former persecutions The Marques of Varambon and his Brother the younger Balanson did meet us at Namure the young Balanson who was nothing so proper a gentleman as the other did court this maid in the way of Mariage and the Marques of Varambon during our aboad at Namure made semblance as if till then he had never seen her at which she put on the apparence of content constrayning her selfe to seem regardlesse of it but the trouble the griefe and indignation thereof did so contract her heart that as soon as they had taken their last farewell and were departed from the Boat she was strook with such a suddain sorrow that shee could not draw her breath but with many shreikes and mortall pangs having no other cause of her sicknesse her youth did combat with death for the space of eight or ten dayes who armed with despite in the end did render himselfe victorius ravishing her from her Mother and my self who both did bear this losse with equall greife and passion for her Mother although she was a very severe woman did love her most intirely Her Funeralls were commanded to be performed with all solemnity because she was discended from a great great and noble family and pertained to the Queen my Mother the day of her interrement being come they appointed foure of my Gentlemen to bear the Corps one whereof was Boessier who having in her life time passionately adored her and not daring to discover it unto her by reason of the inequality of his birth and the vertue which he observed in her did carry now this mortall burden and dyed as often in her death as the losse of his love had interrupted and divided the course of his life breathing out his soule after her in sighes and every new minute bringing a new death unto him this fatall convoy being in the middle of the streets and passing to the Cathedrall Church behold the Marques of Varâ—mbon who guilty oâ— this sad accident some few dayes after my departure from Namur repenting of his crueltie and his ancient flame O wonderfull being kindled in her absence which could not be awakened by her presence he resolved to come and demand her of her Mother trusting peradventure in the good fortune which did attend him to be beloved of all whomsoever he desired as since it hath appeared in a Lady of eminent account whom against her parents consents he hath espoused and promising to himselfe that his Mistris de Tournon would grant him an easie pardon repeating these Italian words che lâ— forza d'amore non risguarda al delitto did beseech Don John to give him commission to come unto me and making diligent haste he came just as the body as unhappy in her death as glorious and innocent in her Virginitie was in the middle of the street the throng of the people at this pompous solemnitie did hinder him that he could not passe he looked about him to learne what the occasion was and observed in the middle of the troupe a multitude of mourners and a white cloath crowned with Chaplets of flowers he asked who it was some of the City made reply that it was a buriall he growne more curious advanced himself amongst the first of the convoy and with much importunity desired to know who it was O deadly answere the vengeance of love for his ingratitude and inconstancie made him now feele those stroakes of death in his soule which his forgetfulnesse and disdaine had made his Mistresse suffer in her body the man not knowing who it was that pressed to know it told him that it was the body of Madamoiselle de Tournon at that word he swounded away and fell from his horse they carried him as dead into his lodging justly desiring in this extremity to approve that union with her in his death which in his life too slowly he accorded to his Soul as I believe departing into her tombe to crave pardon for what his disdainfull oblivion had committed did leave his body for a time without any apparence of life and returning thence did animate it anew to make him feele again the justice of death which once alone had not sufficiently punished his Ingratitude This sad office being performed beholding my self in a company of strangers I would not afflict them with the griefe which I received for the losse of so vertuous a servant I was invited either by the Bishops Grace or by some of the Canons to dinner every day in severall houses and gardens as there are very faire ones in that Citie His Grace with many Lords and Ladies strangers comming every morning to my chamber accompanied me to the garden wherein I was to take the waters of Spâ—u which was to be received walking and though the Physitian that did prescribe it was my Brother yet it hath done me good having since continued six or seven yeeres without feeling the swelling of my arme departing thence we never parted company but resorted to some feast and after dancing to heare Vespers to some religious house and after supper we were entertained with dancing againe or else with Musick on the water Six weeks did passe away themselves on this manner which is the ordinary time accustomed for the taking of these waters and which was prescribed to Madame the Princesse of Roche-sur-yon As I was preparing to returne to France behold Madame de Aurec who going to Lorrayn to seek her husband expounded to us the wonderfull alteration that happened at Namur and in all that Countrey since my departure The same day wherein I departed from Namur Don John going out of his boate and