the like manner will I say that beyond that first rememberance of mine there is nothing to be discovered but a wilde of my first Infancy an Infancy wherein we live rather guided by Nature after the manner of plants and other creatures then of men perswaded and counsailed by reason and I will leave unto those who were the governours of my nonage that superfluous enquiry where peradventure among those actions of my Infancy there will be found some as worthy to be recorded as that of the Infancy of Themistocles and Alexander the one exposing himselfe in the middle of a Street to a Carters horses who would not stay himselfe at his intreaties the other despising the rewaâ—d of the Olympique Race if Kings might not contend with him for the honor or it Of which number may be the answer that I made the King my Father some few daies before the fatall blow that deprived France of peace and our house of happinesse Being then but foure or five yeers of age my Father holding me on his knee to hear me prattle demanded â—f me whom I would choose for my servant Monseiur the Prince of Joinville who hath been since the great and unfortunate Duke of Guise or the Marquis of Beaupreau the sonne of the Prince of Roche-sur-yon in whose spirit fortune having made too great a proofe of the excellency of it conspired with envy to become his deadly enemy depriving him by death in the fourteenth yeer of his age of the honours and the Crowns which were justly promised to the vertue and magnanimity that shined in him they were both at play with the King my Father and with a fixed eye I did behold them I made answer to my Father that I would have the Marquis wherefore so replied the King for said he he is not so handsome for the Prince of Joinville was of a ruddy colour and fair to look on and the Marquis of Beaupreau was of a brown complexion and haire I told him because he was the wiser and because the other would never live in peace but would be working mischiefe to one or other and one who ever would strive for masterdome a true presage of what we since have seen and the resistance which I made to persevere in my Religion at the time of the Colloquy at Poissy when all the Court was inclined to the new Religion by the imperious perswasions of many Lords and Ladies of the Court and especially of my Brother of Anjou since King of France whose Infancy could not avoide an Impression of that Religion who with incessant importunity did call upon me to change my Religion casting oftentimes my Howres into the fire and giving me instead of them the praiers and psalmes of the Huguenots constraining me to take them which as soon as I received I gave them to Madame de Curton my governesse whom God in mercy to me had preserved still a Catholick and who oftentimes would goe with me to that good man the Cardinall of Tournon who did counsaile and encourage me to suffer all things for the maintenance of my Religion and gave me new Howres and Beades in the place of those which my Brother of Anjou had burned And some other friends of his who were â—ealous to pervert me observing me againe to weare them transported with choler would offer injury unto me affirming that it was meer childishnesse and folly that made me doe so saying it did well appear that I had no capacity that all those who were of any discretion of whatsoever age or sex they were hearing grace preached were retired from the abuses of the old Superstition but I they said was as very a foole as my governesse And my Brother of Anjou adding threats to his reproaches would tell me that the Queen my Mother should cause me to be whipped but this he spake of himself for the Queen my Mother knew not of the errour into which he was fallen and as soon as she did understand it she did extreamly check him and his governours and causing them to re-instruct him she constrayned them to return to the true holy and ancient Religion of our Fathers from which she never did depart But I replyed to such threatnings of my Brother melting into teares as the age of seven or eight yeers at which I then was is tender enough that he might cause me to be beaten and if he pleased he might cause me to be killed that I would rather suffer all the torments that cruelty could invent then pull damnation on my Soule Many more such answers of mine and notes of resolution and of judgement might be found in the discovery whereof I will no longer travaile intending to begin my Memorialls with that time when I waited in ordinary on the Queen my Mother to depart from her no more For presently after the Colloquy of Poissy that the warrs began my Brother of Alenson and my selfe by reason of our tender age were sent unto Ambois whither all the Ladies of that Country retired themselves with us there was your Aunt the Lady of Dampierre who then received me into her friendship which she continued to her death and there was your Cosin Madame the Dutchesse of Rais who in that place knew the favour that fortune had done her by delivering her at the battell of Dreux from her afflicting husband Monsieur de Annebaut a person too unworthy to possesse so perfect and so divine a Subject I speak here of the beginning of the friendship of your Aunt with me and not of your Cosin which we have preserved so inviolate that it continueth yet and shall doe evermore But then the age of your Aunt had a greater complacence with my Infancy it being the nature of ancient people to make much of little children and those who are of perfect age as was then your Cosin to be weary of them and to hate their importunate simplicity I did continue there untill the commencement of the great voiage when the Queen my mother caused me to return to Court to depart from thence no more of which I will not speake at all being then so young that I cannot retain the remembrance of it but in grosse the particulars being vanished from my memory like a dreame I leave therefore the description of it to those who being then as you in a riper age can remember in particular the magnificent triumphs that were made especially at the Duke of Barrs at the Christening of my Nephew the Prince of Lorrain at Lions at the welcome of Monsieur and Madame de Savoy at Bayons at the enterview of the Queen of Spain my Sister and the Queen my Mother and of King Charles my Brother There I assure my selfe you will not forget to represent that stately banquet which the Queen my Mother made in the Iland with the mask and manner of the hall which Nature it seems had appropriated to that effect there being discovered in the middle of the I le
