the wedding her
I

"

de

Antoine

marriagewith
one, thoughat

never

happy

appeared

joyous a bride,"her cousin,the

so

saw

Dauphin, afterwards Henri II of France, wrote to Constable

*
de Montmorency, she does naught but laugh."
Antoine, then thirtyyears of age, was a very good-natured
of great
to a fault,
possessed
man,
easy in his ways, generous
littleculture
and not without claims to some
personalbravery,
"

if he

indeed

were

like which
evinced

have
no

irresolute in
advanced

in

to the

much

been

ascribed to him.

strengthof

character.

fickle
policy,

in his

and

life,more

chagrinof

songs and such

time he
at the same

various

of the

author

the

But

Unstable

religion,

in

he became,
affections,

inclined to dissolute

more

as

courses,

She, twenty years old

his consort.

he

at

the time of this second

inclined to extravagance,
was
marriage,
far higher than her husband's,and
her intelligence
was
which
she largely
all energy and resolution,
character was

but
her

transmitted to her

son.

from
and failings
qualities
Personal
sources.
braveryhad long been conspicuous
many
the Bourbons, and
had also proved a distinguishing
among
Henri
the maternal side
trait of the Prince's grandfather
on
The
(II)d'Albret,King of Navarre.
tinged
literary
faculty,

Henri, however, inherited

his

"

with

poetry and

romance,

which

asserted itself

so

often in his

only from his parents,but

the
from his grandmother,
also,and more
perhaps,
particularly
esse,
Margueriteof the Heptameron,Le Myrouer de TAme pecker
and
de la Marguerite,
Les Marguerites
La Coche,
fugitive
many
pieces.Through her, too, Henri was a Valois,and therefore
deficient in a
not
sort of diplomaticrouerie.
However,
brother,Francis I, had been the most chivalrous
Marguerite's
was
correspondence,

Prince, and
and

likewise

derived

one

not

of

the

those traits displayed

themselves
side of

amorous

Valois

sources,

Henri's

for both

nature

amusing anecdote
(Tale66).
An

was

in her
not

his

grandson.
derived

father,Antoine
II of Navarre, were

Henri
grandfather,
carnal passions.Briefly,
the
his

dissolute,of his times,

most

of their

houses

of

de

But

the

from
solely

Bourbon, and
of

men

strong

Valois,Bourbon, and

honeymoon tour figuresin

the

Heptameron

FAVOURITES
also that

Albret, and
Gastons

and

HENRY

OP

have

we

Phoebuses

She

had

and disputatious
superb,
daring,
to produce the
Foix,* combined
the Prince to whom,
distinguished

of

d'Albret

said,Jeanne

winter of 1553.

NAVARRE

of the

and failings
which
qualities
as

OF

birth at Pau

gave

in the

repairedthither
Navarre
previously

her

at

father's
had

request.

Some

been

conqueredby
Ferdinand
the Catholic,and annexed to Spain,and although
the Albrets stillcalled themselves Kings of Navarre, theyonly
and the
of Ream, a part of Bigorre,
governedthe principality
county of Foix on the French side of the Pyrenees. Pau and
fortyyears

Nerac

were

proper

residences,the chateau

their usual

the

of

former

enlargedand embellished by
locality
havingbeen considerably
Henri d'Albret and his consort
Marguerited'Angouleme. It
is not
Jeanne
of this chateau
quite certain in what room
d'Albret gave birth to her
the

apartment

Navarre

on

became
most

the

known

firstfloor,a
as

accredited

the

"

d'Henri

The

cradle,fashioned

child's

IV,"

the

Kings

of

de

l'Empereur

but

the

called the
second -floor room,
of the accouchement.
the scene

that

"Chambre

of

times,
which, in Napoleonic

room

Chambre

opinionis

authorities believe that

bed-chamber

old

the

was

Some

son.

was

out

of the carapace

of

is
tortoise,

stillpreserved
there.

hardy,whatever his faults may

have
desire that
his daughtera particular
she should not presenthim with
child,"
any "glum and tearful grandand in order that such might not prove the case, he
promised,says Favyn'sold narrative,to give her both a will
he had made
in her favour and a gold chain long enough to
encircle her neck five-and-twenty
times, providedshe would
Henri

d'Albret,brave
been, expressedto

with

Catherine
Jean

f He

de

d'Albret
was

her

Foix, the

and

last heiress of that

house, was

by

her

the great grandmother of Henri IV.

second
The first,third,and fourth,Henri
son.

marriage
Duke

de

Beaumont, Louis Charles Count de La Marche, and another Charles, all died
those four
Besides
infancy,the two former from the effects of accidents.
on
birth, in Paris, to a daughter,
sons,
February 7, 1558, Jeanne
gave
who
reared
in
the
was
Catherine,
Huguenot faith and, unlike her brother
Henri, never
departed from it. On January 30, 1599, she espoused Henri de
Lorraine,Duke de Bar, and died at Nancy on February 13, 1604. She will

in

be

referred
occasionally

to in

our

narrative.

INTRODUCTION

air when

Favyn

that the brave Princess Jeanne

that

us

assures

the decisive moment

compliedwith
child while chantingthe
of the Bridge,*
a canticle

request,and

gave birth to her

local Canticle of Our Lady at the End
which

beo-an

follows

as

And

arrived.

sinjja Bearnese

"

"O

Nouste

"

deii cap deii poun,

hore !
a d'aquest'

Dame

Adyudat
Pregats aii Diu deii ceii,
Qu'em bouille bie'delioura leii!
D'un maynat qu'am hassie lou doun ;
haiit dous mounts
Tout d'inqu'aii
l'implore.
me

Adyudat
And

as

me

the child

good Henri, full of

the box

in which

into the

came

world, says Favyn,

"

the

delight,
placedthe gold chain
Princess,his daughter,and in her hand

indescribable

the neck of the

about

deii cap deii poun,

hore 1 " f
a d'aquest'

Dame

Nouste

his

was

will,sayingto

her

the

while,

'

These

to me.'
Whereupon,
; but this belongs
yours, my daughter
takingup the new-born babe in his long robes,he carried it to
are

his

Prince
the

he

chamber, where

own

world

the

into

came

little

This

to.

wailingor weeping,and

without

received

he

first sustenance

it attended

had

-was

from

the

hand

of

the

rubbed
who, takinga clove of garlic,
King, his grandfather,
sucked the juiceof that theriac of
which
it on his little lips,
Gascony; after which the King,takinghis goldcup, poured a
drop of wine into his mouth, and he swallowed it rightwell.
began to say,
Whereupon the good King, beingfull of delight,
in presence

chamber,

'

Little
which

took

Henri

him

was

to

was

So called from

an

real Bearnese

Court

ladies who
!'

in his

were

simpleand hardy manner,

of a vigorousconstitution,
though
earlyin his youth when his father

reared

threatened

recentlysucceeded
*

foundation

the

and

noblemen

wilt be

Thou

laid the

latter

the

of all the

of

in

France, where

his brother
oratorywhither

Francis
the

women

II.

Charles
The

of Pau

IX

had

lad did

not

repaired to

pray

happy accouchement.
at this present hour !
t " Our Lady at the end of the bridge,help me
t
deliver me
the
to
He
to
God
of Heaven, that
will be pleased
speedily
Pray
May He grant me the giftof a son ; all,to the very mountain-tops, implore
"
Our Lady at the end of the bridge,help me
Him.
at this present hour t

for

OF

FAVOURITES

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

grow up absolutelyhandsome, for he had the Valois

of Francis I and Marguerited'Angouleme,narrower,
and

also

longerand

his cheeks

red and

were

campaigningbronzed
when

he

was

the
lofty,

chin.

as

at

an

rest of the

looked

luminous, and
with

which
and

fascinated with

mouth,

his

in

Beneath

abundant

an

backward

and

broad

both

was

the well-formed
became

at times

softened

or

appealwhich

an

until

of health

the

young
but
deep-set,

as
expressive

as

lips

his

quite
fellow's

large,
ever

man

any

flashed
sparkledwith raillery,

turn

ardour,

But

degreethat periodscame

somewhat

eyes

"

that

"

however,

brushed
carelessly

was

the

liquideyes

courage

earlyage, the brow

longface taperingto

from

out

possessed,
eyes

blood

the

mulatto.

theirs.

derisive smile,which

sarcastic,
played round
nature

to such

them

hair,which

somewhat

than

glowed with

dark

as

crop of black wavy

and which whitened
and

beaklike

more

nose

into

very few

and

tenderness
could

women

resist.

happened,however, that his eyesightbegan to fail him

before he was
fiftyyears old, and although we think, no
spectacled
portraitof him exists,we know, by contemporary
to wear
writers,that he was compelled
glasses.

It

Quick
form
any
and

of

and

exercise,and

attention
even

vivacious

of

in his movements,

knew
scarcely

health,was
and was
cleanliness,
personal

was

troubled

the habitual
His
became
A

and

by

died
grandfather

that

in
irregular

in

Antoine

Antoine

went

over

to

extremely

was

of Pougues.

1555, whereuponJeanne
de

Bourbon, King

"

elements

his

before

conflict the struggle

between
great religious

Huguenot

every

paid little if

many
years
which
necessitated
digestive
complaints,

of the waters

use

Queen, and

wise

loved

careless of his attire

very
and
ate inordinately

meals, though at times he

fond of rich dishes, in such
he
elapsed

fatigue
; he

the laws of

to

Henri

in France
the Reformed

"

d1Albret

of

Navarre.

the

Catholic

impending. In 1558
which he subsequently
Religion,

was

at all
abjured.Jeanne, on the other hand, remained
was
mortally
events,outwardly a Catholic until her husband
wounded
of Rouen
in 1 562. After his death,assuming
at the siege
the entire government of her states,she,in her turn, espoused
the Huguenot faith,closed the Catholic convents, forbade
and prescribed
Catholic processions,
and gratuitous
compulsory
"

"

10

FAVOURITES

Huguenot.
in
to

anxious

was

the

the ceremony
that,directly

to her son,

and

"

there

would

have

you

ever

bride into

She

"

was.

remain

over,
"

accursed

but she has been bred in the most

corrupt company

world

was

is
[Marguerite]
Jeanne
passinggraceful,"

salutaryatmosphere of Beam.
beautiful and very intelligent
and
wrote

opposed

court
pestilential
women
so
shamelessly

"

the

duct
con-

that

"

"

to

to

not

was

where,"said she, the

and carry his young
the men,"

"
"

advances

match,

Paris

repairedto

should flee in all haste from

of the Louvre

NAVARRE

OF

for
part the negotiations

son

make

HENRY

d'Albret,who

Jeanne

it,but she

her

OF

there.

For

nought in this
is why I
That

desire you should marry, and that you and your wife should
withdraw from that corruption,
believed to be
which I already

great,and find to be greater still."

and
However, midst the negotiations
Jeanne
wedding,

d'Albret

old, and

it

surmised

about

means

by
of

one

earlydemise

was

of

some

for the
preparations
died. She was
onlyforty-four
years
that her death had been
brought
had
which
she
poisonedgloves,
chased
pur-

of the Italian purveyors

to the
due to pneumonia and
was
really

her death

weddingwhich

was

regardedas
about

an

evil

omen

Court

but her

ever,
pleurisy.Howin

respectto

the

to take

place.
way
then onlyhalfBoth in Beam
and in Paris,the bridegroom,
through his twentieth year, had alreadygivenproofof a
sensual nature, a predisposition
to
to sexual passionwhich was
last all his life. His destined bride,born May 14, 1553, and
thus his senior by some
seven
months, was ripefor marriage,*
of greatpowers of fascination,
tall,
superblybuilt,and possessed
half proud and half gentle. She had the
a
grace which was
was

black hair of her

father,Henri

II of

France,f

most

beautiful

tender languorouseyes,
brow, a dazzlingcomplexion,
snowy
and a small inviting
mouth, the nose, however, being somewhat

largeand fleshy.Withal, she

whom

young

was

beautiful

woman,

one

of

Prince,in all the ardour of youth,might well

Sir Francis
concerned, had
Walsingham was
attempt, in which
Sebastian
of
previouslybeen made to marry Marguerite to the ill-fated Dom
Portugal.
f Pair hair becoming the fashion,she ended by wearing fair wigs, and
to supply
kept several footmen whose long fair hair was cropped periodically
the material for the wigs in question.
*

An

INTRODUCTION

enamoured.

become

have

11

it is asserted that she had

But

attraction for Henri, and

particular
had some
for him, she
feeling
friendly

the

match

due

was

had

given to
already
and

de

Henri

no

love.
of Henries

cause

that

Henri

III.

historians have

Numerous

attachment, and

the

for
was

Lorraine,at firstPrince de Joinville

de Guise ; in a word the famous

murdered
at Blois in 1588, by the

"

heart

her

later Duke

Barricades

alleged

dislike
Marguerite's

circumstance

the

to

her side,though she

on

the
It is difficult to say what was
certain that
but it is virtually
coldness,

no

written

"

of the

King

order of

Kingthat
respecting

scandalous

famous

pamphlet,Le Divorce
Satyriqueasserts that,apart from Henri de Guise, Marguerite
had other favoured lovers priorto her marriage: for instance,
M. d'Entragues,*
M. de Charryof the King's
and the
bodyguard,
Prince de Martigues. She, in her memoirs, seeks to convey the
that her heart was never
impression
givento Guise ; but,reared
as

she had

been at

court

practice,
beingessential

where

dissimulation

was

habitual

an

dom
enjoymentof comparativefreeand often indeed for the preservation
she was
of one's life,
of those who, long before the days of Talleyrand,
held
one
one's thoughts.
speechto be a vehicle for disguising
enamoured
of her, and
Guise, for his part, was
certainly
Little more
than one-and-twenty
secretly
aspiredto her hand.
unscrupulous,
energetic,
years of age at this time, but daring,
with
handsome
masterful,
face,anxious brow, haughty glance,
sardonic laugh,and imperious
gestures,his hand ever ready to
for the

grasp the hilt of his sword,this ambitious scion of Lorraine

lived at the Court of France
trust.
encompassedby dislike and disCatherine

de'

Medici, who

his

foresaw

threatening

to the royalcrown,
strove to thwart
them; and
aspirations
the day when Guise allowed it to be seen
that he loved the
on
Princess Marguerite
and desired to wed her, he suddenlyfound
himself in such dangerthat to save
but pernot onlyhis liberty
haps

his life
strive to

as

well,he

conciliate

another
contracting
*

Not

Francois

Henri
d'Entragues,

Charles,called

"

de

had

Sovereignand
marriage,one with

Balzac

d'Entragues

Entragues"

"

wicked
and

also

who

and
pretensions
Queen-mother by

his

renounce

his

IV's so-called

le bel

to

the

Catherine

became

father

of

of Henriette

mistress," but his younger

M

Entraguet."

Cleves,

brother

12

FAVOURITES

widow

of Antoine
and

of

HENRY

OF

de

Croy, Prince

lady,who

amorous

in the space of
That

de

Porcien, a bold, diplomatic

became

wives,bearinghim, indeed,no

NAVARRE

OF

one

of the most

ful
fruit-

fewer than fourteen children

eighteenyears.

union

which

seemed

destined to separateGuise

from

Marguerite,tended in realityto bring them more

closely
for as a married man
he was allowed more
together,
opportunity
of approaching
the Princess than he had hitherto enjoyed. She
was
no
saint,though one may agree with one of her
certainly
latest biographers,
for
M. Merki, that her notorious reputation
unchastity,
comparableonly to that of Messalina, has been
due to the effusions of her avowed
enemies,pamphleteers
largely
and pasquinade-writers,
and
of them bigotedHuguenots
some
the Huguenot was
often a far greaterbigotthan the Catholic
while others were
of her husband,
more
partisans
particularly
whose zeal for him degenerated
men
at times into unscrupulousand mendacity.Nevertheless,Dupleix,the historian of
ness
household
Louis XIII, a writer who was
attached to Marguerite's
for some
seven
years, speaksopenlyof her liaison with
Guise even
before her marriage.
she
offered virtually
account
no
According to her own
"

"

resistance to

her

by his mother's
When
about

union

death became
de'

Catherine
this

other will

with

match

Medici
answered

she

first

spoke

that

she

to

could

Beam, who

Marguerite
have

no

but she begged her

(Catherine^),
mother
that
she was
remember
to
"extremely Catholic."
Further, she told M. de Meru that it would greatlydisplease
her to have to marry some
who was
not of the same
one
religion
herself. Apart,however, from expressing
those conscientious
as
she indicates in her memoirs
that she soon
resigned
scruples,
with evident pleasure
herself to the alliance,
and expatiates
on
the
the regalsplendour
of her attire at the wedding, and
extreme

pomp

There
in the
of

or

choice than

of

the young
Prince
King of Navarre.

course,

the whole

well-known

church, Margueritehesitated

responding yes

Henri

marked

which

is,of

hers

"

to

be

we
articulate,

her
are

"

to

the

husband.

ceremony.

story to the effect that

the

moment
supreme
questionwhether she would take

She

at

remained

silent,unable

told,and Charles IX, roughlylayinghis

to

hand

INTRODUCTION

head,absolutely
compelledher

her

upon

13
to bow

That

civili di

at Venice
Francia, first published

born

was

to
subsequently

four years

In

page

mention

of any

1630

that

that is,

"

such incident

very

"

of

in his

the Church

near

relates. To
had

he

earlyteens,he
her

death.

standingis

any

Davila

as

event, of which

Medici, then

work

French

one, for
improbable
and
la
religious
scruples,
women
shrinkingnervous
a

de'

of Catherine

contemporary

no

in

Marguerite's
marriage. Davila,moreover,

after

onlyacquiredhearsayknowledge when,
became

of

in Davila's Storia delle Guerre

tale will be found

assent.

fifty-eight
years

it in token

it

us

quietedthe

there
seems

bride's

"

Reine

Margot was not one of those

the thought of matrimony

whom

upsets.
It

was

on

celebrated.
had

were
August 18, 1572, that those fatal nuptials
of numerous
In spite
warningsthe Huguenot lords

occasion.

flocked to Paris for the

and

Bartholomew;

St.

Henri
and

of his friends

generalmassacre

escapeddeath, and

Henri
*

Conde

of the

massacre.

but that

keen

not

was

so

that

as

did his

Henri

came

King
marriage portion,

wrote
as

days later
young

ment.
weddingentertain-

cousin,the Prince de

the fault of the actual

Although
to take

constrained
with

death

offered his mother's

was

the

Perefixe

thus

Five

de Guise

had

perpetrators

been

virtually

wife two

jealousythe

he had beheld
years previously,
marriage of the King of Navarre

and

Marguerite de Valois. Moreover, the death of Conde

would
he coveted,
have brought him nearer
to the throne
leaving,
apart from the reigningmonarch, only the latter's
and Anjou * (fromneither of whom
brothers Alencon
surviving
between
him and
at that date was
even
offspring
anticipated)
the objectof his ambition.
But though Catherine de' Medici
to
willing

was

Guise

use

as

an

instrument

she

trusted
deeplydis-

him, and if Henri de Navarre and Conde were

spared
and
Guise's enemies
obstacles
it was precisely
because they were
in his way, men
who, in the fullness of time,might stand between
him

and

the Crown

It has

been

Henri

Afterwards

I, son

of France.

asserted that the young

of Louis

Henri

III.

King

of Navarre

I.

RespectingAlencon

see

post,footnote

p. 19.

was

OF

FAVOURITES

14

saved

murder

abandoned
virtually
she had

own

She

resources.

could

do

had

nothing for

the

neither
husband

wedded
wish him well. Besides,
save
recently
great might be her natural courage, the circumstances

however
were

her

to

and
influence,

nor

power
whom

NAVARRE

by his wife. But that is quiteuntrue.

and the King her brother had kept her entirely
what was
impending,and on that terrible night
burst into the palaceof the Louvre, she was

ignorantof
when

OF

this occasion

on

mother

Her

HENRY

so

dreadful

so

for her

alarmed

that

she

became
what

safetyby

own

distracted
she

and

terrified,

witnessed

either

or

That is well shown

by her own narrative
experienced.
I saw
Nothing of all that was said to me," she writes.
in commotion, the Huguenotsin despair
ing
at the woundeverybody
and Messieurs de Guise whisperof the Admiral
[Coligny],*
ing
lest
others
should
in
fear
the
wish
to inflictjustice
together
them
for it. The
because
on
Huguenots held me in suspicion
the Catholics because I had espousedthe
I was
a Catholic,and
King of Navarre who was a Huguenot. In such wise that
nobody said anythingto me until the evening,when, being
:

"

"

the concher of the

Queen, my mother, and seated on

chest near
looked very sad, the
a
my sister of Lorraine,who
Queen, my mother, perceivedme, and bade me go to bed. As

presentat

her my sister took me

into tears and saying
to
bursting

to
courtesying

was

stoppedme,
do
sister,
"

That

go !

not

called

my

discovered

'

Mori

Dieu,

The

sister to

her
with
her, forbidding
angry
sister replied
to her that there
sacrificelike

me

and

arm

'

greatlyfrightenedme.

it, and
perceived

the

by

to
was

Queen, my mother,
her, and became
very

tell
no

anything. My

me

reason

to send

me

to

the Huguenots]
that,and that doubtless if they[i.e.

anythingtheywould
mother, repliedthat

avenge
if it

themselves

on

me.

The

pleasedGod I should
harm ; but that whatever
to no
come
might happen,I must
go, for fear lest they might suspect something,which would
preventit havingeffect.
Queen, my

"

I
He

saw

had been

fired at him

named

that

from

Maurevers.

but
disputing,

theywere

severelywounded
a

window

as

so

in the forearm

he left the Louvre

by
by

did not
a
a

shot from

understand
an

arquebuse
Chiisas,

partisanof the

INTRODUCTION

bed.

Queen again roughlybade

The

their words.

15
me

go

away

to

tears, said

good-nightto me
and I went away quiteoverwithout daringto say aught else,
come,
distracted,without being able to imagine what there
in my closet I began
I was
mightbe for me to fear. Directly
Him
that it might please
to take me
under His
to pray God
and that He would keep me, but Avithout knowing
protection,
from what or from whom.
Thereupon the King, my husband,
My sister,burstinginto

who

had

which

bed

got into

did,and

found

for

yet know,

daysthat I had been married.

Throughout the nightthey did
M

which
that
for

had
as

soon

befallen

to

bed,

or
by thirty
forty
it was
onlyvery few

but talk of the accident

[Coligny],
resolving
would
ask
the King
daylight
they

be

justice
againstMonsieur

for

come

TAmiral

Monsieur

it should

as

to

me

his bed surrounded

I did not

Huguenots,whom

word

sent

de

Guise

and

that if it

were

not

done

they would do it themselves. I, for my part,had always

sister's tears, and could
in my
heart [the recollection of]my
into which
she had
of the apprehension
not sleepby reason
thrown
The
I knew not.
nightwent by
me, though of what
in that fashion without my closing
At daybreakthe
my eyes.
King, my husband, said that he would go to play at tennis
until King Charles should awaken, resolving
that he would
then immediately
ask him for justice.He
quittedthe room
and all his gentlemen likewise. I, seeing
that it was
daylight,
and believing
that the dangerof which my sister had spoken
told my nurse
to fasten
was
too, by sleepiness,
past,overcome,
the door so that I might sleepat my ease.
fast asleep,
An hour later,while I was
there comes
a man
and battering
the door and crying Navarre ! Navarre!1
kicking
the King, my
husband, ran
My nurse, thinkingthat it
to the door,and openedit for him.
It was a gentleman
quickly
named
Monsieur
de Lezan, who had [received]
sword thrust
a
"

was

in the
even

after

bed.

elbow,and a cut with a halberd on the arm, and was

into my room
yet pursuedby four archers,who all came
him.
He, wishingto protecthimself,flunghimself on my

myselfheld by
Feeling

ruelle*

and

he
*

after me,
The

this

still

space between

man,

myselfinto the
round the body.

I threw

holdingme

the bed and the wall.

there

insult

to

this

know

I did not

or

me,

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

16

archers

the

whether

both cried out, and

could not tell if he

and

man,

NAVARRE
had

come

after him

were

or

much

the one
frightened
God that Monsieur
de Nancay,
At last it pleased
the other.
as
Captainof the Guards, should come; and he, findingme in
some
that state, could not help laughingalthough he had
with
archers
for their
the
compassion;for becoming angry
them
the lifeof
indiscretion he made
go out, and grantedme
I caused to be
who
was
the poor man
holdingme, and whom
put to bed and nursed in my closet until he was quitehealed.
And when I had changed my chemise,because he had covered
de Nancay told me
with blood, Monsieur
what was
all over
me
happening,and assured me that the King,my husband, was in
the King's [Charles's]
chamber, and that he would have no
We

me.

as

were

hurt.
A

"

to

me

of my
dead than

the

arrived

room

more

being thrown

de nuit

manteau

from
Bourse, while fleeing

piercedby
I

fell

on

the

point of

the

other

he then

me,

took

Madame
de Lorraine,where I
sister,
the antealive,and where, on entering
room,

of which

all the doors

over

gentleman named
pursued him, was

were

open, a
archers who

some

halberd

three steps away from

in the arms
side, almost fainting
a

me.

of

Nancay,and fancyingthat the thrust had pierced

both.
I entered the littleroom
us
Having recovered slightly,
where my sister slept.While
I was there Monsieur de Miossens,
firstgentlemanto the King, my husband,* and Armagnac, his
de

Monsieur

first

came
valet-de-chambre,

their lives. I went

save

and the
[Charles]

there,seekingme

and fellon

Queen, my

to

beg

knees before the

my

mother,to

me

to

King

beg those lives of them,

which at last theygrantedme.f"

the

From

foregoingit will be
Had
savingher husband.

hand in
so

seen

that

Margueritehad

no

she taken any part in doinoshe would not have failed to chronicle it.
There

is

occasion for

no

to review

us

and the horrors of the St. Bartholomew

*

Henri,

Baron

de

the representativeof

t In

the

above

Miossens,was
junior branch

translation

slightly
modernised,but

some

the full sense

lengththe
All

massacre.

kinsman

of the House
of

at

of Henri

of

causes

massacres

Navarre,being

of Albret.

Marguerite's phraseologyhas been

has been preserved.
original

of the

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

18

well as La Rochefoucauld,La
as
Colignyto be spared,
Noue, and Teligny. But that was not to be ; for if the Guises

wished

the way,
it was

by

of the

the chief instruments

became

they received

in Paris

massacre

the greatesthelp from

the

(where,
pality),
munici-

of despatching
to have an
opportunity
precisely
of filialvengeance.
the Admiral in a spirit
as
Henri de Navarre and the Prince de Conde were
spared,
mortified at
said. Guise,who was
have already
particularly
we
findingthe former escape, thereuponsought another mode of
and
the recent
wished
He
marriage of Henri
revenge.
with Catherine
Margueriteto be annulled,and so far prevailed
de"1Medici that she spoketo her daughteron the subject,
saying
that she would

have

her

"

satisfied with her husband.

not

memoirs, answered

that

"

unmarried

she

if,as

she

woman,

were

Marguerite,accordingto

did

know

not

what

her

her

mother

In any case, she adds,since she had been married to

she intended to remain with him, for she suspected
that

meant.

Henri

if the others wished to

part her

from

him

it

to do

was

him

an

whom
we
quoted,also asserts : I
previously
Dupleix,
often heard Queen Margueritedeclare that after she had given
her affection to the King of Navarre, the Queen-mother spoke
de Guise again,to which advice,
to her of lovingthe Duke
however, she would not listen,
sayingfranklythat her heart was
ill turn.

"

of wax.1'

not

By

her adroitness and

good sense,

veiled with

an

affectationof

naivete, Margueritesaved the situation. The idea of annulling

her marriage was
the other hand, at the
abandoned.
On
moment

of the

massacre

Henri

de Navarre

and

Conde

had

to

that is,choose between death and the

grim alternative,
renunciation of the religion
which theypractised.Charles IX
declared that he well knew what their choice would
insultingly
be. Conde
respondedby a timid,and Henri by a careless,
abjuration.Life (likeParis in after years)was well worth a
face

mass.

most

the young
Nevertheless,

equivocalsituation.

The

Princes

found

themselves

in

Charles kept them

suspicious

he doubted
watched,for,insincere as he ever was himself,
strictly
their sincerity.
also by the Huguenots,the
They were suspected
blamed them for recoiling
austere of whom
more
from martyrdom,
while the more
demanded the fulfilmentof
ones
impatient

19

INTRODUCTION

promiseto

sworn

Maurevers1

Many
of

after
which theyhad signed
Coligny,

avenge

attempt on him.
would

men

lost their heads amidst

have

and inclinations.
duties,
requirements

who

had

Valois

inclination to

blood

in

rouerie, had

boyhood,and againof
dissimulation which

thus

lived at

not

clash

Henri de Navarre,

But

his veins and

such

natural

some

the

in

Louvre

his

all the
times,without observing

recent

He attuned
at the Court.
practised
which
his nature to the prevailing
custom, he took the course
have taken when they have been suspected
or
many great men
misunderstood, and have been meditating some
important
designfor which the time has not yet been ripe. And the
attitude he adoptedwas
the wisest one
under the circumstances.
He affected completeindifference in regard
to all political
affairs,
and became
of pleasure,
a
a mere
frivolous,
jestingman
jovial,
quenting
princeof ribauds,hunting,playingtennis,making love,frewas

to middle-class
resorts,condescending

shadynocturnal

foul
entertainments,
falling

jokesupon wayfarers.In
Hal

in his earlieststage.

playedhis part so

He

side of his nature

one

watch, and playingpractical

word, he became FalstafFs Prince

of the

that littleor

well

doubtless because it appealed

to

"

folk soon

that the Court

"

began to

think

from this prince

dangerwas to be apprehended
who
seemed
quite destitute of ambition, and to prefera
bacchanalian frolic or the glanceof a pairof soft eyes to the
and
and the gloryof winning liberty
dangersof conspiring
independence.It was with contempt that the Catholic princes
and lords treated this little captiveKinglet,
at whom
they
were
for instance,
that his nose
ever
was
railing,
bigger
saying,
than his kingdom.

time

no

Francois,Duke

however, when

came,

the youngest brother of Charles IX, with whom

into disgraceand by whom
he was
detained
drew
Navarre) in semi-captivity,
and
*

offered to espouse the

even

He

was

the fourth

the title of Duke

who

created

Elizabeth.

him

son

of

d'Alencon
Duke

However

King

never

Huguenot
Henri

II.

He

became

married.

one

he had

the young

Born

fallen

(likeHenri

cause.

till after the accession

d'Anjou.
he

to

near

d'Alencon,*

March

They

de

Bearnese,
therefore

18, 1554,he bore

of his brother

Henri

of the suitors of our

III

Queen

agreedupon
that

an

(who
crown

At

Paris.

their escape from

alreadycontracted

Alencon.

But

the former's wife

illness

the

saved

since become

had

who

and

massacre,

confided to

was

life she had

de Miossens,whose

by M.

Henri de Navarre

that their secret

it fell out

St. Bartholomew

the

of
designs

the

for
propitious

seemed

moment

had

resulted in his death,and his brother the Duke d'Anjou

him as Henri III) had left for Poland, the
succeeded
Thus
the
of that country having been offered him.

which

at

make

to

Charles IX

moment

and

attempt

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

20

Catholic.
Now

Marguerite,as

attached to Charles IX
Duke

she had also become

d"Anjou before his

the vortex
whom

she

of civil war.

conveyedby
than

most

was

her memoirs

writer

one

otherwise than
became

has

brother of

is,at all events, the impression

such

and it must

be mentioned

accused
deliberately

sistershould love

greatlyagitatedwhen

plungeinto

probablythe

was

dreaded

and

should

brother Alencon

Alencon

fond

reconciled to the

for Poland,*
departure

resultsif her
possible

the

much

mentioned, was
previously

was

her

of

that

more

loving him

brother.f In any

case

she

designsof her
husband
and brother Francois.
But
la raison de famille,
of her personal
to
coupled with a sense
King
obligations
and
sudden
desire
to
to
this
a
Charles,
profitby
opportunity
play an importantpart,one that might lead to her employment
in politics
from which,to her chagrin(forshe possessed
a
for
genuine instinct
government),she had hitherto been kept
apart,ended by prevailing.She therefore confided everything
to

her

them

mother

and

her

brother

promisethat Navarre
by her revelations.

she heard

and their liberty

became
foiled,

Early in the following

year,
another plot for ensuringthe
time,as Margueritewas not in
This
*
as

She

and

affair was
her husband

Charles after obtaining from

and
In

of the

Alencon

should

not

be prejudiced

the result their scheme

more

was

restricted.

there was, however,

1574 (n.s.),
and this
escape of the Princes,

the secret,she could not interfere.

the somewhat
in
mysterious
conspiracy
accompanied Anjou and the Queen-mother

as

far

Nancy.
f The

brother

same
charge has been brought against her with
Anjou,with whom, however,she had frequently
been

respect to her
embroiled.

INTRODUCTION

which two

21

of Francois d'Alencon's retainers,

La

Mole

and

the

de Coconas, were

Count

The Court was

then stayimplicated.
ing
at St. Germain, and it was
plannedthat a partyof Huguenot
and carry off both
troops should descend on that locality
and
Alencon
But
Navarre.
the design was
revealed to
Catherine de' Medici
(by La Mole himself,accordingto
and the Court hurried
to Vincennes
Marguerite),
on
away
the other side of Paris,King Charles,whose health was
coming
beand worse, beingcarried thither in a litter,
worse
while
Henri de Navarre and Alenpon were
conveyedby Catherine de'
Medici in her own
chariot,which was strongly
guarded.
for a time keptunder arrest at Vincennes,
Both princes
were
and
the same
punishment,says Marguerite,befell Marshal
and Marshal
de Montmorency,*
[Arthur]de Cosse [Brissac]
had been privyto the plotfor the escape.
who, it was alleged,
La Mole
and Coconas, for their part, perishedon
the
scaffold; and

in that connection

and

somewhat

was

one

innumerable
Marguerite's

to have been

appears
whose time

morning,and in
remainder

of the

one

day.

certain ladies of the

became
anecdotiers,
threatened and, on

On

account

certainly

Louvre, one

masses

1579,

or

Constable

t Not
for she

was

of Henri

who

IX, accordingto

Louis

the

de Guise.

It is further

the boon

was

of

account

on

companionof Coconas,
Marguerite's
intriguewith La

executed.
really

was

uncertain

Henri

I de

of France

whether

this

But

apart from

plicity
any comde Navarre

then

was

Montmorency,

who

Francois, created Marshal

became

Marshal

in

Coconas
1559,died
1566

and

in 1590.

Marguerite de Bourbon,
was

with

success

attempt to procure the escape of Henri

and Alenpon,the great chargeagainstLa Mole and
are

every

the Duchess

that he

We

Mole

beautyduringthe

in the

"

La

de Nevers,f who was

the mistress of
de Coconas,and Marguerite's
close friend,
persuaded

that it

Mole

of

romantic

jealousof him, and repeatedly

inordinately
occasion actually
to put him
one
attempted,

her to favour La Mole

and

He

Mole's

of La

Court, Charles

to death with the connivance

the Count

succession

at the altar of
worshipping

of the

allegedthat

lovers.

of the
lady-killers

spent in hearinga

was

refer to

must

story,accordingto which

gruesome

of

we

over

Gonzaga,who by

wife of Francis

of

Cleves,Duke

de Nevers,

years old ; but her daughter Henriette,wife of

marrying her became Duke de Nevers.
58

at their trial appears

about

death

the

of sorcery known
of a
be in possession

La

envoutement.

as

attemptingto bring
of that
IX
by means

ailingCharles

of the

NAVARRE

been that of

to have

form

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

22

Mole

found

was

to

image,allegedby his judgesto represent

the King, and he was
charged with prickingit in the
heart with pins,while repeating
incantations,with the object
La
Mole
of hasteningthe King's death.
repliedthat the
he loved
figuredid not representthe King, but a lady whom
wished

and

to

wax

marry,

that

and

it

the

was

work

of Cosmo

and that Ruggieri

Ruggieri,the Queen-mother's astrologer,
himself had prickedit twice in the
heart. The
astrologer
sentenced to the galleys,
was
havingconfirmed those assertions,
the
released by Catherine de' Medici, whereas
but was
speedily
and quardecapitated
tered
*
Mole
de
Place
Greve
La
the
on
on
April 30, 1574.
who is often
and according
to L'Estoille,
the firstto suffer,
was
and being fond
but not alwaystruthful,
having his prejudices
of effect and the mot de la Jin,the last words spokenby the
condemned
these :
man
were
May God and the Blessed Virgin
have mercy on my soul. Recommend
to the good graces
me
unfortunate

La

and

Mole

Coconas

were

"

of the

Queen of Navarre

Now

that

"

the

comes

and

the ladies.""

longallow the sorry

exposedto the view of

carried off their heads in their

Montmartre, and, after

interred

them

givenin Le
long wept
name

by

some

remains

not

lovers to be

the

with

Divorce

their

of
of

the Duchess

de

of their unfortunate

people; theythemselves
coach to the chapel
of St. Martin
bedewingthem with their tears,
hands."

own

SaUjriqne
; and

for the handsome

It is asserted

the

Mole

La

That

is the

Sauval adds that

whom

on

account

Marguerite

she

bestowed

fostered
Hyacinthe. But there arose a tradition,
and adopted by later-day
libellers,
Marguerite's

to the effect that she did

novelists,

but caused it to be embalmed

velvet

story.

those charitable ladies (Margueriteand

Nevers)did

below

the

strangestpart of

box, which

she

and

openedat

not

inter her lover's

keptit with

times in order that

gaze, through her tears,at the lineaments

she had so fondlycherished !
in one
Now, beyond chronicling
*

Now

Place

her in

head,

padded
she might
a

of the lover whom

brief line and

de l'Hotel de Yille.

without

one

23

INTRODUCTION

word of

the
sympathyand regret,

makes

she

and Coconas,

further allusion to either in her memoirs.

no

the

course

Mole

fate of La

storyof

head (inspiteof the

the embalmed

Of
of

case

is historically
ridiculous ; but althoughMarguerite's
Ralegh's)
dissimulation was great,and althoughone
cannot
expect from
is it confree acknowledgmentof an
ceivable
a
amour,
any woman
had
been Marguerite's
that if La Mole
lover,one
whom
she regretted
so
deeplythat she had interred his head
"

penned at least a
word expressive
of her pity for his untimelyend ? For
our
part,we hold that the legend of La Reine Margot and La
Mole is purelyand simplya fiction. At the same
time it is
that there was
some
possible
mystery in the affair,and that
with

La

her

Mole

hands," she would

own

and

at
alleged

Coconas

suffered for

have

not

different from

reasons

those

their condemnation.
far as the

reputedsorcery
of an
the apprehensions
was
concerned,was inflicted to allay
anxious and superstitious
King; while with regardto
ailing,
the plotfor the escape of Henri and Alencon, that punishment
It may

have

may
and

be that their

so
punishment,

been intended

as

lesson for the Princes

themselves

There
was
might feel inclined to abet them.
serious talk of bringingthem to trial,
and they were
at least
interrogated
by Commissaries of the Parliament of Paris. It
at this juncturethat Marguerite(who,if one
was
adoptedthe
views of the anecdotiers would have been weeping for her dear
La

all who

Mole

and

of exertion)
came
incapable

by drawingup
document
banished
both

But
same

far

shows
from

her

clever memoir

that if she had

the

sphereof

shrewd adviser and

moment
won

firm and

on

his behalf.

help
That

alwaysbeen systematically
she might have proved
politics
not

skilful instrument.
this

helpwith the memoir was not everything.At

of losing
her reputedlover,
La Mole, she was

over

to

the

of her

cause

the effects of
Alencon,that fearing
to

to her husband's

them, she became

willingto

as
women.
disguised
dangerousfor them to go

The

escape,

to agree which

out

should go out

that is

on

husband
the

assist
scheme

and

her

so

brother

royalanger in regard
them in making their
failed because it

and they were

together,
first. In the midst

was

unable

of this

Sunday,May 30, 1574, Charles IX,

testation,
con-

who

had

not

of

subject
death
it

loss

great

be

her

d'Alencon,

friend.

In

had

confidence
to

whom

first

the

she

was

of

whom

of

we

at

least
That
de""

Catherine
must

place,

hitherto

attached.
creature

and

more

now

she

largely
a

be
in

friendly

Medici's,

speak.

to

was

the

certain

whatever

Franpois

and

by

of

work
Madame

of

ever
what-

husband

the
if

disposed,

lay

now

deprived
her

interested
dis-

most

life

agitated

his

France,

for

protector

placed

most

was

best
more

been

for

brother

her

for

the

While

Marguerite,

preference

the

at

upon

deliverance

sister

her

writers

tuberculosis.

degree

been

expired

year,

scientific

as

pulmonary

his

personal
had

off,

some

for

Charles

her.

before

in

certainly

was

might

by

recognize,

NAVARRE

OF

twenty-fourth

carried

Vincennes,

now

was

his

completed

yet

Chateau

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

24

tionately
affec-

not

woman,

de

Sauves,

II

DE

CHARLOTTE

The

beautiful
Henri

de

Du

Sauves

inspires

her

Bussy
him

"

the

and

by

Henri

"

Aubigne,

Return

of

Guast

Du
Henri
last

and

de

Bussy

of

the

It

that

was

de

Henri

Bussy

d'Amboise

Alencon

and

"

de

Duke

first

Semblancay,

Viscount

de

of

age
of
as

the

robe,"

secretary

secretary
and,
Shrewd

Gabrielle
she

seventeen

to

soon

and

Simon
to

of his

to

She

again
becomes

de

de

King,

after

his

supple,

the

in

the

of

of
de

of

who

few

Savoy.
with

child

only

Baron

1550.

who

Seals,

to

Catherine

of
de

Carte, by his

La

the

who

ficed
sacri-

became

the

At

Languedocian

1567,

the

marriage

in

Sauves,

meets

famous

of

Ghost,

born

was

secretary

marriage
of

Lord

wife

Keeper

his

of

Louise

Holy

and

Sades,

later

one

the

Beaune,

the

Fizes, Baron

Bertrand,

the

of

Tours,

became
de

de

"

Navarre.

Francis

mother

"

Henri

join

and
Henri

whom

after

Charlotte

Valois.

Knight

with

Advice

mistress

Beaune,

marriage

"

great granddaughter

de

Jacques

Sauves

Paris

Assassinations

Noirmoutier

Semblancay,

man's

Navarre's
de

de

Her

"

vengeance

unfortunate

Marguerite

de

Mme.

"

Exhorted

from

to

The

from

Alencon

Flight

Court

rite's
MargueKupture

Sauves"

Permission
to

Marquis

Guise

finances

and

greed

the

de

Henri's

"

of

of

Escape

and

assassinate

to

Temporary

"

"

refused

is

seeks

"

de

Infatuation

Dismissal

Charlotte

Escape

She

"

again

his

Mme.

Marguerite

"

history will readily remember

of

superintendent
to

the

with

on

and

Thorigny

Reconciliation

"

infatuated

marries

French

of

Readers

and

Navarre,

Mistress

Henri

Arrest

Alencon

de

"

Henri's

"

Alencon

Bussy

Goyon

resolves

under

Marguerite

de

again

Henri

and

and

III

Marguerite

Jealousy

together

draw

Alencon

and

with
Henri

alienate

to

Henri

"

towards

denounces

Guast

Gillone

Alencon

Enmity

between

Mission

Her

"

and

Alen"?on

Duel

Du

Marguerite

Louvre

and

"

confidante,
between

Du

of

d'Amboise
Navarre

Guast's

Navarre

Danger

"

Husband

Marguerite

from

Guast"

her

and

Sauves

Navarre

Favourite

for

de

Mme.

SAUVES

"

after

noble

acting

appointed

was

de'

Secretary

prepared

of

Medici,
State.
the

St.

OF

FAVOURITES

26

Bartholomew

HENRY
had

Sauves

massacre,

OF

NAVARRE

and
geniusfor intrigue,

that he did not condescend

to
politics
allot any time to keepinga watch upon his wife.
of the
one
was
She, young, beautiful,
witty and skilful,
admired
of that charmingbevy of ladies of the robes and
most
whom
Catherine de"1 Medici gatheredaround
maids of honour
her and employed to further her designs.Mezeray tells us,

wrapped

so

was

in

up

for her

absolute sway
lost a
of her that she never

over

an

of her charms

use

those who

because
her

he

which

the
considerable,

was

propertyhavingbeen revoked
de Sauves'

Mme.

son,

of

reasons

there

Moreover

wealth,

the

Semblancay
financier's

in favour of the famous

grandfather.

which

mission

The

that

control of her

confiscation

Catherine

entrusted

de' Medici

de Navarre, was to alienate him

his brother-in-law Alenpon, as the trio were

ladywith regardto
his wife and

love

perpetually
from the folly

aware

love affairs.

consolation in the fact that he had

was

was

cised
exer-

was

abstained

husband

much

dying for

were

admirer,but
single

If her
ones.
new
recruiting
of jealousy
it may have been
of State lay behind most of

as

Queen-mother,and

satisfaction as that of the

own

such

made

de Sauves

however, that Mme.

Henri

the

to

from

living

the Queen
intimacywhich disquieted
well
de Sauves acquittedherself wonderfully
Mme.
mother.
it was
of the dutyassigned
to her ; but, after all,
onlynecessary
on

close

footingof

make

she should

that

both

Princes

fall in love with

She turned her soft

achieved.
speedily
eyes upon them, and they became her slaves.
The Duke
ascended
d'Anjouhad no sooner

that

was

Henri

III than

directed

was

his enemies.

he associated himself

had

victories of Jarnac
such

been most

and

elegantcourage

himself to

Louis

the throne

as

follower who

Berenger

sarcastic

bent made

admired

him,

du

marked.

this

But after the

Henri

Moncontour, where

aud

Du Guast,*
self-seeking
*

tantalising

which
intrigue,
whom
he regardedas
jealously
againsttwo men
In Marguerite's
for
earlier years her predilection

her brother Henri

with

and

her, and

such

cold

he
ferocity,

became
speedily
who

his dme

in order to retain his

Guast, born about 1545.

him generallyodious. Brantome

His
was

bloody
displayed

surrendered

dainnee,the

ascendancy

pride,ambition,
one

and

of the few who

CHARLOTTE

ir

patron embroiled him

his

over

DE

SAUVES

with

many

Tt
of his friends and

Thus, being particularly

jealousof Marguerite's
became
her declared
Guast
influence with her brother, Du
relatives.

the Duke
d'Anjou with a
by inspiring
In the intrigue
of
animosityequal to his own.
the willinginstrument, Du
became
de Sauves

he ended

and

enemy,

jealousyand
which

Mine,

Guast

stood

second the

behind

his

master

scheme
perfidious
husband
embroiling

Henri

now

"

which

had

been

III

eager to
designedfor the

and wife, between

purpose of
of mutual tolerance had hitherto existed.
The

royal court

journeyedto Lyons
Poland

and

to

"

whom

the

meet

kind

new

Lyons Du Guast
himself
exerted
to bring about
Marguerite^ disgraceby
confined
was
a courtier who
accusingher of improperlyvisiting
refuted the
to his bed by illness. Marguerite victoriously
realising
accusation,and deeplyresented the affront. And
monarch

it

that

between

his return

on

from

part of the scheme

herself,her husband, and her
but

was

insisted that the latter should

on

oath

what

swear

to

at

to

stir up

brother
a

animosity

Alencon, she

compact

of eternal

time, however, well knowing that

de Sauves,she placedlittle
in love with Mme.
that device,for, as she remarked, what compact,

At
friendship.
they were both

reliance

the

could be

same

of any

of

avail in the presence

jealous

love ?
and therefore
Baffled,
not

more

hostile than

on
acknowledgehimself beaten,but prevailed

Sauves,who, it has been said,was

her

ever,

utmost

hastiness.

to

She

not

Guast

Du

did

Charlotte de

indifferent to him, to do

clumsy
repairthe mistake caused by his own
therefore broughtall her powers of fascination

Francois
de Navarre
and young
Henri
young
d'Alencon,fanningtheir passion
to fever-heat in such wise,says
to

bear

upon

Margueritein her memoirs, that their minds

absorbed by the thoughtof winning this woman.

entirely
they
of
jealousy

were
"

And

came," she adds," to such greatand such vehement

de
each other, that although Monsieur
de Guise, Monsieur
Souvray,Du Guast himself,and many others sought her and
were
preferred
by her to them, they gave that no heed, but
believed

."
in each other's rivalry
exclusively
Henri
Before long the artful siren Charlotte persuaded

de

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

28

nature, and
extremely
jealous
that he ought to distrust her in all things. Henri had hitherto
with Marguerite,
and frankly
even
acknowledging
spokenfreely
to
at which, according
to her his not infrequent
conjugalslips,
her own
account, she did not take offence, being in no wise
his contentment
and desiring
only." But the young
jealous,
each
almost ceased to speakto her. He repaired
King now
morning to the Queen-mother'slevee,where he met his mistress,
of her position
a lady
as
who attended the function by reason
of the robes,and he spent the rest of the day in her company,
to his wife very late at night.
onlyreturning
Marguerite tried every device, every stratagem,for the
of freeingher husband
and her brother from this
purpose
and could not
under the spell
entanglement,but they were
born
resist the fascinations of the sprightly
A
Charlotte.
coquette,ever with a crowd of adorers in her train,she skilfully
playedoff one againstthe other. There were times when she
irritated Henri's passionby feigning
for Alencon,
a
preference
and others when
she treated the latter contemptuously
in
that his wife

Navarre

of

was

an

"

Henri's
became

And

presence.
so

great that

the

it seemed

could only be
aspirations
occasion that almost

tension

between

at last

if their claims and

as

settled sword

occurred,as

is related

rivals

the two

in

by

hand.
Mathieu

On

one

eveningwhen the Duke d*Alencon was with Madame

de Sauves, the King of Navarre
devised a trick worthy of a
a
page, wherebythe Duke, when he withdrew,received so severe
knock that one of his eyes was quitebruised. On the following
the King of Navarre
morning,directly
him, though
perceived
he was
stillat some
he exclaimed : Why, mon
Dieu,
distance,
"

One

'

what is the matter

an

accident !

you !

'

'

the Duke

'

with
It is

your

nothing,very

retorted

eye indeed ! what

littlesuffices to astonish

eye ? What

brusquely.But

an

the other continued

pityinghim, whereuponthe Duke drew near, and pretendingto

If
laugh though he was really
piqued,whisperedin his ear:
'

anybodysays that I got it where you think I did,I will make

him deny it.' Thereupon Souvray and Du
Guast
had
to
intervene to prevent them from fighting."It is probable
that
had any such occasion arisen
would have been
againpacification
impossible.

DE

CHARLOTTE

ii

Henri

Whilst
lend

that

to

ear

his wife,she began to

neglecting
the
swordsman
and splendid
daring wooer
"

Louis

"

d'Amboise, Lord
Bussy d'Amboise,or simplyas

he found himself

in which

war

of

de Clermont

Bussy,commonly known as
brave Bussy. That doughty knight,
so
every

29

thus

was

of his age

foremost

SAUVES

"

the

generous in
it is thus that Bran tome
valiant and

active part in the St. Bartholomew

in Poland
with the new
and, after sojourning
King,
massacre,
the
Duke
to
and
himself
attached
had lately
quittedhis service
d'Alencon,
esteem

and

had taken

him"

of
speaks

his valour

as

would

Bussy,it

Alencon

"he was
held in high
Marguerite,
deserved."
They were every day together,

by whom,"

"

an

says

seem,

all his retainers

gave

much

Margueriteas

as

"

the

of

aware

to honour

instructions which
and

serve

his sister

by them
they did himself,"profited

to

pay his attentions to her.

This

to the

came

knowledgeof

Du

Guast,who, stillbent

on

doing Margueriteall the harm he could we think it possible

his addresses at some
earlier period,
that she may have rejected
due to that cause
and that his enmity may have been partly
soughtout Henri de Navarre and told him that Bussy was his
"

"

wife's

lover.

favoured

Navarre

indifferent

either

was

or

incredulous,the point is not quiteclear,but in either case

he took no action,whereupon Du
Guast addressed himself to
his

master, Henri

own

on
him, partly

listen to

latter was

The

III.
account

quite readyto

of the dislike for the Navarre

had

him, and
inspired
previously
with Bussyd'Amboise
displeased
partlybecause he was extremely
his service and entering
that of his brother Alencon.
for quitting
view of that matter and the sentiments with which
Marguerite's
she regarded
Bussy are franklydisclosed in a passage of her
of M. de Bussy
memoirs, in which she says that the acquisition
increased my brother's gloryas much as it did the envy of our
enemies, for in that century there was
nobody of Bussy'ssex
and rank at all comparableto him in valour,reputation,
grace
menage

with

which

Du

Guast

"

and wit."
It

then,that Henri
follows,

de* Medici
be

againstMargueritein

again rebuked

Catherine

III tried to inflame Catherine

had

no

in much
desire to

the

order

same

make

that

way
a

as

second

the latter
at

might
Lyons. But

mistake,and

as,

to all outward

illustratesso

which

the times.

and

one

He, Du

nighthe

one

or

ambush

of
the wild,unscrupulous
manners
vividly
the Sardinian regiment,
Guast, commanded

assembled

another

Guast, and it
for Bussy d'Amboise,

enragedDu
attempt fairly

into six detachments

them

to intervene.

that he laid that famous

then

was

semblance,the relations of Bussyand Marguerite

failure of this

The

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

she refused
irreproachable,

were

for

OF

FAVOURITES

30

reason

three hundred
led

nine

by

also

were

or

of his men,
ten

divided

courtiers,who

desirous of

punishing

Bussy,and postedthem here and there for the purpose of

In the narratives of Brantome
waylayingthe greatswordsman.
beaux,
torches and flamand Marguerite
you read how, extinguishing
a
chargeddown upon Bussy
troop of those spadassins
them though
he bravelyfacingand resisting
and his friends,
in a sling a slingformed of a scarf of
his right arm
was
him.
One of his supcolumbine
hue, which served to identify
porters,
"

who

had been wounded

like himself in

some

encounter

in a slingof similar
also carried his arm
dayspreviously,
"for it
colour,"though it was very different,"
says Marguerite,
less
not enriched [embroidered
was
?] like his master's."" Neverthethe wearer
mistaken for Bussy himself,and promptly
was
a

few

and killed. However, one of the Duke d'Alencon's

wounded
hastened
Italian retainers,
at the outset of the fray,
struck down

to
on

the Louvre, and, while the blood drippedfrom his injuries

raised a loud cry of alarm.
The slumbering
to the palace
steps,

awoke,all became
palacesuddenly
the Duke

d'Alencon

was

bustle and

confusion,and

eager to rush to his friend's assistance.

her arms
bidding
about him, and a stern for-

Margueritethrew
glancefrom Catherine de' Medici arrested his steps.
As it happened the help of Alencon
not needed.
was
Bussy
reached his residence,
and at once
sent word to reassure
safely
his friends. In fact,at daybreak,
againdefyinghis enemies,
he boldlycame
he presentedhimself,
to the Louvre, where
lookingas gay, as unconcerned, as if that attempt on his life
had been a mere
pleasure
joust."
Once more
foiled in his designs,
Du Guast began to meditate
other plans,
and the situation becomingquiteperilous,
Alencon
and Marguerite
at last prevailed
on
Bussy to quitthe court for
a time.
and dangersto which both
Further,the persecutions
But

"

FAVOURITES

32

more

Guast

Du

that

him

threatened.
that theywere
acutely,
very seriously
at court, and it was
had become all powerful
through
theyhad to solicit the favours which were so often

and

more

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

Moreover, nobody could attach himself

refused them.

to their

incurringenmity and persecution.Thus the

with the objectof supporting
two Princes againdrew together
There was, in fact,a
their freedom.
each other,and regaining
to Margueritehis
generalreconciliation. Alencon expressed
should again live on
desire that she and her husband
good
which
had
terms, and asked her to forgetevery annoyance
service without

his
his side,expressed

occurred; while Henri, on

if he
was

allowed himself to

had

he

now,

said,resolved

be

drawn

from

away

to love her and

to

deep regret
He

her.

her
please

better.

beggedme," writes Marguerite, to love him on my

side,and to helphim in his affairs in his absence."
before
Earlyon the eveningof September15, 1575, shortly
And

"

Henri

he

"

III

down

a
supper, Alencon, having put on
retainer's cloak and muffled himself up to the nose, quitted
with a single
the Louvre
servant, and managed to reach the

sat

Gate

St. Honore
the

gate he
with

coach
a

the

spot

then
and

found

lady'scoach

where

he

he issued

which

found

to

another

manifesto

and

horses

horsemen

Dreux,

waiting.
between

joined him,

of

one

the

this

In

leagueto

where
meeting-place,

o'clock in the

ten

borrowed.

quarter of

men

devoted

arrived at
about

some

had

he

travelled about

he

on

at

III

being recognised.Outside
robe,
Seymer (Seymour?)the master of his ward-

three hundred

escorted

his

of Paris without

Duke

rode

to

towns

morning.

two

and

of
From

He

thus

his

panage,
apDreux

his conduct,and setting

forth
justifying

pretensions.

Surprise,
anger

and alarm in turn

when, at about

nine o'clock

his brother's

was
disappearance

officersto mount

on

the

of Henri
possession
of September
15,
evening

at last discovered.

he wished

at once,

took

to

secure

He

Alencon

ordered
dead

or

alive. Then, growing calmer,he took advice,and conflicting

counsels led to much
loss of time, in such wise that the royal
officers only started in

morning when

the Duke

pursuitof Alencon on
was
alreadyin safety.

Marguerite succumbed

to

the

emotions

the

of that

following
anxious

DE

CHARLOTTE

night.

seized hold of her and

Fever

33

SAUVES
attack of

an

erysipelas

enough her husband was not there to

supervened.Curiously
divided between his own
comfort her. Henri's thoughtswere
he had so recently
contemplated
escape and the mistress whom
He hoped that he would not have to
promisedto renounce.
reside much longer
at the Louvre, but whilst he remained there
he was
much time as he could to the fair
intent on devoting
as
On that occasion,then, he onlyreturned
Charlotte de Sauves.
to his wife at two o'clock in the morning,and she,in the grasp
of fever in her own
bed, did not hear him enter. Early the
of his wife's
following
morning,knowing nothing,apparently,
he hurried off to the
and not deigningto inquire,
condition,
Queen-mother'slevee,all

eagerness

bewitched him

more

once

that incident

on

shall have

althoughwe

hereafter to show Henri de Navarre

it must
light,

siren who

the

see

had

ments
comSad,indeed,are Marguerite's

and

to

under

far

be confessed that he often cuts

more
a

occasion

favourable

sorry

figurein

his relations with his wife.

In

respectsa great changein his conduct

some

impending. The
Hal

was

times

at hand

were

at last about

was

now

this careless Prince

when

to cast off his cloak of indifference and

and live laborious days,without,however, entirely

supineness,
scorningdelights.Here let us turn to the pages in which
Agrippad'Aubignechronicles the circumstances which preceded
Henri's adventurous
Queen-mother
flightfrom Paris. The
now

had

had

Her son, Francois,

very strictwatch set upon him.
from his cage, but her son-in-law,
Henri, must not
escaped
a

be allowed to do likewise. Nevertheless she felt anxious

him, for

she divined to

both of mind

and of

body.

by his generous
pleasure.There were
conversation he

appointedto
bid

for

watch

which

well

who
d'Aubigne,

was

him.

nately
swayed alter-

side,was

on

eveninghe would plan a

morrow
give himself to

One
the

his

Catherine
"

tender

last,however, a
one

his

the least favourable of those who

the shrewd

At

on

when, by his courtesyand agreeable

times

knowingthat

sex.

He,

vigourand dexterity

and ambitious instinctsand his taste for

over

freedom,but

amourette

for her

won

his

extent

some

about

of his

de' Medici
"

spot

time

came

gentlemenof

his

was

when

the

had

were

bold
some

gated,
insti-

partiality
Agrippa

chamber,and
D

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

34

NAVARRE

ll

both of whom
were
Armagnac, his first valet-de-chambre,*
frank,outspokenmen, heard him sighingin bed and repeating
hast put
Thou
that verse
of the 88 th Psalm, which
runs
:
"

acquaintancefar

mine

away

abomination

them

unto

from

me;

thou

hast made

me

an

forth."
shut up, and I cannot come
and Armagnac combine ; theyprofit
by

am

Thereupon Aubigne
opportunityto speak out

threaten
to
they even
boldly,
abandon their master if he persists
any longerin self-surrender
and inaction.
asks Aubigne, that the
Is it true, then, sir,"
of God stillworks and abides in you ?
You
sighto God
Spirit
the

"

"

on

and

of your friends and faithful servants,

time they,all of them, are
sighingon account

of the absence

account
at the

same

of yours, and workingfor your freedom.

But you have
in your eyes, and they have weapons in their hands.

fighting
your enemies,but
them

you

are

them.
serving
courtingthem

but you are

fears,
They only fear God, but you fear
with real

joinyour

hands when

horseback,you

on

are

your
on

woman

onlytears
They are
They are filling
with falsehopes.

,f before whom

friends clench their fists.

your

knees.

They

you
are

There, sir,is the chief

of those who

guarded your cradle and who do not take

much
in serving
under the auspices
whose altars
of one
pleasure
the reverse
of theirs. In what spirit
are
of giddy thoughtlessness
have you elected to be a varlet here instead of being the
master
yonder,the scorn of those who are scorned,where you
one

should

be the firstof all those

who

are

feared ?

Are

you not
able
allow-

if,indeed,hidingwere
hidingbehind yourself,
for a princeborn as
? J
you were
Henri was
account
Accordingto Aubignes own
sparedno
: neither in regardto his jesting
with the ladies of
reproaches
the Court, or his deception
a delusive promiseof the
respecting
Lieutenancyof the Kingdom, a promise which had become a
standingjoke at the Louvre, or even the equivocalactions of
his wife,Marguerite,
whom
Aubigne detested,and who, on her
side,detested him in an equal degree. He portrayed her
weary

of

"

See ante, p. 16.

t Catherine de' Medici.
X The speech is too rhetorical to be authentic,but we think it
may well
of the reproaches and
represent the sense
which
exhortations
Aubigne

addressed to Henri.

DE

CHARLOTTE

ii

35

SAUVES

for
she betrayed
her brother to her husband, whom
preferring
his benefit,
Henri III also againsther husband, and
inciting
even
usingMme. de Sauves as her instrument a delusion of
which we do not share.
Aubigne's,
In any case
was
Henri, to use a colloquialism,
thoroughly
wound
his
of
his longthe
exhortations
friends
and
by
ing
;
up
"

"

"

to flee and

free himself became

been before.

intense than it had

more

malcontents,Guillaume
de Hautemer, Comte
de Fervacques,
and Jean de Beaumanoir,
de
him
confer
their services. To
Lavardin, offered
Marquis
ever

of the Court

Two

about

the plotters
drove
freely

more

coach

which

"

also at

closed

was

both sides." There

on

abode
Fervacques1

Catherine,"*where

one

that

retreat

theywould

be held out to

not

the streets of Paris in

the

adjacentto

and

all who

meeting

"Cousture

in the secret

were

fail whatever

or

was

inducement

Ste.
swore

might

would

prove enemies to the death of

whosoever might reveal the enterprise.
That oath havingbeen

them, and

taken,Henri de Navarre kissed each of his companionson the

cheek,and theyin return kissed his righthand.
Two

there

daysbefore

was

rumour

because he had not

the date fixed for the young King'sflight

It arose
at Court that he had disappeared.
at
slept

the Louvre

the

previous
night. On

hearingof the report,however,he hastened to the Sainte

where Henri III and his Queen were
Chapelle,
attendingmass,
and accosting
them gaily,
he exclaimed :
I have brought you
about whom
back the one
worried !
Then,
feeling
you were
the
his
with
1576
on
friends,
day agreedupon
February3,
the occasion theyhad chosen beinga projected
staghunt in the
forest of Senlis he repaired
in the firstinstance with Henri de
"

"

"

"

Guise

to the famous

presentMarche

fair of St.

St. Germain

Germain, held

in

on

the site of the

Paris,and the annual

opening

placethat morning. And he lavished all sorts of

attentions and marks of friendship
the Duke, begginghim to
on
to carry him off to
threatening
go huntingwith him and even
Senlis by force. It was
for the suspicious
skilful manoeuvre,
a
with a
Guise absolutely
refused to go. Thus Henri departed
of which

took

few of his friends and the two

*

That

is cultivated land

to the church

,*"

custodians who had been attached

gardens"belonging
(cultures)"
perhapsvegetable

of St. Catherine.

to his person

the

and

de St Martin

M.

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

36

Lieutenant

it

Spalungueof

royalguard.
of the escape

contemporaryaccounts

The

are

contradictory

regardto various details. It appears, however, that Henri,

from Paris on February3, spent most of the following
starting
time,
in the forest of Senlis. Meanin stag-hunting
day,Saturday,
remained behind in Paris,
Aubigne,who had momentarily
tion
who had also lingered
there,in consultaFervacques,
surprised
and
with Henri III. He immediately
treachery,
suspected
hastened to joinhis master
out with M. de Roquelaure
setting
in

before Henri

III

was

and
estafettes,

out

Aubigne

and

able to
close the

in the outskirts of

Navarre

narrative

never

citygates to
said to

Roquelaureare

Paris, send

all other

persons.

joinedHenri

have

Senlis,though the former

that

mentions

of

the Provost

warn

but says that

locality,
of Livry,that is,the

de

in his

the hunt

forest of
placein the direction
to Paris than Senlis. In any
Bondy,which is very much nearer
stillattended by St. Martin
case, however, the young King was
desired to despatch
whom
his partisans
and Spalungue,
; but he
decided to avail himself of them to delayany
more
prudently
St. Martin, he sent
deceiving
attemptsat pursuit.Completely

took

back

him
which

to

Paris with

he offered to return

enemies.

letter addressed
and

join him

so

Henri

to
as

III, in

to confound

his

he
it is said,in the outskirts of Senlis,
Then, still,

a desire to witness
soughta lodgingto take a rest,and feigned
in the
the performanceof some
strolling
playerswho were
he summoned
Spalungueand
neighbourhood. Somewhat later,
him also to Henri III with deceptive
succeeded in despatching
assurances.

St. Martin, for his

part,reached

the

Louvre

on

the King ;
morning and succeeded in quieting
following
after losinghis way in the neighbourhoodof
but Spalungue,
Catherine
St. Maur, onlyarrived in Paris in the afternoon.
de'*Medici was
then alreadysuspecting
the truth,but when at
the

couriers and

trooperswere at last sent forth to bar and

surround the roads,it was
de Navarre
too late : Henri
was
beyondtheir reach. He and his companionst made their way
sunset

This indicates that

they were

much

farther away

villageof Livry,mentioned
by Aubigne\
those
who attended him were
t Among

from

Paris

than is the

AubignS,Roquelaure,Lavardin,

CHARLOTTE

ii

DE

37

SAUVES

cold night.
through the forests duringthe dark and bitterly
At daybreakthey crossed the Seine at Poissy,
and after resting
awhile in a villagenear
Montfort-PAmaury,pushed on to
Chateauneuf, whence they proceededto Alencon, L'EstoihVs
that they made a detour by way of Vendome,
account
asserting
and that the King of Navarre, on crossing
the Loire, heaved a
and broke the silence which he had preserved
ever
greatsigh,""
since quittingSenlis by saying: "Praised
who
has
be God
delivered me ! My mother was
broughtto her death in Paris,
"

l'Amiral

Monsieur

also.

They
preservedme.

desire to

no

treat

there

I will return

all

me

no

best servants

our

better,but God

any

unless it be that I

more

dragged." Then, jestingin his usual fashion,he added :

regret but two thingswhich I left behind me in Paris,the

am
"

had

killed there,and

was

and

for the mass, I will strive

as
my wife. Nevertheless,
to do without it ; but as for my wife I cannot, and I will have

mass

her back."
little speech is but

That

with

Still Henri

which

mild

the anecdotiers

well have

may

whom

so
entreatingly,
greathad

the conduct
the bonds
throne
who

also of her

of France

husband,who

and

us.

his

to

was

the alarm

become

alone seemed

which

babiliti
impro-

the conduct of her brother

Queen-mother

the

the

wife,knowing how
become.
She, indeed,was

positionwould now
for everything
account
: for

Alencon, to

of

entertain
occasionally

thought of

difficult her
called to

example

to

be

despatched

of Henri

III

for

had likewise

ensure

any

also for the behaviour

escapedfrom
to the
stability
of Fervacques,

before orders for his execution

fleeing
could be issued. Infuriated by those humiliating
escapes, the
last of the Valois monarchs might well have treated his sister
with real cruelty,
had not his mother, Catherine,restrained him.
At last the King contented himself with setting
guards over
her husband
Margueritein order to preventher from following
or
however,
communicatingwith him. Several other retainers,
La

had

in

Fervacques, the last of whom

appears to have
Henri
III.
The point is
be
might
hanged by
attaches to the charge of treachery
doubt
great importance, but some
Aubigne bringsagainstFervacques. In any case, the King of Navarro

Vallette, Frontenac, and

joined him
of

succeeded

no

which

because

received

the

Marshal

of France.

he feared he

latter among

his

companions, and

in later years made

him

FAVOURITES

38

HENRY

OF

suffered severely
; and it seems

OF

that

NAVARRE

outrageousattempt was

an

seize,and possibly
murder, her former confidante,
GiJlone de Goyou, who, after her dismissal from the Louvre, had
found a home
with a cousin of hers,a M. de Chastellas,
residing
Guards
in the environs of Paris.
were
despatchedthere,the
made

to

house

was

and
pillaged,

carried off,when
who

were

was

of the Duke

two

the way

on

Gillone

to

horse,appearedupon

join him

the

on

the

point of being

d'Alencon's

with

chamberlains,

troop of

been
having luckily

scene,

hundred

two

by

met

an

servant, who had informed them of what was happening.

escaping
the kidnappers,
freed Mile, de
They immediately
dispersed
to
Goyon, and conveyed her and her cousin,M. dc Chastellas,
the Duke, their master, by whom
the refugeeswere
kindly
received.
reached his
During Marguerite's
captivityher husband
to him that it was
states,where several of his friends suggested
desirable for him

win

to

her

over

to

his

undoubtedlya very skilful woman.

Accordingto
Henri was
the more
herself,
easily
persuadedto do
now

He
he

far from
ended

the

between

snares

them

wife "a

very honest
forgetall differences which

so

he

as

was

Sauves.

in
letter,"

had

was

Marguerite

of the siren-like Charlotte de

by writinghis

asked her to

she

as

cause,

which
arisen

ever

and to believe that he desired to love her and to

than he had
prove it more
her to keep him informed

ever

done

before.

also desired

He

affairsin Paris,her
respecting

own

positionand Alencon's also. "I received that letter,"says

Marguerite,"while I was stilla captive. It gave me much
consolation and relief,
and although
the guards had orders not
to allow me
to write,I did not fail,
being aided by necessity,
which

is the mother

of

to forward him letters very

invention,

often."
At

the time when

Margueritewas

first placedin

custody,

she had

been informed,both by her mother and by Henri III,

that this was
done precisely
to prevent her from corresponding
with her husband and Alencon. Her retort had been that there
was

no

likelihood of
any

he had not

spokento

with
correspondence

her for

and
duringher illness,

longtime,had

her
not

husband, as

even

had gone off without so much

her farewell. Catherine de' Medici,however,like a

seen
as

woman

her

bidding
well

her husband

in order

the Princess

Flemings with
Spanishyoke.

view

that

while of this troublesome

go with
to Spa, to drink the waters

She

Alencon, who

her brother

Before

were

de la Roche-sur-Yon

for the benefit of her health.

with

both to prayers and

not to be moved ; but
and

let her leave the court

they agreed to

woman,

for

rid themselves

to

to

her life. Deaf

Catherine

III and

Henri

menaces,

of
peril

at the

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

40

herself in touch

there found

with the
negotiating
in throwing off* the

now

was

them
assisting

journey to Spa Margueritehad

had

Bussy d'Amboise, who

met

returned to Paris with Alencon

at

his

allegedthat

it is

and
pacification,

the time of the recent

again

helpedto console her for her husband's absence.

presence greatly
In any case, her enemy, Du
Guast, could no longer interfere
the night of
with any amorous
for at ten o'clock,
on
intrigue,
October 31, 1575, when

party of masked
his

did

as
"

men,

to death.
lackeys

the

so

many

crimes

in those

availed herself of
for ever.*

favourable chance

She

was,

the
instigated
Guillaume
masked

du

murder

of Du

real may

memoirs, for

With

that

Guast, he

must

need

while
of

Valois and

has

not

he had abilitiesas

be

well

not

of

the

be

specified.
Marguerite's

judgedexclusively
faults.

as

with Bussy d'Amboise,

regardto Marguerite's
intrigue

seems

The

of the

it
Briefly,

been

have

to

be better authenticated.

There

them.
It is said that Bussy sent
respecting
whose lives he sparedafter overcomingthem
*

out

Witteaux, the leader

add here that however

grievances
againstDu
her

de

which

us

of her times.

means

him

put

proved, that she

conclusively
of
the co-operation
Guast, securing

Prat, Baron

assassins,
by

to

be it remembered, both

woman
Medici,and essentially
a
been asserted,though never

by

called

days,was

judgmentof God
; but several historians have contended
the judgment was
her own.
She, doubtless,had good
and may have
to complain of Du
Guast's persecutions,

cause

Let

unpunished,
by Marguerite

crime,which remained

That

"

that

way

illin bed, he had been assassinated by a

of
who further stabbed his valet and one

murder

Henri

occurred,be

de Navarre

very watchful

was

enemy.

it

noted, six

stillin Paris.

weeks
It rid

are

her
in

tales
many
various men

duels,it being

after Alencon's

Henri, as

well

as

escape,

and

Marguerite,

those occasions for the

sufficienton
his

life in the

Brantome

that

assures

he

himself

recommend
touched

the

lady of

thank

he

love of her !

"

And

it

grandsCapitaines
certain CaptainPage,
to
inspired
thoughts. Suddenly

the other

world the most

universe,and

was

him
her

yourselfat
Bussy granted you
cast

Go,

feet,and
life for

your

when
provinces

of

no

great

his friend the

d'Alencon, having been

Duke

him
appointed

of

Governor

granted the duchy of Anjou,

region.
Angers and the surrounding

then that he became

was

Chambes, Lord

what

"

done,"adds Brantome.

was

duration,for he left Paris for the

de

beautiful Princess

with Bussy was

However, Marguerite's
intrigue

It

loved.

most

lady of his
heard, Bussy answered

her; and tell her that

*

he

ask

illustreset

the

to

through the

seek

then, and

whom

woman

despatchwhen

the words

by

to
adversary
vanquished

in this fashion with

about to

was

the

in his Hommes

us

Bussy behaved

whom

and

of

name

41

SAUVES

DE

CHARLOTTE

II

lover.

of the wife of Jean

The

of Montsoreau.

going on,

was

enamoured

resolved to wreak

IV

on
discovering
latter,
on

vengeance

his wife's

to give Bussy an
compelledthe unhappy woman
not at the chateau of Montsoreau, as is so often
assignation,

He

said,but at the
Allonne, a few

chateau

appointedspot,and

was

of Montsoreau

himself with the most

several of his
a

sword

were

whom
attacked by the men
speedily
had gatheredtogether. He defended
or
desperate
wounding
courage, killing

even
assailants,

left to

his weapons, and

four men,
until,at

as

towards

La

Brain-surCoutanciere,near
miles north of Saumur, for that castle also
On August 19, 1579, Bussy repaired
him.
to the

belongedto
the Lord

of

when

onlythe broken remnants of

him ; and then employingtables and stools
another three or
by that means
injuring
last overpoweredby numbers, he sprang

nail
window, when some
doubtlet,he hung there and was
a

fastening catching in his

or

despatchedwith repeated

thrusts.
Meantime

soughtout
the

the Duke
Mme.

de

d'Alencon

Sauves,with

best of terms, if

(now d'Anjou)had again

whom

he

judge by
may
memoirs, in which she describes a
Marguerite's

on

between
was

ever

we

her brothers Francois

and

to have

seems

been

of
passage
curious scene

Henri, the latter of whom

of plotting
and
apprehensive

rebellion

on

the other's

42

FAVOURITES

part.

On

he

this occasion
boxes

Alencon's

HENRY

OF

is

OF

found

and

NAVARRE

ransacking
personally
in the hope of
papers

inspectinghis
u
his
also searched
He
some
discovering
proof of treason.
brother's bed," writes Marguerite, to see if he would find any
My brother (Alencon) having received that
papers there.
de Sauves, took it in his hand
eveninga letter from Madame
to preventit from being read.
to
But the King endeavoured
take it from him, and as he (Alencon)resisted and begged him
with claspedhands not to read it,the King's desire to do so
became all the greater,for he fancied that this paper might
"

suffice to

my brother for trial. At last,

when
it had been opened in the presence of the Queen, my
Cato in the Senate,
mother, they became as confused as was
when

enable him

send

to

after

Caesar to show a paper which had been

compelling
broughtto him sayingthat it was somethingconcerningthe
welfare of the Republic it was found to be really
love-letter
a
"

"

from

that

same

After the

May, 1578,
to

It

was

Cato's
scene

addressed
sister,

Caesar.*

recorded

the Duke

of

which
captivity,

her

to

which occurred in
by Marguerite,
Alencon and Anjou was
signed
again conhis sisterinsisted on sharing
with him.

greataffection and

extreme

devotion to his interests

which

the anecdotkrs
of the periodwith those scandalous
inspired
of
which have come
down
to
charges undue familiarity
us.
been proved,
and one
They have never
may well hesitate
to believe them.
It was by no means
unnatural that Marguerite
should attach herselfalmost despairingly
to her brother Francois.
Separatedas she was from her husband, regarded with cofcl
indifference by her mother, and with suspicion
and dislike by
her brother Henri III,Francois was
the onlyfriend remaining
to this unfortunate

towards him
feelings
in keeping
was
with
cannot

It is true

woman.

in

the

somewhat

manners

that she writes of her

fulsome

of the

strain,but that
time,and for our part

admit that the

chargesof the anecdotiers are proved

of language,inclusive of a somewhat
by a littleexaggeration
indiscriminate profusion
of adjectives.
The close captivity
of the Duke d 'Alencon Mas
not of long
his mother intervened in his favour.
duration,
as
At this period
we

of her

career

Catherine de' Medici

strove

and
by constantly
embroiling

to make

herself indispensable

her
reconciling

two

DE

CHARLOTTE

ii

sons.
surviving

and fully
realised that
received,

he

the

at the

was

of any fresh Court intrigue.As long as he remained a

princeof the blood he would not be safe from the jealous

mercy
mere

of his brother

rancour

shoulders,he
It

hurt by
profoundly

Alencon, however, was

he had

treatment

43

SAUVES

must

To

Henri.

wear

his head

secure

become

crown,

upon

his

prince.
sovereign

to win the
objectthat he vainlyendeavoured
Elizabeth of England,and aspired
to reignin Flanders,

with that

was

hand

of

where

there

peopleeager to
many
on
Alreadyin 1577 Marguerite,

were

Spanishrule.
with

overthrow

so

the

going to Spa*

to
de la Roche-sur-Yon, had helpedhim
resolved
and he now
the Flemings,
the ground among

the

prepare

Princess

further.

to carry matters

Although Alencon
he remained
in order

close confinement
longerin absolutely
and
all intents and purposes a prisoner,

was

to

no

of Henri
and Catherine,
quiet the suspicions
Margueritewas obligedto pledgeher word that he would make
his foremost
no
attempt at flight.Nevertheless she was
assistant when on January 14, 1578, he for the second time
effected his escape. As is well known, he and two of his friends,
of the
Simier and Cange, lowered themselves into the moat
Louvre by means
of a rope held and slowly"paid out"
by
with three of her women
and a devoted
Margueritein conjunction
valet. The fugitives
to the Abbey of Ste. Genevieve,
repaired
where Bussy(this
occurred seven
months before his death)was
in agreement with the Abbot, a
awaitingthem, after effecting,
to

breach in the walls,

which enabled Alencon and his friends to pass
out of Paris. How
Alencon
afterwards failed in his ambition

to

marry

somewhat
"

Queen Elizabeth, how

our

his designs
on
wildly

Protector

of the

Duke
sovereign
as

Count

received firstthe titleof

Flanders,

at

of Flanders at Ghent

and

the scope of this work.

in connection
with the

We
peace

"

those

are

matters

shall meet

him

again at

which

the

so-called

by

prise,
regardto his Flanders enterful
suffice it to say here that the Flemingsbecame distrusthim, and being ultimately
obligedto return to France,

Lovers' War

of

Bruges

as

recognized

Antwerp, and later was

beyond
Nerac

afterwards crowned

was
BelgicLiberties,"

of Brabant

prosecuted

he afterwards

was

She

was

concluded.

In

in
from erysipelas
suffering

one

of her

arms.

he

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

44

second

year of Alencon's
for Henri III.

bitter one

he

of whom

of

none

fulfilled.

his dreams
The

Thierryin June, 1584, with

at Chateau

passedaway

NAVARRE

OF

Apart
he was
jealous,

so

was

escape from Paris proved a

from the flight
of the brother

dealt

blows

severe

some

by

who, two years previously

(1576) had
partisans,
the apparent objectof which
first founded that famous league,
to defend the Catholic religion,
was
though its secret aim was
In the springof 1578 three of
to placeGuise on the throne.
Charles d'Entragues,
Guise's partisans,
Riberac,and Schomberg,
provoked three of the royal favourites or mignon*, Quelus,
Maugiron and Livarot,and at five o'clock on the morning of
duel was
fought between the two parties
April27 a desperate
and

Guise

his

in the horse market

the site of the old Palais des Tournelles,

Only Livarot and Entraguessurvived the

on

later Place

Roy ale.
theyreceived

wounds

the

to

encounter, which

at that

classic combat

of the Horatii

Maugiron and Schomberg were

killed on

Brantome

and

pared
com-

the Curiatii.

the

spot,Riberac
the morrow,
and at the end of a few weeks Quelus,who
on
received no fewer than nineteen wounds, expiredin the
of his
much

royalmaster.
despairing
time

console

to

St.