taking horse under presence of hunting came before the gate of the Castle of Namur the which as yet he had not mastered and feigning as casually he passed by to goe in and see it in his way he seized on it and slew the Captaine whom the States kept there breaking the Articles that were agreed on between the States and him and moreover he seized on the Duke of Arscots on Monsieur de Aurecs and on her owne person and though after many demonstrations and intreaties he let her husband and the Duke depart yet he retained her till then 〈◊〉 be a caution to him for the deportment of them She declared that all the Countrey was now in armes there were three parties the first of the States which were the Catholicks of Flanders the other of the Prince of Orange and the Huguenots who made but one Party and the third of the Spaniards over whom Don John commanded I seeing my selfe imbarked in this manner that of necessitie I must fall into the hands of the one or the other of them and my Brother having sent a Gentleman named Lescar to me by whom he wrote that since my departure from France God had given him the grace to serve the King so well in the charge of the army committed to him that he had taken all the Townes which he was commanded to
a great green where was a grove of high timber trees in an ovall form round about which my Mother had caused great Neeches to be made and in every Neech she had placed a round table for twelve persons the table only of their Majesties with the cloath of State advanced it self at the upper end of the hall and was mounted on foure steps of green turfes of earth All these tables were served by diverse troupes of Shepheards diversly apparelled with cloath or gold and Sattin according to the diverse habits of all the Provinces of France At the landing of the triumphant boats in which their Majesties wafting from Bayons to the I le were alwaies attended by the way with the Musick of man of the Sea-gods singing and rehearsing verses round about them these Shepheards were on the green troup by troup apart on both sides of a great Alley cast up on purpose for their Majesties to goe to the said Hall every troup playing and dancing according to the fashion of their Country The Poitevines with their Cornets they of Provence dancing lavaltâ—es with their Cimbals the Burgundians and Champagnians with the Bagpipes Treble viols and Tabers the Brittons dancing loftily with their fine nimble risings and as many turnings with it and so accordingly of all the other Provinces After the service of whom and the Banquet ended the Musitians were discovered with a great troupe of Satyres to enter the great luminous rock shining with artificiall light but sparkling more with the jewells and the beauties of the ladies that sate above who comming down did dance that most curious maske the glory of which the Envie of Fortune not able to endure came storming in with so great a Tempest that the confusion and wrack which among the boates that night had made brought the next morning as great a subject of laughter as the magnificent setting forth of the maske before had brought delight The like was to be seen in all the brave Entries that were made to expresse the Principall Cities of this Kingdom whose Provinces here represented they did visite In the Reigne of the mighty King Charles my Brother some few yeers after the return of the great voyage the Hugenots having begun again the war the King and Queen my Mother being at Paris a Gentleman of my Brothers of Anjou who hath been since King of France arrived to bring tidings from him that he had brought the Huguenots army to such an extreamity that he hoped in few dayes to force them to give him battell before which time hee did beseech them that he might have the honour to see them to the end that if Fortune envious of the glories which in so young an age he had obtained should in that desired expedition after having done good service to his King his Religion and the State conjoyne his funeralls with the triumph of his victories he might depart this world with lesse sorrow having satisfied them both in that charge which they had done him the honor to commit unto him If these words touched the heart of so good a mother who did not live but for her children only to preserve whose lives and estates she every houre abandoned her own you are able to judge Incontinently she resolved to depart with the King taking with her a small and usuall traine of Ladies as the Lady de Râ—is the Lady de Sauva and my selfe Being borne on the wings of desire and motherly affection she dispatched the way betwixt Paris and Tours in three daies which was not without some inconvenience and many Accidents worthy of laughter occasioned by the poor Mounsieur the Cardinall of Burbon who never did forsake her although he was neither of garbe of humour nor complexion for so great a Presence Arriving at Tours we found my Brother of Anjou with the chiefe Commanders and Captaines of his Army who were the flowers of the Princes and the Lords of France in the presence of whom he made an Oration to the King to give him an account of all the carriage of his charge since his departure from the Court composed with such art and eloquence and delivered with so much Grace that he caused admiration in all the standers by The greennesse of his youth did so much the more advance and make apparent the wisedome of his