YEARS

LATER

(,L.^THE

OF

CATHERINE

MEDICI

DE'

By
EDITH

SICHEL
A uthor

of the

Household

The

and

"

Such

yet they
Knee

to

"

the

not

for

and

is

and

the very

fittest Timber
that

of

Women

de' Mtdici

Catherine

Timber

good

building

the French

Errors

of

to make

for

Renaissance

Reformation

Human

that

that

Nature

are

shall

ordained
stand

and
like

to be

firm."

found

is very
in

"

Its teaching
impatient of direct morals.
Mandell
Creighton.
large tendencies."
"

LONDON

ARCHIBALD
io,

'

"

great Politiquesof

ships

houses

of the French

Men

Bacon.

History

to be

"

dispositionsare
are

tossed, but
Francis

"

Lafayettes,"

ORANGE

STREET,

CONSTABLE
LEICESTER

1908

"

CO

SQUARE,

Ltd
W.C

is

n_0

Si

Tanner.

Butler

Works.
Printing
The

selwood

London.
Frome.
and

PREFACE

hardly

take

to

the
I

work.

make

the

central

no

figure

of

in

persons

standing
dates

made

into

character
for
And

discordant.

themselves,

that

us

which

is

of

bygone
neighbours.

judgment
our

wicked,

it is because

current

standard

if

they

do

of

Certain
the

which

existed

when

contemporaries

this

It is from

famous

such

Eve,

for

the

established

we

read

acquire
and

happen
alone

catastrophes
the

or

give

of view

point
murder

is

the

as

of

Henri,

human

and

rise
to

to

appear

for

sound

judgment

our

abnormally

us

the

they

line,

average
which

upon

in

rich

are

or

we
some

nothing.
there

and

under

began.
v

which

were

foibles

which

other

some

But

there

make

to

went

religion affords

That

us.

it, although

that

sure

knows

virtue

some

possess

the

below

fall

or

passions

Churches

for

is

it

as

needful

as

grasped closely enough

black
They only show
morality.

feel

age

is

not

influences

them

since

men

have

their

may

our

without

When

chance

definable

gulf between

cloak

events,
what

any

understanding,
generations

they

as

not

pride ourselves,
other

old

upon

the

Yet

larger historical purpose,

sharpen our perception of detail,
aspect of the strange things that

from

we

of

according

white
and

accepted

fact.

harmonize

and

of

Bartholomew's

which

Charity,
of

St.

light

throwing

Guise.

de

Due

comments

explains
to reproduce

of

Massacre

the

them.

I venture

that

unaccountable,

They

an

other

destiny,

in

error

no

actual

fresh

the

personal

more

often

of

shed

may

and

background
detected

discovery

no

apart

vitality.

new

I have

her

with

interwoven

draw

to

"

such

with

her,

see

multi-coloured
it.

upon

account

for

as

of my

historian.

expert

an

as

like

scope

paint portraits

to

were

as

I have

research

than

Catherine

against

shadows

strong

figure

to

more

drama

the

out

claim

no

been

once

Medici

I should

preface, and yet

again defining the

any

of

de'

Catherine

of

study

my

need

opportunity

has

aim

of
to

seems

can

My

may

half

second

THE

capacious

would

shelter, is
is

one

have
a

truth

quality

INTRODUCTION

which, in the late days of the Valois, made

peculiarto religion
much that seems
alone blinds
possible.For religion
impossible
people to the true nature of their motives and actions. It
them

enables

to

their

canonize

their avarice,their
selfishness,

the world
believe, and to make
believe,
that their crueltywas
holy zeal, their political
greed spiritual
ambition

often

"

energy.
Nor can

to

of another kind of deluthe power

sion
the incredible strength of a belief in the Divine Right
the Lord's Anointed
that he was
of Kings, which convinced
he employed to preserve
his sacred post.
in any means
justified
we

over-estimate

"

are
Superstitions

easy

to induce

revolutions

wear

for

them

to

and it took several

sovereigns,
the
faith in their own
give up

infallibility.
the Louvre, beneath
her fatal signalon the Eve

Here, in Paris,near
Catherine
"

gave
she heard

whence

the first boom

the window

whence

of St. Bartholomew

of the tocsin from

Saint-

the way ; or near

that other window
over
the deep river
which looked out upon the fast crimsoningSeine
dead secrets
of many
here, it is easier to feel the full force of
which divide us from the past. And
the old conceptions
here,
Auxerrois

Germain-F

"

"

too, in the
insistent

narrow,

which
life,

tries again
"

of

is easy to feel the force of

and fails,
and
hates, and aspires,

busy streets, it
loves

and

the life of the mind

forms, makes
shifting

and

to-day one

Paris,
October 28, 1907.

vi

the heart, which, in

with yesterday.

spite

CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER
Catherine

Alva

and

CHAPTER

II

COLIGNY

27

CHAPTER
Wars

The

III

Religion

of

55

CHAPTER
The

Margot

Princess

IV
Due

the

and

d'Anjou

83

...

CHAPTER
Charles

IX

103

.........

CHAPTER
COLIGNY

QUEEN

AND

JEANNE

VI
BLOIS

AT

CHAPTER
COLIGNY

THE

AND

NETHERLANDS

Vermeilles

Noces

CHAPTER

Bartholomew's

.151

IX

Eve
177

CHAPTER
St.

After

Bartholomew's

Eve
.

CHAPTER
The

37,

VIII

St.

VII

CHAPTER
Les

IIQ

End

of

the

Reign

of

.193

XI

Charles

IX.

vii

209

CONTENTS
PAGE

XII

CHAPTER
The

Accession

Henri

of

III

227

......

CHAPTER

XIII

Paris

241

CHAPTER
La

XIV
261

Margot

Reine

CHAPTER
The

Escape

Princes

the

of

XV
.

CHAPTER
In

Netherlands

the

XVI

295

.......

CHAPTER
The

Journeys

XVII

Catherine

of

CHAPTER
The

King

of

Navarre

and

Reine

the

Due

de

Murder

End

.331

Guise

and

XX

Revolution

the

....

Henri,

of

XXI

Due

De

Guise
....

of

Henri

XXII

III

401

......

CHAPTER
The

End

of

la

Reine

XXIII

Margot

413

CHAPTER

XXIV

Conclusion
Summary

423
of

Historical

Events
.

Key

to

Authorities

311

349

CHAPTER
The

Margot

Ligue

CHAPTER
The

XIX

CHAPTER
The

XVIII

CHAPTER
The

.277

the

Chief

Families

in

the

Book

viii

.431

....

433

....

434

Consulted
...

LIST

Catherine
IX

de

de

Cardinal
des

Touchet.

.to

en

56

64

(Bibliotheque

Nationale
.

Odet

de

dit

Coligny,

Francois

Clouet

d'Albret

Jeanne

le

Cardinal

en

Valois,

de

Margot),

vers

Reine

de

120
.

Navarre

,,

,,

theque
(Biblio-

142

Reine

(La

(Bibliotheque

Anonyme

1573.

1570.

en

Clouet

104

Nationale)

Francois

1570.

Chatillon,

(Bibliotheque

Nationale)

Maguerite

de

Nationale
.

Francois

de

III

Quesnel
1585.

en

Due

Valois,

Francois
Henri

d'Alencon,

1580.

vers

(Bibliotheque

216
.

de

IV

(Henri
Quesnel,

de

France)

1582

vers

Jeune.

(Bibliotheque

Nationale)

262
.

Le

Due

d'Epernon.

Anonyme

(Bibliotheque

ale)
Nation-

312

........,,,,

Henri

de
Dessin

,,

236

Navarre

Francois

,,

ale)
Nation-

........,,,,

Henri

156

Nationale)

(Bibliotheque
Anonyme

10

theque
(Biblio.

Court

de

page

Anonyme
.

face

Francois

By

1570.

Metiers)

Jean

Clouet

Nationale)

et

Frontispiece

Francois

Lorraine.

Arts

Nationale)

d'apres

Coligny

(Bibliotheque

Charles

Marie

Dessin

Nationale)

Gaspard

Clouet

(Bibliotheque

1565.

en

(Bibliotheque
L'Amiral

ILLUSTRATIONS

Medicis.

de

Charles

OF

Lorraine,
du

Due

de

Guise.

Francaise.

Ecole

Louvre

366
.

CHAPTER

Catherine

and

Alva

CHAPTER

THE 1562recordand
the

of

Rome,

is

last

not

between

the

For

of
Emperors
mal
luxury, abnor-

the

of

last

Abnormal

vice, and

abnormal

bloodshed,

that

Israel.

of

Kings

an

is

Valois

the

passed in France
edifying record.

that

years

1589

of

history

final

the

of

Alva

and

Catherine

the

all

over

lurid

to

storm

"

is

They

do

well

impossible

And
no

his

men

is

actions

would
of

must

in

able

of

to

their

with

which

be
may
disaccord

in

that

sure

with

real

his

own

for

luxury

himself

as

There

ambition,

his

morality.

he

or

have

been

victims

who

have

known

logical; and
unscrupulous doings are

current

for

and

rational,

as

did

history.

conduct

crimes, but

perpetrators

we

happened
of

themselves,

to
;

abnormal

has

law

estimation
to

Yet

to-day.

that

possible

or

deeds

their

the

nothing

living.

on

go

of

us

fundamental

seem

committing

were

day

love, hatred,

usually regard
a

is

accounted

are

passion,

they

this

women

be

not

that

that

to

that

remember

monster

incredible

seem

to

and

one

come.

"

generation.
should

The

light

of
threatening judgment
France
was
no
longer the expression, however
extravagant,
of a generous
and
splendour-loving royalty exhibiting itself
tastes
the
to
people, but a puerile outlet for decadent
; no
applauded by a festive
longer a pageant of the Renaissance
from
a
nation, but a meaningless show
groaning popuwrung
lace.
is the
rises to
only adjective which
Preposterous
the
of
this
mind
studies
of whoever
the
doings
distraught
of

when

Here

we

deal

we

constant,
feel

not

they

even

in

signal
to

come

we

the

the matter,
that
to the
import
upon
this
For
where
there
is
us
by
no
period.
morality, not even
but
is
there
no
immorality,
only unmorality,
public opinion,
and
the
awful
death
of public opinion is the
most
tragedy
of

that
French

the

befall

can

in the

whole

nobles

nation.

reigns of

nation,

outside

demoralized

is borne

fact

by

the

it, the
the

Such
Charles

IX

Court,

the

bourgeois

horror

and

had

Henri

overtaken
III

inhabitants

and

of civil
3

tragedy

war.

peasants
We

in

of

of the
have

had

the

seared

Paris, the

provinces,
likened

the

YEARS

LATER

THE

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

to that of the Kings of Israel,but

story of these sovereigns

we

For their vices were

to the Hebrews.
those of
injustice
reckless and primitivebarbarians ; of an
incipient
humanity
whom
unknown.
But
was
as
a
opinion
yet
public
power
among
the vices of France belongedto a polishedand exhausted civilization,
which deliberately
murdered
opinionand gave itself up
makes
the student thankful for the
to anarchy. Such
a time
of
earlier
franker
half of the sixteenth
century.
failings the
the
of the Renaissance, and sprang from
failings
They were
the excess
of curiosityand
of positivequalities,
enjoyment.
then
and
warmed
the
the
The
sun
land,
vintage, though it
have made
men
drunkards, spread a glow through the
may
veins of those who
partook of it. But in these latter days
themselves were
cold
enjoyment was wanting,and the senses
while they wrought ruin.
that in every generationthere exists
It is almost an axiom
who
sums
a
one
representative
personality,
up its qualities
is prominent just because
he carries them
and defects, and
do

an

contemporaries the voice, also the trumpet,

his

further than

"

was

epitome of her age was Catherine de'

ame"
elle qui est sans
reine-mere,ante de I'Etat,
of no aspirations
although from first to last this woman
of one
ever
piece,there may still be said to have been

two

distinct Catherines

of his fellows.
Medici

But

Such

an

i(la

"

Catherine

in

the Catherine

"

out

the

of power, and the

and the woman

strugglingwoman
satisfied. The first of these we
have already attempted to
portray ; with the last,the Queen-Mother,the virtual ruler
to deal.
for nearly thirtyyears, it still remains
of France
This second Catherine dates from 1562, the year which finally
changed and defined her attitude towards the Huguenots
and of the Peace
the year of the Catholic victoryof Dreux
power

"

"

of

Amboise, which

The
but

starved
but

Catherine

earlier
there

gave

hung

about

affections

"

the

away

of Protestantism.

cause

hardly boast of attractiveness,

the pathos of frustrated aims and
is in a great position,
person who

could
her

of the

is not

prosperous.
the second
Catherine

About

the Catherine
there is

enigma

no

she
To

Eve, of the

of St. Bartholomew's

pathos. She

is

remains, because
the

problems

Catherine

wars

interestingfor other
a

woman

still unsolved

de' Medici

of her power,

in the noontide

and

without

that her

the French

of

religion,
An

reasons.

heart

is

matic.
enig-

reignpresents,

Reformation.

CATHERINE
those

to

involved

in

ALVA

AND

parties,
political

towards

attitude

her

"

Spain." In her panic fear

of PhilipII rests the clue to most
of her ambiguities. Catherine,
all sides,
the woman
of negations,unpopular, trammelled
on
could not dominate
by personality. Her only chance of ruling
there

lay

is

generally one

in balance

and

"

answer

in

"

mastering the

of balance

art

to

secure

party, if
possibleone nation againstanother, the rest of her lifewas spent
In the year 1563, which
of Amboise, the
followed the Peace

her

in playing off
equipoise,

own

great family

one

or

outlook
with

of the

the

Catherine
bent
made

great offence

the

English.

"

Treaty

other

that

the

called

off

the

Pope

Spain ;

plot failed.

wit

and

it

fruit,"

to

only found

to

This

French

prevented the

be

"
"

children

; her

lack

no

"

of

arrived

had

with

the

to

were

Papal

returned

in the town,

packed

Holy Ghost
Rome

to

that

When,

privately described

reinforced

with

those

same

it
"

the

Pope

received

fresh

was

And

in his entrenchments.

opposite camp

in the death

charge of heresy

the

on

had

d'Albret

year, the
without
all fine-looking
flowers

results.
end

an

prospects of the
year

Troyes.

at

energy
had
been
of Trent, which
Church, had been overawed
by

spot remarked,
Courrier," had

Catherine

as

she

Council

of the

valises full of orthodox

came

prize when

Jeanne

for

was

in their Valises de

Council

it

Rome

Papal Legates,who

the

on

but

for the stake

The

Reform

the

Elizabeth

at

by Spain, and

for the

with

compacts.

as

secretlydestined

be carried

well

cited before
was

secured

Catherine,

But

her

long
peace,

was

claiming her as their separate ally. And

formidable
anti-Huguenot influences abroad

from

conspiraciesas

she

to

not

for the national

were

been

as

had

peace,
conclusive

Protestants
there

recapturedby

taken,

which

Havre,

of the best.

none

had

good

was

was

help of England they

"

upon

Huguenots

blow

the
next

Calvin, their only great dogmatic leader,

of his party. Coligny,their military
safelyapproach the Court, for fear of the
of

the intellectual backbone

leader, could
hatred

of

not

the

Guises,

and

decrees

of increased

passed againsthis fellow-religionists.

Nor were
the decrees unprovoked.
The
be" reckoned

they

with.

Huguenots

had

to

tune,
party under clouds of misforwith
to cope
strong party determined

Although

still

were

rigour were

their adversaries.
We

catch confused

in the drama

assassination

"

now

of

and sombre, of
of festivals. There

brilliant
glimpses,
of

crimes, now

Charry, a colleagueof

the

episodes
was

Guises, who

the

had

THE

YEARS

LATER

murdered
brother

certain

"

Michel.

Saint

And

there

he

before

the

was

MEDICI

DE'
killed

was

Paris, in broad

the

by

victim's

the Pont
daylight,near
the only two words spoken

"

Souviens-toi

by the avenger,
passers-by.

and

Huguenot

in

stabbed

"

CATHERINE

OF

were

moved

unmolested

away

wedding, made

for the pen

the

by

of

of Dumas,

Coligny'sbrother, Andelot, with the bold Princesse de Salm,

in the annals of the Huguenots, of which
event
a signal
ample
We
records remain.
can
pictureit as it happened, in the
family Chateau at Nancy, facingthe formidable Chateau of the
with

Guises

and

Andelot

other

none

his

as

the hatred

down

with

Andelot

the walls of his

assembled
door

made

how

the

men,

watch

can

them

upon

bridegroom
and

noses,

of

all,the arrival

persistentrefusal of Nancy

how

he

gallopedunabashed
the Guises

knew

to
were

arquebusade

at

river and

the

and his fumes

perfor three days

his cushions

feasted

bravely

finallyrode

off

with

horseback

on

"

him.
fiereet ftauvre,"
en
croupe behind
These
the common
events
were
talk, dangerous enough in
Catherine,
country where the smallest spark set all ablaze.
always, fear-ridden, dreaded strong action before all else.

his bride,

as

Guises

Cardinal shiver amidst

the

have

she would

in theirs ; how he thundered

forth an
home
which shook
his foemen's
across

their very

under

that

swore

lady'scastle,althoughhe

the coward
;

the love between

stormingsand pleadingsof her

urgingsthat her marriagewould draw

his hundred
We

them

; the

of the

him.

to receive

Princess, who

her husband

kinsfolk,their

orthodox

her

the river to divide

only

She

the

saw

ingenuity.

Born

theatrical

Medici to be,
and
to
do so
a

nation
devised
Charles

one

she
"

plans was

as

was,

it well
the

to distract"

the

She

usual.

than

hasten

first to

to

measures

coronation

of

teen,
only attained his legalmaj oritywhen he turned fourJune, 1563 ; the second to organizea Grand Tour for
to

was

of the

serve

country

many
for

purposes

stone

than

I5^3"

and

concealed

the obvious
amid

to

help her

see

the condition

the young
to
monarch
Both
in State Functions.

herself,to show

people,and to dissolve
projectsfulfilledher wonted
one

throughthe lengthof France,

progress

his

x7"

that

sumptuously

more

King and Court, a Royal

with

usual

who

in

which

her

spiritsof intrigueand

manager
of her

schemes, the

two

took

familiar

by her

prevent it,directed
behoved

periland

imminent

one.

rebellion
method
a

of

second

Charles

his nobles, the

6

two
killing

purpose

IX

pompous

was

of

or

more

ance
import-

more

crowned

birds

on

periodsof

August
his well-

accession, vanished

his formal

with

Conde's

General.
in

far thrown

so

Chancellor

office of
and

moderate

post

Michel

to

need
thus

was

cut

Lieutenant-

cancelled

order

and

an

Catherine

away.

Huguenots
l'Hopital,a

of the Erasmian

Catholic

of

the

to

sop

the

influence

of Protestant

important source
had

to the

claim

boyish lips; and

from

flowing incongruously

oration

conned

ALVA

AND

CATHERINE

allow

to

as

fine
a

"

the

statesman

courageous

His coronation
speech,
compromise and tolerance.
breathed
the spiritof
dealing with the religiousdifficulty,
of lightin darkness.
both these qualities
and remains like a beam

advocate

of

Indeed, he suited Catherine's intellectual attitude,and, apart

satisfaction.
from political
motives, she kept him for her own
Her
aim.

had a more
significant
plan, the Royal Progress,
to end at Bayonne, in a long-desired
journey was

second
The

her

meeting between

and

her

she had

daughter of Spain,whom

wedding, five years earlier. She also intended

the
certain royal marriageswhich
draw
two
to propose
would
nations
another one,
together. But this meeting was to cover
also long brooded
with
Philip the Catholic himself, a
over,
sinister meeting for the Huguenots, which
had for its end the
settlement
of religious
differences and the declaration of Catholic
Uniformity.
The
royal journey, which lasted some
eighteen months,
launched
began in 1564. But before the Queen-Mother was
her final negotiations
at Bayonne, she held two
on
important
audiences.
The King was
present on both occasions, but he
only acted dummy at her side,although one of these interviews
touched
him nearly. It concerned
his marriage,and was
held

not

at

since her

seen

Bordeaux.

old

Catherine

allybefore

secure

she

was

was

ties

could

on

with

occasion

in the game

Spain. Like most

impudently bold, and,

of reconciliation,
she had

to

Elizabeth, who

trimmer

the

with

Catholic
be

off with

to be

the new,
and she was
eager to
Protestant England before she formed

on

her relations with

fresh

anxious

never

vacillators,she
as

resolved

de

tour

her

to wed

force
son

fullyten years older than he. In this

determination
Catherine exposed herself to defeat, erring,
she
as
nature.
usually did, from lack of insightinto human
Cynic
that she was,
she underrated
the person
she was
dealingwith,
and she did not see that she was
doing business with as great
as

opportunistssat
never

two

such

was

herself.
at the
women.

same

Never,
time
But

perhaps, have
on

two

rival thrones

Elizabeth

was

such

certainly

greater than

Catherine, less personal. If she pursued a policyof expediency,

it

was

of

YEARS

LATER

THE

glory of England, not

for the

And

family.

there
"

of her

in those

than

CATHERINE

OF

was

for the

method

more

towards

her

adored

MEDICI

aggrandizement

in her vacillations

dear sister of France."

twenty-five
years old, a Gloriana
not to be approached without some
Catherine's

DE'

She

was

now

and
by her subjects,

flattery.
of feline

diplomacy.
divers inevitable difficultiesurged by Smith,
She had to meet
In spiteof her casuistry,
she never
the EnglishAmbassador.
lost time in preambles. When
he came
before her and
her
inmediasres.
The first objection
son, she plunged
you have
is
the age of my
But if the
son.
urged," she said blandly,
tone

was

one

"

"

will

Queen Elizabeth
age of the
last words.

The

mistress would

pleased with

it,I will put up

"

the fashion of

French

true

"

Court, she said,

in her

Catherine

live in France.

to

"

the

little

greater importance in the eyes of Smith

have

with

King obedientlyrepeated her

I should be very glad," he echoed,
if your
be as well pjeasedwith my
wellage, as I am
there was
hers."
But
second
a
objection,of

Queen."
"

with

put up

waived
The

autocrat.

who

Lieutenant

that Elizabeth

"

would

that

in
difficulty
Queen might have

would

govern

in her

ject,
English people,"rejoinedthe British subto grow
do not obey so easilyand lieutenants are wont
Elizabeth's fear of unpopuinsolent."
The third objection
was
larity.
Catherine againshowed her profoundignoranceof aught
but despoticrule, contemptuously remarking that the two
this evil.
would be strong enough to counteract
nations together
alreadycalls herself
My good sister,Elizabeth," she ended,

absence."

The

"

"

"

of

Queen
be

Queen

but

three

and

if you

France, but she is

indeed."
or

"

the

King

But, in good sooth

"

boy exclaimed.

"

answer,

to

; then

name

"

she would
If you were
the Queen,

years older, if you had but seen

reallyin love with her, I should not

were

well-tutored

turned

Smith

in

four

this haste."

at

only

so

her," the

Smith's
At your age, Sire,"was
love is ; soon
you will pass by

what

knoweth

none

I love

be astonished

passeth thereby, be he peasant or

prince. Yet is it surely the maddest thingon earth, the most
importunate,and that which hath least respect."
The boy's cheeks grew
Smith spoke like a true Elizabethan.
that

place,for

red at his words

no

"

Smith,
not

and

but

reasons,

go forward

for

and

"

his mother

affection,"said she.

mad

grave

man

every

that

love

worthy

in this

"

His love is
took up the cue.
That I acknowledge,"replied

of such

and

sober

nature

rest

considerations,we

enterprise
except upon
8

must

upon
must

ripereflection."

her that

and

Conde
this

rumour

the

Conde

do ?

asked

The envoy

"

assured

great Huguenots,

to

desire

to

The

"

to

separate

and

that his

was

Coligny;

help her.
King and his

do much

Alava.

MEDICI

coming
Bayonne, and that
ing,
delay. She soothed him by affirm-

of the

reason

Philip,could
"

"

that the two

abroad

was

contrary, saying that her one

his party, above
all from
from

master,

DE'

Jeanne d'Albret, were

the

was

CATHERINE

OF

departure?
daughter's

retarded my

hath

to

YEARS

LATER

THE

What

ought he
exchanged

mother

said. Catherine
was
understanding,and no more
to get her to the brink
enjoyed allowingforeignAmbassadors
of committal
; she enjoyed standing balancingherself inducing
think
that they had caught her, and withdrawingto
them to
of

look

their discomfiture.

King, though dominated, almost hypnotized by

not
his mother, was
a
cypher and, unfledgedthough he was,
his
alreadyshowed most of the characteristics which marked
The

later

young

Sensitive, uncertain, excessive,

career.

beauty,

to
violent, susceptible

now

affections,there

in him

was

with

of the

much

now

if

warm

gentle,
spasmodic

artist,much

also of

that he was
inclined to be
surprising
other boys of fourteen,
fanatical about religion,
or
that, like many
he should think heterodoxyabsurd.
And, like the people
of Paris, he frankly hated the Huguenots as sour-faced precisians,
who destroyedthe pleasureand gaietyof lifeso dear to

the

madman.

It is not

the hearts of Frenchmen.

He

old

not too

was

There
fun at their expense.
he and his brother Henri were
stayingwith

enjoycrude

was
a

too

or

refined to

occasion when

an

the Chanoine
cleric,

they found a Huguenot Catechism and

psalms of Marot and Beza.
They spent a
and
preaching,the which
good part of the afternoon in singing
his
then
did
in
brother, tryingwho
they
turn, first the King,
and
his
best could counterfeit the Huguenot
preacher." They
the
to
reproduced looks, voices, gestures,
great enjoyment of

de Mons, in whose
of the
a volume

their

the Cardinal

; let

while
you

can."

And

"But," continued
as

if you

saw

you

I make
"

"

Brother," exclaimed Anjou,

his hand,
not how to
you know

de Chatillon.
from

do not

try, and

me

of the rest of the audience, which

Colignyand his two brothers, Andelot

to that

catechism

preacher ;

fashion

so

of the Admiral

snatchingthe
be

"

mother, less

consisted

and

house

"

pullthe hypocrite'sface

do you

take

your
the preacher'sface.

I much

better

Henri, "you do
vision."

"

And
10

than

you,

turn

at the congregation,

I do

it better than

you," retorted

not turn

my

in proper

up your

the

King.

eyes to heaven

dear brother," said

Charles
dessin"

EN

blbmotheque

D'apres
From

IX

national*.

Francois
photograph

1565

by

Clouet.
A.

Giraudon.

CATHERINE
"

that

they meet,
join your

you must
when
some

turn

or

your

than your hands, just like a

desireth to load it with a heavy pack."

one

"

it still seemeth

to

donkey,
"

Well,

that I cut

me

figurethan you ; but to settle the matter, whom

This
umpire, the preachersor the hearers ?

shall

a
we

"

take

as

like

"

Queen-Mother.

said

"

Anjou;

Coligny and his brothers, and

as
they spoke,with a side glanceat
firstmake
us
appealto the Admiral,"
the real thing full closelyand can

at them

looked

Let

knoweth

he

something thereof."

tell us

in these

brothers,even

thing
some-

was

insult to

deliberate

the Princes
the

head

do not stick out your ears

; for to be a good preacher

more

ears

brother," repeatedCharles,
better

ALVA

it. You

but littleabout

Charles, know
so

AND

There

was
"

early days.

the

love lost between

no

deal"

He

cried Charles,

"

using the Spanish oath, you have found a way out very
Nay,
quickly do you perchance belong to their sect ?
but I know
I do not," rejoinedAnjou,
well enough what they
know
It were
meet
and the good face that they put on.
you
And
to
school."
these
came
words,
joyouslyand
my
upon
with
a
good courage, he tore up the books of psalms and
"

"

"

"

catechism
as

and

threw

they raced round

Monsieur

the pages
the

hurlingpaper

room

the

two."

at

face.

Then,
each other, Ask
"

Charles, "if I make

d'Andelot," shouted

preacher of

in his brother's

the better

not

much
as
Huguenot nobles were
meant
to be, and
as
annoyed by this royal horse-play
they were
been
well for them
if Charles's bigotry had
have
it would
with
his
stopped
youthful jokes.
Court
The
started for Bayonne with all its paraphernalia,
and

what

The

with

stoppages and functions at every town, it

months
took many
to accomplish the journey. Its normal
number
swelled by many
extra
was
eighthundred souls, now
of Nevers
officials; the great Dukes
and Montpensier, each a
in Catherine's
kingin his way, with his own Court,were travelling
retinue, as
and
Their

well

other

noble

baggage was
stuff

and

Monluc,

as

no

the

the

old

lords among

many

fields,
battle-

the chiefs of Catholicism.

lightmatter,
wardrobes

general of

not

of

to

speak of

the household

King, the
Due
d' Anjou and, not least,of the Princess
Margot, already
the mirror of fashion.
She had a playmate (ifso innocent a
word
be used about
these little worldlings)
in the young
may
Prince, Henri de Navarre, one
her husband,
day to become
now

barely fourteen

wit, brilliant

as

the

years

old, an

gallantboys

of repartee with

his

Catherine, the

a precocious
enfant terrible,

of

elders.
II

Shakespeare,in
This

was

kind

the

change
ex-

of sport

YEARS

LATER

THE
much

enjoyed by

about

her

and

he

CATHERINE

OF

Catherine.

She

joined the

Court

forth

MEDICI

DE'

delightedin having
its way.

on

him

Wherever

nymphs in brocade,
rocks ; shepherdsand
without
it, emerging from glittering
or
gods spouting pedantic Latin ; poems and pastiesalike doing
there we
honour to Kings and their Divine Right. Here and
the Queen
detailed impressions. At
Bar-le-Duc
get more
the baby born
of her grandchild,
presidedat the christening
raine
to her second
daughter,Claude, the wife of the Due de Lorwhich Ronsard
; and applauded the elegantmascarades
to all
in
At Macon,
contrast
had rhymed for the occasion.
the splendour,she was
met
by the austere Jeanne d'Albret
and her twelve black-gowned ministers (who probablybrought
Henri with them) and confronted
by a fierce sectarian
young
quarrelbetween the parents of the city as to whether the
and
Catholics might walk
children of Protestants
together
the

in

caravan

went, flashed

processions. And

there

colour

"

incidents

were

on

the road.

Now

the disgraceof a gaytragedy in the mask of comedy

hearted Court-lady,
who had the indiscretion to be found out,

it is

and

her instant immurement

"

in

roadside

convent

the

where

heavy destiny,while the

rainbow
which
had been her only world
cavalcade
passed
business episode:
quickly out of her sight. Now it is some
the arrival of the couriers from Spain, the buzzing of secretaries,
Now
the despatch of the return
again,
messengers.
of winter hardships
the whole Court is snowed
up for weeks
and of infinite boredom.
The
Princess Margot thought that
the cold had
its moral
advantages. The bitter winter,"
she wrote in her reminiscences,
froze the rivers all through
and
France ; and, by the like means,
it cooled men's minds
the most
hearts,even
quarrelsomeamong them."
At Lyons the welcome
was
resplendent. At Salon, the
famous
Catherine's favourite astrologer,
Nostradamus, once
forth in his old age, infirm but courtly,
to greet his royal
came
of consulting
missed the chance
mistress, and she, who never
lightcreature

left to await

was

her

"

"

her chosen

science,made a stay there to take counsel of him.

arrangements in Spain for the meeting at Bayonne had

The

by

not

of his

any

means

mother-in-law, had

First he refused
his

run

to

come

smoothly. Philip,always suspicious

been raising
than one
difficulty.
more
himself

place ; then he declared

could
so, he

only

with

gave

in

and

decided

that his wife

send

Alva

in

go, and
Even
consent.

should

be persuaded into
difficulty
with an
and would
ill-grace
12

to

not

not

allow

new

CATHERINE
dresses

suite.

her

for

settled
definitely

was

start

for

AND

It

that

ALVA

alreadyFebruary

was

she and

the Duke

before

of Alva

it

should

Bayonne.

doing Catherine justiceto say that the re-union

with her daughterwas
an
unfeignedjoy to her. She was anxious
her as soon
to meet
as
possibleon her way.
Yesterday,"
the Queen, my daughter,
she wrote,
arrived at St. Jehan de
the King, and I had gone
to
Luz, where Monsieur
son,
my
await her,and this same
her
to
this city(of
day we have brought
with
all
and
which
the
fills
us
pleasure
Bayonne)
happiness
The
arrival
at
St.
can
fancy."
Jehan
Spanish Queen's
you
It is but

"

"

had, indeed, been brilliant.

Majestiesof France," says an

It

in

was

"

Maytime.

Their

"

old chronicler,
that the Queen of

having heard
to
Spain was
through Monsieur d'Orleans
the river which
cross
separateththe two kingdoms on the
South, dined full early,and, straightway after dinner, they
set off for this same
river,adjoiningthe which they caused
leafybowers to be builded, about two leaguesdistant from
St. Jehan de Luz ; where
two
they,being come, waited some
hours
for her approach in a heat so
desperate (desespere),
that five
their
the

face to face
salutations

then

beheld

was

seized with

the boat

last, towards

At

armour.

Queen

troops died, suffocated

two
o'clock, the Court

six soldiers of Strozzi's

or

drawing near,
great joy, crossed the

and

and

embraces

long

so

ended, they seated

greet the King, who

of

Queen-Mother,

river and

she had

her whom

with

the

in

found

herself

desired.

Their

themselves

in

expectingthem
And
the shore.
when
the boat was
on
landed, His Majesty
board accompanied by the princesof his house, and
came
on
they made their salutations to the Queen without exchanging
And the troops of the Captain Strozzi gave forth
any kisses.
furious as 'twas possible
to hear, at the which
a cannonade
as
the Spaniardswere
amazed.
These ceremonies
over, they all
mounted
horseback
and so came
to sleepfor that night at
on
St.

to

Duke

of Alva

Philip."They
put the Queen

himself takes up the tale in a letter written

arrived here
and the Queen-Mother wished
.

of

Spain

Margueritewas
of the house

the

they have

waitingfor

where

she

her

on

refused,and turned red whenever

with

was

Jehan de Luz."

The
to

to

came

righthand,

her mother

but

the

insisted.

her sister in the street

Queen

Madame

at the door

Her Majesty supped

lodge.
King, the Queen-Mother and her sister,and now
all departed for Bayonne, where the receptionwill
was

to

13

YEARS

LATER

THE

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

accompany

The
Queen of Spain alone.
Spaniards who
the Queen are
towards
the
exceeding courteous

Frenchmen

and

be

see

for the

what

they

of

de

will do

the

at

Entry

hundred

into

We

shall

Bayonne."

d'Orleans

gentlemen

great gate of the town, where

them.

to

great magnificence,the Queen

Monsieur

Spain ridingbetween
Bourbon.

always yield precedence

Entry took placewith

That

she

and

escorted

the

her

Cardinal
from

the

presentedwith its keys,

to the house
King Charles was lodging; and the chief
in
robed
scarlet,bore her beneath
a
citizens,
golden canopy
the
where
made
to
the Cathedral,
une
priests
musique
after
for
amid
an
hour,
which,
blazingtorches,
romanesque
she returned to the Royal palace. The Spaniardsin her train,
the French chronicler observes, were
nearlyall mounted
upon
was

where

"

"

and

mules

miserable

portmanteaux both
was
an

in front and

most

of them

behind.

And

carried

this,we

their

know,

accident, but a stroke of ill-humour on Philip's

part
insult to Catherine's Majesty,to punish her for gainingher
no

"

Spanish
shabby Quixotes,and
point.

The

of solemn
from the
a

hacks, and

saddle

ladies

were

better

equipped

than

these

the

twenty-fivedamsels and the troop

made
show.
matrons
There were
a gallant
presents
king to his sister of Spain,a horse richlycaparisoned,
with pearlsand precious stones ; there were
sown
and

banquets interminable

cut in the
; terraces
for
set
each
turf ; choice dining-tables,
twelve, hidden in shady
of
the
dances
their pays and playing
groves ; peasants dancing
"
in vogue there :
the Poite vines on their
the instruments
on
bagpipes,the Provencales on cymbals ; the Bourgingnones
tournaments

Champenoises on little hautbois

And
there were
villagetambourines."
VEspagnol. For at this vital moment
and

violins

and
.

further

Spain

and

feastingsa

ruled

all the

The
them.
literaryfashions among
vogue
for pseudo-chivalry,
so
prevalent earlier in the century, had
and
Ronsard
passed away,
composed Spanish Pastorals to

fashions, the

celebrate

the

occasion.
after this

State-Entry,the Duke of Alva presented

his letters of introduction,the King of France
and Queen
of Spain attended Mass, and the game
It was
began in earnest.
and Catherine, the two most
Alva
duel between
a
experienced
The

morning

Reynards of Europe ; backed on either side by

Spanish Elizabeth on Alva's side,the littleKing on
The Duke
of Alva was
by now
fifty-five
years of
tall,of

splendidcarriageupon
14

which

he

seconds

"

the

his mother's.
age.

ally
Natur-

justlyprided

YEARS

LATER

THE

hers and

dominated

infused

She became

to her.

CATHERINE

OF

it with

almost

fanaticism

fierce

as

still childlike and made

lips,
there
told, a harsh vigour,directly
"

her

foe of

to

"

her short.
"

So your husband

that

know

you

What

his

suspicionswill

you
Majesty ?

your
evil-minded

Only

looked

mother

her

her

lead

said

"

are

religious

straightinto

us

that

such

"

My

Do
?

war

the

with

give you

"

she asked.

Elizabeth

people could

we

glance,and
the subject she cut

on

in the face.
straight

become

of the

think, Madam,

to
"

heresyas he, and

this at

saw

suspects me

have

cause

mistrusts
u

mother

unnatural

not

mention

was

daughter first approached

her

when

Her

MEDICI

smile," assumed,

"

troubles in France."

DE'

' '

King

animation.
ideas."

dear

Her

daughter,
"

her

I am
answer.
Spanish," was
it,"repliedthe Queen with regalpride, and
Spanish,I own
in truth it is my duty to be so.
But I am
always your daughter,
talk ran
sent
to Spain." The
the same
that you
but
on,
that day on
they touched no more
religion.
his pupil,Elizabeth.
He
subtler policy than
Alva had
a
and Philiphad togetherconcerted a programme,
every detail
in constant
of which they had discussed, and they were
munication.
comhave

you

very

"

He

meant

to

certain

exact

measures

ditionally
uncon-

expulsionof the Huguenot ministers

on
pain of death, the prohibitionof Huguenot services,the
exclusion
of Huguenots from public office. Catherine
came
with one
to get peace for France, by fair means
resolve
or
foul,whether or no she had to buy it with promises(notmade
towards
the Huguenots. But
for keeping)of future hostility
Alva meant
to hide his cards tillhe had fully
grasped the state
of French
Catherine
to make
affairs. He wished
speak first,
:

the immediate

"

and

this

There

what

was

the battle.

before

skirmishes

were

to do.

him

she meant

Alva

had

destine
clan-

in Alava, the Spanish ambassador, and Alava

colleague
set to sound
The shortest cure," said
was
Montpensier.
Montpensier'smouthpiece,his Confessor, would be to cut off
"

"

the heads
La

first of Conde

Rochefoucauld

and

and

the

Admiral, then

Grammont."

knew
Alva, the grim Inquisitor,
charm

of Andelot,

well when

and

where

to

has reallybeen without the

perhaps no leader of men
He was
art.
acquaintedwith Monluc, the gallantold general
rough, simple, bigoted, and as vain as a child. When
;

"

Monluc
effusion
he

came
"

to

before

did so, he

pay
a

his

group

respects,Alva

embraced

of courtiers and

whispered in

his ear,
16

"

am

"

him

with

attendants, and

only here

to

as

learn

from

Tell

lipsthe

your

the

me

measures

prideit

Monluc, whose

take

ought to

behalf

on

of

religion.
trust."

I should
pursue and the men
to be thought a statesman,

I should

course

ALVA

AND

CATHERINE

was

fell at

If my
example had been followed in the
should not be
last war, and no one's life had been spared,we
in these straits. If all good Catholics would but unite, there
would not remain one soul to break bread with this dirtymob."
into the

once

And, in

keep

I will send

Cardinal

The

eyes of the audience

Alva lost
more.
no

were

is

round

and

and

them

good Catholic,

little finger

her

also Damville

upon
time in

but

memorandum,

you
de Bourbon

Queen-Mother turns him

trust Montpensier,and

may

you
The

"

tone,

secret.

my

the

but

trap.

lower

"

Sipierre."
could

Monluc

seekingthe King. He
paid him compliments,he asked after his health, he begged
God,"
him not to exhaust himself by takingviolent exercise.
hath seeminglypreservedyour Majesty to chastise
said he,
The King,
the offences
committed
day by day againstreligion."
left to himself, would
probably have agreed with Alva, but
had drilled him
Catherine
efficiently. I have no wish to
be the ruin of my
take arms," he exclaimed
it would
dom,
kinghad
who
knew
the
late wars
have proved." Alva
as
taught him this speech ; he pressed him no further,but he
he must
for Catherine.
He
knew
sharpened his weapons
her mind, and he sent the Queen of Spain to prepare
attune
say

no

"

"

"

"

"

the way

for himself.

spiteof her mother's former rebuff,she was to reopen the

subjectof religion. As you are so much afraid of war, why
do you not avail yourselfof the Duke's presence and come
to
In

"

They

Queen.
"

with

settlement

some

bring me

Alva
and

Who

Duke."

"

"

alone.

were

the

him

The

she
So

demanded

French

of the

it," rejoinedCatherine,

be

presented
to her mother.
Did these two
wrestlers,strong, supple
cautious, look at one another before they closed in fight?
tell ? Alva, at least, had
his adversary's
can
taken
day

next

Elizabeth

measure.

Catherine
shut before

talk, it

to

had

all

she entered
"

was

with

the
upon

you

want

us
"

answer

With

"

to

of

The

her

conversation.

incredible

subjectafter another."
impatientgleam

doors

safely

apartments
When

she

began

volubility,
touching on

Duke

became

irritated and

M
into his eyes.
I see," she said,
arrive at religion."" I own
it," was

"

came

it is the whole

the coolness which

point
was

of

our

an

that

his

discussion."

her talent,she set about

17

one

giving

YEARS

LATER

THE
him

CATHERINE
since the

of events

summary

OF

MEDICI

DE'

Peace

and

of Amboise,

text, that the state of France

proved, according to her own
her fresh cause
had steadily
improved and was dailyoffering
with contempt
for hope. These conclusions he pushed away
of affairs. Catherine
statement
and proceededto make his own

feminine, and she let him have his say without

when
he
had
done,
interruption. Well," she remarked
to be

when

knew

"

"

diagnose the disease very

you
tell me

I entreat

well.

to

now

you

remedy." But it was lost time to play the helpless

her
He
saw
needing counsel, before Alva.
woman,
A dialoguefollowed between
trial of
them
a
wary
game.
who
their weapons.
he began urbanely,
But, Madam,"
the

"

"

desire to be
"

than

It is for you to say what you

you ?
I will undertake
to transmit
your wishes

that better

knows

to

"

done.

royal master."
my
Your royalmaster

rather

put

the

I do.

than

better

knows

What

and

Protestants

all that

happens in

means

rebels

kingdom

this

does he recommend

in their

would

What

place ?

to

"

She had forced him into a

yourselfdo in my shoes ?
Has
tight place ; he parried her questionwith another ;
gained or lost since the Peace of Amboise ?
religion
It has gained."
I cannot
; the
point of view, Madam
agree with your
policy of sustained dissimulation has hitherto compromised
to
the cause
of religion
thing left for you
; there is only one
you

"

"

"

"

strong measures."

take

it is

{'Then
?
"

"

he

broke

that you are going to propose

vehemence.
in with sudden
to

for the moment

You

it is your
as

recourse

Catherine

Arms

suffice.

son's

only resource."

It

spoke.

useless ; strong measures

the whole evil sect from France

would

banish

must

arms

the

was

be

had

Alva

the

for

moment

Spanish Queen

probably prompted by him.

If my
brother, the King, is really as strong
mother, why does he not chastise all those who
take

up

her

voice

his

raised

"

to

cue,

"

againstGod

as

you
are

say,
rebels

"

she turned
her wont, did not
answer
Catherine, as was
towards the Duke, changed the subject,and broached a League
"

the

with

Emperor
and
impracticable,
She

the

Catherine

had,

until now,
arrangement of a

of France

and

Alva

Maximilian.

Spain
"

adjourned the

concealed
double
the

told her

one

of her

marriage

surest

18

way

that

this

was

discussion.
aims

between

of all to

in
the

coming :
royalties

cement

the

long been

It had

that she desired.

alliance

ALVA

AND

CATHERINE

her wish

to

wed

Carlos, and the thirteen-year-old

Juana, the widowed Queen
elderlysister,
Philip's

the Princess
Due

Don

to

Margot

d'Anjouto
formed the theme of constant
of Portugal. These marriagesnow
she employed
conversations with her daughter of Spain,whom
he, in his turn, used her schemes

; and

to Alva

ambassadress

as

by which to force her to take more

possiblethumbscrews
decided steps againstthe Huguenots. Their second meeting
for the adjoining
room
was
was
a failure,
thronged with people,
as

the door

the two

between

the
rolling

it did

not

in St. Bartholomew's

that ended

events

that

pact

some

affected Catherine's

which

left open,

and

on

For there is littledoubt

them

been

talking. But the day after,they held

of their colloquies,
the privycouncil which

refused to go
the most
memorable

Alva

set

had

apartments

directly

in

course

arrived at between
after years,

though

deeds.

her

cause

was

Eve.

place in the long, deserted Gallery

of the Queen-Mother'spalaceat Bayonne. Outside was
the
corridor lay
blaze of a southern
Midsummer, but the pillared
The pairslowlypaced its length,
in deep shadow.
themselves
black
like ominous
shadows, Catherine in her trailing
robes,
in
Alva
in his sombre
low-voiced conversasuit, both plunged
tion
forced
than
enemies
into a friendshipbitterer
any
little
The
Queen of Spain was present, but that day
hostility.
of their discourse is known.
she playedno prominentpart. Some
first broached, Catherine
The royal marriages were
brushing
to
the
Duke's
and
them,
objections
treatingthem as
away
accomplishedfacts. Alva again urged the religious
difficulty,
but she cut him short, showing temper for the first time.
I
have alreadysaid all that I have to say
I shall know
of myself
to do justice,"
she replied.
how
The

took

conference

"

"

"

Meseems,

first
"

day

when

Meseems,

Madam,
I

spoke

sir, that

As Catherine

grew

He

her

told

you
to

you

have
you

do

grown

colder

that

since

thereof."
not

take

angry, Alva's calm

that she could not

meaning."

my

able.
imperturbgrew more
do justiceas long as

of her Chancellor, Michel

justicepassed through the hands
she answered,
that
l'Hopital. It was His Grace's ill-will,"
bad
not
he
so
as
prompted his ill-opinionl'Hopitalwas
him."
thought
Can
asked Alva.
deny that he is a Huguenot ?
you
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

in loud tones.
No, he is not a Huguenot," she exclaimed
Madam,"
quoth the Duke with haughty coolness, you
"

19

the

are

YEARS

LATER

THE

OF

CATHERINE

in all France

only person

DE'

to think

so."

MEDICI

Here

Elizabeth

Spain put in her word.

Already in my father's life-time he passedfor a Protestant,"
As long as he is Chancellor the Huguenots will be
she said.
of

"

"

Catholics

into retirement

awhile
"

the

and

favoured

"

oppressed. Why
Alva

send

not

him

interruptedhis pupil.
"

Catholic

to know
King," he stated boldly, wants
whether
or
no
business.
you are going to remedy this religious
the King, or shall he act by
Shall he count
son,
upon
your
?
To
ascertain
this
is the
himself
only reason
why your
has
to
come
Bayonne."
daughter
I have
said all that I have to say," reiterated the Queen-

The

"

Mother.
Alva

tried

Council

But

of Trent.

and

uses

diplomaticdiversion

tried to

put

began talkingof

the

subject

she turned

him

who
theologians

learned

and

off with

should

projectfor

resolve

her

to
a

the
own

Council

of

all

knotty points. He
twitted her with the failure of the Colloquy of Poissy. The
Cardinal of Lorraine, she declared, had been
responsiblefor
that.
These questionsare not matters
of divine law, but of
scandalized, and
expediency,"she said. Alva was
political
"

here the difference of the adversaries

cynicand

of
and

of fanatic

ill-conviction
the

main

theme

The

head

frogs,"were

is not

is much
of their converse,
the
salmon
is worth
of one

the words

in

Navarre, as he lurked
words, repeated by him

unseen

d'Albret.

told

After all
been

of

mind

that

of

his

"

thousand

unforgettable

mother,

The

the Confessor

Jeanne

measure

scribed
preof the Duke

the

now

in the

of

for surprise.
Catherine, is no matter
It is evident, too, from the letters of the moment
definite arrangement was
arrived at.
will inform
of Alva," wrote
The Duke
Alava,
"

and

the

Coligny,formed a
than
probable.

alcove
to

by

That

death of Coligny was

Montpensier ;
formally proposed, that henceforth the scheme simmered
and

case

by the little Prince

days
nothing new.

alreadyadvised

of ill-conviction,
resumed
a
versation
con-

heads

some

in after

they

more

overheard

of Alva

was

known.

all of

chiefs,above

of

had

and

strongest. They

of which

conclusion

of the Protestant

conviction

no

out

came

death
"

of

"

It

out.

came

"

your

Lordships of

Queen-Mother

if

great service done

And

the

they
to

God

can

resolutions

only
and

to

our

Lord
said

"

His

concerted

be realized

writingto Philip,Catherine
20

he

that

there

the

some

Majesty
with

the

will be

King."

AND

CATHERINE
"

The

settled

; she

of

service

the

will further

of

matter

desire to

our

fullywhat

more

goodwilland

of the

you

and
religion

towards

bear

assure

can

tell you

wife, can

Queen, your

ALVA

which

will

all

see

the

(forwhich

God

zeal

was

that

we

thingsthat
reader

may

forget. And, in

Spain),a
faith,we
painsso to fulfilit so that He will be content,
desire. Nor will I weary
shall gain the good we
and that we
Your
Majesty with a longer letter,assured as I am that the
that
Queen, my daughter,will tellhim of all the other subjects
and increase of the
for the preservation
discussed together,
we
us
subjectsso privy that I durst
friendshipthat is between
speak them to no other."
But if the decisions here alluded to refer,as is most
likely,
is
his
and
it
of the Admiral
comrades,
to the murder
equally
wholesale
for
massacre.
improbable that they imply any plot
the
Massacre
led
to
The
attempt on Coligny,when it came,
substitute

we

never

will take

"

by what

of St. Bartholomew,
that

place. But
by the chief
after,is

no

which

sense

Against

be

carried out

on

years

seven

quoted the remarkable

Don
Diego de Cuniga, written some
Bartholomew's
Eve, on September 10,

this conviction

weeks

two

to

of focus ; not the focus of their morals,

existence, but that of the shrewd
over-practical
them.
always guided
Alva

to

after

St.

from

letter

determined

out
supposition

had

which

Bayonne,

at

in its

discussed

generalslaughterwas

any

actors

will be

means

be

may

1572.
"

have

Oftentimes

Mother

at

Bayonne, and

she has

that

Yet if we

she then

what

thoroughlykept

I said to the

what

I remembered

her

QueenI

promised me.

see

word."
and look at this passage
than the death
imply more

off all sensationalism

shake

it does not of its nature

impartially,
his colleagues.Put
of Coligny and
and Alva's speech only means

the

"

stress
"

"

upon

she has

more

oughly
thorthan

satisfied us."

Many legendswere

and

restricted to
in new,

have

slaughter. The

tian
Correro, the Vene-

at the time.

thought that

Ambassador,
on,

current

definite list of victims

thought that the scheme

chief document

on

had

massacre

which

resolved

been

others, in old times

was

one

this belief

of
was

general
based

despatchfrom Alava to Philipat the time of the Bayonne

the beginningof which has been alreadyquoted.
negotiations,
That experiencedscholar, the Comte
de la Ferridre, gives it
it was
translated."
After the opening phrases
as
originally
was

"

21

THE

YEARS

LATER

debates

concerningthe
he continues,

But

certain

the

DE'

Catherine,

"

MEDICI

I feel anxious/'

perturbation that

well

is to smash

course

times
some-

beforehand

that

these heresiarchs and

others

enough

name."

de la Ferriere goes

the Comte

if this letter

of

and

I knew

without

such

are

for

"

only proper

who

of Alva

because

in her

see

the

"

CATHERINE

OF

to tell us

on

that, doubting

rightlytranslated,he sent it to an authority

in Spanish than
learned
himself.
more
According to this
student the despatch as here printedis wrongly rendered.
"

The

of the

copy

translation
"

were

less

faulty.
perturbed because
no

I feel

going to

letter/' says

smash

her

and

This

"

he,

is incorrect

it should

is how

without

heretics

are

the

"

these heretics

I foresee that

others who

run

and

are

the

name."

There

of the pronoun
is,in this case, the difficulty

to
referring

strained
Catherine being le instead of la ; also of the slightly
"
heretics
last
heretics
who
the
allusion
the
to
are
meaning'of
"

without

"

the

name

"

Moderates,

or

behind
other

the
hand

Court
the

the

would

"

"

Politiques

heterodox

sheltered

party that

semblance

here refer to the

of

afraid," he

and

those

"

writes,

heretics

the

that

will arrive there may

who

cause

On

the

in another

reading is borne out by a passage

despatchesbelongingto this period.

am

opinions

professed Catholicism.

this

of Alava's
"

which

already at
a change in

Queen."

And

the

letter to

diplomat, Cardinal

ultra-Catholic

Spanishfriend,makes

the

much

Granvella, in

statement

in

same

(theQueen-Mother) to be so
stronglyimbued with this idea that in coaxing both parties
her power, and that
she has found the secret of consolidating
of
she will persistin this policy,
which the destruction
from
and of the throne and of her son must
inevitablyfollow.
religion
I am
fullypersuaded that she will do no good,and I have only
too many
to apprehend great disasters."
reasons
different words

This

"I

conviction

believe her

of persons

behind

the

that

scenes

Catherine

weakly towards the Huguenots than to

plan a wholesale vengeance againstthem weighs heavily against
the current
traditions ; against the Protestants' firm belief,
was

likelyto

more

chez

J'eprouve des
elle,parceque

dautres
2

qui le

sont

J'6prouve du

le marteler

act

craintes pour

le trouble

je prevois qu'on
sans

en

trouble

avoir

le

parceque

(elle,
Catherine)et

doit

que

je sens

marteler

ces

qu'ily a parfois
heresiarques et

nom.

je prevoisque

d'autres
22

qui

le sont

ces
sans

heretiquesdoivent
en

avoir

le nom#

THE

LATER

Whatever

showed
"

OF

Catherine
flights

real

The

YEARS

CATHERINE
allowed

DE'

her pen,

the

MEDICI

leave-taking

emotion.

adieux

of the

of

Spain to the Queen-Mother

and the King were
more
say,"
heartrendingthan words can
floods of tears.
to Philip.
Alava's account
There were
runs
and
told him
he
The Constable
into the King's room
came
well as his own
must
not cry because
the foreigners
as
subjects
and
The
notice
to
never
it,
a
might
King ought
King
cry.
Queen

"

thanked

the

reminded

the

would

King

that
them

the
do

We

and

have
at

gave

to

this

her

had

not

up
pathetic,in

know

run

must

the

it had
be

not

stop his

great risks that

because

meeting
she

the

been

Queen of

little

human

Queen-Mother of

I told

Catholics who
And

Constable, but he could

on

Protestants

been

her

decided

tears.

she

and

were

to

the
suaded
per-

chastise

guard, as the good

had alreadydeparted.

surroundingthem
counsels."
Spain gave her the same
if the Queen of Spain shed tears like
his

poor
royal lesson

King Charles, who so soon learned

the unkingly habit of grieving. Sumptuous, stiff
of etiquette,
Elizabeth
the flower of youth and

Spain was borne away and vanished in the distance,followed

by her jewelledladies and ill-accoutred gentlemen ; vanished
to be seen
never
again by the eyes of her kindred, or of the
of

world.

24

II

CHAPTER

Coligny

II

CHAPTER

Coligny

was

there

other

each

forces, and

opposing
attitude

towards

each

lies the

key

the

to

The

first

it

had

next

seven

drama

chapter
played
years

which

in

confronted

who

still Catherine

conviction.

and

of France

situation

Alva

de'

were
Coligny. They
was
a
death-struggle

and

other,

the

last

was

de

"

indifference

between

one

was

"

their

by

the

characters

two

Gaspard
struggle

was

the

filled

were

"

stage.

second

the

Medici,

1572

the

upon

and
and

Bayonne,

leading parts,

two

were

of

events

Catherine

at

and

1565

the

one.

grim comedy

between

"

followed

crowded

their

out

that

period

THE

each

their

In

Spain,

towards

during

this

storm-rent

time.
To

the
for
he

to understand
justice to this attitude, it is necessary
This
is happily no
character
of Coligny.
difficult matter,
subtle
emanation
of the Renaissance
not
a
Coligny was

do

rather

was

said

of

and

steep
He

he

born

father

Louise

mother

was

and
as

of

days
factor

1519,

in

Mailly, born
most
important
the

despotic,

who

Francois

Coligny's

sister, Louise, had

relations

it took

were

the

inherited

grave

to

the

turn,
27

and

has

Kings

rock,

Catherine

as

rising

who

de'

had

She

This

the

regard
family
mundane

him

sister

splendid

as

uncle
a

Coligny's
the

was

the

such

Medici.

married

Montmorency.

of

told,

vapours.

dominated

word

bound

Valois

barbarian,

II.

ennobling

one

later

Montmorency,

long

is

Michelet

the

parent.

de

Henri

life ;

His?

de

Renaissance

and

law,

her

Anne

so

is

Chatillon,

de

prince,

his

year

de

life

fir-crowned

same

Sieur

and

with

the

whose

actions.

mephitic

out

great Constable,

was

his

like

out

from

the

his

arrogant
he

stands

in

was

widow,
the

in

embodied,

clear-cut

was

His

Reformation,

personality of Coligny
of the
study in the France

indeed,

and,

is

the

the

that

subject

of

man

intellect

whose

of

courageous
in the
Court
was

great

potentate
with

deference.

character,
success

was

though
was

the

LATER

THE
last

YEARS

thing she

cared

OF

CATHERINE

about.

She

MEDICI

DE'

was

friend of bold

close

thinkers, like Marguerited'Angouleme, the sister of Francois

de
I, and of a confessed Protestant such as Michelle, Dame
of Ferrara.
Soubise, a lightat the Calvinistic Court of Renee
Louise

de Chatillon 's
she herself

but

Catholics

sympathies

to have

seems

doxy,
hetero-

evidentlywith

were

been

of those broad
might be called
one

Evangelical Catholics they

less inspiredby Erasmus
who were
and could easily
more
or
be
taken
for Huguenots, although they actually formed
of the Roman
the
Extreme
Left
Church.
Marguerite
of
them : her Italian contemporary,
one
d'Angouleme was
Vittoria
another.
Colonna, was
Basing their faith upon
the Gospels,which
they read for themselves, they urged
astical
a
Christianitythrough stricter morals and ecclesipurer
Reform, strivingto reconcile old forms with new
"

"

"

"

ideas.
To

of

us

and

the

were

not

to-day,as

time-worn

d'Angouleme
and

took

bottles

then

so

when

beliefs

in.

the

wine

past, the fresh

easilyseparable,but they
in solution.
were
Marguerite
for

the Sorbonne

before

heresy

kinds, yet died professingthe

in both

born

was

about

are

summoned

was

Communion

religionshe

read

we

de

Louise

probably

Chatillon

did

indulged in no audacities,
but she brought up her children in an atmosphere of a primitive
an
not without
piety and strenuous
mysticism which were
her religious
influence on
their after days. She had shown
not

far and

so

go

tendencies
Anne
"

to have

seems

in earlier years,

she had

when

de

Bretagne, where she was

It is absolutely
safe for your mother
of her conscience

recesses

confident

eyes,"

she

for her

to descend
can

look

goodness.

into the
about

Protestant-minded

the

wrote

"

known

of

lived at the Court

most
inner-

her

with

Chancellor,

FHopital, to the Cardinal de Chatillon. Nor is

it without
her
that
significance
saintly granddaughter,
de Roye (born of Madeleine, Louise's child by her
Eleonore
first marriage),became
the wife of the Huguenot leader,
them.
the Prince de Conde, and
figuredas a power among
Louise had
four sons, Pierre
died in his youth, Odet,
who
who
thus, while
was
a
early made
Cardinal, Gaspard, who
Michel

de

"

still

boy, became

Andelot, whose

career

For

for

courage,
to
devotion
to

show

than

the

head

seems

of the

almost

simplicityand

one

family, and

Francois,

or

with that of the Admiral.

heartwholeness,

and

for

another, history has perhaps nothing finer

these great brothers, bound
togetherby their

one

28

COLIGNY
faith

well

as

"

by their love.
the unity of mind

as
"

old historian,
betwixt
that was

three,

the

For, in sooth," says

and

charityand goodness
that they seemed
a

such

was

the

singlesoul."
de

Louise

had

liberal thinker's

herself
not

This

pard's tutor.
who

the

gave

friend

well

as

and

He

act

as

does

Erasmus

of
her

Gas-

son

enlightenedHumanist,
classics and

be

To

for the

had

man

of the world

his brothers

master

became

was

sword

his
well

as

lightmatter
began almost

no

days, and required a trainingwhich

conscientious
a
boy rather
infancy. Gaspard was

those

in
in

quick

to

an

for the

taste

friend

she

teacher.

as

for the pen.

as

Berauld,

was

boy

chose

Berquin,

heretical savant,

of the

and

belief,

knowledge. Whether
Marguerite d'Angouleme,
she

all events,

At

appear.

of

way

for

taste

scholar, like

was

of her

like others

Montmorency,

and

one,

was

eleven

Court

to

officiate
of

wife, Eleanor

These

she

all that

with

became

she

Fs

Francois

took

constant

the

brought

at

summoned

was

something
was
anything but

interests, and

new

his

education

the

lad

to

second

with

peculiarly attractive

Queen,
for intimacy and

out

his mother

who

her, for the

of

only lasted
Chatillon-sur-Loing

and

Austria,

balance

home

His

to
lady-in-waiting

as

had

have

must

de

; for in 1530

till he

She

brilliance.

family Chateau

old

the stern

their

for

faculties than

for the

remarkable

more

than

companionship

with

her

of

good

about

singledher

grave,

Chatillon.

at

guest

her.

of

Marguerite
and

company

of

have
been some
intellectual cheer, must
compensation for the
loss of the seclusion that Louise liked best.
Gaspard, at least,
his

profitedby
from

stimulatingsurroundings. He
pedagogues from Tagliacarneand

skilled

remained

letter of his to

gives him

become

already
"

his first tutor.

to

Berauld, written

He

Court.

to

true

news

am

strenuous

part

to
most

the

to

ever

desire.
I can,

occupy

all the

affection which

lawful
as

have

coming
he

"

"

accustomed
matters

We

has

of it.

de

not

Maine,

four years after his

of the grand world

to
Gaspard
Coligny," it runs,
You
want
to
me
greeting.
give you the
detest
although usually you
asking about
I

lessons

du

"

his heart

but

had

So I shall
the

my

same,

binds

mind

us

two

try

to

knowledge
29

Nicholas
news

them.
with

Berauld,
Court,

of the
As
such

only going

am

together,and

for
vast
to
to

me,

and

listen
your

fully
up for you as faithI have been
able to get
sum

LATER

THE

and

first-hand

begin with :
Pope is dead.
illthat from

OF

all that

I have

no

has

one

day

to

men

sail from

set

defend

to

Marseilles

All

of

mankind

of the

midst

in the

things,the King
from
he

every
stroke from

taken

and

there, some

their houses.

Our

At

ready

Cardinals

believe

his

to

We

warfare.

to

prey
and

And

yet

over

all

brood

anxiety that

allows his courage

were

day

devotes

with

so

of his death.

8.

doubt

never

if he

As

it.

he is

and

territoryis

Roman

sea.

hear

is that

that
September
in
conclave.
are
alreadysitting
are
arising.The enemies
grave complications
and the enemies
of France
are
ploughing the

arrived in Rome

of

for certain

on

they have
sorts

others.
To
up from
asserted
that the sovereign

yet

as

MEDICI

DE'

picked

day we expect to
are
appearing here

plunder, others

to

CATHERINE

All that is known

armed

Rome

YEARS

dashed.

to be

well-founded

inspiredby some
hunting,tires out

the

Far

hope,

stags, or,

very

hand, finishes off the boars already

I give myself up to the same
Sometimes

in the nets.

own

kind

ing
of exercise,but the greaterpart of my time goes in readCicero and the Tables of Ptolemy under the guidance of

du

Maine,

method

whose

is

different

from

Tagliacarne's,
in such
and who
adds cosmography to the rest, especially
sections as deal with the longitudeand latitude of places,
and
well as with meridians
as
parallels.
in
of all the affairs of the Court,
There, you are
possession
"

far

so

them.

I know

as

everythingthat

me

home.

Maine

Du

is

For

part, pray,

your

happening,whether

greets you

in town,

thousand

if you

will,tell

or

times.

in your

Since

of
this letter,the King has at last had certain news
to pass just when
the death of the Pope, which
came
every
one
thought him on the road to recovery."

wrote

There

are

some

deadened, by
cut
a

all of

men,

by

Coligny is

fashioned

simple nature,

dominated

down

sendingthem

piece.

History has wronged, or

whom

on

to

as

of these.

one

few

strong conviction

us

bronze

and

rather

monuments,

Because

he had

straightlines, and

which

overshadowed

his

generally been pictured as devoid

of taste, a man
of them.
Yet
he was
many-sided, a man
of the world.
To the end of his life he enjoyed the classics
Books
and took a scholarly
were
pleasure in writingLatin.
other

his

he
qualities,

friends

"

whensoever
him
to

tells
read

"

he
he

us.

aloud

was

In
"

has

turned

back

to

and

them
"

studied

who
so one
publicaffairs
the days of his popularityat Court, he
Pantagruel to the young King, nor
free from

"

"

30

them
knew
used

could

THE
The

LATER

YEARS

sunniest

picturesof

OF

CATHERINE

his

life

of him

those

are

MEDICI

DE'

work

at

there, whether found by the Ambassadors

from Court, sickle
in hand, contentedlypruning his vines ; or tendingthe melons
that he sent as a present to Francois de Guise, the man
whom,
in

after

he

years,

loved his Chateau

to adorn

it.

fashion, in

neighbour as
of his

too

he added

"

But

this may

day

when

mean

every
art-collector ;

an

He
having murdered.
and got Jean Goujon
buildings,
than the prevailing
more
no
grandee tried to outshine his
and Colignyhad the precedent

accused

was

of

uncle, the greatest among

the
Chantilly,

Constable's

them

all

for

"

bye-words for

palaces,were

and

Ecouen

artistic

splendour.
in life

Colignyset out
he appeared upon

the

as

France

to

between

the occasion

his way
to the Low
and
I had
Francois

on

him

his welcome

preparationsfor
sent

was

rode

to

of fashion.

man

political
stage

twenty years old, on

was

receive him

in

was

1539, when

of Charles

Countries.
come

to

first time

The

V's

coming
long war

The

end, and

an

he

the

The Dauphin
sumptuous.
and Coligny
the Spanish frontier,
were

on

in his

train, in the Dauphin's liveryof black and silver.

That
Dauphin, afterwards Henri II, had a real affection for
At Bayonne,
his follower,and fortune seemed
to smile on him.
the seat of so many
the
diplomatic festivities, pageants and
the

banquets

had

no

in the Constable's
which

the

were

from

return

Dauphin

and

plunginginto
in honour

the

King

Catherine
dance

of
who

rose

Coligny officiated

Thus

Company.

end

to

and

pause,

Ensign
Spain,

as

his relations with

in

grim earnest, began in play. After

to
follow the
Bayonne, he continued
to be his gentleman of the Bedchamber,

all the distractions of the Court.

There

is

ball

grand lady'swedding, and Colignyattends

some

enters

de' Medici

"

with

d'Etampes on

Madame

is there with

her husband

his

; the

"

arm

Royalties

another, but Coligny leads out the bride.

Or there is a great tournament.
Coligny again follows the
Dauphin, togetherwith his brother, Andelot, and this time
with

one

The
corselets of
green.
of green
the Chatillons are gilt,
their short, hooded
capes are
velvet, their sashes are green and white, their green silk hats
the

prince'scolours

have

white

their

feathers.

adversaries

"

Dauphin and his

gingerly,"with lances

The

very
Chatillons also played their

was

Francois
But

de

Colign, was

and

white

are

part

"

one

fellow

fought

of ash.

of their mock

The

opponents

Guise.
not

born
32

reveller.

He

had

meanwhile

COLIGNY
In 1542, three years after his
between
that sovereignand

his real vocation.

found

the

with

Emperor,
out
again. Coligny

broke

war

in

the

d'Orleans, then under

the Due

first under

served

Low

the

meeting
France

Countries,
He

Dauphin.

gay-hearted. Now he
is wounded, now
writingto his aunt, after a siege,to excuse
himself for being a bad
correspondent. He has promised
loved

he

the game,

her letters

to send

"

"

in the world

"

just such

he was,

think

"

him

the laziest fellow

say," little hindered

truth to

he had

written.

not
King," only
as
any gallantnephew might
"

letter

she must

and

the service of the

reckless and

was

It

by
was

write to any

down
to us with a strangely
sympatheticaunt, and it comes
modern
enlarged,for
ring. In 1544, his experience was
in Italyand fought in the battle
he joinedthe King's army
of C6risole,which gave
A few months

the French

later,when

tories.
greatestvic-

of their

one

the

scene

had

more

once

shifted to France and there had been fightingin Champagne,

of a regiment,
his master, the Dauphin, made
him Commander
his

and

militarycareer

assured.

was

and

divided
The Court
his existence.
now
camp
of the close of FrancoisI's reignpresenteda strange medley
Court

of cabals

and

from
to do

revels.

the

stage,nor

There

so.

age from
would
not

to-day.

Men

in favour

did

they as

had
a

no

inclination

rule feel any

is

nothing that more

impassablydivides one
another
than
its pleasures,
and
Coligny himself
have felt shocked
at much
that would
disgustus
find his brother, Cardinal Odet, a man
of fine
and serious convictions, even
then tending towards

We

character

Protestantism, hurryingout of his bed to join some

in the

Bacchanalia
the

which

draw
to with-

chance

Ferrarese

streets, or
Ambassador

taking part
described

in

midnight
royal feast

"

as

revel

of

Sardanapalus,"and at which the Cardinal of Ferrara, no

more
squeamish than other Cardinals, refused to be present.
not
Colignyfulfilledhis role as a courtier,but his heart was
In
such
in
both phases of his life,
and in peace,
in war
things.
friends played a great part. He
romantic
as
was
a
man,
shall see
in the later days of his second marriage. In
we
these earlier times
in

it

was

been

and
friendship,
for Francois

the

that

romance

was

in him

there is ironic sadness

"
de Guise.
In their

shown

was

in the

fact that

youth they

linked

that to
in like

had

together with singular familiaritie,insomuch

testifietheir friendship
ed
with all,they went
apparel'
from
the
rayment," says an old writer, translating
33

YEARS

LATER

THE

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

They fought in the North side by side,they jousted,

and
they tilted at the ring,they masqueraded in company,
of
Brantome
tells
were
a
both,"
us,
very jocund spirit,
follies
than
all the rest, and
extravagant
performing more
that they did not perform ill,for they were
none
there was
and unlucky in their sports." There is something
clumsy players,
in the last phrase that brings the two
men
too
big
big, too weighty for their surroundings very vividlybefore
them
to see
seem
strivingto adapt the strength
us
; and we
for large fields to the lighter
tasks for which
and sinew made
shooting
they were hot suited. Coligny,it is recorded, once
his
from
cross-bow, hit another
a
pelletof earth, for fun,
French.

"

"

"

"

friend, Strozzi,by mistake

Perhaps

should

heroes

Coligny too

and

It is

the forehead

on

be

not

seen

and

play.

at

stunned
Nor

had

him.
Guise

of it.

much

curious,by the lightof these years,

to

look

onward
when
which
the
feud
between
others
arose
the two
at those
fire
to
France
and
kindled
set
that
brand
the
flame of
was
a
and ruin.
"It is well known
civil war, ending in massacre
at the beginning of the reign
what
on
good terms we were
of Henri

show

his words

it would

easy

Coligny himself.

wrote

but

II, and how

It

was

the

that

have
not

been

to continue

so,"

he

thought,
easy
difference of creed, which
we
gulf between them, made no
so

as

might imagine to have fixed a

for estrangement
reason
such
insuperable division. One
rift
the
arose
the
beginning of
quickly. It was
offices
that
Guise
had
mainly through Coligny's good
the
with
favour
found
Dauphin, and, having gained it, he
The family of Guise was
it.
to
how
of the
well
knew
use
scheme
for marrying Francois'
There
a
was
worldliest.
de
brother, Claude de Lorraine, to the daughter of Diane
"

"

Poitiers,which, if successful,would
to

Francois

power.

Coligny gave

Guise

de

it in round

terms.

prove

asked
"

certain

avenue

Coligny's opinion;

I make

more

account,"
so
great

than of never
said he, "of an inch of good name,
de Guise could not stand
Francois
the truth any
riches."
retorted
that Coligny
better than other great gentlemen,and
and
friend
answered
not
as
a
comrade, but rather as
had
"

one

who

envied
Like

bring."
rejected;
ensued

the

between

him
most

the

In 1553, the breach

fortune that the

marriagewould
of
that
for,
Coligny was
in questiontook placeand a stiffness
asked

advice

marriage
the

good

friends.
had

widened.
34

Coligny by
"

then

made

COLIGNY
Admiral

of

France

the

gained

"

Renty, by
glory to himself.

the

"

Ah,

day against the

his

his tactics and

at

But

courage.
"

Dieu!

mort

Emperor

Guise

took

he cried, " do not

"

I have no
wish
of my honour."
me
to," said
try
"
Coligny. Nor could you," retorted Guise. But it needed
worse
disputesthan these to destroythe tie that bound them.
rob

to

In the heart

after the

died hard,
Coligny,at least, feelings

of

feud

Chatillons

and

Guises

the

between

and

had

long
been

de Guise of
openly declared, we find him warning Madame
life. He would not go direct to
husband's
a plot againsther
the Duke,
lest the same
should imagine he wished to regain
his friendship
and to play the kind officious friend,in return
be capable of
for the intelligence."
should
the one
That
such an action, the other of such a suspicion,
enough defines
"

the distance

them.

between

Coligny had

Strozzi's company

brother, Andelot,
gave

them

wrote

to

be

to

and

the

trip

sound

had

saved

"to

concludes

writes,
as

"

"

them

"

like

very

there

for

The

year.

of

plans

for

to

city

their

this

generation. They
their journey, they were
pleasure,"and they meant

touch

with which

gone
and

had

little record

the chronicler

who

get of Coligny is at
letters to the

he would

only one.

have

Andelot,

trouble

Germany, got
through a
of
out
afterwards.
So it
sight
keep
There is but
met
Coligny at Venice.
doings,and the only vivid glimpse we
Ferrara, at the opening of 1547. He

to

of their

guest of

one,

into

first to

Strozzi alone

says

Catherine

All this," he
intimate.
is, perhaps, the most
their uncle, the Grand
Constable, especially
annoys

duel

as

plans

will be gone.
If it had only been
it."
fated to be
After all,it was

the

and

"

had

was

The

there."

are

the

scudi

14,000
about

who

was

Italy. His
the Dauphin

of Florence, begging him

their chief desire being to see your

both

stood

famous

cousin, the Duke

which
antiquities

to be away

the

to

Courts

Italian

everywhere in Italy for

go

went

them

accompany

all the

to

he

that

was

to

was

letters

her

kind

it

youth

Captain, Strozzi, for whom,

rivalled his feelingfor Guise.

soldier, Brissac; the great

almost
indeed, his devotion
In

his

in

comrades

other

Duke

II, who

Ercole

mentions

him

in two

"

I have set myself,"

Ippolitod'Este.
the Duke, "to provide him with all the diversions I can, such
Cardinal

country pastimes and

To-day we have had a

tragi-comedy. I

new

listeningto musical
and, to my thinking,most

the

think he will leave

35

strains.
table
delec-

here well satisfied."

YEARS

LATER

THE

himself

Ercole

Duke

for

CATHERINE

OF

fond

was

theology,but

of

DE'

sports and

MEDICI

and
feastings,

his wife

the French Princess

was
and
follower
friend
of
the
who
her court
made
Calvin,
Renee,
heretic. The memories
into a haven for every sort of fugitive
had

taste

no

of Calvin's

sojournthere

it, and

must

he

found

have

Colignyreached
atmosphere congenial; nor

its

his visits to its rulers

probable that

is it

stillfresh when

were

without

were

effect

his mind.

upon

of Francois

death

The

compelled his

I,

France.

to

return

the last

on

The

for his uncle, the Constable, who

to power
and, for the moment,

Gaspard

made

was

feel secure, in
the command
meant

not

conferred

Maitre

propitious,

was

Anne

the facts that the post of Constable

of the army, and that the office of Grand

spiteof

him

on

administrative

that,
:
leadership

speak of his wealth, his territorial possessionswere

the Governorships of Provence, Picardy
that
;

to

not

hour

March, 1547,

lyinglow, returned
prodominant at Court.
of Infantry; future
de Montmorency did

was

But

of

been

Colonel-General

certain.

seemed

honours

had

day

immense

Languedoc and, later,of the Isle de France, all belonged

him and his family; that his nephew controlled the Infantry

and
to

and

still had

he

distinctions
and

rich

themselves

ambitious

more

concerned.

was

Guise, were

six

The

covetous

more

with

far

as

of these

old

that

of the

weighed
out-

Guises,

Montmorencys

branch
younger
Duke, Claude de

and far more

preferment,

lous
unscrupuof the Constable

the three

gettingit,than

face

danger

the

as

of the

sons

of

In the

the rival power

ambitious
the
as

was

strong and

as

reckon

to

This

all.

them
as

of France.

after Admiral

soon

was

about
nephews
for the Chatillons had consciences,the Guises had none, and
little they cared for France, apart from what she gave them.
They certainlyhad the lion's share of ecclesiastical privileges.
"

Cardinal's hats and

Three

fallen into their hands

had
to

and bishoprics
eighteenarchbishoprics

their

other

"

an

of influence.

sources

had

They

through their sister,Mary of Guise,and

Mary Queen of Scots, while a relation of theirs

should

these

Under

continue

between

into

and

should

grow

end

of the

century.

greed and

circumstances, it
had

which
struggle,

ambition

the
a

Nor

have

war

begun

Guises

and

only

fought under
36

on

daughter,

ruled

as

Duke

inevitable

was

personal hostilities,
Montmorencys

the

did

which

is it the

in

hold

her

Scotland

of Lorraine.
that a death

added

asset

enormous

not

end

till the

time that mundane

the

name

of

religion,

COLIGNY
a crowded
year of 1547 was
his mother
died at the Constable's

This

June

have

refusingto

for

one

same

Coligny.

In

acteristica
Paris, charwas
no
need,

house

in

priest. There
"

to fear
the way
of the body."
Him
and to get free from the trammels
to the third and
His mercy shall be unto them that fear Him

she

said, for God

.

had

Himself

her

shown

"

her
on
the words
continually
generation" these were
lipsat the end.
Why should I console you for your mother's
not
must
We
death ?
wrote
l'Hopitalto Cardinal Odet.
lasting
everof death to our
give the name
passage into a noble, an
life the exchange of this inhospitableearth, mireand
radiant
encrusted, for the vast
dwelling-placecalled

fourth

"

"

"

"

"

Heaven.

She had

proud of her children

more
perfectthan she

ended
and
had

her duties

all her faculties untouched, sure

ascended
What
into heaven.
more

tears ?

could

notion

no

companion,

and

his heart

comfort

of

life,she has

better

finer

beautiful

end

of

sorrow,

and

dry

your

your

that her loss left in his lifewhich

the blank
to

turn
of

takinga

we
was

"

understood

his beliefs.

ideals

marriage.

His

wife whom

he could

It fellon

beauty" she
tender

was

love

his

Laval,
and

shared
married

the death of four young children and by many

the word virtue,so often
adversities,the Colignysmade

In the next

year,

France,

1548, Coligny was

the Constable

cold

and loving
a living
reality,

warm

whom
proceedings
againstthe English,
at Boulogne. The
of
recovery
and

life,
other

chequeredby

dull abstraction,into
household
word.

plainthan

rather

Throughout their happy

and

as

poraries,
contem-

Charlotte
who

woman

high ;

were

not

that, unlike

feel sure
may
in his choice.

the Constable's ward, no court

otherwise
but
wise and
a

the

was

"

Perhaps it was
made
Coligny now
he had

better

; she

mother

even
of descendants
grandchildren,
dreamed
they could be. Very old,

with

existence

as

given the command

the French
that

town

were

was

of

ading
blockdear

to

exploit
being performed by
family. Success, however, lagged ;
there were
failures and delays,jealousies
and interference on
the part of Guise ; and, though the end was
in largepart brought
the
about by Coligny'sstrategy,it was
not until 1550, when
wearied English themselves
ment
proposed terms, that any settlearrived at.
was
But if this campaign did not bring him
the greatest militaryprestige,
it established his genius as a
soldier in a different,
perhaps more
important direction,for it
had

his

37

set

his heart upon

the

THE

LATER

proved him

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

MEDICI

DE'

to be

It was
of discipline.
a master
during these
tedious months
of siegethat he framed and put in execution
his " Ordinances," a code of far-reaching
influence for the
dailylifeof the rank and file. It reveals his whole conception

of

leader, as well

mould

modern

"

of action

is born

than

accomplishmore
day. In his
was

home

crueltyfor its

the

man

not

standard

common

compassionate of

matter.

Cruel he

purpose.

No

Colignydid

the most
Most

of iron

was

barbarous.

time, and

rise above

to

different

always cruel for

of his

entirelyout

He

led.

are

call him

opinionwould

his

fieldit

of those who

as

of

in the

men,

though
was,
certainly
practised
generals

of his feUow

sake, but he had no taste for torture, and

only floggedand hanged to promote order. Even when, in
cold blood, he counselled the sack of Paris,as he did ten years
later,he knew that if he tamed the mob there, he would have
own

tamed

the fiercest foe of his

wanton

atrocities committed

how
country-side,
are
no

easilysuch

mercy,

that

when

Coligny killed

merciful

course

few

save

to

the

they ruined

into

turned

men

read of the

we

by soldiers,how

inclined to think that the most

and

And

cause.

monsters,
was

we

to have

multitude.

sword and
stealing
to which
Colignyhad promised
purse from the citizen of a town
back was
freedom from pillage,
and on the delinquent's
written,
For having been
For
not
a
robber," but
breaking the
He

had

once

soldier of his executed

for

"

"

public faith."

He

made

"

for the vivandiers.

laws

Robbery,

lootingof churches, and the graver crimes," were punished

by hanging. Lesser criminals were
passespar les piques"
beaten with the haft of the pikeor the butt of the arquebus."
rape,

"

"

"

Nor

did he

he decreed,

only
"

who

publiclypilloriedon
time.

And

at

"

of grosser faults.
shall take the name
of God

take

note

divers

three
he

the end

days, at

shall,with bared

The

soldier,"

in vain shall be

three

hours

at

head, ask pardon

in his
notes
dominant
Solemnity and justicewere
of a
character.
His presence was
enough to prevent the pillage
in
the
civilwar
of 1562, dice,
town, and at the siegeof Orleans,
loose
that
women
cards, robbery,pillage,
foraging,oaths,

of God."

"

"

scourge
was

of every

"

complimented upon

shoulders

and
the

devil."

reaction must
1

Whitehead.

He

When

he

of

...

knew

set in.
"

things,he shrugged his

manded
paradox : "I have long comIn youth a
it.
understand

this state

infantry,and

unknown."

almost

were

repliedwith

hermit, in age
common

army

that

But

Gaspard

38

common
among
then he also knew

de

Coligny."

men

how

to

THE
his

LATER

entry

CATHERINE

OF

MEDICI

DE'

to Duresme
came
May 23, 1550) ..."
place,
Treasurer
and
met
journey they were
by Mr.
the
and
Dertford
gentlemen at Whulwich,

on

in their

where

three-score
Tower.

..."

May

25.
take

saw

YEARS

"

me

afterward
of ten

The

ambassadors

Court, where they

the oath for the acceptationof the treaty, and

dined

with

against ten

were

the Duke

seven

other

the Lord
26.

me

The

and

the

at

after dinner

ring, whereof

saw

pastime

the

on

side

one

of Southfolk, the Vicedam, the Lord Lisle,and

gentlemen appareled in yellow. On the other,

Stra, Monsieur

"

to the

came

Henady,

ambassadors

eightother in blue."
baitingof the bears and

and the

the

saw

bulls.,,
"The

27.

ambassadors, after theyhad hunted, sat with

me

supper."

at

"

28.

did hunt
"

out

same

and

the

The

29.
the Duke
saw

The

went
same

to

Hampton

see

nightreturn

ambassadors

had

to Duresme

"

The

ambassadors

they

place."

fair supper made

them
into the Terns
afterward went

by

of Somerset, and
both the bear hunted in the river,and
of boats, and many
pretty conceits."

30.

Court, where

took

and

also wild fire cast

the next

their leave, and

day

departed."
It is pleasantto think of the grave Colignyhunting in the
gladesof Hampton Court, dressed with sober magnificenceand
mounted
on
some
superb charger; it is almost patheticto
at the
wild fire,"
picturehim lookingon with amusement
he who was
to watch in deadlyearnest far wilder fires spreading
all was
But now
France.
terror over
suavityfor him. The
most
that he kept of his visit to England
charming remembrance
he learned to love
that of the young King whom
to
was
admire
also,for his quick parts and his thoughtfulness.In
to
after days we
find him taking a good deal of trouble
to hang
get Edward's
portraitfrom England. He wanted
His
it at
Chatillon.
other
impressions were
probably
"

"

restricted
hunts

"

to

Court-life,but

showed,

to

say

the

the

"

wild

fires

least,only

"

and

"

bear

aspect of the

one

nation.
There

is interest in

imaginingwhat

he

might have

seen

all

really
goingon behind the State functions. Some other
brief entries in the King'sdiaryare alone enough to bringthe
the more
vividly,
perhaps,for their bareness.
medley before us
It was
a strangeEngland,where, on
May 2, 1549, Joan Bocher,
that

was

"

"

40

COLIGNY
otherwise
Christ

called

of

Joan

Kent,

burnt

was

for

holding that

Virgin,"and where next year,

there were
the
letters sent to every bishop to pluck down
altars "\
for the takingof certain Chaplainsof
as well as
the Lady Mary for saying Mass"; while, almost
at the same
it was
moment,
appointedthat the Germans should have the
incarnate

not

was

of the

"

"

"

Austin-Friars for their church

to have

their service in."

Those

changes,of surprises.To hear that, in

an
1550,
earthquakewas at Croiedon," and that on June 22
of that year,
there was
a
privy search made through all
Sussex, for all vagabonds, egiptians,
prophets,
conspirators,
all players,
and such like,"givesus a sense
of risk and insecurity
which makes those days seem
than
farther off from our own
accounts
of graver matters.
All this is,however, a digression.
much
v
isit
short
learn
too
to
was
Coligny's
except by
hearsay,and he has unfortunatelyleft us no record of it,
unless it be of an
English friendship
; for the next
year he
and
in sending, "by
circumstance
employs some
pomp
times

were

of sudden

"

"

this

bearer,

birds,

some

as

present

to

the

of

Marquis

Norwich."
His power
in his own
increasing.In 1552, he
country was
made
Admiral of France, a post which gave him the Governwas
ments
of
had

been

the

Normandy and Picardy. And

heightenedby the brilliant part

which

war

ended

his

militaryprestige

that he had

taken

in

capture of Metz, Toul and Verdun

in the

by

the French, allied to the German

Princes. In 1555, he went
to Brussels,there to meet
Charles V and conclude the Treaty
of

Vaucelles, by which

alreadychronicled
for long,and two
at

with

war

in

he

former

years

France.

diplomatic laurels

won

"

But

volume.1

peace did not

later,in 1557, the Emperor

The

siegeof St.

events

was

Quentin, which

last

again
closed

this

of
campaign, was, although crowned
by disaster, one
Coligny's
greatest exploits.The Constable had erred in delaying
to protect Picardy from the imperialtroops, and the last
hope of savingit was, as Colignyadvised, to occupy the town
of St. Quentin. He
all was
thousand
had, when
told, two
five hundred

and

insufficient artillery,
while the enemy
mustered forty-five
thousand.
But nothingdaunted, he begged
his men
to throw him over
the wall if he should ever
mention
surrender, and promised that he would do the same
by them.
He floggedthe idle,he strengthenedthe defences ; there is no
1

"

men

Catherine

de'

Medici

and

41

the

French

Reformation."

THE

LATER

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

MEDICI

DE'

sayingwhat he might not have effected,had not the Constable

He made
and was
mistaken
pletely
comagain blundered.
move
a
routed by the Spaniards,who
advanced
afterwards
the
to
town.
the occasion,and when
rose
upon
Coligny's
spirit
his foes planted the flagsthey had taken upon
ments,
the entrench"

muskets

he had

the walls

fired off,"as for

festivity.He expelledall those

did not work

; he shut up in a church
children,whose tears might enervate

the

English archers
he sent back
liberty,
Regem habemus.'
'

off the final

shot

into the

in the
"

For

blow, and

when

same

two

two

thousand

the

and

lined, the trumpets blown

who
and

women
"

when
his soldiers ; and
offer of life and
town
an
the laconic answer,
he staved
and
more

manner

weeks

in
at last succeeded
the enemy
found fighting
the most perilous
on

enteringSt. Quentin,he was

spot and taken prisoner.
His three years of captivity
in

the Low

mark

Countries

boundary line

the surface.
in his existence, at all events
on
When
the Spaniardstook him, he was
nominallystilla Catholic.
After his release, he soon
figuredas a confessed Protestant.

But, in truth, the dividingline is more

when

apparent than real,and,

to the
imprisonmentbegan,he alreadybelongedmore
his
the old. All his early traditions
new
gelical
evaneducation, his intercourse with Marguerited'Angouleme
and
her followers,his familiaritywith
l'Hopital,and that
had
statesman's
marked
given him a
Huguenot tendencies

his

faith than

"

"

strongbias towards

the Reformed

Church

this inclination

; and

Huguenot atmospherewhich prevailed

at Court in the earlier part of Henri II's reign. In those days,
the New
The
the vogue.
Religionwas
King, afterwards so
bigoted,then sang Marot's psalms as he hunted ; there were
de'
heterodox
Catherine
services and
preachers,in whom
towards
testantis
ProMedici delighted.With her, indeed, the leaning

had been fostered in the

was

and

had

embraced

views

became

before

the

took

intellectual taste,not

considerations
political

not

have

an

more

siegeof

come

eat

mere

result of

advanced, and althoughin

St.

fashion,

probably
Coligny's
1556,the year

in, she would

In later times

Protestantism.

Quentin, he

still attended

Mass

and

"

a Papal dispensafunctions,stillneeded
tion
meat," we find him, directlyafter,mentioned
by

part in Church
to

"

hostile to the
not
person who was
Some
Protestant cause."
Beza did not speak without book.
months
before, a French colonizer in Brazil had written to

Theodore

de Beza

as

Whitehead.

"

Gaspard
42

de

Coligny."

COLIGNY
authorities fittest to choose the
to him.
to go out
fresh men
he needed
Coligny himself
appointedone of their leaders,and he picked out a Protestant

Colignyand

Calvin

as

the two

for the post.

he

made

prisoner,
deepened his growing
convictions ; and
being vexed fortie dayes with an age we
his fitsleft him, he commanded
a Byble to be brought
as
ing
of his minde with readunto him, to ease
and sorrowe
the griefe
of it. And he studied so much
upon it,that he began from
and trew
taste
for the pure religion
thenseforthe to have
a
of callinguppon
Godlinesse, and to lerne the right manner
It

An

was

stood when

that matters

thus

due
illness,

to his close

was

confinement,

"

...

God."

And

Calvin

to

wrote

him

his

in

solitude,solemnly

"
God's lesson,"since it was
heed
as though he had
not in
It was
in your ear."
wished to speak to you privately
"
further driven home
vain ; and the
lesson
was
by events
in his own
family.
him
influenced
Andelot, who
considerably,had already

biddinghim

"

"

outdone

him

in

had abstained

heterodoxy
"

from

and

Mass

held

Huguenot services in Brittany. What affected Coligny more

that a letter was
interceptedfrom his brother
directlywas
to himself, urging him
to
("presumably in his
persevere
Protestant opinions"),and that it fell into the hands of Philip,
Cardinal
who was
it againstthe Chatillons.
not slow to use
of being
a
Granvella, Philip's
agent, accused the Admiral
"

"

"

Lutheran
lived

"

never
Lutherans," who
if
these
wicked
that
life,so

of the
most

heard

Mass, and

Chatillons

did not

change their tune, they should be made to pay the cost." His
words
Andelot was
summoned
before
were
speedilyjustified.
Henri
II and charged with Huguenot heresies,more
especially
with
tract
to
the
Admiral.
Calvinistic
headed
Hota
sending
in noble causes,
he was, a born quarreller
Andelot
as
denied nothing,but lost his temper in his speechof self-defence.
The King had him arrested and only released him after long
Granvella's
delays, on humiliating conditions. Meanwhile
words remained
had
been stigmatized
and Coligny
as a Lutheran.
The
and
the truth,
the long
not
far from
Spaniard was
of captivity
months
than
did
more
no
probably
strengthenthe
Admiral's
opinions and crystallizehis decision to profess
"

"

them.
The

fact that, in his three years'absence, the Guises had

established their power
and reignedsupreme
doubt helped
no
him to a clear determination
the
with Coligny,
; for although,
43

THE

LATER

YEARS

motive came
religious
the political
come

OF

CATHERINE

firsthe would

not

have

MEDICI

DE'

been of his

day had

second.
He emerged from his imprisonment
in 1559, after the conclusion of the Treaty of CateauCambr"sis, in a propitioushour for his cause, just when the

not

Reformed
in

faith

1558,it

enjoyingmarked

was

said

was

Calvin

by

consideration.

to number

300,000

Already
adherents.

In

his beliefs,
confessing
Coligny,for the moment, incurred no
real danger,and indeed exposedthem to the publicview without
any fear of consequences.
We

have

when

he

after his liberation,

telling
glimpse of him soon
is takingtwo Englishmen,Mr. Wotton
and the envoy,
a

Throckmorton,
the

to

Notre

"

Dame.
"

last-named

The

said Admiral," wrote

occasion to questionwith

gentleman, toke
of religion
in England, and supposinghe
me
wold have remayned stillin our company,
entered
after I was
into the quire,
and masse
ones
begonne,I loked for him ; but I
could by no meanes
understand him to be there,but that he was
he was
slippedaway from masse
; notwithstanding,
ready after
to bring us home
againe." The lordly,matter-of-fact British
of their opinions,are
familiar enough
travellers,discoursing
to us ; their guide,the Puritan gentleman,so sincere,that he
tochingthe state

would

not

hear the words

that he would

not

in which

he did not

believe,so

let convictions interfere with

teous
cour-

hospitality,

is a

because
figurethat stands alone. He impressesus the more
of
security his positionamid his heresies. It was not
long after this that he held Priches openly at Dieppe and in
his apartments at Paris, and that a child of his was
baptized
his
of
Far
to
the
rites
Geneva.
from
according
injuring reputation
his tenets seemed
to heightenit,and for the next two

of the

"
The Admiral
the increase.
on
years his power at Court was
"
I saw
ruled the roast," says Brant ome,
it with mine
own
eyes." The tyranny of the Catholic Guises was dailyhelping

make

to

were

the

Chatillons

showered

Lorraine, and
made

on

more

the

popular. Lampoons and

cowardly Cardinal, Charles

sults
in-

de

the

fact that, soon

Francois was
after,Duke
Lieutenant-General
did not add tojthe good fame of his

party.

Although Coligny'schange
the tardiness of his move
That
was

out

such

he should

so

of

had
religion

come

gradually,

did not

take away from its importance.

clearlyhave confessed his creed and party

Henceforward
he stands
political
significance.
consistentlyas the leader of the Huguenots, and it is as

of immense
that

he

was

affected

by the
44

events

which

followed

his

COLIGNY
These

release.
a

volume,1 and

former

II,

virtuallyruled

in
in
our

his son, Francois

She had dangerous

and

place in 1559,
by his mother.

II's death took

was

fullychronicled

more

of them
briefest summary
will here be sufficient for

the

the Admiral

their relation to
purpose.
Henri

been

have

events

formidable than ever

since the marriage
rivals in the Guises, more
of the young
King to their niece, Mary Stuart. In
Catherine's determination
to be Regent, and to play off the
in

order

Guises

againstthe Montmorencys,

lay the

secret of the fluctuations in the power

gain her end,

of either

family.
made

conspiracyof Amboise,

disastrous

the

followed

There

to

by the Huguenots againstthe Catholic Guises ; but far from

taking.
takingany part in it,Colignystronglydisapprovedof the underIn the coil of disturbances

that iollowed he counselled

matters
tolerance ; Catherine
listened, balanced
and did nothing. An Edict in favour of the Protestants proved
impotent to help matters, and Colignyurged the removal of

and

mercy

the Guises and

the

of
calling

succeeded

plans he failed,but

In the firstof these

the Notables.
in the

second.

The

Assembly

Fontainebleau, in 1560, to discuss the

difficulty.Catherine, the King, the Constable, were
religious
present when Colignyrose and presentedtwo petitions.Their
of Notables

main

at

met

contents

were

protestagainstthe conspiracyof Amboise

that both churches, old and new, should

proposition
The incident is dramatic
live side by side on
equal terms.
the firstState occasion
and worth dwellingon, because this was
which Colignyhad declared himself a Huguenot, although
on
his opinionshad been publiclyknown.
for a year and more
in his
His scheme
audacious and produced consternation
was
and

bold

audience.

Guise sprang

incur such

Admiral

with

calamity,he

himself

hundred

made

armed

for the

proposals
settle religious
affairs,and
were

any

But

men.

callingof the
the

the

second

States-General

succeeded

dangerouslyill.
between

Catherine

Navarre.

to

Assembly dispersedwithout

each

If he
and

other

rapidly.

died, the claim

to

Francois
the

"

de'

fell

of the Blood, Antoine

Guises, the King's uncles

the elder Prince

The

Catherine

II

Regency lay

of the
power
through his wife, asserted itselfat his deathbed, and
1

day

definite decision.

more

Events

de

cried that,rather than

would ride forth againstthe

to his feet and

Medici

and

45

the

French-

Catherine

Reformation,"

THE

LATER

YEARS

OF

felt that her best chance

omnipotent
of the

alliance.

was

positionas
for them

well

to

Both

the husband

brother, Louis

His
a

courtingtheir

was

plotterand
were

men

his
to

menace

de

source

and
abilities,

his

Catherine

to the rule of the Guises.

as

to Orleans

come

sent

promptly imprisonedConde.

and

The
King's
by blandishments.
affairs.
of
the
face
supervened,
quickly
changed

Navarre

death, which

despotismof

she

won

the Guises

pressedpainfully
upon her, effaceto threaten her, and after a periodof diplomatic
temporizing,she adroitlyshifted her position.

seemed

waiting and
She

Prince.

in

was

Navarre

Bourbon

weaker

ment

de

Huguenot, but
dangerous alike from

"

Regency,as

The

Regency

Antoine

only

not

of disaffection

The

of the

MEDICI

DE'

arch-heretic,Jeanne d'Albret.

Conde,

the

CATHERINE

turned

cold

tied Navarre

Guises, released Conde,

side,and threw herself upon

the

on

closelyto her

more

he should think that he and

surprising
she could co-operate,
and that, through her, he could advance
the cause
of his religion.There seemed, in his eyes, a chance
that he might mould
the young
King, Charles IX, and fulfil
his dream
of an ideal monarchy.
And here we come
which was
to a sentiment
a guidingforce

Coligny.

It

shoulder

in his life. We
to the

not

was

should

end, did

we

not

understand

set
him at all,from the outthe fact that his central idea

not

grasp

It
devotion to the Throne.
monarchy his central feeling,
him
make
revolt
would
might be that loyaltyto the Crown
of
royal
unworthy
againsta King such a one as he deemed
he
remained
but
to
the
monarchical
principle
prerogative
;
faithful.
There
was
romantically
nothing subversive in his
character ; it was
conclusion of his beliefs
only in the logical
self
that there laya revolutionaryelement.
But of this fact he himHe was one of those simple
conscious.
only slowlybecame
other institufor princesamong
tions
people born with reverence
and to be a great gentleman was, to him, only part of
was

"

"

"

"

the natural

order

; but

he

never

was

and

worldly man,

his

him
keen
to see
cleared his vision and made
very reverence
f
ond
of
him and
abuses of his ideals.
Charles IX was
sincerely
allowed

good

him

free hand

fortune.

palace.

When

King and Queen-Mother are

"

littlelater,

make
was

the most

once

never

Christian

His

the

"They are," wrote

in the

Mentor.

as

Spanish envoy,

the

without

gates
one

King," he

are

46

"

tinually
con-

open,

of them."
"

the
And

does not

says,

step that the Admiral does not follow."

evident, and the boy'seducation was entrusted
one

in his

family shared

The result
to

Protes-

THE

by

YEARS

LATER

OF

CATHERINE

swing of the pendulum, the

MEDICI

DE'

famous

at
Colloquyof Poissy,1
its outset the most Protestant of experiments. It was
ference
Cona
conceived in Catherine's own
and not displeasing
spirit,
to Coligny. Ministers of the new
faith,scholars and prelates
of the old,were
to meet
togetherfor the discussion and solution
of religious
in
questions. Never was
Huguenotism more
fashion. Marot's psalms were
last new
again the
thing,"for
a

"

the last

lords and

new

and

of noblemen

ladies ; Preches
by crowded

of the

held in the houses

were

attended

; a great
congregations

celebrated by the Calvinist,Beza,

day
wedding
And the littleplacebecame
accordingto the rites of Geneva.
dore
Theoa rallying
pointfor all that was best in Protestantism.
de Beza

was

there,and Jeanne d'Albret,and the learned

came

Martyr Vermilius

Peter

lodging.
godly and

"

The

who

by Coligny in his
himself,"Vermilius reported, is so

"

"

Admiral

courteous

and

visited

was

he twice

as

thrice visited

or

even

me

in

Doubtless
gently saluted me."
they
There
took
were
together.
privatemeetings,public
in
But
of
these
efforts,the Colloquy
spite
disputations.
chamber

my

most

counsel

ended
and
his

The

in smoke.

Lutherans, the obstinacyof the Cardinal

into Calvinists
de Lorraine and
ment.
sort of settle-

masterlyskillin hair-splitting,
preventedany
Council at St. Germain

Another
of

division of the Reformers

also

January

proved ineffective.

the tolerant Edict

straightupon these

and
And

failures descended, like a tide of blood, the awful news

of Vassy : the Guise enormity, the rehearsal
the massacre

of
for

deliberately
slaughtereda
Huguenots who were
The country, alreadydangerously
quietlyworshippingin Church.
flare
to
was
only waiting
Spain, long
perturbed,
up.
of Catherine, was
narrowlywatching France, while
suspicious
hatred for Colignywas
gainingin bitterness and force.
Philip's
Eve,

St. Bartholomew's

at

which

Duke

Francois

helplesscongregationof

in

Civil war,

short, seemed

quiteso by Conde's
Queen-Mother had
great
"

What

men,

averse

givesus

him

to

Under

the

was

made

pretext that the

protect her, he armed, and

Orleans.
Coligny,like most
and waited.
to civil war,
still held back
all the sharpestpain,"he wrote, "is that the

with his

marched

desire for it.

asked

inevitable,and

almost

troops towards

authorityof the King

and

the

Queen

is abused.

I
...

protest

before God, that all the troops in this cityhave not taken arms
againstthe King and his rule,nor againstthose who hold the
1

See

my

Reformation,"

former
p.

volume,

"

Catherine

159.

48

de'

Medici

and

the

French

COLIGNY
Catholic faith ; nay, in very truth, we have taken arms
his sovereignpower, and
to uphold the King and
to hinder
the violence used againstthose of our
Religion,contrary to
Roman

the will of the

Edicts."
But

he

and

King

could

the

stem

not

Queen

the

"

contrary, also, to their

current.

cowed
by Spain, faced about, made
and sought his help againstthe enemy

Catherine, always
alliance with

an

; the

Philip

Protestants, for

their part, called in the English,and foreigners

entered France
both sides. Coligny,who had meanwhile
on
sity,
yieldedto necesin earnest,
and the siege
of Orleans, the siegeof Rouen, the battle of Dreux,
all three disasters for the Huguenots, succeeded
each other at
went

no

to

join Conde*

great distance.

At

at

Orleans.

Dreux

War

began

(in 1562) Conde was

that
long negotiations

taken

he was
only after
set free,and the Treaty of Amboise
But this was
concluded.
the worst
calamity of all, for it abolished the Protestants'
It ended the
libertyof worship,and gave away their cause.
first War
of Religion.
Before the Treaty had been discussed,
and in that same
year,
life more
1562, an event had occurred which touched Coligny's
of
the murder
nearly than any treaty could do. This was
Guise
committed
Francois,Due de
by a Protestant,one Poltrot
de Mery, who swore
that he was
Coligny's
agent,and had done
the deed by his command.
No sensible student of historynow
believes that this could be true, and Coligny'sinnocence
is
established.
practically
Even
then, no fair mind credited the notion of his guilt.
But whether or not they did so honestly,
it suited the Guises
and
prisoner,

it

was

"

to feel

of it.

The

stakes at the Court and in the State

ran
high,and he was their most formidable rival. Henceforth
the duel between
them
and Coligny became
a
vendetta, and
sure

they the bloodhounds

pursuinghis steps,only to
by his death. Meanwhile, they had to make a case
the public as they knew, no difficultmatter.
For

be

appeased

to convince

the fortunes
the
war
Francois had turned the
prowess of Duke
tide in his favour, and he had become
the idol of the fickle
"

of the

and

populace. Paris, especially,

Catholic,was
always fanatically
but
were

glad to incriminate Coligny. Yet, backed though they

the Guises had no sound evidence
by common
credulity,

too

to go upon.

Poltrot himself three times retracted his accusation,

and though he returned to it again,it was
under the pain of
The money
torture.
that he swore
the Admiral
had paid him
49

THE

LATER

YEARS

for evil purposes

CATHERINE

OF

MEDICI

DE'

proved by Colignyto have been givenfor

As for
a
once
again for some
quitetrivial purpose.
written testimony against him, there is nothing more
any
reliable than
his bitter foe, Chantonnay, the
letter from
a
scrupled
spy and agent of Spain,who on other occasions never
to lie freely
about the great Huguenot. Chantonnay described
was

horse, and

how

letter had

been

found, written
"

Poltrot.

to

Marshal

The

the declaration he had

retract

by

made

the Marechal

urged
before

the

morency
de Montassassin

Catherine

to

and

to

of Coligny.
In return
nothing to clear the name
in consequence
he promised to save
him.
And it was
of this
so
Chantonnay asserts that the murderer recanted." * Yet
this letter,so minutely described, of such invaluable contents,
was
never
produced or seen by others, althoughif it had been
made
have gained the Catholic
public,it would practically

stop

at

...

"

"

It strains

cause.

common

sense

believe

to

that

it existed

apart from Chantonnay'simagination.

There is,however, a deeper and more
trustworthyproof of
than any arguments. It liesin Coligny's
its unreality
character,
as

we

see

it

throughout his
him

impossibleto
isolated actions

does

nor

life. A

cut off from

man

does not

historyafford

the rest of

us

do what
instances

is
of

human

being'snature.
law and loyalty,and as sternly
Coligny sternlyadvocated
able,
opposed crime and treachery. He was
straightand honourfaithful
those
to
and
to
old
even
bluntness,
remarkably
associations which
But

even

followed

if this were

not

his frank

by

affected his relations with

much

so

so, his

own

admission

Guise.

declaration of his innocence,

of his attitude towards
the

He tells
Guise, would be sufficient to clear his name.
of his defence)
(ina letter to Catherine, as well as in the course
how
he had heard men,
Poltrot "among others, conspireto kill
the Due de Guise and how he himself had kept silence,doing
nothing to prevent the deed, and also nothing to further it.
Think not, Madame," he wrote to the Queen-Mother, that the
words which I utter in self-defence are said out of any regret

death

of

"

"

for the death

memorable
the

safety of

uttered them

Guise."

