HEMY

MARIE

IV.

MEDICI.

DE

PART

II.
OF

HISTORY

THE

OF
KING

FROM
INCLUDING
AND

OF

NUMEROUS

IV.

NAVARRE.

THE

SOURCES,
IMPERIALE,

BIBLIOTHEQUE
DE

ROYAUME

DU

HENRY

OF

UNPUBLISHED
IN

ARCHIVES

THE

AND

FRANCE

DOCUMENTS

MS.

REIGN

THE

FRANCE,

ETC.

BY

MARTHA

WALKER

FREER,

AUTHOR
THE

LIFE
"

OF

DE
"

"A

D'ANGOULEME,"

MARGUERITE

ELIZABETH

AND

VALOIS

HENRY

coeur

OF

OF

vaillant rien

IN

FRANCE,"

d'impossible."
"

TWO

legende

D'ALBRET,"
II.,"

JEANNE
OF

COURT

THE

III., KING

"

de

PHILIP

ETC.

henbi

iv.

VOLUMES.

vol.

n.

LONDON:

HURST

AND

BLACKETT,

SUCCESSORS
13,

GREAT

TO

HENRY

MARLBOROUGH

PUBLISHERS,
COLBURN,
STREET.

1861.
The

rightof Translation is reserved.

LONDON
:

STREET,

GLOUCESTER

BORN,
BY

K.

FEINTED

regent's

PARK.

0)0

V.4

CONTENTS
OF

SECOND.

THE

VOLUME

HI.

CHAPTER
1598"1599.

Alessandro de
cardinal-legate
Fontainebleau
at
king
Events of the interview
The cardinal expresses his opinion
de Beaufort
relative to the marriage
of the king with madame
bleau
Adventure
of king Henry in the Forest of Fontaine-

Departurefrom
Medici

France

of the

He takes farewell of the

"

"

"

"

"

Le

in Paris

Grand

on

Veneur

visit to

"

Arrival of the duke of Lorraine

Madame

"

Letter of

to Ga-

Henry

ture
Departureof the kingfor Paris Advenferryof the Quai Malaquais Queen Marguerite
She refuses to sanction a divorce unless the king gives
promiseto abstain from espousingGabrielle d'Estrees
brielle d'Estrees

"

"

of the

"

"

"

Edict

concerningthe

Tournon

Jesuits

"

Affair of

the Jesuit de

Synod of the Gallican clergy Obtain audience

king Henry at Monceaux
Royal haranguepronounced
the
respondence
Demise
duchesse
de Montmorency Corof
the
by
king
between the king and the constable de Montmorency
of
Albert
Demise of PhilipII.
Departure
archduke viceroyfrom Brussels He relinquishes
his cardinal's
hat
Joins Margueriteof Austria at Innsbruck
Royal
in
the
of
Ceremonies
Ferrara
on
progress
marriage Philip
III. with the archduchessMarguerite Interview between
"

"

of

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

cardinal d'Ossat and

the duke

56"

dAumale

"

Illness of Henri

CONTENTS.

VI

Quatre

He

is believed

be

covery
Reextremity Details
of the king
Cabals concerning the divorce and
marriage
reof the king
M.
de
Departure of
Sillery for
Rome
The king threatens queen
Marguerite with attainder
de Beaufort
of madame
Intrigues of the adherents
MM.
Quarrel between
d'Epernon and de Rosny Baptism
of Alessandro
de Vendome
Magnificence of the pageant
Fetes of the court
Rosny refuses to permit the appellation
oifilsde France to be given to the young prince Anger of
"

to

at

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

the

duchesse

Beaufort,

concerningthe

Cabals
the

de

of

mediation

and

the

which

feuds

edict

of Nantes

Gabrielle

d'Estrees

Her

"

"

seek

Chambers

The

"

ensued

reply Details
Pope refuses to
"

The
marriage of Madame
of the
Firmness
grant dispensation Religious conference
Debates
zation
respectingthe solemniprincess The duke de Bar
of the marriage Details
at
Marriage of Madame
the

concerning

"

"

"

"

"

"

St. Germain

court

at

of the

court

Madame

"

respectingher
presidentof the

current

of the

Festivities

"

first appears

"

de

de Balzac

Beaufort,and
king Henry

with

liaison

Henriette

"

the libels
Audience

"

of Paris

Parliament

the

registration
king Henry

on

Harangue of
Effect of the royalmenaces
Registrationof the edict
de Schomberg and de Thou
to carry
king appoints MM.
of

the

edict

of

Nantes

"

"

the

of the

clauses

Schomberg

edict

"

Sudden

"

death

of

the

"

The
out

de

count

........

CHAPTER

IV.

1599.
M.

He

"

divorce
of her

de

to his

returns
"

Silleryin

Rome

The

duke

de

Joyeuse
Ange
royal
monastery
Gabrielle
Details
d'Estrees declares the certainty
marriage with the king Accompanies the king to

Negotiationsof

"

Le

"

Pere

The

"

"

"

Fontainebleau

"

Her

return

to

Paris

"

M.

Zamet

"

Illness

of
mysterious origin Demise
de Beaufort
the duchesse
Correspondence on the event
M. de Rosny
sitions
SuppoDespair of Henri Quatre" Summons
madame
de
Beaufort
the
of
the
of
on
origin
malady
of
the
duchess
performed in royal state Her
Obsequies
in the abbey church
of Maubuisson
interment
Sympathy

of

Gabrielle

d'Estrees

"

Its

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

manifested

for

the

king "The

Parliament

offers condolence

CONTENTS.

Letter

"

sister

of Madame"

Rosny

The

"

to the conde

audience

de Villamediana

to his

by the king
king and to

made

answer

Marguerite writes to the

king visits Fontainebleau,

Queen

"

The

Ml

M.

he

where

do

gives

to the Franciscan

and

Mademoiselle
d'Entragues
Calatagironc Affairs of Sahizzo
The
king visits le Bois de Malesherbes
Designs of the
Her
de
Balzac
Balzac
of
Henriette
family Character
She demands
of the king
a prodesigns,and the weakness
mise
of marriage
Blois
Its
objects
Royal sojourn at
the
duke de
of
with
the duke de Biron
His league
Designs
of
Return
de Cheverny
of the chancellor
Savoy Death
Continuation
the king to Paris
Fetes of the hotel Zamet
Petition
of the
of the negotiationfor the king's divorce
to investigate
Pope Clement
appointscommissioners
queen
the affair
Reports and decision of these commissioners
of the
Correspondence of queen
Marguerite Reluctance
of divorce
to ratify the decree
Sillerysatisfies the
pope
scruplesof the pontiff The decree of divorce receives papal
dition
ratification
Letter of queen
Marguerite to the king Conde
She
Henriette
Balzac
granted to the queen
Henri
Its tenor
extorts a promise of marriage from
Quatre
Scene with M. de Rosny
Res olution demonstrated
by the
a
king Mademoiselle
d'Entragues is installed as maitresse
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

litre

66

..........

BOOK

VI.

CHAPTER

I.

1599"1600.
Affairs

concerning
Savoy visits the
Biron

His

"

Savoye

Savoy

Marie

de

Numerous
Eleonore

"

of France

disaffection

and

of the
of

court

and
"

His

The

"

of

duke

objects The duke

intrigues Arrival of M.
"

"

de
de

"

Details

other malcontents

Saluzzo

of

marquisate

Fontainebleau

at

de Biron

the

"

His

"

relations

Conferences

on

with

M.

the restitution

marquisateof Saluzzo
Deportment of the duke
Negotiationsfor the marriage of Henri Quatre
"

"

Medici,
suitors

Dori

"

and
for

the
the

grand

ducal

hand

Giovannini, envoy

of

family of Tuscany
the princess"Donna
from
the grand duke
"

Vlll

CONTENTS.

Ferdinand,

dowry

arrives

of madame

in

Paris

Marie

"

Discussions

Mademoiselle

"

relative

d'Entragues
"

inspiredby her insolence and presumption Attitude

kindred
King Henry grants audience to the Tuscan
at Conflans,and authorizes
for the
in form
a demand
"

"

of Marie

de

Medici

the duke

of

intents

The

"

Savoy

grand-master

Continuation

"

departurefrom

His

"

Conde

of the

de

of

Fuentes

Fears
of her
envoy

conferences

hand
with

Paris,and perfidious

M.

"

the

to

de

Rosny

created

feuds of the duke

and
artilleryDomestic
duchesse de Bar
The duke de Bar
Disquietudeof Madame
visits Rome
His errand,and its success
Marriage contract
of
the
French
ambassadors
into
king Henry Entry of
Florence
of
the marriage
by torchlight Proclamation
Deportment of the princess First letter written by Henry
IV. to his affianced consort
Marie
The reply of madame
Imperioustemper of the princess She emancipates herself
from the guidance of her kindred
the
Demands
of Medici"
Dori
in her household
appointment of Eleonore
Opinions
of the potentates of Europe on
between
the marriage
king
of Fontainebleau
Conference
Henry and Marie de Medici
Its religious
import Correspondence of the king with the
de
with
the duchesse
duke d'Epernon and M. de Mornay
Bar
Henry bestows the castle and marquisate of Verneuil
mademoiselle
on
d'Entragues Departs for Lyons
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

of

preparationsfor the invasion

superintend the warlike

the duchy of Savoy
to

133

II.

CHAPTER
1600.

Correspondence between
Arrival

of ambassadors

Henry
generalsinvade

Biron

from

declares

"

his

Henri

discontent

the

Savoy at Lyons
againstthe duke

ducal

and

"

territories

"

"

Their
of

The

prevarications
Savoy, and
marshal

de

intrigues Policyof PhilipIII.

Success of the royalarms
Fall of the towns
of Montmellian,
Bourg, and
Negotiations of the patriarch
Chambery
Calatagirone Response of the king Treasonable relations
of Biron
His correspondencewith
Fuentes
"Henry visits
the camp
of the marshal
before
with
Bourg Conference
Biron
Regicidal projectsof the latter Correspondence
"

His

war

de Medici

Marie

and

Quatre

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

CONTENTS.

IX

between

de Medici

Henry IV. and Marie

campaign Intrigues of madame
Rome
"

of

Interview

"

The

latter

mediation

of

Entry

"

in

VIII.
duke

the

de

legate Aldohrandini
His address
to the princessMarie
Marriage by
with
Marie
de Medici
of Henry IV.
Sumptuous
proxy
festivities
Doi'i
She changes her name
Eleonore
to Galigai
Concino
Concini
His
parentage Departure of queen
from
Florence
She
embarks
Marie
at Leghorn
Voyage
and reception
refuses
the
ance
attendMarseilles
Details
She
at
Her resoladies
of her French
lution
Sojourn in Marseilles
Bellegarde into Florence

Reception of

Affairs

"

Clement

with

d'Ossat

cardinal

offers his

Verneuil

de

"

the

Progress of

"

"

the

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

and

uneasiness

"

Tuscany and Mantua

of the campaign
The

"

farewell

Bids
Her

into

entry

duchesses

the

to

Avignon

of

Progress

"

confers
Aldobrandini
cardinal-legate
with the conde de Fuentes
His
and with the duke of Savoy
Siege
journey to Chambery, and receptionby king Henry
of fort Ste. Catherine
of
Marie
into
Lyons
Entry
queen
"

"

"

"

"

Feuds
Her

and

dissensions

letter to the

king
"

with

Interview

of her suite

his

Arrival

bride

de Verneuil

Madame

"

of Henri

in

Quatre

"

Lyons
Stormy
"

Marriage solemnities
dissensions
the king and queen
between
relative to the appointment
of the household
of the grand-duke
Concern
The
cavaliere Vinta
with
Marie
Her
remonstrates
reply
and displeasure
.194
"

"

"

"

"

"

CHAPTER

HI.

1601.
Continuation

of

the

The
negotiationfor peace
tiaries,
plenipotenand their ungracious demeanour
Suspension of the
of
the
with
negotiation Audience
Spanish ambassador
Insolence
of the language used by the conde
king Henry
de Villamediana
Arrival of the duke
de Biron
in Lyons
He throws
himself on the clemency of the king
Generosity
of Henri
Quatre
Resumption of the negotiations Signature
of the treatyconcluded
between
the legateAldobrandini
and M. de Rosny
Henry leaves Lyons He visits Fontaine"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

bleau,

and

the duchesse

entry

the

chateau

de Bar

into Paris

"

"

"

de Verneud

Journey of

Festivities

"

"

queen

Her

Illness and
Marie

meeting

troubles

de Medici
with

"

madame

of

Her
de

CONTENTS.

Verneuil

Details

"

la Foire

majestiesto
Biron

"

the

conciliates
honours

the

queen

final

"

"

"

favour

of madame

latter with

Verneuil

de

of Donna

Eleonore

Calais

Elizabeth
M.

"

with

de

and

Henri

Elizabeth

queen

Dover

of

interview
"

respondence
Cor-

Important

"

of M. de Biron

Mission

"

"

Jealousies

"

at Dover

Quatre

ditions
con-

aVatours

Proposed

Rosny repairsto

queen

certain

dame

as

"

The

"

under

her bienveillance

"

queen

their

ference
Spain and Savoy ConIts receptionby M.
treaty of Lyons
Eleonore
ratihcation
Galigai She

"

conference

of

at the Arsenal

Dinner

"

Embassy from Venice

Henry visits
the Spanish court
Siege of Ostend
between

Visit

"

"

Appointment

"

the

de St. Germain

The

"

and

Savoye,

of

his relations with

renews

of Como
de

Position

"

to

Birth of
Marie
Accouchement
of queen
English court
of foreign
Louis XIII."
Joy of France.,and congratulations
potentates The grand duke of Tuscany declines the office of
Attempts to progodfather to the dauphin His reasons
mote
the
of
the abjuration of madame
de Bar
Severity
ings
Her constancy and sufferking Spiritedreplyof Madame
His conThe
duke de Biron
at the English court
ferences

the

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

with
Verneuil

de
with

the

Demise
other

latter
of

the

of Eleonore

wit
"

The

consent

Marriage
Louvre

"

Elizabeth

queen

takes

her abode

up

queen

of

at court

Concini

Marie
de

de

"

cious
Auda-

"

the

receptionsin

"

Melancholy and uneasiness

of the queen-dowager Louise

madame

in the Louvre

Splendid gala

"

Galigaiand Concino
la Marquise
Her

of madame

and

Marie

Queen

"

Medici

Lorraine,

"

of

and

255

great personages

CHAPTER

IV.

1601"1602.

Rise

of

new

resolves to

league
"

visit the

Measures
Rosny
the conspiracy

Its

objects

disaffected

adopted by

"

M.

Lafin

and

abettors

provinces
"

"

The

Power

the latter to sift the

is ordered

king

of M.

de

originof

repair to court
Treacherous
revelations of the latter
jesties
Journey of their mato Orleans
Clement
intents of Henri Quatre
Rosny
of the Bastille
appointed governor
Sojourn of the court at
Blois
with
the dukes
Royal interviews
d'Epernon and
dissensions
of
Bouillon "Council
extraordinary Domestic
"

to

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

CONTENTS.

the

and

king

queen

Rosny

"

Reconciliation

fracas

XI

acts

of

the

Plessis-les-Tours

at

Occasion
Arrival

pair

Mandate

attendance

at

the

is

of

court

of

their

"

despatched

"

the

of

"

royal

"

majesties

mediator

as

the

duke

moning
sum-

de

Biron
"

Enthusiasm

for

king

the

Repeal

"

La

The

Pancarte

of

marshal

de

the

obnoxious

Biron

His

arrival

Fontainebleau

at

to

pardon

Contumacious
his

Biron

refusals

treasonable

others

of

by

the

the

duke

with

dealings

Arrest

They

"

of

Interrogatories

de

Sentence

of

death

"

Biron

the

of

Biron

of

the

duke

de

the
Biron

to

duke
and

the

conveyed

are

duke

the

to

de
of

the

crime,

trial,

pronounced
and

Bastille
"

de

Biron

Efforts

on

"

on

offer

"

d'Auvergne

count

from

king

"

"

acknowledge
and

confession

extort

mons
sum-

The

"

endeavours

Savoye

royal

Details

"

free

the

obeys

"

termed

tax

execution

Sentiments

of

"

of

the

marshal

his

king

behalf

Henry
due

de
309

IV.

HENRY

MEDICI.

DE

MARIE

III.

CHAPTER

1598-1599.

from

Departure
Medici

France

He

"

Events

takes

the

of

farewell

of

interview

king

the

cardinal

The

the

to

Adventure

"

Le

of

marriage
of

Grand

Arrival

Veneur

Paris

on

the

She

Tournon

the

Henry

of

bleau
FontaineLorraine

of

between

archduke

viceroy

hat

Joins
"

progress

of

"

from

Ceremonies
II.

duchess

Philip

II.

Brussels

in

Marguerite
king

gives

d'Estrees

"

Jesuit

the

of

"

"

He

Austria

Ferrara

on

"

de

audience

Obtain

harangue

pronounced
respondence
Cor-

Montmorency

de

and

king

Marguerite

of

clergy
Royal

"

the

Demise

"

Affair

Ga-

ture
Adven-

"

the

Gabrielle

to

"

Gallican

the

Paris

Queen

unless

espousing

the

for

king

divorce

Jesuits

of

"

the

Malaquais"

Monceaux

at

Demise

king

of

from
the

Synod

"

VOL.

fort
Beau-

Henry

"

Quai

sanction

to

concerning

king

the

abstain

to

Edict

of

of

Letter

Madame

to

Departure

"

ferry

refuses

promise

by

visit

d'Estrees

of

of

duke

the

of

opinion
de

of

forest

"

"

brielle

"

the

in

his

madame

with

king

king Henry

"

in

the

Fontainebleau

at

expresses

"

relative

de

-legate Alessandro

cardinal

the

of

constable

the

Departure

de
of

relinquishes
at

the

Innsbruck

marriage

"

morency
MontAlbert

his
"

of
B

nal's
cardi-

Royal

Philip

HENRI

III. with
cardinal

Quatre

the

IV.

archduchess

d'Ossat
He

and

[1598
Interview

Marguerite

"

the

duke

is believed

d'Aumale

between

Illness

"

of

Henri

covery
Reextremity Details
of the king
Cabals
marriage
concerning the divorce and reof the king
Departure of M. de Sillery for
Rome
The king threatens queen Marguerite with attainder
de Beaufort
of madame
Intrigues of the adherents
MM.
Quarrel between
d'Epernon and de Rosny
Baptism
de Vendume
of Alessandro
Magnificence of the pageant
Fetes of the court
Rosny refuses to permit the appellation
of jilsde France
to be given to the young
prince Anger of
de Beaufort, and
the feuds
which
ensued
the duchesse
Cabals
The
Chambers
seek
concerning the edict of Nantes
d'Estrees
the mediation
of Gabrielle
Her
reply Details
The
concerning the marriage of Madame
Pope refuses to
Firmness
of the
grant dispensation Religious conference
"

to

be

at

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

duke

princess

The

of

the

"

St.

Germain

first appears
current

of the

"

de Bar

marriage

Details

"

of

Festivities

"

at

court

"

respectingher
presidentof the

Debates

"

"

the court

Madame

de

liaison with
Parliament

of Nantes

zation
respectingthe solemniat
Marriage of Madame
"

Henriette

de Balzac

Beaufort,and the libels

Audience
king Henry
"

of

Paris

on

of

the

registration
king Henry

Harangue
Effect of the royal menaces
Registrationof the edict
de Schomberg and de Thou
to carry
king appointsMM.
of

the

edict

"

"

"

the

clauses

of

the

edict

"

Sudden

death

of

the

count

"

The
out

de

Schomberg.

The

Alessandro
de Medici, having
cardinal-legate,
tion
gloriouslynegotiated,and presidedat the ratificaof the treaty of Vervins, made
preparationto
Gonzaga
quit the kingdom, leaving the nuncio
to watch
over
papal interests in
bishop of Mantua
France.
Although the entente cordiale between the
Papal and French cabinets was as yet maintained in
about to rise of
all its integrity,
yet questionswere
tions.
perhaps to endanger those relagrave import,likely
The dispensation
for the marriage of Madame

Catherine

affair of his

the

receptionof

the

the

majesty'sown
of Trent

canons

of the edict of Nantes

MEDICI.

DE

MARIE

AND

1599.]

and

the

divorce

tion
registra-

the debates

about

tion
parliamentrelative to the interpretato be given to the treaty of Vervins
as
regarded
in virtue of the
the Jesuits,who
claimed a right,
in which the pacific
matters
were
treaty,to return
The
and courtlycardinal dreaded
to be involved.
the Peace
therefore,to commemorate
rejoicings,
to

in the

ensue

"

were

his

no

sooner

over

than

the

cardinal commenced

his
progress, having accomplished
conciliated the French
people; and won the

homeward

mission

departedfrom Paris at the

end of the month
of August,1598, and journeyedto
Fontainebleau
to pay
a farewell visit to king Henry.
Attended
by M. de Soissons,and by a brilliant
court, the king received the legatein La Cour du
Blanc.
The
cardinal returned
the royal
Cheval
greeting with much
humility,and expressed his
of the honour
done him by so great a prince.
sense
the cardinal to his apartment, and
Henry conducted
key, which opened all
presentedhim with a master
"
the doors of the palace,
as,"said the king " it is my
royalesteem.

will that your

as

myself."

He

therefore

eminence
After

the

shall command

in my house
banquet, the king, with M.

de

Sillery,then on the eve of his departure for

Rome, held privateconference with the legate. In
this interview,
the king partially
revealed his views
relative to his divorce and
subsequent marriage.
Henry commenced
by thankingthe prelatefor his
able and
nected
conenlightenedintervention in matters
with the peace just concluded.
His majesty
" that
satisfaction
his
was
proceeded to remark
heir
he had no legitimate
as
diminished,inasmuch
B

HENRI

to whom

IV.

[1598

he

might transmit the benefits and renowD

of his
and political,
accruingfrom the acts, military
reign." The cardinal condoled with his majesty;
but in fear of beinginvolved in a controversy he deprecated,
his eminence
held out
no
hope that the
king might obtain relief from the paternal
sympathy
of Rome.
Sillerythen alluded to the beauty and
hopefulgrowth of Cesai'-Monsieur ; which intimation
the virtues,modesty,
Henry followed by eulogising
It was
of madame
Gabrielle.
and accomplishments
the views of the
the design of the king to sound
cardinal de Medici, aud to obtain for his mistress
the good will of so important a member
of consistory.
"
exclaimed
the cardinal,
with great
Sire !
it is enough to
vivacityand resolution of manner,
immortalize
humble
life in having concluded
my
of France, Spain,and
your majesties
peace between
I could have wished that the first
the Papal court.
might have
day of this happy periodof tranquillity
"

"

the last of my life. I have fulfilled the duties

and sole purpose of my
legation.My instructions
permitme not to take cognizanceof other matters.
been

majesty, therefore,to dismiss and

and lay at the feet of our Holy
return

your

pray

permit me

to

the minutes

Father

august mission."
motives
further

of

the

duchess, that

received
1

De

But

the idea
the

the

Thou,

Supplement du

connected

with

my
penetratedthe

king, who
cardinal,
thereupon desisted

to

throne
commands

liv. 120.

Journal

the

MS.

from

nence
of his emi-

manner

previouslyinspiredby

cardinal

unless it were

Medici, on

papers

The

confidences.

confirmed

divorce

and

would

not

aid

in

the
the

Marie
de
placehis relative,
fore,
of France.
Sillery,therecarefullyto conceal the
Bibl.

de Lestoile.

Imp. Suppl.fr. fol. 1644.

AND

1599.]

MAUIE

king'sulterior intents
the

which

he

Aldobrandini
kindred.

DE

other

and

the cardinal de Medici

from

alone

was

MEDICI.

confide

to

members

cardinal

to

of

the

pope's

The

needless.
however, was
precaution,
The cardinal had seen
enough to make him apprehend
"
evil consequences
from
the
tion."
royal infatuaHe
therefore expressed himself in strong
men
languageto M. de Soissons and to the other noblewho
the following
on
present at Fontainebleau,
The
on
day escorted him to Moret.
cardinal,
"
to do all in their
takingleave,exhorted the nobles
to turn
the king from a resolve degrading to
power
the majesty of his crown,
as
perniciousto the
realm.1
That
posteritywould
impute to their
moral

cowardice

the

of succession

war

ensue

and

that

on
as

ruin of the realm

the

demise

for himself

of the
he

as

another

king must
making

was

as

speed as possiblefrom the kingdom to which

he had given peace, in order not to witness or participate
in an
event
so
fraughtwith consequences
ruinous."
Words
such as these,from the lipsof a
prelateeminent for moderation and virtue,produced
much

sinister influence

on

the mind

of the

so
personages
legate, whom

speech of the
Gabrielle
feared and
instinctively
avoided, was
fraughtwith dangersnot then perhapsapparent to
the future fate of the duchess.
Henry affectionately
embraced
the cardinal on taking
leave,and presented
him
with
diamond
a
ring of the value of 6,000
"
I will ever
crowns.
keep this preciouspledge
in memory,
of your
royal bienveillance,
sire,of
the greatest and most
magnanimous princein the
addressed.

The

"

universe !
1

Ibid.

"

Journal

said the cardinal.2

de Henri

Suppl.fr. fol. 1644.

IV.

De

Thou, liv. 120.

MS.

Bihl.

Imp.

HENRI

The

IV.

[1598

day followingthe departureof

the

legate
Henry went to hunt in the forest of Fontainebleau,
and there,it was
said,beheld the apparitionof the
famed
The
and his phantom hounds.
Grand Veneur
four
chase proceededmerrily; when
at a spot where
forest pathsmet, the king was
startled by a crashing
of branches,and by a blast of horns.
Suddenly a
pack of hounds in full cry, followed by one gigantic
huntsman, dashed past the cortege,and disappeared
amid the fastnesses of the forest. Henry commanded
vidual
M. de Soissons to follow,
and ascertain who the indidaring enough to interruptthe royal
was,
credit to the marvellous
pastime; his majestynot attaching
stories current
huntsman.
concerningthe spectral
and tremblingly
Soissons presentlyreturned,
recounted,that as he was
passinga brake of tangled
Veneur

the gaunt

brushwood

briars and

up

sprang

form

In hollow

before him.

phantom pronounced the mysticwords

vous

oxin^aUendezvousV

described the

"

tones

the

Mentendez

and vanished.

as that of a
figure
with
habiliments,

Grand

of the

The

count

of

gigantic
stature,
embers !
clad in black
eyes like fiery
The
king then returned to the palace; for as the
profoundly
story of this phantom of the Forest was
believed on
the testimony of the royal foresters,
charcoal burners,and peasants of the district,
no
sonage
perof the
tinue the
The

The

Madame,

suite had

man

heart

or

inclination

to

con-

sport.
of Lorraine

duke

duke
who

de

Bar

took

which must
penalties
her
hand, that he
though stillmaking
deputy.

so

his

and

in

lost heart

delightin summing
befall him
took
earnest

every

in

case

he

occasion

demand

the

younger1 son

the austere
up

the

presence

ecclesiastical

in
persisted
to

avoid

for her favour

of

his suit for

the

court,

by letter and

IV.

HENRI

T7ie
"Mes

King

of the

who

messenger,

cavalier

who

France

and

adores

is much

ceding

you

agree

with

to

them

shall

Bonjour, mon

write

you

see

by

this

as

offer

will

to

me

as

more,

subject'

your

titles

for I have

letter the

your

week

The

king spent a
repairedto Paris to

haste

glad that
is the most
convincing
of your favour,which,
I

are

we

am

love

myself

to

soon

meet.

million

of

delicious

our

Monceaux,

at

the

welcome

duke's visit was

persuadeher

to

of Catholic
dined

sign the marriage

the

at

listen

to

house

of Le

of M. de

contract

and
princess,

the exhortations

divines.

then

be the guests of
The objectof the

if possible
to conciliate the

and

to

to

and

of Lorraine

duke

his son, who were, however,

Madame
at her hotel de Soissons.
and

and

The

king and

Petit

More,

his suite
celebrated

the head :
period,at three crowns
majesty supped and passedthe nightat the hotel
the millionnaire

Zamet

3,000

dice with

crowns

the duke

at

incident

d'Epernon.
happened to

paying a

brief visit

MS.

Journal

Bibl.
de

and

The
the

St.

to

"

won

the

sum

his
of
of

d'Auvergne and
day an amusing
following
from
king on his return
Germain.
Henry crossed

the count

Lettres
Imp. 407.
Henri
III., Etoile.
"

there

to

ings
teach-

traiteur of the

'

no

of Fontainebleau."1

Desert

Bar

'

I kiss your beautiful eyes

day of September: from

12th

King of

call

all these

life,although

than
no

as

St. Germain.

to

sister

tout.

This

times.

any.

testimony that you can

believe,I prize more
well.

appellationof

The

go

my

arrival

will behold

people

"

making

are

whom

pleasurable nevertheless,as

of

you

after the

hours

title,certes, honourable, though

in effect.

more

intention

and

you,

desirable,arrange

are

Two

"

bringsyou this,you

Navarre,

irksome

very

Amours

Belles

Gabrielle tfEstrees.

Madame

to

[1598

Missives

de

Henri

IV.

MAEIE

AND

1599.]
river at

DE

MEDICI.

ferryclose to the Quai Malaquais.

As his majestywas
and attended
only
simplyattired,
by two gentlemen, the ferryman did not recognize
The king,therefore,
him.
commenced
a conversation
by asking the man, what he thought of the peace
" Ma
of Vervins ?
foi,I do not comprehend this
fine peace,"replied
the boatman, " there are taxes
on
this miserable
boat is taxed ; I
everything even
" But
have somethingto do to eke out a livelihood."
these taxes,"said
the king means
to diminish
soon
Henry. " The king is a good man
enough ; but he
and
has got a mistress,
who wears
fine gowns
so
many
and we
gauds that there is no end to her expense
all! Even
if she belongedto his majesty
pay for them
consolation : but
alone,the fact might be some
report tells strange stories of this said lady!" The
parted
king laughed and, stepping from the boat, dewithout
paying his toll : upon this the man
his
pursued the party, and clamorouslydemanded
which
seemed
afford still
to
sou, using expletives
the king. At length some
to
greater amusement
the

the

"

"

"

spectator of

passer,

and pronounced
collar,
whom
he was
abusingwith

the

cavalier

The

effect

that

his life would

instantaneous

was

dropped down,
For

incident
at
to

he

king
him,
to

be

and

was

few

the

the

carried back

days

he

heard

conducted
sat

and

madame

to

the

the

ryman
ferof

name

such

man,

forfeit of

meantime, the duchess de

St. Germain, when
the king
be arrested and conveyed to the
was

seized

scene,

the

by

swoon.

the

his

vigour.
believing
temerity,

his boat

nothing of
Beaufort
caused
chateau.

in

the

arrived
the

man

There

royalpresence. With the

Duchesse.
Henry beckoned to
him, if he valued his life,

into the
la

commanded

repeat the slanders

which

he

had

ventured

to

10

HENRI

IV.

[1598

the

previousday. The man

tremblinglyhis knees,prayed for pardon.
on
obeyed; and,falling
lt You.
deserve to be hanged for your
mendacity,"
repliedthe duchess; and, turning to the king,she
requestedhim so to decree. Henry, however, from
whose
of mirth,
tears
were
fallingin excess
eyes
"
No ! no ! ma
do you not understand
replied,
maitresse,
utter

on

that

famine

and

poverty have

irritated this

has only repeatedwhat he heard,

He
poor devil?
and is not malignant.I pardon him ; his boat shall

longerbe taxed ; then,madame, he will shout loud

enough, ' Vive Henri ! Vive Gabrielle ! l
This adventure,which Henry delighted
to recount,
the king diversion from the ennui attendant on
gave
no

'"

the

Madame.
law

with, the

negotiations connected
The

with

duke

her future father-in-

treated
princess

disdainful

hauteur

"

marriage of

which

contempt

the

by his
good part, moved
anxietyto complete the alliance. Every pecuniary
and domestic arrangement likely
the comto ensure
fort
and
was
granted.
approval of Madame
continued diligently
to attend
Madame, nevertheless,
and to give audiences to her chaplains
le preche,
; all
of whom, it was
known, counselled her highnessto
de Lorraine

oppose

alliance

determined

her

in

resistance

to

the

Lorraine

insist upon beingpermittedto retire

Beam.
The
of the princess
hope now

and

again into
and

took

to

counsellors

was,

that

no
pope refusingdispensation,
the realm
would
venture
to

in the

event

of

the

priestor prelateof
perform the nuptial

On the firstSunday after the arrival of M.

ceremony.
held
the princess
de Lorraine and his son the cardinal,
"

prechein

service
1

MS.

the

ball-room

of her hotel.

Whilst

was

being performed,the trumpeters

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl.fr. fol. 1614.

Journal

the

of the

de l'Etoile.

AND

1599.]
duke

began

in order
their
sent

to

to

the kettle-drums

the Louvre.

to

Lorraine,to

de Lorraine
until

cardinal

de

king

to

ascertain

were

still in favour

her

should

service

beat,
attend

immediately

Madame

commanding silence; and

retainers of M.
hotel

11

MEDICI.

and
flourish,

message

of her

DE

collect the retainers of

master
a

MARIE

that the
the

vacate

court

terminated.

The

Lorraine,also,accidentally
passed the
holden, the
apartment in which the assembly was
left open.
foldingdoors of which had been purposely
His eminence
turned aside his head ; but,pausingon
the threshold,
the signof the cross.1
made
reverently
During Henry'sresidenee in Paris,letters arrived
from queen
Marguerite addressed to M. de Rosny;
who
had written to her majestyby command
of the
whether
of

Marguerite's sentiments

her

divorce

which

Rosny

that the
king was about to pursue, now
seemed
opened by his reconciliation with the
way
Holy^See. Rosny dextrously
requestedthe queen's
notified the

aid

and

majestywould
to

He

heir should
her

measure

or

that

and explanawith powers

tions
reconciliation with her royal

her

next

be born

dwelt
to

the

on

France

majesty whether

she

and

would

necessitythat an
put the question
not

aid in

this supreme
benefit on France, in case
believed
intervened
that insuperableobstacles
her

her

intrust him

promote

husband.

to

in the

concurrence

reunion

with

the

ferring
con-

she
to

or
king impossible,
inexpedient? Marguerite frankly responded to
operate
Rosny's cautious epistle. She promised to coin every measure
likelyto redound to the
good of the realm, or to the benefit of his majesty
the word
does not
name
personally.The queen
"
divorce" in her letter ; but promisesto be guided

render

own

Ibid.

MS.

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl.fr.

1644.

12

IV.

HENRI

[1598

by the counsels of Rosny and other of his majesty's

loyalsubjects.She desired,however, in case appeal
should be decided upon, herself to
to the Holy See
present the petitionpraying for the dissolution of
her marriage. The
sure
king was
beyond meagratified
the reserve
and
at this response ; not
perceiving
"
in Marguerite'smind,
M'amye,"
arriere-pensee
thereuponwrote his majesty," I felt conviction that
you

would
me.

not

am

retract

that which

before

you

mised
pro-

receive your assurances:

that I on
part adhere
my

to
gratified

and

beg to assure
you
solemnlyto all the engagements I have offered for
l
however, was the
your acceptance." Very different,
letter addressed by queen
Margueriteto Rosny after
his mission to Rome
the departureof Silleryon
;
from all quarwhen
her majesty received assurance
ters
alone
that the envoy
in
not
was
employed
seeking the dissolution of her marriage; but had
of
instructions to solicit the solemn
legitimization
and dispensation
to enable
Henry's natural children,
the king to espouse their mother.
At the end of the month, September,1598, Henry
returned to Monceaux
of the
to receive a deputation
clergyof the realm,who, after the departureof the
legatede Medici, had assembled to confer by royal
permissionin Paris. The approachingpresentation
of the edict of Nantes
and the
to the parliament,
decisions taken
by the High Court on the petition
the sentence
of the Jesuits ; and more
on
especially
Louis Juste de Tournon,
on
passedby the Chambers
of the Society,
member
afforded subjectof debate
a
and
solicitude to
the prelates of the Gallican
church.
1

The

Jesuit

Berger de Xivrey
"

Suppl.fr. 1009.

communities

Lettres

Missives,t. 4.

banished
MS.

Bibl.

from

Imp.

AND

1599.]

Paris, by

MARIE

the decree

of

and

reversal of the edict

all the chief

from

1594, and

were
districts,
provincial
yet
of Avignon, and
jurisdiction

of Toulouse

13

MEDICI.

DE

in the

tolerated
in that

of
To

Bordeaux.

obtain
from

exiled them

which

the

papal
ments
parliathe

Paris

wealthy district had been the aim of the

Jesuits during the last four years.
Every influence
and resource
had been employed to gain the suffrages
Rome
members
of the principal
of the High Court.
communities ;
of the persecuted
espoused the cause
and
but for the remonstrances
of d'Ossat,and the
dread of totally
over
France, the
losingjurisdiction
its

and

have
pope would
Order
to its lost

insisted

of the

the restoration

on

as
privileges,

of the conditions

one

chancellor Cheverny
The
Henry's absolution.
steadily
opposed the reversal of the decree of 1594;
while a largemajorityof the Chambers, led by the
the pernicious
teaching
eloquentArnauld,denounced
fathers.
The
cardinal de Medici,
of the reverend
duringhis abode in France, had neglectedno opportunity
which
Jesuit
the
to allaythe fierce hostility
constitutions
throughout the
everywhere evoked
realm, the southern provincesexcepted. On his
the Jesuit de Tournon, on the
departure,therefore,
the
test
ventured
to
command
of his superiors,
and
in regard to the Order;
popular disposition
whether
the clauses of the edict renderingit penal
of

for

Jesuit

France
with

would
decision

Tournon

to

be found

to

be

The

enforced.

and

suffer

certain

within

districts of

parliamentacted

condemned
and
alacrity
;
he
the painsand penalties

de
had

so

rashlyincurred.
The
stillmore

Chambers

moreover

launched

prohibiting
stringent,
persons

their children to

be educated

in

second

decree

from

sending

foreign Jesuit insti-

14

HENRI

tutions. The

attempt

IV.

of
parliament
to annul

[1598

Toulouse

the decrees

made

of the

cious
auda-

an

parliament

deadlyfeud was about to commence

between
the two high courts, when the kingby royal
His majestyconfirmed the seninterfered.
mandate
tence
of the parliamentof Paris ; and reserved the
of the Jesuits for the decision of the privypetition
council.
The chief point of discussion,
however, by
in Paris,
the receptionof
the synod which
met
was

of Paris

the

and

articles of Trent.

The

canons

been

had

proclaimed
of the

by the states of 1593 at the command

Landriano.
duke de Mayenne, and the cardinal-legate
in the wording of the decree had susAn informality
pended
the execution of the edict : the king,moreover,
had

not

sanctioned

the

abolition

of the Concordat

by sign-manual. Upon these

a
important matters, therefore,
deputationof clergy
Their
sought audience of the king at Monceaux.
Francois de Guesle, archbishopof
spokesman was
Tour's. The
address first admonished
the king on
declension
of morality,and
the
the
scandalous
abuses
everywhere prevalent. The
clergynext
prayed his majestyto give due authorization to the
Tridentine
and
abolish
enactments
discipline
; to
the Concordat,which gave the crown
the pernicious
of Francis

I.

benefices ;
power of nomination to vacant
the sacred edifices of the realm ; and to

to

restore

cause

all

previousand future conventions with the clergyto

be religiously
observed.
The last article prayed his
vivorships,
surmajesty to abolish the system of expectancies,
and
the presentation
of
ecclesiastical
benefices as the reward
of militaryand civil services.
The

recital of the

king,who

deemed

archbishopgreatlymoved

it insolent and

unreasonable

the
that

16

HENRI

which

IV.

[1598

the

king had respondedto their grievances

;
and that no
than that of
promise more
satisfactory
their petition
could be
to the privy-council
referring
extorted from the royallips. Henry, however, subsequently
conversed
with the chief prelatesof the
showed
them
deputation; and even
condescendingly
"
his buildings
and plansfor the adornment
of Monceaux."
The answer
of the king excited speculation
discussion amongst
and
all classes : by many
the
liberal tendencies of the government
were
deplored.
Other
more
enlightened,rejoiced that
persons,
France
had
at
length a king able and powerful
for the welfare of the realm ; and
enough to legislate
the dicta and exaction of any especial
to withstand
zeal of the
class
and above
all,the ultramontane
fostered by the recent
divisions.
The
priesthood,
of Paris especially
hailed the decision of
parliament
the king,in the affair of the Jesuits ; and in the
attempt to extort from his majestythe acceptance of
the decrees of Trent
which had been so
a question
often and fruitlessly
agitated.
"

"

An

of

event

diverted
from

for

horror
the

season

the consideration

and

meantime

mystery

attention

of the

Parisians

policyof their king.

The beautiful young
duchesse de Montmorency, wife
of the constable,died suddenly,after an
illness of
three days. The
whisperslong current
respecting
the unhallowed
of the duchess Louise, who
practices
in this credulous age, of having made
was
suspected,
pact with
chief
1

"

epouser
pour

disoil
M.

one,1to

la

cour

le Connetable

magicien a

Tallement

Evil

obtain

the

hand

Montmorency, greatlyincreased

of
On

the

of the

la cour,

des Ileaux

"

of the
the

awe

qu'elles'etoit donnee au diable pour

Italien,
qui passoit
; et que Cesar un
avort

ete

l'entremetteur

Ilistoriette xv.

de

ce

pacte

"
"

AND

1599.]

the

inspiredby
de

madame

MARIE

DE

17

MEDICI.

incident.

The

haughty reserve

and

Montmorency,

coldness

her

of
meanour,
of de-

giveconfirmation to the story

her demise.
It was
related by
prevalentrespecting
certain great ladies,
who
were
conversingwith the
duchess
in her cabinet at the periodof her seizure,
that,whilst they talked,an attendant entered to
mediate
who asked for a privateand imannounce
a
visitor,
combined

to

The

interview.

duchess

of the person who

that the individual

answered

stature, envelopedin

was

the

request
and

duchess

to

was,

appeared,he
choose
and

returned

faint

most

leave

her

The

duchess

of

by

the

la Connetable

wherever
in

she

might
perturbation

She
quittedthe room.
expirationof a quarter of an
scarcely able to articulate.
and

rose

neck

her, "as

of

she

Madame

ground,and

the

madame

sent

view,
inter-

reply received

seek

the

this world.''
to

she

the

postpone

should

and

fell

ladies present,
intimate friend,
the duchess,weeping,took

Fallingon
her

interval

unless

the

at

de

faint cry, and

that

then

horror

to

The

depart.

retire.

to

hour,

cavalier

lady
gigantic

Madame

mantle.

Montmorency thereuponuttered a
After an
weeping on a couch.
to

of

man

scription
de-

The

presumed.

so

black

demanded

strong convulsions.

of

one

should
de

was

Such

the

converse

no

Montmorency

carried

to

her

in

more

then

chamber

the story

sank
in

everywhere
of the age inspiring
related
the gross superstition
firm belief in the diabolical identity
de
of Madame
That
the
Montmorency's mysterious visitant.
duchess was
seized with premature labour,after an
interview with some
unknown
personage, however,
ascertained beyond doubt.
One contemporary
was
alone throws light
and insinincident,
upon this tragic
was

"

VOL.

II.

18

HENRI

uatesthat

the duchess

came

IV.

[1598

toherend; andthat,
unfairly
jealousyand crueltyof certain

throughthe barbarous
kin
who are the
grandees,traitors to their nearest
devils risen straightfrom
true
hell,which figurein
the relation of the death of this unfortunate lady."
To
explain this mysteriousintimation is not easy.
been suspected
The virtue of the duchess had never
;
though the passionwith which she had inspiredthe
marshal
de Biron
was
everywhere patent.1 The
unbridled
of stern
constable was
man
a
passion
obstinate in his convictions as his father,and liable
had raised his wife from
to sinister impressions.He
comparativeobscurityto a rank second only to that
tion
of a royalprincess
; and perhapsresented the admirawith which
she had inspiredM. de Biron
if
in this age of universal licence,
had no
his jealousy,
quent
stable foundation.
The
more
previousand subseof the constable
matrimonial
careers
inspire
in his justiceor
little confidence
humanity. His
first wife, Antoinette
de la Marck, Montmorency,
then duke
de Damville, offered to poison or
to
pudiate,
reto
gain the hand of Mary Stuart : his
"

"

"

"

wife,2 the

third

whose
constable
months

demise

banished
obtain

the duchess
It

was

duchesse

has

espoused,and

failingto
1

of

aunt

her

to

of the

constable,who

Biron

had

asked

the

upon

him

the

sword

his castle of Meru

the divorce

whispered that
de Montmorency
king
of

the

the marshal
had
double

was

to

recorded,the
expirationof three

the

at

rency
Montmo-

de

been

just

captiveto

madame

he

of his life.

constable

Biron

de

and

to marry

the age

sanction

and

detained
solicited,

end

agreed

on

of his wife

the
and

design,and
the

other

the

The
young

the demise
;

and

that

to bestow

honours

of

Montmorency.
2

Laurence

toison.

de

Clermont, daughter of

the

count

de Mon-

AND

1599.]

of the

demise

MARIE

DE

duchesse

great outward

19

MEDICI.

Louise

lamented

was

with

so
by the constable,
the fervent sympathy of the king ; who
the following
letter to Montmorency :

enlist

desolation

to

as

dressed
ad-

"

A
Mon

"

Compere

Laurans

of the

which

submit

to

thereby

you

the Sieur de

send

the

which

return

de

Praslin

my

delayput

console

you.

takes

from

therein.
have

compere,

me

or

power

to

with

indicate

in

This

at

and

exhortation

cSans

vous

to

judge

grief,I
hasten
tion
afflic-

you,
28th

and

to

day

of

"

Henry."

several other letters of condolence

to

interval
verra

orders

Monceaux.

king wrote

spend an

therefore

your

"

The

that

participation

my

console

September,

I have

stirrupand

I pray

you

this keen

your

grieffor

God, therefore, to
His
Holy Keeping.

admonish

friends

soothe

my

past

age,

ciety
so-

must

numbers

if your

that

foot in the

my

Mon

in such

express,

you

alleviate

can

presence

shall without

to

the

"

lose the

your

fifteen hundred

early; so

to-morrow

that

arrive

here

are

S.

who

you

Nevertheless,we

the

by

befallen

has

you.

God

sick persons,

already there

to

of

will

to

France.

to
experienceought, mon
compere,
I should repairmyselfto console you in
it not that to-morrow
deplorablesorrow, was

touch

to

informed

been

loss which

dear

so

of

and

sorrows,

and

Constable

keenly felt,as

person
the

I have

"

sudden

be

must

of

you.

Compere, the

moil

the
at

whom
constable,

Monceaux

de bon oeil?

"

car

he invites

to

la maitresse de

Montmorency, however,

in remaining at Chantillyto spend All

persisted
tation.
Saints' Day, his jour de fete,in solitude and medimade into the circumNo investigations
were
Lettres Missives,t. 5.
fol. 6.
1

Bibl.

Imp, F. de Beth"

MS.

9063,

20

HENRI

of the

stances

demise

IV.

of the

[1598
duchess

nor

the

was

of the

mysteriousconference which preceded

her illness revealed,though its reality
attested
was
by the ladies,her companions. The duchess left
ness
and one
two
a son
children,
daughter; whose loveliof person was
hereafter proclaimedthe counterpart
nature

of her mother's
The

demise

charms.

of the

the next
Spain was
topic of public comment.
Philip expired in his
palace of El Escorial,on Sunday September 13th,
after an agonizing
malady which lasted nearlya year.
The

death
of

century
with

of

and

whose

excited

the

"

by
queen

all the
of

often

so

reallyoccurred,its

event

disbelieved

"

careless

been

solicited

potentates of the

England excepted
"

The

demise

announced, that
truth

no

persons
gave
believe an
assertion

to

now

been

had

latter half of the sixteenth

interest.

scarcelyaverage

PhilipII.

nets
fiat ruled the cabi-

whose

bienveillance had

abjectveneration

civilized world

the

the monarch

Europe during the

;

of

king

was

when

universally

themselves
about

of

ble
trou-

which

all

nevertheless,
during the troubles
the publicanxiety for the death of the
such was
king,that his majestywas killed and resuscitated at
least three or
four times during the year." The
which
had organizedso stupendousa religious
spirit
breathed
forth in a little chamber
despotism was
the high altar of the
adjacentto the tribune over
church
of St. Lorenzo, where
Philip,prostrate on
his face, had
often worshipped. Philip died
so
pressingto his lipsthe crucifix which had been used
Charles V., and by his adored wife,
by the emperor
Elizabeth
de Valois,during their last moments.1

were

Salazar

Cabrera

Yida

de

Mendoza

de don

"

Monarquia

Felipe II.

de

Espaua, lib.

5.

AND

1599.]

Such

MARIE

the robust

DE

21

MEDICI.

health

of the

king of Spain,
during the greater part of his life,that he had
known
sickness ; he
never
had, however, been
faintings,
subject to sudden
resembling epileptic
To
a
seizures,like his father the great emperor.
mind
Philip II. united
imperiousand self-sufficing
and zeal for the mandates
of the Faith,
a fervour
before demonstrated, nor
since surpassedby
never
His
and
narrow
arbitraryspirit
potentate.
any
fashioned its rule of faith ; interpreted
the decrees of
was

the church

bowed

and

zeal which

before

its ideal with

nothing could

relax

"

not

guinary
saneven

the express and often merciful mandates

of the Holy
Honour
See.
and humanity were
abstract theories
in

Philip'sesteem
advantage to his

when
faith.

measured

some

fancied

in
dreamy vigils
the cells of El Escorial Philipissued,persuadedof
the favour of Heaven, and ready to make
personal
however
nuance
contito insure
a
excruciating,
sacrifice,
of Divine favour : thus exhibiting
the terrible
of a heart misled by erroneous
spectacle
tion
interpretaof thingsdivine ; dead to human
pityor remorse
;
of holy mysteries;
yet kindlingat the contemplation
and
outwardly fervent in prayer and meditation.
The
of PhilipII. presents the same
career
political
the king avows
the defeat
anomaly ; in his testament
of his loftypretensions
the impossibility
of
; and
of Charles
realizingthe vast schemes
V., which
aimed at the subjugation
of the nations of Europe,
under the universal suzerainty
of the Spanishcrown
;
and the toleration of but one
faith. PhilipII. confesses
that his schemes
on
America, and for the
failures;and that
were
conquest of the British Isles,
he had expended 20 millions in equippingthe Great
Armada

which

was

to

From

by

cast

his

Elizabeth

of England

22

ITESTRI

into the
the

prisonsof
of

want

the

IV.

Office.1

Holy

which

success

[1598
He

deplores

his efforts

attended

to

subjugateFrance2 and the Low Countries. Finally,

the king avows
that these his ambitious projects
had
of six hundred

cost

him

the

and

the

sacrifice of the

sum

millions of ducats

lives of twenty

millions

of

men.

The

Albert, meantime, ignorantof

archduke

the

regal
majesty,resignedthe vicefunctions to Andre cardinal bishopof Coutance,
the proclamationof the peace of Vervins, and
on
quittedBrussels on the 14th of September,the day
followingthe demise of PhilipII. Albert had' previously
his Catholic

extremityof

received

behalf of Dona

provinceson
a

discourse

in which

the oath of the

of the southern

states

Isabel.

Richardot

great hall of the Hotel

de

deputiesassembled,to accept
of his Catholic majesty ; and

the

in

the

the

abdication

made

the conditions

which

his resolution

to

give

the

act

ratify
clared
PhilipdeInfanta

serene

of

to

contained.

the deed

Ville,

in

marriage to her cousin archduke Albert, with the

Netherlands, Holland, Luxembourg, and the duchy
these royalties
of Burgundy for her dower
to be
by Dofia Isabel and by her future
enjoyed conjointly
"

limitations

The

husband.

should
sovereignties
she should
his said
should

espouse

majesty:

marry

were,

hereafter
the
and

without

that in

devolve

on

case
a

princess,

king of Spain,or the heir of

that no
prince or princess
the consent
of the Spanish

reviewing his foreign policywhen

cum
death-bed, is said to have exclaimed, Pacem
bellum
cum
reliquis."
The
intriguesand designs of Spain cost France
of 150
millions, according to the calculation of the
Sully.
1

The

king, while

"

these

on

his

Anglo,
the
duke

sum

de

24

HENRI

[1598

IV.

in
of which
bequestpossible,
meantime
avail yourself!" Rome
time you
may
the archduke
forwarded
to
dispensationfrom his
and permissionto marry
being the second1
vows,
licence so grantedby the Holy See within a periodof
On the 14th of September,therefore,
twenty years.
robed in full
and proceeded,
Albert quittedBrussels,
Dame
de Halle, a church three
to Notre
pontificals,
divested
miles from the capital. There the archduke
himself of his priestly
vestments, and depositedeach
evasions

dred

of the

"

the altar beneath

the shrine
prayer on
He then gave
miraculous image of the Madonna.

of

with

largedonations

offered

and

quittedat
From

sunset, and

the archduke

thence
he

where

took

was

and

alms,

church, which he
the road to Luxembourg.
journeyed to Innsbruck,
to

the

the young
fiancee
Ferrara, in which city the two

to

meet

of Don

Philip to
to
marriageswere

escort

performed by proxy in the

in the
At
Sterczingen,
presence of pope Clement.
of the demise of PhilipII. reached
Tyrol,the news
the

archduke.

be

Albert

his future

and

sister-in-law

mourning attire ; while Margueritereceived

the honours of queen-elect.A brief sojournat Trent
the only
during the first week of mourning was
of the catholic king
homage given to the memory
children.
The
of his two
by the affianced consorts
throughItalywas sumptuous
progress of the princess
received
the
potentate and wealthy town
every
honours ; and everybride with extraordinary
where
young

assumed

"

the

On
arrived

at

of France

envoys

were

foremost

the 13th of November

Ferrara,where

pope

Clement

the
was

in

gratulation.
con-

princess
sojourn-

grand duke of Florence,

Ferdinand, formerlycardinal de Medici,who espoused Christine
de Lorraine,after his accession to sovereignpower, in 1598.
1

The

first licence

was

in favour

of the

AND

1599.]

MARIE

2.3

MEDICI.

DE

ing, attended by d'Ossat, then just elevated to the

with Bellarmine,also recently
honoured
cardinalate,
with the purple,and eighteenchief members
of the
the entry of
Sacred College.1 On Sunday following
of betrothal
the princess
into Ferrara, the ceremony
was
performedin the cathedral by the pope in person
guerite
Marthe ai'chduke Albert espousingthe princess
in the name
of PhilipIII.,
king of Spain. The
then repeatedfor the affiancing
same
was
ceremony
with Dona
of the archduke
Isabel,who was
sented
repreby the duke of Sessa. D'Ossat,in his lettei's,
of the gorgeous
monies
ceregivesan animated description
and banquetings
being resolved to
; the pope
lavish every honour on the bride of the Catholic king ;
and
the elect husband
of so piousa princess
on
as
Isabel.
The
Dona
royal affianced continued their
journey,and made a sojournof two months in Milan,
pending the solemnization of the funeral obsequies
of Philip II.
They then sailed from Genoa at the
of February,1599, and landed
commencement
at
Bisnaros,after a rough voyage, on the 27th of March,
solemnized
the 18th of
where
the marriageswere
on
During the
April in the cathedral of Valencia.2
sojournof the queen of Spain and the archduke in
municate
Ferrara,cardinal d'Ossat writes to Villeroyto cominterviews
of two
which he
the particulars
duke
had had
with the outlawed
d'Aumale, who
continued
of desire
to be profusein his expressions
for reconciliation with Henri
Quatre ; and yet de"

The

ensued

appertain not

style even

of d'Ossat

ceremonies

bestowed

picturesque
pageants and

details of the

Salazar

de

the

kindles

de

history of
as

he

the young

on

Mendoza

Espaiia Monarquia
"

to

"

Vida

Espana.

de

festivities which

Henri

relates

the

Quatre.

The

honours

and

Marguerite by his Holiness.

don
Felipe III.,Rey de

26

HENRI

raeaned

himself

offence

the

to

in the

king.

IV.

[1598
most

manner

Aumale

was

in the suite of the archduke

he had

spoke of

usages and language; and

his graciousmistress."

"

"

Dofla

Isabel

as

said

duke," says
wisdom, and modestly ;

The

spoke to me with
professedhis affection for the king ; excused
journey to Spain in the suite of the queen and
archduke ; and demonstrated
that he had not by

d'Ossat,
he
his
the

"

shown

any

means

the

League.

which

he

had

he

had
sent

himself

the

conditional
famous
"

The

true

hostile chief of

complained of the rigour with

after
been treated by the parliament,
a
gentleman to pray his majesty to

on

Antonio

an

most

He

pardon and to receive him into

also falsely
said that Henry had

II.

en

likelyto give
for Spain
route
adoptedSpanish

rendered

The
his

duke

pardon

intercedingfor the
Perez, ex-secretary of state to Philip

his

in

success

assertion which
reason

favour."

no

documents

that Aumale

confirm.

extant

benefited

not

by

the

obdurate demand
king,was his own
in his
remained
for pardon, while Spanish weapons
the first
hand.
He asked that his king should make
all penalties
of reconciliation by annulling
overtures

amnesty

of the

resulting from

his outrageous

treason

and

restore

to

importantoffices conferred
pledge
exactingany precise
by
or
promiseof future fealty. Even Henry's generous
was
angeredby the surlyegotismdisplayedby
spirit
ratified
and his majestyfinally
the duke d'Aumale:
which
of exile and confiscation,
the sentences
dered
renthe bounty of
the duke a pensionerfor life on
Spain and his patrons the archdukes.
of October,
At the commencement
of the month
by the serious illness
1598, France was againagitated
of her king. The
burdens of royaltywere
keenly
him

the governments and

the late king,without

AND

1599.]

MARIE

DE

27

MEDICI.

felt

by Henry, who, despitehis merry humour, was

often a prey
to
affairs
gnawing disquietudewhen
The
went
fatigueswhich he
contrary to his desire.
had suffered during the siege of Amiens
paign
; his camin Bretagne ; and the excitement
of the festivities
which
inaugurated the peace of Vervins, now
told

on

his constitution.

trouble

cause

was

tic
domes-

Gabrielle
to
king's attachment
d'Estrees was
thwarted
timated,
by his great nobles ; who inas
plainlyas they dared, their resolve never
wife of their
the legitimate
to accept the duchess
as
sovereign. After Henry's return to Monceaux, profound
of his spirit.His
melancholytook possession
letters to the duchess,who
remained
with Madame
at
of
St. Germain, complain of depressionwhich
none
his usual pursuitscould dissipate." I cannot, mon
cher cceur, surmount
melancholy : nothing can
my
wrote
it,I feel assured,but your society,"
dissipate
The
the king.
tremely
followingday Henry, feelingexunwell,sought to dispelennui by playing at
to
with Bellegarde. His
majesty wrote
pall-mall,
; adding,that
Rosny to tell him of his indisposition
he had taken remedies,and trusted soon
to recover,
but wished
the latter to visit him at Monceaux,
ing
bringChatillon and d'Incarville.
with him
During
the day, while talking to Bellegarde,and
ing
laughin
he perused a scurrilous lampoon, circulating
as
plaining
Paris,Henry suddenlyfell forwards on a couch, comof excruciating
painsin the head and limbs.
Bellegardecaused his royalmaster to be carried to his
bed ; and despatchedexpresses
to
to Paris
summon
MM.
de Marescot, Martin, and Kosset, all famous
physicians. He also sent to the dukes de Joyeuse
and de Montpensier,the count
d'Auvergne,the duke
;

the

Another

28

HENRI

d'Epernon,and

to

M. de

IV.

Rosny, to

of his master, whose

by
who

La

case

was

intimate
deemed

the

dition
con-

ing
alarm-

Riviere,Henry's physician-in-ordinary,

acquaintedwith the king'sconstitution.

The king,meanwhile, continued
faintto suffer from
and delirium ; while dangeroussymptoms, accomness
panied
towards the eveningby distressing
prostration
of strength,confirmed
every sinister apprehension.
Letters were
thereupon despatchedto St. Germain
advertise Madame
of the condition of the king.
to
The
duke
de Mayenne and M. de Bellievre,
time,
meantook measures
for maintainingthe tranquillity
of the capital.The citygates were
closed ; the parliament
assembled
the members
of the privy; and
council then in Paris met in the Louvre.
The people
wailed and lamented
the menaced
; while
catastrophe
of the gate leadingto the
the streets in the vicinity
blocked up by anxious exwere
pectants.
high road to Meaux
At dawn
Montpensierappeared; the duke
the
to reassure
having ridden post from Monceaux
Parisians by intelligence
that during the earlypart
of the nightthe condition of the king had improved ;
then conscious,
and that his majesty was
cognized
having reRosny. Madame, meanwhile, who had
made
in
preparationfor prompt retreat into Beam
her brother's malady proved fatal,
case
relinquished
her intention on
the news
broughtby Montpensier,
and repaired
where
to her hotel de Soissons,
a preche
convened
for the recovery
to pray
of the king.
was
Gabrielle d'Estrees,
meantime, set out with her little
Cesar for Monceaux.
In vain it was
son
represented
that etiquette
and propriety
demanded
to the duchess
her absence from what might be the deathbed
of the
"
His majestyis at my
:
king. The duchess replied
chateau : no one
can
deny me admission to my own
was

well

[1598

Let

house.
from

me

MARIE

AND

1599.]

lords

my

the

DE

of the

chamber

of

mon

29

MEDICI.

exclude
privy-council
their

on

roy,

own

"

The
arrival of the duchess
!
dened
gladresponsibility
tress
misthe king; who
her salutations as
sent
of Monceaux, and hostess of all the inmates
of her chateau.
"Mon
ami," said the king one
than
day to Rosny, who was
bending with more
usual
his royal master
solicitude over
during an
interval of pain," you know
that I have no craven
incur perils
fear of death, you who
have
me
seen
I cannot, however,
of magnitude and doubtful
issue.
hide my
griefat the prospect of leavingmy
kingdom and my
having been
people, without
able to testify
love and sympathy." After
a
my
lied
week
of suspense
Henry's strong constitution ral:

the

inflammation

subsided,and

the

from

which

he

had

suffered

pronouncedvanquished
horted
physicians.1The king was ex-

malady

chief
majesty's
of his
by the latter to take greater care
ever
health.
Henry's habits were irregular he ate whendined at
inclination prompted ; and never
really
a
regularhour, though compelled by etiquetteto
had a
to take his chief repast in public. He
appear
passionfor oysters, of which he partooksometimes
especially
immoderately. Of fruit he also was fond
in
and of a small kind of nectarine grown
of peaches,
Beam, and called melocotins. On a side table in the
royalcabinet there always stood a basket of fruit ; of
constable
which
the king ate
The
all hours.
at

by

his

was

"

"

The

historian Mathieu

Bellegarde de
fut

vers

sept heures

jetantl'eau
; the

et

en

le

duchess

says, "En

riant

satiriquesil lui prit un

grand danger ; voulant

verre

la

tete,"t. 2, p.

de Beaufort

correspondenceproves.

Bibl.

avec

sa

maitresse

et

grand douleur, et
toujours boire et
277.

Mathieu

takes
mis-

Germain, as the royal

Imp. Suppl. fr. fol. 1041, MS.
was

at St.

30

HENRI

often sent

his

IV.

fine pears

[1598

plums from Chanthe

as
tilly a giftalways acknowledged. As soon
his usual occupations,
he
able to resume
king was
proceededfor three days to Fontainebleau for change
master

and

"

of air.

His

thither

from

Henry

writes

two

"

children

me

to

were

than

take

in your
words

been

sent

king's illness.
an

account

of

alightedat my little lodge,where

ter
brought to greet me.
My daughwill be
is growing pretty ; our
son
his elder brother.
You
conjured

improves,and
handsomer

the

la Duchesse

madame

to

their health.
my

during

Monceaux

had

children

youngest

with

bosom

much

as

me

for

myself.

love for you as I leave

Ah, what delightyour

I feared that my love was

absorbed
all that you might

give me
enough to have

also !

intense

feel,and

going to yield myself a

prisonerto the god Morpheus if he presents me
other visions than yourselfI shall for ever
with
for myself; but
! Bonsoir now
abjurehis company
when
it will be bonjourfor you, ma
clwre maitresse,
my

own

am

now

"

you

receive

this." l

Madame

la Duchesse

was

also

period greatlydepressed. Throughout the

of her liaison with Henry, and
at the
period
years
when
the royalfiat severed the engagemeut
between
herself and Bellegarde,
the oath of the king one day to
their union had reconciled Gabrielle d'Estrees
legalize
which she alone had dared openly to
to the position
"
tive
degrading."Contentions had arisen relapronounce
to the form to be observed
at the baptism of her
youngest son, born during the springof the year at
at

this

Nantes.

Henry

Gabrielle insisted that the rite should

be formed
perde
befitting
unfils France.

with

the honours

was

willingto gratifythe
1

Lettres

Missives,vol.

ambition

5.

of his

32

HENRI

la Duchesse

that madame
the

societyof

IV.

[1598

had

stirred from

never

virgins. Her dress and her

manners
were
perfectin modesty and taste, so that
for suspicion."
the king could find no room
M. de Sillery,
meanwhile, whose ambassage excited
left Paris on his mission about
much
so
speculation,
the

end

vestal

of October.

His

for the

immediate

with

Marguerite

marriage

instructions
dissolution
de

Valois

to

were

"

gotiate
ne-

of

Henry's

to

forward

connected
with his
copiesof every document
given
majesty'sespousalswith that princesswere
delivered to the amto Sillery
bassador
were
; all of which
during the king's sojourn at Fontaineimportant despatch of
bleau, excepting the most
for the
and
demand
all the
to
queen's assent
divorce.
M. L'Angloiswas
sent
by Rosny to Usson
which

"

to

confer with
which

The

the
to

was

divorce

queen,

and

be forwarded

being

assented

to

obtain

by
to

this

express
by his

rial,
memo-

Rome.

to

holiness,

commissioned
to ask for a dispensanext
was
tion
Sillery
granting license to his majesty to espouse sa
cousine la duchesse de Beaufort; and to legitimatize,
though not to render capable of succession to the
Cesar -Monsieur

crown,

Lastly, M.
of

by
the

the

the
duke

cardinal

mediator

at

and

his

infant

brother.

negotiatethe question
cession of the marquisate of Saluzzo
de Savoye ; the pope, by his envoy
de Medici, having offered himself as
the conferences precedingthe peace of
de

Sillerywas

to

Vervins.

Queen Marguerite,when
apprized that
in realitycontemplatedplacingher crown
head of his mistress,expressedto Rosny in

Henry
on
no

the
sured
mea-

guerite
language her disgustand disapproval.Marto have been
seems
secretly
supportedin her

AND

1599.]

MARIE

DE

33

MEDICI.

opposition
by the sympathy of most of the chief
nobles,who entered into correspondencewith her
majesty on the question. By these personages
is

there

doubt

no

withhold

her

words

to

divorce,unless

cardinal

at

were

From

counsels

of the

counselled

was

queen

d'Estrees

same

ponderedover
daughterswere

aside.

set

The

to

assent

of Gabrielle

the

the

and
de

Rome

most

the queen

ceived
re-

promised support.
Medici
were
deeply

by Henry's nobles
amongst the

the sions
pretenand authoritatively
once

whose

wives

and

bitter of Gabrielle's

L'Anglois,therefore,instead of bringing
much
desired petition
the pope
from
to

opponents.
the

Usson, carried a letter from the queen to M. de

refused to
Rosny, in which Margueriteabsolutely
stir in the matter
of her divorce,unless the king
gave

his word

should

of honour

be excluded

for the honour

from

that

Gabrielle

d'Estrees

the list of future candidates

of his

alliance. The queen

majesty's
"
in the will to
wrote, that although she continued
his majesty'sdesires relative to a divorce,her
meet
so
indignationwas
greatlykindled at the fact of
which
she was
now
assured,that the king intended
to give her place to madame
la Duchesse
a
lady
lost in repute by her connection
with his majesty,
that she, who
before had exacted
neither condition
nor
pledge from the king, now
requireda
solemn promiseand engagement
excluding the said
alliance with the king,before
ladyfrom legitimate
she could consent
to her own
divorce,or forward
whatever to the Holy See." l Marguerite
any petition
of compulsionor persecution
added, that no amount
could make her change her resolution : inasmuch
as
the pleasset forth in the act of divorce would not
"

"

Sully Economies
"

VOL.

II.

Royales,p. 404, vol. 1, in

fol.
D

34

HENRI

IV.

[1598

be fulfilledby the elevation of madame

to

whit

the

"

of

queen

renown
spotless

assail.

Rosny

to

the

led him

obstacles

to

reflect

to

procure
of queen
with.

former

on
seriously

attend

king manifested
other

the

divorce

should
and

majesty;

on

and

be

that
and

his ject.
prothe contrary,
timated
in-

adopted

the

should

tion
sanc-

be dispensed

in
certainlymore
with
accordance
Henry's subsequent proceedings,
than
the indecisive and half relenting
condition of
mind indicated
by Rosny, who is always prone to
It is
to his hero.
assigna kind of mental prescience
certain that no subsequent modifications
made
were
in the instructions of M.
de Sillery
: indeed, when
the
of
non-consent
Marguerite de Valois was
for divorce by
to
sue
alleged,Henry threatened
reason

attitude

its

the innumerable

show,

Marguerite might
This

his

great anger

methods

by

that

asserts

the realization of

historical documents

that the
that

communicated

was

The

dauphin,whose

great impressionon

likelyto

Other

letter

king.

made

contents

and

This

of

hostile combination

future

rightsbeing intact,no

the throne

on

fleursde lis; and the birth of

could

la Duchesse

of the past adulteries

unchastityof
Usson.

the

Evidence
of

life she
was

is

of the queen
was

forthwith

and

the

actuallyleadingat
collected by command

the

king relative to the birth of her two

children,in case the obduracy of queen
illegitimate
Marguerite rendered such a course
indispensable.
other
flecting
Amongst
writings of this period rethe
moral
on
turpitudeof the queen
famous
Discours
appeared the
Satyrique; in
which
with

Marguerite's

deviations

were

recounted

and
revoltingcoarseness
indecency. These
in
borne
it should
be
threateningproceedings,

MARIE

AND

1599.]

DE

35

MEDICI.

instituted to coerce
the queen into
not
mind, were
in which Marguerite
a
measure
consenting to a divorce
account
to
was
ready enough on her own
dition
join but to compel the queen to withdraw the conwhich
she had imposed to her assent
the
royalpromise not to bestow the diadem she was
about
Gabrielle d'Estrees.
to
The
on
relinquish
queen'sletter was shown by Rosny to the chancellor
de Cheverny,that
throughmadame deSourdis it might
be communicated
la Duchesse.
to madame
Gabrielle,
however, and her clique which comprehended Cheverny, the secretary Forget sieur du Fresne, the
the princes
of
bishop of Evreux, Sillery,
ostensibly
de Sourdis,
the marshal de BaLorraine, madame
lagny,and the constable de Montmorency derided
this notification ; and urged the king to make
still
manifestations
of his will.
The
overt
more
royal
enlisted in the cause
of the
even
physicianswere
favourite ; and la Riviere ventured, it was
said,to
his fears,
known
make
to his royal master
arising
"

"

"

"

"

certain

from

observations

recent

malady,that

would

bestow

of

Gabrielle

declaration

on

made

future

no

the nation

indiscreet

were

public;

result was,
the duchess

of
px-egnancy
during the ensuingmonth
with

from

by
to

M.

current

of

king's

marriageof his majesty

dauphin. The friends
enough to render this

the

fourth

allusions became

during the

that

to

the

announced

was

December,

relative

when

scandalous

her asserted intimacy

tracted
Bellegarde,whose hastilyconmarriagehad been followed by a separation
his bride.
The king,nevertheless,
stood
loyally

his mistress.
have

banished

de

The
any

projects. Orders were

the royal divorce

condition

of Gabrielle

indecision
lingering
transmitted
with

ardour

to
:

in

Henry's

Rome

and

seems

to

Henry
D

sue
pur-

ful-

36

HENRI

IV.

[1598

of the duchess
triumphant aspiration
by
commanding the baptism of her young son, with the
This final
and parade of un enfantde France.
pomp
concession appears to have been received,
by all but
by Rosny, as indicative of a resolve on the part of
his majesty to espouse
the duchesse despiteof the
tion
protests and discontent of his people. In the exultaof anticipated
de Beaufort
triumph, madame
terposed
disregardedthe perilof her position her life inbetween
the realization
the people and
the peace of
of their legitimatedesire to behold
the realm placed on
the firmest basis; a court
at
the Louvre, such as had once
cial
promoted the commerinterests of the capital
of a
; and the recognition
The
to the throne of St. Louis.
successor
legitimate
the king
adherents
and even
of Gabrielle d'Estrees,
of consequences,
in
himself,evinced a cruel disregard
which placedthe unfortunate
encouragingpretensions
duchess in a position
so
perilous.Henry lingeredat
Monceaux
during the month of October and part of
which
the king
November.
During this interval,
of his health,Henry mediated
gave to the recruiting
in a fierce quarrelwhich
between
ensued
M. de
Rosny and the duke d'Epernon, on a questionof
filled the

"

finance.

In

his

zealous

treasure, Eosny found

investigationsto

defalcations

in

the

amass

returns

Limoges, and on enquiryreceived

in question
that the sum
had been diverted
response
of M. d'Epernon. Rosny lodged a
by command
complaint against the duke, and entered such on
the public register,
without
previouslynotifying
altercation enhis intent or inquiry. An
sued,
angry
in
which
were
Rosny's susceptibilities
wounded
by the allusions of the haughty Epernon to
the lack of illustrious personages
in the pedigreeof
from

the district of
"

AND

1599.]

MARIE

DE

MEDICI.

37

which
subject,
exasperatedRosny more
attack merely personal. The
chancellor
than any
interposedto reconcile the combatants ; while his
majestywrote from Monceaux, on being informed of
the fracas,refusingto hear the statements
of M.
d'Epernon, and commanding Rosny to suffer the
Bethune

"

affair to subside.

by Henry while at
Monceaux, directingthat the valuable manuscripts
and books which
had appertained
to the late queenmother
be united
his library;and the
should
to
whole committed
of M. de Thou, whom
to the care
his majestyappointedroyallibrarian in the room
of
The celebrated
Amyot bishopof Auxerre, deceased.
collected by cardinal Ridolfi,
Byzantinemanuscripts,
had fallen into the possession
Catherine on
of queen
the death
of her cousin-german,marshal
Strozzi.
As their value was
seized on
the
great, they were
demise
of the queen
by her creditors ; and had since
remained
in deposit,
of
waitingthe final commands
the king,in the house of Pietro Benciveni,nephew
of the late queen's librarian,
M. de Bellebranche.
The
books
left in the Louvre
by Henry III.,and
the libraries appertaining
the king'sBearnnois
to
had been temporarilydepositedin the college
castles,
de Clermont.
De Thou, however, caused these
also the valuable
books,queen Catherine's manuscripts,
collection formed by Francis I. at Fontainebleau,
to be transported
he arranged
to the Louvre
; where
and classifiedthe rare Oriental and Italian manuscripts,
and French
records,and which eventuallyformed
the nucleus of that wonderful
collection of printed
books and manuscripts the Bibliotheque
lioyale.1
The approachingdebates in the parliament,
relaA

mandate

was

also issued

"

Now

termed

"

BibliothequeImperiale."

38

tive

HENRI

IV.

[1598

the

of the edict of Nantes ; and

registration
the pageant of the baptismof the son
of the king,at
lengthcompelledGabrielle and Henry to quit their
to

favourite

retreat

the

baptism of

the

staircase

at

the

Monceaux.
infant

The

of

ceremony

performedat
St. Germain
13th.
The godon
Sunday December
father
the count
de Soissons,who, beholding
was
Madame
affianced and
of marriage,
the eve
on
deemed
it politic
the king. The godto propitiate
mother
Diane de France,duchess d'Angouleme,
was
and dowager of Montmorency. The child received
the name
destined by the
of Alexandre
was
; and
king for the honours of the purple The ceremonial
was
arranged in strict accordance with that observed
the occasion of royalbaptisms. A
on
bed, magnificently
hung with white satin,ten feet square,
and
with a counterpane of cloth of gold
covered
bordered
with
to
erected, whereon
ermine, was
shalled
mardeposit the infant, whilst the chamberlains
the procession. The
royal guards lined
the archers
the

the

of the

portalof

kettledrums

and

corridor

Scotch

the castle
and

chamber

princewas

to

of

chateau

the

guard kept
the church.

trumpets,

the way from

First marched

heralds, gentlemen

bearing lighted torches, and

militaryofficers stationed at St. Germain.

knightsof St. Espritfollowed,precedingthe
this
ewer;

son
illegitimate

the duke

de

of the
Retz

of

the
The
men
noble-

bearing the various vessels used during the

For
mony.
carried the

and

cere-

king,Brissac

the

basin; the

Joyeuse the towel, fringedwith gold; the

duke
d'Epernon the torch of virgin wax ; and
child was
the duke de Montpensier the salt. The
carried
de Lavardin
train of
by monsieur
; the
his baptismal
mantle
of cloth of silver being borne
duke

de

40

HENRI

she

presence,

accused

was

bigotry:
were
principles
;

grantedto

her.

of sullenness

and

rian
secta-

appeared,her dignityand her

outraged by the presence of madame
and
by the extraordinary
precedency
illustrious ladies of the

The

most

to

grace

assembled

the

evening

festivities.

his young
affianced Marie
de Lorraine,
eldest daughterof the duke de Mayenne,
The

duke

[1598

if she

la Duchesse

court

IV.

de Nevers

and

yenne,
appeared; also,the duke d'Aguillonheir of Masister of Nevers.
and
his betrothed,the
he was
accused
Rosny and his lively
consort, whom
of ruling
with the hard sway he wielded over
the clerks
of his majesty's
rite
treasury,made salutation to the favoude Guise, sparkling
and flippant,
; mademoiselle
took

diversion

garde
the

and

de

in

flirtingwith

Bouillon,being

latter in

duchess

of

point and
Mayenne was

the dukes
well

de

Belle-

matched

with

of repartee.
facility
also present. Though

The
now

happilyrelieved from the cruel anxieties which beset

the subsequent
her during the siege of Paris,and
interval of warfare and negotiation,
the duchess still
lamented
fallen.

the
Madame

evil lines within

de

which

her

lot

had

Mayenne was now

jealousof the
her husband, who, relieved from
duke
the arduous
office of Chief of the Union, sought diversion,
after
the fashion of his brother Guise, amongst the fair
This propensityde conter fieurette
ladies of Paris.
her to keep
disgustedthe duchess and induced
watch
the hours spent abroad by her
over
vigilant
this inconvenient
To
disarm
consort.
curiosity,
M.
de Mayenne at night often dressed his secretary
fore
bein his robe de chambre, and placed him
in the cabinet de bureau,
the writing-table
If madame
he usuallyworked.
de Mayenne
at which
of the proceedings
entered to take cognizance

MARIE

AND

1599.]

DE

41

MEDICI.

his
monseigneur,the secretary gravelywaved
when
of the duke
the custom
cupied
ochand, as was
a
always understood
signal which was
;
truder.1
of the inretirement
command
the respectful
to
did Mayenne evade the
In such manner
espionnageof his fretful consort ; who at this time
monopolizedby the advantageous
was, nevertheless,
of

alliances of her

children

with

the house

of Nevers.

performedin honour of the

grand ballet was
le ballet des cinq
little prince Alexandre, termed
the
the chief performers in which
were
nations
the
and Nemours, and Bellegarde,
dukes de Rohan
count
d'Auvergne, and the marquis de Coeuvres
nated
The evening termibrother of Gabrielle d'Estrees.
by an exhibition of dancingon the tightrope
by a young Italian who also vaulted,and performed
various feats of legerdemainand conjuringto the
A

"

"

of the illustrious spectators,and

of his majesty.2 This
recorded

great entertainment

it is
especially
splendidfestival enjoyed and passed,its penalties
had to be endured, as the king soon
experienced.
elate and content
de Beaufort,indeed,was
Madame
:
silent and sad ; and Rosny, who conbut Madame
templated
was
bill of costs, preservedcynical
a serious
of his great nobles
gravity. By the demeanour
bearance
Henry perceivedthat he had tested their forowned
to its fullest limit : his majestyeven
had been
exceeded ; for
to Rosny that his orders
that he had
a
never
contemplated so pompous
the bill on the treasury was
brought
display.When
to
on
taking up the
Rosny for his visa,the latter,
document
containingthe various items connected
entered
with the solemnity,
perceivedthat they were
1

Tallement

MS.

Bibl.

des Reaux

"

Historiette

Imp. Suppl.fr.;1644.

vii.

42

for

HENRI

IV.

[1598

the

of Monsieur
baptismal ceremony
Jils de
The
not
to be
France.
indignationof Rosny was
repressed. He refused to sign the paper, which he
retained in order that the document
might be recoThese
pied, and the royal appellationomitted.
erasures
diminishingby one-half the fees of the
officials employed, a great clamour
and the
arose
chamber
of Rosny was
besiegedby angry disputants.
" Go
!
and
then replied
:
Rosny listened in silence,
messieurs
this is folly
that there are no
know
: you
children of France!"
Thinkingitprudentto inform the
king of the pendingagitation,
Rosny entered the presence
in his hand.
with the offending
document
Henry
of the castle with Epernon
was
walking in the gallery
and others.
said Rosny boldly,"if you
"Sire!"
"

"

suffer this document

declare

yourselfthe
"

Beaufort."
du

to

!"

Fresne

This
l

said

husband

is

had

pass, you

of

piece of

the
the

better

at

duchesse

the paper;
"it shall not succeed
the wickedness
of the world.

de

of M.

malice

king, after glancing

the

once

over

Messieurs,admire

Here, there has been

brought this paper to M. de Rosny, which, if he had
signed,he would have offended me grievously and
it is hoped to
by which, if he refrains from signing,
embroil
him
with ma
The
maitresse /"
king,then
taking Rosny aside, expressed himself
angrily
the meddling officiousness of certain friends of
on
"

la

madame
Gabrielle

Duchesse, but advised

and

mistress in

my

if you

cannot

said

repairedto
1

the

Forget,Sieur
and

explain.

"

You

him

to

wait

upon
will be certain to find

violent

passion; but heed her not

terfere!"
inpacify her, I will authoritatively
Henry, doubtfully.Rosny upon this
he
apartments of the duchess,whom
a

du

of state,an
Fresne,under-secretary

relative of la Duchesse.

"

rent
adhe-

AND

1599

DE

MARIE

43

MEDICI.

ence
incensed at his interferkingpredicted,
M. du Fresne,under-secretary
of state,having
She received Rosny with a burst
justhad audience.
misleading
of passionate
reproach,accusinghim of wilfully
the king ; and of making his majestybelieve
"
Ho ! ho ! madame," rethat black was
white !
torted
"
Rosny, nettled at such a reception, as you
to kiss
such demeanour, 1 have the honour
assume
fulfil my duty!"
I shall,
nevertheless,
your hands.
to be disregarded,
The anger of the duchess was
not
than one
however
more
occasion,
; for Rosny, on
the result of her private
had
had
to
rue
cause
therefore returned
interviews
with the king. He
the

found,as
"

to

the

presence,
de Beaufort

before
warm

her

anger.

but

the

and
The

his

addition

words

the

of

feud

the

to

of

prompt

own

temper

prospect of

Gabrielle,in

and

related

and

dame
ma-

retreat

the

king was
between
Rosny

vexatious

cabals

ragingaround, overpowered the equanimity of his

ence
majesty. Henry could not afford to suffer the influnished
of his faithful Rosny to be dimiand prestige
amid counsellors whose aim, with few exceptions,
was
privateinterest ; and who would rejoice
to

promote discord between

la Duchesse.

see

A lions ! "

Rosny'saccount.

to

shall

"

that

woman

the

exclaimed
"

shall

madame

latter and

tening
Henry, after lis-

Come

with

never

control

me

;
me.

you

disgraceor neglect,for her, one who like

yourself,
Rosny, lives only to promote my glory and
excited ; and
much
interest !
The
king seemed
la
spoke bitterlyof the imprudence of madame
Duchesse
and her friends,in attempting to give le
Henry,
petitAlexandre the title of jilsde France.
nial
however, forgot that in sanctioningthe ceremoonly for a son of France, he had himself
proper
will

not

"

44

IV.