Megrin,for

he

was

the

what

arms

the

was

another

King allowed
of his mignons,

the latter was

July21, as

have

would

Aubigne that

Catherine

the Louvre,
leaving
of Guise and
instigation

been

Catherine
famous

one

the

de Navarre.

her

tendered

younger

But

and

his

with

is in 1582, when

the

Sauves

this occasion

on

fresher

the
beauty,

it

to her that

adoration,as we
later years, however, we twice hear

in connexion

of the beautiful

lady of
fascinating

the Cypriancharmeuse,
and
Dayelle,

relate. In
occasion

that

Henri

also had with

fickle Henri

Sauves

was

de" Medici

thought

againensnare

she

be asked ?

Sauves, it may

carried in her train,when

It
Marguerite back to her husband.

last escorted

at

may

of the fair Charlotte de

learn from

whom

women

in

had

League.

Well, we

the

himself with

assailed and assassinated at the

And

she

on

Nor

died

was

shall

presently

of Charlotte

King of Navarre.
Margueritespeaksof her

The
in

de

first

letter,

which, in accordance with her husband's request,she sends

him, she says, all sorts of tittle-tattle. Referringto two of

CHARLOTTE

ii

Catherine

and

she

have

to

days,
nothingof it,

knew

believe that he

one

contradicted

her.

imagine,however, to what a state one is reduced,

to
me
cover
up such thingsas that. She moves

to

The

and

came

to

pity,but, as
me.

Nobody

aunt.

our

He

own

hidden there for two

was

that
cleverly

so

for
reality

leave you

de Sauves.

the Queen
de Sauves)wished to make

done

(Mme.

in

came

his
anybody excepting

Madame

belongsto

Chenonceaux,* and

her at
was

for

longercares

no

wife,the latter'snow
but it

of honour, she remarks : u It is

Setanaie have lost their lovers ; the

and

Vernee

former's lover

see

45

de' Medici's maids

said that La

to

SAUVES

DE

after

day

to Paris.

went

must
expect any of
yourself
to be ill,
his mistress pretended
he left,f
her good offices on
She has promisedme

but

help,none

for

far as she is able."

and Setanaie likewise,
as
your behalf,
The
which la belle Charlotte's
second occasion on
is found

associated with

of

that

de

Henri

Navarre

name

in

was

before Henri's famous

victoryat Coutras,
shortly
an
importantconversation with her and Mme.

1587, when,

Sullyhad
d'Uzes.
continue
Thus

certain type often

interest in their former lovers.
friendly

It is well known

it

to
was

that

take

with

Charlotte

of

women

informed
de Sauves, who frankly
reliance whatever on
to placeno

Sullythat his master ought

the promises
of the Court, which was
him, and that there was only one
to follow

Navarre

With

advice

that

the

instructions of Catherine
between
into

not

downfall

of

famous
"

de
"

King
victory.

in obedience

of their lives though

proceededto
her

To

man.

the

dissension

de' Medici, had first sown

now

to

of

indeed

one

compass

the

might

have

toute entiere

died
on

"

in

October

sa

proieattachee."

1579, accordingto genealogical

18, 1584, his widow

married

the chateau
propertyof Catherine de' Medici by whom
greatlyembellished and enlarged.
t It is impossibleto identifythis mysteriouslover,but it has been surmised

was

the

"

C'est Venus

and

who

hoodwink

line :

Sauves

authorities

achieve

Margueritepassedout

another

for

course

woman,

retirement,for she

the
applied

M.

and

Henri

onlytryingto

namely to fightand

"

that

At that time

the

Margueritemay

have referred to the Duke

de Guise.

46

FAVOURITES
de la

Francois

connexion

La

the

are

Under

stillgoes

theless
Never-

1586, in

from
despatches

in the

quoted by Michelet in his

date February 20, 1586,

foot amidst

on

in

of Sauves

name

occurs

error

IV.

Henri

Guise

"

by

Savoy which

of

Ligue et

reads

one

curious

the ambassadors

work

firstMarquisde Noirmoutier.
Tremoille,

she is stillreferred to
which

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

gentlemenon

his

to be
ventures
says that if Guise
familiar with his wife he will put him to death,without ceremony.'"

horseback.

de Sauves

M.

Now,

de Sauves

M.

as

had then been

Marquis de

but to the

to him

be not

grave, the reference must

years in the

seven

from the circumstance

arising,
perhaps,
that the ladywas stillso often referred to by her former name.
dated
Those same
in no wise intimishow that Guise was
despatches
by any threats regarding his intercourse with her.
Under date September11, 1586, it is said :
Guise is becoming
with Mine, de Sauves."
and renewinghis amours
reckless,
Those amours
when in
provedfatal to him. At a moment

Noirmoutier,the

error

"

his

great duel with Henri

for him

to retain full

in the

vigourof

toils of
enervating

late in 1588, he
and

III it

where

the

Noirmoutier

was

mind

General

there

was

with

had

mistresses embraces.

could

As

been

him, and

convoked.

has

that he

in bed at his mistresses.

attention

to

billetunder
'

Let

us

all

his

One

would

that,"he exclaimed.

and
pillow,

and
sleep,

wise in order to

'

you,

reassure

sooner

He

"

Every day
the better

had

finish if
he

received

when

even

thrust

he
one

the

was

paid
last

warning.
thingsin this

He

his

supper he had been

times,in the presence of

lady.

braved
At

...

which he had written

did

his

go to bed.1

of the

"

They

from

dismissed the bearer of the

"

notes,

never

And

audacious
as
one
insolently
is,at
under the table one
women
flinging
across

de

Mme.

away

written

ought to go, and the

but every night he repeated" Not yet.1
five warnings,
and others came
as
as
many
see

known,
III had fled,

Henri

tear himself

Michelet

caught

was

although events soon

make
it imprudent for

to

as

necessary

is well

As

to Blois,whither
repaired

States

ever

body,he

and

enchantress.

an

shaped themselves in such a way

him to lingerthere,he could not
Guise

than

more

'

warning
mysterious
would

not
They
Before
eight o'clock
:

dare.1

"

the
dare, however.
on
his mistress,
to the
following
morning,Guise,quitting
repaired

Ill

BEAUTIES

OF

QUARTETTE

and

Aubigne

Henri,

and

Marguerite
and

Dance

alleged
Pau

has

her

for

Mile,

de

and

Ne'rac

it

"

the

on

Court

again

War

and

her

and

and

falls
de

in

with

Navarre's

"

denies

Neutrality

its

falls

out

her

Contagious

Marguerite

War"
Ne'rac

"

Rebours

Devotion

there"

Life

Puritan

forsakes

Marguerite's

"

"

his

of

de

Mile,

"

Henri

her"

Peace

Henri

of

Catholicism

Lovers'

and

enceinte

Upshot

"

the

makes

Alencon

"

becomes

Rebours

Sketch
and

Gowns

Gorgeous

Secretary

of

Dayelle,

"

Some

to

King

of that

Causes

Fire

Fosseuse

"

the

of

Marguerite's

"

and

to

Marguerite"

Self-Neglect"
"

addressed

Illness

Historical

under

Marguerite

de

Castle

Wife

Sonnet

"

Aubigne'

"

fomenting

Mile,

Fosseux

its

Gallantry

Fosseuse

Parentage"

Marriage

between

choose

to

and

Dayelle's

"

her

and

Beauty

Coarseness

and

Turenne

III,

Her

"

Henri's

Amours

lowly

and

Bearnese

Song"

Henri

"

the

Litter

splendid

Her

"

Henri

Maid"

Cyprian

Catherine's

Medici

de*

Catherine

with

Beam

proceeds

Marguerite

Queen

Tignonville"

de

Jeanne

FOSSEUX

AND

REBOURS,

DAYELLE,

TIGNONVILLE,

"

with

Love

Marguerite

"

with

Affair

Love

Fosseuse.

Henri

When

to

he

King,

de

struck

was

de

Henri

attracted

the

by

Jeanne

King's

had

true,

to

reason

the

of

She

what

was

his

governess

her,

who

had

and

in
as

The

du

the
she

Princess

1599

Lord

memoirs

became,
The
Catherine's

of
his

in

attachment

by

young

is

maids

Beam

de
of

ing
marrywho

ville,
Tignon-

Tignonville,

known
of

to

person

Montceau

Little

loss of favour.
of the

in

turned
re-

became

he

the

unhappy

Montceau,

Selves.*

of

one

governed

Bar.

Jeanne

was

Paris, had
since

seen

of

beauty

de

appears

dislike

not

Soissons, ended

du
de

from

escaping
had

long

Duke

Lancelot

of

cause

de

notice

wife, Marguerite

beyond

Count

Lorraine,

daughter
his

the

after

who,

Bourbon,

de

Jean

by

he

sister Catherine,

and

absence,

states, which

his

of his

honour

after

Navarre,

of

Mile.

Aubigne,

who

involuntarily,it
fact

is the

household.

young

is

OF

QUARTETTE

in

BEAUTIES

in the first instance,intent

lady was,

49

matrimony,

on

and

complimentswhich King Henri

her to listen
lavished upon her. In the hope of prevailing
on
but
to him, he desired Aubigne to put in a word in his favour,
Aubigne,who, althoughhe held the post of first gentlemanof
fitted for campaigningthan for court
the chamber, was
more
life,bluntlyrefused to do as the King desired. Requests
provingof no avail,Henri threatened his retainer,withheld
ever,
and playedhim several scurvy tricks,
his salary,
without,howtoo, did the
overcominghis virtuous resistance. Vainly,
until at last,
in
King sighat the feet of the fair Tignonville,
Baron de Pardaillan
Francois Leon Charles,
1581, she espoused
turned

deaf

the

to

ear

Pangeas, who became a councillor of state, a

a knight of the
King'sorders,a captainof
royalchamberlain,

and

de

Count

of the royalcompanies,
commander
fiftymen-at-arms
regimentof Guienne, and Governor of Armagnac, for
of which

postshe

Mile, de

as

de

was

indebted to his

of the
several

wife,for she,so inflexible

far less so
was
Tignonville,
Pangeas. At all events that

when

she had

become

is indicated

by what
Sullysays of her in his memoirs, from which we also gather
husband was
that the lady's
so
fat,ponderousand lubberly,
nicknamed
him the
that Catherine,King Henri's sister,
big
Countess

"

buffalo."
Before

then,however, Queen Margueriteand

appearedupon

the

scene

for in the

summer

of

others had

1578, Henri III,

of his

the midst

strugglewith the Guises,at last found

her husband in the hope
to rejoin
it politic
to allow Marguerite
the latter who was
of thereby
in arms
restraining
againstthe
Catholics. Thus, on August 2,"says L'Estoille in his Journal,

in

"

"

the

Queen of Navarre

to take the road to

set out

Gascony to

from

the chateau of Olinville*

the

meet

King

her

husband,f

the Queen her mother, Cardinal de Bourbon,

de Montpensierand Messire Gui du Faur, Sieur de

with her went

and

the Duke

Pybrac,and
*

President of the Court."

between
Aulainville,

Ouzouer-le-marche'

{
and

the forest of Marchenoir

(Loir-et-Cher).
it appears, L'Estoille,after the word
to her great regret and reluctantly,
according to common
that
struck
out
remark.
subsequently

In

his

MS.,

"

| That is,of the

Parliament

of Paris.

He

was

"

husband

"

added

report,"but

also Chancellor

to
E

he

Queen

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

50

in

Henri III lavished compliments,

with his sister,
parting
good wishes and presentson her, so great was his desire to
make her forgetall his past ill-treatment,and induce her to
On

her

with

interests

his

serve

He

also wished

those of his brother Alencon

from
completely

detach her

husband.

to

but

and
of respect,friendship
only elicited vague assurances
unable to prevent her from
and was
from Marguerite,
fidelity
going to wish Alencon farewell. That done,she set out to join
her husband, the royalparty travelling
by slow stagesand in
fashion towards Guienne.
Elegant in her tastes as
pompous
well as beautiful in person and wittyin her speech,
Marguerite
journeyedin her magnificentclosed and glazedlitter,whose
covered with Spanish velvet of carnation
were
corner
pillars
adorned
with embroideryof gold and
was
hue while the lining
he

shaded

into

silk,worked

in
devices,

such

way that there

were

devices in
fullyfortydevices either on the liningor the glass,
of
and all of them treating
the Spanishand Italian languages,
for did not
appropriate,
of her life typifythe Sun of Beauty
Margueriteat this moment
in all its splendour?In takingthe great orb of day as her
Louis
XIV.
In her fondness for
she anticipated
emblem
famous
other
the example of that
devices she followed
whose rare
Margueritede Navarre, her husband's grandmother,
and cunning skill in composingthose conceits,had been the

the

sun

and

admiration
Henri

its powers,

as

of the Court

de Navarre

her mother

Medici tendered

indeed

brother,the firstFrancis.
the Queen his wife,and the Queen

of her

met

Reole, south

La

at

was

of Bordeaux.

Catherine

de'

on
meeting her son-inamusing excuses
she said,to chaperone
law. She had merelymade the journey,
her daughterand admire the scenery of the region. She lingered
there,however, for eighteenmonths, during which her maids
some

and ladies of honour

Marguerite. The
Henri

Cardinal

de Navarre, and

the

were

de

by
Bourbon
whom

no

means

referred
the

idle.*
to above

Among
was

the

them,
uncle

of

League subsequentlyproclaimed
Montpensier, Francois de Bourbon, was
another of the King of Navarre's
kinsmen, but a very zealous Catholic.
* It
for the sake of the bright eyes of one
was
of these beauties, Anna
d'Aquaviva,that old Ussac, one of Henri de Navarre's captains,subsequently
surrendered
La Be'ole to the Catholics,
which
act of treason
Henri avenged
an
by takingthe town of Fleurance one eveningafter diverting
himself at a ball.
King

as

Charles

X.

The

same

Duke

de

in

OF

QUARTETTE

BEAUTIES

51

mentioned,was Mme. de Sauves,*but the fickle

previously
Henri de Navarre paidfar more
attention to the Cyprianbeauty
known
as
Dayelle.She and her brother,it appears, were of
Greek birth,and had escapedfrom Cyprus,when in 1570 that
island was
wrested by the Turks from the Venetians.
Coming
the
Duke
to France,the brother was
d'Alencon,
by
patronized
who
made
him
a
gentleman of his chamber, while the sister
as

we

added

was

to

Catherine
Navarre

that battalion

de' Medici
had

loved

met
already

frail fair

of

surround

to

Dayellein

infatuation for Mme.

de

heed to her; whereas

now

love and

was

soon
indicates,

their weapons.

paid little
whom

he

languorouseastern

that Catherine

Whilst

her husband

wits,and

she and Henri

with

to

over

the

of mutual

covenant

said to have

are

tarried

cast it

paying court

was

she,in accordance
fascinating
Dayelle,

de' Medici

Marguerite,as Aubigne

Queen

menage.

fetched the rust off men's

tolerance to which

then

well
went
wonderfully
everything
gaiety,

duringthe eighteenmonths
with the Navarrese

the

de

time of his

de Sauves

all his glancesfor

neglected,
reserving
f
beautyof the almond-eyedCyprian.
All

at the

Paris

Mme.

was

whom

herself. Henri

Sauves, but he had

it

with

ones

agreed,was

it is asserted,
either to an old suitor of her Louvre
listening,
days,Du Luc, or else to one of her husband's bravest and for
a
long while most faithful adherents,Henri de La Tour,

Viscount
Marshal

de
of

Turenne, in later years Duke de Bouillon and

France.
Turenne, as he was then called,had at

firstpaid his addresses to

de' Medici's maids,

of Catherine

one

Mile, de la

Vergne,{ but he afterwards transferred them

Queen Marguerite,and this coming to the knowledgeof

brother

Henri

Turenne

to

III, he

wrote

him, hoping,no

to

her

doubt, to

husband

to

to

her

denounce

seeds of discord in

sow

the

for himself. But,

derive profit
Huguenot ranks and thereby
outwardlyat all events, Henri de Navarre paidno heed to the

See ante, p. 44.

not be confounded

f She must

d'Ayala,who
di Feia

was

also

sometimes

with

another

called

of Catherine's

d'Ayelle,and

who

maids, Vittoria

married

Camillo

of Mantua.

whom
X Perhaps the same
See ante, p. 45,
Vernee.

Marguerite,in

one

of her letters,calls La

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

52

in

accusation,as he divined,it is said,the designslyingbehind it.

At

War,
in

time others say that this affair caused the Lovers'

refer.
shall presently
to which we

the

same

One

need not

that

famous

work

importanceto anythingcontained
scurrilous
Divorce
a
Satyr'xque,

attach much

pamphletLe

defence of Henri

producedin support and

in connexion

but there is a
Marguerite,
of other evidence to show that the King, intent on
sufficiency
love affairs,
evinced great indifference respectinghis
his own
wife's conduct.
Although those brief Decameron
years of hers
unclouded ones,
not
to employ Lescure's expressionwere
they appear to have been the happiestof Marguerite'slife.
She had attained,
accordingto all accounts, the zenith of her
from the Court of her brother Henri
beauty,and her departure
III had been regardedthere as an irreparable
calamity. The
his ultimate

with

from

severance

"

"

"

Court

is shorn

of its beauty,
said

courtiers.

some

Court

The

said others ; while yet others

has departed,
dim, its sunlight
and
added, 'tis a nice business that Gascony should come
is

gasconadeus

and

embellishment

of

off*

carry
France

and

are

our
so

Kings,to lodge her

different from

the

and

at Pau

the others."

and

Court

Germain

Louvre, Fontainebleau,St
of

beauty intended

our

for

of the

Hotel

the other fine

Nerac, residences

or

the

places
which

to face the change,and

Marguerite,however, was willing
the simpleadmiration with which she was
regardedby the less
bigotedBearnese would have amply solaced her for any sacrifice
she had made, had it not been for the jealousintriguing
and
rough intolerance of certain members of her husband's Huguenot
Court.
Crabbed, envious and peevishfolk, ambitious and
bald bony old captains
sanctimonious men,
withered by long

years of civil war,

fact,who had never

vivre,were

gouty old dogmatisingcouncillors,

all,in
known or were
past the time of la joiede

againsther.

interests of Henri
better served had

It must

de Navarre

and

his consort

be
his

acknowledgedthat the
would have been
subjects

resembled

his

mother,

Jeanne

d'Albret,that masculine,
Queen, who had shown
military,
politic
both

skill in

council and

as
althoughMarguerite,

we
*

energy

in

war.

In

lieu

thereof,

real governing
know, possessed
a
Brantome.

?
A

ni

OF

QUARTETTE

BEAUTIES

53

she merelyflashed on
like some
Beam
instinct,
patriarchal
idol,arrayedin the Italian fashions of Paris,that
magnificent

Babylonof

the age. Therein laya text for much deprecatory

innumerable pious
motive for many stern sermons,
a
discourse,
and heaven-directed glances.
ejaculations
of the
however, paidlittleheed to the hostility
Marguerite,
them with the
Puritans. She contented herself with dazzling
her well-planned
of
her fine features,
lineaments,
spectacle
Jierlimpidand faultlesseyes, her beautiful head set upon a
that could be seen,
beautiful body,with the most superbfigure
She
and a grave majesty.'"
attended by the port of a goddess,
"

balls and

gave

and
entertainments,

other

at all events

the

and smiled
old captains
recalling,
brightened
perhaps,
peevish
her
beheld
when
earlier
their own
days
they
gorgeous either
and an
trimmed with a littlecarnation-pink
in
white satin,
else a robe of Spanish
abundance of glittering
or
orichalc,"
velvet of a deeper carnation hue and laden with sequin
while on her head was
set
a cap of the same
velvet,
trimmings,
There were
well dressed with plumesand gems."'1
occasions,
too,
when she was
certain greatfunctions,
even
more
magnificently
wonderful
herself in the most
when
she displayed
arrayed,
"

"

"

"

France,a robe fashioned out of fifteen ells of

all fine gold thread, the giftof the Great Turk.
material,

robe

in

seen

ever

and feathers then bedecked

Diamonds

her

hair,while

her

from

matchless rope of four hundred largepearls.On

those occasions well mightshe have been considered a Queen of
neck fell a

Fairyland.
she

But

there

was

mortal,when

mere

and French

times when

were

dances

stately
pavan,

the

which

she
were

joinedin

the

that

to show

Italian
Spanish,

then in fashion,the slow and

passy-measure, the gliding

also
brawl and others.* There were

swifter
slightly

Medici courant, the merry

occasions

she condescended

when, accompanyingherself with her lute,she

sang

composedin the high-flown

which was then known as the
style."With
phoebus
language
she fascinated so many
her beauty,
grace and accomplishments
of
the very goddess
seemed as if she were
that it really
men
which

romances

she

herself had

"

The

French

Spanish pavana

branle.

; the

Italian

passamezzo

and

corrente ; and

the

54*

FAVOURITES

love.

"

But,1'remarked
her in

he met

Don

NAVARRE

in

of Austria at the time when

John

Flanders," althoughher beauty was

human, she

than

OF

HENRY

OF

fit to ruin and

more

was

divine

more

damn

than

men

to

them."

save

from the Louvre, had

flight
Bearnese ways which
relapsedinto those simple,rough,coarse
than once
a shock.
She, who the better
more
gave Marguerite
sheets
the whiteness of her beauty reposedbetween
to display
in a husband who, like
of black satin,found no congenial
mate
of personal
other men
of that period,
was
so
neglectful
many

Henri, since

husband

Her

cleanliness

occasion,she felt it necessary to ask

his feet,a requestwhich he resented as a

that, on

one

wash

to
permission

greataffront.

in those

But

his

ablutions of

days the

men

were

of

regardedas a sign
description
; to bathe was
of effeminacy,
fitonlyfor the curled and perfumed mignons of
be conceded,at least preservedthe
the Louvre, who, it must

the most

summary

whiteness

of their

black may

skins,however

have

been their

souls.
Careless

in those

heart.
this

regard to himself,Henri

in

on

whom,

en

anecdotiers and

The

did not

passant, he bestowed

populartradition

seek
his

ment
refine-

wayward

ascribe to him

at

periodof

his life many

in which the damsel of
amourettes
his choice was
birth and habits. There were, inter alia,
of lowly
the daughterof the
we
are
told,Arnaudine of Agen; Fleurette,

palace gardener at Nerac ; a certain Demoiselle Maroquin ;

and Picotine Pancoussaire,*
Xaintes,hisxvife'sjemyne-de-chambre;
otherwise the Boulangerede St. Jean : in addition to all the
ladies of the Court whom
he honoured with his glances.But,
except in

such
instances,

that of Xaintes,those
earlylove affairs remain vague, shadowy,authenticated onlyby
the few passing
allusions of memoir- writers and anecdotiers,
and
"

in

one

or

regard to

reportin

the form

two

details
"

of

transmitted

such
stories,

eveningby

the fireside in

bleak wind

from

valleysof

Beam.

son,

the

embellished from

those
legends,
*

some

to

only by popular

us

merry fellows have told at

a
snug inn or tavern, when
as

Pyreneeshas

Handed

as

down

been

sweeping across

in this wise from

time to time

just like
tales undoubtedly
to the
testify

Pancoussaire

is Bearnese

for

boulan^re or

so

many

father

the
to

Church

virile reputation

bakeress.

however,atthe

time

same

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

56

in

therefore

Huguenot,and
bigoted

most

of his master's Catholic

uncompromisingadversary
She, justly
indignantat the affront offered to her, and
the unfortunate
a violation of the rightof asylumwhich

an

of Du

Pin's violence claimed of her

well

as

as

of

consort.
at such

victims

God, speedily

complained to her husband, requestingthat the imprisoned

released. Thereupon Du Pin who,
men
might be immediately
althoughhe held the post of secretaryto the King, was no
ing
courtier,
presumed to rebuke her, and she retaliated by demandhis dismissal. Henri,not wishingto part with his secretary,
who was
endeavoured to temporize,
useful man,
a capableand
but

Margueriteinsisted

husband

her

that her
demand, declaring

herself and

choose between

must

then had

on

to go, for the times

were

Du

Pin.

yet ripefor

not

latter

The

absolute

an

conjugalrupture,though Henri, by way of consolinghimself

for the departure
of Dayelle,
was
alreadypayinghis addresses
to another

This

young

was

somewhat

doubtful,some

daughter of
nobleman
while
and

person.
certain Mile, de Rebours, whose
authorities

of

Dauphine,killed at the
to others her father
according

later of the Parliament

she

sayingthat

Montabert, Sieur de Rebours,

one

parentage is
a

St. Bartholomew
was

of Paris.

was

the

Huguenot
massacre

judge,firstat

Calais,

L'Estoille chronicles

somewhat

this personage, who

amusing jeu de mots respecting
in the capital
was
de Navarre
at the time Henri
it.
besieged
His troopshavingplanteda couple
of cannon
the heightof
on
the citywhen
ball from one
Montmartre, were firing
on
of
a
the guns broke one
of M. de Rebours'' legs. Thereupon,as
he was
suspectedof secretly
favouringthe royal cause, the
of the League made a greatjoke of the affair,
ing
declarpreachers
from the pulpitthat u the cannon
shots of the Royalists
went

rebours.'1''

In addition to

Henri, Mile,

admirers
particular
de Frontenac

Frontenacs
one

of the

effusion
"

verse

of his

counted

companionsin

arms

"

her
among
the Count

and Charles de

passionwas
of

sonnets

which

of the

two

de Rebours

be

may

period
"

Montmorency,Duke de Damville.
celebrated by Guillaume du Sable in
his Muse
chasseresse. Nowadays this
quoted as

specimen of

will doubtless appear

the

amatory
but it
ridiculous,

QUARTETTE

then

somethingquite tender

probablyregardedas
touching.

was

"

57

BEAUTIES

OF

and

la foi,
Rebours, n'eprouvetant de Frontenac
lui
fin
soit
la
a
mortelle,
ne
Que l'epreuve
pour
Je vois bien que

son

te

coeur

Qu'impossibleest qu'ilvive
J'ose bien t'assurer,si tu

Que jusques a
Car l'Amour

il te

l'a lie si bien

en

telle

amour

toi.

moi,

fidele ;

sera

une

privede

croire

veux

la mort

porte

etant

ta cordelle

Qu'ilfaut qu'ilobeisse aux edits de sa loi.

N'offense point ce Dieu ; il a la meme
fleche,
luire
fait
en
son
a
breche,
Qui,
pareille
coeur,
Per9antde part en part son loyalestomac.
etre servie,
Done, si pour l'avenir tu veux
mais
Non
pas pour quelque temps,
pour toute la vie,
Ne change, s'ilte plait,
Frontenac."
ton humble

Mile,
Accordingto Marguerite,

de

Rebours

was

very

malicious young

person, who did not like her,but did her every

ill turn.
possible
Slightand slender,however, she was also
and
delicate,

very

duration.

"

thus Henri's

Amidst

these

with
intrigue

her

of short

was

writes Marguerite
contrarieties,1'

zealous Huguenots
to the dislike which
the more
(referring
evinced for her), God, to whom
I alwayshad recourse, at last
took pityon
should depart
that we
my tears, and permitted
from that littleGeneva, Pau, where, by a pieceof good fortune
for me, Rebours remained
in such wise that the King,
lyingill,
my husband, losingsightof her, also lost his affection for her,
and began to engage with Fosseuse,who was
and
much prettier,
at that time quiteyoung
and very good-natured."
"

On

the

occasion

of

this

departurefrom

it

Pau

was

the

intention of the

King and Queen of Navarre to visit Montauban, but on the eveningwhen they reached the little,
though
in Roman
Henri
of Eauze, which
town
some
days splendid,
time previously
almost
had taken by surprise,
losinghis life
in the exploit,
he again found himself in danger there, for a
violent fever seized hold

days

seventeen

uncertain

and

of

as

was

once

one

bed

to

did not abate until after

and

suffering.Marguerite,often
became

to

move

another,and his

so

ing
all devotion,a minister-

day.
the pain-racked
patient
wife assisted in doing so,

picturedby

constantly
necessary

was

from

restless

at
variable,

angel,such
It

of him

the poet of

later

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

58

in

leavinghim but exhaustingher strengthto such a degree

I
by watchingand nursing that she at last fell ill herself.
became so attentive in nursinghim," she writes, never
quitting
take
that he began to
pleasurein my
undressing,
him, never
never

"

"

them
praise

services and
M.

de Turenne,

me

on

who, behaving to
with

good terms

as

in

with him

I remained

set
good relation,

I had

again as

and
each

been

ever

five years that

or

Gascony."
and

recovered

Henri

Thus, when
Nerac, husband
to treat

him

like

me

lasted for the space of the four

which
happiness

cousin

to his
particularly
everybody,

to

wife

were

with

other

they at

last

to
repaired

disposed
again the best of friends,
and indulgence,
an
forgiveness
necessary as conjugalconstancy

the more
which was
indulgence
to their natures.
Nerac, nowadaysrenowned
was
quiteforeign
littletown on the
for its partridge
piesand teniues,\sa pleasant
Gallo-Roman
banks of the Bayse,with some
ruins,
interesting
of some
remnants
and of a temple,
baths,of a palace,
including
dedicated to the infernal gods.
which
last,it is said,was

remain,however, of the
d'Albret
century,Amanieu

Few

river,and

the
successors,

purpose

which

she made

use

on

hill

looking
over-

of stones

was

derived from

Catholic churches and monasteries

castle of Nerac

first raised

graduallyenlargedby his
ultimately
completingit,for which

d'Albret

Jeanne

teenth
which, in the four-

castle

traces

which

of the many
she razed to the ground.
some

largequadrilateral,
communicating
the western
the east,by means
on
on
the Bayse, with a park, which, as
of a bridge over
Queen
laid
tells
her
out by
instructions. The
Marguerite
us, was
This

was

side with the town, and

castle remained

intact until the Revolution

the remnants
destroyed,
gradually
and Margueritehad
in which Henri
into the possession
of a baker, who
was

of the

their

of

1789, when

it

particular
building
apartments passing

allowed

them

to

to

go

ruin.
The
the

brilliantperiodof Nerac's

most

sixteenth

century,when

their Court there.

of the

one

who
Heptamerotiy
other

many
;

Under

under

three famous

queens

undoubtedly
in turn

Marguerited'Angouleme,the
there

writers,that Court
Jeanne

was
history

received Clement
was

who
d'Albret,

more

held

author

Marot

and

a literary
particularly

transformed

Nerac

into

OF

QUARTETTE

in

59

BEAUTIES

of the Reformation,it
placeof refugefor persecutedpartisans
became
our
essentially
puritanical
Marguerite
; whereas,under
and her husband
it was
alternately
given over to diplomacy,
and war.
and we
at Nerac
It was
gallantry,
ought to have
mentioned
this previously that Catherine
de' Medici,during
her sojourn there in 1578, initiated the conferences
which
"

"

led to

brief peace
of Navarre.

son-in-law

between

her
indeed

That

son

Henri

and

had

been her real

III

her

object

in

her daughterback to her husband.

Never was
the
escorting
diplomaticcraft of the astute Catherine better exemplified
than at the time of those negotiations,
of
when, by means
and another weapon
most amusing affectation of Puritanism
one
a
"

her

on

part,and a by no
part of her maids

own

of

edifying
display

means

she successon
fully
gallantry
leaders and the
jockeyedboth the Huguenot military
ministers of that religion.Virtually,
the only point which
Henri de Navarre
he raised
was
one
gainedin the negotiations
the governorship
of Guienne, which,at his request,
respecting
taken away from
the Marquis de Villars and
was
given to
the

Armand

de

another

Biron

devoted
whom

Margueritehas
Nerac

after

her

one

but unfortunately
the
captains,
treason brought to the scaffold.
left us a pleasantpictureof the

husband

mentioned.
previously
pleasantthat we did
Princess of Navarre

"

de Biron, afterwards

Gontaut, Marshal

King'smost

of honour

"

not

had
Our
envy

recovered

from

Court,1'says she,"
that of France

; we

the
was

of the

father of

Court

of

illness we
so

fine and

had there the

the

who afterwards married

King'ssister,
Monsieur
le Due de Bar
togetherwith
my nephew,and myself,
of ladies and girls
a good number
attended
was
; and my husband
by a fine troop of lords and gentlemen,folk as seemlyas the
most gallant
that I ever
met
at Court ; and there was
nothing
to regretin them excepting
that they were
Huguenots. But of
that diversity
of religion
heard nobody speak; the King,
one
la Princesse,
his sister,
my husband, and Madame
going on one
"

"

side to the

and I and my retinue to mass

in a chapel
preaching,
is in the park ; after which, when I came
out, we all met
to go and walk together
either in a very fine garden with very
long paths,edged with laurels and cypresses, or in the park
which I had caused to be laid out, along paths
for
stretching
which

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

60

in

paces beside the river; and the rest of the day

the ball usually
taking
spent in all sorts of seemlypleasures,

three thousand
was

and in the evening."

(apfes-disner)
wonder
at gallantry
After that pretty picture,
one
can
contagious.Sully,
becoming de rigueur at Nerac ? It was
alreadyinclined to
although still young at the time, was
he is seen
and
taking not only dancing
austerity,
yet even

placein

the afternoon

lessons from

sisterthe
sprightly

Henri's

wishes that he should

force of

example
"

figurein

Princess Catherine,who
such

ballet,but also

"

in accordance with the

mistress,

is the
current

fashion.
also left us

Aubigne'has
which

King
and

should

be set beside

"

Marguerite's.

of

brings serpents.

I should

conceal the filthof the house

the truth,I cannot

omit

to

feet of

as
kings,

thingswhich

because theyhave
writers,

overthrow

I did

he and

which
perturbations

arise in

the

why, in

cause

whatever

not

made

of

see

their beds at the

first of all in the minds

order to

brother (Henri III). That

thrust

war

upon him
made use

again,
of her

years, and of the

the resoin the Prince's mind
lutions

sow

in it."

that "Foceuse," as Aubigne

possible

older
slightly

of base

have alluded to the hatred of the

King, her

Montmorency,to

It is

to tell

the greatest
the tempestswhich

might be, that artful woman

for Foceuse,a girlof fourteen

she desired to

oath

pointis that

the cost

husband's love

an

liked to

are

kingdoms,and

surge
of
small
We
account.
people
for the

which

them, often

Queen of Navarre

have

havingtaken

but

much

instructive,
principally
since Philip
de Commines, has been little

pointwhich, ever

known

name

of the

...

was

Court

Nerac,

Navarre," he writes, flourished with brave noblemen

excellent ladies.
But ease
brought vices there, like

warmth

The

of

"

on

the Court

of
picture

than he states.

Her

father

was

calls her, was

Pierre de Montmorency,

Marquis de Thury and Baron de Fosseux, who in

January,1553, married Jacquelined'Avaugour. The union
was
a
in the birth,accordingto some
prolific
one, resulting
of eleven,
and according
of nine children.
authorities,
to others,
It is agreed, however, that the so-called " Foceuse
or
*
Fosseuse
of N6rac
that is,to giveher real name, Francoise
"

"

"

"

"

Fosseuse

"

is,so to

say,

feminine

form

of Fosseux.

BEAUTIES

OF

QUARTETTE

in

61

Montmorency was the fifth daughterand the youngest

child. We
preferto think,then, that she may have been

de

"

years old at the time when

the attention of King Henri.

sixteen

This

affair of his

so-called Lovers' War

has been

of

lasted

have

1580, thus

throughoutthe
designatedbecause those

it

inamorati,and because it

to

seems

leadingpartsin

took the

who

she attracted

seventeen

or

surmised that their

were

designsand

deeds

were

strongly

it is alleged
that this
by their attachments. Briefly,
Ill's denunciation of Marguerite's
in Henri
war
originated
intercourse with M. de Turenne,* those two fomentingit in a
and anxiety,
whilst the King of
of mingled resentment
spirit
Navarre engagedin it in order to curry favour with the youthful
influenced

Fosseuse.

the latter Margueritewrites as follows :

pending
DeRespecting
in all thingson me, she longconducted herself with so
much
and virtue,
that if she had alwayscontinued in
honour
"

that fashion she would

falleninto misfortune,
of which
I as well." On the
she afterwards experienced
a greatdeal,and
have

not

tellsus that Fosseuse,after at firstacting

hand, Aubigne*
docile instrument,
rebelled againsther directly
Marguerite's

other
as

obedience
At
was

all

had

ceased to

correspondwith

her

the outset,says Aubigne,Fosseuse,

beingvery
maid Xaintes,who,
assisted by Marguerite's

discretion,
repeateda greatdeal of
received from

Navarre

the

news

own

ambition.

inexperienced,
of
regardless

"

which the Queen of

[French]Court,

or

else invented,
her
brother

contemptuous words which

[HenriIII]had let fall in his cabinet,or mocking laughteron
the part of Monsieur
[Alencon]or the Duke de Guise,at the

whether

it

of

King
Sauves.

had

were

Navarre's

expense and in presence of the lady of

Moreover, the Queen seduced the mistresses of those
credit

the
over
[withthe King]. She herself won
but expressive
Viscount de Turenne, and all their speeches
were
of their contempt for peace, and of their high hopesin war.
Minds
there arose
which
a dilemma
havingbeen thus prepared,
had to be settled,
and which
was, ought the placesof refuge
pieldby the Huguenots]to be surrendered [tothe Catholics]
in order to secure
peace, or ought they to be defended by

who

See ante, p. 51.

The

war

de

Turenne,

Favas, Constant
his

to
secretary,

dilemma
with

we

his

of Navarre

King

He

set

out

in terms

so

summoned

he had

whom

those

in

to

the

them

which,in keeping

[hehad arrived
givetheir opinion

indicated the conclusion

good custom,

at]. All

council.

secret

NAVARRE

the Viscount
onlysummoned
Aubigne, and Marsellere,the

and did
stated,

have

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

62

to

love, and therefore full of the instructions we have

of them could plan or thirst for anymentioned,* so that none
thing
in

were

but

war.

which, for the

In this wise

...

reasons

herein

resolved upon, a war

called the Lovers'1 War."

war

was

was
stated,

turn
romantic story,but if we
attractively
that the
from
Aubigne to Margueritewe find her affirming
declared contrary to her advice and in spiteof her
was
war
and that she only decided to support her husband's
efforts,
party from duty and gratitude"for the honour which the
King her husband did to love her."" Moreover, quite apart
which Henri, Margueriteand Turenne
from
any resentment
may have felt with respectto the French King'sdenunciation
love affair between Henri's wife and his cousin,
of the alleged
and political
there were
military
groundsfor puttingan end to

That

forms

the peace,

or

an

truce, which

rather

Catherine

had

de' Medici

For instance,
Biron, who
duringthe previous
negotiated
year.
of Guienne,
Governor
at Henri's requesthad been appointed
proved,at the outset, his determined adversary,carrying
in an
matters
extremelyhigh-handed fashion, notably in
regardto the fortified placeswhich the Huguenots,according
to Catherine's

treaty,were

surrender

to

to

the forces of the

condition alone made

of the
King. That
many
Huguenot leaders angry ; they did not care for peace at such
but constantly
a
urged the King of Navarre to resume
price,
hostilities. In that respectit was
quiteunnecessary for them
to be influenced by their mistresses,
as
Aubigne,in his anxiety
French

to traduce

would
Marguerite,

last

to pass that

came

Bordeaux, Henri
most

as

when

have

us

Biron

de Navarre, who

hesitated
arbitrary,

to believe.

dismantled

it at

Thus

Langon,

near

regarded that proceeding

no

but
longer,

had

who
mistresses,

resolved

on

the

renewal of hostilities.
*

The

meaning

is that

they all

had
Marguerite's
suggestions

influenced them

in favour

in

of

war.

compliance

with

OF

FAVOURITES

64

to tender sarcastic

OF

HENRY

to
apologies

the

NAVARRE

beauties
frightened

of the

Henri, however, for his part, regarded

Biron's action as fair play; and put in a good humour
by the
alert,he remained three days at Nerac, unable,we learn,to
tear himself away from such an agreeable
spot and company.
Navarrese

Court.

another peace, this being

following
year, 1581, came
enough,by Alencon, who, with the view
curiously
negotiated,
the
his designson
of prosecuting
Flanders,wished to secure
of the French troopswho were
services of some
beingemployed
ever,
howHe
in the war
pretended,
againstthe King of Navarre.
his sincere desire
that his onlymotive in negotiating
was
In the

re-establish peace and concord.

Thus, with Henri Ill's
consent, and attended by Nicolas de Neufville (fourthof the

to

and Minister of State, and Nicolas

Villeroy
Chancellor of France, he
Pompone de Bellievre,subsequently
the two Kings. His
set himself to the task of reconciling
seconded by Marguerite,who
endeavours were
was
zealously
in anythingthat might redound to
to co-operate
alwayswilling
her favourite brother's honour and credit,
and before longpeace

name), Lord

of

concluded.

was

It must

be

mentioned,however,that Alencon's sojournwith

his sisterand brother-in-law lasted

months, which

seven

is sufficient

proof that he found it agreeable. Marguerite admits

that his pleasure
in being with her considerably
softened the
bitterness he felt at havingto providefor the reliefof Cambray
of his lieutenants,
where
one
Balagny, was
being besieged.
and
honour are alwayspursued
Meantime, however, as glory
vexed with Alencon
for
by envy,"Henri III was feelingmore
in his peace negotiations
than he would have felt
succeeding
had he failed. Even as Aubigne was convinced that Marguerite
the Lovers' War
had fomented
simply because her amorous
"

intercourse with
Henri

III

M.

de

Turenne

had

been

interfered with,
stirred up those

persuadedthat she had

hostilitiesfor the express purpose of procuringfor
of bringingthem
honour
to an
end.
thus
And

so

was

now

hatred of his brother and sisterwas

That
his

had

may

have been

one

of the

once

reasons

sojournat Nerac, but there

once
againfallen in love.

was

more

why

Alencon
the

the

King's

in the ascendant.

Alencon

also another

prolonged
motive

he

[ii

It will be

remembered

brother-in-law of
de Sauves.

Mme.

Fosseuse

to
desiring
reallyseem

It would

intervened
interests,

own

great misfortune

for

fell in love with

King my
would

vivacious

the

of

could not behold the

take Henri's

rate, Alencon

any

smiles

and

tions.
affec-

de
affaires

in

had

Navarre

youthful

her

placein

this that

from

his

competed with

similar

very

alarmed
However, Marguerite,
becoming seriously

tastes.

her

for the

presenthe

65

BEAUTIES

that he had

Navarre
At

without

femmes, at

OF

QUARTETTE

use

husband's favour.

in her

me," she writes,"

was

that he

"

for
The

[Alencon]

seemed

to incite the
likely
husband to wish me harm, as he might imaginethat I
him ; which,
my good officesfor my brother and against

This

Fosseuse.

I entreated my brother so much, pointing

out
havingrealized,
to him the painhe gave me
by that suit,that he, beingmore
desirous of pleasing
than himself,
his passion,
and
me
quelled
did not speakto her again.'"
another complication
Unfortunately
supervened.Mile, de
Fosseux became enceinte. This was, as Margueriteremarks,a

greatmisfortune
had

of Navarre

in several respects.The

borne her husband

of
grievances
particular

the Bearnese

Now, however,her husband

whom

adored.

he

no

fact that the Queen

of the
children was
one

was

is

There

Huguenots againsther.
a child by a mistress
expecting

no

doubt

that

Margueritewas
of
feelings
experienced

deeplymoved by the situation,that she

Moreover, the behaviour
mingledhumiliation and resentment.
of Fosseuse towards her now
as did also that
changedentirely,
of the King of Navarre.
She,who had done me all the good
officesshe could with the King my husband,now
began to hide
from me, and do me
as
many illoffices as she had done good
the King my husband
ones,"says Marguerite. She so possessed
that in a very short time I found him quitechanged. He
became
estrangedfrom me, hid himself,and no longerfound
he had found it duringthe four or
as
my presence so agreeable
five happy years which I had spentwith him in Gascony,and
"

"

while Fosseuse
Such
reason,

the

was

state

of affairs

Mile, de Fosseux

the waters
*

conducted herself with honour.'"

Les Eaux

of

"

when,

for

persuadedthe King
which are in
Aigues-Caudes,*

Chaude9, a villagein

wild

one

another

or

to take

to

Henri

Beam.1'

Pyrenean gorge

her

watered
F

by

the

wished

to make

Fosseuse, two
savin,and the

NAVARRE

OF

in

journey,but she stoutly

had to go off with
so, and the King eventually
Miles, de Rebours
and Villeof her colleagues,
They left with him,"
governess of the maids.

Margueritealso

refused to do

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

66

the

"

Margueritewrites

in her

memoirs,

and

"

part I waited

for my

at Baniere."

It will have

observed

been

Mile, de Rebours, formed

one

Henri's

that

former

mistress,

party accompanyingthe

of the

She appears to have been a very jealousand intriguing

and
to regain Henri's affections,
creature, anxious if possible
and Marguerite
her rival Mile, de Fosseux
therefore slandering

King.

last named

alternately.The

writes of her

"

Rebours,

From

a
[the King] had loved,and who was
who onlydesired to oust Fosseuse,
corruptand double-faced girl,
hoping to take her placein the good graces of the King, I each
day received advices that Fosseuse was doing me the worst
and
in the world, usuallyslanderingme,
turns
persuading

who

the

was

he

one

herself that if she should

would

she

me,

she wished to

the

my

would take

put

me

husband

me

in

resolve that

and

Gave

his

great distress,as

stay of

four

or

to
on

returningto

Henri's

sister Catherine

to

of

Baniere

Those

he

advices

or

not.

be

imagined." And
as
they drank drops

tears

many

get rid

husband; with which

go to Pau, and had made

may

five weeks

companions returned

d'Ossau.

my

there,whether I would go
"

be able to

and

son

King
compel me

Margueriteadds : I shed as
of water where they were." f
After

the

marry

intention

King

have

at

Eaux-Chaudes

Marguerite,but

visited the baths

there

on

Henri
her

one

fears

occasion.

contain
remarkable
some
particularsrespectingthe size and
Sully'sMemoirs
in the region.
the
which
then
hunted
bears
of
were
strength
*
Probably Bagneres de Bigorre. Montaigne who visited and commends
the baths

there writes the

name

Banieres.

t To finish with

Mile, de Rebours
we
quote the following passage
may
"Rebours, one of Queen Marguerite's maids, who died at
Chenonceaux, had given her great offence,
yet she treated her no worse
; and
the said Rebours
she visited her,and when
she was
about
fallingextremely ill,
her and then said :
to give up the ghost admonished
This poor girlsuffers a
that was
great deal,but she has also done much
May God forgiveher
wrong.
I forgiveher.'
all the revenge
That was
as
and harm
the Queen did to her.
Thereby you will see that this great Queen, with her generosity,
was
very slow
from

Brantome:

in

takingrevenge, and altogether

good of heart."

BEAUTIES

OF

QUARTETTE

jii

67

enforced stay at Pau, which she calls the place

an
respecting
of penitence,'"
not realized,
the
were
for,to her great relief,
court
proceededto Nerac, her favourite spot. She remained
her loss of influence with her
very anxious,however,respecting
"

husband, and after

she

woman

Henri
to

had

an

service such

render.

make

to

was,

meditation

some

as

like the shrewd

resolved,

effort to

regainit by

few

would

very

wives

the
respecting

rumour

condition

be
of

ing
render-

willing

Mile, de

spreadthroughoutthe region. On the

the other,
one
on
hand, its truth could not be acknowledged,
The
it was
which Mardifficultto dissipate.
guerite
course
a rumour
be judged diversely,
took in these circumstances
may
of what was
fast becominga
but it tended to the suppression
she resolved to speak to her rival,
publicscandal. Briefly,
Fosseux

arisen and

Fosseuse, and offer her such assistance

as

she could

tender in

She proposedto take that course

for
expected'
emergency.
the sake of the girlherself and that of her family the great
house of Montmorency as well as for the sake of the King her

the

"

"

husband.

memoirs, in which she refers to

pages of Marguerite's
the most curiously
her action in this respect,
effective
are
among
The

the whole storybeingnarrated with a skilland

writings,
that perioda delicacy
which leave a deep impression.In

of her
for

substance the

proposalwhich

this : There

was

Nerac, which

an

was

she

outbreak

made
of

to

Mile, de Fosseux

plaguein

the

of
vicinity
that
quitting

for
suitable excuse
extremely
locality.A convenient place of refugewould be the Mas
Marmande
secluded royal estate, lyingbetween
a
d'Agenais,
and Tonneins, on
fore,
therethe Garonne.
Margueritesuggested,
other
off hunting in some
that while King Henri went
she, with Mile, de Fosseux, and such others only as
direction,
the latter might be willing
to take,should quietly
repairto the
Mas
d'Agenais and remain there in seclusion until all was
which
in
were
therebyputtingan end to the rumours
over,
circulation
much
In

as

"

was

an

which

rumours

affected

they affected Fosseuse

this conjuncturethere

unfortunate

young

woman.

or
proposal,

she

her, the Queen, almost

as

herself.
two

were

She

might

mightfall on

courses

rebel

open

to

the

guerite's
againstMar-

her knees and

gratefully

the
accept it. She preferred

former

that she

shows

rightly
says,

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

68

was

NAVARRE

which, as

course,

true

the

ashamed

her

who, whatever

one,

the less her rival.

some

rapidvision
like

Queen and

as

outward

no

gave

had

"

in the power

It is

that
quitepossible

some

sign of

The

it.

attitude

who

had

one

in
as

such
But

which

bold

was

of

to feel offended both

cause

of pure bravura and defiance ; and it was

that she answered that she would " make
effrontery

assumed

she

crossed Mile, de Fosseux') mind.

have

apprehension
may
she

wife ?

whether

case

might happen with impunity to

mysteriousand solitary
spot,and

who

woman

Marguerite

Fosseuse,"asks Lescure," have

Did

"

of what

in
herself,

of

the hands

was

of solicitude might be, was

protestations

none

creature

Fosseuse

that

herself
thought of placing

at the

felt alarmed

not

author,

same

whether

whether she remembered

or
confess,
Valois and a Medici, and in that

to

both

was

also asks
follow,

here well

may

we

Lescure

and

woman,

unworthy adversaryof Marguerite. But

whom

in

she
with
those

well
their words,and that she was
time past,and
the Queen had ceased to like her for some

aware

spokenof

her

eat

seekinga pretextto ruin her."

Such language,
if Marguerite's
of it may be trusted,
account
indicates that Mile, de Fosseux was
such a child
by no means
as
Aubigne would have us to believe. She quittedthe Queen
in a fury,
and went off to complainto the King, who took her
was

for

part,and

time

put

countenance
very angry
all very well in its way, but a day
with his wife. That was
arrived when the situation had to be faced. The unfortunate

Fosseuse

was

some

obligedto

Margueritetells us,
he

because

did

because
secondly

Fosseuse,

"

whom

the

so
taking,

of the

not

wish

we

a
a

the

warningmessage to Henri, who,

moment
first
sorelyperplexed,
affair to become
public,and

he feared that unless he took immediate

he

stilloccupied
the

occasion

for

was

loved

learn from

neglect. We
Henri

send

on

might
extremely,"

Marguerite^memoirs
same

refer to he

to say, the bull

by

truth,and beggedher

suffer from

that she and

sleeping
apartment,and
drew
the
to

aside her

steps,

that

on

and
bed-curtains,

horns,made a hastyconfession
helphis mistress,
assuringher

of his

if she would onlydo so.

gratitude
That appealsucceeded,
largely
by virtue of

its very

audacity,

in

In

rose

QUARTETTE

69

BEAUTIES

OF

become necescircumstances exceptional

sary.
courses
exceptional
She
woman.
was
an
Marguerite,
exceptional
moreover,
that remarkable
to that trying,
situation,and answered
husband

her

that she

offence,and

she would

that

him

honoured
act

much

too

though

as

take any

to

her

girlwere

the

time, she asked him to go off

daughter. But, at the same
with him, so that there might be
hunting,and take everybody
own

no

talk about

That

further

done, and

was

plications
com-

Fosseux'

de

fact that Mile,

preventedby the

were

stillborn.

was
child,a girl,

The

affair.

the

woman

young

recompensedthe Queen's
but that, of course, was
little ingratitude;

kindness

with

merelyin

accordance

no

to have

seems

with human

On

nature.

hand,

the other

wayward King, on whom

this adventure had cast many
worries. He gradually
neglected
her, consolinghimself with a varietyof passingamourettes ;
and, at last,when, earlyin 1582, Margueriterepairedto Paris,
however, she lost the favour

of the

she took the fallen queen of the left hand

Fosseux eventually
married,but there are
of her husband.

Marc

de

the

There

CinqMars*
cannot

husband
think

that

is,of
of the
was

he

belongedto
Marquis of that

XIII, and

was

put

told that he

are

course

between
similarity

say which
of Fosseuse

the
Louis

was

certain

of

de Sancy,we
Confession

considerable
we

accounts
conflicting

authorities he

some

Mile, de

her.

Broc, or a certain De Broc, Lord of St.

but in Castelnau's Memoirs, the Histoire des Montmorency

Marc, Lord

St.

and

Accordingto

with

the

to death

with

became
his

"

but

If,however, the

Cinq Mars,
familyas that

who

rate

St. Marc,

de

same

name,

and

name

is correct.

Baron

the Baron

at any
phonetically

"

that

two

was

we

do

which

not

duced
pro-

the favourite of

friend,Auguste de

of the
familyname
not
Broc, but Coiffier,though his father,the
Marquis was
Marshal d'Effiat,
nicknamed Ruze, an appellation
was
by which

Thou, by

the orders of Richelieu.

he is sometimes
For

the

For

the

known.

rest,the whilom

Fosseuse

of Nerac

passes out

of

about
after her marriage.Nothing apparently
is known
history
her subsequentlife. That
she retained to the last a vivid
infatuated with
recollection of the dayswhen King Henri was
*

One

account,too,givesthe

name

as

St. Mars.

TO

FAVOURITES

her

fresh

first

that

woman

she

the
of

young

love,

loves

fair
what

life,
Countess

return

loves

love.

love

for

de

Gramont.

to

the

which

she

in

more

to

Beam

the

the

famous

"

certain

quitted

love

the

final

say

affair

Nerac
of

power

and

yet

her

serious

for

rest

the

to

those

of

more

and

of

his

years

onward

him

of

eve

d'Andouins,

pass

something

all

forgot

attachment

we

Paris,

on

Diane

hers,

the

speedily

indeed

urged

of

all

her

in

know,

side,

Corisanda,,,

smile

in

we

in

now

however,

and

must

we

his

was

first

as

though

on

He

Before,

victory,
a

Henri,

as

for,

lover,

Fosseuse.

glance

of

her

But

regarded

be

Marguerite,

once

always

Corisanda's

victory

under

is

NAVARRE

OF

probable

beauty,

aspiring

may

his

when

is

and

HENRY

OF

the

from
his

wife,

circumstances

placed

brother,

Henri

III,

separation

which

ensued.

herself
then

of

yet
her

72

OF

FAVOURITES

OF

HENRY

NAVARRE

iv

to Marguerite's
departure.
opposition
she might be useful to him in Paris by

however, no
offered,

He

probablyfelt that
keepinghim informed,as
He

for

time

she

did,of

tion
situa-

the exact

further appear, from what Marguerite

that she and her husband
herself writes respecting
this journey,
there

had

certain

and it would

more

or

interests in the
less private

which
capital

attention.
required
She
at

wished,she says, to make

Court, in order

to settle her

a
own

stay of just a few months

affairsand her husband's,

after her arrival in Paris she was

shortly
certain house-property
there,notablythe Hotel d'Anjou
selling
the Louvre, which
near
was
sold, through her Chancellor,
the famous
and became
Pibrac,to the Duchess de Longueville
mansion
of that name.
On the other hand, Marguerite
chased
purCardinal
for 28,000 crowns
house
which
to
a
belonged
de Birague,
Chancellor of France.
But apart from monetary
to her own
matters, her journey,
account, had another
according
motive, for,as previously
mentioned,she took with her Mile,
and

de

we

know

that

Fosseux, and she admits in her memoirs

that she did

so

in

the

hopethat her husband, no longerseeingthat young person,

would possibly
fall in love with another,who would not prove
so

greatan enemy
the
Finally,

readiness with

to herself.

anecdotiers
which

give yet
Margueriteset

another
out

reason

for Paris.

for

the

Among

the

southward with Alencon, when he

gentlemenwho had come
the peace which put an end to the Lovers' War, was
negotiated
handsome
fellow called Jacquesde Harlay,Lord of
a
young
whose nobility,
Champvallon,
says Ghiselin de Busbecq,envoy
of the Emperor Maximilian
II in France, was
doubtful,
though he appears to have been a member of a juniorbranch
of the family
of the famous President Achille de Harlay,and
think,in later years, the progenitorof Francois de
was, we
who became
Harlayde Champvallon,
Archbishopof Paris and
took a leading
part in the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
In any case
it is generally
admitted that at the time when
and
he was
Jacquesde Harlaymet Queen Marguerite,
young
manners.r"
And we are assured that
handsome, with agreeable
at the periodof Alencon's negotiations
end to the
to put an
Lovers' War, Aubigne surprised
M. de Champvallon
young
"

iv

ROYAL

T6

SEPARATION

with

Margueriteunder circumstances which

their intimacy.Briefly,
as Henri
respecting

left him

doubt

no

devoted

de Navarre

himself to Fosseuse,his wife consoled herself with another.

That
there was
an
intrigueis certain,for a portionof the

correspondence
exchangedby Margueriteand Champvallonwas
discovered in our
own
times, and publishedby M. Guessard
in his edition
were
epistles

of

the

Queen's memoirs.

of these

Only two

all the others,nineteen

by Champvallon,
in number, beingfrom Marguerite's
Sainte-Beuve's opinion
pen.
of them may well be quoted:
Here," says he, one no longer
finds the agreeable,
ornate and naturally
style
slightly
polished
of the Queen's memoirs, but highmetaphysics
and pure phebus,
written

"

"

which

is almost

and
unintelligible

my beautiful sun
miracle of nature ! '
"

such

are

ridiculous.*

beautiful

farewell,
my

angel!
and

the commonest

rest rises and

expressions
; the

most

well,
'Fare-

beautiful

least

by degreestill it

soars

lofty

is lost

in the

uppermost altitude of the empyrean.'"Judging by the

of the letters,
Sainte-Beuve expresses the opinion
phraseology
that

ficial
artipassionfor Champvallonwas far more
Marguerite's
than sincere,
far more
than heart-felt. There
imaginative
ence
to indicate the existseem
are, however,passages which really
of a grandepassion,
such as sometimes
sweeps a woman
off her feet.
Triumph,"she writes on one occasion, triumph
"

"

in your
And
one
that

she

"
too sincere and too ardent love !
my
her feeling
almost distressed at the thought
picture

knowledgeof
can

cannot

master

herself and

and retains her heart in

won

For

spiteof

and
itself,
jealousydisplays

renounce

man,

her
all deceptions
on

is often
infidelity

this

in which, it
correspondence,
alwaysremained on the defensive.

who

would

seem,

has

part.

charged in

Champvallon

languageof the
lettersis by no means
empty, ambiguous babble,though,as so
often happens in a woman's
the most significant
correspondence,
I kiss you a million times on
:
phrasesoccur in the postscripts
I kiss
that lovingand beautiful mouth."
Farewell,my life,
And

the

"

"

"

be pointedout that there was

it may
respectfor Sainte-Beuve
nothing exceptionalin Marguerite'suse of the so-called phcebus style." It
show by quotations
shall presently
was, indeed,the styleof the period,and we
that
he was
from
Henri de Navarre's
fullyas
correspondence with Gorisanda
*

With

all

"

much

addicted to it

as

was

his wife.

74

OF

FAVOURITES

those

beautiful eyes and

bonds,a million times.11
There

be

can

the

less certain.

will be

children
a

by her husband.
a
by Champvallon,

son

the

of

name

near
living

Louis

de

Louis

de

Vaux

to Dupleix,
as
according
as
pierre,

Vaux

by

in Paris.

Wicked

Pere

the

what
some-

she had

no

first brought up under

perfumer named de Vaux,

manhood
attaining

On

then

was

this

known,

Ange, and, accordingto Bassomled a life of constant intriguing,

Marchioness
d'Entragues,

Mistress of Henri

that

Capuchin,and

Pere

Henriette

is
intrigue

was

Archange. He
havingbeen appointedconfessor

and

dear, sweet

It is asserted,
however, that she had
who

became

the

remembered

son

the Madeleine

iv

think,that Margueriteloved

upshot of
alleged

It

NAVARRE

OF

that beautiful hair,my

doubt, we

no

but
Champvallon,

HENRY

and

director
spiritual

to

de Verneuil,the so-called

de Navarre's

later years, he

served

who aimed at placing

conspirators
the crown
of France on the head of the King of Spain.
It was
and at one moment,
allegedat the period,
certainly
brother,
apparently,
by no less a personage than Marguerite^
Henri III,that she had givenbirth to a child by Champvallon
which accusation was the first of a series of incidents leading
between the Catholics and the Huguenots,
up to another war
the war
known
that of the Three
as
Henrys" Henri III of

and
revengeful

ambitious

"

France,Henri

de Guise, and

had reached Paris

Henri

de Navarre.

The

Queen

of the pressing
8, 1582, and, in spite
character of the invitations addressed to her, had met with a

somewhat

cold

opinionsat
us

this

and assist us

on

March

receptionthere. Respectingher actions and

time, we no longerhave her memoirs to guide
in

checkingthe

statements

of her enemies

for

happiestperiodof her
life those years spent near
her husband
in Gascony and Beam,
for,as we have shown, they
years not of unalloyed
happiness,
marked
and againby serious tribulations;
were
now
yet,as
everythingis relative in this life,they must at any rate be
able
of this remarkaccounted the least chequered,
the least painful,
they end

with the termination

of the

"

woman's

career.

of her memoirs
and

some

thus,soon

Court

news

In

default,however,

of her later letters have

come

continuation
down

to us,

Paris,we find her sending

her husband, tellinghim, for instance,that

after her arrival in

to

of

Guise has become

the Duke
he looks

"

time

same

brother,Henri

invitingher
Navarre

also.

thither

doubt, is

motive

eagerness

to

However,

no

that

Court
in

hoped

for
meet

her

husband

attract

de

Henri

disappointmentand
to overcome
by making
to join her in the capital.

consistent with her alleged

altogether
her supposed
making the journey herself,
the handsome
Champvallonagain.
young
not

entreatycould lure
from

to

in

their

Hence

Marguerite strove

every effort to induce

That, no

her,the truth being that

they had

Paris

to

her

mother, Catherine,and

she finds her

III, irritated with

vexation, which

secret

very thin, whereas Guise's brother

that
become so strangely
corpulent

aged and
de Mayenne has
quitedeformed."

the

At

75

SEPARATION

ROYAL

iv

which

escaping.He

he

had

turned

Henri

de

once

had

deaf

ear

back

Navarre
so

to

much

to

culty
diffi-

all his wife's

solicitations.

Thereupon,neglectedat
with

the Louvre,

losingall

influence

III, railed at, even,

she took up position
and his migTions,
againstthem,

her mother

and

her

brother

Henri

by him
with raillery,
for,says Busbecq,she lacked
meeting raillery
she seems
to have
neither will,nor
malice, nor wit. Briefly,
sided with that section of the Court which jeeredat the flagrant
immoralityof Henri III. Aubigne,however,not onlyaccuses
her of
of tryingto persuade
that Prince,"
but even
libelling
"

his consort, Queen

Louise, to dissolute

courses

d'Alencon,whereat,says he, the King was

"

againsther
It must

and

be

very

with

the Duke

deeplyprovoked

his brother."

remembered, however, that Aubigne's pen

is

steepedin gallwhen he refers to Marguerite.

invariably
Not onlydoes his hatred of her rob him of all self-restraint but
of
it quitedeprives
of lucidity
him, however great his ability,
judgment. He was not in Paris at the time of these alleged
scandalhe simplyretails gossipfrom the most
occurrences;
mongering of courts, never
attempt to
making the slightest
check
assertions directed against Marguerite. Indeed
any
everythingof that kind which reaches his ears is acceptedby
him
with a fierce and violent delight.Such
blindly,
wilfully,
is the religious
lovefanatic. Were
it not for Marguerite's
letters to Champvallonwe should attach no credit at all to the
now

OF

FAVOURITES

76

HENRY

NAVARRE

OF

iv

detected their passion

at Cadillac.
storythat Aubigne positively
And

in any

case

think that account

we

to

have

been

greatly

exaggerated,
Aubigne, like many others,becoming wise after
the
it was
such as is asserted,
the event ; for if his discovery
was
who
bounden duty of one
depictshimself as the most godly
and uprightof men, to have insisted on the immediate
ment
punishand
of the guilty
the
hands
of
his
master.
King
pair at
While, then, we admit that there is evidence of Marguerite's
and
affair with Champvallon,we hesitate to believe in its early
completediscovery
by Aubigne.
It

is,however, certain that there

and
quarrels
III during her

several

were

Margueriteand Henri
stay in Paris,quarrelswhich may have been due in part to
which
indiscreet tongue, and in part to intrigues
Marguerite's

altercations between

she fomented

assisted. At

or

or
which,rightly
wrongly,Henri

He

confided

to

althoughonly one
created

came

incident for

grave

III held her to be

responsible.

long autographletter addressed to

mignon Francois de Joyeuse, who,
twenty years of age, had alreadybeen

courier
whilom

friend and

his

last

and

Narbonne

Archbishopof

and

Holy

See with the titleof Protector

Now

the

royalcourier

appointedenvoy

of French

to

the

Affairs in Rome.

by four horsemen, who

riddled him with steel and seized his despatches.Thereupon the
of his sister,
King,ever suspicious
imputedthe outrage to her,
the more
there was
as
particularly
questionof her in his letter
to Joyeuse,
had an interest in tryingto
and she undoubtedly
discover the

purport

communications
with

the

often

was

attacked

of his communications

dealingwith

Huguenots, of

whom

with

Rome,

which
the difficulties

her husband

was

such
arose

the acknowledged

chief.
Whether
the

attack

in any way responsible

not for
or
the courier,Henri
III made
up his mind to

Margueritewas
on

revenge it upon
scandalous scene

her.

On

August 7, 1583, there occurred a

between
the King and his sister,
the whole
of whose
life changed from that moment.
current
ing
Accordto Busbecq,Henri
charged her at Court with
publicly
with repeated
and with having
leadinga shameful life,
adultery,
in doingso, says the German
an
son
illegitimate
; and
envoy,
he entered into such

that
particulars

it seemed

as

if he had

77

SEPARATION

ROYAL

IV

witnessed her transgressions.

he ordered
Finally,
personally
her to quitParis and rid the Court of her pestilential
presence
of
instance
all
the
in
history
immediately.This is perhaps finest
Without
the pot calling
the kettle black.
doubt the whole
Henri III had histrionic gifts,
and,
carefully
preparedscene
with all his faults,
effectivespeaker,
several of his
a most
as
was
testify was the royal method of taking a
contemporaries
the
not only for the attack on
signalrevenge on Marguerite,
but also for all the raillery
courier despatched
to M. de Joyeuse,
againstthe monarch and his mignons in which Margueritehad
participated.
she hastily
On the following
quitted
day,in great distress,
the capital
with a very small retinue and equipage,
as
repeating
"

"

"in

went, that

she

than
princesses

unfortunate
Henri

But

of the

IIFs

resentment

royalguard
and

stoppedher

her

Paris, where

of

all the

world

herself and
not

was

followed the

not

were

the Queen

yet satisfied.

with
fugitive

two

Scots. *

of
A

more

captain
and

sixtymen,

of Palaiseau,
southwest
village
proposedto sleepthat night. Her

party at
she

there

the

searched

by the officer.tShe was ordered to unmask,

and the same
was
injunction
givento the ladies of her retinue,
boxed as theydid not obeyhim with
whose ears the officer even

litterwas

deemed

he

what

to

be sufficientalacrity.He

Mme.
ladies,
principal

the two

de Duras

next

and

hended
appre-

Mile, de

V), on the charge

(thelatter a near relative of Sully
and criminal offences." LTEstoille states that a
of unchastity
certain M. de Lodon, a gentleman of the Queen's Household,
her physician,
her equerry, her secretary,
and
and others,men
Bethune

"

"

to the number

women

the

to

himself
*

(asin
to

more

an

likewise

and carried
arrested,

Montargis,where the King

Abbey of Ferrieres near
the loose
and examined
them respecting
interrogated
few

Very

emanated

of ten, were

good sayings have

come

down

to

us,

however,

as

having

in his L'Esprit dans VHistoire opines that

; but Fournier
instance which he specifies)
Henri's sayingshave mostly been ascribed
from

him

popular monarchs.

f Another

says that the officer searched her bed

to rest ; but that does not tally with

account

in which

she

had

the story of the

already lain down
the
their masks
on
unmasking, for while she and her ladies would have worn
have
removed
with the usage of the time,they would
'journey in accordance
tihem on retiringto bed.

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

78

iv

and even
lifeof the said Queen of Navarre, his sister,
concerning
since
have
had
rumoured to
the child she was
coming to Court,
it

by,so
of

suspected,
young

was

fact,had

who,
Champvallon,

as

matter

leftand absented himself from

at this moment

the

Court:'

Champvallonfled to Germany, but before

grand master of the
long returned to France and became
shall catch a glimpseof him again
to the League. We
artillery
at a later period.Whatever
may have been his relations with
to have had any randoes not seem
cour,
her husband
Marguerite,
for in 1602 he created him a Knight of the Holy Ghost.
to quote L'Estoille again, the King [HenriIII]
"At
last,"
of
having failed to ascertain anythingfrom the said prisoners
and licensed the Queen of
both sexes, set them all at liberty
to continue her journeytowards Gascony,
Navarre, his sister,
hand to the King of
and did not omit to write with his own
how
to tell him
Navarre, his brother-in-law,
everythinghad
In the
occurred." That last statement
qualification.
requires
of his which
first instance,Henri
III,with that pusillanimity
and in which
alwaysfollowed his sudden outbursts of passion,
of the gallant
bravura of his youth,enervated
trace lingered
no
and indulgence Henri III,
as he had been by years of effeminacy
is accurate.

That

"

"

de
say, did not at first write the whole truth to Henri
The order of the Jesuits had been established half a
Navarre.
we

and this King

centurypreviously,

availed himself of

of France

de Mornay, Seigneur
du
Loyola. Says Philippe
While
the King of Navarre
in his memoirs :
Plessis-Marly,*
was
hunting at Sainte Foix,f he received,by a valet of the
dated the 5th of
wardrobe, a letter from the King [ofFrance],
and written entirely
by the King'sown hand,
August \ [1583],
covered
by which letter,in short, he sent him word that having disthe doctrines of

"

scandalous

the evil and

Mademoiselle

and
*

had

He

d'Alencon,and
one

of the

life led

Madame

by

de Bethune, he had resolved to drive them

originallybeen
followed

chief doctors

him
as

gentleman

Flanders

to

well

as

for

of
a

leaders of the

the
time

chamber
; but

the

outrage

premeditated.

on

Marguerite,which

to

the

afterwards

Duke

became

Huguenot party.

t Probably Sainte Foy-la-Grandeon the Dordogne.

X If Mornay gives the date correctlythe letter was
before

de Duras

must

written

therefore have

three days
been fully

heir to

think, an

drawingto

was

race

by his

wife and

mistresses.

its close.

the other hand, it should be remembered

On

iv

children
many
But the Valois

had

de Navarre, who

Henri

second

by his

both

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

80

the

that among

many
surroundingHenri de Navarre there were
her
detested
Some
of
enemies
on
adversaries and
Marguerite.
of her extravagance,
account
of her religious
account
on
faith,some
looseness of
and suspected
fondness of display,
frivolity
because she had given the King
morals,others againprecisely

counsellors

no

to

son

regardedher

in

one

her in all of

upon

or

looked
of those ways, and some
undesirable consort for their
an

another

them, she

was

bear

get rid

of the

on

him

that

now

unpopularQueen

had
opportunity

an

for

particular
privatereason
why Henri de
made to him
listened to the suggestions
shall
as
we
period,
become
enamoured
greatly

this

de

Gramont,

to

in

show

There

ever.

our

arisen to

was,

too,

should

Navarre

have

for
respect,

in that

next

been

have

master, and it is easy to picturewhat influence must

broughtto

all who

For

to the throne.

the succession

ensure

chapter,he

at

had

tess
Corisanda,"the widowed Counwhom, it is said,he ended by givinga
of

"

promiseof marriage.

written

by his brother-in-law's
for satisfaction and separation,
the more
demands
particularly
under a
Navarre
when
enforced the first demand
by seizing,
had been infringed,
pretextthat the last treatyof pacification
the fortifiedtown of Mont-de-Marsan.
Thereupon the French
monarch
began to make attempts to undo the harm he had
in his jealous
done by inflicting,
a public
disgrace
spite,
upon his
Henri

The

sister.

stepshe

took

now

are

indicated

L'Estoille

by

between
dealingwith the disputes
two Princes entitle him to a hearing.
The
King of France," he writes in his journal, having

whose

the

alarmed

III,however,became

in

generalmoderation

"

"

the consequences
of such an affair,
and
of Navarre
might thereupon resolve to do

reflected on

King

happened)
;
have

been

name
France's]

that the

that is not
scandal and

to

take his wife

and escutcheon

reportsof the
nations,he sent fresh

shameful

scorn

back

"

for his

on

what

the

(as,indeed,
which

would

[theKing

of

coupledwith the circumstance

affair had already
spreadeven to foreign
letters and despatches
to the King of
"

iv

ROYAL

SEPARATION

him
Navarre,wherebyhe requested
the Queen his sister back on account

not

81

refrain from

to

of what

had written to

he

he had since learnt that all he had been

him,for

taking

givento

stand
under-

and
respectand had written to him, was false,
had innocently
without
one
that, owing to false reports,
[i.e.
malice]impeachedthe honour of the Queen of Navarre,his
in that

sister.
which the

To

"

King of

made

Navarre

other

no

than

answer

this,that abidingby the firstadvices which the King [ofFrance]

had sent him, and which he certainly
knew to contain the truth,*
he very

to the King, but was

resolved
courteously
apologized
not to take her [his
wife]back. Thereat the King of France
being irritated,despatchedto him M. de Bellievrefwith
and letterswritten and signedwith his own
express commands
hand, and in which, with tart and stinging
words,he enjoined

him

on

to fail to

not

put his will promptlyinto execution.

Kings were

King'ssaid letters contained

them :
That he [theKing of Navarre]knew
liable to be deceived by false reports,
and that

often the

most

Among

the shafts which the

this

was

of

that

one

'

slander,and

virtuous Princesses

that, even

were

in the

mother,{he knew what had

not

exempt

very
from

of the

late Queen, his

case
been said of her,and to what a

degreeillof her had alwaysbeen spoken.'

the King of Navarre began to
Having seen those letters,
he said aloud to M.
laugh,and in presence of all the nobility,
The
de Bellievre :
King does me great honour in all these
"

'

letters. In the first ones

last the

son,

of

worthless

he calls me
I

woman.

in the

husband,and
thank him.'
"

the

"

It would
any detail

ensued

more
require
space than we can giveto narrate in
the protracted
and complicated
which
negotiations

between

matrimonial
Henri

III

he would

There

"

Navarre

with

France

impasse. Several envoys were

Pibrac
Aubigne,Plessis-Mornay,

not consent

had

and

to any of Henri

respect to this

despatchedto
and

de Navarre's

Yolet

"

but

requestsfor

probablybeen privatereportsfrom Huguenot agents

in Paris.

t See ante, p. 64.

% Jeanne d'Albret.
have here bowdlerized
" We
much

for
L'Estoille,

Henri's actual

words

less refined.
G

were

based on
separation
againstMarguerite.
a

brother-in-law should

OF

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

the

chargeswhich

FAVOURITES

82

had

iv

been

brought

the contrary,he insisted that his

purelyand simply take his wife back.
On

unnaturally,
given the conditions of the times, politics
the advantageson his side,
intruded into the affair. Realizing
certain
would only take his wife back on
Henri de Navarre
and Margueritebecame, as it were, the shuttle-cock
conditions,
Not

and her husband.

of her brother

last,however, by

At

into towns

thrown

withdrawal

notablythe

included

of mutual

means

Henri

near

which
concessions,

French

of

garrisonslately
the affair
possessions,

de Navarre's

and in January,1584, Henri repaired

settled,
temporarily
had in the meanwhile
retired (that
to Agen where Marguerite
town
forming part of her appanage),and took her to Nerac,
where, accordingto the accounts of certain laudatorypoets,
was

which

accounts

be taken

must

with

she made

very great deal of salt,

The fact is,however, that
a

quitea triumphalentry.
from the French Court had greatly
the fracas of her expulsion
damaged her reputationon all sides. Although her husband
have

took her back, he cannot

truth in
least some
at

although they

had

the

been

been

there

that

unaware

was

chargespreferredagainsther,
Her
subsequentlywithdrawn.

in Paris, moreover,
had helpedto undermine
ever
whathad
Henri
felt for
affection and friendship
previously

absence

the

little importance one

Besides,however

her.

pamphletLe
in

truth

the

Divorce

there
Satyrique,

assertions

it contains

King

also resented the repugnance

times

displayedfor him,
refinement

which
complaisance
may
may
woman

and

his

she had

well be

may

the

to

attach

may

effect that

to

some

the

which

Margueritehad at
dious
arisingfrom her fastirepugnance
careless self-neglect.
Further, the
evinced in regardto his own
amours

well have contributed to his loss of respectfor her. Men

avail themselves of such complaisance,
but theydespise
the
who

tenders

mistress,the Countess
and
referred,

it.

Finally,Henri

de Gramont

to

whom

and more
becoming more
And thus there are many
reasons
possible
why harmony was never again restored
Marguerite.
was

had

now

we

previously

attached
which

would

between

another

to

her.

explain

Henri

and

iv

ROYAL

83

SEPARATION

bandied to
Bickerings
began,disputes
arose, chargeswere
and fro. Margueritehad been taken back, but to be a wife
in name
only. She often remained isolated at Ne'rac whilst
her husband
here and there,now
went
journeyingto Sainte
less nominally
or
more
Foy in the Dordogne (for he was
Governor of the French provinceof Guienne, though Marshal
de Matignon was
Henri Ill's commander
there)or else staying
with Montaigne and hunting in his forest,
the greatessayist
as
tellsus in one of his letters. Again,at other times Henri repaired
in order to be near
mistress ; and Montaigne,
to Beam
his new
whose shrewd good sense
is well known, was
cerned
conparticularly
of those frequent
with respectto the possible
outcome
excursions.
with innumerable difficulties
Mayor of Bordeaux,contending
there,loyalto Henri III,who was his legitimate
Prince,yet
Catholic and
between
strivingto keep the balance even
Huguenot and desirous of a continuance of peace, Montaigne
foresaw that the isolation in which Queen Margueritewas
left
at Nerac

whilst her husband

counsellors who

went

off into Beam

attended

by
society

opposedto her,and seekingthe

of an influential favourite,
end by provingfatal to the
must
which he, Montaigne,had at heart. He did not judge
cause
but it was
his wish to see her and
Margueriteto be guiltless,
her husband on sufficiently
amicable terms togetherthat she
influence againstthose
might at least be able to exercise some
counsellors who from one
another motive might urge a
or
renewal of
He

were

war.

had

known

Henri

de

Navarre's

new

mistress,the

de Gramont, for several years. At the time of the

firstissue of his Essays he had dedicated to her a particular
Countess

chaptercontainingtwenty-nineof La Boetie's sonnets. He

knew that she was
but also
not only of lovingtenderly
capable
of displaying
a
a decisive influence
strong mind, of exercising
who might come
under her spell.Thus, as we learn
over
a man
from a letter which he addressed to Marshal
de Matignon,he
wrote to the Countess in a frank and open manner
beggingher
to sacrificeall personal
for the sake of her royallover's
feelings
interests. Those interests,
however, were not, in Mme.
political
de Gramont's opinion,
to
the same
as Montaigne judgedthem

be.