And

his words

on

this

fraught with dignityand sincerity.

meant
to him
than
more
safetyof his religion
that the man
know
who
any livingperson, we
baseness.
or
was
incapableof falsity

occasion

Although the

de

of Monsieur

Whitehead.

are

"

Gaspard
50

de

Coligny."

COLIGNY
But

the

history
"

it

accusation
was

proved to

closelyinterwoven

be

of fatal

with his

engendered,the massacre
have taken place.

it,and

all that it

might

never

5i

importance in his
destiny. Without

of St. Bartholomew

CHAPTER

The

III

of
Wars

Religion

THE

LATER

good

purpose,

YEARS
and

CATHERINE

OF

when,

her

on

road

DE'

MEDICI
the

through

domains

of the

to Nerac,
Huguenot Queen, Jeanne d'Albret, she came
the strongholdof Protestantism, she took the opportunity of
faith upon
imposing the Catholic
Jeanne's subjects. It
of those actions which
was
one
proved her want of judgment
and
her ignorance of human
The
fact remained
nature.
that she could not
plant by force what would not take root
in the soil or, even
if it were
planted,could but produce
For
fresh discord.
she was
trying her hand on material that
The
and
was
Huguenots in Beam
anything but malleable.
Navarre
had not been exemplary. Their conduct
had
been
"

and

crude

as

and

it

was

broken

King, for the

the

and

statues

and

of their

sight

of the

tombs

open

first time,

that, demonstrative

that

as

savage
said that

at

real hatred

Catholic
ruined

adversaries,
churches, the

Nerac, gave

the

of the Protestant

uncontrolled

young

religion
;

he was, he showed
his
in his altered bearing,in the violence of his gestures
feelings
as

quite likely; for Charles IX's aesthetic

the strongestthing about
sense
was
him, and the harm done
him than any
to beautiful buildingswas
more
likelyto move
injury to human
beings.
and

his words.

It is

Catherine,however,
"

well.

There

Madame

to

are

de

so

many

Guise,

determined

was

"

to make

out

that all

was

nobles here," she wrote from Cognac

that every evening in the ball-room I

could

the
still at Bayonne, if only I could
see
fancy I was
Queen, my daughter. Everybody dances together,
Huguenots,
Papists and all,so smoothly that it is impossibleto believe
that they are
willed that they were
If God
as
as
they are.
I
wise elsewhere as they are here, we should at last be at rest
the King is in
le Cardinal, because
write to Monsieur
cannot
such mighty haste to take me
the stag which
off to hunt
...

"

is the

cause

But

the

I must

that

'

finish this letter.'

Huguenots were not

an
unhappy France over which
reign. The Peace of Amboise
which

covered

Catholics

as

ears

wise

elsewhere," and it was

had

the young
King now
but a mock
had been
of

multitude

still by the

were

"

discords.

to

Peace

Protestants

provincialParliaments

and
stantly
con-

to carry out those articles of the treaty which

Protestant
worship ; the Jesuitswere allowed to open

refused
favoured

The

powerful Catholic
planned on a like model.

formed

collegein Paris, and Aumale

League, which was followed by

others

death, too, of Calvin, in 1564, was,

grievousloss

to

his Church

and

as

the French

has

been

said, a

Protestants

felt

r*"

"

me

L'Amiral,

Gaspard
I'.IIILIOTHEQUE

Francois
From

photograph

Coligny

db

NATIONALE.
Ci.ouet.
by

A.

Cirattdon.

en

1570.

WARS

THE
it all the

Coligny

of their

because

more

stood

of
insufficiency

own

other

; the

alone

out

RELIGION

OF

chief

was

leaders.
the

woman,

should
have
of Navarre, while Conde, who
unstable as he was
Admiral's
moral equal,was
as

Queen

been

the
brilliant.

letter about him written near

this date
interesting
by Smith, the Englishenvoy, to the Minister,Cecil,at home.
Tell me
talkingGreek
your wishes/' he writes, without
oracle of Nostradamus.
and
the ambiguitiesof an
without
and cannot
I have only a dense kind of mind
guess riddles.
There

is an

"

The

"

those who
with

awaken

indifference and

His

him.

zealous for

most

are

in full

is re-established

de Conde

Prince

And

their distrust.

have
religion
coldness

then

authority; but

become

about

he has taken

offended

sacred
to

things
going wild

short time, no doubt, he will declare himself

When
he is once
hostile to God, to us, to himself.
coaxed over
by the Papists,it will not be long before he giveshimself to
over

In

women.

Baal."
These

dismal

were
prognostications

by
happilynot justified
continued, at any rate, faithful to his religion.
ballast remained
the less conspicuous,
none
before the weaker sex, they did not let
wax

events, and Conde

But

his want

and

if he

was

of
as

him off easily.

One

Andre, pursued
Chateau

of them, the widow of the Marechal de Sainthim

steadilyand made him a present of her

of

of her love.
In a
as
a solid token
Valery-les-Sens
he
her
moment
husband,
promised to become
his tears for his first wife, the saintly
Princess Eleonore, being
to his
long since dry. But he found another beauty more
taste, the courtlyMarquise de Roithelin ; and, marrying her,
discarded the poor Marechale, althoughhe did not discard her
distracted

Chateau.

Such adventures

of

steadiness

moral

It caused
and

was

to his

not

were

credit,and his lack

seriouslydamaging

coldness between

him

and

the

his

to

austere

party.

Admiral,

itdid at least

Catherine's
something towards consolidating
new
plan of campaign.
She went
The
on
tighteningthe reins to little purpose.
traught.
not only disaffected but diswas
country, as she was
aware,
to us, as we
Miseryprevailed
throughout. It seems
read the diaries of those days,that there were
natural
then more
terrible droughts and famines, more
portents, more
seasons

"

of abnormal

heat

and

cold, more

earthquakes,than the world

to the cruelties of Nature were
lasted

longbeyond

has

comets,
ever

added

the moment.

known

floods, more

since.

And

the cruelties of war,

Catherine
57

more

complainedof

now

which
them

LATER

YEARS

shortlyafter

the Peace

THE

later,her letter

years

"

she wrote,

of

was

harassed

by

the mercenaries

by
after the

"

the

I do not

picture.

am

evils.

Had

believe,"
more

atrocities

I, who

"

dying

am

thingsbeen

four

or

in this world

pillageand
I

MEDICI

three

some

singlecreature

than

feet, dying of these very

DE'

Amboise, and,

stilla true

that there is

disgustedand

CATHERINE

OF

mitted
comon

my

worse

even

than

they actuallyare, they might have laid the

blame upon the rule of a woman,
yet they should, in honesty,
blame nothing but the rule of men
to play the part
who want
of Kings. Henceforth, if I am
not further trammelled, I hope
to

war

prove

that

show

women

preserve their
brought it into its present

stronger will

country than

to

the persons who have

condition ; pray show my letter to such as talk to you on these
matters, for this is the truth pronounced by the mother of the

King."
She
whose

power

the coil of
that

see

thrust at the Guises,

she resented,while she dreaded it. She knew well

never

was

to which

even

now

she

got

to

and

orthodoxy ;
her

is,"she

about

wrote

to perceive

the other way.

towards that tolerance

she
inclined her, and when
the fear of Spain that drove
this time,

"

strong rumour
son-in-law,has resolved

that the Catholic

King, my
there.
If
Inquisition

establish the

She

them.

yet it is curious

chance, she tended

ensured

not

pulledher

taste

own

large,cold intellect
oppositepolicyit was

','
There

in Flanders

by factions,but she did

policy

her

pursued the
her.

back-handed

double-barrelled

fortified herself with

Whenever

dangersbrought about
her

how

to

averse

this

report be true,

is ; but I shall be much

turbed
perup with what
if the execution
of these orders should work havoc in

shall have

to

put

son-in-law's affairs."

my

When

actions and

thoughts do not
usual,confounding

accord, a coherent policyis impossible,

but, as
prudence with wisdom, Catherine worked only for the moment,

currying favour
Peace

measures.

subjects,yet
with

with

the

War

she gave

bound

was

not

to

disapproved of

his

truth, her chief wish for her son's

it with one
hand, she sowed discord

was

prophesiedthat
longer than
it had

out.

Four

the peace,
six weeks.

damus
years earlier,Nostraconcluded
at Amboise,

Astrologersare

lasted four months.

But

now

not

the

This, as might be
only awaited the match.
providedby Spain. A Protestant revolt in the

laid and

expected,was
Netherlands

break

last

always accurate, and

powder

in

was,

she

other.

had

would

as

Philip while

caused

panic in

the orthodox

58

camp,

and

rumour

OF

WARS

THE

RELIGION

to travel
Philip,on his way to the Low Countries, was
through Italy and interview both Emperor and Pope, gave

that

solid

Catherine
be

forming

for

cause

would

France

in which

anxiety.

Catholic

have

no

League might
place. Knowing

Philipstill distrusted her as lukewarm, she tried to win his

confidence by promising help againstthe rebels and raising
The presence of the
6,000 Swiss to be ready in case of need.
that

armed

summoned

Protestant

the

made

force

meetingsat

secret

leaders

Chatillon and

and

uneasy,
at Conde's

they

house at

hotly discussed. Should they

let Catherine take the offensive,or should they strike the first
the latter course
had prepared
blow ?
Those who advocated
a plan of campaign.
They proposed that the King should be
Valery.

seized
while

prospects were

Cardinal

the

and

sword.

Coligny was

not

attempts
secret

at

to

patch
or

be

up

four.

surrounded

carried the
The

peace.
At

from

strong againstwar,

arrangements and

of three

groups

to

were

banished

Negotiationsstillwent

once.

in their

Lorraine

Andelot

vehemently for it ; and

But

de

Swiss

formidable

the

the

to

Their

one

Court,
and

put

Andelot

as

day.
on

and

there

Protestants, too,

were
were

only gatheredgradually,in
moment

the Catholics seemed

danger,at another, they grew suspiciousand sent

a
deputationof spiesto Chatillon. They found Colignyin his
knowledge than they took.
garden and returned with no more
distrust seemed in
her dual policy. Philip's
Catherine resumed
I find it very
surprisedher.
abeyance and his good humour
she wrote,
that he is now
for ever preachingabout the
strange,"
we
good understandingthere is between
us, seeingthat when
ourselves sought him out at Bayonne he gave us so much
of the
I
cold shoulder that thoughthe wished to givenothingelse." She
She promised
posed as his dearest friend,as Alva's confidante.
further aid for the Spanish army.
time she threw
At the same
and
It was
dust in Coligny's
perhaps his weakness, now
eyes.
too willing
to believe in her ; her downright
later,that he was
and good nature
made
it easy for him to do so.
She
manner
cheered his spirits
by allowingthe King to receive an embassy
Princes which came
to beg him to allow the
from the German
to hold the
preaching of the Gospel. But she took care
and to give the cue
balance even
to her son, who
was
a docile
blind

to any

"

"

"

"

rudely rebuffed the Admiral

who was
talkingof the religious
question. Encouraged by the
receptionof the Germans, Colignywas complainingbitterlyof
pupil.

the

The

next

day,

under
inequality

he most

which

the
59

Protestants

suffered,when

the

LATER

THE

King broke

"

"

in.

kingdom"

MEDICI

DE'

"

To-day,"he cried,

you wish to be our

and to chase
masters

our

then, leavingthe

of the Duke

am

CATHERINE

OF

you will wish to be

to-morrow

the

YEARS

room,

of Alva's mind.

he

like these

high for the State," he said. His words had no

but the hysterical
they were
outpour of
"

from

us

to his mother.

ran

Heads

equals,

are

too

serious
a

meaning
weak, impressionable

acted upon by a strong one.

It was
the first
of those strange sallies of his, afterwards
fatallyfrequent;
when
of his nerves
those moments
Catherine took possession
nature

he, usually gentle,spoke and

and

suggestion,in

kind

threats in the

ominous

of

it were, by her
There
excitement.
were

acted, as

hypnotic
air. Revolutionarybooks

and

tracts

appeared,and, among them, one to prove that it was rightto kill

a princewho
persecutedChristianity.Catherine was menaced
with assassination,so was
Coligny. The time for temporizing
at

was

end.

an

The

Huguenots

kept

their counsel.

Court, then
afoot.

at

There

had

completed

By

some

Monceaux,

their

unknown

got wind

arrangements

means,

and

however, the

that hostile schemes

that

armed

were

force

an
alarming rumours
the
The
royal party took fright
marching against
King,
to Meaux, where
haste, moved
and, in undignified
they shut
aries.
themselves in and lost no time in summoning the Swiss Mercenwere

was

Had

the Protestants

the

course

changed ; but, by the enemy's

duped and kept dallying until the
stratagems, Conde* was
arrival of the Swiss had
made
the King's positionsecure.
the help
numbered
without
The
now
10,000,
royal army
but 2,000
promised by Spain ; the Protestants were
strong.
All the more
that panic should have
contemptibledoes it seem
Protestant recruits,they
again seized Catherine and her crew.
and
the
heard, were
mustering,
Regent'simaginationalready
herself
Charles
and
saw
prisonersin the Huguenots' hands.
It was
the well-hated Cardinal de Lorraine, always the victim
of bodilyfear,who firstcounselled flight.There followed what
ignominiousjourneyon historical record.
was, perhaps,the most
tv/o
The King, his mother, and the Court stole out of Meaux
hours before daybreak and joinedthe Swiss, who had preceded
this motley escort,
the road to Paris.
Under
them, upon
tian
who sang at the top of their voices and looked (saysthe Venestreet-porters,"
Ambassador) like a troop of disreputable
they hurried, terror-struck,to the capital to arrive there at
In after
nightfall,half dead with hunger and exhaustion."
of

historymight

have

struck at that moment,

been

"

"

"

60

THE

choleric
and

MEDICI

DE'

negotiationsproved to be impossible,
to
Montmorency parted from his nephews, never
of
There
idea
more
no
was
again.
peace-making

de

to them

battle

"

in the air.

was

the Venetian

In the

cityof Paris," writes Correro,

ing
Accordeverythingwas confusion.
the King and the example of the other
all put
too, and the monks, who
priests,
"

envoy,

the orders

to

CATHERINE

OF

ambassador,

Anne

speak
"

YEARS

LATER

ambassadors

of

of the

"

off their habits

And

was

afraid of

and

kept water

flew to

arms

always ready

being burnt
myselfto wake

accustomed

I also armed

followers.

my
in the street,because
"

in their houses.

alive
up

at every

ensued, in November,

1567,a

sound

everybody
And
.

that reached

my

ears."

There
Denis

decisive

"

each.

for
victory for neither party, a massacre
died fightinghard
Constable
(killedby Robert

The

Stuart,

terrible battle at Saint-

his

the Huguenots),and
Scotchman, servingamong
three sons, Francois,Thore, and Meru, mournfullybore away
a

from

body
knew

the field.

epoch as
Ages. Anne

Middle

de

for edification.

not

in himself

united

nobleman
Past

Montmorency

He

was

had

than

more

dead

great
the

grandeur,
who

personage

sance
Renais-

modern
with

robber

they

of the dead

echo

lived for

tyrant with

patriarchand

the

them

last

the

feudal

the
;

as

Prince

present both lay within

and

that he knew
his

well

an

"

carried with

They

his

the patron.

him, but not the future.

were
nothing. Progressand liberty

Of

words

not

in

vocabulary.

He

died,

he

as

which his
upon
of his enemies.
have

lived

cry

of

stood.

watching the

was

L'Evangile/

fought their

way

be

handful

compared

strengthamazed
to the

generous

them

into coats

of action

and

war-

he

their foes, but

vestments

breeches.

possessedall

of them,

from
The

the

ful
dread-

even

their

leader.

apt to think of all this time

Catholic tyranny, and, in the main, that
We

where

Colignyand his
walls of Paris.
They entered the
by the Admiral's
Sainte-Chapelle,

They took the gorgeous

made

the

to

The

him.

relentless orders.
intoxication

success

; their

ringingloud

down

and

sight

Montmartre.

easilyvisible

heard

city ; they burned

churches

momentary

from

scene

white, were

could

but

were

their feats of skill and

men

the

was

bitter

We
troops,indeed, worked wonders.
the Turkish
of them from a strangeauthority,

"

They

dramatically. The

Their

Protestants, all dressed in

"

"

closed

failing
eyes

the account

emissary,who

had

are

62

as

one

of continuous

is the truth.

But

the

WARS

THE

OF

RELIGION

invariably the persecutors, and, in the

of Huguenot
brief hours
victory,[theytoo had their turn
to catch
of misery. It is interesting
a glimpse of them
soon
Conde and his regiments were
after Saint-Denis, when
despoiling
Catholics

the

not

were

country,

on

their march

subjugatedby

to

Montereau.

Foe

and

friend

the

The
woman-conquering Conde.
Dame
de Beauvais, dame d'honneur etfort
catholique,"hearing
ally
of the rebel Prince was
to pass near
that the army
by, liberoffered him her house,' on condition that he spared the
well that her guest was
chivalrous.
church and clergy. It was
of
hidden priests,
held numbers
Her
Chateau
livinghuddled
fed
in
her
own
hand,
by
secret, and clad
togetherin one room,
Their
distress
and
in the strangest disguises.
privationswere
from
and
Conde
would
word
have
a
destroyed them.
great,
his way without harming
But he kept his faith,and went
on

alike

were

"

"

'

them.
The power
and

Conde

The

chief

help to

was

what

and

their

question

the enemy,

with,

was

source

from

to
own

however, a

by
do

next.

small

army,

miserably exhausted.
which they could expect aid

Casimir, who

was

even

mere

innumerable

There

now

Duke

son,

of the Protestants was,

beset
and Colignywere

semblance,
difficulties.

Spain had
enough to
was

but

sent
start
one

the Elector Palatine's

sending them

now

troops.

with

these Reiters seemed

the best
meeting
in
of
the
the
course
spite
danger of
enemy's pursuitthat
open,
and
the
set
this involved;
out towards
the
Huguenot army
in
which
their
the
direction
allies
were
Meuse,
coming. It was
the
cold
was
bitter, provisionswere
The
winter,
scarce.
of
Henri
and
the
soldiers
Prince,
Anjou,
were
Spanish
young
in
the
at their heels, and
overtook
them.
once,
night, nearly
the river safelyand achieved the
Yet they managed to cross
long-desiredconjunction. The Germans
brought wine and
feastingsand jestings
in the snow,
and
jollity
; there were
Coligny gladly allowed them ; but he himself stood apart,
that though the arrival of
grave and perplexed,for he knew
the Reiters had solved one
problem,they carried another with
To

compass

them.

That

problem

the

constant

The
cenaries,
Mermoney.
the
of
the
devil
in
the military
indeed, play
part
of
the
sixteenth
for
the
next
history
century, and,
twenty
their
and
make
the
of
torment
either
cruelty
rapacity
years,
side and complicateevery situation.
were
They
unfortunately
necessary

was

evils in civil war,

when

63

one

"

neither

party would

have

THE

YEARS

LATER

been

OF

CATHERINE

strong enough without

Casimir's

would

men

nothing to

was

them.

Coligny knew

demand
instantly

give

them.

MEDICI

DE'

their pay

his usual

With

well that

and that there

promptitude,he

acted.

he spent six days

Going over to the German
camp,
negotiatingand scheming. Then, returningto his own
men,
he made
followed
There
a publicappeal to the whole
army.
of those scenes, peculiarto France, which make
French
one
He gatheredhis hundreds
in a field and,
historyso dramatic.
with

Cond6

love of their
could

side, addressed

his

at

He

them.

invoked

the

country, the

which
alone
spiritof self-sacrifice,
impossible.With the tears runningdown

accomplishthe

his cheeks, he himself offered 500 crowns,

a small
fortune, in
the cause.
His speech was
a
coup de morale ; the effect was
instantaneous.

of emotion

wave

swept

; the rank and file

ear-rings
and silver were
brought forth

offered coins ; vessels of gold

from the tents of the nobles.
Eighty thousand

collected,and
There

was

to set out

throng ;

the

over

off their chains and

the rich took

the
now

was
difficulty
reason

no

for Paris

more

once

for

at

been

end.

an

the word

delay and

this time

"

livres had

given

was

through the

rich

plainsof Burgundy, for the better provisioningof the troops.

Chartres was
besiegeden route by Cond6, as a warning menace
But his operationsdid not get far. The
arrival
to Paris.
of the Reiters
Catholics.

was

solid fact which

Catherine

was

measures.
conciliatory

and

the

result

the

was

generallyspeaking,a

were

Treaty

gone
became

of

for

anxious

deputations,

Longjumeau,

libertyof worship,but

to the

home

and
parleyings

fresh edition of the Edict

the Protestants

It gave

alarmed

There

had

and

which

was,

of Amboise.

it did not

give

them

power.
it was,
as
If it did not mean
Such

the

discomfort

its concessions

however, it remained
a

feather in their cap.

thorough victoryfor themselves, it meant

of their adversaries.
had

wrested,

been

was

Catherine, from

whom

beside herself at

having

She sought about for a scapegoat,and found

yieldthem.
If he had
not failed in his
THopital ready to her hand.
all
It
embassy at Saint Denis,
might stillhave been well.
ation
is you/' she exclaimed angrily, with your big words, moderThe
and justice,
who have brought us to this pass !
King,who was naturallyfond of the courteous, philosophical
to

"

"

"

Chancellor, wavered

for

moment,

then

followed

his mother's
"

"

I
I will go into the Huguenots' houses," he cried,
will creep into their beds to take them, I will seek out those

lead.

64

Charles,

Cardinal

BlBUOTHJkQUI

des

Arts

Anonym
From

photograph

LORRAINE.

db

et

Metiers.

e.

by

A.

Giraudon.

as

His

boast

Holy

Ghost

were

the

at

for

like,both

was
was

"

She

than

one

make

of them

; indeed

unless

of

There

heretics.

they

threatened

he authorized

were

the
of

massacres

with
privateconversation
Majesty,"he said, had nothingmore

Catherine.

"

catch

to

Admiral

the

and

his

at heart

followers,and

to

that should not be forgotten."

generalslaughter
have been spoken in the
speech,though it may

of

temper,

that Catherine

the less of evil

for
augury
in piercingthe mask

succeeded

ever

sometimes,

unguarded moments,

at

political
passionblew to the surface stray
evidence of the thoughtsgerminatingin the
of

gave
her dark

depths of

none

; but

wore

the storm-winds
seeds that

was

had

None

the future.

"

"

Fraternities

from

day

heat

wordy

the law

provincialtowns, and sinister reports

many
that of the Papal Nuncio, after
Not the least was

away
and His

Such

lay down

small."

depose the King

to

afloat.
came

I will

in

Protestants

he

great

and

Catholic

general destruction
were

Henceforth

The
new-created
ominous.
League of the
formidable
a
agent of persecution,and so

moment

one

RELIGION

up.

give them

will

who

OF

WARS

THE

subtle nature.

and

des grands, est contente de

Reine, desirant la mort
the comment
celle du connetable," such was
of shrewd
old
the
historian
and
la
desirant
Reine,
la
Tavannes,
Royalist
;

La

"

phrase,but henceforth the key

grands" is no mere
and
battle had delivered her
hidden policy. Murder

des

mort

her

to

from

and

Guise

get rid of Coligny and

to

it is true, remained
a

;" she

Montmorency

Conde.
he

; but

was

than
despot,a master-intriguer
evil with

more

"

foe, as, this

plots that

herself would
The

rather
a

Cardinal
a

find

de

means

Lorraine,

mischief-maker

leader.

No

than

wrought

man

his

well-hated both by friend and

brain, was
so
of
called. He and
the
tiger France," as he was

he

hatched
"

As

were

the main
among
the Cardinal
de

of bad

sources

Lorraine is at
"
said
Conde.
I will go
kept,"
blood, I will dye his
myself to fetch him, and, with his own
robes deep scarlet."
Conde's words
gave voice to the wishes

government.
Court, the peace

of many,

not

Catherine

would

long

as

will not

be

the

only among
not

have

echoed

and

Cardinal's

them.

To

opponents.
her he

urbane, and she did not find him in her way.

nephew, Duke Henri, the head of the House, he was
her any
as
serious alarm.
yet to cause
One

"she

measure

abolished

she took

But

courtly

was

As

for his

too young

herself againstfresh tyranny

secure
the great office of the Constable, and
made
to

65

THE

her

YEARS

LATER

son,

Henri

of the realm.

of

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

Anjou, a boy of fifteen,Lieutenant-General

doing so she satisfied her prudence, but
the only one
of her
pride, for Anjou was

In

also her maternal

children that she not

only loved but adored, not only adored

The Prince had great soldiers to advise him
most
fore-

but feared.

"

them, Strozzi,Brissac and

among
had

brilliant

his

militarygiftsof
; and

the elder Tavannes

; he

and, in those days,a gallant

own

he also had

the strongest
strong ambitions
his brother,the King.
them, perhaps,thedesire to eclipse
among
Nor had he long to wait before his talents were
put to the test.
presence

"

The

Treaty of Longjumeau had been but a shadow and war

only waiting to break out again. Indeed it had never

was

during the

reallyceased

six months

of the

so-called peace.

refusal of the Protestant

La Rochelle, to receive
stronghold,
in the
Governor
a Catholic
was
a good pretextfor offence,and
of 1568, troops began to reappear
without
summer
warning
all over
the
it
had
mustered,
was
said,
country. They
to
the
Southern
frontier
and
reduce
La
Rochelle
to
guard
;
but Coligny,then at Chatillon, suspectedother reasons.
He
Catherine had given orders to Tavannes
was
rightto do so.
and
of
to seize both the Admiral
Conde, though the blame
him.
to fall on
the deed was
to be trapped in a
They were
of escape, after
circling
ring of enemies, without possibility
be made
to disappear,
which they could with ease
and then, free
of
les grands,"she would rule in peace.
Small wonder
that
well qualified
to
was
so
Tavannes, under such commands,
epitomize his royal mistress's theory of government. It was

The

"

of an Italian,who took up his abode

appearance
Chatillon, that first aroused Coligny'sfears. He moved

the

sudden

near

he

Noyers, in Burgundy, where

to

handwritingswarned

Unknown

joinedthe

them

of

Prince

their

de Conde.

danger and,
"

himself was
them.
if report says true, that of Tavannes
among
At any rate, he contrived to dallyin the execution of his orders
until

In
every
had

he

them
gave
the meantime

to

they

had

depart.
not

been

of protest.
means
dignified
the shedding of so much

written

to Catherine.

it could not go
he

time

on

for

He

and

idle.
God

They

will not

innocent

had
leave

tried
punished
un-

blood," Coligny

wantonly abused
have
the good will*"
You
may
but
certainlyhave not the
you

The

Edicts

were

"

"

ever.
"

ironicallyconcluded,

power."

"

Conde,

month

later,drew

up

full statement

who followed
of their wrongs and the wrongs of the men
them.
They accused Catherine of her last plotto take and kill
66

YEARS

LATER

THE

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

of food, when at last the towers

of their cityof
for want
dark upon the sky-line,and La Rochelle
and
showed

lay

her

and

d'Albret

first days of

its walls,where

within

band

The

them.

before

they

were

safety

September saw
soon
joinedby Jeanne
the whole

Henri, then

son,

refuge

fifteen

some

old.

years

togethera little Huguenot Court, where Jeanne

They made
reignedas Queen, picturesqueenough, and serious as well as
community with the traditions
picturesque; an old Testament
And
noblesse.
of the French
she, austere
though she was,
had
she was
the
something of the histrionic instinct. Now
Matron, and, with her

her son, in the

hand, armed
a proclamation of his manhood
army
presence of the assembled
again, she played the royal mistress, orderinga
; now,
of goldchains to be fashioned with pendant medals.
Ou
score

Roman

own

"

"

paix asseuree,

The

were

Queen

funds

the

When
seemed

of Navarre

at

of the

Huguenots
she who

property throughout
thus
and
also

found

was

there

graven

low

ran

his

when

at La

and

their

Rochelle.
resources

sale of ecclesiastical

suggested

the

most.

of St. Bartholomew.

the best statesman

was

end, it was

an

honneste

mort

to the friends she honoured

his hat ; it was

on
one
ransacked
the Eve
upon

Coligny wore
clothes

them

she gave

them, and

on

victoire entire, ou

ou

"

Protestant

provinces

and

replenishedthe treasury. England, too, sent money

gunpowder, and help was promised by Germany. There
to La Rochelle to see
came
Coligny,an important visitor,

of William
of
of Nassau, the brother and the messenger
Orange : a fresh strengthto the cause, for within a few months
Louis

his Netherlandish

he and

in
fighting

troops were

the field with

the Admiral.

plot againstColigny'slife

The

war,

to be

followed, not
all

fifteen
as

in themselves

facts which

were

days

on

pain

hopeful.

"

Their

their

cause.

They

to

better

was

the rabble

had

by

fighterswere

left wife, child

"

now

than

who

La

of the
it had

had

dropped

leaders had

Huguenots
been.

away,

believers

home,"

Rochelle

hitherto

writes

with a joy and an ardour

incredible ;
lived then,
faith in their leaders and in themselves.

Those

of

manding
vigorousdecree comthe
leave
kingdom in

strenuous

and

"

the outlook
operations,

in their ranks

majority of

"

Nevertheless,with

of death.

army
and
looters
the
free-lances,
adventure

ministers

his escape
declaration

discovery

constituted

long after,by

Protestant

the basis of their

was

its

"

"

The

sought
and
in

one

the
their
who

they had

shifted
gradually,perhaps unconsciously,
68

THE
their

ground and,

the scope

as

was

Prince

the

far

of the

RELIGION

Conde"

as

of their aims.

deposed,it was

were

OF

WARS

It

concerned, increased

was

Conde

who

Blood

and

He

reignin his stead.

would

"

the
of
Le Roi
des

Prince

if Charles

clear that

became

now

"

"

Religion

a
fiddles,"
name
days,
when
not so stable and he showed
Condi's creed was
signs of
veering towards Catholicism, Coligny himself had kept him
faithful to his party by urging his inalienable right to the
would
Crown, which the Protestants
support if they could
not
Once
gain their ends by other means.
granted that a

already called him

Huguenots
not

calculated

Catholic

no
King was
King, Conde's
and though he had not put them
reality,
them life,
the thought of them had, in

dormant

in

his mind.

and

an

added

lent

of

became

claims

valid

till events

in words

gave

long lain
probability,
pretensionsexasperatedCatherine

His

note

in former

And

quellambition.

to

enmity

all

to her

It

hostile attitude.

bitter as
was
so
alreadyone of hatred ; for there is no feeling
that which involves a thwarted
sentiment, and Catherine was,
after

all, a
husband, who

Conde

woman.

had

her ; there was

loved him, and

roused

the

was

except her

man,

coquetry,within

some

it seemed

when

moment

one

warmth,

some

her vengeance

believe what

the

was

as

if she
If

the acuter.

now

almost
are

we

Philip,she went so
far as to employ a magicianto work againsthim and his cousins,
An Italian offered this Queen to kill
Colignyand Andelot.
to

Spanish

told

envoy

"

the Prince of Conde, the Admiral

and Andelot
for six months
he has been closeted in a room
craftsman

Paris

from
with

German

he

brought from Strasburg,and he has had him

three bronze figures
of the Prince of Conde, the Admiral
and Andelot, full of screws
in the joints
and breasts with which
to work
the arms,
thighs,faces, and hair which is yery
abundant
and
turns
upwards. Day after day the Italian
does nothing but study their birth and, with an astrolabe,he
make

"

and

turns
said

that

it was,

the bronze
few

blunder

that

"

"

statue

almost

thigh showed
later,with

happened

followed

concerned

the

Conde

When
mortal

Andelot's
the

times,

and

many

call

methods

Catherine, if

clever one,

who

knew

died, it was
symptoms, and so
The

image.

Admiral

superstitiouswoman,
the full value

suggestion.
69

only

; for when
others, his death

of what

his
was

himself.

effect upon
of incitingto murder

"

were

very

months

screws."

example of the
instantlyreported without any

There

should

the

unturns

in

was
we

those
also

to-day

THE

YEARS

LATER
wrath

Her

did not

MEDICI

DE'

fall upon
the militaryleaders of the
determined
of any hereto purge the Court
tical

She

Huguenots.

CATHERINE

OF

element, and

only

chose

this moment,

when

hostilities were

reopening,to

resolve upon
dismissal.
She had a
l'Hopital's
end in view : the obvious one, to get rid of a Minister

twofold

who

was

him

stronger,to remove
clear plan it was
to

own,
more

half

than

more

permit him

replace

him

by

which

to

was

Catherine,
other
had

become

of

of

no

exactly what

she had

would

one

her

but

her

It

son

and

he
her

was

had

once

resolve to

Italian,her

an

It

course.

in the

common

herself,had

had

"

her usual

took

crafty

was

years

one

be.

to

perceptionof
boyhood upwards, she

heartless

people'ssensibilities. From

known

one

the

other, and

If Catherine
near

hers,

only too

insensible

King.

Chancellor.

she

favourite,Gondi, and

the

influence

no

creature

the

get fond

to

of the

fond

grown

from

allow

to

Protestant

his
lash

Charles'

up

and

nerves,

scrupledto use her knowledge. Now she stood

at his elbow
The
autocratic
boy, whom
working upon him.
she had imbued
with the doctrine of Divine
Right of Kings,
was
pursued by one bugbear the fear of rebellion. Catherine
told him that l'Hopital
he was
was
a rebel,that
a confederate
I
of the Huguenots, that they would
destroy his State.
never

"

"

have

no

doubts," Charles

more

their damned

intention

exclaimed,

establish

to

"

of the truth

kingdom

within

of

this

ordained."
hath
kingdom my
kingdom the which God
L'Hopital,after yieldingthe Seals, was summarily dismissed ;
and
with
him
departed from the Court the last hope of a
tolerant policy.
Between
there was
Charles and his mother
no
sympathy.
"

She
"

loved her.
he feared her, but he never
filialrespect which
admirable
a
respect for her was
bear the name
of fear," said the subtle Venetian
even
him

fascinated

His

"

might

Nor

envoy.
went

wish

and

had

to her next

son,

his

was

All her feeling

affection for him.
any
her idol,Henri d'Anjou,and her dominant

she

aggrandizement.

like
or morbidly sensitive,
shrinking,

audacious, effective

his

youth

He

was

Charles.
him

lent

not

He
the

puny
was

and

brilliant,

glamour of
of the public.

eclipsedthe King in the eyes

to someCharles' jealousyof his younger
brother amounted
thing
his
like hatred, and
he never
appointment
forgave

romance

and

he

Lieutenant-General

thing Charles
could

the

realm.

proud of, one

was

tread, it

of

was

that

of

path

For
to

if there

glory that

military prowess,
70

and

was

he
he

as

one

felt he
knew

WARS

THE
with

that

in the

Anjou

RELIGION

OF

field there

would

his spurs.

The

be

for

room

no

him.
Henri d'Anjou
in

won

soon

at Paris.

He

whether

fancy

of

or

writes

mother,"

my

resolved to

Princess

Margot.

King

and

the

depart with

touched

words

these

no

"

You
heart

the

suddenly

She

the usual little

with

"

sorrowfully.

die the less

death, he felt that he should

can

mother

to his

the honour of seeingher

fortune destined him for

have

begged to

then, if envious

; for

King

winter

such extremities,"
be forced into a battle."

days they would

he said, that in a few

Before that event, he
the

passed

the

bigengagement

word

sent

had

brought the Huguenots to

had

"

and

had

Anjou

imminent.
"

Early in March

time.

for some
stoppedall fighting

seemed

actions, and

indecisive

and

slightskirmishes

autumn

de Sauve, and myself. Borne

de Retz, Madame
troop
Paris
the wings of her wishes,she covered the road between
on
half
some
and
Tours
in three
and
a
days not without
Madame

"

"

inconvenience

and

too, because

Indeed, he
that

the

found

When

doings.

the flower of France.

made

the

and

King

all he

it with

such

art, and

than

to

it

with

contrasted

since he
with

of all these he forthwith

greatly,the

his wise

left the

more

words

so

better

"

What

suited to

my
to

her
such

The

on

It

discuss

course

that

was

did not check

his

discretion

she, moderating

praise

with

can

only took

the

Princes

war

and
.

of action."
on

the last

wounded
slightly

But

the facts of the

concerned
them

words

no

show, and

March

12,

Jarnac, facingeach

near
was

speech as

to

wish

qualifyingher

his

result

themselves
Loire.

wanted

settle

been

pointsin

for she
to

and

gestures

made

grey-beard

felt

mother

shows

not

charge

he

grace, that every one

for that his great youth

uniquely.

does

And

Court.

tell,for,in truth, she loved him

nothing it

of his

account

eloquenta

so

of sixteen.

boy

Plessis-les-Tours, we

at

In the presence

done

there admired

arrived

for

created

not

were

oration, renderingan

an

had

temperament
we

be owned

there, togetherwith the chiefs of his army,

brother

my

his

and

coming.

on

yet it must

; and

could let her alone

never

accidents,

absurd

insisted

Bourbon

de

Cardinal

his humour

arduous

accidents

great many

night of
in

other

either side of the

on

life.

unimportant

gallantspiritand

found

two

Conde's

some

armies

1569,the

he

was

as

He

had

already

raid, but

mercurial

as

that
ever,

in gay and now

with Coligny,now
giving orders, or conferring
in solemn
mood.
There is an
evening prayer composed by
7i

THE

LATER

YEARS

him

for his men

Its words
evoke

broken

there

which

here and

CATHERINE

OF
he must

by

said

have

last vision
stirring
torch

DE'

or

usual that

as

of him

lantern

MEDICI

night.

of the darkness,

; of the white

gleam

of the tents ; of rude armed

their knees ; of the
men
upon
fierylittle Captain,kneelingin their midst. And this prayer,
which shows the best side of him, makes
close to
no
unfitting
his career.
"

Oh

Lord

night unto

God

man's

for his labours

"

it runs,

repose

and,

"

and

hast created the

For that Thou

hast ordered

that the

day

serve

for that it hath pleased

especially,
Thee to choose us to watch this night,so that we may
assure
the repose of others ; we
implore of Thee very humbly, in
the Name
and by the goodness of Thy Son, our
Lord Jesus
not
commanded
of
this Company,
to allow that any one
Christ,
to

now

more

watch, should fall into

those

sleepwhich

be harmful

should

vigilance.And give
us
Thy grace that we may acquitourselves loyallyof our duty
under the Chiefs and Captains whom
Thou
hast set over
us.
Above
all,Lord, hold our hands, that the sleepof sin may not
base thing under
seize our
the
souls and make
do some
us
to

cloak

who

rest

of darkness

our

upon

faith and

grant, rather, that

when

we

consider how

Thy lightpiercesthrough the thickest shadows in the world,

even
unto the inmost
depth of the heart, we may ever have
the fear of Thy Name
before our eyes, so that we may
discover
in
and hinder all evil doingsundertaken
the nightby any man,
whosoever
he be, accordingto our
charge and commission.'
Henri d'Anjou,meanwhile, had passed the night in active
and
preparations. He had planned a master-move,
directly
the moon
had risen high enough to lighthim, while his enemy's
troops lay fast asleep, he and his army
silentlycrossed
next
the river by an old stone bridge,a dire surprise
day for
the waking eyes of the Huguenots. In the chill of the glimmering
He knelt upon
dawn, Anjou resorted to his devotions.
the ground before a priestand received the Holy Communion
;
be killed
then passionately
that Conde must
charged his men
before nightfall. The King of the faithful
too perilwas
ously
'

"

"

near

the throne

to

live.

Early in the fight,which began with the morning, Conde 's

legwas broken, but he still led on valiantly. Noblesse franber
Rememmoment.
gaise! he cried," here is the long-desired
de Bourbon
the condition
Louis
in which
goes to fight
for Christ and
but paraphrasing
for his country.' He was
"

"

'

the motto

which

stood embroidered
72

on

his banner

"

Doux

le

WARS

THE

Perilpour Christ

et le

RELIGION

OF

him

slaughterabout

The

pays."

was

he grew more
and grew worse
helpless. "There
as
appalling,
was
nothing left for him but death," says an eye-witness,
all his men
d'Aubigne"
struggledfor the honour of making
;
one
An old man,
with their bodies.
Captain
a rampart for him
and
his
sons
Lavergne, let himself be killed with fifteen of
nephews. He had brought twenty-fiveinto the field. Of a
"

sudden, hit by
had
He

another."
upon
two faces that
the instant surrounded, but recognizing

strengthleft

no
was

he

him, and

horse fell under

ball, Conde's

on

to

get

and

up

mount

he knew

to them

himself up

his captors, he gave

among
their solemn promise of his life. His

however,

safetywas,

upon
in

not

At that moment
their power ; Anjouhad not spoken in vain.
there rode up his emissaries,headed by his creature, Montes"

quiou.
You

Kill

cannot

hardlyhad
He

fellat

he
once,

him, kill him !

they shouted, as they came.
save
me," said Conde calmly to his guard, and
"

spoken,when Montesquioushot him in the back.

carried
to the ground and his body was
lifeless,

flushed with
Lieutenant-General
was
Anjou. The young
triumph, for the victoryof the Catholics had been complete,
acted promptly.
this crowning trophy. He
without
even
de
Francois
Past were
the
when
days of Dreux
generous
Guise captured Conde
and
begged him to share his tent and

to

bed.

The

age of Anjou
at perverse effects.
The

insolentlydecadent

was

he

aimed

slung,by his orders,

head downwards
across
an
ass, and carried to the parishChurch
of Jarnac.
Near
by there stood the house where Anjou was
here
before a pillar,
and
on
a bare
lodging,
stone, the body was
all
the
to
the
mob.
of
exposed
day
laughter
There

he

dead

Prince

lay
"

Le

tant
petit homme
Qui tou jours chante,
Et
Dieu

and

round

in the
verse

him

toujours baise
garde de mal

stood the

days when
might stand

is harder
so

they

sincere.

loved

Conde"

was

histrionic that he could

and

could

himself
identifying

demanded

le

At

not

with

change
one

jours
mignonne

moment

of

rit
"

petit homme.

crowd

same

had

sa

joli
tou

so

other half

The

among

men,
French-

change his parts with

meteoric

Like

Frenchman

other

emotions, and
brilliant
73

sung

epitaph.

help playing up
it.

that song
long ago. The

that had

him, not

for the half of his

to express.

quickness

was

as

to

an

histrionic
was

comet

occasion

"

people,he

both

fickle and

and

witty with

THE

LATER

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

the salt of Gallic wit ; at another, filledwith religious

exaltation
"
and as zealous as any Covenanter
and
brave
;
lightand fatal
to those who
needed
all the
to them
him," yet transmitting

magnetic thrill

of his

mood

this

Louis, Prince de
Conde.
He
died upon
the bed of honour/' said Jeanne
d'Albret,when she heard of the tragedy at Jarnac. Her words,
homme
tant joli."
also,should stand upon the grave of le petit
own

"

was

"

"

It

at Jarnac who
watched
only the eye-witnesses
the drama
of Conde's end.
Catherine was
lyingdangerouslyill
of a fever at Metz, the town
where she happened to be staying.
its Convents, had caught a prevailing
She had been visiting
epidemic,and the doctors gave but little hope. It is the
Princess Marguerite,
herself there,who givesus the description
not

was

of what
"

followed.

Round

her

"

bed," she writes,

brother, and

sister and

stood

King Charles,

my

of Lorraine, and
divers
my
ladies and gentlemen
gentlemen of the Council, and many
who thought she was
and
not
would
at the point of death
abandon

all in

cried

her.

what
she, dreaming,kept telling

And

'

order, as it happened.
'

suddenly.

son

my

brother

Prince

feet

his

on

My

again
"

how

they flee !

has the

son

Look

victory. He,
fallen !

has

he

she saw,

Do

mon

you

'

she

Dieu,

set

see

the

'

hedge ! All who were

present thought that she was
dreaming and that, since she
knew
to givebattle, it was
the thought of
brother meant
my
that which haunted
her.
But a few nightsafter,there came
Monsieur
de Losses with the news
of the victory deeming
that he brought most
welcome
tidingswhich deserved great
reward
tedious to come
You
at her hands.
are
waking me for
de Conde

"

he is dead

in that

"

'

that/
all ?

It
The

'

all she said.

was

not the firsttime that such

nightbefore

the whole

scene

day, had

years, when

it

see

had

her husband
"

killed she had

been

the tournament,

his sudden

urgentlyimplored him

the Cardinal

de Lorraine

said, appeared to her ; and

her children, she dreamed
of
saw

at other times.

her.

thingshad happened to

not

had

to

end

we

and, the
later

died, he, too, it

shooting flame

Nowadays

"

dreamed

fight. In

again,before the death

never

I not

already,did

it well

I knew

"

was

next

'

"

should

was

of each
vision

call her

of
she

meric,
mes-

tions.
her manifestapsychicalsocieties would investigate
and they lent her
Then they were
held to be prophecies
greater authority.
and

The

King

received

the

of the

news

74

victoryin

bed.

The

THE

OF

YEARS

LATER

CATHERINE

MEDICI

DE'

given Coligny leisure to put his troops

Catherine broke in impatiently
that that was

on

new

not the

footing.
danger,for

the Admiral

had no place in his power

but La Rochelle
"
real perillay elsewhere.
I live in constant fear," she
"lest he should deliver it to the
of Navarre
is entirelygoverned
Of

ruiningus.
"

force fails,
one

When

"

means?

must

ended,

English. Besides, the Queen

by him, and she it is who is

charity,advise

your

; the

what

me

to other

turn

do !

to

"

means."

"
"

What

then, since you will have it, you must

have
la Sonaria,' as
to
the Italians call it, and
recourse
must
get Coligny killed,as well as La Rochefoucauld
you
and Grammont."
And loweringhis voice,for the Cardinal de
"
in
Lorraine was
the next
Three days since," he conroom
tinued,
"Well,

'

"

"

kill the

would

I offered

thousand
fifty

to the

crowns

would

who

man

Admiral, and twenty or thirtythousand to those who

kill Andelot
and La Rochefoucauld.
It is seven
years

first resolved on, and

ago since their death was
hindered
it then
lived to
have
repent their
Catherine

answered

word

no

and

the

they

who

decision."

conversation

to

came

end.

an

But

Alava

did not let matters

long after this

he had another talk with her upon the subject
and complained,
as
the Huguenots.
usual, of her easy-goingconduct towards
There is one
thing you do not know," she exclaimed, and
rest there.

Not

"

yet

it

is

the

truth ;
authoritythat I used to have

same

absolute

I
in

longer the
the Council.
My sons

have

no

good judgment and, for these

last four months, he claims to act solelyat his own
dictation.
It is the same
with his brother, the Due d'Anjou,and I have
But a fox
mine."
not the high hand in affairs that once
was
are

men

had

been

The

now.

King

set to catch

everythingthat
put a good end

"

fox.

a
"

that," repliedAlava.
at the helm, your
sons

has

have

If you and
would be in
achieved

you
to the whole

for all,with the Admiral

"
Never
by her mantle.
understand

Her

counsels

that

make

believe

me

not
prudence were
Still,
great danger

your

....

will be wasted

do not

if you

you finish,once
As he spoke,he held her fast

? "...

Won't

dare to say such

at

she herself

him,

as

thingagain!

if she

"

she

make

would

thought exactly as
and
sure,
they were

silent,but

were

will not

matter.

answered, lookingmeaningly
him

You

he

did.

she

and

the

Spaniardwere well-matched.
in the air, Coligny still remained
Yet, though murder
was

unscathed.

Not

so

his beloved

76

brother, Andelot, who

died

THE

WARS

RELIGION

OF

With
suddenly at Saintes, in May of this same
year.
the
it
such rumours
was
as
country
prevailedthroughout
the
natural that poison should have been
cause
suggested as
And
it is more
than probable that this was
of his end.
so
;
which
had
been
that he fell the victim
of some
Spanish plot
there is no proof of the fact,
Catherine.
But
tacitly
acceptedby
rather

or,

indeed, of anything

and

violent

illnessses

mysterious,because
the
suspicion,
Odet

were

more

more

is hardlythe main

"

than now,

then

it is hard

Yet

for

more

card
to dis-

us

that,barelytwo years later,Cardinal

so

had

He

unexpectedlyovertook

fatal illness

short and

common

it

If the two

assassinated,they certainlymight

England

there
brothers

were

serious shock to publicopinion.

any
The
death of Andelot, the Colonel-General

1569,to

poisonor

was

been, and

have

in

that death

in London

was

Whether

him.

issue.

to

gone

Queen Elizabeth, and

treat with

of

less understood.

Andelot.

followed

than

more

not

actually

not

that without

of the

Infantry,

and loyal friend, was

a
giftedsoldier,the impulsiveman
For
tragedy for his party a heavy blow to the Admiral.

the

"

Andelot

the brother

was

most

like him

sans

peur,

And

this

eldest

his boy

"

which

calamitywas
The

son.

his wife

That

to

historymay

of his

accumulation

told upon

well

add

best, who
"

sans

griefsupon

reproche."
of Coligny's
the death

Conde, then of Andelot, and

and the iron entered

his nature

the

was

called the chevalier

closelyfollowed by the death

the loss first of

"

loved

his comrades

whom

Andelot

he

whom

now

of
of

into his soul.

fought grimly,and we read something like

when
he went
to
despairin the awful rigourof his commands
P6rigord,to punish the Catholics for their barbarous
slaughter
of the Provencaux.
A crueltyforeignto his nature
was
ent
apparin his vengeance, and it did not bringhim luck.
Till then,
of Orange and his Netherlandish
helped by William
troops,
he

summer

and

supported by William's brother, Louis of Nassau, the

But now, more
or
successful.
less,
Huguenots had been fairly
disaster followed them
in his efforts to

at

Poitiers,which Colignytried

to take ;

Chatellerault ; in a final engagement at

Montcontour.
His army
ridden with disease ; he himself,
was
dangerouslyill,gave his orders in weak tones from a litter ;
while Anjou held his own
in the valley of the Loire, and the
rival

save

favourite,young

Catholic

Henri

de

for

battle

Guise, won

his spurs

in the

cause.

Anjou was
inadequacy

anxious
of

his forces, was

bent
77

Coligny,knowing
avoiding it.
upon

the
His

THE

YEARS

LATER

OF

however, went

army,

DE'

againsthim, and,

MEDICI

pitched

sight,their insistence overruled

within

once

CATHERINE

result

the battle of Montcontour, on October

was
the most
drastic defeats that the Protestants

of

At
the

victory,for
the

charged
leader.
choked
down

rest the

When
a

had

blood,

the

with
and

to

speak

"

went.
under-

ever

they

would

gain

been

that upon

who

men

1569,one

hit,and, half
leave the field,bowed

he knew

would

man

no

"

3,

The

his men-at-arms,
had
their
badly wounded

he had

compelled

was

if

as

moment,

fate of all

common

litter.

with

at the crucial

blame, while

this is the
in

Reiters

despondency,for

with

seemed

Colignyin person,

Catholic

But,
with

it had

time

one

encounter

his wisdom.

him

of his merits

lead the

would
; since

people."

bore

him, worn
by fever,
fightwas over,
they
did
they
so, L'Estrange,a gentleman stricken

As

in the same
fashion,and also wounded,
years, travelling
in front of the other.
his litter set down
Then puttingforth

his head

between

the

curtains,he looked

long in silence at his

chief. And with tears in his eyes he partedfrom him, saying,
Yes, it is true that God is gracious.'Whereupon they bade
united in thought,though unable
farewell to one another, closely
in words."
But
to say any
his way
more
on
Colignywent
refreshed.
mon
ami," and the
L'Estrange had called him
word
The
struck home.
great Captain confessed to his
'

"

"

familiars that this

and
spirit

set him

same
once

littleword
more

on

of

"

friend

the road

of

"

had renewed

his

goodly thoughts."

jotteddown by a contemporary, are bare

tenance
ejaculation
L'Estrange's
bringsbefore us the counthan
that he beheld more
vividly
any long description,
and transmits
down the centuries the power of goodness. This
which
made
force it was
Coligny an inaccessible mystery to
Catherine, for of spiritual
authorityshe recked nothing. In
at that
meant
her eyes power
prestige the laurels which
These

sentences,

enough,but

"

moment

crowned

her

son,

the brilliant victor of

Jarnac

and

Montcontour.

Every power was

working againstthe Admiral, both in
bribed a
secret and in public. Anjou'sCaptain of the Guards
in
battle
valet of Coligny's
to do in privatewhat was
not done
and to put an end to his master
by poison. The plot failed,
but
was

worse

dangersmenaced

offered

in
strangled

for his

him

from

apprehension,and

the Greves

and

hanged on

without.
he
the

was

largereward

condemned

to be

gibbetof Montfaucon,

like any common

criminal of Paris.
His
his children (and Andelot's children

78

cated,
confis-

property

was

too)were

proclaimed

WARS

THE

longernoble, incapable of holdingany

infdmes,no

to be

RELIGION

OF

that his enemies

Every ignominy

could devise

office.

allotted to

was

him.
That

hope

should

Coligny

critical

hour

give up
spirit. He inspired

proof of his indomitable

fresh

was

this

in

not

pressedon to unexpected victories. To

effect a junction with his colleague,
Montgomery, was his first
with
aim, and he accomplishedit. He travelled southwards
Le
his
Conde
Navarre
and
Voyage des Princes
young
immense
odds
and he won
battles against
called
march
was
his fallen

men

he

"

"

"

"

in the south, the chief of them

Captain,backed

famous
that

the

these

potent than
they meant.

more

signof

an

visible

They

triumphs

were

force which

any

blazing feat

their

further

successes,

and

the moral

victory
but
militaryepisodes,
gave the Huguenots a stronger
pressed
of conquest and
deeply im-

no

inward

positionthan
Whether

his leader with

Noue, his

La

Arnay-le-Duc.

at

was

mere

opponents.

Coligny would

finallyretrieved his
material fortunes, it is not possibleto say ; for at this juncture,
in the springof 1570, Catherine took fright.She had no money
who
for the Mercenaries
were
clamouring for payment ; she
about
feared that Elizabeth
to intervene
was
on
Coligny's
behalf
knew

or

no

that his German

"

have

allies would

that the cessation of warfare

invade
the

was

France

; and

onlysecurityof

she
the

throne.

Colignyhimself
before.
of France
his

He, too,

would

righthand,
of the

was

had made
be

of peace nearlya twelvemonth

clearlythat, without it,the ruin

overtures

saw

inevitable.

headstrongand

more

mind, and

same

these two

Happily Jeanne de Navarre,

active

more

obdurate

than

communications

began

he,
tween
be-

the

and

Queen-Mother. The terms of peace

took long to discuss,for this time Colignywas
uncompromising
in his requirements,
and it was
not till August, 1570, that the
Treaty of St. Germain was ratified. It was the finest victory
that the

had won.
The Admiral
had demanded
for all ; liberty
of worship in such towns
Protestant
the
admission of Protestants
to
already
;
Protestants

libertyof conscience
as

were

public

offices

equal terms with the Catholics

acknowledgment that the Protestants

King's full
"

very
of the
as

More
loyaljsubjects."
to be

were

on

handed

RoyaPfaith:

key

to

over

La

the centre

to

"

than this, four

them

Rochelle

for two
to

; Montauban

79

and

the

were

his
"

placesof safety

years

guard the

; and

sea

as

guarantee
Charite,

; La

Cognac in

the south.

THE

YEARS

LATER

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

Huguenots,long accustomed
to shifty
Longjumeau,
compromise,to Treaties of Amboiseand
should now
feel that they had reached security
: that the men
with
who
had fought so strenuously,
hardly a pause for four
Small

wonder

years, should
the freedom

that the much-tried

at

last return

they had

to their homes

won.

80

to thank

God

for

CHAPTER

The

Princess

IV

Margot

and

81

the

Due

d'Anjou

LATER

THE

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

well that I must praiseHim

for that we
in our youth
the which is the cause
of
"

And,
how

on

? And

honouringyou

together

up

ship.
indissoluble friend-

our

prove it to me
revenge, unless it be

my

MEDICI

bred

were

truly. But,

part,you

your

/ to show

am

DE'

alas !

by lovingand by

would

that I had but the means,

as I have
the will to serve
life !
you ! I have had it,in sooth, all my
of her old comrade's
The news
death must
have
brought
"

heart

heavy

effaced it.
her
a

Mary

to

It

not

was

Stuart, but
with

so

Catherine.

daughterwas a shock from

to her Spanishpolicy,
as

which

blow

had

for

her

well

she
as

To

never

to softer

soon

her, the loss of

quite recovered,
beth
feelings.Eliza-

had

satisfied her ambitions, in

great that she sometimes took it

pridehad been so
And there had been
of love.
intensity
her second girl,
Claude de Lorraine, she
unmarried
daughter,Marguerite,had
her

whom
for

the child who

been

weightiersorrows

little to

cared

replaceit ;
nothing,and

hitherto

been

important
un-

in her eyes.
This, however, was to be changed,and
that Princess,far the cleverest of the family and the only strong

them,

acquire a prominence
which soon
threatened to be alarming. The promotion which
sudden.
It was
due, as she piquantly
gave her opportunity was
the
orders issued by Anjou, at that moment,
describes, to
character

among

her favourite brother

few
at

made

years
Court.

to

now

was

; and

it

all the mischief

who

these two

was

the

among

for the next

risinggeneration

his sister
King, in playfulcontempt, had nicknamed
and the
sobriquet,
Margot," a popular,but not too dignified
fifteen years of
name
clung to her as by right. She was now
age and, unfledgedthough she was, she had a wit and a style
The

"

of her
which
"

her

made

tongue

and

of

her

interest

one

than

more

to

real

what

instinct for letters

Princess

said

she

of

and

smart

thought.

her well," she set about reading

thick,she nevef stopped for a moment

knew

who

long and

sleep and food

it,and oftentimes she abandoned
chronicler,"used her
Nature," said the same
"

for its sake."

rarer,

something

lent

When," wrote
book, however

tillthe end

had, besides, the

She

own.

in
spirits

subtler

made

beauty was

the

fashioning of

rather to ruin

and

this

lady.

to damn

men

But
.

than

to

spelldid not liein her features. Even the Court

sycophantsof her day admit that her chin was underhung
Her mouth
laughed ;
'{the family chin," an envoy calls it.

save

Its

them."

"

"

"

her hair

changed

"

was

colour

very

black

like her father's"

accordingto

her

84

wigs,and

(althoughit
ambassadors

often

grew

MARGOT

PRINCESS

THE

AND

THE

DUC

D'ANJOU

high-flownabout its gold); her complexion was

wont
the complexions of past princessesare
as
to remember
"

carnation
"

in

in" her

"

rightsize

small," but justthe

It had

Spain, who

it,lest it should

unwittinglygiven.
"

terrors.

said,

'*

I had

It

but

said

something

answeringher
'

bush

"

that

she looked

when

Who

answered

she
at

time
well

Catherine
"

had

his

You

for
affinity

are

lest
fright,

I went, indeed, near

to
when
he saw
the burning

Pharaoh

Thou

?
.

wilt send.'

"

Send,

Perhaps

prescribedfor her, when

were

we

battle

to

the

of

her

see

words,

own

Jarnac, when
and

son

he

had

Court.
"

she

me.

had

together,alike compel
noticed

that you are

Till to-day,Nature
no

that

of all the others

one
see

other

end

for

enough
passed

thingshas

goodly offices to which

Queen,

told in her

the

Paris

have

may

well

was

childish

is best

before

from

broken

the

And

have

the

died of

same

her," she

to

'

me

often

sisters you
to do well.

are

offence,

some

felt the

to take
writes, begged me
in a green alley,apart, and, once
there, he
and the bread
:
My sister,our relationship,

him

to

so

another.

That

shortly

so

great speech
of Anjou,"

spoke thus

and

did

before

with

have

he

come

brother

My

walk

we

I almost

opened

eightyears old, for remaining a staunch Catholic

her elders leaned towards
when
heresy. But Anjou
would
what
serve
him, and he had singledher out for

his purpose.
How
it happened,
as
made

she

speak

not

letter

but

was

knew

of

Margot

go unto

I pray Thee, by the hand

of whom
she remembered
the beatingsthat

before

of

Queen

got

never

over

God

I that I should

am

too

Catherine

the little

because

I dared

at me,

which

to

she

her.
displease

to

Moses

as

that

angry
the Princess

only

not

was

an

and

she had

with

word

And

Spanish

Bold, brilliant,

men.

temper

tremblingall

contain

figure

always been
hypnotized by her, she

same

Brantome

without

Yet

painted;
too big nor

neither

was

of

the

been

told

once

her mother

been

herself

to bewitch

violent outbursts

the

prone.

from

had

Charles, half

Like

inarticulate.

was

she

and shrewd, before her mother

mendacious
dreaded

in which

veil,which

little white

be.

to

have

deep-redvelvet, the colour of

the dress

"

the

hyperbole,she must

for

allowance

due

with

dazzling

as

God

to whom

made

as

to love

brothers
I would

one

and

choose

to feel the

same

has
the

guided us on our road

joy of talkingtogether.

childhood, but

our

You

away.
has called

know
and

the
the

time

for

great and

for which

the
believe
since
and,
me,
you
have greatness or
cherish,I will never

our

mother, has reared

one

whom

I most

but

so

of my

us

me

85

"

me,

LATER

THE

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

in which you do not share.

possessions
keepingin the Queen'sgood graces,
.

liesin

absence

my

will do

harm.

me

and

constantly away

my

is

strength

my

afraid that

am

will

wars

brother

But

and

The

MEDICI

always

keep
her

at

me

side,

her, and
flattering

I fear that in the

servingher in every way.
I shall suffer ; for the King, who is of great courage,
in hunting,but, as he grows
always find amusement

long run
will not

older,will

to chase

want

of my

depriveme
himself."

The

Lieutenancy

urge
his point.

to

should
the
as

have

"

It is
one

I know

who

you,

are

Anjou

Then, taking her hand, he

some

Queen.

abruptly came
"

self.

all that

have

You
"

and

obligeme

inclinations.

your

her

for
entirely
subjectyourself,
You

study, at her

must
; in

coueher

fail to be

never

deeply
force

must

you
at

is most

will

needed, mind, judgment, fidelityprovided you

will

army
continued

absolutelynecessary,"he said, that I

with
faithful to uphold my
most
cause
nobody so well-equippedfor this ofhce

second

my

he will

go to lead the

and

Then

of beasts.

Princess listened in silence and

his fears.

to

instead

men

her lever,in

word, all day and

every day.
I
in
And
will
meanwhile
to
her
confide
impel
you.
talk to her about your ability
and the helpand comfort it would
That

will

be to her.
a

child,but, in my

Lose

your
though to

To

her to live with you

I will entreat

absence, to

use

as

you

with

longeras

no

if you

myself.

were

her ; speak to her with assurance,

as
she will be very pleasantto
; and, believe me,
beloved
by her will be your joy and honour.

timiditywith
me

be

you.
You

will do

you,

after God,

It is hard

great things for

I shall

me

the

owe

sustenance

believe that this

to

for

and

"

not

was

yourself and to
of my
tunes."
high for"

also

of

one

Anjou's

cold and as artificial

as
was
carefullyprepared harangues.
that
and
attractive
for
as
steel,
;
perhaps,the more
was,
Her
while Margot was
spontaneous, impressionable.
warm,
handsome
pale-facedbrother, the glamour of victory still
He

him, could

about
lost

no

time

at
intriguer,

in

that

at

mould

moment

her

like

and, needing a
power,
and his agent, he revealed

his
utilizing
his slave

once

He

wax.

subtle
her to

herself.
"

His

till then

and
my

of

language,"Margot
I had

lived without

hunting.

looks, for I
I had

"

been

I did not

was

not

bred

plan,only dreaming
care

even

jot for

age for such

in the fear of my

of
up

quite new

was

says,

an

86

my

for

to

me,

of

dancing

dress,or for

ambitions.
mother.

over,
More-

But

the

MARGOT

PRINCESS

THE
instant

I had

transformed"that
had
I

'

answered,

grown
'

before.

been

ever

to be

there is no

You

to

in the world who

one

that

me

something better
be

right to

were

D'ANJOU

DUC

seemed

spoke, it

thus

brother

my

THE

AND

was

than

of me,'
honours

sure

loves and

"

I do.'
as
you
The note of nature,

in

hardlyknown

one

Margot'sday, rings

when

lived by
women
phrases.
girlish
she possessedthe impulsiveartistic temperament
;
etiquette,
At

in her

and

youth, her charm

for her

to her in her

come

child ;

nor
as

you

do not

be

should

shall you

"

do so."

that

never

looked

now

dancing,hunting,the
of disdain
never

and

be

to
failing

coucher.

sports
I

...

of

me

honour,

to

has told

"

me

longera
to talk

But

me.

wish

that you
made

my

contentment.

childhood

my

fellows

obeyed

even

wait

summons

Margot,

the first at her lever and

she did

And

subject to

it is my

friendshipof my

long past.

as

be

unmeasured

the

upon

her

you are no
will
It
please me

me.

an

"

long to

not

in

was,

to him

words," continued
felt

her

brother

Your

Only
speak openly,for

These

ithad

to

one

"

himself.

if you were
afraid to

soul feelwhat
so

privateroom.
be

sent

soon
"

conversation," she said,

of your
to

honours, for Catherine

new

had

privilege.She

her

ruined

afterwards

which

the over-naturalness

and

moment

with

"

"

the eye

her

commands,

the

last at her

talkingsometimes

to

for the space of three or four hours."

In no Valois household did matters
go on smoothly for long.
Mother
and brother had agreed in conferring
Margot the
upon
me

and Margot was

not slow to take to
of womanhood,
dignities
outside their bargain. About
herself other feminine rights
this
Due de Guise,
time she was
thrown a good deal with the young
then at Court and as polished
the most
fascinating
personage
and effective as herself. Tall, of commanding presence, his
his hair golden and curly, his beard thin and
eye piercing,
pointed,his grace that of the skilled athlete,he was made to
them.
There
impress Parisians,and Margot foremost among
his side
he was
on
evidentlyattracted by
may have been feeling
"

her ; but
of his
urge

apart from
to

win

her

Anjou,however, got
to

nip a plan so

to raise up

with
power

the

question of sentiment, the

obvious, and

courtshipwere
him

any
and

wind

so

come

nearer

never

to

ceased
the

to

throne.

goingon and determined

his prestige
; so likely
firstwork hand and glove
time
was
ripe,assert its

was

fatal to his interests and

rival

party which
King, and, when

to

of what

his uncle

reasons

against himself.

The

would
the

moment

87

was

crucial, and

his

THE

LATER

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

sister,appointed as his agent, was

the

of the

instrument

He

showed

soon

he had
the

once

services

Guises.

his resentment.

and

counsels

of

the

When

rejoinedthe Court,

more

become

likelyto

more

now

MEDICI

DE'

war

his mother

Marguerite.

and

over

was

began praising

The

there,

girlwas

waitingfor his commendation, but he only turned and looked at

but
her coldly. He was
glad of her success, he answered stiffly,
for all things,
there was
useful one
and what was
a time
day
the
be
him
harmful
next.
to
When
Catherine
might
pressed
he beat no more
about the bush, but burst out angrily
explain,
the Guises

about

and

denounced

the

Duke's

young

ambitions.

and

influenced,his sister tells us, by his new

companion
the which
favourite,de Guast,
possessedhim tillhe saw

but

with

He

was

"

mind

his eyes

with

only

such

and

tyrant

And

brilliant liars.
"

showed

which

no

an

in all else."

was

strengthenthe

would

of her

power

trust

bitter

as

wished

and

son

She

less of her

less and

ever

"

Anjou.

as

pleasehim

to

Queen-Mother had her own

son's, for opposition. A marriage

But

her

but

man,

true, but there is

brilliant liar,in a familyof

very

idol of her

his
fascinating

likelybe

(writesthe Princess)

his ; besides,she had

with
of
the Prince

the

and

Guise faction

would

once

upset

more

suit her billet no

than

better

a match
long been negotiating
Portugal.

for

Margot

Margot, then with her mother

opportune moment,
St. Jean d'Angely,fell dangerouslyill of an infectious fever,

At
at

this

in those

common
no

could

one

of

accuse

of which

she knew
was

fact

The

made

me

he would
went

of

our

the

"

pourpre." Catherine, whom

it
cowardice, constantlyvisited her
deportment as Queen-Mother, an art

days,called

part of her proper

was

le

"

that

Anjou was even

exasperatedMargot.
worse

But, what

full value.
"

hypocrisy,"she says,
treachery and ingratitude,

budge day or night

on
as
servingme as officiously
friendship."His motive was

had

not

underestimated

instrument

edged tool

for his
to cut

own

them.

her

to

powers,

if

was

bedside, and

my

play

in the

were

we

evident

enough

the spy

discovered

and, in
he

purposes,
88

from

he had

Margot

prising
sur-

in attendance.

His

; for after all his

cloak of devotion, he wished

her no talk he did not hear.
For

more

was

assiduous

more

the

He

Love

as

Margot was

apart from

the balance

"

Catherine

favours, for she made

reasons,

may

his ears,

with

"

me

in this and

but

maxims

yourself.''This

to

need to believe it.

no

"

heard

had
then

and

he

heyday
;
to

under
allow

his blunder.

tryingto make an
but sharpened an
the

only

person

he

was

his

unlike

mother,

was

not

hand

one

the

was

influential party ;

an

was

and

only just strong enough

she writes,

Angers, ill in body,

it,he

were

if he

did

much

but

"

St.

from

that

this

In

their

dition,"
con-

upon
Where.

'

and

exclaim,

the which

At

'

M.

came

Guise,

de
him

believe

Would

to God

de Guise

M.

made

hear."

not

that

followed

what

from

clandestine

own

the

Jean d'Angely to

ill in soul.

more

him

brother

my

It is clear
had

had

view, he courted

moved.

be

to

I travelled

to embrace

wont

was

that you
as

he

moment

day to my chamber, bringingwith him

to make
he pretendedto love dearly. And

whom

enmity.

her to his

brother, for the better weaving of his meshes,

my
every

her

Guise, and presently brought

as
yet, hardly convalescent,
was,

to

"

brother

de

She

his sister.

in

forming

her

that

imagine
the very

at

this end

him

see

her

made

With

undermining it.
companionship of Henri

he

found

if she

stick at to blind

he

the match

about

mind

changed his

and

equal perilof

the

was

he

and

manoeuvres,

by
marrying Guise

other,

therefore, would

meanness,

hostile

on

there

working againsther,
No

the

D'ANJOU

himself and,
admiration.
On the

blinded

of her

danger

DUC

than
intriguer

cleverer

she

feared, because

THE

AND

MARGOT

PRINCESS

THE

Guise

and

and

of intercourse

means

Marguerite
that

the

palace gardensconcealed a good deal that was not

all injured innocence
when
the
But
the Princess
was
The long broached
in their affairs arose.
marriage with

stiffalleysof
stiff.
crisis
the

of

Prince

Portugalnow
she

in

after

wrote
mother,"
my
attire myself richlyto receive

made

brother

having
marriage,she spoke

me

that

I answered

days,

"

that

I had

she would

had

never

Queen,

have

to

me

I did.

evening

same

The

commanded

her believe that I would

to

"

the front.

him, the which

in this fashion

will,thinkingthat
anger.

to

came

But

my
of this

none

and

asked

find

me

my

pretext for

will of my

own

"

that
depended upon hers ; that anything which
only one
pleased her would pleaseme also. She said with great choler
(in the which I heard the prompting of others)that I spoke
what

was

that

the

nephew.

in my
heart, and that she knew
Cardinal
of Lorraine had persuaded me
not

I
...

the

presence
pretext for
It is,as
followed.
that

was

of M.

not

allowed
Guise

de

at

moment's

Court

for

perfectlywell
to

choose

peace
ever

gave

his
and

them

persecutingme."
usual, Alava
Was

the climax

it
came

on

who

the

? and

sent

Philip an

same

night

when

89

the

account

of what

this

interview

met

her lover,

as

Princess

LATER

THE

YEARS

she stillin the

was

in honour

on

Guise

which

gold

tissue and

of her suitor ?

when

moment

CATHERINE

OF

she

the

to

cannot

her

last.

she had

put

tell the

precise

rendezvous

with

now

midnight

be

MEDICI

jewelswhich

the

planned

destined

was

We

DE'

It took

in

place

in some
far-off apartment, most
palace of the Louvre
where
she thought that they would
not be discovered.
likely,
But the passionate
princelost all control and grew imprudently
loud in his love-making. There
vehement
was
a
passage
between
the two
which led to their being discovered.
In the
all
in
was
commotion, for he had been awakened
King'srooms
It
the
five o'clock in the morning and the palace
news.
was
by
in
when
was
as
yet asleep. Charles pursued his usual course
and ran
excitement
straightto his mother, followed by the
Comte
de Retz.
Catherine, actingpromptly, sent for Margot,
who dared not disobey,but came
straightwayto the Queen's
"

room

with her

her.

There

Gouvemante, the

followed

Comtesse

of those

one

de

scenes

Retz, to protect

those

"

episodesof

brutal savagery set in a marble etiquette which every now

and
then flash upon us the impossibility
of reconstructing
historyas
"

itwas.
and

the Retzes dismissed from

Both

King, still in

the

Margot

and

an

when
had

them

and

stunned

hands

own

in

dishevelled.

daylight
"

in this

seen

"

made

fell on

defenceless

etiquette.It was by now broad

be stirring Margot might be
soon

Catherine

with her

before

word

the

would

condition.
hour

his

stood

and

followed

the Court

apartment, Catherine

without
nightdress,
violentlybeat her. The girlwas

their hands
Then

the

the doors safe and set about

what

those hands

repairing
wrought. For

had

rearrangedMargot'shair,restored her dress ; and,

Queen-Mother's lever took place,the atmosphere

she

the

allits wonted

words, surmounted

Only

Je porte la lumiere

calm.

by

et la serenite

these

"

the device of Catherine.

rainbow, formed

she did not define the kind of storm

which

preceded

the rainbow.
With
nervous

kill him

Charles, there

no

questionof

rage, he paced the room.

he muttered.
!
But he
"

days afterwards,
was

was

celebrated

in

with

"

We

will kill

Hitches

Paris,and Henri de Guise

further,and
Her

the

arose

in the

Princess

affairs were,

him,

with

we

will

thought better of it. A few

surprisingdespatch,a grand wedding
married

was

de Cleves.
Princesse
There was
no
younger
and Marguerite. But the Portuguesematch
better.

Shaken

calm.

more

to the

talk of him

fared

none

went
transaction, negotiations

remained

for the moment,

90

as

in

she

the
no

was.

abeyance.

Catherine

YEARS

LATER

THE

OF

CATHERINE

indulge in

sport of courtship:

to

without

of its risks.

the

She

DE'

luxuries
had been

MEDICI
of

gallantry
playingoff the

running any
Charles
againsther other suitor, Eric of Sweden,
and
As a politician,
was
she,
quite ready for a third hero.
like the rest of Europe, depended upon
the movements
of
bad
with
she was
terms
on
Spain. While, as now,
Philip,
alive and Catholic plotswere
rife in her
while Mary Stuart was
with France.
And
as
kingdom, she sorelyneeded friendship
long as her safetydemanded, she intended to keep up the scheme

Archduke

of the

French

marriage.

Cecil, Walsingham

With
and

her

Ministers

Leicester, at

it

wise.
other-

was

rate,

any

were

Catholic
promotion of the match.
They saw
ahead
storms
danger from Spain loomed
large; there
real
be
until
could
Elizabeth was
no
safely
peace, they thought,
best
and
the
chance
it
seemed
them
of
to
married,
securing
with Anjou. The manceuvrings of Elizabeth,
to lie in union
fill several thick
the counter-manceuvrings
of France, would
is beyond our
volumes.
The whole long history
present scope,
of it belongs more
to England than
to France
and much
;
the affair figures
shifts to London
but
indeed, when the scene
incidental passage in the chronicle of Catherine's diplomacy.
as an
sincere

in their

and

the Cardinal

To

de

Chatillon, then still alive,there fell,as

But the
largeshare of the transaction.
the special ambassadors
who
most
important people were
There are
three who figure
pliedbetween the two countries.
largely: La Mothe-Fenelon, the Italian Cavalcanti, and, at
residential envoy,

La Mothe-Fenelon
the
was
end, the well-tried La Foix.
Leicester
who
introduced
him
it
himself
to
the
was
first,and
all claim to
For
Leicester,having himself renounced
Queen.
bent upon
her, was
preventingany union which would further
the

Spain, and

the interests of

the

found

Mothe

La

took

Queen

Anjou's suit
"

his

under

all wreathed

wing.

in smiles

and

than usual."
She opened conversation
richly decked
by expressingher regretthat she had not married earlyin life,
at once
consoled her by suggestinga
and the Frenchman
more

bridegroom. Anjou,
there

man

not

"

loved

had

contour

hands
still

assured
to

her, was

marry."

she heard

(which
more.

about
was

But

most

great impressionon
his person,
the talk of

she

of

her.

Jarnac

and

her ; while the

his grace, the

ambassadors),
deprecated her deserts.
92

plished
accom-

pleasure was

really excited

the

made

the

Elizabeth's

thought of Anjou
and the victories
militaryprestige,

feigned

that

was

he

Mon-

reports

beauty
attracted
"The

She

of his
her
Duke

made
and

AND

MARGOT

PRINCESS

THE

D'ANJOU

DUC

THE

"

higher game," she simpered: she was

exceptingfor her wish to leave an heir, she
for

to mention

even

those who
There

nothing

was

counted

for their

blush
among

persons."

of the Maiden-

the methods

about

crude

already she

kingdoms,not

desired for their

are

"

; for

husband

old,"

very

should

Queen ; she know how to keep the glamour of modesty and

She
spread abroad as she wanted.
yet to get such rumours
made confidences to her ladies with the wished-for result that,
in a few days, London
rang with the report of the French
marriage. At a second interview with La Mothe, he pressed
suit with
fresh zeal, and
his master's
urged the domestic
to the choice of
"

humour.

Henri

was

and
replied,
of

than

What

that La Mothe's
he

When

of

sense

an

againsthim

people had banded

favour, because

they

wanted

evasively

after the

Queen

Council,a member,

"

Her

showed

answer

successful.

been
would

dreamed

himself had

Mothe

"

had

nation

the

Prince

"

please?

to

age

that her age was

hardly
she cried angrily
that,sir ?

by

you

At the

feel

me

to say

tact, rose

diplomacy

that

him

warned

honoured."

as

adjourned until

was

mean

still of

I not

Am

well

as

consulted her Ministers.

"

suitable.
"

audience

candour

more

had

makes

loveable," La

loving and

both
the

have

should

incentive

new

Valentinois

to be loved

/ wish

"

de

of Madame

d'Etampes and
"

as

Elizabeth

husband.

French

wife

his young

confess,"she said," that the thought of Madame

trifleanxious

and

Charles IX

happinessof

But

Leicester

against the match.

of marrying her, he said, the
they were stronglyin his
; now
to run
him againstAnjou.
go

formidable
assumed
serious, now
proportions.Anjou himself, overpersuaded from the first to
this offer,flatly
refused to proceed. The Queen of Engmake
land's

obstacles,

Other

more

"

Duke

had

And

not

wish

he hath
read
hath

but

there

was

found

Catherine
to marry
too often

many
been

letters
in

all the
in this

Renee
But

heard
on

England.

this could not

pretexts
"

even

if she be
her

honour

reputation he

hath

and wanted
"

He

and

hath
that

honour
suffer dis-

gained.

in my
body to divest him of this
affair I have no hold over
him."

I would

opinion,

sent Lord
Elizabeth,unperturbedby these aspersions,

93

doth

for
willing,

ambassador

feareth that he would

blood

The

ally,
be stated offici-

correct.

more

subject from every

He

d'Anjou," wrote

compellingreason.

illreports about

the

M.

de Chateauneuf

her," she wrote,

lose all the

one

freeze

more

her at his will.

and
give

ugliness.

fallen in love with

to live with

and

her

and

age
Tavannes.

Buck-

THE

LATER

hurst

YEARS
Her

Paris.

to

to
congratulations

she meant

Gardens,

CATHERINE

ostensible

Charles

to sound

him
he

OF

IX

reason

upon

Catherine.

MEDICI

DE'

offer formal

to

was

his

marriage; in reality,
Eager to see the Tuileries
sheltered alleyswhen
the

walking in its
Queen-Mother unexpectedlyconfronted him. She was surprised
What
a lucky coincidence
agreeablysurprised to see him.
that both
of them
should
have
chosen
just that moment
for a stroll ! and she amicablypaced the path with him. In a
few minutes
She dwelled on her
they were close in conference.
was

"

"

"

Elizabeth, who

affection for

of

game
hurst

Anjou

she had

as

that

"

it

onlya

Prince of her
for

not

was

more."

not, she felt certain, make

done of her other

gave her no direct answer,

"
mistress,he assured her, was

and

"

would

suitors."

Buck-

he grew confidential. His

resolved to marry
out of England
but

rank."

own

girlsto seek out

To this she
and

men,

responded
she would

so

Her words

his cue for a carefully

say no
gave Buckhurst
beth's
prepared" effect,"and he pulledfrom his pocket Queen Eliza-

and presentedit gracefully

to Catherine.
portrait
the compliment and sent Elizabeth
Not long after,she returned
two
picturesby Clouet, one to show her Henri's face, the
other to charm
her with his figure. The Queen was
delighted.
She sent
One

in haste for La

of the

Mothe-Fenelon
in her

was
portraits
"

drawing,"she remarked,

the whole

But there is about

and of a

Madam,"

his

was

picturehad

made

hand.
rather

This

smudged
a

the which

prompt
a

"

Age

response.

and

come

is only a chalk

charcoal.

with

pleasesme
has

It

visit her.

greatair of true

desire to be led to Church

his business

knew

"

countenance

maturity

serious

for in sooth I do not

ambassador

and

to

by
no

was

deep impression,and

nity
dig-

infinitely
;
child."

The

hold upon you,

evident that the

apparently,

one,

"

justified
by reality. It is his misfortune," wrote a friend of his,
"
do not do him
that his portraits
justice. Janet (Clouet)
certain

succeeded

which

eyes, that
which
he speaks, that sweetness

has

nature

the mouth

when

approach him,
His

hand

is

so

in

depictingthat

himself has not

given him.

cannot

be

beautiful

that

something
graciousturn of

His

reproduced by
if it

were

turned

wins

or
pen
it could

all who

pencil.
not

be

whether
he has
ask me
Do
not
perfectlymodelled.
inspiredthe passion of love ! He has conquered wherever
which
addressed
he has cast his eyes." The description
was
The
to Walsingham was
meant
for the eyes of Elizabeth.
of business
and less of
has more
English envoy's account

more

romance,

but

it does

not

reallyclash with
94
.

the

other.

"

The

MARGOT

PRINCESS

THE

AND

THE

D'ANJOU

DUC

"

sallow," he writes, his bodie very good shape,

his legslong and thin,but reasonably well proportioned. And
I was
when
I do not find him so well coloured
as
yet
is rather

Duke

...

last there."
He

"

he

Duke,"
wears

double

spends vast

shirts and

on

wardrobe

was

Anjou

letter with

would

hand.

own

she wrote, and she letter

"
runs), The idea which, as
the law

of

She

There
;
one

any

arm."

was

no

one

coy

another

made

many
the
thing;
pen

infinitum. But
Monsieur," (it

hear, you
determined

hope that

These

pointsof which

were

urged, would

be

cette

vieille,"then

to

the

marry

Elizabeth's

she

It

ears.

it made

talk

to

of

by ambassadorial
self-love shone
she told La

good reason
give her a

"

her

she
angry that, for a moment,
reconciliation with Spain. But, allayed
so

tropes,the

forth

rumour

"

not, however, this strangeconception

the slight
to her person
which she
as

blew

storm

again undimmed.

Mothe-Fenelon,
the Duke

assure

Her

letter and

remained

"

that he

She

no

her

that

he did not
Her

was

want
"

in

her.

mauvais

stories

about

her

French

Court

made

and

Queen's
only sorry,"

not

risk of

the

"

was

that he had

ran

and

over,

reportedcharms were
V The
invulnerable.
Queen,"

creature

reasons.

things

breast."

particularly
proud ;
report, spread in Paris
been
crippled. This,
for Anjou to marry
French
potion," and
which
duly reached

Marquisof Northampton'sball,which

him to

rarest

was

much

so

resented, and

at the

felt in my

was

of Scots

Queen

matrimony

began

force of

by the
yet

of my

conceived

endoes
copiouspersonal compliments and flowery innuand she takes specialpains to ask the Duke
whether
had spoken to him about the beauty of her foot and

was

only

have

indeed,nothingvexed her so much

as
a
shortlyafter,that one of her legshad

of

and

follow

"

"

had

forth ad

so

aughtthat I have

excellent than

more

ears,

"

lives will be

our

essences.

was

charms, undeservingthough they be, givesme

poor

it

Here

had she done such

never

and
fingers,

her

fall from

perfumes and
pendants at his

The

beth,
sympathies of ElizaQueens.
among
in coaxingher to write to

succeeded

her

maidenly demurrings:

"

vivid.

more

clothes."

fable

had

Mothe-Fenelon

La

is

the fantastic

he touched

point in which
whose

rings,and

of

row

sums

with

is covered

says,

ambassador

Venetian

The

her dance

seen

have enabled

would

marryinga cripple."
in vain, and Anjou
he

knew,

he found

no

"

moeurs

were

Leicester

free with

him
95

an

shocked
about

lack

the

was
"

Europe these five hundred

And

"

years
of

"

plausible

obstacle,and the
him
indeed, the
"

them.

"

If he

was

THE

to

LATER

marry

he

YEARS

Millort

"

better

not

Mademoiselle

OF

the

his

de Chateauneuf

that it suited

orthodoxy. Meanwhile
for his marriage,but one
nor

he

can

have

"

the

had

Leicester

marry

to

Chateauneuf

; but

to lead the

it remained
of extreme

van

played at draftingthe conditions

them to be impossible,
glance showed
that he would
get what he proposed

of his

of his faith,the title of

exercise

wife,and

largepensioninto

very

bargain.

But

the

have

In talk she

feminine

anxious

more

played the

Ministers
match.

were

began
wedding day, the

The

evil

troubles

in

which

omen

anxious

as

became

bride, that she

agitationslest, on
fall to the ground, an

the

on

urge

so

far

the

Her

dreaded.

to

back, the

should

marriage ring
she

drew

he

more

Elizabeth.
to

"

Tavannes,

he

believed

King,half the throne

MEDICI

Besides,what was to become

contemporary suggested that

the Duke

wedding, the free

Catholic

and

compliment

A
?
sardonic
religion
Mademoiselle
de
was
religion
less true

no

DE'

mistress," said

his

of

"

'

Robert's

return

CATHERINE

she

as

the

State

was
were

and the discovery

of the Ridolfi
daily becoming more
pressing,
Catholic conspiracy had struck fresh
plot that far-reaching
terror into Queen and Court.
The Pope, too, had joinedSpain
stituted
againsther, while the Guises, as Mary Stuart's uncles, con"

"

separate danger. They

also

threatening
considerablysharpeningher desire

Catherine's

and
authority,
consummation
of the
for a speedy
close bond
with England. The
a
small
at findinghow
her power

surrounded

the

by

agents

One

Spanish agents.

of

were

business

and

the

dismayed did
with
Anjou.

more
was

Nuncio, fanatical

of the

safety of
she feel
He

was

Guisards,

Lignerolles, Spaniard

them,

and

the author of her son's whims," Catherine

spy of the Guises
He became
called him
acquiredgreat power over the Duke.

"

"

day

every

devot,and,

more

in his demands

from

often," said Catherine

himself

upon

added,
he

"

that

observes

as

he

hears

his faith went,

If he did not

as

"

to Elizabeth's
"

it two

fasts

so

He
and

envoy,

has

so
grown
times
three

scrupulouslythat

gent
strin-

more

"

England.

damned."

all the

far

as

hear

he would

Mass
look

devout," she
a

day.

his

face

And
has

pale from the strain. I would far rather see him a

To gain
Huguenot than watch him thus endanger his health."
her ends she appliedher usual theory,that if you killed a man
his opinions. Lignefrom
rolles
you killed the danger that sprang
in
broad
courtier
murdered
a
was
daylightby
suddenly

grown

called

Villequier. He

had, it

was

96

'rumoured, spoken against

PRINCESS

THE

MARGOT

Catherine

to the

mother.

But

and

King, who

had

all the world

one

no

AND

DUC

repeatedwhat
that this

knew

surprisedthat

was

THE

the

D'ANJOU
said to his

was

was

assassin

blind,

mere

instantly

was

pardoned.
Charles

againsthim
more

Here

you
you

"

began, and
I, obligedto deceive

am

I honour

lady whom

about

his brother, but his grudge

"
in all he said.
You
should have been

showed

with

with me/' he

open

hole.

tried his hand

now

conscience

your

and

esteem.

; there

not

the
You

have

Queen
are

is another

put
for

in this

me

of
ever

England,
talking

about

matter

which

the clergyhave paid

talk, and that is the big sum
condition that you stay here to champion the Catholic

do not
on

But

cause.

but

champion

give you fair warning I acknowledge

from
myself.' Anjou, dumb
anger, tears
"

'

no

of

and shut himself up in his

temper in his eyes, left the room
own
apartments, where he sulked for the rest of the day.

Catherine, who
that
and

an

of Henri
cried

so

to have
life.

of the

account

dire

give

present,

was

would

scene

offence

beside

was

be

herself.

to reach

sure
"

headquarters.

at

She

Since

knew

England
the

"

death

II," reportedBurleigh, the Queen-Mother has

bitterly/'As
his brother

not

for the

King, he could no longerbear

him, and Anjou lived in fear of his

near

The

with England appeared to have reached

negotiations
a
of moving the Duke.
deadlock, and there seemed no means
The Pope's agents were
meanwhile
working secretlyfor his
sidering
conmarriage with Mary Stuart, and Catherine herself was
another match
for him
and scheming with Cosimo
de' Medici about a princess
in Poland.
doned
But she had not abanher hopesfrom England,and she held constant
interviews
with the ambassadors
in galleries,
in gardens,
in her audiencechamber.
A crucial talk took place,
in the presence of Killigrew,
between her and a fresh envoy, Smith. A Court ball was goingon,
and royaltywas
absorbed in dancing,when Catherine withdrew
from the ball-room with the Englishmen to her own
ments.
apartAn argument began, as usual upon
the questionof
her son, she told them
religion.Low Mass would never
satisfy
he must
and censers
always have High Mass with
priests
and the rest."
The Queen will never
grant such conditions,"
said Smith
Here you are
demanding High Mass with all
"

"

"

"

"

the ceremonies
of Rome
bells,candlesticks,the four Orders
the thousand
devils."
But, surely,your Mistress could
make Parliament consent ?
asked Catherine.
Impossible,"
"

"

"

"

"

97

Smith's

was

YEARS

LATER

THE

in

and,

England,

power
conversation
the
of
gravity
French

grew's
"

when

could

MEDICI

dangerous

were

allowed

them.

The

however, impairedby Killi-

alluded

he

be

not

was,

filleperUric,"instead

Votre

DE'

Catholics,he added,

The

answer.

CATHERINE

OF

of

Elizabeth

to

of

which

mistake

perdue,a

Spain

as

made

into her eyes.

Perhaps
laugh till the tears came
she hoped she might change Smith's iron mood, but he was
The
not to be laughed out of his views.
colloquies
many
in rupture and, after more
months
of wordy talk,
ended
off.
broken
were
definitely
negotiations
But
such word
in Catherine's vocabulary there was
no
as
When
the
the
old
love
went
window
out at
impossible."

Catherine

"

she forced

new

her
substituting
with
had

ceased
"

tall

so

as

"

that

his brother."

to

wrote

"

the

figureof

I think the

not

She
his

Queen

Ambassador

French
that

mind

Elizabeth

was

was

very

so

as

He
very

past sixteen,"she

small

for

his age.

hopes of
beyond his years."

I should

countenance

is

have

offence at the notion," said the

; but there he was
wrong, and the fact
suitor
and her new
nearly thirty-nine

pleaseher than otherwise.

of
his height,and accounts

rather to
home

sent
tall

or

fair

to

mule,

Then
as

he

her.

"

his brother

Alencon,"

wrote

"

(amild way of
pittedwith smallpox), but
is not so obstinate,papistical,

as

swarthy and

is fantasied.

and restive like

so

will take

were

Killigrew, is not
saying that he was

"

his brother is."

The

pictureis

not

But
apparently it satisfied Elizabeth.
offence at Anjou'sbehaviour, and it would,

attractive, but

she stillsimulated
said the

envoys,

be

needful

England to mollifyher.
In

and

about
inquisitive

appearance

that is as

"

brothers

and

yet seventeen, seemed

"

too

his

"

him.

Mothe-F6nelon,
a

be

Queen Berthe ?
by surprise. You are right,"she
but a man's heart and his courage,"

she dismissed

him, for he has

I
grow.
he is stillnot

Smith

La

If he had

younger

beginning to

"

"

thereupon

the

take

not

batteries

to the waist of his

up

take her

replied, nothing matters

and

promptitude
before Smith

opening her

is

this should

Was

reached

not

If so, he did not

beard

The

in

time

no

ironical when, by way of

her that Pepin-le-Bref
had been so short

comfort, he reminded
that he had

she lost
almost

was

Elizabeth

His

"

vexed

was

she

Anjou

should

Why

she asked
I

told him

amazing, and

was

of

think
"

door, and

for her second.

son

did it

to

for Alencon.

Prince ?

third

she

which

in at the

one

the meantime, she

To

for Alencon
this Catherine

gave

98

few

to

go
made

business

in person
no

to

objection.

festivities
"

CHAPTER

Charles
IX

CHAPTER

Charles

THROUGHOUT
stood

had
he

thought,

group

of

Catholics
If

daring.

Elizabeth

to

of

course

he

cause

round
had

It
disapproval of the match.
in England
and
civil war
give the
Stuart
fresh
opportunities
Mary

had

On

history.

de

with

double-barrelled

There

fresh

and

of

while

had

veered

he

off

the

King
tant
Protes-

the

of

them

Guises.

Philip's account.
Before
the English marriage was
broached,
Anjou had tried
had
and
for
Infanta
been
the
hand
of the
ignominiously
off
had
carried
to
refused, while, to add
insult,
injury
Philip
his third
bride
the Emperor's
eldest daughter, and
Charles
as
had
the
with
these
to
as
Grudges such
put up
younger.
in estranging the
French
counted
King, and, early in 1570,
to the
Protestant
a
general surprise, he received
deputation,
headed
valiant
La
the
Noue
and
by
by Coligny's son-in-law,
dazzled
with
of
him
schemes
new
Teligny. They
power.
If he would
but
stretch
forth his hand,
the
told
him,
so
they
Netherlands
would
be
their
his, glad to hail as
sovereign
the man
freed
the tyranny
More
who
them
from
of Spain.
than
his
also
seemed
within
reach,
this, the Spanish Indies
for Philip was
at this moment
busy fighting the Turks
; and,
leave
forced
to
needing his resources
against them, he was
were

his Western

Empire
fascinated
Low

over

also

islands

scores

to

defenceless.

magic golden lands,

the
inclined
King and

paid

had

ingratiated

influence

the

should

pursuance
and
the

towards

which
the

be

she

married

changed

so

Its

and

move,

have

it, however,

scheme.

counteracted

and

Elizabeth

would

Navarre,

face

the

rejoiced in Catherine's
interests
helped Huguenot
;
they
were
matters,
negotiating
"

will, he

his

have

side

Coligny

his

Henri

young

Elizabeth,

with

transaction
in

firm

would,
for

the

IX

on

The

vision

over

solid
him

to

of

this

fabulous

Flemish
lend

subjects,
help to the

Countries.

Upon

this, Louis

of Nassau,

in
103

disguise,like

hero

of

romance,

LATER

THE

travelled

Admiral,

YEARS

from
and

of
It

Rochelle, where

La

to make

came

the

CATHERINE

OF

and

the

their

MEDICI

been

the

with

King.

He

the
was

of his brother, William

demanded
the utmost
privacy.

righthand

less

no

had

he

proposalsto

mouthpiece
Orange, and his mission
to lay open before Charles
was
Netherlanders

DE'

the programme
of the Protestant
than the partition
matter
of

The
England, Germany and France.
chief interview took place at Fontainebleau, whither Prince
Louis was
smuggled ; and, hidden in the porter'slodge,he
stayed there through the three days' conference. He dwelt
the cruelties of Alva, the misery of Flanders.
on
My brother
of Orange," he said solemnly, has been raised up by God
of this yoke. We
throw ourto deliver us from the burden
selves
at the feet of your Majesty we
entreat you
to take
under your protection.The cities will open
their gates.
us

country between

"

"

"

Your

share, Sire, shall be

Louis

left the

won

the

royal presence
could

nor

over,

Flanders

and

King

Catherine

at

was

this

Artois."
than

more

better

any

disasters,"he
of Count

wrote

Louis

keep

to

means

"

to Leicester ;

the

upon

Queen,

so

half

juncture of affairs
And
Walsingham,

her power.
who
State
also spoke with Louis, had his own
"
Let us
profit by our
furtheringthe plan.

see

When

reasons

for

neighbours'

pray urge the demands

that this little fire,only

a
just lighted,may
by which
great conflagration
we
gain great advantages."
may
In spiteof all precaution,
Alava got wind
of these doings,
and made
that France was
haste to let Philipknow
once
more
audience
he
had
the
In
of
French
an
turningHuguenot.
King,
he informed His Majesty that if thingswent on in this fashion,
he might certainlylook for war
with Spain. It became

become

clear that Charles

one

way

or

must

to

come

another, but

decision and

his

course

was

commit
far from

self
himeasy.

For if he

signedthe pact with the Netherlands and thus broke

mander,
openly with Philip,he would need a great militarycomand the only man
the
for
Coligny. But
post was
of
off
far
at
La
Rochelle, a place
Coligny was
safetyhe had
hitherto refused to quit; in spiteof the peace, he had remained
unreconciled
that
to the King and Catherine, and he knew
the Court meant
mortal
danger. Their need of him now
I will
was
sore
even
ready for concessions.
; they were
not pledgemyselfto anythingin Flanders without first taking
counsel of Coligny. I will travel half-way to meet
him; I
"

will go

as

far

as

Blois to

see

him
104

"
"

these

were

Charles' last

Marie

Touchki.

BlBLIOTH"QUB
Jean
From

ue

photograph

NATION

Coukt,
by

ALE.

1570.
A.

Giraudon.

THE

YEARS

LATER

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

"

so
shapes the spiritof a young man
truly as a love which is rightlyplaced/' It has been said
that Marie Touchet
have
was
a Huguenot, and, if so, she may
affected the King's beliefs and encouraged his friendship
for
Rumour
Coligny. At all events, she had real power over him.
dared
tellhis mother,
speaksof another lady,of whom he never
she played
but to whom
he
but
he sent a message
as
laydying,
real part in his existence.
no
Perhaps she cared for him

he

wont

was

after he had
she is

to say,

of Elizabeth

Austria.

of

himself.

too

"

her,

she first

she

of her

picture and

her

saw

singleheadache,'

been

do

not

He

was

chosen

not

for

"She

smiled.

pour la voir naive," but he needed

midable
for-

we

his verdict.

was

portrait

more

Marie.

he had

to the wife whom

German,"

the

saw

heard

'

give me

not

kind

He

Had

afraid of the

have
this may
remained
faithful to

Charles
and

courteous

not

am

However

rival ?
but

said, when

reportedto have

know,

"

tired of her.

will

He

liked

something stronger

satisfied.
him, and having found it, he was
Sensitive, high-strung,extravagant, impressionableto a
dangerous degree,the King had the artist's temperament.
hold

to

When
of

he

went

to

hear

doing, his feelingswere

again," writes a Court

over

taken

such

with

ardour

he

preacher,as

at

visible.

once

chronicler,

that

every

one

"

each

and

emotion, each

he

as

him

upon

Charles

was,

have

could

gestures,by the working of his features,what

had

was

fond

very
Over

"

and
him

seen

know

his

by

effect the

sermon

they watched him, they could follow

exaggerationof the preacher." Mimetic
always liked anything dramatic, though
if

for decadent
he grew older,he rather made
as
unfortunately,
He himself possessedthe gift
plays and grotesque comedies.
and most winningwhen practised.
that isdullest in the description
ing
in describHistorians,ambassadors, comrades, are unanimous
his giftfor oratory from
his boyhood upwards ; and

allowingfor sycophancy in the eulogiesof wary old

is spontaneous to make
diplomats,enough of their utterance
his
feel the young
us
King's easy eloquence. The arts were
la musique!
Dieu qu'ilaimait
real,his chosen playground.
even

"

"

wrote

who

one

whether

it

him

well

"
"

for instruments

were

music
"

knew

had

been

his

Little it mattered
for voices."

or

hobby

he

had

chosen

Chantres," the choir of his privatechapel, and

with

them

enthusiasm

at

part-singing.At

for Orlando

di

this moment,
Lasso, the Duke

106

From

to

him

hood,
childhis

own

had

worked

he

had

an

of Bavaria's

IX

CHARLES

spent enchanted

he
him

had

he

And

Etienne

le

Judge

him

Orlando's

for that

"

Roy,

he

he

which

the

should

of what

the Court

loved

society
ravished

music

other."
for any
cosseted Abb6,

hardly had ear

pet singer too, a much

at

"

hours,

completelythat

so

Court, in whose

the French

stayingat

musician, then

uniquely,appointing
be deemed
good in

music."

King

The

creative

more

many-sided, and,

was

stag-hunting
; and

for

had

the

"

his favourite

is

by

have

almost

that

verses

cold

no

of

pastime

tapestry

took

he

arts

of

coloured

or

unskilled

poetry and poets,his adoringfriendship

his love of

Ronsard, would
not

"

simple,interwoven

words, rich and

hand

on

la V merle

De

"

book

His

part.
"

other

in

he

proved

wrote

his

poetic sensibility,
left

in his honour

more

tangibletestimony.
deux

Tous

egalement

Mais, roi, je la
Ta

lyre, qui

Te

soumet

Je puis
these

was

not

par

de

accords,

si doux

je
que les corps
la beaute.
les coeurs,
et soumet
rimmortalite.
toi
la mort,
donner
les

esprits,dont

n'ai

might well have

alreadya king,and they show

are

de Valois.
not

amollit

Elle

"

recus

ravit

portons des couronnes,

poete tu la donnes,

nous

lines that
His

father had

his father's eyes for

been

crowned

singerwho
giftof Charles
a

the best

poet before him

Often
nothing.'

he would

and

he had

pass the night

out to him by

spoutingRonsard's works, or having them read

his singing
Abbe, or by Amadis Jamyn, Ronsard's follower ; and
the
small
find him
hours would
listening,
rapt time and
the candles burning low in their sockets.
place forgotten,
marred
Unfortunately the artist in him was
by the warp in
His very
the woof.
diseased, his restlessness
activitywas
his
bounds ; he hardly slept,and midnight was
knew
no
usual hour
for rising.Nor had he only the usual foibles of
the aesthete
fastidious disgusts,
capriciousfears, fantastic
and
intermittent
enthusiasms.
He
was
subject to fits of
wild folly,
insane
of reckless perversity,
of
energy about trifles.
Wherever
the
traces
of his ghastlyheritage
we
turn, we see
"

"

"

we

find the

would

madman,

force

the

decadent

madman.

in immovable
spend long days silent,

melancholy, the
would

and

humour

moods

Now

he

of black

he
general with him ; now
rise at dead
of night,and, awakening his followers,
them to rush out with him, masked, with lighted
torches,
most

107

YEARS

LATER

THE

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

through the dark streets of Paris, to thrash

lordlinglying comfortably asleep in his
he would

in his

shut himself up

and

room

MEDICI
unconscious

some

bed.

work

Sometimes
off his

gloom

by turning blacksmith, beating iron, fashioningarms,

he

prostrate

was

him

blows

from

these

his

At

he

and
the

stick he

carried.

would

he

often, by

more

such

extraordinary
as
day, that fever
that he pursued with

In

frenzied

fictitious and

almost

once

"

until

well

he killed the beasts

strength became

did

or,

with

hunting
unfrequentlyall night as

violence,not
overtook

exhaustion

and

his horse

gettingon

what

from

stranglinga

he

fits such

as

hardly knew
in horse-play.
some
bodily

man

all his energy

over
feat, bettingwith a foolish courtier that in two years he would
kiss his own
foot, and devotinghimself to winning his wager ;

times

or

imitatingthe

he

courted.

spend

tricks of the

tumblers

Apart from these bouts, he was

but gentle,docile and inclined to

and

neither

acrobats

violent

nor

whom

cruel,

There were
times
mercy.
his
he
to
with
held
be
the
wisest
narrow
vision,
when,
severity
be
to
cruel
be
it
It
is
is
clement
to
clement,
cruel/'
policy.
"

was

saying that

fell from

barbarism

wanton

to his door

his

against the

by Alva,

his

lips. But

once,

Protestants

was

indignationknew

"

is so different from
says Pascal,
is from himself," and this was
the same

man,"

could

into madness,
the Eve
upon

enjoy

the

no

when

some

falselylaid

bounds.

another
Charles

as

one

"

No
man

who, lashed

sight of unspeakable horrors

of St. Bartholomew.

His

dual

nature

was

because he was
conscious of it and
pitiful
because he struggledagainsthis fits of fury. Contemporaries
bear witness to his sober palate and sparing diet. He was

perhaps the

more

connoisseur
and

and

fond of it too, says old Haton, but

his blood, he gave it up and took to
over-festive compensation. This
not
an

it heated

findingthat
sugar
would

of wine

water

"

pueriledetail were it not for the old diarist's picture

of His Majesty seated at the table of a comfortable Chanoine
of
bon cru" "which
Sens and sipping a glass of a
he found
Nor
wondrous
good." Kings are not always so abstemious.
be

"

was

he

excessive

about

dress.

"

than those
sumptuous in his?garments
says one
he saw

who
the

painted their
now

in the

saw

him,

curious
of

and

he had

fashions

faces and

manner

"

in

For

who

08

less

was

around

him,"

court-monkeys, who

their hair
of Poland,

Italy,now
1

were

he

infinite displeasure
when

of those

dressed

truth

and
now

persons
of

Germany

CHARLES

IX

of all did he hate cosmetics

for most

and

the gew-gaws

...

uid

whippersnappers."
bears

ount-book
it do

of

not

his moderation.

out

"

extravagant.

seem

The

livres for

Ten

entries in

the

washing

"

does not strike us as

pages'heads and sponging their hair
do the sums
for "a Cremona
reckless expenditure: no more
silver
a
; "for
violin"; for "divers singersand musicians
that was
the amount
or even
required
powder-box and spoon
V who
sisters
a
for bringingback
Cyprian brother and five
had been kept as slaves by the Turks.
Perhaps this should
the only one
the royal charities by no
means
count
among
for an orphan-student's
that Charles practised.Here, he pays
His
un
education"; and there, for
jeune enffant""whom
"

"

"

"

"

"

Majesty took
up
of

with

below

from

his other

kinglyluxury in

and

caused

the

same

to be

chantres de musique." There

petits
a pairof incarnadine
garters"and
"

of silver tissue and orange, with silver tissue hose

with white and orange, and with satin shot like a
Most
of all,in the thirty-nine
breast."
gorgeous

trained
is

more

suit

"a

overlaid

pigeon's
pairs of
thirty-nine

Majesty'slackeys, and in the

stiffness.
fashionable pads which gave them the requisite
Yet even
the thirty-nine
lackeys do not proclaimCharles a
spendthrift.If,however, he made restrictions in one quarter,
this outlandish monarch
permitted himself equivalentexcesses
His intemperance of language was
notable even
in another.
his oaths and his perjuries
in that day
fantastic.
Yet
were
because he accounted
that," says his easy-goingcritic, was
of discourse than as a vice
swearingrather as an ornament
for His

breeches

"

"

"

"

for which

reason

he also broke

his faith with

all the

in

ease

the world."
dors
Nevertheless,strange to say, he remained a King. Ambassareport that he was the best of listeners. He was dignified
To
at will,he was
sympathetic,he had the true royal tact.
he
of
soldier
of
to
a
a poet
battles,
always spoke poesy
arms,
and
architect
of
his
its
to
art
an
rules, which
strategies
he had at the tip of his tongue
indeed, of every
discoursing,
"

"

"

"

craft, as

if it had

been

always his profession. And

it

he

held

passingstrange if any talked to him of matters apart from

their business,for he thought that it must
be hard for a man
to judge truly of aught outside his calling."
He could boast the other kinglyqualityof actingup to the
occasion.
On the morning of his coronation, when
he was
barelyfourteen years old, his mother asked him if he could
109

LATER

THE

YEARS

the burden

bear

"it is
most

to

sweet

this

of the

burden

CATHERINE

OF

that I

never

and

; and his native

sufferings

'

howsoever

me."

presents
strong in him, harshly trained

was

MEDICI

he answered,
Madam,'
could refuse,rather will it seem

itself to

one

"

long day.

whensoever

me

DE'

The

power
he was

as

kingdom

endurance

by

his

melancholyearlyimbued

great indifference to life. At

like

of

bodily

him

with

the

siegeof Metz, when he was

to command
the army,
and when

fifteen,he was
eager
Catherine
remonstrated, urging the danger to his person,
be kingless
brother will
France," he said, will never
; my
but

"

"

succeed

in due

me

that it should

is my

nor

life of such

own

be treasured

crown."

in my

season,

up in a coffer
zeal for war
and

The

as

if it

for

value

jewel
militaryglory
were

possessedhim with despoticforce, as, indeed, lit possessed

most
princes; but, in him, it was sharpenedby that jealousy
of his brother
After

which

from

the

Anjou's victories at

overshadowed

outset

Jarnac and

him.