HENRI

conceded
tacitly
followed

the rank

[1598
that it almost

and

sarily
neces-

that Gabrielle and her relatives should

seek the

of such concession ; to say

after-recognition
ralds
nothingof the fees clamorouslydemanded
by the heand other state officials,
who, having officiated
at a royalbaptism,
expected to be rewarded
by its
emoluments.
at

that

de Beaufort

Madame

the threshold

Rosny's report

received

his

jesty
ma-

of her

saloon,doubting not

would

soon

bring

visit.

Henry refrained from bestowing his accustomed

but gravelyled her to an
greetingon his mistress,
adjacent chamber, followed by Rosny, and closed
"
the door.
His majesty,then takingthe hand of his
and graspingmine, said
madame
mistress,
addressing
"

la Duchesse
him

to

"

devote

that the
himself

true
to

reason

her

was

which
the

had

induced
and

sweetness

that now,
to his
disposition
; but
great regret, he perceivedthat he had been deceived.
He then reproached madame
la Duchesse
for the
evil counsels she adopted,and said that, judging of
actions from
their effects,
I alone was
the person
He
then
trulyattached to his person and renown.
her anger
ordered the duchess to surmount
against
of
amiability

me,

and

her

follow my
dismiss me
to
to

advice,as it was

not

his intention

pleaseherself." The duchess,

drew
She withat this language,
surprised
began to weep.
her hand, and hazarded
tirade against
an
angry
Rosny. She said that,after givingherself and her
affection to the king,she now
beheld
herself sacrificed
that she begged his
to pleasehis valet ; and
the evil offices which
M.
de
majestyto remember
rendered to their children.
The
Rosny perpetually
duchess,apparentlyoverwhelmed
by the retrospect,
then fell on a couch weeping,and declared that she
to

could not

survive

the

bitter affronts offered

to

her.

"

MARIE

AND

1599.]

relates Rosny.
Henry narrowly,"

I watched

that his heart

felt the

griefof

Rosny

been

his

have

would

of

warrants

Henry,

"

the facts are

"

simple
"

againstmy

which

you

to

demands

abandon

desire

have

to

forced

to

de

the

many

quer
exche-

retorted
artifices :

inexpedient!"
Beaufort," I see that it

me.

occupy
me.

so

umphed
tri-

Alexandre

"Madame,"

resort

madame

intention

baptism of

France.

your

have

must

filed amongst

been

not

Sire,"exclaimed

is your
was

need

you

duchess

roll of the

the

I perceived

"

quailed; and that he keenly

mistress."
Doubtless, had not

present, the

; and

Monsieur

45

MEDICI.

DE

are

Remember
this

Why

that it

into
position,
have

you

Rosny to hear these the hardest and

cruel things that man
1
most
can
say to woman
The griefof his mistress,the cynicaleye of Rosny,
and
the promise that he had
made
to the latter,
"
that no
creased
that he should see
ruled him," inwoman
of Henry. The
the anger and embarrassment
duchess in her passionforgotthat her victorylay in
until the departureof Rosny relieved the king
silence,
witness of his subserviencyto
and
from
a
censor
her charms.
"Pardieu,madame," angrilyresponded
"
on
Henry, I see that you talk this nonsense
purpose
dismiss Rosny, whom
to make
I cannot
me
spare.
if I were
reduced to the deplorable
Madame,
sity,
necesI could better dispensewith ten mistresses like
like Rosny !
servant
yourself,than with one
So saying,Henry turned
leave the apartment.
to
The duchess,who had never
before heard herself so
ing,
addressed,arrested his majestywith a cry ; and, risshe fell at his feet. Rosny was
far too astute to
abandon
the king at this criticalmoment, knowing that
all would surelythen be lost ; and that the mandate
the littleAlexandre
as
a princeof the
acknowledging
brought M.

de

"

"

46

HENRI

blood

was

much

consoled

moved

further

some

[1598

Henry raised the

being himself almost

certain to be conceded.

duchess, and
as

IV.

as

her

"
"

his beautiful
the

conference

mistress."

After

duchess, accordingto

Rosny, consented to the postponement of her son's

nister
the presumptuous miclaim ; and promisedto forgive
who
had abetted,and in fact suggestedthe
royalveto.1 Had Rosny, however, been one of the
enthusiastic promoters of the marriage of mamost
he could not
tendered
dame
have
more
Gabrielle,
to suspend
sage advice than to counsel the duchess
the recognition
of her son's royal title. Paris was
cited
exagainin the throes of another religious
agitation,
of the edict of Nantes to the
by the presentation
parliamentof Paris. The king,out of complimentto
the legatede Medici,commanded
that the debates
should be postponed until he had quittedthe realm.
The

greatest

of ultramontane

amount

zeal

was

played
dis-

by the cures of Paris ; who againcommenced

their peculiar
styleof oratory from the pulpitsof the
It was
had been
as public
capital.
proposed,
processions
interdicted,
except on the written license of the privycouncil giventhrough the cardinal-bishop,
to parade
the Host under a canopy through the streets,as practised
in Spain; a custom
observed
in Paris.
never
Many of the cures
eagerlygave assent to the proposal,
which Rosny characterized as a " ceremony
of
rather than a ceremony
of religion
and it
sedition,
;
further agreedto ringthe bells of each parishas
was
the procession
when the inhabitants
entered its precincts,
"

of every street were

to be exhorted
themselves at the doors of their houses to
Host.
the

Incredible

scandal

and

violence

to

present

salute

the

ensued,until

and petitioned
the king to
parliamentinterfered,
1

Mem.

du

due

de

Sully,liv. lOeme.

48

HENRI

IV.

[1.198

fied edict of Henri

Quatre, granted in good faith and

realized,
sympathy, was a bond fidelaw, to be applied,
and if its working fell short of the royal intent,to
be

amended

again

himself

and

of his victories

enlarged. Henry availed

and popularityto carry this

edict

No
monarch
ever
through the Chambers.
influence.
In
more
sturdilyrejected ultramontane
the mind
of Henry the difference
between
papal
was
authorityin affairs temporal and matters
spiritual
ceased through his
clearlydefined. The king never
ambassadors
in Rome
the humble
to professhimself
the
discipleof the pope in religious
concerns
; but
independence of his judgment in secular affairs was
from
emphaticallysignified.Not the least moved
his purpose
by the factious protests of his subjects
of Paris,Henry returned
his capitalafter the
to
festival of Christmas.
then
Every influence was
used to win over
the chief courtiers,to join in the

protests and
the

king by

waited

to

The

the Chambers.

madame

on

about

remonstrances

induce

la Duchesse
the

clause of the edict which

king

the

"

of

his

least the

no

to

the

"
that
replied,

avail; that

she

majesty, which
nothing
him
did she
induce
could
to
relinquish
; neither
herself understand
what objectioncould be made
to
of Huguenots to the Chambers, as they
the admission
were
loyal,true-hearted subjects.The king,at the
de la Cour, had been clement
enough
request of MM.
of the late League to sit in his
to
permit members
had
borne arms
who
Chambers
men
againsthim :
she therefore declined the office obligingly
proposed
knew

resolve

of

at

Protestants

Gabrielle
be

to

position
request her inter-

modify

admitted

highestoffices in the state.

would
her interposition

offered

be

presidentSeguier
to

to

to

MARIE

AND

1199.]

by M. le President."
pleasedthe Huguenots ; so
to

her

de

Bouillon

name

of

This

to

communities

greatly

answer

so, that

much

visited the duchess

the Protestant

49

MEDICI.

DE

thank

the

duke

her in the

of the

realm

and
king in such politic
Gabrielle possessedalways a eervirtuous resolves.
She
tain popularity
with the Huguenots of France.
them ; and,by the
used her influence against
never
of her charms, the king,it was
believed,had
power
been restrained from offering
to heal all feuds by espousing
the infanta Dona
Isabel.
The priests
continued
to agitate
throughout the periodof Henry's
were
sojourn in Paris. Some arrests
consequently
in the parishof St. Severin, the cure
made
; as
refused absolution to his penitents,
until they had
taken oath to oppose the registration
of the obnoxious
edict by every means
possible.One Beraud, a
ported
actuallyso transcaptainof the city wards, was
with fervour,
that,by the counsel of several
of the cures, he waited upon the duke de Mayennc,
and asked if his highnesswas
his
willingto resume
old role of the Chief of the Union, as a strong section
of the capital
waited only his orders to enrol?
The
duke prudentlyconsignedhis petitioner
to the
custodyof the archers of his majesty'sguard; who
conveyed him at once to the dungeous of the Chatelet.2 A council extraordinarywas
summoned
by
the king,to intimate his final resolve on the edict.
His majestyremarked
his will the edict
that it was
should be registered
need not
; that the Chambers
take exceptionat the presence
of loyalHuguenots,
when
rebellious leaguers
had been admitted
to share
in the deliberations,
whom
he had
promoted to

and

her

to pray

VOL.

to

Bibl.

Ibid.

II.

confirm the

Imp.

MS.

Suppl,fr.,fol.1644.
E

50

HENEI

posts of honour
then

Mayenne,
weary

of

war

and

IV.

[1508

confidence,to

which

present, might certify.That

and

had

borne

arras

with

the

M.
he

de
was

nots
Hugue-

during the space of eighteenyears, who were

people not to be so easilybeaten in the field as the
orthodox
lords supposed; in testimonyof which he
appealedto M. de Soissons. Three pitched battles
would not break their strength
he ashamed
was
; nor
surrounded
reluctant to confess that,when
or
by his
brave Huguenots, he had always felt certain of victory
e(
it is my unalterable
:
therefore,
Messeigneurs,
will that this my
edict shall be accepted,
registered,
1
No
and
one
punctuallyexecuted."
replied
; and
the council separated. Henry took precautionsto
the peace of the capitalbefore his departure
ensure
from the Louvre.
Rosny remained in Paris ; also
Montmorency, and Bouillon,that fierce champion
of the Huguenots. Throughout the followingtwo
the utmost
months
: the Sorbonne
agitation
prevailed
the university
and
joined in the clamour and petitioned
advised by his council
the king. Henry was
the registration
to the Palais,command
to go down
further debate
the
of the edict, and
on
suppress
his prerogative
matter
; but the king declined to use
his majestysaid,
as
except in extremity preferring,
"
open abuse to privateslander."
The entry of the duke de Bar, accompaniedby his
brother,M. de Vaudemont, and the cardinal de
Lorraine, with a suite of 300 gentlemen,allayed
dissensions prevalent.
for a few days the vehement
The
peoplecheered the prince whose errand was
into Lorraine,Madame
with
back
her
to
carry
for the
preche,and her chaplains.No dispensation
celebration of the marriage had arrived ; the pope
"

"

MS.

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl.fr.,fol.

1644.

1599

MARIE

AND

DE

51

MEDICI.

unless
obduratelyrefused to sanction the alliance,
authorized by the abjuration
of Madame.1
previously
D'Ossat
passedmorningsin the papalante-chamber ;
cardinal minister,who
in that of Aldobrandini
or
did all he could

to

the wishes

promote

of his Christian

majesty. Clement, despiteevery solicitation,

remained
dinals
firmlyresolved,by the advice of the carde Medici and Bellarmine,
not to issue dispensation
titude
that at the last the for; his holiness believing
of Madame
would
yield. The duke de Bar
the contrary, entered with alacrity
and his father,
on
into the views of king Henry ; the duke
alleged
that the end and the motive consecrated the design,
conform.
and that when once
must
married,Madame
sions
The
princessmeanwhile
permittedher future deciacted upon
to be canvassed
sturdily
; but very
The homage of M. de Bar appresent conviction.
pears
nevertheless
of

Madame,

have

to

whose

mollified the sentiments

sedate

and

masculine

intellect

by the deference of her future spouse

gratified
The
the princess
besides,
longedto quit the court.
duke,however, prayedhis affianced bride to confer,
both orthodox and
before her marriage,
with doctors,
this concession.
reformed; while the king prescribed
and a conference ensued
made no objection:
Madame
between
the doctor Duval and her chaplain
Telenus,
was

"

VIII.

Clement

addressed

aveugle que

et les votres

vous

que

vous

attendez

allez faire ;

to the duke

in which

Oil est votre

est la crainte de Dieu

Brief

his holiness says

allez de gaietede cceur
vous

Ferrara,8th Oct.,1 598,

si

?
on

point que nous

tel manage
un
apostolique
soufrirons plutotque notre
parmembre, etc."

vertu

ou

Avisez-vous

est votre

bieu

une

de

Bar,
"

dated

Etes-vous

perdre,vous
prudence? Oil

et deux

fois

ce

pointde Dieu ! Ne vous

dispensions
jamais de notre autorite
le ferous jamais: nous
nous
ne
; car

ne

se

corps

moque

soit dechire

et ecartele membre

52

HENRI

and

others,in

be

not

listen

Madame

court.

expectedto ask
disputantswhile

the

to

[1593

of the

presence

of the

personages
she should
to

the

IV.

illustrious

most

that
stipulated
; or
any questions
sittingin state.

holden
in the
was
Accordingly the conference
saloon adjoiningthe bedchamber
of Madame,
into
which
she retired,
and, as it was afterwards alleged,
fell asleepon her bed.
The doctor Duval
acquitted
himself more
learnedlythan advisedly
; and filledhis
discourse

with

argument

erudite

so

afford

to

as

and
ample scope for ridicule.1 Telenus
replied
;
mockingly confessed that to comprehend the arguments
of

the

to

have

subtle

so

feared

been

that

the

king

whether

her

been

touched

by

She

replied in
then

had

was

of conversion.
asked

conference,was
intellect
address

the

the

her

to

the
had

had

she

negative. The

exhorted

by

conscience

her

or

quisite
re-

upwards in
he
consequently,

chance

no

indeed

birth

divinity
; and

Madame

after

it

from

trained

school of

Madame,

Sorbonnist

learned

follow

just heard"?
fianced,
duke, her afthe

illustrious

example of his majesty. " In every circumstance,

monsieur, the example of my brother is an invariable
guide, exceptingin matters
concerningthe law of
God ! replied
Madame.2
Henry, it is recorded,on
his future
hearing this response turned towards
brother-in-law,
saying," You hear,monseigneur! I
have
done
all in my
to change sentiments
power
which
I deplore: it will be for you
hereafter to
! 3
The
marriage concompel their recognition
"

"

he

Journal

only

tenans

de

Henri

TV.

the

saloon

entered

commencaient

D'Aubigne"

Pereilxe

"

Hist.

"

Sully says
conference
"lorsque les
la fatigue."
a

Sully,liv.
of

succomber

lOeme.

Universale, t. 3, ch.

Hist, de Henri

le Grand.

13.

that
deux

AND

I59S.]

MARIE

DE

53

MEDICI.

nevertheless,
signed with all accustomed
formalities.
The king gave his sister a further portion
of 300,000 gold crowns,
the
dowry of a
over,
moredaughter of France : 40,000 crowns
were,
presentedby Henry to Madame, to defraythe
of the royalmantle to be worn
cost
at the nuptial
ceremony.1 The wealth which Madame
brought
the duke
consoled
de Lorraine
for the heresy of
his future daughter-in-law;
his pecuniaryaffairs
as
embarrassed
from his participation
in the wars
were
of the League.
The
that
princessnext demanded
her
marriage should be celebrated by Protestant
ministers.
This
proposalthrew the duke de Bar
into extreme
consternation : being both weak
and
excitable, he wept when
requiredto sanction such
tween
an
enormity. Thereupon high words ensued bethe king and his sister2 more
vigorousthan
consistent with their exalted dignity. M. de
was
then requestedto mediate ; but, having
llosny was
remembrance
of Madame's
a wholesome
rative
vitupehe declined to interfere.
The
king
powers,
then decided that the ceremony
should be performed
fore
accordingto the Romish ritual. His majestytheresummoned
the cardinal Gondy, and requested
him to solemnize
the marriagerites. Gondy positively
declined; and remarked, "that the veto of
Home
prevented any of the orthodox
clergy from
could they fail
: neither
performingsuch ceremony
so
greatlyin respect and Christian duty to the sister
tract

was,

"

Lettres

Missives,t.

5.

MS.

Bibl.

Imp.

F.

Dupuy, 407,

fol. 27.
2

Henry

especially
exasperatedat the female cohort around
He
Madame.
tion
suspected these ladies of prompting the resoluevinced
by his sister ; and counselled the duke de Bar to
dismiss them
all on
their arrival in Nancy" advice which M.
de Bar had not spirit
to follow.
was

54

of their

sovereignas

riagewhich

would

issue of such
whenever

it

from

to

pretend to
bond

no

plensedM.
had

de

[1598

be

Bar

conversion

solemnize

all ;

at

as

the

mar-

children,

proclaimedbastards
so

weight

no

the future

on

IV.

could
alliance,

consideration
relied

be

HENRI

to

with

decree."
the

This

king, who

of Madame

ward

to

her

offspringsuch disastrous consequences

;
his power
on
tion,
eventuallyto procure the dispensaand enforce its concession,
if needed.
tion
Applicamade
to several other
prelates
;
was, therefore,

and

but

the

refusal

same

elicited.

was

Madame'

guenot
Hu-

triumphed: and the duke de Bar

fell from his previouselation into the depthsof despair.
fertile in expeever
Henry, however, was
dients
bishop
archhis policy,
his will. The
to achieve
or
ministers

of Rouen

morals

prelate,
however, of
promotion to the see

"

the kind's illegitimatebrother1

was

his

as
was

an

the

act

of

notice

Rouen

that
licentious,
had

been

garded
re-

The
bishop
archsacrilegious.
companion of the marshal de

almost

boon

Roquelaure,2whose liaison with

had
son, Angelique d'Estrees,
the

so

of madame

the abbess of Maubuisrecommended

la Duchesse.

him

to

Roquelaure,

Henry's chamberlains,before
the accession of his majestyto the throne of France ;
had
and
been, in that capacity,intrusted by the
of many
king with the management
privatematters.
was

moreover,

Son

of

Antoine

one

of

king

of

Navarre, by mademoiselle

de

Rouet.

Roquelaure faisoit ave" l'archevequetous les soirs,des

plus que galant." In 1604 a great change occurred in
soupers
aroused
the life of the archbishop,whose
conscience
was
by a
horrible incident.
He
office,and
gave
up his archiepiscopal
he spent the last
retired to his abbey of Marmoutiers, where
He died in
and devotion.
of his life in rigorouspenance
years
2

"

1010.

50

HENRI

that

unless

of his

the

[1598

remonstrance

by

the

archbishopobeyed

the

commands

his

concluded

laure

IV.

and

royal brother

patron he

threat

divulge

would

iniquitousimport often on the

lipsof the prelate; "which, if revealed,adieu to
and
to
your
your crozier and mitre, monseigneur,
of
of Gaillon,with 10,000 crowns
beautiful mansion
!

revenue

kindle
in

Well

the

might

she reflected

to

and

"

'

"

when

order

Bar

of

words

certain

union

wonder

can

at

to

with the duke

de

indignationwith

the

she retorted on
subsequently,
when
he used to
offensive epithet,
an
she occupiedat
the equivocal
position

which,a
with

Madame

resorted

the devices

on

accomplishher

none

of

anger

ther
her bro-

year

taunt

her

the court

of Lorraine.

arguments of Roquelaure having dissipated

The
the

real
reluctance,

de Rouen

received

levee of

the

the

wearied

commands

king

on

Resolved

January, 1599.
which

pretended,of

or

to

the

last

at

day

of

the dissension

terminate

him, Henry

M.
prelate,

present himself

Sunday
to

the

obviated

further

tra-

place where the ceremony

to be performed,by decidingthat the marriage
was
His majesty
in his closet.
be celebrated
should
sent
Roquelaureto notifyhis intentions
accordingly
the precedingevening
and to her fiance
on
to Madame
casserie

relative

their coucher

at

to

the

and

to

request M.

de

Bar

and

his

en
Laye, to
join him at St. Germain
a few
which palacethe court had removed
days previously.
The king,after hearingearlymass, repaired
he found
en
to the
apartments of Madame, whom
but resigned. Taking the hand of
tearful,
deshabille,
within which
his sister,
Henry led her to his closet,

witnesses

to

Sully,liv.

Henri

IV.

lOeme.

Cayet

Chron.

Septennaire.Journal

de

AND

1599.]

MARIE

DE

57

MEDICI.

of Rouen, wearing his

archbishop
mitre and rochet,the duke de Bar and his brothers,
and M.
MM.
de Rosny and de Bouillon,Roquelaure,
who then acted as political
de Bassompierre,
agent in
The
Paris for the duke
de Lorraine.
king led
M. de
Madame
and commanded
to a temporary altar,
bishop
Rouen1
The archthe nuptialservice.
to commence
prayed to be excused,pleadingthe absence of
the pontifical
suggestingthat the
dispensation
; and
appropriate
chapel of the castle might be a more
"
ceed,
Proplacefor the solemnization of the ceremony.
M. de Rouen.
My presence is a sufficient and
assembled

were

solemn

the

guarantee

"

and

closet is

my

spot sacred

as

The
church,"respondedthe kingauthoritatively.
archbishopopened his missal,and thereupon performed

any

the ceremony,
the king placingthe hand of
The tion
benedichis sister within that of the duke de Bar.

pronounced,
Henry conducted the bridegroomwith
to the chapelof the chateau,where
high
great pomp
was
mass
performed. The duchesse de Bar was escorted
de Bouillon,and
from the royalcloset by the duke
proceededto hear le prechein the hall of the chateau.
Madame

then retired

to

array

herself in bridal

ments
orna-

of
previousto receivingthe congratulations
A banquet ensued,at which the onlynothe court.2
velty
of
the first publicappearance
to be noticed was
the child-bride of the littleduke de Vendome, who
de Guise, and is
dined at a table with mademoiselle

majesty,"je desire que vous fassiez

tout
presentement le mariage de ma sceur et de M. de Bar."
cellor.
Mem.
de Cheverny, "who was
present in his capacityof chande ses ornaments
L'archeveque s'etaut revestu
pontificaux proceda a la elite benediction."
de
Sully. Godfrey
Septennaire. Mem.
Cayet Chron.
Grand
Cerem.
de France, t. 2.
Benediction
nuptialede maSceur du Roy, et de Monseigneur le due de Bar.
dame
1

frere,"said

Mon

his

"

"

"

58

HENRT

entered

in the record

de Vendome
brook

M.

IV.

of the

de

[1598

ceremonial

madame

a9

Mercoeur, her father,unable

the alteration of affairs at

abashed

and

court;

to

the

had
ignominiousoverthrow of his pretensions,
obtained permissionfrom his majesty to make
paign
a camin Hungary againstthe Turks, under the banner
of the Emperor Rodolph.
For
the
of a
week
after the espousals
space
of
Madame
holden.
Every
high festival was
day ushered in fresh pastime: the court banqueted,
danced, performed ballets,hunted and jousted
in magnificent pomp.
Two
other marriageswere
at

also

solemnized

duke

the

and

Catherine

between

"

de

Nevers

and

raine1
Lor-

de

Henriette

of
eldest son
d'Aiguillon,
M.
de Soissons,however,
The count
of the festivities ; he having requested
was
present at none
permissionto retire to his castle of Maille,
"that he might not witness the marriageof Madame;
de

Gonzaga with
de Mayenne.

the

or

which

the duke

registration of the
he

events

held

as

edict

of Nantes

grievous

"

both

misfortunes."2

visited the court

who
other personages
this festive period,the count
at
St. Germain

Amongst

of
and

d'Entraguespaid their homage to Madame.

Marie
famous
the once
Madame
d'Entragues was
of
mother
and
Touchet,3 mistress of Charles IX.
M.
the Count d'Auvergne. By her marriage with
had three daughters,who
d'Entragues the countess
inherited their mother's beauty. She was
nied
accompaby her eldest daughterHenriette, who then ap-

countess

Daughter

of the duke

MS.

Imp. Suppl.fr.,fol.

Marie

Bibl.

Rohan.

married

Touchet
in

1578,

de

on

the

Mayenne.
1644.

Francois
demise

de

Balzac

of his first

count

tragues
d'En-

wife,Jaquelinede

59

MEDICI.

DE

MARIE

AND

1590.]

peared at court for the first time.1 Mademoiselle

in a ballet with her
d'Entragues danced a couranto
brother the count
d'Auvergne, with such grace as to
moiselle
madethe attention of the king. In stature
attract
of middle size ; her fead'Entragueswas
tui-es were
; her hair
lovelyand radiant with vivacity
fashion,
was
auburn, and, accordingto the prevailing
lightlysprinkledwith powder. She was
merry,
were
learned;2 and her manners
witty, and even
mours
enticingand full of agacerie.Her whims and huwere
indulgedby her brother M.
studiously
genial,
d'Auvergne; who found his sister's societyso conto cause
sort
some
as
slightjealousyto his condark flashing
The
the daughterof the constable.
perament
d'Entraguesrevealed a temeyes of mademoiselle
both passionate
and exacting
; nevertheless,
she was
unanimously voted by the courtiers " une
Henry conversed for some
femme toute charmante"
with this bewitching damsel

time

by

invitation

an

to

The

dance.

her

and honoured

flirtationsof

numerous

the king,
lady,however, eventuallydispleasing
la Duchesse, the countess
more
or
probablymadame
and her daughtermade
short sojourn at the court ;
and Rosny records that the king ungallantly
applied
"
the term
cette baggage"when
speakingof the ladies
d'Enof M.
d'Entragues'family. Mademoiselle
the

She

was

born

at

Marcoussi

in

1579, and

therefore

was

just twenty.
*

"

L'Histoire

literaire de

son

temps

nous

apprend

que

moiselle
made-

neglige les advantages de

duction
l'erudition.
Hemeri
d'Amboise, qui lui dedia en 1G10 la tradit qu'elleavoit employe la
de St. Gregoire de Tours
vivacite
de son
cahieis, et
espritdivin a la lecture des sacres
St. Augustin, et semblables
avait tous les joursentre les mains
etoient tournes
en
quelquelaugue vulgaire,
auteurs, en ce qu'ils
dont elle avait parfaiteconnoissance."
d'Entragues

n'avait

pas

60

HENRI

IV.

[1508

appeared,created a sensation at
dents
vanished,and was forgotten,until fresh incihowever

rragues,

court,

again brought into notice

Ccs

"

doux

regardsqui mettent
yeux qui coutraindriez

Beaux

Perhaps
d'Entragues

the

les

coeurs

les

plus tiers de

cendres,

en

have

se

relation

some

!"

rendre

mademoiselle

departure of

sudden

might

"

certain

to

Gabrielle
on
malignanttendency reflecting
the royalprojects
ing
concernd'Estrees,and ridiculing
of

verses

the

duchess.

king

The

walking in

paper of verses
of his favourite orange

his orangery
from
branch
a

His

while

morning

one

found

and

majesty perused them,

pended
sus-

exclaimed,

"

tree.

tre
Ven-

St. Gris 1 if I could

only discover the author

of these, he should
swing from an oak, and not
:
from
The
tree !
an
composing of the
orange
of the paper
to attract
as
so
verses, and the placing
the royal attention, resembled
of the
saillies
one
"

vices of the clever and

Madame

by
over

la

dauntless

Duchesse, however,

the wiles of her various

the

king

not

was

remained

be

shaken

uninjured
Her

detractors.

to

de Balzac.

Henriette

empire
Henry had

given her the truest homage of the heart; as well as

the onlyfaithful affection he ever
professed.A poet
of the court
presentedthe king with a short poem,
addressed to " la Royne denies Pensees" which Henry
One of its verses
is
publiclyoffered to the duchess.
remarkable, and
"

Ton

thus

runs

"

joursdans raon cceur sera peinte2

Gardant
ce
temple saint,pour cette idole sainte
D'autres
objetsdesormais je ne puis etre atteint.
Ces gages precieux1qui nourissent inon
tune

MS.

image

Bibl.

Muse

tou

Imp. Suppl. fr.,fol. 1644.

Francaises

Stances

pour

le

Roy

madame

la

Duchesse.
3

Henry

alludes to Cesar-Monsieur

and

to his other

children.

AND

1599.]
Sont

nuroir

de

DE

toi-meme,

l'oeilqui 1'alluma

Quancl
"The

MARIE

king," writes

the

61

MEDICI.

reluira

ou

seroit lui

flamme

ma

eteint ! "

inline

chancellor

de

"being; resolved to marry madame

began at this periodpurposelyto invest
influence.
and

important

her intervention

He

now

offices
; and

on

of

acrimony of

the

edict

of

the

Nantes

her with

bestowed

graces

who

sought

always commanded
on

preme
su-

more

personages

should wait
person gratified
and thank her for the favour
The

la

Cheverny,
Duchesse,

that

madame

the

la Duchesse

bestowed."

debates

on

in la Haute

the

registration
forded
Chambre, af-

piquant relief to the fetesof St. Germain.

of
Amongst the courtiers the edict was provocative
contention.
M.
de Vitry one
M. de
day taunted
of " Huguenoterie,"
nature
Rosny with the aggressive
observation
an
responded to by Rosny with his
usual warmth.
M. de Vitry thereuponsent
lenge
chala
to
Rosny. The king summoned
Vitry, and
desired him to select a good second, as it was
his intention
himself to act in that capacityfor M.
de
Rosny ;x a communication,which of course
prohibited
the encounter, as seconds,in these days,also fought
The king continued
duringthe combat of their principals.
to

be

beset

with

remonstrances

first from

the

papalnuncio Gonzaga, then from Berthier chief

Worn
out
syndicof the Gallican Church.
by these
solicitations,
Henry granted audience on the 7th of
February,in no very placablemood, to deputiessent
by the parliamentand the clergy,to make final
the
"on
remonstrance
ungodly and ignominious
concessions granted." It would
be difficult to find a
parallelfor the discourse which Henry then pronounced
the as: vehement, sarcastic,
threatening,
1

MS.

Bibl.

fol. 1644, et
Imp. Suppl.fir.,

seq.

62

HENRI

IV.

[1598

touched

senators

felt that

monarch

conscious

of his power,

they

had

deal with

to

and

able

exercise

to

it in

from
rescuingan importantbody of his subjects
bondage. The rules of royal oratory were
ignored
buked
by Henry on this occasion ; for he addressed or reindividuals

actions

present, whose

known

or

"
You see me,"
opinionselicited his animadversion.
said his majesty," in my cabinet,where I am
going
and Tepeea la
to speak with
the pomp,
you without
of my
predecessors.I wish to inform you
cap
that it is my will that you register
the edict which I

have

granted

sake of peace,
my
my

obtained

abroad

for

is my

realm.

the
obey me, considering
all my subjects
me
owe
cipally
; and prinparliament. I have restored
my

You

of

have

members

have

been

to

houses

without

seats

establish within

to

lands

and

preserved their
parliamentwould not

of my

present

intention

ought

of you to your
and
confirmed

many

me.

know

; for

others I

faith.

The

their
occupy
that factions

in my
have been
priests

That

was

which

led

king.

Be

cut

formed

bulent
parliament; and that turto preachrevolt.
instigated
the way
taken before the barricades,
and
by degreesto the assassination of the late
that I will repress such doings. I
sure

the

preachersof
of

many
that I can

of

root

sedition.

towns,

and

leapover

faction, and
I have

I will show
barricades !

are

being the eldest

deceive
yourselvesif you
with
the pope
all-powerful

me

would

"

you

all

as

messieurs,

Allege not

you,

attach

the walls

over

you,
I

son

all

overthrow

vaulted

zeal for the Catholic faith !

than

You

it for the

gave

kingdom, it

you

your

I have

which, as

which
obligations

will

Huguenots.

the

to

am

more

to

me

dox
ortho-

of the Church.

fancy that you

a
despatch from
if so
it
heretics,

64

HENRI

ing

that

the

king

Towards

committed

Henry
his

would
been

wisdom

demonstrated

measures

month

less prompt,

have

ensued.

an

All

orders

functions

ply.
re-

February,

its execution

majesty.1 Had
had
or
hesitation,
slightest

the

by

and

of

no

his

of

been

admonished

their several

the

of

registered
;

was

the

to

[1598

in earnest, ventured

was

the end

1599, the edict

IV.

in

insurrection

bably
pro-

publicofficials had
council

to

execute

of

accusation
or
repression,
without respect of persons.
The parishbelfries were
forbidden.
closed; and street haranguesby agitators
The Sorbonne,and
of Paris,having
the other colleges
been
made
of the royal
to feel the power
once
lerance
to comprehend that the old reignof intoarms, and
had passed away
with the race
of Valois,
deemed
it politic
in the liberal opinions
to acquiesce
of the king ; and to accept the confirmation
of their
and
charters,rather than to provoke a
privileges
the issue of which would probablyresult in
struggle,
the
suppressionof the universityof Paris. " I

have
I

will

vaulted
show

over

the

walls

that 1

of

many

towns,

and

barricades,"
leap over
hint to be disregarded.
too significant
was
a
of the edict,Henry nomi
After the registration
de
nated
of the count
a
commission, consisting
Schomberg, de Thou, and Calignon,to consider the
best mode
of executing its clauses.
After some
that
resolved
one
debate, it was
magistrate and
chief gentlemen should
be appointedin every
two
province throughout the realm, to interpretthe
edict,and to give effect to its spiritand tenor.
The conference was
holden at Conflans,in the house
1

you

Registres clu Parlement

de Nantes.

can

de

Paris."

Benoit, Hist,

de l'Edit

AND

1599.]
of

M.

MAEIE

DE

65

MEDICT.

de

Villeroy. After a session of unusual

length and labour,M. de Schomberg, the faithful
and
denly,1
enlightenedfriend of Henri Quatre,died sudin his coach,as he was
Paris with M.
entering
de Thou.
The
demise of Schomberg was
generally
lamented ; the orthodox
subjects of his majesty,
however, averred that his death was a manifestation
of Divine
wrath
that
at the unholy compact which
day had been signedand concluded between the true
Faith and heresy.
1

VOL.

II.

From

aneurism

"

De

Thou.

66

IV.

CHAPTER
1599.

Negotiationsof

M.

de

Silleryin

Rome

The

duke

de

Joyeuse
The
returns
Ange
monastery
royal
divorce
Details
Gabrielle
d'Estrees declares the certainty
of her marriage with
the king
Accompanies the king to
"

He

to his

"

Le

"

"

Pere

"

"

"

Fontainebleau
of

Her

"

Gabrielle

d'Estrees

Paris

to

return

"

M.

Zamet

Its

"

Illness

of
mysterious origin Demise
the duchesse
de Beaufort
Correspondenceon the event
Summons
M. de Rosny" SuppoDespair of Henri Quatre
sitions
the originof the malady of madame
de Beaufort
on
Her
Obsequies of the duchess performed in royal state
interment in the abbey church
of Maubuisson
Sympathy
manifested
for the king The
offers
condolence
parliament
Letter of Madame
The
made
answer
by the king to his
sister
Queen Marguerite writes to the king and to M. de
he gives
Rosny The
king visits Fontainebleau, where
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

audience

to the conde

Calatagirone Affairs
"

de Villamediana
of Saluzzo

"

and

to the Franciscan

Mademoiselle

king visits le Bois de Malesherbes

Balzac
de
Balzac
Character
of
Henriette
Her
family
a prodesigns,and the weakness of the king She demands
mise
Blois
of marriage
Its
Royal sojourn at
object
of
Biron
His
with
the
duke de
the duke de
league
Designs
of the chancellor
de Cheverny
Return
of
Savoy Death
Continuation
the king to Paris
Fetes of the hotel Zamet
"

The

d'Entragues
Designs of the

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

of

the negotiation for the

king's divorce

"

Petition

of the

AND

1599.]

MARIE

DE

67

MEDICI.

to investigate
Fope Clement appointscommissioners
the affair Reports and decision of these commissioners
of the
Correspondenceof queen Marguerite Reluctance
to ratifythe decree of divorce
Sillerysatisfies the
pope
of the pontiff The decree of divorce receives papal
scruples
ratification
ditions
ConLetter of queen Marguerite to the king
de Balzac
She
Henriette
granted to the queen
extorts a promise of marriagefrom Henri
Quatre Its tenor
demonstrated
Scene "with M. de Rosny
Resolution
by the
king" Mademoiselle
d'Entraguesis installed as maitresse a

queen

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

""

"

titre.

M.

Sillery,

de

Holy See, entered

l

1599.

ambassador
Rome

His mission

was

on
one

to the
extraordinary
the 19th day of March,
as
deeplyimportantto

The
to the realm of France.
as
king personally,
four principal
to negotiate
sent
was
points Sillery
the dissolution of the marriage between
were
Henri Quatre and queen Marguerite;the legitimization
la
of the children of the king and
madame
for his majestyto espouse
Duchesse, with dispensation
the latter;the restoration of the marquisate
affair which
of Saluzzo
an
Henry pursued with
ness
ardour ; and the grantingby his holiextraordinary
valid the
of the requisite
to render
dispensation
and
Madame
contracted between
marriagerecently
directed to negotiate
the duke de Bar.
was
Sillery
in strict union with the cardinals de Joyeuse and
d'Ossat.
The bribe offered by the king,to conciliate
interests and
the conflicting
prejudiceslikelyto
these projects,
was
a
promise to suspend
oppose
and
the proceedings
the edicts againstthe Jesuits,
instituted to effect a compulsorysale of their lands
in France ; and a passport, which
powered
emSillerywas
to deliver to the Jesuit Loi'enzo Maggio to
the

"

"

"

'Ossat

engaged the Orshu

palacefor

the French

envoy.

f2

68

HENRI

enable

him

to

IV.

negotiatewith

and

M.

which

his

majestypersonally
order
the chief
a design,
the council were
Villeroy

for the restoration of the

supporters of

[1599.

"

in

de la Varenne.

papal court, however, boded

evil : for the recent
proceedingsof the king had
the pope
thrown
and
the Sacred
College into a
of irritation.1 Henry by his late acts
paroxysm
the pope
plainlyindicated that he held the maxim
for spiritual
and the king for matters
poral
temaffairs,
and secular ! The
withstanding
marriage of Madame, notthe prohibition
of the Holy See, was
"which
his holiness
to
gallingbeyond measure
alliance has been effected despitethe law of nations,
and
especialinjunctions."The pope alleged,
my
with reason, that the king could scarcelyask
and
from his engagements
to
to be released
Marguerite
nized
solemde Valois on the plea that that alliance was
his
the papal dispensation
without
when
;
that he held that preliminary
majesty demonstrated
be indifferent,
to
by so celebratingthe nuptialsof
Catherine.
The cardinal de Joyeuse,notMadame
withstanding
these comments, asked
the pope
that,
the approaching nomination
at
of cardinals,
four of
these prelatesmight be named
by king Henry.
The
and remarked, that his
shortlydeclined
pope
alreadythree personages for
majestyhad nominated
MM.
the
de Sourdis, d'Ossat,2and
cardinalate,
The

of

temper

the

"

"

"

"La

consommation

du

mariage

et la divulgationde l'Edit touchant

vient fort mal

apropos

en

cette

de Madame

les

saison de

dispense;

sans

pretendusreformez nous
la disputedu marquisat

Saluces,"writes d'Ossat.

de
*

D'Ossat

instead
de St.

of

was

permitted to

cardinal

de

Rennes

call

himself

after his

Eusube, from the patronymic of

cardinal

bishopric;

or

his cardinalate.

d'Ossat,
cardinal

Madame
without

of the
duke

His

Lorraine

de

holiness said that the

was

Bar, suspended his

and

69

MEDICI.

informed

of the unhallowed

consequence

de

DE

marriageof
could not
be recognizedby the Holy See
for the sake of expemanifest departure,
a
diency,
and the traditions
from Christian consistency
The same
eveningthe envoy of the
papacy.

Perron.

du

MAEIE

AND

1599.]

declined

the

the duke

marriage of

intercourse

with

in

pope,

the

duchy ;

from
the cardinal
petition
desired
that Nancy might be
de Lorraine, who
As for the affair of the
declared
an
episcopalsee.
himself a
marquisate of Saluzzo,the pope showed
lukewarm
mediator.
The duke of Savoy obstinately
to

receive

that

his claims

maintained

; and

offered

even

county of Bresse,a district richer and

lieu the

in

cede

to

more

"
I desire
important than the territorycontested.
of M. de Savoye,"wrote
the friendship
king Henry
"
I intend to have
to the cardinal de Joyeuse, but
! l
back
the territory
that appertains
to my
crown
The
to d'Ossat, and
positively
king wrote, moreover
stated," that he would accept neither treaty nor
alliance with M. de Savoye,unless the marquisatewas
it a perpetualreproach
restored."
Henry deemed
that Savoye should possess a territory
to his crown
capturedduring the late reign,without
perfidiously
previousdeclaration of war ; and whilst Henry III.
"

engaged

was

The

1588.

claims

of

but the pope

in discussing
the matter
set

aside

in contest

"

with
the

the

king

showed
;

de

Lettre
Henri

Versailles.

war

du

for the sake of

Roy au
IV., t. 5.

cardinal
MS.

de

not

were

the

states

tardiness

utmost

so

could

dream

of

positively

spoke publiclyof

and

that king Henry

impossibility
the

rebellious

of

the

ing
renew-

!
paltrya principality

Joyeuse.

appartenant

"

M.

Lettres

Tabbe

Missives
Caron

de

70

HENRI

The

Spanish minister,the
assiduous

now

of

IV.

monarch

in his courtesies
whom

[1599.

duke
to

de
the

he designated

Sessa, was

representatives

"

as

the

greatest

to confer
Age, worthy by his exploits
the honour
his catholic majesty
of knighthood on
dependence
Don
The truth was, that Henry's inPhilipIII. !
occasioned much
anxiety: the king had
shown
that while desiring
terms
on
amity
reciprocal
with
Rome, yet that he could dispensewith the
The tempest of Clement's
papalbenediction.
nation
indigin France, and at the
at the recent
events
of the edict of Nantes, had burst forth in
publication
audience grantedto the cardinals de Joyeuse and
an
d'Ossat,on the 18th of March, the day previousto
the arrival of M. de Sillery
in Rome.
Clement
sent
for the two
cardinals at dusk hour.
They found the
walking up and down his audience-chamber,
pope
In a voice of concentrated
apparentlyin great excitement.
indignationthe pontiff commenced
by
miserable and sorthe most
rowful
observingthat he was
of the edict which his
account
man
on
living,
Christian majesty had granted,to the prejudiceof
lieved
bethe Holy Catholic Faith ; and that he had never
that the king intended
to give effect to
mises
prosubversive of the faith,
and the oath which
so
he had taken at his absolution ; but,on the contrary,
had
believed that his majesty would
gladly avail
himself of the protests of his clergy,
and
parliament,
himself to the Huguenots. That
to excuse
university,
he beheld the most
accursed edict promulgated; by
which
libertyof conscience was
given to all the
most
able
pernicious
thingpossible.Moreover, a damnsect was
permittedthe free exercise of religious
worshipthroughoutthe realm,with admission to all
which would give its members
dignities,
opportunity

Captain of

the

"

"

72

HENRI

IV.

[1599.

Clement, however, abruptlyterminated

by passinginto

the conference

his

privateapartment, without giving

benediction to the prelates
the accustomed
; ordering
them
send an express to their royalmaster, conto
taining
faithful record of his words.1
a
Very much
and
astounded
downcast, the prelateswaited upon
Cardinal Aldobrandini
and, requested the benefit of
his mediation.
the king had
Aldobrandini,whom
promisedto do his best,
sparedno painsto conciliate,
but acknowledged that his holiness was
perated,
deeplyexasand attributed Henry's act to the evil counsels
of those most
in his majesty's
confidence
ing
meanla Duchesse, to the
therebyto allude to madame
duke de Bouillon,Rosny, and the queen
of England.
The sentiments of the pope were
not
propitious
; or
"

indicative of
very

or
zealous,

desire
a

grant favours

to

realm

such

as

son

highlypatronized,
might win

the bienveillance of the occupant of St. Peter's

from
chair.

his first

Silleryhad
on

the 21st

the
who
the
that

want

neither

Holy

of March.

from

royal divorce

audience
political

Queen

On

of the formal

by petitionnor
the

majesty; on

the Vatican
of the

matter

leged
pope alof the queen,

Marguerite,the

See that her desire

of his

the

at

consent

had
rescript
was

notified

in accordance

contrary, her

to

with

majesty
complied

interposeda condition which had not been

with by king Henry. Various
circumstances
nected
conwith the compulsion resorted to by her late
majesty Queen Catherine,to effect her daughter's
marriage,were mentioned to the pope ; who had personally
in those negotiations,
in his character
participated
of Auditor
the legateAlexandrini.
ment,
Cleto
however,seemed oblivious of every fact; and
2

Ibid.

MARIE

AND

1599.]

73

MEDICI.

DE

to
joinher petition
a
speedy and amicable
expected and desired. Concerning
separationwas
the pope
of the " royalbastards,"
the legitimization

that

reiterated

the

must

queen
that of his majesty,in case

demonstrated

the

and

coldness

utmost

repugnance.

having at great pecuniary

and fervencyin prayer, achieved the
cost, diplomacy,
to meaof the realm,he could not assent
sures
pacification
likelyto plunge the kingdom into renewed
dalous
calamityon the demise of his majesty,by the scanthe
feuds certain to arise between
children,
lock
and those born in lawful wedof adultery,
offspring
ment
of the same
both being the sons
parents. CleHis

stated

holiness

that

"

trees

; his

the

of Gabrielle

name

being extreme

resentment

which

On

the

mentioned

never

she had

afforded

to

nance
counte-

the edict of Nantes.

Saluzzo, the pope

affair of

the

at

d'Es-

said,"

that

his

majesty would lose his repute as a Christian man,

and his military
titution
by going to war for the resprestige,
mal
of the marquisate;or by insisting
on
a forfrom the duke of Savoy,as stipulated
answer
by
of
the anniversaryof the signatureof the peace
Vervins

it was,

Franciscan

now
Calatagirone,

to

Clement

confer

then
and

benison

moreover,

on

with

his

alluded
briefly

declared
the

such,as

obedient

The

to

his

the
to

the

tinople,
of Constanthe

the duchesse

daughterof
to

send

subject."
dame,
marriageof Mabestow pontifical

majesty on

pope, after giving audience

retired to the Quirinal to pass
and

to

Patriarch

his readiness

union, when
an

his intent

de

Bar

quested
re-

the Church.

the ambassador,

the Lenten

season

guerite
Marof queen
petition
should be obtained,which, upon certain conditions,
might, after the festival of Easter,facilitate
of his holiness
divorce.
The comments
majesty's
recommended

that

the

74

HENRI

the

were

of the
grave

[1599.

of

encouraging; even
guardedlyon
expatiates

reverse

sanguined'Ossat
views

IV.

The

pope.

cardinal

desirous

reserve:

not

de
to

the

usually

the ulterior

Medici

tained
main-

offend the

king,

he yet resolved to do
while there existed

nothingto aid the royaldivorce

that the king might
possibility
his mistress.
On subjects
orthodox and purely
crown
ecclesiastical Clement
demonstrated,however, eager
famous
desire to meet
his majesty'swishes.
The
Espinac archbishopof Lyons, dying at this period
in captivity,
from
gout and melancholy,the pope
issued letters of induction
for Albert
de Bellievre,
whom
the king had nominated
to that important see.
cordial

Still more

this time

at

was

the ratification which

accorded

the

to

the pope
of the duke de

retreat

Joyeuse back to his monastery. The duke exhibited

that extraordinary
of profligacy
and devotion,
mixture
which

is

so

of the

marked
sixteenth

type of the elevated

century.

The

since his reconciliation with the

and
dissipated

reckless.

No

trace

life of Joyeuse,

king,had
of

sonages
per-

the

been

ascetic

only quittedhis retreat at the

of the legateLandriano,1 could be decommand
scried
in the haughty soldier and bon vivant of the
of Henri Quatre : stillless were
there signsof
court
which
had
induced
the Capuchin
the fanaticism
father to play the chief part in that blasphemous
from
Paris to Chartres,to
processionundertaken
conciliate Henry III.
Joyeuse,however, joined in
of the court
with quailing
of heart ;
the dissipations
of Divine vengeance
haunted
his solitary
the terrors
of the king fellbitterly
his ear.
hours ; and the jests
on
Pere

also

Ange,

3, bk.

had

"History of the Reign

Henry III. king of France

See
"

who

6.

of
:

Henry IV.,"
his Court

and

vol.

2, bk. 2;

Times," vol.

AND

1599.]

The

king

MARIE

DE

75

MEDICI.

day stood on the balcony of the

Louvre
with Joyeuse, watching the progress of a
turbulent demonstration
againstthe edict of Nantes.
"
Mon
cousin !
exclaimed
Henry, sarcastically,
"these peopleseem
to enjoy the sightof an
apostate
The duke turned
king and of an unfrocked monk !
pale,and retired to his oratory, where he spent the
Another
nightin penance and prayer.
day Joyeuse
was
dining at the Louvre : the conversation was
plied with freedom, and libations were
poured in
one

"

"

honour
the

of

some

in
capital,
"

beautiful

most

all which

There

discourse

four

are

courtezans

the duke

"

of

participated.
singular

of very
have
we

persons
in this capital,
to whom

condition
drunk

of the

not

yet

"

I know
suddenlyexclaimed king Henry.
a converted
sinner,a repentant Leaguer,a renegade
lusion
Capuchin, and a pervertedHuguenot ! i The alstung the conscience of le Pere Ange
again
The
by rigidasceticisms he tried to stifleremorse.
marriageof the duke's youthfuldaughterand heiress
with the duke
de Montpensierwas
meantime
brated
cele"

"

during the month

perceivedin

was

words

sullied the

duke

the

of

of March.
:

his

jovialhumour

profanity,such

discourse

of the

most

change then

as

in

this

parted
deage

illustrious personages,

died

shudderinglyon the lipsof Joyeuse ; who,

still frequented the feasts,or
rather
nevertheless,
of the Hotels
de Bellegarde,
Sancy,Roqueorgies,
laure,Zamet, and that of M. de Rouen.
The Lenten
meantime, commenced, and the
season,
drew
of le Pere Laurens, a noted capuchin,
sermons
crowds

to

Amongst
2

duke

The
de

the

church

his hearers

king alluded
Joyeuse,and

to

the

of

was

St. Germain

Joyeuse.

The

l'Auxerrois.
fervour

himself,the duke de Mayenne,

duke de Lesdiguieres.

and
the

76

HENRI

exhortations
chord

of

responsive

he loathed

"

his dissipations,

his career, and

companions of his lawless pleasures.

reflected with

of the

that

[1599.

preacher struck

in the heart of the duke

and

on

the

IV.

horror

on

About

the duke
made
secretly
mid-Lent,therefore,
which he settled on his
of his vast fortune,
disposition
nated
daughter the duchesse de Montpensier,and nomithe duke, and his brother the
her husband
At midnight,
cardinal de Joyeuse, as co-trustees.
March
8th, Joyeuse quitted his superb hotel and
repairedon foot to his old monastery, Rue St. Honore.
sought
Falling at the feet of the prior,the duke bere-admission
into the community, while confessing
and deploring
the scandal which his profligacy
had brought on the order.
He then repairedto the
chapel,and laid on the altar his victorious sword, his
rich orders,and his mantle of velvet ; afterwards he
the habit of the order

assumed

For

tonsure.

discovered
absent

days the
having been

two

it

from

himself

at
privatecloset was
duchess his daughter;

property, with
on

madame

de

made

far from

and submitted

duke's

table; also
"

not

was

of settlement
found

were
a

but

the destination

nature

of his

spicuously
lying con-

letter of farewell
of these

none

of

Joyeuse.

throughoutthe capital
; the

their master, made

the

his

the deeds

papers,

surmising the

retreat

to

frequent habit to
his hotel mysteriously. His
length entered by the young

Montpensier

revealed
was

other

of

the

to

ments
docuSearch

duke's servants,
retreat

sought

inquiryat the houses of

the
noblesse.
capitalfrequented by the profligate
of the duke de Joyeuse was
The retreat
divulgedon
the following
Sunday by le Pere Brulart,in a sermon
from the pulpitof St. Germain.
Motives
the most
various were
ascribed for the retreat of Joyeuse. It
by

eager

said

was

the

MARIE

AND

1599.]
that

brief from

renegade Capuchin

77

MEDICI.

DE

the

of his

had

pope

vows

reminded

others

averred

that the ceaseless prayers of his mother had wrought

the miracle ; and again it was
allegedthat the spirit
of his deceased

appeared to
with

wife

duke,

the

herself

devotion.

Catherine

by

Henry,

la Valette

de

conjured him

and

to

had

earn

life of

godly repentance
apprized of the retreat

when

union
re-

and
of

Joyeuse,visited him in his monastery ; and retired

Henry had been
deeply affected by the interview.
greeted no longerby the wit and the boon companion
from
the lipsof Joyeuse his majesty listened
: but
ment.
to
a
homily evidentlytoo sincere to provoke resentHe besoughtthe king to revoke
his recent
edict given at Nantes
his mistress ;
; to put away
and to purge
the court
from the profligate
example
of certain among
in
the courtiers ; to honour religion
the

obedience
who

of her

person

had

ministers

and

pay

canonical

pontiff.1Le Pere
preacherof renown,

the supreme
formerlybeen a
to

his ministrations

resumed

to

and

Ange,
diately
imme-

discoursed

with such fervour

againstthe court and its pleasures,

and on
the iniquity
of the recent
edict,that Henry
at lengthcompelledto interpose.The
was
preacher
brother of M. de Sillery,
Sillery,
Henry's envoy to
vective.
himself
in pulpitinRome, likewise distinguished
The king wrote
to the cardinal de Joyeuse
of le Pere Ange ;
sermons
complainingof the disloyal
and suggestedthat unless the Holy Father desired
the suppression
of the Capuchin communities,it would
Vie

seq.

De

du 1 Geme
de
et

clu cardinal
Thou"

Hilarion

siecle. Le

Castelnau, t.
seq.

de

Joyeuse. Mem. de Villeroy,p. 319, et

Illustres
de Coste
Eloges des Hommes

Laboureur

2.

MS.

"

"

Additions

Bitt.

anx

Mem.

de Michel

Imp. Suppl. fr.,fol. 1644,

78

HENRI

be wise

IV.

[1599

Joyeuse from Paris. This hint

acted upon with alacrity
was
; and le Pere Ange was
of Toulouse.
translated to the Capuchin monastery
Provincial
of the
created
Subsequently,he was
the
order ; and repaired
for a season
to Rome, where
honour

to

summon

of the cardinalate

illustrious and

so

bestowed

was

on

brother

zealous.1

The

made
opposition
by queen Marguerite to her
at
divorce,and the consequent complications
Rome,
meantime, greatlyprovoked the king,and rendered
him more
Gabrithan ever
resolved to placemaclame
elle

the

on

throne

of

France.

The

threat

of the

institute a
at this period,to
king, again renewed
state
prosecutionagainstquee'n Margueritein case
she further opposed his will,
created consternation
both
queen

in France

and

Rome.

notorious

were

The

her

deviations

of the

trial,therefore,could

of decapitation
only terminate by a sentence
; or in
divorce and
in a fortress for life. Henry
captivity
and decidedly; and waited
spoke bitterly
only the
dismissal of M.
de Silleryfrom
Rome
to take all
To
measures.
Cheverny his chancellor,
necessary
the king now
expressed himself without reserve.
" That
His majestysaid :
his physicians
doubted
as
whether
legitimate
posterity
might be vouchsafed to
him, he had resolved upon the marriagein question,
and on the recognition
as
princesof the blood of the
God
had alreadygiven him ; in order that the
sons
close of his life might not be imbittered,
that
as
was
of Henry III.,by the squabblesand dissensions of
the princesof the royallineage." The duchess likewise
intimate
acknowledged to her most
friends,
" that
the hand of God, or the demise
of the king,
"

Aiibery
"

Journal

de

ma

Hist,

du

vie

Prem.

cardinal
Partie.

de

Joyeuse. Bassompierre
"

80

HENRI

to

look

but

he told her she would

wherein

[1593.

perceivingthat the duchess

he desired her
be displeased
at his refusals,
into a small mirror pendent by her side,

Coiffier hesitated

began to

IV.

the solution of

behold

and
courageouslylooked
with features distorted
beheld an image of herself,
who
of a demon
in the embrace
and wild,struggling
graspedher by the throat.1
The
at the commencement
king repairedto Fontainebleau
of March, 1599, to pass there the season
remained
la Duchesse
of Lent.
Madame
generally
hotel during this peniin retirement
at her
own
tential
careful not to wound
period; as Henry was
the religious
scruplesof his subjects.
unnecessarily
Gabrielle,
however, insisted upon accompanying his
such depressionand general
majesty; and showed
that Henry could not refuse his assent.
indisposition,
Gabrielle

her

destiny.

At

Fontainebleau

in the apartments

madame

"

la Duchesse

was

installed

the queen, and

The
suite which

always assignedto

Ovale.
contiguousto La Chambro
limited,and consisted of
accompanied the king was
the dukes de Bellegardeand
dc Retz, the marshal
de Bassompierreand Le Varenne,
d'Ornano, MM.
the marshal de Roquelaure,besides several ladies in
the confidence of the duchess.
It was
apprehended,
that the scandal would
be great if the
nevertheless,
of his mistress.
kingpassedPassion-week in the society
his holiness ; the
Henry was desirous of conciliating
the queen, intimidated by the threats
as
more
especially
and pressure exercised,
had consented to authorize a
of her
preliminaryinquiryinto the circumstances
marriage; and had signeda document, in which she
supplicatedthe pope so to ordain. The sensation
occasioned throughoutFrance,and especially
amongst
1

Galanteries des Hois de

France, t.

"

Sauval.

AND

1599.]

MARIE

DE

81

MEDICI.

of facts to
courtiers,
by this firstapproximation
well-known
desires of the kingand the duchess,
was

the

The

around

personages

the

the

describable
in-

upon
king there-

advisinghim to send the duchess to

that her
keep Easter in Paris in order,it was alleged,
pietymight be made apparent to her future subjects.
which he also thought
Henry agreedto this proposal,
arranged that the duchess
politic
; and, moreover,
the guest of M. Zamet, whose magshould become
nificent
united

in

"

hotel

was

close

takingup

her residence

financier

had

often

under
hotel

to

the

in the Louvre.

been

his roof.

honoured

Henry

as*his rendezvous

Zamet

Arsenal

had

instead of

The

wealthy
journers
by royal soselected

for those

the

convivial

meetings,so intensely
enjoyedby his majesty; but
the
which
the decorum
of royaltybanished
from
the
Louvre.
It was
there,also,that the king met
flower of the Paris bourgeoisie
ladies
; and
many
for formal presentation
M.
at court.
not
eligible
and
lent
Zamet, meantime, enjoyed his popularity,
his palaceto the king and
the courtiers,without
presuming on his generosity.The splendidfeasts,
and the intrigues
matured
under the roof of the
wealthy financier,
passed into a proverb: Zamet
welcomed
and served all. The dearth of money
all,
duringthe wars of the leagueaided Zamet's rise. He
therefore had been honoured
by the notice of M. de
errands
Mayenne, who sent him on various diplomatic
to the king; knowing,that where
risk might attend
such missions to another,the " lord of seventeen
hundred thousand
goldcrowns" incurred littledanger.
Zamet

to

came

Medici

shoemaker

as

to fill

that

when

the
VOL.

in the suite of Catherine

France
to

the

capacity
up to
king,fascinated

II.

de

princess.He continued
the reignof Henry II L,
jests,
by his humorous
G

82

HENRI

gave

him

The

fortune

was

made

appointmentin

"

his courtiers

modesty
trafficked

[1599.

farmingof la gabelle.
of the subtle and enterprizing
Italian
he derived immense
profitsfrom the
in chief to the king and
became
usurer
but withal with such good nature
and

an

; and

revenue

IV.

"

obtain

to

as

in

the

universal

Zamet

patronage.

loans,diamonds, fans,perfumes, and

incurred
and
never
intrigue
;
social,from scruples.During
affluence increased

that

; so

at

loss, pecuniary or
the

the

league

Zamet's
of

commencement

reignof Henri Quatre his wealth was enormous,

and
so
realized,that Rosny's stringent
skilfully
but slightly
reforms in the farming of the revenue
the

diminished

its

of Henri

commenced

his

IV.

by paying devoted
homage to Gabrielle d'Estrees ; and through the
his marriage with Madeinfluence of the duchess
laine le Clerc and the birth of three illegitimate
that the gloryof becoming
children l was
legalized,
to the fortunate
the founder of a familymight appertain
Zamet
shoemaker
of king Henry III.
of
was
course
especially
patronizedby the lords of the
such as the
of Italian originhis countrymen
court
de Ketz, the marshal
duke
d'Ornano, the cardinal
of the Strozzi family
de Gondy, and the members
The
former noblemen,
naturalized in France.
two
career

at

the

Zamet

amount.

court

"

Zamet's

mistress

eldest

baron

de

Murat

de

Billy,died in
married
Jeanne
de Goth, niece of M. d'Epernon.
He
1621.
who
died in infancy; and one
this marriage sprang
From
a son,
of
daughter,Catherine Zamet, heiress of the lucky shoemaker
the heiress of her great uncle,the
Henri
III.,who also became
married
duke
Roger Hector de
d'Epernon. Catherine Zamet
She was
the mother
Pardaillan de Gondrin, marquis d'Antin.
of the
celebrated
of the marquis de Montespan, husband
1

of Louis

mart, marquise

de

son,

XIV.,

Athenais

Montespan.

et

de Rochechouart

de Morte-

AND

1599.]
Retz

and

MARIE

Ornano,

DE

83

MEDICI.

stronglyopposed to the
elevation of the favourite; and were
surpassedonly
by Sancy in the bitterness with which theydescanted
of the papallegate
upon the topic. The comments
seemed
sanction the unde Medici, moreover,
to
doubted
of the noblesse,
that some
aspirations
dient
expemight be devised for the downfall of the
should the alternative be the sacrifice
duchess,even
of her life. Indeed,the infatuation of the king,in
his projectof again subjectingthe realm to the
anarchyand ruin of a second contested succession,
was

by

certain

to

were

concentrate

upon

the head

of the

fortunate
un-

Gabrielle the vengeance

of those aggrieved
The court, the people,
such decision.
the parliament,
and

convinced beyond
now
foreign
powers, were
of misapprehensionas
the possibility
to
Henry's
Gabrielle
intentions respecting
d'Estrees.
Time
the king desired that the child to
:
was
precious
which the duchess was
shortlyto give birth should
the more
be born in Avedlock
so, after the opinion
health pronounced by La Riviere.
his own
The
on
and that displayed
reluctance of Rome, therefore,
by
Marguerite who had not dared to withhold
queen
her signatureto the first preliminary might be
suddenlyvanquishedby the fiat of the victorious
king. The arrangement for Gabrielle's separation
from the king,though only to be of a week's duration,
seemed
to plunge madame
into
de Beaufort
stilldarker despondency: and presentiments
of evil,
her dreams.
it is said, haunted
the night of
On
Palm
that she was
Sunday the duchess dreamed
by a fierce
overtaken,and about to be consumed
fire. She awoke with a scream
risingretired
; and
to her garde-robeto weep.
Henry's nightvisions,
he
on
meantime, had not been less ominous
rising,
"

"

"

"

84

HENRI

related

that

Duchesse

he

thought

in her death

IV.

[1599.

had

he

agonies.1

madame

seen

The

la

following dav,

Monday in Passion week, the duchess commenced

her journey. The king escorted her to Melun, riding
attended
by the side of her litter,
by the duke de
de
Retz, Roquelaure, the duke
Montbazon, the
marshal
and
la
de Frontenac
d'Ornano,and MM.
Varenne.2

The

king comforted

his

mistress, who

spatch
by promisingto dedu Fresne,under-secretary
of state, to Rome,
insist that the documents
the divorce
to
authorizing
without
and
their marriage should
be forwarded
delay; while he reminded the duchess that the spectacle
would
of her devotions during the sacred week
greatlyedifythe Paris populace. The duchess was
take boat at Melun, and perform the journey to
to
the capitalby water.
On
taking leave of the king

wept during the whole

the fortitude
recommended
her

castle of

of madame
to

his

de

Beaufort

majesty'scare
where

Moneeaux,

of her life had

moments

She

progress,

been

she

gave

way

her

children,3

she said the

spent, and her

happiest
servants.

embraced

only to
Henry, and said " farewell,"
throw herself againand againon the neck of the king,
exclaimingthat a fatal presentimentwarned her that
their partingwould
be final. Henry also wept ; and
strove
by soothingwords to allaythis agitation.
At
declared
he
that
length totallyovercome,
consideration

no

MS.

should

separate

him

from

his

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl. fr.,fol. 1644.

Ibid.
Cheverny, Sully, Aubigne. Bassompierre Journal
de ma
Vie
in high favour
premiere par tie. Bassompierre was
with
madame
de Beaufort,who
requestedthat he might travel
1

"

"

"

to Paris
"

in her boat.

Son

Cesar, Alexandre, et sa Henriette,"writes Rosny,

in les Economies
sneeringly,
Royales.
8

mistress

litter.

the boat back

her from

bore

he

form
fainting

half

claspingthe

and

85

MEDICI.

DE

MARIE

AND

1509.]

brielle,
of Gaher

towards

however, gathered round

cavaliers,
representedin the strongest terms

The

his

the
majesty,and
votions
policyof allowingthe duchess to perform her dein publicduring the ensuingweek ; adding,
inclined
to
believed, she was
that it was
heresy,
the people indisposedtowards
which alone rendered
her proclamationas queen.1 Henry vacillated : the
have had effect
to
arguments used, however, seem
the duchess
on
herself,who voluntarily
returned,
though with sighs and tears, to the boat. Henry
Gabrielle

committed

then

the

to

Varenne, the duke de Montbazon, and

that she
d'Ornano, with commands
if she

in the

desired

so

capital
; and

in the

royalhonours

should

Henry

an

his

king ; but the lords of the escort

majesty; and at length succeeded

him

to

the

to

return

la

Madame

receive

her abode

take up

Louvre.

de la

the marshal

to

of the boat
interval the progress
her
and extended
Gabrielle once
rose

for

M.

of

care

watched
the river.

up

towards

arms

surrounded
in

inducing

Fontainebleau.

Duchesse, meantime,

arrived

safelyin

night at the Arsenal.

train of gentlemen,with torchbearers,
and
Zamet
a
was
ready to escort her to his hotel,which was clo^e
The
hand.
at
followingday the duchess rested,
: in the evening an
indisposed
feelingslightly
express

Paris,and

Mathieu

landed

states

late the

patent by
Chateauneuf
more

than

which
en

his

concerning her
manuscript.

there

that

the visit of the duchess

same

to

Henry

pecuniary inducement
capital the ratification of

was

the

gave

"

her

the
"

of

the

town

the
of

king venerated this lady

God ; and was
perpetuallyoccupied with her, or
writes an
author,whose relation is in
affairs,"
Perche

"

t. 2.

The

revenue

for

86

HENRI

from

IV.

[1599.

the

day
king comforted her greatly. On Wednesthe principal
in Paris called to pay
personages
their respects to madame
M. de Rosny
la Duchesse.
the

amongst

was

number.

powerful minister

Gabrielle

received

the

with

graciouscourtesy ; and
tried to extract
his sentiments upon
her approaching
elevation.
Rosny, however, states that while profusely
the civilities of this reception,
reciprocating
he feignednot to understand
her allusions
a, finesse
unworthy of that astute personage ; for Gavery
brielle's elevation was
regarded as an accomplished
fact,from the period when, during the festivities
which
followed the peace
of Vervins, the duchess
appeared attended by a princess of the rank of
madame
de Guise, in the capacityof grande maiMadame
de Rosny also called at the hotel
tresse.
Zamet.
this livelylady with
Gabrielle received
mingled hauteur and condescension ; and told her
now

"

that she might attend

intimation

an

which

she

her levees whenever

greatlypiqued M.
the same
day M. and

de

chose,

Rosny.1

de
madame
eveningof
Rosny quittedParis for their chateau of Rosny,
of Orange,2
where they were
to entertain the princess
ex-abbess
of Jouarre.
Cheverny also departed for
left for Fontainebleau,where
Eclimont
; du Fresne3
de
he had been summoned
by the king. Madame
relations with
her niece had
not
Sourdis, whose
of
been so cordial owing to the commands
latterly
deemed
that the evil repute of the
the king,who
former
wras
spending
injuriousto Gabrielle,was
de
her castle of Alluye. Mademoiselle
Lent
at

the

On

Mem.

de

Sully,liv.

Charlotte

de Bourbon

Under-secretary

Duchesse.

of

lOeme.

Montpensier.
state

"

the

firm

friend of

madame

la

88

HENRI

divorce

would

IV.

[1599.

pronounced ; also the

duchess
the king,
displayed two
epi-tlesfrom
written
since she hade him farewell,"passionate,
and
full of expressionsof impatienceto hail her
queen."' The service being concluded, madame
la Duchesse
Guise
de
requested mademoiselle
follow
her
she felt
to
to
Zamet's, where, as
retire
to
giddy and
indisposed, she intended
bed.
On
to
arrivingthe duchess complained of
asked
for some
acid beverage. A fine
nausea, and
citron was
brought by her host in person, which was
She had
no
eagerly accepted by the duchess.2
plained
sooner
partaken of the fruit than Gabrielle comof a sensation of heat in the throat,and of
in

spasms

her

the

stomach.

chamber,and

when

be

soon

The

under

was

mademoiselle

duchess

the hands

de Guise

retired

of her
"

arrived.

to

women

la

I found

Duchesse,"relates she, "attended

by her women,
who
were
undressingher : she complained to me of
violent head-ache.
A few minutes
elapsedwhen she
fell forwards, her limbs at the same
time being convulsed."
On
recovering,the unfortunate duchess,
with tears,uttered the word " poison,"3
and declared
that she

had

been

assassinated.

immediatelyon
for the
the

house

Cloitre

of her

She

leavingthe
aunt

and

rose,

abode

rnadame

de

sisted
in-

of

Zamet,
Sourdis,in

St.

Germain, with the intent,on the

Whilst
followingday, of removing to the Louvre.
1

Ibid.

La

"
"

duchesse

fut

prise de quelque,eblouissements

qui la firent revenir promptement chez

Hist. Universelle. Le
DAubigne
2

"

le Grand.

"

Elle sentit

The

duchess

was

Grain

"

Decade

aussi-tot,"says d'Aubigne,

gosier,et des tranchees furieuses."

The physicianstermed
the seizures
fits."

Zamet."

within

two

"

de Henri
"

un

feu

au

apoplecticconvulsion

months

of her

ment.
accouche-

MARIE

AXD

1599.]

DE

89

MEDICI.

being prepared,the duchess sat down

and wrote
to the king. When
so
employed a letter
was
presentedto her from his majesty,which had
just arrived by express. Gabrielle eagerlyopened
the missive ; but whilst she was
perusingit her
face was
observed
to become
suffused,and
slightly
her litter

was

the

moment

next

she

fell into

second

syncope.

this
from
duchess, on her partialrecovery
and transported
to
seizure,was carried to her litter,
the house of madame
de Sourdis,on her own
tory
perempThe

bidding.1
to

From

summon

"

of

The

hope.

the duchess

she

senger
despatcheda mesThe
her aunt.
nightpassedin
and
convulsions
returned ; but,
succeeded
by an
morning, were

anguish sickness
subsidingtowards
interval

thence

which

repose,

her

gave

attendants

of
day, however, the sufferings
excessive : faintingfits and convulsions

next
were

continued

without

The

abatement.

doctors

Even
gazed on in helplesswonder.
famous
La
the
press,
Riviere, on
being sent for exthe
approached the bed, and gazing on
fair form, covered
his eyes with his hands,
once
u Hie
rushed
and exclaiming,
Domini !
est manus
Gabrielle
from
the apartment.2 In her delirium
called upon the king in piteous
accents
prayed
; and
well
that she might take a last fareto be transported
so
"
of him.
Madame
la Duchesse
lay with her
summoned

"

beautiful face
open and turned ; her once
her
mouth
livid, and
distorted,"says an

wide

eyes
was

"

tirat

Madame

promptement

de madame
de

la

Due
*

de

de

Sieur

Sourdis

Zamet."

demanda

cette
:

passion extreme

logisdu
au

la Duchesse

"

ce

maison,
qu'on

empressement qu'on la

avec

et

qu'on

la

fut contraint

portiiten
de faire

cause

qu'elletemoignait avoir de delogezdu

Lettre de la Varenne
(an eye-witness)

de

Sully
Dupleix Hist,

celle

de Henri

IV., p.

262."

D'Aubigne,

t. 3

90

HENRI

eye-witnessof
had

all taken

the

IV.

The

scene.1

[1591.
of
princesses

Guise

horrible and
flight
; the illness was
and nobody had courage
soothe the
to
mysterious,
At
length
agonies of the unhappy Gabrielle.
madam
e de Martigues,grandmother of mademoiselle
de Mercoeur, the fianceeof Gabrielle's young
son
her services until the arrival of
Cesar, volunteered
madame

to

It is related

de Sourdis.

that madam

de

Martigues,while recitingwith apparent devotion

portionsof the office of the day,2contrived to appropriate
several superb diamond
rings,which she drew
An
from the fingersof the dying woman.
officer,
who

had

watched

the

when

manoeuvre,

madame

de

and requested
Martigues quittedthe apartment, advanced
her spoil
her to restore
an
inventory
; as
of the jewel cabinet
of
of the
existed
contents
doubtless
la Duchesse, and the king would
madame
An
at nightfall,
nouncing
anrequirestrict account,3
express
the illness of the duchess, was
despatched
de Rosny, and to
to the king,to M.
by La Varenne
the chancellor.
The
aspect of the city of Paris,
with
the
meantime, coincided
tragedy enacting
churches
therein.
The
were
hung with black, as
Good
mally
Friday; the bells tolled discustomary on
were
throngedwith personages
; and the streets
attired in mourning, who congregatedin crowds, all
of the Cloitre St.
aghastat the news, in the vicinity
that
Germain.
the panic and confusion,
Such
was
chamber

the
from
1

"

intrusion
Le

bouche

Samedi
sur

of

even

duchess

matin,
du

cou."

"

not

Mathieu

De

"

sacred

actuallyforced

lui avoient

les convulsions

Thou,

tourne

la

liv. 122.

Good

Friday 1599.
MS. Bibl. Imp. Suppl fr. fol. 1644.
avait deja accommotle
ces
bagues au bout
2

was

several personages

; and

le derriere

the

"

Madame
de

son

de

Martigues
chapelet."

AND

1599.]

their way
of which

MARIE

91

MEDICI.

the report
spectacle,
had appalledthe peopleof Paris.
During
evening of Good Friday the condition of the

the

duchess

in to

DE

grew

worse

the

upon

gaze

she gave

and

birth

the

to

son

king Henry was

prepared to greet with the
tian
loftytitles of Dauphin of France, heir of the Chrisstill-born;and it was
king. The child was
said,bore marks of the violent malady to which its
whom

unfortunate

mother

Gabrielle

minutes

She
from

fallen

she

victim.

soon

revived

never

For

few

plements.
writingimbility,
relapsedinto insensi-

asked

and
rallied,

however

which

in the middle

had

for

and

she died

nightof Friday, April 10th.1

The
first missive sent by La Varenne
to the king
was
scarcelydespatched when it was apparent that
the duchess
was
sinkingfast. To prevent the king
from
arrivingin Paris,La Varenne therefore wrote
second
of
the
a
letter,announcing the death
duchess
though she had not actually
expired; on
the plea that he and his colleagues
desired to spare
his majestyso afflicting
a spectacle.This
statement,
La Varenne
probably made in good faith,as far as
he was
himself concerned
were
; for his suspicions
fort's
de Beaustronglyroused as to the originof madame
malady,which, as will be seen, he hesitates not
in a letter to Rosny. Other
to state
personages,
that
doubtless
had
the
interest
however,
strongest
of the

"

"Elle

des revolutions
et
Sully, "dans
nature
capable d'inspirerl'korreur

expira,"says

bouleversement

de

l'effroi." Dreux

de Radier

perditla veue,
Car
le

si cruelles

et

Viede

"

l'ouie et les autres

on

vendredi,

la

luy vid

et l'autre

sens,

la nuit du

dit

d'Estrees.

douleurs

et tourinens

estonnement."
extreme
un
qui la voyaientrecurent
d'Etat
Mem.
Bassompierre Journal de ma Vie.
"

"

"
"

et

Elle

ment.
excepte de celluydu sentijeudiau vendredi, et tout

suivante, ressentir

nuit

si excessives

Gabrielle

un

et souffrir

que
"

tous

de

ceux

Cheverny.

92

HENRI

should

Henry

not

mistress.

The

those

by

and
when

that

On

first epistle
Henry

but

rished
of his chereceived

the

persuaded
was
indisposition
rary,
tempo-

the

arisingfrom

pregnant.

remains

king,meantime,

by Gabrielle

around

[1599.

the

on

gaze

lines written

few

IV.

causes

the

was

to

common

arrival

of

La

women

Varenne's

and set off on

agitated,
the moment
from Fontainebleau
tended
on
horseback,atand
de Retz.
by Bassompierre,Bellegarde,
His majesty spoke not
word
a
duringhis journey;
but the extreme
his
pallorof his face demonstrated
de Beaufort breathed
anguish. As soon as madame
her last,
the marshal d'Ornano
rode
and La Varenne
the king ; as they doubted
that Henry
to
meet
not
would

have

left for Paris

before the second

express

the latter could reach Fontainebleau.

by

sent

much

was

noblemen

met

haste,and

the

the

king near
expressionof

the loss which

the cavaliers

had

These

Villejuif.By
their faces,Henry
to

befallen him.

He

tried

to

their
read

greet

lipsquivered,and he fell back

of Bellegarde.1Henry was
faintinginto the arms
conveyed to the adjacentabbey of Saussayeand laid
on

bed.

would

but his

During the first moments

suffer
who

no

one

was

to

remain

himself

"consort."

The

with

him

but Bellegarde,

When
deeply affected.
his intention
king announced

sufficiently
recovered,the
to proceedto Paris,and
beloved

of erief the kins:

view

of his

the remains

had, however,

surgeons

proceeded to embalm and shroud the corpse ; which,

they stated,it was necessary immediatelyto enclose
in lead.
treated
Bellegardeand Roquelaure therefore enAn
the king to return
to Fontainebleau.
1

Le

Mem.
Henri

Grain
de

"

Decade

de Henri

le Grand.

Bassompierre,t. 1, p. 09-70,
le Grand, par Louise Marguerite de

Mathieu,

t.

2, liv. 2.

seq.

Amours

Lorraine

Guise.

et

de

AND

1599.]
coach

DE

MARIE

93

MEDICI.

Paris

from

arriving
during
fortunately
the evening at Villejuif,
his majesty was
partly
it
enter
partly compelled to
persuaded and
On
and
return.
arriving at the palace, the
men,
Salle de la Belle Cheminee
was
thronged with nobleempty

who

had

travelled

Paris

from

post

offer

to

Henry shuddered ; but advanced and

in unsteady tones
requestedall present to return to
the capital,
exceptingthose gentlemen whose names
he should indicate to M. le Grand.1
Henry only
desired the presence
of Bassompierre,2
Bellegarde,
missed
Roquelaure,de Retz, and Frontenac.
Having disthe importunatethrong,the king retired with
condolences.

M.

la Varenne

hear every circumstance

connected
with the catastrophe.
He next despatcheda courier to
M.

summon

of the

to

de

demise

Varenne

but

The

Rosny.
of

the duchess

from
from

the

detail

pen

of La

the

king. Rosny,
was
more
according to his own
narrative,
surprised
than by any previousevent
of his
by this catastrophe
in bed, the lightjust beginning to
life. "I was
I
de Rosny, when
dawn, conversingwith madame
heard the bell of the outer
gate of the chateau ring;
and as no
repeated.
one
answered, the peal was violently
I rose
and called a footman,as I heard the
words uttered in a loud voice, l tie la part du roiV
The
I descended, therefore,
in the greatest alarm.
courier announced
that he had travelled all night,to
deliver the message from the king that I was
to repair
Fontainebleau.
His face looked so sorto
instantly
;

only a

took

messenger

message

"

M.

le Grand

Ecuyer

due

de

Bellegarde Bellegarde was

"

generallycalled M. le Grand.
Bassompierre,"said his majesty,
2

"

aupres

"

de

ma

entretenir.""

maitresse,demeurez
Journal

de

ma

Vie.

vous

aussi aupres

avez

ete le dernier

de moi

pour

m'eu

94

HENRI

rowful

that I asked

replied, No
grief madame

him

to

ill%
The
king was
majestyis overwhelmed

la Duchesse

"

his

repeat
its

cended

de

was
spirit

and

This

'

Rosny

in

to

of my
You will

menaced

passages

realitywas
de

madame

therefore
wife.

served

by

Zamet

tween
be-

vailed.
pre-

again

I then
have

never

to

said

ignorantof
Beaufort,must
La

as-

to

present

she is dead !'"'

to

him

by

therein,which

occur

subject for painfulmeditation.

the circumstances

no

divided

last sentiment

"

Ominous

I could

king,and
this catastrophe

at the levees of the Duchess

yourself
Rosny then perused the letters sent

Varenne.

probable
im-

so

sitory
prince,by a few tranpurchaseexemption from

remorse.

Rosny,

my

the apartment

to

madame

about

was

anguish

cruel

that

with

affliction of the

France.

on

I reflected
pangs,

times

for the benefit which

confer

would

man

I commanded

When

appear.

for the

thankfulness

my

several

veracity,
my

sorrow

my

!'

is dead

news

did his relation

longerdoubt

[1599.

if the

but his

'

IV.

La
if

the

danger which
have given him

Varenne

relates

connected

with the recherche repast

for the duchess,of which she partook

then adds, by way

of paren: he
appetite
thesis,
"
will
to
this
fact
You
with your
please note
accustomed
prudence: my wisdom suffices not, nor is
it subtle enough,to draw deductions from inferences of
viction
thingsnot subsequentlyfullyapparent."2 The conexpressedby the unfortunate Gabrielle that
poisonhad been administered to her,and her frenzied
entreaties to be carried from the abode of M. Zamet,
recorded.
After perusingthis letter
are
graphically
remain
the opinion of the
little doubt
to
can
as
with

Mom.

Lettre

in fol.

du

due

de M.

Sully,liv. lOeme.
la Varenne, Economies
de

Itoyales,
p. 423,vol. 1,

96

HENRI

the

of his

achingheart

does

the

clever

to

the dark

all ; and

which

IV.

[1509.
Not

royal master.

word

secretary record of conferences

suspicionspresent
have

must

formed

lative
re-

of

in the minds

part of their

mune.
com-

by quotinga few verses

Kosny commenced
of Scripture
by recommending submission to
; and
thankful
the Divine will in affliction,
with the same
" I
spiritas that with which blessingis received.
dared to represent to the king that perhapsone
day
for this blow.
he might thank God
I tried to compel
him to realize the overwhelmingposition
in which he
drawn
would
have been placedhad the duchess lived,
towards her as his majestywas
by the chain of tender
regard,and yet divided by the dictates of honour
and duty. Heaven
had removed
the obstacles to his
majesty'smarriage,upon which depended the repose
of France, the joy of his people,and the welfare of
have
which
his majesty would
Europe ; blessings,
saking
deemed
too
dearly purchasedat the cost of the forof a woman
worthy of his attachment by her
thousand
that Henry
good qualities."1
Rosny avers
became

cheerful under

more

; and

his minister

seemed

admitted

the

influence of his

monstrances
re-

that
especially
gratified
and

fascination of

the

claims

the

obsequiesof the
proceeded with in royal

the duchess.
In

Paris,meantime,

duchesse
1

In

de Beaufort
Economies

the

were

Royales, Rosny
his royal master

to
speeches he made
first and
originaledition

the

latter

written

"Economies
the

under

secretaries.

The

secretaries

address

recount

fites

deeds

ceci,ou

and
vous

funeral

eye

gives
on

at

length

the occasion.

the

This

Sully,termed by
was
Royales, Politiqueset Militaires,"
of the then
statesman
veteran
by his

style is

of the Memoires

very

wearisome

de

and

laboured

the

throughout the narration, ;uid

speeches; as, "Alors, monseigneur, vous

their master

avez

dit cela."

AND

1599.]

and

state

pageantry

of the
the remains
the

MARIE

The

97

MEDICI.

for such

"

king.

DE

the absolute

was

post-mortem examination

of the duchess

made
secretly

was

nightof Saturday,April 1 1 th.

record

of the

taken

was

the

autopsy is

contemporary
the

on

extant

Not
but

"

great trouble

authors

insinuate

who

circumstances

the word

boldlyuses

"

result of

combination

for

personages

or

entered

state

reasons

by the duchess was

daring,unprincipled
man, who
her

elevation

disgrace,and
the

ministers

demonstrated
the

virtual

who

her

death

royalresolve

utmost

had

concern

but who

the

"

occasioned
the

court.

deprecatedHenry's intentions;
the

was

into

from

exile

of

only historian

was

which

conduct

"

picions
sus-

by certain high
?
The
only avowed
Sancy a desperate,
from the firstopposed

made

enemy

all

demise

poison." But

the assassin of the duchess ?