offices might challenge from me many and great acknowledgements that I have ever placed it in the first ranke of all as soon as he had this permission which was upon the break of day he desired Monsieur de Losse to send one of the Guard to acquaint me with this melancholy newes and to desire me to come unto him the yeoman of the guard comming into my chamber found me asleep not dreaming of any thing that had passed he opened my curtaine as I was opening my eyes and in a language proper to the Scots said unto me Bon jour Madame Monsieur your brother desires you that you would come unto him I looked on the Man being not halfe awaked and even ready to fall asleep againe and knowing him I demanded of him if he was not one of the Scottish guard he answered yes I replyed What is the matter hath my brother no other messenger then you to send he answered No for all his people are taken from him and told me in his language all which that night had happened and perceiving I was much afflicted at it he approached neerer to me and spake that my servants being present might not heare him Doe not torment your self Madame I have a means to save Monsieur your Brother and assure your selfe I will performe it but of necessitie I must then goe with him I answered him that he should be rewarded above his hopes and making haste to dresse me I went with him alone to my Brothers chamber In my way I was to goe through all the Court then full of people who were accustomed to runne to see and honour me but perceiving how Fortune now had changed her countenance they made as though they had not seen me comming into my brothers chamber I found him with so great a constancie that he was not changed at all from his usuall disposition and tranquility of Mind and seeing me he imbraced me and with a countenance rather joyfull then dejected said My Queen I beseech you forbear those teares In this condition that I am your grief is the only thing that can afflict me for my innocence and true intentions doe prohibit me to feare any of the accusations of my enemyes but if unjustly they shall attempt against my life they who shall performe it will be more cruell unto themselves then me who have courage enough to undergoe and despise the stroak of so unjust a death neither is it that so much which I respect for my life hath hitherto been accompained with so much sorrow and affliction that not knowing any of the pleasures of this world I shall not have the griefe to abandon them the saddest apprehension which I have is that wanting a cause to make me justly to dye I shall languish in the solitude of tedious imprisonment where yet I shall despise the tyranny of my enemies seeing you will so much oblige me as to assist me with your presence these words in stead of ceasing my tears did so increase them that out of my eies I thought I should have powred all the moisture of my life I answered him in sobs that my life and fortunes were woven into his that it was in the power of God alone to hinder me from assisting him in any condition that I could that should the King take me thence and not suffer me to continue with him I would kill my selfe in his presence Passing the day in this discourse and seeking together the occasion that made the King proceede in so cruell and unjust a course against him and not able to conceive it the houre came about for the opening of the Castle gate where an indiscreet young fellow who was servant to Bussi being known and staid by the guard was demanded by them whither he was going he being amased with the strangenes of the suddain interrogatory made answer that he was going to seek his Master this being told unto the King it was suspected that he was within the Lovure where comming that after noone from Saint Germans my brother had caused him to enter in with the rest of the troupe to confer with him on the affaires of his army which was going unto Flanders not thinking then he should so suddainly depart from Court as unexpectedly afterwards it came to passe That evening on the occasion aforesaid Archant the Captaine of the Guard received Commandement from the King to looke him out and to seize on him and Simier who making this inquisition to his griefe because he was an intimate friend of Bussies and by alliance called him Sonne as Bussi called him Father he came up into Simiers Chamber where he seized on him and doubting that Bussi there had hid himselfe he made a light search being glad that he did not finde him but Bussi who lay then on the bed and perceived that he should be left alone fearing that the same Commission should be given to another with whom he should not be in so much safety he desired rather to be under Archants custody and being of a merry and spiritfull disposition in whose brest no danger could work the base effects of feare as Archant was going out of the doore to lead Simier away he put out his head betwixt the Curtains and cryed out why hoe there What will you go without me Father doe not you thinke my conduct more honourable then such a rakestraws as is Simiers Archant turned to him and said Ah my Sonne I would to God it had cost me one of my armes that you were not here he replyed â—ush my affaires goe well playing all the way as he went with Simier and laughing at him for the trembling feare wherein he saw him Archant shut them up both into one Chamber and set a guard over them and went from thence to take Monsieur de la Castre whom he carried to the Bastille While these things were in the execution Monsieur de Losse a good old man who had bin governour to the King my Husband in his nonage and who tendered me as his own childe having now the custody of my brother knowing how unjustly he was dealt withall and detesting the bad counsaile by which the King was governed having a desire to oblige us both resolved to save my brother and the better to discover his intention to me commanded the Scotch guard to waite without doores on the staires head detaining onely two with him in whose secrecy he much trusted and taking me by the hand he said There is not a true Frenchman whose heart bleedeth not to see that which we behold I have been too long a servant to the King your Father to refuse to offer up my life a sacrifice for his children I believe that I shall have the guard of Monsieur your brother in whatsoever place they will keep him Assure your selfe that with the hazard of my life I will preserve his but to the end that this resolution may not be perceived let us
talke no more together but be certain of it This promise gave me a little comfort rouzing up my spirit I told my brother that we ought not to be kept in this manner like people taken by the Inquisition without knowing what we had done that thus they use felons and the vilest of malefactors when they had taken them prisoners I intreated Monsieur de Losse since the King would not permit that the Queen my Mother should come unto us that he would be pleased to let us know by any of his servants the cause of our restraint Monsieur de Combaut who was cheife of the Counsaile of these young people was sent unto us who with a gravity that was naturall to him told us that he was sent thither to know what was that which we desired the King should understand We made answer that we desired to speak with any one from the King to know the occasion of our confinement which we our selves could not conceive He gravely replyed that we must not demand of Gods and Kings the reason of their actions that they did all things for a good and a just cause we made answer again that we were not persons to be held as those whom they put in the the Inquisition concerning whom we must divine what they had done we could draw nothing else from him but that he would imploy himselfe for us and that he would doe us all the best offices which he could My Brother began to laugh out right but I who was turned all into griefe to see my brother in danger whom I cherished above my own life had much adoe to forbeare from speaking to him as he deserved While he was making this report unto the King my Mother being in her Chamber opprest with manifold afflictions and even sick with sorrow as a wise person did foresee that this excesse made either without reason or subject would bring a swift and dreadfull devastation on the Kingdome if my