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 ... — Memoires de la roine Margverite. English

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 ... — Memoires de la roine Margverite. English

Table of contents

Title page

TO THE TRVE LOVER OF ALL GOOD LEARNING. The truly Honorable, Sir Anthony Vincent Knight and Baronet, &c.

An Advertiſement to the Reader.

The Argument of the Firſt Booke.

THE MEMORIALLS of QUEENE MARGARET. The firſt Booke.

The Argument of the Second Book.

The Memorialls of Queen MARGARET. The Second Booke.

The Argument of the Third Book.

The Memorialls of Queen MARGARET. The Third Booke.

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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.

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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 [Page] 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.

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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.

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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.

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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 [Page] 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.

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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 [Page] 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.

[Page] 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 innavig [...]ble; in 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 rewa [...]d of the Olympique Race, if Kings might not contend with him for the honor [Page] 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 [...]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 [Page] 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 [Page] [...]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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 Ile, a great green where was a grove [Page] 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 Ile, 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 lavalt [...]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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 R [...]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, [Page] 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 [Page] 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 in [...]reated me that we might walke aſide into [...]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 [Page] 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. I am afraid my abſence will doe me wrong, and yet the warre, and the charge I have, conſtraine me almoſt to be alwayes abſent; In the meane while, the King my brother is alwayes with her, doth pleaſe and flatter her in all things. I am afraid, at length it will prove prejudiciall to me, and that the King my brother comming to be great, and being full of courage, will not [Page] alwayes minde the chace, but ambitious of change, will turne the chaſe of beaſts into the chace of men, and taking away from me the charge of the Kings Leivtenant, which he hath given me, will leade the Army himſelf. This would prove to me ſo great a Ruine, and a Griefe, that before I would receive ſo great a fall, I would imbrace the moſt cruell death. In this apprehenſion, ſtudying the meanes to prevent it, I finde it neceſſary for me to have ſome faithfull perſons that may make good my part with the Queen my mother, I know not any ſo fit for this, as you, whom I have ever held for my ſecond ſelf. You have all the parts that can be deſired for it, underſtanding, judgement, and fidelity, wherefore if you will ſo much obliege me, as to render your ſelfe obſervant of her, deſiring you to be always at her riſing, at her cloſet, at her lying downe, and briefly all the day, this will obliege her to communicate her ſelfe unto you; with this will I expreſſe unto her your ability, and what comfort and ſervice ſhe ſhall receive from you, and I will intreat her no more to take you for a childe, but to imploy you in my Abſence, as my ſelf; this I doe aſſure my ſelfe, that ſhe will doe. Speak you to her with the ſame confidence as to me, and [Page] aſſure your ſelfe, you ſhall finde her affable. This ſhall be to you a happineſſe as great as good, to be beloved of her, and and herein you ſhall doe much for your ſelf and me; and for my ſelf, I ſhall next to God, acknowledge you to be the eſtabliſhment of my fortunes.

This language ſeemed very ſtrange to me, as having yet ever lived without imployment, and minding nothing beſides hunting, and dancing, not having ſo much as the curioſity of affecting new faſhions, or of ſeeming beautifull, as being yet not indebted to age for that Ambition, and I was trained up under the Queen my mother, with ſuch conſtraint and awe, that I durſt not preſume to ſpeak unto her only, but when ſhe looked on me, with what ſpeed I could, I would ſteale away for fear of doing ſomething that might diſpleaſe her; inſomuch I was about to anſwere him, as Moſes ſometimes anſwered God out of the Viſion of the Buſh, What am I, ſend thou him whom thou oughteſt to ſend; Notwithſtanding, finding in my ſelf (what I thought there had not been) thoſe faculties ſtirred up by the object of his words, which before lay undiſcovered to me, and being borne with ſpirit enough, returning to my ſelf from my former aſtoniſhment, [Page] thoſe words did much affect me, and me thought, that I was at that inſtant a creature transformed, and was now become a thing of more account then heretofore I had beene, inſomuch, that taking confidence in my ſelfe, I anſwered him; Brother, if God ſhall give me the capacitie and boldneſſe to talke unto the Queen my mother, as I have the will to doe you ſervice in what you deſire of me, aſſure your ſelfe, you ſhall receive that profit and content which you have propoſed to your ſelfe, you have reaſon to be confident of me, for nothing in the world doth more honour and affect you then my ſelfe, procure only that I may be with the Queen my mother, and you ſhall be there your ſelf, I being only there for you. I expreſſed theſe words with my heart rather then my mouth, as the effects can witneſſe: for being departed from him, the Queen did call me to her cloſet, and ſaid, Your Brother hath told me the diſcourſe that you have had together, and now no longer taketh you for a Childe, no more will I, it ſhall be a great comfort to me, to ſpeake to you, as to your Brother. Render your ſelf diligent and dutifull, and be not afraid to ſpeak freely to me, for I will have it ſo. Theſe words did ſhoote ſuch [Page] an unbounded joy into my ſoule, as before it never apprehended, and me thoughts, that all the contents which I received till then, were but as ſhaddows to this bliſſe, with a diſdainfull eye I looked back on the recreations and exerciſes of my infancy, as dancing, hunting and the companions of my childehood, deſpiſing all, as vain and fooliſh. I did obey this pleaſing comand, not failing a day to be with the firſt at her riſing, and with the laſt at her lying down, and ſhe did me the honour to ſpeake unto me ſometimes two or three houres together, and God gave me the grace that ſhe remained ſo ſatisfied therewith, that ſhe could not ſufficiently praiſe me to her women, I talked to her alwayes of my Brother, and did advertiſe him of all occurrences with ſuch fidelity, as I breathed forth nothing but his deſires.

In this happy eſtate I did remain ſome certain time with the Queen my Mother, during which the battell of Montcontour was fought, at the news whereof my Brother of Anjou who deſired nothing more then to be with the Queen my Mother, ſent her word that he was going to beſiege Saint John d' Angeli, and that the Kings and her preſence would be of much importance at the ſiege. Shee more deſirous [Page] then himſelf to come, reſolved preſently to depart, attended onely with her ordinary train, of which I was one, and I went with her extreamly joyous, not foreſeeing the enſuing miſchiefe which fortune had prepared. Too young as I was, and unexperienced I did not ſuſpect my happineſſe, and believing the proſperity I enjoyed to be permanent, I collected to my ſelfe a perpetuity of my fortune, but my envious ſtarrs that could not ſupport the continuance of ſo happy a condition did provide me as much affliction at my arrivall, as I promiſed to my ſelfe pleaſure by my fidelity by which I thought to have obliged my Brother; for in his abſence from Court, he had taken to him Le Guaſt, by whom he was ſo much poſſeſſed, that he ſaw not but by his eyes, nor ſpake but by his mouth; This wicked fellow born for miſchiefe ſuddainly bewitched his ſpirit, and filled it with a thouſand tyrannicall precepts, as that he ought not love or truſt to any but himſelfe, that he muſt not joyn any to his fortunes, no not his Brother, or his Siſter, and ſuch goodly Matchivilian tenents, imprinting which in his underſtanding, and he reſolving to practiſe them, as ſoon as we were come, after the firſt ſalutations, my Mother began to [Page] commend me, and to tell him with what faith and diligence I had attended on her, he anſwered her coldly, that he was glad of it, but wiſedome he ſaid did not permit, that ſhe ſhould uſe the ſame expedients at all times, and what ſeemed neceſſary in one houre, might prove prejudiciall in another. She demanded of him, what did move him ſo to ſpeake, whereupon, he ſeeing the time for his invention which he had contrived for my ruine, made anſwer that I was grown very beautifull, and that Monſieur de Guiſe intended to be a ſuitor to me, being induced to it by his aſpiring Uncles, and if it came to paſſe that I ſhould affect him, it were to be ſuſpected that I would diſcover to them whatſoever thing ſhe told me; He told her, that ſhe was not ignorant of the ambition of that houſe, which had alwaies ſought to ſuppreſſe and to ruine ours, for which occaſion it were requiſite, that ſhe ſhould talke no more of affayres unto me, but by degrees retire her ſelfe and her familiarity from me; That very evening I found the change which that pernicious Councell had wrought in her, and ſeeing ſhe feared to ſpeake unto me before my Brother, having commanded me three or foure times as ſhe was talking to him to [Page] go to bed, I waited untill he was gone out of the chamber, & then approaching to her I did beſeech her to tell me if through my ignorance I were ſo unhappy, as to have done any thing which might diſpleaſe her. At firſt ſhe began to diſſemble with me, but in the end ſhe ſaid, daughter your brother is wiſe, you muſt not think ill of him, for that which I ſhall tell you tendeth unto good: ſhe repeated then all the diſcourſe that had paſt betwixt thē, & cōmanded me to ſpeak no more unto her before my brother. Theſe words were as many needles in my heart, as thoſe were a joy unto me when ſhe received me firſt into her favour; I omitted nothing to repreſent unto her my innocence, urging that what he talked of was a thing of which I never heard, and if any ſuch thing ſhould happen, it ſhould no ſooner be ſpoken to me, but forthwith I would acquaint her with it; But it advantaged nothing, my Brothers words had left ſuch a deep impreſſion in her heart that there was no roome for truth, or reaſon; Seeing this, I told her that I was leſſe ſenſible of the evill of the deprivation of my happineſſe, becauſe I found no good by the acquiſition of it, that my Brother might take me away, as he had given me, for he preferred me to her without merit, [Page] prayſing me when I was unworthy, and that he now deprived me of it without any deſert, onely on an imaginary ſubject which had no being but in his fancy, but I beſought her to believe, that I would for ever preſerve the remembrance of what my Brother had done unto me; hereat ſhe grew into a great choller, commanding me not to ſhew the leaſt appearance or ſigne of any thing. From that time daily more and more ſhe diminiſhed her favors, making her Sonne her Idoll, and indeavouring to content him in this and whatſoever elſe he deſired of her. This affliction oppreſſing my heart, and poſſeſſing all the faculties of my ſoule, rendered my body more apt to receive the contagion of the bad ayre, which was then in the army, inſomuch that I fell within few daies after, to be extreamly ſick of a malignant and ſpotted Feaver, a ſickneſſe which then ran fatally up and down, and which at the ſame time had born away two of the principall Phyſitians of the King and Queen, Chappellain and Caſtelan, intending, as it ſeems, by taking away the Sheepheards to make a better market of their flock, and very few of thoſe eſcaped who were infected. I being in this extremity the Queen my Mother who knew partly the cauſe of [Page] it, omitted nothing that might eaſe me, taking the pains without fearing the danger to come unto me every houre, which brought me much comfort, but the diſſembling of my Brother did as much again augment my griefe, who after he had ſhewed himſelf ſo unfaithfull, and was guilty of ſo great ingratitude, departed neither day nor night from my bed, attending as officiouſly on me, as in the time of our greateſt friendſhip; but I who by commandment had my mouth ſhut, anſwered not his hipocriſie but by ſighes (as Burrus ſometimes did Neroe's, who died by the poyſon that the tyrant gave him) ſufficiently witneſſing unto him, that the cauſe of my ſickneſſe was the contagion of the evill offices that he had done and not of the infected ayre: but God had pitty on me, and delivered me from that danger, and after fifteen daies the army departing, they carried me in a Litter, where every evening retiring to my chamber, I found King Charles who took the pains with many other noble Gentlemen to convey my Litter to my Bed.

In this eſtate I came to Angeirs to Saint John de Angeli, ſick of body, but more ſick of minde, where to encreaſe my miſery I found Monſieur de Guiſe and his Uncles [Page] arrived, which rejoyced as much my Brother, giving ſome colour to his former artifice, as it gave me the apprehenſion to increaſe my pain, where my Brother, the finer to ſpin his thred, came every day unto my Chamber, bringing with him Monſieur de Guiſe, whom he counterfeited to love entirely. And to give him cauſe to think ſo, he would oftentimes in imbracing him ſay unto him, I would to God you were my brother: To which Monſieur de Guiſe would make as though he did not underſtand him, but I who knew his malice did looſe all patience, and could not but tax him for diſſembling.

About this time there was a report of my marriage with the King of Portugall, who ſent his Embaſſadours to demand me. The Queen my Mother enjoyned me to prepare my ſelfe to receive them, which I did, but my Brother perſwaded her that by no means I would be induced to that marriage, ſhe communed with me about it in the evening, and demanded of me how I ſtood affected to it, thinking thereby to take an occaſion to be angry with me; I replyed to her, that my will altogether depended upon hers, and whatſoever was pleaſing unto her ſhould be as agreeable unto me: She anſwered me in choller to [Page] which before they had raiſed her, that what I ſpake unto her was not from my heart, and that ſhe knew well, that the Cardinall of Lorrain had exhorted me to entertaine his Nephew, I beſought her that ſhe would be pleaſed to come to the effect of the marriage with the King of Portugall, and ſhe ſhould then perceive the fruits of my obedience; Every day brought in ſome new tidings concerning this Subject, to exaſperate her the more, and to torment me, which were all inventions contrived in the ſhop of Le Guaſt; In a manner that I had not one day of quiet, For on one ſide the King of Spaine hindered that my marriage ſhould not bee, and on the other ſide, Mounſieur de Guiſe being at Court, ſerved alwayes as a pretext to furniſh new Subjects of perſecution on me, although that neither he, nor any of his kindred did ever ſo 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 g [...]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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 ſhe commanded [Page] me very roundly to go to bed. My Siſter weeping, bad me good night, not daring to tell me any thing, and I went away as a thing loſt in amazements, and in fears. As ſoone as I came into my cloſet, I betooke my ſelfe to Prayer, and beſought Almightie God, that he would be pleaſed to take me into his protection, and to defend me, not knowing from what, or whom: By and by the King my husband who was in bed, deſired me that I would haſten to him, which I did, and found his bed encompaſſed with thirty or forty Huguenots, which till then I not obſerved, for but a few daies were paſſed, ſince I was married to him, they did nothing elſe but talke of the Accident that befell Monſieur the Admirall, reſolving as ſoon as it was day to demand juſtice of the King on Monſieur de Guiſe, and if the King would refuſe to right them, they would then right themſelves. All that night my ſiſters teares were ſoaking into my heart, and I could not ſleep for the apprehenſion into which ſhe had put me, not knowing whom to feare: The night in this manner paſſed away without ſhutting of my eyes; About the break of day, the King my husband ſaid, that he would goe play a game at Tennis, attending till King Charles were [Page] ſtirring, reſolving with all ſpeed to demand juſtice of him, he went out of his chamber, and all his Gentlemen with him; I ſeeing it was day, beleeving the danger which my ſiſter did imply was now paſſed, being overcome with ſleepe, commanded my nurſe to make faſt the doore, that I might ſleep without diſturbance; about an houre after, I being in a ſound ſleep, Behold a man knocking with his hands and feet at the doore, and crying out, Navarre, Navarre; My Nurſe thinking it to be the King my husband▪ ranne preſently to the doore. It was a Gentleman named Monſieur de Teian, who had received a cut with a ſword on the elbow, and a thruſt with a halberd through the arme, and was purſued by foure of the Guard, who came ruſhing into my chamber with him. He endeavoring to ſave his life, did caſt himſelf on my bed, and I perceiving the man begin to take hold of me, did throw my ſelfe towards the wall, and he flung himſelf after me, taking faſt hold behind me. I did not know the man, and could not tell if he came thither to violate me, or whither thoſe of the Guard would have him, or me, we both cryed out, and were both equally affrighted. At length it pleaſed God that Monſieur de Nanſay, [Page] Captaine of the Guard came in, who finding me in that eſtate, although he was touched with compaſſion, could not refraine from laughter, and very ſharply reprehended thoſe of the Guard, for Indiſcretion, and made them depart, giving me the life of that poore Gentleman who tooke hold of me, whom I cauſed to remaine in my cloſet untill he was well recovered; and changing my linnen, becauſe he had covered it with blood: Monſieur de Nanſay related to me all that had paſſed, and aſſured me that the King my husband was in the chamber of the King, and that he ſhould receive no hurt, and cauſing me to throw a night-gowne on me, he did leade me into the chamber of my Siſter Madame de Lorraine, whither I came rather dead then alive, and paſſing through the the Preſence chamber, whoſe doores were all open, a Gentleman called Borſe, ſaving himſelfe from the purſuers, was ſtruck through with a Halberd ſome three paces from me, I fell downe on the other ſide, fainting away, and thought that the ſame ſtroak had run us both thorough; And being a little recovered to my ſtrength, I entered into the chamber where my Siſter lay, I was no ſooner there, but Monſieur de Mioſſans, chiefe Gentleman [Page] to the King my husband, and Armagnack, chiefe groome of his chamber, came and beſought me to begge their lives. I preſently made haſte, and fell on my knees before the King and the Queen my Mother, beſeeching them to grant me this ſuite, to which in the end they condiſcended.

Some five or ſixe dayes after, they who had begun this game, knowing that they had fayled in their principall deſigne, not ayming ſo much at the Huguenots, as at the Princes of the Blood, did impatiently indure that the King my husband, and the Prince of Conde were yet alive, and knowing that no man durſt attempt againſt the King of Navarre, becauſe he was my Huſband, they began to weave another web, perſwading the Queen my mother, that it was neceſſary to diſſolve the Marriage. In this reſolution, being one morning at the riſing of the Queen my mother, on a day in which we were to receive the Sacrament, ſhe took on oath of me to tell her the truth, and demanded of me if my Huſband were a man or no, telling me, if he was not, that ſhe had then means to diſanul the mariage. I beſought her to believe, that I underſtood not what her demand was, for I might well have anſwered as the [Page] Roman Lady, whoſe husband being angry with her that ſhe never told him of his evil breath, ſhe made anſwere, that ſhe thought that every mans breath did ſmell as his. But I told her howſoever it was, ſince ſhe had placed me with him, it was my reſolution there to ſtay, perceiving very well that this ſeparation which ſhe ſpake of, was only to procure a miſchiefe to the King my husband.

After this, we accompanyed the King of Polonia as farre as Beaumont, who ſome moneths before his departure from France, having laboured by all meanes to make me forget the cvill offices of his Ingratitude, and to reduce our friendſhip to the ſame perfection as it was in our younger yeers, obliged himſelfe in a thouſand oathes and promiſes at his farewell to me. His departure out of France, and the Kings ſickneſſe, which began almoſt at the ſame time, did rouze the ſpirits of the two parties of this kingdome, making diverſe projects on the State, the Huguenots having at the death of the Admirall, by ſealed writings obliged the King my husband, and my Brother of Alenſon to revenge his death (gaining my brothers heart a little before the feaſt of Saint Bartholomew, with the hope to eſtabliſh him in Flanders) [Page] perſwaded them as the King and Queen my mother came back to France, to ſteale away into Campagne, where certaine troupes ſhould bee ready to attend them. Monſieur de Mioſſans, a Catholike Gentleman, having heard of this deſigne ſo pernicious to the King his Maſter, advertiſed me of it, to prevent the bad effects which might prove ſo prejudiciall to themſelves, and to the State. I made haſte immediately to the King, and the Queen my Mother, telling them that I had a certaine thing to communicate unto them, which did much concerne them, and which I never would diſcover, unleſſe they would aſſure me, that it ſhould not prove hurtfull to whom I named, and alſo provide a remedy without making ſhow of knowing any 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 Children! and immediately after ſhe underſtood the ſad news which by that fire was preſaged. In her ſicknes at Metz, being in great extreamity by a peſtilent feaver, which ſhe took by going to ſee the Religious Houſes of women; whereof there were many in that City, which a little before had contagiouſly been infected, from which deſperate malady, miraculouſly ſhe was recovered, God then reſtoring her to this ſtate which had ſo much need of her, by the diligence of Monſieur de Caſtelan her Phyſitian, who like a new Aeſculapius made an admirable proofe of the excellence of his art: She raving, and attended by King Charles my Brother, and my Siſter and Brother of Lorraine, with many Lords of the Counſell, and many Ladies and Princeſſes who were round about her bed, and although conceiving her paſt recovery, would not abandon her, ſhe continued thoſe raging fits, as if ſhe had beheld the battell of Jarnac: Look how they fly, [Page] My Sonne hath the victory; O my God, my God aſſiſt my Sonne, he now is fallen on the earth; See where the Prince of Conde lyes ſlain under yonder hedge: thoſe that were then preſent cryed out ſhe raved, and knowing that my Brother of Anjou was about to joyn in battel with the enemy, they thought that ſhe had nothing but the Battell in her head, but the night following Monſieur de Loſſes brought news of it, as a deſired meſſage, by which he thought to merit much, to whom ſhe ſaid, you have done me wrong to waken me for that which I knew before, for ſaid ſhe, Did I not ſee it yeſterday? then they underſtood, that it was not the raving of her feaver, but a particular prenotion which God doth give to rare and Illuſtrious perſons. The Hiſtories doe furniſh us with many like examples of the ancient Heathen, as the apparition of Brutus, and many more which I will not now rehearſe, it being not my intention to beautifie my Memorials, but only to relate the truth and to advance them forward, that you may receive them with greater ſpeed. Of theſe divine preſages I doe not account my ſelf worthy; nevertheſſe not ungratefully to conceale the graces and gifts of God which I have received, and which I ought to confeſſe, [Page] and will doe throughout all my life, to give thanks unto him for it, and that every one might praiſe in me the wonderfull effects of his power, his bounty, and his mercy; I profeſſe that never any remarkable accident hath befaln me either good or evill, of which I had not before ſome advertiſement, either in a dreame or otherwiſe, and I might well repeat that verſe

My minde doth ſtill prophetick ſee,

All good or bad that fals on me.