Of

their

the

of

Gabrielle d'Estrees,Aubigne is the

who

the

of

during
slightest

of poison.
allaythe suspicion

to

mand
com-

as

to

the

his
All
and

results of

dare attach

suspicion
of so foul a crime to men
of repute so glorious,
and
as
publichonour apparentlyso unsullied,
Rosny the
future duke de Sully,
and Bellievre?
The
Villeroy,
"
historian Mezerai
The death of
sententiously
says,
Gabrielle d'Estrees ensued at the instigation
of the
murderer
from
the beginning."
a
devil, who was
Gabrielle d'Estrees had powerfulenemies
in certain
members
induced
who

"

of the
them

to

maintained

nobles of Italian

Gallican

may

church

"

whose

zeal

Rome,

and

liaison with

the

men

obey every signalfrom

in France

origin
"

intimate

and the dread

pope Clement,lest he should

to the union of the king with

manifested

by

be called upon to assent

Madame
was
Gabrielle,

well known.
Not
VOL.

the
II.

index
slightest

of

king Henry'sopinionon
H

98

HENRI

IV.

the

is on
tragicoccurrence
resentment
nor
suspicion
smallest

allusion

duchess

made

It

by

his

however,

was,

the

to

record

he showed

"

towards

Not

one.

any

of the

manner

neither
the

of the

death

majestyhas been transmitted.

leading principlein Henry's

also

conduct,as
political

[1599.

of his wonderful

element

an

obstacles

to
apparentlyinsuperable,
if posaccept le faitaccompli;to mitigatethe evil,
sible
of enemies
make
to
swarm
a
never
by
; but
accusation
or
harassingsuspicion.By never
vague
dents,
referringto unpleasantand non-established anteceHenry retained his influence ; and secured the
of individuals
cohesion of parties
and the allegiance
whom
a
menacing insinuation might alarm and
The
death
of madame
la
eventuallyalienate.
success

over

Duchesse

doubtless

was

criminal,however,

accelerated

whether

M.

Zamet

actual

the

M.

or

de

chief

powerfulclique. Some of the

of the realm
might be compropersonages
mised
of the facts of the
investigation
; a judicial

death

of the duchess

Sancy, was

of

one

infolded
artfully
and

fillthe court

without

doubt

but

would
it

might

with

hatred

would

be

adopted by M. de Rosny
expediencyHenry had more
The
state

mortal

not

remains

in the chamber

elucidate

convulse

the

and
the

"

and
than

of madame
in which

she

mystery

disaffection.
line
such
once

of

realm,
Such

argument
sacrifice

to

sanctioned.

de Beaufort

expiredon

lay in
Easter

More
thousand
than
people
Monday.
twenty
The
sprinkledher bier with holy water.
princesses
The following
in Paris performedthe same
ceremony.
to the church of St.
day the coffin was transported
Germain
l'Auxerrois,and placed under a superb
catafalquereared before the high altar. A solemn
requiem was chanted,at which the court was present,

1599

AND

MARIE

the cavaliers and

habiliments.
her

six

marshal

of the
where

being attired

in

father of the unfortunate

The

her brother,and
sisters,

mourning
duchess,
the

brother-in-law

Balagny,with eight noblemen, officiated

de

chief

as

ladies

99

MEDICI.

DE

The

mourners.

set
service,

out

the duchess

was

for the
to

conclusion

the

cortege,on

abbey of Maubuisson,
The

be interred.1

corpse

duringthe night
of the 14th,surrounded
by the honours paid to the
buisson
were
royaldead. The obsequies
performedat Mau; the abbess
Angelique d'Estrees and her
of the beautithe body at the portal
nuns
receiving

rested in the cathedral

tiful

church.

front

of the

vault

cloth

had

high altar,in

of the duchess
assumed

of St. Denis

for the

were

first nine

been
which

excavated

in

mortal

mains
re-

the

deposited.2The
days mourning of

king
black

his

the customary royal

majesty then wore
mourning of purplevelvet. An order was
gated
promulcommanding a court mourning. No persons
were
permitted to present themselves before the
1

"

The

poet Sigogne composed

watching the
"

the

convoy
J'ai vu

pass before

Les

pechez mortals

six

passer

Conduits

Qui

tous

sous

followingribald

his window
ma

lines while

"

fenetre
vivant

d'un
par le Batard
alloient chantans

Pretre.

Un

Requiescatin pace,
Pour le Septieme trepasse."
The
six pechez mortals
the sisters of la Duchesse
le
were
;
batard d'un Pretre,"Balagny, illegitimate
of the famous
son
bishopof Valence Jean de Mouthec.
Journal
de Henri
IV.
Mem.
de Cheverny chancelier de
Numerous
France.
MS.
Bibl.
Imp. Suppl. fr.,fol. 1644.
Muses
elegieson the demise of the duchesse.
poets wrote
Francaises : Regret de Daphnis sur la mort
de sa belle Asti\;e.
Tombeau
de la duchesse
de Beaufort,par Porcheres,
(Estives),
"

"

"

"

"

etc.
H

100

HENRI

attired in black

king-except
Germain

retained

weeks.

that

been

have

not

signal

honour

session,and

king

Duchesse.

the

duchess

of

to

vate
pri-

a
a

of

cial
spe-

the

to

la

madame

king

to

espouse
he had

the steps which

lady,and

of condolence

demise

resolve

the said illustrious

the

convened

address

an

lamented

"The

attained

granted

Chambers

voted

the

on

of

before

the

"

several

her

memory

never

individual

the

the

to

draperiesfor
had

St.

of

ambition,she could
with more
ward
appareiland outtime,
parliamentof Paris, mean-

The

veneration.

the church

d'Estrees

mourned

deferred

and

"

objectof

fatal

[1599.

its sable

Gabrielle

If

crown,

IV.

taken in the face of Europe to accomplish

actually
that design,induced the High Court to depart from
the usage
of such
which
limited the presentation
condolence

the demise

to

royal." Deputieswere
Fontainebleau

to

of personages
of the bloodnominated
to
at
once
ceed
procommunicate
his
to
to

bers
majestythe sympathy in his affliction of the memin the realm.1
of the highestcourt
Warmer
condolence,however, the king received
from the generous
and impulsiveheart of Madame,
had
who
the
to
mourn
personallylittle reason

demise

of

reached

la

Duchesse.
the

Nancy

Madame

As

duke

courier

wrote

the

and

with

the

as

soon

duchesse
letters

de

for

of
followingepistle

tidings
Bar

the

cordial

spatched
de-

king.
pathy
sym-

"

Catherine

Madame
Mon
1

cher

Mem.

de

Roy

"

Duchesse
have

de Bar"*
of the

heard

Maintenon, liv. 5, p.

48.

Dreux

"

to

the

extreme

de

King.
sorrow

Radier,Vie

Gabrielle d'Estrees.
2

Recueil

de Lettres

Missives,t.

5.

"

Berger de Xivrey.

de

AND

1599.]
which

has befallen

and

you;

dear

my

to

remind

to

niece
to

to

I shall

that

you

Monsieur
courier

for her

care

husband

my
whom

and

he has

which

if she

as

years of my

life

tender

thousand

you

dear

God,

TJie
"Mr

Sister

dear

letter
as

King

and

the which

will attend
I

to

me

pleasure,
my

who

the

mind

this truth !

directed for the welfare and

The

root

of my

love

Nevertheless, my
and
a

for
flourishing

million

you,

of times.

Catherine."

Catherine.
from

plaintsand
Nevertheless,as by

realm, and

never

for

not

future

preservationof
"

This

dear
15th

your

affliction is incomparable

regrets

will

my
be

this
it

sister,whom

day

of

will

the

own

solely

kingdom.
again

will always be
friendship
my

I kiss

king.

great consolation

is withered

tensity
in-

"

efforts will in

my

king,

the

"

tomb.

and

dear

my

inspiresit

for this

born

was

needed, for my

the person

was

of God

1 derived

"

child.

own

joyfullyin

brave

Madame

to

give her

to

the sacrifice of several

them

follows

said

my

regrets by the

"

King Henry repliedas

the part of

humbly beg

my

Believe

you.

times, my

season

Believe,

act

his

to

griefby

I bear

friend.

confide

to

were

Would

I would

true

owe.

and

testifies to you
sent.

I bear

still pleaseyou

alleviate your

of the love

promised

that I could

"

feel

which

j'ou at this

with

niece

tion
afflic-

that I

you

always love, and

If it should

care.

my

be

to

once

you

assure

for the loss of

service

nephews

my

I will

me,

humble

king, that

mother

the

to

perfectaffection

desired

greatlyhave

offer you

to

the

palliate
your

cannot

only

mourning

own

my

I should

them

use

101

MEDICI.

words

hecomes

grief as

your

you

therefore,I

DE

MARIE

vive!
re-

verdant
embrace

April,1599,

atFon-

tainebleau."2
1

Cesar,Alexandre,

Lettres

and

Catherine

Missives de Henri

407, fob 35, MS.

IV., t.

Henriette
5.

"

Bibl.

de

Yendome.

Imp. F. Dupuy,

102

HENRI

IV.

[1599.

an
Margueritelikewise forwarded
priate
approcondolence
letter to Rosny
a
; though in
she does not
hesitate again to apply to Gabrielle
the offensive epithetof " cette decriee baggasse"to
whom
some
fulso
a
year previouslyshe had addressed
an
appeal.Universal gladness,
however,seemed
to inspire
rous
every order in the realm,despitethe numeaddresses of condolence
forwarded,that God in
had been pleasedto take the life of la
his providence
Duchesse
sort
; so that the kingmight now
espouse a conhowever,
worthy to share his throne. This conclusion,
foreseen
might have been premature ; and but for an unaccident the people,
the
who littleunderstood
plore
character of their king,would have had cause
to dethe catastrophe.Each contemporary historian,

Queen

even

the

assiduous

most

duchess, who

records

in former

the

event

devotion
of her

to

the

tered
death, en-

his cabinet

suitable moral
to append some
secretly
to his relation for the benefit of posterity.Cheverny,
the especial
she
protege of the duchess, and whom
had enormouslyenriched,ungratefully
adds to his
relation," that the death of the duchess, though
fraughtwith regret to us who shared her fortune,
etait bel examplea toutes autres femmes ses semblables."
The opinion of M. de Rosny has already been
corded.
reThe satisfaction of the princesof the blood
be illustrated by the conduct
of their chief,
may
Conde.
the young
When
the intelligence
first
reached

St. Germain

madame

apartment, and seeingher

his face

son

de Conde

entered

the

sitting
apart in a corner,
his mantle,et feasantle

partlycovered with
asked what ailed him ?
For
time the
some
dolent,
princekept his woful countenance, and, shaking his
At length,
on
head, refused to answer.
beingpressed
and
by his mother,Conde burst into a fitof laughter,

104

HENRI

IV.

[1599.

day the king sat silent and

mournful, unmoved
by the witty sallies of his
Retz1 approached, and
The
courtiers.
duke
de
boldlyrallied the king on his melancholy; which, the
duke said,surrounded
his majestywas
at pleasure
as
in the
women
by the most
lovely and fascinating
d'Entragues and others,
world, such as mademoiselle
for so exalted a
an
was
ingratitudeto Providence
" and
if
la Duchesse, sire,
for madame
as
position
;
about to do, you will
you only reflect what you were
has conferred a great blessingupon
allow that God
The
the said lady !"
king
by taking away
you
of applause pervaded the circle,
smiled ; a murmur
of mourning for the duchess was
and the semblance
As
this bold inroad on
from that day abandoned.
considered
had been
what
as
Henry's sacred and
cherished
feelingwas
apparently acceptable,the
example set by the duke de Retz was followed with
by the courtiers. The charms of Henriette
alacrity
de Balzac
were
perpetuallylauded by Roquelaure
and complacentlyconfirmed
and Bellegarde,
by the
count
d'Auvergne ; who, however, also discreetly
One

in his behalf!"

descanted

the

on

attributes

These

and

reserve

virtue

received

were

of

with

his sister.
credulity
courtlyin-

much
had
not
by the cavaliers ; who
faith in the reputed virtue of the daughter of Marie
Touchet, and of Francois d'Entragues one of the
courtiers of the licentious entourage
most
profligate
III.
of Henri
as
confirmed,moreover,
they were
in this opinion by the impressionrecentlycreated
"

"

Albert

malady
grave

de
a

"

Gondy,

cancer

in

who
the

mouth

at the commencement

hotel, faubourg
douleurs."

St. Honore

at

was
"

of the
"
"

this
which
year

period smitten
brought him
1602.

He

died

by

the

to

the

in his

Charge d'ans,de biens, et de

artificial graces

the

by

MARIE

AND

1599.]

"

herself.

The

advantages

DE

of

the

knowledge of

secured

to

105

MEDICI.

beautiful

Henriette

the favour and immense

la Duchesse

by

his

majesty

beauties
of the court
to
tempted many
young
all virtuous resolves,"
if so solicited,
vanquish,
says
Cheverny. The king, however, listened without
alone occupied by cares
interest ; being apparently
of

state.

received,

Henry

the

about

the

Spanish ambassador

de

Villamediana.

The

so
individual,

Don

middle

Juan

of

de Taxis

appointment

of

May,
conde

this

triguing
in-

for his

notorious

animosity
during the wars of the League, was deemed by most
offered to the king by the
persons as a defiance
of Philip II.
Henry, however,
youthfulsuccessor
and gave Don
such insinuations,
to
closed his ear
His majestywas
likewise
welcome.
Juan courteous
Calatavisited by the patriarchof Constantinople
girone,sent by his holiness to intercede for a longer
extension of the periodallotted for his mediation
on
The cunning Franciscan
the affair of Saluzzo.
plied
reasons
why he should show
Henry with numerous
forbearance

even

or

cease

to

for

contend

the

paltrya territory.Henry replied

these arguments pieno de ripieghi,
swerable
to
by the unanlogic," that he only asked for his own ;
loyally
disand declined to cede or to exchange a territory
captured,at a period when M. de Savoye
knew
that his predecessor
king Henry III. could not
the wrong
to cede the marquisate
: moreover,
avenge
would dishonour France in the opinionof the princes
'
VIII. heartily
of Italy."
Clement
repentedhaving
restoration

The

demand
a

of

grand

so

duke

of

the restitution

considerable

sum

of

urged the king

Tuscany particularly
of Saluzzo,and
money

even

offered to

(200,000 scudi) to

to

advance

enable

his

100

HENRI

undertaken

IV.

[1599.
claims

adjudicateupon
with such pertinacity.D'Ossat
recital of the passioninto which
rival

to

claimants

threw

gives an amusing
the obstinacyof the
pontiff;who,
supreme

the

however, covertlyfavoured

maintained

the

of the duke

cause

de

Spaniards.The
cardinal one
morning humbly approachedto condole
with his holiness,
who was
sistory
going to presideat conwith his arm
in a sling,being afflicted with
attack of gout.
It is you, monseigneur,who do
an
all you can
attend to business
to kill me, making me
Savoy,

as

conciliate

to

sop

the

"

these

during
than

heats !

soul

I rested

in

does

limbo

!"

that
pontiff.D'Ossat replied,
be shocked

would

indeed

no

health

of the

Holy

Father.

fine

talking why

is the

time

If I do

not

affair

short 1

so

will go
shoulders

to

and

war,

"

The

wa3
discussions,

at

"

Yes

given to

affair of

irate

majesty
ruin

! it is very
discuss this

pronounce

fault will be

the

the

and

incommode

the

"

retorted

his Christian

to

so

'

last ni^ht

more

king

your

laid

Saluzzo, after

lengthpostponed,with

on

my

various
the

sent
con-

of the

king, until the end of the year ; as the

of Savoy intimated
duke
his
to the French
envoy
resolve to visit the court, and
with
treat
personally
his majesty.
After the ambassadors
quittedFontainebleau,the
king one day on his return from the chase suddenly
his intention

announced
herbes

"

chateau

visit the Bois de

the

appertainingto

undertake

to
majesty speedily

to

the

campaign.
"

Males-

marquis

Galluzzi,Mura-

tori,etc.
1

"

II

me

cedente,
vous

non

autres

repliqua qu'iln'avoit repose de toute la nuit

damnee
: puis il ajouta,
plus qu'une ame
voulez
faisant etudier avec
tuer
me
qui me
"

'

grandes chaleurs.'1' Lettre

"

189.

prec'est
ces

AND

1599.]

MARTE

DE

107

MEDICI.

the
d'Entragues. The courtiers applauded; and
received by madame
king repairedthither,and was
d'Entragues,and by her beautiful daughter.1 The
of the ensuing year are
events
painfulto record ;
and damaging to the renown
of Henri Quatre. They
exhibit the great Henry cowering at the feet of an
ambitious woman
his privateand political
; false to
dupe of a family
engagements ; and the credulous
renowned

for its scandalous

intrigue. It needs

all

the

memories
of the heroism and generosity
inspiring
displayedon the fields of Coutras,Arques, and Ivry
with sorrowful disgustfrom
the connot
to
turn
templation
and
of a
character
morally so weak
of historypermits of no
The
egotistical.
fidelity
nesses
that the weakcompromise with facts ; and demands
of princesshall be traced with
outlines as
firm as their glorious
exploits.Henry's noble qualities
called forth in times of peril in days
were
when
an
opportunityneglectedmight be a royal
diadem forfeited. The Holy League, with its military
and abjectcrimes,
campaigns,its political
perfidies,
has at least the merit of havingconferred the appellation
of Le Grand
Henri IV. as its subjugator.The
on
and frank temper of king Henry
successes
military
have
the domestic
which
gained him a renown
annals of his life certainly
sanction.
The
do not
in enormity the
of this reign exceed
excesses
wickedness
of previous courts.
rated
Henry inauguthat era
of corrupt licence, which
during
the reigns of his grandson and
great-grandson
"

"

tenir

d'Entragues (Marie Touchet) vint se

Malesherbes, et chassant, dit au roy qu'ilfalloit que

Enfin
a

madame

passer son
fut fort amoureux
pour

pierre,who

was

ennui

il s'allfitdivertir.
"

(de la fille)
"

one

Journal

II y alia
Vie
de ma

done,
"

of the cavaliers in the suite at this

et

en

Bassom-

period.

108

HEN

undermined

the

III

IV.

[1599.

gloriousthrone

founded

by

his

Bois

de Males-

exploits.
visit of

The
herbes

king Henry
about

occurred

after the
"The

tragedy of

May,

to

five weeks

of Gabrielle

is withered"

love

Henry's patheticwail

the
of

end

the demise

of my

root

the

to

had

d'Estrees.
been

Henriette

Madame.

king
de

king in the lustre of her

artful yet piquantbeauty,and the royalheart again
throbbed
with passion. For several successive days
after the
Henry made the chateau his resting-place
vivacityand sprightly
fatiguesof the chase.1 "The
d'Entrngues raised in the
graces of mademoiselle
breast of the king intense longingde la voir,puis de
V aimer?
la revoir, puis de
Henry's domestic
Mentor, Rosny, meantime, was cognizantof the new
attraction inflaming
the susceptible
fancy of the king.
that some
cupy
Rosny, however, aware
passionmust ocBalzac

before

stood

the mind
pasagere

the

sion
illuof his master, deemed
that une
for mademoiselle
d'Entragues might

king, until after the election of a

suitable consort
transfer of the
a
legitimate
; when
In
ensue.
royal homage would in all probability
this conclusion,however, the
and
prudent
sage
estimate
Rosny erred. He had formed a disparaging
of the intellect of mademoiselle
d'Entragues. He
judged her by the levityof her conduct when in
public; and as Rosny depreciatedgenerallythe
monopolize

character
mother
with
1

"

the

of

women

the

"

late

redoubtable

queen-

excepted he viewed the fancy of the king

his usual dry indifference.
The duchesse de

Mademoiselle

"

d'Entraguesfit

bien

qu'ellene fut pas

beaucoup plus gaye."
"

de Guise.

si
Les

oublier

roy la

Duchesse,
belle,mais elle etoit plus jeune et
de Henri
Amours
IV., Louise M.
au

Beaufort

seldom

inclination
rather
the

than

king,a
silence

to

MARIE

AND

1599.]

109

MEDICI.

DE

in

interfered

affairs of state;

her

and. gauds of royalty

for the pomps
from
A word
for its solid attributes.

was

frown

and

la

madame

Rosny, sufficed

from

sarcasm

Henriette

Duchesse.

de

weening
Balzac,however, had temper, wit,tact, and an overHer
desire as well as a capacityfor rule.
devices of
incurable ; by a thousand
was
coquetterie
her
she had the art of displaying
toilette or manner,
charms
under
new
a
aspect1 one, always fresh and
d'Entragues,meanwhile,
alluring. M. and madame
"

were

satisfied

as

as

the effect

produced on
elle d'Estrees,
had her
presidedas queen over
Mademoiselle

court.

perhaps
charms

somewhat

were

fair Henriette

the

the heart of the

life been
the

king.
spared,would

d'Entragues was
"

she

Gabrihave

festivities of the

summer

higher

equalto

herself with

as

well

esteemed

those of la Duchesse

born,
her

that
;

while her

The
greatlyin excess.
ment
Count
d'Auvergne,however, pretendedgreat resent"
at the royalvisits to Malesherbes, unless his
majesty intended eventuallyto espouse his sister."
fore,
MM.
d'Entraguesand d'Auvergne resolved,thereto irritate the passionof the king, until they
extorted from his majestythe celebration of a private
betrothal,to be acknowledged on the dissolution of
his marriage with
Marguerite de Valois. Henry
afforded every
opportunityfor these machinations ;
from
and actuallytook up his abode at Malesherbes
his majestyleft
until the 9th,when
the 6th of June
of
for Orleans,en route for Paris ! The
proceedings
wit and

"La

savoir vivre she rated

demoiselle

etait." writes another

plus auibitieuse
d'esprit."
et

n'etoit

author,
que

pas
"

novice,"

says

Sully.

"

Elle

coquette,
emportee, peu delicate,

tendre ; inais charinant

de

visage et

110

HENRI

IV.

[1599.

their

daughter were
sharplywatched
by monsieur
and madame
d'Entragues. The marshal de Bassompierreasserts that the marquis d'Entragueswas in
when
he interdicted his daughter from reearnest
sponding
to the royalsuit,
except on condition of the
matrimonial.
The princede Joinville,
Claude
crown
shown
de Lorraine, had
himself fascinated by the
bewitchinggraces of Henriette ; besides,it was prudently
conjecturedby the parents of the lady,that
evinced by the king would subside on
the admiration
the arrival of the consort
M. de Rosny was
whom
so
anxious to elect. The king,nevertheless,
duringhis
mademoiselle
tragues
d'Ensojourn at Malesherbes,made
the offer of the place and state
of the late
madame
la Duchesse.
thority
Rosny records,on the auof the king, that the written
of
answer
Henriette

de Balzac

to

was

this

" that she

effect,

was

closelywatched by her father and brother that it

was
impossiblefor her to yield to the impression
made
she must
renounce
a
by the king ; therefore,
destinyunspeakablyalluring.That she had already
so

sounded
his
to

her parents

majesty,in
preserve

order

their

but had
to

ascertained

their consciences

ease

honour, would

give

promiseof marriage,
nothing but
could

That

ensue.

concerned,the

word

far

as

of the

that unless

her

written

immediate
as

she

and

tion
separa-

herself

king sufficed.

In

was

short,

if his

majestyreallyfelt the attachment he professed,

he would
hesitate to give this promise; which
not
she knew
could be regardedonly as an
idle form ;
but without
the which, nevertheless,
she must
very
but decidedly,decline
his majesty's
reluctantly,
visits."i
This reply was
received by the king with
1

The

lettre que

king'sreplyis as
vous

n'aviez

follows

par les yeux

"

J'ai bien

bien ouverts

connu

par voire

ni les concep-

112

HENRI

IV.

[1599.

roof,and only returned

slepttwice under the same
writes his majestyto M.
here (Orleans)yesterday,"
de Caumont.
of
a

July ;
letter

on

to

This

letter

the 28 th of the
the constable

was
same

from

written
month

the

16th

Henry

dates

on

Malesherbes.

moiselle
Made-

d'Entragueshad returned thither,on the

of the king addressed to her father.
absolute mandate
After further consultation with her kindred,Henriette
ing
demandhad written from Marcoussy to his majesty,
further guerdon in addition to a promise of marriage,
the priceof her eventual compliancewith his
as
of the sum
of 200,000 crowns,
proposals
; consisting
to be employed in the purchaseof
part of which was
her abode, pending
and domain
to serve
as
a chateau
the realization of the king'smatrimonial
promise.
M. d'Auvergne had suggestedto Henriette,that to
the royalmistress might frustrate
at court
as
appear
the designof her marriage. This request the king
willingly
granted; and appliedto Rosny for the sum
named, which first opened the eyes of the latter to
of the liaison he had
the dangerous nature
couraged.
enM. d'Entragues
and the count
d'Auvergne,
made preposterous requests for military
moreover,
motion
proHenry granted so great was his
; the which
the frown of Henriette de Balzac.
dread of encountering
On the 3rd of August Henry journeyedto Blois,
division of his army
there assembled
to inspecta
duct
ready for a campaign in Savoye. The dubious conother notable perde Biron, and
of the duke
sonages
in
influence
of the court, who
the
possessed
and the western
provincesof
county of the Blaisois,
nevertheless the chief reason
which
the realm, was
vain and
The
induced
the king to visit Blois.
a
source
was
arrogant dispositionof de Biron
of perpetual irritation to
himself, and to his
"

MARIE

AND

159J.]
friends.

Biron

DE

believed

never

113

MEDICI.

himself

sufficiently

recompensed,or treated with proper consideration.

His susceptible
the
ever
on
vanity,therefore,was
qui vive : and to bring himself prominentlybefore
the public,
Biron scrupled
not
to involve himself in
hostile agitation
againsthis king and benefactor,
u
rather than to subside into what he termed
rious
ingloobscurity."The marshal consequently
adopted
the role wiselyabandoned
menced
by Epernon ; and had comwith the duke of Savoye
a
correspondence
the affairs of Saluzzo
this interference being
on
unauthorized
totally
Henry,
by the privy-council.
"

therefore,summoned

the

Guyenneto jointhe
about

to

Catholic

the

duke

It was,

at

from

his chateau

faith in

Beam
excite

in

he was
Blois; especiallyas

sign the edict re-establishing the

likelyto

measure

court

duke

and

Lower

cabals and

Roman

Navarre1

"

which
factions,

in his present

might foment.
disposition
of the sojourn
however, allegedthat the reason

of the

court

at

Blois

was

to

promote the health

of his

majesty,who enjoyed the beautiful country,

and the fine melons, for the growth of which the
renowned.
During the
gardens of the castle were
brief sojourn of Henry at
Blois,the chancellor
Cheverny died,after an illness of three days, at
his adjacent castle of
Cheverny.2 His health
had
been
for some
months
in a precariouscondition.
On his arrival at Cheverny which castle
he had never
visited since the memorable
day when
of Henry III.,had demanded
Benoise,by command
the great seal an event
followed by the temporary
"

"

MS.

De

VOL.

Imp.

Cheverny etait laborieux,judicieux,

les prosperities
dans
dans
les afflictions,
modere
et
pardonner." L'Etoile.

Thou,

constant

facile

Bibl.

liv. 123.

"

"

II.

114

of the chancellor

retirement
the
"

IV.

HENRI

Ah

"

[1599.

the chief personages of

their respects.
to
pay

neighbourhood waited
! messieurs,"
with
said the chancellor,

"like

hare

have

die ! "

perhaps to

returned

The

words

to

sigh,

haunt

my

"

prophetic:

were

he

following
day seized with inflammation
ject,
of the stomach, a malady to which he had been suband died,greatly
to the regret of his familyand
his august functions
the court.
Cheverny discharged
our
chancellor with ability
and dignity. His demeanas
and
his generosity
was
ample as his
fascinating,
wealth.
He was
true
to Henri
servant
a
IV., whom
the

on

was

he

loved

and

revered

strengthened
by
The

the

tact

and
and

whose

government

lore
legal

of

Cheverny.1
de Sourdis,

liaison of the chancellor with madame

however,diminished

the veneration

was

before conceded

to

peoplelost faith in his equitywhen they

of that lady,who, until
witnessed
the usurpations
the king interfered,
bounds to her rapacity.
set no
Cheverny
"

On
in

the

5th

August

of

Paris,feastingat

the

the

hotel

kino;
of

M.

again

was

Zamet

with

The
d'Entraguesand her kindred.
restlessness of the king at this periodis demonstrated
His
by his frequentchanges of abode.
majesty
oscillated between Paris,Fontainebleau,
Malesherbes,
St. Germain, and Blois; seldom making longersojourns
than four days at any place. The ambassadors
mademoiselle

During

weeks

of

his

refused

life,Cheverny

to

at the past
Sourdis,and expressedgreat remorse
l'abbe
scandal of his life. The chancellor's son and biographer,
Mon
de
de Pontlevoy, relates :
que madame
pere sachant
see

madame

the last few

de

"

Sourdis
d'ecrire

avertie
a

de

son

la elite dame

mal
comme

allait le trouver,
de

me

commanda

moi, que ce n'etoit

ne
se
sieur,et qu'elle

rien que

ordinaire du dit
mit point
Tindisposition
Hurault
abbe de Pontlevoy,
peine." Relation de Philijipe
en
de Chartres.
et de Bonneval, eveque
de St. Pere
Cheverny
1599.
died July 25,
"

MAKIE

AND

1599.]

DE

115

MEDICI.

annoyed with the

de sa mcyesU" as these journeyings
costly" courses
to
were
designated. Rosny, however, kept steadily
now
admirablyaided by the
work, in which he was
of the most
M. de Bellievre,
one
new
chancellor,
of
enlightened and astute
European statesmen.
the demise
Those
who
at
rejoicedmost
persons
the
amazed
of the duchess
de Beaufort, were
at
self,
apathydisplayedby the king, who could bringhimafter incidents so ominous, againto hold festival
of
under
Zamet's roof; and there,in the presence
numerous
guests, by his marked homage to Henriette
de Balzac,to recall reminiscences
of the unfortunate
Gabrielle. Henry, it is recorded by a contemporary,
and
probably a spectator of the scene, flirted with
mademoiselle
and publiclyoffered her
d'Entragues,
valuable pearlnecklace.
The
quette,
a
accomplishedcotoo wily as yet to compromiseher reputation,
turned
ficent
pettishlyaside and refused the magnigift; fullyexpecting that the necklace
would
afterwards
her abode.
be sent
to
Henry,
however, replacedthe pearlsin their casket, and
courtiers

and

to
gave them
Louvre.
The

wearied

were

and

chamberlain
next

to

take

back

to

mademoiselle

morning

the

tragues
d'En-

mnjesty'sfelicitations; and
instead of the necklace,which she expected,a present
of a hundred
fine apricots
I1 Meantime
100,000
had been wrung
from M. de Rosny for the
crowns
moiselle
purchase of the chateau to be presentedto maded'Entraguesby his majesty2 the remaining
received

his

"

MS.

"

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl.fr.,1644.
L'argentpour vous acheter une terre est tout prest; rien
chere ame,
vous
ne
ma
: je vous
suppliea mains jointes,
manque
que je n'ay plus affaire a votre pere." Lettre du roy a M. de
9128.
Verneuil,MS. Bibl.,
"

116

HENRI

half of the

IV.

[1599.

her
the lady had signified
stipulated,
desire to receive in specie. Henry had
been compelled
that this money
should be placed
to command
the cupidityof his future
at his disposal,
to satisfy
mistress and her family. " It was
for his
requisite
constraint (la derniere
majesty to employ the utmost
from me
this sum," writes Rosny.
to wrest
violence)
The coldness occasioned
by this altercation is apparent
for some
time in the letters written by Henry
the onlyredeeming pointin
to his minister; in fact,
the king'sconduct
at this season
to
is,that he seems
have patiently
the objurgations
which he so
endured
richlymerited.
Henry purchasedthe small chateau
and estate
of Bois-Lancy,in the Orleannois, and sent
the title-deeds to mademoiselle
d'Entragues,with
the request that she would
leave Malesherbes,
now
and accept instalment
therein at his hand; promising
his royal faith to give the promise demanded,
on
so
soon
as
a
papal decree, by dissolving
his marriage with queen
Marguerite, might render
such document
valid.
Henriette,however, demurely
declined to leave her father's house, or to see
his
majesty again until after the divorce had been pronounced,
the
and the promise duly delivered,"on
terms, however, which it may pleaseyour majestyto
ordain."
The

de

In

sum

suit for the

reply to

surmonter

royaldivorce

this letter
si

pourra

apporter a

de

amour,

je

vous

notre

had

Henry writes,"
aime

toutes

contentement.

alreadyassumed
Vous

me

commandez

les difficultes que

J'ai

assez

Ton

la force

montre

propositions
que j'aifaite,pour que du cotez
Ce que j'aidit
des votres ils n'y apportent plus de difficulty.
devant
point,mais rien de plus." Bibl.
vous, je n'y manquerez
Imp. F. de Beth., MS. 9128, fol. 15, also Lettres Missives de
Henri
IV., t. 5.
mon

aux

"

AND

1599.]

propitious
aspect.

Beaufort

DE

MARIE

the

removed
conscience

of

memory

forthwith

became

to

pope

holiness.

his

refreshed

conversations

with

auditor

the

to

de

; and

pontifical
cidents
in-

numerous

IX.

career

occurred

of secretary

legate Alexandrini.

"

His

The

Charles

with his

Clement, connected

legation and

of

of the duchesse

obstacle present in the

grand

tender

and

demise

The

117

MEDICI.

"

holiness stated
never

gave

his belief that the

assent

to

the

Marguerite
princess
marriage; nor signed

the

petitionto the Holy See for license to espouse

Henri
de Navarre, her kinsman
in the third degree.
Moreover, that the marriagewas celebrated without
the pontifical
when
that document
dispensation
; and
forwarded

was

to

Paris

after the

Bartholomew's

Day, that
princess.1Queen

the

to

would
her

the

to

eagerness

in

now

income

should

The

not

was

communicated

that

Rosny,

she

promote the dissolution of

faith

that
stipulated

queen

be settled

St.

Marguerite repliedwith

solicitations of

good

marriage.

it

of

massacre

on

her

; and

suitable

her debts

paid.

appointedM. Langlois as her proctor ; and

for presentation
promisedto signany papers requisite
in consistory. She authorized Langlois
to the pope
to assure
his majesty" that her desire tended only to
merit his approbation,
and to promote
the welfare of
the realm."
The queen, therefore,
sel
through her counand proctor, MM.
made
Mole and Langlois,
tion
petito the king during the month
of August, 1599,
settingforth " that kinship,
diversityof faith,and
of mutual consent, had rendered it inexpedient
want
and
impossiblefor marriage to subsist between
She

la dispensen'avait
croyaitferrnement
que
jamais ete leue, ni expliquee a la dite Reine Marguerite ; et
conqu'ellen'avoit pointdepuisla dite dispenseprete nouveau
Lettres d'Ossat,liv. 194.
sentement."
1

"

Sa

Saintete

"

118

HENRI

and

Henry

IV.

[1599.

that
herself; consequently,

look upon his

her lawful husband,she had for the last fifteen years
abstained
from
roof.
inhabitingunder the same
been

in conscience

having
majestyas

never

able

to

being past the age when she might give

children to France, and observingthe eager desire of
she humbly solicited
the nation for an heir-apparent,
suit to the Holy
his majesty to permit her to make
l
This formality
See for the dissolution of the marriage."
the queen
accomplished,
signed a petitionto
the pope, drawn
by Langlois;in which her majesty,
she had alreadyexefirst alludingto the document
cuted,
prayingfor examination into the circumstances
with Henry IV., proceeds to state :
of her union
tl
That in defiance of her will and desire,
her brother,
Charles IX., and her mother
Catherine, had
queen
That
married
her to the king of Navarre.
to this
will :
neither by word nor
union she had given assent
and
that the king and
herself being of kin in the
his holiness to prothird degree, she supplicated
nounce
the marriagenull and void,givingpower
to
2
each party to contract
second nuptials."
The king
similar document, which, with
likewise executed
a
That

now

forwarded
that of the queen, was
to Rome.
with
these important papers,
the mission
facilitated.

was

envoys

Cardinal

to

D'Ossat

Aldobrandini

the

Armed
of

the

curtlyexplained

determination

of the

his divorce par voye de TEglise^

ou
procure
his eminence
: nevertheless,
prayed
par voye de justice
of the divorce " no favour might
that in the matter

king

to

Thou, liv. 123.

Chronique Polonais.
1

De

Dreux

Notice

sur

de Valois.

de
la

Radier

Mem.

de

Sully,liv.

Vie de

Heme.

Piasecki

"

Bazin
Marguerite de Valois.
Vie de Marguerite
Reine Marguerite. Mougez
"

"

"

120

HENRI

evinced

for her

TV.

[1509.

felt her
repute, Marguerite bitterly

degradation during the conference

that the
the

and

of

act

resigningthe

alliance of

she

hero

and

acknowledged

of her

crown

not

was

the

ancestors

indifferent

contemplated. The queen writes to

Rosny, beseechingto be spared the ordeal of appearing
before the commissioners; and requesting
him to obtain his majesty'sassent, so
that her deposition
and affidavit might be privately
taken by
Bertier, syndic of the Gallican Church, at the
" I
d'Usson.
the
chateau
to
avow
you," wrote
M.
I cannot
de Mornay, "that
to
support
queen
of dignity. I propublicdisgraceand diminution
test
that I agree to the divorce without regret,being
that such will add to the comfort of the king,
aware
of this realm, and
the welfare
own
repose,
my
lest
the dread
and
security
liberty,
; nevertheless,
those present should
sory
regardsuch consent as compulevent

had

would

be

to

me

chagrin,that

and

notable

so

could

cause

for confusion

restrain

not

tears

my

making these said

cardinals believe that I am
compelled so to agree,
On
will neutralize the desire of the king."x
which
the 10th of November, 1599, the papal delegates
pronouncedthe dissolution of the marriage,on the
ground of want of mutual consent ; and because the
within the prohibited
high contractingpersons were
viated
degreesof kinship;the which obstacle was not obof the marat the periodof the solemnization
riage
by papaldispensationthe said decision to be
tion
deemed
valid,and to take effect only after confirmaintense joy was
by his holiness.2 The most

which

would

the effect of

have

"

Lettre

de

Octobre,

1599.

Leonard

"

la

Reine

Guessard
Recueil

des

Marguerite
"

Lettres
Traitez

de
de

M.

Duplessis,ce

Margueritede
Paix, etc.,t.

21

Valois.

11.

Moet-

1599.]

MARIE

AND

demonstrated

DE

this

at

121

MEDICI.

The

decree.

day

-which

on

thank
to
pronounced Henry wrote
the members
of the Sacred Collegeand his Holiness.
He
Lianthen despatchedthe count
de Beaumont
to queen
to
cour
Usson, to convey the intelligence
is Henry's letter :
Marguerite. The following
sentence

Avas

"

IV.

Henry
Sceur

Ma

"

examine

to

"

into

Queen Marguerite}

to

The

delegatesof

our

the

legitimacyof

our

Holy Father sent

marriage, have at

according to our earnest desire. I

time in sending this intelligence
to you ; while I
the assurances
of my friendship. I have sent the

lengthgiven sentence
lose

no

renew

Sieur de Beaumont
to

to fulfilthis
to

say

permitted the bond

Divine
justicehas
and

for

you

should

love

and

the

on

you
which

united

feel convinced

honour

you

less than

effect

to you

well

as

in

as

and

frankness

that

God

my

will

done

ever

brother

of

anticipation
;

"

All

Recueil

the

1654.

des Traitcz de

documents

appended

Hist,

to

MS.

Bibl.

Dissolution

de

Marguerite de
1

Guessard

trust

ternal
fra-

with

yourself,

and

rely on

that I will fulfil all that is in the power

Votre

bon

"

Henry."

Paix,Marriages,Contrats,etc.,t. 2.

concerning
du

of

Frere,
"

jens

Console
felicity.

"

in

the candour

days

our

and

you

demonstrated.

have

this

to

to

the

on

interests

gratifiedat

am

national

sceur, with

assurances

my

you

to be

intention

my

of your

bless the remainder

and
friendship

therefore,ma

name.

which

I have

intention

desire that

It is my

care

comfort,

mutual

our

that it is not

contrary, I will take greater

will prove

for

has

severed, His

be

to

us

of this realm.

repose

manded
com-

behalf, that if God

my

ordained

so

I have

office,whom

cardinal

this
de

divorce

are

to be

Joyeuse. Aubery,
"

de

found
in

4to.,

Proces

Brienne,
Imp. Dupuy, 347,
d'entre
Henri
IV. et la Reine
marriage
Valois,in fol.
Bibl. Imp. F.
Lettres de Marguerite de Valois.
138"

de

Beth.,8955, fol. 46.

"

122

HENRI

Henry's anxiety was

of

the

decision

of

IV.

great

mind.

Clement

uncertain

guarantee that the divorce

espouse a
and orthodox race
in

might

of

Queen

papacy.

seems,

the conviction

condition

to

once

of

catholic

of St.

fallen

Marguerite,in

Peter,
of the
'prestige
elaborate

very

therefore,not

the least

that the

matrimonial

crown

positive
the papal

trained
children,

successor

the

vorce,
di-

The

from

whose

the

queen

king; and desired a

pronounced the king

the

princes;

in France

restore

the

means

any

descended

consort

obedience

reverent

by

not

distrusted

would

inform

to

commissioners.

the

was
nevertheless,

in the irritable and

[1599.

sponse,
re-

penetratedby
cably
irrevo-

was

opening paragraph of the

queen'sletter is written with that irony in which
"
Marguerite excelled.
Monseigneur," says she,
"your majesty,imitatingthe gods, does not content
yourselfwith showering benefits on your creatures,
console them
in
but deigns moreover
to visit and
self
their afflictions."1 The queen,
however, signsher"votre
et subjected It was
sceur
Marguerite's
policynot to hold the decision of Joyeuse and his
final ; the more
the edict confirmatory
as
colleagues
so, as
of the pecuniaryadvantagespromised to the
was
by the royalsignyet unauthenticated
queen
manual.
The count
de Beaumont, therefore,
carried
forfeited.

back

to

Paris

The

letter from

the

queen

to

the

stable,
con-

cation
requestinghim forthwith to procure the ratifi" of the
promisesmade to you by the king on
is the appropriate
time."2
behalf; for now

my

The
when
1

conflict in the mind

was

great,

the
Sillery,d'Ossat,and
Henry'srepresentatives,

Guessard

"

Lettres

Beth.,9086, fol.
2

of his holiness

Ibid.-F.

de

de

Marguerite

25.

Beth.,9086, fol. 25.

de

Valois.

MS.

F.

de

MARIE

AND

1599.]

DE

123

MEDICI.

prelatessent into France, presented their sentence

at the Vatican,and
ment
requestedits ratification. Cledemanded
time to offer specialprayer
to the
of
Almighty ; and pliedthe envoys with all manner
pertinentquestions relative to the use their royal
master
was
likelyto make of his liberty. At length
d'Ossat and Sillery,
the word
and guarantee of
on
mined
Rosny and Villeroy,stated that the king had deterthe hand of the princessof Tuscany,
to demand
Marie de Medici;
and that Silleryheld commission
the prelimito repairto Florence, to make
nary
and
ascertain
to
inquiries,
privateovertures
whether
formal
proposalsfrom his majesty were
this
likelyto be accepted by the princess. When
statement
was
made, neither Rosny nor
Villeroy
authorized
was
by the king to tender such promise.
Far
from
contemplating a union with Marie de
absorbed
Medici, Henry was
by his passion for
Henriette
de Balzac.
Villeroyand liosny,however,
afterwards

excused

themselves
had

their

authorized

by

boldness

the words

promisedhis parliamenton

would

take

queen."
intentions

immediate

pope

declared

of the

king, who

" that he
petition
to give the realm
a
that his majesty's

its

measures

the

When

and

heard

he ratified the decree of

laudable,
his commissioners
and
;
pronounced matrimonial
divorce between
the Christian king Henry IV. and
the most
noble and
guerite
Marserene
princessMadame
de Valois,from
of the altars of St.
one
Peters.1

On

Autoritate

"

declaramus
ac

etiam

Nav

were

the 22nd

of December

the decree

was

asserimus,pronunciamus, et
Apostolicavallati,

matrimonium

consummatum

Regem, et
Valesise Ducem,
:

so

alias

inter Henricum

serenissimam
nullum

anno

et

Domini
IV.

] 572, contractum

Christ

Franc

et

Reginam Margaretam e Francia,

celebratum
invalidum,utpote non

124

HENRI

IV.

[1599.

registered
by trie parliamentof Paris ; and the pontifical
bull publicly
read from the altar of the church
of St. Germain
en
Laye. On the 29th of December
guerite
Henry issued his letters patent, decreeingthat Marshould retain her royal titles of queen,
and
duchess
The
counties of Agenois,Conde Valois.
domois, and Rouerge ; the duchy of Valois ; and
the lordships
of Verdun, Rieux, Riviere,and Albisettled upon
the queen.
The king paid
geois,were
her debts ; granted her a residence
in Paris ; and
assignedto Margueritethe chateau of Madrid in the
Bois de Boulogne for life.1 It was
ever,
howstipulated,
that Marguerite should not yet avail herself of
the privilegeso
dearly purchased of leaving her
fortress palaceof Usson.
the act was
When
summated
conwhich deprivedher of the glorious
crown
of her ancestors, the unhappy Margueritebitterly
bewailed

her

followingletter
of

tears

the

the

"Ah!

kins;.

he, " she

grief; but I

herself

then

Henry, which

to

claimed
her

She

abasement.

me

accuses

take

author

of

God

addressed
forth the

drew
la

malheureuse

of

being the
witness

to

dishonour

her

had separatedus long ago

practices

"

the

ready
!"

ex-

of

cause

that

she

for her

is

evil

!"

Queen Margueriteto Henri/ IV.

"Monseigneur

blessing,as

every

that, in the

given

me

debetis

cum

"

As

the Author

depth of

the

we

my

benediction

S.R.E.

bound

are

of

Good,

trouble
of

solemnitatibus

thank

to

and

praiseHis

for
name

despair,He

reconciliation

ac

God

with

aliis necessariis

has
your

de

jure

Bull
of Clement
ad validitatem
VIII.
matrimonii."
requisitis
MSS.
Dupuy, 347, Bibl.
Leonard, t. 2. Moetjens,t. 2, 637.
Imp.
Hist, de Languedoc
Dom
Vaissete,t. 3. De Thou.
"

"

"

AND

1599.]

DE

MARIE

125

MEDICI.

royal clemency. The

thereby demonstrates
blow, sire,which has proceeded from you, though severely
of mind, which
I
back
felt,at least gives me
tranquillity

majesty,who

could

never

from
I

the

for

which

considered

of

deprived of

live

the honour

will, even

to

detriment

own

my

while

If you,

"

to

party

by

the

wrong

with

your

devote
so

therefore

God,

that
afflicting

damage may

redound

is your
and

content

royal and

Majesty to

most

maintain

the will to show

affectionate

King,

the

to

which
fraternal
your

kindness

thank

and

have

sister,servant, and

loss is

will

your

and
as

I pray

very

and

I have

my

praise
king, for

from
the

your
Divine

inspire you

to

will

received

favours.

your

me

I will

which

public weal.

you

glory,and
to

repaired

that my

is

submitted, sire, to obey you

who

been

have

deplore deeplymy

reflect that such

did I not

consenting

now

merit

should

its impulses,

to

to

It is true

to

noble

dignityby honouring

my

life.

of my

remnant

and

the grace
late

on

things

your

have

to
protectionand friendship,

fallen fortune
that my

inflicted

once

the

heavy

You

force of events.

the

been

assent

always

obedience.

by

past

such

I hold
afflictions,

that

so

torment

times

in

sire, have

my

caused

suffered

mine

in all

compunction

sire,might yield without

spirit,
even

I have

conform

to
special,

pleased

were

you

sire,

desire

accompany

favour.

your

banished

which,

the

"

when

desired

longer

no

grace'

could

hope

as

alien,and

an

good

your

long

as

that I should

your

regained while

honour

hoped

but

have

faithful

and

with
very

subject,
"

Marguerite."

patheticletter was read by the king,stained

his ministers
! Whilst
by his tears, and forgotten
were
completingthe necessary forms to annul his
cern
marriage,the king,as if he had no interest or conin their labours,deliberately
pledged himself,in
to engagements
the pursuitof his unbridled passion,
This

'

MS.

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl. fr.,1011,

126

HENRI

the

IV.

discreditable and

most

in France

[1599.

degrading.

The

presence

of the

to pronounce
papal commissioners
the validityof the royal marriage,sufficed to
on
the pretendedscruples
of MM.
satisfy
d'Entragues.
Mademoiselle
d'Entragues,therefore,consented to
smile propitiously
the royalsuit,providedthat
upon
drawn
with certain limitations
a promiseof marriage,
be specified
to
by his majesty,and in which she
agreed, was
depositedin the hands of her father.
the 3 1st of October,1599, as the
Onemorning,therefore,
king was about to quitthe palaceof Fontainebleau to
hunt, he called M. de Rosny, and taking him aside

put into his hands

exacted

by

justicewhich
writes
Rosny
a

avowed

the

would

rectitude

paper,

which

the mise
pro"
d'Entragues. It is

mademoiselle

contained

compelled to render Henry,"

deprecatingly," that he always
aberrations into which his passions
transported

him
knew

and

am

and

consulted

most

oppose

seemed

those

his inclinations

grandeur which

Henry, however,

thereon

few

who
a

"

princescan

he

trait of
claim."

that the royal

suppose
mantle
and
the blind idolatryof Rosny gave
him
license to make
confession of any weakness, however
to

king,in the paper which he placed

with
such bonhomie, as Rosny evidentlythought,
in the hands
of his minister,promised and
took
oath," before God, and on the honour of the king,
Henriette
Catherine
to
de Balzac,in case
espouse
within one
the said lady gave birth to a son
year
from the date of the promise."1After perusingthe
degrading.

Cette

The

cajolerle roi ; le
de tant de cotes et gagner
tourner
de telle sorte les porte-poulets
et cajoleurs
qui etoient tous les joursa ses oreilles ! says Sully,
in the fervour
of his indignation. Mademoiselle
d'Entragues,
had
Her
however,
potent kindred.
aunt, Catherine de Balzac,
1

"

pimbeche

et

rusee

femelle

sut

bien

"

128

HENRI

left the
which

in

apartment

time

his

IV.

[1599.

less than

minutes,

ten

rewritten

in

the

promise.
I stood at the foot of the staircase when
his majesty
descended
to
see
; but he passedby,pretendingnot
He
then
mounted
his horse, and
took the
me.
road to Malesherbes,where
he spent the following
two
days,"relates M. de Rosny.1
This famous
promise,which afterwards gave rise
is thus worded
state
to a formidable
:
conspiracy,
majestyhad

"

We,

"

of

de

and

ranee

and

the

Henry

Navarre, promise and

the faith and

on

Grace

Fourth, by the
of

word

he

for

giving us

Catherine

Henriette
in

that

six

case

pregnant, and
instant
spouse

of

face
We

and

under

Church,

between

and

with

the

permission to
thereof

we

into

enter

write

Malesherbes, this

1st

such

lady

The
who
M.

becomes

from

son,

and

accustomed

that

legitimate

marriage

in

the

solemnities.

soon

of the

marriage contracted
Marguerite de France, with

fresh

In

nuptial contract.

and

sign

day

of

the

present

"

Au

Bois

ness
witde

October, 1599.
"

daughter,

ratifythis promise again,

as
our
Holy Father the

to

dissolution
Madame

and

us

said
to

moiselle
Made-

consort

wife

our

the

swear

sign-manual, so

decrees

Pope

the

publiclycelebrate

promise

our

for

and

Order,

our

Balzac, his

hence

her

take

will

Holy

also

months

de

eventuallygives birth

will

we

companion

our

Francois

Messire

Balzac, Seigneur d'Entragues,Knight of

that

God,

before

swear

king, to

God, King

of

Henry."2

Economies
Livre,Heme.
Royales,t. 1, in fol. Amsterdam.
king was received at Malesherbes by madame
d'Entragues,
connived
throughout in Henry's pursuitof her daughter
absent
home
circumstance
of
from
a
d'Entragues was
"

which

he

made

the

most

in

the

trial

which

subsequently

ensued.
1

Bibl.

Henri

IV.

Imp. Suppl.

fr. MS.

177

; also Lettres

Missives de

AND

1509.]

MARIE

DE

129

MEDICI.

rigidlykept. It
promise was
confided
was
by Rosny to two persons only to
Villeroy and to Montmorency. These noblemen
to commence
determined,nevertheless,
negotiations
with Marie de
for the alliance of their royalmaster
such designto
Medici ; and to intimate,
at any risk,
fortunate accident
Clement.
They trusted some
pope
of a promise
might frustrate the accomplishment
The

secret

of this

"

so

ruinous

to

think

was

but which

only

it was

conditional.

then

some

In the

consolation
of

king
even
as
Rosny
and
conspiracies
case

Henry repentance followed vivid

the
could
desire : nevertheless,
broils which subsequentlyensued
from that deed of
follywere fatal to the political
egregious
prosperity
and domestic peace of Henri Quatre.

VOL.

II.

133

CHAPTER

I.

1599"1600.

Affairs

concerning the marquisate

Savoy visits the court of France

duke

of

objects The duke

of M.
intrigues Arrival

de

His

"

Biron

His

"

Savoye
de

disaffection
Fontainebleau

at

Biron

and

and

other

The

"

"

de

"

Details

"

Saluzzo

of

malcontents

His

"

Conferences

"

with

relations
on

M.

the restitution

marquisate of Saluzzo
Deportment of the duke
of Savoy
Negotiationsfor the marriage of Henri Quatre
Marie
de Medici, and the grand ducal family of Tuscany
of the

"

"

"

"

Numerous

suitors
Dori

Eleanore

for

hand

Giovannini,

"

arrives

Ferdinand,

the

in

Paris

"

the

of

princess Donna
the grand duke
"

from

envoy

Discussions

relative

Marie
Mademoiselle
d'Entragues
dowry of madame
inspiredby her insolence and presumption Attitude
kindred
King Henry grants audience to the Tuscan
"

"

"

"

at

Conflans,

of

Marie

of

intents

The

Savoy

grand-master
duchess

authorizes

de Medici

the duke
"

and

de Bar

visits Rome

"

"

Conde
of
"

His

"

demand

Continuation
His

in form
of

departurefrom

de

Fuentes

"

the

the

to

for the

conferences

Fears
of

her

envoy
hand
with

Paris,and

M.

de

perfidious
Rosny created

and
feuds of the duke
artillery Domestic
The duke de Bar
Disquietude of Madame
Marriage contract
errand,and its success
"

"

"

134

HENRI

IV.

[1599

ambassadors
into
Entry of the French
king Henry
of the marriage
Florence
by torchlight Proclamation
Deportment of the princess First letter -written by Henri
The reply of madame
Marie
rV. to his affianced consort
Imperious temper of the princess She emancipatesherself
of Medici
Demands
the
from the guidance of her kindred
Dori
in her household
Opinions
appointment of Eleanore
of the potentates of Europe on the marriage between
king
Conference
of
Fontainebleau
Henry and Marie de Medici
Its religious
import Correspondence of the king with the
duke d'Epernon, and of M. de Mornay with the duchesse de
the
castle and
Bar
marquisate of VerHenry bestows
neuil
mademoiselle
on
Departs for Lyons
d'Entragues
to superintendthe warlike
preparationsfor the invasion of
the duchy of Savoy.
of

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

discussions relative to the

The

continued,

formed

and

Saluzzo

Marquisateof

the

of

under-current

all

demonstrated
Henry's negotiations.The king never
incident
determined
more
spiriton any political
his

throughout
of

of

defiance

inter-

the

of the
Rome, and of the expostulations

cessions of
duke

In

reign.

Savoy,
of his

the

of

menaces

cabinet,the

in order

Spain, and

the

of which

members

difference
inprecated
de-

a
insignificant
territory to all these objectorsHenry had but one
stances
circummon
reply Je veux
Marquisate The
under which
Saluzzo was
captured,and the
conduct of the duke of Savoy, who at
disingenuous
tory,
his right to the territimes arrogantlymaintained
and at others humbly implored his majesty

war,

to

re-annex

so

"

"

to

grant

its investiture

facts not

likelyto

temper.

The

him

this

at

Clement

one

Mem.

to

conciliate

inconsistencies

of his

one
a

sons

monarch

of the

duke

of

"

were

Henry's
deprived

period of the mediation of the pope.

day remarking on the strange vacillade

t. 2eme.
Sully,

De

Thou,

liv. 123.

136

IV.

HENRI

with

overture

the

justas

favour;
their

intervened

death

solicited ports
passvisit the French

had

ambassadors

duke's

enable

to

her

but

this

received

d'Estrees

Gabrielle

marquisate.

[1599

to

master

subsequent failure of the negotiation

and the demise of the
undertaken
by Calatagirone,
duke's consort, Dona
Catalina,sister of the Infanta,
deemed
and of PhilipIII.,which
event
was
likely
The

court.

the

render

to

the

cabinet

of

cause

Savoy,

of

indifferent

Madrid

made

duke's

the

to

journey
expedient.

king still more

in the ascendant ;
Mademoiselle
d'Entragues was
but her positionwas
then insecure,and her reign
of Rosny at the
menaced
by the active negotiations
of Florence.
It was, therefore,
court
thought possible
with

confer

to

that the

the

suffer herself

mistress would

new

to

be

homage of so high a personage ; and by

destined for her predecessor.
the rich giftsonce
Moreover, M. de Savoye hoped to profitby the
of the
divisions and
intriguesof the malcontents
bribed

by

The

court.1

be

the

disaffection of Biron

improved ;
and

de

the

discontent

la Trimouille

was

of the
afforded

event

an

dukes

to

de Bouillon

opening

for

political
guile. The relations of
de Biron with the Spanish ministryat
the marshal
this period,
to the king, menaced
though unknown
the monarchy so bravelyreorganized
by the genius
of Henri
Quatre. Biron never
forgotthat he had
M.
been despoiled
of the office of admiral to gratify
subtle

"

Je

process

ne

passe

of

pas

en

France,

pour

emporter quoique ce

en

de ma
soit,mais pour y laisser un souvenir ineffaceable
presence.
On
ne
pouraitjamais effacer qu'avec une epee les traces proDe Thou.
Guichefondes que je laisserai dans ce Royaume !
Hist, de
Hist, de la Royale Maison
de Savoye. Tortora
non
Francia,3 vols, in 4to. Venetia.
"

"

"

"

AND

1600.]

MARIE

DE

137

MEDICI.

though subsequentlyample amende had

him
in the shape of a marshal's baton,
been
made
and
by a patent of haute-noblesse. His intrigues
with the court
of Spain are
menced
supposed to have comduring his sojourn in Brussels, whither he
ness
had been sent as ambassador
extraordinaryto witof Vervins
the confirmation
of the peace
by
the
archduke
viceroy. At Brussels, Biron was
visited by the famous
leaguer Louis Picotte, dit
the agitatorwhose
d'Oileans
pamphlet
political
being patronizedby Rose bishop of Senlis,had
occasioned
the
punishment of
prosecutionand
that turbulent
priest. This Picotte hazarded some
of the league in
remarks
the re-organization
on
France : he stated that the government of PhilipIII.
1

de Villars

"

willing to

was

give such

assist-

material

movement

adding, that to see so great a captain as

in the
Biron superseded by less worthy personages
deemed
dalous
by king Philipscanregardof the king,was
ing
ingratitude.The marshal, instead of resentsuch
and
unfounded
impertinent comments,
bombastic
made
some
reply,2encouragingenough,
ther
however, to authorize Picotte to venture
upon furance

communications
His

France.

after the

intercourse

was

return

of the

duke

to

zealouslyrenewed

of the edict of Nantes : a measure

registration
asmuch
the more
acrimoniouslyresented by Biron, inhad been chosen by Henry
the Constable
as
the reluctant parliament.
to enforce his mandate
on
had
Biron,therefore,
through this renegadeleaguer,

after the

"

History of

Navarre,"
2

"

Le

du

bk. 3, Part

marechal

serait bien
Mort

the

ayse

marechal

of

Reign

Henry

IV.

King of

France

and

1st.

luy respondit que s'il venoit en France, il

Vie et
qu'illuy en parlastplus clairement."
"

de Biron

"

Paris, 1605.

138

HENRI

been

IV.

[1599

imprudent enough to make

Spanish cabinet,"praying

the

the

favour

to

which

France, the
the

it

the

was

respitefrom

his Catholic
the

of

of the

true

faith in

the

heresyof
:

king

to

of three years

intention

to

majesty

stilla Calvinist

was

for the space

war

communication

endangered by

was

in his heart

king,who

he knew

maintenance

that
take
when

vency,
militaryvigour and pecuniary solit was
his majesty'sintention to attack the
Spanish monarchy in the Low Countries,Italy,and
for the interest of
in Spain itself;and that it was
of Spain,
well as for that of the crown
the faith,
as
that his Catholic majesty should be forewarned.""1
Lafin
The intrigue
had advanced
thus far, when
one
Biron
and
introduced
was
as
negotiatorbetween
but
the Spanish viceroyover
Milan, then Velasco
able foe
the conde de Fuentes, the most
ultimately
contend.
Henri
to
Quatre had
against whom
sity
Fuentes
hated France
and the king with an intenwhich
partook of insanity.2His agent was
Lafin was
whom
he served.
worthy of the masters
of M. Beauvoir
a gentleman of Burgundy, brother
la Nocle, and distantly
related to the house of GonHe
taut.
was
plausible,
keen, treacherous,and
ready to barter honour for pelf. His love of gain
intense ; and
was
a
failingor a doubtful cause
renewed

with

"

"

Lafin
The

the

was

first

temperament

to

and

Deposition de Jacques

forsake if

not

of
principles
Lafin

"

Proces

to

overthrow.

this individual

criminal

du

marechal

de Biron.
2

When

the conde

elation.

El

heard

the disastrous

Henry IV. his joy burst forth

conde," says his confessor,"fu ton

the assassination
"

de Fuentes

of

with

tidingsof
indecent

alegre,como
de tal suerte
su
cabeza, que parecio
impensada nuova
occupo
inchirle el lugar del seso y dejarle
sin el,loco de plazer."

AND

1600]

him

rendered

guide a

DE

like that of Biron

passionateto frenzy.

excuse
guileful

139

MEDICI.

adapted to
peculiarly

character

and

MARIE

and

could

assuage,

"

humour

and

to

rous,
proud, chival-

Lafin
and

was

at

apt

restore

the

after a mad
self-complacency
initiated
outburst of rage.
The duke of Savoy was
As the
in the secret
of this intrigueby Fuentes.
one
essentially
perfidious
temper of the duke was
and brouillon,
he eagerlyresponded; and instructed
and M. de
his ambassadors, the chevalier le Breton
from the king
Roncas
ask for a safe conduct
to
resolved to secure
the cession of Saluzzo ; or to gain
an
ditious
equivalentby fomenting the restless and secabals of the chief barons of Henri Quatre.
The
duke
of Savoy accordinglyquittedTurin
about the middle of November, 1599.
His application
had been received by the king with courteous
that the
amity. The envoys of the duke announced
his
to content
objectof their master's journey was
if no compromise
majestyby the cession of the marquisate,
could be effected.
Again Henry repeated,
"
M. de Roncas, your master
will be welcome
; but,
mon
marquisat/" The duke of Savoy was
je venx
attended
He
by a suite of fourteen persons.
travelled post, sometimes
attended by his gentlemen,
and at others leaguesin advance.
The duke occasionally
in the night and pursued his journey,
rose
as
fancy dictated. The habits of his highnesswere so
that etiquette
eccentric and irregular
was
virtually
At the frontier
proscribedat the court of Turin.
duke
Charles
received
was
by M. de Guiche,
of the Lyonnais,and conducted
to Lyons.
governor
In this cityhe met
with his firstrebuff.
His father,
the late duke of Savoy, in virtue of his titleof count
de Villars and lord of Monluel,was
of the
a canon
marshal

to

his usual

"

140

HENRI

IV.

[1599

chapterof St. Jean de Lyons. The duke,

therefore,on his arrival in Lyons, sent a request,
election
somewhat
arrogantlyworded, that his own
The
to similar honour
might be proceeded with.
of such demand, had communicated
chapter,in anticipation
rized
The
with the government.
king authoillustrious

his faithful
honour

to

counts

St. Jean

de

foreignprince who

refuse

to

this

systematically

had

of France ; the more

proved himself the enemy
of the marespeciallyas Monluel, the chief town
quisateof Villars,was garrisonedby French troops.1
The duke angrilyresented this decision : he refused
denly
attend mass
in the cathedral,and left Lyons sudto
he took boat down
for Rouenne, from whence
the Loire to Orleans.
Henry, meantime, waited the
of his guest at Fontainebleau,attended
by
presence
court
liers.
cavaa
numbering upwards of four hundred
de Montpensier
His majestydespatchedMM.
de Biron, to salute
and de Nemours, and the marshal
the duke

at

Orleans,

and

to

him

escort

bleau.
Fontaine-

to

Early on the followingmorning, as the king

was
quittingthe chapel after matins, intendingto
the duke
greet his guest on the borders of the forest,
cluding
his attendants
Whilst
slept,insuddenly arrived.
Montpensier and Biron, he stole a march
tended
and
performed the journey to Fontainebleau, atThe
and
by Nemours
by one
equerry.
embraced, and
king and his eccentric guest cordially
after some
parley proceeded to view the gardens
Six subsequent
and
royal hunting establishments.
1

De

Hist,

Journal
Thou, liv. 123.
de la Royale Maison
de

dueil pour

la mort

de la duchesse

youngest daughter

of

Philip

de

Savoye.
sa

"

femme,"

II. and

Guichenon

IV.

Henri

due

Le
"

Doila

Elizabeth

de

"

portait le
Catalina,
Valois.

AND

1600.]

days

MARIE

DE

141

MEDICI.

spent in entertainments

were

description.Mademoiselle
the

at

festivities; and

and

fetes of gorgeous

d'Entragues appeared
hunted

in the

forest,

Rosny and his consort

goddessDiana.
of the chateau.
Sickness or
occupied their pavilion
death, however, had deprived the royal circle of
of its brightest
The
duchess
de
ornaments.
many
to
Nevers, whose gaiety and grace impartedspirit
the revels of the court, was
drooping under the
of dropsy. The dowager princess
de Conde
ravages
illand absent.
The brightest
star of the court,
was
Gabrielle d'Estrees,had perishedby a painfuland
beth
mysteriousdeath. The duchess de Bouillon Elizade Nassau, lived a life of seclusion at her
chateau of Sedan ; being too proud and too bigoted
to yieldprecedence,
with ladies proto
consort
or
fessing
who claimed highercourt
a different faith,
or
than the patent of Bouillon
sanctioned.
privileges
attired

The

as

the

Constable had

lost his beautiful wife

and

at

was

this

with the Holy

periodabsorbed by his negotiation
See to obtain dispensation
mademoiselle
to espouse
de Clermont, the youthful aunt
of the deceased
madame
de Montmorency.
The
duke
de Savoy,
meantime, made several attempts to confer tete-a-tete
with
the king on
the subjectof the marquisate.
discussion ; and
Henry steadilydeclined a political
invited

the

debated

in the council-chamber

duke

to

wait

until the

were

might be

of the Louvre.

alluded
duke, however, confidently
if he

matter

stillin the citadel of Turin

to

The

Saluzzo,"

; and

as

protested

that

nothing should induce him to cede an ancient

of his house, usurped in 1490 by the king
territory
of France."
of
to M. des Allymes,one
Nevertheless,
his principal
M. de Savoye exclaimed
counsellors,
" I have
accomplishedmy errand : the king is,I per"

142

HENRI

ceive,inexorable;
of

19th

December

return

Henry

[1599
I came!"

as

and

his

On

royal guest

the
paired
re-

Day was ushered in by

the exchange of magnificent
gifts. Henry presented
the duke
the
with a badge of diamonds
; beneath
miniature
of the king. M. de
centre
a
jewel was
Savoye sent to the Louvre, as an offeringto his
bowls of rock crystal.
and two
majesty,two vases
To Henriette
de Balzac the duke presenteda casket
of jewels; also fans and gloves.1 The liberalities of
confined to the king and his
his highness were
not
He offered two horses,
mistress.
superblyaccoutred,
refused the gift a churlishness
de Biron, who
to M.
which excited more
than if the marshal
speculation
had acceptedthe donation.2
To M. de Rosny,
whom
the duke
fore
anxiouslydesired to conciliate bethe pending discussion,
he despatchedM. des
with
Allymes with a costly snuff-box,ornamented
While
the cipherof Rosny in diamonds.
the latter
was
bassador
admiring the workmanship of the box, the amawkwardly made allusion to the claim of
The
Saluzzo.
his master
astute
on
Rosny therefore
divined the meaning of the valuable gift which
he
to

Paris.

IV.

Year's

New

"

Inside

held.

the

box

was

miniature

of the duke.

Rosny, therefore,
requestingpermissionto retain the
returned the box,saying,
that on his assumpportrait,
tion
of office he had made
oath to accept giftsalone
hand of his sovereign.Des Allymes
from the gracious
"
that he had no power
tions
to divide the benefacreplied,
of his master
;" and as he intimated that Rosny
without the box,the latter
might not retain the picture
much
of the duke.3
declined the gift,
to the annoyance
1

Journal

Aubigne

Mem.

de

de Henri
"

Hist.

IV.

Chron.

Universelle.

Sully,liv. Heme.

Septennaire.
Mathieu, t. 2, liv. 2.

144

to

HENRI

be

Biron

penetratedby

IV.

[1599

sufficient fear and

stillretained

of the duke.

condescension

the

veneration

for

period,to compel the

plottersto hide the malignityof their designs,and
not
rudely to challengehis allegiance.The plan
the duke of Savoy rethe following
peated
:
adopted was
his majesty to
his privatediscourse with
Lafin, which he took care to render not very complimentary
that no
to
Biron, under strict injunctions
be divulged to the marshal.
to
Lafin,
part was
zeal and
nevertheless,under
pretext of extreme
his

master

august

at

this

for his patron,

attachment

thus

failed

never

When

heard.

to

repeat all

the

fierytemperament
lashed into fury by the depreof Biron was
ciating
the
ascribed
observations
often falsely
to
king,Lafin,with affected sympathy, soothed the
irritation ; while
marshal's
treasuringevery word
uttered by the latter to report to the duke of Savoy,

that

he

had

who

in

his

For

de Fuentes.

instance,Lafin

dupe one day that

duke, said,"Biron
conceit

he has

communication

made

turn

no

told his credulous

king, in conversingwith the

is a boaster.
His gallantryis
aptitude: intrust an affair to M.

the

to fail!
Biron, and it is sure
Laverdin, on the contrary, is a man

de

and

be esteemed
he

trusted !"

asked

the conde

to

the

marshal

The
and

Another

soldier

to

the duke

time

whether

de

his

majesty
would
objectto the union of his natural daughter,
Donna
Matilda,with the duke de Biron?
Henry
fifty
replied," That in the kingdom there were
families more
worthy of such honour than that of
That Biron was
Gontaut Biron.
too
old, too poor,
said

that

allant voir le comte

d'Auvergne (chezBiron) trouva

Lafin

pensoit pas que

Guichenon.
Thou, L'Estoile,
on

ne

king

fust

en

cour."

"

Chron.

La

Fin

; or,

Sep. De

AND

1600.]
and

too

versatile

to

145

MEDICI.

DE

MAKIE

receive

signalan

so

honour."1

Monseigneur le due,"continued the traitor Latin,

who, it is recorded,always prefacedhis subtle perfidies
his
the
left
master
on
by embracing
eye,
" does
not deem
so
unworthy : the duke desires
you
"

to

have

for his son-in-law

you

and

moreover,

has

seigneur,
sentiments,monhis own."
which he trusts may meet
Biron,
fellinto one
of his
on
hearingthis mendacious recital,
fits of rage : his vanitybeing wounded,
accustomed

authorized

sound

to

me

your

and
loyaltyno longer asserted
prudence,principle,
empire. Latin continued his pretendedrevelations ;
he said that the duke of Savoy had discovered " that
the king alone trusted Rosny ; and moreover
fessed
conthat his generalshad been rather a hindrance
sions
to his recognition
by the people: that their dissenalienated the princes,
had ruined his affairs,
MM.
de Biron,
and disgustedhis allies,
especially
had created an
father and son, whose
intractability
to be effaced from his royal
adverse impression
never

mind."

The

marshal

during this discourse

walked

his apartment
chafingwith passion. " If I
in
been present at such discourse,
every person

about
had

the company,
I swear,
his blood!" exclaimed

would

left bathed

in

subjectof his
sensitive,
marriage Biron was
peculiarly
believing
himself injuredby the king in this matter.
Every
favour conferred by Henry on other of his servants,
Biron took as an
affront to himself.
His majesty
had

bestowed

the

heiress

hand

of

the
of

he.2

I have

heiress of

Joyeuse

Catherine

madame

II.

Bouillon

on

the

of the

"

De

Ibid.,liv. 123.

Thou,

the

on

Turenne

Montpensier; and

on

the agents
When, therefore,

VOL.

On

duke

de

the
Bar.

kingof Spainand

liv. 128.

146

IV.

HENRI

[1S99

Savoy proposed three august alliances,

of which
one
minary
they undertook to complete as a preliin
of the treachery to be consummated
France
through the guilty agency of Biron, the
marshal's vanitywas
solaced in its tenderest point.
His
illegitimate
daughter the duke of Savoy promised
richlyto endow ; but as a further provocative
other brides
of Biron, two
to the insensate ambition
mentioned
were
Margueritede Savoye,1the duke's
the duke

of

"

eldest legitimate daughter

and

niece of his catholic

majesty; and the archduchess Marie, sister of the

of Spain,whose
marriage of three months
queen
had justbeen
with Bathory,princeof Transylvania,
Biron
far
dissolved by papal mandate.
seems
so
fallen from
his allegiance
to have
at this period as
authorized
the duke of Savoy that
Lafin to assure
he

would

Saluzzo
his
of

interests

support his
and

consider

highness,and by
Spain.2

Commissioners

on.

the

the conde

in

the

affair of

made
propositions
de Fuentes

on

by

behalf

length appointed to adjudicate

the affairs of Saluzzo.
The
on
deputiesappointed
Biron, Rosny, and the
by the king were
secretaries Maisse and Villeroy
the commissioners
:
of M. de Savoye were
M. de Belli,his chancellor,
liers
de Jacob, and the chevathe count
de Moretta, M.
de Breton and des Allymes. Every artifice had
of Rosny.
Schemes
been employed to gain the ear
of conquests were
propounded by des Allymes, in
were

at

princessespoused the duke of Mantua

; eventuallythe
second
duke's
daughter was offered to Biron, with a dowry of
de Biron.
Vie et Mort
du marechal
500,000 gold crowns.
fit dire au due qu'ildonnerait tant d'affaires
M. le marechal
au
qu'ilne songeraitpas au marquisat. Vie
roy dens le royaume
du marechal de Biron
et Mort
Imprimee a Paris,1G05.
1

This

"

"

"

AND

1600.]
which

MA.RIE

DE

147

MEDICI.

king was to invade Lombardy, and, aided

of the duke, drive the
by the militaryresources
from Italy. Extension
Spaniardsand Imperialists
of Italian territory
then to be given to the duke
was
of Savoy ; to be followed by the assumptionby the
latter of the titleof king of the Alps, and by the
eventual cession of Savoy, Bresse,and Bugey to
France.
The king,however, suifered himself not to
be dazzled by projectswhich
then
he foresaw were
but continued
impracticable
steadilyto demand
;
holden
in
his marquisate. The
conferences
were
the
hotel
de
Montmorency. Calatagironepresided
of the pope, and as general
as
representative
mediator.
Before the seance
commenced, the nuncio
waited
his majesty and
quested
reon
bishop of Modena
him to withdraw
his protectionfrom the
heretic town
of Geneva.
This proposalwas
slyly
suggestedby M. de Savoye, who hoped, on the
refusal of the king,to break up the conference ; as
he

the

the agents of his holiness would

take part in the political
of a
negotiations

believed

decline

to

that

princeof faith so lukewarm.

negativewas at once
demand
he would
who
the

had

cisive
indignantand degiven by Henry to the
"
that
of the nuncio.
His majesty replied,
not forsake the policyof his predecessors,
alwaysconstituted themselves protectors of

town

of Geneva

of Geneva
would

An

moreover,

the

abandonment

be

to France, by closing
injurious
the Pas
de Cluses
Swiss
a
pass by the which
levies entered the realm." *
The conference,
nevertheless,
was
opened by the king; who then quitted
the
for
his tennis-court,
chamber
leaving the
ministers of France
and Savoy in debate.
Henry
loitered a few minutes
in an adjacent gallery,
to
"

DeThou,liv. 123.
L2

148

IV.

HENRI

speak with
he
surprise,

when, to his
Bellengreville,
Rosny issue from the council-

M.

one

[1599

de

beheld

chamber.

Henry asked if the conference was over, and why

M. de Rosny replied,
?
Rosny quittedhis colleagues
his majesty left the chamber, the
as
that,as soon
commissioners,instead of taking their placesat the
table,divided into groups of three or four persons,
after some
and began to converse
apart. Bellievre,
demur, at length approached him and intimated,
"
that Calatagironecould not sufficiently
overcome
his antipathyto a Huguenot to debate on
political
with
the requisite
matters
sang-froidin the presence
fore,
of M. de Rosny." The
commissioners,thereprayed the latter to retire,or the seance would
be without result.
Rosny uttered not a word ; but
making profound obeisance,quitted the chamber
and
sought the king. " This is againa subterfuge
exclaimed
of M. de Savoye to deceive me !
Henry.
"

"

There
"

Henry

inform

the

!
and

shall be

objected to

discussion

no

then

without

commanded

commissioners,"

his presence,

it

was

your

Rosny

to

sence
prereturn

that if any person

for such individual

the
thereuponannounced
Calatagirone
adjournment of the debate until he had spoken with
the king. Henry, when
fused
reappealedto, positively
to

retire." l

to

sanction

the

intolerant

demand

of the

new

patriarchof Constantinople;who thus sought to

signalizehis zeal, and to abet the designs of
Savoy and the popedom. His holiness,though
his professions
to the cardinals
Joyeuse and d'Ossat
tion
fair enough, manifested
were
grudging dissatisfacat the policyof the king. Clement, though he
had not deemed
himself at liberty
to refuse ratifica1

Mem.

de

Sully,liv. Heme.

tion

the divorce

to

DE

MARIE

AND

1600]

November

149

MEDICI.

pronounced during the month of

commissioners,after being assured

by his
that
Henry meditated
house
of Medici, yet
grand ducal familygave

alliance

with

the

catholic

aggrandizement of the
him intense chagrin. Consequently
his holiness summoned
Joyeuse to a secret
the privateopinionof
conference,and had demanded
the

cardinal-duke

the

the

on

chance

of success,

if he

Donna
kingthe hand of his great-niece
Olympia Aldobrandini, sister of the duchess of
Parma, with a million of scudi for her dowry.1
Joyeuse replied,that he believed the king had
resolved to demand
the hand
of Marie
de Medici,
incited thereto
by the European repute of her
uncle the grand-duke; and
by gratitudefor the
loans alwaysforthcomingfrom
the Florentine treasury
duringthe periodof his majesty's
greatest need.
This
opinion being confirmed
by the arrival of
d'Alincour
of Villeroy,
M.
who
bore the royal
son
visit Florence, the pope reluctantly
warrant
to
renounced
his design; though this disappointment,
and the dread
lest the king of France
should conclude
offered

to

the

alliance offensive and

defensive

with

republicand the Medici to check

Spain in Italy,induced his holiness

the Venetian

the

of

sway

through

his

claims of the duke

envoys to support the chimerical
of Savoy. The debate on the affairs of Saluzzo was
resumed.

The

evade

surrender

the

He

offered

of

France;

tenure

as

that
son

and

to

duke

resorted

regardedthe county
offered
1

should
to

Istoria

device

to

much-prized territory.
marquisate under the crown
to
acknowledge the same

even

Saluzzo

every

of this

hold the
and

to

be settled

abandon
del

of Bresse.

his

Granducato.

on

He

posed
pro-

his second

Spanish alliance,
lib. 5.

150

HENRI

and

to aid

for

the

duke

the

king with

that

the

[1599.
of his

resources

Milanese.

the

of

re-conquest

found

IV.

artifices1 failed

his

duchy

When
to

the
the

move

king and his ministers,he was

assailed by sudden
panic lest Henry should detain
him
until he signed the renunciation
in captivity
With
demanded.
therefore,he
great secrecy,
for flight,
his intentions
commenced
confiding
preparations

resolve

of

the

Biron

and

coterie.

The

to

marshal's

certain

to

intentions

members
of M.

of the

de

Savoye,
Uosny, who

penetrated by
the proceedingsof his master's
vigilantlywatched
eccentric and impulsiveguest. Henry accordingly
the followingmessage
caused
be transmitted
to
to the duke
through M. de3 Allymes " That his
majesty had received pleasureby the visit of his
highness,because the king hoped that the vexed
questionof the marquisatemight be settled. His
mortified
that the duke
majesty was, moreover,
continued
to refuse restitution, or
equitablecompensation.
free to quit
Nevertheless,the duke was
and
if such should be his pleasure,
leave the
France
That
the king
questionto be decided by arms.
was
willingto accept the cession of the county of
Bresse,the vicariat of Barcelonetta,and the vales of
in exchange
Perosa,Stura, with Pignerol and its district,
nevertheless, were

"

for
de

allow M.
decide."
duke
De

and

Thou,

Saluzzo

Savoye

and
the

moreover,
term

This

intimation

he

expressed a

liv. 123.

consented

of three

months

"

"

Ibid.

"

Cliron.

Septennaire.

to

relieved the fears of the

desire

that

the

Mathieu"
Sully,liy. Heme.
Henri
Les
IV.
deputes du Roy reponderentque
jestene voulait point d'echange,mais une restitution
simpledu marquisat." Journal de Henri IV.
*

to

con-

Hist, de
sa

ma-

pure

et

152

by

HENRI

the

IV.

[1599

gerous
So danretrospectof his majesty'scareer.
her wiles,and determination,
that Eosny
were

be lost in affiancing
the
to
perceivedno time was
The
king to a princessworthy to share his throne.
with the grand-duke,therefore,
was
gerly
eanegotiation
entered upon by Rosny ; because
the king expressed
himself obligedto duke
Ferdinand,and not
alliance with
to
nearer
averse
a
Tuscany though
be persuadedto express his opiHenry could never
nion
the merits of the princess
Marie.
The project
on
of this marriagehad been conceived so far back as during
the visit of Cardinal de Gondy to Florence in 1592,
his mission of conciliation to Rome.
The grandon
had
duke
then
generously promised the king a
of one million scudi ; while Gondy undertook,
succour
in case
the nuptialcontract
between
the king and
Marguerite de Valois was
dissolved,that the
"

claim

of

Marie

de

king'salliance
of the cabinet

by

the

should

Medici

the

honour

of

the

receive the first consideration

of the Louvre.1

king for

to

the duchesse

The

infatuation shown

de

Beaufort,added to
the disinclination evinced by the supreme
pontiffto
dissolve Henry's marriage,caused the projectto be
abandoned.
Various
sued
negotiations
subsequentlyenfor the betrothal of Marie, who
the only
was
The
marriageableprincessof the house of Medici.
failure attended these overtures
most
singular
; which
all made
in good faith,
and with the fullest purwere
pose
to obtain the hand
of a princess
so
comely and
well-dowered.
In 1590, the grand-duke proposed to
give his niece to the duke de Montpensier: but
1

"

gran

Duca

riceve dal cardinale

matrimonio

avrebbe

promettendo il

di

millione

d'oro,
Gondi la promessa,
il suo
que il re sciogliendo
Maria, di cui si mando
sposato la principessa

ilritratto asuamaesta."

"

Hist,

soccorso

del Granducato

nn

"

Galluzzi.

AND

1600.]

