MARGUERITE DE NAVARRE

MEMOIRS OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS

MEMOIRS OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS QUEEN OF NAVARRE

Written by Herself

Being Historic Memoirs of the Courts of France and Navarre

BOOK II. 

LETTER XIII. 

The League. --War Declared against the Huguenots. --Queen Marguerite Setsout for Spa. 

At length my brother returned to Court, accompanied by all the Catholicnobility who had followed his fortunes. The King received him verygraciously, and showed, by his reception of him, how much he was pleasedat his return. Bussi, who returned with my brother, met likewise with agracious reception. Le Guast was now no more, having died under theoperation of a particular regimen ordered for him by his physician. Hehad given himself up to every kind of debauchery; and his death seemedthe judgment of the Almighty on one whose body had long been perishing, and whose soul had been made over to the prince of demons as the price ofassistance through the means of diabolical magic, which he constantlypractised. The King, though now without this instrument of his maliciouscontrivances, turned his thoughts entirely upon the destruction of theHuguenots. To effect this, he strove to engage my brother against them, and thereby make them his enemies and that I might be considered asanother enemy, he used every means to prevent me from going to the Kingmy husband. Accordingly he showed every mark of attention to both of us, and manifested an inclination to gratify all our wishes. 

After some time, M. De Duras arrived at Court, sent by the King myhusband to hasten my departure. Hereupon, I pressed the King greatly tothink well of it, and give me his leave. He, to colour his refusal, toldme he could not part with me at present, as I was the chief ornament ofhis Court; that he must, keep me a little longer, after which he wouldaccompany me himself on my way as far as Poitiers. With this answer andassurance, he sent M. De Duras back. These excuses were purposely framedin order to gain time until everything was prepared for declaring waragainst the Huguenots, and, in consequence, against the King my husband, as he fully designed to do. 

As a pretence to break with the Huguenots, a report was spread abroadthat the Catholics were dissatisfied with the Peace of Sens, and thoughtthe terms of it too advantageous for the Huguenots. This rumoursucceeded, and produced all that discontent amongst the Catholicsintended by it. A league was formed: in the provinces and great cities, which was joined by numbers of the Catholics. M. De Guise was named asthe head of all. This was well known to the King, who pretended to beignorant of what was going forward, though nothing else was talked of atCourt. 

The States were convened to meet at Blois. Previous to the opening ofthis assembly, the King called my brother to his closet, where werepresent the Queen my mother and some of the King's counsellors. Herepresented the great consequence the Catholic league was to his Stateand authority, even though they should appoint De Guise as the head ofit; that such a measure was of the highest importance to them both, meaning my brother and himself; that the Catholics had very just reasonto be dissatisfied with the peace, and that it behoved him, addressinghimself to my brother, rather to join the Catholics than the Huguenots, and this from conscience as well as interest. He concluded his addressto my brother with conjuring him, as a son of France and a good Catholic, to assist him with his aid and counsel in this critical juncture, whenhis crown and the Catholic religion were both at stake. He further saidthat, in order to get the start of so formidable a league, he ought toform one himself, and become the head of it, as well to show his zeal forreligion as to prevent the Catholics from uniting under any other leader. He then proposed to declare himself the head of a league, which should bejoined by my brother, the princes, nobles, governors, and others holdingoffices under the Government. Thus was my brother reduced to thenecessity of making his Majesty a tender of his services for the supportand maintenance of the Catholic religion. 

The King, having now obtained assurances of my brother's assistance inthe event of a war, which was his sole view in the league which he hadformed with so much art, assembled together the princes and chiefnoblemen of his Court, and, calling for the roll of the league, signed itfirst himself, next calling upon my brother to sign it, and, lastly, uponall present. 

The next day the States opened their meeting, when the King, calling uponthe Bishops of Lyons, Ambrune, Vienne, and other prelates there present, for their advice, was told that, after the oath taken at his coronation, no oath made to heretics could bind him, and therefore he was absolvedfrom his engagements with the Huguenots. 

This declaration being made at the opening of the assembly, and wardeclared against the Huguenots, the King abruptly dismissed from Courtthe Huguenot, Genisac, who had arrived a few days before, charged by theKing my husband with a commission to hasten my departure. The King verysharply told him that his sister had been given to a Catholic, and not toa Huguenot; and that if the King my husband expected to have me, he mustdeclare himself a Catholic. 

Every preparation for war was made, and nothing else talked of at Court;and, to make my brother still more obnoxious to the Huguenots, he had thecommand of an army given him. Genisac came and informed me of the roughmessage he had been dismissed with. Hereupon I went directly to thecloset of the Queen my mother, where I found the King. I expressed myresentment at being deceived by him, and at being cajoled by his promiseto accompany me from Paris to Poitiers, which, as it now appeared, was amere pretence. I represented that I did not marry by my own choice, butentirely agreeable to the advice of King Charles, the Queen my mother, and himself; that, since they had given him to me for a husband, theyought not to hinder me from partaking of his fortunes; that I wasresolved to go to him, and that if I had not their leave, I would getaway how I could, even at the hazard of my life. The King answered:"Sister, it is not now a time to importune me for leave. I acknowledgethat I have, as you say, hitherto prevented you from going, in order toforbid it altogether. From the time the King of Navarre changed hisreligion, and again became a Huguenot, I have been against your going tohim. What the Queen my mother and I are doing is for your good. I amdetermined to carry on a war of extermination until this wretchedreligion of the Huguenots, which is of so mischievous a nature, is nomore. Consider, my sister, if you, who are a Catholic, were once intheir hands, you would become a hostage for me, and prevent my design. And who knows but they might seek their revenge upon me by taking awayyour life? No, you shall not go amongst them; and if you leave us in themanner you have now mentioned, rely upon it that you will make the Queenyour mother and me your bitterest enemies, and that we shall use everymeans to make you feel the effects of our resentment; and, moreover, youwill make your husband's situation worse instead of better. "

I went from this audience with much dissatisfaction, and, taking adviceof the principal persons of both sexes belonging to Court whom I esteemedmy friends, I found them all of opinion that it would be exceedinglyimproper for me to remain in a Court now at open variance with the Kingmy husband. They recommended me not to stay at Court whilst the warlasted, saying it would be more honourable for me to leave the kingdomunder the pretence of a pilgrimage, or a visit to some of my kindred. ThePrincesse de Roche-sur-Yon was amongst those I consulted upon theoccasion, who was on the point of setting off for Spa to take the watersthere. 

My brother was likewise present at the consultation, and brought with himMondoucet, who had been to Flanders in quality of the King's agent, whence he was just returned to represent to the King the discontent thathad arisen amongst the Flemings on account of infringements made by theSpanish Government on the French laws. He stated that he wascommissioned by several nobles, and the municipalities of several towns, to declare how much they were inclined in their hearts towards France, and how ready they were to come under a French government. Mondoucet, perceiving the King not inclined to listen to his representation, ashaving his mind wholly occupied by the war he had entered into with theHuguenots, whom he was resolved to punish for having joined my brother, had ceased to move in it further to the King, and addressed himself onthe subject to my brother. My brother, with that princely spirit whichled him to undertake great achievements, readily lent an ear toMondoucet's proposition, and promised to engage in it, for he was bornrather to conquer than to keep what he conquered. Mondoucet'sproposition was the more pleasing to him as it was not unjust, it being, in fact, to recover to France what had been usurped by Spain. 

Mondoucet had now engaged himself in my brother's service, and was toreturn to Flanders' under a pretence of accompanying the Princesse deRoche-sur-Yon in her journey to Spa; and as this agent perceived mycounsellers to be at a loss for some pretence for my leaving Court andquitting France during the war, and that at first Savoy was proposed formy retreat, then Lorraine, and then Our Lady of Loretto, he suggested tomy brother that I might be of great use to him in Flanders, if, under thecolour of any complaint, I should be recommended to drink the Spa waters, and go with the Princesse de Roche-sur-Yon. My brother acquiesced inthis opinion, and came up to me, saying: "Oh, Queen! you need be nolonger at a loss for a place to go to. I have observed that you havefrequently an erysipelas on your arm, and you must accompany the Princessto Spa. You must say, your physicians had ordered those waters for thecomplaint; but when they, did so, it was not the season to take them. That season is now approaching, and you hope to have the King's leave togo there. "

My brother did not deliver all he wished to say at that time, because theCardinal de Bourbon was present, whom he knew to be a friend to theGuises and to Spain. However, I saw through his real design, and that hewished me to promote his views in Flanders. 

The company approved of my brother's advice, and the Princesse deRoche-sur-Yon heard the proposal with great joy, having a great regardfor me. She promised to attend me to the Queen my mother when I shouldask her consent. 

The next day I found the Queen alone, and represented to her the extremeregret I experienced in finding that a war was inevitable betwixt theKing my husband and his Majesty, and that I must continue in a state ofseparation from my husband; that, as long as the war lasted, it wasneither decent nor honourable for me to stay at Court, where I must be inone or other, or both, of these cruel situations either that the King myhusband should believe that I continued in it out of inclination, andthink me deficient in the duty I owed him; or that his Majesty shouldentertain suspicions of my giving intelligence to the King my husband. Either of these cases, I observed, could not but prove injurious to me. Itherefore prayed her not to take it amiss if I desired to remove myselffrom Court, and from becoming so unpleasantly situated; adding that myphysicians had for some time recommended me to take the Spa waters for anerysipelas--to which I had been long subject--on my arm; the season fortaking these waters was now approaching, and that if she approved of it, I would use the present opportunity, by which means I should be at adistance from Court, and show my husband that, as I could not be withhim, I was unwilling to remain amongst his enemies. I further expressedmy hopes that, through her prudence, a peace might be effected in a shorttime betwixt the King my husband and his Majesty, and that my husbandmight be restored to the favour he formerly enjoyed; that whenever Ilearned the news of so joyful an event, I would renew my solicitations tobe permitted to go to my husband. In the meantime, I should hope for herpermission to have the honour of accompanying the Princesse deRoche-sur-Yon, there present, in her journey to Spa. 

She approved of what I proposed, and expressed her satisfaction that Ihad taken so prudent a resolution. She observed how much she waschagrined when she found that the King, through the evil persuasions ofthe bishops, had resolved to break through the conditions of the lastpeace, which she had concluded in his name. She saw already the illeffects of this hasty proceeding, as it had removed from the King'sCouncil many of his ablest and best servants. This gave her, she said, much concern, as it did likewise to think I could not remain at Courtwithout offending my husband, or creating jealousy and suspicion in theKing's mind. This being certainly what was likely to be the consequenceof my staying, she would advise the King to give me leave to set out onthis journey. 

She was as good as her word, and the King discoursed with me on thesubject without exhibiting the smallest resentment. Indeed, he was wellpleased now that he had prevented me from going to the King my husband, for whom he had conceived the greatest animosity. 

He ordered a courier to be immediately despatched to Don John ofAustria, --who commanded for the King of Spain in Flanders, --to obtainfrom him the necessary passports for a free passage in the countriesunder his command, as I should be obliged to cross a part of Flanders toreach Spa, which is in the bishopric of Liege. 

All matters being thus arranged, we separated in a few days after thisinterview. The short time my brother and I remained together wasemployed by him in giving me instructions for the commission I hadundertaken to execute for him in Flanders. The King and the Queen mymother set out for Poitiers, to be near the army of M. De Mayenne, thenbesieging Brouage, which place being reduced, it was intended to marchinto Gascony and attack the King my husband. 

My brother had the command of another army, ordered to besiege Issoireand some other towns, which he soon after took. 

For my part, I set out on my journey to Flanders accompanied by thePrincesse de Roche-sur-Yon, Madame de Tournon, the lady of my bedchamber, Madame de Mouy of Picardy, Madame de Chastelaine, De Millon, Mademoiselled'Atric, Mademoiselle de Tournon, and seven or eight other young ladies. My male attendants were the Cardinal de Lenoncourt, the Bishop ofLangres, and M. De Mouy, Seigneur de Picardy, at present father-in-law tothe brother of Queen Louise, called the Comte de Chalingy, with myprincipal steward of the household, my chief esquires, and the othergentlemen of my establishment. 

LETTER XIV. 

Description of Queen Marguerite's Equipage. --Her Journey to LiegeDescribed. --She Enters with Success upon Her Mission. --Striking Instanceof Maternal Duty and Affection in a Great Lady. --Disasters near the Closeof the Journey. 

The cavalcade that attended me excited great curiosity as it passedthrough the several towns in the course of my journey, and reflected nosmall degree of credit on France, as it was splendidly set out, and madea handsome appearance. I travelled in a litter raised with pillars. Thelining of it was Spanish velvet, of a crimson colour, embroidered invarious devices with gold and different coloured silk thread. 

The windows were of glass, painted in devices. The lining and windowshad, in the whole, forty devices, all different and alluding to the sunand its effects. Each device had its motto, either in the Spanish orItalian language. My litter was followed by two others; in the one wasthe Princesse de Roche-sur-Yon, and in the other Madame de Tournon, mylady of the bedchamber. After them followed ten maids of honour, onhorseback, with their governess; and, last of all, six coaches andchariots, with the rest of the ladies and all our female attendants. 

I took the road of Picardy, the towns in which province had received theKing's orders to pay me all due honours. Being arrived at Le Catelet, astrong place, about three leagues distant from the frontier of theCambresis, the Bishop of Cambray (an ecclesiastical State acknowledgingthe King of Spain only as a guarantee) sent a gentleman to inquire of meat what hour I should leave the place, as he intended to meet me on theborders of his territory. 

Accordingly I found him there, attended by a number of his people, whoappeared to be true Flemings, and to have all the rusticity andunpolished manners of their country. The Bishop was of the House ofBarlemont, one of the principal families in Flanders. All of this househave shown themselves Spaniards at heart, and at that time were firmlyattached to Don John. The Bishop received me with great politeness andnot a little of the Spanish ceremony. 

Although the city of Cambray is not so well built as some of our towns inFrance, I thought it, notwithstanding, far more pleasant than many ofthese, as the streets and squares are larger and better disposed. Thechurches are grand and highly ornamented, which is, indeed, common toFrance; but what I admired, above all, was the citadel, which is thefinest and best constructed in Christendom. 

The Spaniards experienced it to be strong whilst my brother had it in hispossession. The governor of the citadel at this time was a worthygentleman named M. D'Ainsi, who was, in every respect, a polite andwell-accomplished man, having the carriage and behaviour of one of ourmost perfect courtiers, very different from the rude incivility whichappears to be the characteristic of a Fleming. 