The truth whereof I proved then at the arrivall of the King of Polonia, when the Queen my Mother met him, although it were ſo hot a ſeaſon that we were even ſtifled with the throng, while my Brother and the Queen my Mother were imbracing each other, and expreſſing their reciprocall indeerments, yet ſo ſtrange a cold and univerſall a trembling in every limbe and joynt poſſeſſed me, that they who attended on me did perceive it; I had much adoe to conceale it, when the King having left my Mother came to ſalute me. This preſage did touch me to the heart, howſoever there paſſed ſome few dayes before the King diſcovered his hate and badde intention which this malicious Guaſt had made him to conceive againſt [Page] me. He reported to him that ever ſince the death of the King, I took in his abſence the part of my Brother of Alenſon, and had indeered him to the King my husband; wherefore watching an occaſion to arrive at their deſigne, which was to break the friendſhip of my Brother of Alenſon & the King my Husband, by planting diſſention betwixt my Husband and my ſelf, and by tormenting them both with jealous pangs for their common love, and Miſtreſſe the Lady de Sauva, one afternoon the Queen my Mother being retired into her cloſet to make ſome little ſtay, your Coſin Madame de Nevers, Madame de Rais, Bourdeille, and Surgeres deſired me that I would goe forth into the City; on this motion the young Lady de Mon [...]igny the Neece of Madame de Ʋſez told us that the Abbey of Saint Peters was a goodly Covent, we reſolved to goe thither becauſe ſhe had an Aunt there, and becauſe there was no admiſſion for her unleſſe with perſons of eminent degree; We took her with us, and as we mounted into the Charriot, although there were ſix of us in number, beſides Madame de Curton a Dame of honour who was alwaies with me, there was Liancourt the Kings chief Eſquire, and Camillus with him, who threw themſelves [Page] on the bearing ſtaves of Torignyes charriot, where holding as faſt as they could, and playing and jeaſting where they ſate, as they were of a ſportfull and frolick diſpoſition, they ſaid, they would goe with us alſo to ſee thoſe faire and religious Ladies; the company of the young Lady of Montigny, who was a meere ſtranger to me, and of thoſe two who were the Kings aſſociates, was as I beleeve an eſpeciall mercy and Providence of God to acquit me from the imputation of the inſuing ſlander. We came to that religious houſe, and my charriot, which was eaſie to be knowne, being guilded over, the ground-worke being yellow velvet, and garniſhed with ſilver, did attend us at the doore, neere unto which place were the lodgings of many Gentlemen. While we were in the Abbey, the King going to ſee Quelus, who then lay ſick, having with him the King my Husband, de O, and Rufus, paſſed by that place, and ſeeing my charriot empty, he turned towards the King my husband, and ſaid, See heere where your Queens charriot is, and heere doth Bidus lodge, I will lay a wager that ſhe is there, and commanded Rufus, a fit inſtrument for ſuch malice, being a friend to le Guaſt, to goe in, and ſee, who having [Page] found nothing there, yet unwilling that the truth ſhould hinder the Kings project, ſpake alowd before the King my husband, The birds were there of late, but they are now flowen; this was ſufficient to adminiſter a ſubject to them for diſcourſe till they returned home. The King my huſband teſtifyed in this the Goodnes of his Nature and Underſtanding, with which he ſhewed himſelfe to be alwayes accompanied, and deteſting in his heart this malice, did eaſily diſcover wherefore it was done. The King made haſte to returne before me, to poſſeſſe the Queen my mother with this Invention, and to make me receive an affront; I arrived preſently after he had the leiſure to doe me this ill office; when the Queen my mother had ſpoken ſtrangely of me before the Ladies, partly for beliefe, and partly to pleaſe her Son, whom in all things ſhe idolized. On my returne (not knowing any thing at all) as I was going downe unto my chamber, with all the troupe that accompanyed me to Saint Peters, I did meet my husband, who as ſoone as he beheld me, began to laugh, and ſaid, Goe to the Queene your mother, and I aſſure my ſelfe you will return well chafed thence. I asked him wherefore, and what the buſineſſe was? [Page] he made anſwere, I will not tell you, it is ſufficient that I beleeve it not, theſe are Inventions to ſet you and me at diſtance, and by that means to eſtrange me from the freindſhip of Monſieur your Brother; Seeing I could learn from him nothing elſe, I repayred to the Queen my Mother, comming into the hall, I met with Monſieur de Guiſe, who ſeeing this diviſion in our houſe, was nothing ſorry for it, well hoping himſelf to collect the pieces of the broken veſſell, who ſaid to me, I waite here Madame to tell you, that the Queen hath entertained a very uncharitable opinion of you, and related to me all the diſcourſe, which he received from de O, who being then an entire freind of your Coſins, told it to Monſieur de Guiſe, to acquaint me with it. I made haſte unto the chamber of the Queen my mother, where ſhe was not to be found, but there I met with Madame de Nemours, and all the other Princeſſes and Ladies, who ſaid unto me, Good God (Madame) the Queene your mother is extreamly incenſed againſt you, I would adviſe you not to preſent your ſelfe before her. Indeed I would not, I replied, if I had done what the King hath reported of me, but being altogether innocent, it is requiſite that I ſhould ſpeake [Page] unto her to acquit my ſelfe. I entred then into her cloſet, which was made only but of ſingle wainſcot, ſo that they might underſtand with eaſe whatſoever words were ſpoken; As ſoone as ſhe did ſee me, ſhe began to vent her choler, and to ſpeak whatſoever a violent and an outragious paſſion could deliver. I preſented the truth unto her, and told her that there were ten or twelve of us in company, beſeeching her to enquire, and not onely beleeve thoſe who were my friends and familiar acquaintance, but Madame de Montigny, who was a ſtranger to me, and Liancourt, and Camillus, who depended not but on the King; but ſhe had no eare either for truth or reaſon, whether it were that ſhe were prepoſſeſſed with the falſehood, or whither it rather were to comply with the King her Sonne, whom with all her affection and indeavours, with all her hopes and feares ſhe idolized, and ceaſed not to chide and threaten me; I telling her that the King was he that raiſed this report, ſhe grew into a greater choller, and would have made me believe that it was one of the Grooms of her Chambers who paſſing by did ſee me, but finding that this excuſe was too groſſe that I ſhould receive it into my beliefe, and [Page] that I remained extreamly offended with the King, it did the more inſtimulate and torment her; all this was heard into her Chamber being full of people; departing thence with as much indignation as can be conceived, I found in my own Chamber the King my Husband, who ſaid unto me, And have you not found what I told you true? and perceiving me much afflicted; torment not your ſelf he ſaid, for this Liancourt and Camillus ſhall attend the King at his going to reſt, and ſhall acquaint him with the wrong that he hath done you, and I aſſure my ſelfe, to morrow that the Queen your Mother will doe her beſt to make a perfect agreement; I replyed to him, Sir I have received in this ſlander too publick an affront to pardon thoſe that did procure it, but I account all but light in regard of the injury they would have done, by pulling on me ſo great a miſchiefe, as the loſſe of your love; he anſwered, But God be thanked that is fruſtrated: to which I replyed, yea thanks be to God, and to your good nature, but from this evill it were requiſite we ſhould derive ſome benefit, which might ſerve us for inſtruction, to have an eye to all their policies whereby they ſhall indeavour to work debate betwixt us, [Page] for it is to be believed that ſince the King hath begun to proceed thus farre he will not ſtay here, nor deſiſt, till he hath brohen the bonds of love betwixt my Brother and your ſelfe; whiles I was ſpeaking this, my Brother came, and by a new Oath I obliged them both to the continuation of their friendſhip, but what Oath is of ſtrength in love?

While we were at the Banquet, the King having conferred with Liancourt and Camillus, and the Lady of Montigny had perceived the errour into which the malice of Rufus had cauſed him to fall, and being no leſſe carefull to recall it then he was ready to receive it, comming to the Queen my Mother he did confeſſe the truth unto her, and intreated her that ſhe would be pleaſed to excuſe it to me, that I might not perſevere an enemy againſt him, fearing much (becauſe he ſaw I apprehended the injury) that I knew as aptly to revenge my ſelf, as he did to offend me. Returning from the banquet, I found the Prophecy of the King my Husband true, the Queen my Mother ſent for me into her back Cabinet, which was joyning to the Kings, where ſhe told me that ſhe had learned the truth, and had found it to be all falſe whatſoever the Groom of her Chamber [Page] had related to her; and perceiving by my ſemblance that I believed not that pretext, ſhe endeavoured by all meanes to take from me the opinion that it was the King, and finding it advantaged nothing, the King came preſently into her Cabinet, and made me many and grand excuſes, alledging that others made him believe it, and gave me all the ſatisfaction and demonſtration of friendſhip that could be deſired. This being paſſed, having continued at Lyons a little longer, we went into Avignon, Le Guaſt daring no more invent ſuch impoſtures, and ſeeing by my actions that I gave no regard unto him, he took now another courſe by the Lady de Sauva to advance his miſcheivous projects, winning her ſo far, that ſhe governed all by him, and practiſing his inſtructions no leſſe dangerous then thoſe of Celeſtina, ſhe worked the love of my Brother and of the King my Husband (but light before and flexible, being both but very young) to ſuch a height and ſtrength, that forgetting all ambition, exerciſe and deſigne, they minded nothing elſe but that Ladies ſervice, and were ſo ſtrongly jealous of one another, that although ſhe was courted by Monſieur le Guiſe, by le Guaſt, Sovuray and many others who were all [Page] better beloved by her then themſelves, yet theſe two Brothers neither minded nor feared any thing but the preferred acceptance and entertainment of each others ſervice; And this woman the better to play her game perſwaded the King my Husband that I grew jealous of her, and for that cauſe that I took my Brothers part; we eaſily believe what is told us by thoſe we love. He entertaineth this beliefe, he eſtrangeth, he concealeth himſelf from me more then from any other, which till then he never did; 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 a [...]d ruine, I uſed my beſt indeavour in the behalf of my brother [Page] 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.

[Page] 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, [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 to double the courage of his companions: Apprehending [Page] this and indeavoring to make their enterpriſe aſſured, they reſolved to aſſault him with two or three hundred men, the vaile of night covering the ſhame of ſuch an aſſault: Le Guaſt who commanded a Regiment of the Guard provided them with Souldiers, who putting themſelves in five or ſix troupes in the ſtreet through which of neceſſity he muſt paſſe, they charged on him putting out their Links and Torches. After a volley of Harquebuſes and Piſtols, enough not only to intrap a troupe of fifteen or twenty perſons, but to defeate a whole Regiment of Souldiers, they hand to hand did combat with this troupe, labouring continually in the mask of night to mark out Buſſi, knowing him by his dove-coloured Scarfe in which he carried his wounded arme, which ſerved at that time well for them, who otherwiſe would have felt the ſtrength and vigour of it, but they were ſo well entertained by thoſe few honeſt Gentlemen from whom neither this unexpected incounter, nor the horrour of the night had taken away their judgement, or their courage, that making as great a proofe of their valour as of their affection, to their friend, by fine force they brought him to his lodging, without loſing any [Page] of their troupe, ſaving one Gentleman only who was trained up with him, and being wounded alſo in his arme carried it in a dove-coloured ſcarfe as Buſſi did, yet differing much from his, it being nothing ſo rich as his Maſters was, howſoever in the obſcurity of night either the fury or the courage of theſe aſſaſſinates, who had the word given them to fall on the dove-coloured ſcarfe, prevailed ſo much, that all the troupes threw themſelves on that poore Gentleman and left him dead in the ſtreet. An Italian Gentleman that belonged to my Brother being there, ſurpriſed with feare did runne all bloody into the Louure and comming up the ſtaires where my Brothers Chamber was, cryed out that Buſſi was aſſaulted; my Brother immediately would have gone to reſcue him: By good fortune I was not then in bed, and was lodged ſo neer unto my Brother that I heard that affrighted man comming up the ſtaires, and Proclayming that terrible news as ſoon as he. I ran forthwith into his Chamber to hinder him from going down, and ſent to the Queen my Mother to intreate her to come and ſtay him, ſeeing the juſt griefe which he conceived did tranſport him ſo beyond himſelfe, that inconſiderately he would expoſe himſelfe [Page] to any danger to run headlong to revenge: we retained him with much adoe; the Q. my Mother urging there was no apparence that he ſhould venter himſelf alone during night, that obſcurity did cover all vilany, that le Guaſt was miſchievous enough to have done it peradventure on purpoſe that he might fall into ſome evill accident. Theſe words were of little force with him being almoſt deſperate, but ſhe uſing her authority ſtaied him and gave the Porters charge that they ſhould not let him forth, taking the pains herſelf to ſtay with him till he had learned the truth of all: Buſſi whom God had preſerved miraculouſly from that danger troubling not himſelf with the hazard of it, his Sou [...]e being uncapable of feare, being born for a terrour to his Enemies, a glory to his Maſter, a helpe unto his friends; as ſoon as he was entred into his lodging thinking in what a trouble his Maſter would be if the newes of this encounter were brought uncertainly unto him, and fearing it might throw him upon the ranks of his enemies, as without doubt it had, if the Queen my Mother had not prevented it, ſent forthwith one of his ſervants who brought him the truth and the news of all; And the day appearing, [Page] Buſſi without fear of his enemies came into the Louure with as joyfull and as brave a preſence, as if the former aſſaſſinat had been to him a turnament of pleaſure, My Brother Being alſo as glad to ſee him, as full of indignation to revenge his quarrell, ſufficiently did witneſſe how ſenſible he was of the affront that was done unto him by attempting to deprive him of ſo worthy and ſo brave a Servant although le Guaſt could not endure that Buſſi ſhould be ranckt before him, or be ſeen to take the upper hand.

The Queen my Mother the wiſeſt and moſt adviſed that ever was, knowing of what weights were ſuch effects, and foreſeeing that in the end, they might ſet both her ſonnes at variance, did counſaile my Brother (to take away all pretences) that Buſſi a while ſhould abſent himſelf from Court, to which my Brother gave conſent, through my intreaties, ſeeing well that if he ſtayed, Le Guaſt would continue his incendiary deviſes, and would make him ſerve as a Cloake for his pernicious deſignes, which were to keep at diſcord my Brother and the King my Husband as he had done by his aforeſaid inventions; Buſſi who had no other will but that of his Maſters, departed from the Court accompanied [Page] with the braveſt of the Nobility which followed my Brother; this ſubject was pleaſing to Le Guaſt, and at the ſame time ſeeing the King my Husband one night in a great weakneſſe in which he fainting ſwounded oftentimes away, which came unto him as I beleeve by an exceſſe which he had made with women, where I ſerved and aſſiſted him as my duty did command me, at which ſo much he was contented, that he praiſed me to all the world, ſaying that if I had not perceived him in that extreamity, and run preſently to his ſuccour to call my women and his ſervants to him, that he had been dead, and for this that he would make farre more deerly of me then hitherto he had. Le Guaſt ſeeing alſo that of late the love and friendſhip between my Brother and the King my Husband began to renew it ſelf, believing that I was the only occaſion and inſtrument thereof, and that I was to them (as we may ſee in all naturall things, but eſpecially in Serpents cut) a certain naturall balme which doth reunite and reconcile▪ the divided parts, purſuing alwayes the courſe of his firſt pernicious deſigne, and labouring to contrive ſome new invention to divide the King my Husband and my ſelf; did put into the [Page] Kings head, who ſome few dayes before by the ſame inventien of Le Guaſt had taken from the Queen his moſt vertuous and ſacred Princeſſe one of her Gentlewomen whom ſhe loved very deerly, and who was trayned up with her, named Changi, he thought it now expedient that the King my Husband ſhould doe the like by me, taking from me her whom I moſt affected named Torigny, without any cauſe or reaſon but this, That it was not requiſite for young Princeſſes to have ſuch ſervants in whom they might repoſe any particular confidence; The King perſwaded by this wicked fellow talked of it oftentimes to the King my Husband, who told him that he knew very well that he ſhould doe me a grievous diſpleaſure by it, and if I loved Torigny, I had occaſion ſo to doe, that beſides her education with the Queen of Spaine my Siſter, and her attendance on me ſince my Infancy, ſhe was of an excellent underſtanding, and who had done him very good ſervice in his captivity at Bois de Vincennes, that he ſhould be ungratefull ſhould he not remember it, and that he oftentimes had ſeen his Majeſty himſelf make deerly of her. In this he defended himſelf, but in the end Le Guaſt perſiſting continually to incite [Page] the King who telling my Husband that he would never love him more▪ if by the next morning he had not taken Torigny from me, he was conſtrained to his great griefe (as ſince he often hath proteſted to me) to intreat and command me to give way unto it, which was ſo grievous to me that I could not but witnes to him by my tears what an injury and diſpleaſure▪ I received by it, demonſtrating unto him that what moſt afflicted me, was not the removall of a Servant who ſince my Infancy had been alwayes profitable and dutifull to me, but it being known how well I loved her, I was not ignorant how great a prejudice this ſuddain and forced departure of hers would bring to my reputation; he being unable to allow theſe truths by reaſon of the promiſe which he made the King to doe me this great diſpleaſure, ſhe went away the ſame day to a Coſin of hers called Monſieur de Caſtelas, I remained ſo perplexed with this indignity that no longer able to reſiſt the juſt griefes that did invade me, but baniſhing all Counſell from me, I did ſo abandon my ſelfe unto affliction, that I had not the power any more to look after the King my Husband; in a manner that Le Guaſt and Madame de Sauva on one [Page] ſide eſtranging him from me, and I eſtranging my ſelf on the other, we neither lay nor talked more together.

The Argument of the Second Book.

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THE Duke of Alenſon his departure from Court by ſtealth, ſeconded by the King of Navarres, on which inſued the impriſonment of this Lady. The peace of Sens▪ New warrs denounced against the Huguenots by the bad Counſell of the Biſhops. Her travailes and negotiation into Flanders, and the honorable [Page] inducements to it. The tragicall ſtory of Madamoiſelle de Tournon, who overcome by deſpaire, dyed (poore Lady) for the want of that love, whoſe abundance overcharged her. Aſſurance taken from the Lords of Flanders for the ſurrendring of their towns and Countries into the Duke of Alenſon his protection. The heady and unjuſt proceedings of his impriſonment at Court, his releaſement from it, and not long after, his re-deliverance from his increaſing fears and perſecutions by a dangerous eſcape by night out of this Ladyes window.

The Memorialls of Queen MARGARET. The Second Booke.