Henry,

at

MARIE

DE

period,destined
Catherine,for the

this

Madame

153

MEDICI.

the

hand

of his sister,

duke.

duke
Farnese
1592, the famous Alessandro
Parma, asked the princessin marriage,for his
In

of
son

Philip II. forbade the alliance,as

Spanish politicsencouraged the disunion rather
of the sovereignsof Italy. The
than the union
duke of Braganza,1
then proposedby his Catholic
was
majestyas a suitable husband for Donna Maria. The
Medici, however, aspiredto a more
august alliance
whose claims to the
than that with the son of a princess
disallowed ; but whose
of Portugalhad been
crown
with intense
continued
to be viewed
family,nevertheless,
nand,
FerdiDuke
jealousyby the Spanish court.
ing
therefore,declined the alliance. The followyear, 1593, the Emperor Rodolph II. piqued at
his rejection
rather by the refusal
or
by the infanta
Countries to Dona Isabel,
of PhilipII. to givethe Low
his
in case
she espousedher imperial
cousin
signified
the young
desire to marry
princess.The morose
and fierce temper of Rodolph rendered
his suit unwelcome
passed his life amongst his
; the emperor
ters
Minishorses,or in conference with his alchemists.
waited on their imperialmaster
in his magnintheir proposicent
stables,who usuallysubmitted
tions
of his astrologers
rendered
to the wisdom
; or
Ranuzio

but

"

"

such

conditional
of

the

of

success

transmutation,which

metal

some

wondrous

might yieldhim

theyrequired.The

diadem

of the

cess
pro-

the precious

Cassars,

duque de Braganza, father of Juan duke de

asserted his right to the Portuguese
Braganza, who successfully
IV.
Duke
Juan
throne, and reigned under the title of Don
Theodore
duke's
The
espoused Doila Aiia de Velasco Giron.
mother
the Great king of
was
great-grand-daughterof Emanuel
Portugal.
1

Don

on

Teodoro

II.

154

HENRI

IV.

[1599

too glorious
a trophyto be rejected
was
;
nevertheless,
and
to
the contemplatedalliance continued
occupy
a
despatchesto the court of
place in the Tuscan

then had
The emperor
until the year 1597. '
in the pursuits
lost desire for the alliance : immersed
Vienna

which

to

he

Rodolph
gloomy existence,
Coraduccio
to
privy-councillor

devoted

his

despatched his
of the alliance
Florence, to propose that mention
should be suspendeduntil after the close of the war
the Turks; and that it should then
in Hungary against
be optional
the part of his imperial
on
majestyeither
the princess
to espouse
Marie, or to bestow her upon
his brother the archduke
tion
Matthias,on the proclamapathy
antiThe
of the latter as king of the Romans.
her German
to marriage with
of the princess
intense : the archduke, moreover,
kindred
was
was
fore
thereFerdinand
and profligate.
deformed, dwarfish,
yieldedto the wishes of his niece, and declined
the imperialovertures
shortlythe
; foreseeingthat
matrimonial
of France would be at the disposal
crown
overture
theless
neverof Henry IV. Another
undignified
the demise
made
on
was
by duke Ferdinand
this niece to the young
of PhilipII.,to marry
king of
Spain ; althoughMarie was ten years older than his
Maximiliana
archduchess
Catholic majesty. The
the
fiancee of Philip III., died of the plague,
she was
about
to
as
journey into Spain ; and
of her sister Marguerite was
at
though the name
nand
substituted in the marriagecontract, duke Ferdionce
sought to interposethe alliance of his wealthy

l'avea

intrapresecon l'lmperatore,
stato pendente sette anni
era
per via di termini e prorogue
si perche la principessa
gettata in una profonda malinconia

vedea

differirsi senza

"

"

che

II trattato

Galluzzi.

che

suo

zio

speranza

aveva

la conclusione del

suo

inatrunonio."

AND

1600.]

MARIE

DE

155

MEDICI.

unique by which the duke 30-ught

the fancy of the youthful
and rouse
to
propitiate
king ; who from the first day of his reign slothfully
depositedthe sceptre of Charles V. in the hands of his
The

niece.

way

Gomez

Francisco

Don

ex-tutor

is

Sandoval

de

quis
mar-

despatcheda clever buffoon as

a
present to the young king,and instructed the former
and the
to laud the beautyof the princess,
perpetually
generosityof her uncle. As a trophy of his wealth
and magnificence,
the duke
sent
Philipa complete
rich liveries for his
equipmentfor the chase,including
pigueurs: also a habit beset with diamonds, of a
de Denia.1

fashion

novel

so

of

the

de

Medici.

He

as

to

attract

the envious

admiration

ever,
wiles, howSpanish grandees.2 These
neither propitiated
the Spanish minister,nor
of the Spains on the head of Marie
placedthe crown

the pope
the
on

In

had

December

nominated

of the

year 1599, after

commissioners
to pronounce

validityof the marriage of Henri Quatre

in obedience
with queen
structions
to inMarguerite,Sillery,
from Villeioy and
Rosny, repaired to
Florence confidentially
to inquireof the grand-duke
whether
his present policyand inclination permitted
him
to complete the alliance originally
proposed by
Gondy ; also whether he would give his august niece
a
dowry of one million of scudi *? The ambassador
received with open
clared
was
arms
; the grand-duke deof his
that the most
and joyfulevent
glorious
life would

be to behold

the brow

of his beloved

stated

his desire

Afterwards

Galluzzi

doza

"

Vida

"

duke

niece.

The

duke

overtures

until after the

circle

less
nevertheshould

be

of
publication

de Lerma.

Istoria del
de don

of St. Louis

crown

that these

kept profoundlysecret
1

the

Granducato,

FelipeIII.,Rey

lib. 5.
de

Salazar

EspaBa.

de Men-

156

IV.

HENRI

[1599

bull dissolvingthe marriage of his

pontifical
the subjectof the dowry of
Christian majesty. On
madame
a
Marie, however, Gondy had committed
blunder,which nearlyput an end to the negotiation.
The
duke
offered Gondy the loan of a million scudi
for the service of Henry IV. ; but the cardinal reported
the
had proposed this sum
that Ferdinand
as
which had influenced
dowry of his niece a statement
Eosny in his election of the Florentine princessas
duke
stated
The
the future bride of Henry IV.
that the dowry of his niece was
600,000 gold scudi ;
furnish her with jewels and
that he undertook
to
regalparaphernalia
transport the bridal
; and would

the

"

Marseilles

to

cortege

the

at

cost

of

the

Tuscan

highnesscandidlyconfessed that the

million demanded
might have been at the disposal
of a less potent prince; but the dignityof his house
would
should
a
prevalentin
suffer,
report become
Europe that a princessof Medici had purchasedthe
of the fleurs-de-lis
crown
by the opulence of her
vised
dowry. Sillerymade no official response; but adtreasury. His

the

France, to
obtain

to

duke
confer
the

send

to
on

confidential

these

sign-manual

with

matters

of the

into

envoy

Eosny

and

kino; authorizing

negotiation.Accordingly the under-secretary

of state,Bacio Giovannini,1
was
despatchedto Paris;
he arrived on
the third of February, in the
where
midst of the tracasserie occasioned by the conferences
the

the affair of Saluzzo.

on

Giovannini

tolomeo

from

Concini,minister
of

"

rose

Concini, he

Giovanna

and

Ferdinand

to be

the humble
of

became

duke

callingof
Cosimo

Under

to Bar-

the

tection
pro-

secretaryto the

grand-duchesses
promoted by duke

was
Bianca, and, finally,

under-secretaryof

Istoria Florentina.

I.

groom

state.

"

Galluzzi

Ammirato

MARIE

AND

1600.],
Marie

de

Medici

DE

the

was

157

MEDICI.

daughterof

Francis

I.,

grand-duke of Tuscany, and of the archduchess

Jane, daughterof Ferdinand
I.,whose married life
had been imbittered by the liaison of the grand-duke
with the celebrated
Bianca
Capello. The princess
born August 26th, 1573, and
was
was
consequently
in her
she

27th
lost

Marie

year.

her

mother,

character
beneficial influence

daughter.
her

The

father; the

was

would

four

whose

years

pious

doubtless

have

the temper and

of the sombre

over

memory

old when
and

ciliatory
con-

exercised

mind

of her

humour

of

melancholyof the unhappy

and the bold patronizing
grand-duchess;
magnificence
of Bianca,were
of
deeplyimpressed on the memory
the princess. The
first maternal
she recaresses
ceived
tion
were
mingled with tears : the earliest instrucremembered
issued from
the hated lipsof La
Bianca, who had been appointed to the post of
to the princesses
by their father. On the
governess
death
of the grand-duchess in 1577, Francisco
signed
secretlyespoused his mistress ; who thereupon reher office of governess
which
to the princess,
bestowed
Francesca
Donna
Orsini,
post was
upon
cousin of Paolo Giordino Orsini,due de Bracciano,
brother-in-law of the grand-duke. The childhood of
cheerless and solitary
Marie
de Medici
had been
:
neglectedby her father,and tyrannisedover
by the
had poisoned
Venetian,whose misconduct
parvenue
the life of the late grand-duchess,Marie
imbibed
that hate
frantic jealousyof illicit relations
and
of miserable
which rendered
her subsequentcareer
one
contest.

tears

Under

and

the

able

tuition

of

Donna

and displayed
acquiredaccomplishments,
writing
handconsiderable ability
as
a linguist. Her
is exquisitely
delicate ; and the Italian of

Francesca,Marie

158

HENRI

IV.

,[1599

elegant. She loved poetry ; and one

epistles
her most
prizedrecreations was to wander amid
Boboli gardens,the work of
groves of the famed
grandfatherCosimo, book in hand, to meditate

her

of
the
her
and

in
study. On the accession of her uncle Ferdinand
1587, the life of the princessMarie became brighter,
after the arrival of the bride of the grandespecially

wittyand graciousChristine de Lorraine.

cleared of the rapacioussycophants
palacewas

duke,
The

the

of the

duchess

the decision
maladetta

whose

was

memory

so

horred
ab-

people,that they applauded

to
of the grand-duke to refuse sepulture
in the Medici
Bianca
chapel in St.

The

Lorenzo.

the Tuscan

by
la

Bianca

banishment

from

court

of these personages

complete,with but one exception. By

cant,
person, however, though apparentlyinsignififortune
evil was
more
accomplishedand greater misof
ensued, than if the whole greedy crew
was

that

courtiers

had

retained.

been

The

duchess

Bianca

Marie,
placed about the person of the princess
of second tirewoman, a young
in the humble
position
Eleonore
Dori, the daughterof a turner
girlnamed
wife had been wet nurse
to the
of Florence, whose
pleased the princess by her
princess. Eleonore
gentletouch,and by her skill in dressinghair. The
meanour
deglidingstep, soft eyes and voice, and humble
had

of her tirewoman
of
became
the

From

Marie.
reader

to

mortifications

hand.
of
age
touched

soon

attracted

tirewoman

the

Eleonore

tion
atten-

Dori

of
the confidente
princess
; and
felt by her mistress at the perpetual

the

made
to obtain her
rupture of the overtures
had not reached the
Marie, it was
suspected,

finding her heart

by a cavalier of the splendidcourt of her
the acknowuncle; though ambition had repressed
twenty-seven

without

1G0

HENRI

IV.

[1590

the
subjectof contention between
Florentine
Koman
and
people in the hope of
which
might
involvingthe grand-dukein hostilities,
As
frustrate his contemplatedalliance with France.
for the duke of Savoy, the insolence of his allusions
and their plebeian
was
to the Medici
surpassed
origin,
Tiber

old

an

"

"

onlyby

the contemptuous

treated

the

alluded

to

of

Prince
inasmuch
between

ministers

indifference with

of the

king.

He

which

he

scornfully

duke
grand-duke as the merchant
the more
bankers
a petty spite
grateful,
subsisted for precedency
hot rivalry
as
a
"

the

"

"

the ambassadors

of the courts

of Turin

and

d'Entraguesabetted the
duke's malice ; and presumed, in her own
peculiar
of the king'smarriage,
to deny the possibility
circle,
"
affianced
her own
as, she said,his majesty was
husband."
In privateHenriette
regaledthe king
and threats : she demanded
with tears, reproaches,
the dismissal of Kosny and
Villeroy,and insisted

Florence.

that
At

the

times

Mademoiselle

envoy should receive his passports.

her anger amounted
to frenzy,
so as
actually
Tuscan

compliance with
terrifythe king into assumed
The negotiation,
her demands.
however, proceeded,
solved but for
have been favourably
and would soon
manded
with
which
the persistency
Henry's ministers deThis
million of scudi.
the dowry of one
to
which for several days threatened
obstacle,
put
in
occasioned
end to the alliance,
an
great ferment
The
who
Florence.
citizens,
ardentlydesired to
of Henri
behold their princessthe consort
Quatre,
and
senators
convened
a
meeting of the principal
of which
nobles of the grand duchy, the members
deputed Jacopo Corsi to wait upon the duke, and
of the French
beseech him to yieldto the demands
council on the dowry of his niece; as the citizens
to

AND

1600.]

to
willing

were

of

MARIE

donation

make

of the contested
thanked

Ferdinand

400,000 scudi.1

161

MEDICI.

DE

his

sum

loyal

Florentines,but explainedthat honour, and

avarice,closed his coffers. " Many will envy
niece the august
hero

Marie

of

honour

sharing the throne

will
invidious,
therefore,

these

if it

kindred

can

be said that the

purchasedthat

illustrious

not

my

of

come
be-

comments

of madame
her

positionfor

by

the extravagance of her dowry." Fresh instructions

He
was
were, however, transmitted to Giovannini.
directed

to

ask audience

with
principally

of the

king;

and

to

consult

Rosny, whose real anxietyto

conclude
the alliance was
appreciated
by the grandduke.
fixed at
The
dower
of the princesswas
was
600,000 scudi ; though a discretionary
power
of 100,000
givento the envoy to add another sum
scudi,should he deem such concession indispensable.
audience
of the envoy with the king was
The
ticularly
parM.

de

enforced.

by Henry

The
was

strated
strange indifference demon-

triumphantly
reportedby

the

reached
legateto his court, from whence the rumour
and had givenintense mortification to the
Florence,
and insolent airs of mademoiselle
princess.The assurance
d'Entraguesand her father,
began
moreover,
of France.
to inspire
at the court
misgivings
uneasy
received precise
commands
to
Giovannini,therefore,
confer with his majesty before the honour
of the
grand-ducal
familywas further compromised. Never
was
princemore
perplexedthan Henry : fettered by
dei principali
fra la nobilta informato
Jacopo Corsi uno
delle pendenti contestazione
srdla quantita della dote, ebbe il
il G. Duca
dei suoi coucittadini di
a nome
coraggiodi supplicare
disistere dalle opposizioni
offerire le richezze di ciascheduno
e
alia dote richiesta."
Istoria del Granducato,
per contribuire
1

"

"

lib. 5.
VOL.

II.

162

HENRI

IV.

[1599

the

promiseso tenaciously
guardedby M.d'Entragues;
enslaved
by the beauty of his imperiousmistress ;
that the first transports of his passionfor
yet, now
Henriette had subsided,
sensible of the folly
he had
to
committed, Henry offered but negativeopposition
the matrimonial
projectsof his ministers. Indeed,
the stately
features of the
embonpointand handsome
Tuscan
pression
princesshad alreadymade so vivid an imon
Henry's susceptible
heart,as to ocoasion
of jealouspassion in the bosom
of his
paroxysms
mistress.1
M.
d'Entragues,and his step-son the
count
contracted
d'Auvergne, boasted of the obligations
Henriette
by his majesty towards
; they
referred to her approachingaccouchement
audaciously
event
as
an
likelyto solve his majesty'svacillation,
if a spark of honour
resided in the royal breast;
morency
while they significantly
de MontchallengedMM.
and de Rosny to disprovetheir assertion.
These
tracasseries secretlyirritated the king ; and
him
made
and
illusory
eager to destroyexpectations,
affirmed.
so
disrespectfully
Consequently Rosny
proposedto the king to grant privateaudience to the
Tuscan
explainedthe uneasiness which
; and
envoy
the unpleasantreports in circulation occasioned to
duke Ferdinand
who had been warned
that the king
intended
of
eventuallyto repudiate the overtures
alliance made by his ministers
and was
therefore unwilling
unless fully
to
proceed further in the matter
satisfied of the royalsincerity.Henry admitted
the
reasonableness
of the
grand-duke's request, and
agreed to grant audience to Giovannini at the country
house of Villeroy
The interview took
at Couflans.
placeabout the 25th of February. Henry courteously
"

"

"

Henriette

sa
appeloit,

reprochaau

traliison et

ses

roi

et
inconstance,
parjures."
son

ce

qu'elle

AND

1600.]

ment
expressedhis disappointof dowry offered by the grandamount
million of gold scudi,"said his majesty,
the formation of a naval
to expend on

the
"

duke
"

the

I destined

Giovannini

port of Marseilles."

for my

armada

1G3

MEDICI.

but

greeted Giovannini;
at

DE

MARIE

plained,
ex-

apparentlyto the satisfaction of the king;

de Medici
for he proved that the dowry of Marie
A
equalledthat of any precedingqueen of France.
debate then ensued
between
Rosny and the envoy
in the royalpresence ; duringwhich,as both parties
achieved.
were
speedily
eager, an understandingwas
The
of 600,000 1 scudi was
sum
accepted;
finally
to be immediatelypaid into
250,000 of which were
the bank of Girolamo
Gondy in Florence ; and the
remaining 350,000 delivered to Rosny at Marseilles
the arrival of madame
on
Marie, or at the conclusion
of the marriagefestivities. Henry then authorized
his ministers,Rosny and Villeroy,
to proceedin all
of detail and etiquette
matters
to complete
necessary
the formal
"

Medici.
what

to

betrothal
I

you

between

himself

and

Marie

de

I will marry and consent

said Henry
wish,onlyhasten the affair,"
am

content

"

His majesty then asked if

to Rosny.
significantly
the princesshad reallythe majesty of deportment
attributed
that
and
on

and

to

her 1

she would

"

and

whether

comely as was his son of

these points,Henry bade

Vendome?"
farewell

left the latter in conference

"
said the latter,
how
perceive,"
though he so stoutlyabuses me

About

in
to

me.

hide

120,000Z. sterling an

the relative value

believed

give a dauphin to France, fair

soon

confide
your master
cautious and secret

the envoy

"

of money

at that

Satisfied

the envoy,
with Rosny. " You
the

We

to

to

king
my

trusts

me,

face.

Let

must, however, be

the fact
immense

at

present from

dowry, considering

period.
M

1G4

HENRI

IV.

[1599

that

baggage d'Entragues,as I tell yon she has it

in her power
and
greatly to annoy
disquiethis
the activityof the
two
majesty!"1 Such was
ministers,aided by Villeroy,that the principal
articles of

the

marriage treaty

were

drawn

and

signedby noon the following

day ; and requiredonly
the royal approval to be transmitted
to Florence.
nounce
Rosny suddenly entered the royal cabinet to anthese tidings. "Nous
Sire,de vous
venons,
"
marier!"
exclaimed
he.
Our
prince," relates
Rosny, " remained for about the space of a quarter of
hour as if thunderstruck.
then began to
He
an
walk
rapidlyabout the room, scratchinghis head,
templation.
conbitinghis nails,and absorbed by the startling
'Well!'
his majesty,at last
exclaimed
strikingone hand upon the other, 'well ! Pardieu!
So be it ! There is no remedy ! You
say the weal
of my kingdom requires
that I should be married
so
I will marry!'"2 Despatches were
accordingly
prepared
the
forwarded
to
by
triumphant Rosny, and
and to M. d'Alincourt in Rome, announcing
Sillery
the king'sdetermination
; which,however, until after
the departure of M. de Savoye from the French
ambassadors
not
to be proclaimed. The
court, was
his
were
busily employed in mediating between
"

holiness
canal

and

the

Qrand-duke

the

on

affair of

the

paltryfeud,which at lengththey succeeded

in adjusting.Henry's ministers also desired to gain
time, to draw from MM.
d'Entraguesthe written
promiseof marriagegiven by the king to Henriette.
It was
felt to be an
insult to the young
princess
chosen
ment
that such a docuto share Henry's throne
;

should
1

remain

Istoria del Granducato

Mem.

de

uncancelled
"

Sully,liv. Heme.

on

her arrival ; and

lib. 5.
Galluzzi,
MS. Bibl. Imp. Suppl.fr. 1644.

AND

1C00.]

MARIE

DE

1G5

MEDICI.

this

periodso deeplydid Henry believe his honour

ing
compromised,that he refrained from himself addressthe princess,
until further measures
had
been
taken to subdue the contumacy
of the Balzac family.
Henry wrote, however, to the grand-duke: ' his
letter contains numerous
expressionsof good will
towards the grand-ducalfamily; but refers the duke
to his secretary Giovannini,who, his majestystates,
will impart to the duke
that fortune had at length
the latter a testito render
mony
placedhim in a position
of good will,
to
to his feelings
equallygrateful
confer,as he believed it would be to the duke to
receive. This reserve, however,affected and offended,
the princessMarie; and kindled
the first spark of
that frenzied jealousyof Henriette
de Balzac which,
never
was
allayed.
The duke of Savoye,meantime, trifled,
intrigued,
and
perfidiously
probed the loyalty of the great
nobles of France.
"My journey into France is to
and not
the duke
nously.
omito
reap!" exclaimed
sow,
M.
decline
de Savoye also continued,
to
compromise on the affair of Saluzzo ; and though in
the power
of Henri
Quatre, he daringlyabused the
at

indulgence of the latter.

At

length M.

Zamet

was

which
compile certain propositions,
again
might hasten the duke's departure. It was
proposed that the duke of Savoy should cede to
the crown
of France, in exchange for the marquisate of Saluzzo, the county of Bresse, the
citadel of Bourg, the
vicariat of Barcelonetta,
Pignerol,with the valleysof Perosa and d'Estura.
Three months' grace was
conceded, in order that M.
commissioned

Archives

Xivrey"

to

de

Lettres

cato, lib. 5.

Florence, liasse 3 ; publishedby M. B. de

Istoria del GranduMissives ; and by Galluzzi

Ammirato, Istoria

"

Fioreutina.

166

HENRI

IV.

[1599

de

Savoye might take counsel at home with his

whether
it was
his interest to
to
most
ministers,
the marquisate,or to make
cession of the
restore
conditions
indicated.
These
were
signed
territory
ruary
by king Henry and by his guest on the 27th of Febsensible of the
both princes,
:
however, were
compromise, and felt that the sword alone could
both separatedwith the
decide their quarrel
; and
resolve each to maintain his rights.On takingleave
of his
of M. de Savoye, Henry informed
the duke
alliance with

the

his majestyhad not addressed

as
surprising
Medici, nor yet made to the princessa

more

Marie

de

direct offer of his hand

dissimulation

M.

his choice

of

on

de
a

the Medici

communication

intended

and

matchless

With

throne.

the king
Savoye congratulated

consort

the virtue and

he lauded

asked the
Marie ; and even
beauty1of the princess
royal interest,so that a good understandingmight
be re-established between
Savoy and Florence by the
future alliance of one of his daughterswith the young
heir of Tuscany ! The duke took his departurefrom
Paris on
the 7th of March, accompanied by the
de Praslin and the baron de Lux, nephew of
count
the late archbishopof Lyons Espinac a personage
taken into confidence
by Biron, for the
eventually
These perof his treasonable schemes.
prosecution
sonages
the town
of Bourg.
escorted the duke
to
They reportedthat the latter melted into tears as
the cession of which,
he surveyed its proud citadel,
accordingto his recent compact with Henri Quatre,
salutations
he had promisedto consider. " Make
my
the king,your master," said M. de Savoye, on
to
"

migliorela scelta
e
moglie, perche la principessaMaria
bellezze tali che ella e degua della Maesta
1

"Non

puo

esser

che

avete

dotata
Vostra."

fatta

di virtu

della
e

di

168

IV.

HENRI

As

crowns.

of

to
compensation

[1599
d'Estrees

no
post the duties of which he was
to fulfil,
Rosny paid 80,000 crowns.

competent

of

functions

and

reformer

resignation
longer
The
his

commenced

his nomination,Rosny
day following
favourite

for his

of

redresser

department. At one
grievancesthroughouthis new
stroke of the pen
Rosny dismissed 500 inferior
and gave
received publicmoneys,
officers who
no
with
various
equivalent.The bargainsconcluded
for the
traders in iron for the supply of metal
foundries

of

Arsenal

the

alternative offered
the

of
abrogation

to

the

them

revised

were

of

contracts.

fair

The

and

the

adjustment,or

of
buildings

the

repair: on the reconstruction of

the latter Rosny immediatelyset ; and, the better to
superintendthe works, he removed with his family
from
thenceforth
continued
which
into the fortress,
To provide for
when
in Paris.
be his abode
to
various retrenchments
these extraordinary
expenses
Arsenal

were

made

were

two

served

on

yearlycost

out

of

in the household

amongst

dishes of very sumptuous

the royal table were
of which

amounted

to

other

mies,
econo-

confection,
daily
suppressed,the

36,000

crowns.'

griefsof Madame
occupied the
attention of the king during the greater part of the
month
of March, to the exclusion of almost
every
attached to his
other subject. Henry was
sincerely
her pertinacious
sister ; and
although he blamed
had proresolve not to belongto that church which
nounced
"
her beloved and admirable mother,queen
Jeanne, accursed,"his majesty equallydeprecated
de Bar, who
had
the cowardly plaintsof M.
so
duke
for the alliance. The
eagerlypetitioned
fessed,
prot
ender
admiration
and to all appearance
felt,
The

Mem.

domestic

de

liv. Heme.
Sully,

MS.

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl. fr. 1644.

MARIE

AND

1600.]

169

MEDICI.

DE

however, his heinous sin

intervals,
in espousing a heretic,and
by such act having
sullied the glorious
blazon of his orthodox
ancestry,
for Madame

distraction.
that God

at

have

to

seems

Such

his

was

withhold

would

de

M.

driven

Bar

the

to

horror,that

from

him

of

verge

he

prayed
blessingof

the

of his remorse
in the paroxysms
with his confessor,the duke
was

offspring
; and

after

conference

often

seen

to

and

give

wails.

himself

cast

vent

pavement before the altar,

his anguish

to

few hours

the

on

in audible

subsequentlyM.

de

sobs
Bar

and

might
cating
suppli-

kneelingat the feet of his consort,

for pardon with passionate
entreaty. Madame
in the middle
of the night
was
frequentlyawakened
The duke,
by the remorseful groans of her husband.
assailed by sudden
compunction,often sprang from
his bed,and, throwing himself on
dame,
his knees by Maimplored her with clasped hands to have
his soul,as he could neither live with her
on
mercy
leave her.
nor
OccasionallyM. de Bar menaced
she knew
with repudiation,
threat which
Madame
a
the papal court
The
duke
would
gladly confirm.
be

seen

of

Lorraine

showed

who
chaplains,
The
climax

Le

damne

do

Due,
et

se

nuit pres de
"

M.S.
2

MSS.

Bibl.

son

of M.

de

of Madame.

you

mari

de

"

to

Madame's

irksome
Bar

missive
of
pontifical
eloquentlywritten,failed

Clement, in
"

with

length,and
resolves
religious

burdened

were

distraction

when

wrote

scanty courtesy

Most

reached

its

considerable
to

shake

noble

the

lady,"

this

strance,2
impassionedletter of remondoubt
that the glorious
example

Madame,

ne

faisoit que

crier

devant
elle souvent
genou
lit la prioitd'avoir pitiede luy et de

mettant

tions.
restric-

Imp. Suppl. fr. 1644.

B. Museum, 4449,fol. 20.
Ilarleian,

qu'iletoit
meme

sou

la
ame."

170

HENRI

by
Henry,
set

great king

brother

your

imitation ?

Madame,

IV.

the

"

can

"

the

princesof Lorraine,with
and ourselves,are

king

be

unworthy of your
king, your brother,the
self,
you have allied yourwith compassionfor

moved
"

Christian

very

whom

condition
your miserable
unless you yourself
feel and

[1599

fate

unhappy indeed,

confess

We

ness.
your wretchedstand without the

notifyto you that you

pale of the Church, without God, without hope of
salvation
a
captiveunder the yoke of the devil !
be more
What
than the position
of a
can
deplorable
of your
married
to a prince,
woman
rank, illegally
for,until you have obtained from us
your relative ?
there can
this Holy See dispensation
and
to marry,
be no true marriagebetween
ever,
have, howyou ! We
"

"

and

sworn

licence

until

decreed
shall

never

have

to

issue

the

said

abjurationof
unlawful
wedlock
but illegitinone
mate
heresy. From
parable
inflict irrechildren
spring: you, therefore,
for such can
never
injuryon your offspring,
be
of
accounted
race
princes of the orthodox
of heart
Lorraine.
with
ease
Madame, can
you
children
such
doom
to
calamity,and lose
your
soul ?
Have
own
pity, have pity on your
your
soul ! Listen,
children : have compassionon
your
daughter,listen to those holy catholic divines,
my
who

are

you

consumed

with

zeal

made

for

your

salvation.

paternalcounsel ; for we
daily supplicateAlmighty God to grant us the
fruition of our
desires concerningyou, that we
may
welcome
of
into
the
bosom
our
speedily
holy
you
that you rejectnot
church.
the
Beware, therefore,
hardness
of God, and in the
and impenitence
grace
of your heart heap up wrath againstthe day
of the revelation of the just judgment of God

Listen, daughter,to

our

AND

1600.]

Almighty !
that

man

I
I

her

young

cardinal

de

"

and

dame
Ma-

her

Letters

position
brother,the
from
king

of

which
his

Lorraine
duke

blood !

your

Lorraine.

God

afflicting
import also reached her; in
he harshlydeclared his resolve not to own
sister " a woman
repudiatedby a prince of

Henry
as

of

worldly perilof
by her husband's

the

before

set

protest before

innocent

as

171

MEDICI.

DE

henceforth

am

wept
was

MARIE

the mother

or

of bastard

The

children."

by the letter addressed

that accompaniedthe brief sent
dame,
Mato himself
to
and
which
contained
a
papal prohibition
againsttreating
longeras his wife a heretic princess,
announced
his resolve to set out for Rome, to obtain
absolution for the sin of which he had been
pontifical
in Rome, cardinal
guilty. The royalrepresentatives
d'Ossat
and M. de Sillery,
much
were
accordingly
Ascension
on
chagrinedby the arrival,
day 1600, of
the Sieur de Beauvau, gentleman to M. de Bar, who
announced
the speedy presence
of his master, and
de

Bar,

overwhelmed

of the
envoys, aware
dame"
pontiffude catoliser Ma-

the purport of his errand.

resolve

of

the

supreme

descried

be

"the

this

ill-advised

de

Bar

else
rejection
; or
bound
by a solemn

will

visit.

d'Ossat

done, sire,"wrote

duke

mortification and

nothing but

from
can

The

with

return

"Nothing

the

Clement

Rome
1 600

VIII.

St. Pierre

P.P.
sonbz

Madame

Sceur

le cachet

Jubile,et de notre
Sylvius Aldobrandini

Suppl.fr. 1614.

of

shame

absolved,and
repudiateyour sister,

l'an de
:

he will leave Rome

promise to
unless Madame
makes
abjuration."The
had
of
opportunity,during the course
1

IV.

Henri

to

barrassment
em-

du

Cardinal.

the

Roy.

Pecheur

Pontificat
"

du

cardinal

le 26

le 8eme.

MS.

same

Donne

Janvier,
signed
Counter-

Bibl.

Imp.

172

HENRI

IV.

day, to speak with

Clement

said

After

[1599
he

passed from St.

Peter's to the hall of Consistory. Like
skilful
a
alluded to the sudden
d'Ossat carelessly
diplomatist,
visit of M.
informed
de Bar; statingthat he was
his highness intended
his abode
in the
to make
de la Trinite du Mont.
Clement
Convent
frowned,
and said "that
he supposed the duke
to ask
came
pensation
absolution
for his heinous
sin,and to seek a dishis marriage; but that so long
to legalize
in her heresy he would
Madame
should persist
as
rather be drawn
and
quarteredl than grant the
absolution."

as

arrival

the

of

the

duke

visited him ; they

(April 15) the French
envoys
his highnessplunged in abjectcontrition for
found
"
his fault,"
and reviling
his wife for her blasphemous
follies. M. de Beauvau
presentlydrew M. d'Ossat
"
him
that his lord
apart, and privatelyinformed
mental
duke
had resolved,after much
to
conflict,
his consort, should the pope make
repudiatemadame
this

step the

sine

of

non

qua

absolution."

This

indiscreet revelation

angered his

so

be forthwith

beingimparted to king Henry,

intimation
to
an
majestyas to cause

forwarded

to

the

of Rome

courts

and

Nancy, to the effect that, " although king Henry

and temporalwelfare
earnestlydesired the spiritual
of his sister,
and was
tion,
ready to promote her abjurayet that

no

affront

could

tolerated which

be

might offend the august dignityof Madame, Soeur

du Roy." The
entreaty, admitted
pope, after much
the duke
the Vatican,on
the 26th
at
to audience
of May, privatelyand at nightfall.The
lars
particuof the interview
not
were
publiclydivulged;
1

"

Qu'il

raisons

d'Ossat

se

qu'il
"

feroit
avoit

Lettre 227.

plutotmettre
ci-devant

en

quatre quartiers,
pour

alleguees." Lettres
"

du

les
Car.

AND

1600.]

MARIE

the

result,
however, was

de

Bar, the

of the
and

pope

cardinals

of three

DE

173

MEDICI.

that,on the petitionof M.

appointeda commission,consisting
Bellarmino,d'Ossat,St. Severino,

ecclesiastical

consider
to
dignitaries,
whether
"the pope might lawfully
grant themarriage
with absolution ; secondly,
whether
in
dispensation
the event
of such beingpronounced inexpedient,
the
duke
nevertheless
might be absolved,and receive
the
These
ecclesiastics met
on
holy Eucharist."
the
It was
14th
of June.
agreed, " that his
holiness might alone
legalizing
grant dispensation
the marriageof the duke and duchess de Bar on the
"

conversion

of

the

latter

"

the

sin

of

disobedience

being previouslyabsolved, committed

by these
illustrious persons
in espousing each other without
the papal benison ; but that while M.
de Bar was
his cousin in the third degree
living" with a woman,
of parentage, the

said duke

could

partake of the Eucharist."

his holiness
however, petitioned

The

to

to

discuss and

seek

to

reconcile

the

be

not

to

nals,
cardi-

allow

terms

mitted
ad-

of

them
a

pensation
dis-

might be granted to the duke,

This conshould
Madame
ciliatory
persistin her errors.
was
measure
adopted out of deference for
member
a
king Henry, whose agent, d'Ossat,was
of the commission.
Clement, having obtained the
make
decision he wished, refused
concession.
to
"
11 n'est pas
plied
permis; il rHest pas expedient"rehe, hotly,to the intercession of the French
which

condescended
His
holiness then
envoys.
"
harden
that such indulgencewould
of
upon
that
send

Madame,

who

by

her dread

he

ardentlydesired

cardinal

of the

Bellarmine

to

the

plain
exscience
con-

only to be Avorked
disgraceof divorcement :
and would
her abjuration,
to Nancy, or the cardinal
was

174

HENRI

IV.

[1599

Clement, " so
earnestlyhave I resolved to effect this great work,
that I will even
visit Madame
myself and I say this
in
all sincerity."1Clement, therefore, directed
Bellarmine
wait upon
M.
de Bar, and notifythe
to
of
the petition
named
decision of the commission
on
his highness. The pitiful
dejectionof the duke was
Medici

de

short," continued

in

"

extreme

after

Beauvau

tary

night of agitationhe

to

sent

secre-

28, with

June

Bellarmine,

his

the

That
to
absolution,to
earn
followingmessage :
and for permissionto communicate,
gain the jubilee,
his consort,
he promised to separate from Madame
fashion ; or, should
and in the most
publicly,
open
he engaged never
to live
that be impossible,
more
with her unless she abjuredher heresy. That it was
his intention to write the same
to
king Henry to
"

"

that

whit,
eternal

he

resolved

was

perdition
;

soul with

that

and
he

Madame,

not

if he could

resolved

was

his

consummate

to

to

not

his

save

put her away,

profession of the true faith."

D'Ossat
was
immediately informed
by Bellarmine
The
of this declaration in the papal anti-chamber.
of M.
de Bar
prelatesagreed that the weakness
placedhis holiness in notable dilemma :2 for the pope
unless

could

she

refuse

not

the

du

Lettre
Lettres

cardinal

chosen

king Henry.
falloit que

M.

le due

point vers

d'Ossat
The

232, 244.

of the confessor

ritourner

to

sacraments

tractable

so

and

sanction

the

or
penitent; neither could he commend
ring
incurwithout
the repudiation
of Madame,
wrath
of king Henry.
Clement, however,

humble

made

by

an

pope
M.

de

Bellarmine
pour

Madame

Roy

Lettres

"

230,

231.

to hear

the

refused

even

Bar,

fearful

so

notified

was

the

he

name

of

pleasing
dis-

duke, Qu'il
le jubile etc, promit de ne
gagner
qu'iln'eut la dispense."
to

"

176

HENRI

IV.

[1599

his

majestyof perjuredfaith ; and publiclyspoke of

"
the
La
as
princess Marie
Banquiere."
grosse
One
to ask the
day Henriette had the assurance
king,at one of Zamet's fetes,when he expected
"
"
?
sa
Madame," repliedHenry,
grosse banquiere
"
shall be purged of
court
we
expect her when our
such as you ! l The mot of the king spreadthrough
Paris,and caused great merriment ; for dread of the
weakness
the French
of their king made
hail even
"

"

the

prospect of renewed

The

audacityof
to reduce
politic

the

alliance

with

the

favourite rendered

Medici.

it,however,

before the arrival of

pretensions
the
future
The
king, therefore,quitted
queen.
of April,
Paris for Fontainebleau
duringthe month
highlyincensed ; and by the advice of Rosny he wrote
restitution of the promise of marthus to demand
riage
:

her

"

Tlie

King

"Mademoiselle
benefit

which

not

reproach you

do, and that

also the

to

perceive and
which

know

you
I

the power.

beg you

I demand

I gave

understand
a

response

back
the

to you

so

This
"
"

M.

and do not

the other

ought
me

before

to

mediately
im-

give me

Return

me

day.

You

purport of this missive

to

nightfall.
"

"

I will

to send

means.

spired
insuch

not

own.

that

the

have

must

had
gratitude,

promise which you know;

compel its return by other

ring,which

me

temper, evil,like your

though

more,

I possess

the
the trouble

from

with

volatile mind
with

oVEntragues.

affection,the honours, and

received

have

you

combined

been

The

"

the most

Mademoiselle

to

Fridaymorning,April 26th, at

Henry.2

Fontainebleau."

Imp. Suppl.fr. 1644. MS.

MS. Bibl. Imp. F. Dupuy, MS.
by
407, fol. 36. Printed
M.
in
and
their
respective
Serieys,
Berger de Xivrey,
MS.

Bibl.

AND

1600.]

MARIE

DE

177

MEDICI.

M. d'Entragues,
to
King Henry also wrote
peremptorily
chievous
demanding the restoration of the mispromise. Both M. d'Entragues and his
at their castle of Marcoussy, had
daughter,who were
the audacity to refuse compliancewith the royal
would they state what
had become
of
request ; nor
the famous
promise,or where the parchment was
deposited.Henriette,supportedby her brother,M.
maintained
that she was
the
d'Auvergne,steadily
king'slawful wife,and acknowledgedto be so under
the royal sign-manual
declared that she cast
; and
back the opprobrious
epithetof " mistress on the
Florentine
to
adventuress,did the latter presume
"

set

her foot

of mademoiselle

ready pen
than

match

there

Henriette

for
was

no

royal master
but to
therefore,

declaim

to

more

his

resource,

proceedwith

and

and

tongue

d'Entragues were

and

Rosny

full licence

and
pleased,

The

the soil of France.

on

protest

bined
com-

allow
she

as

the

king'smarriageas
if no such obstacle existed.
Rosny counselled arrest
and the Bastille,
the method
to bringM.
as
likely
but
d'Entraguesand his daughter to their senses;
alienated,
Henry, though angered and temporarily
was

as

to

infatuated

ineffectual

with

ever

as

his mistress.

This

of the king's
attempt to regainpossession

written
the
court

at
promise of marriage was made precisely
periodwhen Henry's ambassadors,M. d'Alinand de Sillery,
were
signingin Florence the

which

contract

bound

him

editions of the letters of Henri

made

no

replyto

this

another

to

IV.

woman

Mademoiselle

missive, and

continued

important
believed
kinsman
VOL.

that

by the king to procure information

promise was
deposited. The king
"

Henriette

the duke

II.

had

intrusted

the

d'Entragues
to

attempts made
"

"

baffle the
where

the

at this time

document

to

of Lennox.
N

her

178

HENRI

IV.

[1599

whose
princess

imperious
temper

the semblance

of contradiction

wrote
press,"

of
conclude.
The

to the
Villeroy,
the grand-duke; "it
The king consents.

ambassadors

entered

could
or

brook
scarcely

cavaliere de
is time
Let

"

insult.

now

not

us

Florence

nister
Vinta,mito signand
dispute."1

the

on

Affairs

22nd

of

and a
The citywas
illuminated,
April by torch-light.
cavalcade of Florentine
vanni
nobles,headed by Don Gioand
the ambassadors
Don
Antonio
de Medici,2met
received
at the gates.
They were
by Duke
Ferdinand
at the portalof the Pitti Palace,and were
by him conducted into the presence of the grandduchess Christine and of the princess
Marie.
Sillery
was
greatlyimpressed with the majesticfigure of
Marie de Medici, with her brilliant complexion,
and
white hands
and arms.
The marriagearticles were
signed on the followingday. The dowry of Marie
was
600,000 gold scudi ; the duke engaged to present
her with jewels and bridal paraphernalia,
and
refused
to
liberally
place limit to his generosity.
The annual revenue
apportionedto the future queen
that of her predecessors
of
the power
was
; and
Alinmaking testamentary bequestswas conceded.3
court
immediatelyquittedFlorence to present this
document
M. de Sillery
to king Henry ; while
mained
rethe proclamation
of the intended
to witness
marriage.This ceremony was performedon Sunday,
April30th,with lavish pomp.
Indeed,the elevation
1

di

Istoria

del

Granducato, lib. 5.
e
contestare, bisogna accordarsi

"Non

ormai

concludere."

"

piu tempo
Villeroy al

cavaliere de Vinta
1

Don

Giovanni

Martelli.
duke

Don

Francesco

the

was

Antonio

was

natural
the

son

son

of
born

by Bianca Capello.
de marriage du roi Henri
Contract
Medici.
Leonard, t. 2 Moetjens,t. 2, p.

I.

"

Cosimo, by Camilla
before marriage of

"

IV.
640.

et

de

Marie

de

of his

MARIE

AND

1600.]

DE

1 79

MEDICI.

consequentlyof the Medici, so

to deprivehim of
as
greatlyelated the grand-duke,
his usual circumspection.
Silleryreceived a warm
pressed
reprimand from M. de Rosny for not having rethe duke's unseemly transports. Rosny was
zac
chafingunder the sharpinflictionsof Henriette de Balmental qualms as to whether
suffered some
; and
the Florentine alliance,
after all,
might not be proved
citizens of
and
invalid.
the principal
The
senate
Florence
tation
repairedto the Pitti Palace,on the inviniece,and

of their duke.

dais

erected in the hall

was

assembly,upon which was a throne surmounted

On each side stood chairs
by a canopy fleurdelisS.
for the grand-duke and
his duchess.
Upon the
the princessMarie, " in the glory of
throne
sat
her beauty and state,"
though the assumptionof the
deemed
latter as queen
was
by the French court
the marriageby proxy had
as
premature, especially
not been celebrated.
By the tide of the queen-elect
Eleonore
Dori; for Marie,with characteristic
was
had insisted on the presence of her humble
obstinacy,
of

favourite.

cavaliere Vinta

The

aloud the

riage
mar-

speedy arrival of
from his Christian majestyto espouse
a representative
the princess.This address was
respondedto by the
contract

vivas of the

and

read

assemblage

pronounced by
del' Antella.

announced

the

Duke

and

the

bv

an

elegant oration

the senate, Donato

then rose, and ascending

presidentof
Ferdinand

the steps of the

elect of Henri
mantle.

dais,paid homage
Quatre by kissingthe

the bride

to

hem

of

The

her

followed the example of

grand-duchess
her consort
tendered
obeisance subsequently
by
; an
every noble personage present.1
Vivid elation shone in the eyes of Marie de Medici;
1

Istoria del

Granducato,lib. 5.
N

180

HENRI

it is recorded

and

IV.

[1599

that she demeaned

herself with

which
the ambassadors
dignityand self-possession
gave
of her capacity. Such was
the
a high notion
favourable report made
to Villeroyofthe intellectual
if these anticipagiftsof Marie, that he predicted,
tions
that in less than a year after her
were
realized,
" The
France.
arrival she would govern
king,"said
he, " it is true, will always command
; but he will
resolve,will consult, and finallyonly please the
for beautiful and
His
majesty'sweakness
queen.
is incorrigible."
clever women
Henry's first letter to his affianced bride was
carried to Florence
vered
by M. de Frontenac, and deliThe
letter was
the 24th of May, 1600.
on
accompanied by a superb ring. His majesty does
his bride ; though
to
not
give the title of queen
Marie a fortnight
previously,
by the direction of her
uncle,entitled herself la Regina sposa de Francia.
A
"

The

render

to

virtue

your

The

merit.

madame,
affection

and

serve

and

Frontenac
reveal

but

also

will

the

to

to

in you,

long inspired
in

from

proportion
Alincourt

yet unfold
sent

you,

this avowal

my

in

heart,

to

you

madame,

make

in

my

which,

passionatedesire

most

life,as

and

the mistress

of my

place myself beneath

the

acknowledgingyour empire
I hope one
actions.
day to give you
and
also to confirm
personallythe
;

commandments,

sovereignof my
testimony of this
he (Frontenac)
faith which
you

cannot

only the

all my

you

I hear

you

love you

of your

honour

to

to

shine

world, had

affection,I have

and

as

pray

as

will find not

you

cherish

yoke

will

He

name.

inviolable

faithful servant

my

of the

report which

this wish

myself my

de Toscane.

which
perfections

the desire to

increases

to

and

Princesse

the admiration

you

with

me

La

Madame

will tender

credit the said Frontenac

on

as

my

behalf.

myself;and

I
to

permit him,
present

having

kissed

the

homage

of

for you
for my

created

Henry

as

This
felicity.

letters to Marie

the

initial letters of

of

the
armies

Savoy

celebration
of

borders

of the

France

of

seemed

were

the

to

'

his lovesmall

their

names.

princess
; though

affianced

her

been

in Paris."

May,

instead

uses

has

have

signatureto

but

letter gave great content

the growing discord between
duke

of

to

Heaven

merit

day

full

This

the

and

24th

de Medici

cipher,combining

prince whom

appends his

never

for me,

hands

your

virtue

your

181

MEDICI.

after

to you

destined

DE

MARIE

AND

1600.]

lord

and

to
tard
relikelyindefinitely
marriage. Already the

the

on

quarrelrelative to
of the duke rendered
Saluzzo ; as the dishonest trifling
it imperativeon
the king to vindicate his dignity.
It is uncertain whether
Marie de Medici
was
zant
cogniof the pretensionsof Henriette
de Balzac ;
had the princess
been aware
how formidable
doubtless,
this rivalry,
she would
not
have rewas
so
mained
tranquilly
Florence
at
during the summer
campaign
ensued.
Marie
which
took supreme
pleasurein her
court
new
by her
positionat the Tuscan
; treated
Savoy

relatives with

condescended

take counsel of

to

Pier

due

letters

de

of
two

due

France,

persons

the

to

Marie
of

only
"

of Eleonore

Bracciano, and
the

king were, however,

and
"In
jesty's
satisfactory.
reply to your maI can
onlyrespondby protestations
assurances,

humble

of similar

fervour.

be born

to

deference

puissantmonarch

VirginioOrsini
Dori.

the

the respect and

of the

consort

to

decide

the

towards

move

Archives

MS.

If heaven

in order

des Affaires

Politique
de Xivrey, t. 5, in
"

to

vol.

honour

Etrangeres Florence

Lettres
ii.,

4to.

to

has caused

Missives

and

your

favour

jesty
ma-

me

Correspondance
IV.
Berger

de Henri

"

182

HENRI

IV.

[1599

by holymarriage bonds, fortunate may I deem myself

in being able to term
myself your majesty's
humble
servant, if only God givesme
grace to merit
the favour of your majesty; and endows
with
me
actions according
to regulate
and conform
power
my
which
to your
majesty's
good pleasureand approval,
is my earnest
writes the princess,
in replyto
desire,"
the king'sfirst missive.1 Nevertheless, Marie at this
earlyperiod exhibited that ill-judging
independence,
and want
of prudence,which
subsequentlymarred
the prosperityof her
Duke
career.
Ferdinand,
anxious to secure
every advantagefrom so illustrious
entered into debate with the ambassadors,
an
alliance,
the return
of Alincourt,
the personages
to be
on
on
attached
duke

to

the household

showed

of

the

new

queen.

The

supporting the claims of

certain personages ; adding, that their nomination
Marie.
The
was
especiallydesired by madame
princess thereupon, without
previous conference
with
her uncle, sent
for Alincourt,and, abruptly
the statement
made by the grand-duke,
contradicting
said," that she cared for the appointment only of
that la signora Dori
one
personage ; and desired
might still hold the office of chief dresser."2 The
referred
the king. Henry, who
to
request was
of the influence exercised by Eleonore
was
aware
the mind
of his future consort, unfortunately
over
conference
repliedthat he would decide after personal
with the queen.
Marie
having, however, confessed
zeal

in

Maesfck;"and
she subscribes herself his majesty's humilissima
et obligatissima
de Medici."
Archives
de Florence, Bibl. Imp.
serva, Maria
of which
Lettres Missives
Berger de Xivrey, t. 5. This letter,
and clearly
de Xivrey, is delicately
a fac-simile is given by M.
1

Marie

her letter

commences

"

Christianissima
"

"

"

"

written.
2

Istoria del

Granducato, lib. 5.

Reign

of duke

Ferdinand

I.

184

HEXKI

strated

IV.

[1599

the supreme
pontifftowards his affianced
bride Marie de Medici,after havingvirtually
effected

by

the

of Madame
from her husband.
Clement
separation
cordial letter to duke Ferdinand,
a
thereuponwrote
announcing his resolve to send his nephew, cardinal
rence
Aldobrandini,to
performthe marriageby proxy in Floalso solemnlyto espouse
their Christian
; and
in France.
after the arrival of the queen
majesties
The court
of France
during these transactions was
feuds between
Romanist
agitatedby the old religious
and
Huguenot. M. DuplessisMornay published
book
of December, 1599,
a
during the month
la Sainte Eucharisde
intitulated,"Institution
stated that he proved by
tie,"in which it was
the fathers, that
the
quotationsfrom
primitive
church
rejectedthe doctrine of transubstantiation,
and interpreted
the Holy Mysteries
conformablywith
written in
the views of Calvin.
The work, which was
the dry,dogmaticalstylepeculiar
to Mornay, created
Every order throughout the
profound sensation.
the Sorbonne,the privy-counrealm
the university,
cil,
the authenticity
eagerlyscrutinized and challenged
and of polemicaldeductions
of translations,
so
arrogantlyproclaimed. The pope wrote to the king
"

express his
of the governor
to

known

have

in which

of the rank
personage
of Sauraur,and a privy-councillor,

peculiarlyfavoured by his majesty,

been audacious enough to publisha book

the supreme
branded

letter closed with

"

be

to

should

that

concern

whom

from

his

The

king

head
as

was

Mornay's zeal.

Antichrist."

The

request for the removal

Clement
seat

"

of Christendom

in the

designatedas
councils

of

was

phemously
blas-

pontifical
of Mornay

'*

"

his enemy
orthodox
France.

equally surprisedand offended

No
of indulgencehad
amount

"

by
con-

AND

1600.]

DE

MARIE

185

MEDICI.

who, without consideration for

difficult positionof the king, presentedperpetually

ciliated the
the

to

latter

his

the

master

alternatives
disagreeable

of

ring
abandoning his old and faithful servant ; or of incurof still favouringin his heart rethe suspicion
formed
le
termed
tenets.
ironically
Mornay was
buted
Pape des Huguenots ; while his admonitions contriin what was
powerfullyto confirm Madame
fore,
called " her contumacious
course."
Henry, therewas
Mornay, to fight
prepared to abandon

swarming

sinsrle-handed against the hosts of enemies

from

every

district of

France,to

assail his acrimonious

the
Mornay's first open assailant was
declined to defend
Jesuit casuist,
Cahier: he however
himself against" a monk, a Jesuit,one
of a gang
pedanticas well as seditious." This scornful retort
further incensed men's minds.
At lengththe learned
and versatile du Perron, cardinal bishopof Evreux,1
stood forth as
the champion of the Church, and
offered to prove that Mornay's celebrated book was
a
tissue of lyingallegations
and fraudulent quotations
;
and that he was
of the king,
ready, on the command
five hundred
to pointout
to be
false,
garbled,
passages
and
palpablemisreadingsfrom the original
Greek
learned bishop
of the fathers quoted. "This
is eminent,noble,and greatlyesteemed
in consistory.

manifesto.

Du

Perron

was

declared

the reconciliation

of Henri

his hat

in 1604.

received

the versatile power

in petto,immediately after
cardinal,
IV.

the Church

with

The

pope

of this eminent

had

so

of Rome.

high

that
prelate,

he

an
was

He

opinionof
heard

to

qu'ilinspirele
cardinal du Perron,car il nous
persuaderatout ce qu'ilvoudra !
" Je
n'avois
du
18 ans," writes
Perron,
que je lisois
que
l'Almagestede Ptolomee, et je le lii en 13 jours. J'etudiois,
jusquesa la pamoison. J'ai tellement etudie la langueHebraique
venoient
Hebreu."
en
que les conceptionsme
say

on

more

than

one

occasion,

"

Prions

Dieu

"

"

186

You

HENRI

IV.

[1599

refuse the

challenge.To decline is an
admission
of the chargesalleged
will ever
main
re; and
the reformed
a reproachto
churches,"said the
Sieur de Sainte Marie du Mont, a friend of Mornay's;
who, meditating an abjurationof Calvinism,was
anxious, on conscientious grounds,to promote the
discussion.
of his
Mornay, thus adjured by many
chief co-religionists,
felt sorelyperplexed. He, however,
the accuracy
of his text,
stoutlymaintained
and

must

not

of the doctrine

therefrom

deduced

but demonstrated

of the
to accept the challenge
unwillingness
that prelate
his allegations.
to prove
bishop; or to summon
Mornay dreaded the ridicule and power of
chicane possessedby his assailant ; he doubted
his
abilityto wrestle with the learned personages proposed
as
judges of his literaryaccuracy ; and
above all,he descried,in the impatientattitude of
the king, a
these
desire to terminate
harassing
controversies
by the signalhumiliation of the aggressor.
ing
Henry, however, was resolved upon subjectdox
Mornay's book to the searchingtest of his orthodivines ; the king even
alluded to the contest
with a gleefulmalice deeply wounding to the feelings
of Mornay.
The
and
previous stipulations
wranglesof the combatants occupieda full month ;
the

affair

various
On

the

treated

was

affidavits
27th

were

as

made

matter

before

of

state, and

the chancellor.

of

April,DuplessisMornay
his
the bishop of Evreux
and
ecclesiastical colleagues,
to Fontainebleau
repaired
royalmandate
Henry having resolved that the
day
adherents,and

"

of the famous
presence.

book

should

be made

and
his

by
mination
exa-

in his

So certain did Mornay feel of defeat and

with extreme
he was
that it was
difficulty
prejudice,
from
secretly
subsecmentlyrestrained from departing

AND

1600.]

DE

MAEIE

Fontalnebleau.

of

187

MEDICI.

the

displeasureof the
king,1and of the reproachesof his adherents,at
length induced Mornay to submit to the ordeal.
The bishopof Evreux, meantime, drew
up the terms
of the conference,
by which he agreed to select sixty
assailed,which,
quotationsfrom the five hundred
with the works of the authors named
by Mornay on
the margins of his pages, he consented
send to
to
the apartments of the latter on the evening preceding
Fear

the discussion.

This

was

great concession

on

the part of Morn

sion
ay'sopponents ; although the deciseemed
of the work
that the portions
equitable,
indicated.
impugned for inaccuracyshould be previously
Du Perron,however, was
assured of victory.
Mornay had written his dissertation on the Eucharist
in the spirit
resolved to prove
of a blind enthusiast,
his point at any hazard; rather than as the learned
and

exponent of the doctrines of the authors

accurate

cited.

The

selection of the

judges by the king was

characterized
than Mornay
by greater impartiality
the former
to examine
were
as
expected; and certainly,
alone

as

to

accuracy
quotationsgiven,and not

and

seven

could

more

able

and

translations

of the

the

matters

on

learned

men

of

trine,
doc-

the realm

Rosny, the
produce. The judges were
learned Isaac Casaubon,the presidentand historian
de Thou, the advocate
Pithou, the witty author of
the " Satyre Menippee,"M. Martin reader to his majesty,
the president
de Calignon the friend of queen
Jeanne
d'Albret,and M. de Fresnes Canaye. M.
Martin

not

was

skilled Hebraist

authorityfor

an

defi

"Le
ne

examin

Greek

text

while

not

to

Casaubon
be

was

surpassedin

Roy dit qu'ilne partirait

que le
pas de Fontainebleau
f ut termine,et les 500
cet
quand nieme
passages verifies,
deux ruois et deini."
exigerait

188

HENRI

IV.

[1599

Europe. On the morning of the conference the king

"
excitement.
Sire,"exclaimed M.
displayedmuch
of Coutras, Arques, and
de Lomenie, "on
the eve
less anxiety!
At this
Ivry,your majesty showed
last moment
the friends of Mornay would have counselled
wisely by advisingthe latter to decline the
the plea of indisposition,
conference
an
on
excuse
which
would
have
been no subterfuge
; for anxiety
of mind
and
of defeat had so affected
anticipation
the health of Mornay, that since his arrival at Fon"

tainebleau
At

he

length the

1600, dawned.

was

never

eventful
At

able

to

leave his chamber.

morning of
o'clock

the 4th of

May,

the

panied
judges,accomby his majesty, by M. d'Evreux, and by
the
entered
the principalministers and
courtiers,
saloon beneath the Galerie de FrancoisI.,which has
been
since called,
in memory
of this celebrated assemblage,
M.
Salle de la Conference.
Duplessis
Mornay and his friends also presented themselves.
The
examination
of Mornay's book
then
menced,
cominterest.
the discussion
exciting earnest
liation.
The
debate
with ability
and conciconducted
was
submitted
Nineteen
passages1alone were
the
learned
the
to
scrutiny of the judges, on
authorities
The
quoted
appeal of du Perron.
first read
Avere
aloud, and then compared with
the text given by Mornay : no
matter
concerning
doctrine was
sary
necesdebated, except when it became
that Mornay had
to show
quoted an objection
purposelyraised by the reverend divine,and affirmed
be the theological
solution of the writer.
6uch
to

John

The

one

authors,quoted by Mornay
Scotus,the

monk

Durandus

in

the
of

19

passages,

were

Fecamp, St. Chrysostom, St. Jerome, St. Cyril, St. Bernard, epistle174 on the
Virgin Mary, and Theodoret on images in churches.
Duns

AND

1600]
After

MARIE

DE

189

MEDICI.

which
lasted several hours,
investigation,
the judgespronounced that the bishopof Evreux
had
of the nineteen
proved his case ; and that in everyone
Morn ay had mistranslated,
passages examined
had failed to understand,the true
or
bearing of the
the
jection
oboriginal, he having frequently taken
for its solution."1 Cruellyhumbled,
to a question
Morn ay retired to his apartment.
By the
an

"

advice

of his friends he declined

the

on

morrow

famed

personages

to

the

renew

ferences
con-

for the dicta of such learned

for their classical repute

afforded

for protest. Mornay's assumption of

possibility
the office of theological
teacher,for which his previous
career
him, inflicted great damage
disqualified
no

the

on

reformed

churches

of France.

The

quent
subse-

synods holden

during this reign issued their

in doubt
and
acts
fresh champion
perplexity
; while no
of the churches
publiclyavenged the defeat of
Fontainebleau.
trusted
Rosny states, that he always disMornay's classical and theologicalcapability
"
such acquirementsrequirelong study to
;
treat
ably with the pen, or to discuss,"observes
this sage minister.
Great friendship
always existed
between
du Perron
and Rosny ; and the former had
addressed a private
letter to Rosny, to inform him of
the glaringliterary
inaccuracyof the work paraded
his friends. " Would,
as
a rule of faith by Mornay and
Monseigneur,that I might see you obey the canons
of the Church, you who now
command
allthe cannons
of France !
the witty prelate in the long
wrote
he addressed to Rosny.'2 " Well ! what
do
epistle
"

Mornay

"

se

mettoit

les autres

Sully.

Mem.

"

MS.

Bibl.

defendit si
en

faiblement,qu'ilfaisoit rire les uns,

colere,et faisoit pitieaux
autres," writes

liv. Heme.

Imp. SuppL fr. No.

1644.

Rosny

sent

back

190

you

HENRI

to your

now

say

IV.

pope"?"

asked

the termination

llosnyat

Salle de la Conference."

"

is a better pope than ever

red hat to M. d'Evreux?
foundation

[1599

than

dressing
majesty,ad-

of the

in the

seance

Sire ! that M. de
for has he

If

M.

his

de

our

Mornay
given the

not

faith had

no

his

and

Mornay

ter
betarms

folded in the

stant."
shapeof a cross, I would abjurethis inThe
the same
king wrote
evening to the
duke d'Epernon. The flippant
styleof this letter,
which was
made public
by Epernon,deeplywounded
the
Mornay, and Henry's old friends and subjects,
Huguenots of the realm.
" Mon
amy," wrote
king Henry, " the diocess of
Evreux
has beaten that of Saumur
! The indulgence
shown
guenot
to all (thecombatants) must
prevent any Hufrom asserting
hereafter that force of any kind
The bearer of
was
used,except the power of Truth.
this

present, and will

was

which

I achieved.

greatestevents
God

that has

continuingthe
aliens from
means

we

the

recount

to

Certes, this

is

of the

one

prosperityof the Church of

happened for a long interval : and by
same

course,

in

we

one

shall

restore

year, than

might win in fifty.

Bonsoir,mon
this news
will give you,
pleasure

hard

ders
won-

for the

the Church

only personage

the

you

to

whom

I have

other

by

amy
you

notified the

more

ing
know-

are

the

event."1

sceptical
reply: J'espereque vos desirs monseigneur,en
voir
endroit seront accomplisaux
siecles a venir. Venez me
mon
dans mon
nouveau
je vous en conjure (theArsenal)
menage
"
brebis (sans
n'aurez jamais une
et prenez
asseurance
que vous
vous
croire)plusdevotieuse que je vous serez toute ma vie."
MS. Bibl. Imp. Suppl.fr.
Mem.
de DuplessisMornay
Liqnes et Charlotte Arbaleste.
de M. de
Le
Roy a dit depuis a Casaubon
que la femnie
du malheur
Mornay, dame fiere et haute de la main, etoit cause
de son
mari ; et qu'ellelui avait fait faire un faux pas de son
"

"

"

"

"

ambition.""

MS.

Bibl.

Imp. No.

1644.

192

nnd
The

HENRI

compel the
clamour

at

the

[1509

of the treaty of Vervins."

of mademoiselle

kindred,that
present

execution

IV.

d'Entragues and
repairto Paris to

king should

her accouchement,

likewise

was

which

the energy
instigated
Henry, however, at this period was
released
end of the month
France

were

this serious

from
of

visited

of M.
very

secret

her
be
tive,
mo-

de

liosny.
tially
providen-

dilemma.

At

the

June, 1600, various districts of

On
by terrific thunder-storms.

of St. Germain
l'Auxerrois
steeple
struck by lightning,
was
duringa storm which raged
The
the metropolisfor nine hours.
hotel of
over
mademoiselle
d'Entragueswas situated in the vicinity
the 2nd

of the

of

July

the

church, and her

alarm

was

excessive.

As Hen-

riette

laytremblingon her bed, the lightningstruck

within her
some
objectstandingclose to the window
chamber, and set a curtain on fire. Her consequent
agitationand terror brought on premature labour ;
and during the day she gave birth to a still-born son.
An
despatchedto Moulins to summon
express was
the king. It was
pretended that Henriette having
in the promise of
performedthe condition stipulated
marriagegiven by the king she having given birth
to "a dauphin" within the prescribed
period Henry
was
deem
bound, as a loyaland honourable prince,to rehis pledge and consecrate
the union
by the
benison of Holy Church.
this asseveration
Rosny combated
with the liveliestridicule,
that king
insisting
for " a living
Henry had at least stipulated
dauphin 1
The king,after some
listened and agreed
hesitation,
of his faithful minister, who
to the representations
besoughthis master to avoid a shameful rupture of
his Tuscan
engagement by continuinghis journey to
his mistress,
to
Lyons. The king wrote affectionately
"

"

"

and

sent

her

deed

of donation

of

the castle

AND

1600.]

lands of

and

MARIE

DE

193

MEDICI.

Verneuil,promisingto

the domain

erect

to
marquisatein her favour. The king wrote
Bellievre,
commanding that the patent might be prepared,
and forwarded
for his signature.This bounty
ment
soothed,though it did not appease the furious resent-

into

de Verneuil.

of Madame

As

soon

she

as

was

jointhe
king,hopingyet to frustrate his intended marriage;
became
while her publicallusions to the queen-elect
of the
offensive as to compel the interposition
so
able

to

Tuscan

the
travel,

new

marchioness

who

The

was

stormy.

"

road

her

on

Le

Bassompierre,que
courtier,however,
ma

Vie

VOL.

"

annee

II.

to

Grenoble.

roi s'en voulait

mediated

out

to

Giovannini.1

envoy,

de Verneuil
king met madame
Henry
Accompanied by Bassompierre,
1

set

Ton

between
1600.

nos

The

mistress,

meeting was
de colere,
et

chevaux.

!"

The

his

the

de la Cote.

rode to greet his

retourner

fasse seller

entreated

at St. Andre

at first

dit.

me

adroit

and
majesty'spatience,
angry disputants.Journal
"

cessfully
suc-

de

194

CHAPTER

II.

1600.

Correspondence between
Arrival

of ambassadors

Henry
generalsinvade

Biron

from

declares

"

his

Henri

the

discontent

"

territories

prevarications
Savoy, and

of

marshal

The

"

"

Their

Savoy at Lyons
againstthe duke

ducal

de Medici

de

intrigues Policyof PhilipIII.

Success of the royal arms
Fall of the towns
of Montmellian,
Bourg, and
Chambery
Negotiations of the patriarch
Calatagirone Response of the king" Treasonable relations
of Biron
His correspondencewith
Fuentes
"Henry visits
the camp
of the marshal
before Bourg
with
Conference
Biron
Regicidal projectsof the latter Correspondence
between
Henri
IV. and
Marie
de Medici
Progress of the
de Verneuil
Affairs
in
campaign Intrigues of madame
"

His

war

Quatre and Marie

and

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Rome

Interview
latter

of

cardinal

d'Ossat

with

Clement

VIII.

Entry of the duke de

Bellegardeinto Florence
Reception of the legate Aldobrandini
His address
Marie
to the princess
Marriage by
of Henri
Marie
de Medici
IV. with
Sumptuous
proxy
festivities
EleonoreDori
She changes her name
to Galigai
Concino
Concini
His
parentage Departure of queen
Marie
from
Florence
She
embarks
at Leghorn
Voyage
and reception
She refuses the attendDetails
ance
at Marseilles
of her French ladies
lution
Sojourn in Marseilles Her reso"

The

"

"

offers his

mediation

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

and

Tuscany

and

uneasiness
Mantua

"

"

Bids
Her

"

farewell

entry

into

to

the

duchesses

Avignon

"

of

Progress

DE

MARIE

1600.]
of the
with

"

the conde

Aldobrandini
cardinal-legate

The

campaign

de Fuentes

Feuds

and

of

Savoy

His

"

"

"

"

of her suite

king
"

Arrival

with

bride

"

de Verneuil

Madame

of Henri

Quatre

in

"

Lyons
Stormy
"

Marriage solemnities
the king and queen
relative to the apdissensions between
pointment
Concern
of the grand-duke
of the household
with
Marie
Her
cavaliere Vinta
The
remonstrates
reply
and displeasure.

Interview

his

the duke

with

receptionby king Henry Siege

Entry of queen Marie into Lyons

dissensions

letter to the

Her

and

confers

and

journey to Chambery,
of fort Ste. Catherine

195

MEDICI.

"

"

"

"

"

Henry'ssojournat Moulins,M. de Fronof

the answer
returned from Florence,bringing
tenac
Marie to her royalaffianced. The grandthe princess
duchess Christine sent also a letter of congratulation
attired in
of the princess,
to the king,with a portrait
vanni
French
fashion,by the painterof Vicenza, GioAntonio
Fasolo.
This celebrated
portrait,
is that prewhich now
hangsin the Dresden Gallery,
fixed
this
volume.
The
to
portrait
delightedthe
king,who spoke in such terms of the beauty of his
future consort, as to raise hopes of the speedy downfall
of the favourite.
Henry hastened to replyto
Marie's epistle."Frontenac, madame, has givenme
such a description
of your perfections,
that I not only
votion
love you as a husband, but cherish you with the dewhich the most
lover owes
to his
passionate
This title I shall give you until you arrive
mistress.
when you will exchange it for a more
at Marseilles,
honourable
I shall avail myselfof every opname.
portunity

During

to

my

write

warmest

Believe

this,ma

in order

to you,

desire is

to

maitresse

behold
and

to

assure

you

by

you

that

my

side.

of
that every month
I have received this

delay is to me as a century !
morning from you a letter written in French
have composed it without assistance,
you are

if you

already
o

196

HENRI

expert in

IV.

[1600.

tongue."' After writingthese words,

which
probably were
sincerelyfelt as they flowed
from
his pen, Henry on
the same
day addressed
madame
de Verneuil,and prayed her to hasten her
that she might join him
with as little
so
recovery,
baths of Pougues in
at the mineral
delayas possible
Nivernois ! When
it
Henry gave this invitation,
appeared likelythat timely concession by the duke
de Savoye might avert
the menaced
campaign. On
the 10th of July Henry made
his entry into Lyons,
where
he found the marquis de Lullins,M. de RonThese
cas, and the archbishopof the Tarentaise.
our

ambassadors

the

assured

their

kino; that

master

the duke
his majesty; nevertheless,
satisfy
posed,
imat the hardship of the terms
was
deeply moved
but would surrender the marquisateprovided
that Henry conferred
its investiture on the second
the king deemed
of Savoye! This
son
pertinacity
to

meant

affront.

an

from

The

"

Chambery,

favour

that he

was

his house

of Prance
and

wrote

His

of Paris.
to

duke

his

to

to

me

Turin

from

and

pact
pleased with our comhighnesshas given me no reason
that I should
give the territory

I will make

son.

no

concession

the surrender of the

or
marquisate,
2
torted
sharplyreterritory
stipulatedas its equivalent,"
asked
the king. Roncas, therefore,
sion
permiswith his master, to certifythat the
to confer
demand

Florence, vol. 2. Lettres Missives de

Henri
book
IV.
first French
Berger de Xivrey. The
after her betrothal was
Clorinde
ou
perused by the pi^incess
1

MS.

my

Archives

de

"

"

"

L'Amante
2

tuee

Zilioli

"

Savoia
Chron.

per

Guerra

tra

il marchesato

Septennaire
Savoye.
"

from

amant,"

son

par

IV.

Enrico
de

"

Carlo

Saluzzo

Guichenon

Tasso.

"

Einanuele

Venetia,

Hist, de la

1602.

Royale

duca
"

di

Cayet.

maison

de

MAEIE

AND

1600.]

royal troops would

the firstof

DE

the frontier into

cross

unless

August

197

MEDICI.

Savoy

the king's demands

on

were

conceded.

Meantime, a gentleman of the household,

M. de Montmorency Fosseuse, on
from
his return
Italy,passed through Turin on his road to Lyons.
He

informed

Henry

that the

generalopinionin

that

be surrendered
not
capital
;
was, that Saluzzo would
that the negotiations
only feints to
pending were
gain time to organizea plan of campaign,in conjunction
with the Milanese
viceroy; who was supposedto
hold intelligences
with certain disaffected but puissant
subjectsof his Christian majesty.1 The king
paid little attention to this important notification ;
but maintained

that the duke

would

dare

not

to

risk

under
campaign, when he beheld the detachments
and
Biron
Lesdiguiereson his frontier. Roncas,
meantime, returned from Turin, after an absence of
three days, with the assurance
that the duke
would
with
the
a
sign and execute
treaty conformable
of Paris,greatly to the triumph of his
compact
powered
majesty. Silleryand Jeannin were, therefore,ema

to

confer with the ambassadors

for the

measures

amicable

but

and

to concert

immediate

render
sur-

of the

marquisate; their instructions being

to consider in every
the convenience
manner
possible
honour
of M.
and
de Savoye. The
articles previously
agreed upon underwent
diligentrevision ;
ministers yieldingevery pointwhich inthe French
terfered
with

not

the basis of

the

treaty
"

the

titution
res-

of

its
Saluzzo,or the surrender of territory
equivalent.Henry signed the articles ; but when
the turn
of the
duke's
ambassadors
came,
they
1

"Le

Saluces
guerre

due
; et
a

disait
que

si

que
on

durer 40 ans."

"

jamais il ne rendrait le marquisat de

Tattaquoita force ouverte ce seroit une
De Thou, liv. 125.

198

IV.

HENRI

confessed, after
had

no

equivocation, that they

structed
inhis majesty; but were

much
imitate

power

to

to

convey

[1600.

the treaty

Turin

to

for the vious

preThis
trifling

inspection of their master.

opened the king'seyes : l "If by the 16th of August
this treaty is not
executed, I will try, messieurs, to
de Passage, the
do myself justice
; meantime, M.
lieutenant

whom

I intend

nominate

to

Saluzzo

over

proceed in the direction of Carmagnola, so as to

that placewithout
enter
delay,so soon as your duke
tion
shall have ratified our
treaty." Pending the resoluof the court
of Turin, Henry quittedLyons
and
repaired for a few days to Pougues, where
madame
de Verneuil
Rosny,
gave him rendezvous.
of the forces
meantime, worked at the organization
for the campaign : siegetrains of unusual
strength
for the storming of the duke's mountainproper
strongholds dailyarrived in Lyons ; and boats laden

will

"

"

ammunition

with

and

stores

Rhone.

Montmorency
royalstandard ; Biron,

summoned

was

of

governor

his troops in readiness

county of Bresse ; while

to

down

sent

were

the

join the
Burgundy, held
to

the frontiers of the

cross

Lesdiguieresand his corps

of Provence
oVarmee
prepared to act promptly in
Savoy on the first signal.
of king Henry to Lyons, he again
On the return
Marie as follows :
addressed
the princess
"

"

Mon

trompe
veulent
de
du

tromper

gagner

leur

facent

que

To
n'ont

maistre,

par

ces

to

Rosny, " je
icy, ils
gens

suis bien
ne

temps." Lettres Missives,t. 5.

Les
the constable,Henry says:

et gagner

Sully,No. 11.
due de Savoye

vers

king Henry

ami," wrote
quelque mine

"

"

voulu
ou

signer les articles

j'aireconnu

temps."" -BibL Imp.

F. de

sans

qu'ilsne

Beth, MS.

9080.

nous

Mem.
gens

renvoyer

veulent

que

200

HENRI

IV.

[1600.

of the

so
soon
royal procuration,
length of the campaign in Savoy

On

the

7th

of

the

as

could

probable
be

received

August Henry

mined.
deter-

positive

M.
of the duke's intentions.
proofof the insincerity
led to
de Passage,on approachingthe passes which
his
at
Carmagnola,received notice " to advance
;" ' for his highness had no intention to cede
peril
his marquisateof Saluzzo.
The patienceof the king
wa3
now
thoroughlyexhausted : a declaration of war
therefore issued by his majesty,and the same
was
night the marshal de Biron entered the county of
the town
Bresse ; and Lesdiguieresmarched
upon
of Montmellian, the citadel of which was
regardedas
the bulwark
of the duchy.

The
de

uncertain

dishonourable

and

Savoye proceededfrom

disinclination

two

conduct

sources

of M.

his intense

"

of Saluzzo ; and
territory
his malicious pleasurein thwartingthe king. The
attitude of the cabinet of Madrid, in
unsatisfactory
alliance with which duke Charles could alone hope to
resist the arms
of Henri
Quatre, had increased this
vacillation.
and desired
relatives

to

cede

The

duke

to

of Lerma

consolidate

he hated

the

his

Fuentes

was

of peace,
that of his

man

fortune,and

as

the

most

able

man
states-

of

Spain,and consequentlyhis formidable rival.

of Henri
Nevertheless,the arms
Quatre menaced
tage
Italy: and Lombardy and Naples,the ancient heriof the houses
of Anjou and
Orleans, might
be menaced
eventually
by the conqueror of Savoy,
in

with

alliance

The
1

the

Venetian

Spaniards,moreover,
"Le

due

s'il voidoit
passage

lui fit dire de

dans

entrer

les amies

ne

la

la main."

pas

and

Tuscan

states.

protestedagainstthe
avancer

; et d'etre

place,il faudroit

ces-

persuadeque
qu'ils'y ouvrit un

sion of the
Saluzzo.
to

MARIE

AND

1600.]

the

DE

proposed as
territory

The

annexation

French

equivalentfor

an

of the

closed

crown

201

MEDICI.

county

of Bresse

route

hitherto

the

sary
Spanish army when it became necesin the
in their possessions
to repress the risings
Low
Countries.
Although these rich provinceshad
been ceded to the Infanta,yet Philip III. pondered
which
the mysteriousclause in his father's will,
over
reminded
him u that numerous
might
opportunities
afford pretext, skilfully
to
to
occur
despoilDona
tions
Isabel of her heritage."The traitorous communicaof the duke de Biron also conveyed the impression
continue
the
that Henry would
be unable
to
in
were
campaign ; and that risings
likelyto occur
the south-western
provinces of the realm, which
would
render his majesty eager to patch up temporary
with Savoy.
The
seizure of a few
peace
Savoyard towns
by the French, meantime, suited the

opened

to

the

ulterior views

of the

subtle

inasmuch

as

plausible
pretext for
the sudden invasion of the realm by a Spanish army,
nations
when
France
convulsed
was
by the promised machiof Biron and his fellow traitors. The disposition
of Biron was
deemed
: the marshal,
propitious
though he had not yet compromised himself by
to

such

recover

written

would

schemers

communications

form

to

the

courts

of Madrid

and

patience
discontent ; and an imMilan, manifested capricious
which, it was hoped,the slightest
provocation

from
treason.
a

his

royal master
Lafin,the agent
interview

recent

at

might
of

Milan

that he spoke from

declaring
knowledge of the mind of M.
"

that

the

Catholic

latter intended

majesty over

with

had

after
and

Biron, Lafin stated,

the sway
that king

to restore

France;

Fuentes

observation

own

de

actual

into

marshal,had

the

his

fan

of his

Henry

202

HENRI

IV.

[1600.

heresy,and that the house of Bourbon

was
ever
ready to barter faith for empire." Lafin
be permitted to
explainedthat M. de Biron must
take his measures
leisurely
; and in order the better
the designsof his majesty,it was
to circumvent
quisite
refavoured

he

that
armies

should

of France.

Madrid

and

made

retain his command

The
the

monk

Picotte

avowals.1

same

over

the

proceeded to
fore,
Lerma, there-

engaged to support the policyof the conde de

of PhilipIII.,
Fuentes ; and confirmed,in the name
the promise made
by the viceroy,and the duke of
Savoy that the guerdon of M. de Biron should be,
the sovereignty
of Burgundy, and marriage with a
daughter of Savoy ; or with the archduchess,sister
Biron
of the queen
of Spain. It is doubtful whether
realized the magnitude of the designsdeveloped in
these overtures.
His fierytemper, indiscreet tongue,
and inordinate vanity,were
to
as
easy to soothe as
It was
his habit to break forth
excite.
constantly
"

into unbecoming

language relative

of the

the

king, in

Bosny.

"

This

even

presence

sword

to

the
of

placedthe king on

ingratitude
the

austere

his throne

"

him !
exclaimed
the marshal
easilyunmake
one
day on concludinga fierce diatribe against
The
the government.
king, on being informed of
this speech,treated it as a " gasconnade;" and spoke
of ce pauvre
of the unlucky temper
Biron, who,
he
than
his majesty said, always expressedmore
intended ; but who, in reality,
was
a
vant.2
very loyalserit

can

as

Meantime,

the malevolent

Thou, liv.

calculations of the

foes

Hist,
Sully. Mathieu"
IV.
Nani
de la Republica
Historia
Regne de Henri
Venetia, lib,1. Cabrera
FelipeII.
Mathieu, t. 2. Sully,liv. 12eme.
"

De

Mem.

125.

de

"

"

du
de

of France

the victories of the

disappointed
by

were

203

MEDICI.

DE

MARIE

AND

1600.]

August, Biron
of
assaulted and took the town
of Bourg, the capital
del.
laid to the citathe county of Bresse ; and siegewas
The
marshal
despatched an express to notify
this success
his majesty,and to lay at Henry's
to
feet seven
cated
captured standards ; also,Biron supplihis majestyto bestow
upon him the command
of Bourg when
the citadel capitulated.The
same
arrived of
day, the Feast of the Assumption,tidings
of Montmellian,capturedby the
the fall of the town
de Lesdibrave Crequy, son-in-law of the marshal
guieres; while Crillon seized the town of Chambery,
the capital
of the duchy.1 The rapidconquest of his
filled the duke with dismay ; it was
true
chief tcwns
bery
that the citadels of Bourg, Montmellian, and Chamroyal lieutenants.

remained

be

to

15th

the

reduced

of Grenoble

cathedral

royalarms,

at

the church

by

demand

which

with

but

Deum

for the

Henry

of

was

after vespers, the

from
for audience

but

was

sung

in the
of the

signalsuccess

was

lery
artil-

the

their surrender

enemy'scommand,
questionof time. A Te
the

at

On

ing
leav-

present.

On

king was

surprised

the

Patriarch

of

of his
in the name
Constantinople,
Calatagirone,
of the pontiff
holiness Pope Clement.
By command
time past had taken up his abode
the patriarch
for some
in the Franciscan monastery at Turin,to watch events;
of the
the mediation
and to interpose
at any moment
supreme

outbreak

Lettre

lfieme

Clement

the

unmitigatedconsternation
royal envoys in Rome, especially

du

Aoust, au

Roy
Fort

au

datee

connetable
de Bairault.

"

ce

Lettres

rnercredi

4 du

soir

t. 5, Bibl.
Missives,

Imp. F. de Beth., MS. 9079.

Calatagironearrived on the 17th of August.
2

viewed

of hostilitieswith

disgust.The

and
1

father of Christendom.2

204

IV.

HENRI

[1600.

ness.
of his holidailyplaints
accused the king of ambitious intents,
Clement
and of a projectnever
quered.
to restore
Savoy when conHe complained that Plenrysystematically
concessions
refused to make
agreeableto the Holy
See, though he had befriended the king on every
occasion.
therefore,
earnestlyimplored
Calatagirone,
the king to stay his victorious arms
to the
; to adhere
Savoy to his crown
;
treaty of Vervins ; not to annex
but again to open
through the Holy
negotiations,
Charles.
See, with duke
Henry replied,that he
willingly
promisedto adhere to the treaty of Vervins ;
with M.
but would enter into no
fresh negotiations
to
de Savoye. " Will
an
majesty consent
your
armistice while the legate
of his holiness intervenes ?
"
No," respondedHenry ; " I will not again subject
myself to the mocking gibes of M. de Savoye I
know
for a Spanish
that the latter is in negotiation
I will therefore forestall him, and recover
succour
the territory
which his highnesshas usurped."1 The
apathy which had hitherto been evinced by the
duke, who beheld the fall of fortress after fortress
without sendingsuccours
to aid the garrisons
assailed,
confirmed
and
the suspicionthat Fuentes
Spanish
"
The
legionswere
hasteningto his rescue.
king
I
has seized a few of my
and villages
; but
passes
in
shall soon
be master
of the most
towns
flourishing
"
the boast of duke
Charles.
Forty
France,"was
wearied

d'Ossat,were

with the

"

"

years shall not

of the revenge
holden

about

the conde
the
1

Mem.

de

constable
Chron.

I
this

mean

take !

to

periodat

Asti

"

Velasco.

between

De

"

du

cardinal

d'Ossat

the
of

latter,
having a

The

"

Thou, liv.