words that seemed more suitable with a gray beard with an old experienced Captaine than a young Gentleman of sixteen yeers of Age whose brow the Laurells of two Conquests had already crowned and Beauty which gives a greater grace to every Action did so flourish in him as if she were in emulation with Fortune which of them both should render him most glorious The joy which my Mother did receive hereat can no more by words be represented then could the Griefe of the father of Ipbigenia and in any other but her self whose soul was ever wedded to discretion one might easily have perceived the exilience which such an excesse of joy had made but she moderating her actions as well she could demonstrating apparently that the Discreet doe nothing which they would not doe without studdying to proclaime her joyes or stretch in words those prayses which the Actions of so accomplished and deere a childe did merit took only the chiefe points of his oration which concerned the actions of the warre to deliberate on them with the Princes and the Lords there present to take a thorough resolution for the war and to provide things necessary for it for the disposing whereof it was requisite to continue there some certaine daies in one of which the Queen my mother walking in the Parke with some of the Princes my Brother of Anjou inâ—reated me that we might walke aside into â—n Alley into which being come he thus spake to me Sister the education which we have had together doth no lesse obliege us unto love then the neernesse of our blood and you have understood that among all my brothers sisters I have ever had a greater inclination to wish well to you then unto any of them and I have well observed that your nature hath ever borne to me the same respects of love hitherto we have been guided to it by Nature not by counsell neither hath this Action brought us any profit but only the pleasure we have to converse together This indeed was agreeable to our Infancy but this houre requires that we no longer live like children you see the great and honorable charges to which God hath called me and to which the Queene our good Mother hath advanced me you ought to believe that you being the onely thing in the world whom I doe most affect and cherish I shall not be master of that greatnesse or fortune of which you shall not be partaker I know you have capacity and judgment to doe me good offices with the Queene my mother to preserve me in that Fortune wherein I stand my principall intention is to labour to retaine her favor
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
of my brothers absence and my mothers presence had not detained him They both said unto me that I had obliged my selfe unto them that my Brother should not goe and had promised to answere for him I replyed that it was true I had but in this that he had deceived me as well as them howsoever I durst assure them on the forfeit of my life that his departure would bring no alteration in his service to his Majestie and that he was only gone to his owne house to give order in what was necessary for his voyage into Flanders This assurance did a little qualifie the King who gave me leave to return unto my chamber not long after there came news from my brother which gave the King reassurances of his affection and obedience this caused the complaint to cease but not the discontent shewing in apparence to be willing to assist him but traversing under hand the preparations of his Army into Flanders The Argument of the Third Book HER departure from Court and travells with the Queen her Mother to the King of Navarre her Husband The sawcy zeale of Du Pin. The united happinesse of their Majesties conjugall affections during their five yeeres abode in Gascogny The King of Navarre too great with Fosseusa Foosseusa became too great by the King and being burdened by the Queen with it after an obstinate deniall she not long after in safe Child-bed was delivered of her burden and had shee received the Queens saving counsell she had been delivered with it of the burden of her feares and shame New tumults of arms and war against the Huguenots which was silenced by a Peace concluded by the wisedome of the Duke of Alenson and this Queen his Sister Her preparations into the Court of France which being furthered by the spiteful assistance of the King of France her Brother began to languish into delays by the perswasions and the reformed love of the King of Navarre her Husbnnd The Memorialls of Queen MARGARET The Third Booke THE time Passing away it selfe in this manner I every houre sollicited the King to grant me leave to goe unto the King my husband who perceiving that he no longer could denie me unwilling that I should depart from him unsatisfied and infinitely besides desiring to divert me from the friendship of my brother he oblieged me to stay by all manner of benfits and perswasions and gave me according to the promise which the Queen my mother had made at the peace of Sens the assignation of my dowry in lands and besides that the nomination and disposure of certaine offices and places of preferment and adding to the pension which the daughters of France were accustomed to receive he allowed me an exhibition from his owne coffers and taking the pains to come and visite me every morning he continually represented how profitable would his friendship prove unto me alleaging that my Brothers love