The Bishop gave us a grand supper, and after supper a ball, to which hehad invited all the ladies of the city. As soon as the ball was openedhe withdrew, in accordance with the Spanish ceremony; but M. D'Ainsi didthe honours for him, and kept me company during the ball, conducting meafterwards to a collation, which, considering his command at the citadel, was, I thought, imprudent. I speak from experience, having been taught, to my cost, and contrary to my desire, the caution and vigilancenecessary to be observed in keeping such places. As my regard for mybrother was always predominant in me, I continually had his instructionsin mind, and now thought I had a fair opportunity to open my commissionand forward his views in Flanders, this town of Cambray, and especiallythe citadel, being, as it were, a key to that country. Accordingly Iemployed all the talents God had given me to make M. D'Ainsi a friend toFrance, and attach him to my brother's interest. Through God'sassistance I succeeded with him, and so much was M. D'Ainsi pleased withmy conversation that he came to the resolution of soliciting the Bishop, his master, to grant him leave to accompany me as, far as Namur, whereDon John of Austria was in waiting to receive me, observing that he had agreat desire to witness so splendid an interview. This Spanish Fleming, the Bishop, had the weakness to grant M. D'Ainsi's request, who continuedfollowing in my train for ten or twelve days. During this time he tookevery opportunity of discoursing with me, and showed that, in his heart, he was well disposed to embrace the service of France, wishing no bettermaster than the Prince my brother, and declaring that he heartilydespised being under the command of his Bishop, who, though hissovereign, was not his superior by birth, being born a private gentlemanlike himself, and, in every other respect, greatly his inferior. 

Leaving Cambray, I set out to sleep at Valenciennes, the chief city of apart of Flanders called by the same name. Where this country is dividedfrom Cambresis (as far as which I was conducted by the Bishop ofCambray), the Comte de Lalain, M. De Montigny his brother, and a numberof gentlemen, to the amount of two or three hundred, came to meet me. 

Valenciennes is a town inferior to Cambray in point of strength, butequal to it for the beauty of its squares, and churches, --the formerornamented with fountains, as the latter are with curious clocks. Theingenuity of the Germans in the construction of their clocks was a matterof great surprise to all my attendants, few amongst whom had ever beforeseen clocks exhibiting a number of moving figures, and playing a varietyof tunes in the most agreeable manner. 

The Comte de Lalain, the governor of the city, invited the lords andgentlemen of my train to a banquet, reserving himself to give anentertainment to the ladies on our arrival at Mons, where we should findthe Countess his wife, his sister-in-law Madame d'Aurec, and other ladiesof distinction. Accordingly the Count, with his attendants, conducted usthither the next day. He claimed a relationship with the King myhusband, and was, in reality, a person who carried great weight andauthority. He was much dissatisfied with the Spanish Government, and hadconceived a great dislike for it since the execution of Count Egmont, whowas his near kinsman. 

Although he had hitherto abstained from entering into the league with thePrince of Orange and the Huguenots, being himself a steady Catholic, yethe had not admitted of an interview with Don John, neither would hesuffer him, nor any one in the interest of Spain, to enter upon histerritories. Don John was unwilling to give the Count any umbrage, lesthe should force him to unite the Catholic League of Flanders, called theLeague of the States, to that of the Prince of Orange and the Huguenots, well foreseeing that such a union would prove fatal to the Spanishinterest, as other governors have since experienced. With thisdisposition of mind, the Comte de Lalain thought he could not give mesufficient demonstrations of the joy he felt by my presence; and he couldnot have shown more honour to his natural prince, nor displayed greatermarks of zeal and affection. 

On our arrival at Mons, I was lodged in his house, and found there theCountess his wife, and a Court consisting of eighty or a hundred ladiesof the city and country. My reception was rather that of their sovereignlady than of a foreign princess. The Flemish ladies are naturallylively, affable, and engaging. The Comtesse de Lalain is remarkably so, and is, moreover, a woman of great sense and elevation of mind, in whichparticular, as well as in air and countenance, she carries a strikingresemblance to the lady your cousin. We became immediately intimate, andcommenced a firm friendship at our first meeting. When the supper hourcame, we sat down to a banquet, which was succeeded by a ball; and thisrule the Count observed as long as I stayed at Mons, which was, indeed, longer than I intended. It had been my intention to stay at Mons onenight only, but the Count's obliging lady prevailed on me to pass a wholeweek there. I strove to excuse myself from so long a stay, imagining itmight be inconvenient to them; but whatever I could say availed nothingwith the Count and his lady, and I was under the necessity of remainingwith them eight days. The Countess and I were on so familiar a footingthat she stayed in my bedchamber till a late hour, and would not haveleft me then had she not imposed upon herself a task very rarelyperformed by persons of her rank, which, however, placed the goodness ofher disposition in the most amiable light. In fact, she gave suck to herinfant son; and one day at table, sitting next me, whose whole attentionwas absorbed in the promotion of my brother's interest, --the table beingthe place where, according to the custom of the country, all are familiarand ceremony is laid aside, --she, dressed out in the richest manner andblazing with diamonds, gave the breast to her child without rising fromher seat, the infant being brought to the table as superbly habited asits nurse, the mother. She performed this maternal duty with so muchgood humour, and with a gracefulness peculiar to herself, that thischaritable office--which would have appeared disgusting and beenconsidered as an affront if done by some others of equal rank--gavepleasure to all who sat at table, and, accordingly, they signified theirapprobation by their applause. 

The tables being removed, the dances commenced in the same room whereinwe had supped, which was magnificent and large. The Countess and Isitting side by side, I expressed the pleasure I received from herconversation, and that I should place this meeting amongst the happiestevents of my life. "Indeed, " said I, "I shall have cause to regret thatit ever did take place, as I shall depart hence so unwillingly, therebeing so little probability, of our meeting again soon. Why did Heavendeny, our being born in the same country!"

This was said in order to introduce my brother's business. She replied:"This country did, indeed, formerly belong to France, and our lawyers nowplead their causes in the French language. The greater part of thepeople here still retain an affection for the French nation. For mypart, " added the Countess, "I have had a strong attachment to yourcountry ever since I have had the honour of seeing you. This country hasbeen long in the possession of the House of Austria, but the regard ofthe people for that house has been greatly, weakened by the death ofCount Egmont, M. De Horne, M. De Montigny, and others of the same party, some of them our near relations, and all of the best families of thecountry. We entertain the utmost dislike for the Spanish Government, andwish for nothing so much as to throw off the yoke of their tyranny; but, as the country is divided betwixt different religions, we are at a losshow to effect it if we could unite, we should soon drive out theSpaniards; but this division amongst ourselves renders us weak. Would toGod the King your brother would come to a resolution of reconquering thiscountry, to which he has an ancient claim! We should all receive himwith open arms. "

This was a frank declaration, made by the Countess without premeditation, but it had been long agitated in the minds of the people, who consideredthat it was from France they were to hope for redress from the evils withwhich they were afflicted. I now found I had as favourable an opening asI could wish for to declare my errand. I told her that the King ofFrance my brother was averse to engaging in foreign war, and the more soas the Huguenots in his kingdom were too strong to admit of his sendingany large force out of it. "My brother Alencon, " said I, "has sufficientmeans, and might be induced to undertake it. He has equal valour, prudence, and benevolence with the King my brother or any of hisancestors. He has been bred to arms, and is esteemed one of the bravestgenerals of these times. He has the command of the King's army againstthe Huguenots, and has lately taken a well-fortified town, calledIssoire, and some other places that were in their possession. You couldnot invite to your assistance a prince who has it so much in his power togive it; being not only a neighbour, but having a kingdom like France athis devotion, whence he may expect to derive the necessary aid andsuccour. The Count your husband may be assured that if he do my brotherthis good office he will not find him ungrateful, but may set what pricehe pleases upon his meritorious service. My brother is of a noble andgenerous disposition, and ready to requite those who do him favours. Heis, moreover, an admirer of men of honour and gallantry, and accordinglyis followed by the bravest and best men France has to boast of. I am inhopes that a peace will soon be reestablished with the Huguenots, andexpect to find it so on my return to France. If the Count your husbandthink as you do, and will permit me to speak to him on the subject, Iwill engage to bring my brother over to the proposal, and, in that case, your country in general, and your house in particular, will be wellsatisfied with him. If, through your means, my brother should establishhimself here, you may depend on seeing me often, there being no brotheror sister who has a stronger affection for each other. "

The Countess appeared to listen to what I said with great pleasure, andacknowledged that she had not entered upon this discourse without design. She observed that, having perceived I did her the honour to have someregard for her, she had resolved within herself not to let me depart outof the country without explaining to me the situation of it, and beggingme to procure the aid of France to relieve them from the apprehensions ofliving in a state of perpetual war or of submitting to Spanish tyranny. She thereupon entreated me to allow her to relate our presentconversation to her husband, and permit them both to confer with me onthe subject the next day. To this I readily gave my consent. 

Thus we passed the evening in discourse upon the object of my mission, and I observed that she took a singular pleasure in talking upon it inall our succeeding conferences when I thought proper to introduce it. Theball being ended, we went to hear vespers at the church of theCanonesses, an order of nuns of which we have none in France. These areyoung ladies who are entered in these communities at a tender age, inorder to improve their fortunes till they are of an age to be married. They do not all sleep under the same roof, but in detached houses withinan enclosure. In each of these houses are three, four, or perhaps sixyoung girls, under the care of an old woman. These governesses, togetherwith the abbess, are of the number of such as have never been married. These girls never wear the habit of the order but in church; and theservice there ended, they dress like others, pay visits, frequent balls, and go where they please. They were constant visitors at the Count'sentertainments, and danced at his balls. 

The Countess thought the time long until the night, when she had anopportunity of relating to the Count the conversation she had with me, and the opening of the business. The next morning she came to me, andbrought her husband with her. He entered into a detail of the grievancesthe country laboured under, and the just reasons he had for ridding it ofthe tyranny of Spain. In doing this, he said, he should not considerhimself as acting against his natural sovereign, because he well knew heought to look for him in the person of the King of France. He explainedto me the means whereby my brother might establish himself in Flanders, having possession of Hainault, which extended as far as Brussels. Hesaid the difficulty lay in securing the Cambresis, which is situatedbetwixt Hainault and Flanders. It would, therefore, be necessary toengage M. D'Ainsi in the business. To this I replied that, as he was hisneighbour and friend, it might be better that he should open the matterto him; and I begged he would do so. I next assured him that he mighthave the most perfect reliance on the gratitude and friendship of mybrother, and be certain of receiving as large a share of power andauthority as such a service done by a person of his rank merited. Lastly, we agreed upon an interview betwixt my brother and M. De Montigny, thebrother of the Count, which was to take place at La Fere, upon my return, when this business should be arranged. During the time I stayed at Mons, I said all I could to confirm the Count in this resolution, in which Ifound myself seconded by the Countess. 

The day of my departure was now arrived, to the great regret of theladies of Mons, as well as myself. The Countess expressed herself interms which showed she had conceived the warmest friendship for me, andmade me promise to return by way of that city. I presented the Countesswith a diamond bracelet, and to the Count I gave a riband and diamondstar of considerable value. But these presents, valuable as they were, became more so, in their estimation, as I was the donor. 

Of the ladies, none accompanied me from this place, except Madamed'Aurec. She went with me to Namur, where I slept that night, and whereshe expected to find her husband and the Duc d'Arscot, herbrother-in-law, who had been there since the peace betwixt the King ofSpain and the States of Flanders. For though they were both of the partyof the States, yet the Duc d'Arscot, being an old courtier and havingattended King Philip in Flanders and England, could not withdraw himselffrom Court and the society of the great. The Comte de Lalain, with allhis nobles, conducted me two leagues beyond his government, and until hesaw Don John's company in the distance advancing to meet me. He thentook his leave of me, being unwilling to meet Don John; but M. D'Ainsistayed with me, as his master, the Bishop of Cambray, was in the Spanishinterest. 

This gallant company having left me, I was soon after met by Don John ofAustria, preceded by a great number of running footmen, and escorted byonly twenty or thirty horsemen. He was attended by a number of noblemen, and amongst the rest the Duc d'Arscot, M. D'Aurec, the Marquis deVarenbon, and the younger Balencon, governor, for the King of Spain, ofthe county of Burgundy. These last two, who are brothers, had riddenpost to meet me. Of Don John's household there was only Louis de Gonzagoof any rank. He called himself a relation of the Duke of Mantua; theothers were mean-looking people, and of no consideration. Don Johnalighted from his horse to salute me in my litter, which was opened forthe purpose. I returned the salute after the French fashion to him, theDuc d'Arscot, and M. D'Aurec. After an exchange of compliments, hemounted his horse, but continued in discourse with me until we reachedthe city, which was not before it grew dark, as I set off late, theladies of Mons keeping me as long as they could, amusing themselves withviewing my litter, and requiring an explanation of the different mottoesand devices. However, as the Spaniards excel in preserving good order, Namur appeared with particular advantage, for the streets were welllighted, every house being illuminated, so that the blaze exceeded thatof daylight. 

Our supper was served to us in our respective apartments, Don John beingunwilling, after the fatigue of so long a journey, to incommode us with abanquet. The house in which I was lodged had been newly furnished forthe purpose of receiving me. It consisted of a magnificent large salon, with a private apartment, consisting of lodging rooms and closets, furnished in the most costly manner, with furniture of every kind, andhung with the richest tapestry of velvet and satin, divided intocompartments by columns of silver embroidery, with knobs of gold, allwrought in the most superb manner. Within these compartments werefigures in antique habits, embroidered in gold and silver. 

The Cardinal de Lenoncourt, a man of taste and curiosity, being one dayin these apartments with the Duc d'Arscot, who, as I have beforeobserved, was an ornament to Don John's Court, remarked to him that thisfurniture seemed more proper for a great king than a young unmarriedprince like Don John. To which the Duc d'Arscot replied that it came tohim as a present, having been sent to him by a bashaw belonging to theGrand Seignior, whose son she had made prisoners in a signal victoryobtained over the Turks. Don John having sent the bashaw's sons backwithout ransom, the father, in return, made him a present of a largequantity of gold, silver, and silk stuffs, which he caused to be wroughtinto tapestry at Milan, where there are curious workmen in this way; andhe had the Queen's bedchamber hung with tapestry representing the battlein which he had so gloriously defeated the Turks. 

The next morning Don John conducted us to chapel, where we heard masscelebrated after the Spanish manner, with all kinds of music, after whichwe partook of a banquet prepared by Don John. He and I were seated at aseparate table, at a distance of three yards from which stood the greatone, of which the honours were done by Madame d'Aurec. At this table theladies and principal lords took their seats. Don John was served withdrink by Louis de Gonzago, kneeling. The tables being removed, the ballwas opened, and the dancing continued the whole afternoon. The eveningwas spent in conversation betwixt Don John and me, who told me I greatlyresembled the Queen his mistress, by whom he meant the late Queen mysister, and for whom he professed to have entertained a very high esteem. In short, Don John manifested, by every mark of attention and politeness, as well to me as to my attendants, the very great pleasure he had inreceiving me. 

The boats which were to convey me upon the Meuse to Liege not all beingready, I was under the necessity of staying another day. The morning waspassed as that of the day before. After dinner, we embarked on the riverin a very beautiful boat, surrounded by others having on board musiciansplaying on hautboys, horns, and violins, and landed at an island whereDon John had caused a collation to be prepared in a large bower formedwith branches of ivy, in which the musicians were placed in smallrecesses, playing on their instruments during the time of supper. Thetables being removed, the dances began, and lasted till it was time toreturn, which I did in the same boat that conveyed me thither, and whichwas that provided for my voyage. 