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CERTAIN dayes after, ſome faithfull ſervants of the King my Husband having made him underſtand the artifice by the means whereof he was led unto deſtruction, by eſtranging himſelfe and his affections from my Brother, and my ſelfe, from whom he ought to expect his greateſt ſuccour, and growing now into neglect, as the King began to undervalue him, they cauſed him to ſpeak unto my Brother, who ſince the departure of Buſſi had no way amended [Page] his condition; for every day Le Guaſt cauſed him to receive ſome new indignities, and knowing that they were both in the ſame condition at Court, being both out of favour, and that Le Guaſt alone did govern the world, that they muſt begge to him for whatſoever they deſired to obtain of the King; and if they chanced to demand any thing they were rejected with contempt, that if any one had made himſelf their ſervant, he forthwith was cryed down, and laden with a thouſand ſlanders and complaints, perceiving alſo that their diſunion was their ruine, they reſolved to unite and retire themſelves from Court, and to aſſemble their ſervants and friends together, to demand of the King a condition and reſpect worthy of them, my Brother having not yet the exhibition for his maintenance, and maintaining himſelf on certain ill aſſigned penſions which came unto him onely when it pleaſed Le Guaſt, and the King my Husband no way rejoycing in his government of Guyenne, he being not permitted to go unto it, or to any other of his Principalities. This reſolution being taken, my Brother ſpake unto me and ſaid that they two were now made perfect friends, and that he much deſired that the King my [Page] Husband and I ſhould be the like, and intreated me to forget whatſoever before had paſſed betwixt us, adding that the King my Husband told him that he was heartily ſorry for it, and now perceived that our enemies were too ſtrong and ſubtile for us, that he was reſolved now entirely to affect me, and to grant unto me all deſired ſatisfaction, he beſought me alſo that for my part I would love him, and in his abſence aſſiſt him in his affaires; they both agree on this reſolution, that my Brother ſhould depart firſt, ſtealing away in a Caroach, and that certain dayes after the King my Husband ſhould follow him under pretence of going to the Chace, being both very ſorry that they could not take me with them, nevertheleſſe aſſuring themſelves, it being known they were abroad, that none durſt offer any violence to me, intending to make it ſpeedily appeare, that their intention was no way to trouble France, but only to eſtabliſh a condition worthy of their quality, and to ſecure their perſons, for among theſe late troubles they alledged, that they were not without great danger of their lives: whether this feare of theirs were well grounded or no, or whether they who deſired the ruine and diviſion of our [Page] Houſe (the better to prevaile themſelves) had cauſed ſuch alarmes to be given them, by the daily advertiſements they received.

The Evening being come, a little before the ſupper of the King was ſerved in, my Brother changing his cloake, and muffling it about his face, went forth attended only with one Servant, who was not known, and walked on foot as farre as Saint Honorius gate, where he found himſelfe provided with a Caroach which he borrowed of a Lady for that purpoſe, into which being mounted, he came as farre as certaine houſes about a quarter of a mile from Paris, where having horſes that attended him, he there planted himſelf in the Saddle, and about a mile from thence, hee was ſaluted by two or three hundred horſe of his ſervants, who made there their Rendezvous accordingly, as he appointed; they perceived not at Court his departure, till about nine of the clock in the evening; the King and Queen my mother demanded of me why he was not at ſupper with them, and if he were in health or no; I replyed, that I ſaw him not ſince dinner, they ſent into his chamber to know what the buſineſſe was, forthwith it was returned that he was not there, they gave order [Page] that they ſhould ſearch all the chambers of the Ladies to which he was accuſtomed to goe, they ſought him in the Caſtle, and in, and round about the Citie; but they found him not; Immediately the Alarme waxed hot, the King grew into a rage, and ſwolne with choler and deſpite, he ſent to all the Princes and Lords of the Court, commanding them to take horſe, and to bring him back either alive or dead, urging that he was gone to trouble his eſtate, and to make warre againſt him, and that he would make him underſtand the folly he committed in oppoſing a Prince ſo puiſſant as himſelfe. Many of the Princes and Lords refuſed this commiſſion, demonſtrating unto the King, of what importance it was, and that they would ingage their lives in the ſervice of his Majeſtie, as their duties did oblige them, but to goe againſt Monſieur his Brother, they well knew that the day would come, when his Majeſtie would give them but little thanks for it, and aſſured him that my Brother would undertake nothing that might be diſpleaſing to his Majeſtie, or prejudicial to the State, that peradventure it was ſome diſcontent that invited him to remove from Court, and thereupon it were expedient that the King ſhould [Page] firſt ſend unto him to informe himſelfe of the occaſion that moved him to depart, before he took a reſolution to proceed againſt him with ſo extreame a rigour; but others there were that accepted this commiſſion, and prepared themſelves to take horſe, their diligence could not make that diſpatch, but it was firſt upon the break of day, which was the cauſe that they could not finde my brother, and were conſtrained to returne, as being not in equipage of warre; The King for all this was not more favourable to the King my husband, but looked with the ſame eye of diſregard upon him as before, the which confirmed him in his reſolution, ſo that within a few daies after, he retired himſelf from Court, pretending that he was gone on hunting. For me, the teares which (all that night after my Brothers departure) were my companions, had brought on the next morning ſo great a Rewme on one ſide of my face, that by reaſon of a fever, I was conſtrained certain daies to keep my bed, being very ill, and overcome with many ſorrows, during which time of ſickneſſe, the King my husband, whether he was buſied to prepare for his departure, or whether being about to leave the Court, he would beſtow on pleaſure the little time [Page] he had to ſtay, and delight himſelf with the preſence and company of his Miſtris Madame de Sauva, had not the leiſure to viſite me, but retiring to his reſt at his accuſtomed houres, which were about one or two a clock after mid-night, I knew not of his comming, we lying in two beds, as our uſuall manner was, and riſing before I was awake to be at the riſing of the Queen my mother, to which as I have ſaid, Madame de Sauva was accuſtomed to goe, he not ſo much as ſpake unto me, as he promiſed my Brother, and departed in the ſame manner, without bidding me farewell: For all this, I was ſuſpected by the King to be the only cauſe of his departure, who was ſo incenſed againſt me, that if he had not been retained by the Queen my mother, I beleeve his choler had wrought ſome crueltie againſt my life, but reſtrained by her, and daring not doe-worſe, he ſuddenly whiſpered in my mothers eare, that it were requiſite, I had a Guard ſet over me; to keep me from following the King my husband, and to debar any from comming to me, that I might not advertiſe my Brother and him of the occurrences at Court. The Queene my Mother willing to doe all things with clemency, told him, that ſhe held it alſo to be very [Page] neceſſary, being very glad that ſhe had rebated a little the firſt edge and fury of his Choler, but ſaid withall, that ſhe would goe and prepare me to endure my bondage with patience, alleaging that thoſe grievances would not allwayes continue in the ſame termes, that all things in this world had two faces, that the firſt which was darke and frightfull, being turned, when we ſhould come to behold the ſecond more ſweet and ſmiling, that on thoſe new events, wee would take new counſells, that then peradventure he might have need of my ſervice, that as wiſedome did adviſe him to live with his friends, as chancing one day to prove his enemies, and therefore not too much to truſt them, ſo friendſhip diſſolving, and being of power to hurt, the ſame wiſedome did counſell him to uſe his enemies, as chancing one day to prove his friends.

Theſe demonſtrances withheld the King from doing me any hurt, to which he had a great deſire, but le Guaſt aſſiſted him with an Invention to diſcharge his choler another way, and cauſed him (to doe me the greateſt diſpleaſure in the world) to ſend ſome ſwordmen to the houſe of Chaſtelas the Coſin of Torigny, and under pretence [Page] of bringing her to the King to drown her in the river that was neere unto his houſe; they being arrived, Chaſtelas gave them free admiſſion into his houſe, not doubting any thing; they ſeeing her, the ſtrongeſt of them uſing as much indiſcretion as violence in the ruinous charge which was committed to them, took hold of Torigny, and binding her, did lock her in a chamber till their horſes were bayted; in the mean time, behaving themſelves after the French manner, not regarding what might happen, they crammed themſelves up to the very throates with the beſt proviſion that the houſe afforded. Chaſtelas, who was a diſcreet man, not caring at all if by the expence of his victualls, he could gain any time to deferre the departure of his Coſin, hoping that who hath time, hath life, and that God might change the Kings heart, and countermand thoſe people to deſiſt from ſo great a cruelty, durſt not enterpriſe by any other way to hinder them, though he had freinds and means enough, but God who alway looked on my affliction, to deliver me from the danger and indignities which my enemies procured me, prepared an unexpected ſuccour to reſcue Torigny, which was this; Certain groomes and Chamberlaines having fled for feare [Page] of theſe ſpoylers, who kept a knocking and a bouncing within▪ as in a houſe of pillage, being gone ſome quarter of a mile from the houſe, God guided that way, la Ferte and Avantigny with their troupes, who were about two hundred horſe, and were now going to joyne themſelves to the Body of my Brothers army, and it happened that amongſt the troupes of Peaſants, La Ferte beheld a Servant of Chaſtelas, with an afflicted and dolefull countenance, and knowing him, asked if there were any Souldiers, who paſſing by that way, had done his maſter wrong, the groome anſwered no, and that the cauſe which ſo tormented him, was the extreamity in which he left his Maſter, for the violence offered to his Coſin; Immediately La Ferte and Avantigny reſolved to doe me that good office, to deliver Torigny, prayſing God, that gave them ſo good an occaſion to witneſſe their ſervice and affection to me, and galloping in full ſpeed, they and all their troupes arrived ſo aptly at Chaſtelas his houſe, that they found theſe rude fellows on the point of putting Torigny on a horſe, to leade her out to [...]rowne her; the Horſmen comming all into the Court with their Swords drawne, cryed out, Forbeare you Villaines, if [Page] you doe her any violence, you are but dead! and charging on them, they did fly away, leaving their priſoner tranſported now with joy, as before with fear, and having thanked God and them for this ſo needfull a deliverance, ſhe cauſed the Charriot of her Coſin Chaſtelas to be made ready, and accompanied with him, went with this guard of honeſt men to find my Brother, who was very glad being not able to have me with him, to have there one whom ſo intirely I affected.

While the King made this goodly diſpatch to ſacrifice Torigny to his anger, the Queen my Mother who knew nothing of it came into my Chamber to viſite me, as I was then making my ſelfe ready, determining with my ſelfe, though I was troubled with the rhewme, yet more ſick in minde then body by reaſon of the afflictions which poſſeſſed me, to go that day abroad to ſee a little the courſe of the world on theſe new accidents, being alwayes in feare leaſt they ſhould enterpriſe any thing againſt my Brother and the King my Husband; My Mother ſaid unto me, Daughter you need not make ſuch haſte to dreſſe you, grieve not I pray at what I ſhall deliver, I aſſure my ſelfe [Page] that you doe not think it ſtrange that the King findes himſelfe offended with your Brother and your Husband, and knowing the friendſhip that is between you, believing that you knew of their departure he is reſolved to keep you as a hoſtage of them; he knows how your Husband loves you, and that he cannot have a better gage of him than you, for this cauſe he hath commanded that a Guard ſhould be ſet over you, to hinder you that you ſhould not ſtirre from your Chamber: His Counſell alſo hath repreſented to him, that if you were at freedome amongſt us, you would diſcover whatſoever is intended againſt your Brother and your Husband, and acquaint them with it. I deſire you not to grow impatient at this reſtraint, it ſhall not God willing laſt long, grieve not your ſelfe that I dare not come unto you as often as I would, for I am afraid to give ſuſpition to the King, but aſſure your ſelfe I will not permit that any violence ſhall be done unto you, and I will labour to the uttermoſt of my power to conclude a peace for the reconcilement of your Brothers. I repreſented to her how great was the injury that in this I did receive; I would not deny but that my Brother did alwaies [Page] communicate to me his juſt diſcontents, but for the King my Husband, ſince Torigny was taken from me, we had not ſo much as talked together, that he came not to viſite me in my ſickneſſe, nor yet did ſo much as bid me adieu when he went away: ſhe replyed theſe be ordinary complaints between a Husband and a Wife, but I know that with kinde words and letters he will regain your heart, and if he ſhould ſend you word to come unto him, that you would goe, to which the King my Sonne will no way give conſent. She returning I remained certain moneths in that eſtate, having not any, not ſo much as my familiar and moſt private friends that came to ſee me, for feare of the Kings diſpleaſure. At Court adverſity is alwayes alone, as proſperity is accompanied, and perſecution is ſeldome any where aſſiſted with true and conſtant friends; only the brave Grillon was he who deſpiſing all prohibitions came five or ſix times into Chamber ſo aſtoniſhing and frighting the Cerberuſſes that were ſet to guard my my doore, that they durſt neither grant, nor deny him entrance: During this time the King my Husband being arrived in his government, and having aſſembled his friends and ſervants they did demonſtrate [Page] unto him what an unkindneſſe and injury he committed in not taking his leave of me, nor in ſo much as bidding me farewell at his departure, telling him that I had underſtanding enough to doe him ſervice, and that it was needfull to regain me, that he ſhould receive much profit by my love and by my preſence, if things being reconciled, he could have me with him. He was eaſie to be perſwaded to this, being removed from that Circe Madame de Sauva whoſe charms had loſt their force by her abſence, which in her preſence rendred him without reaſon to apprehend the policies of our adverſaries, and that the ſeparation and diviſion betwixt us was as prejudiciall to himſelfe as unto me; he wrote unto me a very honeſt letter in which he deſired me to forget whatſoever had paſſed betwixt us, and to believe that for the time to come he intirely would affect me, which he would make more apparent to me then heretofore he had done, commanding me to advertiſe him of the paſſages of the Court-affaires, and of my own eſtate, and of my Brothers, for though they were friends, they were removed from intelligence, my Brother being in Champagne and the King my Husband in Gaſcony; I received that [Page] letter being yet a Captive which brought much comfort to me, and I failed not afterwards (although the Guard were commanded that I ſhould not be ſuffered to write) being aided with neceſſity the Mother of invention, to ſend oftentimes my letters to him.

Certain dayes after my reſtraint, my Brother knew of my captivity, which did ſo much incenſe him, that had he not planted in his heart as great an affection to his Country, as he had a part and intereſt in the State, he had made ſo cruell a war, as he had then the means, commanding a brave army, that the people had endured the puniſhment for the errour of their Prince, but retained by that naturall obligation and affection, hee wrote to the Queen my Mother, that if they uſed me ſo ungently they would throw him into the bottome of deſpaire, ſhe fearing to ſee the occaſion of this warre brought to ſuch an extreamity, that ſhe knew not how to pacifie it, repreſented to the King of what importance it was, and found him diſpoſed to receive her reaſons, his anger being qualified by the knowledge of the danger wherein he was, being ſeized on in Languedock, Gaſcogny, Dauphine, and Poictou by the King [Page] my Husband, and the Huguenots, who held many goodly Towns and forts; and by my Brother in Champagne who had a great army compoſed of the braveſt of the nobility in France, and ſince this departure of my Brother, being himſelfe not able either by perſwaſions, threatnings, or commands, to make any take horſe or to oppoſe my Brother, all the Princes and Lords of France providently forbearing to put their finger betwixt two grinding Milſtones; All this conſidered, the King gave open eare to the Declaration of the Queen my Mother, and was as deſirous as her ſelfe to have a Peace eſtabliſhed, intreating her that ſhe would be pleaſed to be a means thereof. She preſently prepared her ſelf to goe unto my Brother demonſtrating unto the King that it was neceſſary to take me with her, but the King would not conſent unto it, believing that I did ſerve him as a ſufficient hoſtate, thereupon ſhe took her journy without me, and without ſo much as ſpeaking to me, when my Brother ſeeing that I was not with her, repreſented the juſt diſcontents which he received, and the indignities and rough uſage which he found at Court, adding thereunto the injuries which were done to me by keeping me in [Page] durance, and the cruelty which to diſpleaſe me they more then offered to Torigny, proteſting that he would lend no [...]are to any overture of peace untill the wrongs which they had done me were redreſſed, and till he ſaw me ſatisfied, and free. The Queen my Mother hearing this, returned, and declared to the King what anſwer my Brother ſent unto him, and that it were requiſite if he deſired a peace that ſhe ſhould go back again, but for her to goe without me, her journey would be ſo unprofitable, that it would rather increaſe, then mitigate the Evill, as alſo to take me with her, without having firſt contented me, it might doe more hurt then good, and that it was to be feared that I would return no more, but from thence would repaire to the King my Husband, that it was neceſſary to take away the guard that was ſet over me, and to finde a means to make me forget the rough uſage which I received. This the King found good, and ſeemed as much affected to it as her ſelfe. Immediately ſhe ſent for me, and told me that ſhe had prevailed ſo much, that ſhe had prepared things to a way of peace, that ſhe knew that my Brother and my ſelf did ever deſire the benefit of the State, that ſhe could [Page] conclude a peace ſo advantagious to my Brother, that he ſhould have occaſion to reſt himſelf content, and be free from the tyrany of Le Guaſt, or whatſoever other malicious Spirit did poſſeſſe the King againſt him, and that if I would aſſiſt her in making the accordance betwixt the King and my Brother, I ſhould deliver her from a great and inſupportable calamity, ſhee being unable without a griefe as ſtrong as death to receive the tidings of the Victory of the one, or other of her ſonnes, ſhe deſired me that the injuries I received might not tranſport me rather to thoughts of vengeance, then of peace; ſhe told me that the King was ſorry, that ſhe had ſeen him weep, and that he would give me ſuch ſatisfaction, that I ſhould remaine contented with it: I replyed to her, that I never would preferre my private Good to the Benefit of the State, for the improvement and ſafety whereof, I would willingly ſacrifice my life, and that I deſired nothing more then a happy peace, to the effecting whereof, I would devote my ſelf, and all my indeavors; on this, the King came into her cabinet, and with a multitude of faire words did labour to give me ſatisfaction, and incited me to his friendſhip, finding that neither [Page] my deportment, nor my words gave him any apparence of the injuries I received, which I did more in contempt of the offence that he had done unto me, then for any ſatisfaction to him, having paſſed the time of my captivity in the pleaſure and exerciſe of reading, in which I then began to delight my ſelf, owing this obligation not to Fortune, but to the divine Providence, which then began to provide me ſo great a remedy to relieve my ſelf in the afflictions which were prepared for me, which ſerved me alſo as an introduction to devotion, reading in that fayre and univerſall booke of Nature, ſo many wonders of the creator of it; for every well tempered Soul, rearing to it ſelf a ladder by this knowledge, of which GOD is the laſt and higheſt round, raviſhed thereat, doth addreſſe himſelf to the adoration of the admirable light of that incomprehenſible Eſſence, and making a perfect circle, delighteth not in any thing but to follow that Homerick chaine, that exquiſite Ring of Knowledge which proceedeth from God himſelfe, the beginning and end of all things; And ſadneſſe, contrary to Joy, which giveth us not leave to conſider our own actions, rouzeth up the Soul in its ſelf, which uniting all her forces [Page] to reject the evill, and to imbrace the good, thinkes, and thinkes againe inceſſantly, to chooſe this Soveraigne bliſſe, in which we may finde peace with confidence, and theſe are thoſe pious diſpoſitions that prepare us to arrive at the knowledge and the love of God. I received theſe two benefits from the ſolitude and griefe of my captivity, to addict my ſelfe to reading and devotion, of which, before I ſcarce had taſted, amidſt the vanity and pompe of my proſperous Fortune. The King as I have ſaid, ſeeing in me no apparence of diſcontent, told me that the Queen my mother ſhould return unto my Brother in Champagne, to mediate a peace, and beſought me to accompany her, and to doe there all the good offices I could, for he knew (he ſaid) that my Brother repoſed more truſt in me, then in any other in the world, and that whatſoever Good ſhould ariſe from thence, he would give me the honour of it, and profeſſe himſelfe obliged to me; I promiſed him what I reſolved to performe, for it conduced to the Benefit of my Brother, and the State, ſo to imply my ſelf, as he by it ſhould receive contentment. The Queen my mother did depart, and I with her, and comming to Sens, the conferrence was held in [Page] a Gentlemans houſe a mile from thence. The morning following, wee came to the place of conference, my Brother was there in perſon, accompanyed with ſome of his owne troupes, and with the principall Lords and Catholike Princes of his Army, among whom alſo was Duke Caſimire, and Colonell Poux, who brought unto him ſixe thouſand Reiſters, by the means of thoſe of the Religion, who were joyned with my Brother in the behalfe of the King my Husband. For many dayes they treated on the peace, and the conditions of it, having many diſputations on the articles, eſpecially on thoſe which concerned the Huguenots, and the agreement was made with conditions more advantagious to them, then they themſelves could wiſh, as preſently after it appeared. The Queen my mother, the peace being concluded, perſwaded my Brother to ſend back the Reiſters, and to retire himſelfe from thoſe, from whom (being ever a good Catholick) he had a great deſire to ſeparate himſelfe, not willing to be ſerved by Huguenots, but only for neceſſitie. In this peace, there was an Eſtate aſſured to my brother for his maintenance according to his qualitie, in which my Brother would have me compriſed, being [Page] very earneſt, that the aſſignation of my dowry in Lands might be eſtabliſhed, and Monſieur de Beauvais, who was deputed there a party for him, inſiſted on it very ſtrongly; but the Queen my Mother did intreate me that I would not give way unto it, and aſſured me that I ſhould receive of the King what I would demand, on which I did requeſt them, that they would not comprehend me in the Articles, and that whatſoever I had conferred on me, I had rather receive it from the grace and bounty of the King and Queen my mother, beleeving that it would be a courſe more beneficiall, and as aſſured to me.