Montcontour,

Dorat,
M

"

Ha !
complimentaryverses
This"
he cried, write nothing henceforth for me.
(and he
is merely a mass
of lies and
struck the paper in his hand)
for as yet I have done nought to be well spoken of.
flatteries,
Pray keep your fine words
you and all the troop of Messieurs
for your
lespoetesfor my brother, who givesyou fresh subjects
the

poet,wrote

to Charles.

some

"

"

"

"

Muses

day of his life." The

every
"

he

mother,"

My

said,

years increased
"

so

loves

him,

his bitterness.
that

she

only wish that we

could take it in turn to reign or at least that I might have his
Their rivalrypervaded the commonest
place for half the year !
details of their day.
The very way in which they
was
listened,"says Brantome,
notably different ; Charles
gave audience with head bent and eyes on the ground ; Anjou
his hearer, his
with his head raised high, his face towards
steals for him

the honour

due

to

me.

"

"

"

"

him."
And
in music, the Duke, who
eye fixed full upon
also had a voice,would choose songs and airs of a kind exactly
the oppositeto those which
the King most cared for. Even
their
"

deportment showed

he himself

was

true

spoke exceptingwith
Italian."

true

and

charm

And

which

contrast.

Frenchman,
his head

while
his world

and

Anjou
found

Charles used to say that

but his brother, who
hardly
eyes
had
most

and
a

shoulders, was

courtier's

manners

seductive,Charles,for

all his talent for rhetoric, despisedpalace airs and graces,

and affected a soldierly
speech an abrupt and commanding
"

manner.

The

Elizabeth

marriage with
no

would

have

pleased

CHARLES
this alone

for

him

IX

that it would

"

have

taken

Anjou

out

of

France.
than
impressionable

Charles, more

doubt

No

largelyaffected by his education.

(Gondi),and Birago,the Italians whom

His

been

most

later tutor

Catherine

of his existence, and it was

influence that his character took a turn for the
his word
to excite his nerves
taughthim to falsify
vicious
him

by

knew

real taste

no

his company

by chance into

came

men

he had

But

him)
hearing what
"

They
betray

to

"

their

"

for evil.

If

and

importuned
sought" (saysone who

of their presence, he
by the which
every means

reason

appointed,

worse.

"

his best affections.

Retz

under

evil stars

the

were

had

men,

to

distract

himself

said ; now
verse
having French
of France, or
read aloud, and now
the Annals
again Giron
*
le Courtois \ or he would ask for singing,
for playingof the lute,
while
all
spinet or lyre,remainingthe
pensive,with his eyes
from

they

'

turned
had
"

in

like

up,

Governor

Amyot

"

thinker

by
goodness.

studying
Church

the

He

Amyot

earlier in life he had

himself had

greatestGreek

unheretical,a

means

no

the

And

in his teachers.

better luck
"

that dreams."

one

scholar

Humanist

been

of his
who

with

Testament

him

often.

day,

believed

tried to instil it into his ill-starred

New

his

charge,

After

the

he would
take the boy apart
feast-days,
and, holdingthe Gospel in his hand, would give it to him to
down
kiss ; then, sitting
by his side,would read and interpret
functions

it to him.

on

Charles called him

best of terms

with

for the
At

rate

any

Maitye," and

mon

Humour,

him.

as

we

perhaps it has
passion and adventure

of those times

not

"

Brantome's

notion

of choice

conceive
been

was

it,was

left us

which

the

on

as

tainly
cerpensation
com-

precludeit.

royal wit
twitted
Amyot

does

not

Charles
his
on
quite coincide with ours.
dish of ox-tongue ; for Amyot,
frugalfare his never-changing
had
not
tradesman's
a
forgottenthe starvation of his
son,
first college-days,
when, for the sake of learningGreek, he
had lived on a dry crust in a garret.
Ox-tongues you must
eat as beseems
for
you," cried the King with loud mirth,
must
father was
butcher and
a
you know
enjoy
your
you
what you once
him prepare." The mot, as it was
then
saw
considered,went the round of the Court; it was justthe jestto
"

"

"

please Catherine.
with
"^Charles,

full
creature
to
his own
left
"

all his

at heart a simple
was
complexities,
of bad
affections. When
jokes and warm
devices,he was a good friend,a loyalprotector.
in

LATER

THE

YEARS

To be kind to

old

an

OF

CATHERINE

the

not

And

him.

only men

prove all
of his theories
To

all the

real.

from

thingsand
of

piecesof

life.

day

Lorraine.

No

one,

triumphantly. "Ah,
do

Sire, can

as

you

Every

in Paris
secrets.

of

he

Dieul"

could

people was

himself
to

find

me

one

hand

and

could

coin

could

none

Ecus

two

see,

of

sleightof

deftlythat

so

tell false

the Cardinal

de

out," he said
Cardinal, "you,

repliedthe
you
carry pardon inside you."
stop at respectablepersons

like, for

King's curiositydid not

was
a
qualitytinged with

talk about

kind

he showed
you

all sorts

him, and

The
it

to

to know

his realm

One
"

the old

who
had
woman
later
Lasso, Ronsard, Dorat,
Coligny,were
who felt the truth of his friendship.

skill attracted

craftsman's

MEDICI

is perhapsa rather tedious distinction

than usual in a Valois, and

nurse

more
; but it meant
great men
kind
Charles remained
faithfully

of

reared

DE'

"

He had heard some

romance.
la
de
band
of cut-pursesfamous
Make, a
Enfants
for their feats,and he was
bent upon learningtheir
He
them
must
teach him
see
they must
they
Les

"

safe conduct

his

Captain,La Chambre, must

The Captain,who knew
his way
about the
get hold of them.
town, and was
probably not too reputablehimself,accordingly
procured ten of these thieves, who came
very well-dressed
and were
at the
and gallant,"
brought into the King's rooms
to be a great Banquet, a
That
Louvre.
night there was
State ball,which would givethem ample opportunities.
They
the throng and ply their art
but not
to mingle with
were
about
tillthey had given His Majesty a signalthat they were
his word, as their monarch,
to begin ; and he pledged them
that what
booty they might gain should be theirs. At the
crowns'
end of the eveningthey brought him three thousand
and
and
the
short
satin
of filchingsmoney
worth
jewels
taken
dancers'
shoulders.
had
from
unconscious
cloaks they
had
Charles meanwhile
thoughtto burst with laughterat the
like
sight of the hapless dandies going off in waistcoats
lackeys." The ball over, he kept his word and gave his
rascals back their winnings,said he would hang them if they
him
Go serve
tried their tricks again,and bade them
ever
not of
It is a pity that Francois Villon was
in the wars."
should

have

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

that

motley

The

company.

took

King
one

"

summoning

to divide his

guests he had
"

his

pockets
pick-

used to send
bad.
Then
the weather was
les poeteswhenever
them
into his Cabinet, he passed his time with

day

for Messieurs

care

and

his

poets the

112

next.

He

was

LATER

THE

they had

Once, when
autres,

vous

YEARS

refused

threateningly,for I know
For
nor

without

MEDICI
'

royaledict,

It is for

question/ he said

better than

positiona sinecure

his

was

by Catherine, when

to him

her notions

of

the

he had

race

He

must,

late

one.

throng must

letter of

' '

Advice, addressed

began to figureas
work.
sovereign's
her

herself and

us

ruler,shows
It also, more
a

shrewd

insightinto

to govern.

she said, have

Directlyhe had
be

''

he

French

unconsciously,shows

no

DE'

is proper
what
you
for the good and the welfare of my
fitting
kingdom.'"
he reallycared,
that kingdom, accordingto his lights,

and

us

to pass

decrees

obey my

to

CATHERINE

OF

allowed

knights of the Order,

been his father's custom

fixed hour

put
enter

to

and
rising,

his chemise, the

on
"
"

gentlemen and
and

for

it must

that

expectant

princes,lords, captains,
servants," for this had
be his.

He

gossip

must

Then to business,
with them, pleasethem, and dismiss them.
After his Council there were
attended by his four Secretaries.

despatchestill ten, when he

service over, he might take a
to dine later than

must

walk

eleven,and

go to Mass, in State, and,

tilldinner.
He was
never

after the meal, twice

week

at

He might now
least,he should give audience.
permit himself
be clearly
to the Queen, not, it must
stood,
undera visit to her, or
of familyaffection,but because
for any reason
it is a
"

Court

fashion

which

infinitely
pleasesthe

French

and

to

accustomed."

Two
hours must
long been
they
be
in
followed
to
retirement
be passed
to his
public,
by
tilt
he
should
which
ride
after
till
or
or
three,
study
sport with
to pleasurethem."
the Jeunesse doree, in order
By that
have

which

then

"

time he had
with

reached

the hour

for supper, which he

week
there must
be a

was

to take

State Ball,
family. Twice a
other days sumptuous
and on
I
joustings
; for, said she,
have often heard
grandfatherdeclare that a monarch
your
must
at leisure with his Frenchmen
have two days for living
;
and if they are to love him truly,
he must
know
how to keep
their minds
gay and their bodies occupied. In sooth, they
have such need for activitythat if one doth not duly entertain
their energies,
they put them to more
dangeroususes." With
these wily festivities the royalday was
at an
end.
Not
the Queen-Mother's letter. Countless
directions
so
for the management
of the kinglyhousehold
ensue
; a secret
his

"

domestic
overhear

police was,

unseen

and

unheard,

to

oversee

and

insult,no bad word might be allowed ; fear was

to reigneverywhere,
not a door
and, while his Majesty slept,
;

no

114

IX

CHARLES

opened. As to administration, the

affairs ; he must
great pains with provincial
be

palace might

in the

King must take

questionlocal governors
with

in detail ;

speak a
precedent.

word

talk, he must

one

he

"

Your

must

be

not

he

whenever

content

them.

saw

father and

father
your grandwhen
did this,"she says ;
they found nothing else to
holds."
questionsabout their housesay to them, they asked them
for
them
be careful to reward
Charles must
And
his best chance
of knowing what went
their service ; it was
Again she

enforces

"

regardto appointments and honours,

he must
always see to those himself ; must keep lists of
candidates and placesin his pocket,to study at odd moments
;
not
He
should
Secretaries.
leave
to
must
never
anything
who
those
asked, but, rather, seek out such as served
give to
him quietly. As far as he could, he ought to govern through
in every
three or four men
personalmotives, winning over
of the smallest event that happened.
town
to keep him informed
on

outside Paris.

With

"

In this way, but

you so rule that no

in this way

frankness, because

of the

"

alone," she concluded,

will

in one
will but yours
word, you will be their will for ever."
"
in her own
There is a postscript
handwriting. Monsieur,
"
will accept what
I send, in all its
mon
fils,"it runs,
you
will not

take

thus you may

the same

done

It
under

was

the

cityhath

it ill that

more

dictated

makes
it to

easily. Your

for

"

and

you

Montague,
forebears

for

have

me."

characteristic

segisof the

...

good goal it

I have

read it the
before

any

of

past.

Catherine

that

she

liked

There

been

but

little change

had

to

act

in her in this,or in any other way, during the ten years that
had passed since the King's coronation.
Outwardly she had

stouter, and
grown
her later days was

that

corpulence which so trammelled

She
already a slightinconvenience.
walked
a
it, so quickly that
none
great deal to counteract
could keep pace with her"; she ate immensely and
of all
which hardlyimproved her case.
Bluff
thingsindifferently,"
and affable by turns, lovinga broad joke even
when
it turned
against herself,homely of speech, with a trenchant tongue
that dealt in racy idioms of the people; a hater of gloom,
with a taste for seeingall around
her merry ; no deep student
of men, or of events, but an indefatigable
minister of expediency
Catherine's genius was
to seem
a
good fellow, perhaps to
feel one, and never
to act in character.
Her fine qualities
for the State.
were
Her public spirit,
her devoted
energy,
"

"

"

ii5

LATER

THE

to eat

...

is done

She

runs

work
throw

beloved

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

"

Scarcely,"says Correro, has she time

or
sleep,so great are her harassingcares.
Nothing
without her knowing it not even
the smallest thing.
"

here

without

get

OF

"

undeniable.

were

to

YEARS

what
the

by

ended, by

the armies, doing*

man's
a
herself."
all
of
Yet
who fail
thought
sparing

and
a

there between

they want,
blame
no

the

one

scream

and

the

scold," he adds,

Queen-Mother
upon
in the land."
Least of all,he

children

for whom

116

she

toiled.

and

"

she

and
is

might have

CHAPTER
VI

Coligny
and

Queen

Jeanne

Blois

at

VI

CHAPTER

and

Coligny
"

for

jt\.

Blois
in

appeared

visitor

for

for whom,

nearly

than

better

sheltering

the

of

troubles.
do

To

happiness.

he

had

such

as

person
woman's
"

of
of

action

now

that

So

man.

effort.

an

his

set

spirit.

He

had

high-born

sea

'"

and

saint

was,"

the

the
and

sad
out

Her

from
La

to

the

lonely,
the

she

She

him,

her

as

was

he

came,

Duke

Chateau

mountain

Rochelle.

to

his

In

he

felt that

distant

true

Catholic

sovereign,
gallant lady insisted.
Admiral
had
figured

in

herself

give

to

of

and

wrote

...

died."

lady

Coligny
she

hero

ing
deepen-

widow,

young,
She

romance,

the

Huguenot

long worshipped
afar.

and

lighten

to

come

d'Entremonts,
from

was

had

known,

journey

dangerous

on

left

been

success

she

out

also

she

he

good

for

had

marry

and

set

"

objected

Savoy,

farewell

and

little

his
comrades
he
Queen, and
happened,
surprising thing had

fashion,
to

Coligny,
been

left

never

before

name

had

only

property,

resolved

Court

not

Jacqueline
of

Rochelle

and

had

of

solitude

Savoy,

foe

bidden

"

Charles

by

and

his

children,

his

had

of La

have

must

so

the

past,

ten

haven

friend

us

September
Coligny had

on

except

"

with

excitement.

both

stir

years
death-trap. He

to

of

unexpected

to

here

by Catherine

state

midst,

mother,

his

in

Blois

at

Admiral

the

written

were

was

its

Jeanne

have

we

news,

words

these

1571.

27,

our

Queen

saw,

days
god ;
also

on

and,

devotion
conquered.
accepted
him
in Huguenot
fashion.
On
March
and
she married
25, 1571,
Henri
and
de
took
Navarre
Jacqueline
King
Queen Jeanne
the
when
and
to
Church,
and,
was
wedding
over,
Coligny

within

"

the

short

old

space,

war-worn

she

Admiral

drawn

fell

on

sword

King, who, taking a

his Knight, and
him
Teligny buckled
and
on
placed a golden helmet
spurs
11

with

his

own

hands,"

her

He

him

gave
119

his

knees

from
on

his

the

the

before

Montgomery,
him

head."
collar

pair

of

Then
of

the

young
created

golden
Henri,
Order,

LATER

THE
"

which

YEARS

the followers of Navarre

Prince."

now

buckled

his staunch

his

on

wear

marriage with
Coligny'sboys were
growing
his

country

wife ; and

the

before

came

his

eldest
his

his
originally
Spain was what he
was

it had

"

crusade

had

been

prayed

who

his

was

prosperous.
King before his

his

with

Charles, the

againstPhilip,of
and ideal Empire
The

come.

his dream

the

him

To

long

daughter, Louise.

interview

for.

had

also became

life

up ;
his home,

of Nassau's

news

this time

prospect of alliance with Orange, of a war

French rule in the Netherlands, of a new
him feel that his call had
for France, made

war

MEDICI

of their supreme

as

golden spurs,

about

henchman,

son-in-law, by
But

DE"

Teligny,who
been

CATHERINE

OF

it

scheme
with

war

the

was

new

country againstAntichrist. And this

realitywhich no
empty vision,but a practicable

for faith and

was

no

reasonable

reject. To its fulfilment his

essential,and nothing could hold him back.
taking any crucial step, he wrote to the Queenwould

statesman
was

presence

But, before
Mother.

"
his letter,
I know that you have conceived
false opinionsof me, and that,at the instance of my
enemies,
I
have
towards
But
dare
that
ill-will
when
borne
me.
say
you
"

Madame,"

runs

actions to the bone, from the

time you firstknew me to the presenthour, you will confess that
I am
far other than the man
they have tried to paintme, and

Majesty has strippedall my

your

when

But

with

me

and

you,

this,Madame,

believe that

I have

kindness

forgetthe evil
willingly

Majesty,I most
to do

all the

remember

you

I will

had

foes have

my

what

only remember

is my
conclusion
have not a servant

that

"

more

from

your

sought
is good.

I entreat you to
affectionate than

I am."
His

letter met

with

Royalty had,

speedy response.

as

we

that he
know, felt the need of him ; Catherine, for one, saw
alone could save
the situation ; that her safetyat that moment
lay in an alliance with the Protestants, which could not be
had

without

Admiral.

the

corroborated

greatly affected her

had

an

And

Charles

Modo

1571.

by

army

che

Rome,

at
was

The

his schemes
"

not

to

whom
astrologers
of

conquest
"

speak
as
requisite

his back, as
dazzled by the notion

si tenne

Barberini

nelle

fact

of the

cerimonie

Whitehead.
120

of

delle

library,as quoted

his

in

nozze
"

new

she

evidence

sulted
con-

that

that

Coligny
militarygenius.
empire and of

dell 'Amiraglionel
Gaspard de Coligny,"

AND

COLIGNY

he

in which

wars

new

also flowed

had

JEANNE

QUEEN
might

at last

in from

the

it

evident, would

was

was

singularly

propitious, the Guises had, for the moment, absented

from Court and Catherine had justsucceeded in
as

Coligny'sarch-foe, Alava,

recalled to

She

Spain.

tions
Peti-

that their chief

Huguenots

; while the hour

measure
conciliatory

most

BLOIS

eclipsehis brother.

might be recalled,the grantingof which,

be

AT

and

selves
them-

getting
Charles

seized the occasion and both wrote to the Admiral, begginghim

to Blois and pledgingtheir word for his safety.
to come

men
Colignyand his escort rode into Blois,two and fiftygentlehill
he
to
When
the
the
Castle.
mounted
disclankingup
steep
he heard that Catherine had fever
in the court-yard,
He was
and kepther room.
taken to her there without delay,
and once
for the first time
againthey confronted one another
since the Peace.
The Admiral had changed the most ; it seemed
with his
who stood before her.
The King was
to be an old man
"

mother, and

the

Admiral

feet.
sovereign's
three

"

made

as

if to

throw

himself

at

his

preventedhim, and, kissinghim

But Charles

"

that we
have got
pere,"he said, now
shall not let you go." To propheticears
the words
you, we
in
of sinister import, but Charles spoke them
might seem
honest pleasure
dearly loved the Admiral.
; of old, he had
Catherine was
the next to embrace
him, and presentlyhe was
led to the Due
d'Anjou'sapartments, where the Prince, who
also
was
indisposed,
joy at his visit.
feigneddemonstrative
Coligny,always anxious to be trustful,easilyrelapsedinto
confidence and tried to cheer his friends about his safety. His
accounts
the good cheer
of
that was
made
for him are full
of simple-mindedenjoyment, but those who
cared for him
not
A few days after^his
were
coming, the Due de
easy.
Montpensiermet him one evening in a badly lightedpassage

times,

Mon

"

of the
can

"

palace.
be

you

so

the folk with

"

Heavens,

rash

as

man

to walk

"

Duke,
whisperecVthe

here alone
"

Don't

you

"

"how
know

I not in the
Am
dealing?
asked
King's house, on the strengthof the King's word ?
Coligny. But the King isnot alwaysmaster in his own house,"
was
the Duke's
himself a good
answer.
Montpensier was
Catholic he was
foul
also a man
of honour, and foul play was
in
his
Protestant
done to
or
play
Papist. His
eyes, whether
fears and
well have been
those of others for Coligny may
don,
emphasizedby the death, this year, of Cardinal Odet, in Lonfrom a short and sudden
carried
illness. His body was
to CanterburyCathedral, where men
say his ghost stillwalks ;

whom

you

are

"

"

"

121

THE

YEARS

LATER
and

OF

circumstance

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

surrounded

his end ; but for all that,

his fate,and that of Andelot, were
not reassuring
for his brother.
characteristic. It was
not
his way
Coligny'sbehaviour was
pomp

make

to

ill-content with

mysteries,and,
he

lost

business.

She

time

and

rumours

tions,
moni-

in

going to head-quarters.Strange
though it may seem, he still thought he could get the truth
from
Catherine.
Seeking her out, he went
straightto his

in you.

taken

arms

him

"

in the

that you

frankly,

trust

and

looked
"

she said
can

no

can

Have

offended

Well,

we

had

whom

never

to do than

she had

least tempting,the most

M

We

both

are

she said to him

of

more

grosslymisread

when

she made

hostile to
too

us

old to

another

on

this

well,"

than

we

King,
rest,

and faithful

assure

Perhaps she

us

son, the
my
will let that

you that if you will be his good servant

will
I
subject,
pileupon you favours of all sorts."
and

full

trust in

more

no

not

you
againsthim

I know

eyes.

the

with

man

suggestion
"

the

his nature.

try and take in

occasion;

"

and

another,"

one

you,"

she added

"

in your rightto show mistrust ; but

good-humouredly,
she says or does, no one
admits
as for a poor Queen, whatever
it to be possible
that she can
have such fears at all." This
are

"

"

understood
her part.
The foxes," wrote
Queen
and they had a lion for
Margot, are perfectin their foxing
their dupe.
The favours spoken of did not tarry. While the Guises sat
in gloomy council upon him in their family Chateau, Coligny
to Court,
feasted and petted,his bride pressedto come
was
the King increased daily. His affairs
with
and
his power
in
was
prospered,and the alliance with the Netherlands
Anonymous letters of warning from time to time
progress.
Remember
with whom
threw a shadow
the splendour;
on
poor

"

"

"

"

to do

you

have

who

has

himself

to

no

"

their burden

was

"

the soul of the State

But he allowed
them.

with

soul," says

ignorethem

one
among
and to bask in

short blaze of

prosperity.

Charles grew to a surprising

impressionable
in
it
affection.
rooted
real
was
as
extent,
Coligny loved
he had loved the boy, and believed that he
the young man
as
could mould
him to good purpose for the welfare of France.
The
King's impulsivenature, his kindness, his courage, his
His influence upon

the

weakness, his loneliness,appealed to his strong protector.

And so, most
of all,did his ingenuousness ; for, in spiteof his
"Charles"
(itis a diplomat who
perjuries,
He was
now
not tell a lie without showing it."

oaths and
"

could

122

so)
insepar

says

AND

COLIGNY

JEANNE

QUEEN
"

AT

BLOIS

"

gossip he called him

listening
him
all
and
him
refused
that
he
to
on
subjects
granting
requests
Henri II was
not so subjectto the Constable
to his brother Anjou.
to Coligny. The Catholics saw
Charles IX was
selves
themas
flouted,and the courtiers,who had spurned their great
He
faced about and sued for his good graces.
opponent, now
made, at His Majesty'srequest,a kind of State Entry at his
righthand into Paris. But coming to the Rue Saint-Denis,
of the Innocents, he caught sight
the Fountain
not far from
the site of a house that had been
of a pyramid, erected upon
of a Huguenot, and he made
burnt down
as the home
a
ous
vigordemurs, yet,
protestagainstits being there. There were
the
knew
be
that the measure
would
though
King
dangerously
will
and
the
he
the
Admiral's
unpopular,
obeyed
pyramid was
the Admiral

able from

my

"

"

carried away.
This was
riot ensued
which
only

yieldedto

affair served

of

as

entreatinghim

to

the

Coligny's

gauge
it
involved.
Anxious
danger
"

for fanatical

much

too

military.
and
authority,

letters arrived from

disintoxicate

himself

"

of the Court," but his friends need not have

If his head
turned
for a moment,
if he was
was
trusted

mindedness
He

knew

whether

remained
well

the

from

of his

His

mind

own

kingdom
which

to

La

been

Rochelle
off the
uneasy.

blinded

by

his singleappearances,
did he relax his watchfulness.

the risks that

his elevation,
from
his more

belongedto

jealous Queen-Mother,
he entreated

the

or

his followers not

King

was

mainly

before
that

to make

too

his eyes
of a united

the

upon one
idea that

topic,for he
was
inspiring

regenerate France ; of a
include the half of the Netherlands, a realm
in
"

tolerance and

firstscheme

also of the

honours.

new

talk with

constantlykept
his

whole

to

intact,nor

enough

apparent foes,and
much

overmuch

The

shake

to

fumes

illusion and

Paris, and

and

should
justice

still further ; the French

reign.
should

Spanish Indies,they should penetrate into

not

South

developed the
only take the
America, perhaps

Brazil and Florida,in both of which countries

he himself,at his own
colonies of
cost, had already founded
even

as

far

He

as

Huguenots.1 Everythingpromised success

; the King listened
enthusiasm
; had he not alreadygiven proof of his good
faith by summary
execution
of sundry Catholics who
had massacred
sundry Protestants at Rouen ? And by givingpermission
for a Huguenot Synod, with Btet himself as its President,

with

In

Brazil, 1555.

In

Florida, 1562 and

123

1564.

YEARS

LATER

THE

to sit in peace

at La

OF

CATHERINE

Rochelle ?

believed that the Protestants'

Small

day had

DE'
wonder

MEDICI

that

Coligny

at last.

come

day
hardlyallow him to take the few days'holiat Chatillon that he begged for. He gave him money
to
there
he
would
make
him
give
improvements
anythingbut
I know well how fond you are of gardenleave of absence.
ing,"
he exclaimed in a burst of petulance words in which the
vigilant
Huguenots found a strained and hostile meaning. The
King, they said,was covertlyalludingto the days (beforehis
his embassy of spieshad found the
from Meaux) when
flight
of his garden. If their suspicions
Admiral
the
vines
pruning
in this instance were
not
misplaced,it was
surprising
they
Soon after,when
should feel them.
the
desired
Colignygot
It was
increased.
leave,the evil rumours
publictalk that the
to Troyes,wereplotting
moved
to come
Guises,who had now
If
to Chatillon and killhim.
(he wrote to Charles) it had
to
not been for my
promise your Majesty,I should have liked
But they,rinding
themselves detected,
to meet them half way
schemes againsthim.
retired to hatch new
One plan of their
A sham fort was
to be built
success.
devisingcame
very near
at Saint-Cloud,upon the liedu Palais. Anjou was
to defend it.
Colignyand a regimentof Protestants were invited to make a
At a givenmoment, Anjou was
mock-attack.
to stop play,to
fire in deadly earnest, to kill the foe and all his followers.
noised abroad.
Palace-walls have ears and the conspiracy
was
The King put an end to the affair by orderingthe fort to be
strative,
demolished.
His fidelity
to the Admiral continued to be demonand it formed the burden of Coligny's
letters when he
his comrades.
Charles' friendship,
wrote
to reassure
indeed,
he
and
the
winter
was
throughout
early
grew inconvenient,
and
his
for
absent
asking
Compere,"
constantlysending
The

King

would

"

"

"

"

"

"

' '

"

his counsel

at

Court.

he not
in his vision. Had
Coligny'sdefect was
the
he would have perceived
a speckon
short-sighted,
Catherine,he might have known, allowed no influence
the
King but hers,nor would she ever have summoned
had

she

not

felt

Mother," commented

secure

"

of her

supremacy.

The

been

so

horizon.
near

the

Admiral

Queen-

"

Tavannes,
knowing how entirelyshe
her son's moods, her son's tutors, did not

possessedher son,
that she could
certain as she was
care
a jot for his opinions,
her
ignoranceof
change them in an instant." Once again,
of a supmoral
force had blinded her, and the possibility
planterhad not yet entered her thoughts. As yet, however,
she keptpassive,
for she stillhad need of the Admiral.
124

only requirehim

She did not

AT

JEANNE

QUEEN

AND

COLIGNY

as

the leader of

when
take

should

place.

enough,and
could

she

best

had

She

her

at

Henri
and

cat

Catholic

security.Having

own

became
with Navarre
Protestants, the match
be
now
but, to effect it, she knew, would

had

Queen Jeanne

grown

de

"

her
had

Navarre

long
dip,and

mouse

side the scale would

support from

whether

ensure

played

which

saw

now

determine

would

with

alliance
long-discussed

the

possiblewar

his presence
The
moment

for
againstSpain. She had another reason
projectsfor the marriage of her daughter.
come

BLOIS

Protestant

or

decided

for the

all-important,
no

matter.

easy

would

distrustful and
increasingly

Colignywas the one

by royalblandishments.
mediary
to whose
man
persuasionsshe would listen ; the only interconduct
could successfully
who
negotiations.With
Coligny,therefore, it would be impossiblefor Catherine to
quarreltillthe marriagewas an accomplishedfact.
Coligny had at first disliked the idea of Henri's marriage
with a Catholic,but he soon
to see the advantagesthat such
came
alliance meant
for his party. There remained
an
only one person
of the plan,and that was
the Princess
who did not approve
the only real feeling
Marguerite. Her love for Henri de Guise
of her life was not rooted out of the girl's
heart,and she was not
not

be disarmed

"

"

to hide her inclinations.

one

There

the usual

was

She

scene.

in tears,stretched comfortless upon an oaken coffer ;

sent to reason
with her ; coaxingalternated
was
that
with scolding
found
she was
; but Margot
beatingagainst

lay bathed

her Gouvernante

adamant,

and

made

were
come

to

she

Court,

soon

to

left off all show

Queen Jeanne

"

Henri

of resistance.

entreaties sent

bring King
for some
while gave no
willing,
in these
nothing more
surprising
to

with

half
sceptical,
There

is

tures
Overher to

to

her, but she, half

definite answer.
months

than

the

it lacked in depth, it
vitalityof Catherine's brain. What
from one
gained in quickness; it turned with a juggler's
agility
intricate intrigue
to another.
While layingtraps for Coligny
and outwardlykeepingwell with Spain,she was
busy over really
keeping well with England, and still carried on negotiations
for the marriageof Alencon
with Elizabeth.
The Prince, then
seventeen
recalcitrant that she kept him a
so
years old, was
at
where
she had him
her
Amboise,
prisoner
under
eye.
The placeis strong and massive, and the little frogcannot
1

possiblyget away from it," she wrote to

days, "my littlefrog,"was
Elizabeth's
suitor.

Did

she borrow

it from
125

the

Guises.
for her

name

his mother

In later

However

French
that

YEARS

LATER

THE

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

be, Catherine had him safe in her hand and pursued her
may
with the Ambassadors.
cool game
But these dealingswith England meant
mere
dalliance,and
real matrimonial

the

between

with

was

game

Navarre.

Marguerite and
Its importance for the

Princess

the

publicattention.

The

Henri

occupied

now

French

match

able,
incalcul-

was

only as a Protestant alliance,but as giving them

France
between
the Kingdom of Navarre, the territory
and
Spain a sure defence againstPhilip. Jeanne, as we know,
in the way.
And
was
was
holdingout ; the difference in religion
Catherine
saw
clearlythat she could not have Henri but
But
through Jeanne,who kept a tight hold over her son.
not

"

Catherine

determined

was

and
cunning engineer,
her

own

she

remembered

to

to

whose

did
religious
difficulty
Henri

son

; she

this desirable union

compass

The

resources.

get the better of her

She

was.

brought his father, Antoine

La
lure him from his faith ; how
had

not

Belle Rouet

she had

floor her

recalled how

Navarre,

de

was

to

had

"

she

Poissy,to
succeeded

failed.

History must, she thought,repeat itself.

She had cozened Jeanne out of her husband, she could cozen
her out of her son ; he was
twenty and ought not to be in
He should again be urged to come
to Court
leading-strings.
with his mother
even
more
stronglythan before ; flattering
hopes of concessions concerning creed should be held out ;
with her at Blois, she would easilycorrupt
and, the pair once
His convictions would
Henri.
crumble ; the marriage
young
would
alone.
ensue
Jeanne might return to Beam
; and
laid.
Never
train more
There was
was
artistically
only one
the strength of Jeanne's moral
thing Catherine left out
principles.
where

reason

"

II
In

the

early Spring of 1571

bore fruit.
but

she would

Catherine
conducts
Court

"

us

"

if,when
you

consented
not

commit

herself

saw

to

herself

defeated.

far

so

as

vain

In

Jeanne

with her

to Court

come

letters to

daughter,
bring her son.
she pressed safe
to

Henri and urged the safetyof their lives at her

upon
"
her urgent desire to see
them
there.
Madame,"

Jeanne
see

She

Catherine's

try

in

wrote

and

"

you

tell

that

me

that it is not

I read your
to

reply,

do

you

for any evil purpose.

letters,I felt an inclination to

away

do not believe that you

with

I have

fear that

eat littlechildren

126

"

as

want

to

Forgive me
laugh. For

never

folk say

felt.

you*do."

YEARS

LATER

THE

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

that, helped by the strange goodwillthe Queen-Mother bears

should

we

us,

France.

pray

the

For

to

destroyed,togetherwith

be

which

God, I entreat

you

if

son,

my

cause,

the

Churches

ever

of

should

you

that it be at this present.

For, in

good sooth, I pray to Him unceasinglyto guide me in these

and to grant that this marriage be not made
in
negotiations,
His wrath for our punishment,but in His mercy for His glory
and our
repose."
When
Jeanne entered Blois,the Papal Legate,scarlet-hatted,
scarlet-robed,was
driving out of it in his heavy coach. It
that of

crossed
he

he

Jeanne, but

her.
might avoid saluting

turned

He

"

that
His
of messages
prejudicehis obedience to His
had

dismissed

without

carried back
Holiness."

friends and
t(

How

been

asked

Rome,

and

Catholics

Tavannes,

for

the

Queen-Mother'soldest
throughout this business.
is really
goingon in cellede Navarre ?
"

after her

him

the Cardinal

her confidant

I find out what

can

she had

had

But

; the staunch

storm

objectedto this attitude towards

He was
one, left the Court.
among

that

so

the most
vocal
equido nothing to

Majesty would

"

not been

his head

away

first talk with

Jeanne.

"Entre

"

her to be the
make
fernrnes,"
repliedthe soldier-philosopher,
first to lose her temper, and do you keep yours ; you will then

her, not she from

learn from
at his

departure.

"

you."
of

Weary

the

Catherine

Queen's

leave," writes
to stay, for she knew

Sieur de Tavannes

took

dismayed

was

indecisions

diarist ;

"

she

the

wept

he had good counsel

implored him
for their Majesties,
who
left without
resolution."
were
any
of
Nothing of this,however, showed in the King's welcome
all suavity,and
affection. He called her
Jeanne. He was
his Great-aunt, his All, his Well-beloved, and
heaped her
with flattering
Catherine was at firstbland enough
attentions.
she
remembered
Tavannes'
injunctions
outwardly
; but the

and

"

claw

began

soon

conditions

and

to

fur ; she meant

the woman
from

piercethe

to humiliate

to make

whom

them.

her

own

she asked

Perhaps,with the exceptionof Coligny,there was no

she hated like Jeanne. It was
the hatred of the crooked
one
for the straight,
of the casuist for the person who saw
through
in
her.
The vehement
torment
suffered
Jeanne
putting the
her tongue.
curb upon
The Queen," she said, made her die
to
in pains of travail," she wrote
by pin-pricks." I am
Henri
My patience passes that of Griselda. I have no
Marguerite.
libertyto talk, either with the King or Madame
I am
only allowed conversation with the Queen-Mother,who
"

"

"

"

"

128

AND

COLIGNY
treats
consistently
in fine fashion
found

She

d la

me

they

; but

nobody

fourche.

whom

to

in any

not

BLOIS

They hurried me
hurry to see me."

are

AT

JEANNE

QUEEN

here

Her

niece, Marie de
both
Princesse de Conde, were
turn.

to

Cleves,and her cousin,the young

at Court, but they only served to irritate her.
They are," she wrote, as much alike as two fingersof one
their
hand, laughing at every one and everything,and I am
in
changed, a fashion
prey like the rest. I find them entirely
bad.
As
for
cousin
as
(Henride Conde),
strange as it is
your
than
love
better
if you cannot
he does, I advise you to
make
"

altogether."

it up

give

subjecthere she sent her son a whole

of instructions in the princelyart of courtship. Look
three main
adapt your manners
things,"she said ;

She did not

this

leave

"

"

manual

"

well to
to

your company,
for remember
that

and

speak boldly,even

you
will

make,

first

at your

aside ;

taken

when

sion
coming, the impres-

your hair to stand

be pieces
; there must
up ; but not in the fashion
the last thingout to you,
hangingat either side. I recommend
which
takes my
because it is the one
most
fancy. But be on
that every

one

keep of

Train

you.
of Nerac

your guard against

every kind of effort to debauch you, whether
in your senses
and build up against
them a greatand
or your faith,

invincible constancy. For I know

do ; they make
secret of it.
no

this is what

And

they mean

to

possess the

since you

since also

they spy upon your actions take care

to go to Preches and Prayers,for you see
by what the Queen
says that they lose no chance of making capital.
Your good mother
and best friend," Jeanne signsherself,
and her only happy hours were
spent in writingto her boy.
light

true

"

"

'

But

the internecine
much

too

It

for

time
not

was

for

one

with

for the

The

combatants

Jeanne had

come

* '

if

we

"

' '

said Catherine

earlyinterview, you always keep to generalities

; what
to the point ?
came
Very well," retorted Jeanne,
"

"

first you

quoth Catherine,
the Court
son
was

; you

accede

must
"

She

Madam,

her

resolve

"

but

your

gave

force of her

the

to Court
.

an

her

their hatred

mask

to

Queen-Mother'scool temper

advantage,but

that Henri should not

at

leave

did not

Catherine

correspondence.

easy

another.

certain

warfare

let

us

stop here.

playingcrane

You
and

Then,"
free to stay at
are
well treated, and if

he shall be cherished
to

fable,refused

Jeanne's fox,
her tender
129

"

demands."

my

will be well considered

likes to come,

fox in the

to

but

in like manner."

the fox, unlike the

ministrations.

"

My son,"
K

LATER

THE

YEARS
"

her answer,
"
In that
be."

will not

was

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

until all is arrangedas itshould

come

"

case," Catherine rejoined, the best thingto

end
is
to
to our
do
intercourse,and lay the matter in the
put an
trust."
hands of men
whom
we
Madam, I trust no one in the
"

world

"

Jeanne

moment

she wrote
and

eye

Beam
and

home.

return

best understand

making

you

watched

I beg you not

fingers,
despatchfrom me.

own

pretext,such

soAe

that

and

(theQueen

you.

all I say

Because

be

must

myself."

as

you

For

the

here,"

matters

one's

own
by
to budge from
Supposing you

will

easilyfind,

That

come,

entirely
upon

"

is my
opinionand that of those who
the affairs of this place. All their talk is of

conclusion,which
that

son),

get another

started,invent

have

"

her

by one's

till you

business

the last word.

had

(againto
felt

this

conduct

to

mean

For

has twice

thrice told

or

reach the

we

me) depends

that that Lady imagines

clearly
myself alone, and that you have

see

from

comes

before

quickly,even

besides,as you know, that is what

the King tells her.
Pray, when you write, be sure to say that
all that you told me
to remember
me
all,
; above
you entreat

opinions apart

from

mine

"

will about religion.And add

Marguerite's
that this is the only thingwhich keeps you from a final decision,
that if I show the Queen-Mother this,under your hand, she
so
will the rather believe it is your view, and that will help us to
in sore
advance
I am
it. I can
assure
plight,for they
you
brave me
with surpassing
insolence,and I have every patience
to find out Madame

in the world."

And, rather later,to de Beauvoir, Henri's tutor, her trusty

counsellor
"

As

"

for outward

honours, they stillshow

of that sort ; exceptingthat they

I have
subtleties of that to which

to

want

that

the

King

advance

to

meet

accustomed

been
and

me

quiteenough
depriveme by their
me

conduct

"

me

to

wit

to

his

won
But, through counter-subtleties,I have
day. For if one wants any good thing here, one must
it by ambush,
when
before they think
of it. Even

the

mother.

take

they

promised, they have their say and

{lew dit
unsay
with England. They are just
et leur dedit,as in the contract
the same
with the Germans
so
they go on wavering ;
; and
have

now

from

and

the

fear of them
Catholics.

(theGermans),now
They would

from fear of the

love to cheat

them

Pope

all.

As

the grace

for me, I fortify

myself from one hour to another with
of God, and, rest assured, that I remember
your advice

not to lose my

temper,for

they try me
J 30

to the end of my

to

me

tether,

AND

COLIGNY

QUEEN

JEANNE

AT

heard of.
patience that ever
you
to
in order
only trying
exasperate me

beautiful

I show

the

I believe

they are
into an appealfor arbitration."
me
beautiful patience that ever
most

to force
"

The

most

that

to

put

was

BLOIS

further

heard

you

"

of

by Catherine.

trials

"

almost wanted
Queen," she writes later to Beauvoir,
had told the truth, and
that
persuade me that Brodeau
be married
would
son
had given him hopes that my
by

"

The

to

you

according

proxy,

I find it

Catholic

the

to

'

said

that, for he himself

'

tells

that

me

he

Madam,'

little difficult to believe that

her,

'

rites.

M.

said

to

de Beauvoir

assured

that

you

it

'

think,'said she, that he told me

tell you ?
he would
No, I think not,' said I. At last,
and also that I did not believe her,
seeingherself hard pressed,
did tell me
Yes, he certainly
something ; you may take that
for truth, Madam,'
quoth she, but it was something very far
could

be

not

done.'

You

'

"

'

from

what

you

fancy.'

(and pray take

making fun of me.
never

said to M.
is at the

the

one

end

as

of his

him

of

this)does
unsaid

She
.

as

others

cunning and

burst

out

she

speak

to

of the

thingsshe

many

well

hand, he stands

reproach
false.

Biron,

note

then

She

spoken

knows

in fear of the

(but in jest)because,

laughing, for
me

without
had

in his presence.

not

Queen

what
;

on

He

On
say.
the other, I

to

I say, he has
tries to make

played

me

for
excuses
shrugs his shoulders, and
the Queen as best he may."
without making fun of me
Never does she speak to me
the words, more
than any analysis,
give the pictureof these
two
of her who thought that she could stab
:
opposed spirits
seriousness by never
taking it seriously; and of the grave
He

"

"

"

much

woman,

more

inwrought

humorous
with

her

than

Catherine, whose

ness
earnest-

being.
to proceed further without
Jeanne now
consulting
the EnglishAmbassadors, Smith and Walsingham, then staying
at Blois ; and
she begged the King's permission(which was
ministers
of her faith to join
unwillingly
granted)to ask some
them.
I have the wolf by the ears," she said when
they met,
*
and yet you
is danger in
There
still undecided.
find me
concludingthis marriage ; there is danger in not concluding
it. The
King and the Queen-Mother wish my son to live at
Court after the marriage, and they do not want
to grant him
the free exercise of his religion.They think
that they will
thus make
atheist of him.
an
But, on their side, they exact
that when
she shall
Madame
to B"arn
Marguerite comes
was

refused

"

LATER

THE

Mass

celebrate
and

we

the

ministers

YEARS

OF

her

will.

at

shall have

CATHERINE
The

another

DE'

Papistswill

civil war."

Then

MEDICI

take

her

part

she

questioned
Can
I"
she
concerning technical details.
allow the wedding ceremony
to be performed by a
asked,
and
stole
?
priestin a surplice
They held a long discussion
is in itself indifferent,"
their
was
together. The matter
all
it
but
scandal
the
to
the
weaker
verdict,
same,
might cause
Then
will I permit the rite !
brethren."
she cried :
never
offence to God."
it would
be offering
The black-gowned
an
of opinion that she should not go againsther
Calvinists were
Salomon
et plusieursautres
conscience ; they invoked
rots
mixed
de Juda," as warningsagainst
these
marriages ; and
it seemed
to most
men," wrote
Walsingham to Burleigh,
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

if the match

"as

"

view," he added,
it necessary."
remained

There
from

broken

were

there

Jeanne
Catherine hardly allowed
Princess

when

the

Gouvemante

was

When

What

Catholic

my
make

direct

appeal

no

apartments, her
shot.
always within eara
privateinterview,

contrived

did Madame

in her

Margueritefeel,

That

what

not

said the other ; had I known

it,I should
that
this." Again it was
on
surprising
end to the affair. But Jeanne,honest woman
a

Queen

was

Her

for her

her ambition

the

right
"

trials by

now,

can

and
and

for I

endure

not

the vexations
and

they prickme,
they want to draw

themselves

and

do
certainly

in my

for

they
me

not

...

worth

make

month
I

and

me,

for all I'm

i32

put

an

again,"she

that I

know

suffer,for

flatter

moment.

not

I tell you
to live another

They
that
so
they may
dressing-closet

go

embarked

on.

feel comfortable.
that

did

"

decreased.

"

to Beau

have

princessof her
stronger. Walsingham

even

was

voir, that if I had

do
and I really
this,I should be ill,
wrote

she

told,"

was

those of any

went
negotiations

means

no

son

never

that she was, was

of Queens. Her principles

the doom

strong, stronger than

were

day, but

subjectto

and

been

answered
it for the greatest

it,were

was

have

Princess

"

also

"I

?
religion

the
religion,"

"

matter, as
easy
stir from her side.

own

her

keep

will abandon

never

in the world."

monarch

was

her

to

to

change

the

"

went

time.
a

reasons

which

daughter to

lengthJeanne

she did not waste

she asked, about

brought up in
sturdily, and

her

instructed

at

that is not

"

Marguerite. This

to

And

many

But

yet untried expedient

as

one

too

are

"

off."

like
not

am

amazed

am

theyscratch
they

brave

without

holes

in my

play the

ill

spy

me,
me,

letting
room

upon

In short I have

me.

(inspiteof his
all the

me

QUEEN

AND

COLIGNY

here but Martin

one

no

gout)
good offices he

can,

and

who

le Comte

Monsieur

and

"

BLOIS

AT

JEANNE

walks

who

clearlythat

sees

straight

tries to do
can't

one

courtier men."

trust

fond of the bride, she might have

grown
character
for her task, but Marguerite's
heartened
"
has
Madame," she tells her son,
to suit her.
one

felt

more

was

not

have

she

Could

"

in the

up

and

accurst

most

company.
it is the women

who

men

she sends

pictureto
For
these two
days past, I
cool. The gossipis that they are
And

like

"

for her

beauty, I

that she has

own

never

de

who

escape

it is not

solicitthe

exceptingby

Beauvoir.

find Madame

grown

going to Paris.

all
a

bred

been

Here

rotten

solicitthe women,
here you could
If you were
men.
God."
the great grace of
the

she has

but
good abilities,

beauty and grace and

fine

but
figure,

quite
As

...

then

she

to her face, the

tightly.And when one comes
beauty is so much helped that it annoys me, for she will really
spoil herself. But at this Court, paint is almost common,
in Spain. You cannot
think how pretty my girl
looks here.
as
Every one assaults her religion.She stands up to them and
does not yield one
jot. And everybody loves her."
Jeanne was right. The Valois Court was no placefor a girl
of sixteen who
came
straightfrom the high-souledCourt of

laces very

Navarre.
should

It

natural

was

sicken

that her mother's

wholesome

nature

in the

stifling
atmosphere.
here"
He
wrote.
stay on
King
(atBlois),she
makes
love passionately,
but he does it in such a fashion that
he thinks no
knows
one
anything about it. He has lodged
his mistress in a room
apart, to which he goes straightfrom
his closet ; and about nine or ten o'clock
every night he pretends
to go and work
at a book that he is writing. But
he
with her till one
o'clock. They
really
goes to her, and remains
he
is following
this is only another pretext
a regime,but
say
to give him
Oh the pity of this Court ! I am
liberty.
"

The

"

will

...

most

By

miserable
this time

in it."

Jeanne had secured

promisesthat she
longer,and, on April n, she
any
signedthe agreement of marriage. The only remaining difficulty
to get the Papal dispensation,
was
for the Vatican maintained
its uncompromising attitude.
Ma
tante," exclaimed
Charles one
than the Pope, and I
day, I honour you more
fear him less than I love
sister. I am
not
a
Huguenot,
my
could

not

well

hold

so

many

out

"

"

133

but I

YEARS

LATER

THE
am

not

fool.

CATHERINE

So if Monsieur

le

DE'

MEDICI

Pape playsthe donkey

myselftake Margot by the hand and will have

her married en pleineftreche."The death, on May i, of Pope
Pius V, and the accession
of Gregory XIII, with all the
business that such events involved, complicatedthe situation.
The
Cardinal
de Guise was
despatched to Rome, but the
business lagged. Guise did not return, and it began to seem
probablethat Charles would put his boast in execution. The
the bridegroomconform,
only other way out would be to make
and to have the full Catholic ceremony.
But as long as Jeanne
this
was
was
there,
impossible.
too

long,I

OF

will

134

VII

CHAPTER

meanwhile,
CATHERINE,
campaign
to

the

break

so

absolute

involved.

with

also wished

She

her

rivals

all

well

fancy

not

the

the

upon

When

Countries.

herself

bring

not

consequences

with

Elizabeth,
of the

notion

it

face

to

the

it

who,

French

this, there

Besides

Netherlands.

the

in

Low

Spain and
to
keep

against all expectation, did

as

the

could

she

point

cold

blowing

was

in

intended

came

Netherlands

the

Coligny and

her

was

than
the
ever
more
hostility to Coligny. Jealousy of him was
in his
the first time
For
of her conduct.
life,
ruling motive
Charles
in opposition to her.
possessed his
was
Coligny now
the
will as
possessed it, and
thoroughly as she had hitherto
Indeed
the war.
he urged Coligny to hasten
set upon
King was
it for motives

watch,
the
in

as

and

he

departure

from

The

Flemish

cruelties

of

unity

outside

none

Admiral,
his

dissociated

not

were

Alva

and

his

mother.

Charles

could

growth of the plots against

knew
that his only chance
of safety lay
the kingdom.
the
Crushed
as
by the
as
King.
eager
the
no
bigotry of Philip, they found
could, the

themselves

among

from

to

raise

their

fortunes.

Never

was

distraught by religioussects promiscuously mixed.

There
there
were
were
Spanish Catholics
Anti-Spanish
;
with
the Lutherans
Catholics, making common
cause
; there
Calvinists
were
were
Anabaptists ; and, in their midst,
; there
stood
the
who
the
chaos.
could
one
bring order from
person
This
William
of Orange, who
was
saw
clearly that his only
natural
allies were
the French,
since Elizabeth
of England
was
country

fickle
the

so

and

betwixt

pact

reasons

He

mysterious.
him

Orange

alliance, while

at

the

and
this

thus

was

France,

as

keen,

as

cared

moment

religious bond

keen

was

Coligny

as

for

but

most

for

all-important

for

different

political
to

the

Admiral.

Preparations
the

Netherlands.

went

forward

Thus,

with

and
fair
137

the

French

hopes, began

army
a

war

entered

which,

LATER

THE

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

Colignylived, might have proved the war of his ideals

Its beginningswere
for tolerance and truth.
bound
a struggle
It
be
to
small.
to
so
speak, a semi-private enterprise
was,
secret
even
pact,
though the King was a party
following
upon a
in the name
of Orange and
undertaken
to it ; an
enterprise
had

"

But

Nassau, its leaders.

meant

campaign

on

had Charles stood firm, it would have

grand scale,and Colignyhimself would

probably have

most

Countries to command
gone to the Low
It would have been an acknowledged expedition,

it in person.

bringing open rupture with

Philipwould have acted, had
The

Turk

it was,
doubt
no
where.
elsehis forces been wanted

not

still

was

occupying his energieson

side,while the Netherlands

demanded

favourable

but

moment

was

As

Spain.

one,

them
the

on

the other.

King's weakness

one

The
and

prevarications
spoiledall. The war was bound to
to
result of
end in disappointment. One
fizzle out and
it keptCatherine on tenter-hooks about Spain,for
importit had
whatever
distractions,she neither knew his resources,
Philip's
he might turn againsther.
at what moment
nor
This, indeed,
certain of his
he might do in any case, and until she felt more
she would not definitely
quarrelwith the Protestants,
course,
Catherine's

"

or

of power
in the Netherlands.
In the earliest days of the campaign, there was
lose her chance

In

May,

the Admiral's

of Valenciennes
presence was
in Paris.
was
liked to
in

he,

"

by
We

propitious.
was
gladdened by

heart

Nassau, and

get a

of Mons

own

Soon

made

we

"

God

shall have

be

praised,"said

chased

away

the

King master, or we shall all die,

and I the first. I shall not complain if I die in so good
But supplieswere
..."
cause.
a
inadequate; there were
of the
Colignywas aware
delaysin sendingreinforcements.
In sooth," said he,
the only danger is in the prorisk.
tracting
of time
and in too late resolving."Soon after,
like Nassau
before
Genlis from the Netherlands, disguised
came
him, to beg the King for more
help,or Mons would fall. On

Spaniard

and

taking

His

de Madrid, where the King

three were
taking a forest

spend the Spring. The

the leafyBois de Boulogne.
well.

the

in

Strozzi at the Chateau

all goes

by

Genlis.

he
France, and at that moment
in with
pleasantpictureof him falling

stillnecessary

and

Brantome
walk

All seemed

of its end.

presage

happilyno

the

"

July 15, he crossed the frontier with four thousand

and

some

the town

horse.
and

In vain.

sacked

it with

infantry

Spaniardsentered
sickeningcruelty. Genlis himself

On

the

138

17th,the

prisoner the crowningpointof a calamitydisastrous

iken
the

to

"

the

of the

war.

Netherlands.
His confidence

change.

stilldid not

King'spurpose

in the Admiral

in the

French

of the

prospects

But

NETHERLANDS

THE

AND

COLIGNY

bent on pursuance
unshaken, and he was
Catherine,whose hopes the late events had raised,
was

well-nighrouted. M. de Sauve and the Comte

vetz, her spy and the King's Gouverneur, poisoned her
the King's every
with
their tidings.They recounted
counsels
secret
:. his
assuringher that if she did not
Before
to it,the Huguenots would entirely
possess him.
must
she
regain
thought of anything else," they said,
her."
stolen
from
had
as
a
mother, which Coligny
power
and the Admiral
moment
: it was
was
a good one
summer,
Catherine
absent at Chatillon.
Gatheringherself together,
herself

saw

mind

"

look

"

"

she
her
The
was

prepared for

final

nothing she tried a

ambition
disappointed
"

"

says Tavannes,
and

urged

her

dramatic
:

She

effect.

and

the

burned

not

was

"unmeasured

which

for

Medici

spurredon

was

by

ambition,"

inflamed

Queen within and without

get rid of the Admiral."

to

It is to the pen of the same

"
of what
followed.
The

pipeau. The

She

attempt.

chronicler that

we

King goeth forth

Queen, his mother,

the

owe

to hunt

hasteneth

picture
Mont-

at

him.

after

Shut

with him in his closet,

she bursteth of a sudden
into tears.
had
After all the pains,'
I
to
bringyou up,
quoth she, that

up
1

'

and

to

preserve
your
Catholics alike did

and

Crown

the

"

their best

which

crown

to

snatch from

Huguenots
your

hand

thousand

after

having sacrificed myself for you and run

dangers,how could I ever have dreamed that you
thus miserably?
me
hide yourselffrom
You

who

am

you

wrench
lean

to

know
you

yourselffrom
the

on

to take
arms,

my

of those who

arms

the

kingdom, yourself,and our

Religion." If so be that

leave,I pray, before it cometh,

And

send

unhappy
least
in

once

hold secret counsels

you
to plunge us rashlyinto war

wish

away
in that

give him

also

reward

from

me,

me

counsel of your enemies ;

which have guarded you,

that

your
"

mother, in order

your

would

"

I
desired to kill you.
with the Admiral
that
"

with

Spain ;

to

offer

persons as a prey to those of

this griefbefall me,
give me

to retire to the land of my

who

birth.

call

himself
may
his
life
to
At
spent
preserve yours.
he hath made
to escape from
the enemies
your

brother,

he hath

time

servingyou
Huguenots who,
Spain,wish for a war in France,
that they alone
flourish.'
may
"

"

139

while
and

they prate

of

war

for the ruin of all

with

States,

THE

LATER

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

Catherine's voice was

had carried her away.

broken

Anjou, who,

aware,

MEDICI

the part she played

She could hardly think that Charles \
take her seriously. He
would
knew
her too well to believe
in her threat to return
to Italy,
in the selflessdevotion of
or

his death.

he

as

But

was

"

longed for nothingbetter

gainedher point she had once

she had

hypnotizedthe

by

sobs

DE'

"

than
more

with his mother's power, his

King.
brother's cunning,he was
seized with panicat their knowledge
of his doings; "to the which he owned, askingpardon and
Familiar

Mistrust once
and the first blow
sown
promisingobedience.
to
withdrew
struck, the Queen, maintainingher displeasure,
her
Monceaux.
Trembling he followed her thither,and found
with

his

brother, the Sieurs de Tavannes, Retz, and Sauve, the

Sauve, who was Secretaryof State, fellon his knees and

which

received

to his mother."

the

King

di
affetto

The
and

from

pardon

There

His
was

to

the

cabals

around

him

them, it may

them, who
made

them

had
seem

well

to

from
at all,these

Judged

"

framed

thickened.
be

any moral standard

crime that
smelled rank

by

have

"

had triumphed.
signoreggiare
her and Coligny was
between

positionof his enemies.

a

get

counsels

need for tears or for temper ;

off so
cheaply Catherine's

duel

further with
or

more

no

thankful

was

Majesty for revealinghis

nearingits crisis,
Before we
proceed
and

pause
our

own

look at the

point of view,

designsupon

in the offence."

But

him

were

those who

live after their execution, must

possibleto themselves, and this

to

be borne in mind
must
in judging them.
We
ber
rememthat not only\the Guises, not only Catherine and Anjou,
but almost
every honest Catholic regarded Coligny as the

must

greatest danger to the State and the

On

worst

foe to its

religion.

pointthe most various men united ; rugged old soldiers,

like Tavannes, jealousnobles, and
craftyItalians. To the
interests of all these, Colignywas
equallyopposed. The great
nobles, and leaders,such as the Guises,Nevers, and Tavannes,
found him in the way
sold
of their power ; the Italians were
this

Spain, and his ruin meant their aggrandizement. As for

the Queen-Mother herself,though she had the upper hand for
the moment,
uncertain and
the final issue of the struggle
was
might force her to become an impotent exile. She knew that
she had spiesaround
all she said and did to
her who reported
Philip; and that Alva was no less well informed of her dealings
by the Cardinal de Lorraine. And her sufferance of Coligny,
her indulgence towards
the
Huguenots, naturally formed
the burden of her adversaries' chief accusations againsther.
to

140

aimed

at

moment

and

would

one

bound

were

Catholics

to govern

that

The

many.
current

save

strong blow

of the

insolent.

It

whatever

was

for

easy

was

done,

They

their

they would

suspicious and

were

adversaries

satisfied ;

be

not

think

to

If he were
attribute their attitude to their leader.
would
give in so thought those who were
of the

The
arrogance
peace.
by Catherine's conduct.

with

her machinations

them

her

the

eyes

anxious

he

continues,

she

believed

"

Venetian

the

writes

with

them

favoured

"

envoy.

oftentimes

I have

as

that

she

could

fostered
discover

"

by

them

dared

not

but, shutting

heard

pacify

she
with

seeming

And

for

should

bore

doing, she

were

there,

all,to keep them

civil war,
of confidence

new

So

they

and

patience

want
slightest

what

to

they

lest

Spain,anxious, above
off

stave

to

Afraid

to

been

had

Huguenots

that,

and

not

"

show

rights

The

discontented.

remained

and

the

King'spartiality
party.
Coligny
the
and yet
to
concessions
Huguenots,
brought

wrongs
had

quiet

of

events

estimates

his

and

of

for him

they

NETHERLANDS

persuadedthe

reasons

ay

THE

AND

COLIGNY

them

in

affection."

these

means,"
her say herself,
and

gradually

But the Huguenots disbelieved

dispersetheir hostile humour."
her and only took advantage of her fears.

Falsehood

favourable

was

of

another.

one

object
M

was

of

their

restrained

coin

current

was

to

crime, and

the

"

men

air, heavy with distrust,

lived

inhumanly, in

fear

idea was
get rid of the
prevailing
writes
dread.
a
Nobody,"
contemporary,
affection
bonds
of
by
kinshipor
; every man
Their

to

"

other,and each one stood with his hand to his

the quarter whence
the dreaded noise
that he might know
ear
would
come.
Huguenots and Catholics,Prince and people,
all the world was
affrighted.But the panic, to say truth,
was
greater on the part of Prince and Catholic than it was
misdoubted

every

their enemies."
among
These
enemies
were

differingdegrees. There
Huguenots. Correro, who had a good
of

were

deal
Huguenots and
of insight,
of three classes
the great,
says that they were
the bourgeois,
the people."
The great identified themselves
with the sect, spurredon by the desire to oust
their enemies
;
the bourgeoishad their palate tickled by the sweet
taste of
and
rich
the
of
liberty
by
hope
chieflyupon the
growing
of
Church
for
the
the
people, they were
property
; and, as
carried off their feet by false opinions." This is good as far
it goes, but it is incomplete. Had
as
it been all,they could
"

"

"

"

141

LATER

THE

have

never

been

and

smallest
the

YEARS

rest

the power

the

the

especiallywhen

it

clergy. The

incredible.
the
not

if

trouble

often

made

weapons

had
"

proselytesto

the

Grands," concludes

enough
one

is not
"

slow

skill and

fervour

give themselves
would
Christianity

to

certes

These

find

well

as

greed and

as

Religion." The

political
ambition,

nobles it was

unknown.
practically
be glad
critic, would
"

the

same

cure

terestednes
disin-

of

power

but without
for all these ills,
It is wiser never
of their advantages.

to

to

(he continues)

which
potent vitality

to the

"

Les

force of all

find it at this moment.

we

which,

"

is great
"

himself
ministers

they take,

could not kill

made

the

collections

of this kind

Facts

left out

the

in their churches, and the

contributed, largelyand with a good will."

themselves

poor

has

made

ministrywith
priestswere

our

Their

be in the disorder in which

ministers

who

Correro
"

virtue.

And

of the

half

was

to exercise the

used

He

were.

MEDICI

impressed their opponents, more

embodied
in the practical piety of

even

Catholic

acknowledge their
"were

DE'

of fine purpose
and strong faith who found
in Coligny. The power
of such characters

men

incalculable,and

their

they

strongestgroup,

their embodiment
was

CATHERINE

OF

ing
renounc-

to

mix

...

with

have
Things spiritual
always been separate from thingstemporal; the two sides of
life are incompatible,
confound
and, in tryingto fuse them, men
and
their
breath
with
them.
They entangle themselves,
be extinguished."
they lighta fire which can nevermore
Catherine, although she did not know it,was
busy storing
fuel for the flames.
The marriage-compactonce
signed by
oneself up

ecclesiastical affairs.

Jeanne, arrangements for the

had
dispensation

without

to do

induced

June 4

It

she

Blois and
the

was

fell ill ;

pair of gloves,or,
from

an

end
the

on
as

some

Italian hosier and

patronage,

was

on

of

the

Paris

to

go

when

May

9th

she

say,

was

juncture that Jeanne

at this

was

prepare for the

she got there ; on

died.

Legend

necklet,

that

perfumer,whose
opposite the
quays
"

had
a

given her

chill,that

that
any

Jeanne

tells of

she

Louvre.

had

present. What

been

there,

is known

or

was

royal
But
such

that Catherine

there ; but no
that Catherine

is that she

and that
inflammation|followed,
142

there

bought

shop,under

"

shows

was

to

legend,as often, spoke false. It was true that

that its owner
artist in poisons
was
a shop
an
bought perfumes,perhaps gloves and necklets
evidence

The
apace.
still resolved

on

yet arrived,but Charles

It

it.

leave

to

wedding.

not

went

ceremony

when

caught
her body

she

examined

was

THE

AND

COLIGNY

found

was

She is not the firstperson who

NETHERLANDS

be far gone in
has lived unconscious
to

consumption.
of the mortal

so

devouring her, and, under the circumstances, her death,

to be
bound
ascribed
advantageous to the Catholics,was

to

poison.

ill

need

be

not

Death
s;tid

minister

the

Life is wearisome/' she

'*
bedside
from
youth
my

her

at

one

"

to her.

unwelcome

not

was

to

sins of the Court, this

the many
among
laid at their door.

But

"

for sorrow,
misery." Her only cause
from
her
children.
the separation
Her
she told him, was
her
with
around
she
them
mts
were
weeping
reproved
for
her
She
sent
some
daughter and gave her
asperity.
her will. She spoke with
She made
of lucid counsel.
words

suffered

upwards,I have

"

clearness

her wonted

to

up

of her life.

the last hour

So, at forty-two years of age, died Jeanne de Navarre,

hated
Puritan, Humanist, and Stateswoman, a Stoic who
endowed
with
the
mind, but not
asceticism, a woman
She had
the heart, of a man.
nothing feminine except
but
her sex/' Tavannes
perhaps he hardly realized
says;
"

much

how
weak

brilliant

but

disillusioned her
for

her

"

sex

husband

implies. Her passion for

who
cruellybetrayed

filled all the

the

But

love

"

word

the

son.

strongest
Next

to

first years

feelingof
that

came

of
her
her

her
lite

the
and

hood.
womanwas

reverence

her

for

who

really influenced her. If he

if force, faith and intellect had joined hands
and she
and
ruled France
together,Protestantism
might have prevailed.
But itwas written that it could not be.
uous
They and their strencreed alike were
repugnant to the self-preserving
gay
French temperament.
Killed by invisible poisonsmore
deadly
than any drugged perfumes,Jeanne and her cause
lay dead.
Coligny, the

only

man

"

"

It was

before the massacre

not three months
of St. Bartholomew.
The contemporary mentions of the event are most conventional,
but there is one
of them which is not
the picturepaintedby
the woman
who was
to have been her daughter-in-law.
It shows
"

of

feeling
except a malice which death could not quench ;
and a scorn
for the simplicity
of Protestantism
which makes
us
than any theological
argument why it was
grasp more
that Princes and Princesses clungso tenaciouslyto Catholicism,
with its splendidparaphernalia
and its courtlyetiquette.
Madame
de Nevers
Duke,
(the widow of the murdered
sort

no

"

Francois
the

de

Guise,

lady whose

now

temper

married
you

know
M3

to

well

the
"

Due

de

Nevers),

(Margueritewrote),

THE

LATER

came

with

"

de Guise
sistersand
in

YEARS
Monsieur

duty

Cardinal

owed

we

there

and

DE'
de

the

Princesse

de Conde, her
of the late Queen of Navarre

to her

both

"

between

was

rites of

honourably

rank

and

of the

to the relationship

Not, however, with

us.

religion,but

our

MEDICI

Bourbon, Madame

might acquit ourselves

we

that

that
pomps
show

the

Madame
(Henri'swife),
myself, to the Hotel

Paris, that

last

CATHERINE

OF

with

the

the

meagre

permitted by Huguenotterie. She lay in her ordinary

bed, the curtains open without tapers,without priests,
without
Cross

Holy Water, and, for

stood at five or six paces

us, we
the rest of the company,
only lookingat her.
de Nevers, whom, when she was
alive,the Queen hated

or

from

her bed with

Madame

than

more

earth

on

anyone

ill-will and

in

returned

both

with what

skill she could

I say,

our

that lady richly

feeling

ill-words

and

"

to those she
and

group,

her

could
and

placeamong
the

value

The

else of which

detested) she,
"

several

splendid,

lonelyQueen
the world

trappingsof
at

came

an

no

"

Protestant

death-bed,passing

lived in it,without

she had

hatred,

of the

any

existence.

The loss of the

It

as

their

worth."

her sober

upon

had known

epitome of the bitterness

it brings out something
But
notion
the austere dignity

it were,

writer had

to

near

who

we,

times.

of the
the

came

at its true

scene

hollowness

from

And

us.

affair is,as

whole

of the

curtseys she

with

know

you

the bed, and,

deep
taking the Queen's hand, she kissed it ; then, with another
deep curtsey, wondrously full of respect,she returned and
took

humble

in

them

use

forth from

stepped
and

(thewhich

Queen of Navarre

The

Huguenots,

thought them.

We

he

when

moment

was

looked

have

Coligny
.

disillusioned and

was

know,

we

terribleblow to

not

were

at their

what

positionas

he
a

pressed.
dehad

whole,

viewed

in which Coligny
it is interesting
to glanceat the way
them.
It seemed
to him, as to Correro, that the bulk

had

real wish

for moral

He

that

and

now

no

dogma.

over

violent

were

of Exodus

and

used

and

only cared

to

faithful ;

remained

some

all the bitter

persecutionand
psalms

saw

reform

quarrel

suffering
; singing

hardshipsof homelessness

by the wayside. But

their tenets

as

quite as

many

cloak for lawlessness.

of them
used arquebuses for bells
that some
significant
to summon
to Preches in their privatehouses ;
their congregations
while every Northern
piratecould call himself a Protestant
It

and

was

find

Admiral

home

;had

in

another

all-embracing
cause

for

144

La

Rochelle.

sadness.

The

And

the

popularity

NETHERLANDS

THE

AND

COLIGNY

passed; religiousexcitement had grown

of Calvin's creed had
of nations, had
Anti-Puritan
tired,
stale,and France, most
he
looked
outside
his
When
it seemed, of Protestantism.
as
country, the

own

Elizabeth

due

"

to
"

had

Orange

them

weakened

that

the

very

risk

all

best

to

when

moment

against Spain.
"

inexplicablehesitations

his

of
disorganization

the

to

divisions

and

of

Prince

the

Even

at

prepared

was

him.

not

in the Netherlands

King

French

the

greatly encourage
England jealous,doing its

duplex and

was

France

thwart

did

aspect

and

"

the

Protestants,
had

he

sects

in his

cooled

Coligny. In Paris,too, all was inimical. The

Clergywere denouncingthe liberalpolicyof the King the Jesuits
their
him from the pulpit. "If," darkly hinted
threatened
still
he
also to Charles
SpecialPreacher
preacherSorbin
ther,
of the elder broallowed the marriagewith Navarre, the rights
Esau, would probablybe givento Jacob." The King grew
of this,joined to his own
The sense
alarmed.
weariness,
seriously
for
not
unable
to face
were
encouraging
Coligny. Meanwhile,
ing.
despondency,Charles tried to drown low spiritsin mad huntDid the Admiral
begin to apprehend that, in spite of
all
master
not
was
good instincts and affection,his young

bearingtowards

"

"

"

"

dreamed

that he had
in

; that

the

would

he

made

the

The

to

believed

letters of

of

A few weeks

come.

France

later,Catherine

sounded

the whole

weakness.

warning which

"

reassuring. Remember
obeys Thou shalt not

flowed

in to

the commandment

Colignywere
that every

not

Papist

faith

with a heretic," wrote

an
keep
correspondent. If you are wise, you will get away
quickly as you can from this infected sewer, the Court."
all such monitions, Colignyhad but one
"It is
answer.
"

"

unknown

better," he said,

"

to

die

perpetualsuspicion.As
longenough."
In

this sad

the end
his wife

of
was

frame

June

; the

of

hundred

mind

home

he

anywhere,

his

and

wrote

spiritwould
him.

"

He

went

of his heart
to

them, for Jacqueline

was

illness overtook

deaths

I have

for me,

there to comfort

awaited
if

salvation

alreadypictured,which

scene,

of Charles's

depth

the

be

never

fuller disappointment
was

as

loved and

his hopes ; that, independable,

incapable of realizing

was

unsound,

To

he had

boy

find
would

his wife to Renee

145

than

been

on

the

to Chatillon.

minister,and

earth

It

in full

was

live in

to

was

beauty,

ness
happi-

new

child.

Here,
expecting
healing. At first,serious
a

have

made

of Ferrara,

"

had

better
he not
L

covery,"
re-

had

THE

YEARS

LATER

OF

CATHERINE
State affairs and

of headbreakings
infinity

an

"

But

alike."

anxieties

these

MEDICI

DE'

only served

affairs

Church

fresh

furnish

to

her devotion, and, as he grew better,peace returned.

and reading,
Here, in his birthplaceat Chatillon, strolling
"
his
College,"
talkingwith wife and children,superintending

proof of

have

we

dwelling
look

can

last

the

life,one
For

day
sleep

of which

of

pen

flowed

allowed

other

like many

The

has
garden-alleys,

he

last, and

the

of that Francois

son

in his

him

with

is

detail.

at it in

him, the

knew

it

because

on

It is worth

picture of Coligny.

serene

who

one

we

probably
walked

had

who

Hotman
chronicled

of his

the tenor

like another.

on

himself
he

great men,

because

hours

seven

most, and,

at

His

sparingin his diet.

was

privateprayers followed his waking ; and every other day he

had
a
family service,with that singingof psalms which he
After that, deputiesfrom the churches, publicaffairs
loved.
For him this
of all sorts, took him up until the dinner hour.
meal was
function, a feast of brotherlylove. All
a Christian
the servants gatheredround the table,at the head of which he

wife.

his

Soldiers

stood

with

of the

field,dropped in often

there; and

daughter, Louise, and

guests, and,
grace

said ;

was
a

morning

or

amid

even

good

minister
at

the

There

not

imprintedwith
all who

gave

that

met

him.

to

write

always

was

newly married

His

Teligny,were
great Huguenot

to

Paris.

dear
camp

few

innate
The

to

the

he

never

of his

psalm

the cloth
A

benediction.

but

were

two

or

Odet.

followed, and,

evening was
hardshipsof

for

day.

talk

and

some

his way

on

minister

husband,

seldom,

more

stop there

would

her

boys, Francois

his

friends

captains,old

and

constant
who

noble
was

drawn,
withmeal

common

Admiral's

at

heart

liked to miss

practiceswhich

courtesy which

it

were

endeared
took

sung

once

him

his

daily
of fraternityand
habits as their model, and
his meals
of
the country-side.
equalitybecame the custom
when
others
retired to sleepthat Coligny
It was
probably
to

found

time

Germain, he had

never

Huguenot gentry

his Memoirs.
let

day

-Since the
go

by without

Treaty

of St.

notingin

his

during all the years of

diary the thingsworthy of memory
the religious
after his death, they were
troubles."
When,
recorded,
greatestfoes," it was
brought to the King, his
of the sweetness
were
compelled to admiration, by reason
and its deep tranquillity."
tion,
Kindness and moderaof his spirit
inborn
the power
of spreading peace
an
simplicity,
"

"

"

146

him, these

about
of

man

farmstead,

or

Job should

"

that, and

much

so

as

Commentary
Perhaps his piety

Calvin's

hand.

his

far from

seldom

it, were
upon
most
showed

not

"

Never

"

and

he called it

as

"

surprisingthat the Book of

favourite reading his great consolation,

his

been

have

recognized.

"

life it is not

his troubled

In

best

was

this

home

at

of earth."

singlefoot

which

by

his chronicler

gain riches," says

he

did

marks

the

were

NETHERLANDS

of conviction

and

war

THE

AND

COLIGNY

in his preparationfor the Lord's

impressively
Supper. He taught his household himself, and would gather
all his family togetherto make
up any difference that there
I would
rather be alone in the
them.
might be among
"

world," he said,

subjectof

the

To
his

"

than

feed and

the Sacrament

clothe

itself he had

meditations, fearless of

deepest

train of evil men."

the

for years
goal to which
he

Once, in earlier times, when

brought him.

given
they

about

was

to

receive it,he proclaimedthat he denied the Real Presence and

The Calvinist talked
demanded
a discussion with the minister.
for

ended

long time of the mysticalnature

by taking the Communion

of the service,and

great humility. In

in

later years he could hardly have done

tenets of certain Swiss Protestants and

Supper only
in

as

remembrance

holy meal
his

of

latitude of creed among

There
must
have

of

so, for he

believed

to
fellowship,

Saviour.

We

the Protestants

Coligny

be

adopted

his

the

in the Lord's

partaken of

find, indeed,

more

than

generally
appears.
something singularly
persuasive
about this man
of thought and action, which only grew with
his years.
His voice was
low and pleasant,
but his speech
was
He
of middle
was
something slow and halting.
stature, his step,his gestures,showed a fitness and a gracious
been

"

...

gravity.

The
.

and

calm

was

He

called back
with

the

start,one

of his cheeks

red ;

was

his face

serene."
left

not

was

colour

Court.

to

result

same

in peace.
Early in August he was
Letters of warning again reached him,
before.
As he mounted
his horse to

long
as

of his

"

Ah,
peasants fellupon his knees before him.
Monsieur, ah, my good master," he cried, why do you go
"

to your

You

ruin ?

will die

I shall

there,you

never

and

see

again if you reach Paris.

those who journeywith you."
you

all

Coligny rode off. He did not return again to Chatillon. '

It was
duringthis sojournthere that Catherine had arranged
her successful coup de theatre at Montpipeau, and she had
further utilized his absence

to

clinch her

147

influence

over

her

LATER

THE

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

When

Coligny,ignorantof these events, reached Paris,

he found an unexpected state of things a cold welcome
and
of
The
his
an
reason
summons
was
estranged sovereign.
Catherine
had
convened
cil
Counan
one.
a
important
military
the question of the war.
to determine
When, on August
in
its midst, its conclusions
were
9, Coligny arrived
all
its
members
Catholic
were
terly
bitnobles,
alreadyforegone ;
opposed to any expeditionhe might command,
although
the
them
chances
that
of
the
scheme
saw
splendid
many
offered and would gladlyhave taken part in it,had its leader
been one
of themselves.
Coligny,unconscious of their hatred,
in the confidence of the King's support, and
appeared serene
son.

"

of

successful

He

issue.

amazed

was

project which

he

the

at

unanimous

had

regarded as settled.
Since the contrary opinion to mine
Turning to Charles
to tell you," he said,
the day,I have nothingmore
hath won
opposition

to

"

"

"

but

it.

certain beforehand

am

that

And

you will live to repent of

be offended
that, having

Majesty must not

your
promised service and aid to the Prince of
But

word.

my

him, with my

it shall be with

person."

own

upon

relations and servants, if needs

own

His

eyes
"

Catherine.

God

to adventure

the

another

the which

took

from

his leave
wrote

no

the Venetian

by
Spain
"

"

war.

and

King's face

Assure

with

grant that

he will have

no

he be not

more.

envoy

as

the

When
to whether

break

power

my

selves
themrefuses

overtaken

was

by
He

questioned

intended

Signory,"she answered,

"

help

cible,"
courage is invinthe Council, and

Catherine
she

with

fixed

to retreat."

"

fearless

courage

be

Majesty,"he continued,

dignity. His
Walsingham to Burleigh after

needed

man

left the
His

not

friends that I will

own

my

Orange,I do

"

that not

war

with

onlymy

tion."
words, but their results,shall prove the firmness of my resoluhe might
Had
Coligny been subjectto presentiments,
sealed.
that his doom
have known
was

148

VIII

CHAPTER

Admiral's

THE

and

the

held

firm

"

The

with

So wrote
together."
after Coligny's return
his scheme
was
hope

spell,
His

long.
Argus-eye,

old
he

was

He

Charles.

in

faith

day.

every

house

keeping

Granvella,

do

to

long
unwilling to give up
could
he finally
; nor

to

heart

his

nothing
him

be

to

seem

He

near

have

is with

agent

Paris.

too

his

abandon

to
"

Court

French

to

"

resolve

the

will

Admiral

the

and

Admiral

the

he

that

says

but

Netherlands,

the

mother's

wonted

war.

constantly

King

Indeed

the

about

last

not

his

under

although,

the

worked

at Court
presence
did
King's coldness

revived,

warmth

Vermeilles

Noces

Les

made

not

for

excuses

"

is his Bible."
Machiavelli
King," he said,
One
day he pressed him again to take his courage in both hands
with
and
resolve
war
Spain. The
King laughed and
upon
On
begged for a few days' grace to frolic and to rollick in."
I will not
faith
Paris
as
a
budge from
King," he said,
my
And
he
until
I have
lieved
utterly contented
probably beyou."
that before
his own
the day was
words, hardly conscious

him.

Look

the

at

'*

"

"

Catherine

over

passed

would

her

his

"

it seemed

moment

fall vacant.

soon

him.

various

to

open

cherished
the
to

But
the

impulsively,
will

have

now

straight
was

out

rash

who
none

that

Anjou

himself

remark

have

does
because

would
of

gain

the
and

151

gerously
danno

then

heir
be

prize

and

rule

unwilling
exclaimed
Monsieur,"
Coligny
of England
none
by marriage,
desire

it

would

Catherine's

was

by election, well, then,

not

that

was

leave

had

try to
At

King

would

one

back

Admiral

of Poland

crown

was

hung

If

of Poland
he

it

should

Anjou

would

the

that

ever.

the

died,

for

and

that

"

than

supervened,

competition

prospect.
"

had

the

throne

the

that

death

did

Nor

word

every

franker

was

Queen

if his

of him

out

Coligny.

claimants,

schemes

Poles.
face

The

got

tongue
probable
The

ill,and,
behind

and

him

between

propitiate

have

was

to
a

leave

true

one.

let him

France."

Coligny

say
This
saw

THE

that,

OF

CATHERINE

before, Anjou's game

as

to

was

DE'

MEDICI

near
keep jealously

the

of his brother.

person

The

knowledge that

he

found

was

love for the Admiral.

Duke's

and

againsthim
mother, and
noticed
had

YEARS

LATER

as

as
suspicious

in his

I," he wrote

three

or

did not

increase the
bitter
already
enough
"
Catherine.
The Queen, my

He
"

out

was

Confession/'

four times that when

had

the Amiral

the King, as
privilyentertaining
the conferrings
between'
long were

been

"

already

de Chatillon

often

happened
those two
(and very
quite
alone) if,then, when the Admiral had left him, my mother
I approached the King to discuss affairs,or even
or
only
cold and
pleasureswith him, we would find him wondrous
with
brow
and
And
a rough countenance.
lowering
stormy,
"

once

I had

when

he

that

answer

asked

where

in his

was

forth after

had

he

and

was

some

one

Closet, whence

Privy
long time

had

made

the Admiral

with him alone, I went

justcome
in suddenly,as usual.
But as soon
brother saw
as
me,
my
in
without speakinga word, he began to stride up and down
fury,often looking at me askance and with a very evil eye,
sometimes
layinghis hand on his dagger in so hostile a fashion
that I expectedhe would seize me
by the neck and stab me.
best to keep my
I did my
head.
And
for that he
And
so
of walkingand this strangecountenance,
continued this manner
For I thought of
I felt sore perturbedat having come
there.
I thought of getting
the danger in which I stood, but stillmore
I
effected
which
with
such
good skill that while he
; the
away
paced,with his back turned towards me, I swiftlyretreated to
the door.
Opening it,and with a shorter bow than that at my
entry,I made my exit,hardlynoticed by him tillI was out. Yet
could

I not

make

it

so

sudden

but

that he found

the time

to

without speaking,
glances,
or
doing aught else. Nor did I do aught to him exceptingto
and wish myself joy on my
close the door softlybehind me
I went
to find the QueenBut that same
moment
escape.
had joined
I told the whole ; and when
we
Mother, to whom
had heard,
and
this last meetingto all the rumours
we
suspicions
it was
each of us, so to speak,felt certain that the Admiral
we
the
who
had imprinted evil thoughts concerning us
upon
King."
This was
enough for Coligny. And grave warnings
perilous
The hands which are preparing
came
againfrom his friends.
that made
the hands
themselves
for you," says one,
are
the massacre
of Vassy." Once more
Colignyurged the goodthrow

me

two

or

three

more

baleful

"

"

152

of the

ness

the

or

than

^ed through the mud

than

any

"

But

rather," he cried,"be

I would

no,

"

him,

Fleurs-de-lys."

of the

seat

danger

there be

Whether

more

called

benign,"he

"

King

mounted

have

who

VERMEILLES

NOCES

LES

civil

again see

in

the

; and

the

war

d."
alliance with

An

of

rumour

signedthis

England was

matrimonial

union, of Alencon's

this

month

prospects,

now
of the marriage with Navarre, which was
stillmore
imminent, filled Alva with wrath and disappointment. The
threatened, and, had
to be seriously
fortunes of Spain seemed
Colignybeen rightlysupported,the sovereigntyof France in

and

might have

the Netherlands

been

somethingmore

than

dream.

it was, Alva, who, like

in his despondency to
went

Catherine, believed in necromancy,

"
He
the future.
would
be restored

to

As

had

by magic
"

verrait mcrveille!

not

was

Alva's

quitegone by

not

; before

weeks

two

had

the world

seen

the

out

were

returned, and

courage

about

M his luck

the answer,

fear," was

when

he consulted

whom

wizard

on

fortnight
massacre

of St. Bartholomew.
IX

Charles
him

with

to stave

between

full of

was

which filled
spasmodicpresentiments
he
could think of
The only expedient

vague alarm.
to force an officialreconciliation
off impending evil was
and Henri de Guise, who had, six years
the Admiral

He
was
Blois, refused to give the kiss of peace.
in Paris,for the Guises had made a pretextof the ing
approachimmense
in
with
and
to
town
had
an
force,
come
wedding

earlier at
now

motley retinue of beggars and poor gentlemen,adventurers

who had nothingto lose by committing crime.
bravos,men

and
and

well within reach, Duke

so
vengeance
indeed more
to play the hypocrite it was
With

"

hand.
he

That

might

in

murder

and, with

form

The

would

he

meet

either from

chief

heart, he

his

gave

Catherine
be

the

do

so

Admiral

"

his

designs
any
felt
dent.
confihe

Anjou,
get the consent

of the

confidence

in the

or

to

could afford

to
politic

oppositionto

no

would
difficulty

Henri

King.
The

had

Spanish Catholics,however,

French

confederates.

French

will still play

GranveOa.

The

"

us

Venetian

very

am

false,"ran
envoy

no

afraid

much
letter

also wrote

that

tffrom Paris
ing
anxiously concernsen

the
to

gathering,as he
reports of Protestant
troops, who were
the frontier. Alva
heard, upon
angrilysent an agent to
inquireinto the meaning of this,and war with Spainagaindid
not

seem

unlikely.Had

the

Englishmarriagethen appeared
153

THE

LATER

probable,a
and

YEARS

OF

Protestant

all would

have

alliance would

of

she

peace

destruction,and

have

She

resources.

for

was

the hand

been

more

But

all around

her.

And

it

was

she

still

; still dallied

"

herself and

the verge
only road

The

safetylay, she believed, in assassination.

when
to shape the how
refused to formulate
or

spair
de-

near

on

Coligny.

not

was

Catherine

very

to

with

necessity,

and

was

once

of

MEDICI

the moment

changed.
clearly
drawing back

strove

by

DE'

But

been

propitious
; Elizabeth was
thrown
her own
was
on
; the

CATHERINE

this power
of
until they were

eludingfacts, of waiting to give them body

close upon her, of temporizingtillshe could find some
other on
whose
shoulders to bind the burden
which
of responsibility,
her
but
countenance
To
made her
actions.
own
her,theywere
deeds

of convenience.

them

saw

with

ugly as they were

as

allowed

herself to

the

sense

life. And

now

true

or

she committed
after

"

them.

at

her

of fear that

Her

her

been

kind of

; every

never

it did not

But

all

curse

panic.

rumour

untrue, these reports had

never

over, she

great preoccupation

to all else.

had

them, she

theywere

she lived in constant

full of dread

was

look

blinded

the moment

away

Before

The

through her
atmosphere

in the air.

was

take

; they were
significance

And,
the

rumbling before the storm.

"The
wedding will be blood-red," said the people of Paris,
as
they watched the entry into the city,first of the Guisards,
then of the Huguenots, who
flocked there not
only from
all parts of the

Navarre, but from

country. The

Catholics

"

important were lodged round about their leaders,

while the Huguenots, owing to lack of room,
were
obligedto
could took up their
resort to scattered lodgings. As many
as
abode
in the Faubourg Saint-Germain, but it was
not nearly
largeenough to harbour them all.
and

this is

And

the

"

citizens themselves

fanatical,and
The

shopmen

they

now

shut up

seemed

their

Their

if

as

shops,the

ceased to work, exceptingthe armourers

busy trade. There was a clankingof
"

grim

music

for the streets

of the Merchants

conditions
hundred

and

and

burghers.

All

was

leave

to

in

was

always

waiting for something.

and

merchants
who
arms

alone

from

citizens

pliedtheir

their smithies

populace. The Provost

King againstthe existing
Paris, together with five

the

protested to the
threatened

temper

disarrayand

the

citywas

ready

the town, made,

sung about
it
probably,the winter before,which best shows the humour
in.
was
for action.

There

was

ballad

154

VERMEILLES

NOCES

LES
Paris,

les nuictz

Que
Tu

aupres
brief tu

ceulx

que

tu

souffres

tu

de

tant

causeront

Que

les chrestiens

n'auront

Jamais paix
Car

des presches.
depesches,

toy

les

ne

ceulx

tous

sur

tombez

tiens

et

courroux

diras, toy et les tiens

Montaignes,

fresches,

et

longues

de

font

Qui
Si de

Te

sont
vieiller

bien

doy

froidureux

temps

ce

en

dessus

nous.

*****

vollerie

Leur

fault

tant

Qu'il ne
Non
plus qu'au
Mais
Et

les tuer
faire

Et

les

confondre

au

Puysqu'ilz n'ont
Selon
Teglisede

temps froidureuxhad

The

diable

et

hard

estrangler,

puisse sangler,
de

centre

vouloir
St.

se

terre,

regler

Pierre.

passed,but

the vogue
upon Paris.

dog-dayshad come
for the wedding went
preparations

stilltarried and

noblesse,

leur

egard,

had not, and the

The

egard
a

nul

sans

pendre

la mort

Que

nul

villains,d'une

comme

Les

blesse,

nous

avoir

on,

but

of the song
the

tion
dispensa-

had

yet made his appearance.

messenger
dinal
Catherine tried to persuade the Court
favourite, the Carde Bourbon, to officiatewithout it,but the Cardinal made
That old bigot,with all his tomfooleries,'said
difficulties.
is wastinga great deal
to the Admiral,
Charles,half laughing,
no

"

'

"

good time that reallybelongsto ma grosse soeur, M argot."

Charles liked to show
All through the transactions with Rome
his anti-Papal
a fact that did not
leanings,
help the Admiral, at
of

whose

door his heresies

laid.

were

The

Cardinal

did not

hold

and conveniently
longagainstthe force of royal persuasion,
got rid of his scruples.There remained but one anxiety: lest,
adverse answer
should arrive from
before the proceedings,
an
out

the Vatican
determined
you

August
King, you
past."

put

end

an

prevent, and

to

this hurried

on

be

and

"

to

them.

she took

her

This

Catherine
"

measures.

was

I send

of Lyons,
word," she wrote to the Governor
to tell you that, as you love the service of the

13,
will let

There

no
was

post through from

one

who

would

Rome

have

until

Monday

welcomed

the

Pope'srefusal it was only the bride herself. To the last she

kept the orthodox view, but her piety may not have been
unconnected
with the image of Henri de Guise.
Meanwhile, a few days before the ceremony,
the bridegroom
"

155

LATER

THE
arrived

clothed

"

friends.

was

no

DE'

and

followed

MEDICI

by

many

him in state ; every form was

of delay for Marguerite
chance

more

she could not

old love attended

The
the

that

CATHERINE

to meet

came

There

she knew

OF

deep)mourning

in

Charles

observed.
"

YEARS

escape her fate.

her to the altar and

saw

her united to

August 18, the wedding took place with

of fanatical Paris,
great magnificence. Charles, uncertain
had
forestalled any possibledanger by spreadingabroad
a
report that the dispensationhad arrived. The Huguenots,
too,
"

For

new.

content, and, to the outward

were

The

King
"

on

of Navarre

smooth.
eye, all was
his suite/'wrote his bride in after

and

changed their mourning for exceedingrich and

sumptuous apparel,and all the Court was dressed out as you
know.
robed in royalfashion, with a crown
and a
I was
bodice ;
cape of spottedermine which covered the front of my
i
n
and I shone with the crown
and
jewels
glistened my wide
blue mantle, with its four yards of train which were
borne by
three princesses.The platform was
decked as is the custom
at the weddingsof the Daughtersof France, all hung and draped
with cloth of gold,from the Bishop'sPalace to Notre Damewhile the peoplesuffocated below, in their efforts to see all the
Court
and the wedding procession
pass alongthe platformto the
church."
The King Charles's dress and cap and daggermatched
the rest in splendour,
and cost a largefortune in themselves
five hundred
to six hundred
thousand
accordingto
crowns,
the Venetian
And
Ambassador.
Anjou, not to be outdone,
his
of twelve
wore
hat, each one
two-and-thirtypearls in
carats' weight. One
hundred
and twenty ladies and
more
of
rich
with
the
followed in gleaming array,
glory
bright
and
brocade
stitched with
tissues and
velvet of gold
days,

had

...

"

"

silver."
It had

Mass, nor

been
to

de

Bourbon

the

pair,as

agreed that

cross

Dame, and the Cardinal

us," wrote
Margot, married
they knelt before him, outside the great Western
well until the bride had to make
and
She obstinatelyrefused to open her mouth
the ceremony
could not have gone on, had not
All went

upon her head and

this strange service

laid his hand

affirmation.

neither to hear

received

"who

"

her responses.
say" yes,"and

King

bridegroom was

the threshold of Notre

door of the church.

the

the

While

Huguenot Coligny,to

avoid

forced her to bend

was

it,remained

with the Constable's heretical son, Damville.

the Nave
hung the banners of Jarnac and

156

in

the
proceeding,

inside the

building,

Upon the walls of

Montcontour, and

"In

companion.
will be

short

and

down

torn

Their solitude did not

to see."

by others, better

ed

his

to

"these
passionately,

lie said

"

them

showed

the Admiral

VERMEILLES

NOCES

LES

last

the

shadowy aisles.
had spoken the
the Cardinal," continued Margot,
words outside,we walked again along the platform as
flooded

opalinebridal throng

the

"

When

"

wonted
far

here there

Choir

ie

out

bring you

other to

the

steps,the

two

were

Choir,

then led

was

the Mass

she heard

betook

and

church

left the

rre

She

of the church."

High Altar, where

the

to

into the

leadingdown

one

And

the Choir.

from

divided the Nave

pulpitwhich

the

as

to the

himself

Bishop's Palace, where he paced up and down

Coligny until the Catholic rite should be concluded

with

of the

of

gentlemen followinghim,

his

some

strolled

others

the

"

the Nave.

about

the

feasts and

The

the

while

court

Catholics

and

have

well

while
clad

acted

as

were

Anjou, who

sent them

and

recrossed

other in

each

But

ballets.

gorgeous

the

than
something more
of royaldevisingand the Guises
In the
Mystere
produce them.
half of the Court was
one
playing,
meant

and Conde,
its audience, Navarre
into
a
paradiseof nymphs ; they

knights,came
unexpectedly driven

as

endless, and tedious with

of brilliance.
monotony

"

in which

other

the

were

helped to

de trots monies"

same

and

ominous

folly. They

and

may

at the

on

masquerades were
roses

crossed

Huguenots

dance, looked

the

were

splendour,making

of

tedium

pageants

back

to

hell

by

the

King

and

with the devils and then danced

to hobnob

nymphs, the bride herself of their number.

time the Huguenot Princes were
Turks (theTurks

the

away

with

And

another

had

justbeen

beaten

were

Amazons

who

Lepanto),and
conquered them

at

the

King

and his brother

the

before

applauding

courtiers.

Colignywas

doubtless

of the

shows, and

weary

But

the Protestant

she must

not

heartsick and
spectator. He was
only longed to go home to his wife.

Churches

expect him

had

yet.

He

begged him
had

to

written

stay in Paris
to her

"

"

for the

last time.
"

"

My dearest,my well-beloved Wife

(theletter ran)
To-day was completed the marriage of the King'ssister
with the King of Navarre.
The next three or four days will be
and ballets
passed in pleasureand in banqueting,in masques
and tourneys ; after which, the King (so he assures
me) will
"

157

YEARS

LATER

THE

which

days

several

give up

OF

to the

hearingof the divers complaints

of the
kingdom by reason
parts
In which

violation of the Edict.

to

will the

I shall

see

you,

delay so

care

much

very

And

and

t"

although I have

duty

both

of

feel

us

departure but

from

th(

this business.

upon

off my

week

constrained

am

should

we

put

to go forth next

get leave

matter

power.
I think

if I failed in

strong remorse
Nor

of my

to the utmost

greatest wish

MEDICI

DE'

of his

arise in many

labour

CATHERINE

this

thai

Were

city.

onlyto consult my own needs, I had far rather be with you than
and that for the reasons
that I
sojournlonger here at Court
last we
were
together. But we must think of
gave you when
the publicgood before we think of privatehappiness. I shall
I see you, the which joy I
have other thingsto tell you when
desire day and night. As for the rest, all that I can
write at
that
of
the
is
four
o'clock
this present
afternoon was past to-day
when the wedding Mass had been said. And in the meantime
and I strolled in a court outside the church
the King of Navarre
with certain gentlemen of our Religion.
And now, dearest
"

wife

well-beloved, I

and

pray

God

to

have

His

in

you

keeping.
"

amid

any

Paris

At

all these
"

On

of

and
feastings

least of all to

God."

that

of the

Paris.
any

this 18th

It was

post

day

same

from
leave

to

He

followed.

August, 1572.
I shall
gaieties,

for

anxious

was

not

marriage another

Charles to the Governor

France

Rest

assured

that

giveoffence

to

from

letter went

Lyons, to forbid
Italyduring the six days that

that

of

account

no

of the

heretical

wedding, either from the Nuncio or the Guises, should reach

until enough time had elapsed
for the arrival of an answer
Rome
if
he would
the dispensation
should fail,
from the Vatican, and,
But his politic
stoppage
givehis own version of the ceremony.
of the

posts,with the secrecy for France

destined

to

serve

other

that it ensured,

was

purposes.

II

Charles, like his mother, lived in panic. He

the Guises, surrounded
as
they were by their own
make

some

he asked

men,

that

would

his person.
it not be better,
Would
Coligny,to send for the Arquebusiersof his Guard ?

Coligny said
should

feared

do."

attempt
that he
He

on

"

knew

should
the

approve

danger
158

was

whatever

His

Majesty

for himself, not

for

NOCES

LES
Charles. Even
Mornay, had

then,

VERMEILLES

to lose

him

entreated

hour, his friend,Duplessis-

eleventh

at the

in

time

no

leavingParis.

refused.

He

eveningof August 21
same
night,while the

The
That

to close the

was

Louvre

wedding festivities.
ablaze with lightand

was

being danced, a stranger in

by. He
was
search of rooms
given shelter in a lodgingnear
hurried
at once
arrived very late with a companion, and was
the only
and a servant were
old woman
up the stairs. One
the
who
man
of the place. The
inmates
brought him was
ird of a Guise ; the house to which he came
belonged to
Guises; and

himself, it

found

he

in which

street

was

been

had once
de Villemur, who
the name
of the lodgerwas

Chanoine

the

last Pavane

the

Is and

for the

As

Tosinghi.
was

of the

tutor

well

one

known

his own
Hotel in the
Admiral, for it lay between
Bethisy, and the Louvre, and his dailyjourney took

to the

Rue
him

through it.
held next

morning, the 22nd, at the

with the King to
it was
over, Coligny walked
palace. When
the tennis-court,and leavinghim there with Guise and Teligny,
set off for his own
accompanied by a
apartments. He was
Royal Council

was

troop of friends,as
closer to him

than

nine or
as
many
the rest, a certain

called Pruneaux

one

his left.

on

despatch which had just been

of a shot rang through the air
Amid

"

noble

to

had
see

can

been

fired.

followers

rushed

the

stairs.

All that

ran

up

stable of the Guises

escaped

upon
examined

one

was

Nor

was

enough.

was

of their horses.

; it

the

was

Tosinghi'saim

the shot
window-sill,
not

the

would

in the marksman's

de

have

the ence
preswhich
he

from

At

Guise

made

his

house, forced
the
found
was

they

had

held it had

the house

later hour

; he had

the weapon

of

Anjou's guards.
impeded by the jutting
one

done

The

its work.

fault

will.

conceptionof the plot,which

wish of Henri de Guise had
original

mother, the widow

had

the

upon

behind

of
gun
been
not

it in the

The

Due

table ; he who

fell by his

"

His

when

sound

King, at once,"
sardonically,what a

with me."

had

The

Tell the

now," he added

arquebus, smoking still,

upon

And

'*

intended

fled ; the

him.

to

were

his

Coligny'sarm

was
fidelity

peace
the door,

was

and

on

two

right,and
slowly,reading

general consternation he alone

point to the window above him,

the gun

sure

he said.

walked

He

on

the

of mind
was

all,and

Querchy

handed

side.

in

ten

of the murdered
159

was

been

complete
that his

Duke, herself should

fire

LATER

THE

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

the shot, while the Admiral

was
the Nuncio, who
it is Salviati,

decided
mother.

should

do

person,

as

there

"

such had

taken

judged,to

we

of the hatred
for

seem,

him

attack

whom

all his

him,
made

him

she bore

Nemours

to

the

us

and

speech and

him."

to rid

selves
our-

manner

w(

the

"

could discover

whom

show

gestures,his

de

which
to

in what

out

we

'

Thenceforward,'

resolved

were

Madame

of the Duke's

day
"

Charles.

desired ;

we

the

place on

whom

Gascon,

having in fun made

probablybeen
Anjou and his

talks between

interview with

insane

had

There

were

it, togetherwith

reason

would

was

was

the Prince, in later times, " we

of the Admiral
and to seek

wrote

"

councils

One

strange and

in the

measures.
practical

more

on

several secret

by

crime

MEDICI

courtyard of the Louvre

records it. But this youthful
vetoed by the older counsellors wh"

"

taste for romantic

DE'

our

only

purpose,

They sent,

the deed, but

in which he would

entrust

manner

well

having
his

considered

expression,the which

our
laugh and were
pastime,we determined that
lightand scatter-brained,in spiteof his daringand
to sustain such an
enterprise."Soon after this

us

too

courage,

rightman
Catherine

the choice of the confederates

found, and

was

and

and

Anjou

Tosinghi.1
The King was
was
brought.

the Guises

"

his

"

he
his

the
of

the Florentine,

fell upon

still playingat tennis when

threw

it

Coligny's
message
"

in anger.

Shall
racquet
I never
have a moment's
he cried, with a violent
peace ?
oath.
Then
hurriedly leaving the tennis-court, he shut
himself up in his apartments, sending orders that his guards
He

down

"

should

turn

down

she

Catherine

When

palace.

all outsiders

away

to dinner.

and

rose

this that

she

Meanwhile

left the

the

had

sent

the

expectedit,"wrote
the

and

she

news,

calm

without

room

then

might

face remained

Her

Charles

Ambroise

heard

who

be

had

in

just sat

and

impenetrable

"

from

I suppose
word.
Spanish envoy to

Surgeon, the

Royal

the

Philip.

famous

all

to
suspicion,
Pare hastened to Coligny's
the Admiral.
lodgings. At first he
urged the amputation of the arm, because he thought that the
bullet might be poisoned. Colignyat once
acquiesced,but it

Pare,

found

was

"

So

Maurevel
was

that

Huguenot

the

half of which

says

the

(or Maurevert),

chosen.

But

the

shot away

Michieli.

Venetian

the assassin

last

man

would

measure

was

above

"

alone had

Many say
of Mouy.

French

man.

160

needless.

be

that

authorities

the

Others

to be

choice
assert

The

finger
fore-

sacrificed,
fell upon
Berne

that

give Tosinghi

as

the

NOCES

LES

VERMEILLES

operationwhich Coligny bore without

though it was without opium and with

an

groan, performed
inefficient pairof
and

attempts, Parens skill triumphed

After three

scissors.

an

he

his friends,
the bullet,his victim all the time consoling
"
who stood round bewailinghis sufferings. They are but God's
in
of those at hand,
one
Yes, sir,"replied
charities,"he said.

extracted

"

"

truth

sparingyour head and

Huguenot minister, dear

Him

thank

must

we

standing."
under-

for

to the
it Merlin, the
Was
Admiral, who said this ? We know that he was there,and that
Colignywhisperedto the man who held him duringthe operation

that Merlin should be told to givea hundred

in Paris.
behalf to the Huguenot Church

goldencrowns

on

made

thingsto think of ; they fellinto angry groups and

He overheard
voiced conjectures
as to his assailant.

other
low"

I have

do not

had

onlookers

The

his

them.

"

I
but the Guises," he said ;
all the same,
enemy
Some
assert that it was
they who struck the blow."
no

of those

started

him

near

"

their feet.

to

Let

us

and

go

Coligny sternly forbade

He
that prompted him.
them.
It was
not only Christianity
knew that any blood shed would mean
the ruin of the kingdom.
in those days must
of men
The nerves
have been different
from ours.
The rest of Coligny's
a
morning went in receiving
Guises," they cried.

kill the

and

series of visitors.

Navarre

chiefs among
Conde" went

Protestants

them.

Charles showed

added,

Again
"

About

the

orders

that
to

Admiral's
tended

should

will

the

Navarre

and

them.

King. They
peremptorilyrefused
attack upon Coligny

to

the

wounded

"

he

claimed.
ex-

"

and attack

come

soon

the

was

should

measures

death, would

no

be

King in

his

pretence.

taken

which

which, had

he

bed."

own

He

gave

most

duced
con-

desired

the

have

helped to hide his guilt,

gation
self-preservation
commanding that strictinvestinever

"

of

the

be

forbidden

him.

other

France," said Catherine, who was

her dramatic
They,"
power helped her.

Coligny'ssafety,and
to

first. The

of

King's anxiety,there

business

Colignyshould
round

followed

anger at the
"It IS J who am

It is the whole

by.
sitting

or

came

more

themselves.

they
"

she

Conde*

straightfrom the Admiral

permissionto leave Paris,which was

asked
than

the

But

He

be

should

be

made

that

the

that

citizens

the

Catholics

livingnear

dislodgedand the Huguenots

wisely. Accusations of the

concentrated

to

arm

did

Guises

and

If prompt and
Anjou were
being muttered in the streets.
not
ample justicewere
done," said the Huguenots,
they
would certainly
do it themselves."
All that day little bands
"

"

161

THE

YEARS

LATER

of them

were

seen

prowling round
palace the same

and

inside

the

King's dinner, too,

had

Charles
there

the

to

said,
forth

go

de

Marechal

The

last visitors that

MEDICI

the walls of the Louvre;

threat was
heard.
At

something that, doubtless,

Coligny'soffered then and
despatch the Due de Guise. The

and

Guises

the

were

none

the less in

Coligny's

Cosse\ Damville, Villars,were

He

morning.

spoke to
"

could not be far off.

he knew

which

DE'

upon
friend of

but
rejected,

proposalwas
danger.