Brother had not the better disposition and sent for all the old Counsellers Monsieur the Chancellour the Princes Lords and Marshals of France who were all wonderfully offended and scandalized for the bad Councell which was given to the King saying all to the Qu. my Mother that she ought to oppose it and represent unto the King the wrong which he had done that they could not hinder the error from being undone which already was committed but they ought to repeale it after the best manner they could The Queen my Mother with all the Lords of his Councell repaired presently to the King and did demonstrate to him of what importance were these effects The King having his eyes unsealed from the pernicious Counsell of these young people did well approve what his old Lords and Counsellers had presented to him and prayed the Queen my Mother to repeale it and to perswade my Brother to forget all that was passed adding that he was offended with those young people for it and desired that by her means a reconcilement might be made betwixt Bussi and Quelus This being determined the guard was taken off my brother and the Queen my Mother comming to his Chamber told him that he was to thanke almighty God for the mercy vouchsafed him in his deliverance from so great a danger that she had seen the houre wherein she could not so much as hope for his life that since he understood by this that the King was of such a heady humour that he tooke offence not onely at effects but at empty imaginations and running uncontrolledly in his opinion without staying at any advice would execute whatsoever his fancy did prompt him to therefore to put him in no further grievances she desired him to put on a resolution to conform himselfe in all things to his will and that he would present himselfe unto him without any show of discontent at the unjust proceedings which had passed against his person we made answer to her that we had much to give thanks to God for his great mercy in securing us from the injustice that was prepared for us and that for this next unto God we owed to her alone our second obligations but the quality of my brother did not permit that they should imprison him without a cause and take him then from thence without any formality of justification or satisfaction The Queen replied that what already had been done God himself could not cause to be undone but they would recall the disorder that was made at his surprisall by making his deliverance with all the honour and satisfaction that he could desire that also it were requisite that he againe should content the King in all things speaking to him with such affection and respect that the King should remaine well pleased with it and also that he would be a means that such a reconcilement should be made betwixt Bussi and Quelus that no more between them an occasion should be found for discontent or quarrell avouching that the principall motive which produced all this counsel and bad effects was a fear that they had of the combat which old Bussi a worthy father of so brave a Son had demanded beseeching the King that he would permit him to be his son Bussies Second and in the like manner that Monsieur de Queâ—us might have his father to second him that they foure might end the quarrell without troubling the Court or indangering so many people My brother promised that Bussi seeing he had no hope to redresse himself should to come out of prison performe any thing that she commanded The Queen my mother going downe unto the King found him very willing that this deliverance should be made with honour and to this purpose he came into the Chamber of the Queen my Mother with all the Princes the Lords and others of his Counsell and sent Monsieur de Villequier to tell us he did attend our comming Passing through the halls and chambers as we were going to his Majestie we found them all full of people who beheld us with teares falling from their eyes praysing God to see us out of danger Comming into the chamber of the Queen my Mother we found the King with the company before rehearsed who seeing my brother said unto him that he would desire him not to thinke strange nor be offended at what he had done being compelled to it by the zeale which he had to the quiet and safety of the State that he now beleeved that he had no intention to disturbe his Kingdom or himselfe My brother made answere that he had vowed so much service to his Majestie that he would thinke well of whatsoever he was pleased to have done but he most humbly besought him to consider that the devotion and fidelity which he had testified to his Majestie did not deserve that rough intreaty howsoever he accused nothing but his own unhappinesse and was satisfied enough if the King acknowledged his innocence The King answered yes there
THE MEMORIALLS OF MARGARET de Valoys First Wife to HENRY the Fourth King of France and Navarre Compiled in French by her owne most Delicate and Royall hand AND Translated into English by ROBERT CODRINGTON Master of Arts. LONDON Printed by R. H. 1641. TO THE TRVE LOVER OF ALL GOOD LEARNING The truly Honorable Sir Anthony Vincent Knight and Baronet c. SIR THe workes of Royall Authors are onely fit to bee lodged in noble hands to whom then more justly could I devote this service then unto YOU to whom all learning owes for a Patron and the world for an Example This is that which hath invited me to this Dedication besides an ambition which a long time I have nourished that poynteth at no other happines then to study out some way to make my selfe knowne unto YOU and if my devotion to your service can winne on your goodnesse to pardon my presumption the glorious endowments of this most illustrious Lady who in her time was one of the greatest Princesses of Europe shall winne on your Iudgemeut to entertaine this everlasting Issue and MEMORIALL of her in which there is no other errour to be found but that it is presented to the world and you by this rude hand Sir of your most humble and most devoted servant Robert Codrington An Advertisement to the Reader WHO is to understand that the Addresse of this Book in the Originall is supposed to be to Monsieur de Hardslay chief in attendance on the Duke of Alenson at what time he was chosen by the Lords of Flanders for their Protector The Argument of the First Booke THE Infancy and Education of this Lady Her attendance in ordinary on the Queen her Mother and her removall from that place by the same Power which did preferre her to it The beginning of her love with her Brother the Duke of Alenson which was continued to his death Her Marriage with the King of Navarre on which ensued the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew The resolutions of her Husband and the Duke of Alenson to joyne with the Huguenots wisely descovered and prevented The death of King Charles her Brother The close Projects and Practises at Court to plant dissention betwixt the Duke of Alenson and her Husband and betwixt the King her Husband and her self occasioned partly by the malice and aspertions of Du Guast partly by the beauty and temptations of Madame de Sauva and countenanced by the too eager beleefe of the King of France her Brother to blast this Ladies Honor. THE MEMORIALLS of QUEENE MARGARET The first Booke I Should have extolled your work the more if it had not praised me so much being unwilling to have those praises conferred on me which might sway me more to self conceit