He

about

time, which brings

peace and reliance on
all things; whereas she favoured action, energy and
as

shall

we

see,

she at last made

Yet, it may

de Navarre.

did him

remain

in
she embarked
acquainted,
the objectof improvingher position
if not with her
She corresponded,
way.

another

or

tude,
his anxious solici-

also.

honour

with which she

parties,
various intrigues
with
one

of

man

isolation at Ne'rac,she did

might be Marguerite's
the competitionof the different
inactive. Amid

Whatever

in

real

well be said that if her views

those expressed
prevailed,
by Montaigne,in

not

iv

for

was

daring,and,
Henri

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

84

treacherous brother

well

was

and

III,at least with her mother

Henri

It is known
that she
personages of the French Court.
denounced the fact that althoughthe King her husband
bitterly
with

denied her all

rights. At
conjugal
last he, on suspecting
or
beingwarned that her correspondence
with the French
Court was
not in his favour,suddenlycaused
had

taken her back he had

one

of her

after he had started from Nerac

soon

Apropos
letter which
Ferrand's
been
she

Ferrand, to be arrested

named
couriers,
a secretary

for Paris.

in a
Montaigne is found reporting,
since
to Marshal de Matignon,that

of that affair
he addressed

"

misadventure,and

on

that

Nerac, where the Queen of Navarre

to

has

account, Frontenac
told him

that

if

had

imaginedthe King her husband to be so inquisitive,

in his hands,and that
she would have placedall her despatches
for what appearedin the letter she wrote
to the Queen her
as
mother, speakingof returningto France, it was
by way of
and seekingadvice,but not that she was
resolved
deliberating
it.
And
Frontenac says that what the King of Navarre
on
did in the matter
of the suspicion
was
only on account
the bearer of memoirs
imparted to him that Ferrand was
and publicaffairs. The principal
to his position
result
relating
.

is said to be that

several letters from

their lovers in France

for when
a

fire

could

some

be

Ferrand

mean

the

taken he found

was

that Court

letters which
the

means

to

were

saved,

to throw

into

consumed
to ashes before they
papers which were
taken out
it is said that these remaining letters
"

provokemuch
From

"

of
girls

laughter.""

that account

the affairwould

seem

to have

been

of

ROYAL

iv

little consequence,

but

that

serious issue

much

more

85

SEPARATION

both

L'Estoille and

tell

Aubigne

when

involved,for Ferrand

was

us

under arrest,had declared that Queen Margueritehad formed

to poisonher husband in order to punishhim
for the
a design
and

scorn

neglectwith

to him.

return

Even

he

which

lent himself,for

Henri

a
events, to that chargeagainst

woman

him

with

when

The

Royal Council
not

was

devotion

the utmost

carried

summoned

was

thanked

althoughwe

twice nursed

had

his life

imperilled.

was

discuss the case, but it

to

his

not

are

that connection,let

In

without

own

which

"for
againstthe proceedings,

him.,,

certain respects,
we
many

who

all

while at

because Aubigne,accordingto
further,

account, remonstrated
his master

her since her

treated

had

say that

us

in

likingfor Aubigne

some

fear that he takes credit to himself for too

things.

But events

of much

domestic

squabblesof

occurred

or

between

Henri

de Navarre

impendingat

were

Henri

to
greaterimportance

and

the French

this
Court

and

France

his consort

period. The
had

than the
situation

been

never

had

in any

since his wife's expulsion

from it ; and though
way satisfactory
in that respectit might be exaggeration
to say of Marguerite
that like another Helen
she fired another Troy, it is at least
certain that her

was
expulsion

that led up to the new

the Catholics and the
was

the

eighthwar
Among many

war

the firstof
which

series of

in 1585

occurrences

broke out between

Huguenots,and which,chronologically

of its kind.

which

helpedto bring about the

renewal of that bitter struggle
of the conditions
were
some
exacted by Henri
de Navarre on
takinghis wife back, the
rightof holdingcertain importantfortified places,
the death
of

the Duke

issue and

d'Alencon

Henri

to the French

matters

on

III had

throne

June, 1584, which,

none,

made

Henri

de

as

he left

Navarre

no

heir

then the anger of the Catholics at the

Huguenot Prince becomingKing of France, their
;

thoughtof a
idea of conferring
the regal dignityon
his old uncle, the
Cardinal de Bourbon, followed at last by their compact with
Philip II of Spain,whom
they chose as Protector of the
to have espoused
League,and one of whose daughters
was
a
French
Catholic Prince
Guise being ultimately
chosen
a
"

"

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

86

NAVARRE

iv

and all this

handingFrance over to Spain,
therebyin a measure
with the objectof excludingthe hated Henri de Navarre, the
heir,from the throne of his ancestor St. Louis. Thus,
rightful
of the Three
the War
Henrys,
once
war,
again,there came
called for reasons
so
explained.
previously
Meantime, the relations of the King of Navarre and his
intolerable. Nerac, which she had
wife had become absolutely
for her a purgatory,a
found a happy home, was
now
once
"placeof penitence even as puritanPau had been in the
past. And thus,after Fope Sixtus V, incited by the French
Catholic Leaguers and the Spanish monarch, had at last
of Navarre, his wife,
the sovereign
solemnlyexcommunicated
not without certain mystical
Catholic Princess,and one
a
as
tendencies (so many
and superstitious
femmes galantesare
"

also

or

availed herself of
devotes)

become

that excommunication

to leave him.

did not

She

might

attempt

well have

to

was

convenient

so

knew

openly. She

that he

let her go had he suspectedher

cared nothing for her as a
he now

refused to

for
real intentions,

wife,she

do

though
kind of hostagpin

pretext.

It

was

his hands.

the Lenten

season,

So

she

and

soughta
she therefore

repairto Agen to hear a certain

The
at the cathedral there.
Jesuit father who was
preaching
King did not oppose that desire,and so on the evening of
March
19, 1585, the Agennais witnessed the arrival of their
But other
escorted by merelya few attendants.
sovereign-lady
of the
followed her, and day by day the number
folk soon
increased. By the
Queen of Navarre's retinue and partisans
employment of a little Valois and Medici craft,Marguerite
herself in
had succeeded in her objectof once
more
installing
of Agen and there surroundingherself with
her dower
town
reliable folk who would defend her againstthe husband
by
less sincerely
she had been scorned.
whom
or
Siding more
until her
with the League, she held Agen againstall comers
Mme.
life there,and the exactions of her confidante,
prodigal
de Duras, who had againjoinedher and exercised a powerful
influence over
her, at last stirred the Agennais to revolt,in
de Matignon the
such wise that with the help of Marshal
father, by the way, of her whilom
attendant, Gillone de
a
expressed

desire to

"

CORISANDA

The

Gramont

Family,

Massacre

of

of her

Henri

Diane

"

Husband

Antoine

son

with

II

Corisanda
Portrait

Her

"

Her

"

and

Origin

Hagetmau

Corisanda

Liaison

its

Rise

Henri

"

Antoine

"

d'Andoins, Countess
Philibert
de

Versailles"

Navarre

Henri's

carries

de

de Gramont

Father
Her

"

and

"

her

Presents

Conde's

He

"

Death

Letter

Correspondence of

describes
His

"

to Corisanda
of

Marans

Faithfulness"

"

Fears
before

Love

His

Battles
for

the

her

to

Himself

Battle

Passages

other

Henri

alleged

in

"

of

Arques"

his

Letters

Love

the

Affair of Soissons

Liaison

At

with

to

"

Henri

"

Her

and

Catherine

later Years

in

Corisanda

at

and

"

making
He

sends

Period"

de
His

delightfulDescription

His

Protestations

the

Time

"

Marguerite
Auvergne" Corisanda

"

End

"

of

Corisanda

Queen

de Navarre

of

of

of Henri

this

of
His

He

"

Promise

from

Narrative

"

Affairs

Henri's
Allusions
Constancy
Flight from Agen and Strange Life

Love

His

Events

distrusts

his

"

and

to

Results

"

"

Henri's

Lapses

the

"

his Wife

"

Devotion

its

throws
He
Matignon's Flags to Corisanda
away
Coutras
her
to carry
He
Joyeuse's Standards
gives her
Marriage and has a Son by her
Aubigne prevents Henri

Corisanda

the

wise
Gramont, othernity
Pateralleged

his
her

Passion

I and

The

"

not

Aubigne's Spite against

"

at

to Influence

guerite's
Marand

of Corisanda's

Death.

this

perioda familyof Basque origin,destined to become

and more
famous, was gradually
acquiringmore
prominence in
France.
Its name
in the days of Basque independencehad
been

Agaramuntek, which, as the suzeraintyof France spread

to the Pyrenees,became
first into Agramunt, then
transformed
into Agramont
and
finallyinto Gramont.*
Bergon Loup
d'Agramont, by his valour at the first Crusade, had been one
of

the

first members
In

considerable
*

the

The

the

of this

sixteenth

influence

at

century
the

corrupt spelling Grammont

family

itself in the

eighteenthcenturies.

familyto

the

French

was

achieve

only

historical

Gramonts

Court,
used

latter part of the seventeenth

by
and

one

certain

tinction
dis-

acquired
of

them,

members

of

earlier part of the

DIANE,

COMTESSE

After

DE

the

"

GBAMONT,

Portrait

in

the

LA

Versailles

BELLE

CORISANDE.

Museum.

CORISANDA

89

guerite
Bishop of Tarbes, accompanying Mard'Angouleme to Spain when she repairedthither to
negotiatewith the Emperor Charles V for the release of her

Gabriel

de Gramont,

brother,Francis
Gramont

Henry

to

VIII

the French

I.

Moreover, Francis

despatchedGabriel

de

England as his ambassador at the time when

was
thinkingof marrying his daughterMary to

monarch, and

when

Francis,on

his

side,wished

to

marriage between his sister,the aforementioned

and the Englishruler. Neither of those schemes
Marguerite,
succeeded, however; for Francis espousedCharles V's sister,
the widowed
Queen Eleanor of Portugal,while Henry VIII
the beautyof Anne
preferred
Boleyn to the diplomaticskill,
the literary
talent,and the discerningmind of the plainfeatured writer of The Heptameron. What
that work might
have contained had Marguerited'Angouleme become
the wife
of the EnglishBluebeard,supposingthat he had sparedher to
write it,may be left to the imagination
of our readers.
Gabriel de Gramont, being in orders,was
unmarried,but
of
the head of his family at that time, Francois, Lord
arrange

Gramont, had one

child,a daughternamed Claire or Clara.
She, in 1525, espousedMenaud
d'Aure, Viscount d'Aster or
line of the
Aste, and from that union sprang the modern

name
Gramonts, Clara's son, Antoine, assuming his mother's surin accordance,
says M. Paulin Paris,with the stipulations

d'Aure had consented to

Menaud
marriagecontract.
this arrangement although he himself claimed an illustrious
lineage,
tracinghis descent back to one of the very earliest
rulers of Navarre, Sancho the Caesarian,
who, accordingto the
of her

havingbeen cut alive out of his

when she was
massacred by the Moors.
mother's womb
Among
the
Sancho's possessions
the valley
of Aure, lyingamong
was
south of Bagneres-de-Bigorre
at the beginning
; and
Pyrenees,
ruler of
of the sixteenth century,Menaud
d'Aure was virtually
that valley.Some
of his castle of Aste may stillbe
remnants
found in the environs of Bagneres.
In 1549, Menaud's
I de Gramont, espoused
son, Antoine
he had
Helene de Clermont, Lady of Toulongeon,by whom
Philibert.
several children,the eldest one
being named
was
legends,

Antoine

"

so

so

called from

called because there

were

in after years several

90

Antoines

NAVARRE

family took a prominentpart in the religious

the Catholic side.
on
period,being a commander

in the

of his

wars

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES
"

1574, when, after the

de Navarre, detained as a
In

of St.

massacre

Bartholomew, Henri

pelled
prisonerat the Louvre, was comalso constrained
to abjurethe Huguenot faith,he was
to send orders for the re-establishment of the Catholic religion
in Beam, of which province
Antoine de Gramont
was
appointed
Antoine
those instructions,
To
governor-general.
carry out
fifteen miles from
repairedto his castle of Hagetmau, some
two
Mont-de-Marsan
(Landes)* and there assembled over
hundred
the steps
and fifty
noblemen to arrange with them
on
ever,
which should be taken.
Tidingsof that conference came, howof the fierce old Huguenot leader,Baron
to the ears
in
d'Arros,who had been Jeanne d'Albret's lieutenant-general
of little account
himself,for he
Beam, and who, though now
he
an
was
octogenarianand was blind, had a son on whom
believed he could rely. He sent for him
so
Aubigne tellsthe
story and after handinghim a naked sword spoke to him as
"

"

follows
"

"

"

"

gave you life?

After God it is to you
Who

that I

the young
it, father,"

owe

answered.

man

Well, God

"

exclaimed.

requiresthat

now

"Go, my

and

son,

the old man

you,'"
accomplishthe
may

life of

that you

you to undertake,cast not your

the number
of those who
will accompany
you, but
their virtues and their courage, and
gaze not on

I now
enterprise
on
on

call

enemies

to

sword

mine, which

of

The
seven

count

young

man

on

them,

but

will bless in your

God

massacred

all but

it is said that he
Antoine

de

Gramont, when

castle of

Henri
for
equivalent

II

Hagetmau
died

your

this

had

onlythirtynoblemen
the two
fifty
the castle of Hagetmau, surprised
them, and
succeeded in takingflight.And
a few who
was
alreadyraisinghis sword to cut down

forward and entreated him

The

with

only

hand."

obeyed,and althoughhe

wa3

there.

the Bearnese

name

beautiful young

woman

sprang
life.
D'Arros
to spare his prisoner's
a

very fine one.

Mauvaise-hetraie
a

"

and

hundred

companionshe attacked
assembled at

only

strike them

to

eyes

of the

place.

Henri
"

de Navarre's

would

be

the

father
grandFrench

91

CORISANDA

young to be insensible to her distressand her charms,

his life,
he gave Gramont
put up his sword, and returned to
him for having sparedthe
his fierce old father,who upbraided
too

was

who

raven

would

The

became

the
of

of

the Corisanda

most

Henri
she

Diane, and

whose

woman

young
de Gramont
was

his eyes.
intervention had

day pluckout

one

devoted
de

and

disinterested

only child
Louvigny and

de

of the

real Christian

Her

of

Paul

Lord

of

the

was

who
history,

and

romance

most

Navarre.

saved Antoine

tresses
miswas

name

d'Andoins

or

Lescun, a brave
killed (says Brantome) beside Francois,
gentleman who was
when
the troops of
Duke de Guise, father of Henri le Balafre,
Andouins, Viscount

Charles IX
authorities

took

Rouen

give the

from

as

hers

saved

Diane's

years of age,
that Antoine

birth

1554,

as

All

in 1562.
so

she

can

when, on August 7, 1567,

whose

I de Gramont

life

Hagetmau.* Such an earlymarriage

unexampled in those days,but such unions
at

consummated

not

were

not

was

Huguenots

date of Diane's

onlyhave been thirteen

she espousedthe son
of
she afterwards

the

husband

until

later date.

Philibert de Gramont

and

Toulongeon,

de

Count

Gramont, Count de Guiche,and Viscount d'Aster,

became
of Bordeaux, governor of Bayonne,and seneschal
mayor
of Beam.
L'Estoille,
though mentioningthat he was one of
of great
the mignons of Henri III,also calls him a Gascon
valour and

well as brave,
as
promise. But he was quarrelsome
and in 1578, on falling
out with Bussy d'Amboise,it was
posed
prothat they should fighttogetheroutside the Porte St.
of Paris, each being supportedby three hundred
Antoine
gentlemen,who were to join in the fray. But that murderous
was
enterprise
happilyfrustrated. In the same year, however,
of the
Philibert quarrelled
Count
member
with a young
and cut him down
Chavigny familyconcerninga page'sstaff,
lifelessat the very doors of the church
violent career
cut short two years
was

Fere, earlyin August, 1580,

La
*

She

of the
us

from

would

then

we
particulars
an

Anthony

essay

on

Hamilton's

have

been

twenty

one

for
later,
of his

years old.

Let

family which

famous

Mdmoircs

we

contributed

du Comic

at the

arms

us

give respectingthe earlier Gramonts

the

His

of St. Roeh.

add
have

in 1889

de Gramont.

was

own

siegeof
carried

here that many

been taken by
to

an

edition of

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

92

NAVARRE

OF

of musketry,and he died from the effects

away by a discharge
"
writes L'Estoille a propos
It was
said at Court,11
of the wound.
"
wicked beast to devour
of this event, that La Fere was
a
very

so

mignons."

many

that

As

jestmay

be allowable for

readers it may
in old French the word
of

by some
explainthat

stood
readilyunder-

be

not

our,

"

others signified
a wild animal.
among
Count
at the time of his
Philibert,

to

by Ronsard,

used

fere

us

"

eight years old, his wife being

who was
with a son
twenty-six,
Antoine

became

and

Louvigny,SovereignPrince
In

Marshal

de

as

Roquelaure,by

then

at

the

age

of

little boy, but

quitea

Guiche

de Gramont,

Viceroyof

of Bidache, and

Louise, daughter of the first

married

he

1601

widow

II,Count

who

Navarre.

known

left

onlytwenty-

death, was

sons, Antoine

he had two

whom

III

Roger, Count de Louvigny. Nine

that union he made a painful
years, however,after contracting
"The
and a tragical
result ensued.
Count,,,writes
discovery,
(Marshal)de

and

Gramont

his
Malherbe, under date April 1, 1610, "surprised

Narfizian,his equerry, whom

months

he

herself

later the Countess

slew

the

on

wife with

spot." Eight

died,and L'Estoille chronicles

the

spring
of 1618 he again took a wife,Claude de Montmorency, eldest
he had two
by whom
daughterof Louis,Baron de Boutteville,
and four daughters,
the former
sons
being Henri, Count de
the Abbe,
known
as
Toulongeon,and Philibert,
successively
a

that her husband

rumour

had

poisonedher.

de Gramont.
and Count
Chevalier,
those lightly
written
yet admirably

Hamilton
Court
In

of

vivid

hero

of

Anthony

of
picture

the

second Charles.

our

the

the

was

in which

memoirs

the world such

bequeathedto

last

This

In

and
of alternate verse
opening lines of the epistle
is prefixed
recalls the
to those memoirs, Hamilton

prose which
ancestry of

his friend

in

Gramont

fashion,
grandiloquent

:
exclaiming
"

0 thou, the glory of the shore

Where

The

Corisanda

blessed abode

Thou
Far

whom
from

Subsequently,
moreover,

saw

of Menaud

the

day,
d'Aure

the fates have doomed

that

pleasantshore

Hamilton

away

;
to

stray
"

suggeststhat the Gramonts

OF

FAVOURITES

94

HENRY

has been dated from

his liaison with the Countess

to her,such

certain letters of his addressed

To

Corisanda

that

was

that

dates

period.

as

1570,

not

thus supportingthe view

assigned,
only Henri's mistress,but also an

have

been the ideas of

been

have

1576

1573, and

NAVARRE

OF

unfaithful wife.
whatever

But

may

and his Chevalier de Gramont

good

is

there

"

relations with
a

"

believe

to

reason

Corisanda

did not

widow, and that is after her

not

constancywas

which

than

Henri's

his

to

not

be

passionfor
he made

whom

the

score

amours

was

(since

of years,
of less

then reached the apogee

de

Countess

journeyto

had

Guiche

spot which

Now, it is certain that if Corisanda

since 1576, his passionwould
ever

had

(Corisanda),to

see

Agemau." "

is named

been

of

Henri's

mistress

been in its apogee

In all the love affairsthat the world has ever
known

in 1583.

passionhas

no

other

follow

the

who
Further, his minister Sully,
mistaken,states in dealingwith the year

1583, that the King of Navarre

"

Prolonged
love affairs,

began at

would
a

become

years'duration.

ten

ought

Corisanda

it lasted for

Navarre's

had

de Navarre's

it
suggested,

of
longest

she

birth.

Antoine's

engaged with

been

has

the very

whereas

he

de

Henri

begin until

son

it ended) that

when

know

we

that

feature of Henri

and if that in which

earlydate

Anthony Hamilton
is not in question
their sincerity

attained to its

have

not

highestdegree so

late

as

seven

inception.Moreover, all Henri's absolutely

authentic lettersto the Countess belong to periodssubsequent
have given,which, it will be observed,is
to the last date we
to Queen Marguerite's
return
to Paris,and the disappearan
posterior

years

after its

of

the

Fosseuse
disappointed

1582). Margueritegone,
(February-March,
off to be married,Henri

embarks

he engages
first,
perhaps,

At

but it becomes

in

from

the

Fosseuse

scene

packed

fresh liaison.

in it merely
pour

passer le temps,

very serious attachment,and whatever may

be said against
itfrom the standpoint
of strict morality,
it does

the
it

King

world of

good.

It raises him

and inspirits
him, incites him
inspires
*

The
is

on

name

is

misprintedAgeman in
Hagetmau, the scene

to
evidently

p. 90, ante.

some

from

vulgaramours,

to deeds of valour and

editions of Sully,but the reference

which we mentioned

of the massacre

95

COMSANDA

efforts. But
for Corisanda,indeed,he
persevering
She was, so to say,
have become King of France.
might never
his Agnes Sorel.

the most

Of

Corisanda

course

her enemies

had

even

guerite
Queen Mar-

as

Huguenot leaders being quite

much
to the wife.
as
opposedto the mistress as they were
the austere Aubigne,who, being
Among these one may name
virtuous,could not brook the thought of anybody indulgingin
had

cakes

and

when

M.

to

induce

hers ;

of the

some

Corisanda

ale.

de Bellievre
the

King

was

Mont-de-Marsan

at

thither
repaired

of Navarre

on

take

to

in

1584,

behalf of Henri
back

his

III

wife; and

Aubigne indicates his opinionof her in a way which is at once

and amusing :
venomous
Every morning,v"
says he, M. de
the Countess de
of his lodging,
from the window
saw
Bellievre,
Guiche
then headquarters
hussy,going to mass,
[Corisanda],
Lambert, and by a Moor,
accompaniedby Espritand the petite
a
Basque in a green gown, Bertrand the baboon, an English
"

"

and a lackey.This Senator [Bellievre]

strated
remonspaniel,
with a Huguenot [Aubigne himself]
respectingthe
defectiveness of all that,in the following
terms : " In my
time
I have often seen
ladyfriends of our Kings,but the men highest
the Princes,were
in rank, even
happy to watch for the time
when
they would leave their lodgingsin order to pay them
who is of good birth,and who
respect; but I see this woman,
she pleases,
turns and jogs this prince[Henri de Navarre]
as
attended,when
and, behold, she goes to mass, on a feastday,
all is said,merelyby a monkey, a spanieland a buffoon.''
*
Monsieur,' the Huguenot [Aubigne]
replied,that is because
in all this Court
there is neither monkey, nor
nor
spaniel,
buffoon,exceptingthe ones you see.'"
of the Three Henrys broke out,
However, when the War
page,

"

'

the

Countess

preferto
think

de

Gramont

and

Guiche

call her in this narrative

of other

was

Corisanda

or

showed

"

that

to him

her

lover

Sixtus V with

that she gave

as

she

and
thingsbesides buffoons,
spaniels

Although she was a Catholic and

too, solemnlyexcommunicated
by
candle,it

"

could

monkeys.

Huguenot,
bell,book

help,for him
mortgagedher estates
all her

she offered up all her prayers. She

pawned her jewelsin order to reinforce his army

with

we

men

one,

and

that
and

and

horses,while he, on
than

more

memorable

one

the

side,as

his

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

96

her

proceeded,
gave

war

his

proof of

NAVARRE

There

attachment.

making war not for

his own
advantage,but merely
political
cause, not for his own
himself in the eyes of his mistress,seekingin
to distinguish
her smile and her embrace the onlyreward he desired.
carried away by his passionto
occasions he was
On some
For
such a pointthat his cause
as
a
King suffered seriously.
that,however,Corisanda cannot have been intentionally
sible
responhe seemed

times,indeed,when

were

the whole

on

"

said,healthful
him
inspired
resist

and

was

it,but

field in order

her

influence

Henri

over

inspiritingbut
"

such that there

be

to

as

was,

we

have

the love with which she had

were

times when

he could not

flungaside importantadvantagesgainedin
to

hurryto

his mistress and

the

cast himself in her

arms.

it is difficult
for beautywas justified
reputation
In the galleries
of Versailles will be found a small
to say.
of her,formerly
in Colbert's collection,
and certainly
panelportrait
dating from Corisanda's period. But while it is of
How

far her

historical interest it has

littlevalue

as

work

of art.

Like

with
it shows the Countess
sixteenth-century
portraits,
an
high forehead and the most diminutive of chins,
abnormally
the generalexpression
of the face beingchildish. It may well
date from Corisanda's extreme
youth,in connection with which
it will be remembered
that she was
married when only thirteen
has no other merit,it at least
But if this portrait
years of age.
of Corisanda's general
tellsus something
Her hair,
appearance.
raised very high above her brow, is fair,
her eyes are
blue or
her cheeks are rosy, plump,and round ; and as we
bluish-grey,
know that in her last years she became ruddy and very stout
such is too often the metamorphosisreserved for the female
form
divine the picturewould
reallyappear to convey an
idea of what she was
like in girlhood.It is not a beautiful

many

"

"

face,it has

none

observes in the

Corisanda

of the distinction and

of
portraits

Gabrielle

in the affections of Henri

refinement

which

who
d'Estrdes,

de Navarre, and

one

succeeded

who, by
the way, also had fair hair,blue eyes, and pinkcheeks,nor is it
a
(perhapson account of its youthfulness)
strong face,but it
is a

and good-natured
rightpleasant
one.

97

CORISANDA

That

Corisanda became

in

earlywomanhood

than

this

know

of her liaison with Henri.

occasions

evident from

portraitindicates,seems
his

passionso

overcame

him

all that

said that

have

We

charming

more

as

to

we

certain

on

him

cause

to

of
for the crown
struggle
in March,
France.
A first example of the kind was
supplied
Marshal
de Matignon to raise
1586, when, after compelling
the siege
and takingseveral of his standards
of Castelsarrasin,
in the engagement which was
fought,he did not follow up the
forces of Henri Ill's lieutenant,
but hurried away to
retreating
the Bidouze between Bayonne and
the castle of Guiche
on
Pau
in order to spreadhis mistress'scouch with the captured
banners. On that occasion no great harm was
done,perhaps,
by Henri's remissness in regard to Matignon. But in the
of a similar fugue were
followingyear the consequences

neglecthis

interests in the great

"

"

serious.
October 20, 1587, Henri's army encountered the Catholic
forces under Anne, Duke de Joyeuse,
Grand Admiral of France,
On

Coutras, north-east of Libourne,and inflicted on

at

defeat.

severe

who, on seeingHenri's
Joyeuse,

them

soldierskneeling

in prayer before the engagement, is said to have exclaimed,

"
Those men
tremble,theyare ours ! " * was among the slain ;
and Henri de Navarre, who
conducted himself with great

f might have reaped important

gallantryon this occasion,
of the
advantagesfrom the victory.Indeed,the whole course
of the Three Henrys might have been changed. But the
war
fever of love had againcome
upon the amorous
young monarch,
and without heedingthe murmurs
of his troopsor the reproaches
the Prince
solicitationsof that able commander, his cousin,
de Conde',
who asked for onlya few daysto reach Saumur
as
so

and

the army a means

of crossing
the Loire,he threw away
all that had been gainedat the priceof no littlebloodshed,
and
to

ensure

rendered the whole

*

to

campaign futile,
by starting
yet once

It has been

Joyeuse

ascribed
another

to

pointed out by Edouard Fournier

probably apocryphal, a similar one
Charles the Bold at Granson, and to an
is

that the

having
Austrian

more

saying attributed
been
previously
commander

on

occasion.

Our greatand brave King Henri,

f Says Brantome
apropos of this battle :
' Get
had largelong plumes hanging from his helm, said to his men
:
ye
from in front of me, obscure me
not, for I wish to show myself.'
"

who

"

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

98

NAVARRE

OF

joinhis
him going southward,stayingfour days after
mistress. We
see
the battle with Montaigne,diningwith that rightgood man
then taking to boot and saddle once
and staid philosopher;
with the standards taken from

in order to

the enemy,

until at last the standards he bears lie at Corisanda's feet,

more

her
and he is kissing

"

million times."

though
perhapsallow us to add, platitude
of history.
it be : Thus does love of woman
changethe course
Sully,
by way of excusinghis master on this occasion we
that a good servant
with, him in that respect
are
: it is fitting
readers will

Our

"

should

try to

asserts

that Henri

lapsesof

the

extenuate

yieldedto

good

de

Henri's

But

again.

deny

Sullycannot

Sully

"

the solicitations of his cousin,

Bourbon, Count de Soissons,who

Catherine de Navarre, and
sister,

Charles

master

was

anxious

the

that

enamoured

King

to

of
her

see

was

easily

persuaded.Soissons,says he, was aided by the complicity

which
he found in the King'smind, the love he bore the
of presenting
Countess de Guiche,and the vanity
to that lady
the ensigns,
pendants,and other spoilof the enemy which he
in adding
had caused to be set aside to be sent to her.'" And
for the journey "the
that Henri assignedas his "pretext1'
affection he bore to his sisterand the Count de Soissons,"
Sully
givesthe case away.
virtually
"

It

about

was

Navarre,

now

this

for

1588, that Henri de

from Queen
quiteseparated

time, in 1587

year
he no

two

or

or

whom
Marguerite,
longerregardedas his wife and was
ready to repudiatein defiance of Rome and all her thunders,
far influenced by his love for Corisanda as to desire to
was
so
have already
to which
romance
we
marry her. In a famous
Les Amours
du grand Alcandre*
it is asserted that the
referred,
King gave Corisanda a promiseof marriagewritten and signed
with his blood.

That

is not

Henri

repeatedly
gave

whom

he

loved,and

we

written
shall

subsequentchapter. But
prophecythat they shall
"

still as

far from

Navarre's younger

at all

fulfilment

men

unlikely. It

"

it

was

women

in the

Beaumont
contemporaries,
*

that

promisesof marriageto women

printone of them in extenso in a
for the
being deceivers ever

be true and
as

is known

See ante,p. 93.

shall believe

days of

Henri

and Fletcher

is
de

"

it

so

99

CORISANDA

happenedthat

of the aforesaid

none

was
royalpromises

ever

redeemed.
In the

of Corisanda

case

enceinte at the time when

is known

that she gave

indicated

by one

it

probablethat she was

promisewas givenher,for it

seems

Henri's

birth to

of Henri's

died in 1590,

who

son,

in which he says,
letters,

own

"

is

as

am

who died
distressed by the death of my littleone (petiot)
greatly
yesterday.He was beginningto talk." It was, we think,the
circumstance of Corisanda having this son
by her royallover
that the Gramonts
that afterwards gave rise to the supposition
of

later date

descended

were

him.

from

the above

But

will

questionwas born during the

Countess's widowhood, and died when
emerging from infancy.
of to-daymay well be entitled to repudiate
Thus the Gramonts
left-handed descent.
any alleged
have

that the child in

shown

to find that the virtuous

It is not at all surprising

claims the honour

of

having preventedhis

Aubigne
from

royalmaster

espousingCorisanda. He gives us to understand that the

King'sintentions were communicated to him and to the Viscount
*
de Turenne
when
they were togetherat Marans.f Turenne,
we
are
strance
told,was tacitly
opposed to the match ; but, as remonto quit
might prove dangerous,he invented an excuse
the King for a short time, leavingAubigne to dissuade him
from his matrimonial projects.
Aubigne favours us with a long,
rhetorical discourse,
which, accordingto his own
sententious,
account, he thereuponaddressed to his royalmaster, though we
doubt
greatly

whether

listen to the

interminable

delivered at

one

or

that
quitepossible
the

convey

On

See ante,p. 51.

town, which

t This

in 1588, and
was

formed

about

the child who

date

seems

or

Aubigne

to

man

asserts he

It is

less criticaltime.

the

is in

as
speeches,
printedin his History,
actual utterances ; but they are, as it

"revised,corrected,and
occasion

which

we

nots
besiegedand taken by the HugueHenri's
projectof marrying Corisanda

was
Saintonge,

probable that

that time.

with

considerably
are
dealing,

The

date would

fit in with

that of the

beginning to talk (1590).

judged Aubign6'sHistory very severely. Writing
February 14, 1620,he says : " As for what you tell me

% Malherbe
under

it

more

at all the

was

those

utterances

extended." J

de Navarre

speecheswhich

another

of his

sense

those

were,

Henri

death

of

was

to
at

cousin
the

end

FAVOURITES

100

OF

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

Aubigne claims to have harangued the King in the first place

his duty as (1) Henri de Bourbon, (2)as King of Navarre,
on
of France, and (4)as protectorof the
(3)as heir to the crown
Churches.

however,and probablybecause he observed

Finally,
of
did not appreciatethat pulpitmode
that the monarch
address,he advised him, skilfully
enough, to postpone his
all the difficulties
intentions until he had overcome
by which he
beset, and found himself firmlyseated on the throne of
was
Henri
felt the force of Aubigne'sreasoningon this
France.
agreed to postpone his plansin regard to
point,and finally
Corisanda for
that

on

of two

term

M. de Turenne

years.

We

also asked to believe

King, the latter made

the speechwhich Aubigne
his
ending it he repeated

the

returningto

which was word for word

speech,
had previously
and that on
delivered,
decision to adjournthe whole matter

him

are

periodwe have
mentioned.
When
that period
however,Henri's passion
expired,
for Corisanda was
also.
expiring
of the lettershe addressed to her duringtheir
Thirty-seven
and
liaison were
collected and preserved
by Count d'Argenson,
afterwards

became

communicated

were

the

property

by him

to

La

of

for the

President

Place,by

Henault, and

whom

they were

in the Mercure
in 1765-1766.
In our own
times the
published
were
placedin the Arsenal Libraryin Paris. Other
originals
letters belonging
to this same
to light
at
came
correspondence,
various periods,
and the whole collection,
far as it goes, will
so
in Berger de Xivrey'sRecueil des Lettres missives
be found
de Henri
IV,
and vivacious
They are often very delightful
epistles.
During most of the time the King has full confidence
in his mistress. He informs her of the position
of his affairs,
of men
and things,describes
confides to her his impressions

battlefields and
of
despatch
"

am

on

other

scenery

to

her, or

advises her

of

the

present.
the

for you
pointof acquiring

horse which

goes

respectingAubigne's History,you have in the volume which I

he has yet had printed. I certainlythink that it will be
you,
followed by a third one, but he has hit it off so badly in the beginning that I
fancy he will think it out more
closelyin the future. You may judge how
truly he may speak of the affairs of the Levant and the South since he has
done so badly with what occurred so near
him, or as one might say, at his very
door."
(Euvres de Messire Frangoisde Malherbe, 1634, p. 464.
of your

sent

letter

all that

before
very skilful man
10, 1588) in which he
CondcTs

of

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

102

long!
also

death.

"

NAVARRE

OF

he exclaims

in

(March

letter

narrates
graphically

stances
the circum-

he writes,"this
Thursday,1''

"On

at the ring,
Prince,after tilting
supped,and

poor

in

was

good

him, and
midnight violent vomitingcame
upon
in bed.
lasted until the morning. All Friday he remained
In the evening he supped,and, after sleeping
well,rose on
Saturdaymorning, dined, and played at chess. Getting up
from his chair,he walked
about his room,
chattingwith one
health.

At

and another.

But

feel very weak

'

all at

he said

once

and he had

Give

me

sat down

sooner

no

my
than

chair,I
he lost

still seated, gave

of speech,
and suddenly,
power
*
ghost. The signsof poisonsuddenly appeared/1

the

death

was

to Henri's

great blow

the

up

Conde's

cause, for the Prince

not

was

but also a most able commander.

integrity
The King had a suspicion,
natural enough in those days,that
and tells Corisanda
life,
attempts might be made on his own

onlya

of

man

of it on

several occasions.

in God

But, says he, his

chief reliance is

"

His grace will keep him.11 There are numerous

references to the Deity in his letters: " All is in the hand
who

by

of

he writes on
blessed my labour,11
one
God, who has repeatedly
occasion ; and on another : " Certainly I advance
a
good deal,

God

going as

leads

me,

for I

know

never

do at the finish.11 Again, a propos

I shall have

what

death, and the

of Conde's

of an attempt on himself,
the King
possibility

to

remarks

"

am

only targetof the perfidyof the mass

[worshippers].
They poisonedhim, the traitors ! But may God remain the
the

now

master, and

I, by His

grace, the executor

foresee that greattrouble is coming upon

God

for

me.

than

I
"

says :
in mind.

Love

years.

of

perhapsnearer

also
your faithful slave." He
well enough in body but sorely
afflicted

am

and show
for

It is said that the crime

for religiousmotives.

suspected

will have preserved

shall remain

me,

great consolation
*

I escape it will be that He

the grave, to which I am

imagine,I
My soul,I

...

to
Pray stoutly

me.

Should
Until

me.

will.

of His

His

me.11

was

that

me

similar note

committed

wife,Charlotte

it
having instigated

that

do

you

hy

some

so

was

it will be

is sounded

yet

of the Prince's servants,

de la Tremoille, was

she

kept

in

also

so

strongly

for many
captivity

about the same

forcibly
and it is a
to be pitied,

more

103

CORISANDA

am

under

If I

the burden.

were

marvel

not

The

"

time

devil is let

that I do not

succumb

I would

Huguenot

loose,

become

that can
receive a soul assails
Every Gehenna
Love
mine incessantly.
me,
Pity me, my soul.
my
all. Your
good grace is my mind's stay under the shock of
affliction. Refuse me not that support.""
(March, 1588.)
When
the King is prostrated
by bodilyillness he is found
of my illness,
Yerre could not be sent off on account
:
writing
from which, thank God, I now
see
myselfemerging. Assuredly,
the heavens open, but I was
not deemed
good
my heart,I saw
a

Turk.

"

enough
Twice
to

the

to enter

in

God

them.

twenty-four

hours

wrapped in shrouds.
had
crisis[ofmy illness]

be

would

have

feel faint.

made
Good

All sorts of

stillwishes
I

was

been

my

have

delayedtwo

great feast of

morrow,

reduced

so

would

You

make

to

me.

use
as

to

of

me.

be

If

pitiedme.
hours the

fit

worms

I finishbecause

...

soul.'"

importantevents

(January,1589.)
in France during
occurring

are

with Corisanda.
There is
the years of Henri's correspondence
of the Barricades in Paris,the flight
of Henri
the greatrising
III into the
the

the assassination
Orleanais,

reconciliation of

Henri

III and

their joint
Plessis-les-Tours,
to
preparations

the

advance

King
on

de

Guise,

of Navarre

Paris

and

at

their

attack the

III is assassinated at St.

To

of the Duke

amidst which,however, Henri

city,
Cloud by the monk
JacquesClement.

several of those events

there

which

Corisanda

Henri

III, her royallover becomes

receives. When,

are

allusions in the letters

after the assassination

rightfulKing

and, withdrawingfrom before Paris,undertakes

of

of

France,

his memorable

campaignin Normandy,we stillfind him acquaintingher with

his positionand his intentions. As
Yung remarks in his
Henri IV \ ecrivain,
justbefore the battle of Arques,when the
Duke de Mayenne, now
leader of the Catholic party,was giving
in the sea, when the Spanish
out that Henri was
seeking
safety
ambassador was
to Rome
that he had been killed,
when
writing
the Duchess de Montpensier,
the contrary,
on
was
a
spreading
rumour
through Paris that he had been captured,and folk
were
hiringwindows in the Faubourg St. Antoine to see him
led in chains into the capital,
he was really
to Corisanda
writing

FAVOURITES

104

OF

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

confident strain
My health
quietly
affairs are goingwell,comparedwith what many

in this

The

I have taken Eu.

who

enemy,

is

good and my
peoplethought.
double my strength,
now
After accomplishing
my
them
in
for
am
waiting

"

are

thought that they would take me.

I drew near
to Dieppe,and
enterprise,
I shall see
which I am
It is to-morrow
a
fortifying.
camp
them, and I hope,with God's help,that if theyattack me they
will have an ill bargainof it."
Twelve
written, that is on
days after that letter was
September21, 1589, the Leaguers did attack him, opposing
thousand ; but with the
to his seven
thirtythousand men
assistance of that doughty commander, old Marshal
Biron,
defeated them, and

Henri

Arques
victory
But

let us

took the

now

perpetuatethe

to

of

name

givean

very different kind of

"
I arrived
to Corisanda.

from

by Henri de Navarre
eveningfrom Marans, whither I had
yesterday
I
that it should be well guarded. Ah, how

letteraddressed

fancythat I have ever

bushy marshes,where
to enable

at every hundred

to go and

one

of

all sizes.

gatherwood,
those

Among

whither one
gardens,
goes by
is two leaguesround ;
castle,
throughthe town, which
Pau.

Few

enter

one's

which

not

there.

are

the houses

little boat.

from
This

distance

has

the
and

Of

of their feathers.

wonderful

priceare
five for

boat.

The

pike. It

land

is covered

thousand
passed
encom-

accommodation

the doors of which

river

sea

is

fish the

with

and

the

leaguesaway.
farms, all

birds too.

I send

quantity,the

[arepaid]for

placeof

cannot

Contrariwise

twelve

mills
sea

one

as

spreadsinto two arms,

shipsof fiftytons come
is only two
leagues.
river.

three sols
is

are

widths, the

island thus

much

as

the

from

you

with

river flows at the foot of the

Assuredlyit is a channel, not

big boats go to Niort, which
is an
of insular
There
infinity
of birds that sing,all sorts of
some

The

only bear largeboats,for

The

of all

are

solitudes

boat.

that

paces there are channels

in boats.
The water is

clear,with but littlecurrent, the channels

boats

wished

provide

your
island,enclosed with

It is an

...

to

gone

in accordance

spot most

seen.

his

Arques-la-Bataille.

extract

had been there ! It is the

of

memory

sorts

you

size and

largecarp,
and all by
great traffic,

corn,

and

very fine. One

105

CORISANDA

be

can

there

there
rejoice

can

with the

safelyin

peace, and

in
pleasantly

that

one

One

war.

loves,and lament

one

an

it is to singthere.1'*
pleasant
The strain in which that charmingepistle
is written certainly
a
gift,and
poetical
suggeststhat Henri de Navarre possessed
indeed
Lescure
regarded it as sufficient indication that the
King was reallythe author of the songs Charrnante Gabrielle
and Viens,Aurore.
however, we shall
Respectingthose pieces,
have somethingto say in the appendixto this volume.
Let us now
of the love passages in the King's
turn to some
In the earlier years there is
with Corisanda.
correspondence
often a picturesque
and
however
much
grammarians may
thee
object charmingminglingof such pronouns as thou
and "you,""thine" and
letters occasionally
same
yours"inthe

absence.

how

Ah,

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

in the

even

same

to distraction.

you

I kiss thyhands

Again : I beg thee to

which you
the position
"

confines

himself

think it

?"

"

As

slave adores

Your

million times,my

do not

rightif I

ask for."

heart."

giveyour

son

rule,however,the King

to the second person

his love most

protesting
outbursts often
passionate
evening; if I love it,how
comes

instance

For

sentences.

"

Love

me

pluraleven when he is
ardently.Tender thoughts and

much

must

than

more

to love me,

that you have done

than fail in aught that I have

read your

"I

occur.

letter every

I love her from

yourself."
"

already."

I do not

I would

"

whom

it

beg you

rather die

promisedyou."
As for the protestations
of constancy unfortunately
we
know what to think of them
they are innumerable.
Always
remember
Petiot (little
one),my heart. Assuredlyhis fidelity
is a miracle.
He bids you a thousand times good day in those
Believe that my fidelity
is white and
f
pathsof Lyranuse."
its like was
"Live
seen."
convinced of my
never
spotless,
it grows firmer,if that be possible." Be alwayssure
fidelity,
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

of my
*

which
fidelity,

The

date

of the

time

when

Henri

"

above

assigningit to 1586 and

date,for the note which
at

will be inviolable."
letter is somewhat

others to 1588, which

the letter sounds
was

I love

so

but you

none

authorities

uncertain, some
last seems

preciselysuch

seriouslythinking of making

See also footnote,p. 99, ante.

f Lyrnessus,perhaps. If
to Achilles.

is

"

the allusion may

the
as

one

probable
might expect

more

Corisanda

be to Briseis and

his wife.

her

stancy
con-

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

106

OF

and in that resolution I shall die."

Never

"

"

of your

convinced

"
Be
of my fidelity."
will never
fail you."
"

"

"

NAVARRE

Believe that

entertain
slave's

doubt

nothingsave

He
fidelity.
a
departure

part]will ever make me alter my

resolution to be yours eternally."
Only a few years after Henri penned those protestations,
Tibullus,wrote in Romeo and Juliet :
translating
Shakespeare,
At lover's perjuries,
they say, Jove laughs." If that were
have kept the master-deity
de Navarre
must
true then Henri
not so
His fidelity
in constant merriment.
to Corisanda was
white and spotlessas he asserted. During the years of their
friendship[on

from

your

"

"

"

liaison,the
own

those of

"

Imbert
de

in

of various

names

women

about

business,much

his

him

lady,it is true, sent

surprise.But, on the

That
his

to

of

Longchamp

Vernon, and
The

Catherine de Verdun, then

Marie

erudite Paulin

liaison with

became
when

there

therefore

was

near

Catherine

to

however, who
to

us

de

Abbess
Beauvilliers,

Paris

contended

last named

the

Abbess

Boulogne,and

in the Bois de

could

of Montmartre

in

for Corisanda
in

nuns

Havard

and

of

Montmartre.

that the story of Henri's

she only
not be true, as

1598, and

Mme.

knew
personally

understand

that

fell in love with her,and

abbess.*

she

Marie

that

at

the time

de

was

turn

Sauval,
Beauvilliers,
gives

Senantes.

de

when
only a nun
made by
subsequently

was

was

nection
con-

of the nunnery
later Abbess of

questionof besiegingParis, and Henri

that city,
the abbatial dignitybelongedin
de

his

certain Esther

his attachment
other hand, about the time when
two
was
1590, the anecdotiers name
expiring,
with

with

Pons, Marchioness

de

1587, then that of Antoinette

in 1589 and 1590.

Guercheville,

him

and

Martine

certain Dame

associated

are

of those tales may be true and some

may
but it is certain that Corisanda considered that her
Some

Henri

him

an

be false,

royallover
by quitedisbelieving

his fidelity
too much, and ended
protested
in it. As alwayshappens,in the love affairs of royalty
as
*

by

She

Marie

Gabrielle
near

was

Babou

de
Count
daughter of Claude de Beauvilliers,
she was
de la Bourdaisi"re,through whom

d'Estrees.

Meaux, and her

Her

sister Claude

sister Francoise

of

became

Avenay

Abbess
in

of

Saint

well

Aignan,

first cousin

Pont-aux-Dame

Champagne.

to
s

CORISANDA

as

in those of students and grisettes,

there

littletiff between
or

107

the

the other side.

occasions is shown
The

"

more

it appear

good

graces, but
a

me.

That

Henri

one
on
jealousy
quitepiqued on certain

was

or

by

also in your

letter to your son

If I did not render

all I could.

some

various passages in his letters.

I go forward the more
it seems
that you try to
how small a position
I occupy, not onlyin your

make

sent

fit of sulks

pair,some

times

at

came

do not

You

By that lackeyyou
Gramont] but none to

memory.

[AntoineII de
myselfworthy of one, I did at
find the roads dangerouswhen

least

you
if it be

to the least of your friends. But

givepleasure
of writing
then
to me
contentment
to giveme
some
a question
the roads are
dangerous. That is proof of the share which
I have in your good graces.
I finish,
certainly
believing

wish to

...

that you do not love me."

On
"
I have received your letter,
it
it. You did not deignto send

another

occasion

letter by Vicose.

think it

rightto behave so coldly? I leave that

judge." Yet again he says: "I have received a
mistress,
by which you acquaintme that
you, my
wish

but that
ill,

remarks

littletime to read

requiredvery
me

he

Do

you

for you to
letter from

you

do not

reliance in one so variable

place
It was
to me
to learn the first,
as
me.
extremelydispleasing
that she did not placereliance in him],and it is quite
[i.e.
of you to remain doubtingas you do.
actions
In what
wrong
of mine have you known
I say in regard
to be variable ?
me
I have always remained
to yourself
fixed in the love
me

cannot

you

...

and service I vowed

Well

those

Corisanda

may

her

is my witness of it."
shaken
she read
her head when

God

have

There

assurances.

which

May 18, 1589, on

what

to you

exists

she indicates in her

real

to

opinion of the matter

you," writes the King, "that I

in

the

world

as

do you,

and

to
[garderoi
Jidelite]

even

Corisanda

is no

writes

changing
she
jidelite]
"

In the
to

his

"

you
There

faithfulness
adds
course

"

into

to

handwriting
"Truly swearing
own

is.
love

that

honour

and
will
"

the

"

unfaithfulness

"

"

none

keep faithful
whereupon
;

grave
of it ;
appearance

I
:
sarcastically
of Henri's

Henri's, dated

letter of

"

and

after

in[garderoi

believe it ! "

letters there

are

sundryallusions

his indifference towards whom

wife,Queen Marguerite,

OF

FAVOURITES

108

says :
to ask me

man

came

an

behalf

on

earlynote to
of the ladywith

pass five hundred

without paying the
for her consumption[bouche]

the camels
of wine

and

"

NAVARRE

real bitterness. In

graduallychanges to
Corisanda,he

OF

HENRY

for

it is thus written

in

passportto

patent.

It is

if she

as

tuns
tax

declared

For fear
parchment to be a drunkard [ivrognessej.
lest she might fall from such a height as the back of her
the passport. This is guzzling
animals, I refused the man

herself on

beyond all
as

much."

taken

Henri's

requiresuch
but

Agen, and
her have

the

for
it

well

quantityof

knew

that

do

Tarvasset*
must

not

be

his wife

did

not

personalconsumption,
gatheredtogetherat

for her

she

for that very

of

this occasion

wine

force which

was

the Queen

on
raillery

seriously.He

too

did

never

measure,

had

that he refused to let

reason

it.

later,1588, he is found writing:"Domestic

is
misfortune is a very greatone
bad woman
a
; and again:
a dangerous
beast,"both of those remarks having reference to
his wife. In January 1589 he expresses to Corisanda his great
Three

years

"

wish

"

to be rid of

Margueritefor good : "The onlyhappiness

await is that of hearingthat the late Queen of Navarre
I now
has been strangled
that, and the death of her mother
;
de"1Medici]
make
would certainly
me
[Catherine
singthe song
of

Simeon."
with

Four
Henri

months

later,that

III,he writes

"

The

is after his

King

has

ciliation
recon-

spokento

ladyof Auvergne,I think I shall make her take

a nastyjump."
The unfortunate
be here explained,
Reine Margot, it may
had been leadinga very strangelife ever
since her expulsion
from Agen. f
If one
could believe Le Divorce Satyrique,
her
and
flightfrom that town was most precipitate
unseemly.
One of her officers,
who is said to
a certain Sieur de
Lignerac,
me

about

have
her

the

become

her

lover,took her up behind

girlsfollowed

some
officers,

on

her

as

horseback

best
and

him

they could, with

some

on

on
a

his
few

horse,
other

bling
foot,the party resem-

pack of gipsies.Coveringa distance of twenty-four

leaguesin two days,Ligneraccarried the Queen to a castle
called Carlat in the mountains of Auvergne,of which his brother
a

In Kabelais.

t See p. 86,ante.

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

110

NAVARRE

OF

King [HenriIII]and the

Queen-mother." Aubiac was afterwards hanged at Aigueperse,
to the
to Le Divorce Satyrique, he displayed
where, according
with

Montmaurin

the

the

to

news

"

end

thinkingof
moment,

his faithlessmistress that instead of

constancyfor

much

so

which

blue muff

continued

his salvation he

the

was

until the
kissing,
onlythingthen left to

last
him

of the favours of that shameless creature.1'

Marquis de Canillac seems, in his turn, to have become

and if so this circumstance may
of Marguerite,
enamoured
of the castle of
possession
perhapshave helped her to secure
The

Usson.

There

is

she made

how

legendof

fool of the

Marquis,how she bribed his wife,entered into communication

ark of
from a prisoninto an
with the League,turned Usson
the Marquiseof
and, once her purpose gained,deprived
safety,"
which she had givenher as a bribe,and summarily
the jewels
dismissed her. But the whole of the highlyentertaining
story
"

is

mere

authoritative

Merki,

M.

romance.

of the

Queen'slatest and most

that if Usson became a stronghold

one

shows
biographers,

less nominal
or
League,with Margueritein more
of it,this was
owing to the faithlessness of Canillac
possession
with the
to his King and master, Henri III, and his connivance
of whose letters to the Marquis is printed
Duke de Guise,one
The
Merki's work.
in M.
upshot was that, while Canillac
departedto join the League, his wife remained at Usson as
firstlady-in-waiting.
Marguerite's
of the

Again,the

romanciers

stories of the life which

her

residence

long

and

it had
of

"

resemblance

Princess who

Hilarion

likens that castle to

but Le

pious monastery;
more

to
at

was

Kings. According

Margot
de

led at Usson

during

Coste, the Queen's

have been

"

Queens

anecdotiers tell very remarkable

the Reine

there.

panegyristencomiums
of

and

den of thieves than to the residence

the

once

the

to

pronouncedon even the worst

a
temple,a saintly
hermitage,
Divorce Satyrique
claims that

same

and
sister,
daughter,

wife of

libel,Marguerite,whilst

at

Usson, took as her lover a certain Pominy, who was the son of
an
that her brother,
seems
Auvergnat tinker ; and it certainly
Henri

III,remarked

Navarre, not
now

thrown

content

one

day in

with

open

the young

her cap at the mule-drivers

Court

that the Queen of

sprigsof Gascony,had
and tinkers of Auvergne.

111

CORISANDA

Pominy,it appears, had been a choir boy, and his fine voice
attractingthe Queen's attention,she appointedhim to her
All the rest,
and afterwards made him her secretary.
chapel,'1
however, is mere
legend a succession of that kind of story,
wittilyremarked, "everybody
which, as Paulin Paris once
let us once
more
repeatsand nobody believes." And now
say
her
for
her
while
to
revoir to Queen Marguerite,
a
au
leaving
endless devices to raise money,
and
her
at Usson,
semi-captivity
now
by sendingher jewelsto Venice to be pawned there,and
now
by appealingin turn to her mother, her sister-in-law,
"

"

Elizabeth of Austria,and
shall meet

We

her

even

againwhen

husband, Henri

her

de Navarre.

the latter negotiates

with her for

her consent
to a divorce.
the purpose of procuring
last stage of Henri's love affair with Corisanda
The
reached

in

continued

1590, when

their young
writingto the Countess

acquaintingher with all

campaign,that victorious march

down

the

year,

assassination

child died.

close of that

episodesof

his

Paris, which

on

III at St. Cloud

of Henri

Nevertheless he
the

to

was

rendered

fruitless

the
of

sudden
avail.

no

have seen, too, that Henri stillcorresponded

with Corisanda
while he was
ever,
contendingwith Mayenne in Normandy. HowWe

his

waning,and
began to rise.

before

fast

long the star

la belle Gabrielle
of
It is possible
that
Corisanda might still have exercised influence with her royal
lover had she been willing
of his designs.But,
to second some
passionwas

now

"

"

in

Let

case

as

events, she

sister Catherine
de

was

who
Soissons,

for

"

indicated when

nature.
pliable
that
previously

between

writingof

cousin Charles

years held at the

Master of the Palace,"
some

Henri

"

match

point. We mentioned
was
longattached to her

high court office of Grand

said, of France."
corruptly

the

of

not

was

in

the

favoured

in

Bourbon, Count

Louvre
or,

take

us

Henri's
de

at all

matters

some

and

Catherine

the battle of Coutras.

had

at

time

one

Soissons,as

we

occurred

That

1587, the year in which

Some

time afterwards

Mary, Queen of Scots,was beheaded.

the help of the
Henri, wishingto secure

our
King of Scots,subsequently
him his sister Catherine
offering
eightyears older than James ;

would

have

been

I, conceived the idea of

James
in

but

suitable,for the

marriage. She
in

one

was

respectthe

Princess

was

about
match
staunch

Soissons thwarted

her

use

all her

another

ever

to

one

the

to

de

Count

the fulfilment of Henri's

this connexion

In

NAVARRE

OF

attachment, however,

Her

Protestant.

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

112

we

find him

plans.
writingto Corisanda,urging

influence with his sister

since

their

known

(theyhad

childhood)to

her

induce

to

espousingthe
and help
King of Scots. The latter,
says Henri, offers to come
at his own
to give his
him with 6000 men
expense, and even
this King of
services. And, Henri
own
predicts,
confidently
will infallibly
become King of England." He is,therefore,
Scots

dismiss

incline her to the idea of

Soissons,and

"

all the
Catherine.

anxious

more
"

Preparemy
pointout to

for the match

sister to wish

between

him

James

and

he writes
well,11

to

in which we are, and

position
I am
the greatnessof that Prince, togetherwith his virtue.
but speakof it to her
to her about it myself. Do
not writing
that it is time for her to marry, and that
by way of discoursing
there is no hope of any other match for her than this one."
Corisanda turns an unwilling
But
to the suggestion.
ear
She inclinesto constancyin love,she admires the mutual fidelity

Corisanda

of

"

Catherine

affections

and

her the

Soissons,she

blightedby

one

does

of those

"

not

reasons

wish

to

of State

see
11

their

which,

for so
founded, have been responsible
of the
much human
misery. She herself,
althoughwell aware
waywardnessof Henri de Navarre, clingsto her love for him

ever

since

States

were

enough until at last the triumphof Gabrielle d'Estrees

patiently
her with a very womanly idea of revenge.
inspires
then no longerany question
of a union between
There was
Princess Catherine and the King of Scots. He had espoused
Anne

of Denmark

to Soissons.

Under

(1589),and

Catherine

these circumstances

of
lover,regardless

her

stillremained
Corisanda

faithful

urged her

to

royalbrother's wishes. It
that the plotmight succeed.
Soissons furtively
seemed possible
quittedHenri's army and repairedto Beam, where,
he and Catherine
at Corisanda^
instigation,
signeda promise
of marriagewhich would have been put into effect but for the
sturdy oppositionof one of the Bearnese ministers,Palma
Cayet the historian. In vain did Soissons argue and storm,
that he would kill the minister if he persisted
even
threatening
that he would
in his endeavours to thwart him.
Cayet replied

marry

her

CORISANDA

113

preferto die by the hand of a Prince while doing his duty,

than by that of the executioner for betraying
his master, King
Henri ; and, undaunted
he laid all the
by Soissons1 menaces,
facts before

the President of the

SovereignCouncil

of

Beam,

"

Pangeas, the
big buffalo who had married King
Henri's whilom mistress,
Mile, de Tignonville.Pangeas thereupon
M.

de

"

seized the chateau of Pau, set

Catherine,and

onlyrevenge
was
Sully,

compelledSoissons

the Count

to
met

was

make

him

him

at the

Catherine

to

leave

on

the Princess

region. The
Pangeas,says

day when

one

sequently
he sub-

King'squartersat Pontoise.
promiseof marriagesignedby Soissons

and
stillin existence,

was

the

able to take

fall downstairs

However, the mutual

and

ever

guardsround

Sullyreceived

orders

of it. This was

the first commission
of
possession
in
later years he had to deal with
the kind givento him, but
similar promise which the King himself handed
a
to the
father of Henriette d'Entragues."I shivered,11
says Sully,
such an
order.11 Nevertheless he
when
the King gave me
acted on it,and achieved success
by dint of masterlyduplicity.
in turn by givingout that the King
He
deceived everybody
to

obtain

"

would

to the

consent

indeed

union

when

inevitable

of the lovers

which,said he, was

"

the

royalauthorityhad triumphed
and that his Majestywould certainly
rebellions,
over
so
many
be touched by the sacrifice and trustful homage of that promise
which was
insult to him as a monarch
of marriage,
and as
an
the craftyminister secured that
head of his house.
Briefly,
"

document, and

by

which

at the

same

time another

one,

that is

tion
declara-

lovers entered into

unfortunate,trusting

the two

out
they would not marry one another withWhile
his consent.
Sullyduly conveyed the promise of
marriageto Henri,he kept the other paper in his own
sion,
possesthe
but
afterwards
it
to
never
even
mentioning
King,
all
frustrate
further
it to
utilizing
attempts at union on the

an

engagement

that

part of Catherine

and

Soissons.

Nevertheless,there

was

long unrest

and dissension in the

subject
royalhouse owing to this affair ; and it is the principal
of the King'slast letters to Corisanda.
of one
Madame,11 he
I commissioned
to speak to you
writes in March, 1591,
what, to my greatregret,has occurred between my
concerning
"

"

...

OF

FAVOURITES

114

OF

HENRY

NAVARRE

of believing
myself.Far from finding
you capable
[hefound that]all your speechesonly tended to blame me

sister and
me

and foment

sister to do what

my

she

ought not
will only say

I did

to do.

of you, to whom
these words
I
that all persons who seek to set my sister at variance with me,

expect that

not

will

have

never

1595, the King writes

Force

"

days a
which

me

in the most

me

Although
so

so

much

as

cruel

her

by

see

vexations

many

with
possible,

manner

words, but

in

trouble

will be
littlegratitude.
Ingratitude

adjourn her.

will not

to

duty

cease

everybodydoes

Whatever

she does

do

not

I have

me

not

do

felt

she shows

punishedby heaven,
say and do I
King,and to do

she may

be her father,brother and

though

even

I will show

which
letter,

now

what

reality
quite different

I desire her welfare

this,that while

and to that I

my

and in
which greatly
me
vexes
sister,
my
for she
she reveals her bad disposition
[mauvaisnaturel\

soft
in appearance
are
ones, as I will let you

none

that

letter from

of
complains

you.

the Duke) de la
(afterwards
received during the last few

to Monsieur

tell you

I must

September 13,

Later, on
forgiveness."

my

hers,which

nowadays,though with

God's

is

thing

helpI

will

do mine."
It is

that
possible

mentions

to

La

the letter from

Force

the

was

Catherine

which

Henri

quoted by
touchingepistle,

Yung in his Henri IV, eciivain,in which the Princess protests

and begs
againstthe martyrdom to which she is subjected,
(althoughstilla Protestant)to be allowed to retire to a convent
there end the

and
than

to be

entreatywas

widowhood
painful

obligedto
vain.

take

Catherine

of her

rather
affections,

againsther will. That

prolonged her resistance until
the 30th of January in the
on

husband

latter part of 1598, but

constrained to marry Henri de Lorraine,
following
year she was
She was
Duke
Ever
de Bar.
then in her forty-first
year.

the

since the age of sixteen she had been in love with the Count
de
Soissons. Her wedded life was
brief; for she died at Nancy

in

February,1604,

been

from

an

internal inflammation

which

had

for pregnancy.
It will probablybe felt that
much
although in earlier years Henri de Navarre professed

mistaken

in relation to her
he shines no more
for his sister,
than he does in relation to his wife Queen Marguerite.

attachment

115

CORISANDA

And

what

of

be forced to take

be asked ? She could not

may
when
the fickle Henri transferred

Corisanda,it
husband

she

d'Estrees,and, moreover,

his affectionsto Gabrielle

was

not

again. The King, owing perhapsto the

his sister,
to have made
seems
no
attempt
quarrelrespecting

inclined to

to

soften

love

the

blow

his desertion inflicted on

which

Mme.

de

for,a long time afterwards,in 1597, the Marquis

and
her first
of the Countess^
de Parabere, one
relations,
Gramont;

her
respecting
corifidant

with

amours

bold

Henri, was

enough to

in which
manner
humiliating
he had forsaken her ; whereupon the King, stung by that
well-deserved rebuke, and his heart touched, perhaps,by the
of war
at
of the days when
he had laid his first spoils
memory
Corisanda's feet,replied
the
(September21, 1597) expressing
for the
most
deference,gratitudeand friendship
flattering
in other days he had written with the fervour
to whom
woman
of passion
:
Farewell,my heart,I kiss thee a hundred million
and

for the sudden

reproachhim

"

times ! "
He

greatlyfavoured

attached him

her

of Navarre.

to his person, and

de Gramont
M.

D'Urfe's

Astree,to enable

II de

Antoine

son,

Gramont,*

created him
ultimately

Viceroy

who, in the
King^slast years, after his Majesty had retired to bed, read to
him one
another
of the new
of the time, such
or
romances
as

him

the

effects of
soporific
in the case
of Henri
exemplified
were

however,
well

may

have

constancyof

that

so

felt

bored

D'tFrfe's

to

sleep! Thus
pastoralliterature

get

certain

to

de Navarre.

mutable

by

hero,the

of those

one

was

and
the

One

can

stand,
under-

wooer
a
enterprising
unfailingtimidityand

love-sick Celadon.

Meantime
fell upon
in the

the horrid fate reserved for many an ex-bellefemme

She grew " very fat,corpulentand red
Corisanda.

face,"says L'Estoille
"

who
by Sully,
that

states

an

assertion which

some

she was, she felt ashamed

loved her so much.
once

that,changed as

folk should

say the King had

According to most authorities she

opine

that

she survived

her
well have seen
may
whom
Anthony Hamilton

passedaway

until

immortalized.
See p. 92, ante.

in

1624, in which

grandson,the
*

is corroborated

1620, but
case

she

Philibert de Gramont

VI

LA

Wooed

I.

The

de

Babou

of

Gabrielle

and

the

Henri

Beauty

the

Champagne

in

Epernay

Bellegarde
Anne

de

son,

Cesar

"
"

Letter

Bueil

"

the

Among

Renaissance

was

Bourdaisiere,

the

from

the

the

castle

Loire,

near

century, when,
XV's

be

minister,
demolished.

She

is accused

of

The

it

men

particularly remarkable,

Gabrielle's

Life

Poisoning

the

King's

Physician

Entry

into

that

Triumphant

and

Duke

"

but

the
the

period
Babou

Paris

reared

the

Bourdaisiere
were

beside

of

caused

who
race

la

eighteenth

possession

Choiseul,

women

the

the

derived

its towers

in

of

de

appellation being

into
de

the
of

still existed

passed

of

of

name

which

Bourdaisiere

famous

marries

Bellegarde

"

of

Jealousy

his

the

by

part

however,

Views

Religious
Henri's

"

before

on

families

French

Vouvray,

the

makes

"

Henri

"

Biron

Cesar.

known

latter

of

Henri's

of
Henri

Paris

of

Marshal

Gabrielle

Attempts

"

She

"

Mass

to

Paris

son

one

of La

worth

ance
Appear-

Dismissal

accompanies

of

"

Gabrielle's

"

"

Siege

"

Death

"

Reproaches

notorious

most

Puy

enters

"

"

Events

to

sions
Preten-

Navarre's

Liancourt

"

her

paciiy

to

Death
de

Gabrielle

States-general

well

Henri

by
of her

Legitimation

its

of

Henri

Vendome"

de

du

is

Paris

de

Longueville.
Bellegarde

Renewed

"

Years

Bellegarde

Journey

Henri

"

Political

Anne

and

League

"

Fair

is vindicated

She

"

"

The

"

Abjuration

and

"

The

Her

Marriage

and

and

Latter's

Nicolas

the

of

de

His

"

Early

for

Mantes

at

The

of

and

Military

"

join

to

Descriptions

Annulment

and

him

Longueville"

Gabrielle

of

Campaigns

his

and
and

Portraits

"

Liancourt
on

Family

Estrees

Duke

Longueville

Romantic

His

"

The

and

Inclination

orders

He

"

d'Estrees

Birth

"

Affairs"

Love

Gabrielle's

Henri

from

flies

Marriage

"

Gabrielle

Bellegarde

of

First

Bellegarde"

with

Love

orders

He

de

"

Sins

Deadly

Antoine

of

Marriage

"

Seven

Her

d'Estrees"

Gabrielle

"

"

Won

and

Family
The

"

Sisters

Duke

in

retire

Bourdaisiere

la
her

and

Wife

GABRIELLE

BELLE

were

Louis

it to
not

undoubtedly

OF

FAVOURITES

118

conduct

her

proved

HENRY

OF

scandalous

so

NAVARRE

that

she

vi

ultimately

was

to the Couvent
des Filles Repenties.All her sisters
consigned
de Villars,
de Nau, de Sanzay,de
married,becomingMesdames
Balagny, and de Beaufort.
According to Tallemant des
known
brother were
Reaux, the six girlsand their surviving
in Paris as the Seven Deadly Sins.

The

Christian

as

Diane, and

Be that true
of

Marshal

Balagnyincluded
of

name

deformed.

de

Mme.

is said to

not, she secured

France, Alexandre

of the Montluc

son

or

her lover

who

listbore the

in the above

been

have
as

de Montluc

Jean

massacred

de

Balagny,
Huguenots,and

so

many
importantpersonage, Jean
equally

an

slightly

her husband

de la

Valette,

Duke

and
Grand
of France
Admiral
d'Epernon,sometime
Colonel-General of the Infantry
mention
of the Kingdom. We
her again,
because she suggested
to
however, more
particularly
D'Urfe' the character of Delie
his

Astrec,and

is also

or,

"

have

to
alleged

in
say, Delia
been,for a brief period,

we

as

should

"

fixed his
definitely
list
affections on
in our
her younger
who
is designated
sister,
under the name
She acquired,
of Beaufort.
indeed,the title
of Duchess
well as those of Lady of Liande Beaufort
as

de Navarre

mistress of Henri

and

court

Marchioness

Gabrielle
and

that

has

Montceaux, but

remained

romance

by order of birth the fifth child and the fourth of

daughterspresentedto Antoine d'Estrees by his wife
She

Francoise.
date

that

after the

years

into the

came

of that

held
formerly

she

born

was

marriage of

writers appears even

brother,Francois Annibal,

if 1573

were

The best

romance

Auguste Maquet,
"

Charmante

Appendix

0.

but
Bourdaisiere,
uncertain.

the date of 1573

as
improbable,

more
was

she

the collaborateur

It

was

assignedby

in that year, and her

began in 1590-1591, when,

figuresis probably La

of the

Gabrielle's

born

date of her birth she would

in which

Gabrielle"

La

1565, which would be six

parents,but that, although

de Navarre

the correct

at

in

her

recent

connection with Henri

world

is somewhat

occurrence

unlikely
; while

seems
possible,

song

in song,

famous

Belle

La

as

was

the six

it is

history.*
She

the

she

de

before he

elder Dumas.

attributed

to

Henri

have been

Gabrielle by
respect to the
de Navarre, see
post,
Belle

With

LA

vi

barelyeighteen
years
of Gabrielle in La

BELLE

GABRIELLE

of

It is true

age.*

Henriade

Elle entrait dans

"

119
that Voltaire writes

cet age, helas

trop redoubtable,

Qui rend des passionsle joug inevitable.

Son cceur, n6 pour aimer, mais fier et gen"reux,
D'aucun

amant

n'avait

encor

les vceux."

recu

Voltaire appears to have been mistaken.

groundsfor thinkingthat Henri de Navarre was not

There

But

lover,and

first favoured

would

be

to

give 1571

as

at

La

she
Bourdaisiere,

reared

her father's chateau

Antoine

of Soissons.

chateau

by

repeat,but

Bourdaisiere matters
"the
said

even

main

wrong

the

of

sway

hardlyhave
and
turning" herself,
"

facts of Henri
The

ten

chiefly

was
"

about

miles

west
south-

that
designated

Francoise

to
encouraged her daughters

d'Estrees.

birth.

Picardy

d'Estrees himself

could

historians and

Both

in

twenty,

her

of

nickname
which we need
disreputable
that Cceuvres was
signified
given up

very
which

licentiousness. Under
took

of Cceuvres

north-east of Villers-Cotterets and

eightmiles

about

then

was

to

The

her.

met

probabledate

she

was

she

he

the

Although
at

born

that

Gabrielle's

unreasonable

seems

only eighteenwhen

suppose that she was

truth would
appear
which

it therefore

are

She

otherwise.

allowed

have

some

"

la

de

Babou

with

of

the

respectto

Navarre's firstmeetingwith
detailed account

most

to

do likewise.

anecdotiers agree

de

been

not

Gabrielle

earlier

her

love

affairs is

ascribed to the
Memoires
given in the Nouveaux
whom
brilliant,
witty,cynicaland vainglorious
Bassompierre,

Richelieu

cast into the Bastille.

Those

Memoires, a
manuscriptof which was found in President Henault's collection,
not
critics have
were
publisheduntil 1802, and while some
regardedthem as authentic,others have pronouncedthem to
be apocryphal. In numerous
respects,however, statements
which

are

found

in

them, agree with

Nouveaux

those made

in works

of

authority.We will therefore venture to transcribe

recognized
of the particulars
the earlylife
some
they contain respecting
*

In

of her

declaration

marriage

M.

by
de

her

during the proceedings for

Liancourt

she

says

that

she

the

became

annulment
his wife

eighteenyears of age, but that declaration contains several

relied upon.
contradictorystatements and must not be implicitly

(June,1592)when
loose and

with

made

120
of

NAVARRE

OF

vi

without, however, guaranteeingtheir

Gabrielle

Belle

La

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

said,then,that when Gabrielle was sixteen

of a good figure,
prettyand alreadypossessed

It
authenticity.

is

years old,very
she was, at her mother's

instigation,
broughtto the notice of
III by the Duke
Henri
d'Epernon,then alreadythe lover of
her elder sister Diane.
She took the fancyof the King, who
handed
of his confidants,
certain M. de Montigny, a
to one
a
of six thousand crowns
which was
to be given to Mine.
sum
d'Estrees. Montigny, however, only remitted her two-thirds
which
of that amount, retaining
the balance for himself,on
circumstance coming to the King'sknowledge,Montigny lost
all favour

until the Duke

sovereign.Henri

Joyeuse reconciled

de

his young favourite is said

he had other notorious vices

"

"

but she attracted the notice of the Cardinal

remained
before

his

with

Ill's liaison with

been of brief duration

to have

him

her lover for

de

Guise,* who

year, quittingher shortly

Barricades in Paris (May, 1588) as he

than

more

the affair of the

of whom
of the young Duke de Longueville,f
jealous
Duke
shall speakagain. However, Roger de Saint-Lary,
we
de Bellegarde,
J who was Grand Equerry of France, Master of
of his Chamber,
and First Gentleman
the King'sWardrobe

had become

entered the lists,

and Henri III,with
suddenly
high favour,is said to have supportedhis suit.
time Mme.

and

her

d'Estrees took Gabrielle and

Diane, back

disturbances

to

Cceuvres,in consequence

in Paris

and

the

flightof

she forsook her husband

littlelater,

the

whom

he

about

But

in

was

this

Denan
sisters,

(sic)

perhaps of

the

Then,

Court.

and, accompaniedonlyby

her

wards
afterHippolyte,
youngest daughterJuliette (orJulienne)
Marchioness
and Duchess de Villars,
set out to join her
lover M. d'Aligre,
at Issoire,
mentioned,
where,as we previously
she met
and
down
*

Aligrewere
by the
Put

Balafr6.

t He
was

he

to death

was

from

the natural

was,

tragiccircumstances.

in their bedroom
surprised
malcontent
burghers,Mme.
at

Blois

after

See p. 47, ante.

the son
of L6onor
was

descended

% Son
and

her death under very

the famous

the

promptlycut

Dunois, Bastard

de
of

naked

d'Estrees'

assassination of his brother

d'Orleans,Duke

Longueville.
Orleans, so

Henri

The

le

family

called because

Orleans,brother of Charles VI.

of Roger, Marshal
de Bellegrade. He was
born on January 10, 1563,
about eightyears older than Gabrielle.
therefore,
son

of Louis, Duke

and

Indeed she

of

LA

vr

corpse

beingafterwards

121

GABRIELLE

BELLE
thrown

like that of

of the window

out

Jezebel.

daughtershad remained at Cceuvres,

where several young
sprigsof nobilitypaid their court, and
occasional visitor. In
where the Duke
de Longueville
was
an
time Gabrielle became a perfect
beauty,and one of her admirers
to
at Cceuvres,a certain M. de Stanay (or perhaps Stenay),
had made
whom
she confided the fact that M. de Bellegarde
love to her in Paris, is said to have sung her praises
to the
time
Grand
Equerry with so much fervour, at the same
mentioninghow favourable was her recollection of him, that
his letter to Stanaywho
wrote to her
he, Bellegarde,
confiding
afterwards
that Bellegarde
him.
It also seems
had offered to serve
Gabrielle.
to Cceuvres in order to see
repairedsecretly
informed Henri de Navarre
he subsequently
In a boastful spirit
of his adventure, and indulgedin such extreme
praiseof his
mistress's beautythat he fired the King'scuriosity.
Meantime,

elder

her

"

So

far

followed the

have

we

statements

in the Nouveaux

rect
Bassompierre.We think them incorlove affairs with Henri III
in regardto Gabrielle's alleged
and Cardinal de Guise, but they certainly
to be accurate
seem
and Bellegarde,
for virtually
with respectto Longueville
every
mentions those two nobles among
Gabrielle's earliest
authority

attributed to

Memoires

lovers,and

Henri

de

Navarre's

was
curiosity
indiscreet praise
of her beauty. The
by Bellegarde's
of the affair givenin Les Amours
du grand Alcandre

awakened
account

that

that

states

in which

romance

fact is

so

often interwoven

with

fiction,

agrees with that attributed to Bassompierrein all respects

but one
that is the name
of the locality
where
Bellegarde
"

told Henri

of his

with
intrigue
is Compiegne, whereas
locality
well

as

in various

other

works

Gabrielle.

In the Alcandre

in the Nouveaux
it is

Gabrielle is said to have resided at

Memoires

Mantes,* in which

house

which

that
as

town

is still shown

to the tourist.

By reason, however,of the situation of Cceuvres,

stronglyto the view that Henri was at Compiegne

incline

we

and

In
*

at Mantes

not

any

Henri

triumph

case

took

in 1590.

when
he

Mantes

he first heard of Gabrielle.

insisted
from

the

on

seeingthe fascinating
young

League by

and
surprise,

entered

it in

FAVOURITES

122

OF

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

vi

with whom

pression
infatuated,and the imBellegardewas
it is
she producedon him at that firstmeeting(which,
took placein November, 1590) was
For
a deep one.
believed,
creature

the

moment,

had

to

the

more

for

some

however, matters

went

no

further.

still

Henri

the forces of the

League scattered through

North
Western
France, and his militaryduties did not
immediatelyallow him to give rein to his risingpassionfor
Gabrielle d'Estrees.
Thus, for a littlewhile longer,
Bellegarde
and Longueville,
her favours,she
it seems, continued to dispute
towards the
and now
towards one
now
apparentlyinclining
to have
would seem
other,though on the whole her preference
been for the young Grand Equerry of France.
of his
When, however, Henri, while restingafter one
expeditionsagainst the Leaguers,again found himself in
and he is said
presence of Gabrielle his passionasserted itself,
and Longueville
that they must
to have signified
to Bellegarde
mortified by that
retire from the field. Both of them were
ultimatum ; Bellegarde,
indeed,was quiteafflictedby it,as was
overcome

natural,if it be true, as is asserted,that he had

time past Gabrielle's favoured lover.
However,

open

and so the
was
impossible,
royalcommand
Equerry made every promisewhich the King desired of

resistance

Grand
him.

At

to

the

the

same

told her.
there

was

Having
on

speakingwith

greatly
upset by what he
at stake,as her lover had,
high position

no

been

and so,
for self-restraint,
part less reason
she told the King
great warmth (itis asserted),
her

and
wish to be disturbed in her inclinations,

she did not

violence

that any

time, however, he bitterly

complainedto

is said to have

Gabrielle,who

that

been

on

part or attempt to preventher from

his

whose suit was

marryinga man
approvedby her father,would
And
it
of contempt and hatred.
her with feelings
onlyinspire
is further alleged
far carried away by griefand
that she was
so
that she
resentment
at having to dismiss her lover Bellegarde,
returned home, in spiteof all the danger of the
precipitately
roads,anxious as she was to avoid meetingthe King again.
Now

comes

the adventurous
But

it is

one

anecdotiers and

an

which
episode
and

amorous

for which

we

is

in accordance
certainly

character of Henri

merelyhave

the

with

de Navarre.

testimonyof

on
whom, indeed,we
?vmanciers,

have
chiefly

the
to

BELLE

LA

vi

depend

with

effort.

an
Directly

123

GABRIELLE

respectto this part of our narrative. Let us

stillfollow them, however,because if what they relate be not
GabrielleV sudden
strictly
accurate, it is at least ben trovato.
He was
a
then, on Henri like a thunderbolt.
departurefell,
whom
in love,incited to every
whether in war
man
or
resistance,
it.

obstacle

it became

his desire to

come
over-

resolved,therefore,to hurry after the beautiful

He

endeavour

and
fugitive

arose

to appease

her.

He

his

imaginedthat

in doing so would touch her heart.

eager alacrity
that a distance of seven
leagueslaybetween him and

It is said

Coeuvres,*

repaired.A considerable tract of forest

known
land had to be crossed on the journey,
and it was
that
Henri set
bands of Leaguersstilllurked there.
Nevertheless,
out
accompanied by only five of his familiars. The forests
but at some
distance from Coeuvres the
traversed safely,
were
whither

Gabrielle had

Kino: decided to disguisehimself.

he assumed

Dismounting from his horse

peasantsgarments,and

the castle of Coeuvres with

"

made

his way on
foot to
sack of straw on his head." Thus,

after
in

his liberty,
Henri also compromisedhis dignity,
risking
the hope,no doubt, that the lady of his thoughts would

reward him

for his courage

and his craft.

he appearedin
mistaken.
When
grievously
his ridiculous disguise
beside whom
before Gabrielle d'Estrees,
stood her young sister,
Juliette Hippolyte,she received him,
he
it is said,with the utmost
coldness,even
declaringthat
And
in
appearedso ugly she could not even look at him."
withdrew,leavinghim alone
spiteof his entreaties she speedily
But

he

was

"

with her sister. The

future

Duchess

de Villars was,

girl. On this occasion

very clever and precocious
but she had been
have been prompted by Gabrielle,
a

however,
she
for

may
some

companion,and knew all

about
such everydaymatters
as
pehies de coeur and soupirs
And
whether she repeateda lesson or acted as her
(Tamoiir.
she at least contrived
own
readyand resourceful mind suggested,
She
de Navarre.
to get rid of the alreadydiscomfited Henri
of the reception
accorded to him,
for the incivility
apologized
that her sister had been carried away by amazement
declaring

time

her

This

very much

dissolute mother's

pointsto

his

farther away.

beingthen

chosen

at

Compiegne and

not at

Mantes, which

is

at

appear in such

seeinghim

lest their father,who

appear

the

upon

in

was

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

124

vi

and by fear,moreover,
disguise,
should
the vicinity,
suddenly

his life among

So, after risking

scene.

the

to masquerade
condescending
all for the sake of furthering
of the lowest of his subjects,
as
one
Henri
had to departin sore
his interests with his lady-love,
of the sayings
The affair reminds one of some
disappointment.
which emanated from the greatfabulist of his grandson's
reign.
alia
il
etait
of
It was
comme
perhapsa case, not only Jean s'en
Jean
of the popularexpression
that amplification
: Gros
venu
renard
honteux comme
devant
un
but of actually
comme
feeling
qvCunepouleaurait pris.
to placeourselves in communion
Accepting and striving

bandit

Leaguersof

and
the forests,

"

"

with

the

century,we
We

are

have not

morals

and

manners

the

of

close of the sixteenth

the

hostile to Gabrielle d'Estre'es.

by no means
desire to prejudice
the reader against
slightest
de Navarre

Henri

her,for,all considered,her influence on

was,

like that of
we

have

beneficialthan hurtful. If,then,

Corisanda,more
refused to accept the view that she wus
an
absolutely

pure and artlessyoung

with Henri
IV, if we
memoir

writers and

maiden
have

we

inclined

feel there

are

respectto

youth,it must
ascribed
lapses
fault.