CATHERINE

OF

them

I have

about

his

end,
fear of death,"

no

"

he said, but I
I have certain

greatlywish to see the King before I die. For

his person
things to tell him, which concern
his
State."
Damville
and
suggested that he should bring
his company,
this
word
of
and
Charles
desire,
Telignyproffering
The
the two set out for the Louvre.
King at once acceded,
and, at two in the afternoon,he started for the Rue Bethisy,
unfortunatelynot alone.
too prudent to allow that, and she, with his
Catherine was
two brothers, accompanied him.
Montpensier,Retz, Nevers,
tance.
Tavannes, all Coligny'sbitter foes, followed at a proper disIn the ante-room
salle-bassewhich

of the Admiral's

adjoinedit,the royalparty
did

Protestants, who

hundred

close up
around bore witness

Going

found

about

them

over

two
teously.
cour-

"

to

"

you have the wound,

with a round oath, " I
take

of it shall

receive

not

in the

and

King passed through them to the Admiral.

Mon
to his bed,
pere,"he said, and those

The

I do not

chamber

so

but I have
renounce

horrible
fade."

never

of his voice,
the perpetualpain." Then

the real love in the tone

my

salvation,"he went

vengeance
Catherine now

"

on,

if

that the remembrance

advanced
and added

turned to the King.

Admiral
to his. The
protestations
should deprive
he said, is that my wound
My only regret,"
of the happiness of working for your Majesty. Others

her
"

me

"

wished

have

to pass

Sire,the God
be my
your

off

as

rebel,a disturber of the peace.

seat I shall very shortlystand will

witness that all my life long I have been

before whose

judge and my
Majesty'simpassionedservant.

enemies

my

me

makes
the

me

it

no
means

will decide between

father
to your
fidelity
feel it my bounden
duty to implore you, with all
I have, not to lose the present opportunityfrom
and

me.

My

constant

urgency
which France
can

God

reap great advantage. The

it is begun. Do
discussed
If you
the peace of your kingdom.

may
longerbe

"

162

war

not

in Flanders

disown

it ;

stay your hand

YEARS

LATER

THE

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

If the Admiral
would
not come
to the
untiringin his care.
would
take
other
precautions. He set forth
palace,the King
he
that
would
his plan of
that lodgingsround
see
morning ;
found for his followers,
about Colignywere
that he might
so
encircled

be

Charles

his friends.

by

asked

He

his

take

to

rose

to

leave, but

speak with
and

by Catherine, withdrew

Coligny

him

stood

still dissatisfied

was

apart. The

in the middle

rest, led

of the

room.

The wounded
left alone with the Admiral.
man
spoke
in whispers. He bade him to reignby himself and always to
At this point Catherine
distrust his mother.
interrupted
He

was

Admiral

The

them.

of the
had

who

man

him

genius drove
She

be bad

would

excitement

talked
for him.

had

been

enough, she said; so much

The King took a last farewell
his good genius. His evil

away.

deceived

not

faith,he knew

had

Coligny;

the Louvre

what

in

would

spiteof

the

King'sgood
they had

After

mean.

"
*" The
man," he said, would be a fool,who would let
gone,
But his
himself thus be taken and trapped within four walls/'
de
over-sanguine'followers thought him safe. The Vidame
themselves
Chartres and Teligny showed
fident.
unexpectedly con-

When

ominous

reports reached
be

must

rumour-mongers
all they said.

silenced with

Perhaps they trusted over

The Huguenots had acquirednew
outside
at the outrage done them.
They were on

their

"

ears

"

These

sword-thrusts/'
much

to their friends

force from

the watch

truculent, and every hour lent them

grown
After the discovery about the gun, they even
Anjou aloud ; and, passingfrom their menace

was

their anger
; they had

fresh

audacity.

dared

to

of the

accuse

morning

the Hotel
demonstration, they surrounded
more
of
of Guise and that of his brother, Aumale, with bands
who threatened to attack them.
The Guises, for
armed
men
once
thoroughlyalarmed, called on the King to take up their
active

to

quarrel.
The

return

of the

royal party

was

no

smooth

one.

No

they on the road than Catherine began tormenting

her son with questions. Charles struggledin vain, like a bird
in the snare
; word
by word she tore the Admiral's speechfrom
him.
Unstrung though he was, he held out till they reached
sooner

were

Louvre.
he
Dieu !

the

Then

his

nerves

broke

"

down.

"

Eh

lien, mort

the
since you
will know, this is what
that all power had gone to piecesin your
Admiral said to me
of it." With this outhands, and that evil for me would come
"

cried,
"

164

NOCES

LES
the

burst
He

King

in

was

went

and

away,

of

state

VERMEILLES
shut

himself

frenzy borderingon

into his

room.

insanity. Already

to which
he had
distraughtby griefand fear, the inquisition
We
saw
been
subjected had added a last touch.
very
"
from
not
this
must
that
moment
we
s
aid
Anjou,
clearly,"
"

ste

gettingrid

in

time

more

"

in his chamber," he continued,

of the Queen-Mother, who
was
room
And
for that she could
beyond words.
tillnext

who

alreadyup.

head,

my

which

At

day.

was

some

had

she

Catherine

his heretics

had

dread

of

offended

and

that instant,
off the decision
at

mother,
my
in
hammer
heavy
find

to

went

as

been

had

wont
more

no

told

Spanish envoy

put

the

it were, a
determined
for the nonce,
we,
other to despatch the
means
or

had,

nothing,exceptingby

so

not,

King
to

she likewise ; and

and

and

time

Admiral."
Admiral

piqued

anything that helped,we

upon

The

withdrew

we

once

resolve

"

of the Admiral."

"

that

boast

to

the

power than the King,"

when she found out tJiat

Philip; now
underrated
she was
their strength,
penetrated with
what
they might do ; death alone, it seemed, would

silence them, and

death,

least,was

at

weapon

within

her

compass.

The

King'sdoings did not diminish her fears. He was pursuing

His
to organize
first step was
an
independentcourse.
the inquiry into
the attempt upon
he
the Admiral
; and
de
appointedfor this purpose a Commission, with the Politique,
Thou, as its first President,and the Admiral's friend,Cavaignes,
his helper. Nor did Charles stop here.
as
He had several of
the Guises' servants
far as
arrested and went
to menace
so
Henri de Guise, a fact which alarmed the Duke.
On Saturday
to Charles and begged
morning he and his brother Aumale came
"
his permission to leave Paris for a short while.
Go where

like," the King answered

roughly,and, as they withdrew
from his presence, " I shall know
well enough," he said," where
to find them
if they are guilty." The crafty Guises rode on
their way towards the Porte Saint-Antoine,but there, unseen
by

you

"

any,

theyturned

absence
out

was

but

back
a

and went

home.

stratagem to make

the

Their request for leave of

Huguenots believe them

of

reach, while they lay in hidinginside their own

houses.
Meanwhile the King, whom
they had hoodwinked, was much preoccupied
with
on

the

impressionthat

foreigncountries.

abroad

of the

England,"he

He

attempt
wrote

upon
to La

sent

the late events

word

to

make

all the Ambassadors

the Admiral.

Mothe-Fenelon,
165

would

"

Tell the
"

that I

Queen
am

of

deter-

THE

YEARS

LATER

mined

to do such awful

thereby take example

CATHERINE

OF

that
justice
;

every

and, added

MKDICt

DE'
soul in my

realm

will

thereto, to compel the

observance
from

I do not wish to keej

of my Edict of Pacification.
that this evil deed proceedsfrom the enmity between

you

the House

of Chatillonand

the House

affairs that

promptly order
they
in
subjects their quarrels.'

of Guise.

But

shall involve

none

I shall
of

S(

mi

"

It

thus that matters

was

it,they

went

within

the Louvre.

Outside

reassuring.The Huguenots, in hopes

of some
in dangerously
enterpriseagainst the Guises, were
of them,
high spirits.They grew over-confident, and one
Pardellan,who soughtadmission to the King'sCoucher, was fool
enough to start a brawl with one of the King's Guards who
refused to allow him right of entry. Pardellan's Huguenot
friends crowded
and
into the Tuileries Gardens
insolently
demanded
that justice
should be done him
as
a folly
regarded
their cause
and one
which imperilled
the Admiral.
Teligny,
at last alive to the danger, was
now
sent to beg the King for
a
guard to watch
Anjou who
Coligny'slodging. It was
with Cosseins at
responded. He despatchedfiftyarquebusiers
their head
to be a bitter
Cosseins, who was
publiclyknown
of the Admiral's.
The Huguenots were
impotentagainst
enemy
Outside
this move
to keep on the alert.
was
; their only course
foes were
conscious of perils
not their only ones
they were
not

were

more

"

"

"

nearer

home.

Navarre

and

Conde

were

closelybound
confidence, and they

both too

with
up with royalty to inspirethem
mistrusted them enough to make
them

signa pledgethat they

would
the evil done to Coligny.
avenge
It was
upon all these doings(on August 22-23) that rumour
took a definite form.
Word
reached the Queen-Mother that an
organizedconspiracyof the Huguenots was to be carried through
in a few days'time : that on August 26 (somesay the 30th)she,the
King and allthe royalfamilywere to be attacked and done away
with.
false as such reports
The report was
almost certainly
as
based upon
are
apt to be
exaggerationof the violent threats
of the Protestants.
evidentlymeditatingrevenge
They were
the Guises, but it is most
on
improbable that they were
formal scheme.1
Walsingham,
planning any largerand more
No
existence.
did
more
a
not credit its
clear-eyedwitness,
"

The

notion

rejectedby

of

modern

conspiracy headed
historians

as

by Coligny has

absurd, and

here.

166

need

been

not

be

definitely
gone

into

Tavannes,

had
after the massacre,
plothad been discovered

Queen,"

of all that

cause

/ believed

what

enough

the

been

The

she

could

Where

her to be

To get

justicedone
She

his brain.

There
done

was

at

must

him

save

time to lose

no

his

become

she

must

"

his

quent,
the delin-

fixed idea in

them

save

done

to be

was

not

assassination.

own

had

whatever

Charles, with

to discover

connivingat

to the Admiral

well

lost her

She

heard.

she

for help ?

look

I know

happened.

the Guises, his determination

zeal against

appearedto

younger

wrote

Catherine, however,

it."

about

trusted what
unnaturally,implicitly
head.

the

Monluc,

as

Monluc,
informed me, it is true, that a great
againstthe King and his State, and

"

that that had

Nuncio.

the

and

theirs

of

foes

inveterate

such

did

VERMEILLES

NOCES

LES

all.
be

must

once.

called

Catherine
she bade

Council of murder.

its members

her in the

meet

al

sinister party to assemble

which gave shade from the
a

avoid

To

suspicion,

gardensof the Tuileries

the

frescoin

long green

"

alleys
by one

One
burningAugust sun.
: the arrogant Nevers
(Louisof Gonzaga),theother
they came
Catherine's creatures, Retz (Gondi)and Birago ;
great Italians,
and

Florentines, Caviana

two

Petrucci, and

Catherine

and

the death of the Admiral

and
discussing
when
their
of achievingit,
dastardlyagent,
who
the
in
the
had
Admiral's
Bouchavannes,
played
lodgings,
spy
introduced into their presence.
He repeatedevery word
was
he had heard there and the Florentines heightenedthe effect
by recountingdetails of the Huguenots' allegedconspiracy.

Anjou.

They

were

the best method

No

general massacre
knew

between
and

Protestant
an

he had

as

which

"

minority.

obstacle.

nothingcould
counsel

that the murder

followers

Catholics

was

well

his

of

mooted, but

was

and

end

But

between

without

the

despair. Charles

never

was

before"

been

in
to

came

of

Guises

must

All

be done

the

vengeance
when
his sentiment
sway

over

war

and

fulfilment there
conclusion

same

To

possessed by
There
had

had

that

this seemed

some

the

"

inaccessible
desire for

one

been

exercised

no

time

stronger

him.

Catherine knew
not

federates
con-

between

at this moment

for the Admiral

Huguenots
generalslaughterof the
"

King.

againstColigny's enemies.

her

Coligny meant

debate
the

and

Catherine

maintain

her

son

better than

her

the rest.

If she could

she could at any rate acquireit for

influence,
the moment
But she
by the physicalpower she had over him.
was
too prudent to see him at once
that he was
; she knew
angry

167

The

later

years

Catherine

of

medici

de'

suggestionsthat he would
for the
She also knew
that his feeling
probably rejectthem.
Admiral had one rival in his heart
of fear
the terror,
a feeling
not of open danger,but of sudden assassination.
While Anjou
went
the state of things for
out into the streets to watch
with

her, and

so

of
suspicious

het-

"

"

himself, she sent the crafty Retz to Charles, to talk of what

the

plottingand to fillhis mind with alarm.

sanity,
left him, the King, alreadyupon the brink of inin an
abjectstate of apprehension. Upon this

Protestants

When

Retz
was

condition
After

were

which,

how

to

work.

with Retz, she went

to Charles
than an hour she lashed his nerves
him into one of those states of fury

privateconfabulation

in his apartment.
and did her utmost
in

understood

Catherine

as

she achieved

For

more

to torment

she knew, he
her object we

know

cannot

How

she willed.

always said what

but, doubtless, she

played on his sensitive vision with the image of violent death.

Then, having brought him to the pitchthat she desired, she
It consisted
called a meeting to assemble in his Privy Closet.
of her previousadvisers,with several others added, the Marechal
Morvilliers among
them.
She continued her
Charles with further pictures
of impending
process of terrifying
danger ; she dwelled upon the opportunitynow
given him of

de Tavannes

and

with
settling

the rebels

into his hand

"

for all. The

once

wedding had put them

caged inside the walls of Paris ;

last he had
at
of the
of wiping out the shame
the chance
treaties that they had imposed." The King, unhinged though
when
he was, remained
silent and impenetrable. Still more
so
in
she urged the Admiral's
treacheryin promoting a war
Flanders
and
ruining the poor stricken kingdom. Did he
of Charry and of Francois
remember, she cried, the murder
de Guise ? The Admiral's
death would
surelybe but a just
expiation; and it would only be needful to killhim and two or
three

"

Protestant

they

were

leaders to

save

multitude.

Then,

as

he

stillremained
from
broke

break

to retire
threatened
more
impassive,she once
the kingdom, to leave him without her support. Charles
in upon
her flow of eloquence; he could not, he said,
his faith,or belie his friendship.He had but one
clear

notion

in his head

touched.

The

"

that he

did not

wish

the Admiral

reiterated,was

Admiral, she

to

traitor ;

be
the

foes ; and
him
of the flight
she reminded
from Meaux, the Protestants'
could endure and which did
which he never
pursuit a memory
not
fail to exasperate him now.
And
Catherine followed up

men

Charles

thought

his

friends

"

68

were

his

worst

NOCES

LES

VERMEILLES

endangeringhis life and that of his

If he did not act promptly, the next hour might
brothers.
Nevertheless,he did not yield. He could
sound his knell."
not," wrote
Marguerite, in any fashion share their view,
And by that which I
loved the Admiral.
for that he greatly
trouble in making
after heard him say himself,they had much
He

advantage.

her

was

"

"

"

him

consent

they

realm

his

his life and

had

and

King

the

to make

that

see

that

believe

to

stake, he could not possibly

for my
mother, she had never

at

were

done

found

him

forced

not

such a thing. As
until
herself checkmated

have

she

when

now

all this

for

was

endeavoured

the

of the

good

State/'

him; he was
fatiguewas telling
upon
almost at an end of his strength.Turning away from his mother,
he asked the other Councillors for their opinion. They would
assuredlyconspiring,
only endorse hers. The Huguenots were
Then
imminent.
they asserted ; the danger to himself was
his nerves
reason
yielded.
finallygave way ; his flickering
still wavered, but

He

The

la mort

Dieu," he

Admiral, I

consent

in France,

that

so

not

Catherine : " You

killthem all ! he cried.

of the

was

now

been

"

Should

they

could
"

be

left to

Huguenots
reproach me

lips he was
Utteringblasphemy, he went
going out furiously,"
says Anjou,
was

upon

closet,where

we

good part of

the

for their

"

cause.
our

the

his

"

for the

held debate
The

night."

now
difficulty

was

King
it had

If till this hour

confederates

all be

killed ?

on

to restrain

became

unanimous.

the first question.

was

King's

in their minds, but

command
solution.
as
a
"

was

their

now

This

great desire, and

this

no
point was
difficulty.Morvilliers
but his feeble objecmodify the projecta little,
tions

overborne, and

followed

pursued

the

general massacre

alone tried to
were

the

his brother.

urge

agreement

There

to

also kill all the

shall be

one

Par

kill

this,doubtless, simmered

ere

solution

for

long before
the Huguenots

was

It had

in his

persuade him,

to

wrote

It

and

and

choose

you

must

The foam

of his mind.

fanatic

hard

him,"

day

since

"

duly.

came

"

"

"

for

he wheeled round
a violent movement,
have willed it well,then, kill them all,

With

away from the room

he left us behind

made

But then you

upon

out
practically

"

shouted,
!

after it is done."

rest

had

frenzy his mother

fit of

with

the

more

he

was

complicatedmatter

regard to Navarre

Princes of the Blood.

swept into the

Tavannes

and

course

to

Conde, the Huguenot

says that

169

of the

current.

they owed

their lives

THE

YEARS

his father's

to

it

LATER

Nevers

was

while

of the

she must

"

his

Bourbons

be

to

seems

tha

brother-in-law,Conde

herself refused to allow the death

destruction

the Guises

pleadingsaved

whose

MEDICI

DE'

the truth

intercession,but

Catherine

The

CATHERINE

OF

would

protect herself.

mean

The

of Navarre.

of
the power
execution of the

heretical

Montmorencys was also discussed ; but the Marechal,

the head of the family,was
and
at Chantilly,
since to
away
would be to convert
the elder
despatch its younger members
brother into a vengefulleader of the rebels,their safety was
In after days Catherine
used to say
prudently conceded.
that she had only the lives of five or six Huguenots upon her
conscience.
By that time, perhaps,she believed it, but the
fate of these

great nobles

least hesitation
distribution

of the

certain chiefs.
and

the

de Conde.

with

the

"

in which
"

fell the murder

of St. Germain
the

mutual

each

TAuxerrois

was

horror

"

ness
the dark-

neighbour'smeaning.

his

"

what

know

did not

deliberate
organized,

confusion.
panic-stricken

was

King had

councillors.

assembly was

distrust of its members

this one," a contemporary wrote,

that one
after."
was
Without, all was
The

Montpensier

of this

For

within, all

the

of the

groped after

man

to

as

suite of the Prince

had
voiced aloud, each man

destruction
the

the

not

of districts to
of the Admiral

allotment

"

the Guises

she had

on,

detailed debate

enteringupon a
slaughter the

beyond what
projects. Part of

mystery

resolved

once

And

his secret
its

To

noblesse

charged

was

in

It

sunk
seems

into silence,fiercer than the talk of the

transferred
if his mother
had by now
as

subjugatedbrain. As in the case of many

tive,
invenother madmen,
his head was
lucid,and even
especially
certain points. Marcel, the ex-Prevot des Marchands,
on
'" who
to
had the peopleof Paris in his hand," was
bidden to come
?
asked
the palace.
count
How
can
men
upon
you
many
Charles.
That, your Majesty,depends on the time given
her

idea to his

own

"

"

"

"

me."
and

Well, then, in

more,

if you

proportionof
for

answer

that

wish

month

it."

number."

twenty thousand,

"

"

And
"

And

in

"

day ?

"

week

in

thousand

hundred

"A

at the least."

He

was

he left the King, he had

"A
"I

due
can

solemnly
his orders.

When
secrecy.
The
night,in every house there should be found an armed
with a torch and a white scarf tied round his left arm
man
;
at every window
another torch should burn ; the bell of the
to

sworn

next

Justiceshould give the signal and after that, they

know
what to do.
Marcel departed,to be followed by

Palais de
would

"

170

THE
that

LATER
who

one

be thus
his

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

could be of service to

butchered/

religion,
any

And

whole

littleworld

he did not

so

than

more

MEDICI

DE'

press him
persuaded his old

he

shoul

change

to

Nurse, th

could refuse he
dearly that he never
aught. j"Butalbeit he put no constraint upon her, he begge
which

he

loved

her to return
he could
him.

so

to the

do.

The

Catholic

die

faith."

the utmost

was

destinywas

cast"

was

That

too

strong for

Her
Queen-Mother's Coucher had come.
full of her fellow-conspirators,
who stood in
was
knots, whisperingtogether. The bride, Princess Marguerite,
the only person
was
nothing. I was
present who knew
she says, "ona
coffer beside my
sister of Lorraine,
sitting,"
who seemed to me exceedingly
sad, when my mother, who was
there and
talkingto several people,suddenly noticed I was
The hour
bedchamber

of the

"

told

me

to go to bed.

As I made

curtsey

my

to

sister

her, my
'

Mon
and, stopping me, burst into tears.
Dieu, my
sister,do not go ! she said which terrified me
greatly. The Queen perceived this, and callingmy sister
to her, forbade her to say anything to me.
My sister replied
that it looked ill to send me
off thus to be sacrificed,and
that, doubtless, if they discovered anything,they would wreak
their vengeance
My mother rejoinedthat, if it so
upon me.
I
pleasedGod, should not suffer any hurt ; but, however that
might be, it was needful that I should go, for fear of making them
After this
suspect something which would hinder the deed.

seized

arm

my

'

"

I could

they
go

see

said.

to bed.

they were disputing,but I could not catch what

to
me
mother
Again my
roughly commanded
My

sister,with

of tears, bade
singleword more
; and

another

burst

me

without daring to say a

as
good-night,
for me, I found myself lost,transfixed,unable in the least to
imagine what it was I had to dread. As soon as I was in my
into His
closet I began to pray that God would take me
own

protection and
I knew

not.

would

preserve

Whereupon

my

me

"

husband, who

into bed, bade me

also to do the same
found his bed surrounded
by thirtyor
as
but
yet I did not know, for it was
married.

The

whole

from

and

whom

what

got already

was

I did, and
forty Huguenots whom
; the which

few

night through,they

days since
did

was

nothing

but

l'Amiral ;
of the accident which
had befallen Monsieur
and they resolved that when
the day broke they would go to
the King and beg for vengeance
de Guise, and
Monsieur
upon
talk

that if it were

not

granted them, they themselves

172

would

take

NOCES

LES
them

it upon

to

she

my
raised within

Hardly had
orders

I could

the
not

of my
sister
sleepfor the fears
tears

me."
left her

Margot

The

issued.

were

I had

But

fulfilit.

heart, and

continuallyin
had

VERMEILLES

Due

mother's
de

than

room

Guise

the

last

summoned

was

and

Chevalier

d'Angouleme (Henri IFs

son) [and,at the appointed hour, see the Admiral
illegitimate
a special
despatched; while to each of the conspirators
not
Huguehis
business
This
as
was
concluded,
assigned
privateprey.
it was
time for the Coucher of the King, and to this function
the whole company
repaired. For the last time Catholics

bidden

go

with

the

"

and

Protestants

minglingwith

murderers

the

Protestant

familiar

Do

nobles

not

in the

same

the victims."

There

was

was

to

de la Rochefoucauld.

But

the

"

stay

here

the

room,
one

among
King his

the

"

When

overcome

was

go, Foucauld," he said,

chatnbre."

dear

very

good-night,Charles

valets de

my

another

one

who

friend,the Due

to bid*him
"

elbowed

he

came

by compassion.
and sleepwith

unwitting Foucauld

went

home.

And, after he departed,the courtiers,one

off.
silence

'

The

King's

awhile

in the

bed-curtains
Louvre."

73

were

by

drawn.

one,

dropped

There

was

CHAPTER

IX

Bartholomew's
Eve
St.

IX

CHAPTER

Bartholomew's

St.

"

understanding
closed

d'Anjou
few

and

from

which

into

we

had

Catherine
her

standing

ready

Is

"

And

the

of

affected

him

now.

to

himself

wrest

in

was

Some
her

think

was

Palais

be

de

the

tocsin

the

Louvre

their
it

change
given an

of
"

says
Germain
put
Palais

de

clutch

her

orders.

in her

by an
Justice.
on

the

hour
All

fatal

this

and

three
177

last

she
a

were

half

in

at

in
a

not

the

had

attempt

hemmed

was

"

call

often
words

made

once.

the

to

be

the

of
;

that

opposite
D'Aubigne

clock

advance

state

massacre

bell

church

in.

him

the

that

haste

nervous

crudele

stability that

his

FAuxerrois

sound

an

Che

signal for
by the
daybreak

word

sent

said,

our

Italian

well-known

the

for

of

Bride

The

before

Saint-Germain
should

fears

rotten

family adage,

spiritswho
too
tight.

was

her

hour

she

evil

were

dreaded.

had

quoted

is

there,

trio

to

impelled

these

the

crudele

it

Charles

him

tear

she

know,

made,

two

to

ser

Perhaps

he

was

"

strain,

business."

the
she

Church,

lor

we

was,

the

the

pietd

But

Justice

mother,

King.

that

that

even

the

the

suddenly
to

his

exalted

This

from

vain

upon

basse-cour,

found

which

tennis-

the

that

when

after,

mother

my

expect

and

himself

rend

Che

"

"

lips

It

then,

in

"

Bishop's sermon
lor ser
pietoso ?
on

to

she

he

hours,"

two

anxiety

room

Soon

cried

than

asunder,

Lord

his

return

better,"

it not

limbs

the

Did
it this

was

into
gone
dressed.

together, he had
"

but

reposed

before.

astir

last, and

had

She

her

we

but

written

Confession,"

had

my
Due

the

which

with

day began to break, the King,

the wing of the Louvre
adjoining
the
which
room
a
gives upon
watch
the
could
opening of the

been

the

at

"

troubled

night

words

the

are

When

this

has

St.

the

of

history

true

the

entered

court

the

mysterious

"

when

says, "just
I went
and

fail

his

later.

years

which

these

"

is

Tel,

Monsieur

HERE,
Bartholomew,

Eve

of
of

Saintthat

of indescribable
N

of

THE

LATER

panic.

Their

YEARS
dread

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

of the

Huguenots' conspiracyhad grown

and
the hours brought it nearer,
Catherine
as
was
certainly
possessedby belief that they might take action soonerthat at any moment
the Louvre
might be attacked, and some
dire fate,she knew
not what, might overtake
her.
She, whc
in
moved
the darkness
in terror of confronting
herself,was
the

Every word

unknown.

this moment

is

with

stamped

far behind

not

and

gesture

of hers

recorded

the seal of fear, and

Anjou

a1
Wc

her.
"

"As

he wrote,
the consequences
oi
considering,"
had till then
to which, to say the truth,we
so great an
enterprise,
of a sudden
heard the report
we
hardly given real reflection,1
of a pistol,
but I could not say from what direction it came,
if any man
or
were
injuredthereby. All that I know is this
that

"

we

were

the

mere

into

deep

so

and

our

sound

spiritsthat

our

to

all three

us

it did

returned

We

reason.

allowed

wounded

so

hurt

both

and
to

first counsels

our

entered

our

senses

and

with
forth-

the

enterpriseto take its course."

Could
the image of
vividly convey
eloquence more
any
these three guiltycreatures
the
window, starting
cowering at
selves
it
at the first sound
turn
they heard, feeling
against themSo

much

hour, they sent

Guise returned
In

the

to

afraid

they that,

were

stop the murder

"

was

Too

of the Admiral.

late !

outside

streets

all

this eleventh

at

The

answer

"

confusion.

was

The

bells of

and

clanged; the guns roared ; and the shouts

of the mob
mingled with the cries of the victims. For the
astir,every one
was
butchery had begun.
Every one was
was
excited, every one
rushing hither and thither, crossing
and
recrossinghis fellow, seeking a vent for his rage/' So
Paris clashed

"

records
the

who

one

witnessed

have

must

began,
possessionand, accordingto
massacre

clear

and

What

detailed

and

Querchy

him

in the

Nicolas

care

Muss.

the

in

the

had

been

with

him

of Ambroise

Anjou

Papal Nuncio,

soon

went

on

as

self-

recovered

giving

Par6,

we

know,

All
King's command.
Suddenly, between
away.

lodging? Teligny
till midnight,when
they left

Admiral's

Pare

the

broken

As

scene.

directions.

happening

was

the

and

Catherine

and
went

seemed
two

and

by the tocsin of Saint-Germain

1

The

italics

are

178

the

faithful old servant,

from him
later,at
away
calm
the night wore
as
of

three, the

stillness

was

l'Auxerrois and, almost

author's.

YEARS

LATER

THE

instant

the

OF

For

one

the

figure,the
dignified

the

assassins

"

replied you
fifty-three) but
"

do

"

with

life."

my

He

sword.1

"

should

"

to shorten

It

hair, the
but

was

asked

for

Yes, young

my

will.

and

finished ?

"

responded Berne

but

no

power

all answer,
Berne ran
him
through
fell,and the whole troop took their turn

put it round

called

have

For

of them
assailinghim, so that many
killed him.
Tosinghiseized the gold chain

neck

man/'

(he was

age

You

in

man's

sightof

countenance,

"

pity on

you

the

breathing space.

"

MEDICI

At

serene

Berne.

have

what

DE'

goodness told.

white

hesitated.

"

he

of

power

the Admiral

Are you

CATHERINE

here, so that we
may
Sarlabous, Berne lifted the

down

the murdered

Berne, have you

below.
It is done,"
Well, then, throw him

own.

"

from
"

the window.

from

from

they had

"

his

Guise

out

boasted

for ourselves."

Helped by
flung it down
The
Admiral
still breathing;
was
through the window.
convulsive effort to cling
his hand made one more
to the windowAs he lay upon
then all was
sill
the pavement of
over.
the Chevalier d'Angouleme, who had dismounted
the courtyard,
from his horse, took his handkerchief
to wipe the blood which
face.
concealed Coligny's
'?Yes, it is very much he," he said,
Guise stood by, silent,gazingupon
and then he kicked him.
for long. Petrucci cut off the noble head to
his foe. Not
given over to the
carry to the Louvre, and the body was
of
mercies of the populace. Marcel's armed
bands, the scum
the city,dragged it through the streets with savage outrage,
callingto those who passed to share the triumph. When
tired,they brought it to the gibbetof Montfaucon
they were
town
the common
gallows and left it to hang there and
historian, Coligny'sown
decay. And thus, says a modern
see

heavy body

and

"

"

"

"

"

words

dragged through
in the

land."

foretold
In

the

"

fulfilled.

were

it

the

was

mud

head

His

met

fate that

in solemn

taken

meantime,

"

rather," he had said, be

of Paris, than see
civil war
again

I would

his assassins

"

"

Monsieur

beside two

quest of fresh
cried Angouleme, mounting

the

Whitehead,
first blow, B"me

for

doing

Mr.

so,

we

in his
the

off in

rode

Montpensier,Tavannes,

better
other men,
and
Coconnas.

Guast,

du

"

Coligny," states

second.

But

prefer to adopt

event.

180

have

not

to Rome.

state

Now
for the others !
prey.
his horse.
Guise, Aumale, Nevers,

joinedhim,

could

he

the

as

he

more

Through

that
does

days,

in after

known

the

streets

Swiss, Koch,
not

familiar

give his
version

gave

reasons

of

the

BARTHOLOMEW'S

ST.

EVE
"

and

squares

commands
attacked

King
they went, crying, Kill, kill ! The
told
the
it." The
Huguenots, they
people,had

sovereignin his palace. Anjou's men

those of Montpensier had the palm for cruelty. The
thick with corpses ; the very children played at
was
"

bodies.

dead

with

and

their

bloodshed

and

Death

Seine
games

the

ran

streets

together the words are those of Tavannes, and he knew.

The generalcomputationof the dead in Paris has hitherto been
"

"

from 8,000 to 5,000 ; Lord Acton reduced it to rather over 2,000,

but the latest researches go to prove that he has understated
Blood
be reduced.
the fact.
And
the cruelty cannot
once
red
it
Paris
red," and when Paris sees
saw
spilt,
goes mad,
"

^or in 1794. But besides this, besides the

had to count
with other
the massacre
flare of party-hatred,
Commercial
motives.
jealousy heightened bitter feeling,
for there was
great depressionin trade, and such merchants as
the nucleus of a rising
sober Huguenots
were
prosperous were
than
But
more
this, every private grudge,
trading-class.
every feud of love or hatred,
every lawsuit and money-quarrel,
took
advantage of the vile occasion, killed its prey, gained
the prizethat it desired.
Among such victims was the great
whether

in

1572,

"

Greek teacher
Humanist, a world-famed
life of a
at the University of Paris, leadingthe unpretentious
recluse,he was
dragged from his house, and butchered by the
A

scholar, Ramus.

orders

of

envious

an

And

Chair.

dreadful

so

body that Lambin,

a heretic,died
thought Ramus

wanted

his fessorial
proof his
treatment

the

was

to the

the Reader

dead

had

who

pedagogue

of horror

King, a bigotwho
sightof what

at the

done.

was

literature,
slaughterdo not make profitable
and
But some
their sickeningdetails are
best left unread.
La
foucauld
Rochefiguresstand out patheticallyfrom the mass.
The

annals

of

came

arrived

his

to

thought that
had

of the first to die.

one

was

it
to

was

house, led by the brother

the

in

King

favourite

play his

played by

"

"

Do

they
181

not

hurt

stabbed

them

pillow.

you

besides,I have

"

thrash

to

his

father before

your

me
in,"he said,laughing
on."
They approached him.
out gaily. Without
a
word,

Chicot, he

"

"

take

of

derers
mur-

disguise that His Majesty

midnight game of Fouetter.
in the small
know, of rising

For Charles was

in the habit, as we
hours and running into his friends' houses
"
their beds.
Foucauld
raised himself on
is the old game

the masked

When

got

him

my

in

This
won't

; you

me!"

"

clothes
he

cried

through the

THE

LATER

YEARS

body. Teligny,too,
shot

down

OF

DE'

of the noblest of the

one

he fled

as

CATHERINE

along

MEDICT

Huguenots, was

the roofs ; while

the

Goudimel,

"
Court musician, perishedcruelly.
The paper would weep," says
"
old chronicler, if we
an
all that happened upon
it."
wrote
Inside the Louvre
there was
chaos.
The King, intoxicated

with

the

almost
sight of blood, was
raving.
of a scruple. Followers of Conde

every

invited to the Louvre

were

attend

service,to

the

and

summoned,

official roll-call.

lost

had

He
and

remnant

Navarre

usual when

as

on

down

As

they came
Charles
down,
courtyard,they
by one.
had been dragged to the window
to look at them, probably to
show
that he was
for
the massacre
responsible
; and, as they
died,they liftedtheir eyes to him, invoked his promises,
implored
to the

him

were

to

and

them.

save

stood

their

hastened
"

to

one

their entreaties with

met

watching
had

who

envoy

He

mown

last
the

wild

palacesent

stare

Mantuan

sufferings.The

letter that

same

his master.
saw," he wrote, "in front of the
than twelve of the Protestant
chiefs either dying
Louvre, more
that
the point of death."
Ill-starred were
those who
or
on
in
Princes.
trusted
the
At
of proceedings,the
outset
day

day

to

Protestants

of

whole

affair

that the
himself

")

the

Faubourg

machination

and

of the Guises

the

thought

Saint-Germain

doubted

never

pledged
King
took
it
to
claim
they
directly,
grant. Resolving
the Louvre, whence, to their surprise,
a
place near
would

giveto them the

he had
protection

to

boat

to

they

saw

the

Guards

and

row

drawn

of boats

up

the

on

of war, they fled

Dismayed by this semblance
King had espiedthem from his window
To see the corpses float
they went.
I not
Have
the water
dreadful joy to him.
was
a
upon
learnt
I
Have
not
?
he exclaimed.
playedmy game cleverly
?
in
lesson
the
Latin
of
well,
my
my forefather,King Louis XI
collected and secure, had gatheredher ladies
Catherine, now
other

bank.

down the river ; but the

and he fired at them
as

"

"

"

"

about

her.

Her

As her enemies
dressed-out
made

distractions

were

broughtin,one
Squadron examined the
were

remarks

her wickedness.
after the other, she and her
worse

than

dead disfigured
Huguenots,
drew
their looks and
their figures,
airy
death
Grand
them.
ladies -plannedthe

upon

comparisons between
whose
of certain people
of all sorts and conditions
theyhappened to desire. The very readingof
doings is like an intimation of mortal disease.
1

Comte

Catherine

de

la

appearanc
dis-

"

"

"

"

Ferriere, Historical

de Medicis.

182

Introductions

to

their

Lettres

de

BARTHOLOMEW'S

ST.

EVE

who
pointed out1 that the only two women
Elizabeth of Austria and Marguerite
showed compunction were
Princess.
The
the Humanist
the devote Queen and
poor
the
Court,
moved
like
who
a
sadly
ghost among
young Queen,
in
little
and
that
was
expectingto become
Spanish,
speaking
It has

been

"

did she wake

fine mystery

Madam,"
it."

gone to bed at her

until the morning, when

God

Oh, my

advice ?

My

"

be

they
;

tears

have

in her

of the

not

"

"

has

And

given

hast

sudden

who

of Thee

him

that

Yes,
done
what
such
Thou

pity upon

else."
pardoned by
Heures," and prayed to God

sin will be

forthwith she asked for her

with

who

for if Thou

"

on

is this ?

what

God, I entreat, I demand,

mercifullyforgivehim
him, I fear greatlythat this

! '"'

Alack

Nor

told her

they

it is he himself
"

wilt

And

"

hour."

wonted

of this thing?

she cried,

can

"

know

"

of counsellors

sort

being played.

now

"

does my husband
answered some
one

quoth she,
"

"

She had

mother.

none

eyes.

night had not been as calm as hers.

till daybreak.
Those opening hours of apprehensionwent
on
In this fashion passed the night,without
closingmy
my
said that
With
husband
the dawn
eyes," she wrote.
my
he wished
to go and
play at tennis till the King should be
awake, for he had suddenly resolved to ask justiceof His
Maj esty He went from my room, and with him all his gentlemen
And I,seeingthat it was
besides.
day and deeming that the
danger of which my sister had spoken was
past, overcome
also by sleep,
I,then, told my Nurse to shut the door so that I
might rest at my ease."
a
I was
An hour later,when
fast asleep,there cometh
who knocketh
at the door with feet and hands, crying,
man
Navarre
Navarre
!
!
my
My Nurse, thinkingthat it was
husband, runneth quicklyto the door and opens it. There appearM. de L6ran, who had received a swordeth a gentleman,one
sister-in-law's

Her

"

"

"

'

'

thrust in his elbow

and

blow

from

halberd

stillbeing pursued by four Archers, who

was

chamber.

upon

bed, and
ruelle,but he threw

round

the waist.

and
him

himself,threw himself
He, wishingto save
threw
his arms
myself
I, feeling
me,
upon

into my
my
into the

in his arm,
all followed

I had

no

himself after me,

notion who the man

stillholdingme
was, or whether

Archers had a grudge

We
aloud, the
both screamed
againstme or againsthim.
the other.
much
At last, as God willed,
one
as
as
affrighted
Monsieur de Nancay, Captain of the Guards, arrived upon the

he

came

to insult me,

or

whether

183

the

THE
scene

YEARS

LATER

OF
in such

and, findingme

"

CATHERINE
could
plight,

MEDICI

DE'

not,

despitehis

compassion, help burstinginto

fit of laughter. Furious at

a
indiscretion of the Archers, he sent them
off,and granted
And
I had
the life of the poor man
who stillclutched me.

the
me

him

bed

to

put

and

that he should stay there until he

I had changed my
which, when
de Leran

had

covered

Privy Closet, ordering

in my

bandaged

After
recovered.
entirely
nightgown, which Monsieur

was

blood, M. de Nan gay told

with

what

me

in the

happening,and assured me that my husband was

King's apartment and that he would suffer no hurt.
throwing a cloak over my shoulders, he took me away
was

of my sister of Lorraine, which I reached

alive. As I entered the ante-chamber, the

to the
than

dead

more

room

Then,

of which

doors

gentleman named Bourse, who was fleeing

that pursued him, was
from
piercedthrough by a
I fell,on
thrust from a halberd, only three paces from me.
de Nangay's arms,
the other side, half-fainting
into Monsieur
and
I thought that the thrust had stabbed
both of us also.
wide

were

open,
the Archers

When

I had

where

littlerevived, I entered the small bedroom

there,Monsieur de Moissans,
my sister slept. And while I was
the First Gentleman
of my
husband, and Armagnac his First
their
Valet-de-chambre, sought me out to imploreme to save
I went

lives.

to hear my

Queen-Mother and begged them

which at the last they granted."

prayer
Captain of the Guards was right Navarre was

The

the

the

straightto
"

King's apartment.

began, Charles

had

"

Cousin,"

and

Brother

afflictedby what

you

sent

after the massacre

soon
very
to his presence.
for him
and Conde
"
said he,
be frightenedor
do not

And

will hear.

summoned

If I have

it is for your own

safety." Later on, as
had stung him, his bearingtowards
them

malignant.
"

"

I wish

for

Choose
u

be

not

"

one

now

"

that

way
to

tamper

Conde,

who

that there

grew

his command."

by
"

He

he said

angrily.

my

the Mass

resisted ; he would
he to die for it," he answered.

or

death

were

suavely,as
broke

kingdom
!

"

his father

his mother's

did

not

wish

to

five hundred

"

Conde

might

done, in the

have

heart ; he asked

with his conscience,but

involved.
The Mantuan

were

changed.

done

was

old memory

some

he did not

humiliate

envoy

the

describes

himself, dared

gentlemen ready

massacre."

The

184

King

define what

to avenge

King, in a rage, threatened

his dagger,and, turningto the King of Navarre, "As

lamentable
with

"

if

hither,

you

religion
only in

dallied

his conscience
M

All,"he told them,

faithful to his creed

Navarre
very

safe in

"

how
say

this
him

for

BARTHOLOMEW'S

ST.
"

you," he said, only show

cheer."

Navarre
he

moment

when

that
his

only
"

with

shed

was

over,

Queen

who

he

him

eager
deterred him

itself out

; it

of every
so

than

But

at

time

She

began."

For
utter

his feet
she had

may

have

fury had worn

by atrophy
prostration,
Charles's

August 24, Le Charron sent

stop the slaughter
; both he and Catherine tried
in vain.
It was
easier to free the geniiof destruction
them
to shut
up again.
faculty. At

him

beg

to do

by

knelt

by tears, the which

all distorted

followed

was

firmness meant
grace, but,
himself.
It was

for she

you good
; for the

out

period of

to kill him

was

day and nightsince the evil

to him at a good moment.

come

to

allowed

Charles

countenance

Conde's

real heroism.

to hold

strong enough

practicallyrenegade.

was

I will show

faith and

good

not

was

EVE

noon,

on

to

when

the

massacre

his

and

over,

was

violence

with

it,the

King, so fatallylucid throughout his madness, had

about.
The
no
knowledge of how the slaughterhad come
day after,August 25, when a courageous noble impliedthat
such a deed had not been expectedof His Majesty
You
are
right,"he rejoined, my headpieceknew nothing about it."
His very face had changed with the experience. Demoralized
"

"

"

and

pale, he looked

longer showed
But
no

if his

that

constant, and

fits of excitement
still court

executions.
of
near

He

When

the

"

such

sight of

On

for

recurred

oppressed him.

time

some

Navarre

curtain

the

for

moods

blood

was

taken
would

to

at another

were

and

and

which

him, he would

upon

Paris

to

watch

of

hanging by night
lightedtorches held
their expressions.
see

witnessed

with
from

Catherine
behind

Coligny'seffigy.His ugly example

by others, and the children

moral
as
a
public executions

see

his

massacre

the darkness

traverse

forget.
impossibleto estimate
saved, because the majority

of the
lesson

town

that

were

they

not

It is almost
were

after the

spectacle,and,

companions, he

burning

followed

no

occasion of the sort, the

one

present,too,

was

his countenance

relief from

Bricquemaut and Cavaignes,he had

the gibbetthat he might the better

and

wreck, and

wont
to wear."
gentlenessthat it was
him
brought
deepestgloom,they were by

hours

sane

means

their escapes

spared

for

reasons

were
as

not

the number
of

recorded.

strange

as

"

A few noblemen
massacred.
for that they passed as having no

185

those

them

They

were
were

for which

of those who
unknown
sometimes

they

were

pardoned by the King

at all,"and promised
religion

were

THE

LATER

YEARS

His

Majestyto

become

so

also

the

had

remained
the

the

One

same.

where

enemy,
the victim

with

dramatic

afterwards
the dead
heard
Then

him

home
of

rescue

he called in

him

from

him

to

Another

given.

unscathed.

was

in the

little boy, who

by

of
his

country

beneath

of

more

his brother

voice that

under

until he

"

he

recognized.
man
stopped and, lifting
saddle, gallopedoff with

tone, and the

the corpses to

was

longlay hidden

of his father and

low

There

the

place of security.
Among Coligny'sclose friends, few
a

with

those

taken

to his house

passer-bysay something in

his life because

; instead of which,
generosity,his adversary kept him safe and

the bodies

"

with

expectedto be butchered

sent

in the

got off

off with him

rode

MEDICI

advantages
have
always

Parisians

The

man

DE'

If the atheist had

bon-vivant.

who

chance

Catholics.

dinners that he had

good

worst

CATHERINE

OF

him

the

at

After his comrade

to have

escaped.
high uneven

shadows, until he

was

roofs, concealed

along the

too

was

to

weary

preserved. Of

were

of his death

time

only Merlin

seems

shot down, he crept

by their crevices and
His

on.

go

infirmities

good stead. Exhausted, hampered too by short

he dropped into a barn full of hay and lay there beneath
sight,
it for three days, nourished
by a hen who came
regularly
laid
and
in
his
hand.
an
a
(says
Huguenot chronicler)
egg
Of the Admiral's less intimate
followers,those who lodged in
contrived to get off into .the country.
the Faubourg St. Germain

stood

him

the

and

Caumont

but

in

most

the first

discover

the

Chartres

the

of

were

fugitiveswas

Huguenot chief,the only man

placeas a leader. With the

the Admiral's
and

de

important among

redoubted

the

Vidame

volleys,he got

reason

up

and

rode

the

Montgomery,
left to take

now

sound

of the bells

into the

Almost

of the disturbance.

number,

streets

to

he asked,

as

ing
d'Angouleme advancmeant
and
danger. He
grasped that their presence
dead.
Spurring
gave himself no time to learn that Colignywas
his horse, he fled through the twilight.Guise pursued him with

he

saw

fierce
Duke
He

Guise, Aumale,

and

the Chevalier

haste, but Montgomery's horse

at

last

returned

and, knowing

unwillingly
gave
from

his vain

Catherine's

was

in.

chase

to

his commands

arrogant than

more

methods, he forestalled

repairedto the King and refused to

of the massacre.
the sole responsibility
acknowledged that everythingwhich
obedience

of the swiftest and the

and
1 86

in

take

upon

Guise
no

wise

had
for

He

them.

his

Charles

ever,

shoulders

unflinchingly
done

was

in

independent

LATER

THE
as

by

woman

has

ten

and

years
of

Catherine

herself bears

the

givesme

MEDICI

looks

or

him

out.

She

person

great danger,"

to his master, the Duke

"

younger

impressionof

illness, escaped

serious

D'Elbene, the envoy,

wrote

DE'

by her experiences. She

out

come

CATHERINE

OF

"

refreshed

one

who

YEARS

was

Savoy.

of

before,"

never

she said, M in a placewhere she had so great occasion for fear,

and from the which she had issued with more
and pleasure."
ease
of reliefand

triumph penetratedall her

Her

sense

The

SpanishAmbassador
"

she said, am
d'Alava
what
1

I, after all,such

have

you
blind have

sight,the lame
in me
qui non fuerit

Beatus

envoy she
them than

"

had

back

walk

to your

her comment.
has been

"

the

step grown

ten

Duke

years

need

sary,"
neces-

regret the

not

with

was

that she

younger

of

light
joined

Paris.

processions
through
other pilgrims
besides
were

sad

Duke

than

more

It

add

fall upon

to the

was

The

the Tuscan

To

"

There
a

heard.

forgetto

"

And

done

cois
Fran-

tell him

"

better that it should

affection for him."

no

master

do not

Come,"

Don

as

have

you

; and

scandalisatus.'

"And

"

Christian

what

It was

was

What

observed

Admiral, who
heart and

us,"

upon

she

"

franker.

was

Savoy's agent

in the

Go

bad

tell him

seen,

"

to take leave of her.

came

pretended?

conversation.

little troop took

her and hers.

its silent way

to

later

Rather

Montfaucon

of Coligny. When
the travellers,
the sons
among
the gibbet and what
hung there, exposed to the

"

chief

they came

to

and

the

sun

almost broken
fifteen years old, was
stood silent,
than seven,
by his sobs ; the younger, not more
gazing sorrow-struck before him.1

rain, the elder boy,

One

last

rifled and

some

injurywas

his papers

done

to

the Admiral.

His

were

rooms

them

carried to the

were
King. Among
troubles in
the preciousreminiscences
of the late religious
the kingdom," that he had written during the last two years.
His enemies were
bitterly
disappointedto find in them nothing
and everythingthat was
fine and loyal. Other
incriminating
"

documents
the

on

came

with them

State," in which

to the Louvre

he

warned

plea that
is beautifully
done, it

territories

would.

"That

on

the

"

Memorandum

King againstgiving

the

great retinues to his brothers ; and his

in the Netherlands," which urged Charles
Flemish

his

"

"

Notes

to take

if he

did

deserves

to

188

War

the

proffered

not,

England
printed,"

be

Jacqueline,his second wife, was put in prison at Nice

and died there, after thirtyyears'confinement.
religion

of her

the

on

on

account

said

who

one

some

EVE

BARTHOLOMEW'S

ST.

Retz

standingby.

was

should

King
impressionable

affected.

be

frightlest the

took

He

his

diverted

doing and put the manuscript in

of it. Before the
use
the fire. Catherine had alreadymade
notes were
brought to Charles, they had been shown by her
of
to Walsingham. They provided her with a ready means
he

what

attention from

"

was

is,"she sneered, " your noble friend !

how he loved England."
Madam,
for yourself
You can
see
he loved France," retorted Walsingham, with double-edged

taunting him.

he

Here

"

dignity.
if Catherine

But

example. They were allin the

bound
closely
by the
together,
sulked

Only Alencon

did

calm, the Court

was

not

dreadful

apart ; he had been

tie of

her

boat, clinging

storm-tossed

same

follow

guilt.

common

kept out of the business

forgivethe slight. The rest tried their usual

distractions
dressed, gossiped,
jested;in vain, they could not
the King and his suite were
forget. A week after the massacre
at eveningin the palace. Everythinghad been as usual
sitting
when, all of a sudden, they started : a tumult of sound rose
and

he did not
"

them,

above
who

did not

noise which

days described

in after

"

the

of the earth.

seem

Navarre,

to d'Aubigne,could

scene

never

They
standing on end."
looked at each other in speechless
terror,then they all went out
had
A black cloud of deathly ravens
what
it was.
to see
their
croakingjust over
perched upon the Louvre and were
tell the

story

his hair

without

The dames
evil ; it unstrung them.
horrified and confided their distress to the King.
were
bigottes
the
They did not get much comfort out of him ; he was
"
That
same
night,"ran Navarre's
prey of his conscience.
The

heads.

"

was

omen

after he

hours

tale,

two

with

start ; he roused

the

got

bed, the King leaped up

to

gentlemen of

his bedchamber
was

that

great roaringwhich he himself heard

in the

others, for his brother-in-law.

sent, among

might

all hear

and

concert

of

was

It

and
we

air,

voices,crying,
groaning,howling,blaspheming,

night of the massacre."

distinct that Charles thought there was
The sounds were
a
so
his
riot in the town
and
Guard
sent
againstthe Montmorencys
murder.
that
But
with
the
to prevent
they returning
tidings
the citylay in peace, that the atmosphere alone was
troubled,
exactly like those that

arose

upon

the

"

he remained
went

The
and

on

for

Furies

Anjou's

sorely distressed,the more

week, and always at the same
had
were

begun
to

to

come.

hunt
For

189

the

for that

so

hour."

King.

the

this din

rest

Catherine's
of the

turn

dramatis

THE

LATER

YEARS

persona, Nemesis

CATHERINE

OF

overtook

the chief

DE'
Berne

ones.

MEDICI
made

was

and killed in Poitou

prisoner

Cosseins and Attin,

; his colleagues,
lost their lives at the siegeof La Rochelle.
So ended
the St.
"

Bartholomew"
then

in Paris.

loyalCatholic,

"

made

the persons of those who

horrible and most
execrable
and

and

inhuman

that

after the world

be
enterprise

as

has

held in

of B6za, and

"And

that

me

thenceforth

embraced
massacre

deed,"
the

love

posteritywill

not

190

till

one

the

Religion."

cause
"

That

crueltyso barbarous

long as the world shall be

perished,so long shall the
perpetual execration

wrote

"
"

the world, and

authors of this

this

gainsay him.

was

the

dict
ver-

CHAPTER

After

Bartholomew's
St.

Eve

CHAPTER

After

On

August
tell

to

followed

in

carnage
24

them

between

crisis ;

and

torrent,

what

had

Guises
been

that

only thing

and

fresh

letters
taken

his

to

had

he

said,
awful

an

uncontrollable

the

stem

could

mother

Governors

to

come

the

picture.

feud,

The

slaughter.

wholesale

been

the

to

The

place.

and

Paris,

provincial

Chatillons

had

of

horror

the

to

powerless

and

he

Eve

example

adds

the

end

the

the

country
sent

had

he

the

Charles
of

the

Bartholomew's

St.

Provinces

THE

do

to

was

their

secure

strain
in the same
Anjou wrote
;
had
occurred
the
these
personal enemies
I to his very
great regret.' Shortly after, the King changed
his tune.
The
stated, had been in self-defence"
rising,he now
to quell an
organized conspiracy of Coligny's ; but, in spite of
Louvre.
in the
persons
brawl
between
serious

own

'

this, he

wished

Protestants

such
At

unmolested.

the

time

same

he

the
directly contradicted
Catherine
wide-spread massacre.

which

Charles

moment

one

for

the

on

27th,

exercise

to

it went

extent

Provence,
have

the

Gorde

pursued

the

like

veered

round

orders

instigated
again,
nors
Gover-

the

had

At

course.

yet

recommending
bloodshed

remain

to

verbal
and

ones

begun,

and

Governors

royal

provinces,

the
and

Comte

of

Montpellier, and
Lyons, as well as
kill at
"

refused

command

by

gratitude

it encountered

sufficiently appalling. Yet

in Paris.
than
In Auvergne,

was

the

and

said,

written

letters

But

mercy.

obstacles

more

fresh

sent

peace

on.

Its

the

he

in

despatched

have

to

seems

lived

as

in

de

the

de

first

withheld

how

to

take

other

towns,

obedience.
life in

and

the

mercy

Governors

of

the

193

the

course

shown
the

last

by
two

no

less
who

and

humane,

at

deputed to
They only knew,"
they
of justice,or
of war."

men
"

they should

Languedoc, deserves
and
Picardy, Nantes,

be

to

in

in

Joyeuse
Burgundy

posterity.
proved
Bayonne
in

the

Dauphine,

until

massacre

writing,

Tende,

Due

to

in

were

LATER

THE

Afterwards

required

the

had

to inform

their task, and

the orgy.

himself

Other

The

statistics of

and

the

its

some

set to

Jesuitfrom

work,

the

College

(it

near

was

cities were

readier

Dijon, Rouen, Blois, Tours, Saumur,

at

others, the list of the dead

Angers,among

had

sword

would

it that St. Michael

decreed

MEDICI

South, the citizens needed

murder, and, before Bordeaux

Michaelmas) had
for

DE'

yielded and

supernaturalsanction

de France

CATHERINE

in the fiercer

even

persuasionto
it

OF

this softer mood

But

way.

YEARS

was

cruel

their numbers

creed

vary accordingto the

In Orleans, 2,000
historian.

credulity of the

one.

were

reputed to have been killed,but the minister, Toussaint, who

hundred, and that is still the
escaped,only mentions seven
In Toulouse
tradition in the town.
again,where the record
slain
two
of the
was
hundred, Duranti only writes of thirty-six.
is that in five country
The result of Lord Acton's investigation
to seven
hundred
towns
one
destroyed; in other
persons were
less. The same
were
places the figures
authorityreckons that
than 5,000 were
throughout the whole of France not more
killed ; but a more
recent writer 1 regardsthis computation as
below
much
the rightone, and considers that ten to twenty
thousand

be

would

the mark.

nearer

of the massacre,

Meanwhile, despatchescontainingaccounts

accordingto the version

outside
to the sovereigns

of Charles

and
When

France.

posted
Spain heard

Catherine, were

Philipof

the news, it is said that he laughed aloud for the firsttime in his
he had desired,even
life. What
counselled,had at lengthcome
He

to pass.
"

who

was

and
The

would

have

tremendous.

The

the
world

Castel
Te

came,

Sant

Deums

went

to

Angelo
were

sung

give thanks
1

look

now

words.

were

de

his
was

pains.

And

illuminated

the

Pope

and

in the Church

Whitehead

Rome

them."

there
rejoicings

The

fired off victorious

;

to

Lorraine, still in that city,

brought the first unofficial tidings

Cardinal

the town

lated
congratu-

so

over

the

the courrier who

gave
thousand
for
crowns
a
accounts

He

"

"

to

endorsed

tres-Chretien."

of Charles,

educated
her son
successfully
can
hardlyimagine," ran a letter
the honour
win
Philip'sfavour,
have
French
got by their exploit.

on

Spain, intended
glory which
good all the

to

le Roi

having
image." "You

own

"

profound dissimulation

in truth

now

Catherine
in her

"

praisedthe

"

Gaspard
194

; the
salvos

the

of the

cannons

bells

pealed;

College of Cardinals

of St. Mark
de

professional

when

for this

Coligny,"

"

signal

THE
did

LATER

become

matters

check

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

that

Burleigh had
panic.

the ominous

MEDICI

hurry

to

to

to

town

time Elizabeth,horrified,
refused an audience to the
French
not till September 8 that she
ambassador, and it was
consented to grant it. She had by then moved
to Woodstock,
For

and

some

it

return

there that she

was
was

; he

woman

ordinary

Council

unusual

an

"

attend

to

her.

occurrence

Bedford

convened

"

Bacon

and

The
obey the summons.
black, encircled by her Councillors

in

Mothe-Fenelon's

going. He had left a coquettish

angry Queen. She had put aside

ill to

too

robed

and

La

his

to

again an

met

customs

her whole
were

contrast

received him.

alone

her
found
envoy
and by the entire

Court, all dressed,like herself,in deep mourning. He entered ;

there was
profound silence, and
every
eye, lowering and
turned
him."
few
The
wrathful, was
a
Queen made
upon
into the recess
steps forward and, takinghim apart, withdrew
"

of

"

window.

"

Are

the

common

The suddenness

"

true

rumours

she asked

of the

danger,"said La Mothe-Fenelon
leave the King time for reflection. He
did not even
was
to fulfilall their designs
forced to allow the conspirators
against
the Admiral."
Nothing,"he added, had been preconceived
not in the business, and
the Edict
was
by Charles ; religion
would be observed in its integrity."He hoped sincerelythat
the
good understandingbetween France and England would
Elizabeth repliedin icy
in no wise be cooled or diminished."
his subjects
tones
that she feared a King who had abandoned
would
also desert his allies. She only hoped that he would
produce evidence of the Huguenots' conspiracyand would
curtly.
"

"

"

faithfullyprotect such
in the plot. Fenelon

them

among

as

were

not

concerned

changed the subject and reminded

Elizabeth
of her promise to stand
godmother to the child
But the Queen
about
to be born
to the King of France.
of England was
not to be cajoled. She had intended, she told
"

him,
had

send

to

left the shores

ever

resolved

that

she

obviously unsafe
there, she

the

the
of

would

but

she

son

ended
her and

and

and

gave

no

said that

196

was

quite

the

French

his

persuasion. Catherine

duly officiated as

heir.

she

that

hopes that she would

satisfactoryrejoinder.All

to

by yieldingto
she

now

embassy

in so
life she valued
any
Leicester
trust
would
not

risk

country. She
Fenelon
answered, when

cringedbefore
short-lived

England,

not

was

same

honourable

most

expectinghim
rejectAlencon she

Court
not

Paris

to

sponsor to Charles's

English ministers and the

shocked than the Queen.
lastingly
The

to

English conscience
"

by the fox,

hen

hind

the

so

the

the

And
the

fine

protesting

of

utterances

the

bassadors.
am-

the robber, so the

lion, so Abel by Cain,"

journeyerslain by

is the

So

more

were

France, Burleighexclaimed
greatest crime that there

marked

also

in Paris

envoys

Crucifixion.

the

since

been

had

committed

had

Fenelon,

EVE

BARTHOLOMEW'S

ST.

AFTER

the

by

that
Grant that they were
Smith.
guilty,
said Sir Thomas
they dreamed treason in their sleep. What have the innocent
and children done at Lyons, at Rouen, at Caen, at
women
men,
"
Charles tried
when
And
Will God
La Rochelle ?
sleep?
"

"

There is no
excuse,"
Walsingham
If the Huguenots were
the envoy
exclaimed
reallyguilty,
with
not by murder."
justice,
they should have been punished
did not agree with Walsingham.
this point Smith
But on
to

affair to

the

excuse

"

'

"

"

He

believed

in

"

said that

innocence, and

Charles's

he esteemed
sorry for the King, whom
of the
monarch
was
living." And Fenelon
He told Leicester that the King detested the
.

he

was

sincerest

the
.

opinion.

same

and

massacre

avenge it. Elizabeth, as usual, steered a middle

recall Walsingham to England, but the
course
; she did not
cold.
the two Courts remained
relations between
In whatever
the news
was
received, and whether
way
would

soon

and
by Catholics or Protestants, nowhere, except in Rome
Spain, did it benefit Catherine's reputation. And, even
althoughPhiliphad praisedher, his agent was clear as to her
There is no need to bear her any good will for what
motives.
she has done," wrote
she has only
Cuniga to his master :
"

"

acted

in her

King, or

interests,not

own

"

in those of the State."

the Venetian Michieli's comment.

when the French envoy wanted

Rome,"

he broke

to

in,

"

It is la

assure

would

not

to the

wanting." Among

never
was

the humour

France
.

of those

iffectionedto your

have

Madame,"

have

so

outside

Crown, that
197

taken

Huguenot

do

before

on

thing,the

wrote

and

de Lorraine

decided
to

'"

finish.

let him

the Princes of

this truth is certain

which

massacres

kingdom of

same.

"

Queen-Mother,

that the

'*

the

that

that the Cardinal

...

the effect made

sua

him

affirms that what has been done in Paris was

he quitted France.
If any one
wants

pretextsare

the

of her son,

vendetta,"was
As for the Emperor of Austria,

plothad caused the mischief,he

hear from

all in those

at

Germany,
thence

one

indubitable

"

place throughout the

extremelymoved
your

country who

even

though they

and

altered

are

be

well-

entirely

THE

YEARS

LATER

OF

Catholic, they cannot

rDE'

CATHERINE
satisfied with

rest

MEDICI
ever.
what-

excuse

any

all that has been

done to you alone

they impute
and
to Monseigneurd'Anjou
since,Madame, I myself
believe nothing of all this matter, I greatlydesire to write and
beg you to guard yourselfbetter than you have done."
.

For

and

But

blamed

then, few of those who

even

her with

Catherine

credited

plan of generalslaughter.The Nuncio,

the current
Salviati, it is true, brings forward
report that
Navarre's
a
wedding was
trap laid to catch Protestants ;
the

deliberate

said, had

bride, he

declared

if

that

an

she

is

not

were

wronged as a
finallydisposed of by

would

to

eye

de

Fille

be

the

this

purpose
in
married
But

France.
Paris

fact that

was

when

she

Paris, she
the

story
thought,
after-

an

meant
that the ceremony
to be at Blois, where
was
limited.
That
the final choice of Paris appeared

space was
to the Admiral's

opportunityfor
The

doubts

began

enemies

to

his murder

the

to

as

providethem
is another

of the

nature

heaven-sent

matter.

thoughtsoffered

men's

with

which

scheme
the

soon

problems to
the mind that have since so much
far
: how
perplexed posterity
the whole
affair was
of it was
premeditated; how much
solved.
settled at Bayonne. The questionis now
practically
of
Discoveries
old ones, a
new
documents, fresh lightupon
of ancient records
all point alike to one
critical investigation
business was
answer
not planned in the form
: that the hideous
which it finally
assumed, and that Catherine was hurried into it.
to occupy

same

"

the less,it is apparent that some

scheme
certed
conwas
at Bayonne, seven
years before the catastrophe.And
have surer
ground to tread on than probability the

But,

none

here

we

terra

firma of evidence.

Soon
Don
the
she

"

after

the massacre,

September

on

"

"

Alva wrote to
have I remembered
10,

Often," he said,
Diego de Cuniga.
I
words
spoke to the Queen-Mother at Bayonne and what
I see
how
well she has
now
promised me.
kept her

word."
In

this

Huguenots

conspiracythere
believed.

historian,de Thou,

"

"

who

The
are

is

no

doubt

that

Protestants,"

contemporary

wrote

the

old

folk,have made
suspicious
concluded
at Bayonne between
Spain)to re-establish the ancient
very

publicthat a secret treatywas

the two Kings (ofFrance and
and to crush and extirpatethe new
one."
Smith, the
religion
EnglishAmbassador, believed in this,and, after the event, he
to Leicester.
wrote as much
Walsingham also took occasion
198

AFTER
to tax

with

Catherine

EVE

BARTHOLOMEW'S

ST.

the

existence of such

pact. But

they

define its nature.

did not

idea

The

of

Lord

years,"says
massacre

as

said that
As

"

massacre

was
"

Acton,
last

the

herself had
onwards.

big

no

new

had

Court

the

one.

For

ten

regarded such

of monarchs," and Catherine

been contemplated from
1562,

resource

it had

earlyas 1563,justafter the

Peace

of

Amboise, the

' '

' '

warning. Those of C
and after the Mercenaries
have taken counsel together,
it ran,
have departed,
day to givethe
they intend on one and the same
M. le Prince,
Sicilian Vespers to those of the Religion. Warn
to be on
their guard, for they
M. l'Amiral and M. d'Andelot
kill
all three on the
bad
turn
and
them
intend to play them a
same
day if theycan." And again,seven
years later,the notion
In 1570, the Archbishop of
of a generalslaughterreappears.
Nazareth
wrote to the Pope to inform him that the Treaty of
Saint-Germain, so full of advantages for the Huguenots, had
only been concluded under one understanding: that as soon
Huguenot leaders received

secret

"

to fall on
suspicionshad been lulled,the Catholics were
that this seems
the only
be added
It must
and destroy them.
of the conspiracy,and that the Archbishop,a keen
mention

their

as

partisan,would

easilybelieve

the evil

which

rumours

filled

the air.
The

five years after the

it is highly improbable that the

date of his letter to the Vatican

was

meeting at Bayonne. But

these wholesale
projectsof Catherine and Alva then assumed
likelythat the death of Coligny
proportions.It is more
and that of the principal
Huguenots (which was involved in
their chief's assassination)
the scheme
resolved upon ;
was
for both the confederates knew
well that this would be enough
to inflame the stricken Huguenots and make
them rise. Only
one

result

power.

the

could

Both

follow

took the

Huguenots were

"

same

the

annihilation

view

nothing; and

"

of the

that without
both would

Protestant

their leaders

naturallychoose

the

to attain their ends : the vendetta

between the
same
means
Guises and Chatillons,
the readiest road to their goal. But how
and when
to be done would
the deed was
naturallyhave been

left to Catherine

; and

whatever

the

plan they debated, they

would at that time have but vaguelysketched it out.
Their decision undoubtedly embodied
the popular opinion.
It would
be more
expeditiousto have a few heads cut off
ized
quickly,"was the speechof a Catholic to Alva, and it summarthe average
expectation. He and Catherine expressed
"

199

LATER

THE

YEARS

than

little more

the extreme

write

Correro

CATHERINE

OF

conclusion

DE'

MEDICI

of current

ideas.

Did

as
a
England, advisingun stropresolutif
?
of
Scots
Mary, Queen
soothingdraught
How
Catherine
tried to fulfil her pledge to Alva we
have
alreadyseen in her repeatedplotsagainstthe life of Coligny,
for his head.
culminatingin her offer,in 1569,of 5,000 crowns

not

to

for

It
a
"

this time

about

was

crucial talk took

1568 and

between

"

place between

that
1571
the Papal Nuncio.

and

her
"

had
King," she told him,
than one
day to catch the Admiral
such slaughteramong
them
to make

She

the

and

heart
and

But

her

failed and

schemes

stronger for the

it

days that
prompted

was

the

historians,' he

failure.

observed,

their

from

her

nothing more

at

and

his followers

that

it should

baffled hatred

Navarre

used

only

be

grew

in

to

after

say
jealousy alone, which

jealousy,and
Queen-Mother's

'

truths

"

for ever/'

memorable
the

also

"

The

course.

were

Protestant
these

omit

to

wrong

had

narratives.

bent
on
seeing
They are
policyfillsso great a space." And

where
nothing but religion
Catherine's
"policy" grew in scope. More and more, as
the King increased, did her enmity,
over
Coligny'ssway
fostered alike by private and by publicmotives, concentrate
the desire to

itself upon
idea, and

rid of him.

her fixed

It became

imaginationthere may have been

vague
it receded into the background beside
vengeance,

whatever

of universal
the

get

actual

ever-presentthought. And

she

knew

when

that

time for her to put it into execution, she would also have
to compass
the death of his chief colleagues,
the safety of
or

it was

herself and

hers

and

of the effect upon the

of Tosinghi'shapless shot ; her expectationthat

would

be

endangered.

again she failed.

once

Her

Huguenots
her own
would
forecastings
what

she

dreaded

The

moment

came,

terror
be

now

heard

she

half-way. When

her

made
fulfilled,
of

meet

definite

had
Fear
conspiracyof the Huguenots she lost her balance.
foible which got dominion
been, throughout her life,the one
Now
it precipitated
her.
her into action, and she committed
over
the

worst

yet, though her

And
in

of her

blunder

deed

her

life.

unpremeditated,we
thought, in the speed
was

can

with

idea

promptitude of
her familiaritywith the
she organized the massacre,
of it. The
projectsof 1562 and 1563 perhaps
vague

also

the

trace

which

"

discussions

rejectsuch

vast

with

measures

Alva
"

came
200

which

had

to her

made

help when

them

both

the hour

AFTER
struck and

quickened her

the

that

Paris was,

invention.

vermeilles ?

noces

once

purpose

set

fact

day ; the
design.

Tavannes

peril,"he

present
courtiers

born

was

this

had

her

slaughterin
the city prophesied

not

the wizard

not

whom

'"

"

would
shortly marvels
engendered,such presentiments
they did not give it birth. Its
from

remote

opinion.
"

wrote,

and

the necessary

all his chief

and

made

the consciousness

the less remains, that it sprang

none

of

was

of

Had

that

foretold

The

And

facilitated its progress.

But
conceptionmay not have been
no

remember

must

we

notion

air.

in the

know,

we

consulted

of the

And

practicable.The

more
as

les

happen

EVE

immediately surrounding atmosphere

achievement

Alva

BARTHOLOMEW'S

ST.

"

from

resolve

From

their

that

of the

from

Majesties'
affrighted

to kill the Admiral

partisans a counsel born of the occasion,

because of the imprudence of the Huguenots. Nor could the
enterprisehave been accomplished without discovery,had
it been imagined beforehand."
Correro, who discusses the matter, givesno hint that there
was
foreknowledgeof a generalbutchery,he only criticizes
its wisdom.
"It is," he writes, a common
opinionthat it
would have been enough if,from the outset, five or six heads,
and
had been disposed of. By this means,
the
no
more,
have
compact organizationof the (Protestant)
plot would
"

"

been

shattered

; the nobles

people discouraged;
invincible

the

chief with
the

nobles

while

for

they

famous

would

name.

of themselves

believe

they only
under

are
.

would

the

have

that

they are
leadershipof some

chiefs

These

intimidated, the

been

have

removed,

once

surrendered.

The
.

would
have
strippedof their generals'authority
been
pushed to the Mass, like a flock that is driven with a
stick.
But to effect this,a King was
needed full of resolution

poor,

who

And

chillyand timid,who
mother's

dared

place there

men

'

notion

'

'

or

yes

had

Prince,
young
without his
no

was

'

not say

"

out

Tavannes.

Twelve

letter to the Cardinal

God,' he said,
will
which
But the

"

grant that I may

bring joy
something
"

Coligny)proved
massacre,

in his

before

consent."

Salviati bore
in

strike the blow

would

coming.

was

one

"

it

he

and

day

contentment

(a probable

different from

wrote

of Como
one

again

to
201

his

the

before the

days
"
"

May

Lord

our

write
to

allusion

you something
His
Holiness!"

to

the

expectations.
same

sacre,
mas-

death

of

After

correspondent
"

the
"

If

THE

LATER

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

the Admiral," he commented, " had but died of that arquebus

I cannot
shot
believe that so many
people would have
been killed. When, a few days
I
wrote to your Eminence
ago,
...

in

cipherthat the Admiral had gone too far and that they were
going to rap him over the knuckles, I felt convinced that they
could
bear him
I still persuaded
no
longer; and thus was
to
when, in my ordinarydespatch,I wrote that I hoped soon
to His Holiness
give some
good news
; but I did not believe
in the tenth part of what
I now
under my
see
eyes."
The
his views in much
also broached
Spanish Ambassador
the same
strain.
stand,"
Although the French gave us to undersaid he to Philip, that their King had been planning
this blow ever
since he made
peace with the Huguenots, and
with
tax
him
althoughthey
stratagems which could not seem
when
used
permissibleeven
againstrebels or heretics,yet I
"

"

know
was

this

for

that

the

shot

fired at

projectonly fixed upon a few days before

the rest was
inspiredby circumstances."

Brant

ome

concludes,

"

sums

up the whole

who

cannot

"

matter.

get it out

the

Admiral

the event.

All

was

certain

There

of their heads

are

some," he

that

the web

spun long ago, but such beliefs are nothingbut delusions."

The
exact
degree of the King's foreknowledge has been

another

point

Catherine

of

told him
But

advisable.

Charles

equally sure

that

share

plot

in

think

the

otherwise

to

or

have
IX

been

too

to lend due

remember

to

was

studied

his nature

thought
may

be

of any
authorities who

entirelyinnocent

kill the Admiral.

have

of events

sequence
of character,

who

those

safely assume
may
of her schemes as she

much

onlyso

that

We

discussion.

much

The

absorbed

in

the

importanceto the consideration

that men
do not wholly belie

of Charles, his conduct

qualities
and after it,invalidate such a charge and
before the event
his mother's influence could not compel
go to prove that even
dread
him
to such a piece of treachery. Whatever
vague
haunted
the atmosphere,for him, as far as Coligny was
cerned,
conit took no distincter form than a resolve to keep special
him.
And
in matters
guard over
apart from the Admiral,
have
he would
had
hesitation in lying. To
no
assuage
their

temperaments.

All the

the moment
smooth, there was
nothing
Catherine, to make
not
would
that he, the promise-breaker,
promise, trusting
to

the

time
more

to

make

his

readilyto

he lived in the moment

defection

him,
and

easy.

This

course

because, possessingno

nothing further
202

came

sequence,

ofthad sequence

YEARS

LATER

THE

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

cracy
of the clergy,
the aristoregalauthorityagainstthe aggression
the
and the democracy." These
whom
men,
among
Protestant-minded
Montmorencys were prominent,soon became
allied to the Huguenots. And
to
as
soon
as
they had grown

power, they found a chief to their hand in Alencon, who

made
himself the leader of the group, not from any moral
conviction, but from disaffection to the King and his mother,
be

and

because

him

out

The

of

the

grudge that he bore them

recent
conspiracy.
of this faction was, perhaps,the

of the

formation

result of the

with

keeping

most

lasting
dairyings

It also ended, for the time, the

terview
suitor. Catherine had a crucial in-

massacre.

of Elizabeth

for

her French

with

Walsingham. As a pretext for England'spresent

he urged the Queen-Mother'sbehaviour to Spainand her
distrust,
with regard to Anjou, which would
former dealings
most
now
lomew.
be regardedas a mere
preparationfor the Eve of St. Bartholikely
That Eve," he said sternly, was, in truth, a declaration
of war
againstthe Protestant Princes of Germany. And
her
what, above
all, about
betrayal of the Admiral ?
evaded
Catherine
direct answer.
Our latelyconcluded
a
"

"

"

"

alliance
what

made

was

have

with the

Queen,

failed her ?

we

"

she

the Admiral.

with

not

asked

"

And

"

you

In

know,

your King Henry VIII

were
widely
very good friends,yet their views of the Pope were
different."
the
not
Madame, the times were
same
; there

Monsieur, that

I and

Francois

King

our

"

yet

were

as

that

business

invention

about

confederacies

Crown.
she

as

when

he

down

Spain and

ill at

was

of his

thought.

she

your
said, and

In

was

will which

detestable
Blood

of the

not

he

but
so

ing
feast-

of

sure

made

once

Rochelle, he advised the King to keep

quillity
England as much as he could, that the tran-

own

parried.

desire

Princes

is

All

La

realm

replywas like an echo of

are
singinghis praisewhen
Catherine

Bayonne

Queen

"

PhilipII."

nothing at Bayonne

was

Besides, your

amusement.

the Admiral

at

stir the

to

There

with

Bayonne

at

Admiral's

of the

againstthe
and

interviews

no

might
his

be ensured."

speech after the

Walsingham's
"

massacre.

You

Again
you say that," he answered.
All that I can
is
that
I passionately
say

d'Alencon,"
Queen's marriage with the Due
her
Is
narrowly.
paused. Walsingham eyed

it," he asked,

"

"

son's

your

"

intention

to

"

grant libertyof
"

science
con-

And
Yes," she repliedcurtly.
subjects?
he continued.
My son desires that
libertyof worship ?
form of worshipthroughoutFrance."
there should be only one
to his

"

"

204

ST.

AFTER
"

BARTHOLOMEW'S

his Edicts

Then, Madame,

My son has
nullifythem."

"

will not

carried into effect ? T

certain things that compel him
to

discovered

"

EVE
be

your wish is,Madame, that there should

live without
The
be people who
religionat all ?
any
Calvinists,Monsieur, will be suffered in the same
way as the
Then

"

Catholics

suffered

are

if she had

This
govern

can

too

was

her

his,"

govern

never

so, the Edict

done

kingdom

have

she likes

put

end

an

the

realityit

could

never

have

personaleffect was
August. The King was
he

forth
his

"

her.

towards

her.

One

hunting,the
thoughts,he got

he

was

He

advised

with

your

cried the

on

to

fatal

days

had

He

again.

of

this time

certain

brutalitydistinguished
months
later,when
day, some
silenced his brooding

that

your
"

"

God's

went

Who

"

that

La

Rochelle

good servants,
"

He

mon

of all !

"

who
than

Dieu!

is the

you

cause

cause

He

"

of

turned

Groaning and
exceedingwroth."
her room,
and findingherself with

to
away
familiar among

of the most

but

the

are
"

at

of your
hounds."

many

King savagely

said," quoth she,

I

so

and

huntsmen

weeping,she
some

those

tyranny, and from

sole distraction

Blood, you
left her,
his heel and

this ?

of

dissolved ;

be

to

same

get angry with those

to

causing death

are

semblance

and his hounds.1

angry with his huntsmen
fits/" said Catherine who was
present,"you were

mon

better

the

never

opposed

manner

The

of her.

produced by

his mother's

from

Mistress

been.

One

freed himself

to

marriage appeared

Your

King of France will

the colloquy. Wal-

the

"

nothing definite out

singham got
the projectfor

"

My

edict ;
ably."
inviol-

observed

been

for Catherine.

as

said, and

she

would

much

"

in

England."
promised anything by

by your

has

mistress, Madame,

mistress

"

I had

her
to

"

women

do

with

"

I have

lunatic

always
and

that

anything of him."
his spirits.He remained
Charles did not recover
gloomy and
to the last day of his life. "Take
morose
good care to be cautious
advice
and
talk cautiously,"was
the Due
de Longueville's
for you
will no
to Walsingham,
longer be speaking to the
and
known
the which
gentle King, benign
gracious,
you have
is entirelychanged. And
He
heretofore.
there is nowadays
has
of
in
his
there
countenance
than
more
ever
severity
been of amenity."
But
he did not
again incline towards the Protestants.
never

could make

"

La

Rochelle

was

at that

moment

205

being besiegedby Anjou's

army.

LATER

THE

YEARS

1572 onwards, real

From

CATHERINE

OF

the Duchesse
wrote
Madame,"
mother, Ren6e of Ferrara, I am
"

grievesyou
that

I should

; but

the

de

King

grievedto
feel it

not

is about

King

every soul in his kingdom to go

and his Queen attended
of Navarre

and
will

presence
three of his brothers.

people

on

in

this

kingdom

will command

words

sound

apparent death

places
"

your

againstlibertyof

they

These
The

it

avenge

decided
fear

Papal Nuncio

this

was

tell you

and

to Mass.
Mass

worship,and
you

to

do

are

And

this

so

their

morning

so

firmly

resolute that all

own

faith,that I

so."

"

206

the

de Conde
afraid they

epitaph of St. Bartholomew's

liberty its stealthygrowth in

the real harvest

manding
com-

the Prince

the
of

conceal

Edict

an

If you do not go, I am

followers.
They have
shall confess

anything

right to

frame

to

you

of the

refused them.
to her Protestant

Guise

from

in the

MEDICI

libertyof worship was

"

that

DE'

of the

massacre.

Eve.
hidden

XI

CHAPTER

The

End

of

the

Reign

of

Charles

IX

XI

CHAPTER

Catherine's

IF

it

The

paralysis

moral
which

them

mad,

died

remorseful

had

fell upon

an

that

the

it
in

taken

part

But

whether

despair.

by

prey

ence
indiffer-

horrors

the

who

the

was

reigned
of

those

blame

inert, their

or

result

crushed

else

or

country

there

it

of

Many

just experienced.

had

The

natural

the

but

was

injured her abroad,

ill-reputation at home.

her

to

against her.
throughout

turned

had

IX

had

massacre

touch

final

of Charles

Reign

the

in

part

added

now

tide

of

of the

End

The

Queen-Mother.

reported a conversation
and
it was
with
Catholic
two
had
which
he had
gentlemen,
views.
We
of
current
fair epitome
repaired all three
a
where
he wrote,
to
me.
room,"
they began to gossip with
a
the
How
trust
can
earth/ said they,
Queen-Mother,
on
you
A

certain

hers, Dardiani,

of

creature

"

"

"

the

seeing
much

on

think

that

lady

in

fashion

as

not

have

under

follows

of

the
the

the

and

"

held.
his

brother,

of Navarre.
of
son,

easily

the

all

she

Monsieur
with

Longueville

le

Due

only

having

and

the

Due

As

towards

desires

de

and

the

was

then

she

(d'Alencon)
scarlet

de
209

fever.
Bouillon

cause

on

and

"

to

have

in

which

the

mitted,
com-

poison

to

however

(whose

she

horrible

of the

Next

that

poisoned,
late Queen

attempted
who,

the

of

nation,

her

and

it is

misfortunes

d'Andelot

Chatillon,

alone

The

the

avenged
long list

estimation
Sieur

late

be

good

rest,

our

to

"

the

to

in

because

kingdom,

the

God

of all the

cause

the

it, for

for

as

either

for

fears

religion."
they supposed

the

do

with
she

enacted,

hath

not

of

Cardinal

France

do

bears

shows

had

to

Him/

she

that

Thereafter,

massacre

her

She

she

pretext

untrue,

will

poor

price,

murders

though

our

that

hatred

always

was

in

happened

It

is the

she

that

she

much

fears

devil

see

whatever

other

however

the

know

anything

none,

to

irreconcilable

which,

has

all

we

the

as

religion

impossible
that

side

one

believes

same

that

tragedies

the

got
Due

doctor
p

off
de
was

THE

hanged

YEARS

for it at

Sedan),and,

This
in

is but

men's

whether
which

are

current
rhymes that were
flow of doggerelabout
her,

the

paraphrase of

mouths

the

"

all,she got Duville

than

more

MEDICI

Poitien."

poison the Prince

to

DE'

CATHERINE

OF

LATER

common

others.

There

are

two

printed in a journalof the time,

probably popular both before
1575, was

under

penned by Huguenots or
sufficiently
expressive.
bien

Pour

voir

sea

Catherine

De

la

consonance

Jhesabel,

et

d'Israel,
L'une, ruyne
de la France
L'autre, ruyne
l'idolle

Jesabel maintenoit
Contraire

la saincte

Par

trahison

Par

Tune

Les

prophetes
l'aultre

De

ceulx

L'une

cruaulte

et

furent

Et

sacrez,

mourir

cent

mille

qui suyvent l'Evangille;

ayder

se

pour

bien,
de bien,

du

horame

mourir

Fist

massacrez

Dieu

faict

parolle,
papaulte

la

maintient

L'aultre

ung
n'est pas assouvie
et la vie
n'a les biens

L'aultre
S'elle

le

Enfin

Que
Par

differente

Sera

The
the
date

second

date
and

of

en

les chiens

Car

divine
de

charongne1

la

Mais

Jhesabel

mengent

vangeance

une

tel

fut

jugement

les chiens

Catherine

point,

ce

la vouldront

ne

poem,

after.
ta

Laisse
O

ruine

Et
En

porte
ta

couleur,
rouge
!
de la France
malheur

nostre

ville de

Florence.

*****

L'atheiste

le moqueur

et

divine

De

toute

Te

conduiront

Et

seront

essence,

de

ton

bon

coeur

asseurance.

*****

Oste-nous

ceste

Seullement

par

langueur,
ton

Flesh.
210

absence,

point.

that

THE

YEARS

LATER

Did

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

feel any twinges as he

did he cheer himself with

the Cardinal

old

accomplice,

she

was

or

of those

morality
and

even

one

worse

he ?

than

worse

he

One

the average sinner

had always some
average

the

fell below

"

"

doings made

refer to, whose

to

of his

the

is the fact that

days

who

spoke thus

thought that
accountingfor the base

of

way

MEDICI

his

own

seem

harmless.
Catherine's
A

her crimes.

often

talisman

is

"

who' acts

woman

frequented wizards
governed by their counsels
made

of her enemies

and

round

run

sons

fall down

bracelet made

of

different

watched
board

after another,
each should die a

one

that

in character.

and

who

of her

of

"

skull

Queen

wore

exaggeratedrumours

symbolic stone graven with

magicians'hieroglyphs one link formed from a

and

human

who

woman

of them

links, each
devils

lent itself to

appearance

"

who
who

"

And

the

astrologersand was
had portraitfigures
three wax
saw
images

covered

with

green baize and

cian,
presage, accordingto the magisudden
death
might easilybe

"

their murder, and that of others.

There
was
of her composition,and
sensitive spot in the whole

suspected of
not

had

she

ear

she

Had
certain

for

publicopinion.
possessedthat organ, she might

no

inimical

symptoms

her desires.

to

have

The

recognized

enormities

of

taught the country a lesson the difference

between
On the Huguenots'side,also,
the King and the Crown.
thingswere changed. Till now, their rebellion had been covered
of the Princes of the Blood. But both of these had
by the names
seceded.
now
Conde\ their hope, had played them false ;
had!

Royalty

"

gone
and had underresist,he had followed Navarre
At last the Huguenots stood
a
temporary conversion.
A shower
their own
democratic.
basis,and that basis was

too weak

on

to

of

Republican pamphlets
their opinionsbroadcast.

from

Protestant

The

chief of

pens disseminated
them
Hotman's
was

frangaise,"directed againstthe
antiquatedlegalspiritinspired by old Rome, with its false
"

Franco-Gallia,"

idea

of

Its

freedom.
l(

was

expose

La

libertywhich
appeal to the

"

was,

in

the

could
"

its time

France-Turquie,"another

Catherine's

wish

safety

of the

to
to

reduce

own

212

; and

to

that she had

not

to

political

VAssemblee

perhaps,
to
treatise,settingout

France

danger

State.

exist without

sainte autorite de

truth, before

Empire. Catherine had

thought. It was
to

Gaule

civil

nationale

or

"

her

power,

so,

an

Ottoman

tant
killed Protesand

danger

END

THE

REIGN

THE

OF

OF

IX

CHARLES

Huguenots proved it by gettingbolder. They duly

that day,
; on
kept the anniversary of the St. Bartholomew
The

provincesof Languedoc and Haute Guienne met to organize

resolved
Civile a Republican federation which
their Union
of Catherine.
bold terms
to demand
They did so, and took
her by surprise.She lost all her self-possession.If Louis
the

"

"

"

still alive and in the heart

were
Cond6," she exclaimed,
in Paris and had 50,000 foot and
of France, if he were
20,000
horse, he would not have had the insolence to ask the half of
de

lay claim to."

They did not get what they wanted,

what

these

their
asserting

Its conciliation

in

was

wise step and sent the Protestant La Noue,

defended Mons, as his intermediaryto the Rochellois.

actually took
had

who

succeeded

the two
strugglebetween
religions
Rochelle, the Huguenot stronghold.
Charles
most
important measure.

La

at

they

The

force.

stillcentred

was

but

"

They agreed to receive him, but not as an emissary, merely

found the town
tered
as
a privateperson." He
admirably adminisand
absolutelyfirm in its intentions. It would not
and the King prepared to
the concessions demanded,
make
attack it. A siegefollowed, conducted
by Anjou, who was
backed by Guise and Aumale
rades,
; and also by less familiar comanxious
to prove
the
his
first
also
zeal of their conversion.
trial,was
Alencon, on
the
defence
of
heroic
town
the
assailants. The
belongs
among
than
those
of
anity.
Christito
Testament
Old
to
the
of
the
more
days
Conde

The
in

and

Navarre,

who

the

reinforced

women

throng upon
boilingpitch, stones,
a

were

and

men

the towers, whence

showed

selves
them-

they poured down

the
cauldrons, upon
enemy
Let God show
beneath.
Four times the sixty-eighth
Psalm,
from
the battlements, and it seemed
His face," resounded
as
even

"

if the citizens' prayer

they could watch

granted. From

were

all the

their
of their

movements

high position
besiegers,

For they were

safe,even
they themselves felt secure.
of shell-fish having
againstfamine, an exceptionalabundance
On
to their coast
at this time.
come
May-Day, in their
the ramparts, as if grim
on
triumph,they planteda hawthorn
Their
itself had blossomed.
not without
war
rejoicingwas
ened
and weakof their foes was
reason
disorganized,
; the army
while

by distrust.
had

threatened

Jean d'Angely
outlook

was

More

than

to

desert it and

or

Angouleme

cheerless and

Conde\ Navarre, and Alencon

once

to
;

throw

for

there seemed
213

themselves

the
but

into St.

Anjou's
littlehope ahead.

moment,

THE
It

LATER

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

MEDICI

DE'

at this

that a longexpected event

dejectedmoment
his
the conclusion
changed
prospects and hastened
of the siege. The
the
of
throne
Poland
died ;
King
fell vacant, and Anjou was
most
looked upon
his
as
probable
took

was

place which

The

successor.
a

rival,but

the

day,

Archduke

those

and

who

Anjou

Ernest,

worked

Emperor,
candidate

for the French

was
won

elected.

was

of 1573,
Early in the summer
Huguenots. The majorityof them
of conscience

of the

son

peace
were

with

was

made

only

to have

the

liberty

amnesty for all that was

past. But in
all three
La Rochelle, Nimes, and
which
were
Montauban,
of worship was
pledgednot to build fortresses,liberty
granted,
and

an

although the garrisonswere

excepted from the rule. High
officials and
gentlemen might celebrate christeningsand
than ten
marriagesin their privatehouses, provided no more
This
to

the worthless

was

be

present besides

were

persons

the

coin with

which

the

the

fantastic and

monarch, with
necklet, and two
of

they did
them,

womanish

"

not

"

rather

manners

which

the grave
Charles showed
to

command,

he
a

Poland.

at last to be

serious than

off

has

had

duly
When

by

jene

The

thorn

removed

from

they first

they were to hail

his goldand amber
they stood amazed.

sais

has," wrote
otherwise, when
He

quoi of

the solemn

one

for
and

parture
speed his brother's dethat had prickedhim so long
his side,and Anjou's military
to

intolerable,would

ever

over

came

nature."

feverish haste

than

more

hands, and

earringsin each ear,

find him undignified.

sake, he puts
affability's

was

Huguenots

being whom

his beautiful

as

Yet

sponsors.

contented.

In the meantime, the Polish Ambassadors

to make
Anjou a formal offer of the throne.
saw

the

parents and

now

cease

to

thoughts. He was oftener than usual the prey of

his dark imaginations.Despite his cool head for affairs,he
had grown
incapable of sustained attention. He reasoned
less than before, and the state of his mind was
even
expressed
by his countenance, increasingly
haggard and distraught.In
this condition,his jealousyof Anjou became
hatred, and he
for his own
in France
easilysuspectedhim of lingering
purposes
which
fear
had
truth
in
for
some
a
it,
Anjou was
ately
passionrankle in his

"

in love with
tear

himself

further
he

from
"

the

her

Either
delay.
where
said savagely,

Princesse
side.
he

or

de

But

Charles

Anjou

Catherine
214

could

Conde, and
must

would

leave the

could hear him

"

hardly

brook

no

kingdom,"
and

Anjou

END

THE

thought best

stopped by

was

assures

this

than

further, he would
went

will not

him

son

far

as

her

the report of such

enough

to

well knew
is

her rashness

prising
sur-

been

alone have

speech would

lay his death

to

men

cause

Catherine

She

partingwords.

morceau

in Lorraine,
Go ! but you

"

farewell.

reluctant

stay long,"were
;

the

"

him.

Beaumont

as

frailtyof Charles's constitution,but

the

panied
accom-

towards

journey

prepared for

already been

bade

she

there

Court

back, and that the fatal

come

with her favourite

on

and

one

never

had

Italianize"

the whole

at

scare

contemporary

obstacle

and

of his

IX

Charles's course
Vitry-sur-Marne,
of small-poxand he remained
behind.
that he was
us
stopped by a worse
much
a
:
warning that if he went

but

CHARLES

OF

King

first stages

the

on

Marches,

German

The

to start.

him

REIGN

THE

OF

at her door.

with her to Court, it is well to follow Henri

his way.
For itwas
at the close of this journeythat he made
on
which to
the strange confession of his part in the massacre
Before

we

return

risen to
It

which

but
strange for belief,

too

seems

many

has

one

no

yet

disprove.
the

was

Henri's

event.

of 1573, about
a
year after the fatal
him
took
through the Netherlands.

summer

road

who did not let him

refugees,
the people
he travelled through the towns
go scot-free. When
throngedto watch him, and the Huguenots did not keep silence.
He heard their voices raised againsthim as he passed,and the
and by
which were
hurled at him by men
insults and reproaches
The

country

and

by children. By
alreadyunstrung,nor

women

he

was

by

his

experiences.He

he

and
been

so

been

Prince

had

he

his

that he most

When

chosen

he

laid there

came

Ie

his

would

host, who
The

haunted

was

certainly

first

by

have

to

seems

night

visions.

have

that

the

When

he

vast

prayed to forget:
The

the

massacre

to

down
were

walls
"

in

to

covered

were

curious

table, his eye fell

broadsides
was

in the midst

over,

of the Eve

with

life-like

Paris, in the Provinces, 'fthe

nicety with

they
eveningbanquet
"

He

suite of apartments, he stood still,

terrified. He
suddenly found himself in the

to

St. Bartholomew.

scenes

stay with the Elector Palatine,

at the notion of sleeping
uneasy

grim humour.

slept there

paintingsof

was

Germany

strengthened

he destined to be

roof.

known

of

confounded,
world

he

man

shown

was

been

Protestant

the time that he reached

to

was

well have

may

beneath

of

full of French

was

on

the

the

same

and
on

diligentart."

printedpapers
theme.

WThen

tapers out, and he lay

in

LATER

THE

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

State-bed, the suggestionsof his

his

followed

have

yet completed.

not

was

those

upon
"

convictions.

of the

The

MEDICI

imaginationmust

own

Elector.

And

had

Elector

day, he took

One

DE'

the Prince

his torture

the courage of his

and two or three

gentlemen into his Privy Closet. There, at the first

the portraitof Monsieur
the late
glance,he (Anjou) saw
and exceedingnatural.
Saith the Elector
Admiral, full-length
of his

him

in

"

him

unto

to

and

you

it.

done
to

they

When

he

have

himself

rendered

had

story,Sir," was

forth from

came

with fear ; he

You

ought

great

service

covered
with
King." The Prince was
the murder
the best and the gentlest
palliated
"It was
Coligny/'hesaid," who had wanted

the whole

know

We

Christendom.

killed

the

he could."
way
to kill them
all,and
"

; you

"

He

confusion.

in

would

He

well, Monsieur

man

greatestCaptain

the

to have

not

that

know

You

thought the

the

been

warned

thereof."

all the Elector answered.

closet,the Prince

exhibition of the

was

pale

portrait
portended

himself.

danger to
The experiences
of
The dire impressiondid not leave him.
hours preyed upon his jaded nerves, and by the
those sleepless
time he reached
to live,
Cracow, the capitalwhere he was
It was
in a high fever.
he was
during a night there, when
pursued by fancies and bad dreams which allowed him no
"
Monsieur
Tel
(hisfriend Biron)
rest, that he summoned
to his bedside, that he might relieve his mind
by confession.
I have made
As he entered, Anjou called him by his name.
here," he said, to impart to you my miseries this
you come
night,which have so disturbed my repose. For I have been
Eve, and of how the business
thinkingof St. Bartholomew's
was
accomplished concerningwhich you have possiblynot
some

"

"

"

"

And

about to relate it."

the real truth, such as I am
now
ment
having thus spoken, he gave vent to the detailed state-

But

happened, which
drowned
dissipationsoon

and

he

known

of what

He

rid of

left

was

was,
one

no

was

wiser than

afterwards

the

duly set

down.

haunting remembrance,

before.

it is true, safe in Poland, but Charles had only got

this time
From
brother to be plagued by another.

onward, Alencon

becomes

prominent

person.

the outset

At

well-disposedtowards him, if only out of

King was
not
returned.
The
dislike to Anjou, but his sentiment
was
to the three brothers was
their antipathy
one
feelingcommon
the

to
to

one

another, and, in Alencon's

Catherine.

"

The

fault

case,

the

feelingwas

extended
"

hers," says Michieli, for she

was

216

Francois

de

Valois,

Due

BlBLIOTHEQUE

Francois
From

photograph

d'Ai

NATIONALE.

Quesnel.
by

A.

Giraudon

VERS

I580

THE
and

LATER
he

his

saw

to reach

YEARS

his

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

opportunityfor doing so.

goal

to

was

himself

make

The

the

MEDICI

readiest road

champion

of the

not
as
Huguenots.
Politiqueswere
yet distinct or
to
form
The Huguenots,
a separate party.
enough
the other hand, were
on
crying out for a leader. They had
been accustomed
of Princes : Alencon seemed
to the generalship

The

numerous

destined

Providence

by

were
negotiations

lived in

of his own,
Protestant

made

of

leanings;

of them

most

his power,
they made

strange surroundingsamidst
up

and

command,

vacant

them.

between

opened

Alencon

fill the

to

elements

little court

with
grave men
and gay women
and
alchemists,
whose
interests were
bound
up in

medley

roues

adventurers

who

so

him

believe that

far worked

easilyupon his credulitythat

Spain,the Pope, and his mother

ant
importleagueagainsthis life. And he had a more
less
he in
than
This
was
Navarre, no
fellow-conspirator.
other way
his opposite:
terror for his life,although in every
who won
brimful of vitality,
well
men
as
a man
gay, gallant,
He
of V esprit
also the embodiment
as
was
Gaulois,
women.
Alencon.
Such
the
contrast
a
to the Italian-spirited
were
tants.
two Princes to whom
now
came
deputationsfrom the Protesall in

were

It

was

Alencon

earlyin 1574,
had

and

the Court

at Saint-Germain.

was

already been manoeuvring

to

get the Lieutenant-

Generalship,but his schemings to this end had failed. The

King began to show signs of serious illness. It seemed an
for the confederates' enterprise.
opportune, ifa reckless,moment
and
There were
secret comings and goings mysteriousmeetings
transactions
that
of
the
was
long colloquies.And the upshot
"

Alencon

consented

the officialchief of the Protestants and

to escape from Saintcertain date he was

to be

the

Politiques.On a
Germain
and to jointhem

with

view

their side,were
to send troopsto cover
which
he pledgedthem his faith.
on
the
projectfor seizing
knew

of the

his utmost

plot and

person
was

to dissuade

of the

ever

an

Alencon

to

his

action.

flight the

There

"

was

even

They,

on

condition
a

further

King. Montmorency, who

of moderation, did
executingit. In the hope

advocate

from

far as to approach
so
him, he went
conciliating
his behalf.
and beg the Lieutenant-Generalshipon
of

the

King

Charles

interfered.

This
disinclined to grant
which the King desired to send
not the only occasion on
was
For although
her off to Poland, to the Court of his brother.
he was
free from her influence,he had no force to break her
was

not

it,but

218

Catherine

END

THE

REIGN

THE

OF

CHARLES

OF

IX

As ever, alert for Anjou's interests,she vetoed Alenpower.

futile.
con's appointment, and Montmorency's efforts were
had he listened to this
It would have been well for Alencon
wise

arranged. At
the Huguenot
Alencon

their

under

blunder

But

guard.

there

skilfully

settled

place,

Guitry
remained
by surprise,

to

unfortunately,

was,

early,with

arrived too

been

arrive, and
Saint-Germain, and put

from

forth

steal

to

was

himself
a

plans, it is true, had

certain day and hour, and at
Guitry, were
troops, under
His

counsellor.

insufficient

troops ;

half dazed

and irresolute,
Alencon,
and his confederate, the Comte
de la Mole, seeing him
thus
and
lost courage
confessed all to Catherine.
She
vacillating,
to Vincennes.
took
frightand the Court fled precipitately
taken

Here

and Navarre

Alencon

have

subsided, had
in their

not

was

supervision.The
they been content

strict

subjected to

Princes

"

natures

fresh

unsatisfied.

put under

were

their

flightwas

to be followed

by

Annibale
These
had
was

Coconnas
persons

they

not

no

"

would

of arrest

might

quiet. But

restless ambitions

projected
"

and
now

this

remained

this time

of both

by them.

La

Mole

Piedmontese, Count

very trustworthyagent.
be interesting
in any way
figures

not

touched

been

lie

to

rebellion led

kind

disturbance

again their accomplice,

togetherwith

was

with

For

romance.

Coconnas

de Nevers
of Marie, the Duchesse
(thesisterof
de Guise),and La Mole of no less a Princess
Duchesse

the lover

the young

of marriage had
Two
Marguerite of Navarre.
years
Catherine,
taught that lady experience,but not morals.
according to her daughter,had allowed her little chance of
tried to sacrifice her to
more
learningthem, and had once
than

policy. Close upon the massacre,

to keep well with the Catholics,
M

to

her."

unmarry

the
had

Queen-Mother, anxious
tried hard, said Margot,
had failed. The

in this effort she

But

wife's standard
however, doubtless lowered, and
was,
young
became
to her. The
the path of dalliance
prettyquicklyknown
La
with
connection
Mole
eventful
her
time for
of
was
an
period
with Alencon,
the birth of her great friendship
to make, a few years later,such a chapterof political

her.

It marked

which

was

intrigueand

such havoc

to work

her memoirs,
stratagem and means

"

my

run

to him,

I had

brother
charm

done

always

been

each other,and

were

that he had
seen

as

to

at the Court.

Alencon

to the

used

that

me,

"

At this

every

might

vow

season,"
kind

of

ship
friend-

for hitherto, seeing

bred outside the Court, we had hardly

King

not familiar
219

together."

THE

LATER

How

much

this

YEARS
she

OF

CATHERINE

in his counsels

was

occasion, it is not

MEDICI

DE'

and

Mole

in those of La

judge. She would certainly

reliable colleague
than her lover/and perhaps
a more
had she completelyorganizedthe scheme, the result would
have been more
As it was, the watchful Catherine
satisfactory.
discovered all. La Mole and Coconnas were
and the
imprisoned,
Marshals
of Montmorency and Cosse, also seriouslysuspected
of complicity,were
condemned
to a semi-captivity.
Only
The
Conde, also implicated,
to
Queenescaped
Strasburg.
Mother lost no time in summoning Alencon, and had with him
on

have

of those

one

in

to

easy

been

dread

interviews

remembering them.

dissociate him

from

"

which

She knew

the victim

made

tremble

cost she must

that at whatever

nocence.
the rest, and must
pretendto prove his inhe
have you done, my son," she asked as
came

What
into her presence,
all
and will you kindly hasten to disavow
that has been plannedin your name
beneath
bent
?
Alencon
her iron will,and wrote a solemn declaration of his ignorance
of the whole affair.
We," it began, son and brother of the
"

"

"

"

and
of France, having heard that some
impostorhas sown
followed
and the remainder
spread false reportsagainstus
suit. Navarre
the next
to undergo the ordeal in the
was

King

"

"

his brother-

Queen-Mother's presence. More dramatic than

in-law, he wept most piteously,
sheddinghot
"

innocence," and put his

But

he

to the

name

of statement.

kind

same

his defence,a brilliantly

To
effective document.
of a lawyer she added the intuition of a woman.
was

to

his

over

Alencon, for his wife had written

off better than

came

tears

lucidity

the

lover

Her

greaterjeopardy than her husband, but she knew

be the great lady and to keep up wifelydecorum.

how

in

"

God

to draw
grace,"she wrote,
up the paper so well
that he (Navarre)was
satisfied with it,and the Commissioners
astonished to see how excellently
were
I had preparedit."
The
been increasing.Lung
King's illness had meanwhile
disease had made
rapid progress, and he was in a dangerous

lent

me

the

condition.

Anjou
mean

"

far away,
Alen con's success
might, at any
his usurpation of the throne.
Thus, when
rooms

of the

King, the

added

to

searched

were

face

and

image

wax

With

moment,
"conthe spirators'
found
was

fear
piercedwith pins,superstitious

That
anger.
believed
originalwas

strict

wrath.

fresh fuel to Catherine's

This added

was
investigation
doll,and he proved to

such

an

even

among

image

made

to

be

less

no

220

be

must

fatal to

was

the

enlightenedpeople.

discover
a

the

person

creator

than

the

of the

Queen-

THE

END

REIGN

THE

OF

favourite

man,

"

in black.

A very
Mole's Trial. But

sometimes

but

of

woman

"

Catherine
"

afraid.
of the

did

La

to be

le
"

Procureur," she

I heard

image
to

me

has

in La

King

at

she

wrote

mortally

was

to

the Proem

eur

Cosmo

said

waxen

that this
also in

his person, and

the heart of which
figure,

figurewas found among

his lodging at Paris he

La

had

on

and

In

found.

been

the

the
told

was

is

pierced
Mole's

has

many
Pray tell

like.

confessed, and
that is so,

case

all,

stabs in her heart.

two

evening that

this

"

this

of the

version ;

possessions books and papers

have
everything that Cosmo
may

me

always
described

was

that

mistress,with

Alencon

that

wears

dressed

it is a certain fact that he constructed

son
a

is

of the
againstthe injustice

not

credit this

But

has made

chattels ; and

for

own

not

pricks,and

evil

his

Parlement,

that he
with

found

sometimes

and

image, he declared, if properly

The

be

and

he

so

"

cried out

Mole

Monsieur

nothingat all.
thingwhich my

"

powerfulperson

charge againsthimself.
inspected,would

stuff ones,

was

face is not

whose

"

stiffbreeches, and

He

Ruggieri.

astrologer, Cosmo
well-known
to the public
a swarthy
well made, who
plays on instruments,
Mother's

IX

CHARLES

OF

whether

pleasearrange

it."

see

Ruggieri himself believed

Queen-Mother writinglater

find the
his mission, for we
the same
official that, " No

in
to

taken, than he asked if the King vomited,

if he still lost blood, and had pains in his head."
"We
must
the King's illness,
truth about
the exact
know," she adds,
sooner

Cosmo

was

"

but Cosmo

magic to
to

undo

ii."

be forced to break

must

make

that charm

When

Alencon

son

my

also.

magic

for the standards

is

love La

day.

spell. If he

has worked

Mole, he must

at eleven

Written

spoken of

of the

the

as

matter

La

Mole's

at

be forced

night: April

of fact,it augurs ill

and Coconnas'
Trial

typicalof their time, but in this case the nature of tne

hardly mattered, for the prisonerswere
certainly
in
affair
The
could
end
Alencon
and
one
guilty.
only
way.
was

evidence
Navarre

could

their two
were

not
save

not

be

accomplicesshould

condemned

going to
him.

to

let her

If she

was

and
self-preserving,
touched

story,

exposed, so
death.