then reason for so I may be thought like Themistocles to esteem that man to speake best who doth extoll me most This is a weaknesse incident to women to be taken more with praises than deserts for this I doe condemn my sex and would not be ranked in this condition with them neverthelesse I doe account it a great glory that so deserving a Gentleman as your self have drawn my picture with so rich a pencill In this pourtraict the ornament of the table doth farre surpasse the excellence of the figure which you have made your Subject had I any part of those graces which you impute unto me my afflictions having wiped them away from outward observation have wiped withall their rememberance from my memory In a manner that beholding my selfe in your discourse I could doe willingly as sometimes the old Lady of Rendan who after her husbands decease having a long time forborn her looking glasse and having afterwards a sight of her self in another glasse by chance she demanded who it was she saw there And although my friends that see me would perswade me to the contrary yet I doe suspect their judgements as having their eyes charmed with too much affection I believe when you shall come unto the proofe that in this you will be on my side and will say as I doe often write out of the verses of Bellay Thus Rome in Rome was sought for round And nothing of Rome in Rome was found But as we take delight to reade of the destruction of Troy of the glory of Athens and of such mighty Cities when most they flourished although the signes of them are now so small that we hardly can discern where heretofore they stood so you take pleasure to describe the excellence of a beauty of which there remains no witnesse nor appearence but only in your writings Had you done it to represent the contention of Nature and of Fortune you could not have made choice of a more remarkable Subject they both in me having to emulation made essay how far their powers could extend In that of Nature your selfe being an eye witnesse doe not need instructions but in that of Fortune being unable to make description but by report which is subject to be delivered by persons ill informed or ill affected and who cannot represent the truth either through ignorance or through malice I presume that you will take pleasure to receive these MEMORIALLS from her who hath most reason to know them best and who having greatest interest in them can with greatest truth describe their Subject I have also been invited to it by five or six remarkable observations in your discourse which I have found defective as when you speak of Pau and of my voyage out of France when you speak of the late Marshall of Biron when you speak of Agen and of the Marquis of Canillac I will runne over my own Memorialls to which I will not give a more glorious name although they well deserve the title of a History for the truth which they nakedly contain being without any ornament of language for which I have now neither the ability nor the leasure This work then of one afternoon shall repaire to you in a rude and mishapen lump like Bears new whelpt to receive from you their beauty and proportion It is a Chaos from whence already you have drawn the light It is indeed a story well worthy to be written by a Knight of Honor a true Gentleman of France born of the Illustrious family which was cherished by the Kings my Father and my Brothers and Cosin and familiar friend to the noblest and most accomplished Ladies of our time it being my happinesse to be the Induction and the Tye in the Society and the Union of them The occurrences of the precedent with those of the succeeding times doe inforce me to begin in the reign of King Charles in the first time that in my remembrance there fell out any thing worthy of observation For as the Geographers in the description of the Earth when they are arrived to the utmost bound of all their knowledge doe tell us that beyond that there are nothing but sandy Deserts inhabitable Lands and Seas innavigâ—ble in
much as speake unto me and it was now more then a yeere since he was a suitor to the Princesse de Portia but because that marriage was deferred it reflected alwayes on this illation that he aspired unto mine which I observing resolved to write unto my Sister Madam de Lorrayne that could doe all in that House intreating her to be a meanes that Monsieur de Guise might be withdrawn from Court and that the marriage might be dispatched betwixt him and the Princesse de Portia his Mistresse representing to her how this invention was complotted as much for Monsieur de Guize his ruine as my owne the truth of this she knew very well and came presently after to the Court where she caused the said marriage to be accomplished by that meanes delivering me from detraction and giving the Queen my mother to understand the truth of that which I had alwayes said This stopped the mouth of all mine enemies and gave me rest In the mean while the King of Spaine who would have none but his owne birds flie out of his owne nest quite brake off the marriage with the King of Portugall and there was heard no more rumour of it Some few dayes after there was a report of my marriage with the Prince of Navarre who is now the brave and magnanimous King of France and of my self My mother being one day at the Table communed there a great while with Mousieur de Meru because they of the House of Montmorancy were the first that made the motion And rising from the table she told me that she had spoken to him to conferre with me about it I made answere that I having no other will but hers it were superfluous but I besought her seriously to consider that I was a Catholike and that it would be a great affliction to me to be married to one that was not of my Religion Afterwards my Mother going to her closet called me and told me that the Lords of Montmorancy proposed againe that marriage to her and that she willingly would know how I stood affected I replyed to her againe that I had neither choice nor will but what was hers and besought her againe to remember that I was a true Catholick At the end of certaine daies the report still continuing the Queen of Navarre mother to the said Prince came to Court where the marriage was fully agreed upon before her death to whom there happened a pretty Passage which deserveth not indeed to be recorded in this story but to be passed off in silence twixt you and me Madam de Nevers whose humour you well know being come with Monsieur the Cardinall of Burbon Madam de Guise Madam the Princesse of Conde and her sisters with my self to discharge the last duety due unto her dignitie and the proximity betwixt us we found her not with the pompe and ceremonies of our Religion but in the preciser cut of affected Huguenotery She had about her ordinary bed the curtaines open without light without Priests without a Crosse and without Holy-water We kept our selves some five or sixe paces from her bed with the rest of the company Madame de Nevers whom in her life time she hated above all the creatures in the world and who ever had returned good unto her for it both in will and words as you knew she would carry her self fairely to those she hated departed from our troupe and with many gracefull humble and submissive curtesies shee came neere unto her bed and taking her by the hand did kisse it and againe with a lowly courtesie and most full of humble respects she withdrew her selfe unto us we