The peace concluded, and aſſurance taken on the one ſide, and on the other, the Queen my mother preparing her ſelfe for her returne, I received letters from the King my Husband, by which I underſtood that he had a great deſire to ſee me, intreating me, that as ſoone as I ſaw the peace concluded, to ſue for leave to come unto him: I beſought the Queen my mother, who rejected my petition, and by all means poſſible indeavored to divert me from it, ſaying, That when I received not her propoſition to diſanull our marriage, after the maſſacre of S. Bartholomew, ſhe [Page] then commended my reſolution, becauſe my husband was made a Catholick, but now, ſince he hath abandoned the Catholick Religion, and is turned Huguenot, ſhe could not permit that I ſhould goe unto him, and ſeeing I daily renewed my petition, ſhe told me with teares in her eyes, that if I returned not with her, ſhe ſhould for ever looſe her credit with the King, adding, that the King would beleeve that ſhe had taken me with her for that intent, and that ſhe had made a ſolemn promiſe to him to bring me back, ſhe deſired me to ſtay till my Brothers return, which ſhe ſaid ſhould be with ſpeed, and that ſuddainly after, ſhe would take order for my diſpatch to the King my Huſband.

Some few dayes after, we returned to the King to Paris, who by reaſon of the peace, received us with great joy, yet not well liking the advantageous conditions of the Huguenots, and determining with himſelfe, as ſoon as he had got my Brother to Court, to finde ſome new Invention to begin the war again, and not let them joy in that, to which to his grief he condiſcended, to withdraw my brother from them, who ſtayed yet behind a moneth or two, to give order for ſending backe the Reiſters, [Page] and for the diſmiſſing of his army, He arrived not long after at Court, with all the Catholick Nobilitie that aſſiſted him; the King received him with all honour, ſeeming to have great joy to ſee him there, and he made very much of Buſſi alſo, who came with him, for Le Guaſt was lately dead, being ſlaine by the judgement of God as he was in courſe of phyſick; he had a body infected with all ſort of villanies, and ſubject to a corruption, which a long time did poſſeſſe it, as the Devills did his ſoule, to whom he did homage by Magick, and all ſort of wickedneſſe; this Brand of fire and diviſion being taken from the world, and the King having his thoughts bent only on the ruine of the Huguenots, intended to make uſe of my Brother to command againſt them, to render my brother and them unreconcileable, and fearing alſo that to prevent it, I would haſten to the King my husband, he entertaind us both, as well the one, as the other, with all the pleaſures that the Court could yeeld, to make our ſtay there more delightfull; and ſeeing at the ſame time that Monſieur de Duras was ſent from the King my husband to demand me, and with ſo much importunity I urged to be gone, that he no longer could denie me, he [Page] told me (ſhewing firſt it was the love he did beare unto me, and then the knowledg what a Grace & ornament I brought unto his Court, which cauſed him ſo long to ſuſpend my journey) that he would now conduct me himſelf as far as Poictiers, and returned Monſieur de Duras with that aſſurance.

Certaine daies after, he ſtayed at Paris, deferring, and not openly refuſing to give me leave to goe, till he had all things in readineſſe for the declaration of his deſigned warre againſt the Huguenots, and by conſequence againſt the King my Huſband, and to give a pretence unto it, they cauſed a rumour to be ſpread, that the Catholicks complained of the advantageous conditions, to which they accorded with the Huguenots at the peace of Sens. This murmur and diſcontent of the Catholicks was blowne abroad, that they came to League and unite themſelves at Court from all the Cities and provinces of the Kingdome, enrouling, and ſigning themſelves, and making a great noiſe (but privately with the Kings conſent) that they would chooſe Monſieur de Guiſe for Chiefe; there was no other thing ſpoken of from Paris untill you come to Blois, where the King had called the States together, [Page] during the overture of whom, the King called my Brother into his cabinet with the Queen my mother, and ſome of the Lords of his counſell, and preſented there unto him, of what importance for his Authoritie and eſtate was this league, which the Catholicks had begun, eſpecially if they ſhould come to make themſelves heads, and to chooſe thoſe of the Houſe of Guize; that it concerned them (underſtanding my brother and himſelf) more then all the reſt, that the Catholicks had reaſon to complain, and that his duty and conſcience did oblige him to diſcontent the Huguenots rather then the Catholicks, he intreated and conjured my Brother, as an heire of France, and a true Catholick, that he would counſell and aſſiſt him in this affayre, whereon the hazard of his Crowne, and the Catholick Religion ſo much depended, adding that it ſeemed to him to cut off all danger that this League might bring, that he himſelf ought to make the chiefe, and both to ſhew his zeal to his Religion, and to debarre them from chooſing any other, to ſigne himſelf firſt as Chiefe, and then to have my Brother ſigne, and afterwards all the Princes, Lords and Governours, and whoſoever had any charge or power in his Kingdome. [Page] My Brother could not but offer that ſervice which he owed to his Majeſtie, and to the preſervation of the Catholick Religion. The King having taken aſſurance of my Brothers aſſiſtance, which was the principall end to which the artifice of the League did tend, did ſuddenly call all the Princes and Lords together, and cauſing the roll of the ſaid League to be brought unto him, he firſt there ſigned himſelf as Chiefe, and then my Brother, and after him all the reſt, who had not yet ſigned. The morning following, they opened the Eſtates, having taken advice of the three Lord Biſhops of Lions, of Ambrum, and of Vienne, who perſwaded him that after the oath made at his conſecration, no oath made unto the Hereticks could be of power, the ſaid oath nullifying all other oathes and promiſes which he could make unto the Huguenots: this being pronounced at the opening of the States, and warre being proclaimed againſt the Huguenots; the King ſent back Geniſlac, who had been there to haſten my departure, with rough and threatning language: telling him that he gave his ſiſter to a Catholick, and not unto a Huguenot, and if that the King my husband had a deſire to have me, he ſhould turne Catholick [Page] againe; all preparations for the warre were made, there nothing elſe was ſpoken of at Court, and to render my brother more unreconcileable with the Huguenots, the King made him Chiefe of one of his Armies. Geniſlac being come to tell me this ſad farewell, which the King had given him, I repayred preſently to the cloſet of the Queen my mother, where I found the King, and complained how he had abuſed me with delayes, having alwayes hindered me from going to the King my husband; and now diſſembled to depart from Paris, to conduct me to Poictiers, to expreſſe an effect ſo contrary. I repreſented to him, that I was not married for pleaſure, or to ſatisfie my owne deſires, but that it was the deſire of King Charles, conjoyned with my mothers, and his owne, that ſince they had given me to him, they could not hinder me from running my fortune with him, that I would goe unto him, and if they refuſed to give me leave, I would ſteale away in what diſguiſe and faſhion that I could, though with the hazard of my life. The King anſwered, 'Tis not now a time (my Siſter) to importune me for leave, and I profeſſe the truth which you have ſaid, that I have deferred your going for a while, to [Page] denie it in the end for altogether; for ſince the King of Navarre hath turned again to be a Huguenot, I never thought it good that you ſhould goe unto him; that which we have done, the Queen my mother, and my ſelf, is for your ſafetie. I will make warre againſt the Huguenots, and root out that Religion, which doth us ſo much miſchief, and there is not the leaſt apparence of reaſon why you, who are a Catholick, and my ſiſter, ſhould be in their hands as an hoſtage of me, and who knows not, but to procure unto me an irreparable loſſe, they may revenge themſelves on your life for the evill which I ſhall bring upon them; no, no, you ſhall not goe, and if you ſteale away, as you ſay you will, underſtand that you ſhall have me and the Queen your Mother for your cruell enemies, and you ſhall feel our anger to the uttermoſt of our power, and ſhall rather impayre, then amend the condition of your husband. I retired my ſelf with great diſpleaſure from that cruell ſentence, and taking the advice of the principall of my friends at Court, they declared, that it would ill become me to be reſident in a Court ſo contrary to the king my husband, and from whence ſo openly they made warre againſt him, and counſelled [Page] me, as long as the warres continued, to retire my ſelfe from Court, and were it poſſible, it were more honourable for me to finde ſome pretence to goe out of the kingdome, under the colour of pilgrimage, or to viſite ſome of my kindred; Madame de Roche-ſur-yon was one of thoſe whom I aſſembled to deſire their counſell, who was then upon her departure to goe to the waters of Spau. My brother was alſo preſent, and had brought Mondoucet with him, who was Agent for the King in Flanders, and being lately returned, repreſented to the King, with what griefe the Flemmings ſuffered the uſurpation which the Spaniards made on the Lawes of France, for the dominion, and ſoveraignty of Flanders; that many of the Lords and Commons of their cities had expreſly commanded him to acquaint his Majeſtie how much they ſtood addicted to the French, and that they would lend him all their helping hands. Mondoucet, ſeeing the King gave no eare to his adviſe, having nothing in his head, but the Huguenots, who were now to feele the vengeance of his diſpleaſure, for aſſiſting my brother againſt him, talked no more unto him of it, but addreſſed himſelf unto my Brother, who having the true nature of a Prince, [Page] loved onely to enterpriſe great and glorious things, being borne rather to conquer, then preſerve; he ſuddenly imbraced the enterpriſe, which pleaſed him ſo much the more, becauſe he perceived nothing of injuſtice in it, willing to regain that unto France, which was uſurped by the Spaniards; Mondoucet for this cauſe became my Brothers ſervant, who ſent him back to Flanders under the colour of accompanying Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon to the waters of Spau, and he obſerving that, during theſe warres, every one ſought a faire pretence to withdraw me from France, whether it were into Savoy, or into Lorrayne, or to Saint Claudes, or to our Lady of Loretto, whiſpered theſe words into my brothers eare, Sir▪ if the Queen of Navarre could pretend any malady, which the waters of Spau, whither Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon is now going, might ſerve for cure, this would fall out very fortunately for you: my brother much commended his counſell, and being very glad of the diſcovery of it, ſuddenly cryed out, My deer Queen, ſtudy no more, for you muſt goe to the waters of Spau, whether Madame the Princeſſe is going; I have ſometimes heard you complain of a ſwelling in your [Page] arme, you are to ſay that your Phyſitians did then preſcribe it, but the ſeaſon was not fitting, but now the time is ſeaſonable, and you muſt intreat the King to give you leave to goe. My Brother declared not himſelf at that time, wherefore he deſired the journey, becauſe that Monſieur the Cardinall of Burbon was then in company, whom he ſuſpected for a Guiſian, and inclined to the Spaniſh faction. For my ſelfe, I underſtood it very well, not doubting but it reflected on his enterpriſe for Flanders, of the which Mondoucet had ſpoken to us both. All the company were of this adviſe, and Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon, who her ſelfe was going thither, and who loved me intirely, with great joy did apprehend and entertain this counſell, and promiſed to goe with me to the Queen my mother, to have her grant conſent unto it. On the morning following, we found the Queene alone, and I repreſented unto her, what a diſpleaſure it was unto me, to ſee the King my husband in a warre againſt the King, and to be thus removed, and kept aſunder from him, that while this warre continued, it were neither expedient nor honorable for me to ſtay at Court, where if I ſtill continued, I could not avoide one of [Page] theſe two Evills, either that the King my husband would conceive that I ſtayed at Court only for my owne pleaſure, and that I aſſiſted him not as I ought to doe, or that the King would entertaine an opinion, that I ſent daily advertiſements to the King my husband, that both the one and the other would procure unto me much affliction; I beſought her that ſhe would be pleaſed to think well of it, if for a while I eſtranged my ſelf from Court, to avoid all occaſions of ſuſpition, that ſome time was paſſed, ſince the Phyſitians preſcribed me the waters of Spau, for the ſwelling of my arme, to which I had a long time been ſubject, and that the ſeaſon of the yeere being now fitted for it, this journey by her permiſſion would fall out opportunely, not onely to remove me from Court, but from France alſo; and ſo the King my husband might underſtand, that being unable to be with him by reaſon of the Kings diſtruſt, I would not remaine in that place where warre was made againſt him, and that I hoped that her wiſdome would ſo diſpoſe of things in time, that the King my husband ſhould obtaine a peace of the King, and returne into his favour, that I would attend to heare that happy news, to have then permiſſion to repayre [Page] unto him, and that in this voyage to the Spau, Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon (who was there preſent) would doe me the honour to accompany me. The Queene my mother did much applaude my reſolution, and told me that ſhe was glad that I had taken this adviſe, affirming that this evill counſell which the Biſhops gave the King, not to make good his promiſes, but to breake whatſoever he had contracted with the Huguenots for him, had for many conſiderations, brought her much affliction, eſpecially ſeeing this impetuous torrent drew along with it, and ruined the moſt underſtanding, and the faithfulleſt ſervants that the King had in his counſell (for the King had thereupon removed foure or five of the moſt noble and apparent in all his Counſell) Moreover ſhe affirmed, it left a deep impreſſion in her, to ſee the truth of what I repreſented, that ſtaying at Court, I could not avoide one of thoſe two evills, either that the King my husband would diſlike that ſtay, and be off [...]nded at it, or that the King would diſtruſt me, ſuppoſing that I gave intelligence to the King my husband, ſhee ſaid that ſhe would perſwade the King to give conſent unto the voyage, which ſhe did, and the King diſcourſed with me of it, [Page] without the leaſt apparence of being angry, being well content that he had diverted me from my husband, whom he hated more then all the world beſides, and commanded that a Poſt ſhould be diſpatched to Don John of Auſtria, who commanded in Flanders for the King of Spaine, to intreat him to give me neceſſary warrants to paſſe freely through the countrey of his Authority, becauſe I muſt of neceſſitie travell through Flanders to goe to the waters of Spau, which are in the lands belonging to the Biſhop of Leige.

This being determined, we ſevered our ſelves for a little ſpace, during which time my Brother imployed himſelfe to inſtruct me in ſome deſired offices concerning his enterpriſe in Flanders, and the King and Queene my mother removed to Poictiers, to be neerer the army of Monſieur de Mayenne, who beſieged Brovage, and who from thence was to paſſe into Gaſcogny, to make warre againſt the King my husband. My brother alſo was to march with another army, of which he was Commander, to beſiege Iſſoire, and ſome other Townes which ſhortly after he took in, and I prepared my ſelf for my Journey into Flanders, attended with Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon, with Madame [Page] de Tournon, my Dame of honour, with Madame de Mouy of Picardie, with Madame La Chaſtelayne of Millon, with Madamoſelle d' Atrie, with Madamoſelle de Tournon, and with ſeven or eight Gentlewomen more, and with Noblemen, as Monſieur the Cardinall of Lenoncourt, with Monſieur the Biſhop of Langres▪ with Monſieur de Mouy Lord of Picardie, with the chiefe Eſquires, and many other Gentlemen of my houſe. This company gave ſuch delight to ſtrangers, who found it ſo full of ſtate and luſtre, that they had France in farre more admiration: My litter was of Carnation velvet, imbroydered with works of Gold and Silke. The invention of the worke, and the Impreſſes were eaſie to be ſeene; this Litter was glazed round, and every glaſſe had a device in it, there being in the works of Velvet, and in the glaſſe, fourty different Inventions, with Italian and Spaniſh Mottoes on the Sun, and his effects; this litter was followed with the litter of Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon, and with the litter of Madame de Tournon, my Dame of Honour, and with ten wayting Gentlewomen on Horſe, with their governeſſe, and with ſixe caroaches, in which the reſt of the Ladies and women were.

[Page] I paſſed through Picardie, where the Citties had commandment from the King to receive me as if himſelf were preſent, and they did me all the honour that I could deſire. Being arrived at Caſtelet, which is a fort three miles from the frontire of Cambreſis, the Biſhop of Cambray, whoſe Church acknowledged not then the King of Spaine, but for her Protector, ſent a Gentleman unto me, to know the houre of my departure thence, intending to meet me at my entrance into his Lands, where I found him well attended with people, who had the habite and apparence of true Flemmings, as they are very groſſe in thoſe parts. The Biſhop was of the Houſe of Barlemont, one of the Principall houſes in Flanders, but who in a Flemmiſh breſt had a Spaniſh heart, as they made it apparent to me, being one of thoſe that did moſt aſſiſt Don John, but yet he received me with great honour, and no leſſe Spaniſh ceremonies. I found this Citie of Cambray, although not builded with ſuch ſtrong materialls as curs of France, yet farre more delightfull, the Cities and houſes thereof being better diſpoſed, and proportioned, and the Churches very faire and large, a common ornament to all the Townes in France; that [Page] which I found in this Citie moſt remarkeable, was the Cittadell, one of the ſtrongeſt and faireſt in Chriſtendome, which being ſince under the obedience of my Brother, the Spaniards to their coſts have proved. A noble and worthy Gentleman, Monſieur de Ainſi was the Governour of it, who in grace, in preſence, and all qualities requiſite to a perfect Gentleman, was nothing inferiour to our moſt accompliſhed Courtiers, and no way partaking of that naturall clowniſhneſſe, which ſeemeth proper to the Flemmings. The Biſhop made us a banquet, and delighted us after ſupper, with the pleaſure of a Maske, to which all the Ladies of that Citie came, but being there himſelf not preſent (for ſuddenly after the ſupper, he retired himſelf, being as I have ſaid, of a Spaniſh and ceremonious humour) Monſieur de Ainſi, the moſt apparent in that troupe, was left behinde, to entertaine me at the Maske, and to have me afterwards to a Collation of confects, but very unadviſedly, as I conceive, for this was he who had the charge of the Cittadell; I ſpeake this having learned it to my own expence, and knowing more (then I would deſire) what belongeth to the guarditg of ſuch a place. The remembrance of my brother being [Page] not to be divided from my heart, becauſe I loved nothing more then him, I often did thinke on the inſtructions which he had given me, and ſeeing a fayre opportunitie offered to doe him good ſervice in his enterpriſe for Flanders, this Citie and Cittadell being the key thereof, I quickned and imployed all the underſtanding which God had given me to render Monſieur de Ainſi affectioned to France, and more particular to my Brother, God gave ſuch a bleſſing to my diſcourſe, that he delighted with it, determined to ſtay with me as long as poſſibly he could, and to accompany me during the time I ſtayed in Flanders, and to this intent, he demanded leave of his maſter to goe with me to Namur, where Don John of Auſtria did attend me, ſaying, That he deſired to ſee the triumphs of that entertainment. This Flemming Spanioliz'd was notwithſtanding ſo ill adviſed to let him goe, during this voyage, which continued ten or twelve daies, he ſpake unto me as often as he could, openly demonſtrating that he had a heart addicted to the French, & that he only deſired to live to ſee the houre wherein he might have ſo brave a Prince as my Brother for his Lord and Maſter, deſpiſing the ſervice and commands of his [Page] Biſhop, who although he was his Soveraigne, was but a Gentleman as himſelfe, and farre inferiour to him in the qualities and graces both of minde and body.