Lcttre

243.

traces

council

Fuentes, and the ex-governor

Septennaire Cayet.

Lettres

France

suffice to obliterate from

125.

was

duke,
Milan
whole-

Sully

MARIE

AND

1600.]

DE

205

MEDICI.

of the

king,had no desire,
paign.
however, to
majesty to a second camtaken in promotion of
Fresh resolutions were
from his allegiance;
the intrigue
and
to tempt Biron
the plan of a grand campaign, to be conducted
by
discussed
and
Fuentes, for the springof 1601, was
dread

some

of the prowess
challengehis

ratified.1

king repairedto Chambery on the 23rd day

of August, in time to receive the capitulation
of the
mission
citadel.
The following
day Henry acceptedthe subThe

of

the

Conflans.

of

town

The

king

was

joined in Chambery by Rosny and his wife. The

of Rosny was
activity
indefatigable
during this
; and
knowledge astonished the most
campaign his military
he persistedin asserting
experienced officers. Often
the expediencyof some
militarymanoeuvre,
in defiance of the opinion expressedby the king.
the count
M. de Villeroy,
de Soissons,and the duke
of remark
resented the freedom
d'Epernon,especially
minister.
the favoured
conceded
to
Rosny's mind
content
also distressed at this periodby the growing diswas
manifested
the tax
at
throughout France
"
nicknamed
La Pancarte,"or le sou pour livre,
against
he had vainlyprotestedat
the impositionof which
the assembly of Notables
held at Rouen
in 1597.
had
the arrangement
of the ceremonial
He, moreover,
to

with

the
the

By

visit

to

disturb

4 to.

command

of

the

of

camp

Ibid.

the
"

Gilles.

"

of the

king;;

embassage for Florence.

the king, Rosny also paid a
Biron before Bourg. Painful

It

Zilioli Guerra

marriage

the

marshal's

king.

Yenetia, lt!02.

the

on

ordering of

of the

rumours

be observed

tra

was

disaffection

reported that

Enrico

Continuation

continued
the

to

duke

IV., e Carlo Eraanuele,in

des Chroniques de Nicole

206

HENRI

IV.

[1600.

intrusted
that he was
expressed resentment
while Lesdiguierescarried
only with siegeoperations,
into Savoy. " The
the war
king is a Calwitness the favour
vinist
he loves onlyHuguenots
bestowed
MM.
de Rosny and
on
Lesdiguieres,"
said Biron.
Rosny, however, discovered no failure
of duty on
the part of the marshal ; but he accuses
into
of a design to betray him
the duke
frustrated
of the Spaniards a scheme
the hands
alone by Rosny's own
perceptionand alacrityin
ambuscade
of Villars,
where
an
leaving the town
waited to effect his capture. Rosny next
proceeded
the transport
to Lyons ; his errand being to superintend
for the reof siege batteries and ammunition
duction

had

"

"

"

of the
the

passes

the cradle

was

fort of

Charbonnieres, which
This

of the Maurienne.

of the

ducal

house

of

manded
com-

castle

Savoy, being

of
stronghold of Berault Saxon, first count
of
The
conduct
Maurienne, founder of the race.
this siege devolved
Rosny, in his capacityof
upon
The
fortress was
sidered
congrand-masterof artillery.
surrounded
impregnable; it was
by lofty
rocks and narrow
and its only approach was
defiles,
path. At the foot of
by a winding and precipitous
side was
the hamlet
of Aiguebelle
the rock on one
;
the other flowed the river Isere.
on
Rosny's skilful
of the batteries,
and
the obstacles overcome
disposition
rendered
the
soon
by his zeal and intrepidity,
The garrison
capituking master of Charbonnieresu1
the

"

Le

fort

de

Charbonnieres

pris,M.

de

Savoye peut

bien

le
et a tout
signede la croix sur le dos a Montmellian
de Savoye. Envoyes moi des bons melons, des muscats,
duche
des Agues, et des perseques : car
fruit.
n'avous
aueun
icy nous

faire le

Ce
au

dernier

Aoust

Connetable

"

au

camp

de Charbonnieres."

Lettres Missives

"

Berger

de

"

Lettre

Xivrey, t.

du
5.

roy

208

IV.

HENRI

servient
From

to

[1G00.

of the enemies

the machinations

of France.

tions
perioddate those treasonable communicato the duke
of Savoy and to PhilipIII. which
These
subsequentlyproved so disastrous to Biron.
addressed and confided to Lafin,for transmission
papers were
drid.
sent
to Mato Fuentes, by whom
they were
the
Any individual base enough to undertake
this

ini.-sionof Lafin

certain

was

to

prove

traitor

to

Lafin, therefore,
feigned to serve.
which
these papers, took a copy,
before delivering
dictated.
he carefully
to use
as
opportunity
preserved,
Biron, in the first sheet containing "the ideas"
the

he thus committed

which
of

he

master

Savoye

on

the

to

paper,

counsels the duke

best calculated

means

to

divert the

remainingfortresses of
Savoy from assault ; and to embarrass the king's
of those alreadycaptured. He
advises the
tenure
duke
to march
suddenlyupon Chambery, duringany
absence of the king, and while Lesdiguiereswas
cupied
ocwith the siegeof Montmellian
; and
suggests
of France

arms

to

in
for this purpose
and in the county of Feretta.
The marshal

that troops should

Luxembourg,
the

the

and
royalservice,
he proves
condition as

he counsels

efficient regiments in

most

comments

on

that the

such

enlisted

be

enumerates

next

the

save

to

render

their

tination
probabledes-

king'sfinances
a

tedious

war

in

were

ble
impossi-

with

Spain,and the proclamation

of such alliance,
as
beinglikelyto produce
throughout France results highly advantageous to
the views of his Catholic majesty. M. Renaze
the
;

secretary of
the
1

secret

De

compact

Lafin

of the

du
"\

marechal

ledered that

was

moreover

initiated

into

conspirators.1
Henry, though warned

Thou, liv. 128,

Proces
ackno

125.

de Biron.
he had

Sully,liv. 11, 12eme.

At his trial,
as will be

written

the communications

Perefixe
seen,

"

Biron
to

the

AND

1600.]

MARIE

DE

209

MEDICI.

that the duke's allegiance

had been
by Rosny and others,
tamperedwith,refused to believe that his old friend and
could act or speakagainsthim, except when
servant
under

the

influence

of

mad

ebullition of temper.
himself to visit the

Henry, therefore,determined
of the
camp of Bourg,and judge of the dispositions
marshal.
His majesty conferred the command-inchief of the camp
before Montmellian,on the Count
of Biron was
of the griefs
the
de Soissons ; as one
allegedusurpationby Lesdiguieresof his office of
No
rnarSchal generaldes arme'es du roi.
particulars
of this interview exist,
paralleled
except that Henry, with ungenerosity,
franklyimparted to Biron the
engenderedby his conduct ; and informed
suspicions
the latter that his own
imprudentdemonstrations had
prevented him from being sent on active service
againstan enemy with whom he was reportedto be
in league. Henry advised Biron to discard Lafin ; '
his majesty averred that the treacherous character of
"Let
him not approachyou,
known.
the latter was
mon
ami," said the king," he is pestilent."2
Biron,
assured the king
however, denied all; and ironically
that he had been deceived.
Henry againwarned the
marshal, adding, "that crimes committed
against
the welfare of nations could not be condoned
by the
The frankness
of private
amount
friendship."
largest
the heart of the
of the king,instead of penetrating
had
rather an
to have
duke, seems
exasperating
mentioned
his desire to reconeffect. Henry next
Savoy produced. Lettre du Roy a M. de Fresnes
Archives
de M. de Lusignan.
Sa majestequi aymoit le marechal, luy dit qu'ilostast la
Chron.
Fin
d'aupres de lui, ou qu'ill'affineroit." Cayet
Septennaire.
duke

de

"

"

Perefixe
VOL.

"

II.

Vie

de Henri

"

le Grand.
P

210

IV.

HENRI

[1600.

of Geneva,
vicinity
Biron professed
before he returned to Chambery.
The suspicions,
readiness to attend his royalmaster.
monstrances
however, infused into the mind of Biron by the rethe latter to
of the king, determined
of a crime which
might
attempt the perpetration
afford extrication from the personal
perilhe now
prehended
apof his
from the fears,or the resentment
sovereign. This fact is attested at the subsequent
trial of M. de Biron ; it is difficult,
however, to
of so
believe in the possibility
a
perfidious
design,
the destruction
though quicklyrepented of,to compass
of so indulgenta master.
It was
deposed that
moned
on
ascertainingthe royal intentions Biron sumKenaze, and intrusted him with a despatchto
noitre the fort Ste.

the governor
the marshal

of Fort

which

he

indicated.

the king within

that he
wicked

him

range

to

deed.

in this missive

the latter of the

mount

Biron

king'svisit,
in a position
a battery
then engaged to bring

of these

remonstrated, and
"

the

Ste. Catherine

advertised

counselled

and

Catherine,in

Such

at

guns.

Renaze

first declined

shall be the

to

fate of

stated
abet
a

so

man

and at the life of Lafin ; and

life,
is even
who
lence
Sinow
compassing our destruction.
! let us act, and not dispute
! fiercely
rejoined
The treacherous designwas
the marshal.1
therefore
executed.
The
king unsuspiplannedand partially
ciously
yielded himself to the guidance of Biron ;
but the heart of the latter failed him when in sightof
the placeof ambuscade.
Biron then suddenlyseized
the bridle of the king'shorse,and, with agitation,
implored his majesty not to advance further in the
direction of the enemy's trenches,as in the garrison
who

aims

at

my

"

De

Biron"

Thou, liv.
Paris,1C03.

128.

Sully
"

Tie

et

mort

du

marechal

de

AND

1600.]
there
aim.
lie

was

stated

king

DE

211

MEDICI.

who

never

subsequentlydenied

the

expert gunner,

an

Biron

MARIE

that

he

had

the Fort

missed

accusation

accompanied

never

Ste. Catherine

but

contrary, had persuadedhis majesty,when

at

from

to

survey

making

this accusation
and

while

rash

so

assuredlyknown

was

latitude of

allowingevery

the witnesses

at

expedition. The

an

trial for

century, when

high treason

the latter

were

his

on

the
the

Bourg,
truth of

the

king;
exaggerationto
to

in the

teenth
seven-

deeplycompromised,

would

dence
scarcelyhave allowed eviso
aggravatedto be received,knowing that
the allegation
false.1 The king afterwards
was
altogether
returned
he hoped,
to Chambery, having,as
Biron
in his fealty
confirmed
; solaced his prideby
the honour of the visit ; and by his friendly
advice
checked
for gaming,which the duke
the fatal passion
carried to such excess
to be alwaystherebyimpoas
verished.
notable
After
loss at play the duke's
he
then
in
as
was
disloyaltyglowed fiercely
;
the habit of accusing the king of neglect,forgetting
his services had been rehow
warded.
munificently

yet Henry

King Henry's correspondence with the princess

tinued
conMarie, and with other illustrious personages,
which characterize
throughoutthe siegeoperations
this campaign. The
king writes to the princess
his head-quarters
at Chambery,
on
establishing
king, "avoit, avec M. de Savoye
seuletelle correspondencequ'iletait adverty par luy non
une
de ce que je faisois,
mais aussy de ce que je pensoiset proment
de faire.
Or
si Dieu n'eust eu plus de soin de inoy et
jeteois
de mon
je me fusse perdu plusieurs
meme,
royaume,
que moy
Lettre du
fois en la dicte guerre, avec
ceux
qui m'assistoient."
Roy a M. de Fresnes Canaye. Lettres Missives,t. 5.
1 "

Le

diet

Biron," writes

the

"

"

212

HENRI

to inform
especially
de Bellegardefor

courier

had

been

duke

of

knot

of favours

IV.

her of the
Florence

"

I have

departureof

by

that

and

arrested

Savoy.

[1600.
the duke
Tuscan

the emissaries of the

to
disposal
chastise the said duke for this insolent enterprise
;
but not
the power
to
compensate to myself for a
elapsebefore I
delayof eight days,which must now
As for the progress of
of you.
can
againhear news
this war, God
cause
: I have
prospers my righteous
kept my promise to you, madame, for it is from
Chambery that I date this letter." The next day
Henry addresses the princessto apprizeher that the
duke
of Savoy had
gallantlyset her courier at
liberty.The princesssent her betrothed lord the

belle
you, ma
attach it to my
all my
tight,
I know

never

he

helmet,and

"I

solicited.

had

maitresse,for

my

should

well

that

you

we

to

come

given in honour
would
dispense with

but
affection,

guided by
before been

thank

present ; I will

your

thrusts shall be

testimonyof
be

which

at

means

soldier

on

of you.
such a

the field

the wishes

of any woman.
with so violent
inspired

open

not
can-

I have
a

desire

to

belle
anybody as yourself.Let this fact,ma
arrival." In
to hasten your
serve
as
a spur
maitresse,
another
letter,dated September 14, Henry recapitulates
the triumphsof the campaign ; and urges the
princessto leave Florence so soon as her marriage
change
interby proxy had been accomplished. A constant
see

of

letters and

presents

continued

between

royalpairfrom the date of their betrothal. In

chain of great
for the giftof an
emerald
return
value,Marie sent the king a charger,richlycaparisoned.
The
horse
was
conveyed to Marseilles
board
of the grand-ducalgalleys,
and was
on
one
received by an officersent especially
by his majesty.
the

AND

1600]

Henry

have

you

giftat

you
made

silver

from

letter,I have

the

la

people of

reduced

Monsieur

fort of
the

of

12th

de

count

Bourg,

hastens

is mine

this

under

banner

my

especiallyof me
will arrive
Bellegarde),who

I kiss your
from

the

will
of

none

Pierre-Chatel

was

The

prince de
d'Auvergne, and
:

enemies

from

M.

in

short, all

alone

fail

le Grand

when

you

us.

(duke

receive

this.

day of September,

16th

Archives

Florentines,vol.

king
assiegequi est

bon

Dieu

le maitre

estre

en

Maurienne.

in

says

Cela

Cependant je fais

femme
a

Henri

de

Missives

mon

armee

Je tiens
previous letter :
guarni ; mais j'espereavec
"

et bien

cette

fait,toute

fors les citadelles de

chevaux.

Lettres

5.

The

rendre

2.

relative to

excitement

royal impatienceand

IV., t.
2

fortresses

county of Bresse,

in camp

This

last

Grenoble."

The

beautiful hands.

he

my

encounter

count

arrived

for the

of God

grace

month.

Soissons, the

nor

deployedin

now

The

Savoye.

will hear

de

roy

of

of

all the

We

days.2

gold

sent

despatch

the

by

the

gift,madame,

your

has

army

d'Epernon, have

France
You

my

bestowed

for neither

Charbonnieres, and
and

present that

I have

the

Since

the duke

the

the

being

Tarentaise, and

about

Conty,

and

district in six

that

excepting

have

not

horse.

good

taken

of the Maurienne

valley of

could

fortune.

me

for the

opportunity;

procure

Marseilles

bring

reduce

You

Toscane.1

de

thanks

thousand

welcome

here

213

MEDICI.

la Princesse

me.

more

can

horse
will

Madame

return

DE

letter of acknowledgment:
following

the

wrote

A
"

MARIE

madame

la

Savoye

Bourg, Montmelhan

nouvelles
de

ferme

la vallee de la

et la Bresse
et Fort

l'aide de

sont

moi,

Ste. Catherine.

levees de Suisses et de Francois

20,000

S'il etait bienseant

je vous

semaine.

fort

un

hommes

de

pied, et

de dire qu'on est

amoureux

de

pour

2,500
de

sa

Le
dirois que je le suis extremement
de vous."
le princesse
de Toscane.
Lettres Missives,
t. 5.
"

"

214

HENRI

IV.

[1600.

princessastonished Rosny, and Henry's intimate

wearied of expatiating
entourage. His majesty never
of the
the comely features and majestic
on
presence
the
heard
often to execrate
queen-elect;and was
bad faith of the duke of Savoye, which postponedhis
sufficiently
nuptials. The king nevertheless was
alive to the perillikely
from the discontent
to ensue
of the duke
de Biron, to comprehend the policyof
paign.
remaining in camp until the conclusion of the camThe emissaries of duke Charles prowledeverywhere
was
highlyoffended at the onslaught
; the pope
made
by the king on the dominions of Savoy : and
the

it

was

ascertained

now

from

Madrid

to

the Italian dominions

that money
had been transmitted
for the defence of
Fuentcs

of the duke.

positively
proclaimedthe
government
The

duke
with

to

oppose

waited

the

for such

Indeed, the

intention of the
invasion

event

of

Spanish

Piedmont.

therefore

; and

roy
vice-

held
be-

indifference the capture of the

duchy. M.
de Savoye hoped to avenge
his disgrace,
in
when
alliance with
the Spaniards his army
might make
into France ; and there,aided by the insurdescent
rectionary
movements
promoted by Biron,reorganize
that formidable League, which had originally
enabled
him to usurp the marquisateof Saluzzo.
Henry's empressement for his bride- elect did not,
communication
however, prevent constant
epistolary
with madame
de Verneuil, who
was
sojourningat
Lyons. On the fall of Charbonnieres,Henry sent
the captured standards
to his mistress.1
Henriette
caused
the banners
be publiclyexhibited,and
to
1

"

Mori
4

compere

J'envoye

madame

la

marquise de

neuil
Ver-

enseignesqui etoient dedans le fort de Charbonnieres."

Lettre du Roy a Montmorency.
MS. Bibl. Imp. F. de Beth.
9080.
Galanteries des Rois de France, t. 2.

"

216

HENRI

who,

it

respects in Rome
had

Christian

[1600.

expected,would

was

he

IV.

to

fail

not

to

his holiness

thank

in the

demonstrated

his

pay

for the interest

marriageof

his

evidenced

by the mission of
cardinal Aldobrandini
to Florence, to perform the
The pope sighed
ceremonial
of the royalespousals.
when
that the duke, being pressed for
he learned
his holiness,
time, could not visit the papal court:
majesty,as

therefore,directed the attention of the French

the

to

inconvenience

which

to

he

envoy

about

was

to

with the serfor an interval,

vices
submit,in dispensing,
of his nephew and principal
secretary of state ;
and

the magnificent outfit of the

to

this I have

done

France," said

to

and

content

d'Ossat

that he had

revenue

of 1000

assignedto

crowns;

honour

Clement

his holiness.

and

an

legate.

"All

the king of

then

informed

the cardinal
additional

daily
to

sum

purchaseequipments. " The king,if he wishes to

gratifyme in return, will make peace with M. de
Savoye on receivingback his own
territory.Such
the aim of my envoy
added
the
was
Calatagirone,"
D'Ossat replied,
that when
the forts of Montpope.
mellian and Bourg had
and remained
capitulated,
guarantees of the good faith of M. de Savoye, he
believed the king might grant a suspension
of arms
at the request of his holiness.
Clement
grumbled,
and
stated his fears lest Henry meant
to retain
Savoy,1and push his conquests into Italy; he also
complained that the arch-heretic Lesdiguiereswas
the campaign, while other
employed to conduct
orthodox
generalswere
suspectedby his majesty.2
The chagrinof his holiness was
much
increased by a
1

"

Je

D'Ossat
2

crains

le

que

roy

n'ait

prit cceur

la

Savoye."
"

Lettre 243.

"

Ibid.

"

D'Ossat

remarked,

to

cheer

the

pope,

that

Lcs-

visit from

the

Sessa,who

asked

the

Vervins

DE

MARIE

AND

1600.]

Spanish
audience

ambassador

for his

court

was

duke

de

urge

Savoye was but a pretext

to enable his Christian majestyto invade the Milanese,
and the kingdom of Naples. The
duke gave notice
that the first advance
made
into
by the French
Piedmont
would
be a signalfor the military
occupation
of the whole
of Italy by the armies of his
Catholic majesty. Clement, on the following
morning,
waged againstthe

duke

the

the pope to summon

the treaty of
to observe
convinced
that the war

to

belligerent
powers
;

217

MEDICI.

de

in great tribulation

sent

for d'Ossat

and

other

and proposed
prelates,
supporters of Gallic influence,
that his nephew and
should
legate Aldobrandini
proceed from Florence to Turin,and from thence to
confer with king Henry, with the view of mediating
between
the belligerents,
the basis of the treaty
on

of Paris.

The

"that
the

standard

pope

informed

the

personages

2,000 Spaniards1had

moned,
sum-

already joined

Savoy ; while the attitude of the

viceroyFuentes dailybecame more
threateningand
warlike."
The
was
expediency of this negotiation
discussed a few days subsequently
in consistory,
and
applauded. Already the minor sovereignsof Italy
had been canvassed
by one or other of the hostile
and Venice stoutlysupportedthe
: Florence
powers
of the king; and
cause
objected to the proposed
substitution of territory,
for the legitimateclaim
which

France

of

had

on

Saluzzo.

S'il avait cette

diguieresmight one day change his faith.
volonte il y a long temps qu'ill'auroit mise en
effet,"irritably
rejoinedhis holiness.
These Spaniardswere
of Don
Juan
under the command
de
the duke
Mendoza, whom
subsequently made marquis de St.
Germain
for his services. On this promotion to the viceroyalty
of
made
was
Milan, Mendoza
marquis de Inojosaby PhilipIII.
"

218

HENRI

The

[1G00.

Bellegarde,attended by a suite of
entered
Florence
on
forty gentlemen, meantime
20th
the
of September, to
accomplish the last
formalities of the royal espousals,
previousto the
departureof Marie de Medici for Marseilles. The
selection of this accomplishedcourtier and favourite
of the king gave
the grand-duke.
to
gratification
The

duke

IV.

de

Bellegarde

kino; commended

and
princess,
lierement a
luyT
Giovanni
and
by

the

Don

hall

Antonio
He

met

Medici

de

escorted

was

the

to

the

at

Pitti

grand-duke received him in

duke
of that magnificent edifice.
The
immediate
audience of the princess,
and

confided

the

her

to

the

him

to

Bellegarde,in

rich

In

by king Henry.

the

the

presents and

presence

of the

of

particuby Don

creature

Bellegarde was

gates of Florence.

palace,where

the duke

terms

favour

the

to

the

the
tained
obsented
pre-

letters

evening
delivered

court,

nating
signed by the king, nomihis majesty'sproxy
the grand-duke as
at
brated
the approachingceremonial.1
Joyous festivities celethe arrival of Henry's ambassador
; and
the Florentine peopletestified,
by enthusiastic vivas,
in the honour
conferred
their participation
by so
their reigninghouse.
Marie
on
puissanta monarch
herself appears
have
to
enjoyed popularitywith
the

the

letters procuratory

Tuscans

matrimonial

and

marriage:

duchess
the

of

the

lib.5.

Bibl.

but

the

to

satisfaction.

visited Florence

to

such

Venetian
was

Imp. Suppl.fr.

the
1644.

crown

Many
be

princessEleonore

grand-duke. The
MS.

elevation

trious
illus-

present
de

at

Medici,

guests of
republicsent a noble

Mantua, and her husband,

ambassador;
1

sincere

gave

personages
the

her

were

jealousyexcited by
Istoria del

Granducato,

AND

1600.]

MARIE

Medici

the

of the
prosperity
Italydeputed envoys.
with
to

that

Se.^sa.

the

On

Florence.

His

grand-duke,and

4th

He

noblesse.

eminence

by

day

rode

under

of

state

himself

transmitted

at

Rome,

October

of

the
the

his

superb entry
escorted by the

was

flower

the

be

ambassador

papal legate,Aldobrandini,made
into

contented

causing cold congratulationsto

de

other

no

PhilipIII.

Florence, through his

duke

219

MEDICI.

DE

of

the
of

canopy

Florentine

state

in

full

jioniifcalia,
preceded by mace-bearers,and by his
chaplain-in-chief,
bearingaloft a golden cross.1 He
alightedat the church of St. Lorenzo, and from
thence proceededto the Pitti palace.In the evening
the queen-electheld a court
to receive the congratulations
of the legate. Marie's replyappears
to have
"
courtiers present.
M.
le
gratifiedthe French
inflated compliments
cardinal,"
repliedshe, to the somewhat
of the legate,
has ordained
"God
my present
of
our
lofty destiny; but the benediction
Holy Father I receive as a specialblessing. I
fulfil all duties worthily
I
that I may
; and
pray
petitionfor the prayers of his holiness and the
Church."

followingday, October 5th,the ceremony of

the espousalsof Henry and
Marie
was
performed
Mass
by the legatein the church of St. Lorenzo.3
The

cardinal's

The

sumpter-mules
young,

immense

astonished

handsome,

and

baggage-waggons
the

luxurious

spectators.
to

array
Aldobrandini
in

excess

and

his habits

of
was

and

costume.

however, and the

haughty deportment of the princess,
independence she evinced, greatlysurprisedthe legate,who
when
Henri
IV.
thereupon predictedthat the time might come
would
regret queen Marguerite.
8
Cayet Chron. Septennaire. Godefroy Grand Cerem. de
France, t. 2. Marlot Theatre d'Honneur.
2

The

"

"

220

HENRI

said

was

IV.

by the cardinal ;
grand-dukerose from

at

[1600.
of which

the conclusion

self
placed himThe princess
then
the leftof his eminence.
was
on
the
led from her prieDieu,hythe dukede
Bellegarde,to
placeof honour at the righthand of the legate. The
borne by her favourite Donna
train of the bride was
The
procuration,
Eleonore,assisted by two pages.
signed by Henry, having been read, the marriage
representingthe
was
solemnized,duke Ferdinand
king. The queen, on the conclusion of the service,

the

back

conducted

was

to

his

chair,and

her chair of state, amid

vivas

of the grand-duke
A son
artillery.1
his
was
subsequentlybaptized by Aldobrandini
being the republic of Venice, represented
sponsors
by suitable envoys, and the duchess of Mantua,
sister of the new
queen.2 A revel of extraordinary
ensued,in the noble halls of the palazzo
magnificence
Pitti. The ball was
opened by the bride and her
uncle,who went
through the statelysteps of the
passimento de Espana Marie then desired that the
of the dances
duke de Bellegardeshould lead some
in vogue at the French court, the which her majesty
A banquet followed
with curious attention.
watched
table at which
of almost
fabulous splendour. The
the hall,and
the queen
placed across
supped was
elevated to
Vis-a-vis wa3
raised four feet.
a
buffet,
the ceilingof the hall,in the form of fleur-de-lis.
displayed
Upon the shelves of this buffet were
beset
and ivory,cups
of gold, silver,
costlyvases
of costly
with rare
reliquaries
jewels,tazzas, shields,
of antiquejewellery in short,
workmanship,trophies
amassed
of the inestimable
treasures
most
by the
and

salvoes of

"

"

Ibid."

Don

Christine

MS.
Lorenzo

Bibl.
de

de Lorraine.

Imp. Suppl.fr. 1644.

Medici,youDgest son

of Ferdinand

I. and

Medici.

Jewelled

in Florentine

set

DE

MARIE

AND

1600.]

holding tapers ;

sconces

; and

mosaic

221

MEDICI.

mirrors

filled
jardinieres

with

fragrantflowers,adorned the walls of the saloon.

Queen Marie sat, having at her right hand the
duchess
of Mantua, her sister the grand-duchess
"

Christine,and
left

the

de

duchess

Bracciano.1

At

her

the grand-duke,and the duke of

legate,
decorated with statuettes
The plateauwas

the

was

Mantua.

dukes

of the deceased
in

olive-trees

of Florence

silver urns,

fragrantplants. There

were

metal, modelled
The

duke

handed
meats

the

and Don

the

Michael

to

dwarf

of
cious
preAn-

design.
Antonio

queen.2 The
royal table,by some

dishes

over,

with

mingled with vases

also trophiesof

of novel

de Bracciano

and

Cellini and

by

gelo,and drinkingcups

the

de Medici
service

of

mechanical

contrivance,disappearedthrough the floor of the

saloon ; from
whence, after an interval,a second
with
table rose, laden
exquisite fruits,bonbons,
table

eventuallydisappeared,
and
was
replaced by a third, bearing delicious
grant
beverages,cut flowers,fans, small mirrors,and fraA
fourth table followed,raised with
waters.
the same
celerity." This table was laid in imitation
of the delicious gardens of Alcinous ; flowers and
throwingup jets
fruits,
mingled with tiny fountains,
little birds
numberless
of perfumed waters, while
mimic
flew from
bowers, and filled the hall with
the festivities of
terminated
melody." A masque
devoted
to
the evening.3 The
followingdays were

and

This

conserves.

Fulvia

Peretti,niece

Le

due

bassadeur

du

de

Bracciano

of pope
lui

Sixtus

V.

presenta a laver,et Silleryam-

roi la serviette."

Cayet, De Thou, MaImp. Suppl. fr. 1644.

Nani, Leti,Dreux du Radier,Tenhove.
thieu,Perefixe,
Galluzzi,
3

MS.

Bibl.

222

HENRI

second

of which

cost

munificence
:

amounted

of

their

the

fested
lavishlymani-

was

French

bridal

The

crowns.

cavaliers

entertainment,which

in value

amounted

to

The

defrayed.

G0,000

to

grand-duke

the

his donations

liberal ; and
was

[IfcOO.

banquetings,
jousts,comedies, and tilts.
and a pastoralwere
played,the
masque

sumptuous
A

IV.

littleless than

superb,

was

jewels of
the

were

the

queen

paid as
took every opportunity
her dowry : and
Ferdinand
that regardfor the honour
of his house,
manifest
to
his reason
and not penuriousgreed,was
for refusing
the million of scudi demanded
by Rosny and Villede
duke
The
himself
Bellegarde rendered
roy.
peculiarlyacceptable to his royal mistress ; the
the bearer of the king'sverbal
he was
more
so
as
Dori
might journey to
permissionthat Eleonore
France

suite of the queen.

The
latter still
her mistress.
unbounded
influence over

favour

herself

quite what

not

Eleonore

desired.

missive,
Marie, though outwardly sub-

of

demeanour
was

no

sum

in the

exercised
The

to

from

counselled

the

betrothed

her

respecting the

or

the

Italian cavaliers whom

duke

her

uncle
ask

for

husband, either

for

queen

nomination

to

of

certain

the

grand-duke was anxious

of his niece,until after
attach to the household
to
her arrival in France ; when, as the former shrewdly
in denyobserved, his majesty would find difficulty
ing
made
One
personallyby his consort.
petitions
of the great solicitudes of the favourite,
however, was
her

own

want

of rank.

In

the

aristocratic

court

of

France, where Eleonore hoped to playso conspicuous

a
role,the daughterof Carlo Dori the joinerseemed
no

mediatrix
fitting

ladies of the
the queen,

between

household.

the queen
With
the

Eleonore
therefore,

showed

and

the great
of
co-operation

proofthat

at

224

HENRI

IV.

[1000.

displayed
regardingthe example of virtue and integrity
by his uncle and his father, led a life
had
and
pated
of riot, and
already dissiprofligacy,1
the patrimony they bequeathed. Duke
dinand
Fermade
the

unusual

tact, and

His

Concini

as
especially

more

courteous

veillance of the

of

powers

specially
presentedby

the

digal;
pro-

demonstrated

forbearance
had

manner

queen

reclaim

to

attempts

many

the

bien*

had

been

won

; to

whom

Concini

her

cousin

the duke

trigue.
in-

and

de Brac-

ciano.
On

the 13th

day

of October

departurefrom

Florence

France.

was

She

Christine and

duchess
Mantua.
who

In the suite
take

to

was

Marie

queen

for the

route

en

of

command

the

of

grand-

duchess

Giovanni

Don

her

realm

the

accompanied by
by her sister the
were

took

of

Medici,

de

squadron;

the

Antonio
brother
don
of the
illegitimate
queen,
duke de Bracde Medici ; her cousin,don Virginio,
ciano,and the minister,cavaliere de Vinta : these
noble

majesty

regaled the
of

Marseilles.

at

with

welcomed

was

naval

Leghorn

on

all

were

personages

Pisa

enthusiasm
with

queen

combat
the

At

the

on

17th

of

take

to

leave

the
and

the

and

pastime

arrived

Marie

October,

her

bridal cortege
the inhabitants

banquet,and
Arno.

of

at

immediately

The

royalsquadron consisted of seven

French
ship, five papal
grand-ducalgalleys,one
It is stated that
and five galleysof Malta.
frigates,
embarked.

Ce

garcon

en

sa

imaginables,mangea
premiere chose que
de

hanter

les peres

Concini

il s'en alia
il revint

jeunesses'adonna
tout son
bien,et

Florence

ou
"

rendit

se

defendaient

N'ayant plus

Rome

toutes

de

Tallement

quoi

des Reaux

vivre

de
"

si inffime que

leurs enfaus

il servit le cardinal

les debauches

Lorraine

Historiette

la

c'etoit

Florence
; apres
IS.

DE

MARIE

AND

1600.]

225

MEDICI.

in the

embarked
of persons who
composing the royalsquadron^and

the number

vessels in port

lyingready to

10,000.

Marie

took

the

board

on

the

escort

ships

ceeded
fleet,ex-

the

of her uncle

leave

and shed many

grand-dukeon the deck of her galley,
tears on
leavingthe brightland of her birth. When
hand
on
the signoraGaligaikissed her sovereign's
Ferdinand
counselled her emphatically
saying farewell,
to

abstain

majestiesof

from

France

offices of the

and

if she wished

for

an

in France, to

; not

but

that

she

to

usurp

honorable

the

cile
permanent domiEleonore

said she wished

she

alone for

conspicuoushonoui's ;
devote herself to her royal

coveted

only permissionto

prerogatives
court
; and,

Frenchman.1

marry

and

their

between

great ladies of the

promisedcompliance:
repose

interference

no

mistress.
The

fleetset
grand-ducal
of France

standard

sailon

floated

at

the 18th. The

the main

of the

royal
galley

that
conveyed Marie de Medici,to commence
of extraordinary
and final adversity,
career
splendour,
which distinguishes
her lot in the annals of the seventeenth
"
of her majesty
was
royally
century. This galley
magnificent
; the lengthof the deck was
seventy feet,
the wood
being everywhere covered with gilding.
The stern of the vessel was
inlaid with rare
woods,
and blue-stone.
ivory,
garnets,ebony,mother of pearl,
In the saloon,
oppositeto the queen'schair of state,
of France,in diamonds ;
was
a shield of the fleurs-de-lis
of the grand-dukewere
below,the arms
represented
one
by five largerubies,a sapphire,
pearl,and an
emerald, all the jewels being of extraordinary

which

"

size and

value.

royalapartments
1

VOL.

II.

The
were

Istoria del

panes

of the windows

of rock

crystal
; and

of the
the

Granducato,liv. 5.
Q

cur-

226

IV.

HENRI

Contrary winds

t;iinsof cloth of
seas

gold."'
compelledthe

soon

from

which

departfor
from

and,

her
to

[lGOO.

fleet

to

put in

the mariners

harbour

did

and

rough
Portofino,

at

not

venture

to

by a visit
days.2 Marie was gratified
Vincent
of Mantua
duke
brother-in-law,
;
ten

celebrate
in

music

event, her

the

gave

"

majesty
"

concert

who

celled
ex-

board

on

her

had
fairygalley. Though Doria and the Genoese
the Medici, by
demonstrated
animosity towards
the ducal family,it was
refusingto congratulate
to greet the bride of Henri
Quatre
thought politic
with becoming respect. The Genoese
therefore sent
an
Vinta,
envoy to invite her majestyto disembark.
however, counselled the queen to decline the proposal;
"as king Henry had given no instructions on
the subject,
and the republichad omitted to send a
festivities at Florence."3
to the nuptial
representative
inconvenience
much
Marie,therefore,
thoughsuffering
from the tempestuous weather,bravelyremained
on
board her galley
landed duringthe
once
; and never
nine days the fleet lay at anchor.
The
ports of
quently
subsewere
Savona, Antilles,and Sainte-Marie
passed in safety; and the queen arrived at
Toulon
the 29th day of October,where the Tuscan
on
board privately
went
to inform
on
envoy Giovannini

Cayet" Chron. Sep.

The poet Malherbe, pretending that Neptune, smitten
of Marie, detained
her by contrary winds
the charms
'

MS.

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl. fr.

1644.

boisterous seas, wrote

"

Dix
Au
II

"

joursne pouvant se distraire

de la regarder,
plaisir
par

effort contraire

un

Essay"

de la retarder."
Malherbe

pas

"La

reine

commande,

by
and

repondit,aux
aussi elle

ne

ambassadeurs

pouvaitmettre

"

que

Poesies,liv.3.
le roi

pied a

ne

terre."

l'avoit

her

MARIE

AND

1600.]

majesty that

the

DE

still engaged at the

king was

that
impart the news
the duke of Savoy was
advancingon the royalcamp,
reinforced by 2,000 Spanish troops, to effect the
release of that importantfortress.
scale had nevertheless
on
a magnificent
Preparations
been made at Marseilles for the reception
of the
of the
The
royal purveyors, the master
queen.
other high officers,
of the court, and
ceremonies
the disembarkation
received commands
to superintend
of her majesty; and to providesuitable lodging

siegeof

Montmellian

and

227

MEDICI.

to

for the

and entertainment

To

suite.

and

meet

come
wel-

Madame
de
his consort, Henry nominated
de Guise,the duchess de VentaNemours, Madame

Bellievre,
and mademoiselle de Guise. The duchess de Nemours,
held officeas grande-maitresse.
Anne d'Este,
Henry,
to
remembering the promisemade ten years previously
of
de Guercheville,1
madame
gave her the appointment
recommendation
under
"ladyof honour,"with a special
de Richelieu
hand to the queen.2 Madame
his own
dour,the

madame
d'Auvergne,

couDtess

de

de
chosen for premiere dame d'atours;and madame
Fresne repaired
to Marseilles to fulfilthe functions of
was

dame

the Chancellor

and

Montmorency

die palais.

despatchedto compliment her

majesty; and to express the deep regret of the king
before Montmellian
that the siegeoperations
prede

1
2

Bellievre

were

See first part of this

The

letter

was

que

par madame
je desire que vous

C'est

des

une

fidelle servante.
tres

et
utiles,

tenies

en

tout

plusfemmes

Aimes
a

moy

"

la ;
tres

ses

1.

Ma

de Guercheville

la de

princesses.Croyes
part.

follows

as

entendrez

vol.
history,

Femine

de

facon

votre
ce

volontes

mes

qu'ellevous

de bien du
conseils

en

seront

agreables."Archives
"

avec

dira
et

de

et

la forme

siir

vivre

monde,

vous

verres

vous

de

les
ma

qui m'est
toujouis
Florence,

t. 11.

Q2

228

HENRI

him

vented
noblemen

[1600.

These
repairingto Marseilles.
likewise charged to present Henry's

from

were

regrets to the duchesses

and

excuses

IV.

of Florence

and

Mantua.

queen'sgalleyarrived off the islet of

Pomegues,the duke de Guise,governor of Provence,
board to greet her majesty. The duke was
went
on
attended
by M. Zamet, steward of her majesty's
Gondi.
The squadron
household ; and by Girolamo
appearedoff the port of Marseilles about five o'clock
the evening of Friday, November
on
3rd, and was
heralded by salvoes of artillery
from the forts ; and
by a dischargeof musketry from a guard of honour
A bridge and pierhad been
postedalongthe beach.
constructed
to facilitate the landing of the queen
:
a
extending from this pier was
platform,richly
draped,and from whence a long flightof steps, six
feet wide, diverged. Two
similar flights,
connected
conducted
to the lodging prepared for
by galleries,
the bride.
The
city was
sumptuously decorated ;
the authorities appeared in official costume
; and
When

much

the

enthusiasm

boomed
taken

from
in

the Chateau

by

flagswaved

from

the

colours

all nations

of

thronged every
was
heard,the

dTf.

all the

turn

up

state.

The

forts ; the

shippingin
and

accessible

personages
hurried
receive his consort
of

The

manifested.

was

First

first salute

cannonade
bells

pealed;
the
port, displaying

crowds

of

point. When
appointedby
to

their posts

marched

was

the

spectators
the

salute

the
on

king to
the platform

Cardinals

de

Joyeuse,de Gondy, de Givry,and de Sourdis ; these

arrived at the landing-place
prelates
justas the royal
galley,
having the flagof France at the main, sailed
The Chancellor Bellievre and
proudlyinto harbour.
came
a
Montmorency followed ; next
throng of

AND

1G0O.]

MARTE

DE

229

MEDICI.

bishops,wearing rich copes : then a deputationof

lords of the privy-council.
Mesdames
de Nemours,
Guise, Ventadour, Auvergne, Bellievre,and de
Beaumont
de Guise,
Liancourt,1and mademoiselle
next
appeared, attended by pages and trainbearers.
The queen
assisted from the deck
of her galley
was
de Bracciano,and
to the platformby the duke
on
The cardinals reverently
by Don Antonio de Medici.
saluted her majesty; and immediatelyled her under
of state which
a
was
placed at the ascent
canopy
and majesty
to the first platform. Self-possession
characterized
Marie
the deportment of the queen.
attired in Italian fashion

was

train of dove-coloured
threads

she

wore

brocade,interwoven

robe

and

with

gold

pearlsencircled her throat.

i(
The figureof her majesty is magnificent,
her eyes
and her complexiongood. She wears
are
sparkling,
neither rouge, paint,
nor
powder,"2 relates an eyewitness
The duchesses of Tuscany
of the pageant.
and Mantua
meanwhile
landed and joined the queen.
Marie

was

and

of

carcanet

receiving

the congratulations of the muni-

were
briefly
which, on this occasion,
cipalauthorities,
de Nemours
next
advanced,
expressed. Madame
named
and, making profound obeisance,was
by the
duchess
duke
de
subsequently
Bellegarde. The
received
gracious
presented all the ladies,who
greetingfrom their new
sovereign. As the queen
was
indisposed,further
fatigued,and somewhat

Madame

de

Guercheville,who, being

ville,is constantlymentioned
wife
2

of the count
MS.

narrator

Bibl.

de Beaumont

of the

belle gorge,

pageant,

"

that

of Guerche-

although the
appellation,

Liancourt.

Imp. Suppl. fr.

plus beau brun,

une

by

heiress

1644.

"La

avait le front

reine," says
eleve,des

another

cheveux

des yeux vifs. Le tour du visage bien

taille bien priseet riche."
et une

du

forme,

230

IV.

HENRI

[1600.

ducted
dispensedwith. Conby the Cardinals de Joyeuse and de Gondy,
followed by the illustrious assemblage,
marching

ceremonial

and

and

two

for that

two,

Marie

queen

then curtsied

She

lodging.

claywas

retired.

tiers,and

escorted

was

the

to

letters

Two

her

to

throng of

cour-

from

royal

her

presentedby the constable

consort, respectively
the

next
perused by
by Zamet, were
she acceptedrefreshment.
Henry

To the
"

Ma. Femme

Queen

It is with

"

preparationsmaking by
Montmellian
will deprive me
which

hoped

disappointment adds
I

the said duke

owe

appear,

said that
me

the

you

In the

to

so,

of

law
a

or

duty

million

note

intrusted

has

to

to

in

the

This

many

the

full.

govern
:

to

relieve

This

presence.

now

attractions
must

that

announce

Savoye

your

grudge

of times

"

faction
present of the satis-

from

debts

the

of

for the

if he

my

pay

beauty

the

"

embrace

hope

another

sorrow

the duke

derive

to

Consort.1

my

extreme

the

before

queen

wrote

and

which
to

courage

be

It cannot

of this country

rest
ar-

that of love.
22nd

of October."

Zamet, and written on the

Ma
femme, everythingyou

day,Henry says : "

I have so laid my plans
know
must
yieldto honour.
with a
he will meet
that if M. de Savoye appears
tolerable reception. Love
me
sincerely
; for by so
in Christendom."2
doing you will be the happiestwoman
The
followingmorning the queen, having
received
the French
recovered
her usual spirits,
ladies at her levee. A magnificentcourt
assembled,
and Marie's new
ladies of the household
presented
themselves
to
perform their duties. The
queen,
same

MS.

Henri
2

Archives

IV., t.

Ibid.

5.

de

Florence, vol.

2.

Lettres

Missives

de

232

HENRI

deemed

model

IV.

[1600.

and drew
from
tears
eloquence,
his auditory. When
the harangue terminated,her
and returned
rose
majesty,who was visiblyaffected,
a

in

thanks

few well chosen

althoughthe
make

of

Bellievre

chancellor
the

in

response

in her

words

prepared to

was

The

queen'sname.

tongue,1

own

of mind

presence
astonished

displayedby the young

queen
her subjects
from the time that Marie set foot on
:
French
she showed
an
soil,
nity
appreciationof the digof her rank which
occasioned
and prerogatives
from the lipsof Mademoiselle
witty speculations,
especially
filed
de Guise.
When
the deputationshad deMarie passedinto an
adjacent hall,to inspect
a
magnificentstate coach sent by king Henry as a
bridal giftto his consort.
Great disorders meanwhile
of the influx of perensued,in consequence
sonages
between
the king'sservants,
: quarrelsoccurred
and

those in the

suites of the queen

raged in the streets

Brawls

duchesses.

usuallypeacefulcity;

and

much

superb equipment of
Italian gentlemen, pages,
the

of cloth of silver
with

lacqueysshone

of their masters'

envy was
Italians.

the
and

retainers

the

and
of

excited
"

All

gold : the liveries of

gold,and with the heraldic
The

by
the

forms
uni-

wore

or

blazon.

the

effect of all

the
ours
colwas

rich,varied,and

splendidas quite to eclipsethe

suites of our
French
gether
princesand courtiers."2 Altothousand persons enjoyedthe hospitality
seven
of France, at a cost
the royaltreasury of 3,500
to
daily. A feud also occurred for pregold crowns
cedence
so

between
1

"La

reine

desirs,et
etoient
2

MS.

aux

the Tuscans

pria Dieu
esperances

de

Bibl.

Don

lui faire la grace

de la nation

presents." De Thou,
"

and

liv. 125.

Imp. Suppl.fr. 1644.

et remercia

Pedro
de

Men-

repondre aux
tous ceux
qui

AND

1600.]

DE

MARIE

233

MEDICI.

galleysof the knightsof

Marie
When
Malta.
landed, the flag of
queen
from her galley,and that of
lowered
France
was
Don Pedro
Medici
hoisted.
thereuponclaimed the
placeof honour for the flag of Malta ; and proceeded
to enforce his pretensions
by driving Marie's
her moorings,and
beautiful vessel from
usurping
Christine with great
duchess
her position. The
debated
where
it was
a council ;
spiritsummoned
the insult should be avenged by firingupon
whether
ever,
Giovanni de Medici,howthe Maltese galleys.Don
proposedthat appeal should be made to the
of France
to
as
king
;
adjudicate
privy-council
Henry would probablytake offence should his port

doza,

commandant

of Marseilles

of

be made

the

the

scene

of conflict between

adopted; but no
flags. This counsel was
decision was
pronounced the chancellor Bellievre was
slow in formingopinions
; while Montmorency blufrly
suggestedthat the best mode of adjudicationwould
of all foreigners
from the king's
be the departure
port.1
of the same
The Florentine lords,meantime, were
nion,
opiand advised their duchess no longerto delayher
the rival

"

return

there

was

no

prospect that the affairs of the

Istoria del

to
likely

liberate the

over,
king ; who, morehad consented to confer with the legateAldoof ten days
brandini at Chambery. After a sojourn
Toscana
in port, La Real
was
again prepared for
off the pier constructed
for the
sea, and anchored
landingof the queen, ready for the re-embarkation of
The
ward
the duchesses.
queen, though she evinced outand dissatisfied. The unwas
certainty
serenity,
uneasy
of the king's
rendered her posimovements
tion
embarrassing. Reports,also,relative to made Verneuil had greatlykindled Marie's indigdame

campaign were

Granducato, lib. 5.

Cayet

"

Chron.

Sep.

234

HENRI

IV.

[1600.

nation.1

knew
that la Marquise was
She, moreover,
at Lyons; and had recentlyjourneyed to Grenoble
Under
these circumstances,
to give his majesty rendezvous.
the queen
resolved to be escorted to Lyons
by her brother Don Antonio de Medici, and by Don
Virginio duke de Bracciano ; the cavaliere Vinta,
of the grand-duke,had
also,as the representative
been

ordered

to

attend

her until after the celebration

of her

marriage. This decision was not altogether

who
sired
depleasingto Montmorency and Bellegarde,
the queen emancipatedfrom the influence
to see
of her countrymen ; but Marie
resolutelypersisted
in journeyingso attended, or
in remaining at Marseilles
until the termination
of the campaign. The
duchesses,therefore,
departed with their respective
suites on the 13th of November;
both princesses
pressing
exat
being deprived of
great disappointment
their promisedinterview with his majesty.
The
Marie
continued
her
followingday queen
journey to Avignon, escorted thither by a body of
The
Jesuits of the papal collegeof
2,000 horse.
Avignon undertook the expense and orderingof the
pageant organizedto greet the bride of
pompous
Henri
IV.
The
fathers hoped thus to commend
themselves
to the bienveillance and
clemency of the
king ; and to prove themselves worthy of the protection
of those lords of the privy-council
who perseveringlyadvocated the repealof the edict which banished
the order from
The venerable city,
France.
there1

Mademoiselle

de

Guise, piqued by the queen'sgrand

manner,

supposed to have given her majesty the first true outline of

de Verneuil
It
the position occupied by madame
at court.
does not seem, however, that Marie
was
cognizant until long
afterwards of the promiseof marriage given by the king to his
was

mistress.

AND

1G00.]

MARIE

DE

235

MEDICI.

fore,presentedthe most festive aspect : triumphal

devices illustrative of the
arches,pyramids,gigantic
in every
lives of Henri and Marie,greetedthe queen
street.

The

number

seven

was

chosen

as

the

type

cityof Avignon possessing7

leges,
7 colpalaces,7 convents, 7 monasteries,7 hospitals,
and 7 gates. The seventh
day of the month
also said to be peculiarly
to the king;
was
auspicious
victories and domestic
all his majesty's
joyshaving
the
fallen upon
that date.
The queen'sabode was
her majesty was
ancient palaisde Poitiers ; where
magnificently
regaledduringthree days by the viceand conwith a succession of banquets,
certs.
balls,
legate,
The papaljudge-advocate,
Francisco Suarez,
of
harangued the queen on his knees in the name
the clergyof Avignon ; and in his address prayedthat
"
God
would speedily
Pregive her majestya son.
gate Iddio,actio me factiaquesta gratia! promptly
beiDg resolved
responded the queen.1 The fathers,
of the king the benefit
to lose by the absence
not
theyhoped to derive from their magnificent
pageants,
commissioned
of their order,the Jesuit Valladier,2
one
skilful artist,
make
coloured designson vellum
to
a
of the procession
and arches.
These
paintings
they
enclosed in a magnificent
and the community
binding,
in a body to petitionqueen
Marie
take
went
to
sort.
charge of the book,and present it to her royalconOn the second day of her majesty'ssojournin
the abbe del Bene, brought
courier,
Avignon a special
of all the devices

"

the

"

Hist, de la Ville d' Avignon.

Cayet. Dreux de Radier.
The work
de Metz.
Andre Valladier,abbe de St. Amont
was
Gaulois,"
entitled, Labyrinthe Royale de l'Hercule
The priestly
chronicler informs us
etc.,in fol. Avignon, 1601.
that
La reine etait vetue d'une robe de drap d'or a fond bleu,
coifee fort siuiplement,
la gorge
couverte,les cheveux en leur
naive beaute sans
fard."
et sans
griserie,
1

"

236

HENRI

IV.

[1600.

of the expected capitulathe queen the joyfulnews

tion
"Ma
of Montmellian.
Henry,
femme" wrote
u

one

every

lengthcompelledto

at

was

is

army

Mont.

billeted in

now

St. Bernard.

receptionin

of your

however, of the

that

clamour

raised such

appear.

M.

de

Savoye

The

van

of his

the

foot of

at
villages
delightedat

two

am

Marseilles

it is

the

only a

which

enthusiasm

account

taste,
fore-

will everywhere

l
greet you."

dent
proved the decisive incide
of the campaign. Its brave defender,M.
Brandis, having sustained a rigoroussiege,signed
of
under the auspices
the capitulation
of the fortress,
Rosny and Epernon,undertakingto surrender by the
16th of the month, unless succoured
by the advance
of M. de Savoye. The same
day Erminio. secretary
of the cardinal legateAldobrandini,arrived in camp
fall of Montmellian

The

from

Turin, to

name

of his holiness.

renewed

propose

conferences

that

the

rence,
leavingFlowith the viceroy.
well appreciso
ated,

Aldobrandini,on

journeyedto Milan to confer

of M. de Savoye was
insincerity

The

in the

legate declined

to

interfere

unless

pledge of Fuentes,that no
supportedby the positive
Spanishintervention should occur, providedthat his
eminence
persuaded king Henry to grant peace on
the exchange of
the basis of the treaty of Paris
i.e.,
Saluzzo for the county of Bresse,a free passage being
for Spanish troops
reserved through that territory
"

when

route

en

for the Low

Countries.

The

cardinal

after
: the viceroy,
diplomatist
much
trusting
wrangling,gave the promiserequired,
and dissensions of Henry's courtiers
to the intrigues
the Spanish cabinet
hostilities so soon
as
to renew
showed

MS.

himself

de Florence

t. 5.

wary

"

CorrespondencePolitique. Lettres
"

sives,
Mis-

AND

1600.]

MARIE

DE

237

MEDICI.

therefore,left his
signal.1Aldobrandini,
He
suite at Alexandria, and
repairedto Turin.
found
M.
de Savoye sullen and taciturn,though
At first
daunted
of the king'sarms.
by the success
the duke
declined to hear of peace ; and inveighed
of the king. The
usurpations
againstthe tyrannical
of the legate,
however, and the sight
expostulations
the

gave

of the

compact which

enough to make
Savoye,as usual,to

cardinal

the

with

had

Fuentes, induced

dissimulate.

adroit

been

M.

de

He

thorized
thereupon aumake
Aldobrandini
overtures
to
to
king
jesty
Henry ; and promised,in case the replyof his maMM.
des Allymes
to accredit
was
favourable,
and d'Alconat as plenipotentiaries
to sign" equitable
of Montmelconditions."
The pendingcapitulation
lian,however, infuriated the duke beyond measure.
wrote
Biron, thereupon,
letters,
copiesof which were
Charles to
produced at his trial,exhortingduke
and stating,
relieve Montmellian;
that the influence
of the lords of the council,well-affected towards
pulated
Spain and Savoy, had procuredthe besiegedthe stiin the
delayin the articles of capitulation,
hope that the duke would advance from Aosta to the
of M. de Brandis.
Biron bitterly
succour
complained
of the supineness
manifested
by M. de Savoye ; and
boldly declared that many lords of the royal army
would have joinedhis standard had the duke afforded
them opportunity,
by attemptingto arrest the progress
of the king. The duke, takingheart from this
treasonable communication, wrote
privateletters to
Brandis, commanding him to violate the capitulation

; to

at

any

risk

Hist, de Espaiia. Hist,

Thou, Cayet, Ferreras
Conquete de Bresse et de Savoye par le Hoy tres chretien
1G01.
Popliniere,
1

De

retain the fort of Montmellian

de le

"

"

La

238

HENRI

and

abandon

to

fate

the

IV.

[1000.
had

hostages he

given

their

to

intended to make
adding,that he never
peace
with
king Henry. The courier was
intercepted
by a party of royal troops, and the duke's letter
carried to his majesty. " Mon
ami," wrote
Henry
absent from head-quarters
to
veying
surRosny, who was
"

fortifications of Fort

the
"

Mon
!

us

ami, you
Come

divined

make

to
requisite

M.

truly
"

and

quickly*,
the

Ste. Catherine1

do

de

omit

not

said duke

Savoye

"

mocks
orders

any

repent his perfidy.

ADieu!"

measure

the

de

Brandis,the

bearer

to

requirefrom

the latter

Henry's next
duke d'Epernon to M.
letter ; and
intercepted

the

distinct statement

Tell his

"

pursue.
I deem
my

of

the

conduct

majestythat

I will

despatch

to

was

he

meant

keep

The

and

engaged to maintain so
was
capitulation,
therefore,

effected

the 10th of

on

to

word.

my

honour

2
pledge."

of

solemn

firmed,
re-con-

November;

and

of Montby the artillery

mellian as he passedby the fortress,
route
to confer
en
command
of this important
with the king. The
M. de Crequy and M. de
bestowed
fort was
upon
Rosny conjointly.
of November
the legatearrived at
the 29th
On
received
He
was
by Epernon at the
Chambery.
of the infantry regiments in camp
in battle
head
Aldobrandini

At

array.
sons,

and

was

the gates of the town

the Count de Soisthe dukes
de Montpensier, Guise, and

saluted
Aiguillon,
de

Mem.

Cayet

the

in France
the Canton

eminence, and

he

wished

success

Sully.
Septennaire. The
the count
de Brandis,who
duke of Savoy ; and after

ruined

by

his

surrender

Chron.

"

lian

saluted

was

of

delivered

Berne, who

up

to the

committed

was
an

duke
him

of Montmel-

remorselessly
cuted
perseexile from

by

his

country

the inhabitants

to close

prison.

of

240

HENRI

French.
this

The

season

IV.

befriended

alone

snows

[1C00.
the duke

blockingthe
which,by effectually

at

passes,
Auriac.

from
the assaults of
preservedhis army
The king then established his military
quarters in the
of Luiset,near
the
to Geneva, to superintend
village
Ste. Catherine.
Before his
of Fort
siejreoperation
rived,
armajesty'sdeparturethe ducal plenipotentiaries
and were
presented to Henry by the legate.
The
king reiterated to Des Allymes his resolve to
"
You
hold Savoy before treatingwith the duke.
deals in words
see, M. des Allymes,that your master
The
I deal in blows.
duke
thinks to spoilmy
"

marriage

festivities :

instead of

with
dallying

but

shall alone

he

is the
bride.

my

hold

You

conference

of his holiness."1

that

cause

are

with

Biron,who

fight

welcome
the

sentative
repre-

felt,by the

that his loyalty

gravity of the king's manner,
was
suspected,requestedpermissionto attend his
The
of Pope Clement
intervention
royal master.
had temporarily
confounded
the designsof the confederates.
The
marshal's sanguine spirit
was
soon
of
depressed: no longer buoyed by the schemes
to reconcile
Fuentes, Biron began to deem it politic
himself with Henry ; and if possibleto baffle the
scrutinyof Rosny as to his past proceedings.
vigilant
received with enthusiasm
by the people
Henry was
of Geneva, who
deputed the venerable Theodore de
Beze to complimenthis majesty. The allusions made
Jeanne, his early patroness,
by Beze to queen
affected Henry, who shed tears, and, affectionately
embracing the old man, presentedhim with a purse
1

De

treated

Thou, liv. 125, who

the ducal

Calatagironein
the legate.

ambassadors
his

king purposely
indignity,
leavingthem with

states

with

that

antechamber,while

the

he conferred alone

with

AND

1G00.]
of 500

MAKIE

DE

gold crowns.

241

MEDICI.

made
Henry subsequently

entry into Geneva, and

received

was

as

his

the saviour

of the

who had longgroaned under the opcitizens,

pressions
of Savoy.
The
siege operationsunder Soissons meantime
prospered: and soon the garrisonof the Fort Ste.
offered to capitulate
Catherine,reduced to extremity,
at the expiration
of ten days, unless relieved by the
duke.
During the siege,Rosny made characteristic

trialof Biron's allegedunderstanding with the officers

of the duke

of

Savoy. Biron,who was arrogant,and

despisedRosny as a civilian and a parvenu, proposed
to make
one
a
near
day,when ridingwith the latter,
of the fort. Rosny replied
that the proposal
survey
was
dangerous; for that the panacheand uniform of
M.

le Marechal

would

mark.

The

his horse

close under

fortress.

The

no

the

firingwas
the

few

the

resumed

same

the

shrewd
hours

spicuous
con-

laughed,but spurred
principal
batteryof the
instantlysilenced ; and

the
was
so

long

fort
"

as

Biron

remained

circumstance

in

which

for speculaRosny matter

tion.
later Rosny quietly
repairedto

spot, in company

officers. As

gunners

marshal

cannon

vicinityof

afforded

afford the

with

one

of his subordinate

he

he was
received with a
anticipated,
tremendous
volley; and retired confirmed in opinion
tl les
de M. de Biron."1
menees
respecting
The duchy was
French ; and the " Due sans
now
termed his antagonist,
Savoye,"as Henry facetiously
the king,leavingM. de
beingsufficiently
castigated,
Soissons to receive the capitulation
of the fort,
deemed
it time to joinhis august bride,queen Marie.
between
the queen and her French
Cordiality
ladies,
had not made much
Marie
unfortunately,
progress.
1

VOL.

II.

Mem.

de

Sully,liv.

11th.
E

242

IV.

HENRI

[l"500.

for the societyof mademoiselle

predilection
accommodated
herself with
de Guise, who
the societyof the Italians of the suite ;
tact
to
to that of Eleonore
Galigai. The envoy
especially
Giovannini,duringthe sojournof the queen at Avignon,

showed

most

the

first introduced

cavalier

Concini

into the

of the
privatecircle of the court.1 Concini,aware
influence of Eleonore,here conceived
the projectof
espousingthe latter," not for the beauty of that lady,
who

advantages which
mademoiselle

the

over

shrank
French

the

de Guise.

Eleonore
overtures

at, but for the immense

fit to be looked

not

was

gave

she

queen

had
was

Flattered

suitable
little

The

promised," writes
cini,
by the suit of Conto

encouragement

her

ambition, and

exercised

nervouslybefore
cavaliers.

alliance

in silence

his

power

while

she

the bold

homage of certain
of la Galigai,
as
disposition

fathom : she
to
not
termed, was
easy
timid and
was
unobtrusive,and had acquired the
sittingunemployed, of rolling
strange habit, when
she

was

soon

littlepellets
of paper, or of wax, between
her
Her figure
and thumb.
was
slight
; her face

fingers
thin,so
that her dark eyes appeared unnaturallylargeand
ference
depubliclyshowed humble
prominent. Eleonore
to her royalmistress : she, however, slept
at
the attendants
the foot of Marie's bed, and when
from
dismissed
the royal chamber, and
the
were
the reignof
queen'scurtain closed,then commenced
Florentine girl. To pleaseher favourite,
the young
Marie accepted"the noble Concini"
as the betrothed
of the former; and
promised to procure for both

having

owed
Giovannini
envoy
Bartolomeo
first served

groom,

equerry,

'

The

to be

his fortune
Concini

in

and secretary. Giovannini

privatesecretaryto the duchess

Bianca

to

the

the

Concini

capacitiesof
then

promoted
Capello.

was

DE

MARIE

AND

1G00.]

243

MEDICI.

offices of distinction in the household.

The

queen's

conduct, meantime, was

regulatedby Eleonore and
Antonio
her lover, and
de
by Giovannini, Don
Medici, and by the young duke de Bracciano : this
council met
to discuss,
dailyin the royalchamber
the conversation

beingcarried

in Italian.

on

Marie

November, and made

her entry into the towns
of Valence, Roussillon,
and
Vienne,journeyingby slow stages. Magnificent
awaited
her majestyat Lyons, where
preparations
the royalmarriagewas
The queen
to be solemnized.
reached
the faubourgde la Guillotiere on Saturday
December
2nd, and was greetedby M. de Roquelaure,
who
presented to her majesty the followingletter
from her consort, and a magnificent
pearlnecklace of
quittedAvignon

the 23rd of

on

the value of 150,000

To the
"

Femme

Ma

best

of my

and

will recount

for its

to you

surpriseyou
did not mingle

to

on

to

by Roquelaure (one

you

French

jewellers,who

skill.

utmost

The

road

to

Lyons.

have

of this

bearer

disappointment at

your

will

present that you

manship
value,but for the excellent work-

our

my

with

Consort.1

servants)a

their

exerted

"

despatch

displayedby
thereon

Queen my

oldest

alone

not

esteem,

"

crowns

not

If

being

some

able

reverse

present prosperity,I should

my

be

happy ! Certes, my trial is hard to bear, for it will

be eight days before I shall be able to see you
eight
ing
days, however, from the present period,and not reckonwhich
will receive this.
I
from
the day upon
you
too

"

embrace

you

from

Marie
1

MS.

Missives

times.

million

This

29th

day

of November,

Chambery."
made

Archives
de Henri

her

entry into Lyons

des Affaires

IV., t.

on

Sunday,

2. Lettres
Florence,vol.
Etrangeres,

o.

r2

244

Henri

December

3rd.
and

for

Medici, who
who

and

which

addresses
The

the cavalcade, next

pageantries,
cessions,
pro-

ensued

furnish

the queen, was

Don
horse with sumptuous

attended

rial
mate-

conspicuousfigurein

most

Antonio

to

rode

was

[leoo.

relation of the

The

volume.

iv.

by

troop of

de

caparisons,
rayed
footmen, ar-

golden collars. On the

river Saone
a
temple was erected
the Medici, with the following
scription
inu
Immortalis domus Medicece
:
portico

in scarlet liveries and

the

bridgeover
to

the honour

of
the

over

virtuti

et

The

celsitudini"

edifice was

boughs, flags,and

green
statues

Cosmo.

of

the

Marie

of

within
were
trophies
;
princes,from the great

Medicean
attended

constructed

in

Te Deum

the

dral
cathe-

dress
aptitude to the adof the archbishopof Lyons, in the accidental
absence of the chancellor ; who, from the queen'salleged
imperfectknowledge of the French language,
of the addresses,and
had hitherto interpreted
most
The queen
repliedto them in her majesty'sname.
sojourned eightdays at Lyons before the arrival of
king Henry. During the interval Marie led a life of
of her
comparativeretirement,in daily expectation
and
consort's arrival,
disquieted
by the feuds of her
Italian coterie. Concini,also,fell ill,
and was
pelled
comself
to keep his bed for two
days. Believinghimneglectedduring his illness by his usher who
distant relative of the envoy
cini
was
a
Giovannini,Con;

and

dismissed

by

responded

with

this individual.

Giovannini,

and

violent

This

act

was

dissension

resented
ensued.

duced
espoused the quarrelof Concini; and inher royal mistress to reprove
the envoy
for
ingratitude.Giovannini, consequently,from

Eleonore

his

being the abettor of the design of Concini

went
fiancee,

over

to

the French

and

his

party, which insisted

MARIE

AND

1G00.]

DE

that after his majesty'sarrival the

should

dismissed.1

be

245

MEDICI.

The

Italians

en

further

was

queen

masse

de Verneuil,
greatlyprovoked by hearing that madame
on
takingher departurefrom Lyons, the day
boasted
previousto her majesty's
entry, had publicly
that king Henry's sojournwith la Florentine
would
be brief ; and
that he would
speedilyrejoinher at
Verneuil ! Though the words
of Henriette
were
humble
at this period was
more
arrogant, her spirit
than usual,judgingby the letter addressed
by her to
the king before leavingLyons ; but which
had the
effect which
she intended
on
Henry's mind, while
irritated by the cabals of Queen Marie
and her
suite.2
Istoria del

tale

alterazione

nella

rnalattia

Granducato,lib. 5.
di

animo

di

"Produsse

corpo

in

questo diverbio

Conciui

che

ricadde

pericolodella vita : questa fu i'epoca

delle massime
ne
discorde,e la Leonora
giuro la vendetta."
The followingis the letter written by madame
de Verneuil
:
con

grave

Sire ! I

and

past calamitycompelled

between
with

me

to

to the

reduced

now

am

my

condition

downfall

the earth

from

from

and

took

reverse,

which

anticipate.The
own

has

for

you

Sire, I
my

greater

difference

perpetuallymenaced

to which
me.

raised me,
do

not

back
accuse

depended
felicity

on

Destiny ; for it has pleasedyou that the

joy with which France hails your marriage should be purchased
at the priceof my
pelled
grief griefnot that you find yourselfcomties
but because your
to pleaseyour subjects,
nuptial festiviyou

than

your

you

fortune of this calamitous

rather

to

me

the heaven

whence

misfortune

upon

"

are

the funeral

torches

of

my

life. I must

be banished

from

royal presence, and from your heart ; or subjected to

thraldom,and made to bear the disdainful glancesof those who
have witnessed
therefore,solitude,to
my prosperity. I prefer,
sinking of heart in high places. I address you with sighs:
secret
majesty knows
thoughts,as you have entirely
your
my
possessedme.
Sire,in my unhappy exile my only comfort will
be the thought that I have
beloved
been
by the greatest of
earthlymonarchs
by a king who has abased himself to give the
your

"

246

HENRI

IV.

[1G00.

ber,
King Henry quittedLuiset on the 7th of Decemlords of his
and, accompanied by the principal
Rosny, set out for Lyons. Henry's
court, including
elation

intense eagerness
to
at his marriage.

great, and he showed

was

the queen ; and

contentment
The
king travelled post, attended

meet
"

by the principal
courtiers.
The
weather
was
rainy,and we had to
wait at the bridge of Lyons a full hour, shivering
his majesty,
with cold and
wet
to the skin,because
self
wishingto surprisethe queen, would not make himswered
known," relates Rosny.1 Henry himself anthe challenge of the sentinels,
and desired
to send
them, if they would not open the barriers,
The
for the governor,
M. de Guiche.
not
soldiers,
voice

recoofnizino;the
seemed

to

them

of

queen.

Although

enjoyed

this

and

continued

the

bridgewas

title of mistress

France,

who

the

de

request.

Montpensierand

night was
with

The
the

cheerless,Henry

his

sturdy troopers ;
merrily to dispute,until the bar of
suddenlylowered,as some
personage

encounter

to his humble

has

no

greatnessof your

the

duke

what

of the company,
and wished
their consorts, who
in the suite of the
were

see

of

kino;, refused

preposterous

so

king then said that the

count
d'Auvergne were
to

the

subjectand
equal here below

servant
!

When

"

by

the

king

I reflect

on

the

majesty,and
splendoursof your throne,
it seems
to me
that I have ever
merited
a bewilderingprosperity
If it is a worthy attribute of princesto remember
your bienveillance.
those whom
of
they once
loved,think,sire,sometimes
who
confided
her honour, trusting to your faith
me
a
woman
she is now
as
as
implicitly
ready to placeher life at the disposal
of your
royal majesty. From
humble, and -very
very
your
obedient
La
subject and servant, Heniuette.
marquise de
Verneuil
Bibl. Imp. F. de Beth., 8476, fol. 94.
au
Roy ""MS.
1 Mem.
de Sully,liv. 11.
Mathieu, t. 2, liv. 2. Galluzzi
"

"

Istoria del Granducato.

248

HENRI

IV.

[1G00.

vanced
king. The queen adabout to
low obeisance,and was
and
made
kneel and kiss his majesty'shand, when
Henry put
her seveMarie's waist,and embraced
round
his arm
ral
to the
times heartily.His majesty then bowed
"
duce
to introcavaliers present, and desired
sa femme

appeared

and

announced

the

"

her

The

did.

Nemours

king

led

and

queen,

of Medici

relatives

the

dingly
accor-

of the

hand

apart, desiringthe duchess

her

madame

and

took

next

Marie

which

de

Guercheville

to

de

remain

his wish that the rest of the company

signifying
self
might take leave. His majesty, then seatinghimby the queen, expressed his regret that the
seilles.
affairs of the war
had preventedhis journey to Mar"
At that periodI held M. de Savoye in a
but

trap, from

which

the

alone

snows

then,m'amye, I planned to give

Valence;

but

Catherine.

to

counselled

rendezvous

you

instead

to

I hear that the citadel of

hold longer:
citadel

was

so

we

surrender

will

o;o

name

of

at

cannot

the

summon

our

Ste.

take

Bourg

together and

in the

him

extricated

queen

"

"

rejoinedthe duchess de Nemours, " her

of
majestyis readyto go where you will : she partakes
humour; and is,moreover,
marvellously
stirring
your
u
to
Madame, you ought never
sage and discreet."
until after her demise ; or say she is
praisea woman
of this humour
that !
or
repliedthe king. Henry
then related his adventures
at the
bridgeof Lyons
"

Sire !

"

with

much

humour.

madame

He

de Nemours

then

rose

to

sup, and

aside,commanded

oning
beckher

to

apprizethe queen " that the haste of his journey

had prevented the preparationof his own
ments
apartthat he must
depend upon
; and, therefore,
hospitablereception in those of her majesty."
"
Sire !
replied the duchess, " allow that you
"

1600

AND

have

MARIE

DE

againespouseda handsome
" it
the king,jocosely
;
feature

in

face

to

219

MEDICI.

be

"

wife."
is

Yes,"

certainly

queen

torted
re-

tiful
beau-

France!"1

of

Henry

then

humours

of

suite had

agreed to suspend its cabals. The

received
Saturday 16th; and was

supped, attended by Rosny, and by a

few
of his more
privilegedcourtiers. During the
the personal
repast his majesty highly commended
giftsof his consort ; and paid Marie the compliment
"
of declaring,
that,had she not been his consort, he
should assuredly
have chosen
to pay her homage."2
The
followingday, December
10th,their majesties,
still being satisfied with each other,attended
in
mass
the abbey of Aisnay,where they kept the officiating
prelatewaiting two hours for their arrival. Sunday
the 17th of December
the day fixed for the
was
publicre-celebration of the royalnuptialceremonies,
in order
time to
to
give the legateAldobrandini
arrive from
The
Chambery.
interveningperiod
studied
the
passed tranquilly
enough ; the queen
her

consort

august

and

the

Italian

legate
arrived on
by the
princede Conty, and the duke de Montpensier.The
solemnityof the royal marriagebenison took place
the followingday. The
attire of the queen
was
her habit was
with diamonds,
covered
sumptuous;
and she wore
the pearl necklace
presentedby the
king. Henry appeared in a white satin habit,emMS.

Bibl.

Imp. MSS.
mariage du

Baluze,9675 E." Lettre ecrite de

du 9 au 10 Xbre
This
1600.
Lyons sur le
Roy
curious record was
written
by an officer of the privatechamber
of the queen, who was
present during this first interview between
Henri
and
of the
Marie, and who assisted in the ceremony
1

coaclier of the queen.

2
Another
author

de

states:

"

"II

bellezze della
ritratti

re

si dichiaro

Regina,confessando di averla
alia sua espettativa."Istoria del
"

contento

ritrovata

delle

superioreai

Granducato.

250

HENRI

broldered

with

IV.

which

gold,over

black velvet.

[1000.

was

short cloak of

orders of the St.

the
Esprit,
Tuscany, were

The

of

Garter

worn
England,and St. Stephen of
by Henry. The queen was led to the cathedral by
the princede Conty and the duke de Montpensier,
the train of her royal mantle
being borne by the
duchesses
de Guise
and de Nemours, assisted by
Mademoiselle
de Guise, the countess
d'Auvergne,

and

the duchess

received

the

de Ventadour.

the

aided

ceremony,

Givry,Gondy,
three and

couple at

august

The

cardinal

the

altar,and

by

performed
cardinals de

the

Joyeuse, between

and

the

four o'clock in the afternoon.

of the

service

by

of

hours

The

announced

was

legate

nation
termiof

salvoes

tiful
and boun; and by the distribution of medals
artillery
largesseto the people.1 Their majestiesthen
repairedto the banqueting hall in the episcopal
ceeded
palace,and there held notable revel. A ball sucthe banquet, which
the king opened with
the

In

queen.

Guise

de

the

and

the

Montpensierand
St. Paul

and

dance

same

Guise

de

beautiful

the

duchess

de

madame

prince de Conty ;

the duke

the

mademoiselle

were

de

count

Ventadour

de

Galigai and the duke de Nevers.

Cardinal Aldobrandini
joinedin the festivities. The
of the prelategreatlyfascinated
manner
bearingand suave

and

Eleonore

mademoiselle
with

conversed

the

admiration
The

comments.2
little duke
and
1

de
was

Godefroy
"

tiale,de Henri
2

MS.

Bibl.

de Guise

while

his eminence

with
piquanteprincess
as
sou

elicit

to

of

le Grand

Cerem.

Gabrielle

France,

et de Marie

Imp. Suppl. fr. 1(544.

t. 2.

malicious

many

d'Estrees,the

Vendotne, was
present
greatlycaressed by queen

Grand

such undisguised

at

this festivity,

Marie

Benediction

de Medici.

who

Nup-

admired

the

thenceforth

free

she

which

of

beauty

the

him

notice
a
presence
his sister and
to
"

vouchsafed

never

suffered

and

boy,
her

to

access

251

MEDICI.

DE

MARIE

AND

1C00.]

brother.
sion
given on the occafew
of the king'smarriage. During the next
weeks nothing but discord and confusion
prevailed.
fluence
chagrined to find that the inKosny and Villeroy,
with their royal mistress,which
they had
intended to appropriate,
was
usurped by two obscure
counselled
the king to dismiss la Galigai
Italians,
and her lover ; and to suggest the earlydepartureof

This

Don

the fetes

ball terminated

the

and

Antonio

duke

vannini,meantime, betrayedto Rosny

Coneini

in

himself

establish

to

Gio-

Bracciano.

de

design of

the

France

the

and

of the
propensities
expatiatedon the profligate
indeed
be flagrant,
must
latter,which he showed
when
a
cavalier,heir of the illustrious Bartolomeo
Coneini was
compelled to seek fortune in a foreign
hold
The
ladies and officers of the queen'shouseland.
therefore decisively
were
appointed; and the
Not
roll presentedto Marie by the king himself.
Italian name
one
appeai'edthereon : the duchess de
envoy

Nemours

in the office of mistress

confirmed

was

of

lady of
dame
and madame
de Richelieu1
honour;
(Tatours,
first lady of the bedchamber.
or
Marie, however,
manded
rejectedthe last nomination, and imperiouslydethat Eleonore
Galigai should have this

the robes

and

Susanne

the

la Porte

to

Jules

the

"

towards

respect and

gique de la Maison

first

as

lady of great vigour and intellect,

interests

de Richelieu

demonstrated
utmost

de Guercheville

madatue

de

devoted

cardinal
ever

was

his

of

her

her

second

mother,

veneration.

de Richelieu.

"

children.

young

The

son.

whom

Duchesne

he termed
"

Hist,

The

cardinal
"

able,"

genealo-

252

IV.

HENRI

office;and

that

moreover

[1G00.
should

Henry

consent

to

marriageof the former with Concini ;

that she intended
to
whom
her majesty declared
upon
with the post of chief equerry.
Henry theregratify
declined to sanction these requests ;
positively
the immediate

that

became
the anger of the queen
so
extravagant
The
and reproachesensued.
of tears
scene
a

king

stated

when

and

at

her

that he would

from
of
;

and

Eleonore
As

the

her

husband

marriage,
bride,provided

returned

to

this

nate
suggestionwas
supposedto emaa perseGiovannini,the queen commenced
cution
cany
the latter,
though the resident envoy of Tus-

and

Madame

to

majesty'srequest portionthe

that
Florence.

consent

even

de

refused

to

admit

him

Richelieu,meantime,

her presence.
offended
by the
to

repaid,
haughty disdain with which her services were
resignedher office and retired from Lyons, which
able
considerincreased the imbroglio. The sacrifice was
of this office was
important
; for the emolument
of the
the widow
de Richelieu,who was
to madatne
grand Provost,and embarrassed by an estate heavily
de Richelieu,
mortgaged. The young son of madame
wards
student
then a humble
of the Sorbonne, but afterthe famed cardinal minister,
bered
rememeventually
of queen
duringthese tracasseries testified his

this incident

Rosny
the

factious

conduct

of
dry taciturnity
Vinta.
instalment

The

to

of the
manner

latter had

of the

Marie.

the detriment

queen's adherents
in

been

queen'sdowry

his

interviews

sent
;

and

to

of

sense

by

with

pay the last

to receive the

ture
acknowledgment of the king,and the counter-signaMarie
of his majesty,to the renunciation which
before leavingFlorence of further interest
executed
Vinta
of the Medici.
in the fiefs and rich personalty
the grand duke, dethereuponwrote to his master

AND

1600.]

MARIE

DE

253

MEDICI.

the fracas; and complainingof the conduct

tailing
Giovannini
and Concini, to whom
he imputed
blame

of these

moncd

The

dissensions.

of
the

beinsrsum-

envov,

informed
the grand-dukeof
himself,
justify
the intrigues
of la Galigaiand Concini,and of the resentment
manifested by queen Marie; which,he wrote,
if persisted
ruin her influence with
in, would speedily
the king,
who liked onlycheerful and engagingwomen.
to

therefore directed

Ferdinand
seek

of

audience

from

of

his

unworthy

shown

to

known
of

sorrow

dissensions.

the

"You

alone for the dizement

aggranif
such
the
was
lady,as

concern

obscure

an

he had

represent the

these

Vinta

servant

whom

queen,

childhood,and

grand-duke at
have, madame,
aim

the

his old

has
cost
gloriousalliance,which
and diplomatic
perils
highnessyour uncle political
of

your

labours.

said uncle
duke

of

doomed

commanded

am

could

to

remind

disposedof

have

Braganza, or

to

duke

your

of

that your
hand to the

you

Parma,

thus

and

of

comparativeobscurity.
Madame, instead of rewarding your said uncle,by
in your joy
and participate
permittinghim to rejoice,
allow these audacious intriguers
and prosperity,
you
all by their rapacity and even
to mar
go the length
of alienating
from you your royalhusband
by unjust
reproachesand anger."1 Marie sullenlyreplied
" That
and without influence ; and
she was
miserable,
that the king was
fore,
governed by la Verneuil : thereshe intended to retain the friends of her youth."2
to

you

career

"

"

Galluzzi

Suppl.fr.
2

and

"

Istoria

del

Granducato,lib.

The

anger of the
misconduct
: in

Dacche

iutenebrata

MS.

Bibl.

Imp.

1644.

grand-dukewas
a

letter addressed

cominciaste
la

regina;

roused
to

reproacheshim

Ferdinand
siibsequently,
"

5.

entrare

a
e

Lione

in

by these intrigues
Concini,three years

with

Francia

quando

this

conduct

sempre

si fecero

le

teneste
nozze

in

254

IV.

HENRI

reconciliation

at

was

[1G00.

last achieved

august couple, through the

good

between

office of

the

Vinta,

The
de Guercheville.
king,
Rosny, and madame
in his refusal to allow the
nevertheless,
persisted
of Eleonore
name
Galigaito be inscribed on the
household
Donna

Eleonore

provided she
This

to

might remain

at

neither

claimed

concession

became

the

the

consented
of

court

office nor

that

France,

precedence.

of unnumbered

source

and
grand-dukewas then willing
compel the two adventurers,Concini and

calamities
able

but

roll of his consort;

Galig-ai,to

for the

return

to

Florence.

The

littlefirmness

displayedby the king encouragedthe unfortunately

that
mutinous
spiritof the queen ; who, perceiving
agitation
generallywearied the king into
persistent
concession, took ample profitof this advantage.
of a brave
de Lisle Marivaux, the widow
Madame
of only average
intellect,
soldier,but a woman
office of dame d'atours,
resigned
acceptedthe onerous
de Richelieu.
by madame
During the progress of these vexatious feuds,
often must
Rosny have recalled his conversation at
with Henri
Nantes
Quatre, when the king confided
the indispensable
endowments
to
to his ear
necessary
he might espouse :
whom
attach him to the woman
wealth,
wit,fecundity,
beauty,prudence,gentleness,
Marie
and illustrious descent.
de Medici
possessed
she was
deficient alone
five of these qualifications
:
in prudent and winning gentleness
; yet this failure
with a princeof Henry's temperament,
eventuallysufficed,
rable.
to render the conjugal
yoke almost intolescambio

di stare

faeeano

buona

allegraclisi
parte

del

gran

marito,

tempo piangere;

i vostri
e

volendi

piegarlonei negozidi stat-o e darli grande autorita

glienefacesti passare la voglia." Lib. 5, p. 428.
"

intrighila

il re im-

poco

poco

256

HENRI

the

Englishcourt

IV.

[1G01
Marie

of queen

Accouchement

"

Birth

"

of

of foreign
Joy of France, and congratulations
potentates" The grand duke of Tuscany declines the office of
Attempts to progodfather to the dauphin" His reasons
mote
de Bar
of
the
the abjuration of madame
Severity
Louis

XIII."

"

"

Spiritedreplyof

king

"

duke

The

"

with
de

Verneuil

"with

the

"

latter

The

of

of Eleonore

wit

of madame

"

Demise
other

King

at

the

Her

"

the

Elizabeth

queen

Marriage
Louvre

Biron

de

consent

Madame

takes
queen

English
Queen

"

"

court

Marie

her abode

up

and

constancy

ings
Buffer-

His

"

and

ferences
con-

madame

in the Louvre

Splendid gala

at court

"

Concini
cious
AudaGaligaiand Concino
la Marquise
Her
receptionsin the
"

"

Melancholy and uneasiness of Marie de Medici

of the queen-dowager Louise de Lorraine, and

"

of

great personages.