who did know their hatred thinking that Some few moneths after the Prince of Navarre who then called himselfe King of Navarre mourning for the Queene his mother came thither accompanied with Eight hundred Gentlemen all in blacks and was received by the King and all the Court with great honor and some few daies after my Nuptialls were Solemnized with more magnificence and triumph then was ever any of my quality The King of Navarre and his troupe had changed their blacks into habiliments most rich and gorgeous and all the Court accoutred as you know and can far better represent it I was royally attired with the Crowne Before me I had on a Robe of powdered Ermines which glistered all over with the sparkling stones that reflected from the Crown and behind me the great blew Mantle the traine whereof being foure elles was carried by three Princesses the scaffolds were set up as it is usuall at the marriages of the Daughters of France from the Euesche to our Ladies and covered with cloth of Gold The people thronged below to see the wedding and all the Court passed along upon the scaffolds We came to the doore of the Church where Monsieur the Cardinall of Bourbon having received us to say the words accustomed for such Solemnities did there the office for that day We being thus Fortune who never gâ—ants unto mortality a perfect happinesse changed soone after this happy estate of triumphs and of nuptialls into another cleane contrary by the hurt which the Admirall received which so offended those of the Religion that it made them even desperate insomuch that old Pardaillan and some other of the chiefe Huguenots talked so loud to the Queen my mother that they made her conceive they had some bad intention By the advise of Monsieur de Guise and my Brother the King of Polonia who since hath been King of France a counsell was taken to prevent them a counsell to which King Charles was no way accessary who loved Monsieur de la Rochefoucault Teligny la Noue and some others who were the chiefe of that Religion whose service he did account to make use of in Flanders and I my selfe have heard him since affirme that with much difficultie and importunitie he consented to it and unlesse they had made him understand that his life and state were in the utmost jeopardy he had never given way unto it And having known the assault which Mauravell had made on Monsieur the Admirall by a shot from a Pistoll which he discharged out of a window whereby thinking to kill him hee was onely wounded in the shoulder the King suspecting truly that Mauravel made that shot by perswasion of Monsieur de Guise in revenge of the death of his father the late Monsieur de Guise whom the said Admirall had caused to be slain in the same manner by Poltrot he was in so great a choler against Monsieur de Guise that he swore he would see Justice executed and if Monsieur de Guise had not withdrawn and hid himself all that day the King had caused him to be apprehended and the Queen my Mother had never more to doe then to make King Charles understand that it was done for the benefit of his Estate so great an affection he did beare to Monsieur the Admirall la Noüe and
Teligny whose spirits and whose valour he well observed being so noble a Prince that he affected not any whom he saw not indued with such qualities and though they had been most pernicious to the state these foxes knew so well to dissemble that they had wonne the heart of this brave Prince who hoped to make them profitable to him for the inlargement of his estate whiles they propounded to him great and glorious enterprises in Flanders the only attraction of that royall and mighty spirit And although the Queen my Mother in this accident represented to him that the assassinate which the Admirall made before on the Father of Monsieur de Guise did render his Son excusable in taking vengeance himselfe on the Admirall because he could not have justice done him as also that although the assault which the Admirall had made on Charry master of the Campe a person whose valour had so faithfully assisted her during the time of her regency and his nonage did render him worthy of such intreaty although that these words might make the King conceive that the revenge for Charryes death was deeply imprinted in my Mothers heart yet his Soule overcome with grief for the losse of those persons whom he thought one day as I have said would be advantagious to him did so ecclipse his judgement that he could neither moderate nor change his passionate desire to see justice executed giving strict command continually to search out and apprehend Monsieur de Guise protesting that such an act should not escape unpunished In the end as Pardaillan at supper with the Queen my Mother discovered by his threats the badd intention of the Huguenots and my Mother saw that this accident had brought the affayres to such an exigence that if they prevented not their design that night they would attempt against the King and her she tooke a resolution throughly and plainly to acquaint the King with the truth of all and of the danger in which he was For this businesse she selected Monsieur the Marshall de Rais from whom she knew that the King would take it best as being one to whom the King imputed greatest trust and one whom he most did favour who came unto the King about nine or ten of the clock in the Evening and told him that as his most faithfull servant he could not conceale the danger wherein he was if he persevered in that resolution to have Justice executed on Monsieur de Guise and that it was requisite he undestood that the wound which the Admirall received was not only occasioned by Monsieur de Guise but that my Brother the King of Polonia since King of France and the Queen my Mother were both abettors in it that he knew the extream displeasure that my Mother received at the assassinate on Charry as great reason she had for it having then but few such servants who depended only on her France being as well he knew in the time of his nonage divided the Catholicks standing for Monsieur de Guise and the Hugunots for the Prince of Conde both of them attempting to dispossesse him of the Crown which next to God was not preserved but by the wisdome and the vigilance of the Queen his Mother who in her extremity found her not more faithfully assisted by any then by the said Charry that also she observed that the said Admirall was ever a most dangerous and pernicious member of the State and whatsoever apparence he made of the affection to his Majesty and to serve him in his wars in Flanders his only designe was to trouble France that her intention indeed was only to take away the Plague of the Kingdome the Admirall but mischiefe and misfortune so did guide it that Mauravell missed in his shot and that the Huguenots thereon were grown so desperately obstinate that not only attempting against Monsieur de Guise the Queen his Mother the King of Polonia his Brother but believing that he himselfe was consenting to it they were resolved that night to have their recourse to Armes insomuch that he saw his Majesty in a great and most apparent danger by the Catholicks by reason of Monsieur de Guise and by the Huguenots for the reasons above mentioned King Charles who was of great wisedome and who alwayes had been most obedient to the Queen my Mother and a most Catholick Prince seeing how eminent was the danger took a suddaine resolution to joyn himselfe to the