Departing from Cambray, I lodged the night enſuing at Valenciennes in Flanders where Monſieur the Count of Lalain, Monſieur de Montigny his brother, and many other Gentlemen to the number of two or three hundred came to receive me at my comming out of the principality of Cambreſis, unto which place the Biſhop of Cambray conducted me. Being arrived at Valenciennes, a Town inferiour to Cambray in force, but not in the ornament of goodly buildings and of Churches, where the fountaines and the Clocks with induſtry proper to the Almains gave not a little cauſe of wonder to the French, it being not ordinary with them to hear the clocks [...]xpreſſe a pleaſant Muſick of the voice, with as many ſorts of perſons as are in the little Caſtle in the Suburbs of Saint Germans: Monſieur the Count of Lalain, the Citty being under his government, made a feaſt to the Lords and Gentlemen of my [...]roupe, where his wife and his faire Siſter Madame de Aurec and the moſt remarkable and braveſt Ladies of that country attended to receive me; He told me he [Page] was Coſin to the King my Husband, and he was a perſon of great authority and eſtate, to whom the Spainiſh inſolence was alwaies odious, being ſtrongly incenſed againſt them ſince the death of the Count of Aigmont who was his neer kinſman, and although he maintained his government without being leagued with the Prince of Orange or the Huguenots, being a thrice Catholick Lord, yet he could not endure to ſee Don John, or permit that either he or any of his ſhould enter into his government, Don John not daring force him to the contrary, fearing that then the Catholick league in Flanders called the League of the Eſtates would unite themſelves with the Prince of Orange and the Huguenots, wiſely foreſeeing, what a ſtorm and tempeſt would enſue, as they have proved ſince who have governed there for the King of Spain. The Count of Lalain could not ſufficiently expreſſe what a joy he did receive to ſee me, and if his native Prince had then been preſent, he could not be received with more honour and demonſtrations of wellcome and affection. Arriving at Monts at the Countes of Lalain with about foureſcore or a hundred Ladies of the City and Country, of whom I was received not as a ſtrange Princeſſe, but as if I [Page] had been their Soveraign by the priviledge of inheritance, the diſpoſition of the Femmings is to be private, merry, and familiar, and the Counteſſe of Lalain being of this diſpoſition, and having a great and high Spirit, it gave me preſently an aſſurance that it were no difficult matter to enter into a ſtrict friendſhip with her: The houre of ſupper being come, ſhe went to the Banquet, and after to dancing which the Count of Lalain continued all the time of my aboad at Monts, which was longer then I determined, intending to depart the morning following, but this good woman inforced me to ſtay a ſeventh night with them, which I was unwilling to doe, fearing to overcharge them, nor was it poſſible for me to perſwade her husband or her ſelfe, but they enforced me to ſtay till the eighth day were expired, living with ſuch familiarity with me, ſhe ſtayed at my lying down very late, and would have ſtaied longer but that ſhe did what was very rare to doe in perſons of her quality, which notwithſtanding did witneſſe a nature attended with great goodneſſe, ſhe nouriſhed her infant with her own milk ſo that being one morning at the feaſt, and ſitting next unto me at the table which is the place where they of that Country doe [Page] communicate themſelves with greateſt friendſhip, and ayming at nothing but my content, which was altogether to advance my Brothers deſignes in Flanders, ſhe being curiouſly dreſt and almoſt covered with precious ſtones and rich imbroyderies, having on a Kirtle of cloath of gold, whoſe ground was black, wrought with curious workes of imbroydery and purles of gold and ſilver, and a doublet of Cloath of ſilver whoſe ground was white, wrought with flowers of gold, and buttoned with great diamonds (a habit proper to the office of a Nurſe) they brought unto the table her little childe, as richly dreſſed as was the Nurſe that gave it ſuck, ſhe ſet the Childe on the table betwixt us both, and freely unbuttoning her ſelfe ſhe gave her breſt unto her little one; this had been counted incivility in any elſe, but ſhe did doe it with ſo great a grace and comelineſſe, as her actions were all accompanied with it, that ſhe received by it as much commendation, as the company delight. The banquet being ended, the dancing began in the ſame Hall wherein we were, which was very faire and a large roome, where being ſeated one next unto another, I told her that although the pleaſures which I received in her company might [Page] well be ranked in the firſt number of thoſe which gave me greateſt reaſon to acknowledge them, yet I could almoſt wiſh that (never had enjoyed them, by reaſon of the griefe I ſhould receive in departing from her, and that Fortune ſhortly would deprive us from ever ſeeing one another, it being to be numbred amongſt the misfortunes of my life, that heaven had not ordained that ſhe and I ſhould live in one and the ſame Country. This I ſpake to make her enter into conference which might ſerve for the deſignes of my Brother; ſhee replyed to me, this Country hath been ſometimes part of France, and for this cauſe their pleadings in law are yet in French, and this naturall affection is not departed from the hearts of the moſt of us, for my part I have no other deſire in my Soule, ſince I have had the honour to have ſeen you; ſometimes indeed this Country ſtood affected to the houſe of Auſtria, but that 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 Jewells, and to her husband a ſeale of pretious ſtones, which were eſteemed of great value, but farre more pretious to them, becauſe they came from the hand of one whom ſo intirely they affected; all the Ladies ſtayed behind, except the Lady of Aurec, who did goe with me to Namur, her husband Monſieur de Aurec, and Monſieur the Duke of Arſcot ſtaying there, ever ſince the peace betwixt the King of Spaine and the States of Flanders; for though they were both on the States ſide, the Duke of Arſcot was an ancient Courtier, and one of the moſt remarkable in King Phillips Court, at what time he was in Flanders, and in England, and he was alwayes in great eſteeme, and next unto the Grandyes of his Court. The Count of Lalain, with all the Nobilitie of that [Page] Countrey conducted me above two miles beyond his government, untill he ſaw the troupe of Don John appeare, then he took his leave of me, becauſe he would not ſee him, only Monſieur de Ainſi did accompany me, becauſe his maſter the Biſhop of Cambray was of the Spaniſh faction. That faire troupe being returned, having travelled a little farther, I was encountered by Don John of Auſtria, who was attended indeed with many people, but onely with twenty or thirty horſe, and with the Lords, the Duke of Arſcot, Monſieur de Aurec, the Marqueſſe of Varambon, and young Balenſon, Governour for the King of Spaine in the County of Burgundy, which Noble and gallant Gentlemen, hearing that I paſſed that way, were come in a full ſpeed to meet me: of Don Johns owne people, there were none of any name or faſhion, but one Lodovick de Gonzagua, who ſtiled himſelfe Coſin to the Duke of Mantua, the reſt were but meane people, and of a ſervile countenance, there being not any with him of the nobility of Flanders: He alighted from his horſe, and ſet foot on ground to ſalute me in my litter, which was lifted up, and opened round; I ſaluted in the French garbe, both him, the Duke of Arſcot, and Monſieur de [Page]Aurec; after ſome complements, mounting againe his horſe, he diſcourſed with me till he brought me to the Towne, whither we could not come but very late, becauſe the Ladies at Monts detained us as long as poſſibly they could, ſpending above an houre in the obſervation of my litter, and taking great delight to underſtand the manner, and the devices of it. The method of their building was ſo beautifull at Namur, as the Spaniards are excellent that way, and their Towne ſo lightſome, that the windowes and the ſhops being full of ſplendor, one might beleeve that he ſaw a new day to ſhine there. That night Don John cauſed me and my traine to be ſerved in our own lodgings and chambers, thinking that after ſo long a journey, it would be unmannerly to tire us againe with the tediouſneſſe of a banquet. The houſe wherein he lodged me, was well accomodated to receive me, where they found means to make a great and fayre hall, and an appartement for me of chambers and cloſets, which were hung round with the faireſt, richeſt, and braveſt moveables, that I beleeve were ever ſeen, being all tapiſtries of Velvet or Satten, emboſſed with great pillars made of cloath of ſilver, inchaſed with thick knots, and [Page] purles of Gold, and ſet forth in the richeſt and moſt beautifull manner that could be invented, and in the middle of thoſe pillars were great perſonages attired after the ancient faſhion, and made of the ſame imbroidery. Monſieur the Cardinall of Lenoncourt, who had a curious and a delicate ſpirit, being a familiar friend of the Duke of Arſcots, who as I have ſaid, was an old Courtier, and a Gentleman of exquiſite indowments, being indeed the only honour of Don Johns troupe, beholding, one day while I was there, thoſe gorgeous and magnificent moveables, ſaid unto him, This furniture ſeemeth to me to appertaine rather to ſome mighty Monarch then to a Prince unmarried, and of no greater authority then Don John; the Duke of Arſcot replyed, they are the gifts of Fortune, and not of Providence or abundance, theſe ſtuffes being ſent unto him from one of the Baſhaes of the Great Turke, whoſe ſonnes in a memorable battell he tooke priſoners, and Signior Don John having done him the courteſie to return them to him without ranſome, the Baſha, to requite the good turne, did ſend him a great quantitie of ſtuffes of ſilke, and of cloath of gold, and ſilver, which were preſented to him, being then at Myllain, [Page] a Citie where is choice of ſuch pretious furniture, of which he made the Tapiſtrey which you behold, and for an everlaſting remembrance of the glorious atchievement of them, he wrought the bed and the hangings of the Queens chamber in a moſt rich imbroidery, repreſenting the glorious victory in that battell, which he gained againſt the Turks: the morning being come, we heard Maſſe after the cuſtome of Spaine, which was with Violins, Cornets, and other muſick, and departing thence unto the Feaſt in the great hall, he and I did dine at a table by our ſelves, the table where the Lords and the Ladies dined, was removed ſome three foot from ours, where Madame de Aurec had the honour done her for Don Johns houſe, having her drinke preſented to her by Lodovick G [...]nzagua, kneeling. The banquet being ended, dancing began, which laſted all the afternoone, the evening paſſed away in this manner, Don John diſcourſing alwayes with me, and oftentimes repeating, that he ſaw in me a reſemblance of the Queen his Miſtris, the late Queen of Spaine my Siſter, witneſſing by all honorable courteſies that could be expreſſed to me and my troupe, that he received an undiſſembling joy to ſee me there. [Page] The Boate on which I was to paſſe the River Moſe unto Leige being not yet in readineſſe▪ I was conſtrained to tarry there all the next day, where having paſſed away the morning as we did the morne before; there was a faire B [...]are after dinner prepared for me in which we were ferryed to an Iland, being environed in our way with other Boars full of Hob [...]yes, Cornets and Viols; Don John had provided a banquet in the Ile, in a great hall made of guilded Leather, accomodated with Cabinets round about it, and fille with the muſick of Hoboyes and other inſtruments which continued all ſupper time. The Banquet being ended, and dancing having laſted almoſt an houre, we returned in the ſame Boat that did waft us out, and which Don John had prepared for my voyage. The morning following we departed thence, Don John accompanied me in the Boat, and after a very honeſt and courteous farewell, he gave me to Monſieur and Madame de Aurec to attend me as far as Huy, where that night I was to lodge, which is the firſt town that belongeth to the Biſhop of Leige: Don John being gone forth, Monſieur de Ainſi who was the laſt that ſtayed in the Boat, and who had not permiſſion to conduct me further, with much [Page] griefe took his farewell of me, and with many proteſtations that he would remain a moſt conſtant ſervant to my Brother and my ſelfe: But falſe and treacherous fortune not able to ſupport the glory of this ſo happy a condition which in my voyage hitherto did attend me, gave me two croſſe preſa [...]es, which on my return, to content her envy, ſhe had prepared for me. The firſt was, that my Boat had no ſooner removed from the ſhore, but Madamoiſ [...]lle de [...]urnon, a virgin indowed with many virtues, whom I intirely loved, took ſo ſtrange a ſickneſſe, that on a ſuddain ſhe bur [...] forth into ſtrong and loud ſhreiks by reaſon of the violence of the grief ſhe felt, which did ſo oppreſſe her heart that the Phyſitians could provide no remedy, but within a few daies ſhe was raviſhed by Death, I will relate this tragicall ſtory in its own place, it being ſo remarkable. The other was that arriving at Huy a town ſcituate on the declining of a hill, there brake forth on a ſuddain, ſo impetuous a torrent falling from the Mountain waters into the river, that ingroſſing and devouring all at once, we could no ſooner leape to land and run with all the ſpeed we could to recover the top of the Hill, but the floud was there as ſoon as we. My lodgeing [Page] was on the upper and higheſt part of the Town, where that night we were content with what proviſion the Maſter of the Houſe had of his own, who had not means to get Boats or people to ſend down into the Town, which ſeemd overwhelmed in that vaſt Deluge, from which it was wonderfully delivered, as it was ſeized by it, for on the dawning of the day the waters were all returned, and retired within their proper channels. On my departure thence Monſieur and Madame de Aurec returned to Namur unto Don John, and I took Boat to goe that day to Leige, where the Biſhop who is a great Lord received me with all the honour and demonſtrations of good will that a courteous and well affected perſon could expreſſe; He was a Lord attented with great virtue, wiſedome, and bounty, and who ſpake very good French agreeable with his perſon, which was honorable, and magnificen [...]: He was attended with a Chapiter and many Canons, all ſonnes of Dukes and Counts, and great Lords of Germany. The Biſhoprick is of a ſoveraigne eſtate, and of great revenue, and filled with many goodly Towns: The Canons obtain their places by election, and they muſt continue a yeere probationers that are received into their Society; The [Page] town is great as Lyons, and almoſt of the ſame ſcituation (the river Moſa paſſing in the middle of it) excellently builded, there being no Religious Houſe which ſeemeth not a faire palace, the ſtreets long and large, enriched with curious fountaines, the Churches adorned with ſo much marble which they have there at hand, that worthily they challenge the obſervation of the paſſinger, and may be as well the wonders, as the pleaſures of his eye, The Clockes made with German induſtry, ſinging and repreſenting all variety of Muſick and of Perſons. The Biſhop received me as I came out of my Boat, and conducted me into a faire and ſtately Palace, ſo richly painted, and ſet forth with ſo much Gold and Marble, that there is nothing more magnificent or delightfull. The waters of Spa were three or foure miles from thence, and there being no Town neer, but a Village only of three or foure houſes, Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon was adviſed by her Phyſitians to ſtay at Leige, and to have the water brought thither to her, aſſuring her that it would looſe no virtue being brought unto her before the Sun was up, of which I was very glad, having our aboad in ſo fit a place, and in ſo [Page] good a Company; for beſides his Grace▪ (for ſo they ſtile the Biſhop of Leige, as we give the title of Majeſty to a King, or of Highneſſe to a Prince) the rumour flying that I paſſed that way, moſt of the Lords and Ladies of Almaine were come thither to attend me, and among others Madame the Counteſſe of Aremberg, who was ſhe that had the honour to conduct Queen Elizabeth to her mariage at Meziers, when ſhe was eſpouſed to King Charles my Brother, and who conducted my eldeſt ſiſter at her mariage, to the King of Spaine; ſhe was a woman that was in great account with the Empreſſe and Emperour, and with all the Princes of Chriſtendome; there was alſo her ſiſter Madame de Lantgrave and her Daughter Madame de Aremberg, and Monſieur de Aremberg her ſonne a brave and worthy Gentleman, the lively image of his Father, who bringing heretofore auxiliary Souldiers from Spaine to King Charles my Brother, returned with great honour and reputation. This arrivall being full of joy and honour▪ had been yet farre more delightfull, were it not interrupted by the Death of Madamoſelle de Tournon, whoſe hiſtory being ſo remarkable, I cannot here but make digreſſion to relate it.

[Page] Madame de Tournon who was then my Dame of honour had many daughters, the [...]eſt whereof was maried to Monſieur [...]e B [...]anſon Governour for the King of Spaine in the County of Burgundy, who returning to his own Country intreated Madame de Tournon his Mother to let him have another of her Daughters, to aſſociate his wife being to live now in a place removed from her kindred; her Mother conſented to it, and ſhe ſtaying there ſome yeers in improving her ſelfe, though her cheifeſt beauty was her virtue and her gracefull carriage, Monſieur the Marques of Varambon (a man deſigned to the Church being reſident in the ſame houſe with his Brother Monſieur de Balanſon) by ordinary ſociety of diſcourſe and converſation with Madamoiſelle de Tournon became very amorous of her, and being not yet obliged to the Church deſired to eſpouſe her; he propounded the motion to his own friends and to hers, they of her ſide did well approve it, but his Brother Monſieur de Balanſon thinking it more profitable for him to have him of the Church prevailed ſo farre that he brake off the Marriage, deſigning to him the habit and formality of the Gown. Madame de Tournon offended thereat, took from thence her daughter [Page] Madamoiſelle de Tournon with her ſiſter Madame de Balanſon, and being a rough and ſevere woman without regard of her Daughters age and diſpoſition, which deſerved a more gentle uſage, ſhe daily did torment her with vehement and invective language, inſomuch that ſhe was never ſeen to have her eyes dry, though all her actions were moſt commendable, ſo ungentle was the nature and ſeveri [...]y of this Mother. Her Daughter deſiring nothing more then to be releaſed from this tyranny entertained a certain joy when ſhe ſaw I was going into Flanders, truly conceiving that the Marques of Var [...]b [...]n would meet me there, and being now in the eſtate of Mariage for he had altogether abandoned the gown would peradventure demand her of her Mother, and that by the means of this Mariage ſhe ſhould be delivered from her 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 Var [...]mbon, who guilty o [...] 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 l [...] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 Sp [...]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 [Page] 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. [Page] 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 beſiege, and chaced the Huguenots through all the Provinces in which his army was to march, that he was returned to Poictiers, where during the ſiege of Brouage the King continued to be neere at hand to ſuccour Monſieur de Mayenne in what was neceſſary; that as the Court is a Proteus, that turnes his ſhape in every houre on the arriving of every new accident, ſo at his return he found all things changed, that they made no more account of him, then if he had done nothing at all for the ſervice of the King, that Buſſi, whom the King ſeemed to contenance before his departure, and who had ſerved the King in this warre in his owne perſon, and in the perſon of his friends, having loſt his brother in an aſſault at the ſeige of Iſſoire, was diſreguarded alſo, and perſecuted with envy, as if it had been in the time of Le [Page]Guaſt, that every day they did procure him ſome new Indignitie or other, that the Kings minions had practiſed with foure or five of his chiefeſt ſervants, Maugiroa, La Valeit [...], M [...]uleon, Livarrot and ſome others to abandon his, and to betake themſelves to the Kings ſervice, that the King [...]id much repent him of my voyage into Flanders, and that I ſhould take heed in my returne, for feare of b [...]ing ſurpriſed, either by the Spaniards, who were advertiſed of what I treated in Flanders for him, or for the Huguenots, who would revenge on me the evil [...]s which he had done them, having firſt aſſiſted them, and afterwards made warre againſt them. All this promiſed, wrought much in my conſideration, ſeeing that not only of neceſſitie I muſt paſſe either amongſt the one or the other of them, but that the Principall of my Company alſo were affected either to the Spaniards, or to the Huguenots, Monſieur the Cardinall of Lenoncourt, being ſuſpected to favour the Huguenots, and Monſieur de Deſcarts, who was Brother to the Biſhops Grace of Leigh, to be addicted to the Spaniards. In theſe doubts full of contrarieties, I knew not to whom to communicate my ſelfe, but to Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon, and to Madame [Page] de Tournon, who knowing the danger wherein we were, and finding we had five or ſixe dayes journey to La Fere being to paſſe all the way under the mercy of the one or other of theſe two parties, anſwered me with teares in their eyes, that God alone could preſerve me from that danger, that I ſhould recommend my ſelf to him, and then doe as his inſpirations did direct me; As for them, though one of them was ſick, and the other ſtooped with the weight of Age, they deſired me not to forbeare to make long journeys, and that they would indeavour themſelves to the utmoſt to draw me from this danger. I ſpake unto the Biſhop of Leigh, who was indeed a Father to me, and gave me his grand maſter with horſes to conduct me as farre as I would deſire, and becauſe it was needfull for us to have a Warrant for free paſſage from the Prince of Orange, I ſent Mondoucet thither, who was his aſſociate, and relliſhed ſomething of that Religion; he returned thence no more, I expected two or three dayes his comming, and I believe that ſhould I have waited till he came, I ſhould have ſtayd there ſtill. I was daily counſailed by Monſieur the Cardinall of Lenoncourt and my chiefe Eſquire [Page] Salviati, who were both of one complexion not to depart without a Paſſe, and finding their deſigne did bend another way, I was reſolved to goe betimes the morning following, they ſeeing they could not ſtay me with this pretext, Salviati being of intelligence with my Treaſurer, who was alſo a private Huguenot, exhorted him to ſay that there was not money left enough to diſcharge my expences, which was extreamly falſe, for being arrived at la Fere, I looked on the accounts, and there was money enough to defray the charges of at leaſt ſix weeks travaile more, yet they cauſed my horſes to be ſtaied, giving this publick affront with great danger to me. Madame the Princeſſe of Roche-ſur-yon being not able to indure this indignity, and ſeing the danger wherein I was did lend me what money I thought neceſſary, and they remaining confuſed at it, I departed thence having made a preſent to the Biſhop of a Diamond worth three thouſand Crowns, & given to all his ſervants either chains or King of gold, and I came to Huy having no protection but my hope in God. That Town as I have ſaid belonged to the Biſhop of Leige, but full of tumult and mutiny (as all the people there knew of the generall revolt of the Low-Countries) [Page] and would no longer acknowledge the Biſhop▪ becauſe he lived as a newtrall, and they were a profeſſed party with the States, ſo that without any reſpect to the grand Maſter of the Biſhop of Leige who was with us, hearing how Don John had ſeized on the Caſtle of Namur in my travails that way, as ſoon as we were lodged, their drums did beat an Alarm, and they brought their artillery into the ſtreet, and made Barricadoes againſt my lodging, ſtretching forth their chains that we ſhould not come together, and held as all that night in theſe perplexities, without having the means to ſpeake to any of them, being all a ſilly people, a brutiſh nation, and without reaſon; In the morning they ſuffered us to goe, having filled the ſtreets through which I was to paſſe with armed men.