But

lover
not

be

it

the

was

more

sacrificed,and
the

die without

needful that
both

of them

was
Queen of Navarre
riskingsomething to

respectable,she

was,

at

least,not

her

swashbuckling adventurousness
with
Renaissance
romance.
Although," runs
I stood so high in the good
graces of the King
"

"

he loved r*"

one

in the world

so

221

well

as

me,

I resolved

is

her
that

to ruin

THE

LATER
fortune

good

my
that

I drove

freedom,
women

to

as

have

may

Mole's

save

and

their

lives.

returned

For

seeing
with

again

all

looked inside,or made

guards never
my
I
the
to
of
masks,
planned
disguiseone
and
him
in my
to
out
take
lady,
carriage."
she meant
doubt which man
to rescue, although

that the

us

might
coach

MEDICI

that the

small

she tells

DE'

off their

prisoners as
have

that

CATHERINE

OF

in my

out

and

take

We

YEARS

which

been

plan

enjoy

to

was

unsuccessful

was

that Coconnas

the

in anger

because

they quarrelled
It
o
f
privilege escape.
threatened to betray La

the reason,
the failure of
But, whatever
the scheme
the two men
was
a fact,and
were
duly beheaded.
After the execution, their heads
were
brought in secret
intentions.

the Duchesse

Margueriteand

to

embalmed
fashioned

them

with

de Nevers

sweet

spices,curlingtheir
and

tears
hair, weeping plentiful

in

"

cesses
Prin-

the two

; and

few

Court-

weeks

"

forgettingthem.
Alencon

and

had

Navarre

got off with

lives,but not
with their liberty. No more
did the two Marshals, who were
sent to close confinement
in the Bastille. Its undue
tion
protracfor

"

are

nearlya

year

the worst

among

far that

and her

"

designsto get them

strangled,
Matters

against Catherine.

accusations

ill,so
reportedto be seriously
natural.
it came,
that their death, when
more
might seem
Tell
Montmorency did not deceive himself about his danger.
of what
she
the Queen-Mother,"he said, that I am well aware
went

so

they were

their

both

"

"

meant

to

Let her

do with

She

me.

not

much

so

use

merely send the Apothecary of Monsieur

I will take whatever

and

need

the

ceremony.

Chancellor,

But the moment

was
givesme."
not sent,
not opportune for the murder
; the apothecarywas
released.
and, in due time, the prisoners
were
The King was
now
evidentlydying, and the plot of his
brother

and

had

they

at

Navarre

the last straw

that broke

him.

"

If

too
for my
death ! But this shows
he had said bitterlyat Saint-Germain.

least waited

of ill-will"

much

was

he

"

so

consumption. The
disease in his lungs,said Pare,
had been
brought on by
excessive use of his hunting-horn,"
doubtless, on a wornacting,
An utter apathy had fallen upon
out constitution.
him, and
he lay inaccessible to all,wrapped in a pall of melancholy
He

consumed

was

by

fever

the fever of

"

which

music

alone

had

power

stir.

He

took

no

note

of

to him, her face

passing. One day, his mother came
had
been defeated
joy. The Protestants, she told him,
Normandy, and the great Huguenot, Montgomery* had been

what

was

full of

in

to

222

END

THE

his execution
But
be no
more.

taken ;
soon

were

upon
dreamed.

Catherine

would

their arch-foe

"

Charles, like the King of Israel,only

said

and

Huguenots,

the

fixed

IX

CHARLES

OF

imminent

was

the wall

his face to

turned

REIGN

THE

OF

His

nothing.

but

the

in

not

thoughts
that

way

person whose presence did not perturb him,

Her
his faithful little wife.
love, so impotent
and that was
"
I
towards
the close.
to help him
in his life-time,seemed
remember"
(Brantome'sfavourite beginning) that when he
There

was

one

"

she sat
to visit him, on
a sudden
bed, and she came
the head of his bed, as is usual, but a
down near
him, not near
littleapart, within view of him, where she stayedhardlysaying
his

lay in

word.

time

the whole

But

she

have said that she

you would
And
then she would be
heart.

gazed at him so fixedlythat

clasped him close inside her
to let

seen

fall,so

tears

some

not watching
tenderlyand secretlythat any one who was
she wiped her wet
would perceivenothing,for when
carefully
for her
eyes, she pretended to be using her handkerchief
have
been
at the griefof one
touched
nose."
Charles must
And
who had givenso much and had had so littlein return.
one

yet,at the end, it was

Now

and

of the

then

whimsical

had

he

that encircled the

crowns

love he called.

for whose

Touchet

Marie

He

desires.

of Sainte

Chdsse

for

sent

one

Genevieve,

his confessor,Sorbin, to say Sainte Genevieve's

in
his
possessedby some
Perhaps he was
prayer
presence.
he
idea that
might appease the patron Saint of Paris
vague
for the havoc he had wrought in her city. Soon after,Catherine
and

begged

entered with

her for the time

upon

29, he sent

duringhis
That

Her

the old

-vas

day

was

she

had

he said

blood

and

he

me

to

what

loved, and

nended

May

on

obey her

will become

it ?

am

me.

of

lost !

was

tended
saved.

life he had

whose

been

fictitious and, after the

to

her

Huguenot

his eyes

where

not

What
me,

I am, so
will become

into

whose

Full well I know

223

an

all

"

faith.

staring

Ah, what

God, forgiveme

I know

he

had

her now,
murders

Oh, my

me

upon

what

to

All through it
long one.
and floating
He was
corpses.

returned

listurbed doth He make

ind

whom

nurse

"

given

nercy

Regency

and,

provincial
governments

compulsory Catholicism

What

to confer the

illness.

massacre,
'

him

this he assented

toeing.To

by visions of blood

Nourrtcel

asked

who

orders to the

same

haunted

by

nobles

some

Ah,

at
space
evil counsel
"

that, and
bewildered

have
and

of this country,
hands
God
com-

it."

But

the old

THE

LATER

YEARS

comforted

woman

bloodshed

her

be upon

them, and

upon

OF

CATHERINE

charge.

the head

"

the

May

of those

who
"

evil counsellors !

your

DE'

MEDICI
and

murders

the

compelled you
The

she cried.

to

next

that was
He
day, May 30, he concluded
necessary.
document
his
to
mother's
the
published a
declaring
right
also
the
the throne.
and
of
to
that
heir
next
Regency,
Anjou as
After this he remained
then suddenly he
long speechless,
turned over, like one
Call my brother," he
justawakened.
said. Catherine sent for Alencon, but when the King saw
him
he lay down
again in his old position. Let my brother be
his mother.
But here he is,"replied
fetched," he repeated.
it is he who is my
No, Madam, I want the King of Navarre
all

"

"

"

"

"

brother."

Navarre

full of fears

as

His

again.
away
Catherine had

and

summoned,

was

to his

nervousness

reluctantly,

came

only anxious

personal safetyand

to

get
for

perhaps excusable,

was

given orders that he was to be brought to the

Vault
the arquebusiers
where
through the
King's room
stationed.
His late doingshad made
her anxious to give
were
him a caution, and in spiteof her assurance
that he need not
was
not slow to grasp her meaning. He
was
fear, Navarre
"

taken

up

him, Charles stretched

saw

knees

at

Brother, you

believed

all that I

always loved
Catherine,

Crown
So

do not

to look

Farewell

after

Do

you.

Believe

truth.
alone

"

told, you would

was

not

trust.

say that !

"

me,

brother, and

after my

wife and

rejoicethat
"

me

"

died Charles

these

IX,

on

fell on

his

."

Madam,
love

me.

said
be

not

no

male

closely.

him
"

Had

"

But

alive.

Sire," broke in
I do say it,it is the
"

in

you

for

me.

I trust

daughter. Pray

I leave

were

and

embraced

Charles

losinga good friend," he

are

he

arms.

burst into tears

the foot of the bed.

When

royal bedchamber.

his

out

Navarre
impressionable

The
"

staircase to the

secret

"

God

child to

the

wear

he uttered.
before
30, 1574, a month

the last words

May

his

twenty-fourthbirthday.
Tout
Et

Ran

his

"

thing else
than

son

mourut

regne

ne

enferme

fut

qu'un

comme

un

Totnbeau," published two

remains

to

be

said.

sinning.

224

He

horrible
chien

weeks
was

more

carnage.

qui

enrage.

later.

But

sinned

some

against

XII

CHAPTER

mode

THE

great

half

of Henri

were

of

greatly,

her.

fooled

in

and

giving

the
he

cause

used
On

ball
his

the
which

from
forced
Charles

door

letter

for his
a

learned

He

son.

His
own

no

country.
as

he

The

wished

was

not
one

wisest
to

take

brought

the

Catherine's

had

and

to

attempt
of

anxiety

of his

be
name.

of

no

special
France.

Catherine's
show

to

start

fraternal
at

once

urged that
honourable
regarded as disUnfortunately
better
judgment

counsellors

would

of

messengers
Poland.

from

ones

envoy

tidings

despatched
handed

as

to

way

slower

flight and a disgrace to his

favourite, Villequier, a courtly scamp
227

this

their

State

pleasure
pure
Ambassador
an

Maximilian

on

and

time,

only feeling

monarch,

danced

He

arrived

from

Vienna

did

less
doubt-

great

the

for

He

outstripped the
shortly afterwards

her

step such

his

death,

lost

end,

Emperor

through

finger

were

as

been

night.

day,

next

had

arrived

sorrow.

the

all
on

bedchamber.

had
who

to

the

love

letters,

his

from

for his duties

had

up

hours

for

"

them.

of his

passed

courrier

him

being

"

which

pageants

As

of

fantastic

drew

he

there

14,

kept

Suzerain,

Maximilian

These

June

Early

IX's

they

as

of

hunted

the

which

avoid

to

her

sending
and

ing
unreason-

I weep
for
is intoxicated."

of her, for love

blood

although

must
you
that
the
tears

of

in

had

(the Captain
really tell me

Nancay

to

it

as

rule

Conde\

that

sake

time

illness

de

wrote
"

gorgeous
masques
of his popularity.

motion.
his

he

more

royal

own

had

brother

his six months'

Princesse

the
no

his

feign
night

to

the

of

speak

away

in his

written

whimsical

as

Polish

Guards),

her, for

I will

But

the

know,"

you

King's

befalls

all that

He

as

French

the

and

France

from

was

to say,

his

among

admiration.

so

accession

III

subjects, and
Lutherans,
they regarded him with
his dislike
But
nothing diminished

success

of them

away
her

Ill's

ignominious. Strange

was

been

of Henri

Accession

The

THE

LATER

than

YEARS

morals, had

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

weight with him,

more

and

MEDICI

he

pressedfor

instant

departure. It was, he said, the only way to save

from
the Huguenots, who
would
otherwise
take
the
of
advantage
interregnumand usurp power in the country.
France

There
The

was

debate, first .with

Poles,Henri

their
he

much

well

his

sovereign. But

did

around
nobles

mind
and

In the presence

him.

bent

were

own

his cards

show

not

knew,

one,

of

was

then with

keeping him as
up, although

upon
made

contrived

the others.

to

deceive

those

of the chief

Tenczynski,one

of the Polish

Court, the Prince allowed himself to be

He
undressed.
got into bed, and all the time he went on
his words grew fewer, his eyelids
talking. Then, little by little,
"

fell to, and

he seemed

His

room.

to be fast

Majesty

of his

was

un

asleep." Tenczynski left the

watched.
Directly afterwards,

followers

French

Henri
threw
entered, booted.
himself into his clothes,leaped upon
his horse, and rode off,
two

to take the priceless

Crown jewelsof Poland with
forgetting
the
fear of pursuit,they took
him.
reckless
a
Spurred by
reached
of
the banks
the Vistula they
they
course, and when
it
The King disin
what
direction
flowed.
mounted
were
ignorant
Consternation
and plunged a stick into the water."
the result. To follow the stream
was
they found would only
bring them back to Cracow ; they had nothing for it but to
ever
start again towards
an
oppositegoal. But direction,whatAs they gallopedonwards
happened, they must have.
to a woodcutter's
hut, and, staving
through a forest,they came
in the closed door, compelled its inmate, their swords
at his
their guide. Thus
as
throat, to pledge himself to serve
accompanied, and after seventy-two hours' journey,they got
and there the King'spantinghorse dropped
as far as the frontier,
not

"

down

dead

him.

under

with a good
play-acting,
woodcutter
the
in
deal of posing for the gallery especially
episode. The needlessness of the flight,consideringthe
of Poland to withhold the French king from France
inability
whole

The

business

reads

like

"

"

sudden

the

chance

scare

might keep

that
him

proofs of the neurotic

who

knew

that

he

from
nature

could

him

overcame

not

his

lest

pleasure
"

unknown

some

are

only

of this will-less Valois

act

at

all unless he

further

Prince,

acted

cipitatel
pre-

In Cracow, meanwhile, Henri's escape had been discovered.

Tenczynski had gone to his door and, having knocked in
flown.
The bird was
Upon the table
vain, forced it open.
228

ACCESSION

THE

HENRI

OF

III

either side of the bed,

with its closed curtains,the pages on duty stood immovable.
Tenczynskidrew the hangingsapart the bed was empty. He
Every bell in the citywas set clanging.
gave the alarm at once.
The news
made Henri's subjectsfurious ; they resolved
with a hundred
back at all costs.
to have him
Tenczynski,
the
of
Breathless
in
hot
Tartars, set out
pursuit
runaway.
Sire,"
and exhausted, they caughthim up on the frontier.
"
said Tenczynski, return to Poland, pray return ! You will

four torches

burning,and

were

on

"

"

"

heretofore ; return, I imploreyou !

Henri, in goingto take the French Crown,
Count," replied
I do not renounce
the other. DirectlyI have
my birthright,
find

us

obedient

as

as

"

"

in France
"

Do

not

"

King, you will see me again." Sire,

will
not
find
as faithful as your Poles."
subjects
you
and
Go back to Cracow
insist,Tenczynski.

fulfilledmy

duty as

...

I trust in
keep guardover all those whom I have leftbehind
you."
with
Tenczynskianswered no word, but prickinghis arm
his dagger,he took off a bracelet,flecked with his blood,and
it to Henri.
handed
Accept this,Sire," he
romantically
in
of
return
have
and
let
me
one
said,
your rings." With a
royalgrace, Henri gave him a diamond ringfrom his finger.
of me," he ended, and the generous
Keep it in remembrance
Polish Count, half knightand half barbarian, rode away, not
well aware
to see him more.
The King was
that he could not
return, in spiteof his fine-sounding
speeches.Perhaps Tenchivalrous grief
would have been less,had he known
czynski's
of the Polish jewelsthat his ideal monarch
had purloined.
"

"

"

"

free of the country that he hated, he made no haste

to return to his own.
at Vienna ; he lingered
He lingered
in Venice, where he had a magnificent
reception.As be
approachedthe city,three gondolasmet him, one tented with
black velvet,one with violet,one with gold. He
istically
characterchose the goldenboat and had it uncovered that he
might be better seen by the populace. It was rowed by eight
with Turkish turbans on their heads, and a whole
gondoliers
flotilla
followed him into the open lagoon. We have a picture
natural to Venice
satins,
shimmeringwaters, shining
jewelled
Princes,all the pageant of earthly dominion.
When
the
Once

"

King was

half-wayto Murano,

he was
met
by forty of its
nobles
who
him
welcome
from Venice,
young
gave
and at sundown
he landed.
Like the rest of his family,
Henri III,the ignoblest
of them

courteous

229

THE

LATER

YEARS

all,had the true taste of

instinct.
than

No

he withdrew

to his

DE'

MEDICI

aesthete and also the true

an

he arrived

had

sooner

CATHERINE

OF

the Foscarini

at

; but instead of

apartments

for the

dramatic
Palace

preparing

his State clothes to

suit
a sombre
banquet,he changed
the palace staircase into the garden, at the
end of which
Here
moored.
the Duke
of
a
gondola was
Ferrara was
awaiting him, and togetherthey floated away
to the Grand
travellers since, they
Canal, where, like many
glidedabout for hours, the King asking the Duke the names
of the palacesthat lined it. But while they were
playing
Henri's exasperatedhosts were
at romance,
sittinground a
laid for sixty guests,which had been prepared
supper-table,
and

stole down

for him

At last,unable to endure the

expense.
tedium
longer,they retired ; and when he returned very late,
he ordered the simplestmeal and went to bed.
Other nights,
and

at fabulous

more

stand

leaningagainsthis

Palazzo

the Canal at the illuminated

V If but

city.

Alraschid,and
Titian

"

she should

be.

He
to

One

call from

receivinga
answered

at his

here !
would
to her

owe

forth

opposite,

"

him

he exclaimed

then

take

alone.'

her

'

night like

at

and

sonnets

of her sonnets
the

down

now

up,

Haroun

will, paying visits to ladies too

chieflyto Veronica Franco, loved

in Venice, and
wrote
a lady who

well known

by

roam

would

handkerchiefs, threw

"

share of these my honours which

Sometimes
he would
wander

he

the windows

From

Queen-Mother were
sincerely "She

my
than
effectively

more

Sometimes

lookingnow

ladies waved

everywhere,Venetian
flowers.

follow.

to

were

gorgeous,

was

is about

French

monarch.

and

haunt

than

better

no

her
He

surpriseat
probably

it in kind.

liked to make

Tintoret

who

verses

sketched

to

him, dressed

as

artists.

stood

He

sailor upon the

Paolo
to see
went
a

He
Bucentaur, the vessel of the State.
Veronese, then in the prime of life. And

he

frequented

other kinds of society. Dressed in plainblack without jewels',

he would stroll incognito
in the Rialto.
Here he went from
"

one

shop

to

another, buying musk

at

unimagined pricesfrom

the famous

perfumer,at the Sign of the Lily,or gold charms

and a pearl necklace at the very wealthy jeweller,
Fugger; or
he would
visit to the Fuggieri,the money-lendersof
a
pay
Emperors

and

Popes.

Then

home

again,whence he set out once

more
present at a
upon the Bucentaur, and, duly robed, was
and
session of the Senate, to take part in the voting
Contarini."
put in a golden ball in favour of Giacomo
.

230

ACCESSION

THE

HENRI

OF

III

But

despatches came
pressinghim to return to France.
I inplored of him," said a wise
counsellor, to enter his
himself no
to show
kingdom
longerthe boon-companion,
that
himself from all the liars,
but thtfmaster
to disentangle
so
in
that
he was
none
young." And, once
might remember
France, he must
regulateall things himself secretaries,
time
little more
a
despatches,place-hunters
; if he wants
"

"

...

"

"

"

in bed

he must

he must

lose the extra

not

there

that he wastes

hour

"

And he must
State papers read to him.
begin
these good habits directly
he arrives,for if he does not practise
counsels
them
do so at all."
These
directlyhe will never
have

must

had
He

have

fallen

always done
had

would

chillyupon

the

he liked.

But

as

of

ear

in the end

put off as long as he could the

He uneasy,

masquerader

moment

he had
when

who

to listen.

his head

rejectthe Crown of France.

in travellinghomewards
Even
he
played the dastard,
in Savoy (exceptingSaluces)to
making over his possessions
the Duke
of that domain
Damville, the Marshal
; receiving
de Montmorency's brother, like a dear friend,while all the
time he was
Near the
unsuccessfully
plottingto kill him.
frontier the King was
and Navarre, fresh
met
by Alencon
from
their confinement
at Vincennes.
They had started
practically
prisoners.Catherine treated them like naughty
boys, always keeping them with her in her coach and in her
released.
lodgings; but with the King's coming they were
There was
the Queen-Mother
a State Entry into Lyons, where
appeared in public with her well-loved son, who had now
fulfilledher cherished ambition.
the pageants,
The rejoicings,
were
in that Southern
as
sumptuous as they always were
city.
but he could not

But State functions are not distinctive,

and one
like another.
A single
individual glimpsewe

show

was

much

get of Catherine,

she

It
went
majestically
through her duties in the town.
human
a glimpse worth
having,because it shows her more
than usual.
She was
the studio of Corneille de Lyon,
visiting
the great portrait painter,whose
had
drawn
master-hand
of
so
the Court.
Their pictureswere
hung
many
personages
here and there round
and
the room,
Catherine
was
looking
about
in
when
the
she
midst
of
them
her,
caught sightof her
face and figure
she had been many
own
She saw
as
years ago.
as

is

herself

"

habited

in French

fashion

in

little cap

wreathed

with

great pearls,and a dress with large sleeves of silver

tissue,lined with lynx. Nothing was
wanting but speech.
Her

three

goodly daughters
231

stood

near

her.

In

the

THE

LATER

which

sight she
there

admire
She

YEARS

exceedingpleasure,and

took

present amused

and

praiseher

herself

was

so

DE'

CATHERINE

OF

themselves

MEDICI

all the

with

pany
com-

watching

her

that of all the others.

beauty above
ravished
by the contemplationthereof
own

that she could not take her eyes off it until the Due de Nemours
'
he said, that is,I think,
came
to speak to her.
Madam/
'

good portrait there is nothing to be urged against

your daughters,meseemeth, do you great honour, for
they neither walk in front of you nor surpass you.' And she
a

very
it,and

"

'

the time
I believe, Cousin, you
well remember
and age and fashion of this picture,
and you can
judge better
than any of this company,
me
thus, if I was
you who have seen

answered,

thought
There

'

what

here.'
say and if I have been as I am
much
of pathos as fatuityin Catherine's

you

is at least

as

Memories,
self-appreciation.
when

of Diane
there

de Poitiers must

entranced.

bitter than

more

she tried to shine in vain

have

Common

sweet, of

thoughts of her husband

"

surged within
would

women

her

as

have

days
and

she stood

probably

turned

but Catherine
was
a
self-disillusioned,
Queen
away
surrounded
convinced
off
and
she
went
courtiers,
royally
by
that there had
had

meant

been

fault in her person.

to her than that : it had

more

no

Yet

the

linked

picture

the

past

with

the present.
The
present claimed her attention, and
dimmed
the new
King's festivities. News

that

the

Princesse

had

de Conde

died

private tragedy
reached
Lyons
said
suddenly, some
the tidings,did not

poisoned. Catherine, who first heard

give her son the letter containingthem, but laid it with
It
others which
his writing-table.
strewn
were
many
upon
caught his eye he opened it and instantlyfell down in a
dead faint,from which it took long to recover
A fever
him.
followed which kept him in his bed, and he seemed
to have
no
strengthto rally. Does he not wear somethingof hers ?
she asked one
of his gentlemen.
In sooth," he answered,
dare

"

"

"

"

"

"

I have

seen

him

too, that
he shall
But

wear

with

of his life that

from

came

them

she did not

his neck, and with earrings,

Then pleasecontrive that

round

cross

her."

"

longer,"was the Queen-Mother'sorder.

succeed in curinghis grief the only feature
no

"

him

does

Some

credit.

time

after, when

he

asked him to go into the

Paris,the Cardinal de Bourbon
vaults of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, in which, for the time being,
was

in

the coffin of the Princess

there," said Henri,

"

was

laid.

I will not
232

"

enter

As

long as her
the place."

heart is

LATER

THE

YEARS

DE'

CATHERINE

OF

MEDICI

Lorraine

is dead, and he, folk say, was

the one
person that
And
that
prevented it."
yet," she ended, recollecting
I
believe
this.
cannot
He was
a
prudencewas needful,
really
"

"

and
greatprelate

have

grievousloss

suffered

and France

wise one,

and

"

ourselves also

"

in his death."

But

her

little

her powers
of dissimulation.
funebreexhausted even
edest
To-day," she added below her breath, has died the wickabout to raise her glass
of men."
As she spoke she was
sudden
to her lips,but
she began to tremble, and
on
a
the glass almost
fell from
her hand.
she cried
Jesus !
oraison
"

"

"

"

out,
him

there

is Monsieur

before

me
"

together. In
said coolly

to

le Cardinal

there

front of

that I beheld

me

good

was

she

moment,

much

am

in

pass

seemed

In

sooth

"

"

bonhomme

"

"

deceived

him,

see

had

see

pulled herself
for fear," she
the
not
see

cause

if I

did

his way
It
to Paradise.
soaringthither." Her fright

me

on

him

did not pass.

She had terrors in the night,her ladies reported,
and
complained that she oftentimes saw him and could not
"

chase

him

Henri
there

imagination."

decided to be crowned
The
not a glorious
one.

insults.

The

citizens of

"

murder

in

us

your tricked-out
of

are

ours

that
and

old

South

They

crone

in
had

now

beds

as

favourites and

"

him

seen

of

an

and

which

they shouted.

women

trenches
at

her

or

no

"

as

will

You

Bring
see

our

these defenders

of the
with
distaff

placewere at
pikes and pistols,

on

the

ramparts,

assault.

in the

Those
gainingin assurance.
revolt,and Aigues-Mortefell into their
were

Damville

was

Catherine

you did the Admiral.

their perfumes here to

The

was

the road

on

find out whether

soon

thick

Huguenots
were

our

easy

spinningin the
The

prey."
working in the

an

moment
one

cursed

massacreurs

will

They

women.

town

his army

being besiegedby
they passed. Hau
not

Rheims, but his journey

Huguenots beset his steps

at

now

was

with

her

from

for their leader and

their

hands.

prospects

had

alarmed
and,
considerablybrightened. Catherine was
it with
when they sent a deputationto her, she tried to beguile
I
know
fair words.
that your dear Huguenots are
cats,"
And
she said,
and will always find their feet again.
for them
yet I will do my utmost
(as I always have done),
Her words
providedthey will believe me and be reasonable."
full of misgivings,
and she
were
confident,but her heart was
The
saw
no
course
King talked big,and
open but war.
but
did nothing. He had plenty of troops at his command,
"

"

234

ACCESSION

THE
in order

to

militaryglory,the

destroyedby
nothing but
he

had

his

tack.

in

It would

have

demands

were

the

midst

the Italians who

remove

blinded

was

the closer alliance of the

Catholiquesunis,"who,
1

both

in
of

religions
figured

the New

Year.

In

the Crown

the

same

December,

him.

surrounded

self-will.

Huguenots

with

1574,

The

result

the Moderate

togetherheld

at which

Republican Federation,
equal footing.
and ended with the opening of

February Henri

at the function

omens

twice

an

short time

obstinate

by

on

It lasted but
The

kind

followed

now

testant
fairlyeasy, for the Pronot
exacting. They asked him to
the
to summon
worship and position,

he

"

Nor

favourites.

peace

But

council at Nimes

of

youthful love

his

of

Monluc

made

equalityof

States-General,and to

"

in

ambition

Emperor
policy. Even

remained

to lead them

wards,
On his journeyJhomecourage.
and the Doge had counselled j^toler-

the

grant them

had
His

than

wisdom

his best

as

III

he had, had passed,

of decadence, and he now
longed for

one

ease

have
do.

not

robust

the fumes

more

both
ance

would

this he

HENRI

he would

gain success,

person, and

OF

III

happy.

not

were

crowned

was

"

When

at Rheims.

they set

his brow, he said aloud that it hurt him, and

slippedfrom his head. The next day but one,
electrifiedby his sudden marriage. His wedding,

upon
it almost

the world

was

like all else

He
pertainingto him, was a freak of his nerves.
before
taken
a
shortly
fancy to Louise de Vaudemont,
fair-haired
of
the
dinal's
pious,
girl
family of Lorraine, the Carcousin and
the daughter of the sister of Egmont.

had
a

he

Now

her

made

that there

his wife.
was

no

The

time

affair

whole

to collect the

"

was

so

pected
unex"

money-gifts

from his subjectsthat were

usual upon
And
these occasions.
he was
bent upon
such magnificencethat he defied all the
customs
of the Church
and insisted upon
having the wedding
Mass at night,that his day might be free " for the adjusting
of

jewels"

bride's

"

and

"the

innovation

an

But

people.
magnificence.There
there

of his

composing"
which

was

no

caused
romance

own

dress and

grave scandal
in all this

to

his

serious

impetuous
cynicism. His

instead,a touch of
was,
been without experiences she had had, as he
knew, a love-affair with Messire Francois de Luxembourg.
This gentleman,who
had come
to attend the coronation
and
the wedding, was
summoned
by the King to appear before
bride had

This

not

term

"

covered

much

the

same

235

field

as

the

term

Politiques.

THE

LATER
'*

him.

'

YEARS

Cousin/ he began, I have

Mademoiselle

meant
'

he

was

want

mine

greatness

had

but

mistress,

your
'

(by which he
Luxembourg answered

Chateauneuf)
glad that his mistress

very
happinessand

much

to marry

you

de

MEDICI

DE'

married

'

but, in exchange, I
that

CATHERINE

OF

in for

come

he

that

so

His

begged

Majesty
just yet
marrying
and to give him time to think the matter
over.' To which the
King rejoinedthat he willed and desired him to marry her
immediately. Whereupon Luxembourg, feelinghimself sore
pressed, entreated the King most
humbly to have patience
with him
for a week.
The
which
the King having
space
diminished to three days only,Luxembourg mounted
upon his
to

him

excuse

Chateauneuf

from

horse and retired from the Court

did not pursue the matter ; he was
and

with

diligence."Henri

all

too much

in shows

absorbed

follies.
"

"

It may, indeed, he said that his

at Rheims
sacre
was
a
kind of overture
to his reign and struck the keynote of his
future.
On
the one
hand, grotesque irresponsibility
and,
the other, the plottings
of Alencon,
his brother here and at once
against
began conspiring

puerilemagnificence;
who

met

him, though he

on

deny the charge.

At last, on
February 27, the King made his entry into
Paris.
He began life there by resuming the religious
excesses
of Avignon and arrangingfantastic processions. But these
Before much
time had
pietiesdid not affect his conduct.
from his subjectsto pay
elapsed,he was wringing largesums
for the
that

he

his favourite

to

gave

in which

time, for

gold had

he could drive

in her turn

Court

de

Guast.

been

to

sold it with

a
a

vast

precededby

business-like

profit.And

amounts

Guast

De

thriftytraffic. He

Bishopricof Amiens,

who

to

pageants that he ordered and also for the

comfortable
the

slow

not

was

had

fat bishoprics,

sold

of them,

one

lady of ill-repute,

yet

at this time

the

poor that the pages had to go without cloaks,

because they had been obligedto pawn
them to pay for their
for a certain rich
travelling
; while had it not been
expenses
was

so

gentleman,Le Comte,
she would

have

not

who
had

lent Catherine
any

The opening of
ladies-in-waiting.
to

to

money

the

five thousand
pay

new

crowns,

the wages of her

reigndid not tend

edification.
How

throne

could
?

it be

Henri

was

so

when

knave

and

coward

barely twenty-four,yet

few

sat
can

on

the
have

dared to hope that he might change. The power

to develop
had left him ; there were
no
springsto refresh his arid nature.

236

Henri

III

1585

en

Ullsi.lOTHEQUENationai.e.
Anonyme.
From

photograph by

A.

Girttudon

ACCESSION

THE

OF

HENRI

III

agreed about him, and the portraits

that we get from the various Ambassadors'
despatchesare all
The
is
not
whether of the
of a piece.
picture
prepossessing,
He was
above middle-height
man.
inward or the outward
His face was
rather slender than well-proportioned.
elongated,
and the chin a little underhung, like his
with the under-lip
mother's."
His forehead was
his complexion more
broad,
fine and gentle."
white than pale,"his eyes alone
His whole
and the ear-rings
that he
a delicate impression,"
person made
Every

to have

seems

one

"

"

"

"

always

enhanced

wore

good

even

"

his southern
But

sense.

the ardour

vivacityof a Frenchman," were

for such qualities. Exercise

not his.

"

he did not

hunt

must

which

reason

never

exhausting."
chasse de palais,"which

P une

or

He

be

after ladies."

But

"

as

"

look.

fatiguehim
his

and

that he looked
never

drank

gallant running
made
being in love

meant

few minutes

"

of

selfgrown
his hair
thirty-six

have

he had

lost all his teeth ; it was

not
aged,but his youth was old and dead.

anything but water,

or

calls

Correro

"

take to his bed for three days, he must

preservingin this respect. Before he was
white

for

"

pleasuresmust

indulged in what

him

was

the

"

had not the health

He

and

"

gence,
intelli-

years,"

of his

never

ride

had

He

himself

wore

his brother had done.

His
as
agitation,
know, "a je ne sais quoi of the solemn
At first sighthe appeared to
by nature.

which
be

Yet

as

we

to him

came

haughty,

he

fits of

by
had,

manner
"

much

so

"

but if

find him more

closer to him, you would
courteous
folk."
other
Yet
this love of a soft and
easy than
him
lose
lifemade
in
and
peaceable
greatly his people'sopinion,
you
and

came

"

togetherwith
did much

to

There

are

wide-spreadview that
his authority."
weaken
the

he

contemporary stories about

was

not

long-lived,

him, insignificant

perhaps, yet they bring

vividlythan any
He made
the aimless degeneracyof the man.
no
description
secret of his ingloriousness. One day, the King of Navarre,
of his aunt, a great Court-lady,
being then in the chamber
took
Noailles
pleasure in watching a gentleman named
touch the lute. Rumour
had
it that this same
gentleman
loved and was
beloved by Madame
la Princesse, and he most
melodiously attuned his voice to the instrument, singing
before

us

more

"

this song

"

Je

ne

Absent

vols rien
de

ta

qui

me

divinit6,

237

contents

But

YEARS

LATER

THE

always fixed
began laughing with
on

the

at Noailles

N'appelez
Elle aime

Quoth he.

But

the

worthy

rest would

word

MEDICI

'

King

much

the other

on

"

ainsi ma
tante
trop rhumanit6.

pas

of France

having heard that

delightin

'

it.

same

day

is repartee that
'
I wish that he and the
of my
brother/ he said
seek amusement
only in this fashion ; then we should

of this retort,had
is

DE'

divinity/with
the Princess, the King of Navarre
upon
a
very good grace, and lookingat his

side, and

one

CATHERINE

repeatedthis

since he rather often

his eye
aunt

OF

Here

"

"

Tavannes
was
right when he asserted
peace/
the positionof a privateperson with "10,000 a year
that
the King'sreal idea of happiness."
was
monds
Such, surrounded
by his lap-dogs and his Mignons, diahave

soon

"

in his ears, little in his

of the Valois

mind,

monarchs.

238

was

Henri

III,the last

XIII

CHAPTER

Paris

splendour

and

ruled

When

it.
in

town

yet

Charles

tes

chanter

deux
les

be

must

we

consents

lift the

city contained,

The

cotes,
du

secrets

if

that

it, or

and

now

is

not

be

cannot

echo

to

finest

the

was

for

then,

revived
old

the

hommes
des
prophete
ta
liberte,
reprends
siecle
auquel nous

grand

grateful

to

world

revive

to

-toi, Pasquil,

Enfle

Pasquil

And

who

King

Paris
.

of

medley

the

of

Orleans

"

shifting,

as
a

what

asked
"

answered

he

strange

as

character

was

Pour

And

the

as

help wishing

Reveille
.

squalor,

and

motley

as

fanatical,

little world."

can

almost

was

and

of

France,

it is

who

1575

irreverent

as

town,

of

Paris

THE

song

sommes.

moment,

one

curtain.

then,

even

million

inhabitants,

of

thieves

classes
labourers,
shifting population, the poorer
another.
bravi
and
one
continually flitting from
spot to
Their
The
were
palaces and
big Hotels
put to strange uses.
with
the Court,
for a good part of the year,
were
owners,
away
elsewhere
and
the
or
concierges-induring their absence
;
abodes
on
a
practice of letting their masters'
charge made
vast

"

"

their

"

account.

own

and

nicknamed,

they

Its

was
only drawback
be
had
obviously not
the
day or the month

If

their

was

the

lords

Salviati,

Farmers

for the

one

excepting
in

"

of mansions

of this

that

was

even

forced

leases

flight.

and

the

by

return.

such

availed

Papal Nuncio,
times

three

move

"

Yet

great personages
to

could

houses

proprietors'

instant

were

repaying.

shortest

their

swindling,

ignominious
"

himself

it meant

the

they

most

Such

tenants.

of

"

palaces

profession
on

case

the

of

their

found

back,

came

scarcity

themselves

The

in

...

two

they
hung

As

months."
were

with

smaller
straw

for

and
mats

the

lesser

dwellings

comfortable

more

inside,

241

protection

of
than

better

the
in

against

sort,

Italy, and
wind
R

and

THE

LATER

rain.

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

but
together; indeed, there was
little open
Even
the public squares were
space in Paris.
sheds, erected by the poorest people
occupied by wooden
for themselves.
The
the horseonly large free place was
market, where, every Saturday, one to two thousand horses
sold. But in 1578,that, too, was
And
were
being built over.
in the midst of this throng of the houses, tall and narrow,
with
their peaked roofs of grey slate ; entangled,
it were, in the
as
bewilderingskein of serpentinealleys,ill-pavedand dark ;
encircled by mud
and squalorindescribable,rose the churches
and the great Hotels and palaces the Louvre
and the still
unfinished Tuileries
set in stiff green gardens and
pleached
stood
have
of
the
as
an
alleys.They might
allegory
gross
habits and base taste, protectedby the stately
w
hich
etiquette
lent delusive glamour to the whole.
On the He de France
stood, as now, the guardian towers
of Notre Dame, and near
it the Palais de Justicewhich served
the Exchange of the city.
From
as
morning to evening its
walls were
filled with a hustlingthrong of lawyers and
merchants, bankers, agents of all sorts ; there were
litigants,
of affairs,
men
too, with a gay crowd of gentlemen and ladies,
bent on business,more
them often the
some
on
pleasure,
among
in the place.
to seek amusement
King and his Court, who came
It served the purposes
of a club and publicplayground,and
thousand
over
a
crowns
a day were
spent upon tennis alone."
A police
but lax in practice,
well organized,
kept guard over
the city.In all the bigstreets there were
sentry-boxes,in which
the police-sergeants
had their abode.
And their duties were
shared
for each
and by the Commissioners
by the Watch
These," says a contemporary critic, go prancing
parish.
about the town every night,making so great a clatter that they
the signaland the leisure to run
give all the malefactors
away." Had, however, the constabularybeen active, the
prisonswould have overflowed.
Paris then was
In some
Paris now.
It was
alreadya
ways
Do you wish your provisions
cityof Restaurants.
ready for

They

huddled

stood

"

"

"

"

"

"

you,

whether

cooked

or

raw

"

asks

contemporary

"
"

In

less than

an
hour, the Rdtisseurs and Patissiers will arrange
for you a dinner, a supper, for six
for twenty
for a hundred.
The Rotisseur will give you meat, the Pdtissier pasties,
tarts,
sweets
and entrees ; the cook will provide you with jellies,
"

ragouts. This

sauces,

there

are

now

art

is

so

well advanced

who
tavern-keepers
242

"

will

serve

in Paris

you

dinners

that
in

PARIS
their houses
sometimes

or

"

fixed
little

ling
very fond of pastry too, and the travelin the country
even
appetizingpastry-cooks

fruit."

It was

found

Court

Princes,the King himself,

"

Its fare consisted

hour."

The

day, without any rule or

mostlyof meat, togetherwith a

ate five times

Royalty
bread

prices.
frequentthem."
at all

and no conscience.
villages.This was a time of good digestion
and allowed
from fasting
The Pope grantedeasy dispensations
de bon Chretien"
luxuries throughoutLent.
Perhaps les ftoires
(supposedto keep sound all the winter)got their name
from the pious fasters who indulgedin this agreeableform of
discipline.The poor, when
they ate meat, ate pork, but
small a way," made
artizans, and tradesmen, in however
for better fare
venison, partridgesand mutton, salmon
and salted herrings."
Such
but they are
facts look like prosperity,
deceptive.
Some
and
sorts of food were
but
other
means
plentiful
cheap,
to live were
wanting. The poverty in these years was appalling.
"

"

"

"

The

citizens had

had

no

chance

they were stillprostratefrom

trade languishedand famine

to

the

recover

past. While

the

long years

and

sickness followed

of civil war,

while

hard

upon
the heels of battle,the great Massacre
descended
them,
upon
and destroying
the prosperous
sapping the springsof vitality
mercantile class,who, as we
know, were
mostly Huguenots.
Then came
the accession of Henri, a fop and a protector of
who had littlein his purse and littleto hope from his
favourites,
treasury. Yet in spiteof his penury, the Court, when it rested
at

Poitiers,included

nearly 8,000

persons,

not

to

speak of
they used.

:hance goers and comers,

or of the 6,000 horses that
lit is not [surprising
that the people bled for it, that
:itizens of Paris came
off badly.
As for the

their plightwas
country-folk,

The abnormal

cold of two

intolerable.
well-nigh

had

summers

the

been

followed, in 1574,

The priceof bread was

extortionate,
)y disease in the wheat.
md the unfairness of the civic authorities who
distributed the
oaves

in

country

)lagueof wolves
Provinces,and

greatlyincreased

towns

result of

one

"

did the

so

ation, also, leperswere

preading

their

nywhere,

and

the
"

the

wise

to

malady.
only

massacres

In

pest.

allowed

terrible

broad, and often

illagebarbers, or

the

the
Fierce
There

distress.

infested the

generaldisorganiunhindered,

epidemics

within

stragglingwarfare
243

"

about

roam

doctors

women."

the

was

which

reach
no

were
were

security
continued

YEARS

LATER

THE
added

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

the

prevalent suffering.Here and there some

Diarist's anecdote givesus a glimpseof what went on.
random
is kidnapped
to its christening,
Now
a Huguenot baby, borne
by a troop of Catholics,waiting in ambush
by the roadside.
They carry it and its mother off to Mass, which they force her
to

her away
from her child,which is never
restored to its parents. Now
and women
groups of sicklymen
bent over
their spades,burying their money
and their
seen
are

attend, then

to

stuff

household
soldiers who

of

of His

If he

their barren

in

come

the

A band
audience

deep

may

that

burdens

tear

past at

any

moment.

added

the

heavy

King

peasants travelled

Majesty.

wished

to

him

fields,for fear of the

the

load

Paris

to

Their mission
continue

It

to these

was

of his extortions.

and

demanded

brief,but significant.
they said, they

was

war,

"

their throats

at once,
without
humbly begged
them
in
Want
so
long languish
misery."
making
reigned
and
an
on
everywhere,
epitaph
composed by some
money,
of
the
voice
to
a
day, only gave
squib-writer
generalsentiment.
Mais

ores

to

cut

il est

mort

en

En

pleure qui voudra, le Diable

Helas ! Qui a tue ce grand ami

One
did not

wonders

that the Parisians

rise in revolt

il est

France,

est
du

were

so

who

againsta King

pass6 ;

trepasse !
Monde

patient
"

that

they

used their necessities

was,
making of his foolish luxuries. One reason
their
perhaps, that the Huguenots still engaged
energies.
Catholics'
to seek,
The
of
the
far
never
were
signs
hostility
whether they took an active form or no.
On one of the anniversaries
of the Massacre, many
those of the Religion
doors of
them greatly,
marked
with chalk crosses, which frightened
were
another
for they thought that it meant
a fresh onslaught. On
occasion, a band of them was
returningfrom Preches, and the
idle populaceturned
them
out to watch
As they
like a show.
did so, their fanaticism caught fire and they attacked the poor
The Huguenots appealedto the King,
churchgoersin earnest.
while the fray was
but he had little time for such matters
:
at the ring,disguised
as
Amazon,
an
going on, he was tilting
dress
balls
in
low-necked
and was
like
Court
a
giving
lady, a
and with a pearlnecklace round his throat, as if his kingdom
had been the most
peacefulrealm in the world."

for

the

"

"

"

Small

wonder

under

that
"

absurdlyfantastic.
he possessedtwenty

No
or

man

such

at Court

monarch
was

thirty different
244

dress

esteemed
suits and

became

rich unless
wore

new

PARIS
"
were
day." The ordinary well-to-do women
every
their
in
less
fashions."
and
modest
Noble
changeful
more
coloured
velvet
black
hoods, large
ladies wore
sleeves,and

one

masks on their faces. The wives of citizens were

supposed to
and moderate
with cloth hoods
black sleeves ;
be contented
But they constantly
masks
were
a
luxury forbidden them.
fine

enormous

an

them.

If you

were

were

you

law, you

long as they might look like the rich.

so

allowed

were

The

it except at a funeral.
If
you did not wear
and lost your parents,or your parents-in-

man,

woman

velvets, preferringto pay

of much
that lay
day were, indeed, significant
in
itself presented a social problem.
Mourning

clothes of that
behind

silks and

forbidden

it in

braved

fur and

swansdown,

which

were

ing.
becom-

widow, you were

a
compelled to wear
veil
and
whenever
went
out.
cloak,
a
long
you

If you

were

high dress, a
In Italya law had had to be passedconcerningwidows' veils
they had become dangerouslyattractive ; but in France they
remained
an
unreproved. All ladies wore
over-garment of
simpleserge, which would not spoilwith constant kneelingon
And
the floors of the churches.
perched upon the top of
their heads they have
wigs and toupets,which give greater
The colour of their hair is usually
width
to the forehead.
black and bringsout the pallorof their cheeks.
For pallor,
"

"

ifit does not

from illness,
is looked upon

come

charm."

already grumbled at
independence. They
much
in
the
house
their husbands
too
authority
And not only do they stop to talk
governed by them.
in the street,but they go quite alone to church
passers-by

Men
are

as

women's

allowed

"

"

are

to

market, and remain out of the house for three or four

hours on end, without their husbands
dreaming of askingwhere

and

have

they
walked

been."

behind

Married

Daughters

their mothers
did

were

and

separate class.

they

did

not

They

drink

wine.

they might use a little Burgundy (but

I hardly any ") to
The
give a colour to their water."
the
daughters of
people went about alone ; young ladies
attended.
When
were
rigorously
they travelled in the country,
rode
behind
failed to
en
a
they
servant, and never
croupe
observe
the proprieties
the
by
clingingonly to
pommel."
Their deportment, as we
rather
their
know, conveyed
good
women

"

"

"

"

"

taste than

days,
are

be

"

very
a

their truth.

are

very

devout

lightand

"

Frenchwomen,"
in

seeming,but
free. Every one

very
courtesan, wishes to be treated
245

as

an

said
in

critic of those

point of fact they

of them, even
honest woman,

if she
and

LATER

THE
there is
make
and

to

talk

'

the
are

morals
most

fame

who

DE'

has not

of her

MEDICI

objectionto

some

Their
neighbour.
manners
and
agreeable. But one fault they have
.

"

pleasing. We
pictureis not altogether

The
"

bad

lady of

no

CATHERINE

OF

is avarice.' '

that
if

YEARS

we

go

into the

There

convents.

were

get a

many

worse

one

good

nuns,
"

for," writes Lippomano, one of the Venetian envoys,

Religious/in France as elsewhere,are divided into two

abbesses'
and

came

"

were

sorts,

The

the rich and the

the rich

the

led saintly
lives :
poor."
poor sometimes
less respectful of their
more
free-and-easy,

authority. They did

in as they pleased."

as

they

liked and

went

out

In the world, as in the nunnery, strict ceremony

was
a cloak
for licence. Nothing could have been more
elaborate than the
forms
which
then attended
a
marriage. First there were
u

the pairgave one

les accords,"when
the presence
of their parents. Next

parents, bride and bridegroom went,

another
the

their hands

in

when
fiancailles,

evening,to the parish

to publishthe bans.
authorities to ask the cure
Lastlycame
the Epousailles
in the Church, and the bridegroom was
not
The
before he had given a heavy alms.
allowed to enter
practical
people had more
arrangements. They had a dinner
after the wedding,to which theyfranklyinvited the friends and
could give them
When
relatives who
most.
they sat down
handed
to table, water
was
round, and with it a largebowl
of
two in which
or
obligedto deposita sum
every guest was
handsome
tribution,"
a
or
gift. Putting the guests under conmoney,
an
Just before the
eye-witnesscalls the custom.
useful
rite
cleared the
table was
was
so that the newlyrepeated,
of a neat little nest-egg. The
married couple were
sure
gay
of
such
and
sense
common
arrangements were, percynicism
haps,
France.
to
indigenous
took diversion where
Frenchmen
they could find it. The
dailypassengers in the streets must have had an amusing time.
If there was
no
regulartheatre, the people made a drama
life. The walls were
out of common
placardedwith squibsand
was
uncommon
no
lampoons ; a brawl ending in murder
at

"

occurrence

there

were

; vendetta

the

was

an

pageants and

unwritten

law.

now
processions,

Added
of the

this,
Court,

to

with a blaze of
of the Church, which enlivened the town
now
of the reasons, perhaps,that reconciled it to kingly
colour
one
follies. These functions took the placeof the play in a stricter
"

sense

than

other

and any
distractions,

246

fast-daywhich brought

THE

YEARS

LATER

the ten

righteousmen

human

kindliness

alive.

But

CATHERINE

OF

the

that saved

MEDICI

DE'

city,for

the

springsof
keep the soul

quitedry up, or cease to

there was
little to be
religion,
said.
Even
when
not
they were
actuallybad, they turned
into
Court
Ce
religion a
intrigue.
grand personnage,Monsieur
St. Paul," writes Brant ome,
and he strikes the keynote of the
faith of high-born circles : exclusive, artificial,
and
divided
never

for the courtiers'

"

from
the

conduct

and

highestrank,

and

Saints and

: between

The
people,below.
the Kings, whatever
St. Paul

could have

personnage." As
accused
the

on

of

that

wit

was

The

nearest
to
their lives,were
effected nothing,had he not been

Hers

was

There

then

herself,even

priestwho

certain blind

"

grand

she

was

burnt

was

to
the first upon the list of all his legion,
Colonel-General
in the absence
of
he was

story need

proves the estimation

overshoot
the mark.
in the old

off Him,
His favour.

ties
confessed before the chief authorifree-thinking,

of which

Satan."

of

was

farthest

the

were

for Catherine

"

that she

"

First Person

observed the proper distinctions

carefully
Angelsabove ; between Kings,Nobles,

commoners

of atheism.
score

He

"

life. Their

natural

taken

be

not

in which

she

Catherine

was,

precisely.But

too

held.

was

Nor

indeed,an

does

atheist

that has

of the word, but in the only one

the atheism
of indifference.

sense

it

"

it
not

reality.

popularguidesbesides the priests.No one

who attempts to evoke the Paris of that generationcan afford
to dispense
with the magicians. Alchemists and necromancers
and as often consulted as the doctors of to-day.
were
as seriously
The number
in France was
surprising.An old Diarist puts it
at many
the confession of
on
thousands, basinghis statement
be
in 1572 ; but, though his figurescannot
Sorcerer
a
accepted, they show the truth that they exaggerate the
prevalence of these persons in the country. Such prophets
and
of superstition,
sincerely believingin their
purveyors
in times of degeneracy and
are
generally immanent
powers,
other

were

"

"

"

egoism, when

sensation

invade

emotion

and

delightto talk of themselves

having disappeared,there is

life and

real faith

times, too, when

touchstone

true

no

men

for

religion,

and

and striking
the world falls an easy prey to pseudo-creeds
and
versions of the supernatural.Nostradamus
Ruggieri,

when

probably enjoyed

prosperous,

clergymenand
actor
ousness,

added.
so

much

doctors

The

in

one

drawback

greater than

"

positionof

the

with

touch

of their craft
that

248

of the

lay in

of the medical

its
or

able
fashionful
success-

precariclerical

PARIS

At
professions.

they might amass

moment,

one

fortune ; at

depended
toppleheadlong from their heights. Much
The
of their prophecies.
the nature
Queen-Mother,having
on
divers
her
he
told
for
such an one,
sent
thingsthat did not
She dismissed him in all amenity with a present
pleaseher."
another,

"

thousand

of two

"

and

crowns

beautiful

from

mare

her

own

stables,"besides a guideto providefor his safety. Four or five

noised in the Court that this same
days afterwards, it was

philosopherhad

Catherine, when she heard

faith," she cried, he was
"

would
to

happen

and

plundered by brigands.
it,burst out laughing.
By my
a
great fool ! He predictedwhat
what would happen
did not know

killed

been

to others and

"

himself."

There
took strange forms.
Queen-Mother'ssuperstition
when
the wedding of a personage at Court
occasion
was
an
her daughters acted Saint-Gelais' tragedy of
Sophonisbe"
It was
the last time that tragedieswere
played before her,
of
for after the representation
," affairs took a
Sophonisbe
bad turn and she thought that it had brought ill-luck to the
then called
comedies
tragikingdom. But she permittedwhat were
There
and
comedies
she delightedin.
was
one
at the which she laughed her filllike any
called "Pantalons,"
other, for in sooth she laughed with a good will,being very
And
jovialof her nature."
although Paris had no theatre
for another
bands
of players,
strolling
century, there were
One
pany,
comItalians,who acted in privatehouses.
especially
that of the Gelosi,was
the fashion in Henri Ill's reign,
and attracted,we
are
told, largeraudiences than the popular
It
did much
to demoralize
for it
the townspeople,
preachers.
acted such corrupt plays that the Court, by public ordinance,
suppressedit. But, in private,the King encouraged its performances
and an audience of his Mignons applauded them
the Gelosi played in the Salle d'Etats,
at Bio is where
now
The

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

now

in

Paris, in the Hotel des Bourbons.

than their
They had no greater appreciators
the

Italian courtiers about

great

who, with

the

"

Mignons," shared
Frappez

dessus

Ruinant

la vermine

Qui1
"

this,the

of

verse
x

"Qui"

Florence

song

now

249

King,

the hatred

of the

men

people.

ainsi

produit

of the

would

men,
countrythose

l'etourdi,

the

own

ici
"

day, sums
be

"Que."

up

the current

LATER

THE

YEARS

sentiment.

whom

The

OF
de

Due

formerlyknew

we

"

Nevers

and

Gonzago

as

offenders,togetherwith

CATHERINE

the

DE'
Comte

the

and

MEDICI

Gondi,

de

Retz,

the chief

were

Chancellor

gouty but robust, deft in affairs

Birago, an old man

of State, wishing to know
creatures
everywhere."

everything,and having spies and

He was, perhaps,the most
A miser,
detested of the three.
his house
doing all for interest and nothing for courtesy
full of nephews and relations,"he was
to
qualified
especially
the national vanity.
For the rest," continues
wound
one
all warrants
who knew him,
for pardon or arrest had to pass
hindereth
that
and
he oftentimes
through his hands
"

...

"

"

which

he should

that which

authorize,or authorizeth

hinder,for that he is a strangerto learningand

profession.

Moreover
affairs himself.
.

despatch

Italian,at the
The

If of old he

...

presenthe is abhorred

Mignons

the brevet

he

passing slow

is

of office. The

Caylus, de Guast,
"Rash,
With

Judge's

liketh to

hated

as

an

Chancellor."

1576) had not even

d'Epernon,the Due de Joyeuse,
in

Due

the chief of this group

were

of decadents

"

inconsiderate, fiery,voluntaries,
ladies'

faces

Shakespeare'swords
estimate

as

first appears

(theterm

and

was

he should

to the

but

are

of them

toutefois,

De

faces

Et

d'ames

Et

ne

faix

Et

sont

que

inutile

toute

men's
country-

du

troupeau

pesant

fardeau

la France,
la substance
Noble

aussi,
Estat, miserable,

le Tiers

ces

mol

ce

du

Clerge et

Gemit
De

of their

ganimediennes
epicuriennes,

Consomme
Du

epitome

an

"

Et

Qui

dragons' spleens."

fierce

and

faix

insupportable
souci.
prodigues sans

by the bitter moment

doggerelof their day,inspired
when
they were ruiningFrance by their follies. Their frivolous
the historyand the tragedy of the next decade,
brawls
made
their inanities decided mortal issues. Unprofitable and worse
to read about, it yet becomes
impossibleto ignore them
So

the

runs

"

"

There was
of their effect upon the State.
a time
and to transform
King tried to use them politically

because
the

into the
But

"

Third

Party

Tavannes, when

"

which

he gave

Tavannes

advised him

the counsel,had
250

when

them

to create.

the old Noblesse

PARIS
in his mind.

The

Mignons
the

courted

party ; they

personal to constitute

too

were

the

not

man,

drifted

and

monarch,

intriguing
groups with no import but mischief.1
their
with
old Estoile,
These
fine Mignons," writes
their hair long,frizzed and refrizzed
wore
paintedfaces
by skilled arts, standingup above their littlevelvet caps
the borders
of their linen chemises
measuring half a foot,
and so weighed down
by precioustrimmings that when you
the
their heads above
the pleats,
saw
thought you saw
you
into

"

"

head

of St.

with

and

match

to

were

the dish.

John upon

violet

they

powder and

The

of their

rest

garments

sprinkled

and

combed

were

scented

perfumes,which

other sweet

they frequented. Their idea of manly

exercise was
to play and
blaspheme, to dance, leap, quarrel
and sin,to dangleafter the King,no matter
into what company,
and
to speak and
think only for his pleasure caringnot a
farthingeither for God or for goodness." The publicdid not
keep its wholesome
contempt for these irrational creatures to
itself,
althoughit was not very safe to air the feeling.There
was
occasion when the King, on his way back from Chartres,
one
the streets

and

houses

"

wished
Fair

to

stop to

see

students

throngedwith

with

frills

fraise

"

did not
Neither

or

fraises made

do

so

he

nor

le

veau
"

in

up

"

could

the

long chemises
"

white

they were
angry King

long the
his Mignons

for

of

out

"

connait

on

dressed

found

He

the Fair of Saint-Germain.

paper.

la

shouting. They

endure

arrested.

them

had
to

be

culous.
ridi-

made

of a piece
perverse distractions of these puppets were
with their appearance.
The King gave a banquet at which
all the guests,dressed in green, were
waited on by ladies attired
in the same
colour
of sixty thousand
as
a little matter
men,
The

"

francs' worth
The

of green

silk,which

Queen-Mother, not
Chenonceaux,

at

raised in the form

of

poor

Paris had

outdone, arranged a

to be

which

cost

hundred

to

produce.

return

thousand

tivity
fes-

francs,

loan from the King'sservants.

Against
there was
these Bacchanalia
there had
to protest. Once
none
had the
been the Marechal
de Tavannes, who
at least had
Henri
had
On an occasion when
courage to speak the truth.

arranged some
had

Marechal
said he,

"

but
1

extravagant pageant for a Court wedding, the

laughed ironically. You wish to give a fete,"
"

instead of these

Armstrong, The
Fraise

de

veau

singerswho

French

Wars

of Religion.

calf's liver.

means

251

descend

from

your

THE

YEARS

LATER

neither

"

He

you.'

arrives

soon

time, by
But

had

words

sterner

enough

why

"

unnatural

unreproved.
They were not
inferiors.

excesses,

broke in

one

such
"

pieces

And

dead

was

while

their masters

"

of

and

body and soul ?

the orgies
continued

"

produce an edifyingeffect upon

eleven to twelve hundred

the

Death

before his

feast, the insolent pages

Faenza," full of sweetmeats,

the crash amused
them, and
nature."

ruin

"

vices.

him," he asked,

the

calculated to

After

for Henri's

arouse

the wise old soldier

now

MEDICI

bring down others, and this is what

fools who spend your money
are
follies
on
soldiers nor
will beat
police. The foreigners

'

pay

DE'

will

painted clouds, you

they will say : You
and

CATHERINE

OF

for
"

better

no

that

valets

they

queys
lac-

vessels from
than

reason

of

were

thus

were

and

that

insolent

an

selves,
disportingthem-

working havoc elsewhere, and the

each other under the King's
probably fighting
Mignons were
eye in his Privy Closet.
too often heated by gambling,for this was
Their blood was
of professional
of the pastimes of the King. A band
one
Italians,admitted to the Louvre, won
thirtythousand crowns
of him at play. To dice and cards, classicaldiversions for a
monarch, Henri could always return when he tired of his other
amusements.
Talking to parrots and twittinghis dwarfs
he also spent many
these ; and
hours every day
were
among
in the quest of littlelap-dogs. He drove in his coach with his
wife, who

were

shared

his taste, all

of the suburbs

"

the convents
of the ladies to whom
displeasure

over

to

...

and

the

great

further

"

to

and

sorrow

the little dogs

belonged."
presentedto

animals that he
privileged
the Venetian
kissingit with lachrymose endearments
envoy,
could
if
he
as
hardly bear the parting.
He made
with his wife by his side
other expeditions
long
rambles
about
took them
Paris which
into strange places,
the nunneries and other resorts of pleasure (to quote the
words of the old Diarist) and into remote
parts of the city
from which
they would return at night,oftentimes through
It

was

one

of these

Paris

same

"

"

"

"

mud

and

evil weather."

Once, when

his coach

broke

down,

leagueon foot and did not reach the Louvre

who
stood this needless
till past midnight. Yet the man
he who retired exhausted
to his
as
bodilystrain was the same
he had

bed

to walk

directlyhe

had

to

mysteriousexcursions, he
to.

Every day

he

face
had

showed
252

emotion.
his

And

besides

himself

in

the

these

to attend

publicavocations
city
"

"

in

the

PARIS
of

churches, in the schools

tennis-court, and

at the

horsemanship and
he

Exchange, where

at

arms,

the

thousand

bought a

and furbelows."
gew-gaws
the Latin grammar,
which
serious occupationwas
His most
the conjugation
pleasure especially
gave him unaccountable
He shared, too, his mother's taste for magic arts,
of verbs.
"

and

alchemists

kept

whom

in the Louvre

apartments. There

he watched

also bands

at work

of

whom
engineers,
him
he harboured, so that they might make
ingeniousand
in the which he took great delight."
machines,"
finely-wrought
And he ended his strange courses
by readingMachiavelli every
night. But nothing could change his heartless freaks or his
When
his Fool, Foeillet,
dared to tell
wanton
irresponsibility.
him the truth and describe the people's
from taxation,
sufferings
There was
he was
not one
whipped and put in the Bastille.
of a good mother that did not pity poor Foeillet,"says his
son
include
did not
remark
the
The
chronicler.
King. Yet
that he was
almost at the same
moment
givingorders for this
cruel arrest, he withdrew
of a rigorousOrder at
to the House
Vincennes, there to do nine days'severe
penance.
fervour was
of his religious
Much
times
arrangedfor effect ; somehe played at asceticism and half believed himself to be
in earnest, as when
he organizeda great processionin Paris
and sententiously
forbade ladies to be of it, for," said he,
in his

were

"

"

"

"

"

they are, there

where

his

be

can

devotion."

no

"

And

sometimes

He

foot to all
went
on
directlydiplomatic.
to
the
Pardon
Jubilee
city
gain
(sent to
France by Pope Gregory XIII),accompanied by only two
or
three persons, great rosaries dangling from his hand, telling
his beads
he walked, muttering as he passed through the
as

piety was

the churches

He

streets."
that

the

of the

did this,men

populace might

Catholic

and

encourage
than
before.
liberally

said,by the counsel

believe

him

But

went

and

he

was

pick the public purse more

the people of Paris, although
in
impose upon them, especially
to

usuallyit was easy enough to

took
thingsconcerningreligion,
doings."
Like all the Valois, Henri
shreds and patches. His

that

III

no

"

from

medley
melancholy,which

public business

littlebecause

of notice

manner

was

lent him
on, his aloofness from affairs,
charm
which
to
impressed those near

retirement

of his mother,
a
very devout

was

of the

strangest

time
as
grew
kind of mystery
His
his person.

encouragedby

of his health, a littlebecause

253

of his

his

physicians,
they were

THE

LATER

YEARS

"

sycophants
but

and

brains

endowed.

The

himself
"

speeches.

MEDICI

DE'

so

he shared with Charles

which
eloquence,
rouse

CATHERINE

thought the envoy from Venice ;

destructive
form of self-indulgence
to the
a
with which he was
practicalfacility
naturally
him
remained
to
that
that of
was
one
gift
least

at

"

it became

keen

OF

IX, and when

indolence,he made
I only wish," wrote his mother
of his

out

an

to

he could

effect

his

by
"

friend, that

assembly yesterday,to hear the

He might have done well upon
King upon current events."
the stage ; but he was
not bigenough for
le theatre du monde,"
his sister,Marguerite,called it.
as
At the outset
His manners
were
as
motley as his morals.
of his reignhe gave great umbrage by his arrogance, especially
have

could

you

been

at

our

"

"

were
knoweth, to live
nobles, who
wont, as every one
in great familiarity
with the King." Hitherto it had been their
office to wait with uncovered
heads upon their monarch, but

to the

He had a barrier set up around

enough for Henri.
his table to prevent anybody addressinghim, dealingoffence
at random
to those he should most
have sought to conciliate.
And
straightupon this displayof braggartdignityhe would
after which, with a
proceed to the gambols of a harlequinade,
turn
of mood, he would
suddenly play up to the occasion
receive an
embassy with princelycourtesy,or win back his
Court by his easy affability.
But he never
succeeded in gaining
friends
cierge
from the public. Conor
respect,either from his
of the palace," shopman of the palace," hairdresser
the nicknames
to his wife,"
keeperof four beggars,"were
among
ing
givenhim openly by the citizens of Paris,notwithstandwhich they walked
with their heads stillsafe upon their
this

not

was

"

"

"

"

"

shoulders.
The

that
qualities

Catherine.

were

his bane

were

the

ones

most

fostered

She

delightedin his effeminate inconsequence.

He was, says Correro, the righteye and the soul of his mother."
with him,
Already before his accession she was
incessantly
lets him
She never
riding,walking,sittingby his side.
in his journeys,in his
writer ;
alone," goes on the same
goingsand comings,she alwayshas him with her, and she often
by

"

"

has her meals

She

was

with
wiser

him, too."

pupil of

assumed

his virtues when

to

him

treat
"

"

Monsieur

as
mon

Machiavelli

he had

them

than
not

he
and

was,
never

for she
failed

good King.
fils,"she

This porter is bound

wrote

for Paris

254

in the firstyear of his

and

will

give you

news

reign
"

of

me

too

YEARS

LATER

THE

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

and
joke,she laughedthe first,
flattering

she

MEDICI

out
laughed with-

malice.
simile

The

Catherine

unfittingone.

mensely
imwas
now
and rode astride with zest,
She
excelled with the
and
delightedin inventing games.
arbalesqued jalet the shooting of stones instead of arrows.
no

was

Yet she stilldanced

stout.

"

full face," which

round

veil she

always

down
falling
she went
Had
soul

fresh

complexion was

Her

met

we

put

should

her, we

her

turns

of

the formidable

battery

let forth
had
"

to

good company
expression.We

found

electric

littlewoollen

of

should

widow's

forehead

and

for indoors ; when

hat upon
the top of it.
was

also, no

behind

forces

and

doubt, have

hended
apprethe
whole
laughter;

the

might, at

any moment,
"
destruction.
She

work
'

infrequently,'
says
those among

too, and

with Princes

long black
her

her

on

probablythought her a jolly

be cynical. But
should have
we
in her speech,with vivid
colloquial

which
personality

not

wrinkle

have

powers

its unknown

these moods

not

from

This

her shoulders.

she

had

back

fastened

little inclined

"

she

set off by the

was

wore,

upon

out

"

the

who

one

knew

greatest.
.

her,

And

at

possessedby anger and put herself upon a

height. Nor was anythingin the world so superb as she when
she had to be so, for her tongue spared the truth to no one."
Perhaps the giftmost useful to her was the remarkable power
her quicklypass from one
which made
of concentration
task
such

times she

to another.

was

her write twenty

says that he watched
And
afternoon.
of those uncomforton
one
able

Brantome

long letters in an
journeys in
she, unconscious

litter to which

of

and of
joltings

ladies

then

were

would
stoppings,

subjected,
read through

"

as if she were
a
parchment a dry ftrocesverbal
without
her
till
she
finished.
had
lifting eyes
lawyer or reporter,"
Her stylein writingis businesslike and
terse, illumined here
and there by homely wit and racy phrase. In later years, it is
melts into
only when she writes to Henri III that her manner
And even
as
something like tenderness.
earlyas 1575, a note
of sadness creeps in. We feel that she is going to be punished
through the only creature she adored, and the most independent
The
of her.
independence hurt her sorely. Any fiction
her
and now
was
that he needed
his Mignons had
over,
He confided nothingto her ; she was, in
taken him from her.
this firstflush of his power, consistently
kept out of his counsels.
There is pathos in her attitude towards him, and it comes
out

ten

pages

in her

of

"

correspondence.

"

"

Give orders," she writes," for

256;

some

PARIS
your affairs are going. I do not ask this
because I wish to control them, but because if they go well,
and if they go ill,
I can
help your
my heart will be at ease,
and
whether
For
or
no
trouble.
you love
you are my all,
.

you

me,

This

serve
was

the whole

me

like this.

as

ought. Forgiveme

you

I have

written in a moment
Half her
truth.

it,was

know

trust

no

wish

cared for lifesince your

and God."
you

never

might

do not

out
straight

have

how

tell me

to

one

for her loss of

regain.

"

to

father

if I

longer.
died, exceptingas

of

dejection
; itdid not
grief,
though perhaps she
influence,and

speak

live any

that she

express
did not

was

mined
deter-

All the world

recognizes,"
says Michieli,
after the minority
that to preserve supreme
even
authority,
of her son was
one
over, she fomented
every discord,usingnow
it
suited
her
interests.
She
as
another,
faction, now
always
did her best to keep her children out of affairs and from having
to

"

any

serious

passed;

so

occupation,even

their childish

that stranded,without force

always be compelledto
power

when

is still on

Yet there

turn

to her.
...

or

years

were

experience,
theywould
By

this

means

her

the increase."
three

peopleat the Court who dominated the

whom
her sway had
next few years by their intrigues,
over
ceased : Alencon, Marguerite,
and Henri de Navarre.
practically
were

257

CHAPTER

La

Reine

XIV

Margot

XIV

CHAPTER

Reine

La

the

all

OF

sixteenth

of

their

of

was

French

as

conviction
his

of

being
him
In
intellectual
but
ones.
they
conviction.
He
and
thought
neither
stupid nor
stupid, and so was
made

he

three

did

quarters

not

as

pose
character

his

lack
when
and

He

born

was

had

he
his

mother
true

to

the

wine

golden

cup.

from

of

for

for

the

the

the
He

the

and
It

for

the

to
to

of

in his

lightness
With

power

some

enjoy

flit

on

The

that

to

music
had

milk."
nature

of his

with
keener

baby,
And

it.

he

men

birth

and
of

in

temper

intellect
standards

no

of

place

science
con-

intolerance

intolerant.

To

idealized

its

concealed

outline.
certain

evident.
him

himself

have

Dumas

But

spoke

of

and
song,
of rich
taste

no

now,

promise
sooner

wine

red

the

runs

the

remained
"

eight
Perhaps

him
his

tale, raised

wine

and

with

him,

different

the
a

his

bet, and
country-side, gave
win

to

qualities

cruelty and

the

of the

custom

smelled

kinds

strands

his

which

full

His

the

took

B Jamais

knew

at

gallant

is said

another.

liked

he

when

different

many
"

to

joy

cup

life.

eight

he

loud

sang

grandfather,
head

of

tune

light than

the

seen

the

to

and

over-softened

has

romance

had

surprising quickness of his intellect

later
made
which
of depth
years
all about
he was
barely twenty-two,
of glamour.

The

for

and

he

and

Tradition

hero.

"

sin.

thing
some-

wit

good

of

who

one

French

with

lived

He

any

all

the

swiftness

in

winning,

was

carried

He

conclusion.

utmost

radiant

of

of

him

about

Brilliant
it

as

gay

the

was

had

kind

him.

vivacity.

present, without

the

Navarre

He

genius,

about

one

every
mind

his

magnetic
to

de

close

the

at

crowns

Henri

century,

sunshine

the

exhilarated
colour

wore

greatest personal charm.

the

had

who

Kings

Margot

flash
dower
and

nurses

for
they accounted
ness
and
for his indefatigable fickleone
step in passing from
person

inconstancy
him,

it

meant

pleasures.
261

means

merely

the
its

lack
excess.

of

THE

LATER

His

they
has

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

"

eyes
were

left

"He

keen, but
expressed his humours :
They were
kind, and they were
constantlyveiled." Michieli

us

of him

sketch

is not

tall,but

"

he

is well-made

his hair is black ; his mind

is bold and
mother's.is affable, familiar, and
He

he

has

beard

no

full of life,like his

his manners
show a

their level is high enough."

great amenity. As for his feelings,
"No

"He

envoy

fun of his

faith

has

one

in this Prince's

has

constancy,"says

belief,and

no

I hear

other
an-

that he makes

Huguenot preacherswhile they are in the pulpit.

On
certain day when
of these rascals was
a
one
preaching,
the King of Navarre
was
eating cherries, and he threw the
stones at the minister's face, nearlyknocking out one
of his
eyes."
He
the true Gallic sceptic the cheerful pessimist,
was
own

"

matter-of-fact
no

the core,
suspectedthat he

one

He

for tears.

but

to

was

that

facile in his emotions

so

had

He

so.

wept for love, he wept for

singularfaculty
he wept
friendship,
a

But he

wore
pity.
easily
through his sentiments as he wore
and no patience.
througheverythingelse. He was all movement
effort seemed
Sustained
An order to a
impossibleto him.
was
enough for his
captain,a rendezvous, a word of love
When
he grew tired of people,and even
powers of endurance.
of horses, and when
everybody got upon his nerves, then says
and he alone danced,"
danse ""
une
d'Aubigne\ il jorgait

for

"

"

"

"

"

adds

Michelet.

have

produced

him

up

Yet

the stoical

and

much

to him

Warm-witted

helped him

have
he

could

fundamental

mother

as

hours

mean

he was,

but

his several
coldness.

should

had

brought

in

force that

to
not

minute

average person.
His
warm-hearted.

was

meant

an

gloom and
of lady-loves,go

score

for

speaking.
he did,
as
things,
himself for long,

tongue

to take

such

aversion

There

as

concentrate

not

himself with

changing his beliefs,his

relations with

His

which

an

only learned Latin

Early habit may

at a glance. If
as

faculty.

education

turned towards the

eye ever
his classics had
been
adapted to everyday

he had

he concentrated

the

had

roughly,with

almost

practical.Even
use

had

he

to

not

ease

sorrow,

to

prove

grain of poetry

in
his
his
in

a
great deal of grace and of
composition,but there was
been stronger, he would
And perhaps,had his feelings
song.
made
so
not have enjoyed the giftof perpetualyouth which
large a part of his attractiveness.
One
day after his divorce from Margot, when a second

his

262

LA

REINE

MARGOT

suggestedto him, he
marriage was
that he might reflect upon the matter.

for

alone

went

walk,

quarter of an
tively
hour he returned and stood silent before his adviser, meditarubbing his head. At last, with a sacrificial air, he
Eh bien, de par Dieu ! let it be so ; remedy there
cried :
be married ; well, then, I
You
is none.
say that I must
After

"

it is

; but
story is an
must

! let

the

tell

man

would

gods

"

What

be

'

could

not

do

without

mistresses.

But

and, to
correspondence,
they were
good comrades.
unhappy. Margot had lovers,
supposinghis wife's morals had
"

even

for offence, they

given him less cause
comfort together. They were
both too
immoral

too

to

that

much

so

constant

what
the end, they remained
became
Their marriagesoon
Henri

Yet

injustice/
pre-eminently

these two
persons, ill-assorted for union, were
to be friends.
made
They amused one another

they

in heaven

made

marriagesare
guiltyof such an

him

wish

evil do I not

that

me

never

man.

bitter than his.

no

sorelyapprehend." The
their
on
Margot's comment

that

condition

epitome of the

union is more
Oh

mated,

be

too

could

known

have

much

alike

too

"

no

liant,
briland

restless in mind

And
of his equal
too much
perhaps Margueritewas
energy.
in intellect,
for her powers
the feminine of his. Action
were
she must

have

; and

since

she

could

do

good

no

because

she did ill,and spent her fine brain upon intrigue.

incredible ; in one day she was
was
scholar,reader,
vitality
with
and
much
woman
politician,friend, Queen
;
very
her righthand she wrote
her charming letters,or the memoirs

woman,"
Her

"

that stillremain

"

fresh ; with her left she pulledthe hundred

wires that governed her complicatedlove-affairs,
those of
or
other people. The Reine Margot summed
up a whole period.
She

the

so

plus ultra of the Renaissance lady. She was

also the beginningof the modern
She was
natural,
woman.
and launched
forth againsthypocrisyand all the deceit of
and
warm
etiquette.She was
spontaneous, with generous
instincts. And she was
of character, begina subtle student
ning,
was

like
courage.
There
could
and

not

her
"

him.
beneath
will

was
see

ne

modern, with
a

time

when

without

herself. Her

Epernon,her

great anger,"came

frankness
mortal
upon

visit to Nerac,
her to receive

"

feet."

stay,"she said,

"

Against her will, she

and

make

good cheer
263

she

foe, "whom

husband, for political

reasons,
begged
For the love of me," he urged,
put your
your

full of

was

rancour
"

consented.

for him."

"

But

THE
I

LATER

YEARS
she

promise you/'
and

appears
I never
mask

all of

As
mind

did not

feminine

her heart

the
see
sense

not

in her

not

was

high it was,

so

and

for the

answer

but

power,

made

full of freedom."

of many
intellectual people,Marguerite's
match
with her temperament.
Her mind, full of
case

large and

intuitions,was

she was,

who

virile ;

much

so

her

father

ways

and

enter

as

she

polished

was

courage"
"

worthier
those

than

ways

shamed

the

amazed

were

crowded

her ken.

the

She

she

but

said to be

long

life did

of her

canvas

was

of the

one

any

than

more

like

"

on

would

never

"

shown

his

of remembrance,
much
finer in many
so
of her generation. " She
of most
women

and
greatest by her liberality,"
"

have

side to her nature has

objectionable
to the eclipse
of her other qualities,

This

dwelt

much

much

to
obligation

an

of his other

any

constancy to Diane.
too

rather un-moral

was

children, whether in her

her humours, her look and features,or in her generosity
than

and
been

of

who

procession of lovers
not

She

define her ?

can

the notion

immoral, and

so

she could

but she had a direct grasp of ideas, independen

sophisticated,
of any
was
personalinterest. Her temperament
of primitivewoman.
She could not
coarse
temperament
without settingout to conquer him, and the moral
a man
of gallantry
left out of her.
was
Philosopher,and woman

and

as

"

"

in the

"

"

piece

one

MEDICI

'

wore

since

"

DE'

ladies,

her

to

she said, but

feelings

her

results

added

CATHERINE

that directly
he
I
he
that
a garment
stays, shall wear
long as
dissimulation
and hypocrisy.' She could

as

yet

OF

at the

etrennes

that she gave.

"

'"

her

brothers
did not

They

humane, though
example." She was alwayssignally
she
like
husband
her
here
came
was
humanity
again

follow her

her

rather

from

"

Plutarch's

she

thought

left

us

of

the

indeed,
intellect,
a
great reader of Rabelais,
Bible, and the poets ; and

pupil of

the

Humanists.

than

the head

in all that

was

of

"

"

as

the most

She

she did.
Lives
a

"

the heart.

authentic

was

summary

Her

of

the

She

herself has

better

part of

her.
"

helpedme on the road of devotion,"she wrote in her

was
memoirs,
reading in the fair and universal Book of
Nature
marvels
so
concerningits Creator. In sooth,
many
ledge
they are such that every well-born soul, making of his knowof which God is the last and highest
a ladder
step,standeth
of this wonderful
there rapt, in adoration
light and the
What

"

And, making a
splendour of this incomparable Essence.
perfectcircle,the spiritfinds its only pleasurein following

264

that Chain

(the oppositeof joy which

consciousness of our
actions)awakes

sadness

seek

These

solitude

the

us

soul in its inmost

our

rejectevil and to
without
ceasing,how
"

received

study,

love

to

have

benefits

two

from

away

And

ance,
sovereigngood, wherein, for its assurtranquillitythe state that
perchancefind some
into the knowledge and love of God.
to come
us

it may
inclines

best

this

choose

it may

whirls

re-thinks

and

thinks

good,

out

returns

its forces to

gatheringall

self,the which

Himself,

of all things.

Himself, the Principleand End

to God

God

which, proceedingfrom

MARGOT

REINE

LA

...

and

from

and

sorrow

give myself

to

from
to

up

devotion."
The
these

who set down

which the woman
the intrigues,
passions,
words was stillenjoyingwhile she wrote them, had nothing

do

to

with

her idea

of

virtue

was

goodness and

in the

than

filledwith

were

about

and

men

pleasure. The

all barriers

especiallywomenboundless
a
curiosity
living,

women

reckless love of

between

sized
dangerously empha-

more

never

difference

of the Renaissance, when

days

destroyed,and

were

'

goodness. The

"

is

distinction

real

one,

it

but

keep their
whose
heads.
It is hard to deal with a woman
goodness was
better than
her virtue,and almost
impossibleto judge her.
A figfor virtue !
Margot would have said with Iago,but
a largeconceptionof life,condemning few, was
part of her
is difficult for mortal

it and

make

to

men

to

"

"

code of honour.
There

was,

Like

many
inspiredall

thing that she could not get over.

that she
she easilyassumed
conquering women,
however,
with

men

one

passion,and

that

her

Chancellor, Pibrac, was

sent

her

one

then

from

of those

subjectsto

for a billet-doux and had

honest

too

for his

for

in love

she believed

time

some

her.

with

He

had

usual
hyperbolicletters which were
their Queens ; but she had taken it
to itin that character.
Pibrac,
replied
undeceived

day, had

her, and

she did not

pardon him.
"

There

for not

was," she writes,

"

no

for you

yourself
I
indisposition.

to

excuse

of your
that this illness and the importunity of my
no
have used
Seals, which you
so
continually,have greatly
damaged your health : of the which I am no less careful for
you than you are of my
repose, and so I beg you to send me
back my
Seals.
You
hand them
over
will,if you please,
make

answering/me,

score

doubt

to

on

the

need

Manicquet,who

will

despatchthem
265

to

me

by

the

post.

knows

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

de Pibrac, that He
needful for you.

will

Monsieur

God,

pray
He

YEARS

LATER

THE

be

to

least

"Your

MEDICI
what

give you

obligedfriend,
"M."

Pibrac's
him.

is as characteristic of

answer

It shows

the terms

us

which

on

Margot

as

her letter to

she allowed

her

her and flashes her free-and-easiness upon

of her Court could do.
Pibrac had
account

to stand with

conscious
of his
"

friends
us

as

no

temper

own.
"

is
writingnow-a-days in France," he says,
and exaggeration. The
to love
full of excess
simplewords
not
used
and
to serve
are
longer. Everybody adds
any
j
infinitely,' passionately/ distractedly
extremely/
the
like so far as even
to lend divinity
('eperdument')and
No
than
human.
less
brother writes to his
to thingsthat are
Our

of

way

'

'

"

'

'

'

'

"

her

sister to

sister,no

brother,

servant

no

to

his mistress,

by the
allowinghimself to be transportedinto extremes
of the day ; without puttinghimself outside the pale
expressions

without
and

of

demands

the

since

But

manners.

"

of the

condition

that

and

they

say

cannot

of

honest

do without

oblige those
contain

who

to the rank

writers."

to
Marguerite'swont
compromising the better ; and,

It

even

should

reason

receive letters to refer the words

and

might

has to write

one

fashions,I think that

these

decency

was

hearty appetitefor forbidden

adventures, the more

till her death, she had

seek

fruit.

"

At the

"

festins where
least
boldest
and
her
was
permitted she
presence
made
a
point of showing herself, snapping her fingersat
public opinion and enjoying the shocks that she gave it.
she has been
"An
called; she gave
expert in effrontery,"
to lightadventures,
heroic names
running risks under pretext
in the name
of fidelity,
of generous
braving custom
and
all
her outrage
edly,"
pride,"
committing
gay-heart
the world.
with no grudge towards
Like the rest of her family,
"

"

"

"

she

was

an

She

was

not

she

the rest of them, an artist.

like all great ladies of her day,
creative,although,

actor, and,

composed

they

letters ;
to

She

were.

possess

and

to the hyperbolic
sang them to her lute
finer than
of courtiers. But Margueritewas
lover of
a
delightedin beauty ; she was

verses

ravishment

"

little anxious,
"the

than

more

last

as

fashionable

Princess

would

be,

thing out," and "very curious,"her great

friend,Brantome, tellsus,

"

in the
266

quest of beaux livresnouvcaux."

REINE

LA
her

But

Brant

"

handsome

readingher letters,would

"

She

is

ome

even

more
"

is none," he said, who,

of poor Cicero and
mock

make

not

familiar in their tone."

are
so
of his, which
very
hall-mark
of Brantome's

literary

risingtalent.
"

among
persons of her sex."
There
in his comments.

common

real

in his memoirs,
better than
with more
wrote
stylethan was

and

of her time

woman

with

Richelieu

talked," said Cardinal

any

interwoven

was

generositytowards

with

and

instinct

novelty

for

taste

MARGOT

It is the

banalitythat he did not discover

that the
distinguishedCicero also
familiarity which
her correspondencefrom that of her contemporaries
distinguished
"

"

and
and

it its

gave

of

compliments

literature admired

and

they

there

de

of Madame

just what

would

has

have

human,

racy,

"

Voltaire's salt.

is

The

flourishes

mortal

generation,the

herself

were

touch

her

by Brant ome,
Montaigne

letters lie unread.

because

of survival.

chance

one

made

praised

her
them

vivid, with

Sevigne,and

of

part

here and

here
there

and

be
there, too, it must
added, intervals of arid,trifling
business, dead for the reader

grain of

of

Here

to-day.
the real letter-writer's power
of
she might be.
of nothing, wherever

She had
out

without

making something
"

One

lives here

the

in
slightest
novelty,"she wrote while languishing
worries,always the same
stupid
Gascony
Always the same
is
deeds.
so
Gascony
annoying that it can only grow
like
itself."
news
exactly
Any life away from Court bored
of
her, and her reading in the fair and universal Book
"

"

Nature

"

unable

to

before

the

him

could

give

does

he

only have

understand

days
it up.

not

come

the Louvre,
the windows

and

taken

few

minutes.

She

was

her husband's

love of the country, and

of their separation,she did her best to make
He

his
is,she says, neglecting

to

join her

"

There

has

career

been

why

music

at

it lasted all the

at
night. Everybody was
to listen to it,and the King was
there too, dancing
in
his
about
much
amused
at these gambades
more
room,
than is his wont.
We
are
having balls and round-table
twice
week
and (letme
venture
to tell you)
a
suppers
if only you
leave
were
a proper
would
man,
agriculture
you
.

and

the

of

tempers

Timon

to

come

and

live

among

men."

She
heard

delightsin describingthe
about

she writes

Monsieur

again.

"

He

"

doings. What we
de Mayenne is far from
being true,"
has grown
fat that
so
preposterously
267

Court

LATER

THE
he

has

YEARS

OF

deformed.

become

very thin and very old.

when
them
you last saw

CATHERINE
Monsieur

DE'
de

MEDICI

Guise

As to their humours,

has

grown

they are justas

only perhapsthey are a littlemore

astonished.
They are not much run after,and they often make
to attract
the
up partiesfor tennis, or ball, or pall-mall,
Noblesse.
But those who attend them twice are quitecertain
to catch a reprimand, which
shows
pretty clearlythat there
If you
is jealousybetween
Dukes
and Nobles.
were
here,
be the person
whom
both parties would
you would
upon
depend."
The kind of cleverness that Margueritepossessedwas
bound
to be exploitedby others.
If she was
an
adventuress, she
whom
was
one
we
can
pity. Used in turn by her mother, Anj ou,
;

Alencon, her husband,

they

ceased

Austria, and
her

need

to

in

her.

the most

She

For

been

where

You

and

you

kind

she found

friendship.

her

are

when
almost

was

humours

suit,

and the

sixtyyears between us can make no difference to that

she wrote, in later days,tc the old Duchesse
d'Uzes, whom

so

she trusted.

And

that
intriguer

her
friendship,
inferiors she

admirable.

"

she could

was

forgivelike

another

she
God

creature.

Such

came

the

not

was

She

the best

with her when

was

done, the poor

forgiveher, as I do !
was

Towards

"

has

She

less real.

might behave like a vivandiere

One
of her ladies,who
Queen.
caused her great displeasure.But
for that, and the lady falling
worse

'
to visit her.'

stories show
side.

few thus to trust, because,

she had the qualities
which stifle
She

died at Chenonceaux, had

she did not treat her the
she
very ill,
*"
Whatever

"

she had

because

she was,
need of it

too,

of

she was
sincerity,
is
there
Sibyl,
my

Our

me.

away

to Elizabeth

Court

at

woman

"

between

great sympathy

had

virtuous

only friend there.

capable of sincere

they threw

turn

girlis
"

wronged

"

she

suffering

her words.

were

of her.

now

she died.

is

There

unfortunately

also

was

able.
insupport-

Wherever
up

in

her

mischief sprang
she went, she plotted,and
she
footsteps.Like every
scheming woman,

failed to

and

to
one
compel some
officiate as her champion. When
her wiry web
woven
was
and
and
her position strongest,she appealed as the weak
And God," she tells us,
woman.
helpless
always regarded
the danger
that
from
He
affliction,
me
might keep
my
For
and
the trouble that my
enemies
prepared for me.
She was
much
the spot than I was."
more
on
they were
fond, toojof playing the victim on the altar of publicduty.
never

pose

as

martyr

"

"

268

THE

LATER

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

MEDICI

DE'

have

the
burden."
Another
time, she
dropped beneath
dancing the Bransle de la Torche, before the grandeesof
Lyons, and, the dancers moving forward in a long train,pass
hand to hand.
a flamingtorch from
She took great pleasure
in dancing these serious dances, by reason
of the comely
and grave majesty which she showed
movement.
forth
is

"

and cour antes."

all occasions,
And on
bransles,voltes,
Brantome
when
current
to the
as
saw
her, she ran counter
fashion of masking her face, preferring
it.
to feel the air upon
in

...

Nor

did she

always keep
have

must

her natural

had

to

arduous

an

in

mode

one

dresser
hair-

Her

anything.

she

life. Sometimes

wore

black, like her father's,and then

twisted and frizzed and arranged it," tillit looked like
the wig of her sister,the Queen of Spain, who
put on false
hair," which

was

"

she

black hair

I'Espagnole
; sometimes

weekly from

she

flaxen-haired footmen

She

wore

she

whom

the pose.
purhad them

kept for

wigs,and

very particularabout her

finished ; and whatever
delicately

most

fair wig taken

was

did, the world

she

accepted.
It

that she looked upon herself as

surprising
compared to every goddessin the pagan
; she was
she
Brantome, her gossipand sycophant,to whom
her

not

was

Memoirs,

was

truly,"he

said to Ronsard,
the Tufleries,once
when
the
me

State,

"

doth

appareled
with

it not

as

they stood

Queen of

at

dedicated
Tell

the

appeared in
Majesty
daybreak

Their

faces show

Navarre

rose-red ?

"

each other at

next

that you
you
birth
before
her

face flushed with

calendar.

flattery.

to

seem

like Aurora

her white

with

behindhand

never

pian
Olym-

an

Her

see

"

sieur
Monthe one with the other."
great sympathy and likeness,
Ronsard
admitted
it, and upon this comparison,which
which he
he thought very beautiful, he wrote
fine sonnet
a
"

gave

me."

The

her cheeks
known

were

better

It is not to
should prove
with
than

the

brother
and

was

lady

Court

vindictive

had

"

in brief

and

is open

only justbeginningto grow

and stands up high upon

and

"

His

jolly.
.

bent
Like

upon
many

countenance,"
His

ardent

more

more

abroad."

deceptivelooks.
"

Prince

"

France, but

in

the Venetian,

"

like Alencon

more

only

schemers, Alencon
continues

of Brantome

painted,but Ronsard, the poet, should have

than to be so badly inspired.
such as Marguerite
be wondered
at that a woman
in conjunction
a
especially
danger to the State, more

King

changes, not

Aurora

beard

is

his hair is black

and

curly

...

his
270

forehead, which

elongateshis

REINE

LA

race

art of

to the

as

riding
popularmanners,

affects

He

in
takes littlepleasure

He

...

please the

he may

MARGOT

he shows

bodilyexercise
but

great,who, spurred by
his

behalf.

time how

same

their

and

therein.

scanty grace

he seeks at the

but

interests,

own

everythingthat he
in complaint or self-justification
he
has written, whether
his desire to reform the kingdom."
has always shown
desire for reform
deceive anybody ?
Did the Prince's
agitatethe

kingdom

on

In

...

"

himself ?

it deceive

Did

"

all Catherine's

Of

inclined to overdo

part.

In

his

play the Huguenot well,he always refused

to

travel

the most

was

But

his Puritanism

chatteringall

divine

Sabbath.
he

never

both

on

more

on

was

Of
more

Calvin

La

leaders
surprising

Reine

elusive.

"

of reform

Married

she

as

was

There

to

was

Prince

such

Margot

the trio, the Queen-Mother looked

formidable
Not
than the rest.

cunning and

have

would

truly

captain of his flock.

Alencon, Navarre, and

the three

the

on

did not

uncomfortable.

such

at

anxiety to

from
prevent him
service with his friends, and
than one
knee," because kneeling

"

too

amazed

been

through

knelt

his

Alencon

sons,

her

upon

only

daughter as
she the

was

danger

worse

now

of Protestantism.

and

of the

were

than

most

that.

Blood, she might, at

concertinghidden plotsfor the succession.

notion of the Huguenot Bourbon
the throne was
upon
Catherine's bugbear ; it had haunted
since the early
her ever
of
Margot's marriage. There was/' an eye-witness
days
tells us, "a lady at Court (hername
I will not mention) who
foolish as she possiblycould be.
One
was
as
night when
the Queen-Mother had
retired for her
Coucher, she asked
her women
talk
if they had seen
The
her daughter.
any
The

be

moment,

"

fell upon

the

union

this foolish

with

Navarre, whereupon
the
Court, stepped forward
yet
in truth, be strange, Madame,
first,and said, It would
did the Princess not rejoicein this alliance,since she gains

lady, ignorant, as

of

'

me

thereby,and

crown

is in

)f France, if the French

is it very
likelymay/

good

Crown
The

train to be

fall also to

day Queen

her husband
when

Queen -Mother,

iuch

one

she heard

'

a strong speech,said unto

her, Ma mye, you are a great
bol ; I would rather see you pierced
with a thousand deaths than
hat your prophecy should ever
I wish long
true.
come
ife and prosperity
to the King and to all my other children/"
...

1 would

ater,

"

sooner

than

see

die

hundred

times

myself,"she

exclaimed

her in this condition, for there would,

271

as

YEARS

LATER

THE

believe, be
would

be

no

obedience

"

added,

prerogative
abolished

were

"

be

many

men

capableas any
and
Kings whom

as

be

would

fine

for she has

...

for such

task."

The

discussion of the
Catherine, and she recalled how
"

fought the Cardinal

Your

ready

am

and

Her

law

reign,I think,

and

Cardinal

who

Salic law," had cried Granvella,

to hit you in the eye for it. And

that

into

abuse, repeated

days

Lorraine

of her

great qualities

an

was

than

so

strayed after

in old

de

more

it like that

great mind

The

course," she
the

kingdom
kingdoms that
surety, my daughter

make

conversation

Salic law.

vella had

there

as

other

I know.
would

Of

and

to govern,

man

She

one.

grandfather

it.

like

"

would

"

"

to

have

of Navarre,

King

daughter by right
my
fallen under the distaff then, of

went

MEDICI

And

child's

her

Salic law

if the

DE'

this for many

that I
reasons
that
her
words
remembering
might seem

Then

say."
derogate from

to

the

to

children.

to my

will not

CATHERINE

OF

"

had
is
as

Gran-

defended
scandal

for the

"

men

nothingbut old dreamers and dusty

The subjectcame
chroniclers."
dangerouslynear the Queendi signoreggiare,
and itremained in her thoughts
Mother's affetto
of Marguerite.
in the form of permanent suspicion
be said to have
The danger arisingfrom that lady may
direct reason
for
begun with her birth. But there was a more
her machinations, and it lay in her brother, the King. Ever
framed

who

it,they

were

Guise, he had taken an aversion to

since their breach over
devoted
a large
her and, in later times,
part of his petty energies
her.
In
and
this
to vexing
insulting
way, he himself cast
her upon
to

make

the other.

to thwart

settingone

and

went

it

was

to

againsthim.
her, thus making her
chief

of these

And

he

returned

first blazed

that

her

with

letters from the

she saw
When

King

from

he

urged on

his

their bitterest enemy.

offenders.
Even
before

Poland, he (de Guast) had

when
wrath

neutralized their power by

Instead of that, he forced them

cause

common

favourites to slander
the
Guast
was
De
Henri

might have

He

Alencon.

that

spoken
country

him.

out

upon

and

brought

De

them

evil of her
France

to

Guast
to

her

came

ments.
apart-

him advance to kiss her hand, she losi

"
Much
her
gooc
temper. Her face flushed with anger.
"
de
do
to
said
it
Guast,"
she,
present yoursel
you,
may
with this letter from my brother, which stands yoi
before me
in good stead as
a
safeguard! For I love him so dearh
with
from him live in freedom
that all who come
not for that, I would teach you to prate about
were
272

me.
a

If i
Princes

LA

such

I am,

as

sister of

Kings
"

of your

and

master

himself

humbled

Guast

sovereigns."De

other

MARGOT

REINE

to

of

the

four

dust,

chargesagainst him,
her to hear
they both bore towards His
Majesty. But "she sent him away, and protestedthat she
would
a
promise that she kept
always be his cruel enemy
de Dampierre, her lady,ventured
Madame
until his death."
with her and to urge the precedentof her royal
to remonstrate
of her

his innocence
professed

for the love

him

entreated

that

"

had

Savoy, who

of

aunt

behaved

far

otherwise

cumstanc
in like cir-

"

Marguerite listened with close attention."

half laughing
rather
Then
coldly,yet with lipsthat were
de Dampierre/ she answered,
to their wont) /Madame
(according
"

'

need royal
say would be all very well for you who
but for me,
who am
the daughter of a King,and
favour
the sister of Kings,and the wife of a King, it is of no use.
what

you
.

beggar for grace from

If he feels worthy to be King and to be loved
my brother.
and by his people,I also feel worthy to be Queen
by me
and
to be beloved, not
only by him, but by all the world/
Then, drawing herself to her full height, If my
aunt, whom
For

sake, I

honour's

my

cannot

be

'

'

concluded, so abased herself,as you tell me,

let her do it if she could, and if such was
But
her humour.
you

her

cite/ she

example

is

no

law

for me,

and

/ have

no

desire to form
"

this model, or, indeed, upon

any but myself/
Here spoke the independent woman
of all times, and her
words
had an ominous
with de Guast
The scene
significance.

myself

rankled

upon

because

this that

her

she

feud

felt the
with

It was
after
King behind him.
Henri
began in deadly earnest.

273

CHAPTER
XV

The
of

Escape

the
Princes

THE

LATER

enough

YEARS
strike

to

OF
her

at

CATHERINE
her

"

MEDICI

DE'

name

already sadly

was

tarnished.
There

King

were

and

main

two

now

in

camps

Paris ;

of the

that

his

and

Mignons, Maugiron, Saint Mesgrin, de Guast

Cay his, later,Epernon and Joyeuse ; that of Alencon

and

his

d'Amboise, who
and

them

followers, chief among

Guast

de

by

was

there

Simier

and

lover.
Marguerite's

now

existed

mortal

Bussy
him

Between

hatred, of which the

did de Guast, amply

King was not slow to avail himself ; nor

to poison Henri's
supported by allies,cease

againsthis

ear

sister.
"

"

afternoon," writes Marguerite, my

One

entered

her closet to compose

de Nevers, Madame
de Retz,
if I should

me

de
us

that

Hke

Montigny,

the

Convent

long despatches,Madame

some

the

niece

of

of Saint-Pierre

resolved

having

Bourdeille,
and^Surgeres,asked
in the town.
moiselle
Upon that, Made-

turn

mother

Madame

d'Uzes, told

very fine house of

she begged to come
a

was

there, and
to
there, and no free admission
too, because she had an
the place was
obtainable except for the great and those who
with them.
So she accompanied us, and as we got into
came
our
coach, Liancourt, the King's First Groom, was
standing
the
there with
themselves
Camille, and they threw
upon
carriagedoor. We went to the Convent, and my coach, which

religion. We

was

to go
aunt

easilyrecognizablebecause
with

yellow velvet trimmed

it

giltand

was

silver,waited

for

in the

us

with

lined

Square,

in
gentlemen had lodgings. While we were
him
but my husband,
Saint-Pierre,the King, with no one with
d'O, and fat Ruff", passed by on their way to see
Caylus,
the
and
who
ill.
And
was
seeing
Square
through
strolling
in which

my

divers

coach, he said
And

chariot.

there

husband

to my

the

are

"

On

Ruffe, de Guast's friend, and so

work so malicious, to go in and see.

fat

he

and

did

said aloud

he

'

husband
At
that
cause

the

wish

not

The

truth

to

me

I
...

wife's
swear

he commanded

proper instrument
Ruffe found no one,

His

for
but

Majesty'sdesign,

him, in the presence of the King, my

birds have been there, but they are flown.'
to

royal brother made

might persuade my
to

the which

hamper

haste to

this,my
he

Bide\

lodgings of

she is inside them.'

(saidhe) that

Look, there is your

receive

later, without knowing

into my
downstairs
room

an
a

mother

affront.

word
with

get back

before

of this invention

Meanwhile,

me,

and

I, returning

about to go
of all this, was
all the troop that had driven

278

ESCAPE

THE
with

he

as

soon

as

Saint-Pierre.

to

me

OF
There

burst

me,

saw

am
Queen-Mother ;
I
I
that
As
saw
rage.'
jtireat

to

him, I

Guise, who, with

de

M.

that the vessel

not

get

in

saw

'

pieces. Quoth he,

means

no

House, for he hoped

our

I found

de

Madame

you
.' I

was

went

Nemours

But

Princesses

other

all the

and

the

pick up

able to

be

awaiting you here to warn

the King has done you
a
dangerous charity.
not there.
into the Queen-Mother'sroom
; she was

that

of

out

more

by

was
foresight,

broken, he would

once

word

go

in

back

come

Pray

"

I entered the hall,I found

When

some

'

said

will

you

could

for the division that he

sorry

husband, who,

my

laughing and

sure

mother.

in to my

went

I found

out

the

PRINCES

THE

'

ladies,who said to me ; Mon Dieu, Madame, the Queen,

We
do not advise you to
your mother, is furious with you.
before her.'
I entered her Privy Closet, which
present yourself
was
onlyseparatedfrom her apartment by a wooden partition,
and

that

so

she

could

she

moment

saw

easilyhear
she

me,

all that

began

everything that unmeasured

I represented
throw up.
the
been

of ten

company

either for truth

ear

filled with

all the

husband

my

told you

persons.
After I had

spiteinvolved
"

room.

in such

Well,

that

he

wrong
The

Reine

about

herself

always

has

and

most

her

laughter,her meeting

Catherine, bear
the

was

them.

As

whether

likelyas

she

injured

as

taking
outset.

them

upon
lightin which

in

had

even

For

not, she

been

the

her

or

She

at

brother

source

religion,

Guise, the wrath

with

of

events

experience. It
falsified

which

apartments, but
would
always have posed
clever enough to end by
in Bide's

But

this

was

not

"

an

my

at

so

subjectedher

Marguerite,
begged him and
279

of

house

stamp

Catherine

moment,

who

my

she
was

mother.

continued

served

was

no,

indignities.
Next
day,"
"

the

she looked

innocence.

of the

him

authentic

always an
the expedition to the

But

husband's

you
will

accurate
more
say the least, no
other
autobiographers. She is

charming novelist,not

not

you.'

is, to

than

Do

Camille

will inform

of reference.
of

"

"

done

Margot

they

no

just as

all
"

King's Coucher

had

we

left her presence,

insult,I found
an

it not

was

say

could

she had

But

'

the

at

told her that

twelve

to

to

outrageous anger

truth and

reason.

in my
he asked

'

and

then, noting my misery

and
he
Liancourt
added,
yourself/

torment

be

or

dart forth fire and

to

The

said there.

was

to

Italian
husband

the

fresh

banker
and

THE

YEARS

LATER

myself, together with

and

dine

who

had

which

in

divers

beautiful

CATHERINE

OF

garden

me

that she did not

liked.
who

while

But
.

spoken with

had

de

at

Liancourt

For he knew
his enemy.
how
he feared lest I should know

and

better
returned
her

had

he

than
from

known

that

me

I had

did not

do

as

mistake.
to

offend
that

to

might

intellect,

an

myself even
When

me.

sent

of the

nothing and
seeingby my

meant

He

mother,

my

that I

so

mother

And

truth

to revenge

my

story

true.

was

or

public,told

better

that I had

to

near

was

the whole

told her

back-study,which

told

how

feastings

our

maid

as

in

his

somehow,

matters

remain

not

city. I,
Queen-Mother

this gay dinner, the King,

and Camille, and also with
the

confessed

her to mend

go

in the

I had

discovered

Montigny,

straightway and

and entreated

I went.

were

we

Mademoiselle
went

Princesses, to
had

me
she,rejecting

where

care

MEDICI

askingher leave, now went to find

from Mass, to beg her to let me
go

the which

On

banquet.
.

he

that respect towards

my
while I was
near
her, whether

without
wife, to go nowhere
her in the hall,on her return
me

and

that

always kept

bound

to this

ladies

DE'

for

we

to

me

King,

and

that what
face that

in
these overtures, she tried by every means
the
do
with
conviction
that
it
to
was
King
away
my
all this kindness ; but she did not make
done me
the King
it. After which
with me, and she knew
way
thousand
into the Closet and profferedme
a
excuses,
welcome

her power
who
had
much
came

saying that others had forced them to believe things,and

givingme every satisfaction and every show of affection that
was
possible/'
returned
The
cowardly King was only shamming and soon
his
sister.
to the charge,this time
with tales of Bussy and
she
have
known
must
But now
Catherine held her own, though
that this time

She had grown

town.

she

the scandals

repliedto Henri,

such

notions

born

into such

all the

Madame

your

"

the firebrands

who

all the

uncles

the talk of the

can

"

I do not know,"
be that have put

My girlis unhappy

head.

century.

world, and

father and
of

in your

true, and were

afraid of her daughter.
were

In

time,

our

well-bred

were

Marguerite and

to be

in

men

talked

we

who
every

seen

to

have

freelywith

followed

day

been

in the

your
rooms

Nobody thought it
think so.
Bussy sees my

mine.

there any reason

to
was
before all
in
daughter your presence, in her husband's, publicly,
her husband's
room
suite,in her own
; she does not do this in

strange,nor

secret, with

closed

doors.

Bussy
280

is

personage

of

quality.

ESCAPE

THE

"

amazed.
Who

Madam,

are

only

say

wish

The

calumnies

your

insult which

an

stood

there
others tell me," he said.
? "
she rejoined
they

King

"

son

set

to

her

life."
what

others, my

these

people who

are

Through
offer

me

afraid she will feel all her

am

"

already made

have

you

is there in this ?

harm

What

PRINCES

THE

OF

"

all your

and

you

folk

the

by

ears."
Catherine

frank

days of

old

she

fact

was

of

Bussy, and
spiteagainsthis
feud

sister and

faction

accentuated, and the

by de Guast, to murder
instigated
that

The

failed.

certain band

mischief.

the

bitter foe

was

had

the

of

told

was

The

Alencon.