would in the end procure my ruine and that his would possesse me with a life as safe as happy with a thousand other reasons tending to the same purpose in which he could never shake the fidelity which I had vowed to my brother and could draw nothing from me but onely this that my greatest desire was to see my brother in his favour that it seemed to me that he deserved not to be removed from it being confident that he would be most worthy of it by all humilitie of obedience and devoted service For my selfe I acknowledged I was obliged to him for so much honour and benefits received that he might well assure himself that I would not faile him in whatsoever commandments he should enjoyne me to perform and that I would travell in nothing more then to preserve the King my Husband in his loyaltie My brother being then upon his expedition into Flanders the Queen my mother desired to goe to Alenson to see him before his departure I besought the King that he would be pleased I should accompany her to take my farewell of my brother to this but to his griefe he gave permission Being returned from Alenson having all things ready for my departure I did again beseech the King that he would give me leave to goe to which he condiscended the Queen my mother who had a voyage also into Gascogny for the service of the King that countrey having need either of his or her presence resolved that I should not depart without her and the Court removing from Paris the King brought us to his Dolinville where having entertained us certaine dayes we tooke our leave of him and a little after we came into Guyenne and travelled through all that Province before we arrived at the government of the King my husband He came to meet my mother as farre as La Reolle a towne which those of the Religion did hold for the mistrust which did yet possesse them the peace of that countrey being not fully established He was bravely attended with all the Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion of Gascogny and with some Catholicks The Queen my mother determined to make but a short stay but there intervened so many accidents on the Catholicks side and on the Huguenots that she was constrained to make there her abode full 18. moneths and being angry and weary of it she would oftentimes alledge that it was done on purpose by them to enjoy the presence of her Gentlewomen the King my husband being strongly inamoured on Dayella and Monsieur de Thurenus on La Vergna which was yet no hindrance unto me from receiving all desired love and great honour from the King my husband who from the beginning recounted to me all the projects and devices which were contrived in the time of his residence at court to work his dissention betwixt us which he acknowledged were made on purpose to dissolve the friendship betwixt my brother and himself and to ruine us all three and undissemblingly expressed what a full content he did receive that we were now together Wee remained in this happy condition during the time of my mothers abode in Gascogny who after she had established the peace changed the Kings Lievtenant at the intreaty of the King my Husband removing Monsieur the Marques of Villars and putting in the place of him Monsieur the Marshall of Biron My Mother passing into Languedock we conducted her as farre as Castlenaudarti where taking our farewell of her we returned to the Town of Pau in Bearne which having not the exercise of the Catholick Religion they onely permitted me to have Masse said in a little Chappell which was but three or foure foot in length and being very narrow was full when but seven or eight of us were in it At the houre when Masse was to be said the draw bridge of the Castle was lifted up because the Catholicks of the Country who had not the exercise of their Religion should not heare it for they were infinitely desirous to be present at the holy Sacrifice from
a desire that I should goe but seeing my teares and words did joyntly witnesse unto him that I had rather goe unto my grave he changed his resolution and returned to Nerac where seeing all spake of Fosseusaes bignesse and that it was not onely all the talke at Court but in the Countrey also I took upon me to silence the report and calling her into my closet spake thus unto her Although some time is passed since you have estranged your self from me and I have been induced to beleeve that you have done me bad offices to the king my husband yet the love which I have borne unto you and which I have vowed to persons of honor to whom you appertaine doth enjoyne me to offer you all succour that may releeve you in the mishap whereinto you are fallen I must intreat you that you would not be perverse nor by refusing my love to ruine both my honour and your owne I have so much interest in your reputation that it is as deere to me as to your self and beleeve me I will performe the office of a mother to you Under the pretence of Pestilence which you see to be raging in this Countrey and especially in this Towne I have the opportunity to remove to Mas de Agenois which is a private and retired mansion of the King my husbands I will take with me no other traine then whom you desire In the meane time the King my husband shall spend his time in hunting and shal not stir from thence until you are delivered and by this means we may make the rumour cease which concerneth my self as much as you she in stead of