From thence we departed to Di [...]an, where by misfortune that day they choſe their Burgomaſters, who are as Conſuls, in Gaſcogny and France. All that day was ſpent in debauchment, all the world was drunk, no knowledge of Magiſtrates, but a true Chaos of confuſion, and to make our condition yet worſe, the grand Maſter of the Biſhop of Leige had ſometimes made warre againſt them, and was taken by them [Page] for their mortall enemy; this town when the people are ſober and in ſence, hold for the States, but [...] dominering now amongſt them, they could not hold it for themſelves, and indeed neither knew nor acknowledged any maſter. As ſoon as they beheld a troupe great as mine to approach their Suburbs, the alarum grew hot amongſt them, they forſook their glaſſes to run to armes, and all in a tumult inſteed of opening the gate they barred it faſt againſt me. I had ſent a Gentleman before with the Harbingers and the Marſhall of my lodging to intreate them to give me paſſage, but I found them at the gate crying to thoſe who did not underſtand them. In the end I ſtood up in the Litter, and taking of my Mask, I made a ſigne to the moſt apparent of them, that I would ſpeak unto him, who being come unto me, I intreate [...] him to cauſe ſilence to be made, to the end I might be underſtood, which with much a doe being obtained, I declared to them who I was▪ and the occaſion of my Voyage, that ſo farre it was from me to bring any hurt unto them by my comming that I would not give them the leaſt ſuſpition of it, I intreated them to permit me and my women onely to enter into the Town, with as few of my Men as they [Page] pleaſed, telling them that I would leave the reſt behinde me in the Suburbs; they accepted of this propoſition, and I came into the Town with the moſt apparent of my troupe in which number was the grand Maſter of the Biſhop of Leige, who by chance was knowne as I entred into my lodging, environed with this people drunken and armed, then they began to cry out, that they were injured, and to charge upon him who was a reverend man of foureſcore yeers of age, having a white beard down to his girdle. I cauſed him to make haſte into my lodging againſt which theſe drunkards plyed their Harquebuſes with volleyes of ſhot as thick as haile, the walls being made but of earth only. Seeing this tumult I demanded if the Hoſt of the houſe were within, by good fortune they found him, I deſired him that he would goe unto the window, and make way for me to ſpeake to the moſt remarkable of them, which with great difficulty I procured; he having a long time called to them out of the window, at length the Burgomaſters came to parly with me, but ſo full of ſwill, that they knew not what they ſaid; In the end aſſuring them, that I knew not that the grand maſter was their enemy, demonſtrating of what importance [Page] it was to offend a perſon of my quality, who was a friend to the principall Lords of the States, and that Monſieur the Count of Lalaine, and all other Chieftaines would give them but little thankes for this their entertainment of me; having heard the name of Monſieur the Count of Lalaine, they preſently became of another minde, and gave more reſpect to him, then to all the Kings to whom I appertained, the moſt antient of them betwixt ſtammering and laughing, demanded of me, if I was then a friend to Monſieur the Count of Lalaine; I ſeeing that his conſanguinity would ſtand me more in ſtead then all the Potentates in Chriſtendom, made anſwer, yes, I am not only his friend, but his kinſwoman alſo, then they did reverence to me, and gave me their right hand of friendſhip, offering as much courteſie, as before they had committed inſolence, and beſought me to excuſe them, aſſuring me that no wrong ſhould be done to that good man the Grand-maſter of the Biſhop of Leige, and that he ſhould goe along with me. The morning being come, as I was going to heare Maſſe, the Kings Agent that was reſident with Don John named Du Bois who was a French man extreamly Spaniolized, came unto me, ſaying, that [Page] he had letters and command from the King to attend and conduct me in my return to France, and for that end he had intreated Don John to let me have Barlemont with a troupe of Horſe for my guard to bring me without danger to Namur, deſiring me to ſpeak to thoſe of the Town to grant entrance to Monſieur Barlemont who was a Lord of that Country, and to his troupe of Horſe; This was done for a double end, to make themſelves Maſters of the Town, and to make me fall into the hands of the Spanyards. I found my ſelf here in a great ſtreight, and communing with Monſieur the Cardinall of Lenoncourt, who had no greater deſire then my ſelfe to fall into the hands of the Spanyards, we concluded to know of the Towns men if there were any way by which we might avoide the troupe of Monſieur de Barlemont, and leaving my little Agent Du Bois to diſcourſe with Monſieur de Lenoncourt, I walked into another Chamber where I cauſed thoſe of the Town to come unto me, and declaring to them that if they gave entrance to the troupe of Monſieur de Barlemont they were all undone, becauſe that he would ſeize on their town for Don John, I counſailed them to arme themſelves, and to ſtand on [Page] their guard, and being ready at the Gate to ſhew the countenance of men of underſtanding that would not be ſurpriſed; they did allow and believe my reaſons offering to loſe their lives in my ſervice, and gave me a guide to lead me a way where by paſſing over the river that ran betwixt the troupes of Don John and mine, I ſhould caſt them ſo farre behinde, that they could not overtake me, going all the way after by Towns which held for the States. Having taken this reſolution, I ſent them to the Gate, and Monſieur de Barlemont who was already entred did importunately perſwade the Townſmen to permit his troupe to come in alſo. They hearing this, began all to fall upon him, ſo that he hardly eſcaped from being maſſacred amongſt them, telling him that if his troup did not forthwith retire from the ſight of their Town they would diſcharge their Artillery upon them, this they did to give me leaſure and the advantage to paſſe the water, before that troupe could overtake me. Monſieur de Barlemont and the Agent Du Bois did what they could, to perſwade me to goe to Namur, where Don John attended me, I made apparence to doe what they deſired, and to follow their [Page] advice, and having heard Maſſe, and made a ſhort dinner, I came out of my lodging, attended with two or three hundred of the towne in armes, and conferring all the way with Monſieur de Barlemont, and the Agent Du Bois, I tooke my direct courſe towards the mouth of the river, which was contrary to the way unto Namur, where the troup o [...] Mon. de Barlemont expected me: they obſerving it, told me, that I had miſtooke my way, but I beholding them ſtill in diſcourſe, paſſed on, till I came unto the gate of the Town, going out of which, and accompanied with a good number of the townes men, with doubled ſpeed I haſted towards the river, and taking boate, I cauſed all the chiefeſt of my traine to enter with me, Monſieur de Barlemont, and the Agent du Bois crying continually on the Bank-ſide, that it was not my neereſt way, that it was croſſe to the Kings intention, who would have me goe by Namur; notwithſtanding their out-cries, we ferried over the water with what ſpeed we could, and while they made two or three fares to carry my litters and horſes over, thoſe of the towne, on purpoſe to give me time, with a thouſand out-cries and complaints, delayed and amazed [Page] Monſieur de Barlemont, and the Agent du Bois, reaſoning with them on the wrongs which Don John had done them, having falſifyed his faith with the Eſtates, and broken the peace, and arguing with them on antient quarrells, about the death of Count Aigmont, and threatning them continually, that if their troupe appeared nigh the Towne, they would diſcharge their Ordnance upon them; this gave me the leiſure to ſecure my ſelf, being delivered from all feare and danger, by the guidance of God, and this good man whom they had given to conduct me. I lodged that night in a ſtrong Caſtle named Flurines, which belonged to a Gentleman who held with the Eſtates, and whom I had ſeen with the Count of Lalain, but ſuch was the miſchance, that the Gentleman was not within, there being none at home but his wife only, who ſeeing us in the Baſe-Court which lay all open, ſhe tooke a ſudden fright, and drawing up the bridge, did flie into the Caſtle, reſolving, ſay what we could, not to let us in. In the meane while three hundred Gentlemen, whom Don John had ſent to intrap me by the way, knowing that I went to the Caſtle of Fleurines to lodge there, did appeare [Page] upon a little hill ſome mile from thence, and beleeving that we were got into the Caſtle, for they might ſee from thence, that we were all entred into the Court, there made a ſtand, and lodged there that night, hoping the next morning to intrap us. As we were in theſe perplexities, ſeeing our ſelves no farther than in the Baſe-court, which was incloſed only with a weake wall, and defended with as bad a gate, which had been eaſie to be forced, we continually parlyed and diſputed with the Gentlewoman of the Caſtle, who was inexorable to our prayers; but it pleaſed God, in the duske of the evening to ſend her husband Monſieur de Fleurines, who preſently received us into his Caſtle, and was extreamly angry and paſſionate with his wife for the incivilitie, and indiſcretion which ſhe ſhewed. This Gentleman, Monſieur de Fleurines, was ſent on purpoſe to me from the Count of Lalaine, to give me a ſure convoy through the townes of the Eſtates, being not able to accompany me himſelf, becauſe he could not abandon the army, being a chief Commander for the States, ſo happy was this Gentlemans incounter with me, that conducting me into France, we paſſed no more by any Townes, wherein we found [Page] not honourable entertainment, becauſe it was the Countrey of the Eſtates, this was the only diſpleaſure which I received, that I could not paſſe by Monts, as I promiſed the Counteſſe of Lalain, our way lying no neerer to it then Nivelles, which is ſeven long mile from thence, and I could not ſee her husband the Count of Lalaine, becauſe the warre growing hot, he was in the Army of the States, towards Anvers. I wrote unto her only from thence, on the behalfe of the Gentleman that conducted me. She, as ſoone as ſhe learned where I was, did ſend unto me the chiefeſt of her Gentlemen to conduct me to the Frontires of France, for I was to paſſe through all Cambreſis, which was divided one half for the Spaniard, and the other for the States. I travelled with them to the Caſtle of Cambreſis, from whence they returning, I ſent her in remembrance of me, one of my Gownes, which I heard her very highly prize when I did weare it at Monts, it was of black Satten, covered with imbroyderies, which coſt me nine hundred crownes. Arriving at the Caſtle of Cambreſis, I was informed, that certain troupes of Huguenots had a deſigne to attache me betweene the Frontires of France and Flanders, which I diſcloſing [Page] but to a few, was ready to depart the next morning an houre before day. Sending for my litter, my Eſquire Sal [...]iati prolonged the time, as he had done before at Leige, and perceiving that he did this on purpoſe, I left my litter, and taking horſe, thoſe that firſt were ready followed me. I came to Caſtelet by ten of the clock in the morning, having by Gods goodneſſe eſcaped all the wiles and ambuſcadoes of my enemies. I departed thence to my houſe of La Fere, intending to continue there, till I heard a peace concluded; I found there a Poſte of my Brothers arrived before me, who had a charge to attend my comming, and as ſoone as I was arrived, to return in all haſte to acquaint him with it. He wrote to me that the Peace was made, and that the King was returned to Paris, that for himſelf, his condition of eſtate was daily worſe then other, there being no indignity and diſgrace, which he and his did not daily prove, and that every houre brought in new and unjuſt complaints againſt Buſſi, and the honeſt Gentlemen that attended on him, that with extreame impatience he expected my return to La Fere, intending there to meet me. I ſuddenly diſpatched his meſſenger unto him, by whom advertiſed of my return, he forthwith [Page] ſent Buſſi, with all his houſe to Angers, and taking only with him fifteen or twenty of his ſervants, he came in Poſt to La Fere unto me, which was one of the greateſt contentments that ever I received, to have that perſon with me, whom ſo intirely I did affect and honour, and I endeavoured my ſelf, to give him all pleaſures which I thought might make that place delightfull, which he ſo well accepted, that willingly he would have ſaid with Saint Peter, Let us here make us tabernacles, had not his royall Courage, and the Nobleneſſe of his active Soul, called him to enterpriſes of Renowne and Glory. The peace and pleaſure of our Court, in compariſon of that from whence he came, did render every houre ſo delightfull, that he could not forbear oftentimes from crying out, O my Queen, how good it is to be with you; This Court is a Paradiſe filled with all variety of delight, and that from whence I came, a hell, peſtered with all manner of torments, and furies.

We ſtayed there about two moneths, which in that happy eſtate, were to us but two ſhort daies, during which time, having made him account, of what I had done for him in my voyage into Flanders, and certified him in what terms I had left [Page] his affayres, he thought it expedient that Monſieur the Count of Montigny, brother to the Count of Lalain ſhould come, and reſolve him what courſe he was beſt to hold therein, and to take aſſurances of their good will, and they reciprocally of his. He came unto my Brother, with foure or five of the chiefeſt Lords of Hainault, the one whereof had a letter, and command from Monſieur de Ainſi, to offer his ſervice to my brother, and to aſſure him of the Cittadell of Cambray. Monſieur de Montigny promiſed that his Brother, the Count of Lalaine, would deliver into his hand all Hainault and Artois, where are many goodly Townes. Theſe offers and aſſurances being received, my Brother ſent them back with Preſents, which were Medalls of Gold, wherin were his and my figure ſtamped, and with reaſſurances of all additions, and benefits that they could expect. Returning home, they prepared all things for my Brothers comming, who making all the▪ diſpatch he could to have his forces ready, returned to Court, to ſee what aſſiſtance the King would give him to furniſh him in this enterpriſe, and I deſiring to go into Gaſcogny, having prepared all things for that effect▪ returned to Paris, my brother met met on [Page] the way, a dayes journey from it, and the next day the King, the Queen my Mother, and the Queen Louiſa, with all the Court, did meet me as farre as Saint Denis, where I was to dine, where they received me with great honour, and many welcoms, taking great delight to heare me recount the honours and magnificence of my voyage, and of my abode at Leige, and the adventures of my return. In this pleaſing entertainment of diſcourſe, being all in the charriot of the Queen my Mother, we came to Paris, where having ſupped, and the Maske ended, the King and Queen my mother, being both together, I approached to them, and beſought them that they would not think ill of it, if I intreated them that they would be pleaſed to grant me leave to goe to the King my husband, urging, that the peace being concluded, my journey could not be ſuſpected by them, and that it would be prejudiciall to my honour, and unbeſeeming the duty of a wife, ſhould I ſtay any longer from him: they both expreſſed themſelves to like it well, and with free applauſe did entertaine the motion, and the Queene my Mother told me, that ſhee would accompany me her ſelfe, her voyage being neceſſary in that [Page] Country for the ſervice of the King, moreover ſhe added, that it was needfull that the King ſhould grant me maintenance for the expences of my journey, to which the King did give conſent, and I deſiring to leave nothing behinde which might cauſe me to return to Court, being no longer able to take pleaſure in it, my Brother going from it, whom I ſaw with all ſpeed preparing into Flanders, I beſought my Mother to remember her ſelfe in what ſhe promiſed me at the Peace concluded with my Brother, and that before I undertooke my journey into Gaſcogny ſhe would make over the Lands unto me for the aſſignation of my Dowry: She acquainted the King with it who found it very reaſonable, and promiſed me that it ſhould be done; I beſought him that it might be done with ſpeed, for I deſired to begin my journey, if he thought good, on the beginning of the moneth enſuing: this alſo was promiſed, but according to the faſhion of the Court, for inſtead of diſpatching me, though every day I did ſolicite him, I was deferred five or ſix moneths; and ſo likewiſe was my Brother who was as urgent for his voyage into Flanders, though he repreſented daily to the King, that it was for the honour [Page] and inlargement of France, that it would prove 'a happy occaſion to hinder the Civill warres, all the moving ſpirits and deſirous of novelty having the opportunity to goe into Flanders, to paſſe away their diſcontent and choller there, and to glut themſelves with Warre, that this enterpriſe would ſerve as ſometimes Piedmont did, as a Schoole for the Nobility of France in their exerciſe of armes, and there revive the Montlukes, and brave Briſſa [...]s, the Terms and Bellegards, and ſuch as thoſe great Marſhalls were, who trayned up in the Warres of Piedmont, have ſince ſo gloriouſly and ſucceſſefully ſerved their King and Country. Theſe demonſtrances were fair and true enough, but they had not ſo much weight, as to be ballanced with the envy which was born to the enlargement of my Brothers fortunes, to whom every day adminiſtred new occaſions of delay, to hinder him from aſſembling his forces, rai [...]ing ſometimes on himſelfe, ſometimes on Buſſi, and his other ſervants a thouſand ſcandals and complaints; Buſſi being daily inveighed againſt either by Quelus or Gramont, who watched by thoſe unjuſt Alarms to rouſe up my Brothers rage to the overthrowing of his fortunes. All this was done without [Page] the knowledge of the King; but Maugiron who then did moſt poſſeſſe him, having forſaken my brothers ſervice, and believing that he was ſenſible of it, (as it is ordinary, that he who offendeth doth never pardon) did proſecute my Brother with ſo ſtrong a hate, that he did vow his ruine, and at every word did undervalue and outbrave him, as the impudency of youth blown up with the Kings favor, did drive him to all kind of inſolence and outrage, and combined himſelfe with Quelus, Saint Luke, Saint Maigrin, Gramont, Mauleon, Livarrot and other young people whom the King favoured, and theſe being followed by all the Court, after the faſhion of Courtiers who hunt after favor did practiſe all things whatſoever came into their fantaſie; In a manner that not a day paſſed wherein there was not a quarrell betwixt them and Buſſi, who in courage was not inferiour unto any. My Brother conſidering that this was not the way to advance his voyage into Flanders, deſiring rather to mitigate the King then to exaſperate him, and beleeving beſides that Buſſi being abroad might increaſe the number of his forces, and provide things neceſſary for his army; he ſent him through his principalities to give order [Page] for it; but Buſſi being gone, the perſecution of my Brother ceaſed not, and then was it underſtood that although his brave qualities wrought much jealouſly in the breſt of Maugiron and the reſt of theſe younkers that were neer unto the King, yet the principall cauſe of their hatred againſt Buſſi was, that he was my Brothers ſervant; for after he was gone, they outbraved and derided my Brother ſo apparently, and with ſuch deſpite, that all the world perceived it, although my Brother was very wiſe and patient in his own nature, and was reſolved to ſuffer all things for the diſpatch of his affaires in Flanders, hoping by this means to be quickly gone, and no more to be found a Subject for them. This perſecution howſoever and indignity was very grievous to him, eſpecially ſeeing in hate to him, they did daily moleſt and wrong his ſervants, having lately made Monſieur de la Chaſtre loſe a great ſuit, becauſe that a little before he became my Brothers ſervant, the King being ſo carried away by the perſwaſions of Maugiron, and Saint Luke, who were friends to Madame de Senaire, that he himſelfe did ſolicite the proceſſe for her againſt Monſieur de la Chaſtre, who was then with my Brother, and finding himſelfe [Page] oppreſt with the injury thereof, did make my Brother partake of the juſt griefes he ſuffered.