"

grew

attempt,
attempt

an

was

to

that

King's

of Henri

that

next

been

the

with

thing
Bussy. It

daily more

assassin

and

saw

work

againstBussy 's master,

Prince's

that

between

to

well

in

enmity worked

his

she

And

evil-thinker.

nor

bound
scandal-mongers were
that the Mignon, de Guast,

these

The

backbiter

neither

was

that

probably sincere in her regret for the good

companionship. Merciless though she was,

was

an

of

pick out
of
a sling

stuff

wore
one
gentlemen
tunately,
that he died. Unforto
and
see
a pigeon'sbreast,"
another
fashion and was
had adopted the same
man
The real Bussy escapedfrom the scuffle with
slain in his stead.
off laughing,in a dare-devil mood, to the
and went
a wound,
arrested and
Louvre
for him a nest of danger. There he was
his colleague,
Simier.
Alencon himself was
so
was
imprisoned
for a few days in the palace,during which
his mother
suaded
perhim
to allow Bussy to retire from
Court tillthe storm
blown
should have
Not
over.
long afterwards, Bussy was
was
avenged. In the October of that same
year, de Guast
found
of hate and
That
musket
strangled in his bed.
guerite
division,"as Margot called him, had fired his last shot. Mar-

shot like

"

"

illat the time that she heard

was

vexed," she said,

am

solemnized

his death

that

am

well.

not

I would

deepestjoy."
greatly crippledAlencon.

his State-confinement.

chafingat

He

He,

his escape in spiteof the close watch kept upon

form
and
an
opposition party of Protestants

outside
was
more

Paris.

talk

of

putting him

Alencon
still allowed

of his

rumour

vigilantthan

have

in the

ever,

gave

him, and

but

the
one

with

Court

the
the

evening he
281

De

Politiques
and

crafty help

ordered

of

coach

it to

there

became

Guast

slip. His

to

him, and

plans got abroad

Bastille.

while,
mean-

resolved

make
to

news.

with

Bussy's banishment
was

"

"

the welcome

take

guerite,
Marwas

him

THE
to

LATER

YEARS

OF

Monceaux,

there to

keep

for

sister and

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

with his mistress.

assignation
he reached her house he went
in, leavinghis coach and
at
awaited
his return
in vain.
the front-door.
guards
They
Muffled in his cloak, he had passed out at the back, and there
he rode off without more
ado
findingSimier and his colleagues,
to Dreux, a town
which belongedto him as the King'sbrother,
While he was
by a specialgrant from the Crown.
galloping
from
the
unconscious
had
to
down
sat
Paris,
King
away
still at table when
dinner.
He was
the news
was
brought
him.
He leaped to his feet in a passion. His first thought
an

When

send

to

was

had

not

"

"

"

her.

all that afternoon,' she answered

to me, alive or dead," thundered
Henri,

what

it

thus to thwart

means

me."

Margot

She had carried out her purpose

retired,well-contented.
than that, before he went, she had
Alencon, and, more
reconciled him

more

and,
of allies,was

was

over

The
an

as

for
once

Their

to her husband.

soon

quarrelof gallantry
Navarre, the most important
possible,

as

join him.

to

moment

She

once

Bringhim

he shall know

cross-examine
'

Alencon

seen

demurely.

his

in

was

propitiousfor creating

ways

many

The exhausted
Court party lived
Oppositionmovement.
of Germany and its threats of invasion, which might
much
to
When
Alencon
strengthen the Protestants.

in dread
do
was

in a bold tone to his

safe in his domains, he wrote
"
He had escaped,he said, for the sake of his liberty

once

brother.
and

he

because

Majesty

would

had

take

the minds
"

wary.
gave
I had

me

"

of

Princes, nor

evening," he

wine

at

my

moulded

Italianize

morceau

Last

tasted it and

daily expectation

resolution

some

of Cesar Borgia." The

far from

in

been

meal,

wrote
so

on

have
from
He

worked
such
wrote

for

its will."

that

For

were

On

matters.

her

side, Catherine

to

wrong

be

"

they
directly

that

others,we

were

taken
over-

goodness of God and

given us, the poison would
the

the

the moment

dangers,and he hastened
and
to Queen Elizabeth
help; to the Pope and

never

occasion,

one

and

by such sickness that without

the excellent remedies

then

was

well concocted

to Thore
given'it

the counsels

on

"

Alencon

was

His

that

to take
to the

Prince

was

safe

practicalmeasures.
Elector

the

Parlement

was

not

idle.

burg
of Brandento

explain

She tried to

"trusty" agents sent to Alencon; first they

to arrest
him.
were
to promise him
help,and next they were
But
her machinations
were
unavailing,and he remained
beyond her power.

get

five

or

six

282

OF

ESCAPE

THE

evil

departure brought
on
already suffered much
His

gone,
swollen with tears, and

coming

with

announce

remained

for weeks

"

in the

brother

palace.

soon

bed, her
in quest of

go out
entered
the room.

Catherine

her

hostage for

prisoner

preparingto

This

import.
diplomacy that

elaborate

wakeful

baleful

always of

was

had

Marguerite,who
One
morning,

to

risen from

was

when
fugitive,

of the

news

days

his behalf.

had

she

had

he

after

PRINCES

THE

her
and

"

It

time

it

to

was

daughter was
a
captive

she

little purpose.

to

was

Her

in keeping
there was
not much
use
alight,
the match that lightedit under lock and key. Serious danger
the kingdom. Alencon
threatened
was
busy amassing an
him
in
and
Catherine saw
secret.
Navarre
was
helping
army,
She
to try and reconcile her son.
that her only course
was
had more
than one
long parley with him, but each time,
actuated perhaps more
by self-interest than brotherly love,
he made
of his sister a condition of pacification.
the freedom
At
evident
that Marguerite'spresence
last it became
was
The

flame

needful

to

once

him

induce

to

terms, and

that, since the

expedient to release,

to

come

hostile troops were

it was
increasing,
her.
and to use
The
Queen-Mother decided
and

Alencon

demanded

residence

placeof

conspiracy.
was

so

of the

report, she

largeand

at

It must

have

seem
was

was

had

not

should

show

tact.

his

morency
Mont-

said, had

was

Montmorency,

made

whose

with fine words.

for Henri, for his love of

Earlier in his reign,when
a

task

grown.
Your
had
articles
approached him,
I wonder
you dare present them,"
It was
that he
needful now
to say.
"

them

very strange to
all that he found

it

King cajolethem
bitter

as

presence
the
but
whatever
truth
Huguenots ;
forced to set both her prisoners

now

the

been

Huguenots
deputationfrom

been

with

away

to make

the

had

the

important to

of Blois

town

since the Coconnas

prisoners

Queen-Mother,

to do

the

liberation of the Marshals

also the

"

The

attempt

obtained

and

Cosse, who

and

at Blois

Chambord.

at

vain

eventuallytook place both

interviews

him, and

meet

her to

to take

me

"

The

reconciliation

with

Alencon

had

hoped-forend to the dilemma, and Thor6 and

put
the
of the Montmorency brothers, had broken
M"ru,
younger
out in open revolt in the South.
Mayenne, the Catholic leader,
backed
by his brother, the Due de Guise, met them and their

not

the

forces ; and a battle ensued

Protestant defeat.
It was
a

at

Dormans,

which

triumph for the

283

resulted in

Catholic chiefs and

LATER

THE
Guise

had
him

before

him.

who
It

the

concluded

was

effect,and
Alencon

no

on

did

not

and

Conde,
Casimir, was
son,
Loire.
Alencon,
follow

November

have
his

cease

hitherto

MEDICI

got there. It
by his father

no

could

one

he

scar

Balafre,already borne

now

it above

desired

of the

DE'

choice but peace, and Catherine,

all things,set about
the negotiations.

had

Protestants

proud

of le

name

CATHERINE

OF
be

to

reason

earned

The

YEARS

8,1575, but it had no enduring

thought it would last long.

efforts to

collect Mercenaries

prominent,supportedby
marching from the Moselle
never
a
good chieftain, was
not

the Elector's
towards

the

satisfied to

their lead.

The

moment

critical for

was

time, early in 1576, that

France, and it
contrived

Navarre

was

about

this

his

departure
busy
with the event
before its occurrence
and, two days earlier,
had already spread a report that he had gone.
The King
and his mother, who had not been seeinghim, believed it ; but
the day after they had come
to this conclusion, while they
he suddenly appeared
were
worshipping at Sainte-Chapelle,
before them, booted
and spurred,and burst out laughing in
his accustomed
manner."
I have broughtyou back," he said,
the man
whom
were
seeking,and for whose sake you
you
distressed."
much
It would, he urged,have been easy
were
so
for him to run
if he had wanted
to, but the thought had
away
into his head.
And
he had
never
come
greatlywished to
bour
bring this home to them, so that henceforth they might harthat he would
such fancies ;
no
they might feel sure
leave their Majestiesexcept by their own
never
command,
from

Paris.

in Alencon's

As

case,

the town

had

been

"

"

"

"

but

would

die

their feet and

at

in their service."

"

Vrai

trait de Gascon," old Estoile calls this littlescene, and in truth

it was
a victoryof art ; a
carefully
prepared dramatic effect
to

put his royalcousins off the

be

the

only person
practicalphilosophy as
to

in

Henri

scent.

had

historywho

de Navarre
as

much

seems

wit and

Mascarilles
of
Scapins
Moliere.
But the plot of his comedy was
He played
serious.
for a big game
with a lightheart.
He
left Paris without
raisingany suspicion,ostensiblyto

hunt

Senlis.

And

going there with

the

in his

at

was

at

he
Due

the

and

blinded

the

the

public still further by

de Guise, and

the way,
of Saint-Germain, which

the

stoppingon

great Fair
then
crowding the place. There, where he could be
by all,he paraded with the Duke
giving him many
company,

"

seen

"

284

THE

YEARS

LATER

She

was

to

soon

Troubles

OF

have

fresh

round

brewing

were

CATHERINE

peace
used at

the

travelled

She

need

of

MEDICI

her

philosophy.
Catherine,seeing

her.

about

already broken, resumed

DE'

methods

she

had

once

Conde\ Alencon and

Poissy.
at
Casimir, together with their army,
Chatenai, and took
'"'
with
her
her
effect of
to try the
Flying Squadron
Navarre's
feminine
charm.
de Sauve, was
love, Madame
of the band, besides the great Madame
de Montpensier,and
to

meet

"

Madame

Villequier.This last lady is only famous through

her death.
She was
having a final taste of the life she loved.
Next year her jealoushusband
put an end to her, and murdered
her suddenly in cold blood, before the eyes of the assembled
Court.
But
still practisingher
at Chatenai, she was
now,
wiles, and the soldiers began, says a chronicler, to yield
before so much
more
obdurate,
ogling.' Their leaders were
One
and
dared
ride rough-shod over
Catherine.
even
day
Alencon'
at a meeting with the rebels,she was
s
whisperingin
ear.
Madame,
please speak out, so that every one
may
hear you," said one
We
do not allow whispering
of them.
"

'

"

"

here."

and,
before, the Queen-Mother sought to make
peace
In
she
fulfilledher
before,
May, 1576,was signed
purpose.

As
as

the Peace
Paix

de Beaulieu.

of the Chateau

It

de Monsieur, Alencon's title as the

This
it represented his demands.

and

was

known

the

brother,

King's next
strange

as

leader

of

off with
they came
flying colours. They gained official recognitionof their
and
its free exercise in every town
exceptingParis ;
religion,
the repeal of all decrees against them ; the admission
of
the

Protestants

parties,or
of

and

the

to

"

no

and

Coligny'smemory

his children.

with
added

well

mischools ; the creation of Chambres

of Moderates
councils made
; the
up practically
"
less than eight strong places ; the rehabilitation

their children

grant of

them

served

Alencon

Henri.

He

the

further terms

made
was

to have

the term
apanage1}-

to his

restitution

of his property to
tage
advanfor his own

Touraine, Berri and Anjou

for the

which
principality

was

to bear
King's brother, and he was
the title of Due
d'Anjou.2
had
The
negotiationsfor his marriage with Elizabeth
after his flight
from the Court
been re-opened in 1574, and

granted

1
2

An
In

to

him

apanage
order

to

as

meant
avoid

the

an

almost

confusion,

independent Principality.
we

286

shall continue

to call him

Alencon.

THE

PRINCES

THE

OF

ESCAPE

redoubled

vigour by Catherine
of winning him back.
means
a possible
them.
result from
for much
thing
EveryThe
around
her was
emptiness of the
disheartening.
alarming,and she had to use all her resources
treasury was
for the fulfilment
to pay
to scrape togetherenough money
of the treaty. A new
of money-lenderssprang up who
race
paid great fortunes in return for litresde noblesse,and founded
not
was
a solid plutocracywhich
unimportant in the future.
In the meantime
and his soldiers were
Casimir
clamouring
carried on
they were
who regardedthem
as
Not that she hoped

for pay

current

coin, some

"These

with

the Peace, and in the dearth of

off to them.
sent
of the Crown
jewelswere

their due

as

from

did she over-state

nor

"

the truth.

Whichever

see

for the stricken

country

The
a

as
was

not

everywhere and
only remedy

was

peace, and

was

look,
yet no

we

way

of her statesmen, and

the evil. There
cure

said

one
despair,"so
had
appeared to
physician
of insurrection
but the spirit
war,
open
disturbance
permeated the kingdom.
we

Catherine,

unspeakable anguish," wrote

things are

real peace

seemed

still far off.

Catherine,bent
her

enemies.

Cond6

upon

More

securingit,did her best to

practicallyimportant than

conciliate

Alencon,

morency
Navarre, was
Damville, the second of the Montof Languedoc and the leader
brothers, the Governor
of the Politiqueparty. He
of
had, said Catherine,
more
and of sequence
than the others,
experience,understanding,
without
devoid of good counsel
remained
and,
him, they
or

"

"

"

and

of

generalship."This

for the moment.

offered to
least work
mother
turn

She

bring his

was

Conde\

could
That

in

Navarre

tool.

own

refused
did he

to

give in

afford to be

him.

to

sanguine enough

and
differently
his wife ; nor
later date.

personage she succeeded in cajoling

made
advances
to Navarre
and

wife back

less mischief

her into her

He

next

Margueritewould

to

believe

But

Henri
either

see

in

than

that

she

could

de Navarre
his

to Catherine's

strong, for he had

Prince refused to

Paris,

and

still

thought

mother-in-law
wishes

at

her

or

tilla much

potent ally in
joinhands with Alencon, whom

he

suspected of wishingto betray him to the King. Henri

for dreadinghim.
specialreasons
Apart from the Cause of
Conde
had
of Peronne
town
religion,
a privategrievance. The
in Picardyhad been promised to him, but when
he wished
to
take possessionof it, the Ligue of Picardy,a local Catholic
had

287

LATER

THE

YEARS

federation, led by
refused

to

became

the model

OF

CATHERINE
Governor

the

Humiere,

DE'
of

MEDICI

the

province,

yield it. The

tent
King was impotent,Conde malconhe appeased by receiving
of St. Jean
the town
was
; nor
in itself,
d'Angely in compensation. The incident, trifling
has a permanent
because the Ligue of Picardy
significance,
federations

were

revolutionize

later to

was

Opposition,only

was

The
in

coming

Prince

should

others

have

His

it.

weakened

blunder, of which

France.

disaffection, which

Conde's
the

other
which, a few years later,so many
in
the
formed, culminating
Ligue which
on

rejectionof Alencon

not

were

strengthened

slow

to

avail

selves.
them-

Catholics of the

forward

BelgianNetherlands lost no time

It cost that
making proposalsto him.
his
principles and desert the
away

and

accepted the offers of the

He

Protestants.

"

"

little to throw

who

men

had

his foes ; but, before he did so, he met the King

in consultation at Blois,where they were
joinedby Catherine.
tillnow

been

proved not onlyfatal to

step

that

on

road

constructingbit

the establishment

bit.

Etats de Blois, which

of peace, but a decisive

disaster

of national

by

the

held

Here, in August, 1576, were

which

the

King was
short-sighted
obstinacy,he

With

rigid Catholic uniformity and the suppression

of Protestant
supported by nearly the
worship. He was
alone
whole
assembly, and opposed almost
by Catherine.
It is at this moment
that we
recognizeher force that we
how much
the kingdom deteriorated without
her.
Under
see
Henri, the son who freed himself from her curbing rein, folly
enforced

"

confusion, and

became

confusion

confounded.

worse

She

alljuncture a policy of conciliation was

important,and she keenly disapprovedof the King'sdecision.
At an
interview with the Cardinal de Bourbon, she openly
she did more
And
than this.
pronounced herself for peace.
which
She herself made
a
gives us her
speech in the Etats

that

saw

conception
have

this

at

good

as

"

herself.

of
a

conscience

am
as

Catholic/' it
one

any

can

"

ran,

have.

and

Often, in

King, my son, have I hazarded my person

againstthe Huguenots. Nor do I yet feel any fear of them.
I am
ready to die, having reached fifty-eight
years of age, and

the time

hope

of the late

to

go
this
destroy

to

Paradise.

kingdom.
*

I have

I dare not authorize

If there

be

others

strictlymaintained

myself

who,
the

can

care

nothing for the ruin of this nation, or if

hope to find their profitin its misery,

who

288

long

as

faith,'

Catholic

they

say,

so

to

...

there

be

then

any
have

ESCAPE

THE

nothing

to

I do

but

say,

THE

OF

PRINCES

desire to be like them/'

not

Mont-

statesman
the Catholic bigot,was
enough to support
pensier,
her in her advocacy of peace and tolerance,and such opinions,

him, made

from

coming

immense

an

effect upon
his audience.
turned
deaf
a
ear
King

useless. The
their efforts were
He was
counsels.
to his mother's
longingfor war, although
of his decisions,
to get rid of the responsibility
he took care
the world believe that the "tats had forced his
and to make
But

hand.

daily drifted further from Catherine, wounding her

for the first time, upon
to the quick by insisting,
opening
which
his despatcheshimself, a course
was
cripplingto her
shutting her out largelyfrom foreign affairs and
power,
At firstshe had tried to hold
checkingher influence at home.
He

by the frivolous

him

f Persuade
"

budged
had

be

to

not

the
so

from

comedies

King/'
devout

that had

means

she said to
as

he

was

"

Jesuits ; and
in
acted at Court

the

the

at

"

been

once

Cardinal

effective.

so

de

Bourbon,

Avignon, where

although it

was

he

never

Lent, she

spiteof publicdenunciations
had got beyond her.
This

pulpit. But her son

her, and she was
upon
unspeakable anguish had come
with her but the
found in her closet crying bitterly,
no
one
before complained
Catherine had never
young Queen, Louise.
There is nothing that / do that
of her son ; she did so now.
he does not think all wrong," she exclaimed
yet everybody
from

the

"

"

"

"

can

were

urging war

upon
Evil would

help him.

she could not

the murder
"

of Navarre

take

them.

In

difference with

gave

her

I would."

The

would, she knew,

come

upon

consent

realm, but she did

as

"

France

who
very men
do nothing to

; she foresaw

it,but

to
not

"

cut

to peace

she exclaimed

"

and

prosperity.

it will be

quite

Upon this, the King reproached her

and there were
le Beamais,"
disputes

the end
her

short

deed !

him."

enough
for
with partiality
between

him

prevent it. A gentleman of the Court proposed

of such

Beware
to

do what

that I cannot

see

she could not

"All."

She

sent

endure
him

word

the

griefof

that

she

religiousuniformity throughout the

wish her decision to be publicly
declared.

The

King paid her but scant attention. Other matters were

pressingupon him. The deputieshad supportedhim warmly
affairs,but they did not follow suit in other
upon religious
The
Third
Estate
matters.
was
protestingin loud tones
against the influence of the Italians,and againstthe general
in ecclesiastical concerns.
maladministration, especially
289

YEARS

LATER

THE

cried

Majesty

the

in spiteof

methods,

CATHERINE

this, they refused

than

Worse

OF

with

to

King's

anger,

but

DE'

MEDICI
illicit

by
money
extortionate demands.
grant
one

no

moved

was

His

by

his

tears.

This

and

efforts. Another,
important result of the deputies'
Henri
his
that
was
the
to
name
put
greater,
Ligue
an

was
a

"

the newly formed federation of the Catholic Nobles

Protestants and the Politiques.

Unfortunately the Opposition was

It had

adversaries.

weakened

itself by

jealousof Navarre, and yet could

himself had not enough enthusiasm
was

He

cause.

the town
Catholic

had

not

the

an

sinew

to

act

be

for its

prey
feuds.

Conde"

alone.

Navarre

the leader

and he
struggle,
being besiegedby

Charite, which was

Alencon, to fall into that
of La

petty

not
to

easy

againstthe

Prince's

of any

allowed
the

hands

now

without

its

help. Other Protestant places fell

go to
there
and
seemed littleto hope from resistance.
before the enemy
discretion
the better part of valour and
Damville
thought
"
not
only submitted to the King, but was
appointed Chief
attempting to

Royal Troops." Navarre was not long in followinghis

example. Catherine enjoyed an hour of triumph. She spent
it in feteingAlencon as a reward for his victoryat La Charity
which was
like an orgy of late Rome
and in givinga masque
sided
prede
Sauve.
These
Madame
frivolities
did
not
over
by
impede the beginningof transactions for peace. The Queenof Navarre
Mother
was
spirit
lucky in having the conciliatory
with.
to work
Together they framed la Paix de Bergerac,
the King called his Peace, in oppositionto the Paix
which
It was
de Monsieur.
signed at Bergerac,on September 25,
of the

1577It

granted liberty of worship

places as

were

to

already Protestant
in the

also,as well as
feudatories," whose

houses

"

the

Huguenots

in certain

of various

in such

other

towns

great gentlemen and

"

It
privilegeswere
strictlydenned.
with new
testants
Chambers
created new
advantages for the Proof the
eightstrong
; it re-affirmed their possession
for
them
the rest, it
to
and,
;
places already assigned
the treaty of 1576. There
followed
was
one
important
clause forbiddingall meetings and associations which
extra
in any
would
injure this pact a provision directed
way
to
against the Ligues : the Catholic Ligue already known
it. And
counterbalanced
the Protestant
Ligue which
us,
"

"

"

there

were

private and

less
290

essential

agreements

with

ESCAPE

THE
Navarre
of

and

Conde\

Picardy
Huguenots.

and

OF

THE

PRINCES

promising Conde" the

according wished-for

future
benefits

government
the
to

a force,
treaty could kill the Catholic Ligue. It was
bound
shall
have
to
it
as
was
live,
we
occasion
and, beingsuch,

But

to

see

no

hereafter.

291

XVI

CHAPTER

AMIDST

all these

with

in

And

Alencon.

needful

give

to

that

the
in

order

backward

for

country

to

last

what

at

five

it

how

trace

glance

the

from

and

Netherlands

threatening
their dealings

been

had

doings, fresh danger

from

France

Netherlands

the

In

years.

it

arose,

is

happening

had

been

In

1573,

had

Alva

by
encouraged
Protestants,
Spain. The
goaded
his absence,
gained some
ground, wearying the Spaniards by
ing
their dogged persistence. Spain arose
and retaliated
by defeatthe
and
of Nassau
killing their gallant
troops of Louis
and
the
leader.
There
followed, in 1574, the siege of Ley den
selves
of the
who
heroism
bethought themProtestants,
desperate
the
of piercing the dams,
and
Spanish
nearly drowned
retired

to

tried
Maximilian,
reigning Emperor,
concessions
but
to make
mediator,
as
Philip refused
fruit.
of religion, and
the
bore
no
score
attempt
The

army.

1575

found

with

fresh

offered

of

form

of

embroiled

as

as

initiative, resolved

the

Prince
a

matters

administration

supreme

with

Orange,
government

only

served

sack

of

redouble

to

of

The

year

They
the

to

help him,

to

Their

measures

Spaniards,

the

the

country

duly accepted.

of
power
all its unreadable

on

course.

twenty-one

the

with

Antwerp,

he

their

of

Council

which

their

change

to

act

Netherlander,

the

and

ever,

to

the

and

place

horrors, took

in

1576.
The

parties

borne

in mind

Protestants

and

foes

natural

Treaty of
of worship
that,

in

the

that

against

arms

in

there

the

old

into

for

the

Catholic

decreed

Catholics

that
in

domains,

liberty of conscience,

although

allowed

them.

This

the
the
no

agreement
295

enmity

turned

there

was

be

should

Protestants
exercise

the

"

in

up

these

pact, the

formal

Protestant

public

of rebels

equally

"

be

must

groups
both

made

they

Catholic

was

nobility
common

allies, and
It

main

two

were

It

complicated.

were

Their

Spain.

Ghent.

the

State

freedom

provinces,

and

should

have

of their

faith

signed,

and

put

in

THE

LATER

YEARS

MEDICI

DE'

CATHERINE

OF

of Austria, the
Countries as
of Charles V, was
sent to the Low
son
illegitimate
and to
Governor.
He began at once
to carry out a craftypolicy
The Treaty of Ghent was
conciliate the great Catholic nobles.

practicein 1576. The

year, Don

same

John

thrown

broken, and the Protestants,left highand dry,were

soon

their

upon

own

several

won
struggle,
of Orange
summoning

Undismayed, they
unimportantsuccesses, and

resources.

Governor

of

Brabant.

The

counter-Governor, the

brother of Maximilian's

continued

William

made

Nobles

the

retorted

by

Matthias,
of those strange

Archduke

Rudolph, one
of whom
royal factotums, ready for any vicarious sovereignty,
Europe in that age seemed prolific.The Prince of Orange,
without a demur, acceptedthe Archduke's
but took
supremacy,
to

care

successor,

Lieutenant-General, and

get himself made

so

remained

the real ruler.

reverted to
It was
that the Netherlanders
upon these events
their tradition of French intervention and invited firstthe King,
who refused,then Alencon, to come
Other powers
to their aid.
were

footingin their country. Queen

covery
disshe made
a
long been wavering,but now
decided her.
Don
John, she found, had been
To free her, to
less a prizethan Mary Stuart.

the watch

on

Elizabeth

had

which

plottingfor

no

to

get

the main
Elizabeth, were
Elizabeth, doubting no
points of his programme.
longer,
that
she
promised troops to the Protestants, the more
gladly

her, and

marry

ready

was

French.

do

to

Casimir

Netherlanders

then

dethrone

to

the interference of the

the
another of the Princes with whom
that Alencon's desire to
so
negotiations,

anything to prevent
was

opened

accept their offer received all the stimulus of rivalry.

Two months
after the conclusion of the Paix de Monsieur
(in
1576),he had returned to the Court, with his mother and his
sister. The King received them
with a great show of joy
"

"

the

of his kingdom, but he was

pacification
angry at the
concessions to the Huguenots, and, in his heart, as Marguerite
shrewdlyobserves,he was onlylongingfor the renewal of the war.
at

He

counted

his brother's

on

promotingit.

To Alencon's

he

the hated

even

offer

gave
came

from

the

return

the

suave

surest

means

of

all smiles,and
the
When
welcome.

face,however, he

Bussy
Low

as

was

Countries, Catherine,

usual
will and

as

that she could subjecther children to her

believing
for France from the Netherlandish
foreseeing
great possibilities

scheme, appeared to support it warmly. The King at first

also feignedsympathy, but the feint was
transparent. Jealous
296

to his brother,
might accrue
harry and to hamper him, and he

influence that

afraid of any

and

NETHERLANDS

THE

IN

doing all he could to

warned
even
Philipagainsthim.
ambitions
The projectroused new

he

was

he dreamed

of

empire

Like

Coligny,

Netherlands, an
empire to be
Elizabeth
but, unlike Coligny,

in the

by marriage with

increased

in Alencon.

"

advantage. The struggle

not unattainable.
he knew would be a hard one, but the goalwas
And if he had potent enemies, he also had one
ally a host in
his sister,Marguerite. Happily for
herself and
that was
him, she too had a fresh grievanceagainstthe King which
her webs, in vengeance.
According
spurredher on to weave
Catholics
and
that
to her own
account, now
Huguenots were
the end

that he

his

sought was

own

"

"

reconciled,her Protestant
that

to

was

The

this.

informed

it,and
as

to
once

back

more

to

him

impossiblenot

doubt

to

prevent her

to

anxious

was

his motive, it was

his
But, whatever
required her, not his heart. Catherine, when

of his wish

him.

was

rude

husband

But

when

foe, she could not ask

second

to be sent

from

came

messenger

and
departure,
with many
threats, saying,that it was
given his sister,not to a Huguenot ; that

by

words

husband

my

wished

her

right.
her, Henri lost his temper and refused outaway Genissac, the Huguenot," she writes,

He turned
sent

tried to divert her

the national

became

Catholic he had

to

have

to hasten

my

he must

me,

become

gave
to

if my

to my mother's closet,where the King was

at
straight
I
moment.
representedto him that I had not married
of my own
free will,but at the command
or
even
pleasure,

brother Charles, and

my
since they had given me

sharinghis

did not allow

somehow,

me

repliedthe King,
go.

made

I confess

even

the
for
of

mother, and himself ; that,

to him, they could not hinder me
of my

no

of my

at the hazard

longerthe

that what

delays on
altogether
; for

to do so, and if they

fortunes ; that I wished
to, I should steal off and contrive to get to him

it

were

Catholic.

went

from

to

his eye.

to demand
"

who

desire, and

one

daughterfrom fulfilling
to accompany
the King at first put him off by proposals
far as Poitiers. He wanted, she thought,by thus dallying,
Navarre
be
if
the
should
resumed, for
war
gaintime until

husband
"

but

that he wished
to his interests at Court, and

her under

policy that

her

again.
probably was

truth

doing mischief
have

It is

her

see

had

husband

purpose,
since the

time to

that

so

day

when

297

at

'

It is

importune me

charge me

you

life.

with

last I

the

King

is true

now/

to let you
"

that

refuse you
of Navarre
again

might

THE

LATER

turned

YEARS
have

Huguenot, I

him.

in

No,

OF

CATHERINE

DE'
of your

approved

never

MEDICI

rejoining

shall not

truth, you

go ; and if you try to steal

take
that
note
you say, please
you will have your mother
will compel you to feel
for cruel enemies and that we

off,as
and

me

our

enmity

as

much

as

making thingsworse,

we

So, you

can.

instead of better for your

After such threats,the transactions

would

see, you

with

be

'

husband.'

Countries

the Low

opportunelyfor Marguerite,and she enjoyed them

the more,
the strictest
because, to avoid the King's scrutiny,
She urged Alencon
needful.
was
secrecy concerning them
to help the Netherlanders
againstSpain ; and she saw, with
most

came

her usual

astuteness, that the scheme

offered

field for

new

her

the
The
Flemish
was
agent, Mondoucet, who
powers.
bearer of fresh offers to Alencon, suggesteda practical
proposal

which
time
her
was,

probably inspiredby her. Civil war had by this

broken
out
again,and her friends had been persuading
A place so hostile to her husband
to leave the Court.
dantes,
One of these confithey said, no fitting
place for her.
was

the

to
about
Roche-sur-Yonne, was
to Spa to take the waters
there, and Spa could only

travel

be

Princesse

de

la

When
the two
ladies
through the Netherlands.
their plans,the Fleming,Mondoucet, happened
discussing

reached

were

be

to

Queen

present.

"

of Navarre

Monsieur," he

said

pretend to have

could

Alencon,

to

"

if the

illness which

some

be exceedingly
good
Spa
in Flanders, where she could strike
d propos to your enterprise
a
grand blow for you."
My brother very much approved
of this,and was
glad of the opening. All of a sudden,
sincerely
he exclaimed, Oh, Queen, seek about no
longer; you must
Ja Princesse de laRochego to the'watersat Spa,whither Madame
sur-Yonne
is travelling.In old days I noticed that you
had erysipelas
You must
in your arm.
say that at that time
the waters

could

of

to, it would

do
"

'

the doctors ordered

season

that

now

you
the

the waters, but it

has
rightmoment

let you go.'"

King
unofficial spy ; she would
the

to

not

was

the proper

and

come

beg

you

in fact, to be Alencon's
was,
give him an idea how the land lay
She

to tread.
prepare the road he was
In the meantime, the King, anxious

and

brother's actions and

gave

him

himself

the command

supervisingthe

honour, which
himself

to ruin his

Alencon

of

one

other
dared

fightingagainst his

to

circumscribe

prospectswith

of the two
:

an

not
own

298

the

armies

in
injury,

refuse.

He

party

while

his

Huguenots,
againstthem,

the

guise of

an

therefore found
his sister

was

IN

NETHERLANDS

THE

in Flanders

sounding thtm

his behalf.

on

He

trusted

to

her

his treachery. All

explain away
The King and Catherine made
happened justas they wished.
to a journeyfor the sake of health, and Marguerite
no
objection
of the start and its full Renaissance
Her description
set off.
I rode," she says,
splendour is characteristic of herself.
covered with velvet
with pillars.They were
in a litter made
with opal silk and gold,
of Spanishruby colour,embroidered
with
This
litter was
devices.
and worked
lighted with
windows, and the panes, too, were
wrought with devices,
in all,
the glass fortymottoes
the lining
and some
on
on
some
in Spanishand now
in Italian,
of them different,
now
every one
and its effects. The which was
and they told about the sun
of

powers

invention

to

"

"

"

followed

by

that

by

ten

by the

of Madame

de

horseback, and their Governess

by six coaches, or chariots, with the rest of her

maids-of-honour

also ; and
ladies and
The

de la Roche-sur-Yonne, and
Tournon, my lady-in-waiting
; and

litter of Madame

on

of mine."

through Flanders

passage

wont

were

to

was

She

be.

as

made

eventful

her expeditions

as

expedient

amusement

and

expediency amusing, interminglingfeasts and business

Nor
which.
so
adroitlythat very few could tell which was
did she ever
with a vigilance
from labouringfor Alencon
cease
and
really disinterested,although her
patience that were
love of intrigue
had something to say in the matter.
energetic
Those who were
to Spain she converted
wavering in allegiance
to her cause.
And
she cast her spellsover
the old Flemish
and all anti-Spanish,
and pledgedthem
Noblesse,who were
one
to

support her brother.

Cambrai

that

he

She

deserted

so

fascinated

his duties

and

Governor

the

of

accompanied

her

all the way to Namur

de Lalain, the Governor
; while Monsieur
of Valenciennes,a relation of Count
Egmont's and the archfoe of Philip,became
her devoted
His
servant.
wife was
both useful and congenialto her.
the
of
The nature
ings,"
Flem"

the
more

she writes, " is to be familiar,joyous,

and intimate ; and
Comtesse
de
Lalain
shared
this temperament.
But
than this,she had a great and loftyspirit
the which
.

sudden

me

gave
ties of

assurance

that it would

with her,
friendship

which

be easy

might

serve

to knit

close

ment
the advance-

of my
brother's schemes, since she entirelypossessed
the mind
of her husband."
The Queen of Navarre remained
in this lady'shouse
a week
at

Mons,

on

the most

confidential
299

terms

with

her.

Margot

THE

LATER

made

the

YEARS

at

meal-times

that

business,
wont

has

pen

"

the Siren

for then

talk with

to

left

us

"

she

so

that the

was

Coucher,

one

us

"

Her

dinners

is worth

was

did

Flanders

people of

of these

it

tells

greatest frankness."

the

which

vital

"

genre

that it

preserving:
palace
for the moment,
but
issue,
because,
any important

us

"

with

see

the Renaissance
The

it

diplomat

pictureof

pictureof the
bears upon
it makes

MEDICI

DE'

of the attachment, especially

at her
"
the Countess
always lingeredlate." But

which

were

CATHERINE

most

at

most

OF

the

eyes

life of

strange domestic

in all the force of its crude contrasts.

Comtesse

still longer at

her

not

de
my

"

would have stayed on

Lalain,she says,
Coucher, but she had a habit, uncommon

quality,and one which shows

a
goodness. She nursed her little son
seated
herself. And the next day at a banquet,where she was
next
at table, in full dress covered with jewels
me
(her
with a
robe beingof black and gold tissue d I'Espagnole
gold and silver-broidered stomacher and big diamond buttons),
they brought her her baby, all swaddled as richlyas his Nurse,
that she might feed him.
This she did, and first,while she
kept him waiting,she set him between us on the table. In
another it might have seemed
uncivil,but she achieved it with
such grace and simplicity
that she received as great praise
for what
she did as
the company
had
pleasurefrom her
enough

among
great and

of her

persons
natural

action."
After

Margueritehad got

all she wanted

from

of Rousseau's
school, she
precursor
presents and departed. All these dealingswere

this

scious
uncon-

her

paid

with

the liminaries
preJohn, the representative

to her

but

with Don
meeting at Namur
much
of Philipupon her power of blindingwhom
so
of Alencon's success
depended. When he received her outside
the town, he seemed
as
dazzlinga vision as herself : the opposite
and of an open counof his brother, Philip golden-haired
tenance
tains
who would be worth the conquering.The cura man
"

"

of her litter were

undrawn

; he

advanced, and she saluted

kiss ; then he " rode back to the city

by my side,talkingthe whole of the way, and we did not arrive
her apartuntil nightfall." Her receptionwas
ments
magnificent,
the
with
curtained
Her
bed
was
gift
tapestries
regal.

him

d la Frangaise,with

"

Don
John's victories
illustrating
the Ottoman
over
Empire. The days that followed passed
Don
in the accustomed
display,in balls and fireworks.
an
John was
hidalgo of courtesy : Margot put forth all her

of

vanquished

Pasha

"

300

THE

LATER

reached

YEARS

its crisis at

CATHERINE

ball-room

bride.

DE'

MEDICI

Ball, given in honour

Court

The

wedding.
dancing with the

OF

crowded.

was

of

man's
noble-

Alencon

was

to
Mignons chose this moment
his
It
approach
gibesupon
ugliness. had not
been worth
his while, they said, to dress himself up ; he had
done well to come
after dark when
he could not be properly
And
at the smallness
of his stature
in
seen.
they mocked
tones
that could clearlybe heard by the lady on his arm.
The Prince danced no more
that evening. He left the room
with rage in his heart, resolved to lose no
time in quitting
Next
Paris.
day, he sent word to the King to ask leave to go
of town
out
for a few days and hunt.
Henri, spurred on
seized
was
by the Mignons, refused his permission. He
And
of
irrational
he
fear.
in
went
by an access
suddenly
to
find
moved
-attire
writes
mother,"
night
Margot,
my

him

with

The

loud

""

"

and

shaken

remonstrated,
'

in

as
"

How

can

you

ask

let my
brother go and hunt
beneath
the pretext of the chase
have

me,

there

Catherine
doubt

no

lurks

cried,

he

Madame,'

I have

to

enterprise.I will go

When

public alarm."

some

that

perilous

some

and seize him and allhis people,and

his coffers searched.

I feel

sure

shall discover

we

I will
thing
some-

important.'And she, all in undress as she was, wrapping

her bedgown round
her as best she could, followed him up
the stairs to my
brother's bedchamber.
The
King knocked
roughly at the door and my brother woke with a start." He
his
bade them
enter, and Henri went in and, sending away
brother's valets, began to storm
He had his coffers
at him.
rifled and himself searched
Alencon

had

the bed for papers.

letter from Madame
a

him

upon

de

Sauve,

it. The
he put his hand over
and, wishingto keep it private,
it Alencon
refused, entreatinghim with
King demanded
"

clasped hands
imaginingthat

not

to

he had

ask

lightedupon an
opened it in his

But when he
paper.
of them, perceivingtheir

confusion, and
in vain

that

King

would

idea

of the

saw

that the

the

King

Alencon
not

Henri

for it.

asked

reply. The

the

reason

truth

Prince's

than

It

ever.

of his conduct

was

the

that he had

got some
the Netherlands, and he

was

designs upon
to turn
was
remedy
only

presence, both
there covered with

mother's

wroth

more

more,

incriminatingpolitical

blunder, stood
was

insisted the

lock and

key

upon

him.

orders for his arrest and left him

That gentleman
under the guard of a certain M. de Losse.
had been an old friend of Henri II's and tutor to Navarre, and
Without

more

ado, he gave

302

THE

IN

his

disposedtowards

well

was

NETHERLANDS

prisoner. Perhaps it was

should

granted.
Although it was

stilldark, Alencon, excited

It
at once.
desired her presence
of his Scotch
archers to
sent
one
into

came

ignorant

room," she wrote,

my
of what
had happened.

said

'
"

him.'

see

for I

man,

him,
He

thought

that

whether

he

repliedthat

I has

not

he

your
that the

place?

went

in his

in

the

needed

and

'

some

He

drew

He

with
not

But

do you

soldier

stillasleep,

bed-curtain,

my

day, Madame/
will

and

come

I stared

Then

the

at

recognizing
?

want

Guards.

'

said,

send
other messenger
he [could
me
that this was
answered
impossible
;

had

tongue,

to

taken

been
tell

me

her, she hastened

to

away

what

Marguerite heard

When

Losse

This

of the Scotch

one

what

distraught,

me

sleep,and

dreaming.

was

followers

own

night."

found

"

were

was.

Prince's

on,

I
'

brother

my

in

fetch her.

"

'

your
still dazed

was

I asked

"

Good
the Scots,
brother begsthat you

Monsieur
I

and

daybreak when

was

languageused by

and in the
he

owing

the Prince asked as a favour that his sister

be allowed to share his imprisonment,the petitionwas
that when

to him

had

that

and

he

happened

her

brother

dress herself and

her
accompany
reach Alencon's apartments

morning. To
she
to cross
and
a
courtyard thronged with servants
who
the
before
wont
to cringe
her.
were
courtiers,
people
all
But now
their
faces
turned
the
whole
;
palace
they
away
knew what had happened ; she was
in
a
already person
disgrace
it was
Alencon's
whom
to
know.
welcome
restored
dangerous
her calm.
When
he saw
more
me, his face showed
joy than
do not
sorrow.
My Queen/ he said, as he embraced
me,
I despisetheir tyranny so long as you will have the
cry.
goodness to help me
by your presence/ These words, far
from stoppingmy
think that I was
me
tears, made
pouring
forth all the vapours
of my
life. I answered, sobbing,that
escort.

It

was

now

had

"

'

'

...

my

existence and

my

fortune

were

tied to his."

While

this strange pairwere

weeping and conspiring,
Bussy,
victim
of
the
the
sent
to the
now
Mignon Caylus'shatred, was
Bastille. Catherine saw
had gone too far that
that matters
unless the King undid his work, the whole of Paris would be
"

embroiled.

But,

opposinghim.
Marshals,

"

as

usual, she refused

She called

who,"

says

Council

Margot,

"

to

bear

of

of the Princes,Lords, and

been
had
marvellously

scandalized
with
Armed
by his behaviour.
that His Majesty must
mend
matters
as
now
303

the burden
"

their verdict

quicklyand

"

as

THE
well

LATER
he

as

Alencon

could

and

to favour

to embrace

YEARS

succeeded

she

"

CATHERINE
in

DE'

MEDICI

seriouslyalarming him.

summoned
before him and restored
Margot were
from
fetched
the Bastille and requested
Bussy was
in
Caylus public. Enteringwith a gallantswagger,

he

gave him
Court
burst

hungry,for

OF

"

kiss

la Pantalon, which
made
the whole
laughing." By that time everybody was

out

"

nobody had eaten for three hours," and Catherine,

tired of emotions, proposed to have a family dinner, to be
followed by a ball. She took no
notice of Alencon's
and
black looks, but sent them, like naughty children,
Marguerite's
suited to
to change their dresses, which
now
were
forgiven,
"

their woeful

state," and

banquet can
said Margot,

to

hardly have

"

as

far

the mirrors

as

of

put

been

festive attire.

more

on

pleasant.

"

clothes went, but

souls,they showed

our
our

We

obeyed her,"
for

as

The

nances,
counte-

our

very passionof
disdain that we

displeasure,
imprintedthere by the anger and
had felt at every act of this tragi-comedy."
The
tragi-comedy did not end there. It had created a
new
grudge in the heart of Alencon, and a new scene was still
to follow.
The King, true Valois that he was, went back upon
his word
to
and
a
panic. He gave
again became
prey
fresh orders that the palacedoors should be watched, that his
brother should be kept a semi-prisoner.Alencon was
goaded
into action.
would
had
He
The time for delay
passed.
escape
"

and

"

his way

make

It

Flanders.

to

his sister who

was

usual doors

was

had

all the

impossible.The

An

resources.

Guards

scrutinized

of every person who

went
out
of the Louvre.
let down, she decided, from her window, which
second

floor and

looked

out

exit
He

was

by

the

the face
must
upon

be
the

The necessary
the moat.
bethought herself that one of

upon

the
rope was
her mattresses

She
difficulty.
That very day I had it
wanted
mending.
carried off as if to be repaired,
by a boy who was devoted to
me
(ofsuch the Reine Margot had a store) and, a few hours
afterwards, he brought if back with the rope inside it."
"

"

"

"

Her

difficultieswere

not

over.

The

escape

was

to be made

night. That evening the King dined maigre,alone, and

incautious
Alencon
was
Margot supped with her mother.
enough to approach her at the table and whisper in her ear.
enemies
He begged her to come
to him
quickly; there were
at
he feared detection.
In point of fact, there was
abroad
in
low
and
who was
that moment
a
gentleman in the room
earnest
Marguerite,whose senses,
colloquywith Catherine.

at

"

304

so

tells us,

she

that

Then

"

closet.

intensified

were

suspicionwas

he talked.

her

by

anxiety, knew

once

"

tellingme
pledged my word
was

that I

know

You

Monsieur

what

hear

you
in haste

"

to

and now
I
go away,
be here to-morrow."
I found
Charybdis.

that your brother would not

just been told that he will not

the

King

have

Scylla and
she writes
myself in such perplexity,"
had
that if God
not
helped me, my
revealed all that I was
seekingto hide.
sailed

Margot

between

"

with

pious casuistry,

"

intentions, and
save

divine

conscience

my
the

know
"

by

gentleman and
Margot asked.
"

he would

mercy

in this matter

"

his mischievous
the Prince

Had

anything.
"

him with her life."

Catherine
she did not

you

will answer

probe Margot'swords

you

he had

whom

would

escaped,she

well what

Consider

"
"

If he

for

answer

joined
saying,"re-

are

for it with your life."

more

not

con
spiteagainstAlenconceived such a plan,

certainlyhave confided it to her, from

concealed

did

Catherine

Did

to

and

composed my countenance
nothing of my resolve, nor

false oaths."

good

aids

God

But

worked

have

would

manner

much

so

that she could know

offend
?

His

brother.

my

words

never

at

face changed as
in the air ; her mother's
her daughter to her
and summoned
she rose

Did

she asked

NETHERLANDS

THE

IN

But

closely; again,perhaps,
"

That is
trustingtoo much to her powers of intimidation.
just what I wish," repliedher daughter,and she smiled and
bade her mother
Good-night." When she reached her own
"

room

she undressed

and

went

to

bed, but

as

soon

as

her ladies,

with the

exceptionof three,had gone away, she rose again and,

togetherwith Alencon, tied the rope she had procured to a
and the boy who had
great stick. Then, helpedby her women
below, first
already served her, she let down into the moat
Alencon, who laughedand jestedallthe time, then his colleague,
Simier, who was
shaking with fear,and last of the three, his
valet. Alencon
got off safely,and ran to Sainte-Genevieve,
where Bussy was
awaitinghim. The old Abbot there received
them kindly,
and allowed them to make
a hole in the abbey-wall
of which they escapedinto the country and travelled
by means
in safetyto Angers.
/
When
the last fugitive,
Margot'scourse was not so smooth.
the valet,had descended, a man
suddenly sprang up in the
and
moat
a
began to run hard towards the Guard-house
spy, she thought,set there by the person who had that evening
been conferring
with
Catherine.
But happily her fears were
not
fulfilled; nothing further happened from
that source,
"

305

and

the

OF

YEARS

LATER

THE

her ladies hastened

Her

flames.

that all

asleep
"

safe

DE'
the

the

their last

was

never

incriminating
rope,

Unfortunatelyit set the

arrived
sentinel
thundering at the
admission
that he might extinguish
whispered that their mistress was
that they could manage
for themselves

"

He
was
eventually they got rid of him.
M. de Losse
visitor.
Before daybreak, came

message from the King. Margueritewas

before him and Catherine.
come

to make

of the

Most

in

scenes

clad, she

interview

of her

no

strange family seem

the

not

with

delay to
to

have

of Navarre, as, lightly

to her mother, remember
the fatal
with Henri
de Guise, and
of King

hastened

now

that

Did

place at night.

night

moat

and

"

taken

MEDICI

burn.

to

women
was

from

perilcame

next

chimney on fire,and the

door, demanding instant
the

in

inopportune appearance

explained. The
which

CATHERINE

Queen

She found

Charles's attack upon her ?

foot of his mother's bed in

at the
King Henri sitting
Both
a
abused
towering passion.
her as a promise-breaker.God, she assures
as
us, now
always,
showed
His approval of her and gave her strengthto keep her
She repliedthat she had been deceived
head.
by Alencon
much
as
as
they were ; that His Majesty need have no fear;
she felt certain her brother had only retired to mature
his plans
The answer
had such a specioussemfor the Netherlands.
blance

it mollified Henri, and

that

of frankness

he

allowed

Such an impolitic
her to go in peace.
confession,wrung from
he
be
her by necessity,
veracious.
And
if
must,
thought,
had
Alencon's
alone
this motive
impelled
escape, he could
he

had

stopped it before. A letter

confirmed
Prince
from
the
everythingthat Margueritehad
the pretence
said, and the King acted accordingly. Under
of supportinghis brother, Henri sparedno effort to undermine
his projectand to prevent his collecting
an
army.
did not
remain
Catherine
passive her energy dominated
stop the scheme

as

now

"

off to
was

her usual

made

still. She

Alencon

parley with

about

escort

to

she

lodged,when

her

to

conciliation

at

attempt

Angers. Bussy

at

the

Chateau

suspectedthat

where

met

her

and

set

her

and

son

was

trap had

been laid for

be
she
a
said,
kept prisoner,as he had been,
might,
she preferredto stay in the town.
in the Louvre
The next
to her, she put away
her pride
day, as Alencon did not come
her.

some

She

"

and

went

admitted
firsttime

His welcome

to him.

at

the

main

entrance, but

in her life to pass

"

was

in

cold

one.

was

requested

through a

306

She

was
"

humble

for

not

the

wicket-gate";

NETHERLANDS

THE

IN

Alencon, pretendingto have

and

was
standing.
interview.
their
during

But

he sat in it

sign of

no

Her

weakness.

his

carried to meet

He

receive her
and

dislocated

in

to

chair,

Catherine

remained

manner

leg,refused

her

showed

unruffled,and she

with the results of her transaction.

from
the Court,
been a month
away

feignedcontent
M

I have

running after

de Nemours
often
son," she writes to the Duchesse
; "He
givesme great anxiety lest he should again play the madman.
But God be thanked, I found him so resolved (orso he says)
my

his
nothing to displease

to do

brother

break

or

the peace, that

and I shall have

if his deeds square with his words, the kingdom

He says that he wants
to be grateful
to Providence.
cause
in his

time
stay for some
thank
Heaven,
wife,
gone

own

than

better

are

the

in

dance

to

domains.

town,

ever

and

King
them

saw

do

they

as

The

and

his
have

Sunday

every

to

and

Thursday."
She

and

had

Henri

without

their host.

They

had

preparationshad alreadyadvanced,
how impotent they now
to check him.
or
were
Marguerite's
to
had
been
master-stroke
of
the
tact
a
reply
King
; it justgave
the Prince the needful time to complete his arrangements
and to get his troops together. In July,1578,he marched
into
no

idea how

reckoned

Flanders
His
be

can

's

far Alencon

with fanfaronnades

fortunes

there

flourishes of

neither

were

brieflytold.

and

The

fruitful

Protestants

had,

virtue of

necessityand, since they had

had forgivenhim his former defections.
common

fall out

with

cause

them

with

Noblesse asked

old

after

their leader

to be

"

and
glorious,

nor

a
this, made
other leader, they

ere

Once

they made
Noblesse, but only to

Flemish

again, soon

him

fair promises.

the

no

trumpets.

more

Alencon's

arrival.

he consented

with

The
many

On

August 15, the Flemings concluded a formal

him the Defender
alliance with him, declaring
of their liberties,
and pledgingtheir word that if ever
again they had a Prince,
they would give him the preference. Besides this promise,
he was
to have
that he took on
the right bank
every town
of the Meuse

and

have

grasped it.

saviour,and,
He

had

under

kingdom

The

his
to

"

strong places into the bargain. A

in his

great opportunitywas
would

"

three

The

hands, and

Flemings believed

flag,were
make,

and

was

"

land.

In

October
307

than

in him

as

his
their

ready

to lose life and fortune.

he lost it.

full of Casimir's
country
Englishsoldiers also a lawless and

devouringthe

other hands

troops, of French, and of

polyglotcrowd
1578, Don John

which
had

was

died.

It

YEARS

THE

LATER

was

rumoured

probably
abler

that he

truth

no

his boastful

play were
Marguerite did.

whole
merited

story. He

more

formidable

over,

affair, and
better

She
her

results.

Countries, and

no

campaign

ended.

was

disillusioned

MEDICI
there

succeeded

was

was

by

an

adversary,Alexander
fictitious energy faded ;
The
dust.
footlighteffects

Alencon's

speeches turned

of the

DE'

but
poisonedby Philip,

was

of Parma.

Duke

CATHERINE

in the

and

Governor

Farnese,

OF

and

to

for the real drama

would

have

made

gallant diplomacy
Alencon

took

two

he did not
finer
in

Flanders

towns

care.

thing of the
in the

had
Low

With

more.

In

Flemings, and

that achievement, his farcical

the
January, 1579, he abandoned
returned

his laurels.

308

to

France,

to

rest

upon

XVII

CHAPTER

The

his

the

as

was

heart."
from

Court

had

and

almost

he

Whereupon

he

it,

puts

envoy

"

theatrical

as

had

Hardly

doings.

Venetian

the

Alencon

of

return

THE

Catherine

of

Journeys

"

said

French

reached

the

that

of

rest

soil, when,

Ghost

Holy

Bussy

to

the

as

touched
his

his

departure
scarcely
it had given

with

taken

place privily by night,

that
were
a fugitive
rise to too
much
talk
and
lawful
do
to
suspicion. And
so,
he ought to go back
with
this impression, he thought
away
the same
few
to wit, by night and
dants,
attensecretly, with
way
and
who
flees.
His Highness therefore
one
came
as
the
to the
Louvre
o'clock
time
at
the
at
one
night, about
arrival
His
that
King was
was
so
unexpected
going to bed.
His Majesty could
in it ; but, seeing his brother
scarcely believe
before
him
with
the greatest affection.
him, he kissed
They
their
and
tears
went
to
mingled
together,
they
sleep, not
a

follower

if he

as

"

"

in

only

day

the

lived

in

the

same

in

but

room,

the

bed.

same

The

next

together that he might tell

King called his Council
them
his
the
brother
thereafter, in
good tidings, embracing
the sight of all the
world."
Alencon
did
inactive.
short
In
while
not
a
long remain
he resumed
his
broken
relations
with
and
Queen Elizabeth,
the game
of matrimony
them.
But
its
again began between
and gave
time for a good deal
was
as
course
tardy as heretofore
to
happen.
The
He
King was
allowing things to go from bad to worse.
world

would

He

report
was
no

of

riot,

absorbed

"

in

de

them.

not

peur

De

that

he

as

Guast

pastimes
them
had

from

to

listen

la verite

d' entendre

keep

refused

much

so

planning

could

amusement

overtook

fictitious

so

for

de

his

believe

in

to

official

la

and

was

He

But

Nemesis
Saint-

perished.

It
to follow.
Mesgrin, Maugiron and Caylus were
1578, that, loitering in the courtyard of the Louvre,
3ii

chose."

Mignons;

brawling

already

an

agreeables
dis-

in

they

April,
seized

THE

LATER

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

other courtiers.
trifling
pretext for a quarrelwith some
There was
a
fightin which Maugiron was killed and Caylus
He
dangerously wounded.
lingeredfor several days ; and
the King, says an old Diarist, went
every day to see him,
and
did not
stir from
the head
of his bed, promising a
hundred
the
to
thousand
crowns
surgeons who bandaged him,
make
if they would
him
And
he promised
recover.
only
to this same
another hundred
thousand
fine Mignon, to give
him the courage to get well. Notwithstanding
which promises,
Caylus passed from this world to the next, having ever the
which
words, Oh, my King, oh, my King ! upon his lips,
he uttered even
with his last breath, with great strengthand
of God, or of his
a
deep regret. Nor did he make mention
In truth, the King bore towards
mother.
him and Maugiron
kissed
wondrous
He
them
affection.
both
a
as
they lay dead,
and he had their heads shaved, that their fair hair might be
carried off and locked away.
And
he took Caylus'sear-rings
from his ears, the very ones
that he himself had given,and
fastened in with his own
hands/'
The body of Caylus and
also that of Maugiron lay in State,as if they had been the bodies
upon

"

'

of monarchs.

too, died the

year,

the Duchesse

bidding of
Louvre.
It
two
"

deaths,like their lives,cost

Their

ones

destined

rose

Henri

by masked

lover of
at the

men,

one

had

become

"

potent parts than

play more

to

killed

was

That

out
of the
night as he came
in
Paris.
commonplace
of
these
favourites
that
disappearance
into prominence Epernon and Joyeuse

the

after

new

He

husband,

Assassination

was

the
Mignon, Saint-Mesgrin,

third

de Guise.
her

fortune.

was

of their

any

decessors
preand his violent

long inconsolable

never

devisingof

The

soon
griefwas
assuaged.
and
religious
pageants was

sufficient to

fresh

dissipations

distract

him

from

his loss.
The
creation

most

of the

aristocrats with

Order

being among

of the

diversions

to

keep

the first

the restive

Knights

to

be

perhaps his

was

a
Saint-Esprit,

Brotherhood

without

magnificentdresses and

invented
originally
he

these

of

successful

Guise

any

in

of

duties,

loyaltemper,

enrolled.

There

was

great deal of talk about defence of the Catholic faith. Vast

The installation of the Order
sums
were
spent to no purpose.
makes
of the most
one
sumptuous episodesof an extravagant
a

reign. The King

(to be raised upon
his

new

demanded
Church

fraternity. The

two

hundred

thousand

property) as an
Pope repliedthat
312

-endowment

his

crowns

for

conscience

Le

d'Epernon.

Due

BlBLlOTHEQUF.

NATIONALE.

Anonymk.
From

photograph

by

A.

Gtraiiiioi;.

would

this concession

allow

not

his doings, the Nuncio

be

present

OF

JOURNEYS

THE

and,

refused

was

Henri

persisted in
Papal permission to

as

the

He

;the ceremony.

at

CATHERINE

missed

not

was

amidst

generalsplendour. The Church of the Augustines was

The Chevaliers of
Princes and Princesses.
full of glittering
walked two and two, in black velvet mantles
the Saint-Esprit
bordered with goldenliliesand tongues of fire,"and in capes
the

"

"

satin

of green
made

of

up

silver

with

over

sown

the interlaced

and

golden crosses

King, with

the lilies of France

the middle

of the

collar

doves," their collars

the

at

hung

initials of
And

corners.

the

"from

silver dove

descendingfrom
side." The King came

heaven, with St. Michael upon the reverse

last,and the Heralds from the Provinces

in
before him,
"
with liliesof gold."
After
shoes of black velvet all sprinkled

the

High Mass,

Knights

This service over, there

and the King sat alone at a table.
.

sung

As

her

that

King

join him

soon

that there

now

was

Her

Gascony.

the

but

peace

side and

by her husband's

place was
in

brother

and

to

deliver her

been

dishonour

"

the next

bent

was

the

goal
might have

been

the

object
1578

and

purpose, she was

and
discomforts
meant

rheumatic
braved

that

every

the sects,
that she desired to

her

mother,

they

to

was

her

to

made

soon

her

accompany

began the
which occupied
pacification

her constant

spiritwith which,
in

Between

motion

was

between

Thus

three years

priceseemed

indomitable
her

quet,
ban-

and

showed

her

For nearlytwenty years

upon
peace.
"
of her strenuous
efforts.
Peace with

in her eyes the

sovereigntyof her family. It is
any

superb

the world.

to

All her will

it had

After which

hands.

journeysof

energiesfor

her best

at

Navarre's

into

firstof those wonderful

Catherine's

that

condition

surprise,consented,
explainedtheir affability.Catherine
and

was

gracedby the presence of Marguerite

as
Margueritedared, she represented

not

was

Catherine.

to the

food

for the Dead."

the Mass

This occasion
or

have

obligedto

was

hours.

two

every

"

Sacrament, exceptingone

malady,

of chronic

who, because

the

took

walked

face

motto, for peace

chance

one

of the continued

impossiblenot
she grew

as

of every
knew

at

to admire

the

older,she pursued

hardship, every

she

no
1581
repose.
France,
continuallytraversing

obstacle.

Driven
amidst

by her
perils

unimaginable. So heavy in person that

she was
always on the move
suffering,
; so
acute
chronic, she uncomplainingly
pain was

kind

of climate.
313

Now

she

was

carried in her

YEARS

LATER

THE

litter under
amid

all the

OF

CATHERINE

she
burning sun ; now
bodily privationsand

DE'

MEDICI

snowed

up for weeks,
the difficultiesof getting
was

provisionsthat winter in the country then signified.No0

fatiguewas too great,no falsehood too black, if only she coul
achieve her end.
She performed feats of diplomacy,cur bin
her violent temper, flattering
the Politiques,
soothingthe Pro
testants
:
giving prizes to her enemies with her righthand
while her left,which
always knew what the rightwas doing,
hid the rod behind her back.
She givesaudience while she
I
while
eats
almost
she
had
said while she sleeps,'
dresses,
u

'

'

"

"

says an Ambassador,
air of gaiety." She

of her

mention

and

was

she listens to
and

grumbler

no

distresses.

But

there

followingyear, which
experiences.It is addressed to her
in the

written

with an
every one
she seldom
makes

is

letter of

one

gives

friend, the

hers,

of her

idea

some

Duchesse

d'Uzes.
"If

it

plague,"it

for the

not

were

"

runs,

I would

bring

of your estate, but Uzes and all its neighbourhood

you
is so very much
infected that the birds flyingpast the place
take the other road, between
This has made
fall dead.
me
news

the lakes and

the

; and

sea

there

in the service

in tents, camping thus

long to see again in good health.

exceptingthat Porte-Sainte-Marie

but

that

want

it.

forced

am

I think that the

living,one

on

lucky

to

not

do.

Tell

more.

that when

come

not

so

to

laugh if he

well, though,
I
ride, when
saw

have

me

is very

reallyone
ride in

to

upon
if one

But

de Cosse.

old, and

grow
You

mule, because

me

King

must

feel it

chair, / upon

would

ever,
How-

to sciatica.

little mule

like the Marechal

it,for all the world

goes

has

walking ;

have

to

As

spend two nights

I
of my
King, whom
for me, mine is good,
given me an irritating
to

has turned

catarrh which, at this moment,

this does not prevent my
I

had

we

carrying-

I like to fare farther than you

back
I shall be welcome."

epic journey,ostensiblytaken to restore Marguerite

from Paris for
her husband, kept the Queen-Mother away

Her
to

"

eighteenmonths.
dant
I

of Finance,
to invent

and

"

am

that

fulfil my

good

of my

to

means

to

return

to

trouble

in

wrote

leave

till I

see

coming

labours and

everythingelse,
(ofwar).

if

peace.
I return

shall
like

giveme the grace

hope that this kingdom will feel the
that enduringpeace will reignthere/'

its rigging; but if God

desires,I

to her Inten-

the storm

avoid

infinitely
pity all my
wrecked shipwithout
to

me," she

ought

one

of

not
.

to

seems

kind

any

resolved

It

314

THE

LATER

YEARS

skill like her own,

and

OF

with

which

force and

in

CATHERINE

itself

DE'
fire which

strength,he
to uphold the Roman
League,ostensibly

secrecy

forming a
realityto

was

consolidate

his power.
And
as
this
of
aristocrat
the
aristocrats
policy,

champion
There

of

popularrights

could

taken

she lacked
worked

a1

faith,ir

master-stroke

oi

himself

the

made

apostleof the

people.

of creatinga formidable
cleverer way
of these craftyproceedingsthe King and

but

as

It had

be

not

Opposition;
his mother

the idolized

"

MEDICI

knew
yet practically
no

nothing.
persuade Navarre to
He
wife.
suspectedthem

little diplomacy to

receive his mother-in-law

and his
of hidden
designs and refused their first proposal that he
should join them
at Bordeaux.
Perhaps, too, his unwillingness
may

have

from

sprung

Margot'sspell. He

dread of once

under
falling

more

have

feltthe power of her fascination,

for in spiteof his stiffness before she came,
he could not hide
his eagerness to see her.
She was
not well on
the journey to

Toulouse, and

was

must

left behind

at

short

distance.

When

his mother-in-law
arrived in that city,his duty compelled
him to go and meet
her, but he hardly allowed the time to
welcome
her.
Directlyhe had seen her, he mounted his horse
and

gallopedoff to find his Queen. She and Catherine handled

him
but they could not quite banish his caution.
skilfully,
Towards
and full
the Queen-Mother he was
both respectful
of distrust. He
necessitated
indeed in a positionthat
was
prudence. The

Catholics

his

were

Huguenots had no confidence in him.

their policy,
they misunderstood him
and he was
out of sympathy with
and

constant

dread

of

new

avowed
When

enemies; the
he tried to widen

thought him a traitor,

fears
their self-preserving
and

He

massacre.

never

succeeded

ideas upon
them ; on the contrary, he
imposing his own
found himself making unwillingconcessions to the scoundrel
and brigands,
who, as usual, had taken refuge
crew, the knaves
in

under
And
a

the cloak of Protestantism.

if he

was

not

ruler of his realm.

real Protestant
He

had

no

leader,stillless
with which

money

was

to hold

he
a

On every side danger threatened

Court, or to conduct a war.
And
for pitfalls.
him
it was
natural that he should lookout
Catherine, on her side, was
watching him with unremitting
"

"

My
vigilance.She often thought he was undermining her.
with
cheated
has
us
she
the
of
writes,
Navarre,"
son,
King
the first
of which I shall speak not a little to him
a subtlety
amicable
Yet they seem
to have had
time that I see him."
"

316

"
Navarre
intercourse.
Garonne," she says ; and
obstacles to peace
many

CATHERINE

OF

JOURNEYS

THE

to find

came

doubt,

no

me

they strolled by

as

cleared

were

along the

I walked

as

the river,
She tried coaxing

away.

Navarre, but with his

turn,
only
colleagues. After this,he retired,"she says of one of these,
but not until I had washed his head well for him and made him

severity in

and

with

not

"

"

he in

much

feel how

to
lay under obligations
particular

me

resolution held firm,to wit, that I would

never
my
established
or another
leave this country tillI had in some
way
also that

peace."
his

the wisdom

knew

Navarre

royal guests at

delaysand

of

Their

Toulouse.

of them

in

vain, and

was

decided

after many
that Navarre

conversations
there and

both

should

summon

resolve

The

kingdom.
began a

of

course

"

Nor

assembly

at

that
the

triumphant progress

diplomaticfestivities at

beneath

hidden

Reolles,it

strife that wrecked

taken,

once

not

Protestants, and

left to these to settle the

be

keep

to
were

at

an

Nerac, to be composed of Catholics and

it should

contrived

which

business

the

undisturbed
feastings
The whole of the countrysidewas
harried
by alarms.
by outbreaks of fightingand by general insecurity.One
night,at Auch, Navarre was dancing at a ball when word was
surprised Replies. The
brought that the Catholics had
lurked

was

message
it than

he

heard

his

fetched

horse, and

surpriseand

taking of

the

had

enemy

Presently the

He

plan.
a

was

gone.

And

Court

Auch

moved

to

The

Fleurance,
to

no

as

had he received

sooner

could

word

occupied.

returned

he

purpose,

were

alone, and

Without

retaliate.

would

him

by

invented

roses.

not

Reolles

save

he

"

he stole away,
the sudden
was

any one
result

far

off, which
having accomplished his

town

not

quietlyas

he

had

left it.

Port-Sainte-Marie,a place
the Garonne, in the neighbourhood of the more
on
important
nions,
domiNerac, and through that city,the capitalof Navarre's
"

"

to

they passedupon their way.

My Gossip,"Catherine wrote
am

at Nerac, where

all

wot

of.

thence

to

Madame

d'Uzes,

been very

welcomed
pleasantly
by
Yesterday I saw the first deputies,
looked like Huguenot ministers,or like the birds you
On
this paper I should never
their
dare give them

the Master
who

I have

right name

of the

but

than

house.

you

have

understood

me,

and

I you
I trust that
"

for

all
forty years
kindly memories.
will go well.
I shall let you know
I
about everything.
entreat
of my
use
litter and all that I possess,
you to make

more

of

317

THE

LATER

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

for that will

King

and

much

for

always give me
Queen, the instant
having this joy
"

rather later

"

I have

DE'

pleasure. Give
than

sooner

been

never

half have

before

gone

long without

so

this boon

Her

At Port-Sainte-Marie
Here

keep

She and her

lodgedat the Convent

called it.

she had

she could

for the Council.

When

he

again

ness,"
happiwas

ir.

alreadysever

now

full two

granted me."
her son
pervades all

this

verj

months

more

is

longing for

him.

it will be

by, and

of th"

news

I envy
you
I have."
And

born.
since he was
she says, " ever
Poland, it was
only for eightmonths, and

and

me

them.

see

you

MEDIC)ICI

tighthand
daughterand

of le Paravis

"

correspondence.
was
serving

that she

the comfort
a

her

on

the

their

le Paradis

preparations

were
following
townspeople

the

The

ance
Queen-Mother devoted herself to the furtherof every
She looked upon
herself as
pacificmeasure.
from the
heaven-appointed an accredited royalAmbassador
How
beautiful are
the
only Sovereigngreaterthan herself.
feet of them that bringpeace,"she said,and she proceeded to
ply the Huguenots with courtesies. She set herself laboriously
to imitate their Puritanical speech,and her ladies practised
it at her Coucher, amidst bursts of laughter. They named
it
Court
le langagede Canaan," and
a
Siren, Mademoiselle
"

"

"

d'Atri,

the

Catherine

rest.

had

other

"

but

she

to

"

le conseil de Gamaliel
or
phrasesconsistoriales,"
she kept her jestsfor her intimates.
To the Calvinists

for it

terms
"

instructor

was

brought

betwixt

out

me

and

Him

and

her

new-learnt

sentences.

she exclaimed,

"

"

God

affirm

the

be

judge

Eternal

ye,"
Angels."
did not change
Her verbal dairyingswith the Protestants
her feelings.They had
given her too much trouble in the
and the intellectual taste for their creed
past to be forgotten,
which, in early days, she had shown, had long since been
effaced by her dislike of Puritanism.
And
now
they saw
Eve
St. Bartholomew's
through her politicdissimulation.
the good reasons
that they had for
was
only one
among
her promises.
disbelieving
That Sunday," she wrote
to the King,
in March
they
for
to
made
their Communion,
that it was
so
us
impossible
hold our
They brought the list
meeting until after supper.
in the articles.
of all the changes that they wished to make
bitter quarrels
Whereupon we embarked upon greater and more
than we had yet done ; and we sat on till past midnight before
could agree about the words which they wanted
to alter."
we
before

His

"

"

318

JOURNEYS

THE

OF

CATHERINE

the
of endurance
were
powers
She attended Mass so early that when
Her

had

bed and

Bourbon

de

the Cardinal

would

she

thrice summoned

to be

she sent

attend

to

for Pibrac

her, they
before

her

straightto

of her followers.

terror

and

still in

were

they came.

From

Council, often

keeping
waiting in the Anteout again,still compellingtheir
Chamber, and, when she came
presence for several hours, although they had not yet tasted
at one
she pushed through
But by that means,
food.
sitting,
Mass

various

go
"

deputies

grosse heure

une

"

that were
in the future
to serve
five articles out of twelve
Treaty. The second session of the day lasted from one o'clock
of her councillors,
to five,which two
a great lord and
a Bishop,

tiringthat they had to leave

straightwayto bed."
employed
Margot in the meantime
found

so

always with

assembly and

herself

"

go

though
gaily,al-

more

went
eye to business. What
Navarre
has not been told.
The

her and

between

the

in

private
only public

an

on

signthat she gave of deference to his views was her absence

While
Catherine
from week-day Mass.
was
in]church, she
at the ring,and that, we
made a point of tilting
may be sure,
at this critical moment,

Here

for six weeks

day, and

every

was

devote

Navarre

saw

connivance.
and

Turenne

and

Marguerite,as we know, did not

exclusivelyto politics.It is difficult to

themselves

judge

both

they

Turenne

whether

done with her mother's

Navarre

conscious
of their relations.
was
this may
have been, he assumed
an
approval
open
of her, for in March, 1579, he consented
to take her back to
live with him.
However

"

I should

dearlylike to be with you," writes her mother

to the

"

Duchesse

d'Uzes, and I hope to do so soon, for I have finished

and, in my humble
opinion,have compelled a great
my work
folk to lie,for I have achieved what was
not
many
thought
possible. God be praisedfor it, for without Him we should
have

never

reached

the

goal.

My daughter has

with her husband, resolved to stir no

Catherine
had
able to
not been

daughtersafelyuntil peace
off to
wrote

had

Toulouse
at the

been

the beans

finish the

rest

visit,

"

pleasantthan

more

to

her

fly about,
are

establish

well within

was

beginningof the month

paying

weather is no
have ceased
and

to

from

more

and

when

for the

alreadyin

of

assure

"

you

dangerous
am
going

Duchess, who
you

left
has

spring
flower,and so

319

her

agreement," she

to the old

his side."

sight.
the

remained

are

us.

made

that

the

The birds
a

stride

the almonds

THE

the

and

OF

big cherries.

If it

think that it was

his wife

assure

you

me

dazes'

the Court

at

and
a

there

de

remarkable

the

ago

that
it is

as

for

made

her her agent

the

King's actions,

on

him.
over
She was
power
forcible,attractive and discreet,the

of Catherine

and

Most

of

Marguerite,who
their

best

her

"

comrade, and my

nurse,

always know

will

who

in the world

know

probably

to her and

counsellor,my

meanwhile,

you

was

Sibyl."
they regardedher with a
to others.
that they hardly accorded
yours," wrote Marguerite, and you are my
her

with

acquired great

closest friend both

addressed

Turenne

years

Catherine

of unofficial spy

woman,

"

ten

same

Queen-Mother

The

kind

"

the

"

stay with

the Duchess

called

.and

experiencing
great

to

of business.

motives

Vicomte

accomplishhere. Tn
King and Queen ; f6r

I have

pleasurelies

Madame

of the

news

all my
now."

rain, I should

of Navarre

thanked, nothinghas been broken.

that I shall have done a fine pieceof work, if I

accomplishwhat
send

King

MEDICI

be

but, God

for the

have been

We

quarrel of the

the

squalls from

The

here.

DE'

not

were

summer-time.

both of them

are

Duras

CATHERINE

YEARS

LATER

more

letters

trustful
"

always

am

true

were

tion
venera-

entirely
Sibyl,my

in short the one

person
than any other about
scribbled
paper

wretched
A
self.
innermost
my
has not the power to express the affection that I have vowed
to give you, or the confidence with which
me.
you inspire
...

for I treasure

to love me,

I do entreat

But

you
your friendship
Baisant
belles mains
ces
anything." And
qui
font honte aux
plus jeunes,"is the ending to another of her
The
letters.
feelingsof the mother and daughter for their
"

than

more

make

not

the

For

worth

dwellingon,

pleasingepisodeamid

fresh and

did

it

all the sordid dust

them, and had it not been of solid service.

mediary.
Duchess, understandingboth, acted as their interdoubt

No

Margueriteto

Princess
"

be

not

surrounded

that

of

would

confidante

clever

wrote

You

say

her

that

in the restoration

After her visit

her husband.

to

for much

she counted

was

over,

that

"

don't

you

like the

use

of rhetoric.

In

spiteof that, your regretsbrought the tears to my eyes. Do

believe
that
Sibyl (and this is perfectlysincere),
me,
my
I have

never

There

does

vast
me

"

felt

loss

hour

not

amount

and that

pass an
to tell you
means

than

more

as

every

I feel that of your presence.

in the day when
I have not a

in truth, as displease
things,
Nor can
I hope
singlething I see.
many

320

in my

for you,

mourning
quigny,for since
is evident

spoken

she

and

me,

of

me

and

Catherine's

are

gratitudethat

full of

so

seemed

luck

I have

and

"

favoured
also

and

'

much
I

in the

better

the worst
whole

of le volte.

on

they

honest

I do not

to the end

greatly

so

of prey

folk

know
the

enough

if I shall
hold

true

tail/ I

am

proverb
of

bad

as

hath

purpose
of birds

If the

Dauphine.

thus she wrote

"

lack

no

that

there, and

they are

will prove
in God."

trust

of Provence
"

get angry
always helpsme

hangs

man

afraid that

put my

the brawls

been

neared

also within

difficultieswhich

left to

has

dancers

good

Navarre

and

accomplishedmy

There

Marguerite

provinceswere

but in all other ways

very

find them
that

by

Who

that I have

me

Guienne.

in

though
"

God

And

i.

brains

While

treaty with

the

tormented

so

only enough

May

on

been

de

kiss your

I, who

"

turned.

to have

And
this,after storms
sightof peace.
had almost reduced her to despair.
I have

am

Madame

"

conclusion,the disaffected Southern

"

I have

extremely pleased with

she has done me
in assuring
of all my good forthe cause
tune

more

re-instated

being

was

be

hundred

is

time.
...

yours than I
M."
times.
thousand

B. herself cannot
hands

You

heart

my

that it

is still

the honour

with
delighted
her good graces.

she

de Per-

dreamy

so

her

but

Madame

by

has become

she

nothing

gives me
the Queen ;

to

consoled

be

to

went

you

CATHERINE

OF

JOURNEYS

THE

the others.

as

But

Port-Sainte-Marie,
fro, one day here,
another there, settling
the country in the South, as occasion
early in May that the arrangements with
required. It was

Although

she had

her

head-quarterswere

constantlybeen

the

journeying to

dilatoryNavarre were
with him
to the King.
"

mon

"

I will tell you

which I thank God

to

me

the

yet

woman
seen

he

him

fils
the
with

of Navarre

King
with

settled.

She

and

describes her

meeting

"

Monsieur

the

at

(saysher letter)
best tidings
could
we
"

all my
came

heart
to

heart and
open
in the world the most
an

like

for, for the

; to wit that in the

find
real

me

near

and
.

or
sincerity,

deceived.

this,or anywhere

wish

it.

For
When

he

ing
morn-

spoke

else I

I had

am

never

he arrived

have known
had
ease
no
began by telling
I departedwithout his seeingme
again,and, in sooth, he had
six good Gascon
travelled all through the nightand had come
which are equal to ten or twelve of the French
ones.
leagues,
But he did confess to me
that he felt worn
out
by his
.

me

that he would

321

YEARS

LATER

THE

OF

long night journey,and he

I finished dressing
and heard
he returned

to

get

Mass.

When

me

have

humblest
And

wished.
he

and

in my

opinion he

from

foot

on

his leave

he took

I could

fashion

did

while

thence,

out

came

courteous

most

MEDICI

breakfast

some

to

the

in

that

went

DE'

find me, and to escort me

to the outskirts of the town, where

church
of

CATHERINE

meaning

so,

all

that, without a doubt, he would

establish the Peace.
Of his own
free will, too, he gave
me
what he had before refused
hundred
a
times, I should say
said, assuringme

"

"

since I

here

came

and

that

little tuft of hair that

I acceptedwith a good will.

is the

his left ear, the which

I take it as a symbol from

round

grew
And

calls itself Reformed

that God

now

has

the

"

will

Religionthat

grantedus

peace.

Religionthat

of the

those

longer exist

no

After this I took

ride

did he, and we came

to the gates of the
Abbey of Prouille, the place where my cousin, the Cardinal
and
de Bourbon, has been sleeping
; and there I dismounted

outside the town,

and

coach.
my
presence of all the

so

Once

got into

crowd

up his great demonstrations

he
for
accompanied me
while

he

with

was

me

who

which

seemed

Home
"

see

did.

they

in

me

still to

to

that

we

the risk of the

run

to

preserve you
then sup
may

good part."
her spirits
rose.
"

sound, if God

plague and

of prey
to the age of

dangers from

the

as

they

hundred

are.

the

I pray

...

and

the Tuileries

togetherat

the

will
d'Uzes,
you
will,althoughI have

Madame

brigands,birds

Cevennes
God

now

wrote

safe and

month

that in very
within hail,and

tirely
en-

keys, the

the

him

offer

to

us

And

commanded

he took

her

to

Gossip," she

My

meet

And

Montreal, where

to

came

nearly three leagues.

passed through a littletown,

we

Catholic, called
Consuls

he took his leave of me, in the

of people who
were
there, keeping
; then, gettingagain on his horse,

more

eighty,so
chapeau

sans

ni honnetes."
But

her

sort of

course

was

not

was
difficulty
put

At

of obstacles.

one

as

while

the

Protestants
were

high
both

Catholics
"

were

thought. Every
them the pettiest

as

path

most

it

the Protestants

in her

"

moment

pelierwho claimed the nave

(" the only church," she says,

she

smooth

was

and
"

demanded

of

watch-tower

that has been

the

teasing,carpingand

whole

of Mont-

of the

church

left standing")
building. The

opinionated."There

noon,
stormy discussions. At last,one aftersides sought her, and
she summed
up for the

words

Catholics. There

and

were

further

which
quarrels,
322

ended

in

Council

LATER

THE
desires.

kept

YEARS

OF

DE'

MEDICI

daughterhad long been her bane, but she always

quence
pride in Margot'sbrilliance,and, with the inconse-

Her

her

that sometimes
their

at

CATHERINE

parting.

her

her, she

overcame

When

it

was

broken-hearted

was

she shut

over,

herself up

in

and

room
spent the rest of the day in tears.
The difficultieswhich confronted
her in the Dauphine*taxed
her skill to the utmost.
She also had anxieties at home, and

these

wonted

her

overset

In

calm.

story with all its ups and downs.

"

Those

that follow

are

again

d'Uzes.

the Duchesse

to

her letters she tells her

"

in your country of
the first, I am
Gossip,"runs
Dauphine, the hilliest and most exasperatingin which I have

My

hitherto

foot.

set

is

Every day there

cold, heat, rain, fine

weather, hail; and the minds of the peoplehere are justthe

But God, who leads me, is bringingme to my goal
same.
.

and

in ten
I

where
Rumour

I shall be in my

days
shall

am

he

sure

else

so

The

he is my
be.
And

life,and

without

I think

that God

had

When

much

so

am.

whom

one

graces ;
I

table

have

as

not

without

compassion
loss of

the

been, I do

has
me

it is an

me

who

and

by takinghim.

me

not

to

nor

husband

know

griefto

acute

to know

him, and

I love

upon

my

for

cause,

desire to live

did not wish to crush

ill he

loves

one

has had
from

Believe

King.

I neither

him

sorrow

how

I think

where

at

will not

You
.

sorely troubled, and

been

children and that He

my

die.

to

of the illness of the

news

I have

have

wishes

more

no

him

next

sat

world.

me

later, after
"

thing I have in the

in his good
; keep me

him
govern
that since she has

in the town

this time, for I have been writingto every one

be in every one's favour."
that I may
than a month
next
written in September, more
was

from

more

dearest

says that you

tell d'"cars

and

the

see

and

France

sweet

what

be away
that he

or

from
is ill.

And if,althoughnot in
dying by slow burning.
I should have left
to be ill,
such danger,he had still continued
everything and gone off to see him, taking my usual long
I could have
For
no
longer borne to
days' journeys.
It is like

hear

folk say
It is curious

letter
11

at

the

If this

'

He

same

to

is

ill,'and

this

compare

time,

company,"

not

to

she

the

to

see

outburst

with

Marguerite's

lady.

same

writes,

him."

"

were

as

fertile in

news

of proving
the Court, I should, my
means
Sibyl,have some
wish to hide anything,
to pose in any
that I never
to you
or
But livingas I do without novelty,always
part before you.
as

324

JOURNEYS

THE

planningthe
make
.

confession

truer

troubled

much

been

plans,and doing the

same

any

CATHERINE

OF

to

same

by

cannot

this.

I have

than

you

the illness of the

deeds, I
I

King.

sending

am

at the
rejoice

that I may
this messenger
brother
I hear that my

of his recovery.
news
Alencon.
If, of your

has

goodness,you will let me

I shall be greatlybeholden
you with such good heart

gone to
have the truth

about

everything,

and, in return, I will

to you,

that I dare

to love

imploreyou

me."
you of the power you have over
Just when Catherine's desire to return, accentuated
seemed to be near
fulfilment,she was
King'sindisposition,
And

serve
me.

assure

the

faced

complication the unexpected

a
Bellegarde,
plotunimportant
in itself since it had
no
permanent issue, but acquiringa
of handling
of its own
from Catherine's method
significance
ambitious
the Governor
of
it. Bellegardewas
an
intriguer,
the Marquisateof Saluces, a French possession
the Italian
on
side of Piedmont.
It was
chieflyvaluable because it opened
into Italy,
and was
therefore dangerous in the
up the way
hands
of an
Bellegarde,who secretly designed to
enemy.
raid upon
form a principality
for himself, made
the
a sudden
of the dominion, and treacherously
town of Saluces,the capital
by

and

fresh

serious

by

conspiracyof the Marechal

took

"

de

He

it for his purposes.

did not

the

Nominally supported by
receivinghelp from Spain.
the Duke

effect this without

Protestants, he was
At the outset
of his

aid.

privately
enterprise,

also abetted
Savoy, with an eye to future profits,
him, but, checked by prudence,later desisted. When Belleof

garde'scrime

discovered,the Duke, however, did

was

him

doubt
no
and, anxious
emissaryto Catherine, whose
The

Marechal

had

for his

months

two

he

obeyed

of

not

was

in the

prevaricationand

Catherine
her

safety,he

own

desert

acted

as

anger at the plot knew no bounds.

clever tongue and did his best to explain

his conduct, but Catherine

away
she summoned
him to meet
her
to dwell.

not

delay

be put off and

Dauphine. On the
to

it is not

needful

her way,
and at last, in October,
She
herself has
recorded
what

had

summons.

occurred.
'

Yesterday,after dinner/'
Duke
of Savoy arrived with
who
him

to

came

to

them.

me

At

meet

in the

him

the

this

writes

to

Marechal

place. The

great hall of this house where

his first

pale and seemed

near

she

approach, the

like

one

amazed.
325

Marechal
He

de

King, '" the

Bellegarde,

Duke

presented

the

was

turned

knelt down

awaiting
deathly

upon

both

THE

LATER

his knees

YEARS
did

and

if he would

side and

OF

that I

MEDICI
made

he

and the Duke

to my
of
his
and
when
arrival,
very glad
cousin the Cardinal de Bourbon,

was

the Duke

had retired with my

of his zeal and
the Marechal
made
me
great professions

true

as

I called him

but

withdraw,

DE'

; after the which

reverence

me

told him

CATHERINE

of his

which he owed
a debt
your service
that I was
favours. To the which I replied

affection toward

you

"

for your many

glad
of it. Near the end of all this talk,the Duke
advanced
again
and heard what
I was
saying; then both went away to unboot

done, this
and

your
:

bed-chamber,

brought the Marechal, who stood by the side

standing. And then I showed him
hung againstthe tapestry, and said,
I gave you
and
King, your master, to whom

is the

since

that, hath

much

loved

you

and

with tears

that the

well done

picture was

I answered

you.

that

that you would

what
he should be.
and

always remain

so,

had

if he

was

as

had

been

saw

toward

long as he, too,

reallyentered upon
talk with my grandchild

this,we

begun

you/

to

as

cousin, the Princesse de Cond6, and the other

in my room,! sat down
and made the Marechal
were
And, once
again repeatinghis speechesof affection,
my

ladies who
sit also.

that it
you

After

honoured

in his eyes, he said

as

the Duke

as

and

stillwere

you

and

business ; and

and

so

Whereupon, gazing

was

in my

he

on

him

had

Directlythey

supper.
to find me

bed, where I also was

which was
portrait,

There

who,

have

to

returned

Duke

same

him

with

of my

and

themselves

he

proceeded

to

explain the

to

behave

he

has

as

done

actions,for all the which

that he would

occasions

and

how

he showed

give half the blood

had

which

forced him

pushed
exceedingsorrow,
he

was

into his

saying

that the whole

in his veins

thing had not happened."

If Bellegardehad imagined that protestations
would satisfy
I brought him to the point,"
mistaken.
Catherine,he was
"

she went

"

"

Marquisate
her
to

"

talked
want

Toutes

asked

him

what

us

to do

he meant

(of Saluces).Bellegardedid

his

best

the

about
to

evade

the way
he
showed her very clearly,
she says, that
as
to begin with his own
part in the matter."

of the

decision,and

did not
"

and

on,

difficulties that
religious

blocked

"

"

Id
toujours
(tersewords which lose all
their force in English) I very quickly
made him grasp I had come
here to know that and nothing more."
still
The wary
mouse

fois revenant

"

held

back, but
ended

to

ratifyhis

by
vow

the

cat's

persistencewon

the

garde
day. Belle-

entire submission, and two days later he knelt

in the presence of the assembled Council.

326

he held to his

for power
him

upon

for his

were
an

"

easy

kept a careful watch

of spies. I use

Catherine

son.

"

with her army

task

unchanged and

remained

Saluces, althoughthis time his plots

designsupon

he

she said, "as

man,"

every

CATHERINE

that, his perjured mind

all

For

OF

JOURNEYS

THE

serve

can

me,

trusting

never

forgottenthe past."
threads in her hand
thus that she kept most
It was
political
the
often
and
took
so
unexpected action. In December,
Marechal
died suddenly, and many
people said that he was
poisoned. But this charge was the natural one to make, and
to support it.
there is nothing but rumour
The
done.
Navarre
ciled
reconwas
Queen-Mother's task was
him

certain

beyond a

Crown, and

to the

since the

point,for I have

Damville

back to her side.

Peace

Provence, the Dauphine

had

"

established in

was

de

Marechal

"

of his elder brother

death

not

France

lured
been
skilfully
Languedoc,Guiennef

the

for

Montmorency

seemed

moment

whole

again.
Catherine
prepared to

homewards.

turn

There

still

were

final arrangements which she would

but her own.
trust
to no
hand
It is characteristic of her
that,amidst all this work, she found time to choose
vitality
details to be

and

dwarf

despatch a

that

she

gave

and

to

seen

to

with

the

most

much

the

minute

same

crucial State

He

affairs.

"

I send you
present to the Prince of Piedmont.
wrote
to him,
having heard that you wanted
His

will make

than
figureis of better proportions
you pardon his silliness. You will

was

dwarf," she

"

one.

attention

well-made

his brain,and this

like

him, though,

As a beginning
him to you.
of his service,he will present you with this note, and he will
remind you of her who, all her life,
will remain,

for the love of

I commend

me.

"

Your

good mother,
"

Her

tasks
once

completed,she
more

saw

Catherine."

vember
jointhe Court, and Nothe King. Her rejoicings

started to

her reunited

to

however, short-lived. Hardly was she back with the South

in peace behind her, when the North
began to giveher trouble.
of Picardy,was
Conde, the Governor
causing agitationin his
province, and Catherine knew that if it continued the country
would
take fire again. In December, she againset out on
soon
heroic travels,and went
of La Fere.
to seek him
at the town
were,

She

implored him

stir.

The

to go

district was

"

to leave

kept in

Picardy but
simmering state

327

"

he

refused to

of disaffection

THE
and

YEARS

LATER
Conde
an

only moved
advantage.

the German

Princes,and

the aims

Catherine
and

no

further

appease

wisdom."
stern

law

five months
He
for

made

Her
of

later.

gone

to

were

frustrated.
"

for

so

an

that

men

historywas

help from
to nothing,

came
"

To make
needed
.

he receive.
discord

was

now

recognize her
triumph did not endure
time
In

herself

civil disturbances

But

may

in due

his departure

was

fresh

exasperatingfactions,she

momentary

giveth that shall

given discord,and

Nor

seek

she had
envoy,
she did her best to foment them.

motive

them,

had

MEDICI .

DE'

althoughhis efforts

France/' says

to

necessary

CATHERINE

OF

fulfilled. What

having

tries to
skill and
and
a

the
man

earlier years Catherine had

the reward that life had brought

her.

328

CHAPTER

of
The

King

XVIII

and
Navarre

the

Reine

Margot

THE
He

LATER

YEARS

each

gave

the

have

that

many
lasted four

Conde

followed
the

and

days

nullified much

four

own

work.

Cahors,

party been

united,

account

in the North

The

lingeredon

not

war

anc

for

then had

have

ended

The

King, by

mediator.

as

victory,

to

triumph mighl

His

nights.

the

him

by

the Protestant

of Navarre's

offered to act

had

Navarre

twelvemonth, and perhaps would

Alencon

gol(

the othei

they received

siege laid

his

acting on

was

chieftains the half of

that when

fruitful had

more

MEDICI

DE'

begin.

to

laurels at

been

but

told them

actions

winning
which

CATHERINE

of his Protestant

and
Crown-piece,
half, fightingwas
In

OF

not

tired

now

of defeat, actuallyacceptedhis brother's offer,and the Prince

started for Guienne, followed by Catherine and her Squadron.
In November,
and proved to
de

1580, the Paix

de Fleix

than

little more

be

signedin Perigord,
of the Paix
repetition

was

Bergerac.
Alencon's

hoped by
the King

intervention

this

left every
Parma's

in his conciliation

in the Netherlands.

in France

of the

all rallied to his side and

Each

He

disinterested.
The

Peace

follow him, and his

centered upon the relief of Cambrai.
The Duke
culminated
in the Low
had
Countries
success

adventurer

projectsnow
of

schemes

new

been

not

gain further promises of help from

to

means

for his

had

faction formed

the

Union

and

the Protestant

free to

broken

with

federation

Noblesse, who

Catholic

the

of its

own

Protestants, the

of Arras, the

sent

group

to

Alencon

had

Protestant

now

party.

the Catholics,
Union of Utrecht ;
:

beg

to

him

to

be

"

their Prince, under Orange as

They
SovereignChieftain."
furthermore
Marnix
written
:
publisheda manifesto,
by one
a

declaration

the road

of

of their ideas which

liberty.

different matter

from

Submission

loyaltyto

marked

upon
it
a
was
said,
tyrant,
no
just King. There was

to
a

long step

sin in

forswearingobedience to Spain. The freedom of this

vative
statement
produced such a startlingeffect,that a Consersent for his sigit was
nature,
gentleman of Friesland,to whom
said to have died of the shock of readingit. But
was
it served

the ends of

Alencon, and united the side which

moned
sum-

him.
Catherine

was

seriouslyperturbed. She
the Flemings would
among

foresaw

that

Alencon's
cabals
a

on

power
his part, and

preventivemission.

Thence

she

wrote

that she must

She

what

once

journeyedto meet

had

happened
332

to

more

him

the

mean

set out

fresh
upon

in Touraine.

King.

KING

THE
"

NAVARRE

OF

will know,"
speak to him, and it
I

only do

him.

He

he

as

wanted.

Then

forth, and

set

very
I took up

each

them

answered

of

of the

by

one

how

to

write to you.
in which I find

and
patiently,

him

heard

I
.

do

to

me

the humour

see

you

than

make
account
no
you
distrust him.
you

this, that

"

better

that

thinks

than

more

to make

so

MARGOT

REINE

follyfor

mere

seems

THE
"

said,

she

You

But

AND

him

for

and,

long

as

points he had
and
definitely

one,

clearly."
cheerfulness carried her through
philosophical
all complications. The
only thing she found insupportable
as
usual, separationfrom the King. It was
was,
during this
to her
absence from him that she wrote
Gossip,"Madame
d'Uzes :
As you have seen
King and son, who is also
my
I shall not ask you how
were
your darling,
you are ; for even
dead, I am certain you would rise again to be with him
you
seeing,also, the good cheer that, as you tell me, he has
Catherine's

"

"

"

shown

And

you.

although he

you

believe

may

loves those

news
Prithee, send me
ceasing. It is the greatest pleasureyou

sake

own

do not

be

this time.
as

long without

It makes

would

you

happens ;

for

Do

must

keep gay

you

can,

arrival

that

so

will

while

they
the

improve

have

had

not

more

the
are

may

have

you

affairs

forty

been

going
anything that
are

not

must

to

cease

this world, and

Come
to me
soon
as

in it.
I

"

you.

have

balls and

the

which

keep

divert

we
jovially

at

And

goods of

company

"

this will tell you how

We have had so many

turned

have

about

as

yourselfabout

vex

people who

themselves

torment

not

for your
without

give me.

can

me

fear that your

me

wish.

writingto

that

say

him

of

alone.

so

love, he loves you

whom

when

me

The
.

as

King's
of

bearer

Lent

passed our

masques

they

that I

sure

am

here.
you

Paris.

I pray God
Chenonceaux, whence
that He will give you fifty
life,in perfecthealth."
years more
When
the Queen-Mother reached
home, she did not feel
that she had gained much
ground with Alencon, but she did
"

not
"

you
you

And

this is written

leave

off

trying to persuade him.

of the year, ..." I entreat

that
to consider that I am
your mother, and to remember
have never
got aught but good from the counsels I have

My son,"

given you

she wrote

while, when

only reaped shame

more

at

than
fervently

and

at the end

you

disobeyed them,

have

injury.

I do the union
333

Never
.

you

has mother

have
desired

and

welfare of her children

"

YEARS

LATER

THE

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

than I desire lifeitself. And nobody was happier

fervently
than I at the King's approval of your praiseworthyconduct
for peace.
in the negotiations
But now
that I have heard
commissioned
that you
Fervaques to collect all the forces
that you might go and succour
I confess
Cambrai
possible
is
turned to bewilderment
that my joy
and I do not doubt
will
not
that this project
only depriveyou of the glory you
but
earned
it
will
have
complete the ruin of your House,
of
hatred
the
the
gain you
people,entirely
destroythe State,
more

...

by

the most

me

embroil

the

fall into
that

you,

my

son,

what

can

you

do

that this realm

you

Low

Countries

which

help you,

the

may

said

be

it to

want

State is ruined and

our

of this misfortune

cause

for these

When

you

the

are

though
King before

as

Catholic
so

...

mother

miserable

tricks it seems

your

only
signed a Peace with him
confusion.
Do
irreparable

have

we

For

trying to

were

you

born.

was

ever

and, in conclusion,it will make

that

And
.

have

moned
sum-

out
is with-

King

only bringthe Netherlands

and you
will be in danger of getting sent home
expense,
shame
have
and vituperation
than you now
again with more
their invitation.
You
from
struck this bargain
honour
to
And
if
without us
great regret.
my
you contemptuously
the

to

means

will

you

the

abandon

certain

for the

rush

will

you.
upon
back from
your

brought
"

the

God

whom

he

wrath
was.

often

gain

one

'

time

"

me.

envious

are

Let him
propose
and

sixty, and
dallyings."

now

not

seeingyou

increased

do

not

ill advised

are

to

be

As

that

once

he

of

deceived

danger, to depart easilyfrom

gets into

his head.
334

He

is here

for me,

by

"

talk to him

the

ate
obstin-

how

of Finance, had the same

Bellievre,her Intendant
It is not his custom," he writes to her,
of him.
men

with

in favour

Spaniards,"she said,
artfullyprolongnegotiations

into smoke.
wish

bring

of those

mean,

she found

as

to

the

resemble

them

hoped

the union, I
I see that you

But
at

had

thingsand

turn

moiling I

this House

with Alencon
"

!'who
to

left to

who

by those
King."
Her

fails you, the other

fruits you
what
Pray remember
first enterprise
in that country.'

toilingand

my

of
felicity

the

about

the

old age after all the evils

suffered," she adds eleven days later

I have

crosses

after

and

will find yourself

promised myself a happy

I had

and
"

uncertain, you

when

shabbilyportioned;

these

opinion
"

however

any

with

am

opinion

the

King

AND

hourly offers

who

of Navarre,

THE

him

REINE

his

"

again, later :
and that day
ceasingto

with him

was

for

more

talk of this business.

MARGOT

his friends,
person,
in this war."
And

to
in his power
help him
heard him speak with
I never

means

iv

NAVARRE

OF

KING

THE

much

so

passion,

than

three hours, without

But he held to his opinion,

he remained
so
deeply rooted that it was quite
to make
way."
any
impossiblefor me
his
well.
had
He
had collected a
Alencon
played
game
in the which

army
with, and

his

re

exhausted

Parma

which

large

ended.

successes

His

Catherine

had

secretlysent

they

saw

that

he

make

the best of

bad

job and

scruple to throw
he

best
his

could
Two

own.

years

fact that

cope
Cambrai.

his

"

supplies
King and

the

For

soon

as

as

their control,

to reap

they tried to
advantage from his

some

partners in the
he

brother, whom

Flanders.

in

spent

was

to

concern.

did

not

do

the

schemes

of

Philipgrew suspicious,Henri
his

over

entered

succour.

anonymous

watchful

the

when

him

beyond

was

exploitsby becoming
But

Prince

money
this in spite of the

and

"

the

August, 1581,

in

strong enough

not

was

Alencon

had

left to

fresh

before, in 1579, he had

already paid

and

visit of

he determined
to go
now
courtshipto England,
the
for his marriage. He
there again and renew
negotiations
dischargedthe greater part of his troops, and set off to plead
his

with

cause

She
upon

Elizabeth.
him

received
his

"

morning

every

farcical

wooing,

well known

"

"

she called

finger

beef-tea

demonstratively she put her ring

him her
she brought
littlefrog

most

of her

"

"

to

coy

his

bedside.

vacillations

story of his

The

and

is
coquetries,

too

to need

discussions of
repeatinghere. There were
the religious
followed
promise.
by arrangement and comdifficulty,
But in the end she played her usual game.
After
her for two
and
months
keeping him near
behaving as his

affianced

On
bride, she began to draw back from the match.
Englishside, the Protestants opposed it ; on the French
She sighedand said sadly,that her
side,the Catholic Guisards.
heart must
be sacrificed to her reason.
Alencon, who knew
her, must
have grasped what
Soon
this meant.
after, she
the

gave

him

him
to

loan

Antwerp.

goodwill," wrote

offering
you
loved

and

offeringyou

of money
and
I could not
"

Catherine

all that remains

valued
one

you.
after

And
the

me

later
of my

I prove
other."
335

have

better

rather
to

Leicester

ordered

to

shown

her,

escort

you
"

than

my

by

lord, the King, who

that

"

to

I do

Madame,

so
ma

too

by

bonne

THE

YEARS

LATER

soeur,"

OF

Elizabeth

wrote

CATHERINE

Catherine,

to

non
a
fare piu ; otherwise
to complain of from a Princess whom
So ended the play between
them.

I tenuto

had

Alencon

In

affairs.

in Flemish

proclaimed him
found

time

no

there

DE'
"

chi

for regret ; he
of

Brabant.

have
so

pud
much

too

dearlyloved."
again absorbed

was

Netherlands

February, 1582, the

Duke

fa quel quo

I should

I have

MEDICI

had

prospect that

The

he

hopefulone, for the Duke of Parma had

utilized his absence, and had regainedhis own
in the
power
country. Had it not been for the Prince of Orange, Alencon's
would have been untenable.
between
The incongruity
position
titles
and
the
his
between
weakness
of
his glorious
position,
his insolent
added

to

was

not

French

followers and

lack of funds.

and

outwardly his affairs seemed

to

Ghent

But

and

to

of these obstacles he made

to flourish.

Bruges, where

reformers,

the least of which

the difficultiesalreadythere, not

was

him

Flemish

the grave

parade,

no

Orange

the French

escorted

Prince

had

Montpensier accompanied
soldiers and counsellors : they were
also the King's
him
as
spiesupon his actions. He succeeded in takingseveral towns,
and then spoiledall by that disastrous assault which is known
the Folly of Antwerp." His extravagant attack upon
as
that city,in 1583,resulted in its rising
againsthim and taking
triumphant

entries.

Biron

and

"

He
his men.
upon
vengeance
flee,but the citizens did their best

awful

himself
to

forced

was

to

prevent his escape.

They opened the dams upon him, and he and his troops were
hate
to
than one
reason
They had more
nearly drowned.
enacted, his follower,
were
him, for, justbefore these scenes
was
Salcede, had revealed a plot of his with Spain : France
its King.
to be made
to be given to Philipand Alencon
was
to
was
After such doings,the only wish of the Netherlands
fresh Spanishconspiracy
get rid of him, and the fear of some
to come
them
to speedy terms.
induced
They acceptedthe
King's mediation, ratified their former treaty with the
his empty
title of Prince of Brabant.
Duke, and renewed
all towns
excepting Dunkirk,
He, upon his side, evacuated
which

the Duke

gloriouslydid
"

of Parma

the

"

at last to return

re-captured
;
finally

Prince
no

of

Brabant

"

and

leave

thus

his

in-

dom
prince-

more.

of Flanders.
there.
At this junctureshe had no leisure for his concerns
On the one hand, she was
negotiatingwith England, on the
other, she was
profoundlyabsorbed in hatchinga new scheme
Catherine

was

thankful

to

see

336

him

free
finally

KING

THE

AND

NAVARRE

OF

THE

Portugal. The expeditionof 1581 which

these plottingswas
a
noteworthy instance

resulted

in

dominion

and

his throne

Cardinal-Kingof Portugal,left

the

her

of

of

of Henri,

be

to

from

love

statesmanship. The death

of

her want

MARGOT

REINE

disputed

his nephews
claimants, both of them
Philip,who
Antonio.
seized it, and
at
certain Don
Catherine, who
a
of supportingthe rightsof Antonio, prefirst made
show
a
sently

by

two

"

surprisingclaim
hunted
her own.
To
do this she
up genealogies had
pioclaimed the last King's family illegitimateand, as far
forth

brought

and

third

most

"

had

"

"

back

of hers,

ancestor

whom

attack
about
the
to
Philip was
the
since it dominated
important possession,
from
all ships that went
East and
Lisbon

acted.

when

Catherine

bled

the

defend

the

and

returned

were

home

in

vacillators,Catherine
and

in this

the

Portuguese

trade to

the far

touched

there

once

"

she

more

of

command

the

acted

on

and

Philipretained
signalvictory over

disastrous.

impulse was

throne

state.
Like so many
of impulse,
the stimulus

crest-fallen

often

the

case

most

"

PhilipStrozzi, to
The
move
was
an
extravagantlyrash
severely defeated, in July,at Terceira,

islands.

French

Azores

fleet (for which

monster

country),under

; the

one

sent

remote

King Alphonso III of Portugal,from

her
pretensions. Upon this basis she

one

derived

she

discovered

century, had

thirteenth

the

as

scored

France.
It

early in

was

of the

one

It

few

is written

do

You

(1581)that Catherine
gives us a glimpse of

same

the

King, who,
gratitudefor her

to

for once,

the honour," she says,

preserved the realm, and kept it from
allowed

grace has
However
you.
earned

for

to

me

great the

this, I have

hatred

found

that

"

write that I have

to

and

malice

such

good folk, or loyal servants, but from

prevented from carryingout their designs. And
.

ought.

have

know

father

and

fulfilled by the
be

kept,in

the

their

even

forced to tell the truth and to acknowledge

all for you

perfectlywell

myself,and that

your
to

been

I saved

that
for

came

whom

those

have

that

never
feelings

from

followers

have

to

seems

being cut up. God in

whole kingdom obeying

the

see

herself.

labours.

me

His

wrote

year

letters which

expressed some
"

this

and

that

obligationI

for the
in
owed

late

doing

337

this

to the

grandfather,has now
keeping what
they themselves
all the freshness in which
they
your

King
I

two

been

as

did

it

"

Kings,
in part

commanded
left it.
z

And

THE

LATER

if I have

YEARS

saved

not

CATHERINE

OF

the

whole,

least I

at

MEDICI CI

DE'

saved

have

'

portion/
Catherine

spoke thus in the lull of civil war, but domestic

dissensions were
out
not wanting. Disputeshad again broken
of
between
the King of Navarre
and. his wife. The lightness
his behaviour was
such as to cause
scandal even
to the lightest.
His father, King Antoine's
love-affairs were
respectableby
comparison. His last love, a lady of the Court commonly
him.
called La Fosseuse, had gained absolute dominion
over
of
With an amazing laxity,
he demanded
domestic recognition
He compelledMargueriteto accompany
her
her from his wife.
with
to Spa for the waters, and, not content
this,he roused her
seuse
one
night from her slumbers to receive the child of La Fosinto the world.
for
Such doings were
too much, even
that were
hurt ; she
Queen Margot. It was not her feelings
had

been

never

days,she

had

sensitive
wounded

been

her the confidante

"

for

whoever

talked
.

to

And

and

that

matters

as

his
that

saw

was

she

was

her

deprived of his
a frank cynic; a

"

if I had

as

most

had

always

been

his sister.

had

happened

confidence."

such

In

ally,a good comrade,

staunch

social

Her

making

de Sauve

he

says,

frank

wife.

left off

Madame

dreaded

what

anything,in short, but

with

fancy," she

freelyabout

Indeed, in old

score.

her husband

of his intercourse

was

me

that

upon
when

honour, however,

did affect her, and this had

now
seriouslyimpugned.
And even
if she had not felt this for herself,the Queen-Mother
the
Navarre's
conduct
there to feel it for her.
was
was
been

of

occasion

of two

one

rare

mother-in-law

piecesof autobiographyin
ever

made

her

to

which

name

"

the

occur

bitter

own

of the

only noteworthy mentions

the

his

letter from

memorable
she

allusions

only
and

experience,
of Diane

de

Poitiers.
Both

as

human

documents

and also

strange outlook

length.

morals,
upon
first is addressed

The

as

they are
to

the

epitomesof Catherine's
worth quoting at some
King of Navarre.
1582, June

"

"

which

such
wife.

when

Son,

My
was

"

never

Frontenac
were

12.

so

I asked

not

when

as

I heard

the

language

people, declaringthat
that he had used, by your order, to your

repeated

the words

I should

amazed

have

to

several

him, had

believed

him, he assured

338

me

that

it

it not
was

been
true.

that

And

THE

LATER

The

second

1584

she

time

her

had

the

addressed

Besides

that

beautiful.
that I

see

mixed

with

every

herself to

I had

which

that

later

in

"

did

shocked
of the

Bellievre,who

the

friends

directlyto

write

not

then

was

honours

with

keep," she
who

are

dishonours

or
"

says.