Henry's

domestic

grievances,
meantime, were
embarrassments.
The legate
aggravatedby political
Aldobrandini
had been followed to Lyons by M. des
Allymes, and d'Alconat,count de Touzaine, envoys
from
de Savoye. No
the duke
therefore,
sooner,
the royal marriage festivities concluded
than
were
the negotiations
for peace commenced.
Though this
declared
important,and an event to be
treaty was
assumed
attitude of
an
desired,the plenipotentiaries
indifference

supreme

as

to

the

result

of the

ferences
con-

lordlynonchalance
with which
he deemed
it politic
the gravest
to treat
affairs;Allymes and his coadjutor,from genuineperplexity,
in
their
they having no confidence
master,
and believing
it probablethat he would disavow their
in reality
tary
The
indifferent : his miliacts.
king was
ardour
kindled, a fine territory
was
quered,
conwas
thirsted to meet
his army
the foe,a reserve
and
of thirtycannons,
from
a
positiveassurance
quer
Rosny that in less than six weeks the royalexchecould be replenished
with one
million sterling,
"

Aldobrandini,from

the

MARIE

AND

1601.]

257

MEDICI.

DE

delays
Henry littletolerant of the guileful
M. de Savoye. The
Jeannin, and M.
president,
were
Sillery,
appointedto confer with the duke's

rendered
of
de

commenced
last personages
proposingthe restitution of Saluzzo

ambassadors.
their duties
the

These

by

of

condition that the

king
all territories conquered
restored to their master
during the recent campaign. The royaldeputies
would have
that the offer of the marquisate
replied,
M. de
been gladlyacceptedbefore the war
; but as
Savoye had compelledthe king,at vast cost, to open
his Christian
of his justrights,
a campaign in defence
majesty expected an indemnity of 800,000 gold
This demand
at once
was
crowns.
negatived
; the
and proposedthat instead of
legatethen intervened,
Saluzzo the kingshould accept the county of Bresse ;
and as an indemnityfor the expenses of the war, the
of Bugey and Valromey,so that
adjacent territory
the Rhone
might henceforth become the boundary
between France
and
Savoy. Henry assented,provided
that the forts of Cental, Mont
and Roquealso ceded to France,which compreSparvierewere
hended
the district of Gex, with a sum
in specie
amountingto 100,000 crowns.1 After a prolonged
conference
the Piedmontese
accepted the
envoys
condition that allthe Savoyardfortresses
on
proposal,
restored to their master, in precisely
capturedwere
to

the

crown

state

same

as

with the

France,on

before the

utmost

the ducal ambassadors

while

war.

amenity.

So far affairs ceeded

proThe legate
assured

that he had received

promise

and the chancellor

Chambery from Villeroy,
that the places
Bellievre,
capturedshould not be dis1

at

Cayet
"

Cliron.

Enrico
de

Septennaire.Mathieu.

due
IV., e Carlo Emanuele
Saluzzo,in 4to, Yenetia,1641.
VOL.

II.

de

Zilioli

Savoia

"

Guerra

tra

per il inarchesato

25S

HENRI

mantled

IV.

assertion which

[1G01.

The
partlytrue.
refortification of his Alpinestrongholds
would
less
doubthave been a serious item in the penaltywhich
M. de Savoye had to pay for his folly
; nevertheless,
the chief anxietywas
manifested for the preservation
held in awe
of the fort Ste. Catherine,which
the
enabled
heretic city of Geneva
the duke
to
; and
an

"

maintain

the

of his

terror

was

arms

the inhabitants

over

Henry and his

valleysof the Cevennes.
faithful Rosny, in their secret
counsels,devined this
terest
object; they perceivedthat it was
againstthe inthis stronghold,
which
of France
to preserve
lay on the route claimed by the Spaniardsinto their
The
over,
Genevese, moreprovinceof Franche-Comte.
imploredthe king to demolish a fortress which
king,
perpetuallythreatened their liberty. The
orders for the fort to be rased,
sent
secret
therefore,
of the

and

intrusted the execution

and good-will
was
alacrity
of

one

night

not

to

Genevese.

the

Such

evinced,that

vestige remained

in the space
the inhabitants

city,rich and poor, turned out and assisted in

and actually
removed
the work of demolition,
every
"
could
that no one
so
descrythat a fort ever
stone,
of the

existed

on

the

site."1

When

the

news

reached

Lyons, the legate and the ducal envoys yieldedto

clared
demost
unbecoming transports. Aldobrandini
the
recentlyproposed void : he
compact
the word
accused the king of- bad faith,
by violating
given by his ministers ; of ingratitudetowards
1

Cayet. Hist, de
la Royale Maison

la Ville

de

Geneve.

Guichenon

"

Hist.

une
Savoye. Sully, liv. 11. "Dans
mirent
cette citadelle res-pie res-terre, de
nuit les Genevois
de la peine a croire qu*il
maniere
qu'on aurait eu le lendemain
Hist, de la Conquete
y eut jamaiseu un fort en cet endroit."
La Popeliniere
de Bresse et de Savoye par le roy tres Chretien
"Paris, 1601.

de

de

"

"

"

the

MARIE

AND

1601.]

See

Holy

and

even

DE

259

MEDICI.

went

so

far

as

to

menace

the realm with interdict should hostilitiesbe renewed.

The

ambassadors

so

treacherous

to

retire.

eminence
remained

declared their powers cancelled by

perfidy
requestedpermission
; and

Sillery,
however,quietlyintimated to his
"
he
that he might pleasehimself whether
or
departed; that the king had a rightto

nour
his conquests ; that the hoand interest of France were
facts to be realized

do what

he

chose with

of imaginarycourtesies with
interchange
his holiness;that his majestywas
quitepreparedto
continue the war, and had onlystayedhis victorious

before

the

of pope Clement ;
that the value of the fort demolished was
finally,
only
arm

in deference

to

the wishes

to a wealthyprince
sum
trifling
like M. de Savoye if,indeed,
this clamour
arose
from pecuniary
and not at the loss of
consideration,
the fort as a military
theless,
position."The legate,nevercontinued his threats,
and refused to appear
diversions ; until Henry, wearied
at any of the court
sent M. de Bellievre to intimate that,
by these cabals,
the project
of a treaty to be at an end,he
conceiving
had ordered MM.
de Lesdiguieres
and de Soissons
their advance
to continue
Piedmont, and to
upon
carry on the campaign with vigour. A last attempt
made
to daunt
the "lion courage" of Henri
was
Quatre. The Spanishambassador,Taxis Conde de
Viliamediana,waited upon the king,and announced
"
that unless it pleasedhim speedily
to his majesty,
to make
peace with M. de Savoye,the king of Spain
would
be compelledto embrace
the defence of his
brother-in-law
and of his nephews." The insolent
had often galledthe
language of this ambassador
king in the olden times,when Taxis had incited and

50,000

crowns

"

"

abetted

the

designs of MM.

de Guise.

On

hearing
s

2G0

HENRI

himself thus

IV.

threatened,
Henry

the ambassador

said his

You

"

will

not

[1G01.
turned
daunt

sharplyupon
Monsieur,"

me,

"

majesty, by your menaces, or compel me to

I have to inform you
grant peace to M. de Savoy e.
that if this war
continues I will fill Spain with my
will have little
gallantarmies,so that your master
leisure

to

meddle

The

duke

in affairs in which

he has

no

cern.
con-

of

Savoy is encouraged by the perfidious

counsels of Spain. I am
resolved,Monsieur,
to repelwith unflinching
the petty craft of
courage
foxes : and I mean
to chargeboldlyin front those
who
hind
befrom
are
cowardly enough to attack me
!" '
Finding that the king would not yield,
Aldobrandini
and his colleagues,
who never
to
meant
close the negotiation,
were
sorelyperplexedhow to
recede from the position
assumed.
they had foolishly
Letters from M. de Bouvens
detailed the extremity
of famine which assailed the men
of the garrisonof
Bourg ; and stated,that unless relieved within the
inevitable.
The
was
days,capitulation
space of two
fall of Bourg completedthe conquest of the county
of Bresse ; and altogether
France
a
territory
gave
double in extent
to that to be ceded
by treaty. Des
waited on the legate,
and
Allymes,therefore,privately
the negotiation. Aldobrandini,
besought him to renew
dreading the anger of the Pope, should
blaze forth again,promised compliance on
the
war
first suitable opportunity
; providedthat the envoys
gave him a written promiseto abide by and signthe
articles he should
1

De

Ibid.

he
from

did

Thou,
not

The

present for their ratification.2

liv. 125.
cardinal

receive

the

Henry IV., who

Calatagirone. Lettres
"

Cayet.
complained to

the court

consideration

which

he

of Rome
was

that

entitled to

preferredthe patriarchof Constantinople,

du cardinal

d'Ossat.

AND

1C0L]

MARIE

After the demolition

duke

de Biron

king

to

of

261

MEDICI.

DE

Fort

Ste. Catherine,the

requestedpermissionto visit Lyons.

The alienation of the king had been unmistakeably
manifested
when
Henry celebrated his marriage
festivities without
requiringthe presence of Biron.
The
duke
was
disquietude
; the
sufferingextreme
pending treaty indefinitely
postponed the designsof
Henry's foes,and, therefore,Biron's contemplated
aggrandizement; while the clue possessedby the
the

machinations

of

the

duke

with

the

clusion
might be made, after the conof peace, the subjectof inconvenient
scrutiny.
The
undisciplined
spiritof Biron rebelled at this
positionof affairs ; and with unexampled audacity
he
resolved
he
termed
become
to
again what
"
of
the mercy
on
a free man," by throwing himself
his indulgentmaster.
The
request of the duke for
conceded.
His first
permissionto visit Lyons was
interview with the king took placein the cloisters of
the Franciscan
Henry received his old
monastery.
favourite with grave reserve
of manner,
and requested

enemies

the duke

of his country,

to

exonerate

himself

from

the fresh

tions
accusa-

against his honour and loyalty. The

duke, assuming a penitential
aspect, confessed that
that it was
he had been seduced
into deep error
the
of his marriage with
had
treated
true, he
daughter of the duke of Savoy without soliciting
the
the consent
of his sovereign. Moreover, when
king refused to nominate him as governor of Bourg,
this harshness
so
transportedhim, that he had
indulgedin treasonable speculations
; but without
any
realm
real designto conspireagainstthe person
or
emotion
then
of his majesty. Biron
with much
aberrations ; he
begged pardon for his momentary
made

"

alluded

to

the

regard

with

which

the

king

had

262

HENRI

honoured

[1601.

throughoutthe stormy period.of the

of his
league; he invoked the memory

him

of the

wars

IV.

father,the

mention

of whose

death

before

Chateau

Thierry,while ridingby the side of the king,ever

elicited his majesty's
painfulsympathy ; and for the
future he promised a scrupulousfidelity.These
and

with

made

were

assurances

the vehement
duke.

gesture peculiarto the

for

The

language

king

asked

information on the duke's intercourse

precise
with Savoy. This demand
further partial
extorted
avowals, and a generaladmission of guilt. Biron
more

made
he

no

had

mention

of the

written

vulged until

the

Fuentes, which

to

of the

contents

true

copiestaken by

letters

remained

Lafin

were

undi-

perused;

neither

did he confess the regicidaldesign with which

he

afterwards

charged. Henry, whose affection

for Biron
was
easilymoved,
strong, and who was
and
; pardoned the betrayals,
wept with his prodigal
the duke,
promisedthat the past should not prejudice
providedhis repentance proved to be sincere.1 The
clemency of the king,however, proved the ruin of
the marshal : had
Henry received Biron's avowals
until all
with just severity,
his arrest
and ordered
examined
and
was
explained,probably a worse
Biron learned
catastrophe
might have been averted.
and more
to despise
more
a master
so
easily
appeased,
facile of belief.
The
and
duke, however, as the
confession
did not make
true
king afterwards alleged,
of his deeds ; but withheld the most
importantrevewas

Biron
"

were

me

de

Biron.

"

avec

Ha

marechal,

ne

was
ses

De

Thou,

jamais de
passe." Vie

te souvienne

de

tout

liv. 125.

noirs enfonces."

le

Queen

presented to her,said
yeux

used

words

deposed that the

souviendrayjamais

ne

Biron

afterwards

"

by the king
Bourg, et je
du

marechal

Marie, however,

that he looked

like

when

traitor,

264

IV.

HENRI

[1001.

to lead his army

and made
over
council,
preparation
In all these
in Turin.
the Alps,and dictate peace
at
councils Rosny ablysupportedhis royalmaster
:
the same
time,having great confidence in his own
and influence,
he resolved to visit and confer
ability
with the legate,before he departed for Paris,
he was
whither
going to make divers militaryand
financial arrangements. Rosny, therefore,
repairedto
ling
and in travelthe apartments of his eminence,booted,.
of Aldobrandini
The surprise
costume.
treme
exwas
he at lengthcomprehended that Henry
when
and
wrest
resolved to defy the Spanish power,
was
"
And
from the duke an equitable
treaty.
you, M.
"
To Italy,
le Marquis,where are you now
going?
Rosny, "in good company, where I shall
shortly,"
replied
then gladly
The legate
kiss the feet of his holiness !
his desire
seized the opportunity
to impart confidentially
the negotiations.
to renew
Rosny stated that
the hope of peace ; that
the king had relinquished
decided ; and that it was
his majesty'smeasures
were
useless to commence
againan irritating
controversy, in
which neither party intended to abate one pretension.
in
what
then
His
eminence
anxiouslydemanded
"I know
the ultimatum of king Henry?
was
reality
and will of his majesty as
the mind
sponded
own," remy
Rosny. " The conditions upon which his
majestywill alone grant peace to M. de Savoye are
the cession of the county of Bresse,the forts of Cental,
the banks
Monts
and Roque Sparviere,the
on
territory
far as Lyons, the citadel of Bourg,
of the Rhone
as
the districts of Gex and Chateau
cession
Dauphin ; the conof Geneva
to the republic
of certain privileges
;
"

"

with the

sum

of

100,000

king will grant

namely,le Pont de
the

to

M.

crowns

de

in

return

Savoye

for which

certain

Gresin and other hamlets

passes,

through

which

passage

preservedto

265

MEDICI.

Franche-Comte

into

be

may

diate
majesty; also the immelistened
of Savoy." Aldobrandini
took
then asked whether
Rosny under-

his catholic

evacuation
and
attentively,

his honour

on

DE

MARIE

AND

1601.]

that

no

other conditions should

be

mative
proposed? and upon the reply in the affirof the former,the legaterequestedhim to return
to his majesty and
procure
powers to draw up
determined
stantly
inwhich he was
a treaty conformably,
behalf of the pope.1 This was
to sign on
moned
done, to the triumphof Rosny. The legatethen sumhis colleagues,
and directed them, in accordance
with their promise,
the act he had concluded.
to ratify

added

New

or

tracasseries ensued

the directions of

the duke

of so confused and complex a nahis envoys were

ture
of a varietyof interpretathat they admitted
tions.

to

despatch the duke ordered them to

instruction ; in another he forbade
obey the legate's
his
them to signany articles at all,at least without
them to
previousrevision ; in a third he commanded
and abide by his direction.
call Taxis to their counsels,
At length the united
persuasionsof Aldobrandini
the ducal ambassadors
and Calatagirone
on
prevailed
uary,
the treaty,on the 1 7th of Janto ratify
provisionally
That one
the following
conditions :
month
on
should be grantedto his highnessof Savoye to resolve
and ratify
the treaty ; secondly,
that his
upon
eminence
the cardinal legateshould accept the responsibility
In

one

"

of the compact, and guarantee them from

of their master;
the
resentment
as
especially

the

had
counselled
them
Spanish ambassador
nothinguntil they had had communication
duke, who was then in conference at Como
1

Mem.

traite

de

"A
l'instant
Sully,liv. 11th.
qui languissait
depuissi long temps."
"

nous

to

sign

with

the

with

the

conclurnes

un

266

IV.

HENRI

[1C01.

slipperyevasions of the
duke greatly
his majesty. Henry facetiously
amused
of January, to M.
de St.
the end
wrote, about
then his envoy at Venice, " Vans aurez
sou
Jullien,
nouvelles de la paix de Lyons
cette rhubarbe
cceur
au
Savoyard; mats
grace a Dieu, la main
que tient le
gobeletest ferme,et le faudra vuider tout entier ! 2
Two
days after the signatureof the treaty Henry,
wearied of the annoyances
which he stillexperienced
in Lyons, resolved to take temporary leave of the
to precede and receive
queen ; in order,as he asserted,
ject
obThe
her majesty at Fontainebleau.
true
visit
of the royal journey, however, was
to
madame
de Verneuil,to persuade her to return
to
Paris.
of anxious
Intelligence
moment, moreover,
had
reached
his majesty from
Nancy concerning
conde

de

Fuentes.1

The

"

"

the health

of Madame.

The

demise

of

of her

one

feuds which
chaplainsrevived again the religious
had
been
temporarilyallayed from the periodof
his Italian expedithe return
of M. de Bar from
tion.
refused to permit this
The
duke
of Lorraine
individual

be

to

interred

within

the

of the

limits

fected
thereby excited so afMadame
that she took to her bed, and wrote
bitter complaintsto the king her brother, on
the
she was
to which
indignities
subjected.3The health
of the duchess was
seriously
impaired: alreadydropsical

duchy ;

and

the

symptoms
of

de

her

themselves

in the constitution

aggravatedby dailydisquietudes
; and
treated as proceedphysiciansignorantly

De

Guichenon
Thou, liv. 126.
Savoye. Sully,liv. 11th. Perefixe

Mathieu,
1

showed

Madame,

which

altercations

"

"

Royale

Hist, de Henri

de M.

de Marcieu.

MS.

Suppl. fr.

Imp.

"

Lettres Missives,t. 5.

1 644.

Maison

le Graud.

t. 2.

Archives

Bibl.

Hist, de la

AND

1G0L]

ing from

MARIE

DE

267

MEDICI.

The
spatched
king detotallydifferent cause.
his own
physicianLa Riviere to his sister ;
cheered
Madame
by invitingher to visit the

and

of France

court

soon

so

as

she

travel.

could

His

majesty,meantime, pa5sed through Montargis,Fonary.1

and arrived in Paris on the 25th of Janutainebleau,
if
to his bride,as
Every day the king wrote
them.
nothing but harmony had prevailedbetween
of these letters Henry givesthe queen
In one
a few
been well,
it would
have
words
of counsel; which
had Marie heeded : " Doubt
under her circumstances,
not,"wrote his majesty," that I love you dearly,for
now
you obey my will : believe that this is the true
in short,I desire alone to be so
to govern
me
way
The
king, after despatching
governed by you."2
de Verneuil;
for the chateau
this letter,
out
set
it came
fact which, when
to the knowledge of the
a
"

queen,

caused

this advice
her

effect; as
"

and

gross

to

have

rather

majestydeemed

an

it,as

rating
exaspeshe said,

stinging insult,"to be abandoned

mediatelyafter

visit his mistress.

the

marriage,that

her

king might

de Verneuil

chateau

The

im-

was

then

surrounded
by
magnificentthough gloomy edifice,
Paris.
Its
miles distant from
a
moat, thirty-six
consisted of
architecture was
chateau
: the
singular
united by
pavilions,
eightloftyand highly-decorated
spaciouscorps de bailments forming a quadrangle.
entered through a magnificent
The
chateau was
ves-

"Le

roy

Paris;

descendre

s'etant

et
a

nuit

partitune
Briare

en

postede Lyons

embarque
de Briare

le lendemain

diner

s'en
Tuileries,

alia coucher

sur

l'eau

il vint coucher

Villeneuve, passant
a

Verneuil."

"

pour

s'en retourner

Rouanue,
a

Fontainebleau

la Seine

Mem.

il vint

de

au

bas

des

Bassompierre,

t. 1.
1

Archives

Lettres

MS.

Missives,t.

de
5.

Florence.

CorrespondencePolitique
"

268

HENRI

tibule lined with

of

princesof

Henriette
the

king

marble,and

the house

retired
with

fascinations

IV.

[1G01.
adorned

by

of Vendome.

leavingLyons.
transports of joy. The
on

of his mistress riveted her

six statues

To

Verneuil

She

received

beauty
empire;

and

and

the

the rivalries of the

of Marie, and
jealousies
suite,were
forgottenby Henry in her society. The
de Verneuil;
king spent four days with madame
of the promise of Henriette
and took leave possessed
the queen's entry into Paris,
to
grace the fetes on
condition that his majestyinsured her honourable
on
from his consort.
and publicreception
Queen Marie, meantime, accompanied by Don
Juan
de Medici and the duke de Bracciano,quitted
Lyons on the 29th of January. It had been the
intention of the queen
to salute the queen
dowager,
Louise de Lorraine,at Moulins ; but the malady of
that princesssuddenlytook so fatal a turn, that she
was
thought to be at extremityon the day fixed for
the interview.
continued her jourMarie, therefore,
ney
to
Nemours, where she arrived on the 4th of
February. She was there met by her royalconsort,
anxious was
who escorted her to Fontainebleau,1
so
Henry to show Marie his favourite abode, with its
forest and wild legends. To gratify
this
magnificent
the postponement of
desire,Henry had commanded
the Foire de St. Germain, as he wished the queen to
that celebrated

grace

revel of the Parisians

with

her

Marie
made
her entry into Paris on the
presence.
9th of February. Little magnificence
was
displayed
;

kingdeclined

of the cityauthorities,
proposal
wished to welcome
the sovereigns
with pageants
of the
banquetingsat the Palais,on account

the
who
and
1

"

pleurede quoy
remede," wrote the king.

Cette

il n'y a

the

maison

vous

la voyes

en

hiver ; mais

AND

1601.]

of the

costs

late

enthusiasm

the

MARIE

war

for

DE

while

their

269

MEDICI.

new

amongst
mistress

the courtiers
had

little

altercations in Lyons.
disgraceful
Marie
entered
Paris escorted by the lords of her
in a sumptuous litter drawn
by
household,reclining

abated,owing to

mules.

With

the

Arsenal

was

queen

of

Salvoes
the

the

sieur.1
littleC6sar- Mon-

the

the

from
artillery

Bastille

and

alightedat the
the Faubourg St. Germain, where
by a brilliant court, greeted her

announced

Hotel

when

she

Gondy, in
Henry, attended
the
Marie
received
afternoon
majesty. The same
In the
ladies of the court.
homage of the principal
evening a ball and supper celebrated the queen's
of the
arrival.
The fine person and majestic
carriage
elicited much admiration : exposed to so many
queen
censorious
comments, without a singlefriend in that
brilliant and wittythrong,and deriving
littlesupport
from her husband, whose
not
was
always
affability
royal,Marie yet managed to maintain her dignity.
The
tined
desqueen's presence of mind, indeed, was
to

receive

rude

ordeal.

In

the

forenoon

the

and de
king sent for the duchesses de Nemours
de VerGuise,and desired them to escort madame
neuil to the evening'sfestivity,
and present her to
the queen.
The
duchess
de Nemours
respectfully
declined ; and
that
her
asserted
royal mistress
would never
againendure her presence if she were
made
the medium
of so notable an outrage.
Henry,
reiterated his
however, sharply and significantly
had no alternative
command
: the duchess,therefore,
but to obey, and abide the consequences.2Madame
1

MS.

Mem.
1

Bibl.

de
"

contre

Imp. Suppl. fr.

Bassompierre,t. 1.

Le roy commanda
sa

coutume

qui

assez

1644.

rudement

Hist,

de

Paris"

la duchesse

etait d'etre fort courtois.

Sauval.

de le

faire,

Elle l'ammena

270

IIENRI

IV.

[1601.

radiant in beauty,and brilliant

therefore,
Verneuil,
attire,
appeared at the Hotel Gondy, and was led by
d'Este to the queen'schair,againstwhich the
Anne
de

evident

The

king reclined.

of her

embarrassment

attracted the attention of the queen.

grande-maitresse
Henry, however, advanced ; takingthe hand of his
he led her to his consort, saying: " M'aymie !
mistress,
la marquisede Verneuil,a lady,as
behold
madame
know, well affected towards myself; but who
you
desires also

become

to

your

very

humble

!"

servant

curtseyed,and touched the royal robe :

the king,however, deeming his mistress's obeisance
reverential enough, himself placed the hand of
not
madame
la marquiseon the hem of the queen'smantle,
and signed to her to kneel and put it to her lips.
Marie
slightly
changed colour ; and except that she
refrained from speaking,and
from givingher hand
de Verneuil,made no further
to be kissed by madame
Henriette

demonstration.

At

by royalcommand,
times presumed to
her

supper

de Verneuil

madame

sat,

queen'stable ; and several

address her majesty,having recovered
the

at

accustomed

This

assurance.

act

'on

condemned
;
majesty was universally
as
especially
people perceivedthat the queen'seyes
twice filledwith tears on beingso insolently
addressed.
A reaction in favour of Marie resulted ; which,as the
feuds of her household
for the moment
were
appeased,
the queen
took care
to improve. Her
vivacityof
speech,yet courteous
imposedrespect upon
manners,

the part of his

la royne,

assez

froidement
naturel

sou

qui

extremement
; mais

luy parlatant

s'en fit entretenir."

Marguerite de
1

Galluzzi

la

"

"

Hist, del

veue,

des Amours

de

Guise.

Granducato, lib. 5.

Henri

la recut

fort hardie

; et fit si fort la familiere

Hist,

Lorraine

surprisede cette
marquise de Verneuil

de

qu'eufinelle
IV.

Louise

272

HENRI

at

were

IV.

firstlittledisposedto

[1601.

ence
adopt becoming rever-

Marie
Had
deportmenttowards the queen.
been the daughter of one
of the great sovereign
houses of Europe, her positionmight have been
of

easier

the

gibes of

courtiers

remembered

mistress,and

the

much

veneration

not

were

for

the

"

abominable

inclined

la grosse

to

monstrate
de-

Banquiere

de Florence."

day followingthe queen'sarrival in Paris,

The
their majestiesvisited the fair of St. Germain.
with
crowd
difficulty
being immense, a way was
made
for the royalpair. The king led his bride by
the acclamations
the hand, and several times stoppedwhen
were
loudest,to enable his good Parisians to
their new
sovereign.Henry, it is recorded,
gaze on
of the
this occasion the anticipations
on
disappointed
various stall venders ; indeed, his majesty was
nowned
reand
for his love of drivinga hard bargain,
the 13th,
then of abandoning the purchase.1 On
master
Rosny took the oath before the Chambers, as Grandof Artillery
presented a patent by
; and
his
which Henry bestowed
the title of marquis on
The

minister.

This

recognition of long and meritorious

acceptedby the Chambers, and forthwith

registered.Rosny was escorted to the Palais,by the
princede Joinville and the dukes de Nevers andMontbazon, and other illustrious personages, anxious to
pleasethe king by honouringhis minister. The same
evening the king and queen dined at the Arsenal
with M. and madame
de Rosny. The
new
marquis
the
of a joke on
was
guilty,during this festivity,
Italian ladies of the suite,
of a nature
very foreign
to
Rosny's usual decorum.
Perceivingthat these
Burladies greatlyrelished at the banquet some
services

was

MS.

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl.fr.

1644.

DE

MARIE

AND

1601.]

273

MEDICI.

the

gundy of fine vintage,lie had

presentedagain at the collation
Several

of the

with

the wine.

ewers

should

ladies then

asked

after
for

filled with

ball.

the

water

Rosny thereupondirected
be

wine

same

to

mix

that the

strong white wine,

damsels
colourless." l
The
unsuspecting
perfectly
fell into the snare, mingledthe potent beveragepresented
the
with their Burgundy ; and returned
to
"

Louvre

Marie,

in

and

condition

provoked

scandalized

which
the

boundless

mirth

queen

of

her

royalconsort.
intent
The
cardinal-legate
during these incidents,
the ratification of the treaty, quittedLyons, and
on
thence he despatched
to
repaired
Avignon. From
his secretary Erminio
of the
to Como, the bearer
treaty concluded ; with an urgent letter calling
upon
of Savoy,in the name
the duke
of his holiness,
to
M. de Savoye
ratifya peace so requisite.With
and the conde
de Fuentes was
Lafin, the agent of
The latter,
the duke de Biron.
oblivious
perfidiously
of the gracious
clemencyand affection demonstrated
found that the warlike
by his royal master, no sooner
of the Milanese viceroycontinued ;
preparations
and that there were
to frustrate
impedimentslikely
the contemplated treaty, than he despatched an
monk, to Lafin,
Farges,a Franciscan
envoy, one
with instructions to participate,
his representaas
tive,
in the conference ; and
confirm again the
to
in the designsof the
promise of his co-operation
prince,on certain conditions as he, Biron, " was
neither safetynor
consipersuaded that there was
"

"

J'avais d'excellent vin

aussi clair que l'eau de roche,

demandaient
de l'eau
et lors qu'elles
j'enfisremplirles aiguieres,
1

pour
leur

blanc,et

tremper le vin de Bourgogne, ce

presenta." Sully,liv. 11.

fut

cette

liqueurquon

"

VOL.

II.

274

HENRI

deration

IV.

[1G01.

for

him, but so long as the war continued."

Fuentes
proposedagain,as the basis of alliance with
Biron
newing
that, provided the latter succeeded in rethe troubles in France, so as to dethrone
Henry IV., and render the kingdom again at the
the king of Spain
disposalof the states-general,
his
or
promised to give the duke his sister-in-law,
niece,in marriage,with the duchy of Burgundy for
her dowry, under
jesty.
suzeraintyof his catholic maMoreover, that Biron should be declared
of the
French
of the
armies
lieutenant-general
realm ; with a pensionof 1,800,000 crowns
for the
"

maintenance

of the

acceptedby

Latin

does

not

ratified
of the

by

the

sign-manualof

the

with

concluded.

M.

when

his envoys

of Biron

vowed

; he

The

who

were

arrival
come
unwel-

deluding

treaty could

no

into

be

fit of frantic

cessions

of the
to

though it
ever
actually

therefore,
very

was,

plotters
;
the hope that
de Savoye flew

informed

were

been

the duke.

subtle

themselves

had

compact

the articles

secretary Erminio
to

rage,

behalf

on

that

appear

This

war.

the

cause

agreed to by
arraignmentand

of Des
decapitation
Allymes and d'Alconat ; and
declined to sign the document.1
Fuentos
absolutely
contemptuouslyremarked, that he had no interest
nor

concern

in the treaty

that his

"

40,000

men

and

for the service of

field-pieces
were, nevertheless,
his catholic majesty. The count
M. de
and his ally,
nation.
to recrimiSavoye, meantime, passed from flattery
The
former
taunted
M.
de Savoye with
of resolution,
when
he ought, as
apathy and want
40

De

couper

Thou,
la tete

de

125.

Alconat

cut, qu'ilne

Fuentes
arinee

liv.

et

tiendrait

40,000 hommes

"

et de 40

"

Le

due

jura qu'il ferait

Des
Alyines,pour l'avoir signee.
ceste ; qu'ilveut, employer son

Cayet

canons."

AND

1601.]
Fuentes

MARIE

averred,to

DE

have

king,with the help of

resolved to
was
finally
for final instructions

M.
send
and

275

MEDICI.

been
de

besiegingthe
Biron,in Lyons ! It

to

now

the

court

of Madrid

to
meantime, resolutely

rejectthe treaty of Lyons.

The vexation of the legate
extreme
was
: he wrote
taken
underthe king,that as his mission was
to assure
and of Sessa the
at the request of his holiness,
Spanishambassador,the convention concluded must
be signed; that the duke de Lerma
was
eventually
of pacific
and not
nance
disposition,
disposedto countewarfare : finally,
that he besought
aggressive
of the
his majestyto add one fortnight
to the term
month
for the exchange of treaties,
to
stipulated
enable him
personallyto visit Milan and Turin.
in rigorous
Aldobrandini
set out
weather,
courageously
throughdeep snow; and, after a journeyfull of
Fuentes, however, had
peril,arrived at Genoa.
returned
to
Milan, and the duke of Savoy to
The
Turin
both desiring
to avoid the conference.
legate,nothing daunted, continued his journey to
He
Milan.
found the viceroysullen and
rious;
mystebut through the count
the
bosom
Tassoni,
friend of Fuentes, Aldobrandini
extorted the admission
that the viceroywaited to ascertain the final
"

views

of his government.

Pope Clement,meantime, after havingfor a time,

of peace,
he said,lain at anchor in the haven
as
raved with indignation
the intrigue
at
absolutely
which
again threatened to drive him forth on the
The chancellor of Savoy,
of warfare.
stormy ocean
Dominic
Belli,was
rudely dismissed from Rome ;
Sessa himself heard

and
to

personage
answer

language seldom

addressed

quality.At length the

arrived from Madrid, and was

of his

portant
imde-

276

IV.

HENRI

[1601.

in Rome, Milan, and Turin.

simultaneously
"
The king of
It was
comprehended in few words
Spain approves the treaty of Lyons, and designs
elsewhere."1
of the Milanese
to
employ his army
the part of PhilipIII.
The truth of this statement
on
of the
received unexpected confirmation ; for news
lost by the arch-dukes
disastrous battle of Nieuport,2
againstMaurice of Nassau, seemed an event likely
to
compel the sympathy and aid of his Catholic
sources,
majesty. Driven, therefore,to relyon his own rethe duke of Savoy, after fresh tergiversation,
livered

"

consented

Lyons

take

to

affix his

to

and

engaged

oath

on

great seal

to

to

despatchan

presence of the
until
nevertheless
evaded

his behalf

"

aims,distrust

agents.

Fuentes

Paris

to

envoy

in the

king which promise, he

the following
month
of November.
their

treaty of

the

divided

their

late allies and

the

conceived

Disappointedin
suspicionof

some

the

of Lafin, and
fidelity
abruptlydismissed him from
warded
forMilan, on a mission to Turin ; havingpreviously
a
despatch to the duke, wherein the count
his

stated

for this step, which

were
advised the duke to effect the

reasons

divulged,and
Lafin.

never

arrest

of

The

latter,
suspectingthe design,and, as he
afterwards
owned, repentingof his treason towrards
king Henry, avoided Turin, and, passingthrough
His
Rasle, arrived safelyin France.
secretary,
Duke
Renaze, however, happened to be in Turin.
Charles,therefore,
actingwith his accustomed precipitation,
caused

incarcerated

in the fortress of

demanded
1

duca
2

Ibid.

"

this individual

Alessandro

the

to

be

Quiers.

seized
Lafin

liberation of Renaze

Zilioli

di Savoia.

Fought July 2nd, 1601.

"

Guerra

tra

Eurico

upon
there-

from
IV.

and

the
Carlo

AND

1001.]

duke

de Biron.

fact that

the

MARIE

the
latter,
disregarding

The

of

secret

was

Luz,

his lieutenant in

confederation.

Biron

forthwith

months

take

to
thoughtit politic

to

of

fere
inter-

with

his

initiated the baron

Burgundy, into
few

grave

conferences

recent

in

late agent, the marshal

the

the

of Lafin,refused
possession
further communication
and, declining

Como

de

277

MEDICI.

DE

an

the

secret

of

subsequently

oath

from

Lafin

ments
destroyedall docuintrusted to him, in the shape of letters,
Lafin declared that,with
mandates, or memoranda.
one
exception,he had so done ; he then,in the presence
of the marshal, pretended to commit
to the

that

he had

flames

burned

the

famous

or

otherwise

minutes

transmitted

Savoy
document,
during the siege of Bourg. Another
substituted
however, was
skilfully
by Lafin, and.
before Biron ; while the importantpapers,
consumed
which compromised the life and honour
of the marshal,
as
were
safelystowed to serve
opportunity
might hereafter warrant.
The
king and queen removed to St. Germain, to
Previous
parture
to their despend the month of March.
from Paris,don Antonio
de Medici
and the
took leave of their majesties,
duke de Bracciano
and
for London, attended
set out
by Concini and other
members
obnoxious
of the Italian suite,to visit
Elizabeth ; who, throughher minister,
had sent
queen
invitation.
The influence of
the cavaliers a gracious
much
in the ascendant
La
as
as
Galigairemained
l
with subtle dexterity,
Eleonore
discovered a
:
ever
1

"Haveva

condotto

Galigaiche

seco

la

regina per

di treccie

regina cosi gratanta

gentilezzadi parole nell'
ciosaniente,e discorreva con
che veniva pagata della padrona,no solo con
nobile
intrecciaila,
tale affetto che haven
et generoso
ma
con
salario,
luogo de
gratia. Leti Teatro Gallico
Leonora

intrecciava

cameriara

to

veramente

''

"

"

la

278

IV.

HENRI

to conciliate all the

mode
After

comprehended
without

of

sojourn

which

that

to

win

in

weeks

favour

the

licence

her

of the court.

rulingpowers
few

[1G01.

of the

in the

remain

to

Paris, she

king,
queen's

likelyany day to be revoked,she must

conciliate the
la Marquise ; and
please madame
favour of her royal mistress on Henriette's behalf.
Moreover, Eleonore was persuadedthat the influence
Marie
effect the projects
she
of queen
could never
her enrolment
dame
had most
at heart
as
cFatours,
ment
and her marriage with Concini, and the establishEleonore
of the latter in France.
Consequently,
one
day presented herself at the hotel of
madame
de Verneuil, and boldlyproposed a compact
should
of Henriette
to whit, that the power
service

was

"

"

Effect that
failed

to

which

obtain

the

influence

and, in return,

of

the

had

queen

Eleonore

engaged to

procure for la Marquise the bienveillance of the queen,

admission to the private
with
of her majesty,
receptions
and honourable
in public.The protreatment
friendly
posal
de Verneuil promised
was
accepted. Madame
Eleonore
her appointmentin the household ; marriage
with Concini before the expiration
of the year, and

the

post of chamberlain

disastrous

day

for the

for Marie

to make

latter.1

Medici

de

when

It

was

she

descended
con-

and accept such

humiliating
favours from her rival,
and lower her prestige
mitting
by adla Marquise to her intimacy the courtiers
then ridiculed the position
they had before respectfully
commiserated.
The
king, tutored by his
thanked
his consort
for her condescension
mistress,
;
terms

"

and

intimated

his

will,he

of

Donna

that

could

no

Eleonore
1

after such

notable

longeroppose
as

Istoria del

dame

the

d'atours.

Granducato, lib. 5.

deference

to

appointment
Intense

was

280

HENRI

accouchement

while

"

dischargedher
subordinate

persons

Dearly,however, did
of Concini
sunshine

and

which

The

[1601.

; and

employed in
the

queen

his future
her

when
intelligence,
the

utmost

aVatours

dame

new

functions

followed

Florence, occasioned

fully
faith-

conciliated

the

the

royalchamber.
tion
purchasethe elevawife

unworthy
it

was

the brief

and

sion.
condescen-

transmitted

concern,

as

to

well

as

culpableselfishness of the king ;

thus compromise the dignityof his consort,
probablythe legitimacyof her offspring
sisted
dede Vei'neuil and her family never
the

at
indignation

who

the

IV.

could
and

"

for madame
from

their affirmation that the king's

rendered

marriage

invalid

by previouscontract.
At the end of March
Henry and his consort made
of
an
expeditionto Orleans,to gain the privileges
the Jubilee,
which this year was
celebrated with extraordinary
Their
majesties
splendour in Rome.
the
laid the first stone
of the magnificentedifice,
contributed
church
of Ste. Croix,and munificently
fund.
to the building
They then took up their abode
from Venice
at
Fontainebleau,where ambassadors
arrived to compliment their majestieson their marriage.
of the League the republic
During the wars

was

lent the

king

million

sterling: it

was

therefore

before
their departure
envoys
would
present the bond, and request repayment of
of
At the conclusion of their oration,
the loan.
one

supposed

the

that

ambassadors

while

his

the

handed

to

the

king a small coffer,

ately
key. Henry immedi-

tendered a
colleague
opened the box, and found therein his bond for
the million,cancelled by the munificent
Seignory.
delicate a compliment,
The
at so
king, enchanted
drew his sword, and waving it aloft,exclaimed
"
Ventre
St. Gris ! behold
sword, Messieurs
my
"

"

AND

1601.]
which

MARIE

DE

281

MEDICI.

will be

always at the service of your illustrious

and most
noble republic
! '
the duke
raine,
Madame
de Lorand her father-in-law,
subsequentlymet her brother at Monceaux
which
the first time
that Henry had made
was
sojournin the chateau since the demise of Gabrielle
"

"

"

d'Estrees.

Madame

convalescent

was

afflicted

but

who, fearingthe
by the absence of her husband
reproachesof the king, feigned sickness to avoid
A
leaving Nancy.
great friendshipimmediately
"

duchess
the queen
and Madame
: the
jesty
sympathized with Marie; and joined with her mabetween

arose

deploringthe absence
in the king'scharacter.

seance

principleand

of

in

The

queen

Menlavish

was

of the beautiful

gardens and park

de Beaufort,
of Monceaux, plannedby the duchess
and bequeathedby her to Cesar-Monsieur.
Henry,
in her admiration

he

though

confirmed

had

donation

this

made

to

to
promised the queen
present the
chateau and grounds to her,provided that she gave
if she remembered
birth to a dauphin. Madame,
of his
the demise
her brother's patheticletter on
of
he wrote, " The
wherein
beloved
root
Gabrielle,

his

son,

yet

my

love

is withered

have

smiled

Leaving
Henry made
Calais.

the

The

king ;

armies

rendered

the

and

"

This

and

anecdote

archdukes

was

societyof Madame,
Paris,and from thence to
the

Low

Countries

the

vicinityof

royalpresence

this celebrated

Rochefoucault.

to

in the

of the

The

must

complacentlydespoilthe

in

progress

ardour

frontier.

"

favourite abode.

queen

war

it revive !

can

never

him

hear

to

of his mother's

son

were

by

the

the hostile

desirable

on

the

then besiesnno;Ostend

which
siege,

related

excited

Louis

commenced

XIV.

to the duke

July
de la

282

HENRI

4, 1601, absorbed

the

IV.

[1601.

attention

and

sympathies of

sovereignsAlbert and Isabel were

had
laid
present in camp ; while prince Maurice
siege to Bolduc,the most
importantstrongholdof
Brabant.
The journey of king Henry excited the
suspicionof the Spanish government ; who feared
with the queen
of England, his
that, in concert
he had experienced
majestymight avenge the perfidy
during the recent
campaign, by covertlyaffording
aid to the besieged. This fear was
increased
by
tended
inthat Elizabeth
had arrived at Dover, and
news
confer
to
Quatre.
personallywith Henri
The
known, had exhorted Henry not
queen, it was
to conclude
at
Lyons ; but to pursue and
peace
until the pernicious
hamper Spanish policy,
preponderance
of that cabinet in Europe had been overthrown.
were
Philip and his ministers,moreover,
conscious
of many
misdemeanours
testifyingtheir
ill-will towards
the king of France ; and which the
Europe.

latter had

The

reason

resent.

to

serious

assault

had

been made
the person of the nephew of the
on
lately
French
ambassador,M. de la Roche, and several
members
stillunder adjuof his embassy,which was
dication
in Madrid

"

though

redress for the

with

little chance

of

injured. La Roche and several gentlemen

were
bathingin a pieceof water abuttingon
the grounds of El Pardo, when
several Spanishcavaliers
came
up, and began to insult the bathers,calling
them opprobrious
such as, Franceses
names
bellacos,
The French gen!
e maladettos Luteranos
borrachos,
tlemen
and replyingin the
such epithets,
resenting
the Spaniardsseized
same
style of vituperation,
into the
the clothes of the former,and cast them
A conflict ensued
minated
terwith swords, which
water.
and
of the Spaniards,
in the flight
of some
"

MARIE

AND

1601.]
the death

of other

the noblemen

DE

283

MEDICI.

of the cavaliers.

The

friends of

immediatelyasked for vengeance,

and appealedto the justice
of the king. The abode
of the French
ambassador
was
thereupon stormed ;
his doors broken open by the Spanish alguazils,
and
the offenders arrested,
without
regard to the rights
of ambassadors,
the courtesies due to a friendly
or
were
power.1 Representations
vainly addressed to
the Spanishcouncil; and the affair finally
terminated
of the French
by the withdrawal
embassy,and the
countries.
the two
suspensionof relations between
When
still
Calais the grievance
at
was
Henry was
under
examination
by commissioners ; nevertheless,
the Spaniardsshowed
intense distrust, of the motive
of the king in approachingso near
of
to the camp
the archduke.
bassador,
Albert, therefore,deputed an amthe count
de Solre,to wait upon
Henry,
and, under pretext of presentingthe felicitations of
their imperialhighnesseson
the approaching accouchement
of queen
Marie, to penetrate the true
a
design of Henry's visit to Calais
compliment
returned by his majesty,
who sent the duke d'Aiguilslain

"

lon

to

thank

the archduke.

Queen

Elizabeth,meantime, anxiouslydesired to
confer with the king,and set out
for Dover, having
first despatchedLord
Edmonds
with letters to his
condition of
majestystatingher wish. The political
with
Europe filled the queen
foreboding. Every
monarchy was menaced, or troubled by the intrigues
of Spain and Austria.
Through her faithful ally
trigue
of the inHenry, the queen had been admonished
afloat in the papal and Spanish cabinets,
to
1

Journal

thieu, t.

2.

de

Henri

IV.

Lettres

Bentivoglio Kelationi

Flandra,lib. 11, p. 84.

"

du

cardinal

delle

d'Ossat.

Ma-

provincieUnite

di

284

HENRI

transfer the

king

crown

of Scotland

to

of Parma.

[1C0L.

England at her
Lady Arabella

of

effectingthe marriage
of the duke

IV.

of the

This

with

death

from

Stuart

the
after

the brother

latter with

design was conducted

a
plausibleprojectto

and sounded
dexterity,
the champions of the orthodox
faith ; for the young
from
John
of
descended
princeFarnese was
lineally
Gaunt,1 and inherited the militaryabilities of his
of
The
father,duke Alessandro.
prolongedcontest
the states of Holland
with Spain,and the dominance
of the latter power
likewise
throughout Italy,were
subjects
upon which Elizabeth desired to confer. The
and
believed that the only means
to overcome
queen
the reneutralize these projectswas
to
newal
effectually
of the alliance offensive and
the

two

Elizabeth

crowns.

defensive

also desired

between
to

confide

scheme to her faithful

grand political
ally,with the view of restoringan equalbalance of
and
libertyof conscience,to the nations of
power,
spatched
Europe. On her arrival at Dover, the queen deSidney with fresh letters to Henry : her
not
to have been
majestyit appears felt disappointed
greeted by the king in person, after the gracious
intimation which she had given him of her desire for
conference.
a
Henry was at first disposedto cross
the channel ; but various importunatepersons counselled
his majesty not to trust himself in the realm of
gered,
his lovingally,
for that his libertymight be endanand restored only after the surrender of Calais
of the treaties
to the English; or after the abrogation
in short, the
of Cateau
and Vervins
Cambresis
:
the outline of

Through

descended

his

from

Lancaster, and
enters

at

mother,

Marie

de Guimaraens,
of John

Philippa,daughter
of John
I. king
consort

of

of

who

was

Gaunt

Portugal.

lineally
duke

of

D'Ossat

length into this intrigue in his celebrated letters.

AND

1601.]

sudden

fervour

MARIE

DE

285

MEDICI.

terview,
by Elizabeth to obtain an init was
pretended,might, if gratified,
give
la Marquise ! l
umbrage to the queen, and to madame
The Englishcounsellors,
the other hand, repreon
sented
Elizabeth that she might be captured
to queen
by the Spanishfleet cruisingoff Ostend : moreover,
shown

that the weather

was

the channel

across

boisterous

that the passage

beth,
probablybe perilous.Eliza-

so

would

wrote
therefore,

the

followingletter the
hoped might pique
"

last

the
paragraph of which she
of Henry IV., and induce him to visit her ;
curiosity
confidential personage,
at least,
to send some
or
haps
perM. de Rosny, to Dover :
"

Elizabeth

Queen
Monsieur,

"

had

hitherto

happy, and

bit

those

less

believe

own

will,we

embracing you,
ally you who are
"

whom
to

I most
you

incomparable

the
virtue

to

caused
less

extreme

that of their

also beset

well

as

personages,
with

thorns

to

perform

than

the sea
prevented from crossing
had
promised myself the felicity

I
as

your

my

very

love and
secret

loyalsister

very

dear

of your

and

brother, and

thoughts, I

majesty,your
I
I

anxietyevinced by

had

also

cannot

the queen

the fabrication of endless mendacious

faithful
the

in the world

revere

of my

gentlecourtesy to ladies.
communication
to make, which
The

more

other, however,

others
satisfy

your

high

"

each

us.

of

that

condition,are

are

separates

each

to

near

as, rather

"

confide

so

of mediocre

our

Brother

beloved

subjectto contradiction,than
me

difficulties

and

IV.

that the fate of sovereignswas

abode

and

which

dear

considered

subjects. Our
begins to make
as

vert

Henri

to

sonage
per-

for to

admire

the

valour, and
an

important

write, or confide
Henri

to meet

reports,all more

IV.
or

for improbability
Le roy de
and indecency.
distinguished
France
the
a le gout trop fin
was
vieille,"
pour courir apres une
conclusion generally
arrived at by Henry'ssubjects.
"

286

to

HENRI

any

hoping
to

of my

and

to

beloved

and

London

brother, to

few

days.

continue

Therefore,

own.

I have

propitiousseason,

more

in

[1G01.

of your

servants, or

own

for another

return

IV.

God, my

I pray

to

His

you

resolved

holy

dear
grace

benedictions.
"

From

your

affectionate

and
sister,

true
"

ally,

Elizabeth."

After

perusingthis missive,
Henry sent for Rosny,
"
who had justarrived from Paris.
See !" exclaimed
his majesty,"here
is a letter from my good sister
the queen
of England, whom
you admire so greatly.
It is fuller of flattery
! Can
than ever
you divine
what she wishes to impartby the latter portion
of her
letter ?"
and declared that
Rosny perusedthe letter,
be important,
the communication
must
and necessary
the
ascertain ; and proposed to sail for Dover
to
followingmorning. Thia excursion he represented
alone
might be stated as undertaken out of curiosity
the queen
would doubtless be apprized
of his landing,
and as he had no officialcommunication
to make, her
majestycould pleaseherself whether she noticed his
visit. The next
Rosny went on
morning,therefore,
board, and landed at Dover at ten o'clock. He was
recognizedand greeted,on steppingashore,by Lord
and Sir Walter
Cobham
Raleigh; and subsequently
by the Earls of Devon and Pembroke.
Rosny put
disconcerted
air on
a
on
being accosted by these
noblemen
; and prayed them, for the love of heaven,
his landingto queen
to mention
not
Elizabeth,as he
had visited Dover
for private
recreation ; and was not
in fitting
garb to salute the most illustrioussovereign
of Europe.2 He
then abruptlytook leave of these
"

de
1

hv. 12eme.
Sully,
Xivrey. Journal
"Tous

ces

Lettres
de Henri

messieurs

Missives de Henri

IV.

"

Berger

IV.

reprirenten

riant que

j'avaisprisune

288

HENRI

IV.

[1G01.

of Protestant

princesagainstthe overwhelmingpower
in the negative;
of Spainand Austria ? Rosny replied
had been
but stated that the king,since that period,
involved in difficulties which
fend
compelled him to dehimself at home ; that great preparations
were
needful for a campaign of the magnitude contemplated,
in which France
to playthe chief military
was
"
role.
True, M. de Rosny," repliedElizabeth ;
"
and
to
but if our
we
project be realized,
agree
reduce
the dominions
of the house of Austria,the
allies must
each covenant
not to appropriate
territory
stance,
which shall menace
or
disquietthe others. For inif Spainis deprivedof the Low
Countries,that
be appropriated
not
must
territory
by the kings of
for each
France, Scotland,Sweden, or Denmark
of these powers
is already strong enough, by land
and sea, to rouse
the jealousyof the rest of the allies
by such increase of territory.If the kingof France,
take to
to
or
even
brother,were
appropriate,
my
himself suzerainty
the Seven
United
over
Provinces,
"

I do

wish

not

conceive

to

violent

did the

conceal

from

jealousy;

nor

you

that

should

I should

I take it ill

relative
king manifest a similar susceptibility
to
myself." The queen
proceeded to discuss the
for remodelling
details of a
stupendous scheme
Europe. Elizabeth proposedto restore to Germany
its Golden Bull and ancient privileges
of electing
the
and a king of the Romans
the
; to render
emperor
Seven Provinces
independentof Spain,and to erect
a
powerfulrepublicby the addition of certain provinces
from the empire; to conto be dismembered
struct
of Switzerland,adding the
a similar republic
provincesof the Tyrol,Franche-Comte,and Alsace:
to
equalizethe power and territories of the chief
to whit, by depriving
European states
Spain of the
"

AND

1601.]

MARIE

DE

289

MEDICI.

Indies; by adding the Lombard

dominions

Savoy and

Provinces

Piedmont

to

the

by givingSicily
pendent
indeto the Venetians
; and by making Naples an
kingdom.1 Finally,to suppress all worship
nant
in Europe except that prescribed
by the three domibe tolerated
to
creeds,which were
religious
universally.The designs of Elizabeth and her
allyhave most of them been since realized : it is,
homage to render to the geniusof
however,no slight
which two centhese great personages, that projects
turies
discussed by them, have
and a half ago were
been with various modifications adopted by the succeeding
nately
unfortuof Europe. Elizabeth
statesmen
old to hope to behold the first step
too
was
the realization of her

towards
Henri

of

Quatre,

beset

by

designs : while

vast

treasonable

combinations

no
through his victories France harboured
foreignfoe, and not findinga congenialally in
Elizabeth's successor, was
himself struck by death
about
to take the initiative in a policy
when
which
would have revolutionized Europe.
The interview over, Rosny privately
returned
to
the incidents of
Calais,and reportedto his master
this important conference.
The
design always
his
haunted Rosny : his levies of men
and finances,
counsels and foreign
tended to its accomplishment.
ever
policy,

when

The
and

greatest secrecy

observed

was

nominated
embassy was
by the king to
beth
proceed to London, to thank and compliment Elizafor her invitation,
lest it should be imagined
that M. de Rosny had holden officialconference with
an

the queen.
The duke de Biron
mission : if favours could have
of
spirit

the
1

VOL.

II.

marshal,or
Mom.

de

have

selected for this

was
won

elicited

SuUy, liv. 12, and

the

unstable

one

throb

14eme.
U

of

290

HENRI

the
gratitude,
worked

that

generosity of

[1G01.
the

have

the

king must
period of

in the Franciscan

cloister of

miracle.

confession
partial
he

IV.

From

Biron's

Lyons,

if

Henry desired to atone

from that
for the shame
and mortification resulting
avowal.
He was
eventually
permitted to return to
of the fortress ;
Bourg and receive the capitulation
the colonelcy
of a famous
regimentwas given him ;
the king frequentlycorresponded with
him, and
renewed
the offer of bestowing upon
more
once
d'Estrees.
him his daughter by Gabrielle
Every
favour
seemed
the envious heart of Biron,
to harden
had

been

whose

temper

brook

the

his

as

now

was

of
expression

subordinates.

The

irritable that he could

so

matters, while

minor

on

courted

difference of

not

opinioneven

his gusts of anger

terrified

duke, however, graciously

visit the

Englishcourt,1 and arrived in

Calais about the 5th day of September, 1601, from
whence
the 7th, accompanied by the
he sailed on
count
d'Auvergne and a retinue of 150 gentlemen.
Henry frequentlycorrespondedwith the queen
Marie
that
wrote
during his sojourn at Calais.
she was
during her retirement at Fontainebleau
rusing
pePlutarch.
To this Henry replied:"M'amye,
consented

I write

to

to

you

on

the

sea

"

the

weather

is

so

fine

coastingis pleasant. Vive Dieu ! you could

have sent me
not
more
agreeableinformation than
take pleasurein such reading. Plutarch
that you
smiles upon me, and arrays himself in the garb
ever
is to love myself; for
of novelty: to love Plutarch
the teacher of my youth. My good mother,
he was
whom
I owe
to
everything,and who watched my

that

king gave Biron a sum of 100,000 francs for the expenses

of his equipment ; his majesty also assignedthe ambassador
a
of
100
crowns
a day.
pension
1

The

MARIE

AND

1601.]

inclinations with

book

into

Plutarch

has been

whisperedin

On

the

14th

me

ear

my

Fontainebleau
his

when

to

of my

government

of

hands

my

not
affection,
wishing,she
a royalblockhead,put this

intense

be the mother

said,to

as

yet

well

has

and

as

tically."1
poli-

returned

September,Henry

to

of

the accouchement

Marie, accompanied by

consort.

excellent for the

morallyas

at

infant.

an

conscience

be present

to

was

maxims

many

conduct

of

291

MEDICI.

DE

Madame

de

by the duchess de Nemours,

madame
de
de Montglat,
Guercheville,madame
whom
the king nominated
to the office of gouvernante
Eleonore
des enfans de France, and
Galigai,had
Bar,

and

taken

up

attended

her abode
The

August.
she

at

health

the chateau
of

the

queen

about
was

the end of
excellent

daily in the forest,and amused herself

with musical instruments,and by attempts to talk
cited
theologywith Madame, her majesty having been inthereto by cardinal du Perron.
As the period
of Marie's delivery
drew near, the heart and prayers
drove

of the

nation

with

were

her;

and

the

birth

of

termination
hoped for,as an appropriate
of the past era of anarchy,and as a pledgeof future
The
seized with labourwas
tranquillity.
queen
pains at midnight,on the 27th of September,1601,

dauphinwas

and

continued

her

courage

have

proved
of
but

of

any

MS.

fatal.

the

The

realm

Marie

person

had
1

ill for twenty-two

hours.
But for
robust health,the ordeal might
and
chief surgeons
waited
in the

refused

but

the

to

midwife

de Henri

de M.

IV., t.

whom
the

Feuillet de Conches"

sicians
phy-

room
royal ante-

accept the

previouslyselected,with

Collection

and

services
she

self
her-

characterLettres

5.

u2

sives
Mis-

292

HENRI

IV.

istic observation,
"I

choose

Boursier.

deceived

let her attend

and

never

am

[1601.

the services of madame

in any

solicitude of the

me."

The

never

left the apartment

he

I select;

person

tense,
in-

king was

of his

consort.

the celebrated

chamber
lying-in
Chambre
Ovale, in

of the queen was

the palace of

Fontainebleau

there

the birth of the

child,the king,

The

present

were

duchess

the

Madame,

at

de

the

Nemours,

de

duke

Montpensier,the Count de Soissons and the prince

de Conty,princesof the blood.
The adjacentcabinet
de la reine was
occupiedby the ministers and other
The
saloon was
filled by ladies,
high personages.
of the household
of the princes.
and
personages
Louis
XIII.
born at half-pastten at night
was
the child was
supposed at first to be lifelessj1 but the
skill and coolness of madame
Boursier,who justified
"

La

"

etant

que

personne

giron sans
roy vint

de chambre

si c'etait

du

printla
jemeterois

bouteille.
du

autre

Je

quel

enfant

gave

the

au

c'estoit."

Madame

; il

roy

demanda.

me

fera

triste et

signalagreed upon
his majesty of the

revint

oui.

vis le roy

'

Je

vous

mourir

couloient

!'

baissa,et

Naissances

par

Louise

mit

Sage-femme,
priene me donnez
Le

roy

de

leva
aussi

of

point de

les yeux
grosses

au

que

de chambre
"

contre

fils'?

Messeigneurset Dames
de
Boursier, Sage Fenime

Ciel

les
la

La
mon

un

savoit
she
form
to incouleur
oreille

Je

luy dit que

joie; cela me

courte

de

mit

me

comme

dauphin.
un

et lui

relates how

'

ce

roy

qu'ilne

then

la bouche
est

Le

Faites

the first femme

birth

la bouche

d'autant

change

Boursier

to

'

la face

sur

Des

1652.

se

'

des

Sire,

'

"

trop.'

une

Je lui demande

Je lui dis !

vin dans

peur que la foiblesse dure

la bouche
dit.
contre
et me

Le

c'etoit.

bouteille.

une

donnerois,de
'

enfant

mon

visage,et jevis
de Lozeray,Pun

au

de M.

vin

dans

Dauphin

quel

roy ; il apporta

enfant

le

jeregardel'enfant

demande

du

autre

un

la bouteille

et

M.

moi

que

cuillier ; le roy

une

en

Je

je mis

sceust

de moi

aupres

grande foiblesse.
valets

accouchee

reyne

les larmes

lui

pois," etc.
Enfans
de France,
Reyne ; a Paris,
gros

"

AND

1601.]
thn
"

MARIE

DE

293

MEDICI.

this

queen's preference,averted

Tears

heard

down

ran

that

the

cheeks

of the

calamity.1

king when

he

born," relates madame

dauphin was
"
narrative.
He asked
Boursier,in her interesting
whether
I had told the queen ?
I repliedno
me
but that I begged his majesty to do so, but with
the
precaution. The king then went, and embraced
and said,' M'amye, you have
suffered much
queen
;
a

"

God

but

has

blessed

us

"

we

have

son.'

Her

jesty
ma-

claspedher hands, a few tears escaped,and she

fainted away." The room
then cleared ; the king,
was
taking the dauphin in his arms, exhibited him to
the personages
in the adjacent apartments.
M.
Herouard, first physician,then took possessionof
the little prince,
and escorted him, lyingin the arms
of madame
de Montglat, to his apartment.
The
each other,
great.2 People embraced
transports were
weeping for joy. All night the town of Fontainebleau celebrated
the event
bonfires,
by fireworks,
music and feastings.Barrels of wine were
emptied
in the court
of the chateau in honour
of the king,
and
M. le Dauphin ; and couriers were
spatched
dequeen,
to
to
news
carry the transporting
every
in
the
realm.
The
province
followingday early,
visits to the apartments of the dauphin re-commenced
and

lasted till dusk-hour.

dome,

who

found

by

had
one

been

of the

The

little Cesar

VenfantgaU
queen'swomen

de

de Ven-

la cour,

clingingto

was

the

Eloges des Dauphins de France, par le P. Hilarion de

Coste
XVIII.
Eloge de Louis
dauphin de France.
etait si grande que
le roy Henri
IV. presse
L'allegresse
1

"

de

"

"

congratulations de

pour
d'un

qui l'environnoient,qu'en passant

aller a TEglisedu chateau rendre
graces a la Divine Majeste
si grand benefice,
son
chapeau demeura parmi la presse."
ceux

"

Ibid.

294

HENRI

IV.

[1G01.

to the young
tapestry portal
leading

prince's
chamber,
and
crying bitterly. Monsieur, what are
you
"
doing and what ails you ?
Nobody speaks to
and
now
me
; yesterday,everybody answered
me,
to-daythey say I may not go in there ! sobbed the
child,pointingto the door of the queen'sapartment.
"

"

"

"

When

Marie

little
should
when

became

soon

birth

affliction of her

well

Vendome

de

M. le
in the

wife

forest.1

days after
king,writingto the

dauphin, the
Rosny, says : " It is wonderful

my

Dauphin

Two

convalescent.

of the

de

marquis
how

of the

favourite,she ordered that M.

be amused, and allowed to see
he liked,and go out
ride
to

Marie
the

informed

was

is.

She

dress

can

behold

to

her

hair,and

talks

tion
to-dayof risingfrom her bed ! Her constitu2
is marvellously
letter
In the same
strong !"
the
cessary
neHenry commands
Rosny to prepare
the
the
deeds
for transferring
to
queen
castle of Monceaux.
Henry, however, purchased
the

chateau

from

Cesar-Monsieur

and

ordered

for the benefit of the

Kosny to invest the money
prince. For several weeks after the birth of the
of Fontainebleau
dauphin the town
kept festival :
people from the extremityof France journeyedto
"
M.
le Dauphin, as he lay
gaze enrapturedupon
work, presented
asleepin his cradle of fine filigree
the grand duchess
The
Christine."
by madame
details

with
1

"

of

Voila

bien

pour
avec

faire mourir
mon

et
tils,

estrange a cet enfant

Boursier, Accoucheuse.
2

establishment

nursery

cussed
dis-

were

by the gravest personages, and approved,

the exceptionof the appointment of the wet-

s'amuse

cun

his

Mem.

de

"

ce

pauvre

que Ton
said her

t.
Sully,edit, original,

2.

ne

enfant
pense

; c'est que

pas

lui ; cela est

majesty. Recitde
"

cha-

Louise

296

IV.

HENRI

[1601.

magnanimity set by her predecessor.In Rome the

birth of the dauphin occasioned
great rejoicing.
The pope
for d'Ossat to felicitate him, and to
sent
the hope u that from
the union
of their
express
Christian majestiessons
might spring gloriousas
from
would
France
the
Charlemagne, who
purge
tries!"
poison of heresy,and also all neighbouringcounHis holiness deputed Maffeo
Barberini
to
proceed to France, to convey his Apostolicbenison
to

Marie

queen

present, for the

and

her

to

infant

son

and

to

of the

a magnificent
latter,
layette
blessed by the pope
custom
a
long observed on
the birth of the heirs of France
and Spain.1 The
little princewas
privately
baptizedat Fontainebleau,
by the archbishopof Bourges, the day but one after
his birth.
The ceremony
of the state baptism was
deferred until the dauphin was
old enough to attend
the religious
instructions of his chaplain a decision
to
arisingpartlyfrom the theological
opinionsof
his majesty on the subject; and partlyfrom Henry's
disgustat the ungraciousrefusal of the grand-duke
to
accept the office of godfather to the dauphin.
of the grand-dukewere
The feelings
greatlymodified
tages
respectinghis alliance with Henri IV. ; the advanwhich
he hoped therebyto derive were
dered
rendoubtful
by the feuds of the court, and the
uncertaintyof the queen'stemper ; also he resented

use

"

"

the

treatment
to

which

to

be

his envoy

subject. Moreover,

Giovannini
duke

tinued
con-

Ferdinand

proved
chagrin at the conclusion of peace ; he disapthe exchange made
by the king of Saluzzo
for the county of Bresse,which
exposed the Italian
princeswho had espoused Henry's quarrelto the

felt

Hilarion

France.

"

de

Lettres

Coste
du

"

Eloge

cardinal

de

Louis

d'Ossat.

"

XVIII.

dauphin

de

297

MEDICI.

DE

MAKIE

AND

1601.]

The

grand-duke, therefore,
unwisely resolved to give proof to the Spanish
cabinet that he was
not
devoted, as was supposed,to
French
interests,
by refusingthe honour tendered
by king Henry, on the plausibleplea that the
of

resentment

Spain.

forbade

church

of the

canons

child

have

to

two

acceptedthe office ;
the duchess
dauphin was

Clement

godfathers.1Pope
godmother of the

Mantua, sister of the

the
of

queen.

le

M.

Dauphin was
removed
to St. Germain
en
Laye. The municipality
ridicule by prowell-merited
of Paris incurred much
nouncing
a solemn
harangue to the infant princeas
de Montglat
Madame
he passed through Paris.
made
reply,standingby the dauphin,who layasleep
of the

dauphin

The
Marquise,at Verneuil.3
but did not
his physician,
which
omission
brought an
from

mistress

an

"

letters

II Re

Bar, at

la

comare

dall'accetiare

of the
compel the abjuration
the solicitation of her husband,

richiesto per
duchessa
de

avea

also memorable

was

to

attempt

de

duchesse

per

Riviere

series of

angry

la

madame
La

sent

visit his

of October

month

same

for another

"

king

to

the

Henriette.

This

born

was

son

after

weeks

Three

cradle.2

in his sumptuous
birth

of October

the month

During

pari il

com

Montova

questo carico,e

per

papa
si

il gran-duca,e
Ferdinando

scuso

de
guistificazione

suo

refiuto

del concilio ehe proibival'elezione di due

disposizione
compari. Con la publicaostentazione di compare del Delfino, il
in nuovi
G-duca
volea cadere
non
sospettidel Re Filipponel
piiiforti le speranze de reconciliarsi con
punto istesse che erano

addresse

la

il medesimo."
2

"

Godefroy
"

This

renowned

son

Galluzzi
Grand

the

ancestor

king

"

Istoria del Granducato.

de

Cerem.
named

of that

was
princethis appellation

France,

Gaston
name.

abandoned

de
At

t. 2.

Foix, in honour

the

confirmation

for that of

Henry.

of his
of the

298

liENRI

who

IV.

[1G01.

abjectletters to the king,the sum of which

"
unless Henry'sinterposition
was,
quHl elait damne"
availed with Madame.
The
witty and learned du
Perron
had been frequentlythe guest of the king
since the arrival of the duchess : Madame
enjoyed
his bon-mots and erudite disquisitions,
and seemed
at
time not averse
conference.
to sanction a religious
one
Du
Perron's influence was
watched
by the
jealously
duke
of Bouillon,who, since his alliance with the
house of Nassau, made
intolerant professtill more
sion
of Calvinism.
The
membering
Huguenots of France, rewrote

the
summoned

to

blow

dealt

the accuracy
of the treatise composed
of
de Mornay, shrank from the project
test

by M.
again meeting du Perron
said Bouillon
abruptly to

the

minded

the

to

Perron

Madame
to

leave

the

church
she

as

leave

the

we

!"

"

in debate.

seek

us,

! Conferences

damage

conference

in the

them

if you
instructions of M.

duchess, "

will have

communion

of

no

of:

more

filled the

Tears

"
that
replied,

Madame,"

she had

the

no

reformed

are

du

they

eyes

of

intention
church

in
delightful
that she, who
had
few friends,
so
converse
; and
could not afford to reject
of amity."1
overtures
of
Amongst martyrs faithful to the inspirations
claim a palm :
Catherine
d'Albret may
conscience,
her persecutions
were
sharp and prolonged. Every
worldly prosperityand inducement
prompted her
that

to

M.

du

Perron

abandon

the

and

was

reformed

learned

faith

and

and

suasion
perevery
bear on the

brought to
the harrier
as
was
represented
fraternal love,conjugal
felicity,

preferencewas

question. Her faith

which deprivedher of
and regalhonours.
Neither
the merit of constancy
was
the sacrifices
conceded
to the duchess,despite
1

MS.

Bibl.

Imp. Suppl.fr.

1G4.4.

DE

MEDICI.

for conscience

sake.

AND

1G01.]
she had

made

she had

written

MARIE

299

The

letter which

of exaspethe pope, in a moment

ration,
tion
abjureif his holiness would sanc-

to

to
offering
her marriagewith Soissons,
was
alwaysquotedas
of temper, and not
a proofthat obstinate
inflexibility
The
the obstacle to her recantation.
was
conviction,
occurred,
king,in the altercations which perpetually
Madame
invariably
adopted this view, and wounded
became the more
The king's
by his taunts.
reproaches
that M. de Bar,
confirmed
vivid, as his fear was
reallydriven to the verge of insanityby compunction
of conscience,would
rather incur any perilof
the royal resentment
than suffer his marriagewith

Madame

to

subsist.

"I

well informed

am

that M.

born
repudiateyou, unless your stubsaid the king. " I will not be
temper yields,"
called brother by a divorced woman
St.
; and,Ventre
Gris ! Madame, when
such event
happens,you shall
find no
refuge in my dominions I" " Sire,"replied
the duchess, humbly, " when
forsake me, God
you
Bar

de

intends

will protect
poor,
denied
come,

to

me.

trust

in Him

"

I had

rather be

miserable,and despisedin this world, than be

by Christ my Saviour, in that which is to
in the presence
all the
of God, before whom
of earth

upon
Henry thereembraced
his sister with tears, and applauded
"
"
her rejoinder
:
but," relates the chronicler,
many
have
shed
been grievouslydeceived
these
tears
by
by his majesty." It was
decreed, however, that
Madame
should
have
cessation from
a
harassing
discussion for the space of ten months, during which
the theological
to peruse
periodshe agreeddiligently
works
of du Perron.2
The relief was
timely: Ma-

crowns

MS.

Ibid.

Bibl.
"

are

but

Imp. Suppl.fr.

When

the

as

dust !" l

1644.

princessquitted the

court

to

return

to

300

HENRI

health

dame's

IV.

dailybecoming

was

her

days were
spent in
soothing the plaintsof
called

her

wife

tenderness
words

Christendom
the

duke

and

the

the

"

and

tears, and

miserable

her, to

unhappy

most

in

prince who

frantic alternations

rendered

of horror

precarious

more

prayers

whose

Catherine, "

of

At

and

[1601.

of
the

use

of

woman

!"

Elizabeth,meanwhile, the

of queen
courted
was

court

de Biron

and

flattered in

measure

of his merits and digappreciation

nity.
received
The duke
landed
at Dover, and was
and escorted by noble personages
sent
magnificently,
London.
Two
to
days after the
by the queen
arrival of the duke, Elizabeth grantedhim audience
ceremonial
The
her palace of Greenwich.
was
at
if the queen comprehended
and pi'epared
as
elaborate,

his

equalto

the

own

of the

character

first conducted

English

to

matrons

of

maidens
saluted

by

saloon in which
assembled

were

passed into

he

the

"and

court

some

of the

ladies of the realm.

was

chief noble

many

from

duke

this chamber

apartment, occupiedby the

second

The

ambassador.

in

more

third,Biron

elderlyand

ambassador

The

was

venerable

preceded
by his 150 gentlemen,each cavalier marching with a
In the adjoiningapartlord of the English court.
ment
Elizabeth
sat
on
a
throne,surrounded by her
ministers and household.
A fauteuil
was
placedon
her majesty's
right,a step lower,evidentlyintended,
"
for Henry's ambassador.
Eh, M. de Biron !" exNancy,

"

ne

d'Evreux

M.

presenta le

livre

le montrer

le mit
Brie
tout

dans

a
son

(du Perron) prenant conge

lui
qu'il avait promis,a la charge de

personne.

Montant

manchon.

Le

Comte-Robert,
fasche

was

M.

et mal-content."

son

carrosse

roi reconduisit

Madame

Lorraine

de
"

dans

MS.

son

d'elle lui
le

voir,et
madame

jusque'a

beau-peres'en

alia

visit

in

she bears

Elizabeth

old

poor
you

the

DE

majesty,"

her

claimed
to

MARIE

AND

1601.]

to

merits
then

so

have

you

who

woman,

taken
has

king, and her

good servant

your
a

the trouble

nothingto

compense
re-

tion
except by the strong affec-

return

of

301

MEDICI.

embraced

the

power

like

duke, who

to

ciate
appre-

!"
yourself
presented

his

handed
to
letter,which the queen
sovereign's
Her
Cecil,and desired him to read aloud.
majesty
the virtues of
then made
short speech,eulogizing
a
the Christian

king.

Biron

was

then

commanded

to

d'Auvergne,who the queen

suite
was
apprized had joined the ambassador's
incognito. M.
d'Auvergne thereupon advanced,
and with a low obeisance
said,"Madame, behold
the individual whom
deign so to honour; and
you
is inspiredwith
for
who
unspeakable veneration
dress
of your
the sacred person
majesty." This adgreatlypleasedthe queen, who termed it apt,
and
worthy of the son of her late dear and faithful
Elizabeth
then led Biron
ally,king Charles IX.
ing
time, standapart, and conversed with him for some

introduce

M.

le Comte

in the embrasure

of

window.1

She

asked

next

marquis de Crequy,2son-in-law of the marshal

de Lesdiguieres. " Monseigneur," said the queen
while Crequy inclined before her, " be
graciously,
assured,and report the fact,that if my dear brother
I should
the Christian king had two
Lesdiguieres,
The
him to grant me
the services of one
!
petition
the desire of their queen, gave
at
English nobility,

for the

"

s'apperceutLien qu'ilne voulait s'asseoir dans

des chaises basses qu'elleavoit aux
cotes de la sienne pour
line
ne
prendre placeindigne de la grandeur desonmaitre."
Cayet
Chron.
Septennaire.
2
The
marquis de Crequy had espoused the daughter, and
de Lesdiguieres.
of the marshal
eventuallythe heiress,
1

"

La

royne

"

"

302

HENRI

magnificent
Biron

entertainments

entertained

was

palace. He
by the

at

[1601.
the

to

Windsor

French

and

lords.1

Richmond

at

frequentlyadmitted to
Elizabeth freely
discussed

also

was

queen.

with the marshal

events

discourse

IV.

the

late rebellion

and

ence
audi-

tical
poli-

condescended

to

of
decapitation
the Earl of Essex.
Biron ventured
to
deplore the
after such long and
rigour of the earl's sentence
arduous service,while examining a portrait
of Essex
in enamel, which
the queen
took
from
casket.
a
Elizabeth condescended
what Rosny terms
to answer
"
" I
di^cours si impertinent,"
thus :
raised the
un
earl of Essex to the highestdignityand favour.
He
audaciouslyabused my condescension,and fancied
that his services were
indispensable.His prosperity
and criminal
him
rendered
haughty,and perfidious,
in degree as he simulated
loyalvirtue. He suffered
the king my brother would do well
righteously
; and
in London.
He ought
to act in Paris as I have done
traitor and
deliver up to condign justiceevery
to
rebel of his realm.
I pray heaven that the clemency
of your
princemay not be fatal to him ; for myself,
I never
pardon any individual who dares to disturb
on

and

"

"

the peace
state

window,

from

the gibbet
Essex

De Thou
of my realm !
that this conversation

was

the Tower

whence

over

London

Bridge

impaled: by

other

and

passedat

could
on

rians
other histo-

which

be

an

open

seen

and

the head

contemporary

of

writers

it is asserted

Biron, and

that the queen

then entertaining
was
several of the principal
French
cavaliers,

Basing, the

at

The

words

of

seat

the

of the
queen

marquis
were

of Winchester.

ominous

when

ad-

Mathieu, liv. 2, who givesa minute detail of the ambassage ;

Leti
Vita
also
d'Elisabetta
Regina
Camden, part 4th.
d'Ingleterra,
p. 4067, et seq.
1

"

304

HENRI

ing it irksome
be made

to

to

merry

that Henriette
the

repairthither
by the wit of

should

arrangement

[1601.

as

often

his

he wished

as

mistress,
proposed

suite of apartments in
those of her majesty. This

have

Louvre, adjacentto

scandalous

IV.

was

effected with

the

assent

of the queen ; whose weak concessions certainly

rendered
her subsequentrigoroushate towards madame
then injudicious.
unexpected,as it was
Galigaiexpected the return of her fiance
and until her marriagewas
accomplishedit

Verneuil

de

Eleonore

Concini
was

to

necessary

flatter the mistress.

Towards

the

the queen
gave a fete of splendour
unprecedentedsince the palmy days of the regency
end

of December

Catherine

of

danced

Music

the

by
of

fifteen

de

the

Medici.

It consisted

herself,masqued,

queen
most

of

beautiful

ladies

of

her

ballet

and

by

court.

of
singingaccompanied the movements
the dancers.
The
the
subjectof the pageant was
de V Europe; the
glory of king Henry, Pacificateur
words
were
composed by Berthier,bishop of Seez ;
and

and

each

verse

"

ended

with

II faut que

tout

Grand

! miracle

Roi

vous

the refrain
rende

"

hommage,

de votre

"
age !

mademoiselle
de
Amongst the ladies chosen were
duchesse
de Nevers, the lovely
Guise, the young
mademoiselle
de Vertus, afterwards
duchesse
de
Montbazon, the countess
d'Auvergne,the duchesses
and de Montpensier,and madame
de Ventadour
de
The
la Marquise were
Verneuil.
king and madame
the part of
on
so
enrapturedwith this condescension
the queen, that Henry authorized
madame
de Ver1

Vie

d'Henriette

Radier.
historians

de Balzac

de
Dreux
marquise de Vernueil
This ballet is mentioned
by the gravest contemporary
as
something marvellous,even
by M. de Thou.
"

AND

1601.]
neuil

DE

MARIE

305

MEDICI.

marriageof La
Galigaion the return of her fianci\and, moreover,
demanded
for
granted the post of chevalier dlionneur,
In the first act of the memorable
Concini.
ballet,
Apollo entered attended by the nine Muses, who
danced,and alternately
depositedwreaths of laurel
second scene
was
a
at the feet of the king. The
dance, representingthe intricate evolutions of a
In the final act
led by madame
de Verneuil.
battle,
the queen
appeared as Venus, attended by her
nymphs, and precededby the little duke de Vendome, attired as Cupid. " The diamonds with which
lated
the stately
beset,scintilfigureof her majestywas
with such
that no
extraordinarybrilliancy
had before equalledit." The
fair attendants
spectacle
of the queen
performedto the admiration of
the spectators. The
king evinced his pleasureby
the papalnuncio,1
frequentapplause; and, addressing
he had ever
his majesty asked whether
witnessed a
to

intimate his

brilliant and

more

to

consent

beautiful

the

"

scene?

Belilssimo

"

I
emphatically.
pericolosissimo
respondedthe prudentprelate

In

order

not

lose the

to

benefit of the

king's

Eleonore
acquiescenceby perilousdelays,Donna
despatchedletters to Concini,announcing that the
obtained ; and recalling
royalassent to their union was
him
Giovannini
the duke

forthwith
once

more

from

England.

ventured,at

In

vain

the command

of

of

the queen
of the folly
Tuscany,to warn
of her proceedings.His counsels were
with
rejected
now
contumely:2 Marie fancied herself omnipotent,
that a fair young
dauphin abided at St. Germain.
1

Bishop of Camarino.

"

Giovannini

intieramente

imploravadal G-duca
VOL.

II.

avvilito

il richiamo."

"

alia
disprezzato

Galluzzi.
X

corte

306

HENRI

IV.

of naturalization

Letters

[1601.

granted to Concino
Concini;1 and on his return
to
Paris,after taking
leave of his patron the duke de Bracciano,who was
riage
making the tour of Elizabeth's dominions,his marwith Eleonore
Galigaiwas celebrated,
probably
in the

church

of

were

St. Germain

have been of

l'Auxerrois.

The

as
no
privatecharacter,
detail,beyond the bare record of such marriage,
has been transmitted.
The temper of the king and
of madame
la Marquise was
uncertain ; permission
might be revoked ; and the ambitious pair,having
Vheure du berger,
found
careful not to risk the
were
forfeit of this advantage. The
though she
queen,
and jealous.
had attained her desires,
was
disquieted
Soothed
hitherto by the expostulations
of her wily
Concini was
the marriageof madame
dame
no
d'atours,
effected than
Marie
sooner
repented,as well she
might,of having acceptedthe humiliating
patronage
of madame
la Marquise,and began to show herself

must

ceremony

sensitive

on

the indecorum

of the abode

of the latter

queen'sat this period

Attended
passedthroughoutthe salons of the capital.
Concini and others,Marie went
to inspect
by madame
the curiosities of a famous Levantine
merchant
newly
settled in Paris.
the
articles,
Amongst other rare
shown
set with carbuncles,
a drinking-cup
was
queen
which it was
said emitted fiery
sparkson the approach
examined
the magical cup
of poison. Marie
nestly
ear"
:
Monsieur," said she presently,
addressing
have a cup which will chase
the merchant, " if you
give it to me ! I will pay any
away melancholy,2
in the Louvre.

"

Some

Marie

asked

person

Faire fortune
*

"

mot

Concini

of the

what

he

was

going to

do in France

repliedhe.

manuscriptchronicler relates that the melancholy of queen

words spoken by the king, which,
proceeded from some

AND

1601.]

MARIE

price;and promiseto
at her

want

DE

drink

307

MEDICI.

from

it daily!"

tification
Mor-

'

of real influence with the

king

at the bold
queen'sexasperation
wit of Henriette,who, at the convivial meetingsof
the Hotels de Gondy and Zamet, called herself now
The receptions
Heine du Louvre,sinon de la France.
mother of the dauphin were, it was
of the queen
parated
true, sedulouslyfrequented.A corridor alone sethe saloons of la Marquise from the suite
the court
occupiedby her royal mistress. When
dismissed
was
by her majesty,all flocked to les
de Verneuil.
nuits de madame
Every celebrity
there welcomed
of Paris was
by the beautiful hostess ;
lasted till daybreak. La
and the revel frequently
Marquise had a sympathizingword for each of her
for the constable de Montmorency,
guests, especially
wife2
of his newly-married
whose unkind treatment
he espousedin indecent haste,and then tried
whom
of birth and
under the pleasof inferiority
to discard,
of the marriage
elicited
illegal
performance
ceremony
the generous
of the queen.
indignation
of the year 1601 many
eminent
During the course
of Henry IV. died.
The queenpersons of the court
dowagerLouise expiredon the 4th of July,after a long
illness borne with exemplaryresignation.
Louise was
precededto the grave by Henriette duchesse de Nevers,3

added

was

to

the

"

"

"

"

for his

honour,it is to be hoped have been exaggerated: " Le

la marquise,le
roy baise et mignarde fort le fils de madame
disant plus beau que celui de la reine sa femme, qu'ildisoit
ressembler aux
!
MS.
eux
Medici,etant noir et gros comme
"

"

1644.
Bibl.ImpSuppl.fr.
"

Ibid.