The next morning Don John conducted me to the boat, and there took a mostpolite and courteous leave, charging M. And Madame d'Aurec to see me safeto Huy, the first town belonging to the Bishop of Liege, where I was tosleep. As soon as Don John had gone on shore, M. D'Ainsi, who remainedin the boat, and who had the Bishop of Cambray's permission to go toNamur only, took leave of me with many protestations of fidelity andattachment to my brother and myself. 

But Fortune, envious of my hitherto prosperous journey, gave me two omensof the sinister events of my return. 

The first was the sudden illness which attacked Mademoiselle de Tournon, the daughter of the lady of my bedchamber, a young person, accomplished, with every grace and virtue, and for whom I had the most perfect regard. No sooner had the boat left the shore than this young lady was seizedwith an alarming disorder, which, from the great pain attending it, caused her to scream in the most doleful manner. The physiciansattributed the cause to spasms of the heart, which, notwithstanding theutmost exertions of their skill, carried her off a few days after myarrival at Liege. As the history of this young lady is remarkable, Ishall relate it in my next letter. 

The other omen was what happened to us at Huy, immediately upon ourarrival there. This town is built on the declivity of a mountain, at thefoot of which runs the river Meuse. As we were about to land, there fella torrent of rain, which, coming down the steep sides of the mountain, swelled the river instantly to such a degree that we had only time toleap out of the boat and run to the top, the flood reaching the veryhighest street, next to where I was to lodge. There we were forced toput up with such accommodation as could be procured in the house, as itwas impossible to remove the smallest article of our baggage from theboats, or even to stir out of the house we were in, the whole city beingunder water. However, the town was as suddenly relieved from thiscalamity as it had been afflicted with it, for, on the next morning, thewhole inundation had ceased, the waters having run off, and the riverbeing confined within its usual channel. 

Leaving Huy, M. And Madame d'Aurec returned to Don John at Namur, and Iproceeded, in the boat, to sleep that night at Liege. 

LETTER XV. 

The City of Liege Described. --Affecting Story of Mademoiselle deTournon. --Fatal Effects of Suppressed Anguish of Mind. 

The Bishop of Liege, who is the sovereign of the city and province, received me with all the cordiality and respect that could be expectedfrom a personage of his dignity and great accomplishments. He was, indeed, a nobleman endowed with singular prudence and virtue, agreeablein his person and conversation, gracious and magnificent in his carriageand behaviour, to which I may add that he spoke the French languageperfectly. 

He was constantly attended by his chapter, with several of his canons, who are all sons of dukes, counts, or great German lords. The bishopricis itself a sovereign State, which brings in a considerable revenue, andincludes a number of fine cities. The bishop is chosen from amongst thecanons, who must be of noble descent, and resident one year. The city islarger than Lyons, and much resembles it, having the Meuse runningthrough it. The houses in which the canons reside have the appearance ofnoble palaces. 

The streets of the city are regular and spacious, the houses of thecitizens well built, the squares large, and ornamented with curiousfountains. The churches appear as if raised entirely of marble, of whichthere are considerable quarries in the neighbourhood; they are all ofthem ornamented with beautiful clocks, and exhibit a variety of movingfigures. 

The Bishop received me as I landed from the boat, and conducted me to hismagnificent residence, ornamented with delicious fountains and gardens, set off with galleries, all painted, superbly gilt, and enriched withmarble, beyond description. 

The spring which affords the waters of Spa being distant no more thanthree or four leagues from the city of Liege, and there being only avillage, consisting of three or four small houses, on the spot, thePrincesse de Roche-sur-Yon was advised by her physicians to stay at Liegeand have the waters brought to her, which they assured her would haveequal efficacy, if taken after sunset and before sunrise, as if drunk atthe spring. I was well pleased that she resolved to follow the advice ofthe doctors, as we were more comfortably lodged and had an agreeablesociety; for, besides his Grace (so the bishop is styled, as a king isaddressed his Majesty, and a prince his Highness), the news of my arrivalbeing spread about, many lords and ladies came from Germany to visit me. Amongst these was the Countess d'Aremberg, who had the honour toaccompany Queen Elizabeth to Mezieres, to which place she came to marryKing Charles my brother, a lady very high in the estimation of theEmpress, the Emperor, and all the princes in Christendom. With her cameher sister the Landgravine, Madame d'Aremberg her daughter, M. D'Arembergher son, a gallant and accomplished nobleman, the perfect image of hisfather, who brought the Spanish succours to King Charles my brother, andreturned with great honour and additional reputation. This meeting, sohonourable to me, and so much to my satisfaction, was damped by the griefand concern occasioned by the loss of Mademoiselle de Tournon, whosestory, being of a singular nature, I shall now relate to you, agreeablyto the promise I made in my last letter. 

I must begin with observing to you that Madame de Tournon, at this timelady of my bedchamber, had several daughters, the eldest of whom marriedM. De Balencon, governor, for the King of Spain, in the county ofBurgundy. This daughter, upon her marriage, had solicited her mother toadmit of her taking her sister, the young lady whose story I am now aboutto relate, to live with her, as she was going to a country strange toher, and wherein she had no relations. To this her mother consented; andthe young lady, being universally admired for her modesty and gracefulaccomplishments, for which she certainly deserved admiration, attractedthe notice of the Marquis de Varenbon. The Marquis, as I beforementioned, is the brother of M. De Balencon, and was intended for theChurch; but, being violently enamoured of Mademoiselle de Tournon (whom, as he lived in the same house, he had frequent opportunities of seeing), he now begged his brother's permission to marry her, not having yet takenorders. The young lady's family, to whom he had likewise communicatedhis wish, readily gave their consent, but his brother refused his, strongly advising him to change his resolution and put on the gown. 

Thus were matters situated when her mother, Madame de Tournon, a virtuousand pious lady, thinking she had cause to be offended, ordered herdaughter to leave the house of her sister, Madame de Balencon, and cometo her. The mother, a woman of a violent spirit, not considering thather daughter was grown up and merited a mild treatment, was continuallyscolding the poor young lady, so that she was for ever with tears in hereyes. Still, there was nothing to blame in the young girl's conduct, butsuch was the severity of the mother's disposition. The daughter, as youmay well suppose, wished to be from under the mother's tyrannicalgovernment, and was accordingly delighted with the thoughts of attendingme in this journey to Flanders, hoping, as it happened, that she shouldmeet the Marquis de Varenbon somewhere on the road, and that, as he hadnow abandoned all thoughts of the Church, he would renew his proposal ofmarriage, and take her from her mother. 

I have before mentioned that the Marquis de Varenbon and the youngerBalencon joined us at Namur. Young Balencon, who was far from being soagreeable as his brother, addressed himself to the young lady, but theMarquis, during the whole time we stayed at Namur, paid not the leastattention to her, and seemed as if he had never been acquainted with her. 

The resentment, grief, and disappointment occasioned by a behaviour soslighting and unnatural was necessarily stifled in her breast, as decorumand her sex's pride obliged her to appear as if she disregarded it; butwhen, after taking leave, all of them left the boat, the anguish of hermind, which she had hitherto suppressed, could no longer be restrained, and, labouring for vent, it stopped her respiration, and forced from herthose lamentable outcries which I have already spoken of. Her youthcombated for eight days with this uncommon disorder, but at theexpiration of that time she died, to the great grief of her mother, aswell as myself. I say of her mother, for, though she was so rigidlysevere over this daughter, she tenderly loved her. 

The funeral of this unfortunate young lady was solemnised with all properceremonies, and conducted in the most honourable manner, as she wasdescended from a great family, allied to the Queen my mother. When theday of interment arrived, four of my gentlemen were appointed bearers, one of whom was named La Boessiere. This man had entertained a secretpassion for her, which he never durst declare on account of theinferiority of his family and station. He was now destined to bear theremains of her, dead, for whom he had long been dying, and was now asnear dying for her loss as he had before been for her love. Themelancholy procession was marching slowly, along, when it was met by theMarquis de Varenbon, who had been the sole occasion of it. We had notleft Namur long when the Marquis reflected upon his cruel behaviourtowards this unhappy young lady; and his passion (wonderful to relate)being revived by the absence of her who inspired it, though scarcelyalive while she was present, he had resolved to come and ask her of hermother in marriage. He made no doubt, perhaps, of success, as he seldomfailed in enterprises of love; witness the great lady he has sinceobtained for a wife, in opposition to the will of her family. He might, besides, have flattered himself that he should easily have gained apardon from her by whom he was beloved, according to the Italian proverb, "Che la forza d'amore non riguarda al delitto" (Lovers are not criminalin the estimation of one another). Accordingly, the Marquis solicitedDon John to be despatched to me on some errand, and arrived, as I saidbefore, at the very instant the corpse of this ill-fated young lady wasbeing borne to the grave. He was stopped by the crowd occasioned by thissolemn procession. He contemplates it for some time. He observes a longtrain of persons in mourning, and remarks the coffin to be covered with awhite pall, and that there are chaplets of flowers laid upon the coffin. He inquires whose funeral it is. The answer he receives is, that it isthe funeral of a young lady. Unfortunately for him, this reply fails tosatisfy his curiosity. He makes up to one who led the procession, andeagerly asks the name of the young lady they are proceeding to bury. When, oh, fatal answer! Love, willing to avenge the victim of hisingratitude and neglect, suggests a reply which had nearly deprived himof life. He no sooner hears the name of Mademoiselle de Tournonpronounced than he falls from his horse in a swoon. He is taken up fordead, and conveyed to the nearest house, where he lies for a timeinsensible; his soul, no doubt, leaving his body to obtain pardon fromher whom he had hastened to a premature grave, to return to taste thebitterness of death a second time. 

Having performed the last offices to the remains of this poor young lady, I was unwilling to discompose the gaiety of the society assembled here onmy account by any show of grief. Accordingly, I joined the Bishop, or, as he is called, his Grace, and his canons, in their entertainments atdifferent houses, and in gardens, of which the city and its neighbourhoodafforded a variety. I was every morning attended by a numerous companyto the garden, in which I drank the waters, the exercise of walking beingrecommended to be used with them. As the physician who advised me totake them was my own brother, they did not fail of their effect with me;and for these six or seven years which are gone over my head since Idrank them, I have been free from any complaint of erysipelas on my arm. From this garden we usually proceeded to the place where we were invitedto dinner. After dinner we were amused with a ball; from the ball wewent to some convent, where we heard vespers; from vespers to supper, andthat over, we had another ball, or music on the river. 

LETTER XVI. 

Queen Marguerite, on Her Return from Liege, Is in Danger of Being Made aPrisoner. --She Arrives, after Some Narrow Escapes, at La Fere. 

In this manner we passed the six weeks, which is the usual time fortaking these waters, at the expiration of which the Princesse deRoche-sur-Yon was desirous to return to France; but Madame d'Aurec, whojust then returned to us from Namur, on her way to rejoin her husband inLorraine, brought us news of an extraordinary change of affairs in thattown and province since we had passed through it. 

It appeared from this lady's account that, on the very day we left Namur, Don John, after quitting the boat, mounted his horse under pretence oftaking the diversion of hunting, and, as he passed the gate of the castleof Namur, expressed a desire of seeing it; that, having entered, he tookpossession of it, notwithstanding he held it for the States, agreeably toa convention. Don John, moreover, arrested the persons of the Ducd'Arscot and M. D'Aurec, and also made Madame d'Aurec a prisoner. Aftersome remonstrances and entreaties, he had set her husband andbrother-in-law at liberty, but detained her as a hostage for them. Inconsequence of these measures, the whole country was in arms. Theprovince of Namur was divided into three parties: the first whereof wasthat of the States, or the Catholic party of Flanders; the second that ofthe Prince of Orange and the Huguenots; the third, the Spanish party, ofwhich Don John was the head. 

By letters which I received just at this time from my brother, throughthe hands of a gentleman named Lescar, I found I was in great danger offalling into the hands of one or other of these parties. 

These letters informed me that, since my departure from Court, God haddealt favourably with my brother, and enabled him to acquit himself ofthe command of the army confided to him, greatly to the benefit of theKing's service; so that he had taken all the towns and driven theHuguenots out of the provinces, agreeably to the design for which thearmy was raised; that he had returned to the Court at Poitiers, where theKing stayed during the siege of Brouage, to be near to M. De Mayenne, inorder to afford him whatever succours he stood in need of; that, as theCourt is a Proteus, forever putting on a new face, he had found itentirely changed, so that he had been no more considered than if he haddone the King no service whatever; and that Bussi, who had been sograciously looked upon before and during this last war, had done greatpersonal service, and had lost a brother at the storming of Issoire, wasvery coolly received, and even as maliciously persecuted as in the timeof Le Guast; in consequence of which either he or Bussi experienced someindignity or other. He further mentioned that the King's favourites hadbeen practising with his most faithful servants, Maugiron, La Valette, Mauldon, and Hivarrot, and several other good and trusty men, to deserthim, and enter into the King's service; and, lastly, that the King hadrepented of giving me leave to go to Flanders, and that, to counteract mybrother, a plan was laid to intercept me on my return, either by theSpaniards, for which purpose they had been told that I had treated fordelivering up the country to him, or by the Huguenots, in revenge of thewar my brother had carried on against them, after having formerlyassisted them. 

This intelligence required to be well considered, as there seemed to bean utter impossibility of avoiding both parties. I had, however, thepleasure to think that two of the principal persons of my company stoodwell with either one or another party. The Cardinal de Lenoncourt hadbeen thought to favour the Huguenot party, and M. Descarts, brother tothe Bishop of Lisieux, was supposed to have the Spanish interest atheart. I communicated our difficult situation to the Princesse deRoche-sur-Yon and Madame de Tournon, who, considering that we could notreach La Fere in less than five or six days, answered me, with tears intheir eyes, that God only had it in his power to preserve us, that Ishould recommend myself to his protection, and then follow such measuresas should seem advisable. They observed that, as one of them was in aweak state of health, and the other advanced in years, I might affect tomake short journeys on their account, and they would put up with everyinconvenience to extricate me from the danger I was in. 

I next consulted with the Bishop of Liege, who most certainly actedtowards me like a father, and gave directions to the grand master of hishousehold to attend me with his horses as far as I should think proper. As it was necessary that we should have a passport from the Prince ofOrange, I sent Mondoucet to him to obtain one, as he was acquainted withthe Prince and was known to favour his religion. Mondoucet did notreturn, and I believe I might have waited for him until this time to nopurpose. I was advised by the Cardinal de Lenoncourt and my firstesquire, the Chevalier Salviati, who were of the same party, not to stirwithout a passport; but, as I suspected a plan was laid to entrap me, Iresolved to set out the next morning. 

They now saw that this pretence was insufficient to detain me;accordingly, the Chevalier Salviati prevailed with my treasurer, who wassecretly a Huguenot, to declare he had not money enough in his hands todischarge the expenses we had incurred at Liege, and that, inconsequence, my horses were detained. I afterwards discovered that thiswas false, for, on my arrival at La Fere, I called for his accounts, andfound he had then a balance in his hands which would have enabled him topay, the expenses of my family for six or seven weeks. The Princesse deRoche-sur-Yon, incensed at the affront put upon me, and seeing the dangerI incurred by staying, advanced the money that was required, to theirgreat confusion; and I took my leave of his Grace the Bishop, presentinghim with a diamond worth three thousand crowns, and giving his domesticsgold chains and rings. Having thus taken our leave, we proceeded to Huy, without any other passport than God's good providence. 