We

much

in the

last

be admitted
to

was

more

more

so.

At

the

in childhood

guiltyof

were

her

those of

of the

misfortune

earlyattachment

or

antecedents,it

her

environment

that if she

her,this

believe in her

to

grounds for doing

time, givenGabrielle^ life and

first meeting

to the views

more

the anecdotiers than

less officialhistorians with

because

at the time of her

for

the
than

is

same

and

early
her

who
Bellegarde,

than
Henri
too
de Navarre, one
man
younger
of those courtlyaccomplishments
and graces which,
possessed
was

days of

the Valois

monarchy,appealedto many a
fair damsel and dame.
a
Further, he held high rank, was
bachelor,and therefore in a positionto offer marriage. And
Gabrielle had fixed her affections on this dashingand, let us
as
add, brave nobleman

"

for, althoughHenri

de Navarre

once

derided his courage, Bellegarde

at
jealously
fought gallantly
admire
her for the resistance she
we
Arques and Dreux
offered to her virtually
all-powerful
royalsuitor.
On rejoining
his counsellors and captains
after his fruitless
"

accidental but

regardedas

not

stillwent

the

hands,and

wand

of

as

NAVARRE

deliberate

vi

of revenge

act

part.

stiletto and
his

OF

It is certainly
true that love and vengeance
togetherin those days,that Cupid stillcarried the

GabriehVs

on

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

126

poisonwhich

which

he

the Renaissance
afterwards

was

had

placedin
exchange for the

to

of a master of the ceremonies ; neverand the programme

theless,
and faults
whatever may have been the transgressions

d'Estrees,we

Gabrielle

that she
writers,

the

not

was

convinced,like

are

commit

or
instigate

to

woman

other

many

deliberate crime.
of her

Women

crimes.
type seldom,if ever, commit capital
of the world
through all the
Newgate Calendars

search

"

"

would

of very
lead, we think, to the discovery
murderesses except among
the
of
tawny variety

exemplified
by the auburn Veneziana.
hoped,much may also be feared from
exacts,whereas the other

and

whose

ardent

more

should
path be crossed,
to the
unfulfilled,

or

been
of

blonde
At

time

same

of the darker

they make
the

on

we

type.

to be feared than

Gabrielle

her

have

tainly
cer-

north, as witness Christina

however,of the intermediate type,neither

by no

mind

inclined to

was

seek to condemn

means

Far from

time, if theyhave

same

woman,

tion,
admira-

her, should
There

courses.

of the

it.

admiration

man's

be

may

dark-haired

inclines

nature

and whose
brunette,

nor

the

was,

the

if much

man's
onlysolicits,

extreme

women
revengeful

Sweden, who

But

as

women,

be baffled
hopes and expectations

her

most

blonde

"

"

she who

few

We

is most

all

women

admit that the demand

often

for offence

cause

insanity.

but, at
justified,

theyarc

far

more

their fairer sisters.

d'Estrees,
as

we

said,was
previously

fair. The

at the Court of France

had begurf
in the
reignof fair women
of
Francis I, for all the last Valois Princes were
days
naturally
dark.
Henri
de Navarre's wife, Queen Marguerite,
also
was
of the dark type,but in order to comply with the fashion
one
of the times she wore
fair wigs,after exhibiting
her own
dark
locks to the Court for justa few
years.

With

she
respectto Gabrielle,

dye her

tresses

account

and

and

as

or

to

borrow

of her
portrait
passionif not actual

false

had
ones.

shows that she

love

so

occasion

no

either to

Every contemporary
was

often seeks

natural blonde

something which

LA

vi

BELLE

127

GABRIELLE

that this fair young

surprising
should have been sought by the dark-haired Henri,
creature
temporary
now
swarthyfrom long campaigning. There are various conof Gabrielle. A
at
small panel painting
portraits
contrasts

with

it
oneself,

is not

Versailles shows

one

of the

crayon

was

in her

her at the age of eleven years, while

her as she
drawingsat the Louvre depicts

Bellegardeand Henri
fell in love with her. Moreover, there are several eighteenthwhich
lost picture,
was
century copiesor variations of a now
and in which she was
depicted
probablypaintedin her lifetime,
in
seated in a bath,and holdinga pansy.
She is thus shown
and beside the
the Versailles copy of the picture
in question,
youth,about

the

bath there stands

"

who

is

time, no

doubt, when

child

probablyher

"

giving the

sits a nurse
away
Gabrielle's second

Vendome.

In

an

"

farther

perhaps

Alexandre, the so-called Chevalier de

backgroundone sees yet another woman,

son,

the

before
standing

de Vendome

epergne, while
breast to an infant

fruit from

taking some

Cesar

son,

carved chimney-piece.
richly
of
There
also some
are
contemporary versified descriptions
Gabrielle's beauty. Guillaume
du
Sable, "gentleman-inordinaryof the Royal Hunt," who spent his youth at the
of Francis I and died in the days of Louis XIII
thus
Court
under seven
in
living
Kings of France
sang Gabrielle^ praises
that Muse
Chasseresse from
which we
previouslyquoted a
addressed by him to Henri de Navarre's early
sonnet
mistress,
Renaissance
Mile, de Rebours.*
This is the high-flown
style
in which Du Sable extols GabriehVs
beauty:
a

"

"

"

Mon
Les

oeil est tout

beaux

ravi

cbeveux

quand il voit
qui oruent

orins

Son

beau

et

large front

Son

beau

nez

d6corant

Sur

Amour
lesquelles

Et

ses

et sourcils

et

contemple
chaque temple,

6benins,

joue,
joue,

et l'une et l'autre
a

toute

heure

se

brillants yeux, deux beaux astres begins.

qui peut baiser sa bouche cinabrine,

deux

Heureux

Ses levres de corail,sa denture

Son
Le
Une
Ou

yvoirine,
beautSs,
menton,
tout accompagn6 d'un petitris folatre,
gorge de lys sur un beau sein d'albatre,
deux fermes tetins sont assis et plantes."
beau

double

l'une des sept

See p.

57,ante.

de

chainons

Doux

"

On jugera mes

he remarked

plutotdcs dieux,
puissanceabsolue,
sont des cieux,ils ont la couleur bleue
celui des cieux."
prompt comme

sont pas des yeux,

lis ont de8sus les rois la
Ce

ne

Et

Non,

ce

le mouvement

ce

achievement,at which

regardedas

for it

fortunate

poet,says Lescure, a royal

is,takinginto account the relative

those days and in these,considerably
more
"

Laureate

Poet

our

du Radier

he collected a

one

that

livres

of money in
is paideven
to

Dreux

sont

well laugh,
must
may now
chefcVceuvre at the time of its composition,

the
procured

1400

pensionof
than

in

sonnet

Dieux

value

the poet next tried

amusing effort,
praiseof Gabrielle's eyes, respecting

with that

content

been

lese-majeste."

vous, de

Criminels,

have

je loue ici votre

vers

comme

11

Prince,agreablessupplices,
beaute,
pour etre vos complices,

mon

cheveux, si

Blonds

his skill at

clusively
ex-

hair,contains these lines :

to her

That

vi

them, addressed

of

One

in sonnets.

Gabrielle's charms

which

NAVARRE

versifierof the time, Porcheres, also celebrated

Another

Not

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

128

not

was

of
variety

contemporaryof Gabrielle's^but

traditional information

her,
respecting

and this is the enthusiastic way in which he extols her person ;

"
beautiful head in the world ; fair and
She had the most
hair
plenteous

of the

blue eyes

brilliant as to dazzle

so

the

compositionof

the
liliessurpassed

unless it

roses

Graces,but
animated

were

make
all

one

well bordered

forgetall

others

with
corresponded

which
Let

none
us

basinghis
at
portrait

her

could admire
now

turn

her bosom

her

with

to what

the Louvre.
*

the

her

of

of

contour
ears

were

beautyto

hands

and

feet,

perfectwhole,

impunity."

Sainte-Beuve

of Gabrielle
description
"

was

head, and formed

plexion
com-

in which

The

figure,
arms,

; a

deep
by some
gaietyand love

which
nose
on
feeling
; a mouth
; a well-shaped
and which was
furnished.*
perfectly
reposed,
such as painters
take as a model
her face was

small,acute and

one

She

was

writes

on
largely

white and

That is with well-formed

teeth.

on

the

subject,

tinted crayon
fair,"he says ;

GABRIELLE

After

D'ESTREES,
contemporary

"

LA

Drawing

BELLE

in

the

GABRIELLE."
Louvre

Museum

BELLE

LA

vi

fair hair like fine

had

"she

GABRIELLE

above
crisped
slightly
the entr'ceil,
as

gold,caughtup

the forehead

and regular,
the
straight

the brow

broad

said,was

then

one

physiognomyengagingand

spreadover

every outline.

and

even

She

her defects."

the austere
extreme

Her

eyes

whollyfeminine

was

Aubigne :
beauty."

"

in

that let

To

There

and

in

was

tender.

mass,

noble,the
A

or

beautiful ;

was

small,smilingand

mouth

the cast of
clear.

129

nose

purplish,
charm

was

blue,quick,soft and
her tastes,her ambitions,
were

justone line from

nothing lascivious in her

us

add

period that is,the outset of Henri's liaison

he was
with Gabrielle
thirty-eight
years of age, and he is
tall,well built,with
by Dreux du Radier as fairly
pictured
brighteyes, a largeforehead,a martial air,and a long beard
which had already
of that signof
become grey." In despite
to make
age, however,and all that he yet had to accomplish
the kingdom of France his own
"by rightof conquestas by
*
know that Henri was
we
rightof birth,"
enteringupon a
periodwhen martial ardour was attended by no littlehappiness,
from the contentment
of his passion
for Gabrielle.
springing
At

that

same

"

"

"

We

left him

d'Estrees and

Mantes, whither

at

his

family.The

motives of the favour which

he

had

Marquis
shown

soon

summoned
detected

M.

the

him

by the King, and

felt himself placedin a somewhat
difficultposition.On one
side there was
his personal
and on the other his duty
interest,
to his daughter. He must
either fail as a courtier or playthe
M. d'Estrees
father. In these circumstances,
partof a compliant
resolved to divest himself of the care of watchingover
Gabrielle
her with a husband,and the choice he made on
by providing
this occasion certainly
suggeststhat his personalinterestswere
dearer to him than his daughter's
happiness.He would not
*

In

passage

Abbe" Cassagne's poem,

Henry

le

grand

roy

the following
(1662),

occurs

"

was

Lorsqu' apres

cents

combats,je possSdayla France,

Et par droit de conqueste et par droit de naissance,

Le monde
vit briller dans mes
illustres faits
La

la paix."
valeur,la bont6,la victoire,

Voltaire coollyappropriatedthe second of the above lines,

and inserted it
of his Henriade (Fournier's
L'Espritdes Autres).

at the very commencement

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

130

NAVARRE

OF

vi

Gabriel le, we
whom
think, would
Bellegarde,
married,but decided to wed her to a Picard
willingly

hear

of

have

like

himself,a certain Messire Nicolas d'Amerval, Lord of Lianalso an

of good birth and wealthy,but was
court,* who was
widower
elderly
children

his deceased wife had

"

is said to

he

besides which

"

him
presented

have

with four f

been

somewhat

deformed.
the

When

matter

laid before the

was

King

he

willingly

his own
to favour
likely
interests. Gabrielle,however, wept and protested,
whereupon
assured her by way of consolation that
the King, it is asserted,
in name
should be her husband
Liancourt
only. Henri was
suit, and Gabrielle, realizing,
now
again pressinghis own
perhaps,that it was hopelessfor her to think of marrying
inclined
favourably
Bellegarde,
appears to have been far more
Lescure
towards her royallover than she had been previously.
of her espousals
with so unsuitable a
mentions that the news
the Court
M. de Liancourt
consort
as
quitedepressed
poets,
wards
to strains of melancholy.Abbe, afterwho attuned their lyres

assented

to

seemed

which

match

who

Cardinal,du Perron,

made

in the Church

his way

as

composedon this
in which
occasion a mournful and yet amusing epithalamium,
and Henri Gabrielle's
called a "smoky volcano,'"
Liancourt
was
well-beloved Mars," whilst she was represented
as
reproaching
well

as

at Court

his attentions

by

to women,

"

the King for handing her

he loved her himself and

to such

over

an

odious

husband

when

loved

by her in return.
Nevertheless the marriagetook placeat Noyon, in 1592,
documents
some
sayingin June and others in August ; and by
the bride with the
of wedding giftthe King presented
way
of Assy and St. Lambert, and the county of Marie, in
lordships
was

to be held by her for life (Deedsdated June 10). It

Picardy,
that M. de Liancourt would have become a husband
is probable

in

than

more

intervention of
his

of

earlier

Liancourt

Spelt Liencourt

Lord

of Serifontaine
some

works

if it had

name

in
and

some

for the

prompt

In

old documents.

governor

the number

been

the King summoned

case,
any
with his wife,and after an interview

promise.
him

not

reminded
it is asserted,
Gabrielle,

Henri, whom

to attend

t In

in

was

also Baron

de

Benais,

Chauny.
given a3 fourteen, but that is incorrect.

of
is

He

132

FAVOURITES

OF

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

vi

1589.
foughtin September,

Henri, profiting
by the advantage
1 of
advanced on Paris,and on November

soon
gained,
he actually
of a surprise,
that year, by means
penetratedinto
afterwards repulsed,
the cityby the Porte de Nesle, but was
and again had to retire into Normandy, where on May 14 in
de
defeated the Duke
the following
more
year (1590) he once
of Ivry. It was
that occasion
on
Mayenne near the stronghold
that he addressed to his soldiers the stirring
haranguein which
If you lose your ensigns,
round my white plume,
he said :
rally
!
you will alwaysfind it in the path of honour and victory
famous
words, which inspiredMacaulay with the idea of
of Ivry and
writinghis well-known ballad. After the victory

he then

"

"

"

the capture of Melun, Henri once

more
laid siegeto that city,which, in M.

advanced

on

Paris and

de

Mayenne's absence,
and little-experience

governednominallyby the young

of Savoy,Duke de Nemours, and in reality
Charles Emmanuel
by the League'sfamous Council of the Sixteen. Although the
supplyof food was scanty,and the distress great,the citizens
was

offered

most

stubborn

resistance

to

Henri's

forces. Paris

Catholic,and would not acceptthe Huguestaunchly

not
monarch
its King,althoughthe one
of its choice,
Henri's
as
old uncle,the Cardinal de Bourbon- Vendome, proclaimedas
5 of
Charles X by an edict of the Paris Parliament on March
that same
year, had passedaway in retirement at Fontenay-lein Poitou, five days before the battle of Ivry was
Comte
fought.
The
Parisians were
encouragedin their resistance first by
who
that masculine-minded
lady the Duchess de Montpensier,
of Henri
determined adversary
de Navarre,secondly
was
a
by
the Spanishambassador, who strove to providefor the wants of
and predicted
the most
necessitous,
speedyrelief at the hands
of Parma, who
of the Duke
was
advancingwith an army of
and, thirdly,
by the Papal Legate Cajetano,who
succour,
of martyrdom
promisedabsolution for all sins,and the crown
for everybodywho
might die in defence of the true faith.
terrible conflagrations,
nor
Thus, neither incessant attacks,
nor
the cruel pangs of hunger could induce Paris to cease
her
resistance. On the other hand, it has been said that the Kinghad he been willing
might have taken the cityby assault,
tq
remained

LA

vi

BELLE

But he
adopt that course.
of the capital
of
possession
ruiningits citizens. There

from

133

GABRIELLE

endeavouringto gain
and
kingdom by slaughtering

shrank from
his

stories of how,

also familiar

are

to be taken into the

time, he allowed provisions
starving
city.At last,however, the near approachof the Duke
of Parma's
forces compelledhim (August 30, 1590) to raise

time

to

and retire into the provinces.

siege,
It was
during the ensuingmonths, then, that he first met
Gabrielle d'Estrees,
and began to laysiegeto her heart,whilst
also besieging
Chartres, as we have related,and subsequently
like Paris,by Parma.
however, was relieved,
Rouen, which city,
and the League
But at a later stagethe united forces of Parma
in by the royalarmy near
hemmed
Caudebec, and only
were
escapeddestruction by crossingthe Seine at dead of night.
the

After

Gabrielle d'Estrees had been carried off from

her nominal

in
husband, the Sieur de Liancourt, she continued travelling
her lover's train,accompanying him on
his march
pagne,
to Chamshe may well have had some
for jealousy,
cause
for the historical chroniclers of the province
assert that while
where

the

at Damery
King had his headquarters
duringthe siegeof
Epernay (1592) he was fascinated by the charms of his belle
du Puy,* who was
also a blonde
the Presidente Anne
hotesse,
beautyof much the same
type as Corisanda and Gabrielle. And
"

"

claimed

it is even
in

that it

that
Gabrielle's,

was

Henri
"

in the fair Anne's

composedthe

Je

t'implore,
je te

La

Qui

the
"

be

not

very serious and

voi ;

toi."

comme

shall refer to

we

"

siegeof Epernaywas

but

:
beginning

berg^re,
m'est ch"re,

Est vermeille

that may

and not

Viens, Aurore,

Je suis gai quand

However

song

honour

all

again
song-writing

the matter

love-makingand

difficultbusiness,
one,

"

too, in which

Henri's able

old Marshal Biron, lost his life through

lieutenant,
for the King. On July 9 Henri
beingmistaken,it is asserted,
and
*

Biron
N6e

were

Dudey,

the Election

after supper
riding
and

wife

d'Epernay.

of

from

certain Oudart

du

Damery
Puy, who

to reconnoitre
was

President

of

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

134

OF

NAVARRE

vi

Epernay, and making their

Mardeuil

the

to

way along a road leadingfrom

faubourg of Igny, when a sudden gust of

blew off Henri's

wind

the latter

and

pickingup
approach of

The

head.

wore

large

and

he

Both

plume.

white

hat, in which, as usual,he

dismounted,
Biron, it is alleged,
the hat, jestingly
his own
set it on

the

royal party had

alreadybeen

by Petit, the master gunner of Epernay, who, on

catchingsightof the white plume,cried, For the Bearnais !
fired at the well-known
and
at once
headgear. At that
the King was
moment
restinghis righthand on the shoulder
head was
struck by the cannon-ball.
of the Marshal, whose
shouted Petit in exultation, the dog has bitten
Mordieu !
believed that it was
the Be'arnais ! for he really
the King who
because that
had fallen. If he called his cannon
a dog,it was
known
ancient pieceof ordnance was
the Dog of Orleans,
as
owing to the circumstance that it bore a dog'sfigureon its
from the English at Orleans,
breech,and had been captured
when Joan of Arc had relieved that citya hundred and sixtyThus
three years previously.
say the local chroniclers ; but
the subject,
of his
makes no mention
the King, in writingon
Marshal
Biron's shoulder.
hat or of his hand resting
on
of
himself master
made
In spiteof Biron's death, Henri
Epernay. Paris,however, stillheld out. In 1593 the leading
of the League convoked the States-general
men
there,and this
of France,
which
was
by no means
representative
assembly,
discerned

"

"

"

"

"

"

took

itself to decide who

upon

should

now

wear

the

crown

of

zealous men, Pi thou,Rapin,Passerat,

that famous pamphlet
at work preparing

Although some

St. Louis.

Leroy,and others,were

the League and

flagellated
bravely
the King at first had no declared partisans
its mock
States,"
claimed
the right to disposeof his
in the assemblywhich
in presence favoured either the Infanta
kingdom. The parties
Isabella Clara Eugenia,daughterof PhilipII of Spain,or the
of the House of Lorraine ;
young Duke de Guise as representative
and in order to reconcile the rival claims it was
proposedthat
La

Satire

Mmipee,

which

"

the Duke
But
Henri

and
a

the Infanta

greatchange was

had

come

to

the

Spainand Lorraine,secure

should marry.

impendingin
conclusion
the

the

that

nation's

of
position

in order to

affairs.
thwart

generalacceptanceof

as

and

restore

its

the

renounce

Catholic

was

faith and

Huguenot

Church.

it

necessary that he should

reconcile himself with the

his
Crillon,his brave lieutenant,Gabrielle,

mistress,and others helped to

It was, however, a serious,
even

adored
course.

on

it
Paris,pacifythe country,reignover
fortunes,sadlyshaken if not shattered by so

years of bitter civil war,

many

135

GABRIELLE

its ruler,win

him

to

BELLE

LA

vi

take,for

himself, when

to

not

as

Henri

producea painfulimpression
Huguenot followers ; and Henri

devoted

writingto

so

never

ritual.

was

greatas
attached
So

step

venturesome

Gabrielle to

tell her

he had

that

decided upon it,called it a said perilleux.

In the result,
however, it provedto be a wise act
far

that

fail to

it could not

hitherto

many

incline him

and

so

concerned the change was

perhaps
personally
some
might think it. It is certain that he had
of
matters
a
high importance to any mere

far back

as

1577

de Batz

he had written to M.

follow their consciences belong to my

straightly
and I belongto that of all who are good and brave.""
religion,
He had also once
remarked
to Du
:
Perhaps
Plessis-Mornay
testant]
the difference between
and Prothe two religions
[Catholic
of the animosity
onlyappears to be so great by reason
I shall
of those that preachthem.
By exercising
my authority
some
day try to arrange everything."
Henri's religious
views may perhaps be likened to those
by Montaignein a passage where he says : Of all
expressed
human
and ancient opinionsconcerningreligion,
that one
and excusable,which
to me
to be the most
seems
plausible
God
as
an
recognized
incomprehensible
power, the originand
all perfection,
all goodness,
receiving
preserver of all things,
and acceptingin good will the honour
which
and reverence
human
beingsrendered to Him, under whatever aspect,under
whatever name,
and in whatever manner
that might 06."
finds in the memoirs
of Montaigne'sfriend,
Further, one
"Those

who

"

"

Jacques Auguste

de

Thou, the historian,

an

account

of

some

which Montaigne made

statements
to him
interesting
ing
respecto
f
le Balafre of
the rivalry Henri de Navarre
and Henri
of their respective
views.
Guise, and the sincerity
religious
This conversation appears to have taken placeshortlybefore
the assassination of Henri le Balafre at Blois (1588)and
may

FAVOURITES

136

well be
u

that

quoted
had

he

OF
here.

the Duke

vi

told me,1'says De Thou,

mediator
between the
a

"Montaigne

and

NAVARRE

OF

served
previously

of Navarre

King

HENRY

as

that the latter

de Guise, and

advance in the way of services and

every possible
in order to gain the King of Navarre's friendship
;
assiduity
made

had

but

having realized

that the

that, after all the stepswhich

he

implacableanimosityinstead

of

to war,

recourse

to

as

last

his house

minds

was

which

only the

end

the

of the

cause

death of

themselves

be

to

in

the

his

on

throne

those two

bitterness of

the

one

now

saw

other could

over.

raging,and
bring to an

his

that

he

the succession

of

convinced

side,was

rightsto

added
religion,
Montaigne,of which both made great parade,that is only a
fine pretextto induce the members
of their respective
parties
to follow them, but the interests of religion
touch neither. It
is only the fear of being abandoned
by the Protestants that
preventsthe King of Navarre from returningto the religion
of his

during the

failed to win

had

of

any of his house would believe

long as the King of Navarre

nor

be able to assert

never

he

the

or

defend the honour

to

which

war

safetyso

might live,whilst he,

would

that

one

for neither the Duke

was

resource

whom

againstan enemy
Montaigne also said

And

with him, and

trifling
faced by
had taken, he was
he had had
by friendship,

latter

fathers; and

Augsburg
Cardinal

the Duke

Confession
of

life. As

Duke's

of

would

him

follow it without

to
prejudice

Montaigne,were

the sentiments

two

Princes at the time when

hold

not

Faith, which

Lorraine, made

for

his

uncle, Charles,

appreciate,if
he

he concerned

found

had

could

he

those, said

his interests. And

which

the

off from

in the

himself with their

affairs.'"
In

connexion

it is a somewhat
of

with

from

curious circumstance

the historian's

then
Villette,

that extract

Emeric
relatives,

suburb

of the conferences

but

now

Thou's

De

memoirs,

that the residence of

de Thou

part

which

"

house

of Paris

"

at

became

one

La
the

precededKing Henri's return

to the Catholic religion.It was
on
July 25, 1593, that he at
last solemnly
abjuredthe Huguenot heresy"at that famous
Church
of St. Denis, where so many Kings of France from the
daysof Childeric and Dagobert had been buried. It was the
scene

"

Archbishopof Bourgeswho

officiatedand received the

penitent
however,
Holy Church, subject,
Pope Clement VIII, by whose

back into the fold of

monarch

sovereigndecision of
Sixtus V, Henri had
predecessor,
King had alreadysent envoys to
to

the

the

admit

the

excommunicated.

been
Rome

The

for the

to treat

deferred until 1595, and

but it was
absolution,
which

137

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

vi

as

Papal

Paris,before

again assembled,still refused to

royalforces were
have any
King, his abjurationdid not immediately

decisive consequences.
The

notorious

well worth

Whatever
"

connading
remark

mass," is,of

concerned.

so
saying,

he

too

was

would

which

may

often attributed to
course,

apocryphalso

cast

far

Paris is
he

as

been his inclination for

have

skilful and

have

"

him,

shrewd

doubt

the

on

man

to

"

is

gas-

make

of
sincerity

his

conversion,and have allowed peopleto think that his chief,if

motive
sole,

not

in

was
changinghis religion

the desire to

secure

The
of his capital.
possession
sayingmay, perhaps,have
with Sully,
not, however, at the time of the King's
originated
when
but subsequently,
Henri, having become a
abjuration,
Catholic,thought that his Huguenot minister ought to act
that he did not accompany
and asked him why it was
likewise,
him

whereuponSullyis said

to mass,
"

the
Sire,sire,

During the

crown

to have

is well worth

before
last operations

retorted

mass."

Paris,Gabrielle d'Estrees

it is said, someher royallover,residing,

times
near
constantly
and someof Montmartre
the summit
times
at a pavilion
on
the last one
at another at Clignancourt,
being the pile
which
known
in our
time as the Chateau
own
was
Rouge,
and became
notorious for its publicballs. But althoughthe
dated
well remember, certainly
Chateau Rouge, which we can
from
been any positive
Henri's reign,there has never
proof
was

that it was

Gabrielle's residence.

periodcompleteharmony appears to have existed

between the favourite and the King, but the latter had previously
of
his
Grand
been extremely
Equerry,Bellegarde.
jealous
At

The

this

anecdotiers relate with

occasion

Gabrielle and

when

King arrived

numerous

the

on
*

scene

E. Founder's

so

variations how

upon

one

were
together,the
Bellegarde
suddenlythat the Duke barely

L'Espritdans I'Histoire.

138

FAVOURITES

had

time to seek

OF

HENRY

NAVARRE

OF

vi

in which some
refugein a cupboard,
preserves
rival
his
that
were
was
kept; whereupon Henri, suspecting
lurkingthere,expresseda keen desire to partakeof the said
not
the cupboard key. As it was
preserves, and demanded
forthcominghe threatened to burst the door open, at which
in his alarm,jumped out of the cupboardwindow,
Bellegarde,
without injuringhimself,and fled for his life.
fortunately

That

story appears

to

Tallemant

des

which
Duchess

be

founded, however, on
relates

Reaux

d'Etampes and

de

Jean

anecdote

an

I, the

Francis

of

Cosse-Brissac.

for

As

Beringhem, Henri's first valet-deto Gabrielle

chambre,secured a letter addressed by Bellegarde
and carried it to the King, who at once
sent orders to M. de
Praslin,the Captain of his Guards, to seize Bellegardeand
him on the spot,that also seems
to lack authenticity,
despatch
story to

the

thoughsome
Memoirs
At

effect that

indication of such

in the

affair will be found

an

of Pontis.

the

time, the belief that the King did

same

on

some

occasion

with his mistress became so general

surprise
Bellegarde
that in the reignof his grandsonLouis XIV, when the Gobelins
executed a series of tapestries
purportingto depictvarious
in Henri's life,
the subject
chosen for one
of the panels
episodes
the very incident to which

was

ago this tapestrywas

of

to be

have

we

referred.

Some

years
with the others at the chateau

seen

Pau, where,perhaps,it is stillto-day.

On

the other

does
Gabrielle,
time

when

his

understand
emanated

he calls

"

La

notoriously
opposedto

was

questionher constancyto

not

she became

gives us to
againsther
whom

who
hand, Sully,

and
mistress,

that many
from

Rousse

of

two

of her

and

her

"

Henri

indeed
the

from

the

the

minister

made
allegations

attendants,a woman
husband, both of whom

consignedto the Bastille for six years for havingcirculated

their mistress's life and actions.*
rumours
injurious
respecting
Dreux du Radier opinesthat the story of the cupboard and
were

the

preserves

well have

may

emanated

from

the aforesaid La

Rousse.
While
*

La

Siour de

one

may

Rousse's real

name

incline to
was

a captain of
Mayneville,

Marie
the

Sully'sbelief
Hermant

and she

King's guard.

was

in

Gabrielle's

the wife of the

OF

FAVOURITES

140

attendance
married
true

Court, forbiddinghim

at

he returned he

time, and that when

de

unless

he

that

be

Whether

for

did quit Henri

not, it is certain that Bellegarde

or

whom

vi

return

to

him.

wife with

brought his

and

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

he had

taken
recently

Bueil,Lord

of Fontaines

to wife

accompaniedby a lady
Anne, daughterof Honore*

was

"

and Governor

after,
There-

of St. Malo.

which may have

royaljealousy,
been inspired
simplyby the circumstance that Bellegarde,
suming
prehad
his earlier relations with Gabrielle,
on
comported
himself in too familiar a manner.
Henri evidently
desired that
she should not receive his rival at all,
and judgingby the letter
which we have quoted,she had promisednot to do so, yet had
twice failed to keep that promise. The King'sjealous
anger
hear

we

the

was

not

intentions

at hand.
not

were

Gabrielle failed in
In the autumn

the
At

defection

o'clock
among

It

is,of

there

is

self
he him-

no

proof that

lover.
to her royal
fidelity
she became

enceinte.

the

on

when

met

that Bellegarde's
possible

course,

honourable,but
of 1593

following
year
seven

and Gabrielle had

the Duke

greateras

was

of the

more

no

In

to Chartres to be
King repaired
the morning of March
22, thanks

the defenders of

Paris,he

February
crowned.
to

some

at last succeeded

"

partlyby stratagemand partlyby bribingM. de Brissac,who

had become governor of the city*
in effecting
his entry into
that capital
which had so long defied him.
He stillretained
enemies there,and before the year expiredhis life was
many
it was
attemptedby Jean Chatel,a student,at the instigation,
of the Jesuits,
of whom
executed as Chatel's
was
one
alleged,
and who were
banished from France
accomplice,
consequently
"

for several years. However, the execution of Chatel and the

Jesuit had no
deterrent effect upon
those who, chiefly
on

but sometimes on political

religious
grounds,detested the exBetween
1594 and 1610 the King'slife
Huguenot monarch.
was
attemptedno fewer than sixteen times.
In June, 1594, Gabrielle,while at the chateau of Coucy,

Laon, gave birth

near

of Cesar.
have

to

The

to

son

who

at
King'spleasure

received the Christian

name

the birth of this child

seems

been

odious tittle-tattle.
embittered by some
slightly
According to a story which Sullyrecords in his Economies
*

Brissac is said to have received

over

one

million and

half of livres.

royaks,but

141

he declares he does not

Henri
believe,

was

dignant
father of Gabrielle's son, and in fact became
very inThis report
on
hearingof his mistress'saccouchement.

the

not

which

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

vi

then
it seems,
with
originated,
Harlay de Sancy,who was
of Finances,*and who
Superintendent
repeatedit to Sully;
and his slanders
of Gabrielle's,
but Sancy was a declared enemy
led to his removal from his post. It so happened,
eventually
however, that shortlyafter the birth of Gabrielle's child the
doctor who

had

first physician
to
her, M. Ailleboust,

attended

of foul
whereupon a suspicion
King, died very suddenly,
playimmediatelyarose.
Writing under date July 24, 1594, L'Estoille says in his
in Paris of the
journal:"This same
day one received news
whom
death of M. d'Aliboust (sic)
it was
said
respecting
his
that some
lightremark he had made to the King respecting
[theKing's]little Ce'sar,had cost him his life,not by any
action of the King, who
knows nothing of those beastlyand
monstrous
but of her, so everybodysaid,who was
poisons,
interested in the matter, and to whom
the King, contrary to
promise,had repeatedwhat M. d'Aliboust had said, never
the

this would

that
imagining

cost that

good man

of

doctor

his life."

Gabrielle

Thus

was

charged with

poisoningthe royal

and, if one were to believe the anecdotkrs,her motive

physician,
for doingso was
that Ailleboust knew
that her recently-born
child was not King Henri's son.
However, the whole storyis
and simplysupplies
evidence of the alacrity
with
nonsensical,
which the multitude alwaysimputescrimes to royalfavourites,
whatever

their real character

Henri heard
them

in

somethingof

remarkable

the current
As

manner.

made

be.

may

soon

rumours,
as

and answered

his mistress could

triumphalentry into Paris with

firstby the grant of letters patent
her ; and this was followed,
her son, and secondlyby that of the title of
legitimating
for herself.fIn fact,the King went
Marchioness of Montceaux
he
travel,
conveniently

further.
*

The

As

shall

we

Sancy

diamond

t In certain deeds
herself U

Lady

of

had
certain negotiations
relate,
presently

was

now

Coucy."

called after him.

in the Estrees

archives she had

previously
styled

been started
previously
who
Queen Marguerite,
Henri

became

now

the

her
raising
own

the

are

documents

in the

National

Archives

to the throne

matrimonial

The

altogether
wrong
which

grounds on

design of marrying his

bold

marriage with M. de Liancourt.

the historians

divorce from

of France.

proceedings
position,

started to obtain the annulment

been
previously

had

stillat Usson, in Auvergne, and

and more
desirous of securingthat

her

regardto

him to obtain

vi

was

formed

mistress Gabrielle and

With

to enable

more

divorce,for he had

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

142

case

of

of

her

anecdotiers and several of

in their statements

the dissolution

ing
respect-

solicited. The

was

stillexist in the Estrees archives and the

France, and

of

some

them

have

been

printedby M. Desclozeaux. The suit was instituted on the

groundsthat Liancourfs first wife and Gabrielle were cousincs
had been obtained for
issues de germain,that no
dispensation
which
within the prohibiteddegreesof
the marriage,
came
therefore null and void in canon
and that it was
law.
affinity,
M.

de

Liancourt,who

had

been robbed

of

beautiful bride,at

first offered considerable

to the suit ; and when he

opposition
in writingthat he onlydid
last acceded to it,he protested
in fear
out of obedience to the King,and because he went
"

at
so

of

his life:'

Thursday, September 15, 1594," writes KEstoille,

between
King made his entry into Paris by torchlight,

"On
"the
seven

and

eighto'clock in

the

evening. He

mounted

was

on

dapplegrey horse,and was dressed in grey velvet,all covered

with gold,with the grey hat and
the white plumes. The
of Mantes
and St. Denis went first,
with the Corporagarrisons
tion
of the Cityand the echevins. Messieurs de la Cour [the
Councillors of the Paris Parliament]went in
Presidents and
their red robes to meet
It
sung.
the Pont Notre

him

at Notre

Dame,

where

the Te Deum

eighto'clock when his Majestycrossed over

Dame, accompaniedby a largebody of cavalry
and surrounded by a magnificent
noblesse. He, with a laughing
all the peoplecryingVive le Roy ! so
at seeing
face,well pleased
in his hand, principally
in order
gaily,
kept his hat constantly

was

to

was

salute the dames

whom

and

damsels

who

were

at

the

windows,

he saluted three very comelyones

(who were in
among
and stood at some
mourning,
highwindows in front of St. Denis

de la

he also did
as
Chartre),

with

covered

was

they outvied

that

gems

Raverie,*who

La

Bocquefs

at

was

St.

before the
she

143

Jacques. The Lady of Liancourt

which was
litter,
King,in a magnificent

in the Rue

and

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

vi

went

quiteopen,

pearlsand such
and her gown
torchlight;

so

many

the

little

brilliant
was

of

with white."

black satin,tufted all over

of
triumphal
entrywas, so to say, a formal recognition
which Gabrielle now
the position
occupiedbeside the throne,a
of the confidence which Henri
mark, such as all might witness,
court
placedin her. On January 7, 1595, her marriagewith Lianannulled as beingcontraryto the statutes of
was
formally
asserted that the
the Church ; and those folk who stillfoolishly
That

well knew

King

that

been

have

he

silenced

not

was

the

the

father of her

ensuing3rd

Ce\sar

son

of

when
February,
called upon to register
the letters
the Parliament of Paris was
of the child
patent,by which Henri acknowledgedthe paternity
curious and interesting
The more
and legitimated
him.
part
of that document
may well be quoted:
must

"

Henry,

Navarre,
and

to

has not

by

etc.

leave

Grace

the

it,after Us,

yet allowed

Queen, Our

to have

who
quality,

same

that abide

Kingdom,

and

have

whereas

and

issue
God

time when

He

to

who

may

this crown, to
will be obliged

happenedin the past,with

well of the

graciously

others of the

State,and rendered great

this account, then,havingrecognized

the

; on

and

desired to

have

children elsewhere
deserved

greatgraces

France

of

succeed
legitimately

may

and notable services

many

God, King

any in lawful wedlock,since the

from Us,
for ten years separated

desire,
pendingthe

this State,as has

serve

to this

to have

Us

giveUs heirs,who
to

We

spouse, has been

it has been Our

endeavour

of

Whereas

on

much
as
perfections,
of

in the person

Our

very

of mind

dear and

of

as

body,

well-beloved

Eespecting La Raverie who appears to have visited the royalcamp before

Paris in 1592, Lescure quotes a letter written by the King in which
he says :
"
de Marivaux, I have granted the Demoiselle
de la Raverie
Monsieur
a
port
passto enable her to take some
wheat, wine, and wood into Paris for her consumption.
I
your
not

own

beg

you

to make

accord, courteous

press you

more

on

the

no

in lettingher
difficulty

ought perhaps to include Mile,

conquests.

one

pass.

You

are, of

such as she is,so I do

enough to beautiful women
subject (Oct.17, 1592)." Judging by this letter,
de la Raverie

among

the Vert

Galant's

that

her

to

the

most

all

the

with

said

do

of

name

Cesar

charity

and

because

he

which

is

his

and

The

formula

Bourbon,
Jeanne

will
bore

did

by

Us

he,

fruit

good

will

such

State,

both
graces

his

in

the

natural

him,

they

this

to

she

the

him

that
from

coming

that

particular

upon

hope

Us

borne

hold

the

of

reason

to

hitherto

such

obey

God

to

the

of

to

We

bestowed

have

exercise

addition

of

whereas

pleased

which

in

And

has

in

effect,

annulment

condescend

who

son,

had

and

We

as

contracted

never

the

has

might

early

increase

stock,
We

may
have

etc."
of

bestowed

being
it

and

had

be

to

We

previously

by

it

affection

much

and

now,

that

so

yield

usual

Vendome

Us

induce

which

etc.,

resolved,

give

nature

years,

day

whereas

issue

Our

and

infancy,

and

held

ensued.

bear,

to

Monsieur,

paternal

God

some

since

long

suit

sought

conscience,

separation

since

has

brought

of

and

null,

have

judged

We

had

she

of

long

We

which

vi

past,

whom

burdening

was

which

pleasure,

not

and

NAVARRE

years

subject

which

Our

We

as

few

some

judgment

the

OF

friendship

Liancourt

after

Our

should

with

the

scruple

marriage,

authority

with

de

by

Lady,

and

being

marriage

Sieur

said

the

for

Our

less

the

testified

is

as

of

the

that

know

as

effect,

worthy

with

do

We,

d'Estrees,

Gabrielle

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

144

be

the
d'Albret

of

made

the

follows,

infant

the

on

in

Cesar

Henri's

that

Duke
him

de

father,

Vendome,

King

of

before

which

Navarre.

Antoine

his

of

name

"

remembered
title

then

legitimation

nexion
con-

de

marriage

VII
GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

Days

II. Palmy

Marguerite Gabrielle's rdle

and
Partisans
She protects the Huguenots
Gabrielle's
Chatel's Attempt on
the King
good

First Negotiations for the Divorce

at

Court

Sense

Rouen

at

and

Indebtedness

The
Gifts

Gabrielle

to

The

"

with

Parisian

Malcontents

and

hunting

Henri

"

Her

Gabrielle

round

France

"

Henri

Costume

said

to

and

the

The

King's Composure
Story of the Ferryman
"

The

"

Crillon
to her

Gabrielle's

"

Love

"

Passagesfrom

in 1 593

was

friend

from

Du

innumerable

"

and
The
Her

Henri

"

him

at
"

"

his

some

of

further

her
perty
Pro-

Gabrielle

on

Prophecies His
Spaniards in
Bad
Tidings all
"

The

Surprise of Amiens
Gallantry" Gabrielle's Nervousness
to
Henri's
Letter
Siege of Amiens
The
King's Constancy
Inventory
"

"

"

"

his Letters.

King made the firstattempt to

wife,Queen Marguerite. The idea

remarks

"

vagant
Extra-

Birth

acquires

L'Estoille

laughs

Debased

Henri's

"

Crown

Estates

and
"

her

that the

divorce from

part

Fortune

"

have

French

Her

"

de Beaufort

to

King's early Penury

of the

Duchess

Northern

in

"

Henri's

"

Criticism

Gabrielle's

paid

Honours

created

Amusements"

"

Daughter" She is
Unpopular
"

It

Correspondence

allegedMiserliness
Queens

"

"

Her

"

"

"

Gabrielle"

and

in Politics

Speech
His

Friends

Her

"

Aubigne

and

of Henri

made

who
Plessis-Mornay,

to him

by
pointedout

obtain

sprang
his counsellor and
one

day

that

his

love affairs,
besides

his soul,were
imperilling
judicial
preto his health and reputation. Why
don't my friends
of marrying me ?
Henri
retorted,without taking the
quite seriously
perhaps. That
question,however,
"

think
matter

"

enabled
have

and
to press his point,
Plessis-Mornay
imagined that matrimony might ensure
really
Du

salvation.

he

seems

the

to

King's

thought at first that Henri might secure

divorce from Queen Marguerite without referring
the affair
a
to the Pope, it being proposed that Marguerite should
sign
full powers
of attorney, and make
declaration before an
a
It

was

146

OF

FAVOURITES

HENRY

NAVARRE

OF

vn

ecclesiasticaljudge,setting
forth her desire for the dissolution
of her

marriage,on

the

ground that

contrary to her wishes,and without

she and

her husband

marriagewas
was

within

came

prohibited
by

of her maitres

one

de

it had
a

been

contracted

although
dispensation,

in which
degree of affinity

the Church.

certain

Erard, who

accordingly
despatched

was
requetes,

to Usson

in order to obtain the necessary documents

from her ;
in April,1593, he returned to Paris with them, as appears

and
from

letter written

by the Queen herself.

followed,however, by
satisfactory
beginningwas

That

and
incidents,

numerous

obstacle,which
M.

de Lescure

due

to

either

the

partiesthemselves.

very belated

arose
jealousy

in her reduced circumstances she

or

and

another

deferred the actual divorce for several years.

of the delayswere
that many
holds,moreover,

the interested
some

of one
interposition

hand,
mind,
Marguerite's
On

in

the

one

inclined to demand

was

too

compliancewith the King'sdesires ; while,

have
refrained from
the other,Henri may
on
intentionally
he recovered his
from a fear lest,directly
matters
expediting
freedom,his counsellors should insist on providinghim with
high a pricefor

wife

not

her

of their choice

more

endorsed

by historians,but
and

contemporary romanciers
invent

what

one,
plausible

to

they wrote,
for

we

know

his

it

opposed to

That

own.

was

held

who
anecdotiers,

and

by
did

last view is
some

not

of the

always

it is

that while

d'Estrees,his
that match, and

Gabrielle

marry

were

than

certainlya somewhat
the King himself wished

most

he

influential advisers
may,

therefore,have

altogether.Moreover, when
it had to be
the questionof applyingto the Pope arose
remembered
that the affair of the Papal absolution,which
still in abeyance,and
Henri
had been obligedto solicit,
was
until that might be settled it seemed unadvisable to request

deemed

any

it best to

adjournmatters

further favours of the

Meantime, Gabrielle
her
The

became that of a kind of deputy Queen of France.

position
as
King defined her status,in regardto himself personally,

that of
he

was

Holy See.
for
the King'sfavourite,
not merely

"

person

might confide

all such matters

in whom

he could have

to
confidence,

from
his secrets and worries,receiving

familiar and sweet

consolation."

whom
her

in

Historians

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

148

OF

NAVARRE

vn

by two persons of her sex who were among the

friendship
of their time, firstthe Kings
and respected
most
respectable
secondly
sister,the Princess Catherine of Navarre, and
daughter,the Princess of Orange,widow of William
Coligny's
loved and
who was
of that lady,
The friendship
the Silent.
honoured by all,
even
by the Catholics,"
says Michelet, was
of
a
evidently
great moral support for Gabrielle. She was
opinion that such a long and faithful attachment became
by its duration,and that Gabrielle was no more bound
purified
she never
saw
to her nominal husband, whom, perhaps,
again,
whom
bound to the slandered Marguerite,
than the King was
for so many years."
he had not seen
Gabrielle to any
The
Huguenot party greatlypreferred
Queen of Spanishor Italian origin. Aubigne even asserts that
inclined to the Protestant faith. In any case,
she was
secretly
did much
to protectthe Huguenots and ensure
she certainly
them the free exercise of their rights. She was the better able
to do this without incurring
as
obloquyamong the Catholics,
little influence to bear on the King in
she had brought no
favour of his abjuration.LTEstoille shows her interceding
very
and
behalf
the
of
the
at
on
Huguenots
energetically sensibly

in

"

"

time of the Edict

them

in

admission to the

of

qualify
Nantes, when there was a desire to disrespectto the holdingof publicoffices and

States-general.
have

said,was
and, in that connexion,here

Aubigne,as

writings.

"

"

He

we

not

is

unfavourable

curious passage from his

[Aubigne]arrived at Chauny for the siegeof
a

Fere, wearingmourning for his wife,who

La

months

Gabrielle,

to

and
previously

for whom

he

had

died

few

wept almost every night

His friends declared that he despaired

duringthree years.
the King'sgood graces,*
of ever
and dared not appear
regaining
.

before
would

him,
have

as

him

the

King

put

to

wrong,

Duchess
*

de Beaufort

They had

fallen out

openlysworn

death.

Aubigne*made
one.
Having
particular

was

had

six

But

Henri's

of which

opinion

was

this

then, to the lodgingsof the

f where
[Gabrielle]
over

table that he

that this

to show

one
journeys,

come,

at

the

King was

expected,

and similar matters, Aubigne's

abjuration

outspokennessnot being to the King's taste.

t At the time of the

occurrence

in

questionGabrielle

was

not

yet Duchess

LA

vii

noblemen

GABRIELLE

BELLE

149

begged him to mount

affectionately
horse againon account of the King's
furyagainsthim. Indeed,
he heard some
gentlemendisputingwhether he should be
committed
the
to the custodyof the Captainof the Guard
or
Provost of the Household.
In the evening,
however, he set
himself between the torch bearers who were
awaitingthe King,
and as the coach went
by towards the stepsof the house,he
heard the King exclaiming
is Monsieur, my
There
Lord
:
!'
d'Aubigne
M That
"
taste.
was
Lording,'
very little to Aubigne's
my
However,he went forward as the King alighted.The King set
his cheek againstAubigne's,
ordered him to assist his mistress
to alight,
and made her unmask
to salute him ; while the
'Is that placinghim in
heard repeating,
companions were
chargeof the Provost of the Household ?
"The
King,however, forbidding
any others to follow him,
made Aubigne alone go in with him, his mistress,
and her sister
two

of

mark

'

'

Juliette.
down
then

For

more

the Duchess

between
that

much;

remark

than

was

two

hours he made

walk

up

and himself,
and
[Gabrielle]

made

which

while,by the lightof

for

him

and

it

was

afterwards circulated

flambeau,the King

so

was

he allowed Aubigne to say, without

showinghis piercedlips,
it :
resenting
Sire,so far you have onlyrenounced God with your lips,
and it has satisfiedHim
them ; but when you renounce
to pierce
Him with your heart,it is your heart that He will pierce.'
"

'

"

'

Oh, the

employthem

fine words ! ' the Duchess

'

you

badly.'

"'Ay, madam,'
no

exclaimed, but

said the

other,'because they will be

of

avail.'
The

ladybeing pleasedwith such boldness,and desiring

the author's friendship,
the King formed
the great designof
committingto him the rearingand keepingof the littleCesar,
Duke
de Vendome, whom
now
one
day he placednaked in
Three years later,
Aubigne'sarms.
Aubigne was to have taken
him
into Saintongeto rear
and providefor him among
the
"

de

Beaufort,but Aubigne1designatesher by

drawn
the

up

at

much

third person.

later date.

that

as
title,

As the reader will

his narrative

it is
perceive,

was

written in

FAVOURITES

150

Huguenots,but

OF
as

that

also

to them
consign
The
of
piercing

passage,
whose

was

crime

HENRY

cast to the

designwas

King's lip,referred

the

of that

vn

will

winds, we

of it."

the account

the work

NAVARRE

OF

above

to in the

student,Jean Chatel, to

young

referred. Like some

of the other
previously
in the presence
it was
attempts on the King'slife,
perpetrated
of Gabrielle ; in fact,it actually
house in
occurred in her own
Paris.* The
King had just returned from a journeyinto
Picardy(December, 1594),and two noblemen, MM. de Ragny
and de Montigny,had arrived to offer him
their submission.
He was
towards them to assist them to rise and to give
leaning
them

the

we

Chatel dealt him

when
accolade,

thrust with

knife,

therebyhoping to piercehis throat. The assassin's aim

bad, however, and he piercedthe lipinstead. Gabrielle
her sister,
nursed the wounded
Mme. de Balagny,
monarch,
endeavoured

console

to

him, but

he

could

not

was

and
and

refrain from

making some
very bitter complaints.L'Estoille pictures
him exclaiming
:
Ventre saint-gris
I feel happy when I see
I how
can
a
to planfresh attempts on me every day,
as
peopleso ungrateful
althoughI have done and stilldo all that I can for them, and
would willingly
sacrifice a thousand livesfor their welfare,
had
God givenme so many !
ChatePs crime was
as
we
mentioned,by
followed,
previously
the expulsion
of the Jesuits from France ; and the fact that so
inspired
by religious
many of the attemptson Henri's lifewere
fanaticism,prompted Gabrielle d'Estrees to advise great
caution on her royallover's part. She did not wish to see
done to his former co-religionaries,
but at the same
injustice
time she did not
wish him to give the Catholics cause
for
offence. On
tells the
that point Sainte-Beuve
following
One
anecdote.
interesting
day in March, 1597, the King
"

"

"

went

after dinner to

his sisterMadame

see

Catherine,who

was

She had remained

Protestant.
a
indisposed.
By way of
her they began to play a lute and sing a psalm,
diverting
to the fashion of the Calvinists. The King thoughtaccording
lessly
in
and
take
to
the
the
concert
began
sing
psalm
part
with the others

but

who
Gabrielle,
*

See p.

was

207,post.

near

him and reflected

151

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

vii

of such an imprudentaction,
possible
consequences
his
when
distorted by malicious folk,placedher hand over
with which request
mouth, begginghim to desist from singing,
he complied."
The
royalfavourite's behaviour on that occasion was at
writers have held
Nevertheless some
least full of good sense.
that Gabrielle d'Estrees possessed
shrewdness, no
no
political
and advice. Others,
of initiative,
no
spirit
powers of suggestion
going even further,have declared her quite destitute of wit,
unable even
to speak and write with a little feminine esprit.
than
There
is, however, scarcely
negative
anything more

on

the

evidence
is such

talent

and

observe

never

the

One

be

may

great wit

the

talents

or

less of the

pointedout
as

well

as

the

of

of

that

great

beautiful

contend

ever

that their

favoured sistersmust

more

stupid.
few

very

down

to

examplesof
that she

us

is addressed
on

de

while

more

women,

of

woman

own

in calling
one
Pompadour would almost justify
of genius. Doubtless, however, the ugly women

woman

So
come

our

it
belonged,

beauty. We often
dailylives,while,

with

de

will stilland
be

was

lastingbeauty,

Marchioness
her

Gabrielle

de TEnclos

and

in

but two

to mention
historically,

Ninon

in hand

hand

go

contrary,however,

class to which

remarked,

Lescure

which, as

hold that wit

favour,for theygenerally

plainwomen

as

view

support of that

in

to

Gabrielle d'Estrees' letters have

cannot

Henri

be

I, Duke

fairly
judgedby

and

Constable

de

them.
morency,
Mont-

the occasion of the death of his young wife,Louise

first married
to
an
extremelybeautiful woman,

Budos,
Jacques de Gramont,

Lord

of

in 1595,
Vacheres,and secondly,

suddenlysnatched by
death in 1598, when she was
onlytwenty-threeyears old,her
sudden and mysterious
then the property
demise at Chantilly,
of the Montmorencys,beingattributed to poison. The
letter
written by Gabrielle on
this occasion
is a mere
letter of
in the exaggerated
condolence couched
stylethen commonly
Two
addressed to
found in such epistles.
other notes of hers
fourth
the Duchess de Nevers f are somewhat
insignificant
; a

to

Montmorency,

from

whom

she

was

"

"

Yung's

Henri

f Delort's

IV, dcrivain.

Voyagesaux

Environs

de

Paris,vol. ii.

FAVOURITES

152

OF

OF

HENRY

NAVARRE

vn

liveliness and
more
published
by Musset-Pathay,displays
freedom of style.Gabrielle certainly
affected no
pretensions
but in the three last missives which we
have
to scholarship,
mentioned,one can detect indications of a graceful,
pleasing,
and perfectly
There is no
unaffected nature.
trace of the wit
and literary
talent of Queen Marguerite; but to assert, as some
have done, that Gabrielle was
without intellectual
altogether
is contraryto everything
know of her career.
we
gifts
One
cannot
of political
shrewdness to
deny the possession
who favoured her royallover's abjuration
in order to win
one
for him the allegiance
of the great majority
of Frenchmen, and
who did so much
to bringabout the submission of the Dukes
de Mayenne and de Mercceur, therebydealingthe League a
one,

blow
was

he

from

which

it

While

recovered.

never

it

her beautywhich attracted Henri de Navarre,

undoubtedly
Lescure says, too witty,
too intellectually
was, as
giftedto

have desired to marry

her and

he,

undoubtedlydid

at

one

moment,

make

her

merelya joliesotte. Moreover, with

in

the outset

at

love,he would

not have

remained

Queen of France
desire
"

had

she

to her

as

been

fickleness

his well-known

bound

"

he did for

as

years had her

beautybeen her onlycharm.

Sullywas opposedto Gabrielle,
though he was indebted to
her for his positionas financial minister,in which
respect
mately
disinterested as it ultias
again she showed political
sagacity,
for France.
of events,
The course
provedadvantageous
the King'sidea of marryinghis favourite,
and notably
brought
her and Sully
into antagonism. From
the moral pointof view
such a marriagewould have been a rightone, and would have
far more
conduced
to the King'sdomestic happiness
than did
union with Marie de' Medici.
his subsequent
But for political
the marriage
unadvisable ; and thus,when
reasons
was
distinctly
Gabrielle died,Sullyopenlyrejoicedeffusively
embracinghis
wife at the thought that she would not be obliged
to attend
so

many

"

the levees of the whilom

favourite transformed

into

Queen of

France.

The
of

Memoirs

of Claude

Groulart,President

of the Parliament

Gabrielle
Normandy, indicate what a high position
held beside the King, and how he required
the chief
even
of the Kingdom to treat her with as much deference
magistrates

LA

vii

if she had been

BELLE

153

GABRIELLE

Thursday,October
la Marquise de Mont10, 1596," writes Groulart, Madame
arrived at Rouen
ceaux
and lodgedat [theabbey
[Gabrielle]
the
the King's. On Friday,
over
of] St. Ouen, in the room
and againon the following
11th, I went to pay her my respects,
to that effect by
Sunday,havingreceived the King'scommand
the Sieurs de Ste. Marie du Mont
and Fouquerolles."

as

a Princess ;
actually

"

On

This

into Rouen
he

the occasion

was

before

delivered

which

on

made

Henri

Assemblyof

attendingthe

state

entry

Notables,to whom

failed in its
striking
speechwhich partially
doubted by many
was
however,as the King'ssincerity
object,
and promisedtoo much, like
people.He often spoketoo freely
the Gascon

very

he was,

and

if

we

believe certain anecdotes,

may

Gabrielle appears to have noticed that defect and have cautioned

him against
it. In the speech
he made to the Notables at the
"
I have
passage :
not summoned
did to make you approve
you as my predecessors
what theyhad resolved upon.
I have assembled you to receive

abbeyof

St. Ouen

there occurred the famous

your advice,to trust in it and

follow it,briefly
to place
myself
in tutelage
in your hands,a desire which seldom comes
to Kings,
and victorious men.
But the violence of the love
grey-beards,
which I bear to my

Now,
that

as

etc.,etc."
subjects,

Henri

wished

harangueand

the

to station herself behind

the

hall,in order that

And

as

what

soon

she

answered

as

the

thought of
that she had

feltastonished
in

some

tapestrywhich shut

off

part of

that was said.

might hear everything
was
over, the King asked her
ceremony
she

his
never
on

tutelage.
Ventre saint-gris
!
"

ascertain Gabrielle's

opinionof
he requested
her
effectit might produce,
to

"

speech,whereupon,we
heard

are

told,she

better one, but had nevertheless

himself
hearinghim speakof placing
Henri

retorted, that's true, but

u

"

it with my sword at my side !

That admission of the King'sshows that Gabrielle's criticism

mean

well

was

founded,and

that she

was

of
really
possessed

sound

sense.*
political
*

M.

Yung's work

concerning the

remarks
IV, dcrivain contains some
interesting
the
draft
of which, corrected
King's speech at Rouen,
original
Henri

is now
by Henri himself,

in the

Nationale
Bibliotheque

in Paris.

154

OF

FAVOURITES
Like

HExNRY

OF

NAVARRE

vn

Gabrielle d'Estrees
royalfavourites,
accused in her lifetime of impoverishing
the Kingdom by
was
her extravagance,
and some
historians have pictured
latter-day
carried away
her as an unscrupulous
creature
by boundless
greed. It is certain that Henri was put to sore shifts for
his liaison with Gabrielle began.
at the periodwhen
money
For
instance,here is an amusing passage from L'Estoille's
Journal

if not

most

all

(1594)the King'scoach

this time

"At

back to him

because there

himself to Monsieur
'

said he, " there

Sire,'

"

am

to go

turningto

one

is

how

that

brought
Addressing
happened.
were

money.'

no

the King retorted. ' I

very wretched state,'
about naked and on foot before lonoO
And

shall have

food for them.

no

dX),*he asked him

"

in

was

horses

he asked him how

of his valets~de~chambre,

many

shirts he had.
said the valet,'but
dozen, Sire,'

"'A

of them

some

are

torn.'
"

'

And

"

'

At

said the King, * have I not eight?

handkerchiefs,"1
the valet answered.
presentthere are onlyfive,''
Monsieur

"Thereupon
ordered
make

six thousand

him

"

That's

'

resemble

the

way,'said

of linen in Flanders

King, ' theywant

the

said to

are

to

to

make

me

furred gowns

wear

at

"

who

the less die of cold.''

none

years later he is found

It is now
for you to make
up
Two

"

had

he

that

King

handkerchiefs.

those students who

home, but

worth

crowns'

shirts and

some

told the

d'O

'

writingthis

letter to

Sully:

structi
your mind to follow my inand speakto me
and in order that you may
freely,
do so, I will tell you to what a state I am
reduced, which is
that I am
to the enemy, and yet I hardlyhave a
very near
horse

on

for my

which

as

M.

there is

shirts

My

III, but

are

of

Finances

was

and

confirmed

1594, and

later

some

of

all torn, my

the Wardrobe,

time

in most

Sullybecame

Governor
of his

(Jiarnois)

armour

My stewpot is often
nothingto put in it,and for

Francis, Marquis d'O, Master

d'O died in

completeset

elbows.

the

Superintendent of
Henri

or
fight,

can

shoulders.

ragged at
down

doublets
turned

upside
days past

two

Sancy'ssuccessor

of Paris.

posts by

are

He

Henri

Superintendentof

had
de

as

served

Navarre.

Finances.

156

FAVOURITES

OF

HENRY

to

three hundred

M.

Louis Arnould's view that

francs of

seven

and

OF

NAVARRE

millions,*which, if

seven

livre at that

present-day
money,

would

mi

we

accept

periodrepresented

mean

an

indebtedness

of ^50,000,000.
could a King,desirous of
of affairs how
position
be otherwise than cautious in money
matters ?
actingrightly,
Henri
owed
the time of his second marriage,
the Grand
At
Duke
of Tuscany alone,for repeated
advances to himself and
his predecessors,
of over
Charles
IX and Henri
III, a sum
that circumstance
and indeed it was
thirtymillions sterling,
and the urgent need of further money that led to the King's
marriagewith Marie de' Medici. A largepart of her nominal
reached the King, being simplywritten off the
dowry never
she actually
royalaccount ; and the amount
brought with her
to France (some 350,000 crowns
f)represented
barelya tithe of
what she afterwards cost the King and the French Treasury,
for not onlydid she fall into the hands of designing
favourites
but she was carried away by an insensate passion
for jewellery
which she satisfiedregardless
of expense.
The
sixteenth century was
an
travagance
pre-eminently
age of exin women.
Queens, Princesses and
Spendthrift
grandesdames were then the rule,not the exception.Eleanor
of Austria,the second consort
of Francis I, left heavy debts
behind her when at his death she quitted
the country. That
monarch's favourites were
also grasping
and prodigal.
Catherine
de' Medici,the consort of the next King, Henri
II,was both
In such

the richest and

who

one

wealth.

died

the most

hugelyin

Louise

extravagantQueen
debt in

spiteof

de Vaudemont, the

France

all her

ever

had,

great personal

Princess of the House

of

Lorraine,who

less wealthy
Henri III,was
but almost
espoused
in household expenditure
as
inclined,
prodigally
particularly
;
while her husband
his
The
millions
on
squandered
mignons.
extravaganceof his sister,
Marguerite Henri de Navarre's first
wife is unquestionable,
and she being followed by the lavish
Marie
de' Medici, the King (apartfrom the expense of his
was
mistresses)
plaguedthroughoutlife by the many liabilities
"

"

The total

revenue

then littlemore

t A

crown

than
was

of

France, so
twenty million

worth

far

as

it reached the State

livres per annum,

three livres.

exchequer,was

157

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

VII

pecuniary
appealsof his successive consorts. He waxed
one
mightily
indignant
day when it came to his knowledgethat
he had not done enough for her.
in Marie de' Medici's opinion
What ! said he to Sully. Why, I have givenmy wife more,
I have made her more
both to keep up the ordinary
presents,
for supplementary
expenses of her household,and
expenses,
than any other King of France
ever
granted to his wife !
On
M. Batiffol,
the other hand, it is undoubtedlytrue
as
Marie
de' Medici's latest apologist,
pointsout that previous
and possessed
Queens had lived less luxuriously
largeprivate

and

"

"

"

"

"

"

means.

In his younger days Henri de Navarre

does not appear to
have been lavish with his mistresses ; but at that periodof
his life he had

love him

to

nothingto give,and

little or
for his

sake.

own

it

Moreover, the principal

favourite of those
a

earlier years, Corisanda,was

disinterested woman.
So long,
too,
naturally
kind of

merelya

there
King-errant,

sary
neces-

was

was

undoubtedly

call on

no

Henri

as

him

to

was

keep

state or for his mistresses to do so either.

up any particular
But the position
changedwhen he at last made himself master

of Paris and

was

as
recognized
by
sovereign

the greaterpart

of France.
It is then

still be,

we

find him

Of course, when a
is his duty to provide
for her,and when

children he should do what he

in

regardto

point simplyis

whether

whether

such

she

well

showeringgiftsas

Gabrielle d'Estrees.

as
Gabrielle,

might

difficulthis circumstances

that,however

can

many

the

she

another

King

did

loves

man

for them

too

as

honours
a

woman

presentshim
also.

In

on

it
with

regardto

royalfavourite,the
much

for

her, and

have
creature as some
greedy,
grasping
pictured.There is no questionthat she gave Henri several
and that he was
the more
delighted
by the
years of happiness,
birth of their three strong and healthy
children as he had no
had been stillborn,
: his daughterby Fosseuse
livingoffspring
it will be remembered, and his son
by Corisanda had passed
away in infancy.
In

was

1594, the year of the birth of Cesar de Vendome,

that Gabrielle
with money

we

find

either by royalgrant or by purchase

acquired,
received from the King,the lordship
of Venteuil,

NAVARRE

and Coulommiers

in Paris.

house

handsome

as

Ferte-sous- Jouarre

La

between

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

158

vn

in Brie,as well

littlelater she obtained the

in Brie ; while in March,

of Crecy,a fortified town
lordship
of Jaignes,
another
Brie
1595, after securingthe domain
de
Henri bestowed on her the title of Marchioness
lordship,
her with the estate and chateau of
and presented
Montceaux

that

which also

name

The

and

the Marne

Chalons,near

chateau had

in

were

been

about

by the

built

the road

Brie,on

from

Paris to

leaguesfrom

two

Primaticcio

Meaux.

for Catherine

1547 ; but that Queen's estate

of the
distrained and offered for sale in consequence
it for his mistress.
she leftbehind her,Henri acquired

de' Medici

in

might

one

years ago

about

or

stillsee

debts

Forty

of the Montceaux

remains

some

being

ruined colonnade,and a part of the

a
property,a pavilion,
decorated with the carved initials (as it was
grand staircase,
of Henri de Navarre and Gabrielle. They were
those,
thought)
however,of Henri II and Catherine de' Medici,the C of the

havingbeen mistaken for a G.*

furnished by Gabrielle d'Estrees,
Montceaux
as
was
finely
her inventory
shows,but at her death Henri recovered possession
nominal amount
of the propertyby placing
to the credit of
a
latter'sChristian

her"

and

second

his

"

consort

name

young

children,and

Marie

de' Medici

future Louis XIII.

and

she

and

later Salomon

bestowed

it

his

on

when

she gave birth to the

attracted her by reason
of the

Montceaux

fact that the other Medici

then

Queen, Catherine,had erected it,

of
enlargedand embellished the property regardless
to the park,building
acres
expense, addinga hundred and thirty
additional pavilions,
new
a
chapel,
spacious
outbuildings
and huge stables,
besides laying
out a tennis court and digging
another part of which work she employedsuch
a moat, in one
or
famous architects as Jacquesand Baptiste
Androuet du Cerceau

Montceaux,
*

those

of

In like

manner

in Paris

and

de Brosse.

which

there

Thus,
exists

the initials of Henri

in

one

way
fine view

II and

the provinces were, until recent

Catherine

or

another,

engravedby

on

times,often

various

ings
build-

mistaken

for

of himself and

his mistress Diana

of Poitiers,
of the manner
account
on
the
initial
either
side of the
on
they were
carved,
Queen's
appearing
and
such
wise that many
King's,
joiningit in
supposed the two C's (thesecond

in which

of which

Fournier's

was

to
reversed)

be

des Rues
finigmcs

two

D's.

The

de Paris, 1860.

questionis

well

discussed

in

BELLE

LA

vii

became
Chastillon,

GABRIELLE

pattern

159

royal extravagance,which

of

later generation
imputed to Gabrielle d'Estrees,instead of to
those two
Florentine Queens who in turn did so
pernicious
much

harm

It

was

Abbey
time

to France.

Gabrielle

while

of St. Ouen

stayingat

was

the

Benedictine

Rouen, in October,1596, that is

at

at the

spoke,that
royaloration of which we previously
she gave birth to a daughter,
who received the Christian names
of Catherine Henriette,the King'ssister and the King himself
at the baptism,
as
actingrespectively
godmotherand godfather
which was
performedwith all the state ceremonial customary
at the christenings
of Children
Princes or Princesses)
of
(i.e.
France.
This daughter,
legitimated
by a royaledict in March
the following
of the Guise
the wife of a member
year, became
Charles de Lorraine,Duke
d'Elbeuf,in February,
1619,
family,
and

of the

died towards

the end of June, 1633.

A few months

of Catherine Henriette,
legitimation
that is in July,1597, a further dignitywas
conferred on
Gabrielle.
The
King," writes L'Estoille
purchasedthe
la Marquise de Mousseaux
duchy of Beaufort for Madame
after the

"

"

and
(sic*) his mistress,
which
since

but

Marchioness

made

her

Duchess,

happenedon Thursday,the 10th of the month of July;

which day she has been called the Duchess
de Beaufort,
others

call her

Beaufort,it may
*

from

the Duchesse

be

d1Ordure."

in the

were
explained,

The

The

domains

of
province

of

Cham-

"

in L'Estoille's Journal. It
spelling" Mousseaux
frequentlyoccurs
is possiblethat Montceaux
in
that
was
manner.
pronounced
Though the
difference between
the orthography and the pronunciationof French
proper
sometimes
observes
in this
names
so
perhaps, never
was,
great as one
than
More
country, it is certain that such a difference occasionallyoccurred.
the point has been raised whether
the Valois line of Kings were
once
not really
called Valais by their contemporaries. If one
might judge by the rhymed
lampoons and pasquinades which appeared at the time of 'the last Princes of
that house, such would
seem
to have been the case.
One of the rhymes of the
time of the League beginning:
"

may
that
we

be mentioned
the

word

hesitate to

pronounced as

as

an

Francais
say

Henri

de Valois

Qui

devalle,"

example.

(Valais
?)

It should

(French)was

whether

Francais.

the proper

long
name

also be

written

remembered, however,

Francois.

Francois

Nevertheless

(Francis)was

ever

OF

FAVOURITES

160

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

vn

ranked as a county,but the King,

previously
in
as
wishingto give his mistress as high a position
possible
the noblesse,
issued letters patent raising
the propertyto the
status of a duchy. The
sum
paid for the purchaseof the
pagne, and

had

domain

80,000

was

crowns.

this time Gabrielle also

About

from
acquired by purchase
of Loisicourt and Jaucourt
the Duchess de Guise
the lordships
Bar-sur-Aube ; and we may add that not longbefore her
near
death she increased her property in Brie by acquiring
the
"

"

domains

of St. Jean-les-deux-Jumeaux
of the Brie

Montceaux, however,most
to Marie

de"*Medici.

of her interminable
needs and

the

Gabrielle

in

"

Etampes,which
and Diane

went
propertyultimately

desired to

degreeperforce a presentof
had formerly
been held by Anne
"

de

obtain,made
the

carried with it the

rightto

norial dues,fees

the sale of

on

escheats,and
justice,

the

of

Duchy

de Pisseleu

the mistresses of Francis I and

Poitiers,
however, did not implya great revenue,
gift,

That

Like

Montreton.

in the course
Queen Marguerite,
Finally,
both her pecuniary
negotiations
respecting

divorce her husband

some

and

Henri
as

it

II.

only
seig-

payment of feudal and

fines
lands,succession duties,

of

dues

payablefor appointmentsto offices

and benefices. In that respectwe
know by the accounts
of
Marie
de' Medici
that the Duchy of the Bourbonnais
only
4300
t
hat
of
9280
the
a
nd
livres,
yielded
livres,
Auvergne
*

county of Nantes 3772 livres per

annum.

the citizens of Paris at this time,particularly

the
Catholics and the Parliamentarians,
there were
a
good many

Among

onlynatural. They had been embittered

of the League,sorely
tried by the civilwar,
by the preachings
of their city,
the sieges
the outbreaks of the plagueand other
misfortunes ; and thus many of them regarded
Gabrielle as a
leach who
of the kingdom,a
was
drainingthe last resources
who was
the Court with parasites,
wanton
ing
insultmere
filling
the poorlycircumstanced wives of honest citizens by an
of luxury,
and deriding
their more
less
or
impudentdisplay
virtuous lives by the exhibition of her triumphantshameless-

malcontents,as

was

"

The

"

passages in which L'Estoille refers to the

favourite'sluxury,
and charges
her with greed,
ambition
venality,
ness.

many

See

I.e.
Batifiol,

LA

vii

GABRIELLE

BELLE

and tyranny remind one of some

passages
of
Mr.
that
typical
Englishbourgeois,
pen

161
that

from

came

Pepys,who

the

with the

above frolicking
not
on
was
customary cant of his species
the sly himself,but became
quitescandalized by the goings
and

My Lady Castlemaine,the Duchess of Portsmouth

Mistress Nell Gwynne. In mentioningthose three fair and
of

on

let it not be

creatures

supposedthat

d'Estrees to them, for

better woman
than any

l'Estoille,
grand

desire to liken Gabrielle

convinced

are

we

we

that she

of that trio. But

one

frail

was

much

Pierre Taisan

de

of Paris,was
Chancellery
his period.

of the

audiencier

the French Pepys of

undoubtedly
On Sunday,November
6, 159V ne writes, the son of
at ten o'clock
Mme.
aunt *]was
de Sourdis [Gabrielle's
baptised
in
in the eveningat the Church
of St. Germain
l'Auxerrois,
with Mme.
the compere (godfather)
Paris,when the King was
de Liancourt,who was
clad that day in a gown of black satin,
and gems that she could not hold herself
laden with pearls
so
de Nemoux
said that Mmes.
[Nemours]and
up; and it was
had served as her tirewomen for
Montpensier[bothPrincesses]
this ceremony.
carried the saltcellar,
the
M. de Montpensier
which was
Marechale de La Chastre f carried the infant,
tised
bapby its uncle the Bishopof Maillezais [Vendee].From the
when
moment
the King, who was
dressed in grey, entered the
church until he left it,he did not cease
laughingwith the Lady
of Liancourt and caressing
her,sometimes in one way sometimes
"

"

in another."
Six
"

I have

been shown

justfinished for
at

1900

states,
de

few
*

"

the

kerchief which

the

she is to

priceagreedupon

wear

with

has

it tomorrow
him

is

she is to pay at once."

16," so L'Estoille
Wednesday,November

subsequently

the

of Liancourt

the office of

Council,who

died in Paris

which

Brou,

King
a

the

Lady
gave
of the Grand
member

so
as
days previously,

to enable her to make

her

journey

killed La

Chataig-

See p. 131,ante.

t Daughter of Guy de Chabot, Baron

neraye

Paris embroiderer

of Liancourt

Lady

ballet,and

crowns,

"On

M.

12, L'Estoille writes :

November
days later,Saturday,

in the

famous

France, 1593-1614.

and
duel),

de Jarnac

wife of Claude

(who

de la Chatre, Marshal

of

162

This

Lyons."

to

Brou's

OF

NAVARRE

that Gabrielle became

means

would

which

dues

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

be

the

payableon

vn

entitled to the

appointmentof

de

M.

successor.

month
following

In the

recallsboth

L'Estoille relates an

about Nell

one

Gwynne

anecdote which

and the Duchess

of Portsmouth,

by Pepys,and another about Mme. de MontOn Monday, the

espan as related by the Princess Palatine.
arrived
named
9th,"says he, a printer
Chapus,who recently
in this cityfrom Geneva, told me
that, having gone to the
told

as

"

"

Louvre

on

he
business,
de Liancourt,who

serious

some

at

met

the door

of the

magnificently
arrayed
knowingher not, but seeingthat every
accompanied
; and
paid her honour, he stoppedto ask who she might be,

said Louvre
and
one

and

Mme.

dumfounded

was

when

was

archer of the Guard

an

answered

his voice :
It is nothingof any account, my
lowering
Whereat
the poor man
friend,it is only the King's
remained quiteastonished."
March
On Friday,
17, 1595,"L'Estoille tellsus, there was
and tempest,while the
great thunder in Paris,with lightning
King was huntingin the countryround Paris with his Gabrielle,
Marchioness
the newly-created
de Montceaux, she by the King's
She was
side and he holdingher hand.
on
horseback,riding
in green ; and she returned with
like a man,* dressed entirely

without

"

'

"

"

him to Paris in that attire."

Gabrielle,
by
grey.

the way,
attire she wore

The

probablysimilar to
made

of

mantle

buttonholes
lined with

which is described

after

colour,
f with
with silver,
set in batons

The

on

her

divided skirt]
to
[i.e.

of zizolin

lined with

L'Estoille's

remark

to bestride

worn

:
on

in the

inventory

mantle

and

horseback,of satin

silver

soems

the said devantiere

in silver. And

zizolin

horse.

be

death

"

was

the cuff'strimmed
embroidery,
of green satin.
romjnis, and purflings
satin,and on the facings
green figured

embroidered
of
taffety

of

as

costume

wardrobe

her

devantiere

fond of green as Henri was

the occasion mentioned above

was

colour,with

to indicate that

he

hat of

also
taffety,

thought it

unusual

for

Originally,
however, it had been the common
There
are
practice.
earlySpanish paintingsof the Flight into Egypt in which
the Virgin is shown
bestridingthe donkey which Joseph leads.
t Now
Zinzolin,from the Italian zuzzulino,a reddish violet colour.
a

woman

164

FAVOURITES

OF

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

vii

at
spendsall his time in playingat tennis,and is usually
the
de
la Marquiseand Mesdames
Sphere where Madame
*
Sourdis and de Sagonne go every day to watch him play; and
he borrows money
[to pay for the play?] from Mme. de

he

"

"

Mousseaux, and

her

caresses

great deal

kisses her before

and

everybody.'"
been assumed

It has
was

that Gabrielle's influence

Henri

her allurements

that
pernicious,

and

energy, reduced him to much

which overcame
Rinaldo when he

Michelet took that view,and

Journal

over

one

him of all vigour

deprived
that
the same
as
supineness

caughtin Armida^ toils.

might adoptit if L'Estoille's

was

point. But this pepysiandiarist

not
violent partisan,
and every now
and again some
was
a
It is,of
statements which he makes are refuted by later ones.
reached,
course,
quitetrue that at the periodwe have now
1596-1597, a good deal stillremained to be done in order to
of his kingdom.
to Henri the full and peaceful
ensure
possession
For instance,
althoughthe Duke de Mayenne had submitted to
the royalauthority,
his relative,
of Lorraine,
Emmanuel
Philippe
stoppedat

Duke

de

name

of

certain

Mercceur,stillheld a great part of Brittanyin the

the League. So far,moreover,
been
no
peace had

arrived at with

whose
forces,commanded
by
Spaniards,
Archduke
Austria,Governor of the Low Countries,as
Albert]of
well as Cardinal Archbishopof Toledo, continually
threatened
It was
northern France.
with their helpthat Calais was seized
in 1595

and

the

held for the

the littlefortifiedtown

Albert's forces.

To

League,while

followingyear

surrendered to the Archduke

of Ardres

contend

in the

with that state of affairs Henri,

tired perhapsof longcampaigning,

relied for a while
slightly
his lieutenants,
and thus the Parisians beganto murmur.
on
who does not hesitate to call the commonaltya
L'Estoille,
"

"

inconstant,and feeble animal,"now shows us Paris

headstrong,
said good of
sayingas much illof the King as it had formerly

him," and takingas its

"

he amused

excuse

for this the circumstance

himself rather too much

with Madame

that

la Marquise."

Under date

Sunday,March 23, 1597,when Lent began,L'Estoille

the King still amusing himself.
made up a
He
pictures
"

masquerade of
*

Mme.

and

sorcerers

de Sagonne

was

went

the widow

to
of

one

see

all the company

of Gabrielle's uncles.

of

Paris.

He

to the Presidente

went

all sorts of other

and

Saint- Andre's,to Zamet's,*

his side the

places,
alwayshaving at

unmasked

Marchioness,who

165

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

VII

and

him

he

wherever

kissed him

prolongedhis escapade
o'clock
to the Louvre at eight
throughthe night,onlyreturning
in the morning.
of
But twenty days later,Wednesday,April 12, the eve
entered.'" In that wise,indeed, Henri

one

very different tale to tell:

"
and
amusing oneself,"
says he, with laughing

Lent, L'Estoille has

Mid

was

there

the

came

tidingsof

sore

While

"

the

the

surpriseof

dancing,
of

town

who had turned our

ballets into rods
by the Spaniard,
At which news
with which to whip us.
Paris,the Court, the
dancing,and all the festivities were
greatlydisturbed. And
and magnanimityare not
the King, whose
even
composure
theless,
shaken,was astonished as it were
easily
by this blow. Neverin adversity
does more
looking
up to God, as he usually
he said aloud :
than in prosperity,
Amiens

"

'

blow

This

has

[theinhabitants

the

Navarre
he

of

!'

undone

wished to send them.1

he added
reflection,

'

act
I must
enough,now
turningto the Marchioness,who

her, We

and
mistress,
As

brief

some

poor folk
themselves through
Those

France

And

said to

"

of

Then, after

King

Heaven

Amiens] have
which I
littlegarrison

the
refusing
"

from

come

'

mount

must
on

wage

another

of

the

King

was

weeping,

of love

set the contests

horse,to

I have acted

aside,my

kind of war.'

he, indeed,did that

day,goingfirst at the
very same
in order that people
might see that fear had

head of his company,

no
placein his soul,and

could not

gain admittance

into his

."
heart,which he showed to be very resolute in this adversity
The citizens of Paris,reassured by the King'sgallant
meanour
de-

acclaimed

him

his

therebyincitingall
departure,
his nobility,"
says L'Estoille,"to fightwell and remain firm
under the leadership
of so brave and generous
a
King." His
on

left him, writes Lescure.

never
composure
from all directions. The remnants
of the
active.