Laurence

second

wife.

"willbe

seen.

Henriette

de

Clermont,the youthfidaunt of the constable's

This affair subsequentlyoccupiedthe king, as

de

Cleves,widow

of Louis

de

Gonzague duke de
x

308

HENRI

of

one

the

the

The

in

the

good

of

princess
the

caught
de

Luce

and

the

27

demised.

Conty2

while

negotiate

the

journeying

her

husband's

half
the

Lastly,

he

duke

de
the

re-established

his

on

of

the

Lorraine,

Vendome,

de

her

Count

the

Turks

in

chateau

daughter

His

betrothed

bride

inherited

the

Soissons.

paign
cam-

which

during
fell

repute,

ill, and

February

the

19,

king's

immense

died

1602,

Francoise

daughter,
of

her

brilliant

Hungary,

fever,

only

with

de

after

military

malignant

home.

way

of

Montafie,

de

Mercosur,

his

Nuremburg,

at

Anne

brother,

against

the

Conty

DO

husband,

first

de
to

marriage

also

December

of

day

Madame

by

Conde1

of

th

of

personages

dowager

on

small-pox

to

brilliant

princess

age

[1601.

and

renowned

most

century.

died

IV.

de

son,

wealth

of

M.
her

father.

The

Nevers.
of

duchess

Henriette

died

June

Sunday

25th,

1601,

dropsy.
1

Madame

Conde,
2

Jeanne

Francoise
killed

at

de

d'

Orleans,

widow

of

Louis

Jarnac.

Coesnie,

widow

of

Louis

count

de

Montane.

prince

de

309

IV.

CHAPTER

1601"1602.

of

Rise

resolves

Its

league

new

"

visit the

to

Rosny Measures
the conspiracy

M.

to Orleans

of

Clement

"

"

king

of M.

Power

de

originof

repair to court
the latter
jesties
Journey of their maintents of Henri
Quatre
Rosny
of
the
Bastille
court
at
Sojourn
with
the dukes
d'Epernon and
is ordered

Lafin

revelations

Treacherous

provinces

The

"

the latter to sift the

adopted by

"

"

disaffected

abettors

and

objects

to

"

"

"

appointed governor of the

Blois
Royal interviews
dissensions
of
Bouillon "Council
extraordinary Domestic
Occasion
of the
the king and queen
Rosny acts as mediator
of their
of the royal pair Arrival
fracas Reconciliation
Mandate
is despatchedsummoning
majestiesat Plessis-les-Tours
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

attendance

the
Enthusiasm
La

for the

Pancarte
"

"

His

king

"

The

at

to extort

of

court

Repealof

marshal

arrival

endeavours

at

de

duke

de

the obnoxious

Biron

Fontainebleau

confession

the

from

Biron

"

tax termed

mons
obeys the royal sumThe
Details
king
Biron by the offer of a
"

"

de Biron to
refusals of the duke
pardon Contumacious
de
dealings with the duke
acknowledge his treasonable
de Biron and of the
Arrest of the duke
Savoye and others
count
conveyed to the Bastille
dAuvergne
They are

free

"

"

"

"

Interrogatoriesof
"

on

Sentence
the

Biron.

of death

the

duke

de Biron

pronounced
crime, trial,and execution
"

"

Efforts

Sentiments
of

the

on

of

his behalf

king Henry

marshal

due

de

310

HENRI

Rumours

and

IV.

tive
menacing nature, relade Biron,and
of the marshal
to the intrigues
other powerfulnoblemen, disquieted
the court at the
of the new
commencement
Through some
year.
unknown
but sinister agency,
the realm, though
agitated. An
enjoyingthe blessingof peace, was
in the
outward
prevailed
; but, as
aspect of loyalty
earlydays of the league,cabals began to be formed
in the provincesand towns
for the consideration of
the executive
to
paltrygrievances,which a petition
have redressed.
Reports
government would at once
knew
no
one
circulated,
were
how, throughoutthe
that it was
western
districts,
contemplatedto reduce
of
half the grant appropriatedfor the maintenance
the Huguenot garrisons,
and to curtail the pensions
of the ministers of the reformed
church ; also,to
close the avenues
to public service againstpersons
aliens from

indications of

[1601

the

of the
the

edict

orthodox

creed

great charter

of Nantes.

The

of

innovations

versive
sub-

Huguenot liberty
"

districts

most

disturbed

Anjou, Saintonge,Perigord,Limousin, Auand

the Blaisois.
Mysterious agents appeared
vergne,
in these provinces,
excitingthe inhabitants to
resist the levy of the tax
livre ; and
du sou
pour
of the
promptly to petition
againstthe re-imposition
vexatious
alleged
gabelle an impost which it was
were

"

the council

had

resolved

to

add

to

the

burden

of

stantly
conpeople. Anonymous communications were
being made to the king apprizinghim of
of the subtle rise of
the treacherypractised
; and
midable
attain forthreatened
to
a
new
league, which
The chief personages inculpated
proportions.
were
Biron, the count d'Auvergne,and the duke de
Bouillon ; and their sworn
though passiveabettors
and
the dukes de la Tximouille,
stated,
were, it was

the

312

IV.

HENRI

[KOI

the fears of the Huguenot population.

exasperating
It was
next
proposed to seize the towns of Blaye,
Bayonne, Narbonne, Marseilles,and Toulon; also
St. Fleur, the capitalof Auvergne : this accomplished,
Biron and his associates might with reason
satiated by the
find their ambition
to
hope soon
enjoyment of the provincespromisedby the catholic
king,as the priceof their treason againsttheir good
It is,however, difficult to
and indulgentmaster.
ascertain
aimed

the
the

"

exact

three

result

the

rule

the malcontents
La

submit

faith
of

impatientof
permanentlyto the

fierce temper,

foreigndynasty.

the reformed
advocate

which

dukes, Biron, Bouillon,and

of
were
men
Trimouille,
control,and not likelyto
thrall of

at

The

two

could

and

Spain,and

latter

fessed
pro-

not, therefore,

the introduction

of

important part of her system, the Chambers

tical
idenwas
therefore,
Inquisition.Their project,

that
of

with

that

restoration

of

of the

the

constable

great feudal

de

Bourbon

fiefs,and

the

"

the
sequent
con-

Biron's
sovereignpower.
share
was
already stipulatedBurgundy with the
Lyonnais Bouillon probably coveted the northern
of Sedan ;
provincescontiguousto his principality
he also,doubtless,desired the augmentation of the
he
of Nassau, with which
territoryof the House
was
allied,
by the addition of a portionof French
Trimouille
had
La
Flanders.
hereditaryclaims
of the southern
on
provinces. The constable
some
afterwards
de Montmorency, who
was
suspected of
collusion,coveted Languedoc ; and the duke de
Guise, Provence.
of the marshal
The hot and aggressive
disposition
de Biron
impelled him to take the initiative in
the design,whatever
might be its intended limit.
limitation

of the

"

"

Bouillon,more
and

MARIE

AND

1602.]

DE

held
self-contained,

and

wary

his words

spoke only where

thus,he never

himself

aloof,

left impression
to

overt

Biron, on the contrary,

merits,
alwayspublicly
boastingof his influence,

and

useless

was

and

acts

with

power

gain adherents
hearers.
he

told and

committed

"

of

313

MEDICI.

foreignpotentates ; and seeking to

of his
the sordid passions
by exciting

Thus,

visited

treason.

at

the

there

; and

familyconcerns

Perigord,under

and

Guyenne

of the

commencement

year

pretext of

imprudentenough to
the allegedgrievances
express open sympathy with
of the people of these
provinces in declamatory
of
harangues,which, from the habitual exaggeration
viction
languageindulgedin by the marshal,led to the conthat his disaffection was
complete. The
king,alarmed by the perpetualintimation which he
in
received
of these cabals ; and
beginning now
realityto distrust the loyaltyof Biron, resolved to
make
cover
disto
to the disaffected districts,
a progress
the
M.

was

of discontent

cause

and

One

its authors.

turbed
disseriously
his majesty; who, conscious
of no
arbitrary
refused to
designsagainstthe peace of his subjects,
believe in the existence
of treason
so
gratuitous.
The
with the
king quitted Paris for Fontainebleau
and
the 1st day of April. His macourt
jesty
on
queen
in
to be followed
was
by Rosny, and together,
final measures
council with Villeroyand Bellievre,
of investigation
and
to be adopted.1
repressionwere
M.
de Rosny had
his conjectures,and
was
pared
prethe king,
to
them.
Devoted
to
act
upon
de

this

Calvairac

astute

summit

of

made

minister
and

power

grievances of

the
1

Mem.

report which

now

beheld

consideration.

princes
de

himself

was

Sully,liv.

that
12eme.

One
the

at

the

of

the

realm

314

HENRI

governed by the
and
Villeroy,
Rosny

was

"

the

to

advice

[1601

coterie

formed

of

that the

king

listened

his

of

IV.

peers,

but

Bellievre,
indeed
acted

never

given,unless approved by Rosny.

of the
member
The
latter,from being a humble
addressed
condescendingly
household,occasionally
by Mayenne or Montmorency, or made the butt of
beheld himself the patron of
Sancy'ssarcasms, now
upon

the

the house

counsel

of Lorraine-Guise

the minister

council,always waited;

nod

whose
the

recipient
of the confidential projects
of the superbEpernon ;
this
and courted by the chief of Rohan, who about
alliance between
their
period proposed matrimonial
children ! Rosny attained this altitude by the devotion
of every
and personal
friendship,
purpose,
of one
object his
advantage to the attainment
interest was
that of the king his friends were
prised
comhis
in the singleperson
of the king and
recreation and sole pursuit,
the business of the king.
and reserved,Rosny displayed
accessible
Austere
no
foible : he despisedwomen
; he hated gambling; he
wearied
of banquets and revels ; and
mitted
grimly subto be present at these, and to entertain others,
as
part and parcelof the burden of office. He had
no
religious
principle he went to mass with the king,
and was
ever
ready to stay away from le preche at
with
the
In his communications
Henry's desire.
divines of the day, he
pope, and with the eminent
nour,
titles of hoadopted without scrupletheir priestly
which rigidHuguenots like DuplessisMornay
as
sternlyrejected; and was
ready to accommodate
the acts of his synods to the views of dissentients,
as
du Perron
the canons
of Holy
smooth
down
to
was
Henry,

when

in

"

"

"

"

Church.

Concini and

his wife

soon

became

courtiers

of M.

AND

1602]
and

madatne

de

DE

MARIE

315

MEDICI.

Eleonore

ence
begged the influof the latter to aid in adjustingthe palacefeuds,
and
her majesty; while Conto admonish
privately
cini called madame
de Rosny sa maitresse,and prided
himself on his privateconsultations
the Arsenal.
at
The delicate manipulation
with which Rosny, strong
in conscious power, proceededwith the investigation
devolvingon him is edifyingto observe.
Rosny
considered
that an
elucidation of Biron's intrigues
would give the key of the conspiracy. The
derstanding
misunbetween
Lafin and the marshal,and
the
cessation of intercourse
between
consequent
them,
had not
escaped the vigilanteye of the minister.
The
nephew of Lafin,the Vidame de Chartres,was
officer of the king'sbody-guard. To
this young
an
nobleman
of the
Rosny privatelydisclosed many
facts ascertained,
the Vidame
that
to convince
so
as
the

of M. de Biron

treason

uncle could
he

Rosny

not

fail to be

was

or
Bastille,

and
were

under

and

arrest

visit

to

the torture-chamber
frank

Fontainebleau,a
to

the influence of

that his

short,the

In

confession.

letters of abolition

offered
finally

and

compromised,unless
fatally

purchasedimmunity by

alternative of

known

under

M.

Lafin.

his

resentment

the
The

of the
sion,
confes-

great seal,

latter,still

for the

slights
he had received, had littlehesitation in repairing
to
incubus
court, there to be relieved of the political
which had longoppressedhim.
Lafin,to render his
to apprizeM. de Biron
wrote
perfidymore
signal,
that he was
summoned
to conference
by the king.
He

reiterated

his

assurances

that

he

had

burned

criminatingpaper ; and promised to adopt

the version suggested by Biron, if questionedconcerning
his communications
with the duke of Savoy,
"
to whit
that they tended onlyto facilitatethe marevery

"

316

HENRI

IV.

ringe of the marshal with

alliance relinquished
when

observed

was

relative

with

the

"

Lafin

Fontainebleau

at

king,and

accused

and
disclosures,

the visit of M.

to

arrival

day followinghis
interview

daughterof Savoy an
found likely
it was
to be
majesty."l The greatest secrecy

his

to
displeasing

[1G01

the

he had

such

made

an

important

high personages,
his
to
investigations

so

many

Henry remitted further

his house
he summoned
from
at
minister,whom
Moret, a villagenot very distant from the palace.
When
riding
Rosny arrived Henry was on horseback,
the principal
of the palace,which then,
down
avenue
"
tions,
into the forest.
as
Important revelanow,
opens
ami !
exclaimed
mon
Henry, embracing his
that

"

favoured

implicated
;

I attribute

proof!
majesty," I
!2
have

"

confesses

discovered

to

any

of your

Henry laughed.
hear

that

course

commanded

one

M.

believe

Bellievre

and

all ; many
are
that he is a great

"Sire!

he accuses?"

treason

"

of

Lafin

but I have

Guess whom

liar.
can

"

minister.

de
not

"

never

no;

out
with-

servants

Well,"
is

Rosny
one

word

said

his

rator
conspi;

but

Villeroyto lay before

you these said revelations ; also I have directed this

the road to Moret,
Lafin to meet
on
privately
you
and

to

with

Lafin

all."

confess
;

and, as
doubt

he

Rosny accordinglyconferred
avows,

after such

conference

of Biron's

guilt,allowinglarge
in Lafin's position,
latitude for exaggeration
to a man
of
confession was
whose
to be acceptedas the ransom

retained

no

Hist, de la
Sully,liv. 12. De Thou, liv. 128.
du
et mort
Vie, Conspiration,Prison, Jugement, Testament
marechal
de Biron
Imprimee a Paris en 1605.
trouvait
Je ne pouvaiscomprendre comment
mon
nom
se
dans cette mechante
et avait meme
ete nomme
cabale,"writes
M. de Rosny, in dismay.
"

Mem.

de

"

"

AND

1602.]
his life.

MARIE

DE

317

MEDICI.

The

followingday all the letters,

mandates,
and instructions intrusted by the marshal
de Biron
to Lafin for transmission to M. de Savoye and others,
of which

and

instances

Lafin

had

retained

in

and

copy,

some

submitted
to
document, were
original
and Rosny ; and also a draft of
Villeroy,
Bellievre,
the treaty of Como.
By the advice of this junta,
the king's
in,the better to elu-'
journey was persisted
cidate the present phase of the intrigue. Meantime,
M.

de

on

his

the

Biron
return

made

was

at

of

againwrote
disclosed

to

was

nothing; and

hands

could
of

his

with

as

to

No

he

had

deposit no written
majestydamaging to

and

to

Lafin

that he had

burned

his missions

king

demonstration

him

assure

the

meet

especialdiscoveries

the marshal

to

to

Fontainebleau.

any

connected

Milan,

be summoned

all documents

Como

evidence

and
in

to

the

loyaltyof M.
le Marechal.1
The
report, of the baron de Luz,
Biron's present coadjutor,who
happened to be on
likewise reassuring.The
latter
duty at court, was
stated his belief that the king could accuse
the marshal
of no
positivedelinquency; that the visit of
Lafin had tended rather to allaythe royalanxieties ;
for that the king owned
to him, " that since his conference
with

M.
2

The

composed."
wrote,

that

collusion in
of

Hist,

"

he

de la

was

his mind

was

much

more

baron, moreover,
himself

excitingthe

aided

having
1

de Lafin

the

Biron

complacently
totallyunsuspected of

discontents
in his

in the south

dealingswith

or

Spain.

De Thou, liv.
Vie, etc. du marechal de Biron.
128.
Cayet Chron. Septennaire.
Le roy me
dit qu'iletait tres aise d'avoir parle a Lafin,et
maintenant
recognaissois
chal
que ce qu'on luy avoit dit du marede Biron, n'etoit que
de
faux
bruits," relates another
"

narrator.

318

IIENRI

IV.

[1601

Aprilthe court journeyedto Orleans.

Precautions were
taken to suppress
risings
previously
Biron took alarm and attempted
in Burgundy, in case
to
were
fortifyhimself in Dijon. Levies of men
in the adjacent provinces,under
made
pretext of
in Aix and other Provencal
the garrisons
strengthening
received private
cities ; and the marshal de Laverdin
in
him to enter Burgundy in force,
orders authorizing
On

the 22nd

of

hostile to
made
of any kind were
The confirmation thus received of the

demonstrations

case

the government.

the
favourite Biron overwhelmed
perfidyof his once
king with dejection.1It does not appear that Henry
the depositions
of Lafin to be taken, and
caused
ing
provided,with the intent of inflictmilitarymeasures
There
is every
judicialreprisalson Biron.
to believe that the king was
reason
inspiredat this
period with clement intentions : that he wished to
and to reobviate the effects of Biron's disloyalty,
claim
without
the latter,
the scandal of an
ment.
arraignNevertheless,previousto a conference with
his unfaithful subject,
the king desired to ascertain
with Biron's crime,that he
every incident connected
and
might not, as at Lyons, be deceived by partial
of guilt. The
merciful
same
garbled admissions
the
the king wished
forbearance
to exhibit towards
other personages accused.
Henry, however,declared
de Biron,and other
at this periodthat if the Marshal
implicated,rejected his clemency, which
persons
he was
willingprivatelyto demonstrate,the safety
of his realm would
not
permit him ultimatelyto
the execution
of the judicial
awards
arrest
ensuing
from
a
publicarraignment. To prove his full con1

"Le

affaires

Sept.

roy
aucunes

etait

de

triste et

pensif,et

justice,sinon

ne

tenoit mil conseil ni

Blois."

"

Cayet

"

Chron.

320

HENRI

IV.

[1601

deemed, both by the king and

Rosny ; which were
of the duke
de
his minister,
The case
satisfactory.
Bouillon,however, excited grave misgiving he was
after M. d'Epernon. The king
admitted
to audience
with the duke, to the earlydays
loved to recur, when
the valiant Turenne
of their intimacy,when
as
his chief
was
Henry stilldelightedto term Bouillon
counsellor at Nerac, during the stormy
friend and
by the late queen-motherand
days of his persecution
In this conciliatory
her sons.
spirit
Henry opened
his conference with the duke : his majesty avoiding
of Biron,in which
allusions to the foreign
intelligences
then persuaded that Bouillon
had not parhe was
ticipated
spoke of the ill offices rendered to his
government ; and reproachedthe duke for the league
with the Huguenots,whose disaffection
he maintained
he sought to encourage
by instilling
hopes of alliance
with the Dutch
Republicand with queen Elizabeth ;
since
"practiceswhich you have continued ever
reconciliation with the Holy See for the weal of
our
realm ; and despitethe magnitude of our
cessions
conour
"

"

"

"

"

"

in
us,

our

edict of Nantes.

therefore,Monsieur,

that

you

It

clear

seems

seek

your

to

own

without
regard to your allegiance
aggrandizement,
of this crown
!" To this expostulation
and the rights
the duke de Bouillon made
intemperatereply. He
all points: he protestedhis
assailed the king on
and commented
the evil returns
on
loyalintentions,
he had ever
experienced. He reproachedthe king
the foolish reports of tale-bearers ; and
for believing
declared that the story of the allegedconspiracy
was
trumped up by certain of his majesty'sministers to
He
views.
quoted Scriptureto
promote their own
show

that evil report assailed

"

for

even

the

instance,he said that the

most
rumour

culate
immawas

AND

1602]

MARIE

321

MEDICI.

DE

majestyintended to deprivehim
wife.
Sedan and of the heritageof his deceased
for the Protestants of the realm,their condition

prevalentthat
of
As

miserable

was

"

his

that the king considered

helots of his kino-dom

that

and

it

was

them

as

the

more

bitter

persecutedby his majesty,who once

belongedto their communion, than by the deceased
considerable
kingsof detestable memory." Henry displayed
temper duringthis interview : he permitted
Bouillon to rail tillhis expletives
exhausted.
were
His majestythen explainedhis intended policy,
and
testimony
requestedthe duke to concede the same
of the purity
of his motives as had been spontaneously
offered by M. d'Epernon to remain six months
at
them

to

be

to

"

Bouillon

court.

hesitated

he

then

thanked

his

majestyfor the benignsentiments he had expressed;

but requestedpermission,
before takingup his abode
the round of his castles,
in order
at court, to make
affairs into the hands
of comto put his pecuniary
petent
stewards.1
The
king understood the evasion
and when
Bouillon took leave his majestyheld a
de Soissons,
council,at which were
present MM.
and the under-secretary
of
Rosny,Bellievre Villeroy,
who had
One M. d'Escures,2
state, M. de Maisse.
been sent to Dijon to desire the presence
of Biron,
"

introduced

was

and

on
envoy, who was
and
therefore made

than

more

confirmed

examined.

The

terms
friendly

relation of the

with the

marshal,

the

best report in his power,

the sinister rumours
prevalent.

The

in council,Rosny excepted, then

personages
advised the king to stay further mischief by arresting
all the confederates
namely, the dukes de
"

Sully,liv.

Siri
"

Mem.
Pierre
VOL.

12eme.

Marsolier

Recondites,vol.

"

"Vie du

due

de

Bouillon.

1.

Fourgueuse.
II.

322

HENRI

IV.

[1G01

Bouillon,Epernon, Trimouille,and

Biron, and the

debated during
d'Auvergne. The question
count
was
several hours : the consideration suggestedby Rosny
could not be
that such personages
finally
prevailed,
committed
to the Bastille on
rested
suspicion that if artheir arraignment must
of necessityfollow,
be deprecated,punishment
most
to
and, what was
of
ensue
perhaps to obviate the consequences
; more
"

future

in

than

vengeance

of

chastisement

actual

guilt.1As for M. d'Epernon,the king said that he

possessedno proofsof his disloyalty.
During the sojourn of the court at Blois affairs
remained
in the same
perplexed condition,aggravated,
however,by domestic broils between the royal
pair. The queen'sviolent temper and jealousybroke
forth with
fresh acrimony on
the old subjectof
la Marquise,whose
from
madame
immediate
removal
the Louvre
she now
demanded.
upon,
The
king,thereassented

but

magnificentabode
by Madame

"

it

Vie

before

told the queen

little prince,son

was

The
1

called

re-commenced

moreover,

and

installed

Sully,le
du

Pere

due

Biron

Mem.

"

mistress

pied
Heine, occuher marriage.2 Henriette,
her irritating
inuendoes ;
that she had publicly
said,
of the Florentine,
bears no

Le

"

in the

l'Hotel de la

Mezerai

Daniel, Mathieu, Cayet,

de

Thou, Siri

his

Laboureur

Recondites, and

Dupleix

Castelnau.

sur

many

"

De

for
authorities,

MS.

these details.
J

Also

called

Hotel

his mistress

consequent

her

on

de Verneuil

Comptes
de

France

des

to her

gave

allowance

Soissons.

the

sum

change

of

the

Depenses

; also

majesty often

with

de

sum

de

Archives

of

The

of 6000
abode.
1500

Henri

king, moreover, presented

f
or
the
livres,
expenses
The
allowed
dame
making

livres every

IV.

"

Archives

Curieuses,t. 15,

the marchioness

three

giftsof

ler.

money

du

months.

Royaume

series.

His

in addition

resemblance

his

to

also

323

MEDICI.

royalfather,but

harsh

complexion and
Altercations

DE

MARIE

AND

1602.]

features

has

the

of

the

Medici

dark
!

"

happenedbetween

Henry and Marie

relative to the duke
de Bracciano
which
disputes
la Marquise,
owed their origin
who audaciously
to madame
asserted that her majesty's
had ever
preference
been given,
and stillrested with,Don Virginio
Orsini.
refused to delay his journey
Henry, consequently,
from Paris,to enable the queen
her cousin,
to see
who
arrived in Paris during the month
of March
"

from
the

England

but said that the duke

Fontainebleau.

might follow

The

day for the departure

of the king for Blois,
however,was unfortunately
fixed before Don
Virginiogave notice of his visit.
Henry again declined to wait for the duke; or to
court

suffer
These

to

Marie

queen
various

between

the

to

remain

to

occasioned

causes

royal pair when

receive

such

him.

differences

Blois,that the
announced
her determination
to proceed
not
queen
her royalhusband, but to return
to Poitiers with
forthwith
Her
to Fontainebleau.
majesty made
this communication
early one morning before the
king rose, seasoningit with so many tart allusions
la Marquise, that Henry retorted by
madame
to
bleau
to Fontainedeclaringthat her desire to return
from longing to see
M. de Bracciano.2
arose
Marie,hearingthis taunt, rose in bed,and struck the
king in the face : this indignity
Henry resented by
his consort by the wrists,
seizing
holding'her
prisoner
for

minutes.

some

alarmed

madame

Istoria

MS.

sujetsde
la royne

The

at

noise of this altercation

Concini, that

she

so

despatchedAr-

del

Granducato, lib. 5.
Bibl. Imp. Beth., 8944, fol. 39""
Les
Principaux
la mauvaise
d'entre
le
Henri
IV. et
intelligence
Roy

Marie

de Medici."

y2

324

HENRI

the

magnac,

king'svalet

IV.

[1601
fetch M.

chambref to

de

the latter arrived

Rosny. When
quittedhis consort's chamber, and was

de

king had
revolvingthe
in great wrath in his own
Rosny
apartment.
of the royal
mysteriousallusion to the cause

scene

makes

dissension

and

the

the

that he gave his word of honour

to conceal the true
originof
queen

states

king and
the fracas.1 He, however, performed the part of
to
treating
chamber, and enmediator,going from chamber
For some
their majestiesto be reconciled.
fruitless the queen
days, however, his efforts were
in asserting
her resolve to return
sullenly
persisting
Fontainebleau.
This
censed
continued
to
obduracy inthe king, who
one
morning sent for M. de
race
terRosny to join him in his promenade on the new
he was
constructingat Blois. " There was a
sentinel placed at each end of this terrace, and his
majesty,in the sightof the court, there walked with
hours."
for two
me
Rosny's retenue again prevents
He
the full explanationof the subject of debate.
tells sufficient,
however, to show that Henry proposed
to

"

confine the

to

queen

to

one

of his castles for

exile the

importunate
bedchamber
the personages
cohort
of her majesty's
clique. The mother of the dauphin was, however,
in the eyes of the minister,
a sacred
who,
personage
admits
the intense provocation
to which
moreover,
been
had
the queen
subjected. " He counselled
patience,moderation, and that the king should not
seek to aggravate matters
by a too curious scrutiny
relation2 " of the causes
into the past."A manuscript
a

season

and, meantime,

to

"

however, reveal that this fracas, and

others,arose from the king'sjealousyof M. de Bracciano.
MS.
de
Bibl.
Beth., 8944, fol. 39
Imp. MS.
Fontanieu, 446, Bibl. Imp. MS.
1

Other

sources,

many-

also

325

MEDICI.

DE

majesties"records that
Rosny repliedthus to the royal proposalto
"
the queen :
Sire, your proposalmight be

of

dissension

M.

de

exile

MARIE

AND

1602.]

their

between

had no children ; but since God

feasible if the queen
has givenher a son, beware of committingsuch folly.

Dissimulate
have

to

reduce

and

Rosny

and

and

their

in time

may

such

urgent prayer
she

that

queen,

length

at

royal husband, and seal

by continuingher journey to
her

seek

to

who

you

of an
irritable
spirit
states
same
authority

made

the

to

remonstrance

consented

excessive

The

his wife

hope that

and

the

tame

woman."

contentious

that

difficulties so

overcome

be able
and

sentiments

your

reconciliation

Poitiers.1
its progress,

making
short sojourn at Plessis les Tours, from whence, on
the 14th of May, the king addressed
positiveand
officialsummons
to Fontainebleau,
to Biron,to repair
These
Jeannin
and M. d'Escures.2
by the president
The

continued
court, therefore,

authorized

were

envoys

to

of the

royal mandate
correspondencewith the

cause

Neither

of the

Latin's visit

to

papers

"

Fontainebleau
the

with

clear himself

from

nevertheless,
repairto
of his

goodwilland

whit, his

to

the
;

of

calumny :
court

in

the

realm.
result of

that he had

nor

Biron
the

Henry,
would
marshal

confident

the

rumoured

objector

chancellor.

missive,expressedhis hope that

to

the marshal

enemies

knew

envoys

to

state

posited
de-

in his

be able

might,

assurance

affection.

Sully,liv. 13eme.
Sully says that the followingnames
heard
"were
by the courtiers frequentlyrepeated by the king
and queen
the names
of the
during their furious contention
duchesses
Juan
de Medici,
de Florence
and
Mantua, Don
Virginio Orsini,Concini,Eleonore
Galigai,Gondy, madame
de Verneuil, and that of Catherine
Selvaggio,a tirewoman.
Lettres Missives de Henri
IV., t. 5.
1

"

326

HENRI

The

of the
presence
best effects on
the

the

his

of Poitiers

du

pour

sou

livre ;

and
dissension,

and
an

the enthusiasm

great,

was

decorouslypetitionedby

majesty was

towns

[1G01

king, meanwhile,produced
affection
provinces; 1 no signsof dis-

manifested

were

and

IV.

Pochelle

La

the

to

annul

the

the levyof
octroi,

which

created

rendered

tax

his

majesty's
tax-gatherers
odious to the people. Henry graciously
complied,
and repealedthe famous
Pancarte, by the counsel
and assent
of Eosny : the edict stated that such concession
made
in deference to the obedient loyalty
was
of his subjects.2
The
mandate
of the king,meanwhile, greatlydisquieted
the duke
decline to obey
de Biron.
To
would
be openly to proclaimdisloyal
intents ; while
the probableconsequence
of such refusal might be
the occupationof Burgundy, and his arrest.
The
duke, moreover, placedsurprisingconfidence in the
word
of M. de Lafin, althoughaware
of the offence
he had given the latter ; and also that the secretary
of their dissension,
Renaze, the originalcause
mained
reclose prisonerin the fortress of Quiers.
a
Biron's confidence
likewise confirmed
was
by the
duke d'Epernon; and even
by the report of the duke
Bouillon.

de
1

"

Le

trouva
*

Both

presence
nulle part

Pasquier

accosted

one

du

these

noblemen

roi filt d'une

si

grande

volontes."

a ses
d'opposition

stated

"

efficace

that

of

great nobles, probably the

his

Poitiers

at

qu'ilne

Sully,liv. 13.

relates

when

their

Henry

suddenly

duke

de

la

and asked
him
whether
he promoted the popular
Triniouille,
agitation. Oui," repliedthe duke, parce que vous en donnez
sujet,vous, et celuyqui fait tout sous votre nom
(Rosny) ;
"mais
si vous
abolissez la Pancarte
les princes et les
tous
seigneurssont prets a rendre toute obeissance et tout service a
votre
majeste." A quoi le roy repliqua:"S'il ne tient que
cela,vous serez tous contents !" Lettres de Pasquier,liv. 7.
"

"

"

"

328

HENRI

of
flight
quit the

M.

IV.

[1C01

Biron,' should the latter attempt to

realm.
Biron, however, confidentlypursued
his journey; and sent forwards M. d'Escures to
his speedy presence
the king. The
to
announce
duke d'Epernon,meantime, having great experience
in the premonitorysymptoms
of a coup d'etat,
beheld
with concern
the arrival of the marshal,and his confident
deportment; and being sincerelyBiron' s
friend,the duke generouslysent one of his gentlemen,
under pretext of saluting
the marshal,to warn
him
to act frankly;and if he had
mised,
erred,as was surthrow
himself on
the clemency of the
to
king.2 This proceedingvery nearlyoccasioned the
of Epernon ; luckily,
arrest
however, it occurred to
the duke
to
report to his majesty the step he had
which
at once
an
taken,and its motive
explanation
satisfied the king.
In the vicinity
Biron met
M. Lafin.
of the palace,
The traitor lifted his hat to his late employer,and
"
Mon
passed by, with the words
maitre, courage, et
It was
six o'clock of the morning of
bon becVz
the due
de Biron
Wednesday, June 12th, when
entered the Cour du Donjon of Fontainebleau.
The
was
king,always an earlyriser,
walking in what was
then called le grand jardin,accompanied by Epernon,
Bellegarde,and two other courtiers. The disde

"

"

"

Des

lore que

le due

fut

puissancede retourner,car

sa

suivoient

s'en veut
2

Girard

de

traille

de diner

sur
traille,

"

Vie

du

du

due

souper

100

chevaux

le

de Biron.

M.

1602.
The
d'Epernon, annee
to whom
DuplessisBoissoniere,

gentleman

his

subsequent resolve
majesty the step which he

was

ses

due

the

the

periments,
qu'ila expas, tellement
s'en faut pointprendre a son
maitre
qui ne
en

qu'ilne
repentir." Vie
"

partide Dijon, il n'etois plus en

Sully,liv. 13eme.

taken
had

by Epernon
taken.

name

of

is attributed

to intimate

to

DE

MARIE

AND

1602.]

329

MEDICI.

expected arrival of Biron, and

when
that event
would
happen. Before Henry
could answer,
he perceivedM. de Biron advancing
the parterre. Biron
made
three obeisances,
across
then kneeling,
he kissed the royal hand.
Henry
the
round
seemed
affected; and passing his arm
of the marshal, he embraced
neck
him, saying,
" You
have
done well, mon
ami, to confide in me ;
I was
about to seek you myself."1 Henry,
otherwise,
then dismissinghis attendants,took
the marshal's
Biron' s shoulder,as
hand, and leaningfamiliarly
on
his wont, passed into the grand avenue
of the
was
chateau.
The king then said that he had summoned
Biron
in consequence
of reports current
respecting
his disloyal
concerning
pact with Savoy; and especially
the recent
attempted soulevement in the
"
south-western
Believe
provincesof the realm.
the
to me
mon
avow
ami, that unless you now
me,
truth respectingthese said affairs,
will deeply
you
repent !" said his majesty. Biron haughtilyreplied,
"
that he had never
failed in his duty that his
after the
majesty'sdoubts were
injurious,
especially
promiseof pardon which he had voluntarily
given at
here to justify
not
Lyons : in short,sire,I am
myself; but to learn from you who are my accusers
such is the sole object of my journey!"2 Henry
then asked
for explanations
several pointsof the
on
marshal's allegedconfession when
at Lyons ; and
on
the nature
of his correspondencewith
M. Lafin.
Biron
answered
his majesty in tones
of suppressed
irritation ; and
stated," that his fault,as he had
turned

course

the

on

"

"

De

"

pour
noms

Thou

"

Vie

du

marechal

de Biron.

Biron
se

repondithardiment,qu'iln'etoit pas
justifier,
puisqu'iletoit innocent ; mais

de

ses

accusateurs."

"

De

Thou, liv. 128.

venu

pour

la

cour

savoir les

330

HENRI

IV.

[1G01

the
confessed,
was, having coveted
offered by M. de Savoye ;
made

the sacrifice

his

content

to

matrimonial
and

that

master

ance
alli-

he

and

had
since

blamelesslydischarged his duty." The king

made
no
reply; but returned to the palace,and.
of the
changed the conversation to an enumeration
tated.1
architectural
improvements which he there mediBiron dined with the duke d'Epernon, and
had

apartments of the latter until the

the

in

remained

in

waitingusuallysought
the presence
of his majesty. Henry was
walking in
of the galleries,
which
in process of being
one
was
decorated.
His majesty happened to be examining
the battle of Ivry,
the wall representing
a fresco
on
which
had been placed by the queen'shand
a
over
small statuette
of himself,armed
cap-a-pie." Ah !
would
M. de Biron !
exclaimed
the king, "what
his catholic majestysay if he met
in such guise?
me
"
Sire ! responded the imprudent Biron, " his majesty
would not fear you !
Observing the sensation
produced by this response, the marshal coloured
then hastily
as
added, that is to say, sire,
sented
reprepersonally,the encounter
by the statue
would be different I"
The king smiled,and walked
saying " Well explained,M. le Marechal !
away,
Beland
his privateapartments.2 There
entered
hour

when

the noblemen

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Bosny

express

notre
amy,
de sagesse
nous

inform

to

homme
:

his minister
est

venu

arrived

Biron
of

; il affecte

en

; the

duke's

the

afin
diligence,
faire. Adieu, je vous

venez

avons

when

at Moret

was

que

king

arrival.

beaucoup de
bien ! "

aime

"

an

"Mon

retenue

avisions

nous

sent

ce

et

que

Sully,liv.

13eme.
2

Hist, de la

Vie,etc.

du marechal

Perefixe

"

Et

Hist, de

Henri

le Grand.

imprimee a Paris,
dont
ceillade rigoureuse,
dire il ajoute etc."

de Biron

lors le roy le regardad'une

il s'apercut,et soudain
r'habillant son

1605.

"

"

"

DE

1602.]

AND

MARIE

lievre

Rosny held
Henry afterwards

short

and

king ;
Biron

should

be

331

MEDICI.

conference

desired

the due

that

him.

the

with

the

addressed

king
privy

to

avow

sent

to

Again

de

Biron, and conjured him, if he were

practices
againstthe welfare of the realm,to

assuringhim of his regard and desire to

pardon such enterprises.Henry alluded to their
earlyintimacy; and instanced,in proofof his esteem,
the elevation of Biron from a poor cadet of Gontaut,
the eminent
to
enjoyed.
dignitieswhich he now
that
fatal delusion
duke
the
The
being under
but a trap to obtain
the royal solicitations were
them

that information

"
:
afforded,
replied

not

that he had
to

be

That

nothingfresh

confronted

with

of Lafin

the examination

which

to

his

the

accusers

mistaken

king was

confess

demanded

but

"

had

The

hour

at

Henry usuallyvisited his tennis-court having

struck,the king, followed by Biron, then repaired
and playeda game with the count
de Soissons
thither,
latter seemed
The
againstEpernon and Biron.
and played badly. " Ah, Monseigneur,"
depressed,
but you
exclaimed
Epernon, (l your game is masterly,
which

should

consider

caused

the

king to

de Soissons

count

sup

before

with

him.

At

look

aim !

you

"
"

which

mot

steadilyat Epernon.1
invited the marshal

afterwards

the conclusion

of the

The
to

repast the

of
by desire of the king as in his capacity
hold,
princeof the blood,and grand-masterof the housedrew
he could speak without reserve
to Biron
the
the latter aside,and said," That unquestionably
lity
gravelyto suspect his fideking latelyhad had cause
well
that his majesty was
: moreover,
perfectly
the
informed
of his proceedings;he, therefore,as
his
to
friend of M.
de Biron, besought him
own

count,

"

"

Hist, de la Vie du

mareclial de Biron.

332

HENRI

fault,lest
would

so

'the wrath
After

of

all these

word

king

is

avail himself

certained
as-

and

of death!'"

the herald

as

ominous

denials

contumacious

well

ation
king,that reconcilibe impossible.
"Remember,
of Scripture,
of the wise man

varied

incredible that the marshal

seems

was

irritate the

thenceforth

Monseigneur,the

[1G01

denials of what

his stubborn

might

IV.

it

intimations

could

in
persist

such
nevertheless,

his

is the fact.

of the result of the marshal's

night
reflections,
Henry invited Biron to share his early
walk
the following
on
morning,adding many proofs
of condescendinginterest. The
marshal,however,
in his
the king on
indifferent subjects,
entertained
usual inflated style
of duty.
no
failing
; but admitted
"
le
lookers-on
watched
his majesty with M.
The
Marechal
of the aviary. M.
walkingin the vicinity
de Biron walked
bareheaded, and frequentlysmote
his breast with his hands, in deprecationof and
'
his accusers.
towards
Sire,'said Biron,
menace
To

'

you

will

never

other

answer

from

me

than

given. I protest againstyour

the which
suspicionof my fidelity,
ought to be
placedbeyond questionby the services which I have
rendered
it
So inflexible a spirit
to your crown.'
evident
that no
remonstrance
was
or
persuasion
that

which

have
have

"

could

subdue.

After

Thursday, June 14th, the king

summoned
his ministers.
Queen Marie was
present
the council,
at
enteringwith her husband,the most
the royal
between
now
loving cordiality
subsisting
demonstrated
pair. Marie
great interest in the
serious affairs which occupiedthe king,and surprised
The
him
arrest
by her aptitude and decision.
on

Thou, liv. 128.

1G02, pp. 201, et seq.
1

De

dinner

Girard

"

Vie du due

d'Epernon,annee

of

the

DE

MARIE

AND

1602.]

d'Auvergne

count

333

MEDICI.

first discussed

was

and

although little hail been averred

cert
againstthis prince,beyond the fact that, in conand Biron, he had signed the
with Bouillon
resolved

upon

"

compact which
in their
to

himself

be

from

these noblemen

bound

mutual

to

designs. Auvergne, however, was

posed
supweak
and selfish enough to extricate
sion
the scrape
by making plenaryconfes-

The queen
of any facts confided to him.
effort to intercede for the brother of her

no

port
sup-

made

rival,

of
spoke in extenuation
the crimes of Biron ; partly,therefore,at her majesty's
deputed again to
request, M. de Rosny was
him
win
from
assault the marshal,and, if possible,
confession.
"If M. de Biron confides in you," said
seek
that he may
him
the king," assure
fearlessly
all. If he disguises
nothing,
my
presence and avow
I give you
royalword that I will with all my
my
heart accord him a free pardon !
Rosny, therefore,
he found sitting
in search of the marshal,whom
went
gloomilyagainstthe king'sbed, speakingat intervals
officer of the chamber, M. la Curee.1
to
Rosny
an
arrived at the palacefrom Moret ; and
had recently
latter
The
had not that morning seen
M. de Biron.
distant
and repliedto Rosny's greetingwith
rose
the dismantling
resented
courtesy ; for the marshal
the intent of Henry's
of his fortresses,
now
perceiving
wily minister. Rosny has been accused of hardening
of the last rigouragainst
Henry's heart to measures
for the insoBiron ; whom, it is asserted,
he disliked,
madame

la

but

Marquise;

"

Le

"

roi revint

douceur
rentrer

The

naturelle
le marechal

encore

lui avait
de Biron

king prohibitedM.

of Latin.

une

de

derniere

fois

toujours dicte,de
en

Rosny

partique

chercher

sa

faire

Sully,liv. 13eme.
revealingthe admissions

lui meme."
from

au

"

334

IV.

HENRI

[1681

earlydays he had received from the

marshal
and
his father,neither of whom
certainly
for their amenity of diction.
be commended
can
unfounded
Biron's
The
:
charge, however, seems
whole
hands
for two
fate was
in his own
days and
his royal master
vour
to his endeaadded
supplications
confession.
extort
to
Biron, in fact,apprehended
fate which
by confession to incur the same
afterwards befell him owing to his obduracy. Rosny
commenced
his operationsby asking the marshal
with from the
kind of receptionhe had met
what
"I
king? "Oh," responded Biron, indifferently,
have reverentlysaluted his majesty. I repliedto
the questions
thing
by the king,but I had noput to me
"
to communicate."
Ah, Monsieur !
especially
this is not the way .to treat the king. He
suspects
Open your heart
you, and not without good cause.
if you preferit,and I give you
to the king,or to me
word, you and his majesty may be reconciled
my
!
"I have nothing to confess to
before nightfall
Let his majestyaccuse
if
the king nor
to you.
me
Biron.
and I will answer,"replied
he has a grievance,
"
come
Monsieur," said Rosny, " let your conscience beif you
tively
posiyour judge. I warn
you, act as
lencies which

in

"

"

knew

that

thoughtor

ever

we

are

devised

well informed
in your

most

of all that you

counsels.
secret

I repair
peccadillo,
absolved !
and am
to his majesty,make
confession,
" That
is all very well for you," said Biron, scornfully
" but
I have neither fault nor
to
peccadillo
;
confess to his majesty. My conscience is clear since
then rose,
Biron
the avowals I made at Lyons ! *

If I

err

and

commit

any

fault

or

"

"

and

retired

The

to

his apartments.

denials
unfaltering

SullyMem.,

liv. 13eme.

of

Biron, that

Cayet,Perefixe,De

he

had

Thou.

not

336

IV.

HENRI

[1G01

and to avow
the searching
majesty'3possession,
instituted,and then, despite his preinquisition
vious
obdurate
denials,to grant him pardon,would
be a course
fraughtwith perilto the monarchy
tion.
Biron would never
as
pardon or forgetthis humiliaconclusion
which
The
ensued, therefore,
his

"

the

that

was,

of

arrest

MM.

de

expedient and
agreed; reservingto himself
was

vergne

effort

more

one

to

subdue

Biron

and

d'Au-

imperative. Henry
the power
of making

the

of Biron.

contumacy

I deem
myself bound as a father and
failing,
a
king to deliver my realm from such specious
agitators ; and therebyto afford salutary
example to
other traitors in intent,though perhaps not
yet in
act!"
MM.
de Vitry and de Praslin,
captainsof
rections
dithe guard, were
then summoned, and
received
from the king in council to hold themselves
and their regimentsin readiness to execute
mand
any comwhich might be issued for the sudden
of
arrest
"

This

certain
next

and

Auvergne

should

should

be

night;
so

dark

mode

of

proposed

was

retired

be surrounded

effected.

at

The

personages.
It
debated.

for

with

the

this

that

arrest

after

was

Biron

night their lodging

troops, and

their capture

Rosny, however,counselled that the arrest

accomplishedon taking leave of his majesty
for he deemed

the risk great to suffer sonages

perominously forewarned to leave the palace

hour.

The

duke

de

Biron,meantime, retired
his quarters in very
to
pensive mood, and at last
aroused to the perilof his position.Relying on the
affirmations of Lafin that he had betrayednothing;
and having,as he believed,
witnessed
the burningof
at

all documents
to

make

he gave

confided
a

secret

bold

to

that agent, the duke

attempt

at

solved
re-

ingly,
flight.Accord-

orders for his horses

to

be saddled

AND

1602.]

337

MEDICI.

I)E

MARIE

midnight to a certain spot in the forest,

being determined,after quittingthe circle,to fly
similar panic seized M.
Fontainebleau.
A
from
d'Auvergne or he managed to hold communication
with Biron,and arranged to share his flight a fact
The duke then
ascertained.
though never
probable,
went
to sup with M. de M ontigny,
governor of Paris.
Biron to
of bravado possessed
The same
insane spirit
the last. During the repast he lauded the king of
"
His
circle of courtiers.
Spain before a numerous
Catholic majesty,"said the duke, " kindles in the
led

and

at

"

"

hearts of his warriors

only their

not

his favour
"

as

to

love

fervent

the widows

and

zeal

deeds,but

valiant

he

compenses
re-

extends

children of his slain !"

and

True, M. le Marechal ; but

pardons.
you know, never

his Catholic

majesty,

It is a tradition of his

inflexible justice,
kingof Spaindispenses
and
de Mon!" replied
his own
son
spares not even
tigny.1 The circle presentlydispersed,to meet
As Biron ascended
againin the saloon of the queen.
the grand staircase a page presented
a note, sent, as
he stated,from the countess
de Roussy,the duke's
sister. Surprisedat receiving
the missive,as the
asked after
in Paris,the duke anxiously
countess
was
the health of his sister. The messenger
made
a sign
and vanished.
Biron opened the note : it contained
that in less
unknown
a
friend,
warning from some
court

that

than

three hours

he could manage
1

Vie

du marechal

Hist, de France.

his
to

arrest

escape,

de Biron.

VOL.

II.

or

to

be

unless
effected,

his majesty.2
satisfy

Sully,liv.

13eme.

Dupleix
"

Mezerai.

as
Many were the conjectures
assert
mysteriousletter. Some
the
by
king to terrifythe
he longedto save.
Others hold
2

would

to who

that

it

marshal

was

the writer

was

another

of the

ruse

ployed
em-

whom
into confession,

that the intimation

came

from

338

He

HENRI

showed

the

note

to

IV.

of his

one

[1001

gentlemen,named
The
indifferently.

VarenneSjlaughed,and passedon
vited
duke, after making obeisance to the queen, was inby Henry to joinin the game of Primero,which
he was
playingwith her majesty. While so engaged,
the Count
d'Auvcrgne approached,and givingBiron
a
poke in the side,whispered," Marechal il ne fait
nous!"
Biron
bon id pour
continued
his play
pas
with unchanged countenance
the king, as the
; when
his cards to M. de Alontclock struck eleven,gave
bazon, and desiringhim to continue the game with
Biron
and
the queen,
took
led him
by the arm
then
Henry
requested explanation on
apart.
certain menees,
"concerningwhich, however, he had
ami, confess
nothingnew to learn." ' " Marechal,mon
and on the
with your
to
errors
own
me
lips,
your
word of a king, whatever
they may be, I will pardon,
screen
royalfavour,and for ever forget
you with my
! If you drive me, however, against
your misdeeds
will,and the welfare of my crown, to prove your
my
crime publicly,
I will not, I swear,
interfere with the
of justice; but I will leave you to abide by
award
the chastisement you may have merited !" Complete
consummate
innocence, or the most
presumption,
could alone dictate the replymade
by Biron to this
"
master.
Sire,"said he, " I
appealof his indulgent
I before told you, not to vindicate myself,
as
came,
who
but to know
I supplicate
accusers
are.
my
of these slanmajesty to give up the names
your
tlie duke

d'Epernon, or

from

beheld

future

servant

who
lloussy,
of

a
1

was

devoted
in Paris

the

who
thought that
queen,
in M.
de Biron.
Madame

waitingher accouchement,was

she
de

the wife

cadet of La Rochefoucault.
Vie

du

marechal

1. 14.
Curieuses,

de

Biron

"

imprirneea

Paris.

Archives

AND

1602.]

derers,that

MARIE

I may

do

from

M.

DE

339

MEDICI.

demand
such
or
myselfjustice,
from your majesty!" " Well, Marechal,I perceive
that you intend to divulgenothing. Remember,
that I cannot
I will now
seek
save
therefore,
you.
information
words

retired

Henry

door.

d'Auvennie
his

to

!" l

With

cabinet,and

these

closed the

His

majesty then, being still profoundly

manded
affected,summoned
Vitry and Praslin,and comformer

the

the latter

and

when

these

the

the marshal
of M.

quittedthe

personages

de

Biron,

d'Auvergne,

saloon

of her

Marie.

In the space of ten minutes

and
the corridors of the
staircase,

courts, the

palacewere

arrest

seize the person

to

majestyqueen
the

to

filled with

soldiers.

Henry

saloon

dismissed

the

and

then

circle.

entered
re-

The

rose, lookingpaleand agitated. Henry took

queen
the hand of his consort, and bowingto the assemblage,

pointedlysaid
Biron !

de

"

sign,a

to

the duke

remember

word

from

de Biron

the words

"
"

Adieu,Baron

I have

Biron,while

spoken!" 2
in the

he remained

might have averted the catastrophe.The

duke, however, passed his hand over his brow, and
slowly retired. As he crossed the portal,Vitry
placedhis left hand on the shoulder of the marshal,
" Monsieur
!
and with the rightseized his sword.
the kingcommands
your arrest ! Yield your sword !"
The duke started and turned
pale he next made a
menacing gesture, upon which several gentlemen,his

presence,

"

Bien,

"

marechal:

je

vois bien

je n'apprendrayrien

que

je m'en vais voir le conite d'Auvergne pour

d'en apprendredavantage,"is the version of the chronicle

de

"

vous

Vie
2

aux

du marechal

Ibid.

Memoires

lesson,and
related in

de Biron."
Laboureur"

DeThou, Dupleix.Mathieu, Le

"

de

essayer
of the

Castelnau.

herself made
future volume

as
on

Queen
skilful
the

Marie
an

Regency

Additions

profitedby

the

will be
arrest, as
of Marie de Medici.

z2

340

HENRI

retainers,drew

their

IV.

[1601
These

swords.

were

persons

by the soldiers,and conveyed

speedilydisarmed
as
prisoners.'' You jest,M. de Vitry!" at
away
sistance
length exclaimed Biron, sharply. " Monsieur, reof the king I arrest
is vain ! in the name
then
marshal
The
besought permissionto
you !"
the
speak with his majesty,and essayed to re-enter
! the king
saloon he had quitted. " No, Monsieur
"

"

has retired !
sword

"

Your

sword
which

the sword

!"

"

What

has rendered

! you take my
the king such

"

to
one
Vitry thereupon beckoned
The
of his officers to advance and ungirdthe sword.
round the chamber,
duke then,after gazinghopelessly
hie sword,
which was
filled with soldiers,
surrendered
in the custody of Vitry.1
led away
and was
The Count
d'Auvergne, meantime, escaped from
the royalpresence
whilst the king was
speakingwith
he resolved upon
Biron.
Restless and appi'ehensive,
flightbefore the storm
exploded. To his intense
from the Cour
disappointmenthe found that access
Ovale and the Cour du Donjon was
barred by soldiers
with halberds.
The
count, therefore,entered his
own
apartments, waiting his opportunityto escape.
with
The
courts, however, presently swarmed
soldiers.
his
M.
d'Auvergne, who thereby saw
wrorst
apprehensions
confirmed,tried again furtively
ever,
howde Praslin,
to pass the gate of the palace. M.
was
watching for his prisoner. Knowing that
resistance was
his sword,
useless,the count
gave
ironically
saying " Take it ! it is not illustrious as
and has only been wetted
with the blood
a
weapon,
of boars : 'tis a pity you did not apprizeme
of this

good

service !

"

De

Thou, liv. 128.

in la Chanibre

Septennaire.

Vie du
St. Louis.

marechal

de Biron.

He

Bassompierre
; Cayet

"

was

rested
ar-

Chron.

AND

1602.]

MARIE

hours

fracas,or two
and
asleepI'1

DE

I should

ago

341

MEDICI.

have

been

in bed

The

then conveyed to
prisonerwas
the chamber
he had occupied,
under a strong guard,
in arms
throughoutthe night.1 The capture effected,
M. de Rosny, who had retired to
Henry summoned
his pavilion2
It is somewhat
pending the arrest.
of Biron's
that Henry, at the critical moment
singular

arrest, had

of his three

none

servants

abidingin Fontainebleau.
the king, on
perceiving

present, though they were

M.

confidential

de

Hosny relates that

forward
with the exclamation
him, eagerlycame
"
Our men
are
caught : departforthwith and prepare
their lodgingsin the Bastille!
It is my intention to
send them by water
to Paris
they will land at your
Arsenal.
Afterwards,if you have leisure,
go to the
Hotel de Ville,and to the parliament,
and notify
the
I have been compelledto adopt !"
measures
The
followingday early,M. d'Escures,who had
been employed to persuadeBiron to repairto court
the word of the king that no harm
should ensue,
on
asked
audience
his griefat having been
to
express
selected as the agent of what
appeared to him so
plained
disloyala proceeding. " The king, however, exhe
to M. d'Escures,with tears, the overtures
had made, and
how
contumaciouslyM. de Biron
rejected his clemency." By the same
authority
Henry is stated to have informed d'Escures that the
"

"

intention

of
De

Ibid."

Sully relates
so

of the marshal.
sans

cesser

chaque

nouveaux

13eme.

de

moment

that

revolutionize

to

was

Thou, liv. 128.

to his own,

de

Biron

MS.

Biron's

lisais et

faire attention
de voir

ordres du

see
me

de

ce

commencer

roy

Imp.

sur

almost

into

pavilionopposite
the

apartment
alternativement,
promenais
cote
une

ce

vol. 9129.

in the

lodgiug was

that he could
"Je

Bibl.

the realm

que

la,ou je m'attendais
attaque, et

j'avaisa

de

faire."

recevoir
"

Livre

342

IV.

HENRI

that

and

Fuentes

de

after

king of Spain
the French
that

and

first

he spent the

had

said

the

conde

"that

the

assist
cordially
line of their kingswas
extinct;
by king
guarantee demanded
of the king and of his dauphin."1
would

never

until the
the

latter

the

Philipwas the death

The
deportment of
;

his liaison with

continued

he

[1601

Biron

trust

or

after his

arrest

lent
vio-

was

his chamber,
night in traversing

ingratitudeof the king, and

dawn
he
At
vehemently assertinghis innocence.
interview
with his majesty,
for an
sent to petition
raving against the

which

asked

then

He

refused.

was

to

see

M.

de

d'Epernon, and again despatcheda

About
request to be admitted to the royalpresence.
dinner time he transmitted
a warning to the king,to
seize the castles of Dijon and Beaune
; or that,on
M. de Luz,
of his arrest, his lieutenant,
the news
of
might surrender them to the Spanish governor
Franche-Comte.
Henry had alreadytaken his precautions,
that the intriguesof M. de Luz excited
so
this acknowledgment on
distrust : nevertheless,
no
fatal and imprudent,
deemed
the part of Biron was
Rosny

M.

and

it established

as

lieutenant

the

fact that

held treasonable

the

latter and

relations with

his

Spain.

king on this day, June 15th, wrote several

hand.
His
important despatches with his own
majesty also signed circular letters to the governors
Du
and the parliamentsof districts. To
of towns
to the Seignory,
Henry writes
Fresnes,ambassador
"
I have been compelled,
to my
very great regret, to
The

"

etc. du

Vie,

DeThou.

ne

The

cessa

de

chamber

marechal
"

"

Biroii s'abandonne

parlerde
in

which

ses

Paris, 1G03.

de Biron.

services,et
Biron

Ovale, in which the dauphin

was

petulenceordinaire et
du roi."
de l'ingratitude

a sa

was

detained

born.

was

la Chambre

344

HENRI

The
he

count

madame

de

son

[1G01

: moreover,
thoughtless
IX., the half-brother of

morency.
Verneuil,and the son-in-law of Montso
Kindred, therefore,
powerfulsufficed

invalidate

to

and
young
of Charles

was

the

was

IV.

indictment

an

based

not

written

on

from the first to

testimony. M. d'Auvergne seems
have resignedhimself to his prison while no public
endeavours
made
were
by his relatives to procure his
pardon.
The prisoners,
meantime,were
placedin a covered
boat,and sent by water to Paris,under strong guard,
16th.
on
Saturday June
They landed at the
Arsenal
between
and
seven
eight in the evening,
and were
received by the governor
of the Bastille,
M. de Rosny, and a battalion of soldiers.1 Silence
and secrecy prevailed the pinsoners were
conveyed
through the gardens and courts of the Arsenal to
Sentinels
the
the Bastille.
were
placed under
windows
of their
chamber
extra
guards were
;
mounted
precautiontaken to prevent
; and
every
"

"

their

Biron

escape.

his

turbulent

meanour,
de-

king in language which

of Henry's loyalsubjects.The
the ears
for the trial of the duke de Biron for high
before the High Court of Parliament
was
and

shocked
warrant
treason

issued

continued

reviled

the

the 17th of June.

on

commission

also

was

nominated, consistingof the first president,De

cates
llarlay,the presidentBlancmesnil,and the advo-

Fleury and Thurin, to conduct the preliminary

M. d'Auvergne was
interrogatories.2
exempted
1

"

An

moment

l'Arsenal,ma
porte le
2

nom

Bibl.

"Henry

que
femme

les

prisonniersmettaient

accouchait

de mademoiselle

Imp.

MS.

par le grace

de

de

celle de

Sully,liv.

Beth., 8956.
de Dieu Roy de

The
France

pied
mes

terre

filles

qui

a
a

loeme.

warrant

is

addressed,

et de Navarre

nos

AND

1602.]
from

MARIE

ordeal

the

of

trial,until proof positivewas

obtained

of his criminal

wrested

from

madame

la

about

the

Germain,

the

hold

received

was

connivance
the

king by

counsel

in

people showed

Paris

their

an

"

with

of

left Fontainebleau
brief visit

the trial.

on

indulgence

indignantoutcries

Marquise. Henry
16th of June, for a

to

345

MEDICI.

DE

His

enthusiasm

St.

to

mnjesty
the

and

in the

allegedperil
which their monarch
and his realm had escaped.
The
marshal
de Biron
for the
was
interrogated
first time on
the 18th of June, in the councilchamber
of the Bastille,
accordingto the president
De
nation
Thou
Rosny, however, states that the examiin a pavilionerected in the middle
made
was
sympathy

"

of the

walk

great

in

commissioners

The

the

of the

gardens

with

Arsenal.

impatience
by the duke : who, when the clerk of arraigns
about to read the royalcommission,begged to be
was
"There
sparedthe trouble of hearing the document.
of proceeding,Messieurs, against
modes
two
are
accused
the way
of rigour,and the way
an
person
received

were

angry

"

of

favour

the

"

choice

in

my

case

remains

with

the

givesme confidence ; for if my

conscience in any way
prickedme, I should not now
be in your
I chose, however, to risk the
power.
chance
of slander and
imprisonment rather than
compromise my reputationby flight." The first
the duke
to
president allowed
harangue at his
without
He
then commenced
leisure,
interruptinghim.
the interrogatory.
Biron
boldlydenied all,
still being under
Lafin
had
the delusion that M.

king. My

been

innocence

silent; and

amez

et feaux

ment

de

Paris

that

les
conseillers,
:

amongst the MSS.

Salut," etc.
of the

minutes

no

gens

tenant

copy

of
nostre

instructions
cour

of this warrant

King'sLibrary.

de Parleis also

346

HENRI

existed.
the

by
to

De

Harlay

marshal

When

the

produced letters written

king,and requested Biron
in his handwriting.
were
the
identified these letters,

such

marshal

[1601

then

the

to

whether

state

IV.

had

presidentproduced the four sheets of instructions

given by Biron to Lafin while investingthe fortress
of Bourg, and
compared the manuscript with the
handwriting

of the letters.

the siMit of the first

At

that he had
owned
hesitatingly
it
written
the
second
on
being presented he
changed colour,and declared that it was a forgery
could perfectly
perpetratedby two
servants, who
imitate his handwriting the third sheet he acknowledged
the
reluctantly.The presidentthen drew
attention of the prisonerto the fact that the last
sheet

marshal

the

"

"

words

the

of the

third

second

from

the

written

the

edification and
with

be

whole,

the

the commissioners
the minute

but

when

papers
"

and

have

must

much

After

prevarication,
that he

boldlyowned
only, he said,for

that these minutes

the duke

therefore

of his friend Lafin

intention

to

how

lenth

instruction

the

submtted

at

of

had

of

the first sentence

mind.

same

the duke

never

and

corresponded;

emanated

had

and

page

Savoye.

He

fallen into the hands

transportedwith furyat

and

should
then

stated that he had

the

quired
en-

of

written

the refusal

of the

king to appointhim governor of Bourg; that

he was
naturallyimpetuous,and feelinginsulted,
had strung togethera list of chimerical
projects,
which he had never
dreamed
of executing. Finally,
Biron
pleaded the pardon which his majesty had
accorded
of

Lyons.1

t.

in the cloister of the Franciscan

De

Thou,

2, liv. 3.

The

commissioners

liv. 128.

Cayet.

Vie

du

then

marechal

took
de Biron

monastery

leave,and
"

Matkieu,

DE

MARIE

AND

1602.]

347

MEDICI.

proceeded the followingdays to the examination

of Paris
rode about the streets
of M. Lafiu,who
in the holster of his
with pistols
armed
cap-a-pied,
saddle
the

alarmed

so

relatives

Lafin

told

minute

this traitor

was

The

Biron.1

of

terribly
againstBiron

of four

for

sheets

at

the threats of

depositionsof this
: takingthe famous

his text, he

deliberate recital of his various

tendered

interviews

with

the

Savoye, Fuentes, Casale, De Bosc, the

ters
chancellor Domenic
Belli,Roncas, and other minisor
agents of Spain and Savoy. He certified to
oath ; and
excused
all the events
before related,
on
the pleathat his horror was
his treacheryon
great
at the intrigues
brewing to destroya great and good
prince,so that he could no longerkeep silence. He
stated, as before,that the agent employed by Biron
to
one
negotiatewith the Spanish cabinet was
Piccotte,a refugeefrom Orleans ; that the latter had
had
frequent audiences of the marshal at Dijon,
duced
Macon, and Pont de Vaux; and that he was introLa Farge. That this Picnamed
cotte
by a monk
had been to Spain to pray PhilipIII. to undertake
faith in France,
of the orthodox
the protection
the king was
which
by the subtle prodestroying
cesses
of neglectand ridicule
and
intended finally
to annihilate
by a sudden onslaught,aided by the
of Europe. When
heretic powers
questionedon the
concluded
at Como
duringthe month of
stipulations
January, Lafin stated that the confederates agreed
duke

of

"

Journal

assassinated

du

in the

that M. de la
has

the

MS.

came

place,and

de

month

Fin, who

latelybeen
who

Regne

Henri
of

into

slippedaway
Cotton,Vesp.,F. 10.

Lafin

December,

discovered

poniarded in
booted

IV.

the

town

his

"

1604.

conspiracyof
of

mysteriouslyAdvertised,

-was

M.

Auvergne, by

lodging, and
Unknown

left him

who

again.
B. Museum, fol. 71.

de

Biron,

man
gentledead

he was."

on
"

348

HENRI

cardinal Aldobrandini
he should

whether

king,
six

wait

or

the

from

not

his Catholic

make

to

peace

with

be made

France
The

the

option
againstthe

majesty

his allies.

and

of Biron

to

was

to

have

once

that

to

was

take up arms
previous declaration

at

for

that Biron

Spanishking,which

months;

consent

[1G01

accept the articles grantedat Lyons

to

never

IV.

had

of

war

within
nanted
cove-

without

the

treaty provided

to be governed
captured placeswere
nominated
by Biron, with the excepby Frenchmen
tion
be ceded
of Marseilles,which
to
a
as
was
the king of
for the Spanish fleet. That
harbour
Spain consented to providethe confederates with the
of 1,800,000 gold crowns
was
: that Biron
yearlysum
of the armies of
to be nominated
lieutenant-general
to
a
daughter of
Spain in France ; and was
marry
Savoy, with the duchy of Burgundy for her dowry.
Should the conspiracyfail the king of Spain covenanted
to give Biron |isylumin Italyor
Germany ; a
the
yearlypensionof 120,000 gold crowns
; besides
of 1,200,000 gold crowns
in ready money." ?
sum
The
if in reality
extravagance of these stipulations,
have convinced
made, must at once
any sober mind
of the bad
faith of Fuentes ; and that
his only
objectwas to delude his victim,through the medium of
Biron's insatiable vanity,
and so involve Philip's
great
rival Henri
Quatre in tracasseries which would promote
the dominance
of Spain,and the success
of the

that

arms

all

of the archdukes

writers

in the Low

considered

have

Countries.

this treaty of Como

Some

ther
altoge-

apocryphal or at least,they assert that no

embodied.
It is averred
were
stipulations
regularly
that the king having once
pardoned the marshal for
his disloyalco-operation
with the Savoyard foe,it
"

De

Thou

"

Hist, de

son

Temps.

the

of Biron

condemnation

resorted

to

the

extreme

349

MEDICI.

high crime to procure

for that, after having
of presenting
to the

allegesome

to

necessary

was

DE

MARIE

AND

1602.]

measure

and attainder,the
parliamenta bill of high treason
king dared not release the marshal,or inflict a lesser
penalty than death. In the household expenses of
Henri IV., for the year 1602, there is an
entry of a
of 3,450 livres given to M. Lafin ; and the quessum
tion
this
has been
was
asked, For what purpose
given to reward disclosures,or to purchase
money
lyingevidence % If for the latter purpose, the sum
the trial conis small indeed ; especially
cluded,
as, when
heard
Lafin is no
more
of,but returned to
which
laden with the odium
his original
obscurity,
This Lafin was
an
always clingsto the informer.
adventurer, though sprung from a noble house ; 1 he
"

had

and

personages,
would

person

at

during

the

honourable
strictly
of

sum

in suitable

he

to

hostile and

secret

measures

were

in

reside

to
an

him

maintain

The

which

guise as

compelled to

was

was

this

enable

aid, therefore,to

Fontainebleau, and
month

3,450 livres

meeting at Como is alluded

Spanish contemporary authors as

Paris.

at

households

no

present himself

to

courtier

which

The

accept.

bountiful

over

individual

and

was

missions

employed upon
not

of great
and
alwaysindigent,
suspected,

filled inferior posts in the

by

Italian

interview
concerted

of Henri IV., and as

of the power
tude
viewed with infinite soliciwas
such,d'Ossat relates,

for the overthrow

by

the

Henry
sovereignpontiff'.2
his belief that

states

there

malignitywas
1

M. de Lafin

was

English court, M.
2

Lettre

254.

scheme

of the

organizedagainstthe

brother

Beauvoir

of

himself

de La

Jvocle.

utmost

power

Henry's able ambassador

peatedly
re-

and
to the

350

HENRI

influence
writes

of

On

Fiance.
Fresne

du

to

IV.

"

The

[1601
12th

the

duke

of July

de Biron

Henry

has

fessed
con-

leaguewith Savoy ; he, it appears,

several
hoped to entice from their allegiance
and
to which, however, I
districts,
important towns
'
his designs."
To
mont,
Beaufind he never
dared open
in England, the king details
his ambassador
the various charges: he says the intrigue
was
badly
the intent of Savoy
concocted, but that it was
of the
in the autumn
and Spain to assail Geneva
the campaign, resolved to
thus force on
year, and
of France.
"In short,"
attempt the dismemberment
intended
writes his majesty," Biron
to
dispose of
afterwards to play the
he liked ; and
realm
as
my
with England and. the Dutch
same
Republic,
game
if all the world
as
ought to tremble before his
his treasonable

scowl."

the

Meantime
alarmed

at

relatives

the serious

turn

the

of

duke

affairs had

de

Biron,

bled
taken,assemmency.
his royal cle-

petitionthe king to manifest

that Biron
The plea of these noblemen
was
was
guiltyof having compassed the crime of treason,
though not guiltyof its actual perpetration.Henrygrantedthem audience in the galleryof the chateau
de St. Maur, where the king sojournedat the beginning
of July for a few days. The deputationconsisted
of Jean, marquis de St. Blancart, brother of
the marshal,of Charles de Buffiere Sieur de Chambarit,of the count de Rou^sy, brother-in-law of Biron,
de Salignac,
and
de St. Angel, Gontaut
and of MM.
brother-inM. de la Force, another
de Theminea.
law of Biron's,is said to have been the speaker of
to

Archives

"

MS.

Lettres

Bibl.
Missives

de Couhe

Imp.

F.

de Henri

Lusignan."
"

de

Brienne"

IV., t.

5.

Lettres
MS.

t.
Missives,

38, 167

verso

5.

; also

352

on

HENRI

IV.

[1601

this

criminal,but on ourselves,the
of your
majesty !"" This address

faithful

jects
sub-

pressedthe

resolved not to interfere with the

:
king very closely
of justice,
after firstcommanding
course
Henry replied,
the cavaliers
have
my

I, messieurs,closed my
subjects;and all persons
to

access

and

have

to

II. refused

It is

have

crueltyrather than mercy : it is not a

of
own
safety but of the stability
my
I would anIf it were
ticipate
a personal
affair,
"

prayers
for the which I have

crime

but the

to

reproachesmight not
a

fact that Francis

the prayers of the wife of my

voke
The
clemency which you in-

to

your

award

the friends

to

be

this realm.

the prayers of
found ready

ancestors

well-known

de Conde.

question of

No

respect

criminals,my

listen

to

would

allowed

ever

"

"

mothers

M.

have

Never

always
listen to intercessions of this nature
they
of brothers,
fathers,
repulsedthe pleadings

even

uncle

to

ears

With

presence.

relatives of

refused

and

my

their knees

rise from

to

state

my

of such

children address

virulencyto

have

of

justice.I, however,invite

your

power

after

sentence

to

prove

not

to

the innocence

you

if I

me,

unpunished!
the

with
to

do all in

of the accused

intercession

pronounced, no

be

can

high treason ; neither

father,son, husband, nor
wife, can then have right
Take care, messeigneurs,
that
to expect sympathy.
pleasure,
in your zeal for this culprit
you do not incur my disand the reprobationof the public
! You
that a capitalsentence
brand you with
dread
may
de
infamy ? I descend maternallyfrom the count
tolerated for

St. Paul

man

; and

Nemours
me

The

convicted

go

to

interfere

resolved

"

posterity.What

to

answer

is concerned

am

Their

one

of

of the heirs of the duke

crimes, have

prince de Conde,

my

they

de

dishonoured

uncle, would

have

AND

1602.]

been

MARIE

DE

had
decapitated

day.

These

mine

no

II. survived

Francis

have
personages
brand
of infamy!

stamped upon
The

crime

but

one

me

and

and

the

Biron will not

penaltyof

continue

you

353

MEDICI.

disgrace
you, providedthat
faithful subjects
! M. St. Angel

my

Biron discarded from his intihere present whom

macy
because he refused to cabal
M. de St. Angel
"

"

will

how
testify

you

now

dearlyI

solicit.

am

loved
even

him

at

rate

any

that

of his

M.

le Marechal

any

one,

consolation

of

believing

conspiredagainstyour

never

of the

one

to
doubtless,

venture,

the

!" exclaimed

royalperson
"

have

we

messieurs,
has compassed the
"
benefactor V
Sire,

and

master

pardon

afflicted than

more

at this crime : but

can
yourself
for an ingrate
who
allegeexcuses

destruction

whose

test

noblemen

the

present
opinionof the

intents of Biron before the

regicidal
Fort Ste. Catherine,still deposed to by M. Lafin.
Henry, however, contented himself with replying
"Messieurs,do what you can to prove the innocence

king

the

on

"

of the

accused

I will aid
your

manner."
possible
It

that the
more

informed

of

result of the

kindred.

"

the

the scaffold !

De

IV.

humble

Mathieu

"

Greve

Ha
!

VOL.

aux

intervention

exclaimed
he, " that
perceive,"
that I shall journeyalong the road

his

"

He

then asked for

Hist,

du

Mem.

je vois

an

which
Sillery,

du marechal

Historique de la Fortune
Francois
I. jusqu'aLouis
Additions

when
his

Vie
"

subdued

of

Villeroyand

Thou.

and

majestywills
de

of the unfortunate

manner

prisonerbecame

MM.

in every

observed

was

endeavours

de

Biron.

interview with
was

Journal

granted,
de

Henri

Henri
IV.
Discours
Regne de
et
Disgrace des Favoris depuis
XIII.,quoted by Le Laboureur.
"

de Casteluau.

bien

qu'on

me

veutfaire

tenir le cheinin

"

II.

to

AA

de la

354

HENRI

though the

IV.

[1601

result of the visit never

transpired.Biron
also admitted
the archbishopof Bourges; whose
before
assistance he had
insolentlyrejected. A
letter was
about this time circulated,
to be
professing
addressed
exact
an
by the duke to
copy of an epistle
his majesty,
imploringmercy in the most abjectterms ;
and expressingBiron' s willingness,
provided his life
to finish his days " between
was
prisonwalls !
spared,
position
Many believed the letter genuine; and that its comagreed with the temper of M. de Biron,
of elation or
which
was
subjectto the extremes
in a letter written
dejection.The king,nevertheless,
de la Force, after the demise
of the marshal,
to M.
that Biron
the last refused to
states
to
explicitly
solicit pardon ; and also strenuously
denied
that he
had fomented
the troubles arising
from the unpopular
"

tax, la Pan

carte.

Meantime

the

that he should

by

warrant

be

toutes

for the trial of Biron

brought before,and
Chambrss

decreed

sentence

assemblees.

The

pronounced
peers of

in the
participate
arraignmentor sentence; and grounded their refusal to
sit in judgment on the precedentthat at the trial of
the duke d'Aumale
called upon
not
to give
they were
verdict.
In vain it was
representedthat the trial of
Aumale
instituted in a time of great publicpanic,
was
and after the loss of several important actions ; that
the chief peers were
then absent on military
duties ;
and
that in the case
of Aumale
judgment was pronounced

France, nevertheless,declined

in the absence

however, held firm

in the condemnation

"

of the accused.

they
of

to

refused

one

valiant of their order;

to

hitherto

be

The

peers,

participants

considered

the

when
former
especially
such as Mayenne, Guise,and even
the secrecriminals,
tary
of state Villeroy
sat in their Chamber, in
himself,

most

MARIE

AND

1602.]

DE

355

MEDICI.

virtue of letters of abolition

grantedfor the crime of

stillmore
virulent treason.1 The
obduracy of the
nobles was
vexatious to the king; nevertheless,
cial
judivigorously
procedureswere
pursued.
On Monday, July 15th,the marshal was
confronted
with Mi Lafin, and
for the first time beard the
made
The
face of
depositions
by this personage.
became
a profuse
Biron,it is recorded,
pallid;
ration
perspiissued from every pore, succeeded by a shivering
intense were
his emotions of rage, surprise,
and
so
fit,
distress. The marshal,when Lafin ceased,addressing
M. de Iiumigny,captainof the Bastille,
requested
his bed for an
to repose
hour.2
The
on
permission
inquirywas
immediatelysuspended for the period
named.
Biron on his re-appearance
was
emphatically
the
first
be
enjoinedby
presidentto
temperate in
that this was
languageand demeanour; to remember
and that he would have
a preliminary
interrogatory;
for refutation and protest when
opportunity
brought
before la haute Chambre.
A scene, nevertheless,
of a
violent description
ensued.
The marshal gave positive
denials to the principal
assertions of Lafin.
He
which
bitterly
reproachedthe latter for his perfidy,
Biron attributed to revenge
for the deceit
especially
Lafin had practised
in deluding
him before his journey
to Fontainebleau
act of wicked malice and cruelty
an
as
have obtained
beingforewarned he could easily
the pardonof the king. The marshal ended his tirade
that if M. Renaze, secretary to Lafin,
by asserting
were
rated
incarcenow
present who was
unfortunately
in the dungeonsof the duke of Savoy he would
"

"

"

"

"

Journal

de

Henri

in judgment
sitting
attributed
2

Vie

to them

IV.

on

by

du marechal

their
noted

The

peers had

good reason t"4avoid

unhappy colleague,if the designs
contemporaries had foundation.

de Biron.

"

De

Thou,

liv. 128.
AA

356

HENRI

confute

IV.

[1601

the

lyingevidence of M. Lafin. The president

repliedthat the wish of the accused could be
had
gratified
escaped from the fortress
; for Renaze
of Quiers,and was
waiting outside the pleasureof
the court.1
individual
then
This
appeared; but
confirmed
in every
respect the testimony of Lafin.
then read by the attorney-general,
Many letters were
addressed
by the marshal to M. Lafin. One, upon
which Henry desired that stress might be laid,
written
since the birth of the dauphin,contained the following
"
has given a son
his
Since God
to
passage :
majesty,and to this realm, we must forget our old
think uprightly
and if we
have acted as we
projects;
"

until now, let us try to do stillbetter for the future !"

A recommendation
of this passage to the favourable

High Court was the only mercy

and
conceded
once
by the king to his old favourite,
zealous servant, from
the period of Biron's arrest.
heart of the king seemed
and alienated ;
The
sore
and
he irritably
resented
appeals to his compassionate
less,
favour.
The
marshal
was
treated,doubtwith
rigorousjustice: the petitionof his
mother
madame
de Biron,and of his sister madame
de Roussy,that counsel might be appointedto defend
the duke on his appearance
before the Chambers, was
suffered to hold
were
rejected;2and no personages
consideration

interviews

of the

with

Biron

in the Bastille.

to have
Rumignv, however, seems
of kindness and sympathy to
acts
1

of

at this critical
escape of Renaze
It was
Quiers attracted attention.

The

at
Savoye had connived
he wished
impracticable,

De

abounded

in

her husband's

periodfrom
surmised

wife of

trifling
illus-

the fortress
that

M.

de

evasion, as, finding his schemes

that M. de Biron should be his scapegoat.
the

de Roussy
Thou, liv. 128. Madame
with no greater success.
second petition,
2

The

"

also

presenteda

MARIE

AND

1602.]

357

MEDICI.

DE

as
prisoner,and to have softened as much
M.
de
possiblethe severityof his confinement.
Eosny declined an interview with Biron, although
solicited by the poor prisoner. He states,
earnestly
his reasons
that he could not offer
for this refusal,
as
intercession in the marshal's behalf,as the king was
the latter to his fate ; secondly,
resolved to abandon
it politic
little communication
that he deemed
to hold
as
as
possiblewith the prisoners,his name
mentioned
having been maliciously
by Lafin in his
depositions.There is little doubt but that alarm

trious

well

as

the

as

indignation

of
severity

authors

was

than

discovered

Biron's

was

misdeeds

several

king. By

it is insinuated

ramifications
it

the

at

increased

contemporary

that the

plot had far deeper

generallysuspected; and
of the

that many
had
been

chief

courtiers

inoculated
with
the
king Henry
of Spanish intrigue; J though,from motives
venom
suffered to
of high expediency,the facts were
not
of
to
most
transpireeither to the public or
the personages
implicated. Besides the dukes de
of

Bouillon

and

de la Tremouille

"

the duke

de Mont-

pensier,the constable Montmorency, the duke de

Guise, and many of the chieftains of the old league
it was
said, suspectedof wishingwell to the
were,
The
scheme
movement.
proposed by the subtle
enemies of the reigningdynasty was
alluring the
redivi^ion of France
into great hereditary
fiefs; the
of the
election of the king; and the curtailment
royalprerogativeto its proportionsin the days of
Hugues Capet. If it be true that a plan of this
"

Biron

confessed

pensions from
he

refused

B. fol. 60.

to

had
eightyhigh personages
accepted
the king of Spain,though with great constancyMS.
King's Library,109,
give up their names.
that

"

358

HENRI

IV.

[1G01

must
developed,the ro^al suspicions
have centred vividly
on
Montpensier; as this prince
after the signaincurred a temporary disgracesoon
ture
that the
of the treaty of Vervins,by proposing
office of lieutenant-governor
of a provinceshould be
and forfeited only on attainder.
declared hereditary,
"
The cautious Rosny says :
The number
of Biron's
accompliceswas great, and consisted of many of the
I took
of the court.
principalpersonages
upon
and fortunately
several persons implicated,
myself to warn
selves
themsucceeded
in inducing these to throw
all followed
the feet of the king. Almost
at
which
I promised to these
counsel : the secrecy
my
from recordingtheir names."
prevents me
persons
and
The abbe Siri,
other writers of the seventeenth
of the conthe extent
spiracy
on
century, speak confidently
that policypreventedthe arraignment
; and state
of personages
arrest
whose
might have been
followed
by insurrections throughout the country.
No
documentary proofs,however, exist criminating
other high personages
cerned
exceptingthose openly conin Biron's felony; but the bane of France,
until she beof the reasons
came
of her decline,
and one
in the depthsof her great Revolution,
immersed
the excessive power, turbulence,and privileges
was

magnitude was

"

of la haute noblesse.
of the duke de Biron
appearance
fixed for the 27th day of
Parliament
was

before

The

the
days previously

several
and

consider
;

court
on

with

was

the

the evidence

also, all the

read

morning

aloud
of

troops from

Montigny, governor

the
the
of

Chambers
obtained

July.

met
at

to

the
For

peruse

the interrogatories

correspondencegiven into
by the chancellor. By dawn
27th

the

Bastille

to

streets

the

were

Palais.

Paris,wa*s charged with

lined

De
the

360

HENRI

IV.

[1G01

high a personage, had been dispensed

u
with.
not
Pardon, Messieurs,"said the duke, " I canquest
rehear,therefore I must
approach,or I must
you all to speak in a louder tone." The charges
into five points,
againstBiron had been condensed
each of which
he was
afterwards
:
interrogated
upon
fend
he was
permittedto address the Chambers, and dehimself upon
all that had been allegedsince
his arrest.
The
five points were:
1st, the duke's
of

case

so

treasonable
Picotte
with

of

the archduke

and

the

visited

duke

of

Paris,and

his

the

with

duke

in

Flanders

with

Albert; 2ndly,his relations

when

Savoy,

daughter of the

when

conferences

the

latter

prince

to obtain the hand

negotiations
vance
duke ; 3rdly,the duke's conniof Savoy during the recent

tents;
and incampaign his treasonable communications
the
4thly,Biron's regicidal
projectsto cause
Ste.
assassination of his majesty before the Fort
Catherine ; 5thly,the duke's instructions to Lafin,
and
his participation
in the treaty negotiatedat
duke's
The
Corno."
repliesconsisted of mingled
denial and confession.
He
pleaded the pardon he
that it was
received at Lyons ; and maintained
valid,
"

although full disclosures had

his

majesty.