Queen his Mother and to conform himselfe to her will and by the Catholiks to secure his person from the Huguenots but not without extream griefe that he could not save the lives of Teligny la Noue and Monsieur de la Rochefoucault And going presently himselfe to finde the Queen his Mother he sent for Monsieur de Guise and all the other Princes and Catholick Captains where resolution was taken that very night to beginne the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew And presently putting their hands unto the work the chaines stretched forth and the alarme beating every one ran into his quarter according to the order given as well unto the Admirall as to the Huguenots Monsieur de Guise bestowed himselfe on the lodging of the Admirall into whose Chamber one Besme an Almaine Gentleman having mounted after having stabbed him to death did throw him out of the window to his master Monsieur de Guise For my part I heard nothing of all this I saw all the world in action The Huguenots were strook into desperation by this assault and the Lords de Guise fearing the execution would not be hot enough did whisper every man in the eare to see it thorowly performed The Huguenots suspected me because I was a Catholick and the Catholiks suspected me because I was Espoused to the King of Navarre who was a Huguenot so that I heard nothing of it untill that Evening being at the lying down of the Queen my Mother I sat on a Coffer neer unto my Sister of Lorraine whom I saw wonderfully pensive The Queen my Mother conferring with some there present perceived where I sate and commanded me to go to bed As I was a making my courtesy unto her my Sister took me by the arme and held me by it and bursting forth in tears she cryed out good God! dear Sister do not go These words strook a great fear into me which the Queen my Mother did perceive and calling my Sister to her was very angry with her and forbad her to tell me any thing My Sister replyed there appeared no reason that my life should be thus made a Sacrifice and that without doubt if they discovered any thing they would revenge themselves on me The Queen my Mother answered that if it pleased God I should receive no hurt but howsoever it fell out I must needs be gone for fear my absence should give occasion of suspecting any thing I saw very well they were in earnest disputation but I did not understand their words when again
thing I told them then that the next morning my Brother and the King my husband intended to joyne with some troupes of Huguenots which came to seek them by reason of the oath and obligation for revenge which the Huguenots had made at the Admiralls death which obligation being for their fathers slaughter was now excusable by their children I besought them to pardon my brother and the King my Husband and to hinder their departure without out making it apparent wherefore it was done this they accorded to and it was carried with so much wisedome and dexteritie that without the knowledge of the cause they had not the means to escape This being passed we arrived at Saint Germans where we stayed a long time by reason of the Kings sicknesse during which time my Brother of Alenson laboured by all suits and services to render himselfe so agreeable unto me that in the end I vowed him friendship as I had done before unto King Charles for till that time because he had alwayes his education out of Court we had scarce the knowledge of each other and therefore could not be familiar In the end perceiving my selfe invited by such obsequiousnesse by so many observances and protestations which he daily did expresse I did resolve to imbrace his love and to be mindfull of all good offices that might concerne him neverthelesse with this caution that it should be without prejudice to the duty which I owed to King Charles my Brother whom I honored above all things in the world he continued this his affection to me having witnessed it with perseverance to his end During this time the sicknesse of King Charles daily increasing the Huguenots never ceased to raise new troubles by raysing new projects and indeavored again to retire my Brother the Duke of Alenson and the King my Husband from the Court which came not to my knowledge as at the former time neverthelesse it pleased God the mischiefe should be disclosed to the Queen my Mother so neer to be put in practise that the troupes of the Huguenots were to arrive that day neere unto Saint Germans in so much that we were constrained to remove from thence at two a Clock after midnight and to put King Charles into one Litter to recover Paris the Queen my Mother disposing of my Brother and the King my Husband in her own Charriot who were not now so gently handled as before For the King did goe to Bois de Vencennes from whence it was not permitted him to depart again And time continuing the sharpnesse of his Evill produced daily new occasions to increase his discontents and the distrust he conceived of them to which the combination and the plots of those who alwaies desired the ruine of our House did as I believe lend too much help These distrusts were carried with so much violence that the Lords Marshals also de Montmorancy and de Cosse were retained prisoners at Bois de Vencennes and la Mole and the Count of Cocanas were put to death nay to such an extremity and height of perfect danger the affayres were brought that the Commissaries of the Court of Parliament were deputed to hear my Brother and the King my Husband who were both restrained of their liberty The King my Husband having none to Counsell him commanded me to draw in writing that which he had to answer to the end that he might not trouble himself nor any other God gave me the grace to draw it so to purpose that he remained well satisfied and the Commissaries were amazed to see him so well prepared And seeing by the Death of la Mole and the Count of Cocanas they found themselves so charged that they were in danger of their lives I resolved although I was in such favour with King Charles that he loved nothing more then me to venture my own fortunes for the preservation of their lives having deliberated and determined with my selfe seeing that not any of the Guard looked in nor caused my women to unmask as daily I went into my Coach and lighted from it to disguise one of them into a woman and to take him with me into my Coach And although they were well cleared of the Guard and that the enlargement of the one was sufficient to assure the life of the other yet they could never agree which of them should come forth either of them desiring to be that person and neither of them being willing to stay behinde so that this designe could not be put in execution but God did provide a remedy by a means too grievous to me for he deprived me of King Charles who was all the comfort and supportance of my life a Brother from whom I never received but good and who in all the persecutions which my Brother of Anjou brough upon me had alwayes assisted advised and directed me briefly I lost in him what ever I could loose After this disaster fatall to France and me we went to Lyons to meet the King of Polonia who still possessed by le Guast rendred of the same causes the same effects and believing the advice of that pernicious Spirit which he had left in France to maintain and make good his part he conceived an extream jealousie against my Brother of Alenson suspecting and impatiently bearing