giving me thanks with an extreame arrogance replyed that she would make those know they lyed that reported it and speaking as lowd to me as I spake soft to her in a great choler she flung away and sent the King my husband to me who was very angry for what I had spoken to Fosseusa saying that they were liars all and that he would prove them so that taxed her A long time he thus dissembled it with me untill certaine moneths being expired the houre of her delivery was come Her pangs taking her in the morning about the break of day being then in bed in that chamber where all the Virgins lay that attended on me she sent for my Physitian to come unto her and desired him to make haste to acquaint the King my husband with it which he did We lay in one chamber but in severall beds as our usuall manner was As the Physitian told him this he found himselfe in a great perplexity not knowing what to doe fearing on the one side that it should be discovered and on the other side that she should be ill at ended for he loved her intirely In the end he resolved to acquaint me with it knowing that although she highly had trespassed against me yet he should finde me ready to doe him any service he commanded he opened my curtaine and said unto me Sweet heart I have concealed a thing from you which is necessary that I now discover I beseech you to excuse me and to remember no more what I have told you on that Subject only oblige me now so farre as presently to rise and make haste unto Fosseusaes succour who is very ill I assure my self that knowing in what estate she is you will not call any thing to minde which heretofore hath passed You know how well I love her in this I beseech you to obliege me to you I replyed to him that I honoured him too much to take offence at any thing which did proceed from him and intreated him that he would be pleased to hunt that day and take all his people with him that it might not be discovered I caused her presently to be removed from the chamber of the Maides and lodged her in a retired roome and brought with me my Phisitian and some trusty women to attend her where very safely she was delivered It pleased God to send her a daughter which since is dead being delivered we brought her back to the chamber of the Maides where though we carried it with all privacy and discretion we could not hinder the report from being spread over all the Castle The King my husband being returned from hunting made haste to see her She desired him that I might come unto her as my manner was to visite all my young women when they were not well hoping by this meanes to stop the busie rumour that ranne of her The King my husband came forthwith into my chamber and found me lying on my bed being very weary with my early rising and with the paines I took to assist Fosseusa in her childing throwes and desired me that I would rise and goe unto her I made answere that when she had need of my helpe I was not absent but seeing there was nothing to be done if I should goe I should discover rather then conceale the businesse and that every finger did point at me already At this word he grew very angry and what most did grieve me me thought that what I had done that morning did not deserve that recompence While thus passed the occurrences of our affaires the King who was not ignorant of any thing that was done in the houses of the Great ones of his kingdome and who was precisely curious to know the deportments of our Court did cause the Queen my Mother to write unto me that she had a great desire to see me that it was too much for five or sixe yeeres to be removed from her that it was now time to take a journey unto Court and that it should much conduce to the affaires of the King my husband and my owne The King himself did afterwards write unto me to the same effect and caused fifteen hundred Crowns to be delivered to me that no inconvenience might delay me and the Queene my Mother sent me word that she would come her selfe into Xantoigne and if the King my husband would accompany me thither she had some businesse there to communicate unto him and to give him the assurance of the Kings good will All these faire apparences could not deceive me in the fruits which were to be expected from the Court having had already too much experience of it but I resolved to receive some profit by these offers to advance my own occasions and the affaires of the King my husband hoping also it would prove a means to divert him from Fosseusaes love whom I determined to take along with me and that the King my husband seeing her no more might possibly imbarke himself with some one else that might not prove so crosse and spitefull to me I had much to doe to perswade the King my husband to give consent unto this journey because it grieved him to loose the company of Fosseusa and because the fame of her late mischance being every where noised abroad he joyntly began to suffer in his reputation with her He made me better cheere then ordinary and laboured very much to take from me the desire of going into France But having already made promise by my letters to the King and Queen my mother and more especially having received the sum abovesaid for the voyage the misfortune which drew me thence took away with it againe the desire which I had to goe because the King my husband did begin to expresse more friendship and affection to mee FINIS Imprimatur THO. WYKES