In thoſe dayes, the Mariage of Saint Luke was ſolemnized, at which my Brother (not willing to aſſiſt) deſired me to be abſent alſo, and the Queen my Mother who took no pleaſure in the boundleſſe arrogance of theſe young people, fearing that all that day would be in debauchment and exceſſe, and that my Brother not being there, they would give a malicious interpretaion of his abſence, which might prove prejudiciall to him, procured the Kings good will, that ſhe ſhould goe abroad on the mariage day to dinner at Saint Maurus, and took my Brother and my ſelfe with her: It was on Shro vemunday, on the evening we returned, the Queen my Mother ſo prevailed with my Brother, that he conſented that night to be preſent at the dancing to content the King, but inſtead of amending his condition, it did impaire it; for Maugiron and his companions being there, they began to play on my Brother with ſuch keene and pointed language, that a meaner perſon then himſelfe would have been offended at it, ſaying that he had loſt his paines to re-attire himſelfe, that they could not find [Page] him after dinner to ſay ſo much as, Much good d'it you, to him, that he came in the houre of darknes, becauſe it was proper to him, reviling him for the meanneſſe of his habit, and for the ſicklineſſe of his changed complexion: All this was ſpoken to the Bride that ſate next unto him; My brother knowing it was done on purpoſe to make him anſwer, and by this means to ſet him at diſtance with the King, did fling away from thence ſo full of choler and deſpite, that he could forbeare no longer; but having deliberated with Monſieur de la Chaſtre, he reſolved to abſent himſelfe a while from Court to goe unto the Chace, thinking by his abſence to qualifie the heat of theſe young people, and to render his affayres with the King more eaſie, for the preparation of his army which was neceſſary to goe unto Flanders. He addreſſed himſelf to the Queen my Mother, who was very ſorry to hear of this difference, and acquainted her with the reſolution he had taken, which ſhe did well approve, and aſſured him that the King ſhould condiſcend unto it, and that ſhe would ſolicite him in his abſence for a diſpatch in what he promiſed, concerning his enterpriſe in Flanders; And Monſieur de Villequier ſtanding by, ſhee [Page] commanded him to goe unto the King, and acquaint him with the deſire which my brother had to goe for a few dayes a hunting, which the King allowed, thinking it would be a means to appeaſe the differences which were betwixt him and the young people Maugiron, Saint Luke, Quelus, and the reſt. My brother retiring into his Chamber holding his ſuit granted, commanded all his people to be ready the next morning, to attend him at Saint Germans, where intending to make his aboad for certain dayes, he gave order to his chiefe Hunter to have his Dogs in readineſſe, and betook himſelfe to his reſt that night, with an intention to riſe early the morning following to goe unto the Chace, either to ſolace his ſpirits, or a little to divert them from the noyſe and tumult of the Court: Monſieur de Villequier repaired to the King to demand leave of him, to which he did accord, but remayning in his Cabinet, with the Counſaile of Rehoboam, which was five or ſix young fellows, they preſented to him that this departure of my brothers was much to be ſuſpected, and put him into ſuch an apprehenſion, that they made him commit one of the greateſt overſights that this our age did know, which was to take my [Page] brother and his chiefeſt Servants priſoners, which as it was unwiſely determined, ſo was it raſhly executed; for the King catching hold of theſe words, went ſuddainly in the night, in a great paſſion to finde the Queen my Mother, as if it were a publick alarm, or as the enemie had been at the gate, and ſaid unto her, Now Madam! what doe you think you have done by demanding leave for my Brother to go, Doe not you ſee the danger in which you put my eſtate, without all doubt, under this pretence of hunting, there lies ſome dangerous enterpriſe; I will goe ſeize on him, and all his people, and I will cauſe his coffers to be broken open, I aſſure my ſelf we ſhall diſcover ſomthing of importance. He had with him the Captaine of the Guard, Monſieur de Loſſe, and ſome of the Scotch regiment. The Queen my mother fearing in this precipitation, that my Brothers life would be in jeopardie, earneſtly deſired that ſhee might goe along with him, and becauſe ſhe was all undreſſed, throwing her night-gowne on her, ſhe made haſte up after him to my Brothers chamber, The King was knocking furiouſly at the doore, commanding it to be opened, pronouncing that the King was there: My Brother awaked at this tumult, [Page] and knowing that he had not committed any thing that might give him the leaſt occaſion of feare, he commanded Cange the Groom of his Chamber; to open the doore; the King ruſhing in, began to taxe him, and to tell him that he would never leave to practiſe againſt his State and him, and that he would make him know what it was to attempt againſt his Prince: On that, he preſently commanded the Guard to carry forth his coffers, and to take the groomes of his chamber with them; He ſearched my Brothers bed himſelf, and turned and toſſed it, to ſee if he could finde any papers there. My Brother having a letter of Madame de Sauvaes, which he received that evening, did take it into his hand, that the King might not ſee it, the King inforced himſelf to take it from him, and my Brother reſiſting, and with joyned hands intreating him that he would be pleaſed not to looke on it, he made the King more deſirous to peruſe it, beleeving that in that paper he ſhould finde a ſufficient ground to commence his proceſſe againſt him. In the end, having opened it in the preſence of the Queene my mother, they were as much abaſhed at it, as was ſometimes Cato, who in the Senate having conſtrained [Page] Caeſar to ſhow the paper that was brought unto him, importunatly implying that it concerned the benefit of the Common-wealth, he perceived, that it was a wanton letter of love, directed from his ſiſter to him. The ſhame of this event, that came ſo croſſe to the expectation of the King, augmented by deſpight his choler, ſo that he gave no eare unto my brother, who inceſſantly demanded, of what he was accuſed, and wherefore he was ſo intreated? He was committed to the charge of Monſieur de Loſſe, and there was a Guard ſet over him of the Scotch regiment, with command not to permit him to talke to any: this was done an houre after midnight; My brother remaining ſtill in this manner, was in greater perplexitie for me, then for himſelf, beleeving truly that they would doe the like by me, and that ſo violent and unjuſt a beginning, could not have but as untoward and ending, and ſeeing that Monſieur de Loſſe had teares in his eyes, for griefe to ſee things carried after this manner, and that by reaſon of the Guard there preſent, he durſt not ſpeak freely to him, he only asked him what was become of me, Monſieur de Loſſe made anſwere, that as yet he heard nothing of me; My brother ſtraight [Page] replyed, It is a great comfort to me in this affliction, to heare that my Siſter is at libertie, but although ſhe be in that free eſtate, ſhe affecteth me ſo intirely, that ſhe would rather be in bondage with me, then live in libertie without me, and deſired him to goe to the Queen my mother, and beſeech her that ſhe would be pleaſed to obtaine of the King, that I might endure my captivitie with him, this the King did grant; this unſhaken beleefe which my brother had of the aſſurance of my love, was ſuch a particular obligation to me, though his good 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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, [...]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 [Page] 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, [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 Que [...]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 [Page] 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 was no queſtion of it to be made; and intreated him to relie on his love, as much as heretofore. On this, the Queen my mother joyned them hand in hand, and made them imbrace each other. Immediately the King commanded that Buſſi ſhould come forth, and be reconciled to Quelus, and that they ſhould ſet Simier and Monſieur de la Chaſtre at libertie. Buſſi comming into the chamber, with that brave [Page] preſence which was naturall to him, the King told him that he would have an attonement made between him and Quelus, and that their quarrell ſhould no more be mentioned, and commanded him to imbrace Quelus: Buſſi made anſwere, Sir, if it be your pleaſure that I ſhould kiſſe him, I am well diſpoſed to it, and accommodating his geſtures to his words, he did accoſt him with the Pantaloone, and in a lovers complement did imbrace him, at which all the company, though poſſeſſed, and almoſt aſtoniſhed with the former paſſages, could hardly refrain from laughter: the more adviſed judged that it was too ſlight a ſatisfaction which my brother received, and not to be parralel'd with ſo great an Injury. This being done, the King and Queen my Mother comming to me, told me it was needfull alſo, that I ſhould give them my hand, that my Brother ſhould not entertaine the remembrance of any thing which might make him ſtart from the obedience which he owed to the King. I made anſwere that my brother was ſo wiſe, and had ſo much devotion to his ſervice, that he had no need to be perſwaded to it, either by me, or by any other, and that he never had, nor ſhould receive any counſell from me, but [Page] what ſhould be conformable to their will, and his duty. It being then three a clock in the afternone, and none having dined, the Queen my Mother deſired that wee might dine altogether, and afterwards commanded my Brother and my ſelf to change our habits, which were ſuitable to the ſad condition wherein we lately were, and to make our ſelves ready to be at ſupper with the King, and afterward at the dancing. She was obeyed in thoſe things which could be put off, and left behinde; but for the countenance, which is the lively Image of the Soul, the paſſion of our juſt diſcontent was read in perfect Characters, and ingraven with all the force and violence of indignation and diſdaine▪ as we had true cauſe to finde it in all the acts of this Tragy comedy; which being ended, Monſieur de Seurre, whom the Queen my mother had given to my brother to lie in his chamber, and in whoſe diſcourſe ſhe often took delight, did chance to ſtand before her: this was a man of a diſpoſition bluntly ſharpe, and who with a careleſſe grace and affectation, would aſſume unto himſelf the liberty of ſpeaking any thing that came into his head, reliſhing ſomthing of the humour of the Cynick Philoſopher. My mother obſerving [Page] him, ſaid unto him, Now Monſieur de Seurre; And what ſay you of all this? he replyed, It is too much in earneſt, and too little in jeſt; and turning to me, he ſpake ſoftly, that my mother might not underſtand him, I doe not beleeve that this is the laſt act of the play, the man (ſpeaking of my Brother) would deceive me much, if he ſhould ſtay here ſtill. This in this manner being paſſed, the malady being healed without, and not within, the young people who poſſeſſed the King, conceiving of my Brothers nature and diſpoſition by their owne, and their unexperienced judgements not permitting them to diſcerne of what force and vertue was his Countreys love unto a Prince ſo rarely qualified as was my Brother, they perſwaded the King, joyning their cauſe to his, that my Brother would never forget the publick affront which he received, but would be alwayes watching an occaſion to revenge it. The King, quite forgetting the former errour which theſe young people cauſed him to commit▪ received this ſecond Impreſſion, and commanded the Captaine of the Guards to looke carefully to the gates, that my brother might not goe forth, and that every night they ſhould diſcharge the Loure of all my brothers [Page] ſervants, leaving only him behinde, who uſually lay in his chamber, or in his Waredrope. My brother ſeeing himſelf at the mercy of theſe young heads, who without either reſpect or judgement made the King diſpoſe of him as they pleaſed, fearing leaſt worſe ſhould come unto him, and having a freſh example of what without any ground or reaſon lately had befallen him, having three dayes entertained the apprehenſion of this danger, was reſolved on the fourth, to remove from Court, and to retire to his owne houſe, nor return any more to Court, but with what ſpeed he could, to diſpatch his affaires for Flanders; he diſcloſed to me this reſolution, and perceiving it was his beſt ſecurity, and that neither the King nor State ſhould receive any prejudice by it, I did approve it, and contriving the means, becauſe he could not get out of the gates of the Lou [...]e, which were ſo curiouſly guarded, that ſtedfaſtly, and with great heed they looked in the face of all that paſſed in and out; I concluded, there was no other way for him, but to get out at my Chamber window, which looked down into a deep ditch, and was two ſtories high; he intreated me to provide for this purpoſe, a ſtrong cable, and of a ſufficient [Page] length, which ſuddainly I procured, cauſing a boy that was faithfull to me to carry out that day the cord of a bed, which was broken, in pretence to have it repaired, and ſhut againe, and within ſome few houres after, to bring it back, and with it, the cord that was neceſſary for us. The houre of ſupper being come which was on a faſting night, when the King ſupped not, my Mother did ſup alone in her little Hall, and I with her; my Brother although he was exceeding patient and diſcreet in all his actions being rouzed up by the remembrance of the affront which he received, and of the danger which threatned him, impatient to be gone, came unto me as I roſe from table, and whiſpering in my eare deſired me to make haſte, and repaire unto my own chamber, where he would attend me: Monſieur de Matignon who was not yet Marſhall, a dangerous and fine Norman who loved not my Brother, being either adveriſed of it by ſome one who peradventure could not hold his peace, or conjecturing it by the manner which my brother ſpake unto me, ſaid unto the Q. my Mother, as ſhe was going to her Chamber, That without doubt my brother would be gone, that to morrow he would not be there, that he knew it very [Page] well, and that ſhe ſhould doe well to give order to the contrary: I did even heare the words he ſpake, ſtanding very neer my Mother, regarding and curiouſly obſerving all that paſſed, as thoſe doe in the like eſtate, who being neer their utmoſt danger, or on the point of their delivery, are floting betwixt feare and hope: I perceived that my Mother was much troubled at the news which gave me the greater apprehenſion to beleeve that we were diſcovered; entring into her Cloſet, ſhe tooke me aſide and ſaid; Have you heard what Matignon hath told me? I made anſwer, I did not underſtand it Madame, but I perceive it is ſome buſineſſe that doth afflict you; yes, ſhe replyed, and that very much, for you know that I have anſwered the King that your Brother ſhould not goe, and Matignon now is come to tell me, that he knows he will not be here to morrow. Finding then my ſelfe in theſe two extreams, either to faile in my fidelity to my Brother, and put his life in hazard, or to ſweare againſt the truth, a thing which I would not doe to eſcape a thouſand deaths, I was in ſo great a perplexity that had not God aſſiſted me, my faſhion ſufficiently had witneſſed without my words, the fear I had that we were [Page] diſcovered, but as God aſſiſteth good intentions, and his divine bounty joyned in this work of my Brothers ſafety, I ſo compoſed my lookes and words, that ſhe perceived not any thing but that which I would have her, and that I offended not my Soule or Conſcience by any falſe oath. I demanded of her, if too well ſhe did not underſtand the hate which Monſieur Matignon did beare unto my Brother, that he was a ſpitefull diſturber of all our quiet, and who did grieve to ſee us live in concord, that when my Brother did goe I would anſwer it with my life; that I was confident, he having never concealed any thing from me, that he would have communicated this deſigne unto me if he had an intention thereunto; this I ſaid, aſſuring my ſelfe that my Brother being ſafe they durſt not doe me wrong, and chooſing rather to ingage my life then to offend my ſoule by any falſe oath, or to put my Brothers life in jeopardy; She ſeeking not after any other ſence of my words, replied; Be well adviſed what you ſay, you ſhall ſerve as caution for him, and anſwer his abſence with your life; to which I ſmiling did make anſwer, that it was that which I deſired; and bidding her good night, I forthwith repaired to my Chamber, where [Page] putting off my cloaths with all diligence, haſting unto bed, to be the ſooner ridde of the Ladyes and Gentlewomen that attended on me, I was left onely with the women of my Chamber, when preſently my Brother came in, and Simier and Cange with him, and having commanded them to look firſt into the ditch, to ſee if any one were there, we faſtned the cord to the poſt of the window; we were ayded onely with my three women that lay in my Chamber, and with the boy that brought the cord; my brother, although it was a very great height, without any apprehenſion of feare deſcended firſt, and laughing at the danger went ſwinging and playing down; after him diſcended Simier in ſuch a pittifull feare that he could ſcarce hold the rope for trembling; and laſt of all Cange the groom of his Chamber. God ſo happily did guide my brother from being diſcovered that he came to Saint Geneviefue where Buſſi did attend him, who by the conſent of the Abby had made a hole in the Town wall, at which my Brother did goe forth, and finding there two horſes ready, he retired to Angers without any misfortune. As Cange laſt of all came downe, there aroſe a man from the bottome of the Ditch who began [Page] to run towards the lodgings neer the Tenis Court which is the way to the Corps de guard; I who in all this adventure apprehended not any thing which concerned my ſelf in particular, but onely the ſafety or danger of my Brother, ſtood in a maze, ſtrook through and through with feare, beleeving that man to be ſome one, who following the adviſe of Monſieur de Matignon was placed there on purpoſe to obſerve us, and thinking that my Brother had been ſurprized I fell into a deſpaire, which cannot be repreſented but by an eſſay of things like to it: being in theſe perplexities, my women more curious then my ſelf, for my ſafety and their own took the cord and put it into the fire, to the end that if the misfortune were ſo great that the man who roſe out of the ditch, had been ſet there to obſerve us, it might not be diſcovered; this cord being very long made ſo great a flame that it blazed out of the chimney, and was perceived by thoſe of the Guard, who that night did watch: In a great fright and with loud importunity they came and knocked at my door deſiring that ſuddenly it might be opened, then I thought that my brother at that preſent had been taken, and that we both had been undone, having [Page] notwithſtanding anchored my hope on God who preſerved my judgement intire (a grace which his divine Majeſty was ever pleaſed in all my danger to vouchſafe unto me) and perceiving that the cord was but halfe burned out, I ſpake unto my women to goe gently to the doore to demand what they would have, and to ſpeake ſoftly to them, as if I were aſleepe, which they did, and they of the guard told them that a great fire came out of the tunnell of my chimney and made in the darke of night ſo bright a flame, that the danger of it did call them thither to extinguiſh it: My women made anſwer to them, it was nothing, and that they were able to quench it well enough themſelves, and charged them to take heed that they did not waken me, on which they returned back. This alarm being paſſed, ſome two houres after, behold Monſieur de Loſſe came to call me to the King & Queen my Mother, to give them an account of my brothers departure, being advertiſed of it by the Abbot of Saint Genevifue, who to avoid all checks, and by my brothers own conſent, when he ſaw himſelfe farre enough from the danger of being intrapped, came to informe the King of it, telling him that he was ſurprized in his own [Page] houſe, and being ſhut up therein till a breach in the wall was made for my brothers eſcape, he could come no ſooner to acquaint his Majeſtie with it; He found me in my bed, for it was yet night, and I ſuddenly ariſing, and putting on my nightgown, one of my women indiſcreetly affrighted at it, tooke hold of my gowne, weeping and crying out, that I ſhould never return unto them. Monſieur de Loſſe beating her back, ſaid, If this woman had done this before any but my ſelfe, who am your devoted ſervant, theſe words of hers might procure great trouble to you, but give thanks to God, and feare not any thing, for Monſieur your Brother is ſafe. This aſſurance of his was to me a needfull, and no leſſe welcome encouragement, to arme me to endure all the threats and choller of the King, whom I found ſitting on the Queen my Mothers bed, in ſo great a paſſion, that I beleeve I ſhould have found the effects of it, if the feare 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 [Page] 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.

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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 [Page] 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.