This town, as I observed before, belongs to the Bishop of Liege, but wasnow in a state of tumult and confusion, on account of the general revoltof the Low Countries, the townsmen taking part with the Netherlanders, notwithstanding the bishopric was a neutral State. On this account theypaid no respect to the grand master of the Bishop's household, whoaccompanied us, but, knowing Don John had taken the castle of Namur inorder, as they supposed, to intercept me on my return, these brutalpeople, as soon as I had got into my quarters, rang the alarm-bell, drewup their artillery, placed chains across the streets, and kept us thusconfined and separated the whole night, giving us no opportunity toexpostulate with them on such conduct. In the morning we were sufferedto leave the town without further molestation, and the streets we passedthrough were lined with armed men. 

From there we proceeded to Dinant, where we intended to sleep; but, unfortunately for us, the townspeople had on that day chosen theirburghermasters, a kind of officers like the consuls in Gascony andFrance. In consequence of this election, it was a day of tumult, riot, and debauchery; every one in the town was drunk, no magistrate wasacknowledged. In a word, all was in confusion. To render our situationstill worse, the grand master of the Bishop's household had formerly donethe town some ill office, and was considered as its enemy. The people ofthe town, when in their sober senses, were inclined to favour the partyof the States, but under the influence of Bacchus they paid no regard toany party, not even to themselves. 

As soon as I had reached the suburbs, they were alarmed at the number ofmy company, quitted the bottle and glass to take up their arms, andimmediately shut the gates against me. I had sent a gentleman before me, with my harbinger and quartermasters, to beg the magistrates to admit meto stay one night in the town, but I found my officers had been put underan arrest. They bawled out to us from within, to tell us theirsituation, but could not make themselves heard. At length I raisedmyself up in my litter, and, taking off my mask, made a sign to atownsman nearest me, of the best appearance, that I was desirous to speakwith him. As soon as he drew near me, I begged him to call out forsilence, which being with some difficulty obtained, I represented to himwho I was, and the occasion of my journey; that it was far from myintention to do them harm; but, to prevent any suspicions of the kind, Ionly begged to be admitted to go into their city with my women, and asfew others of my attendants as they thought proper, and that we might bepermitted to stay there for one night, whilst the rest of my companyremained within the suburbs. 

They agreed to this proposal, and opened their gates for my admission. Ithen entered the city with the principal persons of my company, and thegrand master of the Bishop's household. This reverend personage, who waseighty years of age, and wore a beard as white as snow, which reacheddown to his girdle, this venerable old man, I say, was no soonerrecognised by the drunken and armed rabble than he was accosted with thegrossest abuse, and it was with difficulty they were restrained fromlaying violent hands upon him. At length I got him into my lodgings, butthe mob fired at the house, the walls of which were only of plaster. Uponbeing thus attacked, I inquired for the master of the house, who, fortunately, was within. I entreated him to speak from the window, tosome one without, to obtain permission for my being heard. I had somedifficulty to get him to venture doing so. At length, after much bawlingfrom the window, the burghermasters came to speak to me, but were sodrunk that they scarcely knew what they said. I explained to them that Iwas entirely ignorant that the grand master of the Bishop's household wasa person to whom they had a dislike, and I begged them to consider theconsequences of giving offence to a person like me, who was a friend ofthe principal lords of the States, and I assured them that the Comte deLalain, in particular, would be greatly displeased when he should hearhow I had been received there. 

The name of the Comte de Lalain produced an instant effect, much morethan if I had mentioned all the sovereign princes I was related to. Theprincipal person amongst them asked me, with some hesitation andstammering, if I was really a particular friend of the Count's. Perceiving that to claim kindred with the Count would do me more servicethan being related to all the Powers in Christendom, I answered that Iwas both a friend and a relation. They then made me many apologies andconges, stretching forth their hands in token of friendship; in short, they now behaved with as much civility as before with rudeness. 

They begged my pardon for what had happened, and promised that the goodold man, the grand master of the Bishop's household, should be no moreinsulted, but be suffered to leave the city quietly, the next morning, with me. 

As soon as morning came, and while I was preparing to go to hear mass, there arrived the King's agent to Don John, named Du Bois, a man muchattached to the Spanish interest. He informed me that he had receivedorders from the King my brother to conduct me in safety on my return. Hesaid that he had prevailed on Don John to permit Barlemont to escort meto Namur with a troop of cavalry, and begged me to obtain leave of thecitizens to admit Barlemont and his troop to enter the town that; theymight receive my orders. 

Thus had they concerted a double plot; the one to get possession of thetown, the other of my person. I saw through the whole design, andconsulted with the Cardinal de Lenoncourt, communicating to him mysuspicions. The Cardinal was as unwilling to fall into the hands of theSpaniards as I could be; he therefore thought it advisable to acquaintthe townspeople with the plot, and make our escape from the city byanother road, in order to avoid meeting Barlemont's troop. It was agreedbetwixt us that the Cardinal should keep Du Bois in discourse, whilst Iconsulted the principal citizens in another apartment. 

Accordingly, I assembled as many as I could, to whom I represented thatif they admitted Barlemont and his troop within the town, he would mostcertainly take possession of it for Don John. I gave it as my advice tomake a show of defence, to declare they would not be taken by surprise, and to offer to admit Barlemont, and no one else, within their gates. They resolved to act according to my counsel, and offered to serve me atthe hazard of their lives. They promised to procure me a guide, whoshould conduct me by a road by following which I should put the riverbetwixt me and Don John's forces, whereby I should be out of his reach, and could be lodged in houses and towns which were in the interest of theStates only. 

This point being settled, I despatched them to give admission to M. DeBarlemont, who, as soon as he entered within the gates, begged hard thathis troop might come in likewise. Hereupon, the citizens flew into aviolent rage, and were near putting him to death. They told him that ifhe did not order his men out of sight of the town, they would fire uponthem with their great guns. This was done with design to give me time toleave the town before they could follow in pursuit of me. M. DeBarlemont and the agent, Du Bois, used every argument they could deviseto persuade me to go to Namur, where they said Don John waited to receiveme. 

I appeared to give way to their persuasions, and, after hearing mass andtaking a hasty dinner, I left my lodgings, escorted by two or threehundred armed citizens, some of them engaging Barlemont and Du Bois inconversation. We all took the way to the gate which opens to the river, and directly opposite to that leading to Namur. Du Bois and hiscolleague told me I was not going the right way, but I continued talking, and as if I did not hear them. But when we reached the gate I hastenedinto the boat, and my people after me. M. De Barlemont and the agent DuBois, calling out to me from the bank, told me I was doing very wrong andacting directly contrary to the King's intention, who had directed that Ishould return by way of Namur. 

In spite of all their remonstrances we crossed the river with allpossible expedition, and, during the two or three crossings which werenecessary to convey over the litters and horses, the citizens, to give methe more time to escape, were debating with Barlemont and Du Boisconcerning a number of grievances and complaints, telling them, in theircoarse language, that Don John had broken the peace and falsified hisengagements with the States; and they even rehearsed the old quarrel ofthe death of Egmont, and, lastly, declared that if the troop made itsappearance before their walls again, they would fire upon it with theirartillery. 

I had by this means sufficient time to reach a secure distance, and was, by the help of God and the assistance of my guide, out of allapprehensions of danger from Barlemont and his troop. 

I intended to lodge that night in a strong castle, called Fleurines, which belonged to a gentleman of the party of the States, whom I had seenwith the Comte de Lalain. Unfortunately for me, the gentleman wasabsent, and his lady only was in the castle. The courtyard being open, we entered it, which put the lady into such a fright that she ordered thebridge to be drawn up, and fled to the strong tower. --[In the old Frenchoriginal, 'dongeon', whence we have 'duugeon'. ]--Nothing we could saywould induce her to give us entrance. In the meantime, three hundredgentlemen, whom Don John had sent off to intercept our passage, and takepossession of the castle of Fleurines; judging that I should take up myquarters there, made their appearance upon an eminence, at the distanceof about a thousand yards. They, seeing our carriages in the courtyard, and supposing that we ourselves had taken to the strong tower, resolvedto stay where they were that night, hoping to intercept me the nextmorning. 

In this cruel situation were we placed, in a courtyard surrounded by awall by no means strong, and shut up by a gate equally as weak and ascapable of being forced, remonstrating from time to time with the lady, who was deaf to all our prayers and entreaties. 

Through God's mercy, her husband, M. De Fleurines, himself appeared justas night approached. We then gained instant admission, and the lady wasgreatly reprimanded by her husband for her incivility and indiscreetbehaviour. This gentleman had been sent by the Comte de Lalain, withdirections to conduct me through the several towns belonging to theStates, the Count himself not being able to leave the army of the States, of which he had the chief command, to accompany me. 

This was as favourable a circumstance for me as I could wish; for, M. DeFleurines offering to accompany me into France, the towns we had to passthrough being of the party of the States, we were everywhere quietly andhonourably received. I had only the mortification of not being able tovisit Mons, agreeably to my promise made to the Comtesse de Lalain, notpassing nearer to it than Nivelle, seven long leagues distant from it. The Count being at Antwerp, and the war being hottest in theneighbourhood of Mons, I thus was prevented seeing either of them on myreturn. I could only write to the Countess by a servant of the gentlemanwho was now my conductor. As soon as she learned I was at Nivelle, shesent some gentlemen, natives of the part of Flanders I was in, with astrong injunction to see me safe on the frontier of France. 

I had to pass through the Cambresis, partly in favour of Spain and partlyof the States. Accordingly, I set out with these gentlemen, to lodge atCateau Cambresis. There they took leave of me, in order to return toMons, and by them I sent the Countess a gown of mine, which had beengreatly admired by her when I wore it at Mons; it was of black satin, curiously embroidered, and cost nine hundred crowns. 

When I arrived at Cateau-Cambresis, I had intelligence sent me that aparty of the Huguenot troops had a design to attack me on the frontiersof Flanders and France. This intelligence I communicated to a few onlyof my company, and prepared to set off an hour before daybreak. When Isent for my litters and horses, I found much such a kind of delay fromthe Chevalier Salviati as I had before experienced at Liege, andsuspecting it was done designedly, I left my litter behind, and mountedon horseback, with such of my attendants as were ready to follow me. Bythis means, with God's assistance, I escaped being waylaid by my enemies, and reached Catelet at ten in the morning. From there I went to my houseat La Fere, where I intended to reside until I learned that peace wasconcluded upon. 

At La Fere I found a messenger in waiting from my brother, who had ordersto return with all expedition, as soon as I arrived, and inform him ofit. My brother wrote me word, by that messenger, that peace wasconcluded, and the King returned to Paris; that, as to himself, hissituation was rather worse than better; that he and his people were dailyreceiving some affront or other, and continual quarrels were excitedbetwixt the King's favourites and Bussi and my brother's principalattendants. This, he added, had made him impatient for my return, thathe might come and visit me. 

I sent his messenger back, and, immediately after, my brother sent Bussiand all his household to Angers, and, taking with him fifteen or twentyattendants, he rode post to me at La Fere. It was a great satisfactionto me to see one whom I so tenderly loved and greatly honoured, oncemore. I consider it amongst the greatest felicities I ever enjoyed, and, accordingly, it became my chief study to make his residence hereagreeable to him. He himself seemed delighted with this change ofsituation, and would willingly have continued in it longer had not thenoble generosity of his mind called him forth to great achievements. Thequiet of our Court, when compared with that he had just left, affectedhim so powerfully that he could not but express the satisfaction he feltby frequently exclaiming, "Oh, Queen! how happy I am with you. My God!your society is a paradise wherein I enjoy every delight, and I seem tohave lately escaped from hell, with all its furies and tortures!"

LETTER XVII. 

Good Effects of Queen Marguerite's Negotiations in Flanders. --She ObtainsLeave to Go to the King of Navarre Her Husband, but Her Journey IsDelayed. --Court Intrigues and Plots. --The Duc d'Alencon Again Put underArrest. 

We passed nearly two months together, which appeared to us only as somany days. I gave him an account of what I had done for him in Flanders, and the state in which I had left the business. He approved of theinterview with the Comte de Lalain's brother in order to settle the planof operations and exchange assurances. Accordingly, the Comte deMontigny arrived, with four or five other leading men of the county ofHainault. One of these was charged with a letter from M. D'Ainsi, offering his services to my brother, and assuring him of the citadel ofCambray. M. De Montigny delivered his brother's declaration andengagement to give up the counties of Hainault and Artois, which includeda number of fine cities. These offers made and accepted, my brotherdismissed them with presents of gold medals, bearing his and my effigies, and every assurance of his future favour; and they returned to prepareeverything for his coming. In the meanwhile my brother considered on thenecessary measures to be used for raising a sufficient force, for whichpurpose he returned to the King, to prevail with him to assist him inthis enterprise. 

As I was anxious to go to Gascony, I made ready for the journey, and setoff for Paris, my brother meeting me at the distance of one day'sjourney. 

At St. Denis I was met by the King, the Queen my mother, Queen Louise, and the whole Court. It was at St. Denis that I was to stop and dine, and there it was that I had the honour of the meeting I have justmentioned. 

I was received very graciously, and most sumptuously entertained. I wasmade to recount the particulars of my triumphant journey to Liege, andperilous return. The magnificent entertainments I had received excitedtheir admiration, and they rejoiced at my narrow escapes. With suchconversation I amused the Queen my mother and the rest of the company inher coach, on our way to Paris, where, supper and the ball being ended, Itook an opportunity, when I saw the King and the Queen my mothertogether, to address them. 

I expressed my hopes that they would not now oppose my going to the Kingmy husband; that now, by the peace, the chief objection to it wasremoved, and if I delayed going, in the present situation of affairs, itmight be prejudicial and discreditable to me. Both of them approved ofmy request, and commended my resolution. The Queen my mother added thatshe would accompany me on my journey, as it would be for the King'sservice that she did so. She said the King must furnish me with thenecessary means for the journey, to which he readily assented. I thoughtthis a proper time to settle everything, and prevent another journey toCourt, which would be no longer pleasing after my brother left it, whowas now pressing his expedition to Flanders with all haste. I thereforebegged the Queen my mother to recollect the promise she had made mybrother and me as soon as peace was agreed upon, which was that, beforemy departure for Gascony, I should have my marriage portion assigned tome in lands. She said that she recollected it well, and the King thoughtit very reasonable, and promised that it should be done. I entreatedthat it might be concluded speedily, as I wished to set off, with theirpermission, at the beginning of the next month. This, too, was grantedme, but granted after the mode of the Court; that is to say, notwithstanding my constant solicitations, instead of despatch, Iexperienced only delay; and thus it continued for five or six months innegotiation. 

My brother met with the like treatment, though he was continually urgingthe necessity for his setting out for Flanders, and representing that hisexpedition was for the glory and advantage of France, --for its glory, assuch an enterprise would, like Piedmont, prove a school of war for theyoung nobility, wherein future Montlucs, Brissacs, Termes, andBellegardes would be bred, all of them instructed in these wars, andafterwards, as field-marshals, of the greatest service to their country;and it would be for the advantage of France, as it would prevent civilwars; for Flanders would then be no longer a country wherein suchdiscontented spirits as aimed at novelty could assemble to brood overtheir malice and hatch plots for the disturbance of their native land. 