And

and

young

be

cannot

of France

of

conditions

think

contradicted.

father-in-law

as

and

pleased him,

men.

us,

this holds

Perhaps she (Marguerite)will

I was
kind of societyand that when

which

King

had

loose nature

life either

our

all sorts and

answer

an

the

Catherine

the company
we
chieflytrue of Princesses

is

rather

who

Margot,

to

does

so

MEDICI

of Navarre.

Queen

"

written

was

day by

her.

DE'

subject-matter belongs here. This

lecture

of that
around

she

"

gist and

gives a

public even

CATHERINE

OF

letter, which

through its

"

she

YEARS

selves
them-

tell you

To

I
young
that there

In

my

youth,

who

imposed upon
forced to obey.

was

me
.

I had the honour

to marry,
After
death, his son, whom
took his place,and to him I owed a like obedience, and more.
his

God, Who

approved all that I did to please

over
them, these persons never
gained so much
my
power
did aught against my
that I ever
honour
which
will
for God's
would
to pray
me
pardon, or make
requireme
be less praised. But, she may
would
fear that my
memory
And

thanks

be to

that I am
say that now
actions I should send away
also

in

out

society.

of their

Yet

widow

all these

business

my

and

mistress of my

people and

children, and

Majesties,
my

to

cease

go
fast all the jects
sub-

to hold

was

own

not

to

offend

such

And she
persons, but to lure them on to do service to the Crown.
should understand
that,beingwhat I am, known to all the world,
I have

talk as I
age, I can
I like. And if she behaves like me, at my
like and see whom
will
be
able to do the same,
without fear of offending
age she

having lived, as

and

God,
of
.

to

rejectevery person
wise and
good Princess
beautiful

more

left her, I do

for, as
shall
"

and

not

know

writing,now
write nothing to
to

I entreat
not

to

my

"

young,

than

she

who

But
who

the very

is not

who

herself

Prince

she likes

to

to

to the world.

or

she does what

causingscandal
King and married

done,

reason

of

worthy
too, and

he

340

ought

When

you

all these

with

cannot

what
you, too, to bid her cease
attentions
lavish so many
on

King,
a

perhaps imagining

will tell her

that

that she

consortingwith

really is.

that she is back

her

being the daughter

calls himself

have

things;

her husband,

see.

she has

been

doing,

the ladies to whom

KING

THE

he makes

AND

NAVARRE

OF

do

; and

so

it.

For

and

also loved

one

by

Do

not

there

Valentinois, it

yet

never

(thereis no
although the

his mistress

different name,
let her any longersuffer him
a

her ladies,for I assure

you,
it. If she will but
not endure

show

him

the love she

very

much

pleasedat

get

Catherine's
to

hear

the

Queen
thither by

the

separate her
went, there

King,

from

had

been

was

her

had

the

He

and

only be

can

anxious

ever

husband.

Huguenot

to

she

Wherever

Her

immoral

were

vermin."

to

"

And

her custom, she was

contrary
some
assignation.Her ladies were
of them

took

opportunities
enough

than

more

to

doings.

He

the years 1582 and 1583,

French
Court, summoned

were

men

"

he

took

chase

St.

more

by the
day, as,

Jacques,one

going masked,
seized to

her servants

doubtless

make

to

that

sure

cross-examined
The

them
direct

unmasked
forcibly

disgracefollowed.

worse

"

him

bid

now

At his command,
she was
measures.
Captain of the Guards at the Porte

her

reason

to repress his feelings.

diplomaticreason
writingto his brother-in-law to complain that

like noxious

none

in

would

place,I

presence re-aroused Henri

his relations with Navarre
were
already

as

Marguerite'sladies
away

who

disturbance.

was

Ill's aversion, and

strained, he had no
He

at

love in her house

respect her the more."

husband
wife took
or

either

was

word

such an
calling
is ugly to say).

...

and

love

Margot
opinions. In

of Navarre

in

use

him.

exhortations.

her mother's

her husband

obey him

how

indication

no

loved

I in her

reallybears
it,and

sorelyminded

to make

were

who

King

that I

who

woman

was

the

was

know

always let him

to

We

MARGOT

that she is gladthat he loves

therefore follow his lead.
And
pray
I
If
showed
example as a precedent.

she can
do not let her urge my
de
courtesy to Madame
me

REINE

onlythink

He will

love.

others because

made

THE

about

King

himself

occasion to insult her in the presence of the whole Court.

recounted a long list of her lovers
Pibrac, her Chancellor,
"

accordingto him, among them ; he accused her of having

child by one
an
of these gentlemen,Jacques de
illegitimate
de
Harlay,Seigneur
Champsvallon, le beau Champs vallon,"

was,

"

as

he

year,
to be

called.

was

in the

heart

Tradition
of

Paris, was

monk,

monk, who went by the name

we
wonder, ever
attempt

mother

of her

presence

Henri ended
"

she

and

by

that

says

boy,

the
and

of Frere
to

shrive

orderinghis sister

get away

proceeded to obey.
341

to

But

"

that he

Ange.
his

grew up
Did the

incongruous

to deliver the

Gascony,
before

this

child, born

she

which
had

city

mand
com-

time

to

THE

LATER

get off, she

YEARS

for

no

arrested

was

sixty archers

one

around

her,

since

there

reason,

final

prisoner. Her
early in the

CATHERINE

morning in bed and found

wanton
indignityput upon her

was

sadly

Her
had

been

husband

so

refused

"

much

dishonoured, and

till the truth

change his course
charges made
by her brother were
suffer justice
; but if those who had

had

not

be

must

vengeance

was

d'Aubigne,

his

taken

serious

back

sequences.
con-

woman

said that he would

been proved. If the

deserved, she

duly

must

lied,then

her had

accused

them.

upon

servants.

take

to

flight very

like

either retinue

her

keep

to

attempt

no

departure was

without

MEDICI

DE'

or
day,
in
had
themselves,
degrading
scenes,

These
who

OF

demnation,"
Reparation or conWhen
to the King.
"

the

he sent
message
delivered
it, Henri's
emissary,

so
anger
him that he laid his hand upon the hilt of his sword,
overcame
if to draw
as
it,but he had to swallow his indignation.He
whom
could not reasonablyexpect Navarre
to welcome
one
"
would
he himself had spurned.
asked
What,"
Mornay,
"

Christendom

if he received her thus,

say
and if he embraced
and caressed

ignominiously banished
tried to pacify Navarre's

from

She
messenger.
him and summoned

her

coach, when she saw

with her, assuringhim that she would
who

insulted

took

his

made

had

been

that
virtuous

Marguerite executed.

Queen
"

back.

Neither
had

calumny

power

"

of Princesses

and

"

"

the word

scoundrels

end, Navarre

the

that he had

ment
statevague
the most
even
a

blacken

to

Catherine

the

made

King

have

gettinginto
him
to
speak

was

have

In

you

? ""

of the conditions

the

but
fulfilled,

what

Court

your

spattered
speak, be-

to

so

"

calumny

had

to

guilt.
How
he treated her, what
they came
happened when
that
can
together,
merely be conjectured.The only impressions
have come
from Margueriteherself,and she is hardly to
we
an
be trusted.
To read her version is to pictureArcadia
serve

the

injuredhusband

sufficient denial of her

as

"

Arcadia

of

the

"

their

and
indiscretions,

"

Court," she says, "is so

could envy that of France.

Our

never

husbands

Renaissance, where
to

live and

so

allowed

religion.
pleasantthat we

let live

goodly and
We

are

had with

us

"

is

my

sister-in-

married the
afterwards
law, the Princess of Navarre, who
Due
de Bar, my nephew. And I had a goodly train of maidens
and of ladies,and my husband
followed by a noble troop
was
of lords

that

and

I have

gentlemen
"

seen

at

as

gallant a company

Court, with
342

as

the

nothing to regret in

best

them

KING

THE

NAVARRE

OF

except that they

Mass

attended
out,

again

MARGOT

REINE

But

mentioned

never

we

hand, my husband
the other, I, with my

on

and

and

one

Chapel in

in the

all met

we

the

On

Preches ;

to

THE

Huguenots.

were

the difference of faith.

sister went

AND

the

park.

for

went

retinue,

when

And

his

came

in

sometimes

stroll :

times
garden with alleysof cypress and of laurel,somein the park that I had
made, with walks along the
river.
And
the rest of the day passed in all sorts of pretty
which
ended
with a ball in the evening."
pleasures,
Navarre's
reconciliation with the King was
only skin-deep.
At this junctureHenri
III wished
to promote it, for affairs
had taken a fresh turn.
Alencon
suddenly fell dangerously
a
nd
Navarre
heir to the throne.
the next
ill,
was
Duplessis-

beautiful

Mornay,
him.

to

He

counsellors, wrote

best

change

his ways

"

great

seriously

might

moment

"

time, Sire," Mornay said, that you should

In
love to all Christianity
and especially
to France."

make
few

He

Navarre's

must
"

be at hand.

of

one

It is

days death

had

end

an

affected main

never

behind

put

him.

As

and

issues

he

said that he

usual, men

feverish

Alencon's

to

futilities.

footprint
poisoned. As

left
was

no

tion
to believe it. His constituusual, too, there is small reason
was
thoroughlydiseased,and the wonder is that he lived
be

to

twenty-eight.

Between

him

and

there

Catherine

had

been

no

affection,

yet she felt his death severely. It happened justas age was
to her hopes
fatal blow
as
a
descendingon her, and it came
of

a
94

direct

dynasty.

Monsieur

such

as

You

can

that

well

de

fancy,will not let me

imagine what a misery it

you

can

see

every
enough that

one

die before
must

we

me.

bow

the

to

"

grief,which is
write you a long letter.
to live so
is to me
long
I
And
although know

Bellievre," she writes,

"

well

it seems

but

to me,

seeing that

singleone
Navarre

that

one

have

resents

the

greater reason

all my
sons
who remains

are

taken
I

...

to

cause

me

loss

no

to

of

Will

belongsunto Him, that He only lends us

nature
long as He pleases all the same,
so

my

one

our

God, that all

children

cannot

for

as

contrive

suffers, and

I,

so

complain of my sorrow,
from
me
excepting the
beg the Queen of
you

pray
of affliction."

increase

Directly after Alencon's death, the Due

d'Epernon was
posted off to Navarre to entreat him to abjure the Reformed
faith and come
back
to the Court.
But neither request met
his views, and

he

did not

obey.
343

THE

LATER

His
but

YEARS

OF

defection would

Alencon's

before had

been

serious blow

death, the Prince

of

MEDICI

DE'

alreadybefallen it.

calamityhad

worse

before

have

CATHERINE

to his cause,

months

Three

Orange, who

married

not

long

assassinated

daughter,Louise,
Coligny's
The
fanatic, whom
a
Jesuit had incited to the deed.
Catholics were
Parma
had
strong at the moment.
enced
experi-

by

was

constant

Zealand

and

son
eighteen-year-old

land, too,
William
made

of the

of

These

the

In

subjects were

Northern

States

of

of Nassau, the
Orange, and Fries-

under

staunch

France.

Alencon's

the

his

Maurice

Prince

Protestant

Nassau.

proposalsto

But

rallied round

remained

of

of

numbers

fold.

the Catholic

returningto
Holland

and

success,

Maurice's

provinces
same

year

once

more

they

offered

the King,
princedom,
powers,
alliance was
the
because the French
overlookinghis religion,
most
to
to.
of strengththey had
look
important source
and
of the nobles
Catherine
some
urged acceptance upon
him.
Elizabeth, also, changed her tactics. Frightened by
the plotsof Mary Stuart and the Jesuits,
and by the maritime
the Spanish
preparationsof Spain,she sought to countermine
power.

with

She herself invited France

of money
Ambassadors.
a

to the French

sum

of the

accepted,much
not

advance

been

to

to the Netherlands

King by the
dallying,in

hands

and sent
of Flemish
of

terror

Philip.

impatientfor his decision,but he kept them

from England with
he did so, came
envoys

embassy was
waiting. While
Order

had

He

The

the

extended

cousin,

Garter

to the

his

heretical honour

an

"

scandal
to

answer

of the

Catholics.

Elizabeth.

Henri

which

it did

But

Catherine

did

her

good temper by amusing them.

I was
here to-day,"
son
very pleasedto see Lord Burleigh's
who
she
He
was
brought by my secretary
says.
showed
him this house
and gardens,and my
farm, of which
I think he must
heard from my
have sometimes
good sister,
of
send
her fruit
I
wished
the Queen
have often
to
England.
farm ; only
from
garden and meat from this very same
my
the distance from here to England is so great that they might
best

to

keep

the

envoys

in

"

"

not

carry

When
him

best

well
.

Henri's
would

expect.

I should

which

answer

like her to know."

those who
it was
what

came,

He

refused the offer of the

and

knew

Flemings

disillusioned.
they went home
on
The
too
busy with idleness to embark
any
King was
serious undertaking: at one
a
on
pilgrimage
moment,
away
the crypt
to
from
Paris
with his wife, walking all the way
344

KING

THE

AND

NAVARRE

OF

THE

REINE

MARGOT

then on
to Ctery,to pray
at Chartres, and
of Notre Dame
surrounded
his
Court and taken
for an heir ; at another,
by
In the three years between
follies.
wonted
with
his
1581
up
had
increased
their
the
and
Mignons
1584,
ascendency and

Joyeuse and Epernon had risen to an insolent

Admiral
of France, and
height. Joyeuse had been made
well as
to Epernon
was
as
given the Colonel-Generalship,
and Verdun.
The
the lucrative government of Metz, Toul
of

the power

of both

wealth

favourites

was

scandal.

The

country

was

The
fabulous
give them luxuries.
wedding of
alone
cost
the nation eleven
million
de Joyeuse
the Due
about
times.
worth
The
francs
own
thirtymillion of our
and
lord
the
no
festivitieslasted seventeen
or
days,
lady wore
bride
The
de
dress twice.
was
Vaudemont,
same
Marguerite
To prevent
immense.
the Queen's sister,and her dowry was
married
to another
jealousy,the Due d'Epernon was
great
of
such
with
necklace
that
the
a
a
pearl
wedding gift
lady,
King had to break into the MunicipalTreasury and double the
priceof Judgeshipsto buy it.
followed by outrageous penitential
These extravagances were
processions. The Blancs-Battus, the greatest grandeesamong
streets
the penitents,paraded the
in the rain, dressed
in sacks
drenched
of white linen
through,"until at last
all drippingas they were, they reached the Church
of Notre
Dame, there to perform the rites and mysteriespeculiarto
their Order."
And
this they did," says a contemporary
the which they committed
Diarist," after a thousand insolences,
every day."
Catherine knew
that evil must
of it,and the thought
come
of the future dismayed her.
She would, she felt,
probablyhave
to set out again upon
her travels.
I shall,"she said,u henceforth
be so heavy and
uncomfortable
that it will become
about as I have done in the past.
impossiblefor me to move
I do not want
I can
to go far.
no
longer endure hard toil
drained

to

"

"

"

"

"

as

I used

to

do."

For

the first time her letter sounds

that wants
to rest.

345

the wearied

note

of age

CHAPTER

XIX

The
death

defined

Crown

that,

saw

At

Spain

giving
send

to

end

an

and
in

the

Stuart.

Mary

took

The

part

for
of

the

Guisards.

in

For

the
the

figure
"

the

idol

hero.

of

not

invent

the

of

people
is

of

was,

"

It
time

was

to

was

put

round

Leicester,

three

beheaded.

years
The

for

the

France,

forestall

to

had

matters

later,
result

activity
are

we

Henri

de

dominated

be

to

was

Guise

by

some
brilliant, hand-

a
gifted politician
daring soldier,
Paris, their sovereign, and their typical

dramatic

and

nation,
"

striking.

it may
it absorbed

stage

and

characters
least

the

it,

that
a

France

is

the

years

seductive,

dramatic
was

this

the hour

1585.
four

next

and

Spanish

But

year

central

one

the

with

1584, under
; while

was

Armada

lot

themselves

wove

Zutphen

Scots

of

"

in

sent

of

it

the

they

Protestantism.

which

was

battle

Queen

cause

plots

that

of

and

their

in

grasped
of

Netherlands

the

army

in the

1587, Mary
England was

still

open

to
army
Catholic

an

to

aid to the

heirship

Guises,

throw

French

party-power.

the

to

for

time

same

of

Catholic

position
effectual, they must
moment
England

come

the

of

in

point

balance

Bourbon

the

the

turning

the

Protestant

be

to

was

affected

It

of

accession

The

Alencon

of

THE politics.

Ligue

said,

be

which

among
The

this

always
Due

his

creation,

did

he

Ligue, though

duced
proGuise

de

and

not

this

from

strength and attention.

It was
nominally a great federation, largely formed
by Nobles
and
the
Catholic
by Jesuits, to defend
religion. In reality,
it meant
The
something more.
profession of the Catholic
chief
but
and
mental
fundafaith is not
the
custom,
only an ancient
onwards,

year

the

has

she

nation's

"

law

of

Genet

aux,

the

Kingdom,"

1576, when
felt ; and
this formula
implied
Ligue represented a strange and

Etats

it

was

at

once

in

anti-national

ran

so

and
349

the
a

the

declaration

Ligue

great

deal

first

democratic

made

else.

unprecedented
;

of

the
itself

For

the

movement

anti-national

THE

because

it invited the

it undertook
Vox

YEARS

LATER

populithe

re-establish

General

certain

of Guise.

voice

Parlements,

to

It

was

to redress taxation

the

callingof

ensure

tax-ridden

masses

that

unconscious

joinhands

could

they were

no

the fortunes of their leader.

not

was

liberal
and

measures

his

from

reformer

Throne,

foremost,
a

againstthe

scheme

further

said,Guise

to seize the Crown

himself

"

of these

advocacy
bid

for
The

Noblesse

popularity

Ligue was,
against the
In his

succession.

uncertain

"

For

buildingup

Crown.

of the

th

upheld

hardly be

His

cleverest

association

an

need

as

State:

tools in

conspiracy againstthe Bourbon

heart there lurked

day

his

but

was

than

conviction.

sharpestweapon

firstand

For,

the

the
once
the lords of the land,

with

more

the

It

in

once

because
make

to
popularrights,

three years.
every
and
of
Communes.
o
f
privileges Corporations
least

at

MEDICIICI

support of Spain,and democratic

champion

to

DE'

CATHERINE

OF

and

dim

one

"

the love that he

and, considering

the ambition
was
impracticable. He had
inspired,
by no means
into a monastery ;
: to deposethe King, to put him
many projects
they had embodied themselves in a definite conspiracyas early
as
1576. But the plot had been detected and Guise (whose
had been hidden
behind that of his agent)was
name
compelled
to wait his moment
in patience. He had taken the precaution
substantial
to gain for himself a footingmore
than the favour
of the mob
as shadowy
: to invent a family claim to the Throne
it was
tainted with
insolent. The Capets, he urged, were
as
and could not boast the Divine
magne.
illegitimacy,
Right of CharleLorraines
The
now
representedthe legitimateline.
in case
And
this statement
should
prove inadequate to his
he
his
by marrying
proposedto strengthen pretensions
purpose,
his relations to European royalties.But he was
too wise as

yet

to

put forth his" own

titles.

while set up the son of her

he
deceived her who
"

and
to

in

plea

in

seeming ;

democratic

favour
in

had

Republicanism
themselves.
lie in

no

The

as

for

Henri's

spent her life in

short

sor,
succes-

deceiving,"

public he pretended
Heir- Apparent.
de Bourbon
as
aristocratic
Lorraine's dynasty was
while

in

to maintain
fact, it did much
of the Ligue. His
arguments led

point

colour

of

Catherine

daughter,Claude,

feignedhearty agreement,
acknowledge the old Cardinal

His

When

of

than

less marked

that

of the

the
to

Protestants

rightto the Throne, said the Ligueurs,did not

the only
the rightto the Crown
was
elective,

and
lineage,
being orthodoxy.
qualification
representthe Pope's beliefs,nor

350

But

such

Catholicism

did it find favour

did

with

not

him.

THE

put him
Church, he

into

It

untenable

an

obligedto

was

LIGUE

the faith ; as
views of the
political
defend

position. As the Head of the

join an alliance which professedto

potentate, he could

Ligueurs,or

act

support the

not

between

umpire

as

sovereign and subjects. Thus the final word rested with the
The pact
a monarch.
People. They could make, or unmake
held
was
lay between the King, the
by which the Throne
If the King failed in his word
to either,
People and God."
"

it would

be

justiceto depose him,

merely the ministers of

the people at this juncturewere

for

"

he

and

his

officers

People." Unfortunately,
largelyin the hands of the

the

were

in whose
Jesuits,

eyes assassination seemed

thus, at the outset, it was
possiblefor the

sanctified task. And

Pope to maintain his

false positionand, togetherwith the Jesuitsand Spain, to give
the

Ligue ;

support

to

because

the fundamental
not

was

result which

did the

easier

can
Ligue and Vati-

opposition between

yet apparent, nor

as

probably the

was

himself

Pope

perceive

its significance.
But

this state

his situation
which

the
a

of

thingscould

dawned

Ligue

and

tending.

was

national

him

upon

creed,

not

The

last.

not

he

grasped the goal

ecclesiastical

an

that

discovered

He

of

real nature

one

to

it represented

; that

the

Ligueursdesired appointments in the Church to be decided

by popular election. The results of their influence were
obedience
without delay. The French
seen
clergyshowed signs of disand
to the Vatican
a
Bishop refused to obey its
"

orders.

Hostilitygrew.
PolitiquePope," said

and

of Sixtus
a

fine

"
"

Had

surprise.

he

God

delivered

favourite

lived

It would

has

from

preacher after

longer, Paris

have

us

heard

us

would

denounce

wicked

the death
had
have
the

Pope

from the

him :
than denounce
pulpit." They did,indeed, more
when he died, they consignedhim
Hell."
to the nethermost
Ere long,the Pope had taken his stand againstthem.
Rather
than suffer the Ligue, he would
III
and
have
deposed Henri
recognizedthe Huguenot Navarre as King of France.
Meanwhile, in March, 1585, the Ligueurs publishedtheir
in the name
of God
great manifesto,
Almighty, King of
Kings,"settingforth their aims, and accompanied by the names
"

"

of all the

the

great Princes of Europe.

LigueursthroughoutFrance,

were

numerous

were,

of the rest, was

the others.

but

the

expressedthe purpose

the

Liguesin

of

the Provinces

typicalLigue, the epitome,

as

it

topped
Ligue of Paris, and graduallythis overwith three priestsand
had originated

the
It

and

It

351

THE

LATER

layman

one

has

YEARS

citizen.

important

an

"

"

been

said, had ever

constitution, completed in
Paris

"

Horseleeches/' the

had

each

five hundred,

"

Its

complicated one.

his

five

chiefs.

guild,and

own

Charcoal-burners," the "Mariners,"

The

own.

,l

mauvais

tous

statutes."

districts with

worked

MEDIC)ICI

society/'it

secret

was

big

little Ligue of its

No

"

1579,

five

DE'

redoubtable

more

federation

of the

member

the"

into

divided

was

Each

CATHERINE

OF

Mariners
the

not

gar cons,

numbered

only

black

the Ligueurs. There

also a subdivision of
was
among
the city into sixteen constituencies,each of which
returned

sheep

gatheringarose
them

Council

to the famous

member

of divers

out

Comite

the

Ligue,Les

of the

This

assemblies, chief among

secret

whose
surveillance,

de

Seize.

it

duty

to
was
spy
the
in
with
the King ; and, growing
movement,
upon
power
the rulingforce in Paris, in permanent
the Sixteen became
Later
there was
Council of Forty,
relations with Guise.
a
but the Sixteen
remained
the allmilitary and political,

important organ. It correspondedwith the other quarters of

the city the Sainte-Union
this organizationwas
called
and they sent forth emissaries to every town
to urge good
Catholics to band togetherin imitation of the Parisian model,
"

and

"

with this central

to communicate

thus

was

projectedwhich

all the threads

of which

gatheredup by

the

would

association.

spread

rulinghand

at

of Guise.

He

network

the

over

be focussed

would

country,

point and

one

himself used his

courtiers,among

carried with him

most
Nobles,
and
them, Nevers, Bellievre,Villeroi,

of the

whom

the

with

power

great men

His

success

and

was,

Catherine

tillnow

had

others

called her

the

doubtless, helped by

of the

events

own.

of the

by the victories of Parma, the murder of the Prince

of Orange, the consequent ascendency of Catholicism.
The
did the rest.
and his own
Between
state
of France
vogue
moment

"

anc*

1579

gens du
priests,Doctors
"

began.

It

made

signed by
to

defend

Henri
He

was

was

the whole

almost
to

in

end

secret

pact

all the

big

the

enrolled themselves

"

that of 1794.
had

had

enthusiasts,bourgeois,
artizans,
political
palais,
of the Sorbonne
till the Ligue, in all its

branches, embraced
war

of Frenchmen

1585, thousands

In
with

this

Then

of Terror

which

Reign
same

Spain
"

French

of France.

year,

the

Catholics

352

shadowed
fore-

1585, the Ligue

Treaty of Joinville,
"

which

faith, to extirpate heretics,and

It also made
de Navarre.
to send troops ; Guise was

civil

undertook
to

disinherit

privatebargains with Philip.

to

fightthe

Flemish

rebels

LIGUE

THE

and

Guise to put this

comply,

to

he

agreement

by

in

foreignallies soon

called upon

execution, and, only too willing

preparedfor action.

of his army
his brother, the Due

One

The

Cambrai.

give him

to

wing

commanded

was

de

by himself, a
Guise

Mayenne.

and

second

his

troops
Chalons, which he intended to take. But
before he could embark
upon his task, the King had been seized
marched

towards

by fright. He
of

war

at all costs, and

wish

Flanders,

hastened

In

the peace
Catherine
private,

not

fall to

him,

as

attended

Philip. It
success,

ensured.

was

it and

This

thought
pleasures

thus in

no

declare his

to

for the

was

that

come.

has

his

was

public.
should

Cambrai

bequestto

it should

Cambrai

He

the

arrived with overtures

dismiss

Alencon's

was

and

had

Spain.

and

pursue

determined

private person,

by

to

with

keep

to

must

embassy which

an

but

He

be

must

peace

to welcome

from

of the Carnival

distasteful to him.

was

mood

in the midst

was

; and

Henri

Her

remained

efforts

French

to

were
ever

since.
The

they had gained. They

but only if the King granted
their arms,
offered to lay down
their conditions.
Henri replied, not as a sovereignto rebels,
but rather as a criminal to his judges." He made
excuses
for himself, he implored them
to be loyal. His
weakness
audacious.
Their numbers
only made them more
grew day
after
An
town
old
Court
another.
by day : they took one
favourite,Francois d'O, betrayed Caen into the hands of the
Ligue. Catherine hastened to Champagne to treat with Guise
for a long while without
his pretensions
she found
as
success,
too great. Yet the King might have had all in his power.
were
The means
at his disposalwere
much
larger than those of
his foe, and England and Venice sent him
His folly
money.
and densitywere
Navarre
incredible.
When
and the Huguenots
Ligueurskept

the

mastery
"

"

made

advances

to

him

on

their

he

account,

own

did not

rejecttheir offers,
than his personal dislike to
although for no better reason
them.
His next move
to turn round and to approach the
was
of time, and nobody
matter
Ligue. But negotiations
were
a
trusted him.
The
alone
rallied round him.
Catholiques
royaux
in
The Ligueurs,the Politiques,
and
the Huguenots (chiefly
the South
and West) formed
the three remaining parties
;
and the issue of the game
each
relation
to
their
on
depended
other
whether
not
or
they joinedforces. The mutual
upon
attitude of these factions had shifted in the last eightyears.
scruple first to trifle with

them, then

to

"

353

LATER

THE

During that

YEARS

one-third

time

whole

thirtieth of the

lawyers and

many

there

was

we

say
between
the

Calvinists and

moderate

was

fought
and

opinion,sweeping

the converts
And

wher

difference

great, that, whereas

the
Reformers, the

so

for

meanwhile
Politiques,

included

every

their loose

into

one

Huguenots

among

The

Crown.

numbers

in

become

in the army.
Calvinist ; for the

Lutherans

supported the

meant

element

Mercenaries

increased

Noblesse,which

officialswere

mean

we

MEDICI

DE'

population,had

Crown

strong
Protestant,

Calvinist

also

of the

Protestant

Lutherans

CATHERINE

OF

net

shade
those

whc

and those who

fought againsthim, the anti

the
Catholic and
anti-Spanish all such, indeed, to quot
Tavannes, as
preferredthe safetyof the realm and of thei
homes
to the salvation of their souls ; a Kingdom at peac
A ballac
without God, to a Kingdom at war, yet with God."
writer of that day has expressedthe same
feelingin anothe
foughtfor

Guise

"

"

form.

Quel

est

monstre-ci, comment
dit Sirene, et des

ce

Grecs

a-t-il nom,
Hebreux

Dagon,
!
aujourd'hui Politiquesl'appelle
Mais
dites moi
pourquoi est-il femelle ?
Sa plus grande vertu
est de chacun
flatter,
Et des plus forts le coeur
et le courage
oter.
Des

Et

est

le siecle

of compromise
it is true, like most advocates
Politiques,
rathe
were
powerlessin these agitatedtimes, and significant
because
they upset the balance of party than because o
anything they themselves achieved.
Among these quarrelsomegroups, Catherine moved with he
usual deftness and vigilance,
interviewingGuise and othe
leaders of the enemy,
promising,deceiving. As usua
talking,
her efforts to the King, in the frequentlettei
she recounted

The

that
"*

she

sent

Monsieur,

and

written

him.
runs
fils,"

mon

from

one

Champagne

of these, dated
This
letter

"
"

to tellyou of the arrival of my nephew of Guise

As he bowed low before me, he struck me
time.

choly, and when

we

had

cheeks, showing how

made

him

would

sad

he

the remonstrances

promising him
after

begun

your

exhortinghim
confess

himself

talk
to

was.

which

pardon
to

to

me

if he

talk, the
After

seemed
would

frankly to
truly on
354

April,1585
comes
chief!})
at
dinner
to-day
as

tears

I had

very melan
hi
down
ran
most

in my
fitting

fully
eyes

only deserve it,anc

me,

all

he

repliedthat

points. But

as

h"

i1

LATER

THE

YEARS

May meadows,
Due

de

as

me

Mass

to

he

MEDICI
"

usual.

I let him

his face
all that

say

he wanted, for he had been

which clearly
proved he had

airinghis mind in many

something in his fancy.
and when
I pressedhim
a long time, he only half-talked,
of his doings,he answered
rather coldly."
reason
On

May

29,

he

found

words,
For

her

her

in

bedroom

The
fields

in the

me

and
l'Epine,

de

Dame

than

find

to

came

at Notre

sadder

was

DE'

Queen-Mother's bedside.
"

Guise," she wrote,

I walked

showed

the

by

now

CATHERINE

OF

for the
her

among

friends.
could see," she said, " that Monsieur
de Guise
his party were
greatlytroubled and perplexedbecause
"

long talkingtogetherapart, and

as
lingering
long as I could, and

so

of

and

We

such differences that

them.

But

And,

later still:

nevertheless
had

"

Guise

he said to

plunged him
Upon that we

it.

cause

de Guise is justlike

into

gives every

this, and he wished

went

to

Vespers,and

have

division among
schoolmaster."
he

excuse

that he did not

me

point

would

hoped they

should be able to

we

Monsieur

were

we

I made

this time

all

devil

which

know
himself

of

well out

begin

like to

I did not

but

can,

business."

on

The
Paix
all

reward

she

reaped from

her endeavours

de Nemours, in which, after faint

the Ligue's demands.
The
King

was

the

abject

she ceded
objections,
to

was

enforce

the

to be stamped out,
heresy was
while the Huguenots lost their strong places,
and the Ligueur
Nobles got all the towns
they asked for. Had the QueenMother been left to herself she would hardlyhave consented to
timid counsellors
such humiliation, but the King had many
and was
himself possessed
by fear of Paris,the cityof the Ligue.
On July 13, he solemnly went with Catherine to Saint-Maur,
to receive the homage of the Dukes
of Guise and of Lorraine,
and of the two scheming Cardinals,Guise and Bourbon
; then

Catholic

faith

to the Parlement

and his

by edict,and

to

ratifythe repeal of

of the
proscription

This did not

look

well

Reformed

his Edicts

of Tolerance

Religion.

for Navarre.

He

had

alreadymade

written,it was said,by Duplessis-Mornay),

(chiefly
to the accusations
which the Ligue had launched againsthim,
loyalty
and had warmly exonerated
himself from the chargesof disand schism.
If," he perorated, conscience is there
at the back, a difference of religion
does not hinder a good
whatever
Prince from gettinggood service from his subjects,
their belief." But he had not gauged the strengthof Guise,
a

fine retort

"

"

356

THE

the conclusion of the Peace

and

disappointment.
head

my

LIGUE

was

leaningon

white."

So

gettingthe
and

another
Guise

he
news

As I sat

deep
thought upon
hand, my apprehensionfor

my

instead

this matter,
this country

Nevers

indeed, had

starvinghim

of

for

Spain
help and

the Netherlands, Navarre

in good
As it was, he was

alliance with

him

salvation and, had the

the union would have
of the Court

party

were

faithful to

been

spending all

would

have

was

in

spirits.
would have
the King'schance of
owned
efficient general,
an
royal cause
taken place. But the militaryleaders
Epernon and Joyeuse. Epernon was,
of courage

successfully.

his old vices turned upon him, and when

Unfortunately,
to stirup the King to action,Henri refused to take him

he tried

seriously.

fool,the
Joyeuse,who was a mere
of the Jeunesse Doree ; and His Majesty's
interest in tactics
confined to the petty rivalries of his Mignons as
manders.
com-

preferredto

idol

been

its

been

all his extravagance, a man

it is true, underneath
and brain, who
might have resisted the Ligue

He

dire

from the Pope against

wrung
their exclusion from the succession was

which

Cond6, but
matter.
And,

strengthupon
hopelesscase.
An

broughthim

in

the half of my
moustache
snowwhen
his
at
recounting
feelings
says himself,
of the base treaty. Little he cared for the

excommunication
him

of Nemours

that it turned

acute

so

"

Guise,

on

his

idle with

side, though his forces

"

were

swelling,relied

Foreigner,"a word that covered

both the Mercenaries
and the promises of Spain. A large
proportion of his recruits were
undisciplinedshopkeepers,
and
adventurers, no
beggars
trustworthy support in times
of danger. The
Protestant allies,Navarre
and Conde, alone
maintained
a
dignified
position.
Early in 1586, Guise went to Paris and was received with an
chiefly
upon

ovation.

help from

The

town

was

the

in

state

"

!
the constant
was
religion
with religious
processions;

cry.

of mad

The

excitement.

streets

were

"

One

thronged

shiveringin their shirts ;

littlechildren with wreaths on their heads, sharingthe unwholesome
titutes
desladies chantingMisereres ;
ecstasy ; disreputable
white
and
in
from
robed
in
the provinces,
trooping
The
King
unduly exalted, singingin patoisas they walked.
His
mood
these
functions.
at
was
enjoyed officiating
good ;
he gave
did not, however,
Guise a kindly audience.
That
mean
showed his real intentions by violating
peace, and he soon
the Treaty of Nemours
from the
and tryingto wring money
Princes

"

"

357

LATER

THE

clergy.

YEARS

There

travelled

was

south

CATHERINE

OF

littledallying
with

visit him, but

to

DE'

MEDICI

and Catherine

Navarre

result.

in affairs
turn
a new
Shortlyafter,came
the
Guise.
Protestants
The
King back upon
resolved to make
stand with the King of
a signal

their head
the
an

of
professors
act

counterbalance

as

Guise
responsibility.

sovereignsaw

in the

threw

of

Europe

Denmark

they sem

co-operatewith Navarre,

it but

of the

as

unity among

of this aim

Ligue. The
King could no

formidable

which

moment

was

longershirk

also forced into the field.

was

the Head

as

the

nothing for

face of such

the moment

the

to

and

to

of

sort

some

In pursuance

to France

crucial for the Catholics

his

create

their faith.

of Mercenaries

army

and

to

attempt

an

"

without

efforts remained

her

to

foe.

make

and

He

cause

common

King figuredfor

The

his mother

Ligue,a step which

stronglycounselled.
In

the

of

autumn

III, Henri

Henri

de

la guerre des trois Henri,

Henri
The King
de Navarre.

1587 began

Guise,and

of the Avant-Garde
gave to Guise the command
and sent him againstthe Swiss and Casimir.
A second army
under Joyeuse was
despatched to fightNavarre, who routed
of France

in October, leavingJoyeuse dead upon

III had one
bad companion the less, and

the French

at Coutras

the

Henri

field.

France

rid of

was

signalone,
dined

after

been

and

he
partisans,
desire to
Civil

war

His

by

the

now

showed

human

them, he

not

at

him

that need

with

with

was

in which

he

success

room

the banners

had

that
He

acclamations.

alone

rejoicings.Cold to his
kindness to the prisoners.In his
restored some
of their flags.
even
the

all to his taste.

able to march

between
end

resounded

but for the

victorywas
triumphs of Guise, who,

was

flashed

hung

was

indifferent amid

console
was

it calmly. The

took

battle

captured, it
calm

sat

the

The

expensive scamp.

an

Navarre

but

towards
the

and

for it

was

It

moment.

after twice
Paris.

King
over,

was

and

was

superseded

routingthe

The
bound

aries,
Mercen-

fictitiouspartnership
to

come

their natural

to

an

hostility

in serious difficulties. He
again. Guise was
was
fatallycrippledby his treacherous benefactor, Spain,yet
He
not
where
else to turn
knew
for adequate support.
could/' it has been said, act neither through the Spaniard,
dination
suborwithout him," for Spain,where it helped,demanded
nor
in payment.
We have the King of Spain to thank
for our survival," wrote
the Ligueur, Villeroi,to Mayenne,
but the survival meant
political
pauperism. Guise had not
358

forth

"

"

"

THE
at his back

the Pope

did, he
terms

on

Papacy

Only

or
master;
the city which

adored

something much

like Henri's

to
open
alliance

were

him.

Both

would

measures

effected

bear

name.
a
illegal

revolution.

But

he did not

He

wanted

of war, and if he were

do it in the robes of a King.

honours

the

as

the

to

intended

instantly

to
enterprise

all the

off with

come

actingas
He

his

would

brigand,he
to
posterity

know

royal deliverer of the nation, so he tried the

legitimatemethod
Catherine

wish

mean

approach of
People would

abdication, and

Paris and the

Henri's conqueror to the Throne.
been
the easiest choice ; with them he could have
have

him

he

the King into an

might coerce
left
ignominiousthat Guise would be practically
he might achieve
a
coup d'etat and seize Paris,

so

so

own

Whatever

roads

two

of his

He

if Spain failed.

him

Head.

the

be

must

settingup

was

independence of St. Peter's.

demanded

which

he

"

LIGUE

was

on

the successful

first. Here
his side.
she

man,

he

With

her

hastened

friends with

the children of darkness.

unerring instinct

kept her,
coquettingin secret

This had

joinedhands with him, from

with Navarre
and dangling the succession
for who knew
when
she might need him ?
in

expediency ended

we

should

Guise.

upon

for

of the
the power
make
and
to
scores

before she

all her attentions

aid, for

invaluable

him

recognizedin
wipe off old

future, and

to

had

more

not

before

eyes

she

Now

And

his

what

"

trated
concen-

she

began

perhaps
something like
and
rather say, fascination.
old
She was
an
weary
whose
leaned.
had
woman
Age had
strength many
upon
In days not far from
brought her the wish to lean in her turn.
"
those of which we
le baton de
to call Guise
write, she came
in

affection

"

vieillesse."

ma

The

concessions

Ligue were

that the Duke

embodied

short of insults to the

demanded

in the Articles of

King.

The

on

behalf of the

Nancy and

establishment

little

were

of the

tion
Inquisi-

in France, the exclusion of Protestants from office,the

handing over the giftof all appointments to Guise, were some
of the conditions that he made.
refused to accept
Henri
them

; Catherine

temporized ; and, in the end, the King gave

he
would,
said, assent to these propositions
provided
that he might thenceforth disposeof the Ligue,and that Guise
in.

He

would
in

not

come

to Paris.

It is needless to add

good faith.

had
field,
the Swiss

that he

was

not

had kept him in the

Epernon, whose command
been busy corrupting
the Mercenaries and persuading
to desert the Protestant army
and joinHis Majesty's
359

THE

LATER

YEARS

Swiss in Paris.

bringthese

to

He

hired
Guise

best knew.

was

summoned

now

troops with him,

was

MEDICI .

by Henri and ordered

for what
for

the watch

on

DE'

CATHERINE

OF

the

purpose

treachery. He,

King
on

his

From
Soissons he sent word that,
side,intended to deceive.
in person to Court and proffer
in spiteof all,he would come
a
Petition for Reform
to the King. His presence, he said, was

needful in Paris to check

he knew

about

was

conspiracyof the Huguenots which

Henri

to burst.

cast.
receive him, and the die was
Guise entered Paris in
parleyings,

It
had

was

favourable

flown

to

Rumours

arms,

the

Hatred

and

for

abroad

were

massacre

moment

Catholics

for the

expectingevery
"

So

temporizeany

the

and

set

hour

that

full of them.

live

Will

some

the
it

and

to

throne.

always

in this

on

will

be

misery,

cut

one
come
your
"
not
in
earlier
the
Do
placard
year.
"
longer! it continued, or there is fear that
ran

"

by fallinginto
to the Prince
allegiance

sworn

you

going

were

upon
"

fierce.

Will

will end

you

Huguenots
Navarre

heretics burned

thus,you poor Catholics ?

throats ?

days it had been in tumult.

some

that

rejoinedthat he would not

Without
waitingfor further
disguise.
for his coming. The
city

Make

them

the
de

claws

of those
The

Beam.

feel your

who

have

city is

whole

hand, and let them

know

anger is againstthem, not againstthe King. All the

highwaymen have turned Navarrists. Their trade bringsthem
that your
in

here than it would

more

at the corner

of

some

forest. But you,

Messieurs

de Paris,who have religion

imprintedin your souls,
die
before your time rather than lingeron, as
you
do, only to prove their cruelty."

that

see

you

This is

characteristic

stuff
proselytizing

pieceof Ligue literature,and

there

abundance.

was

While

for the Feuillants from Toulouse, and "made

at Saint-Bernardin,
of the Ligue went
the Jesuits

sent

their

active form

of Catholicism.

From

of such

the

King

his retreat"
about

sowing

their

pulpits
they preachedagainstthe King no less than they preached
to the
against the Pope. They and their colleaguessaw
dissemination
of eloquent pamphlets, to
the gathering-in
of recruits. And
of these colleagues their chief agent
one
effectual than themselves.
was
more
brilliantly
This was
Madame
de Montpensier,the sister of the Due de
The Fury of the Ligue." To
Michelet calls
Guise, whom
not only a family affair led by her
her, that movement
was
of it,no picture
No account
of
brother, it was also her cause.
her
the Paris of the Ligueurs would
be complete without
own

more

"

"

360

"

THE

figure.

through her mother, Anna

Due de Nemours),she united

Italian
to the

the

practicalenergy

of

those

whom

of the Frenchwoman.

was

later to abound

touch

of

for Madame
astride her cannon,
of fierce action,besides beinga

de

Madame

Roland

with

(now

Southern

She

was

of

married
re-

fire to
the first

intrigue,in

the ancestress

of Madame

Madame

de Chevreuse

; of

Madame

Perhaps,also,of

and her schemers.

d'Este

Arachnes
:

the Frondists

Longuevilleand

de

those

women,
political

France

LIGUE

"

Roland

but

"

of
"

Demoiselle

Theroigne

Montpensierwas a woman
party-leader.With the energy
for the furthering
of the
worked
she
of a religious
revivalist,
or
by foul.
by fair means
Ligue,seekingto net in converts
Some of her methods
could only have been thought of by a
to be painted
She had, for instance,ordered a picture
woman.
of Queen Elizabeth
torturingthe Catholics, a masterpiece
of inventive diplomacy,and she set it up in the Cemetery of
called it le Tableau de Madame
Saint-Severin.
The Politiques
de Montpensier,
while
the foolish people of Paris ran
every
day to look at it,and when they had seen it they grew excited,
and
and cried out that all the wicked
Politiques
Huguenots
be destroyed." This paintinggrew to be such a source
of
must
be
removed
commands
that
to
it was
dangerthat the King gave
for
of a disturband quietly
could
ance
but as secretly
fear
as
be,
carried
it had been stealthily
and that same
summer
off from the cemetery, while its donor, undiscouraged,
cast
"

"

"

"

"

"

for fresh devices.

about

Her
like
and

not destitute of satire,have left something

adversaries,
rough portraitof her in a skit upon her reading,a supposed

catalogueof her library. It is so redolent of the Ligue

of its politicians
that it is worth reprinting.

BIBLIOTH"QUE

DE

MADAME

DE

MONTPENSIER.

The

Pot-pourriof the Affairsof France translated from the Italian into

French, by the Queen-Mother.
The Art of not believing
in God, by M. de Bourges.
The Book
of Finance.
of Ignorance,by Dr. Claude
Marcel, Intendant
Singular Treatise concerning the readiest method
of making a solid
House
in a short time ; extract
from
a
manuscript found among
the

papers

Court.
Treatise in

the

of

the

shape of

Councillor at Court
de Grande-Rue.

ConcerningHoly

late

Ambition

Messire

paradox

without

"

which

Pierre

"

to

Seguier,

wit, that

knowing anything

one

can

at

all,

be

by

is comformable to the sacred

36l

of

the

made

President

Monsieur

canons

and

THE

LATER

decrees

YEARS
Catholic

the

of

OF

Advocate

CATHERINE

Church,

the

by

MEDIC "CI

DE'

Master

Antoine

Seguier,

Court

; recently printed in Paris, at the

King's
the
of
Catholic."
Sign
English
Masque of the great Hypocrite of Paris, shown up with his devotions

at

"

The

"

practisedby the Ligue.

The Minute
of the Contract which
de Guise, by the which
he is
as

the Cardinal
Heir

to

of the

de

Bourbon,
the Crown, extracted

the
to

King

is

give up

First

Prince

from

going to

his Realm

of

deliver to the Due

into the hands

the Blood

the secret Archives

and

of

Indirect

and

Registers

Ligue.
in

Published
where

Paris

and

at

the

Court,

the

that

such
corruption was
calumny and slander
taken

were

for

virtue.
In

October,

1587.

Montpensierherself probably enjoyed the jest.

Frenchmen
before they were
Huguenots and Catholics were
sectarians,and the squib is of pure French birth. Rabelais,
Moliere, Voltaire,would not have despisedit.
in Paris,
was
now
Nor, probably, did Montaigne. He
The
he
said
Guises/
sardonically,
watching proceedings.
is
the
Protestant."
It
are
hardly a
hardly Catholics,
King
de

Madame

"

'

"

to hit the nail upon

like him

was

seethingconfusion
the

the head.

The

secret

of the

the absence

was

pretence of such

of any conviction anywhere,

conviction
the
everywhere. Beneath

much
a wolf, nor
so
as
a
sheep'sclothingthere was not even
when
Revolution
has no
false belief only negation. And
central point,rightor wrong, round which to eddy, it spells
chaos.
The Ligue was
but a bundle of paradoxestied together
It
ambitious
man.
by falsehood,for the interests of an
of religion
fought for greed and power under the name
; for
of democracy ; for the tyranny of
the Nobles under the name
"

in the

man,

one

againsta bad and

and cunning. It
and
it

brought

Paradox

Ligue
She

was,
sown

freedom

King,but

awoke

excitement

final

untruth

"

had

the

foolish

discord

sowed

of

name

"

without

It made

of many.

its weapons

instead

selfishness

were

of

enthusiasm,

bestowing unity. To
Nemesis : it separatedher from
to no
intrigue sordid means
"

Catherine
her
end

indeed, the natural harvest of Catherine's

in dust, she reaped the whirlwind.

362

son.
"

the

reign.

XX

CHAPTER

The

Guise

THEN

TT

VV

but

change

his

him

made

caused

was

of

Is he

god

regretting
projects ?

that

afford.

He

can

and
in

the

his

His
was

so

that

them

brooding
only a young
could

he

do

The

by

and

over

as

thing,
any-

people
and

rags

his

manners

their

distinguished by

were

writes

have.

to

unestranged

with

otherwise

contempt.

because,

hands

still

used

such

bred

never

glamour
Guise,"

Is he

of himself

sure

de

two

But

than

he

were

him,

class

gaiety

It

other."

old

Due

is missed

goal

shook

own

the

manners

the

increased
"The

lost

familiarity

always

his

with

his

adored

streets

dirt, he

has

envoy,

and

rather

was

"

"

new

charm

only

them.

presented

the

the

at

The

below

he

with

weeping

lazy melancholy.

Florentine

the

It

that

so

white

fire.

just

scar

between

was

turned

youthful

the

eye,

Revolution

1588, he

had

with

tears,

personal

him.

air

his

by

one

his

affected

about

hung

hair

by

to

prone

very

aspects, smiling with

nothing

Paris, in May,

forty. His
glowed
eyes

them

in

entered

the

and

Guise

and

thirty

temples,
"

de

Due

fastidious

fineness.
He

by five
but

his

man

lady

and

But

no

Queen

there

the
one

The

day,
would

-Mother,

appearance

down

"

here

in

In

you
the

shouts

were

mob

he

got

to

escape

attended

cloak

beneath

in

lost

crowd,

the
A

notice.

when
have
and

Guise
dared
the

Rue
of

We

round

to

this

story

thus

evidently

Paris.

365

incident

boldly

as

to

in the

belongs

the
le

Vive

Catherine

us

"

General

they

from

Prince,"

and

him;

accompanied
speak

saved."

Guise

Vive

records

to

are

Saint-Honore\
"

young

cloak, lifted his hat

his

are

pressed

historian

contemporary
in

known

him,

smile,

"

del'Eglise!
A

well

followed.

Saint-Denis,

later

Purposely

too

in

muffled

only

recognition

face

secrecy,

"

the

on

his

great

pulled
cried :
yourself
Monseigneur, show
of
took
her
mask
Bon
off
a
:
steps
shop
to

up

she said with

hat.

figure was

head,

with

town

horsemen,

slouched

came

his

six

or

large

the

into

came

Rue

pilier

kissed

his

happening
the

Louvre.

presence
Guise's
to

of the

first

THE

LATER

YEARS

boots, they rubbed

them

he

"

without
should

the

and
been

The

at

the
once

see

Henri's

ear

might

Hotel

DE'

againsthim
But

to

emotion.

the

Queen-Mother.

He

and

Ridden

fatal.

consecrate

had
had

onlj
com(

of his arriva.

if any rumour
Guise
before
had made

be

MEDICI

Guise

was

King's consent,

reach

reached

; all

must

the result

CATHERINE

their rosaries

; flowers rained

object

one

OF

his

tions,
explana-

by vague

fear he

de

Soissons, close by the Halle-aux-bles,

sought Catherine,who was stayingthere. She had

writingletters
first person

to

prevent his

to catch

sightof

return

had been

him

he walked

when

her dwarf

in.
who

his approach.
standing at the window, and announced
The
Queen-Mother ordered the dwarf to be whipped for
her tone
tellinglies,but in another moment
changed. She
turned pale and trembled from head to foot. Did she take
him
for one
of her ill-starred visions ? For his trepidation
ing
equalledhers. His face,too, had lost its colour,his failstammered.
When
his
he regained
speech, he
tongue
poured forth lame apologies.He was forced, he said,to come
in quest of her.
She must
her influence with the King
use
was

and

make

him

listen to the counsels

greatestimportance that he should

his

of his
She
her

at

course

coming, and

was
on

in

accompanied him

crucial conversation,-which
Catherine's message
had

nerves.

had

agitation
;
to

leaninghis
"

time

no

change
warning Henri
to the Louvre.

"

of violent
and

she herself

lost

of the

followed
carried thither in her chair, and the Duke
foot. The King was
in his Privy Closet
he had just

finished
his

Catherine

once.

of Guise ; it was
do so and should

support

when

upon

not

the

served
him

thrown

heard

he

himself

had

calm

into a state
he tottered

news,

table.

to

He

sat

down,

upon it,and covered his face with his hands.

de Guise has come,
although I told him not to,"

elbow

Monsieur

"

If you were
in my
place and had given him these orders, and if he had
would
do ?
taken
what
notice of them, tell me,
no
you
"
to me
there is but
Sire,"repliedthe gentleman, it seems
he exclaimed

to

courtier who

was

with

him.

"

"

do you hold M. de Guise to be your friend,

?
The King was
or
silent,but he made a gesyour enemy
ture
"
resumed
which expressedall that he thought.
Sire,"
his adviser, I think that I see the decision you should come
one

word

I need

ask

"

"

"

If you will honour

me
by givingme this charge,I will,
without
causing you any further trouble, this day lay his
head at your feet. Not a soul shall give a signof disturbance.
in your
I pledgemy life and honour
it and I put them
upon

to.

366

'v+m"mli

da

4 f^f4MMi

7"in

Ii:nki

e"/+/*,"

"t\iJt

*m

Due

Lorraine,

de

Dbssim

"""

.orr^-5^^.

de

PRE.

I'KAN^AISE.
From

photograph

by

A.

Gi

ran

Jon

Guise.

THE

DUC
'

hands.'

But

the

meant

AND

refused

King

of his friends at

several
death

GUISE

DE

and

insurrection

an

he

"

afraid, and

was

Court,

the

REVOLUTION

THE

who

their

knew

were

so

Guise's

that

probable destruction.

Guise and Catherine

when
advisingmoderation
entered.
At their approach the King had left his closet, and
still pale and unGuise was
to a more
moved
strung.
publicroom.
He had passedup the palacestairs between
of
two
rows
naked
and
swords, and his princelybows
greetingsin the

They

were

had been

antechamber

in, he made
usual."

as

altered

come

you

to His

ominous

an

"

Majesty,

King's face, as he
showed
signs of angry

"

he

asked

but

was

at

resolution.

curtly; then

As he

silence.

looked

The
it

low bow

by

met

not

so

have

Why

himself

addressed

he

seemed

him,
"

came

assured

to

"

Were
not charged
standingby.
you
?
he began but Bellievre
broke in at this point
to say
and attemptedto explain.The King cut him short.
Enough!"
Guise.
he said,and, wheelinground, he turned his back upon
the Duke
Terror overcame
allynear, and
; he had not a single
How
he was surrounded
could he tell that he was
by enemies.
that the next moment
not caught in a death-trap,
might not
be his last ? A prey to his emotions, he forgotthe royalpresence

Bellievre

who

was

"

"

...

"

and

sank

him.
coffer that was
a
near
upon
of
lost control
his feelings
that he

down

be

King had so much

capable of any

rashness.

knew, would

mortal

mean

Coollyshe

senses.

d'Uzes

who

was

"

her

"

to

and

she

showed

bringhim

must

the window

"

him

possessed him
it, seized

the

It

was

good object

the excited

in his turn, and

moment

and

the

took

lesson.

to

his

Madame

she and

which, eagerlypressingafter Guise, had surged into the

below.

might

action, Catherine

reckless

danger

took him

with

But

The

rabble
yard
court-

Sudden

fear

quick to perceive
leaving
departure

Duke,
his

the

"

"

Queen-Mother to do the rest," says old Estoile in

Diary. "Nor would she let the King alone until she had
in
still smouldered
him, although resentment

his
peased
ap-

his

heart."
Guise

adopted every precaution. Collectingall his

followers and every Ligueurhe could lay hands on, he hastened
to take arms
and to make
himself safe in his Hotel.
By May 10,
he

was

now

master

of the

situation,and, in very

from

different fashion

who
the last time, attended by four hundred
were
men
all of them armed
below their coats, he went
to pay his respects
to the King. He
attended His Majesty at Mass, and then
of the
returned
in triumph, amid
home
the acclamations

367

THE

YEARS

LATER

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

dininghe went to see Catherine,and while he

with her the King came
in. Alarmed
was
by Guise's escort
of the morning, he now
showed
the white feather, justifying
himself for all he had done and abusing no
but
one
the
he
all
in
Paris.
said,
over
Foreigners.' They were,
hiding
Guise blandlyoffered to helpHis Majesty to drive them away.
Henri felt the sting and lost his temper like a disappointed
child.
the spiritof Paris !
I will break
he cried.
The
interview did not bring a solution.
Unhappily for himself,
people.

After

"

'

"

"

let his

Henri

him, and

anger govern
rejecthis mother's counsels

Swiss, in the

The

and

took

his

act

upon
Epernon,had

charge of

this

moment

to

initiative.

own

not
into
yet come
their entry at this moment,
when
the arrival of so considerable a force would look as if he feared
to challenge
them to civil war.
his people as if he meant
The

chose

He

Paris.

order

to

"

Queen-Mother

fathomed

the

follyof

his

action ; she
knew
match
set to tow;

of the Swiss was

as
that the appearance
a
but her persuasions
were
powerlessagainstthe
fears were
Her
immediately fulfilled.
had

what

knew

summoned

had
the

happened, a
the Swiss

would

massacre

pillaged.There

be

the whole
late

too

"

Guise

the revolution

had

had

He

King.
begun.

one

five o'clock in the

of the Sixteen

morning

gentleman'shouse,

as

the

of

May

if in

"

that

citywould

students, and

his fatal blunder

saw

himself

well and

laid the scheme

was

day

and

serious revolt of the

the

It
this

was

the chief Catholics

place next

deserted

town

got abroad

rumour

to butcher

take

acy.
King's obstinDirectly Paris
that the King

remained

visible.
in-

gave the signal. At

out from
ran
12, three men
who

"

haste, shouting To

"

arms

o'clock, the ecclesiastical quarter, with its churches

barricaded.
in a state
The streets were
and seminaries, was
with the clangof swords, the noise
of turmoil ; they resounded
At

nine

of his
footsteps.Guise appeared at the window
Hotel, the pictureof nonchalance, in a white summer
neglige^
!
done
?
he
Eh
pretended.
only half-awake, as
que fait-on
of nothingthat was
if he knew
he asked carelessly,
as
ing.
happenthe whole day at the window, watching the
He remained

of hurried

"

"

crowd.

His work

masterlymanoeuvre
in between
news
crown

could

had

all been

by which

the barricades

without

before

any

of this catastrophe
plunged Henri
slippingfrom his hand ; it was
save

him, and he had

to

and

its result was

hemmed
the King's troops were
done

chance
in

368

despair. He

only

ignorethe

of escape.

his worst

saw

The
his

foe who

fact that that foe

was

THE

stop

YEARS

LATER
the

he would

rebels,or

CATHERINE

OF

DE'
"

lose Paris.

his countenance, the which

sad," repliedthat if the people would
to do
destroythe barricades,he was willing
for fresh
remedies
she

day

ten

useless.

were

she would

energy,

she set out

"

to remove

despair

such

"

That

that the time

to keep her
struggle
quailbefore danger. With

Hotel

and

arms

did not deceive herself

; she knew

for the

ing
exceed-

his orders

mortal

But she did not

the throne.

lay
anything

officials departed in

Catherine

have

down

Paris, to countermand

wept all through dinner

when

come

of

leaguesout
regiments. The

troops

King, endea*

The

had become

vouringto calm

his

MEDICI

de Guise.

had

power and
able
indomit-

The

streets

fraughtwith the perilsof war and blocked by barricades.

would hardly let her litter pass.
When
Those who kept them
at last she stood before Guise, she put off her pride. She
entreated him to quench the fire he had lightedand to come
his while.
it worth
and see the King, who would make
But
cerely
the Duke, with a very cold manner,
repliedthat he was sinthe mob was
a questionof the mob, and
a
sorry ; it was
hard to restrain. As for
herd of enraged bulls whom
it was
going to the King, the Louvre was a place to inspirestrange
of mind
in him to go
be great weakness
suspicions
; it would
were

"

there

and

put himself, defenceless,in undress,

of his enemies."
cool-headed

Catherine

Duke

returned

the mercy
baffled,and the

home

at

city,which was hourly

his forces, took
wrought-up, and, collecting
went

forth into the

becoming more
of the Hotel de Ville and the Arsenal.
possession
not
idle ; she was
His despotically,Spain, was
working
her
and
the
the
monks,
barricadingof
urging
through
agents,
What
the Louvre.
Philiphoped for was the murder of the
in his palace,and thus for a
King, more
easilypracticable
freer field for himself.

With

Guise he had

no

There

doubt

he

could

dangerous
University
mutteringsamong the students of the Jesuit-ridden
mutterings,
they would go and fetch
waxing ever louder, that
Henri
from the Louvre
for
which were
Brother
auspicious
blind
But Philip,self-confident as ever, was
the Escurial.
deal when

the

right moment

came.

were

"

"

"

"

to the real obstacle

to

the

assassination.

Guise

did not

wish

it,it did not tallywith his interests ; he must have the people
at his back, and, although they hated their sovereign,
regicide
As longas the flimsy King was
stilla crime in their eyes.
alive,Guise himself was
King of Paris, and beyond it ; if the
was

killed by his connivance, he would lose both prestige

"
be the mere
And he would
valet of Spain" a
power.

King
and

were

"

370

THE

DUG

AND

GUISE

DE

THE

REVOLUTION

But
the
weigh least in his counsels.
Louvre
without murder ; such a project
could be besieged
only
furthered
his designs.
His purpose
was
helped by a blunder of Catherine's. She
and the Parlement, wishingto conciliate Paris,persuadedHenri
his extra
to send
was
troops from the palace,which
away
thus left inadequatelyguarded against the forces that sat
down
before it. On
May 13, Guise and his men
began to
barricade the doors of the Louvre.
reinforced by
They were
hundred
and three or four hundred
some
seven
undergraduates,
monks
from "all the monasteries," led by the popular preachers
and
the Comte
de Brissac, their Colonel; and all inspired,
as
over
they marched in unruly order through alleys,
bridges,
reason

which

by

cry

did not

"

one

We

Brother

will have

the

They worked

Henri."

populace to fresh fury it seethed and swayed and

the palace; Madame
roared round
de Montpensierpatrolled
them
the streets, inciting
still further ; the tocsin sounded
;
up

all

"

confusion.

was

of
let them

whole

scene

that

Every

they

door

was

it were,

as

was,

shadowing
fore-

Guise
years later.
had
the
their way ; he dominated
his
commands, exceptguarded by
ing
hundred

another, nearly two

think

situation.

The

the Tuileries
most
a deliberate
one, the door towards
likely
of escape.
He
omission
to give the King a chance
not
was
slow to take it. At five o'clock that evening,he walked
from
"

the Louvre

ride.
with

to the

There
a

he cried
in

and
1

time

does
"

de

the

have

we

mounts

part,

work
againstthe stone-

wife."

own

his

on

boots

short

lam

But

not

them.

rest

remained

he raised

yoke

Of

she had

behind.

his head

is off !

the

"

and

Then

of

One
for

him

excursion.
visit

goingto

longerjourneybefore us." Such of his

followed
his example, hurrying off just
Due

they were, unbooted and in heavy court clothes. The

de Biron, the Chancellor,
Montpensier,the Marechal

among

"

together. Once

his horse.

if for
M

ordinary

Oh, ungrateful
city!

"

prepared to get upon

kneeling to draw

an

in his

down

Leaning

into tears.

spurs, as
matter," said Henri,

not

my mistress
friends as had
as

broke

loved you
better than my
to lose and he pulledhimself

carefullyreversed

That

if for

as

I have

"

his stable, he
courtiers was

his

emotion.

palace,he burst

"

no

he

when

moment

kind of dramatic

of his

he had

was

Tuileries,
whip in hand,

followed

others, some
As

soon

shook

as

he

it,with

was
"

solemnly he cursed

been, he cried,

"

and
perfidious
37i

on

were

foot and

the

outside
God

the walls,
be praised,
the

his town

of Paris

ungrateful."

"

He

THE

LATER

would

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

to her

again,exceptingby a breach in her

In an instant he was
walls."
Come along
laughingaloud.
d la bonne heure !
Sainthe cried,and they rode off towards
return

never

"

"

"

Cloud.
He

had

taken

care

to

put Catherine

He

off the scent.

had

and to
her to go out that afternoon
to find the Duke
back in
try and pacifythe rebels. But at six o'clock she was
her own
She
was
one
sitting there when
apartments.

begged

Menneville, a friend of the Due de Guise, came

up to her.
There
f The
King has gone/' he whispered in her ear.
silent
consternation.
Not
was
long after, a messenger
arrived
her

to

mother

for
of
who

He sent word
Queen Louise from her husband.
his departure,and she, the one
being beside his
loved him, broke down, weeping, and would
not

consoled.

be

"

King sleptthat night, tout botte,"at Rambouillet, and

His Guard
next
and some
went
on
day, the 14th, to Chartres.
he felt secure.
He was
of his Swiss had joinedhim, and now
soon
boasting of his cleverness in escapingfrom Paris as
his customary puerCracow.
he had escaped from
With
ility
he was
did he recognor
only thinkingof the moment,
nize
he
he
done.
had
When
the true
import of what
committed
the abject blunder of fleeingfrom
Paris, he had
his prerogative.The
abdicated
Crown
still
was
practically
his no
Guise
his head, but real authoritywas
more.
upon
the people's
was
King for the hour, and, afar off, Navarre was
of the
When
the news
Day of the
cheerfully
watchingevents.
from the stately
Barricades
taken to him, he rose
was
green
not
bed on which he was
have
yet caught
reposing. They
le Bearnais," he said gaily. Le Bearnais
was
awaiting his
have
he would
not
and he knew
long to wait.
opportunity,
not
For although Guise's triumph seemed
complete,it was
The

"

"

"

of the sort
two

Henris

endures.

that

had

King, because

both
he

had

It

played the
not

said at the time

was

had

ass

the

to

that

the
perfection,

courage

to

"

the
the

one,

carry out what

past, on the Day

he had undertaken, although,tilleleven, and

of the Barricades, he had means
and leisure to do

so

; and

the

because he allowed the wild beast which he had in

(Guise)
He
the nets to escape." The criticism of Guise was
a justone.
has
Who
be Caesar or nothing,"said old Estoile.
must
;
drunk
of the wine of the gods must
never
once
acknowledge
himself mortal."
But Guise had not the strengthto drink the
he detested
At heart a superb aristocrat,
whole of the cup.
other

"

"

372

THE

DUC

DE

GUISE

the ways

of the mob

purpose

and

"

disgustweakened

his

REVOLUTION

tools that

those

"

THE

AND

his powers

But

of endurance

capitulated.He
the

and

the

lost

Provost

next

28, the Commune

was

de Ville.

no

It meant

brigands,and
Leclerc,

Guise

be

to

Bastille

The

success.

fillit,

first. The

police

the

was

conqueror'shands, and he
the reigningofficials. The
turn
out
a provisional
government, and on May
in the

now

instituted
than

more

by

Council

the

Hotel

of ministerial

association

an

at

lawyer, Bussy
appointed a disreputable
Governor

the

circumstances,it

counted, and

findingprisonersto

of the Merchants

supplieswere
strong enough to
thingwas to form

was

in

his

he been

sufficed him.

have

time

no

have

not

present all promised him

at

and

would

using for

was

his patience. Had

Caesar, his personal distastes would

he

Bastille.

of the

Under

these

of the next
surprisingthat one
prisonersshould be Montaigne arrested on a suspicionof
Royalism. He was quickly released,at Catherine's demand,
but the incident shows
the generalinsecurity.The
Queennot

was

"

Mother

also asked
"

Merchants.
he

for the

If it

the

hand

his

own

myselfto

and

fetch him

of the
"

Guise

pleaseyou, Madam,"

out, I will go

come

Provost

of the

deliverance

replied, that
will lead him by

into your presence ; but he is safer there than in

house."
Insults were
heaped upon officials. The
of the

Jesuitsagainstthe Court waxed bolder, and

encouraged by the fear that they inspired,they dared to
preach againstpersonages present. Cruelty alternated with
high spirits. Valet a louer," was|what the rioters wrote
the King's Advocate
was
upon the door of the house where
and althoughit was
lodging,
repeatedlyrubbed out, they took
the pains each time to re-write it. Squibs, lampoons, and
sermons

"

ballads

poured forth all coarse, and

furorewas complete. Fanatics
motive

every
there
It
On

"

pervaded

"

some

"

brilliant ; the

versal
uni-

of every sort and from

desire for martyrdom
greed,ambition, hysterical

purlieu. There

every

were

monks

in armour,

great ladies in undress.

were
was

May

for the arrival of the Guise

moment
fitting

family.

children, in the company

of her brother-in-law,
the Due
d'Elbceuf, and their ally,the
Cardinal de Bourbon, appeared in Paris, and although they
did not stay there, their coming did not serve
the
to calm
crowd.
"

15, the Duchess

Still less

In these

contente

so

days,"runs

did
an

merveille,was

and

her

the

militant

old

373

lady

of

Madame

de

to dissemble

the

record,

unable

"

Montpensier.
Montpensier,

joy that

was

THE

LATER

YEARS

imprintedupon
And

she

came,

Montmorency
puttingaside

all the

respect which

of this

reproved

Madame

whose

MEDICI

her.

big

more

even

is customarilyshown

to the

the which

Queen-

quality. For
"

she answered

hearts

and

DE'

upon her heart.

out of pure bravado, to lodge in the Hotel de
of the Guises' bitterest enemies),
(the home

Mother

"

CATHERINE

her countenance

of Nobles

nouses

OF

What
"

"

am

would

the

have

you

do,

me

soldiers

onlylike those brave

'

with

victory.'
Had
she, the fanatic, led affairs,perhaps they would have
Guise was
no
fanatic,but a cynic,although
gone differently.
and ambition
hid the fact. His disgustof the popuromance
lace
the less because, even
then, in the
began to tell,none
of success, there were
moment
scattered signs of a Royalist
All his aims and energieshenceforth
reaction.
centred upon
hold
of
made
to him
the King. Approaches were
at
getting
and
and
out
barefoot
set
thirtyCapucins
Flagellants
once,
the
from Paris to Chartres, headed
by a converted worldling,
In
brother of Joyeuse,who carried the Cross in his hand.
this costume," had said the Ligueurs, the King will be forced
The
to receive us ; he cannot
shut his door against us."
into the city,chanting,
masquerading penitents marched
while the people of Chartres poured forth,agape to see them,
'"1
and
more
some
some
admiring
mocking
many
before Henri,
offended."
Not without cause.
When
they came
a
new
they acted
Mystery for his benefit,so profanethat
because
it illustrates the general
it is only worth
recalling
personat
of men's notions.
The brother of Joyeuse imtopsy-turviness
the Crucified,entering
the royalpresence as if bowed
are

"

"

"

down

by

head.

He

"

great cardboard
surrounded

was

cross,

by

the

of thorns

crown

Roman

upon

his

soldiers,
wearing

and while they

and suits of rusty armour,
saucepans
rolled their eyes in crude melodrama, the Holy Women, played
selves.
by two Capucin monks, wept, prayed and prostratedthemfor helmets

There
fell

down,

was

followed

The
Flagellation.
again and this was

lifted up
It was
meant

performance.
had
Flagellation
win his pardon.
the
the Apostles,

"

to

convey

to

figure

central

the

the end

Henri

that

of the
as

this

likewise

been

the Ligueursmight
so
forgiven,
perhaps,to be expectedthat one of
President Neuilly,
was
a spy, who
proceeded
him.
This
work
Chartres
to
gentleman,it seems
against
up
of
had the valuable giftof shedding tears at will. At one
Henri's interviews with the Ligueurs,he harangued the King,
like a calf,"
he began to cry
and, stirred by his own
eloquence,
It was,

"

374

THE

DUC

GUISE

DE

excusing himself

for

AND

THE

had

what

REVOLUTION
"

happened.

He \ fool that
think
if
I
said
do
that
had
wished to do
are,"
Henri,
you
a bad
turn, I could not have done it ?
No, no, I love the
"

you
you

people of Paris,in spiteof themselves."

by

his

bluster,and

Guise did not

the

to

mean

But

grotesque embassy
stop tillhe got

no

one

duped

was

returned

fied.
unsatis-

at least the Lieutenant-

Generalship. With the help of the Queen-Mother he had at

subjugatedthe Parlement, which had hitherto opposed him,
and
it was
not
long before he sent a second deputationto

last

Chartres.

The

he
fine words, and
promised to[summon the States-General,but the Ligue wanted
than

more

King

this.

them

gave

many

They had, they averred, barricaded the capital

Catholic Faith, and now
logne,
Bouthey demanded

in defence of the

Metz, and Angouleme. It was

refuse their conditions,and Epernon

Epernon
worse

was

wished

who

hated

to

the

than
"

The
King. A pamphlet was
publishedagainsthim called
Historyof Pierre Gaveston," which drew a threatening
parallel
the
of
IPs favourite and
the destiny
between
fate
Edward
A
when
that would
be
his.
crisis came
a
probably one day
Catherine's
drove of mules, richly
covered with trappings
bearing
in
of
her
was
stopped, spite
passport,at the Porte
monogram,
the coverings were
lifted,the
as
Saint-Jacques. As soon
animals were
found to be laden with Epernon's furniture and
turned
The
mules
were
silver,no longer safe in his house.
and their precious freight
taken
homewards
to the Hotel
was
hot to hold the ex-Mignon. In due
time, helped by Navarre, he escaped,deserted by his craven
afraid
friend,the King, who was livingin a state of panic,now
de Ville.

Paris

too

grew

friends,now
Epernon and his own
revertingto his dread of
Spain. On July 10, he gave his last chance away and signed
the Acte d' Union
at Rouen, a pact with the Ligue by which
out
he yielded everythingto them.
No office could be held withof

"

and

the

kingdom

succession

be

to

was

Mayenne,

was

there

to

other

brothers.

compact

This

the candidate's

and

bishop,or

Pope.
was

to

The

his

cure\

Protestant
Commander-

be

and his brother,

the heir to the crown,
force againstthe Protestants, while
a

general distribution

Epernon
was

to the

renounced, Guise

lead

to

be

from

to submit

was

in-chief of the army

was

"

attestation

an

embodied

was

to

in the Traite

being practicallysynonymous.
375

of honours
be

among

disgraced,and

de Rouen

"

the two

his

the

ments
docu-

YEARS

LATER

THE

States-General
even

demur.

further
to

the

Henri,

CATHERINE
To

MEDICI

this

Treaty, perfidious
royal
making
in
the
that,
return,
Ligue promised
the Foreigner,"but the promise
set his

he

It is true

seal without

"

of lies and

hollowest

DE'

convoked.

alliance with

renounce

was

be

to

were

for

OF

no

who

one

made

it dreamed

of

keepingit.
Catherine

in

was

overwhelmed

her.

despair. For

Her

her

once

troubles

had

yond
bewas
failing
; her son
Her
her reach.
to keep the succession in
her hands, through the claims of her grandson of Lorraine,
to nought ; the Valois
had come
dynasty, the objectof her
and sacrifices,
dreams
was
totteringbefore her eyes, and she
her feet entangledin the meshes
of the
was
caught,helpless,
her weariness and cares
she
Ligue. When
grew too crushing,
outside the citygates
would bid her Swiss carry her
Chair

powers were
last attempt

"

and

put her down

of ten

awhile

"

in the green

years earlier would

not

meadows.
turned

have

The
to

rine
Cathefor

Nature

refreshment.

breathingspace, however, was allowed her. All her

endeavours
from Paris to change the mind of her absent son were
off to find him at Mantes,
and on July 23, she went
fruitless,
where he happened to be stayingat the moment.
Here, charged
his
back to
by Guise to do so, she begged that he would come
good town of Paris/' But she only got a blank refusal and,
Three days later she started forth
the 27th, she returned.
on
again, this time with Guise and eighty horse to back her,
togetherwith the Cardinal de Bourbon, and his archers in
other grandees
with gold. There were
crimson velvet trimmed
No

real

"

besides, but

all their efforts

were

When

useless.

Catherine

appealedto the King, he repliedthat he would grant her any

other thing she wished
for, but that this was
impossibleand
she must
from
cease
asking for it.
Whereupon, having
"

recourse

spoke

to
unto

say of me,
whom
God

tears, the which

him.
and

made

'

Oh, my

what

your
that
Is it possible
you

will

always had at command, she

son/ quoth she, what will people
they think when they see that I,
she

'

mother,

count

for

so

little with

you

suddenly changed your nature ?

Of old, you had a good disposition,
generous and very quick
to pardon/
Quite true, Madame/
rejoinedthe King,
lightly
It is that wicked
I help it ?
in the world
but how
can
my
Epernon (and here he laughed) who has ruined
of
she
out
And
could
this
all
was
get
good disposition/
have

'

'

him/'

376

THE

YEARS

LATER
his

Navarre, and
matters

been

the

CATHERINE

resources

otherwise, the
France.
What

reigned
case
belongsto
over

material

OF

House
would

DE'

were

of

insufficient.

Lorraine

have

might
happened in

might-have-beensof History.

378

MEDICI
Had
have
that

XXI

CHAPTER

de
of
Murder
The

Henri,

Due

Guise

XXI

CHAPTER

The

Queen-Mother

THE

And

public troubles,
bad

not

The
her

her

she

as

knew,

were

conduct

of

humiliation.

acute

from

had

was

As

by

past.
her

if

they
tresses.
dis-

private
had

Navarre

of

the
over,

ended.

assailed

Queen

Three

Ligue

not

been

the

of

means

no

the

Guise

vitality
amazing
fall asleep while

to

by

were

risk

she

Her

known

even

cares

enough,

de

Due

out.

worn

was

immediate

the

Although
were

she

"

writing.

was

Henri,

was

flagging

was

she

of

Murder

caused

since, in 1585, Marguerite

years

affairs
their
life
made
love
Her
again left her husband.
increased
the
difficulty was
by her
together impossible, and
the
of
continued
choice
attendants,
as
disreputable ladies
mercurial
of no
the
cause
pair.
infrequent quarrels between
for
Bent
herself, she
an
independent
position
making
upon
the
fortified
retired to her own
dominion,
city of Agen.
names
nickHe
had
Henri
remained
perfectly good-tempered.
had

for
"

the

himself

Lady

these

with
is

jests
"

accustomed

any

is not
"

to

written
of

for

he

Margot

There

apparent.

Salmon,"

Comtesse
that

be

de

It

women.

of

tone

is

his

at

letters

is

of

his

of

or

ciliation.
recon"

part

no

of

reason

malice,

soldiers,

like

the

efforts

covert

and

himself,

for

but

"

were

with

says,

five

hundred

inebriety.

about

wine-bibbing

! the

her
'

give

to

me

for

wine

; and

as

for

fear

she

not

their
do

to

Margot

What

of Tarvasset

much,"

381

'

never

wrote
a

port,
pass-

enjoyment
it stands

declaration
from

the

piece of
half
managed

outrageous

an

he

her

thus

tumble

should

"

her

paying duty
good as a parchment

saddle.

Queen

of

camels,'

the

ask

to

barrels

It is

refused,
of

"

without

paper.

of

Lady

the

Grammont,

got through

in the

'

from

came

perilous height

as

camels

"

Salmon

"

dealing with
to
yield honourably
displeasure." The

man

so

might

not

"

wife

respectful.

the

the

his

to

business
them

and

LATER

THE

Agen

OF

discovered

soon

usual,

YEARS

firebrand

CATHERINE

the nature

DE'

MEDICI

of its mistress.

She

was

in the

place; she was

poor, with n(
wring money from her sub
The
that
was
jects.
they rose and drove he
consequence
out
of the city. She was
obligedto flee suddenly by th"
back door of the citadel,"and to gallopoff hastily en croupe.'
But she did not forget,"adds her secretary, to take he
best ringswith her, nor
de Duras, who
alsc
yet her Madame
departedin the saddle." And while they rode off insecurity
her faithful followers fought the citizens and many
gave theii
as

settled

pension,and

she tried to

"

"

"

"

lives for her sake.

This

was

she could

to

in October, 1587, and she made

her way as besl
But
her mother's house at Ivry.
Catherine, ir

her anger, refused to treat her as a guest,and

Margueriteplayed the injuredwoman.

took her

prisoner

"

It was," she writes, " on

her assurance,
by her orders
that I took refugewith her, and instead of the good treatment

expected, I only
She
into the
brought me
out of it. But patience!
For me
these
poignant.
almost beside myself !
am
I

found
world

"

shame
she

wants

Catherine's

"

and

The

hunt

to

is

exclamation

tribulations

"

annihilation

are

words

so

are

mt

mon

great that 1
from

wrung

hei

heart.
Still a

Margot
prisoner,

Chateau
and

she

Her

Usson.

at

escort

was

characteristically
avenged
him

her

and

lover

her husband's

brought to

was

strong

Marquis de Cavillac,
him by first
herself upon
the

dismissinghim ignominiously
This did not help matters, and her husband
from the house.
did not mitigateher confinement.
It was
that Marguerite
now
her true
showed
strength of character. Finding resistance
making

useless,she made
of her

mistress

as

down
In

to

life of
leisurely
husband's

her

doingshad
He

succeeded

now

sour,

and

waiting,"he
that

some

mood,

"

be

not

heroine.

Her

upsettinghis unconqueredequanimity.
temper ; his eyes flashed,his gay speech
his

even

exclaimed,
has

one

"

sarcasm

grew
for the hour

sent

some

one

violent.

"

only
get the

am

when

I shall

to

stranglethe

That, together with

the

late

of her
full
with
a
his altered

death

sing the Song of Simeon

When
Catherine
reproached him with
"it is true that the thwartings
he replied,
Madame,"

mother, will make

heart."

could

study.

in

of Navarre.

Queen

solitude and
she

eyes

easilylost his

turned

news

situation,asserted herself
free and impregnablefortress,"and settled
of her

best

the
"

then

me

382

MURDER

THE

and ill-treatment
and

made

OF

to which

HENRI,
have

you

DUC

GUISE

subjectedme

I had

lose what

DE

by

have

changed
thought

nature."

The
of
his
succession,
not
wife, was
thought
"
I know
unconnected
with his bitterness.
he can
what
do
he cannot
what
do," he said,speaking of the
and, better still,
me

me

of the

well

as

the

as

King.

They

were

with

cope
The

hostile words, and he was

no
easy adversaryto
when
he arrived at Blois for the States-General.

Queen-Mother was lodgingjust below her son, so that she

his actions and
his
might keep a close watch
upon
upon
how
did
not
She
realize
far he had got from
very footsteps.
her controlling
hand.
He had begun by readinghis despatches
he had come
alone
to doing most
thingswithout her help.
shut her out of his Council.
He had even
Every day must
and
have borne
the fact more
strongly
cruellyin upon her,
her
and it drove
the more
urgently into intimacy with
Guise.
He
had
arrived in Blois and, constantlycloseted
"

counsels.

in her secret
with her, he was
the relations of partieshad

if

As matters

changed, and

truthfullywritten, would

programme,
Catherine
and

as

Ligue againstthe King."

With regard to Spain,too, the ground

now,

their
"

stood

have

stood

the

had

resented

Guise's

with

compact

renouncingforeignalliances belied
He

took

leaf out

separate agreement
send
in

It

him

with

of the
Henri

help.
July ; by September, his
was

sovereign.The
meant,

had

Duke's

III, by

forces

left him

French

Philip

The

article

treaty with
book

which

and

crushed

self.
him-

made

he

promised
pledgewas given

needed

were
a

shifted.

Henri.

Guise's

fulfilled. The

never

the defeat of the Armada

had

to

elsewhere, and
a

man,

perceivingthis

King,
who, needingsome
quicklydeserted Philip,
and

crippled
what

it

source

of

made
overtures
to Guise.
more
support in France, once
And Guise, who
for distrusting
had plenty of good reasons
Henri and all he said, was
slow to accept the Spanish
not
and
offers,so that by the time they met at Blois,the Duke
the

King were
again mortal enemies.
It may
well be asked why Guise ventured
there
to come
and so put himself into Henri's power.
At first his action
looks like pure bravado, but its reason
reallylay in the King's
impotence. He was
was
generallyheld

demoralized

"

incapable of

action

"

and

Guise
Catherine, nor
himself dreamed
that Henri
would do anything decisive,anything
risk to himself,and the danger
which involved immediate
to

be

so.

383

Neither

YEARS

LATER

THE

seemed

well have

may

Nor

compromising, embracing
and

non-residence

than

the

it had
to

man

MEDICI
been

shirk

foi

it,were

in November
up of Ligueurs,met
demands
manifold
and
were
un

protests and

1588. Their

he

was

Etats, largelymade

The

DE'

less to the Duke

before.

months
many
it there.

CATHERINE

OF

of

kind

every

reform.

Pluralisn

be

abolished, together with th"

holding of benefices by laymen, by ladies,or by Huguenots
to be swept away,
whiL
The system of purchasingoffice was
to

were

all financial officials

forced

be

disgorgetheir ill
of thei'
gotten gains,and, for the future, to give account
and
number
their
which, including politica
stewardship;
normal
exceeded
its
to b"
now
level,was
officials,
fabulously
to something nearer
Henri
reduced
common
sense.
spok
all
of
used
Afraid
h
e
cautious
parties,
language
fluently.
with
with
him
The
the
met
one
Etats,
Ligue,
angry protest
all
their
his
!
One
tolerance.
was
religion
against
cry. Am
to

were

"

"

he

to

further irritated them

by

tactless allusion to the barri

At a sitting
cading of Paris. They took their vengeance.
two
days later,they extracted fresh oaths of adherence to thi
Had they been more
superstitiou:
Ligue from their monarch.
for themselves
and less confident, they might have trembled
While they were
achievingtheir purpose, the sky was suddenh
of hail burst outside, and night fell in ;
darkened, a storm
that in the Hall of Assembh
moment
in broad daylight
so
torches had to be lightedbefore it was
possibleto read anc
"

"

"

And

write.
breath

some

who

that

the Will

and

had

ratification of the Sainte-Union

King.
Religionwas

his

not

by

more

once

the

pusillanimou

griev
money
hi!
which
funds

;
only stumbling-block

He needed
bad, if not worse.
subjectswould not grant. In vain he played
were

ances

with

the

as

deputes.

put

my

two

capons,

His

Peccavi

"

I have

offended

"

he said, but I will amend

household
smaller footing.
on
a

it,Gentlemen,"

me

"

there

in thi

affair ended

The

their last breath."

breathe

them

King and of France wai

been lightedthat men
migh

of the

candle

the

below thei:

present muttered

there

being made,
see

were

will henceforth

be

only

humility

at

God

"

I knov

; I wil
ways
my
there weri
Where
one.

But

to refusi

to ruin the State.'

is to ruin me, to ruin yourselves,
knew
that his words
audience
The]
were
only wind.

money

begged him to behave as a King, but they did

his supplies. His distress increased, his coffers
384

not
were

increas*

empty

LATER

THE

wisest

the
and

"

his

by

"

He

lean

to

arm

whom

found

thus

unknown

as

men

trusted

no

CATHERINE

DE'

MEDICI

of his life,and had sent away

his Council,
Villeroi
and
damnees,"
were
CMverny, who

dmes

faces

with

deed

OF

its members.

among
new

YEARS

himself

him

to

And

on.

surrounded

he to them

as

by
and

"

abroad, likewise,there

rely. He felt uncertain whether

the Pope would
help him againstGuise and Spain. As for
Spain, the fear of offendingher had probably been his most
powerfulmotive for withholdinghis hand from Guise's throat.
of Philip's
dire defeat that the
It was
came
only when news
hatred of France for the Spaniard openlyleapedforth.
Lost,
somewhere
off the English coast, the magnificent
Armada," so
the
of
ran
placards Paris,
anybody bringinginformation of
to
its whereabouts
the Spanish Embassy shall receive five
were

none

on

he could

"

"

"

But

reward."

crowns

Henri

triumph, for Spain was

chance
now
lay with
decided
was

that

obstacle

no

The

Blois.

at

but

not

for

Henri

III

was

should

how

master,

The

Navarre's

this

not

His

only

told him

and

for him

there

alliance with

an

possiblewhile

Sully to supply the

ally.

an

to

righthand, Sully,was

like better than

was

was

as

than

mourn

Etats, it is true, had

should continue, but this

Prince

sent
King secretly

nothing he

was

Navarre.
that

to

cause

useless

Henri.

to

more

made

with

war

had

Guise

his

lived ?

It

answer.

Medici

for

nothing.

cowardice

The

of assassination did not revolt him as it would have revolted

his father and his grandfather. In them, generositycreated
kind of moralityindependent of morals, but in him, there
a
finer sense
He had inherited his mother's
to shock.
was
no

capacityfor fear,and
awful
her

error

into the

son

It

of the

was

four

the

panic that

fatal blunder

and

forced

of St. Bartholomew

massacre

o'clock

had

of the murder

almost

dusk

on

her

into

the

forced

now

of Guise.
the

of

afternoon

in the
of Guise were
loitering
pages
palacecourtyard,waitingfor their master ; so were the pages
of His Majesty. Other
attendants
were
there, all violent
of
the servants
partisansof their lords. Brawls between

November

The

30.

in fashion,and there was

nothing out
great gentlemen were
of the common
when, on this particular
evening,a quarrel
arose

between

those

excitement

present. But
turned

to

battle.
Life
a
fightbecame
Guise, in soldierly
attire,led
to the Chateau,

Commotion

the

deadly

was

the

were

venomed,
en-

the free

lost, and the Cardinal de

troops he had summoned

spread.
386

combatants
earnest, and

Such

deputesas

were

MURDER

THE

Ligueursleft the Etats

nobles gathered round
and

confusion.

OF

HENRI,

DUC

and

mustered

round

the

battle

The

himself

DE

GUISE

Guise, and

King. Indoors,
had
spread into

there

panic

were

His

few

Majesty's

forth, armed, from his closet,

in the greatest agitation.Guise, who
with Cathewas
rine,
sitting
; he

ante-chamber

nonchalant

was
"

gentlemen came
quenched
finally

It

fire.

the

staringidly into

went

inquire for

to

the tumult

for any

his
was

stir from

talkingto

on

his

place.

her.

His

commands, and found him

the courtier,Crillon,who

threats

by

of the rod

should

who

man

did not

He

ever.

as

rien," he said, and

n'est

Ce

came

and

from

move

of imprisonmen

where

he

was.

dare-devil Guise may have been, he must have sighted

all sides. Many of the nobles had grown
fresh perils
cold towards
on
However
him
fickle

; most

Paris, was

safe,nor

not

made

be

to

some
jealous,

were

had

Constable.

suspicious.Paris,
mand
yet granted his dehis familywas
not trustworthy
the King. And Spain chose
were

the Etats

Even

curryingfavour with
still more
to imperilhis cause
this critical moment
with Henri.
The Duke
had been for some
time inciting
Savoy to make a
raid upon
Saluces and rob France
of her last footingin
new
Italy,but he did not imagine that Spain would seize this
occasion to support his counsels.
Savoy allowed Philip to
persuade him, and the tidingsof the taking of Saluces was
the last drop in Henri's cup
of mortification.
It clinched,
and

not

the

was

fact, but

recognizedhis
bad

the

hand

his doubts

news,

had

night he
His next

decided
was

move

in

Savoy's feat, and

Before

vanished.
to

death

of the

get rid of his

He

characteristic.

of Guise.
after

he went

Henri

getting the
to bed

that

enemy.

had

solemn

ciliation
recon-

of the Etats,he swore

instigation
the Host
at the Altar a
and
perfectreconcilement
upon
with the Duke, and oblivion of all past quarrels
friendship
the which he did most freelyand frankly. And furthermore,
to content, or perhaps amuse
them, he declared that he was
with

Guise.

hour

At the

"

"

resolved to abandon
the reins of government to his cousin
Guise and to the Queen-Mother, since he desired to concern
himself with

nothing except praying to

God

and

of

doing penance."

"
of
it was
But," adds a chronicler of these events,
thinking." None knew this
very different thingsthat he was
better than Guise,or saw
more
clearlythrough his professions.
"

He

repeatedlyexpressedhis

assured

him

that

it

was

Catherine, but she

She herself,
foundation.

distrust

without

387

to

LATER

THE
she

YEARS

said, would

stand

in which

he

chose

The

tyranny

it

neither

Henri

just

Would

time,

to

The

enterprise

told

the

that

condemn
of

and

thought

accused

heard.
un-

him, for the last

declare

to

in the

he

the

to demand

be better

December,

mooted

was

Assembly
to

in

Early

heretic

the Sainte-Union

to

swear

as

honourable

it not

"

increased.

Ligue

of Navarre

nor

MEDICI

surety for his safetyin any

of the

States-General.

DE'

embark.

to

the condemnation
"

CATHERINE

OF

himself

Etats

responded by pronouncing Navarre

to be
incapableof succeedingto any Crown or to any kind of
royalty whatsoever," and they added that the King's last
of reason."
out
proposalwas
Henri
doubted
and prevaricated,
While
hating the Ligue,
yet powerlessto resist it, resolved upon the death of Guise,
?

Catholic
"

"

but
to
a

about

irresolute

the

how

and

his anger.

Epernon wrote to
plot againsthis person ; and,

Guise's

uncle,the Due

his

and

Mayenne
word

what

was

Henri

warn

added

had

brewed

significant,
de

Due

Mayenne,

the sinister report.

that the

despatched his
had

was

more

"

secret Council

Guise

that

his brother, the

d'Aumale
confirmed

that

him

"

to
messenger
and
Aumale
near,

sent
was

him

relations

envious

when, fresh fuel

day

wife

to

of fulfilment

bring

held to compass

been

an

incensed King, spurred by his

his life. The
upon
"
To put
impetus to hasten Guise's end.
resentment, felt new

attempt

"

prison,"he said, would be to catch a wild boar in the

He would probably be stronger than our
cord, whereas,
nets.
for
he
would
trouble
he
if
us
no
longer, a dead man
lay dead,
make
war."
The same
cannot
day that he spoke these words
in

him

he

held

die

on

the

which

Council, and

the

he

there

resolved

Sunday before the Feast of

Archbishop of Lyons was

St. Thomas
to

give

on

should

Guise

that

at

"

supper

that

evening

many

of the

in his honour.
The
nobles

date

was

were

good one, for

at a wedding.

away
less, putting off the

through one
of the

The

Court.

held it,as

if he had

perplexed,he
advised

for

glad of
purposed to

was

said

various
the

willstill lingered,

evening

palace corridors,he met

passed
gentleman

he

as
a

King stopped him, seized his hand and

much
that he would
then, irresolute,
say
"

nothing
On

it, he

and for M, de Rambouillet

and
to

reasons

grace.

achieve

and

Queen

Yet Henri
One

moment.

of the dark

the

the
sent
"

He
his way.
postpone the deed, and
went

was

he

he had
Sunday when
very
d'Aumont,
for the Marechal

Either

388

on

he

or

Guise must

die,"

MURDER

THE

advised

Trial first.

to kill Guise

be charmed
fixed

now

Guise had

meant

designhad
of

all

King

through

service.

the

they

had

in the
"

at

that

Rambouillet

Ilfaut Ic tuer."

ugly work,
would," he added,

He

Duke's

The

the

was

death

day

Palace
You

his

policy
again

had

who

men

Chapel.

were

tended
in-

read

He

intently

devotional," Henri

very

Guise

out, but

came

that his

Henri

Wednesday

of it the two

which

on

resumed

once

was

spent together. Guise attended

another

one

Vespers

at

said when
book

But

Indeed, great part

to murder

the

had

detected, he

inaction.

careless

let pass.

"

do the

to

"

duel."

GUISE

destroy the King,though, warned

to

been

him

itself. It

Festival

for the

only said,

murder.
in

DE

intolerable."

be

asked

but Crillon refused to commit

*

DUC

Marechal

The

Crillon and

summoned

Henri

life would

"otherwise

nd,

HENRI,

OF

only laughed.

"

His

Huguenot satire against the King he

his answer.
should advise His Majesty to read it," was
He
followed Henri
and there they strolled
to a garden in the town
for some
time, side by side. The King talked more
affably
than
too
disdainful to pretend. He
usual, but Guise was
Henri
he
him no longer;
that
informed
could serve
haughtily
he had resolved to retire from publiclife in other words, he
Henri
civil war
meant
to wage
a
kept his
again in France.
mask
take
of amiability; he would
this sudden
not
nation,
resigbeen

"

"

the Duke

Henri
that

exasperated. Words
Archbishop of Lyons

Guise and

speak, he
would

be

Duke,

"

reproached him later

said, more
humbly
more
polite. "You

I know

have

can

ran

grew
the

him

him
is

Guise insisted ;

reconsider the matter.

must

so

to

the

overheard

for his

His

between

high

them

insolence

disrespect.He ought to
Majesty, and gentleness

mistaken," answered

are

of

the

you
you do ; the only way
is
who
desires
He
one
a
King

better than

by bravado.

conceptionof bravado covered much.

The next day he sent in his resignation
lenge.
a direct chal; it was
He
to strike
probably intended
quickly, for he
had," said Estoile, passed the Rubicon, and was
prepared
to seize the kingdom at once, after knocking down
the pillars
thereof."
of his projects. The
Nor
others
were
unaware
had appliedto him
for a passport,
one
Sunday before, some
to

frightenhim."

His

"

"

a.

*reat

which

secretary dealt with.

hurry," said the secretary, I advise

matter

little. We

his

If there

"

shall

soon

The

have
italics

changed our
are

389

the

you

title and

author's.

to

is

no

wait

J'
quality

a
l

LATER

THE
And

the

that

he

It

OF

CATHERINE

secretary spoke the

truth, but

had

dreamed

her

check

to

for Guise

bed

her

this disaster

for

"

her,

Duke

the

the truth

not

was

added

give
obliged
proceeding. To

fallen ill and

to

was

strange, a fatal
piece with his arrogant

another
of

on

needed

most

was

unwonted

an

his part. It was

indifference.
Careless of the
blunder

it

MEDICI

that, at this crucial period,

counterminingpresence
the King, Catherine had

keep

DE'

of.

unfortunate

was

when

to

YEARS

"

keys of the palace,now

usual precautions.This

in his

was
on
neglected the
December
21.
They fell into the hands of certain people
in the palace, not his friends," and these it was
who
finally
whom
the
admitted
the men
King appointed to perform the
deed. That same
Guise
held
of the Ligue. Its
a Council
day
him
members
tried to warn
of his danger. One, Menneville,

charge, he

"

"
You must
act before he does," he
gave him advice as well ;
"
"
said.
Menneville
is right,"
more
rejoinedthe Duke,
right

than

the

of you.

rest

I shall

window,

of the

aware

combat

the

He

now.

any

and

knew

in at

come

door."

the

at

out

run

Death

see

He

there

that

him

present and

to

leave

the

fully

was

mortal

was

in his

King, But he believed

snapped his fingersat Destiny.
other time he might have been persuaded to

luck, and
At

not

danger

between

Still,when

the

Blois until the immediate

elude

risk

was

ceased

had
Throughout these days
to
and
had
he himself
to implore him
acknowledged that
go,
they were
right. Every morning he had promised to depart;
every eveninghe had said, Pas encore." For a fatal tie bound
him to the palace,an
overmasteringpassion for a woman.
It was
for the first time
not
that she had played a part in
his followers

over.

not

Navarre

events.

Shejjwasnone

Guise.

that she had

of

him

her that

Thursday,
The

Even

other

enslaved

made
with

was

Alencon

beautiful

hours
while

refuse
he

December

to

stir at

was

it

was

de

Madame
but

lately

was

earth, the night

spent his last night on

22.

sought her had

sittingat supper,

before he
he

it

before

his love for her

and it
this dire moment,

Yet

the Duke.

the other.
close upon
him,
napkin,in a paper hidden beneath

when

her victims

been

the

than

each

upon

had

Marquise de Noirmoutiers, and

Sauves, now
which

and

One

been
five

forebodings.
warnings reached

full of

he found

it. He

wrote

as

On n'oserait
And
the table.

it,and contemptuously threw it under

his uncle,the Due d'Elbceuf,entreated him
390

he liftedhis

"

to

be

on

"

his

MURDER

THE

DUC

HENRI,

OF

GUISE

DE

would bring danger to his person,

guard because the morrow
He saw," he said, that Elbceuf had been
he only laughed.
of the year were
lookingat his Almanac, for all the Almanacs
threats."
One
more
stuffed full of such
entreatingnote
"

"

came

later, while

never

have

if

done

exclaimed.

Then,

bolster and

sent

bed

to

and

his

was

we

tried to pay

crumpling

attention

it up,

he

sauntered

Thus, unruffled, he

his

to

all

to

should

We

these," he

put it beneath

who
messenger
sleep,"he commanded.

us

"

mistress.

his

"Go

brought it :

the

away

let

with

he

doom.

had

Henri

plans carefully. That night,Crillon himself shut

all the
At
outside
watched
them.
palace doors and
to bed,
midnight,the King took his candlestick and went
the
givingorders to be waked at four. He had commanded
Council to meet early,
and Marchant, the Captainof the Guards,
laid

his

stop Guise with

to

was

assembly, and
the

as

morning, he
At
a

him

cut

so

King

that

says

dark

that

on

Sire,"she answered,
o'clock."

it is four

The

pened
hap-

December
his door.

"

"

the

to

All

sleepby a knocking at
nothing. ? What is that ?

"

ladywaitingnear.

went

his followers.

four

At

he

as

from

first he remembered

who

payment

off from

desired.

roused

was

bill for

he asked

it is M. de Halde

had

King

by

now
"

"

collected his wits.

My boots, my hat, and my candlestick !

he said to Prolant, his gentleman. His wife was
with him
he explainednothing,and left her bewildered.
Above
all,"
he whispered, let us make
fear
for
of
no
noise,
awaking my
He
His face
mother."
moved.
was
pale, haggard, visibly
"

"

"

looked
as

"

He

unhappy.

Closet.

forty-fivewhom

as

many

left his bedroom

he

"

They talked

loud

so

"

the others.
The

that

once

There

were

of purpose.
to have an almoner

and he intended
his conscience

he
whom

torch,

pray

when

the

tried to soothe
he

himself

had

through dark

there

for his

He need not have

change

no

there

daggers are

many

forty-five
dispersedin silence,but one of them,
Epernon's,stayedwith him

agitationmeant

trembled.

he

more

Privy

his

into

"

for himself, and distributed

hours to wait throughbefore the Council.

de Termes, a relation of
he did not alter his mind.

brought

"

how
Voyons," he muttered,
There were
eight. He kept two

his confederates

and met

success

crime

had

himself

led
rooms
"

by

been
the

secretly,by
to

in what
391

his

been
He

to

see

afraid.

had

in the

the Comte

Henri's

fessed,
already con-

room

to soothe

time
Mean-

committed.
chants
the

that

of the

priests

flickeringlightof

oratory, bidding them

they
enterprise

knew

not.

LATER

THE

and

down,

up
chamber

and

Above
be

very

for

of all that

once

unwonted
The

there was
dark and
"

and

rose
"

yet

as

no

it ?

adieux

were

cloak

over

Chamber

She

parts

while

her

soi

kept him

that

wake

rest

there

long been

day

wa

from

ti

morning
nearly eight.
grey

new

Madame

de

longtime by

tender.

to attent

winter's

till
a

asked

had
The

him

and

out

been

Friday

Did

for

fulfilled; th

been

He

satin suit

Noirmoutiei

side,and thei

her

Then, hanging

shoi

the
his shoulder, he left her and walked
towards
"
of Council.
Such a figureas that can
defend it

self,"remarked
cobbles

had

Duke.

season."

drawn

their

her.

carefullyin

attired himself

admire

And

not

the Cardinal

dared

the

into the ante

knew

did."

awakened

it rained

one

door

who

had

sign of the

"

ceased to wal

never

yourselves wounded

get

if you

fears

not

no

covered

lightfor

too

not

early,but although the

and

night

had

de Guise and

the Council

he

MEDICI

Catherine, unconsciou
by suspense,
in her
going on in the palace,layailing

Henri's

noise

Due

do

vexed

was

State-bed.

vast

"

said,

much

DE'

again opening the

pacing, tortured

was

and

the Guards,
instructing

all," he

should

his nerves,

and

now

CATHERINE

OF

he could not control

But

"

YEARS

some

who

one

him.

saw

Outside, the

roug

of the

courtyard were
shiningand wet ; the ston
dank and struc
passages throughwhich he passed indoors were
ominously chill. That very morning he had received nine mon
beware.
This
is the ninth
letters bidding him
to-day,'
"

he

had

in his

said aloud
new

he put it in his

as
"

satins,

too

pocket

and

strolled

As

lightfor the season."

he

or

nearec

into the big Hall, th

steps leadingdown
Captain of the Guards approached him, and, bowing low, bu

the

short

flightof

studied

with

insolence, "in

usual," he held

out

the

bill

courteouslystopped to hear
The
moved
on.
Captain and
hats

in their hands, and

that

none

of his

own

off at the entrance

Council- Hall
The

Guards

all safe.

once

made

men
as

had

shut

fashion

very

different

from

arranged. Guise
him, and, promising payment
had

as

been

train followed

him, thei

it easier to blind him

to the fad

his

him.

They

had

been

cu

were

near

been

planned. But the door of the

him, everythingwas
changed

behind

stairs of pages and valets,and made

locked the outer
doors of the palace. As

cleared the
Crillon

round, he read dismay on al

the faces about
had got wind
of what
him.
The Council
was
there was
foot
doom
in the air. For the first time, Guise
on
Guise

seated himself

and

looked

"

showed

signs of perturbation
;
392

he

changed

colour ; the

eye

LATER

THE

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

box, under his left arm, he preparedto follow Revol.

Adieu,
he
he
off
said
went
the stage. He knocked
as
Messieurs,"
al
"

King's door

the

Whoever

has

Usher

the

been

it.

opened

in the

Chateau

Blois will remember

at

passed to his death. They will recall the grim little

doorway to the King's apartments his vieux cabinet, the
antechamber
ing
adjoiningit, the narrow
mufflingpassage leadhow

he

"

his bedroom.

to

tried to

give him

inside.

the

on

he

his beard

with

and

made

Sieur

and

de

"

left breast.
he dealed

Traitor, you

the thrust.

and

Montserine,
and

him

stabbed
hit out

in his hand.
Three
weapon
the tapestry,
fellon him at once.

cried.

When

one

"

doo

hold
who

see

o
wa

standing

was

swiftlyin the

he called out
his sweet-box"

with

other

concealee

men,

"

"

his
prayer for pity. In his struggle,
got entangledin his cloak,and his legshad been seized

almost

an

end of the

one

Usher

Eh, mes amis I he

the rest,called Periac,piercedhim, hi

among
louder with

voice grew
sword had

But, with

took
to

who

Duke

Guise

shut the

steps,then
half turned

only

behind

had

will die of this !