Poitiers

was

rebellious Lorrainers
*

"

Bad

news

League

were

said to have been taken

were

SSbastien Zamet, a very

Henri often borrowed money.

regaining
courage.

came

again

The
by surprise.
The

Parliament

wealthybanker of Italian origin,and

We
shall speak of Zamet again.

of whom

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

166

vn

wise
otheredicts. The Count (TAuvergne,*
to register
refusing
But nothingseemed
the
ProdigalSon," fled from Court.
lectured the recalcitrant Parliament,
to alarm the King. He
pardonedthe malcontents who took to seditious courses, laughed
was

"

returningto

Paris for

againtook

measures,

filled another

might have

things which

at

to

while after the

adoption of

at the

playingtennis

"did
that," says L'Estoille,

with distress;and,
"

certain

Sphere." But
prevent his Majesty from

not

"

watchingover and givingorders about all that was necessary

for undertaking
the siegeof Amiens
duringthe following
he againdismissed playand
come
month, and when that was
as
love,and set out in person, acting
King,captainand soldier
at

one

and the

time."

same

is certainly
not the

That

of
picture

Prince emasculated

by

his duties and his interests under what

dalliance,
neglecting
the enervating
Michelet styled
tyranny of Gabrielle d'Estrees.
find that she gave all her readymoney
for the purposes of the Amiens
jewellery
We

she

time

same

did not

her

royallover ;

the

multitude.

possess

as

much

and

pledgedall her
At the
expedition.
strengthof mind as
to face the enmity of

she lacked the courage

of Mid
to that eve
Referring

Lent

when

the

of the

of Amiens
firstreached Paris,L'Estoille
surprise
declares : Madame
la Marquise,
who was very much frightened,
more
by her conscience than by anythingelse,was readybefore
the King was, and departedan
hour before he did, in her
not feeling
safe in Paris,so she said,as the King was
litter,
it."
leaving
news

"

if we

Even

admit

that account

be correct,which

to

is not

for Gabrielle's departuremay

have been advised by
certain,
Henri himself,
the
a lack of
on
courage in such circumstances,
part of a woman
occupyingso invidious a positionas she did,
is

hardlya

matter

his endeavours
northern
a

to

for grave

prevent

the

France, the populaceof

victim.

it

storyof

the

as

the

King

so

often did.

slander and

There

son
Charles,

of Charles IX

by

could

not

is the well-known

either
ferrymanwho, not recognizing
boldlyexpressedhis opinionof them while he
*

failed in

Spaniardsfrom overrunning
Paris might well have sought

Moreover, Gabrielle dreaded

laughat

had

If Henri

censure.

his mistress Marie

her

or

was

Touchet.

Henri,

ferrying

them

the

across

river. The

said to him

taxes, Henri
"

But

does not the

"

Oh,

the

"

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

vii

of
having complained

man

the

"

King

all those taxes ?

intend to amend

the ferryman,
good fellow,1'
replied
fairly
fine gowns
mistress who requires
so
many

King is

but he has

167

end to it all,and we
that there is no
gewgaws
have to pay for it. It might be allowable if she belongedonly
her.r)
another caress
to him, but it'ssaid that she lets many

and

so

many

Thereupon, accordingto the story,Gabrielle indignantly

talked of havingthe man
hanged.
"

You

poor devil soured

he shall pay no

will

certain that he

for

dues

his

this is

"

made

I have

by poverty.
more

her

said to

Henri
foolish,1'

are

up

only a

mind

my

and
ferryboat,

sing every night:

'

Henri

Vive

that
I

and

am

Vive

Gabrielle!'"*
lasted six months, for the

Amiens

siegeof

The

very stout resistance. Henri more

Albert's forces in
the Archduke

made

than

Spaniards
desired to

once

pitchedbattle,but
would
Mayenne, who was with him and behaved rightloyally,
that in an
not allow him to incur such a risk,feeling,
perhaps,
vail
engagement in the open country the royalarmy might not prethe
then
be
which was
the Spanish
over
reputedto
infantry
Thus the whilom chief of the League did
finest in the world.
to the King :
not cease
No, Sire,you have come
repeating
here to take Amiens, and not to fight
a battle."
occasional sharp enOn the other hand, there were
counters,
some
meet

"

had full confidence in his army,

letter to his able lieutenant,Louis

and Henri
his famous

by

as

de

is shown

Balbis-

misquotedon the
of that inveterate and often intentional misquoter,
authority
Henri
wrote
to Crillon :
to him
Voltaire. According
Hang
brave Crillon,we have foughtat Arques and thou wast
thyself,
Bertons, Lord

of

which
Crillon,

is

often

so

"

there.

not

one

I love you
Farewell,brave Crillon,
version

the letter had

of

have

We

Sauval.

That

tr avers"

text

There

in that

Halphen.

given
are

the

was

The

the

versions

part of his narrative

more

inexcusable

as

same

of it.

which

was

date assignedto the incident

form

as

Lescure

L'Estoille
discovered

by

et

Voltaire

quotes it

from

very detailed
first printedby

gives a
and

tort

the actual

publishedlong before

been

story in

several

the

L'Estoille is 1598.

168

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

NAVARRE

vn

wrote
Here is what Henri actually
composed his Henriade*
accordingto the text givenby Bergerde Xivrey in the Recueil
The original
des lettres-inissives
de Henri IV.
time,
was, in our
in the Crillon archives :
stillpreserved
for not havingbeen here
Brave Grillon (sic\
hang yourself
"

Monday, on the finest occasion that has ever been

be seen
again. Believe
which, perhaps,will never
seen, and
to see
that I greatly
desired you at it. The Cardinal f came
I hope to be
in great furybut has gone off in greatshame.
us
I shall make
but littlestay,
next Thursdayin Amiens, where
for I now
of the
have one
I mean
to undertake something,
as
finest armies that one
can
imagine. It lacks nothing but the
and well regarded
brave Grillon,
who will alwaysbe welcomed
This XX
A Dieu.
September,at the camp before
by me.
near

last

me

Amiens.
But

"

Henry."

let us return

to Gabrielle d'Estrdes.

The

story of

the

in
indication of the manner
at least some
ferrymansupplies
which she was regarded
by the commonalty. With respectto
her alleged
unfaithfulness there is,as we
said,no
previously
proof whatever. With regardto her greed we have already
domains
comprisedin her landed
spoken of the principal
property. Let us now
say somethingabout the various other
does
giftswhich she received from the King. She certainly

appear to have been

next mistress,
Henriette

not

of the

woman

same

nature

as

Henri's

who set a priceon every

d'Entragues,
cost the King a
kiss she gave, and who, as a mere
preliminary,
hundred thousand crowns.
During her liaison of about nine
received many
duration,however, Gabrielle undoubtedly
years1
and unscrupulous
several of which passed
to her numerous
gifts,
who constantly
relations,
speculated
upon her position.Such
*

That is,says

Fournier,in

Le BoucHer

d'Honneur, by P. Bening, Avignon,

1616,8vo.
t That is the Cardinal Archduke Albert.
X In these days when French historical writers make

such

to arrive at accuracy
it is pitifulto find Voltaire's erroneous
above letter perpetuatedby such a publication
Larousse's
as
both

the Nouveau

and

the Petit Larousse

also.

version

of the

Encyclopedia

It will be

"

observed

Crillon,or write to him about the battle

tomary
Arques. The expression hang yourself,
etc.,"was, says Fournier,a cuswith the King. It occurs
in letters of his to two of his captains,
one

that Henri
of

Larousse

efforts

strenuous

does not

"

thee-and-thou

Fervacquesand Harambure.

"

"

notablythe

was

the
and so-called chaperon,

with her aunt

case

169

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

vii

and with the help

de Sourdis,who by this means
a
of her lover Cheverny,
Chancellor of France, acquired
very
Marchioness

largefortune.
Gabrielle
appear, however, that

It does not
eager in
content
an

giftsof
soliciting

he offered.

acceptwhat

to

allowance of four hundred

from

privypurse. This
after the King
eventually,
the

At

crowns.

At

crowns

the

thousand

She

royallover.

her

was

of the liaison

the outset
month

generally

made

was

to her

raised to five hundred, and

was

decided

had

time there

same

particularl

was

gifts.For instance,in 1593, the King

to

marry

were

many

allotted

to

her, to

handsome
her

20,000

payablefor the transfer of

of nobles under age, in
officesand for the guardianship
judicial
however, that
the Duchy of Normandy. That does not imply,
be levied

to

crowns

the whole amount

giftof 33,000

a
In 1594 there was
year.
of property,and in other
for the purchase

crowns

one

to
assigning

seneschal's dues

payableas

dues

levied in

was

find Henri

we

years

the

on

in

his favourite

some

of the fees

Poitou, Angoumois,Saintonge

the duchy of Alencon, etc.

Aunis, La Rochelle,

All the known

quotedby M. Desclozeaux
In the aggregatethey
in his work
La Belle Gabrielle.
on
of money, but it must be
certainly
representa largeamount
held the
pointedout that for several years Gabrielle distinctly
and
of Vice-reine,
which entailed no littleexpenditure,
position

those
on
letters-patent

matters

also had to constitute appanages

So far
to us,

as

Henri's

presentsare

not

are

for her children.

with
correspondence
often mentioned

her has

in it. When

down

come

they are

it

I am
attention.
lover's giftor a mere
questionof some
sendingyou a bouquetof orange flowers,which has justbeen

is

"

sent

me," he writes

to

on

June

16, 1593.

"

I found

onlyan

how
: you see
completing
your set of plate
I am
of you," he remarks a week afterwards.
to divert
sendingyou a company of fairly
good violin-players,
who will cherish you extremely,"
and your subject,
both yourself

hour ago a
I take care

he

says

means

"

in

him
pictures
Gondis

"

Francesco

of

years later,L'Estoille
diningwith Gabrielle at the house of one of the

December, 1594.

Three

negotiated the loans he contracted with

and Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Dukes of Tuscany

who

so

often

"

which

on

hundred

occasion
which

crowns,

vendor,however, would
the

King

did not

little Cesar
twelve
him

by a

for many

vn

bargainedfor a ring,pricedat eight

he wished to givehis mistress.
As the
reduce that

not

buy it,

"

the heavens

merchant

NAVARRE

he

priceto

contented

but

silver 'mathematical'

signsof

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

170

comfit

himself

box,

and
engraved,

were

named
jeweller

Du

his satisfaction,

Carnoi.

on

with

the

which

which
He

giving
sold

was

bargained

thingsat the fair [ofSt. Germain]. But for

thingswhich were
pricedto him at twenty crowns, he only
offered six,and thus theymade very littleby seeinghim."
It was
that kind of haggling,
doubt, which led to
no
Henri's reputation
rather admire him
for miserliness ; but we
for refusing
to allow himself to be cheated by Italian jewellers
and others,who either on the pleathat Kings were
rare
or
because theyknew that he would endeavour to beat them down,
raised their prices
immediately
theysaw him.
The
of Gabrielle's portable
inventory
property,jewellery,
of
and
works
art
sets
out
wardrobe,
a total estimate
furnishings,
of 156,322 crowns,
which, takingthe crown
(threelivres)as
beingworth say twenty francs of the present French currency,
would be equivalent
that seem
to about i?125,000. Does
a
fortune for the favourite of a King of France,
very extraordinary
who had no wife to provide
for
in her time, at all events
as
the unfortunate Margueritewas
in Auvergne?
stilllanguishing
Is it an
amount
which
would
particularly
appeal to the
daughterof some millionaire beef-canner of the United States ?
other

"

There
had

"

of course, also the landed propertywhich Gabrielle

either received as giftsor else had purchased,
but any
was,

merelyfor lifeand reverted

to the King at her death, while the purchasedestates were
intended to form appanages for her three children,
though in
the sequel
several of them passedto Marie de1 Medici.
On the
the duration of the liaison and the exalted
whole,considering
which,by the King'sown desire,Gabrielle d'Estrees had
position
to fill,
and in regardto which we
of more
have the testimony
than one
ambassador,we are inclined to think that she
foreign
was
a less expensive
royalfavourite than many who figuredat
the Court of the old French monarchy.
Michelet,who was very much prejudiced
againstGabrielle,

crown

estates

were

assignedto

her

FAVOURITES

172

beautiful

my

angel,that

the honour

as

that you

gainingten
vanquishedme,

NAVARRE

vri

the

of it as highly
possession
in the fact
battles. Be glorious
who was
never
entirely
vanquished

I esteem

of

have

OF

HENRY

OF

by you."

save

at havingno
of you ;
news
day I waited patiently
for on
bound
to be so.
the time [I found] it was
calculating
for it,except that your
But
the second day I see no reason
on
servants
are
lazyor have been capturedby the enemy, for to
has never
attribute the fault to yourself
yet occurred to me ;
of your affection,
too sure
which
for,my beautiful angel,I am
is certainly
well due to me, for never
was
my love greater,or
"

For

violent.11

passionmore

my

"

Come,

presence
to

one

one

cherts

mes

come,

he free,would

who, were

cast himself at your

Mes

"

cheres amours,

other well
man,

the

see

same

in

woman,

knowing

when

as

again is

you

the truth

for
certainly,

equals me

none

remains
to

more

cherish,adore,and honour
will

"You

called

King

see

of France

travel

again to

feet,never

honour

and

amours,

with

thousand

stir from

must

be said,we

none

is like you

how

to

love.

love each

resolved to surrender
Seven

her

yet

months

and

desire

my
:

for

passion

My

I first began to love you,

violent than it was
then

I
briefly

well.11
marvellously
who
loves you dearly,who
is
horseman
is assuredly
and Navarre, a title which
you

be served,and
may
them
to none.11

they

sauce

leagues

them."

very honourable,but very burdensome

; that of your
far more
All three togetherare
a
one.
delightful

whatsoever

your

before

Gabrielle's

I cherish your good

grace
I am
fond of myself." The

for

death

"

part

my

Henri

than

more

I do

subjectis
good, at

my

followingexpresses

writes

am

to

and
life,
a

pretty

this letter very short so that you may get

thought:
to sleepagaindirectly
read it.11 And
there is also
you have
"

this

is not

about
time.

"

To
to

I make

spend
live "

the month

words

of

which

April apart

from

mind

one's mistress

Tennyson's line
a
young man's fancyturningto thoughtsof love at spring
Henri, however,penned the phrasewhen he was
forty"

five years old,and

Gabrielle

bring

to

twenty-seven.

VIII
GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

III. Disappointment
Sully and

the

Plans"

Alarm
The

Henri

"

Sully opposes

Birth
beween

Favourite

of

his

Gabrielle's

Gabrielle

with

Alexandre

son

"

to

"

Bumours

Kome"

at
"

her

Her

Gabrielle

Gabrielle's Pregnancy
proposed Marriage in
Gabrielle

is Dead

character

that

of

Matrimonial

Edict

that

of Nantes

child

"

"

"

"

"

"

Illness

"

King's
of

"

the Banker

Zamet

The

"

for Easter

Paris

"

sudden

her

She

sends

vain

Haste

Death

"

Was

Her

Farewell

and

his House

for the
"

He
she

King

learns

to
"

"

that

Poisoned

Charge.

Henri's

de

Baron

of

to

comes

extremis

and

The

"

"

of Death
Her

"

Gabrielle

"

Circumstances

"

Improbabilityof

Bethune,

of her

Presentiment

Divorce

Baptism
Quarrel
Gabrielle's
supports his Minister
Queen Marguerite and Gabrielle
Constancy to Gabrielle His Last
to the Throne
Elevation
The Negotiations

"

"

Henri

The

"

Marriage

and

His

Brittany

Sully Henri
Priests preach against her
Divorce
Negotiations Henri's

Letter

"

in

Death

and

famous
and

Rosny

minister
Duke

Maximilien

de

Sully,has
sayingthat he was

de
been

It goes without
estimated.
an
diversely
his
moral
worth,
extremelyable man, and a strong one, but
once
so
highlyextolled by zealous Protestant writers,was by
no
means
so
great as they wished us to imagine. No little
his
and cunning lurked beneath his rugged exterior,
hypocrisy
brutal roughness,
his spartan austerity.
Yet accordingto his
he was
the best minister and, perhaps,the best friend
lights,
that

Henri

unclean

de

Navarre

had.

lent himself to several

He

transactions for the sake of his

such, for instance,as

Catherine

ever

de Navarre

the
and

promiseof
the

Count

great passionof the King'slife

"

Conde, of which

perhapsof

we

his very

sovereignand master,
marriage affair between

de Soissons,and

the last

his love for the Princess

de

speakhereafter. Further, by reason

avaricious,
nature, egotistical,
proud,vain

shall

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

174

NAVARRE

OF

vm

in
very little success
of sympathyin but few of his
and inspired
feelings
diplomacy,
and

vindictive

as

he

At
contemporaries.

was,

Sullyachieved

the

same

time, as

financial

of

dictator

he rendered his sovereign

expression,
and his country incalculable services. And, again,he acted
and did good service to the State when, as sedition was
rightly
of the
he insisted on the decapitation
always following
sedition,
rebellious Marshal
Biron, the son of the King's old friend,
would have pardoned
at Epernay. Henri
we
as
killed,
related,
the offender if onlyfor his father's sake,but Sullyinsisted on
a
punishmentwhich, as repeatedacts of clemencyhad failed,
seemed
the only course
likelyto prevent future factious

France, to

use

Michelet's

attempts.
With
to whom
Sullyowed
respectto Gabrielle d'Estrees,
his elevation,
to which
apart from certain privategrievances
shall

refer,he became opposed to her chiefly

presently
because the King desired to marry her and make her Queen of
France.
He and other politicians
trembled at the thought of
all that this might imply in the future. Doubtless,in the
Gabrielle would be generally
King'slifetime,
recognizedas his
consort, but what would happen at his death ? On marrying
we

Henri would have to make their

Gabrielle,
of wedlock, heir apparent to the throne.
act

otherwise.

the

crown

to

subsequentto
would

He
some

his

could
younger

Cesar,boin

out

could not

well

He

not, in fairness to that

one

marriagewith

provokefurious

son,

that

might

Gabrielle.

dissension in the

be

son,

devise

born,perhaps,

Any

such

course

royalhouse. And,
would other Princes of France, havingclaims of various
besides,
future
degreeto the succession to the throne,be readyat some
date to accept the bastard Cesar as their rightful
King ?
Would
not sedition springup on
all sides as soon
Cesar
as
might assert his claims ? Would not civil war break out, and
rend the kingdom asunder?
once
more
The thoughtof all
those perils
in the minds of Sullyand other statesmen,
arose
and it must be admitted that their estimate of the possibilitie
not exaggerated.But, as
was
seeing
Michelet remarks, after forethe future perils,
they plunged,a little later,into an
immediate one, by counselling
Henri's marriagewith Marie de'
Medici, thus once
againadmittingthe foreignenemy to the

robbers and

had

it,he, who

Catherine

seen

at

he

money
well knew

so

that

that Henri

might be,

had found

work, who

resses,
adventu-

speakof

to

the Medici

her to the infernal

had devoted

power, who
at the news

should

character,

himself

in her

gods and rejoiced

of her death.

longas

As

and

remarkable
certainly

it is

pressedfor

de Navarre, however
have assented to

shall have

traitors. We

but
marriagepresently,

who

175

France, with its train of adventurers

of

Court

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

VIII

Gabrielle lived

believe that Henri

we

had
really

other woman,
and that Michelet is
rightwhen he expresses the view that she would have won the
day by the force of affection and habit. She would have done
no

thoughtof marryingany

whom
of Sully,
of the opposition
spite
had somewhat clumsily
displeased.
of
in
connection
with the grand mastership
This was
an
important post,though not as yet one of
artillery,
in

even
feel,

we

so,

Offices of State.

high

It

bestowed

was

desirous of

very

of the

in the autumn

appearedin

d'Estrees,who

Antoine

following
year.

obtainingthe post,but

the field,
none

the
the

Francois

on

killed,
however, at the siegeof

who was
d'Espinay-Saint-Luc,
Amiens

in 1596

she

Sullywas

second

then

competitor

other indeed than Gabrielle's father,

urged her to solicit it of the King,

She did so, and her requestwas

granted.The
the
justified
militaryservices of Antoine d'Estrees scarcely

on

his behalf.

in that respect,a more

capable
; still he was,
appointment
offended
than Sully
on
man
however,was grievously
; the latter,
he himself coveted conferred on
the father
a post which
finding
of the King's favourite. In gratitude
perhapsfor his own
he had

advancement

rendered
previously

family,notablyin respect to
Italian
Henri's

financial coterie at

need

of

money

and

the

the

services to the Estrees

growing

Court,

which

the

an

influence of

influence due

Estrees

the
to

regarded as

then, in his desire to

Disappointed,
opposedto their own.
also
of the artillery,*
Sullynow
gain the grand mastership
became
often
*

opponent of

an

sided
previously

Subsequentlyto

Antoine
the rank

d'Estrees,with
of

the

Estrees.

with Chancellor

Gabrielle's death
the assent

great office of

state.

of the

in

At

the Council

Chevernyand

he

had

Councillor

1599, Sully purchased it from

King, who in 1601 raised the post to

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

176

NAVARRE

vm

for private
Fresne,*who, largely
reasons,

de

Gabrielle

marry
of La

he

but

went

now

hoped to see Henri

to the side
altogether

over

Varenne, comptroller
generalof posts,and Zamet the
both of whom, it has been asserted,
were,
financier,
opposed to
idea of

the

is

by

not

men

That
were

marriagebetween

no

King

and

his favourite.

certain,however, and

means

the

anythingon

to oppose

for self-interestand

the

advancement

in any
groundof

the chief

were

they
principle,
thoughts of
case

their lives.
Guillaume

Fouquet, Marquis de

La

Varenne

t and

Baron

Sainte-Suzanne,is said by Aubigne to have begun life as

assistant in the kitchens of Catherine de Navarre, Henri's

de
an

Cayet his familyhad long been

in the service of the Navarrese
known
sovereigns.
honourably
Chambre
the
des
of
in
documents
He
Comptes of
figures
Navarre
(1585) as Guillaume Fouquet de Lavarande, "trainof fortycrowns
bearer
to King Henri at a salary
a
By
year.
but according
to Palma
sister,

"

sometimes very equivocal

wit, and services,
suppleness,
made his way from
and sometimes very importantones, he soon
While
the royalanterooms
to the King's cabinet.
at one
in regardto Henri a position
finds him occupying
moment
one
akin to that of Chiffinch in regard to our second Charles,at
dint of

such for instance

very serious missions,
solicit military
helpfrom Queen Elizabeth,or to summon

others
to

he is sent

on

as

and

to the King'ssupport at the time of

Longueville
the campaignagainst
Mayenne in Normandy. On one occasion,
it has been said,La Varenne
feat,
performedan extraordinary
of the League,journeying
passinghimself off as a representative
audience of PhilipII,obtaining
to Spain as such,securing
an
from that monarch confidential particulars
his designs
concerning
in regard to France, and contriving
to make
good his escape
before his trickery
discovered. If that storybe true (we
was
have some
doubts about it) so ingeniousand useful a man

Aumont

could not
another

be leftunrewarded.

La Varenne

secured in turn

collar of the order of St.

*

A connection

t He

wrote

his

At

his correspondence. La

La

Michael,and

of the Beauvilliers
name

all events, for

Varane

Varenne

family. See
King Henri

more

service

or

the
a marquisate,
barony,
the officesof comptroller

and

is a

one

modern

p. 106, ante.
also spellsit that way
form.

in

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

VIII

177

of Anjou. In
postalservices and lieutenant-governor
1603, when the Jesuits were
againallowed to exercise their
throughoutthe whole of France
ministry
theyhad been
freely

of the

"

allowed to return thither before the death of Gabrielle d'Estrees*

Varenne, whom

La

"

assistedthem
largely

years,
If

we

to obtain that

sketched La

have

said to have

theywere

character

Varenne's

littlelengthit is because

some

he

for
protected
permission.
and

at

career

long supposedto

was

some

have

role in Gabrielle's last days. In fact,until a

playeda leading
made in our own
certain discovery
was
times,a letter attributed
the one
authentic
to him was
as
accepted
containing
generally
That is a point,
of her death.
account
however,which may be
who
Let us now
discussed presently.
say somethingof a man
in Gabrielle's life,
and
somewhat
prominently
figured
certainly
who, accordingto the traditional accounts, was also connected
Sebastiano Zamet, a remarkably
with her death. This was
to a
shrewd and dexterous Italian of lowlybirth,who rose
in France.
of great importance
He was
born in or
position
his father carried
Lucca, where, it is asserted,
of a shoemaker.
Attracted to France, like so
the calling

1549

about
on

at

of his compatriots,
at the time when, under Catherine
many
de' Medici,Italian influence was
so
great at the Court of the

Louvre, Zamet

entered

shoemaker
asserted,
He

soon

and

on

that Queen's service,

becoming,it is
and the ladiesof her retinue.
to her majesty

his way, thanks to his marked talent for intrigue,

beingappointedvalet of the wardrobe to Henri III,

made

himself with the latter'srnignons,

lent them money
ingratiated
increased his gains,
and steadily
in such wise
at high interest,
in 1585 he had 70,000 crowns
invested in the State
that already
at last with the League,Zamet
Salt Farm or Monopoly. Siding
de Mayenne, who
made
him
the confidence of the Duke
won

treasurer,and

his

Navarre

eventual submission

in whose

in conjunction
with
played,

he

Gabrielle

to

Henri

de

an
d'Estrees,

importantpart.
*

That

is

rather
about

having brought
of fact,nearlyall

that

important point,as
her death

they asked

as

some

writers have

for their

revenge
of .theFrench

accused

them

of

a matter
expulsion.
had been granted them
not forgottenJean Chatel's

As

Crown

in her lifetime ; but it is true that Henri, who had

to allow them
attempt on his life,
was, until 1603,unwilling

in the

diocese of

Paris.
N

OF

FAVOURITES

178

HENRY

NAVARRE

OF

vin

favourite he certainly
hostile to the royal
really
mixed up in her affairs,
did not show it. He was
repeatedly
; and she,on
notablyin regardto propertywhich she acquired
were
her side,rendered this fortunate partisan as capitalists
If Zamet

was

"

then denominated

"

some

valuable services. Henri

de Navarre's

with such a
necessities inclined him to be friendly
pecuniary
as
Zamet, and Gabrielle certainly
wealthyand resourceful man
and ever afterwards
countenanced the favour which he acquired
man
retained with the King. Zamet had been naturalized a French-

1581, at the same

France, and for

in
him

to

time

as

two

years he lived with a

birth, known as Madeleine

some

of good
woman
young
Demoiselle du Tremblay,by whom

intimate

how

show

To

had followed

brothers who

he

had

mistress,a
Le

Clerc,

several children.

Gabrielle d'Estrees became

with

the

that she assisted him not only

financier it may be mentioned
but also to obtain the full legitimation
to marry his mistress,
of their progeny born out of wedlock,a matter of considerable
in those days among
people of Zamet's position,
difficulty
in that

whatever

of
privileges
respectmight be the peculiar

kings.
that in assisting
surmised,and it is possible,
with respectto his children Gabrielle soughtto prepare

It has
Zamet

been

the way for the

But in any case

of
legitimation

her

by the King.
offspring

own

the service rendered

to

the financier

was

an

importantone ; and althoughZamet was, as we have said,a

who chiefly
man
ing
employsoughtmoney and self-advancement,
his
while
all sorts of means
to secure
them,*
position
tiated
ingramarriage of King Henri with Marie de' Medici, Zamet
of her
himself with the new
Queen-consort to whom, indeed,by reason
he neglectedno
While
well-nighindispensable.
extravagance, he soon became
his loyaltyto Henri seems
certain,for on one
opportunityof amassing money
the King of an Italian conspiracyin which
Concini
occasion
he warned
was
After Henri's
concerned.
assassination,
however, Zamet, like the genuine
courtier he was, went over
to the Concini party. He died in 1614,leavingtwo
it is
sons, respectingthe elder of whom, Jean, a distinguishedgeneral-officer,
related that on seeinghis troopsretreatingat some
engagement, he inquired
the reason, and on hearing that they had neither powder nor
shot left them,
retorted :
and your finger-nails
Forward ! you at least have your swords
1
This Jean Zamet
married
father's
a
nd
there
is
his
a
during
lifetime,
storyto
the effect that the notary appointedto draw up the marriage contract inquired
of the father by what
lordshipshe should describe him : Write lord of
!
1,700,000crowns
repliedthe old millionaire financier with a laugh. In
*

the

After

"

"

"

"

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

180

OF

who, in order

NAVARRE

mii

temporaries
persuadehis conof his exceeding
and posterity
intimacywith the
King, falsifiedthe letters he received from him ? Sullymust
have
had those letters before him whilst he was
preparing
Les Economies royales.Why, then, should they beginin his
versions with the familiar expressionMori ami
my friend,"
de Rosny," and end with
when
begin Monsieur
they really
cousin, Henry ?
the condescendingcommonplace, Your
letters would never
Perhaps Sullyimaginedthat the original
his own.
It is
be found, and printedin any other work save

thought of

statesman

to

"

"

"

"

"

that all of them

true, of course,

that
possible

it is

M.

accordingto

Desclozeaux,in

survived does that

Again,there

are

for the divorce of

assert

may

on

been

addressed

and
recovered,
his minister

confidantin

of the letterswhich

none

that

on

But,
have

occur.

claims in respectto the negotiations

Sully's
he
Henri and Marguerite
; though whatever

that head it is certain that he had

with

do

to

have

may

not

occasions in the fashion that minister asserts.

two

or

one

Henri

have

the

for several

matter

business

little if anything

was

years. Marguerite's
another
of her husband's

whom
she
with
Plessis-Mornay,
of which
is extant ; and on
most
carried on a correspondence,
one
occasion,when Sullywrote to her,anxious as he was to play

Huguenot

adherents, Du

role in the

she left his letter unanswered

affair,

for many

months.
there is

Sullyis found
settingup a claim that he made journeysto England on two
The
that is in 1601 and 1603.
latter embassy is
occasions,
well known, but as regardsthe former mission,a
of course
for jointaction on the
secret one, connected with a proposal
part of England and France in regard to Ostend, modern
research
to have
seems
proved that althoughthe minister
proceededas far as Calais and interviewed an English envoy
crossed the straits,
that his account
there,he never
so
actually
in our
of his experiences
country would simplybe an impudent
Desclozeaux goes so far as to declare that Sully
concoction.
But

somethingeven

more

curious.

"

Picard
*

be
de

it

noted,and
de

in old France

the Picards

Thumery, Sieur de Boissise,by M.

Kermaingant,Paris,Didot, 1886 ; and Desclozeaux, I.e.
Mission

Jean

had

Laffleur

de

BELLE

LA

viri

dreadful

veterate
simply an inthat may
be, he was
nearlyeighty
and there
Economies
royalesappeared,

for
reputation

liar. However

181

GABRIELLE

untruthfulness

was

"

years of age when Les

various proofsthat his memory
had then become defective.
are
At the same
time it seems
certain that on
lookingbackward
over

he
long and busy life,

other

old

to

men,

was

exaggeratehis

like
inclined,

good many

achievements, and

own

to

of senile vanity. The

worst is that when
spirit
his own
who is narrating
career
once
you beginto doubt a man
you doubt him always. At every page you turn, you ask yourself
How
in
Is
much
accurate ?
it strictly
this ?
truth is there
:
Is it exaggerated
false ? Thus it is with Sully,
? Is it entirely
who can never
be accepted
an
more
as
unimpeachable
authority,
in those instances when he is recounting
events in
particularly
which he claims to have playeda conspicuous
part.

tell fibs in

reader may remember

that in the famous letter which
Henri
addressed to M. de Crillon duringthe siegeof

The

King

spokeof the fine army he had got togetherand

of his intention of undertaking
He must have
some
enterprise.
the greater
referred,we think,to the reconquestof Brittany,
part of which provincewas stillheld by the Duke de Mercceur f
behalf of the now
almost defunct League, though
on
ostensibly
Amiens

he

than

more

this Prince

once

claim to the rank of Duke

descent

from

the

old

of

of the House
of

Brittanyby

line of the

Lorraine

had

laid

of his wife's

reason

Penthievres,who, after

had
of over
hundred
a
struggle
years1duration (1312-1422),
been finally
vanquishedby the House of Montfort in their
efforts to secure
of the duchy. Mercceur himself was
possession

eldest

the
and

of Nicolas

son

de Vaudemont,

de Lorraine, Count

the

of Henri III ;
of Queen Louise, consort
step-brother
whilst his wife,known
Mile, de Martigues priorto her
as
the onlychild of Sebastien de Luxembourg,Duke
was
marriage,
de Penthievre.
virtue of his

by
as

At

rebel,as
the

the

one

but
pretensions,

the Parliament

authorityof

Henri

that he would

assurance

other partsof the

*

Mercceur

moment

had

even

had been driven out of the

city

and the citizensdecided to nize

recogde Navarre directly
theyreceived
maintain

the Catholic faith.

in
Duchy,however,and notably

See p. 168, ante.

seized Rennes

t See

p.

those

164,ante.

In

regions

FAVOURITES

182

known

now

Loire

OF

remained

Mercoeur
Inferieure,

cityof

in the

reduce that

To

NAVARRE

OF

vm

and

Morbihan
departmentsof Finistere,

the

as

HENRY

quarters
head-

havinghis

supreme,

Nantes.
the

greatrebel,almost

onlyone

of any note
chief concern

in France, became Henri de Navarre's

remaining
after the victorious siegeof Amiens.
There was, we
think,no
actual fighting,
if so it was
or
unimportant. The
relatively
States of Brittany,
assembled at Rennes, invited the King to
take possession
of his own,
deemed
it best to
and Mercoeur
negotiate.Henri advanced on Brittanyby way of Angers and
was
accompaniedby Gabrielle,althoughat this time (earlyin
mother.
to become
a
1598) she was
They
again expecting
stayedtogether at the famous castle identified with our
but it was duringsome
absence of Henri's that
Angevin kings,
Mercosur sent his wife thither to treat for terms.
Thereupon
Gabrielle,
actingeither on her own initiative or by the advice
of those who

with

were

her, issued orders that

to be refused admittance

the Duchess

it being realized that

city,
this move
Mercoeur's
on
prompted by a desire to
part was
The
attitude assumed
prolongnegotiations.
by the royal
was

favourite did much

the

to

shorten them.

in earnest,and

royalparty was

March

to the

20, 1598, the King issued

held at

was
procession

Gabrielle had
and

one

agreedto

noble,and

On

solemn

giving
thanks-

Angers.

playedan importantpart in

clause in the

surrender.

announcinghis
proclamation

reconciliation with the rebellious

realized that

Mercoeur

agreement which

was

the

negotiations,

arrived at affected

her

and shows how mistaken were

those of her
particularly,
who imaginedher to be a woman
of
contemporaries
possessed
littleunderstanding
and shrewdness.
The
Duke
de Mercoeur,
which were
confirmed to
by virtue of his territorialpossessions,
him, was probablyat that time the wealthiest noble in France.
He had a daughter,
Francoise de Lorraine,who would be, and
indeed became, the greatestheiress of the age.
This girlwas
then four years and
hand, had her son

Cesar,whom

Duke

and

should

de Vendome
not

idea
original

few months

who

was

those

children

seems

to have been

old.
the

on
Gabrielle,

King proposedto

nearlyfour

become

the other

husband

that
entirely

years old.
and wife ?
of

create

Why
The

the
Gabrielle,

LA

vin

and

It was
sense.
politic
5, sixteen daysafter the

"

formal

initiative

April

on

Henri

reconciliation between

Mercceur,*the little Cesar

and

183

destitute of
simple,"
adoptedby the King,and

is said to have been

who

woman

GABRIELLE

BELLE

and

the littleFrancoise

were

and their
affianced at Angers by Cardinal de Joyeuse,
solemnly
marriagecontract was signed.On that occasion,be it noted,
all the ceremonial
France

customary at
And

observed.

was

betrothals of Children

the

Sullywas

of

present.!

Angers Henri and Gabrielle

to Nantes,and
repaired
there littleCe'sar was
captainof the city
appointed
successively
doubtless to the amusement
of many
and governor of Brittany,
of the good Bretons.
At
Gabrielle was
Nantes, moreover,
delivered of her expected
child,which provedto be a boy. As
the happy and ever-victorious father had bestowed the name

From

of Cesar

the first son

on

him, he doubtless

with whom

If

a
perhaps,

was,

undertake

not

we

conqueror

was

case

the

be allowed

going

"

to

use

better

one

"

decide whether the Macedonian

the

greaterman.
to

than

no

sented
premore

that

of

it
colloquialism
though we will
or

the Roman

Gabrielle's condition of health

remain

at

accouchement, and meanwhile

her

arrival

new

to

her

constrained

may
of

had

thoughtthat there could be

for
appellation
appropriate

Alexandre.

his mistress

Nantes

for

some

time

after

Henri

proceededto Rennes,
May 9 (1598),when the

making a state entry into that cityon

court and the seneschal met
presidial

him

at All

Saints

Gate,

new
citykeys of silver gilt,
presentedhim with some
for the occasion.
made
expressly
"They are beautiful keys
the
indeed,"the King is said to have remarked, but I prefer
keysto the hearts of the inhabitants."
one
Now, accordingto Sully,
day during that stay at
Rennes, the King, after diningwith the Procurorf of the
went
to see
M. de Bouillon " who was
city,
upstairs
stayingin

and

"

The

called
King facetiously

t There
Medici.

He

is

strange
that

error

in 1609

him

in

M.

that

"

Duke

of

Mercury."

Batiffol's erudite

work

on

Marie

de'

Queen
says
marriage with Francoise, arranged two years previouslyby Henri IV
English edition,p. 153]. But they were affianced in 1598.
[Batiffol,
Otherwise
the Allout or Alo4. Allocatus in Ducange.
X
" Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne,Viscount de Turenne, married in 1591 to
Charlotte de La Marck, who as heiress broughthim the Duchy of Bouillon and
"

of SedanPrincipality

was

obliged to assent

to Cesar's
"

184

OF

FAVOURITES
and

the house

illwith

HENRY

NAVARRE

OF

vm

coming down again Henri

and takinghim by the hand led
met
Sullyin the courtyard,
him into the garden where, while walking up and down
the
paths,they engaged in a long discussion which the King
and which embraced such questions
his divorce,his
initiated,
as
and the succession to the throne.* After referring
to
re-marriage,
certain
beautiful and magnificent
designs which we need not
the King said to Sully
There is onlyone
defect
:
recapitulate,
and one
in them, but that does not cease
thinglacking
worrying
On

gout.

"

"

"

in such wise that it almost

me,

have

other

no

designsave to live on
the
by way of specifying

say.'"And
the

King

work

robs

added

when

"

am

It is to know

whether

gone,

of my

me

worried him,

which

matter

will

profitby

all my

will have

labour

my

day to day,as people

from

who

and

courage,

just

reward,such as I hold to consist in good fame throughoutthe

world,in the praisewhich will be bestowed on me, the gratitude
which

will be

to my

person

will be manifested

the affection which

and memory
by those who will succeed me.1'
King thus broached the questionof the succession to

The
the

grantedand

throne,which

complicated
by that of his marriage
the stumbling-block
the
which he was
alwaysencountering,
obstacle which might well preventhim from foundinga dynasty
that is,"said he,
if I do not disposemyselfto give
France
children of my own, which is a thing I have always
and infinitely
desired,and of which I have had good hope since
the Archbishopof Urbino, the Sieurs du Perron, d'Ossat,de
Marquemont,f and other ecclesiasticsat Rome, have sent me
was

"

"

"

"

this

Accordingto Sullyalso,there

"

to deliver him

find another

humour,
would
years

been

conversation

while they were

years previously(1596)
gardens of the beautiful chateau of Gaillon.

high terraced
the King, after settingforth
minister

had

between

who

further
at his

of

from

condition

would

love

give him

his ideals of

children

and

On

whom

soon

disposalto bring tHem

he

enough
up

in

would
so

be

that he

his

own

that

glory,had

[Queen Marguerite]and
his birth,one
of gentle and

his wife

suited to

him,

happiness and

them

on

together in the

subjecttwo

same

occasion,

begged

enable

him

his
to

complaisante

able to love,and

who

might have sufficient

style,and make brave,

gallantand skilful Princes of them."

t Jacques Davy du Perron has been previouslyreferred to (p.130, ante).
He was
a native
of Beam, acted as reader to Henri III,then took orders and
delivered a strikingpanegyric on
Mary Queen of Scots after her execution.
Elevated
to the Bishopric
to negotiate
of Evreux in 1595,he was
sent to Rome

LA

vni

advices that the

185

will in every way facilitate my divorce

does he desire and wish that I may leave

Pope

much
so
(desmariage),
the succession to the
So

GABRIELLE

BELLE

Kingdom

free and

of France

divorce from

indisputable."
granted,and that

be

was
Marguerite
matter
the King would requireanother wife. It was
settled,
in these words
his
stillaccording
to Sully that he portrayed
a

to

"

"

ideal :

woman

is to have

the

ease

'

in order that I

choose

hazardous

so

other

who, among

one

opinion,

one's

to
according

of

might not repentme

would

cast

wife,instead of
despotic

could obtain wives

one

not

I should desire to find in that

which

contentment

state of life. If

'

and
ugly,ill-tempered,

an

and

so

well

conditioned

that I may
myselfinto this life'sgreatestmisfortune,which, in my
"

an

wish,

taking
under-

good points,

that is to say,
conditions,
complywith several principal
of
of life,
complaisance
beautyof person, modesty(pudicite)
humour, shrewdness of mind, fruitfulness of body, eminence

would

But," added the

greatnessof estate.
that this
King, quickly, I think, my friend [sicin Sully],
is dead,or perhaps
not yet born or near
woman
beingborn.'"
Henri
and his minister (still
Nevertheless,
accordingto the
Princesses of Europe in review,
latter)
passedall the eligible
of

extraction,and

"

claims

successively
examiningtheir
the

other,for there seemed

widow, whether abroad or

could
objection
his master

not

in

one
rejecting
neither royalmaiden

France,

be taken.

drivingat,

was

be

to

and

By

and

whom

to

this time

strove

after
nor

valid

some

Sullyrealized what
conceal his apprehensions

to

Being so good
assumptionof jocularity.
he may not have read Rabelais,
it is probablethat
a man,
so
he derived from Holy Writ, and not from Pantagruel,
the scheme
which he proposedto the King
which was, that all the maids
of France should be assembled and examined in the hope there
who
them
one
(likeEsther)would
might be found among
obtain grace and favour in the monarch's sight. Henri took
beneath

an

"

the

absolution

and

divorce

de

of Henri

d'Ossat,a

brilliant pupil of Ramus

Cardinals

Hippolyte d'Este

and

and

With

Navarre.

had

Cujas,who

Joyeuse when

they were

him
acted
French

went
as

Arnaud

secretaryto
ambassadors

at Rome.
Arnaud

d'Ossat

became
almoner

of

Cardinal

in

1599,and
made

appointed grand
France) was
a less important ecclesiasticalluminary.
was

one

du

Perron
in 1604.

(who

was

also

Marquemont

OF

FAVOURITES

186

HENRY

NAVARRE

OF

vm

jest in good part, but he at last became somewhat

in playing
*s persistence
at Sully
the stupid.
impatient
the cunninganimal you are!" said he, "you could
"Oh
choose one
the one
I think,
very well if it pleased
you, even
the

for there is none

heard

that has not

some

very well what you are aiming at, in

and the ignoramus. It is to make me
name
I

will admit

to

me

that all those

But

playingthe stupid

see

so, for you

of it.

rumour

her, and

I will do

pointsmay

be found

in my

not that I mean

to say that I have thoughtof
mistress,
marryingher,but I would like to know what you would say
of it if, for lack of another, that fancyshould some
day

take me."
This
for he

was

direct thrust,but

it in

Sullymet

says, to avoid a conflict. The

the matter as a mere
to examine

he
desired,

an

evasive way,

King,however,
and
hypothesis

him
requested
give his opinionon it,sayingthat he might speakout freely
in private,
had no
that he (Sully)
as
so
they were together,
which might result from an
to fear the displeasure
reason
adverse opinion
publicly
expressed.
The minister declares that he thereupon
his views
explained

with all frankness.

apart from
shame

the

"

I will tell you,

Sire,"he answered, " that

that you might incur, and the

generalblame

which

repentance would bring

of love were
cooled,that I
(bouillons)
suitable to
and
would

and

arise with

to

contend

with

when
can

the

reconcile the various

the

think

transports
of

no

intriguesand

pedients
exbarrassments
em-

which
pretensions

born in such diverse

your children,
circumstances. The more
so
irregular
as, apart from the

respectto

good stories that have been told me (which were least known
and yet you were
to yourself,
not entirely
ignorantof them,
of that of Messire Alibour
which was
particularly
spreadabout
that Regnardiere
so much, for I know
one
thing
day told you someabout it,in ambiguouswords which you nevertheless well
understood,though,not wishingit to appear so, you availed
*

See p. 141, ante.

Judging by the rolls of the King's medical household,
the correct orthographyof this doctor's name
appears to have been Ailleboust.
He became
first surgeon to King Henri, at a salaryof 400 crowns
per annum,
in 1593, when
he succeeded
Marc
household
Miron.
Henri's medical
the
was

largest ever
persons,

formed

by

any

physicians,
surgeons,

King

of

France, being composed

and
barber-surgeons

of

their assistants.

sixty-five

OF

FAVOURITES

188

OF

HENRY

NAVARRE

vm

words rethe concluding

specting
particularly
language,
grandiloquent
terestin
himself,which he ascribes to the King,but it is into find him
admittingthat Henri held Gabrielle to
which he desired
the qualities
who possessed
be the one woman
of person, modestyof life,
to find in a wife : beauty
complaisance
of humour, shrewdness of mind, and so forth. Sully's
objections
with opinions
to the match are in accordance
expressed
by other
prominentmen of the time ; and with regardto rival claims on
well justified,
for it so
the part of Henri's children they were
happenedthat in later years these children went to law on the
of family
turningon the
subject
entirely
property,their dispute
Had
questionas to which of them was the most legitimate.
of them then been King of France
lawsuit would
one
no
mere
have

and
settled their differences,

with

what

was

one

the marriageof
apprehension
men.
regardedby far-seeing

can

well understand

Henri and his favourite

the other

On

attached
a

thus

wife

to

hand, it is certain that the King was deeply

and we feel that she would have proved
Gabrielle,

after his

own

heart.

There

is

somethingludicrous

in

words about the transportsof love,or, to translate him

Sully's
its boiling
down, for at the date of
bubbles,"cooling
literally,
his conversation with his master, May, 1598, there had been
plentyof time for that to happen,the liaison having lasted for
several years.
It was, assuredly,
less a violent passionthan a
"

sincere
mutual

attachment, based
esteem, which

longerthe

on

similar tastes,ideas,
humour, and

bound

now

Henri

to Gabrielle.

She

was

fresh young

beautyof the days of Compiegne,

Mantes
and Chartres,although she was
stillonly some
sevenshow
Her
last portraits
that while
and-twenty
years of age.
her face had become
of the
some
full,
perhapsslightly
flabby,
if by care
features were
marked
as
or
suffering.Her health
have been indifferent if the statements
must
made respecting
no

the post-mortemexamination of her remains can be relied upon,

for they assert that both the lungsand the liver were
found
to
be in
to

state
unhealthy
in
degreesurprising
an

She
*

had also become

Letter

the Duke

from

President de

de Ventadour.

We

and that renal calculus

one

so

developed

was

young.*

stout, to what
Vernhyes of

extent

the Cour

one

des Aides

cannot
of

well

Auvergne

shall refer again to that important document.

to

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

vin

189

of her
crayon
say, the reliable portraits
Louvre and elsewhere
showingonlyher head
"

shoulders.

and

earlyage for a woman

should
contemporaries
due

been

to

documents
letters

on

describe her

as

This

stout.

may

have

table.
to her

is made

to which

from

put

but we
pect
suspredisposition,
strongly
somewhat
Gabrielle was
undulyfond of the

that la Belle
Reference

to

in any case
twenty-sevenis an
flesh to such a degreethat her

natural

some

of the
pleasures

But

at the utmost

or

"

her head

the

drawingsat

our

personal
appearance

have

we

not

in

envoys

yet alluded.

in two

They

are

English
official

The

France.

first one, dated

Queen Elizabeth in

February3, 1596, O.S., is addressed to

person by Sir Henry Unton,* who had for a time commanded
small body of Englishsoldiers in that part of Brittany
which
a
did not

Duke

acceptthe

de Mercoeur's

rule.

Unton's

account

to King Henri's mistress is most

able
unfavourpresentation
her as a person of no
He regarded
to her.
consequence,
and
of very simplemind
of dealing
with State
incapable

of his

one

affairs. She
says, with

and
badly,

make

his

way

ornaments, he

head, all which fitted her very

grossly
painted. It happens,however,

of Gabrielle cannot

well
in

any

her

on

was

account

as
courtier,

of satin without

gown

velvet cap

her face

that Unton's
born

wore

as

the

well be

accepted.A

he
fairly
good soldier,

world, and

in

that

wished

to

respect he could

than that of singing

take no better course
the praises
assuredly
of the Virgin Queen and disparaging
the French
favourite.
he had one
An
loyaladmirer of his sovereign,
intensely
day
and foughtthe young Duke de Guise,son
of Henri
challenged
le Balafre,for daringto speakimpudently,
and over
lightly
boldlyof the brightOccidental Star ; and the letter which he
writes her a propos of Gabrielle breathes the same
of
spirit
admiringfervour. Henri took him aside,it appears, and asked
him what he thought of his mistress;whereuponthe readyUnton
that he knew a better,
witted and ingenious
and
replied
in proofthereof he produceda portrait
of Elizabeth,
at which
the King of France gazed,
he says,
with passionand admiration."
It would be pleasant
if that portrait
to know
in any
degreeresembled the "great Eliza,"who was then over sixty
"

Sometimes

speltUmpton.

OF

FAVOURITES

190

HENRY

of bones.
years of age and a bag
have fallen in love with her had he
cannot

In

say.

respectto
did

Unton

Poor

"

"

which

have

we

Sir Robert

de Navarre

Henri

did
certainly
les

some

gouts

We
traordinary
ex-

very
dans

sont

long enough

of his vain
reward for his outrageousflattery
of
accompanyingHenri to the siege
purplefever less than six weeks

vm

her in the flesh ?

seen

live

not

NAVARRE

Would

all,toxis

after

things,and,
nature.

love he

OF

to

reap

la
any

old mistress,
for,

Fere, he died there of

La

after

writingthe

letter to

referred.*
is the other EnglishCecil,later Lord Salisbury,
man

Gabrielle.

of

account

givingsome

official

"Writingan

mission in
Paris, whither he had gone on some
and
March, 1598, he describes her as " stout but really
pleasant
"
she
I spokewith her for a moment," he adds ;
gracious.
letter from

...

She spoke to me
of
herself well and courteously.
expressed
her
with much
the Queen [Elizabeth]
respect,and expressed
but probably
desire to receive her commands.'" f That is brief,
to the truth than Unton^s
nearer
epistle.
disparaging
the French
confirm
both
writers
On
one
point
English
.

that

accounts

Gabrielle

and

at

personage

after

Court

she and

1598, when

the

Henri
had

King

state

presentat

was

of foreign
receptions
envoys,

the

such
functions,

as
regarded

was

himself.
returned

In
to

the

as

principal

the middle

of

Paris after the

LlSstoille pictures
them
of Brittany,
for us at the
pacification
which Henri, with
at the Hotel de Ville,
midsummer
rejoicings
of Francois
Prevot des
the co-operation
Miron, the famous
du

Marchands, and Androuet

Cerceau, the great architect,

was

endeavouringto complete. The

writes L^Estoille.
Madame
magnificent,"
"

then

"

Duchess

de Beaufort
with

who
[Gabrielle],

was

collation there
de Guise
seated in

served the
a

Madame
curtseys (reverences)
the dishes. She, with one
hand, took what
presented
whom

to

most

to her

many

in which

her."

before

his

It is in the Public

f We
us.

translate

He

Cecil "lords,"

chair,and
de

Guise

she found

taste,while the other hand

kiss,he being near

was

the

makes

No

doubt

she gave the King to

the sightof the ments
endear-

Majestypublicly
indulgedamused
Record

above

Office.

of

State

Papers,France, 120.
Desclozeaux,not having the English
French
mistake of callingboth Unton

from

the usual

some

text
and

191

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

VIII

well have

onlookers,but other Parisians may

the

been

in which
struck by the obsequious
manner
particularly
lady than the widow of Henri le Balafre,sometime

Barricades,"and

the

mistress whom

King

of

the

on

honour.

to
sovereign
delighted

their

less a

no
"

France, waited

ruler of

almost

more

month, President Claude Groulart of

During the following
Rouen,* who, by the way, often lent Henri money, in such wise
that the royal indebtedness to him amounted
at last to the
by the King'sdesire to
huge sum of 500,000 crowns,frepaired
him there,perhapsin relation to
St. Germain-en-Laye
to see
further loan.

some

From

St.

Germain,

Groulart

as

relates in

memoirs, he accompaniedHenri to Paris and afterwards to

Montceaux, Gabrielle's favourite residence. And there, after
his

supper, says the

of turns up and
Duchesse's hand

President, the King

"

down

he
long alley,

the

side,and

one

on

made

take

me

couple

la

holdingMadame

beingon

the other."

That

spoke to the President on the subject

mination
occupiedhis thoughts the absolute deterconstantly

evening Henri

same

which

so

"

at

which

Queen Margueriteand

"to

afterwards.1' To
the conversation

arrived

had

he

us

contract

to

secure

another

divorce

from

ately
marriageimmedi-

the inference is obvious.

with

spiteof
the
spring,
In

Sullyat Rennes earlythat

in his design
to make
Gabrielle his wife.
King firmly
persisted
in which Sully
an
Now, however, came
episode
againfigured,
and which,according
to his account, turned entirely
to Gabrielle's
year, her son Alexandre
the rite beingperformed
at St. Germain-en-Laye,
baptized

confusion.
was

December

On

all the ceremonial

with

Princesses

of France.

13 that

same

Princes

and

Gondi, Cardinal de Retz

and

usual at the
Pierre de

baptismof

{ officiated; the King acted as one of

Archbishopof Paris,
his compere his cousin,the Count
as
selecting
godfathers,
Soissons

"

the Princess Catherine's unfortunate

lover

"

who

the
de
was

See p. 152, ante.

hand.
f There are acknowledgments of the debt under the King's own
with
Catherine
de'
Medici
to
Gondi
France
and
The
secured
came
family
%

high offices One branch became

many
another
generals of the galleys; while
.

of the
The

one

highest preferments in
mentioned

above

1570,and secured the

was

the

hereditaryintroducers of ambassadors,
others of the family obtained
some
three
of
them
Church,
becoming Cardinals.

born

in 1532, became

of Cardinal in 1587.
dignity

Archbishopof

Paris in

OF

FAVOURITES

192

Grand

"

now

OF

NAVARRE

vm

*
while the godmother was
France,1'

of

Master

HENRY

of Henri II.
a natural daughter
d'Angouleme,
much
own
account, he was
Accordingto Sully's
upset by
and the King
this occasion,
all the magnificence
on
displayed
had been done
that a great deal more
havingadmitted to him

Diane, Duchess

"

than

he had

commanded,"

the minister

resolved

the royalfavourite. Thus,

against

action

decisive

upon

when

order

an

was

the treasuryto pay "the heralds,trumpeters,and

sieur,
hautboysfor their services at the baptismof Alexandre Monissued

on

refused to honour
Child of France," Sully

as

another

one

for

reduced

amount

the

on

it,and issued

privypurse.

plaint
Com-

made
to him.
Monsieur," he was told,
speedily
"the amounts
payableat the baptismsof Children of France
is that to me ?
have long since been regulated." What
of Finances, Go, go ; I shall do
retorted the Superintendent
"

was

"

"

"

nothing. There

are

off to

officials
went

The

Children

no

of France

!"

Gabrielle

complainto

and

Sully
so he says
beinganxious to forestallthe favourite'sapplications
to the King, hurried to the latter in order to lay before him
the scandalous and reckless claims which had been inspired
by
in
its
ambition
monarch
to
from
the
an
anxiety wring
impatient
tantamount
to procompromisingfavours which might seem
mises
! Thereupon Henri, stillaccording
to Sully,
told him to
go and see the Duchess de Beaufort and bringher to her senses.
in reality
the
Sullyrepairedto the Cloitre St. Germain
the residence of Mme.
de
Deanery of St. Germain l'Auxerrois,
Sourdis,Gabrielle's aunt, with whom she was staying and met
with what he regardedas an impertinent
well as
hostile
as
reception.Forthwith he returned to the King, who, beingput
;

"

"

"

"

his

on
*

mettle,got into the minister's

which
The office,

can

be traced back

magister officiorumof ancient

to

times,was

and

coach

that of the

reallythat

of

comes

drove

to

palatiiand

the
the

chief

major-domo.
passed
and others to the Souverain
to the Constable
of France
Maitre de l'Hotel,
who
the whole
household
exercised authorityover
and
its
royal
expenditure. On
the appointment of Antoine
de Croy in 1463 the title of the office was
altered
to the very inappropriate
Maitre de France.
of Grand
The post took rank
one
the third of the great offices of state,being preceded by those of the Constable
as
When

the

and
successive

post of grand

seneschal

the Chancellor
monarch

the well-known

it

words

was

"

was

of France.

the Grand
The

King

abolished

At
Maitre

of its attributions

some

the
who

death

and

announced

accession

of each

those events

is dead, long live the King I "

in

LA

viii

BELLE

deanery.Findingthe
him

the honours

but,

GABRIELLE

Duchess

on

the

house, Henri

of the

threshold,
readyto do

took hold of her hand

Sullytriumphantly,without
"

says

193

either

kissingor

word as he
it, or sayinga singlecomplimentary
caressing
did,"and in that fashion he led her to her room, where,
usually
after closing
all three
the door and making sure that theywere
while holding
her hand in one of
alone,he said to his mistress,
in the other :
his,and Sully's

Come, madam,

"

Dieu, what is all this ?

vrai

What

Are

and

try my patience.Is
that the fine advice you receive ? Well,par Dieu, I swear
to
in this fashion,
you that if you think of continuing
you will

seekingto
purposely

you

anger

me

for I will not lose the

yourself
very far from your hopes,
had * on account
best and most loyalservant I ever
of any
foolish fancies which are put in your head by I know whom.
And it is necessary you should understand that,havingloved
and good
because I found you gentle,
gracious,
you principally
if you suddenly
humoured, and neither obstinate nor peevish,
as you are
doing,you will make me believe that all that
change,
was
feigned
by you, and that you will revert to the nature of
I have raised you to the position
other women
as
soon
as
you
find

desire."
that of a master and
which was
this speech,
hearing
could at firstonly
to Sully,
not of a lover,"
Gabrielle,
according
hand, but at last,breaking
weep and sob and kiss the King's
of herself,
she exclaimed,
the
out in spite
as she cast herself on
"

On

bed,

"

Oh

God

! I shall

never

be able to live after such

grace,
dis-

so
a servant f of whom
preferring
many people
!
complainto a mistress whom everybody
praises
The King,affected by her despair,
weakened for an instant,
but recovering
his energy he bade Gabrielle make peace with
she had offended,
the minister whom
and advised her to practice
her that
and moderation in future,promising
if she
patience
would love him as usual and live with him and his goodservants,
in the past,he, on his side,
with the same
as
gentle
disposition
would also love her as he ought."

to

see

you

"

"

It will be noted that it is

Sullyhimself

who

ascribes these words

King.
called Sullya valet.
t She is said to have previously
o

to the

But

vm

sobbingand complaining

Gabrielle stillcontinued

as

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

194

Henri's
referred to the minister as a valet,
againunluckily
to
became exhausted,and he told her (still
according
patience
of choosing
Sully) that if he were reduced to the necessity
with ten
between them, he would be the better able to dispense

and

"

mistresses like herselfthan with

it
Thereupon Gabrielle realized,

is

blunder,and exerted herself to

her

at all events, a reconciliation was

d'Estrees'career

have

we

the aforesaid

that

the minister

scene

took

never

feel that

we

his minister."

as

how great had been

alleged,
repairit,so that outwardly,

exhaustive

Gabrielle

studyof

holds very strongly

referred,
previously
between the King, the favourite,and
narrative
placeat all,and that Sully's

a concoction.
entirely

that,but

such

arrived at.

M. Desclozeaux,to whose

Now

is

servant

one

We

inclined

not

are

to go

far

as

as

of the affair is at least

account
Sully's

which seem
statements
exaggerated.It contains some
greatly
not yet the all-powerful
personage
very improbable.Sullywas
He

he became.
date

of the

have

talks of his

allegedincident.

coach.

officer of State

He

Grand

as

Germain, where she

that the
But

it.

His

rank did not

was

to

at the

none

entitle him

after he became

to

great

of the

Next
he
Artillery.
when
the Deaneryof
Gabrielle's,

Master

abutted on the Louvre, so

installed,
to take a few stepsin order to reach

King merelyhad
the most importantpointof

the baptismof
quarrel,

the

coach, and he had

onlyacquiredone

speaksof drivingthe King

St.

own

all is the

Alexandre

cause
alleged

de Vendome

as

of

Child

of France.

Alexandre's elder brother Cesar had

master

Henri
himself
had barelymade
times, when
of Paris,and the League stilllorded it in various parts

of France.

was

The

into the world in

troublous

very

But

come

when
born

Thus

there

the second
at Rouen

in

was

become

fuss
particular

child of the

at Cesar's

Catherine
liaison,

baptism.

Henriette,

1596, circumstances had greatly

changed.

was
King'sposition

affections had

no

assured,Gabrielle's hold on his

strongerand stronger,and he already
more

making her his wife. Now, Catherine Henriette

contemplated
at Rouen
with all solemnity
and ceremonial as a
was
baptized
Child of France. President Groulart,
an
unimpeachable
authority
such a matter,gives
vivid account of the function in his
a
on

FAVOURITES

196
"

HENRY

OF

some

her confidence would

NAVARRE

vm

die young ; some

that a child would
that a person in whom
she placedall

others that she would

destroyher hopes;

OF

playher

an

evil trick.

a councillor
Cceffier,

concerned
himself with
court of Moulins, who
presidial
in turn the death of
and succeeded in it,predicting
astrology
Henri, Duke de Guise, the fall of the League, the taking of
the Savoy war, and the death of Henri
IV, announced
Calais,
of the

to her that she would

In the autumn

become

Queen."
of that year, 1598, with which
never

committed
the King,says L1Estoille,
dealing,
Le

Thuillier,because

to

are

prisona

he had told the Duchess

"

we

at

now

certain

Montceaux,

King'spresence, that there was danger lest the King

he offered her
should some
day desert her, for which reason
and afterwards
to rub her lips,
with which she was
a
philter,
kiss the King in order to enchain him to her for ever."" That
occurred in October; in the following
December, exactlya
after the baptism
of Alexandre
de Vendome, Gabrielle
fortnight
attacked from the pulpit
one
was
by two Parisian ecclesiastics,
of them preaching
at St. Leu cum
St. Gilles (Rue St. Denis)
and the other at St. Jean de Beauvais,adjoiningthe College
de Dormans.
who preached
A certain Chavagnac,
at the latter
lewd woman
in the Court of a King
a
church,declared that
a
was
dangerousmonster, and caused much evil,particularly
she was
when
encouragedto laise her head.1' One can well
understand
that, amidst sinister warnings and ecclesiastical
in the

"

denunciations, Gabrielle

wept

at

night,as

became

and
sometimes
distressed,
her maid, Gratienne Mareil,*subsequently

affirmed.
it seemed
Nevertheless,
She

was

excellent

on

as

terms

if her desires would

with

who
Queen Marguerite,

(November 11, 1598) transferred to

recently
rightsover the duchy of Etampes, and with
occasions she had
had

written

been

her the
whom

in direct communication.

about
favourably

her

be fulfilled.

as

far back

had

seignorial
on

various

Marguerite
as

1595, and

in

her as
1597,she addressed her personally,
February,
designating
her sister,
askingfor her friendship,
begging that she would
communicate
her requests to the King through her own
beautiful lips,
which would lend them the authority
that they
*

She entered the service of Marie

de' Medici.

LA

viii

lacked.
to

GABRIELLE

All the old stories that

consent

to

divorce at this

by modern
for the
the

BELLE

sake

time

same

being a

laid down

been

to have

stage seem

willing
proved
dis-

the pecuniary
ones
conditions,
to pay her debts,and a life

of

250,000 crowns
pensionof 50,000 crowns.
Henri, on his side, showed
sum

not

desired it,as she herself said,

and freedom ; but at
personal
safety

own

she

Margueritewas

She

research.

of her

197

great activity.President

Brulart de

was
Sillery
despatchedas specialenvoy to Rome,
in order to expedite
matters
there, and writingto him in
his
October,1598, Henri appealedto his zeal,sayingthat now
kingdom was at peace, he also wished to have his own mind at
monial
rest,which could only be effected by a solution of his matridifficulties. On January 20 in the following
year, the
King wrote to the Pope personally,
begginghis Holiness to

grant the

favour

esteem

much

as

kingdom a
well knew

for it
solicited,

he

if the

as

life.

new

that it

Pontiff

under
acting,perhaps,

and

grant him

would
and

still hesitated.
to

marry
influence of French

the

his
He

Gabrielle,
or

Italian

deferred
match, he perpetually

the

opposedto

personages
decision.

intention

Henri's

was

VIII

that he

one

to

were

Clement

Yet

was

his

last President

and Bishop d'Ossat

Sillery
If the Pope would
ceased soliciting,
and began to threaten.
not annul the King's present marriage,the King would act
of the Pope, even
as
regardless
King Henry of England had
But

done; and

at

thus the threat of

Pontiff.
perplexed
Henri was
in
thoroughly
with
he

Gabrielle.

her, in fact,she received

to

him

been

lost,like others,and

much
"

as

any

to

it

My

better,theywere

improvingand

an

two

letters

but those final missives have

last letter from

Henri

to

It breathes

29, 1598.

his
as

ones.

hour

with

I arrived here at four

littlelodging.

put

the

of the earlier

caught the stag in

and
enjoyment,
my

she died

is dated October

extant

now

love

day before

before the

arose

perfect
agreement
momentarilyseparated

they were

from

mistress

the

write

fresh schism

earnest,and in

Whenever

hastened to

children

came

the

greatestpossible

o'clock and
to meet

at
alighted
me

there,or,

brought. My daughteris greatly

but my son [Alexandre]
will
becominga beauty,

be handsomer

than

cheres amours,

to

with you.

Ah

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

198

his elder brother.

You

vm

entreat

much
love
as
carry away with me
! how that has pleased
me, for I feel

as

I left

so

much

thought I must have carried all away with

that none
might have remained with you. I

love that I

feared

about to hold communion

any

one

save

with

Morpheus,but

in my dreams, I will for

yourself
Good
good morrow
nightto myself,

company.
dear mistress.

I kiss your

beautiful eyes

if he

vies

me,

me,

and
now

am

shows

me

forsake his

ever

to

you, my
million times."

at Usson, a fresh
February3, 1599, Margueritesigned,
It reached the
for the settlement of the divorce.
procuration
Louvre
to Rome.
on
February9, and was at once despatched
The Pope was
and the early
said to be favourably
now
inclined,
annulment of the marriagewas expected.On March
2, Shrove
Tuesday,Henri gave Gabrielle his coronation ring,set with a
and estimated to be worth nine hundred
largediamond en table,
of
as a betrothal ring,
crowns,
addingthereto some fine specimens
the goldsmith's
to him by various cities.
art recently
presented
it was
And
arrangedthat the marriageshould take placeon
about Quasimodo Sunday the firstafter Easter.
or
Gabrielle,
thoughagainpregnant,busied herselfwith various
preparations.She had a house of her own in Paris,one at the
of the Rue
corner
Fromenteau, hard by the river gate of St.
but she lived at the Louvre whenever
in
the King was
Nicolas,
the city,
occupyingthe bedchamber of the Queens of France,
and this she proposedto refurnish,
for which
purpose she
of articles,
bed with
a magnificent
bought a variety
including
her bridal robe
all crimson and gold. And
hangingsof velvet,
also made, this likewise beingof velvet,elaborately
was
broidered
emwith goldon a foundation of carnation hue.
It cost
thousand
For
her ears
the King gave her two
a
crowns.
diamonds valued at thirteen hundred crowns
apiece.
But
such preparations
did not suffice. It was
necessary
that the future Queen should be surrounded by warm
partisans
and defenders. The man
Henri
if
whom
not
on
chiefly,
largely,

On

"

relied in that

was
respect,

the second Marshal

marry

Duke

one

who

de Biron.

Gabrielle's sister Francoise

the

reversion of the

post

afterwards became
It

was

traitor,

he
arranged

and
d'Estrees,
of Constable

of

he

was

should
mised
pro-

France, on

LA

viii

BELLE

199

GABRIELLE

Montmorency'sdeath, as well as the counties of Perigord

and Bigorre. Members
connections of the Estrees family
or
governedall northern France.
Brittanywas held by devoted
officerson behalf of the littleCesar de Vendome, who, directly
after the marriageof his parents,would become
Dauphin of
de
Francoise
France.
His betrothal to the wealthyyoung
Mercoeur

to be

was

and
annulled,

he

was

to be betrothed

to the

daughterof the Duke of Savoyin return for that ruler'ssupport.

the other hand, was
to find a new
on
Francoise,
fiancein the
Mile, de Guise was to
person of the boyishPrince de Conde.
Gabrielle's brother

espouse

Annibal.

And

there

were

other

in order that
either arranged
or
alliances,
projected,

the

of Gabrielle

Cesar, as

as

Queen-consort,and

that of her

son

cause

Heir-apparent,
might have powerfulsupport. As M. Desclothe plans,
what a change they
zeaux
remarks,after reviewing
might have effected in the destinies of France ! The Vendome
would have become the royalhouse,there would have been
race
no

de' Medici

Marie

Louis

XIII

Louis

XIV

with her

scandalous Italian

no
favourites,

with his Richelieu to establish absolute power, no

Louis
of the country,no
to exhaust the resources

no
completeits ruin,no fated Louis XVI, and, perhaps,
On the other hand, it is impossible
to surmise what
guillotine.
which Henri
mighthave happenedhad events taken the course

XV

to

and

Gabrielle desired.

as
to Fontainebleau.
Gabrielle,
DuringLent they repaired
have said,was
another child,and her health was
we
expecting
and
bad, as appears from the statements of L'Estoille,
Sully,
others. Without
we
enteringinto details,
may say that there
recovered properly
that she had never
are
groundsfor believing
think
from her previous
we
accouchement,and to that cause
to happen. The firstwriters
soon
may be ascribed all that was

who

it to any but
of Sully's
Economies
after the publication

related Gabrielle's death

natural

causes.

several
royalest

But

did

not

adoptedthe
account
on
largely

historians

attribute

view

that

she had

been

of a letter inserted in
poisoned.This was
work,and stated to have been written to him by Guillaume
Sully's
Either Sullyquotedthe letter from
Fouquet de la Varenne.*
he concocted it,
or
written)
(thirty
years after it was
memory
*

See pp. 176,177,ante.

or

OF

FAVOURITES

200
La

Varenne

told

number

believes that the missive

on
(based,perhaps,

between

himself and

librarian
Loiseleur,
an

HENRY

was

vague

La
of

OF

NAVARRE

vm

of gross untruths.
Desclozeaux
of Sully's
various fabrications
one
recollection of

conversation

some

Varenne),and so did the erudite Jules

covered
in 1873 disthe cityof Orleans,who

importantdocument

which

entirely
changed the

aspectof the case and demolished several

the striking
romance
theories,
including

more

or

less fantastical

devised
previously
by Michelet on the basis of Sully's
allegations.
This document
in cypher,
was
a
long letter written partly
and containing,
less general
in addition to more
information
or
of a political
of Gabrielle's
circumstantial account
a
character,
last daysand death.
It was
written by an importantpersonage,
who was
all the facts,that is,M. de
in a good position
to know
Chief Judge of the Cour des Aides of Montferrand
Vernhyes,
and a member
Devoted
of the Supreme Council of Navarre.
to
King Henri, M. de Vernhyeswas the leader of the royalparty
in Auvergne, where
to
in previous
times he had done much
keep the League in check. He was in Paris at the time of
Gabrielle's death,he saw
her corpse, and sprinkled
holywater
he related everything
was
upon it,and the letter in which
confidential communication
addressed by him
a
to another
importantpersonage, the Duke de Ventadour, LieutenantGovernor
of Languedoc. From
the
standpoint,
political
VernhyesregardedGabrielle's death as fortunate,for he felt
that her marriagewith the King would
have led to great
trouble in France.
is a most

Let

But

sober and
us

now

respectto all the

rest his narrative

one.
impartial

see,

account
Vernhyes'
was
drawingnear,

in

then, what
few

actually
happened,addingto
from other sources.
Easter
particulars

and at that solemn

of the year, when

it is usual to confess and seek absolution for one's sins in order
season

it was
deemed
partakeof the Sacrament in a rightspirit,
that Henri and Gabrielle should momentarily
fitting
separate.
In fact,
the King'sconfessor,
have inRene
is
said
sisted
to
Benoit,
on
it,and it was therefore arrangedthat Henri should
remain duringthe holydaysat Fontainebleau and that Gabrielle
should repair
to Paris. The King decided,
however, to go with
her a part of the way
indeed,he could hardlybringhimself to

to

"

BELLE

LA

vin

201

GABRIELLE

with their
together,
and
escort, from Fontainebleau to Melun, where theysupped,
where theyslepton
the night of Monday,
thence to Savigny,
April5.
in a very despondent
All accounts agree that Gabrielle was
to her state of health. L'Estoille,
mood, this beingdue probably
of the time, says that both she and the
the rumours
repeating
be separated
dreamt
that they would soon
King had recently
of
for ever.
Sullydeclares that when the King left her some
she begged him to
his courtiers had to compelhim to do so
of her children and providefor the needs of her
take care
him
she would never
see
servants, as if she felt sure
again,
whereat Henri was
some
greatlyaffected. Vernhyessupplies
leave her

in such wise that

"

they went

on

"

"

confirmation

of

that

boat in order to

proceedto

persuadedto

was

With

return

Dupuy,

her

o'clock the
Arsenal.

Paris

who

while Montbazon

That

was

was

met

also lived at

the Duchess

with

and

and

her midwife,

panied
accomBassompierre

then

the

them

de Retz and
de

de

officialresidence
Grand

of her

three
the

father,

of the

Artillery.
by her sister Diane, Marechale de Balagny,
the Arsenal,and her brother Annibal,Marquis

With

Mesdames
Mme.

servants

by order of the King. She arrived in Paris at

same
day,Tuesday,April6, and landed near

de Coeuvres.
and

Seine,the King

of the

way

several female

who, it will be remembered, was

Gabrielle

by

to Fontainebleau.

Gabrielle went

Mme.

Gabrielle took

however, when

account;

Master

were

the Duchess

her

the
children,

and Mile, de Guise,

de Mercceur,
into the Arsenal

Duchess

Martigues. Gabrielle went

to
Balagny,but they afterwards repaired

the

residence of Sebastien Zamet, the financier. This

neighbouring
handsome
was
a
pileof red brick and stone work, with large
between the
grounds adorned with fountains and stretching
de la Cerisaie and the Rue
the site having
Rue
Beautreillis,
been occupied
previously
by the famous Hotel St. Paul.
made his
The placehad a bad reputation.Zamet
largely
fortune by pandering
to the gilded
youth of his time, and even
King Henri appears to have availed himself of the financier's
residence for passing
was
a useful
However, Zamet
assignations.
as
we
too, with Gabrielle,
man,
previously
very friendly,
he
a
nd
had
heard
favourite'sarrival
of
the
and
as
said,
prepared

FAVOURITES

202

OF

Gabrielle paid him

collation,

of

somethingwhich

with
disagreed

have

done, givenher condition.

orange, others a salad,but most
That

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

visit.

She

her,as

Some
agree

many

then

partook

thingsmight
say it

accounts

in

vm

was

an

lemon.

mentioninga

have
women
some
likely
enough,for even
present-day
abnormal fancyfor acid fruits. In any case, Gabrielle was
an
when
she took leave of Zamet, for,contrary
feeling
indisposed
she
to the statements
of La Varenne's alleged
letter to Sully,
did not sleep
at the banker's house, but entered her litter and
is

to
repaired

the

the residence of her aunt, Mme.

Deaneryof

but in

going to

alwaystook when
not readyto
was
The

to the
TAuxerrois,adjacent

St. Germain

It is true that Mme.

de Sourdis

was

not in Paris at that

deaneryGabrielle followed
the King was not in Paris and

the

the
her

Louvre.

moment,
she

course
own

house

receive her.

story in Sullythat

house

de Sourdis,that is,

she

sleptthat nightat

Zamet's

is

She had come

to
scarcely
worthy of examination.
Paris for a special
to
purpose, to performan act of contrition,
seek absolution,
it were, before her proconfess,
as
herself,
purify
jected
nuptials.At heart,there is proofof it,she was in some
but in her position
it was
degreea sceptic,
absolutely
necessary
that she should comport herself as a good Catholic, ?nd in
be on her guardagainst
particular
scandal,such as would have
arisen had she taken up her
We
that one
feel,
therefore,

quartersat

ill-famed abode.

Zamefs

believe President
confidently
de Vernhyeswhen he tells us that directly
after the collation
Gabrielle repaired
to the deanery.
That
night,or on the following
morning (Wednesday,
unwell,she despatcheda messenger to
April7),still feeling
Mme.

de Sourdis,who

beinggovernor there.
joinher, as she feared
more

and it
serious,

Sourdis

was

may

at

was

Chartres with her husband, he

Gabrielle wished
that her
a

natural

Mme.

de Sourdis

to

indisposition
might become
course

to

take,for

Mme.

de

had

long been her chaperon,and would appear

to have possessed
both brains and energy.
As it happened,
however,the ladywas detained at Chartres by a riot due to her
husband's violence in assaulting
cipality.
tax collector of the munisome
At

the Arsenal

Gabrielle had heard

or

at

there

the

Zamet's, on
was

to be

noon,
previousafter-

musical service at

administered

were
suppositories

failed to have

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

204

the effectwhich

the doctors desired to

the

seen

in

distortions of the face and

doctors told me,11said

the

"that

like before."

"

convulsive

other

had

she lost the powers of speech,

sightand
hearing,
in that state until five o'clock on the
remained
"

of

condition,

Saturday[April10],when

most

she gave

never

of six o'clock,"he

adds,
and

produce.

partsof the body

Vernhyes,"they

said hour

the

At

vm

her, though they all

to

Until six o'clock Gabrielle remained

with such

NAVARRE

the

up

motion,

morning
ghost after a

frightful
agony."

assignedfor her death after the post-mortem

of the brain,and that organ was
examination was
congestion
the liver,
the lungs,
and the kidneys,
were
as
affected,
certainly
in which last was
found a large
pointedcalculus. We strongly
doubt,however,whether modern science would have subjected
her doctors
which
Gabrielle to anythinglike the treatment
their
adopted. We do not know at what precisemoment
services were
when Henri
but a year or two later,
requisitioned,
had married
Marie de' Medici and wished to appointMme.
capacityto the new
Dupuy, Gabrielle's midwife,in the same
alias Boursier,who
Queen, a certain Mme. Louise Bourgeois,
was
supported
by Leonora Galigai,
competedfor the post,and
of which Gabrielle's former
a greatdispute
arose, in the course
The

cause

maid,Gratienne Mareil,who had entered

the

new

preferred
chargesof neglectagainstMme.
to

the accouchement

In the result the

and

gave

which

King

the office to

had

Queen's service,

Dupuy

in relation

resulted in Gabrielle's death.

ceased

Mme.
supporting

Mme.

Boursier.

Dupuy's claim,

Desclozeaux

mentions

pamphletwhich was issued by the latter on this subject.

Judging by the available evidence,we are stronglyof
have consulted
and every medical friend whom
we
opinion,
a

agrees

with

us,

ment
that the circumstances of Gabrielle's accouche-

account
fully

for her

death.

It is

certain,
too, that

she

becoming enceinte.
She had known no such trouble at previous
times,but, bearing
in mind
the chargesof negligence
againstMme.
preferred
said before,that she had never
we
as
Dupuy, we believe,

had

been in

bad state of health

ever

since

recovered after the birth of her son Alexandre.

properly
In the alleged
Gabrielle is spokenof
La Varenne
letter,

as

LA

viii

GABRIELLE

BELLE

beingalmost deserted in her last hours.

made to speakof havingthis dying woman
that,however,is sheer
time

her

nonsense.