These representations, which were both reasonable and consonant withtruth, had no weight when put into the scale against the envy excited bythis advancement of my brother's fortune. Accordingly, every delay wasused to hinder him from collecting his forces together, and stop hisexpedition to Flanders. Bussi and his other dependents were offered athousand indignities. Every stratagem was tried, by day as well as bynight, to pick quarrels with Bussi, --now by Quelus, at another time byGrammont, with the hope that my brother would engage in them. This wasunknown to the King; but Maugiron, who had engrossed the King's favour, and who had quitted my brother's service, sought every means to ruin him, as it is usual for those who have given offence to hate the offendedparty. 

Thus did this man take every occasion to brave and insult my brother; andrelying upon the countenance and blind affection shown him by the King, had leagued himself with Quelus, Saint-Luc, Saint-Maigrin, Grammont, Mauleon, Hivarrot, and other young men who enjoyed the King's favour. Asthose who are favourites find a number of followers at Court, theselicentious young courtiers thought they might do whatever they pleased. Some new dispute betwixt them and Bussi was constantly starting. Bussihad a degree of courage which knew not how to give way to any one; and mybrother, unwilling to give umbrage to the King, and foreseeing that suchproceedings would not forward his expedition, to avoid quarrels and, atthe same time, to promote his plans, resolved to despatch Bussi to hisduchy of Alencon, in order to discipline such troops as he should findthere. My brother's amiable qualities excited the jealousy of Maugironand the rest of his cabal about the King's person, and their dislike forBussi was not so much on his own account as because he was stronglyattached to my brother. The slights and disrespect shown to my brotherwere remarked by every one at Court; but his prudence, and the patiencenatural to his disposition, enabled him to put up with their insults, inhopes of finishing the business of his Flemish expedition, which wouldremove him to a distance from them and their machinations. Thispersecution was the more mortifying and discreditable as it even extendedto his servants, whom they strove to injure by every means they couldemploy. M. De la Chastre at this time had a lawsuit of considerableconsequence decided against him, because he had lately attached himselfto my brother. At the instance of Maugiron and Saint-Luc, the King wasinduced to solicit the cause in favour of Madame de Senetaire, theirfriend. M. De la Chastre, being greatly injured by it, complained to mybrother of the injustice done him, with all the concern such a proceedingmay be supposed to have occasioned. 

About this time Saint-Luc's marriage was celebrated. My brother resolvednot to be present at it, and begged of me to join him in the sameresolution. The Queen my mother was greatly uneasy on account of thebehaviour of these young men, fearing that, if my brother did not jointhem in this festivity, it might be attended with some bad consequence, especially as the day was likely to produce scenes of revelry anddebauch; she, therefore, prevailed on the King to permit her to dine onthe wedding-day at St. Maur, and take my brother and me with her. Thiswas the day before Shrove Tuesday; and we returned in the evening, theQueen my mother having well lectured my brother, and made him consent toappear at the ball, in order not to displease the King. 

But this rather served to make matters worse than better, for Maugironand his party began to attack him with such violent speeches as wouldhave offended any one of far less consequence. They said he needed notto have given himself the trouble of dressing, for he was not missed inthe afternoon; but now, they supposed, he came at night as the mostsuitable time; with other allusions to the meanness of his figure andsmallness of stature. All this was addressed to the bride, who sat nearhim, but spoken out on purpose that he might hear it. My brother, perceiving this was purposely said to provoke an answer and occasion hisgiving offence to the King, removed from his seat full of resentment;and, consulting with M. De la Chastre, he came to the resolution ofleaving the Court in a few days on a hunting party. He still thought hisabsence might stay their malice, and afford him an opportunity the moreeasily of settling his preparations for the Flemish expedition with theKing. He went immediately to the Queen my mother, who was present at theball, and was extremely sorry to learn what had happened, and impartedher resolution, in his absence, to solicit the King to hasten hisexpedition to Flanders. M. De Villequier being present, she bade himacquaint the King with my brother's intention of taking the diversion ofhunting a few days; which she thought very proper herself, as it wouldput a stop to the disputes which had arisen betwixt him and the youngmen, Maugiron, Saint-Luc, Quelus, and the rest. 

My brother retired to his apartment, and, considering his leave asgranted, gave orders to his domestics to prepare to set off the nextmorning for St. Germain, where he should hunt the stag for a few days. Hedirected the grand huntsman to be ready with the hounds, and retired torest, thinking to withdraw awhile from the intrigues of the Court, andamuse himself with the sports of the field. M. De Villequier, agreeablyto the command he had received from the Queen my mother, asked for leave, and obtained it. The King, however, staying in his closet, likeRehoboam, with his council of five or six young men, they suggestedsuspicions in his mind respecting my brother's departure from Court. Inshort, they worked upon his fears and apprehensions so greatly, that hetook one of the most rash and inconsiderate steps that was ever decidedupon in our time; which was to put my brother and all his principalservants under an arrest. This measure was executed with as muchindiscretion as it had been resolved upon. The King, under thisagitation of mind, late as it was, hastened to the Queen my mother, andseemed as if there was a general alarm and the enemy at the gates, for heexclaimed on seeing her: "How could you, Madame, think of asking me tolet my brother go hence? Do you not perceive how dangerous his goingwill prove to my kingdom? Depend upon it that this hunting is merely apretence to cover some treacherous design. I am going to put him and hispeople under an arrest, and have his papers examined. I am sure we shallmake some great discoveries. "

At the time he said this he had with him the Sieur de Cosse, captain ofthe guard, and a number of Scottish archers. The Queen my mother, fearing, from the King's haste and trepidation, that some mischief mighthappen to my brother, begged to go with him. Accordingly, undressed asshe was, wrapping herself up in a night-gown, she followed the King to mybrother's bedchamber. The King knocked at the door with great violence, ordering it to be immediately opened, for that he was there himself. Mybrother started up in his bed, awakened by the noise, and, knowing thathe had done nothing that he need fear, ordered Cange, his valet dechambre, to open the door. The King entered in a great rage, and askedhim when he would have done plotting against him. "But I will show you, "said he, "what it is to plot against your sovereign. " Hereupon heordered the archers to take away all the trunks, and turn the valets dechambre out of the room. He searched my brother's bed himself, to see ifhe could find any papers concealed in it. My brother had that eveningreceived a letter from Madame de Sauves, which he kept in his hand, unwilling that it should be seen. The King endeavoured to force it fromhim. He refused to part with it, and earnestly entreated the King wouldnot insist upon seeing it. This only excited the King's anxiety the moreto have it in his possession, as he now supposed it to be the key to thewhole plot, and the very document which would at once bring convictionhome to him. At length, the King having got it into his hands, he openedit in the presence of the Queen my mother, and they were both as muchconfounded, when they read the contents, as Cato was when he obtained aletter from Caesar, in the Senate, which the latter was unwilling to giveup; and which Cato, supposing it to contain a conspiracy against theRepublic, found to be no other than a love-letter from his own sister. 

But the shame of this disappointment served only to increase the King'sanger, who, without condescending to make a reply to my brother, whenrepeatedly asked what he had been accused of, gave him in charge of M. DeCosse and his Scots, commanding them not to admit a single person tospeak with him. 

It was one o'clock in the morning when my brother was made a prisoner inthe manner I have now related. He feared some fatal event might succeedthese violent proceedings, and he was under the greatest concern on myaccount, supposing me to be under a like arrest. He observed M. De Cosseto be much affected by the scene he had been witness to, even to sheddingtears. As the archers were in the room he would not venture to enterinto discourse with him, but only asked what was become of me. M. DeCosse answered that I remained at full liberty. My brother then said itwas a great comfort to him to hear that news; "but, " added he, "as I knowshe loves me so entirely that she would rather be confined with me thanhave her liberty whilst I was in confinement, I beg you will go to theQueen my mother, and desire her to obtain leave for my sister to be withme. " He did so, and it was granted. 

The reliance which my brother displayed upon this occasion in thesincerity of my friendship and regard for him conferred so great anobligation in my mind that, though I have received many particularfavours since from him, this has always held the foremost place in mygrateful remembrance. 

By the time he had received permission for my being with him, daylightmade its appearance. Seeing this, my brother begged M. De Cosse to sendone of his archers to acquaint me with his situation, and beg me to cometo him. 

LETTER XVIII. 

The Brothers Reconciled. --Alencon Restored to His Liberty. 

I was ignorant of what had happened to my brother, and when the Scottisharcher came into my bedchamber, I was still asleep. He drew the curtainsof the bed, and told me, in his broken French, that my brother wished tosee me. I stared at the man, half awake as I was, and thought it adream. After a short pause, and being thoroughly awakened, I asked himif he was not a Scottish archer. He answered me in the affirmative. "What!" cried I, "has my brother no one else to send a message by?" Hereplied he had not, for all his domestics had been put under an arrest. He then proceeded to relate, as well as he could explain himself, theevents of the preceding night, and the leave granted my brother for mybeing with him during his imprisonment. 

The poor fellow, observing me to be much affected by this intelligence, drew near, and whispered me to this purport: "Do not grieve yourselfabout this matter; I know a way of setting your brother at liberty, andyou may depend upon it, that I will do it; but, in that case, I must gooff with him. " I assured him that he might rely upon being as amplyrewarded as he could wish for such assistance, and, huddling on myclothes, I followed him alone to my brother's apartments. In goingthither, I had occasion to traverse the whole gallery, which was filledwith people, who, at another time, would have pressed forward to paytheir respects to me; but, now that Fortune seemed to frown upon me, theyall avoided me, or appeared as if they did not see me. 

Coming into my brother's apartments, I found him not at all affected bywhat had happened; for such was the constancy of his mind, that hisarrest had wrought no change, and he received me with his usualcheerfulness. He ran to meet me, and taking me in his arms, he said, "Queen! I beg you to dry up your tears; in my present situation, nothingcan grieve me so much as to find you under any concern; for my own part, I am so conscious of my innocence and the integrity of my conduct, that Ican defy the utmost malice of my enemies. If I should chance to fall thevictim of their injustice, my death would prove a more cruel punishmentto them than to me, who have courage sufficient to meet it in a justcause. It is not death I fear, because I have tasted sufficiently of thecalamities and evils of life, and am ready to leave this world, which Ihave found only the abode of sorrow; but the circumstance I dread mostis, that, not finding me sufficiently guilty to doom me to death, I shallbe condemned to a long, solitary imprisonment; though I should evendespise their tyranny in that respect, could I but have the assurance ofbeing comforted by your presence. "

These words, instead of stopping my tears, only served to make themstream afresh. I answered, sobbing, that my life and fortune were at hisdevotion; that the power of God alone could prevent me from affording himmy assistance under every extremity; that, if he should be transportedfrom that place, and I should be withheld from following him, I wouldkill myself on the spot. 

Changing our discourse, we framed a number of conjectures on what mightbe the probable cause of the King's angry proceedings against him, butfound ourselves at a loss what to assign them to. 

Whilst we were discussing this matter the hour came for opening thepalace gates, when a simple young man belonging to Bussi presentedhimself for entrance. Being stopped by the guard and questioned as towhither he was going, he, panic-struck, replied he was going to M. DeBussi, his master. This answer was carried to the King, and gave freshgrounds for suspicion. It seems my brother, supposing he should not beable to go to Flanders for some time, and resolving to send Bussi to hisduchy of Alencon as I have already mentioned, had lodged him in theLouvre, that he might be near him to take instructions at everyopportunity. 

L'Archant, the general of the guard, had received the King's commands tomake a search in the Louvre for him and Simier, and put them both underarrest. He entered upon this business with great unwillingness, as hewas intimate with Bussi, who was accustomed to call him "father. "L'Archant, going to Simier's apartment, arrested him; and though hejudged Bussi was there too, yet, being unwilling to find him, he wasgoing away. Bussi, however, who had concealed himself under the bed, asnot knowing to whom the orders for his arrest might be given, finding hewas to be left there, and sensible that he should be well treated byL'Archant, called out to him, as he was leaving the room, in his drollmanner: "What, papa, are you going without me? Don't you think I am asgreat a rogue as that Simier?"

"Ah, son, " replied L'Archant, "I would much rather have lost my arm thanhave met with you!"

Bussi, being a man devoid of all fear, observed that it was a sign thatthings went well with him; then, turning to Simier, who stood tremblingwith fear, he jeered him upon his pusillanimity. L'Archant removed themboth, and set a guard over them; and, in the next place, proceeded toarrest M. De la Chastre, whom he took to the Bastille. 

Meanwhile M. De l'Oste was appointed to the command of the guard whichwas set over my brother. This was a good sort of old man, who had beenappointed governor to the King my husband, and loved me as if I had beenhis own child. Sensible of the injustice done to my brother and me, andlamenting the bad counsel by which the King was guided, and being, moreover, willing to serve us, he resolved to deliver my brother fromarrest. In order to make his intention known to us he ordered theScottish archers to wait on the stairs without, keeping only, two whom hecould trust in the room. Then taking me aside, he said:

"There is not a good Frenchman living who does not bleed at his heart tosee what we see. I have served the King your father, and I am ready tolay down my life to serve his children. I expect to have the guard ofthe Prince your brother, wherever he shall chance to be confined; and, depend upon it, at the hazard of my life, I will restore him to hisliberty. But, " added he, "that no suspicions may arise that such is mydesign, it will be proper that we be not seen together in conversation;however, you may, rely upon my word. "

This afforded me great consolation; and, assuming a degree of couragehereupon, I observed to my brother that we ought not to remain therewithout knowing for what reason we were detained, as if we were in theInquisition; and that to treat us in such a manner was to consider us aspersons of no account. I then begged M. De l'Oste to entreat the King, in our name, if the Queen our mother was not permitted to come to us, tosend some one to acquaint us with the crime for which we were kept inconfinement. 

M. De Combaut, who was at the head of the young counsellors, wasaccordingly sent to us; and he, with a great deal of gravity, informed usthat he came from the King to inquire what it was we wished tocommunicate to his Majesty. We answered that we wished to speak to someone near the King's person, in order to our being informed what we werekept in confinement for, as we were unable to assign any reason for itourselves. He answered, with great solemnity, that we ought not to askof God or the King reasons for what they did; as all their actionsemanated from wisdom and justice. We replied that we were not persons tobe treated like those shut up in the Inquisition, who are left to guessat the cause of their being there. 

We could obtain from him, after all we said, no other satisfaction thanhis promise to interest himself in our behalf, and to do us all theservice in his power. At this my brother broke out into a fit oflaughter; but I confess I was too much alarmed to treat his message withsuch indifference, and could scarcely, refrain from talking to thismessenger as he deserved. 