the Union betwixt my Husband the king and him and beleeving that I was the only chain that united and preserved their love and therefore contrived as his aptest and most expedient course on the one side to traduce and set me at distance with the King my Husband and on the other to procure that the Lady de Sauva to whom they both were servants should handle them in such a manner that the one might grow extreamly jealous of the other This abhominable plot the fountain and beginning of so many Crosses and Afflictions which my Brother and I have since endured was pursued with as much heat and subtilty as it was with wickednesse contrived Some are of opinion that God hath an extraordinary and particular protection of Illustrious personages and into those spirits where the raises of his excellence doe more brightly shine he gives them by their good Angels some secret advertisements of the accidents which are prepared for them be they good or evill In which number I may justly place the Queen my Mother who hath proved many examples of it The very night before that inauspicious turnament she dreamed that she saw the King my Father wounded in the eye as the next day he was and being awaked she often times besought him that he would not tilt that day but content himself with the pleasure of seeing the Turnaments without being an Actor in them inevitable destiny permitted not so great a blessing to this kingdome that he should receive such saving Counsell neither did she ever loose any of her Children but a little before she saw the apparition of a great flame whereat she suddainly would cry out God blesse my
for till he received this impression he did speak to me alwaies as freely as to a Sister knowing that I was no way inclined unto jealousy but desired above all things his content I seeing this which I most feared to come to passe which was the removall of his affection from me for till then I alwaies enjoyed the freedome and society of his love and knowing that distrust which depriveth of familiarity is the beginning of hate whether it be amongst friends or kindred and believing besides that if I could divert the affections of my Brother from Madame de Sauva I should overthrow the foundation of le Guast his invention which he had plotted for our division aâ—d ruine I used my best indeavour in the behalf of my brother to withdraw him from her which would have perswaded any other who had not his Soule inchanted with the love and subtilty of these fine persons My Brother who in all other things believed none more then me could not in this retain himselfe for his own safety or mine so strong the charms of this Circe were assisted with the divelish spirit of le Guast insomuch that instead of drawing any benefit from my perswasions he disclosed to that woman whatsoever privately I had said unto him What can we conceale from those we love she exasperated him the more against me and strived with more affection to advance le Guasts designes and to perfect her revenge she daily incited the King my Husband to abandon me in a manner that he spake no more unto me he returned from her very late and to deprive him of seeing me she commanded him alwaies to be early at the rising of the Queen my Mother to which she was accustomed to go and all the day afterwards he departed no more from her my Brother was altogether as carefull in his suit unto her she making them both believe that most intirely she affected them which did advance as much their jealousie as their ruine We staied a long time in Avignon and a good space after this in Burgundy and Champagne as we went to Rhemes to the mariage of the King and from thence we came to Paris where the affayres were carried after the old manner the cunning of le Guast by this means did still imploy it selfe to our destruction Being at Paris my Brother did take unto him Bussi giving that respect unto him which his valor did deserve he was alwayes with my Brother and by consequence with me my Brother and I being for the most part continually together and giving charge to all his servants to honor and respect me as himself his Gentlemen and servants which attended on him fulfilled this his pleasing command and with such subjection that they expressed no lesse service to me then to himselfe Your Aunt observing this would tell me oftentimes that this union betwixt my Brother and my self made her remember the time of Monsieur de Orleance my Uncle and Madame de Savoy my Aunt but Guast who was the toadstoole of the time giving a contrary interpretation to it imagined that Fortune now had levelled him a faire and easie way by which with more dexterity he might hasten to the But of his designes and by the means of Madame de Sauva being brought into favour with the King my Husband he attempted by all the wayes that could be devised to perswade him that Bussi courted me and seeing he could not prevaile with my Husband to believe it being sufficiently advertised by his people who were alwayes with him of my demeanour and that there was no apparence for any such suspition he addressed himselfe to the King whom he found more easie to perswade as well for the little good will he did bear my Brother and my selfe our friendship being suspected and hatefull to him as for the secret spleen he did owe to Bussi who having sometimes followed him had left him now to devote his service to my Brother The acquisition of such a servant as much increased the glory of my Brother as the envy of our Enimies there being nothing in this age of his sex and quality like unto him in valour reputation grace and spirit of whom some have said if we may believe the transmigration of Soules as some Philosophers have affirmed that without doubt the Soule of your brave Brother Hardelay animated and informed Bussi The King being possest with this by le Guast related it to the Queen my Mother exhorting her to tell it to the King my Husband attempting to put him in the same grievances as he did before at Lyons but she seing what small apparence of truth it had rejected it and said I know not what male-contents they are who abuse your fancy with such suggestions my Daughter is unhappy to be borne in such an age In our time we spake free to all the world and to all the Gentlemen that followed the King your father Monsieur le Dauphin and Monsieur de Orleance your Uncles were ordinarily in your Aunt Margarets Chamber and in mine and none thought strange thereat as there was no reason why they should Bussi seeth my Daughter before you before her Husband in his Chamber this is not in some retired place or the doore being shut Bussi is a person of quality and chiefe in attendance on your Brother what can you collect from this can any man make more then a meer slander of it At Lyons you made me give her so great an affront in the same nature that I am afraid she will remember it while she liveth The King amazed at this replyed Madame I speak not but after others she demanded who are they my Son they are those who labour to sow dissention betwixt you and all yours The King being gone she repeated all to me and said you are born in a miserable age and calling in your Aunt Madame de Dampierre she began to discourse with her of the honest liberty of delights which they enjoyed in their younger years without being subject to misconstruction La Guast seeing the Mine blown up and that it took not fire on that side he expected addressed himself to some Gentlemen that followed the King my Husband who till that time had been companions of Bussi and were now become his enemies by reason of the jealousie which his advancement and his glory had procured him they joyning to their envious hatred an inconsiderate zeale to the service of their Master or to speake more truly covering their envy with that pretence resolved one evening as he went late from his Masters lying down to retire into his own lodging to assault and seize upon him and because my Brothers Gentlemen were accustomed to keep him company they knew they should not finde him with lesse then fifteen or twenty persons and although he carried no sword by reason of the wound which a little before he received in his arme they knew his presence would be enough