Mme.
sister,

With

or

205
La

Varenne
in his

near

arms.

is

even

All

Gabrielle at the

de

Balagny,the Duchess and Mile,

de Guise,Mesdames
de Retz, de Martiguesand de Mercoeur,
in addition to doctors,
and sisters of charity,
servants
that
so
with regardto attendance nothingat all was lacking.
Gabrielle,
that she would not recover, and
however, had a presentiment
she
thinkingless of herself than of her children's interests,
fixed her last hopeson a marriage
in extremis ; with which object
she despatched
of the gentlemenof his bedto the King one
chamber,
Baron
de Beaurain,who
Bernard de Peichpeyroux,*
was

were

to

summon

Henri

to her side.

the spot,then intervened.

on
certainly
of the high personages whose wish it was
Influenced by some
he set out in hot haste and
to prevent a marriage,
made
his way to Fontainebleau,
of dissuading
for the purpose
the
took place,
King from the journey. His departure
apparently,
at about four o'clock on the afternoon of Thursday,
April8.
whatever
he may
But
have said to the King, he did not
to return
to Paris and from
prevent the latter from deciding
his valet Beringhem to
his coming.
announce
despatching
La

So
not

Varenne,who

was

far,then,La Varenne had failed in his purpose, but he was

back towards
hastened
the capital,
yet beaten. He

swiftlythan Beringhem,and on meeting

there
Marshal
d'Ornano
is
and
Bassompierre(with whom
his
to believe he had
conferred before undertaking
reason
journey)he informed them that he had been unable to restrain
the King,and suggested
that theyshould do so.
Ornano
diately
immeand on
started with that object,
reachingVilleneuveSt. Georges met or called on President Pomponne de Bellievre,
he had a conference.
with whom
He
further stopped the
and proceeded
with Bellievre to
King'smessenger, Beringhem,
in
Juvisy,where they met the King himself,who was travelling
all haste towards the capital.On the Friday,
then, at Juvisy,
twenty hours before Gabrielle actuallyexpired,Bellievre
informed Henri that she was
at the very last extremity,
that
she could neither speaknor hear,and that it would serve
no
more
travelling

SpeltPuypeyroux in

most

accounts.

FAVOURITES

206

him

for

earthlypurpose

wished

stricken monarch

HENRY

OF

OF

Paris.

proceedto

to

do so,

to

NAVARRE

vm

The

however,and both

griefOrnano

in prevailing
him to go
on
great difficulty
to
said to have fainted (he had been subject
back. He is even
of strong emotion),but at last a coach
fitsin moments
fainting
was
found,and in this,instead of on horseback,he returned to
in a state of great distress. His children by
Fontainebleau

and

Bellievre had

Gabrielle
on

too

there

were

his mother's

hearingof

time, and the griefof littleCesar

death

realize that in

to

young

at the

was

He

extreme.

losingher

also lost the

had

he

perhaps,

was,

of France.

Crown

Marquisde Cceuvres,
with grief,
and of consolation beingoffered to
beingprostrated
Admiral
de Joyeuse,sometime
him by Brother Ange, Duke
We

and

the
read also of Gabrielle's brother,

Marshal

the cowl

had assumed

time in his

France, who, for the second

of

of

Capuchin. Most

career,

of the womenfolk

deeplydistressed. When President de Vernhyeswent

to sprinkle
holywater on the corpse, he found the Duchess de
and weeping. Her daughter
also was
Guise shrieking
in tears.
de Martigues,
Mme.
to L'Estoille,
who, while
But, according
in her last agony, kept on advising
her to seek
Gabrielle was
the intercession of one
another saint,stealthily
removed
or
and affixed
valuable ringsfrom the dyingwoman's fingers,
some
for her, a nun
them to her chaplet.Unfortunately
who was
to
presentobserved that dishonest action,and she was compelled
all accounts
As for Gabrielle's father,
restore her purloinings.
death,
agree that he evinced greatcallousness at his daughter's
from her house whatever
to remove
and simplyendeavoured
also

were

and

furniture

valuables

had
favourite'sjewellery
and

with

he

could.

remained

regardto

Most

with the

the rest M.

of

the

King

at

deceased
bleau,
Fontaine-

de Bellievre

appeared

upon the scene, and intervened with sufficientspeed to recover

the greaterpart of it. Further pillaging
was
stoppedby the
of Francois Miron,
interposition
to whom

All

Henri

an

urgent letteron

the funeral ceremonial

such
House

sent

as

was

of France.

the Venetian

observed
One

envoy,

the

of the

at

was,

by

des

Prevot
the
the

the death

Marchands,

subject.
King'sexpress

of

member

mand,
com-

of the

of Francesco Contarini,
despatches
some
In
supplies
interesting
particulars.

BELLE

LA

viii

accordance

with

the

deceased favourite
its head

On

embroidered

the

of

207

time

and
prepared

was

set

was

usage

GABRIELLE
of
effigy

wax

exhibited in solemn

ducal coronet, the

robes,perhapsindeed

those

which

state.*

clad in

body was

the

gold-

Gabrielle had

for her nuptials

; and
havingbeen thus arrayedthe
prepared
bed
was
placedin a sittingpostureon a magnificent
effigy
the very one which the deceased had purchasedfor the Chamber
"

the Queens at

of

the

Louvre

"

while above

this

bed, which

platformwith three steps,there depended a

baldachin of cloth of gold. The ceremony did not take place
Gabrielle had actually
at the deanerywhere
died,but in the
hall of her own
it was
house,f the Maison des Trois Degre's,
as
set

was

on

close
called,

to

the Porte

St. Nicolas.

Two

whose
on
heralds,
France,stood at the

appearedthe goldenliliesof
foot of the bed, and offered holywater to the Princes and other
themselves. The hall was draped
high personages who presented
On each side of the bed was
with hangingsfrom the Louvre.
officiated. Archers of the
altar,at which priests
an
constantly
Royal Guard, gentlemen and valets de chambre of both the
King'sand GabriehVs households were in attendance. Clad in
deepmourning,her relatives received the visitors. At the usual
tendered to the effigy,
meal-times dishes were
if it were
as
a
livingbeing,and Princesses assisted in that service. The
of peoplewho
number
and,
presentedthemselves was large,
of them
appearedto be very
accordingto L'Estoille,
many
favourite was
dead.
that the King's
well pleased
had been exhibited for four days in the
After the effigy
have mentioned,there came
a solemn
manner
we
requiem mass

black tabards

St. Germain

at

formed;

was

and
l'Auxerrois,
great cavalcade

Princesses and ladies of

then
of

high estate

the

procession
nobles,with
coaches,all of them

Princes

in their

funeral
and

exhibited,but that was not the

imagines that the corpse was
The practiceof settingup wax
was
We
told that
are
effigies
case.
very old.
the
worked
and
beside
of
Louis
XII preparing
Perreal
Jehan
night
day
corpse
for that monarch's
the effigy
obsequies.Some of our readers may have seen
the Westminster
Abbey effigies.
t It was
purchased in 1596 from M. de Schomberg. Previous to that date
the Hotel
du Bouchage, acquired for her by the King
Gabrielle had owned
from Henri, Duke
de Joyeuse,at a time when
Count du Bouchage was
his
that
at
earlier
of
It
residence
Gabrielle's
that
was
Chatel
appellation.
attemptedto assassinate the King.
*

Lescure

208

the
escorting

bier

obsequiesof

of

Queen

vm

ing
contain-

those of the little

other

would preventthe
predicted,

the fortune-tellershad

realization of her supreme desire.

says the Venetian ambassador,were
the

NAVARRE

one
placedtwo coffins,

were

and the
Gabrielle,

of

the remains

child,who,

which

on

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

the honours,
Nevertheless,
such

In

France.

cortegebetook itselfto the ancient fane

as

rendered

were

fashion
stately

of St.

at

the

Denis, and there

celebrated amid all the

was
requiem mass
and Capetianmonarchs,
tombs of Merovingian,
Carlovingian
their consorts and their sons : Dagobert and Clovis II, Pepin
the Short and Bertha with the Big Foot, Charles the Bald
of Brittany,
and St. Louis, Charles the Victorious and Anne
a

second

solemn

Francis I and

Catherine

Gabrielle's remains

were

de'
not

Medici,and

many

destined to remain

more.*
at

But

St. Denis

stillwith much pomp and ceremony,

conveyed,
presently
la Roy ale,otherwise Maubuisson,
to the abbey of Notre Dame
was
Pontoise, of which her sister,Angeliqued'Estrees,
near
abbess. There she lay side by side with many
daughtersof
departedKings,until the foolish iconoclasts of the Revolution
shattered the tombs and defaced the sanctuary.f
The King went into mourningfor the woman
he had loved,
wearingduringthe firstweek nothingbut black,which was
a
noteworthydeparturefrom the etiquetteof the times,for
Gabrielle was not of the blood royal. Afterwards,for a period

theywere

of three
The

news

months, Henri restricted himself

of his mistress^ death
of the first Revolution

conveyedpost-haste

St. Denis

contained,of the Capetian

twenty-nine
thirty-twoKings (from Hugues
and
of eighteen of their consorts.
The
inclusively)
Capet to Louis XV
of the Parisian Abbey of St. Germain
ancient church
des Pres was, however,
the resting-place
of many
Merovingian sovereigns,
includingChildebert I and
and
Childeric
II
and Bachilde,etc.
Fredegonde,
Ultragotha,Chilperic
t We previouslymentioned
(p.118) that the D'Estrees sisters and their
brother were
called the seven
In
deadly sins by the lampoonists of the time.
*

At the time

had been

to violet habiliments.

line alone, the

that

connection

tombs

of

out

of

printsthe followinglines

Tallemant

funeral :
u

J'ai

vu

Les

six

passer, par ma
p6ch6s mortels

Conduits

fenetre,
vivants,
d'un pretre,

par le batard
Qui, tous ensemble, allaient chantant
Un

in
requiescat

Pour

le

pace,

septiemetrepasseV'

propos

of Gabrielle's

to his

him the

My

"

de Bar, and

Duchess

Princess Catherine,
now
sister,

wrote
immediately

209

GABRIELLE

BELLE

LA

viii

she

letter:
following

King,

dear

I know

that words

afford a

remedyto your
That
is why I will only employ them
to
extreme
sorrow.
for both the extreme
assure
myself,
you that I feel it as keenly
affection I bear you, and the loss I have suffered of so perfect
a friend,
compelsme to do so. Believe,my dear King, that
love and serve
mother to my nephewsand niece ;
I will ever
as
and I very humblybeg you to remember that you promisedme
my niece.* If it pleases
you to give her me I will treat her
if she were
and care
with the same
as
own
friendship
my
daughter. Monsieur my husband expresses to you his regret
Would
to God, my King,
by the messenger he is sending
you.
that I might alleviate your grief
a few years of
by sacrificing
; I wish by all my affectionthat I could do so, and with
my own
those true words I kiss you, my dear brave King,a thousand
"

cannot

times.'11
Henri answered that letterin these words
"My

Sister,

dear

received

great need

have
as

was

she to

will attend

me

into the

me

all my

of

your

visitf with

it,for my

whom

the grave.
world for this

and

not

for

devoted

The
preservation.
but
not sprout again,
for

green

brought
myself,

henceforth

and

you,

15th

1599,at
April,

of

root

that of
my

dear

Fontainebleau.
"

lamentation

I kiss a million times.

whom
sister,

"This

will be

it will
destroyed,
will remain
ever
friendship

my

incomparable

as

regrets and

Kingdom

care

love is

my

I
consolation,

God
as
Nevertheless,

to

its advancement

much

affliction is

due

it is

and
understanding

solelyto

It will be remembered

Gabrielle's daughter. The

be

the Princess

Catherine

herself had

think,the

word

"

no

was

godmother

to

children.
"

being intended.
"
Henri," in this volume,
X We have adhered to the usual French spelling,
and
such
title
the
above
letter ; but the King
in
as
our
quotations
except
done
himself always wrote
at his period.
Henry," as was often
by Frenchmen
It might, however, have seemed
pedantry on our part had we departedfrom
f This must

slipwe

that
Princess

Henry/'

letter

"

the

now
spelling

universally
adoptedin

France.
P

condolences

tendered

and

Paris

of

Parliament

The

NAVARRE

monarch.

however, Contarini the Venetian, lost

latter,
There

Gabrielle's death to account.

April 10

time in

no

he

which

expired in

favourite had

"

mentions

after the

that

of the event, with

secretary

advised Cardinal de Gondi's

turning

his dated

despatchof

of the

One

written,therefore,onlya few hours

and

"

is

vm

foreignambassadors

the

bereaved

the

to

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

210

he

has

the view

a
marriagebetween the King and the Grand
negotiating
That
Marie
de' Medici.
match
Duke
of Tuscany's niece
had
had been first suggested
by Gondi in 1592, and the subject
the King's pecuniaryposition
been revived in 1597, when
of his indebtedness
both by reason
had become
more
difficult,
Duke and others,and his need of readymoney.
to the Grand

of

"

There

was

certain Florentine

in

canon

Francesco

Paris,one

agent of the Grand Duke,* who keenlydesired

despiteevery effort
bring about the match. Nevertheless,

Bonciano, an

it,the King

effect

means
possible
bindinghimself

merelyas
way

any

of

regardedthe negotiations
fresh loan, without in
a
raising

espouse the Princess

to

to

have

to

seems

to

though
Al-

Marie.

he gave Gabrielle's predecessor,

Corisanda, a promiseof
kept,and althoughin like way he
marriage,which he never

gave

another

also dishonoured
the

case

her

to

it,we

of Gabrielle he

his wife had she lived

successor,

Henriette

as
feel,

have

we

said,that
previously

sincere and

was

d'Entrague0,and

would

have

made

in
her

little longer.

offered to that
mainlyon account of the opposition
marriageby importantFrench personages of the time, and on
It is

account

Medici, that
Gabrielle
be

more

attempts to induce

of the

was

natural,under

Was

the

crew

to

the

it might be

circumstances

of Medici

whole

to espouse Marie

inclined

actually
poisoned.What,

the very name

there not a

not

have

writers

some

Henri

of

view

de1
that

said,could

the case?

Was

with secret murder ?

synonymous
of Italians at hand : Zamet, the

to hesitate about
likely
removing
obstacle to planswhich theyfavoured ? We
an
hold,however,
far less black than some
that the Medici,like the Borgias,
were
historians have paintedthem, while,as for Zamet
and the

Gondis, Bonciano,

whom

He

men

not

resided with Cardinal de

Contarini's

Gondi, and

despatchrefers.

was,

perhaps,the

"

secretary"

to

IX
D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

I. The
The

Feline

Favourite

The Balzac d'EntraguesFamily

Marie Touchet
King's next Amour
Life
Marie
in
Francois
d'Entragues and
d'Entragues' Early
Pages
and
Person
Disposition First Meeting of
Bassompierre Henriette's
her to Paris
Joinville
follows
and Henriette
He
Henri
Affray between
notices
de
La
Bourdaisiere
Mile,
and
Negotiations
Bellegarde Henri
The
Price
of Shame
A
with Henriette
d'Entragues and her Father
is
removed
The
Promise
of
Henriette
Marcoussis
to
Marriage
Royal
Marchioness
The King's
de Verneuil
King carries her off She becomes
with
Medici
The
Duke
of
Marie
de'
arranged
Marriage
Savoy and his
demands
the Restitution of his
Henri
Intrigues Biron the Malcontent
Promise
the
He
War
starts
for
Henriette's Stillborn
Savoy
Marriage
Ghild
Her Sorrowful
Letter to the King
Her Journey to join the King
her
Father
of Savoy again intrigueswith
Hilaire
The Duke
Mr rie de'
Love-Letters
End
Medici
and Henri's
and Pardon
of the Savoy War
of
finds his Wife
Henri
Praises
Biron
at Lyons
her, but eagerly joins
The
Henriette
Presentation
of Henriette
to
Queen arrives in Paris
"

"

Black

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

On

"

de' Medici.

Marie

October

Gabrielle
to

were

6, 1599,
"

d'Estrees

have

that

is,six months

Henri, whom

"

attended

to the

after the death

"regret and

all events, the firstby order of date of those

come

down

November

10

us,

to

Henriette

de

lamentation

his first love-letter,

grave,"wrote

or, at

to

of

Balzac

which

have

d'Entragues. On

his

marriagewith Marguerite de Valois was at

last annulled,and on April25 in the ensuingyear the contract
for his marriage with Marie
de' Medici
decided on
finally
after the dissolution of his union with Marguerite
immediately
"

"

was

signedon

his behalf at Florence.

It has been surmised

with Henriette

by a few writers that the King'sliaison

had been projected
time
d'Entragues
duringthe life-

of Gabrielle.

Count

de La Bouillerie,
for instance,quotes

HENRIETTE

rx

213

D'ENTRAGUES

givenon July11, 1598, by Fouquet de

receipt

certain

payments

various

journeyson

made

to him

for expenses

La

Varenne

he had

for

incurred

on

the

these being one

King'sservice,
among
castle belongingto Henriette's father. But
to Marcoussis,
a
M. d'Entragues
a sufficiently
was
importantpersonage to have
communication
with the King quiteapart from any question
of
for ever
since 1578 he had been lieutenant-genera
his daughter,
of the Orleanais and governor of the cityof Orleans.
There
two
were
Entragues at that period,both of them
of Charles VII
grandsonsof Jean de Balzac,one of the captains
at the time of the expulsionof the English from France.
who
nicknamed
Charles d'Entragues,
both le bel and
was
in earlier chaptersof this
Entraguet,has been mentioned
and a greatfavourite with women,
volume.*
A daringduellist,
he has left a somewhat

better

than
reputation

brother,Francoisde Balzac,Baron
Malesherbes.

Entragues and
first to

and

son

The

that of his elder

de Marcoussis

latter

and Lord

twice

was

of

married,

he had
de Rohan, Lady of Gie, by whom
Jacqueline
and secondly
to Marie
a daughter,
Touchet, Lady

and
Belleville,

sometime

mistress

of Charles

IX.

Marie

of

had

royallover,one who died in childhood,and

1573, and christened Charles,who became
one, born in April,
Count
de Poitiers,
Grand Prior of France, Count
d'Auvergne,
Duke d'Angouleme. Many folk,moreover,
and finally
referred
to him as the Bastard of Valois. But it is by his titleof Count
d'Auvergnethat he will figurein our pages. It was in 1578,

two

sons

by

her

four years after the death of Charles

became the wife of Francois de Balzac
to the

IX, that Marie

d'Entragues.According

he had loved her for many

anecdotiers,

beautiful

Touchet

and

years, and she

was

yet thirtyyears of
with a good figure,
Fair,tall,
age at the time of her espousals.
a
smile,she had adoptedas
a full brightface,and
fascinating

a
certainly
very

her

device

an

anagram
had
she
that
related

woman

of her
so

much

of
seeingthe portrait

on

name

not

Je char

me

tout; and it is

confidence in her

Elizabeth

of

beautythat
Austria,daughterof

See pp. 11,U, ante.

shall possiblyhave to
We
to Marie Touchet.
here
refer
t We
very briefly
the Favourites of Francis I,his son
detail in a volume
on
write of her in more
*

and

He

died in 1599.

grandsons.

remarked
quietly

state,she

ix

espousedfor

I shall not

"

NAVARRE

OF

her lover Charles

II,whom

Maximilian

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

214

of

reasons

fear that German.1"'

She

Francois d'Entragues
with three children,
two
presented
daughtersand a son ; and althoughshe had been the mistress
of a King, she strove to do all her duty as a wife and a mother.
In regard to her children,
however, she failed most pitiably.
Her son
ambitious,perfidious,
by Charles IX proveda restless,
saturnine
dishonest conspirator,
scoundrel who
a
repeatedly
deserved
some

the scaffold,
but
because

measure

The

he

was

de Navarre

Henri

his mother's

nature, and

Marie

respect to

much

of his father's

happenedwith
daughter by Francois

the

elder

Touchet's

in

of the last of the Valois.

one

we
think,more
d'Auvergneinherited,

Count

than

sparedby

was

same

d'Entragues.
is said to

He
from

with

the

have

the

view

worldlypoint of

the

favourite

love with

marriage he

Charles

wife,but

his

contracted

provedof great
advantageto him, for it procuredhim not onlythe dignities
of Councillor of State and Knight of the King'sorders,but the
have already
Orleans governorship
those
to which
we
referred,
appointments
beingbestowed upon him by Henri III. Apart
from

whilom

in
really

been

questionof

de

two
there were
nastv pages
marriage,
d'Entragues.In 1567, at the outset of

his aunt, the

war,
religious

Protestant

Rothelin,shut

Prince de

herself up in the chateau

who
had been
Conde's children,

her
the pretextof bringing
gained admittance to the chateau with a

charge.Under

the Marchioness's
and after massacring
and

the littleCondes

Conde

happenedto

St. Bartholomew

be

Paris,where

to

Catherine de1 Medici.

the

It
a

was

at
prisoner

and

massacre,

and

Entraguesheld Orleans on
cityto Henri de Navarre, and
of the stout

Count

oppositionwhich

de la

of

Marchioness

Blandywith

committed

Entragues

news

body

of armed

he
retainers,
he handed

the Louvre

carried her

them

at

men,

over

League was

to

Prince

de

the time

of

like
compelled,

was

the
her

to

some

thus that the young

de Navarre,to abjurehis faith.

At a later period,
when
the

As

IX

his

in the life of Francois

the second

of

Henri

in the ascendant

he offered to sell the

its behalf,

onlyfailed by reason
offered by the inhabitants.

the scheme
was

remarks
Ferriere-Percy

in his Henri

IV

Le roi

HENRIETTE

ix

et

TamoureuX) when

D'ENTRAGUES

215

confided to his

offers to sell a town

man

to find him
keeping,it is not particularly
surprising
willingto sell his daughters.In spiteof all Marie To lionet's
to lives of
to have been predestined
watchfulness her girls
seem

safe

Henriette,the elder one, became the mistress of

Henri IV, Marie, the younger, contracted a liaison with Bassom-

shame.

While

she had

pierre,
by whom

son,

the connection

for
lasting

ten

resisted every effort to induce

years, duringwhich Bassompierre
him to marry the girl
he had wronged.
Marie
one

was

level at

can

mother,but that is the onlyreproach

inherited her
her. Henriette,
however, largely
dark and slim,of average
Like him, she was

frail like her

father's nature.

waist.
height,and with a wasp-like
enough, but it bulged as one often

seemed

brow

observes

in the

glittering
eyes

The

persons of tenacious natures.

and somewhat
imperious
; the

The

placid
case

of

quick

were

thin and inclined to a slightly

lips
the short straight
chin was
sarcastic smile. The
fleshy,
nose,
feline
with quiveringnostrils,
was
provoking.A
sensuously
was

grace

perfectan
knew

She

cast, as

it

exampleof
well

Henri

how

both

Her

way

to

purr

as

She was
as
person.
the world has known.
how

and

scratch.

to

She

considerable
pleasedher,and she possessed
sallies and sarcastic remarks
wit.
In fact,her lively
and thingsgreatlyhelped to attract
men,
women,
the other hand, if anythingdispleased
to her. But, on

her,she
one.

all her

the woman-cat

could be very gay when

about

over

were,

it

did not hesitate to

nature

on

in the world

her claws.

and perfidious
a scheming,
crafty
essentially

was

She stood

use

the threshold of life resolved to make

by

hook

crook,and mentally
adoptingthe

or

In
saying nothingfor nothing as her motto.
was
not blame her,for King Henri's reputation
"

"

her

sense

too

we

do

notorious

word ; and, when all is said,

for any woman
to trust to his mere
he certainly
deserved the trouble into which he was plungedby
his infatuation for Henriette
It is uncertain

design.We

whether

d'Entragues.
he first met

know, however, that

La

her
Varenne

by

chance

and

Du

or

by

Lude

of the negotiations,
and
employed by him in some
for expenses incurred by
remembering La Varenne's receipt
him in making a journeyto Marcoussis in 1598, it is possible
were

FAVOURITES

216
that
the

he then

OF
her

met

That

King.

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

ix

there,and subsequently
praisedher

would

to

agree with what

Economies
Sully's
say
about some
of Henri's companions
vauntingMile. d'Entragues'
beauty,wit and winning ways to such a point as to inspire
Henri
with a desire to see her. At all events, subsequent
to
Gabrielle's death, the King,at the suggestion
of some
of his
courtiers who
wished to divert his mind, made
a
journeyto
time ; and in June
Blois, where he stayed for some
(1599),

while

his way back

at the estate of

halted
of the
and

the

of Pithiviers.
which

and

the

time, and depictthe

residence

of
department

the river Essonne

series of

the

Loiret,
the

near

that the bedroom

which
tapestries

visions of Ezekiel.

his

date from
of them

One

bears

:
inscription
"

Mort, femme,
,

Tant

et

temps,

soit vieil et

Mondaine
Tout

amour

antique,

et chastet6

pudique,

prendrafin."

is certain that

It

Henriette,who could show herself very

she chose,made a keen impression
the King
on
he visited the chateau,*for a little later,when

when
sprightly
the first time
he heard
to

usual

his visit there is stillshown,

on
King occupied
a

Paris, he

de la Ferriere tellsus

Count

is decorated with

this

is in the

of
valley

narrow

and

Fontainebleau

the
Bois-Malesherbes,

Entraguesfamily.It

overlooks

town

towards

on

that Mme.

and
d'Entragues

her

daughterhad repaired

Paris,he hastened there after them, and

readyfor

not

Cardinal

de

his

installed himself
reception,

Gondii

the Louvre

as

for

house, whilst the others

de

Hotel

Lyon, otherwise the residence of the

that city. Henri visited them there daily,
and
Mile. d'Entragues
to accept a rope of pearls,
or,

was

days at
stayedat the
of
archbishop
asked
speedily
some

as

L'Estoille

demoiselle
says, "a
very rich and beautiful necklace." The
made difficulties,
whereupon
however,and refused the proffered
gift,
"

His

off and
sent her
new

himself also to the

on

amours,
*

She

Majesty,after carefully
puttingit

was

the

morrow

adds
then

away, carried it
in lieu of that present

Louvre, and
box

of

led
L'Estoille,

hundred
to

the

twenty years old,having been

These
apricots.1'

of
publication

some

born at Orleans in 1579.

HENRIETTE

D'ENTRAGUES,
After

the

Portrait

MARQUISE

DE

by Jerome

Wierix.

VERNEUIL.

But

it

to Blois and

going on
Louise

that his

seems

thence

his

attention

ix

at which

on

one

so,

chateau

ment,
livingin retireof the Dowager

honour, Mile, de la Bourdaisiere,a member

of

Queen's maids

Chenonceaux,
of Henri
III,was
to

bestowed

was

NAVARRE

and
again disappointed,

hopeswere

Lorraine,widow

of

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

218

familyto which Gabrielle d'Estrees' mother

flighty
emissaries
had belonged.At the same
time,however, two royal
and Du Lude, were
La Varenne
engagedin regardto
actively
without
Henriette, and she, who
discouragingthe
entirely
to have
seems
King had hitherto refused all his offers,now
anxious as to whether he might not throw
become somewhat
of the

her

same

for Mile, de la Bourdaisiere.

over

This

part of

the

and
repulsive,

and

storyis sordid

we

may
therefore well spare the reader all but the essential details. It
appears certain that Henriette acted with her eyes open, and
connivance

in

attempts

with

on

the

father.
disreputable
from engaging in a

prevent her

to

King provedof
not

her

avail.

no

At

the

liaison with

the

was
time, the intrigue

same

for Henriette and her father insisted

entered upon lightly,
conditions : a formal written promiseof marriage,
onerous

payment

of

of

sum

hundred

appointmentof Entragues as a
consented willingly
enough to the
"

mother's

Her

and

this

was

somewhat

thousand

Marshal

and

crowns,

of

France.

the

Henri

but
stipulations,
objected
strenuously

former

two

to his credit

he

"

to the third.

for
Sully,
him

for

the

his

of

amount

Treasury alreadyhad
engagements, and
subsidize the
Finances
he

ended

knew

by
accordingto

Swiss.

money

the

the

have

we

was

However,

obeyingthe

when

King appliedto
mentioned.

to
greatest difficulty

largesum

his master

his

amazed

part, was

and

as

meet

The
its

requiredthat year to
the Superintendent
of

did not

wish

to

lose his

post,
royalcommand, revenginghimself,

the
delivering
by maliciously
whole of the hundred thousand crowns
much
in silver pieces,
to
the King'sastonishment.
As
for the promise of marriage,
it to him
one
Sullyasserts that Henri showed
day at
Fontainebleau and repeatedly
asked his advice upon it. The
minister read it,and on the King pressing
him for his opinion,
he solicited an assurance
that his Majestywould not be angry
own

account,

HENRIETTE

ix

him, whatever

with

and

assurance,

219

D'ENTRAGUES

he

might say or do. Henri gave that

document
Sullytore the compromising
thereupon

in halves.
"

such

There, Sire,since you wish

a

"

said
promise,"

Morbleu

!"

to know

he.

cried the

King,

"

What

think that you have gone mad

That is so, Sire,"Sullyanswered.

beginto
"

fool,and
one

I wish I

I think of

it,is what

were

to such

so

an

are

you

about ?

"

lunatic and

"lama

extent

as

be the

to

only

in France."

Then

"

stillaccording
to Les Economies

roydles
"

the minister

point out that Entraguesand his daughtershad

for scandal in the time of the Duchess de
given cause
already
Beaufort,and that the King himself had then told him to give
all that baggage orders to quit Paris.'" The divulgation
of
such weakness
was
as
implied by that promise of marriage
would,in the minister's opinion,
bringhis Majestyinto derision,
the document
and besides,
might prove a serious obstacle both
went

to

on

"

to the

divorce
projected

matrimonial

Queen

was

demoiselle

not

from Queen

alliance which
the

woman

and
d'Entragues,

authorize her to do

so.

that argument, says

The

to

the

able
Margueriteand to a suitmight benefit France, for the

surrender

Pope

was

King seemed

her
not

title to
the

to feel the

man

any
to

weightof

he quitted
and without answering
Sully,
the gallerywhere
and
they had been conversing,
repaired
to his private
to the
room.
There, however, still according
for ink
minister,he asked M. de Lomenie, his private
secretary,
and paper, and wrote out a fresh promiseof marriageto replace
which Sully
the one
had torn in halves. And
littlelater he
a
horse and went
which
off on
mounted
a
huntingexpedition,
ended by takinghim to Bois-Malesherbes,
where he remained
of days or so.
a couple
Whether
accurate
not it is
narrative be strictly
or
Sully's
certain that a promiseof marriagewas
given. The full text
which
also contains the
appears in the King'scorrespondence,
official proces-verbal
which
drawn
was
years
up, when, some
the compromising
document
at last recovered.
was
afterwards,
Here then,as a greathistorical warningboth for young persons
who might be inclined to put their trust in Princes and in the

and for

of men,

sons

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

220

and

amorous

OF

NAVARRE

ix

heedless individuals

disposed

of the consequences, is
rein regardless
passions
Henri
impetuous,self-willed and also unscrupulous

allow their

to

the

what

de Navarre

delivered to

and

wrote

father

the

of

Henriette

;
d'Entragues

We, Henry fourth,by the grace of God, King of France

faith and
before God on our
and Navarre, promiseand swear
"

word

King, to

as

Messire

Francois

de

Balzac, Lord

of

Entragues,a Knight of our Orders, that [he]giving us as

de Balzac, his
Catherine
Henriette
companion Demoiselle
in
daughter,
of this

months, beginningfrom the first day

and should give
she should become enceinte,

in six

case

presentone,

will take her to be our

we
instantly
wife and legitimate
will solemnize
spouse, whose marriagewe
and in face of our Holy Church
to the rites
publicly
according
and customary in such a case.
For greater confirmation
required
of the presentpromisewe
herein
as
promiseand swear
stated to ratify
and renew
it under our
seals,
immediate^after
have obtained from our
tion
we
Holy Father the Pope the dissoluof our
marriagewith Dame
Margueriteof France, with
the permission
to marry again as may
fit to us.
ness
In witseem
whereof we have written and signedthese presents. At
the Wood
of Malesherbes,
this day the firstof October,1599.

birth to

son,

then and

"

But

althoughthe promise and the 100,000

to M. d'Entragues,
over
matters
did not

handed

any further. There

and Henriette's infamous

a

man

named

Nau.

various

were

It

crowns

at

interviews between

father and

one

were
once

the

go

King

of the latter'sacolytes,

certain that

seems

Henry."

Entragueswas

bent

the third of his original

that is his
exacting
stipulations,
appointmentas a Marshal of France, of which, of course, he
was
quite unworthy,besides lackingthe necessary military
for it. On October 10 we
find the King writing
qualifications
on

to Henriette

"Mes
same

cheres amours,
time. You
order

difficulties.
...

shown

La

Varane

me

to

and the

arrived
lackey

at the

surmount, if I love you, all the

By the proposalsI have

the strengthof my love for

made

I have

those

on

ciently
suffi-

your side

further difficulties. What

to raise no

not failin,but

until

nothingmore

affair is

our

I said before you I will

[theMarshalship
?].I will willingly

and
d'Entragues,

Monsieur

see

221

D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

ix

will leave him

arrangedor

falls

but

little rest

through. That

of

man

Normandy [Nau?]has been here,and has told me that between

shall have the greatestfalling
and the next fortnight
we
now
will be caused by your father,mother
which
out possible,
or
brother,* and will be plottedin Paris; that you and I shall
broken off; and that to-morrow
he will
as
regardeverything
tell me
to prevent it.
by what means
Good-night,heart
.

of

mine, I kiss you

million times.1't

out certainly
ensued, but it seems
falling
confined to Entragues and the King. The

to have

satisfied with

his

100,000

he

crowns,

former

still hankered

been
not

was

for the

and he ended by informing

Henri that his Majesty
marshalship,
need not againreturn to Bois-Malesherbes
his daughter
as
was
no
was
longerthere ! At those tidingsthe baffled monarch
thunderstruck.
Entragueshad told no falsehood. In the hope
he might secure
the delays,
the dignity
he
that,by prolonging

coveted,he had removed

This

rather

was

Henri

nearer

Henriette

to his castle of Marcoussis.

than Bois-Malesherbes

to

Fontainebleau,

instead of

but
installed,

being a pleasure
it was a stronghold
with three ramparts,and a keep
residence,
three drawbridges.
which was
Standing
onlyreached after crossing

where

was

wooded

height less than two miles from the great

fortress of Montlhery (Seine-et-Oise)
the castle of Marcoussis
had been erected by a certain Jean de Montaigu in the fourteenth
a

on

it had

century,since which time

more

than

once

besieged,

Burgundy in 1417. Eighty

had signedat Marcoussis
later Louis XII
a
treatyof
of Castille and Aragon.J It seemed
with the sovereigns

notablyby
years

been

the Fearless of

John

peace
if Henriette
as

d'Entragueswould

walls,but she by

no

be safe

enough

such
appreciated

means

within

confinement.

its
It

by some writers that her father merelywished

her to it. In any case, it did
appearances by subjecting

has been surmised

to

save

Her

half-brother

the Count

f In this letter Henri

This indicates

X The

that he

was

d'Auvergne.
invariablyaddresses
still only a suitor.

castle of Marcoussis

was

demolished

Henriette

in 1807.

as

vous

not

as

tu.

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

222

OF

NAVARRE

ix

againbecame anxious as to whether her

might not
royallover,in presence of such frequentobstacles,
devote himself to Mile, de la
decide to let her go and definitively
long.

last

not

Bourdaisiere

She

Mile, de La Chastre,with both of whom

or

his name,
coupling
that some
him, suggesting

then

was

with

father which would

him

remove

she therefore

and

rumour

communicated

dutymight be assignedto
from

the

This

spot.

was

her
trived,
con-

M. d'Entragueshad left the castle,the

directly
himself,carried off Henriette,and installed
King presented

and

Larchant, in Paris,which, a short time

had been beautified for her reception."A
pretty
previously,
Henri himself remarked.
as
bird should have a prettycage,"

her

at

the Hotel

de

the

royalfavourite,in which
to solicit the pardon
of her very first actions was
one
capacity
this tendingto confirm the surmise
of the Prince de Joinville,
been her lover. Henri
that he had previously
granted the
to
7 (1599) the Prince repaired
request,and on November
St. Germain-en-Laye,
accompaniedby his uncle,the Duke de
Mayenne, and knelt and did obeisance to the King, who
Thus

became
d'Entragues

Mile,

hand, Mile.
her with a domain,
presented
d'Entragues'
royallover speedily
the Marquisateof Verneuil,near
Triel,and from that time

received him

onward
as

she

was

la

"Madame

was

Gabrielle had been

unnecessary

kindness.

with much

"

Madame

specifywhich

to

On

the other

"

Marquise

for
"

la Duchesse
Marchioness

"

or

even
everybody,
it beingquite

which

Duchess

referred to.

de
King'smarriagewith Marguerite
Valois havingbeen pronouncedby the Pope, Henriette, who
towards the
held the King's promiseto marry her,and who
The

dissolution of the

believed that she would indeed

end of the year became enceinte,
be Queen of France, for she at firstgave very littleheed to the

attempts which

being made

negotiatea marriage
of Tuscany'sniece,
between
her lover and the Grand
Duke
Marie de1 Medici. She possibly
imaginedthat those negotiations
would
fail,even
as
they had failed in the time of Gabrielle
d'Estrees.
But
a
special
envoy, Baccio Giovannini,*arrived
from Florence,
and by the end of 1599 the Tuscan
marriagewas
finally
agreedupon, it beingarrangedthat the bride's portion
*

were

Many

French

to

writers call him

Joannini.

HENRIETTE

ix

should
be

be

of

sum

D'ENTRAGUES

600,000

crowns,

of which

paidin cash,the remaining

quarterof

off the French

Thus
But

she

the

not

was

hopes seemed

Duke

be

to

350,000

million

indebtedness to the Grand

Henriettas

828

beingwritten

Ferdinand.

suddenlycrumbling.

to surrender without

woman

to

were

fight. She

held the

and from inquiries

which she
King'smarriagepromise,
and her father made, it appearedthat if that promise were
drawn in proper form it might invalidate the marriagewith
Marie de1 Medici in the eyes of the Church, particularly
too if
in the
Henriette should givethe King a son, as was
stipulated
he had
document
signed.Thus, alreadybeing enceinte,she
in spite
of an unpropitious
outlook.
continued hopeful
Let
seem

us

turn

now

to
foreign

to

other matters

some

which

may

theme, but which it will be found

our

at first

really

are

the

long religious
wars, Charles
son-in-law and allyof PhilipII
Emmanuel, Duke of
of Spain,
held by
had conqueredvarious territories previously
of them by
France.
He had been compelled
to restore most
the treaty of Vervins,concluded in May, 1598, but he still
held the Marquisateof Saluzzo,situated on the Italian side of
monarchs
the Alps,and regardedby the French
as
a
very
whence
descend
of
their
at
theymight
importantpoint vantage
lured thither by that fatal
whenever they were
on
ease
Italy,
fascination which theywere
at times powerless
to resist,
though
of blood and treasure.
Now
it invariably
cost them
an
infinity
of Saluzzo,
Charles Emmanuel, who well realized the importance
refused to surrender it to France
in spiteof the repeated
addressed to him to that effect by King Henri and
demands
connected

with

it.

During
Savoy,a

his ministers.
This
as

Bearnais.

the

fallen

SavoyardDuke
He

was

had

in his way
not

as

indeed extended

present King
Charles

down

of

Italyat

Emmanuel

was

broad
abnormally

hair,was

set

on

to

brow

our

as

character

own

Hand, and which

in
period,

first hesitated to

has

such wise that the

marry.

In

word,

humpbacked. A largehead, with an

crowned
by an abundance of brush-like

his short and

mistresses had been

which
had
escapedthe curse
of his house since the
generation

every third or fourth

far-off daysof Humbert
with the White
on

remarkable

numerous

slender frame.
as

his
Nevertheless,
those of Henri de Navarre,

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

%U

NAVARRE

OF

ix

He
had
children.
him
with even
more
presented
and was
of PhilipII of Spain,
of the daughters
married one
which
that monarch
of the preference
displayed
very jealous
had

and

Leaguershad attemptedto

of the

some

Isabella Clara

the Infanta
sister,

for his wife's

Duke

France, with the young

de Guise

King.*

as

of

the throne

set upon

Archduke

justended by marrying(1599) the

Eugenia,whom
Isabella had

Albert of Austria

(sometime Cardinal Archbishopof Toledo),fbringinghim

the Low

of
dowry the sovereignty

her

have

ought to
province

passedto

then,againstthe
draw

to
unwilling

not

Franche-

Savoy held, however, that

of

Duke

The

Comte.

and

Countries

his

House

of Austria

to

France,and

nearer

when
prospectof that occurring

it

the

and

Spain,he

there

had

dispose
inwas

been

that
suggested

was

latter

Somewhat

wife.

own

as

of

one

should marry Cesar de Vendome, who, following

daughters
the marriage
of his mother, Gabrielle d'Estrees,
with King
on
Henri, would have become Dauphin. But Gabrielle was dead,

his

all the
and

devised for

schemes

Savoy were

of the

at

end, and

an

arrangement between

an

for the surrender

the demands

Saluzzo became

of
Marquisate

and

more

France

urgent.

more

this posture of affairs Charles Emmanuel

with Henri, and
negotiations
attempt personal
In

resolved to

December,

in

he

1599,

repairedto Fontainebleau with an interminable

which comprised
baggage-train
giftsfor the French
costly
many
monarch

and

the members

in cash.

crowns

Duke

Fontainebleau

At

royalfavourite.
others

"

her

resentment

In

And

both

side,was

bride's

Marie

also

dowry

againsthimself.
See p.

that

cause

her

lover's

the Duke

opposed; perhapsbecause
be

Biron

this moment,

de' Medici, to which

would

going,the

employed as

Biron, for his part, was

the

MM.
cause

of the

de

for

projected
of

Savoy,

he foresaw
sinews

of

that
war

resentful because,

134,ante.

t See the account

was

the
de Verneuil,
well as various

Mme.

was

million

d'Auvergne,and

"

case

Marshal

Biron, as

Montpensier had, at
againstthe King.

marriagewith

Count

de

Henri ette's

his

she and

and

coming

he found

both

brother, the

Soissons and

the

his way,

On

passedthrough Burgundy,where

governor.

on

of his Court, besides half

siegeof Amiens, pp. 164,167,168, ante.

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

226

ix

accompaniedby such a bad nature as yours. I

will not scold you further althoughI could and ought to do
back the promiseyou
I beg you to send me
so, as you know.
it by
know
of, and not to give me the trouble of recovering
back also the ring which I returned
Send me
other means.
of this letter,
to which
you the other day. Such is the subject
I requirean
answer
by to-night.
Fridaymorning,21 April,1600, at Fontainebleau.
been

it not

"

Henry."

"

Monsieur

d'Entragues,
send

"I

promisewhich I gave you

beg you, to send it back to
I will tell you
me
yourself,
which

domestic and

are

bearer

the

you

Malesherbes.

at

if you

and

me,

what

not state

not

wish

to

fail,I

bring it
to

me

hearingthem

On

ones.

Do

induce

reasons

the

back

bring me

to

this,
you
been

will say that I am

that you have
rightand recognize
*
and that I have rather too good
mistaken [ordeceived]
than

nature

command,

otherwise.

Feelingsure
finish by assuring
you that

will

that

you

your

am

This

from
epistle

undated

writers to have

Lescure,we

her

like Dreux

believe that it was

that the
not

King'sdemand

and

no
that, nevertheless,

and

the

the
was

written
All

by

open

which

note

we

have

Radier, Musset-Pathayand

du

one

for the return

compliedwith, either

known.
A long
exactly
King is thoughtby some
the

to

answer

different circumstances.

under

was

been

but
printed,

here

Henriette to the

Henry.

Fontainebleau."

1600, at
Fridaymorning,21 April,

result of those letters is not

The

my

good master,
"

"

obey

few months
can

of his

Henriette

later and

say for certain is

marriagepromise
or
by her father ;

breach between

the favourite

King ensued,althoughfour days after the writingof

letters we
have reproducedthe Tuscan
marriagecontract
signedat Florence,it beingdecided,however, that Marie

de1 Medici

should

not

September,after the
Tuscan
*

capital.If
The French

come

to

France

celebration of
that

delaywas

is trom^t which

until the

month

marriageby proxy

it was
specified

lends itselfto either

not

of

in the
in any

interpretation.

degree by

reason

consideration

of

227

D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

ix

Marchioness

for the

de

with
of the King'sdesigns
but on account, principally,
Verneuil,
respectto Savoy, for he and his ministers well realized that
Charles Emmanuel, in requiring
three months
to decide what
surrender to France, had merelysought to
he would
territory
render
gain time in order to devise a means
wherebyhe might surnothing at all. Thus, preparationswere made for
accorded to the Duke of Savoy
the delay
and directly
hostilities,
had expired
the King set out for another campaign.

stillhad

It is certain that Henriette

influence with

much

to take her with

him, but she was now

writers hold that,remembering

for he wished
her lover,

in very delicate health,and some

a
particular
part of the promiseof

marriagegivenher by the
to incur the fatigues
and risks
unwilling

King, she herself was

of a longjourney.Accordingto Sully,
the

departurewithout
to write

"

the song

her

prompted

occasion

folk of

"

of Henri's

certain

"

calling

"
"

**

Cruelle

dSpartie,
jour."

Malheureux

is another of Sully's
that,assuredly,
mistakes,the
many
above lines being merelya part of the refrain of the famous
But

song

Gabrielle
celebrating
It

had

came

feared

d'Estrees.

pass that the very misfortune which

might supervene if she ventured on a

Henriette

to

long and
unexpectedmanner,

fell upon her,in the most

tryingjourney,
the King had gone
southward.
almost as soon
as

repairedto Fontainebleau,in
better

order

able to communicate

with

followed

high roads

couriers who

the

that

her

she

lover

by

She

had

might be

the

of the

means

Dauphine and Savoy,

and on July 2 a terrific thunderstorm
the palace
burst upon
it and
beautified by Francis I, the lightning
striking
bringing
all the ciphers
down
and spoiling
of King Henri
and Madame
the late Duchess
in one of the galleries."
So great
[Gabrielle]
the shock experienced
was
by the terrified Marchioness de
and she
Verneuil,that a premature accouchement
supervened,
overwhelmed
a
boy. The calamity
gave birth to a dead child,
health most
her physical
her. Not onlywas
sorelytried,but
she was
reduced to the lowest depthsof despair,
for she still
to

"

and

that child had lived he

It

OF

made

mighthave

is,at least,very remarkable

should
description

have

Henriette

d'Estrees and

of

county

that

ix

felt that if

Queen of France.
misfortune
both

of this

Gabrielle

succumbed,

one

to her

strongconstitution.
and Biron,
Lesdiguieres

Duke

of the
the territory
invading
the

her

overtaken
successively
d'Entragues.While

thanks
however, the other recovered,
Meantime, Henri, with Marshals
was

NAVARRE

marriagepromise,and

her

remembered

ever

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

228

of

overrunning
Savoy,rapidly
the citadel of Bourg

Bresse,* where

munication
by Biron) alone offered a stout resistance. Com(besieged
de Verneuil may well
between the King and Mme.
and it was
at this time, we
have been occasionally
delayed,
acute fitof despondency,
think,that Henriette,in some
fearing
forsake
that,her child beingdead, the King might altogether
her, addressed him the long,undated letter to which we
referred.!
previously
"

Sire,
"

reduced to the misfortune which

am

alwayscaused

fear.

to

me

however, that I owed

since the

from

This

the heaven
I

does not
fortune

with the

me

to the earth where

M

that fear to

great difference between

threatened
me

It is necessary

was

found

station and

my

confess,

to

knowledgeof myself,

my

change which
which

me

you

had

has

stantly
con-

yours

tated
precipi-

now

raised

me

down

by you.

Sire,that I attribute this mortal

mean,

than

to

for

great hero

fall

which
has nothing in
displeasure
with the work of fate ; for my happiness
common
depended
to which I will not
more
on
you than on the power of destiny,
of my
since it pleases
ascribe the cause
grief,
you that this
should be the priceof the publicdesires of France
for your
constrained
to confess,not
marriage; a griefwhich I am
because you have to fulfil the desire of your subjects,
but
because your nuptials
will be the funeral of my life,
and subject
to

more

to the power

me

your
*

du

of

royalpresence,
It

to

cruel discretion which will banish

even

as

from

me

your heart. So that I may

from
not

comprised the greaterpart of the presentdepartment of the Ain.

t It does not figurein the King's collected correspondence,but in Dreux
Radier's time it was preservedat the Bibliotheque
Ste. Genevieve.

HENRIETTE

ix

henceforth
have

seen

freedom

know
me

in

in my

D'ENTRAGUES

merelythe scornful glancesof those who

by far,to suffer in
your good graces, I prefer,

rather than breathe with fear

loneliness,
is

great assemblage.That
heart fostered in
and

me,

which, as
misfortune

to return

to my

all !

I here
As

and

me,

myselfin
"

229

you
or

former

have

make

which
disposition
with

courage

inspired
humiliate

to

yoke,does

generous

you

taught me

never

of it

your

which

in

allow

not

me

condition.

0 my King,my lover,
you but in sighs,
my
other secret lamentations,
your Majestycan

speakto

for my

divine my thoughtssince you know

my soul so
Sire,in my inevitable exile there remains to

well.

Now,

but the sole

me

of the
gloryof having been loved by the greatestmonarch
to lower himself to such a
earth,by a King who was willing
degreeas to givethe titleof mistress to his servant and subject
;
the King of
by a King of France, I say, who onlyrecognizes
Heaven, and who, here below, has none
equalto himself.
for Kings to retain a recollection of
If it be a familiar practice
that which
they have loved, keep in remembrance, Sire,a
who was
damoyselle
yours, and (savewhat she allowed on your
much
her
sole promise)has had as
over
[control?]
power
life. Sire,
honour as your RoyalMajestyhas over
my [her]
From
servant,subjectcreature, and (shall
your humble
I say ?)forgotten
lover,
.

"

"

de

Balsac."

the above letterwas written in the summer

surmised,
confronted both by
to indicate that Henriette,
1600, it seems

If,as

of

Henriette

is

in the
by all that had been done already
of Henri's marriageto Marie de1 Medici, clungto the
matter
idea of at least remaininghis mistress if she could not become
missed her,and endeavoured
his wife. The
to
King certainly
of his love,and all sorts
protestations
dry her tears by repeated
for instance,that if he could not possibly
of promises,
saying,
for him, he would
marriagearranged
escape from the political
by marryingher to a Prince of the
procure her a high position

her child'sdeath

and

he even
went so far as to suggest
royal! At one moment
de Nevers, as a suitable husband
for
Charles Gonzaga, Duke
her, but that nobleman
unkindlyforestalled His Majesty's

blood

Henriette

as

soon

August, for
La

the 20th

on

Varenne

to

could travel the

he

of that month

to her to

wrote

did

in

time

some

instructing
journey. We

find him

we

Henriette

accompany

King

This

join him.

and

southward

come

ix

de Lorraine,daughter

intentions by marryingCatherine
gracious
de Mayenne.
of the Duke
As

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

230

on

her

dence)
reproducethat letter (which is not in the collected corresponreader
in the original
French, in order that the
may judge
that is,with a royal
for himself how
the King often wrote
and punctuation
for spelling,
:
disregard
grammar,
"

"La

Varane

je vous fayce
vyllecest remyse an

mercy cete
du due de Savoye

mes

dyre que
obeyssanceno come

mot
mon

suyes quy

mes

come

vous

pour

ne

veullent

Dieu
suyes

plus

ma
domynacyontant ylsce sont byen trouves de
vyvre que sous
celles de mes
Me la marquyse
vous
predecesseurs,
acompaygneres

de

ce

dimanche

au

soyr

xxme

mandant

elle me

et vyendres
avec
Verneuyle
lyeu ou elle vyendracoucher
man
vays myeus dormyr que

et de

nouvelles bon

ces

Henriette

went

soyr

je

aus

fet

"

Thus

les joursle

depuysque ie suys ycy

fausbours de Chambery.

ie nay

aut

tous

southward, and

on

Henry."

reachingLyons

triumphalan entry into that cityas Diana of Poitiers

had made many
At the neighbouring
bourg
years previously.
of Charbonnieres she had found a royalpresentawaitingher :
number
of standards taken by the King'sforces from the
a
the
as
and sent to her, no
doubt, in the same
spirit
enemy
made

as

banners
Henriette

of Coutras
was

an

had

long

ago

been

woman,
intelligent

sent

and

to Corisanda.

Rut

though she certainly

La Varane,
Bagneux. Translation :"
I write you this note to tell you that,thank
[Chambe'ry] has
God, this town
of
to me,
not as subjects to the Duke
again placed itself under obedience
well
so
under
but
dominion,
who wish to live only
as
Savoy,
my
my subjects,
off did they find themselves
that of my
under
predecessors.You are to
with her,sending
and come
Madame
the Marchioness
de Verneuil
accompany
Good
of her.
me
she will sleepand news
every day word of the place where
night,I am
going to sleep better than I have done since I have been here.
This Sunday evening,twentieth August, in the faubourgs of Chambery.
*

In the collection

of the Count

de

"

"

Hexry."

HENRIETTE

ix

D'ENTRAGUES

231

carried the
them

into Lyons,she immediately

afterwards caused
flags
be ceremoniously
the King'sbehalf,
as
on
presented,

to

to the ancient

It

at La

was

she and

church

Henri

of St. Jean.

Cote

St.

Andre,

met,
eventually

not, however, on
quarrel,
but on account, we
marriage,
or

Mile, de la Chastre.

the road to Grenoble,that

on

and

theyimmediately
began to
of the approachingroyal

account
are

told,of Mile, de la Bourdaisiere

It is generally
supposedthat those two

demoiselles had

such
merelybeen passingflames of the King's,
Henriette
after the lapseof several months
could hardly
as
have feltjealous
about ; but it occurs
to us as beingwell within
the bounds of possibility
that one
of those young
persons may
have
the
Henri
his
on
accompanied
irrepressible
campaign.
Inde irae. However, the King and the favourite were
reconciled,
it seems,
and
by the obligingintervention of Bassompierre,
thereuponbetook themselves to Grenoble,whence,a littlelater,
to Chambery.
they repaired
In that latter town
Henriette entered
or
perhapsit is
x"f impartiality,
to say, from
the standpoint
was
preferable
fresh
inveigledinto a
intrigue.Although the cunninglittle
hunchback
Duke of Savoy was
he
beingdefeated on all sides,
stillhoped to save himself by stirring
up dissension in France ;
de Verneuil was
and thus Mme.
approached
by one of his secret
was
agents,a Capuchin called Father Hilaire,whose real name
AlphonseTravail. This individual's scheme was to deal the
blow by raising
the questionof the
French monarch
severe
a
promise of marriagegiven to Henriette in such a way as to
this was
prevent the marriagewith Marie de' Medici. Briefly,
renewal of the negotiations
of Savoy had
which
the Duke
a
personally
attemptedat the time of his stay at Fontainebleau ;
and Mme. de Verneuil seems
to have lent herself to them readily
enough. The Duke was to pay her an extremely
largesum of
and Father
Hilaire was
to take the King'smarriage
money,
promiseto Rome and layit before the Pope.
"

"

It has been

that

as

he did not

dowry,it would
had

been

to Rome

said that Henri

want

have

Marie

was

de'

him
pleased

invalidated.

providedwith

Certain

party to this scheme,and

Medici herself,
but onlyher
a

if his

marriagewith

it is that

letters from

the

Father

the latter

Hilaire went

him
King,accrediting

FAVOURITES

232
as

agent there,and

an

shall

we

NAVARRE

deceived

was

ix

the result of his

see
presently

either Henri

But
negotiations.

OF

HENRY

OF

respectingthe

else he embarked
real purpose of the Capuchin's
in
or
journey,
the intrigue
of
simplywith the objectof recovering
possession

the document

for which

he had

but vainly
repeatedly

hitherto

applied.
liaison with

Meantime, in spiteof his

love-letters to

writingnumerous
Medici

at that time

was

lightbrown
Duchess

de la Tremoille

his future wife.

twenty-sevenyears
on

Duchess

the

wrote
beauty,""

Henriette

October

he

Marie

was

de'

"
of age.
She is a
de Bouillon to the

19, 1600,

she has rather

"

thick

and plenty
of embonpoint.
black eyes, a large
forehead,
lips,
her face, but
There is an
of great gentleness
on
expression
nothingwhich approachesthe beautyof the late Duchess de

Beaufort.,,
Archduchess

Marie's
Joan

mother, it may
of

Austria,and

added,

be

from

had

her she had

been

the

inherited

the

Hapsburglipand chin,as well as her fair hair and brilliant

while from her father,Francesco
the
de' Medici
complexion,
lover of the famous Bianca Capello she had derived her intelligent
brow and assured glance,
as
well,too, as her tendencyto
"

"

stoutness.

knew

Henri

littleabout

her

what
save
personal
appearance
he had learnt from an officialportrait
which had been sent to
him from Florence,
and which may have been as deceptive
as
the one
of Cleves sent many
of Anne
to his
years previously
However, two of his envoys, Alincourt and
Englishnamesake.
Frontenac,gave him good accounts of the Princess,and he
himself as quitesatisfied. In fact on July11, at the
expressed
outset of the Savoy war, and onlya few daysafter Henrietta's
accident at
"

Frontenac

he had written
Fontainebleau,
has

pictured
you

to

to Marie

in such

me

de1 Medici

manner

that

merelylove you as a husband ought to love his wife,but

That is the
serviteur should love his mistress.
as
a
passionate
where you will
titleI shall giveyou until you reach Marseilles,
I shall not allow any
honourable one.
change it for a more
to pass without writing
to you, and assuring
opportunity
you
don't

that

my

Believe
seem

to

keenest desire is to

see

and

have

you near
believe that every month

it,mistress mine, and

a century. I received
me

you

letter in French

from

me.

will
you

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

234

he writes

thankinghis fianceefor

the 22nd

he sends

her another

addresses her for the firsttime

he

was

aware

Florence

the

solemnized

by the
weddingwould
that

October

on

OF

NAVARRE

the

presentof
and
love letter,
u

as

have

fine horse

; on

the 30 th he

on

My wife,"probablybecause
she received

time

ix

taken

this letter at

place. It

indeed,

was,

5.

and legally,
Henri is againa married man.
Thus, canonically
But that does not prevent him
from writing billetsdoux to
who at this moment
is at Lyons. On October 11 he
Henriette,
sends her two letters,
and saying
one
beginningmon
me?ion,

that he fears he will not

interval will

see

her before

longerto him than

writes : My dear Heart,

seem

other letterhe

"

"

Sunday,and
to

her

that the

while

in the

Since I could not

kiss

You
may be
you, I have kissed your letter a thousand times.
I shall have much to say to you.
It could not be otherwise,
sure
well together.
But this is too much talk,
as
we
are
so
.

wet

as

Good

am.

night,heart,heart

of mine

I kiss and

kiss

thee

againa million times." That beingwritten,however, his

his lovingcorrespondence
with the wife whom
Majestyresumes
he has not

yet seen.

In December

the Duke

in the midst of his

of

starved
Savoy,beingvirtually

out

compelledto withdraw into

Piedmont, and Henri thereuponhastened to Lyons, where
Marie de' Medici had now
narrative
arrived. Before pursuing
our
of the King'sdomestic affairs,
that early
it is as well to mention
in the following
year Cardinal Aldobrandini offered the mediation
of the Pope between France and Savoy,and peace was
at last
restored by Charles Emmanuel
to France the whole
surrendering
tract of territory
lyingbetween the southern Jura,the Rhone,
and the Saone (otherwisethe departmentof the Ain), as well
Chateau
of the
as
Dauphin in Dauphine. If* the course
there was
some
negotiations
leakagerespectingthe Duke of
with various French nobles ; and Biron, who
Savoy's intrigues
the most
was
compromisedof all,found it necessary to make
confession of the manner
in which he had been tempted,
some
and to cast himself on
Henri
the King's mercy.
generously
for
him from his service,
pardonedhim, without even dismissing
he afterwards sent him as ambassador
land
to England and Switzerof honour, for,
not a man
was
; but Biron,unfortunately,
mountains,was

HENRIETTE

ix

as^

shall

we

he

presently
see,

which
conspiracy

235

D'ENTRAGUES

cost him

involved

became

periodwith which
to have suspected

the

his life. At

the King himself does not seem

dealing
whom
he had loaded
that not onlyhad a man
towards him, but that
contemplatedtreachery

we

are

de

Mme.

Verneuil, had

also

That

at the time when

was
discovery
onlymade
againventured to conspire.

Let

us

return

now

his wife.

meet

to

Henri

reached the

He

involved

been

when

he

another

in

with benefits
his

in the

intrigue.

she,like Biron,

hurries to

citygatesat

mistress,

rather

Lyons

to

late hour

December
9. The gates were
evening of Saturday,
it was
closed,
hard,and an hour elapsed,
freezing
says Michelet,
before the King could gain admittance.
Repairingat once to

on

the

Marie

de"*Medici's

where

she

himself
presence
knocked

residence, and beingdirected to the room

he there watched
her, concealing
supper,
"

at

sat

behind

de

M.

until Marie

had

at the door

wife, overwhelmed

of
her

this,Henri
with

himself

made

caresses,

that there

was

and

for him

disclose his

chamber.

her

retired to

he

even

Having

known

to

embraced

a la frangalse.That
Galigai,

companion,Leonora
he declared

would

nor
Bellegarde,

his
her

ever,
done, how-

neither chamber

nor

standing."
her underbed in the Queen's residence,of which she signified
*
On the morrow,
the nuptial
previously
ceremony,

Aldobrandini,
performedby proxy at Florence,was repeated,
the Cardinal-Legate,
officiating.
The honeymoon was
spent at Lyons and lasted for rather
the King
than a month, during which
more
time, moreover,
occupiedhimself with various affairs of State, notablythe
with regardto Savoy. He
appearedto be very well
position
he continually
satisfied with his wife,whom
praisedto his
but
courtiers,

no

sooner

towards Paris than

had

he rode

slow state progress

where
post haste to Fontainebleau,
she set out

on

cast himself into

immediately
there awaitinghim.
de Verneuil,who was
of Mme.
the arms
When, on the eveningof Februai-y
9, the new Queen at last
reached
so
Paris,she found the Louvre
dingy and so illif anything,
furnished
little,
having been renewed there for a
be
of years previously
that she felt she could not
score

he arrived

on

January 21,

and

"

"

Batifiol'sMarie

de Midicis.

236

FAVOURITES

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

OF

ix

place(accustomedas she was to Florentine

and luxuries),
until a good deal of work had been
elegances
executed.
she installed herself in the firstinstance
Accordingly
at the mansion
of Cardinal de Gondi, then the finest private
comfortable in such

residence in Paris,and it was

nobles and
other
Princesses,
waited upon
well

was

her at

aware

Lyons,came

that

expectedthat
scarcely
presentedto
Court.

at

her and

It was,

there that those

had
who
not
personages,
to pay her their respects.She

husband

the

Marchioness
a

and

high

her

become

Princes

had

more

however, the

or

mistress,but

de Verneuil

would

she
be

attendant
less frequent

King's intention

that

this

should

happen,though he was not preparedto carry matters so

far as they were
Charles II, who
afterwards carried by our
compelledCatherine of Braganza to accept Lady Castlemaine
as
a Lady of her Bedchamber.
Looking about him for a suitable grandedame who might
be willing
his mistress to
to undertake the duty of presenting
his wife,Henri
first thoughtof Diane, Duchess
d'Angouleme,*
Henri II,and that
an
illegitimate
daughterof his predecessor,
was
lady,not daringto refuse compliance,
momentarilyat a
loss as to how she might avoid the performance
she
of what
regardedas a very unpleasant
adoptedthe
duty. She finally
device,which was to feignillnessand take to her
onlypossible
bed.
Henri then bethoughthim of the Duchess
de Nemours,t
whose grandson,
the Prince de Joinville,
he had pardonedfor his
de
murderous
Mme.
attack on the Duke
de Bellegarde
; and
Nemours
felt constrained to obey his Majesty,though by
*

Diane

France, Duchess d'Angouleme and de Chatelherault,Countess

du Limousin, was born in 1538 in Northern
Italy,her mother
Piedmontese.
being a
Very accomplished, knowing Latin and Spanish as
well as Italian and French, and proficientas a musician, she also played an
She died in
important part in public affairs during the religiouswars.
January,1619, after seeing seven
Kings on the French throne.
de Nemours, previouslymentioned
none
t This Madame
on
p. 217, was
other than Anne
of Este, daughter of Ercole II, Duke
and
of Ferrara,
wife, in
the first instance,of Francois, Duke
the
she became
de Guise, by whom
mother
of Henri
le Balafre,the Duke
Louis
de
de Mayenne
and Cardinal
Lorraine.
Left a widow
in 1563,she was
married
three years later to Jacques,
Duke de Nemours, of the House
of Savoy. The Nemours
who defended
Paris
de Ponthieu

de

and

against Henri

1531, she died

de Navarre
in 1607.

in 1590

was

her

son

by that

second

union.

Bom

in

HENRIETTE

ix

doing

she

so

remainder
of

de

of

the

de

whom

the

He

turned

said

of

de"*

Marie

Accompanied,

then,

Henriette

presented

Lorraine,

have

obeissance,

he

days.

of

Marchioness
an

enmity

237

Medici

for

this

by

the

Princess

herself

the

at

Gondi.

May

"

her

House

Hotel

the

gained

of

the

D'ENTRAGUES

she

drew

King

was

said

de

Mme.

the

Majesty,

your

Nemours,

de'

Marie

to

near

to

making

as,

Medici,

by

side

the

standing.
his

wife

will

she

"

presenting

of

Verneuil,"

towards

her

to

honour

be

Mademoiselle

"

obedient

most

your

is

my

and

mistress,"
submissive

servant.r"
The

all

Queen

this

is

taken

from

Contarini,

the

Venetian

of

one

"

Ambassador

the

remained

despatches
silent

of

and

passive,
im-

"

whilst

King

Madame
his

placed

kneel

and
the

As

from

touch

her

life

mistress

and

Bibliotheque
the
"

King's
which

"

is

lips

had

first
version

she

Dfyeches

certainly

are

the

Queen's

of

resentment

she

helped
a

to

veritable

vdnitiennes,
given

seems

"

as

the

more

forgave

42.

In

probable

earth.

other

some

has
one.

the

domestic

upon

Mademoiselle

the

of

the

hell

to

darted

presence

turn

filza

her
robe.*

ever

in

the

But

compelled

subjected

into

words

flash

whether

years

of

bow.

to

and

hem

the

been

consort

Nationale

head

again

nine
his

prepared

her

doubtful

she
For

Henri

accounts

her

rose

which

Court.
of

with

It

Verneuil

upon

favourite

to

whole

hand

eyes.

affront

de

been

my

HENRIETTE

ENTRAGUES

II. Ambition
Leonora

and

Henriette
Henri

de Verneuil

Rome

at

Villars"

Galigai Concini
"

Henriette's

King and
Impunity
High Favour

"

of the

Birth

his Children"

The

"

Henriette's

"

Fall

and

The

"

The

"

Father

Joinville
Ballet

and

Dauphin

of Gaston

Hilaire's
and

Letters

of the

Virtues

Intrigues
Mme.

"

Fall

de
and

of the
Auvergne
Broils
Domestic
de
Verneuil
Gabrielle Angelique
Queen and Henriette
Henriette
to be
at the Louvre
Henri, fallingill,promises Amendment"
between
Tax
the Queen's Sister
de Soissons'
Count
Rupture
Export
demands
the King and Henriette"
She
of Safety" Sully'sNegoa Place
tiations
The Entragues' Conspiracy
with Henriette
and with the Queen
with Jacqueline
The King recovers
his Promise
His Liaison
of Marriage
guerite
Pardon
Return
of Queen Marde Bueil"
of Entragues and Henriette
others
seizes
Sedan
Henri
to Paris
Plotting of Bouillon and
of Marshal

Execution

Biron

"

Pardon

of

Accouchements

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

He

is

reconciled

Renewed

Rupture

Henriette
shrewd
to Marie

to

with

Henriette

was,

Having

de**Medici, and

in store for

His

"

been

as

we

were

among
had arrived

in France

whom

admitted

with

have

des

Mile,

Essars

"

alreadyindicated,a

humiliated

her

at

presentation
should

lest worse
fearing,
perhaps,

her,she felt it necessary

those who

Affair

Henriette.

d'Entragues
woman.

"

"

"

attached

to

secure

be

powerfulsupport
Marie

to the Queen's person.

accompaniedby a certain Leonora Galigai,

who
had
been her playmate in childhood
and had remained
beside her ever
since. Lean and ugly,inclined to hysteria,
this
person, the Queen's junior by a few years, exercised
young
great influence with her. Her originwas obscure, but she was
said to have been the daughterof a cabinet-maker
and a fallen
account, her father,
woman,
though,accordingto her own
she

her
gentleman,
had

become

mother

the

she

had

beinga
playmateof

never

seen,

was

certain Caterina
Marie

de"1 Medici

Dori.

Florentine
Leonora

owing

to

the

D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

that the latter had

circumstance
after her

herself

isolated
entirely
sister having
only surviving

death, her

mother's

the Duke

married

found

239

"

Another

of Mantua.

and
sister,

brother

time previously.
also,had died some
Now, Henriette d'Entragues and Leonora
Galigaiwere
kindred souls,
schemingand ambitious women
; and each being
in need of the other,they speedily
came
togetherand concluded
an

alliance. It

ambition
which

Robes, a post

of the

Mistress

Leonora's

was

to become

Henri

French

to appointa
give her, desiring

the

Queen's

to
unwilling

was

ladyin

her stead.

In

fact,he selected both Mme. de Richelieu and Mme. de lisle for

but his wife would accept neither of them, it being
the office,

wish, indeed,that

her

should

Leonora

of the chief

appointment.One
King was that onlyladies

have

this

particular
to it by the

raised
objections

of noble

birth

allowed

were

ride

to

then that Belisario Vinta,the

Queen's coach,and it was
of State,declared that Leonora
Tuscan
was
cittadina,
Secretary

in the

good burgher birth, which

of

otherwise

to
equivalent

Florence

at

was

noble rank.

this Italian adventuress,for such she was,

Nevertheless,
have
failed to secure
the post she coveted had it not
would
been
for the influence of the King's favourite,
Henriette
is somewhat

d'Entragues.It
initiated the
in

was

incensed

compact

which

uncertain
was

soon

and

her

would

do

of

concluded.

realized that

Henriette
difficulty.
with

which

the

the

two

But

each

Queen

was

all she could to induce

the

King to cast her off; while Leonora, on her side,was threatened

with nothing less than expulsion
from France, that beingthe
who had
King'splanfor gettingrid of his wife's uglyfavourite,
become unpopularwith the French noblesse.
already
It should
had

be mentioned

now

Florence

from

come

in the

certain Concino
of

son

been

the

Maximilian

Full

details

Batiffol's work

on

This

was

accordingto the

on

the

Marie

Florentine

envoy

in

the
was
legends,
his grandfather
reality

at

the

Court

of the

II,while his father had occupiedone

the chief ministerial

*

noteworthy
person

Queen's train.

Concini,who,
draperor a carpenter,though

had

Emperor

that another

of

posts in Tuscany.* Vinta,the Secretary

subject of Concini's originwill

de' Medici.

be

found

in

M.

of

OF

FAVOURITES

240

his uncle

State,was

procuredfor

Concini

the maternal

on
a

OF

HENRY

post in

Marie

NAVARRE

side,and

it

was

he

who

de1 Medici's train,less,

however, to further the interests than to get rid of the young

versity
in his studies at the Uniman
who, after failing
egregiously
fortune and
of Pisa, had soon
the paternal
dissipated
made

himself

had
society

so

notorious

vices that Florentine

shut its doors in his face.

If,however, Concini
he
dissolute,

of
by a variety

was

also

was

poor,

and effeminately
ill-educated,

and unscrupulous.
He
intelligent,
greedy,

and the worries of his after life

disposition,
but at the
irritable and excitable,
rendered him exceedingly
panion,
time of his coming to France, he showed himself an easy combut
with a light,
airyway which would have been perfect
was
for a predisposition
to boastfulness. Moreover, Concini
then very good looking,
says M. Batiffol, with a full,high
curled elegantly
moustache
forehead,an aquiline
nose, a slight
Bent
upward,largeeyes, arched brows and a regularmouth."
M. Batiffol says, in
he must
be classed,
as
on
making his way
he had already endeavoured
the category of the great adventurers
himself with both Marie de' Medici and
to ingratiate
from Florence.
her companion,
Leonora, before their departure
The latter was
dazzled by the attentions of so fine a gentleman,
She was, no doubt, a very
and speedily
lost her heart to him.
of the new
the confidante
as
ugly creature, but her position
Queen of France made her a very desirable partiefor such a
Concini.
He therefore made love to her on the journey
man
as
to Paris,and by the time they reached Avignon they had
plightedtheir troth. The Queen, however, hesitated to
authorize their marriage,
and for a time their relations assumed
little scandal
caused
a
no
very equivocalcharacter,which
the royalparty. In fact,after the arrival of Marie
among
de''Medici in Paris, the King lost his temper in consequence
of all the tittle-tattle,
that he
and curtlyinformed Leonora
would giveher a littlemoney, have her married to Concini,and
then pack them both out of the country. In this emergency,
Leonora took council with her lover,
and this led up to a bargain
beingstruck with the royalfavourite,Mme. de Verneuil.
was

of

nervous

"

"

"

Leonora,on

side,undertook to prevent the Queen from

the favourite's
Henriette's dismissal,
and to serve
on
insisting
her

FAVOURITES

242

HENRY

OF

Louis
Dauphin,subsequently

OF

XIII

and

NAVARRE

a month
exactly

later

also gave birth to a son, who received

of Gaston
Henri.*
If the favourite was

(October27) Henriette
the Christian

names

well

the Queen was naturally

As for
pleased
highlyindignant.
the King he evinced huge delight
at the birth of these two
and it is quitecertain that however fickle Henri
children,
he possessed
wella
might be in his relations with women
developed
bump of paternity.Nine days after the Queen's
accouchement we find him writing
to his mistress :

"My

Heart,

dear

wife

"My

praiseGod.

He

has grown

half

has become

well

going on

is

and

filledout

and

my
much

so

also,

son

that

he

big againduringthe five days I did not

well and am
For my part I have slept
him.
see
remarkably
free from all pain save
that of beingabsent from you, which
though a griefto me is moderated by the hopeof soon seeing
cheres amours,
vies
alwayslove your
you again. Good morrow,
who kissesyour hands and lips
a million times."
menon,
The

King

as

very anxious to

was

Henriette at the

be with

for an excuse
and seeking
to quitthe
time of her accouchement,
littletrouble which had
Queen, he availed himself of some
arisen with

the

on
a

raid

pretextthat the
at

reason

sent
*

1608

the Channel

Henri
sea-sickness,
as

He

his ambassador

when,
and

was

the

appointedBishopof

was

renounced
Duke

cross

England.

He

and

of

married

Metz

in 1665

Charlotte

Queen Elizabeth
the French

to

her.

see

But

Kings are

even

not

the

for

and

was

Abbot
years

of St. Germain
old.

Thirty years
sent

on

In

some

exempt
and
trip,

seemingly
repentantBiron.f

of course, he was
only seven
and his orders.
bishopric

France,and

mightmake

Flanders

to make
unwilling

his

Peer of

journeyto Calais,

that
suggested

was

other,perhapsbecause

or

from

Dover, and it

should

monarch

It appears that

northern France.

on

then

was

Spainto make
Spanishtroopsin

of

the Court

That

des Pres in

1632, however, he

later he

mission

was

created

to Charles

II of

daughter of the famous Chancellor,

Se'guier,
Sully'sdissipatedson, and survived until May, 1683.
Having
been " legitimated by Henri IV the Court of Louis XIV
into mourning
went
his death,and the same
when
on
compliment was paid to his widow's memory
she passedaway in 1704.
See also AppendixB.
t See p. 234,ante.
widow

"

D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

done, he

country to Verneuil where,

he arrived on the day before the birth
L'Estoille,
able

was

accordingto
of

his

to

"

and

"And

he

sayingthat

and

stout

across

was

King,'"says

dandled

he declared resembled the

the Queen,

whereat

the

same

him
him, calling

finer child than

they were,

as

the

the child and

Queen, his wife,which

dark

cut

son.
illegitimate

chronicler,kissed
son,

243

that

his

of the

Medicis,being

beingadvised

Her griefturned to furious

bitterly."
to her his
littlelater her husband signified
resentment
when
a
those he had by Gabrielle and
intention that all his children
by Henriette, as well as by herself should be brought up
fruitless,
together.All Marie's protestsin that respectwere
Henri's will ended by prevailing.*
Nicolas IV de
However, both Sullyand his colleague,
anxious
and Minister of State,were
Neufville,Sieur de Villeroy
de Verneuil.
realized
to get rid of the Marchioness
They fully
that there would
be no peace in the royalhousehold so longas
ing
lookHenri's infatuation for his mistress continued.
Villeroy,
of effecting
Henriette's overthrow,
about him for a means
of the

did
saying,

weep

"

"

at last directed his attention

gone

to seek

to Rome

an

to that

audience

promise of marriage given by

Hilaire
French
of

one

Father

Hilaire

who

had

the
Pope t respecting
King to his favourite.

of the

the

presentedhimself before Cardinal d'Ossat,the

in the Eternal City,as though he were
representative
Henri's confidants,
indeed, that his Majesty
declaring,
had

and himself

were

on

such familiar terms

as

to

"

thee-and-thou

"

unable to fathom the exact

seemingly
motives of Father Hilaire's journeyto Rome, but beingfull of
he endeavoured to frustrate the Capuchin's
attempts
suspicion
Father.
Hilaire
to obtain an audience of the Holy
Nevertheless,
and Ossat failed to discover what had occurred
provedsuccessful,
at the interview.
proposed to
Thereupon, as Hilaire now
endeavoured
to prevent it by
to France, the Cardinal
return
the
Italian monastery. But
having him shut up in some
another.

one

"

the
a

Shortly after

Mes

million

Love

me

accouchement

always

my love.
the little man

to possess

times, and

See p.

was

Henriette's

chores amours,

only one
f

Ossat

231, ante.

With
as

we

find the

King writing to

her

that you will always be

those true words I kiss and re-kiss you

and

rest assured

well."

Capuchinagainoutwitted him,

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

244

and succeeded in

reachingParis.

the person of
Ossat had communicated.
with whom
M. de Villeroy,
Hilaire was
by the Papal
interrogated
been arrested,

There, however, he

by destinyin

overtaken

was

Having

resulted in the
his belongings
perquisition
among
discoveryof two compromisingletters written by Henriette.
had not lost his time at
certain that the wilymonk
It seems
if not the Pope,had told him (aswe
previously
Rome.
Jurists,
that the royalpromiseof marriagegiven to Mine.
indicated)
the union with Marie de' Medici null
de Verneuil might make
might either choose her
and void,and that the Marchioness
time and bring a suit for annulment, or await King Henri's
and those of her son ; while,as
death and then claim her rights
she might take the
third course, if the King were
willing,
a
placeof Marie de' Medici should the latter die. All this came

Nuncio, and

another way to the Queen'sears, and she,in her turn,

of various Roman
canonists,who gave her
soughtthe opinion
in

or

one

the not

very

that, if the King's marriage

answer
reassuring

should, indeed,be found invalid it

was

the

that
yet possible

mightbe affirmed.*
legitimacy
Dauphin's
Although it was patent that Henriette had authorized the
stepstaken by Father Hilaire at Rome, she incurred no
punishmentfor doingso. It may be that Henri dreaded the
of the marriagepromise(whichwas
in the keeping
production
and the consequences
which might then
of Henriette,s father)
It may be,as some
have surmised,that he was privyto
ensue.
and had really
the intrigue,
authorized Hilaire's mission during
of infatuation with

some

moment

when

he had

he

would

yet

be able to
him
cajoled

mistress
to her

not

his

his wife and

met

for her.

care

mistress,and
was

uncertain

Again,it

may
of affection,
and
with protests

he was, not by any gay and generous

had drawn him to Corisanda,or by such love as
to

as

but,
Gabrielle,

it must

be

materialisticdepravityit may
"

unable

at

time

whether

be that his

that,linked

passionsuch
had bound

said,by the shameful

be,we

as

him

ties of

say, that he feltabsolutely

giveher

to overlook
onlytoo willing
up and was
offences in order that he might not lose her. That last view,it
to

should be added,is the

entertained by historians.
generally

one
*

BatiSol,I.e.

HENRIETTE

In any case, matters

remained
the
on
of
disgust
of

Hilaire.
Like

however.

monk

thus
who

marriage might
the

broken

on

it

Capuchin

had

dared

to

came

dreadful end,

Marie

women

de' Medici

it),she

was

in after years

pass

infinite

that

also
the

the wheel

and

to

then

effort to do

so

committed

to the

flames,on

plotto poisonher.

Villeroy's
attempt to get rid
next

the

to

seek weapons
by which her
be invalidated and her children bastardized,

in
chargeof complicity

The

his favourite

issued for the release

Batiffbl has

to

came

King and

were

narrow-minded

most

vindictive;and

was

orders
Villeroy
The

245

before,and

as

merely obstinate (as

not

odious

further. The

no

terms

same

the zealous

Father

was

went

D'ENTRAGUES

made

was

de Verneuil had failed.

of Mme.

by

woman,

that Juliette

Marchioness and later Duchess de Villars,

Hippolyted'Estrees,
to whom
alluded in telling
the storyof her sister
we
frequently
Gabrielle. The King had paidher some
attention in the latter's
and
lifetime,

for

moment,

on

the

"

deceased

wife's sister

"

Juliette had imagined that she would

be offered
principle,
Gabrielle's place. She was
not at all pretty,
however, having
it is said,only her comparative
youth and her hair in her
favour; and the King, having contracted a liaison with
Henriette,treated her merelyin a friendly
way.
It is doubtful whether Mme.
in plotting
de Villars,
against
acted
her
under
own
on
Henriette,
initiative,
feelings
entirely
of jealousenvy, or whether
the
there was
some
on
complicity

part

of the

Queen, who, of

the favourite.

de

Prince

At

all events,Mme.

it will be

Joinville,
who,

Henriette's

also desired to get rid of

de Villars made love to the

course,

lover at the time when

remembered, had

been

she firstattracted the King's

de
which Mme.
flattered by the partiality
Joinville,
and with a
Villars evinced for him, responded
to her advances,

attention.

the
for havingpreferred
to punishHenriette
desire,perhaps,
de Villars a number
he ended by givingMme.
King to himself,
of letters

him.