Whilst he was making his report to the King, the Queen my mother kept herchamber, being under great concern, as may well be supposed, to witnesssuch proceedings. She plainly foresaw, in her prudence, that theseexcesses would end fatally, should the mildness of my brother'sdisposition, and his regard for the welfare of the State, be once weariedout with submitting to such repeated acts of injustice. She thereforesent for the senior members of the Council, the chancellor, princes, nobles, and marshals of France, who all were greatly scandalised at thebad counsel which had been given to the King, and told the Queen mymother that she ought to remonstrate with the King upon the injustice ofhis proceedings. They observed that what had been done could not now berecalled, but matters might yet be set upon a right footing. The Queenmy mother hereupon went to the King, followed by these counsellors, andrepresented to him the ill consequences which might proceed from thesteps he had taken. 

The King's eyes were by this time opened, and he saw that he had been illadvised. He therefore begged the Queen my mother to set things torights, and to prevail on my brother to forget all that had happened, andto bear no resentment against these young men, but to make up the breachbetwixt Bussi and Quelus. 

Things being thus set to rights again, the guard which had been placedover my brother was dismissed, and the Queen my mother, coming to hisapartment, told him he ought to return thanks to God for his deliverance, for that there had been a moment when even she herself despaired ofsaving his life; that since he must now have discovered that the King'stemper of mind was such that he took the alarm at the very imagination ofdanger, and that, when once he was resolved upon a measure, no advicethat she or any other could give would prevent him from putting it intoexecution, she would recommend it to him to submit himself to the King'spleasure in everything, in order to prevent the like in future; and, forthe present, to take the earliest opportunity of seeing the King, and toappear as if he thought no more about the past. 

We replied that we were both of us sensible of God's great mercy indelivering us from the injustice of our enemies, and that, next to God, our greatest obligation was to her; but that my brother's rank did notadmit of his being put in confinement without cause, and released from itagain without the formality of an acknowledgment. Upon this, the Queenobserved that it was not in the power even of God himself to undo whathad been done; that what could be effected to save his honour, and givehim satisfaction for the irregularity of the arrest, should have place. My brother, therefore, she observed, ought to strive to mollify the Kingby addressing him with expressions of regard to his person and attachmentto his service; and, in the meantime, use his influence over Bussi toreconcile him to Quelus, and to end all disputes betwixt them. She thendeclared that the principal motive for putting my brother and hisservants under arrest was to prevent the combat for which old Bussi, thebrave father of a brave son, had solicited the King's leave, wherein heproposed to be his son's second, whilst the father of Quelus was to behis. These four had agreed in this way to determine the matter indispute, and give the Court no further disturbance. 

My brother now engaged himself to the Queen that, as Bussi would see hecould not be permitted to decide his quarrel by combat, he should, inorder to deliver himself from his arrest, do as she had commanded. 

The Queen my mother, going down to the King, prevailed with him torestore my brother to liberty with every honour. In order to which theKing came to her apartment, followed by the princes, noblemen, and othermembers of the Council, and sent for us by M. De Villequier. As we wentalong we found all the rooms crowded with people, who, with tears intheir eyes, blessed God for our deliverance. Coming into the apartmentsof the Queen my mother, we found the King attended as I before related. The King desired my brother not to take anything ill that had been done, as the motive for it was his concern for the good of his kingdom, and notany bad intention towards himself. My brother replied that he had, as heought, devoted his life to his service, and, therefore, was governed byhis pleasure; but that he most humbly begged him to consider that hisfidelity and attachment did not merit the return he had met with; that, notwithstanding, he should impute it entirely to his own ill-fortune, andshould be perfectly satisfied if the King acknowledged his innocence. Hereupon the King said that he entertained not the least doubt of hisinnocence, and only desired him to believe he held the same place in hisesteem he ever had. The Queen my mother then, taking both of them by thehand, made them embrace each other. 

Afterwards the King commanded Bussi to be brought forth, to make areconciliation betwixt him and Quelus, giving orders, at the same time, for the release of Simier and M. De la Chastre. Bussi coming into theroom with his usual grace, the King told him he must be reconciled withQuelus, and forbade him to say a word more concerning their quarrel. Hethen commanded them to embrace. "Sire, " said Bussi, "if it is yourpleasure that we kiss and are friends again, I am ready to obey yourcommand;" then, putting himself in the attitude of Pantaloon, he went upto Queus and gave him a hug, which set all present in a titter, notwithstanding they had been seriously affected by the scene which hadpassed just before. 

Many persons of discretion thought what had been done was too slight areparation for the injuries my brother had received. When all was over, the King and the Queen my mother, coming up to me, said it would beincumbent on me to use my utmost endeavours to prevent my brother fromcalling to mind anything past which should make him swerve from the dutyand affection he owed the King. I replied that my brother was soprudent, and so strongly attached to the King's service, that he neededno admonition on that head from me or any one else; and that, withrespect to myself, I had never given him any other advice than to conformhimself to the King's pleasure and the duty he owed him. 

LETTER XIX. 

The Duc d'Alencon Makes His Escape from Court. --Queen Marguerite'sFidelity Put to a Severe Trial. 

It was now three o'clock in the afternoon, and no one present had yetdined. The Queen my mother was desirous that we should eat together, and, after dinner, she ordered my brother and me to change our dress (asthe clothes we had on were suitable only to our late melancholysituation) and come to the King's supper and ball. We complied with herorders as far as a change of dress, but our countenances still retainedthe impressions of grief and resentment which we inwardly felt. 

I must inform you that when the tragi-comedy I have given you an accountof was over, the Queen my mother turned round to the Chevalier de Seurre, whom she recommended to my brother to sleep in his bedchamber, and inwhose conversation she sometimes took delight because he was a man ofsome humour, but rather inclined to be cynical. 

"Well, " said she, "M. De Seurre, what do you think of all this?"

"Madame, I think there is too much of it for earnest, and not enough forjest. "

Then addressing himself to me, he said, but not loud enough for the Queento hear him: "I do not believe all is over yet; I am very much mistakenif this young man" (meaning my brother) "rests satisfied with this. " Thisday having passed in the manner before related, the wound being onlyskinned over and far from healed, the young men about the King's personset themselves to operate in order to break it out afresh. 

These persons, judging of my brother by themselves, and not havingsufficient experience to know the power of duty over the minds ofpersonages of exalted rank and high birth, persuaded the King, stillconnecting his case with their own, that it was impossible my brothershould ever forgive the affront he had received, and not seek to avengehimself with the first opportunity. The King, forgetting the ill-judgedsteps these young men had so lately induced him to take, hereuponreceives this new impression, and gives orders to the officers of theguard to keep strict watch at the gates that his brother go not out, andthat his people be made to leave the Louvre every evening, except such ofthem as usually slept in his bedchamber or wardrobe. 

My brother, seeing himself thus exposed to the caprices of theseheadstrong young fellows, who led the King according to their ownfancies, and fearing something worse might happen than what he had yetexperienced, at the end of three days, during which time he labouredunder apprehensions of this kind, came to a determination to leave theCourt, and never more return to it, but retire to his principality andmake preparations with all haste for his expedition to Flanders. Hecommunicated his design to me, and I approved of it, as I considered hehad no other view in it than providing for his own safety, and thatneither the King nor his government were likely to sustain any injury byit. 

When we consulted upon the means of its accomplishment, we could find noother than his descending from my window, which was on the second storyand opened to the ditch, for the gates were so closely watched that itwas impossible to pass them, the face of every one going out of theLouvre being curiously examined. He begged of me, therefore, to procurefor him a rope of sufficient strength and long enough for the purpose. This I set about immediately, for, having the sacking of a bed thatwanted mending, I sent it out of the palace by a lad whom I could trust, with orders to bring it back repaired, and to wrap up the proper lengthof rope inside. 

When all was prepared, one evening, at supper-time, I went to the Queenmy mother, who supped alone in her own apartment, it being fast-day andthe King eating no supper. My brother, who on most occasions was patientand discreet, spurred on by the indignities he had received, and anxiousto extricate himself from danger and regain his liberty, came to me as Iwas rising from table, and whispered to me to make haste and come to himin my own apartment. M. De Matignon, at that time a marshal, a sly, cunning Norman, and one who had no love for my brother, whether he hadsome knowledge of his design from some one who could not keep a secret, or only guessed at it, observed to the Queen my mother as she left theroom (which I overheard, being near her, and circumspectly watching everyword and motion, as may well be imagined, situated as I was betwixt fearand hope, and involved in perplexity) that my brother had undoubtedly anintention of withdrawing himself, and would not be there the next day;adding that he was assured of it, and she might take her measuresaccordingly. 

I observed that she was much disconcerted by this observation, and I hadmy fears lest we should be discovered. When we came into her closet, shedrew me aside and asked if I heard what Matignon had said. 

I replied: "I did not hear it, Madame, but I observe that it has givenyou uneasiness. "

"Yes, " said she, "a great deal of uneasiness, for you know I have pledgedmyself to the King that your brother shall not depart hence, and Matignonhas declared that he knows very well he will not be here to-morrow. "

I now found myself under a great embarrassment; I was in danger either ofproving unfaithful to my brother, and thereby bringing his life intojeopardy, or of being obliged to declare that to be truth which I knew tobe false, and this I would have died rather than be guilty of. 

In this extremity, if I had not been aided by God, my countenance, without speaking, would plainly have discovered what I wished to conceal. But God, who assists those who mean well, and whose divine goodness wasdiscoverable in my brother's escape, enabled me to compose my looks andsuggested to me such a reply as gave her to understand no more than Iwished her to know, and cleared my conscience from making any declarationcontrary to the truth. I answered her in these words:

"You cannot, Madame, but be sensible that M. De Matignon is not one of mybrother's friends, and that he is, besides, a busy, meddling kind of man, who is sorry to find a reconciliation has taken place with us; and, as tomy brother, I will answer for him with my life in case he goes hence, ofwhich, if he had any design, I should, as I am well assured, not beignorant, he never having yet concealed anything he meant to do from me. "

All this was said by me with the assurance that, after my brother'sescape, they would not dare to do me any injury; and in case of theworst, and when we should be discovered, I had much rather pledge my lifethan hazard my soul by a false declaration, and endanger my brother'slife. Without scrutinising the import of my speech, she replied:"Remember what you now say, --you will be bound for him on the penalty ofyour life. "

I smiled and answered that such was my intention. Then, wishing her agood night, I retired to my own bedchamber, where, undressing myself inhaste and getting into bed, in order to dismiss the ladies and maids ofhonour, and there then remaining only my chamber-women, my brother camein, accompanied by Simier and Cange. Rising from my bed, we made thecord fast, and having looked out, at the window to discover if any onewas in the ditch, with the assistance of three of my women, who slept inmy room, and the lad who had brought in the rope, we let down my brother, who laughed and joked upon the occasion without the least apprehension, notwithstanding the height was considerable. We next lowered Simier intothe ditch, who was in such a fright that he had scarcely strength to holdthe rope fast; and lastly descended my brother's valet de chambre, Cange. 

Through God's providence my brother got off undiscovered, and going toSte. Genevieve, he found Bussi waiting there for him. By consent of theabbot, a hole had been made in the city wall, through which they passed, and horses being provided and in waiting, they mounted, and reachedAngers without the least accident. 

Whilst we were lowering down Cange, who, as I mentioned before, was thelast, we observed a man rising out of the ditch, who ran towards thelodge adjoining to the tennis-court, in the direct way leading to theguard-house. I had no apprehensions on my own account, all my fearsbeing absorbed by those I entertained for my brother; and now I wasalmost dead with alarm, supposing this might be a spy placed there by M. De Matignon, and that my brother would be taken. Whilst I was in thiscruel state of anxiety, which can be judged of only by those who haveexperienced a similar situation, my women took a precaution for my safetyand their own, which did not suggest itself to me. This was to burn therope, that it might not appear to our conviction in case the man inquestion had been placed there to watch us. This rope occasioned sogreat a flame in burning, that it set fire to the chimney, which, beingseen from without, alarmed the guard, who ran to us, knocking violentlyat the door, calling for it to be opened. 

I now concluded that my brother was stopped, and that we were bothundone. However, as, by the blessing of God and through his divine mercyalone, I have, amidst every danger with which I have been repeatedlysurrounded, constantly preserved a presence of mind which directed whatwas best to be done, and observing that the rope was not more than halfconsumed, I told my women to go to the door, and speaking softly, as if Iwas asleep, to ask the men what they wanted. They did so, and thearchers replied that the chimney was on fire, and they came to extinguishit. My women answered it was of no consequence, and they could put itout themselves, begging them not to awake me. This alarm thus passed offquietly, and they went away; but, in two hours afterward, M. De Cossecame for me to go to the King and the Queen, my mother, to give anaccount of my brother's escape, of which they had received intelligenceby the Abbot of Ste. Genevieve. 

It seems it had been concerted betwixt my brother and the abbot, in orderto prevent the latter from falling under disgrace, that, when my brothermight be supposed to have reached a sufficient distance, the abbot shouldgo to Court, and say that he had been put into confinement whilst thehole was being made, and that he came to inform the King as soon as hehad released himself. 

I was in bed, for it was yet night; and rising hastily, I put on mynight-clothes. One of my women was indiscreet enough to hold me roundthe waist, and exclaim aloud, shedding a flood of tears, that she shouldnever see me more. M. De Cosse, pushing her away, said to me: "If I werenot a person thoroughly devoted to your service, this woman has saidenough to bring you into trouble. But, " continued he, "fear nothing. Godbe praised, by this time the Prince your brother is out of danger. "

These words were very necessary, in the present state of my mind, tofortify it against the reproaches and threats I had reason to expect fromthe King. I found him sitting at the foot of the Queen my mother's bed, in such a violent rage that I am inclined to believe I should have feltthe effects of it, had he not been restrained by the absence of mybrother and my mother's presence. They both told me that I had assuredthem my brother would not leave the Court, and that I pledged myself forhis stay. I replied that it was true that he had deceived me, as he hadthem; however, I was ready still to pledge my life that his departurewould not operate to the prejudice of the King's service, and that itwould appear he was only gone to his own principality to give orders andforward his expedition to Flanders. 

The King appeared to be somewhat mollified by this declaration, and nowgave me permission to return to my own apartments. Soon afterwards hereceived letters from my brother, containing assurances of hisattachment, in the terms I had before expressed. This caused a cessationof complaints, but by no means removed the King's dissatisfaction, whomade a show of affording assistance to his expedition, but was secretlyusing every means to frustrate and defeat it. 

LETTER XX. 

Queen Marguerite Permitted to Go to the King Her Husband. --Is Accompaniedby the Queenmother. --Marguerite Insulted by Her Husband's Secretary. --SheHarbours Jealousy. --Her Attention to the King Her Husband during anIndisposition. --Their Reconciliation. --The War Breaks OutAfresh. --Affront Received from Marechal de Biron. 

I now renewed my application for leave to go to the King my husband, which I continued to press on every opportunity. The King, perceivingthat he could not refuse my leave any longer, was willing I should departsatisfied. He had this further view in complying with my wishes, that bythis means he should withdraw me from my attachment to my brother. Hetherefore strove to oblige me in every way he could think of, and, tofulfil the promise made by the Queen my mother at the Peace of Sens, hegave me an assignment of my portion in territory, with the power ofnomination to all vacant benefices and all offices; and, over and abovethe customary pension to the daughters of France, he gave another out ofhis privy purse. 

He daily paid me a visit in my apartment, in which he took occasion torepresent to me how useful his friendship would be to me; whereas that ofmy brother could be only injurious, --with arguments of the like kind. 