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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 [Page] 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, [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 which for many years they were deprived, and being touched with a holy and devout deſire, the inhabitants of that place found a meanes on the day of Pentecoſt to come into the Caſtle, before the bridge was drawn up, hiding themſelves in the Chappel, where they were not diſcovered till Maſſe was almoſt ended, when the bridge being let down for ſo [...]e [Page] of my people to come into the Chappell, certain Huguenots did eſpy them, and complained of them to Le Pin, who was Secretary to the King my Husband, this fellow infinitely did poſſeſſe his Maſter, and had great authority in his Court, and managed all the affayres for thoſe of the Religion: Imediately he ſent ſome of the guard, who drawing them thence, and beating them in my preſence, did throw them into priſon where a long time they ſtayed, and payed great fines; I was the more ſenſible of this indignity, becauſe I expected no ſuch matter: I complained to the King my Husband, and beſought him that theſe poore Catholicks might be releaſed, who deſerved not that chaſtiſement, and being a long time reſtrained from the exerciſe of their Religion did now aſſemble themſelves on my comming (the better to celebrate the day of ſo great a feaſt) to heare Maſſe in my Chappell; Le Pin without being called, did intrude himſelfe, and without giving ſo much reſpect to his Maſter, as to give him leave to anſwer, took the word out of his mouth, and told me that I ſhould not trouble the head of the King my Husband with that matter, for ſay I what I would, it never the ſooner ſhould be done, adding that [Page] they well deſerved the puniſhment they endured, and for my words they ſhould ſpeed neither the better nor the worſe, that I ſhould content my ſelfe that Maſſe was permitted to be ſaid for me, and for thoſe my people whom I took with me. Theſe words did much offend me, from a man of ſo mean a quality; I beſought the King my Husband if I were ſo happy to have any part in his affection, that he would let me underſtand that he was ſenſible of the indignity which I received from that ſawcy fellow, and that he would compell him to give me ſatisfaction for it. The King my Husband perceiving how juſt my anger and diſcontent were, cauſed him to goe out of my preſence; telling me that he was very ſorry for the indiſcretion of le Pin, and that he ſhould give me what ſatisfaction I deſired; that concerning the Catholick priſoners he would adviſe with his Counſellors of the Parliament of Pau, who ſhould doe that which might comply with my requeſt. Having ſaid this unto me, he went into his Cloſet, where he found Du Pin, who after he had ſpoken with him, changed all again; ſo that fearing I would requeſt him to diſhonour Le Pin out of his ſervice, he ſhunned my preſence, and diſſembling [Page] with me deferred what he promiſed. In the end ſeeing I grew reſolute, that he ſhould abandon either Le Pin or my ſelfe, which of us he pleaſed, all thoſe that were preſent, and who all hated Le Pin, ſaid unto him, that he ought not to diſcontent me for ſo poore a fellow, that had ſo arrogantly offended me, that if it ſhould be brought to the eare and knowledge of the King, and Queen my Mother, they would take it very ill that he ſtill did entertaine him. Theſe words did conſtrain him to put him away, but he ceaſed not to doe me evill offices, and to make me falſe apparences, being perſwaded to it, as he hath told me ſince, by Monſieur de Pibrac who played double with us, who told me that I ought not to ſuffer my ſelf to be outbraved by ſo mean a fellow as Le Pin, and that whatſoever came of it, very neceſſary it were, that I ſhould put him thence; and ſaying to the King my Husband that there was no reaſon nor appearance that he ſhould be deprived of the ſervice of a man that was ſo uſefull to him: Monſieur de Pibrac did this to incite me on the receiving of ſo many and great affronts to return into France, where he was attached in his eſtate by the Preſident, and one of the Counſellors of the Councell of the [Page] King: and to make my condition yet worſe, Dayella being gone, the King my Husband courted Rebours who was a malitious wench that loved me not, and who did me all the bad offices which in her own behalf ſhe could. In theſe afflictions having ever my recourſe to God, in the end he had pitty of my tears and permitted that we ſhould depart from the little Geneva of Pau, where as it fell out well for me, Rebourſe ſtayed ſick behinde, from whom the King my Husband having removed his eyes, removed alſo his affection, and began to imbark himſelf with Foſſeuſa who indeed was then a delicate girle, being very young and very beautifull. As we were in our way to Monta [...]ban, we paſſed by a little Village named Eauſe, and were no ſooner arrived there, but the King my Husband fell very ſick of a violent and malignant fever accompanyed with an extream paine in his head, which laſted for the ſpace of ſeventeen dayes, during which time he took no reſt neither by day nor night, and continually we were removing him from one bed to another. I rendred my ſelf ſo ſervicable to him, that during his extreamities I never put off my cloaths nor departed from him, inſomuch that he began to take delight in my ſervice, and [Page] to commend it to all the world, and eſpecially to my Conſin Monſieur—who performing the office of a good kinſman reeſtabliſhed me as deer as ever in the favour of the King my Husband, a happineſſe which laſted for the ſpace of foure or five yeeres while I continued in Gaſcogny with him, making our aboad for the moſt part at Nerac, where our Court appeared ſo full of luſtre, that we envied not that of France; there was Madame the Princeſſe [...] Navarre, the King my Husbands Siſter, who hath ſince been maried to Monſieur the Duke of Bar [...] with my ſelfe and a great number of other Ladies and young Gentlewomen, and the King my husband was attended with a brave troupe of Lords and Gentlemen ſo richly qualified, that I have not ſeen more gallant perſonages in the Court of France, neither was there any thing in them that was reprovable, but only that they were Huguenots, but in this diverſity of Religion there was heard at all no noiſe of controverſie, or contention of words. The King my Husband and Madame▪ the Princeſſe his ſiſter had recourſe in their devotion to the Sermon, and I with my traine to the Maſſe, which was ſaid in a little Chappell in the Parke, from which when I came forth, we all reunited [Page] our ſelves to walke either in a very faire garden whoſe allyes on each ſide were ſet with Lawrell and Cypreſſe trees, or in the park where were walkes of three miles in length, which I had cauſed to be made by the Rivers ſide, and the reſidue of our time we paſſed in all variety of honeſt pleaſures, dancing being uſually after dinner, and after ſupper. The King courted Foſſeuſa, who depending altogether on me, maintained her ſelfe with virtue and ſo much honour, that had ſhe preſerved it, ſhe had not faln into that misfortune which reflected afterwards ſo much on her, and on my ſelfe: but fortune envious of a life ſo happy, which was maintained by peace and union, in which had we continued, we might ſecurely have contemned her malice, ſtirred up a new ſubject of warre betwixt the King my Husband and the Catholicks, and wrought the King my Husband, and Monſieur the Marſhall of Biron, who at the Huguenots requeſt had charge of the Kings Lievtenant in Guyenne, to ſo great an enmity, that doe I what I could to keep the King my Husband and him at peace, I could not prevaile, but they grew into a great defiance, and hatred one of the other, each of them complaining to the King. The [Page] King my Husband demanded that Monſieur the Marſhall of Biron ſhould be removed from the government of Guyenne, and Monſieur the Marſhall taxed my Husband and thoſe of the pretended reformed Religion to have enterpriſed many things againſt the treaty of the peace. The beginning of this diſunion did daily increaſe it ſelfe to my great griefe, being unable to redreſſe it, and Monſieur the Marſhall of Biron perſwaded the King to come himſelf into Guyenne, alledging that his preſence would ſettle things in a better order, of which the Huguenots being advertiſed beleeved that the King came onely to demantle and to ſeize upon their Towns which made them reſolve to have recourſe to armes: this was that which ſo much before I feared, and being now imbarked to run the fortune of the King my Husband and by conſequence ſeeing my ſelfe to be on a ſide contrary to that of my Religion; I ſpake to the King my Husband, and to all thoſe of his Counſell to prevent it, ſhewing how little advantageous to them this warre was like to prove, where they had ſo great a Chiefetaine to oppoſe them, as was Monſieur the Marſhall of Biron, a great Captaine, and ſtrongly incenſed againſt them, who would not make a flouriſh [Page] and dally with them, as others before had done, but ſhould he command the power of the King, and imploy them with a reſolution to drive them out of the Kingdome, they were not able to withſtand him. But the feare which they had of the Kings comming into Guyenne, and their hopes of many enterpriſes on the greateſt part of the Townes in Gaſcogny and Languedock prevailed ſo much, that although the King did doe me the honour to put great truſt and confidence in me, and the chiefe of the Religion did impute much to my underſtanding, yet I could not perſwade them to that, which a little after to their expence they found too true. The torrent uncontroul'd muſt run a while, which ſhortly after will aſſwage his courſe, when they ſhall come to the experience of that which I foretold them; but long before they proceeded to theſe termes, ſeeing how the affaires diſpoſed themſelves, I often beſought the King and Queen my mother to provide a remedy, by giving ſome content to the King my husband, but they made no reckoning of it, and it ſeemeth they were glad that things were brought to ſuch a paſſe, being perſwaded by the Marſhall Biron, that he had found a means to reduce the Huguenots [Page] as low as he deſired. This advice of mine being neglected, the grievances by degrees advanced themſelves ſo farre, that in the end they had their recourſe to armes. They of the pretended reformed Religion were much diſcontented, becauſe they failed in their forces which they thought to have aſſembled, the army of the King my Husband being in number farre inferiour to that of the Marſhall Biron, eſpecially all their enterpriſes having miſcarried, unleſſe that onely on Cabors, which they tooke with Petards, with the loſſe of many Souldiers, by reaſon that Monſieur de Vezins was there, who fought with them for the ſpace of two or three dayes, and who, with them, ſtreet after ſtreet, and houſe after houſe did diſpute it out unto the laſt; where the King my huſband made apparent both his wiſdom, and his valour, not as a Prince of his quality, but as a brave and couragious Captain. The taking of this Towne did rather indammage, then advantage them. The Marſhall of Biron finding his opportunity, took to the field, ſeizing on, and plundering all the little Townes which held for the Huguenots, and putting all to the edge of the ſword. On the beginning of this warre, ſeeing the honour which the King [Page] my husband did expreſſe unto me, commanded me not to abandon him; I reſolved with my ſelf to run his fortune, not without an extream griefe to finde the motive of the warre was ſuch, that I could not wiſh the advantage of the one ſide, or the other, without deſiring it to my owne dammage; for if the Huguenots had the better, that would be the Ruine of the Catholick Religion, the preſervation whereof I preferred to my owne life, and if the Catholicks ſhould win upon the Huguenots, I ſaw the ruine of the King my husband; nevertheleſſe my duty commanding me to ſtay with him; and retained by his love, and the confidence which he repoſed in me▪ I wrote unto the King and Queen my mother of the eſtate wherein I ſaw that Countrey, to have them adviſe of thoſe affaires, which I found they did too much neglect: I beſought them, that if in conſideration of me, they would not ſo much obliege me as to extinguiſh thoſe flames, in the midſt whereof I ſaw my ſelf expoſed, that at leaſt they would be pleaſed to command Monſieur the Marſhall of Biron, that the Towne wherein I made my abode, ſhould be held in neutrality, and that within three miles of it there no hoſtilitie ſhould be practiſed, and that I [Page] ſhould obtaine as much of the King my husband, for thoſe of his Religion. The King did grant me this, provided that the king my husband ſhould not be in Nerac, but if he were, that then the neutrality ſhould no longer be in force. This condition was obſerved on both ſides, with as much reſpect as could be deſired, but it could not withhold the king from comming often to Nerac, where Madame his ſiſter and my ſelfe were reſident; it being his Nature to delight himſelfe in the company of Ladies, and he was at that time extreamely inamoured on Foſſeuſa, whom he ſerved ever ſince he forſooke Rebours, and from whom I received no bad office, and for this cauſe the king my husband did live with me in as much privacy and familiarity, as heretofore, ſeeing that I deſired nothing more then his content in all things; Theſe conſiderations having brought him one day to Nerac, he ſtayed there three dayes after being unable to depart from a company ſo delightfull to him. The Marſhall of Biron, who watched for ſuch an opportunitie, being acquainted with it, made as though he brought his army that way, to joyn with Monſieur de Cornuſſon the Seneſcall of Tholouſe, on his paſſage over the river, [Page] who brought more forces to him, and in ſtead of marching toward the river, he turned upon Nerac, and about nine of the clock in the morning, he preſented himſelf with all his army in battell array, within a Canons ſhot of the towne; The King my husband (who received advertiſement the night before of the comming of Cornuſſon, deſiring to hinder them from joyning their armies into one body) determined to fight with them apart, and was gone that morning on break of day to incounter with them on the paſſage over the river; but being deceived in his intelligence, for Monſieur de Cornuſſon paſſed over the river the night before, he returned to Nerac, and as he entred in at one gate, he underſtood that the Marſhall of Biron ſtood in battell array before the other; It was that day very ſtormy weather, and there fell ſo much raine, that the Harquebuſes could doe no ſervice. Nevertheleſſe the King my husband caſt ſome of his troupes amongſt the Vines, to keepe the Marſhall of Biron from approaching neerer, having not the meanes, by reaſon of the extreame raine which continued all that day to doe any other feare of warre. The Marſhall of Biron ſtood all the while in battell array before our eyes, and diſbanding [Page] onely three or foure of his company, who demanded in way of turnament to try their lances for the love of the Ladies, he kept his army intire, covering his artillery till he was ready to diſcharge, and on a ſudden, making his troupes give way, and cleave aſunder, he thundered againſt the Towne with ſeven or eight volleys of Canon ſhot, whereof one of the bullets latched on the Caſtle, and having made this ſhot, he marched thence, ſending a Trumpet to me to excuſe himſelf, and to aſſure me, that had I been alone, he would not for all the world have attempted it, but I knew, he ſaid, that it was articled in the neutrality concluded by the King, that if the King my husband ſhould be at Nerac, the neutrality ſhould then be void, and that he had commandment from the King, to make warre upon the King my husband, in whatſoever place he found him. In all other actions, Monſieur the Marſhall of Biron had rendred great reſpect, and expreſſed himſelfe a friend unto me; for my letters being fallen in the time of the warre into his hands, he ſent them ſafe, and faſt ſealed to me, and whoſoever ſpake on my behalfe, received from him honour and good entreaty. I made reply unto his Trumpet, that I knew indeed that [Page] Monſieur the Marſhall had done no more then what pertained to the warre, and to the Kings commandment; but a man of his wiſedome might well have ſatisfied both the one and the other, without offending his friends, that he might well have given me leave for thoſe three dayes to take pleaſure in the contentment I received to ſee the King my husband at Nerac, that he could not take him in my preſence, but he muſt ſeize on me alſo, that I was highly offended at what he had done, and would complaine unto the King. The warre after this continued a certaine time, thoſe of the Religion having always the worſe, which did much aſſiſt me to prepare my husband, and diſpoſe him to a peace. I wrote often to the King and the Queen my mother concerning it, but they would not underſtand me, truſting to the good fortune which as yet accompanied Monſieur the Marſhall of Biron.

In the ſame time that this warre began, the Towne of Cambray (which ſince my departure out of France, was brought under the obedience of my Brother, by the means of Monſieur de Ainſi, of whom I have ſpoken heretofore) was beſieged by the Spaniſh forces, of which my Brother was advertiſed, being then at his houſe at [Page] Ploſſis les Tours, and was newly returned from Flanders, where he had received the Townes of Montz, Valenciennes, and ſome others, which were under the government of the Count of Lalain, who complyed with my Brother, cauſing him to be acknowledged for their Soveraigne in all the Countreys of his authoritie. My brother defiring to releeve it, had made a ſudden preſſe for Souldiers, intending with all ſpeed to march downe with his army to raiſe the ſiege; and becauſe it could not ſo ſoon be ready, he put Monſieur Balany into the Towne, to ſuſtaine the ſeige, expecting the comming of the Army to relieve the Towne: As he was on theſe preparations, and began to draw his forces together, the warre with the Huguenots did interpoſe it ſelfe, which cauſed him to disband his troupes, to inroll themſelves in the army of the King, which was marching into Gaſcogny. This tooke from my brother all the hope to releeve Cambray, which he could not looſe, but he muſt looſe with it not only all the reſt of the Countrey, which he had conquered, but what moſt grieved him, Monſieur de Balany alſo, and all thoſe good Souldiers which he had put into Cambray. This diſpleaſure ſate deepe within him, and being [Page] a Prince of great judgement, and who never fayled of expedients in his neceſſities, he perceived that the only remedy he had, was to pacifie France, and having a courage that found nothing difficult, he undertooke to conclude a peace, and ſuddenly diſpatched a Gentleman to the King to perſwade him to it, and to beſeech him to give him the charge to mediate the peace: this he did, fearing that thoſe to whom it ſhould have been committed, would be ſo tedious in the execution of their charge, that he ſhould looſe the means and opportunitie to releeve Cambray, from whence Monſieur Balany, who had already endured the fury of the ſiege, ſent my Brother word, that he would give him ſixe Moneths leiſure to bring down his ſuccours, but if at that time the Seige were not rayſed; the neceſſitie and want of victualls would be ſuch, that he ſhould not have the meanes to reſtraine the Inhabitants from ſurrendring the Towne. God ſo bleſſed my brother in the deſigne he had to perſwade the king unto the peace, that he gave conſent unto it, and was glad that my Brother offered himſelfe to bring it to effect, hoping by this means to divert him from his enterpriſe in Flanders, to which he never was affected: He gave my [Page] brother the Commiſſion to treate it, and conclude it, exhorting my Brother for his aſſiſtance in it, to ſend for the Lords of Villeroy, and Bellieure: this Commiſſion was wrought ſo happily by my brother, that comming into Gaſcogny (howſoever he ſtayed ſeven Moneths in the effecting of it, which time ſeemed to him as long againe, becauſe of the labouring deſire which he had to haſten to the ſuccour of Cambray, although the content which he received that I was with him, did much abate the eagerneſſe of that care) yet he made a peace to the content of the king and all the Catholicks, leaving the king my husband and the Huguenots no leſſe ſatisfied, having proceeded in it with ſo much wiſedome, that he was beloved, and prayſed of all, having alſo in this voyage wonne the love of that great Captaine, the Marſhall of Biron, who did there vow himſelf his ſervant, to receive the charge of his army, which was going into Flanders, whom (to pleaſe the King my husband) my Brother removed from his government of Gaſcogny, and put in his place Monſieur the Marſhall of Matignon; but before my Brother did depart, he did deſire that accordance might be made betwixt the King my husband, and Monſieur the Marſhall [Page] of Biron, who at the firſt ſight made me ſatisfaction by an honeſt excuſe, of that which paſſed at Nerac. I was enjoyned to out-brave him for it with all the ſharpeſt and moſt diſdainful language that I could; but I uſed the paſſionate command of my brother with ſuch diſcretion, as was requiſite to his affaires, knowing that the day might come wherein he might much rely on the aſſiſtance of ſo brave a Souldier. My brother returning into France, attended with Monſieur the Marſhall of Biron, rereived no leſſe honour and juſt glory for pacifying ſo great a trouble to the content of all, then in the many victories he atchieved by armes, and made his army more great and powerfull; but what happineſſe and glory is not attended with envie? The King taking no pleaſure in it, and in the ſixe or ſeven moneths time, while my brother and my ſelf were both together a treating of the peace in Gaſcogny, having had the leiſure to finde an object for his anger, conceived that I had made that warre, and driven the King my husband to it (who well can witneſſe the contrary) that my Brother might enjoy the honour of making the peace, which if it had depended on me, it had been done with more ſpeed, and leſſe paines, for his [Page] affaires in Flanders and Cambray, received great diſadvantage by this delay. But alas envie and hate doe blinde our eyes, and make us not to ſee things, as indeed they are. The King building on this falſe foundation a mortall hatred againſt my Brother, and reviving in himſelf the remembrance of what was paſſed, how when he was in Poland, and ſince his return from thence, I ever had preferred my Brothers contentment and affaires above his owne, joyning altogether at once, did vow my ruine and my Brothers; In which Fortune favoured his reſolution, cauſing in the ſeven moneths ſpace that my brother was in Gaſcogny, the unhappineſſe to be ſuch, that he fell in love with Foſſeuſa, to whom the King my husband was a ſervant ever ſince he forſooke Rebours: this being diſcovered, the King my husband was offended with me, beleeving that I did good offices for my brother, to withdraw the affection of Foſſeuſa from him; this I no ſooner underſtood, but I beſought ſo much my Brother in my behalf, preſenting to him what miſerie might enſue to me by it, that he who affected my contentment above his owne, in this did force his paſſion, and ſpake no more unto her. Having on this ſide found redreſſe, [Page] Fortune, who when once ſhee beginneth to purſue, retireth never at the firſt counter-blow, prepared a new attempt more dangerous then the former, cauſing Foſſeuſa, who extreamly loved the King my husband, and who till then permitted him no other privacies, then what the honeſty of a familiar love might well enjoy, to take from him all jealous thoughts which he had of my Brother, and to make him underſtand that ſhe did love him alone, did ſo abandon her ſelf to content him in all things, that the miſchiefe grew ſo great, that ſhe was with Childe, and perceiving her ſelf in this eſtate, ſhe changed all the manner of her proceedings with me, and in ſtead of her accuſtomed method, of being free and open, and of doing me all the good offices ſhe could, to indeere me the more to the king my husband, ſhe began now to conceale her ſelf from me, and to render me as many bad offices, as heretofore ſhe had done me good ones: She poſſeſſed ſo the king my husband, that in a little time, I found a great alteration; he eſtranged, he conceal'd himſelf from me, and took not that delight and pleaſure in my company, as he had done for thoſe foure or five happy yeers while we were in Gaſcogny, and when Foſſeuſa governed her [Page] ſelfe with honour. The peace being concluded, my Brother returning into France, as I have ſaid, to levie his Army, the King my husband, and my ſelfe returned to Nerac, where as ſoone as we were arrived, Foſſeuſa, either to finde a coverture for her great belly, or to unburden her ſelf of what ſhe had, did put it into the Kings head, to goe to the hot waters that are in Bearn. I beſought the King my husband to excuſe me, if I accompanied him not, for he knew that ſince the indignitie I received at Pau, I had made a vow that I would never returne till there they had free exerciſe of the Catholick Religion, with great importunity he preſſed me to goe, and was very angry at the excuſes which I made; In the end he told me, that his Girle (for ſo he called Foſſeuſa) had occaſion to take thoſe waters for the evill of her ſtomacke; I made anſwere that I was well content that ſhe ſhould goe without me, and that it would make the world thinke evill of her, there being no reaſon for it: In the end I ſo prevailed, that he was content to goe with her, taking two of her companions, which were Rebours and Villeſavin, with their governeſſe. They departed thence, and I ſtayed behinde at Baviere: I had every day intelligence [Page] from Rebours, who was ſhe whom the King heretofore had loved, and who was a corrupt and double-hearted wench, and deſired nothing more then to turne Foſſeuſa out of favour, hoping to poſſeſſe againe her place in the affection of the King my husband, that Foſſeuſa did me all the bad offices in the world, ſpeaking of me reproachfull and diſdainfull words, and perſwading her ſelfe, if ſhe had a Sonne, and could get cleere of me, that ſhe ſhould be married to the king my husband, who returning from Baveire, was reſolved to goe to Pau, and to take me with him, whether I would or no: Theſe advertiſements did much afflict me; nevertheleſſe having my confidence in the mercy of God, and the goodneſſe of the king my husband, I paſſed the time of my abode at Baveire, in expecting him, and in powring out as many teares, as they dranke drops of water where they were, although the Catholick Nobility of that Country, with whom I was accompanied, tooke all the paines they could to make me forget my afflictions. At the end of five weeeks, the king my husband returning with Foſseuſa, and her other companions, underſtood by ſome of the Lords who were with me, what ſorrows I endured, for feare of going [Page] unto the Pau, which was the cauſe he no more ſtrongly importuned me, but onely told me, he had 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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, [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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.

§

[Page]

[Page]

Imprimatur,

THO. WYKES.

Information about this book

Title statement

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 ...Memoires de la roine Margverite. English

Marguerite, Queen, consort of Henry IV, King of France, 1553-1615.

Edition statement

1641

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A51922

ID [STC]

Wing M595

ID [STC]

ESTC R15539

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

13351895

ID [OCLC]

ocm 13351895

ID [VID]

99191

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A51922)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 99191)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 466:3)

Source

— 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 ..., Memoires de la roine Margverite. English, Marguerite, Queen, consort of Henry IV, King of France, 1553-1615., Codrington, Robert, 1601-1665..

Extent

[6], 229 p.

Printed by R. H.,. London :: 1641.. (Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.)

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