The

which, he told her, the royalfavourite had written

storyruns

(we

do

not

say it is

true)that

Mme.

to

de

appointmentat a church,
In any case they
and there handed him the lettersin question.
and he became
reached
him
furious,talkingof orderingthe
and of banishing
his mistress
immediate execution of Joinville,
Villars

thereupongave

the

King

an

OF

FAVOURITES

246

all
confiscating
that
boldlyprotested

he

after

OF

HENRY

NAVARRE

Henriette,however,
ing
fearand Joinville,
false,

givenher.

had

the letterswere

thereuponconfirmed that statement,

liberty,
throughhis uncle the Duke de Mayenne, that he had
declaring,
ever
and that whatde Verneuil offence,
wished to giveMme.
never
done had been solely
he had
inspiredby his extreme
in order to satisfy
her,
de Villars. Briefly,
for Mme.
passion
he
letters from the royalfavourite,
held no
though he really
had caused some
to be concocted,
employingfor that purpose
his own
to some
accounts, was
who, according
an
individual,
Duke
and accordingto others that of the young
secretary,
he confirmed
On
de Guise.
this individual beingproduced,
Joinville'sstatement, and was promptlycommitted to prison.
for his life or

attaches to

doubt

Some

writers who
to have

the

story.

Those

believe the letters

stated,whilst others
authentic,and that the story of their

concocted,even

been

sides of

inclined to favour Henriette

are

think that

both

they were

as

Joinville

beingforgedwas invented by Joinville when he found himself in

who is entitled to a hearingon the subject,
danger. L'Estoille,
writes
month
and

in reference to

supposedto

Verneuil
had
was

under date December,

follows,

as

to

have

some

been written

had forgedby
skilfully

"

In

letters full of love and

le Prince

Monsieur

1601

by

la

Madame

this

same

affection,

Marquisede

which letters he
Joinville,
who for that reason
secretary,
de

ticity
the Prince contested [theauthenshut up in the Bastille,
which
had been placedin the King's
of]these letters,

the said
Marquise de Villars,to whom
Prince de Joinville,
who
was
making love to her, had given
them by way of gallantry
and for a joke,though he thereby
for his Majesty,in great
risked both his fortune and his life,
in before),
been seen
indeed than he had ever
anger (greater
hands

by

Madame

gave orders to have

commanded
M. de
and

the said Sieur de Joinville

to
Rosny [Sully]

dismiss

and
poniarded,

the

Marchioness

givenher. But the Marchioness's

innocence being at last recognized,
the Prince de Joinville
and the whole farce being
her of everything,
havingdisculpated
properly
which was
that he had playeda game
discovered,
(veryimwas

take from

la

made

her all he had

however)in order to win his mistress's favour,peace

with the Marchioness,
thoughmany would have pitied

HENRIETTE

D'ENTRAGUES

her less for her illfortune

*

tauban
he did

theywould

have

Monpitied

had he been

hanged.However, the Prince de Joinville

the King declared that
as
away, particularly

obligedto

was

than

24?

go
wish to

not

him, and

see

the

the

Marchioness, on

reinstated [inher position]

to the
triumphally
at the Louvre
the day of the Holy
on
; and
point of sleeping
innocence, she said, she
Innocents,in testimonyof her own
feast to the ladies of the Court."
gave a magnificent

contrary,was

In whatever

looks at the affair there is,as we have

of doubt in it. Now, an
accused person is

element

said,an

one

way

alwaysentitled

the benefit of the doubt,

to

instance extend it to Henriette.

Her

let

so

royallover,for

appears to have been convinced that the letters

Mine, de Villars was
exiled from Court, and not

until 1604, whilst,as

return

him

writingto
"

My

Since

will behave

readyto

with

so

three

or

four

quotationfrom

he made
We

de

readyto

start

to me,

order

whom

and

me

so

that

that

get

Mercoeur
on
as

that
to be

that

relations when

they are

Henriette's
L'Estoille has indicated,

become

the Ballet of the

with

could

before your
to everybodyand
yourself

days,in

greaterthan ever.
de1 Medici,who
Joinville fracas,
Marie
was
ballets,
arrangingto dance in one

when

well-behaved.1'

uprightand

had

proof of

le Due

come

make it known
may
also,that it is my nature to love my

our

In

he is

you should

departureI

favour

to

King

the condition

on

Monsieur

there,and when

that
willing

am

for

me

I will do

Hungary

to

go

journeyI

As

find the

regret that you offended

you

better in the future.

he returns

near

allowed

rightto confess your fault,which

greater,bearingin mind myselfand her

forgive
you,

to

me

when

forged.

were

do

it concerned.

you

part,

Nephew,

have been

beg

Joinville,we

his

under date February28, 1602

follows,

as

"You
not

for

in this

us

Eight

handsome
peace

have failed to

Virtues.

Mme.

About
was

which

the time

of the

fond
extremely
was

to

be

de Verneuil,not

of

called
tent
con-

present she received from the King

with her,particularly
desired to take part

the
identify

individual to whom

L'Estoille alludes.

248

OF

and
ballet,

althoughthe

in this

OF

HENRY

FAVOURITES

NAVARRE

de' Medici

Marie

unfortunate

insisted that his mistress

her husband
again protested,
in the diversion.
participate

do not

We

know

should

which

particular
but the
personify,

ballet

Marchioness
claimed to
sprightly
quently
opened with a recitative written by Jean Bertaut, subselines which
Bishop of Seez,* in which figuredsome

Count

de la Ferriere thinks must

virtue the

have referred to the power

of
is nowadays generally
sidered
con-

Bertaut, who
eyes.
have been the author

Henriette's
to

celebrated

Gabrielle's

but it

seems

which

he refers in his

to

us

that

in this
verses

of Charmante
successor

on

doubtedly
Gabrielle,uncertain occasions,

instance
particular

the eyes to
very well have been the

may

Queen's:
Flambeaux

"

clairs astres d'ici-bas,

6tincelans,
De qui les doux regardsmettent
les cceurs
en
cendre,
Beaux
fiers
les
de
se
plus
rendre,
yeux qui contraignez
Ravissant
aux
vainqueursle prix de leurs combats."

Accordingto the anecdotiers it was duringthe performance

of this particular
Ballet of the Virtues that when
the King
the Papal Nuncio, and asked him
approached Bentivoglio,
what he thoughtof the sight,
the prelate
answered,
jovially
BeUlssimo
e pericobsissimo
("most beautiful and extremely
dangerous"),
adding that he only dared to look at it with
looks at the sun.
as
one
twinkling
This, perhaps,
eyes, even
was
hardlycorrect on the part of a rightreverend father when
confronted by the Virtues. In later years Bentivoglio
less
was
"

"

bashful with that beautiful Princess de Conde, who became

and who remarked
King'slast infatuation,
one
day with a
that it had

Those

alwaysbeen
Louvre

her

ballets

to
destiny

be loved

by

to say, danced

old

the

sigh

men.

volcanoes,
the
another direction,
one
plottingwas
or
emissaries of Philip
III of Spaindisplaying
the greatest
activity.
Mme.
de VerneuiPs restlesshalf-brother,
the Count d'Auvergne,
for

was

so

on

alwaysrife in

ever

into the
de

were,

himself to
lending
same

their orbit

Henri

courses.

Bouillon,once

by the

some

fresh

and
intrigue,

de La

Tour

his

Biron

relapsed
Duke
d'Auvergne,

sovereign's
trustyfriend,was drawn into
baseless suggestion
that the King had become
*

See post,Appendix C.

remarkable

answer

"

I cannot

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

250

affirm whether

theyare

all mine.

Marquisede Verneuil,when certain

to have been written by her to the Prince de
letters alleged
Has
did she not at first exclaim :
were
Joinville,
produced,
hand
And, after lookingat
betrayedmy heart then ?
my
did she not disown them?"
them
more
By that
attentively,
In the

la

of Mme.

case

'

the

answer

Marshal,of

the victim of

Henriette,was

the Parliament

When
Peers
that
were

course,

wished

to

suggest that he, like

forger.

some

convoked

was

to

try him, all the

attending. It seemed to them

instituted againstone of their number,
these proceedings,
not
and they would
levelled at their order generally,
abstained from

of France

Convicted

in them.
participate

of treason,Biron

was

sentenced

him provedfruitless.
to save
every effort made
His old mother interceded on his behalf,and the King weakened

to

death, and
than

more

once,

but

his

ministers,
Sullyand Villeparticularly

so
strenuously
protested
againstclemency,pointingout
lesson on
those who
the absolute need of inflicting
severe
a
that the law
with impunity,
hitherto had repeatedly
conspired
allowed to take its course, and on July31 Biron, who until
was
his last moment
expecteda pardon,was beheaded in one of the
of the Bastille.
courtyards
Bouillon's alarm at this juncture
that he fled
So greatwas
for a while from his stronghold
of Sedan into Germany, while
cession
the wretched Auvergne was
thanks to the jointinterpardoned,
of his step-sister
Henriette,his father-in-law Constable
de Montmorency,and his brother-in-law the Duke de Ventadour.

roy,

To

his life and

save

as

he

to

keepup

was

secure

called,
though that
his intercourse

its secrets and reveal them

On
Medici
and

his freedom

the 22nd
gave

"

last of the

Valois,"

accurate, offered
strictly
out
Court of Spain,worm

not

was

with the

to his sister'slover.

of that year, 1602, Marie de1

daughter,who was christened Elisabeth,

of November

birth to

became, at

this

the

tender age

of thirteen

years, the
after the

wife of

Queen's
coupleof months
accouchement,that is,on January 21, 1603, the Marchioness
christened
de Verneuil also gave birth to a daughter,
who was
Gabrielle Angelique,and who, on
December
12, 1622, was
married to Bernard de Nogaret,Marquisde la Valette and

PhilipIV

of

Spain.

second

251

D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

of the Duke

cTEpernon.*Three days before that

child's birth,Henri
had
to
caused the Parliament
register
which
he
h
er
brother,Gaston
legitimated
letters-patent
by
later she also was
Henri, and somewhat
legitimated.
All this greatly
incensed Marie de*1 Medici.
Owing to her
husband's infatuation for Henriette
the life of the royalpair
was
becoming a perfecthell. The Queen wept and stormed
and on
ment,
one
occasion,carried away by her resentalternately,
her husband's
she went so far as to raise her hand against
sacred person.
that he caughther arm
in time
us
Sullyassures
and

son

arrested

the

folk
ordinary

husband

blow,

blow

which

dealt

well

may

be

by a jealouswife

Among

true.

her

to

unfaithful

merelyaccounted an assault (tobe expiated,

in those days,
of the ducking-stool),
but in the case
by means
of Marie and Henri it would have been lese-majeste
of a high
pulsion
degree,and consignmentto the Bastille or ignominiousexfrom
France
might well have ensued. .Fortunately,
confined to words,
then, the war between the royalcouplewas
for there is plentyof evidence to show
bitter ones
undoubtedly,
that Marie de1 Medici was
with a tongue. According
a woman
than once
treated her husband to
to Sully
and others she more
curtain lectures,
a la Mrs.
Caudle, and he,in his dismay,jumped
of his
of one
out of bed and soughta refugein the room
would

be

officers.
For

littlewhile the

but (throughhis
life,
*

Count

de

la Ferriere

who dearly
loved
Vert-galant,

own

domestic

fault,in

gives the

bride's

name

as

matters

Marie
have

what

quiet

at

any

Eugenie, but
consulted

on

tioning
menauthoritywe cannot say, every other work that we
of Gabrielle Angelique. The
her by the names
marriage took place
to the 100,000 which
during the reignof Louis XIII, who added 200,000 crowns
Mme.
de Verneuil gave her daughter by way of dowry. M. de la Valette (who
Duke
a
became
haughty,
d'Epernon after his elder brother's death) was
Mile, de
struck
had
he
individual.
In
fit
of
a
jealousy
vicious,and rapacious
Verneuil
in the presence of witnesses prior to their marriage,and it is said
She died in
that Louis XIII tried to dissuade her from marrying such a man.
have
expressed
April,1627, and several writers,includingMme. de Motteville,
the opinion that she was
poisoned by her husband, who speedilytook another
condemned
to death, but succeeded
wife.
For conspiringagainstRichelieu he was
Charles
received
he was
I,
in escapingto England, where
by
favourably
who
created him a Knight of the Garter
even
perhaps the only instance in
of death
under
sentence
the history of that exalted order of a man
being
"

admitted

as

member.

See also

Appendix B.

secured

rate)never

it,was

at

loss how

NAVARRE
to

silence

pacifyand

with whom, let us hasten to

nagging consort
there came
considerable sympathy. Fortunately,

his irate and

"

feel

add, we

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

252

diversion in the form

of

serious outbreak

at

Metz, where

the citizens that they

displeased
he had been obliged
to shut himself up
had
Henri
where he was
in the citadel,
besieged
by the malcontents.
to Metz with a body of troopsand
thereuponresolved to repair
the Queen and
suppress the sedition; and, partlyto gratify
partlybecause he could seldom, if ever, make war unless some
member
of the fair sex was
near
him, he proposedto her that
she should accompany
him on his expedition.
It was
a delightful
la Marquise
prospect that he offered to her. Madame

the

had
deputy-governor
risen against
him, and

so

he and
be far away and
well,for a while,at all events
his cherished spouse would be all in all to one
another.
So
would

they set
at

Metz

out, and

had
quietness

peace and

when

theyrepairedto Nancy

Catherine,Duchess de
On

"

"

their return

fifty
years

visit to Henri's

sister,

Bar.
Paris

to

the

King

fell ill. He

was

now

alwaysled a very active and careless

to gallantry,
life,which, coupledwith a morbid predisposition
might well have taxed the health and strengthof any man.
On
this occasion a chill led to nephritic
colics followed by a
passingstricture. In spiteof the favourable reportconcerning
the King^ generalcondition which the royalphysicians
signed
after his

of age and

on

restored

been

had

it is known
assassination,

complaintsin

that he suffered from

several

notablygout and indigestion,

besides havinga predisposition
to vesical calculus. His illness
in 1603
at one
moment
was
regardedas very serious,and
tended to draw him and his wife more
closely
togetherthan
before.

She

his later years,

was

an

ambitious

althoughlackinga
desire to secure
particular
should predecease
her.

real

become

reconciled with

promised to amend

his

anxious

to

and
governing faculty,

it

woman,

full powers as Regent if her husband

That alone would have inclined her to

him, but
ways,

during
in
following

his illness he

that

proverbial
rhyme :
"

The
The

devil

sick,the devil
devil got well,the devil
was

govern,
her
was

saint would

saint

was

be,

he."

also

respect the

HENRIETTE

That

the

over

253

what happenedin King Henri's case, but

exactly
the more
Medici was
disposedto pass the sponge

is

de'

Marie

D'ENTRAGUES

past as

de

Mme.

Verneuil,who

had

come

to Paris

on

sought an interview with her

hearingof her lover's illness,
probablythrough the medium of Leonora Galiga'iand also
for offence in future. It is
promisedto give her no cause
to say how far Henriette's promisewas
sincere. In
impossible
"

"

been

have

dictated

by self-interest. If the
to fear from Marie
King should die she would have everything
The Queen
de' Medici ; and thus her move
was
a
one.
politic
is said to have replied
she
to her that if she kept her word
sister ; and
it certainly
would
treat her as
that
a
seems
it must

case,

any

connection with the

make

this time

did about

Henriette

an

effort to break

off her

King.

became furious when the favourite

he, havingrecovered,
her doors to him ; and,refusing
to accepther explanations,

But
closed

he

to the conclusion

came

the

His

case.

sister's old

fell
suspicions

lover,who

mixed

Such

on

tax,

every
by the

had

de

the

secure

Count

of
privilege

bale

of linen sent

way,

agreed with

theories of the time, but

the benefit of M.

the

on

be another
de

the

in

merely

having

levyinga tax of
of the kingdom.
protectionist
"

the idea that it should be levied for

Soissons

share of the

out

man

Soissons,his

it appears certain,
however, was
de Verneuil in financial affairs,
he

up with Mme.
soughther influence to
fifteen sols

that there must

and

who
to
was
favourite,
and although
nonsensical,

the

was
plunder,
the condition
the King had promisedSoissons the privilege
on
levied by him should not exceed 50,000
that the total amount
crowns
a
hotlyagainstany such arrangement.*
year, Sullyprotested
and
the
matter
A greatdispute
on
arose,
beingfully
to the King he decided that Soissons should not be
explained
grantedthe promisedprivilege.Henriette,however, had so
warmly supportedthe Count in this affair that the King's
to a fit of
jealousinstincts were fullyaroused; and yielding
of
pique,he told her that she need no longer relyon a sum
which
he had
100,000 crowns
promisedto enable her to

have

not 50,000 but 300,000 crowns

Sully estimated that the tax would yield,
to the trade
rightlyadding that it would be most prejudicial
per annum,
several provinces.
*

of

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

254

OF

NAVARRE

to Sully,
the county of Joigny. Thereupon,according
purchase
become
jealousas you
she retorted,"You
insupportably
of beingat peace
is no longerany means
grow older. There
with you."
Well, then, get you back to Verneuil,"the King replied,
turninghis back upon her.
told (August,1603), but Henri could
She did as she was
to believe that before long
not cast her off,and there is reason
probablywhen the King was on his
they againmet privately,
from
to or
Normandy in the latter part of that year.
way
de Bar died in the followingFebruary,
When
the Duchess
of her property
leavingno children,in such wise that some
at St. Germain-enreverted to the King,he presented
a house
Laye, which had belongedto her,to the Queen, and another,
"

Henriette, with

Fontainebleau, to

at

the

that

result

the

againincensed as well she

might be at her husband's mistress being treated on a footing
with herself. And not onlywas the Queen incensed,
of equality
had
but, feelingthat Henriette
utterlyfailed to keep the
she had made her,she this time spoketo her confidante
promises
de' Medici

Marie

unfortunate

was

"

"

of her intention to revenge herself.

for purposes of her own,
to keepon
wishing,
Leonora

the favourite,seems

to

husband,

her
besides telling

everythingto
Ferriere

her of what

Concini, who

on

King. Then,

brewing,

was

his
as

with

terms

side

Count
her

municated
com-

de
lover

la
to

for instance one

of
suggesting
placeof safety,
included in the appanage of the
fortresses previously
Henri
Bar.
repliedby proposingthe castle of

some

the Ncrman
de

Caen,* where
however, was

de Bellefonds

M.

and

distrusted him

la

the

good

Henriette, alarmed, appliedto

relates,

assignher
Duchess

warned

have

Leonora, however,

some
suggested

stilla somewhat

Tremoille,who

was

had

governor,

but the favourite

castle in Poitou.

That,

disaffected region(theDuke

there, was
great possessions

one

de

of the

associated with Entraguesand Auvergne),

and, probably
plotters
that account, the King was
to grant his mistress's
on
unwilling

request.
A
*

castle

completerupture ensued, Henriette

The

King

had

been

comprisedwithin

at Caen

to
again retiring

during the previousyear. At that time the

its precinctsa magnificentpalatial
pleasureresidence.

HENRIETTE

Verneuil and
this moment

to
refusing

D'ENTRAGUES
see

the

King.

255

latter was

The

also at

the worst

terms with his wife,and thus

possible
Sullywas called in to bringabout a modus Vivendi, His account
of the affair is confirmed by others. To put it briefly,
he was
conform
chargedto inform Henriette that she must absolutely
to the King'swishes or else he would have nothing
to do
more
with her, but would
simplyabandon her to disgrace.She
retorted by declaring
that she would only renew
the liaison
providedshe were
placedin such a positionthat she might
have no
occasion
to fear givingor
receivingoffence,that
of course, that she should be allotted some
implying,
placeof
retire. Sully
safetyto which she might in case of necessity
appears to have tricked her in regardto the exact wordingof
the stipulations
which it was
proposedto imposeupon the King,
on

with the result that the latter at firstbecame

very angry, much

the favourite
see

his desire being to

satisfaction,
Sully's
cast off.
entirely
As
endeavoured
to
regardsthe Queen, Sullyapparently
her to accept thingsas
she found them, and to
on
prevail
he being free and
herself to the King'sdisposition,
accustom
of being
of hearinghimself praised,
easy,"fond of laughing,
and of beingspokento in a cheerful manner.
The
caressed,
minister tellsus that he quotedthe exampleof the Duchess
de
the King,and told him amusing
Guise,who alwaystried to please
in such wise
that he often leaves you [theQueen] to
stories,
go and chat with her, and says that you, instead of coming
forward to kiss him, praise
him and talk to him gaily,
receive
All that,
ambassador."
him with frigid
an
looks,as if he were
of their "minds
accordingto the minister,was the cause
becoming embittered and of the worst ensuing."
to

"

"

Marie

de'

anger, which

from

the

command

Medici,however, declared
alone

caused

what

peopleblamed

King'slove affairs;and
over

herself to endure

that her vexation and

that

that Mme.

she

in

had

her, sprang
not

enough

de Verneuil should

of her, or talk of her children as if she

speakdisrespectfully
wished to establish a comparisonbetween them and hers (the
the
against
Queen's); besides which, beinginformed of intrigues
King's service,both in France and abroad, in which Mme. de

Verneuil

was

connected with her father and her brother,she

it that the

endure

could not

conform

to

seems,

husband

There

be

broken

made

Medici

wise

no

punish

attempt, it

some

in the

it seemed

when

moment

account

on

of the

account

on

in

hope

of

thereby

his infatuation.

from

however,
off,less,

Queen's than

NAVARRE

should

King

advice
Sully's

to

weaningher
came

de'

Marie

However,

them.

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

256

course

as

if the liaison would

of any efforts of the

which Henriette took in

denying herself to her royallover. Earlyin April,1604, we

If your words were
find the King writing
followed by
to her :
"

effects I should not

dissatisfiedwith you as I am.

of affection ; but your behaviour
letters speaksolely
is

me

be

For
nothing but ingratitude.

in that
have persisted

Judge what
shameful
love

not

you

to

five years

be to me, whom
that peopleshould

That

more

you

they should see

is why you write

finds strange.
everybody
it touches so closely.
It

think

I love you, and

I suffer because you do

that

me

and

towards

of lifewhich
style

it must

is useful to

Your

so

to

and

replyto you
If
as you
by silence.
ought to do I shall be
you will treat me
than ever
more
yours ; if not, keep this letter as the last you
will ever
receive from me, who
kisses your hands a million
me.

me

times."
No

arrangement of

arrived at, he wrote to

that minister avers
:
so

kind to

the King havingbeen

satisfy
Good Friday,
on
Sully,
April16, saying,
a

"

Since Madame

de Verneuil

is resolved

write me, I also am

resolved on what I told you
on
Monday. I shall inform her of my intentions,and show
that I have more
command
over
myselfthan is said,and I do

on

what you

think that this

not

would

not

do

mentioned

between
real

or

led

more

her

which
thoughts,

duringthese good days."

be

It must

will trouble

news

the

that

King

one

and

of the

Henriette

affected piety.It is well known

less loose

lives

causes

that

was
women

of the disagreemen

the latter's
who

have

end
frequently
by becoming
The
extremelyreligious.
historyof the upper circle of the
French demi-monde
abounds in such examples. In Henriette 's
she gave out, either sincerely
case
in a calculating
or
spirit,
that she could only obtain forgiveness
for the mortal sin in
which she had been living
by a great abundance of religious
the rigid observance of fasts.
practices,
novenas,
penances,
or

FAVOURITES

258

OF

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

him with Henriette.

She, on beingconfronted with
betraying
the charge,
her stepbrother,
whereupon
repelled
indignantly
been
from
derived
had
Auvergne asserted that his information
who was
de Sigognes. The latter,
a certain M.
present at Ihe
d'Auvergne
confrontation,bluntlyanswered that the Count
had lied. A duel would have ensued had not the King forbidden
Sigognesto fight.As for the wretched Auvergne,who, in his
had been prepared
to sacrificehis stepsister,
alarm for himself,
owed his liberty
he had once
to whose interposition
previously
fled from Paris into
he hurriedly
and perhapsalso his life,

central France.
afterwards the King received an autograph
immediately
advised
letter from James I of England,in which he was
certain Morgan, who had gone to
set on
to have a watch
a
France as a secret agent of the Court of Spain. Morgan was
found on him.
arrested,and some
compromisingletters were
some
them, so the King informed his mistress,were
Among
written by her father,and he wished to have them explained.
lettersto introduce Morgan
She replied
that theywere, perhaps,
of Lennox.*
The
to her cousin,the Duke
King rejoined,
letters in
not the case, for they were
however, that such was
which her name
mentioned.
M. d^Entragues
next
was
was
summoned, and after an interview with him the King, who as
Henrietta's part,
on
yet did not believe in any guilty
complicity
told her it was
certain that her father had been engaged in
her to tell him what
with Morgan,and he pressed
some
intrigue
She pleadedthat she knew nothingof the matter ;
it was.
but the King, after a second private
conversation with M.
d'Entraguesat the Tuileries,reproachedher with having
deceived him, addingthat her father had been negotiating
with
Spainon her behalf,and that she must surelyknow all about
it. Once more
she protested
the contrary,whereuponHenri,
remarkingthat her father would dine with her that day,urged
her to prevail
him to reveal everything.
on
Henri then betook himself to St. Germain, to which locality
Almost

Ludovick

Stuart,the
father.
France

and Richmond, son

of Lennox
of Esm6
Stuart,second Duke
Catherine
Balzac
Henriette's
de
sister
of
by
d'Entragues,
in 1574, the Duke
to
of Lennox
was
appointed ambassador

first Duke,

Born

by James

I.

259

D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

after dining
likewise repaired
with his daughter.
d'Entragues
All he would
admit
that as
to the King, however, was
Henriette's position
and might become
was
alreadyprecarious
of real danger if his Majesty should unhappilydie,the
one
her with some
safe retreat,
questionhad arisen of providing
and that the Prince of Orange,the Duke of Lennox, and Taxis,
the Spanishambassador, had been sounded
the subject.
on
M. d'Entraguesadded that the Spanishenvoy, knowing
And
that the King had formerlygiven Henriette
a
promise of
in exchange
had offered to pay him 200,000 crowns
marriage,
for it. He, Entragues,
however, as in dutybound, had promptly
refused the proffered
bribe. The
King pretendedto believe
and Entragues,on being allowed to depart,
this explanation,
of Marcoussis.
promptlyshut himself up in his stronghold
of fact,he was
involved in a real conspiracy,
As a matter
wild and fantastic,
but embracingin one
somewhat
or
one
another degreesuch men
as
Auvergne,Bouillon,La Tremoille,
and perhapsEpernon,in addition to minor fry
Lesdiguieres,
Father
like Villeroy's
L'Hoste, a certain Chevillard,
secretary,
Hilaire,and also Father Archange,that reputedson of Queen
who
had now
become
confessor to the King's
Marguerite,*
mistress. It seems
quitecertain to us that Henriette was really
which was
based on her royallover's
largely
privyto the affair,
by virtue of which Spainwas to recognize
promiseof marriage,
her son, Gaston
Henri, as Dauphin, and stir up a war of
M.

succession in France.
have been

In the event

almost dismembered, as

the countrywould
to have been cut up

of success,

it

was

would
into greatcommands, where the chief conspirators
In fact,France
would
exercised almost sovereign
sway.
herself in much

have

as
Germany was, with
position
of independent
her infinity
and, thus divided,she
princelings,
would no longerhave been able to offer any effectiveopposition
the ambitious
to the Spanishascendancyin Europe. But
less in this plot,
and others
or
more
nobles who participated
who would have joinedit had it developed
were
successfully,

found

not

concerned

about

the

have

same

the

did not exist in

patriotism
thought only of their
conspirators

National

of

interests

France

those
own

See p. 74, ante.

as

days,and

immediate

whole.

thus the
interests.

OF

FAVOURITES

260

the feudal

OF

HENRY

NAVARRE

and
system crumbling,

they were bent

lease of life and reducing
the royal
givingit a new
upon
authorityto such as it had been in a previousage. Some,
influenced by religious
to
were
motives,desiring
moreover,
faith preponderant,
make their own
Huguenots being
many
of the Edict of Nantes,
quitedissatisfiedwith the provisions
and lackingconfidence in their King, as he had abjuredwhat
they deemed to be the onlytrue religion.
nominal
matters
was
As
more
stood,the royalauthority
than real. A Mayenne governedthe Isle of France,a Guise
AngougovernedProvence, an Epernon governedSaintonge,
mois and Limousin,a Tremoille governedPoitou,a Montmorency
Guienne, a Nevers governed
Champagne,a Longueville
governed
and a Bouillon held the stronghold
of Sedan.
governedPicardy,
chances of a conUnder such conditions there certainly
were
spiracy
of nobles
succeeding.We all know that the plotting
to more
stillwent on for many years, ever
less
or
threatening,
of the country; and although
extent,the virtualdismemberment
of Richelieu in the succeeding
the policy
reignled to a monarchial
it was
to the character of the
absolutism which, foreign
as
nation,crumbled within a hundred and fifty
theless
years, it was neverbeneficial
it
as
a
policy,
gave great impetusto the
of France.
homogeneity
in which
It was certainly
however,that the conspiracy
possible,
Entragues and Auvergne had engagedmight fail. Time was
They

saw

needed to attract

one

in the meanwhile

all

and another

might be

greatnoble

to the cause,

discovered and frustrated.

and

Thus,

with Spainthe leaders of the plothad stipulated

negotiating
of retreat,with honours and pensions
in the
for safe places

in

event

of failure.

in speaking
to
Now, Entragueshad shown greatimprudence
the

King

about

promiseof marriagefor which Spainwas

extravagantprice. That promisehad been

the

to pay an
willing
hangingover Henri's

head

like a sword of Damocles

years, and he realized that the time had

certain that
of it. He felt tolerably

come

it

to

for several

secure

might

be

of Marcoussis,
where, moreover,
stronghold
Entragues"'
of his criminal practices
mightalso be
proofs
King sent,then,for the provostof the Marshals

possession
found

decisive

discovered.
of

at

The

France,whose

HENRIETTE

is said to have

name

effect an

the

too

261

if
Defunctis,*and inquired

been

entry into

repliedthat it was

D'ENTRAGUES

chateau

stronga

of Marcoussis.

placefor any

he could

The

provost

attack

open

on

his

effect an entry
part to succeed,but that he might possibly
of some
did so, accompanied
by means
stratagem. He eventually
by a party of archers,and finding
Entraguesin bed he arrested

him, and

50,000
spiteof the offer of a casket containing
worth of jewels,
carried him off to the Conciergerie
in
But the King instantly
instructed the provostto return

crowns'

Paris.
to the

in

chateau,which

the archers held in his

absence,and

to make

all necessary

there. The result was

the discovery
perquisitions
of a variety
of papers, letters from Auvergne,the cipher
of the
King of Spain,and a promise,
signedby that monarch, to the
effect that on the death of the presentFrench
King he would
the son of the Marchioness
de Verneuil,and not the
recognize
of Marie de' Medici,as sole legitimate
of
heir to the Crown
son
France.
The

of those papers led to the arrest

discovery
subaltern plotters,
who
notablya certain Chevillard,

of various
was

veyed
con-

to the

Bastille,
where,in order to rid himself of a draft
of the conspirators'
treaty with the King of Spain,which he
had managed to secrete about his person, he ended,it is said,
by gradually
eatingit at his meals. Entragues,for his part,
was

quiteoverwhelmed

now

his life he tendered

in order to

with alarm, and

save

proposalto return the King the muchcoveted promiseof marriage,

covered
which hitherto had not been disat Marcoussis.
duringthe perquisitions
The King accepted
M. de
the offer and sent his secretary,
Lomenie,f to the castle,
where,actingon information supplied
by Entragues,he discovered the promise underneath some
in

cotton

Functis

for

"

on

bottle,which

have

We

De

"

He

was

the

or

son

of

the St. Bartholomew

of

for the

that point. The

"

it may
in office."

merely

have

been

name

the

one

of the castle

is sometimes

dog

Latin

of the

written

period

born
Ville-aux-Clercs,
1560, died 1638.
killed at
who
Martial de Lomenie, Lord of Versailles,
was
and who had acquired and enlargedthe fief of
massacre,

Lomenie,

Lord

of

by purchase. After his death it was sold to the Gondi family,from

whom, Francois,Archbishopof Paris,it was purchased by Louis XIII,
of 66,000 livres,
in 1632.
sum

Versailles
one

on

had been secreted in

think

we

de

t Antoine

doubts

our

and

duty

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

262

In presence of several functionaries and others a solemn

drawn
of the document
was
of the return
up,
proces-verbal
walls.

forth
setting
the King.*

that it

the

indeed

was

original
promisesignedby

to believe in his mistress's

willing
un-

very

had

guilt.In fact,he

treated

friendliness,
her,
inviting

consideration and

her with the utmost

had been

Henri
affair,

In the earlierstagesof the

instance,to go to St. Germain, where her children were now

being reared with those of Gabrielle d'Estrees and Marie de'
But the anecdotiers tell us that when, on this occasion,
Medici.
for

she

approachedthe Dauphin

to

kiss his

hand,

as

her to do so, and that a

later his royalHighnesspunchedthe face of Gaston

bound, he would
Verneuil.

How

not allow

serious all that

fact that those littlechildren

Henriette returned to

was

duty

day or

two

Henri

de

gatheredfrom

the

yet three

not

were

be

may

in

years old !

that
news
receiving
her father had been carried off from Marcoussis
and lodgedin
the Conciergerie,
she hastily
to Paris to intercede for
repaired
him.
The King,however, now
refused to see her,
absolutely
and after a few daysshe received orders to
go back to Verneuil
had been made
at her
again. In the interval a perquisition
chateau there and had resulted in the discovery
letters
of some
from her father,
of which seems
none
to have been particularly
compromising,
though,from another standpoint,the same
cannot be said of various billetsdoux addressed to her by that
M.
de Sigognes,
same
who, accordingto her stepbrother
Auvergne,had accused her of a weakness for Bellegarde.
Her royallover was
and some
of his intimates
distressed,
now

made

determined

favourite.

As

it was
d'Estrees,
his worry

in

but
Verneuil,

on

effort to detach

had

him

happened after the

that he should
suggested

distraction. His

attention

death

adopted by Charlotte de
Princess de Conde.
came
Jacqueline
de la Bourdaisiere
her
Lord

race

mother's side.
of

to which La

She

was

Bueil,by his wife

*

La

of

endeavour
was

Gabrielle
to

forget

directed to Mile.

de Bueil,a portionless
Jacqueline
orphan who
measure

his whilom

from

had

been

in

Tremoille, Dowager

of that notorious Babou

Belle Gabrielle

belongedon
the daughterof GeorgesBabou,
Madeleine du Bellay,
and at this

Nationale
Bibliotheque

Fonds

vol.
Frarvjais,

4120.

HENRIETTE

time
age,
eyes
the

(1604)she

was

263

D'ENTRAGUES

twenty and twenty-four

years of

between

largeluminous
complexion,
beautywith a dazzling
and exquisite
shoulders.
Proposals
beingmade to her on
King'sbehalf,she retorted that in the first instance she
blonde

desired to be

50,000

married,and

crowns,

five hundred
of

person

an

estate

crowns

certain

that she
with

month.

must

have

and
title,
husband

presentof

allowance

an

found

was

Philippede Harlay,Count

de

of

in the

Cesy, a
Margot.

nephew of Champ vallon,the whilom lover of La Reine

Harlay,who was poor, consented to become the husband in
de Bueil,on condition of receiving
name
a
onlyof Jacqueline
For the rest,the
modest pensionof 1200 crowns
per annum.
after
county of Moret was bestowed on the bride,and directly
the wedding on October 5, 1604, she became the King'smistress.
Mme.
de
The liaison proved of an intermittent character,
as
Moret
failed to secure
any real hold on the King'saffections,
being,it is said,a very beautiful but utterlybrainless doll.
shall
Thus
we
the King (beforereverting
to Henriette as
did not restrict his attentions to La Belle
relate)
presently
also on a very lively
them
but bestowed
Jacqueline,
young
of the

person

made

Court, Mile. Charlotte des Essars,whom

Countess

de Romorantin.

in 1607,
Nevertheless,

the King with a

de Bueil * presented
Jacqueline
in the following
being legitimated
year, became
Antoine

de

Bourbon, Count

after the
Directly
Morgan, it had been

before the Parliament

wards
he after-

son,

who,

known

as

de Moret.

or
Welshman,
Englishman,
decided (August 12, 1604) to send him
remained
for trial. The
proceedings

arrest

of the

however, in consequence of the discoveries made with

suspended,
the person
of securing
respectto Entraguesand the advisability
of the Count d'Auvergne,
who had found a refugeat his castle
difficultto
where it was
of Vic-le-Comte in his own
province,
seize him.
to gaintime and indulgence
He tried,
by
moreover,
such as to supplycompromising
of offers,
making a variety
tions,
letterswritten by his sister Henriette,to furnish further revelahis intercourse with Spain in the King's
and to resume
*

Her

married

marriage was annulled by the Court of Rome

the Marquis de Vardes, father of Louis

confidant in the affair of Mile, de la Valliere.

Mme.

in

1605,and in 1617
companion

XIV's

de Moret

she
and

died in 1651.

interest. At
as
Spain,

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

264

the

time he

same

made
secretly

communications

provedby some

was

OF

NAVARRE

fresh overtures

which

to

cepted.
inter-

were

who commanded
Nerestang,
succeeded
of the royal
a regiment
troopsstationed in the region,
and the scoundrel
by stratagemin makingAuvergne his prisoner,
forthwith conveyedby road to Montargisand thence by
was
the Loing and the Seine to the Bastille,
where he arrived on
afterwards the King remarked to
November
20, 1604.
Shortly
the Venetian ambassador :
I have put the Count
d'Auvergne
a
last,

At

certain

M.

de

"

in

placewhere

Then,

in

tone

able to do any harm.11

la
of commiseration,he added, " Madame

he will

longerbe

no

embarked

has
Marquise [Henriette]

on

very

pitiable

adventure.11
She

had

not

was

went

summoned

againbeen
consignedto the

forth that she

Bastille or
to

was

to

Paris,and, though she

the

the order
Conciergerie,

remain

under

in the house

arrest

where she had taken up her residence,

in the Faubourg
a mansion
St. Germain
the Chevalier du Guet, or Captainof the Watch,
"

to guard her.
The King havingsent Brulart
beingappointed
de Sillery
informed by that envoy that if
to see her,she was
she would make a full confession of everything
the King was
to grant her a pardonand also to pardon those whom
disposed
she might designate.
Death does
She answered, it is said :
not frighten
On the contraryI shall welcome it. If the
me.
King takes my lifeit will,at all events, be said that he has put
"

his wife to
When

death,for
M.

was

Queen before the Italian was."

de

he
as
Sillery
pressedher for such an answer
might take back to the King she would not at first say anything,
she curtly
but finally
I desire but three things,
:
replied
for myself,
justice
clemencyfor my father,and a rope for my
"

brother.11
At

Paris

that

periodthe
the

famous

First President of the Parliament

Achille

de

of

Harlay,who personally
interrogated
Entragues,Auvergne, and Morgan before the
actual trial took place. Morgan began by declaring
that
Entragueshad onlygiven him letters to introduce him to his
established
nephew the Duke of Lennox, but it was presently
that the Englishman had carried letters from the Spanish
ambassador
to Entragues. The
for his part,informed
latter,
was

266

OF

FAVOURITES

respectto Henriette she

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

onlyconvicted of having formed

without the
a
designto quit the kingdom with her children,
that
necessary sanction of the King ; but the court specified
there should be further investigations
into her case, and that
in the meantime
she should be removed
to the abbey of
Beaumont,

near

the

On

was

Tours, and detained there.

the Duchess

morrow

(Marie Touchet)
d'Entragues

her younger

and

and cast
daughter,came
King'sfeet,imploringhis clemency. He
answer,

but

the Duke

on

defer the execution

of Lennox

of the sentence

at

them

gave

the

an

him
requesting

definit
into

to do so, and
he told him to

he consented

letter to M. de
a personal
addressing
inform King James that he had done
ambassador's

themselves

Beaumont
this

at
solely

the

English

request.

royalcouncil,Henri next commuted

the death sentences to perpetual
and authorized
imprisonment,
Henriette to return to Verneuil,*
afterwards issuing letters of
abolition'1 which pronouncedher to be innocent,and forbade
further investigations
while Auvergne
into her case.
Finally,
was
kept under lock and key,remainingat the
very properly
Bastille for several years,f
letters of remission were
grantedto
veillance)
Entragues,and he was allowed to return (at first under surAll this againwas
to Marcoussis.
attributed to his
desire to show his regardfor the ambassador
of his
Majesty's
the King of England. But althoughit
good brother and ally,
that Henriette did not solicit any pardon for herself,
seems
deemingit sufficientto protesther love for the King in which
connection she wrote him as passionate
letter as she had ever
a
Having

convoked

the

"

"

written in her lifeJ

"

there is

vened
to believe that she inter-

reason

behalf of her father.

Moreover, in spiteof all that

King said about the Englishambassador,many peoplewere
on

the

convinced
*

that the

Verified

abolition

"

pardonshe

by the Parliament
issued

on

had

grantedwere

March

28, 1605.

due
The

to
solely
"letters

the

of

ensuing 16th of September.

a daughter of
Auvergne's wife (who was
Constable de Montmorency) solicited his pardon, the King replied:
I feel for
and your tears,
but if I were
to grant your request it would be the
your sorrow
that my wife is a woman
same
as declaring
of evil life,
son
a bastard,and
my
my kingdom fit prey for anybody."
were

on

t According to L'Estoille,
when

"

X It is

now

in the National

Library,Paris.

HENRIETTE

his

for
passion

who,

Bertaut,the poet-abbe,
instance,
of the King'ssecretaries,
be remembered, was
one

will

as

Henriette.

this effusion
improvised
"

For

the

on

d 'amour

II donne
Par

la

en

son

Parque

vainqueur

est

ame,
le tort ;
la

sauvant

moyen,

ce

Amour

Heart,

dear

dame,

de la mort."

have this letter written

Further,we
My

:
subject

Quand Jupiterqui la regrette,

Espris de si grande beauts,
Le glaivede Themis
arrete,
tendait
la
a
Qui
cruaute,
Partisan

"

267

AGUES

D'ENTR

by the King himself

"

I have received three letters from

"

you, to which I

will make

but

children.

I will send you La Guesle, for I also wish that you

the [their
?]father,who loves and cherishes you too

reply. I consent to your making a journey

to Boisgency[Beaugency
?],and also to your seeing your
But remain with
father,whose guardsI have had removed.
him only one
day, for the contagionfrom him is dangerous.
I deem it good that you should go to Saint Germain
to see our
should

see

much.

one

heard

[theQueen ?] has

One

all of your
to thee that all

nothingat

my little one, for I swear

with
in comparison
the rest of the world is nothingto me

journey. Love

me,

I kiss and kiss

whom

There

is

thus resumed

reason
was

againa

broken

himself,more
occupying
des Essars

but

During

1606.

or

in the

letter addressed

next

that

million times.r"

being
correspondence
off,althoughthe King was still

believe that the

to
not

her
*

was

written,we

and Mile,

the
collection of his Lettres-missives,

by

him

to

is dated

Henriette

and
resurrection,

somewhat

Formerly assignedto the

think,after the trial.

return of Henri's first

weird

one.

Margueritehad
latter

October,

incidents had

interval several notable

at Usson
long semi-captivity
Undated.

de Moret

less,with Mme.

occurred,not the least of them beingthe

to Paris.
wife,Queen Marguerite,
It

thee,

part

of

During
repeatedly

1604, but evidently

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

268

solicitedpermission
to fix her residence in Paris
her former

writingto

frequently
again,

husband, flattering
him, and

even

ing
render-

less important
or
by transmittingmore
to
to her knowledge. She wrote
information which had come
him on the birth of the Dauphin,on the fortunate
congratulate
of the conspiracy
of the Duke de Biron,and that of
discovery
the Count d"Auvergne,whom," said she, I no longer
call my
enemy."
nephewsince he has shown himself to be your Majesty's
little services

"

"

at last obtained

Having

leave to return

and, accordingto
jubilation,
Francis

Fs Chateau

the

to

Paris,she

on
anecdotiers,

is

de Madrid, in what

now

set out

in

arrivingat

called the Bois

de

she was
received there on the King's
behalf by his
Boulogne,
eldest legitimated
on
son, Cesar de Vendome, in attendance
whom
that same
was
Harlay de Champvallonwho is said to
have been many
her lover ! Madrid, by the
years previously
the property of Marguerite,
heiress of the
as
really
way, was
of her brother,Henri III,*and
domain
private
and againher country residence.
But

her return

from

it became

now

she

moved
into
speedily
Paris,and installed herself at the old Hotel de Sens, formerly
the Parisian abode of the Archbishops
of Sens,fand adjacent
on

to the

Hotel

resided.

St.

Usson

Paul, where

several

had

Twenty-five
years

Kings

of

France

had

elapsedsince Margueritehad

last cast her eyes over

Paris,and owing to the improvements
effected by the King, by Francois
Miron, the Prevot des

Marchands, and by others, she found many changesthere.

Stillthe greatest
of them was
not to be compared to the change
in herself. Charles

IX's

grosse

Margot,

all lascivious charm

and

had become a huge,unwieldy

with baggy
creature
beauty,
cheeks and a bushy,
flaxen wig. She was
but fifty,
yet at first
she seemed almost antediluvian,
she did the attire
as
retaining
and the manners
of the vanished Court of the Valois. She duly

repairedto
Marie

Louvre

de""Medici.
one

the

The

Duchess

of Henri

Charles IX, had

t Paris

when

The

to pay
scene

those two

Queens,each

d'Etampes,mistress

II, Marie

Touchet

resided there.

It

her respectsto her successor,

pressive
almost imwas
an
interesting,
in turn

the wife of

of Francis

mistress
I, Diane de Poitiers,
and Mile, de la Beraudiere,mistresses of
the birthplace
of the Count
was
d'Auvergne.

and
originally
only had bishops,

was

in the archdiocese of Sens.

the

269

D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

last stood face to face.

for her
Marguerite,
but Marie was paleand manifestly
part,was calm and dignified,
for Marguerite's
But she soon
ill at ease.
became reassured,
towards her, as towards her ex-husband,was
manner
perfect,
became
and theyspeedily
very good friends indeed.
called
invariably
By Henri and Marie, Margueritewas
She heaped presents
and by their children "aunt."
"sister,"
on
them, took them to St. Germain's Fair,and pettedthem in
she was
she had
still at Usson
While
way.
every possible
in Paris,proceedinstituted,
ings
throughher legalrepresentatives
againstthe Count d'Auvergne for the recovery of a large

King,at

same

landed

of

amount

and

other

property

which

her

mother,

bequeathedto her by will. Her

her of it,however,and transferred
brother,Henri III,had despoiled
it to his illegitimate
nephew,Auvergne.* Earlyin 1606
favour,and on March 10
judgment was givenin Marguerite's
she legally
to the Dauphin the future
made over
everything
de' Medici, had

Catherine

"

Louis

XIII

retain the

condition,however, that she should either

surrender all claim
thereof duringher lifetime,
or
on

"

use

largeannuity.The latter course

was
Marguerite paid no heed to the
adopted;nevertheless,
King's advice that she should moderate her expenditure,
in regardto benefactions,for she was
constantly
particularly
finds Marie
and againand againone
in financial difficulties,
her money
from her own
de' Medici lending
purse, or procuring
her advances from Sully.
to it in consideration

of

lifeat the Hotel de Sens gave rise to

Her

her

Among

"

gentlemenin waiting

of somewhat

Provencal
de Saint

"

Julien.

The

low

was

who
extraction,

favour shown

him

no

littlescandal.

handsome

young
called himself Dat

by Queen Marguerite

of another of her retainers,

jealousy
named
Vermond, and about midday on April5, 1606, justas
Margueritewas reachingthe Hotel de Sens in her coach,after
at the Celestine Monastery, Saint Julien,who
hearingmass
in attendance at the coach door,was shot dead by Vermond,
was
for an opportunity
had been waiting
who, armed with a pistol,

is said to have

"

He

seems

aroused the

to have

lost the title of Count

in the
by participating
Count, and in the next

d ' Auvergne

this time he is called

Entragues' conspiracy. From
commands.
then secured high military
He
Duke
d'Angouleme.
reign,

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

270

but
fled,
his rival. The crime committed, Vermond
despatch
is said to have vowed that
and Marguerite
was
caught,
speedily
she would neither eat nor drink till he had been punishedfor
and whether
that vow
made
she really
Whether
that murder.
was
cannot
she kept it,we
say, but two days later Vermond
to

in her

beheaded
certainly
It

de Sens.

Hotel

presence
then that

was

the

on

outside

square

the

of the satiristsof the

one

lines :
pennedthe following
period

Royne-Venus,

"La
De

voyr

mourir

demi-morte

devant

Son

Adonis, son

Pour

vengeance

a, devant

Fait

defaire,

la

en

those

Seine and

and

King
a

the reformed
and maintain

This

vow

an

as

the Petit Pre

Jacob, which
reason

made

undertook

to

consecrate

she set up in the fulfilment of a

in the daysof her captivity
at Usson.

vow

at

JacoVs

was

crosses

of her

aux

altar which

long known as
is perpetuated,
though few are aware
by

Clercs,she there
monastery for monks of

similar to that of Jacob

was

the altar

reason

jour."

mesme

mansion
and
palatial
Augustineorder, who

which she had

vow

au

would no longer
Marguerite
in part by a donation
de Sens,and acquiring,
in part by purchase,
site across
the
a large

known

then

erected both

face,
place,

tragicoccurrences

reside at the Hotel

from the

porte
sa

mesme

L'assassin presque

After

sa

cher Amour,

Bethel,*for which
altar.

of it,by

the site. Moreover, it

at Usson

that

for her
herself in financial straits,

Its memory
the presentRue

was

Margueriteso

also

largely

often found

the

clergyand the
innumerable.
These, coupledwith her
poor of Paris were
in building
her palace
in the Rue de Seine
great expenditure
and her lordly
of
pleasure-house
Olympus,"f in the village
taxed her handsome
income of 123,000 crowns
a
severely
Issy,
giftsto

"

me
so

"

And

vowed
a vow,
saying,If God will be with me, and will keep
that I go, and will give me
bread to eat,and raiment
to put on,
again to my father's house in peace ; then shall the Lord be my

Jacob

in this way
that I come

shall be God's house :

stone,which I have set for a pillar,
I will surelygive the tenth unto thee.""
shalt give me
Genesis xxviii,
20, 21, 22.
find the pagan side of the Renaissance
we
t In that name
assertingitself
amidst Marguerite'sreligiosity.
And

this

God

and

of all that thou

HENRIETTE

year. Her
Henriette

D'ENTRAGUES

displayof pietywas
d'Entragues.It seemed

galantefeared

that she would

of her

sins. She

Blessed

Sacrament

attended
three

as
exaggerated

as

that

of

if the so-called Reine

as

be able to cleanse herself

never
mass

day,partookof

every

times

271

week, and

religious
through the
processions

streets

to

the

often followed
one

or

another

shrine.
At

the

same

time she held the firstsalon of the seventeenth

concerts, and banquetswere

ballets,
century. Receptions,

ever

de
upon the other at the palacein the Rue
of
Seine, whither,cultured as she most certainly
was, possessed

one
following

several volumes
splendid
library,
annotated,Margueriteattracted a

in which

and artists,
to whom

she had

largenumber

very

personally
of writers

herself a most

she showed

generous patron.
of
the
It is true, however, that the greatest
poet
age, Malherbe,
of her hospitality,
would have none
but growledand spat on

ground whenever

the
no

doubt,to that

in

so

same

lawsuits.

many

passedher residence. That was due,

which landed him
cantankerous disposition
he

Lax

as

he

in morals

was

he had
himself,

in Marguerite. She
take offence at any immorality
survived till the age of sixty-three
passingaway on March
no

rightto

"

27, 1615, that is,some

five years after the assassination of the

of her life,
like virtually
all the rest,
and the last period
devoted alternately
and love. When
her affairs
to religion

King
"

was
were

it was
investigated
An

crowns.

she had

found

infinitenumber

acquiredsince

that

she

of lawsuits

her donation

owed

over

260,000

ensued,the possessions
the

Dauphin were all

remained nothingof

to

BatifFol remarks," there

the memory
that she had been
this brilliant Princess,
not even
'
'
bountiful and intellectual woman,
an
a
hostess,
up-to-date

sold,and,

as

M.

affectionate ' aunt,1a faithful friend

nothing,indeed,save
the recollection of the scandals associated with the appellation

an

"

Reine

Margot." Cardinal

Richelieu

summed
subsequently
She beheld
in one
sentence :
impressive
up her publiccareer
and
Princess of her age, the daughter,
herself the greatest
sister,
that advantage,
she
wife of great Kings,but, notwithstanding
the sport of fortune,the contempt of people who
became
another occupying
to her,and she saw
should have been subject
the placewhich had been intended for herself."

of La

"

OF

FAVOURITES

272

HENRY

OF

NAVARRE

periodof Queen Marguerite's

The
to Paris.
return
proceedings
againstEntragues and
stamped out sedition in France.
Auvergne had by no means
of Marshal
Not
Lesdiguieres
only was there grave suspicion
and other prominentHuguenots,but the rebellious sentiments
manifest. Earlythen, in 1606,
de Bouillon were
of the Duke
of Sedan,
the King set out to subdue Bouillon's stronghold
which for several years had been regardedby the Huguenot
Receivingno support,however,
party as a second Geneva.
who
from Spain,Bouillon,
or
either from his co-religionaries
had
independent
long aimed at becoming an absolutely
constrained to surrender Sedan to the King,
was
sovereign,
Not
of France.
annexed it to the crown
who then definitely
wishing,however, to carry matters too far with a party to
he pardonedthe Duke,
which he himself had once
belonged,
and appointedas governor of Sedan a Huguenot officer on
he could depend.
whom
he returned to Paris he had to givebis attention to
When
Let

us

his love

now

revert

for
affairs,

to

he

the

discovered

that

in his absence

the

paying too much

de Moret.
In
attention to the beautiful if insipid
Jacqueline
and seek a refuge
the result Joinville had to take to his heels,
About
this time there were
fresh negotiations
in Lorraine.
de Verneuil,
with Mme.
who, angry with her royallover on
of his infidelitieswith others,againturned from him
account
and expressed
desire to go and live abroad,though,as she
a
had no desire to die of starvation,she requested
the King to
provideher with an income of 100,000 livres a year. Henri,
who was
not inclined to giveher any such income
to
or
even
her also of
let her go, retorted to her chargesby accusing
which
she denied.
unfaithfulness,
They still met, at first
and afterwards publicly,
secretly
though Henriette no longer
Now
that the storm which had so seriously
went
to Court.
threatened her father was past,she had recovered all her biting
herself for the enmityof Marie
power of speechand revenged
de1 Medici by deriding
her in the most caustic terms possible,
in the presence of the King. She called the Queen her
even
lover's "fat banker," and laughed when
she heard of an
accident at the Neuilly
when the Queen and young Cesar
ferry,

Prince
irrepressible

de Joinville had

been

OF

FAVOURITES

274

[at play]. Good

money
million times."

HENRY

night,heart

April25, 1608, Marie

Gaston
(of Orleans),and

On
son

OF

NAVARRE

of

mine,

I kiss thee

de' Medici

gave
this time there

birth to her
was

sponding
corre-

no

the part of Henriette de Verneuil.*

takes the King to the
hunting expedition

accouchement

on

May 22, a
where he first met
his mistress,
of Bois-Malesherbes,
vicinity
and then, all the past rising
up before him, he sends her what
But

on

called the

be

may

reallysentimental

one

letter among

the

which he addressed to her :

many
hare led me
"A
to the rocks before
'

experiencedhow
wished
Recall
memory

is

I once
held you in my arms
as
it while you read this letter. I feel
I had

past will

of the

In any
alongwhich I so

present.

amours,

the memory

sweet

Malesherbes,where
of pleasures
f
past.1

if I

thoughtsare

case

you

cause

you

would do

often passedin

sleepmy

dreams

to
so

are

sure

did you
see

of you,

you there.
that the

everythingof

scorn

goingto

saw

follow the

the

paths

Mes chores
you.
if I lie awake
my

the same."'1

Until the end of 1608, the

is,so to say, a
correspondence
The virtual end of the
comminglingof kisses and reproaches.
truth seems
to be that,
fast approaching.The
liaison was
while the King was
not tired of Henriette, she was
utterly
tired of him.

Let

all remember

loves the

who

that the

buys her.

who

woman

She

sells herself

feignlove,
but that is all. Now, Henriette had
bought,and
certainly,
and againprofessed,
do not
whatever she may have now
we
believe that throughout that long liaison,she ever
for one
from personal
loved the King. She had yielded
moment
really
vanityand ambition,to which had succeeded ambition for her
she wished to see
whom
son,
King of France. In the last
which took placebetween her and her royallover
negotiations
she asked
like the
indeed,one mightalmost say she demanded
tenacious woman
she was, the rightof returning
to Court, the
and the cityof Metz, of which
of her children,
guardianship
never

man

may
been

"

"

On

the other

hand, Mme.

de Moret

had

presentedhim

with

son

in

with a daughter in or about

May, 1607, and the Countess de Romorantin
and
See
1608.
263,
Appendix
ante,
B., pp. 298, 299, post.
January,
p.
"
t
Que des plaiserspassez doulce est la souvenance."

D'ENTRAGUES

HENRIETTE

little

her

and

more,

thus

of

his

But

she

in

her

former
for

inspired

him

Here,

let

assassination,

us

for

much

she

leave

the

was

once

she

of

her

accused

of

de

again

having

his

prompted

ever.

twice
the
had

to

deavour,
en-

now

life.

Verneuil
after

the
and

as

in

beauty

Marchioness
meet

wit

or

failed

passion

to

great

as

tried

The

almost
caustic

remained

younger

insensate

shall

down

nothing
end.

an

of

place

but

to

her

by

him,

over

words

time

have

to

most

We

to

safe

came

was

far

so

seems

and
the

liaison

he

as

as

fair

time

ascendancy

with

semi-retirement.

from

which

another

then,

the

attracted

Henriette

bishop,

obtained

1609
her

sprightliness,

although

regain

King

seeing
death,

invincible

appointed

early

continued

date

been

the

From

retreat.

King

had

son

275

in

the
it.

her

King,s

XI
CONDE

DE

PRINCESS

THE

KING

THE

He

prevents

Position

see

Wife

the

her

Altercation

secretly

Flightto

"

with
A

Flanders

the

to Charlotte"

jealousKing

Divorce
The

"

at Brussels

Their

OF

AFTERWARDS

is married

"

ASSASSINATION

Beauty" The King's Passion for her"

Bassompierre The Prince de Conde, his

with

He

"

His

"

The

"

Marriage

Princess

Court

from

her

Character

and

AND

and

de Montmorency

Charlotte

THE

"

"

He

keeps his Wife

Henri's
Attempts to

suggested Conde1
Royal Rage
Attempts
"

carries

"

Scheme

off his

capture the

to

off the Princess

Asylum
Last Days
Renewed
de Navarre
The
Suggestions for Divorce
War
House
of
Austria
the
Francois
Ravaillac
The
against
projected
of the King
Assassination
La
Suspected Instigators of the Crime
Henriette
d'Escoman
accused
d'Entragues and the Duke
d'Epernon

Fugitives
"

"

to carry
of Henri

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Trial of d'Escoman

Medici

"

Henriette's

Marriages
In 1609

of Guise

Henri

"

"

She is
last

and

Walled-up for

Years

The

"

Joinville

"

Life

Prince

"

Henriette
and

Princess

and

de

Marie

Conde

de'
"

Conclusion.

fifty-six
years old, and though that is by
certain that in
no
a
means
great age, it appears tolerably
Yet
sudden
some
a
respectshe was no longera young man.
him with unwonted
ardour.
It is scarcely
passionnow inspired
of his years conceiving
violent
a
pleasantto think of a man
love for a
girl who, however
precociousin physique,had
her fifteenth summer.
Yet
it happened,and
seen
so
scarcely
did Sultan rave
and storm
Henri
did when
as
perhaps,
never,
he found obstacle after obstacle placedin his way, and never
in striving
exhibit more
did wooer
to overcome
desperate
energy
those obstacles. The King failed,
shall see, but as
as
we
of his infatuation never
the object
became
his mistress we shall
giveonlya brief account of the affair. It cannot be altogether
and
passedby,as in various respectsit is historically
interesting
important.
The young
Henri
with this extraordinary
girlwho inspired
was

THE

xi

PRINCESS

DE

CONDE

277

passionwas named Charlotte Margueritede Montmorency.

Born on May 11, 1594, she was
the daughter of the Constable
of France
by his deceased second wife, that marvellously
beautiful Louise

de

Budos,* who

alarmed

who
saw
every woman
premature death appearedlike a
so

from

many

the

minded
stitiously
"

held that the

have

fascinated every

her, in such wise that her

it saved
as
happy deliverance,

of lovingor hating her.

necessity

folk

and

"

there

stillmany

were

amazing beautyof Louise

been the result of

some

and

man

compact

with

Super-

in those

de Budos

could

days
only

the fiend.

a
daughterCharlotte likewise grew up all loveliness,
blonde, possessed
perfect
alreadyof a most shapelyfigureat
the youthful
have mentioned.
And
Malherbe, fired
age we
with enthusiasm for her charms, and the King'spoetic
allyin
the royalattempt to win her,sang of her in such linesas these

Her

"

"

A
De

quellesroses

ne

fait honte

teint la vive fraicheur

son

Quelle neige a tant de blancheur

Que sa gorge ne la surmonte ?
Et quelleflamme
luit aux
cieux,
Claire et nette

It

in

was

comme

January,1609, while
being rehearsed at

"

ses

yeux

ballet called "Diana's

under the
the Louvre
Nymphs" was
this
of Marie de' Medici that the King first saw
supervision
fell desperately
in love with
beauty,and immediately
young
All the worries of his expiring
her.
liaison with Henriette
d'Entragueswere immediately
forgotten
; as Aubigne tellsus,
he had no thoughts,
for Charlotte de Montmorency.
no
eyes, left save
In accordance
with his favourite expedient,
one
which he had employedin the case
of Gabrielle d'Estrees and
de Bueil,he thoughtof givingthe youthful
that of Jacqueline
Princess

that

husband, as

would

remove

her

from

the

control and allow her more

freedom of action. As it
parental
happened,Bassompierrewas alreadya suitor for Charlotte's
hand, but the King feared that the Colonel of his Swiss Guard
desired.
husband
was
as
a
might not prove so complaisant
another one, the
One of Henri's intimates thereuponsuggested
built young
taciturn and slightly
Prince de Conde, a reserved,
*

See p. 151, ante.

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

278

xt

nothing
fellow,whom
many took to be a fool,thoughhe was
ambition and
of the kind, for in after years he displayed

speech. On the other hand, he

to the King's liberality,
possessed
his
folk even
and was
without supporters,some
contesting
rightto the title he bore,for he was a posthumouschild,the
of that Prince de Conde who
son
was
supposedto have been
of the crime, had been
and whose wife, suspected
poisoned,
cast into prison.*Born at St. Jean d'Angely,
on
September1
1588, Conde was now
twenty-one years old,and livingon the
He did not
King's bountyevinced a very docile disposition.
energy, as well
owed whatever

real power
fortune he

of

as

towards sport,
but was
attracted somewhat
life,
and the
the loneliness of moors
reverie,
preferring

care

for Court

and

also to

gloom of

forests to the

of
gaieties

the Louvre.

all appearance

To

he paidno attention to women,

very cold and very bashful,
and it was held that if he were
able
givena wife he would be incapof

the idea of her

lovingher, while

quitenonsensical.
At
the beginning
of
attack of

gout,and

the affair the

remained

duringwhich

Astree and

the

no

lovinghim appeared

King

had

confined to his bed for

very bad

some

time,

read
repeatedly
Those works doubtless helpedto fire his imagination,
to him.
and possibly
tended to subdue the twingesof his complaint.
In any case, this historic exampleshould suffice to prove that
Diane

gout

is

Amadis

obstacle to love.

d'Angoulemepaid him

beautiful

de Gaule

Charlotte,and

While

Henri

was

laid up,

visit,accompaniedby the

the

King

opportunityto questionthe

young

sentiments

were

took

for

advantageof this
Princess respecting
her

for he was
anxious to ascertain if
Bassompierre,
her proposed
marriagewith that dashingcourtier and soldier
would be one
of duty only or of inclination as well. And
told that the blushing
we
are
beautymodestlyreplied
young
to the royalinquiries
that it would alwaysbe a happinessto
her to obey her father,and that such was
the limit of her
ambition.
pierre
Now, M. de Montmorency favoured the Bassommatch, and as it seemed evident that it did not displease
the Princess,
the King immediately
resolved to preventit. He
treated Bassompierre
in a meanly jealous
manner,
compelled
*

See p. 102, ante.

THE

xi

the Constable
and
a

hurried

PRINCESS
to his

assent

to

DE

279

CONDE

daughter's
marriagewith Conde,

the betrothal (March, 1609),when

fairly
largeincome on the Prince,and made

he bestowed

on

splendid

some

presentsto the bride.

The

on
May 17, the
Chantilly

celebrated at

marriagewas

there
King beingpresent,and lingering
of

doubts, it

course, for he had

and

however,the Duke

of Cleves

of Austria

devote

to

docile

himself

at

and Conde,
hostilities,

two, full

or

the

taken

had

bridegroom.
The

arose.

once

this moment,

At

in lieu of

his wife,carefully
kept away

from

with

war

obliged
for
preparations

King

and

State

right

of the
suspicious

of
died,and the question

affairs of

to

day

feel very

suddenlybegunto

humble
seemingly
the House

he

whether

to

as

seems,

for

was

him to Paris with

following
the capital,
even
puttinga

greaterand greaterdistance between himself and the King, for

he

well

was

of his
contemplation

Michelet

in
feelings
inspired
wife's beauty.

of the

aware

denounces

Prince

the young

as

the latter by the

and
hypocritical

most
assuredly
peoplewill admire the
adopted under very difficult circumstances.

Machiavelian, but
which

course

he

and twenty,married
to the most
beautiful girlin France, have surrendered her to
of the
had now
become one
a
man
who, unhappily,
any rival,

Why, indeed,should

depravedroues

most

fellow of two

young

in

the

but
practiseddissimulation,

world ?

Doubtless

dissimulation and

the

Prince

prudencewere

and beneath them there was

necessary under the circumstances,
ever
real energy, a proper solicitude for his own
honour, and, whatMichelet

girlwhom
In

thought to

July,1609, the weddingof

at Fontainebleau

Princess,and her husband

her from

to
compelled

of the

blood

de' Medici.*
*

became

She

Cesar

de Vendome

and

Mile,

and his wife thither.

took Conde

in excellent health,paid great attention to the

King, then

remove

love for the

the contrary,

he had married.

de Mercceur
The

have

may

the

profited
by the

Court.

first opportunity
to

In the autumn,

however, he

was

every Prince
royal)for the expectedaccouchement of Marie

return

On

to Paris

(as was

this occasion

the

Henri

who received the

gave birth to a girl,
the wife of Charles I of England.

names

duty of

him
reproached
of Henriette

for

Marie, and

280

keepinghis

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES
wife from

Court, and

OF

NAVARRE

xi

it is said,
altercation,

an

ensued,Conde, in spiteof his usual prudence,

allowingthe word
"tyranny" to escape him, while the King, accordingto
L'Estoille's assertions,
had no
told him that he really
Prince de Conde
had never
the previous
to his title,
as
his father.

In

trouble,and

so

undoubtedlymost
any case, there was
his wife as soon
the Prince removed
as

abbeyof Breteuil,on
true that the
unfortunately
to the

than

more

marriagehad
the

child

young

accordingto

"

not

the confines of

than

hitherto been consummated

King'ssuit,and

sent him

even

"

was

one

serious

possible
seems

stilllittle
the

account

felt flattered by

of
portrait

that he went

been

Picardy.It

Princess,who
more

right

herself. The

to see
expeditions
himself in a
at Muret, disguising
at Breteuil and now
her, now
of ways on those occasions. However, he onlysaw her
variety
at her window, or in her coach as she passed
by,well attended.
Malherbe, who asserts that the marriagewas as yet only

anecdotiers allege,
moreover,

nominal,

at

last shows

to
suggesting
on

his

was

made

to

him

Conde, who

morency,
King writingto M. de Montof soliciting
the propriety
a divorce
that subject
communication
A
on

the

us

behalf.
daughter's

on

pretendedto

sulting
consent, but (aftercon-

the famous

President de Thou) claimed the rightto

until the procedure
retain his wife under his guardianship
should be

that being in accordance with the

finished,
entirely
Canon
Law.
The baffled King was fairly
enragedat this,and
threatened Conde's secretary,
de Virey,
that the
so
a certain M.
Prince resolved to seek a refuge
the frontier.
across
he had againreturned to Paris with his wife for
Apparently
the
the Queen's accouchement,for we are told that he quitted
citywith the Princess on the eveningof November 25, 1609
"

that is,a few hours before the birth of Henrietta Maria

and
travelled at firstvery slowly,
perhapsin order to avoid exciting
"

any

real

suspicion.It

seems

that his wife did not

as

yet know

his

but thoughtthat theywere

hunting
going on some
design,
and
Muret
Soissons,however, her
trip. After halting at
husband told her the truth, whereupon,
accordingto Virey,
she began to laugh; whereas Malherbe, who, although
a great
asserts that
poet,acted in the affair much as the King'spander,
she began to weep and scream.
A guidewhom
theyhad with

THE

xi

them

PRINCESS

DE

281

CONDE

ended

the Prince,sendinga messenger to

by betraying
the King of what was
warn
to delay
impending,and striving
the journey.Malherbe celebrates in verse
often most excellent
of its kind
the royaldespair
when
Henri
heard the doleful
turned to rage, however,and after
soon
tidings.That despair
Testu,
summoning the Royal Council his Majestydespatched
Chevalier du Guet, and La Chaussee,an officer of the bodyguard,
to arrest the Prince and everybody
who might be with
him, the instructions also statingthat should Conde have
the authorities were
to be
alreadyreached foreignterritory
called upon for assistance,
the understanding
that theyshould
on
receive similar help on
the part of the French
authorities
should any such case
in which theymight be interested arise.
"

"

Within

the next

Balagny,M.
set out

de

few hours several other emissaries

"

Marshal

M. d'Elbene, and M. de Rodelle

Praslin,

with armed

to

men

scour

the roads

de

wise
like-

"

by command

of

the

monarch.
and desperate
impatient
but theywere
Balagnywas the firstto reach the fugitives,
in Flanders,
at Landrecies,
already
whereupona parleyensued.
Conde sent a messenger to the Archduke
Albert,Sovereignof
the Netherlands,
askingfor an asylumfor himself and his wife ;

but

on

the spur of the moment

the

Archduke, who

as

yet knew

with France,
nothingof the matter and feared an affray
ordered Conde to quithis territory
in three days,but consented
to give the Princess a temporary asylum at Brussels. She
proceededthither on horseback,ridingbehind M. de Chabannes,
next

to

who

was

one

of Conde's

while the
retainers,

Prince

set out

for

authorities
The Spanish
there to await developments.
Cologne,
urging on
promptlyespousedhis cause, Spinolain particular
the Archduke
and advantageof givingthe Prince
the necessity
all proper protection
in this scandalous affair provokedby the
Thus
Conde was
unbridled depravity
of the King of France.
there
invited to Brussels,
and received an excellent reception
on

December

Again

17, 1609.
did

refused to return

Henri
to

storm

and

threaten.

France, and the Archduke

But

the

Prince

Albert and

the

givehim up. All the negotiations

failed. Then another device was
thought of : the Marquis de
Cceuvres,brother of Gabrielle d'Estrees,
having been sent to

Spanishauthorities refused

to

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

282

Princess

endeavoured to carry the

Brussels,
*
beinga consenting
party; but the

scheme

xi

off,she apparently
of the
as
one
failed,

to Spinola.Matters
persons in the plotrevealed everything
for Conde personally,
then becomingvery dangerous
as he daily
ran

the risk of

Henri

ordered

had

emissaries

assassinated

beingkidnappedor
the

latter

sometimes

are

zealous

over

decided

he

"

King

followed, but

be

to

course

that

not

"

quit

to

Albert's
Flanders,leavinghis wife in chargeof the Archduke
wife,who, to protecther the better,
lodgedher in the Palace in
a room
beyond her own apartment,which anybodyhavingevil
been

have

last

at

now

monarch

The French
to cross.
obliged
M. de Montmorency to
on
prevailed

designswould

proceedingsfor

divorce,and the letter which

institute

Montmorency

to indicate
subject
(May 9, 1610) seems
that he had his daughter's
and
in the matter.
He
consent
the King also had apparently
succeeded in corresponding
with
is shown
her, though not without difficulty,
as
by a note of
Henri's,in which he requeststhe return of all letters written by
to Conde

wrote

the

on

"

"

him to the Princess,which

But

the

Conde

was

de Navarre
had

War

Montmorency'sletter to
said, May 9, and on
May 14

have

we

de

M.

near.

dated, as

was

Henri

end

had not been delivered.

assassinated.

was

long been impending. As

will find the firstgerms

of
ascendancy

of

coalition to

of Austria in

the House

far back

states had entered into the

put

Europe.

as

end

an

In

1601

one

to

1610,

the

many

compact France, Holland,England,

Sweden, Denmark, Venice,Tuscany,and smaller Italian principalities

togetherwith
commanders

to

were

Nassau, and it was

forces for that age
means

who

"

be

German

de

Henri

280,000

men,

with two

to be left untried to achieve

were

Maurice

and

Navarre

hundred

success.

chief

The

ones.

of
theywould dispose

held that
"

of

score

of

formidable
guns.

The

No

Moors,

to be let
from the Peninsula,were
beingexpelled
loose on Spain,and a rising
in the
also to be fomented
was
But on
the east thfere
trans-Pyrenean
provincesof Navarre.
laybefore Henri the dazzling
prospectof enlargingFrance to
were

now

the banks
even

of the

dreamt
*

It

was

of

Rhine, and

seeing him

proposedto

lower

ardent

of his most

some

"

supporters

proclaimed Emperor

her from

window

in

an

of

arm-chair.

the

ASSASSINATION

xi

OF

THE

KING

283

Christians."

his own
Despitethe various conspiracies
among
also his numerous
and particularly
love affairs,
nobles,despite
that last insensate passionfor the Princess de Conde, the King
had not ceased to devote attention to that great European
he was
a
designagainstthe Austrian House
indeed,to
man,
make love and war
and the same
at one
time
and thus early
in May, 1610, all was
readyfor the openingof hostilities.
In the King'sabsence,Marie de' Medici was to be appointed
Regent,with, however, restricted powers which did not satisfy
her. The King soughtsome
of silencing
her complaints,
means
and finally
decided that if he could not without imprudence
gratifyher ambition,he might at least gratifyher vanity,
as
although,
urgentlyneeded for the war, this was
money was
for extravagance. However, she had never
hardlya moment
"

"

yet been crowned

this should

Queen of France, and

be done

with all fit pomp

ancient fane of St. Denis before Henri
the

it

so

was

settled that

and

in the
ceremony
took his departure
for

war.

The

programme
in Paris was fixed

of the last dayswhich he

by

him

as

follows

proposedto spend

Thursday,May 13. Coronation of the Queen.

matters to be set in order.
Friday,
May 14. All private
Saturday,
May 15. Grand hunt in the forests round Paris.
Sunday,May 16. Solemn entryof the newlycrowned Queen
into the capital.
Monday,May 1 7. Marriageof Mile, de Vendome (Gabrielle
d'Estrees' daughter)
with M. d'Elbeuf.
Tuesday,May 18. State banquet.
Wednesday,May 19. Boot and saddle.
There is evidence from various sources
that during the last
week of his life Henri, in spiteof all his projects,
repeatedly
which he found it difficultto
experienced
gloomy presentiments
shake off. On Fridaythe 14th,after transacting,
earlyin the
morning,a varietyof business at the Louvre, he repairedto
the 'church of the Feuillants
then returned to the

monastery to

palacefor

dinner.

church
and

He

by a certain Francois Ravaillac,a

fortyyears of age, who, after servingas

of the Parliament named

had
Roziere,

hear
was
man

becomea

there,and

mass

followed to the
between

clerk to

thirty

councillor

kind of legal
agent

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

284

OF

NAVARRE

xi

he earned in that way

whatever money
supplementing
d'affaires,
mania, a
by teaching. He was, however, devoured by religious
prey to

and mightbe comparedto

hallucinations,
mystical

morbid

solitaireswho

the modern

arisen among

have

those

anarchists,

by a fanatical desire to promote

thoughhis actions were inspired
the glory of God and not to revolutionize society.In his
of Belial
but a man
the King was no true Catholic,
estimation,
who betrayed
the Holy Church, at which he was really
directing
that

which

war

he

Ravaillac

reason

was

resolved to strike him

committed

would have

He

into the

for that

And

about to undertake.

now

down.

his crime

the

when

drove

King

but it so
from mass,
returning
happenedthat the Duke d'Epernonwas then occupying the
fore
sat,and Ravaillac thereplacein the coach where Henri usually
had to defer his attempt. He waited about to see if the
out again,as he did,for,after dinner Henri
King would come
decided to drive to the Arsenal in order to see Sully,
who was
His Majestywas
in bad health.
in his coach, attended by the
noblemen
whose names
figureon the diagram which we print
next page ; and when
turned out of
the vehicle slowly
on
our
Louvre

the Rue

again on

St. Honore

into the

Ravaillac sprang forward,jumped upon

coach, and stabbed the King twice

window, the leather

drawn

back.

wished

by

so

to

desire

crime had
"

But

aorta

moment

Michel,at

once

from doing
prevented

might

the
to ascertain by whom
impossible
The
instigated.
King,after exclaiming,

! " sank back in the

broughtup

with his

cloak,the

ately
coach, and almost immedi-

quantityof

blood.

Epernon

leather curtains of the coach

it returned with all possible

speedto the Louvre.

there
arriving

inflicted a
and

if he

be

mortal

the

King

was

wound, but

dead.
at

one

The

firstthrust

the second

assassin's knife,
enteringthe left lobe of the
the

that

that the assassin should be taken alive,as

and
closed,

had not

was

de St.

unglazed

the Duke's

been
really

before

down, but

M.

at

was

the

misinterpreted
by historical writers,for

afterwards

were

equerry,

through

of the

respecthas

was

covered him

which

d'Epernon,whose

wounded

am

of

hind-wheel

the

action in this

killed it

were

Ravaillac

the Duke

often been
one

mounted

cut

curtain

de la Ferronnerie,

Rue

narrow

lung,had

of the arterial veins,in such

one

the

severed

wise that the

ASSASSINATION

XI

OF

THE

KING

285

lung immediatelybecame choked with blood (Post-mortem

Report)and death ensued.
Ravaillac was
and although
several persons,
promptlyseized,
fired with indignation,
wished to despatchhim on
the spot,
he was
carried off in custody.Tried and convicted,he was
quarteredon the Place de Greve on May 27. There was, at
a
to believe that his crime had been
first,
generaldisposition
made.
inspired
by somebodyelse. All sorts of surmises were

Horses.
1. The

King.

3. Duke

Marquis

5.

2. Duke

de Montbazon.
de la Force.

6. Marshal

7. Marquis de Mirabeau.

8. M.
A.

B.

Was

M.

Spainat

the bottom

Was

it

de

deed

of revenge on
Verneuil ? In that

Was

the
nection
con-

the very eveningof the

under the guard
confined to his room

certainly
happenedthat

crime her young

of an officerand

Courtomer, mounted.

privatevengeance

part of the deserted Marchioness

it

Liancourt,Equerry.

C. M. de

publicor

of it ?

de

de Lavardin.

Ravaillac.

de St. Michel, mounted.

that assassination a

d'Epernon.
de Roquelaure.

4. Count

son

was

two

lest he
archers,

on

should

be

carried

and
off*,

But had the

King of France.
proclaimed
of for
crime been inspired
by Conde ? Was this his means
Henri's designs
ever
frustrating
upon the Princess ? Some who
"

who

could tell?

"

OF

FAVOURITES

286

NAVARRE

OF

HENRY

xi

inclined
political
reasons,
And there were
others who, rememberingthe
to that view.
and opiningthat the affair might,after all,
royalproclivities,
well be an affaire
that Ravaillac's deed had
defemme, suggested
did not think the assassination due to

been

for Henri's

his revenge

was

seduction of his sister !

established that the assassin had

never

had

that Henri
Thanks

or
sister,

it

But

if he

had,

seduced her.

ever

of

to the energy

Epernon,Marie

became

de' Medici

day after her

husband's death,and a new
era
political
began. On January11,
1611, however, that is,eightmonths after the assassination of
Henri de Navarre, Queen Marguerite
accosted in the church
was
who boldly
accused Mme. de Verneuil
of Ste. Victoire by a woman
and the Duke d'Epernon
of havingcompassed
the death of the
late monarch.
This woman
named
was
Levoyer,
Jacqueline
Regent of France, with

and

she

unlimited powers,

the wife of

was

the

on

certain Isaac de

Varennes, Sieur

in the guardsof Epernon's

d'Escoman, serving
province.Lame

hunchbacked,La d'Escoman

and almost

de Verneuil at the time when

of Mme.
under

had entered the service

surveillance after the

and

she

also

was

the latter

of
discovery

spiracy,
Entragues con-

with

less connected

or

more

the

detained

was

the

Charlotte du Tillet. She asserted

mistress,
d'Epernon's
had
been
to Queen Margueritethat Henriette
personally
she had met
than once
with Ravaillac,
whom
more
acquainted
Her suspicions
at Bois Malesherbes.
being aroused by things
Duke

she had

heard

both

at

Verneuil's and

de

Mme.

she had wished,she said,to

Tillefs,

tried to

see

would

not

the Pont
admit

assassination.