The

his foot.

impossible.The

was

two

righthand

Guards

of the

trod upon

King's closet

mantelpiece,advanced

the

the

the

The

entered, one

escape

Guise
his

followinghim.
by

knew

from

out

come

Guise

last chance

understood, but
had

As

room

superhuman effort,he dragged himself from

to another and alongthe passage to Henri'

bedroom, leavingblood-stains in his track. There, at the foot

of the King'sbed, he fell.
My God, I am dead ! Have mercy
"

on

me

heard

"

he

distinctlyin the

Cardinal

de

Before

Guise,

plunderingit.
littlekey

was

took

on

gold chain, and,

memorandum

made

livres,"it

thousand

needs.

his

clothes,he gave

pious noble
of life,ask

faint
"

said at once,
pardon of God

of his

body

with

"

signsof

while
and

you
the

wretched
394

ring

they foun"

I
paper.
Seven hundred

maintain

the

war

brigandlord
life.

"

was

ing
search-

Monsieur," the

yet possess
But

spark

some

Guise
he

him, but they covered

pieceof

old

in
He

of his existence.

King."
hoarse, deep sigh,then

past speech. He heaved one

They put his grey satin cloak upon
rest

to

"

were

his

from

pocket,a

"

"

courtiers

in his

of his aims
fit summary
his
last.
had not yet breathed
As some

France

heart

needed

are

ran,

the

his neck

for future
"

wen

brother, the

Round

goldcoins.

They

them.

body,

diamond

the

his

catch

of his

out

was

his purse fullof

another
a

One

first to

the

his last.

were

Hall, and

Council

was

the breath

words

The

groaned.

was

died.
the

carpet,and they

MURDER

THE
laid

straw

cross

him

the nickname

His

HENRI,

had

Majesty

stark, for

and

"

called him

and

DUC

his breast.

upon

mocked

they

OF

As
the

DE

they

GUISE

stood

round

gloriousKing

given him.

Thus

him,

of Paris,"

they left him,

hours, and his murderer, the

him.
to look upon
Ah, qu'ilest grand ! Encore
King, came
Then, growing gay, "Je
plusgrand que vivant,"he exclaimed.
stretched out

two

"

seul Roi

suts

maintenant

Presently he
feverish haste,
he
are
you ?
"

"

shock

stormed

began.

done, my

Only

come

may

lose

"

"

son."

my

"

Do

God

"

But

killed

grant that

"

"

You

"

am

horror.

know

you

Then, after deep reflection

time in seizing
Orleans, and believe me when
to you

how
I

I have

fraughtwith
"

Catherine.

With

Madame,

of France.

silence

she said

mother.

room.

King

was

his
"

so-so,

am

even

son

of

into the

"

overpowered

have

you

himself

bethought
he

"
very well," he cried, for I
There
the King of Paris/'

The

he added.

what
ill

no

must

beg you
sendingallnews to the Legate." Her concentrated
brain made
straightfor the mark, and she wasted no words
in lamentation.
None
broken.
In a
the less,her spirit
was
the work
of her life had been wantonly destroyed,
moment,
whom
she had worshipped. She
and by the hand of the son
had given her strengthto bring about peace and to prevent
the Bourbon
succession ; his act would
once
again plunge
in
France in civil war, and she saw
the
Navarre,
only real man
She had striven to give Henri
France, alreadyon the throne.
prestige he had lost it. She had longed for his confidence
no

to fail in

not

"

"

had

he

In

taken
he

him

Mass.

to

step without

On

their

way

The

King stoppedto speak to

Law

will now

her.

thing he obeyed her. Guise had not long been

sent for the Papal Legate,Morosini, and went

one

when

this awful

threat

they

met
"

him.

with

of Guise.

follower

dead

Monsieur," he said,M the

revive ; the tyrant is dead."

againstall those who had been

His

speechconcealed

the friends of

"

the

tyrant."
What

had

happened

the Cardinal
"

betwixt

started to his feet.

him
killing
back.

naked
not

"

with
The
to

in the

Council

"

That

is my

brother

die !

"

they

Retz

and

of Aumont

in their hands.

When

the cry of his brother, sent

and dagger,"he pushed back
"

"

Let

shouted.
395

no

man

At

that

up
his

they

rush
he called out, and made
as if he would
the Archbishop of Lyons.
But they were

Marshals

swords
wish

heard

the strokes of sword

chair and

the Hall

de Guise

all this time

are

from
held

up, their
stir,if he does

stood

moment,

both

YEARS

LATER

THE
Cardinal

King.

and

Archbishop received
what
was
they knew

Before

arrested

CATHERINE

OF

and

borne

away
before

few

up

France

and

piece

Poland.

the

to

will hold

Like

all

be

without

men

better.

On

his road

and

without

there that the

with

the

and

crown-

his

make

of

crowns

third

a
"

comment,

to

will, when

The

Cardinal

live.

If he

stop.

allowed

confinement

legs and

my

shed

Feuillants

some

will add

his

between

were

"

tonsurer
was

the

myseli

Capucin

dagger."

my

he could not
to

The

scutcheon,"

his head

with

tonsure

"

from

summons

to harbour
days
Capucins. Here they were
kept in
either seat or firing. Perhaps it was
on
Cardinal caught sightof the royal arms
run

MEDICI

happening, they
prison a wretched

their

to

DE'

de Guise
were

begun
dangerous

once

too

was

die, the

to

Saturday, December

had

Henri

the

24,

the

sooner,

the

after

day

Clergyof the Etats had

resolved to come
and beg His Majesty for the person of their
their
President, the Cardinal, that they might continue
in his determination,
proceedings,and although unmoved
he was
As sensitive as
bent on seeming just in their eyes.
than
he was
decadent
corrupt, in no lightdoes he appear more
in his desire to make
his sins respectable.Before committing
Duke's

death, Henri

this second

heard

that the

experts,creatures of his
who
decided that the crime of High Treason, of which the
own,
in so highworse
Cardinal,like his brother,had been guilty,
was
murder, he consulted

some

"

it would

than
placeda prelate
the King would have
without

the other.

Gast

by

done

' '

an

good

no

this,Henri

Upon

ordered

and

name,

be in

him

and
ordinarypriest,
all if he

at

summoned

that

got rid of
certain

to undertake

the

one

tain,
Cap-

murder,

His Majesty was

forced to
Gast, courageouslyrefusing,
With
employ four bravi, at the priceof four hundred crowns.

but

them

he

into the

had

difficulty.
They

no

climbed

stairs that led

the

lay, and they

told him that the King wished to see him.
As they marched
with him, his fellow prisoner,
the Archbishop of Lyons,
away
hovel

miserable

prostratedhimself
end

that

and

be

before

the

the

would

offered his
For

fate

was

de Lux, threw
head

own

as

the

and

than

himself

at

only

King acceded, but

396

not

was

massacred

was

better

awaited

there

He

sacrifice if

spared.
grant the Archbishop freedom.
once

Cardinal

come.

Cardinal, who

own

Baron

the

crucifix

he felt convinced

about
in suspense
But his
outside.

nephew,

where

long left
at

he feared.
the

once

His

King's feet,

his uncle

he

the

would

might
not

MURDER

THE

had chosen

Lux
he

as

OF

DUC

to church.

For

DE
He

moment.

received the

had

Henri
directly
slaughter,he

favourable

walking

was

HENRI,

it

GUISE

waylaid the King

Christmas

was

Eve, and

of the Cardinal's

news
reassuring

for Mass,

accompanied by the Cardinal de

and gentlemen. By that
and a retinue of noblemen
Vendome
time he probably figuredto himself as the righteousSovereign
God had given the victory. Had
not the Almighty
to whom
Partner
of Crowned
Heads ?
always been the miracle-working
Henri must
have listened to the Gloria in Excelsis,sung by his
chantres on
chosen
Christmas
Day, with a kind of aesthetic
He

for goodwillhe
did
expect peace
since his enemies
his
under
feet.
were
Other
put

rapture.
not

care

"

might

now

"

less blind than

were

men

set out

murder

reached

he.

When

the

of the Duke's

news

into
King of Navarre, the tears came
If it be thus/' he said
Then
he looked upwards.
his eyes.
then
has
of
certainly God
solemnly,
judged the cause
has judged my
the King and of his people and He
cause
the

"

"

"

also."
had

Henri

Guises who

taken

leave

to

care

friend

no

within his reach

remained

relation of the

or

liberty.The

at

Duchesse

the Due
Duke, the Prince de JoinvilJe,
at Blois,were
now
put into prison. So was
the aged Cardinal de Bourbon,
old
fool,"as the King called
my
her
him.
sick-bed,was spurred
Catherine, broodingdarkly on

de Nemours, her son

d'Elbceuf all of them

the

"

to

action

energy
was,

When

"

She

These

"

played

flash of her

old

for her

are

sent

deeds

your

Madame,

us.

These

the tricks you

killingus all." His

are

you

are

Queen-Mother. Contrary to custom,

great agitation. May God annihilate me, may

shook

the

she

"

showed
damn

me,"

she
it !

counselled

answered,

"

Far

that, it has

will be

sorrow

failed her.
my

captivity.A

of his

news

litter,and, weak as she

ill and weary.
had herself carried to him.
He, too, was
he saw
Madame!"
her, he wept. "Ah, Madame!

words

My

the

returned.

he cried
have

by

the

"

said,

she

as

I dreamed

ever

of

cause

She tottered.
she

bed,"

from

if

more

no

can

broken

death."

my

departed.

this crime

;
"

So

my
Her

or

heart."

strength

I must
she

He

take

to

did," says

"

old chronicler, nor

did she ever
rise from it again."
an
Her hour had struck.
We ourselves approach her death-bed
with a feeling
the deathbed
of awe,
with something like terror
"

of
torments

who

evil

an

; of

kept

generation;

secrets

life that

that

had

none

of

unknown

hardly
will

397

now

known

aims

and

joy ;
decipher.

of

unknown
a

Queen

YEARS

LATER

THE

death

Her

lonely. It

was

It had

fatal to the Medici.

of that

man

DE'

January 5,
Kings." Legend said that

of the Three

the Feast

CATHERINE

OF

"

"

on

the end of

seen

it

Now

family.

came

MEDICI

put

seal

than

more

on

her

the Eve

the date

of
was

great

one

strange life of

A few

of her servants
of her
and some
seventy years.
and so did the King
familiars wept for her
little 1
a very
As for
Such is the eloquent entry in a diary of the day.
Blois," it continues, where she had been worshipped as the
Juno of the Court, she had no sooner
given up the ghost than
of
she was
made
account
more
no
by any than a dead goat

close on

"

"

"

"

"

would

been."

have

lived

fewer

were

been

wife

tears

and

for any

shed

long-

fell for

mother, than

de' Medici.

Catherine

Paris

When

receive

asked

was

she

that

tomb

bury

to

had

had

her at

carved

with

Saint-Denis,in the
her

the

by

statue

husband, the Council of the Sixteen refused

If her body were
brought there, they said,

of her

side of that
to

had

who

woman

grand

Never

her.

they would drag it to the

of the Seine and throw

banks

itin. On

her end, a great preacherannounced

that
Sunday following
she had died from the pulpitof the Church
of Saint Barthelemi
his
She has," he spoke,
name
a
strangelyfitting task.
much
evil
her
much
and
in
done
evil, I
day more
good
men,
think, than good. I make no doubt of this. To-day, Gentlea
difficulty
presents itself. Ought the Holy Catholic
Church to pray for one who has lived as badly as she has done
has so often upheld heresy, though she ended
who
by supporting
Sainte-Union
? Gentlemen, to this question,I
our
and then a
giveher now
replythat if you will,of your charity,

the

"

"

"

"

"

Pater and
matter.

an

Ave, you

I leave

you

do

If not, it does not

free choice."

may

so.

much

for the Queen-Mother

the prayers that arose
much
could pray
Who
the prayers that did not
matter.
into a
?
Her
bones
dead
for a soul long since
huddled
were

Such

common

base

were

grave

"

at

Blois,

Her

works

escort.

398

alone

followed

her

"

XXII

CHAPTER

The

End

of

Henri

III

LATER

THE
could

he

have

YEARS
had

any
and
of
the houses
Royalists

recorder of the
The

broadest

were

violent

had
on

fact describes how

againsthim.

de Valois

Henri

was

"

congregation streamed
of France

arms

them

underfoot,
followed

was

and
or

King

MEDIC

ce

:,
the

rifled first.

was

; the

priests
popularpreacher

were

sung

29, a
vilain H erodes"

"

an

anagram
sovereign. As the
down
the wreathed
"

longer their

out, they
from

them

threw

house

own

December

no

Poland

in other

his

the
On

that

sermon

DE'

that
authority. He commanded
should
be searched,and
Politiques

ballads about

said in his

CATHERINE

OF

churches

tore

the West

Door, and trampled

into the river.

"

the

This

example

passion for destruction

in pieces, the Mignons'

broken
Images were
Year's Day, the same
tombs
angrilydestroyed. On New
his vast
when
made
the sermon
audience
was
over,
priest,
their
oath
would
that
last
take an
their
they
give
farthing,
of the two
last drop of blood, to avenge the murder
Princes.'
roused.

was

"

And
hand.

have

them

Among

President
to

thereof, every

in witness

of the
been

the

was

one

there

Jacques

Parlement, who

de

to

hold

Harlai, the

up

his

First

popularly supposed

was

King'saccomplice.

was

He

was

the

centre

of

and the preacher took remorseless

pleasurein
proceedings,
Hold up your hand, Monsieur le President,"
him.
insulting
he cried, hold it up very high,higher still,
please,so that
the peoplemay
it." And
Harlai was
see
obligedto obey, not
his
without
great danger to
person.
Henri was
municated
repeatedlydeposed by the Pope (who also excomwell
the
the
Sorbonne
and
as by
him), as
Theological
his
from their
two
These
authorities
absolved
ects
Faculty.
subj
that they might wage
Oath
of Allegiance
; they told them
war
against him with a free conscience, as against a most
had injuredthe Holy Catholic faith";
execrable tyrant who
from
the prayers
of the
and
they boldly erased his name
the
Church.
mentioned
In a short
time, whoever
King
in Paris was
in danger of his life. And
outside it every
little village
had its Ligue. There was
generaldisintegration.
in the capital
The Reign of Revolution
was
quicklyturning
of
The
much
the same
into a Reign
Terror.
as
partieswere
the
last
that
the
extreme
movement
in 1792, and
killed
Ligue
It
had
what
before.
evolved
from
was
within, exceeding
gone
it absorbed
the Militia ;
swallowed
the Municipality
;
up
while the Prevot whom
it appointedhad command
of the supplies
tille,
Governor
of the Basand the police. Bussy-Leclerc,
now
of the governingAssociation.
One
the moving spirit
was
the

"

"

"

402

END

THE

OF

he suddenly entered
jjday,

[ofthe

rest

belonging to financial courts

men

Ihouses.
Iweaker
I of the

and

followed

were

Ligue. And,

to

Other

out.

by force

in their

show

and

became

all,the Royal Seal

crown

several

broken

was

The

chained

"

model.

Parisian

the

on

Executions

the

the tools

for the new

land new
made
Government.
seals were
Iwhole of France, not for the last time, was groaning
Iin the name
formed
of Civil Liberty. The
Provinces

[ofSixteen
chaos
[barous,

to be

its President

restored to their seats

were
spirits

them
useful

too

made

was

arrested

taken

however,

was,

Ligueur, Busson,

The

lost.

Parlement

The

III

Chamber

the
The

leadingmembers.

HENRI

Councils
bar-

were

its
spread. At Toulouse, the President
Henri's
with
behind
him.
was
portrait
hanged
[Parlement
the
burnt
there,in the publicsquare.
[Later, King's effigywas
of

sat at
Brittany, two Parlements
Royalist,the other of the Ligue.

In

the

time

same

one

was

alongsidethis turbid, aimless torrent of death and

Paris was
brutality,
great pageants went on as usual.
povertyceased.
The populace lived from
trade had almost
stricken
And

"

and
random
alms.
Ihand
to mouth,
mostly upon
citygave a sumptuous funeral,at its own
expense,
its tutelary God," as
Estoile called him.
Then

Yet

to Guise

"

christeningof
forced

to

newborn

his

liberate

such

imprisoned,and the
splendid baptism of
less

to

believe

the widowed

as

incredible
into

Duchess

banquets

Union, while

"

themselves, and
was
called,did
Princes

the
were

he

as

show

mourning.

himself

was

had
at the

present

was

The

the

came

found

Duke

the

none

Guises

The

"

had

"

la Sainte-Veuve,"
not leave off giving

and

Princesses

starving. She

of

the

hardened

was

thirst for vengeance, and she delighted

of her enemies.
One of the thingsshe liked

inhumanity by her
to

in

were

to

the

de Nemours

of the

citizens

the

in the humiliation
was

in

of

grandchild.

extravagant because
ceased

not

son.

relations

Duchesse
her

had

Henri

the

stand

and

prison, as

mend

laugh at the great ladies whose husbands

they went to the Bastille to visit them
lords'

their

she

called

it.

"

She

breeches," as
crusted
took," she said, a singularpleasurein seeingthem
with mud," as, despoiled
of their
Chairs
and their coaches,
to

"

"

"

"

through the miry wintry streets."

Yet neither she nor hers felt secure.
There was
no
tion
organizaanywhere, and the Ligue could boast neither a trained army,
Madame
It was
what troops they had.
to marshal
nor
a leader
de

they trudged on

Montpensierwho

foot

took

matters

403

into her hands.

Risingfrom

LATER

THE

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

her sick-bed, she travelled to

He

Mayenne.

the

was

Burgundy

ablest

disinclined for power

indolent soldier,
a cautious
most

DE'

of

big
politician
.

the

Due

brothers, but
"

slow

seek

to

Guise's

MEDICI

man,

the

sound

de
but
"

perhapstoo honest

He
also a thorough
was
required of him.
hated
aristocrat,full of prejudiceagainst the people. He
he loved free-and-easiness and
the Seize and their demagogues
finer general,had he
He would
have made
a
self-indulgence.
not hampered his movements
by carryinga kind of harem
with his baggage a wickedness not unmarked
by the Parisians,
for the

work

"

"

fired constant

who

certainlythe best
him

Madame

forth from

of

list of the Council

military Lothario.

hand.

at

man

drag him

effort to

sparedno

this

squibs at

de

He

was

Montpensier
She brought

his retreat.

Paris, she pressedhim

to act

as

its

of the Forces.
Her energy
President, and also as Commander
rewarded
was
and, on
Paris,
February 15, he entered
lined
with
streets
crowds, shouting Vive
thickly
through
"

"

He
!
Mayenne ! Vivent les Princes Catholiques
of the
formally appointed Lieut enant-General
Royal

le Due

de

"

was

State

and

of

Crown

"

France

"

ridiculous,pretentious

"

"

day, the which was

given him
and confirmed by an imaginary
by fifteen or sixteen ragamuffins
main
all parties.
Parlement."
One
question confronted
his allyand, supthe King continue
to make
Navarre
Would
ported
title,"says

critic of the

take

by him,

against him

the

Navarre,

separate factions

long

and

bitter

Henri

defend

I must

I will make
at

alone

him

sent

in

France,
for

wish

war

without

army,

then

own

there
and

in France

him, the
would

be

involving

made

he

"

for

his

said

costs," he

at all

yieldat

advances

even

once.

"

Turks."
month

to
"

At
But

Navarre.
a

after the murder

friend,Duplessis-Mornay,to

palace gallery and

hold

pinch

Navarre

consultation.

meet

He

proposals from towns out

throughall
ones
ready
; that they were
did
not
he do ?
should
Mornay
could
bring him
King, if Navarre

constant

the Catholic

him.

under
his

his

even

welcome

With

case

out

Without

one.

defeat.

that

war

heretics,or

of

that he had

told him
to

myself

use

Blois, he

issue

one

inclined to

not

was

making

crucial

to

hold

Navarre

discord.

but

saw

was

easy
But in

reversed.

be

would

or

be

would

three

"

field ;

problem

The

King

would

case

the

What

againstthe
it.

in the

He

advised

him

valleyof the

troops and those

to

Loire, and

of the
404

towards

move

Ligue.

to hem

Once

the

royal

it in between

in that

position,

would

Henri
them.

Navarre

the

Tours, where

towards

marched

he

and

this

of

force

the

saw

it would

Ligue, that

the

with

III

terms, and

to

certainlycome

brother-in-law,not

his

HENRI

OF

END

THE

King

would

make

assented.

He

Henri

had

But

was.

be with

rapid hostilities. Although he was treacherously

to catch
negotiatingwith the Ligue, he despatched envoys
matters
the way and arrange
Navarre
on
Mornay's brother,
As Navarre
Diane.1
and his own
approached,
aunt, Madame
to a definite resolution ; he realized
however, the King came
alliance with him, the risks of such
the advantages of an
a
to
invitation
union with the Ligue,and he sent him
come
an
mind

no

for

"

and

him

see

seemed

die

if the

as

determined

Navarre

Tours.

at

inauguratedby another,
leagues from Tours, by the

was

meeting. Three
river-bank, his army
suddenly
of
the
Catholics
Ligue.
army
unforeseen

an

of

twenty years, found

in

friendly silence.

them

itself confronted

saw

by the

Huguenots, the enemies

they stood lookingon each other

that

and

their

unbridled

They

horses

and

let

Young Chatillon was

of Coligny. He, it was
the Huguenots the true son
did most
to bringthe two
Kings togetherand restore

drink

among

accept it. It

cast.

were

arrival in the town

Navarre's

to

the

from

stream.

same

"

said,now

peace to France.
When
Navarre

Henri,

a
"

him.

the Loire,on his way

to meet
tried
to
dissuade
Valois
follower,dreading
treachery,

God

came

Himself

to

cross

has bidden

go and

me

see

him/' Navarre

"

said

to hold me, for God is

It is not in the power of man
gaily
He was
the river with me."
not unaware
my guideand crosses
of the danger, but he mocked
at it with laughingdefiance.
He dressed himself conspicuously,
in a short red cloak which
out
hardly covered the shabby jerkinworn
by his armour
;
"

his hose

by

were

of

dead-leaf

colour, and

his hat

crowned

was

him from
great white plume which distinguished
be
companions. Nor would he
protectedby an army,
a

friends desired.
With
meets

the
this escort, he started from
the Cher, and proceededtowards

place where

the Loire

the Chateau

of Plessis-

was

on

Vespersat
Park, when
1

The

his

his retinue

les-Tours, where
It

as

only take

He

the

the last
the Church

he

was

would

all his

King was to be found.

day of April. Henri III
of the Minimes

told that

illegitimate
daughter
She
companion of Charles IX.

and

Navarre

of Henri
married

405

II and

was

was

the

the Marechal

had

of

Nobles.

just heard

walking in
coming. And
favourite
de

the
in

hunting-

Montmorency

THE

LATER

this Park
A

great

it

YEARS

OF

that

they met,

was

of

concourse

their

each

arms

Thousands
Navarre

of voices

fell on

big
also

between

"

so

mob

The

hour

the

to

two

stretched

together.

come

le Roi ! Vive

Vive

le Roi
in

increased

de

loyalty

King of France wept

general embracing all round
The

narrator.

There

much.

the

being able

"

an

they even

"

"

shouted

peas," says
not

"

of

last it divided, and they met.

Navarre
his cheeks, " as
His easy tears rolled down

At

his knees.

as

and

green

quarter
they saluted

Vivent les Rois !

each, without

to

it shouted.

as

for

another

one

MEDICI

shady alley.
gathered from every
; they throngedthe turf,they climbed
were
weighed down by people. The

the trees ; the branches

crowd
dense that
was
so
at

in

DE'

country-folkhad

side to witness the event

Kings looked

CATHERINE

was

and

Catholics.

the

Huguenots
actingconsummate.

The

scene

was

Navarre
had quitebrought
perfect; the
himself to believe in his part. That
night,as he withdrew,
"
death I die ; I
After to-day,"he said, I care
not by what
"

shall be content, since God has granted me

this boon
to look
the face of my King." The next day he went
alone, with
upon
"

only
in

one

to

page,

and
good spirits,

brilliant soldier in

with

that
him

France

chances

the

"

had

King

secured

the

be

must

was

most

for him.

and

"

"

world

the

"

spare

time

who, when

man

to

wash

or

by business
Ligueurs took

little way
King's household

allowed,

were

had

never

depart immediately,called

to

No

advantage
Tours.

had

sooner

of the

through
night, to get

agency
into

the

he

Their

fact.

Mayenne

whose

one

in the field,could

was

in Poitou.
from

some

he

dress.

Unfortunately,Navarre
the

He

reason.

The

who
was
so
heavy
againstMayenne
when
his horse threw
to pick
him he requiredfour men
active
generalin the
up again he could pit the most

Against the Ligue

away

his lever.

before

Henri

see

had
he

and

suburb

than

gone
army

spy
his

lay

in the

troops

of Saint-

of their presence,
was
Symphorien. Henri, unconscious
Works
treacherously brought to the place to look at some
have
been
killed
of Defence
there, and would most
certainly
him by his violet
had not a certain man,
a miller,recognized
suit.

"

Sire," he exclaimed,

"

where

are

you

going ? There,

"

between
Battle ensued
just before you, are the Ligueurs!
Mayenne and the King's men, and the Ligue would have won
the

day, if Navarre,

who

had

not

yet gone

far, had

not

heard

He sent recruits at once, under

report of the combat.
Chatillon,who, arrivingthat same
evening,turned the royal

the

406

END

THE

OF

HENRI

III

the
Ligueurs behaved
generously. When
first
the
scarf
white
their
as
Huguenots
appeared, wearing
the
shouted
out
Catholics
Brave
encouragement.
badge,
Retire, you white-scarves ! Retire,
Huguenots," they cried
Chatillon ! We
bear no
only against
grudge against you
who has betrayedyou !
But they did not stop the hand
and
the enemy,
the Huguenots gained the day. The
The
victorious.
of the two
ourse
com
Kings was
Ligue was
III arrived in triumph
routed
Henri
at Senlis, and
again
age
The

fortunes.

"

"

"

"

bei
before
umale

The

Paris.
had

taken

seemed

game

in

more

once

his

hands.

frightand lurked in hidingat Saint-Denis,

reviving. The Ligue had become alarmed

were
Politiques
and was
dreading another Eve of St. Bartholomew, for the
citywas turningagainstit. Nor was this a matter for surprise.
The mock-government was
in excesses
anarchy had
revelling
become
Pandemonium.
Pillageand imprisonment prevailed;
the representative
Aumale,
profanitypollutedthe streets.
e

"

of
nor

had

Catholicism, boasted

that

taken

for three

Sacrament

the

intend to do

until he had

so

he

was
army
world that

that he did not

years
all the King'sfollowers.
"

massacred

still cruder

Mayenne's

confessed

neither

and

"

violent.

more

To

they forced their

religion,
at the point of the sword, to baptize(forthey
parish-priests,
used this very word) their calves and sheep and pigs
their

show

the

they

had

no

hens

and

capons,

and

to

give them

the

of carps, trout,
the sacrilege
at

names

And

and salmon.
soles,turbot, herrings,
the
from
the altars,
plunder, the ransoms
poor people,
wrung
their
but
that
the
made
elements
were
a good Ligueur."
sport
.

had

Delirium

The

taken

hold

of

heat made

degenerate
had long since yieldedto
race.

summer,

Paris

"

the

insanity of

for

spring
everythingworse,
and July was
drawing to its

processionsin the streets grew wilder. Men and

would rise suddenly by night and rush straight
from

The

close.
women

their beds, pell-mellinto the streets, to wake

their priests
of them
out of sleepand force them
and cures
to lead numbers

through

the

town.

Great

shifts,side by side with hystericalnoblemen

with

children

such

was

"

the whole

common

grandees relaxed
as

ifit were

day,
figure:
or

the

that

of

Madame

interspersed

whirlingdishevelled onwards
these dog-days. Sometimes

sightin

Bacchanalia

and

train

their mood

the Carnival.

in white

ladies,hardly clothed, or

and

And
were

comfits at
than not,
often
more
gathered round one

de
407

threw

Montpensier
"

the

dressed

"

the

belles

by night
central
in

her

THE

LATER

YEARS

sheet,
penitential
forth to

came

in

OF

her,alone, and

see

DE'

trimmed

and

low

cut

CATHERINE
with

she it was

MEDICI

lace.

who

Crowds

set the fashion

processions.
mirth

But

there

all mirth

negationof
would

what

wore

festival clothes

mad
this

knew

her

rout

place of

those

Certain

mind,

that

Paris

it

was

for

was

laughing
wearing

seen

women

in

were

danger,and
idlysaid that
given up, as

had

servant

demoralized

and

knew

man

there ..."

was

laughing. The citywas

of suspicion.

owners

In

to

because

the

were

in the least gay was

held to be a
Cures
and preacherswarned
their

seized."

be

No

in

days

who

one

ordinarydays

on

nearly sacked
its

was

those

Royalist.
proclaimed that

rejoicingwould

seen

In

they

panic.

beware, and

flocks to

was

"

writes

face that

or
Politique,

or

the travesty of

"

laugh,"

to

in their revels

none

next.

come

dangerous
whoever

was

indecision,one
de

Madame

house

she had

it were,
at

person

least

Montpensier. She

de

lived in the Rue

Tournon, near the Pre-aux-Clercs,the heart

and seminaries
of ecclesiasticism,
where churches, monasteries

slope. In later days she boasted that it was she

who
projectedthe King's murder and prompted the monk,
half crazy
a
Jacques Clement, to perform it. Clement was
at by his fellows as
Jacobin,mocked
Captain Clement
who had been guiltyof some
mitted
a
religious,"
great crime comcrowded

the

"

"

"

"

in his

sin, he

monastery, and

had

perform some
high
Montpensierpersuaded him that

de

must

lady could

deceive.

not

On

the

his awful mission.

forth upon
at Saint-Cloud.
The
King was

beset

him

as

ordered him
of

He

success,

to

Madame

of the

King,
only promised

traitor

to

release the

evening of July
While

home

at

Cardinal

de Bourbon

proxy to
stood between

he

was

the

contemplatingthe

he

31,
the

abroad

from
religion,

Lyons, and, within sixtydays, either

else to send

Peter.

and

the

set

Ligue
Pope

the Archbishop

to appear

himself,

represent him, before the tribunal of St.

Scyllaand Charybdis yet, confident of
"

last to understand
seizure

of Paris.

his

That

danger.
same

He

was

July day,

he

standingat a window lookingtowards it. "It would

and lose such
a great pity,"he said meditatively,to ruin
I must
fine city. All the same,
get the better of the

had

murder

expiatehis

faith,would suffice. She not

accessible Cardinal's hat ;
heavenly rewards, but a more
he, being simple and untrained, believed that a great

and

be

the

of the

the enemy
him

or

told that, to
and holy deed.

been

been

"

408

THE

LATER

No
stood

Madame

de

mob

people.

CATHERINE

dead

than

at

his tomb

made

was

round

scarves

became

once

shrine

MEDICI

the Duchesse

Cordeliers' Church

they hung green

Clement

DE'

strange doings convulsed

Montpensierand

the steps of the

on

burial

OF

he

was

sooner

Paris.
the

YEARS

de Nemours

and

the

harangued

necks

of the

martyr.

And

the

frequentedin

"

most

after his

capital. The moralitythat men of that day owned to was

and vicious monk
is
than the immorality. Where
a mad
worse
the saint, and an unhinged duchess the prophetess,current
be those of some
must
limbo too undignifiedfor
standards
tragedy. The only relief in the whole business is that the
that a dynasty, perverse and
last Valois monarch
lay dead
at an
end.
There
little good interred
was
was
ungenerous,
the

"

its bones.

with
And
Paris

III needs

if Henri
can

Jurer
Et
Les

dessus

tuer

add

verite

Pour

meurtrir

Sont

les

runs

ferme

rares

du

nothingto

squib-writersof

; chasser

cil1

de

Guise,

qui l'aime,
plus grands zelateurs,

grand

Dieu

les

du

Roy

Henri

of those times.

it.
1

l'Eglise
maison

les Docteurs,

; menacer

vertus

lampoon

maintenir

de

appui, qu'est la

l'instant

S'ils disent

So

Dieu

son

plus

son

epitaph,the

an

it.

furnish

Celui.

410

Troisieme

We

of the

present need

XXIII
CHAPTER

of
End
The

la

Reine

Margot

XXIII

CHAPTER

the

III,
HENRI
King,

left

The

Ligue,

in

itself

lived, its warring

have

overborne

without

disagreed
In

the

de

Bourbon,
throne

the

to

As

it was,

Charles

did

he

later, in

years

corruption.
hood,
false-

of

Henri

While
him

in

under

faction

Ligue
King,

had

France

Mayenne

fell

asunder.

the

Cardinal
his

fight

to

of

would

he

ruled

had

and,

hand

have

own

discrowned

basis

strong

Navarre

and

1590,

But

and

the

its

months

weary

in

died

his

military

and

Chaos

against

faction, and

X,

so,

upon

would

proclaimed

through

three

the

clerical

claim.
until

with

world,

even

dissolution.

united

conflicts, and

it

Cardinal

The

had

all

meantime
as

of

the

the

and,

begun

seeds

the

Margot

him.

in

delay.
with

Chaos,

movement

elements

still been

Guise

Reine

behind

chaos

every

la

of

King

like

bore

of

End

The

way

of battle.

and

hardship
IV
disputed
unreigned with
real
security
reign in any
when
he formally embraced
Henri

not

1593,

Catholicism.
He
remained

in

have

always

towards

God
of

fortune

has

has

happy

granted

safety, where,

to

do

who

still

adhere

can

thanks

you
so

affection

with

have

you

that

me

harm

cannot

friends, and

disposed

the

keep

be

me.

in

grace
to

And

you

goodwill
413

great

will

in the

you
borne

happy

very

from

name

you

count.

tranquil life,and
the

last

lodged
the

that

remaining

my

me

storms

if I still have

particular,
all the

For

has

Him,

myself

the

it.

and

it fail

"

this

whom

says

did

have

you

efface

to

chosen
to

nor

him,

it for

I feel

friends, amongst

me,

not,

to

Valois

body,"

is, truly, what

wrote

And
shipwreck.
been
powerless

oldest

my

her

spirit
This
she

you

If

was

well.

know,"

that

"

that, like

him

troubles
my

of

heard

I hold

House

miserable

brave

faithfully kept

our

memory

have

"

'

achieve.'

can

spar
in that

captive,
passing

her

helped

heart

of

her

"

Usson.

at

de

Marguerite

Queen.

confinement

was

her, but

the

her

"

Brantome,

without

King

was

means

find

me

world."

five

years

in

an

of

all
to

Ark
our

help

here, well

THE

YEARS

LATER

The

"

choice of

been

her

used her endless

she

ship;
made

delightin

her

made

leisure for

DE'

the

best

of

reading,for
her

sang

garden ;

hardlybe

can

the lute ;

upon

and

choir

her

tranquillife

she

played

CATHERINE
"

the

but

own,

OF

and

said to have

dismal

fate.

deepening her

She

scholar-

troop of little children

verses

she

MEDICI

spent

took

she

hours

growing
writingto
a

in

husband.

her

they lived apart, they became the good friends

directly
to be.
that they were
meant
or
more
less,
They corresponded,
almost
not
till Margot's death, which
till 1615. Their
was
the
most
letters were
and
on
disagreeabletopics money
For

"

divorce

but

"

more

no

Both

were

always

they

were

on

her

is humble

tone

her

and

him

they

and

change

and

experiencehave

could

one

they
much.

too

high-falutina sign that

she wanted

"

form

me,

times
another

in their wit.
often brilliant,
And
Sometimes
affectionate of terms.

sometimes

earlier

and

grandiloquentvein

most

in

amused

creature/'she

your

am

"

racy,
most

the

something from
"

now

writingthem

off

leave

than

it is

says

on

me

occasion, when

one

"
"

familiar.

more

you can
howsoever

make

and

unmake

please.

you

in

Time

imprinted on my soul the wish that

I cannot
this should be so.
fortune
enough regret the great mishas
for years
which
prevented my
offeringyour
Majesty the gratitudewhich those years have produced in
had of
me
gratitudefor the exceedinghonour which I once
I was
over-full of youth and
Then, when
being near you.
vanity,I had the honour to pleaseyour Majesty and gain
Had
I but
praise.
possessed in those days my
your
of thankfulness,I know I should have made myself
present sense
more
worthy of so great and perfecta King."
"

"

are," she exclaims

You

brother, my

King

"

The

in another

"

; he knew

his

"

like her widower.

that
him

faithful

boast,
Divorce

some

d'Estrees,and

enable him

would

time

the

to marry

(faithfulla Henri
a

IV)

ere

his desire

we

know,

was

by

no

for

years.

414

is

means

divorce

who

kept

He could

for his demand.

abundant

as

thus become

amazing woman

ground
(a
Satirique Huguenot pamphlet,it

as

was

she wrote

for fourteen

to him

figuredrather

"

had

in Gabrielle

absorbed

that her warmth

say that she

while he
importunatewidow
He

father, my

my

If,indeed, she stood

request for money.

for anythingdefinable,we should
his widow

"

seems
complicated
relationship
Margot. Henri IV responds with

for the Reine

enough, even
My sister,"but his tone is cautious

always meant

note,

true)said

The
that he

had

less than

no

her

1592
idea

All

dallied

throne

the

upon

"

days.

bear

not

All the

as

and

it at

all

She

off the
thought of Gabrielle

the

"

the

to the winds.

could

same,

her

hated

prevent
to

stave

like

baggage

to get money
systematically

er

must

She

war,

between

years

lowest.

all she

addressed

her ; she

for

Margot fought

six

the

thrown

was

defamed

"

called her in after

love

did

could

She

of

her

at

frankness
she

"

moment.

But

felt she

divorce, she
lied

she

"

her

shows

boasted

Her

MARGOT

fair,she thought,in love and

was

transactions

the

in

1598

of the

costs.

evil

part

and

REINE

twenty-sixreasons.

sturdily
againstit.
and

LA

OF

END

THE

she

that,"

pretended a great
sister

My

she

as

favours

"

; she

used

Henri.

from

Pray believe," she writes to Gabrielle,when desirous to

to his
that my will conforms
entirely
gain leave of absence
wills in common,
I speak of your
and yours.
believingthem
to be so united that agreeingwith the one
means
agreeingwith
Do not mind my
the other.
talkingfreelyto you, as to one
whom
I look upon as more
than a sister ; whom, after the King, I
"

"

most

and esteem.

honour

put

so

much

in the

trust

assurance

that you love me, that I do not wish to take

gave me
I want
to ask anything of him.
other protector when
beautiful lips cannot
request coming from
any
your

you
any
For

fail,I know,

very affectionate and most

faithful friend
"

Gabrielle
for

answered

who

her,
was

; it

season

in power.

the

had

granted,and

was

than

Duchesse

the

least bitter

the

letters in due

Marguerite/'
easier

was

At last,after long
his desire.
Mar-

Vatican, Henri IV
impotent againstfate,and, in November,

divorce
more

her

the personage

was

with
negotiations

got

to be well received.

Your

"

she

dignity,as
announced

pillshe
did

de
had

her

her fate to

she

henceforth

was

Valois.

This

swallow, but

to

husband's

her with

letter.

to
was

1598, the
figureas no
perhaps not

she took

it with

he

himself

For

unction.
"

"

his letter
the Delegatessent by the
My Sister," runs
Holy Father to judge concerningthe nullityof our marriage
"

have

at

last

given the

contentment,

and

to

you

this

to

assure

upon
you

I do

of my

desired, to our
common
off
to put
any longera visit
about
first to tell you
it, then

sentence
not

occasion

we

wish
"

friendship.Meanwhile

Sieur de Beaumont, on purpose

have ordered him to tellyou, my
415

to

I send

perform this

you

the

office ; and

Sister,that if God

has allowed

LATER

THE
the bond

of

of the

of what

to be

this for

kingdom.
happened,

has

I did ;

than

OF

union

our

done

has
justice

good

YEARS

the

on

our

CATHERINE

but

personal repose,

well

as

I desire you to believe

I shall not cherish and

contrary, I shall show

in deed.

also

MEDICI

dissolved,it is because

for your concerns,

and shall make
of occasion that
I shall henceforth
in name,

DE'

And
.

you

only

not

divine

as

for the

that,

in

love you

more

care

feel

His

on

than
every

spite
less
ever

kind

be

your brother
tell you
that I

I must

pleasedby the ingenuityand candour of your

proceedings; and I hope that God will bless the rest of our
days with fraternal love, which, added to publicprosperity,
lives very happy. So console yourself,I beg
will make
our
of you, my Sister,with the hope of both these joys."
am

much

very

Fortune

time

short

ironical

was

was

her favourite, Henri IV.

A
within
determined, and
a few

throne, Gabrielle d'Estrees died

marriage
suddenly. She was
coming out from a sumptuous banquet,
given by a great financier,when death overtook her and put
end to her hopes and fears.
an
After such a satisfaction to her hatred, Marguerite could
afford to be a philosopher,and
accept with a good grace
Henri's marriagewith Marie de Medicis in that same
year, 1599.
Catherine's daughter had, after all,been trained by Catherine ;
she knew
that a King must
have an heir,and she had no objection
provided his new wife was royal. She was even present
that followed the wedding, and sat goodat the Coronation
temperedly upon her tabouret,as Fille de France, while her
the throne.
Her
should
sat
successor
doing so, we
upon
perhaps remember, implieda trip to Paris and entertainment
but it also implied generosity
at the King's expense,
; and
is
her
it
not
to
however
virtue,
impossible
topsy-turvy was
and her large-mindedness
admire it,and to enjoy her warmth
steps

and

to

even

after the divorce

of

the

"

sordid

amid

the

Next

year

their

hope

"

The

find

we

of

good,

of

waste

her

meanness

which

surrounded

her.

writingto congratulatethe pair upon

child.
the

happy

of the

news

Queen's expectations

will
me
Majesty to honour
be welcomed
joy and pleasure as by
by no one with so much
the person who
has most
since I am
helped to bring this
me
to
it is observable, by now,
She has come,
about."
regard
which

with

it has

pleased your

"

the

divorce

answers
"

My

as

her

own

doing.

It is Marie

de

Medicis

who

her.

Sister," she

"

says,

most

416

gladly did

I receive

the

THE

LATER

But

YEARS

declaration

the

goodwill
"

it

of your

even

get rid of
it now,

nor

bed

have

"

would

included

some

one

possessed." Margot

Elizabeth

shared

that she could not

it with

had

endure

endure

her

there

alone."
wept bitterly,

surely felt

returned

her
It

it,but

sunned

in her

was

an

kept

Eve

her

The

Brant
hands

time

ome

that
of the

account

in France, and
of St. Bartholomew.
The two
in her

her

by Margot's

affection.

little volume

written.

happened

the

have

had

woman

had

that

dearth

sent

she herself

and
.

blood

own

her

honoured

of Austria

Elizabeth

and

Margot
seeingher with

remembers

forward

"And, in truth," says one

she (Elizabeth)
greatlybelieved in her,and so

world

poor unloved
And
warmth.

events

her

by

twenty days and

for

Austria, came

half of her revenue,

been her sister."

and

the

as

of

and

them,

dearlyloved

ones.
creatingnew
faithful friend,the touching

great extremities

freelyall that

if she had

death

in

abandoned

accepted" the
knew

be

to

to offer to her

who

pleased you

except by

that her
it earlier,

her

almost

as

your

my

old worries

her

was

knowing

her

signof

to make
me
in the power of any
Majesty,to whom I would refuse

littleDowager-Queen, Elizabeth
and

the

as

me
life,to make
yielda jot of it."
no
probably harassed by debt, but she saw
way

blood

neither my
She was

"

me

MEDICI

"

creature, not
living

Was

which

to

DE'

marriage-contractit is not

in lieu of my

to

remained

has

for that which

as

CATHERINE

OF

it must

Queens
belong

heritageof memories that made them

Nor was
to one
another.
Margot fickle to old days,or ungrateful
her
her
who
in
straits.
to those
helped
and
had
lot
she lived no more
shut up
Meanwhile
her
changed
She stillintrigued she alwayswould have done so
at Usson.
In 1605,
but her intrigues
were
now
comparativelyharmless.
and thence paid a visit to Henri
to Villers-Cotterets,
she went
IV.
She begged his permissionto go and live at Boulogne.
shared

awful

an

"

The

climate

she

had

contracted

the habit of repose that

nineteen
years'seclusion would

her

"

all her actions could be known."

went

no

farther
In

of

one

plotsand

vent

for her

Mass

wishingfor

ever

So she told him, and, no doubt, she believed what

She would be very glad,"she added, " to be where

change."

she said.

in

"

her, and

having found good air,from

prevent her, once

a

suited

there

"

than

month

this
she

of lawsuits.

ambitions, she declared,

place of her
back

was

One

of Saint

sented.
con-

wholesome
ing
day, while she was attendhave

-SeVerin,news

418

Henri

desires.

againin Paris and the centre

They may

instinct.
fighting

at the Church

Her

been

was

brought her

END

THE

LA

OF

"

wished

have

to

victory a kind
legalskill on her
had

now

For

bouillet.
French

de

Vincent

that
particular,

the

"

was

her

Almighty for His

lived a literary
life.

the rest, she

in Paris
of the Hotel
a forebear

here she held what

Ram-

like the first of the

very

of all sorts,
Poets, wits, distinguished
spirits

Salons.

surrounded

sung

For

behalf.
Hotel

"

for
thanksgiving

as

receiptto

formal

of many.
She
church
only to

there, in

was

Deum

Te

of

"

She

It

of the Cordeliers.

go to that
she

MARGOT

it was
only one
gainedher case
from
almost
the
running
immediately,

that she had

left

REINE

friend of

her.

Paul

was,

Balzac

her

was

earlydays, her

in

secretary,and

almoner.

Tales

of

him

and attracted him to her, nor

generosityhad reached
To
he
this
of hers there came,
home
was
new
disappointed.
for him ; perhaps
too, the King, to enjoy the music she made
also her sumptuous
banquets. And, doubtless,fresh lovers
her

there too, but

Outside
her own

came

they ceased

She
than

in the

scorn

walls, her

four

handsomely. She was

lampoons upon her.

mocked
But

at

with which

important.
Paris

did

not

her

treat

by the populace; it lavished

passed

she

showed

never

to be

herself

she met

them
of

differen
in-

great lady
insolence.
people's

more

the

with

over

a.

Presentlyshe set to work to build herself a palace. It

in the Faubourg Saint-Germain, not far from the Pr"was
aux-Clercs.
Her last years were
spent in building,and in
the
of
gardens which delightedher. Her old sense
planting
her
returned
but
ill-luck
followed
her.
She
magnificence
chased
from
her
the
was
new
plague,and,
quarters by
away
for a while, she left Paris.
At first she retired to Issy,to
mature
her plansfor the future.
She was
in nowise cast down
;
her high spirits
deserted her and, from
never
her retreat,
she despatchedher usual sheets to Henry. She sent him, she
said, the bulletins of her vagabond fortunes,justto see if she
could make
him laugh.' We need have littledoubt that she
succeeded.
But country delights
not for her and directly
were
"

"

'

she

could

She had

temper

she returned

palace on

Paris.

inherited her mother's

all her

last hours

to

own.

Once

the left bank

in this world

energy, and she had a sanguine

life began for her afresh in a
Seine, and here she spent her

more

of the
"

which

was

so

neighbourhood to the Pre-aux-Clercs

Her
most

remaining days

were

divided

showy observance) and

the

retreat."
419

was

hers.
peculiarly
not

between

Her

without
"

pleasuresof

results.
devotion
(a
"

"

mundane

LATER

THE

YEARS

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

old when

she died, on
March
touched
Old
had
not
her
She
had
1615.
spirit.
age
force
lived well, but she had lived. She was
in
her
a
She

sixty-twoyears

was

The

only

only

one

survive
her
into

member

generous
who has left a mark

her modern,
vitalitytransmits
"

close exotic

Rabelais

should

already done
upon

have
"

so.

family,she

her

the world.

upon
mind
lives in

itself. She

rush

in

written
Fats

ce

note

Even

should

day.
the

now

of nature

of sunshine

"

not

memoirs

into

Abbey of Thelema,
epitaph. Perhaps he

que voudras

420

Her

the

her

her tomb.

is also

them.

brought

atmosphere, a
dwelled

She

room.
stifling

racy

of

27,

stand

and
has

large

XXIV

CHAPTER

Conclusion

CHAPTER

XXIV

Conclusion
died

SO

last

the

and

the

in

one

curiously blended.
Brant

rest.

fine

weather

been

company

her affection.
they gave
And
signally friendless.

this, although

left

them.

wives

de

Elizabeth

her

husband's

"

she

put

he

takes
soul

only
should

but
to

have

little count

of

their

husbands,

were

strong

more,

herself

Yet

slave

his

herself

Ambassador,

the

she

there

the

was,

was

and

alms,

did

To

keeps her
please him,
with
jewels

strange that he of all

wife, such
saint, indeed, that
a

to

in

"

Austria

load

her."

It

fittingpresent

possessed

upon

know

not

like

other

attraction

messenger,
where
to
saints

for

perhaps,

than

for

elsewhere

if

in

them,

they had

she

unable

herself

found

once

men

because

she

had

get it."

She

and
bad

other

days

and

they

loved

been

gentlemen

virtue.
What

of

had

left and

in

would"

of

him.

saint

she

men

of

for

had

enough

Elizabeth

to

weep

all that
gave
to bestow
a
not

"

she

envoy,
love."

her

does

as
*

make
or
garments,
tell the truth," concludes

gorgeous

But,

lady deep

dress, she

hated

on

table."

at

him

ashamed

not

her

moves

than

III

Henri

was

were

brothers

royal

two

and

Venetian

and

hearts

relations

for

IX,

Nothing

says
like a

her

Court

no

had

near

more

even

Charles
"

feeling.

upon

although
and

for

other

her

cared

presence,"

fixed

eyes

Lorraine

of Austria

show

to

mourned

who

Louise

But

the

than

were

they

"

most

were

beloved

more

Austria

of

Elizabeth

and

no

had

mother

and

'Medici,

de'

Catherine

of

father

whom

Marguerite

ome

comrades,

children

the

of

flowed

tears

courtiers.

was

Epernon.

favours
was

There
After

monstrous

and

needful

to

the

but

so

went

add

that

upon
his

was
over

he

one

death

concentrated

were

master

was

him

to

did

merely the tears

that
of his Mignons
left, and
foolish
of Joyeuse, all Henri's
wealth
his single head.
His

position.

the
not

423

were

Yet

he

deserted

Politiques. It seems
for the sake
join them

his

hardly
of any

THE

LATER

YEARS

principle. After
reverted

we

the acutest
Valois.
It is when
her

Catholicism.

judge
may
condemnation

built for them.

"

of Henri

every
she

then the

that

of the

refused

men

later did

to

come

we

in death

Paris

sent
con-

had

that she

in the tomb

to be buried

She

"

in

woman

who

son

brutality.She

repaidher
had

"

solitude.

had
am

God

be

He will not let

many.
what I pray of His mercy
befits my
as
age."

"

had

the

of her

sense

to

never

possess

death,

five years before her

it would
as
strange to me
some

pitifulto

me

cared for her ;

cold and unrelieved

never

accustomed

much

so

will

by
she

see

who

have

of them

die.

me

more

but

reallyloved

had
had

who

devotion

sorrows

unspoiledjoy,"she wrote
that it does not seem
so

another.

She

Europe.

twice in her life : firstthe husband

"

de' Medici

Mignons

worst

died weary, weak, deserted, deep in debt

for defeated, every
that she had
made
feeling
cerely
sinmost
had cherished crossed and thwarted
the

hated

an

III, the

more

one

The

aim

that

own

his friends.

family. Even
only many
years

to allow her bones

again and

round

furnished

friendless of her

and
hospitality,

MEDICI

DE'

He

by

man

to Catherine

turn

we

CATHERINE

death, he veered
a

are

the most

Henri's

orthodox

to

proof that

OF

and that He will allow

lost

to
so

That
to

me

do

is

depart,

impossiblenot to feel compassion for her, and yet our

us
with dust and wellnigh chokes
very compassion is mixed
in the parched and arid atmosphere surroundingher.
More
than three centuries have gone by since Catherine died.
Why
It is

does

she

just

as

"

still affect

she affected her

Chaine

de

Crimes

d* Enfer Anieine"

us,

who

can

were

among
de Medicis, Royne de France.

"

yet there

is usual.
the

word

centre

The

are

allowances

The

"

Circe

of Catherine
a

Florentine,

with
posterity,

no

such

these witticisms.
for her greaterthan

endorse
made

nurslingof scheming Popes

of heartless

love meant.

to be

Cimetiere"

Discord,"

et

the current anagrams

The hatred of her as

foreigner,
sharpened publicabuse
added grievance,
would nevertheless

clearly,

more

de

Dance

Haine

And

"

generation?
dite,"

her

see

ambitions, she

never

and

their relations,
the
what
knew

fervour of self-interest was

that she got from the peopleabout her,and

feeling

the warmest
feuds
political

pollutedthe air round her very cradle. That she would have
human
is shown
responded to something more
by her unforgettinggratitudeto the Nuns of the Murate in Florence,
shelter from
outer
whom, as a little girl,she found
among
424

THE
"

LATER

and

YEARS

OF

CATHERINE

MEDICI

DE'

ifshe gave the very kingdom, men

would onlysay that
what did not belongto her.
Every singleresolution

so

she gave
of peace

which has not pleasedthe nation has been

or
war
laid at her door."
Most
hostile ones,
even
contemporaries,
did her the justiceto recognizeher main
The
purpose.
"

Queen-Mother pursued peace

the

diarist,Hat

fro,now

of

Neither

inch," says he,

have

And

Tavannes

lengthand

the

adds

Ligue

and

to

gone

water,

his testimony.

could

move

ence
Nevertheless, her influ-

used

to cry when, in later years, she

if her advice had but been taken, the

in which,
might have been avoided.

plain. Even
Queen-Mother now

more

no

the

nor

her."

without

spoke of the way

of this

has

Throughout

Huguenots

failed to tell. She

civil wars

it she

said that she alone bore fire and

the
"

strong step," comments

achieve

to

in her hand."

war,

"

with

to another.

now

France, men

and

peace

and

on,

to one,

breadth

an

"

Her death made

the truth
"

We
peopleacknowledged it.
to make
peace,"they exclaimed,

the

after she had

gone.
quest for peace, fine though it was, leaves us cold.
admire
her energy
distrust her.
The
we
courageous

Yet
We

this

"

journey is spoiledby the goal it

welfare of the kingdom for which
establish

safety.
that
of

she

that
"

balance

The
has

power

deceived

with

the

the

Catholic

other hand, the Catholics declare that if she had

the Huguenots, they would
have dared
never
To fallbetween

the

not

was

she strove ; she

ensured
which

while, all

their destruction

It

foughtto
her

own

(again we quote Correro)

by fine words, and by her

them

kindness

for.

"

"

Huguenots

mendacious

weaving

of

made

time, she

say
air
was

On

the
King.
not encouraged
to

go

so

far."

whatever
ignominiousperformance,
the reason
for falling,
and compromise,to be a noble game,
must
be played for a big motive.
Catherine fell for the sake
of a selfish policy,
the lust for sovereignty.
and her motive was
Her hard fate would have requiredabnormal
to overcome
qualities
she was,
it. Kings and Queens have been as mean
as
disinclined
and with less excuse.
feel so
Why is it that we
show
to
her
? that
in these days of whitewash
mercy
and
muster
no
can
sympathy to
easy-going width, we
The
warm
or the Queen ?
us, no
compunction for the woman
answer
hardly lies in her crimes. The greatest of them,
two

stools is

an

"

that of St. Bartholomew's

Eve,

was

the rest

necessity. By
by political

problem

will not

be solved.

forced upon her by fear ;

her actions, as such, the

It is because

426

they are

symptoms

CONCLUSION

malady, of somethingthat liesdeeperthan themselves,

that they fillus with horror of their author ; and if we would
must
account
for our
we
probe deeper,until we reach
feeling,

of mortal

the seat

of the

Catherine's
the world

mischief.

negation.

malady was

historyis that

of

she

Her

was

itselfrang hollow ; she went about

no
peace ; she took the shadow

work
was

baleful distinction in

nothingpositive. Her
cryingpeace where there
for the

substance, the

lack of impulse; her

Her very vices meant
for the age.
cruelty,lack of humanity ; her violence not passion,but the
with her virtues.
Her largewant
of it. And it is the same
ness
moment

slackness ; her kindness

equivalentto

was

absence

of

contempt

discernment,
for human

nothing mattered, a
to
highest,it amounted
lazy good-nature. And so with

sense

nature.

implied an

that

At

benevolence

; at

her boasted

after her, she

serenity
; like others, before and
philosophy with indifference, and she hated

confounded

lowest, to

enthusiasm.
Catherine

was

immoral

never

word, but, again,her moralitywas

it stood
for

dearth

dislike of

About
she

for

excess

not

of instinct and
"

virtue she did not

sense

purity; on

the

of

natural caution
care

at

all ;

of the

strict

in the

warmth,
a

"

taste

but, with

on

side,
the other,
one

for

etiquette.
other cynics,

cared

greatlyfor appearances, and her cult of respectability

the
her
she
became
like
Nor did
corruption
superstition.
of good manners
her
behaviour.
court
school
for
was
a
;
Elizabeth of England, though as outwardly severe, was
by
That
Catherine.
as
no
means
respectableas
courageous
and non-enduringwoman,"
her ['dear sister of France
as
called her, had vanity to keep her human.
It was
a quality
which also made her pettier
than Catherine, who
had no spark
of such a failing.Elizabeth was
positive
enough in her nature,
but she shared the sceptical
temperament of the Humanists.
Catherine's toleration was
than her honesty.
no
more
significant
It sprang from laxity,
not
of conviction.
It was
incapability
like that of Elizabeth, who, although indifferent as to creed,
believed that the art of government
consisted in holding the
balance.
Catherine's coldness merelyused religions
as political
in
It might
the
of
pawns
maintainingpersonalpower.
game
be said that she did so more
and at a greater
even
treacherously
cost than Elizabeth,for she began with
and perhaps carried
"

"

"

her grave
for Protestantism
a stronger intellectual taste
than
belonged to her fellow Queen in England. And Eliza-

to

"

427

THE

YEARS

LATER

beth,

least, had

at

touched

attendance

rigorous about
gentlemen and
enactment
"

ladies

should

devotions

be

to

means

did

as

at

and

means

with
her

ends.

no

big centre

no

falsehood.

scattered

it

made

"

dilatoriness."

and
want

She

end

The

Catherine

the moment

as

national

"

fair in her eyes, but

and

lend

was

all

prompted,
grandeur to

nothing to give unity

was

to

all her

fears.
of this

point of concentration
with foolhardy
vacillations,
alternating
dwells on
her
imprudence and
"

Tavannes

rashness.
her

walked

full of

so

Easter

Court.

one

for herself.

She

the

the

seemed

means

not

There

her

had

focus her outlook

to

was

she

was

efforts,hopes

Perhaps
which

it

gained it

such

for money
from
the Clergy
with the orthodox.
here
And
Elizabeth.
The
Englishwoman

greatness. To reach it,every

she

decreeingthat

bid

to
again she is a contrast
was
unscrupulousenough, but

when

MEDICI

perform their

not

expelledfrom

once

favour

curry

Church,

at

probably a

was

DE'

practicalecclesiastical Reform,
She
refuge in observance.
hardly
the priests,
but she was
increasingly

of

morals

the

CATHERINE

faith in

took

Catherine

while

OF

embarks/'

She is more
ship-biscuits.

astounded

deceived

astound.

She

has

many."

An

impersonal aim

says,

than

and

some

"

he

would

without

those she wishes

has

deceived

been

have

steadied

her

any
to

by
and

her vision.

cleared
Her

rashness

like courage ; her energy like public

what they appeared. Physicalpluck

looked

spirit.Often they were

deserted

She

her.

would

plunge into danger in the

like any
trenches,
Captains/' Why should she
than they did," she said, since her spirit
spare herself more
And
she was
was
capable of an
quite as high as theirs ?
A retired
imperialboldness towards a laggard in the race.
tells how
one
night she suddenlyappeared,closely
politician
to force him back
to publiclife.
veiled, at his country-house,
It ill behoves a good citizen/'she cried, to sit at his ease,
shut up in his study and his garden,while outside a hurricane
of a nation's storm."
her
But
is blowing the whirlwind
never

"

of

"

her

"

"

"

"

"

moral
draw
She

initiative

rare

; she

had

no

from

source

which

to

decision.
was

past she

cynic.
wiped out

believe in.
them

was

She

as

but

one

inconvenient

tense

the

"

present. The

; the future

she

did

not

thingsas they might be ; she saw

less than they were
and so, missing
as
truth.
Greatness
missed
would, for her,

never

they were
she
possibilities,
as

She had

saw

"

"

428

CONCLUSION

in her

eyes.

strung

mind

made

She

There
prudence for wisdom.
and down her correspondence so proverbial
of the people, so craftythat a Court

mistook

she

"

up
almost

be

to

as

"

contain

which
inspirethem
her
limited
shortsightedinsight,
reveal her
such
will sufficiently
could

alone

manifold

non-existent
blunder
of a low-

were

fundamental

the

sayingsscattered

are

ideas

impossible,because

been

have

"

the

of

essence

shrewdness.

Three

or

stray gleaningsfrom

her
four

her

letters.

It is better to desire what

one

do until

can

one

do

can

what

desires.

one

grasps at anything,even
make
with fine words, for you must

drowning

Fill

a man

you well-contented.
There is no person

by

trick that

some

The

from

harvest

he

has

the

was

We
the counterpart of Catherine.
Revolution, but there
great French
the

the birth

no

leave

one

Revolution

Ligue and the Ligue

have compared it to the
"

is this vital
the

was

difference

at
conflagration

an

Dust

and

they were

world,

in the

for

of Catherine

death

The

every

Idea ; it was
the beginningof an era.
The
cabals that meant
a bonfire of rubbish, of wretched
Were it to the devil himself they could have been of

of

Ligue was
nothing.
no
import.
trace

The

two.

serpent.

that you can

surprisehim
dreamed
of heretofore.

not

seed

such

but

clever

so

was

between

at

man

age of the Renaissance.

the dawn of modern
came

to dust

good

or

closed
And

an

with

epoch ; with her

the reignof Henri

But

times.

they returned, leaving

evil.

how

much

died the
IV there

of the modern

is grounded upon
the all-important
sixteenth century
spirit
is a
wellnigh incalculable problem. We are the heirs of
that fructifying
period; its sap flows fresh in our veins, and

each
the

of

one

us

is based

Reformation.
"

vinists, with
Reformation.

Some

more
"

or

less upon
"

(or without)a God

partake wholly of the
Others
Hedonists, pedants,Materialists,pursuing
"

"

knowledge or pleasure as an end

much
absorbed
in living feed
"

from
main

time

and

Puritans, Reformers, zealots, Cal-

else too
alone.

the Renaissance

divorced

from

or
life,

the Renaissance
upon
Either extreme
is mistaken, either crippled
when apart
the other.
Both
but
movements
are
symbols of two
currents

"

of

of the world's

human

nature

which

history: the need for

found
true

voice

at

that

enjoyment, the

need for true belief ; the aspiration

of the mind towards achievement,
towards
and of the spirit
the unachievable.
The cur429

YEARS

LATER

THE

CATHERINE

OF

DE'

MEDICI

widely diverse,often opposed in their course.

did not know
it,they were
yet, althoughfor long men
goal and using a common
making towards a common
That watchword, that goal,is freedom.
On
rents

And

are

are

"

"

word.
watch-

the one
off
tradition
shackles
of
the
and
threw
the
Scholiasts ;
hand, men
and
ecclesiasticism.
of
Both
the
resolved
on
other,
priestcraft
to do without
middlemen, and to look at Truth face to face.
Such
of those
had

permanent
great movements

two

of man's

thought. But they

corruptionand to accident.

mortal

body also,subjectto
subject to corruptionthan
these bore
of decay which

More
germs

the semblance

and
invisible,
and

full of intellectual
de* Medici

Catherine
She

part, the enduring livingsoul,

the

was

the

was

to

daughterof

themselves
them

It

the sixteenth

century ;

of Renaissance

From

its degradationof

"

were

ing
enchant-

was

of the words.

sense

the

the destinyof
either influence.

was
glamour.
the poisonof

imbibe

she derived its abuses

Reformation

bodies, since

within

that concealed

Reformation, in the worst

and

other

the

religion

politicsits gross polemic materialism, the more

nicious
perFrom
the Renaissance
for priestlyvestments.
she
inhaled its stagnant Paganism
its cold curiosity its stupid
into

"

"

blindness

to

but

aught

the

"

senses

its foolish

"

worship

of

wilderness.
Such were
the
a boundless
breathed
forth
she
and
miasmic
fumes that
absorbed,
again to
world
lived
deadlier
she
in.
There
the
are
blight
poisonsthan

golden calf

those that lurk in

than

that

in

set up

which

perfumed gloves;
these deal to

men.

deadlier death
It is the death of the

there is

ideal ; of faith in man

the real murders
were

; of faith in

History providesno

text for the sermons

theological
it
sometimes, unconsciously,

moralists, but
us

certain moral

laws.

of the

woman

It is

anythingoutside
accused

of

him.

scores

These

of others.
of

scious
con-

reveals to

medium

is doomed

for them, not a pulpit.

for its sins to forfeit the

If any person, any age,

meed
of immortality,that age is the
that person is Catherine de' Medici.

430

reignof

the last Valois

"

HISTORICAL

OF

SUMMARY

FROM

EVENTS

1562"
FRANCE

OF

KINGS

(1560-1574)

IX

CHARLES

Elizabeth

Married

III

HENRI

Austria.

of

(1574-1589)

Louise

Married

1589

of Lorraine.
SOVEREIGNS

CONTEMPORARY

GREGORY
(1566-1572).
(1585-1590).
FERDINAND
I (1556-1564).
MILIAN
MAXIOF
A USTRIA
RUDOLF
II
II
(1576-1612).
(1564-1576).
II
PHILIP
(1556-1598).
ELIZABETH
(1558-1603),

POPES.

EMPERORS

PIUS

PIUSIV(i559-i566).
SIXTUS
(1572-1585).

XIII

SPAIN.
ENGLAND.

1564.

Treaty

of

start

on

1565.

Catherine

Return

1565-6.

1569.

The

1570.

Peace

Death

"

57

1.

1572.

out

an

between

Conde)

Constable,

Paris

to
Anne

from

Court

Battle

"

de

Saint-

of

Montmorency.
flee

"

and

the

of

Flight

"

Longjumeau
defeated
Huguenots

Rochelle.

La

to

killed

Battle

"

of

Saint-Germain.

of

Court

to

comes

"

the

between

Negotiations

and

King

Netherlands.
in

Operations
Navarre,
her

reconciliation

Conde
Coligny and
at
Jarnac ; Conde
defeat
of Coligny.

of

Coligny
the

by
the

of

Moncontour

breaks

war

(threatened

Denis

holds

and

Spain,

of

Coligny.

religious

Meaux

Peace

her

and

IX

Charles

and

France.

through

journey

Catherine

"

"

Second

1568.

English

daughter, Elizabeth
Alva
with
at
Bayonne.
at
a
journey
Attempt
public

Guises

the

1567.

their
meets

interview

the

with

Troyes

son,

(June)

"

the

Netherlands
Blois

to

comes

Henri,

with

"

Eve

de

Marguerite

of
Marriage
(August 18)

Bartholomew's

begin

"

Transactions

"

Henri

de

Murder

of

France

the

(August

23-24)"

Peace

La

of
of

Death

"

Navarre

and

Civil

of

Jeanne
guerite
Mar-

Princess

and

Coligny

Queen
marriage

Jeanne,
for

of

Massacre
War

breaks

St.
out

again.
1573.

Siege

of

La

elected

marriage

Rochelle
the

to

of

"

throne

Alencon

of
of

with

Queen
431

Rochelle

Poland

"

"

The

Due

Negotiations

Elizabeth.

d'Anjou
for

the

SUMMARY
1574.

HISTORICAL

OF

The

plots of Alencon
against the King
for

marriage

Escape
plots Escape
Monsieur
in the

577-8-

War

"

out

"

Paris

on

Blois

at

Paix

"

de

Catholics

"

Catholics

"

from

the

in

de Bergerac (September) Alencon

the Protestants
and
anti-Spanish

Paix

"

advances

accepts

Netherlands

to reconnoitre

de

Marguerite

"

Alencon
their Prince
Consternation
as
independent action.

Navarre

arrives there and

of French
Court

"

"

is

goes

recognized

at Alencon's

quarrels of the Mignons Creation of the

starts on
her journey
Saint-Esprit Catherine
with
of Pacification
her daughter, Marguerite.
de Bellegarde Catherine
succeeds
Conspiracy of the Marechal
in pacifyingthe South
Alencon
retires from the Netherlands
Goes
to England.

1578. Ascendency
Order

1579.

Navarre's
of
Insurrection

ascendant.
breaks

there

Court

March

States- General

(April,1576)

Coconnas,

Lorraine.

the

"

and

Continued
actions
transof Henri
III ; his
"

Marguerite de

"

from

Princes, allied to Conde

both

de

the Court

Navarre

of

"

from

Mole
IX

Return

"

of the Cardinal

of Alencon

J575~6-

Charles

of

English marriage
Death

"

Navarre, of La

and
Death

"

EVENTS

and

"

of the

"

"

"

"

5 80- 1.

Civil

War

in France

again

Fleix

Guerre

"

des Amour

Peace of
and
Alencon

eux

(November, 1580) Agreement between

the Anti-Spanish party in the Netherlands
there
His second
visit to England (1581).
"

"

His

"

expedition

"

1582.

Alencon

in

claim

1583*

Netherlands

the

Portugal

on

"

sends

defeated off the Azores.

towards
Alencon's bad conduct
attack
of

where

he

His

"

fleet to

puts forth her

support it It is
"

the

His
reckless
Netherlands
disaster that followed
(Folly

the

and

Antwerp

upon

Antwerp)

Catherine

again

and

"

the

from

inglorious retreat

Netherlands,

had

accomplished nothing.
The
Prince
in the
of Orange is murdered
First beginningsof the Ligue of Paris.
Netherlands
Publication
of the Ligue throughout France.
of
1585. Prominence
between
the
its great Manifesto
of
Guises,
Treaty
Joinville,
and
de Bourbon
the Cardinal
Spain Henri III refuses the

1584.

death

Alencon's

"

"

"

"

offers of the

1586.

Protestants
with

Guerre
under

1588.

Guise

Guise

and

des

trots

Joyeuse
comes

"

The

Guise

submission

States-General

at

forced

III

Navarre

"

in

of the

King

is killed

"

Ligue

"

The

"

to Chartres

to the
Blois

the

defeats

"

Day
His

Henri

Ligue

"

His

murder

of

"

of the

Barricades

negotiations with
III

the

summons

Guise

of Terror

and
"

of

his

in Paris.

brother, the Cardinal de Guise

Reign
in Paris,
de' Medici
Revolution
Continued
of Catherine
Death
with Mayenne as militaryleader of the Ligue Reconciliation
Navarre
The
of the King with
King intends to take Paris
"

1589.

co-operate
temporary alliance

into

King's army
there.
Joyeuse
spite of the King's prohibitionand

at Coutras

the

Nemours.
of Denmark

de

Christian

Ligue.

Henri

revolt

flightof
and

the

Paris

to

organizes the

Henri

"

Paix

"

under

Europe

Navarre

with

1587.

Netherlands

of

"

"

"

"

Murder

of the

King by Clement,
432

Jacobin monk.

AUTHORITIES
Students

of

the

covered

period

volumes

numerous

CONSULTED

of

Archives

the

book

this

by

should

Curieuses

V Histoire

de

the

consult

de France
,

and

of

the

Revue

authorities

contemporary
be

found

their

picture

of

marked

here

their

for

helpful,whether

The

Bibliothdque Historique.

Retrospective,ou

with

asterisk

an

historical

will

importance,

also

for

or

society.
CONTEMPORARY

"d'Albret, Jeanne

Lettres
.

France,

de

VHistoire

{Societtde

de

1877).
Angoulfime, Chevalier
"d'Aubigne, Agrippine

de

de.

Memoires

Universelle

Histoire

de

Alphonse

{Baron

Ralle, 1886).
Saint

Barthelemi

"Beza
Brantome

(Oeuvres

Bourbon,

Henri

Bourbon,

Henri

spective
{Revue RetroAuthentiques sur
ou
BibliothiqueHistorique,vol. v.)
Histoire
Eglises R6Ecclesiastique des
and
formees
Cunitz,
{Baum
1883).
{Lalanne, 1864).
Memoire
Justiricatifde.
Documens

de)

de
.

de

Conversation

Henri

de

Bourbon

de

et

Catherine
serie

Binet, Claude

Vie

Capalupi,

Le

Camille

2,

Medicis

les

Medicis

Avis

Medicis

Dieu

Charles
de

de

Comte

the

by

et

de

Documents

de

Collection
VHistoire

sur

VHistoire

de

rebelles

de, 9 vols., edited

de

France.

IX

{Archives

France,

Cimber

Curieuses
et

de

Danjou,

viii.

vol.

Catherine

IX

Charles

de

ruse

Huguenots

Ferriere.

intdits
de

la

ou

lui.

Lettres
la

Catherine

ii).

Ronsard.

de

de

vol.

stratagerne
contres

"Catherine

{Revue Retrospective,

Medicis

de

Discours

deportements
vol.

et
vie, actions
Curieuses,
{Archives

merveilleux

de

de

la

ix.).

Catherine

de

Medicis

Compte

de

Catherine

de

Medicis

Lettres

et

Charles

IX

Charles

IX

Depenses

Charles

IX

Vie

Charles

IX

Viede, Papyrius

Podmes

travailler

faisait

etc., par

{A r chives Curieuses)
MeTe
la feu Royne
.

de

exemples
elle

comme

de

Depenses

Barthelemy

factures,
manu-

aux

de

Laffenas.

de.
de

{Archives Curieuses,

de, Sorbin

vol.

{Archives Curieuses,

viii.).
vol.

viii.).
vol.

Charles

IX

Trepas
vol.

Masso

viii.).
et obseques
viii.).

434

de

{Archives Curieuses,
{Archives Curieusts,

AUTHORITIES
Chatillon,l'Amiral

de

CONSULTED

Ordonnances
taire

Choses notables
de l'histoire
"Conde

et

dignes

Archives

d'eclaircissement
et
de Thou,
l'histoire. Par

preuves

Collection of Records, Letters, etc.,

"Goulart, Simon

*Haton, Claude

Part

by Pocock,

Memoires
Memoires

de l'Etatde
de

II

the

of

History,
1865).

Oxford,
France

sous

Charles

IX.

ments
(1533-82),(Bourquelot, Docu-

inidits, 1857.)
d'honneur
de, a un
personnage
et
(Memoires d'Etat de Villeroi,Michaud

III
.

in

to

edited

de

milidiscipline

de, servant

referred

Henri

la

Londres
(1743).
tion,
Journal of (Burnet's Historyof the Reforma-

VI

*Henri

sur

Curieuses.

Memoires
de

Edward

Militaires

(Archives Curieuses).

Discours

Poujolat, 1850).
de (Archives Curieuses, vol.

Pologne

Couronnement

ix.).

Henry

III.

"Hotman
La

La

Vie

Mole

Declaration
le re tour du

et Coconnas
de

seigneursde Pologne
en

sur

France.

de Chatillon.

Criminel

(Archives Curieuses,

de

viii.).

Journal

Roi

de l'Amiral

Proces
vol.

"L'Estoile,Pierre

des

(Collectionde

de

de

Memoires

Petitot, 1826).

Ligue (Historiesof)

Histoire

de

Ligue depuis le 2 Janvier

1585, jusqu'au jour des barricades, le
Nicolas
Poulain
12
Mai,
1588. Par
(Archives Curieuses, vol. xi.).
Histoire
tres-veritable
de ce qui est advenu
Paris depuis le 7 Mai, 1588, jusqu'au
a
dernier
jour de juin ensuivant, audit a
Paris, 1588 (ArchivesCurieuses, vol, xi.).
Amplification des
particularity qui se

la

passerent

Paris, Mai,

1588 (Archives

Curieuses, vol. xi.).

Histoire

de

la

Paris, du
Documens
Due

Mai, 1588

12

vol.

des

Journee

de

tive,
(Revue Retrospec-

iv.).
l'assassinat

authentiques sur
Cardinal

et

barricades

Guise

de

(Revue

des

spective,
Retro-

vol.

iii.).
historiquessur

Documens
Due

Cardinal

et

de

[l'assassinatdes
Guise

(Archives

Curieuses, vol. iv.).

"Marguerite de
"Marguerite de
Marie

Valois
Valois

Stuart

Lettres

....

"Relations

des

deurs

Venitiens

affaires
seizieme

de

Memoires
Lettres

Ambassasur

France

de

(Caboche).
(Guessard).
inedites de (Labanoff,
1829).
de

Collected

les
au

siecle)
435

and

translated

by Tomasso,

1838.

AUTHORITIES
"Tavannes

CONSULTED

du
Memoires
Marechal
de Saulx,
Guillaume

(Michaud

de, by
Seigneur de

Nouvelle

hi9

son

nes
Tavan-

Collection

de

MSmoires, 1850).
MODERN

Acton, Lord

Historical Lectures.
of St. Bartholomew's
Massacre

....

British

Armstrong
Bagnevault

The

....

Puchesse.

de

French

Wars

Historical

Les

de

Princes

de

Dictionnaire

Bersier, Eugene

to

Modern

de

la

Coligny.

de
of

Medicis.

Introduction
Marguerite de Valois.

.
.

The

to

Courtships of Queen

Historical

Introduction

....

et Rambaud
Erich

Histoire
.

Gaspard

....

Martin

Histoire

Michelet
Ranke
Sainte-Beuve
Whitehead

la Claviere

....

....

Memoires

Elizabeth.
Lettres
to

Medicis.
Generate.

Catherine

de

de

the

Historical

Martin
Ferridre

Memoires

History
Papacy.
Coligny.
Jeanne d'Albret.
History of England.

....

Hume,

to

Vie de

....

Guessard

Maulde

de

History
Catherine

Delaborde
Freer, Miss
Froude

Marks,

Relations

l'Europe :

Biogra phicalIntroductions
Marguerite de Valois.

Cambridge
Capefigue
Creighton

Lavisse

Lettres

Medicis.

de Medicis.
Catherine
de
Brantome.
Femmes

Bouchot
Caboche

La

Religion.

de.

de

Gaspard

Bouchot

(North

Venitienne.

Diplomatic
Bayle

of

Introductions

Catherine

Baschet, Armand

Eve

Review, 1869).

de

von

de
de

Femmes
.

Coligny
France, vols. viii. and

Histoire

de

History

of the

Causeries

Gaspard

436

du
de

ix.

la Renaissance.

France, vols. ix. and

Popes.

Lundi.

Coligny

x.

de

de

INDEX

d'Union,

Acte

375

181,

Lord,

Acton,

Alava,

76, 89,

75,

24,

21-2,

104,

121

d',

Due

Alencon,

98, 125,

leadership

part
imprisonment,
from

release

"

"

278

relations

with

283,

277,

218-20

relations

to

288,

296,

to

attempt
is

"

Due

made

de

Due

death,

"

198,
has

"

"

Andelot,

"

Elizabeth

307
Elizabeth

Queen

of, 197

236, 289

233,
337

286,
332,

336
196

Bacon,

de'

Catherine

Baif,

112

Ballads,

Portugal,

108,

to

magic,

153,

153

12

Barricades,

the

Bastille,

222,

Bayonne,

7,

126,

16, 28, 32,

59,

14,

19,

157,

69,

Beauvoir,

130,

334,

437

Peace

Bernard,

Fr"re,

Berquin,

29

Berri,

198,

de, 63
131

340,

Nicholas,

Bergerac,

28-9

23,

196

evre,

Berauld,

?"':

403

130

343,

286

352

de, 325-7

Bellegarde, Marechal
Berne,
179-80, 190

199

Ange, Frere, 341

Angers, 306
Angoulfime,
374
Marguerite d\

372,

303,

Dame

Belli

199

43,

112,

of, 368-70

day

11,

Beauvais,
Bedford,

56, 58,

32,

419

Bar-le-duc,

Beam,

of, 45
18,

Balls, State,

227

2"Z7

104,

210-11

154-5,
and

Ballets

295

10,

214

300,

France

Emperor

Azores,

in

6,

of, 29
of, see

Avignon,

301-3

308,

307,

of, 5,

76-7,

"

Eleanor

of, 64

Peace

Amyot,

"

125

Edict

"

298,

d', 395
of, 91,

of, 296,

John

Don

of

219,

Netherlands,

of

conspiracy

"

401,

305

recourse

Amboise,

388,

187,

281

of, 13-23,

Duke

d', 55,

Arch-duke

Balzac,

III

(note)

79

Marechal

Aumont,

of, 402

oath

286

of, 332

Due

Aumale,

343

Allegiance,
Alphonso
Alva,

317

283, 306, 332-3

282
him,
poison
286
d'Anjou,
Brabant,
336

Medici,
"

297,

with

negotiations

"

190

Auch,

231

Marguerite,

Angers,

to
"

Attin,

"

Dreux,

to

286,

union

Austria,

Germain

imprisonment,

followers,

escape

"

of, 295

Apanage,
217,
Arnay-le-duc,

"

St.

and

"

282

218

of

Plot

in

his

help,

Huguenots

of

Protestants,

and
"

for

to

accepts

"

286"

204-5,

of, 336

407

335
Elizabeth

3".

appeal

with

marriage

for

Elizabeth,

"

334

270-1,

217,

negotiation

"

"

337

Folly

sack

Arras,

character,

"

98,

appearance,

270

217,

Don,

Antwerp,

234

16,

9,

see

of

III

Henri

France

203

199,

194,

Antonio,

381
Agen,
Aigues-Morte,

d',

186

d', 180,

Chevalier

Angouleme,
Due
Anjou,

29

of,
247

290,

301,

332

204

INDEX

397-8,
Bordeaux,

155. 35o, 355, 397

to

Spain, 16, 137,

personal appearance,
unpopularity, 209

"

203

Queen
compared
of England, 71, 428
rhymes concerning, 210

"

232,

Huguenot, 2 1 1
her efforts for peace, 286-7, 313,
315, 317-8, 322, 326
her claim to Portugal, 337
letters of, 20, 21, 23, 35, 56, 58,

her

"

"

"

"

"

7i,

344

403

Caen, 353
Calvin, 5, 36, 43, 56, 147, 271
Calvinists, 205, 318, 354
Cambrai, 299, 335, 353
Canterbury Cathedral, 121
Carlos, Don, 19
Casimir, Duke, 63, 296, 307
Cateau-Cambresis, Treaty of, 44
de'
Medici,
Catherine
governing
of,
6, 125, 228
power
Regency of, 223-4
the

policy towards

"

212,

and

pluck, 313,
motive, 426

endurance,

319

energy

313,

74, 233-4,

256,
369,

249

220

200,

physical sufferings,

"

313,

381,

390

failingstrength, 375, 381

and
burial, 397-8
death

"

"

"

Huguenots.

333. 376, 385

Alencon, 125, 307, 332, 334,
343
to
Princess
Marguerite, 90,

to

272, 306, 340,

de

of,

loneliness, 424
fears, 6, 60, 178,

"

IX, 139, 140,

168, 215, 224
to Henri
III, 254, 257, 318,

Jeanne

74, 233

vanity,232

"

234, 283, 318

to Charles
relations

382
Navarre, 125,

sight of,

superstition,69,

"

"

to

letters

426, 428
true policy and

her

"

"

"

24,

23,

from

general character
424-8

"

"

her

22,

314

of, 429
second

"

Leclerc, 372, 402

"

proverbialsentences

"

Bussy, 278-81, 296, 303-6

"

by

345. 354-5. 356

letters to, 121, 336
letters about,
20, 2i,

"

Bruges, 336

Busson,

Life

59, 254, 257, 280, 307, 314,

317-9, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325,
327. 333, 335. 337. 34o. 343.

138, 171, 202, 223, 248, 256,

267, 269-70, 382, 413, 423
Bretagne, Anne de, 28

at, 41

Elizabeth

of, 424

name

on

anagrams

"

"

of, 60

with

"

de, 409
Brienne, Comte
Brissac, 35, 370

15, 256

assassination

threatened

"

209

200

140,

her

"

37, 374, 418

Cardinal
de,

Burleigh,196-7,

125, 137, 189,

to

316

de,

Brussels, Charles
Buckhurst, 94

u/
England, 98,

369. 377

14, 17, 156,

289, 315, 326, 350, 355-6,
373. 376, 397. 408, 413
Bourbons, 169
Bourdeille, 278
Brabant, 296
Prince of, 336
Brandenburg, Elector of, 282
Brantome,
15, 31, 34, 39, 44, 83, no,

Bourbon,

Guises, 169, 172, 356,

the

to

390

Borghese, Cardinal,
Boulogne,

de

344

7, 194,

Bouillon, Due

to

162, 188
Bourbon,
17,

59, 121,

Cardinal

to

relations

Medici,

Coligny,21,

de, 288, 384

Etats

"

de'

Catherine

de, 48, 123, 187

Beza, Theodore
Bide, 278
Birago,Chancellor, 167, 250
de, 315, 336, 371
Biron, Marechal
sale of, 236
of
Amiens,
Bishopric
Blancs-Battus, 345
Blois,55, 121, 126, 127, 249,283,383,

130.

438

refusal

of

Paris

to

receive

of, 398
CatholiquesUnis, 235
Cavalcanti, 92
Caviana, 167
Cavillac, Marquis de, 382

Caylus, 303-4,

312

Cecil, 57, 92
Cerisole, battle of, 33
Chalons, 353
283
Chambord,

Champvallon,

341

Chantilly,32
Chantonnay, 50

body

INDEX
of, 6
with
of,
marriage
proposed

Coligny,loyalty,46,

Charles IX, coronation

"

of

Elizabeth
his

"

marriage

England,

Queen

"

"

to

Alencon,

to

Coligny,121,

155, 160, 168,

"

124,

145, 151,

as
as

"

as

"

"

Navarre, 184, 224

musician, 106
author, 107, 113
craftsman, 112

his

"

marriage, 119
reception at Court, 12

"

influence

"

nervous

depression, 185, 222-3

instability,177, 185, 187,

"

"

"

fears, 153, 158, 171

failinghealth, 218,
death, 223
Charles
V, 41, 241

"

"

"

his

"

220

"

10,

Vittoria, 28
of 1588, Council instituting
the, 372
of, 201
Como, Cardinal
Louis
Prince
de, 7, 28
Conde,
taken
prisonerat Dreux, 49
"

letter of Smith

"

plot
journey to La Rochelle, 67
right to the throne, 69

"

his

"

28, 33, 37, 61, 77,

"

"

de, 27, 28, 29, 37

de, 28
Chenonceaux, 127, 251, 268, 333

the battlefield,72
on
death, 72
Conde, Prince Henri de, 75, 166, 184,
287, 291,
315, 327, 332
213,
Conde, Princesse de (Henri de Conde's
prayer

"

Cheverny, 386

first

Jaques, 408-9
Clery, Royal pilgrimage to, 345
Cleves, Princesse de, 90 {seeDuchesse

Clement,

birth

"

"

21,

Cosse,

Lyon,

"

115,

141,

254, 425-6
de, 162, 283

201,

Marechal

179,

190

concerning Coligny, 167

Military, 148
Royal, 159

Cracow,

216, 228

Crillon, 387, 389, 391-2

Cuniga,
439

231

Council
"

of France, 41

230

62, 105,

Cosseins, 166,

firstmilitaryservice,

companions, 35
marriage, 37
position as Admiral
religion,42-3

de

Correro,

200,

32-3

"

Corneille
and

"

"

de

Contarini, Giacomo,
Cornaton, 179

79

early life and

(Henri de Conde's
wife),214, 227, 232

second

Guise)

de,
Coligny, Gaspard
27-8
parentage,
his education, 29, 31
"

wife),129

Princesse

Conde,

Clouet, 94
Coconnas, 219-222

Cognac,

concerning, 57
64

in battle,
against, 66

his conduct

"

Sieur

de

his children,

Commune

Louise

"

to

Colonna,

121
"

185

286

son), 146, 405, 406, 407

de,

Cardinal

"

Memoires

179
property restored

"

assassination
of, 5
Chartres, 64, 251, 371, 374, 376
of, 286,
de Beaulieu, Peace
Chateau
298
de, 93,
Mademoiselle
Chateauneuf,
96, 236
Chatenai, 286
de, 29,
Chateau
Chatillon-sur-Loing,
32, 40, 124, 146
Chatillon, family of, 32, 36, 43

(Coligny's

of, 160

death,

"

Charry,

"

147

of his times, 188

portrait,216
effigyburned,

"

1-4,

wife, 157-8

assassination

attempted

"

12

162-3

his

letter to

"

193

1-3

diary, 146
personal appearance,

"

excitement,
161, 169, 182, 223

extreme

"

121

IX,

Charles

on

137-9,

106,

Court, 104,

recall to

second

"

105
character, 105-12, 122

"

Rochelle, 67
76, 78, 124

78

202

his appearance,

"

of

powers

defeat at Moncontour,
78
and degradation of,
condemnation

"

to

"

life threatened,
son's death, 77

"

224

210,

La

journey to

"

137, 140, 205, 224

III, 214
to Henri

and

wife's death, 67

"

107,

"

Ordinances

discipline,38-9
appeal to army, 64

of

Elizabeth

with

Austria, 91
relations to her, 106, 223
de' Medici,
to Catherine

"

"

50, 162

life,55, 146

home

"

Don

Diego, 21, 197-8

144,

INDEX
D

Erasmus, 28
Ercole
II, Duke

de, 273
17, 156, 162, 231, 234, 287,
Madame

Dampierre,
Damville,

{seeFerrara).

Madame

d', 93, 339

Estoile, 251, 284, 367, 372, 389

31S. 327

290,

Dardiani,

Estampes,

Etats-Generaux,

349,

384, 387-8

209

Dauphine, trouble in the, 324

Denmark,
King of, 358
Diane, Madame,
405
Dreux, 4, 49, 282

Duplessis-Mornay, 158, 343, 356,

Duranti, 194
Duras, Madame

Farnese, Alexander
{seeParma)
Ferrara, Duke
of, 35, 230
Ferrara, Cardinal
of, 35
Renee
of, 206
de la, 22
Ferriere, Comte
Feuillants, 360
Flanders, war
in, 168
in, 299
Queen of Navarre

404

de, 382

"

Ecouen,

32
VI

Edward

time

"

in

(ofEngland),England

"

of, 40-1

Alencon
to

Passages from Diary of, 39-41

Elbene, d', 188
d', 373, 390, 397
Elboeuf, Due
Elector
Palatine, The, 215-16

relations

{seeAlencon
Netherlands)
in

"

Charles

of, with

IX, 7,

Flemings, 299,

"

her

"

horror

9,

III, 91-6
Alencon, 98, 125, 286, 335
Henri

dealing, 145
St. Bartholomew

double
at

"

"

assistance

promised

to

sacre,
mas-

tants,
Protes-

296
picture,361
of

"

"

315

"

(Princess of

France

Fuggieri,230

Austria),her marriage, 91
"

of, 35

Flying Squadron," 286,

character, 427

Elizabeth

III, 353

Fceillet,253'
Foix, Jean de, 315
Fontainebleau, 104
Foscarini
Palace, 230
France, Inquisition
in, 358
Franco, Veronica, 230
Francois
I, 32, 33, 36, 425
II, 45
d'O, 353

196
"

Henri

308

Fleurance, 317
Florence, Duke
"

with

to

of, 332
de, 339
Fleming, Madame

77

with

from

overtures

Fleix, Peace

riage
England, proposed mar-

of

Elizabeth

"

rivals, 106
for Charles

love

behaviour

on

IX, 183, 223, 423

St.

Bartholomew's

183
Marguerite de Valois,
268, 418
Elizabeth
of
Spain
(Princess of
France) her magnificent entry
into Bayonne, 13, 14
Eve,

"

kindness

to

d'Estrees, 414, 416

Garter, Order of the, 344
Gabrielle

Gascony,
Gaveston,"

"

"

"

"

"

beauty, 15
policy, 16-18
to Spain, 24

state
return

of

fear

Catherine

de'

Medici, 85

death, 83

England

jealous

of

France

in

Netherlands, 145
alliance with, 153
to Netherlands,
sends
army
349
to Henri
sends money
III, 353
Epernon, Due de, 250, 263, 278, 312,

"

"

"

343. 357, 359, 368, 374-6,388,

423

440

341
"

The

History

of Pierre,

374

Genissac, 297
Genlis, 138
at, 336
Ghent, Alencon
of,
Treaty
293
Gondi, 70, 193, 250
Goudimel, Court musician,
16
Grammont,
Comtesse
de, 381
Granvella, Cardinal, 22,43,
"

182

"

I5I"

J53,

272

Gregory XIII, 134, 195. 253

Guast, de, 236,250,272/277,278,281
Guienne, 327

INDEX
of

Jeanne d'Albret, Queen

at

92, 196-7, 198, 335

Enfants de la Malte, 112
L'Estrange, Coligny and, 78

Leicester, Lord,

Navarre,

Les

Rochelle, 68

La

at Blois, 127

"

presents her

she

"

to

son

"

Huguenot

religiousdifficulties about
126, 132,
her

"

advice

to

"

"

her

278
Lignerolles,96

Ligue, the,

134

son,

"

"

"

144

"

"

390,

"

de

of

Protestant,

"

Due

paradoxes, 362
290

de

Madame

"

by

Guise, 359

bundle

"

345, 359

Pope, 351
by Catherine,

for demanded

concessions

"

250, 278, 312,

ceded

356
Jesuits of, 351-60
King, head of, 358

"

Treaty of, 352

Justice,Palais de, 242
Joyeuse, Due de, 193,

of

demands

"

397

of with

relations

"

Jesuits,351, 373
Joinville,Prince de,

3^8,

35 L

349,

301,

426
Catholic, 290
publishes manifesto, 351
of the Paris, 352
constitution
402,

129

death, 143
letters of, 126, 128-33

"

war-cry,

Liancourt,

mony,
cere-

character, 68, 127, 143

Court, 1 30-2
discomfort at French
friendshipwith Coligny, 68, 119,

"

Protestant

Leyden, siege of, 295

arrangements for Henri's

marriage, 131, 133, 142

makes

"

"

62

75

army,
"

L'Evangile!

Montpensier and, 360

Ligues, Provincial, 287-8,

315,

351,

403

Ligueurs,$$1-2,367,369,374, 384-5.
Kenilworth, 195
Kent, Joan of, 41

406-7
Lippomano, 246

Killigrew,97-9

Longjumeau, Treaty of, 64,

66

de, 205
de, 44, 55, 60, 65,
Lorraine, Cardinal
67, 89, 112, 194-5, !97" 21l"

Longueville, Due
L

Rouet, 126
Charite, 79, 290
La Fere, 327
La Foix, 92
La Fosseuse, 338
des Amoureux,
La Guerre
331
trois Henri, 358
de, 299, 300
Lalain, Comtesse
M. de, 299
181
Lambin,
La Mole, Comte
de, 219-22
La
98,
Mothe-Fenelon,
92-5,
195-6, 315

La

Belle

233
"

289

La
La
La

marriage,235

Louvre,
Lux,

370-1

242,

de, 396

Luxembourg,

105,

III, 371, 423

158, 161, 163, 164, 166,

90,

173,
Baron

Henri

to

devotion

"

Messire

Francois

de,

235

of, 313, 327

Province

"

her

"

of,287

Governor

Damville

84, 277

(de Vandemont),

,of France

Louise

"

Languedoc,

12,

"

"

"

"

de,

Claude, Duchesse
Dues
de, 34, 356
Losse, 302, 305

La

Lyons, 193, 195. 232

Archbishop of, 388-9, 395, 408
State-Entry of Henri III into, 231
"

Noue, Captain, 79
76, 172,
Rochefoucauld,
Rochelle, 67, 76, 79, 104,

"

181
1

19,

'144,

190

Laval, Charlotte, 37

Lavergne, Captain, 73
Le

Charron,

L'Hopital,

170-1
Michel

7,
(Chancellor),

19,

Mailly,

42, 61, 64
"

his letters to Cardinal

dismissed

from

Court, 70

Mantes, 376
Marcel, 170

442

253
de

Louise

Louise

de Chatillon

28, 37
"

Machiavelli, 253
Magic, 69, 220-1,

de)

{see Chatillon,

INDEX
Queen

of

early life,n,

12,

Valois,

de

Marguerite

her

Navarre,
19, 71. 84
love for Guise, 87, 89, 125

"

"

to

relations

"

Mignons, 238,
de' Medici,

Catherine

271, 283, 301, 342

Charles
IX, 90, 132,
Henri
III, 85-7, 273,

to

221

301,

34i
to

Alencon,

experience at

"

283, 304,

219,

the

of

massacre

Eve,

Bartholomew's

172,

331

St.

183

character, 263

"

263, 264, 267, 414, 419

strength of mind, 268, 382, 416
dress, 156, 269
diplomacy, 285, 299, 306, 396
slander
concerning, 272, 280, 331,

"

"

"

"

34i

"

at

"

at

"

Agen, 381-2
Usson, 382

her

"

occupations

Montauban,
79
defeat
Montcontour,

Montesquiou, 73
222
Montgomery,
Mademoiselle
de, 278
Montigny,
Montmorency, family of, 36
Montmorency, Anne de, 27, 35, 36,47,

414,
captivity,

283, 405 (note)

M6ru, 283
Thor6, 283

Montpensier, Due

for Navarre's

children,

Madame

"

401,

417

172,

de, 170, 218,

Marechal

Francois

"

death, 420
letters of, 85-7, 143, 156-7, 171,

"

78, 188
79, 186,

Montfaucon,

419

"

Protestants

of

at, 78

de,

11,

16, 170,

121,

181, 289, 371

affection

"

311,

Montaigne, 362, 372

"

in

302,

"

""

divorced, 415

"

250-1,

249.

62

in Flanders, 298-301
in Gascony, 313

"

257,

Moderates, 286
Monceaux,
140, 282
298
Mondoucet,
Monluc, 11, 16, 235
Mons, 138, 299
Chanoine
de, 10

scholarship,84,

literarygiftsand

"

211,

197,

345. 357. 424

85,
to

(note),

262

religion,132, 265
marriage, 125, 156

"

Meuse, 307
Michelet, 27
Michieli, 160

265, 267, 278,

320,
302-5,
417
413-14-15,
300,

297,
324,

Antoinette, 385
manifesto
Protestant
Marnix,

299,

342,

de, 286, 360-2, 371, 373,

408, 410

403,

Montpipeau,

139,

147

More, Antonio, 15
Morosini, 395
Murano, 229
Muss, Nicolas, 178

Marie

by,

332

Psalms, 10, 42
Marseilles, 30
Mary Stuart, 97, 103, 200, 296, 344
letter of, to Queen of Spain, 83-4
execution
of, 349
of Hungary, 296
Matthias

Marot's

"

"

Maugiron,

312

Namur,
Nantes,
Nassau,

Edict

"

Maurevel, 160 (note)

Maximilian, Emperor, 227, 295, 296
of, 331
May, Ordinances
Mayenne, Due de, 353, 358, 375, 388,
404, 406, 413
Meaux, 60, 124
de, 416
Medicis, Marie
letter of, 416-17

"

IV of France), birth
infancy, 261
262
personal appearance,
Henri

"

"

"

323,

357,

358

Merlin, 161, 179, 186

M6ry, Poltrot de, 49
Metz, 75, 374

"

his

262, 296, 382

part in the
Germain

and
218-20

443

and

his character, 261-2

of temporizing, 184-5, 3l7
power
emotional
temperament, 220, 224,

"

"

Menneville,
371, 390
60, 79,
Mercenaries,

301
M.

de, 184
of, 323
Louis
of, 68, 77, 103, 295
Maurice
of, 344
William
of, 344
de, 45, 126, 338
Navarre, Antoine
Henri, King of (afterwards
Navarre,

Nancay,

plot
his

of

Saint-

ment,
imprison-

INDEX
King of, his release
imprisonment, 231

Henri,

Navarre,

from
"

marriage

"

"

"

Marguerite

to

de

Pacification,Edict of, 247

Pamphlets, 212, 360, 374

Valois,

156

127,

nominal

becomes

Huguenot army,
his military success,

Pardellan, 166
Pare, Ambroise,

of

general
75
317,

Paris

358

332,

156, 185, 233,

religion,

attitude to

"

262, 343, 413

"

"

de'

"

"

"

338,

342
to Henri

"

III, 343,

386, 404-7,

"

409
to Charles

"

"

with,

remonstrance

388
"

"

IV

Henri

from

Marguerite

marriage,416
Archbishop of, 199
Duchesse
de, (by her first
Nemours,
Duchesse
de
Guise,
marriage
second

wife

the

of

Due

mother

the

distress,

331

"

religiousexcitement,
Swiss troops,
368

"

357

disorder of, 378

destruction
of churches

in, 402

336,

344

Pius

V, 134
Placard, Catholic, 360
Pleiade, 112

Henri),

Chateau
Plessis-le-Tours,
Poitien, Prince, 210

"

"

"

Netherlands,

42, 138, 145, 151, 215,

295-6, 336
Neuilly, President, 374

"

de, 250, 352, 357

de, 144, 222, 278

Nevers, Due
Duchesse

Nimes, 235
Noailles, 237
Noirmoutiers,

290,

Portugal,
12,

361,

390,

408,

432

247

-Jacques,341

Port-Sainte-Marie, 317, 318

de, 390

41

Nostradamus,

314,

Poncet, Frere Maurice,

Portents, 187, 189
Porte-Saint

Madame

of,405

Poitiers, Assembly of, 331

Diane
de, 34, 232
Poitou, 190
Poland, 214, 216
Crown
jewels of, 228
Politiques,
22, 203, 218, 235, 281, 287,

assembly at, 317-19

Council of, 323

Normandy,

249

"

Pilgrimages,187

Francois,

of Due

"

"

245

"

"

160, 307, 397. 4io

Due
de, 232, 397
Peace
of, 556
Treaty of, 358
N6rac, 263
"

plays,

Peronne, 287
Petrucci, 167, 180
Pibrac, 265-6, 315, 341
Picardy, Ligue of, 287
unsettled
state of, 328
Piedmont, Prince of, 327

de

Nazareth,

"

dress,

Perigord,77

14
divorce

and

"

Periac, 394

of France, 413-

Valois, 415
"

emancipation in, 245

marriage customs,
246
preachers,
247

352

became
his

222

feminine

Pascal, 108
Parlement, 356, 370, 374
Duke
Parma,
of, 308,

Ligue, 356, 388

to the

Catherine's

178,

"

IX, 161, 184, 223

218, 271, 277
Gabrielle d'Es trees, 414-16

to

"

"

Alencon,

to

160, 171,

1575, 241
"

Medici,
220, 285, 317, 338-9
200,
to Queen Marguerite, 285, 298,
Catherine

relation to

in

claim

Medici

58, 248

of

Catherine

de

to, 537

Juana, Queen of, 19

Henri, Cardinal King of, 337
Prtches, 44, 48, 144, 244, 343

Notables, Assembly of, 45

Notre Dame,
156, 242

"

"

Processions, penitential, 345,

357,

373

Odet,

see

Orange,
"

Cardinal
Prince

de Chatillon.

of, 77, 104,

137, 145,

295, 336. 352

assassination of, 344

Orleans, Monsieur
siege of, 49

Proclamations, Royal, 187

Protestants,45, 59, 79, 147, 182,
198,

193,

235, 284, 286,

290, 295, 314, 322, 349, 358
Provence, trouble
in, 321, 323
Pruneaux, 159
195.

d', 14

"

444

200,

INDEX
Salviati, 198, 201, 241
Sarlabons, 180
de, 71, 139-40, 277,
Sauve, Madame
286, 290, 302, 338
of, 188, 231, 325, 387
Savoy, Duke
Senlis, 285, 407

Querchy, 178

Rabelais, 31, 127, 264, 420

Rambouillet, 371
M. de, 388-9
181
Ramus,
Renaissance, end of the, 429
Renee
de Ferrara, 28
Reolles, 317
Retz, Comte de, 90, no, 139-40,

Shakespeare,250
Simier, 278, 281, 305
dor),
(English AmbassaSmith, Sir Thomas
8, 9. 57. 131. 197-8
Soissons, 360
Hotel
de, 366
Sorbin, 145, 223
Sorbonne, 402
de, 28
Soubise, Dame
Spain, 295, 332. 344, 349, 353. 357-8.

"

171,

de, 71,
of

Revolution

90,

278

1588, 368

377. 386-7

French

with

compared

"

168,

203

Comtesse

"

"

tion,
Revolu-

Philipof, 13, 370,383

"

letter of, 23
of Protestants,
his hatred

429

Rheims, 234, 236

Richelieu, Cardinal, 267
Ridolfi plot, 96
Due
de la, 173
Rochefoucauld,
de
Princesse
Roche-sur-Yonne,
298, 299
361
Roland, Madame,
Ronsard, 12, 14, 270
Rouen, siege of, 49
Royal progress, the, 7, 33
de, 28
Roye, Eleonore

48,

194

Queen of, see

Spain.

"

la,

Queen

of

Elizabeth

Strozzi, 13, 35, 138, 337

Stuart, Mary, see Queen Mary of Scots
soldier, 62
Robert,
Huguenot
"

Sully,386
Surgeres, 278

Rudolph, Emperor, '296

Ruff6, 278

Ruggieri,221,

de, 66, 96, 128,

Tavannes, Marechal
169, 203, 250-2

248

124,
Saint

Saint

on,

of
194,

in Holland, 195
rejoicingsin Rome

"

"

medal

"

Saint

in honour

George's Day,

massacre

197

at, 194
of, 195
9

Saint-Germain, Court at, 218

Fair of, 251, 284
Treaty of, 79, 199
Plot of, 218-20
l'Auxerrois, tocsin of, 177-8
Saint-Esprit,Order of, 65, 312
Saint-Mesgrin,278, 312
Saint-Quentin, siege of, 41-2
Sainte-Union, 352
Council of the, 398, 401
Salcede, 336
de, 6
Salm, Princesse
Salons, 419
Saluces, 327, 387
"

"

"

"

Teligny,103,

190

reception of news
in England,

"

143,

65,
(Historian),
169,

201,

203,

93,

354,

426, 428

de, 47
Andr6, Marechal
Eve
of, 194
Bartholomew,

Beza

"

de

Guillaume

"

of,

119.

146, 159, 162, 164,

166, 178, 181

Tenczynski, 228-9
de, 193
Tende, Comte
defeated
Terceira, French
de, 391
Termes, Comte
Throckmorton,
44
Thou, de, 165, 198
Tintoret, 230

at, 337

Tosinghi, 159-160
Touchet, Marie, 105, 223
Toulouse, 194, 317, 403
Touraine, 286
de, 299
Tournon, Madame
Tours, 405
Toussaint, 194
Traite

de

Rouen,

375

(note)

of, 5, 20
Troyes, Treaty of, 5
Tudor, Mary, 15
Tuileries, 167, 242, 371
Trent, Council

"

Tuxenne, 315, 319. 33*

445

INDEX
Villequier,
227

286
Madame,
418
Villers-Cotterets,
Villeroi, 352, 358, 386
"

Usson, 382, 413, 418

of, 332
Utrecht, Union
Uzes, Duchessed', 268, 278, 314, 317,
319, 320, 367, 333

Vincennes,

253

de

Vincent

Paul, 419

Vitry-sur-Marne,215

Valenciennes, taking of, 138

de, 93, 339, 341
of, 48
Vaucelles, Treaty of, 41
Louise
de, see
Vaudemont,
Queen
Valentinois,

Vassy,

Madame

Walsingham,

94,

104,

132,

166, 189,

massacre

197-9,

War,

of France

138, 188, 213

signal for,

Mr., 44

Wotton,

Marguerite de, 345

Cardinal
de, 396
Vendome,
Vermilius, Peter Martyr, 48
Veronese, Paolo, 230
Vienna, 229
de, 159
Villemur, Chanoine

77,

Protestant

"

Louise

58,

204-5

"

Zealand,

344

Zutphen,

battle

of, 349

ro

Putter 8t Tanner,

The

SclwoocJ

Printing Works,

Frorae, and

London^

332