However, all he could say was insufficient to prevail on me to swervefrom the fidelity I had vowed to observe to my brother. The King wasable to draw from me no other declaration than this: that it ever was, and should be, my earnest wish to see my brother firmly established inhis gracious favour, which he had never appeared to me to have forfeited;that I was well assured he would exert himself to the utmost to regain itby every act of duty and meritorious service; that, with respect tomyself, I thought I was so much obliged to him for the great honour hedid me by repeated acts of generosity, that he might be assured, when Iwas with the King my husband I should consider myself bound in duty toobey all such commands as he should be pleased to give me; and that itwould be my whole study to maintain the King my husband in a submissionto his pleasure. 

My brother was now on the point of leaving Alencon to go to Flanders; theQueen my mother was desirous to see him before his departure. I beggedthe King to permit me to take the opportunity of accompanying her to takeleave of my brother, which he granted; but, as it seemed, with greatunwillingness. When we returned from Alencon, I solicited the King topermit me to take leave of himself, as I had everything prepared for myjourney. The Queen my mother being desirous to go to Gascony, where herpresence was necessary for the King's service, was unwilling that Ishould depart without her. When we left Paris, the King accompanied uson the way as far as his palace of Dolinville. There we stayed with hima few days, and there we took our leave, and in a little time reachedGuienne, which belonging to, and being under the government of the Kingmy husband, I was everywhere received as Queen. My husband gave theQueen my mother a meeting at Wolle, which was held by the Huguenots as acautionary town; and the country not being sufficiently quieted, she waspermitted to go no further. 

It was the intention of the Queen my mother to make but a short stay; butso many accidents arose from disputes betwixt the Huguenots andCatholics, that she was under the necessity of stopping there eighteenmonths. As this was very much against her inclination, she was sometimesinclined to think there was a design to keep her, in order to have thecompany of her maids of honour. For my husband had been greatly smittenwith Dayelle, and M. De Thurene was in love with La Vergne. However, Ireceived every mark of honour and attention from the King that I couldexpect or desire. He related to me, as soon as we met, the artificeswhich had been put in practice whilst he remained at Court to create amisunderstanding betwixt him and me; all this, he said, he knew was witha design to cause a rupture betwixt my brother and him, and thereby ruinus all three, as there was an exceeding great jealousy entertained of thefriendship which existed betwixt us. 

We remained in the disagreeable situation I have before described all thetime the Queen my mother stayed in Gascony; but, as soon as she couldreestablish peace, she, by desire of the King my husband, removed theKing's lieutenant, the Marquis de Villars, putting in his place theMarechal de Biron. She then departed for Languedoc, and we conducted herto Castelnaudary; where, taking our leave, we returned to Pau, in Bearn;in which place, the Catholic religion not being tolerated, I was onlyallowed to have mass celebrated in a chapel of about three or four feetin length, and so narrow that it could scarcely hold seven or eightpersons. During the celebration of mass, the bridge of the castle wasdrawn up to prevent the Catholics of the town and country from coming toassist at it; who having been, for some years, deprived of the benefit offollowing their own mode of worship, would have gladly been present. Actuated by so holy and laudable a desire, some of the inhabitants ofPau, on Whitsunday, found means to get into the castle before the bridgewas drawn up, and were present at the celebration of mass, not beingdiscovered until it was nearly over. At length the Huguenots espiedthem, and ran to acquaint Le Pin, secretary to the King my husband, whowas greatly in his favour, and who conducted the whole business relatingto the new religion. Upon receiving this intelligence, Le Pin orderedthe guard to arrest these poor people, who were severely beaten in mypresence, and afterwards locked up in prison, whence they were notreleased without paying a considerable fine. 

This indignity gave me great offence, as I never expected anything of thekind. Accordingly, I complained of it to the King my husband, begginghim to give orders for the release of these poor Catholics, who did notdeserve to be punished for coming to my chapel to hear mass, acelebration of which they had been so long deprived of the benefit. LePin, with the greatest disrespect to his master, took upon him to reply, without waiting to hear what the King had to say. He told me that Iought not to trouble the King my husband about such matters; that whathad been done was very right and proper; that those people had justlymerited the treatment they met with, and all I could say would go fornothing, for it must be so; and that I ought to rest satisfied with beingpermitted to have mass said to me and my servants. This insolent speechfrom a person of his inferior condition incensed me greatly, and Ientreated the King my husband, if I had the least share in his goodgraces, to do me justice, and avenge the insult offered me by this lowman. 

The King my husband, perceiving that I was offended, as I had reason tobe, with this gross indignity, ordered Le Pin to quit our presenceimmediately; and, expressing his concern at his secretary's behaviour, who, he said, was overzealous in the cause of religion, he promised thathe would make an example of him. As to the Catholic prisoners, he saidhe would advise with his parliament what ought to be done for mysatisfaction. 

Having said this, he went to his closet, where he found Le Pin, who, bydint of persuasion, made him change his resolution; insomuch that, fearing I should insist upon his dismissing his secretary, he avoidedmeeting me. At last, finding that I was firmly resolved to leave him, unless he dismissed Le Pin, he took advice of some persons, who, havingthemselves a dislike to the secretary, represented that he ought not togive me cause of displeasure for the sake of a man of his smallimportance, --especially one who, like him, had given me just reason to beoffended; that, when it became known to the King my brother and the Queenmy mother, they would certainly take it ill that he had not only notresented it, but, on the contrary, still kept him near his person. 

This counsel prevailed with him, and he at length discarded hissecretary. The King, however, continued to behave to me with greatcoolness, being influenced, as he afterwards confessed, by the counsel ofM. De Pibrac, who acted the part of a double dealer, telling me that Iought not to pardon an affront offered by such a mean fellow, but insistupon his being dismissed; whilst he persuaded the King my husband thatthere was no reason for parting with a man so useful to him, for such atrivial cause. This was done by M. De Pibrac, thinking I might beinduced, from such mortifications, to return to France, where he enjoyedthe offices of president and King's counsellor. 

I now met with a fresh cause for disquietude in my present situation, for, Dayelle being gone, the King my husband placed his affections onRebours. She was an artful young person, and had no regard for me;accordingly, she did me all the ill offices in her power with him. In themidst of these trials, I put my trust in God, and he, moved with pity bymy tears, gave permission for our leaving Pau, that "little Geneva;" and, fortunately for me, Rebours was taken ill and stayed behind. The King myhusband no sooner lost sight of her than he forgot her; he now turned hiseyes and attention towards Fosseuse. She was much handsomer than theother, and was at that time young, and really a very amiable person. 

Pursuing the road to Montauban, we stopped at a little town called Eause, where, in the night, the King my husband was attacked with a high fever, accompanied with most violent pains in his head. This fever lasted forseventeen days, during which time he had no rest night or day, but wascontinually removed from one bed to another. I nursed him the wholetime, never stirring from his bedside, and never putting off my clothes. He took notice of my extraordinary tenderness, and spoke of it to severalpersons, and particularly to my cousin M-----, who, acting the part of anaffectionate relation, restored me to his favour, insomuch that I neverstood so highly in it before. This happiness I had the good fortune toenjoy during the four or five years that I remained with him in Gascony. 

Our residence, for the most part of the time I have mentioned, was atNerac, where our Court was so brilliant that we had no cause to regretour absence from the Court of France. We had with us the Princesse deNavarre, my husband's sister, since married to the Duc de Bar; there werebesides a number of ladies belonging to myself. The King my husband wasattended by a numerous body of lords and gentlemen, all as gallantpersons as I have seen in any Court; and we had only to lament that theywere Huguenots. This difference of religion, however, caused no disputeamong us; the King my husband and the Princess his sister heard a sermon, whilst I and my servants heard mass. I had a chapel in the park for thepurpose, and, as soon as the service of both religions was over, wejoined company in a beautiful garden, ornamented with long walks shadedwith laurel and cypress trees. Sometimes we took a walk in the park onthe banks of the river, bordered by an avenue of trees three thousandyards in length. The rest of the day was passed in innocent amusements;and in the afternoon, or at night, we commonly had a ball. 

The King was very assiduous with Fosseuse, who, being dependent on me, kept herself within the strict bounds of honour and virtue. Had shealways done so, she had not brought upon herself a misfortune which hasproved of such fatal consequence to myself as well as to her. 

But our happiness was too great to be of long continuance, and freshtroubles broke out betwixt the King my husband and the Catholics, andgave rise to a new war. The King my husband and the Marechal de Biron, who was the King's lieutenant in Guienne, had a difference, which wasaggravated by the Huguenots. This breach became in a short time so widethat all my efforts to close it were useless. They made their separatecomplaints to the King. The King my husband insisted on the removal ofthe Marechal de Biron, and the Marshal charged the King my husband, andthe rest of those who were of the pretended reformed religion, withdesigns contrary to peace. I saw, with great concern, that affairs werelikely soon to come to an open rupture; and I had no power to prevent it. 

The Marshal advised the King to come to Guienne himself, saying that inhis presence matters might be settled. The Huguenots, hearing of thisproposal, supposed the King would take possession of their towns, and, thereupon, came to a resolution to take up arms. This was what I feared;I was become a sharer in the King my husband's fortune, and was now to bein opposition to the King my brother and the religion I had been bred upin. I gave my opinion upon this war to the King my husband and hisCouncil, and strove to dissuade them from engaging in it. I representedto them the hazards of carrying on a war when they were to be opposedagainst so able a general as the Marechal de Biron, who would not sparethem, as other generals had done, he being their private enemy. I beggedthem to consider that, if the King brought his whole force against them, with intention to exterminate their religion, it would not be in theirpower to oppose or prevent it. But they were so headstrong, and soblinded with the hope of succeeding in the surprise of certain towns inLanguedoc and Gascony, that, though the King did me the honour, upon alloccasions, to listen to my advice, as did most of the Huguenots, yet Icould not prevail on them to follow it in the present situation ofaffairs, until it was too late, and after they had found, to their cost, that my counsel was good. The torrent was now burst forth, and there wasno possibility of stopping its course until it had spent its utmoststrength. 

Before that period arrived, foreseeing the consequences, I had oftenwritten to the King and the Queen my mother, to offer something to theKing my husband by way of accommodating matters. But they were bentagainst it, and seemed to be pleased that matters had taken such a turn, being assured by Marechal de Biron that he had it in his power to crushthe Huguenots whenever he pleased. In this crisis my advice was notattended to, the dissensions increased, and recourse was had to arms. 

The Huguenots had reckoned upon a force more considerable than they wereable to collect together, and the King my husband found himselfoutnumbered by Marechal de Biron. In consequence, those of the pretendedreformed religion failed in all their plans, except their attack uponCahors, which they took with petards, after having lost a great number ofmen, M. De Vezins, who commanded in the town, disputing their entrancefor two or three days, from street to street, and even from house tohouse. The King my husband displayed great valour and conduct upon theoccasion, and showed himself to be a gallant and brave general. Thoughthe Huguenots succeeded in this attempt, their loss was so great thatthey gained nothing from it. Marechal de Biron kept the field, and tookevery place that declared for the Huguenots, putting all that opposed himto the sword. 

From the commencement of this war, the King my husband doing me thehonour to love me, and commanding me not to leave him, I had resolved toshare his fortune, not without extreme regret, in observing that this warwas of such a nature that I could not, in conscience, wish success toeither side; for if the Huguenots got the upper hand, the religion whichI cherished as much as my life was lost, and if the Catholics prevailed, the King my husband was undone. But, being thus attached to my husband, by the duty I owed him, and obliged by the attentions he was pleased toshow me, I could only acquaint the King and the Queen my mother with thesituation to which I was reduced, occasioned by my advice to them nothaving been attended to. I, therefore, prayed them, if they could notextinguish the flames of war in the midst of which I was placed, at leastto give orders to Marechal de Biron to consider the town I resided in, and three leagues round it, as neutral ground, and that I would get theKing my husband to do the same. This the King granted me for Nerac, provided my husband was not there; but if he should enter it, theneutrality was to cease, and so to remain as long as he continued there. This convention was observed, on both sides, with all the exactness Icould desire. However, the King my husband was not to be prevented fromoften visiting Nerac, which was the residence of his sister and me. Hewas fond of the society of ladies, and, moreover, was at that timegreatly enamoured with Fosseuse, who held the place in his affectionswhich Rebours had lately occupied. Fosseuse did me no ill offices, sothat the King my husband and I continued to live on very good terms, especially as he perceived me unwilling to oppose his inclinations. 

Led by such inducements, he came to Nerac, once, with a body of troops, and stayed three days, not being able to leave the agreeable company hefound there. Marechal de Biron, who wished for nothing so much as suchan opportunity, was apprised of it, and, under pretence of joining M. DeCornusson, the seneschal of Toulouse, who was expected with areinforcement for his army, he began his march; but, instead of pursuingthe road, according to the orders he had issued, he suddenly ordered histroops to file off towards Nerac, and, before nine in the morning, hiswhole force was drawn up within sight of the town, and within cannon-shotof it. 

The King my husband had received intelligence, the evening before, of theexpected arrival of M. De Cornusson, and was desirous of preventing thejunction, for which purpose he resolved to attack him and the Marshalseparately. As he had been lately joined by M. De La Rochefoucauld, witha corps of cavalry consisting of eight hundred men, formed from thenobility of Saintonge, he found himself sufficiently strong to undertakesuch a plan. He, therefore, set out before break of day to make hisattack as they crossed the river. But his intelligence did not prove tobe correct, for De Cornusson passed it the evening before. My husband, being thus disappointed in his design, returned to Nerac, and entered atone gate just as Marechal de Biron drew up his troops before the other. There fell so heavy a rain at that moment that the musketry was of nouse. The King my husband, however, threw a body of his troops into avineyard to stop the Marshal's progress, not being able to do more onaccount of the unfavourableness of the weather. 

In the meantime, the Marshal continued with his troops drawn up in orderof battle, permitting only two or three of his men to advance, whochallenged a like number to break lances in honour of their mistresses. The rest of the army kept their ground, to mask their artillery, which, being ready to play, they opened to the right and left, and fired sevenor eight shots upon the town, one of which struck the palace. TheMarshal, having done this, marched off, despatching a trumpeter to mewith his excuse. He acquainted me that, had I been alone, he would on noaccount have fired on the town; but the terms of neutrality for the town, agreed upon by the King, were, as I well knew, in case the King myhusband should not be found in it, and, if otherwise, they were void. Besides which, his orders were to attack the King my husband wherever heshould find him. 

I must acknowledge on every other occasion the Marshal showed me thegreatest respect, and appeared to be much my friend. During the war myletters have frequently fallen into his hands, when he as constantlyforwarded them to me unopened. And whenever my people have happened tobe taken prisoners by his army, they were always well treated as soon asthey mentioned to whom they belonged. 

I answered his message by the trumpeter, saying that I well knew what hehad done was strictly agreeable to the convention made and the orders hehad received, but that a gallant officer like him would know how to dohis duty without giving his friends cause of offence; that he might havepermitted me the enjoyment of the King my husband's company in Nerac forthree days, adding, that he could not attack him, in my presence, withoutattacking me; and concluding that, certainly, I was greatly offended byhis conduct, and would take the first opportunity of making my complaintto the King my brother. 