She

Neuf, a child

de VerneuiPs

son

marryingthe Duke
Regent duringthe new
time M. d'Epernonwas
d'Escoman

was

as

sent

hers,of

declared,however,

she

La

of

paternity.Thus
for her
impossible

that he had been murdered

Mme.

been

had

the

lost and it had been

Mile, du
had

King, and

with
Cotton, the Jesuit Superior,

Father

she
object.But, unhappily,
on

the

warn

at

was

prisonfor
time

to

King's
Queen Marguerite
of a plotby which

was

to be

Constable
appointed

arrested

as

been

to frustrate the

while at
King'sminority,
to be

had

to be raised to the

de Guise, who

posing,
ex-

her husband

which

much

the result

by Henri

to

that

throne,

proclaimed
the

same

of France.

the result of her

alleged

FAVOURITES

288

often blocked

OF

the

up

HENRY

OF

the

doorways of
his mother

Verneuil

with
quarrelled
seeingher.
by scarcely

NAVARRE
Gaston

Louvre.

last her so-called

de

ended

up, and

he grew

as

xi

Sardanapalian
for she succumbed
retirement
to a close,
to apoplexy
on
came
February9, 1633. She was then onlyfifty-four
years old.
As for the Prince de Conde, he ended by recovering
his
he was
in the
to which
wife; and an imprisonment,
subjected
her with some
affection for him, she joined
new
reign,
inspiring
At

"

"

him

in his detention.

at last she gave him

And

who
a daughter,
including

became

the famous

several children,
de

Mme.

Longue-

and a son
renowned as the Great Conde.
For the rest,
ville,
however,the beautiful Princess paidlittleheed to her marriage
and finished,
and the
in the number
vows
indeed,by glorying
eminence

of her lovers.

We

may

meet

her

again in

another

volume.
Of

the Duke

de Guise

need

onlysay here that instead

of marryingHenriette d'Entragues
he espousedin 1611 Henriette Catherine,only daughterof Henri
Duke
de Joyeuse,
we

Marshal

of France, and widow

since 1608 of Henri Duke de
Montpensier.Mme. de Verneuil's volatile firstlover,Claude,
Prince

de

likewise married a widow, that is the

Joinville,
beautiful Marie
de Rohan-Montbazon, whose first husband
the Constable

was

Louis XIII.

and
forty-four
he had
previously

as

Chamberlain

Duchess

the

well-known

favourite of

in
espousals

1622

his bride

twenty-two years old. Ten years

been created Duke
de Chevreuse, Peer,
and Grand
Falconer of France,and it was

de Chevreuse

and
conspiracies
On

Luynes, the

Joinville at the time of his

was

Grand

de

that his wife became

famous

for her

her amours.*
of

career

Henri

de Navarre

as

whole

it is not

main objectin this

necessary for us to pass judgment. Our
volume has been to depictthat side of his character and disposition
which

so

often

Although he

did not

to women,

Louis XIV

the

As

we

reader

Henrietta
La

Rochelle

as

have
to add

said

that

Maria, whom
with

did in the

he

case

deal of M. de
Charles

was

Richelieu

his actions.

surrender the control of affairsof State

good
he

the mainspring
of
supplied

escorted
in

to

de Maintenon

it may interest
Joinville-Chevreuse,
at the latter's marriage with
at the siege of
England. He was
died in Paris on January 24, 1657.

I's proxy

1628,and

of Mme.

CONCLUSION

XI

and

Louis

in that of Mme.

XV

influence had

feminine

that

Henri's

de

much

Pompadour,it
do with the

to

the destinies of France

and

career

289
is certain
of

course

in his time.

This

by the consequences of his unfortunate

marriagewith Margueritede Valois,which so repeatedly
led to a varietyof trouble,and, in part,at all events, to

is evidenced

renewals

two

and

scene

the

first

of civil

Corisanda

her royallover,and
inspirits
becomes

of France

crown

But

war.

the

appears upon

great contest for

keener and keener.

who
succeeds Gabrielle d'Estrees,

the

To

Corisanda

without

wielding
any direct
exercises the greatestinfluence in politics.
repeatedly
power
She counsels the royalabjuration,
she reconciles the King and
Mayenne, she assists in bringingabout the submission of
Mercceur,she intervenes in favour of the Huguenotswhen the
she helpsto raise Sullyto a high
Edict of Nantes is signed,
positionall those actions beinggood servicesto France as well
"

as

to her lover.

ambition

Her

thus Queen-consort,was
even
standpoint,

to

become

Henri's

wife,and

at least

though its

disastrous after-results. She

from the feminine

justifiable
realization might well have had

dies,however, and

Henriette

place.Henriette's ambition is similar

but she deliberately
sellsherself for the purpose
to Gabrielle's,
of attaining
it, and for years nothingstops her desperate
attempts to win the day. She stirs up strife on every side.
She turns the royalhousehold into an inferno.If she cannot
be Queen her son at all events shall be King of France.
There
shall be rebellion,
Savoy and Spainshall be called in to support
her claims for her boy,and at certain periods
the very fate of

takes
d'Entragues

her

France

is at stake.

of real

importance,are

They
in

one

Less

momentous,

no

doubt, yet

the results of Henri's

at

other

.times

amours.

demoralize the Court, they stir up jealousy

and enmity
and another direction,
rendering
many a noble onlytoo

in dangerous
to embark
Yet amidst all his
willing
intrigues.
defemmes the King never ceases givinghis attention to
affaires
affairs of State.
He certainly
had some
able men
about him,
wonderful personality.
Even
but he also possessed
amidst
a
of his,that almost senile passion
for Charlotte
that last passion
de Montmorency,we see him making readyfor another great
for battle once
again. It is in his striking
war, preparing
u

hand,

at

that
And

of

as

king,

clement

the

by

of

side
with
be
of

his

passed

on

morality,

deserved

to

it

associated

d'Estrees,

her

the

from

more

remembered.

than

when,
his

Gabrielle

other

his

he

and

welfare

brance
remem-

the

Henri's

the

amorous

particularly

more

the

defects,
And

race.

name

racter.
chaalso

was

his

recalling

of

of

of

affectionate

whatever

for

standpoint
any

in

close

general

French

the

fault

at

not

was

she,
be

typify

the

another

seems

age

pages

qualities

his

and

trait

for

held

long

With

best

opening

solicitous

xi

one

old

and

the

our

was

to

nature,
of

that

he

masses.

instinct

popular

in

ruler

seemed

he

moreover,

and

him

of

NAVARRE

when

perhaps

wrote

we

Thus

subjects.

his

finds

one

OF

even

hold

laying

is

ailment

serious

manliness

thorough

his

virility,

HENRY

OF

FAVOURITES

290

judgment
present-day
many

may

code

favourites,

APPENDIX

Women

Henri

with

associated

Navarre

de

be given of the
is as complete a list as can
following
have been
both high-born
and low-born, whose names
women,
The
rightlyor wrongly associated with Henri de Navarre.
listis based on one
supplied
many years ago by M. de Lescure,
The

but

has

been

chief

revised in various respects. The

sources

of Sully,
L'Estoille,
Aubigne,Queen Marguerite,
writings
Dreux
du
Radier, Van el, Bascle de Lagreze,
Bassompierre,
Sauval and Tallemant
des Reaux, the King'spublished
spondence,
corre-

are

the

and
Alcandre.

the

entitled Les

romance

Amours

Grand

du

instances,
however, the authorityis only
many
traditional;whenever there is genuinehistorical authority
we
have

In

added

be noted

the letter " H

that

all the

"

to

the woman's
mentioned

women

for here and there will be found

mistresses,

who

rejectedhis

rather

as

one

of

addresses.

the attention of the

III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.

ever-amorous

were

the

not
names

It should

the

King's

of

some

be taken
list may
another periodattracted

Brieflythe
at

one

or

monarch.

Lady of Sauves
Beaune-Semblancay,
and Marchioness de Noirmoutier (H), 1573-1576.
later Countess
Jeanne
du Montceau
de Tignonville,
de Pangeas(H), 1576.
Dayellethe Cyprian(H), 1578.
Catherine du Luc of Agen, 1578.
de Balzac de Montaigu,1578.
Anne
Arnaudine
of Agen, 1578.
Mile, de Rebours (H), 1579.

I. Charlotte

II.

who

women

name.

de

APPENDIX

292
VIII.

Fleurette,
daughterof the gardenerof Nerac,
and

called La

sometimes

Jardiniere

d'Anet.

Traditional.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.

XIII.

(H), 1579.
Montmorency-Fosseux
Mme.
Sponde.
Mile. Maroquin.
Xaintes (H), maid to Queen Marguerite.
Francoise de

de
Boulangere
XIV.
XV.

XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX

XXI.

called

Pancoussaire,sometimes

Picotin

St. Jean

La

(Aubigne).

de Petonville.

Mme.

Baveresse.

La

Mile, de Duras.
de

Countess
The

wet

and

XX.

Diane

de

Saint-Megrin.
Traditional.
of Casteljaloux.
nurse
Two
Demoiselles de TEspee.
and

d'Andouins,Countess de Gramont
la belle Corisande
Guiche,
"

"

(H),

1582-1591.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.

Dame
Esther

Martine.

Imbert, of

La

Rochelle,1587.

de Pons, Marchioness

Antoinette

ville and

later Countess

attendance

on

Marie

XXVI.

de Liancourt.
de'

Medici.

In

(H.)

King's advances,
and retained his respectand friendship.
of Longchamp
Catherine de Verdun, a nun
in the Bois de Boulogne,later abbess of
Rejected(1589-90)

XXV.

de Guerche-

the

Vernon, 1590.
Marie de Beauvilliers,
nun

and later abbess of

Montmartre, cir. 1590.

XXVII.

Gabrielle

d'Estrces,la belle Gabrielle

"

"

(H),

1591-1599.
XXVIII.

abbess
d'Estre'es,
Angelique
sister of Gabrielle.

XXIX.

Juliette

Mme.

de Montauban.

XXXI.

La

Glandee.

XXXII.

La

Raverie.

and

Doubtful.

later
Hippolyted'Estrees,

Doubtful.
XXX.

of Maubuisson

de Villars.

APPENDIX

293

XXXIII.

Mile. d'Harancourt.

XXXIV.

Mile, de Senante

XXXV.

(Bassompierre).
d'Entragues(H), 1599-1609.

Henriette

XXXVI.

la Bourdaisiere

de

Babou

Marie

Viscountess

cousin
d'Estauges,

Perhapsthe

Gabrielle."

same

(H), later

of "la

belle

LIX.

as

Countess de Limoux.

XXXVII.

XXXVIII.

Jacquelinede Bueil,Countess

de

Moret

(H),

cir. 1604-1608.

Charlotte

XXXIX.

des Essars

Romorantin
XL.
XLI.
XLII.

Mme.

or

de

Essarts, Countess

(H),cir. 1604-1608.

Lanery.
Maupeou.

de

Mme.

Charlotte de

Foulebon, later Mme.

de Barbe-

zieres-Chemerault.
Bretoline.

XLIII.

La

XLIV.

Duchess de Nevers.
Catherine,

XLV.

XLVI.

Henriette de

Duchess
Joyeuse,
Repulsedby her.

Catherine

de

Rohan, Duchess

Repulsedby her.
de Montpensier.
de Deux-Ponts.

Repulsedby her.
XL

VII. Mile, de

Guise,later Princess de Conti.

Very

doubtful.
XLVIII.

Mme.

Clein,or Quelin,wife of a councillor of the

Paris Parliament.
La

XLIX.
L.

Fannuche.

Mme.

LI. Mme.
LII.

Mme.

LIII. Mme.

de Boinville.

Doubtful.

Aarssen.

de Sault.

Doubtful.

de

Ragny.

Champlivault,Doubtful.

Doubtful.

LIV.

Mme.

de

LV.

Mme.

de Pontcarre.

LVI.

Charlotte de

Doubtful.

Montmorency, Princess

de Conde

(H). Repulsedby the Prince,1609-1610.

LVII.
LVIII.

Mile. Paulet.
Anne
of

LIX.
LX.

Dudey,wife of Oudart du Puy, President

the Election d'Epernay,
1592.

Mile, de la Bourdaisiere. )
Mile, de la Chastre.

(H). See pp. 218,

222, 231.

294

APPENDIX

Natural

Children

Henri

of

Navarre

de

and

their

Descendants
The

is
following

of Henri de Navarre
offspring
the posterity
particulars
respecting

list of the

with
by his mistresses,

some

grew up and married :

daughter,stillborn (Nerac,1581),by Francoise

of those who
I. A

"

Montmorency, born

in

about

or

1563, daughterof

sprang the Boutteville branch

de Fosseux, (from

of the

by
Montmorencys),
descended,through
of Brittany.

who
his wife,Jacqueline
was
d'Avaugour,
from the old Ducal House
the Penthievres,
II. A

Gramont
two

son,

and

Christian

name

Pierre de

Baron

Montmorency,Marquis de Thury and

whom

de

unknown, by Diane, Countess de

died 1590, aged about

(Corisanda),

de Guiche

years.

Children

Marchioness de
by Gabrielle d'Estrees,
Duchess de Beaufort.

Montceaux

and

de
Bourbon, Duke
Vendome, Etampes,
Count
Mercceur, Beaufort and Penthievre,Prince de Martigues,

III. Cesar

de

Royannais,Lord of Anet, Peer and Admiral of France,

of Brittany,
Governor
Knight of the King'sOrders,etc.,born
in June, 1594, legitimated
at the chateau of Coucy,in Picardy,
January 1595, grantedthe Duchy of Vendome as an appanage
by letterspatent dated Angers,April3, 1598, married on July

de

7, 1609, at Fontainebleau,Francoise de Lorraine, Duchess de

Mercceur, Etampes and Penthievre,Princess de Martigues

(which titles in their masculine form she conveyedto her

husband),onlydaughterand heiress of PhilippeEmmanuel,
de Luxembourg. By the
de Mercceur, etc.,and Marie
Duke
marriagecontract,signedat Angers,April5, 1598, the parents
of the bride

and

the

grantedher

Duke

an

de Mercceur

income

of

50,000 livres per

transferred his

annum,

of
governorship

296

APPENDIX
Between

1630

and

1640

he

took

an

active

part in the

in

Savoy,Flanders,etc.,but havingbecome involved

in the conspiracy
of Cinq-Mars againstRichelieu,
he was
compelledto seek an asylum in England. Returningto
France soon
after the death of Louis XIII, he acquired
lost it by his pride
a high position
at Court, but speedily
and
de
vanity.In conjunctionwith the Duchesses
Chevreuse and de Montbazon
(thelatter of whom was his
Mazarin
and was imprisoned,
he conspired
mistress)
against
but after five years'
his
succeeded in effecting
captivity
escape (May, 1648). Sidingwith the Parliament against
the Court he became very popularwith the Parisians,
and
after contriving
into
to get some
convoys of provisions
the city while Conde
was
besiegingit, received the
nickname
of "King of the Markets."
After the first
wars

Fronde, the Duke de Beaufort became reconciled with

Conde, who made him Governor of Paris. Having killed
his brother-in-law,
de Nemours, in a duel, he
the Duke
was

but

excluded

from the

pacification
amnesty at the general

last

to return
to Court, and was
privileged
appointedactingAdmiral of France under his father.
He commanded
(1664-65)various expeditions
againstthe
and was
mand
Algerinepirates,
subsequently
placedin comof a French relief force despatched
to Candia, which
the Turks were
besieging.He landed in Crete in June,
in an
1669, and nine days later disappeared
ment
engagewith the Turks.
It has been supposedthat he was
then killed,
found he may
but as his body was
never
have been reduced to slavery.The
Duke
de Beaufort
There
married.
has been a theorythat he was
the
never

Man

at

was

with the Iron Mask.

3.

Elisabeth,called Mademoiselle de Vendome, and later

Duchess de Nemours, born in 1614, married July,1643,
to Charles Amadeus
of Savoy,
Duke de Nemours, Genevois,
Aumale, etc.,son of Henry of Savoy,Duke de Nemours,
and

of

Anne

Lorraine,Duchess

Elisabeth died in Paris,of the

and

was

buried at the convent

in the Rue

St. Antoine.

No

d'Aumale.

The

Duchess

on
smallpox,
May 19, 1664,

of the Filles de Ste. Marie

issue.

297

APPENDIX
IV. Alexandre
Grand

de
Vendome, and
Bourbon, Chevalier
in
Nantes, April19, 1598, legitimated

de

Prior,born

at

1599, admitted at the Temple in Paris as a Knight of

April,
in 1610, and
Malta in 1604, appointed
Prior of Marmoutiers
Grand
Prior of France and General of the Galleys
subsequently
of the Knights of Malta.
Imprisonedat the castle of
Vincennes in 1626, died there February8, 1629, buried in the
Never married.
chapelof the Oratoryat Vendome.
Bourbon, called Mademoiselle
later Duchess
d'Elbeuf, born at Rouen,

V. Catherine

Henriette

de

Vendome, and
in March, 1597, married to
November
11, 1596, legitimated
Charles de Lorraine,Duke
d'Elbeuf,Count d'Harcourt,Lislede

bonne

and Rieux, Lord

of Charles de

son

Chabot

de

Children

in 1633.

of

Henri

Balzac
VI.

The

Henri

Metz

and Abbot

of St.

Duke

de

Born

Chateau

de

27

died in Paris in 1663,

by

de

de Verneuil,*

Bourbon, sometime

de

Paris
Germain-des-Pres,
of

(some accounts

Verneuil,he

Henriette

Catherine

Fontainebleau,
July2, 1600.

Verneuil,Governor

October

etc.,
Picardy,
Marguerite

issue.

d?Entragues,
Marchioness

Gaston

VII.

Navarre

son, stillborn.

d'Elbeuf

Duke

She left no

de

of

d'Elbeuf by his wife

Duke
Lorraine,

Charny.

the Duchess

of Rochefort, Governor

Peer
Languedoc,
say November

Bishop of
subsequently

of

France,etc.

3),1601, at the

in 1603, baptized
legitimated
December
9,1607, the sponsors beingthe Dauphin(LouisXIII)
and his sister,
Mme. Elisabeth of France (later
Queen of Spain).
The
Duke
de Verneuil married Charlotte,dowagerDuchess
de Sully,
nee
Seguier(seeante" p. 242). He was of a very
affable disposition,
fond of studyand well read in history.He
formed a famous collection of antiquecoins and medals.
Sport
also attracted him, and he entertained freely
at his chateau of
Verneuil. He was
with the
terms of friendship
on
particular
The
Duke died at
often at Chantilly.
greatConde, and was
Verneuil on May 28, 1683, and was
buried at the Carmelites
*

Verneuil

near

King enlargedand

Triel.

was

Nothing

now

remains

beautified for his favourite.

of the chateau

which

the

298
at

His

APPENDIX

Pontoise,his heart being inurned

wife survived him
VIII.

Gabrielle

until June

at St. Germain-des-Pres.

No

5, 1704.

Angelique

issue.

Bourbon, called

de

moiselle
Made-

Verneuil, and later Duchess

d'Epernon, born
in Paris on January81,1603, baptized
at St. Germain-en-Laye,
December
Cesar
9, 1607, the sponsors beingher half-brother,
de Vendome, and her half-sister,
Mile, de Vendome.
On
December
married
to Bernard
12, 1622, Mile, de Verneuil was
de La Valette,
who became Duke d'Epernon,
Foix and Candale,
of Guienne, and Colonel-general
Governor
of the French
de

he beingthe son
of Jean
Louis, Duke d'Epernon,
Infantry,
by his wife Margueritede Foix and de Candale. Gabrielle
Angeliquedied at Metz on April29, 1627, and was buried at
Cadillac.
Child

No

issue. See also p. 251, ante.

of Henri

de

de Navarre

Moret, and

Note.

We

de Bueil, Countess
by Jacqueline
Marchioness de Vardes.
subsequently

find there

of the

originof Mme. de
Moret.
Some authorities say that her parents were
Georges Babou, Lord
du Bellay(seep. 263, ante),
of Bueil and Madeleine
but according
to others
the daughter of Claude
she was
de Bueil, Lord of Courvallon,and
"

Catherine

are

accounts
conflicting

de Montecler.

Bourbon, Count de Moret, born at the

chateau of Moret on May 9, 1607, legitimated
January,1608.
Louis
His half-brother,
XIII, wished to give him a high
in the Church, and providedhim with several benefices,
position
IX.

Antoine

de

but he abetted
and
Richelieu,

Gaston

d'Orleans in

is supposedto have

been

conspiring
against

killed at the engagement

on
September1, 1632, when Henri de
Castelnaudary
at Toulouse)was
defeated
decapitated
Montmorency (afterwards
by the Marquis de Schomberg. The questionof Antoine de
been fully
and
Bourbon's fate,however, has never
elucidated,
in 1689, in the guise
stillliving
there is a legendthat he was
and had his abode
of a hermit who called himself Jean Baptiste,
the abbeyof Asnieres in Anjou. This hermit was
near
tioned
quesbut would neither deny nor
with respectto his identity,
acknowledgethe truth of the surmise that he was the lost
de Moret.
Writers of historical romance
Count
might find
for their pens in the above mentioned legend.
a theme

of

299

APPENDIX

de Navarre
by Charlotte des Essars
of Henri
called Mile, de la Haye), Countess de Romorantin.
(sometimes

Children

daughterof Francis des Essars,

or
Essarts,Lord of Sautour, an equerry of the royal stables,by his
marriage with Charlotte de Harlay-Champvallon. Born in or about 1580,
Charlotte de Romorantin
became, after the King'sdeath, the mistress of
Cardinal
de Guise and Archbishopof Reims, by whom
Louis de Lorraine,
Note.

she

de Romorantin

Mme.

"

five children.

had

Marshal
Hallier,

X.

or

the

1630, however, she

In

By
l'Hopital.

the

King

she had

Maids

of honour

themselves at the Court of Louis XIV,

XL
1627.

The

her

"

were

who misconducted
from

time to time

charge.
Henriette

Marie

de

of birth very

Date

Chelles in

de

buried at Fontevrault.

placedin

Francoisdu

married

Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevrault,

about January,1608, legitimated
March, 1608, died
Baptiste

Jeanxe

born in
and

de

was

Bourbon, Abbess
Died

uncertain.

of

and

Chelles, in
buried

at

February,1629.
all the natural children of whom
list comprises

above

acknowledgedthe paternity.The onlyone

be traced was
Cesar de
of them
who left posterity
that can
whose
Vendome
throughhis elder son, Louis (seep. 295, ante),
of the acknowledged
children provedto be the last generation
de Navarre.
To
descendants of Henri
illegitimate
complete
this summary
we
append a listof these offspring.
Henri

de Navarre

Children

of Louis,Duke

de Vendome.

Joseph,Diike de Venddme,Mercceur,Etampes and

Prince de Martigues,
Peer of France,General of the
Penthievre,
1. Louis

Grand
Galleys,

Seneschal and

Catalonia,
etc.,born
where

Louis

XIV

in Paris

and

Anne

of

Governor

of
Provence, Viceroy

at Vincennes,
July1, 1654, baptized

of Austria

his sponsors.
of the great generals
of
acted

as

Josephde Vendome became one

his period,
gainingseveral importantbattles in Flanders,Spain
and Italy.His dearly-bought
at Brihuega
over
General,
victory
afterwards the firstEarl, Stanhopevirtually
ensured the possession
of Spain to Louis XIVs
V.
Inclined
grandson,Philip
in his language,
careless in
to be somewhat
dissolute,
cynical
Louis

300
his

APPENDIX

indolent and often negligent

in regardto
habits,naturally

details

in his chosen

even

of arms,
profession

Vendome

the less

showed at critical moments

that
frequently
and Prince Eugene, whom
a
he
really
great captain,
at Cassano,rendered testimony
to his high talents and
In an age when nearly
wore
intrepidity.
every man
Vendome

contented

streamed

over

He

stood

his

his

high and

was

broad

Severe with his

to stoutness.

he

was

defeated
able
remark-

flaxen hair

own

him
shoulders,
rendering

six feet

over

fact,inclined

himself with

none

wig,

which

very conspicuous.
in proportion,
in

but
soldiers,

wise
other-

he was
goodnatured,
quitefree from any such defects as
vanityand envy. Without doubt he showed himself to be the
most capable
of all the descendants of Henri de Navarre.
He
at Sceaux,on May 15, 1710, Marie Anne
de Bourbon,
espoused,
called Mademoiselle
fifth daughterof Henri Jules,
d'Enghien,
Prince de Conde (sonof the greatConde),by Anne
of Bavaria,
Princess Palatine. There was no issue of this marriage.The
Duke
de Vendome
died of apoplexyat Vinaros in Spain,in
the summer
V was
of 1712, and by command
of Philip
buried
in the Pantheon
2.

de

de los Infantes at the Escurial.

de
Philippe

Bourbon- Vendome, known

Vendome,and later

as

the Grand

firstas the Chevalier

Prior,born at the family

in Paris on
presentPlace Vendome
and shared
August 23, 1655, became a Lieutenant-General,
several of the campaignsof his elder brother,whom
he resembled

mansion

on

the site of the

physiquebut whose talents he did not possess.

Cowardice even
has been imputedto him, and it is certain that
he was disgraced
for incapacity
either on that account
after
or
grace
his brother's victory
in 1705.
at Cassano
Owing to that disuntil
to France
did not return
Philippede Vendome
Louis XIV
had passed
away, when he ceded his office as Grand
Prior to Jean Philippe,
Chevalier d'Orleans,son of the Regent
and gave himself
by Marie Louise de Sery,Countess d'Argentan,
which shortened his life. He was even
more
up to debauchery,
and he drank and
in his habits than his brother,
self-neglectful
coloured
took snuff to excess.
Nevertheless Saint Simon's highly
Saint Simon
hated
of him is doubtless exaggerated.
portrait
house because they
of the royal
all the
legitimatedoffspring
took precedence
of himself and other common
or
gardendukes,
in

"

"

301

APPENDIX
and he libelsthem
to

speakof

in his memoirs

often

de Vendome
Philippe
January 24, 1727, and

them.

died in Paris

as

on

he finds it possible

as

never

married.

He

was

buried at

the

Temple.
3. Jules

Vendome, born in Paris on

baptizedMarch 18, 1657; godfather,

de

Cesar

January 27, 1657;

Cardinal Mazarin

Bourbon-

died

at the Church

July 28, 1660, buried

of the

Capuchinsin the Rue St. Honore, Paris.

4. An
called FrangoiseoVAnet,who
illegitimate
daughter,
married a certain Arquier,
and died June 7, 1696.
Not known
to have left issue.

the above it will be

From

of Henri
posterity

that the

seen

de Navarre and Gabrielle d'Es trees became

extinct in the third

generation.

Songs

mentioned

As

found

here

attributed

on

and

Henri

to

105, signsof

p.

there

in

the

Navarre

de

instinct may
poetical
of Henri
correspondence
a

be
de

Navarre,yet it is very doubtful whether he wrote any of the

songs commonly ascribed to him, althoughhe certainly
sang,
and was
of
f
ond
his
letter
doing so, as, indeed,
very likely
Marans
respecting
connection
upon

it may

songs

and its scenery seems

to indicate.
well have happenedthat peoplecame

which

work, a tradition

were

thus

effusions as Charmante

is,of

favourites with him

that
arising
Gabrielle and

he

that

wrote
d'Angouleme,
Marguerite

verse,

course,

indifferent kind,and that his

trifled with

the

remains doubtful
of the well-known

Paris,

sa

song

attributed,
by

the author of such

King'sgrandmother,
though mostlyof a very
de

Antoine
father,

Si le roi Henri

me

own

the

regardto
if he were
as some
really,
:
song beginning
"

beinghis

as

was

In

muses.

to look

Viens Aurore.

well known

It

In that

Bourbon, also
the latter,
however,it
have

said,the author

donnait

grande ville

the way, to Henri

"

de Navarre

himself

APPENDIX

302

and by Beaumarchais
in
by Moliere in Le Misanthrope,
Le Mariage de Figaro; whilst Colle,in his Partie de Chasse,
assignedits authorshipto one of the characters in that play,
and had it sung in presence of the King, who, accordingto
others,had composedit. Ampere, however,in his Instructions
relatives aux
de la France, gave the authorship
Poesies populaires
in
the strengthof statements made
to King Henri's father on
M. de Petigny's
du Vendomois.
Hisioire archcologique
ing
Accordto that account
the song was
composed at the Chateau de
la Bonnaventure, near
the hamlet of Le Gue du Loir (Loir-ford),
of Antoine
member
to a M. de Salinet,
a
a
propertybelonging

both

de Bourbon's
and

household.

caroused

Antoine

together,
many

and
gay

those occasions,
on
Ronsard, the poet,whose Manoir

composed on

great distance
It thus

came

but whether

in the

it were

Antoine's

distinct forms of the

"

La

runs

cases

was

at

no

the company.
was

composed,

member
a
work, or
is a pointwhich
collaboration,

that of

be recollected that there

aventure

are

usually
running:

gu6 !
I"

aventure

J'aime

mieux

ma

mie 0

J'aime

mieux

ma

mie."

"

In both

which, by the way,

one
song'srefrain,

bonne

there

told,being

are

de la Poissonniere

own

La bonne

whilst the other

of

some

of some
of his set,or the outcome
well be elucidated. It may
cannot
two

we

song,

region,
figured
among
the song we speak of

same

pass that

to

others often met

gu6 !

the

0 gue ! is simply
of
a corruption
expression
the firstrefrain beinga play on the name
ford),

gue (at the

of the chateau where

au

the song is said to have been written,

"
Bonnaventure
at the ford of the Loir
; while in

that is, La
the second instance the
"

is

prefer
my sweetheart at the
ford." Strictly
of course, ma
mie ought to be written
speaking,
the supposition
m'amie, but there is nothing to warrant
(indulged
in by some
that O gue is simplya corruption
writers)
of O gai. As for the King Henri
who figures
in the song,
sense

"

de Navarre, who
of its composition,
but Henri II,the
this is not

Henri

was
son

not

born at the time

of Francis I.

304

APPENDIX

ii

L'amour

M'a, par
Comme

un

Mis

nulle

sans

sous

peine

vos

doux

ses

etendards.

regards,
grand capitaine,

Cruelle departie;
Malheureux

jour !

C'est trop peu d'une

Pour

vie

tant d 'amour

in

Si votre
Sur

celebre

nom

drapeaux brillait,

mes

dela de l'Ebre

Jusqu'au
L'Espagne

craindrait.

me

Cruelle

etc.,as
departie,

IV

Je n'ai pu dans

Qu'un
Mais

sur

la guerre,

gagner
royaume
toute la terre

Vos yeux doivent regner !

etc.
Cruelle departie,

Partagez ma
Le

couronne,
valeur ;
ma

prixde

Jo la tiens de Bellone,
Tenez-la

de

Cruelle

cosur

mon

etc.
departie,

VI

Bel astre que je quitte,

Ah, cruel souvenir !

Ma

douleur

Vous

s'en irrite :

revoir

Cruelle

ou

mourir

etc.
departie,

VII

Je

veux

Mes

mes

que

trompettes,

les echos,
fifres,

A tout moment

Ces doux

repetent

et tristes mots

Cruelle

departie,

Malheureux

jour

C'est trop peu d'une

Pour tant d'amour

vie
1

in

verse

2.

305

APPENDIX

AURORE.

VIENS

Viens Aurore,
Je

t'implore,
gai quand je te
La bergere
Qui m'est chere,

Je suis

vermeille

Est

voi

toi !

comme

blonde,
seconde,

Elle est
Sans
Elle

la taille a la main

Sa

prunelle

Etincelle
l'astre du

Comme

matin

in

entendre

Pour

Sa voix

tendre,

d6serte le hameau

On

Et

Tityre,
Qui soupire,

Fait taire

De

son

chalumeau.

rosee

Arrosee,
La

rose

Une
Est
lis *

Le

de fraicheur ;

moins
hermine
moins

moins

fine ;
de blancheur.

D'Ambroisie
Bien

H6b"

Me

f
Du

choisie,
a part ; f
Et sa bouche,
Quand j'ytouche,
la nourrit

parfume de

Lait is given instead of lis in

In

the

Puy

se

version

nourrit

current
a

part."

in

some

nectar.

versions.

Champagne

(seep. 133,ante),this

line

runs

INDEX
of Henri

Abjuration

de

Navarre, 134-

137

Agen, Queen Margueriteat,82, 86, 108

Ailleboust,Dr., 141, 186
also
See
d", 58.
Albret, Amanieu

Sovereignsof
Christian
Alcandre.

Navarre

and
See Amours.
names,

under
their
also Miossens.

du

grand Alcandre, Les, 93,

98, 121, 203, 211

Ancre, Marshal d\

See Concini.

Andouins,Paul d',91.

See also Gramont,

Diane.
du

Cerceau,158, 190

Avaugour, Jacquelined',60, 294.

See

also Montbazon.
51
Ayala, Vittoria,

la Bourdaisiere

de

Babou

family,116,

Estrees ;
; Francoise,see
Georges, 262 ; Jean, see Sagonne ;
Marie, Viscountess d'Estauges,131 ;
Marie, Countess de St. Aignan, 106,
117; Marie, 218, 231
Jean de Montluc,
Balagny, Alexandre

236, 278.

See also

d', 192,

Auvergne,Count,

Marguerite,Queen.
Anjou, Henri de Valois,Duke
and

d\

See

III of France.

of Austria,Queen of
Aquaviva, Anna d',50

de, 64, 118, 281 ; Mme.

118, 150, 201, 205
d'Estrees,
Diana's
Ballets:
Nymphs, 277;
248
247,
Virtues,
Eight
Balzac, Jean de, 213

de,

n"e

Ange, Father,74, 79, 259

Angers, 182, 183
Angouleme, Diane, Duchess

Anne

d',166,
213, 214, 248, 249, 255, 257-261,
263-266, 268, 269

Marshal

Anet, Francoise d',301

Henri

279, 282, 283

Auvergne, Duchy of, 160
Charles de Valois,Count

117, 262

et seq.

Androuet

148 et seq., 155, 176, 211, 277

Aubigne, Constant d',62
Aure, Menaud
d',89, 92, 93
House
of,coalition againstthe,
Austria,

Aldobrandini, PapalLegate,234, 235

Alencon, Francois de Valois, Duke
d',
13, 19-21, 23, 24, 27-32, 38-44, 51,
61, 64, 65, 75, 85
Aligre,Etienne d',117, 120
Alincourt,M. d',225, 232
Amadis
de Gaule, 9, 278
Amiens, surprise and siege of, 165
Amours

73, 75, 81, 85, 90, 94, 99, 100, 129,

Balzac

d'Entragues.

See

the

Entragues.

de Lorraine,Duke
de, 6,
Bar, Henri
48, 59,209 ; Duchess de. See Navarre,

Catherine.

France,299

Archange, Father,74, 79, 259

Albert,164, 168,224, 281
Argentan, Countess d',300
Armagnac, Henri's valet,16,34
of Agen, 54
Arnaudine
Arques,battle of,103, 104, 132
Arros, Baron d',90, 91
Assassination of Henri de Navarre,282

Archduke

Bassompierre,Francois de, 119, 120,

121, 201, ;205,[211, 215, 277, 278,
287

Bastille,the,138, 249,250, 261

Batz, Baron de, 135
Beaufort,duchy of,159, 160, 295
Francois,Duke de, 295, 296
,
,

Gabrielle, Duchess

de.

See

Estrees.

Beaumont, Henri, Duke de, 6

M. de, ambassador, 265, 266
,

9, 115, 118, 278

Astr"e,by d'Urfe',
Aubiac, M. d',109, 110
Aubigne',Agrippa d',33-36, 60-62, 72,

Beaune.

See Sauves

Beaurain,Baron

and

Semblanc^y.

de, 205
M. de, 155
Beauvais-Nangris,

INDEX

308

Claude de, Count de Saint

Beauvilliers,
106 ;
106
AignaD,
; Claude de, abbess,
Marie
106
de,
de,
abbess,
;
Fran^ise
abbess,106, 292
Madeleine
Bellay,

du, 262

Bellegarde,Roger

de

St.

Honore

de, 140 ; Georges Babou de,

Jacquelinede. See Moret.
Busbecq, Ghiselin de, 72, 75, 76
Bussy d'Amboise, Louis de Clermont,
29,30,40,41, 91
262 ;

Lary, Duke

de, 120-122, 124, 125, 137-140, 217,

233,235, 257
Nicolas Pompone dc, 64, 81,
Bellievre,

Caen, castle of,254

Cajetano,
Legate,132
Candia,296
Canillac. See Montboissier.

95, 205, 206

Benoit,Rene',204

Bianca,232
Capello,

Cardinal,248
Bentivoglio,
M
Beraudiere,ile, de la,268
Beringhem, King Henri's

Carlat,castle of,108, 109

Catherine de Foix,Queen of Navarre,
6
Catherine de' Medici,Queen of France,
9, 11-18, 20-22, 25, 26, 29, 30, 33,
34, 36-39, 42-45, 47, 49-51, 55, 59,
62, 71, 108, 110, 156, 158, 175, 177
Catherine,Princess. See Navarre.
Cayet,Palma, 112, 176,211
Sir Robert,190
Cecil,

valet,138,

205

Bertaut,Jean, Bishop of

Seez, 248,

267, 303

Bethune, Mile, de,77, 78

Birague,Rene* de,Cardinal,72
de Gontaut,1st Marshal
Biron,Armand
(Baron)de,59, 62, 63,104, 133, 134 ;
Charles,2nd Marshal (Duke) de, 187,
198, 199, 224, 225, 228, 234, 235,
242, 248-250,265
the Guises at,46, 47
Blois,
216, 217, 219, 221,
Bois-Malesherbes,
274

Bonciano,Canon, 210
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne,
Bouillon,
Duke
de, 183, 248, 250, 259, 260,
272 ; Duchess de,ne'e La Marck, 232.

Count de, 263

Ce'sy,

Chabannes, M. de, 281

Prince de, 295
Chalais,

Champvallon,Charlotte de Harlay de,

299; Francois de Harlay de, 72;
Jacquesde Harlay de, 72 et sea., 76,
268

Changy, Mile, de, 31

Chantilly,151, 279
Charles I of England, 251, 288

V, Emperor, 5, 89, 117

IX of France,7, 9, 12,13,15-18,
20-24, 156,213, 268
X. See Vendome, Cardinal de.
titles.
under
their
see
respective
the Bold, 97
Moret.
See Moret.
See also
Gabrielle,248.
Romorantin, Jeanne Baptistede, Charmante
Songs.
abbess,
abbess,299 ; Marie Henriette,
299
Charry,M. de, 11
Vendome.
See Vendome.
Chartres,131, 140, 202
M. de, 38
Verneuil. See Verneuil.
Chastellas,
Chateau Rouge, Montmartre, 137
Bourbonnais,duchy of,160
Bourdaisiere castle,116, 118; family. Ch"tel,Jean,regicide,
140, 150, 207
See Babou.
Ch"tre, Claude de la, Marshal, 161 ;
Mme.
de la,161 ; Mile, de la,222,231
Bourgeois,Mme., 204
196
204
Chavignac,priest,
Boursier,Mme.,
Chancellor
Boutteville. See Montmorency.
de,117,169, 175,
Cheverny,
Brantome
Pierre de Bourdeilles,
211
Lord
Chevillard,
259, 261
of,17, 29,30, 41, 52, 66, 97
Brie, Gabrielle d'Estre'es'estates in, Chevreuse, Marie de Rohan, Duchess
de,288,296
157, 158, 160
of
Henri
de
Duke
Children, illegitimate,
Brissac,Charles Henri de Cosse',
Navarre,294 et seq. See also under
de, 140. See also Cosse.
dome,
their respective
Moret, Venof,181, 182,189
names,
Brittany,
subjection
Verneuil.
Marc
de, 69
Broc,St.
Chretien,Florent,9
Brosse,Salomon de, 158
M.
161
Brou,
Cinq-Mars,Baron and Marquisde,69
de,
Clement
Brulart.
See Sillery.
VII, Pope, 117; Clement
VIII, Pope, 137, 197, 198, 222, 231,
Budos, Louise de, 151, 277
Bueil,Anne de, 140 ; Claude de, 298 ;
243, 244

See also Turenne.

Bourbon,House of,4, 5. For its Princes

INDEX
Cleves, Duke
of, William, 4; John
William
III, 279 ; Catherine of,see
Guise,Duchess ; Frances of,21
Coconas, Annibale, Count de, Piedmontese, 21

309
218
Lude, M., 2l8,
Dunois, Bastard of Orleans,120
Du
Perron or Duperron,Cardinal,
130,
Du

184

Du Pin, Lallier,
55, 56
secretary,

et seq.

196
Coeffier,
Councillor,
Dupuy, Mme., midwife,201, 204.
castle of,119, 120,121, 123
Du Puy, Anne
Coeuvres,
and Oudart,133, 305
Annibal
Francois
d'Estrees, Duras, M. de, 39, 109 ; Mme. de, 77,
Marquis de,117, 118, 199,201, 206,
78,86
,

281, 282
Coiffierd'Effiat,
69

Eauze, Henri's illnessat,57, 58

Marshal d',69
Effiat,

Coligny,Admiral,9,14, 17, 18
Concini, Concino, Marshal
d'Ancre,
178,239, 240. 254
Conde, Princes de : Louis I, 4, 9 ;
Henri I, 13, 18, 97, 101, 102, 214 ;
Henri
II, 277-282, 285, 288;
Louis
II (the Great), 288, 297;
Henri Jules,
300
Princesses

de: Charlotte de la
,
wife
of Henri I, 102, 262,
Tremoille,
278 ; Charlotte Marguerite
de Montmorency,
wife of Henri II,248, 277-

282, 288
Anne

de,

Duchess

de

300

Elbeuf,Charles

de Lorraine,Duke
d\
quis,
297; Charles,his son, at first Marthen Duke, 159,217, 283, 297 ;
Catherine
Henriette, Duchess
d',
Vendome

de
nee
; Marguerite,
Charay,Duchess d',297
Eleanor,Queen, consort of Francis I,
see

89, 156

Elizabeth,
Queen of Spain,250
Queen, consort of Charles IX,

207, 210, 211,237

Conti,Princess de. See Guise,Mile, de,93
Corisanda. See Gramont, Diane de.
Coronation

of Henri
140 ; of Marie de'

de

Navarre,131,

Medici,283
Cosse-Brissac,
Arthur,Marshal de,21 ;
Jean de, 138.
See also Brissac.
Courtomer,M. de,285
Coutras,battle of,97
Crete,296
Crillon,Louis de Balbis- Bertons de,
135, 167, 168

Croy,Antoine de, 192

Cyprus,sack of,51
Damville, Charles
Duke de, 56

de Montmorency,

Dances of the 16th century,53

Dauphin. See Louis XIII.
Davila,quoted,13
mistress of Henri
Dayelle,

44,51, 55
Denmark, Anne

111, 213

Queen of England, 19, 43, 176,

189, 190, 242
Entraguesconspiracy,
the,257 et seq.
Catherine de Balzac d',Duchess
of Lennox, 258
,

Contariui,
Francesco,
quoted,203, 206,

Divorce

207

Marie
,

Vendome,

Effigies,
wax,

Elbene,M. d',281

de

Navarre,

of,112

of Henri

de Navarre,
142,145,
146, 180, 184, 185, 191, 197, 198,
212, 222
Dog of Orleans,the,134
Dreux du Radier quoted,128, 129,138,

Ducaurron,musician,303
Dudey,Anne, 133
Du Luc,M., 51

Charles

de

Balzac

d'

(En-

11, 44, 213

traguet),

Entragues,Francois

de Balzac d', 11,

213, 214, 218, 220, 221, 226, 254,
Ms
For
255, 257-265.
wife, see

Touchet, Marie.
Henriette

de Balzac d',Marchioness
Verneuil,mistress of Henri de
74 ; is sought
Navarre,her confessor,
racter,
by Henri,212 ; her appearance and cha215 ; fascinatesHenri,216-218 ;
an
affrayabout her,217 ; puts a price
218 ; Henri's promise to
on
herself,
her, 218-220; an
early
marry
letter from him, 220; is carried to
Marcoussis, 221 ; is removed
by
Henri and made a Marchioness,
222 ;
,

de

becomes
enceinte, 222 ; seeks his
advice about the Medici
marriage,
222, 223; intrigueswith the Duke
of Savoy,224, 231,232, 235 ; refuses
to restore Henri's promise,225, 226 ;
will not accompany
him to the war,
227 ; gives birth to a stillborn child,
227, 228; her doleful letterto Henri,
228 ; he tries to console her, 229 ;

joinshim, 230, 231

intrigueswith

; her

reproaches,

Father Hilaire,
at
231, 232; stays
Lyons, 234; is

231 ;

310

INDEX

rejoinedby Henri,235 ; presentedto

Marie de' Medici,236; her compact
with
La
Galiga'i,238-241; birth
of her son
Gaston Henri, 242, 243 ;
Villeroyand Mme. de Villars try to

Mile. Francoise d\ 198

Estre'es,
Francoise,Marchioness
d\ ne'e
,
Babou
de la Bourdaisiere,
117-121
Gabrielle d', Lady of Liancourt,
,
Marchioness
de Monteeaux, Duchess
overthrow
retains
her, 243-246;
de Beaufort,etc.,favourite of Henri
her
de Navarre, referred to,3, 106 ; her
favour, 244-247; dances
as
of the Virtues,247, 248 ; interbirth and earlyyears, 118-120 ; first
one
cedes
for Auvergne, 250; birth of
seen
by Henri, 121, 122; snubs and
her daughter Gabrielle Angelique,
repulseshim, 122-124; joins him
with her father,
ment,
250,251 ; promisesthe Queen amend125 ; resents Longue253 ; has a financial intrigue
ville'streachery,
125 ; her disposition,
with
Soissons,253; solicits a place
126; her appearance,
127-129; is
of safety,
254 ; keeps the King at a
married
M.
de
to
unwillingly
ingly
distance, 255-257; speaks insultLiancourt, 130; is separated from
of the Queen, 255,272, 273 ;
him
by Henri, 131 ; journeyswith
denies

knowledgeof

the

plotin

her

interests,
258, 259; Henri's promise
to her restored to him, 261; he treats

"

"

the

King, 131 et seq. ; with him in

Champagne, 133; advises his tion,
abjura135;

with
is accused

him

before Paris,
with
infidelity

her

137;

to

Bellegarde,137-140; birth of her

son
passing
Cesar, 140; accused of comthe death of Dr. Ailleboust,

262 ; she is
kindly,then sternly,
gated
placedunder arrest,263; is interro265
is
be sent
to
by Harlay,
;
a
convent, 266; the proceedings
against her quashed, 266; protests
her love to Henri, 266; again corresponds
with
him, 267; alternate
reconciliations
and
quarrels,272275 ; is suspected
of Henri's assassination,
285 ; denounced
by La d'Esco-

286 ; found not guilty,

287 ;
is forbidden to marry
Charles,Duke
do Guise, 287;
her last days and
man,

death, 287, 288;

her

evil

influence,

289 ; her children by Henri, 297, 298

Entragues,Marie de Balzac d',215,266,
287

Envoutement,chargeof,22
Epernay,siegeof,133, 134
Epernon, Jean Louis Nogaret de la
Valette,Duke d\ 37, 118, 120, 259,
260, 284-287, 298 ; his son Bernard,
Duke
d', 250, 251, 298; Gabrielle
See
Angelique, wife of Bernard.
Verneuil.

Escoman,

Isaac

d', 286

d',
Jacqueline

286, 287

Espinay St. Luc, Francois d',175

Essars, Francois des, 299; Charlotte
des. See Romorantin.
Estoille. See L'Estoille.
Estre'es family,the,117, 118
,

Angelique

d', Abbess

of

Mon-

buisson,117, 118, 208

Antoine, Marquis d', 117, 125,
129, 175, 201, 206
,

Denan
d',120
Diane d'. See Balagny,Mme. de.
Francois Annibal d\ See Coeuvres,

Marquis.

of

147; becomes

eeaux
Marchioness de Montenters Paris with Henri,
141-143; her m"rriageannulled,
142,
143; her son Cesar legitimated,
143,
144 ; is deputyQueen of France,146,
190 ; her rdle at Court,147 ; friendly
with
Princess
the
and
Catherine
Princess
of
Orange, 148; meets
and

Aubigne' at Chauny, 148, 149 ;

witnesses Chatel's attempt and nurses
and
Henri, 150; her good sense
her
shrewdness, 150-152;
political
151 ; accompanies Henri
to
letters,
Rouen, 153; criticizes his speech
there,153; gifts she receives from
him, 130, 147, 157 et seq., 159, 160,
161, 168-170; birth of her daughter,
Catherine
Henriette,159 ; is created
Duchess de Beaufort,
160 ; is publicly
fondled by the King, 161, 163, 190 ;
is contemned
and unpopular,162, 163,
164, 166, 167 ; hunts with the King,
162 ; masquerades with him, 165 ; her
behaviour after the surprise
of Amiens,
165, 166; a ferryman'sopinion of
her, 166, 167; her inventory,170
{seealso ante,under gifts)
; becomes

stout, 171, 188, 189, 193; extracts

from Henri's letters to her,171, 172 ;
their projectedmarriage,174, 184 et
seq., 198-200, 205; offends Sully,
favours Zamet, 177,
174, 192-194;
178; helps to subdue Mercoeur,182;
her
de
son

son

Ce'sar betrothed

to

Francoise

Mercoeur,182, 183; birth of her

Alexandre, 183; her marriage

312

INDEX

Hagetmau,

at,90

massacre

Gramont

Harambure,Jean,Baron d',168
Harlay,Achille de, President. 72, 264,
287

Francois de. See Champvallon.

de. See Champvallon.
, Jacques
de, Count de Cesy,263
, Philippe
de Sancy. See Sancy.
Havard, Catherine de, 106
,

Hermant, Marie, 138

Henri II of France,5,9, 128
II of Navarre,
4, 5, 90
Ill of France, previously
Duke
d'Anjou and King of Poland, 13, 19,
20, 26, 27, 29, 31, 32, 35-39, 41-44,
46, 47, 49-51, 60, 61, 70, 71, 74-86,
91, 97, 103, 110, 120,121, 156, 177
Henri

III

Navarre

IV
op
France, his popularity,
ous
1,2; his amorinclinations,
3-5, 10 ; his parentage
and birth,
4 et seq. ; his appearance,
and habits,
disposition,
tion
8, 54 ; educaand youth, 9; espouses Marguerite
de Valois, 9-13, 18; his
op

and

early relations with her, 10, 11, 13,

14, 18, 20, 23, 24, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33,
38, 39

; at the St. Bartholomew

sacre,
mas13 et seq. ; leads a gay life,
19 ;
joins Alencon and attempts escape
from Paris,19-23
; in relation to La
Mole's plot,21 ; ensnared by Charlotte
de Sauves,26 et seq., 31, 33, 35,
38, 44; is nursed in illness by his
wife,31, 57, 58 ; exhorted to energy,
33 et seq. ; escapes from Paris,35 et
seq.; wishes his wife to join him, 38,
39; is attracted by Jeanne de Tig-

80, 82, 83, 88

(Corisanda),

et seq.; becomes

heir to the French

throne, 85 ; his son by Corisanda,93,

94, 99 ; at Coutras,97 ; at a skirmish
with

Matignon, 101 prelatesConde's

mandy,
death, 102 ; his campaigns in Nor103, 104, 132, 133 ; describes
Marans
leged
to Corisanda,104; his alto her,105, 106 ; wishes
fidelity
to be rid of his wife,108 ; desires his
sister to marry
James
I, 111, 112;
with his sister and Corisanda,
sanda,
113, 114; expresses respectfor Cori115; favours her son, 115;
falls in love with Gabrielle d'Estrees,
111, 112, 115; they first meet, 119,
angry

121,

orders

122;

Bellegarde

Longuevilleto retire,122,

125;

and
pulsed
re-

by Gabrielle,122; hastens
her, 123, 124 ; constrains her

after
father and

assents

familyto attend him, 125

to Gabrielle's marriage,130
separatesher from Liancourt,131
carries her in his train,
131 et seq.

;
;

besiegesChartres,131 ; is victorious
Ivry, 132 ; besiegesParis, 132,

at

133 ; his success

at Caudebec, 133 ;
cinated
besiegesEperney,133, 134; is fasby Anne du Puy, 133; still
defied by the League, 134; decides
on
abjuration,134-137 ; jealousof

Bellegarde,137-140

nonville,48 et seq. ; rejoinedby his

wife,49, 50 ; takes Fleurance,50 ; is

is crowned
;
of France, 140 ; attemptsmade
his life,140, 150 ; disregards
on
141 ; carries
chargesagainstGabrielle,
her in triumphinto Paris,141-143 ;
gitimate
creates her a Marchioness,141 ; leher son
Cesar, 143, 144;
seeks a divorce from Marguerite,142,

of Dayelle,
enamoured
51, 55; some
of his allegedamours,
54, 55; his

145, 146 ; his relations with Gabrielle,

146, 147, 150, 152, 153, 161, 162,

self-neglect,
54;

of his giftsto
163, 167-171 ; some
her, 130, 147, 157-159, 161, 168170 ; is reconciled to Aubigne',148
et seq. ; is wounded
by Chatel, 150 ;
harangues the Notables at Kouen,

wife, 56;

quarrelswith

his

in

love with
Mile, de
Kebours,56, 57; falls very ill,57,
58 ; his Court

at Ne'rac,58, 59, 60 ;

worsted
diplomatically

by Catherine

de' Medici,59 ; in love with Franchise

de Montmorency-Fosseux,
60 et seq. ;
in
the
Lovers'
engages
War, 61, 62,

King

153; is short of raiment, etc.,154;

his

63; infringes
neutralityat Nerac,

alleged miserliness,155-157 ;
Gabrielle
a
Duchess, 159 ;
his
legitimates
daughter Catherine

63, 64

Henri ette,159 ;

agrees to peace, 64 ; his child

65-69
by Fosseuse,

69, 70

Fosseuse,
; forgets
lured to Paris,71,

; will not be
75 ; resents Henri Ill's treatment of
Marguerite,
a
79; demands
tion,
separa79 et seq. ; takes Marguerite
back, 82 ; treats her coldly,
82-86 ;
she quits him, 86; is excommunicated,

86;

in

love with Diane

de

creates

Gabrielle

caresses

in

public,161, 163, 164, 190; hunts

with Gabrielle,
162; wastes time at
164
tennis,

indulgesin

masquerade,

makes
ready to revenge the
rielle
surpriseof Amiens, 165 ; hears Gabdenounced
by a ferryman,166 ;
besiegesAmiens, 167; his famous
letter to Crillon,
167, 168; extracts
164 ;

313

INDEX
letters to

his

from

Gabrielle,171,
her, 174,
marry

has

his wife

daughterby

and

one

to
172; proposes
175 ; reduces Mercoeur, 181 et seq. ;
speaks to Sully about divorce and
marriage,184-188 ; speaksto Groulart also,191 ; his medical household,

by Henriette, 250 ; legitimates

Henriette's children,
251 ; is curtainlectured by his wife,251 ; takes her to
Metz
and Nancy, 252 ; his ailments,
ette,
252 ; is jealously
angry with Henri-

186 ; is said to support Sullyagainst

Gabrielle,192-195 ; persistsin his
designto marry her, 195 ; appliesto
the Pope, 197; his last letter to
Gabrielle, 197 ; givesher his coronation
ring,198 ; his plansto ensure her
199 ; parts from her prior
supporters,
to marriage,200, 201 ; alarmed about
her and starts for Paris,205 ; returns
to Fontainebleau, 206 ; his commands
for her obsequies,
206; goes
into mourning, 208; writes to his
sister,209 ; first suggestionsof his
marriage to Marie de' Medici, 210,

house
at
253 ; gives her
a
mands
Fontainebleau,253 ; eludes her defor a place of safety,254 ;
sends Sullyto treat with her,255 ; is
again incensed with her, 256, 257;
invites her to Fontainebleau,257 ;
hears her denounced
by Auvergne,
257, 258 ; is advised of the Entragues'
conspiracy, 258, 259;
proceeds
against the plotters,260; recovers
his marriage-promise,261 ; orders
Henriette
to
Verneuil, 262 ; his

in love with Henriette d'Enguerite,

tragues,212 ; divorced from Marfirst meets
212, 222 ;
infatuHenriette,215, 216; becomes ated
212

with
her, 216, 217 ; orders
Joinville's arrest,217 ; notices Mile.
de la Bourdaisiere,218, 222, 231 ;

buys

Henriette

d'Entragues, 218,
marry her,219,

219; his promise to

220 ; carries her off from Marcoussis,

221, 222 ; has noticed Mile, de la
Chatre, 222, 231 ; creates Henriette
Marchioness
de Verneuil,222; pardons
for
222 ; negotiations
Joinville,
his marriagewith Marie
de' Medici,
212, 223 ; his disputewith the Duke
of Savoy,223 et seq. ; seeks the return
of his marriage-promise,
225,

226; invades Savoy, 227, 228; his

stillborn child
by Henriette, 227,
228 ; tries to console her, 229 ; is
joinedby her, 230, 231 ; in relation
to Father Hilaire,
231, 244 ; his loveletters to Marie de' Medici,232, 233 ;
joinsher at Lyons, 234, 235; pardons
Biron for plotting,
234 ; hurries
to see Henriette,235; has her presented
to the Queen, 236, 237 ; dislikes
Leonora
Galigai, 239, 240;
makes

her

Mistress

of

the

Robes,
delightedwith his sons by the
Queen and Henriette, 242, 243;
Henriette
denounced
to him
by
Mme.
de Villars,
245 ; her innocence
shown, 246, 247 ; again pardons
Henriette
Joinville,247 ; makes
dance in the Queen's ballet,
248 ; his
241 ;

attitude

248-250;

towards

Biron's

treason,

pardons Auvergne, 250;

liaisons

with

Mmes.

de

Moret

and

Romorantin, 262, 263, 267; sends

Auvergne to the Bastille,264 ;
places Henriette under arrest,264;
commutes

the

sentences

on

the

with
266 ; againcorresponds
plotters,
267 ; receives letters from
Henriette,
Queen Marguerite,268 ; allows her to
her
return
to Paris,268 ; cautions
againstprodigality,
269; gives her
ville,
land, 270 ; is again jealousof Join-

272, 273 ; his alternate quarrels

reconciliations with
Henriette,
lotte
272-275; falls in love with Charde Montmorency, 276 ; marries
her to the Prince de Conde,277,279 ;
is again ill,278 ; prepares for war
and

with the House

of Austria,
279, 282,
283 ; makes frantic attempts to win
the Princess de Conde',
279-282 ; has
of
his wife crowned, 283 ; programme
his last

days, 283 ; is assassinated,

point
from the stand283-286 ; his career
of his amours,
288-290 ; a list
of women
associated with his name,
children
291 et seq. ; his illegitimate
and

descendants,294 et seq.; some

songs ascribed to him, 301 set eq.
Henrietta
Maria, consort of Charles I,
279, 280, 289

Henry VIII of England, 89

Father (AlphonseTravail),
231 1
Hilaire,
232, 243-245, 259

HSpital,Francois
de 1',
299
Humbert
with

du

the

Hallier,Marshal
White

Hand,

of

Savoy,223
Infanta
Isabella Clara
224, 282

Eugenia,134,

INDEX

314

Jacob's Altar in Paris,270

Liancourt, Nicolas d'Amcrval,Lord

119, 130, 142, 143
M. de, roval equerry, 285
Lignerac,M. de, 108, 109

J'aime mieux ma
mie, 302
James I of England, 111, 112, 258,266
Jarnac, Baron de, 161
Jean (d'Albret),
King of Navarre,6
Jeanne
(d'Albret),Queen of Navarre,

50
Litter,Queen Marguerite's,
Livarot,M. de, 44
Lizza,A. de, 241
Lodon, M. de, 77
Lome'nie,Antoine
de, secretary,
219,

Iron

Mask, Man with the,296

Ivry,battle of,132

of,

261

4-10, 17, 58, 81, 90

the, 140, 150
Jesuits,
John, Don, of Austria,54
Claude
de Lorraine, Prince
Joinville,
later
and
Duke
de Chevreuse,
de,
217,
222, 215-247,272, 273, 288
of
Joyeuse, Anne, Duke de, Admiral
France,97, 120
Francois de,Cardinal,brother of
above,76, 183
Henri (Ange) de,Duke, Marshal,
and Capuchin,brother of the above,

Martial

de, 261
Duke de,120,121,122, 125
Longueville,
,

Duchess de, 72
Anne
de
Genevieve
Conde,
,
Duchess de, 288
Louis XII of France,8, 237, 221
XIII
of France, 242, 261, 262,
,

269, 296, 298

206, 207
,

de

Henriette Catherine de, Duchess

Montpensierand Guise,288

Kerchief

Keys

of

for

161
Gabrielle,
Rennes, Henri and the,183
made

XIV
of France,299, 300
Louise de Lorraine- Vaudemont, Queen
of France,31, 35, 75, 156, 181, 218
de, 92 ;
Louvigny, Paul, Viscount
Count
92
de,
Roger,
Louvre
Palace,14-16, 30, 32, 33, 35,

43, 75, 162, 194, 198, 207, 235, 236,

241, 247, 277, 283, 284
Lorraine,Charles,Cardinal de, 136
Claude de France,Duchess de, 14,
15, 16
Princes and Princesses. See Bar,
,

La

boxxe
aventure O gue",302
La Fin,M. de,225, 249
Lallier du Pin, 55, 56
La Mole, Boniface de, of Provence,21

et seq.

La

Guise,Joinville,
Mayenne, Mercceur,
Nemours, Vaudemont.

Luxembourg, Sebastien de, 181

Marie de, 294
Luynes, Constable de,288
,

Roche-sur-Yon,Princess de, widow

of Charles de

Bourbon-Montpensier, Luz,

40,43
Lavardin, Jean

de Beaumanoir, Marquis
and Marshal de,35, 285
League,the Catholic,44, 85, 86, 131,
Ce'sar de Vendome,
riette
143, 144, 294; of Catherine Hende
Vendome, 159, 297; of
Alexandre
de Vendome,
297 ; of
Gaston Henri de Verneuil,251, 297 ;
of Gabrielle Angelique de Verneuil,
251; of Antoine de Moret, 298; of
Jeanne

de Romorantin, 299
Baptiste
Duke

Lennox,
of,258, 259, 264-266
Francis de Bonne, Duke
Lesdiguieres,
de, Marshal and Constable of France,
228, 259, 272
Pierre
L'Estoille,

Taisan de, quoted,22,

37, 49, 77, 78, 80, 81, 91, 115, 142,
143, 159, 161-166, 195, 196,201,206,
207, 217, 246, 247
Lezan, M. de,15

L'Hoste,a secretary,
257, 258

de, 249

Madrid, chateau de,268

Malherbe,Francoisde,92,99,100,271,

132, 134, 160, 164, 214

Legitimationof

Baron

Lyons, 230, 234, 235

277, 280, 281

Mancini,Laura, 295
Mantes, 121, 125
Marans, 99, 104
Marck, Charlotte de la,183
castle of,213,221,222,259,
Marcoussis,
260-262, 266

Mareil,Gratienne,a maid, 196, 204

Marguerite d'Angouleme, Queen of
Navarre,4, 5, 8, 58
of Navarre,
de Valois,Queen
her marriage to Henri
de Navarre,
her appearance
and early affections,
"

"

of the St. Baraccount

tholomew
13-16 ; reveals
massacre,
her husband's first design to escape,
20 ; her alleged undue
familiarity
with her brothers,
20,42 ; her alleged
love for La Mole, 21 et seq. ; prepares

9-13;

her

315

INDEX
for Henri, 23; wishes to
the
help
escape of Henri and Alen"?on,
23 ; loses her brother and protector
for
Charles IX, 24; has a weakness
her
30
d'Amboise,29,
intrigue
;
Bussy
with him
renewed, 40, 41 ; nurses
miss
her husband, 31, 57, 58 ; has to disa

memoir

31 ; passingrupture
confidante,
Henri, 31, 32 ; is ill and neglected,
33 ; her positionafter Henri's

with

escape,

37 ;

mediates

between

her

band,
; wishes to joinher husgoes to Spa, 40, 43; said

39
brothers,

39;
to have

prompted

Du

40 ; shares

Guast's

sination,
assas-

Alenijon'scaptivity,

42 ; helps him to escape, 43 ;

returns to her husband, 44, 49, 50;
her splendid litter,50 ; is said to
favour Turenne, 51, 58, 61; flashes
Beam, 52, 53 ; her beauty,
upon
and talents,52, 53 ; resents
adornments
Henri's
54; her
self-neglect,
difficulties at Pau, 55, 56;
religious
her
her

for Nerac, 58
partiality
troubles

with

Henri's

et seq. ;

mistress

of
Fosseuse,60 et seq. ; accused
fomenting the Lovers' War, 61, 62;
alarmed by Biron,63 ; helpsAlengon
with
to restore
peace, 64 ; angry
Fosseuse
and Henri, 65, 66 ; helps
Fosseuse,67-69 ; goes with her to
Paris,69, 71 ; sells and buys property
there, 72 ; her love affair with

Champvallon,72 et seq. ;
son
by him, 74, 79, 80

her alleged
; talks and

intriguesagainstHenri III,75, 76 ;
ordered to quitParis,76, 77 ; treated
with great indignity,
77 ; denounced
by her brother to her husband,87 et
by Henri, 82 ; a
seq. ; taken back
wife in name
only, 83, 84 ; accused
of poisoningher husband, 85 ; flees
from Nerac to Agen, 86 ; derided by
her husband, 108; flees from Agen
to Auvergne, 108; at the castle of
Usson, 109 et seq., 142, 196, 198,
267, 268 ; her divorce,
142, 145, 146,
180, 184, 185, 191, 196, 197, 198,
to surrender her title
212 ; unwilling
to Henriette
turns
d'Entragues,219; reto Paris,267 et seq. ; her reception
there,268 ; her Paris residences,
268, 270, 271; her changed appearance,
268; meets Marie de' Medici,
268, 269 ; her relations with Henri
and his family,269; recovers
much
property,269 ; one of her favourites
at
murdered, 269, 270 ; her vow
Usson, 270; her charityand piety,

270, 271
and

; her death
Kichelieu's
nouncement
proon
her, 271 ; receives
sination,
respectingHenri's assas-

her

salon,271

debts, 271 ;

revelations
286

France,her
outlayat
for her
Montceaux, 158 ; negotiations
marriagewith Henri de Navarre,156,
210, 212, 222, 223, 225, 226, 231;

Marie

de'

Medici,Queen

extravagance,156, 157

of

; her

her appearance, 232 ; her love-letters

from
Henri, 232-234; is married at
Florence,234 ; is joinedby Henri at
Lyons, 234, 235 ; is married there,
235 ; journeys to Paris, 235, 236 ;
to
Henriette d'Entraguesis presented
feared
is
237
by Henriette,
her,236,
;
239238; her favourite La Galigai,
influenced by her, 241 ;
241 ; how
givesbirth to the future Louis XIII,
241, 242 ; angry with her husband
and
Henriette,242, 243; consults
her marriage,244 ;
canonists about
Hilaire to death, 245 ;
sends Father
her ballet of the Virtues,247, 248 ;
birth of her daughter Elisabeth (later
censed
of Spain),250 ; is again inwith Henriette
d'Entragues,
251 ; playsthe part of Mrs. Caudle,
and
to Metz
251 ; goes with Henri
Nancy, 252 ; her ambitious nature,
illpromises
ment,
amend252 ; Henri falling
252 ; is reconciled with him
and
Henriette,252, 253; is again
254 ; Sully
incensed with Henriette,
with her, 255 ; she explains
remonstrates

Queen

her

255, 256
grievances,

again

her

husband, 257;
meets Margueritede Valois,
268, 269 ;
is insulted by Henriette,272 ; has a

quarrels with

escape at the Neuilly ferry,

from
273 ; keeps Henriette
Court,
273 ; birth of her son
Gaston,Duke
"
Diana's
of Orleans,274 ; her ballet,
Nymphs," 277 ; birth of her daughter
Henriette
Marie, later Queen of
narrow

280 ; her coronation

and regency, 283, 286 ; will not have
La d'Escoman
venge
tortured,287 ; her rethe
sisters d'Entragues,
on

England, 279,

287

Marivaux, M. de, 143

Marot, Clement, 58

Martigues,Princes de, 11,294, 295,299

Mmes.
de, 201, 205, 206
,
Mary, Queen of Scots,77, 111, 184
Massacres, of Hagetmau, 90 ; of Pau, 9,
17 ; of St. Bartholomew's

Mathieu, Pierre,3, 147

Day, 13

INDEX

316

Matignon, Jacquesde Goyon, Marshal

de, 31, 83, 84, 86, 97, 101
Count
Matta, Charles de Bourdeilles,

Montmorency, Louise de Budos,Duchess

de,wife of Henri I, 151, 277
Charlotte Margueritede, daughter
,

of Henri I and
See Cond6.

de, 93

Maubuisson,abbey of,118,208
Maugiron,M. de, 44
Maurevers,Louvier de, 14
Mayenne, Charles de Lorraine, Duke
de, 75, 103, 132, 152, 167,177,230,
236, 246
Mayneville,Captainde, 138
Mazarin,Cardinal,295,301
Medical household,royal,186
Medici.
See Catherine, Ferdinando,
Francesco,Marie.
Menaud
d'Aure, 89, 92, 93
raine,
de LorMercoeur,PhilippeEmmanuel
Duke
de, 164, 181, 182, 183,

Louis
Boutteville,

Marie de

and

de Conde.*

Claude de,

92

Fosseux.
See Fosseux.
de Bourbon,Duke
Francois
Montpensier,

de,49
Henri de Bourbon, Duke de, 224,
,
288 ; his wife Henriette de Joyeuse,
288
Louis de Bourbon, Duke de, 161 ;
,
his wife Catherine Marie,daughter of
"

"

Francois de Guise,103, 132, 161

Montsoreau,Lord and Lady of,41
Moret, Antoine de Bourbon, Count de,

247, 294
,

Princess

263, 298

Jacquelinede Bueil,Countess
262, 263, 267, 272, 274, 298

Luxembourg,Duchess de,

181, 182, 201, 205, 294

Mile. Francoise de, later Duchess
,
de Vendome, 182, 183,195,199, 279,

de,

Morgan, 258, 263-265

de (duPlessis),
78,81,
Mornay,Philippe

294

135, 145, 180

Mere, Poltrot de, 17

Metz, Bishop of, see Verneuil,Duke;
risingat,252
Mignons of Henri III,44, 54, 91, 177
Miossens,Henri d'Albret,Baron de,
16,20

Mirabeau, Marquisde, 285

Miron, Francois,190, 206,268

Marc,

186

Mistresses of Henri

of,291
Mole.

de

Navarre, a

list

et 8eq.

See La Mole.

Montaigne,Michel

de, 83, 84,98, 135,

136

Montbazon,Hercule

de Rohan-Gue'me-

Nanoay, M. de, 16
Nantes,183 ; edict of,148,260

county

of, 160
See Orange.
Nau, M. de, 220, 221
of, 6. For its
Navarre, Kingdom
see
Henri, Jean, Jeanne,
sovereigns,
Marguerite,Sancho.
Nassau.

Princess
Catherine
de, later
,
Duchess
de Bar, 6, 48, 59, 60, 111114, 148, 150, 176, 209, 252, 254
de Savoie,
Nemours, Charles Am6dee
Duke
de, 296
Charles Emmanuel
Duke
de Savoie,
,

nee, Duke

de,201, 203, 285

Marie de Bretagne d'Avaugour,
Duchess de,296
Montboissier-Canillac,
Marquisde, 109,

de, 132

Henri de Savoie,Duke

de,296

de
Jacques de Savoie, Duke
of Charles Emmanuel), 236
(father
Anne of Este (widow of Frangois
,

110

Montceaux,titleand

estate of,141, 158,

191

Guise),Duchess de, 161, 217, 236

de Lorraine-Aumale,wife
Anne
of He,nri
de, 296
Elisabeth de Vendome, Duchess
de, 296
Nerac, 58 et seq., 63, 64,67,82,84, 86
Nerestang,M. de, 264
de

Catherine de, 298

Montecler,
Montgomery,Gabriel de Lorges,Count

de, 9

Montigny,M. de, 120, 150

Montluc,Blaise de, 9 ; Alexandre
de.

Jean

See

Balagny.
Montmartre,abbess of,106, 292

Montmorency,Charles

de, Duke

Marshal
Francois,

de

Duke de,21
I, Duke de, Marshal and
Constable of France,21, 151,163, 199,
250, 278,280, 282
,

Henri

omitted to mention in the body

morency's
Mile, de Montthat it was
Henri
II de
with
marriage
the latter's family
which
Cond6
made
so
extremelywealthy. Inter alia,that
marriage eventuallyconveyed to the
*

Damville,56
,

of

our

We

work

CondSs the famous

estate of

Chantilly.

317

INDEX
Neufville.

260 ; his wife Catherine de LorraineMayenne, 230

Francis of Cleves,Duke
de, 21 ;
,
his wife Marqueritede Bourbon, 21
Louis Gonzaga, Duke de, 21 ; his
,
wife Henriette of Cleves,21, 156
de la

Marquis de, 46
,

Mme.

Marchioness

See

de.

marriage,the King's to

Cori-

sanda, 98 ; to Henriette d'Entragues,

Princess
220, 261, 262; between
Catherine and Soissons,
112, 114
Pybrac,Gui du Faur de, 49, 72, 81

Quelus, Count

de,44

Ragny, M. de, 150

Tremoille, Rambouillet,M. de, 217

Nogaret. See Epernon.

Noirmoutier,Francois

of

Promise

Villeroy.

See

Nevers,Charles Gonzaga,Duke de,229,

Sauves,

Ravaillac,
F.,283-286
Raverie,La, 143
Rebours, Mile, de, mistress of Henri de
Navarre,56, 57, 63, 66

de.

Montabert

O, Francois,Marquisd',154
Offices of State,192
270
Olympus,Queen Marguerite's,
Princes
282
of,259,
Orange,
; Princess
148
of,
Orleans,cityof,214 ; " dog of,134
Gaston,Duke of,274,298 ; Regent
of,300
Chevalier d',300
Jean Philippe,
Ornano, Alphonse,Marshal d',205, 206
Ossat,Cardinal Arnaud d',184,185,197,
243, 244
"

de,56

Rennes, 181-183
Retz, Claude

Catherine

de

Clermont,

Duchess de, 201, 205

Riberac,M. de, 44

Richelieu,Cardinal,
251,260, 271,295,
296, 298

Rochefoucauld,Francois III

de

la,9,

18

Rochelle,La, 9
Rodelle,M. de,781

Rodolph II,Emperor, 3
Rohan, Jacqueline de, 213.

See also

Montbazon.
Charlotte

in Paris,
Palace, Queen Marguerite's,
270,271 ; of the Louvre. See Louvre.
54, 292
Picotin,
Pancoussaire,
Pangeas,Count de,49, 113

Romorantin,

Parabere, Marquisde, 115

Ronsard, Pierre de,9, 302

Paris,St. Bartholomew's Day in, 13 et

of,56,132 ; Henri de Navarre
seq. ; siege
141-143
enters,
; royalfunctions and
amusements
in,19, 35, 161-166,190,

Roquelaure,Antoine de (laterMarshal),
36, 37, 92 ; perhapsthe same, 285 ;

191; worth

mass,

137; Gabrielle

d'Estrees' residences in,137, 192,194,

of,268
198, 202, 207 ; prelates
Parma, Duke of, 132, 133
Pau, chateau of,6, 9, 17, 55, 113, 138
Paul III,Pope, 5
Bernard
Peichpeyroux,

de, 205

Penthievres,the,181

Perreal,J.,207
PhilipII,of Spain,85,86,134,176, 224
PhilipIII,248, 261 ; PhilipIV, 250
PhilipV, 299, 300
Pibrac.
See Pybrac.
Diane de, 158, 160, 230, 268
Poitiers,

;
;

Pominy, 110
Pompone. See Bellievre.
Porcheres,128
Dom
Sebastian of,10
Portugal,
Praslin, Charles de Choiseul. Marquis
de, 138,281
163, 195, 196
Predictions,

the,158j
Primaticcio,

des

Essars,

Countess

de, mistress of Henri de

Navarre,263, 267,274, 299. See also
Bourbon-Romorantin

Louise

See Gramont.
de, 214
the King at,153
de.

Rothelin,Mme.

Rouen,
Rousse,La, 138
Ruggieri,Cosmo,
Ruze d'Effiat,
69

221

Sable, Guillaume du, 56, 127

Sades,Gabrielle de, 25
Sagonne, Countess de, widow of Jean
Babou, killed at Arques,164
Saint Aignan, Count
and Countess de,
106
Bartholomew

13
Massacre,

et seq.,

26,29
Denis,abbey of,royal abjuration
at, 136 ; tombs at,208
Germain
des Pres, abbey,royal
tombs at,208 ; abbot of,297, 298
Germain-en-Laye,191, 217, 222,
253,254, 258, 262
Julien,Dat de, 269
Marc, Baron de, 69
Mars, Broc de, 69
"

INDEX

318

Saint Martin, M. de, 36

Megrin, Paul de Stuer de Caussade
Lord of,44
Michel, M. de, 284, 285
Simon, Duke de, 300
Diane de.
See Poitiers.
Vallier,
Sainte-Beuve quoted,73, 128, 129, 150
Genevieve,abbey of,43

Jeanne
Tignonville,

Salisbury.See Cecil.

Toulongeon,

of,223-225
Saluzzo,Marquisate
89
Sancho the Caesarian,
Sancy, Harlay de, 141, 154
Satire M"nipe'e,
La, 134
Charlotte
de Beaune, Baroness
Sauves,
de, mistress of Henri de Navarre,2528, 31, 33, 38, 41, 42, 44-47, 51, 61
Sauves,Simon de Fize,Baron de,25, 26,

45,46
Savoy, Charles

Duke
Emmanuel,
of,
223-225, 227, 228, 231, 234
Schomberg, Georges de,44 ; his brother

Henri,

Gaspard,207; Gaspard'sson
298

272
Sedan surrendered,
See Bertaut.

Seez.

Charlotte,Duchess de Sullyand
Seguier,
de Verneuil,242, 297
Semblancay, Jacquesde, 25
Senantes, Mme.

de, 106
Sens, Hotel de, 268-270
Setanaie,Mile.,45
Sigognes,M. de,258, 262
Brulart de,President,197,225,
Sillery,

et

of

Simier,Mme. de, 155

deadly,118,208
Sins,the seven

to Henri

de

de

de,

Navarre, 48

M. de,and his wife,48

,
Thou, Jacques Auguste de, 135, 136,
211,280; Emericde, 136
Touchet, Marie, Duchess
d'Entragues,

214, 215, 216, 218, 266

89 ; Henri

Helene
de

Clermont

de

Gramont, Count

Tremblay,Madeleine

du

de,

de, 92

(Mme. Zamet),

179

TrSmoille,Duke de la,254, 259, 260

Duchess
de la,232
Charlotte
,

Turenne, Henri

de la. See Cond6.

de la Tour d'Auvergne,

Viscount
de, 51, 58, 61, 62, 99. See
Duke
also Bouillon,
de.
Dukes
Grand
of. See FerdiTuscany,
nando

and Francesco.

Unton, Sir H., 189, 190

Ussac, M. d',50
Usson, castle of,109-111
Uzes, Mme. d',45
Valette, La. See Epernon.
Valois,name
of,159
Vardes, M. and Mme. de,263
Varenne, Guillaume
Fouquet de la,
i76, 199,204, 205,213,215,218,220,
230

Vaudemont, Nicolas
;

de Lorraine,
Count
Louise de.
See Louise,

Queen.

Sixtus V, Pope,86, 137

Soissons,Charles de Bourbon, Count
48, 98, 111-114, 191, 253
attributed

Montceau

du

Henri

sea.

de, 31, 181

264

Songs

mistress

de,

Navarre,

133, 148, 301 et seq.

Sourdis,Marchioness
de,ne'e Babou de
la Bourdaisiere,
117, 131, 161, 164,
169, 192, 202

Spalungue,Lieut.,36
Spinola,
Marquis.281, 282
Stanay,M. de, 121
46, 134
States-general,
Maximilien
de Bethune, Baron
Sully,
de Rosny and Duke
de, 45, 60, 94,
98, 113, 115, 125, 137, 138, 140,141,
152, 154, 155,157, 173-176,179,180,
181, 183-187, 192-195,199-201,218,
219, 227, 250, 251, 253, 255, 256,

Vaux, Louis de, Capuchin,74, 79

de Bourbon, Duke
Vendome, Antoine
de, and King of Navarre,4, 5,8,301,
302
Charles
de Bourbon, Cardinal
,
de, called Charles X of France,4,49,
85, 132
,* Alexandre, Chevalier de, 127,
183, 187, 191, 192, 194, 195, 204,
297

Cesar, Duke de, 127, 140, 141,

143, 144, 149, 170, 174, 183, 187,
199, 206, 268, 279, 294, 295
,

Francois de, Duke

de

Beaufort,

295, 296
Jules C6sar
,
,

Louis,Duke

de, 301
and

Cardinal de,295,

296
,

Louis

Joseph,Duke

de, 299, 300

273, 284
*

Tallemant

des Re'aux.

Teligny,M. de, 18

138,208

From the above pointthe Vendomes

the children or descendenumerated
ants
are
of Henri de Navarre,or else their
wives.