affection hath been torn from us in the deaths of the Count of Aigmont of Monsieur de Horn of Monsieur de Montigny and of the other Lords who were all our neer Cosins that were then defeated and pertaining to the Nobility of this Country we have nothing so odious as the Spanish government and desire nothing more then to be delivered from their tyranny neverthelesse we know not yet how to effect it because this Country is divided into different Religions but had we been united we had thrown out the Spanyard long agoe but this division doth render us too feeble for them I would to God that your Brother the King of France would be pleased to recover this Country which in times precedent was his own we would lend him all our helping hands she spake not this in an unadvised suddaines but with premeditation to finde from France some remedy for their evils I seeing the way open to what so much I did desire made answer The King of France my Brother is not disposed to undertake forrain warres especially at this present having in his own kingdome the factious party of the Huguenots which is grown so strong that continually it will hinder him from commencing any wars abroad but my Brother Monsieur de Alenson who is nothing inferiour in valour wisedome and in bounty to the Kings my Fathers and my Brothers will readily attend this enterprise and will have no lesse meanes to bring succour to you then the King of France by Brother he is trained up in war and esteemed one of the bravest Captains of this age and now commandeth the Kings army against the Huguenots with which he hath taken since my departure a very strong town called Issoire and some others you cannot seek unto a Prince whose succour shall be more profitable to you being so neer your neighbour and having so great a Realme as France at his devotion from whence he may bring all the means and commodities necessary for the warre and if he may receive that good office from the Count your Husband you may assure your selves that you shall have what part in his fortunes that you will defire my Brother is of a noble disposition not ingratefull and who delighteth in nothing more then in acknowledging a service or good office done he doth much respect and imbrace Gentlemen of courage and of honour and is also followed with the bravest of the nobility of France I believe they will shortly conclude a peace in France with the Huguenots and that at my return I shall see it accomplished If the Count your Husband be of the same resolution as you are and of the same desire let him if he please acquaint me with it and I will dispose my Brother to undertake it I assure my selfe that this Country and your house by it in particular will receive all happinesse And if my Brother should establish himselfe here you may assure your selfe you shall see me often our friendship being such that never any Brother entertained a Sister with more perfect love She received this declaration with much content and told me that she spake not this at adventure but seeing the honour I had done her to affect her she was resolved not to leave me untill she had discovered to me the estate in which her Husband was and till she had required that some remedy might be brought from France to release them from the feare in which they lived being in perpetuall warre and danger to stoope to the insolence and tyranny of Spaine She intreated me that with my consent she might relate unto her Husband the communication that passed betwixt us that on the next morning they both together might talke unto me of it I very gladly consented to it and we passed away that afternoone in such discourses and in what ever else I thought might doe my Brother service in which I found that she received great content The dancing being ended we repayred to heare Vespers among the Canonesses which is a Religious order that we have not in France they are Gentlewomen which are placed there very young for the improvement of their marriages untill they are of age for husbands they lodge not in common dormitories but in severall roomes and in every roome there are three or foure or five or six young Gentlewomen with an old woman of which old women there is a certaine and distinct number who are never married nor the Abbesse of them they onely weare the habite of Religion in the morning at Mattens and in the afternoone at Vespers and as soone as service is ended they put off their religious habite and apparell themselves as other Gentlewomen that are to marry going freely with them to the banquettings and dancing so that they dresse themselves foure times a day they were every day at the banquet and daunced ordinarily after it The Countesse of Lalain thought it long till the evening was come to acquaint her husband with the good beginnings which she had given to these affaires which having done in the morning she brought her husband to me who made a long discourse of the just occasions which he had to free himself from the tyranny of the Spaniard in which he intended not to undertake any thing against his naturall Prince knowing that the Soveraignty of Flanders belonged to the King of France he represented to me what means he had to establish my Brother in Flanders having all Hainault at his devotion which extended as farre as Bruxells he only was in doubt of Cambresis which lay betwixt Flanders and Hainault and told me it would be expedient for me to gaine Monsieur de Ainsi to which I replyed that I would beseech him rather that he would be pleased to speak himself unto him which he could doe more freely then my self being both his neighbour and his friend having then presented to him what estimation and assurance he might make of the friendship of my Brother and that the Fortune he should partake in should be with as much greatnes and authoritie as the remarkeable service received from a person of his Quality could merit we resolved at my returne to France that I should stay at La fere whether my Brother should come unto me and that Monsieur de Montigny the brother of the said Count of Lalain should come to treate there with him on those affaires during the time of my abode there I did encourage him alwayes and fortifie him in that resolutiō to which his wife brought no lesse affection then my self And the day being come that I must depart from this goodly company at Monts it was not without great and reciprocall griefe of all the Flemmish Ladies and my self and above all of the Countesse of Lalain by reason of the great friendship which she had vowed to me having inforced me to promise her to make my return that way as I passed into France I did give unto her a Carcanet of