As

not

then

been

for his intent to take the

made

to

king'slife,

Biron

although,
totallydenied the allegation;
upon
he admitted
that a proposition
being closely
pressed,
had been made
in enigmatical
to that effect,
language,1
luy parlantim jour lors qu'iletoit devant le fort Ste.
Nous
les deux
Catherine
serons
grands bardeaux
luy dit
ne
nous
qui porteront la charge sur le dos, si les palissacles
empeschent dedans trois jours; que e'etoit un enigme qu'il
1

"

Lafin

"

'

n'entendoit

que

la

moitie,savoir

que

si

ceux

de Ste. Catherine

ils seroyent pris dedans

3 jours.
palissades,
Mais quelquesjours apres Lafin luy dit que les deux bardeaux
estoyenteux deux,qui seraient les mulets pour porter le roy au
ne

mettoyent

des

AND

1602.]
to

him

The

MARIE

which

by Lafin, the

duke

DE

that

confessed

so

361

MEDICI.

he

rejectedwith

his rage
the government
of

great

was

horror.
at

the

king'srefusal to give him

Bourg,
"
quil etait alors capablede tout ouyr, et de tout faire"
Biron
assailed the evidence
againsthis royal master.
of Lafin,whom
he accused of horrible crimes,
Pie stated
magic, coining,and murder.
sorcery,
that Lafin had an image in wax
of the king,which,
by the agency of the Evil One, frequentlyshrieked
the words : " Rex
out
cera
impie peribis
; et sicut
"1 have sinned,I have sinned,
moriens!"
liquescit
witli my mouth, with my ears, with my head, and a
little with my
pen," said the unhappy Biron, " but
from his
not
so
greatlyas to make me an outcast
majesty's graciousclemency. All this has come
for the impious and execrable oaths,taken
me
upon
with Lafin on the Holy Eucharist,
to reveal our
never
marshal
The
continued
to harangue
intelligences."
his judges,and to answer
their interrogatories,
until
the hour of ten.
On a signfrom the chancellor,
M.
de Montigny and his guards then surrounded
their
and led him through the garden of the first
prisoner,
off
presidentto the boat, which had been moored
In the same
the quay.
Biron was
lugubriouspomp
back to the Bastille. The
of the
conducted
spirits
marshal,however, appeared elated ; and he recounted
with infinite vivacitythe incidents of the morning
both to M. de Vitry duringthe route, and to Rumigny
and

his gaolers after his arrival

then, it is said,mimicked
and

invented

fort pour

made

conversation

facetious

l'yfaire perdre

du marechal

"

de Biron

ce
.

the Bastille.

He

the voice of the chancellor

privy-council.Afterwards
and

at

for the latter with

Biron
remarks

qu'iltrouvafort

dined
on

with
the

mauvais."

"

the

tite,
appe-

knives

tion
Deposi-

362

HENRI

his

brought

to

rounded

and

IV.

table, the

[1C01

of

which

with

the

blades

blunt, in accordance

were

tions
regula-

of the

prison.
Monday, July 29th,the

On

Chambers

After
its verdict.
pronounce
hours,the marshal de Biron was
to

high

condemned

treason, and

the

Place

and

lands

de

Greve,

and

confiscated.1

his
The

assembled

deliberation of six
declared

guiltyof
to be decapitated
on
dignities,
possessions,
chancellor

addressed

length; he hinted that the death of

Biron was
not
only for the safetyof his
necessary,
majesty,but as a warning by which other illustrious
blood might be spared. The
king retired to St.
for
that the warrant
Germain, leaving commands
the Chambers

at

the

of M.

execution

de Biron

should

be

transmitted

therefore placedbefore
: it was
signature
The senhis majesty on the afternoon of Monday.
tence
was
immediately publishedin Paris, and the
take
rumour
propagated that the execution would
place on the following day, Tuesday, July 30th.
the news
The
on
capitalrose
; people thronged to
the most
the carrefours and
exaggerated
squares;
him

to

for

recitals of the crime

the

During
Place

de

night scaffolds

Greve

on

the

morning,to

of the condemned

the

were

were

erected

current.

round

the

for spectators of the

morrow.

gates of the
ascertain

at

strophe
expected cataof 3000
A mob
sailed
people asBastille on
the following

what

hour

the

illustrious

jugesqui opinerentaussi centre Lafin,l'axiteur

cet. avis
de toute
horrible intrigue
cette
et l'instigateur
; mais
fut rejete,
crime si atrcce, et qui renferme
parce que dans un
luy seul tous les autres crimes, les juges les plus sages ont
tout a fait
toujourscrus qu'ily avoit de la justicea se montrer
II se
favorable a ceux
qui se hatent d'en donner connoisance.
trouva
beaucoup de jugesqui penchoientdu cote de la douceur
De Thou, liv. 128.
pour M. le marechal."
1

"

II y eut des

"

AND

1602.]
criminal

would

be

first intimation
that

his

multitude

on

chamber.

He
I

"

been

fixed

by

DE

forth
the

363

MEDICI.

die.

to

duke

de

This

the

was

Biron

received

pronounced,and his doom

of the brutal
The cries and wrestlings
the Place
without, penetratedto his
turned
is propale. "My sentence
nounced

am

chair.

led

which

sentence

that of death.

on

MARIE

was

The
the

dead

"

man!"

exclaimed

execution

king-for

of

he,1 falling
had

Biron, however,

the

over,
followingday : morethe duke was
his fate privately,
to meet
on
a
scaffold erected in the great court
of the Bastille,
of
his majestyhaving been pleased,
the petition
on
the relatives of the said Biron,so to ordain.
Hope
have
to
seems
now
utterlyforsaken the marshal;
was
though, by a cruel consideration,his sentence
still concealed
from him.
After a period given to
Biron sent for M. de Baranton, lieutenant
reflection,
of his guard,and besoughthim to carry his commendations
M.
de Rosny, and
to
to
implore him to
intercede for his life with the king. Baranton
fully
faithSt.
at
performed his mission : the marquis was
Germain, and in the presence of madam e de Rosny

and

So

M.

Zamet

the lieutenant

was
affecting

all present shed

the report made

tears

and

speak for some

Rosny said,"I can neither
de Biron.
Alas, it is too
told all
not

his

Vie

du

marechal

de

Biron.

one

see

At

intercede

nor

late !

He

out

Sully,liv.

length
for M.

should

Fontainebleau
it

found

person

minutes.

majestywhen at
having done this,he has put
to

his message.
Baranton
that

by

not

to

courage

delivered

of the
13eme.

have

for,

"

power
Mathieu,

liv. 2.

Paris
estea
Sully is reported to have said: "Si j'eusse
j'eusse
empeche les huissiers de passer par 1'Arsenal,et l'apprehension que M. le marechal
du peuple n'eust
Vie
a eu
pas ete !
"

"

du

marechal

de Biron.

364

HENRI

of his friends
The

intercession

made
;

spare

and

to

the

life of

"

Henry,

I have

"

nothing! 1
courageouslyto have

seems

Biron

for

have

[1601

him.

save

however,

queen,

hiin

to

IV.

do

can

all abandoned

when

besoughthis majesty at least to

"
M. de Biron.
Madame," replied

too

and
affection for you
leave in
request. I cannot

great

to grant your
son
your
the heart of my realm
such.
to extract
power

an

sharp a thorn,when

so

If M.

le Marechal

I have

has dared

conspireagainstme, having knowledge of

and might, will he not
eagerlyassail
courage

to

and

should

son

your

life be taken ?

my

"

my
you

cellor,
Wednesday, July 31 st,the chanMM.
de Rosny and Sillery,
the first president
of officials of minor
de Harlay,and a crowd
rank,
proceededto the Bastille at ten o'clock. At eleven,
On

the

Bellievre

commanded

conducted
latter

the

to

then

that

M.

chapel of

hear

to

was

Rosny

of

morning

his

de

Biron

should

where
fortress,

the

be
the

notified.3
officially

doom

first fulfilled the

withdrew, having

quisite
re-

and surrenof governor

of the Bastille,
dered
his prisoner
chief judge of the
to his majesty's

duty

presentimentof his approaching

the mind
of the unhappy prisoner.
fate harassed
Biron's dress was
his face flushed,and his
disordered,
excited.
The chancellor entered robed, premanner
criminal

Vie

Hist,

courts.

du

marechal

de Biron.
,

de la Mere

Another

by M. de
compagnie
almanachs,
choses
M.

de

et du

relation
Biron

in

trouva

his

"

chamber

le marechal

appartenantes

la
a

"

the

states

considerant

Perefixe

Fils.

la

Hist, de

Mezerai.
fatal
in

occupe

the
a

marshal,

Etait

fort

Bastille.

conferer

trois

"

Oh
ou

cette

quatre

jour, les signes,et autrea

judiciaire."Journal de Henri IV.
lune,

le

"

Henri

le

Grand,

ignorant,mais
des predictions
des astrologues,
devins,et
the

"

received

was
intelligence

p. 374. states

extremement
autres

that

curieux

affronteurs."

AND

1602.]

ceded

MARIE

DE

his macebearers

by

365

MEDICI.

and

and accompaofficials,
nied
de
priestsin canonicals,
Magnan, cure
by two
des Champs, and
St. Nicholas
an
eloquent monk
named
Gamier, who was
subsequentlypromoted to
the see of Montpellier.Biron,as soon
he saw
the
a3
chancellor,exclaimed,in a voice hoarse and rapid,
"
suffered
! you
be
have
to
me
What, Monsieur
die ! Monsieur, Monsieur,
to
miserablycondemned
mon
prevented this calamity! I sumall the judges who
have condemned
you, and
before the tribunal of the most
High
me, to appear
for this deed !" l He
God, one year hence,to answer
"
of Bellievre,
then seized the arm
Oh, what service
the king of France
renders to-day to the king of
Spain ! Monsieur, must I die 1 I delivered myself
in the word of the king is there no salvation
up, trusting
?
The
duke continued
for some
periodto
with the fury and gestures of one
distracted.
rave
in words
When
he at length paused, Bellievre,
of
sympathy, and almost with tears, announced his doom,

might

you

have

"

"

which

the

duke

afternoon.

The

ribbon

and

it from

oath

that
He

whether

he

name

his

he

"

En

Le

marechal

then

asked

for his collar

Esprit,in the king'sname.2

pocket,kissed the symbol,and
violated the

never

Biron
took
of the

statutes

calmer,inquired

cellor
might make a will ? to which the chanrepliedin the affirmative,
promising,in the
of the king,that his bequestsshould
be respected.
"

then

addressed

rlisant cela if frappoitfermement

the

chanceiier
de Biron.

of

cure

St.

le bras de M.

sur

etoit couvert, et le marechal

point,ayant jetteson
"

five o'clock in the

at

then, being somewhat

chanceiier,qui
2

meet

chancellor

had

Biron
1

to

of St.

took

Order.

was

tete

nue

en

le

pour-

manteau."
le

conjura fort

de penser

Dieu."

"

Vie

du

366

HENRI

Nicholas,and

his aid

notary Voisin

and

"

observed

sentence

the

court

to

kneel.

before the

knees

During

arm.

then

was

pleasedto
lands

be

notification

executed

his

face

the

public.

When

that he had

wet

was

with

of the

feited
being forwas
decapitation
alone

rose

was

The

tears.

rested

on

time

some

it

this

heard

Biron

for

thus
he

in the

confiscation

peerage
of
sentence

ex-

"

! efface

the

one

king,the duke
that charge!
king had been

of the

ducal

in

kneelingattitude.

that

stated

his

on

when,

that the

remained

he

the

with

he embraced

indifference; his head

with

altar,and

the

False

rightto

Biron,1the
also,that the

to

not

his

of
:

himself

threw

person

communicated

wave

de

Sillery.

crimes,it was

"

M.

from

withdrew

returned

marshal

of his

said,

approachedM. de Biron,
his duty to read the
was
and directed
the prisoner,"

Biron

conspiredagainstthe
"
exclaimed
fiercely
It

he

reading of the document

the

enumeration

to

de

which
altar,

the

of

citement

it

that

of the

duke

next

then

Bourges. The chancellor

chapel,accompanied by M.
The

\IG0\

having,as
eight days previouslyto

declined

confession

made

IV.

in

perceived
duke

then

requestedpermissionto make his will,which was

to charities;
granted. He bequeathed 150 crowns
de St.
madame
he gave one
ringto his sister-in-law,
valuable
other very
Blancart ; 2 and
two
rings he
duke
madame
de Boussy. The
left to his sister,
made
bequestof all his estates and real property to
de St. Blancart ; and left various
his brother,M.
1

"Quelle grace!"

peut

etre

Bayle

"

confisquee!

Diet.

This

his eldest

Art.

"

exclaimed
Ibid.

Gontaut

"

Biron, "la
Journal

terre

de Henri

de Biron

IV.

ne

Moreri,

de Biron.

niece to M. de Rosny, being the daughter of

lady was
Jacquelinede Bethune.
sister,

368

HENRI

madam
had

IV.

[1G01

informed
that they
Roussy but was
all quittedParis the previousday. The intervening
and in
hour Biron
employed in conversation,
de

"

He

salutations.

desired

be commended

to

M.

to

de

Rosny, to the dukes de Mayenne and d'Aiguillon.

He
expresseda desire that his youngest brother
should be appointedpage to the dauphin,son
of his
august mistress queen
of farewell

Marie.

also

He

sent

sage
mes-

d'Auvergne,his fellowlatter was

prisoner. The
quite prostrated with
dread
and
horror.
M.
d'Auvergne returned his
affectionate commendation?, and expressedhis regret
he also spontaneously
fate
at the duke's sorrowful
promised to adopt the young son of Biron,and to
the

to

count

"

protect the child's mother.1

Five

o'clock,the

Biron,
stroke
M.

length gloomily tolled

at

of

fixed for the execution

hour

the

great clock

of the

and

"

the

as

Bastille

of
last

sounded,

Rumigny, M. de Vitry captainof the royal

guards, and the lieutenant of Montigny governor
of soldiers,
of Paris,followed by a company
entered
of these perthe chapel. " Monsieur," said one
sonages,
de

"

you

it is time
ascend

may

forward

with

follow them.
of

black

white

and

Bastille
it

was

He

Vie

marechal
Castelnau.

wore

scaffold had

troops

du
de

"

of

marechal
Biron

"

been

duke

hat

Le

with

adorned

the green
before the
erected five feet high :

up

in close rank

arquebusiersoccupied the
de

that

us,

approached by rough steps.

drawn

were

The

with

stepped
declared himself ready to
suit of grey satin,a cloak

velvet,and carried
black plumes. On

strong bodies
1

dignityand

undraped, and

Around

God

to

descend

to

now

Biron.

Mathieu, liv. 2.
aux
Laboureur, Additions

while
green

Eloge

du

Morn,

de

AND

1602.]
under

MARIE

DE

369

MEDICI.

chapel bells tolled mournfully;

and officialswatched
while many
the advance
prisoners
of the procession,
sheddingtears for the approaching
miserable fate of so valiant and populara nobleman.
duke
The
was
received,close to the scaffold,
by
the provost of the high court, who was
horseback,
on
On
the scaffold
bearing in his hand his wand.
stood
the notary
the executioner and his assistants,
As
of the high court, and the cure
de St. Nicholas.
his fortitude
Biron gazed on these ghastly
preparations
forsook him.
He, however, knelt at the foot of the
ladder,and thus received finalabsolution. On rising,
the eyes of the unfortunate
wandered
man
wildly
"
Oh !" exclaimed
round.
panies
he, pointingto the com"Oh!
of musketeers
for a musket ball through
sisted
body ! Is there no mercy ?" He was then asmy
The

arms.

"

to

ascend

the

steps

to

on

the scaffold.

The

produced and read

by the notary Voisin ; the marshal again fiercely
denyingthat he had conspiredagainstthe life of the
king. Biron then joined in prayer with the cure
warrant

for execution

Magnam

by

the

knelt.
behind

was

handkerchief

next

being; then

given

him

to

his eyes and

On hearingthe swift step of the headsman
him, the marshal started from his kneeling

he
executioner,

bound

it round

and tearingthe handkerchief

from
attitude,
exclaimed," God ! is there no pardon no
"

his eyes,
mercy

?"

Biron commenced
and in his agony
repeating
rapidly
"
Minime
! Minime
!" which was
to himself the word,

supposed to
the order of

refer

to

his confessor

Minimes;

Lafin

revealed

awful

oaths,sworn

that

who

which

at

Dijon,a

monk

told the marshal

they had,

that

with

of
if

such

keep secret, the fate of the

former would be eternal perdition,
and that of Biron
salvation.
Anxious
to terminate
so
harrowing a
VOL.

II.

to

BB

370

HENRI

IV.

[1G01

the authorities present conferred together,

spectacle,
and
authorized him to bind
callingthe executioner,
the criminal,
to cut the collar of his doublet,and to
force him into the requisite
posture to receive the
stroke
former
the
being( preliminariesusually
adopted,but which, in the case of the marshal,had,
at his own
The
with.
earnest
prayer, been dispensed
face of Biron, however, glaredwith fury at the approach
"

of the headsman
and

excitement

deprivinghim
I"

said

of his

of

reason.
"

his assistants

were
position
"

Ah

! who

for the

ror
ter-

fast
evidently
dares approach

fingershall not be laid on my

I will strangle
person ! or I swear
every person present
1
!"
After an
interval of silence,
the marshal
called to M. Barenton,2 the officer to whom
he had
intrusted his
to Rosny, and, with a face still
message
vividlysuffused,
requested him to bind his eyes..
Barenton
complied; but the duke againsnatched the
handkerchief
from
"Heaven!
his brow, exclaiming,
let me
the sky once
!" When
the
on
more
gaze
handkerchief
was
re-adjusted,Biron called impetuously
to the
headsman, Haste ! haste 1" In a
second
the sword of the executioner was
poised,and
justas the unhappy marshal was
again rising,the
blow fell,
and the head rebounded
from the scaffold,3
and
dropped into the midst of the horrified spectators.
The
body was
immediatelycovered with a
me

he.

and

"

"

Que

Ton

m'approche ; je ne scaurois l'endurer ! etsil'on

met
me
la moitie de ce qui est icy !
en
fougue,j'estrangleray
Enfin il appellaM. de Baranton
qui lui banda les yeux et
troussa
cheveux
bourreau.
ses
Despeche,
; puis il (lit au
il faut
despeche!
Lequel pour 1'amuser luy dit : Monsieur
dire vostre In Manus.'
MS.
King's Library,109, fol. 60, et
Mathieu, Cayet.
seq.
Le marechal
offenses de l'epeedubourreau,
eut deux doigts
ne

"

"

'

'

'

"

"

"

il

comme

fois."
"

portait la

Journal

du

main

debander
se
pour
Ite"ne de Henri IV.

pour- la troisieme

pallof
it

MARIE

AND

1602.]

placedin

was

in

vault

371

MEDICI.

evening,at dusk hour,

terred
and at midnight ina leaden
coffin,
of the parish
constructed in the nave

cloth

black

DE

the

same

of St. Paul.1

church

miserablyperishedthe valiant due de Biron.

portance,2
imand
His
exaggerated notions of his prowess
and his unquenchable vanity,acted upon
stable,
by subtle and designingmen, led to his ruin. UnBiron
and without moral or political
principle,
aspiredto rule over the councils of his royalmaster,
he gloriously
whose crown
upheldby militaryservice.
The duke's confident deportment while under arrest,
Thus

of

presence

always be

after Biron's
the

with

and

of

sang

condemnation, discern

devoted

L'an
Ou
Non
Mais

the

That

Cette

"

Quatre, then

way,

not,

consistent

the life of

save

an

old

the fickle Parisians

Soon

des bons

six cent
vit le

grand

pour

le mal

pour

deux

et

en

Biron

dechoir,
fait,

fut

intenselyimbittered,

peine pouvait il
Henri

le

s'accommodaient

cereraonie,estant

sans

de 6 pretres, et de

faire ! "

celuyqu'ilvoulait

enterrement

succes

Juillet

qu'ilavoit

king'sfeelingswere

accompagne
2

the state,to
servant.

must

"

"

It

could
prosperity,

and

might

safetyof

once

regret that Henri

of

matter

the scaffold in the

on

his character.

death, portray

the summit

at

irresolution

his lamentable

and

seulement

quelques autres

souffrir que

Grand,

et

personnes."
fit part de la gloire

Ton

il menacoit
vanite

les historiens

Bayle. Ayant vu
discours de Mathieu
les causes
et les effects des longues
un
sur
de France
et d'Autriche,
croyant qu'on
guerres entre la maison
de
lui
si
ni
si
hautement
souvent
ne
qu'ilvoulait,il
parlaitpas
s'en plaignitau
sa
chancelier,et decouvrit plus ouvertement
cruels
des
colore a Du
Vic
ambassadeur
en
Suisse, adjoutant
Hist, de la Paix
contre l'auteur."
menaces
Mathieu, liv. 3.
qui

ne

pas

"

sa

"

"

372

HENRI

there

IV.

[1G01

is

proofin the letter which he wrote two days

subsequent to the duke's execution,to his ambassador
in England, M. de Beaumont
Harlay. The king

writes

"

I send

you

of the marechal

the proces verbal of the execution

de Biron, which
at the request

of his relatives

was

Bastille.

said Biron

of this
and

The

favour,for

has

to

him

gave

confess

to

for

concern

and

to

to

the

us

to

unworthy
his crime

his domestic
of

such

that

he

subject. He,
disloyal
that

understand

truth of ail that he denied.

God

thank

to

reason

from

me

debt

the

reparation
his country.
His fury
last moment,1 attended
of animositytowards

demonstration

I have

delivered

moreover,

me

precinctsof

himself

dischargethe

vanitybeset

by so violent
myself,that

the

showed

more

to

he owed

which

within

he refused

demonstrated

than
affairs,

and

done

he

knew

the

He

exculpatedthe king
of Spain and his ministers ; the duke of Savoye and
his servants
d'Auvergne and the baron
; the count
de Lux ! But, in seekingto shield his accomplices,
he in realityaccused
them ; for his denials were
concluded
that we
evidentlyso forced and affected,
them to be given in deference to the opinionof certain
who
forbid criminals
theologiansof the age
condemned
under
to suffer,
pain of damnation, to
or
accuse
betraytheir accomplices.The said Biron,
"

therefore, asserted

that

his

commanded

solelybecause he was a faithful and true

it was
discovered that he was
nevertheless,
of,and could not repeat, his paternoster or
so
badly was he instructed in our faith !
of St. Nicholas
1

The

detail

Sieur
the

Gillot,in

violent

scaffold. Lettres
"

and

the doctor
a

Gamier

letter addressed

to

death

Catholic

ignorant
his credo,
The

cure

assisted him

Scaliger.
gives in

speeches and gestures of Biron when on the

ii Scaliger quoted by Bayle.
Francoises,
"

AND

1602.]

MARIE

DE

373

MEDICI.

in his agony ; but returned very

littleedified ; as the
said Biron made
end rather brutal than Christian.1
an
I

have, nevertheless,
given directions
of St. Paul

in the church
his
of

body to be conveyed
people,who attended
honour

do

This

thither

letter does

honour

not

by

out

more

of

have

great

ment
inter-

permitted
concourse

than
curiosity

to

this said Biron."

to

and

for his

the character

of

Henry
Biron,the king
tion
personal devo-

might be the sins of

of the
shows
unfeelingforgetfulness
It must,
and gloriousservice once
rendered.
that Henry had
offered
however, be remembered
the marshal de Biron pardon on confession ; and had
Solemn
even
ing
warnpressedsuch on him with tears.
had likewise been given to Biron, that if cog"
nizance
of his crime was
taken by the tribunal of the
of the crown,
still
nation, the safety and honour
menaced
must
by similar enterprises,
compel the
royalratification of such award.
During the few days subsequent to the death of
to
Biron, people flocked to visit his tomb ; some
sprinklethe grave with holy water; others to weep,
and
of vengeance,
breathe vows
to
to
plot fresh
combinations.
The
deemed
it prudent
government
The
not
to interfere with this demonstration.
king,
however, gave cold receptionto such pilgrims;3and
IV.

The

whatever

words

of the

king

le docteur

are

"

Le

de la

cure

Gamier

paroissede

St.

l'ayantassiste et consok- en
avoir fait
sont retournez
tres inal ediffiez,
ceste agonie,en
pour
fin plus brutale que chrestienne,a mon
tres grand regret."
uue
M.
de
Beaumont
BibL
Lettre
du
Roi
a
Imp. F. de
Lettres
Missives
edited by M.
Brienne, vol. 38, fol. 193.
Berger de Xivrey, t. 5.
de Daillon de Lude,
The
de Guiche, Antoinette
countess
Sardini
the
viscount
and
(the latter being a Lucchese
adventurer, and friend of Zaniet) were
amongst the mourners
Nicholas,

et

"

"

374

HENRI

IV.

while

his

[1601-2.

each

had

de Bouillon

of great

zeal of MM.

de

that,as the king wrote

"

and

de la Tremouhis government.

refuge within

taken

Revelations

throughthe

continue

secretaries to

of the dukes

presence
who
ille,

so

MEDICI.

DE

MARIE

diligently
into the facts of the conspiracy
;
investigations
mandates
were
despatchedcommanding the

commanded
their

AND

moment

and

Rosny

to

light
Villeroy
;
to

came

de

in London,

his ambassador

guiltof M. de Biron was proved before

than justihis death,subsequentinvestigations
more
fied
of his award."
For longthe righteousness
when king Henry wished to affirm a fact
afterwards,
with especial
fervour,his majesty used the words
if the

"

"

Cela

est

Biron

de

duc

tomb

the

at

and

said

criminel
1

of
"

de

Leze

crime

son

The

Biron.

king

etait defendu

Majeste !
Biron

este

est

Traitre

de

LE

que

vrai

!"
for these

sent
ce

faire

personages,

un

traitre,et

"

este

meritoit,toutes les formes

observees
en
pareil cas y
que

qd'il

vrai,
etait

Qu'il

diet de

Le

"

aussi

puny

par

requiseset accoustumees
este
ont
gardees; et vous

encore

mieux

prouve

il

justice,comme

d'estre

diray

verifie apres
M.
de Beaumont.

et

sa

auparavant." Lettre du roy a

Fonds
38, fol. 333.
Brienne, MS.
Henry, however, in a
letter written
de la Tour, his ambassador
in Scotland,
to M.
acknowledges that the conspiracy,on further investigation,
seemed
to be not so deeply rooted
at first supposed:
as
was
l'issue du
J'ai reconnu
de M. de Biron
qu'il
par
proces
avoit eu plus de volonte
de mal faire que de pouvoir de mal
faire
s'etant fait fort d'embarqueravec
luy plusieurs
personnes
de mon
auxquellesnon seulement il n'en avoit encore
royaume
parle,mais n'eut ose entreprendre de le faire. II en usoit
mort

que

"

"

"

aussi pour magnifier et faire valoir davantage sa personne

des Meloizes
Archives
de M
credit."
son
Eugene Renaud
"

Lettres

Missives,t.

5.
THE

R.

BORN,

PRINTER,

GLOUCESTER

END.

STREET,

REGENT'S

PARK.

et
"

AND

HURST

MEMOIRS

BLACKETT

OF

From

Original

HAM

AND

THE

NEW

COURT

PUBLICATIONS.

OF

Documents.

Family

2 vols.

K.G.

CHANDOS,

By

THE

REGENCY.

the DUKE

OF

BUCKING-

30s. bound.
8vo., with Portraits,

"

the English Court ; volumes

Here
full of new
are
on
two
more
goodly volumes
Duke
of Buckingham
The
travels over
nine years
sayings, pictures,anecdotes, and scenes.
of English history. But what
from
1811 to 1820!
those were,
What
events
at home
years
from
the
and abroad
accession
of the Regent to power
to
they bore to the great bourne!
the death of George III.
including the fall of Perceval; the invasion of Russia, and the
in Spain; the
and Borodino; the fire of Moscow;
war
battles of Salamanca
the retreat of
from Elba; the
Napoleon ; the conquest of Spain ; the surrender of Napoleon ; the return
of Waterloo;
the exile to
Congress of Vienna; the Hundred
Days ; the crowning carnage
of Europe ; the public scandals
St. Helena; the return
of the Bourbons
a
; the settlement
of Peterloo !
On
the English Court ; the popular discontent, and the massacre
parts
many
of
of this story the documents
cast new
Buckingham
published by the Duke
jets of light,
traits of character
secret
new
are
clearing up much
history. Old stories are confirmed
and
to our
In short, many
brought out.
new
pleasant additions are made
knowledge of
"

"

"

those

times."

Athenamm.

"

"Invaluable,

Regency

edification
"

and

the

showing

as

to be viewed.

are

The

amusement."

"

light

true

of

lovers

which

in

Court

many

of

the

gossip will also

stirringevents

find not

of

the

little for their

Literary Gazette.

a period of
complete epoch, the period of the Regency
large
of Buckingham,
who
thus, out of his family
stirringEnglish history. To the Duke
and exceedingly minute
archives, places within our reach authentic
pictures of the governors
His
in fresh lights on
of England, we
abound
owe
old
gratefulacknowledgements.
papers
The
intrinsic
value
of the letteis is enhanced
illustrations and anecdotes.
topics, and in new
that accompanies them, which
is put
by the judicious setting of the explanatory comment
Examiner.
and honesty."
care
together with much

These

volumes

cover

"

and

"

HISTORY

OF

THE

FRANCE

AND

FREER.

Author

NAVARRE.
of

"

From
The

HENRY

IV-, KING

OF

Sources.
Original
By MISS
Marguerited'Angouleme,Elizabeth

numerous

Lives

de Valois, Henry III." "c.

"

OF

REIGN

of

2 vols, with

2ls.
Portraits,

circumstances
combine
to make
us
regard the Life of Henry IV. as one of the
of biography.
The
attractive in the wide range
trom
chequered nature of his career
him in a Court hostile to his religion and
childhood
to manhood,
the perilsthat environed
his unfortunate
these
and
marriage, his personal bravery, his skill as a commander
race,
themselvts
other characteristics that
to our
will suggest
to hail
readers, cause
us
many
stock
of books.
work
Miss Freer's new
addition
to our
It is a well known
welcome
as
a
with
the ordinary sources
of information
feature in Miss Freer's works, that not content
to
she
of the
which
investigates for herself the MS. documents
popular writers have recourse,
facts, and to bring us face
period under review, and is thus enabled to supply us with new
to face with
whose
actions
of the
recorded.
the persons
are
This, which constitutes
one
of M. Michelet, as a historian, is likewise
of Miss
marked
characteristic
a
great charms
Freer, and confers a great additional value upon her historical portraits." Critic.
Various

most

"

"

of such a reign as that of Henry IV. is no mean

task, and
accomplished it with singular good taste, good sense, and
vigour. The
is always faithful, accurate,
and intelligent. Hei
story never
flags. Our authoress
style
for every student
of history." Herald.
is good, and her subject abounds
with interest
"To
become
Miss Freer has

the

chronicler

"

"

which
and

We

know

are

more

and

manner,

addition
"

to

no

our

of this kind, with

works

pleasant reading
the

accuracy

literarytreasures."

In

than
of
"

the

the

exception, perhaps,

histories

of Miss

details, combine

the

John

Freer
to render

of

The
her

Macaulay's history,
charm

works

of the
a

style

valuable

Bull.

tel'ingthe reign
Henry IV., Miss Freer has one of the most interesting portions
first to last with taste, using a clear,
history for her story. She has told it from
vigorous style." Examiner.
of

of French

"

"

The

public will th;mk

Miss

Freer

particular line she is the best historian

most
of hei

volumes.
heartily for these delightful
day.""Chronicle.

ln

he

HISTORY

HENRY

KING

III.

HIS

COURT

gouleme,"
post

the

numerous

the Court

de Valois, and

of

Author

FREER,

of

Marguerited'An-

"

PhilipII,"

3 vols,

"c.

bound.

31s. 6d.
with fine portraits,

8vo.

POLAND

AND

in.
unpublished sources,
Archives
BibliothequeImperiale,and the

Italy. By MISS

Elizabeth

"

FRANCE
From

in

Documents

and

of France

BIOGRAPHY.

OF

TIMES.

AND

eluding MS.

AND

worthy
for herself the reputation of a most
painstaking and trustFreer
having won
of
less
historian
than
not
an
previous memoirs
accomplished writer, by her
most
fail to
with
meet
a
of Valois
and
Navarre, will not
sovereigns of the houses
cordial
for her
and
history of Henry III., the last of
hearty welcome
present admirable
selves
themthe volumes
to
readers
of Valois.
refer our
the French
We
kings of the house
in
for the interesting details
of the
life and reign of Henry III., his residence
Poland, his marriage with Louise de Lorraine, his cruelties, his hypocrisies,his penances,
his assassination
of the monk
Upon these points, as
Jaques Clement, "c.
by the hands
this
who
well as with
other
to
position during
reference
occupied a prominent
persons
information
is afforded
Freer; and the public will feel with us
period, abundant
by Miss
"

Miss

that
which

deep debt

she

"The

historical

"

Freer

of Miss

were

successful

so

of

accurate

the

to

class

high

female

The

historians.
will have
a

which

Life

Henry III. of
imperishable as

of

reputation
is of
such
large and
increasing. Indeed, the book
once
begun it is impossible to leave it."" messenger.

be

Among

entitled
advance

modern

literature

to

character, that

'

her

upon

chronicle

of

as

histories, Miss

regards style and

As

rank.

Elizabeth

de

"

'Marguerite D'Angoulcme.'

Valois,'

Freer's

Bliss
book

that

as

an

was

its

present

has

of

France

made

is

great

upon

her

much,

per
has

advance

Spectator

"

ha3

Freer
Miss

Strickland

"

ELIZABETH
THE
the

COURT

PHILIP

OF

of France,

Archives

It is

VALOIS,

DE

with

post 8vo.
"

is

France

Third

Freer

all, of the

earned

rich

truly fascinating

the

Henry

treatment

Miss
to the reading public.
this work
heartilyrecommend
quick perception and picturesque style by which
her well-deserved
popularity." Critic.

"We

afford

to

as

the

contribution
fame
must

haps

and

labours

in

manner
that lady for the faithful and admirable
Chronicle.
the Third."
of Henry
Times

to

to say,
present undertaking, the performance of which, it is not too much
accomplished, but the
expectation, and testilies to her being not only the most

in

exceeds

"

of gratitude is due
pourtrayed the Court

previous

promise
most

has

From

Italy,and

fine Portraits

attributing too

not

II.

much

by

to

OF

QUEEN

in

unpublished sources

numerous

Spain.

FREER.

MISS

By

2 vols

21s.

Heath,
Freer

Miss

AND

SPAIN,

to

say

herself and

that

Mr.

Prescott
will be

volumes

are

boon

probably
samples
biographers.
present
and amusement,
posterity for which it will be grateful. Equally suitable for instruction
they portray one of the most
interestingcharacters and periods of history." John Bull.
will be
which
of Elizabeth
Such a book as the memoir
de Valois is a literarytreasure
most
to
are
which
its
merits
obtain
the more
that
justly
they
appreciated as
reputation
the best

of

The

modern

our

to

"

"

entitled.

Miss

Philip II.'s

THE

Freer

her

LIFE

OF

very

useful

to

make

the facts

Elizabeth's, Don

of

tfieyactually transpired."
"

SISTER

Edition, 2 vols, with

is
is

utmost

as

and

quite equal in power

amusing
and

of FRANCIS

fine

grace

Carlos', and

Messenger.

By MISS

I.

FREER.

Portraits,21s.

book.
to

Bell's

D'ANGOULEME,

MARGUERITE

of NAVARRE,

Second
"This

done

fullyknown,

QUEEN

authoress

has

careers

It

Miss

is

good work, very well lione.

Strickland.

She

must

have

The

spent great

she imparts in an easy and agreeable

collecting the information, which
her
book
after
to
down
once
having
begun it. This is owing
lay
it has
in which
of the subject, partly to the skilful manner
partly to the interesting nature
in France.
No
other
life of Marguerite
has yet been published, even
treated.
been
Indeed,
till Louis
Philippe ordered the collection and publication of manuscripts
relatingto the
It
to
of
such
work
be
is
difficult
conceive
could
France,
no
how, under
published.
history
time

manner.

any

and

labour

in

It is difficult

circumstances,

it could

have

been

better done."

"

Standard.

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BLACKETT

AND

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PEERAGE

Under

Consort.

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NEW

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Corrected

PUBLICATIONS.

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Her

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the readiest, the most
on
useful, and exactest
"

we

work

had

which
It is

of Anns.

King

corrects

all

errors

of former

It

works.

said, by birth, but certainlyby profession and

almost

useful

most

publication."

is the

production of a herald,
Lodge, the Norroy

studies, Mr.

Times.

"

likelyto see published.

perfect a Peerage of the British Empire as we are ever
been
taken
Great pains have
to
make
it as complete and accurate
as
possible. The work
is patronised by Her
Majesty and the Prince Consort; and it is worthy of a place in every
Herald.
gentleman's library,as well as in every public institution."
"As

"

"Asa

work

of

history, this volume

contemporaneous

from
derived
the most
from
the noble families
themselves.
Post.
nobilityof the Empire."

authentic

been

having

and

sources

It contains

is

of

in the

great value"

majority

all the needful

of

information

the

materials

emanating
respecting the

cases

"

"

should form
mation
This work
a portion of every
gentleman's library. At all times, the inforfrom
official sources
of the
it contains, derived
which
exclusivelyat the command
classes
of the community;
to the
author, is of importance to most
antiquary it must be
be placed on its contents."
Globe.
invaluable, for implicitreliance may
"

"

This

derives

work

is excellent."

"

great value

from

the

high authority of Mr.

Lodge.

The

plan

Literary Gazette.

book has run

When
editions, its reputation is so indelibly
through so many
any
nor
praise. It is but just, however, to say, that
stamped, that it requires neither criticism
is the most
and
the best of its
Baronetage
Lodge's Peerage and
elegant and accurate,
The
chief
in its
class.
point of excellence
attaching to this Peerage consists neither
"

'

'

is insured
elegance of type nor its completeness of illustration, but in its authenticity, which
alteration
by the letter-pressbeing always kept standing, and by immediate
being made
whenever
place, either by death or otherwise, amongst the nobility of the
any change takes
of Her
The
work
the special patronage
United
has obtained
Most
Gracious
Kingdom.
been
Majesty, and of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, which patronage has never
better

or

worthily bestowed."

more

"

Messenger.

has become,
it were,
'institution ' of this
an
as
Baronetage'
be
done
without,
words, it is indispensable, and cannot
by any
person
in the great world.
The
work, as regards the
having business
authenticityof this valuable
several
been
be
exceeded, and, consequently, it must
topics to which it refers, has never
"

'

Lodge's Peerage and

country;

received

As
a
hands

in

as

book

other

one

of the

of

reference

ot every

one

most
"

important contributions
inriispensiblein most

having connections

to
cases,

in, or transactions

and
domestic
history extant.
be in the
useful
in all" it should
with, the aristocracy." Observer.

social

"

HISTORY

OF

GENEALOGY

LODGE'S
BARONETAGE

THE

OF
Uniform

Edition.

BIOGRAPHY.

AND

THE

BRITISH

with

EMPIRE.

beautifully
handsomely
engraved,

Peerage"

The

"

PEERAGE

bound

New

Volume,

with

AND
Revised

and

with

the

giltedges,price 31s.

arms

6d.

desire very generallymanifested

for a republication
of this volume
has
dictated the present entire revision of its contents.
The Armorial
Bearings
The

itself and

History of each

the

prefixed to
accompany
yet combined

and

characters, has
devoted

the

from

great advantageof

Mr.

Lodge

himself

has

Mr.

Lady

information

is not

only
well

as

as

Lords

distinct
and

the

zealous

Nelson,

but

Edition,
skilful

2 vols.

biographer.

important books

of

the

G.CB.

Castlereagh,

Edited, from

"c,

Second

Peerage."

GAMBIER,

Chatham,

Canning,

most

The

"

to

LORD

CHATTERTON,

readable

most

the Preface

ADMIRAL

Holland,

Lady Chatterton
the

Work,

correct

to

objectthroughout will,it is

explainedin

from

Mulgrave,

"

and

in its two

cordial receptionit has hitherto experienced.

Genealogy" heing thus given in a separate volume,

Original Letters

by

useful

whole

complete in

it is intended

same

The

"

OF

MEMORIALS

among

to this

Public, the

The

with

object of the
been

which

Peerage,

hoped, render the

August.Patronage with which it is honoured and of the
accorded
from
by its Noble Correspondents,and will secure

liberal assistance
and

of The

the work

of the

worthy

them

the Volume

illustrate. The

careful attention
Work

with

uniform

Family, render

Noble

Family
8vo, 28s.

These

season."

"

pers,
Pa-

volumes
Observer.

are

volumes
"These
are
an
important addition to our naval literature;but they are also
for the
valuable
The
history of the time.
light they throw on the domestic
dence
corresponis particularly rich in anecdotes,
and
traits
glimpses of society and manners,
of
character."
U. S. Magazine.
"

"An
important
Messenger.

Esq,., Author
"

This

its members;
well as the

DOCTORS.

ABOUT

BOOK

is

rare
a

book

of
book
to

drawing-room

addition

valuable

and

Novels

"

; a

be

and

to the

history of Lord

BY

Gambler's

times."

J. C- JEAFFRESON.

Novelists," "c.

vols, with

plates. 21s.

to
the medical
profession and an acquisition to
re-read ; fit for the study and
the consulting-room, as
the circulating library. Mr.
Jeatireson
takes
a comprehensive

compliment

read
table

and
and

of the
profession, and illustrates its course
by a
to the present
down
sketches, from the feudal era
biographic
day.
Tne
as
a
the quarrels and
bon-vivant, the generosity and parsimony,
chapters on the Doctor
anecdotes
of medical
rich with
loves of physicians, are
celebrities.
But
Jlr. Jeatireson
does
not
to the
and
The pages he devotes
exposure
merely amuse.
history of charlatanry
view

series of

of

the social
and domestic

history

less value
the student
of medicine
to
than the student
of
manners.
We
Jeaffreson
most
and
solid in ormation
of
heartily for the mirth
his volumes.
of our
They appeal to a wide circle. All the members
profession will be sure
to read
them."
Lancet.
are

of

thank

scarcely
Mr.

"

"
for the
A pleasant book
fireside season
which
on
we
are
now
entering, and for the
Out
of volumes,
Mr. Jeatireson
seaside season
that is to come.
of hundreds
has collected
of good things, adding much
thousands
that appears
in print tor the
first time, and
which
^ives increased
of course
value to this very readable
book."
Athenmum.
"

HURST

BLACKETT'S

AND

DOMESTIC

MEMOIRS

and the

COURT

By Folkestone
Portraits.

OF

ENGLAND,

OF

PUBLICATIONS.

NEW

ROYAL

THE

FAMILY,

SHENE

chieflyat

F.G.S., F.R.G.S., "o.

Williams,

RICHMOND.

and
3

vols, with

fine

31s. 6d.

"

In the prosecution of his labours, the author

ologists,
has consulted
antiquaries and archaeand examined
The
result
authorities.
is, a work, pleasant and
contemporary
in anecdote, and
instructive,abundant
evinces
siderable
conagreeably gossinping. It, moreover,
Mr.
sketches
Williams
the
research, and a generally sound historical judgment.
architectural
in the time
of Edward
the
at Shene
House
of the King's Manor
arrangements
Third, and adds an account
of some
of the sports and pastimes, the armour,
tainments,
entercostume,
literature
of the
fourteenth
tury
cenfurniture,
wardrobe, and court
tournaments,
must
We
; the
organization of the royal household, and the family of the King.
pass
over
the doings of Richard
House,
II., and ' Good
Queen Anne,' at the resplendent Manor
over
its restoration
by Henry V., and his religious foundations, with the visit from the
residence
Emperor
Sigismund, and William of Bavaria; over
Henry the Sixth's
there;
over
the romantic
time.
We
there in Edward
incidents
that occurred
the Fourth's
must
the Court

pass,

too,

make

acquaintance

France,

over

'

with

with

in Henry the Seventh's

usages
Princess
Mary, welcoming

time.

In

following reign,

the

we

entertaining the gentlemen of

the
'pleasant pastime in playing on

the

and

and with
goodly countenance,'
the affections of Dudley,
tender interest hallows
the spot that witnessed
Farl of Leicester, and Amy
and Lady Jane
Robsart, of Guildford
Grey, of Sir Philip Sydney
and Elizabeth
of Elizabeth
to the
of Stella and Dean
Swift.
On
the accession
Walsingham.
then
revived with its gaiety. Ve
throne, the splendour of the Court at Richmond
pass to
Prince
establishment
author
the
and
The
describes
Henry, the next
royal resident.
of ' England s Darling,' as this accomplished Prince was
education
designated ; introduces
to
us
Bishop Hall, Ben Jonson, and other notabilities, and to his gallery of paintings;
Richmond
Dr. Duppa
under Charles
and the Restoration, with
and
I., the Protectorate
the Eikon
the family of James
Basilike, John
when
Evelyn and William
Lily; Richmond
this day,'
II. resided there, when
William
of Orange
May there last night, and hunted
'
when
Anne
sometimes
counsel
tea,' when
took, and sometimes
George I. and Sir Robert
Walpole followed the hounds in the new
Queen Caroline walked in the gardens
park, when
with
that politic minister.
and illustrated.
under
all these aspects is described
Richmond
to
Horace
of
Later, we
come
Walpole, the Princess
Emily, Addington, and the Duke
Later
lighting
the terrace
Queensbury.
we
owe
walk, destill,we tind the Sailor King, to whom
in the amenities
of Richmond,
have
in our
the White
and
seen
own
day, we

virginals.' A

most

more

Lodge selected
"This

popular by

of the

residence

Prince

of Wales."

"

Spectator.

it is
belongs to the best class of popular antiquarian books, because
of the entertaining character
and the variety of its store of trust-worthy

work
reason

iniormation."

THE

the educational

as

Examiner.

"

AND

LIFE
OF

DUKE

BUCKINGHAM.

Life of the Duchess

of

GEORGE

OF

TIMES
By

VILLIERS,
Author

THOMSON,

MRS.

Marlhorough," "Memoirs

of Sir Walter

of "The

Raleigh,"

"c, 3 vols. 31s. 6d.

volumes
will increase the well-earned
reputation of their clever and popular
is told by Mrs. Thomson
The
very honestly,
story of the royal favourite's career
and is enriched
abundantly with curious and entertaining details from the familiar letters of
a full publication is now
the time and the memorials
of the State
Paper Office, ot which
that
for the first time.
Labour
made
and pains have, indeed, been well spent u;ion volumes
Examiner.
produce their evidence so fairlyand are written so agreeably as these."
"These

author.

"

"

Mrs.
of

work

Thomson

is entitled

by being amused

BRITISH
Being
bury.

that

Buckingham

will end

to

appeared in the
in being instructed."

Series

of

2 vols. 21s.

written

language.
"

the

complete

most

Those

who

commence

biography
the

Literary Gazette.

from

HOGARTH

Biographical

Sketches.

ARTISTS,
a

has

great praise. She

has

to
By

TURNER;

Walter

Thorn-

TRAVELS
and

VOYAGES

AND

THE

REGIONS

IN
Russian

the

China;
Manjours,

Acquisitions

Adventures

with

Our

Dedicated

and

have

Mountain

the

Touzemtz,

by permission,to
and

Her

AMOOR,
India

Kirghis,
Goldi,

of

"

and

and

the

Gei.yaks.

and

Oriental and Western

Majesty.

83 Illustrations.

of

Second

Edition.

bound
2s., elegantly

"2

for the first time the quality of Mr. Atkinson

us
an
made
selected from, his
we
on, and the extracts
*
Siberia'
will have
Western
sufiiced to show
Oriental and
that in the former
character
he
takes
rank
with the most
daring of the class, and that in the latter he is scarcely to be
with
which
he pourtrays the scenes
surpassed for the lucidiiy,picturesqueness, and power,
he has travelled, and
the perilsor
him
the pleasures which encountered
on
through which
the way.
interior to its predecessor. It deals
is not
with
The present volume
civilization,
life. It takes us
of which
semi-civilization, and barbarous
are
through localities, some
to even
the best read men
in the literature of travel.
The
little, others not at all, known
volume
is admirable
entire
for its spirit,unexaggerated tone, and the mass
of fresh materials
this reallynew
world is made
accessible to us. The followers, too, of all the ' ologies'
by which
with
ill meet
It is a noble
something in these graghic pages of peculiar interest to them.
Athenaeum.
work."

explorer

readers

among

THE

Confines

the

F.G.S., F.R.G.S., Author

Royal 8vo.,with Map

"

OF

on

Toungouz,

Manvargs,

ByT. W.ATKINSON,
Siberia."

TRAVELS.

not

to learn

now

The

writer.

comments

we

"

must
refer to Mr. Atkinson
of our
civilized travellers
own
day.
regions is to be found in Mr.
of these
derives equal interest from
which

"We

as

By

the

of

one

far

the

intelligentand successful of the

to the history
important contribution
rk
a
w"
publication on the Amoor
portfolio and his pen." Edinburgh

most

most

recent
Atkinson's
his well. stored

"

"

Review.
"

is in every

liber.

Its

magnificent apparel

not
Inaptly symbolises
could
narrative which
The
of that narrative is enhanced
intrinsic interest
to the
of his
graceful description. Thanks
power
remarkable
of his pencil we
the still more
follow his travels with eager
power
pen, and
his thirst for adventure
and anxiety. He himBelf is the chief object of interest, from
interest
and
that
encounters.
death
he
and
shapes of terror
daring exploits,and the countless
is a magnificent contribution
to
useful
the
literature of travel.
work
More
and
The
where
be found."
no
Literary Gazette.
pleasant reading can

This

respect

an

aureus

Mr.
magnificent contents.
lie told by no other livingEnglishman.
giftof vigorous and
by Mr. Atkinson's

Atkinson

its

has

here

given

us

"

has here presented the reading world

valuable book
with another
Atkinson
o
and as well written
his previous work.
It
It is as interesting,as entertaining,
as
travels.
will not only afford intellectual
of the highest order, but
which
entertainment
is a volume
The
territorial
vast
both the philosopher and the statesman.
fitted to instruct
acquisitions
frontier of
in the
Asia
Northern
along the whole
by Russia
lately made
parts of Central
well qualifiedto estimate
their real value and political
China, is described by an eye wi ness
teel sure,
will peruse
of
this interesting book
travels for
readers, we
advantages. Our

"Mr.

It contains

themselves.

something

for every

taste."

"

Daily

News

'

Oriental
and Western
Siberia' has happily induced
the
and
written
volume,
with
same
unflagging interest.
be difficult to find.
novel hook
of tiavels
it would
The
A
more
pleasing as well as more
illustrations are admirably executed, and
they add ten fold to the value of a volume
already
possessing intrinsic merits of the highest kind. Independently of the deep interest it excites
has other claims.
It presents
gical
peculiar geographical and ethnoloas a traveller's tale,the work
to
titId of commerce
a boundless
information, and points out
English enterprise. It
of Russia
the gradual advances
towards
British India, and
the
marks
with a decided
pen
Thus
Mr.
Atkinson's
Siberia to the
Pacific.
sweeping rush of her conquering energy from
book has not only a literary, but a political and commercial
importance. There Is food for
Globe.
all readers and interest for all."
"

him

The

to

success

write

and

of

Mr.

publish

Atkinson's

another

"

of subject and treatment

This is noble and fascinating book, belonging in right both
is one
of the most
unfolded
to the choicest
class of travel literature.
The
vast
panorama
in the world, and
been
known
to
has hitherto
the least
th c nations
of
marvellous
among
It is now
with exquisiteclearness
and force of expression by one
set
before them
the west.
to confidence
observer
has the highest claims
and delineator."
who
as
an
Spectator.
"

"

"A

which

really magnificent volume,

of which
the
authority upon
lountry
buth personal and
incident and auecdote

for

many
years
It is very

It treats.

local."

"

Chrunicle.

to

come

must

be

interesting, and

standard

abounds

in

HURST

BLACKETT's

AND

ORIENTAL

AND

rative

Seven

of

Mongolia,
Asia.

Years'

THOMAS

By

royal 8vo., Price

of 50

SIBERIA

Explorations

WITLAM

"2.

virtue

the

alike

Tartary,

ATKINSON.

In

2s., elegantlybound.

Author, and

illustrated

amongthose

and

in

NARSiberia,
Central

and

large volume,

one

Embellished

with

upwards
plates,from

coloured
beautifully

map.

place this book of travel in the first

sought by the public. Mr. Atkinson's
is most
book
readable.
The
left
geographer finds in it notice of ground heretofore
the ethnologist,geologist,and botanist, find notes and pictures,too, of which
undescribed,
the value, the sportman's taste
is gratifiedby chronicles
of sport, the lover of
they know
adventure
of perils and escapes
to hang
will find a number
and
the lover of a frank
over,
of
will
the
book
in
find
Seven
one
a
good-humoured
speech
pleasant
every
way
page.
five hundred
miles of moving to and fro in a wild
years of wandering, thirty-nine thousand
and almost unknown
Examiner.
country, should yield a book worth reading, and they do."
rank

of its text

Adventures

and

Steppes, Chinese

Illustrations,
includingnumerous

drawingsby
"By

PUBLICATIONS.

WESTERN

Kirghis

the

NEW

gift books

its

pictures,we

now

so

much

"

"A
book of travels which
in value and
take rank as a landmark
sterlinginterest must
illustrations
and
wood
Its coloured
engravings are of a high
geographical literature.
Atkinson
has travelled
where
Mr.
it is
to the narrative.
order, and add a great charm
in the wildest, sublimest, and
believed no European has been
before.
He has
nature
seen
also the most
These
he has depicted by pen
beautiful
present.
aspects the old world can
and
which
pencil. He has done both well. Many a fireside will rejoicein the determination
Atkinson
converted
Mr.
is a thorough
brave and
the artist into an author.
Englishman,
and
enough of mineralogy,
accomplished, a lover of adventure
sport of every kind. He knows
to
his descriptions and
drawings ;
geology, and
botany to impart a scientific interest

in

possessing

keen

his

interestingtravels."

humour,

of

sense

whether

lover of adventure,

"

he

by flood
Daily News.

or

tells many

racy

The

story.

field,will find ample

stores

sportsman

in the

and

the

stirringtales of

intelligentnarrative, appreciably enriching the literature of English

sketches
made
were
by express
permission of the late Emperor of
this enchanted
into
land of
before admitted
ever
Russia.
Perhaps no English artist was
of a general passport;
and amulet
atid well has Mr.
history,or providedwith the talisman
of' the privilege. Our
will have served
illustrate
the
extracts
to
himself
Atkinson
availed
of
Mr.
and
adventures
Atkinson's
observations
his
protracted
and
variety
during
originality
he
miles.
Mr. Atkinson's
of nearly forty thousand
never
idle, and
pencil was
wanderings
with
him the forms, and colours, and other characteristics
of a
has certainlybrought home
Asa
and scenes.
Mr. Atkinson
enjoyed
most
sportsman
extraordinary diversityof groups
"

animated

An

travel.

ascent

of the

Hielouka

his

attractive

than

Chain."

Athenaeum.

"

His

excitement.

plenitude of

His

and

Atkinson's

Mr.

is

relations

of

narrative

is well

chapter of the
wanderings across

stored
vivid

most

the

with

incidents

of

adventure.

of travel, yet it is less

of Gobi and up the Tangnou

romance

Desert

the shape of a
four
degree,
Present
Christmas
or
very
instruction
for
that
usefulness,
elegance,
suitable
namely,
and
qualities
purpose,"
precious
of its splendid illustrations,
of great value, not
It is a work
merely on account
and novelty.
of authentic
and
it contains
concerning
highly interesting intelligence
but for the amount
previous to Mr. Atkinson's explorations, been
regions which, in all probability, has never,
valuable
adventures
told in a manly style. The
are
Mr. Atkinson's
visited by an European.
vast
is
the
a
at
book
lucidly
gathered
information
contains,
expense,
and
interesting
well be proud of, and
that the author-artist
may
arranged, and altogether the work is one
fail to be delighted." John
Bull.
those who study it cannot
with which
"We

predict that

Mr.

New

Atkinson's

Year's

Gift,

'Siberia'
as

will

very

it possesses,

in

often

an

assume

eminent

"

"'

read

To

the

only for

adventurous

geographer, the geologist,the ethnographer, the sportsman, and

Mr. Atkinson
this will be an
acceptable volume.
amusement,
Gazette.
writer."
but
and
correct
Literary
a
amusing
traveller,
"

to those
is rot

who

only

an

10

HURST

OF

NARRATIVE

"

ALI

MEER

OF

BLACKETT's

AND

Indus.

By

with

Illustrations.

PUBLICATIONS.

RESIDENCE

MOORAD;

the

NEW

Capt.

AT

Wild

with

THE

Sports

in

late Madras

Langley,

COURT
Valley

the

op

vols. 8vo.

Cavalry. 2

30s.

useful information."
work, containing much
Literary Gazette.
will doubtless
nttract
all the attention
Langley's interesting volumes
deserve
account
of their politicaland
commercial
on
importance ; and as they are
of incident
connected
the
with
India, they will be as agreeable
sports of British
and general reader as to the politician." Messenger.
sportsman
A

valuable

"

"Captain

they
full
to the

"

MOROCCO,

MURRAY.

"

Water

English

CANARY

2 vols. 8vo.

Colour

LIFE

ISLANDS.

with

Coloured

believe, of the English Consul

She
Artists.
draws
well, and

Murray, wife, we

Mrs.

female

ARTISTS

THE

AND

SPAIN,

ELIZABETH

AN

OF

YEARS

SIXTEEN

at

IN
MRS.

By

Illustrations.

Teneriffe, is

her colour

is

one

of the first of

bright, pure,

parent,
trans-

rich and fresh. We

welcome
sparkling. Her book is like her painting,luminous,
it (as the public will also do) with sincere pleasure. It is a hearty book, written by a clever,
who, slipping a steel pen on the end of her brush,
quick-sighted, and thoughtful woman,
end as well as the other, being with both a bright colourer,
thus
one
doubly armed, uses
and
describer of colours, outlines, sensations, landscapes and things. In a word,
accurate
Mrs. Murray is a clever artist,who writes forciblyand agreeably." Athenceum.
and

"

SPORTING

by

in the

RAMBLE

SUMMER

ADVENTURES

IN

8vo. with

Mountaineer.

THE

with

HIMALAYAS;

VALE

OF

Illustrations.

15s.

CASHMERE.

Edited

"
A book
commend
which
cannot
we
too highly. It is a most
interesting,pleasant, and
The
well-written
narrative.
it describes
are
sporting exploits which
comparatively novel,
of the scenery among
and the accounts
which
they were
performed is graphic and charming.
A more
satisfactory book could not be desired."
Literary Gazette.
"

"

The

This volume
incidents and

interestingto

SIX

is

altogether

adventures

traveller."

"
Mr.
He
is an
themselves

IN
How

It is written

pleasant one.
journey are

the

most

with

and

zest

fascinatingto

edited

with

sportsman

and

very

2 v.

21s

care.

Athenceum

"

MONTHS
Holiday, and

of

REUNION:

he Passed

CLERGYMAN'S

it, By the Rev. P. Beaton,

M.A-

has done
good service in the publication of these interestingvolumes.
intelligentobserver, enjoys himself
heartily,and compels his readers to enjoy
well cultialso.
vated
a
nature,
Sagacity, practicalgood sense, a healthy animal
Mr.
He
mind, are
Beaton's
qualificationsas a traveller and a writer of travels.
is comuaratively untrodden.
the advantage, too, of having selected ground that
possesses
His work
is written
anecdote
and information."
with taste
and skill,and
abounds
with
Literary Gazette.
Beaton

"

IN

ENGLISHWOMAN

THE

of Life in the Roman

By Mrs.

G. Gretton.

States and

centre

of the

aggerated. and

Sardinia,duringa

IMPRESSIONS
Ten

Years' Residence.

2 vols. 21s.

"Mrs.
Gretton
has opportunities which
acquainted with the inner life and habits of
veiy

ITALY:

rarely fall
a

crisis.
national
We
can
full ofopportune instruction."

to the lot of strangers of becoming

is now
the
part of the Italian peninsula which

praise her performance

"

Times.

as

interesting,unex-

HURST

THE

BLACKETT's

AND

OF

BOOK

Lists of

with

Embellished

Illustrations

OF
the

by SIR BERNARD
handsomely bound,

with

AND
NAVAL

MILITARY,
of each

Companions

Hundred
of

COMPRISING

ORDER,

Knights and

King

Orders.

of

1 vol.

giltedges,price"2.

Arms.

British

Coloured

Fac-simile
Various

the

Ulster

BURKE,

NATIONS

EACH

Insignia

the

ALL

Five

with

of

11

PUBLICATIONS.

KNIGHTHOOD,

OF

ACCOUNT

CIVIL;

Order.

HONOUR

OF

HISTORICAL

AND

OF

ORDERS

DECORATIONS
AN

NEW

Edited

royal 8vo.f

2s.

"This
valuable and attractive work may
claim
the merit of being the best ofits kind.
It is so comprehensive in its character, and
so
elegant in styie,that it far outstrips all
lists of
A full historical
is given, with
of the orders of every country
account
competitors.
features
of
attractive
the Knights and Companions of each British Order.
Among the most
the
illustrations.
and
beautiful, highly coloured, and
the work
are
They are numerous
The
representation of the different decorations.
originof each Order, the
giving an exact
all given at full
its members,
rules and regulations, and
the duties incumbent
are
upon
length. The fact of the work being under the supervision of Sir Bernard Burke, and endorsed

by

his

authority, gives

recommendation

it another

to

the

of
soon

It is an
This is indeed
uncommon
a
splendid book.
for
and a book
reference
a
boudoir, undoubtedly
find its place in every libraryand drawing-room."

TRAITS

OF

YEARS'

LITERARY

"

Sun

Globe.

"

TWENTY-FIVE
RECOLLECTIONS.

PERSONAL

AND

favour."

combination
a librarybook
uniting beauty and utility. It will

BEING

CHARACTER;

Contemporary.

public

of

"

By

2 vols. 21s.

with
of these
into communication
"The
Authoress
volumes,
having been thrown
has
celebrities of all ranks
and professions during the last quarter of a century,
naturally
of their ways
would
and
manners
interesting to
thought that her reminiscences
prove
Lord
readers
of the
the
are
subjects of her sketches
present day. Prominent
among
of Wellington, Edward
Edmund
Kean, Mr.
the Duke
Melbourne,
Moore,
Irving, Thomas
teresting
Mrs.
she gives a very inSpurgeon, Lady Blessington, and
Shelley. Of the great Duke
to the
these agreeable volumes
reader, assuring him
description. We commend
in contemplating these varied and
for a leisure hour
that he will tiud ample entertainment
life-like

THE

photographs."

"

Sun.

SPORTSMAN

ENGLISH
PRAIRIES.
numerous

PICTURES
By

LORD

the

By

Hon.

Illustrations.

OF

IN

Grantley

Berkeley.

Royal

8vo.

with

(In February,18(31).

SPORTING

WILLIAM

WESTERN

THE

LIFE

LENNOX.

AND

2 vols, with

CHARACTER.

Illustrations.

21s.

"
who
This book
should be in the library of every gentleman,
and of every one
delights
in the sports of the held.
It forms
treatise
on
a
complete
sporting in every part of the
is full of pleasant gossip anil anecdote.
World, aud
Racing, steeple chasing, hunting,

driving, coursing, yatching, and

pigeon shooting, and the pursuit
in Lord

William

REALITIES
of
"

true

"

FLEMISH

Lennox."

OF

"

fishing,cricket
of game

with

the

pedestrianism, boating and curling,

fowling-piece, all find an able exponent

and

Herald.

PARIS

INTERIORS,"

LIFE.
"c.

3 vols, with

'
Realities of Paris Life' is a good addition to Paris
and sober pictures of the Paris poor." Athenxum.
"

BY,THE

AUTHOR

Illustrations.

books, aud

important

31s. 6d.
as

affording

12

HURST

STUDIES

FROM

John

"

BLACKETT's

AND

"c.

PUBLICATIONS.

BY

LIFE.
Gentleman,"

Halifax,

Women,"

NEW

"

THE

AUTHOR

Woman's

Thoughts

OF
about

bound.
elegantly

1 vol. 10s. 6d.

"Studies

which
all women
from Life is altogether a charming volume, one
and most
would
be proud to possess."
Chronicle.
"
Without
either in purpose
or
plot, as 'John
being in the same
degree elaborate,
tion
Halifax,' these ' Studies from Life' may be pronounced to be equally as clever in construcworks
and narration.
of the most
that
It is one
charming features of Miss Muloch's
Her
they invariablytend to a practicaland useful end.
object is to improve the taste, refine
the intellect, and touch the heart, and "oto
all classes of her readers as to make
act upon
them
and better than they were
books
both
wiser
before
rise from
the consideration
of her
'
The
Life' will add
Studies from
they began to read them.
considerably to the author's
well earned
reputation." Messenger.
men,

"

"

FOEMS.

BY

AUTHOR

THE

GENTLEMAN,"

WOMAN'S

"

JOHN

HALIFAX,

ABOUT

THOUGHTS

Illustrations by Birket

1 vol. with

"

OF

"c.

WOMEN,"

Foster.

place with those of Goldsmith, Gray,

shelf of every Englishman's library. We
discover in these
the author's
all the firmness, vigour, and delicacy of touch
which
characterise
prose
poems
such
find in few poetical
ineffable tenderness
and
and in addition, an
as
we
works,
grace,
Illustrated News
of the World.
compositions besides those of Tennyson."
"
well pleased with these poems
We
are
by our popular novelist. They are the expression
"

and

A volume

Cowper,

on

of poems
which
the favourite

will

assuredly take its

"

of

aspirations, and the expression is almost

always graceful,
of morality pervades each set of verses
well-coloured.
A high, pure tone
,
of mind, and not by
strikes the reader as inspired by some
real event, or condition
each
sentiment."
idle fancy or fleeting
Spectator.

genuine thoughts, feelings,and

and

musical

and
some

"

HUNT.

LEIGH

AND

NOVELS
VICTORIA.

"

OF

remarkable

book,

very beautiful

LADY

By

Proverbial

sophy,"
Philo-

WILLIAM

BY

"

of Twelve

Narrative

and Scutari.

post

By

8vo.

with

"The

story of the noble

never

be

more

Chronicle.

Experiencein

the

Third

VOLUNTEER.

LADY

NURSES

ENGLISH

AND
Months'

EAUX-

vols,21s

PEPYS.

CHARLOTTE

TO

KIEV

FROM

PLANK

touching work."

and

times
and brings before us some
impor
Sun
powerful impression on its readers.""

to eventful

HOSPITALS

EASTERN

will

refers
fail to make

ON

BONNES.

1 vol.

which

It cannot

JOURNEY

The

SMITH-

3 vols, post 8vo.

personages.

"A

of

"

10

5s.

PEOPLE.

THE

Portraits.

iESOP

D.C.L., F.R.S., Author

Stephen Langton,""c, 1 vol. post 8vo.

HOWITT.
"

MR.

F. TUPPER,

MAN

THE

OF

with

2 vols,

Esa.

REVERIES

AND

TO

ELIZABETH

FROM

JEAFFRESON,

J. C.

By

MARTIN

By

(JustReady).

NOVELISTS,

RIDES

THE

ant

1 vol.

BY

END.

WEST

THE

THROUGH

SAUNTER

Hospitalso

and

Cheaper

Koula
Edition

Illustrations,6s. bound.
deeds

told
effectively

done
than

by Miss

Nightingale and

in this beautiful

narrative.""

her devoted
John
Buli.

sisterhood

OF

WORKS

KATHARINE

HER

AND

13

FICTION.

SISTERS.

Author

By the
By Lady

Emily

Author

of "The
"c, 3 vols.

Ponsonby.

Discipline

Life,"

of

HOUSE

Author

of

ON

"Thisstory

the

Author

Fair,"

MAGDALEN

"The

By

the

May

of

3 vols.

"The
Writer."

3v

Grandmother's

OP

HUNDRED

of "Margaret

"'A
and

"c.

Sun.

"

DAY.

AND

"'Only

Esa.

WOMAN.
3 vols.

Wraxall.

L.

readable."

is very

Woman

Bull.

John

"

ONLY
By Captain

3. vols.

S. Saville.

capital novel."

"A

PLACES.
Lowth

HONOUR.

interestingstory."

very

By the Hon.

"

T.

Sun.

"

TO

ROAD

NIGHT

her

3 vols

3 vols.

to classify 'The
"If asked
Valley of a
Hundred
Fires' we
should
give it a place
'John
Caxbetween
Halifax' and
'The
Herald.
tons."

HIGH

RECTORY.

A brilliant novel."

THE

FIRES.

Bridesmaids,"

G.

interesting
Athenaum.

Graham.

George

By
"

3 vols.

Wildflower,"

"

of

CARSTONE

Story.
"

of

VALLEY

By

MONEY.

most
The
"A
good novel.
of the Author's productions."

O'CLOCK.

able

Literery Gazette.

"

By the Author

"c. 1 vol.,
Money,"
"Wii.dfi.owbr,"
10s. fid.,elegantly hound
and Illustrated.

By the Author

3 vols.
clever and

very

GRANDMOTHER'S

Verneys,"

Christmas

Author

THE

of

work

"

TWELVE
A

KEEPER.

By Silvbrpev.

HAVERING.
of

HOUSE-

STONE'S

MAIN

VERDICT.

Morals
"c.
Creeds,"

By the Author

"

"

"

of

'

v.

the story

as

WORLD'S

THE

interesting and the

proceeds."

is very

Interest deepens
Athenwum.

By

Maitland,"

Margaret

3 vols.

"Caste,"

of

Author

the

It has
A clever and interesting novel.
and
the story is well sustained."
great power,
Literary Gazette.
"

the

By
"

MOOR.

THE

3 vols.

FREE.

AND

BOND

(In January 1861.)

"Cousin

of
"c.

Geoffrey,"

By

THE

GOVERNESS.

DAILY

THE

"

Athentsum.
Author

of

"The

Wanderer
"3

Arabia,
"A

novel

which

in

vols.

FITZWARINE.

LORD

contains

cidents, capitally drawn

interestingincharacters,

vivid

pictures of lite and

Post.
present day."

society

of

and
the

"

By
Author

Scrutator.

Master

"The

of

"c.

Hounds,"

of

the

vols.,with Illustrations.

MONEY.
LANGTON.

STEPHAN
By Colin
"A
amuse

Kennaquhom.

clever

novel.
all readers."

HIGH

It

3 vols.

hardly fail
Spectator.

"

can

By

"An

excellent

story

execution."

DAUNTON
is much
"There
these volumes."

"

Author

of

Tupper.

"c,

2 vols,

Proverbial

D.C.L.

F.R.S.

with

hue

Philosophy."
engravings. 10s.

CHURCH.
"

"

excellent
alike in
Atkenceum.

MANOR
to
"

amuse

Sun.

YEARS.

SEVEN

2 vols.

design and

F.

Martin.

to

HOUSE.
and

interest

By
Author

Julia
of

THE

"

Kavanagh.
3 vols.

Nathalie,"

OF

CURATES

RIVERSDALE.
Recollections

in the

Life of

Clergyman

NOW

HURST

IN

PUBLICATION.

OF

COURSE

OF

OF

EDITIONS

CHEAP

WORKS

MODERN

POPULAR

LIBRARY

STANDARD

BLACKETT'S

AND

bound, and illustrated,

price5s.
volume, elegantly
printed,
single
now
The
months.
are
volume to appear every two
ready.
following

Each

in

VOL.

SLICK'S

I"SAM

ILLUSTRATED

NATURE.

HUMAN

AND

NATURE

LEECH.

BY

of Messrs.
Standard
and Blackett's
Library of Cheap Editions
Hurst
be a very
will doubtless
to
what
Works
forms
a
very good beginning
Slick's
of the best of Sam
is one
Nature'
successful
undertaking. ' Nature and Human
it
which
well
entitled to the large circulation
witty and humorous
productions, and
combines
fail to obtain in its present convenient
and
cannot
cheap shape. The volume
with
of a
the great recommendations
good paper, the lesser, but
clear, bold type, and
""
still attractive merits, of being well illustrated and elegantly bound
Morning Post.
will be an
Slick's
acquisition to
"This
and
new
popular work
cheap edition of Sam

"The

of

first volume
Modern

Popular

to
all lovers
of wit and
humour.
Mr. Justice
Haliburtun's
writings are so well known
is very handsomely
volume
the English public that no
The
commendation
is needed.
suited
bound
It is in every
and illustrated, and the paper
and type are
excellent.
way
the
for a library edition, and
and
the
Blackett, warrant
Hurst
of Messrs.
as
names
of the works
character
to be produced in their Standard
Library.,we have no doubt the

project will be eminently successful."

VOL.
"This
is a
from
boyhood

II"

JOHN

good and

very

Sun.

"

GENTLEMAN.

HALIFAX,

designed

It is

interesting work.

very

to

the

trace

career

in incident
a Christian
gentleman, and it abounds
perfect man
in a high spirit,and written
both well and
highly wrought.
Throughout it is conceived
with
think, of its deservedly successful
great ability,better than
work, we
any former
hand to hand,
author.
This cheap and handsome
edition is worthy to pass freely from
new
as
book in many
a (rift
households."
Examiner.
with great
will doubtless
meet
and
"The
new
cheaper edition of this interesting work
success.
John
beautiful story, is no ordinary hero, and this,
Halifax, the hero of this most
of
his history, is no
gentleman, one
It is a full-lengthportrait of a true
ordinary book.
to

of

age

"

"

nature's

The

abounds
It is

pathos.

It is also

nobility.

own

work

iu

book

VOL.

the

incident, and
few

that

Ill"

"Independent

its

ELIOT

information, this work

its descriptions are
which

value

an

as

is

remarkable
enlivened.

and

and

home

becoming

AND

thoroughly English
graphic power and

full

are

scenes

CRESCENT
BY

of

the
without
of

read

will

THE

history of

many

one

of

better."

and

wiser

true

Scotsman

"

CROSS.

THE

WARBUBTON.
its useful

original narrative, and

interesting

and

and
play of fancy with
colouring power
is its
most
its greatest and
lasting charms

the

for

Among

serious spirit." Quarterly Review

"A
book
never
to
calculated
penned than 'The
more
practicallyuseful was
prove
lime
for the subCrescent
in its homage
all others
and the Cross'
work
which
a
surpasses
and
its love
to everlasting
consecrated
famous
in
for the beautifui
those
regions
has ever
other writer
depicted
no
immortality in the annals
of the prophets, and which
with a pencil at once
and
reverent
so
so
picturesque." Sun.

reverent

"

"

"

VOL.
"'

Nathalie
Its

attractive.
ate

as

IV"
'

is Miss

as

Kavanagh's

"A
ranks

Hurst

and

Its

imaginative effort.

attractive

pictures which

are

gracious and
by her which

is

manner

commanded

end

come

to

place

'Nathalie'

of its class. ""Athenatum.

tale of untiring interest, full of deep touches
nature.
of human
in predicting
for this delightfultale a lastingpopularity, and a

an

We

place

more

most

instructive

judicious

we

were

to

high among
have

in the

novel.""
John Bull.
of fiction" fhe moral
made
been
have
not
than
could
'Nathalie'
and
lilackett's Standard
realises
Library. The series as it advances
that it will be one
of lastingcelebrity.""Literary Gazette.

of that
"A

best

EAVANAGH.

JULIA

is

specify tillthe delicate touches

books

BY

A sentiment, a tenderness,
good.
should
not
soon
they are
elegant. We

matter

individual

NATHALIE.

no

tation
hesi-

foremost

kind

for

selection

[continued

on

next

pace.]

our

Messrs.
pression,
firs im-

HURST

AND

BLACKETT'S
OF

Each

in

V.-A
BY

book

WOMAN'S

THE

AUTHOR

thank

"The
reasonable

and

EDITIONS.

sound

counsel.

"JOHN

and

illustrated,
price5s.

ABOUT

THOUGHTS
OF

LIBRARY

WOMEN.

GENTLEMAN."

HALIFAX,

works
of its kind, well-written,
wishes to give advice to a young
lady
the author for means
of doing so."
Examiner.
author
of 'John
Halifax'
will retain
and
extend
her hold upon the reading and
bears
the stamp of good sense
public by the merits of her present work, which
of

true-hearted, and
may

CHEAP

volume, elegantly
single
bound,
printed,

VOL.

"A

STANDARD

It is

the

of

one

most

sensible

altogetherpractical. Whoever
"

"
genialfeeling.

Guardian.

"

"These
thoughts
are
good and humane.
They are thoughts we
think."
Athenaum
"This
really valuable volume
ought to be in every young woman's
her how
to
think and
how
to act."
Literary Gazette.

would

wish

women

to

"

hand.

It will teach

"

VOL.

VI.-ADAM
BY

THE

OF

AUTHOR

MOSSGRAY.

OP

GRAEME,

MAITLAND."

MARGARET

"MRS.

'"Adam
admirable

is a story awakening
of interest
Graeme'
and delight by its
genuine emotions
life and
The
pictures of Scottish
plot is cleverly complicated, and
scenery.
there is great vitalityin the dialogue, and
remarkable
brilliancyin the descriptivepassages,
who
that
has
read
would
be prepared to expect?
not
But
as
'Margaret Maitland'
nine
the story has a
still,'in the healthy tone which pervades it, in its femimightier magnet
of its sentiments.
delicacy of thought and diction, and in the truly womanly tenderness
The
attributes
sets
the essential
of Christian
before us
virtue,
eloquent author
in the life,
their deep and silent workings in the heart, and
their
beautiful manifestations
with a delicacy,a power, and a truth which
can
hardly be surpassed." Morning Post.
'

"

VOL.

vn.-SAM

SLICK'S

AND

SAWS

WISE

INSTANCES.

MODERN

best of all Judge Haliburton's

Standard.
"The
admirable
works.."
"'
of Sam
is ever
The humour
Slick is inexhaustible.
He
and
everywhere a welcome
wit
and
wisdom
his
visitor; smiles
hang upon
greet his approach, and
tongue.
The
alike for its racy humour,
its sound
philosophy,
present production is remarkable
readers
the felicityof its illustrations, and
the delicacy of its satire, We
promise our
Saws and Modern
a great treat
from the perusal of these ' Wise
Instances,'which contain a
world of practicalwisdom, and a treasury of the richest fun."
Post.
"

"

VOL.

VIll.-CARDINAL
OF

THE

"A
picturesquebook on
Catholic.
Cardinal Wiseman

RECOLLECTIONS

WISEMAN'S

Rome
has

LAST

POPES.

FOUR

and its ecclesiastical

here treated a special

sovereigns, by an eloquent Roman

subjectwith so much
generalityand
will excite no ill-feeling
in those who are most
geniality,that his recollections
conscientiously
opposed to every idea of human
Athenteum.
infallibity
represented in Papal domination."
In the descriptionof the scenes,
the ceremonies, the ecclesiastical society,the manners
"

"

and habits
fillcolumns

of Sacerdotal

with

extracts."

VOL.
BY
"

THE

We
are
always
she has the power

It is full of

is unrivalled.
this work
Chronicle.

Rome,

amusing

IX.-A

AUTHOR

anecdotes.

We

coul

"

OF

LIFE

FOR

GENTLEMAN."

HALIFAX,

"JOHN

LIFE.

her own
convictions,
but to
to say,
she wishes
it in language effective and vigorous.
in a
In ' A Life for a Life' she is fortunate
express
The
of strong effect.
reader
good subject,and she has produced a work
having read the
book
read again
ami
through for the story, will be apt (ifhe be of our persuasion) to return
is
book
whole
with greater pleasure than on a first perusal. The
many
pages and passages
to its othei
merits, it is written in
replete with a graceful,tender delicacy ; and in addition
good careful English." Athenaum.
and

glad
not

to

welcome

only

to

Miss

conceive

Muloch.

She

clearlywhat

writes

"

[continued

on

next

from

it is that

page.

HURST

AND

BLACKETT'S
OF

Each in

STANDARD

CHEAP

LIBRARY

EDITIONS.

volume, elegantly
single
printed,bound,

and

illustrated,
price5s.

(continued).
VOL.

X.-THE

OLD

COUKT

BY

SUBURB.

HUNT.

LEIGH

for full of
Very full
It is the
too, both
of chroniclers,
of good things, the
of the most
chrerful
the best of remembrancers
name
is a work
that
most
polished and entertaining of educated gossips 'The Old Court Suburb'
to all readers, and
will be welcome
who
have a love for the best
most
welcome
to those
kinds of reading." Examiner.
"
A more
agreeable and entertainingbook has not been publishedsince Boswell produced
"

A delightful book, of which

and

quaint

the charm

begins

at the

fir9t line

on

the first page,

is the phrase that is its title,' The

Old Court Suburb.'
pleasant memories
of quaint and
is the line that designates the author.
pleasant memories

"

his reminiscences

of Johnson."

Observer.

"

AND

XI.-MARGARET

VOL.

BRIDESMAIDS.

HER

We
the trouble of giving any lengthened review of this work, for
save
ourselves
may
it for themst-lves.
all who
in search of a fascinating novel
recommend
to read
They
are
it quite
will tinri it well worth
their while.
freshness
and
There
a
are
originalityabout
and incident
both of sentiment
charming, and there is a certain nobleness in the treatment
which
is not often found."
Atheneeum.
"

we

"

VOL.

OLD

XII.-THE

JUDGE.

BY

SLICK.

SAM

old friend
of our
is redolent
and
of the hearty fun
sense
strong masculine
and
have
a far greater
In these sketches
different interlocutors,
variety
we
of remark,
of observation, pungency
of character
than in ' Sam
in acuteness
Slick,' while
is quite equal
of Judge Haliburton
and abounding heartiness of drollery,the present work
to the first.
Every page is alive with rapid, fresh sketches of character, droll, quaint, racy
Chronicle.
anec.lotes."
sayings, good-humoured
practicaljokes, and capitally-told
Scotian
Slick' paints Nova
life,
of ' Sam
"These
popular sketches, in which the Author
Works.
Hurst
Standard
of Messrs
form the 12th Volume
and Blackett's
Library of Modern
mation
The
give inforpublications included in this Library have all been of good quality; many
is a specimen.
The
while
before us
they entertain, and of that class the book
"This

'

Sam

work

Slick.'

"

the
Editions
especial
Cheap
forming the series is produced deserves
and print are
unexceptional; there is a steel engraving in each
paper
likes to see a regiment of
and the outsides of them will satisfy the purchaser who
volume,
Examiner.
books in handsome
uniform."

which

in

manner

The

mention.

"

VOL.

XIII.-DARIEN.

BY

ELIOT

WARBURTON.

and
the Cross,'
"This last production, from the pen
of the author
of 'The
Crescent
"
of a very wide popularity. It will please its thousands.
Globe.
has the same
elements
the last contribution
to the literature
work
will be read with peculiar interest
"This
as
with
of his country of a man
endowed
Eliot Warburton's
no
ordinary giftsof intellect.
We
have
active and
seldom
productive genius is amply exemplified in the present book.
with any work
in which
the realities of history and
the poetry of fiction were
more
met
Illustrated News
happily interwoven.""
"

XIV"FAMILY

VOL.

ROMANCE;
THE

OP
BY
"

book,

It were
whether

impossible

ought
captivating romances

to

to

with

ANNALS

ARISTOCRACY.
BUKKE,

ulster

kino

of

praise too highly as a work of amusement

regard to its excellent plan or its
drawing-room table. Here
every
the
pith of ail their interest preserved

have
be found
on

should

we

It

BERNARD

SIR

OR, DOMESTIC
arms.

this most
not

interesting

less excellent

cution.
exe-

have nearly fitly

you
in undiminished
nancy,
poig-

that the
It is not
the least of their merits
be read in half an hour.
down
for truth by long
founded
fact
on
or
what, at least, has been handed
of fiction.
Each
of realityfar exceeds
the romance
tradition
and the romance
story is
works
made
the
former
have
the author's
told in the clear, unaffected
style with which
Stundurd.
public familiar."
and

romances

any

may

one

ure

"

"

"

HURST

AND

BLACKLTT,

PUBLISHERS,

13,

GREAT

MARLBOROUGH

STREET.

UNIVERSITY

OF

Los
This book is DUE

on

LIBRARY

CALIFORNIA

Angeles

the last date

stamped below.

Rtwiw""\
--fib?**Mtmmm
"

NSCHM^'"
IS

oT3tt

QLJAN 1 5
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Form

L9-25m-9,'47(A5618)444

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1158

00757

UC SOUTHERN

AA

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REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY

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