LETTER XXI. 

Situation of Affairs in Flanders. --Peace Brought About by Duc d'Alencon'sNegotiation. --Marechal de Biron Apologises for Firing on Nerac. --HenriDesperately in Love with Fosseuse. --Queen Marguerite Discovers Fosseuseto Be Pregnant, Which She Denies. --Fosseuse in Labour. Marguerite'sGenerous Behaviour to Her. --Marguerite's Return to Paris. 

The war lasted some time longer, but with disadvantage to the Huguenots. The King my husband at length became desirous to make a peace. I wroteon the subject to the King and the Queen my mother; but so elated werethey both with Marechal de Biron's success that they would not agree toany terms. 

About the time this war broke out, Cambray, which had been delivered upto my brother by M. D'Ainsi, according to his engagement with me, as Ihave before related, was besieged by the forces of Spain. My brotherreceived the news of this siege at his castle of Plessis-les-Tours, whither he had retired after his return from Flanders, where, by theassistance of the Comte de Lalain, he had been invested with thegovernment of Mons, Valenciennes, and their dependencies. 

My brother, being anxious to relieve Cambray, set about raising an army, with all the expedition possible; but, finding it could not beaccomplished very speedily, he sent forward a reinforcement under thecommand of M. De Balagny, to succour the place until he arrived himselfwith a sufficient force to raise the siege. Whilst he was in the midstof these preparations this Huguenot war broke out, and the men he hadraised left him to incorporate themselves with the King's army, which hadreached Gascony. 

My brother was now without hope of raising the siege, and to lose Cambraywould be attended with the loss of the other countries he had justobtained. Besides, what he should regret more, such losses would reduceto great straits M. De Balagny and the gallant troops so nobly defendingthe place. 

His grief on this occasion was poignant, and, as his excellent judgmentfurnished him with expedients under all his difficulties, he resolved toendeavour to bring about a peace. Accordingly he despatched a gentlemanto the King with his advice to accede to terms, offering to undertake thetreaty himself. His design in offering himself as negotiator was toprevent the treaty being drawn out to too great a length, as might be thecase if confided to others. It was necessary that he should speedilyrelieve Cambray, for M. De Balagny, who had thrown himself into the cityas I have before mentioned, had written to him that he should be able todefend the place for six months; but, if he received no succours withinthat time, his provisions would be all expended, and he should be obligedto give way to the clamours of the inhabitants, and surrender the town. 

By God's favour, the King was induced to listen to my brother's proposalof undertaking a negotiation for a peace. The King hoped thereby todisappoint him in his expectations in Flanders, which he never hadapproved. Accordingly he sent word back to my brother that he shouldaccept his proffer of negotiating a peace, and would send him for hiscoadjutors, M. De Villeroy and M. De Bellievre. The commission mybrother was charged with succeeded, and, after a stay of seven months inGascony, he settled a peace and left us, his thoughts being employedduring the whole time on the means of relieving Cambray, which thesatisfaction he found in being with us could not altogether abate. 

The peace my brother, made, as I have just mentioned, was so judiciouslyframed that it gave equal satisfaction to the King and the Catholics, andto the King my husband and the Huguenots, and obtained him the affectionsof both parties. He likewise acquired from it the assistance of thatable general, Marechal de Biron, who undertook the command of the armydestined to raise the siege of Cambray. The King my husband was equallygratified in the Marshal's removal from Gascony and having Marechal deMatignon in his place. 

Before my brother set off he was desirous to bring about a reconciliationbetwixt the King my husband and Mareohal de Biron, provided the lattershould make his apologies to me for his conduct at Nerac. My brother haddesired me to treat him with all disdain, but I used this hasty advicewith discretion, considering that my brother might one day or otherrepent having given it, as he had everything to hope, in his presentsituation, from the bravery of this officer. 

My brother returned to France accompanied by Marechal de Biron. By hisnegotiation of a peace he had acquired to himself great credit with bothparties, and secured a powerful force for the purpose of raising thesiege of Cambray. But honours and success are followed by envy. TheKing beheld this accession of glory to his brother with greatdissatisfaction. He had been for seven months, while my brother and Iwere together in Gascony, brooding over his malice, and produced thestrangest invention that can be imagined. He pretended to believe (whatthe King my husband can easily prove to be false) that I instigated himto go to war that I might procure for my brother the credit of makingpeace. This is not at all probable when it is considered the prejudicemy brother's affairs in, Flanders sustained by the war. 

But envy and malice are self-deceivers, and pretend to discover what noone else can perceive. On this frail foundation the King raised an altarof hatred, on which he swore never to cease till he had accomplished mybrother's ruin and mine. He had never forgiven me for the attachment Ihad discovered for my brother's interest during the time he was in Polandand since. 

Fortune chose to favour the King's animosity; for, during the sevenmonths that my brother stayed in Gascony, he conceived a passion forFosseuse, who was become the doting piece of the King my husband, as Ihave already mentioned, since he had quitted Rebours. This new passionin my brother had induced the King my husband to treat me with coldness, supposing that I countenanced my brother's addresses. I no soonerdiscovered this than I remonstrated with my brother, as I knew he wouldmake every sacrifice for my repose. I begged him to give over hispursuit, and not to speak to her again. I succeeded this way to defeatthe malice of my ill-fortune; but there was still behind another secretambush, and that of a more fatal nature; for Fosseuse, who waspassionately fond of the King my husband, but had hitherto granted nofavours inconsistent with prudence and modesty, piqued by his jealousy ofmy brother, gave herself up suddenly to his will, and unfortunatelybecame pregnant. She no sooner made this discovery, than she altered herconduct towards me entirely from what it was before. She now shunned mypresence as much as she had been accustomed to seek it, and whereasbefore she strove to do me every good office with the King my husband, she now endeavoured to make all the mischief she was able betwixt us. Forhis part, he avoided me; he grew cold and indifferent, and since Fosseuseceased to conduct herself with discretion, the happy moments that weexperienced during the four or five years we were together in Gasconywere no more. 

Peace being restored, and my brother departed for France, as I havealready related, the King my husband and I returned to Nerac. We were nosooner there than Fosseuse persuaded the King my husband to make ajourney to the waters of Aigues-Caudes, in Bearn, perhaps with a designto rid herself of her burden there. I begged the King my husband toexcuse my accompanying him, as, since the affront that I had received atPau, I had made a vow never to set foot in Bearn until the Catholicreligion was reestablished there. He pressed me much to go with him, andgrew angry at my persisting to refuse his request. He told me that hislittle girl (for so he affected to call Fosseuse) was desirous to gothere on account of a colic, which she felt frequent returns of. Ianswered that I had no objection to his taking her with him. He thensaid that she could not go unless I went; that it would occasion scandal, which might as well be avoided. He continued to press me to accompanyhim, but at length I prevailed with him to consent to go without me, andto take her with him, and, with her, two of her companions, Rebours andVille-Savin, together with the governess. They set out accordingly, andI waited their return at Baviere. 

I had every day news from Rebours, informing me how matters went. ThisRebours I have mentioned before to have been the object of my husband'spassion, but she was now cast off, and, consequently, was no friend toFosseuse, who had gained that place in his affection she had before held. She, therefore, strove all she could to circumvent her; and, indeed, shewas fully qualified for such a purpose, as she was a cunning, deceitfulyoung person. She gave me to understand that Fosseuse laboured to do meevery ill office in her power; that she spoke of me with the greatestdisrespect on all occasions, and expressed her expectations of marryingthe King herself, in case she should be delivered of a son, when I was tobe divorced. She had said, further, that when the King my husbandreturned to Baviere, he had resolved to go to Pau, and that I should gowith him, whether I would or not. 

This intelligence was far from being agreeable to me, and I knew not whatto think of it. I trusted in the goodness of God, and I had a relianceon the generosity of the King my husband; yet I passed the time I waitedfor his return but uncomfortably, and often thought I shed more tearsthan they drank water. The Catholic nobility of the neighbourhood ofBaviere used their utmost endeavours to divert my chagrin, for the monthor five weeks that the King my husband and Fosseuse stayed atAigues-Caudes. 

On his return, a certain nobleman acquainted the King my husband with theconcern I was under lest he should go to Pau, whereupon he did not pressme on the subject, but only said he should have been glad if I hadconsented to go with him. Perceiving, by my tears and the expressions Imade use of, that I should prefer even death to such a journey, healtered his intentions and we returned to Nerac. 

The pregnancy of Fosseuse was now no longer a secret. The whole Courttalked of it, and not only the Court, but all the country. I was willingto prevent the scandal from spreading, and accordingly resolved to talkto her on the subject. With this resolution, I took her into my closet, and spoke to her thus: "Though you have for some time estranged yourselffrom me, and, as it has been reported to me, striven to do me many illoffices with the King my husband, yet the regard I once had for you, andthe esteem which I still entertain for those honourable persons to whosefamily you belong, do not admit of my neglecting to afford you all theassistance in my power in pour present unhappy situation. I beg you, therefore, not to conceal the truth, it being both for your interest andmine, under whose protection you are, to declare it. Tell me the truth, and I will act towards you as a mother. You know that a contagiousdisorder has broken out in the place, and, under pretence of avoiding it, I will go to Mas-d'Agenois, which is a house belonging to the King myhusband, in a very retired situation. I will take you with me, and suchother persons as you shall name. Whilst we are there, the King will takethe diversion of hunting in some other part of the country, and I shallnot stir thence before your delivery. By this means we shall put a stopto the scandalous reports which are now current, and which concern youmore than myself. "

So far from showing any contrition, or returning thanks for my kindness, she replied, with the utmost arrogance, that she would prove all those tobe liars who had reported such things of her; that, for my part, I hadceased for a long time to show her any marks of regard, and she saw thatI was determined upon her ruin. These words she delivered in as loud atone as mine had been mildly expressed; and, leaving me abruptly, sheflew in a rage to the King my husband, to relate to him what I had saidto her. He was very angry upon the occasion, and declared he would makethem all liars who had laid such things to her charge. From that momentuntil the hour of her delivery, which was a few months after, he neverspoke to me. 

She found the pains of labour come upon her about daybreak, whilst shewas in bed in the chamber where the maids of honour slept. She sent formy physician, and begged him to go and acquaint the King my husband thatshe was taken ill. We slept in separate beds in the same chamber, andhad done so for some time. 

The physician delivered the message as he was directed, which greatlyembarrassed my husband. What to do he did not know. On the one hand, hewas fearful of a discovery; on the other, he foresaw that, without properassistance, there was danger of losing one he so much loved. In thisdilemma, he resolved to apply to me, confess all, and implore my aid andadvice, well knowing that, notwithstanding what had passed, I should beready to do him a pleasure. Having come to this resolution, he withdrewmy curtains, and spoke to me thus: "My dear, I have concealed a matterfrom you which I now confess. I beg you to forgive me, and to think nomore about what I have said to you on the subject. Will you oblige me sofar as to rise and go to Fosseuse, who is taken very ill? I am wellassured that, in her present situation, you will forget everything andresent nothing. You know how dearly I love her, and I hope you willcomply with my request. " I answered that I had too great a respect forhim to be offended at anything he should do, and that I would go to herimmediately, and do as much for her as if she were a child of my own. Iadvised him, in the meantime, to go out and hunt, by which means he woulddraw away all his people, and prevent tattling. 

I removed Fosseuse, with all convenient haste, from the chamber in whichthe maids of honour were, to one in a more retired part of the palace, got a physician and some women about her, and saw that she wanted fornothing that was proper in her situation. It pleased God that she shouldbring forth a daughter, since dead. As soon as she was delivered Iordered her to be taken back to the chamber from which she had beenbrought. Notwithstanding these precautions, it was not possible toprevent the story from circulating through the palace. When the King myhusband returned from hunting he paid her a visit, according to custom. She begged that I might come and see her, as was usual with me when anyone of my maids of honour was taken ill. By this means she expected toput a stop to stories to her prejudice. The King my husband came fromher into my bedchamber, and found me in bed, as I was fatigued andrequired rest, after having been called up so early. 

He begged me to get up and pay her a visit. I told him I went accordingto his desire before, when she stood in need of assistance, but now shewanted no help; that to visit her at this time would be only exposing hermore, and cause myself to be pointed at by all the world. He seemed tobe greatly displeased at what I said, which vexed me the more as Ithought I did not deserve such treatment after what I had done at hisrequest in the morning; she likewise contributed all in her power toaggravate matters betwixt him and me. 

In the meantime, the King my brother, always well informed of what ispassing in the families of the nobility of his kingdom, was not ignorantof the transactions of our Court. He was particularly curious to learneverything that happened with us, and knew every minute circumstance thatI have now related. Thinking this a favourable occasion to wreak hisvengeance on me for having been the means of my brother acquiring so muchreputation by the peace he had brought about, he made use of the accidentthat happened in our Court to withdraw me from the King my husband, andthereby reduce me to the state of misery he wished to plunge me in. Tothis purpose he prevailed on the Queen my mother to write to me, andexpress her anxious desire to see me after an absence of five or sixyears. She added that a journey of this sort to Court would beserviceable to the affairs of the King my husband as well as my own; thatthe King my brother himself was desirous of seeing me, and that if Iwanted money for the journey he would send it me. The King wrote to thesame purpose, and despatched Manique, the steward of his household, withinstructions to use every persuasion with me to undertake the journey. The length of time I had been absent in Gascony, and the unkind usage Ireceived on account of Fosseuse, contributed to induce me to listen tothe proposal made me. 

The King and the Queen both wrote to me. I received three letters, inquick succession; and, that I might have no pretence for staying, I hadthe sum of fifteen hundred crowns paid me to defray the expenses of myjourney. The Queen my mother wrote that she would give me the meeting inSaintonge, and that, if the King my husband would accompany me so far, she would treat with him there, and give him every satisfaction withrespect to the King. But the King and she were desirous to have him attheir Court, as he had been before with my brother; and the Marechal deMatignon had pressed the matter with the King, that he might have no oneto interfere with him in Gascony. I had had too long experience of whatwas to be expected at their Court to hope much from all the fine promisesthat were made to me. I had resolved, however, to avail myself of theopportunity of an absence of a few months, thinking it might prove themeans of setting matters to rights. Besides which, I thought that, as Ishould take Fosseuse with me, it was possible that the King's passion forher might cool when she was no longer in his sight, or he might attachhimself to some other that was less inclined to do me mischief. 

It was with some difficulty that the King my husband would consent to aremoval, so unwilling was he to leave his Fosseuse. He paid moreattention to me, in hopes that I should refuse to set out on this journeyto France; but, as I had given my word in my letters to the King and theQueen my mother that I would go, and as I had even received money for thepurpose, I could not do otherwise. 

And herein my ill-fortune prevailed over the reluctance I had to leavethe King my husband, after the instances of renewed love and regard whichhe had begun to show me. 

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Envy and malice are self-deceiversHonours and success are followed by envyLovers are not criminal in the estimation of one anotherSituated as I was betwixt fear and hopeThe pretended reformed religionThere is too much of it for earnest, and not enough for jestThose who have given offence to hate the offended party